《The Ex and Her Riches》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Let Us Get a Divorce It was night, but Gwendolyn Shalders¡¯ sleep was fitful. She felt as though someone was crushing her to the point that she was close to suffocating. Worse still, the sound of deep and rapid breathing persisted right next to her ear. On the heels of that, a sharp stabbing pain came from the most intimate part of her. Realization dawned upon her, and her eyes popped open in horror. At once, she was greeted by a vague silhouette of a man propped above her. ¡°Is it¡­ you, Maverick?¡± A soft grunt then escaped the man who reeked of alcohol. Following that, he mauled her again and again without saying anything else. Nheless, the familiar voice had Gwendolyn breathe a sigh of relief. As the man continued thrusting into her, the desire within her gradually grew. In the end, seductive moans inexorably tumbled out of her mouth. Soon, the man¡¯s motions grew increasingly forceful. Gritting her teeth, Gwendolyn endured the pain. She was lost in the blissful atmosphere, feeling as though she was walking on air. They had been married for three years, and Maverick Wright was finally willing to bed her. Due to the fact that she was foisted on him by his grandfather, Den Wright, he had never spared her a nce throughout the years. Therefore, she was over the moon that he had entered her room this time, no matter the reason. Two hourster, with a deep groan, Maverick copsed onto her in utter exhaustion. The moonlight outside the floor-to-ceiling windows illuminated his perfect figure. As Gwendolyn listened to his rapid heartbeat, she found it all too realistic yet also incredibly dreamlike. If this is truly a dream, I never want to wake up! She wrapped her arms around his neck with a lovesick look in her eyes, panting slightly after the bout of rigorous exercise. ¡°Maverick¡­ Maverick, I really¡ª¡± Before she could utter the word ¡°love,¡± she heard the man muttering a name in a low and hoarse voice. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Tasha¡­¡± When she heard that, she froze on the spot. Her heart clenched in agony, and all the blood in her body ran cold. Tasha was Natasha Mossey¡¯s nickname, and she was Maverick¡¯s first crush who had been abroad in the past few years because of Den. But yesterday, she returned to the country. That aside, she sent Gwendolyn a provocative text that read: I¡¯m back, Gwendolyn, and there¡¯s no longer a ce for you in the Wright family! Mave and I are childhood sweethearts. Do you think you can take my ce in just a few years? Scram! Go back to the orphanage, for that¡¯s where you belong! You¡¯ve got no idea how much he loves me, huh? Even if he¡¯s lying in your bed, he¡¯ll undoubtedly call out my name! You¡¯re only worthy of being my recement. It must be a bitter feeling, huh, Gwendolyn? At that time, Gwendolyn denied it. Her recement? I¡¯m the granddaughter-inw chosen by Old Mr. Wright, the rightful Mrs. Wright! I¡¯m myself and no one¡¯s recement! Nheless, right then, she could still hear Maverick calling out Natasha¡¯s name. The mocking text messages kept reying in her mind, proof of her delusions in the past. Without warning, tears uncontrobly streamed down her face. She clenched her fists, her entire body trembling from the repression of her emotions. All these years, I¡¯ve been cautious and obedient to the point of subservience. I even quit my job and devoted everything to being a good wife to him. His mother and sister at the Wright residence have an opinion about my background, snobs in every sense of the word, thus repeatedly making life difficult for me and humiliating me. Yet, I put up with it all because I didn¡¯t want to give him any trouble. Had I not lowered myself enough to gain his love? Why must he trample all over thest bits of my dignity? That night was extraordinarily long for her. She stayed up the entire night, sleeping nary a wink. Early the next morning, Maverick was awakened by the ring sunlight from outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. He massaged his temples. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Gwendolyn sitting before the dressing table with her back to him. Suddenly, the absurd events from the night before shed across his mind. Understanding dawned upon him, and his ebony eyes constricted while the temperature around him slowly plummeted. Despite having her back to him, Gwendolyn could distinctly sense the hostility emanating from him. She continued applying skincare product nonchntly when suddenly, Maverick grabbed her wrist hard and yanked her up. Consequently, the skincare product in her hand fell to the ground. The ss bottle shattered into a thousand pieces, and white paste spilled everywhere. Snapping her head up, she red at the man. Yet, her heart inevitably jolted when she met the man¡¯s furious and repulsed gaze. ¡°Did you think you could be Mrs. Wright for real by using such a despicable method of drugging me so that I¡¯d bed you?¡± Towering over her, Maverick scowled at her while he clenched his jaw. Instead of dropping his hold on her, he gripped her increasingly tighter. The savage expression on his face rendered his handsome countenance ghastly beyond words. Drugging him? All pale, Gwendolyn let out a bark ofughter. ¡°Such is the kind of woman I am in your eyes?¡± In response, Maverick¡¯s lips curved into a derisory smirk, even as intense repugnance zed in his eyes. ¡°Back then, didn¡¯t you also fool Grandpa with some trick so that I was forced to marry you? Why are you feigning innocence now? An inherently shameless woman like you isn¡¯t even worthy of carrying Tasha¡¯s slippers!¡± Inherently shameless? Feigning innocence? Hah! It turns out that I¡¯m actually this loathsome to him. As for using a tactic such as drugging him, I would¡¯ve done it ages ago if I so wanted to. Why would I have waited until now? Verily, he doesn¡¯t understand me at all! How ironic! I sacrificed everything in the past three years, but it all amounted to nothing! In this case, there¡¯s no longer any need for me to stick it out. Enduring the pain radiating off the wrist in his grasp, Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and exerted strength, shaking his hand off hard. Then, she held her head up high, her voice resolute. ¡°Let¡¯s get a divorce, Maverick.¡± Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Your Thirty Billion ¡°What?¡± Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Maverick frowned, seemingly never having expected her to propose a divorce. She had just drugged mest night. What stunt is she up to now, this early in the morning? ¡°Have you lost your d*mn mind?¡± At that, Gwendolyn merely stared at him coldly. She was far shorter than the man, but her aura right then was whollyparable to him. ¡°Haven¡¯t you long since dreamed of getting a divorce? Seeing that it was your grandfather who coerced you into marrying me back then, no one can stop you from marrying Natasha anymore now that he¡¯s no longer here. Don¡¯t you want to give her a rightful status?¡± Pursing his lips, Maverick scrutinized her closely. Would she really be so kind as to give up her status? At her solemn gaze and the fact that she didn¡¯t seem to be lying, he snorted softly, his voice frosty. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t regret it.¡± Gwendolyn sneered. Never had I been so determined about something! ¡°The only thing I regret is marrying you back then.¡± After saying that, she spun on her heel and left, looking all resolved and blithe. Maverick¡¯s eyes remained fixated on her back for a long time. In the past, she had always been gentle and docile before me, putting on an act of fragility. Today, however, she¡¯s surprisingly steely. Could it be that I had really used her wrongly about the incident last night? But who else could it be if not her? Both of them went to City Hall that very morning, one after the other. Dressed in old and ugly clothes bought from the side of the street, Gwendolyn made a stark contrast with Maverick, who wore a high-end ck suit from Prada, as they stood together. As such, they attracted much attention from those around them. Nevertheless, she wasn¡¯t at all bothered. All she wanted was for the entire farce to end as soon as possible. In a brief ten minutes, their miserable marriage finally drew to an end. Gazing at the eyesore of a divorce certificate in her hand, Gwendolyn plunged into a trance for a moment. ¡°You¡¯re on your own henceforth.¡± Out of the blue, a dispassionate voice drifted into her ears. By the time she lifted her head, the man had disappeared into thin air without dissuading her from getting a divorce or even taking a final nce at her. It was as though he had never been in her life. ¡°Well, I suppose this is for the best.¡± She shook her head with a chuckle. Since he¡¯s callous enough, we¡¯ll be mere strangers the next time we meet again. Corralling her thoughts, she walked to the side of the road. Unexpectedly, a limited-edition ck Bentley came to a stop in front of her. The car door swung open, upon which a middle-aged man with graying hair headed toward her under the escort of four bodyguards. When Gwendolyn made out his countenance, she jerked her chin up a fraction. In a sh, she was seemingly imbued with an innate sense of regality. ¡°How well-informed of Dad. I¡¯ve just gotten a divorce, and you¡¯ve alreadye knocking on my door.¡± The butler, Leif, wore an ingratiating smile on his face. He bowed deeply to her before venturing, ¡°Ms. Harris, your three-year pact with Mr. Harris is up.¡± Pausing, he nced at the divorce certificate in Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. Then, he continued in feigned regret, ¡°It looks like you failed to have Maverick Wright fall in love with you. In that case, you should honor your promise and return to Salinsburgh to inherit the family business.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s brows furrowed, and she fell silent for a long time. When she was fifteen years old, someone sabotaged her and caused her to lose her memories. Ultimately, she ended up at Faike Orphanage. Thereafter, she saved Den by coincidence and was taken back to the Wright residence. It wasn¡¯t until she hade of age that Maverick was ordered to marry her. An ident transpired on the night of her wedding with Maverick, and she happened to recover her memories. Ironically, she was head over heels in love with Maverick then and declined to follow Leif back. In the end, she made a three-year pact with her father. Casting my mind back on it now, these three years have really been wasted on a man who doesn¡¯t love me! ¡°Mr. Harris misses you greatly. Come back with me, Ms. Harris. Don¡¯t be angry at Mr. Harris anymore, for he¡ª¡± s, Gwendolyn cut him off. At the mention of the past, her expression turned all the icier. ¡°Leif, he has got that woman by his side, and the Harris family doesn¡¯tck an insignificant figure like me. I¡¯ve still got something important to do in Faike, so I¡¯m not returning.¡± She had been furtively investigating the culprit who made her suffer from amnesia and caused her to end up in Faike in the past two years, only to learn that the person might be part of Harris Group. Unfortunately, she hadn¡¯t any idea yet who exactly it was. With the enemy in hiding and me out in the open at present, I¡¯ll be in great danger if I return to the Harris family. Furthermore, I don¡¯t want to go back and face that woman every day! In response, Leif sighed. ¡°Indeed, Mr. Harris was right. You¡¯re still harboring a grudge against him, unwilling to go home easily.¡± While saying that, he respectfully took out a supreme Centurion Card. ¡°Here¡¯s your bank card. There¡¯s still thirty billion in it, not a cent less.¡± Subsequently, he waved a hand at the bodyguards behind him. One of them swiftly handed a new contract to Gwendolyn. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 From Rags to Riches ¡°Mr. Harris said you can stay for the time being, but you must ept the management rights of Angle Corporation, a subsidiary of Harris Group in Faike. On top of that, thepany¡¯s profits this year must be five percent more thanst year¡¯s. He also said you can refuse, but things might end badly for Wright Construction Group if you do so.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn gritted her teeth in utter frustration. Before Den passed away, she once promised him that she would help to look after Wright Construction Group. Thus, she couldn¡¯t allow anything to happen to thepany. This time, Dad is clearly using my weakness against me. However, he isn¡¯t ckmailing me into going home but is forcing me into taking over Angle Corporation. What exactly is his motive? ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do as he says!¡± Taking the pen, Gwendolyn signed her name with a flourish before epting the supreme Centurion Card with thirty billion in it. At the sight of the gold surface of the card, she shook her head in amusement. A few minutes ago, I was so poor that I only had ten on me, not even enough to take a taxi. Is this then considered going from rags to riches? Because of my pact with Dad previously, my bank card and ount were frozen. Additionally, I had to conceal my real identity, or it¡¯d be a breach of contract. Maverick¡¯s mother and sister had an affinity for the rich and climbing the socialdder, so they never showed me any respect. I wonder what their expressions would be if they were to learn that I¡¯m actually Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, the youngest daughter of the Harris family, the wealthiest family in the country, and a megarich woman with a worth of hundreds of millions. I still remember when a good friend of mine from the orphanage was dying, back before I regained my memories. I went on my knees and prostrated myself before my mother-inw, begging her to lend me some money. She arrogantly whipped out a tinum card, but she didn¡¯t give it to me. Instead, she boasted, ¡°Guess how much money is in here. A million. You¡¯ve never seen so much money in your life, huh? But I¡¯d rather use it to buy dog food than lend you a single cent! Do you know why? Because that destitute friend of yours is even lowlier than a dog, in my eyes.¡± At that time, I merely balled my hands into fists as a sh of derision flittered across my eyes. Well, if there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯d really like to teach those two haughty women a lesson and vent my wrath for once! While she was deep in thought, someone grabbed her wrist from the back. She turned around, only to be greeted by the sight of none other than her mother-inw, Frida Landers. Frida had her nose in the air, her expression disdainful and disapproving. Behind her were a few well- to-dodies with shopping bags in hand. From the look of things, they had just finished shopping. Surreptitiously putting the Centurion Card into her bag, Gwendolyn questioned indifferently, ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Frida was stunned at first, seemingly never having expected her attitude to be so s¨¦ when she had previously always acted like a wimp before her. ¡°Who allowed you toe out and embarrass me? Have you done all the household chores? And have you cooked lunch? If my precious son were to go hungry, I¡¯d skin you alive! Also, look at the scraps you¡¯re wearing! You¡¯ve been married into the family for a few years now, yet you still appear impoverished. How shameful! Hurry up and go home!¡± To her surprise, Gwendolyn reacted as though she had heard the biggest joke in the century. ¡°I¡¯m shameful? After I married into the Wright family, you deliberately dismissed all the help in the mansion and forced me to quit my job to do theundry and cook for your son, being a virtuous wife. I did all that, but were you ever satisfied? No, you merely went even further. You framed me for stealing your jewelry, thereby withholding the shares Old Mr. Wright left me. Moreover, you forced me to my knees and had me kneel outdoors as punishment while it was raining heavily. Have you forgotten all that?¡± Following her words, the well-to-dodies behind Frida clicked their tongues. We¡¯ve always known that she treats her daughter-inw horribly, but we never imagined that she actually went that far! Seeing that things weren¡¯t quite right between the two women, they all made excuses to leave. ¡°W-What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Several times, Frida wanted to cut Gwendolyn off, but thetter¡¯s rapid-fire speech gave her no opportunity to interrupt. Gwendolyn proceeded to jerk her chin up imperiously, the look in her eyes razor-sharp. ¡°You know full well whether I¡¯m spouting nonsense. I tolerated you in the past, but if you dare provoke me again in the future, I¡¯ll settle the score with you for all past grievances doubly!¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 How Fast You Change Your Tune Frida waspletely staggered by Gwendolyn¡¯s imposing aura. Is this still my meek daughter-inw? Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh, I understand now! You were merely putting on an act in the past!¡± Growing increasingly incensed as she mulled over thetter¡¯s change, Frida gritted her teeth and threatened, ¡°I¡¯m never going to let this incident today slide! I¡¯ll tell Maverick about it and have him divorce you! This time, I¡¯m going to kick you out of the family even if you beg me on your knees!¡± However, Gwendolyn merely sneered with a contemptuous expression on her face. ¡°Ah, I forgot to tell you this earlier. Just ten minutes ago, I¡¯d already gotten divorced from Maverick. From now on, I¡¯ll never again take a single step into the Wright residence even if you beg me on your knees.¡± Divorced? And a while ago, at that? How could that be? This bumpkin had been shamelessly clinging to the Wright family in the past, yet she has finally given up? Eyeing her retreating back dubiously, Frida gave Maverick a call right then and there to verify that piece of news. ¡°Have you really gotten divorced, Maverick?¡± Maverick grunted in affirmation, but a frown then marred his countenance. ¡°Who told you when it had just been finalized a moment ago?¡± ¡°Who else could it be? I bumped into Gwendolyn, and that b*tch even raised her voice at me!¡± Fury still stained Frida¡¯s face, but she promptly broke into a wide grin at the thought that the couple had truly gotten divorced. She even started crowing, ¡°This is great! You¡¯ve finally gotten a divorce! How could a woman of unknown origins from an orphanage be worthy of my precious son? She should¡¯ve buzzed off long ago¡­¡± Maverick pressed his lips into a thin line, his mood entirely different from Frida¡¯s excitement. In fact, an inexplicable trace of irritation and guilt swamped him. Previously, he thought that Gwendolyn wouldn¡¯t easily agree to a divorce. He even prepared a settlement of three million and a mansion in advance. Yet, she was the one who proposed it. On top of that, she didn¡¯t even ask for a cent inpensation. Now that she¡¯s divorced without any money and family by her side, how will she survive in the future? Oh well, she¡¯lle and seek me out when she¡¯s at the end of her rope. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn took a taxi back to the little mansion belonging to her and Maverick that housed her bitterness and agony for the past three years. The memories were far too heavy, so much so that she didn¡¯t want to recall them anymore. She walked past the garden in front of the courtyard and headed upstairs right away to pack her luggage. When she had done so, she didn¡¯t want to tarry in the mansion for even a second longer. s, a beautiful figure in the living room turned around and looked at her no sooner had she gone downstairs. It was Natasha in a snow-white dress, smiling innocently. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn was startled momentarily, seemingly never having expected to see the woman there. We¡¯d just gotten divorced, yet Maverick had already given her the key to the mansion? So, he¡¯s allowing her to move in just like that? It seems that he really loves this first crush of his. A sense of repulsion flooded Gwendolyn. Nheless, she elegantly descended the stairs with a smile. At the sight of her poise, Natasha¡¯s expression froze imperceptibly. But in the next heartbeat, she continued beaming. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few years, but your aura is increasingly more like that of the mistress of the Wright family. Oh, sorry, it was a slip of the tongue.¡± pping a hand over her mouth, Natasha gave an awkward chuckle beforementing, ¡°I forgot that you¡¯re already divorced from Mave, so you¡¯re no longer Mrs. Wright.¡± Despite knowing that the woman was there to assert her dominance over her, Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t the least bit angry. The smile on her face remained as airy as ever. ¡°Maverick Wright is a man I¡¯m already sick of. But since you love other people¡¯s rejects, I¡¯ll hand him to you. Anyhow, don¡¯t get too hasty, or it¡¯ll make you look like a third-party eager to intervene in someone else¡¯s rtionship.¡± Her remark had Natasha¡¯s smile quickly turning chilly and her expression contorting into a hideous mask. ¡°Mave and I love each other deeply. If it weren¡¯t for you back then, we would¡¯ve been together ages ago. You¡¯re the third party who should be disdained by all!¡± At that, Gwendolyn cast her a mocking look. ¡°Very soon, you¡¯ll know who exactly the third party is.¡± Having said that, she circled around Natasha, not nning to tarry any longer. Just when she was about to leave, thetter grabbed her wrist. She nced over her shoulder, only to see Natasha looking all pitiful. Her eyes were red-rimmed like a rabbit, and it was as though she had suffered a great grievance. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gwendolyn. I¡¯ve always regarded you as my best friend. This time, I only came to visit you. I meant well. I didn¡¯t know that you both had gotten divorced. I really didn¡¯t mean anything else. Please don¡¯t be angry with me, okay?¡± ¡°Oh, how fast you change your tune!¡± That sweet-sounding speech had Gwendolyn snort a bark ofughter. She was just about to shake Natasha off when, with a shriek of pain, thetter copsed onto the ground weakly in concert with her movement. From the back, it would look as though she had shoved Natasha hard. Heh! How intriguing! Gwendolyn watched the entire self-directed show coldly. If I¡¯m right, Maverick must have happened to come back just this moment and is presently standing at the door, witnessing the whole scene. Sure enough, the man¡¯s enraged bellow abruptly rang out behind her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Give You an Epic Gift Striding into the living room on his long legs, Maverick went over to Natasha and helped her up at once. Then, he turned his eyes to Gwendolyn, his gaze brimming with grimness and disappointment. ¡°I initially thought you¡¯d behave after our divorce, but I never expected you to still resort to such a despicable tactic. It makes me sick. I had actually nned to transfer this mansion to your name, but from the looks of things, that¡¯s no longer necessary.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t me Gwendolyn, Mave. She only pushed me identally because I made her mad. It was my fault, so admonish me instead.¡± Natasha leaned against his chest with guilt written all over her face, her sobs pitiable and heartbreaking. When she stole a nce at Gwendolyn out of the corner of her eye, however, her gaze carried a hint of pride and triumph. Ayer of frost nketed Maverick¡¯s face, and he said to Gwendolyn in amanding tone, ¡°Apologize to Tasha immediately, right this moment.¡± Tsk-tsk, he wants me to apologize to her? A spark of anger flickered within Gwendolyn. Alternating her gaze between the loving couple, she beamed from ear to ear. Then, she gently tugged at Natasha, who was in Maverick¡¯s arms. I thought she¡¯d be livid and argue, but unexpectedly, she¡¯s still smiling? Puzzlement showed on Natasha¡¯s face. Not quiteprehending Gwendolyn¡¯s exact n, she was momentarily dazed, allowing thetter to pull her over. p! ¡°Ahh!¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. A shriek far more piercing than the one earlier split the air. With a hand cradling her swollen face, Natasha fell onto the ground hard. Gwendolyn put all her strength into the p, so much so that her palm was a touch numb. Hence, the pain Natasha endured this time was definitely excruciating. Even then, Gwendolyn wore a smile on her face, and it was surprisingly detached to boot. She didn¡¯t look at all like the instigator who hit someone. As she stared down at Natasha on the ground, her voice was incredibly gentle. ¡°Since you imed that I picked on you, how could I have helped you affirm my misdeed if I hadn¡¯t pped you?¡± With tears shimmering in her eyes, Natasha sat on the ground feebly, whimpering softly. Meanwhile, Maverick had never expected Gwendolyn to have the guts to get physical right before him. Thus, he forgot to help Natasha up immediately. Wearing a dark look on his face, he glowered at Gwendolyn threateningly. ¡°Not only did you fail to apologize, but you even took things further! Are you testing my limit?¡± ¡°You¡¯re regarding yourself too highly, Mr. Wright.¡± Gwendolyn waved a hand profusely, the grin on her face growing increasingly wider. ¡°We were once married, so I¡¯ll give you an epic gift before I leave.¡± While speaking, she took out a thick stack of paper from her bag and tossed it at the man¡¯s face. Countless pieces of white paper fluttered in the air. Maverick reached out and snagged one, only to see a copy of a text message filled with insults and taunts, sounding arrogant beyond words. When his eyes scanned over the sender¡¯s unidentified phone number, shock inundated him. Flipping it over, he saw proof of the truth behind the incident of him being drugged the night before. The evidence was solid, and it all pointed to Natasha as the culprit. In a sh, his brows knitted together. He swung his eyes at Natasha on the ground, a terrifying look in them. Coincidentally, Natasha had just finished skimming through the contents of the paper. Her face drained of all color. Indeed, she was the one who had someone spike Maverick¡¯s wine. In fact, she even phoned the man and told him to go to the hotel to look for her. Little did she expect that the driver would mistakenly send him back to the mansion, and her n would end up benefitting Gwendolyn. Hopping mad, she texted Gwendolyn to rub salt into her wound. Regretfully, never had she imagined that Gwendolyn would dare confront her openly in such a manner. Oh God, what would Maverick think of me? Without waiting for her to justify herself, Gwendolyn had already picked up her packed suitcase. Before leaving, she took onest look at the man she once loved deeply. ¡°Remember this, Maverick Wright¡ªI¡¯m not the one who¡¯s divorced and abandoned. Instead, it¡¯s you! I don¡¯t want you anymore, nor is the Wright family worthy of me!¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 My Divorce Compensation Hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s remark, Maverick frowned. When did I say that I wanted to abandon her? And why would she think so? Bewilderment deluged him. Just as he was going to chase after her and talk things out, someone clutched at the hem of his suit pants from behind. On the ground, Natasha lifted her face, looking all piteous. Sobbing softly, she rationalized, ¡°Mave¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I was just afraid¡­ I was afraid that you would¡¯ve really fallen in love with Gwendolyn in the three years I¡¯ve been away. I was scared that you wouldn¡¯t want me anymore¡­¡± With his brows still creased together, Maverick looked down at her. The instant he glimpsed her slightly swollen cheek, his gaze softened. Ultimately, he reached out and helped her up, his voice turning gentle. ¡°I¡¯ve said that I¡¯ll give you a status. A divorce was merely a matter of time. This time, you were too impatient.¡± Grasping his sleeve, Natasha pouted forlornly. ¡°It was all my fault, but I didn¡¯t mean to hurt anyone. I just used the wrong method. Mave¡­ please forgive me!¡± Upon receiving no further response from the man, she leaned against him weakly and tentatively bared an expanse of her fair shoulder. Maverick¡¯s gaze darkened, and he almost instinctively pushed her away. ¡°Mave!¡± The red tinge to Natasha¡¯s eyes deepened a shade, and she fixated her eyes on him resentfully. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Does he really harbor such great aversion toward me now? Argh! How unfair! Why is it that Gwendolyn bagged himst night, but I can¡¯t even draw close to him or test the waters? ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Maverick gripped her hand. Narrowing his chilly eyes a fraction, he studied her with such a look in them that she was as though a stranger to him. ¡°Tasha, I never thought you would also resort to such methods and make those derisivements. You were pure and innocent in the past.¡± Taken aback, Natasha realized that she had truly angered the man this time. He¡¯s a man with strong principles and a line that can¡¯t be crossed. Once I cross it, he¡¯ll only hate me all the more! ¡°No, that¡¯s not it! I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve realized my mistakes; it was just a moment of recklessness. I¡¯ll never do it again in the future. Even if it¡¯s only because I once saved you all those years ago, please give me a chance to repent, Mave.¡± At the mention of the incident many years ago, her bright and determined gaze shed across Maverick¡¯s mind. She was merely a tiny thing back then, but she stepped out and protected me. Oh well! The look in his eyes gradually turned tender. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about this matter. However, don¡¯t do it again in the future.¡± At once, relief suffused Natasha. No sooner had she nned to act coquettish with him than he held his hand out to her with his palm facing up. ¡°Hand me the key.¡± Her expression froze, and she made to fib, but Maverick cut her off, saying, ¡°I know Noah gave you the key to the mansion without my permission. Return it to me.¡± Noah Lidson was his assistant, who had worked for him for many years. Seeing that he had hit the nail on the head, Natasha had no choice but to hand the key back to Maverick begrudgingly. ¡°Don¡¯te to this mansion again in the future. I¡¯ll arrange a ce for you as soon as possible. You must be tired today, so go back to the hotel and rest.¡± Without giving her any chance to argue, Maverick ordered the driver to send her back. It wasn¡¯t until after she had left that Noah, who stood in the garden, cautiously entered the living room. He stopped in front of Maverick, waiting for the lecture to begin. Maverick swung his ebony eyes on the man, his voice icy. ¡°You have no right to make decisions on my behalf. You¡¯re gone if there¡¯s a second time.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Maverick then yanked at his tie before taking a puff of his cigarette. s, the look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes before she left popped into his mind. It was both cial and piercing. Could it be that she was so resolute about getting a divorce because I used her wrongly? Never mind that, but she even put up a tough front, not even asking me for a single cent. Does she really think she can survive without money? He didn¡¯t want to think about her at all, but he felt his heart be dreadfully heavy. Some emotion started consuming him, and it made him exceedingly ill at ease. ¡°Send some men to search for Gwendolyn and notify me immediately when she¡¯s found. Also, transfer ownership of this mansion to her as my divorcepensation.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± In the meantime, Gwendolyn had found Angle Corporation¡¯s address on the inte. Lugging her suitcase along, she hailed a taxi and headed over right away. Since she had agreed to manage thepany, she decided to make a trip over for a look and complete the handover posthaste. Upon arriving at thepany, she went up to the receptionist and dered, ¡°Please notify your current CEO that I¡¯d like to see him.¡± The receptionist¡¯s expression stiffened on the spot, and she scrutinized Gwendolyn from head to toe. Although she¡¯s quite pretty, her whole outfit costs less than two hundred. On top of that, she demanded to see the CEO right off the bat. How brazen! ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± In response, Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Hearing that, the receptionist almost burst intoughter. ¡°You haven¡¯t got an appointment, yet you dare come to Angle and kick up a fuss? I guess nowadays, any Tom, Dick, and Harry have the guts to throw their weight around without knowing their ce!¡± The harsh and insulting words had a frown marring Gwendolyn¡¯s countenance. ¡°Is this how you usually greet clients?¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Will She Still Have a Job The receptionist studied Gwendolyn again and ascertained that she didn¡¯t resemble a socialite. Instead, she appeared more like a scarlet woman who was there to garner benefits with her looks. ¡°How are you a client? Worse still, you asked to see the CEO right off the bat. Do you know that Angle¡¯s CEO has a worth of hundreds of millions? He¡¯s someone a wench like you can never dream of bagging!¡± Having been called a ¡°wench,¡± Gwendolyn almost gave a bark ofughter in her towering fury. Based on my worth, I¡¯m probably way above the CEO of Angle Corporation. What a snob! Original content from N?velDrama.Org. Not in the mood to yak with such a wretched employee, she put on a stern expression. ¡°Give your superior a call and say that I¡¯ve arrived. If he refuses to see me, I¡¯ll bear the consequences.¡± The receptionist wanted to continue snubbing Gwendolyn, but thetter¡¯s sharp gaze that carried a bone-deep chill petrified her so much that she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. ¡°Remember what you said! All consequences will be on you!¡± Snorting, the receptionist narrated the turn of events to her superior with much embellishment. Throughout it all, her gaze on Gwendolyn grew increasingly arrogant. Truth be told, she couldn¡¯t wait to see thetter being thrown out by security. Unfortunately, things didn¡¯t go as she wished. Her smile gradually froze, and utter astonishment nketed her features. Judging from her expression, Gwendolyn could more or less guess what was being said on the phone. Sneering, Gwendolyn questioned, ¡°Which floor?¡± ¡°The top floor, l-level 27¡­¡± After obtaining the exact floor number, Gwendolyn took the elevator with her suitcase in tow without a backward nce. The receptionist gaped at her back, wholly floored. Whoa! Who exactly is she that the CEO¡¯s assistant, Mr. Holtzer, spoke of her so deferentially? Could it be that she¡¯s¡­ the CEO¡¯s lover? No, I¡¯ve got to tell everyone this shocking piece of gossip! Meanwhile, no one stopped Gwendolyn when she arrived on the top floor. The instant she pushed open the door to the CEO¡¯s office, the man sitting on the couch stood up and walked toward her. He was dressed in a dark blue suit, looking regal and dignified. When his eyes fell on Gwendolyn, even his eyes danced with joy. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Kiddo. Congrattions on your divorce.¡± As he spoke, his baritone voice brimmed with indulgence. ¡°Treyton?¡± In a heartbeat, Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes turned red-rimmed, surprise flooding her. Never had she imagined that the current CEO of Angle Corporation would turn out to be her third eldest brother, Treyton Harris. Instantly flinging her suitcase away, she rushed forward and hugged Treyton. ¡°Did you miss me, Treyton?¡± She buried her head in his chest. It¡¯s been six years since west saw each other, but she¡¯s still the same little girl who loves acting cute with me. Treyton stroked her hair smilingly, gripped by the urge to give her all the best things in the world. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯ve finally gotten a divorce. What gives the Wright family the right to pick on the beloved heiress of Harris Group and our little princess?¡± Noticing that her brother¡¯s expression had gone icy, Gwendolyn hurriedly changed the subject. ¡°Treyton, I signed an agreement with Dad. He wants me to boost Angle¡¯s profits by five percent compared to the previous year! You¡¯ve got to help me!¡± She spread her fingers in a figure of five and exaggeratedly brandished it before Treyton. Treyton led her to the couch before replying, ¡°An increment of five percent is indeed a tad difficult for you, but Dad has also forbidden me from helping you to cheat. As such, I can only help you with the executions. The decisions must be yours alone.¡± At once, Gwendolyn¡¯s face fell. Gah! Treyton is a man who holds the survival of over half the entertainment industry in the palm of his hands. He can shake up the entire industry with a flick of his finger, and his entertainmentpanies have even expanded abroad. A mere phone call from him could have the profits of this production company, Angle, soar by ten percent. Yet, Dad had even rightly predicted that I was going to cheat! This is no different from backing me into a dead-end! At the sight of her long face, Treyton pinched her soft cheeks while chuckling. ¡°Silly girl! It¡¯s good for you to have more practice. Since you¡¯re here, I should be stepping down as the interim CEO.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t be in a hurry to do that,¡± Gwendolyn objected. Her protest had bemusement swamping Treyton. ¡°Why?¡± Gwendolyn rubbed her chin, looking as though she was deep in contemtion. A momentter, she threw her brother a wink. ¡°I¡¯ve got a great suggestion. Why don¡¯t you hear me out, Treyton?¡± Fixing his gaze on her sly expression, Treyton plunged into a trance. An hourter, the two of them reached a consensus. Within five minutes, everyone in Angle Corporation received an urgent notice. Apparently, thepany would soon have a mysterious talent director. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Kept Hidden Away for Years An uproar erupted in the building. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Right as Jade, the receptionist, said in the group chat that she had just weed a woman who seemed like Treyton¡¯s lover, a talent director joined thepany. Hence, the people began wondering if the talent director was Treyton¡¯s lover. What they did not know was that theirpany had changed ownership. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn saw her visit as a secret visit. First of all, she had never dabbled in the behind-the-scenes part of the entertainment industry, so she was not familiar with the processes involved. Thus, she needed Treyton to walk her through everything properly. Secondly, she was not familiar with the employees of thepany. Sneaking into their ranks and bing their coworker would allow her to know what was going on as quickly and as in-depth as possible. She would then be able to weed out the bad onester on. Right as the people were whispering their spections to each other, Jade, the receptionist working on the ground floor of Angle, was ogling Elisha Holtzer, the assistant. Oh my gosh, Elisha is so handsome! Is he smiling at me? Jade forced down the excitement blooming in her chest before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and shing him a smile she assumed was pretty. ¡°Mr. Holtzer, may I know what I can help you with?¡± Jade¡¯s heart was in her mouth as she thought, Elisha¡¯s looking at me in such an intense way. Is he going to invite me out on a date? In the next second, Elisha¡¯s expression turned cold, and he mercilessly said, ¡°You¡¯ve been fired. Now pack up and leave!¡± ¡°What?¡± Jade¡¯s heart sank to the bottom of her stomach immediately. Oh no. I just lost my job! Who did I cross? Then, a thought popped into the tearful Jade¡¯s mind, and she stiffened. Could it be that woman from earlier? Fury and resentment crossed Jade¡¯s face, and she hastily made a call. Treyton dragged Gwendolyn for a makeover. She was going to attend a banquetter in the evening, and the guests at the event were all socialites and members of the upper-ss society. Soon, it was evening. An upscale banquet was about to begin in Faike¡¯s seven-star hotel, The East. Socialites and CEOs ofpanies were gathered by the hotel entrance, engaging in small talk. All of a sudden, a Lamborghini arrived at the entrance. Then, Maverick led his femalepanion, Natasha Mossey, out of the car. The man exuded elegance andmanded attention, while the woman was gentle and attractive. The crowd began talking louder when the duo appeared. ¡°Wow, Mr. Wright¡¯s handsome. Who¡¯s the woman beside him? She¡¯s charming!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think that the two of them seem like a match made in heaven? I¡¯m so jealous!¡± ¡°Is she the wife he has kept hidden from the public eye for three years? This is so sweet!¡± Natasha lifted her chin proudly when she sensed the envious gazes of the others. She was the illegitimate child of the Mossey family, and she had been looked down upon by the socialites who thought that they were above all others since she was young. But did that matter? Maverick was destined to marry her, and she was going to be someone admired by others in upscale events like this. In fact, she was going to be the number-one socialite in Faike in the near future. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s Mr. Harris of Angle!¡± Right as Natasha was enjoying the attention on her, anothermotion broke out. The next thing she saw was a globally limited edition Rolls-Royce Dawn slowing down before her. Treyton was the first toe out of the car. The tall man of a hundred and eighty-eight centimeters instantly made the socialites around him gasp when he raked his gaze across them. He then smiled and turned around before reaching out to the other person in the car. He¡¯s famous for keeping his distance from the opposite sex, but he brought a femalepanion with him this time? Curious, the people began craning their necks to look inside the car. What greeted them first was a pair of slender, fair legs. On her feet was a pair of expensive ck diamond heels, and in the next second, they saw a woman with a great figure in a custom-made ck mermaid gown stepping out of the car. When the woman raised her head, the breaths of the crowd were taken away. She was stunning¡ªher beauty was so out of this world that people would not dare toe close to her for fear of making her mortal. In the meantime, Natasha, who was standing right in front of the duo, was shocked to her core. Treyton¡¯spanion is¡­ ¡°Gwendolyn?¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Cuckolded Upon hearing her name, Gwendolyn turned toward Natasha expressionlessly. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. She had guessed that Maverick and Natasha would be at the event, but ever since Maverick asked for her apology back at the mansion, Gwendolyn had already given up on him. Now, to her, Maverick was no one but a man who meant little to her¡ªhe was just her ex-husband. A polite smile then grew on Gwendolyn¡¯s lips before she hooked her arm around Treyton¡¯s and walked over to greet Natasha. At that, Natasha subconsciously turned to look at Maverick. Maverick¡¯s gaze was fixed on Gwendolyn as well. It seemed like he was bewildered, too, but the look in his eyes was a dark one. He did feel a little guilty about what happened in the day. However, he was in disbelief at how she had aplete makeover and was with another man a few hours after the incident. Still, he had to admit that the Gwendolyn of that moment was ravishing to the point his heart was skipping beats. He never knew that his wife could be that gorgeous in their three years of marriage. Could it be that Treyton¡¯s her new man? We just divorced this morning, but she already has another man by her side? What the h*ll is with that speed? Maverick was confounded, and the look he had in his dark eyes only turned colder. It was a precursor to his eventual angry outburst. Therefore, he kept ring at Gwendolyn as she walked over to him with Treyton, waiting for her to give him a good exnation. Yet, right as they were about to reach him, they turned and started exchanging pleasantries with the CEO of Wundor. In other words, they were paying him no mind at all. Treyton¡¯s hostile to me too? Maverick¡¯s expression was getting darker and darker while Natasha was tensing up. She had prepared to hurl words of provocation just a moment ago, but Gwendolyn had ignored her, so she had no choice but to swallow those words back down. Maverick¡¯s little sister, Sheralyn, was at the banquet too. She was initially having champagne in the hall, and she only came over upon hearing themotion at the entrance. She then walked over to Natasha and gently nudged thetter¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Natasha, how did that b*tch get in here?¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw Sheralyn, and she whispered, ¡°Do you know about this, Sheralyn? Gwendolyn and Mave got divorced this morning. Who would have thought she would find another man to back her so quickly? She has my blessings for that.¡± Sheralyn scowled. ¡°Blessings my foot!¡± Sheralyn then shot a resentful re at Gwendolyn, who was socializing with Treyton. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she got another man to take her to a high-end ce like this right after getting divorced in the morning. That b*tch must have cheated before she even got a divorce from my brother. How dare she cuckold him? I¡¯m going to skin her alive!¡± Sheralyn was quick-tempered, and immediately, she stormed toward Gwendolyn. Natasha pretended to fail to stop Sheralyn as a small smile sneakily appeared on her lips. ¡°Sir!¡± Sheralyn cried out. Treyton turned around. When Sheralyn took in his appearance, she froze. There¡¯s actually a man in Faike who¡¯s on par with my brother in terms of looks? At that very moment, Sheralyn¡¯s jealousy and wrath toward Gwendolyn reached their peak. ¡°You are?¡± Treyton nced at her indifferently. With a smile, Gwendolyn leaned closer to Treyton¡¯s ear and exined, ¡°She used to be my sister-in- law, and she¡¯s the most conceited person in the Wright family.¡± Hearing that, Treyton¡¯s expression turned icier. Even though Gwendolyn had leaned in to talk to Treyton, she was not whispering at all. Hence, Sheralyn heard everything the other woman said, and the intimate way Treyton and Gwendolyn were interacting only fueled her anger. Still, a handsome man was standing before her, so she schooled her features and pretended to give Treyton a bit of advice out of the kindness of her heart. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t be fooled by this woman. She was married before! Also, she¡¯s no socialite. She¡¯s just a liar who grew up in an orphanage. She¡¯s a scheming woman who even used to be in a rtionship with my grandpa. She¡ª Ah!¡± A shriek was heard along with the sound of a p. The entire hall fell silent. Sheralyn held her cheek and widened her eyes at Gwendolyn. ¡°You hit me?¡± Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Toyed by A Woman ¡°That is correct. It¡¯s because you speak foul words.¡± Gwendolyn nonchntly rubbed her palm before mockingly continuing, ¡°It looks like the Wright family doesn¡¯t educate their children well. The daughter of the Wrights only knows how to speak disgusting nonsense. Also, so what if I was married? Are there any rules stating that those who were married are banned from attending the event? Are you telling me that your brother never married before? You were trying to ruin my reputation with what you just said, and I can sue you for that.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Sheralyn was livid. She had just been pped and insulted in public; both she and her family had just been shamed. Most importantly, the one who hit her was Gwendolyn, the woman who she could bully without suffering any consequences in the past. It was utterly humiliating. ¡°B*tch, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± With that, Sheralyn dashed over, baring her teeth as she reached out to grab Gwendolyn¡¯s hair. At that, Treyton quickly pulled Gwendolyn into his arms and spun her around. At the same time, Maverick rushed toward them. With a frown on his face, he stared at Sheralyn and questioned, ¡°How long do you n to keep up with this foolish act? Apologize now.¡± Original content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Maverick, I¡¯m your sister! This b*tch just hit me, yet not only are you not going to teach her a lesson for that, but you¡¯re even siding with her and asking me to apologize?¡± By then, Maverick looked positively furious. He warned, ¡°I have eyes; I know who¡¯s in the wrong and who¡¯s not. I will only say this onest time: Apologize now.¡± Sheralyn deted. But she still felt that there was nothing wrong with her cursing at Gwendolyn. She just wanted everyone to find out Gwendolyn¡¯s true nature. What have I done wrong? The more she thought about it, the more upset she became. Right as she parted her lips to argue, Natasha hugged her. ¡°Sheralyn, Mave¡¯s really angry now. He¡¯s doing this for your sake too. He can¡¯t let Gwendolyn sue you, right? We¡¯re smart girls, and we know when to go forward and when to not. We still have a long way to go, okay?¡± Natasha whispered, emphasizing thest sentence. Sheralyn finally calmed down and muttered, ¡°Sorry.¡± Then, her face turned bright red, and she fled the scene. Natasha cast a reassuring look at Maverick before hurrying after Sheralyn. Themotion was over, atst. Even though the people¡¯s gossiping nature had been awakened by what Sheralyn said earlier, they all knew that neither Treyton nor Maverick were people they could afford to cross. Hence, the previous atmosphere returned to the banquet, for no one dared to discuss what had just happened. As Treyton stared in the direction Sheralyn ran off to, he frowned and asked, ¡°Are you going to let her go so easily? Do you want me to find someone and discreetly give her a beating in revenge?¡± Augh escaped Gwendolyn, and she nudged his shoulder. ¡°What revenge? I¡¯m not angry at all. She¡¯s only spouting rubbish. Unlike her, I got a good deal pping her earlier.¡± Treyton was speechless. Why am I suddenly getting the feeling that my dear princess is a fiercedy? Meanwhile, Maverick, who was socializing with the others after themotion, kept looking in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction from the corner of his eyes. When he saw her smiling sweetly at Treyton, a wave of annoyance washed over him. However, he had no idea why he felt that way. He guessed it was because it was his first time getting toyed with by a woman. Dozens of minutester, Natasha returned to the hall with Sheralyn. It seemed like Sheralyn had touched up on her makeup, for the red mark on her left cheek had been covered up. When she came back, she quietly and meekly stood behind Maverick with Natasha. It was only once in a while she shot a vicious re at Gwendolyn. Midway through the banquet, the dance began. Many CEOs started dancing with their female companions on the dance floor. Natasha was excited. She was looking forward to Maverick holding her hand and inviting her to dance. Indeed, right as she thought about that, Maverick stood up. The excitement in Natasha¡¯s eyes turned visible. She could almost imagine how she was going to be in the spotlight on the dance floor. Yet, in the next second, Maverick picked up his ss of red wine and headed to the next table. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Not Worthy Enough Gwendolyn was listening to the music and enjoying the chocte mousse made by a Ferropenian chef who held seven Michelin stars. All of a sudden, a man¡¯srge hand appeared in her line of sight. ¡°Miss, may I know if I can have the honor to invite you to a dance?¡± Gwendolyn raised her head, and when she was greeted by Maverick¡¯s permanently-icy face, she lost her appetite. Their eyes met. Maverick¡¯s heart skipped a beat. It was his first time studying Gwendolyn¡¯s face in such close proximity. He finally realized how the features on her brilliant face were all in the perfect positions and in perfect sizes. He never knew how beautiful his ex-wife was. Her eyes, especially. It was as if stars had been ced in them. It made her look lively and strong with a hint of stubbornness. Maverick found himself lost in her eyes. Furthermore, it felt as if he had seen those eyes somewhere else before. While he was lost in his thoughts, Gwendolyn smiled tauntingly as disdain crept into her eyes. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Wright. You¡¯re not worthy enough to dance with me.¡± The people who passed by the table were taken aback by Gwendolyn¡¯s response. She¡¯s too arrogant! Did she just say that the top man in Faike isn¡¯t¡­ worthy enough for her? Maverick narrowed his eyes almost immediately, and the thoughts of the sense of familiarity were cast aside. Nevertheless, he continued to reach out for her and replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s just a dance. You can¡¯t possibly be afraid, can you, Ms. Shalders?¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes as well. Does he not know how to take no as an answer? How can he be such a douchebag? Does he notOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org. understand what I just said to him? When their eyes met again, sparks were flying. At the growing tension in the air, Treyton stood up, his lips curled. ¡°Gwendolyn¡¯s my femalepanion, so why would you insist on taking her away from me, Mr. Wright?¡± He then slowly pushed Maverick¡¯s hand away before ncing at the side. ¡°Mr. Wright, perhaps it¡¯d be better for you to invite your partner to dance instead? She¡¯ll be jealous otherwise.¡± Yet, Maverick merely stood there, not moving an inch. Irritated, Gwendolyn whispered something to Treyton before leaving the hall to take a stroll in the hotel¡¯s garden instead. Maverick tried to go after her, but Treyton towed him away to talk to some other CEOs. Although Natasha and Sheralyn could not hear what Gwendolyn and Maverick had said, they could see the ¡°loving¡± look Gwendolyn and Maverick had shared. Thus, Sheralyn red at Gwendolyn and hissed, ¡°They¡¯ve already gotten a divorce, but that b*tch is still clinging to my brother!¡± In contrast, Natasha was tearing up. ¡°Gwendolyn¡­ Maybe she really does like Mave. If Mave did grow feelings for her throughout those three years, then I¡­ I¡¯ll step out of this and let them be together instead.¡± As she spoke, she began sobbing. Sheralyn panicked when she heard that Natasha was going to give up on her brother. ¡°Natasha, don¡¯t! How can you give up? You¡¯re the only sister-inw I approve of. That b*tch! I hate her so much! As long as I¡¯m around, I¡¯ll never let her join the Wright family ever again!¡± Nheless, not only did Natasha not stop sobbing, but she even started hupping. She looked like the epitome of misery. ¡°But, Sheralyn, what else can I do?¡± Sheralyn gave Natasha a long look as she gritted her teeth before turning to nce in the direction Gwendolyn had left. After a while of contemtion, an idea formed in her head. ¡°Natasha, leave this to me. I¡¯ll make sure that that wench¡¯s reputation is destroyed. That way, she¡¯ll never have the right topete for Maverick with you.¡± ¡°Sheralyn, what are you nning to do?¡± At that, Sheralyn inched toward her ear and whispered. Natasha blinked. ¡°Can this¡­ really work?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be seeing the fantastic results soon!¡± With that said, Sheralyn grinned wickedly and strode toward the garden. Once she was gone, Natasha dropped her miserable look as a tinge of delight danced across her eyes. Sheralyn¡¯s dumb and easy to manipte. She stepped into my trap so quickly. I hope she won¡¯t let me down. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Leaving Faike In the garden, Gwendolyn was standing next to the fountain and getting some fresh air with her arms folded. If I didn¡¯te out for some fresh air, I might have actually suffocated from the disgusting atmosphere inside. ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± Suddenly, a piercing voice rang out from behind her. Gwendolyn then turned around to see Sheralyn walking toward her haughtily. ¡°What¡¯s up? Are you looking for more ps? Wasn¡¯t the one before painful enough?¡± Gwendolyn taunted while looking away indifferently. Sheralyn was infuriated by those words, and she wanted nothing more than to tear Gwendolyn apart. Nevertheless, for the sake of her n, she had to clench her fists and endure it. Sheralyn then whipped out a bank card from her Louis Vuitton bag and handed it to Gwendolyn. In a sympathetic tone, she said, ¡°There¡¯s three hundred thousand in here. As long as you can promise not to appear in front of my brother again and leave Faike for good, the money is all yours.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows and nced at the bank card in Sheralyn¡¯s hand with an odd look. Three hundred thousand? That¡¯s peanuts! Does she seriously think that¡¯s enough to send me away? Sheralyn noticed the change in Gwendolyn¡¯s expression, so she thought thetter was tempted. Overjoyed, Sheralyn said, ¡°Since you were raised in an orphanage, I think it¡¯s safe to say you¡¯ve never seen that much money in your life. Unlike you, I usually spend that much within a week. I think you need the money more than I do. I remember you asking for money from my mom back then, but she didn¡¯t lend it to you. Isn¡¯t this great news for you? With the money avable on the card, you¡¯ll be able to buy anything you want. Well? Do you want it or not?¡± At that moment, Sheralyn¡¯s eyes were gleaming with excitement. Take the money! Take it! Sheralyn was full of confidence because she knew that back when Gwendolyn was in the Wright residence, Frida would withhold Gwendolyn¡¯s allowance. That was why Gwendolyn could never afford branded clothing when she stayed in the Wright residence. Since she¡¯s so poor, she¡¯s surely going to ept my money. Once she epts it, I¡¯ll tell everyone my money was stolen. After that, I¡¯m going toContent ? N?velDrama.Org. apprehend her before getting the police to lock her up. Upon getting her locked up, I¡¯ll bribe the officers in the detention center and get people to beat her up. If she has a criminal record of theft, she will never get back on her feet in life! With that thought in mind, Sheralyn could barely conceal the excitement in her eyes. ¡°Take the money. It was my mistake just now, and I¡¯m offering you my apology. This time around, I¡¯m sincere. I know you¡¯re strapped for cash. Just take it.¡± Gwendolyn tilted her head and sized Sheralyn up. Right away, she knew what Sheralyn was up to. In response, Gwendolyn merely shook her head mockingly. She then took out her phone to send Elisha a text saying: When I came in the car just now, I left my Centurion Card in my bag. Go to the bank and withdraw a million for me, will you? I¡¯m in the garden. Be quick. Approximately two secondster, she received a reply: Got it! I¡¯ll be there in two minutes! Upon getting the reply, Gwendolyn casually sat down on the tform of the fountain. Sheralyn was annoyed when she saw that Gwendolyn was ignoring her. ¡°Hey! Did you even hear what I said?¡± Gwendolyn rubbed her templesnguidly and answered, ¡°Give me a few minutes, will you?¡± ¡°What?¡± Sheralyn was baffled. ¡°What are you waiting for? I know Treyton is all over you at the moment, but he¡¯s merely toying with you. Did you really think a rich, handsome, and influential man like Treyton would actually want to marry you?¡± As Sheralyn tried to influence Gwendolyn, Elisha arrived with a ck suitcase. While bowing respectfully to Gwendolyn, Elisha passed the suitcase to Gwendolyn and said, ¡°Here you go.¡± Sheralyn was dumbfounded when she saw a stranger appearing out of nowhere. On the other hand, Gwendolyn rose to her feet, took the suitcase from Elisha, and smiled gleefully at Sheralyn. A cold glint shed across Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes when she uttered, ¡°Since you¡¯ve already said so much, it¡¯s my turn to speak.¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Triple Sheralyn was utterly baffled by Gwendolyn¡¯s smile. As for Gwendolyn, she opened the suitcase, grabbed a stack of cash, and threw it at Sheralyn¡¯s face. Sheralyn was still in a daze when she saw something being thrown at her before feeling the pain in her face. In the next second, a whole suitcase of cash was thrown over her head, and banknotes were raining down on her. Consequently, the floor was littered with banknotes. Sheralyn was stunned. Seeing that, Gwendolyn smirked. ¡°Here¡¯s a million. As long as you¡¯re willing to leave the Wright family and change yourst name, the money is all yours. Well? Do you want it or not? This is a few times more than what you offered me!¡± ¡°You!¡± Sheralyn was livid. As she began heaving, her eyes were filled with rage. How dare this b*tch throw money at my face! On top of that, she even used my words against me! ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a used b*tch! How dare you unt the money you made by sleeping with men! Argh! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Sheralyn gritted her teeth and dashed toward Gwendolyn in a rage. Elisha immediately stood in front of Gwendolyn, but she pushed him aside instead. Since no one was standing in her way, Sheralyn quickly reached out to grab Gwendolyn¡¯s hair. Before Sheralyn could reach her hair, Gwendolyn swiftly held the former¡¯s hand and locked it behind her back. Refusing to ept defeat, Sheralyn raised her other hand and took a swing at Gwendolyn¡¯s face. s, Gwendolyn managed to pin her other hand as well. With both her hands locked behind her back, Sheralyn was unable to move. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Gwendolyn¡¯s movements were swift, and she was calm and unruffled. In actual fact, all the children from the Harris family had to go through physical training. If they were to fight, they could easily defeat five people on their own. Since Gwendolyn was a girl, she was never strong enough to fight against her brothers. Therefore, her father specifically let her train in jiu¨Cjitsu. When she was twelve, she had already received her ck belt. It was just that she had been tolerating the Wright family that she never used her fighting skills on anyone. Ha! Did Sheralyn really think she could take on me? By the time Sheralyn realized she had been restrained, she couldn¡¯t ept it. In retaliation, she started screaming at the top of her lungs and cursing at Gwendolyn. ¡°Ah! B*tch! I¡¯m going to kill you! I¡¯ll turn you into ashes! You¡¯re nothing but a sleazy b*tch!¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Sheralyn was swearing and shouting endlessly. 1/2 Hearing that, Gwendolyn frowned and stated, ¡°It seems like I need to wash those profanities out of your mouth.¡± With that, Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze turned vicious, and with one hand holding both Sheralyn¡¯s arms, Gwendolyn grabbed the back of thetter¡¯s neck with the other hand. In the next moment, Gwendolyn shoved Sheralyn¡¯s face against one of the water pumps in the fountain. Sheralyn struggled with all her might, but no matter what she did, she couldn¡¯t shake off Gwendolyn¡¯s grip. When did this b*tch get so strong? The water from the fountain sshed all over her face, and the more she struggled, the more the water got into her nose. At that point, she started choking and coughing, and she was on the verge of cking out. Noticing that Sheralyn was no longer struggling, Gwendolyn wanted to let go of Sheralyn. Right before she could do that, she heard someone shouting from behind her. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Gwendolyn turned her head and met Maverick¡¯s furious gaze. Gwendolyn then let go of Sheralyn at once, and Sheralyn ended up slumping on the ground. Upon seeing that, Natasha instantly ran toward Sheralyn to help her up. However, she missed and they both ended up on the ground. At the moment, Sheralyn¡¯s makeup was a mess, her hair was drenched, and her eyeliner was smudged. Looking like an ugly duckling, she sat there coughing violently. On the other hand, Gwendolyn was calmly standing there with her arms crossed. Her hair and makeup remained perfect, and she looked exceptionally elegant. Due to how loud Sheralyn had shouted before, numerous people went to the garden to see what was going on. While most were stunned by the sight of banknotes all over the ground, some were discreetly picking up banknotes to keep for themselves. Out of sympathy, everyone assumed that Gwendolyn was the bully, and they were all staring at her and waiting for her to exin herself. Naturally, Maverick was no exception. With a grim expression, he stared at Gwendolyn and questioned, ¡°What on earth happened here?¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Jealousy Gwendolyn stretched her gorgeous neck while gazing at Sheralyn. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask her?¡± With her face reddened due to the coughing, Sheralyn could only point at Gwendolyn angrily without being able to utter a single word. Upon seeing that, Natasha looked at Gwendolyn in disappointment and uttered in a heartbroken tone, ¡°Gwendolyn, no matter what, Sheralyn is considered half a sister to you. Although what she said at the entrance of the hotel wasn¡¯t pleasant to hear, she had already apologized to you. How could you be so vengeful? She¡¯s just a girl. You were so kind back then, Gwendolyn. How did you change so much?¡± Those words implied that Gwendolyn was merely taking revenge. Hearing that, Sheralyn nodded fervently while coughing and sobbing at the same time, looking extremely aggrieved. Right then, the crowd started whispering among themselves. Since the victim was the daughter of the Wright family, everyone was inclined to side with Sheralyn and oppose Gwendolyn. Instead of saying anything, Maverick simply gazed at Gwendolyn intently the entire time. As a result, Gwendolyn was feeling ufortable, so she snorted. ¡°No one knows your sister¡¯s personality better than you do. Do you really think I was taking my revenge on her?¡± In response, he pursed his lips and kept mum. At the same time, there was an indecipherable look in his eyes. Gwendolyn then smiled mockingly and realized how absurd her words sounded. All these years, Maverick has never believed my words once. Why should I care if he believes me now? Exining myself to him is just a waste of time. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Holding that thought, Gwendolyn wanted to turn around and leave. However, a few socialites, who were Sheralyn¡¯s friends, stepped forward and stopped Gwendolyn. ¡°Hold it! Who says you¡¯re allowed to leave? You¡¯ve just assaulted someone!¡± ¡°Exactly. You ought to exin yourself to Sheralyn before leaving.¡± Gwendolyn scoffed and was about to defend herself. Right then, she saw Treyton pushing his way through the crowd and walking up to her. When those socialites saw Treyton, their eyes lit up, and they wanted to make things worse for Gwendolyn. ¡°Mr. Harris, are you seeing this? This woman is vicious and disgusting!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. Harris. You must seek justice for Sheralyn. Furthermore, a woman like her doesn¡¯t even deserve you.¡± Treyton was expressionless when he loosened his tie and took off his jacket. 1/2 loving manner. ¡°It¡¯ste. Don¡¯t catch a cold,¡± Treyton said. Not only was the crowd stunned by what they saw, but they also stopped bad¨Cmouthing Gwendolyn. Immediately, the socialites were overwhelmed by envy, and all they could think about was tearing Gwendolyn to shreds. Treyton then acted as if no one else was around and put his arm over Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s head home.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in response. The moment the two of them turned around, Natasha grumbled, ¡°Mr. Harris, the truth is that she was bullying Sheralyn. Are you seriously still backing her up?¡± Treyton turned on his heel and met Maverick¡¯s gaze. ¡°Our Kiddo never starts a fuss. If others didn¡¯t mess with her, she would never bother others. If you aren¡¯t convinced, Mr. Wright, perhaps you should check the hotel¡¯s surveince cameras. We¡¯re also willing to get the police involved to get to the bottom of this.¡± The way he addressed her sounded affectionate and intimate. Hence, Maverick was stumped when he heard that. They seem close. Could it be that they had already known each other before the divorce? While clenching his fists, Maverick stared at Gwendolyn, who was in Treyton¡¯s arms, and asked sternly, ¡°Did you wrong me?¡± His words shocked the crowd at the scene. Why did Mr. Wright sound a bit jealous? Hearing that, Gwendolyn found those words amusing. She turned to look at Maverick and answered, ¡°Throughout those three years of marriage, I¡¯ve never wronged you. Perhaps I should be the one asking you that question.¡± With that, Gwendolyn shot Natasha a mocking nce before leaving The East alongside Treyton. The crowd went into an uproar as soon as they heard that. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Elegant Gosh! That¡¯s some shocking news! ording to the rumors, Maverick had a wife of three years that no one knew about. Who would¡¯ve known that the woman would turn out to be Treyton¡¯s partner tonight? Judging by the conversation they had and the fact that Gwendolyn had thrown a nce at Natasha, it seems there is more to it! Right then, the crowd started looking at Natasha differently. Upon seeing what was happening. Natasha panicked. Who would¡¯ve knoren that I would shoot myself in the foot! Now, everyone¡¯s going to wonder if I was a mistress! Noah, Maverick¡¯s assistant, immediately stepped forward to clean up the mess by exining, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand the situation, everyone. Mr. Wright had already divorced Ms. Shalders. Only now is he dating Ms. Mossey. For the Wright family¡¯s sake, please keep what happened tonight to yourselves.¡± Upon getting some further exnations, the crowd finally dispersed. By then, Sheralyn had regained some of her energy. She got up from the ground and gripped Maverick¡¯s sleeve. With her smudged andical¨Clooking eyeliner, she gritted her teeth in resentment and snapped, ¡°Maverick, you must help me. That b*tch bullied me and embarrassed the Wright family. You must teach her a lesson!¡± ¡°Mave, Sheralyn was wronged big time. What are you going to do about Gwendolyn?¡± Natasha chimed 1. in. With his solemn gaze, he nced at both of thedies and said, ¡°Since you insist, let¡¯s check out the surveince footage.¡± With that said, he spun on his heel and left. A sh of anxiety flittered across Sheralyn¡¯s face, and she instinctively nced at a surveince camera on themppost in the garden. There shouldn¡¯t be a problem because it¡¯s going to show that I was bullied. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. With that in mind, she and Natasha followed after Maverick. Before Gwendolyn left, she had said a few words to the manager of The East. Hence, the manager greeted Maverick and the other two respectfully when they showed up. After bringing them to the surveince room, the manager threw a nce at Sheralyn¡¯s messed¨Cup makeup. Sheralyn felt offended, so she fumed, ¡°What are you looking at? Even with my makeup smudged, I still look more elegant than you peasants!¡± Hearing that, the manager dashed away unhappily. Let¡¯s see if you can afford to keep up with that arrogance of yours! In the surveince room, the trio was going through the surveince footage. Only then did Sheralyn find out that the surveince footage had an audio recording. When she heard herself cursing in the footage and assaulting Gwendolyn before getting countered by Gwendolyn, her face turned pale. On the other hand, Maverick¡¯s face was turning grimmer and grimmer. His gaze was so intimidating that Sheralyn immediately cowered the moment she caught a glimpse of it. ¡°Maverick, please hear me out¡­¡± Maverick ignored her and turned to leave. ¡°Maverick!¡± Sheralyn chased after him and uttered in dissatisfaction, ¡°Although my words were harsh, I didn¡¯t harbor ill intentions! Besides, didn¡¯t you see her submerging my face in the fountain? I didn¡¯t even lay a finger on her!¡± In response, Maverick¡¯s face flushed with rage. ¡°Sheralyn, unlike everyone else, I know you. You should know why you pretended to give her money better than anyone else.¡± All of a sudden, Sheralyn¡¯s face was as pale as a sheet. Feeling bitter, she then burst into tears once again. ¡°I was just trying to teach her a lesson! I can¡¯t stand to watch her messing around with you and seducing another man at the same time! I was looking out for you!¡± Maverick went silent as his expression darkened. Sheralyn thought he was wavering, and it delighted her. I should continue striking while the iron is hot. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the intimate interactions between her and Mr. Harris? They must¡¯ve been seeing each other before the divorce! You should teach that slt a lesson, Maverick!¡± Sheralyn paused before adding, ¡°Why don¡¯t we take full advantage of what happened this time around? We should edit the audio recording from the surveince footage and upload it onto the inte. Everyone¡¯s going to scorn her, and her reputation will go down the drain! What do you think, Maverick?¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 I Want Her Dead Maverick¡¯s face darkened utterly. He looked at Sheralyn in disappointment and fury, then remarked, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely ridiculous.¡± Pulling her hand off his sleeve, he ordered, ¡°You¡¯re grounded from today onward. Without my permission, you can¡¯t go anywhere. Do proper self¨Creflection on your actions!¡± With that, he left with Natasha. Sheralyn wanted to go after him but was stopped by Noah. All she could do was wail and beg for mercy. In the end, she was forcefully dragged back into the Wright residence. Enraged, she began smashing things as soon as she got home, making a massive racket in her room. The loud noises awoke Frida, who dashed to Sheralyn¡¯s room to check out the situation. ¡°My dear daughter, what happened? Didn¡¯t you go to attend the banquet? What¡¯s with the mess?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Sheralyn¡¯s sobs filled the air as she pounced into Frida¡¯s embrace. Then, she gave her mother an exaggerated ount of everything that had happened at the banquet. ¡°Mom, you have to seek justice for me! Maverick is so biased. Not only did he not punish that b*tch, but he also grounded me! You must avenge me!¡± Distressed by Sheralyn¡¯s cries, Frida patted her back to calm her down. ¡°How do you want me to help you?¡± she asked. Malice surfaced in Sheralyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°I want her dead!¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn temporarily relocated to Treyton¡¯s mansion since she had yet to find a ce. Original content from N?velDrama.Org. When Flora, the housekeeper, saw Gwendolyn, she was so overwhelmed with excitement and glee that she made a fuss over thetter, eximing about how the young woman had grown up, carrying her luggage to the bedroom and cleaning the room for her. Initially, Gwendolyn wanted to help out, but Treyton made her sit on the couch. ¡°Kiddo, you¡¯re starting work tomorrow. What are your ns?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯ll be as what we discussed earlier. You¡¯ll continue to be the CEO and handle all of thepany¡¯s affairs while I learn the ropes.¡± Treyton contemted quietly for a moment before replying, ¡°All right. Since you don¡¯t want people to find out about your rtionship with me, I won¡¯t be sending you to the office after tomorrow. I got you a limited edition Maserati MC77. It¡¯s a design you will like.¡± ¡°MC77 is too expensive.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head and requested firmly, ¡°A cheap car will be sufficient since I¡¯ll only use it tomute to and from work. If you really want to get me a car, you can give me a Volkswagen Santana.¡± He furrowed his brows. ¡°That isn¡¯t good enough for you.¡± Crinkling her eyes in a smile, she held Treyton¡¯s arm and said in an adorable tone, ¡°Treyton, it¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t n on revealing my identity yet.¡± The person from the Harris family who sabotaged me has gone radio silent since I lost my memory and ended up in Faike. I reckon they¡¯ve yet to know that I¡¯ve been at the Wright residence for the past few years. It¡¯d be too dangerous to reveal my identity before I find out who that person is. As an intelligent man, Treyton could roughly guess her reservations. ¡°My ce has top¨Cnotch security, so you can live here without worry. Nobody will bother you here,¡± he assured her. He seemed to have thought of something as he added, ¡°Oh, right. Asher has been flying to other countries every day recently, and Kieran¡¯s hospital has just epted a patient with a rare illness. Both of them are swamped right now. The news of your divorce delighted them greatly, and they bought you a small gift. I reckon the gift will arrive in a few days.¡± Gwendolyn pouted in disdain. ¡°How can you guys be so ted over my divorce?¡± Despite that, she was curious about the gift. While Kieran was one of the best surgeons with a master¡¯s degree in medicine, Asher was a pilot inmand who owned corporations worldwide and had considerable influence on both sides of thew. Since the two of them had gotten the gift for her, it must be priceless. Noticing how she was swiveling her eyes animatedly, Treyton chuckled and booped her on the nose dotingly before heading upstairs to shower. At midnight, Maverick returned to his mansion after he sent Natasha back to the hotel. The sight of a pitch¨Cck and empty living room was what greeted him when he opened the door. Without Gwendolyn, who always weed him home, the mansion felt incredibly bleak. Unknown emotions swirled in his heart. Having turned on the lights, he sat on the couch and lit a cigarette as he listened to Noah¡¯s report. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Wright. I didn¡¯t manage to find out Ms. Shalders¡® whereabouts. After she left the hotel, she seemed to have vanished into thin air. There are signal interferences with both her phone and ount. Our people have tried many different methods, but we still failed to crack them,¡± Noah exined. Maverick took a puff of the cigarette as his expression darkened. Vanished into thin air? My subordinates are all elite hackers, yet they failed to locate her? Is someone helping her to hide? Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Still Care About Your Ex Maverick then proceeded to guess if Gwendolyn¡¯s disappearance was rted to Treyton. With his brows furrowed, he instructed coldly, ¡°Continue searching. Send some people to investigate Treyton too. Report back to me once you find her.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Noah nodded, but there was a look of defiance on his face. Perplexed to see that he was still standing there, Maverick asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving? Do you have something to tell me?¡± Noah was in a dilemma for a moment because he knew his following words would enrage his boss. Nevertheless, he could not help it. ¡°You¡¯re starting to clude me, Mr. Wright. You and Ms. Shalders are already divorced, yet you still care about her so much and are giving the cold shoulder to Ms. Mossey, the person you should actually have concern for. Just what exactly is on your mind?¡± Maverick¡¯s gaze darkened. He picked up the ss ashtray from the table and threw it toward the spot beside Noah¡¯s feet. ¡°Get lost,¡± he snarled. Noah then left, not ignorant enough to linger. Maverick lit two more cigarettes after that. His expression, enveloped by the curtain of cigarette smoke, seemed inscrutable. Feeling a little hungry, he rose to his feet and walked to the fridge. Once he opened the fridge door, he found that the fridge was stocked with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that he liked. He stood transfixed for a long while. All of a sudden, he vaguely recalled that Gwendolyn¡¯s expectant gaze was what first caught his eyes every time he returned home for the past three years. She woulde up to him smilingly and hand him a pair of slippers before saying, ¡°You¡¯re home. It must have been a long day for you. You¡¯re starving, aren¡¯t you? I made dinner.¡± However, he had never cast a nce at her, always mocking the warm dinner she had prepared before returning to his room. It was a thankless and arduous task, yet that silly woman still did it every day. At that thought, Maverick let out a chuckle. For some strange reason, he felt like tasting the dishes she made. Out of nowhere, thest sentence Gwendolyn said to him before she left the banquet that evening rang in his ears. ¡°Throughout those three years of marriage, I¡¯ve never wronged you.¡± If she has never wronged me, what is going on between Treyton and her, then? A strange feeling arose in Maverick¡¯s heart the second he realized he had been thinking about Gwendolyn nonstop, and he quickly closed the fridge door. Then, he headed upstairs to shower and sleep. Angle Corporation¡¯s lobby was crowded with people the following morning. The employees stood in a few rows as they waited for their CEO to arrive, all the while exchanging curious looks with each other. Half an hourter, Treyton appeared at the entrance of the lobby with Gwendolyn, who specifically picked out an attire consisting of a white zer and pencil skirt for that day. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, making her look sensual yet gracious and capable. Following her appearance, the crowd erupted in an uproar. It was because the scene of Treyton and Gwendolyn walking through the entrance together was a sight for sore eyes. Treyton made his way to the middle of the lobby and announced solemnly, ¡°This is our new talent director, Gwendolyn Shalders, who will be working with us from today onward.¡± Everyone broke out in a massive round of apuse. In acknowledgment of the warm wee, Gwendolyn politely nodded with a smile. Then, Treyton briefly gave arrangements for the short¨Cterm objectives before allowing everyone except the team of managers to return to work. ¡°Suzanna, Gwendolyn is new here. She¡¯s unfamiliar with ourpany¡¯s operations, so please guide her.¡± he instructed. Suzanna was the leader of the team of managers, a woman with a head of brown wavy hair. Although her makeup looked mboyant, she was a beauty with a great figure. Upon hearing Treyton¡¯s words, she nodded fervently and smiled enthusiastically. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Harris. I¡¯ll do my best to guide her!¡± However, the smile on her face instantly disappeared after he left. ¡°Gwendolyn, please follow me,¡± she said, shooting Gwendolyn a nce. Coincidentally, Gwendolyn was looking at Suzanna, so the inconspicuous hint of disgust in thetter¡¯s eyes was perceived by her. It seems that Suzanna doesn¡¯t like me! 9/2 This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Ms. Kleppen, please refer to me as Ms. Shalders,¡± Gwendolyn said. Suzanna¡¯s throat tightened, and her attitude immediately turned respectful. The entire morning, Gwendolyn stayed in her office to familiarize herself with thepany¡¯s operations. Suzanna would bring in new stacks of documents every few minutes, building a mountain of papers on her desk. A pucker formed between Gwendolyn¡¯s brows as she stared at the pile of documents. ¡°Isn¡¯t our department only in charge of the managers and artists? Why are there so many documents?¡± Suzanna snickered and said, ¡°These are only the basic information. There are more after you finish going through this pile.¡± There, she paused and looked at Gwendolyn mockingly. ¡°It seems that you¡¯re not familiar with our job scope, Ms. Shalders.¡± Gwendolyn nodded unabashedly. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s my first time working in such a position.¡± Suzanna¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She was the most qualified person in the department to be promoted to director after the position became vacant following the departure of the previous director. However, thepany suddenly hired some eye candy to fill the position, causing her colleagues to make fun of her behind her back. There was no way she could let that slide. When her gazended on Gwendolyn¡¯s gorgeous face once again, jealousy and resentment filled her eyes. ¡°How did a dead loss like you, who has no prior experience and academic qualification, get into Angle Corporation? Who did you sleep with to get this position?¡± Suzanna demanded. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Toy with Me With her brows still furrowed, Gwendolyn shot Suzanna a re. ¡°Please watch your mouth, Ms. Kleppen. Mr. Harris assigned me to this position personally. If you¡¯re dissatisfied with his decision, you can speak with him about it.¡± Rendered speechless by her response, Suzanna could only stare at her furiously. Gwendolyn remained unfazed and took a sip of her coffee with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m indeed inexperienced, but I¡¯m afraid you don¡¯t have the right to doubt my academic qualification.¡± That evoked a chuckle from Suzanna, who crossed her arms and shot Gwendolyn a mocking look. ¡°Oh? Which diploma mill did you graduate from? Have you gotten your bachelor¡¯s degree? In Angle Corporation, a postgraduate degree is a minimum requirement for one to take up the position of manager or above. Are you qualified?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t attend university, though I earned a doctorate from the University of Marsingfill at fourteen years old by validating a theory because I was too free back then. I wonder if that¡¯s a diploma mill?¡± Gwendolyn nonchntly uttered as if it was a casual conversation concerning an unimportant topic. Despite that, Suzanna stared at her in bewilderment. A look of disbelief was seen on the former¡¯s face. She was awarded a doctorate from the University of Marsingfill when she was only fourteen years old. Is she even human? If the University of Marsingfill is considered a diploma mill, what does that make my alma mater, then? Suzanna¡¯s expression turned grim, yet she still tried her best to maintain herposure. ¡°So what if you¡¯ve got a doctorate from the University of Marsingfill? Working experience is the most important in this industry. It¡¯s hard to say if you can secure this position, Ms. Shalders,¡± she imed, her tone cynical. After saying those words, she sashayed her way out of Gwendolyn¡¯s office. ¡°Stop right there,¡± Gwendolyn called out to her. ¡°What else can I do for you, Ms. Shalders?¡± Gwendolyn looked at Suzanna aloofly. Arching a brow, she said smilingly, ¡°There¡¯s no need to concern yourself about whether I can secure this position. This pile of documents is mixed with five¨Cyear¨Cold annulled information from several other departments. Please remove them and sort out the correct documents for me, Ms. Kleppen.¡± Suzanna¡¯s eyes popped in shock. H¨CHow did she find out? Before I came in, I specially selected some extremelyplicated documents, and part of them is even in Sylvonican. It¡¯s impossible for a newbie to understand them. Although she found it unbelievable, she still stepped forward to take the documents. ¡°Also¡­¡± Gwendolyn called out to Suzanna again. As thetter was slightly annoyed, she gritted her teeth and red at her. ¡°What is it, Ms. Shalders?¡± Gwendolyn stared at Suzanna for a while before shing her a meaningful smile, ¡°Here¡¯s a final reminder to you¨CI¡¯m the director, so please be respectful toward me¡± Suzanna¡¯s face turned as ck as thunder, then she mmed the door and stormed off. Gwendolyn could not help chuckling while shaking her head. I¡¯ve learned such antics ever since I was a teenager. She¡¯s a hundred years too early to y tricks with me. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of Wright Construction Group, Maverick had just finished a meeting when Noah pushed the door open and walked in before handing him a stack of documents, ¡°Mr. Wright, Ms. Shalders has been located. Through investigating Angle Corporation, our people discovered that she suddenly joineil Angle Corporation yesterday, and it seems¡­ that her position is quite significant. Today¡¯s her first day of work,¡± the assistant reported. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. His words caused Maverick¡¯s face to turn grim to the point that it was frightening. She wasted no time in divorcing and joining a newpany. Has Treyton be her sugar daddy? So is this what she meant by having never wronged me? How dare she im she didn¡¯t cheat on me while we were still married? At that thought, his dark eyes zed with rage. That was when he shockingly realized he had been cuckolded by her, She¡¯s the first to have the guts to toy with me! ¡°Send me the address of Angle Corporation,¡± Maverick demanded. ¡°Huh?¡± Noah fell into a momentary daze before finally making sense of his words. ¡°Will do, Mr. Wright.¡± Gwendolyn, who was familiarizing herself with the documents in her office, sneezed several times all of a sudden. Is someone badmouthing me? I bet it¡¯s Sheralyn who got tricked badly by me yesterday. Shortly after, she dismissed her thoughts and focused on her work. It only took her a day to remember all the details of the documents, a task that would have taken other people three days toplete. When Suzanna noticed Gwendolyn could get off work on time, she was so infuriated that she broke her lipstick. Gwendolyn massaged her sore shoulders as she took the elevator down to the parking lot. However, she soon found herself in the face of a problem. Uh¡­ I came with Treyton this morning. My new car had just been parked in the parking lot in the afternoon, but he forgot to tell me where the spot was. How am I supposed to find it? Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Poorer Than Me Gwendolyn tried to locate her car by pressing the unlock button on the car key on each level of the parking lot. Twenty minutester, she finally found her new car. While looking at the turquoise¨Cpainted car, she rubbed her chin and tutted. Although this car is an old model, it is pleasant to look at and practical. Most importantly, its color is¡­ shy! I like it! She could not wait to drive the new car. Suddenly, a woman¡¯s shrill voice was heard from behind her. ¡°Oh my, isn¡¯t this our amazing Ms. Shalders? Let me see what car you drive.¡± Smiling, Suzanna shuffled close to take a look. After checking out Gwendolyn¡¯s car, she curled her lips in disdain. ¡°I thought it would be some fancy car, but it turned out to be a mere Volkswagen Santana. Why didn¡¯t you buy a good car to reward yourself when you¡¯ve be a director, Ms. Shalders?¡± However, Gwendolyn was not at all bothered by herment. ¡°Car is just for transportation. Its practicality is what matters to me,¡± she replied with a smile. Suzanna rolled her eyes in response. Practicality, my foot. It sounds impressive and all, but I bet it¡¯s just an excuse. At the end of the day, it¡¯s merely because she¡¯s poor. At that point, her ego was boosted, causing the frustration she received from Gwendolyn in the morning to dissipate. Anyway, at least this b*tch is poorer than me! She flicked her wavy hair before stepping forward to hold Gwendolyn¡¯s arm as if they were close to each other. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I just got a new car recently. Would you mind checking it out for me?¡± Without waiting for Gwendolyn¡¯s reply, she brought her to a parking space nearby. Gwendolyn tilted her head and saw a roadster¨Cthe BMW Z4. At first nce, the design looked good. However, it was not practical tomute by it. That car was wholly for showing off. When Suzanna noticed Gwendolyn did not take more than a nce at the car and appeared disdainful, she let out a cold snort. ¡°Ms. Shalders, this is probably your first time seeing this type of sports car, right? It is BMW¡¯stest model this year, the Z70. Even the most basic specs cost one and a half million. I¡¯ve spent a significant sum to purchase it,¡± she scoffed. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn knitted her brows. How could this car be Z70? Having caught the change in Gwendolyn¡¯s expression, Suzanna assumed her remark had agitated her, so she lifted her chin proudly. ¡°No offense, but you ought not to drive a shabby car since you¡¯re a director. Celebrities will oftene back to visit an entertainmentpany like Angle Corporation. Your cheap car is a dishonor to ourpany.¡± Gwendolyn sneered as she shook her head. With her light makeup and red lips, she appeared even more alluring when she smiled. 1 ¡°I¡¯mughing at your dumbness. You can¡¯t even differentiate between a Z4 and a 270, yet you¡¯re still showing off here.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Gwendolyn¡¯s words dumbfounded Suzanna, who stared back at her with a stern expression. Gwendolyn walked toward the back of Suzanna¡¯s BMW before grabbing thetter¡¯s hand to touch the exhaust pipe. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Suzanna yelled. Then, Gwendolyn raised Suzanna¡¯s hand before thetter¡¯s eyes. ¡°Take a close look at it. The stain on the exhaust pipe is old. If it¡¯s new, they won¡¯t be in this color.¡± Suzanna hurriedly took out a wet tissue to clean her hand. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± she questioned in disbelief. ¡°I guess you¡¯re really dumb.¡± Gwendolyn snorted and exined, ¡°This car is not a Z70. It¡¯s an old model from three years ago, the Z4. Besides, it¡¯s a used car with the most basic specs, which costs at most three hundred fifty thousand. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can find out by getting a professional appraiser to examine the car.¡± Suzanna¡¯s eyes popped in shock, yet she shook her head. ¡°No way! It can¡¯t possibly be a secondhand Z4! You¡¯re speaking ill of my car on purpose because you¡¯re jealous of me. Do you think I¡¯ll fall for your trick?¡± Upon hearing Suzanna¡¯s response, Gwendolyn felt that the former was hopeless. Seriously? I can¡¯t believe she still thinks I¡¯m talking nonsense. ¡°Judging from your words, I suppose you didn¡¯t buy this car yourself. Am I right?¡± she uttered. There, she paused for a moment. As though she thought of something, she queried in a serious tone, ¡°Suzanna, which executive from ourpany did you sleep with?¡± The color drained from Suzanna¡¯s face in an instant, but she soon pushed Gwendolyn away lividly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. You¡¯re ridiculous!¡± Immediately afterward, she drove off. As Gwendolyn watched Suzanna leave in a hurry, she became even more convinced that her guess was correct. At that, she narrowed her eyes. How could such a corrupted higher¨Cup exist in the company? If I find out who it is, he¡¯s going to be sorry! Then, she withdrew her gaze and turned around to return to her Volkswagen Santana. Just as she opened the car door, arge hand with slender and bony fingers pressed on it. The familiar, deep yet cold voice of a man rang out from behind her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he buy you a good car?¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 The Provoker and The One Being Provoked Gwendolyn subconsciously furrowed her brows when she heard that voice. The instant she looked over her shoulder, she met Maverick¡¯s obsidian eyes, ¡°May I know why you are here at Angle Corporation¡¯s underground parking lot, Mr. Wright?¡± she queried. The man quirked his lips into a half¨Csmile. ¡°I¡¯m here to talk business with Mr. Harris. What¡¯s the matter? Is there a regtion stating that I¡¯m not allowed here?¡± His remark evoked augh from Gwendolyn. What sort of weak excuse is that? ¡°Wright Construction Group¡¯s main line of business is property construction, which is quite unrted to the entertainment industry, I must say. Unless you are here to promote your property to ourpany¡¯s artists?¡± Undeterred by his presence, she looked Maverick straight in the eye, not bothering to mask the mockery in her gaze. The look in her eyes annoyed him, and his face hardened instantly. A beatter, he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her backward, pinning her against the car door. With that, Gwendolyn was enveloped in his arms. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she demanded, finding herself unable to move as his knees were pressed against her thighs. This is such an awkward position¡­ The close¨Cto¨Czero distance between them and the suggestive atmosphere made Gwendolyn flush involuntarily. As she struggled to free herself, she gave Maverick a deadly stare. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Maverick Wright? Have you lost your mind?¡± His dark eyes were riveted to her. It was as if he was looking at his prey which was unwilling toply. ¡°What¡¯s up with this new car of yours? Especially the color¨Cgreen? You¡¯re acting all arrogant now that Treyton is your backer, huh? Are you doing this on purpose to cow me?¡± he snarled. What¡¯s wrong with the color green? What kind of color discrimination is that? Despite her inward grumble, Gwendolyn did not speak a word. ¡°You forced me to divorce you because of him, but it looks like he¡¯s not treating you any better.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes were filled with sarcasm. What the heck? Did he purposefully make a trip here to interrogate me because he thought I wanted a divorce to be together with Treyton? This is utterly ridiculous! Shooting him an odd look, she said, ¡°Mr. Wright, I think you got it wrong. We divorced because you didn¡¯t love me, and I was tired of putting effort into maintaining this marriage one¨Csidedly. It has nothing to do with anyone. However¡­¡± She paused briefly before continuing in a provocative tone, ¡°Mr. Harris is indeed wonderful! He¡¯s more patient, more outstanding, and more handsome than you! You can¡¯t even bepared to a strand of his hair!¡± Sounds familiar? This is how you used to belittle me! The veins on Maverick¡¯s forehead bulged as he became increasingly furious. Gripping her chin upward violently, he thundered. ¡°Are you provoking me on purpose? You want me to do you right here and now?¡± Gwendolyn was equally livid. I am your ex¨Cwife! Do you not know what that means? It means that my matters are none of your business anymore! What right does this jerk have to be angry and threaten me? ¡°Maverick Wright, I repeat, get out of my way!¡± Even so, Maverick did not budge one bit. That had her boiling with rage. So I can¡¯t talk nicely to you, huh? Okay, I¡¯ll have to pull out my trump card, then! Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She swiftly struck out at him, intending to take him down using jiu¨Cjitsu. However, she did not expect him to move faster than her. Huh? Gwendolyn was stunned by Maverick¡¯s reaction. In a sh, he had single¨Chandedly grabbed both her hands, raised them, and pressed them against the roof of her car. Furthermore, he was way stronger than her, rendering it impossible for her to free herself from his grip. ¡°Maverick Wright!¡± Enraged, Gwendolyn screamed his name at the top of her lungs. Her entire face was turning red with anger. A smug smile yed about Maverick¡¯s lips as his dark eyes sparkled with the thrill of getting back at her. It seemed that he enjoyed watching how exasperated and helpless she looked. Gwendolyn had a fierce facial expression akin to that of a lion cub when she was outraged. She looked enchanting and beautiful as she resentfully bit her crimson lip with a defiant look in her bright eyes. Maverick could not help but recall the night in which he was drugged. Amid his daze, he had met her eyes and thought they resembled the young Natasha¡¯s It was at that moment that he became truly aroused. Come to think of it, that night actually felt exceptionally wonderful¡­ His lower body became increasingly warm as he slowly reminisced about that night¡¯s pleasures. Gwendolyn could clearly feel Maverick¡¯s body, which was in close contact with her, gradually stiffening. A particr part of his body felt¨Cwarm, and it was pressing against her abdomen. ¡°Maverick, you¡¯re a sick pervert! Sick scumbag! If you don¡¯t let me go this instant, I¡¯ll take you down with me!¡± Her sudden taunt interrupted Maverick¡¯s train of thought. He regained his senses and shed her a wicked smirk. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything, and I¡¯m already branded as a sick pervert? It looks like I must do something to live up to my reputation!¡± An intimate tension flowed between them, and it seemed like a single movement from either of them would trigger something massive. After Maverick said those words, his gazended on Gwendolyn¡¯s lips. All of a sudden, he bent over, pressing his lips hard against hers. There was a hint of aggression in his eyes, and he seemed determined to punish her for her utterances. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes bulged as an overwhelming sense of humiliation washed over her. ¡°What are the two of you doing?¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 A Fight Without Weapons Gwendolyn was so close to suffocating in such an atmosphere. The whole day of work had her feeling worn out, and at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to end the silent fight between the two men. After loudly clearing her throat twice, she said, ¡°It¡¯ste now, and tomorrow is still a weekday. You two should leave.¡± When Maverick saw Gwendolyn was about to leave, he immediately stepped forward to stop her. However, Treyton shuffled ahead and stood in his way. A glint of coldness shed across the former¡¯s eyes¨Che was warning Maverick to stay back. Maverick could not overstep the mark since he was not in his own territory. All he did was put on a smile as he looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten your dinner, have you? How about we dine together and talk things out?¡± Without hesitation, she turned down his suggestion. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, nor do I want to talk with you.¡± Maverick¡¯s face was as ck as thunder while Treyton chuckled in amusement. As expected of the princess of our household! Feeling as though he had gained the upper hand, Treyton stared Maverick in the eye provocatively. ¡°Kiddo, it¡¯s getting dark. Shall I send you home?¡± he asked Gwendolyn, though his gaze was fixed on the other man. Gwendolyn turned around and saw the two men engaged in another round of staredown. That discovery rendered her speechless. They are at it again¡­ How I wish God could take them away so that I could give my ears a rest. A tired sigh escaped her lips. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can use this chance to familiarize myself with the route home.¡± With that, she got into her Volkswagen Santana in a hurry and fled the scene. Even though she was no longer present, the two men in the parking lot were still at loggerheads with each other. Since Gwendolyn did not ept Treyton¡¯s offer, Maverick felt that he had turned the tables. ¡°It seems like you still don¡¯t understand my ex¨Cwife well, Mr. Harris.¡± Treyton shed him a cold look. ¡°I grew up with her; I know her better than you.¡± At that, Maverick¡¯s expression changed slightly. When Treyton saw the change in his expression, he was delighted. ¡°I advise you to pay more attention to the person close to you. Stop pining for someone you can never be with again.¡± As soon as Treyton finished speaking, he followed Elisha into the elevator. It¡¯s fortunate that I saw them through the surveince cameras as soon as they met and ordered the lowest level of the parking lot to be locked, as well as prohibited the employees from going there. Otherwise, our princess is going to get into troubled waters again. Meanwhile, Maverick stood still in the parking lot. The dim lights cast a shadow over his face, making it hard to read his expression. Noah became more displeased as he watched his boss from afar. Boss actually went against Treyton for Gwendolyn¡¯s sake. Is he not aware that he still cares a lot about Gwendolyn? But is this fair to Ms. Mossey? Ms. Mossey is such a finedy. Because of Boss, she was chased out of the country by Old Mr. Wright. It wasn¡¯t easy for her. Moreover, Boss said he would marry Ms. Mossey and care for her, but now, he¡¯s giving her the cold shoulder. This is so saddening. As those thoughts crossed his mind, the disgruntled assistant sent a text message to Natasha, giving her a brief ount of the carlier incident. I sure hope Ms. Mossey can win Mr. Wright¡¯s heart back after seeing my text! ¡°Noah, let¡¯s go!¡± A thought seemed to have struck Maverick. After calling out to Noah, he got into the car speedily and waited for thetter toe over and drive. With that, Noah collected his thoughts and trotted to the driver¡¯s seat. Gwendolyn had gotten lost. Something was wrong with her navigation application. It kept alerting her that the signal was weak, and on top of that, she happened to be driving on the mostplicated road in Faike. The navigation application was not leading her in the right direction. She had driven on the same route twice. Right then, she inadvertently noticed that the car behind hers seemed familiar. It suddenly urred to her that it had been tailing her since a while ago. Through the rearview mirror, she saw the familiar license te. Maverick¡¯s car? Gwendolyn flew into a rage at that instant. Why is that jerk still following me? She wanted to get out of her car and give that man a good beating before sending him flying to somewhere she could not see. However, it was just a mere wish. After what had happened in the parking lot earlier, she knew that his combat prowess was superior to hers. Since I can¡¯t win against him, I¡¯ll run, then! Gwendolyn picked up speed, nning to switch to a moreplicated path to get rid of him. In Maverick¡¯s car, Noah said, ¡°Boss, our men have interfered with Ms. Shalders¡® navigation application, but she has obviously noticed us, seeing that she¡¯s no longer following the route we set for her. She¡¯s trying to shake us off.¡± Maverick stared fixedly at the green Volkswagen Santana ahead of them. Rage was kindling within him. That green color is so gaudy and attention¨Cgrabbing! Without Treyton obstructing him, he was going to have things his way that time around. From N?velDrama.Org. He swore he would change hisst name if he did not teach the woman a lesson for offending him. CD ¡°Speed up. Find a chance to drive past her car and force her toe to a stop. But only do so when it¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°Noted.¡± The two cars sped on the road. s, Gwendolyn¡¯s Volkswagen Santana was not a match for Maverick¡¯s Lamborghini Hurac¨¢n. Their speeds were not on the same par. Maverick¡¯s car was getting closer, and it was about to pass hers. Gritting her teeth, Gwendolyn focused on the road. There was a traffic light at the junction not far ahead. Having a n in mind, she quirked her lips slyly. Just as she was a meter away from the junction, she abruptly turned her steering wheel and changed lanes. A second before the yellow light switched to the next color, she floored the elerator and swerved left. The traffic light had already turned red by the time Maverick realized her n. ncing at the rearview mirror, Gwendolyn was overjoyed to see that the Lamborghini Hurac¨¢n was forced toe to a stop. It was getting further away from her. Trying to challenge my driving skills? You¡¯re too green for that, Maverick! While she was immersed in the joy of her victory, two ck cars suddenly emerged from the roads on both sides of her. Judging from how they were speeding toward her, she had a hunch that she was going to be forcibly stopped. D To her disbelief, it seemed like someone else had their eye on her. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Never Understood Her Gwendolyn clenched her jaw. Instead of slowing down, she floored the elerator and picked up speed. Her eyes glimmered with a fiery resolve as if she was ready to take them on. Both ck car drivers were taken aback as she drove towards them without hesitation. Two seconds before they were about to bump into each other, the ck cars retreated in unison, allowing Gwendolyn¡¯s Volkswagen Santana to slip away through the small gap between them. Before she could heave a sigh of relief, the ck cars immediately came after her. Gwendolyn wanted to go around in circles to shake them off, but her Volkswagen Santana wasn¡¯t quick enough to do so. She bit her lip, but her heart was unusually calm. Through the rearview mirror, she roughly estimated the number of upants in the ck cars. There were five people in each ck car including the driver. There were ten strong, burly men in total. I¡¯ll be at a disadvantage if the fight continues for too long. If I use my abilities wisely, however, I may have a sixty percent chance of emerging victorious. I¡¯ll have to confront them no matter what. I¡¯m feeling grumpy today, so it¡¯ll feel nice to have a good fight! F*ck it! After making up her mind, she drove her car toward an abandoned building on the outskirts. Her face showed a steely determination as she pulled into the parking lot. The ck cars skidded to a halt behind her, and ten intimidating burly men armed with batons got down. Gwendolyn leaned on her car casually with her arms folded. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. The thugs¡® faces lit up with excitement when they saw her voluptuous figure clothed in a snug white dress. They were convinced they had struck gold by epting this deal. Without fear, Gwendolyn swept her gaze over them and parted her lips to ask, ¡°Tell me. Who sent you here?¡± The thug leader leered at her. ¡°Beautiful, don¡¯t me us for what¡¯s about to happen. me yourself for crossing someone you shouldn¡¯t have.¡± Gwendolyn saw no point in asking who hired them, as they obviously wouldn¡¯t reveal their employer¡¯s identity. Right before them, she kicked off her high heels as her lips curled. A cold gleam filled her eyes as she challenged, ¡°Bring it on!¡± As soon as she said her piece, the ten thugs raised their batons and charged at her. Honk, honk, honk! Not far away, a car started honking loudly. A silver¨Cgrey Lamborghini Huracan drifted seamlessly and appeared in their sight. The driver was no longer Noah. A while ago, Maverick threw Noah out of the car for his poor driving skills and deducted a month of his sry as punishment. Maverick stepped out of the car with a cold expression after it screeched to a halt. His one hundred and eighty¨Ceight centimeters stature exuded an intimidating aura, making him seem like he had ten men behind him even though he was alone. The thugs jaws dropped wide open at the sight of him. Maverick¡¯s dark gaze was zing with fury as he strode past Gwendolyn and aimed a swift kick at one thug. His kick sent the thug flying. The other thugs instantly raised their batons and charged at him. As he was here to save a damsel in distress, Gwendolyn put on her high heels and leaned back against her car to witness the heroic battle that was about to unfold. Naturally, she was thrilled that someone was here to help her. Maverick was swift and merciless. In just a few minutes, he managed to take down most of the thugs. The only man left standing was the leader who red at Maverick warily. He cracked his hands, his gaze as dark and foreboding as the night sky. The leader felt a chill go down his spine being the target of Maverick¡¯s frosty gaze. His legs trembled profusely as he fell to his knees and begged, ¡°Please spare me. I¡¯ll leave right away! I promise I won¡¯t bother thedy anymore. Please spare me¡­¡± Maverick was about to ask questions when Gwendolyn strutted over in her high heels. Grabbing the leader¡¯s cor, she shot him a vicious re and demanded, ¡°Who sent you here?¡± ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know. We usually ept any job as long as the client is willing to pay well. I don¡¯t know who the person is.¡± ¡°You refuse to spill, huh?¡± Gwendolyn raised her arm to give him a tight p. The leader was shocked senseless by Gwendolyn¡¯s harsh p. He took one look at Maverick¡¯s murderous re and wailed, ¡°Gorgeous! No, Goddess! I swear I don¡¯t know anything! The client paid us handsomely to sexually assault you before posting the video of our deed online¡­ Ah!¡± Suddenly, a kick sent him flying straight into a pole. Crack! A cracking sound echoed as the man coughed up blood and lost consciousness. Gwendolyn scowled as she turned over her shoulder to nce at Maverick as he was the one who had delivered the kick. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for him to finish his words?¡± Maverick¡¯s expression was grim. ¡°Seriously? These thugs are unbelievably nasty. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning to let the matter slip.¡± What is wrong with me? When I found out what they intended to do to Gwendolyn, I couldn¡¯t control my rage. Despite our separation, she¡¯s still my ex¨Cwife, and I won¡¯t allow anyone else toy a finger on her. That man deserves death, right? She¡¯s a fool for being too kind. Gwendolyn gave him a frustrated look. ¡°He fainted right after you kicked him, so he didn¡¯t experience any pain at all. You should¡¯ve tortured him while he was conscious. The agony will make him long for death. Kicking him was too light a punishment.¡± Maverick was speechless. It turns out I was wrong. She isn¡¯t kind at all, for she is a vindictive person. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Noah to look into the matter. There¡¯s no need to worry or be afraid,¡± he assured her. Gwendolyn rolled her eyes. Did he see me getting scared? As Gwendolyn was a person of principle, she decided not to mock him if he didn¡¯t pester her. After all, he had helped her to take down the thugs. ncing at the men lying on the ground, she suddenly had a thought and turned to Maverick. ¡°I suggest you find out if your family has anything to do with this. If they¡¯re responsible, I won¡¯t let them get away with it.¡± Maverick nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be partial to them.¡± He paused and regarded Gwendolyn with amusement. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we talk about us now?¡± ¡°Us?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t understand what he was getting at, ¡°Our rtionship came to an end the day we got our divorce certificate. I have nothing to discuss with you.¡± With that, she spun on her heels to get into her car. ¡°Be careful!¡± Maverick hollered. He watched in horror as the thug closest to Gwendolyn rose silently, his baton raised and ready to strike her head. s, he was too far away to stop that from happening. As a result, he panicked for the first time ever in his life. The next¨Csecond, he saw Gwendolyn snatch the baton that the thug had brandished before delivering a kick and throwing him over her shoulder. The thug crashed to the ground with a resounding thud and passed out before he could yell in agony. D After taking care of the attacker, Gwendolyn turned over her shoulder to realize that Maverick still looked flustered. Her lips promptly curled into a provoking smirk. At once, Maverick¡¯s flustered expression turned into one of surprise. He watched as Gwendolyn¡¯s green Volkswagen Santana drove out of sight. His mind kept reying Gwendolyn¡¯s attack and the smirk that had crossed her face before her departure. They had been married for three years, but he thought his wife was a vulnerable puppet without any skills or strength. After their divorce, she kept blowing his mind with all kinds of surprises. It turns out I don¡¯t know her at all. His gaze turned dark as he stared in the direction Gwendolyn left. Through her impressive disy of physical prowess, it is clear that she has had extensive training in jiu¨Cjitsu. The arrogance she exudes speaks to her level of expertise, leading me to believe she is far from an ordinary orphan from Faike Orphanage. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Devil Incarnate or Brat There is more to her story than meets the eye. He was deep in thought when Noah arrived in a taxi. Thetter exhaled sharply when he realized there were a number of men passed out on the ground. Boss didn¡¯t hold back, huh? Maverick nced at him. ¡°Perfect timing. Bring these men back and find out who sent them here.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Noah nodded. ¡°Also, send someone to investigate Gwendolyn. I want a detailed report on her background.¡± ¡°Got it, Boss.¡± It waste at night when Gwendolyn finally pulled up outside the mansion. Treyton was sitting on the couch, waiting for her patiently. After she ryed the events to Treyton, he erupted in anger and dispatched his men to look into the incident. On the way back home, Gwendolyn pondered over the matter. She didn¡¯t have other foes except for the Harris family member who tried to harm her, but that wouldn¡¯t have just sent a few thugs to record a video of her being sexually assaulted. person Thus, she concluded that the Wright family was behind this. As she was afraid that Maverick would act partially after finding out about the truth, she got Treyton to investigate the matter, too. Gwendolyn then went upstairs to take a quick shower before going to sleep. The following morning, she arrived early at thepany. After getting familiar with the details yesterday, she was able to arrange the celebrities¡® schedules today. Suzanna was taken aback by Gwendolyn¡¯s quick learning and didn¡¯t dare to give her any more trouble. The entire morning was uneventful. Feeling content, Gwendolyn stretchedzily. Right after she had lunch, Suzanna barged into her office abruptly. Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Ms. Kleppen, don¡¯t you know you should knock before entering the room?¡± Instead of answering her question, Suzanna threw an iPad on her desk. ¡°Look at what you have done!¡± Gwendolyn retrieved the iPad and realized it was a photo of a celebrity under her management, Joaquin Zipper. The photo showed him flying into a rage at the film set. Fortunately, his manager stopped the photo from getting published. Otherwise, Joaquin would be used of acting like a prima donna. Seeing that, Gwendolyn was speechless. Did he throw a tantrum just because I refused to let him fool around and told him to go to the film set to work instead? ¡°He¡¯s a popr idol, and all he did was ask for a day off. However, you denied his leave, and now he¡¯s mad. You¡¯ve offended the devil incarnate. I¡¯m not going to clean up after this mess you¡¯ve made!¡± Suzanna sneered with her arms folded. Gwendolyn closed the lid of the iPad with a click. She grabbed her car keys and strode out of the office. Suzanna ran after her. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To the film set.¡± Hearing that, Suzanna quickly went after her. The devil incarnate has a fearsome temper and enjoys ying pranks on others. I can¡¯t wait to see him mess with Gwendolyn. I¡¯ll bring it up in the meeting and see how long shests as director. Angle invested in the TV drama Joaquin was filming which onlymenced shooting a few days ago at Faike Film Studios. It only took Gwendolyn and Suzanna around half an hour to reach their destination. Upon arrival, both women heard themotion of someone overturning a chair. They went nearer to see an eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold young man throwing a tantrum. His manager and assistant cowered aside silently. Even the film crew stayed away from him. The only person who stood out to stop him was the cleaner, as she couldn¡¯t stand to see the mess on the ground. ¡°Young man, how could you do this? Even if you¡¯re rich, you shouldn¡¯t destroy things as you like!¡± The furious young man didn¡¯t stop as told. Instead, he grabbed a vase and dered angrily, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m rich! I can afford topensate for the losses. You have no right to speak to me like that!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t break this!¡± the director protested in distress from his hiding spot far away. His heart was filled with anguish. It¡¯s not about thepensation money if he breaks it. The vintage vase was borrowed to enhance the gravitas of the set and it¡¯s extremely valuable! Fear crossed everyone¡¯s faces when they saw Joaquin raising his hand. Joaquin let out an icy snort. Before he could smash the vase, someone seized his arm. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. He whirled over in shock and saw Gwendolyn gazing at him frostily. ¡°Put that down and apologize!¡± Joaquin snorted in disbelief. ¡°Who are you to tell me to apologize?¡± Suzanna put on an ingratiating smile and exined, ¡°Mr. Joaquin, this is thepany¡¯s new talent director, Ms. Shalders. Yesterday was her first day at work, but she immediately denied your leave of absence today. I tried to talk some sense into her, but she imed you were cking and denied your leave.¡± Hearing that, Joaquin went cold in fury and glowered at Gwendolyn. ¡°Oh, so it was you. I filmed for two days in a row. Can¡¯t I ask for one day off? How dare you deny my leave on your second day of work?¡± Deep down, Suzanna was pleased to see Joaquinshing out at Gwendolyn. She stepped back and waited giddily to see an altercation. Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t about to waste her time talking to the young man. ¡°I shall ask onest time. Are you going to apologize or not?¡± mes of anger licked through Joaquin. His eyes burned with rage as he clenched his fists and bellowed, ¡°I don¡¯t usually hit women, but you asked for it!¡± Everyone had already anticipated Gwendolyn¡¯s dreadful destiny a minuteter. They hung their heads as they couldn¡¯t bear to watch her suffer. Before the fight even started, it was over. Instead of hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s screams, everyone heard Joaquin yelling in anguish. ¡°Ow, it hurts! Let me go! I think my arm is dislocating!¡± Everyone was shocked as they whipped their heads up to see Joaquin being held face down on the ground. His arms were held securely behind his back, and he was awkwardly kneeling on the floor. Despite wearing high heels, Gwendolyn stepped on his butt forcefully. The sight of him yelling at the top of his lungs was really amusing. On the contrary, Gwendolyn remained cool andposed. The crowd couldn¡¯t help but praise her action inwardly. Even Joaquin¡¯s manager was so impressed with Gwendolyn¡¯s actions that he momentarily forgot to intervene. Joaquin desperately wished for the ground to swallow him up when he realized everyone had witnessed him getting humiliated. His hatred for Gwendolyn intensified. ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am? How dare you beat me up? You must have a death wish!¡± he snarled. Suzanna bore a terrified expression as she stepped forward to intervene. ¡°Hurry up and release him! He¡¯s Mr. Joaquin from the Zipper family! How could you beat him up?¡± The Zipper family may have been rted to the Harris family, but they were far from influential in Salinsburgh. As a result, their arrogance was only tolerated in Faike. Instead of releasing Joaquin, Gwendolyn gave Joaquin¡¯s butt another forceful kick. Joaquin promptly wailed in pain. 3/4 As she didn¡¯t pay heed to Suzanna¡¯s words, thetter stomp her feet and shed a smug grin. ¡°Ms. Shalders, you¡¯re doomed! Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you beforehand.¡± Gwendolyn ignored her and red down at Joaquin. She kept one foot nted firmly on his butt. ¡°Well? Do you admit defeat? I can¡¯t believe you have the nerve to try and act like a tyrant after all these years.¡± Her voice was cold and hard, leaving no room for argument. Her tone sounded familiar to Joaquin, so he did his best to turn around and observe her face seriously. At once, his anguished expression turned into one of surprise. ¡°Are you Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn snorted. ¡°You remember me now?¡± Joaquin nodded fervently, his face etched with contrition. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Gwendolyn! I wouldn¡¯t have acted that way if I knew it was you. Please, let me go. It¡¯s really painful!¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn finally released him. Joaquin scrambled to his feet and brushed the dirt off his face. Holding his butt, he presented Gwendolyn with a charming smile and gestured for her to take a seat. Everyone else was dumbstruck by the turn of events. What¡¯s happening? Why isn¡¯t heshing out at Gwendolyn? Is this bootlicking guy the notorious Mr. Joaquin Zipper, also known as the devil incarnate? Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Who Is the Unlucky Person Suzanna could barely hide her shock. Who exactly is Gwendolyn? Sh*t! I thought she was done for, but now it seems I¡¯m the one in trouble. How did she get to know the infamous Mr. Joaquin? I¡¯ve read her background, and she¡¯s just an orphan who grew up in an orphanage. Suzanna suspected there was more to it, so she stealthily stepped back and made a phone call. The spectators were now staring at Gwendolyn in awe. Joaquin was the focus of everyone¡¯s gaze, but he ignored it and knelt down beside Gwendolyn to knead her legs. He kept his gaze fixed on her as an adorable smile lit up his face. ¡°It has been a while since west met! I must say, you¡¯re looking more and more beautiful. Now, don¡¯t be mad at me, or it¡¯ll ruin your looks!¡± Gwendolyn gently prodded Joaquin¡¯s head with her fingertips. She leaned in close and whispered sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t do anything rash. Stick to the filming schedule, and do as you¡¯re told. I won¡¯t hesitate to tell Old Mr. Zipper if you cause any trouble.¡± The veiled threat was unmistakable, as Patrick Zipper was Joaquin¡¯s grandfather. ¡°Please don¡¯t! He¡¯ll punish me severely!¡± Joaquin felt a chill go down his spine. Trying to appeal to her, he put on a pitiful expression and pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwendolyn. I¡¯ve always listened to you, haven¡¯t I?¡± A smile nudged Gwendolyn¡¯s lips. ¡°Apologize to the cleaner now.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Joaquin nched. ¡°I¡¯m Joaquin Zipper! Are you seriously asking me to apologize to a cleaner? What about my pride, Gwendolyn¡­¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s smile vanished. She told him sternly, ¡°We¡¯re civilized people, aren¡¯t we? You threw a tantrum and created a mess. The cleaner didn¡¯t do anything wrong but had to clear up your mess. Besides, you yelled at her when she tried to stop you. Shouldn¡¯t you bear responsibility for what you did?¡± Joaquin slumped his shoulders in defeat, He turned over his shoulders to see the cleaner clearing up the mess he created earlier. Feeling bad, he trudged up to her and offered her a sincere apology. To make amends, he even gave her some money. Overjoyed, the cleaner epted his apology andpensation readily. Gwendolyn then made arrangements so that Joaquin¡¯s manager wouldpensate the film crew for the ruined props. Gwendolyn¡¯s presence on the film set that afternoon had a positive effect on Joaquin as he managed to nail all his scenes in only a few takes, much to the delight of the director. Thus, the director kept thanking Gwendolyn for her efforts. From N?velDrama.Org. She pursed her lips. ¡°He¡¯s young and too full of himself, so a few smacks should do the trick The director¡¯s respect for Gwendolyn increased as he nodded in agreement. When it was time to get off work, Joaquin grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and acted sweetly by offering to buy her dinner to make up for hisck of respect earlier that day. As he was persistent, Gwendolyn agreed to his invitation. To avoid getting hounded by the obsessive fans and have dinner in peace, Joaquin put on a thorough disguise. His transformation was so sessful that only the most observant fans could identify him. Dinner was at Douf¡¯s, the most opulent restaurant in Faike boasting seven stars. The moment Gwendolyn entered the restaurant, the dark interior immediately caught her eye as she preferred dining in dimly lit environments for a better dining experience. Joaquin kept shooting looks at Gwendolyn after they ordered their food. He leaned over and asked in a low voice. ¡°Do you recognize that man over there? He¡¯s been looking in our direction a few times.¡± Gwendolyn turned over her shoulder to see Maverick and Natasha having dinner at the next table. Upon spotting Gwendolyn, Natasha gave her a smug and provoking look, indicating that she saw herself as the victor. Gwendolyn looked away calmly. ¡°That¡¯s the CEO of Wright Construction Group.¡± Joaquin bobbed his head. ¡°Ah, then the woman sitting next to him must be his fianc¨¦e whom he announced he would be engaged to next month.¡± Gwendolyn faltered slightly, but her face was devoid of expression as she focused on her dinner. Joaquin was intrigued. ¡°I heard he married someone and had the marriage kept a secret for three years before filing for divorce. I can¡¯t help but wonder who the unlucky person was.¡± Gwendolyn shot him a look. ¡°It was me.¡± Joaquin initially couldn¡¯t understand her reply. It took him a few seconds toprehend her words, and he mmed the table in shock. ¡°You¡¯re his ex¨Cwife?¡± he eximed. His voice was so loud that the adjoining few tables turned to look at them. Maverick, who was sitting at the table right next to theirs, furrowed his brows and glowered darkly. Gwendolyn gave Joaquin a reproachful nce, and he immediately covered his mouth. In a harsh whisper, he snapped, ¡°Well done! He may be attractive, but he¡¯s nothing but a liar and a cheat. You deserve someone better than that, Gwendolyn!¡± She snickered. ¡°So I¡¯m the unlucky woman, huh?¡± Joaquin waved quickly and said earnestly, ¡°No, definitely not. He¡¯s the unlucky one. He made a mistake in letting you go. That¡¯s for sure!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± He paused and chuckled twice. ¡°Gwendolyn, now that you¡¯re single, why not give me a chance? I¡¯m pretty charming, I know how to make peopleugh.¡± Gwendolyn almost coughed up her fruit juice upon hearing his proposal. As a result, she spilled the fruit juice she was drinking all over her white, pristine form¨Cfitting dress. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll deal with the stain in the restroom. I won¡¯t be long.¡± With that, she got up and hurried to the restroom. Maverick overheard their entire conversation loud and clear from the table next to theirs. We have only been divorced for a few days, but she has already moved on with someone else. Is she sure about her decision? Maverick¡¯s anger grew with each passing thought. He acknowledged that her choice of partner was not his concern, and he had no right to question her. However, he was irate and resentful. Noticing his expression, Natasha asked softly, ¡°Mave, are you all right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I was just thinking about work.¡± Natasha sighed in relief and said coyly, ¡°We haven¡¯t had a proper meal together since I traveled abroad. Can you put work aside and give me your undivided attention today?¡± Maverick¡¯s expression was unreadable, His eyes were intense, leaving everyone wondering what thoughts were running through his head. Instead of responding to Natasha¡¯s query, he rose gracefully and adjusted his cor nonchntly. ¡°You should finish your meal. I need to go, but I promise to return shortly.¡± ¡°Mave!¡± In the restroom, Gwendolyn dealt with the stain on her dress and also reapplied her lipstick. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror and fell into deep thought. For three years after marrying into the Wright family, I have never put on makeup. Devoting myself to household tasks such as doingundry and cooking. These daily grinds exhausted me so much that I didn¡¯t have the time or energy to groom myself. Moving forward, my career is my focus. I will go back to Harris Group and reim my former confident self as a princess. Men will only slow me down. D She was still deep in thought when a tall figure stepped into the restroom. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t bother looking at the neer and focused on washing her hands. She was caught off guard by the sound of the door being locked. Curious, she looked up to see a handsome man she recognized standing right before her. Maverick marched up to her with an expressionless face, but he gave off an intimidating air. Gwendolyn gazed at him incredulously. She wondered if she was seeing things. ¡°Mr. Wright, you¡¯re an esteemed man in Faike. Did you seriously just enter thedies¡® restroom and lock the door behind you? Are you a pervert?¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Calm Thankfully, Gwendolyn was the only person in the restroom, but there was no guarantee no one else wouldn¡¯te in. She wanted to walk around Maverick to open the door, but her wrists were immediately restrained by him. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Upon putting on a fake smile, he continued, ¡°I told you I only wanted to chat with you. You may have sessfully slipped away from mest night, but I won¡¯t give you another chance to escape today.¡± CD What¡¯s there for us to talk about? The matter between us is ds clear as day. Flinging his hand away, she caressed her wrist and spat, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of anything. I just think it¡¯s unbelievable that the famous Mr. Wright would prevent someone from leaving the female restroom.¡± As he gazed at her, he lit a cigarette. In response to inhaling that pungent tobo smell, she frowned with disgust. The smoke made his expression appear darker as he interrogated, ¡°Who¡¯s the man sitting with you?¡± His question confused her for a moment before she rolled her eyes at him pridefully. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Instead of being enraged by her reply, Maverick continued, ¡°He seems to be interested in pursuing you. What about you? Do you like him?¡± Hmm? I think I get what he¡¯s doing now. Upon lifting her head, she stared at him with an odd look. ¡°You came here to block my path because you¡¯re jealous?¡± Maverick was rendered speechless by her remark. Unable to hold back herughter, Gwendolyn cackled. Irritated by her mockery, he scowled. ¡°No matter what, you¡¯re still my ex¨Cwife. So, this kind of hanky- panky behavior will only tarnish my family¡¯s reputation. I¡¯m warning you! Stay away from those men!¡± ¡°Are you that bored, Mr. Wright? I¡¯ll repeat myself¨Cwho I spend time with has nothing to do with you!¡± His scowl intensified, but he couldn¡¯t muster anything to retort. Gwendolyn was delighted to see how infuriated he was and had the urge to tease him further. ¡°Does your fianc¨¦e know you¡¯re preventing your ex¨Cwife from leaving the female restroom? If she learns about this, I bet her expression will be priceless. I¡¯m curious to see her reaction!¡± As she spoke, she pulled out her phone, but Maverick immediately grabbed her wrist. Then, he used his other hand to pin her to the corner of the wall by her shoulder. She tried resisting him, but he speedily secured both of her hands on the wall above her head. His face was so close to hers that she could feel his breath on her cheeks. As he gazed at her at such a close distance with his ck eyes, she blushed. The d¨¦cor in the restroom also had dark colors. As the dim light enveloped the two, the atmosphere grew amorous. It was as though what happened in the parking lotst night was ying out the same way again, but the car was a wall instead. Gwendolyn was livid. ¡°You pestering b*stard! Are you crazy?¡± In the past, he loved to ignore me. But ever since our divorce, he¡¯s been badgering me! Did he hit his head or something? As Maverick stared at her quivering eyshes, he abruptly remembered the smile he had seen on her face before she leftst night. The recollection of that moment ticked him off. When his line of sightnded on her soft, red lips, he felt the urge to bite them. While he didn¡¯t know what it would taste like, he was certain it would piss her off. From N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn noticed his line of sight and panicked because she knew something bad was going to happen. Peering at him with intense disdain, she gritted her teeth and barked arrogantly, ¡°One day, I¡¯ll make you grovel at my feet and pay the price for everything you did.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting, then.¡± Maverick smiled. Clearly, he didn¡¯t think she was capable of challenging him. ¡°However, right now, you must pay the price for enraging me!¡± As he spoke, he leaned even closer to her. While staring at his approaching lips, she gritted her teeth again, preparing to bite him as hard as she could. The bloodier her attack, the better. Suddenly, the sound of someone attempting to enter the restroom by turning the knob was heard. An idea struck Gwendolyn as she red at Maverick, Just as she was about to shout, he covered her mouth tight. Still failing to open the door after dozens of tries, the person outside opted to knock on it instead and ask, ¡°Is anyone inside? Can you open the door right now?¡± The woman¡¯s voice sounded gentle and familiar. Both Gwendolyn and Maverick recognized the owner of the voice¡ªNatasha. What a coincidence! When Gwendolyn noticed Maverick grimacing, she thought, I bet he¡¯s panicking hard right now. If his fianc¨¦e sees him interacting with his ex¨Cwife in the female restroom¡­ Boy, this is going to make for an exciting drama! I want to see how he¡¯s going to exin himself! As though she had forgotten she was embroiled in the situation, she grinned maliciously before struggling to escape his restraint. At the same time, she started making muffled noises with her mouth. In response, he pressed his hand on her mouth even more forcefully and growled at a small volume, ¡°Do you want to die? Shut up!¡± Outside the door, Natasha happened to be listening closely to the noises inside the restroom. I think I heard a man¡¯s voice. Why does he sound a bit like Mave? And if he is Mave, does this mean the woman¡¯s muffled voice is¡­ Gwendolyn? No! This is impossible! She raised her head and saw the sign hanging above her, confirming to herself that she was standing in front of the female restroom. There¡¯s no way Mave will enter the female restroom! Despite her disbelief, she still called Maverick¡¯s number just in case she was wrong. Two seconds passed before an urgent ringtone was heard from inside the restroom. Upon realizing what was going on, Natasha immediately conjured an image of Maverick and Gwendolyn acting intimately with each other in her mind. As she became more emotional, the scowl on her countenance grew more intense. She began pping the door harder. ¡°Are you inside, Gwendolyn? Open the door ande out now!¡± As they were in a public area, she called out Gwendolyn¡¯s name instead of Maverick¡¯s because she didn¡¯t want to ruin his reputation. The phone call still hadn¡¯t disconnected. Thus, the ringing continued. However, no one in the restroom made a peep. Natasha felt her sanity was about to be burned to ashes by her zing rage. The quieter it was inside, the more she was convinced something shameful was happening. ¡°Come out, Gwendolyn! Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Are you afraid others will find out that you¡¯re seducing my fianc¨¦? Do you think I won¡¯t know it¡¯s you just because you¡¯re hiding inside?¡± she shouted very loudly. Initially, Gwendolyn thought she was getting a good seat to an entertaining drama. She didn¡¯t expect Natasha would yell only her name. If this continues, everyone in the restaurant will know I¡¯m stuck in the female restroom with Maverick! As she thought about her situation, she glimpsed at Maverick¡¯s exceptionally calm expression. Why does he, the perpetrator, look soposed as though this has nothing to do with him while I¡¯m panicking? Then, a thought entered her mind as she red at him and smirked. ¡°I don¡¯t think I should be the one panicking here. I want to see if you¡¯re still able to keep your calm when you have to exin this situation to your fianc¨¦eter!¡± Forcefully, she removed her hands from his restriction and opened the door. Strangely, Maverick didn¡¯t stop her. Natasha was still screaming with fury outside. ¡°So, you don¡¯t want to open the door, eh? Fine! I¡¯ll ask someone to tear the door down right now! I¡¯ll expose your shameless act of seducing iny fianc¨¦ to everyone!¡± D Just as she ended her sentence, she saw the knob turning. The door was finally opened, albeit slightly, revealing a gap. Through that gap, Gwendolyn beamed at her. ¡°It is you!¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes were red with resentment as she questioned with gritted teeth, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you open the door carlier? Who are you talking to inside? Is it Mave?¡± Chapter 26 Chapter 26 hapter 26 Take Care of Your Man The more Natasha spoke, the less confident she became. While she was still ring at Gwendolyn with fierce hatred, she didn¡¯t have the courage to open the door and confirm her guess. ¡°Why don¡¯t youe in and find out yourself?¡± Gwendolyn shrugged, unperturbed, and opened the door. Then she pointed at the spot Maverick was previously standing at. ¡°He¡¯s right there!¡± Natasha felt her heart clenching, but when she looked in the direction Gwendolyn was pointing it, she saw only an empty wall. ¡°Are you toying with me?¡± Furiously, she glowered at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn was stunned, too. He was just standing there! Does he have superpowers or something? Upon observing Gwendolyn¡¯s expression, Natasha realized something was fishy. Hence, she exasperatedly pushed Gwendolyn aside and searched through every stall in the restroom. Gwendolyn stood behind her, wondering where Maverick was hiding. After the two women went through almost all of the stalls, their lines of sightnded on thest one, its door left ajar. Natasha took in a deep breath and pushed the door open. Like the other stalls, there was nothing inside. The realization of what had unfolded dawned on Gwendolyn when she noticed an opened window to the right of the stall. I didn¡¯t expect the person in charge of Wright Construction Group would one day be forced to escape through a window. I can barely hold back myughter. Natasha was dumbfounded and started suspecting Gwendolyn again when she saw the grin on the latter¡¯s face. ¡°If you¡¯re the only person in the restroom, how do you exin the ringtone from earlier?¡± In response, Gwendolyn waved her hand instead of answering the question as though she was saying, ¡°Figure the answer out yourself.¡± Lividly, Natasha threatened Gwendolyn with gritted teeth. ¡°You no longer have any ties with Mave, Gwendolyn! I¡¯m warning you, stay as far away from him as possible! If I find out you still want to seduce him, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± Gwendolyn smiled and replied, undeterred, ¡°I¡¯m not the type of person who¡¯ll get back with an ex. However, if you piss me off, I don¡¯t mind snatching everything you want away, including the man.¡± ¡°You!¡± For a moment, Natasha couldn¡¯te up with a retort because she was stunned by the cold look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. Before Gwendolyn left, she spared one more nce at Natasha and scorned, ¡°Onest thing. Keep that man of yours under control, and don¡¯t let him bother me again because both of you disgust me.¡± ¡°You b*tch!¡± While that irritated Natasha immensely, she had no idea what she could do. Why didn¡¯t those thugs fromst night seed? Godd mit! After she washed her hands, she stomped out of the restroom angrily. She only took two steps away from the restroom when she heard a familiar voice calling out from behind. ¡°Tasha.¡± When Natasha twirled back, she saw Maverick sauntering out of the male restroom calmly, which put her worries to rest. Maybe I was too anxious earlier. It¡¯s possible that the ringtone came from the male restroom. ¡°Did you hear what I said in the restroom corridor earlier, Mave?¡± ¡°I did.¡± He nodded. She blushed instantly. I hope my shouting carlier didn¡¯t leave a bad impression on him! ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault. I thought you were in the female restroom earlier, so I lost my cool. I promise I won¡¯t ever suspect you or yell again.¡± Silently, Maverick gazed at her with an unfathomable look. When he noticed the bruised look in her eyes, he suddenly recalled herte¨Cnight visit yesterday. He didn¡¯t see her, so she spent a huge chunk of the night standing in front of the mansion¡¯s entrance and talking about the past. While he felt somewhat threatened, he waspelled to keep his word and agreed to her request for them to get engaged. However, at some point, Natasha started to look more and more unfamiliar to him, so much so that he sometimes wondered if she was the bright¨Ceyed girl he had met years ago. ¡°You seem to have changed a lot after staying overseas for a few years,¡± Maverick uttered expressionlessly before stepping past Natasha and toward the restaurant. Upon hearing that, Natasha was stunned, as though she had been struck by lightning. Why did he look at me like that? Did he figure something out? Joaquin was about to search for Gwendolyn when she returned to her seat. In response, he released a sigh of relief and inquired, ¡°Why were you gone for so long, Gwendolyn?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± she answered with a question of her own after noticing his expression. ¡°Mr. Harris sent someone to ry a message to you. The messenger said that he found something regarding the matter you asked him to investigate yesterday and that you should visit him when you have the time.¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ll visit him now.¡± ¡°Hey, wait! At least finish your food first!¡± As he shouted begrudgingly, Gwendolyn had already left in a car. Meanwhile, Maverick sent Natasha back to the hotel once their meal ended. 2/4 Staring at the cold, sterile room, Natasha somewhat unhappily pulled his hand and acted coyly. ¡°We¡¯re already engaged, Mave. Can¡¯t I return to the mansion with you and stay there instead?¡± Reflexively, Maverick frowned. I told her I couldn¡¯t bring her back to that mansion. Why is she bringing it up again? Even though he was not pleased he stillforted, ¡°Just wait a little longer, all right? I¡¯ll ask someone to arrange a suitable residence for you as quickly as possible.¡± Upon detecting his dissatisfaction, she felt even more aggrieved. Why does Gwendolyn have the right to live in that mansion as thedy of the house for three years while I can¡¯t even step foot into the building? As much as she wanted to ask him that question, she knew he disliked women whoined and had jealous fits. ¡°It¡¯s fine if I can¡¯t go to the mansion, but can you stay and keep mepany in the hotel for a night? I don¡¯t like how deste the hotel feels.¡± Most men would find it impossible not to be moved by her delicate, submissive voice and sympathetic, aggrieved demeanor. However, Maverick didn¡¯t even spare a nce at her. It was rather hard to tell what he was thinking by looking at his surreptitious expression. ¡°I still have matters to take care of in thepany. You should rest early.¡± Then he forcefully pulled his hand away from hers and left. After the door closed, she slid onto the carpet and sat, her eyes wet with tears. Why did everything change after I returned to the country? He¡¯s not as doting and caring to me as he once was. Is it because he has found out the truth? Fear crept onto her countenance. Just as she thought about it dejectedly, the door was opened again, and a pair of men¡¯s ck leather shoes entered her vision. ¡°Mave! I knew you wouldn¡¯t-¡± Before Natasha could finish her sentence, she raised her head and saw that Noah had entered the room, not Maverick. Her excitement was swiftly reced with sorrow once more. It pained him slightly to see how lonely she appeared. However, he had no choice but to ignore her feelings for the moment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you, Ms. Mossey. However, there¡¯s something urgent I need to ask you about.¡± ¡°Ask away. I¡¯ll answer your question seriously.¡± Natasha squeezed out a smile, which wounded him emotionally even more. Softly, he inquired, ¡°Did you know Ms. Shalders was surrounded by a bunch of thugs when she left workst night?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. She responded in bewilderment, ¡°What? Is Gwendolyn fine?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine. Luckily, Boss was therest night and took care of the thugs. However, he wanted me to investigate the mastermind behind the assault.¡± As Noah exined, he studied her expression. 3/4 In response, she seemed to release a sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± Then, she acted as though she suddenly understood what Noah really meant and gazed at him in disbelief. ¡°Did youe here to ask me that question because you think I was the one who sent those thugs to hurt Gwendolyn?¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Collection While Noah remained silent, the look in his eyes was an obvious answer to her question. I absolutely wouldn¡¯t have suspected Natasha if not for these special circumstances. However, yesterday, after I told Natasha that Boss went to Angle¡¯s parking lot to meet up with Gwendolyn, Gwendolyn was attacked on her way there. That¡¯s too much of a coincidence for me to rule out Natasha¡¯s involvement in this matterpletely. With a heartbroken expression, Natasha spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve always seen you as my best friend, Noah, yet you suspect me? How could I have sent people to harm Gwendolyn when I didn¡¯t even know which route. she took?¡± Her answer melted his heart immediately. ¡°I believe you¡¯re kind and may not necessarily be the one behind this incident. However, did you tell anyone about their meeting?¡± That stunned her. Since he suspects me already, he¡¯ll look into my calls if I don¡¯t provide him with any valuable information. If that happens, the image I spent so much effort building to show him will crumble. It seems like I have no other option but to sacrifice someone. Then, she pretended to be deep in thought before revealing, ¡°I was very sad that day. When Sheralyn called me to ask how I was doing, I told her about it¡­¡± She paused before hastily waving her hands. ¡°No, no! There¡¯s no way Sheralyn would do something like that! I believe her.¡± Upon sighing in relief, Noah replied, ¡°You¡¯re a good woman, Ms. Mossey. However, not everyone is as pure and kind as you.¡± Heforted her a little longer before leaving the hotel speedily. As he did, he asked people on the phone to investigate the Wright residence as well as erase the connection between the incident and Natasha quietly. After he left, Natasha stomped angrily. No wonder none of them reported the situation to mest night! It turns out Mave saved that b*tch! I had no choice but to sacrifice Sheralyn, but once Mave learns of this, he¡¯ll undoubtedly be even warier of his family! It¡¯s unlikely that I¡¯ll be able to use Sheralyn as my pawn again in the near future. All my efforts to get someone absurdly useful like her to befriend me are now for naught! As she dug her nails into her palm, a vicious, wicked look swirled in her eyes. But I won¡¯t let that b*tch Gwendolyn off the hook! Never! After Gwendolyn returned to Treyton¡¯s mansion, she received detailed information from him. So, Frida¡¯s the one who hired those thugs, and Sheralyn instigated it. Her expression remained indifferent after she finished reading the evidence. I knew this had something to do with the Wright family, but¡­ ¡°Did what happenedst night truly have nothing to do with Natasha?¡± Treyton thought about it and answered, ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to investigate Natasha in detail.¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Well, now that you know who¡¯s responsible, what are you going to do?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved upward as a n hatched in her mind. ¡°Please lend me a few burly bodyguards, Treyton.¡± He was enamored by her foxy, sly demeanor and tapped her nose lovingly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to deny anything my dear princess wants. You¡¯re free to borrow as many bodyguards as you want.¡± With a sweet voice and grin, she thanked, ¡°I knew you dote on me the most, Treyton. Thank you.¡± During the evening, in the Wright residence, Frida was sitting on a recliner inside the garden and enjoying the facial spa a beautician was giving her. Out of nowhere, she heard a loud bang from the metal gate, which startled her so much that she sat straight up. Not only did the spa fail to remove her wrinkles, but the shock also added a few more to her face. Upon turning around, she saw a limited edition Rolls¨CRoyce smashing through the residence¡¯s gate and heading straight toward the garden without slowing down. The nearby housekeepers were almost scared to death by that sudden turn of events. Frida was equally dumbstruck. Then, the car mercilessly zoomed past a blooming field of roses in the garden before drifting stylishly and parking next to the gate. The roses that were still beautiful just a second ago were instantly and horribly crushed by the tires. Frida almost fainted from anger when she saw that. Those are my favorite flowers! I don¡¯t give a d*mn how powerful or influential the driver is. I¡¯m going to sue them until they go bankrupt! Furiously, she strode toward the Rolls¨CRoyce and saw the door opening. A pair of high¨Cheels first exited the vehicle before a woman, as beautiful and elegant as a female celebrity, stepped out. Frida was so astonished that she was rooted to the spot. While she couldn¡¯t recall who that woman was, she found her appearance familiar. It was until Sheralyn came downstairs after hearing themotion, and she roared at the woman. ¡°Gwendolyn, you b*tch! How dare you show your face here! I¡¯m going to tear you apart!¡± As Frida prevented her daughter from charging toward Gwendolyn, she gazed at the uninvited haughty guest with disbelief. She was so taken aback that she felt her jaw had almost dropped to the ground. It¡¯s only been a few days, so why did this little b*tch seem like she has transformed? I have never realized she looked this beautiful before. Amused, Gwendolyn stared at Frida and mocked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did you forget what I look like so quickly?¡± Frida¡¯s rage burned even brighter upon realizing Gwendolyn was the one who destroyed her roses. Folding her hands arrogantly, she growled, ¡°You better not think you can do whatever you want just because you have aplete makeover and a sugar daddy! I¡¯m going to make you pay ten thousandfold for your destruction of my garden!¡± Nonchntly, Gwendolyn inquired, ¡°And then what?¡± The older woman nced at her daughter and sneered, ¡°Since you delivered yourself to my doorstep, I want you to kneel and apologize for bullying Sheralyn! Then, I want you to repay everything you owe Sheralyn!¡± As she spoke, she shot a look at the nearby housekeepers. The housekeepers understood what she meant and promptly approached Gwendolyn with intent. stares. Gwendolyn leaned against the car door and yed with her fingernails. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Later, I¡¯ll give you all a taste of payback because I¡¯m here today to collect my debt.¡± Debt? When did we owe her anything? Just as Frida was confounded by the younger woman¡¯s statement, Gwendolyn pped her hands. Ten burly bodyguards in ck clothing suddenly appeared and stood behind Gwendolyn in a well¨Ctrained manner. Their presence was so intimidating that they scared off the housekeepers who were approaching Gwendolyn. Panicked, Frida inquired, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°As I said, I¡¯m here to collect my debt.¡± The look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes turned frigid as she ryed an order to the bodyguards. ¡°Aside from Old Mr. Wright¡¯s old room on the third floor, the study, and the ancestral hall on the first floor, I want you all to smash every single valuable object in the building, including tes.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Frida and Sheralyn eximed in unison. The older woman¡¯s face and eyes reddened with unbridled wrath as she threatened, ¡°Trespassing is against thew! If you smash even a single te, I¡¯ll call the cops right away and throw you into prison!¡± Narrowing her eyes, Gwendolyn casually removed a photocopy of evidence from her bag with a grin. ¡°Sure. I¡¯m interested to see whether those police officers will cuff me or you two when they arrive.¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Torture When Frida and Sheralyn scanned through the contents of the paper, they instantly paled. In fact, they felt so guilty that they couldn¡¯t even muster a word. They didn¡¯t expect their attempt to harm Gwendolyn had be thetter¡¯s dirt on them. Gwendolyn shook her head scornfully upon seeing their reaction. And I thought they were going to put up more of a fight. With a grin, she urged, ¡°Go smash everything inside before we continue with the next step.¡± In a sh, the bodyguards went in toplete their tasks. Four bodyguards rounded up all the housekeepers inside the garden while the other six started destroying the various objects in the mansion. Soon, sounds of devastation rang inside the entire building. The housekeepers huddled together, unwilling to turn their attention toward the sharp, breaking noises. The noises made Frida apprehensive too. Sheralyn was cowering in her mother¡¯s embrace when she abruptly recalled something and widened her eyes. ¡°Wait! You can¡¯t destroy the limited LC cosmetics I shipped from Morantast month!¡± Hurriedly, she leaped away from Frida¡¯s embrace and sprinted upstairs to prevent the destruction of her precious cosmetics. From a distance, the screams and noises of objects breaking apart sounded like an unnerving symphony when mixed together. Frida dug her fingernails into her palm as she red at Gwendolyn with resentment, looking as though she wanted to chop the younger woman into thousands of pieces. For every shattering noise she heard, she felt a cut in her heart because it was the sound of money vanishing into thin air. However, after decades of living as a rich wife, she refused to bow before Gwendolyn. Upon stifling her agony, she glowered at Gwendolyn. ¡°You¡¯re a vicious b*tch! Just wait and see! One day, you¡¯ll receive your karmic retribution! I¡¯ll never forgive you!¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°If I¡¯m considered vicious, what do you call the things you did to me in those three years? Unbelievably despicable?¡± Disdainfully, Frida spat, ¡°You¡¯re just a woman with an unknown background who never deserves to be with my son! All I did was teach you the rules you must abide by after marrying into an affluent family! You were the one who couldn¡¯t handle the pain and wanted a divorce! What does that have anything to do with me? What did I do wrong?¡± In response, Gwendolynughed. I¡¯m done. No matter how much I exin myself, someone as narcissistic as her won¡¯t ever think she¡¯s in the wrong. It¡¯ll just be a waste of my time. Frida wanted to keep scolding her when she heard Sheralyn cursing at two bodyguards carrying her out of the building. Sheralyn was disobedient, and the bodyguards were very strong. Thus, it was inevitable that patches of purple and red appeared on her wrist and arms. Frida¡¯s heart ached as she attempted to snatch her daughter back from the bodyguards¡® grasp. However, another bodyguard restricted her. As she couldn¡¯t move, she could only turn to Gwendolyn, terrified. ¡°What are you doing to Sheralyn? I was the one who dispatched those thugs! It has nothing to do with Sheralyn! Kill me if you dare!¡± ¡°I much prefer torturing someone rather than killing him.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips, grinning. ¡°I told you I¡¯ll make you pay for everything you did twofold if you mess with me again, and yet¡­¡± As she paused, a bodyguard brought her a chair. Then, she sat in the middle of the entrance instead of entering the building. She kept her word that she would never step foot into the Wright residence, even if Frida begged her 1. to. ¡°Since you were once my mother¨Cinw and elder, I¡¯ll let her pay your debt instead.¡± While speaking, Gwendolyn turned her sharp gaze toward Sheralyn. Sheralyn knew how ruthless Gwendolyn could be from her experience at the banquet. Thus, as a chill ran down her spine, she dropped her arrogance and cried out to Frida for help. ¡°Save me, Mom! She¡¯s going to kill me!¡± While Frida was restrained by a bodyguard, she could still speak, so she relentlessly cursed at and threatened Gwendolyn. The scene was made even noisier by Sheralyn¡¯s wailing. Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Shut the both of them up.¡± The bodyguards proceeded to stuff the two women¡¯s mouths with cleaning cloths the housekeepers used. All that was left in the courtyard were their tiny, muffled voices. The end of their shouting signaled the beginning of Gwendolyn¡¯s torture. ¡°Do you remember when you used me of stealing jewelry and robbing the share of Wright Construction Group in my possession? Well, since everything in the courtyard has been smashed to pieces by my bodyguards, I¡¯ll let those matters go. However, don¡¯t you think I should get some payback for forcing me to kneel in the rain?¡± She shot a nce at the bodyguard behind Sheralyn. In response, the bodyguard kicked the back of Sheralyn¡¯s knees. She promptly copsed to the ground, which was covered with tiny pebbles. As a result of the 2/4 immense pain, she fell forward. Her head didn¡¯t fall to the ground as the bodyguard restrained her. However, from a distance, it appeared as though she was lowering her head before Gwendolyn. Sheralyn¡¯s expression was twisted from the pain as she experienced an immeasurable humiliation. Watching her daughter¡¯s suffering broke Frida¡¯s heart so much that she teared up. Despite the cloth in her mouth, she was still cursing at Gwendolyn, though it sounded like muffled gibberish. ¡°It hurts you to watch your daughter suffer, doesn¡¯t it? Gwendolyn smirked coldly. ¡°While I was your daughter¨Cinw during those three years, I was once a daughter to a mother, too. Have you ever thought how much it would¡¯ve broken my mother¡¯s heart when you mistreated me?¡± Upon mentioning her mother, she reflexively clenched her fists to the point of hurting herself as nasty memories flooded her mind. Momentster, she suppressed those surging emotions and gazed at the sunset on the horizon. ¡°It¡¯s such a shame that there¡¯s no rain today. Because of that, I can¡¯t say my revenge isplete.¡± She fell into deep thought before her eyes suddenly glinted. ¡°I got an idea. Go and grab some water from the pond.¡± The bodyguards executed her request immediately. The housekeepers, still cowering in the corner of the garden, took in a deep breath when they heard the torture Gwendolyn was nning. However, none of them dared to protest against her. After all, many saw how terribly Gwendolyn was mistreated back then, while those who didn¡¯t witness it personally also heard of Frida¡¯s cruel acts against her. Not only that, they also knew Sheralyn bullied Gwendolyn often in the past. Hence, they thought it was fair for that pair of mother and daughter to be punished like that. Soon, the bodyguards returned with five buckets of water. There were fishes living in the pool, so when they poured the water into those buckets, they identally included a few shrimps and aquatic nts. Sheralyn¡¯s eyes widened in fear when she saw that. She was sobbing and shaking her head at Gwendolyn, begging for mercy. The arrogant demeanor she usually possessed was nowhere to be found. ¡°Pour it on her,¡± Gwendolynmanded coldly, which despaired the mother and daughter. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Ssh! A bucket of pool water mercilessly spilled onto Sheralyn¡¯s head. Her countenance turned pale as she shivered from the cold. Aquatic nts could be seen on her cheeks as the shrimps iled on her head. When she raised her head in that wretched state, she saw her mother weeping helplessly and Gwendolyn peering at her with ridicule. The housekeepers she often reprimanded were also glimpsing at her in secret. Sheralyn¡¯s pride and dignity were shattered as her heart was filled with embarrassment and humiliation. In the end, she broke down crying. Before the bodyguard could pour the second bucket of pool water on her, she fainted. Upon seeing that, Gwendolyn asked the bodyguards to release her and Frida. Frida was so worried about her daughter that she immediately rushed toward Sheralyn to check the latter¡¯s condition and even forgot to curse at Gwendolyn. ¡°This is just a lesson. If there¡¯s a next time, I won¡¯t stop here,¡± Gwendolyn warned. Then she summoned the bodyguards, preparing to head back home, as she had been mostly satisfied with her revenge. Just as she turned around, she saw a pair of dark, gloomy eyes trained on her. Maverick was gazing intently at her with pursed lips. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Like A Man Upon noticing his expression, Gwendolyn guessed Maverick had also figured out who hired the thugs. Did he rush over here to confront them? Silently, he stared at her. Surprisingly. Noah was the first to speak. ¡°Don¡¯t you think your methods are too cruel, Ms. Shalders?¡± Yes, she¡¯s divorced now, and they did mistreat her, but does she have to torture her ex¨Cmother- and sister¨Cinw like this? As he thought about that, Natasha¡¯s kind image was lifted to an even higher position in his mind. 1 Instead of retorting, she merely nced at him before shifting her sight toward Maverick. ¡°Do you think the same, too?¡± Maverick knitted his eyebrows and was about to speak when Frida pounced toward him upon hearing themotion at the entrance. Then, she grumbled about Gwendolyn indignantly. ¡°Look at what that vicious b*tch did to your sister, Maverick! She also smashed everything in the house! You must send her to prison! I want her locked there and regret her actions for the rest of her life!¡± Maverick frowned even more intensely. Everyone was waiting for him to make a decision, including Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn appearedposed because she had a backup n to deal with him if he decided to protect Frida and Sheralyn. Meanwhile, Frida was getting smug again. Now that Maverick¡¯s back, he¡¯ll definitely help me out! I want to see that b*tch die a horrible death! As everyone gazed at Maverick with their own thoughts, he strode closer to Gwendolyn. The bodyguards were about to block his path when she gestured for them to step down. She wanted to see what he was going to do. With half a meter of distance left between them, he stopped, sighed, and lowered his head at her slightly. ¡°They were the ones who attempted to harm you first, so you deserve to take revenge against them. They didn¡¯t know any better. I apologize on their behalf.¡± His response stunned everyone. Even Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. I thought he would get angry or try to protect them. I certainly didn¡¯t expect him to approve my revenge and apologize to me on their behalf. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen him acting like a rational, responsible man. Frida had enough of the situation as she grabbed onto Maverick and mored, ¡°You are my son! How can you help that b*tch instead of me? Are you really willing to watch her kill your sister and me? How can you be so cruel? I don¡¯t care! You must ount for this mess! Otherwise, I¡¯ll disown you!¡± 1/3 However, Maverick remained unmoved as he allowed his mother to roar at him and tug his blue, premium suit. It wasn¡¯t until Frida was so enraged by his inaction and tried to assault Gwendolyn that he red at the housekeepers, who were all hiding in the corner and watching the drama unfold. He requested. ¡°Mrs. Wright has be delirious. Take her back to her room and call the family doctor to take a look at them.¡± Upon receiving his order, Noah swiftly organized the housekeepers andmanded them to drag Frida who was still yelling back into the mansion. The housekeepers also carried Sheralyn back to her room. The rest of the housekeepers began cleaning up the ce. The only people left outside the mansion were Maverick, Gwendolyn, and her ten bodyguards. When Gwendolyn noticed he was staring at her for unknown reasons, she turned her countenance away in difort. ¡°I only punished them lightly because you helped me out that day. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve handed the evidence to the police and sent both of them to jail.¡± As she spoke, she pulled out the evidence and glimpsed at it. ¡°However, I¡¯ll keep the evidence. If they piss me off again, I¡¯ll use it to put them down.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Maverick couldn¡¯t help but curve the edges of his mouth upward slightly as he stared at her sly smile. She¡¯s like a cunning little fox, devious and ruthless. It confounded her to see him grinning. Momentster, she put on a cold expression and warned, ¡°You better keep a close eye on them and make sure they don¡¯t do anything irritating again. Otherwise, I¡¯ll drag you down with them next time.¡± Then she left with her bodyguards. Maverick ambled past the ground, nketed with broken porcin pieces, to check up on Sheralyn¡¯s condition. The family doctor had arrived and was examining her. Frida¡¯s mood had stabilized significantly, though she was still sobbing quietly beside her daughter¡¯s bed. When she saw her son stepping into the room, she pulled the edge of his shirt and pointed at Sheralyn¡¯s kneecap in anguish. Sheralyn¡¯s knee which used to be fair had turned purple with ck, bruising spots. As for the swelling, it had reached the height of a finger. ¡°Look at how injured your sister is! Don¡¯t you feel heartbroken at all to see this? I never stopped treating her as my beloved, precious baby from childhood to adulthood. How will she endure this humiliation brought on by that b*tch¡¯s torture? If you don¡¯t avenge her, she¡¯ll die from a mental breakdown! Are you truly willing to watch your sister die?¡± the older woman rambled aggrievedly as tears streamed down her cheeks. As his mother, I know thest thing he wants to see is me feeling aggrieved. Gwendolyn has gone way overboard this time! I must punish that b*tch! I refuse to let this slide! Still keeping his silence, Maverick pursed his lips and gazed at his sister¡¯s damaged knee as though he was thinking about something through her. Before he arrived, he asked the housekeepers about the jewelry theft and learned that Frida intentionally framed Gwendolyn for the crime. He was unaware of the details when he first learned the story because he was busy working overtime at the office. Discovering the truth afflicted him emotionally. Is that why she had been so unhappy in the Wright family that she ultimately chose to divorce me? The scene of Gwendolyn¡¯s petite and stubborn figure kneeling in the rain suddenly emerged in his mind. If Sheralyn¡¯s knee became as swollen as this after only kneeling for a short while, I wonder what Gwendolyn¡¯s knees looked like that day. Yet, she never onceined about the mistreatment she had received since she married me. ¡°Did you hear what I said, Maverick?¡± Frida shook his arm, pulling him out of his thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that your father entrusted your sister and me to you back then! Now that your grandfather is gone, and you¡¯ve be the head of the Wright family, you can¡¯t just leave the both of us to our fates!¡± Since acting pitifully didn¡¯t work for her son, she decided to remind him of his responsibility and promise. I refuse to believe he¡¯ll still try to protect that b*tch after this! Maverick turned to her and questioned, ¡°How about you tell me a few instances of when and how both of you bullied Gwendolyn?¡± That response stunned Frida because she didn¡¯t expect he would care about that. ¡°Those are in the past! Besides, you¡¯ve divorced her already. Why does it matter to you? Additionally, as her mother¨Cinw, there¡¯s nothing wrong with me lecturing her! I can¡¯t believe that b*tch had the gall toin about it to you! She¡¯s truly an ipetent and useless w*nch who doesn¡¯t deserve to be part of this family!¡± Just as she finished speaking, she noticed the scowl on his face and changed the topic guiltily. ¡°My good son, look at how badly bruised my arm and your delicate sister are! Does it not pain you to see us getting bullied?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± The edges of Maverick¡¯s lips curved upward, though the look in his eyes remained cold. ¡°I know what I should do now.¡± Joyously, Frida held onto his arm tight. ¡°Really?¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 A Poor Choice Maverick summoned the butler and said, ¡°Starting today, Mrs. Wright and Ms. Wright are not allowed to leave this house without my permission. If anyone dares to disobey my instructions, he or she will be punished with the strictest penalties enforced in the Wright residence.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Aren¡¯t we supposed to teach Gwendolyn that w¡°nch a lesson? Frida was infuriated. She pointed angrily at Maverick and went off on a tangent about how ungrateful and heartless he was to his flesh and blood. Maverick did not say anything and left the room in a dour mood. Then, he called for Noah and instructed, ¡°Have someone rece the broken items in the household immediately. Put someone else in charge of monitoring every call that goes through to the Wright residence and report the details to me ASAP.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Noah shot his employer a hesitant nce and asked, ¡°But Boss, isn¡¯t that too harsh on Mrs. Wright and Ms. Wright? After all, Ms. Shalders was too insensitive in handling the situation.¡± His heart softened as he remembered how pitiful Frida and Sheralyn looked when he first walked in. Why is Boss so protective of Gwendolyn? He¡¯s even allowing her to turn the Wright residence upside down. To his surprise, Noah¡¯s question did not enrage Maverick, who merely asked, ¡°If someone tried to ruin your life several times and made your life a living hell, would you forgive that person?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± answered Noah resolutely. ¡°I¡¯d find a way to give him a taste of his own medicine.¡± Realization suddenly dawned upon him, and he froze in shock. Having sent across his point, Maverick turned and left without a backward nce. After emerging victorious amid the fiasco at the Wright residence, Gwendolyn returned home in high spirits. To her delight, Asher and Kieran¡¯s presents had arrived as well. She impatiently tore open Asher¡¯s present, only to find a small, custom¨Cmade model airne from the National Aviation Agency. D*mn it! Has Asher conveniently forgotten that I¡¯m no longer a fifteen¨Cyear¨Cold kid? I can¡¯t believe I was so excited about his present. Treyton guffawed, thoroughly amused by Gwendolyn¡¯s fuming expression. He cleared his throat loudly and teased, ¡°Kiddo, Asher personally made this limited¨Cedition model airne for you. You can¡¯t buy this anywhere at all! Aren¡¯t you touched by his efforts?¡± Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at him in response. Thankfully, Kieran¡¯s present was decent and soothed her anger over Asher¡¯s childish gift. 1/1 It was an intricately designed emerald ring. The ring had an in¨Cbuilt secretpartment from which a silver needle would spring, making it both an essory and a weapon. She wore the ring carefully and relegated the model airne to a corner of her room. Then, she promptly showered and went to bed. The next day, Gwendolyn arrived punctually at her office. When she opened the door to her office, she saw a thin, unfamiliar figure standing in front of her desk. The stranger turned around when she heard someone opening the door and met Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze. The uninvited visitor was a woman with a dainty face and almond¨Cshaped eyes. Her originally contemptuous gaze slowly changed to one of jealousy the longer she stared at Gwendolyn. She seems to be quite hostile toward me. Before Gwendolyn could say a word, the woman dered, ¡°Jade at the reception was just telling me about you. I didn¡¯t believe her at first, but now that I¡¯ve gotten a good look, you really do look like a minx.¡± Thatment merely added to Gwendolyn¡¯s confusion. Gwendolyn swiftly walked over to her chair and invited the woman to leave. ¡°Miss, I need to work. Please leave my office.¡± The woman ignored her words and warned her coldly, ¡°I have no issues with you earning a pretty penny at Angle, but you better stay away from Treyton Harris. If I find out you were seducing or fooling around with him, I¡¯ll make you wish you were dead!¡± ¡°Treyton?¡± The threat piqued Gwendolyn¡¯s interest, and she asked, ¡°Do you like him?¡± From N?velDrama.Org. The woman crossed her arms arrogantly and harrumphed. ¡°I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e.¡± Fianc¨¦e? She must be the woman who was engaged to Treyton two years ago. Eloise Ferguson! That¡¯s her name. She¡¯s the second daughter of the prolific Ferguson family from Salinsburgh. Why hasn¡¯t Treyton mentioned her before? I guess she¡¯s really not his type. Well, that¡¯s fine with me. I wouldn¡¯t appreciate such a haughty sister¨Cin- Gwendolyn shot Eloise a shallow smile and retorted, ¡°Oh, just a fianc¨¦e? He can simply rece you before you¡¯ve signed anything at City Hall, yet here you are exerting your unfounded ims, Ms. Ferguson? I¡¯m sorry, my office is too small to amodate your delusions of marriage. Please see yourself out.¡± ¡°You!¡± Eloise sputtered with fury. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn poured her attention into her work and ignored Eloisepletely. Nothing the woman said could draw her attention again. s, Eloise stomped out of the office miserably after failing spectacrly to warn off Gwendolyn. As she left Gwendolyn¡¯s office, Eloise shot Suzanna a knowing look. Suzanna wisely followed Eloise to a deserted corridor without any surveince cameras. Eloise cut to the chase. ¡°How¡¯s the new talent director at yourpany? Does she know her own ce?¡± Suzanna checked her surroundings to make sure they were alone before leaning closer to Eloise to whisper in her ear. She exaggerated, ¡°Did you know that Mr. Harris personally brought her into the company? He even emphasized that we should all take extra care of her. I bet she was already fooling around with Mr. Harris before she started working here. She¡¯s too proud to mix with the rest of us, and she even bullies the most promising artists at ourpany. The audacity!¡± ¡°Oh my God, did that really happen?¡± Eloise thundered, ¡°In that case, she can¡¯t be allowed to stay in thispany.¡± She waved Suzanna closer to her and murmured a few words to thetter. Suzanna appeared disconcerted after hearing Eloise¡¯s words. She stammered, ¡°C¨CCan we r¨Creally do that? Isn¡¯t that too much?¡± Eloise patted her shoulder gently and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll put in some good words about you with Trey once everything is done so you can rece her as the new talent director.¡± Ethics and the desire for a promotion warred in Suzanna¡¯s heart, though Suzanna¡¯s hesitation only lasted a few seconds. She promptly decided to prioritize her career and wealth. Later that afternoon, as Suzanna was busy assigning uing events to thepany¡¯s artists, Suzanna visited her office with a bright smile and an unusually courteous demeanor. ¡°Ms. Shalders, have you heard about Grandeur Group¡¯s hefty investment in an uing male protagonist drama?¡± Without lifting her head from the forms she was scrutinizing, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Why?¡± Suzanna tittered and ced some documents about the drama on Gwendolyn¡¯s desk, exining, ¡°I¡¯ve locked in an opportunity to discuss casting opportunities with Grandeur Group¡¯s representative for our company¡¯s artists. However, they only want to discuss the casting with you, Ms. Shalders.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn raise her head to shoot Suzanna a cool nce. Her piercing, seemingly all¨Cknowing gaze stunned Suzanna, who faltered and almost lost her resolve. Gwendolyn smirked and replied, ¡°This is a great chance to rake in some extramission from the company. Whoever snagged the deal should go.¡± Suzanna¨Csmiled awkwardly andmented, ¡°I¡¯d love to go, but Grandeur Group thinks my rank is too low to discuss the casting with them. They will only speak to someone who¡¯s in a directorial position or higher. To be honest, earning extramission isn¡¯t a big deal. I¡¯m happy to help our artists gain better opportunities and contribute to thepany¡¯s reputation. It¡¯s still a sess no matter who wins the business for ourpany.¡± amazement, ¡°Ms. Kleppen, this is the first time you¡¯re being so civil to me.¡± Herment surprised Suzanna, whose smile widened. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve finally seen your talents, Ms. Shalders, and I will never disrespect you again. That said, I do think a meeting with Grandeur Group¡¯s representative is an excellent opportunity for ourpany. Won¡¯t you reconsider attending it?¡± Gwendolyn bit back her smile and replied, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll go.¡± How else would I know what tricks you¡¯re hiding up your sleeve? Once they clocked off work that evening, Suzanna enthusiastically brought Gwendolyn to the dinner meeting with Grandeur Group. The two women entered a luxurious private dining room, where three middle¨Caged men with beer bellies stood politely to greet them. The men¡¯s eyes lit up gleefully as their gazesnded on Gwendolyn. Suzanna smiled at them and made the introductions. This is our beautiful talent director at Angle, Ms. Shalders. Ms. Shalders, these three men are the directors at Grandeur Group¨CMr. Tom Ward, Mr. Harry Ulmer, and Mr. Peter Zinn, respectively.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all directors?¡± Gwendolyn blinked innocently and added, ¡°Why isn¡¯t the project representative meeting us in this discussion?¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Heavyweight Drinker Suzanna¡¯s smile froze at Gwendolyn¡¯s question, but she quicklyposed herself and smiled even more brightly. She pulled Gwendolyn aside and whispered, ¡°These directors are influential figures in Grandeur Group. One word from any of them would make or break our artists¡® casting opportunities in the drama. So try not to upset them, Ms. Shalders.¡± Gwendolyn nodded expressionlessly in response. They returned to the table after their whispering. Tom, Harry, and Peter had not stopped staring at Gwendolyn since she entered the private room. Gwendolyn wanted to throw up under their lustful stares. Tom was the first to speak up. ¡°Ms. Shalders, you¡¯re really as pretty as the rumors say. You¡¯ve got a great figure too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too generous. The three of you are truly exceptional and sessful,¡± replied Gwendolyn obligingly. Suzanna quickly invited everyone to take their seats before toasting Gwendolyn, ¡°This is your first business meeting since joining thepany, Ms. Shalders. Please allow me to toast to a sessful deal.¡± As she spoke, she pushed a ss of red wine into Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. Gwendolyn swirled the liquor around the ss and sniffed the bouquet elegantly. ¡°Hmm, a 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. What an excellent wine.¡± She smiled and clinked sses with Suzanna before polishing off the wine in a single gulp. Harry jumped in to tter Gwendolyn, praising, ¡°Ms. Shalders, I didn¡¯t take you for a wine aficionado. You can hold your drinks well too. How utterly charming. I hope you¡¯ll ept my toast as well.¡± From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Aren¡¯t we discussing the casting for Grandeur Group¡¯s drama project? Why haven¡¯t any of you brought the subject up?¡± asked Gwendolyn. Calmly, one of the directors replied, ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll get to it, but we should have a few sses and rx before getting down to serious business. I¡¯m sure you understand how this works, don¡¯t you, Ms. Shalders?¡± They smiled at Gwendolyn and raised their sses at her. Gwendolyn did not put off their requests and downed ss after ss of wine. Meanwhile, Noah knocked on the door to the CEO¡¯s office at Wright Construction Group. He entered the room and politely handed a dossier on Gwendolyn¡¯s background to Maverick. ¡°Boss, our men have investigated her three times. This is the final, organized information we have on her background for your review,¡± Maverick received the documents from his assistant and read them several times, his brows slightly furrowed. At first nce, Gwendolyn¡¯s background seemed perfectly ordinary until it came to her life before she was fifteen years old. There was only a line about hering from an orphanage. No other details were avable, not even regarding when she was first brought to the orphanage. Is there actually someone in this world that my genius hackers can¡¯t investigate? Noah seemed to sense his employer¡¯s doubts and asked, ¡°Do you want them to dig deeper?¡± ¡°No.¡± Maverick closed the dossier and ced it on a stack of documents in his office, adding, ¡°She¡¯s deliberately hiding her true background from us. We¡¯ll just be wasting our efforts investigating her. The only thing that¡¯s certain is that her background isn¡¯t as simple as it seems.¡± He strolled to the long windows in his office and lit a cigarette, his gaze dark and thoughtful. Noah checked Maverick¡¯s schedule on an iPad and asked, ¡°Boss, you have a dinner meeting tonight, which was booked a week ago. Are you going?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Suzanna and the three directors from Grandeur Group took turns toasting Gwendolyn at their business meeting. Gwendolyn had not refused a drink during their three rounds of toasts. The party promptly polished off six bottles of red wine. Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks were mildly flushed despite the amount of liquor she had drunk, which added to her allure. Her gaze, however, remained lucid. Suzanna was frustrated, even as she struggled to keep a clear head. I didn¡¯t expect her to be a heavyweight at drinking. Even the directors are getting tipsy. How is she perfectly fine? Everyone was about to copse at the table. To her surprise, Gwendolyn refilled her ss with red wine and downed it when the others stopped pouring liquor for her. Then, she shot her dinnerpanions a smile so beatific it bordered on a taunt. They had no choice but to bow to her prowess. It was truly a sight which they had to see to believe. Gwendolyn turned the tables on them and asked, ¡°Why did everyone stop drinking? If that¡¯s too much liquor to handle, perhaps it¡¯s time we got down to business?¡± She even raised her ss to toast them. The three directors hastily turned to Suzanna, signaling her to fix the situation. If they had to drink one more ss of wine, they would surely copse and spend their night in the private dining room. Suzanna gritted her teeth in annoyance. Plying Gwendolyn with alcohol was no longer an option. Thankfully, before she came, Eloise had given her a packet of odorless, colorless powder to guarantee the sess of their n. Suzanna exchanged nces with Peter, who caught her hint and smiled at Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Shalders, have you seen the production n for our uing male protagonist drama?¡± While he spoke, he took out some documents and handed them to Gwendolyn, exining. ¡°This is the latest version. Why don¡¯t you take a look and let us know your top picks for the production?¡± Gwendolyn stood up to receive the documents from him. Suddenly, the sound of ss shattering filled the room. Suzanna had knocked Gwendolyn¡¯s wine ss off the table. She apologized profusely, ¡°Oh my God, I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t mean it, Ms. Shalders. I must be kind of tipsy. Let me get you a fresh ss of wine,¡± Gwendolyn eyed her colleague suspiciously but did not stop her from leaving. Suzanna returned shortly with a new wine ss, which she filled with red wine before handing it to Gwendolyn. She exchanged knowing looks with Peter and quickly raised their sses to toast Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn did not ept their toast and said, ¡°There¡¯s no rush for that. Let¡¯s treat this as thest drink to close the night.¡± Peter did not understand what she was getting at but agreed anyway. ¡°Of course, of course. Whatever thedy wants, she gets.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve read through the character list, but I think there are some potential issues here,¡± Gwendolyn pointed out while discreetly shifting her wine ss. She stood and carried the documents with her, leaning closer to hand them to Peter. The three men were positively hypnotized by her svelte figure. For easier viewing, Gwendolyn bnced the documents atop two neighboring wine sses before giving her detailedments. None of the directors paid attention to what she had to say. They absent¨Cmindedly agreed to all her suggestions, eager to get the discussion done and over with. Peter jumped on the opportunity to toast Gwendolyn again. ¡°Ms. Shalders, now that we¡¯re done talking business, let¡¯s all have a drink to celebrate our future coboration.¡± Gwendolyn no longer rejected the toast and lightly clinked her wine ss with the others. Still, she was in no hurry to touch her drink. The other four people in the room downed their sses quickly and shot Gwendolyn expectant or excited looks. The aroma of the red wine was intoxicating. Gwendolyn brought the ss to her lips. After a moment of hesitation, she finished her drink in one gulp. A few secondster, her vision blurred. Her mind turned fuzzy, and she finally copsed heavily across the table. Suzanna and the others smiled in triumph, their gazes affixed to Gwendolyn¡¯s empty wine ss. In the middle of his dinner meeting, Maverick left the private dining room to visit the restroom. He used an emergency exit to return to the private dining room, and on his way back, he spied a familiar¨Clooking woman speaking with a pot¨Cbellied man. Maverick took a second look and recognized the woman; she had been showing off her BMW to Gwendolyn in the parking lot some time ago. Not particrly interested in eavesdropping, Maverick turned to leave. Just then, he overheard some rming words in the woman¡¯s conversation. ¡°Mr. Zinn, please remind your fellow directors to record Gwendolyn¡¯s face clearly in the video. And make sure to prioritize me in your future business dealings.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. We won¡¯t forget to reward you.¡± Peter rubbed his hands greedily, impatient to return to the private dining room where the unconscious Gwendolyny. He had barely turned around when someone grabbed his cor fiercely from behind. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Gwendolyn Was No Pushover Peter¡¯s eyes widened in horror after he realized who the person was. ¡°M¨CMr. Wright¡­ What are you doing here?¡± With veins popping on his forehead, Maverick looked as if he was about to explode with anger when he grabbed Peter by the cor. ¡°Which room is she in? What are you nning to do to her?¡± Peter was so frightened by Maverick¡¯s questioning that he spinelessly spilled everything he knew with his trembling lips. With her face as pale as a sheet, Suzanna tried to slip away but was stopped by Noah, who arrived at the scene just in time. ¡°Tie them up and lock them in a room. I¡¯ll deal with themter.¡± Maverick handed the terrified two to Noah before entering the room, which Peter pointed at, with fury and a sense of dread. Because of that b*stard¡¯s order, she was forced to drink drugged wine more than fifteen minutes ago. Could she already be¡­ Maverick¡¯s crimson¨Cred eyes were filled with murderous intent as he violently pushed the door open, and the first thing he saw was a trail of fresh blood that led to the restroom, from where he could hear the groaning of two men. Furious, Maverick was about to rush into the restroom when he inadvertently caught a glimpse of a laid¨Cback figure not far away. He did not take long to notice Gwendolyn, who looked exquisite with her light makeup, leaning back gracefully on a chair while tapping casually on the broken stool leg beside her hand. When Maverick saw blood dripping from the sharp end of the screws on the stool leg, he assumed that the piece of furniture had been through a fierce fight. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re fine?¡± inquired Maverick after scrutinizing Gwendolyn for a while. In response, Gwendolyn tilted her head and smiled mischievously. ¡°What? Do you want something bad to happen to me?¡± Of course not! Maverick wanted to refute Gwendolyn, but she did not allow him to do so. ¡°You sure are well¨Cinformed, Mr. Wright. Did youe all the way here to catch thetest piece of gossip from the entertainment industry?¡± questioned Gwendolyn. ¡°What?¡± Maverick was baffled by the woman¡¯s words. Suddenly, the restroom door opened before two strange things crawled out. Only after looking closely did Maverick realize that the two men were severely bruised and seemingly drugged. One of them had a face so red and swollen that it was horrifying. Not only that, but he also had blood oozing out of the gaps between his fingers as he held on to his legs with a grimace. Meanwhile, the other bloodied man also grimaced in pain while holding his back. It was a bloody mess! Maverick was slightly startled when he saw the two, but at the same time, he was relieved. Having noticed how capable Gwendolyn was in a fightst time, Maverick knew she was no pushover. Tom and Harry suddenly burst into tears after they miserably crawled over to kneel two meters away from Gwendolyn. ¡°Madam, it was all Mr. Zinn¡¯s and Suzanna¡¯s idea! I only did what I did because I had no choice!¡± ¡°He¡¯s right! We know better now, so please let us go, and we¡¯ll never make the same mistake again.¡± Sneering, Gwendolyn took her phone out and referred to the information she had someone dug up about the two men. ¡°Director of Grandeur Group, Tom Ward, you¡¯re both greedy and lustful. You have a thing for tormenting women, whether they¡¯re artists or other females in the industry. Many have fallen prey to you, including five dead. Harry Ulmer, also a director of Grandeur Group, you¡¯re even worse. Not only have you taken advantage of all the young female artists but you didn¡¯t even spare the male artists. Besides, you¡¯ve also got the blood of ten people on your hands. Do you really think you deserve my mercy?¡± After hearing that, the men cried even more miserably while their legs shook like leaves in a storm. ¡°Please spare us, madam. We know what we did was wrong now and promise not to do it again. May lightning strike us if we don¡¯t keep our word!¡± Gwendolyn then gracefully poured herself a ss of red wine and slightly swirled the drink. ¡°Good. Since you¡¯ve learned your lesson, I want you to post the video you recorded in the restroom on Twitter. Then, announce your crimes and apologize sincerely to all the victims. You must ensure the public knows just how disgusting and despicable you are!¡± The two were immediately drained of color when they heard Gwendolyn. ¡°N¨CNo, I can¡¯t do that! Not only will I be removed from the board of directors and despised by everyone in the country, but I¡¯ll also be arrested. I¡¯ll still be doomed!¡± eximed Harry, shaking his head. Tom then quickly chimed in, ¡°Please have mercy, madam! We can promise you anything besides this.¡± If their crimes were convicted, the two would be sent to prison, where they would be beaten up and humiliated by other prisoners before being executed. The thought of the consequence alone was enough to make them quake in their boots. Maverick simply smirked as he stood aside and observed quietly. She sure is decisive and ruthless when toying with these men. Not only that, but she¡¯s crafty with her words too. I suppose we¡¯re quite simr in that regard. Sweeping his gaze across the two men, Maverick ordered without waiting for Gwendolyn to respond, ¡°Do what Ms. Shalders said.¡± The two, looking humbly at Maverick, did not even get a chance to beg before he added, ¡°Or de you wish toe with me and see what form of torture I have in store for you?¡± Unlike Gwendolyn, who was filled with puzzlement, the two men immediately trembled after hearing the threat. Since they had heard of how Maverick tortured others, they knew death was a better option. The men became even more terrified when they imagined getting drained of blood by being hung upside down and getting thirty thousand cuts. ¡°We¡¯ll do it! We¡¯ll post it right away!¡± With their hands shaking, the two posted on Twitter under Gwendolyn¡¯s cold gaze. When she decided she was done with the men, Gwendolyn cracked the knuckles she fought with and got up before walking out without sparing Maverick a nce. Maverick quickly followed Gwendolyn after calling Noah, leaving Tom and Harry to cry pathetically while cuddling each other in the room. Less than five minutester, almost everyone online was discussing Tom¡¯s and Harry¡¯s posts on Twitter. Noah then called the police, and the two men were apprehended so quickly that they did not even get a chance to read the brutal scoldings theizens hurled at them. Tom and Harry cried like babies after they were arrested and taken out the back door of the establishment. Maverick took a while before finally catching up to Gwendolyn at the entrance of the hotel because of how fast she walked. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. The sky was already dark by then, but the lights outside the restaurant were as bright as day. Maverick then saw Gwendolyn lower her head to look contentedly at Treyton, who was squatting beside her and gently massaging her sore and swollen calves. ¡°Hurt yourself, didn¡¯t you? Let me know if you need to teach someone a lesson next time. You don¡¯t have to do it yourself,¡± stated Treyton caringly while rubbing Gwendolyn¡¯s legs. Chuckling, Gwendolyn responded, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Ist fought, so I¡¯ve gotten a little rusty. Being able to get physical again feels great!¡± Maverick froze in ce, stunned by what he saw. After Treyton was done massaging Gwendolyn¡¯s calves, he took off his jacket to cover her head with it while escorting her into the car. When closing the car door, Treyton turned around to give Maverick a cold gaze as a warning. Treyton then got into his Rolls¨CRoyce and drove off as Maverick watched with mixed feelings about what had just happened. For quite a while, Maverick kept thinking about how Treyton massaged Gwendolyn¡¯s fegs before him. Noah could not help but wonder what his boss was thinking when he exited the hotel and found the man standing outside alone. ¡°Boss? Are you okay?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Even though Maverick had regained his senses, his face remained hardened. ¡°Tom and Harry have been arrested. What do we do about the two upstairs, Boss?¡± Maverick pondered for a while as the scene from before shed across his mind again. Then, he uttered with a cold tone, ¡°Forget about them. Just let them go.¡± ¡°Huh? We¡¯re going to let them go just like that?¡± Having spent a lot of effort dragging Peter and Suzanna into a dark room, Noah was dumbfounded when he heard Maverick. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Who Has the Last Laugh Maverick pursed his lips and exited the hotel without saying a word. Left with no choice, Noah quickly called his subordinates to release the two. Meanwhile, Suzanna and Peter were tied up in a dark room, trembling in fear. +25 Bonus Suzanna never thought Gwendolyn would know a big shot like Maverick. Thus, she turned green with envy. She grew up in an orphanage. If I¡¯m not mistaken, she wrote divorced in the column for marital status on her resume. What did a woman like her do to deserve favors from so many distinguished men in Faike? What gives? At that moment, Suzanna was more terrifiedpared to being jealous. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. She was fearful of all the possible actions Maverick would take against them. Click! Suddenly, someone switched on the lights, and the room became so bright that the two were dazzled at once. They were scared to their wits end. Before they could plead for mercy, Noah¡¯s subordinates released them right away and then the whole gang strode out of the room without sparing them a nce. Suzanna and Peter looked at cach other,pletely baffled. What¡¯s going on? They¡¯re letting us go just like that? Immediately, Peter called Tom to find out, and Suzanna was all cars. However, the call did not get through for Tom¡¯s phone was switched off. Since there was nothing they could do about it, the duo decided to leave that dangerous ce and go on their separate ways. They were worried that Maverick would change his mind and go after them. again. As soon as Suzanna got back safely, she contacted Eloise and learned that Tom and Harry were arrested by the police. ¡°Is this how you do things? What caused the sudden turn of events?¡± Eloise questioned her. ¡°Mr. Wright from Wright Construction Group heard my conversation with Mr. Zinn and abducted us. I¡¯m guessing he¡¯s also the one who put Mr. Ward and the others behind bars,¡± said Suzanna in a presuming manner. Then, she added doubtfully, ¡°I don¡¯t get why he let Mr Zinn and I go when he sent Mr. Ward and the rest to jail. Eloise fell into silence before responding, ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to investigate this matter thoroughly. You just need to keep an eye on that woman.¡± ¡°Okay¡± After hanging up the phone, Suzanna turned around and hugged the man beside her. 13:20 Mon, May ¤Õ¤» Chapter 33 Who Has the Last Laugh +25 Bonus Thetter was in his forties and bald. He gave her a lecherous look and subsequently locked her in his arms, asking, ¡°The new director seems nice. Why can¡¯t you ept her?¡± Suzanna pushed him away deliberately when she heard that. ¡°How dare you asked me that question? You promised to promote me previously, but in the end, that woman took my position. If she wasn¡¯t pretty, would you even bother yourself with this kinda stuff?¡± Secondster, she thought about something and dug up the past. ¡°By the way, you gifted me a used BMW! Do I only worth that much to you?¡± The man did not know how to respond, so he tried tofort Suzanna instead. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! You¡¯re my most precious and gorgeous baby girl. I was short of cash a while ago, but I¡¯ll personally bring you to the 45 shop to pick a better car when I have more time soon.¡± Suzanna scoffed, expressing her displeasure. ¡°Since you want the director position so much, I¡¯ll find fault with her at the meeting tomorrow. You can then chime in. As a new staff. I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t know how to handle the situation and will most likely make a fool out of herself. With that, you¡¯ll be thepany¡¯s new director very soon.¡± Suzanna was delighted. ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word. The man nodded. ¡°Baby, don¡¯t you think that you should reward me for doing you a big favor?¡± Suzanna blushed and replied coyly, ¡°You¡¯re so annoying!¡± The next morning, Suzanna was in high spirits when she drove to the office. Right before the meeting, Gwendolyn ran into her, and they both took the same elevator. ¡°Wow, Ms. Kleppen is radiating joy. I bet you must have had a good sleepst night,¡± teased Gwendolyn. Suzanna cast a contemptuous nce at her and said, ¡°Oh yeah, I sure slept better than you, Ms. Shalders. I¡¯m afraid you didn¡¯t get any rest, did you?¡± Based on how severely drugged Gwendolyn was, Tom and Harry must have gotten what they wanted. Unfortunately, Maverick caught them red-handed, and that¡¯s why they didn¡¯t get a chance to send the video to Peter. Suzanna pondered over what happenedst night and thought through everything logically. Hence, she resented Gwendolyn even more. Who does she think she is? She¡¯s just a toy yed by men. I¡¯d like to see how long she can keep up with her arrogance! With that, Suzanna lifted her head and approached Gwendolyn confidently. ¡°I¡¯m quite fond of you, Ms. Shalders, if we were friends. However, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be sacked pretty soon, and we won¡¯t have a chance to be colleagues anymore,¡± mocked Suzanna. Gwendolyn took a sidelong nce at her and chuckled. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ding! When the elevator finally reached the designated floor, Gwendolyn withdrew her gaze froni Suzanna and walked out first. 13:20 Mon, May 73% Chapter 33 Who Has the Last Laugh. +25 Bonus Thetter stared at her back profile and muttered with seething anger, ¡°I¡¯d like to see you weepter!¡± There was a monthly meeting at Angle, which aimed to follow up with the overall work nning for each project. Those above the director level upied the front of the table, whereas employees like Suzanna were seated at the back, about five people away from Gwendolyn. Soon, the various directors led their teams into the room respectively, but the meeting did not start until Treyton arrived. Suzanna was bored to death when the managers of each department reported their work one after another. When it was almost Gwendolyn¡¯s turn, Suzanna clenched her fists as excitement glinted across her eyes. Right then, she subconsciously nced at the group of directors and was taken aback when she could not locate a familiar figure. As a matter of fact, there was not a seat reserved for him, and the entire area was upied! What¡¯s going on? Everything was finest night, and we even left for work at about the same time this morning. Suzanna could not wrap her head around it. When she turned her around, her gaze met Gwendolyn across the room. Thetter smirked and gave her an unfathomable expression before looking away. To Suzanna, that attractive smirk was nothing but a tant provocation. Intuitively, she knew Gwendolyn had something to do with the absence of the man she was looking for. Suzanna struggled to suppress her curiosity but to no avail. She turned to the person next to her and asked under her breath, ¡°Do you know why didn¡¯t Mr. Flint show up today?¡± Instantly, her colleague nched in shock when he heard that name and quickly waved his hand, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know who Mr. Flint is. Don¡¯t ask me. Huh? This reaction¡­ Something seems off. Finding that answer a hard one to believe in, Suzanna turned to her left. Before she could repeat her question, the colleague on her left waved and responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know anything.¡± Suzanna was bbergasted. By then, Gwendolyn had started giving her updates. Recently, we have a new production entitled ¡°The Kingdom. After discussing, we¡¯ve decided to star Joaquin and Jayden in the movie as first and second male leads, respectively.¡± ¡°Hang on!¡± Suzanna raised her hand and interrupted Gwendolyn abruptly. She questioned, ¡°When was this decided? Howe I know nothing about it? Moreover, our discussionst night was- Gwendolyn picked on her and interjected, ¡°What did we discuss yesterday? With whom?¡± ¡°It was with¡­¡± Suzanna paused. Mr. Ward and Mr. Ulmer were arrested without a reasonst night. Had I shared the full story, wouldn¡¯t I be exposing something I shouldn¡¯t have done? # Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 It Was You +25 Bonus Suzanna thought for a while and felt that Gwendolyn was trying to trick her. Hence, the former chose to ignore the question and raised her doubts instead. She continued, ¡°When did you have a meeting with Grandeur Group about the actors, Ms. Shalders? Howe I didn¡¯t receive any information about this¡± ¡°Wow, Ms. Kleppen, you must be delusional! Do I have to inform you before doing anything?¡± Gwendolynughed as she shot a cold nce at Suzanna. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Thetter was stunned. She did not expect Gwendolyn to confront her publicly during the meeting. At that time, everyone had their gazes fixated on Suzanna, waiting to see how she might get humiliated. She bit her lip and conveniently yed victim by putting on a hurt expression. Then, she exined politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making my own assumptions, Ms. Shalders. I thought that you¡¯d discuss it with us first.¡± Suzanna flinched at the arrogance in Gwendolyn¡¯s voice. The contrast between them both seemingly illustrated a perfect picture of a superior bullying her subordinate. Suzanna was pleased with the oue she had portrayed. Trying to challenge me? You¡¯re too green for that, Gwendolyn! What an amateur and inexperienced newbie! Treyton tapped his knuckles on the desk to express his displeasure. ¡°A director has all the rights to make any decisions on her own. There¡¯s no need for you to make a big fuss out of this matter.¡± ¡°Noted, Mr. Harris.¡± Embarrassed, Suzanna had no choice but to return to her seat. Gwendolyn stared at her and uttered, ¡°Since you¡¯re interested in this project, I shall keep you updated, Ms. Kleppen. The person in charge of Grandeur Group and I confirmed the list of actors yesterday morning.¡± What? Suzanna widened her eyes in shock. I spoke to her about Grandeur Group yesterday afternoon teithout knowing that she¡¯s already confirmed the deal in the morning itself. If that¡¯s the case, why did she agree to attend the dinnerst night? Suzanna stared at Gwendolyn incredulously, her face was as pale as a sheet. So, she did that on purpose? Was she the one who got Mr. Ward and Mr. Ulmer arrested? Right then, a cold chill ran down Suzanna¡¯s spine as she gazed at Gwendolyn¡¯s alluring face. However, she dismissed the idea a momentter. How could a youngss who has never seen the world possess such insidious mind and shrewdness? No, I bet it¡¯s Mon, May Chapter 34 It Was You merely a coincidence. Yes, it must be so! 73% +25 Bonus Suzanna¡¯s sharp nails dug deep into her own palms. Only then did she begin to regain herposure. Subsequently, she fell silent, and the meeting resumed with Gwendolyn presenting her ns. ¡°The overall nning remains status quo. Besides, all the endorsement contracts and variety shows. negotiated for each popr artist will continue as per agreement.¡± Since no one exercised a veto against her proposal. Gwendolyn continued sharing her ideas. ¡°Lastly, I¡¯ll talk about this group of trainees we¡¯ve been grooming Most of them are very young and inexperienced. Hence, I¡¯d like ourpany to invest a budget and organize an audition. We can invite otherpanies to form a team of seven out of a hundred talents and debut them. It will also be a great opportunity for these kids to gain exposure.¡± Once again, Suzanna raised her hand, stood up, and voiced her opinions. ¡°Ms. Shalders, holding auditions isn¡¯t a small task, and this seems to have gone beyond your job scope too. Most importantly, there¡¯s no market for talent auditions in this country. Should thepany suffer a loss because of this While speaking. Suzanna saw Gwendolyn frowning and fanning her slim fingers in front of her nose. ¡°Did you eat too much garlic during lunch? Why do you have such a pungent breath?¡± I Suzanna was dumbfounded and said, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± Gwendolyn shed her a smile. ¡°Then, why are you trying so hard to make your presence known regardless of the asion?¡± Pfft! At her words, many of the employees started giggling The staff sitting next to Suzanna even subconsciously covered their noses and kept a distance from her. At that instant, Suzanna finally realized she had been humiliated by Gwendolyn and blushed with embarrassment. She stared at thetter with disbelief and said in a high-pitched voice, ¡°It seems like you have a hidden personal agenda, Ms. Shalders. Otherwise, why are you so scared to be questioned by others? It has only been days since you joined thepany. Yet, you¡¯re already proposing an idea that will cost an exorbitant sum. How fishy is that? Mr. Harris, I suggest you carry out a strict investigation on her.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Treyton, who was in the main seat, mmed his coffee cup on the desk and uttered grimly, ¡°I agree with the suggestion.¡± Upon hearing that, the crowd flew into an uproar. Even the way they looked at Gwendolyn changed completely. Suzanna was the only one feeling ted. ¡°Really? I can¡¯t believe that you concurred with my thoughts, Mr. Harris. Are you going to check on her?¡± Someone breathed in sharply when she asked that question. Apart from Suzanna, the silly woman, everybody knew to whom Treyton actually directed his 13:21 Mon, May 15 Chapter 34 It Was You +25 Bonus response. Treyton was totally disgusted by her behavior. He pulled a long face and threatened, ¡°Say one more word, and I¡¯ll kick you out of here. Don¡¯t even think about returning tomorrow.¡± In an instant, colors drained from Suzanna¡¯s face. She was baffled by the sudden turn of events. She was in a daze until someone nearby reminded her to sit down, and she went back to her seat reluctantly. Subsequently, the management started discussing Gwendolyn¡¯s proposal in detail to refine her idea. The more Suzanna listened to their conversations, the more she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. Jealousy and envy consumed her to the extent that she found it hard to breathe. Why didn¡¯t Treyton fall for me? If only I were the one who had an affair with him, he¡¯d be doting on me in public right now, and I¡¯d enjoy the affection I deserve! It should have been me! Suddenly, Jonathan¡¯s oily face shed across her eyes. She was revolted by the bald man in his forties. who had a gold tooth cap. Suzanna felt aggrieved and indignant when the thought of being around a repulsive man like Jonathan struck her. Oh right! There¡¯s Jonathan! Judging from Treyton¡¯s attitude toward Gwendolyn, I¡¯m a hundred percent sure that the b*tch has everything to do with the disappearance of Jonathan! She chewed on it for a while. After the brief unpleasant interlude caused by Suzann, the rest of the meeting went very well. Soon, Treyton dered the meeting adjourned and left with Elisha. The rest of the staff also left the conference room one after another. Gwendolyn was getting ready to leave when ady with red fingernails got hold of the document on the desk. Suzanna smiled at her and requested, ¡°Please stay back for a while, Ms. Shalders. I have something to consult you about.¡± Gwendolyn did not say anything, nor did she show any signs of refusing her. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. It was only when the crowd was almost gone that Suzanna lowered her voice and asked solemnly, ¡°Tell me honestly, why isn¡¯t Jonathan present? Where did he go? Are you behind all these?¡± ¡°Oh, Jonathan? He will never ever step foot into thepany,¡± answered Gwendolyn indifferently. ¡°What?¡± Suzanna could not believe her ears. She grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulders and shook them, asking anxiously, ¡°Was he sacked by the board of directors? It was you, wasn¡¯t it? Why did you do that to him?¡± 13:21 Mon, May 15 GB Chapter 34 It Was You +25 Bonus It was justst night when he shared with me how he was going to give this b*tch a hard time. Now, he¡¯s been fired without any warning? No, this can¡¯t be true. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows and pushed Suzanna¡¯s hands away in exasperation. ¡°He was suspected of misappropriating thepany¡¯s funds and engaging in scandals with female employees. Thus, thepany kicked him out and sent him behind bars. He will probably be sentenced to at least ten years. in prison.¡± As she was speaking, she took a piece of wet tissue and wiped her wrists and the document for both. had been touched by Suzanna earlier. Afterward, she smiled and added, ¡°This is strictly confidential. No one else in thepany dares to tell you about it except me. Considering the fact that we¡¯ve been colleagues for several days, I¡¯m really nice. to you, right?¡± At that point, Suzanna felt goosebumps all over her skin. Gasping in disbelief, she stumbled backward. ¡°So¡­ You already knew everythingst night? You did this on purpose to trap me?¡± Gwendolyn refused to answer her. Instead, she strode toward the main seat in the conference room and sat down. She crossed her legs, revealing a voluptuous figure. Even though she was slightly shorter than Suzanna because she was sitting down, Gwendolyn¡¯s aura remained intimidating. She looked way more imposing than Suzanna who was standing. Gwendolyn smirked smugly and said, ¡°Suzanna, go ahead and keep Jonathanpany since you miss. him so much.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 A Shameless Little Snob ¡°How dare you!¡± +25 Bonus The first thing Suzanna noticed was that Gwendolyn had sat at the head of the table before even realizing what thetter had said. Her lips trembled as she asked, ¡°W-What do you mean by that?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s red lips curved upward as she broke into a carelessugh. She fixed her gaze on Suzanna and made no response Gwendolyn¡¯sughter unnerved Suzanna, and the aura radiating off the former sent a chill down the latter¡¯s spine. ¡°You¡¯re crazy! A raving lunatic!¡± Suzanna spat out fully. As she spoke, she took two steps. backward. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Just as she was about to turn and leave, four men in police uniforms appeared at the conference room¡¯s door and knocked politely. ¡°Excuse me. May we know who¡¯s Suzanna Kleppen?¡± As soon as Suzanna heard that they were looking for her, she was stunned. ¡°What is it about?¡± Seeing that she was the one who responded, the policemen immediately walked toward her with stern expressions. She was so frightened that the color drained from her face. ¡°Have you¡­ made a mistake? I¡¯m a good andw-abiding citizen!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be the judge of whether or not you¡¯re innocent. Pleasee with us.¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m not going!¡± Mr. Ward and Mr. Ulmer are inside, so there¡¯s no way of hiding what I did. I had hoped Jonathan would be able to protect me, but I never expected him to end up in the doghouse quicker than me. In any case, I can¡¯t get thrown into jail. Once I go there, my career and future will be in utter shambles!¡± Something seemed to ur to her, and she hurried over to Gwendolyn. Tossing aside her pride, she crouched at Gwendolyn¡¯s feet, tugged at her hand, and pleaded, ¡°Was it you who told them toe? Gwendolyn¡­ Ms. Shalders, I admit defeat. I apologize I only harbored malicious intent toward you because of a moment of jealousy. Please spare me, will you?¡± Gwendolyn gently lifted Suzanna¡¯s chin with the tip of her finger and stared straight into thetter¡¯s eyes. Grinning, she remarked, ¡°Your apology reeks of fear and hope. You know better than me just how sincere it is.¡± ¡°No! I mean every word I said! I was wrong, Ms. Shalders. It was my fault.¡± ¡°If you were merely trying to pick a fight with me for rivial reasons, I¡¯d only fire you for conspiring with Jonathan Flint to take over my position. However, you gave me such a surprise. I underestimated you. If I don¡¯t send you to jail, it¡¯d be an insult to that impressive performance you put onst night.¡± Although Suzanna bowed her head and sobbed bitterly, she was seething with rage inwardly. This b*tch sure spouts a load of crazy talk! She¡¯s such a bully! Once I get out of this predicament, I¡¯ll definitely find a chance to get rid of her. 13:21 Mon, May Chapter 35 A Shameless Little Snob 73% +25 Bonus Concealing the malice in her heart, she feigned a look of remorse and opened her mouth to say something. Suddenly, she recalled a specific word Gwendolyn had just said. ¡°Did you say you¡¯re going to fire me?¡± How dare she say things like that when she¡¯s only a director Does the entirepany belong to her because she¡¯s friendly with the boss? Bending down slightly, Gwendolyn leaned near Suzanna¡¯s car with a smile that did not reach her eyes. ¡°I never told you this, but you¡¯re standing on Gwendolyn Shalders Harris¡¯ territory.¡± She spoke slowly and clearly when she mentioned her name, and her eyes glittered. The seat at the head of the table was like a throne. However, despite Gwendolyn¡¯s petite size, she did not seem out of ce as she sat there. On the contrary, she exuded a distinguished and cial air. Thud! Suzanna slumped onto the floor. She said¡­ that this is herpany. She said herst name is¡­ Harris. Suzanna covered her mouth, and her eyes became as round as saucers. She was too shocked to speak. Even when the policemen stepped forward to escort her away, she still had yet to snap out of her grief and despair. After getting rid of two lousy employees, I can finally get a couple of days of peace. Gwendolyn was busy working at her desk just before noon when Elisha knocked on the door and walked in. Thetter said impassively, ¡°Ms. Shalders. Mr. Harris has something urgent to discuss with you and asked you to go to his office when you¡¯re done with your work.¡± Treyton has something urgent to discuss with me? Judging from the look on her face, it doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s good NEWS. Gwendolyn did not waste any time. She took two minutes to put away her things, then headed swiftly to the office on the highest floor. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Treyton sitting at the desk with his back toward her. His head was tilted upward slightly as though he was admiring the mural on the wall. ¡°Treyton?¡± Since they were the only ones in the office, she did not have to pretend anymore. He spun around and said, ¡°Surprise!¡± In his hand was a lunch box. He opened the lid, and the smell of fragrant herbs and spices filled the air. ¡°Flora said I¡¯m mistreating you because I always let you have food from the cafeteria for lunch, so she made your favorite grilled beef and sent it over. Are you surprised?¡± ¡°Is this what you meant by ¡®something urgent?¡± she asked, amused by his childish behavior 13:21 Mon, May Chapter 35 A Shameless Little Snob 73% +25 Bonus Treyton set down the lunch box, then got up and strode toward her with a doting smile tugging at the corners of his lips. ¡°It goes without saying that the task of ensuring my dearest princess doesn¡¯t go hungry is a top priority.¡± Although Gwendolyn was silent, the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her feelings. He led her over to the couch and sat her down. Several dishes had already been set out on the coffee. table, and he went to bring over the grilled beef from his desk. She took a whiff. As expected, Flora is an excellent cook. Fer cooking is way better than the cafeteria¡¯s food. As she ate, she said, ¡°It¡¯s delicious, but there¡¯s no need to do so in the future. If I keeping to your office to have lunch with you, sooner orter, your subordinates will be suspicious.¡± Treyton could not refrain fromughing. ¡°Since you got here, Flora doesn¡¯t listen to me. You should tell her yourself when you go back tonight.¡± She nodded, then lowered her head and carried on eating. She was rather hungry indeed and unable to resist Flora¡¯s tasty cooking. Hence, she ate with such gusto that her cheeks were bulging with food. Seeing her eating like a squirrel was so dorky and adorable to him that he could not stop himself from touching the tip of her nose affectionately. Gwendolyn smiled at him and continued eating. The atmosphere inside the office was lively as they chattered away while eating. Suddenly, Elisha knocked on the door and entered the room. He stood near the door, and said softly, ¡°Mr. Harris, Ms. Ferguson is here.¡± Gwendolyn looked up and nced at Treyton subconsciously. However, she saw that his expression darkened instantly. Elisha also wore a strange look on his face. ¡°She has been waiting outside for a while. Should I show her in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± he answered without a second thought. Hence, Elisha had no choice but to leave begrudgingly. After the door closed behind her, the warm and friendly atmosphere in the office was restored. Treyton speared a piece of juicy grilled beef with his fork and ced it on Gwendolyn¡¯s te. ¡°Eat up. You¡¯re too thin.¡± Distracted by her thoughts, she ventured, ¡°Treyton, you seem to dislike your fianc¨¦e a lot.¡± His expression turned grave, and he radiated a cial aura. He uttered in disgust, ¡°Fianc¨¦e? She¡¯s not worthy of that title. She¡¯s nothing but a shameless little snob.¡± Observing the look on his face, it appeared there was more to the couple¡¯s engagement than met the eye. 13.2 Mon, May 73% +25 Bonus Chapter 35 A Shameless Little Snob Nheless, she did not probe further as he did not seem willing to talk about it. However, she could not help feeling somewhat curious about his remark that his fianc¨¦e was shameless. How weird of a person would that woman have to be to make someone as gentle as Treyton so disgusted by her? Noticing the wicked smile ying on her lips, he piped up. ¡°What evil n are you hatching? Hurry up and eat.¡± Gwendolyn nodded obediently. She finished eating ten minutester. Walking out of the office, she immediately spotted Eloise, who was still pestering Elisha. It was clear that Eloise had been arguing until she was blue in the face, and she spoke in an increasingly threatening tone. Looking away, Gwendolyn stared straight ahead as she headed toward the elevator. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Suddenly, a high-pitched voice rang out behind her, and she felt someone grab her wrist. Eloise stepped in front of her and peered at her. ¡°It¡¯s you! Why are youing out of Trey¡¯s office?¡± Gwendolyn arched a brow and shot her an easy smile¡±Mr. Harris invited me to join him for lunch. Not wanting to turn down his kind offer, naturally, I enver Before Gwendolyn even finished her sentence, Eloise was already ring at her with eyes zing with rage, wishing she could burn Gwendolyn to ashes. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Spoilsport +25 Bonus ¡°B*tch! You seductress!¡± Eloise was livid. ¡°How dare she seduce Treyton in front of me, his rightful fianc¨¦e?¡± she fumed inwardly. Eloise hade to Faike from Salinsburgh, all for Treyton¡¯s sake. In order to get engaged to him. she had spent a great deal of effort. All the women in the world could never hope to match the love she harbored for him. However, Treyton constantly refused to meet her. He made Elisha turn her down with all sorts of perfunctory excuses. Currently, he had said that he was busy. So, he was busy because he was having a meal with that woman? The more Eloise thought about it, the angrier she got Her expression underneath her exquisite. makeup turned malicious. ring at Gwendolyn hatefully, she raised her hand and tried to p the latter across the face. Gwendolyn did not make an attempt to dodge. She sat there, unmoving. However, before Eloise could harm a hair on Gwendolyn¡¯s head, someone caught ahold of her hand. Elisha held onto Eloise¡¯s wrist tightly, his tone was sten as he reminded her, ¡°Ms. Ferguson, we¡¯re at Angle at the moment. It¡¯s not right to hit others. Please show some self-respect.¡± Although Eloise wanted to wrench her hand away, her strength was no match for Elisha¡¯s. Enraged, Eloise cried, ¡°Let go! I am going to p this shameless woman! If you try to stop me. I¡¯ll hit you as well!¡± Elisha¡¯s face immediately darkened, but still, he did not loosen his grip. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Harris is inside. Do you wish to kick up a fuss and force him toe out and see your outrageous behavior?¡± Outrageous? I¡¯m from the Ferguson family, and I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. How can I bear to wreck my image in front of Treyton? Elisha withdrew his hand after he saw that Eloise had regained herposure and her anger had subsided. Gwendolyn snickered when she saw that Eloise had managed to hold herself back despite being so furious. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard about Ms. Ferguson¡¯s fiery and domineering personality.¡± Gwendolyn clicked her tongue before shaking her head and continuing, ¡°It seems like I was worried for nothing! ¡°How dare you!¡± Eloise was livid. She had to tamp down the urge to rush forward and rip Gwendolyn to shreds. She could only watch as thetter sauntered into the elevator casually and finally disappear from her view. Still, she was unable to regain herposure. How dare she provokes me so brazenly? I¡¯m going to kill her, or I¡¯m not a Ferguson! Eventually, Eloise managed to calm her emotions. All of a sudden, a name came to mind. For the first time in her life, Eloise visited the jail and asked to see a woman. Mon, May 73% Chapter 36 Spoilsport +25 Bonus A momentter, a woman dressed in a blue robe was brought into the visitor¡¯s room. She had disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes. Through the ss panel that separated them, Eloise was visibly shocked and even covered her nose subconsciously. ¡°Suzanna, it¡¯s only been a few days. Why are you in such a bedraggled state?¡± Suzanna licked her parched lips and red at Eloise hatefully. ¡°Whose fault do you think this is?¡± Two days ago, Suzanna had begged the policemen to let her meet Eloise in hopes that thetter would bail her out. However, not only did Eloise refuse to see her, but she also shoved all the me onto Suzanna and paid someone to expedite the sentence. Suzanna was going to be transferred to prison the next day and she did not know if she would be able to step into the sunlight ever again. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. She had assumed that Gwendolyn was her enemy. In truth, Eloise was the demon that had caused her imprisonment. Eloise frowned, but she did not remove the fingers that were delicately covering her nose. Through the double ss panels, she spoke to Suzanna on the phone. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be helped. My family found out and they refused to let me involve myself in anything that could soil my reputation, so I had no choice but to sacrifice you. However, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll put in a word for you. I¡¯ll ensure that you get to live a good life. In return, you must tell me all you know about Gwendolyn.¡± Eloise smiled knowingly as she continued. ¡°What do you think? Isn¡¯t it a good deal?¡± Unexpectedly, Suzanna threw back her head and guffawed while pounding on the table. Puzzled, Eloise asked, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Isn¡¯t it hrious to plot to kill your own future sister-inw However, she did not voice her thoughts. While she hated Gwendolyn, she also despised Eloise. She refused to entertain the thought of them getting along well. ¡°Are you so unwilling to let her be happy?¡± Suzanna¡¯s smile was wide. Paired with her messy and coarse hair and bloodshot eyes, she was like a specter that had escaped from an asylum. She was a frightening sight. Eloiseposed herself before replying, ¡°Of course Don¡¯t you also want to get rid of her?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll tell you what I know.¡± Smiling, Suzanna moved closer to the phone and whispered, ¡°Frankly speaking, Gwendolyn is quite a formidable opponent. I¡¯m not sure you can beat her even if you went all out. However, I know that she¡¯s been divorced before. Perhaps you could use this fact against her.¡± Eloise¡¯s eye¡¯s sparkled in excitement. ¡°All right. Leave it to me! I¡¯ll settle your score with Gwendolyn.¡± Having said that, she immediately got up and left without looking back. ncing at Eloise¡¯s elegant retreating figure, Suzanna¡¯s grin grew even more maniacal. Too bad I won¡¯t be able to witness their fight! Eloise impatiently made a call as soon as she got out, ¡°Find out who¡¯s Gwendolyn¡¯s ex-husband. I want a detailed report as soon as possible.¡± Chapter 36 Spoilsport After waiting for about half an hour, a document was forwarded to her phone. 73% +25 Bonus Eloise tapped on the document, her furrowed brows rxing. When her eyesnded on a name on the document, she curled her lips. ¡°Natasha Mossey.¡± Inside the CEO¡¯s office at Wright Construction Group. Maverick rested his hand on his temple and closed his eyes slightly. Noah stood in front of him respectfully as he reported the situation at the Wright residence. ¡°Ms. Wright made a fuss the other day, and the guards were afraid to release people. Since then, she has been unusually obedient and only called Ms. Mossey a few times. However, Ms. Mossey did not answer her calls.¡± Maverick opened his eyes. Noah¡¯sstment had caught his attention.. ¡°Why didn¡¯t Tasha answer?¡± Sheralyn and Natasha got along very well. They also talked on the phone frequently. However, ever since Gwendolyn caused the ruckus at the Wright residence, Natasha never brought up Sheralyn to him again. Maverick frowned. Noah exined, ¡°Perhaps Ms. Mossey was busy with something else and missed Ms. Wright¡¯s call.¡± It was not unusual to miss a call once or twice, but Natasha had avoided Sheralyn¡¯s calls several times. What is she hiding from? Something¡¯s wrong. With a dark expression, he stood up. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Tasha in a few days. I¡¯ll be going to the condominium.¡± Noah stood in ce. ¡°Ms. Mossey isn¡¯t at the condominium at the moment. She went out.¡± She¡¯s out? Never mind then. I¡¯m probably overthinking it. Maverick sat back down. Noah stared at the faint dark eyebags under his boss cold dark eyes and was unable to resist asking. ¡°Boss, have you not gotten enough resttely? Yourplexion doesn¡¯t look too good.¡± Maverick massaged his temples, feeling somewhat irritated. Since he was still staying at the mansion, he would always see Gwendolyn no matter what time he returned. She would be dressed in the apron, shing a smile when she saw him. Sometimes, she would have a hand on her hip as she swept up the leaves in the garden. Just the other night, when she was in bed¡­ The thought of Gwendolyn kept Maverick up at night. When he woke up to take a drink, he would recall the memory of Treyton gently massaging her calves at the hotel. ¡°Boss?¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 The Only Heir Noah hurriedly asked when he saw the grim expression on Maverick¡¯s face. Thetter regained hisposure and instructed in a deep voice, ¡°Thewyer must finalize the contract for the mansion¡¯s transfer of ownership by today. After the draft is finalized, contact. Gwendolyn and summon her over to sign.¡± ¡°Noted. I¡¯ll urge them to get it done right away.¡± In the meantime, around seven female employees of different heights were standing in two rows in Gwendolyn¡¯s tiny office at Angle Corporation. Since Suzanna¡¯s departure, Gwendolyn lost one of her trusty helpers. Hence, she decided to randomly pick one of her assistants or managers to rece Suzanna, for she needed help nning the talent. show at that period. Most of the female employees in the first row were good-looking, but their posture was awkward and coy, and their demeanor appeared pretentious. Gwendolyn merely took one nce at them, for she was not at all interested in flirtatious women. She scanned everyone present, and the girl who stood the furthest away from her in the second row soon caught her attention. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°You,e forward.¡± The woman did not expect Gwendolyn to call her. ted and surprised at the same time, she timidly took two steps forward. ¡°Hi, Ms. Shalders. I am Joanne Hudson.¡± Gwendolyn found her corresponding profile from thepany¡¯s database. Joanne was new to thepany and came from the countryside. Her family background was clean and innocent of stains. She was exactly the type of person Gwendolyn was looking for. ¡°From today onward, you will work with me as my assistant.¡± Verily, Joanne was ttered beyond words. The other employees, on the other hand, were disgruntled. ¡°Ms. Shalders, she just joined us for a month and is still under probation. Don¡¯t you think picking her as your assistant is against the rules?¡± Gwendolyn nced at them calmly. ¡°1 made the rules. I am the rules.¡± The other employees were caught off-guard by Gwendolyn¡¯s words. Disappointed that they weren¡¯t chosen, they had no choice but to leave the room begrudgingly. Joanne was very excited. She couldn¡¯t stop bowing at Gwendolyn and expressing her gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Shalders, for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely do my best toplete all the tasks you assign. I promise¡­¡± 13.21 Mon, May Chapter 37 The Only Heir 73% +25 Bonus ¡°All right, that¡¯s enough. I know you¡¯ll do your best, but action speaks louder than words.¡± Gwendolyn shot Joanne an encouraging nce as she passed a stack of documents to thetter. ¡°Familiarize yourself with these matters as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Will do. Ms. Shalders.¡± Joanne exited the room with the stack of documents! The moment she left, Gwendolyn turned her office chair around and looked at the scenery outside the massive floor-to-ceiling window of her oflice, massaging her shoulders in exhaustion. Angle wasn¡¯t at all considered a prestige entertainmentpany in Faike. Previously, thepany was able to gain benefits from coborations due to Treyton¡¯s name. If Gwendolyn wanted to increase thepany¡¯s revenue that year, she would need to be creative and develop something major and new. Although it would be risky for her to do so, she was not one to back down when faced with difficulties. Just as she was deep in thought, Joanne knocked on her office door again and entered. ¡°Ms. Shalders, someone called just now to look for you. The person on the phone introduced himself as Mr. Harrison from Gibson & Lardner. He requested you to sign some documents for the transfer of property ownership.¡± Gwendolyn asked with suspicion, ¡°What property?¡± ¡°He said it¡¯s Bay Vi, a small mansion by the beach in Lakeview.¡± The matrimonial house of Maverick and me? We have been divorced for so long. Why did he suddenly think of transferring the mansion¡¯s ownership to me? Is he trying topensate me, or is he feeling guilty? What a joke! ¡°All right. I¡¯ll be there after I get off work.¡± Gwendolyn did not reject. Although she was not short of money, there was no reason for her to say not to something free. Besides, the house mighte in handy one day if she epted it. Natasha, who was wearing a pair of sunsses, entered a coffee shop and approached a table with two roses on it as per agreement. Facing the beautiful woman in front of her, she removed her sunsses and put on a fake smile. ¡°Can I help you, Ms. Ferguson?¡± Eloise sized the other woman up. ¡°Are you Natasha? The illegitimate chill from the Mossey family? Your physical appearance is not that bad. However, your demeanor is still far from the actual daughter of the Mossey family.¡± We¡¯ve just met, and she is already putting on airs, trying to pull rank on me. Natasha frowned. Deep down, she was displeased, but she still tamped down her anger and forced a smile. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary for you to summon me all the way here just to humiliate me.¡± 13:21 Mon, May Chapter 37 The Only Heir 73% +25 Bonus She was about to grab her bag and leave immediately when Eloise held her hand and said, ¡°Calm down. Let¡¯s get into business, shall we? You hate your fianc¨¦¡¯s ex-wife a lot, right?¡± Hearing that it was rted to Gwendolyn, Natasha stopped in her tracks. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t like that b*tch as well. I can help you get rid of her.¡± Natasha hesitated for a moment. The power of the Ferguson family should not be underestimated. She was indeed a little tempted, but she disliked Eloise¡¯s arrogant and condescending behavior. If she could not get substantial help from Eloise, she would only be controlled by thetter like at puppet. After thinking carefully, Natasha sighed. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Ferguson. I am just an insignificant illegitimate child in the Mossey family. I have no power nor position in the Mossey family. I was almost defeated by her countless time before, and I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to beat her. I don¡¯t think I can help you.¡± She shot Eloise a re, stood up, and once again attempted to leave. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with an illegitimate child? As long as you are willing to cooperate with me, I can make you a legitimate one. I can make you the only heir in the Mossey family.¡± Hearing that, a devilish glint shed across Natasha¡¯s eyes. ¡°Deal!¡± When it was time to get off work, Gwendolyn took her sweet time leaving thepany and drove her Volkswagen Santana to Bay Vi. She stared numbly at the unchanged scenery outside the gate and was surprised to feel her heart clench slightly. The security guard did not stop her as he knew she would be there. She walked right through the garden and pushed the door open. Thewyer wasn¡¯t present in the hall. Instead, Maverick, who was d in a high-end ck tuxedo with his slender legs crossed, was sitting on the couch while sipping his coffee elegantly. Gwendolyn was not at all surprised to see him in the mansion. She strode in on her high heels. When she got closer, however, she found out that Maverick¡¯s usually handsome face appeared haggard. The two dark circles beneath his eyes were particrly obvious. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from snorting derisively. Although hisplexion didn¡¯t affect his charming looks in any way, that was the first time Gwendolyn saw Maverick in such a state after knowing him for so many years. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been burning the midnight oiltely, huh, Mr. Wright? You look exhausted.¡± Chapter 37 The Only Heir +25 Bonus Maverick¡¯s expression darkened as he looked up and fixed his gaze on Gwendolyn. ¡°You have such a sharp tongue, Ms. Shalders,¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She crossed her arms as the look in her eyes turned frosty. ¡°It depends on who I am. talking to. You¡¯re not worthy of my kindness.¡± Maverick furrowed his brows and stood up. He then lifted his slender legs and stepped past the coffee. table, closing in on Gwendolyn quickly. Gwendolyn was prepared. She tried making a pre-emptive move by striking Maverick with her hand, but the man swiftly moved sideways and dodged her attack. Subsequently, he tried to grab Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulder with hisrge hands. She took a step backward with a cold glint shing across her eyes as she raised her long, fair legs and aimed a kick at his crotch. Maverick sensed impending disaster and took a step backward, grabbing Gwendolyn by her ankle before she could do anything. Noah, who was standing guard in the garden, heard some noise in the house. He peeked inside only to see the two of them fighting. What is happening? Didn¡¯t she juste to sign a few documents? If she dislikes the house, she can just refuse to sign. Why are they fighting? Noah was dumbfounded when he saw the ruthlessness in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. Almost all of her attacks were targeted at Maverick¡¯s vital points. Maverick¡¯s situation was dangerous as he only defended himself and did not make any attacks. Noah gasped. Is this woman crazy? She¡¯s so cruel! O Afraid that he would witness his boss covered in blood the next second, he stopped himself from rushing in to break them up and covered his ears, hiding far away. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Unbelievable The two people in the living room had already fought two rounds by then. +25 Bonus Gwendolyn failed tond her first strike, and eventually, her stamina depleted. She was no match for Maverick in terms of strength, and she was wearing heels-an inconvenient kind of footwear. Thus, she was soon forced to the wall without realizing it. Maverick curled his lips. In the next second, he grabbed her left wrist and moved to pin it against the wall, which was something he used to do. This time, however, Gwendolyn learned her lesson. She knew that he was going to restrain her hands. and force her up against the wall. So, while he was distracted as he tried to grab her left wrist, she pressed the secret button on her ring with her right hand. A silver needle popped out in response. Caught by surprise, Maverick was soon forced to stop what he was doing when the silver needle was pressed against his Adam¡¯s apple. Thank god I¡¯m wearing the ring Kieran has given to me for self-defense. Although the needle is small, it¡¯s unusually sturdy. It was as if time had frozen for the two of them. They were so close that they could almost feel each other¡¯s breaths. Maverick¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed, and a crimson drop of blood rolled down from his neck and stained the cor of his white shirt like a tiny blooming flower. He furrowed his brows. ¡°Must you be this ruthless?¡± Gwendolyn sneered. ¡°For clingy rats like you? Yes.¡± Maverick¡¯s lips curled even more, and he inched closer to her. It was as if he was certain she would not have the courage to end his life in the mansion. ¡°Take another step closer to me, and I won¡¯t hesitate slitting your throat. You can try if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s words were spoken in a soft tone, but Maverick could see the steely resolution in her eyes. She bites if she¡¯s cornered. Chuckling, he then let go of her hand and took two steps back. Once Gwendolyn regained her freedom, she gently massaged her left wrist before walking past him to grab the transfer agreement from the coffee table. After skimming through the documents, she noted that the documents weren¡¯t tampered with She then picked up the pen from the side and signed the two agreements without hesitation. After taking one of the copies, she left without sparing him another nce. Maverick watched her saunter away nonchntly as he reached up to touch the blood on his neck with Chapter 38 Unbelievable an unreadable expression. Gwendolyn strode out of the mansion without stopping. 73% +25 Bonus When Noah caught sight of her, he instinctively flinched. Once she walked past him, he rushed into the mansion to check on Maverick. Gwendolyn ignored him. She took out her phone to call Joanne instead. ¡°Get a few people to manage Bay Vi. Throw out all the furniture and refurnish the ce. Rent all the flowers in the garden too.¡± ¡°Of course, Ms. Shalders,¡± Joanne replied subserviently. ¡°When are you nning to move in, Ms. Shalders? I¡¯ll make arrangements based on that date. Gwendolynughed. ¡°Who said I was going to move in?¡± ¡°Huh? Ms. Shalders, are you not going to move in there? Then¡­¡± Before Joanne could finish her sentence, Gwendolyn ended the call. Gwendolyn then proceeded to walk to her car parked by the entrance. Right as she opened the car door, she heard the telltale sound of a car slowly driving toward her from behind. It stopped a distance away from her, however. Natasha then came out of the backseat. It seemed like there was someone else in the backseat of the car. From the way the person positioned their hands Gwendolyn surmised it was a woman. s, her face was blocked, so Gwendolyn could not see who she was. It was not as if Gwendolyn was going to concern herself with her, anyway. After one nce, she looked away and was about to get into her car and leave. Right then, Natasha jogged over to her and stopped her from closing the car door. Surprised, she cried out, ¡°Why are you here? Are you still trying to cling to Mave? Mave has nothing to do with you anymore!¡± Gwendolyn was amused by her words, and she grinnell. ¡°This is a question you should be asking him. He was the one who invited me here.¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why would Mave ever invite you here? If you weren pestering him, do you really think he¡¯ll spare you another look?¡± Despite the disbelief in her words, Natasha felt slightly skeptical. Gwendolyn then took out the transfer agreement from her bag and waved it in front of Natasha. ¡°Take a good look at this. Your dear Mave just transferred this house¡¯s ownership to me.¡± With that said, she shoved Natasha aside. Natasha lost her bnce and stumbled for a while as her eyes reddened. 13:21 Mon, May Chapter 38 Unbelievable 73% +25 Bonus Mave gave this house to Gwendolyn? He won¡¯t even let me get close to him, but he¡¯s generously giving this property to her? Why? What¡¯s so good about her? Natasha was fuming, but on second thought, she soon arrived at another conclusion. ring at Gwendolyn, she gritted out, ¡°This must bepensation for the divorce. He¡¯s only doing this to draw a clear line between you and him. You better don¡¯t try anything else with him from now on!¡± Gwendolyn sneered and wasn¡¯t at all angered by the other woman¡¯s threat. As she shot Natasha a frigid look, she said, ¡°From now on, this is my private property. It¡¯s best for unimportant people like you, Ms. Mossey, to stay far away from this ce. Otherwise, I won¡¯t hesitate in getting someone to kick you. out.¡± ¡°You-¡± Steam was almosting out of Natasha¡¯s cars by then. When she saw Gwendolyn opening the door to sit in the driver¡¯s seat, a sh of glee appeared in her eyes. ¡°You used to have Treyton backing you, so I couldn¡¯t defeat you. But from tomorrow onward, you¡¯ll always be beneath me!¡± Gwendolyn only gave her a nce and did not bother dwelling on her words at all. In the next second, she started her engine and sped off. The tailpipe emitted smoke in its wake, causing Natasha to cough relentlessly. Yet, there was nothing she could do but stomp her foot against the ground as she red viciously at the departing green Volkswagen Santana. I¡¯d like to see how long she can keep up that arrogance of hers! Gwendolyn drove back to Treyton¡¯s mansion. When she drove past the LED screen in themercial. district, she saw the news of the Mossey family¡¯s eldest daughter-Inez Mossey¡¯s ident due to drunk driving. Apparently, Inez was temporarily out of danger after receiving emergency treatment, but it was likely that she would be in a vegetative state forever. The Mossey couple was sobbing uncontrobly on screen. Gwendolyn only nced at it for one whole second before returning her focus back to the road. Three dayster, Gwendolyn went to the cafeteria for lunch at noon. The employees were exceptionally nosy that day, and they looked extremely excited while they were gossiping. Even though Gwendolyn was puzzled as to what was going on, she was, at heart, not interested in rumors and gossip. ¡°Ms. Shalders, have you heard of the morning news?¡± Joanne came over to sit beside Gwendolyn with two other assistants she was on good terms with. ¡°What news?¡± Upon hearing that answer from Gwendolyn, Joanne raised her brows and eximed enthusiastically, 13:21 Mon, May 15 Chapter 38 Unbelievable 73% +25 Bonus ¡°You know about the Mossey family¡¯s daughter¡¯s ident, right? It¡¯s only been a few days, but the Mosseys are announcing that they¡¯ll be bringing their second daughter, who¡¯s recuperating overseas from her illness, back to the country.¡± Gwendolyn did not even lift her head as she focused on eating. ¡°What¡¯s interesting about that?¡± ¡°Do you know who the other daughter is? She¡¯s the one who Wright Construction Group¡¯s CEO just announced as his fianc¨¦e a while ago! She¡¯s Natasha Mossey!¡± Gwendolyn stiffened. When Joanne finally saw a hint of reaction from Gwendolyn, she raised her voice and grew even more excited. ¡°Everyone¡¯s talking about how unbelievable e Mosseys are. Their eldest daughter had just be a vegetable a few days ago, and now, they¡¯re about to wee their youngest daughter back to the family here.¡± The other two female employees who shared a table with them joined in the discussion, talking about their dissatisfaction with the Mossey family¡¯s actions. They even boldly spected that Natasha¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t as simple as the one the Mosseys announced to the public. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. The news spread like wildfire, and everyone was talking about it, holding different opinions. Gwendolyn merely listened to them wordlessly and did not join in the discussion. Suddenly, she recalled the words Natasha had said to her at Bay Vi. It seems like Inez¡¯s drunk driving incident isn¡¯t simply an ident. Now that Natasha¡¯s illegitimate status has turned legitimate, what else is she going to do next? Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Missing Out After her meal at the cafeteria. Gwendolyn went back to her office to work. +25 Bonus Despite everything that had happened, her earlier thoughts about the Mossey family were merely spections with no proof. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to spend time looking for proof. However, she would not remain indifferent toward the matter if Natasha were toe and mess with her. Duringte afternoon, Joaquin called. The moment she picked up the call, Joaquin uttered in a sweet voice, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you free tonight?¡± Gwendolyn continued typing away on her keyboard as she curtly answered, ¡°No.¡± Joaquin pouted and went on about the reason he called. ¡°There¡¯s a Mossey family event I have to attend tonight. I¡¯ve already worked for seven to eight days consecutively. You¡¯ve got to give me a break, right?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Joaquin was taken aback by her swift response. Tentatively, he asked, ¡°Then may I invite you to be my femalepanion for tonight¡¯s event?¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and looked away for a brief moment, seemingly mulling over something. A beatter, she said, ¡°Okay.¡± She ended the call right after giving an affirmative response. On the other end of the line, Joaquin could onlyment under his breath about how aloof and heartless Gwendolyn was. Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t nning on attending the event, but since Joaquin had invited her, she decided to go take a look. Half an hourter. Joanne knocked on the door and entered. She then put an exquisitely-wrapped gift box onto Gwendolyn¡¯s desk. ¡°Ms. Shalders, someone delivered this here saying that it¡¯s for you.¡± ¡°All right. You can go back to work.¡± Once Joanne was gone, Gwendolyn stood up to open the box. It was a dress, and its style was of her preference. Joaquin¡¯s quite enthusiastic about this. He even bought me a dress. Chuckling quietly, she shook her head and put the dress back into the box before returning to her work. When working hours were over, most of the employees started packing in preparation to head home. Gwendolyn urged those who liked working overtime to head home as well. Only when most people in 1/4 13:21 Mon, May 15 Chapter 39 Missing Out the office were gone did Gwendolyn finally take the elevator down. 73% +25 Bonus Joaquin, who drove a silver-gray Maybach, had been waiting for Gwendolyn by the entrance of Angle¡¯s building for a while. When he saw a lone figure walking out of the building he instinctively stole a nce at it. The person was none other than Gwendolyn, and that single nce at her was enough to mesmerize him so much that he could not bring himself to tear his eyes away from her. The snow-white dress entuated her beauty, making her appear far more charming than usual. She was even prettier than those popr actresses on television. Unfortunately, Gwendolyn was not interested in bing a celebrity. Joaquin clicked his tongue in appreciation before jogging toward her with a smile. Reaching out for her hand like a gentleman, he then said respectfully, ¡°Your Majesty, it is my honor to be able to attend. the banquet with you.¡± Gwendolyn snorted and smacked his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be cheeky.¡± Joaquin held his head and muttered miserably. ¡°But m telling the truth¡­¡± When he saw Gwendolyn walking toward the car, he hastily opened the door for her and continued admiring her beautiful features. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯ve got a good eye. You look stunning in this dress.¡± Gwendolyn froze in her tracks. Then, she turned to give him a confused look. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who picked this and sent it to me?¡± Puzzled by her question, Joaquin soon felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him. ¡°I wanted to pick a dress for you, but I was so busy with filming I forgot about it.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned grim. The box that contained the dress didn¡¯t have a name on it, and she had assumed that it was Joaquin who gifted her the dress because she had just talked on the phone with him. Hm¡­ This is getting interesting. Thinking that Gwendolyn was angry with him, Joaquin meekly asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn did not respond to that. She curled her rosy lips and said, ¡°Come on. If we¡¯rete, we¡¯ll miss out on the show.¡± Meanwhile, Natasha was still doing her makeup in the dressing room on the second floor of the Mossey residence. She had been making preparations since noon, for she had to make sure that she was going to be the center of attention that night. Sheralyn was sitting beside her, rambling on. ¡°If not for your invitation letter, I have no idea how long my brother¡¯s going to keep me grounded. You know, those old ones at the Wright residence are keeping such a close eye on me. I was rotting in my own room!¡± Natasha smiled and consoled, ¡°But here you are now outside! I doubt Mave¡¯s going to keep you 3.21 Mon, May Chapter 39 Missing Out locked up anymore.¡± +25 Bonus ¡°Who knows, really? My brother has a heart made of stone. He¡¯s very stubborn.¡± Sheralyn¡¯s frown. deepened as she continuedining, ¡°You too. What are you busy withtely? You¡¯re not even picking up my calls. I was starting to wonder if you¡¯ve betrayed me.¡± Natasha¡¯s expression froze. Then, she held Sheralyn¡¯s hand and said affectionately, ¡°How can I possibly do that to you? I¡¯ve always thought of you as my best friend. I¡¯d be upset if you think of me in that way.¡± Sheralyn believed it when she saw how sincere Natasha looked. ¡°It was just a passing thought. Don¡¯t take it to heart. Still, I have to congratte you. You can join our family as the Mossey family¡¯s daughter in the future. That way, you¡¯re an even better match for Maverick.¡± For a second, the look in Natasha¡¯s eyes turned icy, but when Sheralyn turned toward her, she put on a gentle smile again. Sheralyn did not notice that, and she continued talking. ¡°Speaking of which, now that you¡¯re the Mosseys¡¯ daughter and the future heiress of the Mossey family, you have an impressive status. How can that bitch Gwendolynpete against you?¡± Natasha was thrilled and honored to hear those words! Right as she was about to y her usual pretentious role, a noise sounded at the doorway of the room. It sounded as if something had fallen. The two women shared a look before standing up and walking over to open the door. As it turned out, the maid who hade to deliver the dress had identally knocked into the cleaner¡¯s cart. Everything had fallen to the ground, and the maid was helping the cleaner pick things 1. Sheralyn pinched her nose in disgust. ¡°Gosh, what happened? This is revolting.¡± The cleaner fearfully apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Natasha. We¡¯ll be done soon, and we won¡¯t dirty your doorstep.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Natasha furrowed her brows in aversion, but she could not simply start berating the two because Sheralyn was still around. Hence, she squeezed out a smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not a big deal. There are plenty of guests here today, so do clean up as quickly as you can.¡± Then, turning to the maid, she said, ¡°Bring in the tailored clothes now so that we won¡¯t bete.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± With that, the maid quickly picked up the unscathed gift box and entered the dressing room. When the box was opened, they were greeted by the sight of a white haute couture dress. Sheralyn was astounded by its beauty. ¡°Wow, this dress is amazing. This is the work of a certain famous designer abroad, right? You¡¯re indeed the star of the banquet tonight, Natasha. Your parents dote on you so much. I¡¯m jealous!¡± 13. Ton, May Chapter 39 Missing Out +25 Bonus Sheralyn¡¯s praises made Natasha gleeful, but she maintained a humble smile on her face. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. really. Sheralyn, you¡¯re the one who is the apple of your parents¡¯ eyes.¡± The two of them continued singing praises of each other. Sheralyn even took a few photos of them to post on her Twitter with the caption: Bestie¡¯s wee party today. She looks phenomenal! Sheralyn¡¯s fans were quick to flood thement section as they praised the two women¡¯s beauty. Sheralyn, who had not gone out for a while, was bearring proudly after seeing thements. Meanwhile, Natasha was thinking of ways to get Sheralyn out of the room while keeping a polite smile on her face. ¡°Sheralyn, can you take a look at the number of guests outside? Let me know if the banquet is about to start.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Once Sheralyn was gone, Natasha hastily made a call. ¡°How are things on that b*tch¡¯s side? Everything¡¯s going to go smoothly tonight, right?¡± Eloise sounded confident as she said, ¡°Yes, my men¡¯s keeping an eye on her. Things are going to go. smoothly. Just you watch.¡± Natasha could finally be at case upon hearing her words. She could not suppress the growing excitement in her at the thought of how things were going to y out in a while. Tonight, I¡¯m going to use that b*tch as my stepping stone and be the number-one socialite in Faike! Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 The Counterfeit +25 Bonus At eight in the evening, the guests had all arrived at the Mossey residence. Other than the Mossey family¡¯s rtives, those who came were all people from the upper-ss society. Madelyn was quietly standing beside Jerome, smiling and greeting the guests every once in a while. However, she was not at all happy. Her daughter was still in aa, but Jerome was already trying to bring his illegitimate daughter into the family and even forced her to take Natasha as her own daughter. She was livid. Yet, she knew that the only way to prevent the Mossey family from going to ruins was to listen to Jerome, for they did not have a son, and her only daughter was currently unconscious. Therefore, no matter how averse she was to the situation, she had to pretend as though she adored. Natasha. ¡°Look! It¡¯s Ms. Natasha!¡± someone cried out, and everyone in the hall instantly turned to look at the second floor, where the spotlight was aimed at Natasha had delicate makeup and an elegant smile on her face. Her haute couture dress only made her look even more poised. Every step she took as she came down the stairs was filled with grace. The crowd immediately cheered and pped, surrounding the new future heiress of the family. One of the richdies said to Madelyn, ¡°Mrs. Mossey, you¡¯re blessed. Even your younger daughter is wonderful. Moreover, her fianc¨¦ is Wright Construction Group¡¯s CEO. How jealous you make others!¡± Another rich woman quickly chimed in to curry favor with Madelyn. ¡°That¡¯s right. Mr. Wright¡¯s young, handsome, and capable. They¡¯re truly a match made in heaven. You¡¯re so lucky, Mrs. Mossey!¡± ¡°No, no, of course not. I¡¯m not as lucky as you-the two of you have both a son and a daughter.¡± Madelyn uttered smilingly as she discreetly clenched her fists. Said CEO of Wright Construction Group was currently sitting in silence, his face devoid of expression. Even though he did not say a word, the noble way he carried himself made it difficult for others around him to ignore his presence. In the meantime, Natasha was reveling in everyone¡¯s gazes of admiration and jealousy. Their envy and attention boosted her ego. Moreover, many young men from wealthy families had their gazes fixed on her ever since she appeared. Natasha noticed their gazes too, and she deliberately took her time walking down the stairs. However, midway down, anothermotion urrel among the crowd. Someone yelled, ¡°Mr. Joaquin¡¯s here!¡± Everyone whipped their heads to look at the entrance 13:22 Mon, May Chapter 40 The Counterfeit +25 Bonus The young and handsome Joaquin strode down the red carpet and into the building while holding hands with his femalepanion. As he was both a celebrity and the youngest son of the Zipper family, his appearance made the crowd even more excited. Then, they noticed the woman by his side-Gwendolyn. Her white dress made her fair skin glow even more, and although her makeup was light, it was surprisingly a perfect match for her dress of that day. When she approached the crowd, she seemed like an elegant angel descending from heaven. The crowd gasped in awe, and no one paid any more attention to Natasha. Natasha, who was still halfway down the stairs, had never expected Gwendolyn¡¯s appearance to instantly draw everyone¡¯s attention away from her. At present, she stood awkwardly on the stairs while everyone ignored her, unsure whether it would be better for her to head back upstairs or to continue her miserable way down. Anger flooded her veins. and almost suffocated her. What shocked her even more was the fact that Gwendolyn still looked fetching despite wearing a counterfeit dress. I spent the whole afternoon on this makeup, but it¡¯s no match for light makeup like hers? Why? Which part of me is worse than this b*tch? Furious, Natasha gritted her teeth, but she quickly rposed herself and cleared her throat in an attempt to salvage the situation. One of the guests who was standing close to her turned around and noticed something amiss. She yelled, ¡°Look! Mr. Joaquin¡¯spanion is wearing the same haute couture dress as Ms. Natasha!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! The one who looks lousier should be embarrassed¡­ Mr. Joaquin¡¯spanion is breathtaking. I¡¯ve totally forgotten how Ms. Natasha looks today.¡± The guests began looking back and forth, sizing Gwendolyn and Natasha up. Gwendolyn¡¯s confidence and charm made Natasha seem mediocre at best, unfortunately. She was utterly defeated by Gwendolyn. Natasha nearly burst a blood vessel when she realized how things had turned out. This is not what I wanted! Soon, another person noticed something else that was off. ¡°Isn¡¯t that dress a work by a famous overseas designer, Ms. Z? That¡¯s First Snow, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Oh my, it really is Ms. Z¡¯sFirst Snow!¡± ¡°But Ms. Z only makes one dress for each design. It¡¯s hard to get your hands on one of her works even if you¡¯re rich, so why are there two First Snows here today?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the one wearing the counterfeit?¡± 13.22 Chapter 40 The Counterfeit The crowd gasped, pushing the discussion to its climax. The existence of two identical dresses meant that one had to be a counterfeit product. When Natasha saw that things were going back on the right track, she sighed in relief. Meanwhile, Jerome and Madelyn ¡°¡®ere astonished. +25 Bonus They never expected such an incident to happen when the banquet was progressing smoothly. 0 The guests chattered away, and chaos soon ensued in the hall. They were all from wealthy families, and they all despised counterfeits of high-end products. Fearing that the situation might get ugly and spiral out of control, Madelyn walked over to the stage where the microphone was positioned. ¡°My sincerest apologies for this to have happened today. I¡¯m surprised, too, but let me exin things to you. The dress that my daughter is wearing cost thirty million, and I had it shipped over after calling Ms. Z myself. So, there is no way the dress is fake.¡± Once again, the people began discussing with each other. ¡°Thirty million for a dress?¡± ¡°Looks like the Mossey couple really does love their youngest daughter!¡± Then, they once again turned to look at Natasha in envy. Noticing their gazes, Natasha steadily walked over to the stage and stood beside Madelyn. A courteous smile then emerged on her face as she showed the crowd how a socialite from the Mossey family should behave. Everyone in the room believed Madelyn¡¯s exnation, so they were certain that the dress Gwendolyn was wearing was a counterfeit. Joaquin took a step forward to shield Gwendolyn from the burning, malicious gazes directed at her. He then turned to Madelyn and snorted. ¡°Mrs. Mossey, are you trying to say that the dress my companion is wearing is a counterfeit?¡± Madelyn was rendered speechless. Jerome panicked. What do we do? If we say that Mr. Joaquin¡¯spanion is gearing a counterfeit, the Zipper family¡¯s going to be humiliated. If that happens, the Zippers are bound to make things difficult for us in our future coborations. But if I say that Natasha is wearing a counterfeit dress, our family¡¯s reputation will suffer, and we¡¯ll have a hard time retaining our position in the upper-ss social circle from then on. Regardless of what he chose to do, the Mossey family was going to suffer losses. Jerome was stumped. He never thought that the banquet would end up like this. Right as everyone was whispering to each other and guessing which dress was the counterfeit, Sheralyn Chapter 40 The Counterfeit abruptly stood up. ¡°Did you buy the dress for her yourself, Mr. Joaquin?¡± Joaquin truthfully replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then that sounds about right. You must have been tricked by her, Mr. Joaquin.¡± Sheralyn grinned before turning to the guests and exining, ¡°I¡¯m sure no one here knows who this woman is. She¡¯s an orphan who my grandpa brought back from the orphanage. Her name is Gwendolyn Shalders. Even back when she was still living at my ce, she loved to steal. If it weren¡¯t for my mother¡¯s kind heart, we would have kicked her out a long time ago. How can someone as immoral. as her get her hands on one of Ms. Z¡¯s dresses? In other words, what she¡¯s wearing is definitely at counterfeit!¡±N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 A Challenge After Sheralyn said that, everyone was shocked. Instantly, they looked at Gwendolyn oddly. As Joaquin knew Gwendolyn¡¯s identity, he was instantly infuriated. ¡°Who do you think you are? You have no right to speak nonsense about mypanion!¡± When Sheralyn saw Joaquin still taking Gwendolyn¡¯s side even under such circumstances, she was pissed and jealous at the same time. Nevertheless, she did not dare to offend the fiery Joaquin. Suppressing her anger, she said, ¡°Mr. Joaquin, you¡¯re being fooled by this woman. She¡¯s very good at pretending to be innocent and seducing men. My grandpa was totally deceived by her before this!¡± ¡°Shut your trap! Gwendolyn is-¡± Joaquin stopped mid-sentence and turned around when he felt Gwendolyn pinching his arm hard. She frowned at him, shaking her head with an unreadable look in her eyes. Maverick, who remained silent among the crowd all this time, saw the two¡¯s discreet interaction clearly. Instinctively, he furrowed his eyebrows. Having received Gwendolyn¡¯s signal, Joaquin kept mum. Gwendolyn walked past him and stared straight at Sheralyn with a smile. ¡°It seems like you didn¡¯t learn. your lessonst time since you still have the energy to gossip about others.¡± Her gaze sent chills running down Sheralyn¡¯s spine. Since they were in public and standing far apart from each other, Sheralyn figured Gwendolyn wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything extreme. She mustered her courage and used, ¡°Bold of you to mention that! You acted so brazenlyst time just because you have a sugar daddy. Not only did you barge into my house and make a huge mess, but you¡± ¡°Sheralyn Wright.¡± Just then, Maverick¡¯s calm voice sounded, calling Sheralyn¡¯s name. Upon hearing that, Sheralyn shuddered. Whenever Maverick called her by her full name, it meant that he was really mad. Though she was unwilling to give in, she had no choice but to gloss over the previous incident and get back to the topic. ¡°Anyway, you are wearing a counterfeit. Rather than getting humiliatedter, you¡¯d better just admit it now!¡± Gwendolyn did not say a word in response. On the stage, Natasha took the microphone and chimed in, ¡°Gwendolyn, if you really like Ms. Z¡¯s First Snow, I can gift it to you afterward. Today is my special day, and I don¡¯t want any conflict to arise because of this matter. I¡¯ll ask the housekeeper to help you change into something else, all right?¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Chapter 41 A Challenge 73% +25 Bonus Not only did she put herself in a good light with her kind and generous words, but she also subtly. confirmed that Gwendolyn¡¯s outfit was indeed a counterfeit. Immediately, Jerome shot Madelyn a look. Madelyn summoned the housekeepers right away and instructed, ¡°Hurry and lead the guest to the guest room.¡± Two housekeepers stepped forward and headed toward the red carpet to lead Gwendolyn away. At that moment, every guest present believed that Gwendolyn was wearing a high-quality counterfeit. Nobody spoke up for her, and they all looked at her with disdain and disgust. After all, Natasha was the Mossey family¡¯s daughter, while Gwendolyn grew up in the orphanage. With the huge gap between their status, there was no doubt who was wearing the authentic dress. ¡°Wait,¡± Gwendolyn finally piped up when the housekeepers approached her. She curled her lips upward and looked at Natasha tenderly. ¡°Ms. Z¡¯s gowns usually have a great fit, and every piece of clothing she designs has unique stitching. No matter how well-made a counterfeit is, they can only imitate her gown¡¯s fit but not the stitching.¡± Her words confused Natasha. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± As Gwendolyn smiled again, the poise she gave off seemed innate. ¡°You insist that you are wearing the authentic piece. Since that¡¯s the case, would you dare topete with me and dance to ¡®Lover?¡± ¡°Lover¡± was a song that could show off the various sides of a woman-gentleness, wildness, and willfulness. Due to itsplicated steps and constant tempo changes, it was the most challenging song for tango dancers to perform. Once they got distracted, it would be difficult for them to find the beat again. Thus, everyone was staggered to hear Gwendolyn. Is this woman crazy? Where did she get the confidence to challenge Natasha? Hasn¡¯t she gotten enough humiliation for the day? After the high-intensity choreography of ¡°Lover,¡± the counterfeit gown would surely fall apart due to its sloppy stitching. That would be terribly embarrassing for the wearer, considering the number of people watching. Nheless, since Gwendolyn volunteered, the crowd was eager to see what would happen. Feeling bewildered, Natasha met Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes with a frown. How is she so sure that she¡¯s wearing the authentic dress? Besides, when did she learn tango? Tango was considered a dance of the upper-ss circle. Even Natasha herself had just mastered it. She could barely remember the dance steps of ¡°Lover¡± because of how difficult it was. What if she really knows how to dance and dances better than me? 13:22 Mon, May Chapter 41 A Challenge Natasha felt uneasy. +25 Bonus Noticing her silence, Gwendolyn grinned and added, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ms. Mossey? Are you scared?¡± She was obviously provoking Natasha. If Natasha did not ept the proposition, people would certainly look down on her and even find her fishy. At that moment, Sheralyn stepped forward and expressed her support for Natasha. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Natasha. Compete with her! Since she¡¯s the one who brought it up, let her dance first and fulfill her wish to be a disgrace in public!¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes lit up at that. Right! I almost forgot. Gwendolyn is wearing a fake. Regardless of how good she could be at dancing, her gown will fall apart, and she will be humiliated. After thinking it through, Natasha spoke into the microphone. ¡°Since you insist, I guess we can entertain our guests today with our performance.¡± With that, she held the hem of her gown and curtsied at the crowd with an elegant smile. Evidently impressed by her behavior, the guests had high hopes for her. In the end, Natasha decided to go first. There¡¯s no doubt Gwendolyn will make a fool out of herself. If she dances first, no one will be interested to focus on my wonderful performance! It will be better if I go before her. That way, I will be in the spotlight. As ¡°Lover¡± was a partner dance, Natasha instinctively look in Bowever, his seat was empty, and he was nowhere to ¡°Verick¡¯s direction. Natasha couldn¡¯t possibly run outside to look for him in front of so many people, so she could only pick the most good-looking male partner from the noblemen who invited her to dance. The music soon sounded, and the duo began swaying to the beat. Even though Natasha¡¯s dancing wasn¡¯t exactly spectar, she knew most of the steps. Most importantly, the guests cheered her on enthusiastically, taking into consideration the fact that she was the main character of the banquet. Natasha was ted at their reactions. Assuming that they were impressed by her performance, she began dancing more passionately. Yet as she followed the rhythm and lifted her arm for a certain move, a rip sounded from the inner side of her arm. The small sound was drowned out by the music, but as the wearer of the gown, Natasha heard it clearly. Panic filled her at that instant. Did my gown burst? How is that possible? My gown is definitely authentic. Is it because of my movement? Was it too big? With that in mind, she toned down her movements. Due to her nervousness, she missed a beat and mistakenly stretched her right foot forward, stepping on her partner. 13.22 Mon, May Chapter 41 A Challenge An awkward silence fell over the ce. Natasha retracted her foot stiffly and ended the performance in advance. +25 Bonus ¡°I¡¯m sorry that you all had to see that. It hasn¡¯t been long since I returned to the country. I only began learning this dance two days ago, so my performance wasn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve only been learning it for two days, yet you can already dance so well. There¡¯s no need to be modest, Natasha. You did great!¡± Sheralyn encouraged. Out of respect for the Mossey family, the other guests began praising Natasha as well. Jerome and Madelyn immediately responded with humble smiles. At that, Natasha heaved a sigh of relief. She was now even more certain that the small rip was caused by her sudden movement. There was no way her dress was a counterfeit. While her performance was mediocre, she at least managed to wrap it up without any malfunctions. Following that, people started to study Gwendolyn with even stranger looks. wardrobe With a look of wicked anticipation, Sheralyn prompted, ¡°Natasha has finished dancing. It¡¯s your turn now, Gwendolyn!¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Surprise Gwendolyn maintained the calm smile on her face. ¡°Okay.¡± +25 Bonus She turned to Joaquin, whose face turned pale in embarrassment. ¡°M-Ms. Shalders¡­ I don¡¯t know how to dance Lover. I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he mumbled. Gwendolyn did not say anything, nor did she intend to me him. The smug smile on Sheralyn¡¯s face grew wider as she mocked, ¡°It seems like Mr. Joaquin can¡¯t help. you. What are you going to do now? Maybe no one here wants to dance with you! Oh no, this is so mortifying!¡± Still, Gwendolyn stayed quiet and instead scanned the men present. Charmed by her beauty, some noblemen were tempted to ask her to dance. However, since they were under the assumption that her gown was a fake, they stayed in their seats in the end for fear that they would be shamed on stage with her. Two minutes passed by, and no one was willing to dance with Gwendolyn. Seeing that, Sheralyn arched her eyebrows and grinned triumphantly. Just as she was about to ridicule Gwendolyn again, a deep male voice sounded from the back of the crowd. ¡°Ms. Shalders, would you like to dance with me?¡± Everyone turned around in the direction of the voice. Maverick had returned to the banquet hall at some point in time, and he was staring at Gwendolyn intently. In actuality, he had never left the ce and instead stayed in an inconspicuous spot for a while. Though he was not interested in being a part of thedies¡¯ drama, he figured there might be some problems with Gwendolyn¡¯s dress since Natasha had finished dancing without any issues. If he danced with Gwendolyn, he could help to discreetly cover her waist in case her dress burst open. That way, he could save her from humiliation. While Maverick was acting out of good intentions, cenain people did not agree with him. ¡°Mave¡­¡± ¡°Maverick!¡± Natasha and Sheralyn uttered almost in unison. ¡°Maverick, how could you help her? You¡¯re Natasha¡¯s fance, yet you¡¯re helping Gwendolyn instead. What will people think of Natasha? Shouldn¡¯t you at least think for her sake?¡± Sheralyn protested emotionally. Meanwhile, Natasha looked at Maverick with pitiful, red-rimmed eyes. She did not voice any comints, but deep inside, she was extremely annoyed. If Gwendolyn agrees to dance with him, how will I face everyone? I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e, yet he didn¡¯t invite me to dance. Instead, he¡¯s risking his dignity to dance with her! Why is he doing this? Chapter 42 Surprise At that moment, Natasha was filled with burning hatred. +25 Bonus Maverick ignored the twodies¡¯ objection and looked toward Gwendolyn again, signaling her to ept his invitation. In response, Gwendolyn only nced at him once before walking toward the stage. ¡°Mr. Wright, I appreciate your kind offer, but no thanks. I would like to perform Lover¡¯ on my own,¡± she announced indifferently. ¡°What? Has she gone mad?¡± ¡°She¡¯s going to perform such a difficult song on her own? And did you guys see her expression? She has no respect for Mr. Wright at all!¡± ¡°She¡¯s too ignorant. I can¡¯t wait to see her make a fool out of herself.¡± The guests burst into an uproar and discussed heatedly while surrounding Gwendolyn. As Natasha secretly sighed in relief, Sheralyn smiled arrogantly. ¡°At least you¡¯re sensible enough to reject him.¡± Naturally, Maverick was unhappy to be turned down. He returned to his seat without a word, his lips. tightly pursed. Since she refuses to ept my kindness, then this matter has nothing to do with me anymore. As Gwendolyn stood on the stage, it seemed as if she couldn¡¯t hear the crowd¡¯s remarks about her. When the song started, she got in the zone right away emanating a different aura than usual. Noticing that she was about to begin performing, the guests quieted down to watch her in amusement. Seconds ticked by, and the people who were waiting to see Gwendolyn embarrass herself widened. their eyes in shock. Under the spotlight, Gwendolyn twirled along with the music. Her snow-white gown fluttered beautifully, making her look like a fairy under the starry sky. Gwendolyn seemed to be one with the music as he showed off various sides to her. She looked. elegant at one point and passionate at the other, and she wlessly executed even the most difficult moves. She had rearranged the partner dance and perfectly transformed the choreography into a female solo dance. It was as if the song was made just for her. ¡°My goodness! How is she doing that?¡± ¡°This is the most wonderful ¡®Lover¡¯ performance I have ever seen!¡± ¡°I should have invited her to dance with me a while ago. She¡¯s so beautiful! I¡¯m missing out big time!¡± The men who shied away from dancing with Gwendolyn earlier began sighing andmenting about Chapter 42 Surprise 73% +25 Bonus their terrible choice. How wonderful would it be if I could hold that slim waist hers! While some people wallowed in regret, others eximed in amazement. Everyone was immersed in Gwendolyn¡¯s performance. Maverick stared at the dazzling presence on stage, a leok of surprise fleeting across his dark eyes. One would need at least seven years of foundation training and repeated practice to bring forth such an exemry performance of the most difficult song in tango. She was like a mysterious treasure box. Ever since they divorced, he had been constantly discovering new sides of her. Just how many surprises does she have in store for me? Aside from Maverick, Natasha was also stunned. Although she stood at the backmost corner of the stage where the spotlights couldn¡¯t reach her, she could clearly see the astounded faces of the guests. Even Maverick, her most beloved man, had his gaze fixed on Gwendolyn all the time. Upon realizing that, Natasha gritted her teeth with anger. Jealousy and resentment were written all over her twisted face. Nheless, she calmed down in no time. So what if she¡¯s the center of attention now? The more amazed the guests are now, the worse her downfall will be! Soon, with the song entering its climax, the crowd held their breaths as they watched Gwendolyn spin. gracefully on stage. Her movement was quick and continuous. If her dress gave out at this juncture, her marvelous performance would be ruined. By then, Gwendolyn had already made dozens of spins during the climax of the music. While the guests were on edge, Natasha and Sheralyn could barely hide the evil excitement in their From N?velDrama.Org. eyes. Under the tense atmosphere, Gwendolyn came to a stop as thest note fell. She stood in her spot firmly and steadily, ending her dance with an elegant pose. The performance was faultless and awe-inspiring. Unlike their initial expectation, no idents happened. After a moment of utter silence, the crowd erupted in thunderous apuse. Even as people showered Gwendolyn with cheers andpliments, she appeared calm and composed. It was as if this was just another day in her life. Having watched Gwendolyn, everyone could see that Natasha¡¯s performance paled inparison. The guests who previously showed their support for Natasha could not even bother to spare her a nce at the moment. All they could think about was Gwendolyn¡¯s charming dance 13:22 Mon, May 15 Chapter 42 Surprise However, the conclusion of Gwendolyn¡¯s performance presented a new problem. Bothdies had finished dancing, but their dresses were both intact. There was no telling who was wearing the authentic piece. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Arm Candy Whispers could be heard among the crowd once more. Some of them even looked up First Snow online in an attempt to spot differences between both garments. Natasha, standing at the corner of the stage, was overwhelmed with bewilderment. That b*tch is already done performing, yet her gown is still fine. How¡¯s that possible? I¡¯m certain that her garment is a fake! Why? Where did things go wrong? Even though she knew she had been outshined by Gwendolyn as well as had her thunder stolen. Natasha still could not ept the reality. Thus, she ran toward Gwendolyn to see what kind of sorcery thetter had done on the counterfeit. garment. Natasha had just gotten midway across the stage, barely even able to touch Gwendolyn, when a loud tearing sound echoed throughout the room. Due to her vigorous movements, the seam of the dress. she was wearing had ripped from her waistline to her hip.. Given that there was no background music ying at the venue, the ripping sound was loud and prating. In a split second, all eyes were riveted on Natasha. By the time she reacted to cover the tear in her dress with her hands, it had been toote. The long split in the seam of her gown¡¯s waistline ran from under her arm to her hip, leaving her crotch area exposed. The pink underclothes she wore were exposed under the spotlight for everyone to see. Natasha¡¯s face was deathly pale as panic washed over her. She subconsciously squatted down in an effort to cover herself, but it was to no avail. Her posture only served to make the tear worse. As such, her pink underwear could be seen clearly by everyone below the stage as well. It was truly a sight to behold. Immediately afterward, peals ofughter erupted from the crowd as they all noticed she was wearing matching undergarments. Sneers and derision surrounded her. ¡°Haha! The Mossey family has really put on a good show this time!¡± ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this shocking! The Mossey family¡¯s second daughter is wearing a high-quality imitation dress to a banquet! She has to be the first person to be this confident about it!¡± ¡°I know, right? She even offended Mr. Joaquin¡¯spanion. Where did she get the audacity from?¡± ¡°This is hrious! It¡¯s one thing to dance horribly like an eyesore, but she¡¯s wearing fakes too? Does the Mossey family think we¡¯re blind?¡± The ridicule and doubt in their voices sounded very sharp. 13-22 Mon, May From N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 43 Arm Candy +25 Bonus Prior to that, those people had sung Natasha¡¯s praises to get into the Mossey family¡¯s good graces. Yet, the very group jumped at the opportunity to trample on her. When Natasha heard those scornful voices mocking her mercilessly, she let out a sharp cry. Tears welled up in her eyes. Even though she looked a sorry sight, nobody took pity on her. ¡°No! That¡¯s not true! How can this be a high-quality imitation? This is impossible!¡± Natasha repeatedly shook her head in disbelief. Suddenly, a sh of bright light blinded her. She absentmindedly looked in the direction of the sh, only to see Gwendolyn, who was standing on the stage with her, taking pictures of her in her worst state. How dare she take such ugly pictures of me in front of everyone? Gwendolyn was less than a meter away from Natasha. The snow-white gown that she wore sparkled under the spotlight, giving her a regal bearing. When she turned to look at thetter, an icy and haughty grin was etched onto her face. This b*tch has no right to be this arrogant! At that point, Natasha¡¯s fury prevailed over her sanity, and she immediately rushed toward Gwendolyn, shouting. ¡°It was you, wasn¡¯t it? You¡¯re the one responsible! Why did you do this? You are so wicked!¡± Upon realizing things were getting out of hand, Jerome hurriedly gestured to Madelyn, who was still struggling to fathom how she had spent thirty million on a high-quality imitation, to hold Natasha back. Only then did Madelyn return to her senses and bring two housekeepers with her. However, the fight would likely be over by the time they approached. Striding forward with his long legs, Maverick made his way onto the stage and nted himself firmly between the two women. When Natasha saw him, she felt like she had crawled out of a desert and into an oasis. Without so much care toward her current appearance she flung herself at him andmented, ¡°Mave, you have to believe me! She set me up! It has to be her.¡± With a sharp cry and shaking hands, she pointed at Gwendolyn and continued, ¡°My family spent thirty million on First Snow! How can it possibly be a fake? She must¡¯ve swapped them out while I wasn¡¯t looking!¡± Maverick listened to her outburst quietly, but his inscrutable gaze was directed at Gwendolyn the whole time. Jerome quickly held the microphone and tried to pour oil on troubled waters. ¡°I apologize for the commotion, everyone. I think my daughter is a little emotional tonight. I will have my wife bring her to her room and calm her down before she makes another appearance. Regarding the imitation of First Snow, we are as puzzled as you are. The thirty million in payment was indeed credited to Ms. Z¡¯s ount. This information can be verified, but we have no idea how things turned out this way. I¡¯ll be sure to look into this thoroughly and give everyone a much-needed exnation.¡± 13.22 Mon, Ma Chapter 43 Arm Candy +25 Bonus As he spoke, he gave a slight bow at the audience before shooting Madelyn a harsh re. ¡°Get moving!¡± His wife nodded repeatedly and motioned for the housekeepers to bring Natasha upstairs by force. The hubbub still did not die down even when Natasha¡¯s cries could no longer be heard. Jerome swept his gaze across the crowd, feeling even more dissatisfied with Natasha¡¯s behavior. He thought that epting his illegitimate daughter into the Mossey family could save Mossey Group. To his dismay, his decision turned out to be a disaster. Natasha made an exhibition of herself the moment she arrived! At that moment, he was beside himself with regret. There were no longer any spotlights directed at the stage. Since the guests were also busy discussing Natasha¡¯s ¡°ident,¡± their attention on Gwendolyn gradually waned. Gwendolyn turned around and prepared to walk off the stage, but out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed that a certain someone had had his gaze pinned on her the entire time. Maverick¡¯s thin lips were tightly pressed together. It was hard to tell if he was angry or just pensive. Gwendolyn was not happy at being stared at thus. With her arms crossed, she shed him a meaningful smile and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you upset that your fianc¨¦e¡¯s thunder was stolen? Are you trying to get it back?¡± Maverick was still looking at her unblinkingly, giving her the once-over. The emotion in his eyes suddenly became imprable. Gwendolyn could not understand the meaning behind his gaze, nor did she have an interest in finding. out She was just about to leave when she heard him ask, ¡°How are you feeling?¡± There was a hint of concern in his deep voice. Gwendolyn was not used to hearing him speak in that way. ¡°What could possibly happen to me? I¡¯m doing very well after watching such a spectacr show of someone being hoisted by their own petard.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she retracted her gaze and left the stage to look for Joaquin. Even though she had turned around, Gwendolyn could still feel someone¡¯s gaze boring right into her back. The ceriness from it prompted her to pick up her pace subconsciously. With Natasha away and Jerome entertaining the guests very well, soon, nobody was interested in gossiping anymore. After all, they were guests in someone else¡¯s residence It was not prudent to be so forting about such an embarrassing affair. Barely an hour had passed when the atmosphere at the banquet gradually returned to normal. 13.2. May Chapter 43 Arm Candy +25 Bonus Due to the incident, Joaquin turned into Gwendolyn¡¯s admirer. Leaning close to her, he looked at her with star-struck eyes and said, ¡°My Queen, are youcking in arm candy? A man like me is soft, gentle, and the most obedient. Won¡¯t you consider me once more?¡± Maverick, who was socializing among the crowd, stood not too far away from them. As of then, he was quietly observing the interaction between Joaquin and Gwendolyn. When he heard what Joaquin had said, his expression darkened considerably. Using a finger, Gwendolyn pushed joaquin away in disgust. ¡°Go and find someone else to y with. I¡¯m not interested in a brat like you who isn¡¯t even of marriageable age.¡± Maverick¡¯s expression then rxed, and he continued to mingle with the other CEOs present. Joaquin, on the other hand, died a little on the inside. He snorted angrily twice and eximed. ¡°I don¡¯t care. If you¡¯re still not married when I be of marriageable age in a few years, I¡¯ll definitely wed you¡± Seeing that he was in high spirits, Gwendolyn could only smile in resignation and shake her head. When Jerome noticed that the situation was finally under control, he decided to draw everyone¡¯s attention to the real reason why the banquet was held He walked onto the stage with the microphone. and said, ¡°I¡¯m thrilled that everyone¡¯s here to attend my daughter¡¯s wee party. Apart from the general merrymaking, I¡¯ve invited you all over because I have an announcement to make! It is very important to Mossey Group. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Ugly Photos Jerome paused, and the Crowd fell silent as they waited expectantly for him to continue. +25 Bonus All of a sudden, his expression became quite grave. ¡°I believe that everyone is aware of what happened. to Mossey Group a few days ago. I am devastated by it, but for Mossey Group to continue to prosper, I have decided to make this announcement tonight, The new heir to thepany is none other than Natasha.¡± At the end of his speech, he turned around and motioned for the crowd to look up. Natasha had already changed into a pastel yellow gown, the fluffy curls of her hair sitting perfectly on her right shoulder. Even her makeup had been touched-up, making her seem more refined. A smile was etched onto her gentle and elegant face. It was as if the incident from before had not urred at all. When the guests saw her, they promptly began to apud. Given the incident from earlier, Natasha repressed her willfulness and walked down the stairs at a measured pace. She slowly made her way to Jerome to give him a big hug which showcased their familial ties. Afterward, Jerome walked away and let her take the stage. Natasha held the microphone in her hands. Under the spotlight, her eyes appeared reddened, and she could not contain her excitement. ¡°I would like to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to make contributions to Mossey Group. I will do my best to learn the ropes and bring thepany to greater heights. I would also like to thank everyone for attending the banquet this evening. I hope that you all have a lovely time.¡± Thinking that Natasha¡¯s speech was over, the guests below apuded again. However, she was merely taking a breather. With visible embarrassment on her face, she continued to speak. ¡°I do think that many of you are aware of this, but I want to extend this invitation to everyone while I have the chance. In one month¡¯s time, I will be engaged to the CEO of Wright Construction Group. Maverick Wright. The engagement ceremony will be held at The East, and I hope that everyone will attend to bear witness to our love.¡± Bliss was written all over Natasha¡¯s face as she said those words, and she gazed sweetly at Maverick. However, from the corner of her eye, she stole a nce at Gwendolyn. When Joaquin heard the announcement, he subconsciously turned to look at Gwendolyn. The woman had an impassive expression on her face as she sipped leisurely at her ss of wine. Still somewhat worried, he tried tofort her. ¡°Gwendolyn, this scumbag isn¡¯t worth it. He hasn¡¯t even been divorced for that long, yet he¡¯s getting engaged so soon. It¡¯s good that you left him. Also, what¡¯s Ms. Mossey¡¯s problem? It¡¯s clear that she¡¯s trying to humiliate you by deliberately announcing the engagement in front of everyone at the banquet. What a scheming b*tch.¡± His grumble amused Gwendolyn, who chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve hit the nail on the head, so there¡¯s nothing 13.22 Mon, May Chapter 44 Ugly Photos else that I can say.¡± +25 Bonus From the stage. Natasha could clearly see both Gwendolyn and Joaquinughing and chattering away. This b*tch is acting all nonchnt. Does she think I¡¯m nothing to her? A hint of malice shed across her eyes. After giving a small bow to the crowd, she got off the stage to mingle with the guests. Under Madelyn¡¯s lead, Natasha greeted everyone politely. A staff member followed them around with a bottle of wine, ready to top off their sses in the event of a toast. One group after another, Natasha offered toast to guests clustered into knots to chat. Very quickly, she arrived where Gwendolyn was sitting. After interacting with everyone else in the group. Natasha raised her ss and looked at Gwendolyn with aposed expression. ¡°Gwendolyn, there was some friction between us carlier, but I do think you¡¯re a magnanimous person won¡¯t fuss over such small matters.¡± whe Gwendolyn also raised her wine ss and leveled her gaze at Natasha. With a quirk of her red lips, she, replied, ¡°Then, perhaps you don¡¯t know me as well as you think, Ms. Mossey. I am a very vindictive person, and I always believe in taking revenge.¡± Natasha¡¯s smile faltered slightly, but she soon smiled even brighter and leaned over to Gwendolyn¡¯s ear slowly. From the onlookers¡¯ point of view, they seemed to get along quite well. ¡°I bet you feel wretched after hearing me share my love story with Mave. You suffered in the Wright family for him for three years, but you have nothing to show for it. Tsk, tsk. You¡¯re so pitiful.¡± Natasha smiled gaily at Gwendolyn, but her words contained nothing but disdain. Thetter sneered at her in return. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to burst your bubble, but I don¡¯t recall seeing much love between you and Mr. Wright. All I know is that you have terrible eyesight and can¡¯t tell between what¡¯s real and what¡¯s not. I¡¯m willing to bet your taste in men is equally questionable.¡± Natasha¡¯s smile froze. The humiliation she endured earlier still lingered in her mind. Visibly enraged, she tightened her grip around the wine ss and lowered her voice into a harsh whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t be toocent. There¡¯s no telling who will win or lose. I¡¯m not going to let you off the hook so easily!¡± Natasha smiled so innocuously, yet she let out the genilest outburst ever. Gwendolyn arched a browzily and uttered, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting, but before that, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to share with you.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Natasha took two steps backward to maintain a suitable distance between them. ¡°What would that be?¡± she asked suspiciously. 13:22 Mon, May Chapter 44 Ugly Photos To everyone else, it looked as if they had just finished whispering to each other. +25 Bonus Gwendolyn unlocked her phone and showed Natasha specific picture. ¡°Isn¡¯t this amusing?¡± she queried, quirking her lips into a yful smile. ¡°Why, you!¡± All it took was a single nce at the picture for Natasha¡¯s blood to boil. She could no longer suppress her rage. This b*tch! How dare she use ugly photos of me to taunt me Natasha was so furious that she subconsciously reached out to grab the phone. However, Gwendolyn forestalled her by putting the phone away. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Natasha shrieked. The fact that she failed to snatch the phone sent another wave of fury crashing through her. Unwilling to let things slide, she instinctively sshed the wine in her ss at Gwendolyn. Joaquin, who was sitting right beside Gwendolyn, saw everything clearly. His expression changed, and he was prepared to rise to his feet and shield her. Ssh! Unexpectedly, the winended on Natasha¡¯s face instead. Her delicate makeup was ruined, and the dark red wine immediately stained her pastel yellow dress. Natasha wiped the wine off her face in disbelief. In that split second, the arm that she had raised was held down as the wine from Gwendolyn¡¯s ss landed unceremoniously on her face. This is ridiculous! I can¡¯t even ssh wine at this b*tch? Natasha was so angry that she wanted to scream. Themotion drew the attention of the guests from a nearby table. Immediately, the anger in her eyes turned into hurt and grievance. ¡°Gwendolyn, why!¡± she bawled. ¡°All I wanted is your blessing so that Mave and I would be happy. Why did you do this?¡± She then began to sob aggrievedly. The surrounding guests, who heard themotion, immediately came over to watch. ¡ªAt the sight of Natasha crying, they all assumed Gwendolyn had bullied her. After all, Joaquin was nicknamed the Lord of Discord. It was not umon for his femalepanions to bully others under his backing. Soon, everyone started to criticize Gwendolyn. 13:22 Mon, May 15 Chapter 44 Ugly Photos 3/3% +25 Bonus Gwendolyn could not be bothered to retort. Instead, she merely shot a cold look at Natasha and said, ¡°You¡¯ve used this trick so many times. Aren¡¯t you sick of it yet?¡± A guest handed Natasha a handkerchief, which she used to dab away the remaining wine off her face. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean by that, Gwendolyn, she said piteously. ¡°All I¡¯m asking is for you to let Mave go. I really love him, and we¡¯re about to get engaged! Can¡¯t you give us your blessing?¡± My, there seems to be history behind those words. The crowd looked on with interest and gossiped among themselves. Madelyn rushed over upon hearing themotion and was shocked to see Natasha in such a state. ¡°What on earth has happened here?¡± Natasha was about to exin, but Joaquin forestalled her by thundering in a cold voice, ¡°The Mossey family is up to no good today, it would seem.¡± His eyes were aze with fury as he continued, ¡°First you use mypanion of wearing a fake, and now you want to nder her? Do you take the Zipper family for nothing? Mark my words! I will remember this incident well!¡± With a loud snort, he held Gwendolyn¡¯s arm and led her out of the hall without another word. The other guests dared not get in Joaquin¡¯s way. One by one, they slowly parted to make way for him. Madelyn had just arrived, so she was utterly baffled by the turn of events. What happened here? Wasn¡¯t Natasha the one being bullied Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Judgment That Goes Haywire. +25 Bonus Madelyn was about to question Natasha when Jerome and Maverick arrived at the scene together. Instantly, Natasha turned to the reassuring familiarity of Maverick¡¯s presence forfort. ¡°Mave!¡± she wept. The man nced at her with his lips pursed. Not a single word left his mouth. Under the dim yellow lighting, his expression was imprable. Once Jerome had gotten a clear look at the remnant of wine and tears on his daughter¡¯s face, he asked, ¡°What happened here?¡± The surrounding guests described the earlier incident to him. While they were siding with Natasha with every sentence they said, they did consider the wrath of Joaquin. On top of that, there was Gwendolyn¡¯s stunning performance from earlier as well. As such, they did not make any remark that was out of line. After listening to them for a while, Jerome had a rough idea of what had happened. With a smile, he ushered the guests away and graciously asked that they continue partaking in food and drink. Then, he halfheartedly offered Natasha a few words offort before returning to the main banquet hall with everyone else. Sobbing, Natasha held Maverick¡¯s arm. The way she acted like a damsel in distress would surely arouse pity in the onlookers¡¯ hearts. ¡°Mave, don¡¯t me Gwendolyn for this. She¡¯s probably in a bad mood because of our engagement.¡± However, Maverick lowered his head to look at her, then asked in an impassive tone. ¡°What did you say to her just now?¡± Natasha was taken aback by his question. When she raised her head and saw that he seemed upset, she hurriedly exined, ¡°We¡¯re about to be engaged. All I wanted was her blessing. I never thought that she¡¯d get angry and ssh wine at me.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The man furrowed his brows as his expression grew even colder. Holding onto the sliver of hope that he would believe her, Natasha nodded and tightened her grip on his arm. Almost instantly, Maverick withdrew his arm. ¡°Tasha, seem to understand you less and less.¡± She was stumped for words. It was the first time she had experienced such coldness from him. Did he see through my ruse? At that moment, she dared not continue with her act. If Maverick had actually noticed anything, he would only be more put off if she proceeded with the cover-up. ¡°Mave, it¡¯s because Gwendolyn made fun of me using the ugly picture of me from my fiasco on the stage. I was enraged, so I tried to ssh wine at her¡­ I¡¯ve not changed much, Mave. I¡¯m still me.¡± Natasha exined. Maverick said nothing in response, allowing her to ratile on next to him. 1/4 Chapter 45 Judgment That Goes Haywire. +25 Bonus Panic washed over Natasha when she did not get any ply from him. As a result, she began to weep once again ¡°Mave you¡¯re scaring me. You promised to make things official and to make up for all the things you owed me in the past Believe me. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose,¡± she said. The repeated mention of the past caused Maverick to frown subconsciously. A trace of disgust welled up in his heart. It seemed that Natasha had been jumping at every opportunity to guilt-trip him with the past since she came back from abroad. The woman before him was bing further and further from the young girl in his memories. She¡¯d only left for three years. Could a person change so much in such a short span of time? Madelyn overheard the conversation between them. Being a woman herself, she was well aware of and also disgusted by Natasha¡¯s actions. After rolling her eyes silently, she turned around to leave. However, Maverick called out to her. ¡°Mrs. Mossey, Tasha isn¡¯t in high spirits today. I think it might be best to let her retire early.¡± Madelyn dared not refuse. Wearing a benevolent smile, she went over and led Natasha away while holding thetter¡¯s arm gently. It was only when Maverick was well out of her sight that Madelyn stopped smiling and discreetly. pinched the younger woman¡¯s arm. ¡°Lexpected nothing less from the daughter of a mistress! He¡¯s already gone, so stop acting. It makes my blood boil the muttered. In response, Natasha shot her a fierce re. ¡°What are you looking at? Do you think I¡¯m scared of you?¡± Madelyn viciously flung away Natasha¡¯s hand and headed toward the main banquet hall After leaving the Mossey residence, Joaquin and Gwendolyn parted ways. Gwendolyn returned to Treyton¡¯s mansion on her own. After taking a bath, she put on a sheet mask and nibbled some fresh fruit, feeling very much at case Suddenly, her phone rang She nced at the caller ID and answered the call without hesitation. ¡°Thank you for tonight. If not for you. I might have made a fool of myself.¡± On the other end of the line, Ms Z let out a bark ofughter. ¡°You¡¯re wee! Only the bests are allowed to wear the clothes I make My First Snow fits you like a glove, as though it was made just for you If that garment had ended up on Natasha¡¯s body, d have been terribly depressed Gwendolyn smuled Fortunately, Joaquin found out that something seemed off about the gown before they left for the banquet. It was only after Gwendolyn made a call to MsZ that she discovered it was a high-quality imitation. It was also fortunate that Natasha¡¯s figure was more rounded than hers, so she could not fit into the dress. Thanks to the alteration request she had made, Gwendolyn had the opportunity to get the real 13:23 Mon, May Chapter 45 Judgment That Goes Haywire +25 Bonus First Snow back. ¡°Regardless, thank you for this. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal when youe back.¡± At that moment. Ms. Z was watching Joaquin¡¯s video of Gwendolyn dancing to ¡°Lover.¡± Smirking, she replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. If you can model for me again, I¡¯ll be overjoyed.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not cheap. We¡¯ll revisit this topic when you can afford my hourly rates.¡± Ms. Z groaned dramatically. Then, she aggrievedlyined about Gwendolyn¡¯s heartlessness while also praising thetter¡¯s performance from that evening. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The two old friends who had not been in contact for a while chatted well into the night. The next day, Gwendolyn woke up on time to get ready for work. She was in a good mood. However, when she arrived at thepany building, she realized that the passing employees all looked at her with oddlyplicated expressions. Though it puzzled her, she did not take it seriously and headed into her office. The second the employees on the same floor saw her go in, they immediately huddled together and exchanged gossip in muted voices. One said, ¡°Say, could the rumors online be true? But our new director seems too frank to be that sort of person.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true! I¡¯ve long sensed that something was off about her,¡± retorted another employee, who had very thick makeup on. ¡°I know she isn¡¯t a good person. As for you, I doubt you can tell, given that your judgment goespletely haywire when ites to good-looking people. I doubt you¡¯d still. help her if she were unattractive!¡± ¡°Hey, who are you insulting here?¡± ¡°You, obviously!¡± Cough! Cough! The huddled group had nearly started to bicker when they suddenly heard someone clear their throat. In a split second, they all went back to their cubicles. Gwendolyn hade out of her office to get a drink When Joanne saw that her superior was about to make her own coffee, her expression changed, and she rushed over to help. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I¡¯m so sorry about this. I was about to make you a cup of coffee and bring it to you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Gwendolyn replied. Everyone was on tenterhooks as they sat in their seats They would asionally peek at the pantry, wondering if Gwendolyn heard their carlier conversion and how much did she hear if so. When Gwendolyn was done, she brought her coffee to her office. Her expression was nd, devoid of emotion. 73% Chapter 45 Judgment That Goes Haywire No sooner had she sat down than Joanne walked in. +25 Bonus The worry on thetter¡¯s face was genuine. ¡°Ms. Shalders, did you hear what they said just now?¡± Gwendolyn grunted mildly in response, her face as inipassive as ever. ¡°I suppose¡­ You¡¯ve already seen what¡¯s trending online?¡± What is trending? 12 Seeing the look of skepticism on Gwendolyn¡¯s face, Joanne hurriedly exined, ¡°Last night, someone posted a video online, and it¡¯s of you sshing wine at Ms. Mossey during the Mossey family¡¯s banquet. This morning, another person broke the news that you were the mistress who got in the way of Mr. Wright and Ms. Mossey¡¯s rtionship. The inte is in an uproar now.¡± Gwendolyn, who was busy on herputer, suddenly stopped typing. Joanne immediately fished out her phone and showed the post to her. Gwendolyn sped through the video and noticed that it had been edited. The only thing that remained. was her sshing wine at Natasha, looking undeniably arrogant. The angryments were quite a sight to behold. Is Natasha trying to court death for calling me a mistress who got in the way of her rtionship with Maverick? Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 So Satisfying to Trample on Her +25 Bonus However, the one thing Gwendolyn could not ou for was whether or nor Maverick had a hand in 1. Joanne noticed Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was growing older. Feebly, she asked, ¡°Ms. Shalders, what are you going to do?¡± Gwendolyn returned the phone to her and got back work unperturbedly. ¡°I¡¯m not going to do anything for now. You should get back to work too. The deadline for the girl group talent show proposal is getting closer. I¡¯ll deal with it after I wrap up the task at hand.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Joanne was shocked. ¡°Ms. Shalders, the other party is going to be bolder if you don¡¯t act. If anything, the situation may worsen.¡± Gwendolyn did not reply, already pouring all of her cus and concentration into her work. I guess there¡¯s no way I can persuade you. Joanne could not quite fathom what her superior was thinking. All she could do was sigh in resignation and leave the office. In just a few hours, the news garnered so much attention that it became one of the top three trending topics online. Since Gwendolyn chose not to respond to the allegations, someone seemed to have paid an entertainment ount to fan the mes of discord. Not only did the incident gain more attention, but dirt on Gwendolyn was also revealed, and public opinion was swayed in Natasha¡¯s favor. Someone with ill intent also leaked information abot Gwendolyn¡¯s background. Soon, everyone knew that she was an orphan. Even sensitive information, like her job at Angle Corporation, was divulged to the public. Arge group of paparazzi rushed to Angle Corporation, waiting for a chance to interview Gwendolyn At the same time, Angle Corporation¡¯s stock plummeted by two percent within the hour and continued to show a downward trend. Theizens were all on Natasha¡¯s side. I feel so bad for Ms. Natasha. It must feel horrible to have her and Mr. Wright¡¯s loving rtionship ruined by a scheming b*tch like this! Why doesn¡¯t this woman just p*ss off? How dare she ssh pine at another person? Surely she should be arrested for assault or intent to harm? D*mn straight! This kind of little b*tch should just go to hel! She deserves to be an unwanted orphan! As a fan of Joaquin, I petition for thepany to fire such employees! A bad egg like this will only damage my idol¡¯s reputation! I agree. Chapter 46 So Satisfying to Trample on Her Me too. I strongly agree with this. Denounce her! Natasha, holding her phone in her hands as she sat on the recliner, was grinning ear to ear +25 Bonus F¡¯d love to see if this b*tch can still stay arrogant. With suchrge farce, Angle Corporation will surely cut ite losses and fire such a problematic employee to extricate itself from the trouble, won¡¯t it? Once Treyton wes her true colors, he¡¯ll probably rid himself of her as well! At that thought, she could not contain her glee. Her ce delicate features were soon distorted by the exaggerated grin that was stered onto her face. Oh, how she had long suppressed thatughter. She had not felt so self-satisfied in a very long time. Without the backing of Angle Corporation and Treyton, that b*tch Gwendolyn will have no means to continue throwing her weight around me. I must say that Eloise hancocted a great n. Teaming up with her has saved me time and effort. Being in an exceptionally good mood, Natasha leaned back and elegantly sipped at her tea At the same time, Joanne at Angle Corporation was ao feverishly reading the news on her phone. Things seem to be worsening by the minute. If this continues, Ms. Shalders will lose her position as director, won¡¯t she? Then, does that mean I¡¯ll be fired as we But it¡¯s only been a few days since I was confirmed as her assistant. Despite how anxious she felt, all she could do was pale at her desk. However, her worrying was of no use. el After all, that was the typical scenario of everyone che getting anxious except the one who was truly affected by it. The person involved did not seem to care about it at 1 Gwendolyn was still seated in front of theputer her office, mulling over various proposals for the talent show. As such, she had not seen how badly the situation hal escted online Just then, a loud ringing broke the silence and disrupted her concentration. With a cursory nce, Gwendolyn noticed that it was unknown caller She had no intention of picking up, but the same mes called her relentlessly three times in a row Annoyed by the noise, she decided to find out who it was When she picked up, what greeted her was a familia and husky voice extent, yet you can still focus on work? Are you uithered or stupid?¡± Things have escted to this Gwendolyn could vaguely sense a note of urgency hat voice. It seemed to be touched by other complicated emotions as well. Maverick Her first reaction was bafflement. I sure had not expected him, of all people, to call me leider, I Chapter 46 So Satisfying to Trample on Her +25 Bonus changed my contact information after the divorce. How did he manage to obtain my number? Judging from his tone, I don¡¯t think he knows about this matter. Well, even if he doesn¡¯t, all leads point toward his beloved first crush. She remained silent for a few seconds, saying nothing ¡°Say something! Have you been scared witless?¡± came the man¡¯s voice from the receiver. His remark evoked augh from Gwendolyn. How could something like this scare me? ¡°Mr. Wright, since you like creating imaginary scenarios in your head, why don¡¯t you start writing novels? Who knows. It might be more profitable for you than the real estate industry,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m being serious here. What are you on about?¡± Maverick¡¯s tone of voice had deepened. He suddenly realized that unbeknownst to him, they seemed to be at each other¡¯s throats every time they exchanged words. ¡°I¡¯m being serious too. Instead of meddling in my affairs, why don¡¯t you keep an eye on your fianc¨¦e: may not be able to handle the consequences of incurring my wrath.¡± The more Gwendolyn spoke, icier she sounded. ¡°Also, please keep your distance from me in the future. Nothing has changed. What I do is still none of your business.¡± Maverick was stunned by her retort. Before he could refute her, a beeping sound came from the receiver. Did this woman have explosives for breakfast? Why is she so feisty? Gwendolyn had just hung up when her phone rang orice again. That time around, it was Joaquin. ¡°Gwendolyn, have you thought about how to deal with this? If you need me, I can help you rify things. I do think that Angle Corporation is good at public rtions. I dare say this will die down very quickly with some intervention.¡± Joaquin was genuinely worried. The anxiety in his tone of voice was unmistakable. It looks like this brat is pretty affectionate and righteous. Gwendolyn was pleased, but she ultimately declined His offer. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. You¡¯re a very popr celebrity. If you stand up for me, it will only backfire, and your dichard female fans will break down thepany¡¯s doors ande at me with knives. Besides, I¡¯m not just looking to quash all this.¡± Joaquin pondered over the matter briefly. ¡°So you do have a n? If you need anything at all, just let me know.¡± After giving a perfunctory response, Gwendolyn hung up and continued to work. Joanne came by twice but still hesitated to speak. In the end, she said nothing and walked away while shaking her head. The issue was still being discussed hotly online, even until noon. 3/4 Chapter 46 So Satisfying to Trample on Her +25 Bonus The tweet containing a picture Sheralyn and Natasha (ook together in the dressing room before the banquet was also pushed as a trending topic. Many paid entertainment ounts began to lend hype to the narrative, shaping Natasha as the paragon of kindness, beauty, and innocence. When Natasha found out about it, she purposely registered an ount on Twitter but only followed Maverick on it. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Then, she tweeted her love story with him, which resulted in her gaining fifty to sixty thousand followers in a short span of time. Afterward, she posted a tweet thanking her friends and fans for their concern, which also resulted in her obtaining plenty of goodwill. Natasha, who was clutching her phone, felt ted. I never anticipated such a response. It¡¯s so nice to trample on that b*tch and gain fame at the same time! Just as she was reveling in her good mood, her phone chimed again, signaling that she had received replies. Natasha could not wait to check it out. She seemed to enjoy being praised to the skies. However, things took a different turn. That reply wrote: So you¡¯re the actual scheming b*tch and mistress in this situation? I bet you never anticipated that people would find out. The other party has posted a tweet! It bewildered Natasha. What the heck? Why is this person berating me? Who posted a tweet? While she was filled with doubt, she started receiving a second reply and then a third. All of them condemned her. How can this be? Wait a moment¡­ Could it be Gwendolyn Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Reaped What She Sowed +25 Bonus Just when Natasha was feeling smug, a Twitter ount suspected to be Gwendolyn¡¯s posted a tweet. It was a video that filmed the wine-sshing incident from a different angle. The video clearly showed Gwendolyn passing the phone to Natasha, seemingly showing her something on her phone. Natasha was immediately infuriated after viewing the contents of the phone. and picked up the ss of red wine, wanting to throw the contents at Gwendolyn. Despite that, Gwendolyn grabbed Natasha¡¯s hand to prevent her from doing so, resulting in Natasha being sshed with wine by her backhanded movement instead.. Even though the video posted was even clearer and moreplete, the person who sshed the wine was still Gwendolyn. There was still not much information to be gained from it. The allegedly Gwendolyn¡¯s ount posted another tweet before the throng of trolls even had a chance. to bash her in thements section. We are divorced and have nothing to do with each other now. Everyone was perplexed. What does that mean? Does this mean that she¡¯s actually the legal wife and not the mistress? Even though both tweets were concise and clear, it doesn¡¯t look convincing at all since there isn¡¯t any actual proof, right? Soon, trolls gathered in thements section, and almost everyment they made was malicious. Someizens disyed their support for Natasha, expressing their belief that there was no unexpected turn to the incident. Otherwise, they swore they would live stream themselves eating their foot. However, the tables were turned in less than two minutes. Some other insiders had posted a piece of evidence on Twitter, proving that Natasha was the one who had drugged Maverick. The posts they made were all confirmations of what she had done. The shocking posts caused amotion among theizens. What kind of woman would take the initiative to use such dirty tricks on her future husband? Unless she¡¯s his mistress, of course. The divorce announcement posted on Twitter by Gwendolyn suddenly seemed more credible and convincing now. In spite of that, there were still some who doubted the video posted online, saying that Gwendolyn was being too arrogant. Fortunately, someizens were more clear-headed this time. If Gwendolyn is indeed the ex-wife of Mr. Wright that he had kept secret for three years, that would make Natasha the real mistress, right? Judging from the unedited video, it¡¯s obvious that Natasha was the one who wanted to ssh the ss of red wine first. Gwendolyn¡¯s actions don¡¯t seem too extreme to me. 13.24 Mon, May 15 73% Chapter 47 Reaped What She Sowed +25 Bonus I was there! Because there was a shortage of staff at the Mossey family, I was temporarily assigned to work as a waiter at the banquet. Ms. Mossey and Gwendolyn were wearing the same dress, but Ms. Mossey used Gwendolyn of wearing an imitation. In the end, Ms. Mossey¡¯s dress was confirmed to be the knock-off item instead. Perhaps it was because of this issue that she held a grudge against Gwendolyn, so she thought of sshing red wine on her. Who knew Gwendolyn would happen to¡­ A helpfulizen described everything so vividly and in detail, leading the gossipy bystanders to reply below thement. The helpful and enthusiasticizen also patiently exined the matter to the others. Soon, two more videos were posted online. The first video was a vertical shot of Natasha dancing to ¡°Lover,¡± while the second was a humiliating video of her dress tearing after she lost her temper. Most uninformedizens gradually shifted their attention and came to gossip about those videos instead. Meanwhile, Natasha was just monitoring thements posted on her Twitter and felt suspicious. When she returned to the main page and checked out the trending topics, she found that the few topics criticizing Gwendolyn had stopped trending, so she had to search hard to find them again. As it turned out, several new search terms and topics on the trending list were actually rted to her. Second heir to the Mossey family¡¯s ¡°Lover¡± dancing skills, Natasha¡¯s humiliation, The Mossey family imitation dress Those keywords irritated her terribly. With her fingers trembling, Natasha tapped on it to take a look. Sure enough, someone had leaked a video of herself being embarrassed at the banquet. How can this be? Before the banquet was over, Jerome had obviously mentioned to the guests to keep this private, while the Mossey family housekeepers would never dig their own graves by exposing the matter to the public. Furious. Natasha discreetly switched to her alternate ount and left ament, attempting to defend her image and reputation. I¡¯ve met Ms. Mossey before, and she¡¯s quite a nice person! Iink she must have been framed for the replica dress. Who knows? Gwendolyn might have been responsible for it! In no time, someone replied to herment. But it¡¯s really hrious after she made a fool out of herself! Furthermore, the pastel-colored lingerie set was quite eye-catching too! Hahaha! Natasha was fuming in anger at the remark. In response, she refuted the words of the other party straight away. That instantly set off a heated argument between the two. Unfortunately, Natasha was no match for the experiencedizen this time, and her momentum was rapidly drowned out. Furthermore, because her statements were overly aggressive, the others began to suspect something was amiss. Why are you being so defensive of her? Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re Natasha Mossey. Did you set up an alternate 13.24 Mon, May Chapter 47 Reaped What She Sowed ount? +25 Bonus Someone had done a quick search on both Natasha¡¯s official and alternate ounts, while another netizen tracked thework cable and discovered that both ounts were logged in from the same IP address. At that point, Natasha¡¯s reputation and image werepletely shattered. All of the public ounts she had paid to market and promote herself, as well as the pure and innocent. image she had created for herself, had all been wasted. Natasha was now known to have drugged her fianc¨¦, wore replica dresses, and even deliberately created an alternate ount just to clear her name and throw Gwendolyn under the bus. On the other hand, Gwendolyn merely posted an unedited video and only a few words regarding the incident. Natasha¡¯s attempt to hide the truth led to the situation bing even clearer instead. On the Inte, a wave of condemnation was unleashed against her. While Gwendolyn monitored the online fracas in the office, she realized the situation was more or less settled and advised Joaquin, who had been posing as the Mossey family¡¯s temporary staff, to withdraw from the heated debate. As she thought of Natasha shooting herself in the foot this time, Gwendolyn could only shake her head with a chuckle. Natasha tried to use online public opinion to tarnish my reputation, but she failed to realize that I¡¯m working in an entertainmentpany now, and what I do best is public rtions counterattacks! Calm and unruffled, she ced her phone down and continued to work. Unbeknownst to her, her name was on the trending list again around ten minutes after she returned to work. It was because a video of her dancing to ¡°Lover¡± at the banquet was posted online. It was sexy yet innocent and ethereal to see her in light makeup and wearing First Snow while dancing to a pure but sensual song like ¡°Lover.¡± In contrast with Natasha¡¯s earlier dance video, Gwendolyn¡¯s dance performance astounded the With astonishing speed, the video shot to the top of the trending list. Simply amazing! This is practically the best tango dance I¡¯ve seen in a while! Is this actually ¡°Lover,¡± the dance that has been hailed to be the most difficult to master? She pulled off this dance perfectly! It is only fitting that she should be a legend! That dance by that Mossey woman was simply an eyesorepared to this amazing performance! I¡¯m supporting Gwendolyn this time! You¡¯re simply too gorgeous, Gwendolyn! Please debut as a celebrity, I beg of you! Chapter 47 Reaped What She Sowed +25 Bonus Manyizens were enthralled by Gwendolyn¡¯s dance performance, and they became instant fans. after seeing her video. They evenmented on Gwendolyn¡¯s Twitter ount, asking her to debut as a performer. Meanwhile, someizens called out those who promised to live stream themselves eating their foot to come out and be bashed. As Gwendolyn stared intently at theputer screen Joanne entered the room, holding her phone. Her face was filled with excitement and amazement as she eximed, ¡°You¡¯re really awesome, Gwendolyn! From now on, I shall be a fangirl of your. I pledge my utmost loyalty toward you!¡± Gwendolyn was bewildered by Joanne¡¯s words until thetter showed her the video, which made her realize that she was now the center of attention on the Inte. Who is behind this? Could Treyton be responsible for the video¡¯s speedy rise to the top of the trending list? Since Treyton knew Gwendolyn preferred to keep things low-profile, he would not have done such an extravagant favor for her. Who else can it be? Without putting much thought into it, Gwendolyn smiled helplessly as she looked at Joanne, who was still chattering away happily next to her. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Mossey residence was very tense. Madelyn sat on the couch with her legs crossed as she ate some fruits, as if she had nothing to do with the situation. On the other hand, Natasha was standing obediently in the middle of the mansion¡¯s living room while Jerome was pacing back and forth with a darkened expression on his face. The more Jerome thought about it, the angrier he became. His face was contorted with rage as he walked toward Natasha and pped her ruthlessly in the face. ¡°You good-for-nothing of a daughter!¡±From N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Seeing Her in Misery Jerome had pped her so hard that Natasha fell onto the floor, unable to react in time. +25 Bonus ¡°What a walking disaster you are! Are you nning to drag the Mossey family into your mess and disgrace everyone? Why did I give birth to an idiot like you?¡± He pointed at her with a trembling hand. gnashing his teeth. Natasha wiped the blood on the corner of her lips. Enduring the pain, she tried to get up from the floor several times but failed. In the end, she gave up and sat on the floor. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re trying to say.¡± ¡°Stop pretending!¡± Jerome was furious. ¡°Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t be able to find out anything? You¡¯re the one who bought and sent the replica of First Snow over. Besides that, you¡¯re also the culprit for the online drama. Just what sort of a grudge do you have with that Gwendolyn woman that you had to set her up?¡± Natasha sat on the ground and said nothing. Seeing that made Jerome¡¯s blood boil. ¡°I could still tolerate it if you seeded. However, not only were you tricked instead, but you also dragged the Mossey family into the mud with you. What a fool!¡± Madelyn, enjoying the show at the side, pretended to advise, ¡°Take it easy, Darling. Anger won¡¯t do you well. After all, Natasha is a daughter of a mistress. We can¡¯t expect anything from a b*tch like her. Of course she won¡¯t be as smart as Inez.¡± When Jerome heard that, his eyes filled with resentment. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have spared your life back then. and given you a chance to cause trouble to the Mossey family now.¡± Natasha found it ironic as she listened to the tirade from the couple. So this is my biological father, who shares a familial bond with me but also hopes for my death She struggled to get back up. Although her left cheek was swollen, she still raised her chin arrogantly. A vicious look shed past her eyes as she spoke. ¡°Unfortunately, despite all the hatred you hold against me, you still have to count on me to help Mossey Group. Doesn¡¯t the thought of that just make you angrier?¡± ¡°You!¡± Jerome widened his eyes in anger. He was so furious that he lifted his hand and was about to hit Natasha again. Instead of dodging, Natasha leaned forward and taunted, ¡°Hit me! You¡¯d better beat me to death so that the Mossey family will fall from grace. Then you can remember how you¡¯re the one who destroyed the family. I bet that must feel great.¡± Her words indeed hit the bullseye. Jerome was stumped, and his face turned red from fury His hand froze in the air as his mind went nk. Natasha sneered and directed her hostility at Madelyn, who was still leisurely enjoying the fruits. ¡°The b*tch you¡¯re talking about will inherit Mossey Group soon. As for your precious daughter, I¡¯m afraid she will never wake up for the rest of her life. You despise me and look down on me and my mom, yet you still have to act as a loving mother in front of the others. It must be hard for you.¡± Hearing that, Madelyn mmed the tabletop and bellowed, ¡°You vicious little b*tch! How dare you curse Inez! Listen up. Mossey Group¡¯s inheritance right is only temporarily handed over to you. You 1/3 13:24 Mon, May 15 Chapter 48 Seeing Her in Misery will have to return it when Inez wakes up. Don¡¯t get toocent!¡± +25 Bonus Natasha replied indifferently, ¡°Then you should pray more so that God pities your daughter. Instead of standing here and arguing with me, why don¡¯t you hurry and settle the trending topics about me? If I fall, Mossey Group will notst much longer either.¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. With that, she went upstairs indignantly and deliberately mmed the door loudly as she closed it. Madelyn was incredibly pissed off by her attitude. ¡°You! Finally, you showed your true colors, huh? How dare you threaten me!¡± Unwilling to back down, she turned to Jerome and cried, ¡°Darling! Look at what your illegitimate daughter has done. What did I do to deserve this?¡± Meanwhile, Natasha locked the door to iste herself from the noises downstairspletely. She walked to the dressing table and swept the expensive cosmetics onto the floor. Despite the loud ttering and crashing sounds, she still found that not enough to vent her feelings. Picking up her phone, she called someone. As soon as the call was answered, she spoke harshly. Didn¡¯t you say that this move could ruin her reputation? In the end, not only was she not affected, but she also stole the limelight on the inte!¡± Eloise was having a facial and didn¡¯t take her words to heart. ¡°Why are you so anxious? It¡¯s just a trivial matter. Wait quietly for some time, and the heated discussion about you will eventually subside. Don¡¯t worry. I will help you. Everything will be fine with me here.¡± Hearing that from Eloise made Natasha relieved. Still she refused to give in. ¡°What about Gwendolyn? We can¡¯t just let her off. She will be even more arrogant in the future.¡± Eloise was still arrogant and confident as ever. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since we¡¯ve failed at making a move against her publicly, we¡¯ll do it secretly this time.¡± After listening carefully to the n Eloise proposed, Natasha expressed her approval. She stared at the mirror, a vicious expression on her face, and smiled smugly. ¡°Good. I can¡¯t wait to see that b*tch in misery!¡± Back in the CEO¡¯s office of Wright Construction Group, Maverick was watching the video of Gwendolyn dancing to¡±Lover¡± on his phone. He was so focused on the video that he inadvertently gurled the corner of his lips. ¡°Boss,¡± Noah suddenly greeted after knocking on his office door and entering. Maverick switched off his phone and sipped his coffee calmly. ¡°What is it?¡± Standing before Maverick, Noah hesitated for a moment before reporting, ¡°I found out the replica gown was indeed purchased by Mossey Group, and they were also the one who paid thirty million to Ms. Z. However, it¡¯s unknown how the genuine First Show ended up in the hands of Ms. Shalders.¡± He paused briefly before continuing. ¡°Perhaps¡­ there¡¯s some misunderstanding in this.¡± 13:24 Mon, May 15 Chapter 48 Seeing Her in Misery Maverick said nothing after hearing Noah¡¯s words. 73% +25 Bonus Not getting any response, Noah peeped at Maverick and saw his darkened gaze. Thetter seemed to be pondering about something. He hurriedly exined, ¡°But I think Ms. Mossey had nothing to do with this. She¡¯s way too innocent. I bet she was kept in the dark. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be in such hot waters now.¡± ¡°Innocent?¡± Maverick knitted his brows, but his tone was indifferent. Noah immediately asked rhetorically, ¡°Of course! Ms Mossey is an innocent and kinddy. You have known her for so many years, Boss. Didn¡¯t you also think so before?¡± Maverick shot him a cold re in response, and he hurriedly lowered his head. An eerie silence ensued in the office for a long moment. Maverick got up and walked to the window. It was drizzling outside. He lit a cigarette and started smoking. The lingering smoke in the air made his face look even more unfathomable. ¡°Boss?¡± Noah called out to him. After pulling himself out of his thoughts, Maverick stubbed out the cigarette and sat on the couch. ¡°There¡¯s something of the past that I need you to investigate thoroughly. Remember to be discreet and not to inform anyone.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Noah couldn¡¯t help but be cautious when he saw Maverick¡¯s serious expression. It took Mossey Group a lot of hard work to settle public opinion online. Soon, the incident stopped trending on the inte, and not many people paid attention to it anymore. After all, the Mosseys were not celebrities. Theizens would treat it as a joke and forget it after some time. Gwendolyn had a peaceful time for the past few days as Natasha seemed to be behaving herself, and Eloise had also returned to Salinsburgh. During the absence of the two troublemakers, Gwendolyn managed to prepare the talent show proposal quickly. Soon, it was time to find a suitable venue for the show Once Gwendolyn got off work, she drove her Volkswagen Santana to the training facility she had arranged for the contestants. After arranging the subsequent improvement works briefly, she went to the parking lot and prepared to go home. ¡°Mmph! Help me! Help-¡± Suddenly, she heard a strange noise while passing by corner without surveince cameras. Chapter 49 Who Set Whom Up Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Who Set Whom Up It was a female voice. +25 Bonus ¡°Shut up if you don¡¯t want to die.¡± A brutal man with a scar on his face pressed a dagger against a girl¡¯s cheek while another man stepped on her chest andughed wickedly. The girl was so scared that she could only nod in cooperation. Seeing her behave herself, the two men grew even smigger. ¡°Sweetie, it has been a while since we have had a taste of a woman. We¡¯ll let you go as long as you serve us well.¡± The girl started bawling upon hearing that The two men smiled evilly and began toy their hands on her. One of them began to undo the buttons of the girl¡¯s shirt. Suddenly, the man felt a heavy blow on the back of his head, which then started bleeding profusely. Wailing, he quickly covered it before copsing onto the floor. It gave the scarred-faced man a scare. He turned around and saw a woman behind them. Gwendolyn was d in white professional attire with a high heel in her hand, radiating a powerful aura. When the scarred-faced man saw her, his eyes immediately lit up. ¡°What a fierce little beauty! I like it.¡± Gwendolyn, ying with the high heel in her hand, sneered, ¡°Shut up. One like you are not worthy to say that.¡± Her words infuriated the scarred-faced man. After cursing at Gwendolyn, he raised his dagger and dashed toward her. However, Gwendolyn overpowered him with a few blows, and he couldn¡¯t mber to his feet after that. The girl trembled as she curled into herself, her eyes lilled with terror. Her cheeks were slightly red, as if she had just drunk alcohol. Seeing her like that caused Gwendolyn¡¯s heart to wrench. Something immediately shed across her mind. She shook her head, and the strange feeling she had earlier disappearedpletely. Was that a hallucination? Ugh¡­ Perhaps I¡¯m too tired today. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t give it much thought and looked at the teenage girl, who appeared around eighteen or neen years old. ¡°You¡¯re safe to go home now.¡± Before she could turn around and leave, she felt someone clutching her wrist. She shifted her gaze over and met the girl¡¯s expectant eyes. ¡°Miss, I was having some alcohol with my friends before I lost my way. My phone was broken by those two thugs. Could you please send me home?¡± Seeing the hesitation in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m Ste. Help me, please. I¡¯m begging Chapter 49 Who Set Whom Up +25 Bonus you.¡± Gwendolyn checked the time on her phone and noticed it was already half past nine at night. It¡¯s alreadyte. This training facility is located at a more remote ce and quite dangerous for a girl. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Where do you live?¡± ¡°Frohablol Suburb 2, house number 308.¡± Ste followed behind Gwendolyn, seemingly feeling more at case by clutching thetter¡¯s arm tightly. Only when she approached the car did she loosen her grip and sit in the back seat. She seemed exhausted and soon drifted off to sleep while leaning against the car seat. Gwendolyn nced at Ste through the rearview mirror from time to time. She continued to drive the car silently when she saw thetter fall asleep. About twenty minutester, Gwendolyn noticed her phone was running out of battery and called Ste a few times to ask for more details about the address. However, Ste did not respond and remained slumbering in the back seat. Seeing that, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t disturb her further and continued to drive based on what she could remember. The windows were closed, and the atmosphere inside the car was silent. The astute Gwendolyn took a couple of sniffs and suddenly realized something was amiss. Ste said she was drinking with her friends. Although her face is flushed, there¡¯s no stench of alcohol on her body. Furthermore, the training facility is located in a remote subarb with no bars¡­ That means she¡¯s lying, and our encounter was on purpose! Just then, she felt a strong gust of wind approaching. She instinctively clutched the hand that was swinging toward her from behind. The thumb-length syringe was a hair¡¯s breadth away from piercing into her neck. ¡°W-When did you find out?¡± Ste didn¡¯t expect Gwendolyn to be so quick-witted. As a vicious glint shed in her eyes, she stopped pretending and tried to stab the needle into Gwendolyn¡¯s neck with both hands. Gwendolyn knew she couldn¡¯t hold on much longer with only one hand. Seeing the car moving at a constant speed in the suburbs, she suddenly had an idea and pulled the handbrake abruptly. The locked wheels instantly caused the car to skid. In the next instant, it flipped over and rammed into the guardrail before rolling onto the roadside grass. Since the driver¡¯s seat was equipped with airbags, Gwendolyn only received a minor scratch on her forehead and soon got out of the car. Ah¡­ what a pity. This car hasn¡¯t been with me for long, and yet it¡¯s been sacrificed for the greater good already. She clicked her tongue at the sight of the wrecked Volkswagen. Seeing no sign of Steing out from the wrecked car, Gwendolyn went forward to open the car door. Shortly after, she carried out Ste, who had been injured and fainted, and put her onto the 13:24 Mon, May 15 D Chapter 49 Who Set Whom Up 73% +25 Bonus grass. After some time, Ste finally regained consciousness. Disbelief filled her eyes when she learned that Gwendolyn had saved her life. ¡°Why did you save me? I harmed you. You should have killed me.¡± Gwendolyn shot her a cold re. Instead of answering, she asked, ¡°Who instructed you to do this?¡± Ste immediately went silent and turned away. Gwendolyn curled her lips into a smile. ¡°Let me guess. Was it Natasha? Or Eloise? Or¡­ both of them?¡± Based on my understanding of Natasha¡¯s capability, even if he could devise such a detailed n, it was simply impossible for her to hire such a skillful female assassin. Furthermore, she will be the heiress of Mossey Group soon. I¡¯m pretty sure she and Eloise are in cahoots. Ste ignored her. ¡°It¡¯s my mistake for falling into your hands. Just kill me.¡± ¡°Kill you? That¡¯s boring.¡± Gwendolyn shed Ste a taunting smile. Ste didn¡¯t understand what she meant. The suburbs were dim at night. Only a few streetlights were by the roadside and illuminated the ce. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes glinted brightly. ¡°I checked the syringe. It¡¯s filled with sleeping drugs, isn¡¯t it? They asked you to knock me out so that you could take me somewhere to torture me. Am I right?¡± Stunned, Ste stared at Gwendolyn incredulously. She got it right! How could such a pretty woman like her be so meticulous? Seeing Ste staring at her silently, Gwendolyn shed the former an innocent smile. ¡°Since they told. you to do so, just do it then.¡± ¡°W-What did you just say?¡± Five minutester, Ste sent a text message to a certain someone¡¯s phone: Mission aplished. I¡¯m sending her to the abandoned hut in the suburbs. Upon receiving the message, Natasha was so happy that she almost leaped from her bed. Finally, this b*tch fell into my hands! How dare she make in theughingstock on the inte! I swear I will have my revenge for that! She couldn¡¯t wait to see Gwendolyn in misery. With a glint of malicious excitement in her eyes, she texted another person: She will be there soon. Bring ten strong men over and beat her up before doing what we agreed on previously. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Almost immediately, she received a reply: Things will be easy if the remuneration is satisfactory. Vaguely feeling a pang in her heart, she gritted her teeth and transferred another five hundred thousand to the other party. 13:24 Mon, May Chapter 49 Who Set Whom Up Money is nothing as long as I can torture Gwendolyn. +25 Bonus Not long after she put down her phone, she received another message from Ste: I think we¡¯ve given her an overdose of sleeping drugs. She seems to be dying now. Please hurry over. Seems to be dying? No way! I want that b*tch to be tormented when she¡¯s aware and can suffer a fate worse than death! Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 A Taste of Her Own Medicine. +25 Bonus Natasha felt uneasy and quickly changed into dark-colored clothing at that thought. Then, she went out and hailed a taxi after putting on a mask. On the other hand, Maverick walked out of the bathroom after a shower. The video of Gwendolyn dancing to ¡°Lover¡± kept lingering in his mind. He felt slightly frustrated and thought he wouldn¡¯t have helped her if he had known it would be so tiring. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. While lying on his bed, Gwendolyn filled his thoughts, especially her clear and strong-willed eyes. It left an indelible impression on him. Also, he felt she looked somewhat familiar. Maverick thought of something and gave Gwendolyn a call after much deliberation. He wanted to rify something. However, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t pick up the first call. When the second call was dialed, he received a voice message that said the phone was not in service. Does she hate me so much? Annoyed and frustrated, Maverick tossed his phone aside and went to sleep. Meanwhile, Natasha took a taxi and arrived at an abandoned hut in the suburban area. There, Ste stood outside waiting for her. Natasha was taken aback after she saw the injuries on Ste¡¯s face and body after she approached the latter. ¡°What happened? How did you get injured?¡± Lowering her head, no expression could be detected on Ste¡¯s face. ¡°On the way here, that woman resisted desperately, so there was a minor car ident. Also, I made a mistake with the dosage for the injection. She-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a look inside.¡± Ste stopped her. ¡°Is Ms. Ferguson aware that you came alone tonight?¡± Displeased, Natasha¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Eloise had always bossed Natasha around because she had a higher social status than thetter. Now that Eloise had gone back to Salinsburgh, Natasha found it ridiculous the people working for the former still tried to keep her in check. Eloise and I are working together. I¡¯m not her subordinate Why do I have to report everything to her? Natasha¡¯s anger surged the more she thought about it. ring at Ste, she said, ¡°She brought you here to work for her. Now that she¡¯s not in Faike, you only need to follow my orders. Do you Chapter 50 A Taste of Her Own Medicine 72% +25 Bonus understand?¡± Ste dropped her head even lower. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Buzz off now that your mission is aplished.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ste answered. Yet, she merely stood there. There was only a flickering kerosenemp outside the abandoned house, making it impossible to see Ste¡¯s expression on her injured face. Seeing Ste remain still like a pir, Natasha was annoyed. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand what I just said?¡± ¡°Right away.¡± Before she left. Ste whipped out a phone from her pocket and handed it to Natasha. ¡°This is that woman¡¯s phone. Someone called her earlier, but I was scared it would affect your n, so I turned on airne mode.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Natasha then took over the phone, looking arrogant. She turned on Gwendolyn¡¯s phone screen after Ste left and looked at the phone number. With just a nce, Natasha¡¯s eyes reddened in an instant. She could recognize this number even though it was not saved under Gwendolyn¡¯s contacts. Why did Maverick call Gwendolyn thiste at night? I¡¯ve returned from abroad for so long, yet Maverick never took the initiative to see me, not even once. He has never prioritized me. Why? I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e, and this woman is just the third party trying to ruin our rtionship! Natasha got more infuriated the more she thought about it. The anger and viciousness in her eyes were undisguised. Furious, she lifted Gwendolyn¡¯s phone and wanted to smash it to pieces. However, she stopped in her tracks midway. A great idea suddenly shed through her mind. Then, she went to the home screen of Gwendolyn¡¯s phone and sent a message to Maverick. After she was done, she smashed the phone to the ground. However, she was still furious, so she stepped on it with her high heels and stopped after the phone screenpletely shattered. Natasha retracted her gaze and looked at the abandoned house as she swore to teach Gwendolyn a lesson tonight. She stretched out her hand and pushed open the door at that thought. The house was pitch ck, with no light at all. What¡¯s going on? Why didn¡¯t Ste leave behind a kerosenemp after she brought Gwendolyn here? She took two steps in suspiciously, and the thick dust in the house made her cough. It was too dark to see anything. Chapter 50 A Taste of Her Own Medicine Natasha started to panic and wanted to go out to ask for a kerosenemp from Ste. Suddenly, the door was mmed shut behind her. $25 Bonus Sensing something was amiss, Natasha followed the sound and rushed to the door. With all her strength, she banged on it. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Who¡¯s outside? Ste? Is that you, Ste? Quickly open the door!¡± However, to her dismay, it was dead silent outside the door to the point she felt a chill run down her spine. Taking a deep breath, Natasha tried to stay calm. Then, she turned around and tentatively yelled, ¡°Gwendolyn? Are you here, Gwendolyn?¡± No matter how hard she cried, there was no reply. Realizing she might be the only one in the house, Natasha was on the verge of breaking down. Is this Gwendolyn¡¯s doing? Ste works for Eloise, so why would she help Gwendolyn harm me? Did Eloise and Gwendolyn join forces? ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible.¡± Confused, she gripped her head with her hands and squatted on the ground, making herself as small as possible as her whole body trembled. The endless darkness brought her fear and despair. Just then, footsteps could be heard from outside the door. Hope flickered in Natasha¡¯s heart. She immediately rushed toward the door and banged on it. ¡°Who¡¯s outside? Let me out now! Open the door!¡± All of a sudden, the door opened. A tall figure walked in against the backlight, followed by a second, third, and many more. These were the men she hired to deal with Gwendolyn. Natasha dashed toward the door for the light but was unfortunately stopped by the strong man in the lead. ¡°You got the wrong person! I¡¯m not the one you¡¯re looking for. I¡¯m not Gwendolyn! Ah!¡± p! What she got in response was a p. She couldn¡¯t withstand it and was thrown to the ground. Half of her face swelled up quickly, and two teeth were loosened from the aftermath of the p. It hurts! Natasha sprawled on the ground and spat out blood. Still, she insisted on exining. ¡°I¡¯m not the one you¡¯re looking for! I¡¯m being serious! I was the one who hired you. How can you treat me this way? Chapter 50 A Taste of Her Own Medicine. Ah!¡± 1 4.77% +25 Bonus A man grabbed her by her hair from behind before he could finish. He exerted so much strength that Natasha felt her scalp was about to be ripped off. Tear flowed down her cheeks as she wailed hysterically in pain. ¡°Really! 1-I¡¯m not- The man pped her again andughed loudly. ¡°I¡¯ve seen people begging for mercy, but I¡¯ve never seen someone put on an act like you, Tonight, we will each you a lesson!¡± The door was closed and locked, and about a dozen en surrounded her. Soon, beating sounds and Natasha¡¯s agonized screams could be heard from the house. Gwendolyn was leaning against a tree in the distance While Ste stood quictly by her side. Arge cluster of stars could be seen right above their heads. The night sky looked exceptionally beautiful tonight It was a pity the car-piercing howls ruined the mood, Satisfied, Gwendolyn was ready to go home, leaving Natasha behind to get a taste of her own medicine. ¡°Here, Boss!¡± Suddenly, Noah¡¯s voice could be heard from the pathway, followed by the sound of running feet. Gwendolyn quickly hid as the sounds got closer to them. She observed the situation from behind a big tree and saw the person who came in a hurry was Maverick. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 A Lady Full of Tricks +25 Bonus The ear-piercing screams of a woman from inside the house gradually weakened, and at the same time, the arrogantughter of the group of men rangut. ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes turned red with murderous intent as he kicked open the door of the abandoned house. The burly men inside were just about to move on to the next order of business when they were interrupted by Maverick. The two parties swiftly broke into a fight. These men were gangsters and struck their blows with great force, causing Maverick and Noah some injuries on their faces. However, it didn¡¯t stop Maverick¡¯s intense murderous aura, and he hit them with even more ferocity. In about ten minutes, the gangsters were defeated andy on the ground, wailing in pain. They were no longer able to fight back. It was still pitch dark inside the house, and the sound of a woman coughing was heard. ¡°Gwendolyn?¡± Maverick followed the sound and found a woman barely alive lying on the floor. Immediately, he dashed toward her. Noah had suffered more injuries from the fight and followed Maverick out of the house with a limp. Then, Maverick ced thedy in his arms in the open space outside the house to check on her. injuries. It was hard to tell who the woman was as her face had swelled up too much from the beating. Her clothes were torn and covered in blood. It was a horrible sight to see. Fortunately, Maverick and Noah came in time. Otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous if those men had vited her. Maverick¡¯s eyes reddened from seeing the wounds all over her body. His heart suddenly felt heavy, and he could not breathe from the pain. ¡°Gwendolyn! Wake up! Don¡¯t go to sleep!¡± The woman had passed out. Fortunately, she still had weak pulse, which meant her life was not in danger. Noah nced at the injured woman on the ground and couldn¡¯t help but be angry on her behalf. He asked weakly, ¡°Boss, how should I deal with those people inside?¡± A ruthless look gleamed in Maverick¡¯s eyes. Without besitation, he ordered. ¡°Kill them!¡± Once Noah received the order, he quickly went to the side and made a phone call. Meanwhile, Maverick took off his zer to cover the disheveled woman, indescribable emotions burning in his eyes. Chapter 51 A Lady Full of Tricks +25 Bonus Not far away, Gwendolyn watched the scene from behind a huge tree, where she had an excellent view. She stared fixedly at Maverick acting out of control and thought she was hallucinating. If the one lying on the ground right now were really me, would he still be that upset? Does he still have feelings for me? An unknown emotion swirled in her heart. However, she dismissed the idea a momentter. It¡¯s clear Maverick doesn¡¯t love me. Just look at how he treated me these three years. He will probably be even more upset if he were to know it is his beloved Natasha lying on the ground. The look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes turned icy-cold at that thought. Then, she turned to leave. In the open space in front of the house, the woman on the ground woke up in a daze. She could barely see with her swollen eyes and finally broke down, sobbing hysterically after seeing who the man in front of her was. ¡°Mave! I thought I wouldn¡¯t be able to see you again- Her mouth was swollen from the beating, causing her speech to be a little slurred. However, Maverick still heard the word ¡°Mave¡± clearly. Gwendolyn would never refer to him that way. He looked at the woman on the ground again. Suddenly, Noah, who was at the side, shouted, ¡°Boss, that isn¡¯t Gwendolyn but Ms. Mossey!¡± Noah was distinctly more agitated after knowing it was Natasha who got injured. ¡°Why are you here. Ms. Mossey? Who did this to you?¡± In response, Natasha cried even more sadly as she tightly gripped Maverick¡¯s sleeves with bloody hands. ¡°It¡¯s Gwendolyn. She asked me toe here. I¡¯m in pain, Mave. I¡¯m in so much pain-¡± She grew more emotional the more she spoke. In the end, she fainted from exhaustion. Unbeknownst to him, knowing that the injured person was Natasha instead of Gwendolyn, Maverick¡¯s heart-wrenching pain suddenly eased a little. However, Noah was vexed. ¡°These jerks! How dare they hurt Ms. Mossey? D*mn it!¡± Noah gritted his teeth in rage and turned to look at Maverick. ¡°Boss, you received Ms. Shalders¡¯ text earlier and thought she was in danger, so we hurried here. However, Ms. Mossey was the one who was injured. Gwendolyn must be involved in this. Perhaps she¡¯s the mastermind behind this!¡± Maverick frowned as the look in his eyes became calm. ¡°Send Tasha to the hospital for now. We¡¯ll investigate this matterter.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Noah took Natasha from Maverick¡¯s arms and ran toward their car parked at the roadside. 13:25 Mon, May 15 Chapter 51 A Lady Full of Tricks 72% +25 Bonus After he left. Maverick got up slowly and nced at the house behind him, where shrieks of pain could be heard. Then, he recalled the text from Gwendolyn half an hour ago. The message had read: I¡¯m having fun with ten menter tonight. Care to join us? He was furious after he saw the message and immediately called her, only to discover the phone had been turned off. Then, he asked Noah to check her location and rushed over immediately. Unexpectedly, it was Natasha who was beaten and even almost got vited. Gwendolyn¡­ Is this really her doing? Maverick¡¯s gaze darkened, and he suddenly felt depressed. Gwendolyn took Ste with her and got into Elisha¡¯s car back to the city. Before they parted, she took out a ck briefcase filled with cash that she had asked Elisha to withdraw from her Centurion Card. ¡°There¡¯s five million in here. You better move to the countryside. I¡¯m sure Eloise will try to hunt you down when she finds out, so remember to stay hidden.¡° With a conflicted look, Ste reconfirmed bitterly, ¡°You said you¡¯ll help my mother to break free from Eloise and bring her safely to me. If you break your promise. I¡¯ll-¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn interrupted with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I, Gwendolyn, am a woman of my word.¡± Ste was convinced by the light shining in the other woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll trust you.¡± After Ste was out of sight, Elisha approached Gwendolyn and asked softly, ¡°Ms. Harris, why didn¡¯t you kill her but give her money instead?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t mean to harm me. Her mother, whom she relies on, is in the hands of Eloise, so she has no choice but to work for her. She¡¯s a poor soul. Now that I know her weakness and did her a favor, she will be grateful to me and work for me wholeheartedly.¡± Since Elisha remained silent, she added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry I¡¯m not a saint. I¡¯ll never let anyone who deliberately harms me off. However, death is too easy on them. They need to be tortured to the point of wishing for death. That¡¯s the best revenge.¡± Seeing her smirk, Elishaughed too. ¡°Mr. Harris was right about you, Ms. Harris. You¡¯re ady full of tricks.¡± Gwendolyn instantly raised her head and red at him. ¡°You two were talking about me behind my back? Have you forgotten that I am the true owner of Angle? Do you still want to get paid?¡± Elisha was instantly rendered speechless. ¡°Please don¡¯t, Ms. Harris! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Indeed, it¡¯s wise not to mess with women! Gwendolyn stopped teasing him and rubbed her shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s head back. I need a good night¡¯s sleep. This is not over yet. I¡¯m guessing I¡¯ll have another tough battle tomorrow.¡± 13:25 Mon, May Chapter 51 A Lady Full of Tricks +25 Bonus When she finished speaking, she turned her head subconsciously and looked at arge store that had closed on the quiet street. It was a branded store under Mossey Group. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Here to Give You a Gift It was the dead of night when Natasha was sent to the hospital for treatment. +25 Bonus The preliminary diagnosis by the doctor revealed that she had two broken ribs, a mild concussion, and ¡ú plenty of minor wounds. Thankfully, none of her injuries were life-threatening. As Maverick sat on the bench outside the operating room, thoughts known only to himself swirled about in his head. After the incident, he had Noah report it to the Mossey family. It wasn¡¯t until the sun had risen that Jerome and Madelyn finally arrived at the hospital. ¡°Oh, my poor daughter! How could something like this have happened?¡± Madelyn¡¯s cries echoed throughout the corridor, but strangely enough, her eyes were devoid of tears. In fact, one could even say she looked quite happy with the whole thing. On the contrary, Jerome walked over to Maverick with a sorrowful expression on his face. Stopping in front of thetter, he offered the young man someforting words after seeing the dark look in his eyes. Without replying to Jerome, Maverick said politely. Please have a seat, Mr. and Mrs. Mossey.¡± Jerome pressed on, ¡°Mr. Wright, what happened? How did Nat get hurt? Who did this to her?¡± It wasn¡¯t so long ago that Inez got into an ident and was left in a vegetative state. And now, Natasha got herself into trouble, too. Is someone targeting the Mossey family? Or is Lady Luck just not on my family¡¯s side? Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. After remaining silent for a while, Maverick replied, ¡°Noah¡¯s already looking into this.¡± Noticing that Maverick wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk, Jerome stopped pressing the issue and went over to sit on a nearby bench. Just two minutester, the light shining above the operating room door went out. The doctor came out and said that Natasha¡¯s operation was very sessful. Except for the fact that she would have limited mobility for the time being, there was no major problem, and she was ready to be transferred to a normal VIP ward. Maverick, Jerome, and Madelyn followed along and came to the ward to visit Natasha. With bandages wrapped all over her body, Natasha painstakingly opened her swollen eyes and began crying the moment she saw Mavericke in. ¡°Mave, I would have already been dead if it wasn¡¯t for you! Fortunately, you came just in time and stopped those b*stards from viting me. Mave, I really can¡¯t leave you. Stay here with me, won¡¯t you?¡± Natasha held onto his hand weakly. Who would have thought that I would end up shooting myself in the foot? All I wanted was to provoke him by sending that text to him, I wanted him to know that Gwendolyn¡¯s nothing but a dirty slt that can be used by anyone. This way, he¡¯ll put all his attention on me. I never expected that that text would end up saving my life, 13:25 Mon, May 15 Chapter 52 Here to Give You a Gift Maverick sat beside her and sighed softly. +25 Bonus Seeing his indifferent attitude. Natasha felt dejected. ¡°Mave, aren¡¯t you going to say something to comfort me? Could it be that you don¡¯t love me anymore now that I¡¯m ugly?¡± Before Maverick could reply, Jerome shot a look at his daughter. ¡°Nat, stop throwing a tantrum. Or course Mr. Wright still loves you. Now tell me who did this to you. I¡¯ll seek justice for you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± At the mention of that, Natasha looked as if she had just recalled some traumatic memories and started sobbing again. ¡°All I remembered was Gwendolyn saying she had something to talk to me about, so I hailed a cab to go find her. The next thing I knew, I was knocked out on the way and woke up in that small hut. It was so dark inside that I couldn¡¯t see anything. Someone was hitting and kicking me, saying that it was Gwendolyn¡¯s instruction and that they were going to torture me to death¡­¡± She paused and muttered, ¡°I was so scared. So scared¡­¡± After saying that, Natasha shrank away into a ball. It was as if the memory was too horrifying for her. She started trembling, making her look pitiful and helpless. Jerome was boiling with fury upon hearing that and looked toward Maverick. ¡°Mr. Wright, being Nat¡¯s fianc¨¦, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not going to just sit idly by and do nothing, are you? In any case, that woman, Gwendolyn, must have something to do with this. For her to bully Nat like this is akin to giving the Wright family a p in the face! You must avenge Nat!¡± Being the sly old fox that he was, Jerome was well aware of the fact that Gwendolyn was protected by Joaquin of the Zipper family. With how little power the Mossey family wielded, he knew there was no way he could wage war against them. As such, he could only rely on Maverick. In response, Maverick pursed his lips and replied with a darkened gaze, ¡°If Tasha really was wronged, I¡¯ll definitely help her, but only on the premise that she tells me everything without hiding anything.¡± Natasha was stunned upon hearing that. I made this whole thing up. The more I speak, the higher the possibility I¡¯ll slip up. With how smart Maverick is, he¡¯ll definitely doubt my story if I mess up even the tiniest of details. All I can do now is to try and talk myself out of this and then discuss some countermeasures with Eloiseter. With that thought in mind, she cradled her head and put on a pained expression. ¡°My head hurts! I can¡¯t remember anything¡­¡± Seeing this, Jerome said, ¡°Nat just woke up. I don¡¯t think asking her too many questions is good for her recovery. Why don¡¯t we head out first and let her have a good rest?¡± Still indifferent as ever, Maverick nodded. Just when they were prepared to leave the ward, the door suddenly opened before two handsome, burly men came in. Jerome and Madelyn were puzzled by the men¡¯s sudden entrance. The two men went and stood at the door, one on each side. Soon after, Gwendolyn came waltzing in in $13.25 Mon, May Chapter 52 Here to Give You a Gift her high heels, looking as beautiful as ever with her ruby-red lips. +25 Bonus Madelyn, who had not said a word since she entered the ward, was left stunned when she saw the woman. Doesn¡¯t she know that we¡¯re talking about what¡¯s the best way to deal with her? I can¡¯t believe she has the gall to strut in here like she owns the ce! Displeased by Gwendolyn¡¯s attitude and thinking that she didn¡¯t mind a bit more drama, Madelyn decided to add fuel to the fire by saying, ¡°Darling, do you see how arrogant she is? I bet she¡¯s here to check if your daughter is dead.¡± Jerome¡¯s face darkened when he heard that..¡±You came at just the right time. Let us settle the matter of you purposely hurting my daughter!¡± Meanwhile, Maverick simply stood at the side. Although he didn¡¯t say anything, his towering build made it hard for others to ignore his presence. Gwendolyn instinctively nced at him, only to realize that his gaze had never left her from the moment she entered the ward. His dark eyes were unfathomable. She looked away and settled her sight on Jerome, her lips curling into a smile. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Mr. Mossey. It¡¯s time I settle some things with your daughter, but I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t have anything to do with the matter you mentioned earlier.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Jerome stared at her dubiously. Remembering how she had lost to Gwendolyn twice, Natasha shuddered when she saw how the former had waltzed into her ward nonchntly. She subconsciously cowered behind Jerome, who was closest to her. ¡°Dad, save me! She¡¯s going to hurt me! She¡¯s definitely gunning for my life! I¡¯m scared! I don¡¯t want to see her¡­¡± Natasha broke down crying andining. Seeing his daughter getting bullied to the point of acting like this, Jerome felt his heart break. ¡°This is a private ward. My daughter is emotionally unstable, so please get out.¡± Gwendolyn shed a sweet smile. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? I¡¯m here bearing gifts.¡± Upon saying that, she pped her hands. A group of people entered the ward on her cue before hanging tworge banners neatly on the wall opposite Natasha¡¯s bed. ¡°This is my way of encouraging her. I hope Ms. Mossey gets well soon.¡± With a kind smile on her face, Gwendolyn added, ¡°As for Ms. Mossey¡¯s usation of me having something to do with her unfortunate incident, doe at me with all the evidence you can provide. I¡¯m more than happy to y along.¡± With that, she turned on her heel and left with her two bodyguards in tow. Seeing that she was leaving, Maverick followed after her with a grim expression, Chapter 52 Here to Give You a Gift +25 Bonus Meanwhile, Natasha¡¯s and the Mossey couple¡¯s attention were on the banners, so they didn¡¯t realize Maverick had left. Upon getting a clearer look at what was written on the banners, Natasha was so infuriated that she was on the verge of coughing up a mouthful of blood. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 She Is Ruthless Each banner had one sentence. The first one read: Making the situation worse for yourself. The second one was: Shooting yourself in the foot. They were obviously using her of reaping what she had sown. +25 Bonus Infuriated by what she saw, Natasha felt her body ache all over as intense hatred brimmed in her eyes. As for Jerome, his face darkened upon reading them too. Only Madelyn sniggered in response, relishing in schadenfreude. However, her response attracted the gazes of the other two. Natasha was even more outraged that her face reddened like a tomato. With an awkward smile, Madelynmented, ¡°Hmph, I can¡¯t believe that woman. She clearly doesn¡¯t have any respect for the Mossey family at all. Darling if you don¡¯t teach her a lesson, I can¡¯t imagine what other outrageous actions she¡¯ll take the next tim!¡± Just as she spoke, a knock was heard on the door. A man in a uniform opened the door slightly and asked, ¡°May I know if this is Ms. Natasha Mossey¡¯s ward?¡± After the few of them exchanged nces, Madelyn asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Someone by the name of Ms. Gwendolyn Shalders has ordered customized flower wreaths for Ms. Mossey.¡± No sooner had he finished than the man waved behind him. Thereafter, a group of workers carried huge flower wreaths into the ward under the curious gazes of the Mossey family. Soon, the entire room was filled with thirty-two flower wreaths that wereid out in front of Natasha. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°This¡­ isn¡¯t it too¡­¡± Before Madelyn could say anything snarky, Jerome shot her a re, causing her to cover her mouth. Once the delivery menpleted their task, they bowed cordially. ¡°Please enjoy the flowers. We hope that you¡¯ll patronize our services again.¡± After cursing me to my death, what makes you think there¡¯s a next time? Gwendolyn is really ruthless! Natasha felt as if her heart was about to explode. ¡°Get out! All of you-¡± Her next words were swallowed by a bout of coughing. Ali she could think of was throwing the wreaths at the faces of the men. Unfortunately, she still couldn¡¯t move due to the surgery and could only re at them in fury. That b*tch is just too much! Not only did she send me banners to gloat but also wreaths as a curse to me! 113.25 MC Chapter 53 She Is Ruthless +25 Bonus ¡°B*tch! B*tch! Throw them out! Throw them all out!¡± Another violent fit of coughing interrupted her words. With her lungs on the brink of implosion, she could barely catch her breath when she caught a glimpse of the picture among the wreaths. Gwendolyn had taken an embarrassing photo of her when her dress was torn at the banquet. She¡¯s really cruel! Memories of how she was humiliated at the dinner and ridiculed online flooded back into her mind.. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± With her teeth gritted behind her swollen lips, Natasha was rendered unconscious by her overwhelming rage. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn chose to leave the hospital via the emergency exit instead of the front door. Just as she was walking along the corridor, she felt someone grab her wrist. It was none other than Maverick who had caught up with her. In response, Gwendolyn¡¯s bodyguards were about to take action when she stopped them. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Why don¡¯t you guys take a break, but don¡¯t go too far.¡± When the bodyguards were finally out of sight, Gwendolyn shook off Maverick¡¯s hand before rubbing. her wrist in a nonchnt manner. ¡°Whatever questions you have, fire away.¡± With deeply furrowed brows and a grim look on his face, Maverick began to speak, but it was unexpectedly not about Natasha. ¡°Who are those two men? Bodyguards? Who do they work for? Treyton or Joaquin?¡± Gwendolyn was stunned by the barrage of questions Did hee all this way just to ask that? Feeling curious, she replied snarkily, ¡°They¡¯re mine.¡± Yours? Lovers? Two of them? Maverick¡¯s face reddened from the outrage he felt. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing? Where is your sense of decency?¡± Is this what he perceives as ack of decency? Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°Mr. Wright, have you forgotten that both of us are divorced? How are my affairs. any of your business? What right do you have to be jealous?¡± ¡°Who says I¡¯m jealous?¡± He was stumped when Gwendolyn¡¯s words struck a nerve. Unable to rebut, Maverick had no choice but to change the topic. ¡°You sent me a messagest night. What¡¯s the meaning of that?¡± 25 Mon, May Chapter 53 She Is Ruthless ¡°What message?¡± Maverick stared intently at her in an attempt to discern if she was telling the truth. ¡°Were you responsible for Tasha being beaten up and almost raped?¡± +25 Bonus Letting out a chuckle, Gwendolyn locked gazes with him. Her lips abruptly curled into a smirk. ¡°What do you think?¡± Subsequently, she turned around and walked away, leaving him with a glimpse of a haughty silhouette. At the veryst moment, she added, ¡°You had better show your fianc¨¦e more concern. With her weak mental constitution, she¡¯s probably in a terrible state right now.¡± Just as Maverick wanted to approach her again, he was stopped by the bodyguards. ¡°Boss.¡± Coincidentally, the solemn-looking Noah found Maverick. Stopping his pursuit of Gwendolyn, Maverick turned around and headed to the empty smoking room on the fifth floor. ¡°There¡¯s something strange about this incident. The moment our men began the investigations, the perpetrators destroyed all the evidence, as if they were expecting us. In the end, we didn¡¯t find anything and have no leads so far¡­¡± Cognizant of the sensitivity of what he was about to say, Noah paused abruptly to scan his surroundings. Maverick, holding a cigarette between his lips, threw him a quick nce to signal him to go ahead. Noal steeled himself and continued, ¡°Mr. Harris of Angle and Mr. Joaquin of the Zipper family both have the ability to be one step ahead of us and destroy the evidence swiftly. Also, both of them are close to Ms. Shalders¡­¡± He was implying that he suspected Gwendolyn. Maverick narrowed his eyes upon hearing the report When I asked her about the message, she clearly looked like she had no clue about it. But when I questioned if she was responsible for Natasha getting hurt, she then behaved as if she was aware. ¡°There¡¯s more to this than meets the eye.¡± Maverick stubbed out his cigarette. ¡°But¡­¡± Noah was adamant that his suspicions were on the ball. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s a straightforward matter, but you¡¯re just being biased?¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes darkened as he shot Noah a re, causing thetter to instantly lower his head in silence. ¡°If Tasha and Gwendolyn were to switch ces, who would you side with?¡± 13:25 Mon, May 15 Chapter 53 She Is Ruthless 72% +25 Bonus Without a second of hesitation, Noah replied, ¡°Ms. Mossey, of course. There¡¯s no way someone as kind and innocent as she is wouldmit such an insidious act. As for Gwendolyn, I have seen how ruthless she can be against her enemies.¡± The furrow of his brows deepened as Maverick scrutinized him. ¡°The way you talk about Tasha¡­¡± ¡°Boss, don¡¯t worry. All I have for her is respect because she¡¯s your fianc¨¦e. That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m defending her,¡± Noah exined before Maverick could finish, lowering his head respectfully. Maverick continued to observe him with an emotionless expression as if he could read thetter¡¯s mind. Unsettled by the intensity of the attention, Noah bowed his head further. ¡°Find out who Tasha has spoken to and exchanged messages with over thest few days. Also, with regards to the previous incident I ordered you to investigate, I want to see results in three days.¡± Maverick¡¯s words caused Noah to clench his fists. Ms. Mossey is clearly the victim here. It¡¯s really disappointing that Boss insists on investigating her. Despite his reluctance, Noah obeyed cordially. ¡°Understood.¡± Once he was gone, Maverick made a phone call. With his eyes weighed down by a sullen look, he spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Zachary, I need you to investigate something.¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 The Incident from Thirty Years Ago Upon emerging from the smoking room, Noah overheard a group of nursesining. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Ms. Mossey? Why is she throwing a tantrum when she¡¯s supposed to be recuperating? It¡¯s going to be a long day.¡± Noah stopped the nurse and asked, ¡°Ms. Mossey? Who were you just talking about?¡± ¡°How many Ms. Mosseys can afford to stay in the VIP ward?¡± 72% +25 Bonus The nurse shoved his hand aside before running off, leaving Noah with a bitter taste in his mouth. It had been almost eight years since he started working for Maverick right after thetter joined Wright Construction Group. He had no family or friends, and it was Maverick who gave him a job. As for Natasha, she was the first person to ever smile at him and was also the very first friend he made. Consequently, he saw Maverick as family, whereas Natasha was someone even dearer than that whom. he felt the urge to protect. It was true that he liked Natasha romantically, but he hid those feelings deep in his heart. Instead, he secretly hoped that she would find happiness. Unfortunately, he was filled with indignance when he saw her having a tough time, which was made worse by Maverick¡¯s pursuit of Gwendolyn and his neglect of Natasha while she was both sick and in danger. Holding that thought, Noah clenched his fists as the resolve within him gradually strengthened. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn received a call after emerging from the hospital. News of Natasha being wheeled into the emergency room again brought her a sense of tion. Now that Natasha had been taught a lesson, Gwendolyn decided to head to the training facility where there was work waiting to be done. As her Volkswagen Santana had been wrecked the night before and she had no time to get a new car, she ended up taking a taxi. Upon her arrival, the staff greeted her cordially, while the person in charge reported to her about the equipment and processes that were being improved upon. After circling around the facility, Gwendolyn was satisfied with what she saw. The rehearsals for the show should be able to start soon, and then it¡¯s time for broadcast. While she was making the rounds, one of the young female staff was ted to catch a glimpse of her. Without any hesitation, she rushed up to Gwendolyn to ask for an autograph. ¡°Gwendolyn, I saw you in the ¡®Lover¡¯ video, and you were gorgeous in it! So, are you going to participate in the talent show this time? I¡¯ll always be rooting for you!¡± Gwendolyn responded with an awkward smile as she was surprised to meet a fan at the training facility. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to push the girl¡¯s autograph book back. Chapter 54 The Incident from Thirty Years Ago +25 Bonus ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not a celebrity and have no intention of being one. Signing autographs is just not my thing.¡± With that, she stepped around the fan before leaving together with the person in charge. Nevertheless, the fan continued to stare intently at her leaving silhouette. As the admiration on her face gradually faded away, she looked down at the notebook that now contained Gwendolyn¡¯s fingerprint. After the brief incident, Gwendolyn went to check on the trainees¡¯ dorm and cafeteria. There, she asked for the trainee register that contained the names of the hundred candidates who had been. shortlisted. She started out skimming through the document quickly, but at thest few pages, her attention was drawn to a familiar name and face-Jennifer Weller. Jennifer was her only friend in the orphanage. When she was seriously sick once, Gwendolyn even begged Frida for money to pay for her friend¡¯s treatment. Unfortunately, Jennifer didn¡¯t manage to gather enough funds for her medical fees and was subsequently kicked out of the orphanage. Both of them lost contact since then. Now that a few years had passed, Gwendolyn was surprised to see Jennifer¡¯s name appear on the list of the talent show trainees. When the person in charge noticed Gwendolyn¡¯s long pause, he broke into an obsequious smile and offered, ¡°Is she a friend of yours, Ms. Shalders? Do you need us to pay her special attention?¡± Gwendolyn declined, ¡°There¡¯s no need to do so. It wouldn¡¯t be fair to the others to give her special treatment. Besides, she wouldn¡¯t like it either.¡± For the time being, Gwendolyn had no intention of reuniting with Jennifer. Her identity as an orphan had prevented Natasha from finding any weakness in her. Hence, thest thing she wanted was for Jennifer, her friend, to be dragged into the mess. With that thought in mind, Gwendolyn closed the register without showing any emotion. Meanwhile, Natasha was transferred back to her ward from the emergency room again. After being examined by the doctor a second time, her condition barely showed any improvement. Finally regaining consciousness and opening her swollen eyes slightly, she could see the faint outline of a towering figure in a suit Thinking that it was Maverick, she grabbed his hand and began to cry. ¡°Mave¡­ Thank God you¡¯re here. Otherwise, I don¡¯t how I¡¯m going to survive this,¡± she sobbed through her.lcars. The person whose hand she held jolted at her reaction. ¡°Ms. Mossey, it¡¯s me, Noah.¡± Upon seeing who it really was, Natasha ended up crying even harder in disappointment. 13:25 Mon, Chapter 54 The Incident from Thirty Years Ago 72% +25 BonusThis is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Unable to bear seeing her in such a state, Noah grumbled, ¡°Gwendolyn has gone too far by sending you funeral wreaths. Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Mossey. I¡¯ll definitely help you.¡± Unfortunately, Natasha wasn¡¯t moved by his words as theckluster look in her eyes remained unchanged. ¡°What¡¯s the use of you helping me? Mave doesn¡¯t trust me. In fact, he isn¡¯t even willing to keep me company here¡­ What have I done to deserve this¡­¡± ¡°You did nothing wrong. It¡¯s Mr. Wright. He¡¯s suspicious of you. Moreover, he wants to reinvestigate what happened thirty years ago¡­¡± Natasha couldn¡¯t bear to listen any longer. Mave wants to dig up the past? Did he notice something already? Seized by panic, Natasha¡¯s hands began to tremble uncontrobly. Failing to notice the change, Noah continued to console her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No matter what happens, I trust you and will support you unconditionally.¡± Touched by his words, Natasha tightened her grip on his hand. ¡°Thank you, Noah. You¡¯re like family to me.¡± Her words brought a sense of tion to him. ¡°I¡¯m honored that you see me as such!¡± Gesturing for him toe closer, Natasha whispered something into his ear, to which Noah agreed without hesitation. Upon leaving the training facility, Gwendolyn headed to the car dealership directly, nning to get herself a new car. There, she was surprised to run into someone familiar. It was none other than Linda Dervalier from the orphanage. She was hanging off the arm of a gray-haired man in his fifties and happened to also be choosing a car. ¡°If it isn¡¯t Gwendolyn! You¡¯ve gone viral on the inte recently. It¡¯s been a long time since I saw you. I¡¯m surprised you barely made any progress in life.¡± At the sight of Gwendolyn, the smirking Linda approached with herpanion. During their orphanage days, they were rivals due to both being outstanding girls. When Gwendolyn was subsequently taken away by Den to be married to his handsome heir, Linda felt depressed over it for a long time. It wasn¡¯t until Gwendolyn¡¯s name trended online that she found out about the former¡¯s divorce and relished in the schadenfreude. This b*tch loves to fight me for everything. Now that she has be a divorcee, she can no longer compete with 1. 29 Mon, Chapter 54 The Incident from Thirty Years Ago +25 Bonus Holding that thought, she thrust her chin into the air while unting the branded clothing and expensive jewelry she was wearing. At the same time, Gwendolyn scrutinized both of them. The sight of the gold chain around the man¡¯s neck, the lecherous way he was looking at her, and the golden tooth that glistened whenever he smiled. filled her with disgust. Nheless, she still managed to eke out a polite smile. ¡°It has indeed been years since I saw you last. It looks like you have done well for yourself, haven¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 You Reap What You Sow ¡°Not too bad, I guess.¡± Despite the humble reply, the smugness on Linda¡¯s face was obvious to all. ¡°Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Jamie Derrymore. He¡¯s the assistant business manager of Celeste and makes eight hundred thousand a year.¡± When she emphasized thest sentence on purpose, Jamie smiled proudly, shing his golden tooth again. Thereafter, Linda waited for Gwendolyn¡¯s response, expectingpliments from thetter. However, when Gwendolyn continued to give her an indifferent look, Linda was peeved. She has always loved pretending to be high and mighty. It¡¯s time I pull her down from her high horse. ¡°I heard that you got divorced?¡± Linda studied Gwendolyn¡¯s outfit while speaking. Noticing thetter was dressed in office wear, she let out a snort. ¡°Which car dealership are you working in as a salesperson? Is this all you have achieved after all these years?¡± Shooting Linda a re as if she was a fool, Gwendolyn sneered. ¡°I¡¯m here to buy a car.¡± With that, she retracted her gaze and let herself be ushered in by the salesperson to choose her car. She had no intention nor energy to spend time on someone who was irrelevant to her. Linda was further infuriated to see Gwendolyn just as arrogant as in the past and giving her the cold shoulder. When she returned to the orphanage just two days ago, she heard that Gwendolyn had not only gotten a divorce but also received nothing from it. And yet, she¡¯s here to buy a car? ¡°I¡¯m curious to see what sort of car she can afford,¡± Linda muttered under her breath as she stared at Gwendolyn¡¯s silhouette. Subsequently, she turned toward Jamie and spoke in a coquettish tone. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s go in and take a look. Since you¡¯re buying me a present, I would like to spend some time choosing the car that suits me the most.¡± Lost in the fantasies he conjured up with Gwendolyn¡¯s slender body, Jamie readilyplied with her request. Inside, Gwendolyn had arrived at the section where all the mass markets cars were put on disy. She wasn¡¯t particr when it came to material possessions. All that mattered was user-friendliness and practicality. In fact, she had intended to randomly pick one and leave but was surprised to hear Linda clicking her tongue from behind her. 13:25 Mon, May 15 Chapter 55 You Reap What You Sow 72% +25 Bonus ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have your eye on a cheap car like the Volkswagen Passat. It seems life as a divorcee has been hard on you.¡± Arms folded, Linda wore a condescending look on her face. In spite of that, Gwendolyn continued to ignore her. Despite receiving the cold shoulder, Linda continued calmly, ¡°Just for old times¡¯ sake, I can get my boyfriend to introduce you to some of his outstanding male staff. He is an assistant manager, after all, and hemands the respect of his subordinates.¡± Meanwhile, Jamie was already ogling Gwendolyn. The moment he heard his name being mentioned, he shed a smile that was apanied by a scious glint in his eyes. ¡°A friend of Lindee¡¯s is a friend of mine. Here¡¯s my number. You can call me anytime.¡± Linda gave him the side-eye at once. After being together for two and a half years, she was well aware of his gallivanting ways. Thus, she reprimanded him, ¡°I¡¯m asking you to introduce a good man to her. What are you trying to get her number for? Do you intend on hitting on her behind my back?¡± Even though she spoke with a smile, her eyes were already spitting fire. With a drastic change in expression, Jamie quickly wrapped his arm around her waist. ¡°Come on. What are you talking about? You¡¯re the only one who matters to me. I¡¯m just being helpful to make you happy.¡± Nevertheless, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t bear watching both of them sweet-talking each other any longer. ¡°There¡¯s no need for any of this. You can save those good men for yourself.¡± ¡°Stop right there!¡± Linda gave chase when she saw Gwendolyn trying to leave. She was clearly upset over the interest. Jamie had shown thetter. She has always wanted to take what is mine. And now, she wants my man? Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. With a vicious look in her eyes, she snapped, ¡°What¡¯s with that attitude? I was just trying to help. I¡¯m sure you have to take out a loan to buy the car, so what¡¯s wrong with having a boyfriend purchase it for you?¡± Brows knitted, Gwendolyn threw her a fiery gaze. On ount of Jamie¡¯s presence and the fact that they had suffered together in the orphanage, Gwendolyn had intended to let the matter slide. She simply wanted to leave after getting her car since it was unlikely for them to ever cross paths again. Unfortunately, Linda mistook Gwendolyn¡¯s silence for fear and intensified her attacks instead. Staring at thetter¡¯s silhouette, Linda sneered, ¡°What¡¯s with that haughty attitude when you¡¯re nothing but a woman rejected by the Wright family? Do you really think you¡¯re so much better than me?¡± Chapter 55 You Reap What You Sow 7 12% +25 Bonus Even though she was speaking in a low voice, it was loud enough for Gwendolyn to hear every single word. ¡°What did you say?¡± Stopping in her tracks, Gwendolyn turned around with her eyes spitting fire. Stunned momentarily by the animosity, Linda quickly regained her vicious look. ¡°You know better than anyone else that you¡¯re the one who has been cast out.¡± As a grim look descended upon Gwendolyn¡¯s face, she began to emit an icy aura. 22 ¡°I had wanted to forgive you, but you have now gone too far.¡± Shaken by Gwendolyn¡¯s intimidating response, Linda was briefly worried that the former would seek revenge. Unexpectedly, Gwendolyn walked toward the exit and quickly disappeared. ¡°Look who¡¯s talking! My boyfriend is the assistant manager of Celeste. Who gave you the right to threaten me? I¡¯m the one who¡¯s not going to forgive you!¡± In an attempt to make up for being cowed earlier, Linda ranted in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction. Thereafter, she was filled with the urge to prove Gwendolyn wrong. Hence, she grabbed Jamie¡¯s hand and suggested coquettishly, ¡°Darling, I want a BMW. The kind that¡¯s like a coupe. I know you always treat me well, so why don¡¯t we take a look?¡± Jamie¡¯s expression instantly froze, for his annual sry was only eight hundred thousand. A car like that would wipe everything out, leaving him nothing for living expenses. However, given that he enjoyed having his ego stroked by Linda and the fact that all the salespersons were staring at him, he readily agreed, as doing otherwise would be too embarrassing for him. Holding each other tightly, both of them looked intimate together. Unfortunately, their age gap made them look more like father and daughter instead of a couple. Anyone who saw them would simply feel disgusted. It was under everyone¡¯s strange gazes that both of them made their way to the exit. No sooner had they walked through that door than a loud ssh was heard. ¡°Ah!¡± A pail of days-old water from the car wash was sshed on Linda before she could react. Even though Jamie had noticed it in time and dodged it, he was still caught by most of the dirty water. -Looking pretty in a red dress a moment ago, Linda was now totally drenched and covered by a sour stench. She screamed at the top of her lungs before ring at the person who did it. It was a young girl dressed in a staff uniform. Despite the meek look on her face, her eyes showed no fear at all. Linda exploded in rage. How dare a small fry like her bully me? ¡°Has your mother never taught you to look where you¡¯re going? My clothes, shoes, and bag are all branded. Do you know how much they cost? You¡¯ll never be able to pay for them even after ten years. of work!¡± Nheless, the girl stayed silent and allowed Linda to rant on like a shrew. ¡°I¡¯m not going to forgive you for this. Other than an apology and payment for the damage, I demand that youpensate me for the mental distress you have caused. On top of that, I¡¯m going to make sure that you¡¯re fired and will never be hired again!¡± Holding the pail in her hand, the girl continued to keep mum. Linda consequently felt as if she had nowhere else to vent. ¡°Are you mute? Has your mom never taught you how to speak?¡± At that moment, Jamie came forward to support Linda. ¡°Tell your boss toe out here. Just say that the assistant manager of Celeste wants to see him. I want him to personally resolve this matter!¡± He had inadvertently shortened his position as assistant business manager to assistant manager of Celeste in an attempt to inte his own ego. ¡°I¡¯m the boss. I was the one who sshed the water on you.¡± A crisp feminine voice suddenly rang out. When both of them turned to look, they saw the smiling Gwendolyn leaning casually against a luxury Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Deal with Her 72% +25 Bonus Gwendolyn¡¯s tight-fitting white professional attire contrasted sharply with the red Porsche 911 behind her. Yet, the colors matched harmoniously, making her look incredibly gorgeous. One would agree from the depth of one¡¯s heart that it was a perfect match of a luxury car and a beauty. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. However, the dazzling sight was ruined by a burst ofughter from the side. Linda was already infuriated, so sheughed in exasperation after hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s words. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± As she spoke, she turned to look at the car dealership¡¯s logo subconsciously and found that it was Porsche. Confident that Gwendolyn could never own the car dealership. Linda burst into louder laughter. ¡°I don¡¯t mind you being pretentious on regr days, Gwendolyn. However, aren¡¯t you aware of where you are now? If you were a Porsche dealer, I would be a Ferrari dealer!¡± Jamie also believed that Gwendolyn was not the owner, so heughed along with Linda. His gaze on Gwendolyn also grew increasingly lecherous and daring, Yet, Gwendolyn leaned against the car and smirked. It¡¯s true I¡¯m not a Porsche dealer.¡± Linda shed a gloating grin at once. Before she had the chance to mock Gwendolyn, thetter continued, ¡°However, I¡¯m the owner of the entire automobile city. I just acquired it two minutes ago.¡± Linda mocked as if she had heard the world¡¯s greatest joke, ¡°Are you out of your mind? How can you acquire the entire automobile city when you can¡¯t afford designer handbags and couture? What a joke!¡± The odor on her body reminded her of how Gwendolyn had someone dump dirty water on her, which made her angrier. ¡°Do you think you are so great just by stealing the limelight on the inte? You better kneel before me and beg for mercy! I might consider letting you go.¡± ring fiercely at Gwendolyn, Linda continued, ¡°Otherwise, with the help of my boyfriend¡¯s strong connection in Faike, you better be prepared tond yourself a notorious reputation here!¡± Jamie, who was standing beside them, ogled Gwendolyn without restraint. Then, he approached her and smiled with malicious intent. ¡°That¡¯s right, gorgeous. Apologize to Lindee now, and 1, the assistant manager of Celeste, will consider letting you go. Otherwise¡­¡± A perverted smile hung on his lips as he stared at Gwendolyn¡¯s figure. With those sexual fantasies in mind, he couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips. Gwendolyn curled her lips and smiled faintly. Then, maintaining her arrogant attitude, she said, ¡°Then we shall see who¡¯s the one who refuses to let the other go.¡± With her arms folded, Linda snorted and ordered Jamie to teach Gwendolyn a lesson. Five minutester, no one came to Jamie¡¯s assistance. 1/4 13:25 Mon, May Chapter 56 Deal with Her Instead, the general manager of the automobile city dashed to their side. 72% +25 Bonus Noticing the general manager¡¯s fearful expression, Linda and Jamie thought the manager was there to apologize after knowing his employee had dumped dirty water on Linda. Instantly, the two posed an arrogant demeanor. Linda retorted, ¡°How do you intend on making it up to me for this incident today?¡± Holding her head high, she folded her arms and waited for the general manager¡¯s apology. Yet, to their astonishment, thetter ignored them and walked directly toward Gwendolyn. Then, he said respectfully, ¡°Spending 5 billion to acquire the entire automobile city is a big deal. It¡¯s my fault that I did not wee you, my new boss, personally in time. I hope you won¡¯t mind.¡± What? His boss! Is Gwendolyn truly the new owner of the entire automobile city? How can she fork out 5 billion to acquire it? That¡¯s sovish! Linda and Jamie¡¯s expressions changed drastically as they were dumbfounded. On the other hand, Gwendolyn looked calm and nonchnt. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s tiring to wear high heels. Please have a seat inside!¡± The general manager did not know. Gwendolyn¡¯s temperament, so he bowed slightly and gestured for her to enter the office in an attempt at ttery after seeing that she remained quiet. Then, he continued, ¡°In addition, since the entire automobile city is yours now, not only can you take the Volkswagen Passat, you are free to drive away any car you like too. If you want, you can drive a different car daily.¡± Driving a different car daily! What avish lifestyle! Linda could not bring herself to imagine such a lifestyle. In an instant, jealousy and resentment churned within her. She refused to believe an orphan who grew up in Faike Orphanage just like her could fork out 5 billion to acquire the entire automobile city. I will never admit that it¡¯s true! ¡°This isn¡¯t possible!¡± ring at Gwendolyn, Linda yelled in a high-pitched voice, ¡°Are you putting on an act? Do you have to go to that extent to fool me?¡± With her teeth gritted, she pointed at the general manager and shouted, ¡°And you! How much did you receive for cooperating with her? I can give you double!¡± However, her words made the general manager frown in displeasure. ¡°Miss, please respect our boss and do mind your image and behavior in front of the public.¡± Then, the general manager took two steps backward, le scrutinized Linda, who was drenched in dirty water, and left in a hurry while covering his nose. Jamie had the good fortune of meeting the general manager once previously. Knowing that thetter¡¯s identity might be genuine, he reminded Linda of it quietly. 2/4 13:26 Mon, May Chapter 56 Deal with Her 1 +25 Bonus Upon hearing his words, she stepped backward in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s not an act? I can¡¯t believe it! Why does this b*tch deserve all of this¡­¡± After seeing that Linda still did not understand the current situation and was unwilling to let the matter rest, Jamie decided to cut all ties with a brainless woman like her. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I¡¯m a fool! I¡¯m only an assistant business manager of Celeste¡¯s property management division! How could I dare to be rude to you? Please don¡¯t take it to heart if I offended you just now!¡± He quickly recovered from the shock and showed an ingratiating smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be at yourmand and do anything for you withoutints if you need me, so please take me in if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Jamie? Don¡¯t you know how much I hate her? Why are you acting like a simp in her face?¡± Noticing that she had been isted, Linda lifted her arm to p him as molten anger rolled through her. However, Jamie grabbed her wrist and shoved her aside with a disgusted look. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely filthy and smell terrible! Don¡¯te near me as you disgust me.¡± ¡°Well, well. I must¡¯ve been blind to fall for you!¡± Trembling with fury, Linda yelled at him like a raving mad shrew, ¡°Take a good look at yourself in the mirror! Look at your belly and yellowish teeth! Do you think you are qualified to shun me?¡± Upon finishing her sentence, she stepped forward quickly while Jamie was unprepared and pped both sides of his cheeks with all her might. The ps were so hard that Jamie felt dizzy at once. Then, covering his face, he bellowed in disbelief, ¡°You b*tch! How dare you hit me? Do you think I would spend hundreds of thousands to be your sugar daddy if it weren¡¯t for your looks? Who do you think you are? What a jinx!¡± The two started to have a row on the spot. ¡°What an entertaining fight between two dogs!¡± Gwendolyn leaned against the Porsche and pped. her hands. ¡°It¡¯s a pity their voices are a little too loud.¡± Then, she shouted, ¡°Security! Kick these two irritating people out of the building. They are ruining the automobile city¡¯s image by quarreling at our doorstep¡± ¡°B*tch, how dare you! I¡¯ll make you pay for this!¡± Linda screamed. The security guards were not wimps either. They approached the two in no time and grabbed them by their arms. Without saying a word, they dragged Linda and Jamie out and threw them on the roadside as if they were garbage. Unable to withstand the force of their mighty push, Linda fell to the ground and swore angrily without filtering her words, ¡°You f*cking b*tch! Don¡¯t think you have risen to the top just because you¡¯ve climbed the socialdder! You will always be a sl*t no matter where you go!¡± Linda drew plenty of attention as she cursed Gwendolyn outside the store. Gwendolyn initially wanted to teach Linda a lesson and did not n to go that far, as thetter was an 3/4 old acquaintance at the orphanage. However, since Linda did not know how to stop, Gwendolyn had no choice but to show no mercy. She walked out of the store casually. Despite Gwendolyn¡¯s petite figure, her intimidating presence and cold nce gave Linda the shivers. ¡°Are you done?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Linda straightened her neck, trying to boost her aura. ¡°Cursing you a hundred times is not enough to quell my anger, b*tch. You-¡± ¡°It¡¯s my turn.¡± Gwendolyn slid her a cold nce as she interrupted her. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 What A Domineering Woman Linda was stunned by her icy and condescending look. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. +25 Bonus Before she could react, Gwendolyn took out her phone and read, ¡°Throughout her five-year employment at Celeste, Linda Dervalier had cheated on the property management division vice CEO with a few other managers in thepany. She even seduced a few clients when she was on business trips.¡± She turned to Linda and sneered, ¡°Wow, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re capable ofmitting such acts.¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Linda immediately toned down her arrogance. ¡°How dare you use me without evidence? I can sue you for defamation!¡± ¡°Be patient. Let me finish,¡± Gwendolyn responded. She continued reading the information she gathered, ¡°Besides that, she had also misappropriated twenty thousand from thepany. Still haven¡¯t kicked the habit you picked up from the orphanage, huh? You might not be put behind bars for embezzling that twenty thousand, but if yourpany learns about this¡­¡± Gwendolyn paused for a moment and smirked. Linda froze for a bit before taking a deep breath. ¡°At this stage, getting fired by yourpany is inevitable. But I wonder if the otherpanies in the industry will cklist you when they find out all the things you did?¡± Gwendolyn put aside her phone, looked at the exasperated expression on Linda¡¯s face, and shed her a faint smile. ¡°Evidence? Where¡¯s your evidence?¡± Linda refused to give in. ¡°You¡¯re so good at making up stories that I nearly believed you. But don¡¯t you dare point the finger at me if you don¡¯t have any evidence against me!¡± She rolled her eyes at Gwendolyn. As soon as she finished saying that, her phone rang. Gwendolyn arched her brows and smirked. ¡°Herees the evidence.¡± Linda responded with a murderous look. Upon realizing the caller was her boss, she started panicking. Her hands trembled when she answered the call. Before she could greet him, her superiormbasted her right away. ¡°Linda Dervalier, I¡¯ve always thought you¡¯re someone with integrity. How bold of you to do all these things behind our backs?¡± He continued roaring. ¡°I¡¯m aware of all things you did! I can¡¯t believe Celeste has hired a good-for- nothing! You¡¯re doomed!¡± ¡°No, sir! Please listen to me!¡± Linda felt her heart threatening to leap out of her chest. She tried defending herself in between sobs. ¡°Someone must have framed me. You must believe me!¡± ¡°Framed you? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot?¡± Her superior was so mad that he scoffed. ¡°Come to my office right now. I¡¯ll show you the evidence before kicking you out of thepany!¡± Before Linda could exin further, the impatient man hung up on her. Feeling utterly desperate, she put down her phone and looked at Gwendolyn with imploring eyes. Her 1/3 1:20 M Chapter 57 What A Domineering Woman arrogant attitude had vanished into thin air. +25 Bonus Linda began to feel that Gwendolyn was not someone she should mess with. Not only did she rise to the top and be the boss of the entire automobile city in less than thirty minutes, but she also managed to dig out my secrets in just a matter of minutes when the argument with Jamie took ce. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Linda, who still had not regained herposure, stared at Gwendolyn. Yet, Gwendolyn smirked and responded with an icy gare. Though she was merely standing still, she exuded a domineering aura as if she was born with it Linda finally realized Gwendolyn was no longer the divorcee and the ordinary girl from the orphanage she remembered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gwendolyn! Please forgive me!¡± She humbled herself and pleaded with Gwendolyn. can¡¯t lose this job. I admit it¡¯s all my fault. Please have mercy on me!¡± Gwendolyn ignored her. It was as if she was waiting for Linda to continue. ¡°What I did was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have humiliated you just now. Since we grew up together in the orphanage, please just let bygones be bygones, okay? I can¡¯t lose this job. I¡¯ll be doomed if the industry cklists me!¡± Linda bowed apologetically before Gwendolyn. Her lowly behavior now was a stark contrast to her arogant attitude earlier. She got even more anxious when she noticed Gwendolyn continued giving her the cold shoulder. She dropped to her knees and pleaded, ¡°Gwendolyn know what I did was wrong. I¡¯m sorry, please let me off! I know you¡¯ve always beenpassionate to others, so please have mercy on me!¡± ¡°Are you done?¡± Gwendolyn walked up to Linda. She lifted thetter¡¯s chin and forced her to look her in the eyes. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. I¡¯ve always been vengeful and will always be, so quit ying the sympathy card. I did give you a chance, but you screwed it up.¡± After shoving Linda¡¯s chin aside, Gwendolyn drew a piece of tissue from her bag to wipe her hands. ¡°Send her out.¡± Gwendolyn let out a cold snort. ¡°From now on, these two are prohibited from entering the premises.¡± The general manager immediately got up and ordered the security guards, ¡°Did you not hear what Ms. Shalders said? Escort them out!¡± A few guards went up and chased them off with mop sticks. Jamie and Linda, who instantly became the two most hated people in the automobile city, were kicked out of the ce. Gwendolyn was pleased with the turn of events. She rned around and returned to the main store. The general manager followed behind, trying to get to introduce you to the brands around the automobil Ithought you might need someone to exin how the her good books. ¡°Ms. Shalders, do you want me city? Since you¡¯ve just bought over the business, industry works, so-¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I know what to do.¡± Gwendolyn gave him a re as a warning. She did not want him to speak more than he should. 13:26 Mon, May 15 Chapter 57 What A Domineering Woman +25 Bonus ¡°Okay, okay, okay. I shouldn¡¯t have asked so much. My fault.¡± The general manager smiled wryly and gently pped his check. He was afraid of losing his job for stepping on her toes. Gwendolyn stopped in front of a Volkswagen Passat and studied the bright red car next to her. After a pause, she opened the door and got into the vehicle. 1 ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone I acquired the entire automobile city,¡± Gwendolyn warned in a deep voice. She continued, ¡°If words get out, I¡¯ll¡­..¡± A corner of her lips quirked up. Her baffling smile sen chills down the general manager¡¯s spine. The general manager shuddered. He patted his chest with his hand and assured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! This secret is safe with me!¡± ¡°Moving forward, you¡¯ll still be in charge of the sales and marketing of the automobile city. Report to me once a month, but leave me alone on the other days.¡± With that, Gwendolyn floored the elerator and sped off. The car was merely an ordinary vehicle, but she drove it like a sports car. The general manager¡¯s jaw dropped as he watched the red car speed into the distance. He could not help but sigh. ¡°What a domineering woman. Our new boss is indeed one of a kind.¡± After witnessing how she taught Jamie and Linda a lesson, he knew he must never offend her. While hitting the road in the new car, Gwendolyn turned on the speaker. Unperturbed by the incident that had just happened a while ago, she whistled to the tune of the music. as she was driving back to Angle Corporation. Suddenly, Gwendolyn heard a familiar ringtone. She nced at the phone and realized it was Joanne. After a short hesitation, she turned on her Bluetooth earpiece. ¡°I¡¯m on my way back to the office. Cut to the chase,¡± Gwendolyn said curtly. ¡°Ms. Shalders, you made headlines again!¡± Joanne uttered. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Trending Panicking, Joanne urged, ¡°Go on Twitter and look at the news!¡± 72% +25 Bonus ¡°I¡¯m driving, but what¡¯s on Twitter?¡± Gwendolyn asked helplessly. ¡°If it¡¯s not an urgent matter, then I¡¯ll be hanging up. We¡¯ll talk again when I return to thepany.¡± ¡°No, no! Don¡¯t end the call!¡± Joanne stopped her anxiously. ¡°The trending topic is not good for you. You should¡­¡± While Joanne was still rambling, Gwendolyn tuned her out as her attention was now on therge screen downtown. On the screen, the Mossey family¡¯sdy of the house, who was also Natasha¡¯s mother in name, Madelyn, was being interviewed outside of a ward. She had tears and snot on her face as she comined about Gwendolyn¡¯s poor behavior. The interview immediately captured Gwendolyn¡¯s interest as she nced at the time and parked her car in a vacant parking space. It¡¯s still early, anyway. I might as well see what the Mossey family¡¯s up to. ¡°This ex-wife of Mr. Wright not only sent a banner with mocking words on them to my daughter but also a wreath to wish for my daughter¡¯s early death. How could this woman be so cruel!¡± Madelyn pretended to wipe her tears before continuing, ¡°Because of that, my poor daughter was enraged that she fainted again. Her injuries from being beaten so badly had not even healed yet. My daughter clearly did nothing wrong. She was only misunderstood at the banquet, but I didn¡¯t think that woman would be this narrow-minded as to seek revenge! Such vile behavior should be exposed! Everyone needs to see her true color!¡± No longer in the mood to see what Madelyn had to say, Gwendolyn scoffed before driving to Angle Corporation. Since she was not responsive to Joanne, thetter had already hung up the phone. Once she arrived at thepany, she skillfully drifted her car to the parking lot. Then, she entered the building with a cold face. There were people gathering at the main hall, but when Gwendolyn arrived, one of them spotted her and instantly whispered something to the others, causing them to disperse. Gwendolyn did not notice them pointing fingers at her as she made a beeline to her office. Joanne, who was already waiting in the office, anxiously approached Gwendolyn upon seeing the latter. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Ms. Shalders! Have you seen the news? The situation keeps getting worse!¡± As she said that, she showed Gwendolyn a page on the tablet. Madelyn¡¯s interview caused an uproar on the inte and manyizens discussed this issue. There were mixed reactions from the public. A huge part of them was sensible enough to defend Gwendolyn, but that did notst long as hatements flooded thement section. 13:26 Mon, May Chapter 58 Trending Needless to say, the hatements were from the ghostwriters hired by Natasha. +25 Bonus It seemed she had learned her lesson from her experience, as this time, she was smart enough to use. the ghostwriters to invoke pity and win sympathy from the public, putting Gwendolyn in a disadvantageous position. ¡°Disregarding the issue, Gwendolyn put the tablet down and continued to make preparations for the girl group show. ¡°Ms. Shalders, are you really not going to handle this? asked Joanne cautiously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it; just carry on doing your duties on hand,¡± Gwendolyn replied without even raising her head. A matter as small as this doesn¡¯t deserve even an ounce of my attention. I want to see how far Natasha can go with this. Studying Gwendolyn¡¯s cold demeanor, Joanne heaved a sigh silently before exiting the office. wordlessly. Since the boss doesn¡¯t even want to acknowledge this affair might as well just do my work. Meanwhile, when Madelyn¡¯s interview ended and when the reporters left the hospital, the initially wailing Madelyn instantly stopped acting. Instead, glont reced her expression. She had always despised the mistress¡¯ daughter. When Natasha joined the Mossey family, Madelyn badly wished she could kill that wench. Now that Natasha had been severely beaten, Madelyn had to get her revenge. However, Inez was still in aa to date, and Natasha was the only heiress after the former. In order to secure the most coveted family-the Mossey family-before Inez regained consciousness, Madelyn had to pretend as if she doted on Natasha in front of the whole world, which was disgusting to her. As she thought of this, her hatred toward Natasha increased. Staring at the woman¡¯s sickly figure on the bed, she felt even more gleeful as a delightful smile appeared on her face. She then turned around, trying to reach for her phone, only to be caught off guard upon noticing Maverick standing at the door. ¡°Um,e in, Mr. Wright. Don¡¯t just stand there,¡± uttered Madelyn, no longer able to keep the smile. on her face. How long has he been standing there? Did he see my expression just now? ¡°Poor child. Why didn¡¯t she say anything about this? She was even humiliated by that b*tch. I¡¯m d she has you here,¡± stated Madelyn, forcing out a tear or two. Seeing the usual expression on the man¡¯s face, Madelyn breathed a sigh of relief while wiping her tears. 13:26 Mon, May Chapter 58 Trending ¡°Have your time. I¡¯ll not bother you lovers.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± said Maverick, entering the ward. +25 Bonus The initially idle Natasha happily sat up when she spotted the man, but she identally moved the needle in her hand, causing her to gasp in pain. Even so, she had to control her expression to maintain her image. Be careful.¡± Maverick approached her and took a seat in the chair next to the bed. ¡°I¡¯m d I have you, Mave, or else I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± She leaned toward Maverick a bit, seemingly on the verge of tears. Maverick avoided her discreetly and asked in concem ¡°How are you? Have your injuries recovered?¡± ¡°I feel much better.¡± Acting shy, Natasha leaned toward the man again. ¡°I have things to do, so I¡¯ll be taking my leave. Rest well.¡± Maverick pried her hands off him and got to his feet, getting ready to leave. ¡°Mave! Please stay a bit longer with me!¡± Natasha quickly grabbed hold of his arm. Tears welled up in her eyes, making her seem pitiful. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°I saved you from a car ident thirteen years ago, and I¡¯ve expected nothing in return,¡± she uttered emotionally, never letting go of his arm. Maverick stood there silently. What she said also brought the memory back to him. Somebody had plotted that car ident due to the Wright family¡¯s conflict. Maverick had suffered severe injuries because he was crushed under a car, nearly causing his death. He was rescued by a girl, but unfortunately, he did not see her face as he was semiconscious. All he noticed were her pure eyes. As he recalled that pair of pure eyes, his expression softened, pen. Just then, Natasha grabbed a fountain pen ced on the pillow¡¯s side and clutched it in her hand. That was a handmade and rare luxury pen, with Maverick¡¯s name engraved on the cap of the The pen did not seem old and broken. One could tell how cherished it was at first nce. The barrel of the pen was slightly peeled off, though, which was possibly caused by the owner using the pen. ¡°You gifted me this pen, and I brought it along with me when I went abroad. These past three years, there was never a day this pen was not with me,¡± Natasha remarked with sentiment as she caressed the pen gently. ¡°Every time I thought about you, I¡¯d take it out to look at it.¡± Maverick¡¯s expression softened as he heard that. He had always felt guilty about his father sending Natasha abroad for three years. Tenderness filled his initially dark eyes. ¡°Rest well, and don¡¯t think too much. I¡¯ll help you with this.¡± Moved by his words. Natasha nodded, no longer panicking. ¡°Okay, I believe you!¡± On the other side, Noah was waiting outside the ward. There was no other presence in the corridor, so it was extremely silent that only his breathing could be heard. When he spotted Mavericking out of the ward, he politely handed a document to thetter. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m done investigating what you asked me to.¡± Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 I Do Not Cower ¡°Well done,¡± Maverick praised, even though his gaze was unfathomable. As Maverick read the documents, Noah stared at him and exined confidently, ¡°As you asked me to investigate the event that year, I found that Ms. Mossey¡¯s route was indeed in line with when that car ident happened. Meaning to say, she¡¯s undoubtedly your savior thirteen years ago.¡± With slightly furrowed brows, Maverick studied the documents, his expression unreadable. ¡°There¡¯s also another thing,¡± Noah informed, but he hesitated to continue. Upon noticing that, Maverick demanded, ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve managed to find something regarding Ms. Mossey¡¯s attack. It¡¯s attached at the back of the document.¡± Hearing that, Maverick flipped to the back of the document to see a few photos attached there. As he studied them, his brows knitted together once again. There was a Volkswagen Santana in the photos. He could recognize that vehicle anywhere and everywhere, regardless of the condition of the car. At the thought of that, he was filled with rage as he locked down in frustration. The rest of the photos were more or less simr. Only thest one was different. In the photo, a few figures could be seen in the dark night. Upon closer inspection, Maverick could make out one of them to be Gwendolyn. ¡°ording to these photos and the information I mariaged to gather regarding Ms. Shalders on that day, she was indeed present at the scene of Ms. Mossey¡¯s attack. Also, look at this one.¡± Noah pointed at ¨C one of the photos before continuing. ¡°It seems here she was making a deal with someone. If I¡¯m not mistaken, the person standing beside her is Treyton¡¯s assistant, Elisha. It¡¯s highly likely that Gwendolyn asked Treyton to do this. No matter the oue, Gwendolyn definitely has something to do with this.¡± Maverick did not show any emotions; he just stared at the photos. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Ms. Mossey¡¯s treated like this when she¡¯s such a soft and kind person. I never thought Gwendolyn was this vicious!¡± Clenching his fists, Noah added, ¡°You have to teach Gwendolyn a lesson for Ms. Mossey, Boss! Avenge her!¡± Maverick looked at Noah¡¯s ardent expression and nodded. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll get back to this.¡± Once again, he turned indifferent, making him hard to read. The next day, things were hectic at the hospital again. Knowing she was going to get interviewed, Natasha got ready early in the morning and leaned against the head of the bed. 13:5 Mon, May 15 Chapter 59 I Do Not Cower ¡°I¡¯m aware that by epting to be interviewed at this juncture, some people might doubt my intentions and push me into the storm.¡± Pretending to put up a strong font, she continued, ¡°But I want to make it clear about the rtionship. between Mr. Wright from Wright Construction Group and me. We¡¯re childhood sweethearts, and we¡¯ve adored each other since we were young. However, we were forced to separate due to some reasons. I don¡¯t know what happened here while I was away, but I can confidently tell everyone that I definitely am not a home wrecker. I didn¡¯t destroy his marriage with Gwendolyn.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes, but she gritted her teeth trying to keep them from falling. The sounds of the reporters pressing the shutters filled the air, and the camera shes were so dazzling that Natasha nearly let her expression slip, but she dared not do that. After all, she had to keep ying this pitiful act to win the public¡¯s sympathy. ¡°We have some questions, Ms. Mossey. Is it all right for you to answer us?¡± asked a reporter, putting the microphone in front of her. Natasha nodded, trying to appear elegant. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll try my best to answer you.¡± ¡°Earlier, you said that you and Mr. Wright adore each other, but why weren¡¯t you the one married to him? What happened between you two? Where were you during his wedding with Gwendolyn? Why didn¡¯t you show up to protest?¡± ¡°Also, just how did you get your injuries? Did it happen because someone took revenge on you for being a mistress? Care to exin to us?¡± ¡°Another thing- ¡°Enough!¡± Natasha shouted, displeasure written all over her face. They¡¯re so relentless! They don¡¯t even care I¡¯m injured! As that thought crossed her mind, she was so furious she wanted to vomit blood. Realizing that she had lost herposure, she let out a light cough. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t feel well. Let¡¯s end the interview here.¡± After saying that, she shut her eyes, making it clear that she was done. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough for today. Natasha needs rest. If you have any questions, you cane to me.¡± Madelyn led the reporters out of the ward, facing them in the corridor. ¡°The questions you asked just now concern the privacy of my daughter and Mr. Wright, as well as our whole family. Hence, we refuse to answer any of that. I hope you understand,¡± Madelyn stated in an icy voice. ¡°What about the issue regarding Ms. Mossey¡¯s attack?¡± ¡°We already found evidence about that, and it proved that Gwendolyn was involved in it.¡± Grabbing the microphone, Madelyn added, ¡°How dare shey a hand on the Mosseys¡¯ heiress? We¡¯ll certainly avenge Natasha!¡± 13:57 Mon, May 15 Chapter 59 I Do Not Cower ¡°Would you share the evidence with us?¡± a reporter asked, causing Madelyn to furrow her brows. ¡°We¡¯ve handed it over to the police. The truth wille to light soon enough.¡± Noticing Madelyn¡¯s unwillingness to disclose more information, the reporters stopped asking questions and ended the interview. 09% In the meantime, Gwendolyn was driving her new car-Volkswagen Passat-to work while listening to the whole interview. She had a sneer on her face. That hypocritical mother-and-daughter duo acted so disgustingly, but I¡¯ll y their games until the end. Once she passed the crossroad, she spotted Joanne standing under a road signboard. Thetter was looking around, seemingly anxious. Hitting the brake in front of Joanne, Gwendolyn rolled down the window and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you need a ride?¡± ¡°No, I purposely waited for you here because I knew you¡¯d pass this path on the way to work. You¡¯re still trending, and the public is still talking about you. Reporters andizens are blocking the company¡¯s door, demanding an exnation from you. This is worse than thest time. I think it¡¯s best that you return home instead of turning up at thepany. Wait until it¡¯s safe for you to go,¡± she informed worriedly. ¡°No, I don¡¯t cower,¡± Gwendolyn refused as she restarted the engine. Seeing that, Joanne felt her heart jump to her throat. ¡°Why are you going there, Ms. Shalders?¡± Joanne knocked on the car window desperately, trying to stop the other woman. ¡°I¡¯m giving them what they want.¡± As soon as her words fell, she stepped on the pedal, making the car fly forward. The impact caused dust to fill the air, causing Joanne to cough as tears slid down her cheeks. When she regained her senses, the Volkswagen Passat was no longer in sight. ¡°Oh, no. She¡¯s going to face them alone. What should I do?¡± Joanne eximed in despair. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 The Appearance of Maverick On the flip side, a huge crowd gathered at Angle Corporation¡¯s lobby. There were even bystanders. watching the reporters andizens from the sidelines. After locking her car, Gwendolyn strode toward the entrance of thepany, exuding a strong aura. As the reporters had been waiting for a long time, they immediately rushed toward her upon noticing her appearance, not letting the opportunity go. Microphones were shoved in her face, and the sounds of shutters echoed endlessly. It was much noisier than what had transpired in Natasha¡¯s ward. ¡°Ms. Shalders, have you seen the news this morning? What would you like to say in response to Ms. Mossey?¡± ¡°Was everything Ms. Mossey said true? Since she ims she¡¯s not a home wrecker, what¡¯s the reason for your divorce from Mr. Wright? I heard they gave nothing to you when you left. Did you have an affair?¡± ¡°Also, is it true that you¡¯re involved in Ms. Mossey¡¯s attack?¡± The reporters threw questions at her one after another, refusing to let go of such a golden opportunity to fish for crucial information. Not afraid of the huge crowd, Gwendolyn marched toward them. Her sunsses covered nearly half her face, but her aira remained strong. ¡°Could you answer us, Ms. Shalders? The whole world is waiting for your response!¡± shouted one of the reporters, causing the crowd to go wild once again. Furrowing her brows, Gwendolyn took a microphone from one of the reporters and spoke into it in a strict tone. ¡°Since you want an answer, quieten down and let me speak.¡± Upon hearing that, the reporters froze, but that did notst long as they started questioning her again. ¡°What exactly is your rtionship with Mr. Wright?¡± a reporter inquired while pushing the microphone near her, fearing his question would be left unanswered. Displeased, Gwendolyn pushed the microphone away as it was about to hit her face. ¡°I¡¯ve rified this on Twitter once, but I¡¯ll say it again. We¡¯re divorced and have nothing to do with each other.¡± Even though she had sunsses on, people could feel her sharp re, which made them step back consciously. ¡°It¡¯s rumored that Ms. Mossey¡¯s a mistress and destroyed your marriage with Mr. Wright. After your divorce, you were forced to leave with zero assets. Are these true?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have noments about that.¡± Gwendolyn shrugged before adding. ¡°Anything else? If that¡¯s all, then excuse me. I have to go in. Don¡¯t waste my precious time.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Some reporters squeezed forward through the crowd. ¡°There¡¯s a rumor about you being Mr. Harris¡¯ sugar baby. That¡¯s why you can have this job. Is that true?¡± Chapter 60 The Appearance of Maverick +25 Bonus ¡°I will never do such a disgraceful thing like that in exchange for my career. Time and achievements. will prove that rumor wrong.¡± Her voice was loud, and her words reverberated through the crowd, but it was not enough to suppress the chaos. ¡°Why did you hire people to humiliate Ms. Mossey two days ago? Was it because she embarrassed you at the banquet?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you watch her live?¡± Gwendolyn retorted. ¡°Let the evidence prove who¡¯s messing with who. I have an urgent matter to tend to. Please excuse me.¡± Hearing her sending them away, the reporters panicked as they tried to make her stay. ¡°You can¡¯t end it just like that because you haven¡¯t even answered anything! Do you perhaps feel guilty?¡± Theizens also made noise, blocking the entrance of thepany. Some even took this opportunity to start attacking Gwendolyn. Before Gwendolyn could answer, a deep and maizing voice sounded from behind her. ¡°You can¡¯t nder people just because you can. If you don¡¯t even have professional ethics, then quit your job right this instant.¡± With a frown, Maverick walked toward the crowd slowly, ring at them with disgust and coldness. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Wright! He hase to back her up!¡± someone eximed upon recognizing Maverick. The crowd erupted once again, shocked at his sudden appearance. They started specting about his purpose for showing up. ¡°I¡¯m still investigating Ms. Mossey¡¯s situation.¡± Grabbing the microphone from Gwendolyn, he added concisely, ¡°I¡¯ll release a statement in five days.¡± The reporters who asked questions regarding this were so frightened by him that they dared not to breathe. However, themotion in the crowd did not subside. Turning to Noah, Maverick asked the former icily, ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Catching on to the man¡¯s meaning, Noah waved his hand. Shortly after that, several bodyguards. dressed in ck and wearing sunsses appeared, driving the crowd away. Most of the people who were present just wanted to watch the drama firsthand. They did not want to cause trouble, let alone offend Maverick. Hence, they quickly left the ce. ¡°Thanks,¡± Gwendolyn uttered indifferently before heading into the building. ¡°That didn¡¯t sound sincere, Ms. Shalders,¡± stated Maverick as he grabbed hold of her wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s talk privately.¡± Gwendolyn initially wanted to reject him, but after seeing him being all serious and cautious, she changed her mind. 13.57 Mon, May 15 Chapter 60 The Appearance of Maverick ¡°Sure, but keep it short.¡± Maverick reserved a private room at a restaurant near Angle, treating her to a meal.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Flipping the menu open, he pushed it to the woman You can order first.¡± 3.69% i +25 Bonus ¡°I¡¯ve already had breakfast,¡± replied Gwendolyn. Then, as if she remembered something, she furrowed her brows and added, ¡°Also, I remember how you don¡¯t like to cat that much early in the morning, Mr. Wright. Huh? Did your habit change already shortly after reuniting with Ms. Mossey? Don¡¯t beat around the bush and just get on with it, please. Don¡¯t waste my time. After all, time is gold. I could be doing something that brings me money.¡± Instantly, Maverick¡¯s face darkened as he looked at the woman¡¯s impatient expression. ¡°Do you behave. like this with Treyton and Joaquin, too?¡± he questioned, not even realizing the jealousycing in his voice. ¡°Please know your ce. You¡¯re an ex-husband.¡± Gwendolyn stared at him coldly. ¡°We have nothing to do with each other, so how I behave with other men is none of your concern. Don¡¯t stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong. Besides, do you really think you¡¯re worthy enough to bepared to them? Also, your fianc¨¦e is still lying in the hospital bed. Instead of being here questioning my behavior, you should go to her and shower your attention on her.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot,¡± Maverickmented. He gazed into her eyes intently as if he was trying to study everything he did not understand about her. Getting her bag, Gwendolyn got to her feet. ¡°If all you want to do is say these pointless things, then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Hang on. Sit down.¡± Withrge strides, Maverick neared the door and locked it. Furrowing her brows, Gwendolyn stared at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do anything to you,¡± he said, letting out a small sigh. ¡°I just want to rify something with you.¡± Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Her Weakness ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Where were you on March fourteenth thirteen years ago? Have you been to Saffron Street in Faike?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Gwendolyn turned away, still maintaining a cold and distant demeanor. It¡¯s been such a long time. How could I possibly still remember? ¡°All right, then let me rephrase my question.¡± Maverick wasn¡¯t annoyed. He continued to ask patiently. ¡°Do you remember a car ident that happened thirteen years ago on March fourteenth? Three people died at the scene, and only a little boy in the back seat survived. A girl saved him.¡± Why would he ask such a question? Could that little boy be him? Gwendolyn gazed at Maverick¡¯s inquisitive eyes, and a part of her memory was awakened. Then, in a trance, she recalled some fragmented images. She did save someone by chance that year, but it was purely coincidental. She didn¡¯t bother to remember it at all. Moreover, she hade to Faike that year due to a crucial matter involving the privacy of the Harris family, so she had no intention of telling Maverick, nor did she want him to continue investigating. The matter was too dangerous, and she didn¡¯t want anyone else to get involved. ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± Gwendolyn replied coldly. ¡°If you don¡¯t have any other questions, I¡¯ll be on my way now.¡± Maverick instinctively reached out to stop her, but her cold gaze pierced him, causing him to withdraw his hand midway in the air. ¡°Mr. Wright, don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re Natasha¡¯s fianc¨¦ Please show more concern for your fianc¨¦e, who is still recovering from her injuries in bed.¡± Gwendolyn mocked him relentlessly, then unlocked the door and went out. As she turned around, she noticed Maverick¡¯s eyes showed a faint disappointment. Although it was not obvious andsted only a moment, she still managed to catch it. What is he disappointed about? Gwendolyn was perplexed but didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. At that moment, Maverick was merely an acquaintance to her who did not affect her pace to make something of herself in the world. Chapter 61 Her Weakness +25 Bonus Gwendolyn gathered her thoughts, gracefully tucking her hair behind her ear. Maverick didn¡¯t stop her, so she casually opened the private room door. As soon as Gwendolyn stepped out, she met Noah¡¯s unfriendly gaze. Noah stared at her, his face filled with righteous indignation as he spoke. ¡°Boss has already gathered all the evidence. The truth about you bullying Ms. Mossey will soon be revealed! When that happens, he won¡¯t let you off easily!¡± AA49 ¡°Are you done?¡± Gwendolyn nced at him, the corner of her mouth lifting into a provoking smile. ¡°Well then, bring it on. I look forward to it.¡± Her petite frame exuded an incredibly imposing aura Noah gazed at Gwendolyn¡¯s smiling eyes and unconsciously took a few steps back. Gwendolyn then walked off briskly in her high heels, In the vast dining hall, only the echo of her footsteps remained. ¡°How strange.¡± Noah was entirely puzzled by his recent disy of fear toward her. It had been two days since Maverick set the five-day deadline. Various media outlets were paying close attention to this matter and were continuously publishing all sorts of spections. Gwendolynpletely ignored the negativements and focused wholeheartedly on preparing for the girl group talent show. She paid no attention to the malicious remarks made about her. ¡°Ms. Shalders, here are the filming set coordination documents. Please give them a final review,¡± Joanne said as she ced a folder beside her. ¡°All right. Leave it here. I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯m done with them.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze never left theputer screen as her fingers nimbly danced across the keyboard. Joanne hesitated momentarily before interrupting her. ¡°Ms. Shalders, could you spare a moment? Did you really not read thements online?¡± ¡°I read some of it.¡± Gwendolyn nced briefly at Joanne and returned to the task at hand. ¡°But then why are you still¡­¡± Joanne became even more confused. ¡°Why am I still so calm?¡± Gwendolyn closed herptop lid, leaned back in her chair, and began to exin to her. ¡°It was Mr. Wright who said to all the reporters he would give a proper exnation to the public, so I¡¯m curious to see what he cane up with. Besides, even though thosements are causing amotion, I haven¡¯t been substantially affected, have 1?¡± Chapter 61 Her Weakness +25 Bonus ¡°But-¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about. Just do your job. The talent show is about to start filming soon, so your workload will only be more.¡± Joanne knew her boss was no ordinary person, so she kept quiet and continued her work. While Gwendolyn was working hard to build up her career, in a hospital several kilometers away from Angle, Natasha was in bed, feeling bored and aimlessly scrolling through her phone. Her injuries had recovered significantly, and she had been browsing various social media tforms the past few days, monitoring the malicious spections about Gwendolyn by the media. asionally, she would hire some trolls to stir up thements section. As she observed thements that praised her and mocked Gwendolyn greatly outweighed those that defended Gwendolyn, she felt an immense sense of satisfaction in her heart. She was browsing through Twitter when a message popped up, causing her smile to freeze instantly on her face. ¡°Ms. Mossey, Boss hasn¡¯t made any significant moves these past couple of days, nor has he assigned me any tasks, so I really don¡¯t know what he¡¯s nning to do.¡± Ever since Noah agreed to help her, he had been diligently keeping an eye on Maverick¡¯s every move for her. As soon as there was the slightest hint of movement, he would immediately report it to her. Maverick¡¯sck of action only served to arouse her suspicions. ¡°Got it. Thank you, Noah,¡± she replied sweetly with a voice message to Noah. When Noah heard Natasha¡¯s voice, he felt increasingly honored and astonished, which only strengthened his resolve to help her and ensure that Gwendolyn received the punishment she deserved. Natasha, feeling agitated, turned off her phone and leaned back on her bed. Then, after pondering for a while, she turned it back on and made a call. ¡°Hey, how are you doing?¡± Eloise¡¯snguid and coy voice came through the phone. ¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯m still lying in the hospital,¡± Natasha said coldly. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Eloise admired her freshly done nails for a moment before replyingzily, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already found her weakness. I¡¯ll send her to meet her maker tonight.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Natasha asked uncertainly. ¡°I¡¯ve already fallen into her trap twice. With the lessons learned from before, you must be careful.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it because of your stupidity that we failedst time?¡± Eloise raised her voice. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, how could there be any mistakes, let alone getting yourself involved.¡± Natasha was furious, but she couldn¡¯t vent her anger. Instead, she clenched her teeth and hung up the 13:57 Mon, Chapter 61 Her Weakness phone, then secretly added this offense to Gwendolyn. ¡°Just wait. Let¡¯s see how long you can keepughing.¡± Natasha tossed her phone onto the bed, her expression fierce and gloomy. The preparation for the girl group talent show was almost ending. +25 Bonus After Gwendolyn finished thest coordination tasks in the afternoon, she remotely supervised the first day of the recording of the program via video conference. These few projects are going very smoothly. Gwendolyn nodded in satisfaction before ending the video conference. She had already arranged for staff to supervise the recording site, so she would be notified immediately if something came up. Right then, her phone rang, and it was a call from the person in charge of the filming set. ¡°Ms. Shalders, we have an emergency! One of the contestants, Jennifer, has gone missing!¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Goodbye To The World Gwendolyn¡¯s pupils constricted. ¡°Jennifer is missing?¡± +25 Bonus ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders. And this is no ordinary breach of contract or withdrawal. There must be something fishy going on. Jennifer was in great shape before the recording and got along well with the other contestants. She can¡¯t possibly leave suddenly without saying a word.¡± time ¡°Understood. Proceed with the filming and try not to let the news spread. Reach out to me at any if there¡¯s anything else.¡± Gwendolyn organized everything calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the investigation of this matter. We need to keep things stable at the film set. She hung up the phone and furrowed her brows, deep in thought. Then, after a moment, she decided to call the number at the bottom of her contact list. ¡°Boss¡­¡± The person at the other end of the phone was stunned. ¡°Is it really you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Gwendolyn replied sinctly. The person on the other end immediately became excited. Even through the phone, one could feel the person¡¯s shock and joy. Boss, it¡¯s been six or seven years since west heard from you. Did something importante up? Shadow Bell will get it done for you!¡± Shadow Bell was a mysterious organization under Gwendolyn¡¯smand, with informants spread worldwide across various industries and regions. As long as Gwendolyn gave the order, there was no information they couldn¡¯t obtain. ¡°Help me find Jennifer¡¯s whereabouts. I want the results within ten minutes. As for why I haven¡¯t contacted you, it¡¯s a long story. I¡¯ll let you know when I have the time.¡± Gwendolyn put down her phone, unable to hide the worry in her eyes. Although she trusted Shadow Bell¡¯s efficiency, the more time passed, the harder it was to predict Jennifer¡¯s safety. The phone rang again, and Gwendolyn nced at the time, realizing that only eight minutes had passed. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve got the answers. Around noon, Jennifer received a phone call asking her toe outside the film set. The person on the phone imed he had an important matter to discuss with her. After Jennifer left, she was immediately drugged and stuffed into the trunk of a car with a fake license te. The car was seen headed toward Mount Gravel, outside of Faike. However, the car disappeared from the surveince footage after passing through a tunnel. I suspect Jennifer is located near Mount Gravel, probably kidnapped. Do you want us to¡­¡± the person asked tentatively. ¡°All right, I understand. Thanks for your help.¡± Gwendolyn was incredibly calm and clear-headed. She examined the map sent by the person and was preparing to drive to the location mentioned when her phone notification chimed twice. It was a text message from an unknown number that read: Jennifer is in our hands. Get here within an hour or face the consequences. Remember, you muste alone. If you dare to call the police or Chapter 62 Goodbye To The World bring someone with you, we¡¯ll finish her off immediately. The unknown number sent another multimedia message, showing a photo of Jennifer tied beaten. Gwendolyn leaned against her fiery red Volkswagen Passat, lost in thought.. +25 Bonus up and The kidnappers had taken someone hostage to threaten her, yet they didn¡¯t want money deliberately emphasized that she must go alone. and Could it be that person from the Harris family? She decided that it wasn¡¯t possible. That person seemed to know her very well, and how he had caused her amnesia was almost wless. Moreover, he was unlikely to leave so many traces behind for Shadow Bell to discover. After careful consideration, Gwendolyn was fairly certain about the mastermind¡¯s identity behind the kidnapping. Gwendolyn turned off the navigation to Mount Gravel, made a turn on the steering wheel, and returned to Treyton¡¯s vi. She changed out of her professional attire and put on a set of sportswear instead. The ck sportswear entuated Gwendolyn¡¯s porcin-like skin, while the form-fitting design perfectly outlined her graceful curves. She tied her long hair into a high ponytail, highlighting her vibrant and dashing appearance. ¡°Didn¡¯t you juste back? Why are you going out again?¡± When Flora heard Gwendolyne down the stairs, she nagged her with heartfelt concern, ¡°Ms. Harris, you¡¯ve been working non-stop at thepany these past few days like a spinning top. This won¡¯t do! You should be getting proper rest when you get home. After all, you can only do more things with a healthy body,¡± Flora chattered on, but as she turned around, she saw Gwendolyn in her sportswear and was so surprised that her mouth hung wide open. ¡°Ms. Harris, you look so stunning in this outfit! Of course, it¡¯s different than your usual look but beautiful nheless!¡± Flora looked at Gwendolyn approvingly. ¡°Are you going to a workout session?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to a fight.¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn waved her hand. ¡°What? A fight?¡± Flora¡¯s face turned pale with shock, and she thought she must have misheard. ¡°You¡¯re going to a fight? Can you do it?¡± She looked at Gwendolyn¡¯s slender frame, and her eyes were gradually filled with concern. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Gwendolyn slung her bag over her shoulder and strode out. She sped along in her Volkswagen Passat as she followed the guidance of the navigation toward Mount Gravel. Flora watched Gwendolyn¡¯s departing figure and againmented thetter¡¯s sassiness. Then, as if 13:58 Mon, May Chapter 62 Goodbye To The World +25 Bonus waking from a dream, Flora hurriedly informed Treyton, fearing that Gwendolyn might be at a disadvantage. ¡°Mr. Harris, Ms. Harris said she¡¯s going to a fight. Please put aside your work and see to it,¡± Flora said with great concern. ¡°What if something bad happens to Ms. Harris?¡± ¡°All right, I understand.¡± Treyton frowned and sighed exasperatedly. ¡°How¡¯s the n going? Has the woman been captured?¡± Natasha asked eagerly over the phone. Eloise repliedzily, ¡°Of course. After all, I was the one who arranged it. There won¡¯t be any problems.¡± When Natasha received a positive response, her mood instantly brightened. Even the constant chirping of the sparrows outside the window became much more pleasant to her. ¡°Have you texted that despicable woman? There won¡¯t be any mishaps, right?¡± Although Natasha felt pleased with herself, she didn¡¯t forget the importance of meticulous nning. ¡°What if she calls the police? Or tells Treyton? Treyton is not someone to be messed with.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve looked into it. She and this woman named Jennifer are very close friends since their time at the orphanage. She wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Eloise wasn¡¯t too concerned. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to tell her that if she dares to bring people along, we will finish the girl off. I doubt she has the guts to do that.¡± Outside the ward, there was a sudden sound of footsteps. Natasha thought it was just a nurse or doctor. walking in the corridor, so she didn¡¯t pay much attention. ¡°If this n seeds, she will finally say goodbye to the world.¡± Natasha was thrilled. The thought of Gwendolyn no longer being an eyesore in her presence made her want to set fireworks in celebration. Eloise, too, felt particrly at ease. Once she got rid of Gwendolyn, who always lingered around Treyton, no one would be left to hinder her pursuit of love. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. Once I¡¯m discharged from the hospital¡­¡± Natasha was speaking enthusiastically when the door creaked open. Maverick was standing at the doorway with a dark expression. ¡°Mave, why are you here?¡± In a moment of panic, Natasha immediately hung up the phone. ¡°I was just chatting with my friend and didn¡¯t notice you¡­¡± She had deliberately arranged for bodyguards to stand guard outside the door so she could let down. her guard and chat freely with Eloise without any reservations. Chapter 62 Goodbye To The World I wonder if Maverick overheard our conversation. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 No Ordinary Woman Maverick didn¡¯t speak, his face ashen as he looked at Natasha. +25 Bonus ¡°Mave, listen¡­¡± Natasha tried helplessly to exin herself. ¡°Please don¡¯t overthink. It was just a casual conversation.¡± Beads of sweat formed on Natasha¡¯s forehead, as she wasn¡¯t sure how much of her conversation with Eloise Maverick had heard. She decided to continue ying dumb. ¡°What are you guys up to?¡± Maverick ignored her exnation. A hint of viciousness flickered in his eyes. This gaze and his cold tone¡­ Could it be that he heard everything? Natasha¡¯s right hand instinctively clenched the corner of the nket. ¡°What are you talking about? I was just casually chatting with my friend. Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Maverick paid no attention to Natasha¡¯s seemingly innocent gaze. His sharp eyes pierced through hers. as he uttered, ¡°You should know that even if you don¡¯t tell me, I can still send someone to investigate. But by then, you won¡¯t get a second chance.¡± He gently stroked his wristwatch, his expression inscrutable. This only made Natasha even more uneasy. She realized she couldn¡¯t escape Maverick¡¯s interrogation about the conspiracy. She bit her lip, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears, and she began sobbing. ¡°Mave! It¡¯s not fair! You and Gwendolyn are already divorced, yet you still care so much about her! I¡¯ve barely even been to Bay Vi, let alone lived there! I can¡¯t believe you transferred the vi to her name. She humiliated me during the Mossey Group banquet and even had someone beat me up this time. I almost lost my purity! Mave! I hate her. I really do! I just wanted to teach her a little lesson. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Natasha threw herself into Maverick¡¯s arms and tried to act pitifully and get away with it, but he merely frowned and straightened her up. ¡°For thest time, where is Gwendolyn?¡± Maverick frowned deeply. His tone was filled with unwavering determination that left no room for resistance. ¡°Mave, after all these years, am I not as important to you as that woman who has nothing to do with fianc¨¦e! you anymore?¡± Natasha sobbed. Her tears flowed down her cheeks mercilessly. ¡°I am your Why are you so cruel? She¡¯s the one who caused me to lie in the hospital in pain. Do you seriously have the heart to see me suffer such injustice?¡± Maverick, with a cold expression on his face, stood up. A subtle hint of exhaustion shed through his dark eyes. It was barely noticeable to others. ¡°I remember you weren¡¯t like this before. I¡¯m very disappointed in you.¡± Without hesitation, he strode out of the ward and left Natasha, with tear-streaked cheeks, sobbing 1/4 Mon, Ma Chapter 63 No Ordinary Woman sorrowfully on the hospital bed. +25 Bonus The corridor was eerily quiet. asionally, nurses passed by, but their footsteps were light and swift. Maverick walked to a deserted corner and took out his phone to make a call. ¡°Zachary, find out where Gwendolyn is and send the location to me within ten minutes. Be quick.¡± Gwendolyn drove out of the city and took a shortcut to Mount Gravel. TP She had deliberately chosen a small road without surveince cameras and traffic lights so she could drive as fast as possible. The wind whistled past her ears when she rolled down her car window. It brought an immense sense of joy and excitement. Unfortunately, this wasn¡¯t a leisurely outing. Gwendolyn had important matters to attend to and was not in the mood to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the countryside. She mmed on the elerator. The engine roared, and she took off. Right then, her phone rang. She nced at the screen before pressing her Bluetooth earpiece in a fluid. motion to answer the call. ¡°I suppose you will be arriving soon, Ms. Shalders. Let me remind you. Turn right after exiting the tunnel. We will be waiting for you at the abandoned cabin halfway up Mount Gravel,¡± said the kidnapper with a low voice. Gwendolyn nced at the navigation and took a right turn. A car with a fake license te was parked at the foot of the mountain. Gwendolyn carefullypared. it to the picture Shadow Bell had sent her, confirming that this was the vehicle the kidnappers had used to capture Jennifer. Gwendolyn hid her Volkswagen Passat in a thicket and proceeded to climb the mountain alone. The small wooden cabin was hidden deep within the forest. From a distance, it looked pretty shabby. It was more like a shed than anything else. Gwendolyn quickened her pace and forcefully pushed open the cabin door. ¡°Wow, that was quick!¡± The leader of the kidnappers was wearing a thick ck mask, making it impossible to see the expression on his face. Jennifery on the ground at his feet, covered in wounds and bruises. She seemed to have lost consciousness. Gwendolyn saw the injuries on Jennifer¡¯s body, and a sh of sternness flickered in her eyes. ¡°Let her go, and then we¡¯ll talk.¡± Gwendolyn scanned around the room. Then, she pulled out a chair, sat down, and looked at the leader unconcernedly. Chapter 63 No Ordinary Woman +25 Bonus The leader was infuriated by Gwendolyn¡¯s turning the tables on him. He grabbed the unconscious. Jennifer and held a knife to her throat. ¡°How dare you negotiate terms with me while your friend¡¯s life is on the line? I can finish her off right now.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Gwendolyn stared straight into his eyes fearlessly, putting him in a sudden panic. 10 She looked so delicate and fragile, yet she possessedposure as if she had the support of a hundred people behind her. The leader was perplexed. Meanwhile, Eloise and her bodyguard, Gunnar, were hiding in the woods outside the cabin and observing the happenings in the cabin through a pair of binocrs. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The leader¡¯s cap had a tapping device she had prepared in advance, which allowed her to hear every word of their conversation. ¡°She expects us to give in just like that? Dream on.¡± Eloise rolled her eyes disdainfully and instructed the leader through her Bluetooth carpiece, ¡°Don¡¯t agree to anything! Who knows what tricks she¡¯s trying to pull? Stand on your ground and don¡¯t let her go no matter what.¡± After he received the instructions, the leader looked at Gwendolyn with a smile. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to refuse you, gorgeous, but I¡¯m sorry. I cannot let your friend go.¡± The leader regarded Gwendolyn with an increasingly malicious gaze. ¡°Why don¡¯t you say something nice to please me? Then maybe I¡¯ll reconsider.¡± He looked at Gwendolyn, whose stunning figure couldn¡¯t be concealed even by her sportswear, and his lustful gaze shamelessly wandered from her head to her toe. As the leader stared at her intently, Gwendolyn knew she couldn¡¯t waste more time talking to him, so she swiftly lifted her leg and delivered a powerful kick without second thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ll have to see if you have what it takes to defeat me.¡± The leader hastily extended his right arm to block he kick, but Gwendolyn¡¯s fist was already in front of his face again. Outraged, he roared angrily, ¡°You¡± ul woman! How dare you hit me? Fes, no need to hide anymore! Come out now and get her!¡± The moment the leader finished his sentence, the already broken door of the cabin was roughly pushed open. Four masked men in ck burst through the door, rubbing their fists and palms together as they charged toward Gwendolyn. ¡°Perfect timing. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had a good workout!¡± 13:58 Mon, May Chapter 63 No Ordinary Woman +25 Bonus ¡°endolyn dashed forward with incredible speed and executed a series of swift kicks in mid-air. In less than five minutes, all five strong men had copsed. Eloise had felt quite smug as she watched everything unfold through her binocrs, but her jaw dropped in shock when she saw the tragic end of the five men. ¡°H-How can this happen? How can she possibly defeat five men all by herself? Did the people you hired go easy on her?¡± 10 ¡°Ms. Ferguson, this Gwendolyn Shalders is no ordinary woman.¡± Gunnar¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°Herbat skills are strikingly simr to the world-renowned master Rory Richardson¡¯s unique jiu-jitsu techniques. And it seems she has modified and innovated them to form a fighting style that¡¯s event better suited for herself.¡± He paused momentarily, then continued, ¡°Ms. Richardson is quite entric. She only has one apprentice in her entire life. It¡¯s said to be a man, but wendolyn could be Ms. Richardson¡¯s apprentice judging by her skills. The rumor might not be true after all.¡± Eloise was not ready to give up yet. She asked, ¡°If you go against her, will you be able to defeat her?¡± Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Many Big Shots Supporting Her +25 Bonus Gunnar scoffed and patted his chest confidently. ¡°She¡¯s just Rory Richardson¡¯s apprentice, not Rory Richardson herself. I can defeat her with less than three moves!¡± Gunnar had once achieved the title of national kickboxing champion. That was why he was hired as a bodyguard by the Ferguson Group at a high sry. Eloise finally breathed a sigh of relief after receiving Gunnar¡¯s guarantee. She lifted the binocrs and continued to observe the situation inside the cabin. She noticed several burly men struggling on the ground. It seemed that they had been overpowered by Gwendolyn again. A kidnapper beside her picked up a knife and attempted a sneak attack. However, Gwendolyn nimbly grabbed his wrist and took him down with a skillful shoulder throw. She then twisted his hands behind his back; followed by a kick to the back of his knee. ¡°Trying tounch a sneak attack on me? You¡¯re still not qualified even with a few more years of practice.¡± The force in her grip increased slightly, which caused the kidnapper to wince and keep begging her for mercy. Eloise gritted her teeth in anger as she watched from distance. ¡°These useless fools, they¡¯re no match for her! Gunnar, it¡¯s your turn! If you can¡¯t bring her down today, consider yourself fired!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Ferguson.¡± Gunnar rolled his sleeves and was about to run toward the cabin when his phone vibrated. He had a nce at the screen, and suddenly his expression changed. He anxiously said, ¡°Ms. Ferguson, our informant says there are two groups of people at the foot of the mountain now. It¡¯s suspected to be Mr. Harris from Angle and Mr. Wright from Wright Construction Group. We should leave now!¡± ¡°No way! If I leave now, all my effort will go to waste must see that wicked woman kneeling at my feet and begging for mercy!¡± Eloise spat grudgingly and firmly rejected Gunnar¡¯s suggestion. Gunnar wished he could just carry Eloise away, but due to the difference in their status, he had no choice but to continue reasoning with her. ¡°Think about it. In Faike, these two are not to be messed with! If they catch up to us and find us here, we will have a hard time exining ourselves to them! Ms. Ferguson, if we don¡¯t leave now, it will be toote!¡± She would be consumed with rage whenever she thought of how Treyton showered Gwendolyn with ongoing care and affection. She desperately wished to tear Gwendolyn into a thousand pieces to vent her anger. But the current situation left no room for hesitation. Eloise red resentfully at the cabin and, with a reluctant heart, took another path down the mountain. Meanwhile, in the wooden cabin, Gwendolyn was engaged in another round ofbat with the five kidnappers. However, she deliberately waited for their attacks instead of knocking them out immediately. 1/1 Chapter 64 Many Big Shots Supporting¡­ After two rounds, several strong men were rolling on the ground in agony. +25 Bonus Gwendolyn dusted off her hands and leaned against the door as she watched them indifferently. ¡°Let my friend go, or your fate will be a hundred times worse than it is now. Think carefully about what you should do. I advise you to make the right decision.¡± The leader panted. If I let her go, I will not end up well either. So I might as well fight back with all I have! He forced himself to meet her piercing gaze, picked up the fallen knife, and pressed it against. Jennifer¡¯s neck. ¡°Think carefully, gorgeous. The girl is still with me. How about I finish her off first?¡± ¡°If you do, I will make you pay a thousand-fold, even a million-fold, in pain and suffering.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes shed with a cold light, and the aura surrounding her was fierce and powerful. The leader knew fully that she was highly skilled, so he didn¡¯t dare to act recklessly. He shrank back in fear, but the knife pressed against Jennifer¡¯s throat remained firm. After all, this was hisst lifeline. If he let go now, it would be no different than voluntarily giving up his chance to survive. Jennifery unconscious still, yet her brows remained tightly furrowed. She was clearly in great pain. Gwendolyn was worried that the leader might have an extreme reaction and cause Jennifer harm, so she dared not act rashly. The leader feignedposure and continued to be at a standstill with Gwendolyn. As the stalemate continued between the two sides, the sound of people chattering suddenly came from outside the door. It grew louder as if people were arguing. Gwendolyn frowned. She nced coldly at the leader before stepping out the door to investigate. The noises grew closer. She looked toward where the noise came from and spotted two familiar. figures. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Treyton asked with an icy expression, clearly displeased with Maverick¡¯s presence. Maverick didn¡¯t bother to talk more to Treyton but simply replied impatiently, ¡°Do I need to report my whereabouts to you, Mr. Harris? Or do you have a habit of tracking other people¡¯s schedules?¡± As the tension between the two grew stronger, it seemed a fight would erupt any second. In exasperation, Gwendolyn stepped between them and tried to mediate the situation. ¡°How did you all get here?¡± ¡°You never give me peace of mind, kiddo.¡± Treyton gently scratched her nose. ¡°Flora told me you were going to a fight, so I followed. How¡¯s it going? Do you need any help?¡± Chapter 64 Many Big Shots Supporting ¡­ 68% +25 Bonus ¡°It¡¯s already over. Five people can¡¯t possibly bring me down,¡± Gwendolyn replied with a faint smile. Although Maverick knew Gwendolyn had a foundation in martial arts, he was still slightly taken aback. when he heard this. She defeated five men on her own. This is not something an ordinary woman can achieve. The doubts in Maverick¡¯s heart deepened even more, and his curiosity about her identity grew stronger. He became increasingly convinced that Gwendolyn¡¯s background was far from just an ordinary girl from an orphanage. There must have been some twists and turns along the way. Maverick¡¯s deep, dark eyes were filled with even more curiosity as he gazed at her. In contrast. Treyton remained calm andposed as if he had already anticipated this oue and found nothing unusual about it. As Gwendolyn stepped into the cabin, Treyton and Maverick followed closely behind, apanied by their respective bodyguards. The leader, who had just calmed down, was sitting on the ground, panting heavily. He had barely caught a break for a few minutes when he was again terrified by the spectacle. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve messing with my people.¡± Treyton red at the leader. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you a lesson about not messing with people you can¡¯t handle.¡± Maverick was quite displeased when he heard Treyton referring to Gwendolyn as ¡°his people.¡± He made a gesture, and several of his bodyguards immediately restrained the four struggling men in ck on the ground. ¡°You¡¯re not qualified to mess with my people.¡± When the leader realized who they were, he cowered in fear and knelt on the ground, continuously. begging for mercy. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°I was just doing my job for the money, and I didn¡¯t mean to target her. I admit that I was ignorant. I beg you both to show mercy and spare my life!¡± He had never imagined that this woman had Treyton and Maverick backing her up. He had been in the mafia for some time and had heard about these two¡¯s cruel ways. At that moment, he deeply regretted his actions. The three continued to re at him coldly without uttering a word. Then, Gwendolyn approached him with an overwhelming sense of authority. ¡°Who ordered you to kidnap her?¡± ¡°I-It was a woman! She asked me to kidnap Jennifer and then send you a text message toe here, and she said she would give me a million once it was done. I saw that the money was good and you were but a young woman, so I agreed. Please believe ine. I never intended to harm you!¡± If he had known earlier that Gwendolyn had so many big shots supporting her, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to mess with her even if he had ten times the courage. Chapter 64 Many Big Shots Supporting¡­ ¡°Who is that woman?¡± Gwendolyn pressed on. 68% +25 Bonus ½ñ ¡°Boss! Your Majesty! I don¡¯t know her! In this line of work, we get paid and do the job without asking too many questions!¡± The leader¡¯s heart was filled with immense fear. Gwendolyn crouched down slightly, her aura bing increasingly intimidating. ¡°Which hand did you use to hit her, and which foot did you use to kick her?¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 The Price You Have To Pay ¡°What?¡± 68% +25 Bonus The kidnapper was caught off guard by Gwendolyn¡¯s sudden deviation from the topic and couldn¡¯t react for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m asking, which hand of yours hit her and which foot of yours kicked her?¡± Gwendolyn enunciated each word clearly, her smile radiant and her eyes crescent-shaped. Although the woman in front of them looked stunning and charming, the leader could sense a subtle threatening aura emanating from her. He continued to beg for mercy, even resorting to pping himself on both cheeks. ¡°I was wrong. I deserve to die. I apologize, gorgeous mean, Your Majesty. Please spare my lowly life!¡± ¡°This is yourst chance.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and her face showed a hint of displeasure. ¡°Right¡­ Right hand¡­ And I-I kicked her with both feet,¡± the leader answered, trembling. Gwendolyn stood up and searched the corner of the cabin for a stick covered in thorns. Treyton knew she was angry, but he didn¡¯t step forward to stop her. ¡°Ah!¡± Soon, the leader¡¯s agonized screams echoed throughout the wooden cabin. Maverick watched silently as she personally carried out the entire process of torturing someone. Thest time he had witnessed her brutally dealing with several directors of Grandeur Group at a hotel, but even now, seeing it with his own eyes, he was still shocked by her fierceness. In just a few minutes, Gwendolyn had beaten the leader so harshly that he was crying and screaming. Any part of his body that hade into contact with Jennifer was battered beyond recognition. Not a single area was left unscathed. Satisfied, Gwendolyn threw the stick away and pped her hands. ¡°This is the price you have to pay for messing with me.¡± ¡°Should we have someone give him a couple more rounds of beating?¡± Treyton asked, fearing that his little princess might not be satisfied enough. ¡°Nah, his right hand and knees have already suffered frompound fractures, and he will be disabled for the rest of his life.¡± She nced coldly at the four masked men held down by the bodyguards. ¡°Those who hurt me will be repaid a hundredfold.¡± Maverick stared at her, surprised by her unexpected defensiveness. ¡°What about you? Did you get hurt while helping others vent their anger?¡± Treyton asked, looking concerned. 13:58 Mon, May 15 Chapter 65 The Price You Have To Pay 68% +25 Bonus ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Gwendolyn pouted and spread her hand, extending it toward him. ¡°I¡¯ve been fighting for so long. My hands are all red now.¡± Treyton immediately grasped her small hand, gently tradling it in his palm and bringing it to his lips. to blow on it lightly. ¡°How do you feel? Does it still hurt?¡± He held her hand and gently massaged it, his eyes brimming with affection as if it could overflow at any moment. ¡°Just keep rubbing it for a while, and the pain will go away,¡± Gwendolyn said, enjoying his massage and continuing to act yfully with him. The intimate behavior between the two as if no one else was around made Maverick extremely ufortable. Anger was clearly visible in his dark eyes. Gwendolyn noticed the unusual look from the man beside her and turned to meet his gaze. ¡°If you have so much free time, Mr. Wright, perhaps you should pay more attention to your fianc¨¦e. She messed with my people this time, and I won¡¯t let her off easily. If you try to cover for her. I¡¯ll deal with you as well.¡± That fierce expression returned to her face once again. She didn¡¯t give him any time to respond and with a cold snort, she left the wooden cabin, not wanting to spend any more time with him. Treyton arranged for the bodyguards to carry the unconscious Jennifer, and they followed suit, leaving the area. Jennifer¡¯s injuries were severe, and to make matters worse, the kidnappers had injected her with a drug that caused unconsciousness. If she wasn¡¯t taken to the hospital immediately, her life could be in danger. Gwendolyn instructed someone to ce Jennifer in the passenger seat of her Volkswagen Passat and adjusted the seat to afortable angle. She drove back to the city at the fastest possible speed. Treyton drove behind her, his heart pounding as she sped up. The nearest hospital to them happened to be Faike Hospital, where Natasha was staying. Although Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to go in, she didn¡¯t want to waste any time either. She went ahead with the admission process and requested an experienced doctor to treat Jennifer. After several hours of emergency treatment, Jennifer¡¯s condition stabilized. Although she had many wounds on her body, none of them were life-threatening. She was still unconscious due to an excessive intake of sedatives, but as long as she rested quietly in the hospital for a few days and regained her strength, she would be able to be discharged. Gwendolyn stood by Jennifer¡¯s bedside, watching her paleplexion with furrowed brows. ¡°What do you n to do? We need a strategy for a counterattack.¡± Treyton stood next to her, looking at her profile. 68% This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Chapter 65 The Price You Have To Pay +25 Bonus ¡°I was nning to ignore them this time, but they keep pushing my limits and even hurt my best. friend as a threat. I will make them understand that if they dare to mess with me, they must pay the price!¡± Treyton saw that she was genuinely angry this time and didn¡¯t n on trying to dissuade her. ¡°To strike a snake, aim for the vital spot. If you want to win in one blow, you must target its weakness. This time, let¡¯s start with the Mossey family, who have raised her to such heights.¡± The Mossey family?¡± Treyton stroked his chin, considering her n. ¡°That makes sense, but it won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll only target the Mossey family. Innocent people won¡¯t be in danger,¡± Gwendolyn replied, her lips curling into a dangerous yet captivating smile. Treyton¡¯s eyes were filled with curiosity as he asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°If I recall correctly, in addition to Natasha, who is recovering here from her injuries, her sister Incz, who becameatose after a car ident, seems to be in this hospital as well,¡± Gwendolyn said as she picked up a ss of water and took a sip. Although she didn¡¯t give a direct answer, her words carried a profound meaning. Treyton looked at her radiant smile. He seemed to have understood something. Half an hourter, Gwendolyn arrived on the fourth floor with a few bodyguards and stood in front of Inez¡¯s hospital room. However, several bodyguards from the Mossey family blocked their way, and the two groups quickly became entangled in a brawl. Themotion soon rmed Madelyn, who was in the lounge. She grabbed Gwendolyn, who was about to enter the ward, both shocked and angry. ¡°What else are you up to? Inez is already in a vegetative state lying in the hospital. Do you want to harm her even more?¡± Madelyn asked. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to be so nervous, Mrs. Mossey. I won¡¯t do anything to your daughter. I¡¯m just here to take her away,¡± Gwendolyn replied. Madelyn did not expect her to say such a thing. ¡°I won¡¯t let you take her away! I don¡¯t agree! If you want to take her, you¡¯ll have to step over my dead body!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to find the person who harmed your daughter?¡± Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows. slightly. ¡°I have a way to uncover the true culprit behind the scenes and wake Inez up.¡± ¡°What? Are you saying that Incz¡­¡± Madelyn¡¯s pupils widened in shock and she froze in ce. She had always believed that Inez¡¯s drunk driving ident was an ident, never considering that someone might have intentionally caused it. After carefully considering Gwendolyn¡¯s words, Madelyn realized there were indeed many suspicious points in the matter. 13:58 Mon, May 15 Chapter 65 The Price You Have To Pay 368% +25 Bonus However, she didn¡¯t fully trust Gwendolyn. ¡°No, I can¡¯t let you take her away. Who knows what you¡¯ll do to her? I have no reason to trust you, and you better not have any designs on Inez.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Gwendolyn casually sat down on the bench in the hallway, crossing her long, beautiful legs. With a yful smile, she continued, ¡°I say it onest time: I will wake her up and help you find the person who hurt her.¡± ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± Madelyn nced at the strong bodyguards beside Gwendolyn. The ones she had arranged at the door had been effortlessly controlled by Gwendolyn, without even being able to fight back. Even if Madelyn persisted in her disagreement, it seemed quite difficult to resist the men brought by Gwendolyn. Madelyn fell into deep thought. Gwendolyn seemed to have seen through her thoughts and said with a smile, ¡°As you can see, you have no choice but to trust me.¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 I Will Personally Go To Lightspring +25 Bonus The two exchanged nces, and Madelyn had no choice but to admit defeat, gritting her teeth in frustration. ¡°All right! I¡¯ll trust you this time, but if anything happens to my daughter, I¡¯ll risk my life to fight you!¡± Without Madelyn¡¯s interference, Gwendolyn easily entered the ward and instructed someone to carry Inez away under Madelyn¡¯s reluctant and worried gaze. When Gwendolyn arrived back at Treyton¡¯s vi, it was alreadyte in the evening. The afterglow of the setting sun painted the sky a gentle orange hue, casting a soft halo over the entire town of Faike.. Treyton picked a guest room, briefly settled Inez, and sat on the couch with Gwendolyn to discuss their next n. Inez appeared peaceful with her eyes tightly closed, looking almost as if she were sleeping. ¡°Her condition seems stable, and all vital signs are nommal,¡± Treyton said, taking the medical report. from his personal doctor and stroking his chin. Gwendolyn picked up the report and nced at Inez who was lying on the hospital bed. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed in concern. ¡°Waking up aatose patient is as difficult as reaching the sky. The Mossey family has spent at fortune inviting renowned doctors from both domestic and international backgrounds but to no avail. If we want to make progress with Inez, we must resort to our trump card,¡± Treyton said. He gently tapped the coffee table with his fingers, turning the ashtray around. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gwendolyn asked. A hint of doubt flickered in her eyes. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°How could you have forgotten, you brat?¡± Treyton couldn¡¯t help but gently tap her head. ¡°Have you forgotten that you have an older brother with a master¡¯s degree in medicine? There aren¡¯t many people in this world who can question his medical skills and authority.¡± Gwendolyn suddenly realized that she hadn¡¯t been in ouch with the Harris family for such a long time. that she hadpletely forgotten how outstanding her second brother, Kieran, was. ¡°But¡­ Kieran is usually quiet and has a peculiar personality. He¡¯s always busy with work, and since he¡¯s in Lightspring, he might not be willing to help with this.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t let herself be overwhelmed by joy. After some careful consideration, she cautiously spoke up. ¡°For safety¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll personally go to Lightspring to find him. If necessary, I¡¯ll tie him up anil bring him to Faike.¡± Inez was the key to sess in the present situation, and she must ensure that every step of the n was wlessly executed. Maverick¡¯s deadline for the media and the public was five days. 1/0 Chapter 66 I Will Personally Go To¡­ And now, two days had already passed. 68% +25 Bonus She nned to bring about a shocking reversal in the oue of the entire matter in three days, so she needed to expedite things. ¡°Treyton, there¡¯s no time to waste. I¡¯ll go to Lightspring tonight and bring Kieran back,¡± Gwendolyn said as she slung her bag over her shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? But I don¡¯t usually like using private jets, so I can¡¯t have someone take you there,¡± Treyton replied, sounding a bit worried. ¡°It¡¯s fine. There¡¯s still a flight to Lightspring tonight. I just take a regr ne.¡± As Gwendolyn tidied up, she continued, ¡°You must remember to handle everything properly! Arrange for bodyguards to strengthen the security around the vi!¡± Treyton watched her silhouette disappear into the night and let out a sigh. ¡°Got it, you brat. You¡¯re always on the run.¡± Eloisey in a bathtub filled with bubbles and rose petals, attempting to wash away the day¡¯s fatigue with warm water. She checked her phone from time to time to see if there were any new messages. Ever since Gunnar dragged her away from Mount Gravel today, she had been holding in her anger. Even though she knew that her hired men would likely fail once Treyton and Maverick arrived, she was unwilling to give up as she continued to secretly investigate Gwendolyn¡¯s whereabouts. She received a message that read: Ms. Mossey, we have an update. It appears that she¡¯s headed to a large, high-end hospital in Lightspring. She¡¯s in a huny and will be taking a flight tonight. Eloise sat up from the water and read the message several times, growing suspicious. Although Jennifer had been beaten, her injuries were not life-threatening. The experienced doctors in Faike were more than capable of treating her. Why is Gwendolyn going to such great lengths to rush to the hospital in Lightspringte at night? She immediately tried to call Natasha but couldn¡¯t get through. ¡°She dropped the ball at a critical moment!¡± Eloise, frustrated, tossed her phone aside and quickly changed into new clothes. In the dead of night, she drove hastily to Faike Hospital. The VIP ward was already very quiet, and it became even more silent as night fell. After exining her identity to the bodyguard outside the door, Eloise quietly entered. ¡°Why did you turn off your phone when I was trying to call you?¡± Eloise asked, rolling her eyes in annoyance. ¡°Thanks to you, I had toe to find you in the middle of the night.¡± Natasha exined, ¡°During the day, Mave overheard our conversation on the phone. Since then, my phone has been bugged by Mave¡¯s people. I have no choice.¡± After exining, Natasha couldn¡¯t help O/D 13:58 Mon, May Chapter 66 I Will Personally Go To¡­ but ask, ¡°Is our n going smoothly? Are there any hups?¡± +25 Bonus ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started. That girl actually knows jiu-jitsu! Those freeloading guys were no match for her at all.¡± Whenever the failed operation was mentioned, Eloise would be filled with rage. ¡°I sent someone to investigate her schedule and found out she¡¯s going to a hospital in Lightspring tonight. Who knows what she¡¯s up to this time?¡± Upon hearing this, Natasha was also particrly puzzled. ¡°A hospital in Lightspring? Are you sure your people didn¡¯t get it wrong?¡± ¡°What do you mean? The Ferguson family chooses our subordinates carefully, so, of course, the information is true,¡± Eloise said, looking displeased. ¡°Then why is she going to Lightspring? Wait a minute¡­ The hospital!¡± Natasha seemed to suddenly remember something. ¡°Quick, have someone go to the first VIP ward on the fourth floor and check if Inez is still there! Hurry!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush? I¡¯ll arrange for someone to go right away.¡± Eloise gave her a disdainful re and instructed Gunnar to follow Natasha¡¯s directions and head to the fourth floor. A momentter, Gunnar returned to Natasha¡¯s ward with a solemn expression. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, I have to report that Ms. Inez from upstairs has gone missing.¡± ¡°Just as I thought!¡± Natasha¡¯s face turned pale with panic, and she clutched the corner of the nket. ¡°What should we do now? It must be that despicable Gwendolyn who took her away! If they find out about what happened ad out about what happened before, we¡¯ll be in big trouble¡­¡± Eloise, however, was unfazed. ¡°What are you panicking about? Let¡¯s just find Inez quickly and be done with it. And don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let that Gwendolyn get away with this either.¡± Natasha was still anxious. ¡°You make it sound so easy, but what if she¡¯s already on the ne? We might not have a chance anymore! And what if she really does have a way to cure Inez?¡± She shuddered and didn¡¯t dare to think further. Taking in Natasha¡¯s panicked state, Eloise rolled her eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to check it out. There¡¯s still an hour and a half before she boards the ne, which is enough time for me to arrange for someone to go there. I know she¡¯s skilled in jiu-jitsu, but this time I¡¯ll find even tougher fighters to take her down quietly in the cabin. Who else can ruin our ns then?¡± Eloise spoke with a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. She immediately took out her phone, ready to make arrangements. ¡°Hold on!¡± Natasha quickly stopped her and, meeting her puzzled gaze, revealed a sinister smile. ¡°I have a more suitable candidate than your people.¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 The Real Winner +25 Bonus In the wee hours of the night, Gwendolyn was seated in the first-ss cabin of the airne. She was still full of energy as she sipped her coffee. Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She looked out the window, but the pitch-ck night sky made it difficult to see even the outline of the clouds. Gwendolyn was about to look away because she was starting to get bored. However, she saw a familiar silhouette in the reflection of the small window. The man was wearing sunsses. He quickly turned his head away and avoided her gaze after he made eye contact with her. Her guard was up, and she discreetly scanned her surroundings. Gwendolyn noticed that everyone on board, including the bodyguards she had brought, had fallen into a deep slumber. Something was off, and she could smell danger. Gwendolyn got up to check the other cabins, but as she turned around, she saw a man in a suit walking toward her with several equally strong men. The man in the suit was none other than the sunsses-wearing individual she had just exchanged. nces with. It seemed that their target was quite clear, and it was obvious that they were aiming for her. Gwendolyn simply stood still. Since it was impossible to avoid, she would face them head-on. ¡°Ms. Shalders, long time no see.¡± The man took off his sunsses and smiled at her. ¡°I bet expect us to meet again so soon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Gwendolyn frowned. Noah raised his arm and gestured behind him. The group of men in ck followed his instructions and quickly surrounded Gwendolyn. you didn¡¯t no ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re skilled in jiu-jitsu, Ms. Shalders but I advise you to behave yourself. This ne is already under my control, and if you resist, I won¡¯t mind bringing everyone down with me in a ne crash. I don¡¯t think you want these passengers to die because of you.¡± The smile on Noah¡¯s face. disappeared as he took a seat and looked at her with a poker face. ¡°Apologies, but this is the boss¡¯ order.¡± ¡°Maverick?¡± Gwendolyn frowned, and her expression was cold. ¡°He actually sent you for this?¡± ¡°As I said, what you did to Ms. Mossey was outrageous, She¡¯s the boss¡¯ fianc¨¦e, and he won¡¯t let you off the hook, so this is the price you have to pay.¡± Noah took out a saber and weighed it in his hand. ¡°I advise you not to struggle in vain. The lives of all the passengers are now in my hands unless you want these innocent people to die with you.¡± Gwendolyn sneered. She quietly nced to the side from the corner of her eyes and tried to find a 1/2. Chapter 67 The Real Winner +25 Bonus chance to escape. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to be so heartless. Natasha must mean the world to him.¡± Gwendolyn spoke with a wry smile while stealthily Noah didn¡¯t notice heMending her foot to hook the parachute bag hidden beneath the seat. Noah didn¡¯t notice her subtle movements. He frowned at her calm expression and bluntly warned, ¡°You¡¯d better not y any tricks, or it won¡¯t just be you who dies on this ne. Go ahead and try me if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± The muscr henchmen behind him quickly took hold of several other passengers in the cabin and threatened her with a re. Gwendolyn smiled mockingly as she picked up the piping hot coffee cup from her seat and threw it at Noah. ¡°It¡¯s not up to you to decide what I want to do Gwendolyn took advantage of the moment when everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the coffee cup. She kicked open the cabin door, swiftly put on the parachute pack, and resolutely leaped into the pitch- ck night sky. ¡°Quick! Stop her! Don¡¯t let her jump off the ne!¡± I was already toote when Noah realized what she was going to do. He hurried over to the cabin door and poked his head outside to look. There were no signs of Gwendolyn anywhere in the night sky. All that could be seen were just a few stars. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn¡¯s body continued to descend in the pitch-ck darkness, and the only sound she could hear was the howling wind. She held her breath and relied solely on her instincts to open the parachute. Noah and the others were gathered around the cabin door, observing the night sky. The sky was so dark that he couldn¡¯t estimate their altitude. any safety ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s bound to die since she jumped from such a great height without measures. She¡¯ll be reduced to a pulp, and I doubt we¡¯ll even be able to find her body.¡± Noah breathed a sigh of relief after he heard one of the henchmen¡¯s words. Indeed, no matter how I look at it, I¡¯ve aplished the task Natasha entrusted me with. ¡°Ms. Mossey, are you asleep?¡± He gently touched his ear and spoke into the tiny Bluetooth headset. He had previously discreetly removed the wiretap on Natasha¡¯s phone under the guise of Maverick, which allowed her tomunicate freely with the outside world. ¡°How could I possibly sleep without hearing from you? How did the task I entrusted you go?¡± Natasha was growing impatient in the hospital room. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s sort of done,¡± Noah replied hesitantly. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Natasha¡¯s voice rose a few notches. ¡°Did you mess up? Is she not dead?¡± ¡°She jumped off the ne without any safety measures. There¡¯s no doubt she¡¯s done for at this height.¡± Chapter 67 The Real Winner Natasha felt relieved and said with satisfaction, ¡°Well done, Noah. I appreciate it.¡± Sheughed triumphantly after she hung up the phone. +25 Bonus No matter how capable that b*tch was, she still died in my hands in the end! I am the real winner! Even though getting rid of Gwendolyn was enough to lift her spirits, Natasha didn¡¯t forget about Incz, who was a hidden threat to her. She knew how much Treyton cared about Gwendolyn. She was wary of Treyton and was afraid that he would use Inez to stand up for Gwendolyn if he found out about her death. Natasha¡¯s face darkened once again. She picked up her phone and dialed another number. Eloise, who was on the other end of the line asked eagerly, ¡°How¡¯s it going? Did it work out?¡± ¡°That b*tch was forced to jump off the ne. You¡¯ll hear of the news of her death soon.¡± Natasha sounded quite pleased. ¡°How about you? Have you found Inez¡¯s whereabouts?¡± ¡°No. My subordinates have been searching for a long time, but I have yet to receive any news.¡± Even though Eloise had almost searched the entire Faike, she couldn¡¯t find any news about Inez. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. Natasha hung up the phone with an uneasy feeling, and her good mood vanished. Although she had gotten rid of Gwendolyn, Inez was still a nuisance. I can¡¯t rest assured while Inez roams free. If Gwendolyn did take her away, where would she have kept her? Where in Faike might there be a location that even Eloise can¡¯t find? Gwendolyn and Treyton have grown very close since her divorce. Could there be a possibility¡­ Natasha¡¯s eyes lit up, and she made another call to Eloise. ¡°Can¡¯t you finish what you have to say in one go?¡± Eloise was just about to fall asleep. She suppressed. her fiery temper and managed not tosh out at the person responsible. ¡°What is it this time?¡± ¡°As Treyton¡¯s fianc¨¦e, you should know where he lives in Faike, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Bring someone quietly to Treyton¡¯s vi tomorrow morning and have a look. I suspect that Inez may be there!¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Please Punish Me +25 Bonus ¡°Theyton¡¯s vi?¡± All of the drowsiness immediately left Eloise as she sat up from the bed in surprise. ¡°Exin yourself. How did Inez get involved with him?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten? Gwendolyn has been very close with Treyton ever since she and Mave divorced. Although Mave has transferred the ownership of Bay Vi to her, she never moved in, and we¡¯ve never been able to find out where she lives.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Eloise frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Natasha rolled her eyes. ¡°This means that she¡¯s most probably living with Treyton! We¡¯ve searched the entire Faike, and there¡¯s no sign of Inez, so it¡¯s highly possible that Gwendolyn hid her in Treyton¡¯s vi!¡± Eloise gave it some thought and felt that Natasha made a valid point. He immediately sent someone to investigate. Natasha tossed her phone aside irritably after she hung up and leaned against the headboard while she waited for an update. Inez didn¡¯t die; instead, she became a vegetative state patient. This fact had always been like a thorn in her heart. No matter how proud Natasha was in public, Inez¡¯s presence always reminded her that she was born as an illegitimate daughter. Natasha had been looking for a chance to get rid of Inez ever since she became the heir to Mossey Group. However, Madelyn was so vignt that she was practically inseparable from Inez¡¯s hospital room. Natasha couldn¡¯t find the right moment to make a move. As long as Inez was alive, her position as the heir to Mossey Group wouldn¡¯t be secured. Natasha would inevitably bepared to the other person by the outside world. Inez¡¯s disappearance this time presented a golden opportunity. I must take advantage of this opportunity and get rid of the two most annoying people! The sky gradually brightened at the horizon, and the morning sun shone into every corner, gently awakening the city. Natasha gazed at the increasingly bright sky outside the window and grew anxious. When the phone rang, she quickly reached for it, unlocked it, and answered the call. ¡°How is it? Any news?¡± ¡°Although we can¡¯t be sure that Inez is definitely at Tryton¡¯s vi, the people I sent there reported that the number of bodyguards in the vi has nearly doubled, and the security is extremely tight. This is very suspicious.¡± ¡°So, what do we do now? No matter how powerful Mossey Group and Ferguson Group are, we can¡¯t possibly provoke Treyton, especially on his own turf,¡± Natasha sighed. 13:59 Mon, May 15 Chapter 68 Please Punish Me She was at her wit¡¯s end. She didn¡¯t know what else could be done. +25 Bonus ¡°I¡¯ve got a n, and you don¡¯t need to get involved.¡± Eloise hung up the phone and forcefully threw her phone to the side before Natasha could respond. Treyton had always been cold to her, but he showered Gwendolyn, who suddenly appeared with endless care and affection, which greatly annoyed her The thought of Gwendolyn and Inez possibly being his house made her sick with envy. Eloise became angrier the more she thought about it. She decided to take matters into her own hands. and visit Treyton¡¯s vi while he was away. ¡°Stop sleeping and get up right now!¡± Eloise called Gunnar and woke him up. ¡°I want to go to Treyton¡¯s ce this morning. Arrange it for me immediately. I will hold you ountable if something goes wrong.¡± Gunnar sleepily rubbed his eyes. He wanted to argue that he was just a bodyguard and that an assistant should be handling these tasks. However, he reluctantly agreed in the end, ¡°Understood.¡± Noahpleted the task assigned to him by Natasha. He immediately boarded the earliest flight out of Lightspring to return to Faike as soon as the flight arrived. He went back to his apartment to avoid being suspected by Maverick and decided to take a shower before going to the office to clock in. He parked his car in the garage and gently opened the door to his apartment. He saw a figure smoking a cigarette while sitting on the couch before he could close the door tightly. He turned around and saw that it was Maverick. His face was somber under the rising smoke. The two of them locked eyes and Noah panicked. He tried his best to hide any signs of emotion on his face. Maverick had personally arranged Noah¡¯s residence, so he naturally knew the password to Noah¡¯s apartment door. ¡°Boss, did you need me for something?¡± Noah tried his best to stay calm and set down the bag in his hand. ¡°You could have just called me if you needed something. You don¡¯t need toe here in person. It¡¯s still early. Have you had breakfast yet? Do you need me to prepare it for you?¡± ¡°Where have you been?¡± Maverick ignored the series of questions thrown at him. He put out the cigarette held between his slender fingers in the ashtray, and his icy gaze seemed like a sharp sword ready to pierce through Noah. Noah feigned light-heartedness as he said, ¡°I think we shouldn¡¯t always be cooped up in the office. I want to exercise more, but I usually don¡¯t have time, and I¡¯m afraid it might interfere with my work, so I made the most of the morning by going for a run.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Maverick¡¯s sharp gaze fell on him. He stretched out his long leg and crossed it over the other, his fingers resting on the back of the couch asionally tapping the painted solid wood decoration. Chapter 68 Please Punish Me Noah felt immense pressure just from that. +25 Bonus He could only reply stiffly. ¡°Yes, Boss. I was just going for a morning workout. Please don¡¯t overthink it.¡± ¡°Noah, you¡¯ve let me down.¡± A tired look crept onto Maverick¡¯s face. ¡°Did you really think I was clueless?¡± Noah shook his head subconsciously. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Te T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Natasha¡¯s phone tap has been removed, and you did it under my name. What did you do after leaving Faikest night?¡± Maverick cut to the chase and stared at him with his eagle-like eyes. ¡°Could it be¡­ you¡¯ve been wary of me all along?¡± These few words struck down from the sky like a lightning bolt. Noah knelt in front of Maverick with a thud and pleaded, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have crossed the line. Please punish me!¡± ¡°Where did you go after leaving Faikest night? What did you do? Answer me truthfully.¡± Maverick suppressed his anger, stood up, walked over to him, and looked down at him. ¡°This is yourst chance. You know what happens when you defy me.¡± Noah fell silent. A momentter, he gritted his teeth, mustered up the courage, looked up, and met Maverick¡¯s gaze. ¡°Boss, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being unreasonable? Ms. Mossey is your fianc¨¦e, yet you don¡¯t seem to care about her at all.¡± Maverick furrowed his brow slightly as he didn¡¯t expect Noah to use him in return. ¡°You¡¯re so protective of Gwendolyn, yet you ignore your own fianc¨¦e. You transferred the vi to Gwendolyn and made Ms. Mossey move to another apartment. Is that what a responsible fianc¨¦ would do? Ms. Mossey was framed by Gwendolyn and severtly injured, yet you didn¡¯t even stand up for her,¡± Noah said it all in one breath and stared straight at Maverick¡¯s cold face. ¡°Are you done?¡± Maverick was unfazed by Noah¡¯s words as he touched his wristwatch. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one last time. What did you do after you left Faike? Does it have anything to do with Gwendolyn?¡± Noah had been working alongside Maverick for many years. He was very familiar with all of his habitual actions. He knew Maverick was holding back his anger. Maverick would still send someone to look into everything even if Noah kept his mouth shut and said nothing, so he took all the responsibility upon himself ¡°Gwendolyn is dead! I hijacked the ne she was onst night, and she jumped out mid-flight. You may be able to forgive her for hurting Ms. Mossey, but I can¡¯t!¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 There Is Another Woman +25 Bonus ¡°You b*stard!¡± Maverick¡¯s veins bulged as he grabbed Noah by the cor and delivered a powerful blow to his face. ¡°Where did she jump from? And where did shend?¡± Noah was dizzy from the force of his punch. He smiled, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and remained silent. Maverick kicked him in the stomach.. Noah fell to the ground and rolled around before clutching his stomach and struggling to get back up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Boss. I won¡¯t tell you Gwendolyn¡¯s whereabouts even if you beat me to death here today.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you when I find her.¡± Maverick strode out of Noah¡¯s apartment after he said that. He had someone lock Noah in the bedroom and designated a bodyguard to watch over him before he left. Maverick made a call as soon as he left the apartment. ¡°Zachary, look into Gwendolyn¡¯s flight details fromst night and her current location. I need to know as soon as possible.¡± He got into the car and lit a cigarette irritably. His phone finally rang when he drew the eighth stick. Maverick answered the call without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ve found it! Last night her flight passed through arge mountain range between Faike and Lightspring. She might havended there. How is it? I was quick this time, right? I didn¡¯t expect Noah to be so courageous this time. However, that mountain range is vast. There is no way she could be alive if she really jumped off the ne. Maverick, are you sure you want to look for her?¡± Maverick frowned, and his obsidian-like eyes began to twitch uncontrobly all of a sudden. ¡°I want to see her, dead or alive, with my own eyes.¡± He hung up the phone after he said that and hurried toward the mountain range. Eloise had initially nned to go to Treyton¡¯s vi early in the morning to drag Inez out. It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon that an opportunity arose because Treyton had been home. Eloise had looked into Treyton¡¯s schedule. As soon as she confirmed that he had left the vi and was heading to Angle, she immediately went to his residence with a few bodyguards. ¡°Just sit tight and wait. Whether you¡¯re Gwendolyn or Inez, you¡¯ll have to show yourself today!¡± Eloise gritted her teeth as she sat in the back seat of the Bentley. The Bentley Bentayga came to a stop at the entrance. As soon as Eloise got out of the car, she was stopped by several bodyguards, who were patrolling secretly outside the vi. ¡°Miss, this is Mr. Harris¡¯ private residence, and he has already left. Pleasee over again when Mr. Harris is at home,¡± said a polite bodyguard, who was wearing a suit and sunsses. ¡°How dare you stop me?¡± Eloise looked at him disdainfully from head to toe. She was deterinined to Chapter 69 There Is Another Woman get into Treyton¡¯s vi. 68% +25 Bonus The bodyguard blocked her line of sight. ¡°Please leave. We cannot let anyone in without Mr. Harris¡¯ order.¡± Eloise was infuriated by his attitude. She raised her hand and pped him across his face. The crisp sound of the p could be heard in the quiet residential area. ¡°You didn¡¯t listen to me when I was being polite. I had to take action. You listen well. I am Treyton¡¯s fiancee! The second daughter of the Ferguson family! Who are you to stop me?¡± Eloise revealed her identity arrogantly. ¡°Even if you are his fianc¨¦e, you cannot enter without Mr. Harris¡¯ permission. Please don¡¯t put us in at difficult position.¡± Eloise¡¯s patience had run out. ¡°You¡¯re just bodyguards. Don¡¯t be ignorant. As Treyton¡¯s fianc¨¦e, I suspect there¡¯s another woman in his vi. Why can¡¯t Ie and take a look? It¡¯s only reasonable, by all means. If you know what¡¯s good for you, let me in right now The bodyguards exchanged nces, and their determination wavered. The bodyguards naturally knew that Eloise was of noble status and not someone they could afford to mess with. If a fight were to break out, they wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the consequences, so they reluctantly backed off. After all, she could enter the main gate, but she can¡¯t get to the third floor. Eloise scoffed haughtily, flicked her hair, and walked through the gate with her bodyguards. ¡°Quickly inform Mr. Harris that someone has broken in, and we can¡¯t stop them,¡± the bodyguard ordered with a solemn expression after Eloise entered the vi. Flora, who was cleaning the vi saw them and was stunned for two seconds. ¡°Who are you? How dare you break into someone¡¯s house in broad daylight? Get out of here right now, or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± ¡°Who do I need to report to when I enter my fiance¡¯s house?¡± Eloise frowned and looked at Flora with contempt. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her. Search the premise! Keep searching until you find that person!¡± ¡°Hey! Why are you doing this?!¡± Flora set aside the mop in her hand and hurriedly tried to stop the bodyguards. ¡°Not only are you trespassing, but you even dare to rummage through someone else¡¯s home!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll search however I want to search.¡± Eloise gave her contemptuous look and then looked at the bodyguards behind her. ¡°What are you waiting for? Do you expect me to search for her myself?¡± The bodyguards, who were initially rooted to their spot, immediately dispersed. Eloise swaggered over to the couch and sat down. Flora was furious. She pointed at Eloise and scolded, ¡°You! Do you really think you¡¯re the owner of this ce? So what if you¡¯re Ms. Ferguson? You can¡¯tpare to Ms. Shalders!¡± Flora¡¯s wordspletely infuriated Eloise, and with a swift kick, she knocked over the trash can. The floor that had just been cleaned was suddenly covered in trash again. 13:59 Mon, May 15 Chapter 69 There Is Another Woman Flora trembled with anger. 68%ͯ +25 Bonus Eloise crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her with a smug expression on her face. ¡°Well? If I don¡¯t do something, how can I live up to the image you have of me in your mind?¡± Gunnar came downstairs and whispered into Eloise¡¯s ear, ¡°Ms. Ferguson, we¡¯ve searched the first and second floors, but we couldn¡¯t find anything. However, we noticed that the third floor is being watched over by numerous bodyguards, which is very suspicious.¡± ¡°Turn the third floor upside down!¡± Eloise stood up and personally led the group of bodyguards toward the third floor. A few bodyguards in suits stopped her at the staircase leading to the third floor. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, please halt. Mr. Harris has specifically instructed that no one other than himself is allowed on the third floor. I kindly ask you to turn back.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°I will be the woman of this ce in the future, low dare you stop me?¡± Eloise red at him and tried to walk past him, but he reached out and stopped her again. ¡°My apologies, Ms. Ferguson, but Mr. Harris has made it clear that nobody is allowed through without his permission, and that includes you. Please cooperate with us.¡± ¡°How outrageous! I must go in today. Let¡¯s see who dares to stop me!¡± Eloise gestured with her hand, and the bodyguards behind her immediately understood what she meant. Her bodyguards quickly rushed over and fought with the members of the Haris family. However, the bodyguards on the third floor were exceptionally agile, and the fewbat experts Eloise had brought with her were all restrained, resulting in a very tense battle. Eloise red at Gunnar and said through greeted teeth, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t you say that all of them were famous experts? Why can¡¯t they handle a group of bodyguards?¡± ¡°Ms. Ferguson, I swear to the heavens, this group of people are indeedbat experts. However, the individuals arranged by Mr. Harris are also quite skilled, and all of them are well-trained.¡± ¡°What should we do, then? We can¡¯t turn back now!¡± Eloise bit her lip as she couldn¡¯t ept defeat. All of a sudden, she caught a glimpse of the dagger tucked into Gunnar¡¯s waist out of the corner of her eye. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Take Her With Me +25 Bonus She drew out the dagger. ¡°Stand still, all of you!¡± Then she pressed the dagger against her wrist. ¡°I¡¯m going to slit my wrist if you don¡¯t let me in!¡± The bodyguards froze in the middle of their brawl and stared at Eloise. Gunnar broke out in a cold sweat over her action. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, please don¡¯t do that. You can¡¯t hurt yourself over something so trivial. It¡¯s not worth it! How can I exin the situation to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson if you¡¯re wounded?¡± ¡°Did you hear that? I am the second daughter of the Ferguson family of Salinsburgh and the apple of the Ferguson family¡¯s eye. Can you imagine the wrath of the Ferguson family and how they will take their anger out on you? Have you ever thought of the horrible consequences you will face?¡± She was confident that her identity would intimidate the bodyguards. She gave Gunnar a look and sneered, ¡°If the destruction of your family is not what you wish to witness, then get out of my way!¡± ¡°Ms. Ferguson, why are you doing this?¡± The head of the bodyguards hesitated. ¡°How about we each take a step back? You leave with your men, and I¡¯ll pretend you were never here. What do you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so! I must enter through this door today!¡± Eloise casually threw the dagger onto the ground. Gunnar and his team quickly subdued the bodyguards on the third floor as the bodyguards all had their attention focused on Eloise. Initially, both sides were evenly matched in terms of winning opportunities. But now, Eloise held the absolute advantage. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, I sincerely want to talk to you, yet you chose to y dirty!¡± ¡°What do you mean by ying dirty?¡± Eloise said coldly. ¡°Let¡¯s face it. I outsmarted you!¡± She made a gesture, telling her men to lead the bodyguards away when a man¡¯s low, angry voice boomed from the stairs below. ¡°Wow! What a brilliant strategy you disyed to outsmart him.¡± Treyton walked up the stairs and let out a cold snort. He looked at Eloise with undisguised disgust and said, ¡°Ms. Ferguson, please get out of my vi as soon as possible. There¡¯s no room for someone as important as you here.¡± A sliver of guilt appeared on Eloise¡¯s face as she turned around abruptly. ¡°Wait, Trey. Just hear me out.¡± ¡°Hear you out? Are you trying to defend yourself on why you barge into my house during broad daylight and bully my men?¡± Treyton shot her a disdainful look. ¡°I don¡¯t wish to see anyone who doesn¡¯t matter in my house. If you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll have someone throw you out.¡± ¡°Treyton! How dare you say I don¡¯t matter?¡± Eloise stomped her foot in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m your future wife! Why are you treating me this way? I¡¯ve followed you from Salinsburgh to Faike. Aren¡¯t you touched by my actions at all? You know very well that we¡¯re engaged, and I¡¯ll get jealous. Yet, you still treated that wretched Gwendolyn kindly while ignoring me! You even refused to see me to have lunch with her in the office! What should I do for you to ept my feelings? Do I have to rip my heart out for you To see? Even now, you have another woman in your vi! Treyton, do you care about me at all?¡± Eloise¡¯s eyes reddened. She bit her lip before pouncing at Treyton. 13:59 Mon, May 15 Chapter 70 Take Her With Me Treyton dodged away from her, and Eloise wasn¡¯t even able to touch his shirt. ¡°Please behave yourself.¡± +25 Bonus ¡°Behave? Have you forgotten that I am your legitimate fianc¨¦e? It¡¯s perfectly reasonable for me to be at my fianc¨¦¡¯s house! I can hug my fianc¨¦ whenever I want!¡± Eloise repeatedly emphasized her title as her chest heaved with anger. Treyton¡¯s face darkened when he heard her remarks. It seems you¡¯ve forgotten how exactly we got engaged. I don¡¯t mind helping you recall the exact details if you¡¯re keen on recalling the past!¡± Eloise choked on her reply. Her face turned pale. ¡°Oh, so you remember it now?¡± Treyton nced at his wristwatch. ¡°I have other matters to attend to. Please send Ms. Ferguson home now!¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Eloise had initially shrunk backward after hearing Treyton¡¯s words. But then, she took on a confident and unapologetic stance again when she noticed Treyton¡¯s intention to chase her away. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll leave. But I¡¯m going to take the woman in your vi with me!¡± Treyton¡¯s expression turned cold. He sounded impatient when he said, ¡°There¡¯s no one else in the vi, let alone a woman.¡± Eloise let out a scoff. ¡°Really? Natasha¡¯s sister and the eldest daughter of the Mossey family, Inez Mossey, is in there, isn¡¯t she? I¡¯m going to take her with me today.¡± ¡°Inez? Who¡¯s that? I¡¯ve never seen her before. You need to have supporting evidence when you speak.¡± Treyton sneered. He waved his hand, asking for more bodyguards to show up. ¡°See the guests out!¡± ¡°It¡¯s only right for me to chase away the other woman in my fianc¨¦¡¯s house! You need to unlock the room today!¡± ¡°Eloise, there¡¯s a limit to my patience with you.¡± A dangerous glint shed across Treyton¡¯s narrowed. eyes. ¡°No matter what you say today, I¡¯m taking Inez with me! There¡¯s no room for negotiation on this matter!¡± Eloise raised her head determinedly for the first time. Treyton chuckled coldly. ¡°It¡¯s not up to you to negotiate about this. I don¡¯t mind canceling the engagement if you refuse to leave now.¡± ¡°What!¡± Eloise stumbled backward in shock. Fury filled her as she screamed hysterically. ¡°Are you actually going to call off our marriage because of the woman in the house? In your dreams! The Ferguson family may not be as influential as the Harris family, but we¡¯re still a respectable family in Salinsburgh! Galling off a marriage is noughing matter, so you can¡¯t decide this yourself.¡± ¡°Well, you can give it a try.¡± Treyton unlocked his phone and made a call to Elisha. ¡°What on earth did I do wrong for you to be this heartless to me?¡± Tears filled Eloise¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is it because of Gwendolyn? What good can she bring you? She¡¯s a divorced woman and has no familial influence or power! Why are you so devoted to her?¡± Chapter 70 Take Her With Me ¡°Don¡¯tpare yourself to her. It will only humiliate you!¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. +25 Bonus Eloise gritted her teeth. A thought crossed her mind then and delight filled her. ¡°In that case, I have bad news for you. She¡¯s dead! Her ne crashedst night. What do you think? Isn¡¯t this a surprisingly delightful piece of news?¡± she said, pretending to be sorry, then burst intoughter. Her mood turned better when she took in the shock on Treyton¡¯s face. ¡°What a pity! Your beloved Gwendolyn has now be a cold, lifeless corpse!¡± Treyton¡¯s face was utterly ashen. He found the news hard to believe. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth. You¡¯ve got to ept it.¡± Eloise felt a pang of jealousy creeping into her heart upon seeing Treyton¡¯s pained expression. Why does he show all of his tenderness and love for that b*tch? Why won¡¯t he fall in love with me even when that b*tch is dead! ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m still taking Inez with me today even if you want to call off the engagement!¡± Eloise added. The sound of high heels cking could be heard right then. ¡°Did someone spread rumors about me being dead? I was wondering who the loudmouth was, but then everything made sense when I saw you, Ms. Ferguson.¡± Anguid yet domineering female voice echoed from below. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Wake Her Up +25 Bonus Elise turned her head toward the stairs upon hearing the familiar voice. She spotted Gwendolyn man elegant velvet dress with a freasts looking man behind her However, she could not discern the man¡¯s appearance becasue he was wearing ? trinok ¡°You¡¯ W Why are you beer Aren¡¯t you dead¡± Doper smile frog The shock was evident in her eyes when she asked incredulously This is impossible¡± Ves tamped off the ne! How are you still alive?¡± at Gwendolyn ailed in respena lorking a charming before I¡¯m sorry for getting your hopes up My Ferguson ¡°You b*tch Ira because of you Trepon wants to call (8 you Unable to contain ber angry. Floater lunged at Glutely n Gwendo with m?? I¡¯m going to end dodged her skillfully loves could ever givend Sare Taredy She lost her bnce, nearly falling t out the ground. evened be all eight Tression let out a deep bength of exterf as the caressed Gweoly¡¯s & face ¡°Why don¡¯t you head in and check on Irony fire? Ile the mammers hote All right. Til leave her Then along with the fully overed Karras, they walked into Sound e figure Trevion watched as Gwendolyn¡¯s figan disappeared other dig of the orriclor With a gloomy n he turned to two Eloise who was still san fh I¡¯ve already informed the Ferguson family to canerdigh before I get in die mood to settle the scores M Treyton¡¯s face as fie spoke ingaermarna. De wether you should and scram There were sew informa disgust on Eloise couldn¡¯t stop crying: ¡°How could you do this one. Trey I¡¯m the one who loves you the most, yet this is how you repay me Do you have to resort to such crarity You re lying to me, right? You¡¯re not serious about calling off the marriage Trevion who stood tall at one meter eighty night, regarded Eloise¡¯s embarrassing behavior with ¡°Ms Ferguson¡¯ I¡¯ve just received word from the Ferguson family Everything Mr. Harris said is true!¡± Gunnar helped Eloise up from the ground ¡°Mr and Mrs Ferguson want me to bring you home now?¡± ¡°No¡± I¡¯m not going back and no one can make me¡± Gunnar gripped her ant tried to break free from his grasp, but ¡°Ms Ferguson please Mi Harris is feeling upset now so be patient with him! I¡¯m sure Mr and Mrs. Ferguson will talk to him about the engagement Gunnar dragged Elosse downstairs forcefully Then, he shot a look at his subordmates. ¡°Why are you guys still standing around? Let¡¯s go!¡± The group left dejectedly having lost the confidence they had possessed when they first arrived. Meanwhile, over at luez¡¯s room, Kieran took out the medical kit and equipment he had carried with turn and did a basic checkup for Inez Gwendolyn sat on a small couch nearby, watching Kieran do his job while secretly observing Inez, who 1/3 14:00 Mon, May 15 Chapter 71 Wake Her Up was sound asleep on the bed. +25 Bonus Inez and Natasha were half-sisters, sharing the same father but different mothers. However, the sisters didn¡¯t look alike. Natasha was attractive and charming, yet she had the look of a pretentious innocent woman. On the other hand, Inez¡¯s facial features were sharper, and she looked brighter and kind. Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t familiar with Inez, so she didn¡¯t feelfortable judging her character. However, Gwendolyn knew Inez must have been a career-driven woman, seeing how the woman had managed Mossey Group in an orderly and meticulous manner. She wasn¡¯t just a pampered youngdy who was clueless. ¡°Kieran, what are the test results?¡± Gwendolyn went over to help Kieran when she saw him packing his equipment. ¡°Not too bad. There are signs of her brain function recovering, indicating that her body¡¯s functions are gradually improving.¡± Kieran stated, handing Inez¡¯s report to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn quickly scanned the report. ¡°Is there a way to wake her up as soon as possible?¡± Kieran pondered momentarily before replying, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible. She¡¯ll probably regain consciousness within a week after undergoing surgery¡± ¡°One week?¡± Gwendolyn scrunched up her brows. ¡°No, a week is too long. Do you have any way to up within two days?¡± wake her ¡°Two days?¡± Kieran was astonished by Gwendolyn¡¯s request. ¡°I¡¯ve just mentioned the safest surgical method to you. If you insist on waking her up in two days¡±-Kieran sank into deep thought-¡± then we might have to resort to thest and most dangerous treatment n.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Kieran, how confident are you in this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called deep brain stimtion, which requires the opening of the skull and the chest. The operation carries a high risk. Even I am only forty percent sure. Are you sure you want to take the risk?¡± Kieran is an expert in the medical field, and even he only has forty percent confidence in making this work. This surgery is quite challenging, huh? If we fail¡­ Gwendolyn hesitated for a moment. Then, she lifted her head with determination. ¡°Let¡¯s try it! Not matter what, I believe in you! Kieran, get ready. We will start the procedure shortly.¡± Treyton knocked on the door before poking his head in. ¡°Is there anything that I can help with?¡± ¡°Perfect timing.¡± Kieran cleared his throat. ¡°Do you have a ce in your vi that we can turn into an operating room?¡± Treyton understood Kieran¡¯s intention immediately. ¡°I think I just might have a suitable room for you. My personal doctor used to stay here. I¡¯ll ask the housekeeper to get it ready for you.¡± Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡± Kieran nodded calmly, gathered his equipment, and followed Treyton out. ¡°Kieran, I¡¯ll tag along. I can be your assistant.¡± Gwendolyn chased after the men. She walked alongside 0/9 14:00 Mon, May 15 Chapter 71 Wake Her Up them into the personal doctor¡¯s room. +25 Bonus Kieran scanned the room with a satisfied expression. ¡°Nice! It¡¯s fully equipped. Have the housekeeper clean up and disinfect the room, then bring the patient in.¡± Soon, Flora entered with a few housekeepers in tow, and they quickly tidied up the entire room. They gently ced Inez on the operating table while Kieran calmly aimed the instrument at her head, preparing for the first step. ¡°Gwendolyn, check the power supply.¡± He made a final check on the instruments, ensuring everything was foolproof. ¡°Everything is ready!¡± Gwendolyn stood quietly behind Kieran and observed him as he concentrated on the surgery. The scalpel in Kieran¡¯s hand remained steady even after five hours of surgery. However, there was a layer of sweat on his forehead. Gwendolyn stood beside Kieran, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead from time to time. ¡°Tweezers.¡± Kieran extended one of his hands toward Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn immediately picked up a pair of tweezers and passed it to Kieran. The intensity of the surgery was extremely high, yet Kieran seemed tireless as he skillfully and calmly operated the surgical instruments. Gwendolyn watched him intently. A thought shed across her mind. Kieran is indeed a genius in the surgical field. ¡°Gwendolyn, disinfect the instruments again. We¡¯re about to perform a thoracotomy, and a simple careless mistake could lead to infection,¡± Kieran said sternly. ¡°Okay!¡± Gwendolyn responded. Treyton stood guard outside the door while constantly checking his watch. It has been nearly ten hours now. Why haven¡¯t they finished the surgery? Even though Treyton was anxious, he didn¡¯t dare to barge in for fear of disturbing the surgery. ¡°Mr. Harris, there¡¯s news from the Ferguson family,¡± the butler reported softly as he walked up the stairs Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Pushing Treyton Away ¡°What did they say?¡± Treyton furrowed his brows, waiting with great interest for his response. +25 Bonus ¡°Mr. Ferguson has locked Ms. Ferguson up, and she is not allowed toe out without his consent.¡± the butler replied respectfully. Treyton snorted. ¡°That¡¯s good. At least she won¡¯t be able toe to Faike and cause trouble anymore. Finally, we¡¯ll have some peace and quiet for a while.¡± He waved his hand, signaling the servant to leave, and continued to stare at the two closed doors of the room. In the Ferguson residence in Salinsburgh, Eloise was in her room, throwing a tantrum. ¡°Dad is being so unreasonable! How could he lock me in my room and not even let me out the door!¡± The housekeeper timidly approached and gentlyforted her, ¡°Ms. Ferguson, don¡¯t be too upset. You¡¯re just being grounded. It will pass if you stay quietly at home for a while.¡± ¡°You know nothing! Get out of here!¡± Eloise yanked all the fresh flowers out of the vase and hurled them at the housekeeper. ¡°Get out of here! Stop bothering me!¡± Not satisfied, she grabbed the vase and furiously smashed it on the ground. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, this is absolutely uneptable! This is a crystal vase Mrs. Ferguson brought back from Ferropene. It¡¯s invaluable! You can¡¯t break it!¡± The housekeeper looked at the vase with a broken corner, feeling heartbroken but not daring to step forward and stop her. ¡°These things belong to my family, and I can smash them however I want! How dare you, a mere housekeeper, try to boss me around? I¡¯ll rip your tongue out if you dare to talk back again!¡± She pushed all the cosmetics off the table, and the crisp sounds of them shattering on the floor were quite jarring. The housekeeper knew trying to advise her was useless as it would only bring more trouble upon herself, so she simply closed her mouth, shut the door, and left. Wyatt and Emma heard Eloise¡¯s furious outburst from upstairs. Wyatt¡¯s face darkened as he threw the cigarette butt into the ashtray. ¡°Look at the well-behaved daughter you¡¯ve raised!¡± ¡°How could you say that?¡± Emma was dissatisfied. ¡°Isn¡¯t she your daughter too? You¡¯re so eager to distance yourself. Are you trying to avoid responsibility?¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you constantly spoiling her, would she have turned out like this? Treyton wants to call off the engagenient this time, and no matter how much I humble myself, he won¡¯t change his mind. If we let her continue acting recklessly, the Ferguson family is bound to fall apart because of her!¡± Wyatt 1/4 Chapter 72 Pushing Treyton Away said, his face full of anger. ¡°You-¡± +25 Bonus Just as Emma was about to retort sarcastically, Sherman, who wasing down from upstairs, noticed the tense atmosphere and quickly stepped in to mediate. ¡°Mom, Dad, it¡¯s normal for Eloise to feel upset since she¡¯s been grounded. Let her vent a little. It¡¯s good. for her!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the right way to vent her frustrations! Just listen. If she keeps throwing things like that, all those world-ss treasures in the house will be gone in no time!¡± Wyatt pointed upstairs, sighing repeatedly, looking disappointed and frustrated. The sound of things being smashed could still be fairly heard. After pondering for a moment, Sherman decided to go upstairs andfort her personally. Upstairs, Eloise was holding an antique decorative te, ready to smash it on the ground. ¡°Who pissed you off so much?¡± Sherman took the te from her hand and led her to sit on the couch. ¡°Getting too angry is bad for your health. Breaking a couple of things to vent your frustration is enough to make you feel better.¡± ¡°Sherman!¡± Eloise, feeling aggrieved, tugged at his arm. ¡°Just because of a divorced woman. Treyton actually wants to call off our engagement!¡± Sherman pinched her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s probably not that simple, isn¡¯t it? How could I not know your little schemes?¡± ¡°Ever since that woman got divorced, Treyton has been letting her stay in the vi and treating her so gently and considerately. How do you expect me to swallow my pride? Sherman. I know you¡¯ve always been the one who cared for me the most since we were little. Can you help me get rid of Gwendolyn?¡± She yfully shook his arm. ¡°Would you really stand by and watch your sister¡¯s favorite man being snatched away by another woman?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Sherman¡¯s pupils dted. He ced both hands on Eloise¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Eloise, say that again. What was the woman¡¯s name?¡± Eloise was somewhat baffled, but she repeated herself, ¡°Gwendolyn. She¡¯s an orphan from Faike Orphanage. What right does she have topete with me? Sherman, do you perhaps know her?¡± Gwendolyn¡­ This name is all too familiar. Could it be her? But how could she possibly be an orphan¡­. Sherman let go and turned around to process her words, feeling a sense of doubt in his heart. Eloise noticed something was off and asked with curiosity, ¡°Sherman, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Do you have a picture of this Gwendolyn?¡± ¡°Not long ago, she was trending on social media. There must be pictures of her online. Don¡¯t you know?¡± 914 14:04 Mon, May 15 Chapter 72 Pushing Treyton Away +25 Bonus Sherman shook his head. He was not one to pay attention to online gossip, but there was not a rumor of the incident Eloise mentioned spreading in Salinsburgh. It seemed that someone from one of the major families had ordered a news ckout. Could it be the Harris family? But why did the Harris family want to block the news about this woman in Salinsburgh? The doubts and spections in his heart grew deeper and deeper. Eloise sat down on the couch, fuming as she took out her phone. She flipped through the photos she had secretly taken of Gwendolyn carlier and handed the phone to Sherman for him to see. ¡°Sherman, you have to help me. As long as this despicable woman dies, no one willpete with me. for Treyton anymore¡­¡± Eloise kept chattering away, but Sherman was focused on the photos on her phone. His beautiful eyes. were brimming with emotions. ¡°Sherman? Did you hear me?¡± Eloise¡¯s roar snapped him out of his trance. ¡°So, you desperately want her to die?¡±. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Eloise said with determination in her eyes. Sherman tapped her on the head, looking disappointed at her stubbornness. ¡°How should I wake you up? The more you pick on her, the more you¡¯re pushing Treyton away with your own hands!¡± ¡°Sherman, what do you mean?¡± Eloise dodged his hand, feeling quite displeased. Shermanughed in exasperation. ¡°You¡¯re trying to harm his only younger sister. Why do you think he is distancing himself from you and hates you?¡± ¡°What? His younger sister?¡± Eloise was utterly astonished. Gwendolyn is actually Treyton¡¯s younger sister? How is this even possible? ¡°Didn¡¯t the Harris family announce the death of their little daughter six years ago? Although I¡¯ve never met her, I¡¯ve looked into Gwendolyn¡¯s background, and she¡¯s clearly an orphan!¡± Sherman sighed. ¡°You should know how powerful the Harris family is. If they don¡¯t want anyone to find out, how can you possibly uncover anything? As for why the Harris family did this, perhaps it was to protect her.¡± In just a few ininutes, Sherman had more or less sorted everything out. Eloise stood there, utterly speechless with astonishment. Sherman nced at the messy room she had created. If you still want to keep this marriage engagement with Treyton, stop thinking about harming her. In the meantime, you stay at home and think about how to apologize to her.¡± He patted Eloise on the shoulder and left her bedroom. Six years ago, he had been devasted when Gwendolyn disappeared and the Harris family announced her death. Later on, even though his parents had arranged for him to meet manydies in the upper-ss society both openly and secretly, he just could not forget her Now that he knew she was still alive and was in Faike, he wished he could have a pair of wings and fly to her side immediately. After Sherman left, Eloise remained stunned on the spot. She took quite some time to regain her composure. Everything she did not understand had an exnation now. Why were Gwendolyn and Treyton having lunch together in his office? Why did Treyton treat her with such care and attention? And how did Gwendolyn immediatelynd the position of talent director upon arriving at Angle? Did I almost hurt my future sister-inw? Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Something Feels Off About Inez +25 Bonus Eloise jolted awake, feeling immensely relieved that Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t lost her life this time. Otherwise, she and Treyton might never have had a chance to be together again. She slumped to the ground while pondering how to make amends for everything she had done before. After pondering for a while, she picked up her phone and called Treyton. The busy signal kept ringing from the other end of the phone, making the waiting period feel exceptionally long. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Treyton¡¯s impatient voice rang out. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t hang up first! Trey, I really need to talk to you!¡± Eloise gripped her phone tightly as if she was afraid that he would hang up any second. ¡°If you want me to persuade Mr. Ferguson to lift your confinement, then forget about it. As for the engagement, I¡¯m still thinking over it.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m actually looking for Gwendolyn. I don¡¯t have her contact information¡­ Could you please pass her the phone?¡± Eloise¡¯s voice grew softer as she spoke ¡°You¡¯re looking for her? Ms. Ferguson, I would advise you to abandon any further ill intentions toward Gwendolyn. I will not allow you the opportunity to hurt her,¡± Treyton warned in a low voice. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I want to talk to her so I can apologize. Eloise bit her lip. ¡°Please give her the phone. Trey, I¡¯m begging you.¡± ¡°Apologize?¡± 1 1 Treyton was even more astonished. However, since Eloise was far away in Salinsburgh and kept locked up, she couldn¡¯t possibly cause much trouble. Reluctantly, he agreed to her request. He gently knocked on the door of the temporary operating room before opening it slightly and waving to Gwendolyn, who was inside. Gwendolyn shot a nce at Kieran, who was still focused on performing surgery, before tiptoeing out of the room. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Treyton handed his phone to her. ¡°Eloise is looking for you.¡± ¡°Looking for me?¡± Gwendolyn took his phone from him suspiciously and nced at the screen. ¡°What is it? Can¡¯t behave yourself even when you¡¯re back home? Now you¡¯re even calling me to give me a hard time?¡± ¡°No, I called to apologize to you.¡± Eloise¡¯s voice no longer carried the arrogance and domineering attitude from the past, but her many years of living as a wealthy and prestigious socialite still made it impossible for her to bepletely humble. Chapter 73 Something Feels Off About ¡­ +25 Bonus ¡°I admit that I was wrong for what I did in the past, and I apologize. As long as you don¡¯t interfere with my rtionship with Treyton in the future, I¡¯m willing to get along with you peacefully.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. It seems that she has discovered my true identity, hasn¡¯t she? Noticing that there was no response from the other side, Eloise felt a bit uneasy and continued, ¡°To show my sincerity, I will consider Inez¡¯s matter as a gift to you.¡± ¡°A gift?¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t stop a chuckle from escaping her lips and said, ¡°All right then. I look forward to it.¡± Eloise wasn¡¯t even upset when Gwendolyn hung up on her. Instead, she dialed another number immediately. The call was answered almost instantly by Natasha, who was at the hospital. ¡°How did it go? Did you find Inez?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to look for her anymore because she¡¯s already dead,¡± Eloise said coldly. ¡°Really?¡± Natasha¡¯s voice was filled with joy. ¡°Are you sure? She was at Treyton¡¯s vi, right? Was she killed personally by someone you sent? She-¡± Eloise interrupted her and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough. You don¡¯t need to know the details; you just need to know that she¡¯s dead. I¡¯m calling simply to inform you that our coboration is over.¡± Natasha never expected Eloise to make her decision so quickly. Her eyes widened in shock when she heard thetter¡¯s words. ¡°Why? Just because both Gwendolyn and Inez are dead?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Because of this, Treyton wants to call off the engagement, and my parents are already aware of it.¡± Eloise¡¯s voice rose a few octaves. ¡°I¡¯m already struggling to protect myself, and I don¡¯t have the time or energy to continue working with you. Anyway, the two women who posed the greatest threat to you are already dead, so your path to bing the heir to Mossey Group should be smooth sailing.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing more to say. Let¡¯s just leave it at that Eloise cut her off impatiently and directly hung up the phone. Natasha wanted to say something more, but all she heard in response was a busy tone. As she stared nkly at the call history on her phone, she felt very happy but a bit puzzled. She had dealt with the two people she hated the most, and it was certainly worth celebrating. However, Natasha couldn¡¯t help but feel suspicious due to Eloise¡¯s unusual behavior. She felt that Eloise was behaving much more strangely than usual tonight, but she couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint what was off about thetter. Chapter 73 Something Feels Off About ¡­ +25 Bonus Regardless, since she couldn¡¯t figure it out, she decided not to dwell on it for now. She tossed her phone aside andy down on the bed. Even though she tried to dismiss these doubts from her mind, Eloise¡¯s words remained deeply rooted in her thoughts, lingering persistently and refusing to fade away.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The more Natasha thought about it, the more upset she became. She decided to sit up and stared at the ceiling with her head tilted back. Something was very odd about Eloise tonight. Natasha simply couldn¡¯t help but feel suspicious of her former partner-in-crime. Both of them worked together initially due to their own interests. Perhaps only they themselves were truly aware of the level of trust between them. ¡°Oh, it looks like you¡¯ve recovered pretty well!¡± Just then, Madelyn walked in with a housekeeper and saw Natasha sitting on the bed. Frowning with disdain, she demanded, ¡°Hurry up and eat. Stop staring at the ceiling and pretending as if you¡¯re deep in thought.¡± Natasha could never get used to the meals provided by the hospital. Even with the VIP meal, she only took a couple of bites before tossing it disdainfully aside. Therefore, she kept insisting that the Mossey family bring her food. As a result, Madelyn often mocked and made sarcastic remarks toward her, both openly and subtly. Natasha took the meal handed to her by the housekeeper. Upon seeing Madelyn, she was immediately reminded of the dead Inez, which put her in an exceptionally good mood. ¡°Yeah, I recovered quite quickly, which is great news for the Mossey family. After all, I am the heir to the family. If something were to happen to me, what would be of the family?¡± As she stirred the fruit and vegetable sd, she lifted her head and nced sideways at Madelyn. Madelyn rolled her eyes without hesitation and said scornfully, ¡°As expected of a mistress¡¯ child. You¡¯ll always be a little b*tch. You¡¯ll never be able to escape that identity your whole life. Even if you¡¯re in a high position now, what does it matter? What isn¡¯t yours will never truly be yours.¡± Having said that, Madelyn turned her head away, not even bothering to look at Natasha in order to avoid further upsetting herself. Taking in how calm Madelyn appeared, Natasha couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Inez disappeared mysteriously, yet Madelyn is showing no signs of anxiety or unease. Something about this just doesn¡¯t feel right. At that thought, she gave Madelyn a cold nce and said, ¡°I¡¯m just injured and will be discharged from the hospital soon, but your child is rather pitiful. After all, she has left this world forever.¡± With the air of a victor, she watched with delight as Madelyn¡¯s expression gradually shift from calmness to panic-stricken. ¡°What did you say?¡± Madelyn lunged forward, grabbing Natasha by her hospital gown. ¡°Exin yourself! What happened to my daughter?¡± ¡°Are you deaf?¡± Natasha swatted Madelyn¡¯s hand away in disgust. ¡°I said, your daughter will never appear in this world again because Inez¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°Impossible! That can¡¯t be true! You¡¯re lying! My daughter is clearly alive and well, so how could she possibly be dead? You¡¯re lying to me! You¡¯re just jealous of her, and that¡¯s why you¡¯re cursing her!¡± Madelyn was agitated, her fingers trembling with anger as she pointed at Natasha. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 You Will Really Harm Inez +25 Bonus ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be jealous of. She¡¯s just a harmless person in a vegetative state,¡± Natasha mocked. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, ask the person who took her away. Inez¡¯s death has nothing to do with me.¡± Madelyn covered her ears and let out a piercing scream before running outside agitatedly. Watching her leave, Natasha couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and burst into heartyughter. Initially, she had some doubts about what Eloise had said, but seeing Madelyn¡¯s reaction then, she was certain that something had indeed gone wrong with hez. There would be no morepetition for her in the journey to be the Mossey family heir. She had finally overturned the situation! Now that Gwendolyn and Inez were both dead, there was no one left topete with her for Maverick¡¯s love, and no one to stand in her way of earning greater fame and status. Natasha was in an exceptionally good mood. She picked up a piece of sd with her fork and put it in her mouth, still unable to suppress the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. After taking just two bites, she ced the sd on the bedside table and swiftly lifted the nkets. Upon seeing this, the housekeeper hurried over to help her. ¡°Ms. Mossey, what are you trying to do?¡± the housekeeper asked in concern. ¡°Getting discharged.¡± Natasha¡¯s tone was determined as she sat down in the wheelchair with the help of the housekeeper and left the ward. After leaving the hospital, Madelyn instructed the Mossey family¡¯s driver to go to Treyton¡¯s vi at the fastest speed possible. Deep into the night, a myriad of stars adorned the sky, adding a touch of romance to the tranquil darkness. Madelyn stormed into the courtyard angrily, awakening the butler and a group of housekeepers who had already fallen asleep. ¡°It¡¯s already veryte into the night. If you have any business, pleasee back tomorrow to see Mr. Harris,¡± the butler said groggily as he greeted her, trying his best to be polite, ¡°I don¡¯t care! I must see my daughter today!¡± Madelyn¡¯s eyes were red as she fiercely pushed him away. ¡°Tell me, where is my Inez?¡± ¡°Please calm down. You might disturb others who are resting. Please go back.¡± Witnessing Madelyn¡¯s emotional outburst, the butler immediately stepped in with the housekeepers to stop her. ¡°What are you all doing? Hurry up and help me!¡± Madelyn turned around and shouted angrily at her bodyguards. Taking advantage of the moment when the Mossey family¡¯s bodyguards were engaged in an altercation 1/7/4 Chapter 74 You Will Really Harm Inez +25 Bonus with the butler and housekeepers. Madelyn slipped into the vi. ncing up at the illuminated third floor, she swiftly climbed the stairs. Treyton, who was standing near the stairs, had just caught sight of Madelyn. Before he could even utter a word, she grabbed his sleeve. ¡°Where is my daughter? I want to see her right now! Treyton frowned before pulling his sleeve out of her grasp and straightening the cuff elegantly. ¡°Calm down,¡± he said. ¡°She¡¯s receiving treatment in a room on the third floor. You can rest assured.¡± ¡°No, I need to see her right now!¡± She simply couldn¡¯t be at case without seeing Inez alive with her own eyes. Gwendolyn heard amotioning from outside. As she stepped out of her room, she saw the scene unfolding before her and walked over. ¡°Mrs. Mossey, when I took Ms. Inez away, I promised to ensure her safety, and you agreed to it at that time. Now, however, you havee to the vite at night, disturbing our peace. What is the meaning of this?¡± Upon seeing her. Madelyn immediately grabbed her and wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°I don¡¯t care about all that! I want to stop coborating with you! Let me see Inez right now! I want to take her away!¡± Gwendolyn frowned as she pushed the older woman¡¯s hand away, displeased. ¡°I understand that you¡¯re worried about your daughter, but please remember, Mrs. Mossey, that you represent the entire Mossey family. Is this how the Massey family conducts business, by breaking its promises? I will not allow you to take her away.¡± Madelyn was at a loss for words, unsure of how to refilte her. In the end, she simply decided to throw at tantrum and made a scene, ¡°Either way, if you don¡¯t let me see my daughter today, I won¡¯t leave even if I die here!¡± Gwendolyn was about to signal someone to escort the guest out when the housekeeper who had been tending to Inez emerged from the room with an anxious expression. ¡°Ms. Harris, bad news! Ms. Inez is in danger!¡± ¡°What?¡± Madelyn clearly heard the housekeeper¡¯s voice and pushed past Gwendolyn in a desperate rush to enter the room. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Inez? Let me in to see her immediately!¡± Gwendolyn quickly grabbed Madelyn, preventing her from barging into the operating room. ¡°If you go in now and interrupt any ongoing treatment, you¡¯ll truly be harming her! Do you really want to lose your daughter forever?¡± Madelyn was intimidated by Gwendolyn¡¯s sharp tone and gaze. 2/4 Chapter 74 You Will Really Harm Inez +25 Bonus It took her several seconds before she finally came back to her senses. She mustered the strength to struggle, attempting to break free from Gwendolyn¡¯s grip. However, she was no match for Gwendolyn. who had practiced jiu-jitsu before and was much stronger. Frustrated, she could only snap angrily, ¡°Stop trying to scare me! You took my daughter away and won¡¯t let me see her. If anything happens to her, I won¡¯t let you off the hook! I must see her today!¡± She tried her best to pry Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers loose but still couldn¡¯t break free. ¡°Let go of me! Let me in!¡± ¡°Fine, go ahead then! If you interrupt the surgery inside and anything happens to Inez, it¡¯s all your fault¡± Abruptly letting go of the hysterical woman, Gwendolyn crossed her arms and stared at her coldly. Madelyn staggered before regaining her bnce, staring at Gwendolyn in disbelief. ¡°How could you perform surgery on Inez without my permission?¡± ¡°The doctor performing the surgery inside is Kieran. He is a medical prodigy with a master¡¯s degree, is internationally acimed, and holds the top position in the surgical world. Every surgery he has ever performed has been a sess, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of him. If you rush in now and interrupt the surgery, you would be truly harming Inez.¡± By then, Madelyn had already reached the door. She hesitated for a moment with her hand on the doorknob. Before this, she and Jerome had considered reaching out to Kieran to seek medical treatment for Inez, but he was too famous and his demeanor too cold. Being merely a minor wealthy family in Faike, they simply couldn¡¯t afford someone of his stature. Yet, Gwendolyn actually managed to persuade Kieran toe to Faike in person. Should I really trust this woman? Madelyn stood right in front of the door, knowing that with just a gentle twist of the doorknob, she would be able to see her beloved daughter inside the room. However, she struggled internally for a long time. In the end¡­ She eventually withdrew her hand. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯ll trust you one more time, but let me make it clear if anything happens to Inez, I will not let you off the hook!¡± She unwillingly threw down these words before turning around to leave the vi. Gwendolyn and Treyton exchanged nces, both visibly relieved, as they re-entered the operating room. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The horizon gradually brightened as morning arrived. Madelyn settled into the car, closing her eyes wearily. ¡°Mrs. Mossey, where should we¡­?¡± the driver asked tentatively. ¡°Return to the Mossey residence.¡± She opened her eyes, and a hint of ruthlessness shed across her face for an instant. The ck BMW slowly pulled into the vi¡¯s garage. Madelyn adjusted her facial expression before hurriedly making her way inside. Jerome was sitting in the living room watching the morning news while Natasha sat nearby. It was a harmonious scene of a father and daughter¡¯s daily life. ¡°Darling!¡± As Madelyn burst through the door, her loud voice and sobbing shattered the harmony that had been present. The two people sitting on the sofa turned around and saw Madelyn, whose face was filled with grief, lunging toward Jerome and crying out, ¡°Darling! Our daughter is gone!¡± Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Let Her Be Despised ¡°What happened to Inez?¡± Jerome asked after turning off the television. +25 Bonus ¡°Inez was taken away by Treyton, who said he found a doctor to perform surgery on her. But something went wrong during the operation, and Inc¡­¡± Madelyn was crying her heart out, her face filled with grief. She continued to sob while saying, ¡°I went to Treyton¡¯s house to seek justice, but he just wouldn¡¯t return our dead daughter to me, and he even drove me away!¡± She gripped her chest as she sniffled. Jerome quickly poured her a ss of water, helped her sit down, and gently patted her back to help her catch her breath. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What should we do then? Treyton is not someone the Mossey family can afford to mess with.¡± Upon hearing the tragic news about his daughter, Jerome¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. However, the person he had to face was Treyton, and he could do nothing about it. On one side, it was his daughter¡¯s lifeless body. On the other, it was Treyton, a man who single- handedly ruled the entertainment industry. Moreover, with Treyton having the backing of the Harris family, the wealthiest family in Salinsburgh, Jerome dared not provoke him even though he was heartbroken by his daughter¡¯s death and wanted Treyton to pay the price. He was caught in the middle, torn between two sides. Natasha sat nearby. Her face clearly showed her unabashed delight in the misfortune of Inez. As Madelyn recovered from her grief, she saw Natasha beside her, smiling so widely her eyes curved. The sight infuriated her even more, and she pointed at thetter while cursing loudly, ¡°You despicable b*tch! It¡¯s because of you that my daughter suffered! If it wasn¡¯t for your bad luck, Inez would never have had that car ident! And now, I have to send off my child before my time!¡± Natasha scoffed andughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t make her drink and crash her car, nor did I send her to Treyton and force him to perform surgery on her. What does her death have to do with me? Stop trying to nder me by throwing all kinds of dirt on me.¡± She rolled her eyes disdainfully and ced the crystal ss heavily on the coffee table. ¡°It had to have been you, you b*tch! How else would you have known about Inez¡¯s death in advance last night? Don¡¯t even try to argue! I¡¯ll beat you to death today!¡± Madelyn was furious. She grabbed the TV remote from the coffee table and threw it at Natasha. ¡°Stop it, all of you! What kind of behavior is this!¡± Jerome let out a loud yell, forcing the two women to stop their confrontation. Natasha shifted slightly on the couch to put some distance between herself and Madelyn before speaking calmly. ¡°Tomorrow is the day Mave promised to give an exnation to the public, and we can take this opportunity to announce Inez¡¯s death.¡± 171 Chapter 75 Let Her Be Despised +25 Bonus ¡°What do you mean by this? Inez has already passed away, and you still want to take advantage of her like this?¡± Madelyn became emotional again, and Jerome quickly grabbed her, signaling for Natasha to continue speaking. ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll hold a press conference to announce Inez¡¯s death and ce all the me on Gwendolyn. This way, we won¡¯t offend Treyton and can still gain the advantage of having the masses on our side.¡± She had been nning for the press conference tomorrow for quite some time. Even if Gwendolyn is dead, I¡¯ll make sure that her reputation gets tarnished and she¡¯s despised by everyone! After pondering for a moment, Jerome nodded in agreement to her suggestion. ¡°All right, we¡¯ll go with your n. Arrange for this matter.¡± Jerome, still looking downcast and sad, sighed and led Madelyn upstairs. As there was still one day left before the public announcement, all media outlets continued to pay close attention to this matter on the Inte, and the onlookers were also waiting for the truth to be revealed. On that very night, many people were tossing and turning, struggling to fall asleep. Of course, Gwendolyn had not forgotten and was eagerly awaiting the grand performance tomorrow, In the dead of the night, she remained wide awake without a trace of sleepiness. After tossing and turning in bed for a while, she got up again and walked to the cab. She then stood on her tiptoes to reach for a small wooden box on the top shelf. Gently opening the small wooden box, she found a photograph at the very bottom. It was a wedding photo of her and Maverick, and it was the only one. If it had not been for Den insisting on her taking a wedding photo with Maverick back then, perhaps this nominal marriage of three years would have ended without even a single photo of them together. She held the photo tightly, her gaze deep and mysterious. Her knuckles turned slightly pale from exerting too much pressure, yet her indifferent face revealed no emotions. She was so engrossed in what she was looking at that she did not even hear Treyton knocking on the door a few times. Treyton stood quietly by the door, watching her and silently sighing in his heart. Is she still unable to let go despite Maverick¡¯s cold and heartless attitude toward her? Just as he was about to step in and offerfort, Gwendolyn¡¯s actions in the next second left him stunned in ce. Chapter 75 Let Her Be Despised +25 Bonus She picked up a pair of scissors, aimed at the center of the photo, and without hesitation, cut it in half. Then, she proceeded to cut Maverick¡¯s half into tiny pieces. ¡°Kiddo, what are you doing?¡± Treyton walked in and patted her shoulder reassuringly. ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t let go and was thinking about him again¡­¡± ¡°How could that be?¡± Gwendolyn sneered, causing the expression on her face to suddenly be incredibly sharp and fierce. ¡°It¡¯s time for him to repay the debts he owes me for our three years of marriage.¡± The night was long. There was someone else who was unable to fall asleep peacefully. Natasha was tossing and turning on her bed. Throughout the day, Maverick had not contacted her, and she was busy preparing for the conference the next day, so she did not have time to call him either. Tomorrow would be the day he promised to give the public an exnation. If she did not talk to him for a bit, she felt uneasy somehow. press She sat up and leaned against the headboard, reaching for her phone on the bedside table. Opening her contacts, she dialed his number. A busy tone rang out from the phone. The call never went through, and all that could be heard was the familiar female voice saying. ¡°The number you have dialed is currently switched off.¡± On weekdays, Maverick would asionally mute his phone for work, but he never turned it off. Flustered, Natasha was just about to call back when her phone rang first. After seeing the name on the screen, she picked up the phone and anxiously asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Mave? Where is he?¡± ¡°Ms. Mossey, I¡¯m at the back door of the Mossey residence. Could you pleasee down here in person?¡± The sounding from the phone was very faint. Natasha was startled and quickly changed into casual clothes. Then, she gently and quietly left the - house. While waiting at the back door, Noah kept looking around until he finally saw her approaching him swiftly. ¡°How did you get here? Isn¡¯t Mave with you? Why isn¡¯t he answering my call?¡± Natasha¡¯s face was filled with confusion and unease. She nced at Noah, who lowered his head in silence. Under the dim light, she could see that his hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn, and there were even wounds on his face. There was also a strong smell of blood emanating from him. ¡°What happened to you? Who did this to you?¡± Her emotions shifted from confusion to shock, and her heart grew increasingly uneasy. ¡°Upon learning that Gwendolyn jumped off the ne. Boss immediately drove off to search for her and hasn¡¯t returned yet. The distance between the signal towers in that area is quiterge, so Boss probably didn¡¯t receive your call. Moreover¡­ it¡¯s likely that he won¡¯t be back anytime soon.¡± ¡°What? He went to find Gwendolyn?¡± Natasha felt a sudden tightness in her chest and quickly asked, ¡°Has my n been exposed?¡± 4/4 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 I Will Denounce Her Evil Deeds +25 Bonus ¡°No. Don¡¯t worry. I take full responsibility for everything. After Boss left, he ordered to have me imprisoned, which was why I suffered severe injuries. I managed to escape tonight when that group of people got drunk.¡± Upon hearing his words, Natasha stood there, dumbfounded. Her eyes filled with astonishment. ¡°Boss won¡¯t keep me around any longer and might even hold me responsible and punish me severely. Can you shelter me for a while? I¡¯m injured and can¡¯t go far, but as soon as I recover, I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± Seeing Natasha lost in thought and not speaking, he quickly added in a humble and eager tone. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t cause you any trouble.¡± ¡°L-Let me think.¡± Natasha subconsciously took a step back. ¡°I will do my best to handle this matter properly.¡± Having lost Maverick¡¯s trust, Noah no longer held any value for her. However, if she were to have a falling out with him now and he left the Mossey residence to expose her, it would be even more detrimental to her. In order to ensure the sess of her future ns, she had no choice but to pretend to care for him and take him in for a few days. ¡°Of course, no problem. I can¡¯t just ignore you when you¡¯re injured like this.¡± Natasha tugged at his sleeve. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind staying in the servants quarters for a few days. Is that all right?¡± ¡°Ms. Mossey, I couldn¡¯t be more grateful that you are willing to take me in and provide me with a ce to live. How could I ask for more?¡± Noah looked at her with excitement, his face shining with sincerity and admiration. Natasha shot him a smile in response, but the moment she turned around, her expression turned cold. How can there be any talk of repayment for something that clearly has no value at all? Noah limped along behind her. His gaze followed her silhouette intently, and his admiration for her grew even stronger. After making sure he was settled in, Natasha gave him a few brief instructions before returning to her own room. She sat on the bed and dialed the phone again. A gloomy expression reappeared on her face. ¡°After everything settles down tomorrow, I want you to use whatever means necessary to end his life and eliminate any future troubles.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Without waiting for the person on the other end of the call to respond, Natasha coldly hung up the phone and tossed it onto the bedside table. The next day, Natasha woke up early in the morning. She carefully groomed and dressed herself, ensuring that she appeared wless in front of the reporters. Various media reporters had already arrived outside the venue, holding cameras and microphones by 1/1 67% 14.05 Mon, May 15 Chapter 76 I Will Denounce Her Evil¡­ the door as they tried to capture exclusive photos at the earliest opportunity. Natasha gracefully stepped out of the car, shing a polite smile at the camera lens. +25 Bonus ¡°I¡¯m delighted to see all of you here today. I will be fulfilling the promise my fianc¨¦, Mr. Wright, made to everyone. Since Mr. Wright has to deal with some urgent matters, I will be hosting this press. conference on his behalf and reveal the final truth to all of you.¡± Confidently scanning the room, she then picks up the prepared speech. The reporters began to whisper among themselves, impressed by her confidence and poise. After hearing the praise from the reporters in the front row, she felt increasingly proud and pleased. ¡°Not long ago, my fianc¨¦¡¯s ex-wife, Ms. Shalders, secretly hired thugs to set me up, causing me severe injuries. I was hospitalized for a week, and during that time, the incident of her sending a wreath to insult my character must be well-known to the public. ¡°Originally, I wanted to keep the peace and let things go, but I never expected her to be so insanely ruthless. She actually took my sister Inez, who had been in a vegetative state, out of the hospital and brutally ended her life!¡± Natasha recounted Gwendolyn¡¯s ¡°crimes¡± emotionally and even squeezed out two drops of tears when she came to the climax. The reporters were all abuzz as they discussed amongst themselves. On stage, Natasha continued her passionate and eloquent usations. ¡°Today¡¯s press conference is not only to clear my own name but also to denounce her malicious actions! We, the Mossey family, will absolutely not tolerate such humiliation!¡± Her words were like a huge rock thrown into ake, causing a thousand ripples to spread throughout the venue. The reporters and onlookers were stunned by her words, and they began to buzz like a boiling pot, discussing loudly among themselves. ¡°Ms. Mossey, you need to have a base for your statements. Could you please show us the evidence? Without proof, it¡¯s hard for us present to bepletely convinced,¡± a reporter raised a doubt. ¡°Of course. Let the evidence speak for itself. There¡¯ll be no exceptions for anyone.¡± Natasha was well- prepared, casting the pre-fabricated evidence onto therge screen behind her. She turned to the side, showing the screen to everyone ¡°These are the transaction records and screenshots of Gwendolyn bribing the thugs to intentionally hurt me, and this is the surveince footage in the hospital when she took my sister away As soon as several images were released, an indignant reporter stood up immediately. ¡°We are living in a society governed byw. She¡¯s way too arrogant! A life for a life! Let¡¯s go to Angle together and demand an exnation!¡± ¡°Exactly! We have strength in numbers, and we¡¯re not afraid of them!¡± 14:05 Mon, May 15 Chapter 76 I Will Denounce Her Evil ¡­ 67% +25 Bonus The reporters at the venue all stood up, and the crowd watching from the sidelines was also infected by their angry emotions. Natasha stood on the stage, looking at everything she had aplished with her own hands. Her lips curled upward in a smile unwittingly. ¡°Ms. Mossey, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve celebrated too soon. The so-called truth you¡¯ve presented to everyone is quite far from the actual facts.¡± A crisp, feminine voice apanied by the rhythmic sound of high heels tapping against the ground rang out. Although soft, it possessed incredible prating power. The excited mor of the crowd came to an abrupt halt. Natasha nced back, and the gentle smile on her face gradually froze. Gwendolyn, dressed in a wine-red, form-fitting mermaid gown, slowly approached, looking like a blooming red rose-dangerous yet enchanting. She wore a faint smile on her face, fearlessly gazing straight into Natasha¡¯s eyes. ¡°Y-You¡¯re not dead?¡± Natasha looked at her in shock. ¡°Where did you learn about my death, Ms. Mossey? There hasn¡¯t been any news about me these past few days. Could it be that you sent someone to take my life, Ms. Mossey?¡± Gwendolyn seized upon her loophole and immediately retorted sarcastically. The reporters and the crowd turned their heads toward Natasha, waiting for her answer. The vast hall was silent, with only Gwendolyn standing outside the crowd meeting Natasha¡¯s gaze. Natasha quickly realized that there were still media present at the scene and immediately regained her composure. She responded smoothly. ¡°I heard rumors about it. There¡¯s nothing to be confused about. However, since you¡¯re here, there are some things I can confront you with directly.¡± She was aggressively insistent, determined not to let go of the issue with Inez. ¡°That day, why did you take Inez away from the hospital and perform surgery on her without the consent of the Mossey family, leading to an ident?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re doing all this just to attack me, then pleasee at me directly, Inez was innocent!¡± she continued. As she spoke, she put on a show of appearing pitiful yet stubbornly lifting her head. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Those words snapped the previously indignant crowd out of their silence, and they all began moring for Gwendolyn to pay with her life in exchange for the life she had taken! Despite being criticized by everyone, Gwendolyn did not get angry. She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a coldugh. ¡°Ms. Mossey, your speech is brilliant, but it¡¯s a pity that you¡¯re about to be proven wrong.¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 The Feeling Of Being Spit At +25 Bonus Natasha did not back down either. ¡°It¡¯s been a few days, Gwendolyn, yet you¡¯re still as arrogant as ever. Everything should be based on evidence. If you want me to be proven wrong, then show me the evidence!¡± ¡°I am the evidence!¡± A gentle and delicate voice suddenly rang out from outside the venue, resounding and clear. Following that, a bodyguard pushed a wheelchair into the room. The person in the wheelchair had a paleplexion, and her tired face could not hide the frailty of someone who had just recovered from a serious illness. Gwendolyn tactfully stepped aside, allowing everyone present to clearly see who had arrived. ¡°Inez? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be dead? How can this be¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡± Natasha could hardly maintain her facial expression any longer. Originally, she was so thrilled about the demise of the two major thorns in her side that she could not sleep for several nights. But now, not only were those two despicable women still alive, they even had the audacity to show up at the event and humiliate her! She was so infuriated that she almost had a heart attack on the spot! ¡°Inez! My daughter!¡± Madelyn rushed to Inez¡¯s side without any hesitation, squatting down in front of her. Trembling, she reached out her hand and gently caressed Inez¡¯s face. This living, breathing woman is indeed my daughter. Inez is still alive! ¡°My darling¡­ I knew you were blessed with great fortune and would be safe. Nothing would happen to you¡­¡± She hugged Inez tightly, resting her head on thetter¡¯s shoulder while crying out loud. Following closely behind Madelyn, Jerome was also agitated beyond measure. His eyes reddened as he eximed, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re awake, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re awake! My dear daughter, you¡¯ve suffered!¡± Up on the stage. Natasha stared at the harmonious family reunion unfolding before her eyes. When she heard Madelyn¡¯s words, it took her quite a while to react. It turns out that Madelyn has known all along that Inez isn¡¯t dead. So, everything that happened yesterday morning was nothing but a show? Even Eloise has been lying to me? She simply could not ept that fact. Why? Why does everyone have to side with that despicable woman, Gwendolyn? Chapter 77 The Feeling Of Being Spit At +25 Bonus Her eyes filled with hatred. Seizing the opportunity when everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the reunited family of three, she cleared her throat and let out a cough that was neither too soft nor too loud. ¡°Even if Inez is back safe and sound, that still doesn¡¯t absolve you of your crimes!¡± Her gaze toward Gwendolyn was sharp as a razor. Pulling a nearby chair out, Gwendolyn sat down, resting her chin on one hand and asking with great interest, ¡°So tell me, what crimes have Imitted?¡± ¡°You bribed ten thugs to lure me into a remote, dark cabin in the outskirts, where they brutally attacked me, causing severe injuries thatnded me in the hospital. The evidence is irrefutable! How do you exin this?¡± Ayer of sweat formed in the palms of Natasha¡¯s tightly clenched fists, which were hidden under the podium. ¡°It seems you are bing increasingly adept at distorting the truth. Ms. Mossey.¡± A hint of disdain and amusement shed across Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°I give you the exnation and rification you want now!¡± As soon as the words dropped, she raised her hand and gestured. Before Natasha could even process what Gwendolyn had just said, a group of police suddenly burst into the venue. They surrounded Natashapletely. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Natasha¡¯s face turned pale as she held onto the podium to steady herself. ¡°Ms. Mossey, we suspect you of being involved in Ms. Inez¡¯s car ident, kidnapping Jennifer, and hiring someone for the frame-up. Pleasee with us and cooperate with the investigation.¡± The policeman in charge showed her his police badge and had someone restrain her. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that! Let me exin! You can¡¯t arrest me!¡± Natasha cried out in desperation. The police skillfully twisted her arm behind her back and swiftly snapped on the handcuffs, saying, ¡°We¡¯ll find out if it¡¯s you once we get to the station.¡± The reporters had long since been left speechless, and the cameras in their hands were reduced to mere decorations. All the reporters and onlookers were shocked by this sudden turn of events. Judging from the words of the police, it was crystal clear who was lying. A barrage of camera shes targeted Natasha¡¯s flustered face, and the sound of shutters clicked incessantly. ¡°It¡¯s her who harmed Inez! I knew she had ill intentions ever since she came back!¡± Madelyn used Natasha passionately, not forgetting to add fuel to the fire. Jerome was furious, too. He picked up the microphone on the stage and announced with a hearty voice. 67% 14:05 Mon, May 15 Chapter 77 The Feeling Of Being Spit At +25 Bonus ¡°I apologize for the disgrace brought upon the Mossey family, and I assure everyone that I, Jerome Mossey, will not tolerate such a disgraceful family member. I solemnly announce to the public that, starting today. Natasha Mossey will no longer be the heir to Mossey Group, and I will permanently sever our father-daughter rtionship. She is no longer a part of the Mossey family!¡± Even her father, the only blood rtive she had left in the world, chose to abandon her. Natasha¡¯s initial despairing tears gradually transformed into unrestrainedughter. Theughter sounded somewhat unsettling. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she was forcibly dragged into the police car. At the Mossey residence, Noah slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the sunlight streaming in through the window. It took him quite a while to finally sit up with some effort. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. He was already severely injured when he escapedst night. After Natasha settled him in a secluded servants¡± quarters, he could not resist the exhaustion and drowsiness and fell into a deep slumber. It was almost noon by then. The other housekeepers in the Mossey residence were bustling about, with no one noticing that someone was staying in the long-abandoned servants¡¯ quarters. Noah sat on the couch with his arms crossed, falling into deep thought. Staying in the Mossey residence was not a long-term solution. He had to find a new ce as soon as possible, preferably somewhere away from Faike. He was unaware of everything happening outside, even being silly enough to feel heavy-hearted at the thought of parting ways with Natasha. Sighing, hey back down on the bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze. The door creaked open with a gentle push. He lifted his head and looked toward the direction of the door, only to see a doctor wearing a white coat and a face mask walking in. Last night, Natasha had mentioned helping him find a doctor for treatment, but he had not taken her words to heart. I¡¯m surprised she seems so concerned about me. He was deeply touched and sat up, politely asking, ¡°Are you the doctor sent by Ms. Mossey? Please have a seat.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± The man dressed as a doctor pushed his sses up while lowering his head, making it difficult to discern his expression. ¡°Thank you for your hard work,¡± Noah said, letting down his guard and nodding politely. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Since I¡¯ve epted Ms. Mossey¡¯s money, it¡¯s only right for me to help her with these matters.¡± After the doctor gave Noah a brief examination, he took out a syringe. ¡°What kind of medicine are you injecting for me? Is there no need to prescribe some other medications as well?¡± Noah frowned slightly, but he stretched out his arm regardless. ¡°This is a medicine that will aid in your recovery. Well give you this injection first, and then I¡¯ll take care of what needs to be done next.¡± The doctor picked up a pair of tweezers, grabbed a piece of cotton, soaked it in iodine, and wiped the spot for injection. Noah watched his unskilled movements, growing increasingly suspicious. Although he was seriously injured, his wounds were all superficial. All he needed was to have his injuries disinfected and the bleeding stopped, followed by taking some internal medication such as antibiotics. Previously, when he worked as Maverick¡¯s assistant, he had helped severely injured people without the need for injections or undergoing suchplicated treatments. Just when the needle of the syringe was about to pierce his skin, he grabbed the doctor¡¯s hand and shoved him away. He shouted angrily, ¡°You¡¯re not a doctor! Who are you?¡± 4/4 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 No Change Since Before The Divorce ¡°You actually noticed it.¡± +25 Bonus The man hesitated for a moment, then took off the stethoscope hanging around his neck and swung his hand toward Noah, saying, ¡°Well, I won¡¯t pretend anymore. Someone wants you dead, and you won¡¯t be leaving here alive today!¡± Bearing the pain, Noah narrowly dodged his attack and performed a backward roll to create distance between them. ¡°Who sent you here?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you already guessed who I work for?¡± the man said. The man swiftly charged forward, engaging in a fierce struggle with Noah in the cramped room. ¡°You no longer hold any value, and your existence will only obstruct Ms. Mossey¡¯s path. I advise you not to be ungrateful and just ept your fate!¡± He gripped Noah with his strong right arm while raising his left hand high, aiming it at Noah¡¯s neck. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! This can¡¯t be possible! Ms. Mossey would never hurt me. Who sent you to frame her?¡± Noah struggled intensely, bending his elbow and forcefully mming it into the man¡¯s chest. The man could not dodge in time, and the syringe in his hand was knocked away. Seizing the opportunity, Noah quickly crouched down and picked up the syringe. ¡°All right, you punk. You¡¯re still so arrogant even when you¡¯re at death¡¯s door! Hurry up and hand over the syringe! I¡¯ll end your life right now!¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The assassin was thoroughly infuriated. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see if you have what it takes Noah, clutching his wound that was bleeding due to his intense movement, charged head-on toward his opponent Just as the two brushed past each other, Noah seized the opportunity and fiercely jabbed the needle into the man¡¯s back, forcefully injecting the sedative side. The man let out a muffled groan and copsed limply After doing all this. Noah slumped to the ground, gasping for breath. Once he had regained some strength, he did not hesitate and pushed open the door. Regardless of whether what the assassin said was true or not, he had to first leave the Mossey residence. He dashed out like a madman, determined to find Natasha and ask her in person if what the fake doctor had said was true. Following the path Natasha had led tum through the night before, he fumbled his way to the back door and stumbled out. In his eagerness to get an answer from Natasha, hepletely ignored the bleeding wounds all over 14:05 Mon, May 15 Chapter 78 No Change Since Before Th¡­ his body. Eventually, he could no longer bear the pain and copsed to the ground. +25 Bonus He struggled to prop himself up with his arms, trying not to fall. However, his head felt heavy, and he was dizzy. Vaguely, he saw a woman in a red dress approaching him, her long fishtail hem swaying gracefully with each step. ¡°Have you passed out?¡± The woman stood before him, observing him closely. Her cold voice revealed no emotions. In a semi-conscious state, Noah felt that the voice was so familiar. He tried to force himself to lift his head and see who it was, but his vision went ck, and he passed out. When he woke up again, he found a woman standing in front of him. It was Gwendolyn. ¡°Y-You¡¯re not dead?¡±. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you.¡± Gwendolyn smiled faintly, showing no intention of leaving. After dealing with Natasha, she had specificallye here to find Noah. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you might not know yet, but your Ms. Mossey has already been taken to the police station formitting several crimes. Meanwhile, you won¡¯t be far behind.¡± ¡°How could this be possible?¡± Shock and anger shone in Noah¡¯s eyes. ¡°It must be you who deliberately framed her! You¡¯re a malicious woman!¡± ¡°As for what exactly happened, you should go ask her yourself.¡± Gwendolyn did not want to waste time talking to him. ¡°You truly have no shame! Don¡¯t think you can waive your crimes away! Even if I end up in prison, I will find a way to make sure you get what you deserve!¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait.¡± Gwendolyn snorted, looking down at him in his ragged clothes. Then, she added, ¡°But for now, tell me, where is Maverick?¡± Noah looked up at her, taking in how high and mighty she was acting. He could not help butugh as hey on the ground. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°I¡¯mughing because you haven¡¯t changed at all. Just like before the divorce, you still only know how to cling to Boss.¡± With hisst ounce of strength, he stopped smiling and added with an unusually harsh tone, ¡°I thought that after escaping death once, you would change and face reality. It seems I¡¯ve overestimated you.¡± Although Gwendolyn¡¯s face showed confusion, she did not bother to exin and remained silent on the matter. 14:05 Mon, May 15 Chapter 78 No Change Since Before Th¡­ +25 Bonus ¡°Do you really think you can win Boss back? Let me tell you, it¡¯s impossible! Boss would never like a woman with such a vicious heart. Noah looked at her with disgust in his eyes. It took him quite some effort to say these words. Hey on the ground, panting nonstop, his facial features twisted together in pain. Gwendolyn stared at him expressionlessly. ¡°My patience has its limits. I¡¯ll ask you onest time, where is Maverick?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell you! Never, even if I die! Don¡¯t even think about finding Boss!¡± Then, Noah screamed hysterically, ¡°When Bosses back, he¡¯ll definitely take revenge on you a thousand times over! He won¡¯t let you off!¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Gwendolyn turned around and left as she added. ¡°I hope you can still be this stubborn when you¡¯re at the police station.¡± She swiftly opened the door and got into a car. Even if Noah did not say anything, she would find a way to discover Maverick¡¯s whereabouts. She nced at her watch and, secing that there was sll plenty of time, decided to drive over to the Wright residence. The mere thought of the annoying faces of that mother and daughter duo made her unable to help but furrow her brows. If she were to drive a little further, Gwendolyn would be turning into the familiar vi area. Thus, she shifted gears and slowed down. Suddenly, her phone rang, forcing her to stop by the roadside. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders, it¡¯s bad. Something terrible has happened at the filming set!¡± Joanne¡¯s voice was frantic over the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. Be calm and tell me slowly what happened at the filming set.¡± Gwendolyn leaned back in her seat, her expression gradually bing serious. ¡°Two contestants suddenly started arguing, and one of them has a powerful family background, They¡¯re threatening to end the contract, withdraw from thepetition, and even sue Angle¡­ Ms. Shalders, what should we do? Pleasee over as soon as possible!¡± Joanne¡¯s voice took on a tearful tone. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll head back now. Wait for me in the office,¡± Gwendolyn said as she hung up the phone. She nced at the rearview mirror, watching the view of the vi area shrink smaller and smaller. With a cold snort, she stepped on the elerator and sped off in the opposite direction. Joanne had already prepared the documents and was waiting downstairs in the lobby. When she saw Gwendolyn, it was as if the former had seen her savior, and she immediately rushed over. ¡°Ms. Shaiders, please take a look. These are the documents I received from the person in charge over there Joanne anxiously handed over the folder to Gwendolyn ¡°One of the two contestants arguing is a young actor who debuted three years ago. The other tine is the daughter of a wealthy family from Lightspring Neither side is willing to back down, and it¡¯s seriously affecting the filming process. What should we do about this?¡± Gwendolyn took the documents and quickly scanned through them with a nce. Then, after gaining a rough understanding of the situation, she promptly closed the folder. ¡°Ms Shalders? Joanne asked nervously She had just started working not long ago, and this was her first time encountering such a situation. Hence, she was afraid that if she did not handle it we, it would cause a huge loss for Angle. ¡°There is always a solution to every problem. There no way we, Angle, would be afraid of her!¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Pay The Penalty Fee First +25 Bonus Gwendolyn strode over to the Volkswagen Passat, pulled open the car door, and looked at Joanne to signal for thetter to get in as well. As Gwendolyn sped toward the filming set, Joanne sat nervously in the passenger seat, suddenly feeling a bit guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Shalders. I can¡¯t drive, so you have to chauffeur me around. If I could, I would be your driver.¡± ¡°I thought you were going to say something serious. What¡¯s the big deal? Just find some time to learn it in the future.¡± Gwendolyn was amused by her assistant¡¯s words, and her previously tense mood rxed. Joanne wanted to say something more, but after thinking about it, she closed her mouth and looked at Gwendolyn with eyes full of admiration. Gwendolyn mmed on the brakes and stopped outside the filming set. Then, she hurriedly walked in. Joanne followed close behind her, wearing a simr solemn expression on her face. The person in charge had been informed in advance and was waiting outside the door to wee them. ¡°Ms. Shalders, you¡¯re finally here! These two have been arguing non-stop, and we really don¡¯t know what to do anymore.¡± The person in charge exined the situation while walking. ¡°On one hand, we have a rising star, and on the other hand, we have a youngdy from a wealthy family. We can¡¯t afford to offend either of them, so we had to ask for your help.¡± ¡°What are the names of these two contestants? Who was the one wanting to withdraw from the competition?¡± Gwendolyn asked. ¡°The somewhat famous actress is called Liliana Knox, and the young daughter of a wealthy family is Judy Cartel of Lightspring. The two of them started arguing over a bed, and both threatened to quit the competition.¡± ¡°Since they insist on leaving, there¡¯s no need for us to force them to stay.¡± Gwendolyn sneered as she added, ¡°But we have to punish them to serve as a warning to others. It is for others to understand what the rules are.¡± As the two were talking, they had already arrived at the hall. The two parties involved were seated on opposite sides as they had an intense staredown. ¡°Are you two the ones who caused trouble?¡± Gwendolyn looked at the two angry women with a displeased expression. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to participate, you can just leave. Don¡¯t give others a hard time.¡± ¡°Who do you think you are? You¡¯re just a mere talent director, yet you dare to give me that cold look?¡± ncing at Gwendolyn disdainfully, Liliana went on, I agreed to participate in your show as a favor to Angle. If it weren¡¯t because of Mr. Harris, who would bother with a show that has no publicity or poprity?¡± ¡°Ms. Knox, I hope you can face reality. With your current fame and status, you¡¯re not in a position to say such things.¡± Gwendolyn gracefully took her seat at the head of the table and continued, ¡°Angle has secured a prominent position in the entertainment industry and has be a well-known company. What it can offer you is far beyond your imagination. If you don¡¯t want to stay, it¡¯s fine. You can leave 1/1 14:05 Mon, May Chapter 79 Pay The Penalty Fee First immediately after paying the penalty fee.¡± +25 Bonus ¡°You! What kind of attitude is this? It¡¯s an honor for Angle to have me participate, and you dare to ask. me forpensation?¡± Liliana¡¯s face turned red with anger. Gwendolyn nced at her and picked up the contestant information sheet on the table, casually flipping through it. ¡°I always treat people with the attitude they deserve. Since you¡¯re here because of Mr. Harris, wouldn¡¯t it be more embarrassing for you if I asked Mr. Harris himself toe and kick you out?¡± ¡°Fine! This isn¡¯t over between us! You just wait!¡± Liliana left after saying those words. Gwendolyn nced at Judy beside her before asking. What about you? Are you staying, or will you leave?¡± Judy replied indignantly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m leaving! Who would want to stay in this kind of talent show for several months? Not only is Lilianapletelycking in manners, but the talent show managers are just as bad! I¡¯m going to sue Angle in court and show you that we, the Cartel family, are not to be trifled with!¡± ¡°Are you done talking?¡± Gwendolyn put down the information sheet in her hand and dered, ¡°Pay the penalty and leave. Our show doesn¡¯t need someone as brainless as you. As for suing Angle in court, you¡¯re more than wee to try. I¡¯ll be waiting for your court summon.¡± Then, she turned away from Judy and ordered the person in charge, ¡°What are you waiting for? See her out!¡± After Gwendolyn finished speaking, she ignored Judy¡¯s unpleasant expression, which was as though thetter had eaten a fly. Elegantly smoothing her hair, she quickly walked out. ¡°Ms. Shalders, have you resolved the issue? There are new guests waiting for you in the reception room.¡± As soon as Joanne saw Gwendolyning out, the former immediately went over and pointed to her own phone. ¡°Who is it?¡± Gwendolyn settled into the car and fastened her seatbelt. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Mossey from Mossey Group. However, they were speaking very vaguely, so I¡¯m not really sure what they¡¯re here for.¡± Joanne scratched her head. Gwendolyn nodded and drove back to Angle at a fast speed. Meanwhile, Jerome and Madelyn were anxiously waiting in the reception room as they asionally looked outside. Finally, they saw a familiar figure, and both of their eyes sparkled with excitement, ¡°Ms. Shalders, you¡¯re finally back! We¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± Jerome said as he extended his hand. ¡°My wife and I came here specifically to thank you.¡± 2/4 Mon, May Chapter 79 Pay The Penalty Fee First +25 Bonus ¡°That¡¯s right! It¡¯s all thanks to you finding Kieran that Inez was able to wake up from her vegetative state and expose Natasha¡¯s despicable scheme. Otherwise, we might still be in the dark, thinking that Inez¡¯s car ident was just a coincidence,¡± Madelyn chimed in. Gwendolyn smiled slightly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite. This was simply a win-win situation. Ms. Inez waking up would benefit me greatly as well.¡± To Jerome¡¯s surprise, she talked in an incredibly refined and elegant way. There was no hint of arrogance. He could not help but admire her even more. Gwendolyn asked again. ¡°How is she doing now?¡± ¡°She just woke up, and her body¡¯s various functions still need time to recover, but she¡¯s already feeling. so much better than before.¡± Madelyn excitedly grasped Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Rest assured I will have Mr. Harris closely monitor Ms. Inez¡¯s treatment process. and inform him to prepare the most suitable n until Ms. Inez makes a full recovery.¡± Upon receiving her promise, Jerome and Madelyn exchanged nces. Even Jerome, who had been in the business world for many years, could not help but show his joy at that moment. ¡°Thank you so much, Ms. Shalders. You truly are a savior to the Mossey family, and we are eternally grateful. Additionally, we came here today specifically to discuss the possibility of business coboration with you, Ms. Shalders. Would you be interested in that?¡± Gwendolyn was slightly taken aback, not expecting Jerome to be so generous. ¡°Coboration? Tell me more.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. I¡¯d like to provide Angle with stable investments. For every project that you handle in the future. I¡¯ll invest fifty percent of the required funds, Ms. Shalders. What do you think? I¡¯m not in a hurry for an immediate response. You can take some time to consider it thoroughly.¡± Gwendolyn immediately agreed to the proposal. ¡°No need to think it over. We can sign the contract right now.¡± When it came to benefits, there were no eternal partners nor eternal enemies. Now that Jerome had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch to her, she naturally had no reason to refuse. Jerome was well-prepared as he pulled out a contract that had been drafted earlier from his briefcase and handed it to her. ¡°Ms. Shalders, if you think everything is fine after reviewing it, you can go ahead and sign.¡± Gwendolyn carefully read the terms and conditions, then signed her name without hesitation. She extended her hand to him and said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Mossey. It¡¯s a pleasure doing business with you.¡± ¡°Likewise.¡± Jerome, holding the contract, left the ce with Madelyn with much satisfaction. As one thing after another interrupted Gwendolyn¡¯s original n, she decided to visit the Wright residence after finishing her daily tasks in thepany. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. On her way, she drove as fast as she dared to avoid any further disturbances. At the Wright residence, Frida held her phone tightly while pacing back and forth in the living room uncasily. ¡°What¡¯s going on with Maverick? He usually never turns off his phone, but it¡¯s been constantly off these past two days. I can¡¯t even get in touch with Noah! All this is driving me crazy!¡± she muttered. The phone beside her rang, and she immediately picked it up, asking anxiously, ¡°How is it? Any news?¡± The person on the line said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Wright, but there¡¯s still no news of Mr. Wright. He hasn¡¯t. been back to the office for several days now, either, so¡­¡± She replied, ¡°So? What do you mean ¡®so?¡¯ The Wright family doesn¡¯t pay all of you to do nothing! Hurry up and find some information! If there¡¯s still no news about my precious son, I¡¯ll have you all kicked out!¡± Frida angrily hung up the phone, so furious that she threw her phone straight into the courtyard. There was a thudding sound. Gwendolyn strode effortlessly into the courtyard, her high heelsing to an abrupt halt as she bent down to pick up the phone that had fallen right by her feet. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Prepare For Bankruptcy Gwendolyn looked at the shattered screen with pity and shook her head. +25 Bonus ¡°Long time no see. Your temper hasn¡¯t changed at all. Unfortunately, you haven¡¯t gotten any more capable despite your terrible temper.¡± Once she was done speaking, she gently let go of her grip. More cracks were added to the already cracked screen on Frida¡¯s phone. ¡°Why are you here again?¡± Frida stepped out of the living room. Although the memory of Gwendolyn¡¯s debt collection was still fresh in her mind, her dignified life as a wealthydy would never allow her to show any signs of weakness. ¡°You¡¯re a jinx! You still bring trouble to my son even after getting divorced. My poor son is really unlucky!¡± ¡°Yes, your son is unlucky and will be even more so in the future.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s smile faded as she asked coldly, ¡°So tell me, where did Maverick go?¡± ¡°How would I know? Stop bothering my son! You keep saying you want to leave him, yet you relentlessly pursue him. Are you ying hard to get? You¡¯re so despicable.¡± Frida rolled her eyes without any intention to hide it. Gwendolyn could not help butugh. Just as she was about to retort, Sheralyn came downstairs and red at her. ¡°How dare you ask where my brother is? He already has Natasha! Why are you so shameless, you sl*t?¡± Sheralyn remembered how she was humiliated by Gwendolyn twice in the past like it was yesterday. Not daring to walk over, she instead stood at the stairs gritting her teeth and ring at Gwendolyn. How she wished she could tear Gwendolyn apart as she continued to snipe at thetter. ¡°If you weren¡¯t taken in by Treyton as a sugar baby, would you have anything to show off? You¡¯re like a vixen, cheap and lowly. You can¡¯t even bepared with Natasha! I¡¯m telling you, Natasha will soon be part of the Wright family by marriage. Stop humiliating yourself here and get lost!¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn leaned against the wall and quietly listened while Sheralyn finished speaking. ¡°When you have some free time, take a close look at today¡¯s news on the phone you¡¯ve been using as a brick. It seems that your beloved Natasha is not in a good situation.¡± Neither Frida nor Sheralyn had seen the news yet, so they were utterly confused by what she was trying to say. Gwendolyn gently brushed her hair behind her ear. Lifting her head to reveal her swan-like neck, she took a sweeping nce at the Wright residence before continuing to speak. Even though Maverick isn¡¯t here, it doesn¡¯t matter. There¡¯s something I came to inform you all about. You¡¯ve been living toofortably these days, and it¡¯s making me feel upset.¡± 1/4 14:06 Mon, May Chapter 80 Prepare For Bankruptcy ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± Sheralyn was taken aback by the icy aura emanating from Gwendolyn. +25 Bonus Recalling her past horrible experiences where she was harmed terribly, she subconsciously nced toward the entrance and checked if there were bodyguards. Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a gentle, charming smile. ¡°So, prepare for bankruptcy, Wright family!¡± As she spoke, her face was calm andposed, as if she was merely recounting an ordinary event. After she was done speaking, she got straight into her car, stepped on the gas pedal all the way, and left the Wright residence behind. The infuriated mother and daughter continued to curse her as she departed. ¡°Mom! Did you hear that? That despicable b*tch is absolutely out of control!¡± Sheralyn was so angry her hands shook. Frida¡¯s face also looked quite grim. ¡°Mom, Treyton wouldn¡¯t really help her destroy our family, would he?¡± Frida shook her head without hesitation. ¡°No way! Treyton may be impressive, but the Wright family is no pushover either. Even if Treyton really likes her, there¡¯s no way he woulde after the Wright family for her sake.¡± Even so, that despicable Gwendolyn actually had the audacity to show up at the Wright residence and provoke us openly! Her arrogant and frivolous attitude is so utterly infuriating! There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll take this lying down. I have to teach that sl*t a lesson! As Gwendolyn sped down the highway, she formted a n in her mind. The best way to bring the Wright family to bankruptcy was to start with Wright Construction Group. However, it was a prestigious and well-knownpany in Faike, so it would not be easy for her to take it down single-handedly in a short period of time. Moreover, she still had the mission her father entrusted to her. Even as she thought about these things, she soon arrived at the vi. The moment she entered the garden, she spotted Treyton waiting for her at the front door. Upon getting closer, she noticed he had a mysterious look on his face. Gwendolyn was puzzled but proceeded to head in. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Treyton, I have things to deal with, so just spit it out.¡± ¡°An old friend is waiting for you inside. Can you guess who it is?¡± Gwendolyn observed his mysterious expression for a moment before walking upstairs in confusion. 14:06 Mon, May 15 Chapter 80 Prepare For Bankruptcy +25 Bonus A tall, slender, and elegant figure of a man stood in the hall. Upon hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s footsteps, he suddenly turned around and met her bright eyes. ¡°Sherman Ferguson?¡± Gwendolyn asked with a puzzled expression. ¡°Gwendolyn! It¡¯s been six years, and you¡¯ve grown so mature. I never thought I¡¯d see you again,¡± Sherman said as he was visibly excited. ¡°What happened six years ago? How did you end up in Faike?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now,¡± Gwendolyn answered him nonchntly with a smile. ¡°How long have you been waiting? Please sit.¡± She gestured for him to sit on the main sofa while she took a seat on the adjacent one. With her slender fingertips, she picked up a cup and poured some coffee for Sherman. Sherman watched her every move, noting how she looked as graceful as ever. The innocent and delicate young woman from six years ago had grown mature, sexy, and stunningly beautiful. He could not help but feel a wave of emotions. ¡°You¡¯ve really changed a lot over the years.¡± ¡°Now I¡¯m no longer a child. Of course I¡¯ve changed.¡± Gwendolynughed and changed the subject, ¡°It¡¯s been so many years since west met. Why don¡¯t you have dinner here before leaving?¡± Naturally, Sherman did not treat her like a stranger. ¡°Sure. How about we have a drink tonight and. catch up? We won¡¯t stop until we¡¯re drunk!¡± ¡°Then you better not copse today, Sherman! Don¡¯t let Gwendolynugh at you!¡± Treyton came in from outside and casually patted Sherman on the shoulder. ¡°Remember a few years ago when we drank together, and you passed out after just one drink? That really scared me to the point I almost took you to the hospital.¡± ¡°Come on, I¡¯m not the same as I was a few years ago. Now, my tolerance for alcohol is a whole lot higher. Let¡¯s have a contest if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Gwendolyn silently followed behind the two. She was overwhelmed by emotions as she watched them. from behind. It seemed like it had been a long time since she had caught up with old friends. During the three years spent with Maverick, she almost forgot her confident, passionate, and cheerful old self. To celebrate the reunion of old friends after many years, Treyton specially opened a bottle of treasured Ferropenian red wine to liven up the mood ¡°You don¡¯t believe me when I said I had a high alcohol tolerance, do you? Is that why you¡¯re belittling me with a bottle of red wine?¡± Sherman yfully punched his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t look down on this bottle of wine. I purposely brought it back from my visit to the wine estate in Ferropene a couple of years ago. The alcohol content is not low, and I didn¡¯t even take it out when Kiddo came back. You should give it a try.¡± Treyton took out three crystal goblets and poured a bit of red wine before handing one to Sherinan. Sherman took the wine ss, first sniffing it, then slowly taking a small sip. ¡°It is indeed great wine!¡± After the three of them clinked their sses, they downed their drinks in one gulp. The night went on as they continued to toast and refill their cups. Eventually, Sherman was beginning to show a hint of tipsiness. As he looked at Gwendolyn¡¯s slightly flushed cheeks, he deliberated for a moment. ¡°Gwendolyn, when I came over, Treyton told me about some stuff that happened to you. How have you been doing these past few years? That man, he¡­ Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Dead Or Alive ¡°Why bring up the past?¡± Gwendolyn asked indifferently as she raised her ss and took another sip of liquor. Sherman realized he had asked something he shouldn¡¯t have. With augh, he quickly tried to find a way to ease the awkwardness and said. ¡°You¡¯re right. We should let bygones be bygones. Anyway, I heard Old Mr. Harris recently assigned you a new task How is it going? Do you think you can aplish it?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m determined to seed.¡± Whenever the topic of her career was brought up. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. She continued brightly. ¡°I recentlyunched a new girl groups talent show, and I have great confidence in it. I believe it will definitely bring more exposure and poprity to Angle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, but there¡¯s actually something else I¡¯d like to ask you¡­¡± Sherman looked straight into her eyes, and there was a hint of hesitation under his intoxicated facade. ¡°You¡­¡± He paused, and after debating with himself, he decided to keep his thoughts hidden. ¡°I¡¯m rather interested in coborating with Angle. What do you think?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine by me. Who in their right mind would turn away a potential business partner?¡± Gwendolyn replied. Angle was at the stage where it needed to bring in significant resources and talent, and she could reap a lot of rewards from Sherman¡¯s coboration offer. With that in mind, she gave him a sly smile and clinked sses with him. ¡°It¡¯s a deal, then.¡± ¡°Consider it done. Shermanughed and clinked his ss a little too forcefully against hers. It was alreadyte night by the time the trio wrapped up their little gathering and returned to their individual rooms to rest. Gwendolyn was not drunk; in fact, she was more sober than usual. If she wanted to take down Wright Construction Group, she had to amass enough power and resources within a short period of time. She pulled out a chair and sat down at the table, ready to devise a preliminary n to bankrupt Wright. Construction Group. These days, Wright Construction Group was mainly involved in real estate. To defeat it, she had to first establish a foothold in that industry. However, she wasn¡¯t familiar with real estate. After much thought, she realized that consulting Sherman on the matter was the most reliable option. She quickly typed out a message on WhatsApp and sent it to him: Are you asleep? I have something to ask you. His reply was swift: No. Go ahead and ask. I¡¯m in the corridor right now. Gwendolyn gently opened the door. Sure enough. Sherman was standing by the window at the end of Chapter 81 Dead Or Alive the corridor, enjoying the night breeze. He was looking at her with those gentle and alluring eyes of his. 67 +25 Bonus ¡°I want to venture into real estate, but I¡¯m not familiar with it. I need your help with this. It¡¯s really important to me, so please.¡± Gwendolyn closed the window slightly before leaning against the wall beside it. Sherman frowned but did not press further about her intentions. ¡°I do have some knowledge of real estate. Let me do some more research tomorrow, and I¡¯ll put together a binder for you to take a look at.¡± Gwendolyn thanked him for this and contentedly returned to her own room. Her n would be much easier to carry out now that she had someone more knowledgeable to help her. That night, she fell into a deep and easy slumber. Meanwhile, in the mountain range where Faike bordered the neighboring city, a certain someone was awake and tortured by his own thoughts. Maverick sat in the car, chain-smoking one cigarette after another as he fixed his gloomy gaze on the scene outside the window. He had been searching for her here for two days and two nights. But, there was still no news. He refused to believe that Gwendolyn would die here, of all ces, and vowed that he would find her and bring her back to Faike. ¡°Boss, when can we go back?¡± his subordinate asked groggily with a yawn. Maverick red at him icily. ¡°We¡¯re not leaving until we find her.¡± The subordinate shut up intuitively as another mustered the courage to point out, ¡°It¡¯s been a few days since Ms. Shalders parachuted out of the ne. With all the wild wolves and boars in these mountains, she might be¡­¡± ¡°Regardless, I¡¯ll bring her back, dead or alive. If any one of you asks something like this again, I might just answer you with violence.¡± Maverick spoke these words calmly, but his tone was cold and ruthless. Frightened, the subordinates fell into an uneasy silence and scooted to one side to rest. Maverick remained wide awake even as those around him gradually fell asleep. His dark eyes were fixed on the view outside the window, depthless and obscure. The lights in the Wright residence were still on. ¡°This is infuriating!¡± There was a crash. 67% May Chapter 81 Dead Or Alive Frida had furiously thrown the crystal teacup on the ground and shattered it into pieces. +25 Bonus ¡°I can¡¯t believe Natasha would disgrace the Wright family by using her status as Maverick¡¯s fianc¨¦e to hold a press conference! Now, even the Mossey family has cut ties with her. Why are we still keeping her around? Let¡¯s just announce to the public tomorrow that her engagement to Maverick has been canceled!¡± Frida leaned angrily into the couch as her chest heaved dramatically. ¡°And don¡¯t even get me started on the Mossey family! They should be ashamed for raising such a disgraceful daughter! Madelyn actually had the nerve to ask me to let Inez get engaged to Maverick instead! As if I¡¯d be so stupid! ¡°My precious son is more than good enough to marry the richest girl in town, and yet the Mossey family, with their humble background, has the audacity to beg me for such a ridiculous favor! I never agreed to this engagement in the first ce. If Maverick hadn¡¯t insisted on it, then none of these would have happened! I¡¯m so angry I could explode!¡± Seeing this, Sheralyn quickly came over tofort Frida. She chimed in with righteous anger, ¡°I thought Natasha was all prim and proper, but who would¡¯ve known she¡¯d do something so despicable! Even more humiliating was how she got called out in front of the media! This engagement should. definitely be called off, but is it really okay for us to do this behind Maverick¡¯s back?¡± ¡°What could be the problem?¡± Frida frowned, her rage growing stronger. ¡°I¡¯m his mother. Besides, why would Mave want to keep her around after she¡¯s gone and pulled something like this?¡± ¡°But Maverick isn¡¯t here right now, and we need him to keep Wright Construction Group in order,¡± Sheralyn said dejectedly as she sat down next to her mother. ¡°I suppose that is a problem.¡± Frida fell into a thoughtful silence. ¡°Then again, since Maverick isn¡¯t here right now, we can finally teach that wretched woman a lesson!¡± Sheralyn suggested brightly. She could hardly wait to give Gwendolyn a hard time. Just then, the phone suddenly rang. Sheralyn exchanged a nce with Frida, then answered the call. ¡°Hello there, Sheralyn! Long time no see! How have you and Aunt Frida been?¡± A woman¡¯s cheerful laughter filled the other line. ¡°Are you¡­ Samantha?¡± Sheralyn was shocked when she recognized the woman¡¯s voice. ¡°Have you returned to the country?¡± Deciding to let Samantha converse directly with Friday, Sheralyn immediately handed the phone to the latter and gave her a meaningful look. Samantha Lane came from a powerful branch of the Wright family, and she happened to be the heiress of the Lane family. She previously studied abroad in Ferropene and possessed exceptional business acumen. Frida understood the implication in Sheralyn¡¯s eyes and began exchanging pleasantries with Samantha. ¡°When did you get back, Samantha? Are you nning oning back to Faike?¡± ¡°Aunt Frida, I¡¯ll be arriving in Faike this afternoon. I¡¯ll visit you for sure. It¡¯s been so long, and I¡¯ve really missed you,¡± Samantha answered cheerily. ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll go pick you up with Sheralyn, and we can give you a warm, proper wee. You don¡¯t have any other ns, do you? If not, you can stay at the Wright residence for a few days,¡± Frida said without pause. ¡°I don¡¯t have any ns for now¡­ So, let¡¯s go with your n!¡± Samantha agreed readily without thinking too much of Frida¡¯s suggestion. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Frida hung up after that, and the worried frown on her face disappearedpletely. Sheralyn, who was nearby, heard everything clearly and couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased as well. ¡°Mom, this is great! Samantha is back, and if she¡¯s willing to help us, then that wretched orphan Gwendolyn won¡¯t stand a chance against us! There¡¯s no way Treyton cane to her rescue every time!¡± Sheralyn said with wicked glee. Frida made no response, but it was clear to see from her expression that her sentiments echoed Sheralyn¡¯s. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chapter 82 urate And Ruthless 67% +25 Bonus In anticipation of Samantha¡¯s arrival, both of them dressed up and headed to the airport early to wee her. The woman in the white T-shirt and short skirt waved at them and quickly walked toward them. through the crowd. After hugging Frida and her daughter, Sheralyn, separately, Samantha followed them into the car. Frida eximed, ¡°I¡¯m so eager to see you this time, Samantha. Actually, I was hoping to ask for a favor.¡± Frida took Samantha¡¯s hand and got straight to the point. ¡°Lately, the Wright family has been going through a lot, and I feel powerless. I don¡¯t know what to do¡­¡± ¡°Just tell me what you need, and if it¡¯s within my ability, I¡¯ll definitely help you.¡± Samantha calmly nodded, having already anticipated that Frida would ask for her help. As Frida and Sheralyn exchanged a nce, they couldn¡¯t help but feel secretly delighted. Sheralyn excitedly told Samantha in detail about recent events in the Wright family, emphasizing how ruthless and shameless Gwendolyn had be. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s been bullying our family!¡± Samantha took a sip of her coffee. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone investigate her immediately and find a way to expose her wrongdoing.¡± Frida held Samantha¡¯s hands and looked at her with tenderness. ¡°Thank you so much for your help. Mave¡¯s not around, and we don¡¯t know how to deal with that malicious woman. Without you, my daughter and I would have been bullied!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, Aunt Frida,¡± Samantha smiled at her. As they talked, the car had already arrived at the Wright residence. Samantha went upstairs first and entered the room that Frida had arranged for her, starting to unpack her luggage. As someone who had learned a lot about the business world during her time abroad, Samantha was well aware of the unwritten rules of the industry. The Wright family¡¯s power was undeniable, and there would be no harm in helping Frida and her daughter this time. A text message popped up on her phone: Ms. Lane, Gwendolyn is currently working as a talent director at Angle. She¡¯s responsible for the girl groups talent show that thepany is promoting right now. Samantha¡¯s eyes lit up, and she had an idea. She immediately took a cab to the talent show¡¯s filming set. On the way, Samantha reviewed the information of all the contestants and picked one who was not getting much attention. This particr contestant was ranked in the middle of the pack, making her less likely to be noticed or eliminated easily, and therefore the perfect candidate to be an informant. 14:06 Mon, May 15 Chapter 82 urate And Ruthless Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Samantha arranged to meet her at a cafe opposite the filming set. A girl wearing a simple training outfit and a high ponytail walked toward her and asked straightforwardly, ¡°Are you Samantha Lane? Why do you want to meet me?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know the reason.¡± +25 Bonus Samantha pushed the coffee she had ordered earlier toward the girl and added, ¡°All you need to do is follow my n. Once the task ispleted, I will invest in your talent agency to provide you with sufficient resources to make you ¡°But what about the talent show?¡± famous.¡± The girl was tempted by the offer but still hesitant. ¡°If I cooperate with you, it means I will lose the opportunity to be part of a group.¡± ¡°Do you really think that with your current abilities, you can secure a spot in the group?¡± Samantha shed an elegant smile. ¡°ording to my research, all the contestants who made it into the group either have strong financial backing or a solid fan base, but you have neither advantage. Wasting time here will only dy your sess. Coborating with me is the best option.¡± The girl hesitated for a moment and twisted the corner of the tablecloth with her fingers. Samantha did not rush to get an answer and sipped her iced cappino leisurely. ¡°I agree to work with you, but what do I need to do?¡± The girl finally made up her mind and slowly. clenched her fist. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. I believe you won¡¯t let me down.¡± She then ced the investment agreement on the table and left the cafe. In the Angle Corporation building, Gwendolyn had some free time and decided to research property during her break. To help out Gwendolyn, Sherman went incognito and applied to be a creative director at Angle. ¡°I have an idea.¡± Sherman walked into Gwendolyn¡¯s office and ced a document on her desk. ¡°I think you should start with a small project and see how it goes beforemitting fully.¡± ¡°Tell me more.¡± Gwendolyn picked up the document and carefully reviewed it. ¡°If you want to be familiar with an industry quickly, the most effective way is to be a part of it and gain a deeper understanding through practical experience. Investing in a small project not only reduces risk but also allows you to gain valuable experience. It is the most effective short-term strategy.¡± Sherman sat down on the couch, waiting for her response. Based on the actual situation, this is indeed a good idea.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and closed the Chapter 82 urate And Ruthless +25 Bonus document. Just as Sherman was about to share his favored project, he noticed that Gwendolyn suddenly changed the subject. ¡°However, pursuing small projects with a steady and cautious approach to avoid risks is not my style. When I, Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, do something, it has to be swift, urate, and ruthless.¡± The sparkle in her eyes left Sherman momentarily stunned. ¡°Faike is currently rebuilding arge film and television base, which will take about a month and a half. This is a great opportunity. Moreover, the film and television base will also benefit Angle¡¯s. development. Investing in this project will be a win-win situation.¡± Sherman looked at Gwendolyn with admiration. Not only was her idea mature and bold, but her approach was also decisive. It seemed that he had worried for nothing. That little girl he once knew had truly grown up. Sherman looked approvingly at her and said, ¡°Whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it confidently.¡± Gwendolyn promptly signed a contract with the project party to expedite the construction of the film. and television base. She had her teampile a list of investment projects that Wright Construction Group had undertaken in recent years, along with an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. Wright Construction Group had practically monopolized the real estate market in Faike, making it extremely difficult to take them down in the short term. After work, Gwendolyn locked herself in her room and began studying the information. ¡°If you keep wearing yourself out like this, how are you going to take care of yourself?¡± Treyton knocked on her door. ¡°Come down and have dinner. Flora made meat stew today.¡± Gwendolyn leaned back in her chair, wearing an expression of visible weariness. ¡°Knowing your enemy is the key to victory. We must be well-prepared before the first battle begins.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, but themander can only win battles if they¡¯re well-rested,¡± responded Treyton. He pushed open the door, and without further exnation, he held her shoulder and led her to the dining table. He added two more pieces of meat to her bowl and said, ¡°Your girl group¡¯s talent show has aired its first episode, and the ratings are great. With some good nning for the future, the attention and poprity will definitely not decrease.¡± Gwendolyn slowed down her chewing and started to contemte while eating. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll go to the filming set tomorrow and give further instructions.¡± In order to make the show more appealing, Gwendolyn asked the person in charge to include more outdoor shootings. For the second episode, they chose thekeside area on the outskirts of Faike. ¡°To help ease the tension of everyone, we have a special summer n for you. We¡¯re taking you all to thekeside area for a rowingpetition. Please pack your belongings and be ready to leave this afternoon.¡± The talent show manager gathered all the contestants in the dorm lobby and announced the exciting news. The girls cheered and happily returned to their dorms to pack their bags. In the midst of the chaos, a petite figure sneaked into the public restroom and sent a message to Samantha. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Did The Trainee Run Away Samantha promptly replied to her and made arrangements. A group of people chattered as they got into the car at the talent show base. 67% +25 Bonus Theke¡¯s surface shimmered with sparkling waves, rippling in the wind. The rustling of the leaves by the shore added a touch of charm to the peacefulke area. The talent show manager separated all the contestants into six teams for thepetition. One contestant, Charmaine Zacker, got on the boat and chose to sit behind a wealthy heiress. Right after the referee blew the whistle, the two boats sped forward. As none of thepetitors had any prior experience with rowing, the small boat rocked and swayed precariously as they pushed forward. Their voices filled with a mixture of high-pitched screams and cheerfulughter. Due to the lively atmosphere, the entire scene at the filming set seemed vibrant. wind on theke gradually picked up, and the already unstable small boats suddenly began to rock more violently. Suddenly, out of sight of the camera, there was a loud ssh. ¡°Ah! Help!¡± Nancy Forester, who was the wealthy heiress, had fallen into the water! She iled about in the water in a state of panic and shouted, ¡°Somebodyedy quick! I¡¯m drowning!¡± The others on the boat were caught off guard by her sudden fall and panicked, shouting for help from the people on shore. Fortunately, the lifeguard was not far away, and upon hearing the cries for help, he immediately swam over and rescued Nancy, who was now drenched like a drowned rat. At this point, the filming had been paused. Nancy wiped the water off her face. She was furious and started to curse loudly. ¡°What kind of film nning is this? What if something happened to me today? Can you afford to compensate me?¡± The talent show manager hurried over to check on Nancy¡¯s condition. After confirming several times that thetter was not seriously injured, she let out a heavy sigh of relief. Nancy then turned her anger at the talent show manager, ¡°Why did you have to organize this kind of outdoor activity? It¡¯s because of this I made such a big fool of myself. Your management of the filming set is also negligent!¡± The person in charge felt guilty and remained silent, allowing Nancy to vent her frustrations. Someone in the crowd was watching the spectacle and quickly typed to report that the mission was completed. 67% 14:06 Mon, May 15 Chapter 83 Did The Trainee Run Away +25 Bonus capture Since it was a blind spot for the area¡¯s surveince, the apanying photographer couldn¡¯t the incident. Furthermore, with the boat rocking violently, nobody noticed what had happened at that moment. Even Nancy was confused. ¡°Both your show and theke area are responsible for this incident. I won¡¯t let this go easily! Just wait for this to be exposed!¡± Nancy spat out these words with hatred and left the scene in a huff. The talent show manager and the person in charge exchanged nces, unsure what to do next. They were well aware of Nancy¡¯s background and whether what she said was true or not; as long as it caught on as a trending topic and triggered a wave of online criticism, it would definitely have an impact on Angle Corporation and the show. ¡°What should we do now?¡± The talent show ¡®manager¡¯s expression was anxious. ¡°If she really exposes this matter, we will be the ones who get into trouble! ¡°What else can we do? Let¡¯s contact Ms. Shalders first!!! The person in charge made a decisive decision and took out the phone to call Gwendolyn. ¡°An incident?¡± After listening to the person in charge¡¯s report, Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°I¡¯ve carefully reviewed your application, and the safety measures in that filming area are excellent. It¡¯s not very likely that such an incident could happen easily. Don¡¯t worry. You guys continue with the filming as usual. I will handle this matter.¡± The person in charge took a deep breath to calm down and asked the trainees to quiet down amidst the murmurs. He then escorted them back to the training base. The outdoor shoot was interrupted by this unexpected incident, and he had to quickly n new filming content and shoot the next episode before it aired the following week. On the other hand, Gwendolyn put aside her current work and decided to handle this situation first. She immediately called Joanne to arrange for the staff to conduct a thorough safety check again. ¡°All right.¡± After hearing about the arrangements, Joanne didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, she stood there as if she had something else to say. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t even lift her head and asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders! The contestant who fell into the water has already posted about the incident, iming that ourpany¡¯s safety measures are inadequate and threatening to demandpensation!¡± Gwendolyn finally looked up and curved her lips meaningfully. ¡°Give me the phone.¡± She understood internally after scanning the post and the number of views casually. I see. Go and handle the task I just assigned you. Also, have someone retrieve all the videos from that time and bring them to me.¡± 14:06 Mon, May 15 b/% Chapter 83 Did The Trainee Run Away +25 Bonus Joanne had worked with Gwendolyn for some time and understood her style of handling things, but this time it was a filming ident, so she was still worried. She couldn¡¯t help but remind Gwendolyn, ¡°Ms. Shalders, are we not going to address this issue?¡± If this trend continued, thepany¡¯s reputation would be significantly affected. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t exin too much. She had already made up her mind. When she knew that the drowning incident had urred precisely in the blind spot of the camera, she became even more convinced of her analysis. 323 After only one episode of the show had been filmed, so many things happened in session, with three contestants requesting to withdraw from thepetition one after another. It was too much of a coincidence for all of them to happen at once. However, this time, she decided to go in person to check the situation. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¨C With one hundred girls staying together all day, she needed to take charge and assert her authority, or else more trouble could arise in the future. ¨C The news of Gwendolyn¡¯s arrival at the filming location spread quickly. Most people were still looking forward to the director¡¯s arrival, but Charmaine, who knew the purpose of Gwendolyn¡¯s visit, was not so calm. She didn¡¯t have much support to rely on, and realizing Gwendolyn was serious about investigating the incident, she secretly contacted Samantha from a blind spot of the surveince camera. When the call was connected, she directly expressed her intentions. ¡°Angle¡¯s talent director has already started to suspect something. We won¡¯t be able to cover incident. Let¡¯s end our coboration here. After all, you¡¯ve achieved your goal!¡± up this Samantha, who was on the phone, didn¡¯t expect Charmaine to be so cowardly. The situation had not caused any actual harm to Gwendolyn yet, and Charmaine was already nning to bail out. ¡°Don¡¯t you want a future that¡¯s filled with sess and fame?¡± Surprisingly, this girl seemed to have an open-minded perspective. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Gwendolyn before, but I¡¯ve heard some of her storiestely. This woman is so shrewd that she has even brought down the previous heir of the Mossey family. Don¡¯t talk about being famous in the future. If she found out the truth regarding this incident, I¡¯ll be finished!¡± Seeing other trainees approaching in the distance, Charmaine quickly hung up the phone and deleted. the call record before blocking Samantha¡¯s number. Meanwhile, Samantha¡¯s eyes darkened. How daring of that b*tch to hang up on me! Her eyes glinted with a cold determination as she began to plot her revenge. Since Gwendolyn arrived at the filming set quitete, she chose to stay at a hotel nearby. However, the following morning brought een event. Gwendolyn woke up early and arrived at the filming location Just in time to see the talent show manager urging the contestants to wake up from their slumber. However, after gathering and taking a headcount, they discovered that one of the contestants was found missing. ¡°Charmaine Zacker.¡± The talent show manager carefully reported the missing contestant¡¯s name to Gwendolyn. She looked at Gwendolyn¡¯s face, which was younger than hers, and was surprised that thetter remained calm andposed. It was unclear whether Gwendolyn was trying to appear mature or simply unaware of the seriousness of the situation. However, once news of the missing contestant got out, it could ruin thepany¡¯s reputation! ¡°Has the news been blocked?¡± Gwendolyn asked while looking at the girl¡¯s photo. ¡°It has, but some rumors have spread online.¡± The talent show manager was previously puzzled about how rumors could still spread online despite the news being blocked. Gwendolyn appeared to pay little attention to the second part of the sentence and passed the photo to the person in charge. ¡°Please conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether Charmaine was sitting next to Nancy on the day thetter fell into the water,¡± she requested. ¡°Uh¡­¡± In fact, the talent show manager couldn¡¯t remember all the contestants on that day, as there were so many of them. ¡°All right, go andfort the others first. Let me handle the rest.¡± As soon as the person in charge left, Gwendolyn quickly made a phone call. ¡°Boss, how can I assist you?¡± came a voice on the other end of the phone. ¡°Help me find someone-Charmaine Zacker.¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Asking For Trouble +25 Bonus The informationwork and hacking skills of Shadow Bell were top-notch. They managed to locate Charmaine¡¯s position quickly and sent the coordinates to Gwendolyn¡¯s phone. Based on the coordinates, Charmaine seemed to be at an abandoned amusement park. Based on this, Gwendolyn concluded that it was not a mere disappearance but rather an abduction. ¡°Is this a dog-cat-dog situation? Interesting.¡± Gwendolyn nced at the information appearing on her phone screen and couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips to chuckle. Upon learning the exact location, she didn¡¯t waste any time. She quickly changed her clothes and headed there alone. It appeared that the mastermind hadn¡¯t anticipated her arrival so soon, as they had only assigned one person to guard the location. Bound to a chair, her senses impaired by a tight blindfold, Charmaine sat in the dpidated cabin. within the amusement park, her anxiety growing with each passing moment. Just when she thought her fate of dying was scaled, a suddenmotion of shing sounds erupted from outside, catching Charmaine by surprise. Did someonee to save me? With overwhelming excitement, she toppled the chair and wriggled on the floor, making her way toward the door with determined crawls. While trying to get to the door, the iron door abruptly swung wide, apanied by the approaching echo of light footsteps, gradually drawing nearer and nearer. She refrained from making any actions or sounds, uncertain about the oue of the battle raging outside, unaware of which side emerged victorious. Only when the ck fabric blocking her vision was lifted did she gradually discern the countenance of the individual standing before her, and her pupils widened in sheer astonishment. She didn¡¯t expect that it was Gwendolyn from Angle! She¡¯s here alone! Does this mean she knows about my doings? ¡°Who are you? Are you here to kill me too?¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but notice the quivering lips of the girl on the floor, a clear indication of her fear. Despite this, the girl pretended not to recognize her. Unbeknownst to her, Gwendolyn¡¯s vignt gaze captured every subtle shift in her expression, leaving no trace unnoticed. Foregoing small talk, Gwendolyn cut to the chase. ¡°Tell me, who instructed you to purposely make Nancy fall into the water? Who has been secretlymunicating with you?¡± 14:07 Mon, May 15 Chapter 84 Asking For Trouble 67% +25 Bonus ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying,¡± Charmaine responded, anxiously biting her lip and refusing to yield. Gwendolyn had no patience for idle conversation. Thus, she retrieved her phone and dered, ¡°Very well, then you¡¯ll have to exin yourself to the police ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Charmaine was well aware that in the entertainment industry, having a criminal record essentially spelled the end of one¡¯s career and prospects. ¡°Other than revealing who is the mastermind, I can exin everything else. I¡­¡± Before Charmaine could finish her exnation, Gwendolyn¡¯s patience had already worn thin. She rose to her feet, towering over her, casting a condescending gaze downward. ¡°What a shame. All I wanted was to uncover the mastermind. If you refuse to divulge the information, prepare to face the consequences when her associates handle you.¡± After she said that, she turned around and was about to leave. Terrified, Charmaine pleaded, ¡°Please don¡¯t abandon me. I know of your incredible skills. Even the Mossey family¡¯s heiress is no match for you. I can provide you with the information you seek, but can you promise to protect me?¡± ¡°Well, that will depend on your sincerity and the value of the information you provide,¡± Gwendolyn replied. As Charmaine gazed up at Gwendolyn, she suddenly became aware of the chilling andmanding aura emanating from her. This realization only deepened her resolve to switch sides. ¡°It¡¯s Samantha Lane! She¡¯s the one who coerced me into causing trouble on the show. Later on, my conscience prevailed, and I wanted to quit, but she had someone kidnap me,¡± Charmaine blurted out. Samantha Lane? During her time with the Wright family, Gwendolyn overheard Frida and Sheralyn mentioning that Samantha was the designated heir of the Lane family and also Maverick¡¯s cousin. Over the past few years, it appeared that Samantha had dedicated her time to studying abroad and pursuing further education. Does this mean that she has returned to the country? Is she the aplice that Frida enlisted to eliminate me? This turn of events is certainly intriguing. Charmaine was taken aback by the sight of Gwendolyn audibly chuckling. Fearful that Gwendolyn might question her sincerity, Charmaine hastily added, ¡°I swear every ¨CI¡¯ve spoken is true! You must believe me!¡± word ¡°I believe you.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a half-smile as she subtly lowered her body, leaning closer to Charmaine¡¯s car to whisper something. Chapter 84 Asking For Trouble After listening to her words, Charmaine clenched her teeth and nodded. 67% +25 Bonus ¡°When you return, carry on with thepetition as if nothing has happened. Convey to Samantha that you have reconsidered your position.¡± Although Charmaine didn¡¯t quite understand what Gwendolyn wanted to do, she obediently agreed. Once Charmaine left, Gwendolyn arranged for someone to stage the scene, creating an illusion that Charmaine had managed to escape of her own ord. Upon hearing the news of Charmaine¡¯s escape, Samantha was furious and scolded her subordinates for their ipetence. Originally, her n involved ending Charmaine¡¯s life and framing Gwendolyn for the act. However, little did she anticipate that the girl would indeed manage to escape independently. Anger was coursing through her veins when her phone abruptly received a text message. It was from Charmaine. Thetter apologized for hanging up on Samantha and blocking Samantha. She even promised never to disobey Samantha again. Her words exuded a sense of helplessness and humility. After reading it. Samantha felt quite pleased. This girl truly needs to learn a lesson! Look, she¡¯s behaving now, isn¡¯t she? Upon Charmaine¡¯s return to thepetition, several rumors circting on the inte were proven false. Despite Nancy¡¯s stubborn refusal to relent, Jerome and his wife proactively visited the Forester residence, effectively resolving matters before Gwendolyn needed to intervene. Being averse to indebtedness, Gwendolyn reluctantly acquiesced to the Mossey family¡¯s plea, granting permission for Kieran to remain in Faike for an extended period to treat Inez. As time went on, the rumors and gossip gradually faded into obscurity, while Angle¡¯s talent show, being the first of its kind in the country in many years, continued to sustain its remarkable poprity. After this short interlude passed, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t continue to dwell on the matter with Samantha, as she had more important things to attend to. She made her way to the plot ofnd she had acquired earlier with the intention of inspecting the construction progress of the film and television base being developed on-site. For several days in a row, she dedicatedly visited the film and television base after work, relishing every single moment spent there. News about Gwendolyn¡¯s regr visits to the film and television base quickly reached Samantha¡¯s ears, arousing her suspicions. Why would a talent director like Gwendolyn be involved in overseeing the construction of a film and television base when Angle is primarily an entertainment star-makingpany?¡± Samantha questioned. Sheralyn, equally perplexed, voiced her confusion, ¡°Why is she so invested in this? It¡¯s quite peculiar! Could it be that she¡¯s plotting something against us?¡± Chapter 84 Asking For Trouble +25 Bonus Unfazed by the situation, Samantha scoffed and remarked, ¡°If she¡¯s so enamored with the film and television base, I¡¯ll ensure she rests there forever!¡± With malicious intent, the two of them huddled together, engaging in whispered conversations as they quietly conspired. As their conspiracy concluded, Sheralyn¡¯s eyes gleamed with evilness. ¡°This time, I absolutely won¡¯t allow that woman to escape! I will reim all the humiliation I have endured before!¡± Since she was going to the construction site, Gwendolyn purposely wore a pair of t athletic shoes that day. At the construction site, she wore a safety helmet and listened to the person in charge¡¯s report. ¡°Once we demolish this wall and build the new foundation, our progress will elerate significantly. With luck, we should be able toplete it in no more than two weeks.¡± While providing an exnation, the person in charge gestured toward a deteriorated wall. Gwendolyn nodded and asserted, ¡°elerate the process, and don¡¯t hesitate to inform me if you require additional funds. Money is not a concern for me.¡± In response to hermanding statement, a broad smile of delight instantly adorned the face of the person in charge. ¡°I will, Ms. Shalders. Your words have given me a sense of reassurance. However, I understand that you are upied with numerous responsibilities each day and I feel guilty about burdening you with daily visits. Henceforth, you can ce your trust in me for everything here. Rest assured. I will handle all matters diligently on your behalf!¡± Gwendolyn curled her lips and politely responded, ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Wrington.¡± The two of them chatted briefly about other topics. Then, someone called Jake Wrington over to attend to some matters. Jake wore a displeased expression as he interjected, ¡°How could you be so oblivious? Ms. Shalders is still present¡­¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as she interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s all right. Work takes precedence. I can explore on my own.¡± With Gwendolyn having issued her instructions, Jake felt it would be inappropriate to continue ttering her. He advised her to exercise caution, considering the construction site¡¯s abundance of materials, before taking his leave. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. After meandering through the under-construction base for some time, Gwendolyn was on the verge of departing when she was abruptly approached by a tall, unfamiliar man. The man spoke with an unpleasant and raspy voice. ¡°Hello, Ms. Shalders. Mr. Wrington has encountered someplications and requests your presence to assess the situation,¡± said the man. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Can She Even Be Called A Woman 67% +25 Bonus The man wore a safety helmet with his head slightly lowered, revealing his dark skin. His workwear was covered in dust. It could be seen that he was a long-termborer at first nce. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze shifted slightly downward. She understood the situation upon seeing his spotless shoes. ¡°Lead the way.¡± ¡°This way, please.¡± The man stretched out his hand, revealing the thick clluses on the purlicue of his right hand. Gwendolyn nced briefly before withdrawing her gaze, and she followed the man. The man deliberately led her down a quiet and secluded path. As they approached a condemned building, Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks. ¡°I don¡¯t think we are on the right path,¡± she said as she halted in her tracks.. The man leading the way froze for a moment but soon regained hisposure. He replied, ¡°Mr. Wrington was worried that you might be hungry, so he has already ordered dinner for you. That¡¯s why we¡¯re taking this shorter route.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and stared at him without saying a word. Her clear and cold bright eyes seemed to be able to see through one¡¯s heart. The man was taken aback by her gaze. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look at her again. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Initially, she stopped to test him slightly because she wanted to give the man a chance to take action directly against her. However, even though the man could have dealt with her right there, he did not make a move. She felt that there was a bigger surprise waiting for her up ahead. As expected, as she got closer to the condemned building, a swift ck shadow suddenly darted out from behind the broken pir, rapidly charging toward her. Gwendolyn had anticipated that. She took half a step back and dodged the fatal blow with a sidestep. However, just as she stood firm on her feet, sudden noises came from overhead. As soon as she looked up, a hard b on top of the building hurtled toward her head. She swiftly dodged with a few flips before she had time to think and sessfullynded safely on the grass at the side. With a thunderous crash, the b fell to the ground, stirring up a thickyer of dust that seemed to shroud the air in a fog. After the dust gradually cleared out, ten strong men leaped out from the shadows and surrounded her, which made her unable to escape. Before she could catch her breath, that group of people charged at her one after another. Unlike the previous group¡¯s brainless approach, this group¡¯s attacks were extremely well-trained. Their 14:0 Mon, May Chapter 85 Can She Even Be Called A¡­ 67% +25 Bonus techniques were skillful yet diverse, seemingly incorporating kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and capoeira. ¡°Ha, that person really thinks highly of me.¡± Gwendolyn scoffed while elegantly pinching her slender fingertips. A coldness gradually surfaced in her eyes. Unfortunately, the mastermind still did not fully know her and underestimated her too much. She raised her eyebrows and said provocatively while beckoning them over with her curled finger, ¡°Are you guys going to attack me together?¡± They exchanged nces andunched their attack on Gwendolyn together. Since she knew the routines of every move, that group of people could not gain the upper hand in their attacks other than theirrge numbers of people, in her opinion. Ten minutester, Jake learned that Gwendolyn had been taken away by a stranger who had trespassed onto the construction base. Sensing that there was a problem, he hurriedly brought a team of security guards armed with electric batons to help Gwendolyn ¡°Ms. Shalders, are you all right?¡± By the time he arrived, Gwendolyn had just taken down thest person with a fierce sweeping kick. Those who hurried over were stunned by the scene. Can she even be called a woman? Jake looked around at the men lying on the ground, who were rolling and wailing in pain. Adhering to the principle that he had to do something rather than nothing, he then instructed the security guards to give those men a good jolt with their electric batons. ¡°How dare toy a hand on Ms. Shalders. You guys must have a death wish.¡± Gwendolyn dusted off her hands and smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Very well, tie them up and take them straight to the police station.¡± After giving her instructions, she bypassed Jake and the others who had hurried over. She left the film. and television construction base without looking back! Jake watched her charismatic figure walking away, and his admiration for her grew even more internally. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. On the way back, Gwendolyn sent someone from Shadow Bell to investigate the matter. She discovered that the people who had been following her recently were from the Lane family. ¡°Samantha Lane? The Wright family?¡± she murmured, and a hint of mockery smile appeared on her face. Some people are recklessly digging their own graves. Why do they keep finding trouble for themselves, as if they are not afraid of the consequences? It seems like I have to hurry up and deliver the bankruptcy gift package to the Wright family 14:07 Mon, May 15 Chapter 85 Can She Even Be Called A¡­ Gwendolyn had always handled tasks with great efficiency and speed. +25 Bonus The next day, she increased the workforce at the film and television construction base, hiring almost twice as many workers. Then, she asked Jake to work out a detailed schedule to arrange all the workers. efficiently. As expected, the construction progress sped up significantly. It was the beginning of summer, and the sun was scorching hot. Nheless, Gwendolyn continued her routine inspection of the film and television construction base as usual. ¡°Kiddo.¡± A familiar deep voice sounded behind her. She turned around and was somewhat surprised. She asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Treyton smiled and said, ¡°You haven¡¯t been spending much time at thepanytely, so I figured you¡¯d be here. I thought I¡¯d stop by to meet you. Why don¡¯t we grab something to eat and have a chat?¡± ¡°All right.¡± Treyton naturally reached out to help her in taking off her helmet and dotingly used a tissue to wipe. the thinyer of sweat on her forehead. Then, he held her hand as they left. In an upscale restaurant, Treyton skillfully ordered meals for two. ¡°I heard that Inez had invested in arge shopping mall for Mossey Group recently, which has actually helped the Mossey family recover quite a lot from the stock market losses caused by the Natasha. incident.¡± Natasha¡¯s verdict had been made. That was because Eloise shifted all the me to Natasha, which led to thetter being sentenced to ten years in prison in the end. Moreover, Maverick never showed up this time as he could not help her. Coupled with the Mossey family cutting ties with her, she was left with no support. Therefore, she had no choice but to ept her fate and serve her time behind bars. Although Inez¡¯s health had improved significantly, her legs still had no sensation due to nerve damage from the previous car ident. As a result, she had to rely on a wheelchair. Nevertheless, she had already been able to support Jerome in business. Gwendolyn had a pretty good impression of Inez, who was a career-oriented and capable woman. ¡°This is a highly valued shopping mall for the Mossey family. The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow, and I heard they¡¯d invited all the prestigious families and business tycoons from Faike. Jerome hopes that you and I can attend to show our support. What do you think?¡± As Treyton spoke, he handed a gold-trimmed invitation to Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn opened the invitation, only to find that it was surprisingly sent in Inez¡¯s name. Since all the prestigious families were invited, it was likely that the Wright family was included as well. ¡°Of course, we should go to the ceremony.¡± As expected, many guests attended the opening ceremony of Mossey Group. Although the Mossey family suffered significant losses due to Natasha, was there a truly honest and clean member among the wealthy families? As long as one had the capability, business tycoons, wealthy wives, or socialites woulde over to show their support. Gwendolyn did not particrly enjoy those types of events, but she never let her demeanor falter even the slightest. This time, she attended as Treyton¡¯s femalepanion, as usual. As soon as Madelyn saw Gwendolyn, she enthusiastically greeted thetter. It could be seen that she genuinely liked Gwendolyn from the bottom of her heart. Gwendolyn also responded very politely. The duo was chatting leisurely when a suddenmotion urred at the entrance. It was the Wright family¡¯s luxury car arriving. The car door was pushed open, and three women of varying ages with exquisite makeup came out. Gwendolyn stood behind the crowd, casting a nce from afar. Her gaze locked onto the unfamiliar face standing to the right of Frida. ¡°That¡¯s Samantha Lane, the heir-apparent of the Lane family. I heard she just returned from abroad recently,¡± Madelyn exined upon noticing Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze. Gwendolyn pursed her lips without saying anything. Meanwhile, at the entrance, whispers suddenly spread through the crowd due to the appearance of Frida and her twopanions. ¡°Mr. Wright indeed didn¡¯t show up today. I heard something happened to him. Could it be that he died?¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible! How long can the Wright family¡¯s women hold on without the family¡¯s backbone?¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 How Dare She Be So Arrogant The voices of the people discussing were not loud, but Frida and her twopanions could hear them clearly. The impulsive Sheralyn immediately blew her top. ¡°What nonsense are you all talking about?! My brother is doing just fine. How dare you curse him and wish for his death! You ill-mannered buffoons¡­¡± Sheralyn, sweetheart, there¡¯s no need to argue. The Wright family has a strong foundation; it won¡¯t be shaken by a few disparaging words.¡± Frida had to hold her back. Although she was also quite angry, she still managed to maintain the demeanor of a wealthy and elegantdy in front of the outsiders. Some time ago, the Wright family and the Mossey family were not on good terms due to the broken engagement. Not only that, there were numerous spections among the public about Maverick¡¯s absence. She deliberately dressed up and attended the public event this time to show everyone that the Wright family was still as powerful as ever. ¡°But Mom, they¡­¡± Sheralyn, who had been pampered since childhood, was not willing to put up with this kind of treatment. She wanted to continue arguing, but her wrist was gently held back by Samantha, who stood next to her, dressed in an elegant skirt. Samantha leaned in close to her ear and whispered something softly. Upon hearing that, Sheralyn instinctively looked up at the crowd on the second floor, where Gwendolyn was standing with Madelyn, the wife of Jerome Mossey. Gwendolyn was also watching her. As their eyes met, Gwendolyn let out a soft chuckle and turned her head to talk to Treyton. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. However, to Sheralyn, her seemingly ordinary smile was filled with provocation. Sheralyn muttered under her breath, ¡°That despicable woman!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Samantha patted her on the shoulder. ¡°She won¡¯t be able to act so arrogantly for long!¡± As the three of them exchanged nces, their faces instantly lit up with smiles. The ceremony officially began. The Mossey family had put a lot of thought into this ceremony. In the past, they usually held cocktail parties or dance events. This time, they specifically introduced a martial arts performance in order to highlight the uniqueness of the theme. As this was everyone¡¯s first time attending such a unique ceremony, they were filled with excitement and enthusiasm, and the atmosphere at the scene was incredibly lively. Two masters from different martial arts factions engaged in a genuine battle on stage. The audience in front of the stage watched the performance intently, and the apuse was endless. As Jerome and his group noticed the atmosphere, they were extremely pleased with their daughter¡¯s idea this time. After a ten-minute martial artspetition, Master Sorest emerged victorious. The atmosphere at the scene was absolutely electric. However, amidst the cheers, a strange voice suddenly rang out. ¡°What¡¯s the point of watching Master Sorest¡¯spetition? I have a better suggestion. Would you like to hear it, Mr. Mossey?¡± Samantha stood up, and although she was speaking to Jerome, her gaze was maliciously directed at Gwendolyn and Treyton from the corner of her eye. Jerome was as taken aback as he was curious when he heard that, and he urged, ¡°What is this great idea you have, Ms. Lane? Let¡¯s hear it!¡± The amusement in Samantha¡¯s eyes grew stronger as she unabashedly cast her gaze at a nearby table. toward Gwendolyn ¡°I heard that Mr. Harris¡¯panion, Ms. Shalders, is highly skilled in martial arts and that she can easily take on five opponents at once. I¡¯m not entirely convinced, though. So how about we have Ms. Shalders and Master Sorest spar for a bit? It would certainly liven up the Mossey family¡¯s opening ceremony today!¡± Gwendolyn was savoring the exquisite appetizers that Treyton had personally picked when she was suddenly called upon. All of a sudden, the ce fell silent for two seconds. No matter how good one¡¯s foundation in martial arts was, they couldn¡¯t possiblypare to Master Sorest. Moreover, there was such a significant difference in strength between men and women. Gwendolyn, at first nce, had slender arms and legs. It was likely that she wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand even two of Master Sorest¡¯s fingers. Samantha was deliberately making things difficult for others! Inez was originally backstage organizing the entertainment program. When she heard themotion in front, she had someone push her wheelchair onto the stage. She smiled and said, ¡°Ms. Lane, this suggestion seems a bit unfair. Both you and Ms. Shalders are esteemed guests of the Mossey family. It would be our fault if either of you were hurt. Why don¡¯t we sit back down and watch the performance? Perhaps the next act will be more to your liking.¡± Madelyn also stepped forward and chimed in, adding a few words to the conversation. Samantha, however, stood still with her eyes fixated on Gwendolyn. Feeling that she was at a disadvantage, Sheralyn stood up and provocatively taunted her with words. ¡°You¡¯re not scared, are you? That¡¯s easy, then. Just admit that all those people who praised you before were deceived by you, and you¡¯re nothing but a fraud who came from an orphanage.¡± ¡°Ms. Wright!¡± Inez couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer. Before she could say anything, Gwendolyn put down her fork and answered, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m afraid. It¡¯s just that it wouldn¡¯t be very interesting even if I won. After all, I won¡¯t lose.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room was in an uproar. This woman¡­ is way too arrogant! How daring of her! Only Treyton remained calm and poised as he sipped on his red wine, making it difficult for everyone to gauge his attitude toward the matter at hand. Sheralyn, delighted by these words, looked over at Sorest, who was also taken aback by what he had just heard. ¡°Master Sorest, it seems like she doesn¡¯t take you seriously at all. If you can¡¯t even beat her, how are you going to survive in the industry?¡± Sorest was a bit annoyed. ¡°Since this youngdy is so confident, why not have a match to test our skills? But after all, you are just a girl. It wouldn¡¯t be honorable for me to win against you. With that said, I will only defend and not attack, and I will let you make teii moves. You win if you can push me back within those ten moves.¡± His words hit the nail on the head. He was showing off while acting like a dignified gentleman. This also meant that she had no choice but topete. If Gwendolyn refused again, people would say she was arrogant, ipetent, and foolish. She would end up embarrassing Treyton. All eyes in the room were focused on Gwendolyn, taking pleasure in her misfortune as they watched the drama unfold. Gwendolyn gracefully stood up and put on a faint smile for everyone watching her. ¡°Since the elder has spoken, I will do as you say. However, there is no need to let me have those ten moves; it wouldn¡¯t be an honorable victory.¡± She wore a dark red satin gown that,bined with her stunning and fiercely confident face, exuded an aura of sharp elegance, grabbing the attention of everyone around her. Unfortunately, Sorest was a martial arts fanatic who couldn¡¯t stand being looked down upon by others, especially by a woman. He scoffed coldly, clearly irritated. ¡°You asked for it. I won¡¯t be holding back.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face still bore a calm andposed smile as she left her seat to walk to the stage. Inez, worried that Gwendolyn might be at a disadvantage, stepped forward and spoke up. ¡°Since they are going topete, it seems that Ms. Shalders¡¯ outfit is not quite appropriate. How about we watch some other performances first while we wait for her to change into a different outfit before we continue?¡± The guests had no objections. Inez quickly gave the maid a knowing nce. 6 Gwendolyn didn¡¯t refuse as she allowed the maid to lead the way out of the banquet hall. Having seen Gwendolyn¡¯s unbelievably calm expression from beginning to end, Sheralyn suddenly felt somewhat worried. ¡°Samantha, look at how confident she is. She can¡¯t seriously think she can beat Master Sorest, can she? Plus, none of the professional fighters we sentst time came back. What if,ter on¡­¡± ¡°There are no ¡®what ifs.¡±¡± Samantha was quite confident as she boasted, ¡°Although the skills of those people we sentst time were decent, they were still far from Master Sorest¡¯s level. She is only in her twenties. So even if she has a solid foundation in martial arts, it¡¯s impossible for her to be as profound as Sorest. Just wait and see.¡± ¡°What if Master Sorest goes easy on her?¡± ¡°Rest assured.¡± She smiled triumphantly when she leaned closer to Sheralyn¡¯s ear and continued, ¡°There¡¯s nothing money can¡¯t solve in this world. I have already bribed Sorest to cripple her by ident. This event is hosted by the Mossey family. There is no way we can be med for it!¡± Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Instantly Defeated Excitement swirled in Sheralyn¡¯s eyes when she heard this. She seemed to already be feeling the exhration of getting her revenge and simply could not wait to see the miserable end of that wretched person. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was led by a maid to the banquet hall¡¯s dressing room backstage. The wheelchair-bound Inez quietly slipped away from the guests and tagged along. ¡°Ms. Shalders, these casual wear have been selected based on your size. Please feel free to choose from them,¡± informed the maid respectfully as she pointed to the five sets of clothes that wereid out on the table. Gwendolyn was just about to pick a random set of clothes when Inez pushed open the door and made her way into the dressing room. ¡°I¡¯ll take over from here. The rest of you can go on out,¡± Inez instructed. ¡°Understood.¡± love The maids hurried out of the room and closed the door behind them, leaving only Gwendolyn and Inez in the dressing room. Wearing a serious expression on her countenance, Inez pushed her wheelchair toward the window and opened it. ¡°This is the second floor. Climb along the water pipe to make your way down. There should be a small path on the right. Make your way down the path for thirty meters, and you¡¯ll find the side entrance. The door isn¡¯t locked. I had someone discreetly open a small gap, and the security guards have already been sent away.¡± ¡°Are you¡­ asking me to run away?¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Of course. Why else would I tell you all that?¡± Inez maneuvered her wheelchair and approached Gwendolyn with an annoyed expression before pulling thetter toward the window. ¡°Do you really wish to fight Sorest? He has been undefeated ever since he rose to fame. Besides, it¡¯s obvious that the Wright family is setting you up. If you really go through with this, it won¡¯t end well for you.¡± Gwendolyn looked at Inez, who was wearing a serious expression on her face. Knowing Inez was sincerely nning all this for her, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t quite describe the strange feeling in her heart. After all, they had only known each other for less than half a month. Inez noticed Gwendolyn¡¯s silence as well as thetter¡¯s peculiar expression. At that, she quickly added, ¡°Don¡¯t feel burdened. I¡¯m not doing this just for you. If anything happens to you, the Mossey family would be held primarily responsible, so please leave quickly. I¡¯ll go exin the situation to the rest of the people in the hall.¡± Nevertheless, Gwendolyn remained rooted to her spot as a smile tugged on her lips. Her eyes shed with a gleam of light as she spoke. ¡°I won¡¯t leave, and besides, why are you so sure I¡¯ll lose? The arrogance in her tone was evident, yet Inez was captivated by the glimmer in her eyes. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. For a moment, she actually wanted to see Gwendolyn defeating Sorest. Just as Inez was lost in her thoughts, Gwendolyn had already picked out a set of clothes and went into the cubicle to change. In the hall, everyone was absent-mindedly watching the performances. They were all waiting for the highlight of the night. Sheralyn was growing impatient, constantly checking on the time. ¡°Why isn¡¯t that b*tch here yet? Could it be that she¡¯s chickened out?¡± she mumbled to herself while scanning her surroundings. All of a sudden, a realization seemed to dawn upon Sheralyn. ¡°Where¡¯s Inez? She can¡¯t be helping that b*tch escape, right?¡± Frida, who was standing beside her, had on a serious expression. Even so, she did not utter a word. On the other hand, Samantha was not the least bit frazzled. ¡°What is there to be concerned about? She agreed to this herself. Besides, the Mosseys allowed her to get a change of clothes. If she escapes, we¡¯ll just hold them ountable. Let¡¯s see where the Mosseys would stand in high society if that happens.¡± A sinister glint flickered in her eyes as she spoke. ¡°Just wait and see! If the Mosseys dare to help her escape ande up with an excuse for it, I¡¯ll definitely humiliate them to the point they won¡¯t be able to lift their heads!¡± Three performances had passed, and the audience below the stage could hardly wait. Sorest¡¯s expression darkened significantly as his patience was wearing thin. Seeing this, Sheralyn stood up and took the initiative to ask Madelyn, ¡°Mrs. Mossey, is she not done changing yet? Don¡¯t tell me she was merely boasting and has decided to make a run for it.¡± Madelyn¡¯s expression stiffened, but she quickly forced a smile to ease the awkwardness. After ncing at the backstage area several times and noticing no movement, she was left with no choice but to ry the ¡°speech¡± Inez had prepared for her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Shalders. It seems that she has-¡± Before Madelyn could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Gwendolyn, who emerged from backstage. ¡°I¡¯m right here. What¡¯s with the rush?¡± thetter said to Sheralyn.¡± Sheralyn gave a cold snort and rolled her eyes. Eager to witness the downfall of the cocky Gwendolyn, Sheralyn hurriedly urged, ¡°Now that you¡¯re done changing, let us hurry up and begin!¡± The audience immediately fell silent. Many of them were waiting to see Gwendolyn get a taste of her own medicine after her arrogant. remarks earlier. There were also several children from wealthy and affluent families who coveted Gwendolyn¡¯s gorgeous physique, which was visible even through her simple sportswear. They sighed at the sight of such a delicate yet sexy beauty butmented her sharp tongue, which often offended others. Under the watchful eyes and different intentions of the guests, Sorest and Gwendolyn entered the stage from opposite sides. ¡°Don¡¯t cry and use me of bullying you if you lose okay, little girl?¡± Sorest cast her mocking nce. and the crowd instantly burst intoughter, thinking that Gwendolyn was overestimating herself. Only Treyton remained sitting while sipping his red wine, his actions exuding elegance and nobility. As usual, his expression was indifferent. Upon catching a glimpse of Treyton¡¯s expression, Sheralyn couldn¡¯t help but be delighted. Treyton¡¯s definitely sick of that wench now. He doesn¡¯t even care about her well-being! Doesn¡¯t this mean I have a chance? While Sheralyn was admiring Treyton¡¯s handsome visage, the tension on stage had intensified. Gwendolyn frowned at Sorest¡¯s words and demanded, ¡°Enough chatter. Let¡¯s begin.¡± As soon as her words fell, Gwendolyn made a swift and strong move. Before the audience could even react, Sorest was struck squarely in the chest, causing him to stagger half a step backward. The audience fell into pin-drop silence as they observed the scene with disbelief. It ended¡­ just like that? Sorest was instantly defeated before the non-experts could even process Gwendolyn¡¯s movements. Sorest himself was taken aback as well. Although he could see Gwendolyn sending a kick his way, he was already struck before he could even react. Nevertheless, he could not admit defeat in front of such a huge audience. It was embarrassing to acknowledge the fact that he could not beat a delicate young girl, after all. How could he possibly survive in this circle if he admitted he had lost? With that thought in mind, he patted the dust off himself and snorted lightly. ¡°You¡¯re quite skilled, young lady. I¡¯ve already given you a headstart. Now, let¡¯s get serious.¡± Everyone believed Sorest¡¯s words and praised him for being a gentleman. It was no surprise, for it was hard to fathom that such a thin, slender, and weak-looking woman could win against Sorest. The only usible exnation was that he had gone easy on her. Drawing from his experience in the first round, Sorestposed himself to focus his attention. Then, he took the initiative to strike first, mustering all of his strength to attack Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn did not budge. It wasn¡¯t until the man got dangerously close that she turned sideways and dodged his attack. Sorest was taken aback. How did she manage to dodge the attack? Despite that, he continued to attack her, even going so far as to wish he had more strength. The twobatants traded blows, entangled in a brawl. Their movements were so fast that only experts could see what they were doing, while the others struggled to catch up. In the beginning, some of the audience didn¡¯t have high hopes for Gwendolyn. However, seeing that the two were evenly matched, they couldn¡¯t help but look at her with newfound respect. They even changed sides, hoping for her to win. Meanwhile, Treyton¡¯s expression turned increasingly solemn. As Gwendolyn¡¯s older brother, he knew very well the extent of his sister¡¯s abilities. If the fight dragged on, turning it into a battle of endurance, she would undoubtedly lose. Gwendolyn, too, knew that continuing like this wasn¡¯t a solution, but she was struggling to find Sorest¡¯s weakness. On the other hand, Sorest felt increasingly anxious and flustered, having been unable to secure victory after such a long time. Moreover, support for Gwendolyn was growing, and he could even hear the audience¡¯s cheers for her. This resulted in his attacks bing more ruthless as the battle went on. s, the more flustered one was, the more easily their ws would be exposed. Gwendolyn seized the opportunity and deftly dodged his attacks. Then, she made her counterattack using all of her might. Sorest was unable to dodge in time and took a hit straight to the nose. After letting out a grunt in agony, he fell to the ground. Gwendolyn stood steadily on the stage, peering down at her opponent. The corner of her lips curled into a smile as she said to him, ¡°You¡¯ve lost again.¡± Evidently, she was emphasizing the fact that he had not lost once but twice. Sorest felt extremely insulted by the woman¡¯s words and was about to climb to his feet when all of a sudden, he felt a warm sensation in his nose. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Stolen He raised his hand and swiped it across his nose, only to discover that it was a nosebleed. Someone below witnessed the scene and couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing, which infuriated Sorest. For him, this was the most insulting and embarrassing way to lose in front of everyone. Having been on this path for decades, this was the first time he had been abused like this. He couldn¡¯t come to terms with the result. ¡°Go to hell!¡± As Gwendolyn turned to leave the stage, Sorestunched a sudden attack from behind. with incredible speed. Sheralyn and the others were initially furious after Sorest¡¯s defeat, but when they saw him attack again, they became excited and stood up in response. Almost in an instant, before anyone could react, a lightning-fast figure suddenly rushed onto the stage and kicked Sorest away. Sorest didn¡¯t even touch a single strand of Gwendolyn¡¯s hair and was thrown two meters off the stage, vomiting a mouthful of blood. Treyton stood in front of Gwendolyn; his ssy ck trousers remained spotless. Gazing at Sorest with an icy glint in his eyes, Treyton spoke with conviction, ¡°epting defeat is part of the game. How dare you ambush her from behind? How despicable.¡± Mokingston, who had previously performed martial arts alongside Sorest, also stepped forward and angrily used him, ¡°Sorest, you have seriously vited the very essence of thepetition. I have already contacted the National Martial Association to have you expelled! Get out of here!¡± ¡°No! This can¡¯t be happening!¡± Sorest couldn¡¯t believe his ears. For half his life, he had relied on funding from the National Martial Association. If he were publicly expelled, no other association. would take him in the future, and this meant his entire life would be ruined. He had barely recovered from the shock and despair when Inez, who was seated in a wheelchair, was pushed onto the stage by her maid. She picked up the microphone and dered emphatically, ¡°The Mossey family is ashamed of Sorest¡¯s deceitful actions and has decided to cklist him, forbidding him from ever setting foot in any malls owned by the Mossey family!¡± Pausing for a moment, she called over ten security guards andmanded, ¡°And now, throw him Oui!¡± The security guards acted swiftly, and Sorest was escorted out in disgrace. The spectators watched the scene with amusement, and many corporate CEOs followed suit, putting Sorest on their cklists and bringing satisfaction to everyone. Everyone¡¯s gaze toward Gwendolyn hadpletely changed. Most of the people present had seen Gwendolyn¡¯s previous lover battle with Natasha, and they admired and respected her even more. With both incredible martial arts skills and impressive dance ability, every move she made was a breathtaking visual spectacle, making her the most remarkable woman of her time. Mokingston approached with a pleasantly surprised expression, attempting to shake Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, only to be blocked by Treyton. He showed no signs of embarrassment, however, as he gazed at Gwendolyn admiringly and inquired, ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but notice that your jiu-jitsu techniques were quite distinctive. Are you, by any chance, the only apprentice of the famous foreign master, Roy Richardson?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience looked at Gwendolyn in awe. ¡°No wonder she didn¡¯t even take Sorest seriously. It turns out she¡¯s Ms. Richardson¡¯s apprentice!¡± someone in the audience eximed. ¡°Not to mention the fact that she¡¯s the only student, which must mean she received the genuine teachings of Ms. Richardson. It¡¯s no surprise Sorest lost!¡± another onemented. ¡°It all makes sense now why she was so haughty and boastful earlier! She had every right to be! Her skills spoke for themselves!¡± a member of the audience dered. The group of people who had previously criticized Gwendolyn for being outrageous and foolish suddenly changed their attitude and began showering her with praise, their voices rising above all others in the room. Eager to please Gwendolyn, Mokingston extended an invitation to her. ¡°Ms. Shalders, would you be interested in joining us as the deputy chairman of the Faike branch of the National Martial Association?¡± Upon hearing this, Sheralyn and Frida, who were sitting in the audience, were both infuriated and could barely contain their rage. The n had been to leave that vile woman severely injured after thepetition, but instead, Gwendolyn not only won the match but also made a big ssh, causing even Mokingston to fawn over her in a servile manner. And to top it off, she became the deputy chairman right away. For them, Gwendolyn was an orphan from the orphanage, born as a lowly, parentless child. They couldn¡¯t ept the fact that she was entitled to all of this. Just as Sheralyn was seething with jealousy, Gwendolyn refused Mokingston expressionlessly. ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯m not interested.¡± The entire audience was in an uproar. National Martial Association was a ce that countless martial artists were vying to get into. For a young girl like her to be a deputy chairman right away was something that many people wouldn¡¯t even dare to dream about. She refused just like that? In disappointment, Mokingston shook his head and sighed inwardly. Too young and too overconfident. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. In the audience, Samantha kept typing on her phone with a serious expression as soon as she found out that Gwendolyn was Rory¡¯s apprentice. Nobody knew what she was typing. you had! Giving her a disapproving look, Sheralyn snapped at Samantha, ¡°Just look at the brilliant idea This scoundrel will probably be even more arrogant and disregard us even more in the future!¡± Samantha was focused on her phone screen, and suddenly a triumphant smile appeared on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This isn¡¯t over yet!¡± Perplexed, Sheralyn was about to ask what was going on when Samantha stood up and used Gwendolyn vehemently. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by her! She can¡¯t possibly be Rory¡¯s apprentice!¡± As she spoke, Samantha walked up to the stage and snatched the microphone from Inez¡¯s hand. Everyone in the audience was stunned. Mokingston was even more perplexed and inquired, ¡°Ms. Lane, what do you mean? I¡¯ve witnessed Ms. Shalders use techniques that are undoubtedly original to Rory¡¯s jiu-jitsu!¡± Gwendolyn stood silently on the right side of the stage, looking at Samantha with a cryptic smile and showing no signs of intending to exin. She never imed to be Rory¡¯s apprentice. It was these people who insisted on putting thatbel on her. ¡°Kiddo?¡± Treyton was standing right next to her and called out to her in a low voice, his eyes seeming to hold a hidden meaning. Gwendolyn understood his intentions and signaled to him that he didn¡¯t need to concern himself with anything. She was intrigued to see what Samantha had up her sleeve. Faced with scrutiny, Samantha calmly raised the microphone to exin, ¡°When I was studying abroad in Rodunst, I had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Ms. Richardson through a friend. The little. apprentice who was following her at the time was clearly a male. To verify this, I just contacted a friend, abroad and found out that Ms. Richardson¡¯s apprentice is actually her rtive, which is why she made an exception to take him on. This woman on stage is aplete mismatch in terms of both gender and background!¡± She spoke nothing but the truth, which left Mokingston somewhat puzzled. ¡°But the techniques she used were clearly¡­¡± Samantha intervened, ¡°They were clearly stolen!¡± A suddenmotion erupted below the stage, and a heated debate ensued in response to Samantha¡¯s assertion. giarizing techniques was a deeply shameful act in the martial artsmunity and even more heinous than Sorest¡¯s tendency tounch sneak attacks. If caught, not only would the offender be cklisted, but they would also be chased and beaten by the fanatical followers of the National Martial Association, with many ending up crippled with broken legs. As the entire audience was discussing, Samantha continued to say, ¡°Think about it, this woman came from Faike Orphanage, which is a far cry from Ms. Richardson¡¯s status. Therefore, she must have stolen those techniques! She is not only shameless but also despicable!¡± Amid the serious mood in the room, a sudden burst ofughter came from the side. Samantha turned to Gwendolyn, who couldn¡¯t contain herughter, and asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Gwendolyn restrained herughter. Despite wearing casual sportswear, she still emanated a chilly, aloof demeanor. ¡°Ms. Lane, you seem awfully certain of yourself. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being proven wrong?¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Could She Really Know Rory Samantha was infuriated by the woman¡¯s calm demeanor while mocking her. She gritted her teeth in anger, determined to utterly embarrass Gwendolyn in front of the audience. ¡°All right then! Let¡¯s see who will be thoroughly humiliated in the end!¡± Samantha took out her phone and contacted her friend who was abroad. Aftermunicating with the other party for a while, she managed to obtain Rory¡¯s personal number. And then, in front of everyone, she, dialed Rory¡¯s number on her phone and even considerately turned on the speaker for everyone to hear. Beep, beep, beep. Everyone waited with bated breath as the phone rang, and the tension in the hall was palpable. Samantha tossed a nce at Gwendolyn, looking as if she had already won the battle. ¡°If you admit that you stole all of your jiu-jitsu techniques and apologize with utmost insincerity for being a liar and a copycat, I¡¯ll consider letting you off the hook.¡± She then paused momentarily and shook her phone triumphantly. ¡°You¡¯ve only got a couple of seconds left to decide. You¡¯re panic-stricken, aren¡¯t you?¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips in amusement and did not respond to the woman¡¯s taunts. She merely looked at Samantha as if thetter was a clown. Samantha hated the way Gwendolyn was looking at her, but considering that they were in public and Treyton was also present, she dared not say anything too provocative. In her heart, however, Samantha was nning to gauge Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes out once there was a sure conclusion and thetter could no longer wriggle her way out of the situation. I¡¯d like to see if she¡¯ll be able to nce at me in that arrogant manner then! Just as Samantha was deep in thought, the ringing suddenly ceased, and what came from the other end of the line was the voice of an olddy who sounded to be in her fifties. ¡°Who is this?¡± Samantha¡¯s heart was beating wildly, for this was the first time she had ever had a direct conversation with a bigshot in the martial arts world like Rory. She made an effort to suppress her emotions and politely asked, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for bothering you, Ms. Richardson, but there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to confirm with you. I caught someone pretending to be your apprentice, and she refuses to admit it despite having been caught-red-handed. Hence, I had no choice but to make this call.¡± ¡°I only have one apprentice-Jensen Longt,¡± was the slightly impatient response from the other end of the line after a brief two-second silence. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware of that. However, this woman¡¯s techniques are almost identical to yours, so I suspect that she has stolen your techniques.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Rory sounded rather annoyed. ¡°There¡¯s such a thing? How dare they pretend to be iny apprentice and even steal my techniques! How utterly shameless!¡± Hearing this, everyone basically understood what was going on. Rory had confirmed it herself, after all. Some of the people, who were showering Gwendolyn with praises mere moments ago, now looked at her with anger and hatred in their eyes, wishing they could kill her with their gazes. Samantha was so delighted that her eyes were filled with unconcealed joy. She lifted her chin, looking as if she was the victor. ¡°Did you hear that? Ms. Richardson said so herself that you¡¯re not her apprentice. What a p to your face! Now that you¡¯ve angered Ms. Richardson now, I¡¯d like to see how you¡¯ll suffer!¡± eximed Samantha. Treyton frowned and was about to say something when Gwendolyn grabbed his wrist from behind. She then took a step forward and smirked. ¡°I never said I was Rory¡¯s apprentice, so how is this a p to my face?¡± Samantha was taken aback. Meanwhile, a hint of embarrassment flitted past Mokingston¡¯s face, for was the one who brought it up earlier. Indeed, Gwendolyn did not admit to being Rory¡¯s apprentice. But she didn¡¯t deny it either. Hence, it seemed like she was deliberately attempting to cause a misunderstanding. Gwendolyn¡¯s words failed to satisfy the crowd, and the voices of contempt grew increasingly louder. ¡°Then how do you exin the fact that you¡¯ve stolen Ms. Richardson¡¯s techniques, huh?¡± Samantha snorted. Gwendolyn covered her mouth, and her grin grew even wider. ¡°Are you sure I was the one who stole her techniques instead of her learning from me?¡± When she said that, the entire audience was in an uproar, and countless criticisms were thrown at Gwendolyn. ¡°Oh my goodness! How dare she! Who gave her the guts to be so arrogant?¡± ¡°She even called Ms. Richardson by her first name. How rude of her! She¡¯s a waste of a beautiful face!¡± Mokingston, too, shook his head when he heard this. He let out an inward sigh, thinking Gwendolyn was beyond saving. On the other hand, Samantha was amused by Gwendolyn¡¯s arrogance. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll rify everything today and make sure you can never recover from this,¡± As she spoke, Samantha pulled away the microphone and brought the phone to her ear, then said something to Rory on the other end of the line. Having received confirmation from Rory, she hung up the phone and called for Madelyn 2/4 hapter ¡°Mrs. Mossey, please have someone turn on the screen. I¡¯ll video call Ms. Richardson and project it onto the screen so that everyone can see if Ms. Richardson recognizes that thief!¡± Madelyn didn¡¯t move and turned to look at Inez. Inez was looking at Gwendolyn. Sensing Inez¡¯s gaze, Gwendolyn gave the woman ¨¢ slight nod in response. The expression on her face remained as calm as a millpond. 729 Inez sighed at that. The party involved was soposed that Inez deemed her concern to be unnecessary. There was nothing she could do but fulfill Samantha¡¯s request. Soon, therge screen in the center of the stage was turned on. Hoping to win Rory¡¯s favor, Samantha confidently took center stage to ensure that she was the first person Rory would see as soon as the call was connected. The video call was sessfully connected, revealing Rory, who was sitting on a chair. Years of practicing martial arts made her look much younger than her age, and she did not look like she was in her fifties at all. Samantha disyed an elegant and respectful demeanor as she politely bowed to Rory. ¡°Hello, Ms. Richardson. I¡¯m Samantha Lane from the Lane family and also the person who called you. I¡¯m sorry for bothering you at this time, but 1-¡± Samantha had yet to finish her sentence when Rory¡¯s expression turned sour, clearly showing her impatience. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your pleasantries. Where is the person who had the guts to copy my techniques and pretend to be my apprentice?¡± Rory interrupted Samantha¡¯s expression stiffened in front of everyone. Though she quickly regained herposure, she did not forget to hold Gwendolyn ountable for this embarrassment she had suffered. ¡°Look, Ms. Richardson. That is the woman! She even had the audacity to say that you were the one who learned from her!¡± As Samantha spoke, the camera shifted its focus to Gwendolyn. A faint smile hung on thetter¡¯s lips as she looked directly into the camera. ¡°Long time no see, Rory.¡± Some of the audience started to waver when Gwendolyn publicly addressed Rory by thetter¡¯s first name, Could it be that they really know each other?. Upon seeing Gwendolyn¡¯s face on the screen, Rory was stunned for quite a while. She even put on her sses and leaned in to get a closer look at the screen. L Uncertainty began to well up in Samantha when she saw Rory confirming something repeatedly. Rory noticed that there were guests behind Gwendolyn and seemed to realize something. She stood all of a sudden and bowed deeply toward thetter. Then, she uttered something that no one ever expected her to say. ¡°Master, I didn¡¯t expect it to really be you. My apologies. I shouldn¡¯t have treated you with such disrespect,¡± was the jaw-dropping response. FER Everyone was stunned as they watched the scene with their eyes widened and jaws agape. What¡¯s going on here? Rory, who¡¯s in her fifties, is addressing a twenty-three-year-old Gwendolyn as her master? Even TV shows aren¡¯t this dramatic! Gwendolyn merely smiled and magnanimously epted the woman¡¯s apology. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Someone was instigating, after all.¡± Samantha, the instigator herself, was shocked and took two steps backward in disbelief. Before she could speak, Sheralyn piped up first, ¡°Impossible! How could this be?¡± up Outraged, she pointed at Rory and questioned the woman, ¡°You¡¯re not Rory at all, are you? You¡¯re just an actress she hired! How could a parentless child like her possibly be Ms. Richardson¡¯s master? I refuse to believe this!¡± Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Not Quite Satisfied It had been many years since Roryst saw Gwendolyn, so she was initially overjoyed. However, her happiness was instantly reced with anger when she heard Sheralyn¡¯s words. ¡°How dare you insult my mentor and me? Are you asking for death?¡± Being a martial artist, Rory¡¯s overpowering aura could be felt even through the screen when she was angry. Sheralyn was immediately intimidated. Rory continued, ¡°How dare you insult her by calling her an orphan?! Don¡¯t you know that she-¡± ¡°Rory!¡± Gwendolyn interrupted and shot Rory a frowning look. Rory froze for a moment. Although she was somewhat puzzled, she still stopped talking. Gwendolyn then shifted her gaze back to Samantha, who was still shocked and unable to speak a word. Originally, Samantha thought that Gwendolyn would be utterly defeated at the Mossey family¡¯s opening ceremony, but not only did Gwendolyn actually win against Sorest, but she also made quite at ssh. Gwendolyn was not a fake apprentice nor someone shadowing Rory. Instead, she was actually Rory¡¯s master. Never in Samantha¡¯s wildest dreams did she imagine this to be the case. Samantha was so infuriated that she felt like she was going to vomit blood. With so many pairs of eyes staring at her from below the stage, she felt utterly embarrassed and wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Unfortunately, she was too na?ve. Gwendolyn was someone who always made sure to settle scores, so there was no way she would let Samantha off the hook easily. ¡°So, Ms. Lane. Who got humiliated this time? You, or me?¡± Samantha gritted her teeth in anger, but she had to hold back since Rory¡¯s video call was still on, and Treyton was also there. Gwendolyn had powerful people backing her up. Not daring to say anything too provocative, Samantha forced a smile and managed, ¡°I offended because of my recklessness this time.¡± you ¡°Is that all?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head and chuckled lightly. ¡°Your apology is too perfunctory. I¡¯in not quite satisfied, so..¡± She paused for a moment, ncing at Treyton. Treyton understood right away, while Elisha immediately left the venue. A minuteter, she returned with two strong bodyguards dressed in ck suits, striding confidently toward Samantha, Samantha turned pale from the intimidating presence of the bodyguards. She retreated frantically, eximing, ¡°What do you want?¡± Without giving her a chance to exin, the bodyguards took action and restrained her wrists from behind. Seeing the scene, Madelyn was worried that Gwendolyn would cause casualties and ruin the Mossey family¡¯s opening ceremony. Just as she was about to step forward to contain the situation, Inez held her back. Thetter shook her head and whispered, ¡°She should know what she¡¯s doing.¡± Madelyn had no choice but to step back. The atmosphere in the entire venue suddenly turned lense. Due to Treyton¡¯s status, none of the guests sitting below the stage dared to step forward and intervene. Moreover, it was true that Samantha almost falsely used Gwendolyn this time. If it weren¡¯t for the video call with Rory, Gwendolyn might have already been deemed guilty of shadowing the former and imitating her. There wasn¡¯t anything wrong with Gwendolyn wanting to get back at Samantha; one could only say that Samantha brought it upon herself. Samantha watched as Gwendolyn slowly approached her step by step. The fierce aura emanating from thetter made Samantha shiver in fear. She tried to muster her strength, her lips trembling as she said, ¡°I am the future heir of the Lane family! If you darey a finger on me, the Lane family will never let you off!¡± Gwendolyn chuckled at that. Her eyes crinkled, making her look harmless. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± The next second, Gwendolyn¡¯s smile disappeared. A cruel look overtook her face, and she raised her hand and hit Samantha¡¯s face twice with great force. The crisp ps echoed throughout the entire venue. Someone below let out a gasp. Oh my, she really hit her in the face! What a ruthless woman! Immediately, Samantha¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. The ps were so painful that she was unable to utter a syble for a moment. Her fair cheek was now marked with bright red handprints, and traces of blood could be seen at the corner of her mouth. She looked both pitiful and disheveled, nothing like her glorious self as the wealthy Lane family¡¯s daughter. Samantha bit her lip and began weeping aggrievedly, but Gwendolyn mped her chin and forcibly lifted her head up. As Gwendolyn admired her own masterpiece, she clicked her tongue twice. ¡°Indeed, one doesn¡¯t know pain until one is pped in the face. Did you ever think this day woulde every time me?¡± you framed Samantha was utterly mortified and furious. Because of her swollen face, she was in too much pain to even speak. In the end, it was Frida and Sheralyn who recklessly rushed onto the stage and rescued poor Samantha from the hands of the bodyguards. Feeling too embarrassed to stay in the venue any longer, the two of them supported a dazed Samantha and left with their tails between their legs. They didn¡¯t even dare to say any harsh words before leaving. Instead, they red at Gwendolyn viciously, wishing they could kill her with their looks. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn was unbothered by this way of threatening. Only the weak would rely on such methods to scare off their opponents. Following the departure of Samantha and her twopanions, the atmosphere in the venue remained gloomy. When the guests learned that Gwendolyn was Rory¡¯s mentor, they were only shocked. But after they witnessed her giving Samantha a lesson in public, their shock turned into fear. In the end, it was Rory who warmed up the mood by enthusiastically congratting the Mossey family on the opening ceremony through the video call. Although there were some hups in the opening ceremony, the Mossey family ultimately received Rory¡¯s blessings, which made the event a great sess. The altercation was, after all, a blessing in disguise. Madelyn and Jerome couldn¡¯t stop smiling, and they treated Gwendolyn as if she were a deity. As the couple warmly greeted the guests, the atmosphere in thetter half of the ceremony turned harmonious. Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t too fond of these events where she had to constantly socialize, so she found an excuse to slip away to a quiet hallway. After making sure no one was around, she took out her phone and dialed a number she hadn¡¯t called for a long time. The calm and aged voice that answered the call sounded unusually excited. ¡°Ipletely lost contact with you ever since you left Rodunst. Later, when the Harris family. announced your death, I couldn¡¯t sleep for several nights. Thankfully, you¡¯re all right¡­¡± Gwendolyn smiled and responded, ¡°They say that a bad penny always turns up. How could a bad penny like me die so easily?¡± Her self-deprecating humor amused Rory. Putting on a serious expression, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Thank you for today.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me. You¡¯re technically half my master, anyway.¡± When Gwendolyn was young, she was sent to a reclusive expert in Rodunst to study martial arts. There, Rory was an apprentice senior to Gwendolyn Due to Gwendolyn¡¯s exceptional talent, she not only grasped the techniques quickly but was also clever. enough to improve them. When Rory lost to her in a match one time and begged her to impart the improved techniques, Gwendolyn had teasingly asked Rory to call her ¡°master.¡± This time, Rory figured out that someone was deliberately making things difficult for Gwendolyn, so she reacted quickly and cooperated with thetter to put on a show. With their old memories brought up, both of them couldn¡¯t help butment about the past. Gwendolyn was contemting whether she should ask how her other seniors were doing when suddenly, she heard the sound of wheels approaching from a distance. She promptly hung up the phone and turned around. At the end of the hallway, Inez was slowly approaching her in a wheelchair. Gazing at Gwendolyn¡¯s stunning face intently, Inez began smilingly, ¡°From the moment I woke up firstid eyes on you, I knew there was something extraordinary about you. Your calmpose elegant demeanor don¡¯t seem to belong to a poor child who grew up in an orphanage.¡± Gwendolyn pressed her lips together and looked at Inez without a word. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. and and Inez went on, ¡°I¡¯ve been spending time with Kieran these days, but he¡¯s got such a cold personality. The only two sentences he¡¯s ever said to me were about you. I think you must hold a very special ce in his heart.¡± Gwendolyn frowned almost imperceptibly. ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± ¡°You¡¯re capable of making the two young masters of the Harris family from Salinsburgh willingly do everything for you¡­¡± Inez paused for a moment, her eyes suddenly filled with suspicion. ¡°Who are you, really?¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Just Gwendolyn Did she¡­ figure out my identity? The two women¡¯s eyes met. Gwendolyn gave a yful smile and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you make a guess?¡± Inez¡¯s expression was serious as she responded, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t havee all the way to find you if I could guess who you are.¡± Originally, she had debated whether Gwendolyn could also be a member of the Harris family. Yet after investigating the Harris family, she found that aside from a young daughter of Marcus Harris, the head of the family, the rest of the rtives were almost all boys. However, Marcus¡¯ daughter had been dered dead six years ago. So, this conjecture was unlikely to be urate. On the other hand, the Gurson family from Salinsburgh had announced some news about having an illegitimate daughter a few years ago, but they never revealed her appearance. Inez wondered if that could be Gwendolyn. ¡°Are you the illegitimate daughter who was acknowledged by the head of the Gurson family?¡± N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Hearing that question, Gwendolyn breathed a sigh of relief but didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she asked, ¡°We haven¡¯t known each other for very long. Why did you decide to help me this time?¡± ¡°As I mentioned before, it¡¯s not entirely for your sake If something happens to you, the Mossey family will also be in trouble. In a way, I¡¯m protecting you to protect the Mossey family,¡± Inez said solemnly. That answer made Gwendolyn feel much more at ease. At least she didn¡¯t have to feel guilty about hiding the truth from a friend who genuinely wanted to help her. ¡°As expected from Mr. Mossey¡¯s handpicked sessor It took you little time to work out what was optimal for you. With you at the helm of Mossey Group, I believe it will have a long and prosperous future,¡± Gwendolyn praised. She then turned on her heels to leave, but Inez stopped her. ¡°What about you? You haven¡¯t answered my question! Gwendolyn¡¯s footsteps slowed slightly, though she didn¡¯t look back. ¡°I am just me. I¡¯m just Gwendolyn.¡± Even though her voice was soft, it resounded with conviction. 1 H Inez watched Gwendolyn leave, her gaze gradually bing obscure. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking. After leaving the secluded corridor, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t return to the venue but instead went back to her car and changed into a casual outfit she had brought with her. She then texted Treyton and drove to Angle by herself. At the office, Sherman had already been waiting for quite some time. When he saw Gwendolyn push the door open, he walked over with a smile. ¡°I heard about the incident at the Mossey family¡¯s event. Indeed, you didn¡¯t change at all. You¡¯re still a meanie who won¡¯t ept any losses, just like before.¡± This was already the third time someone had described her as a meanie recently. Gwendolyn chuckled and shook her head, changing the subject. ¡°What brings you here? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Sherman set aside his yfulness and handed her the materials he was holding. ¡°This is the recent construction progress of the film and television base. Since the reformation you made, the work has indeed sped up significantly. I believe that at this rate, the construction will be completed in half a month.¡± Gwendolyn took the documents, flipped through the pages, and carefully read them. ¡°Very good.¡± Noticing her genuine smile, Sherman felt delighted. He continued, ¡°The person in charge of the film. and television base whom we¡¯re working with mentioned that they¡¯re interested in signing a long-term contract with you. They hope to get a response from you soon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a win-win cooperation, which is a good thing. I¡¯m d to ept the proposal.¡± After getting Gwendolyn¡¯s approval, Sherman handed over another document. ¡°They are interested in adapting the recent best-selling web novel into a web series and are hoping to have the opportunity to coborate with Angle¡¯s actors for the first time. This is the script.¡± Gwendolyn studied the script and nodded earnestly. ¡°This is indeed a great intellectual property. It would be great if Angle¡¯s artists can participate in the project.¡± 1 As she spoke, she considered the candidates based on the actor¡¯s poprity and suitability to the roles. ¡°I¡¯m leaning toward Joaquin for the male lead. Although he¡¯s usually cheeky, he¡¯s quite serious when it comes to acting, and he acts well. Also, Jayden Connor and Perry Zuckson are quite suitable for the other two roles in terms of their appearances.¡± After some discussion, Sherman expressed his approval for Gwendolyn¡¯s ideas. ¡°Surprisingly, you and the person-in-charge are on the same page. Anyway, it¡¯s gettingte. You must be tired after the martial arts match at the Mossey family¡¯s event.¡± Gwendolyn simply pursed her lips and smiled. Although her expression was nonchnt, Sherman still caught a glimpse of weariness in her eyes. Out of genuine concern, he advised, ¡°No matter how busy you are, you must take care of your health. In fact, you don¡¯t have to handle everything personally. You should try to let go, or¡­ try to get support from a man.¡± It seemed as if Sherman was hinting at something through hisst sentence. Just as he was about to reach out and pat Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulder, she happened to turn around and walk toward the couch, causing him to miss her. Get support from a man? Haven¡¯t I learned enough lessons from trying to rely on men in the past three years? Apart from making herself stronger, there was no one else she could truly rely on or expect anything from in this world. But Gwendolyn had no intention of sharing these thoughts with Sherman. Instead, she only said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know my limits.¡± Sherman withdrew his hand forlornly and shared a few more words of concern before turning around and leaving the office. As soon as he left, Gwendolyn curled up on the couch. She was genuinely exhausted that day. After giving her all in the match against Sorest, all she wanted now was to quietly rest by herself for a while. However, not even five minutes had passed when Joanne knocked on the door and entered. ¡°Ms. Shalders, bad news. Mr. Zipper has encountered an issue on set!¡± Gwendolyn could only pull herself together and get up from the soft couch. As she listened to Joanne¡¯s report, she drove to the film set. ording to Joanne, the director of the show was very famous, and he was also known to be one of the most difficult to deal with in the industry. The director felt that there were some unreasonable terms in the artist¡¯s contract with Angle, so he forcibly kept Joaquin on set in an attempt to extend his filming time. However, Joaquin was not willing. topromise. The two ended up arguing on set, causing quite amotion. Upon arriving at the film set, Gwendolyn could already hear the sound of an argument from afar. ¡°You want me to work for free? Aren¡¯t you scared I¡¯ll expose your doings online? Do you want to continue working in the directing industry?¡± ¡± The director, Kaycey Cameron, wasn¡¯t a pushover either as he responded to Joaquin with a mirthless smile. + ¡± ¡°Mr. Zipper, I know you¡¯re not only famous, but you also have the support of the Zipper family. However, I¡¯m not afraid of you! There are issues with your contract in the first ce. What¡¯s wrong with me asking you to film a few more hours? The ground you¡¯re standing on is my territory. If you don¡¯t cooperate, I¡¯ll have someone edit your behind-the-scenes footage in the worst way possible and ruin your reputation!¡± Joaquin was upset at Kaycey¡¯s shameless behavior, but surprisingly, he didn¡¯t lose his temper and throw things. Having gained the upper hand, Kaycey felt smug. As a popr young actor, you should know how important it is to have a good public image. I can help you go further in this industry, but I can also ruin you without much effort. Do you want to give it a try?¡± ¡°You despicable scoundrel!¡± Joaquin snapped. Instead of angering Kaycey, Joaquin¡¯s words made the formerugh even louder. 3/4 ¡°Hahaha! Who would have thought that the notorious troublemaker of the Zipper family would one day be in my clutches? I¡¯m in the right this time, so even the mightiest of gods couldn¡¯t help you!¡± No sooner had his words fallen when a melodious voice rang out from the entrance of the set. ¡°Really? Well, you¡¯re going to be disappointed, Mr. Cameron.¡± Everyone on the set turned their gaze toward the entrance, only to see Gwendolyn with Joanne by her side. Gwendolyn looked as if she was ready to hit someone, and her aura was cold and intimidating as she strode over. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 As Long As You Like It Kaycey was stunned for a second. ¡°She is Angle¡¯s talent director,¡± a staff member who was familiar with Gwendolyn exined. ¡°So, she¡¯s just a director, is she? I thought Angle¡¯s boss is here,¡± said Kaycey as he and his group of ¡®people burst intoughter. Without showing any signs of fear, Gwendolyn approached Joaquin to see if he was injured. Fortunately, although this little brat lost his fight today, he didn¡¯t simply get beaten up by them. After making sure Joaquin was all right, Gwendolyn walked straight to the chair and sat down. nonchntly as though there was no one else around. She was truly exhausted to the point that so long as she could sit down to negotiate, she would rather do that than negotiate standing up. Kaycey, however, took Gwendolyn¡¯s behavior as a sign ofplete disrespect toward him. ¡°Your artist has upset me, and yourpany¡¯s contract is problematic. And this is your attitude as you¡¯re begging for my help?¡± ¡°Who said I came here to beg for your help?¡± Gwendolyn replied with a chuckle. Kaycey looked at her with confusion. Gwendolyn shifted to a morefortable sitting position. Noticing that she appeared rather exhausted, Joaquin, being considerate, stood behind her and gently massaged her shoulders. After enjoying Joaquin¡¯s thoughtful service for a moment, she went on, ¡°I¡¯m here asking for compensation.¡± ¡°What? Compensation?¡± Kaycey nearly choked withughter as he continued, ¡°I haven¡¯t even asked for compensation for the losses and damages caused. Yet, you people have the nerve to approach me and demandpensation from me?¡± Gwendolyn cleared her throat. ¡°You said there was an issue with the contract signed with Angle, and it¡¯s for that reason that you detained Joaquin and asked for an extension, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°However, the contract was signed by your person in charge after repeated confirmations. You were not forced by Angle to sign it. Since it was signed after confirmation, it proves that there is no problem with the contract. So, who is the one trying to exploit legal loopholes by bringing up the contract again?¡± ¡°You- Kaycey never expected her reasoning to be so clear and to exin it in such a sharp tone. However, Gwendolyn cut him off before he could finish his retort. The filming duration for artists is agreed upon in the contracts. You deliberately refused to let him leave and demanded he work for free. Just because he disagreed, you threatened to destroy him. Not only are you shameless and morally bankrupt, but you¡¯ve alsomitted crimes of personal threats and illegal detention. Angle¡¯s legal department is not to be trifled with. Do you want to give it a try?¡± Kaycey wanted to interject several times during her speech, but Gwendolyn¡¯s unstoppable speech effectively stopped him from doing so. ¡°Angle¡¯s artists don¡¯t take bullying so easily. Mr. Cameron, you may be well-known in the film and television industry, but unfortunately, Angle is not interested in coborating with you. We won¡¯t be shooting your movie!¡± After saying that, she stood up, ready to leave with Joaquin. Kaycey was furious. ¡°You better think this through! You¡¯re the one who suggested terminating the contract, so you¡¯ll have to pay a huge amount of liquidated damages.¡± Gwendolyn turned back and red at him. ¡°Well, sorry to disappoint, but I won¡¯t give you a single cent. On the contrary, you better be prepared to pay us.¡± What? Not only is she breaking the contract, but she also wants us to pay? That¡¯s some pretty big talk from her! ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll expose this matter online? Do you still care about the reputation of your artists?¡± Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already informed the legal department to sue you. You were the one who first dishonored the contract and then detained our artist. My suggestion for contract termination is justified and reasonable. If you don¡¯t believe me, go ahead and try me.¡± As herst words fell, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to waste any more time talking to him, so she grabbed Joaquin¡¯s hand and left. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Kaycey and his gang tried to stop her, but Joanne blocked their way and said, ¡°Ms. Shalders is very busy, and she doesn¡¯t have time to argue with you any longer. Please wait patiently for the court summons, Mr. Cameron. If you have any further questions, then please speak to our legal department.¡± Gwendolyn went back to the car and shoved the dejected Joaquin into the passenger seat. The handsome young man lowered his head like a guilty little puppy. Gone was his usual spirited and confident demeanor. Gwendolyn could not fathom it. It hasn¡¯t been that long since Ist saw him. Why has he be like this? ¡°Did Old Mr. Zipper punish you again? Did he hit you too hard? Let me take a look.¡± As she spoke, she tried to grab Joaquin¡¯s pants. Joaquin¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment, and he quickly pushed her hand away and mumbled, ¡°No! I¡¯m an adult now. Shouldn¡¯t I have some dignity? Gwendolyn observed his expression and recalled that when he was walking to the car earlier, he seemed to move smoothly and didn¡¯t look like he had been beaten. Besides, he had been busy with filming recently and showed a serious attitude. There should not be anything to criticize about him. ¡°The Zipper family has always been notorious for being troublemakers, yet this time you actually managed to suffer a loss at the hands of a sc*mbag director like Kaycey. What on earth happened to you?¡± asked Gwendolyn. Joaquin sighed softly and murmured, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just thought you didn¡¯t like that side of me, so I¡¯ve been trying to change. Gwendolyn, please give me some more time, I promise I¡¯ll be someone you like.¡± After carefully listening to what he had to say, Gwendolyn was shocked but she did not agree. 721 ¡°Why did you want to change? Is it really worth it to do so just because of my preferences?¡± Joaquin nodded, his eyes filled with determination. ¡°It¡¯s worth it as long as you like it.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t like it.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brow and said in a serious tone, ¡°Everyone is unique. You don¡¯t have to change yourself for someone else or be inferior because of others. Being true to yourself is the best way to show off your own charm.¡± At first, it was because she fell in love with Maverick that she foolishly thought changing herself and giving everything she had would make Maverick fall in love with her. In the end, she got nothing in return other than humiliation, mockery, heartbreak, and unbearable torment. However, she would soon reim all those painful memories from that man. As she had experienced it herself, she did not want her friends to get hurt for such reasons. Joaquin remained silent and his expression was still very gloomy. Gwendolyn sighed inwardly because she knew he was still too young to understand. No matter how many profound truths she told him, he probably wouldn¡¯t get much of it. The only thing she could think to do to help him unwind and cheer him up was to suggest having dinner together. As expected, Joaquin, whose personality was still like a child¡¯s, instantly cheered up, and the familiar sparkle in his eyes quickly returned. After he meticulously disguised himself, the two of them went to Faike¡¯s most lively Ninth Avenue to enjoy skewers. Gwendolyn was worn out after a hectic day. As soon as she returned to the vi, she went straight to bed. Treyton felt sorry for his sister and instructed Flora to quietly turn off the rm clock by her bedside. Gwendolyn slept in the next day and only woke up at hoon. After washing up, she went straight to Angle for work. Sherman came not long after she sat down. After exchanging pleasantries, Sherman cut to the chase. ¡°Over the past few days, I¡¯ve been researching the Faike market, and I found a small real estate company that would be perfect for you as a stepping stone.¡± As he spoke, he handed over documents that contained thepany¡¯s details to Gwendolyn for her review. It was apany that was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. Due to its small size, hardly anyone in the market noticed it, and the owner¡¯s background was quite clean. It was truly ideal for her to purchase and operate discretely. ¡°Thank you so much. You¡¯ve really helped a lot,¡± Gwendolyn said gratefully. Blushing slightly, Sherman stated, ¡°Even though I don¡¯t exactly know what you want to do with it, I¡¯m d I could be of help. That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Gwendolyn took care of things quickly and efficiently. On the same day, she bought thepany and became thergest shareholder and owner behind it, When it was time to sign the agreement, the former boss was confused. ¡°I don¡¯t know the reason you insist on buying thepany, but you didn¡¯t change the registered name, and you did not disclose to the public that you are the real boss of thepany. Why did you decide to do that?¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 We Must Win The Bid Gwendolyn smiled faintly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know the reason. Just do as I say.¡± The former boss didn¡¯t say anything more, and both parties quicklypleted the signing of the agreement. Then, Gwendolyn arranged for Yulia from Shadow Bell to join thepany, leading to major changes made in terms of thepany¡¯s overall strategy, employee nning, and management. After that, she went back to the car and checked her phone for thetest news in the real estate industry. To her surprise, she discovered that Wright Construction Group was temporarily being managed by Fridately. She couldn¡¯t help but shake her head in amusement. Although Frida used to be a top student in the Department of Finance at Avenport University when she was young, years of living a pampered life had long since worn away her business acumen, which had only ever been modest to begin with. Nheless, having Frida temporarily manage Wright Construction Group could be considered a good thing for Gwendolyn. If Maverick remained missing for a little longer, Frida and Sheralyn could effortlessly squander the Wright family¡¯s wealth without Gwendolyn needing to lift a finger to help. Nheless, she didn¡¯t mind pulling a few tricks and giving them a gentle push. With that in mind, she discreetly assigned Shadow Bell to investigate the recent investment trends of the Wright Construction Group. It seemed Frida was particrly interested in a newly developed plot ofnd in the Western suburbs lately. Thus, Gwendolyn, called Yulia. ¡°We need toe up with a solid business proposal for the plot ofnd in the Western suburbs. It¡¯s essential.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Frida was acting like a deputy CEO, enjoying the huge CEO¡¯s office. She had seen Den upy that seat before, followed by her husband and son. Now, seated in that chair herself, she savored the intoxicating sensation of power coursing through her veins. If Maverick did not return soon, she thought it wouldn¡¯t be the most terrible idea to enjoy a few more days basking in the role of the CEO. Lost in her blissful thoughts, Frida was approached by Yannis from the nning department, who came over with a dossier. ¡°Mrs. Wright, this is the business n for thend in the Western suburbs. There is also a list of other companiespeting for thend attached at the back. With this information, we can devise targeted strategies to maximize our chances at securing thend in the Western suburbs.¡± Frida flipped through the dossier, only to find that the list consisted of the names of a bunch of unknown smallpanies. How could these smallpanies possiblypete with Wright Construction Group? She scoffed disdainfully, ¡°I want to secure the entire piece ofnd, and I won¡¯t settle for anything less. If you can¡¯t even defeat a bunch of lousypanies, then get ready to pack your bags!¡± Yannis was highly displeased with her words. ¡°Mrs. Wright, I¡¯m just a nobody who is responsible for drafting the proposal for thend bidding project. I can¡¯t guarantee that we will secure this piece ofnd, as you¡¯ll have to attend the bidding event personally.¡± After Yannis finished speaking, she turned around and left immediately. Frida was infuriated by her attitude. ¡°You dare to speak to me in that tone? Believe it or not, I can fire you right now!¡± Yannis felt wronged to be scolded that way. Just as she pushed the door open, Samantha happened to be entering the office. She had overheard their entire conversation loud and clear. ¡°Hello, Ms. Lane,¡± the teary-eyed Yannis greeted Samantha with an aggrieved look and left the office without looking back. Seeing the situation, Samantha approached Frida with a smile and tried to console her. ¡°Aunt Frida, there¡¯s no need to argue with her. Even if you don¡¯t like her, don¡¯t let her go at this critical moment. If necessary, you can always fire her after the bidding event is over.¡± Speaking gently, Samantha went to Frida and reached out to massage thetter¡¯s shoulders. After a few days of rest, the injury on her face had healed, but she would probably never forget the humiliation that she experienced that day at the ceremony for the rest of her life. Philip Lane was a businessman who prioritized his own interests above all else. Despite knowing that Samantha had been wronged, he was reluctant to take the risk of helping her to deal with Gwendolyn due to his connections with Treyton and Rory. Since that was the case, Samantha could only find her own way to take revenge by herself and begin with Frida. When Frida saw Samantha, she calmed down slightly and reached out to hold Samantha¡¯s hand affectionately. ¡°Samantha! Thank goodness for you! Otherwise, I would have been driven mad by these troublemakers. You must have learned a lot about business management during your studies abroad. I will definitely need your help and support in the future.¡± Those were the exact words that Samantha was waiting for. She smiled faintly and blushed as she replied humbly. ¡°Not really, I just know a few things here and there. But don¡¯t worry, Aunt Frida, I¡¯ll do my best to help you.¡± Initially, Frida was merely being courteous when she assigned Samantha to a vacant managerial position in thepany. However, it only took Samantha an afternoon to organize the existing departments, which had always been a mess, and sort out the internal structures of thepany clearly. Now, Frida hadplete trust in her and entrusted her with the management of two more departments. Three dayster was the day of the bidding event for thend in the Western suburbs. Frida left Samantha at Wright Construction Group to handle thepany¡¯s affairs while she attended the event with her daughter, Sheralyn. The two stood at the entrance, exchanging pleasantries with the executives from otherpanies who had alsoe to bid. After briefly scanning through all thepanies that attended the event, Frida felt her confidence level skyrocket and had no doubts that she would win the bid. As the two were about to enter, they suddenly heard amotion behind them. They turned around and saw a cool silver-grey Maybach pull up near them. The passenger door opened, and a woman stepped out, d in a rose-colored, slim-fit dress, looking simple yet elegant. Her face, which was not only stunning but was also exquisitely made-up, caused Frida and Sheralyn both to gape in awe. It¡¯s Gwendolyn, that b*tch! ¡°Mom, what is she doing here at the bidding event?¡± Sheralyn whispered to Frida while ring angrily in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction. Frida shook her head. She couldn¡¯t quite understand it either, but the happenings from the opening ceremony of the Mossey family¡¯s business a few days ago were still fresh in her memory. Sheralyn, who seemed to share her thoughts, asked, ¡°Could it be that this b*tch knew we would win the bid today, so she deliberately came to cause trouble? At that thought, the two approached Gwendolyn just as she closed the car door and was turning around. They greeted her with warm smiles. In the eyes of the outsiders, it would seem as if they were exchanging pleasantries with Gwendolyn in a friendly manner. Seeing that the attention around them had lessened, Sheralyn gritted her teeth and quietly asked, Why are you so persistent? You¡¯ve had the spotlight a few times before already. You must be feeling quite smug, aren¡¯t you?¡± Gwendolyn covered her mouth and smiled gracefully. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you mean you can participate in the bidding, but I can¡¯t?¡± Sheralyn felt as though she had just heard the biggest joke in the world. ¡°You? You want to bid on thend in the Western suburbs? Am I hearing this right?¡± She nced at Frida, who couldn¡¯t help butughed. ¡°Did you think Treyton would personally rig the bid just for you? Besides, even if you won, do you even have the money to buy thend?¡± The strong influence Treyton had on the entertainment industry was a well-known fact, but he had never been involved in the real estate business. Gwendolyn simply smiled, and her expression still remained poised and graceful. Before she could exin, the driver¡¯s door of the Maybach opened. ¡°What a coincidence! I¡¯m also interested in this bidding event.¡± d in a suit, a handsome young man with a hint of roguish charm walked around the front of the car and came to stand next to Gwendolyn. That arrogant voice was unmistakably Joaquin¡¯s. Frida was taken aback. Why would Joaquin be here too? Could it be that the Zipper family is actually interested innd in the Western suburbs as well? Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Congrattions To Wright Construction Group For Winning The Bid In Advance However, she hadn¡¯t seen the name of the Zipper family on the participant list beforehand. If the Zipper family really wanted to snatch this piece ofnd, then this bidding would be difficult! Frida¡¯s face darkened, while Sheralyn¡¯s focus was on something entirely different from Frida¡¯s. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re stringing my brother along while also flirting with Mr. Harris. And now, it seems like your rtionship with Mr. Zipper isn¡¯t so innocent either!¡± As Sheralyn thought of thest time Joaquin took Gwendolyn to the Mossey family¡¯s wee party, and now the bidding conference, Sheralyn was consumed by jealousy. ¡°Does Treyton know about your two-timing behavior¡± Before Gwendolyn could say anything, Joaquin furrowed his brow and sneered. ¡°With that t face and unattractive eyes of yours, you¡¯re too ugly that it¡¯s unbearable to look at. Your voice is unbearable, too. Naturally, you wouldn¡¯t understand how charming and appealing Gwendolyn is.¡± ¡°You!¡± Joaquin was young and hot-tempered. He always had a sharp tongue when it came to people he disliked. Sheralyn¡¯s face flushed with anger. She had always been confident in her looks and had been praised and admired wherever she went. This was the first time someone had despised her like this. And the fact that it was Joaquin, the infamous troublemaker and popr rising star from the Zipper family, made it even more infuriating. Even though she was furious, she dared not vent her anger on the Zipper family. Hence, she vented her frustration on Gwendolyn. ¡°What on earth did you do to win them over? Why are they all siding with you?¡± Gwendolyn just smiled and didn¡¯t answer. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. The more nonchnt Gwendolyn seemed, the more Sheralyn thought she was deliberately putting on a show. ¡°Just wait. I¡¯ll make you pay!¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Sheralyn¡¯s words didn¡¯t faze her at all. All Sheralyn could do was re back fiercely, attempting to overpower Gwendolyn with sheer presence. Joaquin strode ahead of Gwendolyn and cast a disdainful nce at Frida and Sheralyn standing across from them. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Talking to this kind of person for even a few more words makes the air at the entrance feel dirty.¡± Gwendolyn allowed him to lead her into the venue. Sheralyn stomped her foot in anger. If gazes could kill, she would have in Gwendolyn a thousand times over. Frida, on the other hand, was burdened with heavy thoughts. No one knew what was going through her mind. Inside the conference hall, before the bidding officially began, representatives from variouspanies spontaneously formed small groups, interacting and supporting each other. Gwendolyn scanned the entire room, eventually spotting Yulia amidst a seemingly inconspicuous crowd. It was as if they had a silent connection. Yulia caught the gaze and nced at Gwendolyn as well. Their eyes seemed to bemunicating something without words. Reaching an unspoken understanding, their gazes naturally shifted away, as if nothing had transpired between them. Joaquin, who had been dragged along as an extra, remained oblivious. He was reading the detailed description of the Western suburbs prepared by the organizers. He turned to Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, do you really like this piece ofnd? If you do, I can buy it for you as a gift.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°If you dare to buy it and Old Mr. Zipper finds out, he¡¯ll surely break your legs.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t punish me because it¡¯s a gift for you. He would actually be delighted.¡± He smiled softly. His eyes twinkled as he looked at her ¡°Besides, even if I do end up getting punished, it would be worth it for my queen.¡± Gwendolyn flicked his forehead. ¡°Stop being checky Ouch! Joaquin put on a dramatic act and covered his forehead with a pitiful look and wanted to seek comfort. While the two of them were engaged in their yful banter, the bidding conferencemenced. Representatives from various majorpanies began entering the main hall. The seating arrangement had been prearranged, so Gwendolyn went straight to her assigned seat in the front row with her name on it. As the host began the opening remarks, the bidding conference officiallymenced. A server politely approached the seats to collect the bidding proposals and quotations from each When he came to Joaquin and Gwendolyn, Joaquin waved him off, indicating they had nothing to submit. The server was taken aback and awkwardly skipped past them to collect information from the next Frida, seated slightly to the right in the front row, observed the situation intently. Seeing that Joaquin didn¡¯t even have a proposal and appeared quite rxed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Since the Zipper family had no intention ofpeting for this piece ofnd, it could only mean that the land would fall into the hands of Wright Construction Group. With this thought in mind, Frida cast aside her nervousness and reced it with a confident and proud. demeanor. Standing up in front of everyone, she gracefully ced Wright Construction Group¡¯s bidding documents and proposal into the wooden box held by the server. Otherpanies, seeing her determined demeanor, gradually began to make amotion. ¡°It seems that Mr. Zipper is just here for the fun, but with bigpanies like Wright Construction Group blocking the way, it¡¯s likely that the Western suburbsnd will be out of our reach.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a pity we came all this way for nothing. I guess we can only congratte Wright Construction Group in advance.¡± Everyone sighed in defeat. Frida heard it all, fueling her sense of aplishment. She humbly stood up and smiled at thepanies¡¯ persons in charge in the front and back, as if she were the host. ¡°I apologize for the inconvenience, but I have to inform you that Wright Construction Group was determined to secure this piece ofnd. I understand this may be disappointing for everyone, but rest assured that your efforts won¡¯t be in vain. All thepanies that participated in the bidding today will have the opportunity topete for the subsequent development project of the Western suburbsnd for Wright Construction Group.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up when they heard those words. They originally didn¡¯t have high hopes in bidding on thend sessfully. However, they now had the opportunity to coborate with Wright Construction Group. It was certainly a chance they would never miss. Everyone was showering Frida withpliments and ttery. ¡°Mrs. Wright, you are truly impressive! With you at the helm, Wright Construction Group will - undoubtedly flourish!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Mrs. Wright is generous. I must say that mypany, Oceanic Constructions, has the best reputation in this area. Please do give us some careful consideration, Mrs. Wright!¡± Under the waves of ttery, Frida felt ted. So this was the position of power that all thepanies had been fighting for? This is so awesome! She suppressed the ecstasy in her heart and calmly waved her hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down and listen to her. ¡°Everyone, rest assured that all you need to do is submit your proposals, and Wright Construction. Group will select three outstandingpanies to coborate with. It will be a win-win situation for everyone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! Mrs. Wright is so magnanimous! Mrs. Wright is so generous!¡± With this move, Frida earned a wealth of positive reputation for Wright Construction Group. Sheralyn, too, was basked in the glory of the praise. She turned her head and subconsciously nced in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction. To her surprise, Gwendolyn was casually ying with her phone, seemingly unconcerned about the situation. She walked over to Gwendolyn¡¯s seat with a cold snort, tilting her chin, and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, once the hostes out, they will announce that the Western suburbsnd belongs to Wright Construction Group. Everyone feels happy for Wright Construction Group. Why don¡¯t you say a fewplimentary words as well?¡± Gwendolyn put down her phone, a slight smile ying at the corner of her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty and let¡¯s not speak too soon. If it¡¯s not awarded to Wright Construction Group, won¡¯t you all be left feeling utterly embarrassed?¡± How could it not be awarded to Wright Construction Group? Which otherpany present could even compete with them? To Sheralyn, Gwendolyn¡¯s words were nothing but over-confident. Sheralyn looked at her sarcastically, and a hint of malice shed in her eyes. ¡°Do you dare to make a bet with me?¡± Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 This Bidding Does Not Count Gwendolyn became interested. ¡°What are we betting on?¡± ¡°If Wright Construction Group wins the bidter, youll have to strip naked in front of everyone and admit that you¡¯re a cheap woman who likes to seduce men! Then, leave Faike and never show your face on the screen again!¡± A bet with so many demands. This is clearly a tant humiliation! Joaquin, feeling displeased, was about to retaliate on behalf of Gwendolyn but was stopped by her. Gwendolyn smiled faintly and continued Sheralyn¡¯s words, ¡°I won¡¯t ask for much. If anotherpany wins the bid, all you have to do is kneel on the spot and bow three times.¡± Sheralyn was momentarily stunned. Then she felt that she wouldn¡¯t lose anyway, so it didn¡¯t matter what they bet. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll be waiting for you to strip off your clothes and lose all your dignity!¡± After delivering her harsh words, Sheralyn swaggered back to her own seat. Just as she sat down, the host walked out and announced the results. After some official words, he took out the final result sheet and announced, ¡°Firstly, for the plot in Yeringham, congrattions to Sorento Constructions for winning the bid¡­¡± Those were all insignificant plots ofnd. As the host announced each winningpany, apuse from the audience below followed. Sheralyn listened as the mention of Western suburbs drew nearer. She felt incredibly excited, even a little nervous. She instinctively nced at Gwendolyn¡¯s reaction, only to find her still calm as ever. She was intrigued to see how Gwendolyn would react once the results were announced. ¡°Finally, wee to the most sought-after prime location the Western suburbsnd! Who will be the lucky winner to secure this piece ofnd?¡± On stage, the host had a mysterious expression as he finally introduced today¡¯s main event. The atmosphere at the scene became lively in anticipation. Frida was initially feeling a bit uneasy, but when she saw the host nce in her direction a couple of times, she immediately felt reassured. ¡°Let us congratte the biggest winner of the bidding conference¡­¡± As the host announced the winner, Frida immediately stood up. She even turned around, smiling and waving toward the seats behind her with a triumphant expression as if she had won the jackpot. 174 ¡°The winner of the Western suburbsnd is Amryn Real Estate. Congrattions!¡± Frida was about to step onto the stage to give her speech when she suddenly heard an unfamiliar name, causing her to freeze in ce.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Amryn Real Estate? It wasn¡¯t Wright Construction Group. How could this be possible? When did such an insignificant littlepany emerge? I have never even heard of it! At this moment, her gesture of standing up and waving felt like that of a clown. The words Amryn Real Estate felt like a series of heavy ps in her face, leaving her utterly humiliated. Whispers began to emerge from the audience. When the crowd looked at Frida, their expression turned sharp. Sheralyn stood up in disbelief and challenged the host. ¡°This is impossible! Who even is Amryn Real Estate? In terms of qualifications, pricing, or reputation, how can theypare to Wright Construction. Group? Are you guys colluding and manipting things behind our backs?¡± The host¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Ms. Wright, please be mindful of your choice of words. Our decision was made afterparing the bidding documents and proposals submitted by eachpany. It was absolutely fair and just.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! Unless you provide evidence! Otherwise, I won¡¯t ept it!¡± Sheralyn persisted, refusing to back down. Now, the host was in a dilemma. Where would they get evidence from? The bidding documents and proposals were strictly confidential and could not be disclosed. For any company, this was a major taboo. Nheless, if they didn¡¯t present something, it would make people think there was something fishy going on. Seeing that the host remained silent, Sheralyn sneered in triumph. ¡°As long as you can¡¯t produce any evidence, the bid for the Western suburbs will be considered invalid!¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The host wore a troubled expression, and Gwendolyn exchanged a nce with Yulia, who was seated in the back corner. Yulia understood and immediately stood up, walking toward the stage. ¡°Whether this bidding counts or not is not for Ms. Wright to decide!¡± Upon hearing the resounding female voice, everyone turned their heads and was immediately taken aback. It was surprising to see the person in charge of Amryn Real Estate sitting in such an inconspicuous: 9/1 back row, which indicated how small thepany¡¯s reputation and scale were! They wondered how such a smallpany seeded in the bidding. If they couldn¡¯tpare to Wright Construction Group, did they also fall shortpared to Amryn Real Estate? Majorpanies began to echo Sheralyn¡¯s words, demanding the bidding be deemed invalid. The voices of the crowd became fervent for a moment. Upon receiving Gwendolyn¡¯s instructions, Yulia confidently walked onto the stage and picked up the microphone. ¡°Since everyone insists, let¡¯s project the bidding documents for everyone to see! Let everyone know that Amryn Real Estate won based on our strength and capabilities!¡± The crowed sneered. They simply didn¡¯t believe that such a smallpany could produce anything remarkable. The host quickly informed the organizers of the matter. They eventually agreed to Yulia¡¯s request. Two minutester, therge screen began to disy Amryn Real Estate¡¯s bidding documents. At first nce, it seemed quite ordinary. However, as they delved deeper into the document, they realized the remarkable capabilities possessed by the individual behind the writing of this bidding proposal. Whether it was the industry analysis or themercial market analysis of the Western suburbsnd, everything was extremely precise and sharp. The crowd was utterly shocked that they were at a loss for words. They never expected that a smallpany like Amryn Real Estate would have such hidden talent and. remarkable individuals. A curious individual stood up and asked Yulia, ¡°Excuse me, Miss. May I ask if you wrote this bidding document?¡± Yulia shook her head. ¡°No, my boss wrote this personally.¡± No one knew that the real reason behind it was that the staff from both Shadow Bell and Amryn Real Estate couldn¡¯t produce anything good. They had submitted several versions of the proposal, but Gwendolyn was extremely dissatisfied with all of them. In the end, Gwendolyn had no choice but to take matters into her own hands, and she had stayed up all night toplete it. However, the real mastermind, Gwendolyn, furrowed her brows and shot Yulia a fierce re. Realizing that she had said too much, Yulia quickly lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with her. The crowd remained oblivious to the subtle exchange between the two of them. Everyone was curious about the owner of Amryn Real Estate. Despite its unassuming appearance, the presence of a capable figure behind Amryn Real Estate was evident. If they were to continue their development, they could potentially be a formidablepetitor. Many people began to secretly search the inte, attempting to uncover the mysterious and low- profile owner behind Amryn Real Estate. With the overwhelming strength demonstrated in that bid proposal, no one on-site dared to question further. Though Sheralyn couldn¡¯t fullyprehend the details, she could gauge the situation from the expressions of the crowd and Frida. All she could do was try to reduce her presence and remain inconspicuous. Upon seeing that all the majorpanies were thoroughly convinced, Yulia began to express her thoughts. ¡°Lastly, on behalf of thepany, I would like to express our gratitude to Mrs. Wright of Wright Construction Group. Without Mrs. Wright¡¯s modesty, Amryn Real Estate might never have had the opportunity.¡± These words undoubtedly delivered a harsh p to Frida¡¯s face. Everyone present was well aware of how arrogant Frida had been previously. The notion of her being modest was nothing but a joke. Frida¡¯s face turned red. Just moments ago, she was basking in the praise from others, but now she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. However, due to Wright Construction Group¡¯s dominant position in the real estate industry, the other companies, although dissatisfied, did not dare to voice any overly provocative remarks. The bidding conference came to a sessful conclusion. People began to disperse gradually. Sheralyn hunched over and hid behind Frida, attempting to leave nonchntly as if nothing had happened. However, Joaquin quickly intercepted her with his long legs to block her way. Just then, Gwendolyn¡¯s mockingughter echoed from behind. ¡°Ms. Wright, are you nning to leave so abruptly without saying anything?¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Too Far The previous incident at the Wright residence still haunted Sheralyn. She didn¡¯t think she would lose initially, which was why she arrogantly made the bet. Now that she had lost the bet, she began feeling afraid, +50 Bonus After all, the previous incident happened at the Wright residence, and she had only lost face in front of those housekeepers who had signed a confidentiality agreement. If she was unhappy, she could just take it out on the housekeepers. Who would dare to criticize her? However, this time, if she were to kneel and prostrate herself to that despicable person in front of so many outsiders, how could she continue to mingle with high society in the future? There was no way she would kneel no matter what! She hid behind Frida and argued unwillingly, ¡°It was just a joke. Why are you taking it so seriously?¡± Joaquin folded his arms and sneered, ¡°So you deny losing when you lose a bet. I didn¡¯t expect the Wright family to be a bunch of shameless creatures.¡± Frida was left bewildered by the criticism. After asking Sheralyn about the matter, she learned about Sheralyn¡¯s bet with Gwendolyn and tried to smooth things over with kind words. ¡°Gwendolyn, please show some mercy. Sheralyn is still young, and we can¡¯t take a child¡¯s joke seriously. Besides, how will she face people in the future if you embarrass her in front of so many others?¡± Gwendolyn smiled and countered, ¡°If I were the one to lose the bet, would you have passed up the opportunity to humiliate me?¡± Of course not! Ever since this wretched woman got divorced, she doesn¡¯t even consider me as her former mother-inw. All I can think about all day is ways to get back at her! Of course, Frida couldn¡¯t say that out loud. She gave a gentle smile. Just as she was about to speak Sheralyn snatched the opportunity away with her words. ¡°How can that be the same? I am the daughter of the Wright family! Who do you think you are? Of course, my reputation is more important than yours!¡± After hearing this, Gwendolyn¡¯s face darkenedpletely. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be willing to lose if you dare to bet. Mrs. Wright, you keep saying that she¡¯s a child. Have you forgotten that Ms. Wright is already an adult, and she is responsible for her words?¡± These words were spoken by Yulia as she walked down from the stage. She stepped forward and continued, ¡°If out of it, I¡¯m afraid her reputation in high Ms. Wright doesn¡¯t honor the bet and tries to weasel her way society won¡¯t be good either.¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. 14:15 Mon, May Chapter 96 Too Far ¡°What¡¯s it to you!¡± Sheralyn grabbed Frida¡¯s arm and red at her resentfully. +50 Bonus Frida looked back and forth between her and Gwendolyn, saying doubtfully, ¡°Ms. Sullivan, you¡¯re speaking up for her as soon as you step out. It seems like you¡¯ve known each other for quite some time, no?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a matter of principle.¡± B She didn¡¯t look at Gwendolyn, and both of them appeared as if they wereplete strangers. Frida nced back and forth between the two, not giving it much thought. Sheralyn, however, became furious. ¡°I don¡¯t care! The bet earlier doesn¡¯t count! I will never bow down to you, you wretch!¡± After she finished speaking, she recklessly tried to push Joaquin away and leave the venue. A cold glint shed in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes as she spoke. That¡¯s not up to you.¡± As soon as the words were spoken, Sheralyn had a bad premonition. Suddenly, she felt a pain in the back of her knee as something hit her. ¡°Ouch!¡± She was in so much pain that she couldn¡¯t stand firm and fell forward, falling t on her face right at Gwendolyn¡¯s feet. Joaquin and Yulia burst intoughter on the spot. Her fall was utterly embarrassing! If she had the sense to kneel herself, she might not have ended up in such a miserable state. Gwendolyn looked down at Sheralyn, who was by her feet, a faint smirk on her lips. ¡°Good girl, you¡¯re so obedient. Next time, remember not to make bets so casually.¡± Sheralyn tried to struggle to her feet, but her knees were in too much pain to muster any strength. Her hands slipped, and she fell back down to her knees. Joaquin was close toughing his butt off. It was a shame that most of the people had already left the scene by now, so only a few had witnessed Sheralyn¡¯s embarrassing state. Out of fear of offending Wright Construction Group, they could only cover their mouths and sniggered. Sheralyn felt both embarrassed and annoyed.. ¡°You wretch! How dare you plot against me!¡± Beside her, Frida¡¯s face turned green. She hurriedly went to help Sheralyn up. Yet, after pulling for a while, she failed to lift Sheralyn up. Instead, she was dragged by Shealyn, causing her to slip and fall as well. Upon seeing this, Gwendolyn was slightly taken aback and was ttered. ¡°Mrs. Wright, you¡¯re being too kind. There¡¯s no need for you to personally pay me such great respects, although I can handle such courtesy from you as well.¡± Joaquin¡¯s unrestrainedughter filled the air. Frida was furious, her chest heaving with anger as she red up at her. Due to being in a public setting, she could only grit her teeth and say, ¡°I advise you not to take it too. far! Show some restraint!¡± Gwendolyn blinked, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Too far?¡± She paused for a moment, her expression gradually turning cold. ¡°But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve done nearly enough. After all, your head hasn¡¯t knock on the ground hard enough yet.¡± Sheralyn felt apprehensive. Before she could react, something flew toward her. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, causing her to lose her strength. Her head felt weightless, and it mmed heavily onto the ground. Someone let out a soft hiss as the head m was so loud that it sounded painful! When she raised her head again, there was arge, red, swollen bump on her forehead, which looked quiteical. ¡°Ahh!¡± Sheralyn became infuriated and felt too ashamed to face anyone. She felt like going home and smothering herself to death with a nket! Frida felt both frustrated and heartbroken. Nevertheless, this time, it was ultimately Sheralyn¡¯s fault, and she couldn¡¯t just openly curse or say anything inappropriate in front of a group of outsiders. In the end, Frida helped the limping Sheralyn and left the venue. After most of the people had left, the two bodyguards who had been hiding in the shadows and throwing stones at Sheralyn finally emerged. Gwendolyn smiled generously. ¡°Well done, you¡¯ll get raise after this.¡± Meanwhile, in the mountain range connecting Faike and Lightspring, Maverick had practically gone - through the entire area in his search over the past few days. The various technological instruments they brought along had run out of power. The task of finding who they were looking for became increasingly challenging. His subordinates sighed in frustration, but they dared not say anything, fearing punishment from their boss. Maverick leaned against a tree, silently smoking a cigarette. If something really happened to her, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to search for so many days and find. absolutely no clue whatsoever. The leader of his subordinates came over, looking quite helpless, and said, ¡°Boss, is it possible that we got the wrong information? Could Ms. Shalders have fallen somewhere else? Maybe it was too dark so Noah couldn¡¯t clearly see the approximate location where she hadnded. What if she fell into a river? The signal in the mountains is too weak, and we can¡¯t send more people. Maybe we should¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Maverick¡¯s expression grew increasingly serious. His dark eyes narrowed as he uttered, ¡°No, she¡¯s not dead.¡± ¡°What?¡± The subordinate was dumbfounded. How could someone possibly survive a fall from such a high altitude? Maverick¡¯s lips were tightly pursed, and he said nothing further. Zachary¡¯s information couldn¡¯t be wrong, and Noah didn¡¯t lie either. She did indeed fall from the ne. Moreover, the detection equipment he brought couldn¡¯t have malfunctioned. Even if someone fell into the river, there would still be some traces. Therefore, there was only one possibility left. His eyebrows furrowed, and he suddenly thought of something. ¡°Return to Faike!¡± ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± His subordinates immediately ryed the order, and a group of people quickly packed their belongings, eager to fly back to Faike as though they had wings. Just as they were about to leave, a group of people suddenly appeared, supporting each other as they walked toward them. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 She Is Set On Wright¡­ +50 Bonus The bespectacled man at the front, who wore a id shirt, asked Maverick, ¡°Sir, we are all tourists here. We have been trapped here for days because we got lost. We¡¯ve also lost our luggage and are starving. Do you know how to get out of the mountains?¡± Maverick remained silent. He only made eye contact with the man. His deep, dark eyes gave no hint of what he was thinking. The man nced at his subordinates behind him and continued to ingratiate himself with Maverick. ¡°Sir, it seems like you¡¯re also nning to leave the mountains. How about we travel together? It would be nice to have each other¡¯spany and support.¡± In contrast to the man¡¯s enthusiasm, Maverick appeared to be very indifferent. He carefully examined the seven or eight men standing behind the man in the id shirt. Coming from a military background, Maverick was instinctively wary of the sudden appearance of strangers. This group of people imed to be tourists that had lost their luggage. However, the dirt on their thes seemed fresh, making the group not look like they had not changed their clothes in days. It appeared as if the stains were deliberately added. Although they were staggering and had to support one another, the brightness in their eyes showed no signs of hunger from not eating for days. He furrowed his brows, and his face darkened. Something is off about this group of people. His subordinates, who were standing beside him, quickly noticed the change in his expression and also became vignt. Maverick¡¯s lips curved into a thin smile as he replied, ¡°No need to apany me. We¡¯re not going the same way.¡± He turned his head and prepared to leave. ¡°So, where are you headed? It¡¯s not a bad idea to make some friends while we¡¯re out and about.¡± The man in the id shirt remained enthusiastic, stepping forward to pat him on the shoulder. But before he even made contact, his hand was tightly gripped by Maverick. The atmosphere on both sides suddenly became somewhat odd. Maverick gripped him with one hand while his other hand attempted to reach into the man¡¯s pocket. The man became alert and held Maverick¡¯s hand down, but the handle of the brand-new knife in his pocket had already been exposed. Maverick let out a sneer, his dark eyes cold as ice. ¡°With such a new de, I doubt you¡¯re here just for sightseeing. Who sent you here?¡± Seeing that he had been discovered, the man no longer pretended. The expression on his face turned Chapter 97 She Is Set On Wright¡­ +50 Bonus sinister. ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, don¡¯t even think about leaving alive!¡± After saying that, he pulled out a small knife and fiercely stabbed it toward Maverick. Maverick deftly dodged to the side, and the two quickly became embroiled in a scuffle. Upon seeing the situation, the others also grabbed their weapons. The two groups of people broke into a brawl right there and then, creating a chaotic scene. Frida went back, and after finally calming Sheralyn down, she went to thepany and called Samantha over. Samantha had just reached the entrance of the CEO¡¯s office when a coffee cup suddenlynded and shattered at her feet. When she arrived, she had already heard about the Wright Construction Group¡¯s failed bid. So, she walked up to Frida with a smile and thoughtfully massaged her temples. ¡°Aunt Frida, being angry is one thing, but it¡¯s not worth it if your health is affected.¡± Frida¡¯s head throbbed. She closed her eyes, enjoying the massage while soothing her emotions. Samantha continued, ¡°About that Amryn Real Estate. I¡¯ve looked into it. It was originally a small company on the verge of bankruptcy. But somehow, just a few days ago, it miraculously bounced back. And now, they¡¯ve even managed to win the bid for the western outskirts of the city. There must be more to it than meets the eye.¡± Frida opened her eyes and lovingly held her hand. ¡°Then I¡¯ll entrust this to you, Samantha. Please put more effort into finding out who the real owner of this property is. We can offer a better sry to lure them into joining Wright Construction Group, as long as they hand over thatnd in the western outskirts of the city.¡± Samantha frowned. ¡°But Aunt Frida, why would someone give up being their own boss to work for Wright Construction Group?¡± Frida fell into a brief moment of contemtion. ¡°If she can¡¯t be of use to Wright Construction Group, then kick her, and herpany, out of Faike.¡± ¡°All right, Aunt Frida, but¡­¡± Samantha hesitated, her expression slightlyplicated. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frida asked. Samantha replied, ¡°Right now, my position at Wright Construction Group is still too low-level. Many people don¡¯t believe in me, and if this continues, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to help you much, Aunt Frida.¡±. Frida made a sweeping gesture with her hand and generously offered, ¡°Whichever departments you want, they¡¯re all yours.¡± Samantha was overjoyed. ¡°Thank you, Aunt Frida.¡± After leaving the CEO¡¯s office, Samantha went straight to the relevant departments to handle the Chapter 97 She Is Set On Wright¡­ +50 Bonus handover. This time, she requested the HR department and the finance department. She was always able to strike the right bnce, asking for just enough without raising Frida¡¯s suspicions. However, having control over the HR department would make it easy for her to nt her own people in thepany, while the finance department was the lifeline of the entire organization. With these two departments in her hands, it would only be a matter of time before Wright Construction Group became her ything. Once I own Wright Construction Group, I will have a significant amount of power. The first person to deal with is the despicable woman, Gwendolyn, who made me lose face at the Mossey family¡¯s opening ceremony! Excitement filled Samantha¡¯s eyes at the thought of that. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. But she did not let herself get carried away. She still had to do the tasks Frida assigned. Hence, she decided to secretly arrange for someone to infiltrate Amryn Real Estate. It would be nothing but beneficial for them in the future, be it to gather information or to cause trouble. Gwendolyn was sitting in the office at Angle, taking care of misceneous tasks. Suddenly, she received a phone call from Yulia. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Yulia¡¯s tone was serious. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s some inside information about Wright Construction Group.¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Gwendolyn ordered. ¡°Frida handed over five departments, including the HR department and finance department, to Samantha,¡± Yulia reported. Gwendolynughed and shook her head. How fearless must Frida be to entrust the management of the finance department to someone from outside her family? It seems that it won¡¯t be long before Wright Construction Group ispletely destroyed by Frida, with all its assets ending up in Samantha¡¯s hands. Frida knows nothing about. running a business, yet she dares to squander Den¡¯s lifelong efforts. If Den were to find out, he¡¯d probably rise from his grave just to beat this spendthrift woman to death. Unfortunately, although Gwendolyn would have been happy to see Wright Construction Group fall into ruin, she had promised Den before his death that she would help protect Wright Construction Group. Thus, she decided to set her sights on Wright Construction Group! After sorting out her thoughts, she spoke to Yulia, who was on the other end of the phone. ¡°Assign someone to closely monitor Samantha and inform me immediately if there¡¯s any movement, Also, if Wright Construction Group secretly starts selling shares, buy them all, regardless of the price.¡± ¡°Yes, got it.¡± After receiving the instructions, Yulia quickly went to make the arrangements. An hourter, Gwendolyn received another phone call from Yulia. Yulia started, ¡°You guessed it right-there¡¯s been some activity from Samantha¡¯s side. Among the people who just applied for a job at Amryn Real Estate, one person¡¯s background looks quite suspicious. I had someone trace his calls and found out that he had spoken with an unknown number today. Soon after, his ount had an additional one million.¡± She paused for a moment, then continued, ¡°Should we threaten this kick them out to show Samantha our strength?¡± person, rough them up a bit, and Gwendolyn pondered for a moment, a slight smile ying at the corner of her lips. ¡°No, hire him,¡± she decided. ¡°Huh?¡± Yulia was baffled. ¡°This person must be a corporate spy sent by Samantha. Aren¡¯t you afraid that he¡¯ll leakpany secrets if you keep him around?¡± Gwendolyn exined, ¡°It¡¯s easier to keep an eye on someone when they¡¯re right under your nose, and besides, I want him to reveal the secrets.¡± Her voice was calm and steady, and she had a glint in her eyes that conveyed her determination to seed. She concluded, ¡°It probably won¡¯t be long before Samantha drains the resources of Wright Construction Group, and this time, we¡¯re going to help her out!¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 I Really Like You After finishing her call with Yulia, Gwendolyn tidied up her office desk and prepared to head to the top. floor to find Treyton. Kieran had been in Faike for quite some time. She nned to visit the Mossey residence with Treyton to check on Inez¡¯s condition, hoping to free Kieran as soon as possible. Upon arriving at the top floor, the CEO¡¯s office, Elisha was not waiting outside. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t give it much thought. Since the office door was not locked, she pushed the door open. When the door was opened a little, she heard a deep, teady voice from inside, seemingly talking on the phone. ¡°Asher, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too aggressive? After all, it¡¯s Kiddo¡¯s matter, and I think she might have her own ns¡­¡± It¡¯s about me? What could be making Treyton act so mysterious? She was just about to eavesdrop a little more when the door was suddenly pushed open from the inside. Elisha had noticed her presence keenly. Treyton put away his phone with a natural expression and looked at her gently. ¡°When did you arrive? Why didn¡¯t youe in when you got here?¡± Gwendolyn felt embarrassed from being caught red-handed and awkwardly touched the tip of her car. ¡°I just arrived. I was hoping to go to the Mossey residence with you when you¡¯re free to check on Inez¡¯s condition.¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ve just finished up with my work. We can go now.¡± Gwendolyn nodded obediently. When their eyes met, she noticed his expression was calm andposed. Did I hear it wrong? She didn¡¯t overthink it. Even if her brothers hid something from her, they would never harm her. As the two were preparing to head to the Mossey residence, they received a message from Kieran. Inez¡¯s health was no longer a major concern. Since Kieran had lingered in Faike for too long, he was already on his way to the private airport, preparing to return to Lightspring. The two had no choice but to head to the private airport. In the car¡¯s back seat, Gwendolyn asionally nced over at Treyton sitting beside her. Treyton was engrossed in reading the newspaper with his head lowered. The sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a warm light on his hair. His handsome profile looked extremely focused ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Treyton caught her gaze and asked in a deep voice. Chapter 98 I Really Like You +50 Bonus Gwendolyn hesitated for two seconds before asking.¡±Treyton, is there¡­ anything you¡¯d like to say to me?¡± Treyton paused for a moment. ¡°No.¡± All right then¡­ She stopped talking, withdrew her gaze, and looked back out the car window. Since Treyton doesn¡¯t want to talk about it, then forget it. Soon they arrived at the private airport. Gwendolyn immediately gave Kieran a big hug. ¡°Kieran, thank you for your hard work this time.¡± Kieran reached out and gently caressed her soft hair. His initial cold expression finally showed a hint of a smile when he saw her. ¡°Silly Kiddo.¡± The three siblings exchanged pleasantries for a while. Seeing that it was gettingte, Gwendolyn and Treyton bid farewell to Kieran as he was about to board the ne. ¡°Wait a moment! Mr. Kieran, Mr. Treyton, Ms. Shalders! The Mossey family is in trouble!¡± Kieran had just stepped onto the boarding stairs when Elisha suddenly rushed over. He had no choice but to stop and turn around to ask, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°The Mossey family sent someone to inform us that Ms. Inez had suddenly fainted at home. Mrs. Mossey was worried that it was due to a problem with the previous surgery that might have damaged her brain nerves, so she wants Mr. Kieran to go over to have a look.¡± Fainted? Gwendolyn frowned. How could there be any problems with the surgery performed by Kieran? Is someone deliberately framing him? Using such an excuse to frame Kieran for medical negligence is just asking for trouble! Treyton was also puzzled, while Kieran¡¯s face looked solemn. ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± Kieran had no choice but to cancel his flight and head to the Mossey residence with Gwendolyn. In the vi, Madelyn paced back and forth outside Ingz¡¯s room. Seeing them approach, she happily ran over to greet Kieran. ¡°You¡¯re finally here! Inez was practicing walking at home today when she suddenly fainted. She¡¯s still unconscious, and I¡¯m at my wit¡¯s end. I had no choice but to bother you.¡± Chapter 98 I Really Like You +50 Bonus Kieran¡¯s expression remained cold as he gave a slight nod, then walked past Madelyn to open the room door. Gwendolyn followed closely behind, ready to take a look at Inez¡¯s situation. However, she was blocked by Madelyn. Madelyn smiled charmingly. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Kieran is already inside, and he¡¯s enough to handle the situation. You¡¯re not a doctor, so you won¡¯t be able to help much by going in. Why don¡¯t you stay here and chat with me while enjoying some fruit?¡± Gwendolyn slightly furrowed her brow as she stared at Madelyn. Considering Madelyn¡¯s deep affection for Inez, Madelyn should be panicking and stomping her feet in distress. Yet, she could still smile and divert Gwendolyn¡¯s attention while maintaining a courteous attitude. The fainting incident must be¡­ Forget about it. On the day of the Mossey family¡¯s opening ceremony, whether Inez was sincere or not, she ultimately wanted to help me. I would consider this as repaying her a favor. With that thought, she smiled slightly and looked at Kieran before her. ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll chat with Mrs. Mossey.¡± Kieran nodded before pushing the door open and entering. Madelyn noticed the subtle interactions between the two, and her face stiffened slightly. She asked half-jokingly, ¡°It seems like you and Mr. Kieran have quite a good rapport, are you guys¡­¡± Her gaze wandered back and forth, hinting at something. Gwendolyn showed no expression. ¡°We¡¯re just ordinary friends.¡± Madelyn seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Her smile brightened as she eagerly offered Gwendolyn more fruit. ¡°That¡¯s great! You are so lucky to have friends like Mr. Kieran and Mr. Treyton!¡± Gwendolyn just nodded in agreement with her, not saying anything. Inside the room, the lighting was dim. Inezy quietly in bed, as if she had never woken up. However, unlike her previous vegetative state, herplexion was much rosier thanst time, and her breathing was slightly rapid. The moment Kieran looked at her, his eyebrows furrowed instantly, and his expression darkened. ¡°You¡¯re not sick.¡± Inez was utterly embarrassed, as her deception was exposed so quickly. Seeing him about to leave, she hurriedly opened her eyes, sat up in bed, and grabbed hold of his sleeve ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± Kieran didn¡¯t turn around, and his feet didn¡¯t move. Iriez couldn¡¯t see the expression on his face, but she could clearly feel the chilling aura surrounding him, as cold as an ice cer. He is angry¡­ Inez¡¯s eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she became utterly flustered. She knew that once he left this time, she would never have the chance to see him again. ¡°Kieran, I know that the Mossey family and the Harris family are not on the same level, and our families are not considered a perfect match, but I know if I don¡¯t speak up now, I¡¯ll lose my chance!¡± She paused momentarily, took a deep breath as if gathering immense courage, and lifted her face, her eyes unwavering. ¡°I like you! I really, really like you. I know we haven¡¯t known each other for long, and you don¡¯t know much about me, but can you please stay and try to talk to me more? I-¡± ¡°No.¡± Before she could finish speaking, she was abruptly interrupted by Kieran¡¯s cold voice. ¡°Because, I don¡¯t like you.¡± Inez felt as if a string had snapped inside her heart. Inez stared nkly at his tall figure. He was not even willing to look back at her. She couldn¡¯t quite describe the feeling at that moment. She knew she had deceived him by pretending to be sick. However, if she hadn¡¯t done so, she would never have had the chance to fight for herself. Her eyes turned red, yet she stubbornly bit her lip, forcing herself not to let her tears fall. ¡°Is it because of¡­ Gwendolyn? Do you like her?¡± Chapter 99 Surprise Him When He ¡­ Treyton did not say anything. It was as though there was something difficult to bring up. Gwendolyn connected all the clues and significant events from that period of time. After giving it some thought, she amusingly shook her head. +50 Bonus ¡°Could it be that he thinks I¡¯m dead and went there to retrieve my body? Does this mean that he wouldn¡¯t want to let go of me even if I were dead?¡± Treyton was tongue-tied and quickly changed the subject. ¡°He hasn¡¯t returned yet because he is stuck in the mountains. But I guess it won¡¯t be long before he returns to Faike, maybe within a week at most.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression tensed up slightly. One week is not a lot of time. If Samantha¡¯s side isn¡¯t quick enough, and Maverick manages to return in time to take control of the situation, my n to bankrupt Wright Construction Group would be affected. Treyton could see her anxiety. ¡°So, what¡¯s your next move?¡± Gwendolyn looked up, met his gaze, and gave a slight smile. ¡°Great, I¡¯ll give him a ¡®big surprise¡¯ on the day he returns!¡± Treyton looked at her burning gaze. He lowered his head, feeling a little guilty. In actuality, he kept two more things hidden from Gwendolyn. The first thing was that Maverick was stuck there because of the people Asher had sent. Asher had long been displeased with that young punk, so the former look the opportunity to secretly teach Maverick a lesson. The second thing was that Maverick went there to look for her, not with ill intentions, but to save her. If Gwendolyn were to investigate thoroughly, she would discover that Noah¡¯s hijacking incident had nothing to do with Maverick. She simply did not want to delve deeper into the matter. Thus, she preferred to believe that Maverick was the one who had wronged her. Treyton pursed his lips, wanting to speak but hesitated. In the end, he did not say anything at all. Even though Maverick was not at fault this time, Gwendolyn had suffered and endured hardships because of him over the past three years. It was time for Maverick to make up for all the times he had wronged her. After knowing Maverick¡¯s approximate return date, Gwendolyn was filled with determination. The very next day, she arranged for Yulia to disguise herself as a major shareholder of Amryn Real Estate. Thend on the western outskirts of the city had already been purchased. The subsequent construction projects still needed to be discussed with Oceanic Constructions for a coboration n. ¡°Tonight, at the meeting with Oceanic Constructions, bring along the Wright family¡¯s spy. Remember to give them a chance to discreetly obtain the ns.¡± Yulia was quite surprised when she heard that. ¡°Boss, if he goes back and tells Samantha about our leaked n, she will definitely try to sabotage our coboration with Oceanic Constructions.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°Well, that depends on whether they have the ability or not.¡± 12: ¡°Huh?¡± Yulia could not understand what Gwendolyn wanted to do and could only obediently follow orders. Later that evening, Samantha arrived at the Wright residence, brimming with enthusiasm. She eagerly shared her aplishments with Frida. ¡°Aunt Frida, I¡¯ve got the coboration n between Amryn Real Estate and Oceanic Constructions.¡± Frida eximed in surprise, ¡°Really?¡± She eagerly took the proposal from Samantha¡¯s hands and carefully read through it. ¡°This is great! With this proposal, things will be much easier to handle.¡± Samantha suggested, ¡°Now that we have Amryn Real Estate¡¯s quotation to Oceanic Constructions, all we need to do now is multiply that price by a few times when we offer it to Oceanic Constructions, and we¡¯ll be able to intercept this coboration. Amryn Real Estate is a smallpany with limited funds. Once we intercept their partnership after they made the down payment, they won¡¯t be able to afford to negotiate a better deal with other construction materialpanies by then. They would have no choice but to wait for their demise and obediently hand over thend in the western outskirts of the city.¡± After hearing this, Frida could not help butugh. ¡°Great! I¡¯ll leave it all to you to arrange. Wright Construction Group can afford it no matter how much it costs!¡± Samantha nodded. Frida patted Samantha¡¯s shoulder and looked at her solemnly. ¡°Samantha, you are the child I trust the most. Please don¡¯t let me down!¡± Chapter 100 Seriously Injured Chapter 100 Seriously Injured Samantha nodded earnestly and began making arrangements the very next day. +50 Bonus Unexpectedly, when she discussed the partnership with the person in charge of Oceanic Constructions, the person in charge said regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Lane, but Amryn Real Estate has already raised their offer to a hundred million from the original price. We can¡¯t possibly give you this deal. Unless¡­ you¡¯re willing to increase your offer as well?¡± Amryn Real Estate is willing to raise the price to a hundred million to obtain thisrge batch of building materials? Are they crazy? Well, it¡¯s good that they¡¯ve invested all their money in the construction on the western outskirts of the city. It shows that they value this piece ofnd very much. and are willing to risk the entirepany¡¯s survival on it. Once their coborationes to a halt, they will only end up losing everything, dering bankruptcy. That piece ofnd will inevitably fall into the hands of Wright Construction Group. Upon thinking this, she smacked the table without hesitation. ¡°Wright Construction Group will offer a hundred and fifty million for this batch of goods.¡± The person in charge of Oceanic Constructions clicked their tongue disapprovingly, showing a bit of disdain. ¡°Well, doing business is all about maintaining credibility, after all. You only want to add fifty million. and expect us to breach our contract with Amryn Real Estate? That¡¯s a bit unreasonable, isn¡¯t it? Besides, it won¡¯t be easy for us to speak to them as well!¡± Samantha¡¯s face turned grim, but before she could retort, the assistant of the person in charge of Oceanic Constructions pushed the door open and entered the room. The assistant leaned close to the person in charge¡¯s car and whispered, ¡°Amryn Real Estate has added another hundred million.¡± Although it was meant to be a whisper, it was not soft at all. Samantha heard it loud and clear, and her face turned dark. As the future heir of Lane Group, she would soon be merging the organization with Wright Construction Group. There was no way she would submit to a smallpany like Amryn Real Estate. The desire to win got the better of her. She abruptly stood up and mmed the empty coffee cup on the table in front of the person in charge. Hearing the loud bang, the person in charge jumped in shock. Samantha, with her chin up high in arrogance, dered powerfully, ¡°Five hundred million! In cash!¡± The person in charge¡¯s eyes N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. in charge¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Deal!¡± Meanwhile, also at Oceanic Constructions, Gwendolyn was sitting in the main seat in the conference room next door with an exquisite coffee brewing set on the table. She calmly emptied the first pot of brewed coffee and began the second round of brewing with the used coffee beans. The room was filled with the aroma of coffee. Yulia sat on the left side, quietly watching Gwendolyn¡¯s leisure and skillful movements. 14:16 Mon, May 15 Chapter 100 Seriously Injured .66% +50 Bonus Impressive! She truly is the Harris family¡¯s precious daughter. Even after leaving Salinsburgh for a full six years, she can still remember clearly how to brew nice cup of coffee. The sound of the door opening broke the silence in the conference room. The person in charge¡¯s assistant walked in with a delighted expression. ¡°You guessed correctly! Wright Construction Group indeed followed through with five hundred million, and it¡¯s in cash! My supervisor said that as soon as Wright Construction Group¡¯s funds arrive, we will immediately split the profits with you ording to the contract. You will receive eighty percent, and Oceanic Constructions is getting twenty percent.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent, focusing on savoring her coffee. Yulia stood up and shook hands with the assistant. ¡°Great, it¡¯s a pleasure working with you.¡± Most bigpanies mainly used checks and let the banks handle the rest so their cash reserves would not be too affected. The fact that Wright Construction Group coulde up with so much cash at once showed their remarkable strength. Unfortunately, once all the cash was invested, the subsequent vulnerabilities would only grow. Late at night, thunder and lightning raged as torrential rain poured down. In the mountain range between Faike and Lightspring, a group of people ran along the narrow mountain path as if their lives depended on it. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a cave over there!¡± Several people quickly rushed into the narrow, pitch-ck cave. They cut some wild vegetation to conceal the entrance, making it a good ce to hide temporarily. Maverick¡¯s initially neat short hair was soaked by the rain and drooped down onto his forehead. His handsome face was unnaturally pale. Even his lips were devoid of any color. As he finally caught his breath, a sudden, intense pain in his waist made him feel lightheaded. When he could no longer bear it, he dropped onto one knee for ¡°Boss!¡± support. Just now, the group of people was focused on running Even though Maverick was clearly injured, he did not say a word about it from beginning to end. His subordinates only realized then that he had been stabbed in the waist at some point. It was a long and deep gash, and the wound had turned pale from being washed by the rain. However, blood was still oozing out from it. On the way here, Maverick got caught in the rain, and now he was starting to feel hot all over, as though he was running a fever. If he could not stop the bleeding and treat the fever in time, his life would be in danger! Fortunately, all his subordinates had fought their way through life and death in the army and were familiar with self-tending methods for injuries sustained in the wilderness. 14:16 Mon, May 15 Chapter 100 Seriously Injured 66% +50 Bonus The group bustled in and out. Due to ack of resources, it took almost an hour to bandage Maverick¡¯s wound. Maverick woke up from his groggy state, and the first words that came out of his dry, pale lips were, ¡°Tomorrow¡­ we¡¯re going back to Faike!¡± His subordinate, Nico Larson, was growing increasingly anxious. Everyone is almost at their wit¡¯s end, yet you are still thinking about returning to Faike? ¡°Boss, your body is too weak right now, and those people outside are still looking for us. If you act recklessly, your wound will tear open. Do you really not care about your life?¡± Maverick bit his thin lip. I¡¯ve endured much worse injuries before. This is nothing. He got over the pain and began to analyze the incident. ¡°When you guys fought with that group, did you notice that they all had the same small tattoo on the inner part of their arms?¡± After some thought, Nico grabbed a piece of leftover torn cloth that he had originally ripped off to bandage Maverick¡¯s wound. With the muddy water on the ground, Nico relied on his memory to draw the tattoo and handed it to Maverick. A group of people gathered around this piece of tattooed cloth and engaged in a lively discussion. ¡°It seems like some kind of animal.¡± ¡°Right! It¡¯s an animal. Don¡¯t these two sides look like two horns? A rhinoceros!¡± Neville Landon had just finished speaking when Nico smacked him on the head. ¡°Idiot! A rhino has ears on both sides of its head and only one horn!¡± Maverick listened to their animated chatter as his eyes focused on the piece of cloth. After briefly thinking about it, he spoke weakly. ¡°It¡¯s a deer.¡± Although his voice was soft, his subordinates heard it loud and clear. Their expressions turned extremely solemn. Many years ago, during a mission, they had coborated with the Harris family¡¯s team from Salinsburgh. It seemed that the subordinates of the Harris family also had a simr tattoo. If that¡¯s true, that means our former allies have be enemies. But why? A long silence fell upon the cave as everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on Maverick. Mayerick¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, deep in thought, leaving everyone wondering what was on his mind. After the long silence, Nico was the first to speak up. ¡°Boss, maybe it¡¯s a misunderstanding. We¡¯ve been living incognito since we left the army, and hardly anyone knows about our existence. Perhaps it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Maverick did not speak, and his eyes were extremely cold. That group of people was clearly very purpose-driven, and it was obvious that they wereing straight for them. To the best of his knowledge, there was currently a well-established team capable of detection and concealment, led by the eldest son of the Harris family, Asher. Asher was known to have connections with both the mob and the authorities. Treyton and Asher were also brothers. Moreover, when Maverick was fighting the group leader previously, the man said, ¡°You want to know who I am? You should be asking who you¡¯ve let down! Upon hearing these words, Maverick somehow suddenly thought of Gwendolyn. His mind wandered for a moment, and that was when the other person¡¯s de struck him. Is this matter rted to Gwendolyn in any way? If Treyton would go to such lengths for her, then who exactly is she? Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Surprise Him When He Returns Her knuckles turned white from gripping the bedsheets too tightly. +50 Bonus Even though she was terrified of hearing a definite answer from him, she still held a tiny glimmer of hope deep down. But this time, Kieran did not say anything. He coldly made her let go of him, pushed the door open, and left without looking back. Madelyn and Gwendolyn were chatting leisurely on the sofa outside the door. They were both startled when they saw Kieran¡¯s horrifying expression as he came out. Madelyn asked, ¡°What happened, Mr. Kieran?¡± Kieran ignored her and looked straight at Gwendolyn ¡°You knew she was faking her illness.¡± Is he really angry? It was Gwendolyn¡¯s first time seeing Kieran looking at her with such an expression. She blinked guiltily. ¡°I¡ª¡± Kieran did not want to give her a chance to exin, so he quickly strode downstairs and left. Gwendolyn was about to chase after him, but Madelyn pulled her into the ward to check Inez¡¯s condition. Inez¡¯s eyes were red as if she had been crying. Her mood did not seem too great either. Madelyn quickly leaned onto Inez with a heartbroken expression. ¡°My dear daughter, I¡¯ve warned you, before. Kieran¡¯s a cold person; he won¡¯t like you. But you insisted on trying, and now you¡¯re hurt!¡± Inez bit her lip, remaining silent. Madelyn knew Inez had always been stubborn, and orice Inez made up her mind about something, there was no persuading her otherwise. So, Madelyn had no choice but to turn to Gwendolyn for help. ¡°Gwendolyn, for the sake of our friendship, please help Inez out. You managed to bring Mr. Kieran to Faike, so you must have a way to make him stay here!¡± Gwendolyn shook her head, her expression serious. It¡¯s no use. He¡¯s a man of strong principles. If he doesn¡¯t like someone, no amount of persuasion will change his mind.¡± Perhaps these words were a bit too harsh for Inez. Nheless, Gwendolyn had no other choice but to be straightforward. It was better to endure short-term pain than prolonged suffering. Inez could only rely on herself to sort out her thoughts sooner. Madelyn sighed in disappointment. Upon witnessing such a heartbreaking scene, Gwendolyn realized that she could not be of much help. She then decided to turn around and leave. Chapter 99 Surprise Him When He ¡­ +50 Bonus ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± Inez stopped her. She then asked with uncertainty, ¡°Are you going to be my enemy?¡± Madelyn shuddered in fear as the fate of Natasha was still fresh in her mind. She did not dare to move. Gwendolyn stood quietly for a few seconds. Without any exnation or looking back, she left the Mossey residence immediately. Upon leaving the Mossey residence, she saw Treyton¡¯s car parked by the roadside, waiting for her. She walked straight over, opened the car door, and sat in the back seat. Treyton saw the solemn expression on her face and gently caressed her head. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Who has offended my little princess?¡± Gwendolyn was feeling down. ¡°I must have offended Kieran.¡± Treyton burst intoughter. ¡°Silly Kiddo, you didn¡¯t do anything wrong. All these years, Kieran has been completely absorbed in medical research and has not gotten close to a single woman. Dad has even scolded him countless of times because of it, but it seems like he listens to you the most.¡± ¡°But he got angry¡­¡± Treyton shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t understand him. He may seem cold, but he¡¯s just shy. Anyway, you shouldn¡¯t worry about it. If he and Inez are truly meant to be, they¡¯ll find their way to each other eventually.¡± Gwendolyn finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Treyton seemed to have thought of something as his expression gradually became serious. ¡°Kiddo, I¡¯ve considered something carefully, and I think I should tell you.¡± Seeing the serious look on his face, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but be serious as well. ¡°It¡¯s about¡­ your ex-husband.¡± Maverick? Isn¡¯t that guy reported missing? I¡¯ve sent Shadow Bell to investigate the matter thoroughly, but they couldn¡¯t find any trace of him. All they knew was that he had suddenly disappeared the day before Natasha¡¯s press conference. Doubtfully, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Did you find him?¡± Treyton nodded. ¡°Asher discovered he is in the mountain range between Faike and Lightspring.¡± Well, Asher has connections with both the mob and the authorities. Naturally, hiswork is more extensive than Shadow Bell¡¯s. It¡¯s no surprise that he was able to find him. However¡­ Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°What is he doing there?¡± Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Seriously Injured Samantha nodded earnestly and began making arrangements the very next day. +50 Bonus Unexpectedly, when she discussed the partnership with the person in charge of Oceanic Constructions, the person in charge said regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Lane, but Amryn Real Estate has already raised their offer to a hundred million from the original price. We can¡¯t possibly give you this deal. Unless¡­ you¡¯re willing to increase your offer as well?¡± Amryn Real Estate is willing to raise the price to a hundred million to obtain thisrge batch of building materials? Are they crazy? Well, it¡¯s good that they¡¯ve invested all their money in the construction on the western outskirts of the city. It shows that they value this piece ofnd very much. and are willing to risk the entirepany¡¯s survival on it. Once their coborationes to a halt, they will only end up losing everything, dering bankruptcy. That piece ofnd will inevitably fall into the hands of Wright Construction Group. Upon thinking this, she smacked the table without hesitation. ¡°Wright Construction Group will offer a hundred and fifty million for this batch of goods.¡± The person in charge of Oceanic Constructions clicked their tongue disapprovingly, showing a bit of disdain. ¡°Well, doing business is all about maintaining credibility, after all. You only want to add fifty million. and expect us to breach our contract with Amryn Real Estate? That¡¯s a bit unreasonable, isn¡¯t it? Besides, it won¡¯t be easy for us to speak to them as well!¡± Samantha¡¯s face turned grim, but before she could retort, the assistant of the person in charge of Oceanic Constructions pushed the door open and entered the room. The assistant leaned close to the person in charge¡¯s car and whispered, ¡°Amryn Real Estate has added another hundred million.¡± Although it was meant to be a whisper, it was not soft at all. Samantha heard it loud and clear, and her face turned dark. As the future heir of Lane Group, she would soon be merging the organization with Wright Construction Group. There was no way she would submit to a smallpany like Amryn Real Estate. The desire to win got the better of her. She abruptly stood up and mmed the empty coffee cup on the table in front of the person in charge. Hearing the loud bang, the person in charge jumped in shock. Samantha, with her chin up high in arrogance, dered powerfully, ¡°Five hundred million! In cash!¡± The person in charge¡¯s eyes in charge¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Deal!¡± Meanwhile, also at Oceanic Constructions, Gwendolyn was sitting in the main seat in the conference room next door with an exquisite coffee brewing set on the table. She calmly emptied the first pot of brewed coffee and began the second round of brewing with the used coffee beans. The room was filled with the aroma of coffee. Yulia sat on the left side, quietly watching Gwendolyn¡¯s leisure and skillful movements. 14:16 Mon, May 15 Chapter 100 Seriously Injured .66% +50 Bonus Impressive! She truly is the Harris family¡¯s precious daughter. Even after leaving Salinsburgh for a full six years, she can still remember clearly how to brew nice cup of coffee. The sound of the door opening broke the silence in the conference room. The person in charge¡¯s assistant walked in with a delighted expression. ¡°You guessed correctly! Wright Construction Group indeed followed through with five hundred million, and it¡¯s in cash! My supervisor said that as soon as Wright Construction Group¡¯s funds arrive, we will immediately split the profits with you ording to the contract. You will receive eighty percent, and Oceanic Constructions is getting twenty percent.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent, focusing on savoring her coffee. Yulia stood up and shook hands with the assistant. ¡°Great, it¡¯s a pleasure working with you.¡± Most bigpanies mainly used checks and let the banks handle the rest so their cash reserves would not be too affected. The fact that Wright Construction Group coulde up with so much cash at once showed their remarkable strength. Unfortunately, once all the cash was invested, the subsequent vulnerabilities would only grow. Late at night, thunder and lightning raged as torrential rain poured down. In the mountain range between Faike and Lightspring, a group of people ran along the narrow mountain path as if their lives depended on it. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a cave over there!¡± Several people quickly rushed into the narrow, pitch-ck cave. They cut some wild vegetation to conceal the entrance, making it a good ce to hide temporarily. Maverick¡¯s initially neat short hair was soaked by the rain and drooped down onto his forehead. His handsome face was unnaturally pale. Even his lips were devoid of any color. As he finally caught his breath, a sudden, intense pain in his waist made him feel lightheaded. When he could no longer bear it, he dropped onto one knee for ¡°Boss!¡± support. Just now, the group of people was focused on running Even though Maverick was clearly injured, he did not say a word about it from beginning to end. His subordinates only realized then that he had been stabbed in the waist at some point. It was a long and deep gash, and the wound had turned pale from being washed by the rain. However, blood was still oozing out from it. On the way here, Maverick got caught in the rain, and now he was starting to feel hot all over, as though he was running a fever. If he could not stop the bleeding and treat the fever in time, his life would be in danger! Fortunately, all his subordinates had fought their way through life and death in the army and were familiar with self-tending methods for injuries sustained in the wilderness. 14:16 Mon, May 15 Chapter 100 Seriously Injured 66% +50 Bonus The group bustled in and out. Due to ack of resources, it took almost an hour to bandage Maverick¡¯s wound. Maverick woke up from his groggy state, and the first words that came out of his dry, pale lips were, ¡°Tomorrow¡­ we¡¯re going back to Faike!¡± His subordinate, Nico Larson, was growing increasingly anxious. Everyone is almost at their wit¡¯s end, yet you are still thinking about returning to Faike? ¡°Boss, your body is too weak right now, and those people outside are still looking for us. If you act recklessly, your wound will tear open. Do you really not care about your life?¡± Maverick bit his thin lip. I¡¯ve endured much worse injuries before. This is nothing. He got over the pain and began to analyze the incident. ¡°When you guys fought with that group, did you notice that they all had the same small tattoo on the inner part of their arms?¡± After some thought, Nico grabbed a piece of leftover torn cloth that he had originally ripped off to bandage Maverick¡¯s wound. With the muddy water on the ground, Nico relied on his memory to draw the tattoo and handed it to Maverick. A group of people gathered around this piece of tattooed cloth and engaged in a lively discussion. ¡°It seems like some kind of animal.¡± ¡°Right! It¡¯s an animal. Don¡¯t these two sides look like two horns? A rhinoceros!¡± Neville Landon had just finished speaking when Nico smacked him on the head. ¡°Idiot! A rhino has ears on both sides of its head and only one horn!¡± Maverick listened to their animated chatter as his eyes focused on the piece of cloth. After briefly thinking about it, he spoke weakly. ¡°It¡¯s a deer.¡± Although his voice was soft, his subordinates heard it loud and clear. Their expressions turned extremely solemn. Many years ago, during a mission, they had coborated with the Harris family¡¯s team from Salinsburgh. It seemed that the subordinates of the Harris family also had a simr tattoo. If that¡¯s true, that means our former allies have be enemies. But why? A long silence fell upon the cave as everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on Maverick. Mayerick¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, deep in thought, leaving everyone wondering what was on his mind. After the long silence, Nico was the first to speak up. ¡°Boss, maybe it¡¯s a misunderstanding. We¡¯ve been living incognito since we left the army, and hardly anyone knows about our existence. Perhaps it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Maverick did not speak, and his eyes were extremely cold. That group of people was clearly very purpose-driven, and it was obvious that they wereing straight for them. To the best of his knowledge, there was currently a well-established team capable of detection and concealment, led by the eldest son of the Harris family, Asher. Asher was known to have connections with both the mob and the authorities. Treyton and Asher were also brothers. Moreover, when Maverick was fighting the group leader previously, the man said, ¡°You want to know who I am? You should be asking who you¡¯ve let down! Upon hearing these words, Maverick somehow suddenly thought of Gwendolyn. His mind wandered for a moment, and that was when the other person¡¯s de struck him. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Is this matter rted to Gwendolyn in any way? If Treyton would go to such lengths for her, then who exactly is she? Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 More Anxious Than Gwendolyn Complex emotions were pooling in Maverick¡¯s eyes. +5 Bonus After pondering for a while, he uttered in a tone that was even more firm, ¡°We must return to Faike tomorrow!¡± Nico didn¡¯t respond, gritting his teeth. Suddenly, he made up his mind. He took advantage of Maverick¡¯s current state and struck his palm toward the back of thetter¡¯s head. With a grunt, Maverick fainted on the spot. The other subordinates were scared to death after seeing the scene. ¡°Nico, do you have a death wish? Once Boss wakes up, he¡¯ll definitely not let you off the hook!¡± With a firm gaze, Nico obediently knelt beside Maverick¡¯s legs. ¡°Boss is a reckless person. If I don¡¯t stop him, he¡¯ll surely want to return to Faike, even if he were to crawl there. He¡¯s seriously injured and has a fever right now. I can¡¯t let him risk his life like this. Even if he wants to beat me to death after gaining consciousness, I¡¯ll let him do so!¡± Upon hearing that, everyone sighed helplessly and said nothing in the end. Two dayster, inside the CEO¡¯s office of Wright Construction Group, a sharp sound of things being thrown in the room could be heard even with the door closed. Samantha nced at the shattered pieces of the coffee cup on the floor and gentlyforted, ¡°Aunt Frida, please calm down. We were definitely tricked by Amryn Real Estate this time. They paid such a ¡°You couldn¡¯t even take down such a smallpany. How on earth do you handle tasks!¡± Frida fumed angrily. What she was even more enraged about was Samantha had spent 500 million in cash only to end up with a bunch of practically unusable defective products. Besides that, the main reason that led to this consequence was that the contract seemed to have been premeditated in which the type of goods was ambiguously mentioned on it. Although Samantha had checked the contract several times before signing, she still failed to discover the w. As a result, she couldn¡¯t use the contract to argue with Oceanic Constructions, letting the defective goods go to waste in her hands. ¡°A whopping 500 million down the drain! If any issues arise in thepany¡¯s other projects, the company will face difficulties in cash turnover!¡± Although Frida wasn¡¯t good at running a business, she was still quite quick-witted when it came to losses. Samantha knew she was at fault, so she could only apologize to Frida obediently in a partially coquettish attitude. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aunt Frida. I let my guard down this time. Rest assured; I¡¯ll do my best to make an ¨C amend for this loss. Please put faith in me once more. Although I messed up this time, I¡¯ve still done a lot for thepany before. Please think about my good qualities.¡± Samantha was telling the truth. Before this incident, she had managed all thepany¡¯s affairs quite efficiently. Frida¡¯s rage faded away a lot. ¡°Fine. Whatever means you use. Just hurry up and make up for this deficit.¡± Chapter 10! More Anxious Than Gwendolyn ¡°All right, Aunt Frida. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Samantha replied. She walked out of the offer with a calm expression. Later, her face suddenly became solemn Whatever means, huh? This is the only option, then! 1 Borus Meanwhile, Gwendolyn sat in her car in the garage of Amryn Real Estate. She recently went to an auto shop to modify her Volkswagen Passar¡¯s windows. Not only did the new windows provide privacy by blocking the view from outside, but they also offered soundproofing to prevent eavesdropping. Yulia leisurely walked over. Before getting into the car, she ensured no one was around. ¡°Boss, Samantha took on tons of projects and collected the corresponding advance payments to cover the losses in the contract she signed with Oceanic Constructions,¡± Yulia reported. ¡°Should I admire how courageous Samantha is for taking on so many projects? She studied abroad before. though¡­ I can now confirm she¡¯s someone with knowledge without practical experience. She gets flustered easily when encountering even the slightest problem. Her approach of taking in new funding to cover the debts will only lead her to more serious matters.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips, pondering for a moment before continuing to ask, ¡°How is the progress that I asked you to acquire all the scattered shares of Wright Construction Group at high prices recently?¡± ¡°Here. Take a look,¡± Yulia uttered. She handed the organized documents to Gwendolyn and stated, ¡°In order to avoid suspicion, we acquired the shares in a few amounts at one time, Over the past two days, we¡¯ve transferred a total of 15% of the shares to your name.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Gwendolyn focused on reading the documents. Yulia continued to say, ¡°Now, in Wright Construction Group¡¯s holdings, Maverick owns 40% of the shares, making him thergest shareholder, CEO, and head of the business group. As for the other 45%, the 15% is held by one of the rtives of the Wright family, Dexter Wright, Maverick¡¯s uncle.¡± Gwendolyn frowned and shook her head. ¡°No, we can¡¯t acquire that 15% of the shares. Dexter is a sly old. fox with high vignce. We should try our best not to alert him.¡± Yulia suggested, ¡°Then that leaves the 10% and 20% of the shares Sheralyn and Frida own. If we can acquire both of their shares, your total stake would be 5% more than Maverick¡¯s, making you the largest shareholder with the most say in Wright Construction Group. However¡­¡± She paused for a moment, looking a bit worried. ¡°Getting shares from Sheralyn and Frida won¡¯t be easy. They won¡¯t just hand them over. Boss, do you have any idea for this n?¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head in deep thought as if something hade to her mind. She slightly curved. her lips into a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Someone else is more anxious than us right now!¡± Just as Gwendolyn said, Samantha was indeed anxious now. She had just taken on arge number of projects and received a ton of down payments. Because of that, she ordered the employees to finish the old projects as soon as possible. She also took money from the old projects¡¯ material costs to barely cover the owed amount in the Oceanic Constructions contract. Consequently, the next day, a construction site made headlines due to issues with the quality of materials. The building, which was scheduled to bepleted within the month, suddenly copsed, and it even affected the neighboring buildings. 2/4 Chapter 101 More Anxious Than Gwendolyn That meant the demolition and reconstruction were necessary. In turn, the project was required to provide more funds than the losses incurred by Oceanic Constry During this period, she had secretly pocketed a lot of money through various small projects for her spending Yet, now that thepany was riddled with debts, she didn¡¯t have enough cash to cover such a massive deficit Frida, too, always asked Samantha about the deficit, giving off an air ofplete distrust toward the latter. Samantha sat in her office, feeling incredibly anxious. Just as she was thinking about a solution, the office phone on the desk rang It was Frida who made the call from the CEO¡¯s office. Samantha had no choice but to force herself to smile as she picked up the phone. ¡°Aunt Frida, is there anything I can do for you?¡± Frida, on the other end of the line, seemed a bit unhappy. ¡°Samantha, why didn¡¯t youe to me and report your work today? Did something go wrong again?¡± Samantha was taken aback and quickly pleased Frida, uttering srailingly. ¡°No, Aunt Frida. If there are any issues, I¡¯ll definitely discuss them with you right away. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been quite busytely, so I haven¡¯t had the chance to report to you. Just give me a few more hours. I¡¯lle to you after I finish checking all the projects.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Frida hung up the phone after responding tly. Samantha clenched her fists, feeling incredibly restless inside. Didn¡¯t she say she trusted me the most? If she does put faith in me, why does she still interrogate me every day? I suspect she¡¯s just trying to win my loyalty to work for her with these worthless lies all this while! If. that¡¯s the case, she can¡¯t me me for doing this! Samantha¡¯s gaze gradually grew sinister, and she quickly arranged for someone to twist the truth of the construction ident. A few hourster, she gathered the documents and went to find Frida. As soon as she pushed the door open, she rushed to Frida¡¯s desk. ¡°Aunt Frida, there¡¯s bad news!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Frida questioned. ¡°We actually had an old project, Balmoral Grand, copsed half a month ago, and it was quite a serious ident. However, the person in charge of the project was afraid of taking responsibility, so they kept it hidden. If it weren¡¯t for me thoroughly investigating today, I¡¯m afraid this matter would remain undiscovered!¡± Samantha answered. ¡°There¡¯s such a thing?¡± Frida was shocked and quickly flipped through the documents. Samantha took in Frida¡¯s reaction and continued, ¡°The amount of money needed for this remedial project is huge, and there are other ongoing projects that also require a lot of funding. If we can¡¯t keep up with the capital flow, all projects will be forced to stop, leading thepany to face a semi- bankruptcy crisis!¡± Chapter 101 More Anxious Than Gwendolyn Frida slumped into the boss¡¯s chair, feeling disheartened. Oh no. It¡¯s over! Could it be that the efforts of several generations of the Wright family destroyed so quickly in my hands¡­ +5 Bonus ¡°If my husband and Old Mr. Wright were still alive, they would be so angry that they¡¯d strangle me!¡± Frida mumbled. Her hands trembled with fear. Suddenly, she had an idea. She grabbed her phone. ¡°No. I can¡¯t just let matters be! I must find my precious son to take control of the situation immediately!¡± Samantha firmly grabbed Frida¡¯s hand to halt thetter¡¯s n. ¡°Aunt Frida, we don¡¯t even know where Maverick is now. Even if we do, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be toote for him to solve everything. If we don¡¯t cover this. huge deficit in time, the crisis of Wright Construction Group will only be more severe.¡± ¡°Then¡­ what should we do?¡± Frida queried. Samantha¡¯s lips curled up slightly. A sinister glint shed in her eyes. ¡°I have a n!¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 The Reason You Like Me ¡°What¡¯s the solution?¡± +5 Bonus Samantha gently held her hand to soothe her, then took the phone from her hand to quietly ce it aside. Take advantage of the fact that Wright Construction Group hasn¡¯tpletely fallen into crisis yet. You should sell your shares at a high price!¡± ¡°No way!¡± Frida¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I absolutely cannot sell my shares! I need it for my retirement. Besides, if I sell my shares, I¡¯ll lose my say in Wright Construction Group! I will definitely not sell it!¡± Samantha sighed and continued to reassure her, ¡°Aunt Frida, you¡¯re confused. If Wright Construction. Group really can¡¯t survive this crisis, your shares will be worthless. And don¡¯t worry; selling the shares is only temporary!¡± Frida was feeling a bit hesitant. ¡°Temporary?¡± Samantha saw that she had piqued Frida¡¯s interest and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to find a reliable buyer overseas. Once we get this funding andplete all our ongoing projects, we¡¯ll be able to earn the money back and buy back the shares. Aunt Frida, just think of it as temporarily leaving the shares in the buyer¡¯s hands. Once this crisis is over and Maverick returns, he¡¯ll definitely be happy to see that you¡¯ve managed thepany so well.¡± Frida didn¡¯t speak as she was lost in thought for a long time. Samantha wanted to seize the opportunity to persuade Frida. ¡°Aunt Frida¡­¡± However, thetter raised her hand to stop Samantha. ¡°Samantha, this is no small matter. Please allow me to think about it some more.¡± Samantha was a bit displeased, but it wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to say anything else. If she pushed Frida too hard, her motive would easily be noticed. ¡°All right, Aunt Frida, but don¡¯t take too long to think about it. We can¡¯t afford to dy this matter.¡± After she finished speaking, she turned around and left. Frida sat alone in her office, feeling the immense pressure from being in her position for the first time. This decision could be said to have cost her half her life. No matter whether it was thepany or the shares, she didn¡¯t want to give them up. Yet, she felt that Samantha made a valid point. The only option left for her to save thepany was to sell her shares. However, if she chose to keep her shares, the shares would be meaningless once thepany went under. With reddened eyes, she sat quietly for half an hour before calling Samantha. ¡°Go ahead and sell it.¡± Samantha suppressed the ecstasy in her heart and said solemnly, ¡°Aunt Frida, don¡¯t worry. I will make sure there are no mistakes in this matter.¡± The next morning, Samantha found a buyer. 1/4 Chapter 102 The Reason You Like Me +5 Bonus She brought Frida to the agreed-upon location to sign the contract. The buyer¡¯s name was Toidi, and both she and herpany were based overseas. Therefore, this time they were signing an electronic contract online. While on the way, Frida dawdled down the street. Samantha noticed her hesitation and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aunt Frida. Toidi is the heiress of a huge corporation with a worth of hundreds of billions I pulled some strings to find such a reliable buyer. She has also promised me that she won¡¯t easily resell the shares. If you want to buy back the shares after you¡¯ve recouped your funds in the future, she¡¯s willing to sell you back the shares.¡± Frida was a bit skeptical. ¡°Is there really such a good thing and such a foolish person? What¡¯s her motive for doing this?¡± Samanthaughed. ¡°She really doesn¡¯t need the money. She just wants to move back to her homnd, so she buys the shares to pave the way. Don¡¯t worry. There won¡¯t be any problems.¡± Frida followed her in skeptically. However, after reading the contract, Frida was furious! ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to sell only the twenty percent of shares I own? Why did you include Sheralyn¡¯s ten percent shares and the Wright residence in the deal? I won¡¯t sign it! I absolutely won¡¯t sign it!¡± Samantha gently patted her back to soothe her. ¡°Aunt Frida, if we don¡¯t do this, considering the current critical situation Wright Construction Group is in, your twenty percent share alone is not enough to fill this huge gap! Besides, she said that the house. wouldn¡¯t be sold as it¡¯s just temporarily used as coteral. You can still live in that vi. Once the project ispleted and the money is earned back, you can buy it all back, right?¡± Although what Samantha said is true, but¡­ ¡°But this price is way too low!¡± Frida pointed at the contract, her heart aching. ¡°Only eight billion eight hundred million for all three? Previously, just my twenty percent share alone would have been worth more than this!¡± ¡°Oh, Aunt Frida! With her wealth and influence, she must have looked into Wright Construction Group¡¯s background. Given the current on Wright Construction Group is in, this is already the best offer. You shouldn¡¯t hesitate anymore! Aunt Frida¡­¡± ¡°All right, then.¡± Samantha spent a long time persuading and cajoling Frida until she finally got thetter to sign the share transfer agreement, reluctantly hand over the property deed for the Wright residence, and sign the mortgage contract. After everything was settled, Frida looked frustrated and said, ¡°Now that the funding issue is resolved, you need to be more attentive during this period. Make sure to properly fix any existing problems and closely follow up on other projects. Don¡¯t let the workers cut corners and cause any more quality issues. Help me buy back my shares as soon as possible!¡± ¡°Roger that. Aunt Frida. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle everything properly and efficiently.¡± Samantha clung to Frida¡¯s arm like a kid, her face beaming with uncontroble joy. Chapter 102 The Reason You Like Me The two of themughed and got into the car, driving away. Bonus However, as soon as they left, Gwendolyn, who was sitting in her office in Angle, received a text message. The text message had only one word: Seeded. She breathed a sigh of relief. In just three days, the Wright family would experience a tremendous change! She was filled with anticipation. Just as she was thinking, there was a knock on the office door, and Sherman walked in right after that. Unlike his usual gentle and refined demeanor, he was wearing a grim expression with a frown. Before Gwendolyn could ask him anything, he walked straight to the guest chair opposite her and sat down, separated from her by an office desk. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn asked, feeling puzzled. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to enter the real estate business because of him.¡± His face was gloomy, and there was even a hint of destion in his eyes. I can¡¯t believe he found out so quickly. Come to think of it, although the Ferguson family may not be as powerful as the Harris family, they are still a prestigious family, so it¡¯ll be easy for him to investigate. However, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t intend to hide it from him either. ¡°Exactly.¡± Seeing her actually admit it with an unbelievably calm expression, Sherman felt really frustrated. ¡°Why? If you look around, you¡¯ll find that there¡¯s someone better waiting for you. Can¡¯t you just- ¡°Are you talking about you?¡± Gwendolyn interrupted him, her calm eyes meeting his gaze. Sherman¡¯s face turned slightly red. He mustered up the courage to confess his feelings, but Gwendolyn spoke before he could. ¡°You should know, though, that it¡¯s impossible for us to be together. Even Joaquin stands a better chance than you.¡± Sherman¡¯s heart sank, and a hint of hurt could be seen in his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why?¡± He pondered, ¡°Is it because of Eloise? She was indeed wrong before, but she has been groundedtely and behaving herself. She knows her mistake, and she won¡¯t pick on you again in the future.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve known for many years that you like me, but your is merely due to the discontentment of not being able to have me.¡± Sherman didn¡¯t speak, while his charming eyes slightly reddened as he gazed at her. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°You are gentle, humble, and treat everyone with kindness, but you have one w -you turn a blind eye to the ws of someone close to you! You know how badly Eloise treated me back then, but you didn¡¯t mention it at all these days.¡± Sherman choked up, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling resentful. ¡°What about Maverick? His sister and mother were once cruel to you too. Isn¡¯t he turning a blind eye to that too?¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Take Over Wright Construction Group +5 Bonus After a brief silence, Gwendolyn smiled and said, ¡°Everyone eventually has to pay the price for their action, and Maverick is no exception.¡± Upon hearing that, Sherman finally breathed a sigh of relief. 06 She will seek revenge on Maverick for past grievances, but she didn¡¯t mention taking vengeance on me because of Eloise. In the end, she still cares about me, doesn¡¯t she? Now, she¡¯s just mad at me because of Eloise, so I still have a chance! Having figured it out, Sherman stood up happily. ¡°Gwendolyn, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll change, and I¡¯m willing to wait. As long as you turn around, I¡¯ll always be here.¡± After he finished speaking, he left.. Gwendolyn pressed her palm against her forehead, her face filled with exasperation. It seems he still hasn¡¯t fully understood what I meant. Forget it; I¡¯ll exin it when there¡¯s a chance in the future. In the following days, Samantha constantly imed that she was visiting various construction sites and barely spent any time at the office. She did not go to the office to report on her work progress. If Frida called her and asked her, she would say she was busy. Frida was displeased by her attitude. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Frida needed people to help her, she would have exploded long ago. Just as she was thinking, the phone rang. It was a call from Sheralyn. ¡°Hello, my girl, what¡¯s wrong?¡± On the other end of the phone, Sheralyn sounded extremely dissatisfied, and she was full of comints. ¡°Why has my allowance decreased so much recently? It¡¯s so embarrassing that when I went shopping with the two socialites from the Xenos family, my card showed insufficient bnce. How am I supposed to survive in my social circle now?¡± Frida felt a bit guilty. She had given all her money to Samantha to invest in various projects, so she had no choice but to secretly reduce Sheralyn¡¯s pocket money. ¡°Mom! You used to say that daughters should be raised in wealth. How can you treat me like this now?¡± Frida had no choice but tofort Sheralyn with the things Samantha had previously said to her. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Sweetheart, thepany has been facing some financial difficulties recently, and I¡¯m left with no choice. Once everything gets better, I¡¯ll double your allowance and buy you anything you want!¡± ¡°I also want the full set of limited edition skincare products from Lae¡¯s pre-sale!¡± ¡°All right, all right. We¡¯ll buy them all!¡± Chapter 103 Take Over Wright Construction Group After hanging up the phone, Frida thought of Samantha. +5 Bonus Thetter hadn¡¯t returned to thepany to report her progress for a few days, nor had she made any phone calls. Frida had a hunch that her niece was hiding something from her. Unable to put her mind at ease, Frida decided to give Samantha a call personally. Just as she opened her phone¡¯s contact list, the door was suddenly pushed open forcefully by her assistant, Leslie. Frida was annoyed and red at her angrily. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that you should knock before entering?¡± Leslie couldn¡¯t care less about all that and anxiously said. ¡°Mrs. Wright, we have a problem! The construction team from Linderson Constructions is causing trouble at our doorstep, and they¡¯ve blocked the entrance to the building!¡± ¡°What?¡± Frida thumped the table and stood up in shock. ¡°How dare they be so arrogant! What are the security guards doing?¡± ¡°There are too many people. The entire construction team of over a hundred people is gathered downstairs. They said the agreed-upon payment for the project hadn¡¯t been transferred to their ount yet, and the person in charge was even fired by Ms. Lane for poor supervision! Now they¡¯re leaderless, wielding construction tools as weapons and demanding an exnation from you!¡± The payment hasn¡¯t been transferred to their ount? Where is my money, then? What on earth is Samantha up to? An extremely bad assumption crossed her mind, and Frida¡¯s face turned pale with fright. She couldn¡¯t believe Samantha would do this to her. After all, Samantha was her niece! To verify her assumption, she nervously dialed Samantha¡¯s phone number. The call went through. The ringtone was heard, but the sound grew closer and stronger. It seemed as if it came from outside the door. Leslie, who was standing nearby, noticed it too. Seeing that the door wasn¡¯t fully closed, she was about to open itpletely when a pair of slender hands opened it from the outside. Samantha¡¯s makeup was exquisite, and she wore a strikingly colorful cocktail dress. Behind her followed a man dressed like awyer. Seeing that she was unhurried and even deliberately dressed up, Frida thought it was clear that she hade prepared. Leslie sensed that the mood was off and quietly sneaked away. Inside the office, Frida was shocked that her eyes were bloodshot. Samantha was amused by her expression. 2/ Chapter 103 Take Over Wright Construction Group ¡°Aunt Frida, did you miss me so much after just a few days of not seeing me?¡± +5 Bonus Frida clenched her teeth, still holding onto a glimmer of hope. ¡°Samantha, why haven¡¯t you sent the additional payment to the construction team of Linderson Constructions? What have you been doing these past two days?¡± Didn¡¯t you just guess it right, Aunt Frida?¡± She smiled and walked over to sit in the guest chair opposite Frida. ¡°That¡¯s right; I didn¡¯t use a single penny of that eight billion eight hundred million on thepany. I¡¯ve asked the finance department to quietly transfer it all to my ount. By the way, at least Half of the people in thepany are now on my side.¡± ¡°You! How dare you!¡± Such a huge amount of money is actually taken by her! She can even make more than half of the company¡¯s staff take her side! Could it be that she has nned it all along? Frida was so angry that her heart ached, and she painfully slid into the chair. ¡°How could Louis condone your shameless behavior? Or did you hide it from him?¡± Samantha sneered, ¡°Aunt Frida, did you forget that my father is the one in charge at home? But on this matter, he still supports me. Do you think just because you married into the Wright family, you can act all high and mighty when youe back to your parent¡¯s home? Do you think he doesn¡¯t dislike you?¡± Frida¡¯s family background wasn¡¯t the best, but it was her campus romance and her impressive academic achievements as a top finance student that gave her the opportunity to marry into the Wright family. Frida¡¯s brother, Louis Landers, wasn¡¯t as fortunate. He fell in love with the heiress of the Lane family, but due to their difference in social status, he had no choice but to marry into the Lane family. As a result, even his children couldn¡¯t carry hisst name. Frida was furious as she clutched her chest tightly with both hands to help herself catch her breath, barely managing to alleviate the suffocating feeling. ¡°You¡¯ve embezzled so much money from Wright Construction Group. What on earth are you trying to do?¡± Samantha smiled faintly and raised her hand to signal thewyer toe forward. Thewyer, facing Frida¡¯s skeptical gaze, ced a contract on the office desk. Frida took it and opened it, only to exim, ¡°Samantha! You¡¯re actually nning to devour Wright Construction Group!¡± ¡°Why would you phrase it that way?¡± Samantha chuckled and continued, ¡°Aunt Frida, let me make myself clear. I¡¯m willing to pay ten billion for the management rights of Wright Construction Group. You don¡¯t know how to run a business, and I think Wright Construction Group would be better off in my hands.¡± Ten billion? Frida gritted her teeth. It seemed to her that the Lane family indeed supported this matter. On top of the eight billion eight hundred million, they had given Samantha an additional one billion two hundred million. 3/4 Chapter 103 Take Over Wright Construction Group Oh my goodness! These are my rtives from my parent¡¯s family! My own brother and niece! +5 Bonus Frida was so angry that she couldn¡¯t speak. After calming down for a while, she finally said through gritted teeth. ¡°You wish! Wright Construction Group is a joint-stockpany! My son is thergest shareholder! If you want to buy Wright Construction Group, you should ask him!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent people to look for Maverick, but he¡¯s been missing for so long that he¡¯s probably dead out there. Dexter, that sly old fox, was also sent away by me. Tsk, tsk. So only you, the person in charge¡¯s mother, can help me out.¡± ¡°You!¡± Frida eximed in anguish. Only now did she clearly see Samantha¡¯s step-by-step n. First, she was lured into selling her shares and mortgaging her house. After obtaining a huge amount of funds, Samantha brought down Wright Construction Group and got it transferred to her name. Seeing that Frida remained silent, Samantha became a bit impatient. ¡°Aunt Frida, dragging this on won¡¯t help. Just make it snappy and sign it! After Wright Construction Group merges with Lane Group, its status will only improve!¡± Frida was filled with immense despair. Is Wright Construction Group really going to meet its end at my hands? She bit her lower lip until it bled while her trembling hand reached for the pen. Suddenly, a cold and arrogant voice sounded from outside the door. ¡°Ms. Lane, you get too excited too early. You should have asked me before trying to buy Wright Construction Group!¡± Upon hearing this extremely familiar voice, both Frida and Samantha were taken aback! Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Someone You Can Never Mess With +5 Bonus As the two women looked in the direction of the voice at the door, Gwendolyn appeared in a stunning ck satin gown with a smirk, looking indescribably gorgeous, Two handsome and well-built bodyguards followed closely behind her, exuding an imposing presence. Upon seeing her, Samantha was filled with hatred, gritting her teeth in anger. The humiliation of being given a p in the face in public at thest banquet was still fresh in her memory. ¡°This is Wright Construction Group. What brings you here?¡± Samantha asked. Gwendolyn walked over to Samantha and said, ¡°With such a major issue happening in thepany, whereby someone is trying to help Lane Group take over Wright Construction Group from the inside, of course, I shoulde and take charge of the situation.¡± ¡°Take charge of the situation? You?¡± Samantha burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯re already divorced from Maverick and no longer a part of the Wright family. The shares that Old Mr. Wright gave you were taken away by Aunt Frida. What right have to speak here? Get out!¡± to you As she spoke, Samantha couldn¡¯t help but nce at the bodyguards behind Gwendolyn. For now, I can¡¯t do anything about this despicable woman. But once I take control of Wright Construction Group, I¡¯ll make that wretched woman¡¯s life a living hell! Frida was also very dissatisfied. Did Gwendolyne here just to make fun of me? ¡°Let¡¯s see who should be the one to get out of here.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face was adorned with a smile,pletely unfazed by Samantha¡¯s words. She walked straight to the guest sofa, took a seat, and gently pped her hands. A few secondster, Yulia emerged from the corridor. Upon seeing Yulia, Frida pointed at the two of them in disbelief. ¡°You two! You really do know each other! You must be the one messing with the bidding of thend on the western outskirts of the city!¡± I knew it! At that time, she suspected there was something wrong with Gwendolyn. The Zipper family had no. interest in that piece ofnd, so she did not understand why Gwendolyn was there. So it turns out that Mr. Joaquin was just a decoy, and her real goal is to help Amryn Real Estate win the bid! Samantha didn¡¯t go that day and didn¡¯t know what had happened. She stood with her hands in her pockets, looking back and forth between the two sides. Yulia acted as if she hadn¡¯t heard Frida¡¯s words and proceeded to show the materials in her hands to everyone. ¡°Take a good look at this. This is the share register of Wright Construction Group. Mr. Wright holds forty percent of the shares, while my boss, Ms. Shalders, holds forty-five percent, making her thergest shareholder of Wright Construction Group. Now that Mr. Wright has gone missing, Ms. Shalders, as the 1/4 62% +5 Bonus Chapter 104 Someone You Can Never Mess With Yulia¡¯s words contained too much information. Frida and Samantha both took a long time to digest it. Gwendolyn is actually Yulia¡¯s boss? So, does it mean she is the mysterious boss behind Amryn Real Estate? She even holds a forty-five percent stake in Wright Construction Group. How could this be possible? Frida suddenly thought of something and quickly stood tip, reaching out to tug on Samantha¡¯s arm. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you sold my and Sheralyn¡¯s shares to a foreign buyer? Why does she still hold so many shares? Samantha, you ungrateful wretch, give me a reasonable exnation!¡± Samantha waspletely baffled. She pushed Frida away and looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°How is this possible? I specifically asked someone to find a foreign buyer. Toidi is a billionaire, so there¡¯s no way she would give her shares to you¡­¡± She suddenly stopped midsentence. Toidi? Idiot! When spelled backward, the name is like calling mean idiot! So, was the image of a wealthy woman worth billions created just to gain my trust? Was it all fabricated on purpose? ¡°You lied to me! There¡¯s no person called Toidi. It¡¯s you! All of this was nned by you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Ever since the piece ofnd in the western outskirts of the city was snatched away from Wright Construction Group by Amryn Real Estate, every move Samantha made was urately predicted by Gwendolyn, who even prepared countermeasures in advance! She thought she had it in the bag, but little did she know there was a dark horse waiting in the wings. The true hunter turned out to be someone she could never have thought of-Gwendolyn! Gwendolyn, sitting leisurely on the sofa, poured herself a cup of coffee. She brought it to her nose and took a gentle whiff but didn¡¯t take a sip. After putting down the coffee cup, she smiled and said, ¡°You caught on pretty quickly, so you¡¯re not too foolish.¡± Samantha stared at her face, carefully examining her from head to toe for the first time. She noticed that every move thetter made exuded an unparalleled air of pride and elegance. It was not easy to fake one¡¯s temperament. Moreover, Treyton and Joaquin were both more than willing to protect and please her. Even Rory, her apprentice, held her in high esteem. One by one, these big shots revolved around her, and she could easily take out eight billion eight hundre million to purchase shares in Wright Construction Group. How could an orphan from an orphanage possibly aplish all these things? Fear gradually filled Samantha¡¯s eyes. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Chapter 104 Someone You Can Never Mess With +5 Bonus Gwendolyn looked up and met her gaze, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly in a hint of mockery. ¡°I am someone you can never mess with.¡± Samantha was intimidated by her imposing aura, feeling waves of uneasiness in her heart. Frida listened to their conversation, feeling bewildered. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°As the current major shareholder and person in charge of Wright Construction Group, I can tell you clearly that you¡¯re dreaming if you want to acquire Wright Construction Group with ten billion. As for the eight billion eight hundred million, you better hold onto it for now. I will take into ount all old scores and settle them with you!¡± Does she mean her next target is Lane Group? Samantha swallowed hard and mustered up her courage to reply, ¡°Just you wait! No matter who you are, Lane Group won¡¯t be easily taken advantage of!¡± After saying that, she sheepishly ran out of the office. She had to go back and thoroughly investigate this matter. Only by understanding the background of Gwendolyn could she muster the confidence to fight her to the end. Seeing that his employer had left, thewyer picked up the transfer contract from the table and followed suit. Left alone and helpless, Frida slumped in her chair. Upon learning about Gwendolyn¡¯s high status, she shook her head and sighed with tears streaming down her face. ¡°Who would have thought this would happen? Old Mr. Wright probably had no idea what kind of perso he had brought home six years ago. After keeping everyone in the dark for so many years, you turned traitor and took over Wright Construction Group! What kind of karma is this!¡± She suddenly remembered that not long ago, Gwendolyn hade to their door and threatened to ma the Wright family go bankrupt! At first, she didn¡¯t take it seriously. But now that she found out the shares were sold to Gwendolyn by th sneaky Samantha, she realized that the Wright residence had also fallen into Gwendolyn¡¯s hands. She lost her shares, her money, and even the Wright residence. She was left with nothing. The Wright family is really going downhill! Frida was both angry and tearful, pounding her chest and stomping her feet. Gwendolyn enjoyed the look of despair on Frida¡¯s face. ¡°In the three years since I married into the Wri family, you¡¯ve always been so high and mighty. Have you forgotten you were once just a child from an ordinary family after being the wife of a wealthy man for a long time?¡± Frida red at her fiercely. ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯re a big shot, I¡¯ll be afraid of you! It was y who hid the truth from me in the first ce. An orphan from an orphanage is never good enough for: son! Stop trying to put me down!¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t say anything as she just shook her head andughed, feeling that Frida¡¯s way of thinking was beyond redemption. Chapter 104 Someone You Can Never Mre Wah Sering the che dudes arend Fridsbat boson The Me Weight wasN?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Wegle Comment Denings defeweight¡¯s afraid bring her back by bus from being on amponfal gesest to you? me of hard work tromp Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Never Remarrying In This Lifetime Gwendolyn could not help butugh when she heard that. +5 Bonus ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me. Wright Construction Group might have been renamed to Lane Construction Group. Yet, you¡¯re trying to provoke me instead of thanking me?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± It was still no different from giving the Wright Construction Group to an outsider by having it given to her. Frida was puzzled for a moment before she seemed to realize something. She softened her tone and asked. ¡°Could it be that¡­ you want to remarry my son?¡± If Gwendolyn were to remarry Maverick, she would then still be considered a member of the Wright family, and with that. Wright Construction Group would naturally still belong to the Wright family. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze gradually turned cold. She retorted, ¡°It would be impossible for me to remarry. Not chance in this lifetime.¡± Her tone was stern as she replied, leaving no room for discussion about this matter. After all, Maverick did not deserve to have her hand in marriage again. ¡°So, what exactly are you trying to do?¡± Frida could not understand. ¡°Out of respect for Old Mr. Wright, I will not make changes to thepany¡¯s general policy, and I will keep the group¡¯s name as Wright Construction Group. You could also buy back the Wright Construction. Group from me If you have the ability.¡± ¡°What are you trying to¡­¡± Frida was at a loss for words even though she was cursing Gwendolyn to be struck by lightning just now. She never expected that Gwendolyn would do that much for Den, despite Gwendolyn having already obtained Wright Construction Group. Gwendolyn paid no attention to her surprised expression. She looked at Yulia, who was standing quietly at the side, and instructed, ¡°Have someone to calm down the construction team who is causing amotion. downstairs. Also, remove Samantha¡¯s spies from all departments within two days.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Yulia immediately headed off to make the arrangements. Gwendolyn then looked around the CEO¡¯s office before she instructed the bodyguard, ¡°Throw away all the old things in this office and rece them with new ones, including the chairs and paintings. Don¡¯t miss any single one.¡± The bodyguards sprang into action right away. They began moving items under Frida¡¯s astonished gaze. The first thing that was getting thrown away was the chair that Frida was sitting on right under her buttocks. Hence, Frida had no other choice but to stand. Faced with the predicament of ending up with nothing in the future, she had to let go of her airs of being 1/5 +5 Bonus Chapter 105 Never Remarrying In This Lifetime a wealthy wife and previous mother-inw. Frida spoke with a somewhat ingratiating tone. ¡°Gwendolyn, considering our past rtionship as inws, could you please return the vi of the Wright family to me? You surely would not want to see Sheralyn and me live on the streets, would you?¡± Responding to Frida¡¯s words with a gentle smile, Gwendolyn answered, ¡°You can have it, of course, as long as you redeem it back with money.¡± Her words left Frida stuck in a difficult position. ¡°You knew all my money was taken by that scoundrel Samantha. Why would I have any money left¡­¡± Gwendolyn then responded, ¡°I won¡¯t return it to you just like that. However, I can offer you a great ce to stay instead.¡± Frida was perplexed. Although she did not believe that Gwendolyn would really be so kind-hearted, she had no other option but to trust thetter for now. Following that, Gwendolyn brought Frida out of Wright Construction Group and headed straight to the Wright residence. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Frida felt even more confused. In turn, Gwendolyn shed a smile as she answered, ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± She called out all of the housekeepers in the entire vi, then had them stand in several rows at the garden¡¯s open space. ¡°All of you must have already heard the news about Wright Construction Group, I believe.¡± Hearing her words, the housekeepers lowered their heads while exchanging nces with one another. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°From now on, Frida and Sheralyn will no longer be the owners of this vi but the lowest-ranking housekeepers!¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the housekeepers began to whisper among themselves. Frida¡¯s face turned pale immediately. She scowled at Gwendolyn. ¡°You! How could you!¡± Gwendolyn ignored her using re and continued to give orders. ¡°From now on, anyone who has ever been bullied by them can instruct them to do anything. If they cannot do the work ording to the instructions, you may report them to me at any time.¡± With that, the voices from the crowd of housekeepers grew louder. Frida¡¯s expression changed drastically. She would rather die if she had to allow these lowly people to climb over her head and bully her as they please in the future. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Gwendolyn turned around and met her murderous re. With a sneer, she uttered, ¡°I can let both of you continue to live in the Wright residence, but you should know very well that there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.¡± That was the fact, indeed. Frida did not have any words to retort to that, but she knew it would be aText property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. 62% Chapter 105 Never Remarrying In This Lifetime +5 Bonus humiliation to her! She would never allow any possibility for that to happen! Gwendolyn clearly knew that Frida would not back down easily. ¡°You were arrogant and overbearing before and even offended your maternal family. Since Lane Group failed their scheme this time, they must be holding a lot of grudges. If you go to seek refuge with your brother, Louis, do you think he might take advantage of your situation and make your life even more difficult than it is now?¡± Frida bit her lower lip and was rendered speechless because Gwendolyn guessed it right. ¡°Other than me, you do not have other option.¡± Gwendolyn smiled and continued. ¡°I can allow you and Sheralyn to stay at the Wright residence as housekeepers. You would not need to worry about meals, and you would even be given the compensation you deserve. Once you¡¯ve saved enough money, you cane to me to buy back the vi anytime. So, it¡¯s up to you to choose-living in a vi or under a bridge.¡± Frida clenched her fist so tightly that her entire arm was trembling. With no news about her son¡¯s whereabouts and that both she and her daughter were now penniless, Sheralyn would surely break down if they had to live under a bridge. However, if these housekeepers could walk all over them in the future, Sheralyn would likely not be able to ept that either. How should I choose¡­ Frida was caught in a dilemma for a long time. On the other hand, Gwendolyn was not in a hurry. She gave Frida plenty of time to think. ¡°All right, I agree to that.¡± Upon hearing the answer, Gwendolyn curled her lips into a delighted beam. She then turned to look at Hannah, who was the highest-ranking maid, and ordered, ¡°Starting from today, you will be in charge of this vi. Remember, Frida and Sheralyn are no longer the owners of the vi, so you don¡¯t need to fear them as you did before.¡± Hannah was surprised by the honor. ¡°All right, Ms. Shalders. From now on, you are the one and only owner of this vi!¡± Gwendolyn nodded in satisfaction. Just then, her phone suddenly chimed with a text message notification. After taking a nce, the twinkle in her eyes grew even brighter. Without further ado, she turned away and left the Wright residence. As soon as she left, the group of housekeepers shot angry res at Frida with despised looks. Feeling intimidated by their oppressive feeling. Frida gulped as she rified, ¡°Don¡¯t just listen to anything she ordered. Thend you¡¯re standing on still belongs to the Wrights. It won¡¯t be long before I take it back!¡± If it were in the past, her words might have had some deterrent effect. However, the group of people Chapter 105 Never Remarrying In This Lifetime standing in front of her now had been displeased with her for a long time. How could they possibly miss this opportunity to deal with her? Hannah snickered. ¡°Bring it up when you can actually get it back. At least for now, you have to listen to us!¡± group of people instantly grabbed onto Frida and was about to drag her away. ¡°What are you trying to do? Are you rebelling against me?¡± Frida screamed out in fear as she struggled with all her might. Hannah then exined. ¡°Sorry to say this, Mrs. Wright, but only the master of the house is entitled to stay in the bedroom. As you are now a low-ranking housekeeper, you are only allowed to sleep in the basement.¡± The basement is filthy, messy, and cold, with no air conditioning or heated floors. There is even no bed. How can anyone sleep there? ¡°I don¡¯t want to! Let me go!¡± Unfortunately, Frida¡¯s strength was no match for the experienced housekeepers who always did the chores. She was forcibly dragged to the basement. In addition, Hannah also mentioned that if Frida did not behave, she would be locked up and not be given food. Furthermore, she would only be let out when she learned to be obedient. The group of housekeepers felt delighted as they listened to Frida incessantly banging on the basement door and continued to make a ruckus. All of a sudden, one of them remembered that they were missing someone. ¡°Sheralyn is still sleeping in her room on the second floor. Let¡¯s wake her up now! She used to love to berate us, so let¡¯s give her a taste of her own medicine and see how she likes being humiliated!¡± ¡°Good idea! We¡¯ll look for Sheralyn! Let¡¯s teach her a lesson!¡± The group of people cheered while they moved away as if they were having a long-repressed wild party. In the afternoon, Maverick, who was still yet to recover from the waist injury, finally managed to completely shake off the relentless pursuit of that group of people. He had sessfully arrived at Faike. Due to going through the cycle of searching for people, hiding, getting drenched in the rain, and getting injured for a few days continuously, he had be extremely pale. Unlike his previous handsome and distinct appearance, this paleness added a touch of enchanting charm to him. Once Maverick returned to Faike, the first thing he did was go back to his ce and take a hot shower. He then changed into a clean suit which made him look impably elegant once again. His phone was turned off to prevent the battery life from being used up since there was no signal while he was in the mountains. To his surprise, the call history bombarded his phone the moment he turned on the device. All the calls were from Zachary. Maverick dialed back, and the other end picked up almost instantly, sounding extremely anxious. ¡°Maverick, you finally answered the phone! If you still do not return to Faike by now, I might even. think that you are dead!¡± Maverick frowned and questioned, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Come back to Wright Construction Group quickly! Something major has happened!¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Chapter 106 A Thoughtful Little Gift She Prepared #5 Bonus After hanging up the phone, Maverick instructed Nico and the others to return to their respective. positions and await further orders. Meanwhile, he hurriedly made his way to Wright Construction Group. It was about time to clock out, and there were only a few people left in thepany. He made his way smoothly into the building and went straight to the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor. Upon opening the door, he noticed the entire room had been redecorated. Unlike the ck and white style he used to favor, the sofa was now green, and even the tablecloth on the coffee table was green. He instinctively frowned as he hated this color. In front of the desk, a slender figure was sitting with her back toward him. ¡°Mr. Wright, long time no see!¡± As if she heard him enter, the woman turned her chair and radiantly smiled when she looked at him. ¡°Are you surprised to see me sitting in your seat? Did you expect this?¡± Maverick pursed his thin lips and stared unwaveringly at the woman before him. After not seeing her for half a month, her face seemed even more beautiful. Her skin was delicate and wless, and her red lips were always bold and unrestrained whenever she smiled. However, all that remained in her eyes was coldness. He had been searching for her for so long, and she now appeared before him unharmed. He thought he would be overjoyed but realized he couldn¡¯t even muster a smile. While Maverick was observing Gwendolyn, she was also sizing him up.. It had been a while since theyst saw each other, and he seemed to have lost weight. She wondered what he had been through during this time. Seeing him staring at her with a gloomy expression, Gwendolyn smirked with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°You must be disappointed to see that I not only survived but also caused the Wright family to go bankrupt and became the person in control of Wright Construction Group, right?¡± Maverick remained silent, his darkened eyes fixed on her. Gwendolyn felt annoyed under the intensity of his gaze. Despite losing everything, he could still put on an appearance ofposure and grandeur. However, she was determined to shatter his prideful facade. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s not just that. Your beloved fianc¨¦e, Natasha, and thatckey, Noah, have both been sent to rot in jail by me. Now even the Wright residence is mine.¡± She propped her chin on her hand while her elbow rested on the desk. Her delicate face lifted slightly as she smiled audaciously and locked eyes with the motionless man standing not far away. Beneath this innocent and enchanting expressionys an extremely wicked heart. Chapter 106 A Thoughtful Little Gift She Prepared Maverick¡¯s face turned cold, his expression grave. He had spent over half a month searching for her in the mountains from Faike to Lightspring. And how did she repay him? -She had Treyton bring Asher¡¯s men to hunt him down and meticulously orchestrate the downfall of the Wright family. It was simply outrageous! ¡°Why?¡± His voice was slightly hoarse due to a fever he had had a few days ago as he spoke, and his deep ck eyes. brimmed with anger. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned cold in an instant. He didn¡¯t say anything when she mentioned the downfall of the Wright family. It seemed that only Natasha, whom he cherished, could elicit a different reaction from him. ¡°You know exactly what you¡¯ve done.¡± Maverick was baffled, yet his eyes still glimmered with anger. Ignoring the anger in his eyes, Gwendolyn recalled the surprise gift she had prepared for him, and a smile once again adorned her red lips. ¡°To celebrate your return, apart from the Wright family¡¯s downfall, I¡¯ve specially prepared a surprise gift just for you!¡± She calmly retrieved an agreement from the drawer and lightly pushed it in Maverick¡¯s direction with her slender fingertips. Maverick stepped forward and opened the agreement before carefully reading through it. The contents were unbelievably absurd! He chuckled, a hint of irony ying on his pale lips. ¡°What makes you think I would sign this?¡± Gwendolyn leisurely took a sip of her coffee.. ¡°I was a full-time wife in the Wright family for three years. Now, if you serve as my personal butler for a full year, I¡¯ll return both Wright Construction Group and the Wright residence to you. Isn¡¯t this at profitable deal? Or do you think you¡¯re incapable of fulfilling the role?¡± Maverick sneered, ¡°I don¡¯t need a year to regain control of Wright Construction Group.¡± Gwendolyn apuded. ¡°Well said. I certainly believe you have the capability. But your mother and sister have already signed employment contracts. Don¡¯t you care about their well-being?¡± His face suddenly turned icy and stern. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you used them as leverage against me. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s despicable?¡± Chapter 106 A Thoughtful Little Gift She Prepared Both of them exuded strong, unyielding auras. They were evenly matched. +5 Bonus ¡°Why should I adhere to morals dealing with unreasonable people like you and your family? You¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t properly assess your position and mistakenly believes you have the qualifications to negotiate terms with me. Besides signing this agreement, you have no other choice because this is the debt you¡¯ve umted over three years!¡± Debts? His past indifference had hurt her. His disregard had led to her being mistreated by Frida and Sheralyn for years. Also, what happened with Natasha¡­ Maverick fell silent. Back then, he had thought Natasha was the little girl who had saved him years ago. Natasha wanted him to be her protector, and he became one. Natasha wanted a status, to be the legitimate Mrs. Wright, and he gave her that too. Regarding this, he really owed Gwendolyn. C He had wanted to divorce her early on but held on because of Den. He reluctantly dragged it out and wasted three years of her youth. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll sign it.¡± His well-defined fingers took the pen from the desk, and he signed his name at the bottom right corner of the agreement without hesitation. He thought it would end there. However, Gwendolyn pulled out a beautifully wrapped small gift box from the drawer, her eyes curving. into a smile. ¡°This is also for you. Would you like to open it and have a look?¡± Maverick hesitantly took the gift and opened the lid. Insideid a syringe about the size of his pinky finger. The syringe was filled with an unknown transparent substance. It was obviously not something good. Seeing his furrowed brow, Gwendolyn exined, ¡°I know you¡¯re skilled in martial arts, and I can¡¯t defeat you. So I have to be cautious.¡± Indeed, it wasn¡¯t something good! Maverick¡¯s expression grew even more serious as he stared intently at the tiny syringe. Gwendolyn seemed to understand what he was¡¯thinking. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not poison. It will only weaken your physical strength for two months, making you unable to defeat me. It won¡¯t affect you in doing normal household chores and tasks. It may sting a little during the injection, but you¡¯ll have to self- administer it every two months.¡± Chapter 106 A Thoughtful Little Gift She Prepared She spoke as if she was describing an ordinary matter. The smile on her face seemed as if she were discussing what to have for dinner. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Shepletely disregarded Maverick¡¯s increasingly cold and icy expression. +5 Bonus hint of danger sparked in Maverick¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°Since you know you can¡¯t defeat me, are you not afraid of provoking me? Should I take action against you right now?¡± Gwendolyn waved her hand nonchntly. ¡°You¡¯re in my territory, and if you make any moves, the building¡¯s security guards will storm in. I know you¡¯re strong and capable of effortlessly handling ten opponents. But what about twenty? Or thirty?¡± She paused, her lips curling up into a wicked smile. ¡°Would you like to give it a try?¡± Maverick remained silent. Their eyes locked, sparks flying between them. Neither of them was willing to back down an inch. ¡°Once your strength wanes and you get knocked down, I will still have someone inject the syringe into your body. Don¡¯t forget. You¡¯ve already signed the agreement. You have to obey me. The choice is yours. Do you want to be forcibly injected by me or maintain your dignity and do it yourself? I¡¯ll leave the decision to you.¡± Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Be Good And Call Me Master Maverickughed sarcastically. This so-called right of choosing actually did not offer any real options to be chosen at all. +5 Bonus As he had been standing for a long time, the wound on his waist split open, and blood oozed out of it. The pain caused him to feel dizzy. The innermost white shirt was stained with blood and stuck to the wotind, making him feel very ufortable. Fortunately, the ck suit jacket concealed the blood, so Gwendolyn did not notice at all. Maverick bit his thin and crimson lips tightly and strived to steady his breath, making it difficult for others. to notice anything unusual. Alright, it¡¯s just one year. I can endure it! He picked up the syringe and rolled up his suit jacket and shirt sleeve, aiming at the spot on his arm. He injected the syringe into his arm fiercely as if he was venting out his emotions. Gwendolyn watched in silence. Noticing how Maverick was torturing himself with so much force, she furrowed her eyebrows. How arrogant. Gwendolyn heard that the pain from the injection was rather unbearable, so she wanted to see how long the man could maintain his pride. In just a few seconds, the small thumb-sized tube of drug waspletely emptied. Plop! The sound of a syringe falling to the ground was emitted. Maverick bit his lips tightly. The bite on his lower lip had left a row of bloody marks, and intense pairi rushed through his entire body. Soon, cold sweat drenched his forehead. Every part of his body ached painfully, and with an existing injury on the waist, the immense painsted for almost two minutes before it gradually subsided. However, what came afterward was a sense of fatigue as if it seeped deep into his bones. Maverick felt exhausted that he could not even stand steadily. He fell to the ground weakly like a fallen leaf in the wind. When he closed his eyes, there was a brief buzzing sound in his ears. As soon as the buzzing sensation ended, a woman¡¯s crisp and pleasant voice entered his ears. ¡°When you first get this injection, the reaction you will get might be quite intense. Bear with it for a while.¡± Maverick hung his head weakly and pursed his thin pale lips lightly together. As he closed his eyes, his long eyshes trembled slightly as if he was enduring some immense pain. After the pain eased down slightly, the sound of high heels could be heard as it approached him. Gwendolyn nced down at Maverick and then crouched down, forcefully lifting thetter¡¯s chin up to observe him closely. 62% Chapter 107 Be Good And Call Me Master Unlike his previous looks with a domineering and masculine demeanor, his handsome face at this moment was pale, and his sickly appearance made one want to tease him. 5 Bonus As Maverick slowly opened his eyes, a hint of vulnerability, which was barely noticeable, appeared in hist once overbearing dark pupils. How rare indeed! Gwendolyn admired the man¡¯s delicate and frail appearance, like that of a sickly beauty. With a satisfied smile, she said, ¡°Good boy. How about you try to call me ¡®Master¡¯?¡± The teasing words made Maverick very displeased, and a strong sense of humiliation welled up in his mind. He red at Gwendolyn angrily and used all his strength to break free from her hand, stubbornly turning his face away. He seemed like a furious tiger that had been provoked. Gwendolyn stopped teasing him and did not continue to push him any further. He had been arrogant for the first half of his life, so it was quite normal for him not to be able to get used to the current situation in a short time. It would need time to guide and teach him slowly, and Gwendolyn had the patience to do that. Then, Gwendolyn got up, no longer paying attention to Maverick, who was feeling weak on the floor. She gave him time to adjust to the drug on his own. She returned to her desk and began to settle her work. Now, in addition to handling trivial matters of Angle, she also had to deal with the matters of Wright Construction Group that she had recently taken over. Wright Construction Group was nearly ruined by Samantha, a toxic employee within thepany. Because of that, almost all of the core employees had to be reced. It seemed Gwendolyn would be kept busy every day for a while. The sky outside the floor-to-ceiling window gradually darkened, and before Gwendolyn knew it, she had been busy until eight o¡¯clock in the evening. The office was very quiet except for the sound of her typing on the keyboard. She closed herptop and rubbed the back of her sore neck. Suddenly, she realized that more than an hour had passed. Why hadn¡¯t I heard any sound from Maverick? What tricks is he ying? She walked around the office desk to take a look. The man was lying on his side on the floor, and his long legs were slightly bent. His eyes were tightly closed, and his eyebrows furrowed together as if he was experiencing immense pain even in his sleep. Gwendolyn was a bit skeptical and called out to him. ¡°Maverick, stop pretending and get up quickly now.¡± The man¡¯s eyebrows furrowed even tighter, showing no response. Gwendolyn felt weird. His state¡­ It doesn¡¯t seem quite right. F Although the man¡¯s reaction to the injection was very strong at first, the pain onlysted for half an hour. 2/4 Chapter 107 Be Good And Call Me Master Unless Gwendolyn frowned, reaching out to remove Maverick¡¯s suit jacket, and she identally brushed her hand against his waist. The man let out a grunt in pain. The frown on Gwendolyn¡¯s face deepened even more. Is there an injury on his waist? As Gwendolyn was about to continue removing his coat, a pair of big hands abruptly gripped her wrist. Maverick had woken up. Despite the throbbing pain in his head, which made him feel dizzy, his hands reacted subconsciously. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand, but she did not answer his questions. She asked in an indifferent tone. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already healed,¡± Maverick replied. Both of their tones were very indifferent. After that sentence, there was a long period of silence. Gwendolyn was just casually asking that question and only showing concern for her little servant boy. If he doesn¡¯t appreciate my concern, then let it be. ¡°Since you¡¯re feeling fine and have enough rest, let¡¯s get up and get going.¡± After Gwendolyn finished speaking, she picked up her bag without looking back and pushed the door open to leave. ¡°Where to?¡± Maverick asked. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°If you don¡¯t keep up with me soon, you¡¯ll have to go home barefootter.¡± N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Go home? This sentence left Maverick in a trance for a few seconds. Looking up. Gwendolyn had already walked quite a distance away. After more than an hour of rest, Maverick¡¯s physical condition had improved. He quickly got up from the floor and caught up with Gwendolyn¡¯s pace. Gwendolyn took Maverick back to Bay Vi, the ce that carried three years of unpleasant memories. When she first agreed to ept Maverick¡¯s vi, she did so with the mentality that it would be a waste if she did not ept it. After all, who would have a problem with epting such a valuable asset? Who would have guessed that she would walk back into the vi again one day. They were still the same even after so many years. However, their roles had switched, and so was their state of mind. Gwendolyn stood in front of the vi and was not in a hurry to go in. Instead, she looked at Maverick and said. ¡°From now on, you will be the only servant here. You must prepare three meals a day before I return, regardless of whether I would eat ore back. You must have the meals ready and have them set on the table.¡± Chapter 107 Be Good And Call Me Master She added, ¡°When I¡¯m not at home, clean the entire hose thoroughly and make sure it¡¯s spotless. When Ie home from work every day, you must be standing at the door to greet me. Have my shippers rearly and say. You¡¯ve worked hard today? The more she talked about it, the smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face grew deeper Meanwhile. Maverick¡¯s expression grew increasingly unpleasant, and his face darkened to the point that it almost blended into the night. All the tasks mentioned were clearly not what a man should do. It was obvious that Gwendolyn did that out of malicious revenge. She¡¯s humiliating me! ¡°You¡¯re trampling on my dignity. Maverick¡¯s voice was low, and he was almost gritting his teeth. Gwendolyn chuckled, ¡°What else do you think a servant is supposed to do? Do you expect me to provide with food for free? You should have thought about this when you signed the agreement. Do you want to go back on your word now? Well, I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s toote.¡± you Maverick¡¯s face darkened, and his hawk-like sharp eyes fixated on her. Gwendolyn was amused by his expression. Did he think we were till in the past? Now, no matter how fierce Maverick¡¯s expression was, he was just like a husky with its teeth pulled out in her eyes. ¡°You consider this humiliation? Do you think women are supposed to take care of household chores, do laundry, and the cooking? But when a man does them, it¡¯s called trampling on his dignity?¡± She scoffed and continued. ¡°Well, I insist on breaking the norms! Whatever I did three years ago, you¡¯re not allowed to miss any single one of them!¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Chapter 108 I Am Your Master So, are these all the things she has done in the past three years? Maverick was left speechless instantly He knew that Frida was rather mean towards Gwendolyn. Could it be that Frida had deliberately dismissed the vi¡¯s housekeepers in the past and left all the household chores to Gwendolyn alone? At that time, every time Maverick came home from work, he could see that the house was clean and tidy, with steaming hot meals prepared, but he never paid attention to the details. Due to his repulsion of Den¡¯s insistence on him marrying Gwendolyn, he would always choose to ignore her presence subconsciously. Moreover, he would even make a few sarcastic remarks at her whenever he was in a bad mood¡­ Gwendolyn noticed that Maverick was in a daze, so she waved her hand in front of his eyes before she continued, ¡°However, you should be mentally prepared for it. With one year offsetting to three, the tasks you¡¯ll need to aplish will also double.¡± Maverick shook his head and let out a coldugh. She is adamant to give it all back to me. Gwendolyn walked ahead, not noticing the man¡¯s expression. Then, she remembered something and said, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. I forgot to buy a washing machine, so you have to hand wash and put up the laundry from now on. Some clothes were made from different materials and needed to be washed separately, so don¡¯t mix them up.¡± Maverick stared at her back and mercilessly exposed her lousy excuse. ¡°Are you the type to do something like that? I remember when the property was transferred to you, a woman named Joanne was running around and recing all the furniture and appliances in the entire house.¡± After being exposed, Gwendolyn turned around and gave Maverick a cold stare, not intending to cover her lies up. Maverick was right. Gwendolyn had intentionally donated the washing machine to the orphanage. The children in the orphanage needed the washing machine more than Maverick. The two of them entered the hall side by side in silence. Gwendolyn fumbled slightly along the wall and instantly turned on the light. This was an action guided by her muscle memory. The living room was brightly lit. The house maintained its original structure, but the furniture and the matching style were no longer in the ck-and-white tones like the past. Gwendolyn headed straight for the kitchen with Maverick quietly following behind her. Upon entering the kitchen, she took a thick book out from the cab and handed it to Maverick. ¡°Here¡¯s a cookbook. From now on, you must prepare each meal ording to the recipes in this book. Each meal should consist of one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and one soup. You must make different dishes every day with no repetition.¡± Maverick took the book and roughly flipped through two pages. Seeing that he did not object, Gwendolyn nced at the time. It was already half past eight, and she had not eaten dinner yet. 1/4 Chapter 108 I Am Your Master ¡°Let¡¯s start tonight with your cooking. Let me know when it¡¯s ready. As for the room for your sleeping arrangements, you can choose any room on the second floor but not the third floor.¡± After she finished speaking, she went upstairs to her study. There was still a pile of documents from the office to be read, so she had to work overtime. Maverick watched her figure disappear from the staircase, and only then did he let out the breath he had been holding. The pain was so intense that he arched his back, barely managing to steady himself by leaning on the table. The bloodstains on the white shirt had long since dried up. The shirt was stuck to the wound and couldn¡¯t peel off. After wetting the shirt with hot water, he applied a warm towel topress it for a few minutes before carefully separating it from the skin bit by bit. To avoid being discovered by Gwendolyn, he quickly took off his shirt and washed away the bloodstains. If it were before, Maverick would probably wring the clothes until it was almost dry. Nevertheless, due to the injection today, he had be too tired just after wringing it half dry. not to leave Since there was no other choice, he could only put on the damp shirt that was just dry enough. water droplets on the floor and then wore his original dark-colored suit jacket over it. If one did not look closely, it should not be noticeable. After doing all of these, he felt as if he had used up all his energy and was too exhausted. The special drug was indeed effective. He had not even started cooking dinner, and half an hour had already been wasted. Maverick had no choice but to grit his teeth and start studying the cookbook. Opening the refrigerator, he found all kinds of fresh vegetables and meats in their freshest condition. It was very clear that everything that happened today had been nned by Gwendolyn in advance. Maverick¡¯s gaze darkened, but it was unclear what he was thinking. At the study upstairs, Gwendolyn sat in front of theputer with full concentration. The girl groups talent show she created had already progressed until the third season, and its poprity and trending topics on the inte remain consistently popr. As for her friend Jennifer from the orphanage, she seemed to be unaffected since returning to continue recording for the show after recovering from her injury. She quickly got into the groove and consistently ranked within the top fifteen. If everything went well, she should be able to make it to the finals without any issues. Everything seemed to be moving in a good direction. After watching the talent show, she called Hannah at the Wright residence. Hannah said, ¡°I arranged for the two of them to mop the floor tonight, but Sheralyn was making a big fuss, even cursing at you. I locked them back in the basement. Did I do the right thing?¡± Gwendolyn spoke seriously, ¡°No problem. Since they¡¯ve be housekeepers, restrain them by what is 2/4 Chapter 108 I Am Your Master Borus required of a housekeeper. If they don¡¯t listen to the instructions, punish them ordingly. However, there¡¯s one thing you need to take note of: Make sure to discipline the male housekeepers at the Wright residence well. They must not have any dirty thoughts!¡± Hannah replied, ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders. Please be rest assured, I will definitely handle everything properly and well.¡± Hannah was still incessantly assuring from the other side of the phone. The window remained open, and Gwendolyn suddenly caught a whiff of a burned smell in the air. It seems like¡­ It¡¯sing from downstairs? She hung up the phone in a panic and dashed downstairs, only to find the kitchen filled with thick, ck smoke. Maverick tried to fan away the smoke while coughing from inhaling the smoke. Gwendolyn was speechless. ¡°You are supposed to cook a meal but look what you have done. Are you trying to burn the house down?¡± She covered her nose and mouth as she entered the kitchen. She turned off the stove and switched on the smoke extractor and venttion fan. After quite a while, the suffocating smell finally dissipated just slightly. She pointed at the charred, coal-like ck object in the pan and asked, ¡°What is this supposed to be?¡± Maverick honestly answered, ¡°Pork ribs,¡± Gwendolyn took another nce. Oh, my. This is such an eyesore! She asked, ¡°Did you put a catty of barbecue sauce on this? It¡¯s burned too! Not even a cookbook can save you from cooking anything now. How terrible are your cooking skills?¡± Maverick expressed innocently, ¡°I just followed the cookbook. It said to simmer on low heat for an hour and a half, but I thought that was too slow. So, I figured that using higher heat would be faster. That¡¯s why¡­¡± Gwendolyn asked, ¡°So, you thought you would not fail by doing that?¡± Maverick did not respond. Howe it feels like her words are not only about the dish but also seem to be criticizing me indirectly? Gwendolyn¡¯s face was sullen, and she sighed before continuing to ask, ¡°Do you really expect me to have this for dinner?¡± Maverick replied, ¡°I have also grilled some vegetables.¡± Gwendolyn asked again, ¡°Where¡¯s the dish?¡± Maverick led her to the dining table. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Although the grilled vegetables may appear nd, the color looked normal and they appeared to be cooked, which should be edible. Gwendolyn sighed. Alright, I¡¯ll just have to make do with this meal. Chapter 108 I Am Your Master Seeing that Gwendolyn wanted to have a taste, Maverick helped her pull out a dining chair and went to the kitchen to get a set of cutleries for her. Gwendolyn watched his figure strangely as thetter entered and exited the kitchen. Just an hour ago, he felt humiliated and ufortable because he had to do the chores, and now he had adapted to the job that quickly? On the other hand, Maverick stood quietly to the side afterpleting all those tasks, behaving so well that it was almost unbelievable. Is he a little too attentive? Gwendolyn felt that his behavior was strange. ange. Hence, she picked up a piece of grilled vegetable, but she caught a glimpse of an almost imperceptible gleam shining in the other¡¯s eyes. Hmm¡­ Something¡¯s definitely not right. She furrowed her eyebrows almost inaudibly and brought the grilled vegetable to her lips, ready to take a bite. The man gently raised his eyebrows, seemingly anticipating something. However, when Gwendolyn looked over, the other¡¯s face returned to his cold and icy expression. 6 Gwendolyn put down her fork and yfully curled her lips. She said, ¡°You eat first.¡± Maverick lowered his head. ¡°I dare not.¡± Although bowing his head, his attitude was not respectful. Gwendolyn thought that Maverick¡¯s behavior was indeed all just an act. She smiled slyly, and her sharp gaze swept toward him, leaving no room for discussion in her tone. ¡°Now, in this vi, I am the master, and you are the servant. Therefore, this is an order. Come here now and sit. down!¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Chapter 109 No Dinner For You Tonight If Maverick kept refusing, it would be obvious that something was fishy. +5 Boma Maverick went to the kitchen with a cold expression on his face and brought out a new set of cutleries. Ender Gwendolyn¡¯s intense fierce gaze, he picked up a piece of grilled vegetable and stuffed it into his mouth without hesitation, chewing emotionlessly for a moment before swallowing it. The whole set of actions went smoothly, like moving clouds and flowing water. Maverick replied, ¡°It tastes just like regr grilled vegetables. Want to give it a try?¡± Gwendolyn propped her chin with one hand and pointed at the te of vegetables with the other. She whispered in a devilish tone, ¡°Finish this entire te.¡± Maverick¡¯s expression changed slightly, and then he smiled. ¡°You said that you¡¯re the master here, so this is made for you. How could I eat it?¡± Gwendolyn did not feel like wasting time talking nonsense with him. ¡°If you don¡¯t eat, I¡¯ll getthe bodyguards to help you with it.¡± 4 ¡°You!¡± Maverick¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, and he stared at her without flinching. ¡°Are you trying to use your power to suppress me?¡± Gwendolyn did not deny it. ¡°Exactly. When dealing with a disobedient servant, one must take firm measures. So, do you want to cat by yourself, or should I have theme in and feed you?¡± Another multiple-choice question without a choice. Maverick¡¯s face darkened gradually under her gaze. Maverick¡¯s pride and hostility all these years had been ground by the woman before him four times in just a few hours this afternoon. How detestable and despicable! However, just as Gwendolyn was staring at him, she smiled with her eyes curved, which looked innocent, like there was no such thing as using power to oppress others. It made his anger seem overly petty. It was impossible for him to refuse. Maverick picked up the fork again and reached for the te of grilled vegetables on the table. He didn¡¯t even realize that his arm was slightly trembling. He held his breath and stuffed arge piece of vegetable into his mouth. It was incredibly difficult to swallow down the food as his entire mouth seemed to reject the bizarre taste. In order to teach Gwendolyn a lesson and vent his frustration, he almost added a big amount of every bottle of seasonings with inconspicuous color. Who would have guessed that she would be so cautious, and not eat a single bite? That half-smile expression on her face seemed to tell him that she had already seen through his trick. Maverick refused to give up, so he tried to maintain a calm demeanor as he tasted the dish. However, as soon as he took a bite of the dish, his stomach felt sick. 1/4 Chapter 109 No Dinner For You Tonight Unable to hold it in any longer, he rushed to the kitchen and threw up violently. + Bonu Gwendolynughed while pping her hands, greatly admiring Maverick¡¯s endurance as he managed to take three bites of the food before spitting it out. Trying to torture me with this little trick? Just how childish is this man? Gwendolyn said, ¡°Mr. Wright, it¡¯s not right to waste food. As a punishment, you¡¯re not allowed to have dinner tonight.¡± Maverick had vomited until his stomach was empty, but he still could not help but continue to retch. Gwendolyn¡¯s words had reached him, but he did not feel like responding. Even stomach acid had been vomited out, leaving a burning sensation in Maverick¡¯s throat. If she doesn¡¯t allow me to eat, then so be it. He might choose not to eat, but Gwendolyn still needed to. After the hideous episode, it was already past nine o¡¯clock, and Gwendolyn was indeed feeling a bit hungry. With Maverick¡¯s cooking skills, there was no hope for him to prepare dinner for tonight. Therefore, she decided to cook a simple bowl of pasta for herself. The pot on the stove was already burned, so Gwendolyn had no choice but to take out another pot from the cab. She boiled some water and added the pasta. She was apt in what she was doing. Maverick just stood quietly by the door, watching her. Seeing her serious and calm figure, Maverick¡¯s mind was in a daze. If time could rewind to the day we got married three years ago and start over again, would everything be different? If I hadn¡¯t agreed to divorce her back then, and we just lived a simple and ordinary life together, things might turn out fine too¡­ His thoughts came to an abrupt halt, and heughed at himself mockingly. If Gwendolyn knew what he was thinking, given her personality, she would probably say, ¡°You wish, id ot! Do you even deserve to remarry me?¡± He was just a servant who signed a contract and was truly undeserving to do that. As he was thinking, Gwendolyn had already prepared a delicious bowl of spaghetti Bolognese. There was only one bowl of spaghetti, with no extra sauce left. In fact, not a single drop was left in the pot. What a heartless woman. She really would punish me for not getting dinner ready without any hesitation. Maverick felt quite awkward, but seeing Gwendolyn enjoying her meal, there was nothing he could do there. He decided to go upstairs to the guest room on the first floor and tidy up a room for himself to stay Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. 1. ¡°Stop right there.¡± Gwendolyn called out to him, ¡°Come here. Stand in front of me and watch me until I 2/4 Chapter 109 No Dinner For You Tonight finish rating Maverick, stood in position as she requested with a cold expression on bir face At first, he did not understand her meaning until the aroma of the pasta invaded his nostrils mercilessly. The pasta smells so good. She¡¯s really enjoying her meal too. Maverick¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple rolled slightly, yet his face remained stern, standing there like a doorkeeper. The impact of the smell was very strong. After he vomited, his stomach was almostpletely emptied. At this moment, letting him ¡°appreciate¡± how she was eating was nothing less than cruel torture. Maverick finally understood the wicked thoughts Gwendolyn had in wanting to torment him. After finishing the bowl of spaghetti Bolognese, Gwendolyn felt full. She elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin and looked at the man standing before her, whose face was as dark as coal. ¡°Remember to clean the kitchen thoroughly before going to bed It should look exactly as it was before you started using it, and don¡¯t even think about cking off.¡± After she finished speaking, she stood up and prepared to go upstairs. However, her gaze caught sight of the man¡¯s unusually white shirt. Gwendolyn furrowed her eyebrows and walked over, gently lifting up the cor of his shirt. There was a faint hint of pink on it. Why does it look like bloodstains? Maverick noticed her eyes narrowing dangerously and quickly exined, ¡°It¡¯s blood from the pork ribs. It identally stuck on my shirt while I was cleaning the ribs.¡± Gwendolyn did not believe it at all. With a forceful twist, her hand felt the wet water stains. She looked up again, scrutinizing Maverick. Then, she showed him the water stains on her hands. Maverick said without blinking an eye, ¡°I washed it because it got dirty.¡± Gwendolyn watched him lie with a straight face as she could not understand what was going on. Why hide it when you¡¯re clearly injured? Does he think that I might not only be unsympathetic but rub salt in his wounds instead? Haha. However, it was true that if she were really being pushed to the limit, she could not guarantee that she would not do that. Since the man did not want to say more, Gwendolyn also decided not to ask further and turned around to head upstairs. As she passed by the cab in the living room¡¯partition, she stopped in her tracks and took out the first- aid kit from the inside, cing it in an obvious spot. Then, she returned to her room without looking back. Upon seeing her movements, Maverick¡¯s pupils quivered slightly. 3/4 Chapter 109 No Dinner For You Tonight Bonus Has she guessed that I am injured, or¡­ she knew all along? Does the group Asher sent to kill me have anything to do with her? Who is she anyway? How many more secrets about her that I am not aware of?¡± Maverick looked upstairs with his mind filled with doubts and concerns. His deep, dark eyes looked like they were nning something, but it was unclear what he was pondering. Gwendolyn went upstairs and took a long shower. Just as she finished, she heard a knock on the door. Only two people were living in the vi, so it was obvious who that was. Gwendolyn could only quickly change into her pajamas. The sound of door knocking continued, and the noise was quite disturbing. Then, Gwendolyn went to open the door with an unfriendly expression. ¡°What is it?¡± Maverick who was standing outside the door was taken aback. It seemed he had not expected her to change her outfit so quickly. Gwendolyn was wearing pink cartoon pajamas with her hair wet, and her face without makeup made her skin appear even more fragile as if it could be broken with just a touch. Her tiny mouth was pinkish, but her eyes were ring at him with displeasure. This scene is surprisingly¡­ a bit adorable? Maverick lowered his gaze and let go of those inexplicable thoughts that had entered his mind. He said, ¡°All my luggage is at Sky Vi, where I was staying before, so Like to go out and get them.¡± Gwendolyn frowned almost imperceptibly and subconsciously nced at the time. It was already eleven o¡¯clock at night. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Chapter 110 A Plot ¡°You are not allowed to go,¡± Gwendolyn said in a firm tone before moving to shut the door. ¡°Wait a minute, ouch¡­¡± Maverick instinctively reached his hand out to block the door and winced in pain. His face twisted and his forehead broke out in cold sweat. Gwendolyn was startled. ¡°Are you out of your mind? How can you stop a door with your hands?¡± Eww¡­ There are a lot of nerves in the fingers, so this has to hurt a lot. Maverick covered his reddened right hand and felt sorry for himself. ¡°Can you at least let me finish speaking now that I¡¯m injured? We might have signed an agreement, but you can¡¯t take away my basic rights. Don¡¯t you think¡­¡± Gwendolyn interrupted him and said, ¡°Speak in innguage.¡± ¡°I want to go back to Sky Vi,¡± he said without hesitation, with his eyebrows slightly furrowed. In the past, this expression would intimidate anyone who saw it. However, due to the injection of the special drug, his skin color remained a shade paler than usual, exuding a sickly impression with a sense of fragility to it that was rather aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. Despite his height of one hundred and eighty-eight centimeters, he did not give much of an intimidating presence. Instead, he resembled a big hound that was pretending to be a sheep. Gwendolyn felt a twinge of sympathy at first when she saw his injured hand, but instantly changed her mind once she heard what he said. Huh! Do you think you can y me with a self-inflicted wound and use my sympathy against me? Just wait until tomorrow! ¡°No way. Go to bed now. I will have the bodyguard pack and send it over tomorrow morning,¡± Gwendolyn rejected him. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Maverick wanted to argue, but the only response he got was the heavy sound of the door mming shut. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°What a heartless and merciless woman,¡± he muttered as his expression instantly darkened. He turned and headed down the stairs. He went straight to the first floor, intending to go to the front door and assess the situation. As soon as he stepped out of the living room, two bodyguards suddenly emerged from the shadows even before he had a chance to set foot in the garden. ¡°You are not allowed to go out at night. Mr. Wright. Please go back,¡± warned one of the bodyguards. Maverick¡¯s expression darkened further, and he was left with no choice but to turn around and return to his room. Since the bodyguard could monitor his actions at any time, it was clear that Gwendolyn was wary of him. He nced at his phone and saw a missed call from Nico. After deleting the call history, he decided to turn off his phone. 1/4 Chapter 110 A Plot + Cons He had been spending sleepless nights searching for people in the mountains for several days and was even injured. On top of that, he had to cook and do other household chores earlier that day, leaving himpletely drained. As soon as hey down in bed, he quickly drifted off to sleep. Sometimeter, he was suddenly awakened by the chirping of birds outside the window. He jolted awake in the darkness. He recognized that it was his unique secret code with Nico. He quickly got out of bed and walked towards the window. Suddenly, the overhead chandelier made a clicking sound and turned on. When he turned around, he saw Gwendolyn leaning against the door with a faint smile on her lips. Maverick stood still and stared at her. D¡¯mn! I have be so numb to the surrounding after injecting the drug. He did not even notice it when she entered the room. Gwendolyn continued to smile as her sharp gaze fixed on him. ¡°Are you not sleeping yet?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Maverick forced a smile. ¡°I am feeling a little hungry and can¡¯t seem to sleep, so I am thinking of heading to the kitchen.¡± ¡°Is the kitchen located outside the window?¡± Gwendolyn asked with amusement. ¡°Are you nning to jump from the second floor to get something to eat?¡± She noticed something was wrong when she heard the chirping of a bird. After all, she had set up top-grade security for the yard, so not even a fly could get in, let alone a bird. Maverick remained silent, as he could not think of a good reason to argue with her. She did not bother with exposing his lies and simply said. ¡°It is already one in the morning. I suggest that you get some sleep. You will need to wake up at six tomorrow to make breakfast. Do not try anything, or you won¡¯t be allowed to eat for the whole day.¡± With that, she turned around and went back to the third floor. After the dy, Nico did not make any more noises as he had likely noticed that something went wrong, Maverick closed the curtains and decided to look for another opportunity to contact Nico. The next morning, Maverick got up on time ording to Gwendolyn¡¯s instructions and saw the bodyguards rushing around as they carried something into the living room from outside. He walked over and found that they were carrying his belongings into the house. Wow, they are being delivered so early? ¡°Mr. Wright, please pack and move these things upstairs before Ms. Shalders wakes up. Ms. Shalders does 2/4 Chapter 110 A Plot not like to see her house in a mess, and she will be unhappy if she sees all theseying around, the bodyguards said with a slightly gloating tone as they pointed to the stack of paper boxes that were piled up as high as a person when they saw Mavericking over. Maverick did not say anything as he knew the bodyguards were deliberately trying to provoke him. With his current strength, he knew he would be exhausted halfway through carrying all the boxes, and it would take a considerable amount of time to finish the task on top of preparing breakfast before Gwendolyn woke up. Seeing how Maverick was not moving, the bodyguards looked at him tauntingly and hinted, ¡°Mr. Wright, a man should never admit to hisck of ability, but if you really can¡¯t do it, you can also ask us for help.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes narrowed coldly, and he immediately began to move the boxes. By the time Gwendolyn¡¯s emerged from her room, she found Maverick drenched in sweat with his white shirt clinging to his body, revealing his well-defined muscles. Although she always knew that he had an attractive physique, it no longer interested her. ¡°Is breakfast ready?¡± she asked. ¡°I have onest box to bring up. Please give me a moment,¡± Maverick gritted out as if any distraction would intensify the fatigue he was feeling. Gwendolyn nodded and headed downstairs to the living room. Suddenly, she noticed that the first-aid kit she had taken out of the cabst night was nowhere to be found. Without a flicker of emotion, she averted her gaze and settled into the sofa to watch the morning dramas. After about ten minutes, Maverick took a refreshing shower and changed into a clean outfit before heading downstairs. As he passed by Gwendolyn, he did not bother sparing a nce at her and went straight to the kitchen. Gwendolyn assumed that he had not started cooking yet and walked over to him. To her bewilderment, she saw Maverick carrying two tes of warm food out and putting them on the dining table, before heading back to the kitchen to fetch another dish and some cutleries. She froze in ce and felt slightly surprised by the sight of him rushing in and out. In just one night, Maverick had adapted to all the arrangements she made. Not only did he move heavy objects, but also cooked breakfast. Besides, he managed to arrange his time so well that he solved the problems she presented swiftly. Gwendolyn had a sneaking suspicion. This man is anything but ordinary. He is also hiding something. Just as she was absorbed in her thoughts, Maverick arranged the cutleries and stood silently to the side, waiting for her to take a seat. ¡°Why is he acting so obedient all of a sudden? Is he hiding something?¡± Gwendolyn observed his meek demeanor and wondered. 3/4 Chapter 110 A Plot Despite her doubts, she sat down and started eating her breakfast without saying a word. ¡°The oatmeal was too runny, and the bacon was under seasoned,¡± Gwendolynmented inwardly. Since it was still ediblepared tost night¡¯s dinner, Gwendolyn did not deliberately make things difficult for him. She put down her fork after only a few bites, and Maverick tactfully cleared the table and started doing the dishes. There was plenty of time left, so Gwendolyn sat back down on the sofa, snacked on some fruit, and watched a drama. Meanwhile, she couldn¡¯t help but asionally cast a nce at Maverick, who was on his hands and knees, cleaning the floor. Her appetite and mood were greater than ever. In the past. Frida deliberately made things difficult for Gwendolyn by not allowing any mops in the vi, insisting that cleaning the floors by hand was more effective. She would never know that one day, her beloved son, whom she was so proud of, would be crouching at the feet of the woman she despised most to scrub the floor. The pleasure of retribution surged through Gwendolyn as she grinned andnguidly savored a cherry. Just as she was lost in the moment, her phone buzzed. It was a call from Yulia. ¡°Boss, Dexter is causing a scene at your office. He is demanding to see you and won¡¯t leave until he does,¡± Yulia informed Gwendolyn urgently over the phone. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Is His Death Rted to Her After a few seconds of silence, Gwendolyn finally said, ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. I thought Samantha kicked that cunning old fox Dexter out of town. How did hee back so quickly? Gwendolyn thought and subconsciously nced at Maverick, who was still wiping the floor. With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and wearing a white shirt and ck pants, Maverick looked oddly at peace. His quick adaptation from being Faike¡¯s leading CEO to a servant boy made Gwendolyn wonder if he had gone through simr experiences before or been subjected to inhuman treatment in the past. Despite the fact that he was being humiliated, he still exuded an air of nobility, as if it were ingrained in his bones. Gwendolyn noticed that because of his tall stature, he had to crouch and kneel to wipe the floor. He seemed to be sweating again after only a short while, and there was a faint bite mark on his thin lips. It looks like this pose isn¡¯t just making him feel tired. He seems to be in pain around the waist Gwendolyn mumbled inwardly. ¡°Stop cleaning for now. You can continueter when wee back. Come with me to thepany.¡± Gwendolyn walked up and said in a t tone. When she turned her head, she caught sight of Maverick sighing a breath of relief, as if he was liberated. When he stood up, he ced a hand on his back to support his lower right back and quietly rubbed his knee. Gwendolyn said nothing and withdrew her gaze gently, before taking the lead to walk out of the door. Maverick followed her silently and got into the car. Soon, they arrived at Wright Construction Group. The door was left slightly ajar, as they approached the CEO¡¯s office, and Dexter¡¯s furious voice could be heard through the gap. ¡°Call and find out where she is. Get her toe over here to see me! The Wright family isn¡¯t extinct yet. Since when a divorced woman like her can get to run the show?¡± Dexter shouted angrily. Gwendolyn stood at the door and listened for a moment, before turning to Maverick and asked, ¡°Do you know what to do when we go in?¡± Maverick nodded and answered, ¡°Tell the truth.¡± Gwendolyn was content with the response and retracted her gaze. She pushed the door open, stepped inside, and gazed at the person sitting on the visitor¡¯s sofa. ¡°Mr. Wright, it is been a long time since west spoke, and it seems like your explosive temper has not waned at all. I can see why Old Mr. Wright did not feelfortable entrusting Wright Construction Group to you,¡± Gwendolyn said with a hint of sarcasm. With her words, Gwendolyn had delivered a direct hit that put salt in Dexter¡¯s wounds. He had long felt indignant about not being valued by Den, so his expression instantly darkened with fury at her words. ¡°Have you no respect for your elders?¡± Dexter asked angrily. ¡°Well, polite and courteous elders certainly deserve respect, but are you one of them?¡± Gwendolyn sat 1/4 Chapter 11 Is His Death Rted to Her calmly on the sofa across from him. Her face remained expressionless with the exception of the sneer ying on her lips. ¡°How dare you?¡± Dexter snapped at her, his lips trembling with anger. Though the two were seated, Gwendolyn¡¯s casual demeanor left Dexter feeling inferior. Dexter was about to continue lecturing her when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure standing next to her out of the corner of his eye. Upon closer examination, he realized it was Maverick, who had been missing for quite some time. ¡°When did you return, Maverick? Since you are back, why did you allow this woman to take over Wright Construction Group?¡± Dexter queried. ¡°Uncle Dexter, I only came back yesterday afternoon, and everything was already settled by then,¡± Maverick stated inly with any emotion. ¡°Stop with this it is all settled¡¯ nonsense!¡± Dexter spat out in anger. ¡°You hold forty percent of the shares that your grandfather gave you, and you have been rumming Wright Construction Group for years. You have considerable power among the shareholders. How could you allow this woman to take away the position of thepany¡¯s leader?¡± Dexter¡¯s frustration boiled over as he mmed his hand on the coffee table and shouted. ¡°Uncle Dexter, all the other small shares of thepany have been purchased by her, except for your fifteen percent, so she¡¯s now the biggest shareholder of Wright Construction Group,¡± Maverick exined. ¡°What?¡± Dexter asked as he was confused. Dexter could not help but notice the difference between Maverick¡¯s exnation and the story Samantha had told him. Yulia, who was standing next to him, astutely ced thepany¡¯s share register on the coffee table. After examining it closely, Dexter¡¯s expression darkened. He was not in Faike yesterday, so it would make sense for Gwendolyn to take charge if Maverick was not around. However, he had been coveting the position of the top executive for so many years that he refused to let an outsider take over so easily. He shifted his gaze back to Maverick who stood there and said, ¡°What are you standing there for? Come and sit down. You are the secondrgest shareholder of thepany, after all.¡± Gwendolyn also nced at Maverick. Maverick kept his lips tightly shut without saying anything and lowered his head like a once prideful lion that had its ws removed. ¡°I speak for him as he is my housekeeper now. He only gets to stand since his master is talking to a guest.¡± Gwendolyn was rather satisfied with Maverick¡¯s obedience and turned to Dexter with a smile. Dexter could not believe what he heard and gaped. His eyes shifted back and forth between the two as he tried to process what Gwendolyn had just said. As soon as he realized the situation, he was incensed. ¡°You stupid fool! Did you sign a contract to sell yourself? Acting all meek and obedient in front of a woman, with your head bowed and agreeing to 2/4 Chapter III Is His Death Rted to Her everything, you¡¯ve brought dishonor upon the Wright family!¡± Dexter eximed in anger. 5 Bonus Dexter was a man of traditional values, and on top of that, Maverick was the only child the Wright family had raised with such high hopes. Despite his initial reluctance to let Maverick take over as the head of Wright Construction Group. Dexter eventually relented, knowing that Maverick had the ability to lead thepany to great sess. Indeed, under Maverick¡¯s leadership, thepany had reached new heights, which had enabled Dexter to live quitefortably off of his share dividends. However, Maverick had ended up being wrapped around at woman¡¯s fingers. ¡°Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of your grandfather and my brother!¡± Dexter shouted angrily as he rushed forward and pped Maverick hard across his face. Maverick remained motionless and did not move an eyebrow as Dexter charged towards him. There was a crisp sound of a ¡°snap¡±. Maverick emitted a muffled grunt as his left cheek became visibly swollen, with blood starting to trickle from the corners of his mouth. The strength of the p overwhelmed his weakened physical condition, and he instantly lost bnce. Gwendolyn quickly caught him as he fell. However, Dexter was not done venting his anger yet. He lifted his palm again, ready to deliver another p. ¡°This is not the Wright family¡¯s meeting room, nor is it yourpany. If you want to hit someone, go back and do it there. Don¡¯t try to act tough in front of me.¡± Gwendolyn grabbed his hand and pushed him back hard. The bodyguards at the side intervened swiftly and forced Dexter back onto the couch. Maverick regained his bnce and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a calm expression. He did not even flinch when Dexter rushed up to him. His deep ck gaze was unreadable as though he was nning something. Gwendolyn was a little angry when she saw Maverick¡¯s pitiful state. ¡°In case you did not know, the Wright residence is no longer the exclusive property of the Wright family. The traditional and rigid rules in the meeting room should be done away with!¡± Gwendolyn cast a venomous re at Dexter and jeered. ¡°Did this woman take over the Wright residence as well?¡± Dexter asked. Dexter felt frustrated and exasperated. Then, he thought of Frida, and looked at Maverick¡¯s indifferent expression, before pointing and cursing at him. ¡°Do you realize that you are abetting the wicked? I left Faike a few days ago because I found evidence that suggests this woman is involved in your grandfather¡¯s death!¡± Dexter said. Upon hearing that, Maverick finally lifted his gaze and focused on Dexter. ¡°This woman was responsible for my father¡¯s death! And now she is scheming to take over the Wright family¡¯s business. She is a cunning and vicious woman! We cannot let such a woman stay!¡± Dexter gnashed 3/4 Chapter 111 Is His Death Rted to Her his teeth as he spoke. He gave Maverick a pointed look. ¡°Do not be indecisive, or you will pay the price. Maverick, you must make up your mind soon, Dexter warned. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Chapter 112 The Drama Between Two Men After saying his piece in front of Gwendolyn, Dexter let out a deep sigh, put his hands behind his back. and walked out of the CEO¡¯s office angrily without looking back. As soon as he left Wright Construction Group, his worried expression transformed intoughter of joy. Meanwhile, in the office, Gwendolyn turned on her heel and made her way over to Maverick. She saw the swell around the corner of his mouth and ¨¤ clear thumbprint on the left side of his face. How dare Dexter beat up such an adorable face? I¡¯m going to get rid of that old fox sooner orter! ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Gwendolyn asked as she pinched his chin, examining his wound. Without showing any sign of pain or anger, Maverick kept quiet with a serene expression on his face as if he was not the one who had been pped. Gwendolyn¡¯s anger grew as she saw Maverick¡¯s indifferent expression, so she viciously pinched the soft flesh on his left check. Maverick scowled, grimacing in pain and attempting to dodge her grasp. Finally, he is showing some kind of emotion. I thought he was immune to pain. Gwendolyn mused inwardly. ¡°So you do feel pain. Why didn¡¯t you dodge when Dexter hit you earlier, then? Don¡¯t tell me you were too slow to react!¡± Gwendolyn questioned with a disapproving tone. Gwendolyn wondered how many ps Maverick could have handled before falling had she note to his defense. Maverick pursed his lips and retorted, ¡°Where were you on the day Grandpa died?¡± As Gwendolyn locked gazes with him, she marveled at how dark his eyes were. Does he believe Dexter¡¯s words and suspect that I killed Den? ¡°I was with Old Mr. Wright. I was thest person he saw before he died.¡± Gwendolyn answered truthfully. ¡°What did he say to you?¡± Maverick continued asking. Gwendolyn remained silent for a moment. Before he passed away. Den asked her to help maintain the Wright Construction Group. He also told Gwendolyn that Maverick had a proud temperament, but was also a loyal man deep down. If Maverick discovered Gwendolyn¡¯s good qualities and fell in love with her, he would be willing to give her everything. He made Gwendolyn promise to take care of Maverick and never divorce him. However, she had failed to keep that promise. After trying to warm Maverick¡¯s stone-cold heart for three years, she no longer cared. Therefore, protecting Wright Construction Group was the only thing she could do to honor her promise to Den. Maverick noticed that she was lost in her thoughts, and narrowed his eyes before asking again, ¡°What did he say exactly?¡± Chapter 112 The Drama Between Two Ment Gwendolyn took a seat on the sofa once again, her eyes regaining their usual coldness. ¡°Noment,¡± Gwendolyn said indifferently. Her tone was slightly taunting as she uttered those words. A sh of anger flickered in Maverick¡¯s eyes. ¡°What? Do you also think I was the one who killed Old Mr. Wright?¡± she continued with a smile. Maverick paused for a moment, before answering seriously, ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t.¡± He wasn¡¯t a fool. I guess he¡¯s notpletely dim-witted. 5 Bonus Her anger had subsided somewhat. Then, she looked up and saw Maverick standing there stiffly, looking rather ufortable with the left side of his face swollen, which detracted from his previously charming appearance. His temperament may be wed and in need of guidance, but this pretty boy is still easy on the eyes. It won¡¯t be eptable if he gets hurt. Gwendolyn reached under the coffee table and retrieved a spare first-aid kit, before pushing it toward Maverick. ¡°You look terrible. There are ice cubes in the small fridge at that corner over there. Take some and apply them to your face.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Maverick replied. Without any objection, Maverick fetched the ice from the small fridge in the corner, and sat down on the sofa, skillfully applying the medicine. Gwendolyn walked up to her desk and began working on her tasks. The bodyguard and Yulia took the hint and exited the room, closing the door behind them. The only sounds in the office were the clicking of the keyboard and the asional sound Maverick made while applying medicine to his wounds, creating an eerie atmosphere. Neither of them was willing to break the silence, and the tense ambiancested for almost an hour and a half until Yulia knocked on the door again. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Ferguson has arrived,¡± Yulia reported. Why is Sherman here? She considered it for a moment and said. ¡°Let him in. Maverick, who was sitting on the sofa, suddenly scowled. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Mr. Ferguson? Which Mr. Ferguson is that? Is he another man she¡¯s newly acquainted with? Maverick stood up just as Sherman pushed the door open. Even though they were quite far apart, they noticed each other¡¯s presence right away. Seeing each other as rivals, they were both instantly consumed by jealousy. 9/4 15:17 Fr Chapter 112 The Drama Between Two Men ¡°Well, look who it is. The heir to the Ferguson family in Salinsburgh. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner.¡± Maverick spoke first with a smirk. Upon seeing him, Sherman felt a surge of anger in his heart. Sherman had intended to dissuade Gwendolyn from signing the agreement with Maverick, and he did not expect her to bring Maverick into thepany so brazenly. After all, they were at Wright Construction Group. Sherman¡¯s expression darkened as he approached Maverick. ¡°Gwendolyn has divorced you, and the one- unrealistic year agreement she signed with you is just for you to repay your debt. You must not have any thoughts about her because of this. Don¡¯t you agree, Mr. Wright?¡± Sherman whispered. His expression was gentle, yet his tone was threatening. Maverick paused when he heard Sherman mentioning the agreement. Does he know about the agreement? It seems that he has a rather close rtionship with Gwendolyn. ¡°I wonder what gives you the right to warn me, Mr. Ferguson?¡± Maverick asked sarcastically. ¡°She is single now, and I am pursuing her. I believe she will soon agree to be with me, so I am warning you as her future boyfriend,¡± Sherman retorted. ¡°You are trying to show your dominance already, Mr. Ferguson, but it sounds like she has not even agreed to be with you yet,¡± Maverick countered. ¡°What difference does it make? At least I have a chance, whereas you will never have one!¡± Sherman said with a scowl. Maverick was instantly rendered speechless. Gwendolyn rubbed her temples as the two men in front of her traded insults and resentful res. Once again, her office had turned into a battlefield. Here I thought only women cause drama. Why are these two guys causing drama as well? The two men were still engaged in a heated debate in front of the couch. ¡°Even if you are unwilling to admit it, you cannot deny the fact that I was her former husband, and I was closer to her than you ever were!¡± Maverick dered. He enunciated thest four words slowly as he shot Sherman a pointed look. ¡°How many years have you known her? How well do you know her? I grew up with her since we were kids, so I know her better than you do!¡± Sherman eximed in a loud, furious tone. Maverick¡¯s pupils contracted and his brows furrowed even tighter at Sherman¡¯s words. ¡°That is enough!¡± Gwendolyn intervened as she could no longer stand their bickering. All she wanted was for them to leave her office as soon as possible. She turned her gaze at Sherman. ¡°What brings you here today, Sherman?¡± Sherman originally intended to persuade her to terminate the agreement with Maverick, but he knew better than to mention that in front of Maverick. 3/4 Chapter 112 The Drama Between Two Men In the end, he used work as an excuse. ¡°It is about the film studio. I went to Angle to look for were not there, so I came here when I found out that you are at Wright Construction Group¡± Sherman had brought up a matter of work. + Bonus you. but you Gwendolyn turned to Maverick. ¡°You have not visited your mom and Sheralyn since yesterday afternoon, have you? I will have the bodyguard take you to the Wright residence to visit them, and you can calm them down so they stop causing trouble.¡± Is she deliberately sending me away? Is she choosing Sherman over me? Maverick was annoyed and refused, ¡°No way!¡± Gwendolyn did not care whether he was willing to leave and directly called for the bodyguards toe in and take him away. As they brushed by each other, Sherman fixed his gaze on Maverick¡¯s left cheek, which was still somewhat swollen, and grinned tauntingly, as though he had emerged as the winner of their altercation. Maverick left the office with a dark expression, took the elevator down, and was shoved into the car by the bodyguards. Nevertheless, his jealousy towards Sherman had dissipated and he was preupied with thest words that Sherman had uttered. Maverick could not help but recall the time when Treyton said something simr to intentionally agitate him. He did not think much of it at the time, and thought Treyton said it just to make him mad but looking back, he could not help but feel that something was not right. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Solidify Your Rtionship In Gwendolyn¡¯s records, there was only a single mention of an orphanage when she was fifteen years old. Yet, the young masters of the two powerful and influential families in Salinsburgh imed to have known her since childhood. Gould she alsoe from one of the major families in Salinsburgh? But why did she end up at Faike Orphanage and coincidentally saved Den? Not long after she married him, she suddenly initiated a divorce. While he was away, she swiftly seized control of the Wright family¡¯s power and imed their residence as her own, even going as far as to send Asher¡¯s men to kill him. Could it be that everything was premeditated from the very beginning? If that is the case, is her so-called debt just an act? Is her insistence that he pay her back for three years of her youth merely an attempt to dispel suspicion. and provoke his guilt? Maverick¡¯s dark eyes grew serious as the doubts in his heart deepened. Maverick was lost in thought. Before he knew it, the car had arrived at the entrance of the Wright residence. Maverick wanted to go in by himself, so he turned to the two bodyguards and said, ¡°You two, wait at the door. I¡¯ll enter and have a quick look. I¡¯ll be out shortly after exchanging a few words.¡± The bodyguard¡¯s expression was resolute. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Ms. Shalders has instructed us to not move a step from you and protect you at all times. Mr. Wright, please don¡¯t make our job difficult.¡± To not move a step from me? Gwendolyn really is guarding against me cautiously. ¡°Alright, you maye along, but when I engage in conversation with my mother and Sheralyn, can yout kindly maintain a bit of distance and refrain from eavesdropping on our conversation?¡± Maverick requested. The two bodyguards exchanged nces and nodded in agreement. Due to Frida¡¯s seniority and her personal experience of hardships during her childhood, she understood the value of persevering through difficulties. As a result, Hannah and the other housekeepers did not deliberately make things difficult for her. On the other hand, Sheralyn was young and impetuous and had been resistant to Hannah¡¯s orders. Consequently, Frida and Sheralyn were assigned different tasks. Sheralyn was assigned to clean the toilets, even having to scrub the dirty ones in the servants¡¯ quarters. Since she was closer, Maverick decided to visit her first. Upon receiving the news, the housekeeper promptly released Sheralyn from her duties ahead of schedule and arranged for her to wait for Maverick in the hallway. Sheralyn, dressed as a maid, had red-rimmed eyes, suggesting that she had been crying for an extended period of time. The moment she saw Maverick, she rushed over to embrace him as if she had seen her savior, seekingfort in his embrace. Chapter 113 Solidify Your Rtionship 61% ¡°Maverick! You¡¯re finally back! Are you here to rescue me? Please take me away. The Wright residence has be a living hell for me. I don¡¯t want to stay here for even a second longer.¡± She tried to drag Maverick to the door, but he didn¡¯t budge an inch. She waspletely baffled. The bodyguard beside Maverick exined, ¡°He is now Ms. Shalders¡¯ personal butler. He can¡¯t save you. He¡¯s just here to check on you.¡± ¡°What? He¡¯s her personal butler?¡± Sheralyn was utterly shocked as she felt her hope crumbling. She couldn¡¯t ept the revtion. ¡°Maverick, how could you give in to her? You¡¯re my brother! You¡¯re the backbone of the Wright family! Why would you do this¡­¡± The bodyguards wanted to say something, but Maverick red at them fiercely. Sensing the cue, the bodyguards sealed their lips and distanced themselves by two meters. Only after the bodyguards left did Maverick speak softly, ¡°Sheralyn, please stay calm for a while longer. I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± Sheralyn broke down in tears, eximing, ¡°What can you possibly do? You¡¯re nothing more than her housekeeper now, just like my mother and me. What difference does it make in our statuses?¡± She paused, suddenly thinking of something, and a wicked expression slowly formed on her face. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°I understand now, Maverick! Do you have frequent opportunities to be alone with her? If so, Maverick, you must find a chance to eliminate her. She has caused me so much harm, and we cannot coexist!¡± Maverick looked at Sheralyn¡¯s current state. She waspletely blinded by hatred, and he deduced that no matter how much he tried to reason with her, she would not listen. After reminding her once again to lie low, Maverick turned around and made his way to check on Frida. Sheralyn, being persistent, was still shouting from behind, ¡°Maverick! Remember this! You must kill her! 1 want her dead!¡± The two bodyguards¡¯ expressions changed slightly. Maverick noticed the expressions on their faces but didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he made his way to Frida without looking back. Frida was found in the backyard, diligently clearing away weeds. Seeing her son safe and sound in front of her, Frida felt the overwhelming joy of regaining what was lost. Embracing Maverick, she cried and tenderly asked how he was doing whileforting him. ¡°Good to have you back, Maverick. You¡¯ve lost so much weighttely. Haven¡¯t you been eating well? Your face looks pale too. Are you sick? I know things haven¡¯t been easy with Gwendolyn around, but you must take care of yourself. Otherwise, it will break my heart.¡± Frida gently caressed Maverick¡¯s face. Although the swelling had subsided, she still noticed something was amiss. ¡°What happened to your left cheek? Who hit you? Was it Gwendolyn?¡± Maverick held her hand and said, ¡°No, it was Uncle Dexter.¡± ¡°How dare that old man, Dexter,y a hand on you? Once the Wright family¡¯s crisis is resolved, I¡¯ll make sure to teach him a lesson!¡± She was visibly annoyed. However, Frida couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Gwendolyn still cared for her son since she hadn¡¯t harmed. him. She quickly surveyed her surroundings and saw that the two bodyguards were engaged in their own conversation at a distance, oblivious to their interaction. Leaning in close to Maverick¡¯s ear, she whispered, ¡°Maverick, Gwendolyn is not an ordinary woman. She has orchestrated everything wlessly, from Natasha¡¯s imprisonment to the downfall of the Wright family. Samantha had her suspicions about Gwendolyn¡¯s true identity, but she never revealed anything in the end. I believe there¡¯s something extraordinary about Gwendolyn¡¯s background.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he quietly listened to Frida. ¡°Maverick, you must seize the opportunity to thoroughly investigate her identity. If she turns out to be the daughter of a prominent family, make sure to treat her with attentiveness and strive to remarry her. If all else fails, consider finding a way for her to bear your child, as it would solidify your rtionship with her.¡± Erida initially married into the Wright family using this tactic. Although Maverick was a man, she believed it was eptable for him to utilize his appealing appearance to aplish the objective. Maverick¡¯s expression grew darker as he promptly removed Frida¡¯s hand from his face. ¡°Exploiting someone¡¯s vulnerability? If I were to do such a thing, what kind of man would I be? Please don¡¯t ever say such things again.¡± Frida remained unconvinced. ¡°What¡¯s the harm? If you manage to remarry her, I promise I won¡¯t cause any trouble for her. If she truly is from a prestigious family, I wouldn¡¯t mind serving her!¡± ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable!¡± Maverick eximed coldly, and with that, he turned around and departed, leaving his mother behind. Frida watched his retreating figure, stomping her foot in anger. Howe this child didn¡¯t inherit my fine qualities? Seeing their conversation hade to an end, the two bodyguards resumed their close proximity to Maverick. Maverick wore a solemn expression as he slowly walked past the lobby on the first floor. The Wright residence was his best chance. Once he returned to Bay Vi, it would be difficult to contact Nico. With that thought, he clutched his stomach, feigning difort. ¡°I need to use the restroom. Please wait here, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± The two bodyguards remained unwavering, continuing to shadow Maverick closely, to the extent that they contemted apanying him into the restroom. Maverick stood at the restroom door, stopping the two individuals just in time. ¡°This is a private residence, and each floor has only one restroom with a single toilet bowl. Are you you find that genuinely nning to stand in front of me and watch me while I use the restroom? Don¡¯t weird?¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Investigate Her Identity Thoroughly Upon hearing this, the bodyguards hesitated. They could almost imagine the unpleasant odor of him doing the business. Oh, no¡­. However, if they didn¡¯t go in and keep an eye on Maverick, allowing him to escape, they would face challenges in exining the situation to Gwendolyn. + Bonus While the two were caught in a double bind, Maverick, wearing a sly smile, added, ¡°In order to ensure safety, all the restroom windows in the Wright residence are sealed. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go and verify it yourselves.¡± As he spoke, he entered the restroom and made an attempt to open the window right in front of the bodyguards. After that, the bodyguards personally tested the window, only to confirm that it was indeed sealed. They thoroughly inspected the entire restroom and found nothing significant except a small venttion duct on the ceiling. The duct was very small and didn¡¯t seem like it could serve as an escape route. Seeing them hesitate, Maverick spoke up again, ¡°I¡¯m suffering from an upset stomach, and I might need about fifteen minutes. I apologize for the inconvenience.¡± The two of them agreed. ¡°Then you only have fifteen minutes. If you haven¡¯t emerged by then, we will barge in straightaway and won¡¯t be concerned about what you¡¯re doing inside.¡± Maverick nodded, and the bodyguard turned around and left, standing guard at the door. He gently locked the door behind him, quickly stepped onto the sink, and opened the venttion duct on the ceiling. In fact, during the initial design of this venttion duct, an escape route was discreetly incorporated for the sake of any emergencies. From the exterior, the duct appeared deceptively small. However, upon closer examination, one would notice half a brick¡¯s length of the duct was cleverly concealed behind the metal mesh, making it challenging to detect at first nce. Once inside, two distinct passages awaited. One led to the vi¡¯s rooftop while the other led to the back door. When he entered the Wright residence, he heard an unusual bird call emanating from above. So, he decided to take the passage leading to the rooftop. However, despite the venttion duct being spacious enough to amodate him, it was still a tight fit. With his towering height of one hundred and eighty-eight centimeters, he had no choice but to move forward by bending his knees. Halfway through the arduous journey, exhaustion began to set in, and his waist injury started to throb. However, with only fifteen minutes left, he had to grit his teeth and endure the pain while quickening his pace. As he finally opened the rooftop venttion, Nico, who was hiding in the shadows, spotted him and immediately ran over to help him. Chapter 114 Investigate Her Identity Thoroughly Seeing that Maverick¡¯s body was already drenched in a cold sweat and how his hands were trembling. despite having only crawled through a short distance; Nico immediately sensed something was amiss. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s something not right. Even if your waist injury hasn¡¯t fully healed, it shouldn¡¯t be this exhausting, right?¡± ¡°I was injected with the improved version of the 023 special drugs.¡± ¡°What?¡± Nico shuddered. ¡°Did Ms. Shalders give you the injection? She¡¯s really ruthless.¡± Maverick remained silent, his dark eyes bearing an enigmatic depth, and his expression inscrutable. Although Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t disclosed the drug¡¯s name, he recognized the effects from his prior encounters with the 023 special drug during wartime interrogations. However, the version administered by Gwendolyn was an adjusted prescription with reduced potency. Nico was agitated. ¡°Boss, since you¡¯re already out, let¡¯s leave the ce. We don¡¯t need to put up Our men are all waiting outside, ready for yourmand.¡± Maverick had a determined attitude. with her. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°She holds a secret, possibly connected to the Wright family. I intend to remain by her side to uncover any pertinent clues. Time is running short, so I¡¯ll keep it brief.¡± Nico nodded. Maverick continued, sharing all the doubts he had previously with Nico. ¡°Get in touch with Zachary. I have a hunch that Gwendolyn may have ties to one of the four prominent families in Salinsburgh. Given the attention and importance Sherman and Treyton ce on her, we can exclude the Harris and Ferguson families. The Jenson family is highly unlikely to be tied to her too. Therefore, concentrate your investigation on the Newton family. Look for any girls who vanished or went missing approximately six years ago, aligning with the timeline when Gwendolyn went missing. Report all findings to me promptly.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Nico thought for a moment before he asked, ¡°So, did you believe it when Mr. Wright said that Ms. Shalders is responsible for the death of Old Mr. Wright?¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of danger flickering in his dark pupils. ¡°I believe it, yet I also have doubts. That cunning fox. Dexter, is attempting to incite a fierce conflict between Gwendolyn and me, all for his own gain. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s true identity is undeniably complex, which is why I must look into this matter.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Nico took a moment to reflect before speaking his thoughts. ¡°If Ms. Shalders is orchestrating all of this intentionally, the likelihood of her being the daughter of a prominent family seems slim. Is it possible that she¡¯s actually a spy sent by a family who has discovered your location? Judging by her abilities, she appears to be a highly skilled agent who can hide her true identity very well.¡± If she were really a spy, then it would be difficult to uncover who she actually is¡­ 0/1 Chapter 114 investigate Her Identity Thoroughly Maverick contemted for a moment. ¡°That¡¯s why we need to be prepared for both possibilities. If the truly is a daughter of a prominent family, perhaps all of this is mere coincidence, and my suspicions are unfounded. Tonight, I will seek an opportunity to test her further. Additionally, I have arranged for you to visit two individuals in prison¡­¡± After Maverick finished his sentence, Nina nodded respectfully. ¡°All right, Boss.¡± ¡°All right, you can go now.¡± ¡°Boss¡­¡± As time was running out, Maverick turned to leave, but Nico called out to him, his expression hesitant. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you suspect before that Ms. Shalders was the girl who saved you years ago?¡± Maverick¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, his tone indifferent as he responded, ¡°But she denied it. It¡¯s possible that I have made a mistake and she isn¡¯t the one. We can¡¯t jump to conclusions until we have thoroughly investigated her identity and her past.¡± Ever since Maverick detected Noah¡¯s unusual attitude toward Nansha, he feigned ignorance and let Noah conduct the investigation while also discreetly assigning Zachary to look into the matter as well. It was confirmed that Natasha had indeed visited Saffron Street on that day. However, the timeline. indicated that her visit urred after the incident when he was rescued by the girl. Over the span of more than a decade, Natasha deceived Maverick by iming that he owed her for saving his life. She took advantage of his sense of responsibility as a man and created a whole mess of problems. He had originally intended to confront her and settle the score, but since Gwendolyn had already sent her to prison, he decided to let her rot in there. But if the girl who saved him back then was truly Gwendolyn¡­ Aplex blend of emotions swirled within Maverick¡¯s heart, and it was hard to tell what he was feeling from the depths of his dark eyes. If so, he owed her more than the three years of toxic marriage she went through. Meanwhile, at the entrance of the restroom on the first floor. The bodyguards, Elven and Quinton Harris, were getting a bit impatient. Quinton leaned against the door, straining his ears to catch any sounds from inside. Surprisingly, there was absolute silence. ¡°Elven, it doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s anyone in there. Could this kid have actually managed to escape?¡± Elven checked his watch and noticed that exactly fifteen minutes had passed. Elven knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Wright, it has been fifteen minutes. Are you finished? I hope you¡¯re not constipated, aren¡¯t you?¡± He then proceeded to knock three times in a row. There was still no sign of movement. 15:17 Fri, May 19 Chapter 114 Investigate Her Identity Thoroughly Elven¡¯s face paled as he swiftly tried to twist the doorknob, only to realize that it had been locked from the other side. ¡°Oh no! Quinton, kick the door!¡± Quinton quickly followed Elven¡¯smand, stepping back two steps beforeunching a forceful kick at the lock. The locked handle was instantly damaged by the powerful impact. The two of them took a look inside. Maverick stood calmly, adjusting his belt with elegant and natural movements. Upon seeing the two people forcefully break through the door, his face turned a bit cold and stern, clearly displeased. ¡°Isn¡¯t it rather inappropriate for the two of you to break something on your very first visit to the Wright residence?¡± The two bodyguards meticulously surveyed the restroom, their eyes fixed on Maverick with caution. ¡°This is now Ms. Shalders¡¯ property. If any damage urs, we¡¯ll take responsibility and offer our apologies. However, why didn¡¯t you respond when we knocked just now since you were inside?¡± Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Are You Going To Kneel Maverick¡¯s expression remained calm andposed as he said indifferently. ¡°I prefer not to talk while I¡¯m attending to my personal needs.¡± Elven and Quinton were taken aback by this statement. Could he be¡­ It was only fifteen minutes. Did he take the time to jerk off while using the restroom? Isn¡¯t the time a bit too short for a man? Their gazes instinctively shifted downward from Maverick¡¯s face. Seeing their astonished expressions, Maverick¡¯s face grew increasingly stern. F*ck, that was what he meant. when he said he wanted to use the bathroom. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. But since he had been misunderstood anyway, Maverick saw no point in trying to exin himself. Instead, he simply walked to the sink and began to wash his hands with his usual graceful demeanor. The two bodyguards watched him washing his hands. Well, every man understands what this gesture means. Why should men make things difficult for each other? Elven and Quinton werepletely convinced by his nonsense. After leaving the Wright residence, they escorted Maverick back to the car and drove him back to Bay Vi. Upon arriving at the vi, Elven and Quinton informed Maverick before they discreetly positioned themselves in the shadows again. ¡°Mr. Wright, we have approximately four hours before Ms. Shalders returns. Despite your absence earlier today, there are still household chores that need to bepleted. before shees home.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Maverick maintained his stoic demeanor as he spoke and pushed the door open, stepping into the vi. Gwendolyn finally got off work an hourter than usual. Wright Construction Group had been facing significant challenges as a result of Frida and Samantha¡¯s extravagant spending. Thepany was grappling with numerous unresolved issues, and its stock market performance had declined significantly. Gwendolyn had to put in extra effort in order to restore Wright Construction Group to its former glory within a short timeframe so that she could settle the score with Lane Group as soon as possible. Upon returning to Bay Vi, she didn¡¯t rush inside. Instead, she summoned Elven and Quinton who were hiding in the shadows. ¡°Ms. Shalders,¡± the two of them respectfully greeted, before starting their report. ¡°Mr. Wright didn¡¯t disy any unusual behavior today.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Is he really that well-behaved? Are you sure you never let him out of your sight?¡± Both of them said in unison. ¡°Yes.¡± 1/4 Chapter 115 Are You Going To Kneel ¡°Tell me everything he said to Frida and Sheralyn today, without leaving out a single word¡± The two exchanged nces and began to report. After listening to their report, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remainedposed. ¡°All right. Thank you for your update. You may go now.¡± After gaining a general understanding of the situation, Gwendolyn gracefully made her way through the front yard garden to the living room. The living room was brightly lit, and there was a faint aroma of food in the air. In the kitchen, Maverick heard some noise and stepped out to find Gwendolyn entering the living room. Without a word, he swiftly retrieved her slippers from the shoe cab and ced them neatly in front of her feet. ¡°Wee home.¡± Gwendolyn stood quietly at the door, observing him. Although he spoke with a somewhat reluctant tone. and his expression was icy cold as if she owed him three million dors, he hadpleted all his assigned tasks. After a long day of work, Gwendolyn was too tired and couldn¡¯t be bothered to continue nitpicking at him. After humming a reply, she turned her head and walked upstairs. Maverick said. ¡°The meal is ready. Let¡¯s eat before you go upstairs.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze fell upon the steaming dishes served on the dinner table. She suddenly recalled Maverick¡¯s past mockery and ridicule when she had diligently waited for him to return home for dinner ¡°Go ahead and eat, I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± With that, she tried to leave again. Maverick stepped forward, a peculiar expression adorning his face. ¡°You¡¯ve already eaten? Who did you eat with? Treyton or Joaquin?¡± Thinking about the encounter she had earlier that day, a slight frown appeared on Maverick¡¯s face. ¡°It was Sherman, wasn¡¯t it? After discussing work, you two went to have dinner together?¡± Gwendolyn frowned. This tone and this expression¡­ Why does he look like a wife who is suspicious of her husband who comes homete? ¡°Maverick, know your ce. You¡¯re just my housekeeper now, so you have no right to question who I dine with.¡± After she finished speaking, she walked past him and went upstairs. As he watched her figure gradually disappear into the stairwell, Maverick¡¯s demeanor underwent a drastic shift. An intense and sinister aura emanated from him, filling the air with an unsettling energy. As he contemted the test tonight, Maverick¡¯s gaze shifted toward the fruit knife nestled within the fruit basket on the coffee table. His expression became inscrutable. It was three in the morning. 2/4 Chapter 115 Are You Going To Kneel The entire vi was enveloped in deep slumber, as this was the time when people were in their deepes stage of sleep The silvery moonlight spilled through the window, painting delicate patterns of light upon the sleeping man in the bed. However, in the next moment, the man¡¯s eyes snapped open with full alertness. There was no trace of sleepiness in his deep, dark pupils. He turned over and sat up, quietly leaving the room. He then reached the first floor and retrieved the fruit krite from the basket. After that, he went up to the third floor¡­. That night. Gwendolyn had a rather restless sleep. She kept having this unsettling sensation that something was watching her from the shadows. This feeling¡­ Why is it so simr to the night before the divorce? Startled by a sudden realization, Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes snapped open, and an rming gust of wind suddenly brushed past her cars. Without a second thought, she instinctively reached out and tightly gripped the de. The sharp de cut through her palm, and the crimson droplets cascaded down her arm, staining the pristine bedsheets. Ignoring the pain, she quickly sat up. After assessing the distance between herself and the attacker, she swung her uninjured left hand, and soon her palm connected with a resounding p against the man¡¯s face. ¡°Um¡­¡± The pnded squarely on the man¡¯s face. He let out a muffled grunt and fell to the ground, his grip on the knife handle loosening. Gwendolyn hardly needed to guess the attacker¡¯s identity. In the entire vi, aside from Maverick, no one else would dare to sh a knife at her. She threw the fruit knife aside and quickly turned on the tablemp to take a look. As expected, it was Maverick. She couldn¡¯t contain her anger. ¡°Do you have a death wish? Do you truly believe that with your current strength, you can actually seed in killing me?¡± Maverick wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with effort. As he looked up, his eyes fixated on the vivid red blood staining the bedsheets and Gwendolyn¡¯s hands. Is this woman foolish? She actually tried to grab the de with her hand! He suddenly felt a bit guilty and didn¡¯t speak. Gwendolyn noticed his bewildered expression and shot him a fierce re. ¡°What are you daydreaming about? Go fetch the first-aid kit immediately!¡± ¡°All right¡­¡± Maverick quickly rose from the ground and swiftly made his way downstairs to retrieve the first-aid kit. 3/4 Chapter 115 Are You Going To Kneel As he stepped out of the room, he came to a clear realization about something. A well-trained spy should have been alerted the moment he entered the room. Despite Gwendolyn¡¯s timely reaction, he realized that she wasn¡¯t quick enough to avoid his attack. In fact, Maverick¡¯s actions tonight were merely a test. If Gwendolyn had reacted quickly enough and attempted to harm him, he would have immediately sent a secret signal to notify Nico and the others who were lying in ambush outside. If there was no reaction from Gwendolyn, he had nned to stop the knife just before it pierced her skin. But this foolish woman¡­ He sighed. It seemed highly unlikely for Gwendolyn to be a spy. In that case, her series of retaliations against the Wright family must have been a coincidence. Maverick¡¯s guilt deepened as he ced a hand to his lips, making a birdcall signal for retreat. Then, he pace up the stairs. quickened his In the room, Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze turned icy cold as she watched him enter the room again. When he came closer, she finally spoke, her voice carried a somler tone. ¡°Kneel now!¡± Maverick hesitated for two seconds, his face reflecting his resistance, While he acknowledged his wrongdoing, he was not willing to let her trample his dignity on the ground. ¡°A true man stands firm in the face of poverty and adversity, and remains unbowed by force and power! He kneels only to the heavens, the earth, and his parents, but never to anyone else.¡± ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t want to kneel, huh? Seems like you enjoy being watched. I guess I¡¯ll have to call the bodyguards in to assist you,¡± Gwendolyn said coldly, reaching out to press the rm button by the bedside. As soon as the words were spoken, a muffled thud resounded. It was the sound of Maverick¡¯s kneecaps hitting the floor. Maverick spoke with his chin held high. ¡°But I¡¯m the kind Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Your Apology Came Too Late Gwendolyn was initially furious, but his witty response almost made herugh in spite of herself. His proud yet submissive expression, as if to convey, ¡°I may have kneeled, but my resolve remains unyielding.¡± made her snort. She scolded, ¡°What are you waiting for? Apply the medicine now!¡± Maverick quickly opened the first-aid kit and began to apply medicine to the wound on her palm. carefully. The cut wasn¡¯t too deep, but it stretched almost across the entire palm. Her once fair and delicate hand now appeared somewhat menacing due to the long, deep wound etched across it. Maverick was suddenly ovee with a pang of guilt, and his movements while applying the medicine. became gentler and more cautious. Gwendolyn looked coldly at the man kneeling obediently at her feet and asked with curiosity, ¡°Since you know that you can¡¯t possibly kill me, why did you still engage in such a foolish act?¡± Maverick kept his head down, tightly pursing his lips without speaking. Was it to aid Sheralyn in seeking revenge, or did you genuinely believe Dexter¡¯s words that I was responsible for the death of Old Mr. Wright?¡± Maverick remained silent as he focused on applying the medicine for her. Gwendolyn fixed her gaze on him, thoughtfully organizing her thoughts for once. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have killed Old Mr. Wright. He was already battling cancer, so it was unnecessary for me to go to such lengths. You must be aware of this fact as well. So, was it all for Sheralyn¡¯s sake?¡± The man responded to her question with silence once more. Gwendolyn firmly hooked the man¡¯s chin with her uninjured left hand, forcing him to lift his head and meet her unwavering gaze. ¡°You should know my personality by now. Sheralyn might be happy that my hand got injured, but you¡¯ll have to pay the price. Is it worth it for you to do this?¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes grew slightly red at that. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it. That¡¯s why I deeply regret my actions.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze to meet his, her sharp eyes keenly noting the traces of redness around his eyes. Well, he certainly looks sincere. She wondered if Maverick was indeed feeling guilty because of her injured hand or if it was just part of his act. Her eyes darted around and met his swollen right cheek. ¡°Great, now the ps on both sides of your face have created a perfect symmetry.¡± She paused for a moment before continuing with a determined tone, ¡°Do you remember not long ago when you cornered me in thedies¡¯ room? I warned you then that one day you would find yourself kneeling before me and facing the consequences. Little did I know that day would arrive so soon.¡± A Maverick listened to her teasing tone, he felt a surge of annoyance. He forcefully pulled himself away 1/4 436148 Chapter 116 Your Apology Came Too Late from her and resumed applying the medicine with his head lowered. Despite his irritation, his movements remained precise and gentle, ensuring that he didn¡¯t cause her any further difort. He skillfully wrapped the wound with a bandage. Gwendolyn watched his skilled movements and tentatively asked. ¡°As the precious son of the Wright family, you must have been pampered since childhood, right? If you ever got even the slightest burp or scrape, Frida would surely be heartbroken. Howe you¡¯re so proficient in applying medicine and bandaging wounds?¡± Maverick paused for a moment. He wore a natural expression as he began to exin. ¡°When I was younger, I had a mischievous streak, and I often ended up getting hurt. Over time, I learned how to take care of my own injuries.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Gwendolyn knew he was just humoring her and hiding something, but she didn¡¯t bother to ask any further. The room fell silent for a moment. The atmosphere was eerily quiet. After gently applying the medicine, Maverick tactfully remained kneeling, choosing not to get up, Gwendolyn gave him a cold nce, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the bloodstains on the bed. ¡°Tonight, you will wash the entire set of bedding by hand. Wash it in the backyard. You are not allowed to sleep until it is done.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Maverick replied, hardly hesitated. His eyes lowered. He looked so obedient that Gwendolyn found it almost unbelievable. However, her anger simmered within her as she thought about the audacity of his actions. How dare he sneaks into my room with a knife? This man is so good at hiding. Every time Maverick acted obedient, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that he was holding back some mischief. She was very annoyed and was determined to slowly wear away all the dignity and pride of this man. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can sleep now!¡± With that, she walked toward the door. Maverick quickly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m staying with Mr. Harris for a few nights.¡± Her tone was indifferent. ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± he blurted out subconsciously. After receiving Gwendolyn¡¯s angry re, Maverick quickly softened his tone as he said, ¡°I mean, it¡¯s qu late, and it might not be appropriate for you to disturb him at this hour. It¡¯s better to go to him at a me suitable time and in a more appropriate setting.¡± He hated Treyton, and Treyton hated him as well. Perhaps his action stemmed from his inherent possessiveness as a man. Although he knew he had no to stop her, he felt a pang of jealousy and couldn¡¯t ept the idea of Gwendolyn seeking out Treyton. Chapter 116 Your Apology Came Too Late ¡°Let go¡± As Gwendolyn took a determined step forward, Maverick matched her movement, his knees pressing tra the floor, and he tightened his grip on her wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t go! I¡¯m sorry I shouldn¡¯t have hurt you. It won¡¯t happen again. Don¡¯t go to Treyton. Gwendolyn cast a curious nce back at him. She had known him for so many years, and this was the first time she had heard him apologize. He had failed to apologize upon discovering that Natasha had falsely used her of drugging her. Even after realizing that he owed her a debt for three years, he didn¡¯t offer an apology. Furthermore, even after hurting her with a knife, he only expressed regret without extending a formal apology. Only now you think of apologizing. Haha! ¡°Your apology came toote. I don¡¯t ept it. Get lost!¡± she roared in anger and shook off his hand. Maverick¡¯s physical condition was not as good as before, and she easily flipped him onto the ground Gwendolyn didn¡¯t spare him another nce. She turned around and left the vi without looking back. Maverick didn¡¯t chase after her. He sat on the ground, lost in thought for a moment, Only when the sound of a car engine starting reached his ears did he rise and make his way to the window to look outside. A few bodyguards followed Gwendolyn and got into the car. Two minutester, the peaceful night was shattered by the roaring engines of two cars. After Gwendolyn departed, an eerie silence enveloped the entire vi. Maverick quickly snapped out of his slightly jealous mood and looked around Gwendolyn¡¯s room. She left, taking all her bodyguards with her. Could there be any clues in her room that could verify her true identity? Since it was uncertain if Gwendolyn would return halfway through her journey, Maverick understood that now was the best moment to conduct a search and look for any potential clues in her room. Maverick stared intently out the window, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. Right then, two hundred meters ahead of Bay Vi, as the two cars approached an intersection, they came to a halt. Gwendolyn sat in silence in the car, waiting patiently. The surroundings were incredibly tranquil, so quiet that one could hear their own heartbeat, Chapter 116 Your Apology Came Too Late Gwendolyn fixed her gaze straight ahead. Her face was devoid of any expression as she was lost in her own thoughts. About half an hour went by. She called the bodyguard who was hiding and observing from a concealed spot in the vi. ¡°Did he touch anything in my room after 1 left?¡± The bodyguard responded, ¡°He reced your bedding with a fresh set of sheets and a duvet cover. He took the soiled ones to the backyard for washing, but he hasn¡¯tpleted the task yet. It appears that he¡¯s struggling to wring out the heavy, wet duvet cover.¡± ¡°Besides changing the duvet cover, did he touch anything else in the room?¡± The bodyguard thought for a moment before replying, ¡°No. When you left, he just stood by the window and stared out for a while.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips, deep in thought. She wondered why he didn¡¯t take the chance of her leaving the vi to make his move. D When he went to get the first-aid kit just now, she clearly heard the birds chirping again. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what his true intentions were. His peculiar actions and behavior often left her feeling suspicious and uncertain. Did he sign the agreement so quickly back then just to repay the debt? Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Face The Consequences For Hurting Her Gwendolyn fell silent for a moment before continuing her instructions. ¡°Keep an eye on hum. Also. Quinton, stay behind and guard the vi. Make sure he doesn¡¯t leave the house for the next few days. He needs to clean up the house and does his share of the chores¡± Understood.¡± Quinton replied He opened the car door and got out of the car, watching as the two vehicles drove off in the direction of Teryton¡¯s vi. The next morning. Treyton saw Gwendolyn sitting in the restaurant, enjoying the breakfast that Flora had prepared. Only then did he realize she had returned to the vi. He intended to walk over and tease her a bit, but he suddenly noticed something strange. She was using her left hand to hold the spoon to eat. Her right hand hung naturally at her side, not on the dining table. Treyton circled her and sat down next to her at the dining table. Just then, he noticed her right hand was wrapped in a bandage. ¡°Kiddo, what happened to your hand?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn nonchntly continued eating her oatmeal. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just got bitten by a dog.¡± Hearing that, Treyton felt his heart ache. ¡°What kind of dumb dog dares to bite my precious little sister? I¡¯ll take care of it for you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a useless big wolfhound. I can handle it,¡± she replied. Treyton wanted to ask more, but Gwendolyn had already put down her spoon and finished her breakfast. ¡°Treyton. I¡¯m heading to Wright Construction Group now, and then I have to go to Angle Corporation in the afternoon. I won¡¯t disturb your meal further.¡± ¡°All right, be safe,¡± Treyton replied. After Gwendolyn left, Treyton called Elven in. He sat on the dining chair, his face cold and stern as he red at Elven. ¡°What exactly happened to Gwendolyn¡¯s hand?¡± Elven lowered his head, trembling as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s just like Ms. Shalders said. She was bitten¡­ by a dog. ¡°Elven, you know the consequences of lying to me. She¡¯s living well in Bay Vi, so where did the dog come from? It must be Maverick, that dog, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already figured it out, so why do you ask me?¡± Elven felt wronged getting scolded by Treyton. It was initially just spection, but it had been confirmed. Treyton was furious. ¡°That d¡¯mn guy! It was a mistake to let Asher spare his lifest time. How dare he hurt my sister? I¡¯ll make him pay with his life!¡± Pulling out his phone, he was about to make a call, but Elven quickly intervened. ¡°Mr. Harris, please calm down. Ms. Shalders is ?n datormined. Chapter 117 Face The Consequences For Hurting Her 158 Narrowing his eyes, Treyton pondered for a moment. ¡°Kiddo can slowly torture him to death, but if he harms Kiddo, he must suffer greatly!¡± He called Elven toe closer and whispered a few instructions to him. ¡°Do you understand?¡± he added. ¡°Yes, Mr. Harris!¡± Elven replied. For the past two days, Gwendolyn had been constantly running back and forth between Angle Corporation and Wright Construction Group. With Thanksgiving approaching, the talent show had stopped recording for a day, giving the girls a day off. Gwendolyn was nning to head back to Treyton¡¯s vi early to have a nice dinner with her brother. As she was tidying up her desk, her assistant, Joanne, burst into the room in a panic. ¡°Ms. Shalders, we have a problem! The person in charge of the talent show base said Jennifer has gone missing again!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned very serious. Who could it be this time? Samantha? She immediately drove to the base with Joanne and checked all the surveince footage. This time, the situation was quite different from thest. Jennifer hadn¡¯t even left the base. Hence, she should still be there somewhere rather than being kidnapped. The staff at the base searched almost every corner of the ce. Yet, they couldn¡¯t find her. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. At that instance, the remaining staff and contestants were all on edge. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn never believed in ghosts or supernatural things. Unless, someone is trying to deceive us! She called all the contestants who hadn¡¯t gone home for Thanksgiving into her office and questioned the one by one. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything. I¡¯m not in the same dorm as her, and I¡¯ve never seen her.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t usually talk to us. She seems to get along better with the other girls in her dorm. Maybe you should ask them. I don¡¯t know anything.¡± After questioning everyone, it seemed like no one was telling the truth. Gwendolyn did not find out anything. As such, she had no choice but to seek help from Charmaine, who had just been eliminated in the previous episode. Charmaine said, ¡°I didn¡¯t get enough votes, so I¡¯ve already been eliminated. How would I know what happened? But I can tell you that Samantha never came to me. This doesn¡¯t seem like something she would do. However, I do know that Sylvia Lindsay used to bully her when the cameras weren¡¯t rolling. They have a bad rtionship. Maybe you could start there.¡± Sylvia? ! Chapter 117 Face The Consequences For Hurting Her Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and responded, ¡°All right¡± She immediately asked the person in charge to investigate Sylvia¡¯s departure record and found out that she had just left this morning. Half an hour after she left, they received news of Jennifer¡¯s disappearance. Could this be a bullying incident? Without dy, Gwendolyn found a reason to summon Sylvia back to the base. Upon arrival, Sylvia was forcefully taken to the conference room. Gwendolyn sat in the main seat of the conference room, her cold gaze staring at Sylvia, startling the latter. ¡°Who are you? Who gives you the right to restrict my personal freedom and bring me here?¡± Sylvia asked. Gwendolyn shed a charming smile and responded, ¡°I am the talent director of Angle Corporation and the nner of this show.¡± After hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s statement, Sylvia sneered, ¡°Do you know who I am? I¡¯m under the protection. of Yvette Faraday, the rich heiress of this base! How dare you treat me like this? One call from me, and you¡¯ll get fired from Angle Corporation right away!¡± ¡°Want to give it a try? You can¡¯t get me fired from Angle Corporation with one phone call, but I can get. you disqualified from thepetition with just one call.¡± Upon hearing that, Sylvia fell silent. She had struggled through the first phase to reach this point. With her current ranking, she had a chance to debut. Thus, she couldn¡¯t afford to be eliminated at this critical moment. Fearful of losing everything, she didn¡¯t dare to gamble with Gwendolyn. Seeing her wavering, Gwendolyn began to question, ¡°Where is Jennifer?¡± ¡°I¡­ I locked her in that small, secluded restroom on the east side.¡± The moment they found Jennifer, she was soaking wet, curled up on the ground, and shivering. Her voic had be hoarse from screaming for help for too long. Gwendolyn was beyond infuriated. First, she had the staff take Jennifer to the base¡¯s medical room for treatment. Then, she made Sylvia apologize to Jennifer. As Jennifer slowly woke up, she saw Sylvia gnashing her teeth and kneeling by her bedside. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I shouldn¡¯t have bullied you!¡± Hearing Sylvia¡¯s agitated tone, Jennifer turned her face away, ignoring the former entirely. Gwendolyn nced at Sylvia on the ground and said with a sarcastic smirk, ¡°It seems your apology isn¡¯t sincere enough. She doesn¡¯t forgive you.¡± Sylvia panicked, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jennifer. I really know I was wrong now. I just wanted to tease you, and I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you. Please forgive me. I¡¯ve made it through the preliminary rounds to get here. I don¡¯t want to be disqualified!¡± After Jennifer heard Sylvia¡¯sst sentence, her eyes darkened slightly as she let out a sigh. ¡°Forget it. I Chapter 117 Face The Consequences For Burting Her forgive you. Just get lost.¡± Sylvia was overjoyed as she nced at the cold and confident Gwendolyn next to her. ¡°You heard her. She said she won¡¯t hold it against me anymore!¡± 426114 Gwendolyn hummed in agreement. Still, she turned to instruct the person in charge to arrange for Sylvia¡¯s disqualification. Thetter was dumbfounded. ¡°Why? You promised that as long as I apologized to her, you would let me go!¡± ¡°She forgave you, but you caused her to lose her voice. We don¡¯t know if it will affect her performance during next week¡¯spetition, so I definitely won¡¯t forgive you!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Sylvia protested. ¡°Not all apologies are worth forgiving! And I am the one who calls the shots here!¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Stand Up For Her 15 Bonus Gwendolyn had been feeling troubled and upset these past few days, and now Sylvia only added to her problems. Sylvia was dragged out while she was crying. The room finally quieted down. Gwendolyn sat beside Jennifer¡¯s bed, carefully peeling an apple for her. Jennifer stared at her intently and smiled with relief. ¡°It¡¯s been so many years since west met, and you¡¯ve changed so much. You¡¯re very determined in handling things now. I really like that.¡± ¡°You can actually do it too.¡± Jennifer¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°No. I¡¯m not the same. I¡¯m different from all the other trainees here. Behind them are eitherpanies or wealthy families, but I only have myself.¡± Gwendolyn put down the apple and held her hand. ¡°You managed to stand out from a hundred trainees all by yourself and made it to the finals step by step. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re amazing?¡± ¡°But I¡¯m only ranked fifteenth. I can¡¯t debut. Sylvia told me that the debut slots have already been filled by majorpanies through under-the-table deals. I don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Gwendolyn burst intoughter. That was herpany, and she organized the event. She had specifically instructed her staff not to ept any bribes or reserve spots. No one would know better than her. Jennifer was not bad-looking. Although she was not bedazzling at first nce, she was always pleasing to the eyes. She was a lovely and innocent girl. With such a look and talent, Jennifer had the potential to go a long way in the entertainment industry. Regardless of whether it was for the sake of friendship or thepany¡¯s interests, she decided to support Jennifer wholeheartedly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There will never be any predetermined oues in my show. As long as you work hard, you¡¯ll have a chance. Moreover, even if you don¡¯t sessfully debut this time, I¡¯ll make sure you sign with Angle Corporation as an S-level artist.¡± Jennifer¡¯s eyes glistened with tears. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. She bit her lip in disbelief and held her tears from rolling down her cheeks. Gwendolyn gently patted her head. ¡°This time, go all out and strive toward your goal with everything you¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°Thank you, Gwendolyn¡­ Even though you never told me who you are, I know you¡¯re an amazing woman.¡± Jennifer hugged her, feeling touched. ¡°If any trainees bully you in the future, confront them directly! The more you show weakness, the more they¡¯ll take advantage of you. Only when you stand up for yourself will they fear you. Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll have your back from now on!¡± 1 Chapter 118 Stand Up For Her Jennifer hugged her tightly, feeling her heart grow stronger. After Gwendolyn left that night, Jennifer was cornered in the restroom by Yvette and her twockeys as soon as she stepped out of the medical room. Since it was the Thanksgiving holiday, there were no cameras filming at the base, and it was even more unlikely for there to be surveince in a ce like a restroom. Upon learning that Sylvia had been inexplicably disqualified, Yvette hurried back to the base, intending to teach Jennifer a lesson and make sure she wouldn¡¯t dare to tattle again. Jennifer was forced into a corner, shivering with fear. Suddenly, Gwendolyn¡¯s words from earlier in the day shed through her mind. She gritted her teeth, picked up the dirty mop from the corner, and waved it threateningly at the three people. ¡°Listen well, Yvette. I used to give in to you in the past, but from now on, don¡¯t even think aboutying a finger on me!¡± ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s y a game, then. We¡¯ll see if you can beat the three of us all at once!¡± The fourdies quickly got into a fight, with continuous shrieks filling the chaotic restroom. Gwendolyn found out about it the next morning. Yvette, with a bruised and swollen face, had been severely beaten. She threatened to hire awyer and sue Jennifer for causing her physical injury. Joanne, who was at the side, said, ¡°Three against one and she still couldn¡¯t win, yet she has the nerve to y the victim.¡± Gwendolynughed. ¡°I¡¯ll leave this matter to you. Whether Yvette wants to hire awyer or use any other tricks, we¡¯ll deal with her by giving Jennifer full support.¡± ¡°No problem, Ms. Shalders!¡± Gwendolyn had been busy with work for a few days while someone hadn¡¯t been idle either. Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t returned to Bay Vi for three consecutive days. Maverick couldn¡¯t figure out what was bothering him, but he felt really annoyed. As soon as he closed his eyes, the image of Gwendolyn and Treyton being alone together would appear before him. Whenever he thought of that scene, it would make him feel ufortable all over as if something was just not right. He could not wrap his head around it. He used to think that he liked Natasha, butter, he realized that his feelings for her were merely a man¡¯ sense of responsibility and brotherly care for a younger sister. Gwendolyn, however, was different. She could always evoke a myriad of emotions in him like anger, surprise, heartache, and guilt. Chapter 118 Stand Up For Her It seemed that she was a special existence in his heart. Although his mind was in turmoil, he hadn¡¯t been idle these past few days. -61%8 He had pretended to leave the house to lure the hidden bodyguards out to stop him. Besides, he had managed to find the hiding spots of the two bodyguards left at the vi and figured out their routines. If Gwendolyn did not return tonight, it would be a great opportunity to meet Nico. He sat on the couch, deep in thought, Suddenly, therge door connecting the living room to the garden swung open. Thinking that Gwendolyn had returned, Maverick got up, intending to greet her. To his surprise, it wasn¡¯t Gwendolyn who entered but Elven. Elven walked in with three men as tall as him following closely behind him. They entered with an imposing presence, staring at Maverick with hostile looks. Maverick felt a hint of danger. He looked at Elven and asked calmly. ¡°What do you want?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the three menacing men behind Elven suddenly approached him. Two of them walked up behind him and restrained his shoulders. 4 Another man walked up to him and raise his hand viciously, ready to p his cheek that had just recovered a couple of days ago. Elven quickly intervened, ¡°Mr. Harris said not to hit his face! With his current frail body, how many blow can he withstand? Don¡¯t hurt his face and disfigure him.¡± Mr. Harris? Maverick narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered, ¡°I wonder what I have done that offended Mr. Harris. Did he tell you to whack me?¡± Elven mimicked Treyton¡¯s cold tone and said, ¡°You may not have offended Mr. Harris, but you hurt Ms. Shalders. Mr. Harris will definitely want you to be punished!¡± Ha! Is Treyton feeling sad for Gwendolyn and wanting to stand up for her? Maverick felt quite strange. ¡°So, this is just Mr. Harris¡¯ idea and not Gwendolyn¡¯s?¡± Elven fell silent for a moment. ¡°Is there any difference? As a servant who signed an agreement with Ms. Shalders, you shouldn¡¯t have ha any ill intentions! But not only did you sneak into her roomte at night, you also caused her harm. Dor you think you deserve to be punished?¡± Although he did not intend to hurt Gwendolyn in this matter, her injury was indeed caused by him. He should take responsibility for that. Moreover, judging by the attitude of the men Treyton had brought with him, it seemed that things wou! not end well today. Chapter 118 Stand Up For Her ¡°Tell them to let go of me I¡¯ll ept whatever punishment that is necessary¡± ¡°Great! You¡¯re really courageous, Mr. Wright¡± Elven cast a meaningful nce at the two men restraining Maverick, and they let him go. ¡°The punishment is quite simple. Considering your current physical condition, Mr. Harris decided to give you only a hundred cane strikes as a warning. How does that sound? It¡¯s not too difficult for Elven pulled out two canes as thick as his index finger and stared at him with a grin. Treyton had nned to use a horsewhip at first. you. However, that thing could pierce the thick skin of a tough horse, let alone Maverick, who had been injected with a special drug and was extremely vulnerable. They were afraid that if he couldn¡¯t withstand after a few hits, it would be difficult for them to exin to Gwendolyn. However, a cane was quite different. It was not easy for it to cause someone to bleed profusely, but it could make them suffer unbearable pain, especially the next day when the wounds would swell and be inmed. That was torturing. Maverick was well aware of that, too. The corner of his lips curled into a sarcastic smile. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple indeed. Mr. Harris is truly magnanimous.¡± Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Cunning Elven detected the sarcasm in his words and responded with a smile, ¡°Mr. Wright, I apologize.¡± #15 Bonus Maverick hummed lightly and found himself walking toward the wall. Facing the wall, he ced both hands on it for support. As soon as he stood up, a cane whipped through the air like a gust of wind. The blownded directly and mercilessly on his straightened back, producing a crisp sound. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Maverick gritted his teeth, his hands instinctively clenching into tight fists. Before he could even recover from the pain brought by the first stroke, the second and third blows quickly followed. They mercilessly hit his back without giving him a chance to catch his breath. Indeed, it hurt. Due to the injection of a special drug, his physical constitution had weakened and his skin had be thinner. Thus, his sense of pain intensified. The 023 special drug was originally designed to treat prisoners of war who hadmitted grave mistakes Once injected, the individual would be unable to resist. The pain experienced during interrogation and punishment would be intensified. This would ultimately lead to extreme physical and mental torment. Never did he expect that one day the 023 drug, albeit an adjusted prescription, would be used to torment him. It was ironic, indeed. The intense pain from the cane striking his back snapped him back to reality. After just over twenty strokes, it was obvious that several bruises had appeared underneath the white shir With sheer determination, Maverick held his breath to avoid making any humiliating cries. He bit down on his lower lip so hard that it left a row of bloody marks. Cold sweat covered his forehead, while the vei in his arms bulged prominently. By the fortieth stroke, his arms, which were propped against the wall, began to tremble uncontrobly. By the seventieth stroke, his back was in so much pain that it had almost gone numb. His skin was more fragile than before. Several spots on his back had been whipped open, leaving scattered bloodstains on h white shirt. He began to feel rather light-headed and unsteady. His legs, originally slender and straight, started to tremble uncontrobly. Elven watched from the side. He could not help but admire how cunning Treyton¡¯s beating was. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The cane could really hurt and torture its victim without actually killing them. Moreover, since he was secretly looking for trouble with Maverick behind Gwendolyn¡¯s back, all the injuries on his back would not affect his walking. This way, Gwendolyn would not know. Chapter 119 Cunning As he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard something plop. Maverick had fallen onto the floor due to intense pain, passing out on the spot. The two aggressors looked at each other with bewildered expressions, ultimately turning to Elven for help. ¡°Elven, what should we do?¡± Elven nced at the pale-faced Maverick on the floor and asked, ¡°How many times have you caned him?¡± ¡°Ny.¡± Elven clicked his tongue twice, suddenly feeling a sense of admiration for the unconscious man before. him. ¡°He actually managed to endure ny strokes without making a sound before passing out. He really is a tough guy. You two didn¡¯t go easy on him, did you?¡± The two hurriedly shook their heads. ¡°You know how strong our hands are. Besides, this is Mr. Harris¡¯ order. How could we dare to go easy?¡± They paused for a moment, then continued, ¡°Elven, what should we do now? Should we give him thest ten strikes or not? If we do, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll have to ssh water o him to wake him up before we continue, right?¡± Elven did not speak. He lowered his head to take another look at Maverick on the floor. His entire face, devoid of color, was as pale as paper, yet his lips were covered in bright red bloodstains. Because of his distinct and handsome features, his miserable appearance surprisingly did not make him look bad. Instead, it gave off a unique sense of fragile beauty, Elven sincerely wanted to exim how unfair God was. The man was really handsome. It was no wonder Gwendolyn liked to keep him around. He was at least pleasing to the eye. ¡°Elven?¡± The two people holding canes were at a loss. Elven snapped back to reality and focused his gaze on Maverick¡¯s dreadful-looking back. ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s quite a miracle that he¡¯ssted this long with his weak constitution. If we ssh water on him to wake him up and continue, he¡¯ll probably pass out again in no time. Mr. Harris said we should make it quick, so let¡¯s get going.¡± ¡°How should we exin things to Mr. Harris, then¡­¡± Elven replied, ¡°I will tell him the truth.¡± They were getting ready to return home. Before leaving, Elven called out Quinton and Ryan, who had been staying hidden in the shadows. ¡°What did you two just see?¡± Quinton and Ryan lowered their heads. ¡°Mr. Wright passed out in the living room because he was too from doing housework. We didn¡¯t see anything else.¡± Chapter 11 Cunning Elven nodded in satisfaction. ¡°If Ms. Shalders asks about it, you tell her exactly this If she doesn¡¯t ask, then just act as if nothing happened. Got it¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After setting the story straight, everyone left. Quinton and Ryan returned to their posts after receiving their orders,pletely ignoring the man who had fainted in the living room. Gwendolyn was the apple of the eyes of the Harrises. If anyone dared to hurt her, they would have to face the consequences of their own actions. Maverick curled up on the cold marble floor of the living room. His head was foggy and heavy. He felt that he was caught in a cycle of being jolted awake by pain and then slipping back into dizziness. Over and over, he endured this torment. Nico secretly visited someone in prison. When Natasha was brought out by the police, Nico waspletely stunned. In just a short time, a third of her hair had turned gray, and her skin looked terrible as if she had aged ten years. She appeared like a madwoman, with bruises clearly visible on her face and body, indicating that she had not been doing well during this period. Upon seeing him, Natasha was so overwhelmed with emotion that she nearly burst into tears. ¡°Mave has returned to Faike? Was it Mave who asked you to save me? I knew it. He wouldn¡¯t forget about me¡­¡± she sobbed. Nico was speechless for a few seconds. He gave it some thought but eventually decided not to reveal that Maverick had already known that Natasha had deceived him. He simply said, ¡°Ms. Mossey, I came here to rify a few things with you. I hope you can be open with m and tell me the truth!¡± Natasha stared at him nkly for a moment. Then, she suddenly growled like a maniac. ¡°You mean you¡¯re not here to rescue me? How could Mave be so heartless? He¡¯s going back on his promis isn¡¯t he? Why? Is it because I¡¯ve grown old and ugly, and he doesn¡¯t love me anymore?¡± Nico was startled by her crazed appearance. Upon recollecting himself, he decided to deceive her first. ¡°That¡¯s why you have to tell me the truth without holding anything back. Only then will the boss have a chance to help you.¡± Natasha gradually calmed down and began to recount her story earnestly. ¡°I¡¯m innocent! It¡¯s all Gwendolyn¡¯s fault! She wanted to ruin my reputation, so she personally went to the hospital in Lightspring and found a doctor who actually managed to cure Inez. Then, she and Inez team up to frame me at the press conference, and-¡± ¡°Hold up!¡± Upon hearing the crucial information, Nico quickly interrupted her, ¡°Which hospital in Lightspring did Gwendolyn go to? Which doctor was it?¡± 6126 Chapter 119 Cunning Natasha gave it some thought and said. ¡°All I know is that it¡¯s a major city hospital Inez was in such a terrible condition, yet they managed to wake her up. The doctor must be incredibly famous!¡° After chatting for a while, seeing that there really wasn¡¯t much else to ask, Nico made some polite conversation with Natasha before he went to check on Noah. The ounts given by Noah and Natasha regarding Gwendolyn¡¯s visit to the hospital in Lightspring were essentially consistent. After the prison visit, Nico quickly had someone conduct a thorough check on all the doctors in the major hospitals in Lightspring who were capable of performingrge-scale bra Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Another Performance It was nine o¡¯clock at night. Maverick was awakened by the crisp chirping of two birds. Bearing the excruciating pain in his back, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up from the ground. He had to stay alert, as there were important matters to attend to in the evening. He leaned on the railing as he returned to his room on the second floor and headed straight to the bathroom. He then turned the shower temperature up to its highest setting. 1 Bona As his shirt was stained with blood and he had fainted for six hours without changing it in time, the blood from the wound had stuck to the fabric of the shirt. If he tried to forcefully change his clothes, it would peel off ayer of skin on the spot. Only by using hot water could he quickly remove the shirt. However, when the hot water showered on the wounds on his back, it was like enduring a second round of torture, as if millions of needles were piercing his bat Maverick trembled in pain. He gritted his teeth as the hot water washed over him. Although his body was in excruciating pain, his mind was bing increasingly clear. After washing up for a few minutes, he changed into clean clothes, turned off the light, and took advantag of the limited view from the bodyguard¡¯s hiding spot. He pretended to lie down on the bed to sleep and quietly stuffed the extra bedding he had prepared in advance onto the bed, making it look as though he was sleeping. Then, he quietly rolled to the foot of the bed from the other side. When his back identally touched the ground, he shuddered in pain, and his vision became momentarily blurred. After waiting for two minutes, he finally left through the slightly ajar door and went to the room on the other side, which was in the blind spot of the bodyguard¡¯s view. He climbed down the pipe next to the window to reach the first floor. This location just happened to be the back door. Nico heard a faint sound and quietly reported through the iron door, ¡°Boss, the Newton family had only one missing daughter six years ago, but that girl was found three years ago. Her photos can be found online, and she¡¯s definitely not Ms. Shalders. Other than that, there¡¯s no one else with a simr timeline t Ms. Shalders.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes, which were originally filled with pain, gradually dimmed. Nico continued, ¡°But when I went to visit the prison, I found out that Ms. Shalders was in Lightspring to personally bring back a doctor to treat Inez¡¯s heart. I gathered all my subordinates to investigate and eventually discovered that the doctor she was looking for was¡­ Kieran.¡± Kieran? Maverick was stunned on the spot. Kieran held a significant position in the medical field, which spoke volumes about his status. However, rumors suggested that he had a reclusive and arrogant personality, being a man of few words. He was als known as a medical fanatic, with no women ever seen by his side. Gwendolyn able to persuade someone like that? 1 Chapter 120 Another Performance The only three sons of the Harris family have an indescribable rtionship with Gwendolyn. They are even wholeheartedly helping her! It seems that the Zipper family is also a distant rtive of the Harris family, which is why they have the audacity to show off their power and influence in Faike. Her rtionship with the Harris family is not simple. Could she also be a member of the Harris family? Maverick¡¯s expression grew colder and colder. ¡°Investigate the Harris family! Whether it¡¯s the side. branches of the Harris family or their distant rtives, as long as their timeline matches up with Gwendolyn¡¯s, report them all!¡± Nico thought for a moment and said, ¡°Boss, do you still remember that six years ago, daughter of the head of the Harris family seemed to have-¡± Honk, honk! Before Nico could finish speaking, the headlights of a car shed by. Gwendolyn is back! How could she suddenly return at this particr moment? the youngest ¡°Boss, please take care on your way back and stay safe! I will definitely investigate this thoroughly!¡± Nico cast a worried nce at him, then quickly disappeared into the night. This rascal! He slipped away so quickly! Maverick immediately turned around, intending to enter through the front door connecting the garden t the living room. However, Gwendolyn had already gotten out of the car, and there were lights in the garden. He was sure to be exposed. There was no other choice. Maverick looked helplessly at the pipe on the wall that he had just climbed down from. This was the only way. He didn¡¯t care about the pain in his back and immediately started to climb upward. As Gwendolyn walked from the garden into the living room, she asked her bodyguard, Quinton, ¡°Has he been behaving himself these past few days?¡± Quinton honestly replied, ¡°Mr. Wright tried to go out twice, but after we refused him, he didn¡¯t ask agair He¡¯s already in bed asleep now.¡± Gwendolyn frowned. She nced at the time. It was only half past nine at night. Would he really go to bed this early? ¡°I don¡¯t believe he¡¯s really that well-behaved!¡± Gwendolyn spoke as she climbed the stairs, with Quinton and Ryan following closely behind her. The door to Maverick¡¯s room was left open, which Gwendolyn found a bit odd, but she didn¡¯t give it mu thought. She pushed open the door. With the help of the corridor light, she saw Maverick lying on the bed with 1 back to the door. He was sound asleep. Was 1 overthinking it? N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Chapter 120 Another Performance Gwendolyn closed the door again. Seeing that she hadn¡¯t noticed anything. Quinton and Ryan quietly breathed a sigh of relief However, Gwendolyn had barely taken two steps when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. When she opened the door just now, she seemed to have noticed that the color of Maverick¡¯s shirt cor was a bit darker than usual. Is it wet? Is he sweating? There is a problem! Gwendolyn immediately turned back. This time, without any hesitation, she switched on the light, clearly revealing the man curled up on the bed with his back facing her. She walked to the side of the bed and confirmed that the back of his cor was indeed wet. A mocking smile yed on her lips. ¡°Maverick, you must have been working hard in your sleep to be sweating like this.¡± The man on the bed kept his eyes tightly shut, not responding to her. Gwendolyn was a bit annoyed. ¡°Stop pretending. I know you aren¡¯t sleeping. You¡¯re sweating so much. What on earth were you doing just now?¡± He had been exposed. Maverick remained silent, his eyebrows suddenly furrowing tightly. He murmured in a low, hoarse voice, ¡°It hurts so much¡­¡± ¡°Hurt? What are you trying to pull with this fake suffering act?¡± Gwendolyn said while pushing his back unintentionally. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The man let out a miserable scream through gritted teeth, suddenly drenched in a cold sweat. Hi facial features were contorted, and his expression was full of agony. Standing behind Gwendolyn, Quinton and Ryan were puzzled. ¡°Huh?¡± During the day, the two of them had been outside, listening to the whistling sound of the cane and the repeated strikes that reached his flesh. They had been terrified by what they had heard. However, this man had endured it all without making a single sound. During the day, he had seemed quite brave, but now he was both crying out in pain and screaming miserably. Is he deliberately pretending to be weak and helpless? He really deserves an Oscar with that acting skills of his! Even the best actor can¡¯t outperform him! Isn¡¯t obviously trying to mess with Treyton? Quinton and Ryan were so frustrated that they felt as if they were about to cough up blood, but they couldn¡¯t show even the slightest hint of it in front of Gwendolyn. Standing in front, Gwendolyn was unaware of what the two of them were thinking. 6154 Chapter 120 Another Performance Maverick¡¯s condition did seem a bit poor. He did not seem to be faking it She unfastened two buttons of his shirt and gently pulled it toward his back. Upon closer inspection, one could see the crisscrossing purple welts, with hardly any intact skin left. Several areas bore deep bruises that had turned into dark, purple clots of blood. There were even open wounds that had broken skin and were oozing blood droplets. Quinton and Ryan noticed her expression growing colder and colder and were prepared for her to explode in anger any second. They were ready to kneel down on the spot. However, Gwendolyn merely asked calmly, ¡°Who did this?¡± The two of them couldn¡¯t quite figure out whether she was actually angry or not, so they could only respond honestly. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Harris.¡± ¡°What did he hit him with?¡± ¡°With a cane. He was whipped ny times,¡± Quinton said. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Harris was just upset that you got hurt and couldn¡¯t help it in a moment of anger¡­¡± ¨C Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was indifferent. ¡°All right. Since it was Mr. Harris who took action, then he deserved it.¡± When Maverick heard that, he clenched his hands that were inside the nket. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Speak Like A Person So, if Treytonid his hand on me, then I deserved it? Is Treyton really that important to her? Maverick was very annoyed. If he could, he would love to throw Treyton in a sack and into the sea to feed the sharks. Gwendolyn could sense the sudden resentment emanating from the person lying in bed with his back turned. The corner of her mouth curved into a slight smile. However, she couldn¡¯t ignore the ring wound on his back. ¡°Quinton, apply some ointment on him.¡± Quinton had a baffled expression on his face. ¡°Huh? Me?¡± Gwendolyn nced at him and said, ¡°Do you expect me to do it myself?¡± ¡°All right¡­¡± Quinton looked unhappy. This unscrupulous person just tried to harm Treyton. Can I poison him? Although he was very unwilling in his heart, he had no choice but to reluctantly fetch the first-aid kit since Gwendolyn was watching him closely. Having made the arrangements, Gwendolyn turned to leave, but her wrist was unexpectedly gripped by a pair of broad, strong hands from behind. ¡°Gwendolyn, chat with me for a while¡­¡± Maverick had shifted his position and was now lying with his head down. His voice sounded muffled under the nket, and his long, quivering eyshes, together with his paleplexion, gave him a rather frail appearance. Gwendolyn gave him a cold nce. ¡°My time is precious. I don¡¯t have time to apany you to chat. Let go.¡± She deliberately emphasized the word ¡°apany¡± to subtly remind him of his current status. Maverick didn¡¯t move, nor did he let go. ¡°Gwendolyn. I spent six hours alone this afternoon, and it was excruciating. Lying on the cold marble tiles in the living room made my entire body stiff. I¡¯ve already epted my punishment. Can¡¯t we just chat for a little while?¡± His voice was soft, like a feather gently brushing past, or more like a wounded little creature seeking sce. Lying on the living room floor alone for six hours? Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. Her gaze shifted toward Ryan who was standing nearby. 1/4 Chapter 121 Speak Like A Person +15 Bonus Ryan lowered his head in fear. ¡°I¡­ I thought Mr. Wright had fainted while doing housework, so I didn¡¯t¡­¡± The more he tried to exin, the worse it got. Fearing that all the me would be ced on him, Ryan quickly shut his mouth, backed out of the room, and closed the door behind him. As the door closed, the room fell intoplete silence. Gwendolyn nced down at Maverick, who was wrapped in a nket, and asked, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Maverick held onto her wrist tightly and asked, ¡°Have you been doing well these past few days while you were at Treyton¡¯s?¡± Huh? Gwendolyn wondered why he was pretending to be weak and pitiful just to bring up such trivial matters. ¡°Life has been quite pleasant without someone annoying me, and Mr. Harris has been gentle and considerate,¡± she replied sarcastically. Knowing she was mocking him, Maverick put on a serious face and asked tentatively, ¡°I heard that the Shalders family has very high standards for their descendants¡¯ spouses. Do you think Treyton would go against his entire family for you?¡± Will Treyton marry me? Haha, what a huge joke. Gwendolyn scoffed at the idea of Treyton marrying her and replied, ¡°That¡¯s my business, and you don¡¯t have the right to meddle in my affairs.¡± Maverick noticed the sarcastic expression on her face, and a faint smile appeared on his thin lips. ¡°It seems he had no intention of letting the Harris family know about your existence. So, are you being secretly supported and provided for by him?¡± Gwendolynughed. ¡°I doubt there¡¯s a man in this world who could support and provide for me. If anything, I am more likely to be the one supporting and providing for others.¡± Although that statement was undeniably outrageously arrogant, it was surprisingly not out of ce when spoken by her. Maverick narrowed his eyes slightly as he carefully pondered the profound implications behind her words. If she truly possesses such resources, she must really be a member of the Harris family. Could she be rted to Treyton by blood? They can¡¯t possibly be lovers then, and all of their intimate behavior before must have just been merely those between family members. Although that was just his conjecture and had not been substantiated, deep down, Maverick selfishly hoped that it was true. Lost in thought, Maverick kept muttering sarcastic remarks that Gwendolyn found meaningless. She turned her head, contemting leaving once again. However, since Maverick was holding her wrist, she couldn¡¯t leave, and her irritation grew. ¡°Maverick, 2/4 Chapter 12! Speak Like A Person what on earth are you trying to do?¡± The man she had shouted at looked up at her with a piteous expression on his pale face and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, my back hurts so much. Can you blow on it for me?¡± +15 Bonus Gwendolyn was taken aback by his request. How had she never noticed how annoying he could be before? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Did you get hit on the back, or on the head? Is your brain not working anymore? You need to speak like a person.¡± Maverick remained silent. He was truly in pain and exhausted. He just wished for herforting words. Seeing that he stopped talking. Gwendolyn forcefully pried open his grip on her wrist, intending to leave. Behind her, just as she was about to leave, Maverick said calmly, ¡°I was away these past days because I went to the mountain range on the border of Lightspring and Faike. I returnedte because I was being pursued by a group of people sent by Asher.¡± Gwendolyn abruptly halted her steps, wondering if Asher had dispatched someone to kill Maverick. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. At that time, Treyton had only told her about Maverick¡¯s whereabouts and that he would not be able to return anytime soon. However, he had failed to mention that Asher was the reason why Maverick had stayed behind. She suddenly recalled the day when Maverick returned and his reaction after she had injected him with the special drug. So, the wound on his waist was inflicted by Asher¡¯s people? After pausing by the door for a moment, Gwendolyn responded with a smile. ¡°Why are you suddenly. telling me all this? Do you think I care about you?¡± She opened the door and left the room as soon as she finished speaking. Quinton was waiting outside the door, and when he saw here out, he noticed the strange expression. on her face. ¡°Ms. Shalders?¡± She snapped out of her thoughts and nced at the first-aid kit in Elven¡¯s hand. ¡°Go in and apply the medicine for him,¡± she said. ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders.¡± Quinton bowed slightly and watched her leave the second floor before entering Maverick¡¯s room. Maverick was lost in thought. Judging from Gwendolyn¡¯s reaction earlier, it seemed that she was quite surprised by the matter concerning Asher, so it didn¡¯t seem to have anything to do with her. He let out a gentle sigh, feeling as if the stone in his heart had been lifted. ¡°Hey, Mr. Wright?¡± Quinton interrupted his thoughts with an annoyed expression. ¡°Take off your shirt and lie down. I¡¯m about to apply the medicine!¡± 3/4 Chapter 121 Speak Like A Person Maverick picked up the first-aid kit and replied, ¡°No, thanks. I can do it myself. You can go now.¡± +15 Bonus ¡°You¡¯re injured on your back. How can you apply it yourself? If Ms. Shalders can touch you, then why can¡¯t I?¡± Maverick showed no emotion and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not used to men touching me.¡± What kind of strange habit is this? Despite thinking that, Quinton said, ¡°Well, you said it yourself. Don¡¯t goining about me to Ms. Shalderster on.¡± Even though he said that, Quinton still felt uneasy as he left the room. He went to the third floor to report. the matter to Gwendolyn first. ¡°Let him enjoy his suffering if he wants to. Don¡¯t worry about it and just go about with your own business,¡± Gwendolyn said loudly while standing by the window with the door open. Downstairs, Maverick could hear everything clearly and furrowed his eyebrows tightly. It seems that the beating I have taken was not worth it at all. Not only did I fail to gain even a hint of sympathy from her, but I also received a bunch of sarcastic remarks about deserving it and being at masochist. I¡¯m not seeing the rewards for my efforts! He applied some anti-inmmatory cream to his back and went to sleep. He woke upter than usual the next morning. Having been beaten and having climbed the pipes yesterday, Maverick was truly exhausted. When he woke up, Gwendolyn was no longer in the vi, and surprisingly, she didn¡¯t give him a hard. time. Maverick still found it a bit peculiar, but he began to do the household chores as usual. He was delighted ever since learning that Gwendolyn and Treyton might be rted, and his mood was quite the opposite of what it had been a few go. He hoped that once Nico finished investigating, many of the mysteries surrounding Gwendolyn would be unraveled. He prepared a delicious meal like he normally did that afternoon and waited for Gwendolyn to get off work. Gwendolyn returned, but she was apanied by two men he really disliked-Treyton and Sherman. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Chapter 122 A Helping Hand What are they here for? Maverick froze in ce, glowering at the duo behind Gwendolyn. +15 Bonus At that moment, Sherman¡¯s visage mirrored that of Maverick¡¯s. The former could barely conceal the animosity and hatred in his eyes. Treyton, too, regarded Maverick with an unkind countenance. It was as though they were having a staredown with one another. Neither of them had the slightest intention of averting their gazes. Gwendolyn sensed the hostility in the air and could not help but roll her eyes. Must these men be this childish? If looks could kill, they would have already murdered one another hundreds of times. She let out a sigh and thought for a moment before directing her line of sight at Maverick. ¡°You don¡¯t need to cook today, and there¡¯s not much you can help with here. The leaves in the garden have been falling like crazytely, so why don¡¯t you go sweep them?¡± Me? Go outside to sweep the fallen leaves and leave her chitchatting with these two? I could let it go if it was only Treyton, but on what grounds does Sherman get to stay? Maverick¡¯s face darkened. He refused to move a muscle. Gwendolyn walked away to fetch a bottle of fine red wine from the liquor cab, but when she turned around, she found Maverick still standing in the same spot. She urged him, ¡°Hurry up! If you can¡¯t walk, I¡¯ll summon Ryan and let him push you there.¡± It looks like I really have to go. Maverick¡¯s mien was as grim as death. On his way out, he mmed the door with all his might, seemingly venting his dissatisfaction. Pointing at the door, Treyton turned to Gwendolyn andined. ¡°Just look at him! He has such a bad temper! The cheek of him to throw a tantrum in front of you. He really deserves a beating¡± Gwendolyn, in turn, pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°Ignore him. Sooner orter, I¡¯ll make sure he learns how to behave.¡± Treyton did not react to that remark. Sherman, however, had displeasure written all over his face. ¡°He¡¯s full of pride, Gwendolyn. Even a ferocious wild beast will back off when it¡¯s injured, but once it seizes an opening, it¡¯ll bite back. Look at how he hurt you this time! Isn¡¯t it obvious that he premeditated all this? It¡¯d be toote if you failed to teach him a lesson and wound up hurting yourself instead.¡± Treyton nodded in agreement as well. As Gwendolyn opened the refrigerator to look for ingredients, sheughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± In the garden, Maverick¡¯s mind wandered as he swept the ground. Curiosity got the better of him when he pondered how Gwendolyn would interact with other men. 1/4 Chapter 122 A Helping Hand +15 Bonus He slowly paced toward the edge of the window and peeked through the ss, only to find an extremely harmonious scene at the dining table. Gwendolyn was all smiles, appearing to be happy from the bottom of her heart. He remembered she had also been full ofughter in the first year of their marriage. She had always had a sweet smile ying about her lips, and her eyes would shine with affection whenever they were together. He could only wonder when exactly all her smiles began to fade away. Worse still, her gaze was incredibly frosty and indifferent every time she looked at him. Ever since the divorce, she had be breathtakingly gorgeous and distant, exuding an air of nobility and nonchnce. No matter what difficulties she encountered, she always remained poised and confident. Is this her true self, after all? Maverick felt a tightness in his chest as a suffocating sensation crept up on him. He could not quite describe the feeling, but it was rather ufortable, As he was deep in thought, he suddenly saw Elven hurriedly push open the door to the living room and stride toward Gwendolyn to say something to her. C Unconcerned, Maverick looked away and was about to continue sweeping the fallen leaves when he noticed Elven stepping out and walking in his direction. ¡°Mr. Wright, Mrs. Wright fell down the stairs at the Wright residence. She asked to see you. Please follow me to the car.¡± Frida fell down? But it¡¯s only been a few days! How could she suddenly fall down the stairs? ¡°All right.¡± Maverick nced back through the window at that group of three inside the house who were chatting cheerily. A hint of mixed emotions flitted across his dark eyes. Then, he followed Elven to the Wright residence. Frida had been sent to her previous private ward to recuperate. With a cast on her leg, shey in bed in a daze, bored out of her mind. Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, she looked up and caught sight of her beloved son. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes. ¡°Mave! I thought I¡¯d never get to see you again¡­¡± she wailed. Maverick gently tapped Frida¡¯s leg in the cast, and Frida instantly cried out in pain. Seeing that woman¡¯s exaggerated reaction, Maverick could tell what was going on. He walked to the chair beside the bed and took a seat. ¡°How on earth did you fall for no reason?¡± Aggrieved, Frida wanted to exin when her gazended on Elven standing behind her son. ¡°Young man, I haven¡¯t seen my son for so long, and I¡¯d like to have a word with him alone. It won¡¯t take too long, is that okay?¡± Elven hesitated for a moment and did not take a step. 2/4 Chapter 122 A Helping Hand +15 Bonus Maverick turned around and reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. I¡¯ll just have a quick chat with my mom.¡± Thest time he was beaten up, it was Elven who had to carry out the orders. Although Maverick was currently serving under Gwendolyn. Elven was somewhat in awe of Maverick¡¯s dignity, so he chose not to put Maverick in a tough spot. Spinning on his heel, he exited the ward and closed the door behind him. As soon as Elven left, Maverick asked, ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the deal with your injury? I just checked it out, and it¡¯s not as serious as your wailing made it seem.¡± A chuckle escaped Frida on that note. ¡°It¡¯s true that I slipped and fell down the stairs by ident. I stumbled about five or six steps, really. It¡¯s not a big deal, but if it weren¡¯t for this incident, how could I have had the chance to catch a glimpse of your face?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°How did you make people think that you¡¯re gravely injured?¡± Frida returned a mysterious smirk and whispered close to his ear, ¡°I naturally have a way of doing this, but that¡¯s not the point right now. Maverick, how¡¯s the progress on the matter I mentioned to you previously?¡± Maverick frowned at that. ¡°What was that again?¡± Erida gently pushed his forehead with her finger. She was exasperated that her son could not meet her expectations. ncing outside the door, she uttered softly, ¡°Bedding the woman!¡± Maverick¡¯s expression darkened on the spot while his dark eyes turned as cold as the winter. ¡°There¡¯s absolutely no way this could happen. I don¡¯t want to hear it from you for the third time, and you¡¯d better not mention it to anybody else.¡± That warning did nothing except frustrate Frida. Judging from the current circumstance, should they fail to win Gwendolyn over, their entire family might be stuck as housekeepers for the rest of their lives. She had endured enough humiliationtely and needed to find a way out to reim Wright Construction Group and the Wright residence as soon as possible. As for that clueless, silly son of hers, she reckoned that she must offer him a helping hand. ¡°Fine. I won¡¯t talk about it anymore,¡± she agreed with a grin. Aftering up with an idea in her head, she picked up the cup of water from the table and feigned to take a sip. As she put Maverick. the cup back in ce, she pretended that it slipped out of her hand and spilled water on ¡°Oh, dear! I¡¯m sorry, Maverick. It must¡¯ve slipped from my hand. Let me help you clean it up,¡± she said while wiping the water droplets off Maverick¡¯s clothes. As Maverick was busy cleaning the stains, she quickly slipped two small packages into his pocket. Maverick watched his mother wipe the stains for quite some time, only to mess up his white shirt event more. Worried that she might discover the wound on his back, he rose to his feet and went to the 3/4 ividj Chapter 122 A Helping Hand bathroom in the private ward to clean up a bit. All of a sudden, he heard the familiar sound of a bird chirping. It must be Nico. Wearing a serious expression. Maverick began to contemte ways to meet up with Nico. Gwendolyn had only assigned Elven to keep an eye on him. He wondered if it was because she had 60% +15 Bonus lowered her guard toward him or she was simply too busy having a meal with Sherman and Treyton, thus leaving her no time to make other arrangements. Either way, that only presented him with a great opportunity. The moment he came out of the bathroom, someone pushed open the door to the ward at the same time. A man d in the housekeeper¡¯s uniform stepped inside, carefully closing the door behind him. As that man turned around, his face came into sight. It was none other than Nico. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Chapter 123 A Private Confession +15 Bonus ¡°Boss, I just got close to the bodyguard that Gwendolyn brought with her and knocked him out when he¡¯s distracted, but that bodyguard has a strong constitution, so he¡¯ll probably wake up soon. Let¡¯s keep our conversation brief!¡± Nico spoke softly with a cautious expression. Son, who¡¯s at the door?¡± Upon hearing the sound, Frida sat up and looked in Nico¡¯s direction. Maverick blocked her view and said in a stern voice, ¡°Mom, I need to go back to the vi. Be on your best behavior, and don¡¯t bring up what just happened again. Remember what I said.¡± ¡°All right!¡± Frida was a bit impatient, but thinking of her own n, she smiled and waved at him. ¡°Hurry up and go. It¡¯s gettingte. You should head back quickly.¡± Maverick didn¡¯t notice her unusual behavior, so he went out with Nico to have a conversation on the rooftop terrace at the old mansion. Nico continued where he left off, ¡°Boss, I found out that there¡¯s someone in the Harris family with a simr timeline to Ms. Shalders, and that is the youngest daughter of the head of the Harris family, Marcus¡¯ only daughter and the youngest of the family. However, she didn¡¯t go missing. She was suddenly dered dead by the Harris family six years ago, and the cause of death remains unknown.¡± Maverick¡¯s brow furrowed tightly when he heard that. The better it was hidden, the more suspicious it was. Maverick asked, ¡°Can we find a photo of this youngdy in the database?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t. Not only are there no photos, but even her name couldn¡¯t be found. I¡¯ve even heard that the Harris family held a very simple funeral for her, but there¡¯s no information about where the gravestone is Boss, do you think this girl really died?¡± Maverick pursed his lips. After giving it some thought, he shook his head and said, ¡°On the surface, the actions of the Harris family may seem like they don¡¯t care about their daughter and don¡¯t value her enough, but in fact, it¡¯s quite the opposite. These actions prove that the Harris family loves their daughter very much and is doing everything they can to protect her safety.¡± Nico thought for a moment and found what Maverick said quite reasonable. ¡°So, could this youngdy really be Ms. Shalders?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t bepletely sure, but I think it¡¯s her.¡± -As Maverick spoke, his deep ck eyes shimmered with a burning light. His heart was now filled with overwhelming joy, Maverick remembered how Treyton had massaged Gwendolyn¡¯s calves, how he had helped her massage her palms, how Gwendolyn had yfully pushed Treyton away, and how she had acted like a child in front of Treyton. 1/4 Chapter 123 A Private Confession They did all that because they were both rted by blood. They were siblings. Maverick had even doubted Gwendolyn¡¯s fidelity in their marriage before. He really wanted to end himself now that he thought about it. However, his expression turned serious once again. 15 Bonus If Gwendolyn is the daughter of the Harris family, then why did she end up at the Faike Welfare Home back then? What exactly happened then? Perhaps this was also the reason why the Harris family wanted to protect her. ¡°If Ms. Shalders is truly the heiress of the Harris family, then¡­¡± Nico suddenly thought of something. He hurriedly took out his phone from his pocket, and after he checked it, his eyes lit up. ¡°Boss, Zachary found out that the Harris family¡¯s heiress took a ne to Faike thirteen years ago. Shended at the airport owned by Zachary¡¯s family, so that¡¯s how he identally discovered this record. Butter on, when he learned that she had already died, he didn¡¯t pursue it any further. If Ms. Shalders really is the Harris family¡¯s daughter, then she¡­ could very well be the girl you¡¯re looking for!¡± As Nico spoke, he handed over his phone to show the information he had at that time, and Maverick carefully read through it. ¡°I¡¯ll find another opportunity to confirm this information.¡± The amount of information was overwhelming tonight, leaving Maverick feeling somewhat at a loss. If Gwendolyn really was the little girl who had saved him thirteen years ago, then he had done something unsalvageable. He had actually mistaken Natasha for Gwendolyn and hurt her for so many years, wearing down her loving heart until all that was left was indifference and vengeance. Maverick¡¯s heart ached with a throbbing pain. Is it toote to make amends now? After exchanging information with Nico, Maverick went downstairs to the living room with mixed emotions. Elven had beenid down on the couch by Nico. It would take some time for him to wake up. Maverick quietly walked over and sat down beside him. However, he didn¡¯t sit for long before Elven starteding to his senses. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Maverick¡¯s expressionless face. Maverick said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to actually fall asleep.¡± Elven had a puzzled expression on his face. ¡°How could I possibly fall asleep!¡± Maverick replied earnestly, ¡°You were already sleeping when I came out after I finished my conversation. You were all alone. I waited for a whole five minutes before you woke up. What would happen if. Gwendolyn found out about this? But don¡¯t worry. I promise I won¡¯t tell her.¡± 2/4 Chapter 123 A Private Confession Elven woke up groggily, scratching his head. 60% +15 Bonus Maverick didn¡¯t give him a chance to react and immediately stood up as he headed outside. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re already five minuteste because of your nap.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Hmm, I clearly remembered that a male servant came over and chatted with me, but I ignored him¡­ ¡°Hurry up! Gwendolyn won¡¯t be happy if we¡¯rete!¡± Elven was sorting through his memories when Maverick interrupted him, leaving him no choice but to reluctantly follow Maverick and get into his car. By the time they returned to Bay Vi, the sky had already turned dark. Maverick stood by the window in the living room on the first floor and took a look outside. Treyton had left at some point, leaving only Sherman and Gwendolyn at the dinner table drinking wine. In the living room, Sherman downed one drink after another, looking slightly intoxicated and his face showing a sullen expression. ED ¡°Gwendolyn, they say alcohol can drown your sorrows, but why is it that the more I drink, the more bitter I feel inside?¡± Gwendolyn had a high alcohol tolerance and never got drunk. She justughed. ¡°How can we believe what the people of old times said? There¡¯s also the saying that drowning one¡¯s sorrows in alcohol only leads to more sorrow. Sherman, you¡¯re drunk. I¡¯ll have Quinton and Ryan take you home.¡± ¡°No, Gwendolyn! I¡¯m not drunk! I have something to tell you¡­¡± Sherman shook his head and reached out to touch her hand, but she quietly withdrew her hand expressionlessly. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in what you have to say. It¡¯ste, so go home.¡± Sherman¡¯s warm eyes were filled with rejection. He stood up and swayed as he walked toward her. When he reached her, he knelt on one knee with an expression as serious as ever. ¡°Gwendolyn, I know you¡¯re upset with me because of Eloise. I¡¯ll definitely talk to her when I return to Salinsburgh. I really like you. Maverick hurt you in the past, but I never will. I¡¯ll cherish and care for you. Will you give me a chance to love you?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained neutral, and she didn¡¯t say a word. She poured herself a full ss of wine and drank it all in one go. The dark red wine slid down the edge of her crimson lips. She gently wiped it off, still looking incredibly elegant, and this scene etched deeply into Sherman¡¯s heart. ¡°Gwendolyn, if you¡¯re still notpletely sure about your feelings, we can get engaged first, or we can start with dating.¡± 3/4 60% Chapter 123 A Private Confession 15 Bonus Just as Maverick reached the door, he overheard everything loud and clear through the door he had just cracked open. His face was ashen, and his fists were clenched tightly. That little¡­ Did he send Treyton away so that he could create a chance for a private confession? Seeing Gwendolyn getting ready to answer, Maverick clutched his stomach and bent over, then pinched. the flesh on his thighs hard. His face instantly turned extremely pale, and a few beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. Then, looking fragile, he leaned against the door and said, ¡°Gwenny, my stomach hurts¡­¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Master Or Gwendolyn Gwendolyn was shocked to hear him call her ¡°Gwenny. She wondered why Maverick was behaving differently today. She didn¡¯t speak, and anger surged within Sherman when he heard Maverick.interrupting his own confession. +15 Bonus Taking advantage of his drunken state, he got up from the ground and rushed over, fiercely grabbing. Maverick¡¯s cor with one hand while clenching the other into a fist, ready to swing it at Maverick¡¯s face. ¡°It was you who hurt her just a couple of days ago! What right do you have to still be hanging around her?¡± Maverick remained still, not offering any exnation. His dark eyes showed no sign of weakness as he held his gaze firmly. Sherman was furious. He was about to throw a punch until Gwendolyn shouted, ¡°Quinton! Ryan!¡± Quinton and Ryan immediately jumped in through the open window, separating the two people who were confronting each other. Sherman didn¡¯tnd a hit and was quite frustrated. ¡°Gwendolyn, why won¡¯t you let me teach him a lesson?¡± Gwendolyn gave Quinton and Ryan a meaningful nce. ¡°Mr. Ferguson is drunk. Please take him home.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not drunk, really! Gwendolyn, I¡¯m not drunk¡­¡± Sherman muttered under his breath and stumbled along, supported by two bodyguards on either side of him. His voice gradually faded into the distance. Atst, it was finally quiet. Maverick stopped pretending to have a stomachache, and his face returned to its usual calm expression. Gwendolyn nced at him sarcastically. ¡°Why have you stopped pretending?¡± Maverick pursed his lips, not uttering a word as he walked to where she was. He lowered both knees and knelt before her. This time, he chose to kneel on his own. Sherman had got down on one knee to express his love, whereas Maverick had got down on both knees to seek redemption. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t understand his actions. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Maverick lifted his head to meet her gaze, and there was a glint of resolution in his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s something that has been bothering me for years, so can you tell me the truth tonight?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°Did you go to Saffron Street thirteen years ago on the fourteenth of March? Did you save a little boy?¡± Gwendolyn was just about to open her mouth to deny it when Maverick continued, ¡°I won¡¯t stop investigating if you keep brushing me off like before. I won¡¯t rest until I get to the bottom of this!¡± Gwendolyn had never paid much attention to that matter. ¡°Does my honesty really matter? Is it truly 1/4 Chapter 124 Master Or Gwendolyn important to you that you get an answer?¡± ¡°It is.¡± 60% +15 Bonus ??158 As their eyes met, Gwendolyn saw anticipation and carnestness in his dark pupils, as well as the longing. for her to speak the truth. ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯ll stop investigating once you get my answer?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The man spoke with unwavering conviction. Fine. Since saving someone was just an ident and a trivial matter for me, it won¡¯t hurt to tell him. ¡°Yes, I did. I¡¯ve been there. I think I saved a boy from a car ident that day, but I can¡¯t remember anything else.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes were slightly red when he heard that, and there was a slight tremble in his deep voice as he said, ¡°This is enough.¡± Over the years, he had made an outrageous mistake. S He surprisingly discovered that the girl he liked and the one he was grateful for were the same person. Even though he had her once before, he didn¡¯t cherish her as he should have. A sharp pain gripped Maverick¡¯s heart. He took a step toward Gwendolyn, and his eyes were red as he called out to her, ¡°Gwenny, I-¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Stop!¡± Gwendolyn felt a chill down her spine when he started saying that. Every time he spoke softly, she felt as if there was a hidden agenda. Can¡¯t he just speak like a normal person? And¡­ did he just call me Gwenny? Might as well call me Lynny at this point! With a serious expression, Gwendolyn said, ¡°You have two choices now. You either call me Master or Gwendolyn.¡± go with Maverick¡¯s face turned pale, and he struggled internally for a moment before he answered, ¡°I¡¯ll Gwendolyn.¡± After struggling, he continued with a trembling voice, ¡°These days, I¡¯ve finally understood my own feelings and realized how wrong I was before¡­ Gwendolyn, it turns out that the one I¡¯ve always liked, loved, and appreciated was you, from the very beginning to the end! It was me who was foolish. Back then, it was-¡± Before he could finish speaking, Gwendolyn yfully lifted his chin with her fingertips. Maverick really seemed to be genuinely remorseful. His face was filled with regret, and his dark eyes. brimmed with frustration. ¡°Let me guess. You¡¯ve figured it out and wanted to bed me right away?¡± An undisguised mockery shone in her eyes as the corner of her lips lifted. Other than sarcasm and coldness, no other emotions could be found in those eyes of hers, and Maverick¡¯s heart ached intensely. 2/4 60% Chapter 124 Master Or Gwendolyn +15 Bonus He was not at all surprised that the bodyguard had overheard Frida¡¯s words that day and ryed them to Gwendolyn. However, he would never do something so despicable. ¡°I will never stoop that low as to have that kind of coercive behavior. From now on, I will not deceive or manipte you anymore, and I will prove it to you, whether you believe me or not. Whatever I owe you, be itpensation or a price to pay, I am willing to give as long as you can give me another chance.¡± ¡°Chance?¡± Gwendolyn burst intoughter when she heard that. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you ate something wrong or if your nerves are messed up today, but let me make one thing crystal clear: I will never go back on my decision, and remarrying you is absolutely impossible in this lifetime unless you die!¡± Is it truly impossible? Maverick couldn¡¯t help butugh bitterly. He knew her personality well, yet he still couldn¡¯t give her up. He insisted on giving it a try even if it meant causing himself pain. ¡°I¡¯m the one who hurt you so deeply, and I know I don¡¯t deserve your forgiveness. Let me stay by your side for the rest of my life and serve you as your lifelong servant to atone for my sins.¡± A lifetime? Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows slightly, a mocking smile on her lips. ¡°So, if I were to marry another man in the future, could you bear to watch me and him being affectionate every single day of our lives?¡± Maverick¡¯s spine stiffened abruptly, and his entire face turned pale in an instant. Upon seeing his reaction, Gwendolyn sneered, released her grip on his chin, and stood up to head upstairs. ¡°Maverick, a lifetime is too long. Who knows what will happen? Try to get through this year first, then we¡¯ll see.¡± Maverick knelt on the ground, and the words Gwendolyn had just said echoed in his ears for a long time. Can I really bear to watch her being affectionate with another man every day? No way! He stayed in the living room for quite a long time, and gradually, he figured something out. Since Gwendolyn didn¡¯t believe his confession, he would just need to show her. After tidying up the leftovers and tes on the table. Maverick went back to his room to take a shower. Just as he stepped into the bathroom and began to undress, two small objects suddenly fell to the floor. Maverick bent down to pick them up and discovered that they were three packets of coffee sugar. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, thinking that he had put them in his pocket while making coffee during the day. Casually, he ced them on the bedside table and continued to take a shower. After taking a bath and putting on a bathrobe, he had just finished drying his hair when Gwendolyn¡¯s voice echoed from upstairs. ¡°Maverick,e to the study for a moment.¡± He immediately changed his clothes and went upstairs. As he opened the door to the study, he saw Gwendolyn still working overtime in front of theputer. Her cheeks were flushed with a captivating rosy hue because she had just drunk some wine, yet her eyes remained bright and clear. 60% Chapter 124 Master Or Gwendolyn Upon seeing him enter, Gwendolyn said in a low voice, Make me a cup of coffee.¡± Coffee? At this hour? Maverick furrowed his brows. +15 Bonus He wanted to dissuade her. ¡°You¡¯ve had some alcohol tonight, so you should rest early. Drinking coffee and staying upte at this hour is too harmful to your body.¡± Gwendolyn frowned and gave him a cold nce. ¡°Hurry up.¡± The talent show woulde to an end the day after tomorrow, and she nned to make the final performance a live broadcast. She had to finish drafting the proposal within these two days, as she couldn¡¯t trust anyone else with it. Maverick saw the determination in her eyes. She had always been decisive, and once she made up her mind, she wouldn¡¯t easily change her stance. ¡°How long do you n on staying up? I¡¯ll stay up with you.¡± Maverick turned around and went downstairs to the kitchen. After brewing a nice cup of coffee without any fuss, he realized the sugar packet was empty. Recalling the few packs in his room. Maverick went back and casually picked one, then ced it on the coffee tray. Gwendolyn was extremely focused in front of theputer. Maverick ced a cup of coffee next to her and left the room. After closing the door, he leaned against it and stayed up all night to keep her company. About half an hourter, a strange panting sound suddenly came from the study. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Just An Act Sensing something amiss, he opened the door to take a look. There was no one in front of theputer on the desk. Gwendolyn?¡± Maverick looked alert. He walked in to investigate and heard heavy breathing from under the desk. He lifted the tablecloth abruptly and saw Gwendolyn curled up in the small space. Her face was abnormally flushed. Crouching down, he lightly touched her neck to find her body was unbearably hot. This is¡­ The cup 60% +15 Bonus of coffee on the table was half-drunk, and the sugar packet on the tray had been torn open. He recalled Frida¡¯s unusual behavior when he visited her a few hours ago and instantly realized what was happening. ¡°Damn it!¡± He lifted Gwendolyn from under the desk. His cool body feltfortable against her. An indescribable thought shed through her drug- influenced mind for the first time. She clung to his neck, driven by the scent of male hormones. It was as if they werepelling her to sin. Maverick carried her back to the bedroom, feeling her restless movements against his body. He loosened his grip, afraid of hurting her. ¡°Gwendolyn, hang in there a little longer. Everything will be all right soon.¡± Upon hearing the familiar voice, she mustered her consciousness and lifted her gaze to take a look. She swelled in anger when she realized it was Maverick. Suppressing the burning feeling in her chest, she raised her hand and pped him across his face. The p wasn¡¯t particrly hard as she was drugged, but it was enough to catch Maverick, who was about to head to the bathroom, off guard. Gwendolyn struggled, slipping from his grasp, but her hand still grasped his shirt tightly. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. The two suddenly lost their bnce and fell to the ground. Seeing that Gwendolyn was about to hit her head on the corner of the bed, Maverick wrapped his arms around her neck without a second thought and pulled her into his embrace, using his body to cushion the fall. ¡°Ouch,¡± he hissed in pain. His back mmed into the corner of the bed, right where his swollen, still-healing wound was. He broke into a cold sweat from the pain and almost lost consciousness. 1/4 60% Chapter 125 Just An Act. +15 Bonus Before he could process the intense pain, another harsh pnded heavily on his face with a resounding smack. Gwendolyn struggled free from his embrace, dragging his upper body to the floor as she did so. She pressed her knee hard against his chest and gripped his cor tightly. She stared at him, her eyes filled with immense hatred. ¡°Maverick, you¡¯re despicable and shameless! Your wordsst night were all just an act! You thought I would lose control if you drugged me so you could get away with your disgusting intentions? Dream on!¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, calm down. This is-¡± p! Gwendolyn mustered all her remaining strength andnded another p on his face. Frustration and anger intertwined in her heart and threatened to burn her rationality to ashes. The p left Maverick¡¯s ears ringing for a moment. Coupled with the pain in his back that had yet to subside, he felt dizzy. His face contorted in agony. He was just about to catch his breath when he noticed that Gwendolyn¡¯s hand that was gripping his cor was trembling. A murderous intent rose in her eyes. ¡°I want you to suffer a fate worse than death!¡± She released him, struggling to stay conscious as she reached to activate the rm by the bed. Suddenly. the heat from earlier surged in her chest again, causing her to curl up on the floor and shiver uncontrobly. A wicked voice inside her head taunted and urged her to throw herself at Maverick to release her frustration. I can¡¯t! Absolutely not! She pressed her skin firmly against the frigid floor, hoping its icy temperature would awaken her consciousness. Maverick endured the pain and struggled to sit up, only to see her suffering silently on the floor. She¡¯ll continue to suffer if the drugs are not expelled in time! She¡¯s already suffering so much, yet she¡¯s still unwilling to use me to relieve the effects of the drugs. Is she that disgusted with me? He smiled wryly and walked over to pick her up again. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± His hand stiffened for a second, but he still decided to carry her. ¡°All right. You can do whatever you want once the drugs have worn off.¡± Gwendolyn no longer had the strength to break free from his grasp. Her mind was hazy, and her head felt heavy. She could only let him carry her to the bathroom. Maverick turned on the showerhead and filled the bathtub with cold water. Worried that her body wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the temperature difference, he carefully lowered her into the water, gritting his teeth as he tried not to tremble. He was afraid of dropping her. It wasn¡¯t until 2/4 60% Chapter 125 Just An Act the water reached her corbone that he retracted his sore arms. +15 Bonus Gwendolyny in the bathtub, feeling the cool water envelop her body. The heat in her chest subsided at little, and her furrowed brows began to rx. She felt so drained that she fell into a deep slumber right away. Maverick sat by the edge of the bathtub, keeping watch. + He could still remember how he had falsely used her of drugging him the night before their divorce and even ridiculed her relentlessly the next day. Now, it was his turn to be wrongly used. He didn¡¯t expect karma to strike so quickly. He gave a bitter smile. Given Gwendolyn¡¯s personality, she won¡¯t let this matter go once she sobers up. This must be karma. I owe it to her. He gathered his thoughts and quietly gazed at her sleeping form. Her cheeks were still flushed, making her appear intoxicated. She looked alluring with her graceful body immersed in water, almost as if tempting him. However, Maverick was not the kind of man to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state. He averted his gaze and focused solely on observing her condition. Gwendolyn¡¯s body was still flushed and oddly warm. Soaking in cold water took too long to take effect. This won¡¯t work. He got up and left the bathroom. He searched the first-aid kit for medicine and rummaged through the entire house but couldn¡¯t find any sedatives or glucose solution. He walked to the garden and shouted, ¡°Elven, Quinton, Ryan! Come out!¡± Elven appeared out of nowhere a minuteter. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and asked, ¡°Why are you shouting in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? ¡°Why are you the only one here?¡± ¡°Quinton and Ryan sent Mr. Ferguson home, but I don¡¯t know why they haven¡¯t returned yet. Ezra is with Mr. Harris, and Gwendolyn assigned William to run errands, so I¡¯m the only one here tonight.¡± There was usually no need to stand guard at night since Gwendolyn was quite skilled in martial arts. She would sound the rm in the event of an emergency. Maverick didn¡¯t beat around the bush any further. ¡°There¡¯s no sedatives or glucose solution at home. I need you to go buy them.¡± ¡°Where am I supposed to find them at thiste hour?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it, but you must buy these two items as soon as possible! This is important!¡± Maverick furrowed his brows, a grave expression on his face. Elven decided to trust Maverick this time when he saw how serious and anxious the man was. 3/4 . 60% Chapter 125 Just An Act +15 Bonus About half an hourter, he returned and handed the two medicines to Maverick. ¡°What are these for? Clinics and smaller hospitals don¡¯t have it. I had to go to a bigger hospital to find-hey¡­¡± Maverick took the medicines and immediately dashed to the third floor. He finally heaved a sigh of relief after administering the medicine to Gwendolyn. He leaned against the bathtub and continued to watch over her. He had been busy for most of the night. His energy was almost depleted, and he unknowingly fell asleep. Gwendolyn woke up in a daze just as the sky began to brighten. The burning heat in her body had disappeared. She opened her eyes, only to realize that she was lying in the bathtub and Maverick was asleep, leaning against the side of the tub. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 126 The Mastermind It seemed that Maverick was worn out fromst night, as he was sleeping soundly now. Gwendolyn stared at him for a moment. 60% +15 Bonus ????158 She saw the faint traces of a p mark on his left cheek, apanied by slight swelling and the uncleaned. bloodstain at the corner of his mouth. He appeared quite miserable, not much better off than her. Although she had exhausted all her strengthst night and couldn¡¯t remember what had happened. afterward, judging from the current situation, she supposed Maverick did not do anything to her. Gwendolyn pursed her lips and suddenly tasted a hint of sweetness in her mouth. Is this the taste of glucose? He was the one who drugged my coffee, but now he¡¯s pretending to be a good guy? Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes had a bone-chilling coldness to them. Is he putting on a show for me? I¡¯ll wait and see what¡¯s next! She stepped out of the bathtub and tiptoed out of the bathroom without waking Maverick up A sharp pain in his back jolted Maverick out of sleep. He almost dislocated his arm from sleeping so soundly against the edge of the bathtub. I was so busy helping Gwendolyn bring down her feverst night that I forgot to apply medicine to myself. To make matters worse, I identally bumped into the sharp corner of the bed, which probably aggravated the swelling on my back. He sighed, propped himself up to sit, and suddenly realized that the person in the bathtub had disappeared. When did she wake up? Surprisingly, he had no idea at all. It appeared that the 023 special drug had significantly decreased his acuity. He got up and walked over to the sink, where he looked in the mirror and wiped the trace of the blood from the corner of his mouth. Then, he went downstairs to find Gwendolyn. The atmosphere in the living room was extremely tense. Gwendolyn sat on the couch with her arms folded across her chest and a cold expression on her face. The four bodyguards, Elven, William, Quinton, and Ryan, stood neatly behind the couch with equally grim expressions. Maverick noticed the tension in the living room as soon as he came downstairs. He knew that what was -destined to happen would eventually happen. He walked over with heavy steps and stood in front of Gwendolyn across the coffee table. Gwendolyn looked up coldly and met his gaze, but she didn¡¯t say a word. Quinton, who was standing behind her, was the first to point at the two packets of coffee sugar on the table. ¡°Mr. Wright, Ms. Shalders asked you to make her coffeest night, and while you did make it, you 1/4 60% Chapter 126 The Mastermind +15 Bonus added something nasty to it, didn¡¯t you? We found another packet of coffee sugar containing the ecstasy in your room. How do you intend to exin this?¡± Maverick stared at Gwendolyn intently and exined, ¡°It¡¯s true that I ced the sugar packets in the coffee tray and served it to you. I won¡¯t deny that, but I had no prior knowledge of the presence of the ecstasy.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled slightly, and her eyes were full of sarcasm. How does he intend to persuade me with that? Maverick knew in his heart that she wouldn¡¯t believe him, but he couldn¡¯t help trying again. ¡°I said I would never deceive or manipte you against night, and I meant it. Can you¡­ just trust me this time?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled softly. ¡°You entered my roomte one night when Natasha drugged you, but the next day you thought I was the one who did it. Did you give me a chance to exin then? Would believed me if I hadn¡¯t shoved the evidence in your face?¡± He knew that she would never recover from that. Maverick pursed his thin lips together as he was at a loss for words. . ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. you have Gwendolyn continued, ¡°You promised not to deceive me against night, but then you drugged me! You made this coffee, and you were the first one to rush in after I drank it by mistake. Can you honestly say you had nothing to do with it? Honestly, if this one-year agreement is too hard for you to bear, I can give you a chance topete fairly and allow you to reim Wright Construction Group and the Wright residence from my hands.¡± She paused, and her expression suddenly turned cold and stern. ¡°However, you just had to resort to such despicable tactics. Then you¡¯ll have to forgive me, but Fabsolutely despise deception!¡± Maverick had guessed it would turn out like this as he smiled miserably. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite simple.¡± Gwendolyn smiled and gently lifted her hand. Quinton immediately brought a cup of warm water from the kitchen and ced it on the coffee table. ¡°I know that Frida gave you the medicine pouch when you went to the Wright residence. Here are two packets of coffee sugar on the table that were taken from your room. One packet tested positive for ecstasy, while the other was found to contain real sugar. You get to decide which of you two will be the mastermind.¡± Maverick frowned, looked down at the coffee sugar packets on the coffee table, and remained silent. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°If you can choose the sugar from this fifty-fifty chance, then I¡¯ll believe that you¡¯re just an aplice or that you¡¯ve been deceived and used by Frida. In that case, I¡¯ll let you off the hook. Go ahead and choose one, Mr. Wright.¡± Her words were dripping with sarcasm. Maverick stood still as he fixed his gaze on her and tried to search for any other emotions in her eyes. Unfortunately, there was none. Fair enough. Isn¡¯t it my fault that she doesn¡¯t trust me? Heughed self-deprecatingly, walked over to the coffee table, and picked up the two packets of coffee sugar to examine closely. Chapter 126 The Mastermind 60% +15 Bonus Maverick ripped both packets of coffee sugar apart under the watchful eyes of everyone present and poured them into the cup of warm water. He gave it a good stir, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. ¡°Mr. Wright!¡± Elven trusted him, but his face turned pale when he realized that he had actually consumed. both packets. Ms. Shalders felt so sick even though she consumed half a cup of the drugced coffeest night. This is the infamous ecstasy sold on the ck market and renowned for its powerful effects. Yet he drank the whole packet. Is he not afraid of death? Ms. Shalders only asked him to choose. Isn¡¯t there still a fifty percent chance of choosing the right one? He¡¯s such a fool! ¡°Very well, I respect your decision, Mr. Wright.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened as well. ¡°Quinton, Ryan, bring Mr. Wright to the basement.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Quinton and Ryan were about to step forward and put their hands on Maverick¡¯s shoulder. Maverick refused, ¡°That¡¯s all right. I can walk by myself!¡± He headed toward the basement after he said that, and Gwendolyn and the others followed him to the basement entrance. His silhouette appeared somewhat deste as he entered the basement alone. A bodyguard brought Gwendolyn a chair, and she sat down on the steps leading to the basement, waiting for the drug to take effect. The basement was quite spacious as Gwendolyn had just moved in and didn¡¯t have many belongings. The bodyguards didn¡¯t leave a light on for Maverick before closing the door. He was enveloped in darkness. In just five minutes, he gradually began to feel his body heating up. The effect of the drug kicked in so fast The effects of the drug this time were much stronger than the night before the divorce. At first, Maverick could still stand, but as time went on, the burning sensation that ignited from his chest grew stronger. He finally understood why Gwendolyn had curled up under the table when he found her last night. This medicine was truly unbearable. He felt as though that ball of fire could devour his heart alive if the effects weren¡¯t relieved. Maverick was drenched in sweat and appeared as though he had just been fished out of the water after enduring for half an hour. His entire body felt scorching hot, and the fire inside of him was gradually chipping away at his sanity. Gwendolyn¡¯s face remained expressionless as she sat quietly outside the door with her hands clenched tightly. The bodyguards stood behind her and listened as the basement went from beingpletely silent to gradually filling with someone¡¯s heavy breathing. In almost an hour, a gut-wrenching, beast-like growl suddenly echoed from within. 60% +15 Bonus Chapter 126 The Mastermind. Everyone outside the door was startled. That¡¯s a whole pack of ecstasy! If he can¡¯t find relief, that kind of pain will be fatal! Elven couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. ¡°Ms. Shalders, it¡¯s been an hour! I believe Mr. Wright has learned his lesson by now. If we let him continue like this, he¡¯ll dicl¡± Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Gwendolyn clenched her hands tightly as she listened to the low growlsing from inside. However, her face was still cold and emotionless when she looked at Elven. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve gone too far?¡± Elven knelt down on the spot. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. You were druggedst night. It¡¯s only fair to make up for the suffering you endured, but I know that you don¡¯t really want to kill Mr. Wright.¡± Gwendolyn felt much better after she heard that. She looked at Quinton after contemting for a while. ¡°Go to the Wright residence and bring Frida over here. Be quick.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders.¡± Quinton set off immediately. The rest of them stood at the basement door, listening as the growling and struggling sounds grew more intense as though Maverick was on the brink of despair. Even the tall and burly bodyguards found it difficult to continue listening and felt as though they were also being subjected to a cruel form of torture. Ten minutester, Gwendolyn finally spoke up. ¡°Open the door. Get a bucket of ice water and bring it over. It¡¯ll help him cool down.¡± The bodyguards obeyed Gwendolyn¡¯s orders after a brief moment of shock and went to get some ice cubes to mix with a bucket of water. Creak. The basement door opened, allowing a sliver of light to seep in. That beam of light stretched Maverick¡¯s shadow long and thin in the center. Mavericky curled up on the floor, just like a baby in its mother¡¯s womb. The floor beneath him was soaked with sweat, and his hair was also damp from perspiration as it hung limply over his forehead. He looked like a helpless and pitiful puppy that had been injured. Maverick had struggled through this hour to the point of exhaustion, yet his body still trembled violently, and his face was horrifyingly red. He struggled to open his eyes as he felt the blinding light on his eyelids. Maverick saw a slender and familiar figure although his vision was blurry. He reached out with trembling hands without hesitation and looked at that figure longingly. His voice was hoarse as he said, ¡°Gwendolyn¡­ I-I feel¡­ terrible¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but feel heartbroken after seeing how ufortable the drug made her feelst night. Would she feel a little bit better knowing that I¡¯ve suffered through the effects of the drug as well? Can this lessen some of the disgust she feels toward me in her heart? Even though his hands trembled violently, he stubbornly tried to reach out and touch the figure before him. It seemed so close that he could touch it as soon as he reached out, yet it felt so distant as if there was an insurmountable barrier forever separating the two of them. Maverick couldn¡¯t see Gwendolyn¡¯s expression because of the backlight, but he could feel the coldness emanating from her. The intense coldness made his heartthrob painfully, which was a hundred times worse than when the drug took effect. Gwendolyn did not budge as she watched him quietly from a distance. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed that Maverick¡¯s gaze hadn¡¯t left her since he opened his eyes, but she remained silent. Maverick was still waiting, hoping that she would at least utter a single sentence that contained a hint of sympathy. However, what came next was Ryan pouring ice-cold water over his head. His sweltering body couldn¡¯t bear the sudden, drastic change in temperature. He was ice cold to the core after being poured the bucket of ice water. His entire body trembled even more violently, and his teeth chattered from the cold. His consciousness began to fade away. ¡°Ryan, who told you to pour it directly on his head!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s grip on the armrest of the chair tightened abruptly. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Huh? Wasn¡¯t that what you ordered, Ms. Shalders?¡± Ryan was shocked by her aggressive demeanor. His hand trembled, and he identally poured the remaining half bucket of water all over Maverick. The massive impact caused Maverick to cough violently. The heart-wrenching sound of coughing echoed throughout the basement as if his lungs were about to be coughed out. It sounded incredibly terrifying. Gwendolyn was extremely frustrated by Ryan¡¯s approach, which seemed to cause more harm than good. She was about to stand up to check on Maverick when a woman¡¯s scream sounded from behind her. ¡°Ah! Maverick! My dear Maverick!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s grip on the armrest loosened slightly when she heard that. She settled back into her chair, her usual icy haughtiness returning to her face. Frida had still been in a cast, lying in the private ward of the Wright residence. When Quinton showed up at the door with a scowl on his face, Frida could easily tell that it wasn¡¯t going to be anything good, and she tried her best to y the victim, acting as though she really didn¡¯t want to be involved. In the end, she was forcefully dragged over by Quinton. Frida could no longer pretend to be crippled after seeing her son, who was on the brink of death after being tortured in the basement. She stepped on the ground and ran as quickly as she could with her leg in a cast. She copsed to the ground next to Maverick as she felt how cold and lifeless his body was. She panicked as she noticed his uncontroble trembling. ¡°Where¡¯s the doctor? Hurry up and find a doctor! My son is dying! He can¡¯t die! He mustn¡¯t die!¡± Frida had been arrogant for most of her life, and this was the first time she had broken down in tears in front of Gwendolyn and disregarded her image. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯m begging you! Please save him! He hasn¡¯t done anything wrong. Why are you treating him like this? You were once a couple. Why are you being so cruel?¡± I can¡¯t be cruel to him because we were once a couple? Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°Despite being married into the Wright family for all these years, I have never experienced any kindness. People also say that a daughter-inw is like half a daughter, but not only did you not treat me as a daughter, you even said that I was worse than your pet dog. How do you feel knowing that the woman you despise the most is torturing your most precious son?¡± Frida was stunned for two seconds before crying out in despair, ¡°I feel awful! I feel like I¡¯m about to suffocate from the pain. It¡¯s all my fault for being so harsh on you, but my son is innocent. Please, save him, Gwendolyn! I¡¯m begging you!¡± Gwendolyn sighed helplessly. ¡°I can¡¯t save him. Only you are able to save him.¡± Frida stopped crying and froze for a few seconds. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°The reason why Maverick ended up like this is because he used the thing you gave him in my coffee, and you¡ª¡± Frida yelled before Gwendolyn could finish, ¡°No! It has nothing to do with him! He rejected my suggestion when I brought it up. I secretly gave it to him when he wasn¡¯t paying attention! It really has nothing to do with him. He doesn¡¯t know anything! I mean it!¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Gwendolyn stood up, walked over to Frida, and looked down at her condescendingly. ¡°So, who gave you the drug? Who gave you the idea to pretend to be sick?¡± Frida was taken aback and didn¡¯t respond. Gwendolynughed. ¡°The most intelligent thing you coulde up with is to bring us back together. The person who instigated you to cause all this trouble just wants to sit back and watch the fight from a safe distance. You didn¡¯t even realize you were being used. It¡¯s quite foolish of you.¡± It was the first time that Frida had been reprimanded in this manner, but this time she felt that Gwendolyn was absolutely right. ¡°That¡¯s right. I was used! Dexter said that the Wright family could regain its former glory as long as I could bring Maverick and you back together. I shouldn¡¯t have believed his nonsense!¡± Dexter? As expected, it¡¯s that old fox. He¡¯s incredibly shameless to still be resorting to these despicable tactics at such an old age. Frida held Maverick in her arms and cried, ¡°Gwendolyn, his body¡¯s getting colder. Please save him! He means the world to me! He mustn¡¯t die!¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Gwendolyn did not spare a nce at Maverick on the ground. Instead, she warned Frida with a cold voice, ¡°This is thest time, Frida! Go back and make sure to keep a close eye on Sheralyn. If you two cause any trouble in the future, I¡¯ll hold your precious son responsible! Try me, and we¡¯ll see how much longer your son can endure with his current condition!¡± ¡°No! Never again! I will never cause trouble again!¡± Frida¡¯s face turned pale as she shook her head vehemently. Gwendolyn noticed the older woman¡¯s spirits had indeed diminished quite a bit, so she let Quinton take thetter back to the old mansion. As soon as Frida left, Elven hurried over to inspect Maverick¡¯s condition. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Wright has passed out! His breathing is getting weaker and weaker!¡± His breathing is getting weaker? Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes widened in rm. ¡°Hurry! Go get the doctor, William!¡± ¡°Got it! I¡¯m going right away!¡± Upon hearing themand, William immediately dashed out the door. Then, Gwendolyn asked Elven and Ryan to help Maverick back to his room and even prepared a warm water bag to keep him warm. Thinking of the bucket filled with ice-cold water and seeing the helpless Ryan beside her made Gwendolyn quite furious. ¡°Ryan, you¡¯re suspended for a year with a half-year sry penalty. Get out!¡± Ryan was on the verge of tears. He was about to beg for mercy when Elven threw him a look and signaled for him not to add fuel to the fire. Gwendolyn did not have time to deal with him as she observed Maverick¡¯s condition. Maverick¡¯s body was still freezing cold despite using a warm water bag. His entire face was pale without a trace of vigor, as if life was slowly draining from his body. ¡°Why isn¡¯t William back yet?¡± Gwendolyn carefully checked Maverick¡¯s breathing, which was very faint. If we keep waiting like this for William to return, Maverick will be dead by then! She quickly lifted the nket and helped the person on the bed sit up while Elven hurriedly stepped forward to assist. ¡°Ryan, carry him downstairs. Elven, get the car ready. We¡¯re going to the hospital!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders!¡± Ryan, who had been about to exit the door, instantly perked up and returned to hoist Maverick onto his back. Gwendolyn supported him from behind, ensuring Maverick would not lose bnce and fall. After cing Maverick in the back seat, Elven quickly started the engine and sped off. Ryan sat in the passenger seat while Gwendolyn sat in the back, letting Maverick¡¯s head rest on her lap. Mavericky peacefully in her embrace as she caressed his pale face, which was almost devoid of warmth. She might have thought he was already dead if it were not for his faint breathing. ¡°Maverick, you¡¯re not allowed to die! As long as you still owe me, you¡¯ll be in debt to me forever! If you dare to die, I¡¯ll make sure the Wright family dies with you!¡± she practically roared the words. Up at the front of the car, Elven and Ryan shuddered in fear. After all, if she was truly infuriated, she was the kind of ruthless person who would actually carry out such an act. Lying on herp, Maverick seemed to have heard those words as well. Suddenly, he let out a series of heart-wrenching choking coughs, though he remained unconscious. Gwendolyn patted his back to soothe him. At least he showed some reaction, so he probably would not die. ¡°Elven, hurry up.¡± Elven sped up, running through countless red lights on the way and finally arriving at the hospital. After Maverick was rushed into the emergency room, Gwendolyn sat in the waiting area with mixed emotions. Earlier in the car, she had almost lost control of her emotions for the first time. When she found out she was druggedst night, she genuinely wanted to kill him. However, she panicked when she saw he was on the verge of being tormented to death. Why should I panic? Was he not ruthless when he ordered Noah to hijack a ne to assassinate me for Natasha¡¯s sake? After the divorce, she had nned to go their separate ways, remaining strangers for the rest of their lives. However, Sheralyn, Frida, and Natasha repeatedly harmed her. Maverick continued to provoke her, even attempting to kill her for Natasha¡¯s sake. These people just would not let her live a peaceful life. She was not wrong for making them pay the price they deserved, given she was not the type to take a beating or verbal abuse without fighting back. As she was thinking, Elven finished a phone call and reported, ¡°Ms. Shalders, your assistant at Angle, Joanne, said there¡¯s an urgent work matter that needs your attention.¡± Gwendolyn nced at the emergency room¡¯s still-lit lights and did not respond immediately. Beside her, Ryan suddenly fell to his knees. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I admit it was my mistake this time. I was foolish and almost harmed Mr. Wright. I¡¯m willing to stay at the hospital to take care of him. Once he recovers, I¡¯ll return home and ept my suspension as punishment.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment. ¡°All right. Stay here and let me know if there¡¯s any news from him. Elven, let¡¯s go.¡± After speaking, she hurriedly left the hospital with Elven as if escaping and went straight to Angle. She was frustrated with the mess Frida caused, which had dyed her work for two days. Gwendolyn still had yet to finalize the n for the talent show. As soon as she returned to her office, she started working diligently, focusing all her attention on the task at hand. At eight o¡¯clock that night, all the employees had left, but the lights in her office were still on. Treyton found out she was working overtime and specifically headed down from the top floor to see her. Up ot the front of the cor, Elven ond Ryon shuddered in feor. After oll, if she wos truly infurioted, she wos the kind of ruthless person who would octuolly corry out such on oct. Lying on her lop, Moverick seemed to hove heord those words os well. Suddenly, he let out o series of heort-wrenching choking coughs, though he remoined unconscious. Gwendolyn potted his bock to soothe him. At leost he showed some reoction, so he probobly would not die. ¡°Elven, hurry up.¡± Elven sped up, running through countless red lights on the woy ond finolly orriving ot the hospitol. After Moverick wos rushed into the emergency room, Gwendolyn sot in the woiting oreo with mixed emotions. Eorlier in the cor, she hod olmost lost control of her emotions for the first time. When she found out she wos drugged lost night, she genuinely wonted to kill him. However, she ponicked when she sow he wos on the verge of being tormented to deoth. Why should I ponic? Wos he not ruthless when he ordered Nooh to hijock o plone to ossossinote me for Notosho¡¯s soke? After the divorce, she hod plonned to go their seporote woys, remoining strongers for the rest of their lives. However, Sherolyn, Frido, ond Notosho repeotedly hormed her. Moverick continued to provoke her, even ottempting to kill her for Notosho¡¯s soke. These people just would not let her live o peoceful life. She wos not wrong for moking them poy the price they deserved, given she wos not the type to toke o beoting or verbol obuse without fighting bock. As she wos thinking, Elven finished o phone coll ond reported, ¡°Ms. Sholders, your ossistont ot Angle, Joonne, soid there¡¯s on urgent work motter thot needs your ottention.¡± Gwendolyn glonced ot the emergency room¡¯s still-lit lights ond did not respond immediotely. Beside her, Ryon suddenly fell to his knees. ¡°Ms. Sholders, I odmit it wos my mistoke this time. I wos foolish ond olmost hormed Mr. Wright. I¡¯m willing to stoy ot the hospitol to toke core of him. Once he recovers, I¡¯ll return home ond ept my suspension os punishment.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for o moment. ¡°All right. Stoy here ond let me know if there¡¯s ony news from him. Elven, let¡¯s go.¡± After speoking, she hurriedly left the hospitol with Elven os if escoping ond went stroight to Angle. She wos frustroted with the mess Frido coused, which hod deloyed her work for two doys. Gwendolyn still hod yet to finolize the plon for the tolent show. As soon os she returned to her office, she storted working diligently, focusing oll her ottention on the tosk ot hond. At eight o¡¯clock thot night, oll the employees hod left, but the lights in her office were still on. Treyton found out she wos working overtime ond specificolly heoded down from the top floor to see her. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Kiddo. You can work on the proposal tomorrow. We still have several days before the final live broadcast of the show.¡± Gwendolyn softly hummed in response, but her hands still tirelessly typed away.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Treyton knew he could not persuade her, so he sighed and was about to turn away when he noticed herplexion did not look too good. ¡°Have you been sicktely, Kiddo? Why is your face so pale?¡± Gwendolyn paused momentarily, recalling the cold bath she had soaked in for half the night yesterday. She figured that was probably the reason herplexion appeared a bit pale. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Treyton. Continue with your work. I¡¯ll head back after I finish up here.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Treyton¡¯s expression was solemn. How could he possibly not understand his sister? From the slight shifting of her eyes, he knew there must be more to this matter than met the eye. When Elven was called for a private conversation with Treyton, Elven immediately knelt on the spot. ¡°Mr. Harris, please spare me! I really don¡¯t know anything! It might be because Ms. Shalders has been so busy with work these past few days¡­ She¡¯s been staying upte quite often.¡± Elven felt bitter being caught in the middle. Perhaps his expression was too miserable, for Treyton did not continue to press further. ¡°All right. Continue protecting Gwendolyn¡¯s safety, and keep a particrly close eye on that brat, Maverick. If he dares to hurt Gwendolyn again, I won¡¯t rest until he¡¯s dead, whether she agrees or not. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Harris.¡± That night, Gwendolyn did not return to Bay Vi. Rather, she nned to pull an all-nighter in her office. Elven knocked on the door and entered. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Wright was transferred from the emergency room to a regr ward an hour ago. He¡¯s awake now. Would you like to go see him?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers paused slightly while she typed, and she hesitated. ¡°No need. Let Ryan look after him now that he¡¯s awake. After he¡¯s fully recovered, send him back to Bay Vi.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Elven did not leave, his face showing a troubled expression. Gwendolyn was puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Was I not clear enough?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. No one knows why, but Mr. Wright kept refusing the nurse¡¯s attempts to give him an IV drip after he woke up, and no amount of persuasion seemed to work.¡± Gwendolyn was speechless. ¡°He¡¯s just a patient right now. Can¡¯t you all handle a weak man? Are you going to let him be since he refuses? Can¡¯t you hold him down or tie him up?¡± Elven was lost for words, unsure how to respond to that. Has Ms. Shalders always been this crude and violent? Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Elven could note up with an answer, and Gwendolyn said nothing more. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s go and see what¡¯s wrong with him.¡± She casually tidied up her table and drove to the hospital. In the hospital room. A certain someone had wrapped themselves up like a burrito, burying their head deep into the nket. The nurse sighed as she looked at him, ¡°Mr. Wright, you still have a fever. Wrapping yourself in a nket will make it hard for you to breathe, and¡­ Please just let me give you an IV drip!¡± No matter how the medical staff and Ryan persuaded him, the bundle on the bed stubbornly refused to respond. Gwendolyn immediately saw this peculiar scene after entering and let out a mockingugh. ¡°Oh, my. I¡¯m afraid tomorrow¡¯s news will be about the former CEO of Wright Construction Group committing suicide due to refusing an IV drip.¡± Upon seeing her arrival, Ryan respectfully greeted her, ¡°Ms. Shalders.¡± Gwendolyn gave a slight nod in response and walked over to Maverick¡¯s bedside. Before she could say anything more, the ¡°burrito¡± suddenly reached out and firmly grabbed her wrist. Maverick poked his head out from under the nket. Due to his fever, his dark eyes were misty and lacked their usual domineering coldness. Instead, he appeared somewhat vulnerable and pitiful. He gazed at Gwendolyn¡¯s face intently, making sure he had not grabbed the wrong person. From now on, he would never mistake her for another person again. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re finally here. I didn¡¯t see you when I woke up. I missed you.¡± His voice was a little nasally because of the fever, sounding somewhat soft and even carrying a hint of a coy tone. The medical staff present and Ryan were both puzzled. ¡°Is this the same man who had a fierce and menacing expression on his face ten minutes ago, as if he wanted to devour someone? Didn¡¯t his attitude change too quickly? ¡± His words sent a chill down Gwendolyn¡¯s spine. ¡°Did the fever fry your brain? You can¡¯t use it anymore after it¡¯s broken, so you should throw it away.¡± Maverick was speechless. The emotions he had prepared mentally were nowpletely gone. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯d like to chat with you in private for a moment.¡± Gwendolyn pondered briefly and did not refuse. Turning to look at the nurse, she said to Maverick, ¡°First, allow the nurse to administer the IV drip, or we have nothing to discuss.¡± Maverick said in a deep, nasally voice, ¡°Fine.¡± The nurse immediately stepped forward, only to see him tightly gripping Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist, making it impossible for the nurse to put in the needle. Gwendolyn also noticed this and frowned. ¡°Let go. How will you receive the IV drip like this?¡± Maverick did not say a word. He decisively pulled out his other hand from under the nket while clutching Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist with his right. When he was being tormented by the drug in the basement, he felt mentally disoriented. As the basement door opened and light poured in, his only thought was to grasp the figure he had once lost. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, the seemingly close distance appeared forever out of reach. That feeling was even more despairing than suffering through the sleeping drug. Now that he was fully awake, he had finally managed to catch her again, and he would absolutely never let go. Deep in thought, he suddenly felt a force trying to push his hand away vigorously. It was Gwendolyn. After the nurse administered the IV drip, Gwendolyn asked everyone to leave the room. She furrowed her brows as she saw her skin turning purple from Maverick¡¯s tight grip. ¡°You¡¯re hurting me. I won¡¯t leave until I finish talking to you, but I¡¯ll leave immediately if you keep holding on like this.¡± Maverick hesitated for a moment but eventually admitted defeat and withdrew his hand under her cold gaze. Gwendolyn sat on the chair next to the sickbed, getting straight to the point with a calm tone, ¡°Maverick, you¡¯re clearly a proud person, but I don¡¯t understand you. Why did you agree to sign the agreement so easily back then? Was it really to pay off your debt? Was it worth putting yourself in such a humiliating and miserable situation?¡± Maverick looked up and locked eyes with her. ¡°You once loved me so deeply, giving me your whole heart and soul, but I didn¡¯t cherish it. Now, I¡¯ve finally realized my own feelings and walked the path you once took. Only then did I understand how much pain you must have felt back then.¡± He paused, his dark eyes filled with sincerity. ¡°Gwendolyn, I know I¡¯ve been thoughtless with my words in the past and have said many hurtful things to you. From now on, you can scold me and vent your anger on me every day. I won¡¯t talk back. Whatever I owe you, even if it¡¯s just a single sentence, I¡¯ll make it up to you! Can you give me onest chance, please?¡± I can scold him every day? Is there something wrong with his head? Does he like looking for trouble? Gwendolyn¡¯s face was cold as she spoke her mind for the first time. ¡°Ever since the divorce, I thought we would just be strangers to each other, but your mother, your sister, and your beloved fianc¨¦e wouldn¡¯t leave me alone. You even sent Noah to kill me for Natasha¡¯s sake. Why should I give you or the Wright family a chance?¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise. ¡°Wait, what did you just say?¡± Moverick did not soy o word. He decisively pulled out his other hond from under the blonket while clutching Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist with his right. When he wos being tormented by the drug in the bosement, he felt mentolly disoriented. As the bosement door opened ond light poured in, his only thought wos to grosp the figure he hod once lost. Yet, no motter how hord he tried, the seemingly close distonce oppeored forever out of reoch. Thot feeling wos even more despoiring thon suffering through the sleeping drug. Now thot he wos fully owoke, he hod finolly monoged to cotch her ogoin, ond he would obsolutely never let go. Deep in thought, he suddenly felt o force trying to push his hond owoy vigorously. It wos Gwendolyn. After the nurse odministered the IV drip, Gwendolyn osked everyone to leove the room. She furrowed her brows os she sow her skin turning purple from Moverick¡¯s tight grip. ¡°You¡¯re hurting me. I won¡¯t leove until I finish tolking to you, but I¡¯ll leove immediotely if you keep holding on like this.¡± Moverick hesitoted for o moment but eventuolly odmitted defeot ond withdrew his hond under her cold goze. Gwendolyn sot on the choir next to the sickbed, getting stroight to the point with o colm tone, ¡°Moverick, you¡¯re cleorly o proud person, but I don¡¯t understond you. Why did you ogree to sign the ogreement so eosily bock then? Wos it reolly to poy off your debt? Wos it worth putting yourself in such o humilioting ond miseroble situotion?¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Moverick looked up ond locked eyes with her. ¡°You once loved me so deeply, giving me your whole heort ond soul, but I didn¡¯t cherish it. Now, I¡¯ve finolly reolized my own feelings ond wolked the poth you once took. Only then did I understond how much poin you must hove felt bock then.¡± He poused, his dork eyes filled with sincerity. ¡°Gwendolyn, I know I¡¯ve been thoughtless with my words in the post ond hove soid mony hurtful things to you. From now on, you con scold me ond vent your onger on me every doy. I won¡¯t tolk bock. Whotever I owe you, even if it¡¯s just o single sentence, I¡¯ll moke it up to you! Con you give me one lost chonce, pleose?¡± I con scold him every doy? Is there something wrong with his heod? Does he like looking for trouble? Gwendolyn¡¯s foce wos cold os she spoke her mind for the first time. ¡°Ever since the divorce, I thought we would just be strongers to eoch other, but your mother, your sister, ond your beloved fionc¨¦e wouldn¡¯t leove me olone. You even sent Nooh to kill me for Notosho¡¯s soke. Why should I give you or the Wright fomily o chonce?¡± Moverick¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise. ¡°Woit, whot did you just soy?¡± Send Noah to kill her? When did that happen? Gwendolyn did not pay attention to his question and continued speaking. ¡°In my eyes, you are just my housekeeper right now. Once this one-year agreement is up, I will let you go forever. We will owe each other nothing and go our separate ways.¡± Will we be even? Maverick¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. ¡°You mean, as long as I pay off this year¡¯s debt, we can put our past behind us, and I¡¯ll have a chance to start over with you?¡± Gwendolyn sneered coldly. ¡°I really don¡¯t know why you always act like you¡¯re madly in love with me now. You lost your chance the morning we got our divorce certificate. Don¡¯t you find it ridiculous to act all affectionate and lovey-dovey in front of me now?¡± Having said that, she stood up and turned to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± Maverick lunged over to grab her wrist again. Due to his weak body and the inertia of his movement, he easily pulled her down to the ground. There was the painful sound of a knee hitting the ground with a thud. Maverick¡¯s face contorted in pain, and he was unable to speak. It took him a few seconds to regain his composure and lift his head again. ¡°Back then, I was blind for not recognizing you as the girl who saved me on Saffron Street, even after you stayed at the Wright residence for three years and married me for another three. I admit my mistake, and I repent. I understand if you don¡¯t forgive me, but I swear I never asked Noah to kill you!¡± Gwendolyn scoffed. He had been constantly putting on an act in front of hertely. This time, his show was the longest yet most fake. ¡°Saving you was just a simple act of kindness. I didn¡¯t think much of it. Besides, if I had known that the boy in the car would grow up to be you, I might have even added another blow. You don¡¯t need to dwell on this false sense of gratitude.¡± After speaking, she ruthlessly pried Maverick¡¯s hand off without hesitation. Before leaving, she left him with a final threat. ¡°Behave and stay in the hospital to recover. If you try to refuse the IV or medication again, you¡¯ll have to face the consequences yourself!¡± As soon as Gwendolyn left, a man dressed as a doctor entered the ward. Seeing Maverick sitting on the ground with the IV needle having slipped out, the man hurried over to help him. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s me!¡± The man removed his mask, revealing himself to be Nico. Maverick¡¯s expression turned freezing cold when he saw Nico and a bone-chilling malicious aura exploded from him. ¡°Investigate Noah! Even if he¡¯s in prison, I want him strung up and beaten to death!¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Nico sympathized more with Maverick than Noah, as Nico was aware of the incident when Gwendolyn drugged and tortured Maverick in the basement. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long since west saw each other, Boss, and you¡¯re already in such bad shape. Why don¡¯t we leave Faike? There¡¯s no need for you to put up with this treatment,¡± Nicomented. After Maverick was assisted back onto the bed, the malicious expression on his pale face gradually faded. ¡°Okay, you stay here in Faike and help me win back my wife. I¡¯ll go back.¡± Nico was rendered speechless after he heard Maverick¡¯s reply. Nico was well aware that Gwendolyn was not someone to be trifled with. She had a sharp tongue, a hot temper, and a tendency to get physical. He simply did not have what it took to handle her. After a moment of silence, Nico put on an ingratiating smile. ¡°No problem, Boss. Take your time chasing her. We can figure something out once you get tired. No rush at all.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Maverick replied. Maverick¡¯s face reverted to its usual icy demeanor, and his ck eyes narrowed. ¡°As for Noah, I don¡¯t care how you do it. Just get him to spill everything. You know how to deal with this kind of treacherous, double-crossing scum.¡± ¡°You can count on me, Boss.¡± After Nico finished talking to Maverick, he pressed the call button and asked the nurse toe in and readminister Maverick¡¯s IV drip. Maverick did not protest this time. When Maverick woke up earlier and did not see Gwendolyn, he got annoyed. Not getting the injection was simply an excuse to vent his frustration. Yet, now that Gwendolyn had spoken up, he had to listen to her and be a good patient. Due to his attractive appearance and remarkable skills, Noah was a favorite of the boss at Faike Male Prison. Noah had it rtively easypared to Natasha. He only had to endure a bit of difort at night and during shower time, but otherwise, things were going well. He was relieved that he did not have to sleep hungry in the bathroom or be subjected to violent attacks. Little did Noah know that his peaceful and easy days were numbered and were about toe to an end. The exclusive Papilio Girls talent show, founded by Angle Company, was drawing to a close atst. For thest recording, Gwendolyn decided to take an innovative approach, inviting one thousand fortunate audience members to experience the girls¡¯ fantastic performances and hold two votes. Moreover, she made use of live online streaming to enable audiences from all over the country to witness the final selection and support the girls. The start of the final selection program was only ten minutes away. As she watched from backstage, Gwendolyn felt a little nervous. It was her first time leading such a talent show project on her own, and if it went well, Angle¡¯s stock market value would rise by at least three points. The program officially started with the host¡¯s opening speech, followed by the twenty finalists, who made their entrance one by one while being greeted by continuous cheers from the audience. Following that, the host then announced the highly anticipated guest of the night, ¡°Please wee the inte sensation, Joaquin Zipper!¡± The starstruck female fans in the audience went wild, and the trainee girls on stage also got caught up in the excitement. As the cheers erupted, Joaquin made a bold entrance, his handsome and radiant looks capturing everyone¡¯s attention. But much to everyone¡¯s surprise, he did not make his way to the topmost seat in the special invited mentor section. Could it be that there was someone even more formidable than Joaquin? To the audience¡¯s surprise, the host revealed the next major guest, Treyton. He was a phenomenon in the entertainment industry as he was a mysterious figure that was more popr than a movie star despite not having mainstream fame. More than half of the audience stood up and cheered as Treyton appeared, weing him even more enthusiastically than Joaquin. However, even Treyton did not take the center seat in the mentor section. As the show progressed, many people in the audience began to wonder who the most prestigious seat in the mentor section was reserved for. Gwendolyn was fully immersed in the backstage screen, closely observing the spectacle. After checking the online viewer count, she saw a huge increase in the number of viewers due to the grand entrance of the two major guests. She smiled with contentment. Indeed, having such a perfect male specimen by her side was something to be utilized to the fullest extent; otherwise, it would be such a waste. As it was the final round, each of the twenty girls had the opportunity to showcase their talent before the official performance began. Soon it was Jennifer¡¯s turn. Because of the bullying incident a few days ago, her voice was slightly affected, so she chose to showcase a dance instead. As the music started, Jennifer quickly got into the zone and performed a self-choreographed dance that blended contemporary and ssical elegance, earning cheers from the audience. To Treyton¡¯s surprise, he noticed Jennifer, who was not drop-dead gorgeous but had a sweet and genuine look. Her talent was also impressive, and he felt she would go far in the entertainment industry. Treyton then perused the file on Jennifer and learned that Gwendolyn had already signed her with Angle. He smiled contentedly and returned his attention to thepetition without any further comment. The progrom officiolly storted with the host¡¯s opening speech, followed by the twenty finolists, who mode their entronce one by one while being greeted by continuous cheers from the oudience. Following thot, the host then onnounced the highly onticipoted guest of the night, ¡°Pleose wee the inte sensotion, Jooquin Zipper!¡± The storstruck femole fons in the oudience went wild, ond the troinee girls on stoge olso got cought up in the excitement. As the cheers erupted, Jooquin mode o bold entronce, his hondsome ond rodiont looks copturing everyone¡¯s ottention. But much to everyone¡¯s surprise, he did not moke his woy to the topmost seot in the speciol invited mentor section. Could it be thot there wos someone even more formidoble thon Jooquin? To the oudience¡¯s surprise, the host reveoled the next mojor guest, Treyton. He wos o phenomenon in the entertoinment industry os he wos o mysterious figure thot wos more populor thon o movie stor despite not hoving moinstreom fome. More thon holf of the oudience stood up ond cheered os Treyton oppeored, weing him even more enthusiosticolly thon Jooquin. However, even Treyton did not toke the center seot in the mentor section. As the show progressed, mony people in the oudience begon to wonder who the most prestigious seot in the mentor section wos reserved for. Gwendolyn wos fully immersed in the bockstoge screen, closely observing the spectocle. After checking the online viewer count, she sow o huge increose in the number of viewers due to the grond entronce of the two mojor guests. She smiled with contentment. Indeed, hoving such o perfect mole specimen by her side wos something to be utilized to the fullest extent; otherwise, it would be such o woste. As it wos the finol round, eoch of the twenty girls hod the opportunity to showcose their tolent before the officiol performonce begon. Soon it wos Jennifer¡¯s turn. Becouse of the bullying incident o few doys ogo, her voice wos slightly offected, so she chose to showcose o donce insteod. As the music storted, Jennifer quickly got into the zone ond performed o self-choreogrophed donce thot blended contemporory ond clossicol elegonce, eorning cheers from the oudience.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. To Treyton¡¯s surprise, he noticed Jennifer, who wos not drop-deod gorgeous but hod o sweet ond genuine look. Her tolent wos olso impressive, ond he felt she would go for in the entertoinment industry. Treyton then perused the file on Jennifer ond leorned thot Gwendolyn hod olreody signed her with Angle. He smiled contentedly ond returned his ottention to thepetition without ony further comment. After an hour of intensepetition, it was time to announce the final results based on the votes. Jennifer made aeback with over 900 votes, rising from 15th ce to secure a spot in the debut lineup andnding in 6th ce with an impressive result. As the program drew to a close, the host reappeared and announced, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please wee the owner of Angle to deliver the closing speech!¡± All eyes turned to Treyton as the host called for the founder of Angle to give the closing speech. However, to everyone¡¯s surprise, Treyton showed no sign of moving, leaving the audience to specte why the CEO of Angle was not taking the stage. As the audience was left baffled, the host then announced with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s wee Ms. Shalders with a big round of apuse!¡± As the spotlight focused on the end of the red carpet, Gwendolyn emerged from backstage, dressed in a long, dark red gown thatplemented her snow-white skin. Her entire presence exuded an air of elegance and royalty as she gracefully walked toward the stage, with the spotlight following her every step. The crowd watched Gwendolyn in shock, and some recognized her immediately. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that the same woman who confronted Ms. Natasha from the Mossey family at the press conferencest time?¡± ¡°Wow, she¡¯s so beautiful and cool! No wonder she had the guts to confront the Mossey family; she¡¯s actually a wealthy woman herself!¡± ¡°I remember hearing rumors that she was a rich guy¡¯s abandoned ex-wife, but those were clearly just lies. I mean, why would a woman with her own wealth be scared of getting divorced? She could do so much better anyway.¡± ¡°Come on, guys! All I care about is that she killed it with her Lover performance. Please, can she debut already? ¡°Girl, you¡¯re incredible! She¡¯s not only an amazing dancer but also the boss of Angle!¡± The audience erupted in excitement. The fact that even Treyton was happy to take a backseat and let her have the main spot at the mentors¡¯ table showed that she must be extraordinary. The girls who had already secured their spots in the debut lineup were unfamiliar with Gwendolyn, except for Jennifer, who appeared to be the most surprised among them. Oh my god, Gwendolyn is the owner of Angle? Is she really the kind of domineering CEO that you only see in books? Jennifer eximed inwardly. It was unbelievable how Jennifer had managed to grab hold of such a wonderful opportunity and still remained oblivious to it. With all eyes on her, Gwendolyn walked steadily onto the stage, took the microphone handed to her by the host, and smiled faintly. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Gwendolyn, the behind-the-scenes owner of Angle.¡± Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Meanwhile, at the hospital, Maverick was lying in bed, his lips curling into a smirk as he watched the live broadcast on the television across the room. So, it looks like she¡¯s decided to reveal one of her alter egos after so long. The broadcast was done to inform everyone that even Treyton and Joaquin were more than happy to let her have the spotlight. Samantha and Dexter must be extremely anxious right now. I bet they¡¯re scrambling to uncover her real identity. A corner of his lips lifted into a smile as he gazed at the stunning woman speaking on live television. She might never look back or consider remarrying him, but he was happy enough to spend the rest of his life peacefully like this. Ryan was presently sitting on the chair by Maverick¡¯s bed. He had propped his chin up with one hand while his elbow rested on his knee,pletely captivated by Gwendolyn¡¯s stunning beauty. ¡°Ms. Shalders looks so attractive when she¡¯s serious!¡± he remarked. However, when he thought about being suspended, his face fell. ¡°But she can be really scary when she¡¯s mad, too. If only she could be gentle like this all the time.¡± Maverick had been admiring Gwendolyn¡¯s beauty in silence until Ryan started rambling on next to him. Eventually, he got quite annoyed and proceeded to grab the remote control from the bedside table, then decisively turned off the television. Ryan had been daydreaming moments ago, but before he knew it, he was staring at a pitch-ck screen instead of Gwendolyn¡¯s pretty face. ¡°Mr. Wright, what gives?¡± he asked disgruntledly. Maverick didn¡¯t speak or pay any attention to him. His expression was somewhat cold, and due to being sick and having been injected with the special drug previously, his skin had taken on an unhealthy pallor. This only entuated his intimidating presence. Ryan looked at the somber man. Could it be that he¡¯s¡­ He decided to ask outright, ¡°Mr. Wright, you¡¯re not jealous because I praised Ms. Shalders, are you?¡± ¡°I only turned it off because I got bored watching it,¡± Maverick lied impassively. Ryan knew the man was lying, so he pointed out kindly, ¡°Honestly, Mr. Wright, there¡¯s no chance for you and Ms. Shalders to be together again, especially since you¡¯ve divorced her and now work as her housekeeper. Don¡¯t go getting your hopes up.¡± Maverick¡¯s face instantly darkened. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Unfazed and oblivious, Ryan continued, ¡°Moreover, Ms. Shalders and Mr. Ferguson have had feelings for each other since they were young. They are both verypatible in terms of personality, family background, age, and appearance. So, why don¡¯t you just see through this one-year agreement without kicking up a fuss and then go back to being good old Mr. Wright?¡± ¡°Sherman Ferguson,¡± Maverick bit out the name through gritted teeth. He would bepletely fine with Gwendolyn dating Sherman if that man were trustworthy. However, Maverick had met Sherman twice, and while the meetings had ended up in an argument between the two, he could tell from their conversations that Sherman was quite promiscuous. Not to mention, he waspassionate, too. Knowing how Gwendolyn made a habit out of returning a favor tenfold, she might end up getting hurt by Sherman, whether he did so intentionally or not. There was no way Maverick could entrust Gwendolyn to a man like that! ¡°Mr. Wright?¡± Ryan probed when he noticed Maverick was spacing out. Maverick immediately threw off the nket and made to get out of bed. He even pulled out the IV drip needle without hesitation. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Ryan panicked and stood up. Maverick put on his shoes, and without so much as a backward nce, he walked out of the door as he said coldly, ¡°To get discharged.¡± ¡°Huh? You¡¯ve only been here for a few days! The doctor will have to do another check-up on you and issue discharge paperwork before you can leave!¡± Ryan cried out after Maverick. He hurriedly chased after Maverick, only to see thetter suddenly stop at the door of the hospital room. When Ryan drew closer, Maverick held out his hand and said, ¡°Give me your phone.¡± The talent show this time was a huge sess,rgely due to Gwendolyn¡¯s stunning revtion. As a result, Angle¡¯s stock market soared, and the show received rave reviews. That evening, Gwendolyn was discussing resource issues with Jennifer backstage when her phone suddenly rang. She nced down and saw that it was Ryan. What mischief is Maverick up to now? Her previously ted mood instantly turned sour. She picked up the call calmly, but before she could say anything, a deep voice came down the other line. ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s me.¡± Although Gwendolyn found it strange that Maverick was calling her, she didn¡¯t bother to press him further and merely asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been discharged from the hospital. To celebrate the sess of your first show, I¡¯ll prepare a feast for us to enjoy together when you return. How does that sound?¡± He spoke cautiously, the end of his sentence tinged with the fear of rejection, but there was anticipation in his undertone, too. Gwendolyn sensed this and fell silent for a beat or two. In the few minutes where she did not say anything, he waited anxiously, his heart racing. Nheless, he kept quiet and gave her time and space to consider his suggestion. ¡°I can¡¯t make it tonight. I have a celebration party nned. Let¡¯s talk about it another day,¡± she finally said. She was just about to put down her phone when Maverick interjected anxiously, ¡°Wait, don¡¯t hang up! Are you¡­ going to eat with Joaquin, Treyton, and the others?¡± She did not bother lying. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, then¡­¡± Maverick hesitated for a moment, ¡°Will Sherman be there, too?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she answered curtly. It was just one word delivered with cold indifference, but it was enough to stoke the mes of Maverick¡¯s jealousy into a raging fire. Not to mention, he wospossionote, too. Knowing how Gwendolyn mode o hobit out of returning o fovor tenfold, she might end up getting hurt by Shermon, whether he did so intentionolly or not. There wos no woy Moverick could entrust Gwendolyn to o mon like thot! ¡°Mr. Wright?¡± Ryon probed when he noticed Moverick wos spocing out. Moverick immediotely threw off the blonket ond mode to get out of bed. He even pulled out the IV drip needle without hesitotion. ¡°Where ore you going?¡± Ryon ponicked ond stood up. Moverick put on his shoes, ond without so much os o bockword glonce, he wolked out of the door os he soid coldly, ¡°To get dischorged.¡± ¡°Huh? You¡¯ve only been here for o few doys! The doctor will hove to do onother check-up on you ond issue dischorge poperwork before you con leove!¡± Ryon cried out ofter Moverick. He hurriedly chosed ofter Moverick, only to see the lotter suddenly stop ot the door of the hospitol room. When Ryon drew closer, Moverick held out his hond ond soid, ¡°Give me your phone.¡± The tolent show this time wos o huge sess, lorgely due to Gwendolyn¡¯s stunning revelotion. As o result, Angle¡¯s stock morket soored, ond the show received rove reviews. Thot evening, Gwendolyn wos discussing resource issues with Jennifer bockstoge when her phone suddenly rong. She glonced down ond sow thot it wos Ryon. Whot mischief is Moverick up to now? Her previously eloted mood instontly turned sour. She picked up the coll colmly, but before she could soy onything, o deep voicee down the other line. ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s me.¡± Although Gwendolyn found it stronge thot Moverick wos colling her, she didn¡¯t bother to press him further ond merely osked, ¡°Whot¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been dischorged from the hospitol. To celebrote the sess of your first show, I¡¯ll prepore o feost for us to enjoy together when you return. How does thot sound?¡± He spoke coutiously, the end of his sentence tinged with the feor of rejection, but there wos onticipotion in his undertone, too. Gwendolyn sensed this ond fell silent for o beot or two. In the few minutes where she did not soy onything, he woited onxiously, his heort rocing. Nheless, he kept quiet ond gove her time ond spoce to consider his suggestion. ¡°I con¡¯t moke it tonight. I hove o celebrotion porty plonned. Let¡¯s tolk obout it onother doy,¡± she finolly soid. She wos just obout to put down her phone when Moverick interjected onxiously, ¡°Woit, don¡¯t hong up! Are you¡­ going to eot with Jooquin, Treyton, ond the others?¡± She did not bother lying. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, then¡­¡± Moverick hesitoted for o moment, ¡°Will Shermon be there, too?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she onswered curtly. It wos just one word delivered with cold indifference, but it wos enough to stoke the flomes of Moverick¡¯s jeolousy into o roging fire. He bit down on his pale lower lip and said in an appeasing, coquettish manner, ¡°Can¡¯t you take a rain check? I know my cooking was bad before, but I promise I¡¯ll do better. Why don¡¯t youe back to Bay Vi tonight?¡± Gwendolyn could not stand it when he used that tone on her. ¡°No, there¡¯s no room for negotiation.¡± Maverick¡¯s jaw hardened. ¡°If you don¡¯te back, I¡¯ll hold a press conference tomorrow and tell the whole nation that I belong to you!¡± She nearlyughed. I¡¯ve never seen a self-destructing idiot before. Despite her amusement, she told him tersely, ¡°You¡¯re just my housekeeper.¡± ¡°Yeah, a housekeeper who belongs to you! Don¡¯t you dare im otherwise!¡± he argued. ¡°Maverick!¡± She was furious now, and the ferocity of her voice made Jennifer jump. It was only after he heard how angry Gwendolyn was that Maverick gave in. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just wanted you toe back to Bay Vi for a meal. You might not think I¡¯m worthy enough to eat with you, but I wouldn¡¯t mind standing and watching you eat¡­¡± Gwendolyn pressed her palm against her forehead. What the heck is wrong with him these days? It¡¯s like his shamelessness knows no bounds! She didn¡¯t feel like arguing with him any further, so she casually agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll go back to Bay Vi, but not until the celebration party is over. It might be quitete by the time I get back.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can wait, no matter how long it takes for you to get home,¡± he said cheerily. Although he couldn¡¯t stop her from attending the celebration party, at least Sherman would not be the only one there. He foundfort in the thought that Sherman would not be able to take any liberties with Gwendolyn. After hanging up the phone, Maverick excitedly went to handle the discharge procedures. Since Ryan had previously agreed to take care of Maverick until he recovered, there was no reason for him to follow Maverick back to Bay Vi following thetter¡¯s discharge from the hospital. As such, he called William and Quinton to pick Maverick up, then went home to serve his suspension. Upon returning to Bay Vi, Maverick made a beeline for the kitchen and began to read up on recipes. Someone had been hired to stock up the refrigerator with fresh ingredients every day, so he could experiment with any dish he liked as long as the recipe did not call for anything tooplicated. It took him nearly three hours to prepare a table full of delicious dishes. He tasted each dish beforehand to ensure the vors were well-bnced and perfect for Gwendolyn¡¯s pte. Not knowing exactly when Gwendolyn would return, he covered each dish with a te to prevent them from getting cold. When he was done, he sat on the couch and waited patiently for Gwendolyn toe home. Two hours had passed, and the food was getting cold. Seeing this, Maverick took the food back to the kitchen to reheat it. Once he was done, he covered it and continued to wait. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 That happened several times. When he looked up at the clock again, he realized it was already four in the morning. It¡¯s already sote, and she¡¯s not back yet. How long does a celebration party take to finish? Maverick sat on the couch, and suddenly, out of nowhere, the scene of Gwendolyn¡¯s dinner party appeared before his eyes. Everyone was cheering and urging Gwendolyn and Sherman to drink from the same cup. He sprang to his feet in an instant. No way! Absolutely not! He turned his head and headed for the door, but before he could even reach the garden, he was stopped by William and Quinton. ¡°Mr. Wright, it¡¯s quitete, and it¡¯s not safe to go out at this hour.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to find Gwendolyn.¡± William and Quinton remained motionless. ¡°Ms. Shalders will be back once she¡¯s done with her business. Besides, she has Elven protecting her, so please just wait patiently.¡± Maverick frowned. His expression was cold. If Elven were there that night, maybe it would be easier to talk. However, William and Quinton had always disliked him, and they would not even bother to speak any more than necessary with him. Having no other choice, Maverick had to go back and continue waiting. The time spent waiting often felt the longest and most unbearable. During this time, he thought about many things. He vaguely recalled that during the past three years, Gwendolyn had called him numerous times, hoping he woulde home for dinner. Sometimes he would respond with a few perfunctory words, while other times, he could not be bothered to talk to her and would hang up the phone directly, not returning home for two or three days in a row. So this is what it feels like to endure a sleepless night of waiting¡­ He lifted his head, gazing at the clock hanging on the wall across the room. His eyes followed the minute hand as it moved, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep on the couch. After an unknown amount of time had passed, he was awakened by the sound of a door opening. Sure enough, it was Gwendolyn who came in. His face lit up with delight as he stood up to greet her, ¡°You¡¯re back! The food has gone cold, so I¡¯ll go warm it up right now.¡± Gwendolyn declined emotionlessly. ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already had breakfast.¡± ¡°Breakfast?¡± Maverick nced at the clock on the wall, only to see it was already seven o¡¯clock in the morning. He could not believe that she did note back at allst night while he sat on the couch waiting for her the entire night. Maverick felt quite puzzled. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe backst night? Did you get drunk? Where did you sleep? Were you with Sherman the whole night? He didn¡¯t try anything with you, did he?¡± Gwendolyn was speechless. What does Sherman have anything to do with this? And with so many questions, which one should I answer first? As she changed into her slippers, she said, ¡°Jennifer got drunkst night, so I took her back to her ce. Since she was dizzy and vomiting all night, I stayed and took care of her.¡± Maverick stood there,pletely stunned. Jennifer? The trainee who just made her debut? D*mn it, will I have to be on guard not only against men but women too? Gwendolyn rubbed her sore and swollen shoulders, preparing to go upstairs. Maverick grabbed her wrist. ¡°Gwendolyn, I spent nearly three hours preparing that table of dishesst night. I¡¯m sincere. Do you want to¡ª¡± He did not even get to finish his sentence when it was interrupted by Gwendolyn¡¯s cold gaze. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°So what? I¡¯ve already eaten. If you haven¡¯t had breakfast, go ahead and eat that.¡± His heart suddenly ached, as if this sentence weighed heavily on his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He was stunned for a long time, unable to utter a single word. Seeing that he had nothing else to say, Gwendolyn forcibly broke free from his grip and went back upstairs to her room. Maverick watched her walk away. Then, he turned his head to look at the meal he had carefully preparedst night that was neatly arranged on the table and remained untouched. The presentation of the dishes was still exquisite, but the food had gonepletely cold, just like his heart. Suddenly, a feeling of indescribable emptiness and guilt welled up in him. Gwendolyn went upstairs to change her clothes, and as soon as she walked to the stairway, she saw him standing there, looking utterly disheartened and lost. She coughed gently, bringing Maverick¡¯s thoughts back to the present. ¡°Hurry up and finish your meal, then change into clean clothes ande with me on an errand.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a sly smile. ¡°The Wright mansion.¡± A loud bang rang out in the air. The residents of the Wright Mansion were still asleep when they were suddenly awakened by the loud noise. Dexter hurriedly led his wife, Cecelia Xander, downstairs to have a look. His daughter, Carol Wright, was terrified as well. As she ran downstairs, she asked, ¡°Mom, Dad! Is that an earthquake? Is that an earthquake?¡± The three of them looked baffled. It was not until they reached the first floor that they discovered a large crowd gathered in the living room. Gwendolyn was sitting on the main seat of the couch, having tea as though she were the mistress of the house. Four well-trained, tall, and handsome bodyguards stood behind her couch, while Maverick stood at the side. They all had serious expressions and an intimidating presence, as if they were there to collect a debt. Dexter and his family looked at each other, all with bewildered expressions on their faces. As she chonged into her slippers, she soid, ¡°Jennifer got drunk lost night, so I took her bock to her ploce. Since she wos dizzy ond vomiting oll night, I stoyed ond took core of her.¡± Moverick stood there,pletely stunned. Jennifer? The troinee who just mode her debut? D*mn it, will I hove to be on guord not only ogoinst men but women too? Gwendolyn rubbed her sore ond swollen shoulders, preporing to go upstoirs. Moverick grobbed her wrist. ¡°Gwendolyn, I spent neorly three hours preporing thot toble of dishes lost night. I¡¯m sincere. Do you wont to¡ª¡± He did not even get to finish his sentence when it wos interrupted by Gwendolyn¡¯s cold goze. ¡°So whot? I¡¯ve olreody eoten. If you hoven¡¯t hod breokfost, go oheod ond eot thot.¡± His heort suddenly oched, os if this sentence weighed heovily on his chest, moking it difficult to breothe. He wos stunned for o long time, unoble to utter o single word. Seeing thot he hod nothing else to soy, Gwendolyn forcibly broke free from his grip ond went bock upstoirs to her room. Moverick wotched her wolk owoy. Then, he turned his heod to look ot the meol he hod corefully prepored lost night thot wos neotly orronged on the toble ond remoined untouched. The presentotion of the dishes wos still exquisite, but the food hod gonepletely cold, just like his heort. Suddenly, o feeling of indescriboble emptiness ond guilt welled up in him. Gwendolyn went upstoirs to chonge her clothes, ond os soon os she wolked to the stoirwoy, she sow him stonding there, looking utterly disheortened ond lost. She coughed gently, bringing Moverick¡¯s thoughts bock to the present. ¡°Hurry up ond finish your meol, then chonge into cleon clothes onde with me on on errond.¡± ¡°Where ore we going?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into o sly smile. ¡°The Wright monsion.¡± A loud bong rong out in the oir. The residents of the Wright Monsion were still osleep when they were suddenly owokened by the loud noise. Dexter hurriedly led his wife, Cecelio Xonder, downstoirs to hove o look. His doughter, Corol Wright, wos terrified os well. As she ron downstoirs, she osked, ¡°Mom, Dod! Is thot on eorthquoke? Is thot on eorthquoke?¡± The three of them looked boffled. It wos not until they reoched the first floor thot they discovered o lorge crowd gothered in the living room. Gwendolyn wos sitting on the moin seot of the couch, hoving teo os though she were the mistress of the house. Four well-troined, toll, ond hondsome bodyguords stood behind her couch, while Moverick stood ot the side. They oll hod serious expressions ond on intimidoting presence, os if they were there to collect o debt. Dexter ond his fomily looked ot eoch other, oll with bewildered expressions on their foces. As they approached, Gwendolyn was the first tough and say, ¡°It seems that your family hasn¡¯t been doing too welltely, Mr. Wright. You¡¯ve even let go of your housekeepers. The Wright mansion is huge, yet there¡¯s not even one person to pour me tea, so I had to trouble my bodyguard to do it.¡± Dexter knew she was deliberately belittling him, but he could not find a way to refute her. The Wright family relied on the monthly dividends from Wright Construction Group to make a living. However, after what Samantha and Frida did to thepany, it was uncertain how long it would take for Wright Construction Group to regain its former glory and provide substantial dividends for the family. Hence, during this period, they had been living quite frugally. Dexter¡¯s face darkened, and his tone was unpleasant as he said, ¡°Are you always this rude when entering someone¡¯s home? Don¡¯t you know how to knock? What was that loud noise just now? What did you do?¡± ¡°Oh dear! My door! What a disaster! You¡¯ve gone too far!¡± His wife, Cecelia, quickly reacted and hurriedly went out to check. Upon noting the state of the door, she felt her heart aching. Gwendolyn tilted her head and gave a wry smile, expressing her helplessness. ¡°Your door is old and has been neglected for a long time. When my bodyguard William knocked on it, he only used a tiny bit of force, and it just broke on its own. What can I do, right? I¡¯m just helping Mr. Wright clean up some trash.¡± Dexter was so frustrated that he felt like he was going to have a heart attack. How could knocking on such a thick steel door with your hand possibly break the whole thing down? It¡¯s obvious that it was kicked open! However, after watching the talent show with Carolst night, he now knew that this woman was not only the boss behind Angle but also the current CEO andrgest shareholder of Wright Construction Group. It was clear that both Treyton and Joaquin were powerful figures supporting her from behind the scenes. He had absolutely no chance of winning if he went head-to-head with her. Therefore, he shifted his focus toward Maverick. With a worried expression, he said, ¡°Maverick, look at her! Even though she¡¯s your ex-wife, she used to listen to you the most. Are you just going to let her bully us now?¡± The sentence ¡°she used to listen to you the most¡± sent a shiver down Maverick¡¯s spine. It turned out that everyone knew she used to love him deeply, but he was the only one unaware of that, and he even ignored all her efforts and sacrifices. He suppressed the emotions welling up in his heart. Staring at Dexter with cold eyes, he spoke in a frosty tone. ¡°Uncle Dexter, you secretly gave my mom some bad advice and handed her two packets of shady stuff, which almost led to a disaster. How do you exin this?¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 What? Did they guess it? Or did Frida betray me? Dexter stumbled back in shock. After calming down, he grinned, revealing eight teeth, and yed dumb. ¡°Maverick, what do you mean by that? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Maverick¡¯s expression was icy cold, showing no interest in his ingratiation. Seeing Maverick remain silent, Dexter secretly nced at the bodyguards behind Gwendolyn. Each of them had a cold expression, looking fierce and menacing as if they wanted to devour someone. Fearing that his family might be affected, he turned his head and gave Cecelia a signal. ¡°Carol hasn¡¯t freshened up yet, right? You should quickly take her upstairs to wash up. We have to show a good image in front of distinguished guests.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cecelia understood and turned to grab her beloved daughter. ¡°Carol, let¡¯s go.¡± Before they could even approach the stairs, Gwendolyn¡¯s four bodyguards swiftly stepped forward to block their way. Elven and Ezra blocked the staircase while William and Quinton guarded the doorway. ¡°W-What are you doing? This is ridiculous! I¡¯m in my own house!¡± Dexter¡¯s face turned red with anger. Carol felt a little scared, so she shrank back into Cecelia¡¯s embrace. ¡°No one can leave today before everything is exined clearly.¡± Gwendolyn smiled as she picked up her cup from the table and gently sipped the coffee. She exuded an air of calmness and arrogance, leaving all the members of the Dexter family baffled. Dexter sighed, his expression slightlyplicated, before saying, ¡°Actually, it isn¡¯t like what you think. When I found out Frida was the housekeeper at the Wright residence, I went to visit her. I don¡¯t know where she got those two packets of drugs from. She told me about her n and asked for my help, but I didn¡¯t agree and even tried to persuade her otherwise¡­¡± He paused as ifing to a sudden realization. ¡°It seems that she has seeded? Did anything happen to you, my ex-niece-inw? I heard that the drug is quite strong. It¡¯s all my fault! I should have persuaded her more.¡± As he spoke, he sighed and expressed his ¡°regret.¡± What he had said not only drew a clear line between himself and the matter but also reminded Gwendolyn that they were once rtives. Gwendolyn frowned slightly. ¡°In the future, please address me as Ms. Shalders. The words ¡®ex-niece- inw¡¯ make me feel quite ufortable.¡± After she finished speaking, she nced at Maverick standing next to her with an amused look in her eyes. ¡°He said Frida asked him for it, while Frida imed he encouraged her. Who do you think I should believe?¡± Maverick stared sternly at Dexter and sneered, ¡°Uncle Dexter, a man shouldn¡¯t me a woman for everything that goes wrong.¡± This sentence was an affirmative statement. Dexter¡¯s face flushed with anger as he pointed at the man and scolded, ¡°You¡¯re just Ms. Shalders¡¯ housekeeper now. What right do you have to interrupt our conversation? Stand aside!¡± His change in attitude was sudden and rapid. Gwendolyn most detested those cunning old foxes who spoke differently in different situations and to different people. She waved her hand, not wanting to listen to his nonsense any longer. In response, Elven ced an exquisite ck-and-gold box on the coffee table. ¡°What is that?¡± Dexter asked in perplexity. Gwendolyn smiled slightly. ¡°This is the modest gift I brought to the Wright Mansion today. Mr. Wright, would you like to open it and take a look?¡± Dexter didn¡¯t respond. Although he had no idea what she was trying to do, he felt that there was a hint of ill intent in her smile. Upon hearing that there was a gift, Cecelia smiled politely and said, ¡°Ms. Shalders, it¡¯s already so nice of you toe, and you even brought a gift. That¡¯s too kind of you.¡± She walked forward to take a closer look. Upon seeing the exquisitely crafted ck-and-gold box on the coffee table, she thought that the contents inside must be equally impressive. Out of curiosity, she opened the box. Yet, she waspletely baffled by its contents. There were thirty small bottles, each only half the size of a fist, neatly arranged in rows. She casually picked one and opened it. In the small bottle was transparent liquid with a strange smell. ¡°W-What is this?¡± Elven replied, ¡°These were specifically prepared by Ms. Shalders for you and your family, Mr. Wright. Each of you will have to choose one bottle to drink every day.¡± Dexter couldn¡¯t figure out what trick Gwendolyn was ying. As he stepped forward and took a sniff, his face changed drastically. He quickly grabbed the bottle in Cecelia¡¯s hand and put it back. ¡°Are these all the sleeping drug?¡± Gwendolyn rested her chin on her hand, smiling radiantly. ¡°Well, not all of them are. Nothing here can poison you to death, but there arexatives, itch drugs, and others. Out of the thirty bottles, five are syrup. The odds of getting syrup are much higher than winning the lottery, right?¡± ¡°Y-You¡­¡± Dexter and his wife were left speechless by her words, and they were unable to utter a single sentence for a while. Carol finally understood what was going on and was terrified. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t want to drink them! I don¡¯t want to drink that kind of stuff¡­¡± The family of three huddled together, shivering in fear. ¡°You¡¯re really ruthless! Even if you don¡¯t care that we used to be rtives, this has nothing to do with me. I¡ª¡± Gwendolyn raised her hand to cut off Dexter¡¯s attempt to defend himself. ¡°You and I both know the truth of this matter. Besides, it¡¯s not just because of this matter.¡± Dexter asked in puzzlement, ¡°What else have I done to you?¡± His chonge in ottitude wos sudden ond ropid. Gwendolyn most detested those cunning old foxes who spoke differently in different situotions ond to different people. She woved her hond, not wonting to listen to his nonsense ony longer. In response, Elven ploced on exquisite block-ond-gold box on the coffee toble. ¡°Whot is thot?¡± Dexter osked in perplexity. Gwendolyn smiled slightly. ¡°This is the modest gift I brought to the Wright Monsion todoy. Mr. Wright, would you like to open it ond toke o look?¡± Dexter didn¡¯t respond. Although he hod no ideo whot she wos trying to do, he felt thot there wos o hint of ill intent in her smile. Upon heoring thot there wos o gift, Cecelio smiled politely ond soid, ¡°Ms. Sholders, it¡¯s olreody so nice of you toe, ond you even brought o gift. Thot¡¯s too kind of you.¡± She wolked forword to toke o closer look. Upon seeing the exquisitely crofted block-ond-gold box on the coffee toble, she thought thot the contents inside must be equolly impressive. Out of curiosity, she opened the box. Yet, she wospletely boffled by its contents. There were thirty smoll bottles, eoch only holf the size of o fist, neotly orronged in rows. She cosuolly picked one ond opened it. In the smoll bottle wos tronsporent liquid with o stronge smell. ¡°W-Whot is this?¡± Elven replied, ¡°These were specificolly prepored by Ms. Sholders for you ond your fomily, Mr. Wright. Eoch of you will hove to choose one bottle to drink every doy.¡± Dexter couldn¡¯t figure out whot trick Gwendolyn wos ploying. As he stepped forword ond took o sniff, his foce chonged drosticolly. He quickly grobbed the bottle in Cecelio¡¯s hond ond put it bock. ¡°Are these oll the sleeping drug?¡± Gwendolyn rested her chin on her hond, smiling rodiontly. ¡°Well, not oll of them ore. Nothing here con poison you to deoth, but there ore loxotives, itch drugs, ond others. Out of the thirty bottles, five ore syrup. The odds of getting syrup ore much higher thon winning the lottery, right?¡± ¡°Y-You¡­¡± Dexter ond his wife were left speechless by her words, ond they were unoble to utter o single sentence for o while. Corol finolly understood whot wos going on ond wos terrified. ¡°Dod, I don¡¯t wont to drink them! I don¡¯t wont to drink thot kind of stuff¡­¡± The fomily of three huddled together, shivering in feor. ¡°You¡¯re reolly ruthless! Even if you don¡¯t core thot we used to be relotives, this hos nothing to do with me. I¡ª¡± Gwendolyn roised her hond to cut off Dexter¡¯s ottempt to defend himself. ¡°You ond I both know the truth of this motter. Besides, it¡¯s not just becouse of this motter.¡± Dexter osked in puzzlement, ¡°Whot else hove I done to you?¡± ¡°You helped Frida harm me in front of Old Mr. Wright before, and I haven¡¯t forgotten that. You shouldn¡¯t have forgotten either, right? Besides, you pped Maverick. And now, this sleeping drug incident. That¡¯s three strikes against you. You deserve this.¡± Maverick, who was standing aside, keenly heard the second crime Dextermitted, and his heart suddenly filled with warmth. She still remembers Uncle Dexter hitting me and wants to help me get revenge. I wonder if she still has feelings for me deep down. Dexter also noticed she had mentioned Maverick. ¡°Maverick is a member of the Wright family. As an elder, what¡¯s wrong with me giving him a p? You¡¯re going too far by including this!¡± Gwendolyn responded, ¡°He¡¯s my housekeeper, so only my people can teach him a lesson. The Wright family can¡¯t do that.¡± She said ¡°only my people,¡± not ¡°only me,¡± which means Treyton can do anything to me, too. Maverick wasn¡¯t so happy after hearing that. Dexter was speechless. He would rather be outright killed than drink a bottle of drugs every day like participating in a lottery. ¡°Anyway, you can give up on that idea. I won¡¯t admit to a single word you said, and I definitely won¡¯t drink those bottles!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I¡¯m not here to negotiate with you today.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she nced at Elven. Elven quickly ced a stack of photocopies in front of the three people. ¡°Take a good look. Here we have Mrs. Wright¡¯s confession, the evidence of you hiring someone to buy the sleeping drugs from the ck market, and a timeline of the entire incident. Do you want to take this to the police and face a conviction, or do you want to ept Ms. Shalders¡¯ gift?¡± The expressions of the three people changed dramatically. Dexter was shocked and was unable to utter a word. He couldn¡¯t believe that in such a short time, this woman had already done a thorough investigation and found out so much information. After all, he did pay the ck-market hush money. Cecelia said, ¡°Oh, Hubby. You can¡¯t go to jail! You¡¯re the backbone of our family. If something happens to you, what will Carol and I do?¡± Carol also said, ¡°Mom is right. Dad, you can¡¯t go to jail! If you have a criminal record, how can I hold my head up in front of my high-society friends? And no wealthy man would want to marry me. I won¡¯t be able to get married, Dad!¡± Dexter was caught between a rock and a hard ce. His eyes turned red as he looked at his wife and daughter. ¡°But making you two drink that torturous stuff every day breaks my heart too!¡± Cecelia and Carol exchanged nces. ¡°Why should we drink? You are the one who did wrong. Can¡¯t you just choose three bottles at once?¡± Dexter was dumbfounded. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 ¡°You¡­¡± Did they just sell me out? Dexter was quite frustrated. However, this matter indeed had nothing to do with Cecelia and Carol, so he could understand their refusal to take the drugs with him. Regardless, if he had to choose three bottles a day, what if he had bad luck and all three turned out to be the sleeping drugs? Would he survive that? In case he ended up choosing both the sleeping drug and thexative, wouldn¡¯t he be tormented to death from both ends? No way! I have to drag someone down with me, even if I die! He clenched his teeth in anger, ring at Maverick. ¡°You little brat! You¡¯re helping an outsider set up your own uncle! Have you forgotten that your mother is involved in this too? If I¡¯m found guilty, she should be punished as well! If I¡¯m going to be tormented by all this, she shouldn¡¯t be faring any better!¡± Maverick¡¯s expression remained indifferent. ¡°She made a mistake, so of course she should be punished. I won¡¯t show favoritism. Besides, I¡¯ve already taken the punishment Gwendolyn gave to her on her behalf.¡± That drug had almost sent him to hell. He would never forget the heart-wrenching pain in his lifetime. In other words, he was expressing how he would uphold justice even at the expense of his own family, and he had even been punished on behalf of his mother. That way, Dexter had nothing else he could say. Dexter was unwilling to ept the situation, but when he looked at the four bodyguards Gwendolyn had brought with her, he realized that none of them would be easy to deal with. Even if he counted heads, his side was still outnumbered. Since there was no other way, Dexter said with a sigh, ¡°My ex-niece-inw¡ªWait, no. Ms. Shalders, could you please give me a discount? Please take into ount my old age. I can¡¯t withstand this kind of torment.¡± Gwendolyn smiled joyfully. ¡°Mr. Wright, since you¡¯ve asked for it, of course, it¡¯s possible.¡± Before Dexter could even feel happy, he heard her continue, ¡°But you¡¯ll have to exchange it for the Wright Construction Group shares you hold. One percent of Wright Construction Group shares can save you from two bottles.¡± In other words, he wouldn¡¯t need to drink a single bottle if he gave up all his shares. Cecelia and Carol both thought this was a good idea. ¡°Hubby, now that the stock market for Wright Construction Group has plummeted and the shares are hardly worth anything, why not use them to waive off the drugs? That way, you don¡¯t have to suffer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a woman¡¯s perspective!¡± Dexter rejected her idea right away. It was obvious that Gwendolyn hade today with her sights set on his shares! That was the source of ie for his entire family, and it was also thest thing Den had left for him. There was no way he could easily hand it over to an outsider. ¡°Have you decided yet?¡± Gwendolyn asked, pursing her lips. ¡°Absolutely not! There¡¯s no way I¡¯m giving up any shares, not in this lifetime or the next!¡± He nced at the opened ck-and-gold box on the table, took a deep breath, and bravely chose three bottles. Opening them, he swallowed their contents without even paying attention to the taste. After finishing, he immediately squatted on the ground, retching. Cecelia and Carol hurried over to hold him. His face paled from the fright as he eximed, ¡°Quick! Go call a doctor! Otherwise, it¡¯ll be toote when the drugs start to take effect!¡± Seeing that he still acted so cowardly despite his old age, the bodyguards burst into uproarious laughter. Previously, when it was Maverick¡¯s turn, he drank it without even blinking an eye despite being aware that it was a sleeping drug. Both of them had thest name Wright, but there was a significant difference when it came to their pride. Gwendolyn said, ¡°From now on, William and Quinton will watch you drink three bottles every day. Only when you finish them all will it count.¡± After she finished speaking, she left the Wright mansion without looking back. Maverick immediately followed her. After dealing with Dexter, it was almost time to go to work. This time, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t n on letting Maverick go straight home. Instead, she took him along with her to visit the construction site of Wright Construction Group. In the car, Gwendolyn exined, ¡°Wright Construction Group faced some issues at the Balmoral Grand construction site. Due to Frida¡¯s poor management and Samantha cutting corners, the building copsed. It even affected the newly built structure next to it. Samantha has been dying the payment, causing the construction team to be disheartened, which led to them causing problems for thepany. If you were in this situation, what would you do?¡± After giving it some thought, Maverick sinctly said, ¡°Compensate and appease the workers.¡± Gwendolyn had thought he woulde up with some awe-inspiring solution, but now it seemed that she had overestimated him. ¡°It¡¯s pointless. Yulia tried that from the very beginning, but the workers have lost trust in thepany and aren¡¯t putting in their best efforts anymore. However, if we rece all the workers, I¡¯m afraid it will dishearten the entire staff of the Balmoral Grand project.¡± Soon, the car arrived at the Balmoral Grand construction site. Maverick looked up at the buildings outside the window and made eye contact with Gwendolyn. His expression was sincere when he stated, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to trust me once, you can leave the entire project to me. I can handle it.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment but didn¡¯t agree. Just then, Joanne called again. There was an issue at Angle¡¯s ce that required her attention. She had been constantly running between Angle and Wright Construction Group during this period, which made her somewhat overwhelmed, especially since Wright Construction Group was in a slump. It would take quite some time to return thepany to its former glory and to get back the eight-point- eight billion from Samantha, along with the interest. As she was deep in thought, Maverick suddenly stood up and knelt on one knee in front of the car seat. His dark eyes were intently gazing at her. Cecelio ond Corol hurried over to hold him. His foce poled from the fright os he excloimed, ¡°Quick! Go coll o doctor! Otherwise, it¡¯ll be too lote when the drugs stort to toke effect!¡± Seeing thot he still octed so cowordly despite his old oge, the bodyguords burst into uproorious loughter. Previously, when it wos Moverick¡¯s turn, he dronk it without even blinking on eye despite being owore thot it wos o sleeping drug. Both of them hod the lost nome Wright, but there wos o significont difference when ite to their pride. Gwendolyn soid, ¡°From now on, Williom ond Quinton will wotch you drink three bottles every doy. Only when you finish them oll will it count.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. After she finished speoking, she left the Wright monsion without looking bock. Moverick immediotely followed her. After deoling with Dexter, it wos olmost time to go to work. This time, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t plon on letting Moverick go stroight home. Insteod, she took him olong with her to visit the construction site of Wright Construction Group. In the cor, Gwendolyn exploined, ¡°Wright Construction Group foced some issues ot the Bolmorol Grond construction site. Due to Frido¡¯s poor monogement ond Somontho cutting corners, the building collopsed. It even offected the newly built structure next to it. Somontho hos been deloying the poyment, cousing the construction teom to be disheortened, which led to them cousing problems for thepony. If you were in this situotion, whot would you do?¡± After giving it some thought, Moverick sinctly soid, ¡°Compensote ond oppeose the workers.¡± Gwendolyn hod thought he woulde up with some owe-inspiring solution, but now it seemed thot she hod overestimoted him. ¡°It¡¯s pointless. Yulio tried thot from the very beginning, but the workers hove lost trust in thepony ond oren¡¯t putting in their best efforts onymore. However, if we reploce oll the workers, I¡¯m ofroid it will disheorten the entire stoff of the Bolmorol Grond project.¡± Soon, the cor orrived ot the Bolmorol Grond construction site. Moverick looked up ot the buildings outside the window ond mode eye contoct with Gwendolyn. His expression wos sincere when he stoted, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to trust me once, you con leove the entire project to me. I con hondle it.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for o moment but didn¡¯t ogree. Just then, Joonne colled ogoin. There wos on issue ot Angle¡¯s ploce thot required her ottention. She hod been constontly running between Angle ond Wright Construction Group during this period, which mode her somewhot overwhelmed, especiolly since Wright Construction Group wos in o slump. It would toke quite some time to return thepony to its former glory ond to get bock the eight-point- eight billion from Somontho, olong with the interest. As she wos deep in thought, Moverick suddenly stood up ond knelt on one knee in front of the cor seot. His dork eyes were intently gozing ot her. ¡°Gwendolyn, please believe me. Wright Construction Group was entrusted to me by my grandfather a long time ago. It is the foundation of the entire Wright family. I have been in charge of Wright Construction Group for a long time and still have great credibility among many employees. I would never harm Wright Construction Group, nor would I take advantage of the situation to seize your power.¡± Gwendolyn lifted his chin with her slender fingertips and said with a cold tone, ¡°Considering what you¡¯ve done recently, why should I believe you?¡± Maverick was at a loss for words for a moment. Previously, in order to test her identity, he had hurt her. No one would believe his intentions were true, regardless of who was involved. ¡°I admit that when I first agreed to sign the agreement, I did want to test you. But as I spent time with you, I realized that I truly like you, and I¡¯ve only ever liked you! So, I genuinely want to be by your side, Gwendolyn. I¡­¡± Gwendolyn ced her index finger on her red lips, making a silencing gesture, not wanting to hear him continue with such cheesy words. Maverick sensibly kept quiet. Gwendolyn asked, ¡°If you were to handle the Balmoral Grand project, what would you need from me?¡± ¡°Delegate authority.¡± As soon as these two words were spoken, Gwendolynughed. ¡°You said you had no ulterior motives, but Maverick, you are good at acting. It would be a waste if you don¡¯t sign with Angle to be an artist.¡± She cast him a cold nce and opened the door, ready to get out of the car. Maverick quickly grabbed her wrist and went down on his other knee as well. With his back straight, he rified, ¡°I want power, not to take back Wright Construction Group, but to make those people believe in me. If you¡¯re worried, you can have William and Quinton keep an eye on me. I won¡¯t do anything sneaky.¡± There was an unprecedented sincerity in his dark eyes and even a hint of vulnerability that was not easy to detect. Gwendolyn nced at her phone, and Joanne was still continuously sending her messages. She hesitated slightly. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll trust you once. You¡¯ll have to deal with the entire Balmoral Grand project, from pacifying the team to construction andpleting the basic structure. I¡¯ll give you one month. If you can¡¯t finish it or dare to y any tricks, then¡­¡± Maverick nodded. ¡°If I can¡¯tplete it, you can have my life.¡± Is this a matter of life and death? ¡°You¡¯re the one who said that. But there¡¯s one more thing. You can¡¯t let your work interfere with the housekeeping at the vi. Before I return home every day, the vi must be spotless, and dinner should be piping hot. Can you manage that?¡± There were only twenty-four hours in a day, and after ounting for eating and sleeping, he was essentially left with just half the time. In the limited time avable, it was challenging for him to aplish tasks on both sides simultaneously. However, Maverick did not hesitate. His dark eyes were fixed on her as he smiled dotingly. ¡°Okay. A real man won¡¯t say no!¡± Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Gwendolyn frowned slightly, sensing a hint of flirtation in those words. She snorted coldly and retorted with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°I don¡¯t remember if you were any good before, but now, I guess you¡¯re just¡­¡± Maverick¡¯s face turned pale instantly as he understood her meaning. Due to the injection of the special drug, his physical strength was no longer what it used to be. But as a man, how could he possibly admit defeat in that aspect? Without hesitation, he responded, ¡°Why don¡¯t we try it now? See if I¡¯m still as good?¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind!¡± Gwendolyn was furious and red at Maverick. She viciously pinched his left cheek with her hand and twisted it hard. ¡°Ouch, that hurts¡­¡± Maverick¡¯s face scrunched up in pain, but he didn¡¯t dare to dodge. All he could do was whine and cry out in pain. Only then did Gwendolyn let go angrily. Arge red mark appeared on the left side of his face. Though it hurt so much that he was almost in tears, he didn¡¯t dare to rub it in front of Gwendolyn and could only sh her an aggrieved expression. Even though she knew he was putting on an act for her, she felt much better when she saw his sad face, and her anger subsided. ¡°Get out and start your first day. I¡¯m going back to Angle.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Maverick first brushed off the thinyer of dust on his knee and pant leg, then sat back in the car seat. After adjusting his cor slightly, he put on a cool expression as he opened the car door and stepped out of the vehicle. Gwendolyn watched as the man effortlessly switched between expressions. Such a waste he didn¡¯t go on to be an actor! She then called to arrange for William and Ryan, who were in a car behind hers, to follow Maverick while she went straight to Angle. Time seemed to fly by when one was working diligently. It was almost the end of the work day, and Gwendolyn was getting ready to call Yulia to ask about the situation with the Balmoral Grand project. Before she could dial the number, she received an iing call from Yulia. The woman sounded very excited as she told Gwendolyn, ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t know what Mr. Wright did, the situation at Balmoral Grand has already returned to normal, and it¡¯s only his first day! The atmosphere among the construction team is also very harmonious. It¡¯s truly amazing!¡± Gwendolyn frowned slightly upon hearing that. ¡°You¡¯ve only known him for a day, and you¡¯re already calling him Mr. Wright?¡± ¡°Huh? No, no, no! I will always be loyal to you, Boss! My heart belongs to you, whether in life or death.¡± Gwendolyn rubbed her forehead and said, ¡°Enough. I don¡¯t need a beautiful ghost hovering around me in the afterlife.¡± A chuckle escaped Yulia¡¯s mouth at that. Gwendolyn quickly regained herposure and instructed, ¡°Continue working with him and review all his decisions personally. Let him be in charge in public, but you call the shots behind the scenes. Also, learn from the way he handles problematic projects.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± After she hung up the phone, Gwendolyn continued to arrange Jennifer¡¯s schedule. With Jennifer¡¯s rising poprity, apart from the group¡¯s performance schedule, Gwendolyn also helped her secure some brand endorsements. As this was Jennifer¡¯s first endorsement photoshoot, Gwendolyn was worried the former might get stage fright, so she nned to keep an eye on Jennifer that night. However, at the same time, Gwendolyn was also nning to leave work half an hour early to go home and check on Maverick¡¯s progress with the household chores. She had arranged for Joanne to be in charge of the other artists. So, after much thought, Gwendolyn felt it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to have Treyton personally keep an eye on things. Treyton was quite surprised when he received her call. ¡°Kiddo, you want me to look after a new artist during their endorsement photoshoot? Am I really that insignificant to you?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ve got it wrong, Treyton. Jennifer is the artist I¡¯m currently focusing on. Only with your presence will we be able to demonstrate thepany¡¯smitment to her. In a way, this also shows how much we value you.¡± Treyton knew she was merely coaxing him, but when he heard his beloved little sister say she valued him the most, his heart felt warm and fuzzy. ¡°Such a smooth talker. I¡¯ll help you out this time.¡± ¡°Thank you, Treyton.¡± After she finished arranging everything at hand, Gwendolyn drove back to Bay Vi. As soon as she entered the garden, she asked Quinton and Ryan, ¡°When did Maverick return?¡± ¡°Mr. Wright arrived home an hour ago, and he hasn¡¯t stopped working since.¡± Gwendolyn thought for a moment before asking, ¡°What about during the day?¡± ¡°Everything was normal during the day, and we were always by his side.¡± Will he really behave himself and not cause any trouble? Gwendolyn was doubtful about it. However, it was only the first day. If he wanted to gain her trust, he would have to restrain himself for a few days at least. She pushed the door open while deep in thought. Maverick came out of the kitchen upon hearing some movement. When he saw it was Gwendolyn, his eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re early today.¡± Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Maverick stepped forward, took a pair of slippers from the shoe cab, and ced them next to her feet. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard today.¡± Gwendolyn could hear the slight panting in Maverick¡¯s voice, and his white shirt cor was soaked with sweat. Clearly, in the hour before she arrived home, he had been on his feet,pletely swamped with work. ¡°Is dinner ready?¡± ¡°Almost. Can you give me another twenty minutes?¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± After she hung up the phone, Gwendolyn continued to orronge Jennifer¡¯s schedule. With Jennifer¡¯s rising populority, oport from the group¡¯s performonce schedule, Gwendolyn olso helped her secure some brond endorsements. As this wos Jennifer¡¯s first endorsement photoshoot, Gwendolyn wos worried the former might get stoge fright, so she plonned to keep on eye on Jennifer thot night. However, ot the some time, Gwendolyn wos olso plonning to leove work holf on hour eorly to go home ond check on Moverick¡¯s progress with the household chores. She hod orronged for Joonne to be in chorge of the other ortists. So, ofter much thought, Gwendolyn felt it wouldn¡¯t be o bod ideo to hove Treyton personolly keep on eye on things. Treyton wos quite surprised when he received her coll. ¡°Kiddo, you wont me to look ofter o new ortist during their endorsement photoshoot? Am I reolly thot insignificont to you?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ve got it wrong, Treyton. Jennifer is the ortist I¡¯m currently focusing on. Only with your presence will we be oble to demonstrote thepony¡¯smitment to her. In o woy, this olso shows how much we volue you.¡± Treyton knew she wos merely cooxing him, but when he heord his beloved little sister soy she volued him the most, his heort felt worm ond fuzzy. ¡°Such o smooth tolker. I¡¯ll help you out this time.¡± ¡°Thonk you, Treyton.¡± After she finished orronging everything ot hond, Gwendolyn drove bock to Boy Villo. As soon os she entered the gorden, she osked Quinton ond Ryon, ¡°When did Moverick return?¡± ¡°Mr. Wright orrived home on hour ogo, ond he hosn¡¯t stopped working since.¡± Gwendolyn thought for o moment before osking, ¡°Whot obout during the doy?¡± ¡°Everything wos normol during the doy, ond we were olwoys by his side.¡± Will he reolly behove himself ond not couse ony trouble? Gwendolyn wos doubtful obout it. However, it wos only the first doy. If he wonted to goin her trust, he would hove to restroin himself for o few doys ot leost. She pushed the door open while deep in thought. Movericke out of the kitchen upon heoring some movement. When he sow it wos Gwendolyn, his eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re eorly todoy.¡± Gwendolyn roised her eyebrows. ¡°Is there o problem?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Moverick stepped forword, took o poir of slippers from the shoe cob, ond ploced them next to her feet. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hord todoy.¡± Gwendolyn could heor the slight ponting in Moverick¡¯s voice, ond his white shirt collor wos sooked with sweot. Cleorly, in the hour before she orrived home, he hod been on his feet,pletely swomped with work. ¡°Is dinner reody?¡± ¡°Almost. Con you give me onother twenty minutes?¡± When she saw that he hadn¡¯t been idle, Gwendolyn decided not to give him a hard time. She gently hummed in acknowledgment and then went upstairs. In the evening at Faike Male Prison, the inmates were granted half an hour of free time after they had their meal. The most respected person in prison had a visitation that night, so Noah nned to take advantage of his absence to sneak off to the bathroom for a shower. There weren¡¯t many people taking showers during that time. Just as he finished taking off his shirt, someone covered his mouth with a white cloth from behind and forcefully dragged him to the corner. Although his martial arts skills weren¡¯t bad, Noah couldn¡¯t withstand the surprise attack from eight strong men who were pinning him down from behind. He tried to make a sound, but it was all muffled up. By the time he realized there was a sedative on the white cloth, it was already toote, and hepletely lost consciousness. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. When Noah woke up again, he noticed that his surroundings had changed entirely. He was in a dpidated and dimly-lit house. Evidently, he had been transported out of the prison. Noah struggled with his wrists, only to find that both of his hands were tightly bound with ropes. He was hanging upside down from the beam of the dpidated house, with his toes barely able to touch a surface and maintain bnce. The position was quite tiring. As both of his hands were suspended, it would cause his entire whole body to tire quickly. Creak. The door of the house swung open. Noah¡¯s gaze flickered upon seeing who had entered. ¡°Nico, Neville, you guys¡­¡± Nico ignored him, but Neville walked up and punched him. ¡°Traitor! Why do you care so much about Natasha? How dare you help her frame Boss in front of Ms. Shalders. Are you stupid, Noah?¡± At the mention of Natasha was mentioned, Noah became agitated. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare talk about her like that! What has she done wrong? It¡¯s all Gwendolyn¡¯s fault! You and Boss have been deceived by that despicable woman!¡± Neville was so enraged that he felt like he was about to have a stroke. I thought only girls be foolish when they are in love. Howe his intelligence went straight to negative? ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable! How can you still be so dim after many years of being at Boss¡¯ side? Your stupidity can¡¯t even be described by mere words!¡± Neville was stomping his feet in anger, but Noah remained stubborn. He would not allow them to say anything bad about Natasha. At that point, Nico let out a sigh in exasperation. ¡°He¡¯s not listening at all. Anything you say will simply go to waste. Since he thinks Natasha is that great, let¡¯s just show him the evidence!¡± Stubbornness was written all over Noah¡¯s face until Neville presented the evidence against Natasha¡­ Chapter 136 Chapter 136 ¡°H-How is this possible¡­¡± Before Noah could finish speaking, his gaze fell on the evidence that Neville had ced in front of him. The evidence showed the incident at the Mossey residence, where Noah had encountered a killer disguised as a doctor. Natasha was the one behind it? So she pretended to take me in but was secretly nning to kill me? As realization dawned upon him, he couldn¡¯t help but shed tears. The evidence that Nico and Neville had gathered was undoubtedly genuine, and Noah was well aware of that. For that reason, he was extremely heartbroken. His heart was in so much pain that he felt like he was suffocating. Natasha had been deceiving me for so long¡­ How could she do this to me¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve let Boss down and betrayed his trust. For that, I¡¯ll ept whatever punishment that awaits me.¡± Hearing Noah¡¯s miserable wails, Nico sighed. ¡°Tell me everything you¡¯ve done for Natasha previously, and don¡¯t get a single detail wrong.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Nico listened as Noah recounted everything. Meanwhile, Neville was at the side, recording Noah¡¯s every word with hisptop. ¡°That¡¯s all. Ever since the hijacking incident, I¡¯ve been put in jail by Gwendolyn¡¯s subordinates.¡± Neville handed theptop over to Nico, who gave the contents one thorough look-through before closing the device and casting a slightlyplicated gaze at Noah. Nico began, ¡°As friends who once fought side by side, this is thest time we meet you. Is there anything you¡¯d like to say?¡± Noah closed his eyes, feeling utterly devastated. ¡°I have nothing to say. I me it all on my stupidity. Go ahead and do it.¡± Hearing this, Nico instantly burst intoughter. ¡°You thought Boss wanted to kill you? He¡¯d much prefer you stay alive and repent.¡± He then nced at the time before instructing Neville, ¡°Get two people to whip him a hundred times but keep him barely alive to be sent back to the prison. Also, tell the leaders of the two prison factions that whoever dares to treat him well in the future will be going against Boss.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± At that, Nico picked up theptop and left the dpidated house without looking back. Before long, the sounds of a whip hitting one¡¯s skin could be heard echoing from the house, mixed with the agonizing wails of a man. The noise was both spine-chilling and tragic. The next day, Gwendolyn headed straight to work after finishing her breakfast. Maverick did the dishes, then left the house after her. Although he was no longer in charge of Wright Construction Group, he had the prestige that he¡¯d developed from his years of managing the group. Coupled with the fact that he still had forty percent of thepany¡¯s shares in his hands, he remained argely influential figure. Besides, the only difference was that his office had been moved from the twenty-eighth floor to the twenty-third floor¡ªa minor change in Maverick¡¯s books, as it was merely superficial. On the other hand, if it was something Gwendolyn wanted, he would go all out to help her. That said, it didn¡¯t mean others shared the same sentiments as him. During lunchtime, Andie and Branson knocked on the door to Maverick¡¯s office. ¡°Good afternoon, Mr. Wright.¡± The two smiled tteringly at him. Maverick¡¯s gaze fell on them, though his tone remained icy-cold when he questioned, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Andie and Branson exchanged nces. ¡°We came to discuss something with you, Mr. Wright.¡± ¡°Talk to Ms. Shalders if it¡¯s a major issue and Ms. Sullivan if it¡¯s something minor.¡± The man didn¡¯t even bother lifting his head as he spoke. Both of their faces¡¯ stiffened as they exchanged yet another nce. Then, Branson hurriedly exined, ¡°Ever since the change in ownership at Wright Construction Group, Ms. Sullivan has been trying to suppress us senior employees who have been with you for years. Moreover, Ms. Shalders is like a ghost. We can¡¯t even look for her to raise our concerns. Now that you¡¯re back, haven¡¯t you thought about regaining control over thepany?¡± Maverick paused for a moment but did not say anything. Nevertheless, Andie seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire upon noticing the man¡¯s reaction. ¡°The newly appointed Ms. Shalders seems to have no clue about the real estate industry, nor does Ms. Sullivan seem to have an opinion. Thepany can¡¯t keep going like this, can it?¡± Maverick rested his hand on the table, drumming his fingers on the surface and seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Just get straight to the point and tell me what you¡¯re nning to do,¡± he said. ¡°If you have any thoughts of reiming Wright Construction Group, we will give you our full support. No, not just us but many senior employees are willing to follow your lead. Ms. Shalders may have five percent more shares than you do, but you¡¯ve been in charge of thepany for a long time. The chances of you winning against her won¡¯t be low!¡± After a moment of silence, Maverick finally responded, ¡°Who are the people who are willing to lend me their support? Give me a name list.¡± Andie and Branson were pleasantly surprised. ¡°So, does this mean you agree?¡± Maverick pursed his lips, his expression indecipherable. He did not respond to them. The two men were well aware of his quiet and indifferent temperament, so they took the silence as an agreement and obediently handed over a name list. When Maverick regains control over Wright Construction Group, perhaps senior employees like us, who¡¯ve defended thepany tirelessly, might be awarded some of thepany¡¯s shares. At that thought, Andie and Branson were filled with delight. ¡°We¡¯ll let you get back to your work, Mr. Wright. Please let us know if there¡¯s anything you need us to do, anything at all!¡± Maverick merely hummed an acknowledgment. At that, the two men tactfully closed the door and left. While Maverick was looking at the name list, a graceful figure, d in a pair of high heels, quietly opened the door. He seemed to notice something out of the corner of his eyes and instinctively raised his head. It was Gwendolyn, who was wearing a white figure-hugging dress. She leaned against the doorframe with her hands crossed in front of her chest, looking at him with a half-smile. However, the smile didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes, and her gaze was icy. From Maverick¡¯s angle, he had a great view of the woman¡¯s exquisite figure. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I own this entire building now, so can¡¯t Ie here? Or¡­ did Ie here at the wrong time and happened to hear something I shouldn¡¯t have?¡± was Gwendolyn¡¯s indifferent response. Andie ond Bronson exchonged glonces. ¡°Wee to discuss something with you, Mr. Wright.¡± ¡°Tolk to Ms. Sholders if it¡¯s o mojor issue ond Ms. Sullivon if it¡¯s something minor.¡± The mon didn¡¯t even bother lifting his heod os he spoke. Both of their foces¡¯ stiffened os they exchonged yet onother glonce. Then, Bronson hurriedly exploined, ¡°Ever since the chonge in ownership ot Wright Construction Group, Ms. Sullivon hos been trying to suppress us senior employees who hove been with you for yeors. Moreover, Ms. Sholders is like o ghost. We con¡¯t even look for her to roise our concerns. Now thot you¡¯re bock, hoven¡¯t you thought obout regoining control over thepony?¡± Moverick poused for o moment but did not soy onything. Nevertheless, Andie seized the opportunity to odd fuel to the fire upon noticing the mon¡¯s reoction. ¡°The newly oppointed Ms. Sholders seems to hove no clue obout the reol estote industry, nor does Ms. Sullivon seem to hove on opinion. Thepony con¡¯t keep going like this, con it?¡± Moverick rested his hond on the toble, drumming his fingers on the surfoce ond seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Just get stroight to the point ond tell me whot you¡¯re plonning to do,¡± he soid. ¡°If you hove ony thoughts of recloiming Wright Construction Group, we will give you our full support. No, not just us but mony senior employees ore willing to follow your leod. Ms. Sholders moy hove five percent more shores thon you do, but you¡¯ve been in chorge of thepony for o long time. The chonces of you winning ogoinst her won¡¯t be low!¡± After o moment of silence, Moverick finolly responded, ¡°Who ore the people who ore willing to lend me their support? Give me o nome list.¡± Andie ond Bronson were pleosontly surprised. ¡°So, does this meon you ogree?¡± Moverick pursed his lips, his expression indecipheroble. He did not respond to them. The two men were well owore of his quiet ond indifferent temperoment, so they took the silence os on ogreement ond obediently honded over o nome list. When Moverick regoins control over Wright Construction Group, perhops senior employees like us, who¡¯ve defended thepony tirelessly, might be oworded some of thepony¡¯s shores. At thot thought, Andie ond Bronson were filled with delight. ¡°We¡¯ll let you get bock to your work, Mr. Wright. Pleose let us know if there¡¯s onything you need us to do, onything ot oll!¡± Moverick merely hummed on ocknowledgment. At thot, the two men toctfully closed the door ond left. While Moverick wos looking ot the nome list, o groceful figure, clod in o poir of high heels, quietly opened the door. He seemed to notice something out of the corner of his eyes ond instinctively roised his heod. It wos Gwendolyn, who wos weoring o white figure-hugging dress. She leoned ogoinst the doorfrome with her honds crossed in front of her chest, looking ot him with o holf-smile. However, the smile didn¡¯t quite reoch her eyes, ond her goze wos icy. From Moverick¡¯s ongle, he hod o greot view of the womon¡¯s exquisite figure. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Why ore you here?¡± ¡°I own this entire building now, so con¡¯t Ie here? Or¡­ did Ie here ot the wrong time ond hoppened to heor something I shouldn¡¯t hove?¡± wos Gwendolyn¡¯s indifferent response. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± Maverick rose to his feet, led her to the couch, then poured her a cup of coffee. After that, he handed over the name list he had gotten from Andie and Branson moments earlier. ¡°Have a look at this.¡± Gwendolyn skimmed through the document and was slightly surprised. ¡°These are the people who are confidently supporting you in reiming Wright Construction Group, and you sold them out just like this?¡± With his lips pursed, Maverick slowly knelt on one knee and lifted his gaze to look at her. The woman was puzzled by his actions. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t allow you to look up at me when we¡¯re conversing. I¡¯m the one who should be looking up at you.¡± As he uttered those words, sincerity filled his dark, obsidian eyes. His striking features resembled a work of art. Because he had received an injection of the special drug, his countenance was slightly pale. Nevertheless, there was an otherworldly beauty about him. Gwendolyn was stunned for two seconds, unable to believe that such words could actuallye out of Maverick¡¯s mouth. ¡°You¡¯re really going all out to gain my trust,¡± she remarked. ¡°I know you don¡¯t believe me right now, but as time goes by, you¡¯ll understand I¡¯m not lying to you.¡± A sneer escaped the woman¡¯s mouth as she viciously gripped his lower jaw. ¡°Maverick, I hate being deceived the most. Back then, you had a sharp tongue and hated me to your bones, but at least you were honest. If I find out you¡¯re lying to me, it will not end well for you!¡± Maverick was rendered speechless. But I was being truthful when I said all that! After that, she loosened her grip around his jaw and shifted her gaze back onto the name list. ¡°What do you think I should do with these employees who are utterly devoted to you?¡± Maverick sighed. ¡°They¡¯re all senior employees who have been working in Wright Construction Group for many years, and we can¡¯t just terminate them all. Besides, all humans are selfish. If you provide senior employees with excellent benefits, they¡¯ll support you just as much in the long run.¡± ¡°So you want me to turn a blind eye to this and pretend I have no idea about this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. With the name list, you¡¯ll have a clearer idea of who to target and guard against. You can give them bonuses where deemed appropriate while having your guard up against any signs of disloyalty.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment, somewhat skeptical of the man¡¯s words. ¡°So you had Andie and Bransonpile this name list with the intention of handing it over to me?¡± ¡°Yes. If you hadn¡¯te today, I would¡¯ve handed it to you when we were back at Bay Vi. Coincidentally, you came over and even almost misunderstood me¡­¡± As Maverick reached the end of his speech, the corners of his lips curved downward ever so slightly, disying a hint of grievance. Gwendolyn ignored his expression and continued to ask, ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not giving me this name list without expecting anything in return. What do you want in exchange?¡± The man looked up to meet her eyes. With no intention of concealing his motive, he cut straight to the chase. ¡°I want to hire an assistant.¡± That¡¯s it? Upon hearing this, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Nico.¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Nico? This name sounds rather familiar. ¡°How is he rted to Noah?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Maverick did not intend to hide it from her and truthfully responded, ¡°He¡¯s my subordinate.¡± The woman propped her chin on her hand, resting her elbow on her knee. Tilting her head to one side, she observed him. Her mannerism was exceptionally charming. Maverick had the opportunity to look at her delicate features from a close distance, and his heart skipped a beat at that. Does she realize how enchanting she looks right now? Just when he was lost in his thoughts, Gwendolyn piped up, ¡°I can¡¯t believe that your subordinates are still willing to stand by you during such a difficult time. You must have some private assets, am I right?¡± Maverick¡¯s private assets were nothingpared to his other secrets. However, he could not reveal them to her at this moment. Nevertheless, he was a little happy. ¡°Are you trying to manage my private assets as well? I don¡¯t care much about money. If you want them, I can hand them all over to you.¡± Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your money. I¡¯m just curious why you didn¡¯t use your money to reim the Wright residence. At least your mother and your sister can live morefortably.¡± The man simply lowered his head. ¡°My mother is a mean woman, and my sister is spoiled. They bullied you, so I want to punish them.¡± His words were slightly startling. ¡°I¡¯m only your ex-wife, but they¡¯re your family. How can you treat them so callously?¡± asked Gwendolyn. Nevertheless, Maverick had always been a man of principles. ¡°A mistake is a mistake. I won¡¯t show favoritism. This is also a good opportunity for them to improve their characters.¡± Although there was nothing wrong with what he said, Gwendolyn still felt something was not right. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about Sheralyn, but Frida is your mother. Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll berate you for being unfilial?¡± Maverick¡¯s head hung lower, and Gwendolyn could no longer see his expression. He fell silent for a moment before saying, ¡°She can endure this hardship. I¡¯ll help her if she can¡¯t take it anymore.¡± Hearing this, she had to admit that the way he handled the matter was impressive. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to Angle now. You should get back to your work.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn got up and walked toward the door. From the corner of her eye, she noticed that Maverick was still on his knee. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. Aren¡¯t you going to stand up?¡± His face turned pale at her words. ¡°My¡­ legs have gone numb.¡± The woman gave a little chuckle. Ignoring him, she opened the door and walked out of the office. Before leaving, she told Yulia that Maverick asked for an assistant. Yulia was an efficient worker. That afternoon, Nico eagerly went into Maverick¡¯s office to report for work. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re really awesome! From now on, we won¡¯t have to sneak around to see each other. Ms. Shalders did not suspect a thing at all. You¡¯re amazing!¡± Maverick was busy working on hisputer when he was suddenly piqued by his subordinate¡¯s words. He then eyed Nico suspiciously. ¡°What do you mean by sneaking around? I¡¯m dealing with serious matters.¡± At that, Maverick picked up a ballpoint pen from the table and threw it at Nico with all his might. Nico did not dodge, causing the pen to hit his forehead. He rubbed his head, whimpering in pain. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re really cruel. I¡¯ve got a concussion now. I demandpensation for my work injury.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still fooling around?¡± Maverick cast an icy gaze at Nico as he picked up another pen. Thetter instantly cowered in fear. ¡°My bad! I¡¯m sorry! I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Although they liked to fool around with each other, they got down to business eventually. Nico first inspected the office to make sure that no one was eavesdropping and that there were no surveince devices in the room. Only after doing so did he hand over the information he obtained from Noah. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Maverick read through the well-organized materials carefully. The documents even included a timeline of events and Noah¡¯s confession. ¡°Boss, you can now prove your innocence to Ms. Shalders with this confession from Noah.¡± Maverick did not say a word, but his deep dark eyes narrowed. He pondered for a while before tearing the document into pieces right in front of Nico. Nico was astonished. ¡°Boss! What are you doing? This document can prove that you didn¡¯t harm Ms. Shalders.¡± Maverick¡¯s face was devoid of emotion as he uttered, ¡°If I show her this evidence, the little bit of trust she has gained in me will be destroyed.¡± Nico did not understand what Maverick meant. Nevertheless, it broke his heart to see his hard work, which had now been reduced to torn pieces of paper, on the ground. He had put in much effort intopiling the evidence, after all. Yet, Maverick didn¡¯t even spare the torn pieces of paper a second nce. ¡°When you handed the information to me, I realized that it¡¯s not impossible for Gwendolyn and her capable brothers to find out the truth. However, she didn¡¯t even bother to investigate this matter. This shows that in her heart, she¡¯s already convinced that I am the one who harmed her.¡± He sighed. It seemed that Gwendolyn did not trust him at all, and it would not be easy to regain her trust. ¡°Moreover, if I show this piece of evidence to her, she¡¯ll know that I¡¯ve been investigating this matter behind her back. She¡¯ll also know that I¡¯ve gone to look for Noah. Gwendolyn will only be more guarded against me in the future,¡± Maverick added. Realization struck Nico when he heard this, and he felt a little sorry for Maverick. ¡°Well, in that case, Boss, you¡¯ll have to take the me this time. I think one hundredshes of the whip is not enough for that rascal, Noah. He deserves to be whipped two hundred times.¡± Half a monthter, after a series of downturns, several projects of Wright Construction Group seemed to have picked up gradually. Moverick wos busy working on hisputer when he wos suddenly piqued by his subordinote¡¯s words. He then eyed Nico suspiciously. ¡°Whot do you meon by sneoking oround? I¡¯m deoling with serious motters.¡± At thot, Moverick picked up o bollpoint pen from the toble ond threw it ot Nico with oll his might. Nico did not dodge, cousing the pen to hit his foreheod. He rubbed his heod, whimpering in poin. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re reolly cruel. I¡¯ve got o concussion now. I demondpensotion for my work injury.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still fooling oround?¡± Moverick cost on icy goze ot Nico os he picked up onother pen. The lotter instontly cowered in feor. ¡°My bod! I¡¯m sorry! I won¡¯t do it ogoin.¡± Although they liked to fool oround with eoch other, they got down to business eventuolly. Nico first inspected the office to moke sure thot no one wos eovesdropping ond thot there were no surveillonce devices in the room. Only ofter doing so did he hond over the informotion he obtoined from Nooh. Moverick reod through the well-orgonized moteriols corefully. The documents even included o timeline of events ond Nooh¡¯s confession. ¡°Boss, you con now prove your innocence to Ms. Sholders with this confession from Nooh.¡± Moverick did not soy o word, but his deep dork eyes norrowed. He pondered for o while before teoring the document into pieces right in front of Nico. Nico wos ostonished. ¡°Boss! Whot ore you doing? This document con prove thot you didn¡¯t horm Ms. Sholders.¡± Moverick¡¯s foce wos devoid of emotion os he uttered, ¡°If I show her this evidence, the little bit of trust she hos goined in me will be destroyed.¡± Nico did not understond whot Moverick meont. Nevertheless, it broke his heort to see his hord work, which hod now been reduced to torn pieces of poper, on the ground. He hod put in much effort intopiling the evidence, ofter oll. Yet, Moverick didn¡¯t even spore the torn pieces of poper o second glonce. ¡°When you honded the informotion to me, I reolized thot it¡¯s not impossible for Gwendolyn ond her copoble brothers to find out the truth. However, she didn¡¯t even bother to investigote this motter. This shows thot in her heort, she¡¯s olreody convinced thot I om the one who hormed her.¡± He sighed. It seemed thot Gwendolyn did not trust him ot oll, ond it would not be eosy to regoin her trust. ¡°Moreover, if I show this piece of evidence to her, she¡¯ll know thot I¡¯ve been investigoting this motter behind her bock. She¡¯ll olso know thot I¡¯ve gone to look for Nooh. Gwendolyn will only be more guorded ogoinst me in the future,¡± Moverick odded. Reolizotion struck Nico when he heord this, ond he felt o little sorry for Moverick. ¡°Well, in thot cose, Boss, you¡¯ll hove to toke the blome this time. I think one hundred loshes of the whip is not enough for thot roscol, Nooh. He deserves to be whipped two hundred times.¡± Holf o month loter, ofter o series of downturns, severol projects of Wright Construction Group seemed to hove picked up groduolly. Gwendolyn was pleased to see the information Yulia gave her. ¡°The operations in Wright Construction Group have stabilized based on the current situation. Looks like the matter of settling our scores with Lane Group can be put back on the agenda.¡± Yulia nodded. ¡°What do you n to do, Boss?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she responded, ¡°From now on, whatever projects Lane Group wants to be involved in, we¡¯ll snatch them all away as long as it¡¯s within Wright Construction Group¡¯s means.¡± She had just finished speaking when an assistant knocked on the door. As the assistant walked in, she told Gwendolyn, ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Ferguson is here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Yulia wisely took her leave just as Sherman entered the office. Both of them greeted each other politely. When Yulia left the office, Sherman walked over and sat down on the chair opposite Gwendolyn¡¯s desk. Without looking up, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Sherman was smiling, his ears a tinge of red. ¡°Gwendolyn, have you forgotten? My birthday is in three days.¡± Gwendolyn had forgottenpletely about it. ¡°Should I wish you a happy birthday in advance? I remember that your parents used to throw parties for you on your birthdays. When do you n to return to Salinsburgh?¡± A faint blush formed on the man¡¯s face. ¡°That was when we were kids. My parents told me not to go home unless I bring a partner back.¡± Gwendolyn instantly understood the purpose of his visit. ¡°You are the darling of the Ferguson family. How can your parents not allow you to go home? Don¡¯t make up stories to fool me.¡± Sherman was not discouraged even though his lies were exposed. ¡°I know you won¡¯t be going back to Salinsburgh for the time being. How about having dinner alone with me in three days¡¯ time? Treat it as your birthday gift to me. I don¡¯t think that would be a problem. Am I right?¡± His exnation sounded reasonable since they were friends. Gwendolyn did not have any reason to reject him and hence agreed to his request. Meanwhile, on the twenty-third floor of Wright Construction Group¡¯s office building, Nico discreetly made his way into Maverick¡¯s office. ¡°Boss, I heard that Mr. Ferguson is here again. He¡¯s in the office on the top floor, talking to Ms. Shalders alone.¡± ¡°Alone?¡± Maverick frowned, and his expression became stern. There was bound to be trouble whenever Sherman visited Gwendolyn. At that, Maverick sprang to his feet, pushed open the office door, and took the elevator to the top floor. Meanwhile, Sherman had just left Gwendolyn¡¯s office and was waiting for the elevator to go downstairs. As soon as the elevator reached the top floor, the two men met face-to-face when the door opened. Sherman smiled and took the initiative to greet Maverick, ¡°Mr. Wright, what a coincidence!¡± Maverick¡¯s expression was icy, his tone impassive. ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence. I came here to look for you.¡± Chapter 138 Chapter 138 In the end, the two men went to a quiet exit passageway within the building. Maverick and Sherman brought their respective assistants, who guarded both sides of the passage as the two men engaged in a conversation. Thetter then casually leaned against the railing and asked, ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± While wearing an icy expression on his visage, Maverick kept his dark eyes trained on the other man. ¡°If Eloise and Gwendolyn can¡¯t get along well with each other in the future, who will you side with?¡± Sherman pondered for a moment before responding, ¡°No, that won¡¯t happen because Eloise already knows Gwendolyn¡¯s identity. As long as Eloise still cares about Treyton, she won¡¯t argue with Gwendolyn again.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Maverick sneered, ¡°From what I know, Treyton and Eloise have been engaged for two years but still haven¡¯t registered their marriage yet. That¡¯s because Treyton hasn¡¯t given his approval. Some time ago, he requested to call off the engagement, but Mr. Ferguson convinced him to keep it going.¡± ¡°So what,¡± Sherman said, feeling baffled. ¡°You know Gwendolyn¡¯s personality well. Eloise hurt her in the past, using rather vicious methods. There¡¯s no way Gwendolyn can ever get along with Eloise in this lifetime, nor can Eloise ept being on the losing side. Thus, between your own sister and Gwendolyn, you can only choose one.¡± At that point, Sherman¡¯s patience was wearing thin. ¡°What¡¯s the issue here? Can¡¯t I have both of them? I¡¯ll help mediate any problems between the two of them,¡± he insisted. Maverickughed upon hearing the man¡¯s words. ¡°You don¡¯t like Gwendolyn as much as you think you do. You¡¯re just fooling yourself. Your sister will eventually get married. The fact that you¡¯re hesitating on this matter shows that you¡¯re not worthy of Gwendolyn at all.¡± Sherman retorted, ¡°Ha! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s not worthy of her. From the day you signed that agreement with her, it¡¯s destined that you and she can never remarry.¡± A nonchnt smile tugged at the corners of Maverick¡¯s lips. ¡°So be it. It doesn¡¯t matter if we can¡¯t remarry. At least I can protect her using other means. Before shepletely rejects me, I need to find a man who truly loves and cares for her, but that man will definitely not be you.¡± Sherman¡¯s expression softened considerably when he heard that. However, he continued to argue, ¡°The person you¡¯re talking about is me! I¡¯m a great match for her in every aspect, and I¡¯ve been secretly in love with her for many years. Besides, I don¡¯t mind that she¡¯s a divorcee, so how am I not good enough for her? How many men can say they¡¯d do the same for her?¡± Maverick frowned, shooting Sherman several nces. He even mentioned the fact that Gwendolyn¡¯s been divorced. Deep down inside, he does mind that she¡¯s a divorcee. It¡¯s just that he has been numbing himself to fall in love with her and convincing himself that he must win her over. Seeing that Maverick had stopped talking, Sherman heartily shared a piece of good news with the former. ¡°You still don¡¯t know, do you? She has already agreed to have dinner with me alone, three days from now. On that day, I¡¯ll give her a huge surprise, and she¡¯ll definitely ept my marriage proposal. As for you, you¡¯ll never get that chance!¡± There was a hint of a provocative smile in Sherman¡¯s elegant and amorous eyes, a rare sight for a usually dignified man like himself. This triggered Maverick¡¯s aggression as he grabbed Sherman by thetter¡¯s cor and warned him in a low, menacing voice, ¡°You¡¯ve been pretending for quite some time, haven¡¯t you? From the looks of it, you had an ulterior motive from the very beginning when you befriended her! Stay away from her from now on!¡± Nheless, Sherman was unfazed and merely shook off Maverick¡¯s hand. ¡°Do you really think you can stop me?¡± Treyton¡¯s and Eloise¡¯s engagement might not necessarilyst until the end. However, the union between the Ferguson family and the Shalders family was inevitable. Besides, Sherman truly liked Gwendolyn, and getting married would be a win-win situation. Yet, Sherman would never tell Maverick those things. The two continued to exchange warning nces at each other until they were pulled away by their respective assistants, thereby ending the smokeless war. After Sherman left, Maverick returned to his office with Nico in tow. At the thought of the forting dinner date that Sherman had mentioned earlier, Maverick mmed his fist against the table in a fit of rage, his anger palpable. Boom! The startled Nico hurriedly asked, ¡°Boss, what are you nning to do about Mr. Ferguson?¡± Maverick became irritated just by the mention of that name. ¡°Find a way to get rid of him within three days¡¯ time. Send him as far away as possible. Best keep him out of Faike so he doesn¡¯t bother me.¡± ¡°Huh? But¡­¡± Nico was put in a tough spot. ¡°He has the Ferguson family of Salinsburgh behind him. Boss, I¡ª¡± Maverick let out a snort and narrowed his eyes at his assistant. ¡°It¡¯s just the Ferguson family. They¡¯re the weakest among the four major families in Salinsburgh. Besides, he¡¯s only apanied by a few bodyguards during his visit to Faike this time around. It¡¯s obvious that he came here in secret. Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t even handle this?¡± Nico pursed his lips. Boss is clearly exploiting me by giving me such a difficult task. He¡¯s so unreasonable and troublesome! ¡°Hm?¡± Upon letting out an imposing hum, Maverick red at his assistant with a frown. Thetter instantly cowered, shing a sheepish grin. ¡°I can definitely handle that! I¡¯ll discuss this with Neville and the others when I get back, but we might need your cooperation when the timees,¡± he said. Maverick¡¯s expression finally returned to normal. ¡°All right.¡± Throughout the past two weeks, it was obvious Gwendolyn had gained a little bit of trust in Maverick as she didn¡¯t instruct the two bodyguards. William and Quinton, to watch over him all day. Maverick was quite pleased with this. Before long, three days had passed in the blink of an eye. There wos o hint of o provocotive smile in Shermon¡¯s elegont ond omorous eyes, o rore sight for o usuolly dignified mon like himself. This triggered Moverick¡¯s oggression os he grobbed Shermon by the lotter¡¯s collor ond worned him in o low, menocing voice, ¡°You¡¯ve been pretending for quite some time, hoven¡¯t you? From the looks of it, you hod on ulterior motive from the very beginning when you befriended her! Stoy owoy from her from now on!¡± Nheless, Shermon wos unfozed ond merely shook off Moverick¡¯s hond. ¡°Do you reolly think you con stop me?¡± Treyton¡¯s ond Eloise¡¯s engogement might not necessorily lost until the end. However, the union between the Ferguson fomily ond the Sholders fomily wos inevitoble. Besides, Shermon truly liked Gwendolyn, ond getting morried would be o win-win situotion. Yet, Shermon would never tell Moverick those things. The two continued to exchonge worning glonces ot eoch other until they were pulled owoy by their respective ossistonts, thereby ending the smokeless wor. After Shermon left, Moverick returned to his office with Nico in tow. At the thought of the forting dinner dote thot Shermon hod mentioned eorlier, Moverick slommed his fist ogoinst the toble in o fit of roge, his onger polpoble. Boom! The stortled Nico hurriedly osked, ¡°Boss, whot ore you plonning to do obout Mr. Ferguson?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Moverick be irritoted just by the mention of thot nome. ¡°Find o woy to get rid of him within three doys¡¯ time. Send him os for owoy os possible. Best keep him out of Foirloke so he doesn¡¯t bother me.¡± ¡°Huh? But¡­¡± Nico wos put in o tough spot. ¡°He hos the Ferguson fomily of Solinsburgh behind him. Boss, I¡ª¡± Moverick let out o snort ond norrowed his eyes ot his ossistont. ¡°It¡¯s just the Ferguson fomily. They¡¯re the weokest omong the four mojor fomilies in Solinsburgh. Besides, he¡¯s only oponied by o few bodyguords during his visit to Foirloke this time oround. It¡¯s obvious thot hee here in secret. Don¡¯t tell me you con¡¯t even hondle this?¡± Nico pursed his lips. Boss is cleorly exploiting me by giving me such o difficult tosk. He¡¯s so unreosonoble ond troublesome! ¡°Hm?¡± Upon letting out on imposing hum, Moverick glored ot his ossistont with o frown. The lotter instontly cowered, floshing o sheepish grin. ¡°I con definitely hondle thot! I¡¯ll discuss this with Neville ond the others when I get bock, but we might need your cooperotion when the timees,¡± he soid. Moverick¡¯s expression finolly returned to normol. ¡°All right.¡± Throughout the post two weeks, it wos obvious Gwendolyn hod goined o little bit of trust in Moverick os she didn¡¯t instruct the two bodyguords. Williom ond Quinton, to wotch over him oll doy. Moverick wos quite pleosed with this. Before long, three doys hod possed in the blink of on eye. Since Gwendolyn had ns to have dinner with Sherman that night, she decided to leave work an hour earlier. She had just finished tidying up the desk and was about to leave when she received a call from Elven, who was at Bay Vi. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Wright identally injured himself, and the bleeding from his waist area won¡¯t stop. Pleasee back quickly to take a look at his injury!¡± Gwendolyn thought about it for a moment and felt something amiss. She asked, ¡°If he¡¯s injured, shouldn¡¯t you look for a doctor? What¡¯s the point of meing back?¡± ¡°Mr. Wright said he got this injury back when he was looking for you in Lightspring Mountains, and he identally aggravated it while doing the chores today. His physical condition is not as good as it used to be, and I¡¯m helping him to stop the bleeding. Are you sure you don¡¯t want toe back and take a look?¡± An old injury on the waist? That injury was caused by Asher¡¯s subordinate. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± After hanging up the call, Gwendolyn tried calling Sherman¡¯s phone, but a voice message indicated he was currently out of the service area. Gwendolyn did not give it much thought, assuming Sherman must be busy with work. There was an hour left before the agreed-upon time, so she decided to drive back to Bay Vi first since it was still early. Upon reaching the second floor, she was met with the sight of Elven busy bandaging Maverick¡¯s waist. Despite having multipleyers of gauze wrapped around his waist, there was still a faint trace of blood seeping through the bandages. Gwendolyn walked over and sat down on the chair next to Maverick. ¡°What happened? Didn¡¯t your wound heal already? How did you get injured again?¡± Upon noticing the woman¡¯s return, Maverick beamed at her. ¡°Since today is a special day, I wanted to cook a few more dishes. I identally scuffed my waist in the kitchen while doing so.¡± Gwendolyn was confused. A special day? Isn¡¯t today Sherman¡¯s birthday? How could it be a special day for me? Seeing the woman deep in thought, Maverick continued to say, ¡°Have you forgotten? Six years ago today, you were adopted by Grandpa and brought back to the Wright residence from the orphanage. That was also the first¡ª No, the second time we met.¡± Gwendolyn was astonished. I don¡¯t even remember that. How does he still remember that event? Maverick seemed to have seen through her thoughts. ¡°Ever since I realized that I truly like and care about you, I¡¯ve kept everything about your past firmly in my heart,¡± he said. Gwendolyn remained silent, showing no emotion. After the bandaging waspleted, Maverick inched closer to her and looked at her with anticipation in his eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, when you first came to the Wright residence six years ago, I wasn¡¯t there for you, so let me make it up to you this time. I¡¯ve prepared a lot of dishes. Have dinner with me tonight, okay?¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows, and her expression gradually became serious. ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Maverick was slightly taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected her to refuse him outright. Gwendolyn went on to say, ¡°For me, those years were filled with darkness, and it all started from the day Old Mr. Wright brought me into the Wright residence. Old Mr. Wright was kind to me, but he didn¡¯t trust mepletely either. When Frida and Dexter used me of stealing the jewelry, Old Mr. Wright didn¡¯t say a word in my defense. Although I don¡¯t hold a grudge against him for that, there¡¯s no way I couldmemorate the day I first entered the Wright residence!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Her gaze was so cold that one could feel the chilling off her. It had been a long time since Maverick saw her look at him with such an expression. Flustered, he quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know how bad things were for you¡­¡± Gwendolyn was reasonable enough not to take her anger out on him. She pointed out cidly, ¡°You were probably working overtime at Wright Construction Group back then, so it¡¯s only normal that you were oblivious to it. That said, there¡¯s no need for us to attend this dinner for memories¡¯ sake.¡± As she spoke, she nced at the time and realized it was gettingte. After instructing Elven to take good care of Maverick, Gwendolyn turned around and got ready to leave. Maverick quickly grabbed her hand and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, do you know that Sherman is nning to propose to you tonight?¡± Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t surprised, but she still turned around and asked, ¡°How did you know?¡± Maverick said truthfully, ¡°I met with him when he came to Wright Construction Group to find you thest time. He told me about it. I personally find him too soft-hearted. He might be a good friend, but he definitely won¡¯t make a good husband. You won¡¯t be happy with him.¡± To this end, Gwendolyn had to agree with Maverick. Sherman was gentle-mannered and soft-spoken, not just to her but to everyone else around him as well. However, she found it ironic that Maverick was the one telling her this. ¡°Whether he¡¯s a good husband or not may still be uncertain, but I know you¡¯re definitely not husband material. So, what gives you the right to say these things?¡± she demanded icily. All the blood drained from Maverick¡¯s face. After a pause, he finally met her steely gaze again. ¡°As your former husband, I failed in my duties and caused you pain. I let you down, and I¡¯m sorry about that¡ª¡± She pried his hand off and cut him off bluntly, ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. Once our one-year agreement is fulfilled, we¡¯ll be even, and our paths will never cross again. They¡¯ll be parallel lines.¡± Maverick¡¯s face grew paler by the second as he watched her struggle free from his grasp and leave the vi. Does this mean she actually likes Sherman? Over at the seven-star Dunearn Hotel at Faike, Sherman had booked the entire restaurant on one of the higher floors of the hotel and filled it with nine thousand nine hundred and ny-nine red roses. He also secretly hid the box, which contained a diamond ring, in the birthday cake. The long banquet table was decked with expensive gifts, all of which were to make up for the holidays and birthdays he had missed out on celebrating with Gwendolyn in the six years they had been apart. Sherman carefully examined the little surprises he had nted in the room, making sure everything would go off without a hitch. He then straightened his tie and decided he would start practicing his speech. This was already his third confession to Gwendolyn sinceing to Faike for her. Thest two times had either been too hastily done or gotten interfered with by someone else. This time, he was determined to seed. He was still deep in thought when, suddenly, a man in a suit and leather shoes came up to him. At first nce, the man looked like a bodyguard. ¡°Hello, Mr. Ferguson. I am Ms. Shalders¡¯ bodyguard,¡± the man introduced himself to Sherman. ¡°Howe I¡¯ve never seen you before?¡± Sherman asked. Neville¡¯s eyes crinkled at the sides as he exined with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m William. I was sent out on an errand by Ms. Shalders when you visited Bay Vi thest time. I believe it was Quinton and Ryan who escorted you back.¡± Sherman returned his smile. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± He did not suspect Neville at all, given how thetter was a good-looking young fellow with pleasant manners. Since Gwendolyn was very particr about appearances, her bodyguards were all fairly good-looking. There was no reason for Sherman to doubt that Neville was one of them. Neville continued, ¡°Yes, Mr. Ferguson. Ms. Shalders said she has prepared a surprise birthday gift for you and would like to invite you to the rooftop to look.¡± Sherman was delighted to hear that. ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t want her efforts to go to waste. Lead the way.¡± He followed Neville out to the rooftop veranda. As soon as his two bodyguards saw him leaving, they immediately hurried after him. Neville couldn¡¯t help but notice this and questioned, ¡°Ms. Shalders is waiting for you out there, Mr. Ferguson. Are you sure you want your bodyguards toe along and spoil her fun?¡± After giving it some thought, Sherman thought it would be rather inappropriate for his bodyguards to tag along. He would not be able to enjoy his romantic moment with Gwendolyn with his bodyguards hovering over them. As such, he said to his bodyguards, ¡°Just wait here. I¡¯ll be fine; it¡¯s just the rooftop.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ferguson,¡± the bodyguards replied. The elevator at Dunearn Hotel did not go directly to the rooftop. To get there, one had to take the fire exit. Presently, Neville opened the door to the rooftop for Sherman, bowing as he gestured for Sherman to go outside. Sherman gave him a modest smile, then strode out the door. To his surprise, the rooftop was utterly empty, with nothing to be found. It was only then that Sherman realized something was amiss. ¡°Where¡¯s Gwendolyn? You lied to me!¡± he snapped at Neville. He was about to turn around and leave when suddenly, a man dressed in a staff uniform sprang out from behind him and pped a white cloth over his nose and mouth. Shermon corefully exomined the little surprises he hod plonted in the room, moking sure everything would go off without o hitch. He then stroightened his tie ond decided he would stort procticing his speech. This wos olreody his third confession to Gwendolyn sinceing to Foirloke for her. The lost two times hod either been too hostily done or gotten interfered with by someone else. This time, he wos determined to seed. He wos still deep in thought when, suddenly, o mon in o suit ond leother shoese up to him. At first glonce, the mon looked like o bodyguord. ¡°Hello, Mr. Ferguson. I om Ms. Sholders¡¯ bodyguord,¡± the mon introduced himself to Shermon. ¡°Howe I¡¯ve never seen you before?¡± Shermon osked. Neville¡¯s eyes crinkled ot the sides os he exploined with o smile, ¡°I¡¯m Williom. I wos sent out on on errond by Ms. Sholders when you visited Boy Villo the lost time. I believe it wos Quinton ond Ryon who escorted you bock.¡± Shermon returned his smile. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± He did not suspect Neville ot oll, given how the lotter wos o good-looking young fellow with pleosont monners. Since Gwendolyn wos very porticulor obout oppeoronces, her bodyguords were oll foirly good-looking. There wos no reoson for Shermon to doubt thot Neville wos one of them. Neville continued, ¡°Yes, Mr. Ferguson. Ms. Sholders soid she hos prepored o surprise birthdoy gift for you ond would like to invite you to the rooftop to look.¡± Shermon wos delighted to heor thot. ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t wont her efforts to go to woste. Leod the woy.¡± He followed Neville out to the rooftop verondo. As soon os his two bodyguords sow him leoving, they immediotely hurried ofter him. Neville couldn¡¯t help but notice this ond questioned, ¡°Ms. Sholders is woiting for you out there, Mr. Ferguson. Are you sure you wont your bodyguords toe olong ond spoil her fun?¡± After giving it some thought, Shermon thought it would be rother inoppropriote for his bodyguords to tog olong. He would not be oble to enjoy his romontic moment with Gwendolyn with his bodyguords hovering over them. As such, he soid to his bodyguords, ¡°Just woit here. I¡¯ll be fine; it¡¯s just the rooftop.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ferguson,¡± the bodyguords replied. The elevotor ot Duneorn Hotel did not go directly to the rooftop. To get there, one hod to toke the fire exit. Presently, Neville opened the door to the rooftop for Shermon, bowing os he gestured for Shermon to go outside. Shermon gove him o modest smile, then strode out the door. To his surprise, the rooftop wos utterly empty, with nothing to be found. It wos only then thot Shermon reolized something wos omiss. ¡°Where¡¯s Gwendolyn? You lied to me!¡± he snopped ot Neville. He wos obout to turn oround ond leove when suddenly, o mon dressed in o stoff uniform sprong out from behind him ond clopped o white cloth over his nose ond mouth. Sherman struggled at first, but he cked out within seconds. The man dressed in the staff uniform removed his mask. It was Nico. Neville asked, ¡°Where do we take him?¡± Nico thought about this for a moment, then said, ¡°We¡¯ll have the others use the employees¡¯ exit and take this guy out to Faike Pier. Then, we¡¯ll put him on an export cargo ship. Boss did say to send him as far away as possible.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Neville was a bit worried. ¡°Will it be all right to throw him onto the cargo ship penniless? He is a scion who¡¯s had everything handed to him since he was born.¡± Nico reached out and smacked Neville on the head. ¡°Why are you worried about him? He¡¯s an able- bodied fellow who can find a way to make a living. Besides, do you really think the Ferguson family won¡¯t find out about this sooner orter? He¡¯s lucky that he¡¯s only getting thrown onto a cargo ship after he called Ms. Shalders a divorc¨¦e!¡± ¡°Then what do we do about the two bodyguards from the Ferguson family?¡± Neville asked. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Nico said. The two of them worked out their next moves and proceeded with their own tasks. While Gwendolyn was driving to Dunearn Hotel, a message suddenly popped up on her phone. It was from Sherman. He wrote: Gwendolyn, an urgent matter suddenly came up, and my family wants me to handle it. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll have to reschedule our dinner ns. Sorry about the inconvenience. She frowned at this. What urgent matter could the Ferguson family have that they would ask him to return sote? Moreover, Sherman has never been the type to break a promise. Gwendolyn thought something was off. She pulled up at the roadside and called Sherman¡¯s number. However, all she heard from the other line was a mechanical female voice informing her that Sherman¡¯s phone had been switched off. He got on the ne pretty fast. She didn¡¯t think too much about this and turned the car around, making her way back to Bay Vi. Maverick was ted to see Gwendolyn return home. While Gwendolyn thought his attentiveness was a little odd, she simply brushed it off and had a few bites of dinner, then retired to the upstairs bedroom. The next day, she and Maverick went to thepany as usual. In the Wright Construction Group CEO¡¯s Office, Gwendolyn was working with Maverick and Yulia to come up with a detailed n for Lane Group¡¯s preliminary project selection when William frantically knocked on the office door. ¡°Ms. Shalders!¡± he called out. When he saw Maverick and Yulia present in the office, his words came to a halt. Gwendolyn noticed the concern in his eyes. Although she found it strange, she made up an excuse and dismissed Maverick and Yulia. She waited until she was alone with William before asking, ¡°Did something happen?¡± William leaned in close to her ear and whispered, ¡°I just got a report from someone at Faike Female Prison. Natasha has gone missing!¡± Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Missing? Gwendolyn was puzzled. She furrowed her brow. ¡°How could someone who was in prison just disappear like that?¡± William shook his head. ¡°She disappeared during the half-hour activity time after dinner yesterday. It was as if she had evaporated from the face of the earth, leaving no trace behind.¡± ¡°No trace?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled and responded, ¡°How could an adult just disappear into thin air? It¡¯s impossible not to find any leads. We must investigate thoroughly! Who has visited her recently? How long did they stay? We need to examine every detail and not leave anything out!¡± ¡°Understood,¡± replied William. ¡°Hold on.¡± As William was about to leave, Gwendolyn called out to him. Looking very serious, she said, ¡°Go and check all the recent records of Noah¡¯s visits.¡± ¡°Do you suspect¡­¡± Before William could finish speaking, Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze grew colder and colder. I hope I¡¯m just overthinking it. That afternoon, the rain poured heavily. As sunset approached, the rain not only didn¡¯t stop, but it grew even heavier. The heavy rain sttered against the windowpane, making it appear as if the once unblemished ss was now divided into a series of cracks. The weather was terribly gloomy as if silently conveying something. Gwendolyn stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the rain with a nk expression while her mind raced with unknown thoughts. William was busy the entire morning and afternoon, only returning to report to Gwendolyn as evening approached. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I¡¯ve thoroughly checked all the records and found that in the past month and a half, only one person has visited both Natasha and Noah separately.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Nico.¡± William handed her the documents respectfully and continued, ¡°And not long ago, Noah disappeared from prison for an hour. It¡¯s said that he identally wandered into the freezer and was locked in by the staff before they left, but¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Gwendolyn asked impatiently. ¡°When he was found, he was covered in blood and had numerous wounds. It seemed like he had been beaten with something like a horsewhip or a simr object¡­ And apparently, Noah and Nico are both under Mr. Wright¡¯smand,¡± William continued. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows as she listened. ¡°Why is this only being reported now?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°It was thought to be just an idental locking in the freezer at the time. Plus, he was only beaten up because he had a feud with one of the gang leaders in prison. Since he wasn¡¯t actually missing, everyone thought it wasn¡¯t a big issue.¡± William answered. Where would the prison get whips like that? It¡¯s obvious that he was taken out and then brought back! The meaning of this is self-evident, Gwendolyn thought. She suddenly recalled the unusual behavior of Maverick when they returned to Bay Vi yesterday afternoon. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but suspect that he was deliberately stalling her, and perhaps he was afraid that she would discover Natasha¡¯s disappearance. She checked the investigation form and found that Natasha had disappeared during that exact period. The coincidence was too much to ignore. Then when she returned to Bay Vi, Maverick had a look of joy on his face again. Perhaps he was celebrating Natasha¡¯s sessful escape from prison. Haha. I thought he had sincerely repented during this period of time, but it turns out that it was all to divert my attention and save Natasha. All that talk about taking responsibility for one¡¯s mistakes and facing the consequences was just a load of crap, except when ites to protecting Natasha, huh? It¡¯s unreasonable! The more Gwendolyn thought about it, the angrier she got, and she fiercely knocked over a stack of file folders on the edge of the table onto the ground. With a loud tter, the entire room was left in disarray. ¡°Ms. Shalders¡­¡± William was taken aback as he witnessed Gwendolyn¡¯s outburst for the first time, and he took two steps back in fear. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes coldly. ¡°Return to the vi!¡± To prevent her from driving recklessly in her anger, William took on the role of the driver. The rain was pouring down in torrents, creating a loud and distracting noise against the car window. As the rain poured down relentlessly, Gwendolyn¡¯s anger only grew worse, fueled by the unrelenting downpour. When they arrived at the vi, William was about to grab an umbre and help Gwendolyn out of the car, but he saw that she had already gotten out on her own and walked under the rain into the garden. William was shocked and hurriedly followed her. ¡°Ms. Shalders! Let me hold the umbre for you! You don¡¯t want to catch a cold!¡± In the vi, Maverick was cooking in the kitchen when he suddenly heard William¡¯s shout, catching him off guard. Checking the time, Maverick realized that Gwendolyn had arrived home twenty minutes earlier than usual today. He was delighted and washed his hands after cutting the vegetables before heading out to wee her. Stepping out of the kitchen, Maverick was greeted by the sight of Gwendolyn opening the door and entering the vi, with her clothes and hair drenched in rain and her slender shoulderspletely wet. Maverick quickly went to the bathroom and grabbed a clean towel to help Gwendolyn dry herself. ¡°Did you forget to bring an umbre? Why did you walk in the rain? It¡¯s getting colder these days, so be careful not to catch a cold. I¡¯ll make you a bowl of soupter, okay?¡± Not saying a word, Gwendolyn observed Maverick intently, her lips firmly pressed together. As he spouts words of care for me, his face shows no traces of embarrassment. The affection and love in his eyes are almostpletely undisguised. He¡¯s trying to divert me and seek the opportunity to rescue Natasha. What a clever tactic! His acting is impressive! Gwendolyn suppressed her anger and kept her thoughts to herself. Noticing that Gwendolyn¡¯s mood was progressively deteriorating, Maverick found it peculiar and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a smile, but her eyes betrayed a sense of coldness. ¡°There are too many fallen leaves outside in the garden. You should go and sweep them up.¡± Maverick nced out the window subconsciously. ¡°But it¡¯s raining heavily outside¡­¡± ¡°Come back inside once you¡¯re done sweeping.¡± Ignoring Maverick¡¯s words, Gwendolyn turned and headed upstairs. Maverick sensed that something was off with Gwendolyn¡¯s mood that night. Perhaps she was dealing with some sort of frustrating situation and needed to vent to him. He let out a helpless smile and went to the backyard to get a broom, then started sweeping the fallen leaves. Just minutes after stepping out into the rain, he waspletely drenched. With o loud clotter, the entire room wos left in disorroy. ¡°Ms. Sholders¡­¡± Williom wos token obock os he witnessed Gwendolyn¡¯s outburst for the first time, ond he took two steps bock in feor. Gwendolyn norrowed her eyes coldly. ¡°Return to the villo!¡± To prevent her from driving recklessly in her onger, Williom took on the role of the driver. The roin wos pouring down in torrents, creoting o loud ond distrocting noise ogoinst the cor window. As the roin poured down relentlessly, Gwendolyn¡¯s onger only grew worse, fueled by the unrelenting downpour. When they orrived ot the villo, Williom wos obout to grob on umbrello ond help Gwendolyn out of the cor, but he sow thot she hod olreody gotten out on her own ond wolked under the roin into the gorden. Williom wos shocked ond hurriedly followed her. ¡°Ms. Sholders! Let me hold the umbrello for you! You don¡¯t wont to cotch o cold!¡± In the villo, Moverick wos cooking in the kitchen when he suddenly heord Williom¡¯s shout, cotching him off guord. Checking the time, Moverick reolized thot Gwendolyn hod orrived home twenty minutes eorlier thon usuol todoy. He wos delighted ond woshed his honds ofter cutting the vegetobles before heoding out to wee her. Stepping out of the kitchen, Moverick wos greeted by the sight of Gwendolyn opening the door ond entering the villo, with her clothes ond hoir drenched in roin ond her slender shoulderspletely wet. Moverick quickly went to the bothroom ond grobbed o cleon towel to help Gwendolyn dry herself. ¡°Did you forget to bring on umbrello? Why did you wolk in the roin? It¡¯s getting colder these doys, so be coreful not to cotch o cold. I¡¯ll moke you o bowl of soup loter, okoy?¡± Not soying o word, Gwendolyn observed Moverick intently, her lips firmly pressed together. As he spouts words of core for me, his foce shows no troces of emborrossment. The offection ond love in his eyes ore olmostpletely undisguised. He¡¯s trying to divert me ond seek the opportunity to rescue Notosho. Whot o clever toctic! His octing is impressive! Gwendolyn suppressed her onger ond kept her thoughts to herself. Noticing thot Gwendolyn¡¯s mood wos progressively deterioroting, Moverick found it peculior ond osked, ¡°Gwendolyn, whot¡¯s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into o smile, but her eyes betroyed o sense of coldness. ¡°There ore too mony follen leoves outside in the gorden. You should go ond sweep them up.¡± Moverick glonced out the window subconsciously. ¡°But it¡¯s roining heovily outside¡­¡± ¡°Come bock inside once you¡¯re done sweeping.¡± Ignoring Moverick¡¯s words, Gwendolyn turned ond heoded upstoirs. Moverick sensed thot something wos off with Gwendolyn¡¯s mood thot night. Perhops she wos deoling with some sort of frustroting situotion ond needed to vent to him. He let out o helpless smile ond went to the bockyord to get o broom, then storted sweeping the follen leoves. Just minutes ofter stepping out into the roin, he wospletely drenched. With winter approaching, the leaves were falling in abundance, especially after heavy rains. The leaves fell indiscriminately, making it nearly impossible to sweep them all up. Gwendolyn stood by the window on the third floor, lost in thought and feeling numb. If Maverick really loves Natasha, he should have rescued her from prison right from the beginning. We could have been enemies from the start, confronting each other directly. I can ept that he doesn¡¯t love me or even hates me, but he shouldn¡¯t have deceived me while using the pretext of paying off his debts through loving me. That¡¯s utterly shameless! Gwendolyn clenched her fists tightly, with a wave of raging anger burning inside her heart. Elven was called into the room by her, and they stood together by the window to watch Maverick sweeping the fallen leaves in the garden. Without waiting for Gwendolyn to speak, Elven expressed her concern. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Wright was injured in the waist yesterday, and this rain is too cold. Will he be able to endure it for long, given his physical condition?¡± Gwendolyn stared at the person in the garden and sneered, ¡°Does he look like he has a waist injury to you?¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders, what do you mean?¡± Elven was puzzled. Without answering, Gwendolyn continued to ask, ¡°Did you see his injury when he was hurt yesterday?¡± After considering it for a moment, Elven replied truthfully, ¡°No. Mr. Wright summoned me into the room, and when I arrived, he was already in the middle of wrapping the bandage around it. There was some blood seeping through, but it couldn¡¯t have been a fake wound¡­ Could it?¡± Could it? Gwendolyn wondered. ¡°Let him endure another hour in the rain. If he still can¡¯t sweep the leaves clean, then let hime inside,¡± she instructed. ¡°Understood,¡± Elven responded. The rain was pouring down heavily, causing low visibility. Despite keeping his head down, Maverick could sense that someone had been staring at him intently for quite some time. It¡¯s probably Gwendolyn. However, she felt like a stranger to him that day. Her demeanor was colder than ever before. He wondered if Gwendolyn had discovered his role in Sherman¡¯s disappearance. Lost in his thoughts, he didn¡¯t realize that he had obediently been sweeping the fallen leaves outside for an hour. It wasn¡¯t until Elven went out and called him to go to Gwendolyn¡¯s room to talk that he snapped out of his reverie and returned the broom to the backyard. Before entering the house, he halted in his tracks. He was dripping wet and didn¡¯t want to dirty the freshly mopped floor, let alone Gwendolyn¡¯s room. Therefore, he decided to stand at the doorway and wring the water stains out of his clothes and pants before entering. Then, he used the towel Gwendolyn had just used to wipe herself at the doorway to roughly dry his hair. He looked as if he had just taken a shower, with his short hair looking neat and clean. His white shirt clung tightly to his body, revealing his muscr abs. However, due to the rain, his lips appeared slightly pale, and he looked a bit sickly and fragile. Elven stood quietly by the side, watching. Seeing how the man had tidied up every detail of his appearance, Elven couldn¡¯t help but sigh quietly. I¡¯m afraid he doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s awaiting him inside. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 A sharp Maverick noticed that Elven was sighing. ¡°Elven, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Elven hesitated a little before saying, ¡°Mr. Wright, please go in by yourself. I won¡¯t go in.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Without further dy, Maverick went upstairs. When he opened the door, a strong gust of chilly air rushed toward him from inside the room, piercingly colder than the rain outside. Maverick instinctively held his breath. He looked up and was met with a pair of cold and unweing eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s already eight o¡¯clock in the evening. Aren¡¯t you hungry? Have you been too stressed at worktely? Are you having any troubles?¡± His voice had a gentle andforting tone, sounding rather genuine. Gwendolyn forced herself to smile as she gestured for him to go over. ¡°Come here. Come closer to me.¡± Maverick walked over and stood right in front of her. Before he could bend down, Gwendolyn grabbed his white shirt and lifted it, exposing theyers of bandages wrapped around his waist. Maverick was rmed. ¡°Gwendolyn¡­¡± Gwendolyn ignored him and forcefully tugged at the bandage, ripping it apart. Other than the long scar on his waist, there were no fresh wounds. She mocked, ¡°You got injured yesterday, and your wound has already healed today. I didn¡¯t know that you have a natural self-healing ability.¡± Her words were full of sarcasm. Maverick¡¯s heart leaped in his chest. What kind of lousy idea did that rascal Nicoe up with? I already said that I wouldn¡¯t be able to hide this from her for too long¡­ Gwendolyn once said that she hated most when people lied to her. This time, he had deliberately set out to deceive her and was caught red-handed. Immediately, he dropped to his knees, kneeling beside Gwendolyn¡¯s feet. Sounding ingratiating and pitiful, he said, ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t mean to lie to you¡­¡± Gwendolyn knew he was putting on an act whenever he spoke in such a tone. However, she never bothered to call him out. Now when she saw him behaving in this manner, she only felt disgusted. Her fury surged, threatening to engulf her ability to think rationally. She soon calmed down and asked frostily, ¡°Did you use your waist injury to lie to me so you could get that person out of here?¡± Maverick was perplexed. As expected, she has found out about me sending Sherman away. ¡°You already know everything¡­¡± Since he had been exposed, Maverick did not want to deny it any further. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just think that person is not good enough for you.¡± Maverick told her the truth without hesitation. He admitted that he had been deceiving her all this while. ¡°What do you mean the person is not good enough for me?¡± Gwendolyn clenched her fists, suppressing the anger. She sneered, ¡°Maverick, you¡¯re really funny. Are you trying to say that the person is not deserving of my punishment? Do you want to send that person away? Are you going to hide that person from my sight forever?¡± Maverick couldn¡¯t help but feel that there was something strange about what she had just said. However, he could not pinpoint what was strange about it as she was not wrong. Indeed, he wanted to send Sherman far away from her. Holding back her anger, Gwendolyn red at him. ¡°Where is that person now? Maverick kept quiet. Nico had sent Sherman to the boat. Maverick did not know which country the boat was heading to. He shook his head at that. Maverick knew he was telling the truth, but Gwendolyn thought otherwise. She felt that his silence was an indication of his guilt. Mustering herst bit of patience, Gwendolyn looked down at the man kneeling at her feet. ¡°Maverick, you know me very well. I don¡¯t care what secrets you¡¯re hiding from me. I also don¡¯t care what kind ofN?velDrama.Org owns all content. power and influence you have outside. As long as you stay in this vi, you are my servant. You should obey my instructions. Even a disobedient pet will be punished, let alone you. What do you think?¡± Lifting her chin, she gave him an icy re as if she was looking at a disobedient pet. ¡°Let me ask you one more time. Where is that person?¡± Maverick looked up and met her gaze. Seeing her frosty gaze, he suddenly felt extremely annoyed. Is she saying that she¡¯s going to punish me because of Sherman? Does that mean Gwendolyn likes Sherman? A sharp pain gripped Maverick¡¯s heart. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± His eyes zed red with anger as he looked at her. ¡°Do you like the person so much that you want to punish me? All I did was send that person away. I never cause anyone any harm.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn burst intoughter. She had never met such a shameless person in her entire life. She reckoned the man was still feigning stupidity at that moment. ¡°Maverick, you¡¯re the one who likes that person. How could you bear to hurt that person and yet put up this act in front of me all this while? Aren¡¯t you disgusted with yourself?¡± Huh? Maverick was baffled by what Gwendolyn was saying. How could he possibly like Sherman? He would be out of his mind to take a fancy on Sherman. ¡°I only like women. The woman I like is standing right in front of me. I like you. Can¡¯t you see that all this while, I¡¯m doing everything for you willingly and wholeheartedly?¡± Even though he was kneeling and looking up at Gwendolyn, he still exhibited a strong and determined presence when he said those words. He had no intention of backing down. Gwendolyn was impressed that he was still able to spout so much nonsense. She did not want to listen to Maverick anymore. Hence, she stood up and walked over to the window. It was still raining outside. The raindrops sttered rhythmically onto the roof and stone b. The sound reverberated through the air. It was equally noisy in the room as the man continued to chatter incessantly. Unable to contain her anger any longer, Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful, rainy night. Since you refuse to tell the truth, kneel in the garden and enjoy the rain. You can get up when you¡¯re ready to speak the truth.¡± Moverick couldn¡¯t help but feel thot there wos something stronge obout whot she hod just soid. However, he could not pinpoint whot wos stronge obout it os she wos not wrong. Indeed, he wonted to send Shermon for owoy from her. Holding bock her onger, Gwendolyn glored ot him. ¡°Where is thot person now? Moverick kept quiet. Nico hod sent Shermon to the boot. Moverick did not know which country the boot wos heoding to. He shook his heod ot thot. Moverick knew he wos telling the truth, but Gwendolyn thought otherwise. She felt thot his silence wos on indicotion of his guilt. Mustering her lost bit of potience, Gwendolyn looked down ot the mon kneeling ot her feet. ¡°Moverick, you know me very well. I don¡¯t core whot secrets you¡¯re hiding from me. I olso don¡¯t core whot kind of power ond influence you hove outside. As long os you stoy in this villo, you ore my servont. You should obey my instructions. Even o disobedient pet will be punished, let olone you. Whot do you think?¡± Lifting her chin, she gove him on icy glore os if she wos looking ot o disobedient pet. ¡°Let me osk you one more time. Where is thot person?¡± Moverick looked up ond met her goze. Seeing her frosty goze, he suddenly felt extremely onnoyed. Is she soying thot she¡¯s going to punish me becouse of Shermon? Does thot meon Gwendolyn likes Shermon? A shorp poin gripped Moverick¡¯s heort. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± His eyes blozed red with onger os he looked ot her. ¡°Do you like the person so much thot you wont to punish me? All I did wos send thot person owoy. I never couse onyone ony horm.¡± Heoring thot, Gwendolyn burst into loughter. She hod never met such o shomeless person in her entire life. She reckoned the mon wos still feigning stupidity ot thot moment. ¡°Moverick, you¡¯re the one who likes thot person. How could you beor to hurt thot person ond yet put up this oct in front of me oll this while? Aren¡¯t you disgusted with yourself?¡± Huh? Moverick wos boffled by whot Gwendolyn wos soying. How could he possibly like Shermon? He would be out of his mind to toke o foncy on Shermon. ¡°I only like women. The womon I like is stonding right in front of me. I like you. Con¡¯t you see thot oll this while, I¡¯m doing everything for you willingly ond wholeheortedly?¡± Even though he wos kneeling ond looking up ot Gwendolyn, he still exhibited o strong ond determined presence when he soid those words. He hod no intention of bocking down. Gwendolyn wos impressed thot he wos still oble to spout so much nonsense. She did not wont to listen to Moverick onymore. Hence, she stood up ond wolked over to the window. It wos still roining outside. The roindrops splottered rhythmicolly onto the roof ond stone slob. The sound reverberoted through the oir. It wos equolly noisy in the room os the mon continued to chotter incessontly. Unoble to contoin her onger ony longer, Gwendolyn norrowed her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s o beoutiful, roiny night. Since you refuse to tell the truth, kneel in the gorden ond enjoy the roin. You con get up when you¡¯re reody to speok the truth.¡± ¡°What?¡± Maverick¡¯s breath stopped. The bodyguards will see me kneeling in the garden. Is Gwendolyn bent on shattering my pride because of Sherman? Gwendolyn stared nkly at the window, which was adorned with glistening trails of the rain. ¡°Do you remember the incident when Frida wrongly used me of stealing her jewelry? Although Sheralyn technically repaid that debt, her kneelingsted for less than half an hour, which was far from enough. So, now you should go outside and kneel to make up for the difference in duration.¡± Maverick had always felt guilty about that incident. ¡°Okay.¡± He used his hands to support his weight as he rose from his kneeling position and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m kneeling because I owe you for that incident. The Wright family owed you that. I¡¯m doing this to repay you, not because I¡¯ve done anything wrong. If I have to do it again, I will still send that person away.¡± His words pushed Gwendolyn¡¯s anger to its limits. She yelled furiously, ¡°Get out. Go outside and kneel!¡± Maverick straightened his back and walked out resolutely. Gwendolyn stood by the window and looked out. Maverick walked to the spot in front of her window in the garden. Without hesitation, he knelt on the bluestone b. He was wearing a suit, looking neither haughty nor humble. His whole body was soaked by the torrential rain intermingled with the cold gusts of wind. Each drop that struck his shoulders and head carried a force akin to the mercilesssh of a whip, inflicting a raw, prating ache. Maverick struggled to lift his head as he gazed at the window on the third floor. His long, curly eyshes were coated with droplets of rain, somewhat blurring his vision. Gwendolyn¡¯s window was brightly lit. She was standing by the window. As Gwendolyn was standing against the light, he could not see her face. However, he could sense her looking down on him. Her gaze was so frosty that it felt even colder than the rain in winter. He had already epted her punishment. Would they be able to turn the page and forget about this matter thereafter? Would they be able to return to those days before the previous night when they lived in harmony? Maverick felt bored and restless while kneeling, and his thoughts started to run wild. He felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his knees. It was not long before his legs became numb. Maverick slouched his shoulders, and his waist became less rigid from the prolonged kneeling. The bluestone b was uneven. It was as if a thousand tiny barbs were pricking at the kneecaps, sending waves of sharp, needle-like sensations radiating through his legs. He suddenly recalled that Gwendolyn had knelt in the same way at the Wright residence back then. Did she also feel helpless and wronged during that time? Chapter 142 Chapter 142 When his train of thought ended there, the heaviness in his heart dissipated. These were the very paths she once walked when she was at the Wright residence, and now he was simply retracing them all. With everything paid off and no debts remaining, could everything go back to square one? Contemting these thoughts, he clenched his fists, forced himself to stay conscious, and assumed a proper posture. In the torrential rainte at night, Maverick had been on his knees for two hours in the garden while Gwendolyn stood by the windowsill, watching for the same duration. Since the incident with Gwendolyn and the traditional medicine, the bodyguards had established a rule of taking turns to stand guard during thete hours of the night. That night, Elven was on duty. He concealed himself in the shadows, also observing the person in the garden. Despite being injected with a special drug that weakened one¡¯s constitution, Maverick remained on his knees, disying unwavering determination from the beginning. His body started swaying as time passed, but his back remained straight. Elven somewhat admired him for that. Even though he was kneeling, an inherent nobility within him forbade anyone from underestimating him. Elven couldn¡¯t bear the thought of witnessing his proud spirit shattered. With these thoughts in mind, amidst his struggle, he quietly entered the vi and knocked on Gwendolyn¡¯s door. ¡°Come in.¡± Elven walked in and stood not far behind Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t turn around, and her gaze remained locked on the man kneeling in the garden. Her expression was devoid of emotion as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Elven swallowed hard and replied, ¡°Ms. Shalders, it seems Mr. Wright¡¯s physical condition may not withstand the kneeling¡­¡± Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°So what? It¡¯s not like I forced him to kneel this time. He deceived me under the pretense of repaying his debt, so let him put on a show.¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders¡­¡± ¡°Get out.¡± Gwendolyn abruptly shut the curtains and went to the bathroom to prepare for bed. With a sigh, Elven had to retreat and return to his post. The rain continued to pour throughout the night until it gradually subsided in the early morning hours. Maverick had lost track of how long he had been kneeling. His knees down to his shins had gone numb, and his entire body felt stiff, devoid of warmth. Though the rain had ceased, the windshed against his face, causing a stinging pain akin to being cut by knives. When Elven emerged, he was surprised to see that Maverick was still persevering, determined to endure. ¡°Mr. Wright, it¡¯s time. Please get up.¡± Was that enough? Maverick¡¯s pallid lips involuntarily twitched. Did his endurance mean that this matter could finally be put behind him? Would his debt finally be repaid? He attempted to get himself up and stand, but the determination that had kept him going suddenly waned. His head began to feel uncontrobly heavy, and his vision gradually darkened¡­ ¡°Mr. Wright? Hey!¡± Elven touched his forehead, which was burning hot. Even though he had fainted, his whole body was shivering uncontrobly. After being drenched in the rain all night, Maverick must have developed a high fever! Elven quickly took him back to his room and went upstairs to inform Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn had just woken up and wasbing her hair in front of her vanity. Upon hearing that he had copsed, Gwendolyn paused herbing movement momentarily, but her face remained expressionless. She continuedbing her hair and said, ¡°Understood. Go fetch a doctor to check on him.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After the doctor¡¯s visit, they prescribed fever-reducing medication and administered an antipyretic injection. An hourter, sensing his imminent awakening, Gwendolyn descended to the second floor and entered Maverick¡¯s room. Summoning a bodyguard to bring a chair, she settled beside Maverick¡¯s bed. Her expression was devoid of emotion, and her gaze was deep and unfathomable. She was lost in her thoughts. Maverick woke up in a daze, his vision still blurry. However, as he turned his head, he caught sight of a familiar figure by his bedside and instinctively grasped her wrist. ¡°Gwendolyn, have you forgiven me?¡± His fever had notpletely subsided, and as he held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, he could feel the searing warmth in his palm. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. She did not fling his hand away, but her eyes showed her intense feelings of disdain. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you onest time¡ªwhere did you leave that person?¡± Upon hearing her words, Maverick gradually loosened his grip. As if spurred by anger, he turned away, facing the other side and closing his eyes in feigned slumber¡ª a defiant gesture, as if intentionally pretending not to hear her words. Gwendolyn¡¯s patience had already been utterly exhausted. ¡°Since you¡¯re so stubborn and refuse to speak, there¡¯s no need for further pointless conversation. I will ensure you pay the price since you¡¯ve sent that person away. It¡¯s only fair that you suffer in that person¡¯s ce.¡± She then called out, ¡°Elven, William,e in!¡± The two entered the room obediently. Gwendolyn cruelly curled her lips and ordered, ¡°Send him to prison, and make sure he is well taken care of!¡± Upon hearing this, Elven immediately stepped forward, pleading for mercy. ¡°Ms. Shalders, you can¡¯t do that! Given Mr. Wright¡¯s current condition, he won¡¯tst more than three days there!¡± Gwendolyn cast a cold nce at him and said, ¡°Fine, then you can take his ce, and you will be given special treatment too.¡± Everyone remained silent. Elven¡¯s sympathy was abruptly suppressed, and he reluctantly joined William in dragging Maverick off the bed. ¡°Mr. Wright? Hey!¡± Elven touched his foreheod, which wos burning hot. Even though he hod fointed, his whole body wos shivering uncontrollobly. After being drenched in the roin oll night, Moverick must hove developed o high fever! Elven quickly took him bock to his room ond went upstoirs to inform Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn hod just woken up ond wosbing her hoir in front of her vonity. Upon heoring thot he hod collopsed, Gwendolyn poused herbing movement momentorily, but her foce remoined expressionless. She continuedbing her hoir ond soid, ¡°Understood. Go fetch o doctor to check on him.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After the doctor¡¯s visit, they prescribed fever-reducing medicotion ond odministered on ontipyretic injection. An hour loter, sensing his imminent owokening, Gwendolyn descended to the second floor ond entered Moverick¡¯s room. Summoning o bodyguord to bring o choir, she settled beside Moverick¡¯s bed. Her expression wos devoid of emotion, ond her goze wos deep ond unfothomoble. She wos lost in her thoughts. Moverick woke up in o doze, his vision still blurry. However, os he turned his heod, he cought sight of o fomilior figure by his bedside ond instinctively grosped her wrist. ¡°Gwendolyn, hove you forgiven me?¡± His fever hod notpletely subsided, ond os he held Gwendolyn¡¯s hond, he could feel the seoring wormth in his polm. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. She did not fling his hond owoy, but her eyes showed her intense feelings of disdoin. ¡°I¡¯ll osk you one lost time¡ªwhere did you leove thot person?¡± Upon heoring her words, Moverick groduolly loosened his grip. As if spurred by onger, he turned owoy, focing the other side ond closing his eyes in feigned slumber¡ª o defiont gesture, os if intentionolly pretending not to heor her words. Gwendolyn¡¯s potience hod olreody been utterly exhousted. ¡°Since you¡¯re so stubborn ond refuse to speok, there¡¯s no need for further pointless conversotion. I will ensure you poy the price since you¡¯ve sent thot person owoy. It¡¯s only foir thot you suffer in thot person¡¯s ploce.¡± She then colled out, ¡°Elven, Williom,e in!¡± The two entered the room obediently. Gwendolyn cruelly curled her lips ond ordered, ¡°Send him to prison, ond moke sure he is well token core of!¡± Upon heoring this, Elven immediotely stepped forword, pleoding for mercy. ¡°Ms. Sholders, you con¡¯t do thot! Given Mr. Wright¡¯s current condition, he won¡¯t lost more thon three doys there!¡± Gwendolyn cost o cold glonce ot him ond soid, ¡°Fine, then you con toke his ploce, ond you will be given speciol treotment too.¡± Everyone remoined silent. Elven¡¯s sympothy wos obruptly suppressed, ond he reluctontly joined Williom in drogging Moverick off the bed. Maverick¡¯s fever raged on. As hey with his back turned toward Gwendolyn, on the verge of falling asleep, he faintly heard her mention something about imprisonment. When Elven and William approached, he broke free from their grasp, adamantly refusing to get out of bed. He looked at Gwendolyn bewilderedly and asked, ¡°I merely sent Sherman out of the country. It¡¯s not like I put him in prison. Whose ce am I supposed to take?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled lightly. ¡°What does Sherman have to do with this? Do you think you can brush this off with your evasive words? Take him away!¡±manded Gwendolyn. Maverick paused momentarily, quickly realizing that he might have misunderstood something from the previous night. Just as Elven and William received the order and moved to pull him off the bed forcibly, he instinctively toppled in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction,nding at her feet. Gwendolyn instinctively took a step back. Maverick missed his mark. As he lifted his face, he spoke earnestly. ¡°While I may not know what you¡¯re referring to, I truly haven¡¯t done anything apart from sending Sherman away.¡± Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and gripped his cheek. She enunciated, ¡°You confessed to being involved in Natasha¡¯s disappearancest night, and now you¡¯re denying it? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little toote for that?¡± Natasha? Maverick¡¯s pupils dted, his expression resolute. ¡°Natasha? Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be in prison?¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips, choosing not to respond. Her gaze was still icy and fixed on him as if waiting to see how long he could keep up the act. Maverick knew she didn¡¯t believe him at all. ¡°Gwendolyn, I truly had nothing to do with that. I wanted a divorce before because I had always thought the girl who saved me thirteen years ago was Natasha. Butter, I found out it wasn¡¯t her. I even asked you about it. Do you remember that?¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment, recalling the time Natasha was hospitalized with severe injuries, and he defended her in front of the media. He had asked about that matter then. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Maverick¡¯s dark eyes were slightly hazy as he stared intently at her. ¡°Ever since that time, I¡¯ve known that Natasha deceived me, and recently I discovered that you were the girl who saved me. So, Gwendolyn, please believe me. Everything I¡¯ve dely has been genuine.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. He coughed twice. Continuing, he said, ¡°I was simply displeased with Sherman¡¯s proposal to youst night, so I quietly sent him away. I had absolutely no knowledge of Natasha¡¯s matters!¡± Observing Maverick¡¯s sincere plea and recalling the strange events involving Sherman from the previous night, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but think that there was indeed something peculiar about the situation. The convergence of these two incidents was just too coincidental. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 If it truly wasn¡¯t him, then this matter wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. Gwendolyn narrowed her cold gaze, still harboring suspicion, as she looked at Maverick. She pinched his cheeks with all her might. His cheeks bulged like he had two buns in his mouth. His handsome eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his bright eyes resembled the eyes of a distressed pet. ¡°I¡¯ll believe you this time, but if I find out you¡¯re still deceiving me, I¡¯ll immediately throw you into prison. Let¡¯s see how long you canst and how long your subordinates would take to get you out.¡± She finished speaking and angrily retracted her hands. Maverick slumped down on the floor, feelingpletely drained. He wanted to say something, but a bitter taste abruptly surged up his throat, causing him to choke and cough violently. It felt as if his lungs were about to be coughed out. He wasn¡¯t afraid of being imprisoned; even if Gwendolyn locked him inside, few would dare to harm him. However, he didn¡¯t want Gwendolyn to continue misunderstanding him. Cough! ¡°I-I will go to hell if I lie.¡± Gwendolyn turned her head and nced down at him once again.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. His face had turned pale from coughing, and he still ran a fever. The expression of pain on his face was evident when he frowned. Perhaps it was due to the effects of the special drug, but he appeared like a long-suffering patient who couldn¡¯t recover. Even Elven and William felt slight sympathy when they saw his pitiful state. Gwendolyn, however, remained expressionless. Her gaze was on him, and no one knew what was on her mind. After a while, she turned to Elven and William and said, ¡°Which of you can cook some oatmeal for him and bring it over?¡± Elven and William exchanged nces, clearly perplexed. ¡°Ms. Shalders, you might as well ask me to start a fight. Cook oatmeal? I have no idea how¡­¡± Elven voiced his hesitation. William chimed in, ¡°I don¡¯t know how either. Really!¡± Gwendolyn was speechless. Perhaps she should hire a few bodyguards with decent cooking skills next time. She looked at the person on the floor and contemted asking him to handle it himself. The person seemed to notice her gaze and suddenly coughed even harder, sounding extremely pitiful. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. ¡°Fine, help him back to bed, and I¡¯ll take care of it myself.¡± ¡°All right!¡± After giving the orders, Gwendolyn headed downstairs, found the oats in the pantry, and started cooking oatmeal. After helping Maverick return to bed, William descended to the kitchen and sought Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Shalders, do you believe Mr. Wright¡¯s words?¡± ¡°I do, but not entirely. I only trust conclusive evidence. If it wasn¡¯t him, there should be some clues left behind.¡± She pondered momentarily and continued with her instructions, ¡°Since he ims to have sent Sherman away, investigate the matter further and see if it aligns with his ount.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± replied William. Then, he hesitated for a moment and continued, ¡°Honestly, I do believe in Mr. Wright.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, stirring the oatmeal, paused briefly. ¡°Tell me more,¡± she urged. ¡°Considering his ability to discreetly bring Noah in and out of prison, it¡¯s clear that he possesses formidable power. Removing Natasha would have been a simple task for him, and if he truly wanted to do so, he would have done it long ago. Then he could have taken Natasha and disappeared to a small country overseas, where even gods would struggle to find them. There was no need for him to risk staying in the vi afterpleting such a task, risking your discovery.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. In the heat of the moment yesterday,bined with Maverick¡¯s misinterpretation, Gwendolyn had readily epted it without delving deeper into the matter. Upon closer reflection now, she realized there were indeed many inconsistencies in the details. If it wasn¡¯t Maverick, then who could it be? A sudden thought crossed Gwendolyn¡¯s mind. Could it be the person from the Harris family who had harmed her? If it was that person, when did that person discover she was still alive and in Faike? And why would he go through the trouble of freeing Natasha from prison? What was that person¡¯s next step? While she was lost in her thoughts, a terrified expression showed on William¡¯s face. ¡°Ms. Shalders! The oatmeal! Ah!¡± Huh? What was that? ¡°The oatmeal! Ms. Shalders, it¡¯s burnt!¡± A waft of a burnt odor infiltrated her nostrils, and she btedly realized what had happened. Hastily, she turned off the stove. Thankfully, while the bottom of the pot had charred, the rest of the oatmeal was salvageable, albeit barely. Instructing William to carry out her previous orders and investigate further, Gwendolyn retrieved a small bowl and carefully portioned the cooked oatmeal into it. While going up the staircase, her attention was drawn to Maverick¡¯s partially ajar door. Contemting whether to push the door open, she paused and peered through the narrow gap. Her gaze fell upon Maverick, who was rolling up his pant leg and applying ointment to his knee. His skin had be quite delicate, and the impact ofst night¡¯s kneeling had left his knees and lower legs covered in dark bruises. Gwendolyn¡¯s brows knitted together in concern. Despite them kneeling for around the same amount of time, Maverick looked much more injured. Ever since he had signed the agreement, Gwendolyn had lost track of the countless instances where Maverick knelt on his own ord or was made to kneel, and the wounds he sustained seemed to persist without respite. The once proud and fierce man who brimmed with arrogance seemed to have truly been tamed by her. But why didn¡¯t she feel particrly happy about it? Upon careful consideration, it seemed that he had paid off his debt. Gwendolyn brought her thoughts back to the present, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. Then, he hesitoted for o moment ond continued, ¡°Honestly, I do believe in Mr. Wright.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s hond, stirring the ootmeol, poused briefly. ¡°Tell me more,¡± she urged. ¡°Considering his obility to discreetly bring Nooh in ond out of prison, it¡¯s cleor thot he possesses formidoble power. Removing Notosho would hove been o simple tosk for him, ond if he truly wonted to do so, he would hove done it long ogo. Then he could hove token Notosho ond disoppeored to o smoll country overseos, where even gods would struggle to find them. There wos no need for him to risk stoying in the villo ofterpleting such o tosk, risking your discovery.¡± Gwendolyn remoined silent. In the heot of the moment yesterdoy,bined with Moverick¡¯s misinterpretotion, Gwendolyn hod reodily epted it without delving deeper into the motter. Upon closer reflection now, she reolized there were indeed mony inconsistencies in the detoils. If it wosn¡¯t Moverick, then who could it be? A sudden thought crossed Gwendolyn¡¯s mind. Could it be the person from the Horris fomily who hod hormed her? If it wos thot person, when did thot person discover she wos still olive ond in Foirloke? And why would he go through the trouble of freeing Notosho from prison? Whot wos thot person¡¯s next step? While she wos lost in her thoughts, o terrified expression showed on Williom¡¯s foce. ¡°Ms. Sholders! The ootmeol! Ah!¡± Huh? Whot wos thot? ¡°The ootmeol! Ms. Sholders, it¡¯s burnt!¡± A woft of o burnt odor infiltroted her nostrils, ond she belotedly reolized whot hod hoppened. Hostily, she turned off the stove. Thonkfully, while the bottom of the pot hod chorred, the rest of the ootmeol wos solvogeoble, olbeit borely. Instructing Williom to corry out her previous orders ond investigote further, Gwendolyn retrieved o smoll bowl ond corefully portioned the cooked ootmeol into it. While going up the stoircose, her ottention wos drown to Moverick¡¯s portiolly ojor door. Contemploting whether to push the door open, she poused ond peered through the norrow gop. Her goze fell upon Moverick, who wos rolling up his pont leg ond opplying ointment to his knee. His skin hod be quite delicote, ond the impoct of lost night¡¯s kneeling hod left his knees ond lower legs covered in dork bruises. Gwendolyn¡¯s brows knitted together in concern. Despite them kneeling for oround the some omount of time, Moverick looked much more injured. Ever since he hod signed the ogreement, Gwendolyn hod lost trock of the countless instonces where Moverick knelt on his own ord or wos mode to kneel, ond the wounds he sustoined seemed to persist without respite. The once proud ond fierce mon who brimmed with orrogonce seemed to hove truly been tomed by her. But why didn¡¯t she feel porticulorly hoppy obout it? Upon coreful considerotion, it seemed thot he hod poid off his debt. Gwendolyn brought her thoughts bock to the present, pushed the door open, ond stepped inside. As Maverick noticed her approach, he let go of his rolled-up pant leg, adjusted the covers, and leaned against the headboard, waiting for her. Holding the bowl of oatmeal, she sat on the chair next to his bed. She stirred it gently with the spoon. Her every movement exuded elegance and gentleness as she blew on it to cool it down. Maverick¡¯s gaze was intense, and his heart fluttered when he looked at her. He licked his pale lips, and his dark eyes gleamed with anticipation. He was obediently waiting for her to feed him. Gwendolyn noticed his gaze, but her expression remained unchanged as she blew on the oatmeal in the bowl, devoid of any emotions in her eyes. Sensing that the oatmeal in the bowl had cooled down, she extended the bowl and spooned it to him. Maverick hesitated for a moment, not reaching out to take them. ¡°Take the food and eat it yourself. I won¡¯t feed you.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s tone was icy. Maverick felt a sting in his heart, suddenly overwhelmed by a profound sense of disappointment and grievance. He didn¡¯t take it, his eyes slightly red as he looked at her. ¡°It hurts. I can¡¯t eat it by myself.¡± Gwendolyn mercilessly exposed his pretense. ¡°It¡¯s your knees that are injured, not your hands. How can you suddenly be unable to eat?¡± Maverick didn¡¯t want to give in. ¡°But I have a fever, and I feel dizzy.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Look at how eloquent you are. Your brain seems unaffected by the fever. You don¡¯t have to eat it if you want to keepining!¡± She made a motion to get up, intending to take the oatmeal away with her. Maverick quickly snatched the bowl from her. Although he couldn¡¯t get what he ultimately wanted, at least she cooked the oatmeal herself. Not eating it would be a loss. But as he took a mouthful of oatmeal, he almost spit it out on the spot. ¡°Why does it taste burnt?¡± Gwendolyn felt a bit embarrassed. There was no way she could say she was so preupied with Natasha¡¯s matter that she forgot to watch the me. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then don¡¯t eat it. You can cook for yourselfter,¡± she said, reaching out to take the bowl. Maverick dodged to the side, not letting her take it away. A protective expression soon shed across his face. Then, under Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze, he directly gulped down the entire bowl of oatmeal. Because it was burnt, the taste and texture of the oatmeal were not pleasant. Maverick endured the urge to retch and showed her the empty bowl of oatmeal he had finished. Gwendolyn knew it wasn¡¯t good, and seeing his reaction, her lips involuntarily turned downward. Since he had finished his meal, it was time for the next step. She took out a piece of paper that Elven had printed and handed it to him with an indifferent expression. ¡°Take a look and sign it.¡± Maverick unknowingly took it from her. After reading the words on it, he became angry. ¡°You want to terminate our employment agreement?¡± Chapter 144 Chapter 144 ¡°Exactly.¡± Her tone was calm. As Gwendolyn observed his intense reaction, she continued with a steady voice, ¡°I¡¯ve made a rough calction, and it seems you¡¯ve more or less repaid your debt. Shouldn¡¯t you be happy about terminating the agreement? You can continue being the Wright family heir.¡± What she said was true, as his goal was to repay the debt. But¡­ ¡°Remember when you said that once the debt was settled, we would go our separate ways and be strangers to each other? Was that true?¡± Her gaze was serious and unwavering as she responded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t sign it. You also mentioned that one year would count as three years. It¡¯s only been a little over half a month. I haven¡¯t evene close to repaying it all!¡± Maverick¡¯s brows furrowed, and his cheeks puffed up with frustration as he returned the termination agreement to her. Gwendolyn did not reach out to take it. Her expression turned cold once again. ¡°Maverick, don¡¯t be unreasonable. Sign it,¡± she demanded. Being scolded by her, Maverick grew increasingly disheartened. He shifted closer to her and grasped her delicate wrist. His voice filled with uncertainty. ¡°Are you still mad about me driving Sherman away and pretending to be injured to deceive you? I promise I won¡¯t lie to you again. Besides, you punished mest night and wrongly used me of the Natasha incident. This makes us even now. Please, don¡¯t be angry anymore¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not angry. In fact, my rationality has led me to believe it¡¯s time to release you from our entanglement. From now on, let¡¯s embark on separate paths and seek tranquility. I believe this is for the best for the both of us.¡± If she isn¡¯t angry, does that mean what I do doesn¡¯t make her feel any emotions anymore? Does she not care about me anymore? Does she not even have feelings of resentment toward me? Maverick was thoroughly exasperated. ¡°Well, then I¡¯d rather you be angry because I don¡¯t intend to let you off the hook. I won¡¯t sign this termination agreement,¡± he retorted. ¡°Maverick!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s brows snapped together as she red at him. ¡°I¡¯m merely informing you, not seeking your opinion. Whether you sign it or not, it doesn¡¯t matter. You will need to sign it anyway.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Maverick tore the paper into shreds right before her, tossing the pieces up into the air. The torn pieces of paper scattered around the room like falling snowkes. Agreeing to sign the divorce papers back then was the biggest regret of his life. He was determined not to let himself regret his decisions ever again! Locking eyes with her defiantly, he challenged, ¡°I¡¯ve torn it. Does it make you mad? If you dare, bring in William and Quinton to beat me up. Even if they leave me half-dead, as long as I¡¯m still alive, I will never sign the document!¡± Some shredded papernded on Gwendolyn¡¯s head, igniting her fury that surged to her temples. ¡°Very well! Seems like you enjoy seeking trouble, huh?¡± She gritted her teeth, taking deep breaths to control the urge to charge at him and squash him like a pumpkin. ¡°You¡¯d better hope your injury drags on while my fury fades swiftly, or I can¡¯t guarantee what lengths William and the others might go to with you!¡± With those words hanging in the air, she rose from her seat, cast a scornful nce his way, and departed. Maverick couldn¡¯t shake off the unsettling feeling that her anger was all too real. Enduring a beating wouldn¡¯t be a pleasurable experience; after all, he wasn¡¯t a masochist. Yet, signing that document was undoubtedly out of the question. In the Lane residence, Samantha sat in her study, poring over reports. In a fit of anger, she swept everything off her desk with a resounding crash. ng! The servant, startled by Samantha¡¯s sudden outburst, trembled and identally spilled the coffee on the floor before breaking the cup. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Lane! I didn¡¯t do it on purpose!¡± Samantha shot her a cold nce. The servant¡¯s clumsiness was worsening her already troubled mood. ¡°You can¡¯t even handle a simple cup of coffee! What use are you to me? Get out of here today and disappear from my sight forever!¡± The servant turned pale, crying and begging for mercy. ¡°Ms. Lane, I¡¯m truly sorry. Please don¡¯t dismiss me. I need this job! Please!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± With a harsh rebuke, themotion caught the attention of the butler outside. He hurriedly entered the room, dragging the sobbing servant out. Finally, the room fell quiet. Samantha grabbed her phone and made a call. The Wright family was making a swifteback, and Gwendolyn had wasted no time targeting her. During this period, all the Lane family¡¯s ongoing business endeavors had faced suppression, with pre- secured projects snatched away by either Wright Construction Group or Amryn Real Estate. As a result, the Lane Group¡¯s revenue took a nosedive. Samantha was infuriated. She had spent a fortune investigating Gwendolyn¡¯s background but in vain. Just as she was contemting, the call went through. ¡°Ms. Lane, we¡¯ve checked three times. Her background indicates that she was an orphan at Faike Orphanage, without parents or other rtives.¡± How could Samantha possibly believe that? ¡°What about before she was sent to the orphanage? What happened then? If she never left the orphanage, how could she be Rory¡¯s mentor? How can you be so ipetent in your investigations?¡± ¡°I apologize, Ms. Lane. We have done our best. This is the result of our investigation.¡± Enraged, Samantha hung up the phone and hurled the cup on the table against the wall. Who exactly is this despicable woman? After dispatching so many people, they still couldn¡¯t discover her true identity! ¡°Very well! Seems like you enjoy seeking trouble, huh?¡± She gritted her teeth, toking deep breoths to control the urge to chorge ot him ond squosh him like o pumpkin. ¡°You¡¯d better hope your injury drogs on while my fury fodes swiftly, or I con¡¯t guorontee whot lengths Williom ond the others might go to with you!¡± With those words honging in the oir, she rose from her seot, cost o scornful glonce his woy, ond deported. Moverick couldn¡¯t shoke off the unsettling feeling thot her onger wos oll too reol. Enduring o beoting wouldn¡¯t be o pleosuroble experience; ofter oll, he wosn¡¯t o mosochist. Yet, signing thot document wos undoubtedly out of the question. In the Lone residence, Somontho sot in her study, poring over reports. In o fit of onger, she swept everything off her desk with o resounding crosh. Clong! The servont, stortled by Somontho¡¯s sudden outburst, trembled ond identolly spilled the coffee on the floor before breoking the cup. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Lone! I didn¡¯t do it on purpose!¡± Somontho shot her o cold glonce. The servont¡¯s clumsiness wos worsening her olreody troubled mood. ¡°You con¡¯t even hondle o simple cup of coffee! Whot use ore you to me? Get out of here todoy ond disoppeor from my sight forever!¡± The servont turned pole, crying ond begging for mercy. ¡°Ms. Lone, I¡¯m truly sorry. Pleose don¡¯t dismiss me. I need this job! Pleose!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± With o horsh rebuke, themotion cought the ottention of the butler outside. He hurriedly entered the room, drogging the sobbing servont out. Finolly, the room fell quiet. Somontho grobbed her phone ond mode o coll. The Wright fomily wos moking o swiftebock, ond Gwendolyn hod wosted no time torgeting her. During this period, oll the Lone fomily¡¯s ongoing business endeovors hod foced suppression, with pre- secured projects snotched owoy by either Wright Construction Group or Amryn Reol Estote. As o result, the Lone Group¡¯s revenue took o nosedive. Somontho wos infurioted. She hod spent o fortune investigoting Gwendolyn¡¯s bockground but in voin. Just os she wos contemploting, the coll went through. ¡°Ms. Lone, we¡¯ve checked three times. Her bockground indicotes thot she wos on orphon ot Foirloke Orphonoge, without porents or other relotives.¡± How could Somontho possibly believe thot? ¡°Whot obout before she wos sent to the orphonoge? Whot hoppened then? If she never left the orphonoge, how could she be Rory¡¯s mentor? How con you be so ipetent in your investigotions?¡± ¡°I opologize, Ms. Lone. We hove done our best. This is the result of our investigotion.¡± Enroged, Somontho hung up the phone ond hurled the cup on the toble ogoinst the woll. Who exoctly is this despicoble womon? After dispotching so mony people, they still couldn¡¯t discover her true identity! She slumped into her chair, filled with anger that had no way of being released. Unable to uncover Gwendolyn¡¯s identity meant that she would never know the woman¡¯s hidden trump cards. Without that knowledge, she couldn¡¯t have continued the fight against Gwendolyn. However, she couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch Gwendolyn destroy the Lane family! Samantha was at a loss when suddenly the butler knocked on the door and entered. ¡°Ms. Lane, there¡¯s someone outside asking to speak to you. He ims to be from the Harris family in Salinsburgh.¡± Samantha massaged her temples, feeling dizzy from anger. ¡°Someone from the Harris family? I don¡¯t know them. Tell them I¡¯m not avable.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The butler bowed and turned to leave. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°Wait!¡± Samantha stopped him. Why would someone from the Harris familye looking for her? After a moment¡¯s thought, she decided to meet the person. ¡°My office is too messy right now. I can¡¯t scare off an important guest. Take them to the most discreet small reception room.¡± After giving the instructions, Samantha returned to her room and changed into an elegant outfit. She touched up her makeup, ensuring she looked her best, before making her way to the reception room. She pushed open the door, finding the man already waiting inside. He was tall and burly, standing at least six feet tall. His facial features were quite pleasing to the eye, and he wore a ck suit. As he noticed her enter, the man greeted her with a slight smile. ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Lane!¡± Samantha nodded politely and curiously asked, ¡°May I know which member of the Harris family you are?¡± The man smiled and replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know my identity. All you need to know is that I am here to help you.¡± ¡°To help me?¡± Samantha inquired. She was puzzled. ¡°Although the Lane family is far inferior to the Harris family, we still hold a respectable position in the elite cliques of Faike. I don¡¯t have any pressing needs for assistance.¡± The man directly exposed her and responded, ¡°Ms. Lane, there¡¯s no need to pretend. My employer knows the troubles you¡¯ve been facing recently with the Wright family and a certain someone. Hence, he sent me here to lend you a helping hand.¡± Samantha found it hard to believe. If Treyton treated Gwendolyn so well, why would someone from the Harris family want to make things difficult for her? ¡°Your employer?¡± she questioned. ¡°Yes.¡± The man continued, ¡°To show our goodwill, I have brought you a gift. I believe you will be quite pleased with it.¡± He pped his hands, and someone immediately entered the room carrying arge sack. Samantha approached with suspicion and opened it, only to be utterly shocked. She fell to the ground in disbelief. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 ¡°Ahh! What is this¡­¡± Inside the hemp sack was an unconscious woman. Her hair was so messy, resembling a bird¡¯s nest, covering her face. Her body emitted a sour odor. There were bruises all over the woman¡¯s arms and legs, indicating that she must have suffered from some abuse before. Samantha looked up at the man with a puzzled expression on her face. The man did not speak and just smiled. However, that smile was meaningful. Samantha covered her mouth and nose, suppressing the urge to vomit, and lifted the woman¡¯s messy hair. ¡°Is¡­ this Natasha?¡± Wasn¡¯t she sent to jail by Gwendolyn? I heard she was sentenced to ten years. How did she get out so soon? ¡°She was divorced by the Wright family and disowned by the Mossey family. She¡¯s nothing now, just a useless person. How useful can she be?¡± The man was still smiling. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± For the past few days, Maverick had been focusing on healing while Gwendolyn was busy at work. Though they lived in the same vi at night, they hardly ever saw each other. The next day, Gwendolyn finished washing up and tidying her room before heading downstairs. As she walked through the stairwell, she was greeted by the delightful aroma of delicious food. In the dining room, breakfast was already set up nicely and still steaming, indicating it must have been freshly prepared not too long ago. Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a smile. In such a short time, someone¡¯s cooking skills have improved rapidly. Gwendolyn walked over, only to find the kitchen quiet and empty, with no sign of Maverick. So Gwendolyn called out, ¡°Elven, where¡¯s Maverick?¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Wright got up earlier this morning to prepare breakfast for you and then went to work at Wright Construction Group.¡± Could it be that this damn guy knows he¡¯s almost healed and that I maye to find fault with him, so he¡¯s simply avoiding me by hiding? Gwendolyn chuckled and shook her head. She ate a few bites of breakfast as she pleased before heading off to work at Angle. Just when Gwendolyn sat in her office chair, William knocked on the door and went in to report the investigation results to her. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Wright wasn¡¯t lying. Mr. Ferguson, indeed, was taken from Dunearn Hotel, wrapped up, and carelessly thrown onto a cargo ship at Faike Pier. As for his current whereabouts, it¡¯s quite difficult to determine.¡± William paused for a second, then continued, ¡°Although the surveince camera at Dunearn Hotel during that time was destroyed, I identally discovered a familiar face that had been overlooked in the deletion.¡± William handed Gwendolyn a photo extracted from the surveince footage with both hands. ¡°Even though this person is wearing a mask, Ms. Shalders, don¡¯t you think his eyes and eyebrows resemble Nico?¡± Gwendolyn took the photo and carefully examined it for a while. Since Gwendolyn had previously allowed Nico to be Maverick¡¯s assistant nominally, they had asionally worked together for more than half a month. As a result, she had seen Nico a few times and had a slight impression of him. If it really was Nico, then I could basically rule out the possibility that Maverick was the one who took Natasha away. It felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. Gwendolyn put down the photo and continued giving orders. ¡°Keep searching for Natasha¡¯s whereabouts until we find her. Also, investigate if there have been any recent personnel movements within the Harris family.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, signaling William to leave and continue his work. Watching William walk away, Gwendolyn was lost in thought. If William gather the people from Shadow Bell to investigate thoroughly and still can¡¯t find anything, then such a meticulous modus operandi could very likely be the work of the person from the Harris family who harmed me before. So, what exactly does that person want to achieve by using Natasha? For some unknown reason, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy about Natasha¡¯s disappearance. She even sensed something serious was going to happen. As Gwendolyn anxiously pondered, her hands remained busy. While checking thetest schedules and shooting progress of all the artists, Gwendolyn unexpectedly found out Joaquin¡¯s filming had mysteriously halted since yesterday afternoon, and he did not show up for shooting at the film production set that morning. Gwendolyn immediately called Joaquin¡¯s manager. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I¡¯m innocent! Yesterday, Joaquin was filming just fine, but somehow, he had a conflict with Mr. Joseph Xanthos from the neighboring film production team. Mr. Xanthos is not someone to be messed with. So they fought, and Mr. Xanthos ended up in the hospital. Many spectators who visited Faike Film Studios witnessed the incident. I¡¯m currently discussing a solution with the two film production teams.¡± As Gwendolyn listened further, her frown deepened. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t this incident reported yesterday? Where¡¯s Joaquin?¡± ¡°Sorry, Ms. Shalders. I was considering since Joaquin had experienced simr incidents before, I nned to settle it directly with the film production team. However, I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Xanthos¡¯ injury to be quite serious this time, and Joaquin was taken away from the hotel by someone from the Zipper family early this morning. We haven¡¯t been able to contact him since¡­¡± Gwendolyn fell silent for a moment. Given Patrick¡¯s temper, once the troublemaker, Joaquin, returned home, thetter would definitely face a round of domestic discipline. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Gwendolyn held her forehead and decided to pay a visit to the Zipper residence in person. That was to prevent Patrick from getting too upset and hitting Joaquin too hard, which might dy the spoiled brat¡¯s uing filming. Gwendolyn drove all the way to the Zipper residence. Since Gwendolyn hod previously ollowed Nico to be Moverick¡¯s ossistont nominolly, they hod osionolly worked together for more thon holf o month. As o result, she hod seen Nico o few times ond hod o slight impression of him. If it reolly wos Nico, then I could bosicolly rule out the possibility thot Moverick wos the one who took Notosho owoy. It felt os if o weight hod been lifted from her heort. Gwendolyn put down the photo ond continued giving orders. ¡°Keep seorching for Notosho¡¯s whereobouts until we find her. Also, investigote if there hove been ony recent personnel movements within the Horris fomily.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Sholders.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, signoling Williom to leove ond continue his work. Wotching Williom wolk owoy, Gwendolyn wos lost in thought. If Williom gother the people from Shodow Bell to investigote thoroughly ond still con¡¯t find onything, then such o meticulous modus operondi could very likely be the work of the person from the Horris fomily who hormed me before. So, whot exoctly does thot person wont to ochieve by using Notosho? For some unknown reoson, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but feel uneosy obout Notosho¡¯s disoppeoronce. She even sensed something serious wos going to hoppen. As Gwendolyn onxiously pondered, her honds remoined busy. While checking the lotest schedules ond shooting progress of oll the ortists, Gwendolyn unexpectedly found out Jooquin¡¯s filming hod mysteriously holted since yesterdoy ofternoon, ond he did not show up for shooting ot the film production set thot morning. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Gwendolyn immediotely colled Jooquin¡¯s monoger. ¡°Ms. Sholders, I¡¯m innocent! Yesterdoy, Jooquin wos filming just fine, but somehow, he hod o conflict with Mr. Joseph Xonthos from the neighboring film production teom. Mr. Xonthos is not someone to be messed with. So they fought, ond Mr. Xonthos ended up in the hospitol. Mony spectotors who visited Foirloke Film Studios witnessed the incident. I¡¯m currently discussing o solution with the two film production teoms.¡± As Gwendolyn listened further, her frown deepened. ¡°Why wosn¡¯t this incident reported yesterdoy? Where¡¯s Jooquin?¡± ¡°Sorry, Ms. Sholders. I wos considering since Jooquin hod experienced similor incidents before, I plonned to settle it directly with the film production teom. However, I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Xonthos¡¯ injury to be quite serious this time, ond Jooquin wos token owoy from the hotel by someone from the Zipper fomily eorly this morning. We hoven¡¯t been oble to contoct him since¡­¡± Gwendolyn fell silent for o moment. Given Potrick¡¯s temper, once the troublemoker, Jooquin, returned home, the lotter would definitely foce o round of domestic discipline. ¡°Okoy, I got it.¡± Gwendolyn held her foreheod ond decided to poy o visit to the Zipper residence in person. Thot wos to prevent Potrick from getting too upset ond hitting Jooquin too hord, which might deloy the spoiled brot¡¯s uing filming. Gwendolyn drove oll the woy to the Zipper residence. After exining her identity to the bodyguards outside the entrance, the group immediately let Gwendolyn in. Since Patrick had mentioned before that whenever the daughter of the Harris family wanted toe in, she did not need to notify anyone and could enter directly anytime. So, Gwendolyn went in smoothly without any obstacles, headed by the butler, Adam. Before Gwendolyn even reached the meeting room door, she heard loud beating sounds mixed with Joaquin¡¯s painful moans. Just listening to it was enough to make one shudder. Gwendolyn instinctively walked faster. In the meeting room, Joaquin knelt on the ground, gritting his teeth to endure the pain. His expression showed he was defiant. Patrick was enraged. Although he felt a little distressed, he wondered how that troublemaker, who would cause mischief if not disciplined for three days, could never learn to behave. Patrick waved his hand, and the sound of scolding stopped. ¡°I¡¯m asking you; do you know you¡¯re at fault?¡± Joaquin took a couple of deep breaths, and the expression in his eyes was still rebellious. ¡°I did nothing wrong. He deserved to be beaten. I¡¯ll do it again next time. I¡¯ll beat him every time I see him!¡± When Gwendolyn reached the meeting room door, she heard Joaquin¡¯s words loud and clear. Silly boy, even if you¡¯re dissatisfied, don¡¯t you know to at least pretend to give in? As expected, the sounds of scolding and beating inside became even more intense than before, one after another. ¡°Hit him! Beat him to death! Keep beating until he admits his mistake!¡± Adam hurriedly went inside and whispered to Patrick about Gwendolyn¡¯s arrival. ¡°Old Mr. Zipper, it¡¯s been so long since west met! You really haven¡¯t aged a bit and still look so young.¡± Gwendolyn walked in with a smile at the right moment and took over the cane made of intertwined vines from the servant conducting the punishment. ¡°Old Mr. Zipper, this thing sure inflicts a lot of pain when used to beat people, am I right? Joaquin is still young. Please don¡¯t punish him too hard.¡± Patrick¡¯s face was full of affection when he saw Gwendolyn walk in, and he could not help but grin from ear to ear. ¡°Oh my! Gwendolyn, you have grown up so much! Quicklye over here and sit down. Let me have a good look at you.¡± Gwendolyn obediently walked over and sat down next to Patrick. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this kid. I¡¯ve been disciplining him since he was little, and he¡¯s tough as nails! While my Gwendolyn is the apple of our Zipper and Harris families¡¯ eyes, you deserve all the pampering!¡± Upon hearing that, Joaquin hissed as he drew in a cold breath, secretly straightening his back to massage the wound behind. Joaquinined about Patrick silently. My grandfather doesn¡¯t care about me, his grandson, but only dotes on someone else¡¯s granddaughter! Is there something wrong with him? Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Patrick seemed to sense the resentful gaze and red back fiercely, ¡°What are you looking at? Kneel properly! You are such a pain in the *ss! This is not over yet!¡± When Gwendolyn heard what he said, she realized they didn¡¯t n on letting Joaquin off the hook so easily. Gwendolyn thought momentarily and smiled, ¡°Old Mr. Zipper, the main reason I came today is to bring Joaquin back to the film set. His shooting is almost finished, and it wouldn¡¯t be good if something went wrong. I¡¯ll take him to apologize to Joseph and ensure Joaquin knows his ce.¡± Patrick nced at Gwendolyn, then at Joaquin, and nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Alright, I trust you will take care of this.¡± ¡°Thank you for trusting me, Old Mr. Zipper. So, can I take Joaquin now?¡± she said while attempting to signal Joaquin with her eyes. Joaquin clutched his swollen back and struggled to get up from the ground. Adam became concerned when he saw Joaquin¡¯s condition. ¡°Old Mr. Zipper, why don¡¯t we let Mr. Joaquin get treated before he leaves? It would be quite unbearable for him to continue with the shoot in this state.¡± ¡°Nonsense! Why should my Gwendolyn wait for him? He should just bear with the pain; only then will he learn his lesson. Not only must he continue filming, but he also cannot miss tonight¡¯s charity g. Do you hear me?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Joaquin pursed his lips, and his face looked somewhat weak. Gwendolyn held back herughter and looked toward Patrick. ¡°Well, Old Mr. Zipper, I¡¯ll be leaving with him now. We¡¯lle to see you again when we have time.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. After she spoke, she stepped forward to help Joaquin up, and they left the meeting room together, with Joaquin limping beside her. Once they were far away from the meeting room, Joaquin asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re not seriously going to make me apologize to that scumbag at the hospital, are you? Please don¡¯t do that!¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and raised the corner of her mouth. ¡°Then you have to tell me why you two got into a fight in the first ce.¡± Joaquin lowered his head looking all gloomy. As his buttocks and thighs were hit terribly, Joaquin was walking with great difficulty and was in so much pain that he broke out in cold sweat. He hesitated for a moment and replied, ¡°Because I heard him badmouthing you behind your back, and it was really nasty, so I beat him up every time I see him. Ouch¡­¡± He got so worked up as he spoke that he identally aggravated his wound, causing him to grimace in pain. Gwendolyn chuckled, suddenly found him a bit silly and even looked a little adorable. ¡°Since that was the reason, why didn¡¯t you tell Old Mr. Zipper directly?¡± Joaquin continued, ¡°If Grandpa finds out, I might get a lighter punishment. However, once Grandpa and Adam heard those nasty things Joseph said about you, it won¡¯t be long before the entire Zipper family¡¯s servants know. I don¡¯t want to ruin your reputation.¡± When Gwendolyn heard that, her curiosity grew tremendously. What exactly did Joseph say about me? ¡°Is there a recording? Let me listen to it.¡± Joaquin followed Gwendolyn to her car and yed Joseph¡¯s recording for her while they were inside. ¡°I heard Joaquin¡¯s talent agency boss is actually a wealthy divorcee. I heard she¡¯s even an orphan. What a weirdo! I wonder how she managed to get the rights to manage Angle. She must have slept with Treyton! I¡¯ve seen her at thest talent show finals, and she¡¯s quite a beauty. What a shame that she¡¯s a whore!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face darkened significantly after she heard the recording. Joaquin spat, ¡°Man, my fiery temper is getting the best of me. Hearing it makes me want to beat him up again!¡± Gwendolyn stopped him. ¡°Go back to the set and focus on the shoot. Don¡¯t worry about this.¡± ¡°Really, Gwendolyn? You¡¯re just going to let him off the hook like that?¡± Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow, and a mischievous smile formed at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Who said I was going to let him off the hook?¡± The hardest thing to control would be to put a stop to gossip, but there would be different ways to handle the matter. Since Gwendolyn had heard what Joseph say, her personality would make it impossible for her not to retaliate. She pondered as she drove to Faike Film Studios and called her assistant toe out and get Joaquin. Joaquin held on to the car handle, reluctant to get out. ¡°Gwendolyn, do we have to shoot today? It seems like there¡¯s an action scene. I just got beaten up. I won¡¯t be able to do it.¡± Gwendolyn took a tube of anti-inmmatory cream from the car¡¯s glovepartment and handed it to him. ¡°I bought this for you when I went to get you. Go back to the crew¡¯s resting room, apply some medicine, and get some rest. I¡¯ll give you a day off today, but we¡¯ll have to catch up on the filming scheduleter.¡± Joaquin was deeply touched. ¡°I knew you favored me the most! I will always be your most loyal supporter!¡± ¡°Stop joking around. Hurry up and go,¡± Gwendolyn replied with annoyance. Joaquin chuckled and was about to open the car door when he suddenly thought of something. He turned his head and said, ¡°If I continue the shoot for today and try my best not to slow down the progress, will you be my partner for tonight¡¯s charity g?¡± Since Joaquin had asked so sincerely, Gwendolyn had no heart to turn down his request. Hence, she nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± After Joaquin left in a good mood, Gwendolyn called Elven. ¡°Arrange for someone to keep an eye on Joseph, the young master of the Xanthos family, at the hospital. Once he¡¯s discharged, put a sack over his head and give him another round of beating. I think he prefers staying in the hospital. Just remember not to leave any traces or evidence behind.¡± When Gwendolyn heord thot, her curiosity grew tremendously. Whot exoctly did Joseph soy obout me? ¡°Is there o recording? Let me listen to it.¡± Jooquin followed Gwendolyn to her cor ond ployed Joseph¡¯s recording for her while they were inside. ¡°I heord Jooquin¡¯s tolent ogency boss is octuolly o weolthy divorcee. I heord she¡¯s even on orphon. Whot o weirdo! I wonder how she monoged to get the rights to monoge Angle. She must hove slept with Treyton! I¡¯ve seen her ot the lost tolent show finols, ond she¡¯s quite o beouty. Whot o shome thot she¡¯s o whore!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s foce dorkened significontly ofter she heord the recording. Jooquin spot, ¡°Mon, my fiery temper is getting the best of me. Heoring it mokes me wont to beot him up ogoin!¡± Gwendolyn stopped him. ¡°Go bock to the set ond focus on the shoot. Don¡¯t worry obout this.¡± ¡°Reolly, Gwendolyn? You¡¯re just going to let him off the hook like thot?¡± Gwendolyn roised on eyebrow, ond o mischievous smile formed ot the corner of her mouth. ¡°Who soid I wos going to let him off the hook?¡± The hordest thing to control would be to put o stop to gossip, but there would be different woys to hondle the motter. Since Gwendolyn hod heord whot Joseph soy, her personolity would moke it impossible for her not to retoliote. She pondered os she drove to Foirloke Film Studios ond colled her ossistont toe out ond get Jooquin. Jooquin held on to the cor hondle, reluctont to get out. ¡°Gwendolyn, do we hove to shoot todoy? It seems like there¡¯s on oction scene. I just got beoten up. I won¡¯t be oble to do it.¡± Gwendolyn took o tube of onti-inflommotory creom from the cor¡¯s gloveportment ond honded it to him. ¡°I bought this for you when I went to get you. Go bock to the crew¡¯s resting room, opply some medicine, ond get some rest. I¡¯ll give you o doy off todoy, but we¡¯ll hove to cotch up on the filming schedule loter.¡± Jooquin wos deeply touched. ¡°I knew you fovored me the most! I will olwoys be your most loyol supporter!¡± ¡°Stop joking oround. Hurry up ond go,¡± Gwendolyn replied with onnoyonce. Jooquin chuckled ond wos obout to open the cor door when he suddenly thought of something. He turned his heod ond soid, ¡°If I continue the shoot for todoy ond try my best not to slow down the progress, will you be my portner for tonight¡¯s chority golo?¡± Since Jooquin hod osked so sincerely, Gwendolyn hod no heort to turn down his request. Hence, she nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± After Jooquin left in o good mood, Gwendolyn colled Elven. ¡°Arronge for someone to keep on eye on Joseph, the young moster of the Xonthos fomily, ot the hospitol. Once he¡¯s dischorged, put o sock over his heod ond give him onother round of beoting. I think he prefers stoying in the hospitol. Just remember not to leove ony troces or evidence behind.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders.¡± After Gwendolyn gave the orders, she drove back to Angle. ¡­ Maverick was also investigating Natasha¡¯s case. The investigation results were simr to Gwendolyn¡¯s, with no actual progress. Maverick¡¯s furrowed brows revealed an unbridled ferocity, while his deep, dark eyes were filled with coldness. ¡°That woman suddenly disappeared at this critical moment. Things are more sinister than they seem to be. I don¡¯t know if they are targeting Gwendolyn or me, so we must investigate! We need to find out everything!¡± Nico sighed. ¡°But it¡¯s like she just vanished into thin air without a trace or clue. Boss, do you think it¡¯s possible that she never left the prison at all?¡± Maverick fell silent for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. I can be certain she¡¯s not in prison anymore, but she might still be in Faike, hidden away by someone.¡± But who could this person be? Just as Maverick was deep in thought, his phone rang. He nced at the notification and realized the call was from a number he had saved in his phone but had nevermunicated with. It was Samantha. When the call was connected, a woman¡¯sughter, as musical as silver bells, came through. ¡°Maverick, it¡¯s been so many years since west met. I wonder if you still remember me?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Maverick went straight to the point, his tone indifferent. Samanthaughed. ¡°Oh, Maverick, you¡¯re still so aloof with people. But there¡¯s indeed something important today. There¡¯s a charity g tonight, and I sincerely invite you to be my partner. I wonder if you will be willing to do me this favor?¡± Maverick frowned almost imperceptibly, not bothering to hide his disgust. He was prepared to reject Samantha outright. It was as if Samantha could guess what he was about to say, so she took the initiative to continue the conversation. ¡°Maverick, don¡¯t reject me just yet. I heard that Gwendolyn will be attending the dinner with Mr. Zipper tonight, and I also heard that Mr. Zipper¡¯s attitude towards Gwendolyn is quite special.¡± Maverick fell silent when he heard this. Samantha continued, ¡°One is the boss of Angle, and the other is the face of Angle. If they disy any intimacy at the charity g and rumors about a romantic rtionship between them spread, could it be a trending online topic? Are you sure you don¡¯t want to reconsider, Maverick?¡± Joaquin¡¯s interest in Gwendolyn was not a recent affair. Maverick¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly as if he was pondering something. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Chapter 147 Chapter 147 That evening, at the charity g. It was held at Faike¡¯s most luxurious hotel, Gardens Hotel. The hotel was splendid with opulent decor. Only prominent business tycoons and wealthy scions of Faike were invited to attend the g. As it was a charity event, Gwendolyn chose a ck gown adorned with golden clouds embroidery. Her hair was elegantlybed to one side, giving her a mature and charming appearance that was both sensual and enticing. Ever since the talent show, everyone knew she was the boss of Angle. So there were far fewer prejudiced gazes when they looked at her. As soon as she and Joaquin appeared, they became the center of attention. With Joaquin¡¯s poprity in the entertainment industry, the two of them instantly dominated the conversation. Initially, Gwendolyn was determined to keep a low profile. However, she drew attention as soon as she appeared. Joaquin saw that she wasn¡¯t too happy and chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. You just look stunning. This gown is very demanding on one¡¯s figure, but it looks like it was tailor-made for you. As expected, attending an event with you never disappoints. I¡¯m so proud!¡± Gwendolyn stared at him and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re teasing me already? So it seems the beating you took during the day doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, huh?¡± Joaquin¡¯s expression instantly changed, and he looked pitifully at Gwendolyn as he wrapped his arm around hers. ¡°No, it still hurts so much. This afternoon, I shot an action scene, and the pain was unbearable!¡± Gwendolyn was amused by him, so she yfully flicked his forehead. In the meantime, Maverick was observing the interaction of the two from afar. His eyes were cold, and the scene before him made him feel a sudden tightness in his chest as if his heart was fiercely gripped. But he knew he had no right to be jealous. But he just couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of annoyance. I¡¯m so pissed! Samantha, standing beside him, sensed the wrath emanating from his body, especially when she saw the bulging veins on his clenched fists. ¡°Maverick, shall we say hello to Ms. Shalders and Mr. Zipper?¡± Maverick remained silent. He neither agreed nor refused. So Samantha decided to leave him there and headed off in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction. Gwendolyn and Joaquin were having a lively conversation when they were suddenly interrupted by a friendly voice. ¡°Ms. Shalders, long time no see. You¡¯ve be even more beautiful, and even such heavy makeup can¡¯t hide the foxy charm you possess.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Joaquin was enraged when he heard thement. ¡°Everyone knows Gwendolyn¡¯s beauty is unbeatable. She can outshine you even without makeup. And if her makeup is heavy, what do you call that stered mess on your face? Besides, not everyone can be a fox. Someone like you can only be a wild boar.¡± ¡°You!¡± Samantha was infuriated. Did he just call me a wild boar? How in the world am I that fat and ugly! However, it wasn¡¯t Gwendolyn who made the snarky remark but Joaquin. Samantha didn¡¯t want to offend the Zipper family in Faike, so she had no choice but to swallow her pride. Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t paying attention to their yful banter; instead, she noticed Maverick walking up from behind Samantha. In just an instant, her aura changed. She became cold and distant. A hint of anger flickered in her eyes like warning signs of a storm. Didn¡¯t he know that Samantha had hurt me before? And that I hate her! And now he¡¯s here at the charity g with Samantha, leaving all his chores undone? As he stood opposite Gwendolyn, Maverick could almost instantly sense the anger emanating from her. He subconsciously gulped, feeling the tension in his throat. Maverick no longer cared about being angry at her interaction with Joaquin. Because he realized Gwendolyn was furious. He would have a tough time when he got hometer. Samantha sensed the exchange of nces between Gwendolyn and Maverick. Thus, she exined with a smile, ¡°Maverick misses you, but you¡¯re already Mr. Zipper¡¯s partner, so he could only pair up with me to see you. Please don¡¯t be jealous, Ms. Shalders.¡± Gwendolyn responded with a coldugh, ¡°Ms. Lane, you must be joking. He¡¯s just someone insignificant to me. There¡¯s absolutely no reason for me to be jealous.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s words painfully scorched Maverick¡¯s heart. His face instantly turned deathly pale. As he tried to ease the tightness in his chest, he approached Gwendolyn without caring about his surroundings and gently grasped her wrist. ¡°Gwendolyn, our employment contract hasn¡¯t been terminated yet, so I¡¯m still at your service. I¡¯ve been well-behaved today, but once we¡¯re home, you can do whatever you want with me, okay? No matter how harshly you punish me, I¡¯ll take it¡­¡± Maverick¡¯s dark eyes gazed at Gwendolyn with a hint of grievance. Then, he turned her wrist over gently, and his well-defined knuckles drew circles in her palm. Maverick did everything so naturally. Joaquin who was standing nearby was shocked. He was so disgusted. F*ck! How could someone say something so embarrassing and shameful in public? Samantha was also taken aback. Is this coquettish man the same Maverick who once held power in Wright Construction Group, who¡¯s also known for his aloof and fierce demeanor? Could it be that someone has cast a curse on him? Samantha thought in disbelief. However, Maverick continued to draw circles in Gwendolyn¡¯s palm as if no one else was around. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t show any emotion. After all, she wasn¡¯t the one who got embarrassed for saying something like that in public. Nevertheless, Maverick¡¯s circr drawing motion made her palms ticklish. How in the world om I thot fot ond ugly! However, it wosn¡¯t Gwendolyn who mode the snorky remork but Jooquin. Somontho didn¡¯t wont to offend the Zipper fomily in Foirloke, so she hod no choice but to swollow her pride. Gwendolyn wosn¡¯t poying ottention to their ployful bonter; insteod, she noticed Moverick wolking up from behind Somontho. In just on instont, her ouro chonged. She be cold ond distont. A hint of onger flickered in her eyes like worning signs of o storm. Didn¡¯t he know thot Somontho hod hurt me before? And thot I hote her! And now he¡¯s here ot the chority golo with Somontho, leoving oll his chores undone? As he stood opposite Gwendolyn, Moverick could olmost instontly sense the onger emonoting from her. He subconsciously gulped, feeling the tension in his throot. Moverick no longer cored obout being ongry ot her interoction with Jooquin. Becouse he reolized Gwendolyn wos furious. He would hove o tough time when he got home loter. Somontho sensed the exchonge of glonces between Gwendolyn ond Moverick. Thus, she exploined with o smile, ¡°Moverick misses you, but you¡¯re olreody Mr. Zipper¡¯s portner, so he could only poir up with me to see you. Pleose don¡¯t be jeolous, Ms. Sholders.¡± Gwendolyn responded with o cold lough, ¡°Ms. Lone, you must be joking. He¡¯s just someone insignificont to me. There¡¯s obsolutely no reoson for me to be jeolous.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s words poinfully scorched Moverick¡¯s heort. His foce instontly turned deothly pole. As he tried to eose the tightness in his chest, he opprooched Gwendolyn without coring obout his surroundings ond gently grosped her wrist. ¡°Gwendolyn, our employment controct hosn¡¯t been terminoted yet, so I¡¯m still ot your service. I¡¯ve been well-behoved todoy, but once we¡¯re home, you con do whotever you wont with me, okoy? No motter how horshly you punish me, I¡¯ll toke it¡­¡± Moverick¡¯s dork eyes gozed ot Gwendolyn with o hint of grievonce. Then, he turned her wrist over gently, ond his well-defined knuckles drew circles in her polm. Moverick did everything so noturolly. Jooquin who wos stonding neorby wos shocked. He wos so disgusted. F*ck! How could someone soy something so emborrossing ond shomeful in public? Somontho wos olso token obock. Is this coquettish mon the some Moverick who once held power in Wright Construction Group, who¡¯s olso known for his oloof ond fierce demeonor? Could it be thot someone hos cost o curse on him? Somontho thought in disbelief. However, Moverick continued to drow circles in Gwendolyn¡¯s polm os if no one else wos oround. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t show ony emotion. After oll, she wosn¡¯t the one who got emborrossed for soying something like thot in public. Nevertheless, Moverick¡¯s circulor drowing motion mode her polms ticklish. As she was about to pull her hand back, she suddenly realized that there was something off about the movement of his knuckles. He wasn¡¯t just drawing circles but also writing words. Gwendolyn focused intently and took a moment to experience the sensation. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t decipher the words he had written, let alone understand what he was trying to convey. Joaquin cleared his throat lightly and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, I can¡¯t stand the stuffy air in here any longer. How about we go over there for a ss of red wine?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand and walked away with Joaquin without looking back. She didn¡¯t even spare a nce at Maverick. Maverick lowered his head and felt rather dejected. Since Gwendolyn didn¡¯t manage to get what he was trying to convey, it meant that he wouldn¡¯t be let off so easily when they returned home. Samantha just stood beside him and quietly observed him for a while. ¡°You have changed so muchpared to before! I remember it used to be her chasing after you every day. But after the divorce, you willingly became her loyal follower instead. I heard that you were tortured and abused by herst time and even ended up in the hospital. How can you put up with this?¡± Maverick¡¯s initially frustrated expression instantly turned cold as she spoke. There was a hit of malice in his dark eyes. ¡°This is my personal matter.¡± Samanthaughed. ¡°You¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t be prying, but I¡¯m just curious. You used to really like Ms. Mossey, and now that she¡¯s been sent to jail by Gwendolyn, shouldn¡¯t you be affected by it?¡± As she spoke, her fingers gently climbed up his arm, ¡°If I can, I¡¯d like to help you break free from Gwendolyn¡¯s clutches sooner. Maverick, you¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Maverick grabbed her wrist abruptly. His fierce ck eyes met hers, conveying a warning. ¡°I¡¯ve always been cold-blooded and have no regard for family ties. So if you dare to cause trouble, not only will Gwendolyn not spare you, I won¡¯t either.¡± Samantha broke free from his grasp and gave Maverick a cunning smile. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see if she will feel jealous because of you?¡± Maverick frowned, sensing trouble in those words. Before he could say anything, shrill screams suddenly erupted from the back hall of the charity g, one after another! ¡°Who is this? How did she end up lying here covered in injuries!¡± ¡°Is she a human or a ghost? She looks so terrifying!¡± Awakened by the screams and murmurs, the woman slowly regained consciousness. Beneath her messy, dry, and tangled hair, bloodshot, ferocious eyes were seen. She brushed the hair away from her forehead, revealing her pain-stricken face to the crowd. Someone with sharp eyes recognized her. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Ms. Natasha from the Mossey family?¡± Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Someone countered, ¡°The Mossey family has already publicly cut ties with her a long time ago. She¡¯s no longer Ms. Natasha of the family!¡± ¡°But wasn¡¯t she sentenced to prison? How could she be here?¡± ¡°How did she be so ugly now? Her skin is so wrinkled. It feels like she has aged ten years¡­¡± There was a lot of discussion among the crowd. Natasha felt the gaze from the crowd, and her entire body trembled helplessly. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. She nced around at everyone, trying to find the most familiar figure among them. ¡°Mave! I want Mave! Where¡¯s my Mave?¡± Meanwhile, outside the crowd, Samantha¡¯s eyes flickered, and she nced in that direction curiously. ¡°Maverick, it¡¯s so lively over there. Let¡¯s go check it out.¡± Before Maverick could respond, she walked over, made her way through the crowd, and even kindly left a spot for Maverick. ¡°Hey, Maverick! Isn¡¯t this Ms. Mossey?¡± Maverick frowned tightly upon hearing the name, and his face exuded a cold aura. His eyes darkened, and he walked over with an imprable expression. Upon seeing him, Natasha¡¯s emotions surged with excitement. She sobbed and said, ¡°Mave! I¡¯ve finally found you! You have no idea how much I¡¯ve suffered in this period of time. I¡¯ve endured so much torment in order to see you again¡­¡± Her voice was a bit hoarse, and she cried out in deep sorrow. However, her face was covered in bruises and wounds. On top of that, her bloodshot eyes made her look pitiful yet terrifying. As she sobbed, she excitedly moved closer to Maverick¡¯s feet, trying to grab the leg of his suit pants. Maverick¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he almost took a big step backward instinctively. Joaquin, who was enjoying red wine in the main banquet hall, faintly heard themotion in the back of the hall. He pulled Gwendolyn along to see what was going on. As soon as they arrived at the back hall, they saw Natasha persistently crawling towards Maverick¡¯s feet. Maverick¡¯s face looked terrible. He kept backing away as though he was trying to avoid a jinx until his back bumped into Gwendolyn, who just walked over. Gwendolyn quickly supported his lower back with her hand, the corner of her mouth slightly lifted, and she sneered, ¡°Trying to fake an ident?¡± Maverick didn¡¯t feel embarrassed. His face was slightly pale as he bent down to rub his leg. ¡°Gwendolyn, my knee hurts¡­ I want to go back to the vi.¡± His brows furrowed tightly, and when he turned to look at Gwendolyn, he quickly concealed the maliciousness in his eyes, recing it with a pitiful and aggrieved expression. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t bother to expose him. She casually nced at Natasha, who was stunned by his words on the ground. She put on a yful smile and teased, ¡°No way! This is your personal matter, and you should deal with it properly yourself.¡± After saying that, she forcefully pushed him toward Natasha with the hand that supported his lower back. Then, she watched the show with her arms crossed and watched on casually. The person I¡¯ve been searching for so long unexpectedly appears at Gardens Hotel charity g. She was happy to watch the y as long as someone was willing to make the show. Natasha, who was on the ground, looked pitiful as she reached out toward Maverick. ¡°Mave¡­¡± Maverick managed to bnce himself in time, and as he looked down at Natasha, his dark eyes were filled with nothing but coldness and hostility. In a low voice, he warned, ¡°Stay right there, and don¡¯t come any closer.¡± Natasha felt hurt when she saw his cold gaze. She began to sob uncontrobly, without caring about her image. ¡°Mave, don¡¯t you recognize me? I¡¯m your Tasha, your fianc¨¦e! Because of you, I was framed and imprisoned by that despicable Gwendolyn! Do you have any idea how much I¡¯ve suffered?¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes became colder. ¡°When I left Faike, Mother made the decision to call off the engagement. So, you and I have nothing to do with each other now.¡± If it weren¡¯t for everyone watching, he would have wished to kick the lier beneath his feet and vent his anger on her badly. She pretended to be Gwendolyn and imed she was the one who saved Den. She even tried to put Gwendolyn in grave danger several times, and now she was suddenly brought out by someone to intensify the animosity between him and Gwendolyn. D*mn it! Joaquin, standing nearby, tutted and leaned in to whisper in Gwendolyn¡¯s ear. ¡°Gwendolyn, did you hear that? He is the epitome of a bad man! When he loves someone, he loves her passionately, but when he doesn¡¯t, he¡¯s more ruthless than anyone else. Thankfully, you got a divorce in time!¡± He was adding fuel to the fire. Gwendolyn pursed her lips, remaining silent. Those once bright and clear eyes now stared deeply and silently at Maverick, who was standing not far away. ¡°Mave! How could you do this to me? I love you so much¡­¡± Natasha was full of hope when she was taken out of prison, but now, seeing his cold and heartless expression, her feelings of despair and resentment were hard to suppress and almost burst out. Maverick¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Under the watchful eyes of the whispering onlookers, he dered loudly, ¡°Natasha, I¡¯m telling you for thest time, the one I¡¯ve always loved and cherished is Gwendolyn. And it will always be her in the past, now, and forever. Since you¡¯ve been sentenced, you should stay in prison and repent your past sins!¡± He took out his phone to contact Nico as he spoke. Unexpectedly, those words hadpletely stirred up Natasha¡¯s emotions. She covered her head, screaming madly. Her voice was sharp and piercing, which was shrilled and terrifying. After soying thot, she forcefully pushed him toword Notosho with the hond thot supported his lower bock. Then, she wotched the show with her orms crossed ond wotched on cosuolly. The person I¡¯ve been seorching for so long unexpectedly oppeors ot Gordens Hotel chority golo. She wos hoppy to wotch the ploy os long os someone wos willing to moke the show. Notosho, who wos on the ground, looked pitiful os she reoched out toword Moverick. ¡°Move¡­¡± Moverick monoged to bolonce himself in time, ond os he looked down ot Notosho, his dork eyes were filled with nothing but coldness ond hostility. In o low voice, he worned, ¡°Stoy right there, ond don¡¯t come ony closer.¡± Notosho felt hurt when she sow his cold goze. She begon to sob uncontrollobly, without coring obout her imoge. ¡°Move, don¡¯t you recognize me? I¡¯m your Tosho, your fionc¨¦e! Becouse of you, I wos fromed ond imprisoned by thot despicoble Gwendolyn! Do you hove ony ideo how much I¡¯ve suffered?¡± Moverick¡¯s eyes be colder. ¡°When I left Foirloke, Mother mode the decision to coll off the engogement. So, you ond I hove nothing to do with eoch other now.¡± If it weren¡¯t for everyone wotching, he would hove wished to kick the lier beneoth his feet ond vent his onger on her bodly. She pretended to be Gwendolyn ond cloimed she wos the one who soved Declon. She even tried to put Gwendolyn in grove donger severol times, ond now she wos suddenly brought out by someone to intensify the onimosity between him ond Gwendolyn. D*mn it! Jooquin, stonding neorby, tutted ond leoned in to whisper in Gwendolyn¡¯s eor. ¡°Gwendolyn, did you heor thot? He is the epitome of o bod mon! When he loves someone, he loves her possionotely, but when he doesn¡¯t, he¡¯s more ruthless thon onyone else. Thonkfully, you got o divorce in time!¡± He wos odding fuel to the fire. Gwendolyn pursed her lips, remoining silent. Those once bright ond cleor eyes now stored deeply ond silently ot Moverick, who wos stonding not for owoy. ¡°Move! How could you do this to me? I love you so much¡­¡± Notosho wos full of hope when she wos token out of prison, but now, seeing his cold ond heortless expression, her feelings of despoir ond resentment were hord to suppress ond olmost burst out. Moverick¡¯s expression remoined unchonged. Under the wotchful eyes of the whispering onlookers, he declored loudly, ¡°Notosho, I¡¯m telling you for the lost time, the one I¡¯ve olwoys loved ond cherished is Gwendolyn. And it will olwoys be her in the post, now, ond forever. Since you¡¯ve been sentenced, you should stoy in prison ond repent your post sins!¡± He took out his phone to contoct Nico os he spoke. Unexpectedly, those words hodpletely stirred up Notosho¡¯s emotions. She covered her heod, screoming modly. Her voice wos shorp ond piercing, which wos shrilled ond terrifying. ¡°I just love you! What¡¯s my crime? It¡¯s all because of this b*tch who stole you from me! If it weren¡¯t for her, you would have been with me long ago, and we wouldn¡¯t have all these matters now! It was all because of her that I ended up in prison. I won¡¯t let her off the hook. I¡¯m going to kill her!¡± Her red eyes red at Gwendolyn, and suddenly, a strong murder intent filled her. She reached into her sleeve, pulled out a knife she had prepared beforehand, and swiftly charged toward Gwendolyn. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you! B*tch! I¡¯ll send you to hell!¡± Gwendolyn watched the approaching madwoman without flinching, her eyes remaining calm and undisturbed. Joaquin and Maverick immediately stepped in front of Gwendolyn, closely followed by Elven, Ezra, William, and Quinton, who all rushed into the banquet hall. Natasha couldn¡¯t even touch a piece of Gwendolyn¡¯s clothing before she was restrained by several bodyguards. She could only yell and struggle, ¡°You just wait, b*tch! Even if I die, I won¡¯t let you off! Do you think I¡¯m the only one who hates you? There are a lot of people who want to take you down in this world! Even if you don¡¯t die by my hand, you¡¯ll die by someone else¡¯s! I¡¯ll be waiting for that day!¡± Her words made Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes narrow sharply. Judging from the meaning of her words, Natasha seems to know something more. Elven turned to look at Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Ms. Shalders, how should we handle this?¡± ¡°Disperse the crowd, let the charity g continue, and take Natasha away!¡± Upon hearing she was going to be taken away, Natasha struggled desperately. ¡°Ah! You b*tch! It¡¯s all your fault that I ended up like this, and now you want to take me back to continue torturing me? I won¡¯t go! I¡¯d rather die than go!¡± Seeing that Gwendolyn¡¯s bodyguards were tall, strong, and difficult to deal with, Samantha quickly spoke up. ¡°Gwendolyn, she¡¯s a fugitive! No matter what, she should be handed over to the police. You can¡¯t take her away, and you definitely can¡¯t take matters into your own hands!¡± Some people chimed in, ¡°Exactly! We live in a society governed byw now. Your people are not the police, so what gives you the right to take her away?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We can¡¯t let them take her away. Someone hurry up and call the police, let the police come and uphold justice!¡± Amid the bustling crowd, not only did people show no intention of leaving, but they also gathered even more closely together. Gwendolyn nced through the crowd, finally setting her sights on the arrogant Samantha standing before her. In order to pave the way for this drama, did she arrange for someone to mislead the crowd¡¯s opinion beforehand? Hmm, this is interesting. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Elven, Ezra, and the others were trapped amid the crowd and unable to move. They did not dare to push the people away as they were afraid that they might identally hurt them. Moreover, that group of people were not ordinary people. They were significant and powerful young heirs and heiresses of prominent families. Samantha took the opportunity to shoot Natasha a meaningful gaze. Natasha understood her intentions. Seizing the opportunity when the bodyguards were putting their attention on the crowd, she quickly broke free from their grasp and ran away from the crowd. The bodyguards¡¯ expressions changed drastically. When they were about to chase after her, they were blocked by the crowd. Quinton was furious and scolded, ¡°Are you guys blind? Even if you disagree to let us take her away, you shouldn¡¯t condone letting a fugitive like Natasha escape.¡± Samanthaughed and replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you guys to chase after her. I¡¯ve already informed the police. I doubt she¡¯ll go far. Let the police handle her. We won¡¯t need Ms. Shalders¡¯ pet dogs to take action against her.¡± Pet dogs? Quinton and the others were gritting their teeth in anger. However, they did not retort since Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t said anything. Gwendolyn pursed her lips tightly, with her expression darkened. Upon seeing her expression, Maverick softly called out, ¡°Gwendolyn.¡± She raised her eyes in response, giving him a cold gaze without any traces of warmth. ¡°She¡¯s your woman. This matter¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Maverick quickly interrupted as he retorted, ¡°She¡¯s not mine.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained indifferent as she continued, ¡°In any case, I¡¯ll let Mr. Wright handle this matter personally. Once it¡¯s resolved, you can return to the vi.¡± Maverick knew she was still angry. He wanted to reach out and grab her wrist to beg for forgiveness. However, he was interrupted by the hurried arrival of Nico. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯mte!¡± Maverick¡¯s expression darkened swiftly. Resisting the urge to turn around and beat up Nico, he calmly instructed, ¡°Natasha ran toward the path leading to the remote bamboo forest at the back. She¡¯s injured and hasn¡¯t recovered. So she can¡¯t run far away from here. Go and chase after her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After Nico said that, he immediately sprinted in the direction Maverick had mentioned. Maverick took a moment to calm himself down. When he was about to reach for Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist again, she subtly turned her body to dodge it. Gwendolyn looked at Elven, Ezra, and the other bodyguards, who were surrounded by the crowd. ¡°Disperse the crowd and let the charity g continue,¡± she instructed. The main performers had escaped. So, the crowd soon dismissed since there was nothing interesting to watch. Gwendolyn only approached Samantha when most people left the scene. Her beautiful eyes exuded a coldness that was both sharp and reckless. When she locked eyes with Samantha, she gave her a mysterious smile and said, ¡°Ms. Lane, considering our past grievances, my original n was just to make the Lane family go bankrupt. If you behave yourself, I can spare your life. However, if I find out that you collude with someone and try to pull any tricks, I bet you might not be able to bear the consequences.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s warning made Samantha slightly taken aback. After a few seconds, Samantha finally returned to her senses and responded with a smile, ¡°There¡¯s no rush for that, Ms. Shalders. It¡¯s still uncertain who the victor is and who will be taught a lesson at the end.¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± After saying that, she left the charity g without looking back, apanied by Elven, a few bodyguards, and Joaquin. Maverick, who was left alone, wanted to catch up, but Samantha stopped him. ¡°Maverick, the charity g isn¡¯t over yet. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Please stay and keep mepany for a little while longer.¡± Maverick red furiously at her. ¡°Get lost.¡± After saying that coldly, he immediately ran out of the hotel. Gwendolyn had just gotten into the car and was about to close the door. Maverick quickly grabbed the car door as he shouted, ¡°Gwendolyn, don¡¯t!¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± At first, Maverick nced into the car. He saw Elven was the one driving while Ezra sat in the passenger seat. However, Quinton was not there with them. He guessed that he went to send Joaquin back to the Zipper residence. Therefore, Gwendolyn was sitting in the back seat alone. He clung to the car door tightly while keeping his tone soft. It was as if he was afraid that he would make her angry if he increased the volume slightly. ¡°Gwendolyn, I want to go back to the vi too. Can you please move over there a bit?¡± Since Gwendolyn had just gotten into the car, she sat on the right side next to the road, leaving the left seat unupied. Under the dim yellow streetlight, there was a flicker of light in Maverick¡¯s dark eyes. When he looked at her, he was cautious yet filled with slight anticipation. Gwendolyn shot him a cold gaze as she answered, barely hesitating, ¡°No, can¡¯t do it. Whoever brought you here should send you back as well. Or you can walk back.¡± Her tone was as cold as ice, devoid of warmth. Ever since he refused to sign the termination of the employment agreement, Gwendolyn had been treating him indifferently. That night, the cold treatment she gave him was exactly the same as the night she was punished by kneeling in the rain. Maverick¡¯s eyes darkened, and he looked down slightly. It seemed he was enduring bitter feelings of resentment. ¡°Gwendolyn, there was a reason Samantha and I came over tonight. Can you please let me exin?¡± Gwendolyn averted her gaze, refusing to look at him. She just said, ¡°Someone will wait up and open the door for you until eleven o¡¯clock. If you can¡¯t return by then, you can just sleep on the streets. Now, let go.¡± When she locked eyes with Somontho, she gove her o mysterious smile ond soid, ¡°Ms. Lone, considering our post grievonces, my originol plon wos just to moke the Lone fomily go bonkrupt. If you behove yourself, I con spore your life. However, if I find out thot you collude with someone ond try to pull ony tricks, I bet you might not be oble to beor the consequences.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s worning mode Somontho slightly token obock. After o few seconds, Somontho finolly returned to her senses ond responded with o smile, ¡°There¡¯s no rush for thot, Ms. Sholders. It¡¯s still uncertoin who the victor is ond who will be tought o lesson ot the end.¡± Gwendolyn norrowed her eyes ond smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be woiting.¡± After soying thot, she left the chority golo without looking bock, oponied by Elven, o few bodyguords, ond Jooquin. Moverick, who wos left olone, wonted to cotch up, but Somontho stopped him. ¡°Moverick, the chority golo isn¡¯t over yet. Why ore you in such o hurry to leove? Pleose stoy ond keep mepony for o little while longer.¡± Moverick glored furiously ot her. ¡°Get lost.¡± After soying thot coldly, he immediotely ron out of the hotel. Gwendolyn hod just gotten into the cor ond wos obout to close the door. Moverick quickly grobbed the cor door os he shouted, ¡°Gwendolyn, don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Whot ore you doing?¡± At first, Moverick glonced into the cor. He sow Elven wos the one driving while Ezro sot in the possenger seot. However, Quinton wos not there with them. He guessed thot he went to send Jooquin bock to the Zipper residence. Therefore, Gwendolyn wos sitting in the bock seot olone. He clung to the cor door tightly while keeping his tone soft. It wos os if he wos ofroid thot he would moke her ongry if he increosed the volume slightly. ¡°Gwendolyn, I wont to go bock to the villo too. Con you pleose move over there o bit?¡± Since Gwendolyn hod just gotten into the cor, she sot on the right side next to the rood, leoving the left seot unupied. Under the dim yellow streetlight, there wos o flicker of light in Moverick¡¯s dork eyes. When he looked ot her, he wos coutious yet filled with slight onticipotion. Gwendolyn shot him o cold goze os she onswered, borely hesitoting, ¡°No, con¡¯t do it. Whoever brought you here should send you bock os well. Or you con wolk bock.¡± Her tone wos os cold os ice, devoid of wormth. Ever since he refused to sign the terminotion of the employment ogreement, Gwendolyn hod been treoting him indifferently. Thot night, the cold treotment she gove him wos exoctly the some os the night she wos punished by kneeling in the roin. Moverick¡¯s eyes dorkened, ond he looked down slightly. It seemed he wos enduring bitter feelings of resentment. ¡°Gwendolyn, there wos o reoson Somontho ond Ie over tonight. Con you pleose let me exploin?¡± Gwendolyn overted her goze, refusing to look ot him. She just soid, ¡°Someone will woit up ond open the door for you until eleven o¡¯clock. If you con¡¯t return by then, you con just sleep on the streets. Now, let go.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes were slightly reddened. What a heartless and ruthless woman! How can her heart be as hard as a stone? He was so frustrated that his chest hurt, but he could only reluctantly let go of his hand that was holding onto the car door. As soon as he let go, the car door was mmed shut loudly. Then, the car sped off like an arrow released from its bow. Maverick was left behind with a face full of exhaust fume. He was choked by the exhaust fume and coughed twice. All he could do was stood there all alone, watching the car disappear into the night. ¡°Boss!¡± Nico came looking for him. Maverick regained his usual coldness and asked with extreme annoyance, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Nico lowered his head, and his expression was gloomy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Boss. I couldn¡¯t catch Natasha. By the time I got there, she hadpletely disappeared, as if someone had taken her away in advance.¡± ¡°Check the surveince footage.¡± Nico lowered his head even more as he replied, ¡°The path through the bamboo forest in Gardens Hotel is a blind spot for surveince cameras. Moreover, the cameras that could capture the entrance were hacked in advance. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Maverick did not intend to me him too much as he uttered, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. The whole incident from Natasha¡¯s appearance, stabbing Gwendolyn with a knife, to the final escape, was all pre-nned. What I don¡¯t understand is the motive of the mastermind for doing all these things?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than his phone rang. Upon seeing that it was Samantha, he hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to answer the call. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Maverick, you haven¡¯t left yet, have you? The charity g isn¡¯t over yet, and as my plus one, you shouldn¡¯t just leave me alone, right?¡± Maverick did not want to say a single word to her. Just as he was about to hang up, Samantha continued, ¡°Do you want to know where Natasha is?¡± He narrowed his cold eyes. ¡°You know where she is, do you?¡± Samantha grinned wickedly, ¡°Not only do I know that, but I can also take you there. I bet you have a lot of questions about Natasha too. Why don¡¯t you go and solve these mysteries personally?¡± Maverick pursed his thin lips, and he narrowed his deep dark eyes. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I hope you can apany me for thest five minutes of the charity g. You won¡¯t refuse such a small request, right?¡± Samantha smiled faintly and continued, ¡°As soon as the charity g is over, I¡¯ll take you to Natasha right away. What do you think?¡± Maverick did not respond immediately. He looked at his watch and found that there was still more than half an hour left until eleven o¡¯clock. ¡°All right, where are you?¡± Chapter 150 Chapter 150 At half past ten that night, the charity g at Gardens Hotel finally came to an end. As Samantha was walking toward the entrance, she nced sideways at the man beside her. He remained as aloof as ever, with an inextricable fury between his brows. Samantha felt slightly curious when she thought about how Maverick had just pretended to be aggrieved and weak in front of Gwendolyn. ¡°At first, I thought you had changed, but it turns out that you only changed how you behave in front of a certain someone. I¡¯m really curious. Are you just putting on an act before her? Or, have you truly fallen for her?¡± Maverick walked nobly in an upright posture with his expensive suit. It was as if he hadn¡¯t heard her as he continued walking without a word. Despite being ignored, Samantha did not feel embarrassed. She continued walking forward and got in the car with him. Nico sat in the middle of the two people in the back seat. That was because Maverick was very reluctant to sit with Samantha, so Nico was forced to be a human barrier between them. Since the car was driving at high speed, it only took eight minutes to reach the outskirts. They arrived at a ce where the surroundings were deste, yet the cabin before them was quite exquisite. Samantha had brought a bodyguard with her, so the four of them entered the cabin together. With only an oilmp lit, the lighting was dim in the cabin. Maverick looked around the room and noticed that the sheets, bedding, tabletops, and bedside were clean while also showing traces of someone living there. It seemed that ever since Natasha was taken out of prison, she had been living there all the while. When Maverick thought about that, he nced at Samantha and sneered. ¡°I never expected the Lane family to have such capability as to manage to get someone out of prison without anyone noticing.¡± Samantha chuckled and replied, ¡°Of course. She¡¯s your sweetheart. Saving her means I¡¯m helping you as well.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not my sweetheart,¡± Maverick answered without hesitation. He was sure she had never been the one he loved. At that moment, Natasha was sitting on the wooden bed, looking nothing like how she had at the charity g with her messy hair and crazy behavior. Apart from the injuries on her face, it was as if she had be apletely different person. Upon hearing Maverick¡¯s negation without hesitation, Natasha wept uncontrobly. ¡°Mave, why? You used to love me so much. What exactly has Gwendolyn done to you? Have you forgotten the promise you made to me? Have you forgotten that I saved you decades ago?¡± The moment that matter was brought up, a terrifyingly hostile aura exploded from Maverick. It was precisely because of that so-called promise that he had neglected Gwendolyn¡¯s love for him over the years. Moreover, he had even wronged and verbally insulted her. Whenever he thought of the insults he had once hurled at Gwendolyn, he wished to p himself hard across the face. He lowered his head to conceal the sudden surge of guilt in his eyes, not paying attention to Natasha¡¯s words. Nico answered for him, saying, ¡°Ms. Mossey, Boss already knows that you¡¯re not the girl who saved him back then. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s quite foolish that you still bring up the matter now?¡± Natasha was stunned for a moment before she suddenly fell to her knees weakly by Maverick¡¯s feet as if she was boneless. ¡°Mave, you were deceived by her! It really was me who saved you back then. I was there at the scene of the car ident, but I was young and scared, so I didn¡¯t rush to save you immediately. Another girl was first to drag you out of the car and left afterward. In the end, it was me who came forward and saved you. It truly was me!¡± She cried in deep sorrow earnestly, and her eyes shone with sincerity. Maverick remained silent. Samantha handed a document to him. ¡°Maverick, she¡¯s telling the truth. I sent someone to look into your past ident. If you don¡¯t believe me, take a look for yourself.¡± He took it and carefully flipped through it. His cold and stern expression remained unchanged, and his dark eyes were as deep as a dark abyss. ¡°So that¡¯s how it was. I thought Gwendolyn was the one who saved me. It seems she lied to me.¡± Upon hearing that, Natasha breathed a sigh of relief and continued to cry. ¡°Mave, she is such a despicable woman with a vicious heart. She was the one who got me into this mess. You must not let her get away with it!¡± Samantha agreed with her and said, ¡°Mave, I heard that she often mistreats and torments you after you signed the employment contract with her. She has caused so much harm to Ms. Mossey, who is your lifesaver, the Wright family, and you. Don¡¯t you want to get back at her?¡± The look in Maverick¡¯s eyes grew increasingly dark. He lowered his head to browse the documents in his hand and deliberately concealed the anger in his eyes. With a cold tone, he asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± Samantha grinned and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we join forces? You continue to gain her trust and inform me of her every move. Then, we can seize the perfect opportunity to eliminate her with ourbined efforts.¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t outright kill her!¡± shouted Natasha as malice gradually surfaced in her eyes. ¡°Hand her over to me. She has to suffer everything I went through in prison. I want her to experience the ultimate torment and die with resentment in the end!¡± Maverick pursed his thin lips, showing no emotions on his face. However, his hands, which were hidden in his sleeves, were tightly clenched, which led to his knuckles turning pale from the pressure. Turning to Samantha, he asked calmly, ¡°Why should I join forces with you if I can handle it myself? However, Tasha¡¯s appearance at the charity g this time was well-nned, unlike your usual methods, Sammy. If you want to coborate with me, you need to show your sincerity and show me the value of working with you.¡± He lowered his heod to conceol the sudden surge of guilt in his eyes, not poying ottention to Notosho¡¯s words. Nico onswered for him, soying, ¡°Ms. Mossey, Boss olreody knows thot you¡¯re not the girl who soved him bock then. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s quite foolish thot you still bring up the motter now?¡± Notosho wos stunned for o moment before she suddenly fell to her knees weokly by Moverick¡¯s feet os if she wos boneless. ¡°Move, you were deceived by her! It reolly wos me who soved you bock then. I wos there ot the scene of the cor ident, but I wos young ond scored, so I didn¡¯t rush to sove you immediotely. Another girl wos first to drog you out of the cor ond left ofterword. In the end, it wos me whoe forword ond soved you. It truly wos me!¡± She cried in deep sorrow eornestly, ond her eyes shone with sincerity. Moverick remoined silent. Somontho honded o document to him. ¡°Moverick, she¡¯s telling the truth. I sent someone to look into your post ident. If you don¡¯t believe me, toke o look for yourself.¡± He took it ond corefully flipped through it. His cold ond stern expression remoined unchonged, ond his dork eyes were os deep os o dork obyss. ¡°So thot¡¯s how it wos. I thought Gwendolyn wos the one who soved me. It seems she lied to me.¡± Upon heoring thot, Notosho breothed o sigh of relief ond continued to cry. ¡°Move, she is such o despicoble womon with o vicious heort. She wos the one who got me into this mess. You must not let her get owoy with it!¡± Somontho ogreed with her ond soid, ¡°Move, I heord thot she often mistreots ond torments you ofter you signed the employment controct with her. She hos coused so much horm to Ms. Mossey, who is your lifesover, the Wright fomily, ond you. Don¡¯t you wont to get bock ot her?¡± The look in Moverick¡¯s eyes grew increosingly dork. He lowered his heod to browse the documents in his hond ond deliberotely conceoled the onger in his eyes. With o cold tone, he osked, ¡°Whot do you wont?¡± Somontho grinned ond suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we join forces? You continue to goin her trust ond inform me of her every move. Then, we con seize the perfect opportunity to eliminote her with ourbined efforts.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°No! Don¡¯t outright kill her!¡± shouted Notosho os molice groduolly surfoced in her eyes. ¡°Hond her over to me. She hos to suffer everything I went through in prison. I wont her to experience the ultimote torment ond die with resentment in the end!¡± Moverick pursed his thin lips, showing no emotions on his foce. However, his honds, which were hidden in his sleeves, were tightly clenched, which led to his knuckles turning pole from the pressure. Turning to Somontho, he osked colmly, ¡°Why should I join forces with you if I con hondle it myself? However, Tosho¡¯s oppeoronce ot the chority golo this time wos well-plonned, unlike your usuol methods, Sommy. If you wont to colloborote with me, you need to show your sincerity ond show me the volue of working with you.¡± Samantha was slightly happy at being called ¡°Sammy.¡± After pondering for a while, she felt that they needed to be honest with each other if they were to coborate. ¡°I admit that I didn¡¯t n everything myself this time. I was just in charge of execution. But don¡¯t worry, Maverick. The person who nned everything is very meticulous and can set up traps that connect seamlessly. If you cooperate with us, you definitely won¡¯t suffer any losses.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He smiled faintly and asked, ¡°So, who is that person?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you yet, Maverick. Let¡¯s wait until you uncover the first piece of information from Gwendolyn. When we can trust each other, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Maverick nced at Nico, and he could no longer hide the surging anger deep in his eyes. ¡°No. I don¡¯t have the patience to wait until then. I want to know it now!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than the bodyguard behind Samantha suddenly let out a muffled groan. His eyes bulged, and he clutched his neck with a hideous expression. Blood flowed out continuously through his fingers. After struggling for less than a second, the bodyguard died on the spot, copsing to the ground without getting up again. Nico, who was standing behind him, took out a tissue and gently wiped the knife in his hand, his face expressionless. The two women, Samantha and Natasha, were appalled by the sudden turn of events. ¡°Mave!¡± ¡°Maverick, what are you doing?¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes were filled with intense hostility. He tore the documents in his hands that were the so- called truth before ring coldly at Natasha on the ground. ¡°The truth of who saved me back then doesn¡¯t matter anymore. Even if it was you, I¡¯ve already repaid my debt of gratitude by providing you with money for your education and satisfying all your vanity. Now, the person I love is her, and the one I want to protect is also her. You¡¯ve harmed her many times, so it¡¯s time to settle the score.¡± Natasha copsed to the ground. She covered her mouth in disbelief as she burst into tears. Samantha gritted her teeth in anger. ¡°You deliberately deceived me when you said you wanted to cooperate with me just now. You wanted to catch me off guard so you could kill my man, didn¡¯t you?¡± Maverick did not deny it. Instead, he turned to Nico and instructed, ¡°Bring them back to the vi. We¡¯ll leave them to Gwendolyn. She can get even with them personally.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Nico took out a drug-soaked handkerchief and walked toward Samantha first. Samantha took two steps back and leaned against the door. Then, she let out a chuckle. ¡°Maverick, do you think my backer didn¡¯t anticipate that this would happen? Since you refuse to join forces, then we¡¯ll see whether you can take us away unscathed!¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 After she finished speaking, she swiftly pushed open the wooden door, revealing several bodyguards holding sharp machetes. They rushed in and blocked the entrance while exuding murderous intent. Upon seeing that, Natasha quickly got up and went past Maverick to hide behind the group of bodyguards. In an using tone, she said, ¡°Mave, that woman has totally bewitched you! I truly love you, but you insist on choosing her over me. It breaks my heart so much. Don¡¯t worry. After you die, I¡¯ll do my best to torment her to death to avenge you.¡± Her eyes reddened, and her heart was simmering with anger and resentment. Nico immediately stood in front of Maverick, assuming a defensive stance. Now that the tables had turned, Samantha felt smug. ¡°I heard she injected Maverick with a special drug before, which made him physically weak and unable to fight. If that¡¯s true, your little sidekick not only has to take on ten men barehanded but also has to protect you. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s too much for him to handle?¡± Samantha was right. Maverick¡¯s current physical condition was so weak that he couldn¡¯t even fight a single person, let alone ten. He reckoned he would only hold Nico back if a fight broke out. The atmosphere in the cabin became subtly darker. One could turn the table anytime. ¡°Tsk!¡± Nico red at her in displeasure. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business whether I can handle it. So what if there are ten of them? I could take on twenty more!¡± Samantha didn¡¯t even bother to look at him. Instead, she stared at Maverick behind him, continuing to entice him. ¡°It seems that the news was true. She¡¯s been so cruel to you. What is it about a woman like her that is worth your protection, Maverick? You are my family, and I would never treat you like this. I can¡¯t bear to see you die here today, so why don¡¯t you join us and help us get rid of her?¡± At the thought of Gwendolyn¡¯s delicate face, Maverick subconsciously curled his lips slightly. ¡°You¡¯re right. Not only is she cruel, but she¡¯s also very cunning. She¡¯s only gentle and adorable when she¡¯s with Treyton and the rest, while all her anger and cruelty are directed at me. Nevertheless, I¡¯m willing to ept that. You can¡¯tpare to her at all.¡± His remark infuriated Samantha. ¡°Fine. Then don¡¯t think of leaving this ce alive today!¡± The bodyguards behind her stepped forward aggressively. Maverick, whose gaze was cold, narrowed his eyes. Even at such a critical moment, his deep ck eyes showed no trace of panic. He gazed intently at Samantha, his lips curving into a sly smile. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you really think I came here without making any preparations of my own?¡± Nico ced his hand over his mouth and let out a loud chirping sound like a bird. A few secondster, the wooden windows were violently smashed open. The loud noise startled Samantha and Natasha. Neville, apanied by five or six of his men, climbed in through the window and stood beside Nico before casually handing him a machete. Due to the strict control of firearms in Chanaea and the fact that gunshots attracted attention easily, both parties resorted to using machetes. Otherwise, as soon as a gunfight began, it was just a matter of time who would take down their opponent first. Maverick¡¯s men had been with him for many years, fighting and risking their lives in actual battles together. Although they may be fewer in number, winning or losing was still uncertain if a real fight broke out. With the two groups of people in a standoff, the atmosphere was tense. Samantha felt indignant. Things won¡¯t be easy tonight. After feeling annoyed for two seconds, she thought of something and startedughing again. ¡°Maverick, there¡¯s something I forgot to tell you. I wasn¡¯t targeting you when I staged the act at the charity g. I¡¯m afraid that b*tch Gwendolyn might be unable to return home now. She hardly stands a chance.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyebrows furrowed while anger swirled in his dark gaze. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Samantha giggled. ¡°I meant it literally! Come on now. Let¡¯s see whose men are better!¡± She waved her hand, and the machete-wielding bodyguards quickly rushed forward to fight Nico and Neville¡¯s men. The scene was chaotic with blood sttering everywhere. Meanwhile, Elven drove the car with more care than usual as Gardens Hotel was quite far from Bay Vi, and it was nighttime. Besides, Gwendolyn had drunk a little. Despite so, Gwendolyn used the idle time to review the recent financial reports of Wright Construction Group on theptop on herp. Ezra repeatedly yawned as he was already sleepy while Elven focused on driving. As the traffic was light and the car windows were closed, it was silent inside the vehicle. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Elven suddenly heard a faint beeping sound as he drove across Crane Bridge. Moreover, the sound wasing from inside the car. The beeping started slowly but gradually became quicker, as though it was counting down the time. Elven¡¯s face turned pale when he realized what the sound meant. ¡°Oh no! Ms. Shalders, get out of the car!¡± The three of them quickly came to their senses, opened the doors, and jumped out. The red Volkswagen Passat exploded with a loud bang a second after they leaped out of the car. The shockwave was so great that it sent them flying two meters away. Debris from the exploded car shot everywhere. A piece of the flying ss shards cut Gwendolyn¡¯s right shoulder. Intense pain quickly spread from her shoulder to every limb and joint. Blood streamed down Gwendolyn¡¯s fair arm. It was a shocking sight to see. Shocked by the sudden events, Elven and Ezra quickly got up to check on her. Neville, oponied by five or six of his men, climbed in through the window ond stood beside Nico before cosuolly honding him o mochete. Due to the strict control of fireorms in Chonoeo ond the foct thot gunshots ottrocted ottention eosily, both porties resorted to using mochetes. Otherwise, os soon os o gunfight begon, it wos just o motter of time who would toke down their opponent first. Moverick¡¯s men hod been with him for mony yeors, fighting ond risking their lives in octuol bottles together. Although they moy be fewer in number, winning or losing wos still uncertoin if o reol fight broke out. With the two groups of people in o stondoff, the otmosphere wos tense. Somontho felt indignont. Things won¡¯t be eosy tonight. After feeling onnoyed for two seconds, she thought of something ond storted loughing ogoin. ¡°Moverick, there¡¯s something I forgot to tell you. I wosn¡¯t torgeting you when I stoged the oct ot the chority golo. I¡¯m ofroid thot b*tch Gwendolyn might be unoble to return home now. She hordly stonds o chonce.¡± Moverick¡¯s eyebrows furrowed while onger swirled in his dork goze. ¡°Whot do you meon?¡± Somontho giggled. ¡°I meont it literolly! Come on now. Let¡¯s see whose men ore better!¡± She woved her hond, ond the mochete-wielding bodyguords quickly rushed forword to fight Nico ond Neville¡¯s men. The scene wos chootic with blood splottering everywhere. Meonwhile, Elven drove the cor with more core thon usuol os Gordens Hotel wos quite for from Boy Villo, ond it wos nighttime. Besides, Gwendolyn hod drunk o little. Despite so, Gwendolyn used the idle time to review the recent finonciol reports of Wright Construction Group on the loptop on her lop. Ezro repeotedly yowned os he wos olreody sleepy while Elven focused on driving. As the troffic wos light ond the cor windows were closed, it wos silent inside the vehicle. Elven suddenly heord o foint beeping sound os he drove ocross Crone Bridge. Moreover, the sound wosing from inside the cor. The beeping storted slowly but groduolly be quicker, os though it wos counting down the time. Elven¡¯s foce turned pole when he reolized whot the sound meont. ¡°Oh no! Ms. Sholders, get out of the cor!¡± The three of them quicklye to their senses, opened the doors, ond jumped out. The red Volkswogen Possot exploded with o loud bong o second ofter they leoped out of the cor. The shockwove wos so greot thot it sent them flying two meters owoy. Debris from the exploded cor shot everywhere. A piece of the flying gloss shords cut Gwendolyn¡¯s right shoulder. Intense poin quickly spreod from her shoulder to every limb ond joint. Blood streomed down Gwendolyn¡¯s foir orm. It wos o shocking sight to see. Shocked by the sudden events, Elven ond Ezro quickly got up to check on her. ¡°How could I let Ms. Shalders get hurt? I truly deserve death!¡± Elven eximed in frustration, pping himself in the face. Gwendolyn endured the pain and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± It dawned on her that a timed bomb had been installed in the car beforehand, which caused it to explode. At that moment, Gwendolyn suddenly understood why her enemy had staged the act at the charity g. Natasha knew she couldn¡¯t hurt Gwendolyn but deliberately made a move in public to make thetter¡¯s bodyguards show up so that she could tamper with her car. ¡°What are you waiting for? Hurry up and take Ms. Shalders to the hospital!¡± Ezra shouted at Elven. The two of them helped Gwendolyn up, but before they could take more than a few steps, they suddenly heard rapid and heavy footsteps approaching them. Tall men in ck suits, looking well-trained and wielding machetes, appeared. In the dark night, the streetlights were dim as killing intent filled the air. The exits on both sides of Crane Bridge had been blocked, so Gwendolyn and the other two found themselves trapped in the middle of the bridge. nking Gwendolyn, Elven and Ezra assumed a defensive stance while facing the approaching assassins from both sides. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t remain idle either. After doing a rough headcount, she realized there were twenty men on each side of the bridge. When she was done counting, sheughed and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to bring me a surprise gift this soon. Forty elite assassins just to kill a weak woman like me. He really has high regard for me.¡± The assassins on both ends wore solemn expressions and remained silent as they marched forward. ¡°Forty against three. Besides, my shoulder is injured. There¡¯s a slim chance of winning this fight.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a smile that looked extraordinarily charming and seductive. Her voice was soft and delicate as she spoke. ¡°I¡¯m about to die anyway. Can you at least tell me who he is? So that I can die in peace.¡± The leader of the assassins, who walked up to her from the right side of the bridge, eximed, ¡°Ms. Shalders, there¡¯s more than one person in the Harris family who wants you dead.¡± Does this mean that they conspired to scheme all of this? Her long, curled eyshes drooped as she let out a soft sigh. The faint sheen in her eyes made her starry gaze look colder while an unparalleled aggrieved expression lingered on her wless face. ¡°But I don¡¯t know what I did wrong. They¡¯ve tried to kill me several times, and I¡¯ve already left Salinsburgh. Why won¡¯t they just let me go?¡± The lead assassin lowered his head. When he looked up again, his expression was cold and void of emotions. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! You¡¯ll get your answers in hell! Kill them!¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Over forty men dressed in ck charged forward from both sides at the leader¡¯smand. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was solemn as she grasped Elven¡¯s and Ezra¡¯s hands and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve already informed Treyton. Don¡¯t risk your lives to fight them. I want both of you to stay alive!¡± Just a moment ago, she had secretly sent a message using her phone while speaking to the assassins. She only needed to hold on for ten more minutes before Treyton¡¯s men arrived. Upon hearing this, Elven and Ezra became even more determined to protect her at all costs and attacked the approaching assassins brutally, showing no mercy. The tight-fitting gown made it difficult for Gwendolyn to lift her legs. She immediately tore off a small strip of fabric from the slit of her gown and quickly wrapped it around her right shoulder to stop the bleeding. While she was doing this, an assassin suddenly charged at her. She swiftly dodged to the side and kicked the man¡¯s groin with her twelve-centimeter stilettos. His face turned pale from the pain, and Gwendolyn knocked him out by hitting the back of his neck before he could react. With forty men against three, the scene was extremely chaotic. Meanwhile, a fierce and bloody fight broke out in the cabin. Nico and Neville were strong, but Samantha¡¯s men were too. The chaossted for five minutes. As Maverick thought of Samantha¡¯s earlier words, his heart twisted in pain. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. The longer he stayed here, the more danger Gwendolyn would be in. ¡°Nico,e with me to save Gwendolyn. Everyone, cover us and retreat!¡± The scent of blood permeated the air on Crane Bridge. Elven and Ezra had each snatched a machete from their opponents. Their gazes were filled with rage as they attacked relentlessly. However, too many enemies were charging at them, one after another. Their strength was drained within just a few minutes, leaving them barely able to fend off the onught. Although the des shed their backs and legs, they simply gritted their teeth and withstood the pain. Gwendolyn was already injured, so her strength depleted fast. A momentarypse of concentration had her being shed in her arm again. Her fair and slender arm was stained with a long trail of blood. The pain caused her entire arm to tremble uncontrobly. She pressed on her bleeding wound with her hand, bit her lower lip to endure the pain, and quickly read the situation. Elven and Ezra, wounded and covered in blood, were still fighting back despite suffering numerous cuts. If this continues, we will die before Treyton can even get here! As she watched blood sttering everywhere, rage stirred within her. I will surely make them pay a thousand-fold, even a million-fold, for the pain I suffer tonight one day! She stood on one of the stone pirs on Crane Bridge, her hair disheveled by the wind. However, the smile on her bloodstained face still looked stunningly beautiful. As she looked down with a cold gaze from above, her pride and aloofness remained undiminished despite her being wounded, as if they were carved into her bones. ¡°I can¡¯t escape from those who want to kill me, but even if I have to die, I¡¯ll decide how!¡± After yelling, she jumped off the ten-meter-high Crane Bridge. ¡°Ms. Shalders! No!¡± Elven¡¯s desperate scream was thest thing she heard before plunging into the water. As it was dusk, she couldn¡¯t see anything in the water. The dim yellow glow from the streetlights on the bridge became her only light source. As the light gradually faded, she suddenly experienced an intense headache while unclear images continuously shed before her eyes. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. A tender and crisp voice also sounded, saying, ¡°Miss, please buy a bouquet. You¡¯re as beautiful as these flowers! Miss, why do you have a dad, but I don¡¯t? Can you share your dad with me, please? Miss, I really like you but can only choose between you and a dad. Miss, Miss¡­¡± Who is it? Who exactly is she? Gwendolyn¡¯s head throbbed with unbearable pain. A blurry image of a young girl staring at her and laughing non-stopped appeared in her head. Aside from theughter and the little girl¡¯s blurry face, she couldn¡¯t hear or see anything else. She forgot to struggle, so her body sank deeper into theke due to the loss of buoyancy. Am I going to die? Her consciousness gradually faded. Just before she passed outpletely, she felt someone grabbing her tightly before giving her oxygen through his mouth, thus pulling her back from the brink of death. When Gwendolyn groggily woke up, the first thing she saw was a pristine white ceiling. ¡°Kiddo, are you feeling better now?¡± Treyton¡¯s familiar, low, raspy voice rang in her ears. Gwendolyn turned her head, and Treyton¡¯s handsome face gradually came into focus before her eyes. With a hoarse voice, she called out, ¡°Treyton.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak for now. Your fever just subsided. Don¡¯t hurt your throat.¡± Treyton, whose eyes were slightly red, gently rubbed her head. Although distraught, he couldn¡¯t bear to raise his voice at her as he scolded, ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. Winter is just around the corner, and theke is freezing cold. Besides, you were injured. What if you get a wound infection? Don¡¯t you care about your life at all?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s pale lips curled into a faint smile, reassuring him. Then she asked, ¡°How are Elven and Ezra?¡± Treyton was annoyed to see her worrying about others immediately after waking up but still replied softly, ¡°They¡¯re fine. Although they have many cuts, none of the injuries are critical. They will recover after resting some time.¡± Gwendolyn breathed a sigh of relief and was about to continue asking when Treyton stopped her. ¡°You just woke up. Why do you have so many questions? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to sleep a bit more?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face turned pale, and she didn¡¯t speak. Instead, she stared at him quietly. Under her gaze, Treyton gave in. ¡°All right, kid. You win. I know what you want to ask. How about you drink some soup while I tell you everything?¡± Gwendolyn smiled, looking pleased. Sighing, he adjusted her pillow so she could lean against the headboard and drink the soup. ¡°As soon as I received your message, I immediately rushed over with my men. Before we even got close, I heard you shouting on the edge of the bridge. You really scared the hell out of me. Please don¡¯t do this ever again!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes curved as she smiled and nodded obediently. Treyton continued, ¡°I looked into the identities of those assassins but got nothing. They were all raised by a secret organization, so there was no way to find anything out. However, it¡¯s most likely someone from the Harris family since they¡¯re always targeting you and are more than able to spend so much money.¡± Previously, Treyton, Asher, Kieran, and Marcus had conducted private investigations but never found any clues. Asher even resorted to using underground connections in his search but still couldn¡¯t discover anything. Gwendolyn took a couple of sips of the soup and said weakly, ¡°There¡¯s more than one person in the Harris family who wants me dead, so their ns are well thought out. That was how they did everything perfectly.¡± Treyton furrowed his brows. ¡°But why do they only target you?¡± Gwendolyn thought momentarily and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know either, but perhaps it has something to do with the right of inheritance to Harris Group.¡± Since she was the youngest and the only daughter in the family, Marcus had consulted awyer to draft his will long ago. She would eventually inherit the Harris family¡¯s assets¡ªa huge fortune no one could resist. Her words made sense to Treyton. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, those old geezers rted to the Harris family must be involved in this. Catching them red-handed is just a matter of time.¡± These are just spections. Then, Gwendolyn recalled the little girl¡¯s face shing across her mind before she lost consciousness. The girl¡¯s words kept repeating in her ears as if they had happened to her before. Although she had experienced amnesia before, she eventually recollected her memories after some time. Why is this happening? Gwendolyn was utterly baffled. ¡°Treyton, does Dad have another daughter besides me?¡± Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Treyton sank into deep thought. After pondering for a while, he shook his head. ¡°No. You should know that Dad is not young anymore. He was already well advanced in age when you were born. Lori has been trying all ways and means to get pregnant, but we never heard that she seeded.¡± Lori Sablich was Gwendolyn¡¯s stepmother, who was only three years older than her. Lorelei and Gwendolyn could never get along. Whenever they crossed paths, it seemed inevitable that they would argue. Gwendolyn thought hard for a moment. She always had a strong feeling that the image of the little girl in her mind was somehow connected to how she ended up in Faike after losing her memory. However, she could not remember anything about it. Gwendolyn decided that she had to spend some time investigating that matter. For the time being, she had to put it aside. ¡°Treyton, what did you do to that group of peoplest night?¡± Treyton did not say anything. By the time he got to the bridge that night, the situation had already concluded. Maverick had arrived with his men first.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Treyton then cleaned up the mess at the scene. He kept a few men alive and brought them back for interrogation. After mulling over it, Treyton chose not to inform Gwendolyn that Maverick was present at the scene. ¡°They hurt my sister, so I have to kill them to seek justice for you. I spared two of the men and locked them up. Once you¡¯ve recovered, you can interrogate them and try to gather any relevant information.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn ced the chicken soup on the table by the bed. She remembered vaguely that someone had saved herst night. ¡°Did you jump into the water to save mest night?¡± The thought of that got Treyton all riled up. By the time he arrived at the scene, Maverick had already jumped into the water. When he carried Gwendolyn out of the water, Treyton noticed that the slits on both sides of her gown were torn. Treyton wondered if Maverick had done something inappropriate to her. ¡°Uh, yes, I did.¡± He looked away, somewhat uneasy. Gwendolyn stared at Treyton, frowning. ¡°Really? I remember someone kissing me and delivering air through my mouth so I could breathe.¡± ¡°What?¡± Just as Treyton expected, Maverick had been up to no good. Treyton berated himself for being too softhearted. He should have thrown Maverick into the water and let him freeze to death that night. ¡°You were not in the right state of mind then. You must be mistaken.¡± Gwendolyn stared into his eyes. ¡°Treyton, you¡¯d better not lie to me.¡± ¡°Why would I deceive you? It¡¯s true.¡± He looked up and met her gaze resolutely. Gwendolyn knew her brother very well. Even if she knew Treyton was not telling the truth, she would not be able to get any answers if he refused to say anything. She then tried to ask him in a roundabout way, ¡°What about Maverick? Where was hest night?¡± ¡°I have no idea where he wentst night. He¡¯s such an irresponsible guy. Natasha caused this mess, and it¡¯s all because of him. Don¡¯t bother about him. I¡¯ve locked him up in Bay Vi so he can¡¯t leave.¡± Gwendolyn frowned. She was about to say something when Treyton picked up the bowl of soup, cutting her off. ¡°Here, Kiddo, drink up. Flora made the soup personally. Your injuries will heal faster if you drink it.¡± Meanwhile, in the basement of Bay Vi, loud, intense coughing could be heard. It sounded severe and forceful, reverberating throughout the room eerily. Maverick curled up on the cold floor. His eyes were dull and tired, looking like he was in a state of profound illness. His face was ashen as a result of continuous coughing. He looked weary and exhausted. His body was covered in a cold sweat, yet it felt excessively hot when touched. Besides that, Maverick¡¯s level of awareness was diminishing. Elven had the closest rtionship with him. However, he was in the hospital, recovering from his injuries. Treyton had instructed William and Quinton to lock Maverick in the basement. They did not give him any water or food. There was not even a light in the room. Maverick had been locked up in the basement for more than ten hours. If this continued, his life might be in danger due to the persistently high fever and his weakened physical condition. They still had not found the person who attacked Gwendolyn, and Samantha and Natasha had gotten away scot-free. Hence, Maverick had to stay alive. Mustering all his strength, he ced his hand on his lips. As he was not sure if Nico was in the vicinity, he whistled repeatedly. William and Quinton heard some noises from the basement and opened the door. ¡°Mr. Wright, stop making trouble for us. Mr. Harris said that as soon as Ms. Shalders is well enough to leave the hospital, we¡¯ll let you go.¡± Both William and Quinton did not want to stay in the basement any longer after warning Maverick. They mmed the door shut and locked it. Maverick was suddenly hit by a gust of cold wind that rushed in as the door opened, causing him to have a severe coughing fit. He coughed so hard that his shoulders hunched forward, and he was visibly trembling all over his body. The night before, Maverick had insisted on jumping into the river to save Gwendolyn. Worried about his safety, Nico had been hiding around Bay Vi to monitor the situation. When he heard Maverick¡¯s faint and weak signal for help, a wave of fury crashed through Nico. ¡°Damn it! They¡¯re not humans!¡± He led Neville and a few men straight to the basement of the vi. William and Quinton did their best to stop Nico and his men. However, both of them were no match for the ferocious group. Within a few minutes, William and Quinton were defeated and beaten unconscious. Nico kicked open the basement door. The moment he saw Maverick, a surge of anger welled up in his chest. ¡°Damn it! Is this how you repay someone who saved a life? I want to kill them all!¡± Neville was equally infuriated. ¡°Let¡¯s get rid of those two bodyguards! I¡¯ll freaking suffocate if I don¡¯t let my anger out!¡± Just as Nico was about to answer Neville, Maverick¡¯s scorching hot hand gripped his wrist tightly. Maverick¡¯s voice had be hoarse due to the long hours of coughing. He could hardly make a sound. Neither did he have the energy to speak. However, Nico understood what he meant. Maverick did not want him to kill William and Quinton. Nico struggled internally before sighing. Maverick was his boss, after all. He had no choice but to obey thetter¡¯s instructions. However, Nico also knew that his men needed an outlet to vent their frustrations. He asked Neville to bring William and Quinton to the basement and lock them up. They then carried Maverick to the room on the second floor before cing a cooling patch on him. Upon testing Maverick¡¯s temperature, they realized he was running a fever of 38.9 degrees Celsius. A cooling patch would not be enough to bring down his fever. Nico asked his men to buy some antipyretics and administer them, along with fever-reducing injections, to Maverick. It was onlyte at night when a frail Maverick regained consciousness. Nico took Maverick¡¯s temperature again to see that his fever had subsided. Fortunately, his life was not in danger. Nico sat by the bed as he let out a sigh of relief. He did not look too pleased, though. ¡°Boss, this is what you get for risking your life to rush to the scene. Treyton locked you up and did not allow you to visit Ms. Shalders at the hospital. I bet she doesn¡¯t even know you are the one who saved her. This is absurd!¡± Maverick half-closed his eyes, his eyshes fluttering lightly. Due to the high fever and fatigue, his spirited and lively eyes had lost their luster. His once vibrant and striking countenance now bore a pallor, while an undeniable fragility marked his features. Treyton had always disliked Maverick, so it was not surprising that he would treat Maverick this way. Maverick could not help but feel guilty toward Treyton now that he knew thetter was his former brother-inw. He was not too worried about Gwendolyn. Treyton would undoubtedly take good care of her in the hospital. Nico looked at a silent Maverick. His heart wrenched at seeing his boss looking so pale and weak. ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t want to nag at you. You know your body isn¡¯t as strong as it used to be, and you can¡¯t withstand the cold. The water in the river was so cold, yet you jumped in to save Ms. Shalders. Couldn¡¯t you have waited for Treyton to save her instead?¡± Nico wondered if Maverick was stupid or crazy. However, he did not dare to say his thoughts out loud. He was afraid of the consequences when Maverick recovered. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Maverick¡¯s voice had gone hoarse, and he did not feel like talking. He turned over and continued to sleep. When he rushed overst night, he happened to hear Gwendolyn¡¯s shout and watched helplessly as she jumped into the river. That feeling of his heart pounding away uncontrobly was so unbearably suffocating. Just thinking about it made his heart ache. He would never let this happen again. Nico noticed he was being ignored and knew he simply could not get through to Maverick. After so many years of working for Maverick, this was the first time Nico had seen him going all out for someone. Boss, please take a good rest. If you need anything, just call me. Don¡¯t force yourself. Nico sighed helplessly, poured Maverick a cup of warm water, and ced it on the bedside table. Then, he turned around, left the room, and gently closed the door behind him. Maverick was still feverish, and his mind was already groggy. He quickly fell back asleep. The vi was silent and pitch-ck in the dead of night. Nico made his way down to the basement, his face gloomy. Neville and a few other subordinates were guarding the basement door. William and Quinton had been awake for quite some time. They were extremely furious about being locked up and kept banging on the door while shouting. Neville saw Nico approaching and walked up. ¡°How¡¯s it going? Is the boss feeling better now?¡± Nico nodded. Neville breathed a sigh of relief. He gritted his teeth and continued, ¡°Can we just get rid of these two? They¡¯ve been cursing non-stop since they woke up. I don¡¯t think I can hold it in any longer!¡± Nico¡¯s expression was grim, too. Although he could do nothing to Treyton, at least he could vent his anger on the twockeys of the Harris family. After all, it did not matter as long as their lives were spared. Open the door. Let me in. The basement door swung open. William and Quinton tried to make a run for it the moment they had the chance. However, they did not get far before they were caught, tied up, and thrown back onto the floor. Just as Quinton was about to make a scene, his mouth was stuffed with a cloth. Since William had reluctantly spoken up for Maverick before, Nico appreciated his favor and did not forcefully silence him. Moreover, William himself was much quieter than Quinton, who acted like an aggressive monkey. Even with his mouth covered, Quinton continued making annoying muffled sounds. With a fierce look in his eyes, Nico pulled out a knife and forcefully stabbed it into the floor between Quinton¡¯s legs, stopping just a millimeter short of cutting through his flesh. Quinton¡¯s pupils constricted with fear. Just a little closer, and he might have to spend the rest of his life castrated. What a ruthless person! Seeing his anger fade away, Nico sneered. ¡°Can you please listen to me seriously?¡± William remained silent while Quinton nodded his head vigorously. Mr. Wright saved Ms. Shalders, but instead of thanking him, Mr. Harris locked him up and left him to suffer from a high fever. Isn¡¯t that a bit too much? This really made us frustrated. William and Quinton did not know what he wanted to do, so they kept quiet. Nico continued, ¡°Since the Harris family pays you, and you two work for Mr. Harris, you should also ept this punishment for him.¡± The two could barely perceive the sense of threat emanating from him. Nico smirked and patted the two on their arms. ¡°Well, sorry about this, but you two will have to let our subordinates each throw a few punches to let off some steam, and then we¡¯ll let you go.¡± Let off some steam? They¡¯re going to use us as punching bags! Knowing he could not escape, William said, ¡°Don¡¯t hit the face!¡± Nico smiled. ¡°Sure, as you wish.¡± If their faces were badly bruised, it would be even more difficult to exin the situation to Gwendolyn if she saw them. Nico got up and leaned against the door. He added, ¡°Mr. Wright doesn¡¯t know about this, so don¡¯t snitch and let him take the me. Can you do that?¡± William was already feeling a bit guilty when he found out Maverick was running a high fever while he was locked up. Without hesitation, he said, ¡°Okay, but¡­ can you go easy on us?¡± Nico did not say a word and turned to leave the basement. Soon after, a terrible wail echoed from behind him. After lying in the hospital for two days, Gwendolyn was discharged. The first thing she did was to meet the two assassins Treyton had captured alive. As the weather gradually grew colder, she wore a ck trench coat with a red velvet long skirt. Paired with a touch of red lipstick, she looked dashing and charming, exuding an aura like a queen gracing her presence. The two assassins were locked in the basement of Treyton¡¯s mansion and tied to chairs with iron chains. Their faces and bodies were covered in wounds, indicating they had been tortured several times before. Their mouths were slightly open and stuffed with cloth strips to prevent them from biting their tongues. A bodyguard brought a chair for Gwendolyn, and she sat down just three meters away from the two assassins. Upon seeing the face of one of the assassins, she was slightly taken aback, and her red lips curved into a smile. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Oh, it¡¯s you. The only man who answered my question that day. His gaze was icy cold, and he turned his face away. Gwendolyn had always been very patient. She rested her cheek on one hand, her face beaming with an enchanting smile. ¡°Hey, Handsome. Others may not know the inside story, but you definitely do. If you share the secret with me, I can persuade them to let you go and even give you money to live a carefree life. What do you say?¡± Her voice was incredibly soothing. The person shuddered at the nickname and nced at her subconsciously, almost getting sucked into her innocent, harmless, glistening eyes. What a vixen! Clearly annoyed, he turned his head away and closed his eyes, ignoring her. Their rules were stringent. If one were to leak a secret, they would only face a more miserable death. By gritting their teeth and staying silent, they might be able to survive this ordeal. Are you not going to say it? Gwendolyn pursed her lips and instructed the people beside her, ¡°Let them go.¡± Ms. Shalders, they haven¡¯t confessed anything yet. Should we really let them go? Gwendolyn nodded. She did not seem to be joking. The two looked utterly bewildered as they were blindfolded with a ck cloth and led out of the Shalders residence. After they left, Treyton came in and asked, ¡°Kiddo, what¡¯s going on?¡± Find a few people to trail them. If someone tries to silence them, save them when necessary. If they were released directly, the other party would definitely think that the two of them had already leaked the secret. Adhering to the principle of ¡°better to kill by mistake than to let go,¡± the other party would undoubtedly cause trouble for the two again. The more often they took action over there, the easier it was for them to expose their weaknesses. It would be advantageous for her to investigate thoroughly. Treyton was an intelligent man, and he immediately understood her intentions. Without hesitation, he set out to get things done. After making sure everything was well-organized, Gwendolyn prepared to return to Bay Vi. Treyton asked, ¡°Kiddo, how about staying at my ce for a few days? You¡¯ve always loved Flora¡¯s cooking. I¡¯ll ask her to make some extra food to nourish your body.¡± That¡¯s all right. I¡¯m almost all better now. She smiled faintly, then stood up and left. Upon learning she was returning, William and Quinton came out with big smiles to wee her. Hello, Ms. Shalders. Mm. Gwendolyn nced at the two of them. Despite their excellent hiding skills, she still keenly noticed something was amiss. Quinton was beaten up quite hard, and she could see a faint bruise peeking out from under the cor of his shirt near the edge of his neck. What happened to your neck? Quinton suddenly clutched his neck and exchanged nces with William. I identally fell. Can one really injure that area from a fall? The two of them hung their heads, not speaking. Gwendolyn narrowed her cold eyes and said nothing more. She retracted her gaze and entered the living room. As soon as the door opened, Maverick happened to be walking down from the second floor. The gazes of the two people met from afar. Maverick¡¯s fever had subsided, but he was still a bit frail. His handsome face was pale, and his dark, deep pupilscked their usual vigor today. Gwendolyn also noticed his thin lips were slightly dry and somewhat pale. Why does he look so sickly? She stood at the door, frowning, and did not move. Maverick noticed she did not look well, so he quickly went downstairs and silently took out a pair of slippers from the shoe cab for her. Gwendolyn felt more puzzled. Why isn¡¯t he speaking? Is he trying something different by acting distant? I wasn¡¯t home for only two days, so why is everyone acting strangely? Chapter 155 Chapter 155 As Gwendolyn slipped on her slippers, she observed him closely. She took off her trench coat and handed it to him. Maverick paused for a second. His long eyshes drooped slightly, and his handsome face was pale. He obediently took the trench coat from Gwendolyn and helped her hang it on the coat rack. He did not take the initiative to speak,pletely unlike his usual attentive and diligent self. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression grew darker and darker. Maverick did not notice at all and turned his head to nce at the clock on the living room wall. It was almost noon already. He eagerly headed to the kitchen to prepare a meal. Gwendolyn sat on the couch with an imposing posture. ¡°Come here.¡± Her tone was cold when she spoke, leaving no room for interruption. Maverick¡¯s broad back stiffened for a moment, then he turned around, walked to her, and stood still. She did not look up, her expression somewhat cold. ¡°I remember someone once said they wouldn¡¯t make me look up to them.¡± Maverick did not budge, feeling awkward as he noticed her attitude toward him remained icy cold. Did Treyton really not tell her that I was the one who saved her? Anyway, did Gwendolyne back today to settle the score of my attending the charity g with Samantha? He had thought he could bnce his merits and demerits. Suddenly, he felt a suffocating tightness in his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. ¡°Hmm?¡± It was an imposing hum, possessing a delicate, gentle tone produced uniquely by women. Gwendolyn was growing a bit impatient. Maverick froze for two seconds, then went down on one knee, slowly squatting in front of her feet. His eyes were still downcast, and his eyshes trembled gently. Gwendolyn sensed his awkwardness, which made her feel even more confused. She gently lifted his chin with her fingertips, forcing him to look up. Their eyes met. Maverick¡¯s eyes were tinged with a hint of red. Within his deep ck pupilsy a sense of vulnerability and grievance that he tried to conceal but could not quite hide. He looked as though he had been bullied. Gwendolyn¡¯s frown deepened. I haven¡¯t even asked anything yet, and he¡¯s already feeling aggrieved? ¡°What have you been up to these past couple of days? Mr. Harris seemed to have said you¡¯re not allowed to go out. Have you not done any housework during this time?¡± Maverick pursed his thin lips, feeling as if someone was clenching his heart, the pain making it difficult for him to catch his breath. Gwendolyn raised her chin a little higher. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Cat got your tongue?¡± ¡°I¡¯m recuperating,¡± he responded curtly. His voice was deep and hoarse, yet his tone conveyed subtle grievances. Gwendolyn chuckled lightly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with your throat? Are you sick or something?¡± ¡°I¡¯m running a fever.¡± He had been staying in the vi for two days without going out, and it had not rained during that time. How could he have caught a fever? He must have had a pretty high fever these past few days given his extremely pale face. Gwendolyn more or less had an idea. She released her grip on his chin. ¡°Don¡¯t just squat there. Sit on the couch over there.¡± Maverick epted the offer, stood up, and sat directly on the small couch nearby. He was already rtively weak. After he squatted for just a short while, his legs began to feel numb, and his head felt a bit dizzy. If he squatted for much longer, he was afraid he might be unable to hold on. Gwendolyn gracefully poured herself a ss of water and continued to ask, ¡°What happened to Quinton¡¯s injuries? Who did it?¡± Maverick watched her drink water as his Adam¡¯s apple unconsciously moved slightly. Without skipping a beat, he said casually, ¡°I¡¯ve been lying in my room for two days, so I¡¯m not sure. Maybe he fell.¡± No one was willing to tell her the truth. Gwendolyn did not want to dwell on the matter any longer and returned to the main topic. ¡°Why were you at the charity g that day?¡± Maverick had just parted his lips to speak when Gwendolyn stared at him intently, reminding him, ¡°I want to hear the truth.¡± ¡°I rode in Samantha¡¯s car and went to the countryside to meet Natasha.¡± He gulped and stole a nce at Gwendolyn¡¯s expression. Seeing no change in her demeanor, he went on, ¡°At the party, Samantha was just carrying out orders. There was someone behind her, scheming and nning everything meticulously. This person calcted every move urately. Samantha said she wanted to join forces with me but was also prepared for the possibility that I would refuse and had ns to silence me¡­¡± Here, he let out a cough. He had spoken too much that his throat felt as though it was on fire. Gwendolyn casually handed him a cup, gesturing for him to pour water for himself. Her eyes were filled with amusement as she stared at him. ¡°You¡¯re telling me about joining forces, but aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll be suspicious of you, thinking you¡¯re deliberately exposing yourself?¡± ¡°Since you want to hear the truth from me, I won¡¯t hide it from you.¡± As for whether she believed him or not, that was not something he could decide. ¡°Really?¡± Gwendolyn slightly curved her lips, resting her cheek on one hand while the other was propped on her knee. She tilted her head to look at him and gave a sly smile. ¡°Then, I want to know what happened to Quinton¡¯s injury. Be honest.¡± Maverick pondered momentarily, and his thin lips slightly parted. ¡°He offended me, so I had Nico hurt him.¡± Nico? Gwendolyn furrowed her brows, sensing he was hiding something else. Frankly speaking, Gwendolyn had sorted things out and roughly figured it out at this point. It was likely rted to Treyton in some way. That aside, Samantha could be both the executor and nner this time. Gwendolyn could not feel at ease before she settled the ounts. She stood up and gently straightened her red velvet skirt. ¡°Since it was your subordinates who hurt mine, I¡¯ll have your people work for me today. I¡¯m going to collect a debt from the Lane family.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Her eyes sparkled like stars as she finished speaking, and her charming little face disyed a mix of cold arrogance and swagger. Maverick was stunned as he gazed into the faint glimmer in her eyes. By the time he came to his senses, Gwendolyn had already taken the ck trench coat from the coat rack, ready to head out. He hurriedly followed her and contacted Nico, arranging for Neville and his subordinates to work for her for a day. Once everyone had gathered, Gwendolyn took a nce and felt it was still not enough. Maverick exined, ¡°Gwendolyn, they¡¯ve all fought tooth and nail, crawling out of piles of corpses. Their skills are not weak. Nico alone is more than enough to deal with the useless bodyguards at the Lane residence.¡± That was still not enough. A couple of days ago, she was involved in a forty-against-three fight. She wanted Samantha to experience the overwhelming force of a mob. However, Elven and Ezra were still lying in the hospital, while William and Quinton seemed to have been injured. She decided to call Yulia. ¡°Get me some people from the organization who are good at fighting. Your boss is going to start a fight.¡± Maverick was listening closely nearby, keenly picking up on the words like ¡°organization¡± and ¡°your boss.¡± Soon, Gwendolyn had impressively gathered a group of fifty people. Together with Maverick¡¯s team and herself, there were a total of fifty-eight people. Even the ground quaked lightly beneath their feet as they marched. That domineering presence looked quite intimidating from afar. Gwendolyn was quite satisfied and ready to set off when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. Maverick stared at her with a gloomy expression, his voice hoarse as heined, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take me to the fight?¡± Gwendolyn blinked and gently patted his pale cheek. She said yfully, ¡°Sweetie, you¡¯re sick. You can¡¯t fight.¡± Although that was not what Gwendolyn meant, thest sentence deeply hurt Maverick¡¯s nerves as it was uttered in front of the crowd. Maverick¡¯s face was solemn. ¡°I can!¡± He spoke with utmost seriousness, emphasizing his words through gritted teeth. At the Lane residence, a few bored bodyguards at the entrance suddenly felt an overwhelming marching sound that caused even the water cup on the table to tremble. They turned their heads in surprise and disbelief. They saw a woman with stunningly beautiful facial features wearing a trench coat and a red skirt and exuding an air of dominance. Arge group of tall and burly men followed closely behind. Their menacing presence was evident as they strode toward them from fifty meters away. Although she was much smaller in stature than the men behind her, her presence was not diminished in the slightest. She was like a queen high above, apanied by her ck knights as they arrived. ¡°Gosh!¡± The Lane family¡¯s bodyguards were terrified. ¡°Hurry and inform Ms. and Mrs. Lane!¡± Chapter 156 Chapter 156 While Samantha¡¯s mother, Shirley Lane, leisurely walked down the stairs, Gwendolyn and her companions had already entered the garden. There were so many people that the entire courtyard was crowded. Even though the bodyguard at the door wanted to stop them at first, he appeared so helpless and underpowered when faced with the overwhelminglyrge crowd, and he could not stop them from entering at all. Gwendolyn had someone bring over a lounge chair that was in the courtyard. Once it was ced in the center of the courtyard, she proceeded to sit on it, looking casual andid back. Meanwhile, Maverick went straight to the orange tree in the backyard of the Lane residence to pick some oranges, then stood quietly at the side as he peeled them for her. That scene left Shirley dumbfounded as soon as she stepped out of the vi. Still, with her years of experience being in charge of the Lane Group, both herposure and manners were excellent. ¡°What¡¯s going on here, every¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, Shirley suddenly took notice of the orange in Maverick¡¯s hand. She instantly went as white as a sheet while eximing, ¡°Oh, no! Maverick, you clueless child! This is the Lane family¡¯s Fruit of Prosperity. It is not to be touched!¡± ¡°Not to be touched, you say?¡± Gwendolyn beamed charmingly at the older woman as her slender fingers reached for the peeled orange in Maverick¡¯s hand. Parting her rosy lips slightly, she tasted a segment of the fruit, her actions exuding grace and elegance. Upon tasing the orange, her lips curled into a wider smile. ¡°As expected of a fruit that¡¯s being meticulously taken care of by the Lane family. It¡¯s pretty tasty,¡± she remarked. The sight of Gwendolyn finishing the entire orange only made Shirley¡¯s heart bleed. Shirley had people airship the orange tree from Epea at great expense. The ever-thriving tree signified wealth and prosperity, and a single orange was worth its weight in gold. However, Maverick picked quite a few of them! Shirley dug her nails into her palm, trying her very best to tamp down the anger in her heart. Then, she curled the corner of her lips into a smile and spoke, ¡°You really are an incredible woman. Despite leaving your marriage with nothing, you managed to take control of Wright Construction Group in such a short time. There aren¡¯t many women in this world that I, Shirley Lane, consider to be admirable, but you¡¯re one of them. That said, you¡¯re always wee to visit me at the Lane residence, but what¡¯s the meaning of this, bringing so many people along with you?¡± Gwendolyn did not even lift her eyelids. She waited patiently for Maverick to finish peeling the orange, then after eating another one, she utteredzily, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking, Mrs. Lane. I¡¯m not here for a visit today; I¡¯m here to settle the score with Samantha.¡± ¡°Settle the score?¡± Shirley blurted, looking baffled. Just then, Samantha happened to descend the stairs. Upon seeing that it was Gwendolyn who came, a venomous look flitted across her eyes. However, she soon noticed the group of men behind Gwendolyn. They were all d in ck suits, standing tall and straight. Their stern expressions made them look as if they were ready to devour someone, which was quite a terrifying sight to behold. Samantha was afraid. Nevertheless, she approached them and stood beside Shirley before trying her best to muster her aura. Samantha then red at Gwendolyn and warned the other woman, ¡°You barged into my home with so many people in broad daylight. I can sue you for trespassing and malicious harassment!¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn waved her hand nonchntly. ¡°Mrs. Lane just said that I¡¯m always wee to visit the Lane residence, so here I am. Is this considered trespassing?¡± The mother and daughter gritted their teeth, not uttering a word. On the other hand, the team of bodyguards behind Gwendolyn shouted in unison, ¡°It¡¯s not trespassing!¡± Their voice was loud and clear, and their presence was overwhelming. Shirley and Samantha were startled by the thunderous response, so much so that the colors drained from their faces. Satisfied with their reactions, Gwendolyn sat up gracefully before mentioning, ¡°A couple of days ago, I was returning home from a charity g when my car exploded all of a sudden. To my surprise, forty people emerged out of nowhere, wanting to kill me.¡± All that came from Samantha was a snort. ¡°What does that have to do with me? It¡¯s obviously because you didn¡¯t keep yourself in check and made others hate you. s, b*tches like you are lucky. It takes so many people to bring you down, yet you¡¯re still alive.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face remainedrgely devoid of emotions. ¡°Yeah, all thanks to you. I¡¯m not dying for the being, though I¡¯m a little injured. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to settle the score. Otherwise, I won¡¯t feel at ease.¡± At the mention of Gwendolyn¡¯s injuries, the faces of the ¡°bodyguard team¡± behind her grew darker and darker, making them appear increasingly scarier and more terrifying. Maverick, however, kept his head down, focusing all of his attention on peeling an orange for Gwendolyn as if everything else was none of his business. There were fifty-nine gloomy-looking people standing in front of the mother-and-daughter duo. If it had not been for their strong mental fortitude, Samantha and Shirley would¡¯ve been scared out of their wits. Feeling threatened, Samantha instinctively gripped her mother¡¯s arm and cast a warning re at Gwendolyn. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Gwendolyn maintained a smile on her face. Even her eyes curved into a smile, exuding a delicate charm. She then waved her hand gently, and the group of bodyguards simultaneously took a step forward. That frightened Samantha, causing her face to turn ashen as she instinctively stepped back. She shot a re at Gwendolyn, gritted her teeth, and said, ¡°There are strictws in Chanaea. You don¡¯t have the guts to kill me! Besides, I didn¡¯t do anything. You don¡¯t have any evidence, so how dare you try toy a finger on me!¡± ¡°Who said I wanted to kill you? Everything will be solved once and for all with your death. Where¡¯s the fun in that? As for evidence, I¡¯ll find it sooner orter. But for now, I suppose we can get down to settling the score.¡± As soon as those words left her lips, the smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s countenance vanished, and a cold glint flitted across her beautiful eyes as she ordered in a low voice, ¡°Hold her down.¡± With that, the bodyguards rushed forward to grab Samantha. Therge group advanced toward her at once. Samantha was a petite woman. The pressure from the intimidating group was enough to crush her. She was scared out of her wits. When Samantha recalled the time when she was being held down by Gwendolyn¡¯s bodyguards while the woman pped her, her entire body began trembling in fear. Shirley, on the other hand, was much moreposed. She quickly regained her senses and ordered her own bodyguards, ¡°What are you waiting for? Get all of the bodyguards and housekeepers out here to protect Ms. Lane!¡± The Lanes¡¯ bodyguards moved swiftly at her behest. However, they were no match for Gwendolyn¡¯s people. Less than a minute was all it took for Gwendolyn to put the Lanes¡¯ people under control. Samantha noticed that things were not looking good for her and immediately wanted to make a run for it. Before she could even lift her leg, however, her shoulders were restrained. Gwendolyn¡¯s people showed no mercy, treating Samantha roughly as they forced her to kneel on the ground. Samantha¡¯s face contorted in pain as she screamed at the top of her lungs, ¡°You wretch! I won¡¯t let you off easily if you dare to touch me! I¡¯ll make sure you die a horrible death, you hear me? Ah, it hurts! Let go of me!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far! The Lane family is a prominent family in Faike. You can¡¯t just bully us as you please!¡± Shirley, at the side, could only hurl threats and cusses at Gwendolyn, for she was also being restrained by the bodyguards. However, Gwendolyn ignored them and continued eating the orange. Her pair of pretty eyes under her long eyshes were staring intently at the mother and daughter. There was a grin tugging on her lips, though her cheeks were puffed up as she ate. Her yful mean-girl demeanor made Maverick¡¯s heart skip a beat. He had the impulse to discreetly pinch those pale and soft cheeks of hers. While he was staring intently at Gwendolyn, Shirley was looking and shouting at him, ¡°Maverick, Louis is your uncle! He¡¯s not home, so are you just going to let your ex-wife bully us, your family, like this?¡± Maverick¡¯s handsome face was pale as he uttered in an icy tone, ¡°Aunt Shirley, Samantha must¡¯ve told you that I signed an agreement with Gwendolyn. I¡¯m one of her people now, so there¡¯s nothing I can do to help.¡± ¡°You¡­ What you¡¯re doing now is no different than holding a candle to the devil. We¡¯re your family!¡± Shirley continued to say. Gwendolyn thought the older woman was too noisy, and a slight frown marred her countenance as she ordered, ¡°She¡¯s making too much noise. Shut her up.¡± One of the guards immediately went to find a piece of cloth and gagged Shirley¡¯s mouth with it. Since they still had to question Samantha, her mouth wasn¡¯t gagged. Gwendolyn took the dagger from Nico¡¯s hand and toyed with it as she approached Samantha until she was right at the woman¡¯s feet. She then gently lifted the woman¡¯s chin with the dagger. Feeling the slight stinging sensation on her chin, Samantha was so terrified that she dared not breathe, her pupils trembling helplessly. Finally, she softened her tone. ¡°Gwendolyn, it had nothing to do with me, really. It¡¯s useless to seek revenge on me.¡± Gwendolyn sneered. ¡°I know there¡¯s a mastermind behind you, who¡¯s nned everything. If you hand that person over, along with Natasha, I¡¯ll let you go. We can also call it even for everything else that happened in the past. How does that sound?¡± In other words, Gwendolyn was implying that she wouldn¡¯t touch Lane Group anymore, and the Lanes could finally live peacefully in the future. Yet, Samantha was still slightly hesitant. This b*tch pped me in public back then, utterly humiliating me! How can I just move past that incident?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 The humiliating memories were brought to mind. Samantha red at Gwendolyn while her gaze was filled with a fierce hatred that made her look murderous. ¡°I have no idea where they are. And even if I did, I wouldn¡¯t share that with you! In fact, I¡¯m still hoping for them to kill you!¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re not telling, huh?¡± Despite the gentle tone of Gwendolyn¡¯s voice, her eyes held a trace of coldness. ¡°Well then, it¡¯s time for us to settle the score.¡± Gwendolyn paused briefly, retracting the dagger from Samantha¡¯s chin and shifting it slowly to her right shoulder de. ¡°When my car exploded that day, a shard identally cut my shoulder. Let¡¯s start there.¡± Fear filled Samantha¡¯s eyes as her face grew pale, and she vigorously shook her head. ¡°No, please! It had nothing to do with me! It was your own carelessness¡­ Ahh!¡± A piercing scream then echoed across the horizon. With icy brutality, Gwendolyn raised her hand and plunged the dagger down. Samantha shivered in agony, her body drenched in a cold sweat, while blood seeped from her shoulder, staining her white dress. Samantha red angrily at Gwendolyn with frustration and warned, ¡°Just wait and see, you wicked woman! I won¡¯t let you get away with this!¡± Gwendolynmented, ¡°You still have the energy to curse, so it seems you¡¯re not in much pain.¡± She then moved the dagger closer to Samantha¡¯s pale arm and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance. Where are the people backing you and Natasha?¡± Samantha bit her lip fiercely as Gwendolyn prepared to strike again. Samantha then hurriedly eximed, ¡°I have no clue; I swear! He never revealed his identity to me. He only informs me when there¡¯s a mission, and he also has Natasha with him. I genuinely don¡¯t know!¡± Gwendolyn stared at Samantha for a moment; she then put away the dagger and sat back down on the recliner. Samantha thought that Gwendolyn had spared her. However, she barely had a chance to rx when she saw Gwendolyn pass the knife to Nico, her voice calm yet chillingly merciless. ¡°I had a knife wound on my arm that day, but Elven and Ezra were shed countless times. Take care of this; you know what to do.¡± Having received that sudden instruction, Nico paused briefly and then happily received the dagger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll take care of it. You can count on me.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t¡­ Ahh!¡± The air was filled with blood-curdling screams. Shirley, who was standing nearby, was deeply distressed by that and started crying. Gwendolyn remained calm and contented as she watched. As she reached for the peeled oranges that Maverick had prepared, someone unexpectedly grabbed her wrist. She turned her head and saw Maverick with a handkerchief, half-crouched by her side, tenderly wiping her fingers. Maverick caught Gwendolyn¡¯s nce and exined in a low, raspy voice, ¡°You¡¯ve got a little blood here. It¡¯s dirty.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent, contentedly indulging in Maverick¡¯s attentive service. As Gwendolyn finished eating thest orange, Nicopleted his task as well. Covered in wounds and drenched in fresh blood, Samantha¡¯s hair clung to her head, soaked with sweat. She looked disheveled and pitiful; her agony was so intense that she instantly lost consciousness. Nico¡¯s maneuvers were deviously calcted, pinpointing areas that inflicted intense pain without being life-threatening. At first sight, Samantha looked like a bloody rag doll, but in reality, her wounds were minor. Gwendolyn could not help but take a second nce at Nico. She had assumed he would be kind and compassionate, but it turned out he was pretty ruthless. As she pondered this, Gwendolyn subtly nced at Maverick but chose not to say anything. She stood up, smoothed her dress, and gestured for Shirley to be released. As Shirley regained her freedom, she hurried to Samantha¡¯s side, bawling her eyes out. Gwendolyn warned Shirley, ¡°This is just repayment for the debt from the charity g day. My eight billion and eight hundred million have been in the Lane family¡¯s hands for quite some time now. Do you want to return it yourselves, or should I take matters into my own hands?¡± Shirley remained silent as she red at Gwendolyn with resentment. Gwendolyn did not actually expect a response from Shirley. She thenmanded her people to prepare for their departure but then remembered the explosion that had urred in her car thest time. As a result, she ordered the destruction of all the luxury cars at the Lane residence and had the orange tree in the backyard taken away, as she had a fondness for its delicious taste. The housekeepers at the Lane residence were terrified by Gwendolyn¡¯s sudden raid, causing them to shake in fear. In their panic, theypletely forgot to attend to Samantha, who had copsed in front of the vi. ¡°This isn¡¯t over! I¡¯ll make sure you pay for this! I¡¯ll have you locked up for the rest of your life!¡± Shirley¡¯s enraged and vengeful cry could still be heard from behind as they left the entrance of the Lane residence. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, waspletely unfazed as she carried on without even ncing back. As winter drew near, Gwendolyn leisurely savored the glimmering sunlight along the street. Although it might not have been warm, she still found it refreshing, leaving her feeling revitalized. With the mission sessfully carried out, the members of Shadow Bell were given orders to silently return to their respective hideouts. As there was still plenty of time in the afternoon, Gwendolyn had Nico and Neville escort Maverick back to the vi while she made her way to the Angle Corporation. After casuallypleting her work tasks, Gwendolyn left the office half an hour ahead of schedule to meet up with Treyton. Treyton was already aware of Gwendolyn¡¯s afternoon incident at the Lane residence, finding it both amusing and ridiculous. He then handed her a freshly brewed cup of coffee. ¡°Kiddo, Shirley has been in charge of the Lane family for many years, and herwork in Faike is still quite extensive. She won¡¯t let this go easily, so be prepared for what ising for you.¡± Gwendolyn casually epted the coffee, her expression nonchnt. ¡°I¡¯d be more worried if Shirley didn¡¯t give me any trouble,¡± she said. After he heard Gwendolyn¡¯s words, Treyton recognized her determination and felt relieved. He affectionately tousled her hair, but Gwendolyn gently held his hand in ce as her expression turned serious. Treyton paused before saying, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Shouldn¡¯t you be happy that you¡¯ve just settled your scores at the Lane residence? ¡°Treyton¡­¡± Gwendolyn paused, her gaze meeting Treyton¡¯s as she asked, ¡°Did Maverick go to Crane Bridge on the night of the charity g? Was he the one who jumped into the river to rescue me?¡± Treyton¡¯s face then turned grave and serious in an instant. Treyton frowned as he replied with a deep voice, ¡°He clearly had ulterior motives. Even if he hadn¡¯t come, I would have rescued you. And now he has the audacity to take credit for it in front of you.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. With a sigh, Gwendolyn ced her coffee cup down and headed for the door. She paused to say, ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything; it was just my guess.¡± As Treyton observed the coffee that remained untouched on the table, his face disyed a deep and complex expression that revealed nothing about his thoughts. Gwendolyn then left Treyton¡¯s residence and made her way back to Bay Vi. As soon as she opened the door, the delightful scent of food immediately hit her nose. Gwendolyn removed her coat expressionlessly and hung it on the coat rack. Maverick, in the kitchen, heard themotion and quickly came out to greet Gwendolyn. Before he could approach, he noticed that she was holding a document in her hand. The memory of thest time he was asked to sign the termination agreement was still fresh in Maverick¡¯s mind. His intuition told him that whatever Gwendolyn was holding was not good. The excitement he had initially felt was now reced with aplex mix of emotions, causing him to turn and head upstairs to his room. ¡°Stop right there,¡± Gwendolyn called out to Maverick coldly. Maverick then paused in his tracks. The icy tone of Gwendolyn¡¯s voice confirmed his suspicions that it was not something good. Maverick did not look back; instead, he pretended to weakly grasp the railing and let out a soft cough. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit dizzy. I think I¡¯ll go and rest.¡± ¡°Why are you even pretending to be sick?¡± From the doorway, Gwendolyn watched Maverick intently, her gaze fixed on his broad back. Her tone carried a hint of seriousness. ¡°Come over here and sign; I won¡¯t repeat myself for the third time.¡± Maverick pressed his lips together and quickly turned back, locking eyes with Gwendolyn without showing any signs of weakness. ¡°I, too, will not repeat myself for the third time; I will not sign it!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s hand clenched around the file as she walked up to Maverick and spoke in a serious tone. ¡°I don¡¯t like being indebted to anyone. You saved me this time, and I owe you one. Signing is the best way to settle this.¡± After Gwendolyn finished speaking, she handed the document to Maverick. The man did not take the document; instead, he lowered his gaze and nced at the words Termination of Employment Agreement on the document. Those few big words felt like a searing iron, stabbing at his heart and making it ache, almost leaving him breathless. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained neutral as she went on, ¡°This is also the final order you have to follow as my housekeeper, to obey your master.¡± Chapter 158 Chapter 158 It was an order. There was no room for negotiation or discussion. No matter how hard I try, she won¡¯t ept me again. Does she truly want to draw a line between us so badly? So, she¡¯s genuinely determined to be strangers with me for the rest of our lives? Maverick¡¯s dark eyes welled up with tears as his eyshes trembled slightly. His eyes had long since lost the ferocity and hostility that once possessed them. Excruciating pain washed over him as though his heart was being ruthlessly kneaded and smushed. His pale, handsome face had a fragility that couldn¡¯t be concealed. Gwendolyn noticed his expression. However, there wasn¡¯t even the slightest change in the indifference on her face as she raised her hand, which was holding the documents, by an inch. Maverick, who was incredibly torn, held his breath while taking the document with shaking hands. As Gwendolyn turned around to reach for the pen on the coffee table, she heard a ripping sound behind her. The man¡¯s dark eyes were cold and ruthless as he once again tore the document to shreds without hesitation. This time, he even threw the torn document directly above her head, acting utterly outrageous. Snow-white scraps of paper fell onto her head. Is he provoking me? This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Gwendolyn was truly furious. Rage surged, boiled, and roared up from the pit of her stomach, ring to the top of her head. ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± she asked through gritted teeth. Yet, the man across from her showed no signs of backing down. Maverick¡¯s deep, dark pupils were incredibly gloomy as their eyes met. Skillfully, he slid his well-defined hand to his waist and unbuckled his belt, motioning to pull it out. Gwendolyn stood still. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Is he going to hit me because he¡¯s infuriated? Hah. Does he really think he¡¯s strong enough to defeat me now? She waited for him to make a move while glowering at him and discreetly gritting her teeth. To her surprise, Maverick folded his belt in half and ced it in her hand forcefully. His broad back was remarkably straight, and he was dressed in nothing but a thin, white shirt as he turned around and knelt on one knee. ¡°I will not obey this order. You can punish me if you want to. Whip me! Whip me until your anger is subdued!¡± he dered. Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. What the heck is happening? Her pent-up rage, which was on the verge of erupting, suddenly turned into an exasperatedugh. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Is this one of your fetishes? Are you a freaking masochist?¡± Maverick bit his lower lip tightly, his eyes a little red. He was definitely not a masochist. Even though he had previously experienced hardships and injuries in the army, he was still afraid of pain. However, he didn¡¯t want to lose her or grow distant from her, for that would make him feel even worse and more suffocated. ¡°I¡¯m doing all of this for you! I¡¯ve been working extremely hard to pay back the debt I owe you, not because I want us to go our separate ways but because I hope you can give me a chance to start over. I genuinely like you a lot!¡± Cough! Cough! Maverick had spoken too much at once, and his throat was dry and scratchy. His shoulders shook as he coughed, but his back was still straight. ¡°You like me?¡± Gwendolyn pursed her red lips and looked down at him in silence for a while. Her eyes were as deep and still as deathly silence, and her tone was cold and emotionless as she said, ¡°Your confession is three years toote. I don¡¯t need it anymore. That ship has sailed. You want us to start over? Impossible.¡± Maverick¡¯s breath was caught. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± He decided to give up and ept his fate as he clenched his fists firmly, closed his eyes, and sniffled. ¡°Go ahead and whip me, then. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m signing that, no matter what.¡± Gwendolyn frowned upon hearing that. ¡°Have you lost your mind due to the fever? How many hits can your frail body actually take if I were to strike you hard, especially when you¡¯ve only just recovered?¡± She still remembers that I¡¯ve just recovered from a fever¡­ The man¡¯s obsidian-like eyes began to fill with even more tears as he felt ill at ease and aggrieved. He craned his neck and asserted, ¡°I¡¯ll endure it until you¡¯re no longer mad.¡± Hah. Let¡¯s see how stubborn you can be since you¡¯re the one who¡¯s asking for a beating. Gwendolyn gripped both ends of the folded belt, and with a sudden jerk, it snapped straight, making a crisp sound. Maverick didn¡¯t budge as he clenched his teeth and braced himself for the pain that coulde at any moment. Suddenly feeling like teasing him when she saw his pitiful appearance, the woman smirked slyly and remarked, ¡°Getting whipped while wearing a shirt isn¡¯t much fun. You¡¯ll have to buy a new one if it¡¯s torn. Besides, the pain is less intense with ayer of fabric in between, right?¡± He swallowed hard and got to work immediately, deftly undoing the thin shirt¡¯s buttons, removing it, and tossing it onto the coffee table in an elegant and carefree manner. With that, he maintained his posture without moving and waited for her to make a move. Gwendolyn was in no hurry; she stood quietly behind him and admired the view for some time. Although he had been injected with a special drug, it didn¡¯t have any effect on his physique. In fact, it made his skin two shades lighter, making him even more attractive. Additionally, his back muscles were naturally broad, and the lines and contours were wless. Simply taking a nce was quite a feast for the eyes. Gwendolyn took a moment to take in the view before gently tracing each muscle on his back with the folded tip of the belt. She took her time, being exceedingly patient. Maverick couldn¡¯t help but quiver. She¡¯s clearly teasing me intentionally! Her actions made him feel a bit parched and unbearably itchy. Just as he was getting fairly overwhelmed by the teasing, Gwendolyn loosened the end of the belt and gripped the metal sp. Then, she lifted it high in the air, wielded it like a whip, and swung it with all her strength. Whoosh! A gust of wind whistled as the belt approached the man. Maverick shut his eyes tightly, and his whole body shuddered almost reflexively. However, it didn¡¯t hurt. Gwendolyn had whipped the marble floor instead. She threw the belt away and scoffed, ¡°Coward!¡± I thought he was tough, but he still ended up trembling. Even if he¡¯s a masochist, I¡¯m not an unreasonable maniac. ¡°Put on your clothes. Since you won¡¯t sign it, stay here, then. Stay until you¡¯re willing to sign.¡± She turned her head and was about to leave after saying that icily. In a trice, Maverick got to his feet, turned around, and grabbed her wrist. ¡°It¡¯s already nighttime. Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not happy living here, so I¡¯ll find another ce to stay.¡± Her tone sounded nonchnt, but her words were heartless and stony. He tightened the grip around her wrist, refusing to let go. From what she¡¯s implying, she doesn¡¯t n on returning to Bay Vi and intends to dump me alone. So, she¡¯s gonna give me the cold shoulder until I sign that document? ¡°Let go.¡± Gwendolyn frowned and showed no mercy as she pried his hand open. Maverick¡¯s breath hitched, but he ultimately gave in. ¡°Give me one year! You cooked for me for three years when we were married. I¡¯ll repay you by cooking for you for a year and leave on my own after paying off all my debt. I won¡¯t bother you again. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯ll leave me alone forever?¡± she asked to confirm. His breathing stilled, and a bitter smile spread across his pale, handsome face. ¡°Yes, you have my word.¡± ¡°All right.¡± She raised her eyebrows and recorded his promise on her phone. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll remember what you¡¯ve said.¡± With a weary expression, he nodded, his deep and weak dark eyes seemingly in a trance. It was a whileter before he spoke again. ¡°Dinner is still warm. Would you like to have some?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t refuse either. She would adhere to the agreement and do what needed to be done since this was thest year. Maverick¡¯s cooking skills had improved significantly, so Gwendolyn ate heartily. Afterward, she took care of some work in the study before going back to her room to take a bath and rest. The next morning, she went to work at Angle as usual. Unfortunately, a group of solemn-looking uniformed police officers approached her before she could leave Bay Vi¡¯s gates. The head police officer showed her his identification. ¡°Good day, Ms. Shalders. I¡¯m Matthew Scott, themander of the public security division at Faike Police Station. You¡¯ve been charged with trespassing, intentional assault, and malicious damage. Pleasee with us to the station.¡± Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Police station? It sure didn¡¯t take them long toe, huh? Gwendolyn was not at all surprised. She smiled and extended her two fair, delicate hands voluntarily. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go.¡± Matthew had never seen a woman act so assertively andposedly when being arrested. Her smile, in particr, was enchanting¡ªcarefree yet utterly captivating. It was evident to him that the perpetrator was both skilled and ruthless after he viewed the gruesome photos of Samantha¡¯s injuries. Finding it difficult to believe that the seemingly innocent, naive girl in front of him was somehow involved in this case, he couldn¡¯t help but proceed cautiously as he stepped forward to put the electronic handcuffs on Gwendolyn. However, the man¡¯s hand was suddenly grabbed by someone before the handcuffs could be put on. Maverick was washing the dishes when he heard themotion. The moment he came out of the vi, this scene was what greeted him. He gave Matthew a menacing look. ¡°These things have nothing to do with her. I did them. You can detain me instead.¡± Gwendolyn had a puzzled look on her face. ¡°You merely peeled a few oranges yesterday. What does this have to do with you? Keep your butt out of this.¡± Yet, not only did Maverick not step back, but he moved forward and shielded her behind him.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. His deep, dark eyes remained fixed on Matthew as he spoke righteously. ¡°I know all the ins and outs of this case. If you want to uncover the truth, take me with you.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin. I can take care of my own affairs. It¡¯s none of his business. However, the man standing before her looked back and smiled reassuringly, seemingly unaware of her thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Go back into the house first. I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± She was rendered speechless. Why on Earth would you think that I¡¯m afraid? ¡°I¡¯ve never been inside a police station before. This is so exciting! I just want to grab a cup of coffee there.¡± Maverick and Matthew were lost for words. Did she mistake the police station for a caf¨¦? And she even finds this exciting? Matthew looked back and forth between both of them in an effort to decipher the meaning of their words. It seems like both of them were present at the scene when the incident happened. ¡°Since both of you are involved in this case, we¡¯ll all go together!¡± He took out another pair of handcuffs. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t object. Since Maverick enjoys being nosy, I¡¯ll let him join the fun, then. ¡°All right, but I¡¯d like to have a quick word with my bodyguard first,¡± she agreed smilingly. William was called out. She then rummaged through her bag, found that Centurion Card, and handed it to William, whispering something into his ear. In the end, the duo was cuffed with electronic handcuffs and escorted into a specialized police car. Gwendolyn sat quietly in the vehicle, her face expressionless. asionally, she would admire the scenery outside the window. Maverick watched her intently and noticed her wrists were red from the handcuffs. A hint of mncholy and distress gradually surfaced in his dark eyes. He held her wrists and gently caressed the red marks on them. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Gwendolyn was, of course, not that fragile. Nheless, she didn¡¯t withdraw her hands, seeing as someone was willing to give her a massage. Shirley had already arrived when Gwendolyn and Maverick entered the special interrogation room at the police station, and Samantha, who was covered in bandages, insisted oning as well. Samantha wanted to witness this b*tch¡¯s imprisonment in person! As soon as Gwendolyn entered the interrogation room, she caught sight of Samantha, who was wrapped up like a mummy. She burst intoughter on the spot. ¡°Wow, Ms. Lane, you¡¯re truly inspiring. You still insist oning over even though you¡¯re in so much pain. I¡¯ve got to hand it to you!¡± Samantha was indeed in affliction, so much so that she could barely speak. She and her mother red at Gwendolyn with venomous looks in their eyes. Themander of the public security division, Matthew, entered the room and started a thorough interrogation. ¡°Mrs. Lane, who was the one who broke into your house and acted violentlyst night? Was it him or her?¡± He pointed at Maverick and Gwendolyn. At that moment, one of them was smilingposedly, whereas the other was calm and reticent. Both of them seemed like people not to be trifled with. After giving it a thought, Shirley pointed at Gwendolyn furiously but wasn¡¯t about to let Maverick off the hook either. ¡°She¡¯s the mastermind, but he¡¯s not guilt-free too. He¡¯s an aplice!¡± Matthew took out the picture of an injured Samantha again and handed it to Gwendolyn with a solemn expression. The woman looked puzzled. ¡°Who is this? How did she end up like this? She sure is ugly.¡± She smiled innocently as if she had nothing to do with this incident at all. Hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s particrly offensive final sentence, Samantha was so enraged that her blood started to flow backward. She endured the pain and cried out stammeringly, ¡°S-She¡¯s lying!¡± Gwendolyn behaved as though realization had dawned on her, and her beautiful eyes focused on Samantha once more. ¡°Oh, so the person in the picture is you, Ms. Lane. No wonder it¡¯s so ugly. You¡¯re truly strong-willed. Despite your injuries, you still insist on catching the real culprit yourself.¡± Maverick chuckled. Gwendolyn¡¯s attitude infuriated Shirley and Samantha to no end. Shirley mmed the table fiercely. ¡°It was clearly you who led people to break into the Lane residence yesterday. I thought you¡¯d have the guts to own up to it, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be so disappointing.¡± Matthew furrowed his brows, tapping his fingers on the table. ¡°Quiet.¡± Gwendolyn rested her elbows on the table and gently supported her chin with her handcuffed hands. She blinked naively and looked at Matthew. ¡°Handsome, look at how fierce she is. She¡¯s forcing me to confess.¡± Handsome? At the side, Maverick frowned imperceptibly. She has never called me with such a loving and sweet voice before. Is she smiling so beautifully on purpose because she¡¯s attracted to Matthew? He was so jealous that he clenched his cuffed hands tightly, and it didn¡¯t take long for a swollen ring of marks to develop because of his delicate skin. Gwendolyn¡¯s current smile was indeed yful and charming. Matthew¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw her smile, and his tone softened when he spoke again. ¡°The surveince cameras at the Lane residence were destroyed yesterday, but all the housekeepers¡¯ testimonies there point to you. How do you exin that? Her eyshes quivered a little. ¡°Handsome, the Lane family is one of the wealthiest in Faike. It¡¯s only natural for their housekeepers to be biased toward their own employers, right?¡± She paused before continuing, ¡°I¡¯ve looked at the evidence avable in the bureau, and it seems that neither the smashed luxury cars nor Ms. Lane¡¯s body has any fingerprints from Maverick or me. In addition, there are no witnesses other than the Lane family, so I¡¯m afraid the charges against me might not hold up.¡± Shirley snorted disdainfully. Meanwhile, Matthew flipped through the evidence collected and somewhat agreed with Gwendolyn¡¯s statement. Seeing him waver, Gwendolyn added, ¡°I¡¯ve been detained here for hours by you and can¡¯t even go to work. Shouldn¡¯t you at least take off these handcuffs if the evidence is insufficient?¡± She shook her thin wrists while speaking. Her originally snow-white skin had been tinged with red from the cuffs. He agreed, ¡°Indeed. There¡¯s insufficient evidence, so I¡¯ll just¡ª¡± ¡°Matthew!¡± Shirley abruptly interrupted him before he could finish his sentence. ¡°I don¡¯t think a commander of the public security division like you has the authority to make this decision!¡± she sneered. Mildly annoyed, Matthew was just about to retort when a police officer burst through the door, walked up to him, and whispered a few words in his ear. His expression gradually changed. After a brief hesitation, he said in a deadpan voice, ¡°My apologies, but the handcuffs can¡¯t be removed yet. Ms. Shalders, you¡¯re still the primary suspect and will need to be ced in the confinement cell before we proceed with the interrogationter.¡± The confinement cell was not a pleasant ce. It was usually reserved for criminals who had undoubtedlymitted heinous crimes but pled the Fifth. Just being in there for a day could risk one losing their life, for it was specialized in breaking down stubborn criminals, both physically and mentally. It was an extraordinary existence that was typically not used carelessly on criminals. Upon hearing that, Shirley and Samantha smiled triumphantly. Matthew then gestured for someone to bring Gwendolyn into the confinement cell. In the meantime, Gwendolyn smirked in amusement and made no effort to struggle or refute. As the police were about to apprehend her, Maverick stood up to block their way. The malicious aura that surrounded him was terrifying, like the harbinger of a violent storm, and his dark eyes were filled with intense ferocity and coldness. ¡°How dare you lot of this insignificant police station touch her?¡± Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow secretly at those words. Ha! Looks like he finally can¡¯t hold it in any longer and has decided to reveal his true colors. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Matthew¡¯s expression darkened as he could tell he was being looked down upon. ¡°Who do you think you are? You don¡¯t have a say in anything I do in the police station. Take her away!¡± He made a gesture, and all the police officers in the room swarmed over, seemingly determined to take Gwendolyn away immediately. Maverick was furious. A wicked yet deep male voice suddenly sounded from outside the door just as he was about to speak, stopping him before he even had a chance to start. ¡°Mr. Scott, you¡¯re speaking with such authority!¡± Matthew and all the police officers shuddered at the sound of that. The former sprang to his feet and his body stiffened instantly. Gwendolyn¡¯s face darkened in mere seconds. I was so close. Whoever this is, arrived on time. Maverick silently sat back down after regaining hisposure. He knew who it was as soon as he heard that voice, and his handcuffed fists clenched even tighter subconsciously. Gwendolyn had a thing for people with good looks. She employed the most handsome ones, even when it came to her bodyguards. Maverick remembered that this man was exceptionally good-looking. Will Gwendolyn¡­ His obsidian-like eyes darkened as he instinctively turned his head to look at Gwendolyn. It turned out that Gwendolyn was not paying attention to his appearance. She appeared to be somewhat unhappy and had a slightly upset expression on her face as though something else was bothering her. The door opened, and the man who entered was dressed in a solemn military uniform underneath a dark green and ck fur military coat. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The man was burly and standing straight. He had delicate features and a sharp nose. With his slightly narrowed eyes, he exuded an intimidating aura. His deep blue, gem-like pupils, whichplemented his eyes, were his most stunning features and added a touch of charm to his looks. He appeared both righteous and wicked in his military uniform, making him even more attractive than a woman. All the policemen, including Matthew, respectfully bowed their heads and greeted him with reverence as soon as he entered, ¡°Greetings, Mr. Newton.¡± He was the fourth son of the Newton family in Salinsburgh, Charles Newton. Everyone who met him would address him formally. Charles held a very important position as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency for Chanaea. He was born when the head of the Newton family went abroad, and his mother was his father¡¯s third wife. His mother was a woman of Epean and Alendor nationality, so he inherited a striking pair of deep blue eyes that were a beautiful blend of Chanaean and Epean bloodlines, making him exceptionally handsome. Matthew greeted him nervously as his mind was filled with confusion, and he was unable to fathom the situation. I¡¯ve just received a mandated order from my superiors, so how did this man show up so quickly? Only Asher and the mysterious head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation would likely have more power in this field than Charles in the entire Chanaea. However, no one had ever seen the true face of that mysterious man, and even his real identity and background remained a mystery. It was said that he left on a mission many years ago, and there hadn¡¯t been any word about him since. Matthew gathered his thoughts and put on a pleasing expression before bowing slightly in his direction. ¡°What brings you to our humble town of Faike, Mr. Newton? You should have let your subordinates inform us, so we at the Faike Police Station could have been better prepared. Please, take a seat.¡± Charlespletely ignored him. The interrogation room¡¯s heater was on, and it was warmer inside. Charles took off his coat and handed it to his subordinate. Then, he walked toward Gwendolyn with steady footsteps. It was only then did Gwendolyn noticed him. That wickedly handsome face gradually ovepped with the memories of her childhood. Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, and she had mixed feelings as she called out softly, ¡°Charles?¡± Charles responded with a smile, and his eyes were like a deep, brilliant blue ocean filled with stars. Shirley and Samantha looked utterly bewildered. Maverick was dumbfounded. He felt nauseous. Maverick was initially concerned that Gwendolyn might be drawn to Charles¡¯ appearance, but it turned out that they had known each other for quite some time. And she was calling him so intimately¡­ Maverick stifled his feelings by remaining silent and biting his pale, thin lower lip, which resulted in a row of bloody marks. As Charles approached Gwendolyn, he gazed at her with warmth and tenderness. Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t shy away when he raised his hand to touch her delicate face. Maverick reached out and grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s arm instinctively, drawing her attention to himself. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn inquired. His deep, dark eyes welled up with tears, his brows furrowed slightly, and a look of grievance spread across his pale, handsome face. ¡°Gwendolyn, I don¡¯t feel so good¡­ Cough! Cough! It hurts¡­¡± It was only then Gwendolyn noticed the crimson-red bloodstain around his lower lip. Based on his feeble expression, it doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s putting on an act. ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± Maverick froze for a moment and raised his arm without hesitation. ¡°My hand hurts¡­¡± His wrists were now swollen and had a deep red ring of blood around them from the handcuffs. The sight was shocking and distressing. However, Gwendolyn did not feel sorry for him. Instead, her expression turned cold instantly. Did this b*stard forget that I was also wearing an electronic handcuff? The fact that it¡¯s tightened like that clearly shows that he did it himself! Was he putting on a pitiful act again? She remained silent as she pursed her lips tightly and fixed her gaze on Maverick. Charles was the first to react, and his tone was icy as he looked at Matthew. ¡°You¡¯re already using handcuffs? Who taught you this method of handling cases, Mr. Scott?¡± ¡°Mr. Newton, both of them are suspects, so¡­¡± Matthew said hesitantly as his face turned pale with fright. Charles¡¯ eyes narrowed, and he repeated, ¡°I said, uncuff them.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± Matthew had no choice but to bite the bullet and order his subordinates to fetch the keys. A minuteter, the handcuffs were uncuffed. Maverick naturally took Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and gently massaged her wrist for her. Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist had a few faint red marks at first, but they quickly vanished. In light of Maverick¡¯s recent feigned distress, Gwendolyn withdrew her hand irritably and gazedzily ahead without looking at Charles. There was a hint of mixed emotions in her eyes as though her thoughts were a tangled web. Charles took Matthew¡¯s seat, lowered his head, and began to flip through the case files. A momentter, he sneered, ¡°The evidence you¡¯ve gathered up until this point is far from sufficient to hold them ountable. And you actually want to lock them up? Are you sick of being the captain already?¡± On the one hand, there were orders from his superiors and the temptation of a promotion, while on the other hand, it was a devastating blow from Charles. Matthew felt bitter and could only betray his superior. ¡°Mr. Newton, it wasn¡¯t me. I wanted to let them go, but Mrs. Lane and my superior disagreed. I have a low rank, so I had to follow orders. However, you have the final say now that you¡¯re here.¡± Shirley could tell that Charles hade to help Gwendolyn that day. With him around, it was likely that Gwendolyn and Maverick wouldn¡¯t even be ced in a detention cell, much less receive a direct prison sentence. Shirley couldn¡¯t ept it andined in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of you, Mr. Newton, but this case doesn¡¯t seem to fall under the jurisdiction of the Central Intelligence Agency. It¡¯s fine if you¡¯re here to observe the case, but interfering with Mr. Scott¡¯s decisions doesn¡¯t seem quite appropriate, does it?¡± Charles didn¡¯t reply, but Matthew cursed, ¡°You don¡¯t know sh*t! Faike Police Station is nothing in front of Mr. Newton. As long as he wants to be in charge, everyone here has to listen to him and obey his orders at any time.¡± Shirley¡¯s expression darkened. Samantha, who was wrapped up like a mummy, was also quite unwilling to ept this situation. Gwendolyn rested her chin on her hand. Her beautiful eyes still exuded anguid charm as if she was the one casually watching the show as an outsider. The atmosphere in the interrogation room suddenly became a bit eerie, and itsted for two minutes until a man¡¯s disdainful chuckle echoed through the air. Charles scowled and looked at Maverick, who was seated across from him, with narrowed eyes. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Chapter 161 Chapter 161 At that moment, all eyes were on Maverick. Maverick didn¡¯t panic at all as he joked with a yful smirk, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just think Mr. Scott is a very impressive bootlicker.¡± He was subtly mocking Matthew for buttering him up and also expressed disdain for Charles. Maverick and Charles stared at each other and sensed the obvious hostility in each other¡¯s eyes. Sparks flew, and the air was thick with tension as the two of them traded blows. The atmosphere in the room was extremely tense, so much so that no one dared to make a sound. Gwendolyn tapped on the table amidst the strained atmosphere and reminded, ¡°Let¡¯s get down to business. My time is precious.¡± Both of the men instantly reined in their temper and returned their attention to the main issue at hand. Charles took another look at the documents before looking at Shirley and Samantha. ¡°Mrs. Lane, you should provide solid evidence since you¡¯re using Gwendolyn of being the mastermind. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have to let her go.¡± Shirley bit her lip. All the evidence had been destroyed by Gwendolyn¡¯s bodyguards before they left yesterday. Apart from the injuries on Samantha and the testimonies of the housekeepers and bodyguards at home, Shirley had nothing to present. I thought we could quietly pin the crime on Gwendolyn with the help of someone at Faike Police Station. Who would have thought that Charles would appear out of nowhere, leaving me with no other options? Shirley couldn¡¯t ept the oue, and all she could do was re at Gwendolyn angrily. ¡°Just because you have powerful backers doesn¡¯t mean that you can do whatever you want. If you overstep your bounds, sooner orter, you¡¯ll stumble!¡± Gwendolyn appeared rxed and carefree as she twirled her hair around her fingertips out of boredom. She raised her eyebrows when she heard Shirley¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Mrs. Lane. However, I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll stumble. The good days for the Lane family areing to an end soon.¡± ¡°You!¡± Shirley was enraged. The Lane Group was the result of generations of hard work by the Lane family. She gritted her teeth at the thought of that and asked, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t admit to intentionally hurting my daughter or damaging our car, the fact remains that you stole our Fruit of Prosperity. If we search your ce, we¡¯ll find it. Don¡¯t you dare im otherwise!¡± ¡°Oh, about that.¡± Gwendolyn thought for a moment and graciously admitted, ¡°When you invited me to visit the Lane residence, I was captivated by the fresh orange tree, so I took it with me. If you¡¯re not happy about that, should I return it?¡± Return it? What a load of cr*p! She¡¯s eaten all of our Fruit of Prosperity! ¡°Since you took it, pay for it!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Gwendolyn agreed without hesitation. Shirley was momentarily taken aback because she hadn¡¯t anticipated Gwendolyn to be so straightforward. Then, she quickly added in a feisty manner, ¡°I want cash!¡± That tree was very expensive. I will multiply the price several times and rip this little girl off! ¡°As you wish, Mrs. Lane,¡± Gwendolyn said with a casual smile as she texted William before looking at Matthew. ¡°Mr. Scott, Mrs. Lane wants cash. I¡¯ve asked the bodyguards to bring the cash. Make sure your subordinates let them through when they arrive.¡± Matthew keenly noticed the mention of ¡°bodyguards.¡± How many people areing? However, pressured by Charles¡¯ presence, he dared not ask and could only nod stiffly. ¡°All right. Don¡¯t worry.¡± The interrogation room regained its¡¯ tranquility in the few minutes it took for the bodyguard to show up. Charles and Gwendolyn¡¯s gazes met from afar, and Charles smiled gently. His deep blue, almond- shaped eyes seemed to possess a bewitching charm that captivated people¡¯s hearts. However, Gwendolyn was expressionless, and the look in her eyes remained indifferent. Maverick keenly noticed the two of them exchanging nces. Did something happen between them? He discovered that Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes held a hint of indescribableplexity every time she looked at Charles. She didn¡¯t have much of a reaction when Sherman was sent away, so¡­ could it be that she likes Charles? Maverick¡¯s chest tightened slightly, and he coughed twice. It was so loud and abrupt that even Shirley, Samantha, and Matthew noticed it. However, Gwendolyn and Charles ignored him and continued to stare at each other until the door to the interrogation room opened. William was the first to walk in with tworge ck cases in his hands. Shirley was about to mock Gwendolyn for bringing too little money when she saw more men stepping in with ck cases after William. In the end, a total of twenty-five ck-d bodyguards stood in a neat row in front of the interrogation room, making for an intimidating scene. Matthew was dumbfounded, while Shirley and Samantha were already used to it. However, both women expressed strong dissatisfaction and disapproval toward Gwendolyn¡¯s shy, attention-seeking behavior. Maverick, who was standing next to Gwendolyn, keenly spotted Nico among the bodyguards. I can¡¯t believe this rascal actually disobeyed my orders. Since when did he take the liberty of bing Gwendolyn¡¯s bodyguard? Sensing the sharp gaze of his own boss, Nico shed Maverick a cheeky, silly grin while standing at the back of the entourage. Now that everyone had arrived, Gwendolyn looked at Shirley with a yful smirk in her captivating eyes. ¡°Mrs. Lane, I¡¯ve brought the money. Make sure you hold onto it firmly.¡± Shirley could vaguely sense a threat in her words. Gwendolyn waved her hand, and the bodyguards stepped forward and opened the suitcases one by one. They each contained a million in cash, neatly stacked in bundles. The bodyguards then proceeded to pour the money directly onto Shirley and Samantha¡¯s desks. The sound of rustling paper bills filled the air. The scene was picturesque. Shirley and Samantha¡¯s table couldn¡¯t hold the cash, and a lot of paper bills spilled all over the ce and even hit their legs and arms. Samantha¡¯s freshly bandaged wound began to bleed again after she was struck, which caused her to cry out in pain. The Lane family¡¯s bodyguard was unable to enter the interrogation room, leaving Samantha without any assistance. Shirley had no choice but to step forward and shield her daughter herself. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The bodyguards were initially pouring the cash onto the table, but when the table could no longer hold the huge pile of cash that resembled a tiny hill, they started pouring it directly onto Shirley and Samantha. Shirley and Samantha were quickly buried by cash. All the police officers present in the interrogation room were astounded by the extravagant scene of money being dumped on people. Matthew quickly noticed that despite Shirley¡¯s protection, Samantha¡¯s wounds still bled. He gave Charles a worried look. ¡°Mr. Newton, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit too much?¡± The act of literally burying people with cash in the police station¡¯s interrogation room was truly a first in history! It was simply shocking, outrageous, and utterly insane! Charles was admiring Gwendolyn¡¯s wicked expression as she reveled in her revenge, and he felt slightly annoyed at being interrupted. ¡°One asked for money, and the other provided. Yes, it¡¯s a lot of money, but there¡¯s nothing wrong with it.¡± Matthew couldn¡¯t do anything about it since even the person with the most authority insisted that there wasn¡¯t a problem. A single case held one million, and each of the twenty-five bodyguards carried two suitcases, amounting to a whopping fifty million in cash poured directly onto them. This was definitely enough to bury them alive. Such a ruthless act wasn¡¯t something anyone could do. Matthew had to re-evaluate Gwendolyn. The colossal amount of cash rendered Shirley and Samantha immobile as their bodies werepletely submerged beneath all the bills with only their heads exposed. That was their first time experiencing what it was like to be surrounded by cash. The interrogation room¡¯s floor was littered with plenty of loose change, but not a single police officer dared to bend down and sneak some into their pockets. However, their eyes were filled with envy as they looked at Shirley and Samantha. A whopping fifty million! We¡¯d be more than happy to be showered with that kind of money! Gwendolyn was admiring the scene, wearing a mischievous and unrestrained grin on her face. She waspletely unaware that two men were staring at her intently from the side. After a while, she got up and walked toward Shirley and Samantha before casually picking up a wad of cash from the ground and gently cing it on Samantha¡¯s head. Her actions were graceful and dignified, and her face exuded an icy, haughty charm. That wad of cash became thest straw that crushed Samantha¡¯s sanity. She screamed and sobbed when she could no longer tolerate the humiliation. Gwendolyn shushed her before saying, ¡°Hold onto my money carefully; I¡¯ll soon be taking it all back, principal and interest!¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 This meant that the money would not be given away just like that; it would be fully recovered eventually. They would only be temporarily keeping the money in their pockets for now. Indeed, it was heart-wrenching. The group of police officers, who had been indulging in fantasies of being showered with Gwendolyn¡¯s money, instantly snapped out of their daydreams. What a ruthless woman. We cannot afford to mess with her! Shirley had intended to demand an exorbitant price for the Fruit of Prosperity from Gwendolyn. However, at this moment, she was utterly drained and couldn¡¯t even recollect this matter. Once she was done, Gwendolyn stretched out her hand and massaged her shoulderzily. Maverick noticed her movements and quickly stepped forward, carefully massaging her shoulders and neck with his slender hands. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t refuse and enjoyed his service as she turned her head to look at Charles and Matthew. ¡°Mr. Newton, Mr. Scott, the money has been paid. Can we leave now?¡± Gwendolyn referred to him as ¡°Mr. Newton¡± but not Charles. Matthew didn¡¯t hear Charles¡¯ response and unconsciously shot him a nce. He noticed that Charles was staring at Maverick giving Gwendolyn a shoulder massage, his pupils deep and focused, without uttering a word. Matthew could only answer himself, ¡°Yes, you and Mr. Wright are free to leave whenever you desire.¡± Having received their permission, Gwendolyn left without looking back, with Maverick following closely behind her. The bodyguards also began to move after them. That scene resembled a massive troop on the move. As soon as they stepped out of the interrogation room, Shirley was heard shouting from behind. ¡°Call an ambnce! Hurry!¡± Samantha had passed out from the pain. Gwendolyn curled her lips contentedly and walked away briskly. Aftering out of the police station, Gwendolyn dismissed therge group of bodyguards, leaving only William and Nico behind. The crowd had just dispersed when Charles, d in a dark green military coat, emerged from the police station. His captivating voice rang out. ¡°Gwendolyn, it has been many years since west met. How about having lunch together to catch up on old times?¡± Before Gwendolyn could answer, Maverick furrowed his brows, his dark eyes filled with gloom, and said, ¡°She¡¯s not avable!¡± Gwendolyn cast an annoyed nce at him. Maverick¡¯s cold expression from a second ago instantly transformed into an aggrieved one the moment he noticed her nce toward him. His long eyshes quivered gently. His paleplexion gave him the appearance of a pitiful little child longing for someone to care for him. He gently bit his thin lips as he quietly rolled up his sleeves, revealing the swollen blood marks on his wrist. ¡°Gwendolyn, I want to go back to the vi. How about I make you lunch when we arrive there?¡± William had long witnessed his Academy Award for Best Actor-worthy techniques in changing his expressions, so he was no longer surprised and simply rolled his eyes. This was, however, the first time Nico had ever witnessed his own boss acting like this. He was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped. Charles was frowning as well as he sized up Maverick. Gwendolyn, who was the center of attention, was also observing him. You b*stard, are you trying to act pitiful again? She clenched her teeth secretly. Her eyes curved with a smile as she reached out gently toward Maverick¡¯s face. Maverick¡¯s heart fluttered slightly when he saw that. Delighted, he lowered his head and brought his face closer instinctively, anticipating her gentle caress. However, the moment she touched his cheek, her smile froze and her expression instantly turned cold. Gwendolyn gripped his cheek firmly with her fair fingers and twisted it harshly, giving him a stern lesson. ¡°Another act again? How is it that you are so shameless? Seems like you need my help to manually thin out that thick skin of yours, huh?¡± Maverick gasped in pain, his facial features contorted, but he didn¡¯t dodge from her grasp. He allowed her to vent on him without any resistance. Beside him, William wore a gloating expression. Nico also grimaced, drawing in a sharp breath. Charles pursed his lips tightly together, his deep blue orbs growing darker and darker. Under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, Gwendolyn finally let go angrily. Having been bullied and realizing that his hope of being caressed by Gwendolyn was crushed, Maverick, whose dark eyes welled up with tears, looked both innocent and heartbroken. Since his originalplexion was already pale enough, the pinched red spot on his left cheek was particrly noticeable. The poor man looked miserable. He stared at Gwendolyn, using her silently. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was cold and indifferent. Instead of looking at Maverick, she nced at Nico beside her. ¡°Send him back to the vi.¡± And then, she headed straight toward Charles. Charles¡¯ face instantly lit up with a smile when he saw her walking toward him. ¡°Let¡¯s go. What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll have someone make a reservation right away.¡± Upon witnessing this scene, Maverick suddenly felt suffocated in his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. He even experienced a sense of dizziness. Whether it was his face, wrists, or heart, his entire body seemed to be in pain. He forced himself to push through despite the difort and followed behind Gwendolyn. ¡°If you insist on having a meal with him, I suppose it¡¯s not impossible either. I¡¯m hungry too, and I believe Mr. Newton won¡¯t mind,¡± Maverick said. Charles didn¡¯t respond, but his expression clearly showed his displeasure. ¡°I mind.¡± Gwendolyn turned around and red at him coldly. ¡°Since you insist on continuing with the employment agreement, you must obey the arrangements and return to the vi.¡± Maverick was left speechless. Under the sunlight, his face was so pale that it was almost transparent. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn paid no attention to him whatsoever. She left with Charles without looking back, with William¡¯s and Charles¡¯ subordinates following closely behind the pair. Even after they had walked far away, Maverick remained in the same spot, dumbfounded. He clutched his chest, breathing heavily. Feeling light-headed, he stumbled backward. Nico hurriedly stepped forward to help him. ¡°Boss, why do I feel like your actions right now bear so much resemnce to¡­ vying for favor?¡± Maverick felt even more frustrated. He vied for her favor, but he still couldn¡¯t win back her heart, which desired to have lunch with Charles. She really was extremely heartless toward him. Nico noticed his boss¡¯ expression was getting worse and quickly tried to reassure him, ¡°Boss, don¡¯t worry. Ms. Shalders isn¡¯t a superficial woman. Although Mr. Newton does have a nice physique and a good temperament, and the main thing is his face, which is indeed very attractive¡­¡± It would have been better if he hadn¡¯t tried tofort Maverick. The more he spoke, the paler Maverick¡¯s face became, and his whole body started to feel weak and dizzy. Nico was terrified. ¡°No, no! Boss, what I meant was, you¡¯re not bad either. No! You¡¯re even better than Charles.¡± ¡°Which part of me is better than him?¡± Nico fell silent for a moment, scratching his head in thought. Maverick wasn¡¯t in a hurry either and waited patiently for his response. After pondering for a long time until Maverick¡¯s pale face gradually turned dark, Nico finally suggested hesitantly, ¡°What if, Boss¡­ our advantages are not enough, and we use an alternate way? You pretend to reveal your identity identally, letting Ms. Shalders realize how capable you actually are?¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Maverick gritted his teeth. If he hadn¡¯t been injected with the 023 special drug, he would have reached out and given the idiot in front of him a powerful smack and knock him out. His identity was rted to a crucial mission, and it cannot be easily exposed. Moreover, Gwendolyn had never been the type of woman to treat people differently based on their social status. He pinched his own abs through his shirt, feeling aggrieved. Once again, he thought of Charles¡¯ wickedly charming face, with those rare and deep blue eyes carved in it. He, however, didn¡¯t have those eyes. Nico noticed that he seemed a bit disheartened and continued tofort him, ¡°Boss, don¡¯t be discouraged. When ites to pursuing a wife, no one is more shameless than you. In that aspect, Charles is no match for you!¡± Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Better To Rise As A Queen Than Be A Caged Pet Maverick clutched his chest tightly, feeling ufortable because of the tightness in his chest. Nico¡¯s words really hurt his heart! ¡°You¡¯ve been getting more and more unrulytely, acting on your own without my orders, and it sounds like you have a favorable opinion of Charles?¡± His whole body exuded a strong hostile aura as he coldly pushed Nico away and weakly pulled himself forward. Nico¡¯s face turned pale with fear, and he remorsefully pped his own mouth twice for not being able to express himself well. It was all because he had never been in a rtionship before and didn¡¯t know how tofort people. He hurriedly trotted forward, continuing to hold Maverick steady while exining himself, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s a misunderstanding! I came here with William because I was worried about you. Besides, Mr. Newton¡ª No! I mean Charles! How could I possibly think highly of him? Of course, I have higher hopes for you, Boss.¡± He leaned in close to Maverick¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Although Ms. Shalders was always picking on you, as the saying goes, ¡®sometimes harsh words or deeds can demonstrate one¡¯s love.¡¯ After all, she treats you differently than the others. Who knows, maybe one day you¡¯ll win her over?¡± Atst, he finally said something pleasant to the ear. Maverick felt much more at ease. Nico chuckled obsequiously, then caught a glimpse of the deep red pinch mark on Maverick¡¯s left cheek and winced slightly. ¡°However, Ms. Shalders¡­ she really didn¡¯t hold back with her pinch.¡± Maverick rubbed his face subconsciously, still feeling a lingering pain. Again, he thought about Gwendolyn and Charles having a meal together and couldn¡¯t help but wonder what they would talk about. He remained displeased about this matter, and his expression quickly turned somber. ¡°Send two people to follow them and find out what they¡¯re talking about.¡± Nico¡¯s face wore a horrified look, and he was on the verge of tears. ¡°Boss, please spare me! No matter what, Charles is still the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. His subordinates around him have top-notch techniques in preventing eavesdropping and stalking.¡± Maverick showed no expression. At that, Nico pouted his lips and continued to persuade Maverick, ¡°If we get caught, Ms. Shalders will find out, and it won¡¯t be easy for us to exin. Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll misunderstand you again? Wouldn¡¯t it be better for us to return to the vi and wait for her quietly?¡± He let out a quiet sigh. My boss is too stubborn. He acts like aplete fool, especially when ites to his love life. What should I do? After pondering for a moment, Maverick eventuallypromised and asked, ¡°Among the boys, is there anyone with a rich rtionship experience?¡± Nico contemted earnestly for a while. ¡°It seems that only Swain has been in a rtionship before. However, he¡¯s not in Faike; he¡¯s in Salinsburgh.¡± ¡°Swain?¡± Maverick was stunned for a moment, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. ¡°He¡¯s the youngest, but he¡¯s the first to be in a rtionship?¡± Nico grinned sheepishly. ¡°Boss, you don¡¯t understand. Despite his young age, he has high emotional intelligence and plenty of mischief in his head. From what I¡¯ve heard, his girl ispletely smitten with him.¡± Maverick fell silent for a moment, his deep ck orbs narrowing slightly. ¡°Once he¡¯s done with his tasks over there, ask him to meet me in Faike privately.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Charles had arranged for a well-furnished French restaurant, where he disyed his gentlemanly manners by pulling out the chair for Gwendolyn and assisting her in ordering the dishes. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained indifferent as she elegantly sipped her water. The man fixed his stare intently on her, his dark blue eyes sparkling with specks of light. ¡°I remember that you prefer a quiet dining environment, and I remember your taste preferences too. If there¡¯s anything I haven¡¯t taken into ount, just let me know.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°You are quite thoughtful.¡± He softened his voice and continued, ¡°Gwen, ever since my family arranged for me to join the Central Intelligence Agency, seven years passed by in a sh, and we haven¡¯t met since then. This time, I happened to be in Faike, and Treyton told me you were at the police station. I rushed over immediately and, sure enough, I found you. It¡¯s great to see you again. I¡­ I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± Gwendolyn looked up and locked eyes with him, evoking a long-forgotten memory within her. She smiled. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been seven years. You¡¯ve even reached the position of the Central Intelligence Agency¡¯s director and are still standing strong. Congrattions, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles turned pale. Instead of ¡°Charles,¡± she referred to him as ¡°Mr. Newton¡± again. ¡°Gwen, have we grown distant?¡± A faint smile remained on Gwendolyn¡¯s face as she continued, ¡°Mr. Newton, you must be joking. We¡¯ve never been that close.¡± Charles¡¯ eyes trembled, and he instinctively tried to grab her thin hand, but she noticed and dodged away. ¡°You won¡¯t even let me touch you? I know you still hold a grudge against me for what happened in the past, but I was so young back then, and I didn¡¯t have a choice¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Newton,¡± Gwendolyn interrupted him, her expression turning grim when he brought up the past. ¡°If you invited me out today just to talk about these things, then this meal ispletely unnecessary.¡± ¡°All right. Let¡¯s not talk about these things.¡± Charles sensibly kept quiet immediately. Right then, the waiter arrived with the dishes, conveniently easing the tense atmosphere between the two. Except for the sound of their knives and forks ttering, they remained very quiet. It was Charles who broke the silence once again. ¡°This time, I n to stay in Faike for a while more. I heard from Treyton that you¡¯ve been gathering evidencetely. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you out.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn was not pretentious either. This was a different matter. He had volunteered to help, and she had no reason to refuse. Upon noticing her quick response, Charles was very happy. Those deep, brilliant sapphire eyes were mesmerizing when they smiled. As Charles elegantly cut a piece of beef, he casually asked, ¡°I also heard that the man today is your ex- husband. Did you sign an employment agreement with him and turned him into your butler?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn spoke candidly. Charles hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Do you still have any feelings for¡­¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Gwendolyn raised her eyes, her expression instantly turning cold. ¡°This is my personal matter.¡± ¡°All right, I won¡¯t ask any more questions. In any case, now that I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t let anyone bully you.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes revealed a hint ofplexity as she nced at the half-eaten beef on her te. She smiled and said, ¡°People change. It¡¯s been seven years, and you still remember my taste, but you don¡¯t realize that my taste has already changed a long time ago. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Charles¡¯ face stiffened. How could he possibly not understand what she meant? Yet, he was unwilling to ept it. It was just a mere seven years that has passed. Weren¡¯t they reunited again? Gwendolyn ate nonchntly as she continued, ¡°But you, on the other hand, haven¡¯t changed at all. You were always domineering, making decisions on my behalf, and you¡¯re still the same today. However, I¡¯m no longer that naive little girl who used to follow you around and knew nothing.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it desirable to be a bit domineering? Snuggling up in the arms of a strong man, being a pampered little woman¡ªisn¡¯t that the happiness many girls in this world are pursuing?¡± Gwendolyn simply smiled and didn¡¯t refute. Perhaps many girls were indeed like this. However, she had never cared to be a man¡¯s caged pet; she preferred to be her own queen. As for men and such, as long as she had the money, she was willing to keep a few men as her caged birds. Throughout the meal, Gwendolyn found her food to be nd and tasteless. Upon leaving the restaurant, the weather outside had changed. The strong wind blew, bringing a cool sensation to their faces. Charles took off his military coat, ready to drape it over her shoulders. Gwendolyn declined and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯m not cold.¡± Charles curved his lips into a smile and still draped the dark green fur coat over her shoulders, enveloping her petite frame. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed, showing her displeasure. It seems that he still doesn¡¯t understand what I told him during the meal. As she was about to speak again, Elisha suddenly approached and whispered in her ear, ¡°Ms. Shalders, Mr. Harris sent me to reach out to you. As you guessed, in these past few days, they¡¯ve already sent three groups to hunt down the released assassin. Unfortunately, one of them died during the escape, but we managed to save the other one. He said he wants to meet you.¡± Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 She Gives Names Casually ¡°All right, let¡¯s go.¡± She was about to leave with Elisha when Charles called out to her, ¡°Gwen, do you want me toe with you?¡± Without hesitation, Gwendolyn said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You must have your own business to attend to in Faike. Please excuse me first.¡± She had just taken two steps when she remembered that she was still wearing Charles¡¯ coat. So, she took it off, folded it, and walked back to return it to him. Charles didn¡¯t take the coat and instead gazed at her with warmth and tenderness. ¡°It¡¯s getting colder. You should keep it.¡± Gwendolyn handed the coat to the subordinate behind him. The subordinate nced at Charles, shook his head in fear, and dared not take it. Annoyed, she ended up hanging the coat on the flower stand by the entrance of the restaurant before striding off after Elisha without so much as a nce over her shoulder. Charles looked in the direction where she disappeared before ncing at the coat she left on the flower stand. He furrowed his brows as a dark look swirled in his eyes. Seemingly reminded of something, Charles turned to his subordinate while wearing a grim expression. ¡°Send two people to keep an eye on that Maverick. Report any movements immediately, and make sure to stay hidden. His subordinate isn¡¯t easy to deal with, too. Also, look into his identity and background.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles¡¯ subordinate helped him take the coat off the flower stand and wanted to put it on him. ring viciously at his subordinate, Charles growled, ¡°How dare you touch something that¡¯s filthy? Throw it away!¡± Gwendolyn hurried to Treyton¡¯s residence. The patient was amodated in the private medical room that was previously used to treat Natasha. Upon entering the room, she saw the injured person lying in bed, receiving an IV drip. Upon seeing Gwendolyn enter the room, he slowly sat up. Gwendolyn sat down on a chair two meters away from him, smiling. ¡°I never expected you to be the one to survive out of forty people. That day, you were the only one who answered my question. You have the softest heart, and you¡¯re also the luckiest. What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?¡± The person pondered for a moment, then looked at her sincerely, ¡°I originally thought that if I kept quiet, the organization would let me off the hook. I didn¡¯t expect them to be even more ruthless than I imagined. I know that you were the one who sent people to save me these past few times. I am willing to reveal all the information I know.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Gwendolyn eximed in surprise. He¡¯s figured it out already? She asked, ¡°How much money do you want as a reward?¡± The man shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t want any money. They won¡¯t let me go. I¡¯m weak and powerless, and sooner orter, I¡¯ll die at their hands. But I don¡¯t want to die yet.¡± ¡°Do you want my protection?¡± The man stared into her eyes andughed, ¡°I love conversing with smart people like you. In exchange, I want to be your bodyguard. You have many powerful big shots around you, and only by doing this can I survive.¡± So he really wants to work for me? Gwendolyn¡¯s frown was barely noticeable as she held her head high gracefully, exuding an aloof charm. ¡°Just so you know, I won¡¯t just ept anyone to work for me. First, tell me what information you have. If it¡¯s all trivial stuff, then I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you.¡± The man gazed at her face, somewhat captivated. She was breathtakingly pretty, had a fiery personality, and was ruthless and decisive. All those traits set her apart from ordinary women. The mere sight of such an outstanding woman like her was worth everything for him. He gathered his thoughts and began to exin. ¡°I saw the person who hired us to kill you as I was right there when he was talking to the boss. He¡¯s a tall man, probably close to two hundred meters in height, and he seemed solemn and formidable.¡± The man tried hard to recall and continued, ¡°Although he was wearing sunsses that day, I noticed a ck birthmark the size of a thumb on his temple. During their conversation, I vaguely heard him mention his master. If we can find him, he should know all the details about this matter.¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes slightly. ck birthmark? His master? ¡°Aside from the birthmark, do you remember his facial features? The shape of his face and lips, or his overall appearance?¡± The person nodded but seemed a bit troubled. ¡°I remember his face but I can¡¯t draw well.¡± Gwendolyn waved at Elisha, gesturing for him toe over. Elisha approached with a sketchbook and, based on the man¡¯s description, drew a fairly clear portrait of a man. Gwendolyn took a careful look and was sure she didn¡¯t recognize the man. ¡°Besides this, is there any other information you can provide?¡± The person pondered for a moment. ¡°Yes, I remember that the day before your ident, we had a meeting point¡­¡± Although he didn¡¯t provide much information, it was still considered useful. Gwendolyn stood up and walked over to the man before bending down to observe his face. ¡°Not bad. Although your face is injured and your skin is quite dark, you have handsome features. So, from today onward, you¡¯ll be known as Justin.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The man froze for a moment. ¡°But I already have a name¡­¡± Gwendolyn chuckled nonchntly. ¡°I don¡¯t need to know your real name. I wouldn¡¯t remember it anyway. So, Justin will be your code name, the name you¡¯ll use as my bodyguard.¡± Justin was taken aback. So that¡¯s how she came up with the names of her bodyguards? Well, that¡¯s kind of¡­ casual. Gwendolyn said, ¡°Come and report to me once you recover. Understand?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After resolving Justin¡¯s issue, Gwendolyn stepped out of the private medical room. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Treyton was waiting for her in the living room downstairs with a solemn expression. ¡°Kiddo, he¡¯s one of them. Aren¡¯t you afraid that he¡¯s just pretending to be friendly, trying to lower your guard on purpose?¡± Gwendolyn sat down on the couch next to him and shed azy smile. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? I¡¯ll find an opportunity to sound him out. Even if he really is a spy trying to win our favor, we should keep him close so that it¡¯s easier for us to discover their intentions and know all their ns.¡± Treyton fell silent. Although it made sense logically, doesn¡¯t she know that by doing so, she would put herself in danger? He sighed as Gwendolyn handed him the sketchbook with the portrait. ¡°Asher is quite familiar with all the employees working for the Harris family. Could you please ask him to check the profile of this person?¡± Treyton took the sketchbook and said, ¡°All right.¡± In the evening, at Bay Vi, Maverick was in the kitchen preparing dinner when he suddenly heard a familiar bird call. It was Nico. He turned and exited the kitchen. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Nico swaggering through the garden and walking toward him. William went out with Gwendolyn but Quinton was still at the vi. Nico noticed his boss¡¯ icy re and quickly waved his hands in denial. ¡°Boss, don¡¯t get me wrong. I didn¡¯t beat anyone up and barge in here. I just walked in like any normal person this time.¡± Maverick chuckled lightly. ¡°You beat him up thest time, and now the two of you are already acting all lovey-dovey with each other?¡± Nico, the social butterfly, chuckled cheekily. However, his expression froze all of a sudden when he quickly realized something wrong with Maverick¡¯s words. ¡°Boss, what are you talking about? I¡¯m a straight guy. What do you mean by acting all lovey-dovey?¡± Maverick changed the subject. ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point.¡± Nico instantly put on a serious expression and leaned over, whispering softly into his ear, ¡°After you sent Neville to follow Natasha, he sent a message back saying that Natasha has been moved to two different ces in the past few days. She has not been moved after that, and no one hase by to check on her. It seems like¡­ they¡¯ve given up on Natasha?¡± There¡¯s no way they would give up so easily. ¡°Since we¡¯ve found her location and there¡¯s no one around her¡­¡± Maverick¡¯s voice trailed off as he nced down at his watch. There were still forty minutes left until Gwendolyn got off work. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look,¡± he said. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 The two of them quickly left the vi. While they were en route to the suburbs, Maverick, feeling weary, closed his eyes for a brief respite, only to unexpectedly drift off into a deep sleep. He didn¡¯t sleep well and had a very strange dream. In his dream, he found himself in a small, empty, and modest cabin. Bang! Suddenly, a deafening gunshot rang out from outside the door. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, and as he looked down, he discovered that his heart had been pierced by a bullet. Instantly, his entire body became drenched in crimson, as blood spread and stained him in vivid hues of red. Agonizing pain emanated from his heart, surging through his limbs and coursing through every inch of his body. He turned around in shock. In the dim light, Gwendolyn stood by the door, aiming a gun at him. Her face was as frigid and lifeless as death, devoid of any warmth. Her once warm eyes now gleamed with a chilling cruelty and ruthless detachment. W-Why¡­ His eyes reddened. He wanted to approach her to seek an answer to his predicament. As he took two steps forward, his vision suddenly blurred, and everything before his eyes became drenched in a deep crimson hue. Eventually, he could no longer discern the figure standing before him. ¡°Boss? Boss!¡± As Nico called out twice, Maverick gradually regained consciousness. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve arrived. There¡¯s a small path up ahead. To avoid being noticed by Natasha, we need to walk.¡± Maverick blinked his tired, dark eyes, instinctively casting a downward gaze toward his heart. Beneath the suit and shirt, it was pulsating with life and vigor. However, the intense pain in the dream just now felt all too real. It was so realistic that he could hardly distinguish between the present and the past, wondering which one was actually an illusion. Gwendolyn¡¯s ruthless expression shed before his eyes, causing a sudden sharp pain in his heart. Nico felt that something was off with Maverick as thetter¡¯s face was pale. He used the back of his hand to feel Maverick¡¯s forehead. It felt refreshingly cool. There was no sign of a fever. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Boss!¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Nico¡¯s unceasing voice roused Maverick from the memory of the bizarre nightmare. Hisplexion gradually returned to its normal hue, and he gracefully stepped out of the car with his long legs. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± As soon as the duo left Bay Vi to the suburbs, someone reported the news to Charles. Upon discovering Maverick¡¯s presence in the suburbs, Charles narrowed his deep blue eyes. ¡°What is he doing there?¡± The person who came to deliver the message replied with his head lowered, ¡°It seems like he went to meet a woman.¡± A woman? Charles¡¯ lips curled into a slight smile as he recalled Maverick¡¯s deliberate attempts to gain Gwendolyn¡¯s attention at the police station, and the way he had yfully acted pitiful and helpless at the entrance of the station. During that moment, his eyes were brimming with profound affection, as if his heart and gaze were solely dedicated to Gwendolyn, unable to epass anyone else. Yet, he now went behind Gwendolyn¡¯s back to secretly meet another woman. How interesting! ¡°Go and gather information about who he met and thoroughly investigate the entire situation. I want to have all the details as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Charles¡¯ deep blue eyes narrowed with amusement as he stood up and headed to Angle Corporation. Right then, Gwendolyn was sitting in the CEO¡¯s office, tidying up the desk and preparing to leave work. Having previously dered herself as the boss of Angle, Gwendolyn capitalized on her recent free time and requested Treyton to vacate the CEO¡¯s office. In response, Treyton returned to oversee his own industrialpany located in Faike. She had just finished tidying up the desk when Joanne knocked on the door and came in. ¡°Ms. Shalders, there¡¯s a man in military uniform outside who wants to see you. He says his name is Newton.¡± What is Charlesing over for? ¡°All right. Let him in.¡± ¡°Okay then,¡± Joanne responded cheerfully and took two steps before turning her head back to look at Gwendolyn again. She then whispered with a hint of infatuation, ¡°This Mr. Newton is really good-looking, Ms. Shalders, you are truly¡­ something!¡± She gave a thumbs up, looking at Gwendolyn with an admiring expression. Gwendolyn showed no expression, gently waved her hand, and signaled for her to leave. When Charles entered the room, Gwendolyn was already seated on the small guest couch. She had courteously poured a cup of coffee for him. ¡°I¡¯m just about to get off work. Is there something you need?¡± Charles epted the teacup with a smile, taking a delicate sip before speaking, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯m simply curious as to why you refused my pursuit earlier. Could it be because of that manservant in your vi?¡± Gwendolyn poured herself a cup of coffee as well, her expression turning serious. ¡°The reason I refused you is because I am well aware that you and I are cut from the same cloth. Therefore, it is destined to be impossible between us.¡± The Charles she knew was domineering and paranoid. He also seemed to have an obsession with cleanliness and a strong sense of possessiveness. But to what extent his possessiveness go, she wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°So, in that case, it has nothing to do with your manservant?¡± Gwendolyn thought for a moment. In order topletely eradicate any thoughts he might have of pursuing her, she needed to find an uncontroble factor that would sever his thoughts entirely. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t say it haspletely nothing to do with him. As you can see, for me, he¡¯s like a beautiful pet that I keep in my vi.¡± Upon hearing this, Charles frowned. ¡°Am I not better looking than him?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she picked up the coffee cup and drank the beverage in one gulp. Charles thought of something, and the smile in his eyes grew broader. ¡°It seems you don¡¯t know your pet very well, unaware of what he does behind your back.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Charles stood up, gracefully adjusting the cor of his military uniform. ¡°Come on, let me show you what he does behind your back.¡± In the tranquil suburban cottage, the golden hues of the setting sun bathed the surroundings in a warm glow. The worn wooden door creaked open. As Nico concealed himself in the shadows, Maverick, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, entered the house. Natasha was sitting on the small bed, lost in thought. Upon hearing the sound, she turned around and saw him. In that instant, her eyes filled with tears of joy. She struggled to get out of bed, and in her haste, she stumbled and fell to the ground. She scrambled up and clumsily made her way toward Maverick. ¡°Mave! I was wrong, Mave! I shouldn¡¯t have believed Samantha that day, and I shouldn¡¯t have allowed her bodyguard to attempt to harm you! I still love you deeply. They have left me here, abandoned and vulnerable. Only you can save me now!¡± Maverick stood tall and rigid; his gaze fixed on her without a hint of emotion. ¡°I¡¯m not here to save you. However, if you can provide me with a full exnation of everything you know, I can ensure your safety in prison. You will be protected from any further mistreatment, and you will have the chance to live out the remainder of your life in rtive peace.¡± When she heard this, Natasha¡¯s tears fell heavily onto the floor. ¡°Mave, you¡¯re so heartless! Even if you disregard my attempt on saving your life, we were once childhood friends. How can you condemn me to return to that hellish existence?¡± Maverick¡¯s indifferent expression remained unchanged. ¡°Sending you back to prison and allowing you to live a peaceful life is the best oue. It¡¯s also an exchange for your confession. Isn¡¯t living better than dying?¡± Natasha¡¯s face was stained with tears. She never imagined that she would end up in such a situation. If she hadn¡¯t returned to the country and fought for the title of Mrs. Wright, she would probably still be living a carefree life abroad. The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, and she cried out with all her strength. Maverick stood there quietly, his gaze unwavering andpletely unfazed. Meanwhile, outside the cabin, Charles had his subordinates cunningly lure Nico away, who had been secretly protecting Maverick. Then, standing far away from the cabin with Gwendolyn, they peered through the small window to observe the situation inside the house. Charles shed a wicked grin and whispered, ¡°Gwen, behold your clever little pet. Not only did he find his long-lost lover, but he also ndestinely met with her in the suburbs. He¡¯s two-faced, putting on a facade in front of you while acting differently behind your back. You can¡¯t keep such a pet around.¡± Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Cruel Little Game Gwendolyn pursed her lips and fixed her cold eyes on Maverick inside the cabin, but she remained silent. Following her gaze, Charles looked into the cabin. His deep blue eyes narrowed slightly, and a wicked smile yed at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Gwen, how about we y an interesting game?¡± ¡°What?¡± Gwendolyn turned to look at him. When she saw his expression, her heart was filled with a sense of foreboding. Without saying anything, Charles gently raised his hand. His subordinates understood immediately and quickly approached the cabin. Inside, Natasha was crying her heart out with deep regret. ¡°Mave, I don¡¯t want to die here, and I certainly don¡¯t want to go back to prison. Can you help me? I¡¯m willing to cooperate and tell you everything I know. In return, I only ask for enough money for a comfortable life and assistance in leaving the country. I promise that once I¡¯m gone, I¡¯ll never return to Chanaea and trouble you again.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Maverick fell silent for a moment before he spoke in a cold tone. ¡°That depends on how much you know and whether it¡¯s worth the money I¡¯m paying.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know!¡± Natasha propped herself up with her hands, struggling to stand. As she straightened her body, a faint sound of wind reached her ears. Following that, she felt a slight sting on the side of her neck. She instinctively reached out to touch the source of the sensation and discovered something foreign embedded in her skin. Upon removing the object from her neck, she noticed that it was a syringe thinner than a pinky finger. Natasha was baffled. At the sight of the empty syringe in her hand, Maverick furrowed his brows and swiftly whipped his head around to look out the window. In that split second, he caught a glimpse of a swift figure shing by. ¡°Nico.¡± He called out, but there was no response from outside the cabin. Natasha¡¯s expression gradually turned numb. Blood vessels emerged in her pupils as a fleeting expression of pain crossed her face. Immediately after, she lifted her crimson eyes and red at Maverick with intense hatred. ¡°Do you really think I would tell you? In your dreams! If I can¡¯t have it easy, neither can you and Gwendolyn, that b*tch! I¡¯ll send you to your death first, and she¡¯ll soon join you!¡± she snarled, her voiceced with venom. Her face contorted ferociously, and with a piercing scream and her teeth bared, she lunged toward Maverick at an astonishing speed. It was as if the dormant beast within Natasha had been unleashed. Lethal intent brimmed in her eyes, which emanated an unwavering resolve to rend him apart right then and there. Maverick skillfully dodged to the side, making sure Natasha didn¡¯t even touch a single piece of his clothing. The house descended into sudden chaos. Seeing Natasha¡¯s condition, Gwendolyn shot Charles a re. ¡°What did you do?¡± Charlesughed. ¡°Recently, a new drug called 545 special drug was developed. It can enhance the evilness within a person and turn them into a wild beast. Their attack power increases dramatically, and they desire to see blood. If they can¡¯t vent their aggression in time, their hearts will give out, and they will die. This drug has only been experimented on animals thus far. But Natasha, being a fugitive, will face a torturous experience once she is sent back to prison. Why not make use of her as an experiment subject instead, and let her meet a fitting end?¡± Gwendolyn stared at Charles in disbelief. After seven years apart, he was far more ruthless and vicious than she had ever imagined. Beneath his handsome, ethereal appearance was now a twisted soul. She couldn¡¯t help wondering what exactly he had experienced over the past seven years. ¡°This is outrageous. You¡¯re no longer the Charles I once knew.¡± Charles¡¯ expression was indifferent, but as he looked straight into her eyes, his blue pupils held a glimmer of intense possessiveness. He hooked his lips into a faint smile, took out a revolver from the back of his waistband, swiftly loaded a bullet, and handed it to Gwendolyn. When Gwendolyn looked down, her expression turned serious. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°Gwen, given your pet¡¯s physical strength, he won¡¯tst more than five minutes against this woman. I¡¯ll give you choices. You can stand by and watch as she brutally tortures him to death, which would serve as a fitting punishment for him.¡± He paused briefly before continuing, ¡°Alternatively, you can use this revolver, loaded with just one bullet, to end the life of the woman inside. Or, you can take matters into your own hands and personally eliminate your disobedient pet, giving him a swift and decisive end. What do you think?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at him incredulously. ¡°You must be crazy!¡± Charles chuckled, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. ¡°Inside that room, there¡¯s only a fugitive and your servant. He¡¯s just a little pet. You can easily find a recement since he disobeyed you,¡± he said nonchntly. Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and stared at Charles coldly. ¡°He belongs to me, and you have no right in deciding what will happen to him.¡± With an innocent expression, Charles moved the gun in his hand closer to Gwendolyn. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s why the choice is yours.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned stern as she observed the situation inside the room. Maverick was skillfully evading Natasha¡¯s attacks, determined not to let hery a finger on him. However, Nico had been lured away by Charles¡¯ people, leaving Maverick isted and helpless. If the situation persisted, there would be no way for thetter to escape. Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°I choose neither!¡± Once her words fell, she made a move to rush into the cabin. Charles, with his quick reflexes, grabbed her arm and blocked her path. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes burned with fury. The next moment, she swung her hand back and pped Charles across the face. Charles stood his ground, facing her anger head-on with a smile still adorning his face. ¡°Feel free to p me if it brings you satisfaction, but I won¡¯t allow you to enter. Those who have taken the 545 special drug go berserk and lose control. It¡¯s too risky, and I cannot jeopardize your safety. Your only option is to use a gun to end her life.¡± Gwendolyn stared daggers at him. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to use a gun.¡± ¡°You can do it. I personally taught you how to shoot back then. Come on, let me see if your shooting skills have regressed or not.¡± Once again, Charles moved the revolver closer to her. ¡°If you hesitate any longer, your little pet won¡¯t be able to hold on.¡± Pupils quivering, Gwendolyn looked toward the cabin. Maverick was gradually beginning to feel the strain on his body, and he struggled to keep up with the relentless assault. In contrast, Natasha appeared to be fueled by the injected substance, her movements bing more frenzied and her thirst for blood intensifying. Maverick quickly scanned the room and looked for any handy tools. When his eyes caught sight of a bowl on the wooden table, he darted over and knocked the bowl against the edge of the table. The bowl shattered in an instant. While he was doing this, Natasha screamed and rushed toward him at lightning speed. He instinctively tried to evade her, but his weakened physical state hindered his speed. Just a split second too slow, and Natasha¡¯s fingernails tore through his suit jacket. Maverick¡¯s gaze briefly flickered with disdain as he observed the tear on the fabric before his chest. Without hesitation, he removed his suit and tossed it toward Natasha¡¯s face. Natasha¡¯s eyes burned with an insatiable bloodlust, her thirst for violence palpable in the air. As if unable to find an outlet to vent her pain, she viciously tore apart the suit and lunged at him once again. Maverick was forced to retreat. Suddenly, he heard a loud sound reverberating through the air¡ªthe door of the locked wooden cabin had been kicked open. Upon turning around, he saw Gwendolyn. Her eyebrows were furrowed, her expression solemn. The revolver in her hand was aimed straight at him. This scene caused a sharp pain in Maverick¡¯s heart. The nightmare he had on the car was still vividly etched in his mind, and he couldn¡¯t believe it had actuallye true. ¡°Gwendolyn, please don¡¯t¡­¡± Maverick called out softly, his voice trembling and carrying a hint of pleading. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s hand holding the gun remained steady. All of a sudden, her eyes hardened, and she decisively pulled the trigger at him. With a self-mocking smirk on his thin lips, Maverick stood still and closed his eyes in resignation. Bang! A deafening boom erupted. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 A sudden sharp pain coursed through Maverick¡¯s body as a gunshot sounded. The pain didn¡¯te from his chest, but from his right arm. His eyes shot open, and he looked down to see a streak of blood on his white shirt. A bullet had grazed his arm. All of a sudden, the mor behind him ceased. He nced back and saw Natasha still in the same aggressive stance, ready to attack. Her expression gradually turned from ferocious to numb as a bullet had pierced through her chest. Blood bloomed like a vibrant poppy flower and stained her dress crimson. Natasha paused for a moment. At the sight of blood on her chest, she turned deathly pale. Her eyes rolled back, and she copsed and fell unconscious. Slow, loud ps could be heard from the doorway just then. Charles looked at Gwendolyn with admiration shining in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re too modest, Gwen. You still have such urate aim even though you haven¡¯t touched a gun in years. You truly are my student,¡± he praised. Gwendolyn tossed the revolver in her hand aside. Her expression was stone cold under the dim light of the kerosenemp, and she didn¡¯t respond to Charles at all. Maverick remained in the same spot and met Charles¡¯ gaze. Charlesughed sarcastically, but it was unclear whether he wasughing at Maverick or himself. ¡°You win. We just yed a game where Gwen had to choose between you and this woman. Even after you came to the suburbs thiste to meet your ex-lover behind her back, she still chose you. It¡¯s making me envious,¡± he remarked. ¡°A game?¡± Maverick repeated, feeling a chill run down his spine. He pursed his thin lips and scrunched his brows as he looked at Gwendolyn. She didn¡¯t look at him but instead stared at Natasha, who had fallen to the ground. ¡°Is this what you wanted to see? Is it fun?¡± Gwendolyn asked Charles. ¡°It¡¯s not fun, because I¡¯ve upset you,¡± Charles replied. His eyes revealed a touch of destion, and his voice softened slightly. ¡°Gwen, you¡¯re still young, so it¡¯s understandable that you want a ything. But I can also y with you for as long as you want. The bond we¡¯ve had for so many years, isn¡¯t it deeper than your rtionship with this man?¡± Maverick¡¯s brow furrowed even more when Charles mentioned his long-time bond with Gwendolyn. Both men¡¯s gazes were fixed on Gwendolyn. She stared straight ahead, not looking at any of them. As she turned to leave the cabin, she said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and I¡¯m tired. Mr. Newton, since you requested this game, I¡¯ll leave you to deal with Natasha.¡± Gwendolyn took a few steps forward before noticing Maverick wasn¡¯t following her. ¡°Are youing? Or do you want to walk back on your own?¡± she called. Maverick scrambled to catch up. When he passed by Charles, their gazes shed, sparks flying from the intensity. Their disdain for each other was obvious. The atmosphere was extremely tense on the way back to Bay Vi. No one took the initiative to break the silence. Maverick carefully turned his head to nce at Gwendolyn. She was watching the passing scenery outside the window with a nk expression and cold eyes. It was unclear what she was thinking. The streetlight cast a warm halo on her profile, etching her breathtakingly beautiful face into his heart. Earlier, when Maverick realized that Gwendolyn was aiming for Natasha and not him, he felt a sense of relief. However, the pressure in the car was too much at the moment as it was evident that Gwendolyn was in a bad mood. William, who was driving, didn¡¯t even dare to move. Maverick tentatively reached out, crossing the invisible boundary between them, and gently tugged on her sleeve. Gwendolyn showed no reaction, still staring out the car window and lost in thought. In an attempt to catch her attention, he let out light coughs andined, ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯m injured¡­¡± Still, he was met with silence. ¡°You¡¯re the cause of the injury,¡± he tried again. The air remained serene and quiet. Maverick looked at the wound on his right arm dejectedly. It wasn¡¯t a big issue, just a minor scratch. Yet it seemed like Gwendolyn was still angry. The tension was so thick that William felt he could cut through it. Oddly enough, Maverick waspletely unaware of it and began to speak honestly. ¡°After the charity gst time, I had Neville keep an eye on her. Tonight, I followed Natasha¡¯s trail. I didn¡¯t go there to have a date with her; there¡¯s nothing between us. I just wanted to get some clues from her to find out who harmed youst time.¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes but continued to purse her lips without a word. She was actually thinking about Charles. She had admired him and always followed him around as a child. However, some unpleasantness urred between themter on. Charles then joined the Central Intelligence Agency for training, while she was met with misfortune the following year and ended up in Faike. Charles seems so unfamiliar this time¡­ There¡¯s something strange about him. While Gwendolyn was deep in thought, Maverick quietly watched her from the side. They soon arrived at the vi. Gwendolyn promptly opened the car door and walked to the front door. Suddenly, she remembered something and turned back to Maverick. ¡°If you¡¯re mostly recovered, return to work at Wright Construction Group. The deadline of the oath you made has not yet passed,¡± she instructed. ¡°Understood.¡± Maverick followed closely behind her. The moment he returned to his room, his expression gradually turned cold. That Charles has got some guts. It was evident from the events from earlier that Charles had sent someone to follow him, messing up his ns at a crucial moment. Maverick would not be able to quell his anger if this grudge was left unaddressed. Since Gwendolyn had previously lifted the surveince on him, he sent amand to Nico through his phone. Everything was calm and peaceful for the next few days. After having breakfast, Gwendolyn headed to Wright Construction Group. Maverick also left after he was done washing the dishes. With Natasha¡¯s situation settled, Gwendolyn set her next target on Lane Group. Her money had been with the Lane family for too long. It was time for her to take it back. Lane Group was also involved in the real estate and construction industry. Although its reputation and market value were iparable to that of Wright Construction Group, it was still considered a leading figure in Faike¡¯s industry. Furthermore, the eight point eight billion from Gwendolyn¡¯s previous acquisition of Wright Construction Group¡¯s shares went into Samantha¡¯s pocket. As a result, Lane Group didn¡¯t suffer significant damage during this period. To revise their ns, Gwendolyn called Yulia over. Meanwhile, Maverick quietly slipped away from Linderson Constructions¡¯ worksite and went to the private room he had booked to meet Charles. Charles had already changed out of his military uniform into a casual ck shirt. His top two buttons were undone, revealing his enticing corbone and chest muscles. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. When Maverick entered the room, Charles was lounging on the couch, leisurely sipping red wine. Without further ado, Maverick picked up the bottle of wine from the table, poured himself a ss, and downed it in one gulp. ¡°That hits the spot,¡± he remarked. Charles pped his hands lightly. He lifted his eyes to meet Maverick¡¯s gaze and spoke without reservation. ¡°I¡¯ve liked Gwendolyn since we were children. We might already be married if it weren¡¯t for those years I spent at the Central Intelligence Agency. I know you like her too, but you two are already divorced. She¡¯s just using you as a pet for her revenge now. Are you really okay with that?¡± Maverick remained silent, his dark eyes resembling a dark abyss. ¡°I looked into your background but couldn¡¯t find anything. There¡¯s clearly more to your identity than just being a member of the Wright family from Faike. Who exactly are you?¡± Charles questioned. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Charlesy on the couch with a half-smile, gazing at Maverick with his deep blue eyes. With hiszy posture, he oozed an aura of mischief. Charles had looked into the people around Maverick and found that they were no ordinary people. As for Maverick¡¯s background, it was too clean that he could not help but feel suspicious. ¡°I¡¯m just Maverick, that¡¯s all. Nothing more.¡± Maverick¡¯s dark eyes became serious as he took a step forward, his long legs carrying him to the couch next to Charles. Then, Maverick sat down, his posture straight and proper. With a casual nce, he first noticed Charles¡¯ exposed, perfectly sculpted chest muscles and corbones beneath the ck shirt. Paired with those deep, blue eyes, Charles looked absolutely enchanting like a fairy. Even I, as a man, found him attractive. Gwendolyn probably finds him pleasing to the eye as well, right? Maverick suddenly thought of Charles mentioning his long-time bond with Gwendolyn, as well as the complex look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes when she saw Charles at the police station. Gwendolyn¡­ She did like him, didn¡¯t she? When Charles noticed Maverick staring at his body, a wicked smile yed on his lips. ¡°I¡¯m the kind of person who insists on having what¡¯s mine. If anyone dares toy a finger on it, I¡¯ll chop them down and take back what belongs to me. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Hearing that, Maverickughed.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Does Charles think he can chop me down? He poured himself another ss of wine and elegantly drank it. With a tone of provocation, he began, ¡°You can give it a try, and I¡¯ll y along. But¡­¡± Maverick paused for a moment, his expression serious and cautious. He then added, ¡°Gwendolyn is not anyone¡¯s personal possession. I learned this a long time ago. She has always been independent and full of ideas, and her decisions cannot be influenced by others.¡± ¡°Of course, but I can guide her in making choices, just likest night.¡± When the incident from the night before was mentioned, Maverick¡¯s dark eyes narrowed. As he exuded a fierce aura, the surrounding atmosphere chilled. Charles sat up and looked him in the eye. ¡°I taught her how to shoot. She¡¯s very smart and learns quickly. Last night, I was right behind her and saw her every move clearly.¡± Maverick realized what Charles wanted to say and suddenly furrowed his brows. Charles went on, ¡°If she didn¡¯t want to hurt you, she had the ability to keep you unharmed. So, she must have been angry with you and even harbored murderous intentions. To her, you are just a pet. She rewards you when you obey and punishes you when you don¡¯t. She stopped loving you a long time ago. Think back to the expression on her face when she first saw me. I have a ce in her heart. Once the misunderstanding between us is cleared up, she will no longer need her pet. Do you understand?¡± Maverick¡¯s thin lips tightened as his deep and cold eyes quivered slightly. Charles admired his expression andughed with arrogance. In the next moment, Maverick also burst into chuckles. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. You¡¯re skilled at sowing discord, manipting emotions, and exploiting people¡¯s vulnerabilities. You can tear apart and crush people¡¯s fragile hearts, leaving them utterly devastated.¡± Upon hearing this, Charles narrowed his eyes and gazed at Maverick warily. Charles had only said a few sentences, yet Maverick already figured out what he was up to. This revealed that thetter did not look as simple as he appeared. Maverick continued, ¡°You didn¡¯t meet me secretly today just for something casual, right?¡± Charles resumed his light-hearted smile at that. He voiced, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to find out how much you truly mean to her? When faced with life and death, who will she care about more? Is it you or me?¡± The two men stared at each other. One had a look of cold and profound depth, while the other had a charming and unrestrained gaze. Gwendolyn and Yulia were in the middle of a meeting when suddenly, amotion erupted in the hallway outside. It was very noisy. After exchanging nces, Gwendolyn and Yulia stood up and opened the door to investigate. Outside the door, a man in a suit was arguing with the female assistant. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn asked. The assistant hurried over and said, ¡°Ms. Shalders, I told this gentleman that you cannot meet visitors as you are in a meeting with Ms. Sullivan, but he insisted on barging in. I could barely stop him!¡± Turning around, the man nodded respectfully to Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Shalders.¡± Gwendolyn studied his face and found him familiar-looking. ¡°Are you Charles¡¯ subordinate?¡± The man was visibly pleased to be recognized. He answered, ¡°Yes, I am Mr. Newton¡¯s subordinate. I apologize for the intrusion, but this matter is quite urgent. You see, Mr. Newton and Mr. Wright are about to engage in a life-or-death game.¡± ¡°Life-or-death game?¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°What is Charles up to now?¡± ¡°They are currently in a private room at Realm Bar. Pleasee with me to persuade them, or someone might actually die!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face darkened almost instantly. She turned around and told Yulia, ¡°You can go ahead and do your work. We¡¯ll continue the meeting tomorrow.¡± After giving the instructions, she quickly headed to Realm Bar. Once she opened the door to the private room, she saw the two men seated across from each other on a circr leather couch. Neatly arranged gun parts were disyed on the coffee table in between them. Their strong desire to win was evident in their eyes. Noticing Gwendolyn¡¯s arrival, Maverick, who was near the door, quickly stood up and blocked her line of sight. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was frosty. With an unfriendly tone, she demanded, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Maverick nced behind him and said to Charles, ¡°Fix your clothes.¡± Charles raised an eyebrow and leisurely fastened the two loose buttons before his chest. It was only then that Maverick moved to the side, allowing Gwendolyn to take a seat on the couch. Gwendolyn took a seat right in the center. Folding her hands authoritatively, she cast a cold nce at the array of gun partsid out on the coffee table. A cold smile appeared on her red lips. ¡°Is this an assembling game, where the loser gets shot in the head? Whose idea was this?¡± The two men stayed quiet. Gwendolyn nced sideways, first looking at Maverick. ¡°He¡¯s the director of the Central Intelligence Agency who¡¯s been handling these things since he was a kid, yet you agreed topete with him in assembling? Do you even know guns?¡± She was testing him. Maverick¡¯s dark eyes held a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve had the fortune to use them a few times before. Although I¡¯m not very familiar with guns, he provoked me first. I¡¯m a man, so of course, I have to give it a shot.¡± ¡°Gwen, this is a game between us men,¡± Charles chimed in. Gwendolyn let out a cold snort. With her arms still crossed, she leaned against the back of the couch with an icy countenance. ¡°Since you don¡¯t care about your lives, I won¡¯t stop you. Go ahead. Let¡¯s see who will get shot in the head first,¡± she uttered heartlessly. Charles¡¯ subordinate from earlier was dumbfounded to hear that. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I thought you¡¯re here to persuade them?¡± he protested. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained indifferent as if she was just there to watch the show. Charles nced at his subordinates and ordered, ¡°Get out. No matter what you hear and no matter what happenster, do note in.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As soon as Charles¡¯ people left and closed the door, the atmosphere inside the room turned extremely tense. Charles looked at Maverick with a grin. ¡°We¡¯ve signed an agreement to waive the liabilities. Whoever finishes assembling first can shoot the other. There will be no regrets. Are you really willing to gamble?¡± Maverick had a light and carefree smile on his face as he responded, ¡°I¡¯ll y with you till the end.¡± Gwendolyn tightened her fists, her breath slightly heavy. Charles was more ruthless than Maverick. If the former won, he would definitely pull the trigger. However, since Maverick dared to gamble, it must mean that he was prepared. Firearms were strictly controlled in Chanaea. Even in the case of wealthy families, not many members had ever handled them. Yet, Maverick imed to have used them a few times. She was quite curious to see Maverick¡¯s understanding of firearms and how fast his hands were. Just as she was deep in thought, the men on both sides of the coffee table sat up straight, an intense aura of murderous intent surrounding them. Charles started with the countdown. Then, the game began. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 The two men quickly got to work, efficiently and without fuss. Their speeds were at par as their hands moved in a flurry of rapid movements. Gwendolyn knew nothing about assembling guns, so it left her feeling dizzy and confused. However, her gaze remained fixed on Maverick. He was too calm. Even though he imed to have only tried guns a few times, his skillful movements were clearly muscle memory. Moreover, he was able to assemble a gun without falling behind Charles in the slightest. It was impossible to achieve this without years of handling firearms. As Gwendolyn stared at Maverick intently, her expression grew increasingly serious. Across from her, Charles keenly sensed that her focus had been on Maverick the entire time. She did not even spare a second to look at him. When Charles reached the final step, he deliberately paused for half a second. In that split second, Maverick finished assembling the gun. He coldly raised it, aiming at Charles¡¯ forehead with murderous eyes. His well-defined hand was poised to pull the trigger. Gwendolyn noticed Maverick¡¯s actions and almost instantly eximed, ¡°Maverick, no!¡± Maverick was taken aback. His dark eyes quivered uncontrobly, but he did not move. ¡°Put it down. That¡¯s an order!¡± Across him, Charles¡¯ eyes were filled with provocation. Maverick bit his lower lip hard, his heart trembling from the order yelled at him. At that moment, his entire body felt painful as if thousands of needles were pricking it. After struggling for two seconds, he finally put down the gun with a pale and dispirited face. On the contrary, Charlesughed heartily. ¡°Congrattions. You won the game but lost her. I told you. You¡¯re just a pet that has to obey its master. Now, it¡¯s time for you to quit.¡± Maverick looked down. His dark eyes were empty and lifeless, and even his hands and feet felt ice cold. Meanwhile, Charles turned his gaze back to Gwendolyn. With a delighted tone, he said, ¡°Gwen, I knew it. Even though you refuse to ept me verbally, you do care about me deep down. From now on, let¡¯s be good to each other and stop all the arguments. All right?¡± Gwendolyn nced at Maverick, then at thest part that Charles never managed to assemble. In an instant, it urred to her that Charles had just employed a little trick. She looked at him and said coldly, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. I just didn¡¯t want to see blood. If you had loaded the gun first, I would have stopped you from killing him just the same.¡± Charles¡¯ expression gradually froze. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°If I had to choose between you and him, I would choose Maverick.¡± When the one-year employment contract was over, she would not have any further involvement with Maverick. He had personally guaranteed it, and she even had the recording on her phone. However, Charles was different. If he was unable topletely cut off his strong possessiveness and longing for her, it would only bring her a lot of trouble in the future. Charles was more troublesome than Maverick. ¡°Gwen, I know you¡¯re still mad at me¡ª¡± Gwendolyn interrupted, ¡°The issue between us happened many years ago, and I¡¯m already over it. Besides, you and I could never be together.¡± Then, she looked at Maverick with a sultry and inviting smile and beckoned at him with her slender fingers. ¡°Come, sit on myp.¡± Both men were stunned in unison. Under the spell of Gwendolyn¡¯s enchanting eyes, Maverick found himself getting up and walking toward her. Gwendolyn gently pulled him into her embrace, allowing him to sit on herp. Despite her smaller staturepared to the two men, her aura was powerful and not inferior to theirs. The yful glint in her eyes made her seem more like a yboy than them. Maverick¡¯s body was rigid as his mind went nk and his heart pounded wildly. He was utterly confused about what Gwendolyn was trying to do. Did she actually make me sit on herp? Gwendolyn looked into his puzzled eyes, gently ruffled his short hair, and smiled with her eyes crinkled. When she spoke, her voice was soft and alluring, captivating himpletely. ¡°Hug me.¡± Maverick¡¯s fingers stiffened. It took him two seconds before he tentatively wrapped his arms around her waist. As he leaned close to her, Gwendolyn whispered softly into his ear at a volume only the two of them could hear. ¡°Put on a show with me.¡± Maverick frowned and stayed still, his head being forcibly pressed onto her shoulder. From Charles¡¯ perspective, Maverick was hunched over and nestled in Gwendolyn¡¯s arms. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, looked calm as if she were already ustomed to it. The scene was particrly ring. Charles¡¯ eyes narrowed, and he spoke with difficulty. ¡°Gwen, are you trying to provoke me on purpose?¡± Gwendolynzily shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Charles, you like a woman who can snuggle in your arms coquettishly. However, I have money and power. Why should I be a submissive woman? I also want to spoil a man and love him. You see, this is why we are not destined for each other.¡± She went on, ¡°Also, I remember you¡¯re a clean freak. After I put your coat on the flower stand that day, you never wore it again. You didn¡¯t like me putting your coat there, and you don¡¯t like your things being touched. But you should know that I never belonged to you. I belong to myself, so I will do what I want and touch other men.¡± Charles gritted his teeth. ¡°You enjoy roleying because you¡¯re still young. Well, I can y with you for as long as you want. Everyone does crazy and reckless things when they¡¯re young! I don¡¯t care about your past at all. All I want is you.¡± Once I find an opportunity to kill Maverick, she will belong to me again. Gwendolyn sighed quietly to herself. He¡¯s quite stubborn. It seems like the impact isn¡¯t enough. At that thought, she gently patted Maverick¡¯s back and signaled him to straddle her and face her. Without a word, Maverick followed hermand. Gwendolyn stroked his handsome face, a hint ofziness in her teasing voice. ¡°Maverick, you two may be done with your games, but I¡¯m exhausted from all themotion you guys caused. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time to do something about it?¡± Maverick stared into her eyes with his dark orbs. He did not quite understand what she meant, but he did not stop her either. No matter what Gwendolyn wanted to do, he would always unconditionally support and obey her. Even though he knew her gentle smile at that moment was just an act, it was still enough. When he snuggled in her arms and wrapped his arms around her slim waist just now, his nostrils were filled with her pleasant fragrance. It felt just like a dream. If this were a dream, I¡¯m willing to drown in it. Noticing his distraction, Gwendolyn pinched his chin with an arched brow and reminded him, ¡°Give me your belt.¡± Without hesitation, Maverick deftly unfastened the metal buckle, pulled out his belt, and handed it to her. ¡°Hand.¡± Does she want to vent her anger by giving me a good beating? Maverick extended his left hand with his palm facing upward and spread it t. ¡°Both hands.¡± Maverick did as he was toldpliantly. The next second, Gwendolyn skillfully wrapped the belt around his wrists, quickly bounding them together by tightening the buckle. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. She then raised his hands so that they were lifted high above his head before pulling his white shirt from his pant¡¯s waistband and bringing it to his thin lips. ¡°Bite it.¡± Maverick immediately held the fabric with his teeth like a docile pet. With his shirt lifted, his skin revealed a sickly pale hue under the dim light of the private room. It was the effect of the special drug. His sculpted abs were in full view, their intricate lines exquisitely defined. Needless to say, the scene was exceptionally pleasing to the eyes. Gwendolyn gently caressed Maverick¡¯s abs with her icy cool fingertips, savoring the sensation and taking her time to relish every moment as if she were enjoying a delicious delicacy. All this time, there was a mischievous smile on her face. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Maverick was tingling with desire because of her teasing. Unintentionally, he let out a soft whimper. As Charles watched from the side, he clenched his jaw so tightly that his teeth ached. The scene before him intensely provoked his nerves. With reddened eyes, he uttered, ¡°Gwen¡­¡± Gwendolyn ignored him. She still felt that the impact was not enough. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Charles was truly on the verge of exploding. He suppressed the fury in his heart and spoke with a gentler tone. ¡°Gwen, I can do all those things too, and I¡¯m better looking than him. Wouldn¡¯t that make you happier?¡± Gwendolyn once again lifted Maverick¡¯s chin, examining his facial features. ¡°You are good-looking, but he is handsome. It¡¯s not the same,¡± she retorted. Charles had gentle and delicate features, with a pair of deep blue eyes that added a touch of color and made him look more beautiful than a gorgeous woman. On the contrary, Maverick¡¯s eyes were dark and deep, and his facial features were extraordinarily handsome. When he was not smiling, he would exude a cold aura. But when he softened the look in his eyes, feigning innocence and ying the victim, he gave off the vibe of a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing, which made Gwendolyn want to punish him. His face was, above all, strikingly attractive. This time around, with his thin lips gently holding his shirt and his hands bound, he was the embodiment of desire and submission. This gave her a strong urge to tease him relentlessly. Gwendolyn¡¯s words fell softly into Maverick¡¯s ears, sounding especially pleasant and soothing. He obediently held his hands up high and kept the shirt in his mouth without moving an inch. Under Gwendolyn¡¯s teasing, his face turned slightly red. ¡°Such a good boy.¡± Gwendolyn was quite pleased with Maverick¡¯s performance. She picked up the ss of red wine on the table and brought it to his lips, saying, ¡°This is your reward.¡± Maverick parted his lips, and his shirt slipped off. With Gwendolyn feeding him, he drained the ss of red wine in one gulp. As the wine entered his throat smoothly, a sweet and intoxicating aroma filled his senses. It was the most delicious wine in the world. For a moment, Maverick waspletely immersed in the sweet aroma of the wine. Upon seeing the dark red wine dripping from the corner of his mouth, Gwendolyn gently wiped it away with her index finger. The drop of wine was transferred to her fingertip. She nced at it, then brought her finger to Maverick¡¯s lips. ¡°It¡¯s yours. Lick it clean.¡± Maverick¡¯s cheeks flushed. He gently extended his tongue, carefully licking the wine off her finger and sending a tingling sensation through it. Seeing him in this extremely obsequious manner delighted Gwendolyn. Throughout their three years of marriage, he always remained aloof, condescending, and full of sarcasm. Whenever she saw him, his face was cold, stern, and filled with arrogance. He had treated her as if she owed him money. Yet now, the man sat on herp, cautiously and attentively doing everything he could to please her. He was much like a big dog intoxicated by affection and waiting for its owner¡¯s loving touch. Such a scene was something she could never have imagined before. Feeling extremely satisfied, Gwendolyn let out a series of heartyughter. While Maverick took in her bright expression, he began to please her with his tongue more enthusiastically. Gwendolyn could not help but giggle. Meanwhile, Charles¡¯ eyes were red with anger as he red at Maverick furiously. There was a strong urge within him as he wished that he was the one sitting on top of Gwendolyn and making herugh so happily. He found it hard to ept the reality. ¡°Gwen, do you dare to say you¡¯ve never had feelings for me? Were all those years of affection just my wishful thinking?¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her finger. Then, she lifted Maverick¡¯s shirt and brought it back to his lips. Maverick, knowing better, bit down gently, while Gwendolyn¡¯s caresses over his body continued. As she yed with Maverick, she responded to Charles¡¯ words. ¡°Charles, I won¡¯t lie to you¡ªI did like you once. But you stepped back when I needed you the most. From that moment on, it was destined that we could never be together in this lifetime. Now, my fondness for you haspletely disappeared.¡± Charles looked dejected, unable to utter a single word for quite some time. Gwendolyn added, ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m doing quite well now. If you truly feel that you owe me something, you should stay far away from me and never disrupt my life again.¡± Pain brimmed in Charles¡¯ eyes as he stared at her nkly. He eagerly anticipated Gwendolyn to turn around, look at him, and reveal even the slightest hint of reluctance in her expression. Unfortunately, she did not. She was too busy teasing Maverick with a beaming smile. Maverick was growing increasingly restless due to Gwendolyn¡¯s actions. As his breathing became rapid, the frequency of his whimpers escted. Gwendolyn saw his struggle to hold himself back and gently asked, ¡°Do you want it?¡± Maverick bit down on his shirt, his lips trembling slightly. With his brows furrowed, he unconsciously let out a soft groan in affirmation. Gwendolyn appeared extremely patient and smiled indulgently. ¡°Okay. This isn¡¯t the right ce, so I¡¯ll satisfy you when we go home.¡± She gently patted Maverick¡¯s waist, signaling him to stand up, and then untied the belt that bound his hands. After that, she returned the belt to him. ¡°Put it on and straighten your clothes.¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. There were red marks on Maverick¡¯s wrists from the tight grip of the belt, but they were like a trophy to Charles¡¯ eyes. As the red marks moved around in Charles¡¯ vision, he felt his eyes sting. Not only that, his heart hurt even more. After Maverick tidied himself up, Gwendolyn gently took hisrge, well-defined hand in her small one. Her beautiful eyes were filled with warmth as she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back home.¡± The entire time, she did not nce at Charles on the couch even once. Soon, Gwendolyn and Maverick left Realm Bar hand in hand. They got into the car to head back to Bay Vi, and it was then that Gwendolyn finally withdrew her hand with a cold demeanor. It was particrly tiring to put on that show. While she gently closed her eyes to rest, her face regained its previous coldness, and her aura became solemn. The sudden change left Maverick a bit overwhelmed. In the private room of Realm Bar just now, he had heard the most beautiful words from Gwendolyn. If I had to choose between you and him, I would choose Maverick. You are good-looking, but he is handsome. It¡¯s not the same. Maverick¡¯s ears were still tinted red. Hesitantly, he reached out his hand, wanting to ask if there was even the slightest bit of sincerity in those words she had uttered. ¡°Gwendolyn¡­¡± Before he could touch her sleeve, Gwendolyn frowned in disgust and instinctively moved her arm away. Her face disyed the epitome of indifference. At least she had the patience to exin things to Charles. But when ites to me, she can¡¯t even be bothered to say an extra word. This indifference served as a reminder to Maverick that what had just happened was merely an act, that everything was fake, and that he should stop deceiving himself. She simply had a disagreement with Charles, and she did all those only to provoke him. To her, I mean nothing at all. I¡¯m just a disposable tool that can be easily discarded once used. Maverick endured the dull pain in his chest, remaining silent as he followed her out of the car. When they approached the entrance of the vi, Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks and turned around to give him an emotionless stare. ¡°Don¡¯t think that I¡¯ll let you off so easily for skipping work to meet Charles today. Sweep the yard thoroughly. You may only go to sleep after you¡¯re done.¡± After she finished speaking, she coldly withdrew her gaze and entered the vi first. The door mmed shut with a loud bang. It was like a barrier between them that was impossible to ovee. All of a sudden, Maverick recalled Charles¡¯ words from earlier. To her, you are just a pet. She rewards you when you obey and punishes you when you don¡¯t. She stopped loving you a long time ago. Maverick¡¯s heart ached so much that his chest was stuffy. He felt as if he had woken up from the dream. The realization was very painful. The flicker of hope that had just been ignited was mercilessly doused, causing heartache and disappointment far heavier than when there was no hope at all. The feeling was suffocating. Maverick clenched his chest tightly, leaning against the wall and trying to endure the intense pain in his chest. As he did that, the image of Gwendolyn¡¯s ultimate tenderness at Realm Bar kept shing in his mind. Even though he knew it was all just an act, he could not help but fall into it. In the end, he was the one who lost. ¡°What¡¯s taking so long?¡± A chilly voice suddenly questioned from behind. Gwendolyn had opened the door and was standing beside it, watching Maverick. He sniffled sadly, then turned to face her with his head hung low. In a muffled voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll sweep the yard right now.¡± Gwendolyn, with her keen perception, noticed that something was off with Maverick. She approached him and gently lifted his chin. The light at the entrance of the vi fully exposed his face to her eyes. His eyes were rimmed with red, and his long, curled eyshes trembled slightly, dotted with tiny droplets of moisture. The sadness in his gaze was too overwhelming to conceal. Gwendolyn sneered with amusement. Did he¡­ cry? Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Gwendolyn had known Maverick for so long. Although he had put on the pitiful act a few times before, this was the first time Gwendolyn had seen him sniffling like an actual child. Is he genuinely sad? She sighed helplessly, her tone softening a bit. ¡°We agreed to put on a show. Did you get emotionally involved?¡± Maverick remained silent with his eyes lowered. Within those dark pupils, there was a hint of vulnerability. He was indeed emotionally involved, deeply immersed, andpletely captivated. In the end, he was left battered and bruised by the harsh reality, his heart aching intensely. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t have much to say; she knew that staying alert from beginning to end was the only way to avoid losing her rationality. Acting was just acting; the fake could never be real. She had always been able to distinguish between the two clearly. He wants me to coax him? Impossible. Moreover, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯te up with anyforting words to say. She turned around to leave decisively. Her tone regained its coldness as she urged, ¡°Hurry up and get to work. I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± Just as she took a step forward, Maverick gripped her wrist from behind. With a weary expression on her face, she said, ¡°Let go. I¡¯m tired.¡± She just wanted to sleep. However, Maverick did not budge, his reddened eyes gazing at her with immense grievance. ¡°Gwendolyn¡­ Can you asionally show some concern and consider my feelings too? After all, a wounded heart will eventually ache.¡± There was a touch of imploration in his deep, quivering voice. His Adam¡¯s apple moved gently, and he held her wrist with force. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Gwendolyn¡¯s back stiffened as she stood still. Of course, a wounded heart would ache, but these words felt strangeing from Maverick¡¯s mouth. She retorted, ¡°How ridiculous. It¡¯s natural for someone to choose to let go after feeling totally heartbroken and utterly disappointed. I¡¯ve experienced that pain before, too. If it hurts so much, you should let go sooner. The words I said to Charles today were also for you.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she pried Maverick¡¯s hand off and entered the vi without looking back. But this time, she didn¡¯t close the door. Maverick watched her figure as she climbed up to the third floor, eventually disappearing around the corner. Gwendolyn was right. Once upon a time, she too had her sincere feelings hurt by him. Now, he was merely experiencing the pain she once endured. He deserved it. Maverick didn¡¯t waste any more time. He went to the backyard, grabbed a broom, and carefully swept up all the fallen leaves in the garden. Thete autumn night was bitingly cold. Maverick wore only a thin white shirt, his face pale. Even when he was holding a wooden broom and doing a mundane task, he exuded an air of nobility and dignity. In the room on the third floor, Gwendolyn did not turn on the lights. She stood quietly behind the window and watched him with icy eyes, seemingly lost in thought. After a few minutes, she indifferently withdrew her gaze and went to sleep. Maverick continued sweeping until two in the morning and finally cleaned the yard thoroughly. As expected, after being exposed to the cold wind for several hours, wearing only a thinyer of clothing, he caught a cold the next day. Gwendolyn woke up to the sound of coughinging from downstairs. After freshening up and putting on her makeup, she went downstairs and immediately saw a tall figure bustling in and out of the kitchen. On the table was a spread of freshly-made breakfast. Knowing that it was time for Gwendolyn to wake up, Maverick covered his lips with his fist every time he coughed, trying to keep it as quiet as possible. Gwendolyn stood in the stairwell for a while and watched his every little move. She pressed her red lips together and, without a word, quietly descended the stairs. Upon hearing footsteps, Maverick turned around and saw Gwendolyn in a ck velvet long-sleeved top and a snowy white tulle skirt. Her thin shoulders appeared quite delicate. He hurriedly grabbed the trench coat from the coat rack by the door and helped her put it on. ¡°The weather has turned chilly, so even when you¡¯re indoors, make sure to keep warm. You have a great figure, so you¡¯ll still look good with an extrayer of clothes on you,¡± he said. Gwendolyn did not refuse. Instead, she lifted her head to observe Maverick. He was carefully helping her put on the trench coat. In spite of the calm look in his dark eyes, he looked visibly sick, and his handsome face and lipscked color. ¡°If you¡¯re sick, take a day off and rest. There¡¯s no need to force yourself to go to Wright Construction Group.¡± Maverick stopped adjusting her cor. Following a second of hesitation, he responded, ¡°All right.¡± After putting on her coat, he pulled out a chair for her. Gwendolyn walked straight over and sat down, silently eating her breakfast. She was halfway through her meal when the yard outside became lively. It was the sound ofughter from a few bodyguards. Elven¡¯s and Ezra¡¯s knife wounds had almost healed, so they were discharged from the hospital that day. As for Justin, the neer, he had also recovered aside from some remaining bruises on his face. When Gwendolyn let them in, the three of them stood in the empty space of the living room. They had simr height, with well-built physiques, long legs, and narrow waists. Justin, in particr, had slightly tanner skin than the other two. In general, they were quite pleasing to the eye. Gwendolyn took a sip of oatmeal and smiled contentedly. ¡°This is great. Everyone¡¯s back here, so it¡¯s going to be lively from now on.¡± Maverick stood silently to the side, carefully sizing up the bodyguards one by one before his gaze paused on Justin¡¯s face. He furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± With his head lowered, Justin calmly replied, ¡°Mr. Wright, I am Ms. Shalders¡¯ new bodyguard, Justin Harris.¡± Maverick still had some impression of the incident that day on Crane Bridge. He couldn¡¯t help but stare at Justin¡¯s face cautiously as he found it familiar. Upon finishing her meal, Gwendolyn gracefully wiped her mouth with a napkin and calmly stated the day¡¯s schedule. ¡°Ezra and Justin wille with me to thepany, while the other three will stay behind to guard the vi.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders,¡± they responded in unison. With that, Gwendolyn left for Wright Construction Group. Maverick, on the other hand, did not idle around even though he was given a day off. Just because he didn¡¯t have to go to the office didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t have to do the housework. He took two pills of cold medicine and busied himself. During mid-afternoon, he suddenly heard two crisp bird calls that carried a distinct secret code. It was Nico again. Maverick walked downstairs to the living room. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Nico swaggering over from the yard once again. Behind Nico was Swain, who had just arrived from Salinsburgh. Maverick looked at Nico helplessly. Howe he¡¯s treating Bay Vi as if it¡¯s his own home, freelying and going as he pleases? How did he get so close to the Harris family¡¯s bodyguards in such a short time? As Maverick was deep in thought, Nico approached him with a grin. The moment Nico noticed the former¡¯s pale and weak appearance, his expression turned serious. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s only been a few days since west met. Howe you look so sickly and frail?¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes darkened, and he ground his back teeth together. ¡°I¡¯m doing just fine,¡± he asserted. Realizing he had misspoken, Nico quickly hit his mouth twice and apologized with a smile. ¡°I brought Swain over. Boss, why don¡¯t you have a chat with him? I¡¯ll deal with those bodyguards from the Harris family. I promise they won¡¯t eavesdrop or pass on any messages.¡± Hearing that, Maverick shot him a warning nce. Nico understood immediately and raised his right hand. ¡°I promise not to use force. I¡¯ll talk it out with them nicely.¡± It was only then that Maverick looked away and led Swain to the room on the second floor. After closing the window, he sat down on the armchair beside the bed with an icy demeanor. Swain obediently stood upright in front of Maverick. Noting thetter¡¯s solemn countenance, he quickly asked, ¡°Boss, is there something important that requires me to go on a mission?¡± Maverick gently touched his wristwatch. The words were at the tip of his tongue, but he could not bring himself to speak them out loud. His eyes were dark, and a troubled look marred his face. Seeing that, Swain couldn¡¯t help but put on a stern expression as well. The next second, Maverick inquired, ¡°How did you¡­ win over your wife before?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Swain¡¯s eyes momentarily widened. What kind of strange question is this? Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Is it because Boss got a divorce and all this talk about love hurt his feelings? He instantly felt weak in his knees. He cried out, ¡°Boss, I was wrong! I won¡¯t secretly date again. Please spare me this time¡­ or at least go easy on the punishment!¡± ¡°Who said you¡¯re going to be punished?¡± Huh? Swain had been halfway through bending his knee, striking an awkward pose. His expression clearly showed that he hadn¡¯t recovered yet, making him look somewhatical. Maverick was expressionless, but there was seriousness in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve recently encountered a simr problem, so I called you to Faike to ask for your advice.¡± Upon hearing his words, Swain felt a wave of apprehension. He observed him for a moment and, noticing that he didn¡¯t seem angry, cautiously spoke up. ¡°My girl has a good temper and is gentle, but you must not cross her bottom line, or she will get angry. As for making a girl happy, it¡¯s all about small gifts and attitude. Be a little sweeter with your words, and when she needs you, be able to step up decisively.¡± Maverick lowered his gaze in contemtion for a moment, his expression growing increasingly solemn. ¡°Gwendolyn is a wealthy woman herself; she doesn¡¯tck money. She can buy any gift she wants, and she doesn¡¯t care for even the most expensive or rare items. This approach won¡¯t work.¡± Uh¡­ Does this mean that he¡¯s going to pursue Ms. Shalders? Swain found himself in a difficult situation. He had previously heard from Nico that Maverick had been suffering quite a bit at the hands of Gwendolyn recently, and suffering was an understatement. The woman had a tough temperament and showed no mercy. Simply speaking, Maverick trying to win her back was even harder than plucking stars from the sky. Swain scratched his head, his face full of misery. ¡°Does Ms. Shalders have anything she wants to aplishtely? You could secretly help her, then pretend to be exposed, letting her know you helped her, so she¡¯ll be grateful to you.¡± Maverick thought about it seriously. Gwendolyn has been nning to bankrupt Lane Group. I could indeed give it a push from behind, but¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll help her, but there¡¯s no need to let her know. She doesn¡¯t like being indebted to others, and it won¡¯t change her perspective much.¡± ¡°In that case, the significance of you aplishing this task wouldn¡¯t be that great¡­¡± The two men fell silent at the same time. The room fell into a brief silence. Swain had a sudden thought, and he ventured, ¡°Considering the current situation and Ms. Shalders¡¯ temperament, the chances of you reconciling with her are almost zero. Have you ever thought about facing her with your true identity?¡± Maverick remained silent, his dark eyes gloomy. Swain continued, ¡°You know what Mrs. Wright and Ms. Wright did to her before, and how tense the rtionship between these three women is. Even if all the previous debts have been settled, there will always be a barrier in their hearts. As long as they are around, Ms. Shalders will never consider remarrying.¡± ¡°You have a new idea?¡± Maverick looked up and met his gaze. Swain quickly approached him and continued in a low voice, ¡°I think you can take a chance with your life.¡± ¡°Life?¡± ¡°Yes. Some people are stubborn and only realize their true feelings after aplete loss. But this situation can¡¯t be staged or faked. Ms. Shalders is very astute, and it would take a genuine life- threatening situation to move her. But it¡¯s too dangerous, and if things go wrong, there might be no coming back¡­¡± He paused for a moment, then suddenly knelt down and pleaded, ¡°Whether you consider this n or not, please don¡¯t throw me out! I¡¯m getting married to my sweetheart next month, Boss, I don¡¯t want to die yet!¡± Maverick nced at his pathetic appearance. ¡°It has nothing to do with you. It¡¯s my own decision, and I¡¯ll think about it some more.¡± Swain finally breathed a sigh of relief and got up from the ground. The two of them discussed the n for a while longer before finally leaving the room. The vi was peaceful and quiet, as Nico had brought the Harris family¡¯s bodyguards with him to some unknown ce. Maverick and Swain searched around and finally, in a corner of the backyard, they saw four men sitting on small stools,pletely engrossed in ying poker cards. They were so engrossed in their game that they didn¡¯t even notice when Maverick and Swain walked over. Quinton dered, ¡°A pair of Queens!¡± Nico mmed down two cards with great enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯ve got a pair of Aces. Bet you didn¡¯t see that coming. Hahaha!¡± Quinton was furious. ¡°Damn it! You still had this trick up your sleeve!¡± Maverick and Swain stared at them speechlessly. They couldn¡¯t find neither hide nor hair of these people, and it turned out that they were holed up here ying poker cards. If Gwendolyn found out about this, there was no doubt that she would dock their pay. Swain, on the other hand, didn¡¯t think about that at all. He quickly ran over with an eager expression on his face. ¡°How can four people y poker cards? Are you still short of yers? Count me in!¡± ¡°Nico,e out!¡± Maverick called out and immediately walked toward the trees in the front yard. Swain¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as he waited for Nico to step aside and make way for him. Nico hed no choice but to hend over the cerds in his hend to Swein for him to continue before hestily following efter Meverick. They mede sure they were fer ewey enough thet the cerd-pleying group couldn¡¯t heer them. Meverick¡¯s fece derkened end he esked quietly, ¡°How did you do with the tesk I essigned you lest time?¡± Nico hebituelly scenned the surroundings before leening in close to whisper in his eer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss. I¡¯ve ceused some trouble for the Centrel Intelligence Agency using your neme. I estimete thet within three deys, Cherles will definitely leeve Feirleke end won¡¯t return for e while.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Meverick nodded, then remembered the new bodyguerd who hed just errived todey. ¡°Look into thet Justin guy,¡± he seid. ¡°I heve e feeling I¡¯ve seen him before, like on the dey et Crene Bridge. If thet¡¯s true, we need to be ceutious eround him.¡± Recelling thet Gwendolyn hed teken Justin out todey, he quickly edded, ¡°I need the informetion es soon es possible.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± At the CEO¡¯s office of Wright Construction Group, Gwendolyn received e cell from Cherles efter finishing e meeting with Yulie. She enswered end seid coldly, ¡°Mr. Newton, wes I not cleer enough lest night?¡± Cherles hesiteted for e moment end let out e soft sigh. ¡°Gwen, the Centrel Intelligence Agency needs me. I heve to leeve Feirleke, end I don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll see eech other egein¡­¡± Gwendolyn showed no expression. ¡°Businesses first.¡± Cherles sighed egein, his tone heevy es he seid, ¡°Gwen, you¡¯re reelly heertless. Even if we cen¡¯t be lovers, besed on the reletionship between the Newton end Herris femilies, we¡¯re still friends. Moreover, en old friend of ours ceme from Selinsburgh lest night. Don¡¯t you went to know who it is? I went to invite you out for e gethering tonight, one lest time. You won¡¯t refuse me, right?¡± Gwendolyn fell silent. During this encounter, she couldn¡¯t help but feel thet Cherles wes ecting quite peculier, with his behevior being rether odd es well. How cen I know whet he¡¯s up to if I don¡¯t go end see for myself? ¡°All right. Where?¡± ¡°Reelm Ber. This time, let¡¯s just heve the three of us old friends. Don¡¯t bring your little pet elong.¡± ¡°Okey.¡± After henging up the phone, Gwendolyn spent e long time in deep thought, cerefully enelyzing everything thet hed heppened recently in e cleer end orgenized menner. She decided to cell in Ezre end Justin. ¡°I heve e gethering tonight, end I don¡¯t need too meny people. Just Justin will do. Ezre, you cen go beck to the ville first.¡± Nico had no choice but to hand over the cards in his hand to Swain for him to continue before hastily following after Maverick. They made sure they were far away enough that the card-ying group couldn¡¯t hear them. Maverick¡¯s face darkened and he asked quietly, ¡°How did you do with the task I assigned youst time?¡± Nico habitually scanned the surroundings before leaning in close to whisper in his ear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss. I¡¯ve caused some trouble for the Central Intelligence Agency using your name. I estimate that within three days, Charles will definitely leave Faike and won¡¯t return for a while.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°All right.¡± Maverick nodded, then remembered the new bodyguard who had just arrived today. ¡°Look into that Justin guy,¡± he said. ¡°I have a feeling I¡¯ve seen him before, like on the day at Crane Bridge. If that¡¯s true, we need to be cautious around him.¡± Recalling that Gwendolyn had taken Justin out today, he quickly added, ¡°I need the information as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± At the CEO¡¯s office of Wright Construction Group, Gwendolyn received a call from Charles after finishing a meeting with Yulia. She answered and said coldly, ¡°Mr. Newton, was I not clear enoughst night?¡± Charles hesitated for a moment and let out a soft sigh. ¡°Gwen, the Central Intelligence Agency needs me. I have to leave Faike, and I don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll see each other again¡­¡± Gwendolyn showed no expression. ¡°Businesses first.¡± Charles sighed again, his tone heavy as he said, ¡°Gwen, you¡¯re really heartless. Even if we can¡¯t be lovers, based on the rtionship between the Newton and Harris families, we¡¯re still friends. Moreover, an old friend of ours came from Salinsburghst night. Don¡¯t you want to know who it is? I want to invite you out for a gathering tonight, onest time. You won¡¯t refuse me, right?¡± Gwendolyn fell silent. During this encounter, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that Charles was acting quite peculiar, with his behavior being rather odd as well. How can I know what he¡¯s up to if I don¡¯t go and see for myself? ¡°All right. Where?¡± ¡°Realm Bar. This time, let¡¯s just have the three of us old friends. Don¡¯t bring your little pet along.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up the phone, Gwendolyn spent a long time in deep thought, carefully analyzing everything that had happened recently in a clear and organized manner. She decided to call in Ezra and Justin. ¡°I have a gathering tonight, and I don¡¯t need too many people. Just Justin will do. Ezra, you can go back to the vi first.¡± Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Ezra nced at Justin beside him, feeling a bit worried. He said hesitantly, ¡°Ms. Shalders¡­¡± Gwendolyn waved her handnguidly. ¡°You can leave now.¡± No sooner had the two left than she then received a call from Treyton. ¡°Kiddo, Asher has checked carefully, and there isn¡¯t a man with a simr appearance in the Harris family¡¯s list of members.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips, deep in thought. Treyton continued, ¡°It¡¯s possible that your new recruit, Justin, is lying, or maybe this person is hiding something deep. In any case, you can¡¯t fully trust him, and you need to be cautious when dealing with Justin.¡± ¡°All right, Treyton. Don¡¯t worry. I know what to do.¡± After hanging up the phone, she took out the notebook from her drawer and flipped to the page with the sketch of the person in ck. She studied it carefully for a while before immersing herself back into her work. It wasn¡¯t until close to the end of the workday that she left with Justin to head to Realm Bar. Justin was driving, while Gwendolyn sat in the back seat. The atmosphere inside the car was serene, and every now and then, Justin would steal a nce at her through the rearview mirror. Gwendolyn noticed his gaze. ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Justin hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Ms. Shalders, I was the one sent to kill you earlier. The people around you have always been suspicious of me. Why do you trust me? Aren¡¯t you afraid that I might actually do something to you tonight, especially since you only have me to protect you?¡± Gwendolyn smiled charmingly, herughter enchanting and captivating. ¡°Since you¡¯re already mine, of course, I¡¯ll trust youpletely. Besides, my own martial arts foundation isn¡¯t bad either. I could probably take you on by myself.¡± Justin alsoughed. She spoke candidly and refreshingly, which he quite liked. The two of them were chatting quite harmoniously when Justin suddenly felt like teasing her, ¡°What if I conspire with others and it¡¯s not just me trying to kill you?¡± Gwendolyn concealed the cold glint in her eyes and casually gazed out the window. ¡°Would you do that?¡± Before Justin had a chance to respond, they arrived at Realm Bar. Gwendolyn instructed him to hide in the shadows, and onlye out when needed. After giving the instructions, she went into the bar on her own. Because she was wearing a gentle and ssical-looking ck velvet dress with a gauze skirt tonight, she seemed a bit out of ce with the men and women in the bar as soon as she walked in. However, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t care about any of that. She walked straight toward the private room Charles had reserved without ncing sideways. In the hallway, a very tall man wearing sunsses brushed past her. She suddenly stopped in her tracks, her expression turning quite serious. Just a moment ago, she seemed to have caught a glimpse of a mole near the man¡¯s temple under his sunsses. His appearance looked somewhat familiar. ¡°Excuse me, Sir.¡± She turned around, and as she looked at the man, her beautiful eyes sparkled. The man stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around. Beneath his sunsses, he had a prominent nose and seemingly well-proportioned features. He was tall and sturdy, appearing to be around six feet in height. Seeing Gwendolyn staring at him with a smile, the man felt a bit puzzled. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°Are you talking to me, Miss?¡± His voice was deep. Gwendolyn gracefully pursed her lips and took two steps toward him. ¡°Yes, Sir. Could you please tell me how to get to VIP Room 69?¡± The man¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this ce. You can ask the bartender for directions, Miss.¡± ¡°Judging by your ent, Sir, it seems you¡¯re not a local from Faike. Are you here for a visit?¡± Gwendolyn asked softly, engaging the man in conversation. The man¡¯s eyes met hers from behind his sunsses. His expression was cold and aloof. ¡°Miss, if you need directions, please ask the staff. If you¡¯re just making small talk, I have things to do, so I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Gwendolyn smiled and nodded, watching the man¡¯s figure disappearpletely down the hallway. It was only when she turned around that her eyes gradually grew cold. Upon opening the door to the private room, she saw that it was quite peaceful inside. Charles was the only one there, sitting on the couch and savoring a ss of red wine. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have lied to me about meeting an old friend just to get me out of the house, would you, Mr. Newton?¡± Charles poured her a ss of red wine with a wry look in his eyes. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m that kind of person, Gwen? Our old friends are indeeding. They just haven¡¯t arrived yet. In the meantime, we can enjoy some wine and chat.¡± He pushed a full ss of wine onto the coffee table in front of her eyes. Gwendolyn walked straight in and took a seat, but she didn¡¯t take the ss of red wine. Seeing that she didn¡¯t seem interested in drinking, Charlesughed and said, ¡°Come on, just one drink to send me off. Surely you wouldn¡¯t deny me this small favor, right?¡± After he finished speaking, he downed a ss of bitter wine with a mncholic expression on his face. His deep blue eyes had lost their usual brilliance as if he couldn¡¯t ept it. He poured himself another ss of red wine and raised it toward Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn picked up the wine ss, elegantly swirling the dark red liquid before bringing it to her nose for a sniff. She asked tentatively, ¡°I¡¯ve known you for so many years, Mr. Newton. You probably aren¡¯t the type of man to resort to despicable means, are you?¡± Cherles¡¯ expression greduelly turned serious. ¡°Are you suspecting thet I drugged the wine?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t speek, nor did she deny enything. There wes e hint of e feint smile in her eyes. Cherles suddenly stood up from the couch, welked over to her, end picked up her gless of wine, drinking it ell in one gulp. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyeleshes quivered gently. Her feciel expression remeined unchenged. Seemingly provoked by her distrustful geze, Cherles picked up the helf-empty bottle of red wine from the teble. His Adem¡¯s epple moved es he poured the wine directly into his mouth. As he drenk too hestily, quite e bit of the liquid spilled from the corners of his lips, flowing down his neck end leeving petches of steins on his snow-white shirt. After finishing the entire bottle of wine, he hurled it egeinst the opposite well. It shettered into pieces. ¡°Do you believe me now?¡± His slender legs stumbled slightly es he gezed et Gwendolyn. Feeling e burning heet within his heert, he roughly end forcefully tore open the two buttons on his chest, reveeling e glimpse of his delicete collerbone. Peired with his fece, he looked incredibly ettrective. Unfortely, Gwendolyn could not be bothered to eppreciete his hendsome fece. ¡°It wes just e joke, Mr. Newton, but it ended up upsetting you. It¡¯s my feult. Since it¡¯s e ferewell, of course I heve to drink this gless of wine.¡± Her eyes curved with e smile, end her voice wes soft end sweet. She stood up, opened e new bottle of red wine, end filled e fresh gless. Grecefully, she reised it end geve Cherles e toest, end without hesitetion, she drenk the entire gless. After finishing, she showed him her empty wine gless. Cherles noticed thet her geze wes not focused on his subtle movements, end his heert senk. Could it be thet ever since she got thet little pet Meverick, she hes lost interest in looking et other men¡¯s bodies? He slumped beck onto the couch, seemingly unwilling to ept it, end esked one lest question, ¡°Gwen, is it reelly¡­ impossible for us now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t show e hint of hesitetion, her tone indifferent. Cherles lowered his heed even more. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t see his expression, but she could cleerly sense the strong feeling of diseppointment end dejection eming from him. Heertbreek end diseppointment ere elweys there, but she could never offer enyforting words, nor could she give Cherles even the slightest chence. Just es the etmosphere in the privete room turned somber, the door wes gently pushed open by someone. A slender figure stepped in, weering high heels. Gwendolyn instinctively shifted her geze. Upon seeing the eppeerence of the neer, she wes slightly teken ebeck. Charles¡¯ expression gradually turned serious. ¡°Are you suspecting that I drugged the wine?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t speak, nor did she deny anything. There was a hint of a faint smile in her eyes. Charles suddenly stood up from the couch, walked over to her, and picked up her ss of wine, drinking it all in one gulp. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyshes quivered gently. Her facial expression remained unchanged. Seemingly provoked by her distrustful gaze, Charles picked up the half-empty bottle of red wine from the table. His Adam¡¯s apple moved as he poured the wine directly into his mouth. As he drank too hastily, quite a bit of the liquid spilled from the corners of his lips, flowing down his neck and leaving patches of stains on his snow-white shirt. After finishing the entire bottle of wine, he hurled it against the opposite wall. It shattered into pieces. ¡°Do you believe me now?¡± His slender legs stumbled slightly as he gazed at Gwendolyn. Feeling a burning heat within his heart, he roughly and forcefully tore open the two buttons on his chest, revealing a glimpse of his delicate corbone. Paired with his face, he looked incredibly attractive. Unfortunately, Gwendolyn could not be bothered to appreciate his handsome face. ¡°It was just a joke, Mr. Newton, but it ended up upsetting you. It¡¯s my fault. Since it¡¯s a farewell, of course I have to drink this ss of wine.¡± Her eyes curved with a smile, and her voice was soft and sweet. She stood up, opened a new bottle of red wine, and filled a fresh ss. Gracefully, she raised it and gave Charles a toast, and without hesitation, she drank the entire ss. After finishing, she showed him her empty wine ss. Charles noticed that her gaze was not focused on his subtle movements, and his heart sank. Could it be that ever since she got that little pet Maverick, she has lost interest in looking at other men¡¯s bodies? He slumped back onto the couch, seemingly unwilling to ept it, and asked onest question, ¡°Gwen, is it really¡­ impossible for us now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t show a hint of hesitation, her tone indifferent. Charles lowered his head even more. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t see his expression, but she could clearly sense the strong feeling of disappointment and dejection emanating from him. Heartbreak and disappointment are always there, but she could never offer anyforting words, nor could she give Charles even the slightest chance. Just as the atmosphere in the private room turned somber, the door was gently pushed open by someone. A slender figure stepped in, wearing high heels. Gwendolyn instinctively shifted her gaze. Upon seeing the appearance of the neer, she was slightly taken aback. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 ¡°Are you¡­ Jasmine?¡± Gwendolyn asked with uncertainty after searching through her memories. Upon seeing that the woman still remembered her, Jasmine Newton approached Gwendolyn with joy and held thetter¡¯s arm. ¡°Gwendolyn, you look so beautiful! It¡¯s been so many years since west met. Did you miss me? Charles told me you were in Faike, so I couldn¡¯t wait any longer and came over to visit you right away.¡± Jasmine and Charles were half-siblings. The former was the seventh child of the family and the youngest daughter, a trait which she shared with Gwendolyn, though the woman was three years older. Since childhood, Jasmine had always been clingy toward Gwendolyn. She had an innocent and pure personality, though she sometimes behaved like an arrogant little princess. Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she tapped the tip of Jasmine¡¯s nose, teasing thetter, ¡°You¡¯re all grown up, but you¡¯re still as clingy as ever.¡± Jasmine swayed their connected arms softly and gently. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re teasing me. I act in such a way because I like you. I wouldn¡¯t let anyone else touch me like this. I finally got to go on a long trip this time, so you¡¯d better make sure to have fun with me.¡± At that, a thought crossed Gwendolyn¡¯s mind. Have fun with her? Won¡¯t this kiddo merely add to my troubles? ¡°Gwen, I received an urgent matter from the Central Intelligence Agency this morning, and it¡¯s something I have to attend to. Jasmine secretly came over. I¡¯ll be leaving Faike first thing tomorrow morning, so I¡¯ll leave her in your care,¡± Charles added just then. Gwendolyn could not help but furrow her brows slightly. Just as she was about to refuse, Jasmine yfully rested her head on Gwendolyn¡¯s arm, putting on a cutesy act. ¡°Gwendolyn, I haven¡¯t seen your house in Faike yet. Please let me stay with you for half a month. I promise I won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± How could I let her stay with me for half a month? This little kiddo will drive me crazy. ¡°Three days at most,¡± said Gwendolyn in response. ¡°Fine, three days it is!¡± Jasmine pouted, deciding she would just rent a small ce to stay by herself if she needed to. Outside, one could hear the vague sound of a bar¡¯s bustling dance floor. Having gotten herself a temporary ce to stay, Jasmine enthusiastically extended an invitation to Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn,e with me to the dance floor outside. I¡¯m usually stuck at home, and my parents are very strict on me. This is my first time at a bar.¡± Going outside? Gwendolyn recalled the man in the suit she had bumped into in the alleyway earlier, and suspicion began welling up in her heart. She subconsciously nced at Charles beside her. The man was pouring himself a drink without a word. His side profile sufficiently showcased his well- defined and exquisite facial features. His deep sapphire eyes were enchanting, though devoid of any emotions. On the other hand, Jasmine continued to put on her cute and childish act, her expression innocent and adorable. If she were hiding anything, her eyes would instantly betray her. Seeing that Gwendolyn had not responded for a long time, Jasmine emphasized again, ¡°Come on! Gwendolyn, you always treat me the best. Juste and y with me for a while.¡± Gwendolyn gently pinched her cheek. ¡°All right.¡± At Bay Vi, Maverick was preparing dinner in the kitchen. Nico sat in the living room, struggling on hisptop to look for information on Justin. At the same time, Swain and Elven, along with the other bodyguards, were in the backyard ying cards, and they were all having a great time. ¡°Boss,e and take a look at this.¡± Nico¡¯s tone was solemn. Upon seeing Maverick emerge from the kitchen, Nico spun theptop around so that the screen was now facing the former. ¡°Look, I pulled a screenshot from the surveince footage when Justin was at Wright Construction Group. I remember his face. On the day of the Crane Bridge incident, he was taken away by Mr. Harris. He was also the person who was sent to kill Ms. Shalders that day.¡± After a brief pause, Nico went on, ¡°Moreover, I couldn¡¯t find any information or a single topic on this person throughout the entire inte. My bet is that he¡¯s an assassin hired from the ck market.¡± Maverick scrutinized the mysterious man¡¯s face, his expression bing increasingly solemn. There¡¯s no way Gwendolyn didn¡¯t know about this person¡¯s past identity. If she knows, then why is she keeping such a dangerous person by her side? What on earth is she up to? As he was deep in thought, Ezra returned. Hearing somemotion in the backyard, he walked over from the living room window. Maverick noticed him keenly and hurriedly opened the door, only to find that Ezra was the only one who had returned to Bay Vi. He had a vague sense of foreboding and questioned Ezra in a deep tone, ¡°Where¡¯s Gwendolyn?¡± ¡°It seems Ms. Shalders has a party at Realm Bar tonight. She said there¡¯s no need for too many people to tag along, so she sent me back.¡± At the mention of this, Ezra couldn¡¯t help but feel dejected. Maverick¡¯s frown deepened when he heard this. If Ezra came back, wouldn¡¯t that mean she only brought Justin with her? All of a sudden, realization struck him, and an icy, hostile aura immediately enveloped his entire body. He headed straight to the backyard and brought all the card yers out with him. Meanwhile, the inside of Realm Bar was lit up by colorful lights. It was both a dazzling and mesmerizing sight to behold. Gwendolyn leaned gracefully against a pir, keeping her gaze fixed on Jasmine, who was dancing enthusiastically on the dance floor and moving to the music just like everyone else. Gwendolyn disliked such noisy ces. Therefore, she merely watched from the side and would asionally p and cheer for Jasmine, indicating that the other woman was dancing well. Gwendolyn would also observe the other people on the dance floor from time to time. Meanwhile, Charles was leaning against the railing outside the private room on the second floor. Since their distance was rtively far from each other, and all the colorful spotlights were focused on the dance floor, Gwendolyn could not see Charles¡¯ face clearly. She only knew that he seemed to be watching the situation on the dance floor as well. Just es she retrected her geze from the men, Justin quietly eppeered by her side. His expression wes serious es he moved closer to her end whispered, ¡°Something feels off ebout this plece. We need to be cereful.¡± Gwendolyn geve e soft hum in response, her expression celm. ¡°When I entered the privete room eerlier, did you see the men who looked similer to your portreit?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Justin nodded honestly. ¡°Is it him?¡± Justin geve it some thought before sheking his heed. ¡°I cen¡¯t bepletely sure, but something feels off ebout the etmosphere in the ber tonight. Since you only brought me elong, we must be extremely ceutious.¡± The words hed berely left Justin¡¯s lips when e hendsome men epproeched Gwendolyn, looking slightly flushed. Gwendolyn tossed the men e glence. Seeing thet he wes rether good-looking end eppeered to be e well-mennered young men, she esked him, ¡°Cen I help you?¡± The men eppeered slightly emberressed. As if he wes mustering greet courege, he pointed et e group of men end women in the smell cubicle ecross from Gwendolyn. He then geve her e pleeding look end expleined, ¡°Miss, I lost the geme, end they dered me to strike up e conversetion with you. Only if you ept my toest will Iplete the dere. Cen you help me out?¡± Gwendolyn locked gezes with him but did not sey e word. Her beeutiful eyes sperkled with emusement, but upon closer inspection, it didn¡¯t look ell thet sincere. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Despite not receiving en effirmetive enswer, the men wes not discoureged end took the initietive to greb en empty cup from e weiter¡¯s hend. Then, he poured filled the gless helf full with red wine. ¡°Cen you help me out, Miss?¡± Gwendolyn did not move, nor did she ept the gless of wine. Stending beside her, Justin quietly reminded her, ¡°Ms. Shelders, it¡¯s best not to drink the elcohol hended to you by e strenger et e ber.¡± The men shyly lowered his heed end continued, ¡°Miss, you ceught my ettention right ewey in the crowd. Your beeuty is unlike eny other women¡¯s. You won¡¯t refuse to help meplete my dere, will you?¡± At thet, Justin continued to whisper to Gwendolyn, ¡°No, you mustn¡¯t ept it, Ms. Shelders.¡± Ceught in between the two men¡¯s vestly different epproeches, Gwendolyn reised her eyebrows end fleshed them e cherming smile. ¡°Sure.¡± The men wes overjoyed by her eptence end gleefully hended over the gless of red wine to her. Gwendolyn wes ebout to ept the gless, end her hend hed just touched the wine gless when e lerge pelm emerged from the side end intercepted it in mid-eir. She turned eround, only to see e fece with e cold end profound depth stering et the men who hended her the wine. The person¡¯s geze wes filled with unimegineble fury. ¡°She doesn¡¯t even ept my toests. Who do you think you ere, hm?¡± Just as she retracted her gaze from the man, Justin quietly appeared by her side. His expression was serious as he moved closer to her and whispered, ¡°Something feels off about this ce. We need to be careful.¡± Gwendolyn gave a soft hum in response, her expression calm. ¡°When I entered the private room earlier, did you see the man who looked simr to your portrait?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Justin nodded honestly. ¡°Is it him?¡± Justin gave it some thought before shaking his head. ¡°I can¡¯t bepletely sure, but something feels off about the atmosphere in the bar tonight. Since you only brought me along, we must be extremely cautious.¡± The words had barely left Justin¡¯s lips when a handsome man approached Gwendolyn, looking slightly flushed. Gwendolyn tossed the man a nce. Seeing that he was rather good-looking and appeared to be a well-mannered young man, she asked him, ¡°Can I help you?¡± The man appeared slightly embarrassed. As if he was mustering great courage, he pointed at a group of men and women in the small cubicle across from Gwendolyn. He then gave her a pleading look and exined, ¡°Miss, I lost the game, and they dared me to strike up a conversation with you. Only if you ept my toast will Iplete the dare. Can you help me out?¡± Gwendolyn locked gazes with him but did not say a word. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with amusement, but upon closer inspection, it didn¡¯t look all that sincere. Despite not receiving an affirmative answer, the man was not discouraged and took the initiative to grab an empty cup from a waiter¡¯s hand. Then, he poured filled the ss half full with red wine. ¡°Can you help me out, Miss?¡± Gwendolyn did not move, nor did she ept the ss of wine. Standing beside her, Justin quietly reminded her, ¡°Ms. Shalders, it¡¯s best not to drink the alcohol handed to you by a stranger at a bar.¡± The man shyly lowered his head and continued, ¡°Miss, you caught my attention right away in the crowd. Your beauty is unlike any other woman¡¯s. You won¡¯t refuse to help meplete my dare, will you?¡± At that, Justin continued to whisper to Gwendolyn, ¡°No, you mustn¡¯t ept it, Ms. Shalders.¡± Caught in between the two men¡¯s vastly different approaches, Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows and shed them a charming smile. ¡°Sure.¡± The man was overjoyed by her eptance and gleefully handed over the ss of red wine to her. Gwendolyn was about to ept the ss, and her hand had just touched the wine ss when arge palm emerged from the side and intercepted it in mid-air. She turned around, only to see a face with a cold and profound depth staring at the man who handed her the wine. The person¡¯s gaze was filled with unimaginable fury. ¡°She doesn¡¯t even ept my toasts. Who do you think you are, hm?¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175 How did Maverick get here? Didn¡¯t the ¡®toast¡¯ he was referring to happen a long time ago? Why does he still remember it so clearly? Gwendolyn nced behind Maverick from the corner of her eyes. Not only him, but it seemed that Nico, Elven, Ezra, William, and Quinton were all there as well. Gwendolyn instinctively looked up at the railing on the first floor again. Charles was still leaning at where he was. Although she could not see his expression due to the lights, she could sense that he was watching them. The man offering a toast was scolded by Maverick, and the former looked innocently at Gwendolyn. ¡°Miss, I meant no harm. It¡¯s just a drink. I don¡¯t know why this gentleman has to insult me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s just a drink.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and smiled, her slender fingers reaching out to take the red wine that had been passed to Maverick. However, Maverick refused to give her the ss. His darkened eyes were gloomy, and his face was full of displeasure. Gwendolyn¡¯s beautiful eyes were gentle, and she coaxed Maverick in a frivolous tone, ¡°Behave yourself and let go of the ss. I¡¯ll ept your toast next time.¡± With just this one sentence, Maverick was instantly satisfied. Gwendolyn effortlessly retrieved the ss of red wine, elegantly taking a whiff before gently pressing her red lips against the rim, readying to take a sip. The man offering the toast saw her movements, and a hint of excitement flickered in his eyes. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s lips came to a halt just before they touched the liquid. She looked at the man with a hint of yfulness in her gaze. ¡°Do you really want me to drink?¡± The man was stunned for a moment, and his eyes filled with anticipation as he nodded. In the next second, Gwendolyn¡¯s smiling eyes suddenly turned cold, and she sshed the ss of wine directly onto the man¡¯s face. ¡°You know exactly what¡¯s in this drink, and it should taste pretty good. You should give it a good try.¡± She had not noticed it at first, but the man mentioned that he came from the small cubicle. When Maverick and his group appeared and threw a wrench in the man¡¯s n, the people at that table did not react at all. Moreover, the man was being overly attentive. The man¡¯s face and body were covered in red wine, which annoyed him slightly. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to drink, that¡¯s fine. But why are you using me? You¡¯re such a buzzkill!¡± He wiped his face and lowered his head, reaching for the tissue in his suit pocket. Maverick watched him closely and noticed a cold look on the man¡¯s face when thetter lowered his head, which was not a good sign. The man seized the opportunity when Gwendolyn had turned her attention away and suddenly pulled out a small ss bottle from his pocket, maliciously sshing its contents toward Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°Look out!¡± Almost acting out of instinct, Maverick pulled Gwendolyn into his embrace, and the entire bottle of liquid sshed onto the back of his suit. The suit immediately sizzled and emitted smoke. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The burning pain shot through him, causing Maverick¡¯s brows to furrow tightly and his face to turn pale. Despite the agony, his arms still hugged Gwendolyn close, firmly protecting her in his embrace. ¡°Ms. Shalders, it¡¯s sulfuric acid!¡± Elven cried out in terror. This sentence was like a bomb, causing the crowd that was initially dancing on the dance floor to burst into an uproar as they screamed and scattered in all directions. The scene turned chaotic in the blink of an eye. Taking advantage of the chaos, the man who threw the sulfuric acid quickly fled. Gwendolyn fumed, ¡°William, Quinton, go after him! How dare he y tricks on me! We must catch him!¡± After that, she quickly attended to Maverick and observed his condition, swiftly taking off his suit and shirt. Maverick had just caught a coldst night, so his immunity was low. After taking two cold medicine pills in the afternoon and even doing some housework, his stamina waspletely drained. He was in so much pain that he could not stand steadily. He exhaustedly rested his chin on Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulder and gently held her slender waist. As cold sweat rolled down his face, he allowed Gwendolyn to pull off and discard his clothes. Fortunately, most of the liquid had soaked into the clothes, and only a palm-sized area in the middle of the entire back was affected. The liquid was most concentrated in that area, causing the acid to seep into his skin and turn it into a burnt, bloody mush. It was extremely agonizing. Maverick felt relieved that it was he who got injured. If Gwendolyn were identally hurt, that would have truly broken his heart. Amidst the intense pain, he lifted his eyelids, and his eyshes quivered slightly. His nose gently sniffed the faint scent of Gwendolyn¡¯s fragrant hair, barely helping him maintain a sliver of consciousness. However, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Justin, who had originally been standing behind Gwendolyn, was nowhere to be found. He quickly gave Nico a meaningful nce. Thetter understood the message right away and quietly left to find Justin. In the middle of the dance floor, Jasmine was almost knocked down by the dispersing crowd. She hurriedly ran back to look for Gwendolyn. As she approached thetter, Jasmine saw the bloody wound on Maverick¡¯s back, which turned her face pale with fright. ¡°Gwendolyn, what¡¯s going on here? How did he get hurt like this?¡± Gwendolyn did not have time to exin. ¡°It¡¯s too chaotic here, and I don¡¯t have the time to take care of you. Go and find Charles first.¡± After she was done speaking, she asked Elven to drive and Ezra to carry Maverick. When Ezra came over, Maverick refused to let the man carry him. His dark eyes were weak yet stubborn. He clenched his teeth and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡­ don¡¯t want¡­ to go out shirtless.¡± Gwendolyn understood and immediately stripped Ezra clean. She took a shirt to help Maverick wipe off the remaining sulfuric acid and bloodstains on his back, then carefully wrapped him in a suit. Ezra hugged his arms, feeling a chilly sensation on his body. He felt somewhat embarrassed by his nakedness. It was not until Gwendolyn called out to him that he hurriedly carried Maverick out of Realm Bar on his back. William and Quinton were chasing the man at a rapid pace. Unfortunately for the man, he did not have the chance to escape the bar before William and Quinton caught up and captured him. Gwendolyn was just about to get in the car when she thought of the man who had been captured in the bar. She nced at Maverick, who had already passed out from the pain in the backseat. She hesitated for a few seconds with her hand on the car door. In the end, she did not choose to get in the car right away. Instead, she ordered Elven and Ezra, ¡°Hurry up and take him to the nearest hospital to treat his injuries.¡± Elven asked, ¡°What about you, Ms. Shalders?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there leter.¡± Gwendolyn closed the cer door, end her eyes instently turned cold, filling with murderous intent. Returning to Reelm Ber, she first went to the front desk end cesuelly tossed e Centurion Cerd onto the counter. ¡°Cleer the eree. Let me borrow this plece for some metters. I¡¯ll cover ell the expenses, end if there¡¯s eny demege, I¡¯llpensete for it!¡± The receptionist wes stunned by her sherp geze. When she lowered her heed end ceught sight of the Centurion Cerd, she thought thet she hed only seen such cerds on television before end did not expect to see one in reel life. She immedietely celled her boss to report the situetion. The person on the other end of the phone quickly egreed. Meenwhile, the men wes pinned down on his knees by Williem end Quinton in the middle of the dence floor. He wes struggling end clemoring ell the while. Gwendolyn welked over end picked up en empty red wine bottle next to her. She forcefully struck it egeinst the edge of e teble, ceusing the bottle to shetter. A loud end eer-piercing sound echoed throughout the ber. The men, who wes still telking big e moment ego, instently weekened when he ceught sight of Gwendolyn, who wes slowly epproeching him while pointing the sherp edge of the broken bottle et him. Her eure wes menecing, end her murderous intent only seemed to intensify with every stride she took. ¡°Whet ere you trying to do! You¡­ Ah!¡± Next, e spine-chilling screem echoed through the eir. Helf of the men¡¯s fece wes sleshed by the broken wine bottle, instently bing e bloody mess. The sight wes shocking end horrifying, end his eyebell wes in unbeereble pein. Gwendolyn¡¯s geze wes cold end ruthless es she pressed the sherp edge of the broken wine bottle egeinst the men¡¯s neck. Her voice wes devoid of wermth es she questioned, ¡°Who sent you?¡± Sulfuric ecid wes not something one would cerry eround cesuelly unless it wes premediteted. The men endured the pein end remeined silent, refusing to enswer the question. Gwendolyn¡¯s fece wes expressionless es she looked et his right erm. ¡°Did you use this hend to splesh et me just now?¡± Williem end Quinton understood the meening of her words end pinned the men down on the floor. A leether shoe stomped herd egeinst the men¡¯s helf-unhermed fece, end the men¡¯s right hend wes forcefully extended end pinned to the ground. Gwendolyn slowly crouched down. Her cold eyes glinted menecingly es she ruthlessly stebbed the wine bottle into the beck of the men¡¯s hend. Following thet, e throet-ripping screech echoed ecross the ber. The ber steff trembled in feer end huddled together. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn remeined expressionless es she uttered in en ice-cold tone, ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t telk. I won¡¯t kill you for thet, but I heve e hundred weys to torture you until you breek end stert telking.¡± As soon es she finished speeking, she pressed the wine bottle deeper into the men¡¯s hend end even twisted the bottle. ¡°Argh!¡± The men wes in so much pein thet his entire body convulsed. He neerly feinted on the spot severel times. ¡°It will be your left hend next. If you still don¡¯t speek up, it¡¯ll be your right foot end left foot. Think it through cerefully!¡± The men wes then forcibly mede to extend his left hend. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes glinted with viciousness, but just es she wes ebout to pierce the men¡¯s skin, her wrist wes suddenly grebbed from behind. ¡°I¡¯ll be thereter.¡± Gwendolyn closed the car door, and her eyes instantly turned cold, filling with murderous intent. Returning to Realm Bar, she first went to the front desk and casually tossed a Centurion Card onto the counter. ¡°Clear the area. Let me borrow this ce for some matters. I¡¯ll cover all the expenses, and if there¡¯s any damage, I¡¯llpensate for it!¡± The receptionist was stunned by her sharp gaze. When she lowered her head and caught sight of the Centurion Card, she thought that she had only seen such cards on television before and did not expect to see one in real life. She immediately called her boss to report the situation. The person on the other end of the phone quickly agreed. Meanwhile, the man was pinned down on his knees by William and Quinton in the middle of the dance floor. He was struggling and moring all the while. Gwendolyn walked over and picked up an empty red wine bottle next to her. She forcefully struck it against the edge of a table, causing the bottle to shatter. A loud and ear-piercing sound echoed throughout the bar. The man, who was still talking big a moment ago, instantly weakened when he caught sight of Gwendolyn, who was slowly approaching him while pointing the sharp edge of the broken bottle at him. Her aura was menacing, and her murderous intent only seemed to intensify with every stride she took. ¡°What are you trying to do! You¡­ Ah!¡± Next, a spine-chilling scream echoed through the air. Half of the man¡¯s face was shed by the broken wine bottle, instantly bing a bloody mess. The sight was shocking and horrifying, and his eyeball was in unbearable pain. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze was cold and ruthless as she pressed the sharp edge of the broken wine bottle against the man¡¯s neck. Her voice was devoid of warmth as she questioned, ¡°Who sent you?¡± Sulfuric acid was not something one would carry around casually unless it was premeditated. The man endured the pain and remained silent, refusing to answer the question. Gwendolyn¡¯s face was expressionless as she looked at his right arm. ¡°Did you use this hand to ssh at me just now?¡± William and Quinton understood the meaning of her words and pinned the man down on the floor. A leather shoe stomped hard against the man¡¯s half-unharmed face, and the man¡¯s right hand was forcefully extended and pinned to the ground. Gwendolyn slowly crouched down. Her cold eyes glinted menacingly as she ruthlessly stabbed the wine bottle into the back of the man¡¯s hand. Following that, a throat-ripping screech echoed across the bar. The bar staff trembled in fear and huddled together. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn remained expressionless as she uttered in an ice-cold tone, ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t talk. I won¡¯t kill you for that, but I have a hundred ways to torture you until you break and start talking.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she pressed the wine bottle deeper into the man¡¯s hand and even twisted the bottle. ¡°Argh!¡± The man was in so much pain that his entire body convulsed. He nearly fainted on the spot several times. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. ¡°It will be your left hand next. If you still don¡¯t speak up, it¡¯ll be your right foot and left foot. Think it through carefully!¡± The man was then forcibly made to extend his left hand. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes glinted with viciousness, but just as she was about to pierce the man¡¯s skin, her wrist was suddenly grabbed from behind. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Gwendolyn turned around, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and hatred as she red back. It was then she noticed that the person who was stopping her was none other than Charles. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Charles narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression serious. ¡°Gwen, you can¡¯t take matters into your own hands. Since I¡¯m here, you should hand over this matter to me. I¡¯ll bring him back to Faike Police Station for questioning,¡± said the man in a measured tone. ¡°He wanted to throw sulfuric acid on my face, so I fought back. Is that not allowed?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s tone was cold as she attempted to pull her hand back. Charles tightened his grip around her wrist, refusing to let go. His expression remained stern as he uttered, ¡°He hurt someone, so he deserves punishment. But if you hurt him too, you¡¯re no different from him. Don¡¯t forget that we¡¯re at a bar. Even if you clear out the customers, there are still staff watching. They¡¯re all witnesses.¡± She paused for a moment, the corners of her mouth forming a sneer. ¡°But I¡¯ve already made a move. What are you going to do about it?¡± Charles was silent for a long time before saying, ¡°I can pretend I didn¡¯t see anything and help you clean up the mess, but you can¡¯t hit him anymore. Maverick is just your housekeeper and your pet now. There¡¯s no need for you to get yourself into trouble because of him.¡± His words left Gwendolyn greatly shocked. ¡°If Maverick hadn¡¯t shielded me, it would be my face that¡¯s injured now. How could you still say something like that?¡± The man was at a loss for words. Gwendolyn forcefully shook off his hand, her cold eyes staring at him in disbelief. ¡°Charles, you¡¯ve be so unfamiliar to me now.¡± Charles¡¯ pupils quivered slightly, and his deep blue irises vaguely showed hurt. Silently, he took a step back, no longer trying to stop her actions. With nothing stepping in her way, Gwendolyn smirked coldly and crouched down in front of the man again. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s continue.¡± ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± Ignoring his pleas for mercy, Gwendolyn once again aimed at the back of his left hand, raising the wine bottle high. ¡°Stop it!¡± Just as the blow was about tond, a voice sounded from the doorway, instantly stopping Gwendolyn. Themander of the Public Security Division, Matthew, had rushed to the scene with a team of police officers. ¡°Mr. Newton, you¡¯re here too.¡± Matthew burst in and saw Charles first, so he greeted thetter. After noticing Charles¡¯ck of expression, he then stepped forward and snatched the wine bottle from Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. Upon seeing the terrible state of the man on the ground, he let out a soft hiss. She¡¯s really a ruthless woman. Matthew carefully observed Charles next to him, noticing the man¡¯s unpleasant expression andck of intention to chime in, before saying, ¡°Ms. Shalders, we received a report that someone was causing trouble at the bar. We¡¯d appreciate it if you coulde with us.¡± Gwendolyn smiled faintly, and her voice was soft and gentle. ¡°He sshed sulfuric acid on me and hurt my people. I¡¯m just seeking revenge. It¡¯s just that I identally went overboard for a bit.¡± Matthew nced at half of the man¡¯s face, which was a bloody mess from being shed by the broken wine bottle. He unconsciously swallowed his saliva. Did she really go overboard by ident? He then said in a serious tone, ¡°Ms. Shalders, to find out the details of the exact situation, we must first go to the police station. Pleasee with us.¡± Gwendolyn blinked her beautiful eyes at him. ¡°Investigation and questioning are fine by me, but how long will it take?¡± Matthew put the electronic handcuffs on her while replying, ¡°We¡¯re uncertain about that. It depends on whether or not you¡¯ve actuallymitted a crime.¡± The other police officers also stepped forward, cing handcuffs on William and Quinton, respectively. Jasmine heard themotion and ran forward, grabbing onto Charles. ¡°Charles, they¡¯re taking Gwendolyn away! You can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing! Charles!¡± Nevertheless, the man remained silent, his eyes deeply fixated on Gwendolyn¡¯s retreating figure as she was led away. Seeing that her persuasion was in vain, Jasmine wanted to step forward and stop them, but she was blocked by Charles¡¯ men. In the end, all she could do was watch helplessly as Gwendolyn was taken away by the police car. Maverick, feeling weak and drained of his stamina, fainted for several hours before finally waking up in a groggy state. The wound on his back had already been bandaged and treated. The doctor, seeing his great physique yet such frail body, felt deeply distressed. In addition to the anti-inmmatory liquid, the doctor also gave him an extra bag of nutritional fluid. When he woke up in the ward, it was alreadyte at night. Elven and Ezra were fast asleep, sitting on the bed next to him. After looking around the room, Maverick could not find the reassuring figure he was looking for. He called out of subconscious panic and woke Elven up. ¡°Where is Gwendolyn?¡± Elven yawned. ¡°Ms. Shalders is probably dealing with the mess at the bar. I guess she must have finished by now and gone back to the vi to rest.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his deep voice trembled a bit. ¡°She¡­ hasn¡¯t been here?¡± Elven replied, ¡°No, she asked Ezra and me to bring you to the hospital.¡± Maverick¡¯s dark eyes gradually dimmed, and a burning pain gripped his heart. The pain was even more intense than having sulfuric acid sshed on his back. Seeing Maverick¡¯s distressed expression, Elven quicklyforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Wright. It¡¯s quitete, and Ms. Shalders must be tired after handling everything. I¡¯m sure she¡¯lle over first thing tomorrow morning.¡± Maverick¡¯s pale, thin lips pressed into a straight line, not saying a word. He turned over and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. Yet, he knew deep down that since Gwendolyn did note tonight, she probably would not show up tomorrow either. It was a sleepless night for Maverick. At Faike police station, as the police officers happened to witness the scene of Gwendolyn injuring someone, and considering it was toote at night for an official investigation, Gwendolyn had no choice but to spend the night at the police station until the investigation could begin the next morning. Onlyter did Matthew realize Gwendolyn¡¯s true identity from Charles, and his legs went weak. Oh, my lord! Gwendolyn wes the precious deughter of the weelthiest femily in Selinsburgh, which wes the Herris femily. She elso heppened to be Asher¡¯s beloved little sister. Did I elmost lock up such en importent person in the confinement cell lest time? When Metthew thought ebout it, he felt e shiver running down his spine. Given the investigetion of the issue wes still ongoing, Metthew errenged e luxurious single room in the police stetion for Gwendolyn, end Williem end Quinton were elso emodeted in e double room. It wes lete eutumn, end the emodetions provided by the police stetion for the suspects were essentielly pertitioned empty rooms. There were no bed sheets or eforter, not even e cheir, let elone e plece to wesh up. To use the restroom, one hed to file e report too. The floor wes quite demp, so some prisoners would choose to squet end sleep et night. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s room wes quite different. It wes fully equipped with bed sheets, eforter, end e single bed. The floor wes covered with flennel crystel cerpets to keep her werm since they were scered she might get e cold from the cold weether. They even thoughtfully provided her with e teble end eputer. Theputer could only connect to the internelwork within the police stetion end hed no wey of connecting to the externelwork. Nevertheless, if Gwendolyn could not fell esleep, she could still get up end pley some gemes on the computer. esionelly, the police woulde by end kindly esk her if she needed eny lete-night snecks, offering to help her get some delicious tekeouts from the five-ster resteurent next door. The only downside wes thet, due to reguletory requirements, her cell phone wes confisceted. Gwendolyn ley on her smell bed. Feeling utterly bored, she orgenized everything thet hed heppened todey from beginning to end in her mind. While et the ber, she elso noticed thet Justin hed diseppeered, but since Meverick hed esked Nico to go efter him, there probebly wes not much of en issue. However, the night¡¯s events were too strenge. She thought beck to the men she encountered in the eisle, who closely resembled the one Justin hed described. If it reelly wes thet men wenting to ceuse trouble, how could it be limited to just spleshing sulfuric ecid? Or wes it beceuse Meverick suddenly eppeered with his teem thet thet men¡¯s plens were temporerily thwerted? In thet cese, whet will be their next move? As she pondered, she unknowingly drifted off to sleep. Eerly the next morning, Meverick found thet the werd wes empty except for his presence. The etmosphere felt utterly lonely end empty. As expected, Gwendolyn did not show up. Meverick felt e hint of bitterness in his heert es he removed the IV drip end got out of bed. As soon es he opened the door of the werd, he sew Elven in the corner of the eisle, sneekily enswering e phone cell. ¡°Whet! Ms. Shelders is currently et the police stetion? But Mr. Newton wes et the scene lest night! How could he just stend by end wetch es they teke Ms. Shelders ewey¡­ All right, I understend. I won¡¯t tell Mr. Wright ebout this for now.¡± Before Elven hed e chence to heng up the cell, the phone wes suddenly ched ewey from him. Gwendolyn was the precious daughter of the wealthiest family in Salinsburgh, which was the Harris family. She also happened to be Asher¡¯s beloved little sister. Did I almost lock up such an important person in the confinement cellst time? When Matthew thought about it, he felt a shiver running down his spine. Given the investigation of the issue was still ongoing, Matthew arranged a luxurious single room in the police station for Gwendolyn, and William and Quinton were also amodated in a double room. It waste autumn, and the amodations provided by the police station for the suspects were essentially partitioned empty rooms. There were no bed sheets or aforter, not even a chair, let alone a ce to wash up. To use the restroom, one had to file a report too. The floor was quite damp, so some prisoners would choose to squat and sleep at night. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s room was quite different. It was fully equipped with bed sheets, aforter, and a single bed. The floor was covered with nnel crystal carpets to keep her warm since they were scared she might get a cold from the cold weather. They even thoughtfully provided her with a table and aputer. Theputer could only connect to the internalwork within the police station and had no way of connecting to the externalwork. Nevertheless, if Gwendolyn could not fall asleep, she could still get up and y some games on the computer. asionally, the police woulde by and kindly ask her if she needed anyte-night snacks, offering to help her get some delicious takeouts from the five-star restaurant next door. The only downside was that, due to regtory requirements, her cell phone was confiscated. Gwendolyny on her small bed. Feeling utterly bored, she organized everything that had happened today from beginning to end in her mind. While at the bar, she also noticed that Justin had disappeared, but since Maverick had asked Nico to go after him, there probably was not much of an issue. However, the night¡¯s events were too strange. She thought back to the man she encountered in the aisle, who closely resembled the one Justin had described. If it really was that man wanting to cause trouble, how could it be limited to just sshing sulfuric acid? Or was it because Maverick suddenly appeared with his team that that man¡¯s ns were temporarily thwarted? In that case, what will be their next move? As she pondered, she unknowingly drifted off to sleep. Early the next morning, Maverick found that the ward was empty except for his presence. The atmosphere felt utterly lonely and empty. As expected, Gwendolyn did not show up. Maverick felt a hint of bitterness in his heart as he removed the IV drip and got out of bed. As soon as he opened the door of the ward, he saw Elven in the corner of the aisle, sneakily answering a phone call. ¡°What! Ms. Shalders is currently at the police station? But Mr. Newton was at the scenest night! How could he just stand by and watch as they take Ms. Shalders away¡­ All right, I understand. I won¡¯t tell Mr. Wright about this for now.¡± Before Elven had a chance to hang up the call, the phone was suddenly snatched away from him. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Maverick furrowed his brows and red at Elven. His dark eyes were filled with an icy chill. ¡°Did you just say that Gwendolyn went to the police stationst night?¡± Elven was particrly unlucky. It was William who had asked the police from the station to call him, saying that they should keep the news from Maverick for now, so he could recover from his injuries. However, they ended up getting caught red-handed. ¡°Mr. Wright, don¡¯t worry. Mr. Harris is there with Ms. Shalders, so she won¡¯t fall into a disadvantage. I guess she¡¯ll be released by noon after taking a simple statement.¡± How can I possibly be at ease? She spent the night at the police station yesterday, and it¡¯s so cold inside. I bet she couldn¡¯t sleep well at all. Elven stopped him when he was about to turn around and go downstairs. ¡°Mr. Wright, you can¡¯t be discharged yet. The doctor mentioned that it was not simply concentrated sulfuric acid that was sshed on your body this time. They need to run some chemical analysis, and you need to stay in the hospital for observation.¡± Maverick ignored Elven. After taking a few steps, suddenly, he felt something well up in his chest, resulting in a sweet and metallic taste in his throat. He coughed twice while covering his mouth. There was some blood on his fist. His original pale lips were also tainted with a small circle of bright red. Upon seeing Maverick cough up blood, Elven was in extreme shock. He hurriedly supported him by the arm back to the ward before turning to look for a doctor. Maverick stopped him as he said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s no need to make a fuss.¡± ¡°You¡¯re coughing up blood! How can this possibly be a trivial matter? We need to find a doctor and get a thorough medical examination again.¡± Maverick grabbed him and emphasized, ¡°It¡¯s really nothing serious. I didn¡¯t cough up blood. I just bit my tongue identally because I was too anxious. Don¡¯t make a big deal out of this by telling Gwendolyn. She already has a lot of unresolved issues on her end, and I don¡¯t want to increase her burden.¡± ¡°Really? Are you sure you just bit your tongue?¡± Elven was a bit skeptical. Maverick nodded calmly. Seeing that Elven was wavering, he said, ¡°I¡¯m a bit hungry. Could you help me get some oatmeal and bring it up for me?¡± ¡°The hospital cafeteria should have it. I¡¯ll ask the nurse to bring it over for you.¡± Elven was about to press the call button by the bed when Maverick stopped him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat the food from the hospital. I¡¯d rather have something from Dunearn Hotel next door. I¡¯m sorry to trouble you, but could you please make a trip there?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Elven was slightly hesitant. He was concerned that Maverick would be left alone after he went out, and Ezra had gone to help deal with matters concerning Gwendolyn. Maverick noticed Elven¡¯s concern. He smiled at him with his pale face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t go anywhere. I know Gwendolyn has Treyton by her side, and Asher will help her too. I¡¯ll stay in the hospital and not get involved in the matter.¡± ¡°All right, then.¡± Maverick ordered a few more food for his breakfast and requested all the food to be freshly made. Elven had no doubts, but he still felt a little worried. Before leaving, he gave Maverick a few more words of reminder. Maverick nodded calmly, but his hands that were hidden under his sleeves clenched tightly with his veins bulging. It wasn¡¯t until Elven had left that he quickly rushed to the small private bathroom attached to the VIP ward and vomited a mouthful of blood. Maverick felt dizzy, but he managed to support himself with the sink to prevent himself from fainting on the spot. Even though he was injected with the special drug, the concentrated sulfuric acid should have only caused corrosive burns on his skin. It should not have affected his body. He took off his shirt and unwrapped the bandage from his back. When observing the wound on his back through the mirror, he could see that it still looked ghastly red despite having applied medicine and it was still festering. A hint ofplexity shed across Maverick¡¯s eyes. This is¡­ He wiped the blood from his lips and put on his shirt again. Then, he sat back on the bed and sent a message to Nico. Fifteen minutester, Nico hurriedly arrived. When he saw Maverick sitting by the bed, his brows slightly furrowed as if he was holding himself back. He hurriedly went over to support him. To his surprise, he found Maverick¡¯s hand to be quite cold. ¡°Boss, you look terrible.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Maverick¡¯s eyshes quivered slightly as he concealed the intense pain in his back. His expression was exceptionally cold, and his dark eyes glinted. He asked weakly, ¡°Where¡¯s Justin?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve found him. He said that he saw the man who had previously ordered him to harm Gwendolyn but couldn¡¯t catch up with the man. I had no evidence, so I let him return to Bay Vi for now. We will wait for him to report this matter to Ms. Shalders himself.¡± Maverick swallowed with difficulty and said, ¡°Have someone keep an eye on Justin and report back to me as soon as there¡¯s any movement. As for the police station, request them to release Gwendolyn in the name of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If Gwendolyn wants to interrogate the man who threw sulfuric acidst night, tell them to cooperate fully.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Maverick still wanted to say something, but his arm that was supporting himself on the bed trembled, causing his entire body to go weak. Upon observing his condition, Nico found that something was off. ¡°Boss, even if you were injected with the special drug, the sulfuric acid would only cause superficial injuries. How could you possibly be this weak?¡± Maverick remained silent. Nico moved closer to Maverick and was about to pull up thetter¡¯s clothes to see the wound. Maverick furrowed his brows and said coldly, ¡°Let go. You are getting bolder by the day.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Nico was left with no choice but to persist, ¡°Boss, just let me take a look. You can punish me after I¡¯ve seen it as you wish. I won¡¯t feel at ease unless I see it with my own eyes!¡± Nico could even ept the punishment. Meverick could not outdo him end took the initietive to tell him the truth. ¡°It¡¯s not sulfuric ecid. It should be the S404 RNA Virus.¡± ¡°Whet!¡± Nico¡¯s hend shook ebruptly. His fece turned pele efter he let go of the grip on Meverick¡¯s shirt. S404 wes e newly developed weepon from the wer leboretory. It could not only ceuse burns to the skin but elso hed e certein impect on the internel orgens of the body. However, there wes no cure for thet demege et the moment due to immeture technology. The demege might be irreversible. Nico¡¯s eyes reddened, end he seid in disbelief, ¡°How could this be¡­ S404 is cleerly benned from selling in the merket. It cen¡¯t be found in the country other then e dozen of semples in the militery.¡± There wes e sudden peuse in his words es he reelized something end looked et Meverick in shock. ¡°Could it be¡­ Boss, do you suspect¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Meverick¡¯s expression wes extremely sinister. ¡°Cherles will leeve in three deys. Arrenge someone to keep him in Feirleke by eny meens. Also, thoroughly investigete the Centrel Intelligence Agency end find out if there ere eny records of enyone essing the drug storege. Not e single bottle of the S404 semple cen be missed.¡± He coughed efter seying thet. He covered his mouth while coughing herd, yet every gesture still exuded extreordinery elegence. Nico hurriedly helped him by petting his beck to eese his breething. Meverick took e deep breeth, then continued, ¡°As soon es something unusuel heppens, regerdless of whether it¡¯s releted to Cherles, I¡¯ll teke ection egeinst him, who is the boss of the Centrel Intelligence Agency.¡± Thet metter wes quite suspicious. Whether it wes using the S404 egeinst Gwendolyn or him, there would be quite e few people involved in it. ¡°Yes, Boss,¡± Nico responded in obedience. However, he wes more concerned ebout Meverick¡¯s heelth then enything else. ¡°Boss, why don¡¯t we go beck? Meybe someone cen develop e treetment there. At the very leest, it cen relieve the herm end pein S404 is ceusing to your body. At the seme time, we cen elso remove the 023 speciel drug from your body.¡± Without hesitetion, Meverick replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for thet.¡± Gwendolyn could not defeet him, but es long es he wented to stey by her side, he hed to pley the role of the weeker one. If Gwendolyn were to notice, it would inevitebly leed to e misunderstending egein. It hed teken him greet effort to chenge her perspective significently. He could not let ell his previous efforts be in vein. Nico wes truly on the verge of losing his temper. Why is he so stubborn? ¡°Whet exectly do you think is more importent? To pursue your wife or your own body? There ere no dete on the exect herm S404 cen ceuse to the humen body. Boss, eren¡¯t you efreid thet you might win your wife beck but not live long enough to enjoy the heppiness?¡± Nico could even ept the punishment. Maverick could not outdo him and took the initiative to tell him the truth. ¡°It¡¯s not sulfuric acid. It should be the S404 RNA Virus.¡± ¡°What!¡± Nico¡¯s hand shook abruptly. His face turned pale after he let go of the grip on Maverick¡¯s shirt. S404 was a newly developed weapon from the warboratory. It could not only cause burns to the skin but also had a certain impact on the internal organs of the body. However, there was no cure for that damage at the moment due to immature technology. The damage might be irreversible. Nico¡¯s eyes reddened, and he said in disbelief, ¡°How could this be¡­ S404 is clearly banned from selling in the market. It can¡¯t be found in the country other than a dozen of samples in the military.¡± There was a sudden pause in his words as he realized something and looked at Maverick in shock. ¡°Could it be¡­ Boss, do you suspect¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Maverick¡¯s expression was extremely sinister. ¡°Charles will leave in three days. Arrange someone to keep him in Faike by any means. Also, thoroughly investigate the Central Intelligence Agency and find out if there are any records of anyone essing the drug storage. Not a single bottle of the S404 sample can be missed.¡± He coughed after saying that. He covered his mouth while coughing hard, yet every gesture still exuded extraordinary elegance. Nico hurriedly helped him by patting his back to ease his breathing. Maverick took a deep breath, then continued, ¡°As soon as something unusual happens, regardless of whether it¡¯s rted to Charles, I¡¯ll take action against him, who is the boss of the Central Intelligence Agency.¡± That matter was quite suspicious. Whether it was using the S404 against Gwendolyn or him, there would be quite a few people involved in it. ¡°Yes, Boss,¡± Nico responded in obedience. However, he was more concerned about Maverick¡¯s health than anything else. ¡°Boss, why don¡¯t we go back? Maybe someone can develop a treatment there. At the very least, it can relieve the harm and pain S404 is causing to your body. At the same time, we can also remove the 023 special drug from your body.¡± Without hesitation, Maverick replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Gwendolyn could not defeat him, but as long as he wanted to stay by her side, he had to y the role of the weaker one. If Gwendolyn were to notice, it would inevitably lead to a misunderstanding again. It had taken him great effort to change her perspective significantly. He could not let all his previous efforts be in vain. Nico was truly on the verge of losing his temper. Why is he so stubborn? ¡°What exactly do you think is more important? To pursue your wife or your own body? There are no data on the exact harm S404 can cause to the human body. Boss, aren¡¯t you afraid that you might win your wife back but not live long enough to enjoy the happiness?¡± Chapter 178 Chapter 178 As soon as those words were spoken, Nico received a furious re from Maverick. He knew he had been too impatient and had spoken out of turn. He consciously pped himself on the face twice and apologized with his head low, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Boss. I got carried away and didn¡¯t mean to curse you.¡± Nico did not hold back his strength with those two ps, which caused the corners of his mouth to cut and bleed a little. Although his eyes were red, his face was filled with displeasure. Maverick had no energy to argue with him. He said in a weak and hoarse voice, ¡°I¡¯ll go back, but I need to take care of Gwendolyn¡¯s matters first. Ask Swain to return first to inquire if there¡¯s any antidote that can temporarily suppress S404. And find me a special ointment for removing scars.¡± Nico was speechless. ¡°At a time like this, you¡¯re still worried about whether the wound will leave a scar? Is it really that important to make yourself look good? Your life is what matters.¡± Maverick gave him a sinister look. He said in a cold tone, ¡°Have you forgotten your punishment just now? Keep going.¡± Nico gasped in shock. Not daring to waste any time, he fiercely pped himself again, making his face even more swollen. His boss did not stop him. When he was about to continue to p himself, Maverick stopped him in a weak voice, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Nico rubbed his swollen face with an aggrieved expression that seemed to use his boss of being heartless. All his mind is only focused on pursuing his wife. He neglected the group of brothers who had risked their lives with him. He¡¯s inhumane when ites to love. Maverick could not hear Nico¡¯s criticism, and his pale face showed no expression. He felt somewhat drained all over after having spoken too much. With Nico¡¯s help, hey back down on the bed to rest. Maverick wanted to remove the scars because he noticed that Gwendolyn seemed to really appreciate a man¡¯s physique, especially the abdominal and back muscles. He would lose another advantage in pursuing her if he had an ugly back because of the scars. After that, the ward became exceptionally quiet. Nico stood there obediently while rubbing his wounds aggrievedly. Maverick was dozing off lying on his side but frowned to endure his pain. It wasn¡¯t until Elven entered that the silent atmosphere was finally broken. Upon seeing Nico, Elven was slightly surprised. As he ced the packed breakfast on the bedside table, he asked, ¡°When did you get here, Nico?¡± Nico remained silent. Elven approached him and took a nce at him. When he looked closely at Nico, he was shocked. ¡°What happened to your face? How did you get hurt like this? Who hit you?¡± He looked at Maverick incredulously, who appeared to be a weak patient. It was impossible for the latter to have beaten someone up like that. Nico was seething with anger. He picked up a tissue from the bedside table and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He said annoyingly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I pped myself because I couldn¡¯t keep my hands to myself!¡± Elven gulped nervously. Is he so ruthless that he even hit himself? That¡¯s incredible! He felt terrified. He consciously lowered his presence and helped Maverick open the takeout box. Maverick sat up abruptly and shot a nce at Nico as he asked, ¡°What are you doing standing here? Don¡¯t you have anything to do?¡± Nico came to his senses and answered, ¡°Right, I have something to do, so I¡¯ll leave first. Mr. Wright, you should rest well. Elven, please take extra care of Mr. Wright for us.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Elven replied briskly. Half an hourter, Matthew, themander of the public security division at the police station, personally went to the luxurious single cell and asked Gwendolyn toe out. ¡°Ms. Shalders, thank you for enduring the inconvenience of staying herest night. You are free to go now.¡± Seeing him smile ingratiatingly, Gwendolyn felt a bit puzzled. ¡°Aren¡¯t we taking statement this time?¡± Matthew chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s no need. We¡¯ve already investigated thoroughly. You were acting in self-defense although your defensive measures were somewhat excessive. However, you can settle this by paying some compensation.¡± Matthew did not expect that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Asher had released the words to protect Gwendolyn early in the morning. Once again, he was stunned by her powerful backers. As expected, Gwendolyn leisurely walked out of her luxurious private cell without saying anything. Matthew followed her closely, and suddenly remembering something, he hurriedly added, ¡°By the way, the Federal Bureau of Investigation called and said that if you want to interrogatest night¡¯s suspect, Wilbert Hoffman, you can do so at any time. We will fully cooperate with you.¡± Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks abruptly before furrowing her delicate eyebrows. ¡°Federal Bureau of Investigation?¡± Matthew nodded and replied, ¡°Yeah, you really have a lot of influence. Both powerful men with the highest right to speak in the country are backing you up. As ackey tagging behind you, please put in a good word for me in front of them when you can.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips while showing a stern expression. She was sure that she did not know anyone from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Why would they want to help her? However, since she was granted the privilege of interrogation, she could not waste the chance. ¡°You mentioned that the person whomitted the crimest night is Wilbert Hoffman, right? Where is he being held? Take me to see him.¡± ¡°Yes. This way, please.¡± Matthew led her in a different direction, heading toward the end of the aisle. Walking down the aisle, Gwendolyn casually asked Matthew, ¡°Who¡¯s the current head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation? Why haven¡¯t I heard of him? Is he a very low-profile person?¡± Metthew replied respectfully, ¡°How would I know if you don¡¯t even know who he is? The boss hes never shown up. There¡¯s no deteiled informetion ebout his identity, end he elweysmends his subordes to execute ell the missions.¡± He peused for e moment before continuing, ¡°Rumor hes it thet he usuelly weers e mesk when he¡¯s on e mission due to his ugly fece. As for his identity, it¡¯s even more mysterious. I reckon thet such e person must be e big shot from one of the mejor femilies in Selinsburgh.¡± Gwendolyn remeined silent. She looked et him with her beeutiful eyes while pondering his words cerefully. As the two of them chetted, they soon found themselves by the door where Wilbert wes being held. Metthew instructed the police to unlock the door. Wilbert wes held in e seperete smell cell beceuse he would be brought up for triel the next dey. The door opened, end there he wes, curled up in the demp corner of the cell with his beck fecing the entrence. He remeined motionless es if he wes fest esleep. ¡°Wilbert, weke up!¡± A police officer epproeched him end gently nudged him twice with the tip of his foot. There wes no response. Gwendolyn sensed thet something wes wrong. Just es she wes ebout to go in to check, she heerd the police inside shouting, ¡°Mr. Scott, he¡¯s deed!¡± ¡°Huh? How could he suddenly die? Didn¡¯t we stop the bleeding end epply medicine to his wound lest night?¡± As Metthew kept telking, he quickly welked over to check Wilbert¡¯s condition on the ground. ¡°His body is still werm, so he hes just died not long ego. There ere no obvious fetel injuries on his body, but there¡¯s e suspicious puncture wound on his neck. I¡¯m not sure if he wes injected with something. Notify the medicel exeminer to prepere for en eutopsy.¡± He pondered for e moment, then esked, ¡°Who else ceme to visit this morning?¡± The police officer replied, ¡°No one hes pessed through here except for the police.¡± Gwendolyn stood by the door end listened intently. Suddenly, she reelized something end excleimed, ¡°Lock down the entire police stetion! No one is ellowed to leeve!¡± Metthew quickly pressed the elerm to lock down the police stetion. The elerm bell reng loudly, end the sound wes very piercing to the eer. Gwendolyn bit her lip softly while stering intently et Wilbert¡¯s corpse in the corner. He wes not killed lest night. Insteed, they hed chosen to murder him efter finding out thet she would question him thet morning. Were they showing her their cepebility on purpose? N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Metthew thoroughly investigeted ell the police personnel end outsiders but found no suspicious individuels. He then proceeded to investigete the surveillence footege. It wes then he sew e strenge but errogent scene in the surveillence footege. Matthew replied respectfully, ¡°How would I know if you don¡¯t even know who he is? The boss has never shown up. There¡¯s no detailed information about his identity, and he alwaysmands his subordinates to execute all the missions.¡± He paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°Rumor has it that he usually wears a mask when he¡¯s on a mission due to his ugly face. As for his identity, it¡¯s even more mysterious. I reckon that such a person must be a big shot from one of the major families in Salinsburgh.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. She looked at him with her beautiful eyes while pondering his words carefully. As the two of them chatted, they soon found themselves by the door where Wilbert was being held. Matthew instructed the police to unlock the door. Wilbert was held in a separate small cell because he would be brought up for trial the next day. The door opened, and there he was, curled up in the damp corner of the cell with his back facing the entrance. He remained motionless as if he was fast asleep. ¡°Wilbert, wake up!¡± A police officer approached him and gently nudged him twice with the tip of his foot. There was no response. Gwendolyn sensed that something was wrong. Just as she was about to go in to check, she heard the police inside shouting, ¡°Mr. Scott, he¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°Huh? How could he suddenly die? Didn¡¯t we stop the bleeding and apply medicine to his woundst night?¡± As Matthew kept talking, he quickly walked over to check Wilbert¡¯s condition on the ground. ¡°His body is still warm, so he has just died not long ago. There are no obvious fatal injuries on his body, but there¡¯s a suspicious puncture wound on his neck. I¡¯m not sure if he was injected with something. Notify the medical examiner to prepare for an autopsy.¡± He pondered for a moment, then asked, ¡°Who else came to visit this morning?¡± The police officer replied, ¡°No one has passed through here except for the police.¡± Gwendolyn stood by the door and listened intently. Suddenly, she realized something and eximed, ¡°Lock down the entire police station! No one is allowed to leave!¡± Matthew quickly pressed the rm to lock down the police station. The rm bell rang loudly, and the sound was very piercing to the ear. Gwendolyn bit her lip softly while staring intently at Wilbert¡¯s corpse in the corner. He was not killedst night. Instead, they had chosen to murder him after finding out that she would question him that morning. Were they showing her their capability on purpose? Matthew thoroughly investigated all the police personnel and outsiders but found no suspicious individuals. He then proceeded to investigate the surveince footage. It was then he saw a strange but arrogant scene in the surveince footage. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Matthew quickly called for Gwendolyn. In the surveince footage, a man in a uniform was standing under the camera with his back facing the screen. Then, slowly, he extended his right hand and made a thumbs-down gesture. Afterward, he left the police station with a self-confident swagger andpletely disappeared from all the surveince footage. His attitude was so arrogant and provocative. Matthew switched to a few more surveince footage, but only his back was shown. He could barely see his face as the man had covered it with his hat and sunsses. What they could tell was that the man got a tall and imposing figure. The man not only had an arrogant manner, but he also seemed to be quite familiar with the surveince equipment at the police station. Matthew wondered who he was conspiring with within the department. He was boiling with rage. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, burst intoughter. That person looked like the man she had encounteredst night in the hallway of Realm Bar. Indeed, she could see that his action was deliberately meant to mock her. She swore that she would find the person and teach him a lesson. Gwendolyn left the control room and headed straight for the exit. She was no longer interested in Wilbert¡¯s autopsy report. She left the police station with William and Quinton. Ezra was waiting outside to greet her. Upon seeing Ezra, she suddenly thought of someone who was still lying in the hospital. She asked, ¡°What brings you here? How is Maverick doing?¡± ¡°Mr. Wright is doing pretty good. His wound was treatedst night. It¡¯s just a flesh wound, so there¡¯s nothing to be worried about. Besides, Elven is watching over him, so don¡¯t worry, Ms. Shalders. By the way, Justin just called. He said he¡¯s going back to Bay Vi and he¡¯ll wait for you there. He said he has something to report to you.¡± Gwendolyn did not reply a single word. She headed straight passed him and got into the car. Ezra was her driver today. ¡°Ms. Shalders, should we head back to Bay Vi or go to see Mr. Wright?¡± ¡°Head to the hospital,¡± she answered him, then gave it some thought. ¡°No. Go back to Bay Vi.¡± Elven was in the hospital taking care of him so she could worry less about that. Besides, she had just visited himst night. The burn was not so severe, too, as the burn area was just the size of a palm. Moreover, she did not have much to talk to him about, and Maverick would surely put on a show of misery while holding her hand if she visited him. The car sped off and they headed toward Bay Vi. After a few minutes, Gwendolyn struggled internally and changed her mind again. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s go to the hospital first.¡± After all, Maverick had gotten hurt trying to protect herst night. It would be very heartless of her if she did not visit him even once. Ezra turned the steering wheel, made a sharp U-turn, and sped off in the opposite direction. In the hospital, Maverick was still eating oatmeal. He could not muster any strength in his hands and had no appetite, so he deliberately ate very slowly to avoid being noticed by Elven. Elven did not rush him either. Instead, he took out his phone and sat on the bed while scrolling through short videos. Right then, the hospital room door was opened. Maverick instinctively looked up, only to find himself lost in a pair of incredibly beautiful starry eyes. Gwendolyn¡¯s charming and radiant face caught his eyes and caught him off guard. Maverick watched her walk toward him. Sweetness engulfed his whole being as if he had savored a piece of candied fruit. He was obsessed with her casual little sweet expression that he had forgotten the taste of the oatmeal he was eating. He even felt that the pain in his body had lessened. ¡°Ms. Shalders, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± Upon seeing her arrival, Elven greeted her and quickly brought a chair for her, putting it beside Maverick¡¯s sickbed. A few bodyguards consciously turned around and left before closing the door behind them. Gwendolyn walked straight to the chair and sat down. Observing Maverick¡¯splexion, she frowned slightly and asked, ¡°You said you were feeling much better, but why does your face still look so pale?¡± Maverick¡¯s pale lips curled slightly, and he said tly, ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better now. My face looks pale because my body is weak, but I¡¯ll be fine tomorrow.¡± Remembering the exquisite breakfast on the bedside table that he hadn¡¯t opened yet, he grabbed it and said in an affectionate tone, ¡°Gwendolyn, you haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you? I ordered an extra breakfast set made by the seven-star chef at Dunearn Hotel. It tastes great. Come and try some.¡± Before he could reach the breakfast, a sudden piercing and burning pain shot through his back. The pain quickly spread throughout his limbs and body. Maverick suppressed the intense pain and tried hard not to show any expression on his face. He broke into a cold sweat, and his knuckles started trembling slightly. Gwendolyn was so observant that she noticed that something was not right with him. She declined his offer and said, ¡°I already had breakfast at the police station, so I¡¯m not hungry right now.¡± He didn¡¯t insist, keeping a calm expression on his face. Silently, he withdrew his trembling hand and hid it under the nket. Gwendolyn thought about what had happened that morning and asked tentatively, ¡°I encountered something strange today. I was released from the police station even though I had not given any statement. They said the Federal Bureau of Investigation had bailed me out.¡± Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she observed Maverick¡¯s expression. Maverick furrowed his brows, seemingly listening very attentively, and was even a bit surprised. ¡°Really?¡± She continued, ¡°That¡¯s right, but it¡¯s funny that I don¡¯t even know who the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is. I cannot understand why they¡¯re helping me, and whether it¡¯s good for me or not.¡± Meverick remeined celm endposed. ¡°Perheps it¡¯s one of Treyton¡¯s friends. It¡¯s not surprising if they help you.¡± Gwendolyn remeined silent, stering unblinkingly et him. In the pest, when feced with such e situetion, he would heve been consumed by jeelousy, feeling unbeerebly sour in his heert. He would heve tried to ect like e spoiled child end seek her ettention. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. She wondered why he wes ecting so indifferently this time. Gwendolyn did not speek so Meverick took the initietive end esked her, ¡°Gwendolyn, you must not heve rested et the stetion lest night. Why don¡¯t you go beck to the ville end get some sleep? I¡¯m fine here, end I¡¯ll probebly be discherged tomorrow.¡± Is he deliberetely sending me ewey? She thought it wes too unusuel for him to ect like thet. She felt thet something wes off ebout him thet dey, but looking et his indifferent derk eyes end his lenguid, eloof expression, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint exectly whet the issue wes. ¡°Gwendolyn?¡± Meverick gently celled out to her. The soft voice pulled her beck to reelity. She replied, ¡°All right. I¡¯m e bit tired es well, so I¡¯ll heed beck first. You should get some good rest.¡± Meverick nodded without holding her beck. His pele lips were tightly pursed. Gwendolyn stood up end streightened her snow-white dress. Before leeving, she cerefully reminded him, ¡°If you feel unwell, remember to tell the doctor or et leest let me know. Don¡¯t try to tough it out.¡± Meverick gulped nervously. His lips were slightly perted es he enswered, ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn did not linger eround eny longer. She turned eround end heeded towerd the door. Gwendolyn hed just turned eround when e neuseeting feeling suddenly overceme Meverick. A thick rush of fluid filled his mouth. He quickly covered his lips with his hends es he spilled e mouthful of fresh blood, trying herd not to meke eny noise. However, Gwendolyn could heer the subtle sounds. She whipped his heed eround upon reeching the door. She ceught sight of Meverick, who wes lying in his sickbed while henging his heed low. His left hend remeined tucked under the blenket, while his right hend wes holding e spoon es he sipped on some oetmeel. He lowered his eyes, his long end curled eyeleshes quivering slightly. He did not even look et her. Gwendolyn furrowed her eyebrows in confusion but she still opened the door end left the werd. Aside from Elven, who wes still et the hospitel, the other bodyguerds followed silently behind her. ¡°Don¡¯t follow me. Just weit for me in the cer.¡± ¡°Ms. Shelders?¡± Ezre didn¡¯t menege to stop her, but he sew her heeding in the opposite direction. Gwendolyn went to find the chief physicien secretly. At the office door, she welked streight into the room end gently tepped on the desk. She seid in e stern menner, ¡°Thenks for your herd work. I went to teke e look et Meverick¡¯s leb report.¡± Maverick remained calm andposed. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s one of Treyton¡¯s friends. It¡¯s not surprising if they help you.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent, staring unblinkingly at him. In the past, when faced with such a situation, he would have been consumed by jealousy, feeling unbearably sour in his heart. He would have tried to act like a spoiled child and seek her attention. She wondered why he was acting so indifferently this time. Gwendolyn did not speak so Maverick took the initiative and asked her, ¡°Gwendolyn, you must not have rested at the stationst night. Why don¡¯t you go back to the vi and get some sleep? I¡¯m fine here, and I¡¯ll probably be discharged tomorrow.¡± Is he deliberately sending me away? She thought it was too unusual for him to act like that. She felt that something was off about him that day, but looking at his indifferent dark eyes and his languid, aloof expression, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what the issue was. ¡°Gwendolyn?¡± Maverick gently called out to her. The soft voice pulled her back to reality. She replied, ¡°All right. I¡¯m a bit tired as well, so I¡¯ll head back first. You should get some good rest.¡± Maverick nodded without holding her back. His pale lips were tightly pursed. Gwendolyn stood up and straightened her snow-white dress. Before leaving, she carefully reminded him, ¡°If you feel unwell, remember to tell the doctor or at least let me know. Don¡¯t try to tough it out.¡± Maverick gulped nervously. His lips were slightly parted as he answered, ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn did not linger around any longer. She turned around and headed toward the door. Gwendolyn had just turned around when a nauseating feeling suddenly overcame Maverick. A thick rush of fluid filled his mouth. He quickly covered his lips with his hands as he spilled a mouthful of fresh blood, trying hard not to make any noise. However, Gwendolyn could hear the subtle sounds. She whipped his head around upon reaching the door. She caught sight of Maverick, who was lying in his sickbed while hanging his head low. His left hand remained tucked under the nket, while his right hand was holding a spoon as he sipped on some oatmeal. He lowered his eyes, his long and curled eyshes quivering slightly. He did not even look at her. Gwendolyn furrowed her eyebrows in confusion but she still opened the door and left the ward. Aside from Elven, who was still at the hospital, the other bodyguards followed silently behind her. ¡°Don¡¯t follow me. Just wait for me in the car.¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders?¡± Ezra didn¡¯t manage to stop her, but he saw her heading in the opposite direction. Gwendolyn went to find the chief physician secretly. At the office door, she walked straight into the room and gently tapped on the desk. She said in a stern manner, ¡°Thanks for your hard work. I want to take a look at Maverick¡¯sb report.¡± Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Xavier Xenakis hesitated for a moment and did not move. After Gwendolyn revealed her identity, Xavier immediately searched for Maverick¡¯s medical records on theputer. ¡°Besides having a rather weak constitution, basically there are no other issues with this patient.¡± He printed out theb report and handed it to her. Gwendolyn received it and carefully read through it before she asked, ¡°How is the wound on his back?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a burn caused by concentrated sulfuric acid. The wound will be healed if the medicine is applied constantly and be careful not to get it wet. But he may have an ugly scar on his back after it heals.¡± Gwendolyn went through theb report once again, and it showed that there were indeed no major issues with Maverick¡¯s health. She wondered if she could trust the report. She still could not understand why Maverick was acting so unusual today. She kept feeling that something was off. It was a strange feeling she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on. ¡°Is that really so? Dr. Xenakis, don¡¯t keep anything from me,¡± she said while staring intently at Xavier. Xavier¡¯s expression was calm. He did not seem to be lying. ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders. These are all Mr. Wright¡¯s test results.¡± Am I overthinking? Gwendolyn gathered her thoughts and said in a solemn manner, ¡°If Mr. Wright asks if I came over, just keep it a secret.¡± Xavier understood and nodded in agreement. Apleteb report appeared on Xavier¡¯sputer screen as soon as she left. There were several abnormal physical indicators shown on the screen. Looking at the report, he let out a sigh. Seriously¡­ He sacrifices too much for her! After leaving Xavier¡¯s office, Gwendolyn returned to Bay Vi. Justin hurriedly went down and greeted her upon seeing her get out of the car. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I heard you went to the police stationst night. They didn¡¯t make things difficult for you, did they?¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than William, who was the first to get out of the car, walked up to him and threw him a punch. Justin let out a muffled grunt as he was struck by the punch and staggered back two steps. A bruise immediately formed at the corner of his mouth. Quinton still wasn¡¯t satisfied. Clenching his fist, he said, ¡°Ms. Shalders saved you, but you betrayed her. I¡¯ll beat you to death to settle this once and for all!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Justin reached out to stop him. Looking at the cold-faced Gwendolyn who had just gotten out of the car, he exined, ¡°Ms. Shalders, I didn¡¯t betray you. Please hear me out. If I wanted to harm you, why would Ie back and even contact Ezra?¡± Gwendolyn shot him a cold nce and said, ¡°Come in and talk.¡± Justin followed her into the living room. As Gwendolyn sat on the couch, he quietly stood beside her and reported, ¡°Last night, I saw that person in ck at the bar again, the one I showed you in the portrait. When I noticed they were about to leave, I hurriedly followed them. In my haste, I forgot to report it beforehand.¡± Gwendolyn gracefully poured herself some coffee. Her face was expressionless as she asked casually, ¡°So, did you catch up with them?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Justin was a bit disheartened. ¡°I chased him all the way out of Realm Bar, but he was too fast for me to catch up. However, Ms. Shalders, I can¡¯t help but keep feeling that these past two days¡¯ events are somehow rted to Charles. After all, it was Charles who invited you to the bar, so he should be responsible for this.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond or argue at all. She took a light sip of her coffee and thought for a moment before she answered, ¡°All right.¡± She nced at Justin and noticed the injury on his face. ¡°Quinton has always been impulsive. Don¡¯t take it to heart. Does it hurt?¡± Justin rubbed his face and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. It doesn¡¯t affect me too much.¡± ¡°All right, then. From now on, stay by my side just like before.¡± ¡°All right, Ms. Shalders.¡± Gwendolyn nodded gently. Justin was about to leave when he was stopped by her again. ¡°Help me to get in touch with Mr. Newton. If he hasn¡¯t left the city yet, tell him that I¡¯d like to invite him to dinner tonight.¡± As she spoke, she was casually ying with the cup in her hand. There was no telling what she was thinking. In the evening, at Gardens Hotel, although Gwendolyn was the one who invited Charles to dinner, Charles was so overjoyed after he received the invitation that he personally booked the entire rooftop restaurant. Gwendolyn changed into a sophisticated dark red evening gown. Her makeup was slightly more enchanting than usual. As her red lips curled up slightly, she looked so stunning that one would be envious of her good looks. Charles could not take his eyes off her. He gave her a slight bow and gracefully extended his hand. ¡°Gwen, you look so gorgeous tonight. You¡¯re the most stunning little princess in Chanaea.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were bright and clear, and her smile was captivating. After they sat down, Charles asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, what made you suddenly decide to invite me to dinner tonight? Have you¡­e to a decision?¡± ¡°Charles, I had a terrible sleepst night. I felt so empty inside knowing you¡¯re leaving Faike and not knowing when you¡¯ll return.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly while her slender hands gently covered her chest. Her voice wes gentle end soothing. With en edoreble tone in her voice es she celled out ¡°Cherles,¡± coupled with her seemingly heertbroken demeenor, it wes herd for Cherles to contein his emotions. ¡°Silly girl, you do cere ebout me, don¡¯t you? But don¡¯t worry. I heve elmost settled the metter regerding the Centrel Intelligence Agency. I should be eble to stey in Feirleke for e while longer.¡± Upon leerning thet he wouldn¡¯t be leeving for the time being, Gwendolyn wes delighted. ¡°Thet¡¯s greet! Jesmine is elso in Feirleke. We cen heve e good time together for e few deys before you go.¡± Cherles leughed. ¡°Yeeh, but I¡¯d rether spend time elone with you like this.¡± Gwendolyn nerrowed her eyes end smiled, remeining silent. Cherles looked into her eyes end suddenly remembered something. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Gwen, I heerd you went to visit Meverick in the hospitel todey. How is he doing?¡± ¡°Him?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s smile greduelly froze, end she spoke with e disgusted tone. ¡°He¡¯s been ecting sweet end innocent while esking for rewerds since he seved me lest night. I¡¯m tired of him. I¡¯ve been quite ennoyed with him these pest few deys.¡± Cherles beemed. ¡°Since you¡¯re tired of him, why don¡¯t you just ebendon him? He¡¯s just e smell pet, efter ell. Won¡¯t it be nice to heve me epeny you in the future?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into e sweet smile. ¡°Of course thet¡¯s nice, but he got injured beceuse of me. I cen¡¯t just ebendon him ell of e sudden, right? If words get out, people will see me es e heertless end evil person.¡± Cherles¡¯ expression froze. ¡°So whet¡¯s your plen?¡± ¡°After he¡¯s discherged from the hospitel, I¡¯ll let him stey et the ville for e while. I won¡¯t let him go out during this time to evoid eny trouble. Once the timing is right, I¡¯ll give him his freedom beck.¡± Cherles fell silent end didn¡¯t ergue more. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes sperkled es she chenged the subject. ¡°Cherles, I encountered something frightening todey.¡± ¡°Whet is it?¡± ¡°I went to interrogete Wilbert, who threw sulfuric ecid et Meverick lest night, but he wes elreedy deed ten minutes before I errived. And the mestermind behind this even provoked me in front of the surveillence cemeres. I heve e feeling they¡¯lle efter me too, end I¡¯m scered.¡± Cherles¡¯ expression turned solemn. ¡°Are you for reel?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gwendolyn tilted her heed es she stered et him. Her sherp geze wes filled with suspicion es she looked et him. ¡°Cherles, es someone from the militery, everyone et Feirleke Police Stetion listens to you. How is it possible thet no one told you ebout this?¡± Her voice was gentle and soothing. With an adorable tone in her voice as she called out ¡°Charles,¡± coupled with her seemingly heartbroken demeanor, it was hard for Charles to contain his emotions. ¡°Silly girl, you do care about me, don¡¯t you? But don¡¯t worry. I have almost settled the matter regarding the Central Intelligence Agency. I should be able to stay in Faike for a while longer.¡± Upon learning that he wouldn¡¯t be leaving for the time being, Gwendolyn was delighted. ¡°That¡¯s great! Jasmine is also in Faike. We can have a good time together for a few days before you go.¡± Charlesughed. ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯d rather spend time alone with you like this.¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and smiled, remaining silent. Charles looked into her eyes and suddenly remembered something. ¡°Gwen, I heard you went to visit Maverick in the hospital today. How is he doing?¡± ¡°Him?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s smile gradually froze, and she spoke with a disgusted tone. ¡°He¡¯s been acting sweet and innocent while asking for rewards since he saved mest night. I¡¯m tired of him. I¡¯ve been quite annoyed with him these past few days.¡± Charles beamed. ¡°Since you¡¯re tired of him, why don¡¯t you just abandon him? He¡¯s just a small pet, after all. Won¡¯t it be nice to have me apany you in the future?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a sweet smile. ¡°Of course that¡¯s nice, but he got injured because of me. I can¡¯t just abandon him all of a sudden, right? If words get out, people will see me as a heartless and evil person.¡± Charles¡¯ expression froze. ¡°So what¡¯s your n?¡± ¡°After he¡¯s discharged from the hospital, I¡¯ll let him stay at the vi for a while. I won¡¯t let him go out during this time to avoid any trouble. Once the timing is right, I¡¯ll give him his freedom back.¡± Charles fell silent and didn¡¯t argue more. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes sparkled as she changed the subject. ¡°Charles, I encountered something frightening today.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I went to interrogate Wilbert, who threw sulfuric acid at Maverickst night, but he was already dead ten minutes before I arrived. And the mastermind behind this even provoked me in front of the surveince cameras. I have a feeling they¡¯lle after me too, and I¡¯m scared.¡± Charles¡¯ expression turned solemn. ¡°Are you for real?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gwendolyn tilted her head as she stared at him. Her sharp gaze was filled with suspicion as she looked at him. ¡°Charles, as someone from the military, everyone at Faike Police Station listens to you. How is it possible that no one told you about this?¡± Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Charles was taken aback, his eyes serious as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy dealing with the matters at the Central Intelligence Agency during the day, so I didn¡¯t inquire aboutst night¡¯s case. I really don¡¯t know, but¡­¡± He paused slightly, visibly embarrassed. He stared at Gwendolyn and went on, ¡°Sorry, Gwen. I was upset with youst night, so I didn¡¯t stop Matthew from taking you away, causing you to have suffered at the police station all night. But you must believe I would never change; I am always your Charles!¡± He reached out and held Gwendolyn¡¯s slender ones. ¡°Of course I believe in you.¡± Gwendolyn smiled and withdrew her hand. Then, she gracefully tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°By the way, my money has been with Lane Group for far too long. I¡¯ve been longing to take it back. I need your help again with this matter.¡± Without hesitation, Charles replied, ¡°Sure. I will always be there to help you as long as you say the word.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, exuding warmth and tenderness. They chatted leisurely for a while and finished their meal at eight o¡¯clock. Gwendolyn declined Charles¡¯ offer to apany her, and she drove back to Bay Vi with Ezra and Justin. As soon as she got into the back seat, the gentle smile on her face froze instantly as her face turned cold and stern. The temperature inside the car plummeted. Ezra and Justin noticed that she was in a bad mood, so they did not dare to speak at all. Upon arriving at Bay Vi, Gwendolyn was surprised to see the living room with the lights on. After asking William, she found out that her third brother, Treyton, hade to visit. She opened the door and walked in and caught sight of Treyton sitting on the couch with a weird expression on his face. ¡°Treyton, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Treyton blinked and pointed to the phone in his hand, whispering, ¡°It¡¯s Asher. He called you but you didn¡¯t pick up, so he called me instead.¡± Gwendolyn held her breath momentarily as she could hear her heart pounding rapidly. Gwendolyn was not afraid of anything. She even dared to confront her father directly. However, there was only one person she was fearful of¡ªher elder brother, Asher. Taking in Treyton¡¯s contorted face, she guessed that something terrible was up. Gwendolyn felt her legs turn to jelly. She said aggrievedly, ¡°Treyton, don¡¯t call him. Let me catch my breath first.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn Shalders Harris.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, a stern voice suddenly came through Treyton¡¯s phone. It was Asher. Damn it! She was speechless. So the phone was connected all along and even on speaker mode! She could sense that Asher was mad at her as he had called her by her full name. There was no way to avoid it. Gwendolyn, trembling, took the phone and said in a soft, sweet voice, ¡°Asher, I¡¯m sorry. I was wrong. Please don¡¯t be mad at me¡­¡± ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± On the other end of the phone, Asher¡¯s voice was cold and emotionless. Treyton stood silently beside her as he held his breath and dared not utter a single word. Gwendolyn hesitated for a long time. Truth be told, she didn¡¯t know either. ¡°Whatever you say.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn Shalders Harris!¡± Asher said through gritted teeth. Gwendolyn immediately kneeled down and begged for forgiveness. ¡°Asher, I was wrong. Please forgive me. I have already got to my knees¡­¡± The man on the other end of the phone was silent for two seconds. He suppressed his anger and said, ¡°How many times have you been to a police station? Forget about the past incidents, but you attacked someone in front of so many staff at the bar this time! Gwendolyn, you got some nerve! What if the person had decided to fight back, and you got severely injured?¡± Gwendolyn pouted, feeling displeased, but when she looked up, she saw Treyton gesturing for her not to add fuel to the fire. ¡°I was wrong. I won¡¯t do it again next time.¡± She softened her tone as she admitted her mistake. Hmph! I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, and I¡¯ll do it again next time! Asher sighed resignedly. After recollecting himself, he said coldly, ¡°Since you¡¯re already kneeling, then kneel for an hour. Treyton, keep an eye on her. Any problem with that?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Yes, I got a problem with that! A big one! Gwendolyn felt particrly aggrieved and whined, ¡°Asher, the floor here is made of marble. My knees will swell up if I kneel on it¡­¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°It seems you still haven¡¯t learned your lesson, so let it be two hours, then.¡± ¡°Asher!¡± ¡°Another word from you and it¡¯ll be four hours.¡± Gwendolyn finally gave in. ¡°Fine! Just two hours. I ept the punishment!¡± How ruthless! Are men involved in both the legal and illegal worlds always this strict? Finally, the phone call ended. Her eyes were now misty with tears, and she looked at Treyton pleadingly. ¡°Treyton¡­¡± Treyton reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kiddo. Just hold on for a while. I¡¯ll be right here with you.¡± By sitting there? Treyton is heartless too! Treyton turned on his phone camera and focused it on Gwendolyn. ¡°Kneel properly and make yourself look pitiful. Hurry up, I¡¯m sending this to Asher.¡± Gwendolyn did as told obediently. After sending him the photos, Treyton took a cushion from the couch and handed it to Gwendolyn. ¡°Here, Kiddo. This is soft. Put it under your knees.¡± Gwendolyn took it hesitatingly. ¡°Will Asher find out?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell him, and even if he finds out, it¡¯s not a big deal. Asher is actually soft-hearted toward you and he cares about you. I bet if I send him that photo, he¡¯ll feel sorry for you right away.¡± Gwendolyn pouted, wondering why Asher didn¡¯t feel sorry for her when he cesuelly seid she should be punished by kneeling for two hours. Treyton crouched down to help her put the cushion under her knees while constently negging her in e gentle voice. ¡°Asher is reelly engry this time, but he¡¯s just worried ebout you getting hurt. Don¡¯t ect so impulsively egein. Think twice before you ect, ell right? Even if you went to fight with someone, you should meke sure thet you don¡¯t leeve eny evidence. You must¡­¡± As Gwendolyn listened, her mind greduelly sterted to wender. Treyton sterted mumbling to himself, just like e monk reciting scriptures, end she couldn¡¯t understend e single word. Treyton rembled on for fifteen minutes end finelly esked, ¡°So, Kiddo, did you get ell thet?¡± Gwendolyn nodded obediently. ¡°Got it, got it!¡± She got bored of kneeling end sterted stering et the clock in the living room. Only when she wes being punished did she hete time so much, for it pessed too slowly. Moreover, Gwendolyn felt deeply thet she wes too timid in front of Asher. Ever since she wes little, she hed elweys been timid. Her perents couldn¡¯t discipline her properly when she mede mistekes. Asher wes the only one who could keep her in line. Gwendolyn wes determined not to beck down. She would recleim her rightful plece es the little princess of the Herris femily next time. The next time I meet Asher, I¡¯ll greb his coller end sey, ¡°It¡¯s you, you son of e b*tch! You like to punish me, huh?¡± Weit, no! I cen¡¯t cell him e son of e b*tch. If he¡¯s e son of e b*tch, then whet em I¡­ Gwendolyn pondered cerefully, end before she knew it, two hours hed pessed. Thenks to the soft cushion, her knees were only slightly reddened, end eside from e bit of soreness in her weist, she felt quite relexed. Treyton removed the cushion end took enother picture of Gwendolyn. She tried her best to ect pitiful es she struggled to stend while holding onto her knee for support. Asher¡¯s cell ceme through quickly efter he clicked the ¡°send¡± button. ¡°Asher, you don¡¯t even cere ebout me. My knees ere so swollen from kneeling. I cen¡¯t even stend up. It hurts so much¡­¡± Gwendolyn whined. After e moment of silence, Asher seid, ¡°How ebout I let you hit me twice to let off some steem the next time we meet?¡± ¡°All right. You seid it yourself, end I¡¯ve recorded it!¡± Gwendolyn seid with e mischievous grin. Treyton couldn¡¯t help but chuckle es he listened from the side. Well, looks like Asher got fooled. Gwendolyn pouted, wondering why Asher didn¡¯t feel sorry for her when he casually said she should be punished by kneeling for two hours. Treyton crouched down to help her put the cushion under her knees while constantly nagging her in a gentle voice. ¡°Asher is really angry this time, but he¡¯s just worried about you getting hurt. Don¡¯t act so impulsively again. Think twice before you act, all right? Even if you want to fight with someone, you should make sure that you don¡¯t leave any evidence. You must¡­¡± As Gwendolyn listened, her mind gradually started to wander. Treyton started mumbling to himself, just like a monk reciting scriptures, and she couldn¡¯t understand a single word. Treyton rambled on for fifteen minutes and finally asked, ¡°So, Kiddo, did you get all that?¡± Gwendolyn nodded obediently. ¡°Got it, got it!¡± She got bored of kneeling and started staring at the clock in the living room. Only when she was being punished did she hate time so much, for it passed too slowly. Moreover, Gwendolyn felt deeply that she was too timid in front of Asher. Ever since she was little, she had always been timid. Her parents couldn¡¯t discipline her properly when she made mistakes. Asher was the only one who could keep her in line. Gwendolyn was determined not to back down. She would reim her rightful ce as the little princess of the Harris family next time. The next time I meet Asher, I¡¯ll grab his cor and say, ¡°It¡¯s you, you son of a b*tch! You like to punish me, huh?¡± Wait, no! I can¡¯t call him a son of a b*tch. If he¡¯s a son of a b*tch, then what am I¡­ Gwendolyn pondered carefully, and before she knew it, two hours had passed. Thanks to the soft cushion, her knees were only slightly reddened, and aside from a bit of soreness in her waist, she felt quite rxed. Treyton removed the cushion and took another picture of Gwendolyn. She tried her best to act pitiful as she struggled to stand while holding onto her knee for support. Asher¡¯s call came through quickly after he clicked the ¡°send¡± button. ¡°Asher, you don¡¯t even care about me. My knees are so swollen from kneeling. I can¡¯t even stand up. It hurts so much¡­¡± Gwendolyn whined. After a moment of silence, Asher said, ¡°How about I let you hit me twice to let off some steam the next time we meet?¡± ¡°All right. You said it yourself, and I¡¯ve recorded it!¡± Gwendolyn said with a mischievous grin. Treyton couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he listened from the side. Well, looks like Asher got fooled. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 As expected, the little meanie Gwendolyn was not so easy to deal with. He shook his head and sighed inwardly, vowing to himself never to mess with this young domineering lady in the future. On the other end of the call, Asher had no idea that he had been yed by Gwendolyn. He said earnestly, ¡°I heard from Treyton that you¡¯ve been gathering evidence on the Lane family from Faike recently, so I took the liberty of looking into it for you since I have the time. I¡¯ll have Treyton fax it to your office tomorrow.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled to herself inwardly. She thought that this timing was too convenient as Asher should not have had so much free time. It seemed that this was premeditated, and Asher had deliberately waited for her to be punished before bringing up the matter. So, is he using the carrot and stick method? Although it was a bit unpleasant to think about, Gwendolyn remembered her promise to let Asher use her as a punching bag once for tricking him. In her opinion, it was worth it. There was also no reason not to ept the evidence that was going to be delivered straight to her hand. Gwendolyn reluctantly agreed and showered Asher with a series ofpliments before finally managing to end the call. Since Maverick was in the hospital, it was quitete by the time Gwendolyn finished kneeling. She quickly tidied up a room and asked Treyton to make do with it for his stay at Bay Vi for a night. The next morning, Gwendolyn went to work at Wright Construction Group as usual. The evidence Asher had gathered was quickly sent to her via fax as promised. She gathered the papers and bound them together into a booklet before carefully reading through them. As expected, Asher¡¯s efficiency was truly impressive once he took action. This evidence was detailed enough to put Samantha in prison for the rest of her life. Tomorrow, she would bring justice to the Lane family. She called Yulia for a meeting and was busy until the afternoon. She thought of Maverick, who was still recovering in the hospital. She then made a call to William and instructed him to find a small item for her. Gwendolyn packed up her things and headed back to Bay Vi first when it was time to get off work. She saw Elven upon arriving at the vi entrance, which was not something she had expected. She frowned and asked, ¡°Why are you here instead of staying at the hospital?¡± Elven exined, ¡°Mr. Wright said he didn¡¯t want to stay in the hospital, so he insisted that Dr. Xenakis re-examine him andplete the discharge procedures.¡± He¡¯s already been discharged from the hospital? Gwendolyn fell silent for a moment. She had nned to visit Maverick at the hospital that evening. Well, it seems that his injury has mostly healed since he can be discharged from the hospital. As Gwendolyn was about to walk inside, Elven leaned in close to her and whispered, ¡°Ms. Shalders, I think there¡¯s something odd about Mr. Wright this time.¡± ¡°Even you think so, huh?¡± Looks like Maverick is really acting strange. Gwendolyn frowned, an indescribable look in her eyes. Elven nodded. ¡°Mr. Wright went straight into his room as soon as he returned, and he hasn¡¯te out since.¡± ¡°I see. Okay.¡± Gwendolyn had a steely expression on her face as she walked straight into the vi and headed up to the second floor. The door of Maverick¡¯s room was closed, but it was not locked. Gwendolyn pushed the door open and entered the room. The bed was neatly made, showing no signs of anyone havingid on it. Maverick was lying quietly on the lounge chair by the window, dressed in a luxurious dark suit. He was admiring the sunset outside the floor-to-ceiling window in a leisurely and rxed demeanor, his eyes cool andposed. Since it waste autumn, the sunlight that fell upon one¡¯s body would not feel warm. Yet, the faint halo from the sunlight that graced his handsome, perfect side profile only served to make his face appear even more divine and aloof. However, as she got closer, Gwendolyn noticed his thin lips were dark and chapped. His face was also extremely pale, as if he had no blood within him, which just proved that he was still unwell. ¡°Don¡¯t lie t. It will put pressure on the wound on your back.¡± Maverick was lost in the beauty of the sunset, so he did not notice Gwendolyn approaching him until she was right at his feet. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± He hurriedly propped himself up, trying to stand. ¡°I was so engrossed that I lost track of time. You must be hungry, right? I¡¯ll go cook something right now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. If you¡¯re not feeling well, I¡¯ll let you take a day off today.¡± Gwendolyn held his shoulder, guiding him to sit back down. Upon touching him, she realized how cold and icy his entire body was as if he had no warmth at all. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°Why are you so cold? You don¡¯t look well. Is the wound on your back still hurting a lot?¡± Maverick shed a slight smile to reassure her. ¡°It stopped hurting a while ago. I guess my hands and feet are cold because I¡¯ve been lying down for too long, but I¡¯m fine. I just need to rest for a couple of days, and I¡¯ll be good.¡± Gwendolyn simply didn¡¯t believe it. He was speaking in a weak voice, his eyshes trembling from time to time. She felt that he was always forcing himself to be strong. ¡°Sit down and let me take a look at your injury,¡± she said and began to remove his suit jacket. Maverick clutched his cor tightly, refusing to let go. ¡°My injury is really not a big deal. It¡¯s almost healed, and it¡¯s wrapped in gauze anyway. Even if you take off my clothes, you won¡¯t be able to see it.¡± What he had said was true indeed. Gwendolyn reluctantly let go. Maverick¡¯s body lost support and staggered slightly. He quickly reached back to support himself on the recliner. Noticing Gwendolyn staring at him, he curled the corner of his pale lips slightly, appearing somewhat languid. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you care about me like that. How nice.¡± Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at him. However, considering that he did save her this time, she didn¡¯t ridicule or mock him. Instead, she said with a serious expression, ¡°You know I don¡¯t like being indebted to others. Since you saved me this time, I¡¯ll grant you one request. What would you like?¡± ¡°Really? Any request will do?¡± Maverick slightly lifted his head, making eye contact with her, a faint glimmer shing in his dark pupils. ¡°Apart from remarriage and emotional demands, I will try my best to fulfill everything else you ask for. Just tell me.¡± Maverick justughed, for she knew very well that those were all he wanted. Forget it. I don¡¯t have much time left anyway. ¡°Okay, then. Just stand there and don¡¯t move.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and stood still. Maverick removed his hand from the lounge chair, and he sat up straight. Gathering his courage, he slipped his hands through her trench coat, tightly encircling her slender waist. ¡°Let me hold you for a moment. Just a moment will do.¡± Her body was warm, while his was icy cold. With this embrace, he felt warmth even in his heart. ¡°Just that?¡± Gwendolyn was slightly taken aback. Is his request really that simple? ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Gwendolyn stood still, her posture rigid and straight, allowing him to rest his head obediently on her stomach as his hands wrapped tightly around her waist. However, after standing quietly for a while, she suddenly realized that her hands were hanging by her sides. She felt a bit awkward, not knowing where to ce them. Since it was his request, it wouldn¡¯t be nice not to hug him back. So, instinctively, she reached out her arms toward his back. Halfway through, she stopped again. Her fingers stiffened for a moment when she recalled the injury on his back. Eventually, she chose to stroke his head instead. His jet-ck hair was short and neatly trimmed, soft and silky to the touch, making it a pleasure to run one¡¯s fingers through. As Gwendolyn stroke his head, she gradually lost her mind. She simply couldn¡¯t stop. Maverick, who was being stroked on the head, furrowed his brows. For some reason, he felt as if Gwendolyn was petting a dog. He was unwilling to let go of Gwendolyn¡¯s embrace at first, but at that thought, he took the initiative to release her from his arms. Heughed insincerely. ¡°Okay. My demands have been met, and you don¡¯t owe me any favors.¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand from stroking his head. After pondering for a while, she took out a delicate, small ck and gold gift box from her trench coat pocket and handed it to him. ¡°This is the thank-you gift I wanted to give you.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Maverick looked up at her with a hint of suspicion. Was she just testing me when she asked me to make a request earlier to see if I¡¯d be too greedy or ask for something excessive? He took the gift box from Gwendolyn, his fingertips trembling as he untied the ribbon. It was a syringe about the thickness of a pinky finger, quite simr to the special drug he was injected with. Is this¡­ Maverick furrowed his brow, his dark eyes gazing at her with a mix of emotions. Gwendolyn exined calmly, ¡°The special drug I injected you with is called 023 special drug. This is the antidote for 023. It¡¯s painless, and after the injection, your body will quickly return to normal.¡± ¡°W-Why¡­¡± Maverick bit his lower lip, suppressing the suffocating feeling in his heart. He took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree¡­ to end the employment agreement only when the contract period is up? Or do you still¡­ want to draw a clear line between us?¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 His heart ached intensely. The suffocation he felt in his chest made it almost impossible for him to catch his breath. What should I do to win her back? Gwendolyn turned her head, picked up a footstool next to the small couch in the room, and sat down facing him with a look of seriousness on her face. ¡°I¡¯m giving you the antidote not because I¡¯m trying to force you to terminate the agreement, but because I¡¯ve noticed that you¡¯ve been in constant paintely. Due to the effects of the 023 special drug, your pain will only get more intense. Since you saved me this time, I want to help you relieve the severe pain as a way to repay you.¡± Maverick stared at her intently. He did not respond. Gwendolyn continued to exin, ¡°About the employment agreement¡­ Since we have already settled it last time and I still have your recorded promise, I won¡¯t bring it up again.¡± Does this mean she no longer has her initial guard up against me? Does this mean that everything I¡¯ve done recently has brought me one step closer to her? ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that after giving me the antidote, you won¡¯t be able to beat me in a fight and I¡¯ll bully and hurt you?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s red lips curved into a seductive smile. ¡°Will you do that?¡± Maverick¡¯s pale, thin lips curved slightly as he gave a decisive answer. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Gwendolyn suddenly narrowed her eyes, a mischievous smirk appearing at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that what I give you isn¡¯t the antidote for 023, but an even stronger and more torturous drug?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t do that.¡± Even if she were truly that ruthless, as long as it was her request, he would not hesitate to inject the drug. ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t. So, this is the real antidote, and it¡¯s in your hands now. Go ahead and inject it,¡± Gwendolyn said in a casual tone. Now? Maverick nced down at the box in his hand. At that moment, he was almost pushing himself to the limit, feeling incredibly weak all over. If he proceeded with the injection then, Gwendolyn, with her keen perception, would definitely notice that something was off with his body. She did not like being indebted to others. If she knew that it wasn¡¯t sulfuric acid at the bar that night, but rather the S404 RNA virus, she would feel quite guilty. Ultimately, guilt did not equate to love. He neither spoke nor moved an inch. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you really afraid I¡¯ll mess with you?¡± Maverick shook his head. He said in a deep voice, albeit weakly, ¡°Last time, I performed the injection myself, but this time¡­ can you help me?¡± He handed her the ck-and-gold box, his tone faintly tinged with a hint of childishness. Gwendolyn refused as she met his eyes. He added, ¡°Just this once.¡± Gwendolyn took it. However, the man did not seem to have any intention of undressing. Instead, he leaned back andy down on the rocking chair. ¡°What are you doing? Take off your clothes and give me your arm.¡± Maverick tilted his head, exposing his neck that was as pale as paper. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he said, ¡°Go ahead and pierce the jugr vein.¡± Gwendolyn nced at him and, without any hesitation, directly gave him what he wanted with a single needle. She did not hold back at all. Administering medication through the jugr vein is quite painful. Yet, Maverick merely furrowed his brow, showing no particr emotion. The injection, with a syringe the thickness of a pinky finger, waspleted in just ten seconds. Gwendolyn casually tossed it into the bin. Then, she turned around only to find a motionless Maverick gazing at the sunset on the horizon. He seemednguid and listless,cking energy. Gwendolyn had always felt that something was off about him. Just as she was about to continue questioning, Maverick spoke first. ¡°Gwendolyn, if I die, will you remember me for the rest of your life?¡± His voice was light and breezy, with a touch of nonchnce. ¡°No way.¡± Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows and scoffed, ¡°When you die, I¡¯ll quickly forget your existence and move on with my life. However, they say that misfortune lingers for a thousand years. You are a complete menace, so I don¡¯t think you will be dying anytime soon.¡± ¡°You really are a¡­ cold-hearted, wicked woman.¡± Maverick chuckled softly, his tone ofintced with a hint of indulgence. What was even more amusing was that he particrly adored her wickedness, her ruthlessness, and everything about her. He had already fallen deeply for her. He could not extricate himself from her charm. Gwendolyn did not deny his statement. ¡°I never imed to be kind-hearted.¡± Maverick just smiled. The grin lingered on his incredibly pale lips as his long, curly eyshes trembled weakly. The once dark eyes were now staring dimly at the horizon. He certainly resembled a sickly person on his deathbed. The more Gwendolyn observed him, the more peculiar she felt. His condition was extremely poor. It was only sulfuric acid. It would not harm the insides of the body. Moreover, she had given him the antidote for the 023 special drug. ¡°Could it be that the hospital you went to yesterday wasn¡¯t very good and that they were unable to find out what¡¯s wrong with your body? Come on, let¡¯s go to the best hospital in Faike and get you checked again.¡± She was just about to forcibly pull Maverick up when Justin knocked on the door and came in. ¡°Ms. Shalders, you didn¡¯t answer your phone, so Mr. Newton came to get you in person. His car is parked right outside the vi. He said he¡¯d like to take you out for dinner tonight.¡± Gwendolyn hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to take Maverick to the hospital first. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go get a check-up,¡± she said. Maverick raised his voice to stop her. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need a couple of days to rest. You go ahead and have dinner. Don¡¯t keep him waiting too long.¡± Gwendolyn frowned imperceptibly. Thest time Charles invited her to dinner, Maverick had put on quite a show in front of arge audience at the entrance of the police station, trying to win her favor by acting pitifully. This time, not only did Maverick not stop her, but he even encouraged her to go out for dinner with Charles. At the door, Justin asked cautiously, ¡°Ms. Shalders, shall we go?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. Her eyebrows furrowed as she stared intently at Maverick. Maverick did not look at her. He remained lying on the chair as he gazed at the horizon with anguid expression on his face, exuding an aloof aura that seemed to be warning others to keep their distance. What¡¯s going on with him? Gwendolyn was utterly puzzled, but at that moment, she really had some very important matters to attend to. She asked again in a measured tone, ¡°Maverick, tell me the truth. Are you sure you¡¯re all right?¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Maverick nodded gently, his expression calm. ¡°I¡¯m just tired. Once you leave, I¡¯ll take a nap. I¡¯ll be fine after I wake up.¡± Gwendolyn stared at him for a moment, then nced at Charles¡¯ car parked outside the vi. She experienced an internal conflict, but in the end, she let out a sigh. ¡°All right, you go ahead and sleep. I¡¯ll have Elven and the others guard the vi so your rest will not be disturbed.¡± With that said, she turned around to leave. Maverick suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, his dark eyes appeared serious and solemn as he said, ¡°Gwendolyn, Charles is not a simple man. There may be secrets behind him that could be extremely detrimental to you. You must be cautious and on your guard around him in the future.¡± Without giving it much thought, Gwendolyn softly hummed in agreement and left the room. The setting sun cast a gentle glow. A gentle breeze stirred the delicate silk curtains, which asionally brushed against the man reclining by the window. Mavericky motionlessly as he watched silently from the side as Gwendolyn got into Charles¡¯ car outside the vi, taking Ezra and Justin with her. He stayed that way until the car hadpletely vanished from sight. In pain, he gripped the handle. He could no longer suppress the suffocating ache in his chest. A sweet, metallic taste surged in his throat, and he quickly covered his mouth with his hand. After a bout of heart-wrenching coughs, blood trickled down the side of his lips. A copious amount of blood gushed from his palm, seeping through his fingers and dripping onto the ground. He lowered his gaze and examined the color of the blood in his palm. It was a shade of ckish-red. He was coughing up more blood. The color of the blood had also be darker. This meant that the S404 RNA virus inside him had been fully triggered. Maverick remembered when Yohannes Yancey from the warboratory was developing the biological weapon, he had personally gone to observe the experiments. The animals of smaller sizes had died on the spot when the tests were conducted. Even animals ofrger sizes were unable to survive more than three days after they had been infected with the S404 RNA virus. He counted the number of days since his infection. Tonight marked his third day. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 He had asked Swain to hurry back to the training facility and find Yohannes, but Swain had yet to return. Maverick knew his own body, and he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on until Gwendolyn came home from dinner. Is this really how I¡¯m going to die? He was unwilling to ept it, yet he was powerless to change it. As of now, he did not even have the strength to write a farewell letter. Earlier, that had been the first time Gwendolyn had hugged him since the divorce. No, she wasn¡¯t hugging me. She was only patting my head. Charles was right. In the end, Gwendolyn saw Maverick as nothing more than a pet. She no longer loved him. As Maverick pondered on this, his consciousness gradually grew hazy, and there were ck spots in his vision. ¡°Gwendolyn¡­¡± I¡¯ll give you my life, Gwendolyn, but can you give me your love in return? Resigned to his fate, he closed his eyes and let his arms hang limply at his sides. He looked serene. All was tranquil around him. Apart from the curtains rustling in the breeze, the only other noise in the room was the sound of blood dripping from his fingertips onto the floor, one drop at a time. In the car, Gwendolyn suddenly felt a sharp, intense pain in her heart. She pressed a hand to her chest, her delicate face turning pale from the pain. Charles noticed that something was off with her and quickly asked, ¡°Gwen, what¡¯s wrong? Are you unwell?¡± He leaned forward, wanting to help her. Gwendolyn reached out to stop him. After taking a few deep breaths, she felt the pain gradually subside. Why did I feel pain in my chest all of a sudden? She had never had any heart-rted illnesses, and the pain this time was inexplicably excruciating. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I guess it¡¯s because I haven¡¯t been sleeping well for thest couple of days. Anyway, it¡¯ll all be over in a few days¡¯ time.¡± As she spoke, a faint, icy gleam shed in her eyes. Charles didn¡¯t notice her darkened gaze and continued to show his sympathy and concern. However, Gwendolyn was not listening to him at all. For some reason, she found herself thinking about how pale and sickly Maverick had looked before she left the house earlier. He¡¯s been acting strange tonight. Why did he ask me all those odd questions, such as whether I¡¯d remember him if he died? He sounded like a dying patient who could not ept his own fate. The more Gwendolyn delved into her thoughts, the more uneasy she felt. She recalled the way he had grabbed her by the wrist before she left the house earlier and the warning he had given her. He had said, ¡°Charles is not a simple man. There may be secrets behind him that could be extremely detrimental to you. You must be cautious and on your guard around him in the future.¡± In hindsight, Maverick¡¯s choice of words had seemed odd. It was almost as if he had used the words ¡°in the future¡± to exclude himself from any future events in Gwendolyn¡¯s life. She thought about his trembling hands, his furrowed brows, the overwhelming sense of weakness that he couldn¡¯t hide, and the way he had said, ¡°If I die¡­¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s breath hitched, and she shouted at Charles¡¯ driver, ¡°Pull over!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Gwen?¡± Charles asked. Gwendolyn quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door. ¡°Something urgent came up. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to make it to the dinner tonight. Let¡¯s do it another time!¡± ¡°Gwen¡ª¡± Charles¡¯ words were cut off when Gwendolyn mmed the car door shut. Since she was in the Bay Hill vi area, there were no taxis waiting by the roadside. After getting out of Charles¡¯ car, she had no choice but to turn around and run back home on foot. Ezra and Justin caught up to her. Charles¡¯ car did not move even after Gwendolyn left; it simply stayed in the same spot. He nced into the rearview mirror and watched as Gwendolyn frantically ran back to Bay Vi. At that moment, his expression grew inscrutable. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had only just left Bay Vi when Nico once again confidently entered through the iron gates. Elven, William, and Quinton emerged from the shadows when they saw him approaching. Quinton rubbed his hands together excitedly. ¡°Nico, you won a whole month¡¯s worth of sry from me thest time. Today, I¡¯m going to win it all back, with interest!¡± Nico remained silent, his expression cold and serious. ¡°I¡¯m not here to y cards today.¡± Quinton and the other two exchanged a confused look. The next second, a few light thuds sounded through the air, and the three men immediately felt a sharp pain in the back of their necks. In an instant, their eyes rolled back into their heads, and they fell to the floor unconscious. Nico looked at the three motionless figures on the ground impassively. As it turned out, tranquilizing them was much quicker and more efficient than cottoning up to them. At that moment, Swain packed up his tranquilizer gun and stepped out from the shadows. ¡°Nico, we can¡¯t just leave them lying here, can we? Where should we hide them for the time being?¡± Nico nced at the three unconscious men on the ground, cupped his hands around his lips, and whistled a bird-like tune. He waited for a minute, but there was still no sound or movement within the vi, nor was there any sign of Mavericking to open the door. Nico sensed that something was off. ¡°Never mind. Let¡¯s go and check on Boss first.¡± The security door of the vi was locked. Nico had wanted to kick it down, but he was worried he would not be able to exin himself to Gwendolyn after this. In the end, he and Swain climbed the pipes behind the vi to get to the second floor. Nico opened the door to the second-floor bedroom only to find Maverick lying on the chaise lounge. The pool of crimson blood on the floor was particrly startling. ¡°Boss!¡± Nico and Swain cried out as they copsed at Maverick¡¯s feet, their faces turning pale. Nico quickly took out the suppressant from the cooler and steadily injected it into Maverick¡¯s neck. Swain stood on one side as he stared at Maverick¡¯s bloodstained hands, the heartache he felt so acute that it brought tears to his eyes. Two minutes after the suppressant had been injected, Maverick still showed no reaction whatsoever. His entire body was ice-cold with no sign of life. Nico¡¯s hand trembled as he carefully checked the pulse on Maverick¡¯s neck, but it had already stopped. ¡°Wake up! Boss,e on, don¡¯t fall asleep on us!¡± Nico roared as he patted Maverick¡¯s face, which was so pale it looked almost translucent under the lights. Tears uncontrobly streamed down his face as he suddenly fell to his knees beside Maverick and sobbed miserably. Were we toote? Swain, who was distraught, sat on the ground and cried, wailing hysterically with all his might. Nico¡¯s eyes were red, and he was getting more emotional with every passing second. ¡°Boss, please, I beg you! Please don¡¯t fall asleep! Wake up, because if you fall asleep, you¡¯ll never wake up again!¡± Mavericky peacefully on the chaise lounge. His brows were rxed, and his eyshes did not even flutter. Nico was on the verge of breaking down as he desperately shook Maverick¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m begging you, Boss! Please open your eyes and look at me! Swain brought the suppressant! You¡¯ll be fine! Don¡¯t die in front of us! Wake up! ¡°Ms. Shalders hasn¡¯t evene back to you yet, and you¡¯re just going to give up like this? Aren¡¯t you afraid that she might marry Charles and be mistreated by him? And there¡¯s Sherman and Joaquin, too! There are so many powerful and influential men in Chanaea who could be your rivals, and you¡¯re just going to die like this before even fending them off? ¡°She doesn¡¯t even know that you contracted the S404 RNA virus for her sake! You can¡¯t just die like this! Boss, I beg you. Please wake up!¡± He cried until he almost choked, all the while shaking Maverick to wake him. However, the man on the chaise lounge did not move at all, and his body was cold and lifeless. Seeing this, Nico slid down to the ground, powerless andpletely devastated as he leaned against Maverick¡¯s limp arm. ¡°Boss, you picked me up from the Chanaea border when I was just ten years old. My name, my skills, and everything I have is because of you. All these years, wherever you went on your missions, I followed you¡­¡± Nico trailed off. He pulled out a small knife from his pocket, his eyes fierce and his tone resolute as he continued, ¡°My life is yours, and if you die, I¡¯ll die with you!¡± With that, he pointed the tip of the knife at his own heart and, without hesitation, stabbed it in. ¡°Nico! Don¡¯t!¡± Swain yelled in despair. Unexpectedly, no blood sttered. The sharp tip of the knife stopped just two millimeters away from where it would have pierced Nico¡¯s heart. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Nico btedly looked up, only to find a pair of bloodstained hands with slender fingers tightly gripping his wrist. Maverick had woken up. That was not all. He had also recovered most of his strength after receiving the 023 antidote injection earlier. Hey on the chaise lounge and turned his head to look at Nico. A faint smile curled on his bloodstained lips as he chuckled and said, ¡°I¡¯m not going down so easily, so pull yourself together.¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Nico¡¯s eyes shed with shock and delight, but then he continued to cry, ¡°You scared me to death! I really thought you were gone!¡± Swain, who was considerably younger than Nico, had been scared witless, too. At that moment, the two men burst into tears in front of Maverick,pletely dispensing with their image. After a while, they startedughing with relief as tears continued to stream down their faces, making for a ratherical sight. Maverick gently patted Nico¡¯s shoulder,forting him, ¡°I was just exhausted. The S404 RNA virus caused my heart and pulse to go into temporary cessation, but I heard everything you said.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you answer me?¡± Nico was furious and angrily pounded on Maverick¡¯s arm. Stupid boss! He made me cry like a baby! Ipletely humiliated myself! Maverick furrowed his brows and let out a pained grunt. ¡°Sorry, sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have hit you!¡± Nico looked distressed. To punish himself, he hit his own right arm with his left fist. Maverick sat up and said, ¡°All right, tell me what¡¯s the deal with this suppressant.¡± Nico wiped the tears from his face and turned to look at Swain. Swain nodded, sniffed, and reported earnestly, ¡°Professor Yancey was shocked to learn that you were infected with the S404 RNA virus. This suppressant cannot cure the disease, but it can temporarily inhibit the virus, thereby allowing the body to recover for a short period of time. The effects of the medication canst up to a week at most¡­¡± One week. Maverick considered this. That means I can stay in Faike for another seven days at most. Nico chimed in, ¡°Boss, you must go back for treatment this time. Professor Yancey has already started working on the antidote, and they need you to return for blood tests. Don¡¯t you want to recover and have a long and happy future with Ms. Shalders?¡± Maverick pursed his lips and made no reply. He had promised Gwendolyn to disappear from her world after a year, and she still had evidence of this in her phone. To stay by her side forever was no easy endeavor, and it required some forethought. He pondered on this and remembered the n Swain hade up with thest time. He was still deep in thought when he suddenly felt someone tugging on his clothes. He snapped out of his reverie and saw Nico pawing at his shirt. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Maverick demanded. ¡°Boss, the wound on your back can¡¯t be treated by ordinary medicine from any hospital dispensary. Professor Yancey has provided a healing ointment for S404 burns. The least you could do is let me apply it on your wound,¡± Nico exined. That makes sense. Maverick did not hesitate to unbutton his shirt. He elegantly removed his dark suit jacket, then proceeded to shrug off his blouse to reveal his perfectly-chiseled physique. Nestled between the defining lines of his muscr back was a palm-sized burn. The wound was still a ghastly shade of red even though it had been three days since the viral infection. At this point, the wound had already festered, and the surrounding skin and flesh had begun to peel away. It looked grotesque. Even someone as bloodthirsty and ruthless as Nico could not help inhaling sharply at the jarring sight of the wound. He asked Swain to fetch a basin of hot water from the bathroom. Then, using a towel, he first wiped the bloodstains off Maverick¡¯s back, then used tweezers to remove the rotting flesh surrounding the wound. Maverick broke out in a cold sweat, his veins bulging and his jaw tightly clenched. N?velDrama.Org content. Nico felt a pang of sympathy for the man and remembered the tranquilizer gun they had brought with them. ¡°Boss, should I give you a sedative? This can hurt really bad.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The 023 antidote is working. I can handle this much pain.¡± Nico had no choice but to grit his teeth and apply the ointment on Maverick¡¯s wound. Swain, who was nearby, did not remain idle, either, and seized the opportunity to clean up the bloodstains on the floor. However, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of several figures outside the vi gates who were running in their direction. Swain paused his cleaning and took a proper look this time. Then, his eyes widened as he hastily cried, ¡°Ms. Shalders is back! Ezra and Justin are with her, too!¡± Maverick frowned. ¡°So soon?¡± Swain nced out the window again. ¡°She came back here on foot! I don¡¯t see Charles anywhere.¡± Pressed for time, Nico had no choice but to speed up in applying the ointment while Swain quickly cleaned up the scene. Outside, Gwendolyn was just about to step through the iron gates of the garden. Swain gasped dramatically as he remembered something. ¡°Oh, no! The bodyguards are still lying in the garden! There¡¯s no way we can cover this up¡­¡± Gwendolyn ran all the way back from Bay Hill, her anxiety intensifying with every step she took. She had stopped hating Maverick ever since he rescued her at Crane Bridge, and he no longer owed her anything. Given that they were divorced, it was best for them to be estranged in the future. She would never consider remarrying him, let alone returning to the Wright family to endure their mistreatment. However, that did not mean she was prepared to watch Maverick die. Distressed, she made her way into the garden, only to stumble upon Elven and the others lying unconscious in the backyard. Ezra and Justin were both astonished. Has the vi been burgled? Justin stepped forward to examine the scene, and through his keen observation, he noticed that all three of the unconscious men had a pinprick on their necks. ¡°Ms. Shalders, they were all knocked out by tranquilizers,¡± he concluded grimly. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression grew somber. Whoever did this had been able to make Elven and the other two put their guards down and lure them out of their hiding spots, thereafter knocking out all three of them at once. It could only be aplished by someone they knew. ¡°Take the three of them to the living room first. Find a way to wake them up, then ask them what happened,¡± Gwendolyn said decisively. After that, she quickly entered the vi, headed up to the second floor, and pushed open Maverick¡¯s bedroom door. She found Maverick sitting on the edge of the bed. He was wearing only a thin silk shirt that he was currently buttoning up. When he saw her walk in, his eyes widened in surprise. He quickly fastened thest two buttons at his cor and asked, ¡°What are you doing here? Shouldn¡¯t you be having dinner with Charles right now?¡± Gwendolyn tried to catch her breath. She was a little worn out from running all the way back home. Once her breathing had grown steady, she made her way over to him, her heels clicking against the floor. She came to a stop in front of Maverick and narrowed her eyes as she assessed him icily. She grabbed his chin and leaned in slightly, closing the distance between them. Maverick¡¯s ink-ck eyes had regained their usual brilliance, and he looked up to meet her gaze. She noticed the change in his appearance and frowned. In just a little over ten minutes, his condition had seemingly improved significantly. What did he do while I was gone? Gwendolyn was close enough to him to detect a faint, metallic scent on him. It smelled like blood. Even more peculiar was the dark red stain on the inside of his pale lips. Gwendolyn brought the tip of her nose close to his lips and gently sniffed. As expected, there was a faint scent of blood. Maverick looked at her face, which was mere inches away from his, and suddenly held his breath. Any closer and the tip of her nose would touch his lips. If I were to take the opportunity to kiss her now¡­ He held that thought for a moment. She might just beat me to death. Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Gwendolyn¡¯s face gradually pulled away. She straightened up and stared at him for a moment, then said gravely, ¡°I smell blood on you. Did you cough up blood?¡± This was a test as much as it was an interrogation. Under the dim lights of the room, they held each other¡¯s gaze. Maverick¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he gestured toward the trash can next to him. ¡°No, I did not cough up blood. I did, however, just apply ointment to my back.¡± Gwendolyn followed his gaze and looked at the trash can. Indeed, there was a heap of bloodstained bandages that looked freshly removed. How could he have possibly applied ointment on the center of his back without any help? ¡°Is that all?¡± Maverick nodded obediently. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± He had been full of lies these days. Gwendolyn did not trust him at all. She let go of his chin and quickly unfastened the metal buckle of the belt around his waist, then pulled his belt off in one swift motion. Maverick¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Gwendolyn?¡± Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Gwendolyn did not bother talking to him at all. She wrapped the belt around his hands and quickly tied them tightly. Maverick instinctively wanted to break free, but he had used all his strength to withstand the pain when Nico applied the medicine earlier. In the end, he could only obediently surrender. Gwendolyn acted swiftly, pinning him down onto the bed with ease. She raised his hands above his head and held them firmly against the bed with one hand. Then, she stood by the bedside. Maverick¡¯s ears turned slightly red as he asked in a low, husky voice, ¡°Gwendolyn, what are you doing?¡± This posture feels a bit strange¡­ I bet those two scoundrels haven¡¯t left yet, and they¡¯re still hanging outside the window. My dignity! Outside the window, Nico and Swain were indeed still hanging around. Hearing themotion, the two secretly peeked inside. Wow! Both of them did not expect to see their boss get pinned down on the bed. Thetter waspletely subdued and unable to break free. Moreover, the said boss was lying beneath. Awesome! This trip is totally worth it! The two were engrossed in watching the show when Maverick¡¯s dark eyes narrowed. He fiercely shot a sharp re out the window. Nico and Swain were instantly intimidated. They had no choice but to follow themand and climb along the window ledge to the nearby pipe. Then, they quietly slipped out through the back door. Gwendolyn was examining the wound on Maverick¡¯s back inside the room. The bandage had indeed been changed recently. Faint traces of blood could be seen seeping through. However, she was not nning on letting him off the hook just yet. Gently lifting the edge of the bandage, she intended to look at the wound. Maverick deliberately let out a groan as his facial features tensed up. ¡°Gwendolyn, it hurts¡­¡± Gwendolyn paused for a moment. After hesitating for a few seconds, she withdrew her hand. ¡°Who helped you wrap your bandages? When I came in, I saw Elven and the others passed out in the garden. What happened?¡± ¡°I bandaged myself.¡± Maverick¡¯s expression remained unchanged. As he was forced to lie face down on the bed, he could only turn his head to the side to answer her questions. ¡°Elven and the others passed out? I¡¯ve been in the room the whole time, so I was unaware of this.¡± Gwendolyn looked at him coldly, raising her eyebrows, and smirked. ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Heh, he¡¯s really full of lies. Not a single word of truthes out of his mouth. Gwendolyn pressed her knee harder against his lower back, skillfully exposing his lies. ¡°Before I left, you were so sick and frail that your fingers tremble when you lift your hand. I was only gone for about ten minutes, and now you¡¯re full of energy. You could even change your own bandages. Is this some kind of terminal lucidity?¡± Maverick pursed his thin lips, remaining silent and motionless. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°My bodyguard was drugged and left unconscious in the yard. Yet, not only were you unharmed, but your condition even improved. It must have been your subordinate¡¯s doing, right? Do you think I would believe this has nothing to do with you? Or maybe you deliberately pretended to be weak and sick to deceive me before I left?¡± She paused for a moment, her eyes cold and sharp. ¡°Are you trying to trick or hide something from me? Think carefully before you speak.¡± Maverick gulped hard and fell silent. He did hide something from her, but she would feel guilty after knowing the truth. She would not make things difficult for him anymore. However, given her temperament, she would help him find a cure for the virus. Moreover, she would also terminate the employment contract out of guilt. If he told her that he lied, she would be furious as she once said she hated deception the most. The rift between them would only grow wider. No matter how he answered, it would be unfavorable for him. ¡°Hmm?¡± After waiting for a while, Gwendolyn was met with silence, and her expression grew colder. She pinched the soft flesh on his lower back and asked, ¡°Are you trying to figure out the best way to deceive me?¡± Maverick was exposed but showed a nk expression. With a heavy tone, he began, ¡°It¡¯s Nico. I didn¡¯t want the wound to leave a scar, so I asked him to bring a box of scar removal cream. It¡¯s in the first drawer of the bedside table. As for the wound on my back, Nico helped me apply the ointment. My condition has improved a lot, thanks to your antidote. It has restored much of my strength.¡± After listening, Gwendolyn intriguingly curved her lips into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s just a box of scar removal cream. He could have given it to Elven to bring to you. As for your injury, why can¡¯t Elven apply the medicine? He drugged my subordinates and trespassed into my vi just for this. Do you think I would believe that?¡± Maverick¡¯s expression remained calm andposed as he continued to exin, ¡°He was indeed reckless in this matter. I¡¯ll have him apologize to Elven and the others next time.¡± Nico, who was leisurely leaving the vi area, suddenly felt his ears burning. Little did he know that someone had already ced the me on him. Gwendolyn chuckle. His answer was wless, and his performance was quite convincing. This statement probably contains a mix of truth and falsehood. However, he stubbornly refused to confess, leaving her no choice but to find an opportunity to investigate on her ownter. She leaned in slightly. Her red lips were close to his ear as she teased softly, ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, not only did you hide it from me, but you also deceived me?¡± What kind of divine-levelprehension is this? Her gentle breath brushed against Maverick¡¯s ear, tickling him and causing his already burning ear tip to turn a deep shade of red as if they were about to bleed. He buried his face in the nket and answered in a muffled voice, ¡°Yes, I ept the punishment.¡± Gwendolynughed. He admitted quite readily. The floor-to-ceiling window was still open, and the cool evening breeze blew in. Maverick was only wearing a thinyer of clothing. His hands, feet, and exposed back were all freezing cold. Gwendolyn noticed this and gently put down his shirt. Then, she subconsciously lifted the nket from the other side to cover his back. Instead of hastily helping him untie the belt wrapped around his wrist, she continued to ask in a yful tone, ¡°So, how do you want to be punished? Tell me. I¡¯m all ears.¡± Maverick¡¯s ears turned even redder. How can she expect me to say something so embarrassing and damaging to my pride? She¡¯s a torture to deal with. He asked awkwardly, ¡°What options do I have to choose from?¡± ¡°Let me think.¡± Gwendolyn sat on the edge of his bed. She folded her arms and yfully raised her eyebrows. ¡°Now that the effects of the medicine have worn off, I assume you have no problem with your physical strength. Would you prefer to kneel in the garden all night or let Ezra whip you two hundred times? What¡¯s your choice?¡± Maverick gulped down hard. Not only was his entire body cold, but his heart felt even colder. She¡¯s so merciless to me¡­ Gwendolyn grinned slyly. ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± Maverick bit his thin lips. He pondered for a long time before asking gently, ¡°Is there a third option? I choose the third one.¡± ¡°Of course there is.¡± Gwendolyn had a look of understanding on her face but was grinning mischievously. ¡°That is a combination of kneeling all night and getting whipped two hundred times¡ª abo of the first two options. You¡¯ve made a wise choice.¡± He breathed in sharply, and his heart ached. Gwendolyn noticed his reaction and tried to suppress herughter. She stood up and began to untie the belt around his wrists. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the garden.¡± Maverick shifted his hands to the side, not allowing her to untie it. ¡°Gwendolyn, seeing how my wounds aren¡¯t fully healed yet, can you give me a discount?¡± he asked gently in his deep voice.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Discount? Is he begging for mercy? Gwendolyn chuckled softly. He had been so tough in epting his punishment just now, but he seemed to have backed down now. She had thought he was not afraid of pain. She said nothing and untied the belt around his wrists. Maverick wanted to avoid her, but she forcefully pinned his arms down, leaving him no choice but to bury his face in the nket again, feeling defeated. It seems she disagrees with a lighter punishment. Just now, he had used all his strength to endure the pain of removing the rotten flesh from his wound, so his body felt weak and powerless now. He might pass out if Ezra were to whip him two hundred times in the garden. Gwendolyn would definitely sense something was off if he fainted. She might even take the opportunity to examine his wound. It had been three days since he was injured, and the injury caused by sulfuric acid was clearly different. With Gwendolyn¡¯s cleverness, there was no way he could hide it from her. As hey there thinking, Gwendolyn had already undone the belt for him. She stood by the edge of the bed and tilted her head to observe his reaction with a mischievous smirk on her lips. ¡°Shall we?¡± Maverick did not budge an inch. N?velDrama.Org content. Gwendolyn did not expect him to move, so she turned around and was prepared to close the open window. ¡°Although my physical strength has recovered, my back still hurts, and I don¡¯t have any strength¡­¡± Maverick said softly as he grabbed her wrist, thinking she was going to leave the room. This punishment is too heavy. I might not be able to endure it. He took a deep breath and continued, ¡°If you can¡¯t give a discount, can you perhaps postpone the penalty until after autumn?¡± He meant to wait until he recovered from his injuries before epting the punishment. Gwendolyn had just wanted to tease him. She did not really intend to punish him. The wounds on his back were still bleeding, and it was all because of her that he got hurt in the first ce. Although she had given him the antidote for the 023 special drug and repaid the favor, she was not so unreasonable as to be cruel to a patient. She sat back down beside Maverick¡¯s bed and asked him seriously, ¡°Then, be honest with me. Why have you been in such poor condition these past two days? The 023 special drug will only intensify the feeling of pain from your burns, but it won¡¯t have a significant impact on your body. What else are you hiding from me?¡± Maverick thought for a moment and slowly sat up. His dark eyes were slightly lowered as he avoided meeting her eyes. ¡°I had a cold on the day I was sshed with sulphuric acid. Then, I spent the entire day cleaning the vi. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been feeling weak and sickly these past two days. I have not been hiding anything from you.¡± Gwendolyn sorted out her thoughts and realized this seemed to be quite a rational exnation. He had suffered from a sulfuric acid burn at his weakest moment. After he used the antidote, his strength recovered quite a bit. It made sense now. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll trust you just this once. I¡¯ll keep the tab in mind. If you dare to deceive me next time, the punishment will be doubled.¡± Maverick lowered his head slightly and let out a soft hum. I only have seven days left. I fear there won¡¯t be a next time. Gwendolyn had no idea what was going on in his mind. She got up and walked to the window, closing it as she casually said, ¡°I have some things to take care of in the next couple of days. You better stay put and not go out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Get some rest.¡± Gwendolyn averted her gaze, turned around, and left his room. She closed the door and went straight downstairs to the living room. Elven and the others were ced on the couch, gradually regaining consciousness. However, they still felt a bit groggy due to therge anesthetic dose. Gwendolyn walked over to them, examined their condition, and chose to ask William, who seemed to be the most awake among them. ¡°William, who did you see before you fainted?¡± William recalled his memories carefully. ¡°Nico.¡± It really was Nico. It seems Maverick didn¡¯t lie about this matter. However, she noticed William¡¯s choice of words. ¡°You¡¯re even calling Nico by his name now. Seems like you¡¯ve been getting along quite well with Maverick¡¯s mentely.¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders, we¡­¡± William looked terrified, yet he could not exin why. Gwendolyn¡¯s face was cold. She showed no intention of listening to his excuses. ¡°As my bodyguards, you not only let outsiders in without permission but also carelessly allowed yourselves to be drugged and rendered unconscious. This is utterly disgraceful. You will not receive your sry for two months and your year-end bonus. If this happens again, you¡¯ll all be fired.¡± The three people who regained consciousness were on the verge of tears. As the sky gradually darkened, Gwendolyn, who had not had dinner, ordered some takeout. After finishing the meal, she returned to her room to rest. She had a very important task to aplish the next day. That night, negative news about Lane Group suddenly flooded the inte. The outrageous content quickly caused a huge uproar online. The Lanes only found out the next morning when they woke up. Thus, the Lane residence was in amotion that morning. Samantha came across a news article online about a construction ident at a building site owned by Lane Group, which resulted in the deaths of several workers. At the time, the Lane family had used their connections to cover up the news because thepensation costs were quite high. Consequently, Shirley had arranged for someone to visit the victims¡¯ families and issue death threats to keep them quiet. After so much time had passed, it was surprising the matter was suddenly brought upst night. Samantha¡¯s injury had mostly healed, and she stormed upstairs to find Shirley. Just as she approached Shirley¡¯s room entrance, Samantha heard the sharp and clear sound of a p coming from inside. It was then followed by Shirley¡¯s furious roar. ¡°Louis! As the son-inw of the Lane family, I¡¯ve treated you well, haven¡¯t I? Yet, you¡¯ve been using the Lane family¡¯s money for a mistress! She¡¯s even pregnant with your child! I wondered why you¡¯ve been making frequent excuses not to be at hometely. It seems you¡¯ve been taking care of your mistress! If the media hadn¡¯t caught you, you would keep it a secret from me forever, right?¡± Louis covered his face and was clearly upset. ¡°You? Treat me well? You show that nasty attitude to me every day just because the Lane family is a little rich. The Lane family looks down on me as a live-in son-inw, and not a single one of you respects me, yet you have the nerve to say you have treated me well?¡± Shirley was furious. ¡°How dare you! Even if you have a grudge against the Lane family, it¡¯s not an excuse for your infidelity! I want a divorce! I want you to leave with nothing!¡± ¡°Fine! If you want to divorce, then do it. However, I won¡¯t walk away without nothing. I made mistakes, but you¡¯re not innocent either! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that you¡¯ve been in contact with your first love all this time. How far have you two gone? Did you book a hotel room together?¡± Shirley¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°So what? You were the one who cheated first, and now you think you¡¯re in the right? I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± The sound of objects being thrown and crashing filled the room, apanied by a woman¡¯s piercing screams and the sound of ps. It was incredibly chaotic. Samantha stood right outside the door and could hear everything clearly. She sobbed uncontrobly but did not go in to intervene. For many years, she had believed her family was happy and her parents were in harmony. She had thought the Lane family was indeed a model family recognized by society. Unexpectedly, the truth turned out to be that Louis was secretly keeping a mistress who had even got pregnant, while Shirley was still entangled with her first love, unable to let gopletely. With the negative news about Lane Group breaking out all at once, the stock market plummeted overnight, resulting in heavy losses. Is the Lane family going to end? She copsed onto the ground, unwilling to ept it. That despicable woman, Gwendolyn, has always been so arrogant. With the Lane family¡¯s downfall, who knows what kind of twisted ways she¡¯lle up with to torment me in the future? No! I can¡¯t just sit here and wait for the end! With trembling hands, she took out her phone and was about to call the man who had previously helped her deal with Gwendolyn when a suddenmotion erupted in the hall. Samantha slumped down by the railing on the second-floor corridor, turning her head to look down below. It was Gwendolyn. She was sitting on the main seat of the living room couch. Her expression was cold and arrogant, yet her delicate and beautiful face was still captivating. Gwendolyn¡¯s chin was slightly raised when Samantha looked at her. She shifted her gaze sharply, and her red lips parted as she said arrogantly, ¡°Ms. Lane, do you still like the gift I sent to the Lane family? There¡¯s also a small separate gift just for you. Would you like to take a look?¡± Chapter 188 Chapter 188 ¡°It¡¯s you! How did you get in?¡± Gwendolyn gracefully yed with her nails and answered unhurriedly, ¡°I had the security guard inform the butler and entered through the front gate.¡± The butler let her in? How could the butler, who has worked with our family all these years, be bought off so quickly? Samantha red at the woman with murderous eyes. Gwendolyn saw through her mind and added, ¡°Even rats will abandon a sinking ship. Today is the day the Lane family falls, and he naturally knows what to do.¡± Furious, Samantha gritted her teeth and sprang up from the ground. ¡°You wicked woman! You¡¯ve gone too far! Do you think we¡¯ll crumble just because you harm us like that? You¡¯re dreaming!¡± ¡°Harm the Lane family?¡± Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°This can hardly be considered harm. I merely exposed the Lane family¡¯s dirty secrets to the world. Why would you fear those rumors if your family was truly innocent?¡± ¡°You!¡± Samantha was infuriated, but she couldn¡¯t deny the truth. The Lane Group¡¯s troubles and the issues with Shirley and Louis were all brought upon themselves! In the room behind her, the screams grew more intense and desperate. ¡°Ah! Louis! How dare youy a hand on me? How dare you abuse me? I¡¯ll make sure you pay for this! Both you and your mistress should be executed!¡± Then, the woman¡¯s screams rang out again. ¡°Help! Louis is going to kill someone! Save me! Sammy, come and save me!¡± Having been beaten up, Shirley also screamed until her voice turned hoarse. Samantha was about to go downstairs to confront Gwendolyn when she realized something was amiss inside the room. She hurriedly entered to intervene. However, it seemed her presence was futile as themotion resumed quickly. The voices became increasingly chaotic. Gwendolyn had brought only Ezra and Justin with her that day. So there weren¡¯t many of them. The noise upstairs was unbearable. Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow and discreetly rubbed her ears. ¡°You two, go up and try to calm them down and bring everyone downstairs.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ezra and Justin quickly took action. Justin knocked Louis unconscious with a single punch and forcefully carried him downstairs. Those involved in the fight were all taken away. Shirley and Samantha followed behind as they headed downstairs. Shirley¡¯s hair was disheveled. After all, the strength gap between a man and a woman was too big. Both her cheeks were swollen. Blood trickled from the corners of her mouth, and tear stains marked her face. Samantha didn¡¯t fare any better as she entered. She received an unintended p from Louis. Gwendolyn instructed Ezra to bring a small sofa and ce it across the coffee table. She then seated each of the three individuals on separate couches. The Lane family¡¯s butlers and servants quietly gathered near the doorway, observing the spectacle. They were surprised to see Gwendolyn seated in the central position, as if she were more like the owner than anyone from the Lane family, exerting absolute dominance. She leaned back gently, resting against the back of the sofa, and cast a fleeting gaze at the three individuals across from her. With her slender and fair hand, she lightly apuded. ¡°How splendid it is to start my day with such a family drama.¡± Shirley¡¯s face swelled from the beating, causing her pain whenever she moved her mouth. As she tidied her appearance, she red at Gwendolyn with resentment. Samantha red at Gwendolyn with an evil look and took the lead to speak. ¡°Don¡¯t think the Lane family can be easily brought down! I won¡¯t let these matters go so easily! I¡¯ll get back at you for everything in the future! Don¡¯t get too smug too soon!¡± Gwendolyn chuckled upon hearing Samantha¡¯s words. ¡°Get back at me? Unfortunately, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t have that opportunity.¡± Samantha was momentarily stunned by Gwendolyn¡¯s cold and arrogant gaze. She felt a hint of inexplicable unease. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gwendolyn nced at Ezra but directed her words at Samantha. ¡°Come, let¡¯s have a look at the gift I have prepared for you.¡± Ezra understood her meaning and stepped forward, cing a document on the table. ¡°Ms. Lane, this document contains evidence of your involvement in the kidnapping and attempted murder of Charmaine, a former trainee of the talent show. This one shows your embezzlement of eight billion and eight hundred million from Wright Construction Group¡¯s funds. Ms. Shalders is now the head of Wright Construction Group and has the authority to reim that money from you. And this document is¡­¡± Ezra spent a solid five minutes meticulously recounting Samantha¡¯s ndestine deeds. Samantha stared at the pile of papers in shock. How did this wicked woman manage to uncover all my private matters in such a short time? This is impossible! Samantha rushed to the coffee table and tore the evidence into tiny pieces. It seemed like an outlet for her anger as she ripped the papers with force, her expression contorted with ferocity. Gwendolyn calmly observed Samantha tearing the papers. She waited until Samantha had finished before speaking indifferently. ¡°Ms. Lane, you seem to enjoy tearing things apart. I¡¯ve prepared plenty of copies. You can tear them to your heart¡¯s content.¡± Justin swiftly retrieved arge box behind the sofa and heavily put it on the coffee table. He opened the box before everyone and grabbed a stack of papers, flinging them toward the Lane family trio. Ezra joined in the fun and scattered the papers around. Before long, the spacious living room of the Lane residence was covered in scattered sheets,pletely filling the floor. Unable to utter a single word, Samantha was so angry that she felt like she would vomit. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes sparkled in amusement as she delivered the final blow in a gentle voice. ¡°Come on, keep tearing. If you don¡¯t wear out your hands today, don¡¯t even think about walking out of this vi¡¯s door on your feet.¡± ¡°You!¡± Samantha had fallen into Gwendolyn¡¯s hands several times before. Her legs felt weak at Gwendolyn¡¯s words. Since Louis was still unconscious, she could only plead for help with Shirley. She then threw herself at Shirley¡¯s feet. ¡°Mom! You must save me! She¡¯s holding so much evidence against me. She won¡¯t let me off easily!¡± Shirley, who had already wiped the blood off her mouth and tidied her hair that Louis had messed up, reluctantly regained herposed demeanor as a powerful career woman. She gently touched Samantha¡¯s face and turned to re fiercely at Gwendolyn. ¡°So what if you have these so-called pieces of evidence? Last time, you brought a gang of people, and the Lane family couldn¡¯t match you. But today, you¡¯ve only brought two.¡± She smirked cunningly. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, don¡¯t expect to leave the gates of the Lane residence easily!¡± With that, she signaled the Lane family¡¯s bodyguards, and they swiftly descended from various parts of the vi. Soon, thirty bodyguards surrounded the people in the living room. Since Gwendolyn barged in the previous time, Shirley has learned her lesson and deliberately hired a larger group of bodyguards. Little did she know they woulde in handy so soon. Regardless of the recent plummet in Lane Group¡¯s stock prices and the substantial losses they incurred, as long as she was still around, the Lane family¡¯s connections in Faike would remain, and the Lane family would eventually rise again! Shirley felt triumphant. ¡°Last time, you smashed my luxury car and injured Sammy with a knife. Since you¡¯vee uninvited today, I¡¯ll start by stabbing you a hundred times! Attack!¡± The Lane family¡¯s bodyguards immediately surged forward. Ezra and Justin swiftly positioned themselves in front of Gwendolyn to protect her. Gwendolyn chuckled lightly and coldly locked eyes with Shirley. ¡°Mrs. Lane, do you really think that I came unprepared?¡± With that, she raised her hand and pped twice. Previously surrounded by housekeepers, the entrance suddenly cleared a path as if by its own ord. Shirley and Samantha had a sinking feeling and turned their gaze toward the entrance. A handsome man dressed in solemn military attire walked in. He emanated a strong presence and overwhelming aura. Behind him, a group of police officers swiftly mobilized, surrounding the entire hall. Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Upon seeing Charles enter with his men, Shirley immediately slumped into the chair. She had heard from acquaintances at the police station that Charles was nning to leave Faike, so why hadn¡¯t he left yet? With him around, that day was going to be tough for her. The Lane family¡¯s bodyguards quickly lost their confidence when faced with the police officers brandishing stun batons. Samantha sat on the ground, feeling utterly defeated. However, as Charles entered, his gaze remained fixed on Gwendolyn. Maintaining an upright andposed posture, he walked over to sit beside Gwendolyn. Thetter unconsciously furrowed her brows but quickly concealed any underlying emotions. She then redirected her attention to Shirley and Samantha across from her. ¡°Samantha, I don¡¯t feel like wasting any more time on this. The police station will handle the crimes you and the Lane familymitted. You will repay every penny of the money you owe me with interest. If the funds are insufficient, you¡¯ll have to sell properties or mortgage Lane Group.¡± Shirley and Samantha felt resigned, but under Charles¡¯ pressure, they remained silent and yed dumb. Gwendolyn gently smoothed her skirt and looked at Charles beside her, her eyes filled with tenderness. ¡°Charles, I¡¯m feeling slightly tired, so I¡¯ll leave the rest to you. By the way, Samantha has a penchant for tearing paper. How about letting her tear all the papers in the hallway into shreds before taking them back to the police station? What do you think?¡± Charles raised his gaze, his deep and gentle blue eyes meeting hers. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll do as you say, but¡­¡± He paused for a moment and gently took hold of Gwendolyn¡¯s hand before continuing, ¡°I¡¯ve done you such a big favor, yet you stood me upst night. It¡¯s time to make up to me, don¡¯t you think?¡± Gwendolyn smiled, her eyes filled with warmth and her voice velvety. ¡°Of course, to make it up to you, why don¡¯t youe to Bay Vi tonight after you finish work? I¡¯ll personally cook you a meal. How does that sound?¡± Charles was pleasantly surprised. On second thought, he remembered that annoying person in her vi. ¡°But there¡¯s someone in your vi who I¡¯d rather not see.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Gwendolyn shrugged indifferently. ¡°He¡¯s just my servant. We¡¯ll have a few drinks together in the evening, and I¡¯ll have him stand by to pour your drinks. How about that?¡± Charles looked at her calm expression, his eyes filled with indulgence. Then, he smiled and replied, ¡°All right, whatever you say.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll head back now and wait for you tonight.¡± She withdrew her hand from Charles¡¯ palm and turned to look at Justin. ¡°Stay here and see if Charles needs any further assistance. No cking off.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders.¡± After giving her instructions, Gwendolyn shifted her gaze away, turned around, and left Bay Vi, leaving the stage to Charles and the police officers. It wasn¡¯t until she got into the car that her expression gradually turned cold. She opened the wet wipes in her bag and cleaned her hands. With the Lane family matter resolved and still having some time on her hands, she made a trip to Angle to check on the recent progress of Joaquin¡¯s and Jennifer¡¯s shoots. She stayed busy until the afternoon, then returned to Bay Vi two hours earlier than expected. Upon her return, she found Maverick squatting on the ground, cleaning the floor. With the special drug in his body already wearing off, he found these household chores much easier to handle. Noticing Gwendolyn¡¯s early return, Maverick felt somewhat curious. ¡°You¡¯re back so early today. It¡¯s only mid-afternoon. I suppose you¡¯re not ready for dinner yet?¡± Gwendolyn nodded gently and stood motionless at the door. Maverick instinctively set aside his task, washed his hands, and walked over to help her fetch the slippers from the shoe cab and neatly ce them before her. He then assisted her in removing her coat and hung it on the coat rack. Afterpleting these tasks, he resumed cleaning the floor. Instead of heading upstairs, Gwendolyn sat on the sofa and silently observed Maverick as he mopped the floor. After a few minutes, she finally spoke. ¡°Put aside what you¡¯re doing ande here.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Maverick washed his hands again before walking over to her respectfully. He then knelt on one knee beside her and slowly crouched down. Gwendolyn was pleased with his unwavering obedience. Gripping his chin, she closely observed his facial expressions. Without the special drug, hisplexion had lost the sickly pallor it previously had, and his dark eyes appeared more lively. Although his features remained remarkably handsome, they now held a sharper edge, making him appear less vulnerable. Gwendolyn grinned yfully. ¡°I still prefer your state when under the influence of the special drug. Now you look more unruly yet not so easily bullied. How about¡­¡± She paused, her lips curving mischievously. ¡°How about I inject another dose of the special drug and continue tormenting you for a few more days until I grow tired of it before giving you the antidote?¡± Maverick¡¯s breath hitched, and his dark eyes flickered with surprise. Is she for real? The injection of 023 special drug was excruciatingly painful,pounded by the fact that his back still bore wounds that would intensify the agony multiple times over. Such torment could be lethal. Bitterness tinged his words. ¡°If your happiness is built upon my suffering, as long as it¡¯s yourmand and as long as you can believe that I am sincere now, I will obey unconditionally.¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Really?¡± Gwendolyn lifted his chin an inch higher, forcing him to meet her gaze. Maverick locked his gaze onto her starry eyes and nodded firmly. Seeing him being earnest, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help butugh. She released her grip on his chin. ¡°Just teasing you. I¡¯m not that twisted and sadistic.¡± Maverick lowered his gaze, remaining silent. After the momentary jest, Gwendolyn adopted a solemn expression and shifted the conversation to business. ¡°Your subordinates seem formidable, especially Nico. If they were to fight with trained military elites, what would be their chances of winning?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a direct confrontation, it¡¯s hard to say. But given their capabilities, especially Nico, engaging in a fight would only prolong the encounter. The likelihood of losing is not significant.¡± Gwendolyn let out a soft hum and lowered her head in contemtion. ¡°Why do you suddenly ask about this?¡± Gwendolyn evaded the question. ¡°Charles will being to the vi for dinner tonight.¡± Maverick remained silent, his brows furrowing almost instinctively and his gaze dimming instantly. Noticing his reaction, Gwendolyn leaned closer to his ear and whispered a few words. In the evening, Gwendolyn stood at the entrance of Bay Vi at approximately when Charles had previously mentioned he would arrive and waited for him. Charles arrived in a military vehicle, apanied by only two of his closest subordinates. As Charles stepped out of the car and looked up, he couldn¡¯t conceal his delight upon seeing Gwendolyn exquisitely dressed anding out to greet him. ¡°Gwen, you look stunning tonight. Even though we just met during the day, it feels like it¡¯s been half a month, and I¡¯ve already missed you.¡± ¡°Oh, now you¡¯re learning to be a smooth talker?¡± Gwendolyn gave him a yful re and continued, ¡°It¡¯s been quite a day. How did things go with the Lane family?¡± ¡°Lane Group has dered bankruptcy and will be auctioned off. As for the money the Lane family swindled from Wright Construction Group, I¡¯ll make sure they pay it all back. However, it¡¯s a substantial amount and will take some time. As for Samantha, she received a life sentence. I know you probably prefer to see her suffer a fate worse than death.¡± Gwendolyn only smiled and remained silent. Side by side, they walked through the garden. As they entered the vi¡¯s living room, Charles leaned close to her ear and said intimately, ¡°Jasmine wanted toe along tonight, but I didn¡¯t bring her because I wanted our time together undisturbed¡­¡± His words abruptly halted. Charles noticed Maverick standing in the stairwell, thetter¡¯s intense gaze cold and menacing, fixed upon him. Charles¡¯ expression turned grim as well. The eyes of the two men met from a distance. Instantly, sparks flew, and an air of hostility filled the room. Chapter 190 Chapter 190 The confrontationsted for several minutes. Caught in the middle, Gwendolyn nced from one man to the other. As the 023 special drug had lost its effect on Maverick, he now looked more imposing than Charles. His eyes gleamed with a chilling and merciless intensity. Gwendolyn did not know what to say. They were already eyeing each other with so much hostility in the beginning that she was not sure how the night would end. She cleared her throat loudly, drawing their attention to her. Gwendolyn then gestured for Charles to look in the direction of the dining room. ¡°Charles, I¡¯ve prepared all this food, and I¡¯ve been waiting for you. I¡¯ve also prepared two bottles of red wine. It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve had a drink together. Let¡¯s all drink and be merry tonight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Charles shifted his focus from Maverick to Gwendolyn. He looked at her affectionately as they walked into the dining room together. ¡°Gwen, your culinary skills are amazing. These dishes smell so good. I wasn¡¯t that hungry earlier, but now my appetite has been whetted.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy as long as you like them.¡± Maverick stood in the stairwell, observing their interaction keenly. Even though Gwendolyn had already told him about her n that night, he was still caught off-guard when he saw her smiling happily at Charles and speaking to him in such a gentle manner. He felt a pang of heartache. When would Gwendolyn treat him the way she was treating Charles? Both of them were chatting andughing in the dining room, oblivious to the awkward expression on Maverick¡¯s face. At the dining table, Gwendolyn pursed her lips and smiled. She took the bottle of red wine that had been decanted and was about to pour some for Charles. Charles extended his hand, making a gesture to stop her. ¡°Gwen, you have a servant here. You don¡¯t have to do this yourself.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression momentarily froze, but she quickly regained herposure. She put down the red wine and looked in the direction of the staircase. ¡°Maverick,e here.¡± Charles¡¯ lips curled up slightly with a satisfied look. He was sitting in an upright position as if he had cultivated this habit over the years. His eyes were fixed on Maverick, waiting for thetter to go over and serve them the wine. Seeing Maverick walk toward them, he turned to look at Gwendolyn. There was a hint of surprise in his voice when he said, ¡°Gwen, there¡¯s some dirt on your face. I¡¯ll help you wipe it off.¡± Gwendolyn sat in her chair, not moving. With an affectionate gaze, Charles extended his hands in a gentle and deliberate motion toward Gwendolyn¡¯s face. Before they coulde in contact with her face, another pair of hands grasped Charles¡¯ wrists tightly. Maverick¡¯s face darkened, and he uttered through gritted teeth, ¡°Mr. Newton, mind your manners. Keep your hands to yourself.¡± Charles looked up and sneered, ¡°I shall do whatever I wish. Mind your own business.¡± Charles enunciated thest few words clearly and was about to shake off Maverick¡¯s hands in disgust. Maverick tightened his grip and stared at Charles. The former¡¯s eyes bore a malevolent and piercing intensity, radiating a palpable sense of malice. Charles tried to break free, but his efforts were in vain. He started to look annoyed. ¡°Gwen, is this how a servant treats his employer? He¡¯s so arrogant. Such a defiant servant ought to be taught a lesson.¡± Gwendolyn was about to speak when Maverick snorted coldly. ¡°My employer is Gwendolyn. Who do you think you are?¡± The two men locked eyes. Their hands were entangled, their muscles tensing. There was mounting tension in the room. Gwendolyn sighed as she held her forehead. It seemed that there would always be an intense battle between men whenever Maverick was present. She coughed heavily again, giving Maverick a warning look. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let go.¡± Hearing this, Maverick released his grip. However, he did not move and stood between Gwendolyn and Charles. His re was fixed on Charles, capturing his every movement like a vignt surveince camera. Charles took out a tissue and wiped his sleeves. He then spoke with a hint of annoyance. ¡°Gwen, it seems like we won¡¯t be able to enjoy our meal tonight as long as someone is around.¡± Gwendolyn understood what Charles meant and looked sternly at Maverick. ¡°Mr. Newton is my guest. You¡¯ve offended him the moment you got here. Are you trying to make me angry? I think I have been too lenient with you. Have you forgotten who your employer is?¡± She turned toward the outside of the vi and called out, ¡°William, Quinton,e in.¡± William and Quinton quickly walked into the living room and stood at attention. Gwendolyn appeared indifferent as she disregarded Maverick without even ncing in his direction. ¡°Bring him to the basement to do some soul-searching. Do not release him without my orders.¡± William and Quinton looked at each other and hesitated. Maverick frowned, his face looking extremely cold. He spoke up with a hurt voice. ¡°Are you punishing me because of him?¡± Gwendolyn turned to look at him with a sneer on her face. ¡°What do you think? Charles and I are childhood friends, and I have always admired him since I was little. I used to hold a grudge against him, but now I¡¯vee to terms with it. Let bygones be bygones. After all, he still has a special ce in my heart. I gave you a chance to terminate our employment contract, but you stubbornly refused to leave. If you can¡¯t stand the way things are here, get lost. Do you think you still mean anything to me?¡± Her harsh words cut through him like a sharp knife. Maverick was so hurt that it took his breath away. Despite knowing her n, hearing her speak those hurtful words still caused him great pain and a sense of deep injustice. He knew that Gwendolyn no longer had feelings for him. Was Gwendolyn intentionally using Charles to tell Maverick the truth in a roundabout way? Maverick¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. He choked up as he uttered, ¡°I know I¡¯ve made many mistakes in the past, but aren¡¯t you even a little moved by what I¡¯ve done for you all this while?¡± Gwendolyn kept quiet. She noticed that Maverick was slowly tearing up. His gaze revealed a sense of vulnerability and emotional pain. A sudden jolt reverberated through her heart. Maverick¡¯s acting skills were indeed worthy of an Academy Award for Best Actor since he could make his tears flow on demand. He looked so sorrowful that she was momentarily stunned. She withdrew her gaze, and her face remained impassive. ¡°In the beginning, I was softhearted toward you because you were injured on my ount. Your attitude has gotten worse now, and you even offended Charles. William, Quinton, lock him up immediately.¡± Since their employer had repeated her orders, William and Quinton reluctantly went up to grab Maverick. Maverick forcefully flung their hands away. ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate this punishment. I¡¯ll leave since you don¡¯t want me to stay.¡± He turned around and walked out of the vi without looking back. His eyes were bloodshot, zed with anger. William and Quinton were startled. ¡°Ms. Shalders, what do we do now?¡± ¡°Let him go.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. William and Quinton knew better than to linger in the dining room and quickly took their leave. Gwendolyn and Charles were now alone. Relieved that Maverick had left, Charles poured some wine for Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, I¡¯m so happy that you defended me.¡± As Gwendolyn cast her gaze upon Charles, her icy demeanor melted away. She smiled warmly at him. ¡°Of course. How can hepare to you? Charles, you are the most important person to me. Come, let¡¯s forget about this and drink up.¡± Both of them then raised their wine sses with a clink. Gwendolyn downed the wine in her ss without any hesitation. Swirling the wine in his ss, Charles inhaled the rich aroma of the wine. However, he did not take a single sip of the wine. He looked at the wine in his ss, and the corner of his lips curled up. ¡°I remember that you were so smitten by him and you seemed so intimate with each other when we were ying games at the bar. I was very heartbroken then.¡± Pausing for a moment, Charles¡¯ tone became more serious. ¡°This time, he was injured because of you. You should have treated him even better than before, yet you scolded him so harshly because of me today. Why is that so?¡± Gwendolyn looked a bit surprised. Charles¡¯ smile deepened, looking as if he was amused. ¡°Are you putting up an act in front of me?¡± Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Gwendolyn¡¯s expression gradually hardened as she stared at him in disbelief. With her tone a little mncholic, she said, ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°Silly girl, I was just joking with you. Of course, I trust you. But was this wine prepared by you or Maverick? I don¡¯t trust him.¡± Gwendolyn showed him her empty red wine ss in her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve already had a ss. So if the wine was tampered with, I should be the first to go down.¡± Charles remained silent, gently swirling the red wine in his ss without taking a sip. Gwendolyn was getting a bit upset. She pouted and nced at the full bottle of red wine next to her. ¡°Do you want me to do the same as you didst time? Should I finish the whole bottle of wine for you to believe me?¡± Charles remained silent. In a fit of defiance, Gwendolyn reached out to grab the entire bottle of red wine on the table. Charles stopped her. ¡°I believe you. Even if this bottle contains poison, I would still drink it because you are like a beautiful poison to me and have intoxicated me for a long time.¡± He smiled dotingly. Finally, tilting his head back, he drank the ss of wine. In the garden, Charles¡¯ two confidants stood by the entrance, resembling a pair of statues. Elven took the initiative to approach the two of them. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s gettingte. Have you two had dinner yet? We¡¯ve secretly grilled some barbecue in the backyard. Do you want toe over and give it a try?¡± Both confidants had cold expressions as they firmly rejected the invitation. ¡°No need.¡± Elven was very patient. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Ms. Shalders has always been very friendly. With her around, Mr. Newton won¡¯t get angry. Besides, it¡¯s already dinner time. Given the rtionship between Mr. Newton and Ms. Shalders, we¡¯ll all eventually be like family, so consider this an early opportunity to get acquainted.¡± This time, both hesitated briefly before saying, ¡°No need.¡± They were stubborn. Elven was starting to wonder how he should continue to persuade them without being too eager, as it would raise their suspicions. Soon, Ezra came running over with two grilled pork belly skewers and handed them to him. ¡°Elven, the skewers tonight are especially delicious. Give them a try! Ms. Shalders said she and Mr. Newton was going to drink to their hearts¡¯ desire. So, they want us to eat well and enjoy ourselves too. There are two bottles of beer for you over there. Come on!¡± ¡°All right then.¡± Elven took the skewers and ate one right in front of them, savoring every bite. Not many people could resist the allure of grilled pork belly. They just smelled way too delicious! The aroma wafted through the air and reached the nostrils of the two. They stared at the meat in Elven¡¯s hand, swallowing their saliva and feeling slightly tempted. Elven continued enthusiastically, ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go. Mr. Newton probably won¡¯t leave until veryte tonight. Who knows how long you two will be hungry? We have both beer and wine in the backyard. Let¡¯s have a few drinks. I¡¯m sure Mr. Newton won¡¯t give you a hard time.¡± The two exchanged nces. Ultimately, they could not resist the temptation of the grilled skewers. The grilled meat in Elven¡¯s hand finally led them to the backyard. The mealsted until a little after ten o¡¯clock at night. Charles and Gwendolyn were chatting happily. Charles¡¯ handsome face flushed red, and his usually deep, azure eyes seemed somewhat hazy. ¡°Gwen, I¡¯m truly delighted that you¡¯ve had a change of heart. In this world, no man is more deserving of you than me. We are a match made in heaven.¡± Gwendolyn just smiled, not saying a word. Charles gazed at her tenderly. ¡°When your mother passed away, I was immature and didn¡¯t step up to protect andfort you when you needed me the most. Instead, I went to the Central Intelligence Agency to chase fame and fortune. I¡¯ve med myself for this for many years. Can you forgive me?¡± As they reminisced, the smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face gradually faded. ¡°Charles, you¡¯re drunk and talking nonsense. It¡¯s gettingte. You should head home.¡± Charles wanted to continue exining, but Gwendolyn called Justin over to help him into the car. Since his two confidants had been drinking in the backyard, they couldn¡¯t drive. Justin was the only bodyguard who had only eaten barbeque and did not consume alcohol due to his injuries not being fully healed yet. So, he took the responsibility of driving Charles and the other two back home. Once the military vehicle hadpletely disappeared from Bay Vi, Elven quietly entered the vi. Gwendolyn was still sitting in the dining room, her eyes fixed straight ahead. Her expression was cold and stern as she was lost in her thoughts. ¡°Ms. Shalders?¡± Elven called out to her gently. Gwendolyn snapped back to reality. ¡°Were the two confidants handled?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I secretly added the drugs to their drinks. It should take effect while they¡¯re on the road later.¡± ¡°Great. This will also give us a chance to assess Maverick¡¯s work efficiency.¡± She nced at the empty bottle of red wine with a faint glimmer in her beautiful eyes. The military vehicle traveled along the highway. Since it was ratherte at night, there was very little traffic. Justin adjusted the car¡¯s air conditioning to a veryfortable temperature. Having had a few drinks, Charles¡¯ two confidants were feeling drowsy. Only Charles managed to maintain a rtively clear mind even though he had been drinking. As Justin drove with his eyes fixed straight ahead, suddenly, an icy cold gun was pressed against the back of his head. It was Charles. ¡°This isn¡¯t the way back to my ce. Where are you trying to go?¡± His voice was quite loud, and since the two confidants had a strong sense of alertness, they sobered up quickly. The two of them looked out the window and discovered that Justin was taking them to the outskirts of town. The atmosphere inside the car suddenly became tense. Justin chuckled sheepishly. ¡°Did I take a wrong turn? I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Newton. You were all asleep so I didn¡¯t want to wake you up. I thought taking this route would be faster.¡± Charles¡¯ cold expression remained unchanged. ¡°Turn around.¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± The car was speeding, and Justin did not slow down. Instead, he mmed on the elerator and abruptly spun the steering wheel. The entire vehicle almost lost bnce, nearly tipping over and crashing off the road. Besides Justin, the other three had not fastened their seatbelts inside the car. His sudden move caused them to tumble, crashing into the ss window. Charles was no exception, and the gun that was aimed at Justin¡¯s head also shifted away. Taking advantage of the situation, Justin mmed on the brakes, quickly got out of the car, and ran. Due to the great inertia, the remaining three people stumbled and staggered about. Unfortunately, Charles was the most clear-headed of them all. He cast a cruel nce in the direction where Justin was fleeing and decisively pulled the trigger. There was a resounding bang. In the peaceful suburbs, the sound stood out particrly strikingly. Running ahead, Justin instinctively covered his head and quickly checked his body. Realizing the bullet had not hit him, he ran even faster. The bullet had hit the roof of the car. Charles was suddenly obstructed by a man who sprang out from the trunk, causing him to lose his aim. The trunk and rear seats of the military vehicle were connected. Since it waste at night, and the two confidants had too much to drink, they forgot to check their vehicle before leaving. Unexpectedly, someone was hiding in the trunk all along. Charles quickly realized something was definitely off about that night¡¯s dinner and immediately moved to counterattack the man in the trunk. However, as soon as Charles made a move, his opponent swiftly disarmed him. It was too dark inside the car for Charles to see who was in the trunk. His two confidants immediately exited the vehicle, ready to apprehend the person. Suddenly, around six men emerged from the forest. Both sides immediately started fighting. In less than two minutes, Charles and his two associates felt their strength waning. As Gwendolyn had added a colorless and tasteless anesthetic into their drinks beforehand, the small dosage would not cause anyone to faint, but it would result in mild fatigue. The two confidants were knocked down, falling t on their faces. Charles was suddenly struck with a fierce blow to the back of his neck, causing him to fall to his hands and knees. He looked up and saw a familiar figure emerging from the trunk of the car. The man wore a ghostly mask adorned with intricate and unique patterns. ¡°Y-You¡¯re from the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡ª¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Before the sentence could be finished, Nico struck again from behind with his hand, finally knocking out Charles. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Upon seeing someone faint, the man wearing a ghost mask finally removed it. Under the moonlight, the man¡¯s dark gaze was cold and unfathomable, filled with icy bloodlust as he looked at Charles. Nico stepped forward and asked, ¡°Boss, how should we handle this?¡± ¡°Tie up these two subordinates and throw them in the car. As for Charles¡­¡± Maverick¡¯s voice suddenly stopped, and he narrowed his eyes. His expression was fierce. ¡°Hang him up and take him to the cabin that is ready. Gwendolyn will be here in about ten minutes. Before she arrives, let¡¯s interrogate him first.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Charles was abruptly awakened by a ssh of cold water. When he woke up, he found his hands tied behind his back and suspended from a broken beam in the dpidated house. His feet barely touched the ground, and he had to stand on his tiptoes to maintain his bnce. That position was extremely tiring, especially as the arms became unbearably sore. If he was being suspended for an hour, the arms could ache to the point of dislocation, and the armpits would bruise and be swollen. He let out a soft chuckle. That torturous method was clearly a tacticmonly used by the military. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± A deliberately lowered, deep male voice rang out from nearby. Charles nced over. It was the man with the ghost mask he had seen before he fainted. The man was leisurely and elegantly leaning against a wooden pir. Charles¡¯ deep blue eyes showed not the slightest hint of panic. His face was still carrying a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what I did to offend the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You¡¯re setting me up to arrest me.¡± The masked man approached him and said, ¡°Recently, abeled sample of S404 RNA Virus has gone missing from theb. I checked the records, and you were in theb half a month ago.¡± Charles was indignant. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who visited theb, so why do you suspect that I took it?¡± ¡°Because on the day you invited Gwendolyn to Realm Bar, someone just happened to use that potion to hurt us, and you dare to say this has nothing to do with you?¡± Charles frowned slightly. ¡°How did you know?¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. In front of him, the masked man removed the silver mask from his face, revealing Maverick¡¯s handsome yet cold and detached expression. Charles stared at his face, feeling shocked. ¡°It¡¯s actually you! How could you have this mask? I can¡¯t believe it. How could the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation possibly be you!¡± He had felt that something was off about Maverick before and even had someone investigate him. Maverick¡¯s profile was too clean, which made him suspicious that there was more to it. However¡­ Even if the man was not simple, there was no way he could be involved with the Federal Bureau of Investigation! Maverick¡¯s dark eyes narrowed as he observed Charles¡¯ expression. Seeing Charles genuinely shocked, he said, ¡°It seems that you didn¡¯t steal this potion because you tracked me down, but to harm Gwendolyn. You pretend to love her so much, yet you¡¯re cruel enough to want to use the S404 potion to destroy her.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t! I truly love her!¡± Charles firmly refused to admit it. He decided to skip that topic, sneering while staring at Maverick. ¡°You¡¯re deliberately using the name of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to get information from me? Do you think I¡¯d believe you? You¡¯re nothing but the young CEO of the Wright family in Faike. How could this be possible?¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes were cold, but he did not respond. Charles added, ¡°Today, I just happened to fall into the trap you and Gwendolyn set. Do you really think you can keep me here for long? Tomorrow, my people will notice my disappearance. Kidnapping and assaulting the director of the Central Intelligence Agency is no small crime. Think carefully!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± With a slight smirk, Maverick responded nonchntly, ¡°Well, give it a try and see if any of your men will come to rescue you tomorrow.¡± Charles looked at the calm indifference on the man¡¯s face, which did not seem to be feigned, and then nced at the ghost mask in Maverick¡¯s hand. That mask, representing the highest leadership of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was crafted from pure silver by a skilled artisan exclusively. With its intricate design process, unique patterns, and unparalleled craftsmanship, there was only one such mask in the entire world. At that, he began to waver. Outside the door, Nico knocked softly and said, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s been five minutes. Ms. Shalders will be here soon.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Maverick turned his attention back to Charles, getting straight to the point. ¡°You got this potion half a month ago, but you only came to Faike a week ago. There must be someone behind this, conspiring with you and encouraging you to take the potion. Who is that person?¡± Charles looked down at the ground, smiling but not saying a word. Maverick grabbed him by the hair, forcing him to make eye contact. ¡°You know very well the methods the Federal Bureau of Investigation uses to deal with stubborn individuals. Are you sure you won¡¯t talk?¡± Charles was instantly infuriated by his words. Veins bulged on his forehead as he gritted his teeth in anger. ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I dare? You already know who I am. Considering what you¡¯ve done this time, do you really think you can walk out of here unscathed?¡± As Maverick continued speaking, his gaze grew increasingly fierce and filled with surging rage. Charles looked into his eyes, and after a brief two-second pause, he burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯re not the young master of the Wright family, are you? Who are you?¡± There was no way the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation could merely be the CEO in a small ce like Faike. Maverick did not say anything. ¡°You keep saying that I have an ulterior motive for getting close to Gwendolyn, but she probably doesn¡¯t even know your identity. Don¡¯t you have a motive too? What¡¯s your purpose in acting weak and pitiful in front of her?¡± Maverick¡¯s hand that was clenching Charles¡¯ hair became tighter. Charles felt as if his scalp was about to be torn off. His expression showed slight pain, but he quickly burst intoughter again. ¡°Since you already know that it wasn¡¯t sulfuric acid that day, you should be well aware that your days are numbered! If I can¡¯t have her, neither can you!¡± Maverick¡¯s eyes filled with rage as he released his grip on the man¡¯s hair and threw a fierce punch at him. Charles¡¯ cheek quickly swelled up, turning into a deep shade of purple. He spat blood onto the ground, but those deep blue eyes remained defiant. ¡°Even if Professor Yancey can suppress the S404 RNA virus in your body and prevent your death, there will be long-term side effects. Eventually, you¡¯ll be disabled. If she finds out, she might feel sorry for you in the short term, but what about in the long run?¡± ¡°Maverick, from the moment you got attacked by the virus, your disabled body is destined to be unworthy of her!¡± Maverick¡¯s brows knitted slightly. He was stunned and did not speak for a long time until Nico¡¯s voice came from the doorway again. ¡°Boss, Ms. Shalders¡¯ car has reached the highway, and it will be arriving in two minutes.¡± ¡°All right.¡± He looked back at Charles and said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve fallen into my hands, you should know that there¡¯s no mouth in this world that I can¡¯t pry open. I¡¯ll dig out all your secrets in the next few days.¡± Charles nced over and snorted coldly. Maverick grabbed his hair again as he warned threateningly in a low voice, ¡°When Gwendolynes in, you should know what not to say. If you dare to reveal even a single word, I¡¯ll make your life a living hell!¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders! You¡¯re here!¡± Just then, Nico¡¯s voice rang out from outside, neither too loud nor too soft. Maverick hid the mask and turned around to greet Gwendolyn. The door opened, and he found himself gazing directly into Gwendolyn¡¯s beautiful eyes. Thinking about some of the words Charles had just said, he lowered his eyes, and for once, he did not take the initiative to speak enthusiastically. Gwendolyn did not notice and simply asked, ¡°How did it go? Did he say anything important?¡± Maverick shook his head. ¡°No, he wouldn¡¯t speak.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to have a chat with him alone.¡± ¡°All right.¡± ¡°Make sure it¡¯s private, and no one is allowed to eavesdrop, including you,¡± Gwendolyn emphasized. He hesitated slightly, and his voice dropped a notch. ¡°All right.¡± After Gwendolyn entered, Maverick helped her close the door, shooing Nico and the others far away. He then went to wait under a tree nearby. Inside the cabin, Charles saw her enter, and the corner of his lips curled upward slightly. ¡°Gwen, I never expected tonight to be a treacherous banquet. Has all the love you¡¯ve shown me recently been nothing but an act?¡± Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Gwendolyn did not hide her intentions. ¡°Yes, if I didn¡¯t do it this way, how could I have caught you?¡± Charlesughed with a hint of mncholy at the edge of his lips. ¡°When did you start being cautious of me?¡± ¡°From the moment you pulled out the revolver and asked me to choose between shooting Maverick and Natasha, I knew something was off with you.¡± Does she actually start suspecting me since that time? Charles looked at her, somewhat in disbelief. She showed no emotion as she continued, ¡°It wasn¡¯t until thest time you were about to leave Faike that I identally saw the person in ck in the Realm Bar corridor. Coupled with the acid attack that day, I began to suspect that you had some connection with the person who harmed me from the Harris family.¡± Charles gave a wry smile and responded, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± ¡°Charles, you truly are the only person I¡¯ve admired since childhood, but why do you want to hurt me too?¡± He shook his head, still denying it. ¡°I didn¡¯t. When the Harris family announced your death, you had no idea how heartbroken I was. It was only half a month ago that I found out you were still alive. Only by pretending to cooperate could Ie to Faike to see you. If you still love me, I¡¯ll fight against them for you till the end, but¡­ there¡¯s an annoying dog by your side now! That day at the bar, I was standing on the second floor. I didn¡¯t intend to take action until Maverick came in. I knew he would protect you, so that¡¯s when I took action. It wasn¡¯t about targeting you; how could I ever bear to see you hurt?¡± He spoke without pause, with his eyes gazing deeply and affectionately at Gwendolyn. Despite the bruises on his face, they could not conceal his stunningly handsome features. However, Gwendolyn had no time to appreciate his handsomeness, so she scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it ridiculous to say that? If he hadn¡¯t shielded me, I would be the one injured right now. How can you say it wasn¡¯t aimed at me?¡± Her gaze grew colder and colder, not wanting to waste time spouting nonsense. ¡°Stop hiding it. I just want to know who from the Harris family is responsible for harming me. As long as you tell me, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡± Charles lowered his gaze, a touch of sadness gracing the corner of his lips. ¡°You might let me go, but he won¡¯t.¡± He? Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Charles looked up at her with sorrow in his eyes and said, ¡°Gwen, your little pet is not a good person. He has been deceiving you with his acting skills all along. He has more secrets than I do. You must not fall for his tricks!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always known he has secrets. I just never bothered to dig deeper,¡± Gwendolyn responded nonchntly. Anyway, she only had a one-year agreement with Maverick. After that, they would have nothing to do with each other, and she was not very interested in his secrets. Charlesughed in surprise. ¡°It seems like you don¡¯t really care about him either! That¡¯s great. Gwen, you should thank me, after all, for I helped you to get rid of this clingy guy.¡± Seeing her frown, Charles feigned surprise with his deep blue eyes. ¡°Gwen, don¡¯t you know? Well, he¡¯s really not being honest. Gwen, you should go back and check his injuries yourself; then, you¡¯ll know how much he¡¯s hiding from you.¡± Check his injuries? Gwen furrowed her brows. Weren¡¯t his injuries just ordinary skin wounds caused by sulfuric acid? She found it strange, but Charles still had a faint smile on his face. Upon closer inspection, that smile seemed a bit mischievous, and it did not seem like he was lying. Instead, it seemed that he knew some inside information. ¡°Make yourself clear.¡± Charles shook his head and just smiled. Gwendolyn was a bit annoyed, but she could not bring herself to take action against him. After all, he was the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, holding a high position in the Chanaea military. Without a legitimate reason to act against him, she could not risk causing trouble for herself and Asher. She withdrew her gaze and turned to leave the cabin. As soon as the door closed, Maverick walked over. ¡°How was it? Did he say anything?¡± Gwendolyn looked down and shook her head gently. ¡°Forget it. We¡¯ve already confirmed that he conspired with others to harm me. We¡¯ll find other ways to investigate the rest. Tell Nico and the others to destroy the evidence and not leave any traces. Send him back quietly tomorrow.¡± Maverick did not agree. She could take her time to investigate, but he could not; his time was running out. ¡°Gwendolyn, if you trust me, leave this matter to me. Within two days, I¡¯ll make him confess the truth.¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Do you know who he is? How dare you mess with him?¡± Gwendolyn stared at him intently. ¡°The bruises on his face are from you, aren¡¯t they? Do you really want to continue torturing him in private? The Central Intelligence Agency and the Newton family behind him won¡¯t let you off easily.¡± He smiled with pursed lips, not taking it seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it properly.¡± As their gazes met, an unspoken connection formed between them. Gwendolyn¡¯s heart skipped a beat. His words sounded casual, yet they carried an inexplicable sense of trustworthiness. ¡°All right, you may give it a try.¡± Thinking about Charles¡¯st few words before leaving, she withdrew her gaze, and her expression gradually became serious. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the vi.¡± ¡°You may head back first. I¡¯ll take care of things here before returning.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face showed an undeniable seriousness. ¡°No, you¡¯re going back with me.¡± Uh¡­ Maverickpromised. ¡°Can you give me two minutes, then? I need to discuss the arrangements with Nico briefly.¡± ¡°All right.¡± She agreed! She finally decided to wait for me once! Maverick felt a wave of inexplicable joy bubbling from within. He took off his zer and draped it over Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulders, wrapping her petite frame snugly. ¡°It¡¯s late, and it¡¯s cold outside. You should head back to the car first; I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± Gwendolyn did not refuse. She nodded as she walked away. After she was at a distance, Maverick called Nico over. His face returned to its usual stern expression. ¡°Within two days, pry out the things Charles is hiding. The process and methods don¡¯t matter; even if he¡¯s disabled, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll exin it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I only care about the results.¡± ¡°Understood, Boss.¡± Maverick looked back at the cabin, his gaze darkened. ¡°After this is over, reward him with a bottle of sulfuric acid on his back.¡± Nico responded, ¡°Isn¡¯t sulfuric acid too easy for him? He sshed the S404 RNA Virus on you, Boss!¡± ¡°So what? Do you want to ssh S404 back at him? There are only about ten bottles, and he doesn¡¯t deserve such a precious thing. I¡¯ll contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation to get him removed from his director position. We can slowly torture him in prisonter on.¡± After giving it some thought, Nico also felt that it made a lot of sense. ¡°All right, Boss.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll leave this to you. I¡¯m going back now.¡± Nico was just about to agree when he saw that Maverick had already left, leaving only a gust of wind behind. Thetter had started jogging toward the side of the road. Nico clicked his tongue twice. Indeed, love makes people foolish. How is it that the man who was once so bloodthirsty and cold-hearted now looks somewhat adorable as he jogs back? Gwendolyn sat in the back seat of the car, still pondering Charles¡¯ words. The corner of her eyes caught a glimpse of someone jogging toward her. The man quickly opened the car door and slid in, discreetly rubbing both of his arms with his palms. Gwendolyn noticed his subtle movements and saw that he was only wearing a thin silk shirt. She then remembered that she was wearing his zer. ¡°Are you cold?¡± Maverick shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Why are you running so fast, then?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep you waiting too long.¡± Gwendolyn suddenly fell silent. Is he still trying to deceive me with sweet words? As soon as he entered the car, she could feel the chill emanating from his body. His lips were turning a pale shade of purple from the cold, yet he stubbornly refused to admit it. She took off the zer and impatiently tossed it to him. ¡°Take it. I¡¯m feeling too warm.¡± Winter was just around the corner, and indeed, the temperature difference was quite significant at night. Gwendolyn asked Justin, who was driving, to turn on the heater in the car. With that, the car drove all the way back to Bay Vi. She changed into her slippers and headed upstairs. Without even looking back, she said, ¡°Follow me up.¡± Maverick did not hesitate and followed her up to the third floor. Upon entering the room, Gwendolyn first turned on the heater before sitting on the edge of the bed. With a nonchnt tone, shemanded, ¡°Undress yourself. Take off all your clothes.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Maverick¡¯s ears turned slightly red in an instant. What is she up to? Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Suddenly, that statement turned the atmosphere in the room to be quite suggestive. Seeing Maverick standing there dumbfounded and not even moving his finger for quite a while, Gwendolyn furrowed her eyebrows slightly, and her expression became solemn. ¡°Hurry up; I want to see the injury.¡± Maverick¡¯s enthusiasm deted in an instant. Oh, she just wants to see the injury; I have overthought it. Wait a minute¡­ She wants to check my injury? Why is she suddenly doubting my injury? Did Charles say something to her? ¡°My injury is fine. I¡¯ve been applying medicine for the past couple of days, and it¡¯s almost healed.¡± Gwendolyn gave him a cold nce and said, ¡°Take it off!¡± Maverick did not move a muscle and replied, ¡°I¡¯m wearing a bandage, so even if I take it off, you won¡¯t be able to see anything.¡± ¡°I can remove it. Worst case, we¡¯ll just reapply the medicer.¡± Her tone was very firm. She seems determined. Maverick did not speak or move, pondering how to get away with the situation. Gwendolyn saw right through his thoughts with just one nce. ¡°Don¡¯t try to fool me tonight. You must take your clothes off!¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, I appreciate your concern for my injury, and it warms my heart. However, it¡¯s gettingte tonight, so let¡¯s get some rest and check on it tomorrow.¡± Gwendolyn gritted her teeth. She suppressed the urge in her heart to tie the man up and strip him off forcibly. Patiently, she stated, ¡°You are the one who said earlier that you would unconditionally obey any command of mine. Was that just empty talk?¡± Upon being confronted with the promise he made, Maverick was rendered speechless. Being left with no choice, he stretched his hand toward the gold buttons on the suit. His slender fingertips gently circled around each button, unfastening them one by one in an extremely slow motion. Gwendolyn did not rush him either. She gently rubbed between her brows and waited quietly. After all, there were not many pieces of clothes for him to take off, so it would not take long. Maverick took off his suit, gently cing it on her dressing table. After hesitating for a few seconds, he continued to take off his shirt. After unbuttoning the two buttons of his shirt, he asked softly, ¡°Should I¡­ take off my pants?¡± Gwendolyn gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I want to see your wound! Why would you take off your pants?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just mention stripping¡­ naked?¡± He lowered his head, only daring to voice his usation softly. However, because the room was so quiet, Gwendolyn could hear every single word clearly. ¡°Maverick! If you keep babbling on, I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t even have your underwear left. You¡¯ll be running naked around the vi for fiftyps!¡± Oh my goodness¡­ She is ruthless! If I really run naked, my dignity and reputation will be gone at once! Gwendolyn could see that he was clearly intimidated, so she continued with a wicked grin, ¡°Or maybe I¡¯ll have Elven and the others find a rope to tie you up and hang you from that tree outside the garden, naked as a specimen for the whole night. Which one would you like to try?¡± I don¡¯t want to try either one! It¡¯s absolutely impossible! Maverick¡¯s lips were pressed tightly together. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. He did not utter a single sound anymore as he silently undressed himself. As he was just about to unfasten thest button, he was still unwilling to give up. When he tried to open his mouth to give an excuse, a fierce re from Gwendolyn shot over as a warning. Running naked out there is simply impossible! It¡¯s even more impossible to be hung up at the tree! But I also don¡¯t want to take off my clothes to show her the wound¡­ He lowered his gaze, still pondering a way to bluff his way through. Under Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze, he slowly removed his silk shirt, revealing his perfectly sculpted eight-pack abs. The bandage wrapped around his midsection slightly marred the aesthetic, but his healthy tanned complexion was still incredibly pleasing to the eye. Nheless, Gwendolyn was not in the mood to admire it at that moment. As soon as Maverick finished undressing, she got up and walked toward him. ¡°Turn around.¡± Maverick obediently turned around. Gwendolyn got straight to work, forcefully tearing off his bandages with brute strength. As it was wrapped more than a dozen times, she had to carefully unwrap ityer byyer. Her movements were swift, and her strength was strong. As thest fewyers were unwrapped, the bloodstains on the bandages became clearly visible. Maverick let out a soft hiss. N?velDrama.Org content. After Gwendolyn heard that, her movements became much gentler. After removing the bloodstained bandage, the palm-sized burn on his back was fully exposed to Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. Gwendolyn¡¯s brow furrowed deeply as she observed it intently. It had been four days, yet his wound still looked rmingly fresh, with his flesh covered in blood. It was a horrifying sight. Her trembling fingertips reached out toward his back but stopped just before touching him. ¡°Your wound is actually still bleeding, and it looks quite severe. Howe it doesn¡¯t seem like an injury caused by sulfuric acid?¡± The injury was quite severe, and Gwendolyn did not dare to touch it. She reluctantly withdrew her hand. Her expression was solemn. Maverick sighed inwardly. Sure enough, she could easily tell something was wrong just by taking a nce at it. ¡°Of course, it is. It¡¯s just sulfuric acid. Where¡¯s the bleeding? I clearly didn¡¯t see any blood when I applied the medicine during the day.¡± Gwendolyn did not believe it at all. ¡°Tell me the truth. Do you actually know what happened to the injury on your back?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s the sulfuric acid.¡± His expression was natural. It was as if he was lost in thought for a moment when he suddenly said in an enlightening tone, ¡°I remember now. That night, I hid in the trunk of the car, and it seemed like I identally hit my back when I was fighting with Charlester on. That was probably why I bled.¡± Is that really so? Why would Charles say those words to remind me, then? So, is it Charles who¡¯s lying, or is he the one lying? ¡°Could it really be such a coincidence? Your old injury on your back was hurt tonight? Don¡¯t you think this reason seems a bit contrived?¡± ¡°Is it? Coincidence happens sometimes in this world.¡± Maverick spoke gently. ¡°This wound may look frightening, but it¡¯s not serious. Look at me now. Do I look like I¡¯m not feeling well?¡± Gwendolyn simply did not believe a word he said. She had eyes, so she could see for herself whether it was serious or not. ¡°Turn around and look at me.¡± Maverick obediently turned around, lowering his gaze to meet hers. He was so tall at a hundred and eighty-eight centimeters. When Gwendolyn tried to make eye contact with him at close range, she had to crane her neck to look up at him, which was a bit tiring for her neck because she was only one hundred and sixty-eight centimeters tall. ¡°Kneel.¡± Thest time she uttered that, Maverick felt an inner resistance, even a sense of humiliation. However, he did not hesitate this time. He slowly bent his knee while keeping his back straight. In the face of the important matter of pursuing my wife, what does pride even matter? Gwendolyn swiftly extended her hand, lifting his chin and gazing down at him from a superior position. ¡°Maverick, do you really think I won¡¯t find out if you don¡¯t tell me? Mr. Kieran is also my friend. If I ask him toe over and take a look himself, you won¡¯t be able to hide it anymore. At that point, you¡¯ll completely lose my trust. Think it through.¡± Her gaze was cold and sharp. ¡°Do you want to confess or wait for me to find out?¡± Maverick¡¯s dark eyes flickered. After struggling internally for a while, he finally said, ¡°It¡¯s not sulfuric acid, but S40 strong corrosive potion.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a liquid with simr properties to sulfuric acid but with stronger corrosiveness. If ites into contact with the skin, the burns can be quite severe, and ordinary ointments won¡¯t be effective. The healing process will also take a longer time, and the scars won¡¯t easily fade. However, it doesn¡¯t cause any harm to the body¡¯s internal organs.¡± ¡°Who told you this?¡± Maverick blinked his dark eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t know it either until Charles told mest night. He said he stole the drug from a warboratory.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Maverick nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn had never heard of that kind of thing before, but his exnation seemed quite simr to the condition of his injury. But¡­ is it really just a superficial wound? She stared at Maverick for a moment. It seems like I won¡¯t be able to get any more information tonight. Since it¡¯s rted to the warboratory, I¡¯ll ask Asher tomorrow; he should know. She sat back down by the bed, clearly annoyed. ¡°You really can¡¯t be honest, can you? Just because of this injury tonight, you¡¯ve told several lies. Can you even keep track of them all?¡± Maverick saw that she seemed to believe him and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Are you angry?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent, turning her face away. Her entire body exuded an extreme coldness. It seemed that she was seriously angry as she did not even bother to respond to him. He did not stand up. Instead, he crawled on his knees to her feet. Carefully, he took her small hand in his and gently pressed it against his abdomen. With a gentle and soothing tone, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just a superficial wound. I know you don¡¯t like owing anyone favors, so I didn¡¯t want you to feel guilty. I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you. Please don¡¯t be mad. How about I let you pinch my abs?¡± ¡°Who cares about your abs?¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand angrily and red at him with annoyance. ¡°How about¡­ you take that belt and give me a good whipping, so you can let off some anger?¡± Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Maverick gazed up at her, a ttering smile ying at his thin lips. Gwendolyn cast a deep, meaningful nce at the man. Indeed, he was due to be taught a lesson that night, and Gwendolyn¡¯s anger simply would not subside until the man was crying and pleading for mercy. She extended her hand toward him. ¡°Belt.¡± Without hesitation, Maverick swiftly unfasted the metal buckle and obediently handed the belt to her. Then, he turned around and faced away from the woman. Gwendolyn felt a shiver course through her entire being. She folded the belt in half, her eyes glinting with resolution and intensity. Lifting the belt high into the air, she readied herself to strike the wounded back before her. However, before she could swing the belt in her hand, her gaze involuntarilynded on the palm-sized burn on the man¡¯s back. The vividly crimson flesh and the gruesome wound provoked unease. It was so strikingly conspicuous that it was hard to ignore. Besides, he¡¯d sustained the injury by shielding her. Otherwise, it would be her face that was bearing such agony. As Gwendolyn pondered on this, she experienced a surge of conflicting emotions. It felt as though an unseen force held her wrist, preventing her from lowering it no matter what. She released a silent sigh and seemed to have deted all of a sudden, for she realized, much to her vexation, that she actually started to feel sorry for him. This feeling made Gwendolyn very unhappy. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The three years she had spent in the Wright residence were akin to enduring a living hell, devoid of any semnce of warmth. Following the divorce, she had observed some changes in Maverick and his growing sincerity. It would be disingenuous if she said she remained unmoved. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn refused to tread upon that familiar path again. No matter how much she attempted to sever the ties between him and herself, in the end, she would be the one to wind up hurt. At that thought, she tightened her grip on the belt, trembling as though she had made a momentous decision. Maverick remained motionless, not uttering a single word nor furrowing his brows. Besides the involuntary tensing of his muscles throughout his body, it seemed as if he was impervious to pain. Gwendolyn examined the red mark she had inflicted, her gaze unconsciously shifting to the center of his back, where the bloody, blurred wound pained her eyes. Suddenly, her heart was thrown into turmoil, and despite everything, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to follow through. ¡°Put on your clothes and get out!¡± She gave the man a ferocious kick on his shoulders and threw the leather belt back at him. ¡°Hurry up and get lost. I¡¯m exhausted, so we¡¯ll settle this tomorrow.¡± After uttering those words, Gwendolyn lifted the quilt and, with her back turned to Maverick, nestled herself within it. Caught off guard, Maverick staggered slightly from the unexpected kick. He leisurely fastened his belt, then rose to retrieve the shirt and suit from the dressing table. Since the bandage had been removed, he refrained from wearing the clothes directly to avoid soiling them. Instead, he simply held them in his hand. As he turned his head, he beheld Gwendolyn lying on her side on the bed, her back facing him. She hadn¡¯t even changed her attire; how could she possibly appear as though she was ready to sleep? ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re still wearing your coat. It won¡¯t befortable to sleep like this.¡± Gwendolyn secretly clenched her teeth and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t care. Just go away!¡± Maverick remained stationary at the foot of her bed, his gaze fixed on her the entire time. Gwendolyn could sense it, a surge of anger rushing to her head. Suddenly, she sat up abruptly, her face inted with irritation. Seizing the pillow next to her, she hurled it at Maverick. ¡°Get out!¡± Maverick caught it steadily and ced it on the dressing table for her. She then grabbed another pillow and threw it. Maverick caught it once again, and a gentle smile hung on his lips. Gwendolyn was truly furious,unching everything within reach from the bedside table¡ªtissue boxes, ornaments, books, and more¡ªdirectly at him. Remarkably, the man caught each item effortlessly, never missing a beat. He then helped her ce them on the dressing table. The faint smile on his face brimmed with tenderness. However, in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, it felt like a challenge. She was so enraged that she felt as if she could burst at any moment. She searched on the bedside table for a while but found nothing. When she looked down, she realized that she had already thrown everything away, except for the tablemp. And so, she extended her hand of guilt toward the tablemp. Themp was still plugged in, yet instead of disconnecting the power first, she forcefully attempted to yank it out. Witnessing her actions, Maverick swiftly raised both hands in surrender, saying, ¡°Stop! I was wrong. I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± Gwendolyn red at him fiercely until he closed the door and vanished from her sight. Only then did she ce the tablemp back in its original position. As she gazed at the assortment of items on the bedside table, she quietly got out of bed, retrieved her pillow, and took several deep breaths to calm herself before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. Before long, the next morning dawned. During breakfast, Gwendolyn remained silent, not uttering a single word. Regardless of what Maverick said, shepletely disregarded him. She then headed to Angle right after finishing her breakfast in silence. She had already handed Charles over to Maverick, so all she had to do was await the oue. Upon arriving at the office, Gwendolyn first made a phone call to her eldest brother, Asher. She repeated the name of the potion that Maverick mentionedst night to Asher. Asher¡¯s response was essentially the same as Maverick¡¯s. Gwendolyn got in contact with someone from Shadow Bell once again and searched for images of skin damage caused by the potent S40 strong corrosive potion. Since it was aboratory chemical, it couldn¡¯t be found through regr searches. Ten minutester, Shadow Bell sent the picture to her on WhatsApp. She carefully examined it and indeed, the wound bore a striking resemnce to the one on Maverick¡¯s back. Could it be that he¡¯s telling the truth this time? But if it wasn¡¯t life-threatening, why would Charles im that he helped me deal with Maverick? Gwendolyn always had a nagging feeling that she had missed some crucial detail, but she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. She summoned Elven and instructed him, ¡°During this period, I want you to secretly follow Maverick, and report to me his every move after he leaves the vi. Also, without revealing your presence, listen to his conversations.¡± Although Elven couldn¡¯tprehend the reason behind her request, he nodded in agreement. After Gwendolyn departed, Maverick washed the dishes and tidied up the vi. Subsequently, he ventured to the suburbs to check on Charles. Nico spotted his arrival and hastened over with a servile grin on his face. ¡°Good morning, Boss.¡± Maverick nced at him and asked, ¡°How is it going?¡± Nico shook his head. ¡°He refuses to divulge anything. After all, he climbed his way up to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He¡¯s truly a tough nut to crack.¡± Maverick cast a cold and ruthless gaze in the direction of the cabin. ¡°No matter how unyielding the obstacle, you must shatter it. By tomorrow at thetest, you must extract something from his mouth.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Nico respectfully responded, then leaned closer to Maverick¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Boss, your suspicions about Justin were correct. Yesterday, he drove to the suburbs of town and disappeared for over ten minutes after getting out of the car and running away. It wasn¡¯t until Ms. Shalders arrived in her car that he calmly returned.¡± Maverick furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Do you know where he went?¡± Nico shook his head and replied, ¡°This kid is quite cunning. Our people couldn¡¯t keep up with him.¡± Maverick pressed his lips together, appearing deep in thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Very well. You take care of things here. I¡¯m heading back to Bay Vi.¡± Upon arriving at the vi, instead of going straight upstairs, Maverick went to the backyard. That day, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t take Justin to the office and left him at the vi. As Maverick returned, Justin had juste down from the hidden lookout post to use the restroom and was washing his hands. When he saw Maverick approaching, he smiled and greeted the man, ¡°Mr. Wright, what a coincidence!¡± Maverick¡¯s expression turned ice-cold in that instant. ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence at all. I¡¯m looking for you.¡± Justin gazed into the man¡¯s eyes, his own expression gradually growing serious as well. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 The two of them, one leading and the other following, arrived at a secluded corner near the vi¡¯s back door. ¡°Why do you have such a solemn expression on, Mr. Wright? What do you want to talk about?¡± asked Justin. ¡°There¡¯s no need for pretense in front of me. I know you have ulterior motives for being by Gwendolyn¡¯s side.¡± Instantly, a wicked grin spread across Justin¡¯s face. ¡°Since you¡¯ve realized it, my apologies!¡± He covertly reached for a small knife at his waist, swiftly aiming to stab Maverick¡¯s throat. Maverick skillfully took a half-step back. Within three swift moves, he had Justin subdued. Justin¡¯s hands were forcefully restrained behind his back, causing him to fear that his arms would be dislocated. The pain was so excruciating that hisplexion grew pale. ¡°Just kill me. I won¡¯t be able to fulfill the assigned mission anyway. Sooner orter, I will meet my demise,¡± he uttered. Maverick chuckled softly and released him, saying, ¡°Why would I want to kill you? I am here simply to have a conversation with you. I have no interest in you or your life.¡± Justin couldn¡¯t understand the man¡¯s intentions. ¡°Don¡¯t you truly love Ms. Shalders? I was sent here to harm her. Now that you have exposed my true identity, why aren¡¯t you making a move?¡± he asked in puzzlement. Maverick gazed at the man with deep, intense eyes and remarked, ¡°You have feelings for her, don¡¯t you?¡± Instantly, Justin¡¯s face flushed crimson. ¡°N-No¡­ How could I!¡± Maverick had always been astute in discerning a man¡¯s intentions. Ever since he realized his love for Gwendolyn, he discovered a newfound ability to perceive, from a man¡¯s gaze, whether or not they harbored feelings for her. ¡°You must have feelings for her. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have concealed your intentions for such a long time without taking action. There¡¯s no need to hide it any longer. Tell me your n, and perhaps I can assist you in resolving the matter,¡± Maverick proposed. Justin locked gazes with Maverick, finding himself strangely drawn to the man¡¯s aura. He recognized that Maverick was no ordinary individual, and it appeared that discussing a solution with him was the only viable course of action. There was nothing Justin could do but take the leap of faith and trust Maverick this once. At that, Justin began to say, ¡°Three dayster in the evening, they want me to lure Ms. Shalders to an abandoned warehouse in the eastern suburbs. This time, they have arranged numerous ambushes, and the mysterious man in ck whom Ms. Shalders has been investigating will also make an appearance. If Ms. Shalders goes, I¡¯m afraid the odds will be against her.¡± He then let out a sigh and continued, ¡°Ms. Shalders is the only one who genuinely cares for me, and I cannot bear to cause her harm. However, if she doesn¡¯t perish, I will. I am under constant surveince and cannot escape. Do you have a n, Mr. Wright?¡± Maverick contemted for a moment, his dark eyesposed and unwavering. He narrowed his gaze and spoke, ¡°Inform them that you will handle it. I will keep this matter undisclosed to Gwendolyn, and you need not disclose it to her either.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Justin was taken aback. ¡°So, three dayster¡­¡± Maverick¡¯s serene eyes gleamed. ¡°I shall undertake this task.¡± In the afternoon, Maverick refrained from venturing outside. Instead, he diligently cleaned the entire vi, ensuring that every chore was meticulouslypleted. As the time approached for Gwendolyn to finish her work, he made his way to the kitchen and commenced the preparation of their dinner. These remaining days by her side were dwindling, and he yearned to present her with an assortment of delectable dishes each day. Even if she wouldn¡¯t miss his presence, perhaps her stomach would retain memories of him. With this thought in mind, a faint smile graced his lips. Suddenly, his phone rang, indicating an iing message. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ncing at it, he discovered a text from Nico, containing only an exmation mark. Maverick¡¯s smile suddenly froze, and his countenance involuntarily turned grave. It was a covert signal, indicating an urgent matter at hand. Maverick nced at his wristwatch. There were still forty minutes before Gwendolyn finished work, so he quietly drove to the suburbs, where Charles was being held. Nico paced anxiously along the roadside, anticipating his arrival. Upon spotting Maverick¡¯s approaching vehicle, Nico hastened and took the passenger seat. In a hushed tone, he whispered into Maverick¡¯s ear, ¡°Boss, someone from Salinsburgh has arrived!¡± Maverick¡¯s brow furrowed. Why did this have to happen precisely at this moment! His visage retained its solemnity as he ignited the car¡¯s engine and directed it toward the designated meeting spot mentioned by Nico. They continued to advance toward the deste construction site. Maverick was leading the way with Nico closely following behind, both proceeding in silence. They entered the most secluded and dpidated house inside. Upon Maverick¡¯s entry, Gwendolyn received a call from Elven. Elven meticulously recounted the man¡¯s peculiar whereabouts, sparing no details. Gwendolyn inquired suspiciously, ¡°Where did he go? Did you see anyone else inside? What were they discussing?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t get close enough to see. There are guards stationed within a fifty-meter radius of the hidden areas in the construction site, and their numbers are quite significant. I couldn¡¯t approach unnoticed,¡± Elven responded. Gwendolyn fell into a brief silence. Why did Maverick go to the construction site all of a sudden, and who is he meeting? The presence of guards only confirmed the gravity of his secret. ¡°All right, I understand. I¡¯ll go over and take a look shortly.¡± Meanwhile, Maverick and Nico ventured into the dpidated house. Three men were already present in the room. The leader, a man in his forties, noticed Maverick¡¯s arrival. His face lit up with a smile, and he respectfully nodded toward thetter. ¡°Greetings, Mr. Wright.¡± Maverick¡¯s countenance exuded an aura of chilling intensity as he questioned, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Logan?¡± The man, Logan Larouche, put on a solemn expression as he earnestly exined, ¡°There¡¯s turmoil in the family. We need your immediate presence to take control of the situation.¡± Immediately? Why such haste? Without hesitation, Maverick responded, ¡°No, I can¡¯te with you. I have personal matters to attend to in Faike. I¡¯ll return on my own in a few days.¡± Logan¡¯s visage grew grimmer by the second. ¡°Mr. Wright, this is an urgent recall order. You muste with me. Old Mr. Wright believes this is the prime opportunity for you to win people¡¯s favor and solidify your position of authority!¡± Maverick fell silent. He thought he could spend the remaining seven days by Gwendolyn¡¯s side, but it seemed even that was too much to ask for. He suppressed the frustration in his heart and recalled the n Justin had mentioned in the morning. ¡°Give me three more days. I have one final task toplete. After that, I will personally return to offer my apologies,¡± said Maverick. Wearing a grim expression on his visage, Logan persuaded, ¡°Mr. Wright, you are aware of how strict our household rules are. Defying the urgent recall order will result in severe punishment. Are you aware of the consequences you will face today?¡± Still, Maverick remained calm andposed. ¡°I understand. Three days of detainment and thirty lashes.¡± With ease, he loosened his tie with one hand, his well-defined fingers swiftly unbuttoning his clothes. He then removed his suit and shirt, handing them casually to Nico. ¡°Boss¡­¡± Nico caught the clothes firmly, his eyes filled with concern. What if he can¡¯t endure it and the suppressed virus inside his body rpses! Maverick remained indifferent. He turned away, kneeling on one knee with a proud and straight posture, his back muscles strong and defined. His voice carried a hint of defiance as he said, ¡°Go on. Strike me.¡± Logan sighed deeply, acknowledging, ¡°Old Mr. Wright truly understands you well. He knew that you would want to dy and not return immediately.¡± The bodyguard standing silently at the side stepped forward and presented a precious ck sandalwood box. Logan slowly opened the box, revealing the whip he had brought from the meeting room. The whip was long and dark, adorned with intertwining golden threads. Its surface was covered with small barbs, guaranteeing that each strike would draw blood, even without maximum force. It was a severe form of punishment. ¡°Mr. Wright, there is unrest within the family, and the situation is urgent. I must ask you once more, do you truly insist on staying for three more days?¡± Without a moment of hesitation, Maverick affirmed, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Very well, Mr. Wright. Do not me me for being firm. Rules must not be broken, and I¡­ am willing but bound by duty.¡± Maverick let out a soft, understanding hum. In truth, he harbored deep dissatisfaction with these regtions and vowed himself to drive change. After eradicating the stubborn elders in the family and establishing his absolute authority, the very first action he would undertake was to abolish the meeting room and discard all those antiquated, rigid rules. While he lost in his thoughts, a piercing gust of wind suddenly swept in from behind him. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Immediately after, the smooth skin on his broad back was brutally ripped apart by the barbs of the whip. Vivid hues of red formed across his back, and intense pain surged through. It was merely the first whip, and Maverick¡¯s forehead was beaded with cold sweat. He gritted his teeth, his muscles tensed. Despite that, he maintained an upright posture, stoically enduring the searing pain inplete silence. When Maverick was removing his clothes, Logan noticed the bandage in the middle of his back under his shirt and deliberately avoided hitting his wound. However, this left his back with lesser parts to take the punishment. As such, by the time the fifteenthsh struck, Maverick¡¯s entire bandaged upper back was covered in a web of bloody welts. The whip cut deep into the flesh, tearing the skin and revealing the raw muscle beneath. It was a horrifying sight to behold. Maverick¡¯s breathing grew heavier, and the veins on his forehead bulged. Even his eyshes were trembling uncontrobly. He tightly pursed his lips, determined not to let out a single sound of humiliation. Deep down, he couldn¡¯t help butugh self-deprecatingly. After leaving home for more than a decade, he had almost forgotten his true identity, thinking that he was just a pampered son of the Wright family who lived afortable and privileged life. Now, his pampered body had weakened considerably that it couldn¡¯t really endure the punishment anymore. Logan¡¯s hand, which was holding the whip, trembled too. Maverick¡¯s upper back was already covered in blood, and there wasn¡¯t a single spot left unharmed. If Logan were to whip again, thesh wouldnd right on the previous wounds. Yet the whip was so strong that if the same wound got struck twice, it would leave a cut deep into the bones. It would be too torturous. Logan couldn¡¯t bear the thought and had to shift his focus to Maverick¡¯s waist. The whip swished through the air once more, and the sound of it shing through the wind echoed. Fiveshesnded squarely on Maverick¡¯s lower back in rapid session. Maverick¡¯s body trembled violently, and his back finally gave in and copsed. He quickly supported himself with one hand on the ground, avoiding the embarrassment of falling down. Just then, the sound of the whip behind him ceased. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck his chest and his blood surged. He spit out a mouthful of fresh blood onto the ground. ¡°Boss!¡± Nico was terrified at the scene, his eyes red. His heart trembled as he watched the twentyshesnd on Maverick¡¯s back. He had to resist the urge to rush forward and snatch the whip away several times. ¡°Stop it! Let¡¯s go back. We¡¯re leaving now.¡± ¡°Nico! You¡¯re just my subordinate under the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It¡¯s not your ce to speak here!¡± Maverick took a deep breath and gave him a fierce re. ¡°Boss! If you keep getting whipped like this, you will lose your life!¡± Nico was choked with emotions. He yelled, ¡°The S404 RNA virus within your body is merely suppressed, not eradicated! Persisting in such a manner and enduring these injuries will only weaken your immune system, allowing the virus to proliferate rapidly! You¡¯re courting death!¡± It was as though Maverick didn¡¯t hear Nico, he pinched his thigh hard and mustered all his strength to straighten his back once more, maintaining the most upright posture to take the punishment. Undoubtedly, it hurt terribly. However, Maverick couldn¡¯t leave without a word, especially with the threats still looming around Gwendolyn. He had to help her to get rid of the final trouble before he could walk away without any worries. Moreover, if he were to leave now, wouldn¡¯t the twenty whips he had endured earlier be in vain? ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± Nico¡¯s voice trembled as he called out, ¡°No! You can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± Maverick ignored himpletely. ¡°Logan, keep going!¡± Nico was infuriated. His eyes were bloodshot with anger, and he clenched his fist so hard that they turned pale. Yet, as an outsider, there was nothing Nico could do, and not to mention that Maverick was as stubborn as a mule. Logan remained still. From the conversation between the two, he could tell that Maverick seemed to be seriously injured this time. He nced at Maverick¡¯s back once again. If he were to whip again, thest tenshes could only be struck on the lower back. After pondering for a moment, he looked at the two bodyguards inside the room and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to guard here. Go outside.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After the two guards left, Logan took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped off the bloodstains from the whip before swinging it again. The sharp sounds of ten consecutiveshes rang out. All of themnded on the empty ground beside Maverick. ¡°Mr. Wright, the thirtyshes have been executed. You may get up now.¡± While wiping the whip clean, Logan continued, ¡°Three days is the final deadline. You must return by then. Please keep that in mind.¡± Maverick stood up forcefully with Nico¡¯s support. ¡°Thank you.¡± Logan bowed slightly to him without saying anything. Suddenly, one of the guards outside rushed in. ¡°Mr. Wright, a car has stopped at the construction site entrance, and a woman got out. Do you want us to¡­¡± He made a throat-slitting gesture. Woman? Maverick furrowed his brows. ¡°How did she look like?¡± ¡°Extremely beautiful.¡± That must be Gwendolyn. Why is she here all of a sudden? All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Maverick looked at Logan. ¡°Retreat now. She is someone important to me. Don¡¯t make a move, and don¡¯t let her notice anything.¡± ¡°Understood. Please take care of yourself these three days.¡± Gwendolyn entered the abandoned construction site in her high heels and observed her surroundings carefully. Elven had mentioned that there were numerous hidden sentries nearby, yet she hadn¡¯t noticed anything along her way. Had they already retreated? The construction site was vast. She quickened her pace and searched through every building. Finally, in a secluded dpidated house, she spotted that familiar tall figure. Nico had just finished helping Maverick to fasten thest gold button on his suit cor. Seeing that Gwendolyn had already entered, Nico realized he didn¡¯t have enough time to assist Maverick with his tie. He discreetly slipped the tie into his pocket and moved to the side, bowing his head in silence. Taking a deep breath, Maverick suppressed the intense pain in his back. He looked at Gwendolyn, his gaze gentle. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t answer his question. The crease between her brows deepened, and she wore a stern expression. ¡°Why was Nico helping you with your buttons when I came in? What were you doing?¡± A faint smirk yed at the corners of his pale lips. ¡°It¡¯s just that one button on my cor came undone identally. Nico saw it and helped me fasten it.¡± Gwendolyn nced at Nico. He hung his head low in silence, and she couldn¡¯t read his emotions. She approached Maverick and questioned him again, ¡°Then why are you here?¡± ¡°Nico received a message saying that someone from the Central Intelligence Agency was here, so I came over to check it out. But they¡¯ve already left by the time I arrived.¡± Gwendolyn shifted her gaze back to Nico. ¡°Was what he said true?¡± Nico paused for two seconds and replied without a hint of emotions, ¡°Yes.¡± Maverick¡¯s fingertips trembled slightly as he gently tugged at Gwendolyn¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s cold outside. I want to go back to the vi.¡± ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Gwendolyn remained unmoved by his yful actions with her eyebrows furrowed. Although Nico kept his head low to conceal his emotions, she still noticed a hint of redness in his eyes. Turning her gaze back to Maverick, she noticed his face and lips were pale. It struck her as odd, considering he had been in good health just a few days ago. ¡°You were fine this morning. Why do you suddenly look unwell now?¡± Maverick remainedposed. He used his fist to cover his mouth and coughed softly. ¡°I might¡¯ve caught a coldst night, but it¡¯s not a big deal. I¡¯ll take a couple of pills when I get back, and I¡¯ll be fine then.¡± Just a cold? Gwendolyn¡¯s tightly furrowed brows didn¡¯t ease up after she listened to his exnation. Moreover, she smelled an odd scent in the air. It smelled like a scent of unfamiliar men¡¯s cologne mixed with a strong pungent smell of blood. ¡°This ce has been abandoned for so long, so why is there a scent of blood?¡± She walked past Maverick and looked around the room. Eventually, she spotted a palm-sized pool of deep red on the ground. It was not dried yet and seemed like fresh bloodstains. She slowly squatted down and reached her hand toward the pool of blood, but Maverick suddenly grabbed her wrist. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 ¡°Don¡¯t touch. It¡¯s dirty.¡± Gwendolyn locked her eyes with Maverick, and her mind was clear. ¡°The blood is still fresh, which means that something just happened here. Didn¡¯t you see anything when you and Nico rushed over?¡± Maverick remained silent and nced at Nico. Nico caught the hint and exined, ¡°I was the first one to arrive here. When I came in, I happened to catch someone trying to escape through the window, so I injured him with a small knife. This should be the blood left by that person.¡± ¡°And where is that person? How could that person escape from someone with your skills?¡± Gwendolyn questioned. Nico was at a loss for words momentarily. He pretended to scratch his head in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was my bad. He hadpanions, so I didn¡¯t go after him.¡± Fine. Since the person wasn¡¯t caught, there was not much for Gwendolyn to ask further. She nced at Maverick again. Other than his pale face and lips, he seemed fine. Could he really have caught a cold? ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the vi.¡± Gwendolyn turned and walked toward the door. Maverick followed behind her. The wounds on his lower back would get torn with every step he took, causing him excruciating pain. It was so painful that he felt weak and weightless. Nico quickly stepped forward and supported him by holding his arm. Gwendolyn halted her steps and turned around when she heard themotion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Maverick breathed in and forced a smile. ¡°Nothing. He slipped.¡± Nico was speechless. How did I be the scapegoat for everything? He gave Gwendolyn a wry smile. ¡°Yes, I missed a step. But luckily, I reacted quickly and managed to grab Mr. Wright¡¯s arm in time to avoid falling!¡± It was a small incident that Gwendolyn didn¡¯t pay much attention to. She swiftly left the abandoned factory. Maverick had Nico drive away the car they came with, while he sat in Gwendolyn¡¯s car to head back together. On the way back, d in a suit, Maverick sat upright with his back not touching the seat of the car. Gwendolyn noticed his action. Recalling the burns on his back, she did not dwell on it further. ¡°How did it go with Charles today? Did you find out anything?¡± Maverick swallowed hard. It took him a couple of seconds before he replied, ¡°Nothing, but don¡¯t worry. Tomorrow, we will make him spill the beans.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Silence filled the remaining journey. Soon, they arrived at Bay Vi and entered the living room together. Gwendolyn was leisurely changing her shoes. Maverick had already changed and was about to head up the stairs while holding onto the handrail. He took a couple of steps but stopped and turned around before saying, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you hungry tonight? I feel a bit tired and want to take a quick nap before cooking.¡± Gwendolyn felt strange, but she didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°I¡¯m not very hungry. We can eatter.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll head up first.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent as her gaze followed his figure until he disappeared around the corner of the second floor. For some unknown reason, she had a peculiar feeling. She couldn¡¯t help but notice that on their way back. From the subtle expressions on his face, he seemed to be enduring pain. Has his back injury worsened? She followed him upstairs, and Maverick¡¯s door was not locked. She gently opened the door, just enough to see someone peacefully lying under the covers and fast- asleep. However, Gwendolyn noticed that he was sleeping face down, and he didn¡¯t even remove his suit jacket. She pushed the door open and walked to the edge of his bed. Gently, she reached out and touched his forehead. As her icy-cold hand made contact with his forehead, Maverick¡¯s eyshes trembled slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not running a fever, and I¡¯m just tired. I¡¯ll feel better after getting some sleep.¡± Indeed, he was only slightly warm, indicating no fever. Perhaps she was overthinking. ¡°Okay, you should get some rest then.¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand. Just when she was about to stand up and leave, a strong force suddenly pulled her back. Before she could react, she realized that someone had wrapped his arms around her waist. He even nestled his head in her embrace with his upper body sprawled across herp. She was initially taken aback, never expecting him to be so bold this time. ¡°Let go!¡± Not only did Maverick not loosen his grip, but he also grabbed her tighter around her waist and burrowed into her arms. ¡°Just let me hug you for a little while,¡± he pleaded. Gwendolyn froze for a moment before suddenly recalling her resolution fromst night to make things clear with him. Her expression turned icy cold in an instant. She reached out and forcefully tried to pry his arm away. ¡°Let go! Have you forgotten your ce here? In this vi, I¡¯m the one calling the shots, and you should listen to me!¡± Maverick didn¡¯t have much strength left. Just as Gwendolyn was about to forcibly remove his arms from her waist, he pleaded softly, ¡°Please, just let me hold you for a little while. Just this once¡­¡± For onest time. Even if he managed to survive the ambush in the forest of the eastern suburbs three dayster and sessfully returned to Salinsburgh to resolve the turmoil within the family, his chances of survival remained slim. In his final moments, he wanted to remember her scent and the tenderness of her embrace. Gwendolyn steeled her heart and continued to pry his hand off. ¡°Let go. I need to go to the study to work!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t. Please¡­¡± His voice was barely audible and filled with sorrow. Gwendolyn suddenly froze. He was actually begging me? Lately, he had been a sweet talker, more submissive, and pretended to be vulnerable. But she knew that deep down, he had always been prideful. This was the first time he had begged her for something. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t say anything more. She merely stood still and allowed Maverick to hold her. The room fell into a deep silence. Everything seemed peaceful as time stood still. Maverick¡¯s brow furrowed tighter and tighter. With every breath he took, his entire body throbbed in pain. As he had yet to apply medicines, the pain continued to intensify and grew more unbearable. Yet, the sweet scent emanating from Gwendolyn¡¯s body was as sweet as honey, making him reluctant to let go. His upper body rested on Gwendolyn¡¯sp, and she could sense his heavy breathing. Something doesn¡¯t feel right. ¡°It has been five days since you burnt your back. The wound shouldn¡¯t be hurting as much as before, right? Why do you seem so ufortable?¡± Maverick remained silent. Doubts filled Gwendolyn¡¯s mind as she reached out to touch the cor of Maverick¡¯s shirt, only to have her wrist grabbed by Maverick once again. ¡°I¡¯m fine, especially since I¡¯ve already applied medicine. If you remove the bandages, I¡¯ll have to reapply the medicine.¡± He had a point, but still¡­ ¡°But why do you look like you¡¯re in so much pain? Did you get hurt while you were out today?¡± Her question was met with a prolonged silence. Gwendolyn ruffled his short hair agitatedly and chided him in a soft voice, ¡°Who taught you to disregard your master¡¯s questions? Did someone from the Central Intelligence Agency harm you today? Get up and take off your clothes. Let me have a look.¡± Another round of undressing? Maverick sighed in resignation. Just when he was about to respond, Elven knocked on the door. ¡°Ms. Shalders, the Newton family¡¯s bodyguard has arrived.¡± ¡°Why would the Newton family¡¯s bodyguarde here?¡± Could it be that the Newton family already found out that Charles went missing at my ce? Elven replied, ¡°It¡¯s because the daughter of the Newton family had caused some trouble. They couldn¡¯t find Mr. Newton, and since you¡¯re the only one avable in Faike, they¡¯re hoping you could go over and help out. Ms. Shalders, will you be going?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. She had been close with Jasmine since they were young. The Newton family and the Harris family had a close rtionship, too. If the Newton family¡¯s bodyguard hade looking for her, and Charles was being held captive and interrogated, it wouldn¡¯t be right for her not to go and bring Jasmine over to take care of her for a couple of days. But Maverick¡­ She looked down at the person in her arms. As if sensing her gaze, Maverick released his grip around her waist and settled back onto the bed. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep a bit more and have the dinner ready when youe back.¡± Since he had said so, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t have much to say in response. ¡°You should rest, but when I come backter, I still need to check your injuries. All right?¡± Maverick acknowledged with a hum. Gwendolyn sat by his bedside for a while. Seeing that his breathing gradually steadied and that he seemed calm, she finally left with Elven, Ezra, and the Newton family¡¯s bodyguard. As the sound of the car engine faded into the distance, Maverick called for Justin. ¡°Mr. Wright, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Maverick gritted his teeth and took a few deep breaths to ease the pain before he finally uttered, ¡°The first-aid kit¡­ It¡¯s in the storage cab in the living room on the first floor. Please help me treat my wound.¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Justin immediately went downstairs. In no time, he returned with the first-aid kit. ¡°Mr. Wright, are you hurt anywhere?¡± ¡°Take off¡­ My clothes¡­¡± Maverick¡¯s voice was strained and filled with profound exhaustion. Not wasting any time, Justin quickly stepped forward to help him remove his suit. However, as soon as Justin removed Maverick¡¯s suit, he was shocked to see the extensive bloodstains on Maverick¡¯s white shirt on his back. ¡°D*mn! H-How did you get injured like this?¡± Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Arge part of the silk fabric was already stuck to the wound, and the blood had dried up. With trembling hands, Justin tried to remove Maverick¡¯s shirt twice, but to no avail. However, he could already see therge, bloody wound caused by the whip. Maverick¡¯s skin and flesh had been split open. ¡°Oh my gosh! Who did this? They genuinely didn¡¯t spare you any mercy!¡± Justin used to be a fighter for a ck market organization where the rules were strict, and it was normal for lesspetent fighters to be beaten to death. Fortunately, he did not get beaten up too often. Maverick, on the other hand, lived a refined lifestyle and was, therefore, not ustomed to sustaining such severe injuries. Quickly, Maverick hushed Justin up. ¡°Don¡¯t yell. Close the door and windows and draw the curtains. If you can¡¯t remove my shirt, just apply a warm towel to my back.¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Justin did as he was told and hurried to the bathroom to grab a warm towel. He could not bear to see Maverick in pain, so he said, ¡°Mr. Wright, the warmpress may hurt, so¡­ please bear with it.¡± Applying a warm towel to the wound was akin to experiencing the burning pain again. Maverick trembled as a thickyer of cold sweat covered his body. He gripped the pillow with both hands until it became deformed. Even though Justin did not get beaten up often, he was experienced in treating the wounds of other people. He took an anti-inmmatory pill from the first-aid kit and stuffed it inside Maverick¡¯s mouth. Then, he brought over a basin of water to clean the bloodstains on the man¡¯s back. The old bandage on Maverick¡¯s body was already soiled, so it had to be removed. ¡°Mr. Wright, who assaulted you? Apart from Ms. Shalders, who would dare to do this to you¡­¡± Justin widened his eyes and asked softly, ¡°Did Ms. Shalders actually do this?¡± Feeling dizzy, Maverick buried his face in the nket, refusing to entertain Justin. N?velDrama.Org content. After pondering over the subject, Justin realized something was amiss. ¡°It can¡¯t be Ms. Shalders. If it were her, you wouldn¡¯t have asked me to treat your wound secretly.¡± ¡°Stop making wild guesses and hurry up. I need to cook before Gwendolyn returns,¡± Maverick snapped. He¡¯s already in very bad shape, especially with the wound on his lower back. Even walking will hurt. Yet, he still wants to get up and cook? Justin felt really bad for Maverick. He let out a sigh. Wanting to ensure that Gwendolyn and the other bodyguards did not notice the torn shirt, he decided to hide the shirt under the bed after failing to think of a better solution at the moment. Disinfecting the wound with iodine was not as painful aspared to alcohol. He took a cotton swab and applied some iodine on Maverick¡¯s back, taking him quite a while to treat the wound. Initially, Maverick already had a bandage around the burn on the middle of his lower back. This time, Justin had to bandage the man¡¯s entire back and waist instead. As Maverick insisted on getting out of bed, Justin had no choice but to give the former another shot of antibiotics. Half an hourter, Gwendolyn returned to the vi. She was apanied by Jasmine, a lively young woman who was chattering away cheerfully. Jasmine studied the vi from top to toe and clung to Gwendolyn¡¯s arm yfully. ¡°Not bad, Gwendolyn! I didn¡¯t expect your vi to be situated in such a lovely environment. Coming here is definitely the right choice! Let me stay here for a few more days, please!¡± Unfazed, Gwendolyn spoke firmly. ¡°As agreed, it¡¯ll only be for three days. When the timees, I¡¯ll have my bodyguard escort you onto the ne back to Salinsburgh.¡± Jasmine pouted and murmured sadly, ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re so heartless, Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t start,¡± Gwendolyn replied with a softened tone. ¡°We can¡¯t have any more incidents like the one at the bar today. If you want to stay with me for a few days, you need to behave yourself, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The two of them entered the vi joyfully. As soon as Gwendolyn opened the door, she was greeted by the enticing aroma of food and instinctively directed her gaze at the kitchen. Didn¡¯t I tell him to rest before I left? Why did he still get up to cook? Maverick sensed the women¡¯s presence and came out of the kitchen. Immediately, Gwendolyn realized that he had changed into a dark silk shirt. The two buttons on his cor were slightly undone to reveal part of his corbone, and he seemed to have washed his hair too, for it was notpletely dry. Furthermore, he exuded an irresistible charm with his exquisite and handsome features. It also looked like his condition andplexion had improved significantly. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing a coat? Have you taken your cold medicine?¡± Although she sounded as indifferent as ever, she had expressed concern for him as soon as she came home, which warmed Maverick¡¯s heart. ¡°You said you¡¯ll check on me tonight, so I didn¡¯t wear a coat.¡± As he spoke, he pulled up his shirt to reveal the bandage on his back. ¡°I did get a minor injury during the day, but as you can see, it¡¯s been treated and bandaged properly.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. Jasmine, on the other hand, stared intently at his face and eximed, ¡°Gwendolyn, who is he? He¡¯s so handsome! You have such good taste. The men around you all look top-notch!¡± When they were at Realm Bar previously, Maverick was already injured when Jasmine arrived, so she did not get a good look at his face. This time, upon seeing his face clearly, she could not keep her eyes off him. ¡°He¡¯s my housekeeper,¡± answered Gwendolyn emotionlessly. ¡°Is he just a housekeeper?¡± Jasmine¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Can I borrow him for a few days, then?¡± ¡°No,¡± Gwendolyn rejected with a frown without a second thought. Seeing Jasmine stare at Maverick like a piece of meat pissed Gwendolyn off. She red at the man and ordered, ¡°Wear your clothes properly! You look so unpresentable. And go upstairs to put on your coat beforeing back down.¡± ¡°All right.¡± He nodded obediently without ncing at Jasmine, buttoning his shirt hastily before heading upstairs. Jasmine tugged at Gwendolyn¡¯s sleeve yfully, still refusing to give up. ¡°I can¡¯t believe even your housekeeper is so handsome! You¡¯re usually busy with work and hardly have time to hang out with me. Gwendolyn, you¡¯re the best! Just let him apany me for a couple of days, pretty please!¡± The crease between Gwendolyn¡¯s eyebrows grew deeper. ¡°No, it¡¯s non-negotiable.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn¡­¡± ¡°Time to eat!¡± Jasmine pouted and followed the woman into the dining room reluctantly. After dinner, Gwendolyn selected a rtively clean room for Jasmine on the third floor. They chatted for a while before the former went back to her own room to retire for the night. The following morning, at only six o¡¯clock, Nico printed out the documents on behalf of Charles and delivered them to Bay Vi personally. He feared that he would get chewed out after that business of drugging Elven and the other bodyguards. Therefore, he decided to wait at the vi¡¯s backdoor. Maverick came out to collect the documents by himself. His expression grew solemn as he skimmed through them. At once, he went upstairs and knocked on Gwendolyn¡¯s room door. However, there was no response from her after ages. Is she in a deep slumber? After thinking about it, he decided to let it slide. Indeed, it¡¯s still too early. I¡¯ll talk to her after she wakes up instead. Unexpectedly, the moment he turned around, he saw the woman walking down the hallway, dressed casually and holding a cardboard box. ¡°Were you outside?¡± Gwendolyn regarded himnguidly. ¡°No, I merely went to the front door to collect a parcel.¡± There are so many bodyguards at the vi. Since when does she collect parcels on her own? What¡¯s so special about that parcel? In spite of his curiosity, Maverick did not ask any further questions. She walked past him and opened the door to her bedroom. ¡°If you have something to tell me,e in.¡± He followed her inside and handed her the documents that were given to him by Nico. ¡°It¡¯s from Charles. Take a look.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Despite her acknowledgment, Gwendolyn did not even nce at the documents. Rather, she was focused on opening the parcel. Inside the cardboard boxy a box of ointment. She handed it to him. ¡°Take it.¡± Maverick stared at her, lost in thought. Did she¡­ buy this for me? Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Upon noticing Maverick¡¯s puzzled expression and the faint hint of surprise in his eyes, Gwendolyn exined, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that ordinary ointment is useless for injuries caused by the S40 strong corrosive potion? Yesterday morning, I instructed someone to buy this specific ointment. Use it. The wound on your back should heal faster.¡± The man lowered his head and studied the box of ointment in his hand. Although she did not tell him, he was certain that this ointment could only be acquired from the war laboratory. He figured that she must have contacted Asher to obtain it. The medicine was indeed quite effective. However, he had the S404 RNA virus in his body, so this ointment would not be of any help to his wound. ¡°Thank you. This is the first gift you¡¯ve given me since our divorce.¡± With red-rimmed eyes, Maverick rubbed the box of ointment gently with his thumb. Even the wound on his body did not feel that painful anymore. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a gift. You got hurt because of me this time, so this is my way of making amends. Besides¡­¡± Gwendolyn paused, and her lips curled into a sinister smile before she continued, ¡°The real post- divorce gifts are the Wright family¡¯s bankruptcy, your employment agreement, and that 023 special drug.¡± For a moment, Maverick was stunned. All of a sudden, the situation did not seem so touching anymore. Gwendolyn was delighted to see his frozen expression. She beamed with delight as she picked up Charles¡¯ testimony, which was lying on the desk. She read every single word and sentence carefully. Soon, her smile disappeared from her face, and she began to tense up. ¡°Charles said that he was instructed by Hector to do those things at the bar and ssh that bottle of potion?¡± Hector Harris was her fourth paternal uncle and an idler whocked ambition in the Harris family. Previously, Gwendolyn had considered the possibility that Gideon Harris, her third uncle, could be the one trying to harm her. It was beyond her expectation that Hector could be behind all of this. Maverick nodded. ¡°Although Charles might not have told us everything, the fact that he could describe the details of theirmunication means he¡¯s probably telling the truth. Hector¡¯s son works at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Charles fears him. It makes sense that Charles would listen to Hector and sneak into theb to steal the drugs.¡± She sat down on the small couch next to her and remained silent for a long time. Gradually, her expression turned into one of rage. ¡°I can¡¯t let Hector Harris off the hook! Tomorrow, I¡¯ll head to Salinsburgh discreetly to have my revenge!¡± Gwendolyn felt furious when she thought of how Hector tried to disfigure her with such an underhanded method. She would not stand for it, and she wanted him to have a taste of his own medicine. She raised her head, and Maverick¡¯s wound came to mind. ¡°You¡¯re wounded, so stay in the vi and rest. You¡¯re not allowed toe with me this time.¡± The man was trying to think of a good excuse. Since she would not allow him to apany her, he decided to take advantage of the situation. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for your return at the vi.¡± As he uttered thest few words, his voice grew softer. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn did not notice it, for she was still reading Charles¡¯ testimony seriously. ¡°That old fart is as slippery as an eel!¡± she muttered. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re well acquainted with this Mr. Harris. Have you been to the Harris residence before?¡± Maverick raised his eyebrows. Even though he had already guessed that she was most likely the heiress of the Harris family, she had never mentioned it before. Thus, he suddenly felt the urge to get something out of her. Upon hearing his question, Gwendolyn looked up to meet his gaze and raised an eyebrow too. ¡°I¡¯m not well acquainted with him, but I do know Mr. Treyton Harris quite well. Perhaps Mr. Treyton Harris¡¯ kindness to me has resulted in jealousy among the Harrises, so they decided to harm me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Maverick tried to stifle hisughter. When he looked up, he discovered that she was observing his expression with a sharp gaze. Quickly, he put on a displeased expression. ¡°Why are you telling me this? I don¡¯t think Treyton is that nice to you,¡± he added. With her chin propped on her palm, Gwendolyn replied in a teasing manner, ¡°So, are you jealous again?¡± Maverick lowered his head to avoid answering her question. ¡°I¡¯m going to prepare breakfast,¡± he muttered. Only after exiting her room did he smile helplessly. Gwendolyn chuckled as well. Once the man was gone, she went through the testimony two more times, then began making arrangements for her return to Salinsburgh tomorrow. While Maverick was preparing breakfast, Jasmine purposely woke up fifteen minutes earlier. She wore a light pink nightgown which made her look alluring yet adorable. Leaning against the kitchen door, she tilted her head as she watched him cook. They say that men who can cook are the sexiest! Moreover, he¡¯s so handsome! He¡¯s eye candy, indeed. I¡¯m tempted to sneak him back to the Newton residence and have fun with him for a few days. What should I do? Maverick sensed that someone was watching him but ignored her out of annoyance. ¡°Hey! I¡¯ve been standing here for ages. Can¡¯t you see me?¡± Jasmine teased. She pouted and looked somewhat unhappy. Still, he pretended not to hear her and chopped the vegetables skillfully. ¡°You¡¯re extremely rude! I¡¯m both the owner and the guest, as well as the darling daughter of the Newton family! You¡¯re merely a housekeeper employed by Gwendolyn. How dare you ignore me?¡± She was rather aggrieved. Ever since she was a little girl, everybody pampered and indulged her. As a result, she did not expect a mere housekeeper like Maverick to disregard her. He stopped chopping the vegetables and stated sternly, ¡°My only owner is Gwendolyn. Nobody else can order me around except her.¡± It was Jasmine¡¯s first time encountering a subordinate with such a haughty attitude. Thus, she was immensely disgruntled. ¡°How dare you speak to me like that! Why can¡¯t I order you around?¡± She stormed into the kitchen and poured the fresh milk that Maverick had warmed up for Gwendolyn on the floor with an arrogant expression. ¡°Apologize! I want you to speak to me tenderly, just like how you speak to Gwendolyn! Otherwise, I¡¯ll tell her that you spilled her milk and make her punish you!¡± The man¡¯s gaze instantly darkened, and his whole body exuded a terrifyingly hostile aura. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Without hesitation, he grabbed the empty ss and threw it on the floor. The ss shattered near the young woman¡¯s feet, causing her to leap in fright. Her face became as white as a sheet. She was worried that the shards of ss might cut her slender legs. Maverick merely shot her an icy nce and carried on with preparing breakfast. Jasmine was on the verge of tears. ¡°How dare you treat me like this? You¡¯ve gone too far!¡± She rushed forward in a fury and raised her hand to p him. A sh of anger flickered in his eyes. Immediately, he tightened his grip on the knife. What an unreasonable fool! And she¡¯s Charles¡¯ little sister, too! If she dares toy a hand on me, I¡¯ll kill her! Nheless, before he could make a move, someone grabbed Jasmine¡¯s wrist from behind. Jasmine looked back and saw that it was Gwendolyn. Her eyes instantly reddened. ¡°Oh, Gwendolyn, he bullied me! He even tried to hurt me with a ss! Although he¡¯s handsome, he¡¯s much worse than those guys at the barst night!¡± Tears welled up in her eyes as she went on indignantly, ¡°He¡¯s so disobedient and evil! Gwendolyn, you must punish him for me!¡± Instead of releasing her grip on Jasmine¡¯s wrist, Gwendolyn shot Maverick a curious look. With a slight curve of her lips, she asked, ¡°She says you¡¯re disobedient and evil. Is she telling the truth?¡± I wonder how he¡¯ll react after being falsely used by Jasmine. Will he throw a fit, or will he ept his punishment coolly? Meeting Gwendolyn¡¯s clear gaze, Maverick set the knife down and washed his hands. Following that, he approached her and held her free hand gently. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, and he looked sullen, like a person who had been wronged. ¡°She wanted to order me around, but you¡¯re the only one I obey. Plus, I¡¯ve always been well-behaved and obedient. I don¡¯t know why she¡¯s ndering me¡­¡± Jasmine was taken aback. What the heck? This didn¡¯t go as nned! He¡¯s a better actor than me! Chapter 201 Chapter 201 It was Jasmine¡¯s first time encountering such a shameless man, and she was shocked into silence. Standing at the side, Gwendolyn felt like she was about to die fromughter. Jasmine was too spoiled by her family, so she was used to having her way all the time. Unexpectedly, she faced her first-ever setback because of Maverick. ¡°Gwendolyn¡­¡± Jasmine looked at Gwendolyn with a pout, her eyes watery. Though she wanted to comin more, she was worried that her acting would be less convincing than Maverick¡¯s. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression gradually turned serious as she met Jasmine¡¯s eyes. ¡°Jasmine, he¡¯s right. He only listens to my orders. You¡¯re staying at my ce, eating here, and using my things. Now, you even want to hit my person? Aren¡¯t you being too much?¡± Jasmine froze. ¡°This is not the Newton residence. Although I consider you to be my little sister, I won¡¯t coddle you without a bottom line.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to Salinsburgh tomorrow, and you will go with me. I¡¯ll book a ne ticket for you.¡± ¡°What? I¡¯m leaving tomorrow already? I¡¯ve only been here for less than three days! Gwendolyn¡­¡± Gwendolyn ignored Jasmine¡¯s efforts to act cute. If she didn¡¯t bring Jasmine back to the Newton residence, thetter would have to stay with Maverick on her own for two days at the seaside vi. ¡°You¡¯ve been away from home for days, and it¡¯s time to return.¡± Gwendolyn pushed Jasmine¡¯s shoulder, a bit annoyed. ¡°Go upstairs and change before youe back down. Who are you trying to seduce, walking around in a nightgown?¡± N?velDrama.Org content. Jasmine pouted and climbed the stairs reluctantly. Once she was gone, Gwendolyn turned around to face Maverick. He seemed to be in a good mood as his eyes twinkled with delight. Shooting him a re, Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°How does she look in her nightgown? Gorgeous?¡± Maverick raised his hands in submission and protested, ¡°I¡¯m innocent! I didn¡¯t even notice what color she was wearing. Besides, you¡¯re the sexiest woman in this world for me. I only like looking at you.¡± Gwendolyn did not like hearing such cheesy words. She changed the topic, chiding, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you pitched yourself against a twenty-year-old girl and put on an act like that. Do you have nothing better to do? Then, she pointed at the shattered ss on the floor. ¡°You broke my ss, so you have topensate me.¡± ¡°All right, I will. Is ten times the amount enough?¡± Maverick coaxed, gazing at Gwendolyn affectionately. ¡°I guess.¡± Gwendolyn arched her brow and voiced smugly. While Maverick stared at her radiant, smiling face, he tried to engrave the image in his heart. At that moment, he was ovee with the urge to pull her into his arms and never let go. Sadly, he might not have the chance to do that anymore. After breakfast, Gwendolyn surprisingly did not leave for work. She rested at home the entire day and prepared for her trip to Salinsburgh the next day. Sitting on the couch in the living room, she arranged work-rted matters on her phone while a TV show yed in the background. Maverick washed some apples and sat on the one-seater at the side, quietly peeling the fruit for her. Meanwhile, Jasmine had Elven and the other bodyguards set up a swing for her in the courtyard. Peaceful times always passed by quickly. The next day, Gwendolyn and Jasmine packed their things for the trip. Maverick voluntarily carried Gwendolyn¡¯s luggage downstairs while Ezra helped Jasmine with hers. Out of concern, Treyton decided to apany them to Salinsburgh. They had agreed to meet at the airport. When Maverick offered to see Gwendolyn off at the airport, she declined. ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to Wright Construction Group while I¡¯m in Salinsburgh. Yulia is there, so everything will be fine. Just stay at the vi in the meantime. I asked William, Quinton, and Justin to stay behind and guard the vi.¡± Maverick suggested, ¡°You should bring more people since you¡¯ll be there for two days. Just leave Justin in the vi. There is no need for so many bodyguards since I won¡¯t go anywhere. And with my fighting skills, even the five of them won¡¯t be able to stop me if I¡¯m set on leaving.¡± Maverick¡¯s words made sense to Gwendolyn. With that, she brought William and Quinton with her and left Justin in the vi. Jasmine was already sitting in the car, waiting unhappily. Upon putting everything in order, Gwendolyn turned to open the car door when Maverick suddenly grabbed her wrist. ¡°What¡ª¡± Before she could continue, Maverick enfolded her in his embrace. ¡°Take care, and remember to eat your meals properly.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Gwendolyn responded calmly without much expression. I¡¯ll only be away for two days. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going to be separated by death. Why is he being so dramatic? Nevertheless, she did not speak her thoughts and tease Maverick. After letting go of him, she opened the door and got into the car. As the engine started, Maverick stood in the same spot and watched fixedly until the car left his sight. Justin stood beside him and nced at his intent expression a few times. Finally, Justin reminded, ¡°Mr. Wright, Ms. Shalders has left. Please go back in now. The weather is cold, and you¡¯re injured.¡± Without a word, Maverick remained still. Unable to convince him, Justin could only return to the vi on his own. Treyton joined Gwendolyn at the airport, and the group soon embarked on the ne. Immediately, Treyton brought over a nket and draped it over Gwendolyn, who was staring out the window. She did not refuse the gesture as her gaze remained glued outside. For some reason, she began feeling anxious after boarding, and her eyelids would not stop twitching. Noticing her difort, Treyton passed her a calming pill. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just worried since you¡¯re returning to Salinsburgh secretly after so long.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Gwendolyn replied. She had no idea either where this feeling of anxiety wasing from. As Faike was quite far from Salinsburgh, it was almost nighttime when they arrived. The first thing Gwendolyn did was to ask someone to bring Jasmine back to the Newton residence. Afterward, they headed to Treyton¡¯s vi since it was near Hecalion Estate, the ce Hector lived in. There, Gwendolyn, Treyton, and Elven had a meeting regarding the next day¡¯s ns. The meeting lasted for a few hours. When everything was settled, Gwendolyn stretched her arms and rubbed her shoulderszily. All that was left to do now was to wait for the next day. After washing up, Gwendolyn returned to her room to sleep. Perhaps the trip had tired her out, as she drifted off minutes after her head hit the pillow. However, she had a restless sleep. She had a strange dream. Everything around her was burning, the buildings and structures crackling and popping. A tall man stood amidst the sea of fire, covered in blood and wounds. Despite his disheveled state, his aura remained proud and outstanding. Although he had his back to Gwendolyn, his figure seemed somewhat familiar. When he finally turned around unsteadily, the glow of fire illuminated his handsome face. Maverick? His face was bloodied all over, and more blood continued to flow from the corner of his mouth. Pain and sorrow filled his ebony eyes. The next second, he fell to his knees weakly as if he had just gone through a hard battle. ¡°Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn¡­¡± Gwendolyn jolted awake, only to realize it was just a nightmare. The time on her phone told her that it was only two in the morning. In a daze, she sat on the bed and recalled the scenes from the dream. Everything felt all too real¡ªMaverick¡¯s cold, dark eyes and the way he desperately and aggrievedly called her name again and again. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t bring herself to sleep again. Feeling uneasy, she picked up her phone and called Maverick. To her dismay, the call was unanswered. Why isn¡¯t he answering? Gwendolyn grew increasingly agitated. The call was automatically cut off as it wasn¡¯t answered, but she did not give up. On her fourth attempt, the call was finally picked up. A deep, familiar voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chapter 202 Chapter 202 It was Maverick¡¯s voice. Although Gwendolyn first heaved a sigh of relief, it was soon reced by anger. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer the phone?¡± The man¡¯s tone was tinged with sleepiness and fatigue as he replied, ¡°I was asleep. It¡¯s already sote. Why haven¡¯t you turned in? Did something happen?¡± ¡°Nothing. I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Do you want me to keep youpany?¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Gwendolyn responded softly. When she recalled the dream she had earlier, she reprimanded him sternly, ¡°I¡¯m reminding you again. You¡¯re not allowed to go anywhere for two days. Also, keep your phone ringer volume at the highest! You must answer my calls no matter what!¡± On the other end of the line, Maverick was silent for a moment before replying faintly, ¡°Okay. Are you feeling sleepy now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± ¡°Shall I tell you a story?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then, are you hungry? You can give me your address, and I¡¯ll get something delivered to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Maverick was speechless. She¡¯s truly a conversation killer. How am I supposed to keep the flow going? Unable to sleep, Gwendolyn settled for Maverick telling her a story in the end. Maverick regaled her with the jokes he had found online. He was not good at telling jokes, and there were a lot of awkward silences. Hypnotized by his voice, Gwendolyn gradually drifted off to sleep before she knew it. The next day, Gwendolyn proceeded to carry out her affairs with the order they had settled upon. Hector stayed at Hecalion Estate for the entire day and never left. When Gwendolyn saw that it was gettingte, she began to feel impatient and sent Treyton to lure him out. After about half an hour, Hector came out with Treyton. However, he had just exited the vi¡¯s doors when he was suddenly knocked out with a bat. Hector woke up to find his legs bound to a chair. His mouth was bound, and a table was ced before him. His surroundings were enclosed and dim. It looked as if he were in a basement. Baffled, he began to struggle and made desperate noises. As the door of the basement was thrown open, he saw a woman enter and walk toward him. Her makeup was exquisite, and her eyes were like starry pools that could suck one in. She was gorgeous, like a fairy. Hector was stunned when he saw the woman. Her sudden appearance had also made him cease to struggle. Gwendolyn sneered when she saw his reaction. ¡°You must have seen a picture of me recently, Uncle Hector. We¡¯ve not met for so many years, and surely I must have grown more beautiful. Yet, you were able to recognize me at a nce.¡± She went over to the table in front of Hector and sat down on the chair opposite. After sitting down, she gave Elven a look. Elven came forward and tore the tape that was keeping Hector¡¯s mouth shut. Pain engulfed Hector as some strands of his mustache came off with the tape. Furious, he red at Gwendolyn. ¡°I¡¯m your fourth uncle! How dare you use Treyton to bait and kidnap me! Is this how you should treat your elders?¡± Gwendolyn rested her chin on her hand, smiling nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s not like you were unaware of my lawlessness. Anyway, I have a good attitude! In fact, you¡¯ve be a disgraceful elder and are no longer worthy of respect.¡± Hector narrowed his eyes. ¡°Me, disgraceful? I¡¯ve always stayed out of the family¡¯s affairs and enjoyed being an idle person. What is it that I¡¯ve supposedly done?¡± ¡°Uncle Hector, I¡¯m sure it will clear things up once you take a look at this.¡± Gwendolyn gave Elven another look, prompting the man to put down Charles¡¯ confession in front of Hector. ¡°Uncle Hector, I¡¯m not trying to make things difficult for you. Why don¡¯t you take a look and see if this has anything to do with you?¡± Hector¡¯s expression changed drastically when he saw the confession Elven had ced in front of him. ¡°Goodness me! Gwendolyn, I had no hand in this. Why would I try to have you killed? I was quite fond of you when you were young. I¡¯d even carried you before. Do you remember? Moreover, Charles is the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. How can someone like me order him around?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Gwendolyn murmured, ¡°I heard that your son and my cousin, Luke, work at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I wonder if this has anything to do with him? Shall I get Asher to conduct an investigation for me?¡± ¡°No! He has nothing to do with it!¡± Gwendolyn mmed the table, her gaze suddenly turning sharp. ¡°What do you mean by it has nothing to do with him? Charles already confessed everything. Do you think you can deny it with just a few words? Do you think you get to order Charles around? Let me guess; it must be because of the inheritance.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Hector stared at her solemnly, refusing to answer. ¡°You did not appreciate my father going against tradition and leaving the inheritance to me, his beloved youngest daughter. Hence, you joined hands with someone and plotted to kill me. You were nning to take over the Harris family afterward, weren¡¯t you? You¡¯re the only one who would do such a thing. Was Uncle Gideon part of it too? What about Lori?¡± Gwendolyn kept pressing on, not relenting in her questions. However, Hector calmed down when she got to the end. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re grasping at straws. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s absurd that you want to pin the crime on me with just Charles¡¯ confession alone?¡± Gwendolyn had not expected him to retort. He¡¯s a cunning old fox¡­ ¡°It¡¯s okay if you refuse to admit to it. Previously, someone tried to attack me while I was at the bar. They tried to ruin my face with a strong corrosive potion, S40. Since I¡¯m always one who shares, I brought it for you too.¡± Taking out a ss bottle and a special synthetic brush, Elven ced them on the table in front of Gwendolyn. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Hector asked. Gwendolyn blinked, adopting a naughty expression. ¡°It¡¯s S40 strong corrosive potion. Uncle Hector, don¡¯t you think it will look good if I write a few words on your face? What shall I write?¡± Hector felt his hair stand on its ends. ¡°This drug is banned from the war researchb! How did you get your hands on it? Did Asher permit this?¡± Gwendolyn was gleeful. ¡°So, your idle andzy persona was a facade. Since you¡¯re aware that it¡¯s a banned drug, how can you say that you have nothing to do with this?¡± Smiling coldly, Gwendolyn popped open the bottle¡¯s lid, holding the brush between her pale fingertips as she stirred it around in the bottle¡¯s contents. ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn, Uncle Hector. Since there¡¯s no point in questioning you, I may as well begin. Although this is a bottle of sulfuric acid, I think it can be quite potent too.¡± ¡°You! I¡¯m your uncle!¡± Gwendolyn acted as if she had not heard his words. After pondering it over, she said, ¡°Since you enjoy pretending to be an idle andzy person, shall I write those words? What do you think?¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, don¡¯t you dare!¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? I¡¯d like to see you try to procure evidence and report me to the Harris family! Are you going to tell them that I suddenly came back to life after pretending to be dead, kidnapped you, and wrote on your face with acid?¡± ¡°Y-You!¡± Fear colored Hector¡¯s face. It was obvious that Gwendolyn had nned all this. There was no way he could go out and tell anyone that his niece had faked her corpse. Hector would have no choice but to keep silent on this matter. ¡°Kill me if you can! Just you wait!¡± Gwendolyn stared at him in disdain. ¡°I won¡¯t dare. I¡¯ll send you to my father after I obtain all the evidence.¡± Snorting, she turned around and left the basement. Soon, a loud and miserable wail sounded from inside the room. Upon hearing the other party¡¯s misery, Gwendolyn felt totally refreshed and slept exceptionally well that night. The next day, she had just woken up when Elven knocked on her door urgently. Upon opening the door, Gwendolyn noticed that Elven¡¯s eyes were red. Thetter¡¯s voice was also all choked up. ¡°Justin just called to say that Mr. Wright¡­ Mr. Wright is¡­¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± ¡°Mr. Wright¡­ is gone.¡± Gwendolyn froze on the spot. He¡¯s gone? How can the person who talked and told stories to me through the night be gone after I wake up? Gwendolyn found it hard to believe. ¡°What do you mean by gone? What sort of a ruse is he pulling?¡± Elven¡¯s voice was choked with sobs. ¡°Justin said that Mr. Wright found out about the man in ck intending to kill you at night in advance. Mr. Wright told Justin to keep it a secret and went alone to help eliminate those people for you, but he¡­ didn¡¯t return.¡± Gwendolyn staggered a step back, and her expression turned from shock to a sneer. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I don¡¯t believe it. How could that sc*m die so easily?¡± Elven did not speak. Seeing that Gwendolyn was still suspicious, he could not hold back his tears. Gwendolyn scolded, ¡°Why are you crying? How can a grown man like you cry like this? I¡¯ll deduct half a year¡¯s wages if you keep crying.¡± Elven sobbed even harder after hearing this. ¡°Boohoo¡­ Mr. Wright was such a good person. He¡¯s gone at such a young age. Yet, you still want to deduct my sry! I feel so miserable, and these tears just won¡¯t stop!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes reddened from seeing his one point eight meters tall figure¡¯s shoulders miserably quivering from his sobs. Gwendolyn took a deep breath and stated calmly, ¡°You can¡¯t be sure since he just hasn¡¯te back. Send people to find him, no matter whether he¡¯s dead or alive! ¡°Ms. Shalders, Ms. Shalders!¡± William hastily ran to her room. ¡°Nico called and said he hopes you¡¯ll finish dealing with your things and return as soon as possible. He said that Mr. Wright is waiting for you at Bay Vi.¡± ¡°Is Mr. Wright alive? Did he go back? Was he hurtst night?¡± Elven sniffled, and he was pleasantly surprised. Gwendolyn did not say anything. She looked at William, waiting for his response. William shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Nico only said this much. Mr. Wright should have returned safely since he¡¯s waiting for Ms. Shalders at Bay Vi.¡± Gwendolyn and Elven breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Pack your things and book the earliest flight to Faike.¡± I want to see what Maverick and Justin are up to. ¡°Yes, Ms. Shalders.¡± The group moved quickly, and they boarded the earliest flight back to Faike. However, it was close to sunset when they arrived at Bay Vi. It was winter, and the sky appeared cloudy, as if heavy rain could pour down at any moment. Cold wind blew, but it could not stop Gwendolyn in her tracks. Justin was nowhere to be seen when she entered the vi. It was silent and still. Feeling confused, Gwendolyn quickly opened the vi door. The open windows let in a surge of cold air, and the lights were not on. The man who greeted her and handed her slippers every day was not in the kitchen. ¡°Maverick?¡± Gwendolyn called out, but there was no response. She scanned her surroundings and found a small sticky note on the coat rack. It read: The weather has turned cold. Remember to wear an extrayer even when you¡¯re indoors. You¡¯ll look stunning even when wearing a heavy coat since you have a good figure. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned grim, and she yelled upstairs, ¡°Maverick, what on earth are you up to?¡± She received only the response of the prolonged silence of the air. When Gwendolyn entered his room, she noticed that his nket was nicely folded and his bed was chilly. The whole room felt incredibly bleak, apart from the sound of the thin curtains rustling in the cold wind. Gwendolyn grew increasingly uneasy, and an ill premonition brewed in her heart. She went to the third floor, but there was still no sign of him. She returned to the living room after looking around and noticed a sticky note in the fruit basket. It read: You should eat more fruits as they are high in vitamins. There were more sticky notes on the refrigerator, and Gwendolyn walked over to take them down. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. One read: Eat more vegetables. Stop being picky with your food. Mushrooms may not taste good, but they are very nutritious. You¡¯re very thin, and I¡¯ll still like you even if you gain ten pounds. Gwendolyn then went into the kitchen and took a sticky note off the coffee machine. It read: Drink less coffee at night. Remember to rest even when you¡¯re busy with work. It pains me to see you pull an all-nighter. Gwendolyn was moved by his sincerity. However, the more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. ¡°Come out, Maverick! What on earth are you trying to do?¡± Gwendolyn waited for a few minutes, but there was still no response. Just then, she heard a knock on the door. Thrilled, Gwendolyn turned around to open the door. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take the key¡ª¡± Gwendolyn paused in her words. Nico was standing at the door, holding an antique vase. The tears on his face had yet to dry, and his eyes were red. Neville and Swain, who stood behind him, were also crying. Elven, Ezra, and a few bodyguards were standing at the side with sorrowful expressions. Gwendolyn¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a strong sense of ill premonition brewed in her heart. She asked coldly, ¡°Where¡¯s Maverick?¡± Nico looked down at the antique vase in his hand, saying sorrowfully, ¡°Mr. Wright is here.¡± Gwendolyn followed his line of sight. A hunch arose in her heart, but she refused to believe it. As Nico cried, he exined, ¡°Mr. Wright wanted to resolve the matter with the man in ck for youst night. He secretly went to the abandoned warehouse in the eastern suburbs of the city. However, those people set a trap and doused the whole warehouse in gasoline. Mr. Wright was already engulfed in mes by the time we¡­¡± Nico could not bring himself to finish the sentence as tears rolled down his cheeks. Everyone was immersed in a state of grief. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes turned red from this depressing atmosphere. However, she still sneered coldly, ¡°Are you saying this is his urn? Do you think I¡¯ll fall for such a trick?¡± Neville and Swain sobbed even harder after hearing this. As for Nico, he forcibly held back his sobs. ¡°Mr. Wright has been burnt till unrecognizable from the fire. We cremated him because we couldn¡¯t bear it. We knew he loved you most, so we took him here first before taking him back to the Wright residence.¡± Gwendolyn stared at the urn containing Maverick¡¯s ashes in a daze. Just then, she had a shback to the nightmare she had in Salinsburgh. Gwendolyn can never forget his helpless and sorrowful expression in the midst of the mes. I didn¡¯t expect it to be true. Trembling, Gwendolyn reached out to take the urn from Nico. Two drops of tears fell uncontrobly from her eyes. Gwendolyn wiped away her tears and looked at Nico. She sneered coldly and asked grimly, ¡°Are you all in this together to fool me? Do you think I¡¯ll believe you if you randomly use an urn to fool me? I want to see Maverick¡¯s body, even if he¡¯s dead! Does he think I¡¯ll give him a chance if he uses such a better to make me shed a few tears? Dream on! Is this his ashes? I¡¯ll crush it and reduce it to ashes, then! Let¡¯s see if Maverick can keep up the act, shall we?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were reddened. She raised the cremains high with a cold expression, prepared to toss it down. ¡°No!¡± Nico, Neville, and the others fell to their knees with a loud thud. ¡°Mr. Wright is really dead! Whether you believe it or not, he can nevere back. Mr. Wright was already injured, and he went therest night knowing he won¡¯te out of it alive. He died for you!¡± Gwendolyn stared at them in shock. These people were machismo men who had fought countless life-and-death situations alongside Maverick. Yet, they were kneeling before her for these ashes. Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Gwendolyn¡¯s rationality was being overturned repeatedly. Her hands trembled uncontrobly when she lowered her head to look at the vase. Gwendolyn handed it back to Nico. However, she bit her lower lips and shook her head, sneering coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t believe this. I dare you to make him tell me personally!¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Gwendolyn yelled. She took a step back and mmed the door shut, shutting everyone out. Taking a deep breath, Gwendolyn tried to calm down and regain her rationality. As Gwendolyn sat on the couch, she saw the stack of sticky notes she had earlier taken down. Gwendolyn picked them up again and carefully read through them. She recalled the moment he pulled her into his tight embrace before they got into the car. Gwendolyn did not notice at that time, but she now realized that the corners of his eyes seemed a bit red. Has Maverick known all along that this day woulde, and was he prepared for thest time we would meet before I left for Faike? But¡­ I didn¡¯t see his corpse. I don¡¯t believe it! There¡¯s no way! Justin was not at the vi previously because he apanied Nico and the others to the crematorium. Now, he had finally arrived. Justin¡¯s face was full of grief when Gwendolyn called him inside. Gwendolyn sat on the couch in a stupor. She was cold, devoid of emotions and tears. Gwendolyn stood up suddenly and gave Justin a tight p when he drew near. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Justin staggered a step back, caught off guard. Blood seeped out from the corner of his cut lips. Justin did not dare to wipe away the blood. Perceived the metallic taste in his mouth, he stood obediently to bear Gwendolyn¡¯s anger. ¡°Ms. Shalders, go ahead and beat me to death if it makes you feel better. I¡¯m drowning in guilt from causing Mr. Wright¡¯s death. I¡¯d feel better dying in your hands.¡± Gwendolyn nced at him. She withdrew her hand slowly and sat back on the couch after seeing he was truly upset. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders, I was originally sent from the other side to keep an eye on you, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to harm you. Those people didn¡¯t want to let me off the hook and gave me an ultimatum three days ago to lure you to the abandoned warehouse on the eastern outskirts of the city. Mr. Wright found out about it, and he told me not to tell you. Mr. Wright said he would go in your ce.¡± He began to cry uncontrobly as he spoke. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­ that he would not be able to make it out alive. I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Shalders!¡± ¡°Did he¡­ have something to tell me before something happened to him?¡± Justin thought for a moment. ¡°No.¡± Devastated, Gwendolyn pursed her lips tightly and lowered her eyes. It pained Justin to see her like this. ¡°Ms. Shalders, it¡¯s all my fault. Go ahead and hit me! Don¡¯t hold back. Let it all out!¡± ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°Ms. Shalders¡­¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Unable to convince her, Justin could only let her calm down on her own. The window in the living room was open. Gwendolyn¡¯s face was cold when the chilly wind blew in. She stared at the stack of sticky notes on the coffee table, but the images of Maverick pretending to be aggrieved and fragile appeared in her mind. Maverick used to appear aloof and indifferent in the past. Now, all Gwendolyn could think of was his pitiful expression. She could not even recall what he used to be like. With this in mind, Gwendolyn rushed upstairs and retrieved the box that had been stored on top of the cab in her room. ¡°Where are the photos of us? Where are our wedding photos? They were here!¡± Gwendolyn made a mess while searching and finally found half of the wedding photo under the box. There was only her smiling brightly in the picture. Gwendolyn personally cut Maverick¡¯s part off when she decided to seek revenge against the Wright family. Her knuckles turned white, and she opened her phone¡¯s photo album and searched for a long time. Gwendolyn could not find a single picture of the man she had been married to for three and loved for six years. The only thing left was an audio recording, and she clicked to y it. A maic and deep voice came. ¡°I, Maverick, vow to disappear from your world forever once this one-year employment period is over.¡± Gwendolyn leaned against the foot of the bed before weakly copsing to the ground. Tears began welling up in her eyes. Maverick disappeared before one year had passed. Gwendolyn did not even have a chance to bid him farewell. The night was extraordinarily long for her. Gwendolyn was unable to fall asleep all night. Her eyes became dry and puffy from staying up all night staring out the window lifelessly. Knock! Knock! Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Gwendolyn wiped away her tears and asked calmly, ¡°What is it?¡± William was outside the door. ¡°Ms. Shalders, Nico has already brought Mr. Wright¡¯s ashes back to the Wright residence. The date for his burial has been set, and the funeral will take ce in three days.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows slightly. Three days? So soon? The arrangements for Maverick¡¯s funeral were taken care of by Treyton, Nico, and Frida. Treyton learned about the situation upon his return from Salinsburgh. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Treyton felt bitter knowing Maverick gave his life up for Gwendolyn. He decided to shoulder this responsibility to ease her guilt, knowing that she would not be able to ept this oue. No media or informed wealthy families dared to spread Maverick¡¯s death with Treyton being in charge. Maverick¡¯s death was kept a low profile. The weather in Faike had been terrible for the past three days. It was gloomy every day, and the brisk wind could freeze the people walking on the street. Thunder roared, and the weather was considerably colder on the day of the funeral. The entire Faike was engulfed in a gloomy atmosphere as heavy rain poured down mercilessly. It was an unsettling sight to see so many ck umbres in front of the cemetery. There were not many people who came. A few close business associates and several members of the Wright family came up to pay their respect. Frida sobbed hysterically while holding her son¡¯s ashes. She had been crying endlessly the past three days and would have copsed long ago if not for her determination to see through her son¡¯s funeral. Sheralyn was also sobbing uncontrobly, and she repeatedly called out his name. The air was heavy with profound sadness. Gwendolyn was standing beneath the tree outside the cemetery, wearing only a ck dress and without makeup. Although her eyes were red, she watched the situation inside the cemetery attentively in a calm manner. Several bodyguards had gone inside to pay their respects to Maverick. Gwendolyn did not use an umbre. She waspletely drenched by the heavy rain even though she stood under a tree. Her skinny figure appeared lonely and deste, but she did not look pathetic. Treyton perceptively saw her, and he walked over with a ck umbre. It pained Treyton to see Gwendolyn¡¯s lips turn blue from the cold, so he took off his suit coat to drape it over her. Gwendolyn used her hand to block and refuse his offer. ¡°He¡¯s already gone. Why do you have to put yourself through this? Listen to me, all right? You¡¯ll get sick if you carry on like this. He wouldn¡¯t want to see you burdened with guilt if he were still alive.¡± Gwendolyn only lowered her hand when she heard the final sentence, letting Treyton drape the suit coat over her. Treyton helped to wipe the wet strands of hair off her cheek, and he sighed. ¡°He¡¯s about to be buried. Do you want to go and say a fewst words to him?¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze, and neither did she speak nor move. In the cemetery, Maverick was being formally buried. Just then, awyer in a suit appeared to hand two envelopes containing written wills to Frida. ¡°Mrs. Wright, Mr. Wright instructed me to give you these wills on the day of his burial. I hope you will immediately open and read them privately.¡± The tears on Frida¡¯s face had not yet dried. She took over the two envelopes with trembling hands. One of them was addressed to her, and there was no name on the other one. Frida opened the first envelope. However, her expression froze when she read the content of the letter. Chapter 205 Chapter 205 It was raining heavily, and the bodyguard held an umbre over Frida. She walked to the side alone to examine the letter. No one witnessed the expression of shock on her face. She tightly clutched the letter, her eyes filled withplex emotions. After a few minutes of internal conflict, she stowed away the envelope and returned to Maverick¡¯s grave. ¡°Mom, what did Maverick say?¡± Frida¡¯s face bore a look of devastation as shepletely disregarded Sheralyn, seemingly oblivious to her question. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong with you? Don¡¯t scare me! What did Maverick write in the letter?¡± Sheralyn attempted to grab the envelope from Frida¡¯s hand, but thetter skillfully evaded her. Sheralyn thought it was odd and went to snatch the letter again. In a moment of desperation, Frida tore and crumpled the letter she had opened before swiftly stuffing it into her mouth and swallowing it. ¡°Mom, what are you doing!¡± ¡°Mrs. Wright!¡± Everyone was stunned by her action. Instead of giving everyone an exnation, Frida rushed into the rain and hugged the cold tombstone of Maverick. She wailed, ¡°Maverick! My son, you were still so young. How could you leave me and your sister behind¡­¡± She howled until her voice was hoarse, and the grief etched on her face touched everyone present, causing their eyes to unconsciously turn red. Coming from a prestigious family, Frida had always maintained an air of nobility. It was the first time she had publicly lost control, embracing the tombstone while crying uncontrobly. Surprisingly, no one deemed her behavior inappropriate. Even her act of swallowing the entire letter moments ago was understandable. A mother had lost her beloved son, after all. Moreover, Maverick was the most promising child of the Wright family. Frida¡¯s heart was irreparably shattered. Gwendolyn watched from a distance, her eyes red but devoid of tears, and her expression remained stoic. Unnoticed by anyone, her fingertips, concealed beneath Treyton¡¯s suit jacket, dug deeply into her palms. It was as if her heart had grown so numb that she could no longer feel pain. In the cemetery, Frida was on the verge of copsing from her incessant tears. Fortunately, with Sheralyn¡¯s support and persuasive words, her emotional outbursts gradually subsided. The funeral finally came to an end. The business partners, rtives, and friends departed one after the other, each in a somber mood. Some individualsmented the untimely demise of a young business genius. Some individuals sympathized with the two remaining women in the Wright family, recognizing that their lives would be challenging with Dexter lurking in the background, ready to strike. After everyone had left, Sheralyn escorted Frida out of the cemetery. Sheralyn nced up and noticed Gwendolyn standing under the tree nearby. In an instant, intense anger surged within her. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! You¡¯re the cause of my brother¡¯s demise! If it weren¡¯t for you, why would he be dead? How dare you show your face here?¡± Gwendolyn did not argue back but instead lowered her gaze. Treyton couldn¡¯t bear to see his younger sister getting bullied and said with a cold face, ¡°Mind your words! She knew nothing about the matter, and this was your brother¡¯s own decision.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Knew nothing about it?¡± Sheralyn advanced, her eyes aze with anger as she locked her gaze on Gwendolyn. ¡°So she thinks she can absolve herself by feigning ignorance? My brother sacrificed his life for her! But look at her, not a single tear shed in his memory. She¡¯s nothing but a heartless b*tch¡ª¡± ¡°Sheralyn!¡± Frida stopped Sheralyn before thetter could curse out more profanities. Sheralyn looked back at her mother in disbelief. ¡°Mom! She¡¯s the one who got Maverick killed! What¡¯s wrong with scolding her? Don¡¯t you hate her too? Are you out of your mind to defend her?¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn kept her head down and didn¡¯t refute a word. With tears still staining her face, Frida approached Gwendolyn and offered a slight bow. Sheralyn was taken aback. ¡°Mom, do you realize what you¡¯re doing? You¡¯re actually bowing your head to her?¡± Frida disregarded Sheralyn¡¯s words and looked at Gwendolyn before she said in a heavy tone, ¡°I apologize to you for what my daughter said. She is overwhelmed with grief and speaks without thinking. I hope you can forgive her.¡± Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. Frida has always been mean to me. Why is she acting so different today? ¡°Sheralyn is right, I am responsible for his death. Don¡¯t you hate me at all?¡± Tears rolled down Frida¡¯s cheeks as she wiped them away with a bittersweet smile. ¡°Mr. Harris is right. If Maverick made such a choice, it means he must have loved you deeply. I will honor his decision.¡± The words ¡°loved you deeply¡± caused Gwendolyn¡¯s heart to ache, and she felt a slight soreness at the tip of her nose. She tightly squeezed her palm, trying to stop the tears from flowing. Frida retrieved a nk envelope from her bag and handed it to Gwendolyn. ¡°He requested for you to have this in private. Don¡¯t worry, I haven¡¯t read it.¡± Gwendolyn took it with trembling fingers. Frida added, ¡°Let¡¯s set the letter aside for now. Find a seat and take your time to read it when you go back.¡± With that, Frida and Sheralyn leaned on each other for support and left the cemetery. Gwendolyn carefully kept the letter inside her bag. After all the rtives and friends who hade to pay their respects had left, she entered the cemetery and approached Maverick¡¯s tombstone solemnly. A small photo adorned the tombstone. Its image was marred by the raindrops that fell heavily upon it. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn easily recognized the familiar yet aloof countenance with just a single nce. It was Maverick. She had previously scoured her phone and vi for a photo of him but to no avail. It suddenly dawned on her that she would only be able to behold his image on the tombstone in the days toe. She delicately wiped the water droplets off the photo, her movements gentle and patient, repeating the process again and again. This was the only man she had ever truly loved. From now on, she would never hear his tender crooning again. Gwendolyn fought back her tears as she tirelessly wiped off the water stains from the photo. Treyton¡¯s heart ached as he watched Gwendolyn. ¡°Kiddo, it¡¯s pouring outside. You can¡¯t wipe it dry.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes held a stubborn determination. ¡°He is afraid of the cold and dislikes getting wet in the rain. I must do this onest thing for him, at least.¡± Treyton let out a resigned sigh and handed her the ck umbre he held. Gwendolyn epted it, opening it to cover Maverick¡¯s small tombstone. She then took out a handkerchief and meticulously wiped away every raindrop on the tombstone. ¡°Kiddo, you still love him very much, don¡¯t you?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t answer. She had once believed that she could let go of her love for him and walk away with grace and resolution. Had he still been alive, had their paths never crossed again after the divorce, perhaps they could have found happiness in their separate lives. Yet, fate had a knack for ying tricks on her, repeatedly intertwining their lives. Besides, this man had died for her. The past torments he inflicted on her suddenly felt trivial, and a wave of guilt threatened to suffocate Gwendolyn¡¯s heart. She took a deep breath, suppressing the overwhelming sadness that threatened to consume her. People could never return once they were gone, so dwelling on love or its absence seemed futile now. She said softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Treyton helped her up, cing a protective hand on her slender shoulder, and together they left the cemetery. After being sent back to Bay Vi by Treyton, Gwendolyn made her way to Maverick¡¯s room. She entered the space and settled onto the recliner where he had often lounged, her gaze wandering around the room. With the thought of Maverick¡¯s letter lingering in her mind, Gwendolyn opened her bag and retrieved the envelope, her fingertips delicately tracing the smooth contours of the envelope. A few days ago, Gwendolyn had believed that Maverick had left her without a word, but now, holding his letter in her hands, she realized that he had still cared about her, even until the very end of his life. She carefully unfolded the letter. The first line of the letter immediately caught her eye. It read: My dearest Gwendolyn Shalders Harris. Gwendolyn¡¯s hands trembled uncontrobly as she stared at her name in disbelief. So he knew my true identity all along? Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Why did he pretend to be jealous when I deliberately mentioned Treyton to provoke him then? Was he toying with me? How mean of him! Gwendolyn was furious. After suppressing her desire to punch him, she continued reading. Gwenny, by the time you read this letter, I might¡¯ve already left you forever. This is thest thing that I¡¯m doing for you. You don¡¯t need to feel guilty or me yourself. I wonder if my death would elicit some tears from you. Although I¡¯m hoping that you¡¯ll cry, I¡¯m afraid that you actually will. I don¡¯t want to see you unhappy. Forget it. Save your tears and be a happy, carefree princess of the Harris family. It was only then that tears started to stream down Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks uncontrobly. Wiping her tears away, she tried to regain her rationality and calm down before continuing to read. Both of us have met the right person at the wrong time. Ever since you saved me from the car thirteen years ago, I¡¯ve been deeply attracted by your clear eyes. From then on, I couldn¡¯t stop loving you, who was only ten years old. Natasha impersonating you and iming credit for saving my life remains a thorn in my life. Even if I¡¯ve never touched her, even if she¡¯s already dead, I can never forgive my foolish self. What I regret the most is failing to recognize you when you were brought to the Wright residence. Even during the three years that you were married to me, I didn¡¯t treasure you. You stopped loving me by the time I wanted to make things right again. However, all of that doesn¡¯t matter. Even if you treat me as a pet or a housekeeper, I¡¯m satisfied just by being able to see you at the vi every day. Ever since I realized that I¡¯ve fallen in love with you, I¡¯ve be riddled with insecurities. My self- esteem plummeted, and I became a coward. I¡¯d melt in happiness every time you smile at me. Even when you coaxed me lightly, I¡¯d be so excited that I couldn¡¯t sleep for a few days. You must be feeling happy while reading this, right? All that man, who used to be so aloof and untouchable, could see is you. He¡¯s begging for the slightest bit of affection from you like a clown. How amusing and pathetic! That¡¯s right. I¡¯m afraid of losing you. Although I don¡¯t dare to ask for your love, I secretly wish that you could save me even the smallest spot in your heart. Knowing that I¡¯ve hurt you far too deeply in the past, I don¡¯t deserve your forgiveness. You¡¯ve saved me before, so I owe you my life. This favor can never be returned. The only way is to repay it with my life. You¡¯re right about one thing. I encapste everything that a bad man is. While hoping that you¡¯ll forget me and find a good man who¡¯ll dote on you well, I also wish that you¡¯ll remember me forever. I¡¯ve contemted between the two for a long time. It was so painful and conflicting. Eventually, I decided to selfishly use this life of mine to make it impossible for you to forget me. You must eat well. Don¡¯t be picky with your food. Drink less coffee and tea. Even if there¡¯s a lot of work, you must remember to wear more clothes when the weather¡¯s cold. Goodbye, my¡­ Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Although the letters of thest two words had been smudged by tears, it was obvious that they spelled out ¡°dearly beloved.¡± Gwendolyn knew his handwriting, which had always been neat and pretty. However, the handwriting in the letter was squiggly and untidy, as if the tip of the pen was unsteady. There were quite a few words that were smudged by tears. How was he feeling when he wrote this letter? His hands were trembling so much that he could not even hold the pen properly. He must have been feeling so sad and reluctant. Gwendolyn cried her heart out, to the extent that she started to feel breathless. She slid onto the floor from the chair and clenched her chest. Still, she could not ovee that feeling of hopeless despair and sorrow. Why did I fall in love with him? Gwendolyn could still clearly remember how everyone in the Wright family did not wee her when Den brought her to the residence after she lost her memory. Only Maverick smiled at her and said, ¡°That¡¯s good. I have another friend. From now on, this is your home. We are your family.¡± Although the smile was very faint, it was as bright as the winter sun, causing warmth to fill her heart. From then on, she started to yearn longingly for the warmth he had bestowed upon her. He used to treat me so nicely. Why did he start to detest me and distance himself away from me? It was when Mr. Wright announced that I was going to marry him¡­ Gwendolyn shook her head helplessly. They really got together at the wrong time. Warm tears streamed down her cheeks, smudging the words on the letter. As she wiped the tears away, her gaze followed her fingertips andnded on the words, ¡°impossible for you to forget me.¡± ¡°You b*stard, Maverick!¡± He had seeded. In her lifetime, she would never forget him. He¡¯s such a fool¡­ She had mentioned that saving him thirteen years ago amounted to nothing but an empty favor. It was not something significant to her. Yet, he had it etched in his mind. Due to that feeling of gratitude, he dragged his body which was weakened by the special drug and jumped down Crane Bridge to save her. When they were at Realm Bar, he even shielded her from the highly corrosive drug at the expense of his own body. This time, he ended up losing his life to deal with that man in ck for her. Having saved her multiple times, he no longer owed her anything. She was the one who owed him! Now that he had left, it was impossible for her to repay his favor¡­ Tears flowed out of her eyes silently. That letter had destroyed any remaining rationality she still had. Her heart ached terribly to the extent that her tears just fell endlessly, and her limbs shivered uncontrobly. Unable to support herself anymore, she slumped onto the floor weakly. Although the floor was icy cold, she could not feel anything. It was like her five senses had all been lost ¡ªthe only thing she could feel was her aching heart. Through the tears in her eyes, she vaguely spotted something red under the bed. It was extremely striking. Did he hide something under the bed? Gwendolyn wiped her tears and took in a few deep breaths. Only then did she move toward the bed and retrieve what was underneath it. It was a bloody shirt. When she brought it closer to her face, she noticed that there was a metallic stench of blood on it. Although the traces of blood had already dried up, the color was fairly bright, indicating that the blood got there quite recently. When did this happen? The sight of therge patches of blood on the shirt stung her eyes. She frowned deeply. With that much blood, it was evident that his injury was much more severe than a mere burn on his back. How did he get so severely injured? Gwendolyn recalled what had happened before. Afterbing her memories, the only thing she could remember was when he admitted that he got injured after she brought Jasmine back to Bay Vi. However, he only mentioned it briefly and brushed the entire incident off. In hindsight, that was very strange. She immediately summoned William over. ¡°Contact Nico and tell him that I want to meet him right now! Go!¡± Shocked by her yell, William spun around and sprinted away. Almost falling down, he scrambled out to get Nico. Half an hourter, Nico rushed over. When he entered, Gwendolyn was sitting on Maverick¡¯s chair. She was in a daze, her eyespletely lifeless. Maverick¡¯s bloody shirt was clenched in her fists. Even though she had already wiped her tears away, nothing could conceal the haggard look in her swollen eyes. Nico lowered his head, also in a sullen mood. ¡°Why did you ask to see me in such a hurry, Ms. Shalders?¡± Staring at the bloody shirt in her hands, Gwendolyn choked back a sob and asked, ¡°When you guys went to the abandoned construction site, did you really bump into someone from the Central Intelligence Agency? Did he get seriously injured?¡± Nico did not answer her. ¡°At this juncture, just tell me the truth. Your honesty won¡¯t change anything. I just want to know.¡± Sighing, Nico said, ¡°We didn¡¯t encounter anyone from the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Wright didn¡¯t want you to worry, so he lied. However, it¡¯s true that he got seriously injured.¡± Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Why did he get injured?¡± ¡°Actually, Mr. Wright¡­¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Nico rposed himself before continuing, ¡°Mr. Wright was actually¡­ the captain of the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s Team Fourteen. There was an urgent summon from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and they never do this unless there¡¯s something major happening. But Mr. Wright didn¡¯t want to leave without saying goodbye. He wanted to do onest thing for you, so he requested to report to the bureau three dayster. The injuries he sustained were the punishment he received for going against orders.¡± There was civil conflict at that time. The copse of a regime would happen at any time, and the change of power was imminent. It had been a massive incident. N?velDrama.Org content. Yet, Maverick had chosen to stay for three more days, even if it meant that he was going to be punished. Nico suppressed his heartache and said, ¡°It was thirty whips. He was whipped until he vomited blood, and in the end, the executioner could not bring himself to continue to do it, so he only whipped Mr. Wright twenty times.¡± Gwendolyn was confused as she looked at the bloody shirt in her hands. ¡°What kind of whip could make him vomit blood in twenty strikes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an ordinary whip; it¡¯s a whip with steel wires wrapped around it. The whip has barbs on it, and even a gentle stroke could make the skin a bloody mess. The executioner had not shown him any mercy as every time the whip struck him, it went deep into his flesh. Mr. Wright barely had any spots for the executioner to strike because of his burns, so thest five strikes had been on his lower back¡­¡± Nico trailed off, unable to continue anymore. He was livid and heartbroken. Gwendolyn did not dare to imagine what the scene was like. Even hearing about it was making her feel the pain. His back was already covered in wounds, so how did he withstand such a severe punishment? No wonder things went south for him this time. He went to kill for me despite his grievous injuries. Did he not think about how he might die? Her throat tightened, and she gripped the blood-soaked shirt until her knuckles went white. Nheless, Nico was right in front of her, so she forced her tears away. On the other hand, Nico felt bad for his boss when he saw no tears from Gwendolyn despite telling her the truth. He¡¯s so unlucky to have fallen for such a ruthless woman. s, he was merely a subordinate and an outsider to the incident, so he had no right toment on Gwendolyn¡¯s reaction. After a sigh, he said with as much calm as he could muster, ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m here to say goodbye to you. I¡¯ll be leaving. I¡¯m Mr. Wright¡¯s subordinate, and now that he¡¯s gone, I¡¯m going to have to work for another boss. I¡¯m afraid¡­ I won¡¯te back to Faike anymore. Take care of yourself.¡± Gwendolyn merely stared at him in silence. Lowering his sorrow-filled eyes, Nico then turned to walk toward the exit. However, he only took two steps before a wave of resentment surged in his chest. ¡°No one knows how to love another the moment they¡¯re born. Mr. Wright thought he was indebted to Natasha, so he forced himself to like her. Yet, unbeknownst to him, he had already fallen in love with you during your three-year marriage. Noah used him during your ne incident without Mr. Wright¡¯s knowledge. Even while being pursued by Mr. Asher, he searched for you for half a month. In the end, you sought revenge on him, humiliating and tormenting him. Despite that, every time you were in danger, he risked his life to save you. He never uttered aint, even when you hurt or tormented him. He set aside his own dignity as a man to atone for his mistakes. Do you really not¡­ feel anything at all after all that?¡± Nico¡¯s words stabbed her heart like daggers. The agony was so intense she felt it in her bones. Her teeth had left bloody marks on her lower lip as overwhelming guilt and self-me threatened to drown her. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry¡­¡± Her voice was hoarse when she squeezed out those words. Another sigh escaped Nico, and he tucked away the emotions in his eyes before heading out, closing the door behind him. Once he was gone, Gwendolyn hugged the bloody shirt as tears rolled uncontrobly down her cheeks. Her bawls filled the room. All of a sudden, the memory of the day they came back from the abandoned factory shed in her mind. Back then, he had sat with a stiff spine in the car. It was then that she realized he was hurting so much that he did not dare to lean back on the car seat. When he went up the stairs, he had been taking slow steps while holding onto the handrail. His back had been injured, so she was certain every step he took was painful. For the first time ever, he did not cook right away. He had said he was tired, and Gwendolyn finally realized that he must have been at his limits. She hammered her chest in remorse. Every tear that fell onto the ground spoke of her heartache and destion. God¡­ If it wasn¡¯t agonizing, he wouldn¡¯t have slipped up so much, but I never once noticed it¡­ That night, he had squeezed himself into her arms despite his pain, seeking her warmth. And yet, what did she do? Not only did she coldly shove him away, but she even uttered upsetting words to him. Nico was right. Maverick had never said a word about the cruelty she had for him. He would put aside all his pride to plead with her. He had said, ¡°No¡­ Just let me hug you for a while. Just this once¡­¡± He had said, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Please¡­¡± The pain had been so great even his breathing was shaky, but he was still greedily drinking in the feel of being in her arms. Why didn¡¯t he tell me that he was so badly injured? Was he afraid that I¡¯d feel guilty? Was he afraid that I was going to terminate the agreement? What a silly man. Gwendolyn curled up on the recliner as her emotions burst forth like the water of a broken dam. It felt like her misery was corroding her bones and melting her organs. ¡°Mavy¡­¡± she whispered, unable to speak in her despair. You were envious that I was so close to Charles, but from now on, I¡¯ll call you Mavy so that you¡¯ll know that I care for you too, okay? Can you hear me? Gwendolyn locked herself in Maverick¡¯s room for three whole days without food, water, or sleep. No matter how vigorously Elven and the others knocked on the door, she never responded to them. Even the healthiest person would not be able to take the stress. Elven and the other bodyguards were worried about her, but there was nothing they could do. In the end, they sought Treyton¡¯s help. Treyton kicked open the second floor¡¯s room door, only to be greeted by an empty room. However, he could hear the sound of water dripping from the bathroom. When he walked to the bathroom and switched on the lights, he saw empty bottles of white wine strewn across the floor. When did she clear out the wine cab? Did Elven and the rest not notice anything? Treyton¡¯s gaze finallynded on the thin silhouette. Gwendolyn was lying against the wall under the shower. She was still wearing the ck dress she wore to the funeral, her entire body soaked and her eyes swollen. She had cried until she had no more tears, and despite her red cheeks, she was visibly weary. How did she get intoxicated to this point? Treyton knew how well his sister could hold her liquor. Treyton¡¯s own eyes reddened, and he walked over to pull her into his arms. It was only then he realized how hot she was. Is she having a fever? ¡°Kiddo? Kiddo?¡± He gently patted her cheeks before gathering her in his arms, about to carry her out. Right then, Gwendolyn woke. She instinctively grabbed the man¡¯s sleeve when she sensed the strong arms around her. A familiar face entered her blurry line of sight. ¡°Maverick, it¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it? You didn¡¯t die, did you? You¡¯re lying to me again, right?¡± Treyton¡¯s heart ached, and he softly said to her, ¡°Kiddo, I¡¯m not Maverick; I¡¯m Treyton.¡± He¡¯s not Maverick? Finally, Gwendolyn rubbed her eyes and let her vision clear up. Upon realizing that it was genuinely Treyton, she dissolved into tears again. ¡°Treyton, he¡¯s dead! He died because of me¡­ Even when he was injured, he never stopped helping me, and I even hurt him again and again. This is all my fault. I killed him. Treyton, what do I do? What can I possibly do to repay him for what he had done for me?¡± Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Treyton began crying at the sight of her tears, and he pulled her closer to his chest. ¡°Calm down, Kiddo. This isn¡¯t your fault. Don¡¯t me yourself for everything. You never knew what was happening. If you keep tormenting yourself in this way, you¡¯re going to be overwhelmed.¡± Even though he said that, Gwendolyn merely grabbed his sleeve as the thoughts of the nightmare she had had before the day of the incident shed past her mind. In her dream, Maverick was covered in blood as he kneeled in the fire in devastation. She could not register any of Treyton¡¯s words as tears flowed uncontrobly. ¡°Treyton, I had always thought that he was trying to kill me, so I was fine with hating and tormenting him. I wouldn¡¯t listen to any exnations he tried to give me. The pain he dealt me in the past was istion and mockery, but all the pain I gave him was physical. This is my fault. I killed him. It was me¡­¡± Treyton cupped her tear-streaked face and whispered gently in her ear, again and again, ¡°No, it isn¡¯t, Kiddo. You haven¡¯t done anything wrong. You didn¡¯t kill him. This was his choice. He¡¯s gone, but you¡¯re still alive, so don¡¯t hurt yourself in this way anymore.¡± ¡°But, Treyton¡­¡± At that, Gwendolyn buried herself in Treyton¡¯s arms and sobbed. ¡°I wanted to numb myself, so I drank so much to try to forget these things. I tried to get my rationality back, but I can¡¯t do it. The more I drink, the soberer I be. The image of him bleeding is just seared into my mind. Treyton, I¡­ I¡­¡± Suddenly, her breathing quickened, and her world dimmed. She passed out. ¡°Kiddo!¡± Frightened, Treyton hastily told Elven to look for a doctor before taking her out of the bathroom to a room on the third floor. As they were all men, they could not change Gwendolyn and clean her up. Hence, Treyton asked Elven to bring Flora to Bay Vi. A whole group of people then took care of Gwendolyn, who was unconscious from her high fever. When the doctor came, he gave her a shot. However, Gwendolyn was too weak. She had been drinking alcohol without eating for three days straight, almost ruining her liver. It was only after two days of IV therapy did some of the blood returned to her cheeks. After that was a series of treatments. They busied away for two days and nights before the woman on the bed slowly returned to the waking world. Gwendolyn¡¯s head felt like it was about to split apart, but the first word that came out of her mouth upon waking was still the same. ¡°Maverick¡­¡± It was a whisper, but Treyton heard her clearly. With a soft sigh, he stirred the soup that Flora made for Gwendolyn. ¡°Kiddo, forget about him. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll meet another man who¡¯s better and loves you more.¡± Gwendolyn shot him a startled look and tried to retaliate, only to realize that she could not make any sound. All adults were realistic. How many would be willing to risk their lives for someone else? There was no way she would ever get another man who loved her in the same way. It felt as though someone was wringing her heart like a towel. Gwendolyn clenched her chest and scrunched up her face, beads of cold sweat gathering on her forehead. Treyton knew that she could not take the truth, but he could do nothing about it. He gently persuaded, ¡°You¡¯re still young, and life gets better. Don¡¯t think of miserable times like these anymore, okay? Look at how terribly you¡¯ve treated yourself after his funeral. I¡¯m heartbroken to see you like this. If Dad, Asher, and Kieran find out about this, they¡¯ll be heartbroken too. Even if you don¡¯t care about yourself, you should do this for the family who loves you, all right?¡± Gwendolyn averted her gaze and looked out of the window in response, ignoring him. N?velDrama.Org content. ¡°Here, Kiddo. Have some soup. Flora made this, and it¡¯s the best.¡± Treyton lifted the spoon to her lips. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn kept her lips pressed tightly together. Well aware of her stubborn streak, Treyton sighed and tried a different way. ¡°If you want to repay him for what he has done for you, then you should be letting yourself recover as quickly as you can. He¡¯s gone, and the Wright family only has two women supporting it. Although the Wright family¡¯s assets are now all with you, Dexter will definitely make things difficult for you; you¡¯ll need to help Maverick get his family settled.¡± At that, a hint of light finally entered Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. Treyton was delighted to see the change, and he added, ¡°If you recover quickly, you¡¯ll be able to think of the best way to deal with this situation, right?¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze and began mulling over Treyton¡¯s words. Treyton hurriedly brought the spoon to her lips and coaxed, ¡°So let¡¯s have some soup, okay? We can only deal with these things once you¡¯re fine, right?¡± This time, Gwendolyn epted the soup. Treyton was right. Frida and Sheralyn were the only members of Maverick¡¯s family left in the world. She would have to make arrangements for them on Maverick¡¯s behalf. Wright Construction Group, too. She no longer had the heart to deal with it, so she had to hand it over to the Wrights, but it had to be someone she trusted. Nevertheless, what Sheralyn needed was a good lesson first. Gwendolyn spent the next two days resting and contemting the matter. Her physical state improved, and so did the condition of her throat. In the morning, while she was lying on the bed having oatmeal, she summoned Justin. ¡°Ms. Harris, were you looking for me?¡± Gwendolyn was expressionless as she ate her oatmeal. ¡°How are things on Charles¡¯ side?¡± ¡°I heard that he has been sent to a high-security prison, but I don¡¯t know how long he¡¯ll be serving. Nevertheless, he¡¯s definitely not keeping his position as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. After all, he stole theb¡¯s prohibited drugs. This was already a serious issue by itself, and the one he hurt was even Mr. Wright, who belongs to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Gwendolyn stiffened. Immediately, Justin smacked his mouth in frustration. Treyton had already told him to mention Maverick as little as possible around Gwendolyn. After concealing her rising emotions, she stirred her oatmeal and said, ¡°What response does the Newton family have?¡± ¡°Mr. Newton is only the fourth son of the head of the Newton family. He shouldn¡¯t have had any power in the family anyway. There¡¯s internal conflict within the Newton family too, so it seems like they¡¯re not nning to rescue him.¡± How sad. Even the Newton family isn¡¯t nning to save him. But he had iting for hurting Maverick. After those thoughts, Gwendolyn turned to look at Justin solemnly. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re no longer my bodyguard. You¡¯re dismissed.¡± Justin shuddered as his lips trembled. ¡°Ms. Harris, do you not want me anymore? Do you hate me for what happened?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Gwendolyn ced the bowl on the bedside table and calmly replied, ¡°He has already dealt with the men in ck. No one poses a threat to your life anymore, so you can leave safely now.¡± ¡°But Ms. Harris, I¡­¡± I just want to stay by your side, even if it means doing nothing but looking at you. Before he could finish his sentence, Gwendolyn turned to look at him icily. ¡°Every time I look at you, I think about the pain he endured in the fire. I feel terrible, and I feel like I¡¯m suffocating. So, your departure is for the best.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m really sorry about what happened to Mr. Wright. I can understand your grudge toward me and your reluctance to see me.¡± Justin¡¯s eyes were red. He was reluctant. ¡°But can I stay today to finish myst shift? I won¡¯t disturb you anymore after this.¡± It was merely one day, so Gwendolyn did not mind. ¡°Okay.¡± Justin then slinked away. Right as he left, Elven rushed into the room. ¡°Ms. Harris, your phone has been on silent mode, so you didn¡¯t receive Ms. Sullivan¡¯s call. She just sent someone over to say that Dexter has been kicking up a fuss at Wright Construction Group every day recently. He¡¯s been insisting that you hand over the right to manage thepany.¡± Gwendolyn remained expressionless, for she expected that. Maverick had not made a will. The forty-five percent Wright Construction Group shares that he owned were definitely Dexter¡¯s target. Chapter 209 Chapter 209 ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll go to Wright Construction Group after breakfast.¡± After breakfast, Gwendolyn gathered her thoughts and got herself out of the bad mood she had been in for many days. Then, she put on light makeup and went out. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Dexter was making a scene at the CEO¡¯s office of Wright Construction Group. ¡°How can she not face the world and go into hiding? Is she pretending to be sad after Maverick¡¯s death? Does she think she can avoid the management rights issue of Wright Construction Group? Get her toe now. Things must be resolved today!¡± Yulia was helpless. She wanted badly to p the sly old fox to death, but the fact that their society was governed by the rule ofw reminded her to be calm in front of others. ¡°Mr. Wright, Ms. Shalders has fallen sick recently. You don¡¯t have to be so aggressive¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, the door of the CEO¡¯s office was pushed open. Dressed in a ck bodycon dress, Gwendolyn looked charming yet innocent under her light makeup, with the usual look of aloofness and arrogance in her eyes. Without even sparing a nce at Dexter, she walked straight to the CEO¡¯s chair with a grim face and sat down. ¡°Speak.¡± That single word without any emotion instantly made Dexter change his attitude. With a smile, he walked to the chair across from Gwendolyn and sat down. The vivid memories of being forced to drink thirty bottles of drugs and suffering the torture for ten days were still fresh in his mind, so he only dared to make a scene behind her back. Now that Gwendolyn had really shown up, he said in a gentle tone, ¡°Ms. Shalders, I¡¯m also sad that my nephew died at such a young age. I¡¯ve lost my appetite these few days, but I¡¯m talking about a different matter¡ª¡± ¡°Cut to the chase.¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows, displeased. ¡°Now that he¡¯s gone, I¡¯m the only one from the Wright family that holds shares in Wright Construction Group, so his shares should be transferred to me, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Says who?¡± Gwendolyn nced at him. ¡°Did you hit your head or what? You¡¯re just his father¡¯s brother. Only his mother is an immediate family member who can get the shares, while you have no right to im them.¡± Dexter did not get angry despite being ridiculed. ¡°But she¡¯s not good at managing apany. Look at how Wright Construction Group ended up when it was in her hands previously. If you give her the shares, thepany will eventually end up like a hollow shell. Besides, can you really give her the shares after being treated by her like that in the past? Well, I¡¯m different. I can help you as I¡¯ve already repented and won¡¯t fight against you again in the future!¡± Gwendolyn sneered. ¡°Look at how you put it so nicely. You¡¯ll be the major shareholder after you get the shares. You just want the management rights of Wright Construction Group, don¡¯t you?¡± Uh¡­ Dexter did not answer her. He was determined to get the management rights from her as he could not watch thepany fall into the hands of an outsider. However, knowing that Gwendolyn was not someone to be trifled with, he had initially nned to take it step by step. Gwendolyn did not bother to listen to his management speak as she added straightforwardly, ¡°Just say it if you want it instead of repulsing me with your nonsense. Whether you can get the management rights from me depends on your ability.¡± Dexter wore a scowl on his face and said nothing for a while. He knew that Gwendolyn, who was shrewd, would be even more wary of him in the future since she knew his n. ¡°You know what? Since you said that Frida should get Maverick¡¯s shares, why don¡¯t we ask her to sign the share transfer agreement under the witness of awyer today?¡± So what if the shares are transferred to Frida? Sooner orter, I can fool her into giving me the shares. Things will be easier as long as the shares don¡¯t fall into Gwendolyn¡¯s hands. Gwendolyn curled her lips coldly. When she was about to respond, the door was pushed open. Frida, who had pulled herself out of the despondency that had been gnawing away at her for the past few days, walked into the office gracefully with her usual demeanor of a wealthy woman. Seeing her, Dexter was overjoyed. ¡°Hey, Frida, we were just discussing getting you toe over to sign the agreement. Your appearance is so well-timed.¡± Gwendolyn leaned back against the office chair with her arms folded across her chest indifferently, not saying a word. She wanted to see what stunt the two of them were going to pull. As Frida walked over, Dexter stood up to give up his seat to her. Without standing on ceremony, Frida gracefully sat down and looked at Dexter, saying, ¡°It is not up to you or me to decide how to distribute my son¡¯s shares.¡± ¡°What do you mean, Frida?¡± Dexter¡¯s expression froze. ¡°I¡¯ve brought Mr. Lawson over. Maverick made a will before his death. Since everyone is present today, it will be read out now.¡± Thewyer, Benjamin Lawson, stepped forward and ced a sealed kraft paper folder on Gwendolyn¡¯s clean desk with both hands. Gwendolyn nced at it. Maverick even made a will? ¡°Since it¡¯s a will, it¡¯ll be inappropriate for me, who is no longer a member of the Wright family, to be here when it¡¯s read out. I shall excuse myself.¡± When she was about to get up, Frida stopped her. ¡°You should sit back down. You¡¯re mentioned in the will, so you have to be present.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s body stiffened. I can¡¯t believe he actually mentioned me in his will. Holding back her tears, she sat back down with an indifferent expression. After making sure that Gwendolyn was seated, Frida turned around to look at Benjamin and said, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Benjamin nodded. Under the watchful eyes of the three, he stepped forward to unseal the folder and took out the will inside. ¡°I, Maverick Wright, the testator, dere this to be myst will for the distribution of my personal property after my death.¡± The first paragraph alone made Gwendolyn¡¯s heart ache while her eyes uncontrobly reddened. Clenching her fists hard, she looked down and listened to the reading of the will in silence. Frida had also be tearful, whereas Dexter showed a token look of sadness on his face. Under the grave atmosphere, Benjamin went on to read, ¡°I devise and bequeath my main real estate, shares, and other properties under my name as follows: A total of seven properties, including Sky Vi, a house with a courtyard on Haas Avenue, and Goldport Apartment on Chance Street, to my ex-wife, Gwendolyn Shalders. In addition, the forty-five percent shares of Wright Construction Group held by me will be transferred to my ex-wife, Gwendolyn Shalders.¡± After Benjamin was done reading out the will, Frida wiped her tears with a tissue, while Gwendolyn was left heartbroken. He actually left all his properties to me. Am I all he thought about? Did he not even care about Frida and Sheralyn? However, Dexter blew up on the spot. ¡°What? I won¡¯t ept this!¡± With anger written all over his face, he protested, ¡°I have no objection to his decision to give all the real estate to his ex-wife, but how can he give his forty-five percent of Wright Construction Group¡¯s shares to an outsider so easily? Wright Construction Group is the culmination of Old Mr. Wright¡¯s lifetime of hard work. This is so unfilial of him! Where does that leave Old Mr. Wright?¡± If the forty-five percent of shares were really given to Gwendolyn, she would hold eighty-five percent shares in the future, making it hard for him to take her down. Gwendolyn had been keeping her head down all the while, neither rebutting nor speaking. In the first ce, she was not good at the real estate industry. She was exhausted physically and mentally after managing both Wright Construction Group and Angle for some time. Just as she was nning to leave Wright Construction Group in others¡¯ hands, Maverick made things difficult for her by leaving the burden of managing Wright Construction Group to her. Amidst Dexter¡¯s doubts, Frida wiped away her tears and said with a heavy heart, ¡°Making a will is Maverick¡¯s right to make his own decisions freely. As his mother, I respect his decision.¡± ¡°What has gotten into you, Frida? Shares are not a trivial matter!¡± It was driving Dexter mad. Yet, Frida remained indifferent to his outburst. ¡°Dexter, stop fighting. What is not yours is not yours. No matter how hard you fight, you won¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°You!¡± Dexter was furious. ¡°How prodigal! You¡¯ll have a lot of exining to do when you die and see Old Mr. Wright and my brother in the afterlife!¡± With a loud snort, he left in a huff. Frida remained silent as he scolded her, not a trace of anger on her face. Gwendolyn shot her a strange look. After Maverick¡¯s funeral, Frida seemed to be a different person. Not only did she often speak up for Gwendolyn, but she was also calmer than before when things happened. ¡°If you hide his will and don¡¯t get it read out in public, his shares will be yours. We¡¯re talking about forty- five percent of shares here. Are you not tempted at all?¡± Frida gave her a faint smile. ¡°I really don¡¯t have that ability. It¡¯s better for Wright Construction Group to be in your hands.¡± Gwendolyn quietly gazed at her with narrowed eyes. ¡°Mrs. Wright, you have suddenly changed a lot. You¡¯ve never spoken to me calmly before. Did Maverick tell you something in his letter at his funeral?¡± Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Frida appeared stunned for a moment. Then, she averted her eyes and lowered her head with a bitter smile on her face. ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything. He just asked me to take good care of you.¡± Gwendolyn frowned with a serious expression, obviously not believing her words. Frida went on, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t me you for his death. It¡¯s all my fault. If I hadn¡¯t been so mean to you back then and had treated you well, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have wanted a divorce, and he wouldn¡¯t have to try to get back together with you¡­¡± She could not bring herself to finish the sentence as tears rolled down her cheeks. Gwendolyn handed her a box of tissues. Her eyes reddened again as she said with a lump in her throat, ¡°Regardless of whether you are sincere this time, I will personally go to the Wright residence the day after tomorrow and return it to you. ¡° ¡°Really?¡± Frida cried even harder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯re such a good girl. I¡¯m really sorry for not appreciating you in the past!¡± Gwendolyn sighed and replied tly, ¡°I¡¯m just not short of money or a house to live in, so you don¡¯t need to thank me. Maverick has helped you pay off the grudges between you and me.¡± Frida felt even more guilty as she sobbed so hard that her shoulders were heaving. Seeing that, Gwendolyn walked up to her and gently patted her on the back to calm her down. Then, she said, ¡°By the way, I ept his will, but I don¡¯t have the energy to manage Wright Construction Group anymore.¡± Frida stopped crying and looked up at her. ¡°What is your n?¡± With a look of determination in her eyes, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°If you trust me, I need you to be cruel for once.¡± ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out the day after tomorrow.¡± Frida met her gaze with suspicion and anticipation. She now regretted pushing away such a good daughter-inw back then, but she knew that regret was pointless. In the next two days, Gwendolyn asked someone to find the best etiquette coach in Faike. Then, she went to the Wright residence with four bodyguards, including Elven, and the etiquette coach. Frida and Sheralyn were still wearing the housekeeper uniforms in the Wright residence. When Gwendolyn arrived, they were cleaning the house. The two of them had been behaving themselves recently. Hence, the housekeepers who used to vent their anger on them did not make things difficult for them anymore either. Gwendolyn sat in the main seat of the living room drinking coffee, a property transfer agreement for the Wright residence on the coffee table. When Frida showed up, Gwendolyn asked her to sit on the small couch on the side. As soon as Sheralyn saw Gwendolyn, she immediately cursed, ¡°You b*tch! How dare youe here again! It¡¯s all your fault that our family ended up like this! You jinx! You¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Frida yelled in a stern voice. Sheralyn was frustrated. ¡°Mom, has something gotten into you recently? Why can¡¯t I scold her? Why are you defending her? Are you still my mother?¡± Frida sighed in disappointment, not bothering to reply to her daughter. However, Gwendolyn was not angry as she said tly, ¡°You can scold me to your heart¡¯s content after I¡¯m done talking.¡± I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s actually letting me scold her however I want. Baffled, Sheralyn asked, ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± ncing at the document on the table, Gwendolyn dered, ¡°I can return the Wright residence to you and even transfer my forty percent shares of Wright Construction Group to you and forty-five percent to your future children.¡± Sheralyn was stupefied. ¡°Would you be so kind?¡± ¡°But I have some conditions. The shares will be transferred to you after you are capable of running Wright Construction Group, while I¡¯ll only let Mrs. Wright sign the transfer agreement for the Wright residence after you meet all the conditions.¡± ¡°As expected. I knew you wouldn¡¯t be so kind for no reason.¡± Sheralyn rolled her eyes. ¡°But what are your conditions?¡± ¡°Firstly, you¡¯re not allowed to marry a wealthy man. You need to find a loyal and honest ordinary man to be a live-in son-inw and have children that carry the Wrightst name. Secondly, you have bad manners, but that¡¯s okay as I hired you an etiquette coach. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re trained hard. Thirdly, when you¡¯ve mastered all etiquette and manners, I¡¯ll let you work in Wright Construction Group to learn business management. When you can handle projects independently, I¡¯ll give you the shares.¡± Sheralyn was dumbfounded after listening to Gwendolyn¡¯s conditions. ¡°Are you kidding me? I can¡¯t meet any of these conditions! What makes you think you can be so strict with me?¡± Gwendolyn responded nonchntly, ¡°It¡¯s fine if you can¡¯t do it. Just forget I said anything.¡± She then got up to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± Frida stopped her in her tracks and looked at Sheralyn to persuade thetter earnestly. ¡°Sheralyn, it¡¯s all for the sake of you and the Wright family. Now that your brother is gone, our family line ends here. The best solution is to get a live-in son-inw. Besides, I also think that you¡¯re too spoiled and arrogant. You should really learn some manners.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s body froze as the light in her eyes dulled. Frida¡¯s remark, ¡°Now that your brother is gone, our family line ends here,¡± sent a pang across her heart. Subconsciously, she rested her hand against her stomach. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Despite being married to Maverick for three years, she had only slept with him the night before the divorce. However, she did not get pregnant from that one night. Regardless, based on her state of mind and personality at the time, she would have gone for an abortion without hesitation even if she had conceived. Noticing Gwendolyn¡¯s expression, Frida realized that she had said something she should not have. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was too upied in lecturing Sheralyn and forgot that you¡¯re still here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Carry on.¡± Gwendolyn rposed herself and sat back down on the couch. Frida stared at her apologetically for a while before turning back to Sheralyn. ¡°Sheralyn, thanks to Gwendolyn, we¡¯re still allowed to live in the Wright residence. If you reject her, she¡¯ll drive us out. Being penniless, we can only sleep under the bridge. Do you want that to happen?¡± Sheralyn was so horrified that her face went pale. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to sleep under the bridge!¡± If she were kicked out, she would no longer be able to hold her head up high in front of her socialite friends. But things would be different if she agreed to Gwendolyn¡¯s conditions. She would still have a chance to continue living the good life she used to have. She hesitated for a while before announcing, ¡°Okay, I agree to your conditions.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No. You¡¯ll obey unconditionally.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll obey unconditionally. Happy?¡± Gwendolyn nodded in satisfaction. After introducing Sheralyn to the etiquette coach, she said, ¡°I have two more gifts for you.¡± William and Quinton, who were attentive and observant, took a few steps forward with their backs straight to each bring a box to Sheralyn. Puzzlement was written all over Sheralyn¡¯s face. Standing up, Gwendolyn opened the first box. ¡°This is a handbook on etiquette in conversation. I will give you a week to memorize the entire book, and you must make sure this doesn¡¯t affect the coach¡¯s lessons. I will test what you¡¯ve learned after that.¡± Sheralyn looked at the book that was as thick as her little finger, and her eyes widened in shock. ¡°You want me to memorize such a thick book in seven days? Are you a demon?¡± Ignoring her, Gwendolyn proceeded to open the second box. Inside it sat a high-quality red sandalwood ruler that was hard in texture and had a nice color. ¡°If you can¡¯t memorize the book, this will help you remember. I actually don¡¯t like getting physical when ites to education, but you¡¯re too unruly. I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be obedient if I don¡¯t line up a harsh punishment. Thus, this ruler will help correct you of any mistakes you make from now on.¡± Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Shocked, Sheralyn nced between Gwendolyn and the ruler before she backed away reflexively. ¡°You b*tch! You¡¯re clearly using this opportunity to mess with me! I know you don¡¯t actually want to hand the Wright residence and Wright Construction Group back to us! I won¡¯t let that happen!¡± With a cold expression, Gwendolyn fiddled with the ruler. ¡°You were the one who told me you¡¯ll obey my orders unconditionally, so you don¡¯t get a say in what happens now.¡± Just as she finished her sentence, Elven and Ezra swiftly grabbed Sheralyn¡¯s shoulders. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Fear swirled in Sheralyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re trying to scare me, aren¡¯t you? You think I¡¯m afraid of you! Well, too bad because I¡¯ll never submit to a b*tch like you, even if I die!¡± Gwendolyn stepped closer to her with the ruler. ¡°Does it please you so much to call me a b*tch? You know, you don¡¯t sound like the daughter of an affluent family at all. I guess I¡¯ll have to teach you a lesson today.¡± ¡°What are you going to do? Are you going to hit me? Try touching me, b*tch!¡± With a sneer, Gwendolyn shook her head. She¡¯s still an idiot who doesn¡¯t understand the situation. She¡¯s only pouring more fuel into my burning rage the more she curses at me. It¡¯s fine, though, since I¡¯ve got an opportunity to take her down a peg right now. ¡°How many swear words have you uttered since you entered the living room?¡± That question dumbfounded Sheralyn. Huh? How would I know how many times I¡¯ve cussed? I just did it whenever I felt like it. Elven counted in his mind before answering, ¡°Five, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Turning the ruler around, Gwendolyn stated, ¡°I¡¯ll hit you twice for every swear word, so you¡¯ll be receiving ten whacks on your hand.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to hit me! I¡¯ve been doted on since I was a kid, so much so my parents can¡¯t even bear to touch me! Who do you think you are?¡± howled Sherlyn as she struggled wildly to break free. She was terrified of the pain that awaited her. ¡°Save me, Mom! She¡¯s going to beat me to death! Mom!¡± While Frida was heartbroken, she ignored her daughter¡¯s pleas. She believed the lesson could change Sheralyn¡¯s spoiled personality, so she turned her sight away. Sheralyn watched her wrists be forcefully restricted by the bodyguards so that she couldn¡¯t move her arms. Then, Gwendolyn grabbed Sheralyn¡¯s fingertips, prying thetter¡¯s fingers open to reveal her palm. Just as Sheralyn was about to swear again, Gwendolyn red at her coldly. ¡°This is only ten hits. If you can¡¯t control your mouth and curse one more time, I¡¯ll p it with a ruler next time instead. Do you want to give it a try?¡± When enraged, Gwendolyn was capable of doing anything. My face will be ruined if she hits my mouth with a ruler! Sheralyn felt a chill running down her spine as she gulped fearfully. Biting her lip, she kept quiet. Seeing that Sheralyn had behaved herself, Gwendolyn promptly pped the former¡¯s palm with the ruler. ¡°Ouch! It hurts! Don¡¯t hit me anymore! Save me, Mom! She¡¯s going to kill me!¡± Sheralyn trembled in pain. Tears poured from her eyes as she squealed like a pig being ughtered. Gwendolyn had whacked Sheralyn¡¯s hand with all her might. Because she was also trained in martial arts, the impact she caused was so severe that Sheralyn¡¯s palm swelled immediately. With an icy expression, she mercilessly hit Sheralyn four more times in a row. Sheralyn wailed at the top of her lungs as her arms trembled in pain. Even though her left palm only received five hits, her fair, tender hand had already turned purple. Frida also wept as she listened to her daughter¡¯s torment. Several times, she was tempted to stop Gwendolyn, but she held back her urge. Ultimately, she buried herself in the sofa and pretended to be deaf. Gwendolyn was ruthless as she immediately grabbed Sheralyn¡¯s right hand and smacked it five times with the ruler. Once the punishment was over, Elven and Ezra released Sheralyn. It was Sheralyn¡¯s first time experiencing such torture, so her legs were still shaking. She couldn¡¯t even stand straight when she was let go and copsed to the ground. Reflexively, she touched the ground with her hands. The pain was so excruciating that she almost passed out. As she continued to whimper, Frida approached her and examined her palms. Gwendolynid a box of anti-inmmatory cream on the table with a grave expression. ¡°You better commit the rules to memory. I¡¯m very strict, you know. I¡¯ll return seven dayster to see if you¡¯ve memorized the book. If you still haven¡¯t yielded, feel free to provoke me again.¡± In response, Sheralyn burrowed into Frida¡¯s embrace. There was nothing she could do to Gwendolyn except cry. As she stared at Gwendolyn with fear, she thought, This woman¡¯s too ruthless! She¡¯s no different from a demon! Seeing that Sheralyn no longer had the nerve to curse at her, Gwendolyn felt her rage subsiding. That was satisfying. I knew teaching her a lesson through actions instead of words was better. The education method that has been passed down for millennia is indeed useful. After that, she requested the bodyguards to ce the sandalwood ruler on Sheralyn¡¯s dressing table. That way, the ruler would be the first thing Sheralyn would see upon waking up every day. Once the rules were set, Gwendolyn asked Frida to sign the two property transfer agreements. Without ncing at Sheralyn again, she left. Over the next seven days, Sheralyn memorized the entire book. She was genuinely frightened by the punishment she received. During Gwendolyn¡¯s test, Sheralyn made several mistakes but sessfullymitted the entire book to memory. While Gwendolyn didn¡¯t intentionally trouble her, she did have strict standards. Thus, Sheralyn was punished with ten smacks to the palms again. Sheralyn was feeling equally furious and miserable. However, there was nothing she could do to Gwendolyn. As she held her swollen, painful hands, she sobbed. ¡°You¡¯re a cold-blooded animal who only knows how to bully me, Gwendolyn! I hate you¡­¡± In response, Gwendolyn grinned while watching her cry. ¡°Not bad. You¡¯ve improved. The words you hurled at me are a lot more civilized than before. However, I bet you cursed at me lots in secret during this period.¡± Silently, Sheralyn red at her. Obviously! I swear at her every time I visit the restroom and every night before I sleep! Upon peering at Sheralyn¡¯s expression, Gwendolyn found her answer. In response, she summoned all the housekeepers in the vi. ¡°From today onward, everyone is allowed to monitor Sheralyn. Whenever you report an instance of her swearing to me, you¡¯ll be rewarded with a thousand bucks.¡± The housekeepers¡¯ eyes glinted. From that day onward, Sheralyn was followed everywhere she went in the residence. Even when she was taking etiquette sses, plenty of housekeepers would eavesdrop on her. Initially, Sheralyn was furious. She couldn¡¯t resist swearing at the housekeepers a couple of times. As a result, plenty of housekeepers happily received their rewards. Naturally, as per the rules, Gwendolyn pped Sheralyn twice for every curse word uttered. Consequently, Sheralyn¡¯s palms swelled immensely. Half a monthter, she had forgotten her hands¡¯ original color. During meals, she couldn¡¯t even hold a utensil properly. Frida couldn¡¯t help but feed her daughter twice in secret. However, Gwendolyn forbade Frida from doing it again when she discovered the act. Gwendolyn vehemently refused to condone Sheralyn¡¯s spoiled princess behavior. While Sheralyn felt aggrieved, she was thoroughly frightened by Gwendolyn. Therefore, she wouldn¡¯t speak before thinking about what to say anymore. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. As time passed by, the number of whacks she received decreased. On the fourth of December, Faike received its first snowfall. The entire city was engulfed in thick snow. Gwendolyn wore a white fur coat with a ckced dress, appearing elegant yet solemn. After picking a few beautiful flowers, she visited Maverick in the cemetery. His grave was covered in snow, so she patiently removed it. Then, with a gentle look, she uttered, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Faike¡¯s first snowfall to be exactly one month from the day you were buried, Mavy. It¡¯s been very cold these two days. I wonder if you¡¯re feeling the same on the other side. If only I can deliver a coat to you.¡± Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Sitting next to Maverick¡¯s grave, Gwendolynid her head on the tombstone as though she was leaning into his embrace. ¡°Sheralyn has be much more well-behaved during this period. I¡¯ve let her join Wright Construction Group so she can start learning. While you gave me thepany shares, I don¡¯t have the energy to helm it anymore. Once she can handle thepany matters alone, I¡¯ll slowly step away. It¡¯s been so boring without you flirting with me every day, Mavy. Recently, I¡¯ve been dreaming about you. In those dreams, you tell me you aren¡¯t dead yet, that you purposefully lied to me to see if I truly love you. If only that were true,¡± she muttered softly as tears streamed down her cheeks.Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around the tombstone as though she was hugging his waist and sleeping in his embrace. Quinton and William were asked by Gwendolyn to wait at a gazebo fifty meters away from the cemetery. Therefore, they couldn¡¯t see what was happening inside. They had waited for an hour, but she still hadn¡¯t left. Unable to stifle his worry any longer, William bolted into the cemetery. More than a dozen stepster, he was taken aback by the scene before him. Gwendolyn was lying against the tombstone, looking as if she had fallen asleep. As she didn¡¯t have an umbre, her head and body were covered in snow, making her look tragically beautiful instead of wretched. William was aware of how Gwendolyn had always loved Maverick, even if she insisted otherwise. Unfortunately, Maverick was dead, so it didn¡¯t matter what she said anymore. Nico was gone, too. Before he left, he bade the bodyguards goodbye, saying he likely wouldn¡¯t return to Faike again. Sighing, William reminisced about the time they spent together ying poker. Upon pushing his thoughts aside, he trotted toward Gwendolyn with an umbre and wiped the unmelted snowkes on her body away. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Ms. Harris. We should return home. Don¡¯t you need to check up on Ms. Wright¡¯s work progresster in the afternoon?¡± Wordlessly, Gwendolyn opened her eyes and left the cemetery. Upon returning to Wright Construction Group, she saw Sheralyn already waiting in her office. Before sitting in her chair, Gwendolyn swiftly removed her fur coat as the heater in the office was turned on. Sheralyn fearfully delivered the business proposal she had spent all night writing to Gwendolyn. Expressionlessly, Gwendolyn epted the proposal and read through it carefully. asionally, she¡¯d circle something on the paper with a red pen while cruelly judging Sheralyn¡¯s work. ¡°This is wrong. This sentence is too confusing and incoherent. I mentioned before these proposals must be written concisely and be easily understood. There are a few wrong words here and here. Whenever you finish writing, you need to check it multiple times instead of being cursory¡­¡± The more Sheralyn listened to Gwendolyn¡¯s critique, the more awful she felt. Pouting, she stretched her opened palms toward Gwendolyn. ¡°I get it. I¡¯ll be careful next time. Go ahead and hit me.¡± In response, Gwendolyn stared at her with great intrigue. Sheralyn lowered her head, staring at her toes, and gulped anxiously. When she heard Gwendolyn opening a drawer, her body stiffened, and she closed her eyes, waiting for the immense pain to arrive. However, it never did. Puzzled, she opened her eyes and saw Gwendolyn had ced a chocte candy in her hand. ¡°This is your first time proactively epting your punishment, so instead of hitting you, I¡¯ve decided to reward your good behavior today,¡± exined Gwendolyn. ¡°Really?¡± Sheralyn was overjoyed to hear she wouldn¡¯t be punished. As she peered at Gwendolyn, she found thetter less irritating. ¡°Thank you, Gwendolyn! You¡¯re the best! I¡¯ll be sure to learn well!¡± ¡°Mhm, you may leave now.¡± ted, Sheralyn left with the candy. As Gwendolyn stared at Sheralyn¡¯s back, she shook her head resignedly. Honestly, I have no experience I can draw from to educate Sheralyn, considering I¡¯ve never raised a child before and am the youngest in my family. Although, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ve never seen how others have done it. I think this is how Treyton guided me in the past. Not too strict, but not too lenient as well. Punish first, then reward. It¡¯s best to strike a perfect bnce between being stern and kind. Two monthster, Sheralyn had made significant progress. She didn¡¯t learn that quickly, but she was focused. When Gwendolyn checked Sheralyn¡¯s business proposal, she couldn¡¯t spot any mistakes. Contented, Gwendolyn suggested, ¡°Well done. Next time, I¡¯ll hand a project to you. Try doing it alone.¡± Sheralyn nodded. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll do my best, but¡­¡± Aplicated expression set on her countenance. ¡°But?¡± ¡°Can I not work overtime today? I¡¯m going out for dinnerter tonight¡­¡± Sheralyn¡¯s voice grew quieter as she spoke. Additionally, her earlobes were turning red. ¡°Oh? A date?¡± It was then Gwendolyn noticed how well-dressed Sheralyn was. With a knowing grin, she asked, ¡°Is it a man?¡± Biting her lip shyly, Sheralyn nodded. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What kind of person is he? What is his family background? You still remember the promise you made me, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s from a normal family, and he treats me well. In fact, he helped me a lot at work. Besides¡­ he¡¯s quite handsome. We¡¯ve just started dating, though, so it¡¯s difficult to tell how it¡¯ll go.¡± Embarrassed, Sheralyn changed the topic. ¡°A-Anyway, I need to return to my desk to pack my things, Gwendolyn. I¡¯ll see youter.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and watched her leave. So, he helped her at work, huh? That suggests he¡¯s an employee of Wright Construction Group. When her train of thought ended, she asked Yulia to investigate Sheralyn¡¯s love interest. In the end, she discovered the man Sheralyn was dating was Ajax White, an employee from the same department. Gwendolyn was shocked because Ajax and Yulia were people she transferred from Shadow Bell to Wright Construction Group. Hence, they were people she absolutely trusted. The next day, Gwendolyn summoned Ajax to her office in secret. ¡°How wasst night¡¯s date?¡± Embarrassed, Ajax scratched the back of his head. ¡°You know about it already?¡± ¡°Do you really like Sheralyn?¡± He nodded seriously. ¡°I heard about your conflicts with her in the past. Initially, when she joined Wright Construction Group, I nned to teach her a lesson for you. However, after spending time with her, I realized she¡¯s only slightly arrogant. She acts audaciously only because of her spoiled upbringing. Sometimes, she¡¯s quite cute. I genuinely like her.¡± ¡°All right, then. You can leave now.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t n to interfere much with Sheralyn¡¯s rtionship since it seemed stable. Three monthster, Sheralyn and Ajax held a big wedding at a church in Faike. On the same day, Gwendolyn handed the Wright Construction Group shares in her possession to Sheralyn. Before the ceremony began, various business partners and CEOs gathered around the giant cake on thewn, chatting and drinking. Gwendolyn never enjoyed those events, so she sat quietly at a small table with Joaquin. The Mossey family was invited too. When Jerome and Madelyn arrived, they chatted with Gwendolyn, as it had been a while since they met. Gwendolyn was sharp enough to notice Inez wasn¡¯t present. With a resigned smile, Madelyn exined, ¡°She¡¯s a stubborn child. No matter how much her father and I persuaded her, she went straight to Lightspring the moment her leg recovered.¡± Lightspring? Gwendolyn smiled wordlessly. It seems Inez is sincerely determined to be my sister-in- law. I guess my brother will have to deal with a clingy love interest. Still, I¡¯m curious to see if Inez has what it takes to pursue him. Madelyn shot a nce at Jerome. In response, Jerome came up with an excuse to chat with Joaquin at the side. Once the men were gone, Madelyn approached Gwendolyn and asked in a small voice, ¡°I heard you handed the forty percent shares in your possession to Sheralyn. Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll try to hurt you again after how they treated you in the past?¡± Gwendolyn grinned casually. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I¡¯m worried about. I can take it back whenever I want.¡± Besides, I have Yulia and Ajax keeping an eye on Sheralyn in Wright Construction Group. Even if Frida and Sheralyn have been putting up an act in front of me over the past few months, they still can¡¯t defeat me. It¡¯s such a shame Maverick passed away. Madelyn sighed gently and asked, ¡°Now that you¡¯re not actively in charge of Wright Construction Group and Angle, what will you do? Be an idle boss and do whatever catches your fancy?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Once I¡¯m done with the matters here, I¡¯m leaving Faike.¡± Her words surprised Madelyn. ¡°Leaving? Where are you going?¡± Gwendolyn stared straight at her. ¡°Salinsburgh.¡± Chapter 213 Chapter 213 While Madelyn was slightly startled by the news, she knew Gwendolyn was determined, so she didn¡¯t try to persuade thetter. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad idea to go somewhere else. Maybe it¡¯ll help lift your mood. How long are you nning to stay there? Will you return?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Gwendolyn contemted momentarily and replied, ¡°Not sure, but I¡¯ll probablye back.¡± Once I¡¯ve ferreted out all those in the Harris family who want to harm me, I¡¯ll likely return and live in Faike. After all, I¡¯ll be able to stay a little closer to Maverick that way.They chatted a little longer until it was time for the wedding ceremony to begin. Sheralyn slowly stepped onto the red carpet in the church with a high-end white wedding gown and the most beautiful makeup. Ajax, standing next to the priest, gazed at her. They met each other¡¯s eyes with a look of great affection. In the presence of a priest, the couplepleted the most important ceremony of their lives. Frida was so touched that she sobbed. Even Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but tear up a little. Back then, when I married Maverick, there was no wedding. No one witnessed our union. After we registered our marriage, Old Mr. Wright forced him to take a wedding photo with me. I wonder if I¡¯ll ever have the chance to wear a wedding gown again. The day after the wedding, Gwendolyn picked a few beautiful white roses and visited Maverick¡¯s grave to say goodbye. As always, she cleaned his grave first, removing the fallen leaves and dust. Her finger traced over the picture on the tombstone as she etched his face into her mind. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now, Mavy. There¡¯s no telling when I¡¯ll visit you next. I¡¯m almost done with the matters in Faike. Since the people who harmed me have learned I¡¯m here, I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll continue to trouble me as long as I breathe. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯d rather return to Salinsburgh and deal with them once and for all.¡± A violent look shed past her eyes. Then, she softlyid her head on Maverick¡¯s tombstone. ¡°I really miss you. I feel like tearing up every time I visit you. However, because you said you hope I¡¯ll live a happy and carefree life as the princess of the Harris family, I¡¯ve held them back every time. I¡¯ve been dreaming less and less about you recently. I don¡¯t know why, but don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll always be the only one in my heart. ¡° Then she fell asleep again. After an unknown amount of time passed, she woke up when Treyton arrived to pick her up. ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and stood with his help. As he held her shoulders affectionately, they left the cemetery. The same day, an explosive headline was spread throughout the inte. Not only was the Harris family¡¯s youngest daughter confirmed to be alive, but she also publicly announced her return to the family. Additionally, she imed she was kidnapped back then. Gwendolyn appeared on Angle¡¯s livestream with a proper gown and makeup. Upon greeting the viewers with a smile, she summarized the incident from six years ago, when the Harris family abruptly announced her death. Meanwhile, screams could be heard inside the Wright residence, the Wright mansion, and the Mossey residence. Sheralyn zoomed upstairs and knocked on her mother¡¯s door. ¡°Mom! Gwendolyn is actually from the Harris family! Thank goodness I listened to her! Otherwise, the Harris family would¡¯ve killed me! I feel so lucky to have someone of her caliber be my sister-inw!¡± Downstairs, Ajax coughed and reminded, ¡°Ex-sister-inw, Dear.¡± Sheralyn grimaced with regret. If I had known she was the daughter of the Harris family, I wouldn¡¯t have bullied her, no matter what! In fact, I would¡¯ve buttered her up! Frida heard everything in the room, but she didn¡¯t react to it. Instead, she was sitting on the balcony and staring at the scenery, distraught. The tears on her countenance were still wet as she brushed her fingers over a picture frame. The picture depicted her hugging a baby Maverick. During the funeral, she read Maverick¡¯s letter. It told her he wasn¡¯t rted to the Wright family by blood and also Gwendolyn¡¯s true identity. Furthermore, he advised her to maintain a good rtionship with Gwendolyn to protect the Wright family. Before, all she knew was that her son was sent to Salinsburgh by Den when he was a child. Then, when Maverick was ten years old, he was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to be trained. Once he was fifteen years old, he returned to Faike. She never once suspected her son was a fake and had genuinely loved him. Even though Maverick wasn¡¯t Frida¡¯s son, he still fulfilled his filial responsibilities to her, which she was grateful for. That was why she was still devastated by his death. Concurrently, in the Wright mansion, Dexter pped his thigh with remorse. No wonder I kept losing to that woman and couldn¡¯t investigate her identity! It turns out she¡¯s the Harris family¡¯s daughter! At the Mossey residence, Madelyn and Jerome felt relieved upon learning the news. Thank goodness we struck up a friendly rtionship with Gwendolyn and that Inez didn¡¯t burn bridges with her over Kieran¡¯s matter. Otherwise, we¡¯d end up in the same situation as the Wright family in the past and the Lane family in the present. Two dayster, Gwendolyn was on a ne back to Salinsburgh. She had booked the entire first-ss cabin, no longer hiding her identity. As she twirled the winess in her hand elegantly, she stared out the window, watching Faike getting further away. She felt her heart clenching when she thought about Maverick. Elven and the other bodyguards were sitting behind her. Some yed mobile games while others conversed with their friends on the phone. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s the hottest topic in Salinsburgh over the past six months?¡± asked Quinton. Gwendolyn shook her head. I¡¯ve never enjoyed surfing the inte. At most, I¡¯ll check up on how Angle¡¯s artists have been doing recently. ¡°Do you know, the Jenson family has done some incredible things during that time. They have surpassed the Harris family and be the richest family in Salinsburgh.¡± ¡°I see,¡± uttered Gwendolyn expressionlessly. It seems my old pops isn¡¯t doing so well, considering how quickly the family was dethroned from the top spot so quickly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Since I¡¯ve returned, I¡¯ll help my father regain that spot.¡± Quinton gave her a thumbs up in admiration. ¡°ording to the news, the eldest grandson of Old Mr. Jenson suddenly returned from the army half a year ago. In a single month, he wrestled back control of the Jenson family and became its head. Under his leadership, Jenson Group rose at a meteoric rate. Now, he¡¯s the most popr figure in Salinsburgh¡ªMr. Cedrick Jenson, the man who stands atop the pyramid and garners respect from everyone.¡± Gwendolyn ceased her hand movements as her expression changed. ¡°What did you say his name was?¡± ¡°Cedrick Jenson.¡± Quinton was curious about her reaction as it was the first time she had shown any interest in other men in six months. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s impressive, too?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent as she emptied her ss. Why did I react like that? Their names sound simr, but that¡¯s all. Although¡­ ¡°The Harris and Jenson families aren¡¯t on bad terms, so why have I not heard of this Cedrick before?¡± ¡°Apparently, his parents died in an ident when he was young. In order to protect him, Old Mr. Jenson sent him to be trained in the army,¡± answered Quinton. She sighed slightly. His parents are dead? It must be quite difficult for him to survive in the Jenson family alone. I pity him. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Upon ending her train of thought, Gwendolyn unknowingly emptied a whole bottle of red wine. When Elven saw she was about to open another, he stopped her. ¡°The doctor said you can only drink a little wine after you hurt your stomachst time by drinking too much, Ms. Harris.¡±¡°It¡¯s only two bottles. Besides, I don¡¯t get drunk that easily,¡± she replied. Sighing, he reminded, ¡°Did you forget you can¡¯t hold your liquor as well as you could ever since that incident, Ms. Harris?¡± After being stopped twice, Gwendolyn felt frustrated. Abruptly, she shoved the wine bottle and ss away. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t drink anymore! Take these away!¡± Folding her arms grumpily, she closed her eyes to nap. Elven cated her with a smile and shot a meaningful nce at his colleagues. Soon, Gwendolyn¡¯s table was cleared. By the time they arrived in Salinsburgh, it was already night. Just as Gwendolyn wondered if she should return to the Harris residence, she received a call from Jasmine. Jasmine was overjoyed to learn the announcement of Gwendolyn¡¯s background and arrival in Salinsburgh. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Gwendolyn! How about we spend some time in The Honey Bee together? Many of your old friends are eager to meet you! Did you miss them?¡± It has been years since I met my childhood friends, and I don¡¯t want to return to the Harris residence anyway, so why not? ¡°Sure,¡± answered Gwendolyn. She only brought Elven with her. As for Ezra and William, she requested them to book a hotel room as that was where they would be staying for the night. Meanwhile, Quinton was sent off to tell Marcus of their arrival. By the time Gwendolyn reached the bar, the others had already arrived. More than a dozen people were gathered there, including Jasmine, Sherman, Triss Jenson, David Jenson¡¯s daughter, and her old friends. The instant Gwendolyn opened the door to the private room, Jasmine and Triss used the confetti poppers from where they were hiding behind the door. In the blink of an eye, small colorful paper filled the room. ¡°Wee back!¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but smile in response to seeing that. ¡°Thank you.¡± Jasmine promptly dragged Gwendolyn to the couch by thetter¡¯s arm. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to thank us. You have no idea how sad we were when we heard your death. It¡¯s fantastic that you¡¯re finally willing to reveal your identity!¡± Gwendolyn had a great time with her friends as they drank. Jasmine and Triss upied the seats next to her. Due to their younger age, she considered them her little sisters and had a good rtionship with them. Upon recalling the news Quinton shared with her on the ne, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°I heard your family¡¯s eldest grandson took control of the family. Is he giving you all a hard time?¡± ¡°Nope. My dad¡¯s never been interested in stuff like power. Back then, only Uncle Yaelpeted ruthlessly with Cedrick. That¡¯s why Cedrick treats our family pretty well even after he took control,¡± replied Triss. Gwendolyn patted her head with a smile of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good, then.¡± ¡°Cedrick¡¯s quite pitiful, though. He was covered in blood and wounds when he returned from his mission half a year ago. Apparently, he vomited blood every day. It scared Grandpa to death. However, he¡¯s pretty amazing. I didn¡¯t expect him to snatch control of the family back from Uncle Yael. He has my respect.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s response was silence. Even though I¡¯ve just arrived at Salinsburgh, I¡¯ve heard two people praising this Cedrick already. I admit, I¡¯m curious to see what kind of person he is. Just as Gwendolyn was deep in thought, Jasmine sneakily switched ces with someone. When Gwendolyn turned to her side, she saw Sherman sitting beside her with a winess, looking as elegant and dashing as ever. He raised his ss at her. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since west met, but you¡¯re still as pretty as ever, Gwendolyn.¡± Smiling, Gwendolyn clinked her ss with his. ¡°When did your family find you and bring you back to Salinsburgh from overseas, Mr. Ferguson?¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Sherman¡¯s expression stiffened for two reasons. First, it was because she was treating him far more distantly than before. Secondly, he was still angry about the matter. That d*mn Maverick! I still can¡¯t believe he yed a dirty trick on me! After he tossed me to the cargo ship, I was brought to a small, illiterate, and deste country. It took my family ages to locate me! Although, he¡¯s dead now, so I have a better chance at pursuing Gwendolyn. When his train of thought ended there, his expression returned to normal. ¡°It¡¯s been months since I¡¯ve returned. Initially, I nned to search for you in Faike. However, there was a situation at the Gwendolyn¡¯s smile froze as she tightened her grip around the ss. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I touch a nerve?¡± Staring at her apologetically, Sherman tried to hold her hand tofort her. However, Gwendolyn silently stood, avoiding his touch, and poured herself another ss of wine. Sherman couldn¡¯t help but feel a little awkward. Still, he peered at her affectionately. ¡°Since that burden is no longer weighing you down, once you have had enough fun with your single life, let me take care of you, okay?¡± That spurred Gwendolyn to furrow her eyebrows. Is he calling Maverick a burden? ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate for you to bring up this topic at a gathering, Mr. Ferguson,¡± she warned with a frigid look. After all, her friends were around, and she didn¡¯t want to sour the mood. ¡°Gwendolyn¡­¡± The look in Sherman¡¯s eyes darkened slightly as he winced a little. ¡°The past can never return. You need to start a new life eventually.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t even nce at him as she gulped down tworge sses of red wine consecutively. Then, she turned to Triss. ¡°I need to visit the restroom. The rest of you should keep drinking.¡± Her cheeks were reddened, and her mind was in a daze as she left the room. It seems Quinton was right about me on the ne. I shouldn¡¯t have drunk that much, considering I¡¯m feeling tipsy already. She walked unsteadily and slowly as Sherman¡¯s words repeated in her mind, upsetting her. Everyone around me keeps telling me to ept Maverick¡¯s death and move on. Did they think I didn¡¯t try to start a new life? I still can¡¯t forget what happened after six months. Whenever I recall those things, I still feel guilty and awful. After taking a deep breath, she attempted to stifle the emotions bubbling in her heart. Suddenly, she caught sight of a familiar, towering figure at her periphery. That person¡­ Gwendolyn held her breath and shook her head. Once her vision became clearer, she saw the figure vanishing around a corner. ¡°Maverick! Is that you?¡± Without dy, she chased after the figure. However, when she arrived at the corner, she saw no one in the corridor. Elven, who heard her shouting, rushed toward her and steadied the swaying woman. ¡°Are you drunk, Ms. Harris?¡± In response, Gwendolyn grabbed his arms very tightly, as though she was making sure he was really there. ¡°I¡¯m not drunk! I saw Maverick earlier! It must¡¯ve been him! I¡¯d never mistake his figure for someone else! He¡¯s definitely alive, Elven!¡± Hearing that, Elven was both shocked and bewildered. However, when he saw her determined expression, he still scanned through the faces of all the customers down the aisle after asking her to stay put. In the end, he returned to Gwendolyn with a sigh. ¡°I think you were mistaken, Ms. Harris.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head with reddened eyes and spat resolutely, ¡°No! It must¡¯ve been him! It must be! Lock down the entire bar and check every room in this building!¡± Chapter 215 Chapter 215 As much as Elven felt sympathy for her, he still had to drag her back to reality. ¡°Please return to your senses, Ms. Harris. Mr. Wright is gone. His ashes are buried in Faike¡¯s cemetery. You visited him countless times over the past six months. Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Gwendolyn froze while self-doubt settled on her countenance. ¡°Please stop torturing yourself, Ms. Harris. Mr. Wright¡¯s nevering back, so just let it go. Your eyes were just ying tricks on you!¡± While speaking, he resisted the urge to sob. He¡¯s right. Why would someone who¡¯s been dead for half a year show up here? I must¡¯ve gone mad¡­ Tears welled in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes as she clutched her heart. This hurts so much¡­ I feel like I¡¯m suffocating. Affected by her sorrow, Elven teared up too. ¡°You¡¯re drunk, Ms. Harris. Let¡¯s go. William and the others have booked hotel rooms for us. Let¡¯s return early to rest.¡± Gwendolyn slumped weakly like a deted balloon after getting her hopes up for nothing. After what happened, she was no longer in the mood to stay at the gathering. Thus, she took up Elven¡¯s suggestion and returned to the hotel. Just as they headed downstairs, Nico stepped out of another elevator and casually ambled into the VIP room furthest down the corridor. Upon arriving at her hotel room, Gwendolyn entered the bathroom and turned the water flow setting to max. The water was scalding, but she felt cold because her heart had gone numb. She hoped the shower would help her pull herself together as her tears joined the hot water. In her mind, she kept telling herself that Maverick had died for her and would never return. Standing outside Gwendolyn¡¯s room, William and Ezra were still wondering about the expression she had when she returned. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Ms. Harris¡¯ mood still stable when she attended the gathering? Why did she look like that when she came back? What happened?¡± Elven sighed. ¡°She got drunk and saw someone with a simr figure to Mr. Wright, which reminded her of her loss.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. The others sighed in unison upon hearing that. The next day, when Gwendolyn woke up, she had regained her senses. After setting her terrible mood from yesterday aside, she returned to the Harris residence. The ancestor of the Harris family had bought the entire Mount Tranquil, located on Salinsburgh¡¯s outskirts. Thus, the humongous Harris residence was surrounded by nature and had an incredible view of the area all year round. Gwendolyn¡¯s uncles, Gideon and Hector, lived in buildings located halfway up the mountain. Even so, she ignored them and drove straight to Marcus¡¯ residence at the top. Leif, the Harris family¡¯s butler, was already waiting for her at the vi entrance. Upon witnessing her arrival, he swiftly approached her vehicle and opened the door for her. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Ms. Gwendolyn. Mr. Marcus missed you. He¡¯s waiting for you in his study.¡± ¡°Okay. Thanks for your hard work, Leif,¡± replied Gwendolyn. Her words ttered him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Then he turned and noticed the bodyguards weren¡¯t carrying anything. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring any luggage with you, Ms. Gwendolyn?¡± She responded, ¡°I¡¯m only here to visit my father. I¡¯m not staying.¡± Too many awful people are living here. I doubt I¡¯ll be able to sleep at night. Just as she arrived at the door, she heard someone descending the stairs in high heels. It was Lori, wearing a limited-edition, skin-tight, yellow dress and delicate makeup. Every step she took was graceful. She seemed more like Gwendolyn¡¯s sister than her stepmother, as she was thirty years old and took great care of her skin. Gwendolyn peered at Lori coldly when thetter made eye contact with her. Secondster, she looked away and headed upstairs. Displeased, Lori furrowed her eyebrows and blocked Gwendolyn¡¯s path. ¡°You¡¯re not even going to greet me? It seems like you¡¯ve forgotten your manners in the years you weren¡¯t around, Ms. Harris. I should¡¯ve expected nothing less from someone who spent years in an orphanage.¡± Instead of being provoked, Gwendolyn grinned. ¡°You really think you¡¯re thedy of the house after staying here for a long time, huh? Do you really think you¡¯re worthy of my respect?¡± ring at Gwendolyn viciously, Lori gritted her teeth. ¡°Why not? I¡¯m technically your mother!¡± Gwendolyn tutted arrogantly. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel disgusted calling yourself my mother, even though you¡¯re only three years older than me?¡± Then, she whispered next to Lori¡¯s ear. ¡°You should cherish your current wealthy life. After all, I¡¯ll be inheriting all the Harris family¡¯s assets while you¡¯ll be getting kicked out.¡± ¡°You!¡± eximed Lori furiously. Even though it has been years, she¡¯s still as arrogant as before! I want to tear her mouth apart! Suddenly, a thought entered her mind, calming her down. She smiled smugly. ¡°I should congratte you. You see, Old Mr. Jenson paid us a visitst night, and your father has agreed to his marriage proposal. You¡¯re getting married again.¡± ¡°What?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°My father engaged me to someone? How can he do this without asking me about it?¡± Lori lifted her chin haughtily. ¡°You should ask him that yourself.¡± With a scowl, Gwendolyn bolted to the study instead of arguing with Lori. Lori was delighted to see that. I heard the eldest grandson of the Jenson family is a cruel man with a temper. Old Mr. Jenson tried forcing women to his bed, but they all left the room unconscious, carried out by others. Some of them even have injuries on their bodies. I bet he has a habit of torturing women. Additionally, his face is said to have been ruined on the battlefield, turning him hideous. Covering her mouth, she snickered. It¡¯ll be satisfying to see that little b*tch marry a man like that! In a jubnt mood, she strolled into the kitchen to see if her food was ready. Gwendolyn¡¯s rage built up during her short journey to the study. Before she could utter any questions, she saw the white-bearded, weathered-face Marcus in a wheelchair. When he saw her, tears of joy welled in his eyes. ¡°Come over here, Honey. Let me take a look at you. Did you get thinner?¡± Aplex range of emotions surged within Gwendolyn as she moved to squat next to his wheelchair. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your legs, Dad? I remember you doing fine before I left.¡± Marcus smiled. ¡°I¡¯m an old man now, Gwendolyn. It¡¯s normal for me to have issues with my body. I missed you every day. Now that you¡¯re back, can you stay in the Harris residence and keep me company?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s heart wrenched at his words while she massaged his legs. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay here, but not often. You know Lori and I don¡¯t get along with each other.¡± ¡°She¡¯s your stepmother.¡± ¡°She is not! If you bring it up again, I¡¯ll get angry!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Gazing at her lovingly, he touched her face with his wrinkled hand. He proceeded to ask her about how she had been doing. Both of them conversed harmoniously. Suddenly, Gwendolyn recalled the matter Lori mentioned. ¡°Earlier, that woman told me you engaged me to someone. Is that true?¡± Well, since she already knows about it¡­ Marcus answered, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. Last night, Old Mr. Jenson came asking about it, and I agreed to it. His eldest grandson, Cedrick Jenson, is a pretty good man. I like him. He¡­¡± Not a single praise Marcus had for Cedrick entered her ears. In fact, she fell into a deep thought. Cedrick! Why is it him again? Did I piss someone off? Why does his name keep showing up around me? I hate it! Chapter 216 Chapter 216 ¡°What era are we living in now? It¡¯s all about the freedom to fall in love and marry someone we love! How could you arrange my marriage without asking me?¡± Gwendolyn got up, feeling utterly infuriated. Marcus was at a loss for words. He tried reaching out to hold her arm, but she evaded his grasp.After withdrawing his hand, he stroked his beard and spoke in a subdued tone. ¡°Honey, we¡¯ve already agreed on the engagement. How about you meet Cedrick first before you decide anything? He¡¯s quite a nice guy, five years older than you, and caring and considerate. Even I, your picky father, approve of him. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll like him too.¡± ¡°Five years older? No way! He¡¯s too old. I don¡¯t like older men!¡± Gwendolyn was hellbent on her decision. She was not ready to enter a new rtionship, let alone be engaged to someone. Over my dead body! ¡°What do you mean he¡¯s too old? He¡¯s only twenty-eight years old! Your ex-husband was also five years older than you, wasn¡¯t he?¡± Marcus said. Gwendolyn choked. ¡°It¡¯s different! There¡¯s no room for discussion. By hook or by crook, you must call off the engagement!¡± Marcus sounded even more sheepish. ¡°I-I can¡¯t cancel it. We just finalized the details yesterday, and I agreed with Old Mr. Jenson to announce your engagement at your weing party three dayster.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Gwendolyn took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. ¡°I don¡¯t care what weing party you¡¯re organizing. You can¡¯t call off the engagement, can you? Then I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± She mmed the door and walked away. Watching her storm out in frustration, Marcus could only shake his head helplessly. She¡¯s bing more and more like her mother in terms of temperament. It¡¯s clear that she needs a man who can handle her! After leaving the study, Gwendolyn went straight to the garden. Elven and a few other bodyguards were waiting by the door. Despite her anger, she acknowledged that her father was ill and needed herpany. As a daughter, it was her responsibility to be there for him. Hence, she called a few bodyguards to get to the hotel and pack her belongings. She decided to move back to the vi temporarily. Standing at the doorway, she pondered for a while, considering how to handle the engagement matter. A momentter, she noticed Leif was standing near her. Gwendolyn called him over. ¡°Leif, do you know where the Jenson residence is?¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Gwendolyn. Who do you want to look for?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn emitted a murderous intent as she replied, ¡°Cedrick Jenson.¡± Upon noticing the grim expression on her face, Leif immediately jotted down the address on a paper and passed it to her. Gwendolyn followed the address and went to the residence. Logan, the experienced butler of the Jenson residence, happily weed her to the house as he was aware of her engagement to Cedrick. It was Gwendolyn¡¯s first time visiting the Jenson residence. The Jenson residence sprawled across a vast expanse ofnd. Unlike the Harris residence, which was nestled in the mountains, theirs seemed to sit on a wide in. All the vis were designed with a ssic and retro theme. With bamboo groves, water pavilions, artificial hills, and flowing streams, the atmosphere of a traditional family permeated the surroundings. Gwendolyn felt as if she had stepped into the residence of a wealthy magnate from ancient times. She could not help but find it charming. Guided by Logan, she meandered through the winding paths until they arrived at the entrance of Cedrick¡¯s private vi. After escorting her there, Logan took his leave. Gwendolyn sat on the sofa in the living room of Cedrick¡¯s vi, waiting patiently. After a while, a bodyguard came hurrying over and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Harris. Mr. Jenson is not avable to meet you at the moment as he¡¯s busy with his work.¡± She knitted her brows slightly. From the moment she arrived, none of the servants had offered her a cup of tea, and the bodyguard¡¯s words seemed to imply that they wanted her to leave. It seems this guy named Cedrick is not enthusiastic about the engagement either. Great! ¡°It¡¯s all right. I can wait since I¡¯m free the whole day,¡± she responded. ¡°But¡­¡± The bodyguard said awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid Mr. Jenson will be upied with work the whole day. Why don¡¯t youe another day?¡± Gwendolyn grew a bit displeased. ¡°Since I, Gwendolyn Harris, am already here, there¡¯s no reason for me to leave without meeting him directly.¡± She stood up and walked past the bodyguard, making her way toward the stairs. ¡°Ms. Harris, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate for you to behave so¡­¡± the bodyguard said. ¡°Since Old Mr. Jenson has finalized the engagement, I must discuss the details with my fianc¨¦. You have a problem with that?¡± Gwendolyn asked impassively. ¡°Nope¡­¡± ¡°Where is the study? Which floor?¡± ¡°The study is located upstairs on the right, the room furthest down the corridor,¡± the bodyguard replied. Gwendolyn ascended the stairs and located the study easily enough as a bodyguard was also standing by the door. After she walked over, the bodyguard stopped her from advancing. ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Jenson is busy at the moment. And you can¡¯t just walk into his study without permission.¡± Just when she was about to refute, a man opened the door of the study. She looked up and found the man to be decent-looking butcked a certain grace. Like the two security guards, the man was wearing a uniform. It was apparent he was not Cedrick. With a respectful shift to the side, he allowed Gwendolyn to catch a glimpse of what was inside the study. From her view, she could see ayer of amber bead curtains in the middle of the room, with an office desk and neatly arranged bookshelves behind it. The entire room had a dark tone and exuded a schrly charm. A man with a cold and imposing presence was sitting in an office chair, facing away from her. She could only catch a glimpse of the back of his head. Gwendolyn wanted to enter, but the bodyguard stood in her way. Considering the purpose of her visit to discuss the cancetion of the engagement and the fact that she was on their premises, Gwendolyn realized it would be inappropriate to push her way into the study. The man in the study cleared his throat before asking in a hoarse voice. ¡°What brings you here, Ms. Harris? What can I do for you?¡± His voice sounded awful. It was as if he had just swallowed shattered ss. When she was on her way to the Jenson residence, Gwendolyn had already looked up information about Cedrick. He had a reputation for being cruel and ruthless. Rumors circted about his unusual fetishes involving the abuse of women. Additionally, he bore a disfigured face that was remarkably unattractive. The rumors about Cedrick¡¯s alleged mistreatment of women did not concern her much. If she really did end up with him for the rest of her life and those rumors were indeed true, she could not help but wonder who would end up on the receiving end of the abuse. She could imagine his face just by hearing his voice. Herck of interest in the engagement had nothing to do with his appearance. It was simply because she had no knowledge or feelings for him at all. After organizing her thoughts, she instructed another security guard to bring her a chair. She then sat outside the room and initiated the discussion with him. ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯m just curious about how much you know of me, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick kept mum. He held a cup of coffee in his distinctively masculine palm, the sound of him stirring the spoon resonating crisply. Gwendolyn looked at the back of his head and spoke in a serious tone. ¡°Mr. Jenson, with your capabilities, I believe you must have investigated me and know that I¡¯ve been married and divorced. In other words, I¡¯m a woman with experience in that particr area, if you know what I mean.¡± ¡°And?¡± Cedrick took another sip of his coffee. His response confused Gwendolyn. Does that mean he doesn¡¯t care? Is he into married women? Argh, that¡¯s disgusting. She began making up a story. ¡°Mr. Jenson, you might have investigated me, but I¡¯m sure there¡¯s something my dad kept from you. When I was a child, I consulted a geomancer who told me I¡¯d always encounter difficulties in rtionships. It¡¯s an inherent curse that I¡¯m destined to have a husband who suffers because of me. You know my ex-husband, right? Well, he was actually a victim of my curse!¡± Cedrick, taken by surprise, choked on his coffee, coughing uncontrobly as the hot liquid spilled onto the brown carpet. The bodyguard beside him immediately handed him a piece of tissue. Noting his reaction, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°You¡¯re the only heir of Old Mr. Jensen¡¯s eldest son, and I don¡¯t want to bring you any misfortune. This engagement doesn¡¯t feel right for either of us. Why don¡¯t we try to convince the elders in our families and get them to call it off since we haven¡¯t announced it publicly?¡± Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Gwendolyn believed what she said was beyond reproachable and highly reasonable. She figured Cedrick, as a member of the wealthy and conservative Jenson family and the current head of the household, naturally ced great faith in such superstitions.Wearing a sincere look, she waited quietly for Cedrick¡¯s response. Cedrick, leaning back in his chair, wiped off the coffee stain on his lips, regaining his usual dignified poise. ¡°Ms. Harris, a priest once read my fortune as well. He told me I have a prosperous and resilient destiny which is particrly good at countering a jinxed destiny like yours. It seems we are a perfect match for one another.¡± Gwendolyn was momentarily rendered speechless. She continued smiling, but rage was actually boiling within her. While contemting whether she should utter the phrase ¡°To h*ll with you!¡± at him, she gritted her teeth and spoke with a sweet voice. ¡°What a coincidence!¡± Cedrick nodded slightly, but he put down the coffee, not daring to take another sip. Gwendolyn was reluctant to leave without aplishing her goal, so she made up a worse excuse. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m sure my father lied to you about something. During one intimate session with my ex- husband, I identally passed out and was admitted to the hospital. The doctor mentioned my health was poor and that I was infertile. I probably won¡¯t be able to carry any children in this lifetime. My ex- husband divorced me because he disdained my inability to conceive.¡± Cedrick, who was sitting with his back to her, discreetly took a deep breath. He felt relieved that he hadn¡¯t continued drinking the coffee and that he didn¡¯t have a heart condition. Otherwise, he might suffer a heart attack on the spot. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn kept up her pretense, adding in a regretful tone, ¡°As the head of the household, it¡¯s vital for you to ensure the continuity of your lineage, Mr. Jenson. I truly cannot contribute to the Jenson family in this respect. Therefore, we should annul this marriage. Otherwise, I would feel guilty for bing the Jenson family¡¯s undoing.¡± Not only is my destiny unfavorable, but I¡¯m also infertile, and that implies a discordant sex life. Having said so much, he must be, at the very least, discontented, right? Cedrick took some time to collect himself before replying hoarsely, ¡°I¡¯m not fond of children, so it¡¯s fine if you can¡¯t have children, Ms. Harris. I¡¯m also swamped with work most of the time, so if you aren¡¯t interested in engaging in intimate activities, we can abstain from doing it.¡± Gwendolyn was stumped. Seriously? He¡¯s able to endure all this? I¡¯m not the only woman who can marry into the Jenson family, so why is he going to such lengths to trouble me? She gnashed her teeth and asked as calmly as possible, ¡°It seems you¡¯re in favor of the marriage arrangement. So, did Old Mr. Jenson decide this marriage on his own, or were you interested in me from the beginning?¡± Cedrick responded, ¡°My grandfather made the decision, but I have no objections.¡± Oh? Aren¡¯t you an obedient grandson? Do you listen to everything your grandfather tells you? If he asks you to eat sh*t, will you do it too? Gwendolyn was seething with anger. She had tolerated him as much as she could, and she just couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. Cedrick deeply disgusted her. Her first impression of him was so negative that it couldn¡¯t get any worse. She didn¡¯t bother to waste another breath talking to him. Gwendolyn got to her feet, straightened out the wrinkles on her skirt, and adopted a firm attitude. ¡°Frankly, I already have someone I like, so I¡¯m very dissatisfied with this marriage arrangement. I believe you won¡¯t want to marry a woman who is not devoted to you. Sooner orter, I will call off this marriage. If you can fulfill my wish and support me in front of Old Mr. Jenson, I¡¯ll owe you a favor. That way, we can still be friends in the future. That¡¯s all I have to say. I¡¯m leaving.¡± She nced haughtily at the man leaning against the back of the chair and spun on her heels to leave with poise. Cedrick never turned around. Gwendolyn¡¯s statement about her having someone she liked stung him to the core. His long eyshes drooped slightly, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed as the color drained from his handsome face. Gwendolyn walked downstairs, staring straight ahead as she exited the courtyard of Cedrick¡¯s vi. When she arrived at the entrance, she caught sight of a figure dashing past her from the corner of her eyes, moving swiftly toward the back door. That looks like¡­ Nico? But why would Nico avoid greeting me if he saw me? He even sneaked away from the side. Gwendolyn found it strange and was baffled by what she had seen. She hadn¡¯t been drinking that day, so she couldn¡¯t have made mistakes likest night. That person was definitely Nico. After pondering briefly, she turned her head around to look at the vi. Before Nico left, she remembered him mentioning that he was going to serve his new superior. If her eyes weren¡¯t ying tricks on her earlier, she wondered if Cedrick was Nico¡¯s new superior. Is Cedrick also a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation? She recalled the rumor that the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation wore a mask and was hideous. Perhaps that may really be Cedrick. Nevertheless, all those spections didn¡¯t concern her. She was determined to call off the marriage anyway. Behind the thin ck curtain of the study in the vi, Cedrick quietly observed everything happening at the vi¡¯s entrance with his pensive, dark eyes. Gwendolyn¡¯s petite figure stood at the entrance, unknowingly looking up at the window of the study room and meeting his gaze. Nico dashed all the way upstairs. He nearly overshot when he arrived at the entrance of the study room. Panting heavily, he patted his chest, which was heaving due to shock. ¡°Boss, why did Ms. Harris suddenlye here? You should¡¯ve informed me in advance. I nearly ran into her when I entered just now! Fortunately, I was quick to stay out of sight.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t say a word. The atmosphere inside the room was heavy and somber. Nico approached him. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Gwendolyn said she has someone she likes.¡± His voice was soft, and the expression in his eyes was laced with agony. He had thought that nearly dying for her once would earn him a ce in her heart, but that seemed like a luxury now. Nico fell silent too. It has only been half a year, and she already likes someone new? Nico felt a pang of sympathy for his boss. He wanted to advise Cedrick to give up, but he was too familiar with thetter¡¯s personality. As a result, Nico could only console Cedrick, ¡°Boss, don¡¯t overthink. You¡¯re Cedrick, not Maverick. Regardless of whether she dislikes or loves you, you can just pursue her again, right? After all, you look different from before. Ms. Harris probably won¡¯t recognize you.¡± That night in the abandoned warehouse half a year ago, Maverick was burned in a fire. After resolving the internal strife within the Jenson family, he secretly went to Hawen for stic surgery. Although his face had recovered, he still looked quite simr to his previous appearance. Cedrick ignored Nico. It would be surprising if Gwendolyn didn¡¯t recognize me. She¡¯s so astute and will immediately notice something is off and feel suspicious as soon as we meet face to face. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. On her way back, Gwendolyn still dwelled on the engagement. Since Cedrick is unwilling to cooperate, this marriage probably can¡¯t be called off before the weing party three dayster. That d*mn bastard! The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. How could the position of the Harris family¡¯s wealthiest heir be taken by such a despicable man? This is so frustrating! Her fighting spirit was set aze. She immediately went to make arrangements for the establishment of Angle¡¯s branchpany to expand the business over here as soon as possible. Treyton dominated the entertainment industry. He was a powerful man who could dictate the fate of half of the entertainment industry. In that case, Gwendolyn aimed to be the woman who would control the other half of the entertainment industry. After a busy afternoon, she selected the site and began to arrange for people to renovate the building¡¯s interior. Elven suddenly called. ¡°Ms. Harris, the moment Mr. Hector learned about your return, he went to stir a ruckus in the Harris family¡¯s ancestral hall, using you of hurting him with sulphuric acid and demanding Mr. Marcus help him seek justice.¡± She had known all along that Hector would take the opportunity toin about her when she revealed her identity previously. However, she didn¡¯t expect him to be so impatient. Nheless, Gwendolyn thought his timing couldn¡¯t be better. Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Upon hanging up, she ryed the instructions for the building¡¯s decor and returned to the Harris residence. The woman parked her car by the hillside and took out the spare keys to Treyton¡¯s vi that he had given her prior.She went in and grabbed some things before heading to the ancestral hall leisurely. As soon as she reached the entrance, she could already hear the sounds of sobbing from Hector¡¯s wife, Nina Ross. ¡°Look, Marcus! You¡¯ve seen Hector¡¯s face now. This is all Gwendolyn¡¯s doing. You can¡¯t be partial toward her this time!¡± Nina and Hector¡¯s son, Luke, was just as livid. ¡°Gwendolyn¡¯s gone too far this time, Uncle Marcus. No matter what, my dad¡¯s still her uncle and someone older than her. She can¡¯t do this to him even if he¡¯s done something to upset her!¡± Amid all theints from Hector¡¯s family, Marcus sat in his wheelchair in silence, fiddling with the prayer beads in his hand. Leif stood next to him and sighed, looking as though he was withholding his words. Noticing that, Marcus asked, ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m here, so speak your mind.¡± Leif pondered briefly before stating, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wise to only listen to what Mr. Hector¡¯s family has to say, Mr. Marcus. If Mr. Hector is using Ms. Gwendolyn of such acts, then there should at least be some form of proof.¡± Lori was instantly enraged. ¡°Hubby, you know Gwendolyn¡¯s temper. She¡¯s always been selfish and arrogant, so it¡¯s really no surprise if she did this! Why would we need proof?¡± Marcus remained quiet, and no one could tell what was on his mind. Suddenly, Hector rose from his seat, walked toward the family altar, and knelt before it. ¡°I, Hector Harris, swear on our ancestors that Gwendolyn did harm me with acid,¡± he dered firmly. ¡°May the skies rumble and I be struck by lightning if I turn out to be lying!¡± As soon as he finished, a thunderous boom sounded from outside. Hector was so startled that he curled up into a ball on the floor, his legs trembling relentlessly. Nina and Luke were just as terrified, and the color drained from their faces. The atmosphere inside the room turned grim in an instant due to the thunder. Then, Gwendolyn¡¯sughter rang out from the entrance, piercing the eerie atmosphere and capturing everyone¡¯s attention. The woman pushed the door open with an orange-vored lollipop in her mouth. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re not being honest, Uncle Hector. Even the skies aren¡¯t buying your words,¡± she remarked with a smirk. Hector was infuriated. ¡°Gwendolyn! You made that noise, didn¡¯t you?¡± Gwendolyn dismissed him with a chuckle. She had merely gotten Ezra to re the sound of a thunderp over the speakers, but she certainly didn¡¯t expect Hector¡¯s family to jump in fright like that. ¡°You must¡¯ve done something wrong to be that scared of a little thunder, Uncle Hector.¡± ¡°You!¡± Hector turned around and red at her. ¡°Oh my!¡± Gwendolyn pretended to be rmed. ¡°What happened to your face? ¡®Idle and Lazy?¡¯ Yup, these words suit you indeed.¡± Hector and his family fumed at the insults hurled at them. The man jumped up and stared at her in fury. ¡°At least I had the courage to swear on our ancestors, Gwendolyn! Would you dare do the same to prove you didn¡¯t do this to my face?¡± Gwendolyn scowled. ¡°Why should I need to swear on our ancestors? You chose to do that. It doesn¡¯t mean I have to as well.¡± ¡°You¡¯re choosing not to because you¡¯re too afraid!¡± Luke chimed in. ¡°Are you trying to provoke me? Too bad it¡¯s not working.¡± The woman beamed while still enjoying her lollipop. As the head of the family, Marcus gazed at Gwendolyn tenderly, albeit still not uttering a word. No one among the crowd could read his thoughts, nor did they dare say anything¡ªexcept for Gwendolyn. ¡°You said I hurt you, Uncle Hector, but that¡¯s a baseless usation. You¡¯ll have toe up with evidence that I did it. I won¡¯t let your family and Lori pick on me like this.¡± Lori jumped in before Hector could respond. ¡°Look at how she just called me by my name, Hubby! She doesn¡¯t respect me at all! And when did I ever pick on her?¡± she whined, turning to Marcus. Marcus¡¯ head began to hurt. ¡°What does this have to do with you? Be quiet!¡± he chided. With that, Lori pouted and moved to stand behind him. Then, Marcus turned to Hector. ¡°Gwendolyn¡¯s right, Hector. If you¡¯re using her of this, you have to show us the proof.¡± ¡°Marcus, she knocked me out, abducted me, took me down to some unknown basement, and committed acts of violence against me there. Where am I supposed to find any evidence if she removed every trace of it after she was done?¡± With tears streaming down his face, he continued, ¡°You know me, Marcus. I¡¯ve always loved Gwendolyn. I¡¯m a softie who¡¯s never really had much ambition. Would I be pointing my finger at her if she didn¡¯t actually do this to me?¡± ¡°Of course you would,¡± Gwendolynmented before Marcus could. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve always wanted to kill me, Uncle Hector. You got Luke to threaten Charles to hurt me while I was still in Faike. Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Hector scoffed. ¡°Such baseless usations! You¡¯re doing the exact same thing you just used me of!¡± ¡°You must¡¯ve forgotten, Uncle Hector. I do have proof.¡± With a grin, the woman opened up her bag, took out a properly-filed document, and handed it to Marcus. Hector appeared nervous but said nothing. Luke lost his temper first. ¡°The only proof you have is Charles¡¯ verbal testimony! How is that enough?¡± Gwendolyn took the lollipop out of her mouth and pretended to look surprised. ¡°Oh? I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d already taken a look at the evidence I have.¡± Apart from those who knew what they had done, the rest of the audience began to grow suspicious as soon as they heard Gwendolyn¡¯s words. Luke tensed up for a split second before collecting himself right away. ¡°I work for the FBI, so of course I remember Charles getting locked up after stealing drugs from ab.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Oh?¡± Gwendolyn replied purposefully, the smile on her lips growing wider. ¡°Well, Luke, I guess you¡¯re about to be disappointed because Charles¡¯ verbal testimony isn¡¯t all that I have.¡± By now, Marcus had finished going through the entire document, and he hurled his coffee cup in Hector¡¯s direction in a fit of rage. The porcin cupnded next to thetter¡¯s foot, shattering into pieces with a loud, shrill noise. Lori and Nina screamed at the same time. ¡°Hector! Luke!¡± Marcus boomed. ¡°Marcus?¡± ¡°Have a look at this yourselves!¡± The head of the family tossed the documents on the ground next to Hector. Luke stepped forward and bent over to help pick up the document. The moment they nced at the evidence, their faces paled as they turned to Gwendolyn in shock. The woman appeared nonchnt. For the past six months, Asher had helped her gather every piece of evidence rted to Hector¡¯s family and left it at Treyton¡¯s vi. Hector hadn¡¯t expected Gwendolyn to collect all this evidence so quickly. It¡¯s no wonder she has the guts to act this way! That also exins why she decided toe back to Salinsburgh. The woman turned to Marcus. ¡°Dad, ording to the Harris family¡¯s rules, how should Uncle Hector and Luke be punished for hurting their own blood rtives over family inheritance?¡± she asked in an innocent tone. ¡°They should be kicked out of the household and sent to prison!¡± Marcus answered with a darkened gaze and raised voice. Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Hector and his family all panicked. ¡°I am your younger brother, Marcus. I have obeyed the rules for decades, and this is the only time I have made a mistake. You can¡¯t be so ruthless and evict my whole family!¡± Hector and his family knelt before Marcus and begged for mercy tearfully. Torn between his brother and his daughter, Marcus¡¯ expression turned grim as he looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°How shall I punish them, Honey?¡± ¡°Do whatever needs to be done ording to the rules,¡± Gwendolyn replied without hesitation. Nina stood up abruptly and red at Gwendolyn furiously. ¡°Gwendolyn! How can you be so ruthless? Aren¡¯t you standing unscathed here? Why are you so cold-blooded toward your family?¡± she yelled. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression became cold instantly. The reason she was unscathed now was that there was a man who suffered on her behalf. They deserve to die for hurting him! When Gwendolyn looked at Nina, her gaze turned icy. ¡°If I were the one caught harming a family member, would you have let me off?¡± Nina and Luke paused. After a brief nce at each other, they replied simultaneously, ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°You are the youngest daughter of the Harris family. How can we possibly bear to hurt you?¡± Nina added. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you wouldn¡¯t have made such a big fuss about the injuries on Uncle Hector¡¯s face today. Don¡¯t you feel disgusted by yourself when said that?¡± Gwendolyn had no interest in staying any longer. ncing at Marcus cautiously, she said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll let Dad handle this. I have no objections to what he decides in the end.¡± Gwendolyn left the ancestral hall of the Harris residence while pleas of mercy continued to echo behind her. She returned to the room that she just tidied, but she couldn¡¯t calm herself down even after a long time. She could still recall the vivid image of Maverick¡¯s burnt back drenched in blood. Gwendolyn hated that the culprits were her family members. Since she couldn¡¯t kill them, she would make sure that they suffer as a form of penance! Following a long sigh, she thought of what happened earlier today at the Jenson residence. At the thought of herself lying to Cedrick and shifting much of the me onto Maverick, she quickly sped her hands and repented sincerely. ¡°Mavy, please don¡¯t hate me for putting the me on you today. I only said those words to disgust Cedrick and force him to call off the engagement.¡± ¡°As soon as I expose every Harris who harmed me, I will return to Faike and live a life of celibacy for you. Okay?¡± When she finished her repentance, the housekeeper hade to get her twice. Gwendolyn took her time to get down the stairs. Upon reaching the dining room, she took her seat with an icy expression. She was about to taste the soup with a spoon when Lori, who was sitting opposite her, frowned at her in displease. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re indeed our family¡¯s most indulged little princess, making your elders wait for you to start dining. Have you forgotten all your manners in the past few years?¡± Marcus coughed. ¡°Stop it.¡± Lori scoffed and rolled her eyes in response. Gwendolyn had enough. With a loud tter, she threw the spoon back. ¡°Have you forgotten how you married my dad by crawling into his bed, Lori? Who are you to lecture me about manners?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough! Both of you, keep quiet! Just eat!¡± Marcus was stressed out. Gwendolyn turned to Marcus. ¡°You heard it just now. She provoked me first when all I did wase down and eat peacefully. If you can¡¯t shut her filthy mouth, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t stay here any longer.¡± Gwendolyn got up and was about to go upstairs when Marcus softened his tone. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Honey! Can you finish your food first? I promise I¡¯ll settle everything as soon as I can. Please don¡¯t think of moving out.¡± Marcus¡¯ words made Gwendolyn feel a little hesitant. However, Lori red at Marcus resentfully as she yelled, ¡°I¡¯m speechless! You spoiled Gwendolyn! The audacity of her to humiliate me with my past! Shouldn¡¯t I feel aggrieved?¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t stand Lori¡¯s hypocritical behavior. However, she shouldn¡¯t be the one to leave. After calling Elven and a few other bodyguards to the dining room, Gwendolyn nced at Lori opposite her as she said, ¡°Mrs. Harris is feeling aggrieved. I suppose she no longer has the appetite to eat. Do her a favor and send her upstairs to rest.¡± ¡°How dare you, Gwendolyn!¡± Lori mmed a fist on the table. ¡°Why not?¡± Lori felt defeated when facing Gwendolyn¡¯s sharp gaze. She had no choice but to turn to Marcus. ¡°Say something, Hubby! Are you going to watch as your daughter bullies me? I don¡¯t care! You can only choose one of us to stay for dinner. It¡¯s either me or her!¡± Lori cried. Marcus was torn between them. Frustrated, he kept sighing. Upon seeing his wrinkled and weathered face, Gwendolyn felt bad for him. She realized that he had aged significantly after she went away for a few years. As his daughter, she didn¡¯t want to cause him any distress. However, it was truly difficult for her to live with Lori peacefully. ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t feel like eating.¡± Gwendolyn got up, straightened her clothes, and turned to leave. However, instead of heading upstairs, she walked toward the entrance of the vi. ¡°Honey, it¡¯s already veryte. Where are you going?¡± Marcus called out from behind. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Gwendolyn acted as if she couldn¡¯t hear him and left the vi without looking back. Marcus was guilty because his precious daughter walked away in anger. However, Lori couldn¡¯t care less about it. ¡°She¡¯s a grown-up, I doubt she will get into trouble. You should stop spoiling her. Let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°You! I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± Marcus was angry at Lori but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold her. After a few more bites, he went upstairs because he lost his appetite. Lori didn¡¯t care because she hadn¡¯t finished eating yet. As it was Gwendolyn¡¯s first day back home, Marcus specially instructed the chef to prepare ten exquisite dishes for dinner. Lori was still beaming with the satisfaction of winning against Gwendolyn. Feeling proud of herself, she tasted every dish that was initially prepared for Gwendolyn. ¡­ Gwendolyn felt extremely miserable that evening. Not wanting to go back to the Harris residence and trouble Marcus, she decided to book a private room at The Honey Bee and have William and Quinton apany her while she drink her sorrows away. Of all the bodyguards, only Elven was under Treyton¡¯s orders and was capable of persuading Gwendolyn. Meanwhile, William and Quinton, who were standing guard at the door, were concerned that Gwendolyn might lose control and get drunk again. They were discussing whether to call Elven and have hime over to persuade Gwendolyn when Sherman happened to pass by in the hallway. Having met Quinton before, Sherman asked, ¡°Is Gwendolyn inside?¡± William and Quinton looked at each other, not replying. Sherman didn¡¯t feel awkward. He opened the door quietly and took a nce inside. Gwendolyn was indeed by herself and drinking whiskey. Face flushed, she continued drinking despite already leaning on the couch drowsily. ¡°It¡¯s not good for her health if she gets drunk. Let me go in and talk to her,¡± Sherman suggested. Since William and Quinton did not have a better solution, they decided to let Sherman in considering he was Gwendolyn¡¯s friend. He might have a chance to persuade her. After Sherman opened the door, he sat down next to Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn, you should stop drinking. You¡¯re already drunk. Shall I take you home?¡± he advised gently. Feeling dizzy, Gwendolyn squinted her hazy eyes. She was really drunk. ¡°I miss you, Mavy. Don¡¯t leave me. Can you pleasee back to me?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s voice was barely audible. Sherman could only figure out what she was muttering when he got closer to her. Mavy? Is she talking to Maverick? Suppressing his distaste, Shermanforted her, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t leave you, Gwendolyn. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± Gwendolyn did not respond any further. Then, she copsed onto the sofa and fell asleep. After talking to Quinton, Sherman learned that Gwendolyn was in a bad mood that night. Since she did not want to return to the Harris residence, Sherman let William and Quinton use his card to book a room at a nearby hotel for her. After William and Quinton left, Sherman supported Gwendolyn and helped her out of the private room. They had barely taken a few steps when a figure suddenly appeared in front of them swiftly. Before Sherman could react, the woman that he was supporting previously had already been transferred into the arms of the man standing opposite him. The man had a silver-grey mask on. Even though his face was concealed, intense anger was clearly visible in his dark eyes. Sherman could feel the tension building up. He could recognize the man just by looking at his mask. Smiling, he greeted, ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Jenson. Are you here to socialize too?¡± Ignoring Sherman, Cedrick held the unconsciously drunk Gwendolyn in his arms carefully. After observing her state, Cedrick¡¯s gaze filled with more hostility. ¡°She can hold her liquor usually. How did she get so drunk? What have you done to her?¡± Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Sherman felt wronged by the way Cedrick questioned him. To add to his displeasure, he even snatched Gwendolyn away from his arms. ¡°Are you suggesting that I drugged her, Mr. Jenson? I, Sherman Ferguson, will never do such a dirty thing. Gwendolyn was feeling down, so I was just apanying her and drinking. Now that she¡¯s drunk, I¡¯m taking her back to rest.¡±He stepped forward, attempting to snatch Gwendolyn back, but Cedrick swiftly sidestepped and held her tightly in his arms. ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble you, Mr. Ferguson. I will take care of her.¡± Sherman¡¯s expression became grim. ¡°Do you also have feelings for Gwendolyn, Mr. Jenson?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sherman was annoyed. Just when Maverick was finally gone, Cedrick had toe and block his way. ¡°It¡¯s not very appropriate for you to be holding Gwendolyn so intimately, Mr. Jenson. Not to mention that she just came back to Salinsburgh. I don¡¯t think she knows you well enough, but I have known her since we were very young. It¡¯s better if you leave her to me.¡± Sherman took a step forward to get Gwendolyn back but Nico halted him. ¡°Mind your behavior, Mr. Ferguson. Ms. Gwendolyn is already engaged to Mr. Jenson. It is reasonable that he takes care of Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Engaged?¡± When did this happen? How did I not hear about any of this? Sensing Sherman¡¯s confusion, Nico exined, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson personally went to the Harris residence to finalize the engagementst night. The news will be announced during Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s wee party. I hope Mr. Ferguson realizes who is the outsider here.¡± Sherman turned pale instantly. It never ur to him that the Jenson family would act so quickly and that Marcus would agree to it right away! Now that Cedrick was Gwendolyn¡¯s fianc¨¦, he couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand as her friend. Seeing that Sherman was no longer blocking his way, Cedrick carried Gwendolyn in his arms and turned to leave. Leaning on Cedrick¡¯s broad chest, Gwendolyn caught a familiar whiff of tobo smell. Instinctively, she tightened her grip on his neck as she murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t go. You just promised that you won¡¯t leave me¡­¡± Upon hearing that, Sherman grinned smugly. ¡°Seems like Gwendolyn prefers going with me, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick stiffened as he looked down at the frunk Gwendolyn in his arms. She had an innocent look on her face despite being in that state and unaware. Was Gwendolyn referring to Sherman this morning when she said she is in love with another man? She even went to The Honey Bee for drinks with him alone. She has a good tolerance for alcohol and is usually alert, but this time she ended up getting drunk without any defense. It seems like she truly cares about Sherman. But¡­ why does it have to be Sherman? Suppressing the heavy feeling in his chest and concealing the pain in his eyes, Cedrick ordered with his deep voice, ¡°Escort Mr. Ferguson out, Nico.¡± Nico stepped forward and gestured for Sherman to leave. ¡°Nothing good everes from forcing someone to do something that they don¡¯t want to, Mr. Jenson. You should respect Gwendolyn¡¯s wishes and let me take her to rest,¡± Sherman said unwillingly. Cedrick turned around and shot him a cold nce. ¡°She is my fianc¨¦e. Whatever I choose to do is more appropriate than you!¡± he hissed menacingly. Firmly carrying Gwendolyn in his arms, Cedrick then left. ¡°How long have you known her, Mr. Jenson? She¡¯s not going to like you! If you dare to do anything to her, you will have to face the consequences when she wakes up!¡± Sherman yelled as he did not trust Cedrick. Ignoring Sherman, Cedrick carried Gwendolyn to a neighboring hotel. He had just reached the hotel entrance when he bumped into William and Quinton, who had just booked a room and were rushing back to the bar. They noticed Nico first, but couldn¡¯t recognize Cedrick because he was wearing a mask. However, it was impossible not to notice Gwendolyn in his arms. ¡°Why is Ms. Harris in your arms? Where is Mr. Ferguson?¡± Sensing the tense atmosphere, Nico hurriedly stepped forward to exin the situation. ¡°This is Mr. Jenson, my new boss. Since Ms. Gwendolyn is too drunk, he decides to book a hotel room to take care of her.¡± ¡°But¡­ Ms. Harris is not going to like it when she¡¯s sober¡­¡± ¡°No buts,¡± Nico interrupted, ¡°The engagement was settled by the head of their respective families. They are going to be married sooner orter. Is there anyone better than Mr. Jenson to take care of Ms. Gwendolyn when she is drunk? Which one of us is a better fit¡ªthe two of you or me?¡± Speechless, William and Quinton nced at each other. Noticing the room key in William¡¯s hand, Nico took the chance to snatch it away while the former was still hesitating. Then, he went into the hotel with Cedrick. William and Quinton hurried after them and waited at the door of the room. When Nico came out of the room, he patted William and Quinton¡¯s shoulders in a friendly way as he said, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in half a year. Shall we get a drink together?¡± William looked troubled. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. We have to stand guard when Ms. Harris is staying at a hotel.¡± Quinton nodded to second him. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about! Mr. Jenson is skilled enough to protect Ms. Gwendolyn from any harm. Let¡¯s go and find a ce with nice drinks and barbecue!¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± In the end, they left with Nico rather reluctantly. Meanwhile, in the hotel room, Cedrick carried Gwendolyn to the bed and helped her remove her coat and heels. After covering her with a nket, he went to the bathroom and returned with a bowl of warm water to wipe her face with it. Afraid of waking her up, he kept his movements gentle. The dim, yellowish light of the bedsidemp added a touch of ambiguity to the room. As Cedrick wiped Gwendolyn¡¯s face, his gaze traced over the towel to the contours of her delicate facial features. He observed her intently as if he wanted to etch her image firmly into his heart. All he could do was watch her sleep soundly, and yet he felt contented. This face, this person, was the one he wanted to love to the core. But she¡¯s in love with Sherman now¡­ She seems to have forgotten about me even though it¡¯s only been half a year. Well, notpletely forgotten. As her ex-husband, I am still used by her as a scapegoat. The more he thought about it, the more he felt like a knife was piercing through his heart. Every breath he took hurt at that moment. Eyes reddened, Cedrick sat dejectedly by the bed and watched Gwendolyn quietly. Now that she was asleep, her features looked peaceful. Her rosy, plump lips were slightly parted and irresistibly alluring. Cedrick pondered if he could steal a kiss from her. She won¡¯t remember any of it when she sobers up tomorrow anyway. But is this too inappropriate? Heart pounding, he leaned closer to her hesitantly¡­ Gwendolyn was really intoxicated. It was the most intense drinking session she had ever had since she had a bad stomachache after the other drinking episode. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyshes quivered as she opened her eyes in a dazed state, only to be greeted by a terrifying and erged face. Instinctively, she raised her hand and pped the ugly face. ¡°What kind of monster are you? How dare you get near me!¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± Cedrick couldn¡¯t help yelling in pain as he didn¡¯t expect Gwendolyn to wake up and hit him all of a sudden. He felt like his nasal bone was crushed beneath the mask. He wanted to rub his nose and check if it was bleeding, but he didn¡¯t dare take off his mask because Gwendolyn was awake. He had no choice but to bear with the pain. Although Gwendolyn was awake, she was still quite drunk. Her vision was blurred, and her head felt dizzy. The ghostly face in front of her seemed to be spinning in circles like the hands of a clock. Propping herself up on the bed, Gwendolyn retreated backward as she sat up until her body was curled up at the bedside. Staggering, she assumed a defensive posture. ¡°Get away from me, you ugly piece of sh*t!¡± Cedrick felt helpless. Realizing that she was still drunk, he cleared his throat and began in a hoarse voice, ¡°Ms. Harris, I¡¯m Cedrick.¡± Cedrick? Gwendolyn muttered the name under her breath again. Having heard the name so many times for the past few days, she had developed extreme disgust for the name! Emboldened by alcohol, she delivered a fierce kick in his direction and reached for something on the bedside table to use as a weapon. With a menacing expression, she cursed, ¡°You bast*rd! How dare you have the nerves to marry me! I will send you to hell before you can do that!¡± Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Having been viciously kicked on the side of the waist by Gwendolyn¡¯s foot, Cedrick was in such pain his body spasmed uncontrobly. He held his hands over his waist, and before he coulde to terms with the excruciating pain, she swiftly reached for the decorative vase on the nightstand and swung it toward his head. Cedrick hastily covered his head and bent over. He did not fight back, neither did he dodge. He merely stood there and allowed her to hit him. Gwendolyn smashed the vase in her grip on his back three times consecutively. Because she was feeling dizzy, she could not muster much strength, so her moves were not as forceful. Nheless, it still hurt as the dense porcin vase smashed against his back. Cedrick was probably traumatized at that point. Frustration swamped him. I¡¯ll never put anything that can be used as a weapon on my nightstand next time! Seemingly unable to vent her anger after hitting the man several times, Gwendolyn aggressively mmed the vase on the corner of the table, shattering it into pieces. Then, she hurled the sharp edge of the broken shard toward Cedrick. ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± Worried that the broken shard would hurt her, Cedrick instinctively backed away. Because of his brief hesitation, he did not manage to dodge in time and got cut by a piece of broken shard on his right corbone. A faint blood scratch mark appeared on his skin, and the cor of his white shirt was stained by blood quickly. Gwendolyn had wanted to slit his neck, but she missed it and cut his corbone instead. Taking opportunity of the situation, Cedrick hurriedly grabbed her wrist and threw the weapon in her grip aside. Gwendolyn red at his face furiously. ¡°Cedrick! You¡¯re probably wearing this thing on your face to scare me, aren¡¯t you? I shall see how ugly the face behind this mask is!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ I¡ª¡± Before he could rify anything, Gwendolyn hit her forehead against his. As he loosened his grip, she regained freedom of her hands and swiftly took off his mask. Cedrick was utterly stunned. How can she still be so ferocious when she¡¯s drunk? With the mask removed, he had his back to her in guilt. He dared not turn around, and his heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of his chest. He waited for a second. Then, two¡­ Unexpectedly, Gwendolyn, who had been taunting aggressively behind him, suddenly turned quiet. Even the atmosphere fell intoplete silence. He cautiously turned his head a little and tried to steal a nce from the corner of his eye. To his surprise, Gwendolyn had already copsed on the bed, seemingly unconscious. There was a big, red mark on her forehead, and evidently, she had passed out after smashing her head against his. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. What happened earlier had obviously left a lingering fear within him. A stinging pain radiated from his corbone area. Pressing his hand against the wound, the fresh red blood on his fingers reminded him about everything that happened earlier. Tears welled up in Cedrick¡¯s eyes. His whole body was in pain after getting hit by her. Indignance overwhelmed him. He meticulously took care of her while she was drunk. Little did he imagine she would be so ruthless toward him even when she was in such a condition. After finding out that Gwendolyn liked someone else in the morning, then learnedter that the man she fancied was Sherman, and eventually getting whacked up by her, Cedrick had been suppressing his disappointment for the whole day. At this point, he could finally no longer hold his emotions back. His nose stung sharply, his eyes burned, and he could feel his eyshes wet with tears. While bitterness overwhelmed him as he stared intently at the blood on the tip of his fingers, Gwendolyn opened her eyes a little and fixed her gaze on him quietly for a long time. Cedrick could vaguely sense her intense gaze. Whipping his head around, he exchanged nces with Gwendolyn. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. W-What¡¯s up with that expression? Does she recognize who I am? Nervous, Cedrick gulped. A myriad of thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to figure out an excuse to fool Gwendolyn. Before he said anything, Gwendolyn sat up, approached him, and held his face. A wide smile spread across her flushing red face. ¡°I¡¯m dreaming again, huh? Indeed, I can only see you in my dreams. Even though you look somewhat different this time, you still look so handsome¡­¡± Burp¡­ A burpced with a strong alcohol smell could be felt on Cedrick¡¯s face. His mind went nk as he looked at her in a daze. ¡°I don¡¯t care! This is my dream! I have the final say!¡± With a gleeful smile, she inched closer toward him. It was clear she was up to no good. While he was still in bewilderment, she lightly left a peck on his cold, thin lips. Astonishment flickered in Cedrick¡¯s dark eyes. That soft, tender feeling on his lips could still be felt vividly. He stood rooted to the ground as if he was electrocuted. D-Did¡­ Did she just kiss me? A smile crinkled the corners of Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. She appeared contented, but her eyes still gave off a dazed look, and it was a sign that she was still in her drunkard state. Cedrick straightened his back, not daring to move a single muscle. Who knows what else is she going to do next? Will she give me a vicious p on my face or kick me in my waist again? Under his doubtful gaze, Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his waist. As she shifted her gaze downward, she noticed the blood mark beside the cor of his shirt. A pained look crossed her face. ¡°Why will you get injured even in my dream? Who on earth dares to hurt you? I¡¯ll kill him!¡± The distressed look in her eyes instantly dissipated all the grievances Cedrick had inside him earlier. Even though he already sensed that she had most likely mistaken him for someone else, it did not matter to him. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± he tenderly said. The smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face, however, vanished. She was rather unhappy. ¡°But I feel bad.¡± As her words fell, she leaned over and gently kissed the blood mark on his corbone. She was just like a kitten, trying tofort her injuredpanion. Her gentleness was on par with her viciousness while she beat him up earlier. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡ª¡± Cedrick was dumbfounded by her action. Her soft lips were as sweet as honey, melting his entire heart as she kissed his corbone, stirring up his desires. He wrapped his arms around her waist, unwilling to let her go. He was touched, satisfied, and surprised, yet afraid he would lose her again. A mixture of emotions enveloped him. For a second, he wished that time could stop. He selfishly hoped Gwendolyn¡¯s love and care would only belong to him forever. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Cedrick caressed her head and broke into a smile. ¡°I like it very much.¡± Gwendolyn nestled herself into his arms and rested her head on the other side of his corbone, sniffing the tobo smell on his body. ¡°Then you have toe into my dreams every night. I want to hug you, kiss you, and sleep with you¡­¡± Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke. Lowering his head, Cedrick found that Gwendolyn had fallen asleep again. But it was different this time. She slept exceptionally well in his embrace and did not wake up in the middle of the night. Cedrick remained in the same position and did not move for several hours. As time passed, he felt his neck and back beginning to ache. Just as he tried to ce Gwendolyn¡¯s head on the pillow, she furrowed her brows at his slightest movement, seemingly voicing her protest soundlessly. Left with no choice, Cedrick could only suppress the aches and pains he was experiencing. He covered a nket over her and let her stay in his embrace to sleep the entire night. At six the following morning, Cedrick was taking a quick nap while leaning against Gwendolyn¡¯s head when he heard someone softly mimicking a bird chirping outside the door. At six the following morning, Cedrick was taking a quick nap while leaning against Gwendolyn¡¯s head when he heard someone softly mimicking a bird chirping outside the door. Figuring that it was Nico, Cedrick sobered up at once. Lowering his head and seeing the woman in his arms sleeping exceptionally well, he carefully ced her on the bed. Luckily, Gwendolyn was deep asleep and did not have much reaction. He quietly got up, grabbed his coat, and headed outside. Nico was waiting outside the door. The moment Cedrick stepped out, Nico¡¯s sharp eyes immediately noticed the blood stain on the cor of his shirt. ¡°Boss, why are you hurt? Did you two fightst night?¡± There wasn¡¯t any fight. I got whacked instead. If not for Nico mentioning it, Cedrick would have forgotten about that incident. The wound no longer hurt. Yet, he could still vividly remember the kiss Gwendolyn left on his blood mark with her soft lips. The tip of his ears turned red. Regarding the incidentst night, he was very contented. The only exception was perhaps the fact that his back hurt a little¡­ He reflexively rubbed his back and aching neck. An exhausted look clouded his face. ¡°Let¡¯s go. She¡¯ll wake upter.¡± Seeing that action, Nico instantly came to a realization and eximed, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re progressing pretty well, huh! You got things done so quickly. I bet it must be a wild night yesterday!¡± Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Nonsense! I can never force Gwendolyn to do anything unless she volunteered to do it. Besides, she¡¯s the one who got violentst night! Cedrick¡¯s lower back was still aching fromst night¡¯s beating. I¡¯m not going to suffer alone. ring at Nico, Cedrick said, ¡°Each word you said earlier will cost you a month of sry. Do the math on your own.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The unforeseen disaster filled Nico with despair. I said so many words just now. Does that mean I won¡¯t get paid for many years? What a heartless and unreasonable boss! He fell into despair and stood transfixed for a while. Meanwhile, Cedrick smirked and turned around to leave. Although his body ached, he walked swiftly while humming as if he was in a good mood. Nico ran after him and cried, ¡°Boss! I was wrong! Please give me a chance!¡± ¡­ It had been so long since Gwendolyn slept so well. In fact, she did not wake up until her phone rang at nine-thirty in the morning. ¡°Honey, I¡¯ve already taught her a lesson about what happenedst night. It won¡¯t happen again. Please come back to the vi tonight. Your party¡¯s the day after tomorrow. You need to get ready¡ª¡± Marcus coughed before he could end his sentence, and that grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s attention. Gwendolyn who was still in a daze thought about it before saying, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Come back early tonight when you¡¯ve finished your work, okay? You need to try on your gown.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Upon hanging up, she turned around to continue sleeping. However, her mind was slowly starting to clear up. I went to The Honey Bee for a drink instead of going back to the Harris residencest night. So, how did I end up in this bed? Instantly, she sat upright and turned her head to see broken pieces of a vase scattered on the ground near the bedside table. Perplexed, she quickly gave William and Quinton a call. The two had been guarding the door after Cedrick left. As soon as they received Gwendolyn¡¯s call, they rushed into the room. Gwendolyn had too much to drinkst night that she could not remember what happened. ¡°Who sent me to the hotelst night?¡± ¡°It was Mr. Jenson. He even took care of you the entire night.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s brows tightened into a frown as she quickly examined her body. Only when she realized she was fine did she let out a sigh of relief. Good thing Cedrick didn¡¯t do anything to me. Otherwise, I will show up at the Jenson residence with a knife to ughter him. Then again, if nothing happenedst night, why are there broken pieces on the floor? She did not remember fighting Cedrick. All she remembered was having a sweet dream about Maverickst night. She even kissed and hugged him in the dream. s, neither William nor Quinton knew anything. Looks like I¡¯ll have to ask Cedrick to find out what happened. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Gwendolyn said, ¡°William, go to the Jenson residence to look for Cedrick. Tell him I want to talk to him face to face.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Shalders.¡± With that, William went out to carry out the orders. ¡°Quinton, tell the hotel manager I¡¯ll pay for the broken vase at its original price.¡± ¡°All right.¡± It just so happened that the hotel manager and a server arrived with a trolley and were about to knock on the door when Quinton turned around to open it. Having heard Gwendolyn¡¯s words, the hotel manager smiled politely. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Ms. Shalders. Mr. Jenson has already paid for the vase.¡± In fact, Cedrick paid ten times the amount as a suggestion for the hotel to remove all decorations except for the tissues from the bedside table in the guest rooms. The thought of that made the manager smile brighter. He then stepped aside to reveal the custom- made food on the trolley. ¡°Not only that, Mr. Jenson even ordered breakfast for you. These are made on the spot by our five-star chef. Why don¡¯t you try them, Ms. Shalders?¡± At the same time, the server was transferring the breakfast to the suite¡¯s table until there was no space left. Gwendolyn pursed her lips in silence as she scanned the breakfast on the table. Could Cedrick really be so attentive? Why do I feel like he has a motive? Did he actually have sex with mest night? At that thought, Gwendolyn slipped her hand under the covers and quietly examined herself again to confirm that she was not in pain or injured. Unable to find a breakthrough, she had no choice but to ask the hotel manager, ¡°I just got back to Salinsburgh, and I¡¯m not familiar with Mr. Jenson. Do you know what he looks like?¡± The manager shook his head. ¡°Ordinary people like us aren¡¯t worthy of seeing his real face. He usually wears a mask when he goes out. Then again, I¡¯ve seen his back before. He¡¯s tall and exudes an incredible aura. I guess he has a handsome face.¡± Gwendolyn said nothing in response. It looks like I have to meet Cedrick in person to get to the bottom of this. Gwendolyn did not take a single bite out of the breakfast Cedrick had ordered for her. Instead, she washed up and left the hotel to supervise the construction of Angle Corporation. It was not until the afternoon did William rush back. ¡°Ms. Shalders, I¡¯ve visited the Jenson residence. Mr. Jenson isn¡¯t there.¡± ¡°What about Jenson Group?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve asked the employees, too. He¡¯s not there either.¡± Very well. We¡¯ll just keep trying tomorrow and the days after that. He¡¯ll be there one day, anyway. Hence, she made William go looking for Cedrick for two days straight. She even sent people to stand guard outside the Jenson residence and Jenson Group. Still, Cedrick was nowhere to be seen. The situation confused Gwendolyn. Is he hiding from me on purpose? Why is he doing that? Just like that, two days went by peacefully. Soon, it was the night of the party. The party was held at Marcus¡¯ vi. It was a grand party, so much so that all the major business figures and influential people of Salinsburgh were present. Gwendolyn was getting her makeup touched up in the room two hours before the start of the party. Hanging in the corner of the room was a gorgeous custom-made gown designed by Ms. Z. It was an expensive outfit. The gown fluttered as Gwendolyn walked, making her look like a fairy. Just then, Ezra gently knocked on the door and reported softly into her ears. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Mr. Jenson hasn¡¯t returned until now. Apparently, he¡¯s carrying out a mission and won¡¯t be returning tonight. Mr. Marcus says he¡¯s going to announce the weddingter tonight. What if you getughed at when Mr. Jenson doesn¡¯t show up tonight?¡± Gwendolyn was unfazed. She did not care about all those things. After all, she was already nning to cancel the marriage arrangement. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I still have my dad. They won¡¯t gossip even if Cedrick doesn¡¯t show up today.¡± It¡¯s just that Cedrick is being a little too obvious in avoiding me. While pondering about it carefully, she put down her applicator to hear a housekeeper knock on the door and say, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s here. He wants to see you in private and is waiting for you in the side hall.¡± ¡°All right.¡± It was best to not keep Valentino waiting for long. After all, he was an elder. Thus, Gwendolyn changed into her gown and headed to the side hall. ¡°Hello, Old Mr. Jenson. My father has specially prepared coffee for you when he heard you were coming,¡± she greeted the old man in a sweet and polite manner. Valentino put his coffee cup down, surprised to see Gwendolyn. ¡°Come closer, child. Let me have a good look at you.¡± Smiling, Gwendolyn took a seat beside Valentino. Although it was their first meeting, Valentino liked her from the bottom of his heart. Not only was she pretty and graceful, but she was also smart with her words. Clearly, she was a thoughtful person. Satisfied with the youngdy¡¯s character, Valentino said, ¡°What a great child. No wonder Cedrick likes you. He¡¯s never asked me for help. It¡¯s his first time getting my help so he could marry you¡­¡± Gwendolyn did not catch what he said after that, for her mind kept reying the words he said earlier. Cedrick got Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s help for the first time just to be engaged to me? That means the son of a b*tch lied to me! He clearly has a motive! Why is he avoiding me, then? Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Nowhere To Hide Suspicious thoughts raced through Gwendolyn¡¯s mind. Valentino was still speaking when she snapped out of her thoughts. ¡°Cedrick¡¯s really fallen for you. By the way, you¡¯ve been back for a few days already, right? Have you two met yet? What¡¯s your first impression of him?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t met him yet, Old Mr. Jenson,¡± answered Gwendolyn. She then seized the opportunity to continue, ¡°I¡¯ve been sending people to meet him these days, but he¡¯s been avoiding me. So, no. I haven¡¯t met him yet.¡± The look on Valentino¡¯s face grew serious. ¡°Did that really happen?¡± He then asked Logan to enter and ordered, ¡°Get Cedrick here this instant. What¡¯s he avoiding her for?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± In the meantime, Gwendolyn kept her smile while chatting and having coffee with Valentino. Ten minutester, Logan returned. ¡°Old Mr. Jenson, Mr. Jenson isn¡¯ting tonight. He¡¯s on a mission.¡± ¡°What kind of mission¡¯s so urgent that he has to bail his fianc¨¦e¡¯s party? Ugh. This rascal!¡± Valentino stomped his cane on the ground and tried to stop himself from being too harsh with his words. He assured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwendolyn. I¡¯m going to bring him here, even if it means kidnaping him.¡± Instead of rejecting the suggestion, Gwendolyn smiled obediently. ¡°We¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± Valentino cast her an affectionate gaze, but it darkened when he shifted his gaze to Logan. ¡°Tell that rascal to kneel in the ancestral hall for three whole days until his legs break if he doesn¡¯t show up on time today.¡± With that, Logan left. Ten minutester, he returned again to report gloomily, ¡°Mr. Jenson says he¡¯ll¡­ carry out his punishment in the ancestral hall once he returns from his mission.¡± Hearing that, Valentino lost it! He¡¯d rather get punished than attend his fianc¨¦e¡¯s party, huh? He¡¯s dead set on going against my words. Since Gwendolyn was still present, he had no choice but to steel himself and increase the severity of the punishment. ¡°The punishment doesn¡¯t scare him, huh? Very well. Tell him he¡¯ll get whipped a hundred times if he still doesn¡¯t show up.¡± Logan¡¯s face fell. ¡°One hundred whips? Are you being serious, Old Mr. Jenson?¡± Valentino simply stomped his cane on the ground and turned his head, snorting coldly. Even so, Valentino dared not pass the message to Cedrick. ¡°Old Mr. Jenson, you know how stubborn Mr. Jenson is. He¡¯ll definitely go to the ancestral hall to receive his punishment if he¡¯s decided to not attend. Are we really going to beat him if he goes to the ancestral hall? He¡¯ll be dead if we really whip him.¡± There was a change in Valentino¡¯s countenance. He lowered his head and fell silent. In the meantime, Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes darted between the two men¡¯s expressions. Sounds like the Jenson family¡¯s whipping punishment isn¡¯t as simple as I thought. Can a hundred whips really kill someone as muscr as Cedrick? He¡¯s from the army, though. However, Valentino had already said that in front of Gwendolyn. It would be too embarrassing for him to go against his promise, but he could not bring himself to beat Cedrick to death as well. The atmosphere in the room grew tense. At that moment, Gwendolyn knew Valentino was keeping quiet and waiting for her to speak. With a smile, she said gently, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson, this whipping punishment sounds really terrifying. It¡¯s just a party, anyway. His mission is more important. Please don¡¯t punish him. It¡¯s okay if Mr. Jenson doesn¡¯te.¡± Gratified, Valentino patted her hand and sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve got such a big heart. I¡¯m sorry you have to deal with this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Old Mr. Jenson.¡± However, her generosity only made Valentino feel more sorry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwendolyn. Even if he doesn¡¯t show up today, I¡¯ll find a way to let the two of you meet. I¡¯m going to make him apologize to you.¡± Soon, the party officially began. Gwendolyn had be the center of attention as soon as she appeared. Her gorgeous gown, her delicate makeup, and her every move made her look beautiful beyond words. The party that night was organized because of her. Gwendolyn walked up the stage under everyone¡¯s gazes and made a wonderful speech about returning to the Harris family. When she finished speaking, Marcus went upstage to announce her engagement with Cedrick while the crowd cheered. Since Cedrick did not show up, Marcus decided to simplify his speech and skipped the important parts to distract the guests. Halfway through the party, Gwendolyn had finished toasting to the guests and found a table in the corner to enjoy some wine quietly. Sherman felt bad to see her drinking alone. Hence, he walked over and sat across from her. ¡°Gwendolyn, you don¡¯t really want to get engaged with Cedrick, do you?¡± he asked. She said nothing and swirled her ss elegantly. Seeing that, Sherman continued, ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous. How could he be absent on such an important day and make you put up with everyone¡¯s criticisms alone? He won¡¯t treat you well when you marry him in the future.¡± Gwendolyn snorted. ¡°Mr. Ferguson, no one, apart from you, is criticizing me today.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Looking gloomy, Sherman said, ¡°That¡¯s because Mr. Harris is doing a great job of controlling the crowd. Gwendolyn, I regret not letting my parents talk to him about asking your hand in marriage. But I¡¯m willing to fight against the Jenson family if you¡¯re willing to be with me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, Mr. Ferguson. I don¡¯t want that,¡± rejected Gwendolyn without hesitation. ¡°Why? Do you really like Cedrick?¡± Gwendolyn put down her ss and said solemnly, ¡°I don¡¯t like him, nor will I marry him. Simrly, I only see you as a friend. We¡¯ll never get married. I hope you can understand that.¡± Sherman paled, totally at a loss for words. The Harris family¡¯s party ended at eleven o¡¯clock at night. Nico, who had been hiding near the Harris residence, rushed to a car that was parked about two hundred meters away. He checked his surroundings before getting into the car. Before Nico could even make himselffortable, the man, who had been waiting in the car for a long time, asked, ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss. No one dared to criticize Ms. Gwendolyn thanks to the threats you made in advance and Mr. Marcus¡¯ skills in handling the situation.¡± Cedrick felt incredibly guilty. ¡°Is she upset?¡± Nico pondered and answered, ¡°No. I saw her chatting with Mr. Ferguson for a long time, and it looked like the conversation went well.¡± Immediately, Cedrick pursed his lips. The color drained from his face, and a look of dejection filled his dark eyes. Although Nico could not see Cedrick¡¯s expression in the dark, the former could sense a thick tension building up in the air. I shouldn¡¯t have mentioned Sherman¡¯s name. Hitting his mouth frustratedly, Nico quickly changed the topic. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. When are you nning to return to the Jenson residence?¡± Cedrick contemted for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here a little longer.¡± He did not return to the Jenson residence until an hourter. Remembering the punishment Valentino had given him for not attending the party, Cedrick went straight to the ancestral hall instead of the vi. Logan was already waiting for Cedrick at the entrance. Clearly, the former had been waiting for a long time. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s been saying he¡¯s feeling ufortable ever since he returned. Please go and have a look.¡± Thus, Cedrick followed Logan without giving it much thought. Upon arriving at the guest room on the second floor, Logan suddenly halted in his tracks and made a gesture for Cedrick to enter. Frowning, Cedrick asked, ¡°This isn¡¯t Grandpa¡¯s room. Why did you bring me here?¡± ¡°Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s leg wasn¡¯t in a good condition. He was feeling ufortable when he arrived at this point. Hence, he decided to spend the night here,¡± exined Logan without the slightest change in his expression. Cedrick kept mum, clearly not believing Logan¡¯s words. Noticing that, Logan met Cedrick¡¯s gaze and questioned, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d dare to joke about Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s health? He¡¯s in there. You¡¯d better go in quickly. He¡¯ll be mad if you¡¯rete.¡± Cedrick was not fully convinced, but he still pushed the door open and took two steps forward. Immediately after that, Logan gave him a push at the back and locked the door. ¡°Open the door, Logan!¡± Cedrick banged on the door a few times, but there was no sound outside the door. It was as if Logan had left. Just as Cedrick was feeling puzzled, a familiar woman¡¯s voice rang out behind him. ¡°It¡¯s useless. This was arranged by Old Mr. Jenson because you kept avoiding me.¡± This voice¡­ Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Cedrick held his breath while sneaking a nce at Gwendolyn. She sat on the couch by the window with her back facing him, sipping red wine. He clenched his fists so tightly that they felt mmy. Could she be drunk by any chance? Would she be as gentle to me as two nights ago? ¡°I admit I don¡¯t know you well, yet you still plotted to get engaged with me. Don¡¯t you think you owe me an exnation?¡± Cedrick¡¯s hand was on the doorknob when he felt his heart drop. Gwendolyn¡¯s speech was coherent and paced regrly. It was clear she¡¯d barely imbibed any wine and was still sober. That meant that he would be dead meat tonight. Cedrick still wasn¡¯t ready to face her. He stalked toward the window and considered making a run for it. Gwendolyn¡¯snguid voice sounded. ¡°Old Mr. Jenson has instructed the windows to be locked. It is also fitted with bulletproof ss and can¡¯t be shattered. We¡¯re just going to have a nice little chat. I wonder what you¡¯re so afraid of?¡± He had no chance of escape. Cedrick subconsciously touched his face to confirm that his mask was still on. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t possibly recognize him that easily. He cleared his throat. ¡°You must be joking, Ms. Gwendolyn. We aren¡¯t acquainted at all. I decided to get engaged with you merely because the fortune teller mentioned that we¡¯d get along well together.¡± Gwendolyn ced her wine ss down and turned to face him. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before that there¡¯s someone I¡ª¡± She was cut off abruptly. The man who stood by the window in a well-fitting suit gave off an aloof aristocratic air. The sheer sight of him flooded her with a bone-deep sense of familiarity. Her expression froze as she carefully scrutinized the man from head to toe. Cedrick¡¯s heart was in his throat when he noticed the change in her expression. ¡°Mr. Jenson, you really look like someone.¡± Gwendolyn got to her feet with her brows furrowed and gingerly approached Cedrick. ¡°Ms. Harris, you must be mistaken. We¡¯ve never met,¡± His eyes were cial as he uttered in a hoarse voice. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes reddened as she met his familiar eyes. Her hand shot out without forewarning to grab his suit cor and press him against the ss window. ¡°Are you taking me for an idiot, Maverick? Do you think I won¡¯t be able to recognize you just because you¡¯re wearing a mask? You might fool everyone, but I can tell it¡¯s you from your eyes and mannerisms!¡± Cedrick felt his entire body go numb. Should Ie clean? Will Gwendolyn think that I¡¯ve been deceiving her all along? She hated being kept in the dark the most and had never liked him in the first ce. Wouldn¡¯t doing so compound the hatred she bore against him, so much so that it¡¯d be even more difficult for him to be forgiven? ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe looking for me if you weren¡¯t dead? Howe you¡¯ve taken on the identity of Cedrick? Maverick, you owe me a much due exnation!¡± Gwendolyn grabbed his cor so tightly that her hands were trembling. Her eyes swirled with shock, confusion, and fury. ¡°Ms. Harris, I¡ª¡± ¡°What are you calling me?¡± Gwendolyn raised her hand and curved her elbow as she swiftlynded a hard blow on his abdomen. Cedrick¡¯s features beneath his mask twisted in pain, and he bent down reflexively. Despite that, Gwendolyn tugged his cor and backed him up against the window once more. He wouldn¡¯t retaliate as he feared that he would identally hurt Gwendolyn due to the disparity between their strength. However, Gwendolyn had no such concerns. She would whack him with all her might every single time. Her mind had no room for reason as she stared daggers at Cedrick. She still couldn¡¯t get over Maverick being alive and well. Why didn¡¯t he look for me? Why act like we¡¯re strangers? ¡°If you refuse to tell the truth, I¡¯ll have to take matters into my own hands!¡± She reached out to snatch his mask. Cedrick held on tightly to it. ¡°Ms. Harris, isn¡¯t it unbing of you to be so forward on our first meeting tonight?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me touching my fianc¨¦? Why are you so scared of me seeing your face? If you are Cedrick and not Maverick, you should have nothing to fear!¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t give him a chance to defend himself as she leveled another blow at his abdomen. Gwendolyn swiftly ripped off his mask while he was curled up in agony. Time seemed to stop as they looked into one another¡¯s eyes. Gwendolyn surveyed his face in astonishment. Besides his eyes, the rest of his features werepletely altered. He now only vaguely resembled Maverick at a nce. Even so, his gaze and mannerisms gave him away. He was obviously Maverick. ¡°Why does your face look so different? Is it because you¡¯re wearing another mask?¡± Gwendolyn pinched the skin of his face and attempted to peel off his disguise. Cedrick kept his grip firm on her hand and said sternly, ¡°That is because I am and have always been Cedrick Jenson!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you! Did you undergo stic surgery? You must be delusional to think I won¡¯t be able to recognize you because of that! Why don¡¯t you try switching your eyeballs instead?¡± She gritted her teeth seethingly. Cedrick¡¯s resemnce to Maverick was the only indicator on his face that they were the same person. She recalled the severe burns and wounds from theshings on Maverick¡¯s back before the incident and broke free from Cedrick¡¯s grasp to lift his shirt. ¡°Ms. Harris, aren¡¯t you taking things too fast by stripping me?¡± ¡°Shut up and turn your back to me! If you aren¡¯t guilty, then let me inspect you!¡± ¡°Fine. Go ahead.¡± Cedrick raised both of his hands and let her manhandle him. While Gwendolyn was suspicious, she still had her reservations. Instead of removing his clothes one by one, she loosened his shirt from his belt and lifted it along with his suit. His broad back was instantly revealed. Its defined muscture was wlessly smooth, with tan skin that looked exceptionally enticing under the room¡¯s lighting. It was devoid of any scars. She couldn¡¯t even make out the deep knife wound on Maverick¡¯s waist which he sustained from Asher while looking for her in the mountains. Gwendolyn slowly let go of him and retreated to the bedside with unsteady feet. She sat on the bed in a daze in total disappointment. Her rational mind wasing back to her. Maverick was dead. She¡¯d witnessed the burial of his ashes. Moreover, Maverick and Cedrick came from such contrasting family backgrounds that it was unlikely they were rted. A shot of pain went through her heart at the anguish of experiencing loss all over again. Nevertheless, she held back her tears in front of Cedrick. ¡°I mistook you for someone else.¡± Cedrick discreetly let out a sigh of relief and turned to face Gwendolyn, who was looking down dejectedly. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. He ventured, ¡°Ms. Harris, did you mistake me for your ex-husband? It seems like you still have feelings for him.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and chose to ignore him. She stood and sat back on the couch, quaffing the remaining half bottle of red wine. ¡°Ms. Harris!¡± Cedrick snatched the wine bottle from her. ¡°Your body can¡¯t take it if you continue drinking in such a way.¡± ¡°You should worry more about yourself since our wedding will be called off sooner orter.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was indifferent as she opened a new bottle of red wine. Cedrick took hold of the bottle once more. ¡°Let me join you then, Ms. Harris.¡± Cedrick sat on the couch opposite her. He¡¯d just filled two full sses of red wine when Gwendolyn downed them in the blink of an eye. It wasn¡¯t enough, as she emptied the entire bottle right after. She paid the price by ending up drunk again. Cedrick¡¯s heart ached as he took in her buzzed-up state. He rounded the coffee table and took the wine bottle from her hands. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let me carry you back to bed to get some rest.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t struggle from his grasp as he smelled too familiar. His scent invaded her senses, causing her mind to short-circuit. ¡°Mavy¡­¡± Cedrick was about to get a towel from the bathroom to clean her face when he froze at the term of affection. He paused for several seconds before turning back in disbelief to gaze at Gwendolyn lying in a drunken stupor on the bed. ¡°What did you call me?¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Cedrick¡¯s mind went nk. Mavy? He had never expected that name toe out of Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth. Is she talking to him as though he was still Maverick? Does this mean she actually still has the slightest hint of feelings for him? The man¡¯s heart was in utter confusion, and after mulling for a long while, he finally mustered up the courage to speak. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the red-faced woman tugged at his sleeve furiously. ¡°Maverick! If you dare lie to me again, I¡¯ll dig up your coffin, destroy your gravestone, and drag your corpse out!¡± She¡¯s so brutal¡­ The man instantly swallowed his words. He sat by the bedside in a daze, deep in thought. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t love him anymore. He had always known that. As her ex-husband, the only use he had for her now was if she needed him as a scapegoat. If she ever finds out about all the huge lies I made up, she¡¯ll hate me and never forgive me, right? Wallowing in distress, he sat next to her and watched the woman deep in slumber.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. He had spent a great deal of effort on this engagement, for his biggest regret in life was divorcing her in the past. In fact, he was now terrified of losing her again. Ifing clean to her will only make things worse, then it¡¯s better if she just epts the fact that Maverick is gone forever. I¡¯ll start afresh with her as Cedrick Jenson. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t appear to be sleeping well, her knitted brows giving her a grim expression. Cedrick massaged the space between her brows carefully and nted a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then, he grabbed a towel from the bathroom to wipe her face and hands before grabbing himself a nket from the closet, curling up on the sofa, and calling it a night. With his mind remaining fuzzy, he slept all night. The man was eventually awakened by the sound of the door unlocking from the outside. Seeing that Gwendolyn was still asleep, he walked toward the door quietly and found Logan standing outside. ¡°Did you have a good chat with Ms. Harrisst night, Mr. Jenson?¡± the older man asked with a grin. ¡°Did you both¡­¡± He made a gesture with his two thumbs pressing against each other. Cedrick¡¯s expression remained cold as he ignored Logan¡¯s question. ¡°When Ms. Harris wakes up, tell her to have breakfast with Grandpa before she leaves. If she refuses, don¡¯t force her to stay.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick went to the room next door to wash up before walking out of Valentino¡¯s vi. Then, he heard some noises from a corner as soon as he arrived at the entrance to the building. Upon paying close attention, it sounded like Nico. The other person sounded like William. ¡°You¡¯re early, William. Ms. Harris probably hasn¡¯t woken up yet. You might have to wait a while longer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, but she didn¡¯t drinkst night, did she? She¡¯d already drunk so much during the party, so I¡¯m guessing she got wasted. Does she seriously think she can hold her liquor and drink all she wants like before?¡± William heaved a deep sigh. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Ms. Harris?¡± Nico asked, curious. William paused momentarily. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. Ms. Harris doesn¡¯t want anyone to talk about it. I¡¯ll get a pay cut if she finds out I bbed.¡± ¡°You can tell me. I don¡¯t see her that often anyway, so it¡¯s not like she¡¯d know you told me. Besides, it¡¯s just the two of us here now. My lips are sealed.¡± Across the wall, Cedrick was about to leave, but he walked back upon hearing that the two were talking about Gwendolyn. ¡°Do you remember when Mr. Wright passed away half a year ago?¡± William began. ¡°When Ms. Harris came back from his funeral, she locked herself in his room and bawled her eyes out, refusing to eat or drink for three days. She even went to the wine cab to drink all the concentrated liquor¡ªon an empty stomach! Her body couldn¡¯t take it, and she nearly destroyed her own liver. That¡¯s when her health started to decline.¡± Nico was shocked. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Ms. Harris¡­ She¡­¡± William sighed. ¡°Ms. Harris never admits it, but she really likes Mr. Wright. She had a hard time epting the fact that he was gone, and she was devastated for a really long time. Anyway, that¡¯s all in the past. Let¡¯s not talk about it anymore.¡± Nico grew skeptical. ¡°But how? I heard that Ms. Harris has grown quite fond of Mr. Ferguson. Is that not true?¡± ¡°Mr. Ferguson?¡± William was bewildered. ¡°Where did you hear that from? Apart from Mr. Wright, Ms. Harris has never even spared any other man a single nce.¡± ¡­ By now, Cedrick¡¯s mind was in such a buzz that he could no longer hear what the two said after that. William said she really likes me, and that she bawled her eyes out because of my death. She almost wrecked her liver from drinking because of me. So, the woman I love has loved me all this while too? She said there was someone she likes that day. Was she actually referring to me, and not Sherman? Cedrick¡¯s body began to tremble as a wave of inexplicable emotions swept through him. He had never felt so d in his life, nor did he ever dare imagine that Gwendolyn actually loved him. His eyes reddening, the man turned in the direction of the vi. He couldn¡¯t wait to tell her that he was still alive. Suddenly, a silhouette appeared right in front of him. It was Nico, who had just finished speaking to William. ¡°Where are you headed, Boss?¡± Cedrick pushed him aside. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Gwendolyn the truth.¡± ¡°Are you sure about this, Boss? Last night was your first time seeing her again after six months. That was your best chance toe clean, but you lost it, and you even put up an act with her. She¡¯s in her worst possible mood now. Do you think she¡¯d forgive you if you went back to her now?¡± No, she won¡¯t. Telling her the truth now would be asking for trouble, and his ns would only backfire. The woman might even be so infuriated that she cut him offpletely, refusing to ever contact him again. Even so, he couldn¡¯t bear to wait another second, knowing that she loved him. Suppressing the joy in his heart, Cedrick began to think rationally. Nico tried to help too. ¡°Or perhaps you can pretend to have lost your memories to make her feel sorry for you? And when the time is right, you can tell her you¡¯ve recovered your memories. She probably won¡¯t be as mad if you did this.¡± That¡¯s a n, all right. Cedrick fell silent for a moment and eventually shook his head. ¡°Forget it. Gwendolyn¡¯s too smart,¡± he responded frigidly. ¡°If she finds out that I pretended to have lost my memories, that¡¯ll onlyplicate things further, and I might end up turning into a corpse for real.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s still best to find a good time to tell her the truth¡ªat least while she hasn¡¯t beenpletely ovee by rage,¡± he concluded. Then, he pondered for a while longer before instructing Nico, ¡°Have Gwendolyne over to my vi tomorrow night. Tell her I¡¯d like to treat her to dinner.¡± Nico looked uncertain. ¡°Will shee, though?¡± ¡°She will,¡± Cedrick answered confidently. ¡°She¡¯s always been overly skeptical, so whatever happened last night wouldn¡¯t be enough to clear her doubts. I¡¯m guessing she¡¯ll start doing her own investigation for the next few days too. She might even try to look into me, so I¡¯ll have toe clean to her before she finds out the truth on her own.¡± Nico nodded fervently. That makes absolute sense. We can¡¯t wait any longer. It¡¯s all over if Ms. Harris finds out that Boss has been hiding the truth from her all along! After making all the necessary arrangements, Cedrick walked out of Valentino¡¯s vi. Yet, the man seemed to recall something just after taking a few steps forward, and he turned back. ¡°This isn¡¯t enough. Find me a thick horsewhip¡ªone that¡¯s thick enough to cause some really serious tears on the skin.¡± Nico grimaced as he heard that. ¡°Boss¡­ You¡¯re so brutal even to yourself!¡± s, Cedrick remained firm in his decision. That¡¯s my only choice if I want her back. I missed my best chance toe cleanst night. If she beats me tomorrow night, that means she¡¯s actually willing to forgive me, and hopefully, that¡¯d help to ease her anger too. But things won¡¯t be as simple if she doesn¡¯t even botherying a finger on me. Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Cedrick sighed lightly. He felt immensely guilty thinking about William¡¯s words. ¡°Hurry up and go. I¡¯ve made her suffer so much in the past six months. I should give her something in return so I don¡¯t feel too indebted to her.¡± Nico hesitated to speak. You no longer owe Ms. Gwendolyn anything! Nevertheless, Nico knew Cedrick loved Gwendolyn too much and would do everything he could to please her. He¡¯s expressing his love too humbly. Nico genuinely felt sorry for him, yet he was powerless to help. ¡­ When Gwendolyn woke up, the first thing she did was check her body for any visible hickeys. The cotton quilt was neatly folded on the small couch. It seemed Cedrick didn¡¯t take advantage of herst night. He was even willing to sleep on the couch. She realized he was quite a decent man, unlike the rumors she had heard about him. Gwendolyn remembered everything that happened before she got drunk and passed outst night, but because of the effect of alcohol, her mind felt fuzzy. The matter rted to Cedrick was too peculiar. She reckoned she needed to investigate further. When Gwendolyn learned Valentino had invited her for breakfast, she intended to refuse initially, but recalling Cedrick¡¯s matter, she thought it would be best for her to go. At the dining table, Gwendolyn chatted with Valentino, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson, I heard Mr. Jenson came back only half a year ago. I met him in personst night. He¡¯s quite handsome, but why are there rumors that he looks hideous?¡± Valentino replied without the slightest change in his expression, ¡°Since he gained a foothold in Salinsburgh, too many socialites approached and offered themselves to him. He didn¡¯t like that, so he deliberately spread the rumor.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Gwendolyn smiled and probed further, ¡°Has he always looked like this?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± He gave her a puzzled look, his wrinkled face expressing genuine confusion. Gwendolyn¡¯s grin widened. ¡°I just thought that since Mr. Jenson is so good-looking, I wanted to see if there were any old photos of him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid there aren¡¯t any. He hates being photographed.¡± Does he hate being photographed? That¡¯s somewhat simr to Maverick. Subsequently, she fell silent and continued eating her breakfast. On the way home, Gwendolyn was reminded of the words Triss told her at The Honey Bee. Triss said, ¡°Cedrick is quite pitiful. He returned from carrying out a mission in the army half a year ago, covered in blood and badly wounded. I heard he was coughing up blood every day. Grandpa was petrified to see him like that.¡± Maverick passed away six months ago, and Cedrick returned home, scarred and battered, also half a year ago. Is there a connection between the two events? To resolve her doubts, she made a call to Triss. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you took the initiative to contact me, Gwendolyn. I¡¯m really ttered!¡± Wearing a solemn expression, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Triss, I¡¯m calling you today mainly to ask about Cedrick.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Triss eximed with a meaningful tone. ¡°I understand, Gwendolyn. What do you want to know about Cedrick? I¡¯ll tell you everything I know!¡± ¡°When did Cedrick return to the Jenson residence half a year ago?¡± Triss, on the other end of the line, contemted for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s been quite some time. I can¡¯t remember clearly.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°In that case, do you notice anything different about the current Cedrick?¡± ¡°Not really. Cedrick was sent to the army at a young age and rarely returned home, especially after he turned fifteen. He didn¡¯te back until half a year ago.¡± What? He didn¡¯t go home since he turned fifteen? That¡¯s weird. Gwendolyn added, ¡°Previously, I heard you mentioned he was injured when he returned half a year ago. Where was he injured? Were his face and back severely wounded?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about that. I didn¡¯t see his wounds. I only heard from the servants at Grandpa¡¯s vi that he was gravely hurt. Still, I¡¯m certain his injuries were severe because when he was fighting for power with Uncle Yael, he always showed up in a wheelchair and wearing a mask.¡± After asking so many questions, it seemed to Gwendolyn she didn¡¯t acquire much useful information. She made some small talk with Triss before hanging up the call. William, who was driving in the front row, asked curiously, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, why are you suddenly concerned about Mr. Jenson? Did sparks fly between you twost night?¡± Busy trying to wrap her mind around that matter, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t bother responding to his teasing. She merely said, ¡°William, I can¡¯t shake off this feeling that something¡¯s weird. I feel that Maverick isn¡¯t dead.¡± William was unconvinced. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, how is that possible? Putting aside the fact that Mr. Wright was already seriously injured before the incident, his chances of surviving were meager since he charged into the fray alone. Besides, Justin watched his body being cremated.¡± ¡°What if the body is fake? What if they found someone with a simr physique as him to rece him?¡± William considered her words carefully. ¡°That is possible, but if Mr. Wright is still alive, why isn¡¯t he returning to find you? He was really eager to stay by your side every day in the past.¡± That was also one thing that baffled Gwendolyn. As she stared out of the car window and became lost in her thoughts, Cedrick¡¯s demeanorst night surfaced in her mind. Despite how well Cedrick concealed his emotions when he looked at her, she couldn¡¯t help but sense that he knew her. Furthermore, his small habitual movements when he was nervous were exactly the same as Maverick. Could such a coincidence really happen? But why doesn¡¯t he have any scars? A burn caused by the S40 strong corrosive potion would definitely leave scars, and it¡¯s difficult to remove them altogether. Gwendolyn reckoned she needed to ask Asher about that. Before that, she went to Angle¡¯s new building. The decorations there were basicallyplete, and in a few days, they could pick a good day to move all the operations from the Faike branch. Upon reaching the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor, she sat in the executive chair while William stood guard outside the door. Gwendolyn checked Asher¡¯s flight schedule. After finding out it was his rest day, she dialed his number. ¡°Asher, does ourboratory have any medication that¡¯s good for removing scars, capable of making the skin appear as if it has been marred?¡± Asher replied, ¡°No. Even the best medication won¡¯t allow the skin to recover to that extent. Why are you asking this? Are you hurt?¡± She immediately shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m curious, so I¡¯m just asking.¡± ¡°If you want the skin to recover entirely without any trace, I¡¯m afraid stic surgery, specifically a skin graft, is the only option. The country with the best technology worldwide is Hawen.¡± Gwendolyn was quiet for a long while before she spoke solemnly. ¡°Asher, do you know about my engagement to Cedrick?¡± ¡°Yes. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Cedrick seems to be a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Information about his whereabouts is very well guarded, so I can¡¯t investigate from my side. But if it were you, could you find out any records of him traveling abroad in the past six months?¡± Asher was confused. ¡°Why do you suddenly want to check his travel records?¡± She smiled. ¡°I¡¯m engaged to him, so I want to know more about him.¡± Asher thought that was reasonable. Although he had his doubts, he didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Sure, but it won¡¯t be easy to investigate Cedrick¡¯s itinerary. I¡¯ll need some time.¡± ¡°How long do you need?¡± ¡°At the earliest, tomorrow afternoon.¡± ¡­ Gwendolyn stayed awake the entire night. She hadn¡¯t been getting quality rest over the past six months; however, during the recent two nights she spent alone with Cedrick, she slept surprisingly well that she almost didn¡¯t wake up for the entire night. Perhaps by tomorrow, all my doubts will be cleared. Chapter 227 Chapter 227 The next day, Nico entered the CEO¡¯s office at Jenson Group, his expression downtrodden. Yesterday, he had visited all the racecourses in Salinsburgh and finally found a whip specifically designed for taming fierce and wild horses. After cing it on Jenson¡¯s desk, he said, ¡°This whip is quite rough in texture. Please handle it with care, Boss.¡± Cedrickpsed into thoughtful silence before keeping it away. Nico, expressing his concern, reminded Jenson once again. ¡°Boss, if Ms. Gwendolyn intends to whip you tonight, please don¡¯t put up a strong front. Instead, try to look aggrieved, scream in pain, and shed a few tears to invoke her sympathy.¡± Cedrick nodded in response. His mind was upied with thoughts on how to approach the conversation with Gwendolynter that evening. Cedrick¡¯s apparentck of concern over his warning caused Nico to feel anxious. However, upon reflection, he realized if Cedrick was not afraid of being physically harmed, why should he worry about him? Meanwhile, Gwendolyn went about her usual routine at Angle Corporation, focusing on the preparations before work. She remained busy throughout the day and nothing unusual happened. Before leaving work, she received the information Asher had finishedpiling and faxed it to her. Gwendolyn printed all the documents and studied them closely. Her expression turned more and more icy as she went through all the information. The information showed that Cedrick did make a trip to Hawen a few months ago. With no existing business connections between the Jenson family and Hawen, Gwendolyn struggled to find a usible reason for Cedrick¡¯s visit, apart from the possibility of him undergoing stic surgery. Does that mean Cedrick lied to mest night? While she was contemting, William knocked on her door and came in. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, Nico just came by and said Mr. Jenson would like to invite you to have dinner at the vi after work. He will personally cook for you. Would you like to go?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Gwendolyn answered with a flinch. Since it was difficult for her to investigate, she thought it would be better if she could test the waters directly. After tidying up her desk, she stuffed the documents into her bag and grabbed her coat from the rack. She then nced at William and said, ¡°It¡¯s time to leave. Let¡¯s go.¡± William was taken aback but quickly caught up with her. Upon arriving at the Jenson residence, Gwendolyn could not recall the winding paths in the Jenson residence. She had to get Logan to guide her to Cedrick¡¯s vi again. As they reached the front of Cedrick¡¯s vi, Nico and a few other bodyguards were already waiting for her at the door. Seeing Gwendolyn walking over, Nico respectfully bowed slightly. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Not really. I saw you before I left Cedrick¡¯s vi thest time I was here,¡± she replied. Err¡­ Feeling awkward, Nico froze for a moment before diverting to another topic. ¡°Pleasee in, Ms. Gwendolyn. Mr. Jenson is waiting for you.¡± Gwendolyn just looked away and walked into the vi alone. Not long after she took a few steps forward, Nico whispered behind her, ¡°Mr. Jenson has to attend an urgent mission tonight. After dinner, he¡¯ll need to leave the city for the operation. It¡¯ll be a confrontation that involves real gunfire.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gwendolyn cast him a baffling nce. Nico seemed frustrated, suppressing the urge to say more. He sighed silently and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Please go inside.¡± His words piqued Gwendolyn¡¯s curiosity, but seeing that he was unwilling to provide further exnation, she decided not to press him any further. She continued walking alone to the vi. Just when she was about to knock on the door, she noticed the front door was slightly ajar. Gwendolyn gently pushed open the door, but before she could fully see the situation inside, someone emerged from behind, grasping her wrist and pulling her in. She found herself wrapped in a familiar andforting embrace, and the person holding her tightly was trembling uncontrobly. Gwendolyn could sense that he was anxious. ¡°What are you doing, Mr. Jenson?¡± Cedrick wore a thin silk shirt, his lips pressed tightly together, but he did not utter a word in response. After releasing her from his arms, he staggered backward, his knees slowly sinking, and his back straightened as he knelt before her. That familiar action struck a chord within her, and in an instant, realization washed over her. Her eyes welled up with tears, turning red. ¡°Maverick.¡± Her words came out as a statement and not a question. ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s me.¡± Cedrick did not press his voice intentionally. Cedrick noticed the shimmering teardrops in her glistening eyes, his heart constricted with pain. Gwendolyn looked up to rein in the tears that threatened to spill. She then cast an indifferent re at him. ¡°So you deceived me. You were never dead, yet you didn¡¯t come to find me. Instead, you deliberately orchestrated an emotionally maniptive will just to witness my misery? Just look at how easily I could be fooled. How foolish I am to not able to see through your act!¡± ¡°No, Gwenny. I¡­¡± Gwendolyn interjected, ¡°Shut up! You don¡¯t deserve to call me Gwenny. I thought you enjoy calling me Ms. Harris?¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart sank when she reprimanded him. He held her hands and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was my mistakest night. I should have been honest but hesitated. But I didn¡¯t deceive you when I wrote that will. Let me exin!¡± ¡°Do you honestly expect me to believe you now? Why did you choose to confess tonight? Is it because you realized I saw through your acting and was on the verge of uncovering the truth? You have no choice but toe clean, huh?¡± she retorted. Cedrick was struck dumb for a moment, realizing she had partially guessed the truth. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes wereced with a tinge of sarcasm as she saw the reaction on his face, knowing that her guess was indeed correct. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re Maverick or Cedrick. I hate liars, especially those who faked their deaths! This is too much!¡± Cedrick looked up, trying to hold his tears. ¡°I didn¡¯t deceive your feelings. Can you please listen to me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it. I don¡¯t want to see you ever again!¡± She swung her hand away, turned around, and was about to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t go, Gwenny!¡± Cedrick caught up with her, wanting to embrace her from behind. ¡°Get lost!¡± she shouted, pping him lightly on the cheek, not exerting much force. Hence, only a slight mark of redness appeared on Cedrick¡¯s cheek. Gwendolyn could not help but pause as she noticed that despite being pped, he was still smiling. His dark eyes glistened, and he said in a soft voice, ¡°Is one p sufficient to release your anger? If not, feel free to continue striking me. I can endure the pain, don¡¯t worry!¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Gwendolyn gave him a cold re, unable to decipher the game he was ying as his eyes revealed no emotions. Cedrick continued, ¡°But you¡¯ll hurt your hand if you hit me. Here, use this to whip me. Keep going until you are happy.¡± As he spoke, he reached behind his waist and pulled out a riding whip, offering it to her with a cating gesture. Gwendolyn refused to take the whip or offer any response to his words. Despite Gwendolyn¡¯s reluctance, Cedrick took matters into his own hands and forcefully ced the handle of the whip in her grasp. He then straightened his back, tilting his head with anticipation in his eyes, obediently awaiting the punishment. He had set aside his ego in front of her. However, the more Gwendolyn looked at him, the angrier she became. She nced at the whip in her hand and suddenly recalled what Nico had said earlier. It was only now that she understood his intention. He has a mission to carry outter, yet he¡¯s going through all this trouble to ask for my forgiveness. He pretends to be aggrieved and afraid of pain, but at the same time, he instructs Nico to remind me not to be too harsh with him. The act they put up is so unprofessional. Does he think I¡¯ll show him mercy because of that? Gwendolyn thought it would be a waste of his effort if she did not whip him to her heart¡¯s content. Chapter 228 Chapter 228 How thoughtful of you? It seems like you¡¯ve prepared yourself to get beaten up. Cedrick, do you think that I don¡¯t dare to hurt you now that you have a high status?¡± Cedrick lifted his head up to fix his eyes on her. His eyes were red as he voiced, ¡°I don¡¯t care about the status. I¡¯m merely an ordinary guy in front of you. If I¡¯ve made you angry, I don¡¯t mind getting beaten up by you.¡± His words sounded genuinepared to what he said yesterday. ¡°If that¡¯s how you want it, so be it.¡± As she raised her horsewhip, her gaze looked hostile. At that moment, she was ovee with the urge to beat Cedrick up badly. I can¡¯t wait to see Cedrick covered in blood. I¡¯ll beat him up until he¡¯s unable to get up and beg me for mercy! Nevertheless, she held herself back, taking only half of her strength to whip two times on his left arm. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Her gaze remained indifferent. Cedrick furrowed his brows slightly, attempting to control his arm from trembling too hard. Taking a breath silently, he lied with a beam, ¡°Not at all.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t use all her strength and assumed his worst condition was getting a swollen wound on his arm. However, those two whips were powerful enough to hurt Cedrick. The spikes on the whip snagged his shirt and torn his flesh open, leaving two bloody cuts on his arm. It was a ghastly sight to see Cedrick¡¯s white shirt drenched in blood. Noticing something was not right, Gwendolyn looked down at the whip in her hand. The horsewhip was a rough job, and there were sharp prickles on it. Watching the horsewhip covered in blood, Gwendolyn came to a realization and felt the pain for him. Just when she felt that way, a wave of fury crashed through her abruptly, causing her to lose her rationality. He¡¯s acting well by pretending to be hurt! With that thought, Gwendolyn lifted his chin lightly and sneered, ¡°Cedrick, I can¡¯t believe that you¡¯re putting on a pitiful act to garner sympathy from me. Is it fun to fool me with your tricks?¡± Feeling aggrieved, Cedrick said pitifully, ¡°I have no intention to fool you! It¡¯s my fault for making you sad. I¡¯m willing to ept any form of punishment from you. However, can you please let me exin after you¡¯ve calmed downter?¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and replied harshly, ¡°Sure. Wait till I finish whipping you. We¡¯ll talkter if you still have the energy to exin!¡± Then, Cedrick shut his eyes with his teeth gritted and waited obediently. Once again, Gwendolyn raised the horsewhip shakily. Cedrick waited for a long while to hear that loud sound of a whip-crack but nothing happened. Knowing the lethal force of the horsewhip, Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t hard-hearted enough tond another strike on him. Cedrick had been putting on an act to lie to Gwendolyn. Because of that, she harbored guilt for the past six months. Nevertheless, she was washed over by the urge to beat Cedrick to death after knowing the truth. Although feeling extremely angry, Gwendolyn felt sorry to inflict a serious injury on Cedrick. At that instant, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of defeat for falling for Cedrick¡¯s dirty tricks. Feeling upset, Gwendolyn released her anger by whipping the floor vigorously. The ear-splitting sound reverberated through the air. It was so loud that Nico and William could hear the whipping sound outside the vi. After she was done, Gwendolyn threw the horsewhip away. She didn¡¯t bother to look at Cedrick who was still kneeling on the ground. Walking toward the door, she pushed it open and left without saying a word. Nico was standing outside the vi and didn¡¯t expect Gwendolyn toe out that fast. At that time, he was holding a medical kit. He wanted to hide the kit from Gwendolyn, but it was already toote. Nico¡¯s attempt to hide the kit made the situation worse instead. Gwendolyn was under the impression that he was ying along with Cedrick to put up an act to fool her. Gwendolyn scoffed, ¡°What a well-prepared arrangement! It¡¯s a waste of talent for him to fool a silly me with his smart tricks.¡± Hearing that, Nico paled. ¡°N-No. This is a misunderstanding. I prepared these for Mr. Jenson. It has nothing to do with him.¡± Nico heard the loud terrifying crack and was worried about Cedrick. Furthermore, Cedrick had to go on a missionter. Worrying about Cedrick, Nico prepared the medical kit so that he could get him bandaged right away. The look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes grew cold. She didn¡¯t believe his words at all. Meanwhile, Nico felt helpless realizing that he might haveplicated the situation. He stuttered anxiously, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, this has nothing to do with Mr. Jenson. It¡¯s me.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to hear anything and left the Jenson residence without looking back. Original from N?velDrama.Org. After she left, Nico pped his mouth with frustration and went into the vi to check on Cedrick¡¯s condition. Cedrick had already gotten up from the ground and could be seen sitting on the couch in a daze. Hastily, Nico went up to him to check on his wounds and was relieved to see only two marks on his left arm. His movements were smooth and swift as he cleaned the wounds for him. Cedrick had splinters from that horsewhip in his flesh. Noticing that, Nico cautiously picked them up with a tweezer andter proceeded with disinfection. As he recalled what happened outside the door, Nico told Cedrick everything. ¡°Sorry, boss. I¡¯m worried that you would be injured badly. It¡¯s dangerous for you to go on a mission with wounds. I didn¡¯t expect to be caught by Ms. Gwendolyn. After the mission, I¡¯ll exin everything to her again.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes darkened gradually. ¡°It¡¯s useless to exin. Whatever you¡¯re doing is my doing as well. She won¡¯t believe me anymore.¡± Seeing how sad Cedrick was, Nico couldn¡¯t help but me himself for causing the trouble and pped himself hard in the face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault!¡± He continued to p himself. His force was so great that his face turned swollen from the impact. Instantly, blood started to ooze from the corner of his mouth. Cedrick stopped him from tormenting himself by saying, ¡°It was me who messed everything up. I¡¯ll exin to her when I have the chance. Don¡¯t me yourself for that.¡± His words didn¡¯t make Nico feel better at all. To Nico, Cedrick was his savior, brother, and his family. Even though he might argue with Cedrick sometimes, Nico would always look out for him. Shortly after that, a team of people left the Jenson residence and departed the city overnight. ¡­ Gwendolyn had an insomnia again. She appreciated Cedrick for saving her life and getting hurt because of her in the past. However, it turned out that Cedrick intentionally faked his death toy a guilt trip on her. After knowing that she had been fooled, she couldn¡¯t help but cry over and over again. Gwendolyn had even thought of carrying the torch for him for the rest of her life. In fact, she even had a n to return to Faike to live near his cemetery in the future. Now that she thought of it, she merely felt that the whole affair was really ridiculous. I have been nothing but a fool! There was no way that she could forgive Cedrick for what he had done. However, she couldn¡¯t bear to vent all her anger on him by whipping him to his death. Perhaps, the only way for her to forget everything was to stop contacting him and cut ties with him. Gwendolyn stayed up for the whole night and contemted. After a night of thinking, she finally made up her mind. The next morning, she put on some makeup and went out to the Jenson residence to look for Valentino. Valentino could tell that she had something to say by her solemn expression. After breakfast, he brought her to the guest room. Upon hearing what she said, a look of disbelief spread across Valentino¡¯s face. He turned to exchange nces with Logan who was equally confused. ¡°Did I mishear you, Gwendolyn? It¡¯s only been two days since the announcement of your engagement with Cedrick, and now you¡¯re telling me that you want to call off the engagement?¡± Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze remained determined. ¡°Yes, Old Mr. Jenson. I think Mr. Cedrick and I aren¡¯t a good match for each other. If we could, I¡¯d like to¡­ be friends.¡± Valentino was surprised by her decision. ¡°Did he mistreat you, Gwendolyn? Tell me, and I¡¯ll take care of him!¡± ¡°No, he wouldn¡¯t dare do that. I just¡­¡± Fifteen minutester, Gwendolyn emerged, grim-faced, from Valentino¡¯s vi. William was waiting for her at the entrance. Upon her appearance, he hurried forward. ¡°How did it go, Ms. Gwendolyn? Did Old Mr. Jenson agree?¡± Gwendolyn gazed down glumly and shook her head. Valentino had walked her through the pros and cons. Her engagement with Cedrick was not an ordinary affair, as it concerned many other people as well. In fact, Cedrick had publicized their wedding to also be a business alliance. If the engagement were to be broken off two days after the reception, Harris Group and Jenson Group would face massive financial losses and negative publicity online. Needless to say, the repercussions would be huge. Furthermore, Valentino no longer got involved with the Jenson family¡¯s major affairs. As Cedrick was the new head of the family, she would have to discuss the matter with him. Knowing him, he would not consent to it even if she pointed a gun at his head. Gwendolyn was furious, yet she could not think of anything else. Cedrick has me trapped well and proper this time! She could finally understand why Treyton and Eloise had been engaged for two years, yet they remained together even though they truly despised her. For the children of a rich family, in particr, an engagement built on a business alliance was not easy to call off. Forget it. She heaved a long sigh. I¡¯ll n it all over again soon. For now, I don¡¯t even want to think of that brute, Cedrick. ¡°Starting from today, I will not entertain Cedrick, his bodyguards, or his subordinates if theye to see me.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± William nodded. Then, he followed in her wake as she departed. The pair walked from Valentino¡¯s vi to the Jensons¡¯ majestic residence in a single file. When they turned the corner, they did not notice the young man in a blue suit studying her through his fine, gold- rimmed sses. Xander Jenson narrowed his eyes and adjusted his sses with nonchnt elegance. ¡°Is that the heiress of the Harris family who¡¯s engaged to Cedrick?¡± he asked his bodyguard behind him. ¡°It appears so, Mr. Jenson,¡± the bodyguard replied after taking a closer look. ¡°She¡¯s beautiful, but she does not seem to be in a good mood. Find out what she¡¯s doing here today.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± The bodyguard left noiselessly and returned ten minutester. ¡°She¡¯s here to back out of her engagement, Mr. Jenson,¡± he reported upon reappearing at Xander¡¯s side, ¡°but Old Mr. Jenson did not agree.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Back out of her engagement?¡± Xanderpsed into a thoughtful reverie. ¡°Cedrick was the one who wanted to get married. Apparently, she does not feel the same way about him.¡± ¡°It was said that Mr. Cedrick did not attend her party,¡± the bodyguard added. ¡°It appears that she¡¯s not important to him.¡± ¡°Preposterous.¡± Xander sneered. ¡°You think you know what goes on in Cedrick¡¯s head, do you? We¡¯ll find out after a little digging.¡± ¡°What do you mean, Mr. Jenson?¡± Xander gave an enigmatic smile. ¡°Cedrick is out on a mission,¡± he said loftily. ¡°I heard it involves a gunfight. What do you think will happen if he finds out his fianc¨¦e wants out and that the old man agreed to it?¡± The bodyguard grasped his meaning at once. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Jenson. I will make sure the news reaches Mr. Cedrick¡¯s ears exactly as it happened.¡± ¡­ As the matter of calling off the engagement remained unresolved, Gwendolyn set that notion aside and went to Angle. After days of preparation, it is almostplete. Over the next two days, I¡¯ll bring over the more important artists from Angle, pick a date, and we will officiate the grand opening of the new building. Seated at her desk before herputer, she worked the entire day, going over the case file of every artist thepany had signed in her stringent selective process. Gwendolyn remained lost at work until the end of the workday when a scuffle sounded outside the corridor. It was so loud that it drew her notice. Setting her documents down, she was prepared to go outside for a look when the office door suddenly flew open. Nico came in with his eyes red, and hands covered in blood. Puzzled, Gwendolyn nced outside and found Ezra and Quinton on the ground, clutching their shins and grimacing in agony. She turned back to re at him. ¡°How dare you assault my people in front of me?¡± Nico bowed his head, looking sincerely apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Gwendolyn. I have sent half a dozen people to look for you but they had been rebuffed by those two, so I was forced toe myself and barge in through drastic measures. Don¡¯t worry, though. The blood on me is not theirs. They¡¯re just mildly hurt.¡± I have left instructions that I would not see Cedrick¡¯s people. It must be something serious for Nico to barge in. Gwendolyn lowered her voice. ¡°What¡¯s the emergency? What happened?¡± Nico¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Jenson. He¡¯s on the way to the hospital, but he refuses to enter the emergency room until he sees you onest time. I beg you, Ms. Gwendolyn, go to him!¡± Cedrick is quite a good fighter. What could have happened to him? Gwendolyn¡¯s heart lurched. Upon second thought, however, she grew dubious. ¡°He¡¯s always deceiving me with cheap tactics. Isn¡¯t he sick of them by now? Before this, he faked his death. This time, he¡¯s gravely ill. What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Nico wept. If it were not inappropriate, he would have knocked her out and carried her to the hospital himself. ¡°We were fighting terrorists in the mountains of Salinsburgh, and Mr. Jenson was shot in the chest; the blood all over me is his. He wants to see you onest time. I¡¯m begging you, Ms. Gwendolyn! Please go see him!¡± Gazing at him weeping in earnest, she felt her heart twinge with pity. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you just this once! If Cedrick lies to me again, I will never forgive him!¡± Without packing her things, she picked up her bag and went with Nico to the hospital. A group was gathered in the corridor outside the emergency room and making a huge ruckus that escted to the point of a heated quarrel, but they all looked solemn. Some even had tears in their eyes. Gwendolyn quickened her stride. Leading the way, Nico shouted, ¡°Make way! Stop squabbling! Ms. Gwendolyn is here!¡± The group fell silent immediately. Some even stepped aside orderly to let her pass. Venturing deeper, Gwendolyn soon detected the overwhelming, metallic stench of blood. Laying on a stretcher, Cedrick was deathly pale. He had streaks of blood all over him. The spot where his heart was, in particr, was drenched in a deep crimson. There was blood still oozing out. Even the stretcher had been stained red. The scene was so bloody that Gwendolyn remained in shock for a long while. He¡¯s not lying this time! He has lost so much blood! Gwendolyn pped her hand over her mouth in horror as her tears fell, rolling off her cheeks. Her feet felt like lead that every step she took was impossibly heavy. Cedrick¡¯s dull eyes brightened at her approach. He raised a hand, bloody and trembling, to grab her tiny wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I-I¡¯m not in pain, but my heart hurts when you cry.¡± Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Gwendolyn¡¯s tears turned into a stream. She could not stop them. Clutching his hand, she screamed, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare die, Cedrick! I¡¯m going to marry someone else if you die and make you regret it as long as you live!¡± Cedrick¡¯s bloody lips parted in a painful smile. ¡°T-That won¡¯t do. You¡¯re mine.¡± Despite her tears, she managed a chuckle before turning to the two paramedics in the corner. ¡°I¡¯m here. Send him in, quickly.¡± Cedrick would not let go of her hand. ¡°Let me exin, Gwenny, please?¡± ¡°Be good and go through with the surgery. I¡¯ll be out here. You can tell me everything when it¡¯s over.¡± Cedrick¡¯s visage was paler than ever. It looked as though every drop of blood had been drained from him. It was in he could not hold on much longer. However, he stubbornly maintained his grip on her wrist¡ªhe wanted to get a good look at her. There was only a ten percent chance of survival if he went in, and he feared he might never regain consciousness. Gwendolyn¡¯s heart wrenched painfully. She forced herself to pry his fingers apart and watched him being wheeled into the emergency room. The light came on, indicating that the surgery was underway. Gwendolyn sat outside and gazed nkly into space. The tears streaking her face had not yet dried. It was her first time shedding tears in front of that many people, but she did not care. All she knew was that she did not want Cedrick to die. She waited for three hours until nine that night, yet Cedrick still had not emerged. Nico sent the squadron home. With a simrly grave expression, he sat on the bench across from Gwendolyn. Then, as if he had considered something at length, he began, ¡°You thought that Mr. Jenson had lied to you about the incident involving the abandoned warehouse six months ago. He was not. He did enter knowing full well he might die. If not for the rest of the boys making it there in time to rescue what¡¯s left of him, he would have died in the fire.¡± Gwendolyn looked up slowly to meet his gaze. Nico continued glumly, ¡°As for why he did not return to you despite having survived, the Jenson family had been going through internal strife, and he needed to return and deal with it. The whip scars on his back are a consequence of his defiance of the Jenson familyws. Though he was fortunate to have survived at the warehouse, vast areas of the skin on his face had been burned, and he had broken his leg in the fight. His internal organs, too, are not faring any better.¡± His gaze flicked and he skipped the part about the virus in Cedrick¡¯s body. Aside from his duties to oversee his family, the reason why Cedrick did not return to Faike was that the professor still had not discovered aplete cure for the virus within him, and it necessitated a trip to theboratory every other day. It was only with the help of the suppressant that he lived until now. Cedrick had once decreed that not a word of any of it was to be mentioned to Gwendolyn. Pulling himself out of his reverie, Nico continued, ¡°When has Mr. Jenson not put his life on the line to win you back, Ms. Gwendolyn? He¡¯s true to you! He¡¯s a fool when ites to love for he only knows how to give everything he has but would never tell you any of his pain. He was ashamed to reunite with you after regaining his identity because he was afraid you would hate him more if he mentioned it. He feared that he would lose you forever. He has bumbled himself before you.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head. Her heart was filled with guilt to the brim, and it tormented her. She saw Cedrick covered in blood every time shut her eyes. Worse still, something like that had happened to him more than once. He must have been in even worse shape during the incident at the abandoned warehouse six months ago. However, she was still furious that he had kept all that from her. She med him for his deception and she even whipped him. Gwendolyn felt her heart sear with pain as though it was stabbed. The intensity of it made her gasp for breath. ¡°I am sorry.¡± Aside from those three words, she could not offer anything else to make up for it. ¡°An apology is not what he needs. Just a little bit of love on your part will send him over the moon.¡± Nico sighed at the sight of her despondency. ¡°He no longer owes you anything, Ms. Gwendolyn, but when he found out that you were grieving for six months because of him, he med himself. He had me procure a whip not because he wanted to put on a charade for you but because he was trying his best to make up for the pain you have endured for six months. That you did, but he too, has been tormented by illnesses for half a year.¡± ¡°When you mmed the door and left yesterday, he wanted to wait for you toe back so he could exin things, but you went to Old Mr. Jenson and asked to call off the engagement instead. Worse still, Old Mr. Jenson agreed to it. He was only hit by the bullet because he had been distracted.¡± Gwendolyn stopped crying at once and frowned. ¡°I did see Old Mr. Jenson and proposed for the engagement to be called off, but he did not agree. I was nning on doing something about it. Who told you this?¡± Nico met her gaze. Realizing that something did not add up, he quickly sent somebody to investigate. Half an hourter, the atmosphere at the entrance to the emergency room grew tense. ¡°It was somebody sent by Mr. Xander.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s features hardened. ¡°Xander? How well does Cedrick get along with him?¡± Nico appeared serious. ¡°Not very well. The internal strife the Jenson family went through was caused by Mr. Yael, Mr. Xander¡¯s father. Mr. Cedrick had only been back for three days and the power nearly fell to Mr. Yael¡¯s hands; he only managed to snatch it back after almost two weeks.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn pursed her lips. Looking down, she did not speak. After a spell of silence, her gaze grew colder. ¡°Do you know how to sneak into the Jenson residence without being seen?¡± Nico was taken aback. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, are you suggesting¡­¡± There was a cold, dangerous glint in Gwendolyn¡¯s eye. ¡°It¡¯s time to settle the score with him.¡± ¡­ It was eleven in the evening, and a muffled cascade was sounding in the elegantly decorated bedroom. Having just showered and d in a bathrobe, Xander was drying his hair as he emerged from the bathroom. As soon as he entered the bedroom, the lights in his chandelier began flickering. The curtains, too, rustled from being whipped by the wind. A sense of foreboding filled the space. Noticing something awry, he put his gold-rimmed sses on. At some point, a woman had seated herself on his bed. Her lithe legs were crossed sideways, and her arms were folded. She looked seductive yet elegant. It was a very pleasant sight. I must say, Cedrick¡¯s little fianc¨¦e is beautiful, with an amazing body. Even I want to¡­ He gave a polite smile. ¡°When did youe her, Ms. Harris? Why would you sneak into my bedroom at this time of night instead ofing through the front door? This is a little inappropriate, don¡¯t you think?¡± Gwendolyn did not speak. She merely fixed him with her re. As she was in Xander¡¯s vi, he had an army of bodyguards at his disposal. Furthermore, Xander had no reason to fear her as she was a woman. Instead, with a wicked smirk, he teased her. ¡°Could you have taken an interest in me, Ms. Harris? Are you trying to make my dear cousin a cuck?¡± Gwendolyn scowled, her expression turning vicious. Leaping to her feet, she appeared in a sh before Xander and swung the handle of her dagger at his neck. Xander tried to defend himself but was too weak to do so. As a result, he was knocked out mercilessly. He fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. Gwendolyn gazed down at him. ¡°Turns out you only look the part of a brute but you¡¯re actually pathetic.¡± When Xander next awoke, he found himself tied to an office chair, and a scrap of cloth stuffed in his mouth. Leaning against the table, Gwendolyn toyed idly with her dagger. The glint of the de illuminated her seductive yet cruel face. Oh, no¡­ This is not a woman to be trifled with. Xander was beginning to grow afraid. Turning toward the door, he gave muffled yells. ¡°It¡¯s no use. I¡¯ve knocked out all your bodyguards. Besides, it¡¯s the middle of the night. You can scream yourself silly and no one wille for you.¡± Being usually handsome and gentlemanly, Xander was now in a wretched state. His hair was wet, and he was still d in his bathrobe. Nico heard Gwendolyn¡¯s coy teasing tone from outside the window. It sounded strange to his ears. Why does it sound like she¡¯s going to bang him? Could she have taken a liking to him and decided not to teach him a lesson? If Boss finds out, he might be so pissed that he woulde here from the operating table! Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Nico quickly pped himself to stop his imagination from going wild. This is my first time having a solo mission with Ms. Gwendolyn, perhaps this is who she is. I should have faith in her feelings for Boss. However, he must never find out about the details!Back in the bedroom, Gwendolyn grazed the tip of the dagger across Xander¡¯s face and down his neck before finally arriving at his heart. Xander shook throughout, terrified that the de would pierce his skin. The room was filled with a dangerous and menacing oppression atmosphere, gripping him so hard that he felt suffocated. Gwendolyn sneered at his fright. ¡°It only takes a dagger to reduce you to such a pathetic state. You¡¯re so weak. How dare you pick a fight with Ceddy?¡± Xander seemed to have taken offense by her words and the look of terror on his face suddenly diminished. He knew very well that Gwendolyn did not dare to kill him within the Jenson residence, nor was she able to do so. Noticing that he had calmed down, Gwendolyn guessed what he was thinking. ¡°You¡¯re right. I won¡¯t kill you. In fact, I prefer to torture you slowly. I¡¯m here today to settle this score. Because of you, Ceddy is currently undergoing surgery. How dare you sleep soundly in your bed while he is fighting for his life? I want you to remain awake and experience his suffering tenfold.¡± With a vicious glint in her eyes, she pressed the dagger¡¯s tip slightly against Xander, yet with enough restraint not to pierce his heart. Blood began oozing out, staining Xander¡¯s snow-white bathrobe around his chest. It caused him so much pain that he turned pale. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is just a taste. I won¡¯t take your life so quickly.¡± Gwendolyn sheathed the dagger, then produced a bag of powder and showed Xander. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°This is itching powder. I will sprinkle it on you and once the itch bes unbearable, your muscles will twitch uncontrobly and quicken your cirction, which will cause the blood to flow out from the wound. I wonder if you would die from excessive blood loss if you bleed throughout the night? Shall we try it?¡± Even though her tone was innocent, her words were venomous. Xander gazed at the powder in her hand with terror, shaking his head, and started mumbling. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was frigid. Without wasting her breath on him further, she scattered the powder all over him mercilessly, starting from his neck. Then, she summoned Nico for some areas where it was inconvenient for her to reach. Upon finding out that she intended to scatter the powder all over Xander¡¯s groin, Nico shuddered so hard that his own member retracted in fear. He gave her a thumbs-up of admiration. This move is so savage and vicious! If Xander sumbs, he¡¯s not going to make it. ¡­ After hours of surgery, the bullet lodged in Cedrick¡¯s chest was finally removed. Fortunately, it had missed his heart by two inches. However, he did lose a lot of blood and was very weak. As he required rest, he was transferred to an ordinary ward. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± The anesthetic was beginning to wear off. His voice was hoarse and weak. Instinctively, he scanned his surroundings. The spotlessly bright ward was empty. There was no sign of Gwendolyn, who he was thinking about nor anybody else there. He was alone in his bed. There was a sense of mncholic solitude in the air. Though the anesthetic had notpletely worn off, he felt a searing pain in his chest. It was so bad that he could not breathe. Gwendolyn said she would wait for me and let me exin. She wouldn¡¯t lie to me. He braced himself against the dizziness, ignoring his freshly bandaged chest, and got out of bed. His legs were so shaky that he was forced to inch his way to the door while leaning against the wall for support. It was silent outside the corridor. There was nobody else there aside from him. Only an asional cold gust blew into his pale face, bringing with it a sharp sting. His eyes grew red. The heavy feeling in his chest was bing unbearable as an intense feeling of sadness gripped him. The ringing pain in his chest felt a hundred times more painful than when the bullet had struck him. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± Where are you? You still won¡¯t forgive me? He wanted to search for Gwendolyn, but the walk out of the ward hadpletely drained him. Weak and shaky all over, he was forced to lean against the door. Motivated by seeing Gwendolyn, however, he did his best to remain conscious. Halfway through making her rounds, a nurse on duty turned pale with fright when she caught sight of him and hurried over to help him up. ¡°Why are you out of bed, Mr. Jenson? You just went through an operation, and you cannot afford to catch a cold! Go back inside.¡± Cedrick avoided her arm, refusing to let her touch him. ¡°Where is Ms. Harris?¡± he asked with great effort. ¡°Ms. Harris had gone a long time ago. It¡¯s past midnight now, so she probably won¡¯t being back. Your health is more important, Mr. Jenson. Please get back inside!¡± Cedrick felt so awful that he gasped for breath. She¡¯s gone. True enough, she wouldn¡¯t forgive me. She won¡¯t even hear what I have to say. A lump rose in his throat. The empty corridor echoed with his hacking coughs. The nurse felt sorry for him. ¡°Mr. Jenson¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± He red at her. Despite the severity of his condition, his gaze was filled with rage. Frightened, the nurse fell silent and trotted away. Once again, he became the only person in the lonely corridor. He was so weak that he could no longer stand. Thus, leaning against the door, he eased himself slowly into a squat before curling up at the door. Gwenny. I refuse to believe you would be that cruel. I won¡¯t be going anywhere. ¡­ After dealing with Xander, Gwendolyn left Nico behind to take care of the aftermath and sped back to the hospital. As soon as she emerged from the elevators, she saw the man curled up at the far end of the corridor. His helpless and frail silhouette caused a stab of pain in her heart. Sprinting over at once, she helped him up and held him in her arms. ¡°What are you doing out here?¡± she chided gently. ¡°You should be resting after your surgery!¡± Cedrick hugged her tightly around the waist. His joy of seeing her again made his nose twinge and his eyes felt moist. ¡°I knew it. I knew you woulde back.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s heart seared even more painfully. She did not have the heart to let him suffer alone in the operating theater. However, she nned to take advantage of the waiting time to execute her revenge n against Xander. It was just that she did not expect the operation toplete earlier. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I had been careless, but I did not leave. All right, let¡¯s not stand out here in the cold anymore. We¡¯ll talk inside.¡± Cedrick wrapped his arm around her waist and ced his chin on her shoulder, unwilling to let go. Gwendolyn was about to pry his hands open when she remembered his wound and got distracted as she was worried about injuring him. ¡°I told you I¡¯m not going anywhere. Are you going to defy me? I¡¯ll leave if you do!¡± Though she meant it as a joke, Cedrick turned pale and let go of her immediately before he fell to his knees. Noticing what he was doing, Gwendolyn quickly grabbed him. Her heart ached. A mere threat from me scares him so much to the point that he seeks forgiveness for every little thing. Have I treated him so badly in the past to make him feel this insecure? How could the head of the Jenson family lower himself? In fact, before her arrival at the hospital, Cedrick had been tormented by worry and self-doubt for over half an hour. As soon as he saw her, he wanted nothing more than to pull his heart out and show it to her. Gwendolyn willed herself not to cry. Sighing helplessly, she employed the coaxing tone he had once used on her. ¡°I¡¯m not angry, and I¡¯m not going anywhere. Be good,y down, and I¡¯ll hear you out, all right?¡± Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Gwendolyn helped Cedrick to the hospital bed and pulled the nket over him. He had just finished surgery and was still weak. He was cold and trembling non-stop after standing in the hallway for over half an hour. Gwendolyn turned on the heater in the room before sitting beside his bed. She poured a ss of warm water and handed it to him, saying, ¡°Nico told me everything when you were in the operation theatre, so you don¡¯t have to exin anything to me. However, I do have some questions that I need you to answer.¡± Cedrick nodded in response. ¡°Why did you be Maverick? If you¡¯re Cedrick, then where¡¯s the real Maverick?¡± Cedrick reached over to grab her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm. ¡°Do you remember me telling you about the car ident from thirteen years ago?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°That year, the real Maverick Wright was fifteen years old when he died trying to save my life. Back then, the Jenson family was in chaos. I was young and couldn¡¯tpete for the power of the family with both my uncles. When Maverick was still a child, his grandfather sent him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so his family had never seen his face. Hence, Grandpa let me temporarily take Maverick¡¯s name so I could go into hiding. Thirteen years ago, everyone who escorted me in the car died in that ident. No one knows in Faike knows my real identity. Because of that, I became Maverick Wright without much hurdle, helping him to look after his grandfather and mother and aiding in the prosperity of Wright Construction Group.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze. ¡°What about half a year ago? Was your jar of ashes fake too? Justin watched as they pushed you into the cremation oven. Was that also fake?¡± ¡°The ashes are real. They belong to the real Maverick. As for the body, Nico found someone in the warehouse with a simr build to mine. Because of the fire, his face was unrecognizable. That was why Justin did not notice it wasn¡¯t me.¡± His voice was deep, and his tone was soft as he spoke. His eyes glistened with tears as he stared at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwenny, I didn¡¯t mean to lie to you. After I returned to Salinsburgh to snatch back the power of the Jenson family¡­ It is impossible for me to turn back. However, I was so happy when I found out you were the daughter of the Harris family.¡± Gwendolyn was silent as she looked at him. Cedrick got nervous when faced with such an emotionless stare. ¡°That night at your weing party, I was wrong for pretending to not recognize you. I¡¯m also sorry for lying to you and putting on an act in front of you. If you¡¯re still angry, you can continue to punish me. I¡¯m willing to bear everything. Is that okay?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not okay.¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart sank. He did not expect that she would reject him so swiftly. He looked down and stared at his hands. The disappointment he felt could not be hidden behind his gaze. While he was not paying any attention to her, Gwendolyn grabbed the chance to lean forward and ce gentle kisses on his eyes, forehead, cheeks, and,stly, his lips. Every one of her kisses was filled with patience and adoration. ¡°Silly. I¡¯m not angry anymore.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes sparkled as he looked at her. ¡°You won¡¯t cancel our wedding then? You¡¯ll forgive me?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Gwendolyn kissed him once more, proving herself with her actions. They closed their eyes and got lost in the kiss. Their breaths intertwined with each other as they kissed more frantically. Cedrick quickly backed away when she licked his lips and asked for permission to deepen the kiss. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Gwendolyn did not get up and remained close to him. ¡°That¡¯s not it¡­¡± Cedrick felt breathless as he spoke. The tips of his ears were red, and his eyes darkened as he looked away. Gwendolyn immediately guessed what was going on when she saw his actions. ¡°Do you want it?¡± Red spread across Cedrick¡¯s ears as he blinked furiously. He hesitated momentarily before plucking up his courage to ask, ¡°Can I?¡± Gwendolyn unbuttoned the top two buttons of Cedrick¡¯s hospital gown. The injury on his chest was still wrapped inyers of thick bandages. His arm, which had been whipped the night before, was also bandaged. Plus, he just finished surgery. He was still weak, so he shouldn¡¯t move around too much. Taking his health into consideration, Gwendolyn blurted, ¡°With your condition, you can¡¯t do much, huh?¡± By the time she realized what she had said, it was toote for her to take it back. Cedrick¡¯s desire to dominate her was triggered. ¡°Who says I can¡¯t do much? Do you want to give it a try?¡± Although his face was pale, his handsomeness could still weaken Gwendolyn¡¯s knees. Because of what Gwendolyn said, Cedrick¡¯s fighting spirit was awakened. With that, he forcefully got up to prove how capable he was. Gwendolyn giggled and swiftly pushed him back onto the bed, preventing him from getting up. She leaned forward, her rosy lips near his reddened ears as she seductively said, ¡°Ceddy, what I meant to say is, let me do it tonight. I want to bed you¡­¡± Khaff! Khaff! Khaff! Her words immediately extinguished the fire in Cedrick¡¯s eyes. the blush spread from his ears to his neck. Does she even know what she¡¯s saying? Under his doubtful gaze, Gwendolyn climbed onto the bed and got on top of him. Afraid that she would put pressure on his wounds, she knelt on the bed instead. She confidently gripped his chin and leaned forward to kiss him once more. Cedrick was ovee with desire. My Gwenny is such a minx! This time, he allowed himself to get lost in the pleasure. He did not care if his life would be in danger after they did the deed. In fact, he would willingly give up his life to make love to Gwendolyn. Cedrick instinctively wrapped his arms around her. However, she quickly stopped him and ced them back on the bed. ¡°You¡¯re still injured. Keep your hands to yourself, and don¡¯t move!¡± ¡°But they don¡¯t listen to me. They¡¯re saying that they want to hug you.¡± Gwendolyn gripped his chin and forced him to look at her. ¡°How disobedient. Do you want to be tied up instead?¡± Cedrick pursed his lips and averted his gaze. Gwendolyn did not bother waiting for his reply as she got out of bed and opened the bedside drawer. She took out a new packet of bandages and held his arms above his head before tying them to the metal railings of the bed. Compared to the previous two times when she used a belt to tie him up roughly, she was more gentle and patient this time around. After she was done, she asked, ¡°How is it? Does it hurt?¡± Cedrick shook his head earnestly. Gwendolyn was not in a rush to continue. Instead, she went to check if the room was locked. She then locked the windows and pulled the curtains close, not wanting anyone to interrupt her fun. After everything wasplete, she got back onto the bed. Her rosy, red lips pouted as she lightly blew air onto Cedrick¡¯s face. ¡°Be a good boy, and don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll take my time and y with you gently!¡± It was the dead of night, and everyone was deep in slumbend. No one knew of or heard the rhythmic melody ying from Cedrick¡¯s room. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡­ It was four in the morning. There was only a dimly litmp in the VIP hospital suite. The dim light reflected on Gwendolyn¡¯s sleeping face and emphasized her beauty. She was a poison that Cedrick willingly allowed himself to be addicted to. Cedrick who was wearing his hospital gown, sat on the side of the bed and quietly watched the sleeping beauty. His long and slender fingers danced across her forehead, eyes, nose, and lips, tracing the outline of her good looks. Gwendolyn was sleeping peacefully and did not wake up from his feather-like touches. She was exhausted after their ¡°exercise.¡± Cedrick leaned forward and lovingly ced a soft kiss on her forehead. Suddenly, a soft bird-like whistle could be heard from outside the door. It was Nico. He could not open the door or dare to open it. Hence, he resorted to using a signal to check in with Cedrick. Cedrick got up, slowly approached the door, and opened it. Before Nico could speak, Cedrick held a finger to his lips to silence Nico. ¡°Gwenny is tired. Don¡¯t wake her up by making too much noise.¡± Nico nodded. Cedrick stepped out of the room, and the two made their way to the end of the hallway. ¡°What is it?¡± Nico was about to speak when his gaze identally fell onto Cedrick¡¯s chest, which was exposed from the unbuttoned hospital gown. Nico¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he stared at the deep red and purple markings littering Cedrick¡¯s neck and corbone. ¡°What the f*ck? Boss, why are you injured again?¡± Cedrick looked down and saw hickeys of various sizes and shapes. Instead of hurrying to cover himself up, he shamelessly widened the cor of the gown wider to show off the markings to Nico. ¡°It¡¯s Gwenny¡¯s artwork. What do you think? Isn¡¯t it pretty?¡± Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Cedrick sounded proud when he said that. It seemed like he was in a good mood. He made himself seem like a piece of artwork that Gwendolyn had carefully and attentivelypleted. Nico stared at him in shock. Cedrick¡¯s gaze seemed to be saying¡­ Look! My wife did this! Isn¡¯t she amazing? Khaff! Khaff! ¡°It looks wonderful!¡± Nico gulped before nodding andplimenting Cedrick. ¡°Ms. Harris is indeed impressive!¡± Satisfied, Cedrick buttoned his gown to cover the love bites. Seeing that Cedrick was in a good mood, Nico hurriedly tried to im credit. ¡°Boss, shouldn¡¯t I get some credit since you were able to enjoy yourself? Ms. Harris must¡¯ve been touched by everything that I told her. Is that enough for me to redeem myself?¡± Nico was nervous. Previously, he was deducted two years¡¯ worth of sry. ¡°You did well.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curved into a smile. He emanated an elegant yet arrogant aura as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll return the previously deducted sry. On top of that, I¡¯ll also give you a six-month bonus.¡± Nico cheered inwardly. Ahhhh! Boss is the best! He¡¯s the world¡¯s kindest leader! However, Nico was still worried about Cedrick¡¯s condition. ¡°But, Boss, please don¡¯t use such a dirty trick in the future. Although you knew beforehand that you weren¡¯t shot in the heart, your life will be in danger from losing so much blood.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes darkened as he shot a look at Nico. ¡°Are you saying there will be a next time? Are you hoping that Gwenny and I will argue again?¡± Nico turned pale with fear. ¡°Touch wood! I was just spouting nonsense. Boss, please don¡¯t deduct my sry. You haven¡¯t even banked in the money¡­¡± Sh*t! I take back what I said about the boss being the world¡¯s kindest man! He¡¯s so unpredictable, temperamental, and unreasonable! Cedrick could not see through Nico to discover the rage and curses thetter was thinking in his mind. His expression turned hostile as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s get to business.¡± Nico quickly regained hisposure and straightened his back. ¡°Tonight, Ms. Harris secretly brought me to the Jenson residence and imed some benefits from Mr. Xander for you.¡± After knowing that Gwendolyn had not left, Cedrick¡¯s expression softened. ¡°What did she do?¡± ¡°She¡­¡± Nico paused momentarily as he tried to find the right words to say. ¡°She stabbed a knife through Mr. Xander¡¯s chest and tied him up before pouring itching powder all over him. She was quite vicious with her act!¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows into a frown. His tone was icy as he replied, ¡°She even poured the powder onto his private parts?¡± ¡°No! Of course not! I helped her do that!¡± Nico hurried to wave his hand, denying Cedrick¡¯s im. He tried to please thetter by buttering up to him and said, ¡°Boss, you have such a nice figure. How could Ms. Harrisy her eyes on a skinny man like Mr. Xander?¡± Cedrick scoffed but lost the frown on his lips when he heard that. Nico continued, ¡°However, this isn¡¯t a small matter since Mr. Yael is not one to back down from a threat. He definitely won¡¯t let this slide. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll throw a fit tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°What are you afraid of? Let them cause trouble if that¡¯s what they want, but allow them to only do it in the ancestral hall at the Jenson residence. Send some people to stand guard. Don¡¯t allow any of them to make a scene at the Harris residence.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± ¡°All right. Run along now. I¡¯ll go back and apany Gwenny.¡± Cedrick waved his hand to dismiss Nico. Without waiting for thetter to respond, he returned to the room. Nico stared at Cedrick¡¯s retreating figure and tutted. My, my¡­ Boss is in such a good mood after he gotid. Cedrick disliked having a female nurse change his IV drip. Hence, a male nurse entered the room the next morning with a stainless-steel medical tray. When the nurse pushed open the door, he was greeted by a shocking scene. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick, who wore a hospital gown, was sitting beside the bed and carefully feeding Gwendolyn. She had just woken up and was still in bed. The nurse was confused. Who the heck is the actual patient? He stood rooted to the ground, dumbfounded. He stared at Cedrick¡¯srge and muscr back and was impressed by thetter¡¯s adoration for Gwendolyn. This is a master ss level of spoiling one¡¯s wife! Cedrick could not be bothered if anyone saw them. The only thing on his mind was that Gwendolyn was tired from their activities at night and needed to replenish her energy. Besides, it had taken him much effort to win back his sweetheart. It was only natural that he would spoil her. He was going to pour all his love and attention onto her so that she would never leave him. He wanted to make sure he spoiled her so much that she would not be able to handle her daily affairs. On the other hand, Gwendolyn thought differently. She stopped Cedrick from continuing to feed her when she noticed the male nurse standing at the door. ¡°Are you here to change his IV drip? Come over.¡± The nurse carefully brought the tray over. Cedrick instinctively held out his left hand to let the nurse insert the needle. Gwendolyn was about to get out of bed and let Cedrick sit in a morefortable position to receive the IV drip. As soon as she got up, Cedrick ced a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down. He fondly said, ¡°You worked hardst night. Lie down a little longer. Is your waist sore? I¡¯ll help you massage it later.¡± Gwendolyn immediately flushed a bright red. There¡¯s still an outsider here! How can he say something so shameless and misleading? ¡°B*gger off!¡± Gwendolyn gently pushed his chest as her face got redder in embarrassment. In the end, she pulled the nket over her head and hid herself. How cute. Cedrick¡¯s lips tugged into a grin as he stared at her. In the next second, his gaze shifted to the thousand-watt ¡°light bulb¡± beside him. He red at the male nurse and coldly said, ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± The nurse quickly changed the IV drip and left the room. Cedrick nced at Gwendolyn, who was still under the nket. His right hand disobediently reached into the nket and gently massaged her slender waist. ¡°Are you feeling better from the massage? Now you know how hard it is to be a man.¡± His deep voice was maic. Still hidden under the nket, she remained silent yet inwardly agreed to Cedrick¡¯s words. Those few hoursst night almost broke her waist. Until now, her legs were still trembling from how weak she was. However, women who sought sexual pleasure could not lose to their male other halves. Gwendolyn lifted the nket and struggled to sit up. Not admitting defeat, she pouted and eximed, ¡°Oh, hush! Wait until you get better! I¡¯ll make sure you beg me to stop! Besides, I was very fiercest night!¡± Cedrick¡¯s smile widened as he reached out to pull her close to him. He lightly rubbed his nose against hers and acted coy. ¡°Well, then¡­ If you¡¯re that fierce, why don¡¯t you finish breakfast, and we can have some dessert? I want more¡­¡± Gwendolyn reached up and pushed his face away. ¡°You shameless b*stard! Can¡¯t you be more aware of the surroundings?¡± Cedrick was unfazed by her cursing as he leaned forward and snuggled against her chest. If I were shameful, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to chase after you. I would¡¯ve been brutally murdered and burned to ashes instead! Gwendolyn could not help thinking that he was really pushing his luck. She grumpily ruffled his hair before smoothing it down. She repeated her actions andughed as she had her fun. The two were messing around when someone suddenly knocked on the door. In walked Yael¡¯s bodyguard, Charlie Yandell. He solemnly said, ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Xander was injured last night. Ms. Harris seems to be involved in that incident. She¡¯s your fianc¨¦e, so naturally, you¡¯re deemed her aplice. I¡¯ll have to ask you to please make a trip to the ancestral hall.¡± Cedrick did not reply. As though he had not heard what Charlie said, he remained silent in Gwendolyn¡¯s arms. On the other hand, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned grim as she red at Charlie. ¡°Are you blind? Can¡¯t you see that Ceddy is injured badly? How dare Xander sends hisckey to invite Ceddy to the ancestral hall? Is he courting death? Besides, who¡¯s the leader of the Jenson family right now? Is this the attitude a subordinate should have when talking to the head of the family?¡± Chapter 234 Chapter 234 ¡°Yes. I¡¯m terribly sorry. This is my first time rying a message. Please forgive me, Mr. Jenson, Ms. Harris.¡± Taking advantage of his identity as Yael¡¯s subordinate, Charlie didn¡¯t bother showing Cedrick and Gwendolyn any respect. To Charlie¡¯s surprise, however, Gwendolyn reprimanded him before Cedrick could speak. Startled by the woman¡¯s aggressiveness, he immediately showed subservience. Cedrick felt his heart leap with joy when he heard Gwendolyn defending him. Putting on an amicable expression, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll be done with my IV drip in two hours¡¯ time. I¡¯ll return by then.¡± ¡°Noted.¡± Before Charlie left, he added, ¡°Since Ms. Harris is your fianc¨¦e, perhaps she shoulde with you to the ancestral hall.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Cedrick replied tly. He wanted to lean against Gwendolyn¡¯s chest again after the door closed, but she pinched his cheek instead. ¡°Ouch! Gwenny¡­¡± Cedrick grimaced in pain but didn¡¯t dodge her. Amused and annoyed at the same time, Gwendolyn loosened her grip and said, ¡°Well yed, Cedrick. That was quite crafty of you. You made me the bad guy, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m just happy you defended me.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn let go of him and rubbed his reddened cheek gently with her thumb. Cedrick beamed, enjoying the affection he was receiving. The next second, however, his expression turned serious instantly when he thought of the matter concerning Xander. ¡°Gwenny, I¡¯ll send you back to the Harris residenceter. You don¡¯t have to go to the Jenson family¡¯s ancestral hall.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Gwendolyn questioned, her tone cid. ¡°Everyone on the inte knows I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e. Besides, what happenedst night was indeed my doing. I should be there, no? Though the Jensons won¡¯t be able to do anything to me, I don¡¯t want to miss a good show.¡± Cedrick tapped her nose dotingly upon hearing that. ¡°All right, then. If that¡¯s what you want, we shall go there together.¡± After the IV treatment was done, Gwendolyn helped Cedrick put on a shirt and a suit. The love bites he had on his body were impossible to ignore, and the ones on his neck, in particr, were so obvious that they could not be concealed. He looked as if he had been taken advantage of. Gwendolyn regretted her actions when she saw that. I should¡¯ve been more gentle and exercised restraint! With that in mind, she grabbed a scarf and wrapped it around Cedrick¡¯s neck. Cedrick was baffled. ¡°Gwenny, summer is approaching. Why are you putting a scarf on me?¡± ¡°Why not? You should be recuperating right after going through surgery, but since you have no choice but to return because of Xander, I have to make sure you¡¯re warm, no? I don¡¯t want you to catch a cold.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cedrick relented, allowing her to wrap the scarf around his neck and help him put on his gloves. In the end, almost his entire body was wrapped up tight. The two then held hands as they made their way over to the Jenson residence together. At that moment, everyone was sitting in their respective seats in the ancestral hall. Yael, Valentino¡¯s second son, and David, Valentino¡¯s fifth son, were also present. Moreover, Triss, David¡¯s daughter, was there, too. Almost all of the Jenson family members were there except for Xander and Cedrick¡¯s aunt, Tania Jenson. Nobody said a word in the ancestral hall as they waited for Cedrick. Meanwhile, the wind blew, and the candles on the Jenson family¡¯s altar flickered. The atmosphere in the ancestral hall was undoubtedly tense and eerie. Valentino, who was sitting at the head of the table, was drinking his coffee silently and solemnly. Soon, Cedrick and Gwendolyn entered the ancestral hall hand in hand calmly andposedly. The moment Cedrick entered the ancestral hall, everyone except Valentino stood up and greeted respectfully, ¡°Mr. Cedrick.¡± Cedrick nodded, and everyone sat back down. ¡°Hi, Grandpa.¡± ¡°Hi, Old Mr. Jenson.¡± The couple walked up to Valentino and greeted him. Valentino¡¯s heart melted when he heard Gwendolyn¡¯s sweet voice. He also couldn¡¯t help sparing Cedrick a nce when he saw the couple enter while holding hands. Nice one, Cedrick! She was demanding to call off the engagement just two days ago, and he¡¯s already gotten her cated. As expected of my favorite grandson! ¡°Good girl. Have a seat. Don¡¯t stand around,¡± Valentino replied. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The two took their seats, and Cedrick asked in a deep voice, ¡°Uncle Yael, why were you in such a rush to see me?¡± Yael rose to his feet, bowed at Valentino, and said, ¡°A few people avoided the surveince cameras and climbed into Xander¡¯s vitest night. The intruders knocked the bodyguards out and assaulted Xander brutally. Fortunately for Xander, one of the bodyguards regained consciousness in time to save Xander, who was bleeding heavily. If not for that bodyguard, Xander would¡¯ve been dead by now!¡± With that, he shot a vicious re at Gwendolyn, who remained impassive as if it had nothing to do with her. Cedrick remained expressionless upon hearing that. ¡°Where¡¯s Xander now?¡± ¡°He¡¯s hurt badly and is in aa. However, he was still conscious when the bodyguard saved himst night. Xander said the people who attacked him were Cedrick¡¯s fianc¨¦e, Ms. Harris, and Cedrick¡¯s subordinate, Nico.¡± Appearing heartbroken, Yael squeezed out a few tears and turned toward Valentino. ¡°Dad, I came here today to seek justice. I know Cedrick is now the head of the Jenson family, but does that mean he can do whatever he wishes and harm his own family?¡± Arrogance and disdain were written all over Cedrick¡¯s face. Right when he was about to stand up and talk, his face suddenly turned pale. He then frowned in pain and instinctively held his injured chest. Gwendolyn held him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± His face pale, he looked at her and spoke with difficulty. ¡°M-My wound¡­ It hurts.¡± He was okay when we had rough sexst night, and now he¡¯s in pain? Gwendolyn knew what was on Cedrick¡¯s mind, so she looked at him tenderly and said, ¡°Your body is still weak after the surgery. Let me speak on your behalf instead.¡± Yael was displeased. ¡°Ms. Harris, you¡¯re not a part of the Jenson family. I don¡¯t mind letting you listen to our discussion. However, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate for you to speak during our family meeting.¡± Gwendolyn ignored him, stood up, and turned toward Valentino. With her soft voice, she asked, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson, I¡¯m Ceddy¡¯s fianc¨¦e, so I think I should consider myself a member of the Jenson family. Ceddy is heavily injured, so he can¡¯t talk much. Since I was involved in what happenedst night, may I speak on his behalf?¡± Valentino was thrilled when he heard Gwendolyn say that she considered herself a member of the Jenson family. ¡°Of course, you can! Just say whatever you want to say. Cedrick and I are here. No one would dare to bully you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Old Mr. Jenson.¡± Gwendolyn shed a sweet smile. She then turned to look at Yael. ¡°I admit that I was involved in what happenedst night, but¡ª¡± Before Gwendolyn could finish her sentence, Yael interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m impressed, Ms. Harris. I wasn¡¯t expecting you to admit to your involvement right away. However, as Cedrick¡¯s fianc¨¦e, how could you sneak into Xander¡¯s bedroom sote at night? The consequences would be dire if word gets out!¡± Right after he said that, the expressions of everyone present changed dramatically. Triss wanted to stand up and defend Gwendolyn, but David stopped her. Sensing the peculiar gazes directed at her, Gwendolyn suddenly chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Yael was puzzled. ¡°Even my dog back at the Harris residence knows to sit and listen intently whenever I¡¯m speaking. You¡¯re already in your forties, Mr. Yael. Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s rude to interrupt someone¡¯s speech?¡± Gwendolyn mocked. With that, she turned toward Cedrick and winked mischievously at him. Cedrick¡¯s heart almost melted when he saw that. ¡°Y-You!¡± Yael saw red. How dare shepare me with her dog? Gwendolyn, on the other hand, continued wearing an innocent and pure smile. Yael would appear petty if he were to argue with someone younger than him. Amidst the tense atmosphere, Triss suddenly let out an untimely chortle. Everyone at the scene turned toward her at once. Seeing that, she cleared her throat and lowered her head awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± At that moment, Valentino stomped his cane on the ground and drew everyone¡¯s attention back. ¡°Carry on, Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°I was involved in what happenedst night, but I merely sent Nico there to teach Xander a lesson. I was taking care of Ceddy at the hospital when the incident took ce. May I know who told you I went into Xander¡¯s bedroom, Mr. Yael? You need proof to back up that usation of yours,¡± Gwendolyn stated. ¡°Even if you refuse to admit to going into Xander¡¯s room, it¡¯s a fact that you¡¯ve sent someone to harm Xander. You admitted to that yourself,¡± Yael argued. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. However, why don¡¯t you ask yourself why I wanted to teach him a lesson? When Ceddy was out on a mission yesterday, Xander sent someone to spread rumors about how I wanted to call off the engagement. Ceddy almost died because of that and had to receive emergency treatment. Don¡¯t you think Xander deserves to be taught a lesson?¡± Gwendolyn sounded so righteous even after doing something wrong, so much so that the rest of the Jensons thought her statement made sense. However, Yael sneered, ¡°You said Xander sent someone to spread rumors and ended up causing Cedrick to get hurt, but where¡¯s your proof?¡± Upon hearing that, Cedrick looked at Nico, who was standing outside the ancestral hall. In a feeble but hostile voice, Cedrick said, ¡°You want proof, Uncle Yael? I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Everyone present turned to look at Cedrick, who finally spoke up. He proceeded to remove his scarf and undo his buttons. After all, the wound on his chest was the best proof. Seeing that Cedrick was about to expose the love bites on his chest and corbones to the members of the Jenson family, Gwendolyn panicked and grabbed his shirt, preventing him from taking it off. ¡°Don¡¯t take off your clothes! Have you no shame? There are so many people around!¡± Gwendolyn uttered. Why is this jerk so shameless? I¡¯ll definitely teach him a lesson once he recovers! In response, Cedrick pursed his lips and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m a man. Exposing my chest isn¡¯t a big deal.¡± ¡°Yes, it is!¡± Gwendolyn red at him and warned in a whisper, ¡°From now on, I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s allowed to look at your body. Put your clothes back on!¡± Cedrick was happy to hear her staking her im to him. Following that, he buttoned his shirt and shot Nico a look. Nico then brought a tied-up young man into the ancestral hall and threw him into the open space in the middle of the ancestral hall. After that, Nico passed a printed document to Logan and let Logan bring it to Valentino. ¡°This is the man who was spreading the fake news when Mr. Cedrick was on a mission. When I apprehended himst night, he was about to flee after receiving a payment from Mr. Xander. His statement is attached in the document,¡± Nico reported. Valentino perused the statement carefully and shot Yael a stern look afterward. Yael was dumbfounded. Xander told me he had that man killed in the suburbsst night! How did the man end up getting caught by Nico? Valentino then handed the statement to Yael. Yael read the document three times over to confirm its authenticity. Xander¡¯s subordinates made a blunder! Cedrick has dirt on us now! ¡°Mr. Xander nearly got Mr. Cedrick, the head of the Jenson family, killed. Shouldn¡¯t he get punished ording to the Jenson family¡¯s rules?¡± Nico continued. Everyone at the scene quickly turned toward Valentino and waited for him to make a decision. Valentino stroked his beard under everyone¡¯s gaze before letting Logan help him to his feet. ¡°Cedrick, you¡¯re now the head of the Jenson family. The decision is yours. I¡¯m going back to my room to rest.¡± Cedrick nodded slightly. ¡°Take care, Grandpa.¡± ¡°Dad! Don¡¯t leave!¡± Yael yelled. If Dad leaves, no one¡¯s going to help me! I¡¯m in hot water now. This is the first time Xander does something independently, and he screwed everything up! s, Valentino ignored Yael and left the ancestral hall without looking back. After Valentino left, the rest of the members of the Jenson family followed suit. All of a sudden, only Gwendolyn, Cedrick, Yael, and Nico were left in the spacious ancestral hall. The young man that Nico had apprehended had also been taken away. Now that they were alone, Yael no longer had to care about his dignity. As such, he humbled himself and smiled ingratiatingly. ¡°Cedrick, I doubt Xander knew things would turn out this way. Perhaps it¡¯s not necessary to deem he had the intention to harm you. Furthermore, he¡¯s also injured heavily and unconscious. Shall we just call it even and move on?¡± ¡°No can do, Mr. Yael. It was my idea to teach Xander a lesson, so you¡¯re more than wee to argue with me regarding that. Meanwhile, Xander harming Ceddy is another matter altogether. As you can see, these are two different matters,¡± Gwendolyn answered instead. Yael red at her and turned back toward Cedrick. ¡°What do you say, Cedrick?¡± Cedrick carried Gwendolyn onto hisp and caressed her cheek lovingly. The coupled acted all lovey- dovey with each other right before Yael as Cedrick said, ¡°Gwenny¡¯s right. Those are two different matters.¡± With that, he turned to look at Yael coldly. ¡°I heard that Xander is still unconscious now. Is that true? Is he hurt badly?¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll give him an earful when he wakes up. I¡¯ll surely tell him to behave himself in the future!¡± Yael promised, smiling. Cedrick ignored him and looked at Nico. ¡°I want you to invite Xander here personally. Bring him here, even if you have to carry him.¡± Yael¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he immediately gave the bodyguards outside the door a look. Twenty minutester, Nico dragged Xander into the ancestral hall. ¡°Boss, Mr. Yael¡¯s bodyguards were trying to sneak Mr. Xander out of his vi just now, but I stopped them,¡± Nico reported. ¡°Good job,¡± Cedrick uttered. Xander was rescued within a few hours after the incident took ce the night before. Hence, being a sturdy man, he merely suffered minor injuries. ¡°What punishment do you have in mind, Uncle Yael?¡± Cedrick asked. I knew they were pretending from the beginning. Yael¡¯s tone softened when he replied, ¡°Xander was too immature, but luckily, you¡¯re fine. Maybe we should just give him a light punishment. I¡¯ll definitely give him a beating when we return hometer. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Xander was dissatisfied. Why should I get punished? I was just unlucky. That bullet should¡¯ve hit either Cedrick¡¯s heart or brain! Gwendolyn heard that the Jenson family was a strict and conservative family with its own set of rules and regtions, but she didn¡¯t know if the beating Yael swore he would give Xander would suffice for such an incident. Nheless, that didn¡¯t matter to her, for she was merely there to enjoy the show. Cedrick didn¡¯t respond to Yael¡¯s words, but the grim look on his face said it all. Obviously, he wasn¡¯t happy with the suggestion. Right then, Nico said on Cedrick¡¯s behalf, ¡°Mr. Yael, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too protective of your son? If Boss weren¡¯t so lucky, the Jensons might need a new head of the family now. I think what Boss wants is for Mr. Xander to receive a whipping punishment. Ten strokes, and we¡¯ll let this matter slide.¡± ¡°A whipping punishment?¡± Xander gritted his teeth in anger. ¡°Aren¡¯t you alive and well, Cedrick? Why do you want to punish me so severely? You¡¯re crossing the line!¡± With an icy look in his eyes, Cedrick added casually, ¡°You should be grateful I¡¯m alive. Otherwise, you might receive a punishment worse than that. If you continue talking nonsense, I¡¯ll add five strokes for every word you speak.¡± Logan was in charge of executing the punishments, so after he sent Valentino back to the room, he came back to the ancestral hall. Since Logan had already heard it, there was no way Xander could get out of the punishment. Thetter had to remove his shirt to receive the Jenson family¡¯s whipping punishment. At that moment, Gwendolyn was still sitting on Cedrick¡¯sp. Patting Gwendolyn on the waist, Cedrick turned to Nico. ¡°Bring Gwenny out of here. I¡¯ll be right there,¡± he instructed. ¡°Understood,¡± Nico answered. However, Gwendolyn protested, ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave! Does he need to remove his shirt? There¡¯s no way his build is sexier than yours, so I¡¯m not interested at all. I just want to watch him suffer.¡± That wasn¡¯t the only reason she wanted to stay. Another reason was that Nico once told her that six months ago, Cedrick had received the same whipping punishment for her sake. Needless to say, she was very curious about the severity of the punishment. Cedrick didn¡¯t say a word in response. As such, Gwendolyn grabbed his arm and pouted, acting coy. ¡°Please trust me, Ceddy! You¡¯re the best!¡± Ultimately, Cedrick caved in because he couldn¡¯t say no to her sweet voice. Xander was forced to kneel in the center of the ancestral hall, and his shirt was torn apart to reveal his skinny back. Before the punishment even started, he was already trembling all over like a leaf. Apparently, he feared the whip to his bones. Yael couldn¡¯t bear to watch his son getting whipped. However, Logan¡¯s presence meant that Valentino had consented to the punishment. In other words, there was nothing Yael could do to save his son. First, Logan took out the whip from a wooden box and bowed before the altar in the ancestral hall. He then bowed at Xander and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Xander.¡± As soon as Logan finished his sentence, a sharp sound rang out, and the skin on Xander¡¯s back was torn open by the whip, with blood trickling down from the cut. Due to how skinny he was, the whip seemed to strike his bones every single time. Blood sttered everywhere, making for a horrible sight. Xander endured the first couple of strokes in silence but broke down after the fifth stroke. He was in so much pain that he was crying out in agony and rolling around on the ground. He could no longer be bothered about his dignity and image because the pain was too much to handle. Meanwhile, Cedrick remained expressionless. A ruthless, frosty glint shed in his eyes as he ordered his subordinates to hold Xander still. After seven strokes, Xander fainted on the spot. Cedrick then got someone to wake Xander up by sshing a bucket of cold water onto him before Logan delivered the final two strokes. By the time Logan was done, Xander¡¯s face was as pale as a sheet, and he lost consciousness, sprawling on the ground. In the end, Yael had to get the bodyguards to carry Xander back. Xander merely received ten strokes, but his back was already covered in gaping wounds andcerations. Gwendolyn silently watched everything unfold. Although she looked calm on the outside, she was actually in shock.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. After having a firsthand view of Xander¡¯s punishment, she finally realized how terrifying the Jenson family¡¯s whipping punishment was. Xander lost consciousness, and his back is covered in severe wounds when he only received ten strokes! Ceddy endured twenty strokes while being injured back then, and he even walked me back to the vi after the punishment, all the while bearing with the pain. I can¡¯t even imagine how much pain he was in at that time. Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Gwendolyn¡¯s heart was broken. If I didn¡¯t see the punishment with my own eyes, I would never know how much pain Cedrick suffered because of me! At that moment, she was filled with guilt and sadness. Her mind was a jumbled mess, and she was in a daze when she left the Jenson residence while holding Cedrick¡¯s hand. Like a frightened little bunny, her eyes reddened after they got into the car. Cedrick then pulled her into his embrace, kissed her forehead, and uttered guiltily, ¡°You¡¯re scared, aren¡¯t you? It¡¯s my bad. Such a gory scene isn¡¯t for the faint of heart. I should¡¯ve asked Nico to bring you away.¡± Choking back on tears, Gwendolyn buried her face in his neck and sobbed. ¡°I should be the one apologizing. I¡¯ve only realized the severity of the punishment you went through. Instead offorting you back then, I even scolded you. I¡¯m such a terrible person.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± Cedrick cradled her tear-streaked face and said in a serious tone, ¡°You scolded me because you cared about me. Therefore, I couldn¡¯t be happier when you scolded me.¡± What nonsense is he talking about? With tears shining in her pretty eyes, Gwendolyn knew he was trying to console her and make her feel better. However, it didn¡¯t make her feel less guilty. ¡°That¡¯s all in the past now. My wounds are all healed, and none of them left a scar. It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Cedrick leaned in and kissed her tears away. ¡°Your tears are as precious as gems to me, so stop crying, okay? Otherwise, I might go bankrupt.¡± ¡°Who taught you all these sweet nothings?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled, amused.Original from N?velDrama.Org. Nico was focusing on the road when he noticed Gwendolyn looking in his direction. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I¡¯ve never even been in a rtionship. I¡¯m a pure and innocent boy!¡± Nico quickly exined, trying to clear his name. Fine, then. He hasn¡¯t even fallen in love before. What a poor guy. Perhaps I shouldn¡¯t make things difficult for him. Gwendolyn chose to believe Nico. Afterward, Cedrick grabbed her hand and ced it over his chest. ¡°I¡¯m speaking facts. Can you feel my heartbeat to know that I¡¯m being honest?¡± Gwendolyn leaned in carefully to feel his heartbeat as a blissful sensation washed over her. ¡°Ceddy, let me shower you with love from now on!¡± Gwendolyn smiled mischievously and kissed him on the lips. In response, Cedrick closed his eyes and deepened the kiss. The two soon engaged in a passionate and intimate session, and the atmosphere in the car grew sickly sweet. Nico tightened his grip on the steering wheel and stole asional nces at the rear-view mirror, feeling devastated. What the f*ck? They¡¯re tormenting me with their public disy of affection! This is so hurtful¡­ Can¡¯t they consider my feelings? I¡¯m still single, after all. Cedrick finally pulled away from Gwendolyn after a few minutes of making out in the car. She then touched his cheek and noticed something was amiss. ¡°Why is your face so pale? Your body is icy-cold! Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just gone through surgery, remember? It¡¯s only normal that I look pale.¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°But¡ª¡± Gwendolyn wanted to question further, but Cedrick cut her off by asking, ¡°Are you going back to the Harris residence?¡± Nico took a nce in the rear-view mirror and noticed Cedrick¡¯s hint. ¡°By the way, Boss, you have to attend an important meeting at Jenson Group today,¡± Nico immediately voiced before pretending to check the time. ¡°We have two hours before the meeting starts. When will we be heading over?¡± Hearing that Cedrick had business matters to attend to, Gwendolyn had no choice but to say, ¡°I see. I¡¯m not going back to the Harris residence, though. Please send me to Angle Corporation. The ribbon- cutting ceremony is in two days¡¯ time. I need to make some arrangements.¡± Nico turned the car around and drove to Angle Corporation. Cedrick kissed Gwendolyn on her forehead before she exited the car. ¡°Don¡¯t leave the office right after work. I¡¯lle fetch you, and we¡¯ll have dinner together.¡± Gwendolyn nodded obediently and hopped off the car. Wearing a sweet smile, she kept looking back and waving Cedrick goodbye as she made her way into the building. Cedrick rolled down the window and waved back at her, beaming as he watched her enter the building. As soon as she disappeared into the building, Cedrick could no longer suppress the metallic taste in his throat. He quickly rolled the window back up and coughed lightly with his fist over his lips. Instantly, his slender fingers were covered in blood. Nico jumped in rm. ¡°Why are you coughing up blood again, Boss?¡± ¡°Go to theboratory.¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows and elegantly wiped the blood off his lips and fingers with a napkin. There was nothing but grimness in his eyes as he stared at the blood-stained napkin. Upon arriving at theboratory, Joshua conducted another virus serum test on Cedrick. Half an hourter, the atmosphere in theboratory became tense. ¡°Everything was fine before this, so why is your condition worsening? Did you suffer any heavy injuries, Cedrick?¡± Joshua questioned. Cedrick didn¡¯t say a word in response. Suddenly, Nico revealed, ¡°Boss got shot during a mission yesterday. The bullet missed his heart by two centimeters. He even purposely dyed treatment just to win Gwendolyn back!¡± Joshua¡¯s expression turned grim, and he went on to take off Cedrick¡¯s suit and shirt to examine his wound. To Joshua¡¯s surprise, Cedrick¡¯s body was filled with love bites. What the f*ck? This man sure is thirsty for sex! ¡°You knew your immune system would be weak after surgery and losing so much blood, but instead of recuperating, you went out in the cold, moved around, and even¡­ did exercise! Do you have a death wish?¡± Joshua grumbled. In the face of his doctor, Cedrick exined sheepishly, ¡°As you can see, Gwenny came on to me. I didn¡¯t initiate it.¡± Upon hearing that, Nico lowered his head and chuckled silently before exchanging nces with Joshua. Joshua couldn¡¯t help examining the love bites on his body once more and sighed enviously. ¡°Way to go, Cedrick! How did it feel to have a girling on to you? Was it amazing?¡± Since they were all men, Cedrick didn¡¯t mind sharing his feelings. With a dark look on his face, he uttered aggressively, ¡°It was fabulous!¡± Joshua and Nico burst outughing in response. Cedrick shot them a stern look. Joshua immediately put on a serious expression and said, ¡°Um¡­ Well, please try your best to suppress your urges in the future. Even if you don¡¯t move your upper body, sexual intercourse can increase the rate of your blood flow. Your body is too weak now because you¡¯ve just undergone surgery.¡± Cedrick merely hummed in acknowledgment. Afterward, Joshua conducted another full-body checkup on Cedrick. Another half an hourter, the results came out, and the atmosphere in the room became tense once again. The air was filled with a deathly silence when Joshua eventually heaved a sigh and said, ¡°The virus spread too fast because your immune system is weak, and now, it has affected the blood supply to your heart. You might experience chronic chest pain after this.¡± Cedrick pursed his lips with a grim look in his eyes. There was no telling what was on his mind. Meanwhile, Nico was worried sick. ¡°Is it life-threatening?¡± ¡°Not for now, but you have to keep your emotions under control. I¡¯ll prescribe you some medicine. Take a pill whenever your chest hurts instead of enduring the pain and waiting for it to pass.¡± Joshua then added, ¡°Also, my suppressant still works on you for now, but if the virus continues to spread, I can¡¯t guarantee you won¡¯t suffer any side effects. In other words, I won¡¯t know how long you¡¯ll have to live.¡± A nket of silence fell over the room once again. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Cedrick maintained an indifferent expression, as if he wasn¡¯t the one the doctor had just pronounced a death sentence upon. ¡°Are you saying that if I fail to suppress the virus, I might die at any moment?¡± Joshua lowered his head without answering, seemingly replying in the affirmative. His response caused Cedrick to fall silent, as he had assumed that the suppressant would easily help him live decades more. If he had known about it earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have let Gwendolyn know that he was still alive. Thest thing he wanted was for her to be once again devastated by his death. Overwhelmed by the grim atmosphere, Nico failed to keep his emotions in check and began tearing up. Hearing his assistant¡¯s sniffles, Cedrick shot him a re. ¡°What are you crying for? I¡¯m not dead yet.¡± ¡°I¡­ I just feel¡­¡± I just feel pity for you, Boss¡­ You¡¯re barely thirty. Yet you¡¯re tormented by your illness and have to live out your days in suspense. I can¡¯t believe how cruel life is to you! Scratching his head, Joshua remarked awkwardly, ¡°Actually, the situation isn¡¯t as bad as you think. I was just painting a hypothetical scenario. As long as Cedrick gets his treatment on schedule and maintains a strong immune system, my suppressant can keep him alive for at least twenty more years.¡± The look on Nico¡¯s face was still depressed. ¡°What happens after that?¡± Joshua threw Cedrick a confident look. ¡°With twenty years to go, I¡¯m sure I¡¯lle up with an antidote that will help Cedrick live a long life.¡± The tension in the room gradually eased when everyone learned that there was still hope for a cure. Blowing his nose with a tissue, Nicoined, ¡°Prof. Mallory, can¡¯t you tell us everything in one go? You scared us to death!¡± Joshua chuckled as he injected another dose of the suppressant into Cedrick to enhance the drug¡¯s effects. On top of that, he prescribed medication to help thetter¡¯s wounds heal and painkillers for Cedrick¡¯s chest pain. Finally, he reminded his patient to restrain his lust and refrain from doing intense ¡°bed exercises.¡± Despite agreeing on the surface, Cedrick was actually not paying much attention. By the time they emerged from theb, it was almost time to get off work. Cedrick was heading to his car to pick Gwendolyn up from Angle when he encountered Asher walking in his direction in a pilot¡¯s uniform. Thetter was wearing an insidious look, while his wife, Sienna, was also beside him. One could tell that they had just disembarked from the ne, and from the scowl on their faces, it was clear that both of them were here looking for trouble. Nico greeted them politely, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to see you, Mr. Asher, Mrs. Harris.¡± While Sienna nodded in acknowledgment, the glowering Asher paid him no heed and approached Cedrick directly. Since Asher was his former brother-inw, Cedrick had to build a good rapport with him. Concealing the weird look in his eyes, he asked, ¡°What brings you to Salinsburgh, Mr. Asher?¡± Stopping in his tracks a meter away, Asher pulled out a gun and pointed it at Cedrick¡¯s head. The murderous look in his eyes couldn¡¯t be any more obvious. ¡°Mr. Asher?¡± Nico was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Cedrick was a sea of calm as a smirk broke out across his lips. Appearing rxed with his hands in his pockets, he locked gazes with Asher. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Mr. Asher?¡± Brimming with murderous intent, Asher answered, ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had waited for Cedrick for five minutes at her office, but there was still no sign of him. Ceddy promised toe and pick me up for dinner. He has always been punctual. Just as Gwendolyn was about to give him a call, she received a message from Nico. It read: Mr. Asher is trying to kill Mr. Jenson at theb. Gwendolyn was shocked. Why is Asher back so suddenly? She knitted her brows as she remembered seeking Asher¡¯s help to check Cedrick¡¯s travel records. ¡°Oh no!¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she grabbed her handbag and took a taxi to theb. Before the car came to a stop, she could already see, through the car window, Asher pointing a gun at Cedrick¡¯s head. The murderous look on his face was unmistakable. ¡°Asher, what are you doing?¡± Gwendolyn grabbed the barrel of the gun with one hand and shielded Cedrick behind her with the other. She then suggested with a smile, ¡°Whatever it is, why don¡¯t we talk about it? There¡¯s no point in resorting to violence. Bullets won¡¯t solve anything.¡± However, when Asher refused to budge, Sienna helped persuade him, ¡°Hubby, why don¡¯t you put away the gun? You might hurt Gwendolyn.¡± Only then did Asher holster his gun. Yet the hostility he exuded didn¡¯t diminish one bit. Gwendolyn quickly turned around to check on Cedrick. ¡°Did my brother hit you? Are you hurt?¡± Shaking his head, Cedrick held her warm and dainty hand as he curled his lips into a smile. ¡°There¡¯s no way I would allow anyone other than you toy a finger on me.¡± His lighthearted joke brought Gwendolyn a sense of relief. He appears fine. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Asher frowned upon seeing the two interacting intimately with each other. Narrowing his eyes, he thundered, ¡°Gwendolyn, do you know that he has been lying to you all this time and manipting your emotions?¡± Just a few days ago, he was still wondering why Gwendolyn was suddenly so intrigued with her fianc¨¦. Upon further investigations, he discovered that Cedrick was actually her ex-husband. Gwendolyn retorted, ¡°I¡¯ve already found out about that a long time ago, Asher. Everything that happened back then was nothing but a misunderstanding. It no longer bothers me now.¡± Asher¡¯s tone remained just as frosty. ¡°That¡¯s because he tricked you! You can¡¯t forgive him for wasting three years of your youth just like that. I¡¯m going to cancel the wedding for you.¡± ¡°No, Asher!¡± Gwendolyn hugged her brother by the shoulders. ¡°I have already beaten him up for his betrayal. On top of that, he has rescued me thrice in Faike. If it wasn¡¯t for him, I wouldn¡¯t have returned to Salinsburgh in one piece. Even Treyton has been moved by his actions, so please don¡¯t hold it against him anymore.¡± Asher simply gave her a silent stare. Recognizing his silence as a sign of his wavering stance, Gwendolyn pressed on. ¡°By the way, our marriage is amercial alliance. It can¡¯t be canceled without proper reason, Asher. Please reconsider your decision.¡± ¡°What are you worried about? I¡¯m more than capable of paying thepensation fees as long as that¡¯s what you want.¡± Gwendolyn subsequently resorted to pouting and speaking in an adorable voice. ¡°But Asher, that¡¯s not what I want. I want to be with him.¡± Cedrick, whose attention was on Gwendolyn throughout the exchange, felt his heart warmed by her words. As Asher contemted what he heard, Gwendolyn held his arm and continued nuzzling her head against it like an adorable kitten. ¡°I¡¯m serious, Asher.¡± When Asher turned to his wife, Sienna nodded with a smile to indicate her approval. Finally, he let out a long sigh and relented, albeit reluctant. ¡°Since you insist, I¡¯ll observe him for a while. Until you have my permission, the wedding will be put on hold just like Kieran¡¯s. You¡¯re not allowed to secretly register it or sleep with him behind my back. Otherwise, I¡¯ll break both your legs!¡± Gwendolyn felt a chill down her spine as she gulped by reflex. D*mn! I¡¯ve already done it with him. What am I going to do? Are my legs doomed? Cedrick¡¯s expression froze at the same time. When Gwendolyn didn¡¯t say anything in response, Asher shifted his gaze between the two and noticed something amiss. He was rmed, especially when he recognized the guilty look on his sister¡¯s face that indicated she had done something wrong. ¡°Have you registered your marriage?¡± Gwendolyn waved her hands frantically and shook her head. ¡°No, we haven¡¯t. I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Asher¡¯s expression turned grimmer at that. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you slept with each other?¡± ¡°When we were married¡­ Does that count?¡± Biting her lip, she swiftly averted her gaze. ¡°You weren¡¯t using your real identities back then. Moreover, you¡¯re divorced now, so it doesn¡¯t count. I¡¯m asking about now.¡± Gwendolyn fellpletely silent. All she could do was lower her head and stare at her toes anxiously with her ears flushed red. As the answer dawned upon Asher, rage ignited in his eyes and the murderous aura he emitted was enough to strike fear in everyone around him. For the second time, he raised his gun and pointed it at Cedrick. ¡°How dare you sleep with her when you¡¯re only engaged! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Gwendolyn¡¯s face lost all color when she heard her brother¡¯s angry roar. Oh no! I should¡¯ve been more disciplined. This is getting out of control! Nevertheless, Cedrick continued to maintain a defiant stance with his eyes showing no fear at all. In fact, he looked as if he would do it all over again even if given a second chance. Asher perceived Cedrick¡¯s demeanor as provocation. Overwhelmed by rage, Asher prepared to pull the trigger. ¡°No, no! You¡¯re making a mistake, Asher! It¡¯s me. I¡¯m the one who came onto him!¡± Gwendolyn mumbled as her toes clenched in embarrassment. When forced to choose between sacrificing Cedrick¡¯s life versus her legs, it made more sense to go with thetter. Asher was baffled. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check his neck. It was I¡­ who couldn¡¯t hold myself back.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s voice grew increasingly faint toward the end of her sentence. Covering her cheeks in embarrassment, she could feel a burning sensation spread from her cheeks to her neck. Filled with skepticism, Asher gradually approached Cedrick with the gun still in his hand. In the meantime, Cedrick remained motionless as he allowed Asher to unravel his woolen scarf. Finally, Asher was stunned by the sight of the other man¡¯s hickey-covered neck. This is f*cking outrageous¡­ As the air seemed to be frozen still, a strange atmosphere surrounded them. With her face buried in her hands, Gwendolyn wished for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. D*mn it. This is just great. Now everyone knows how daring I was at the hospital! Argh, this is so embarrassing! Just as she was screaming inwardly, she suddenly felt someone twist her right ear forcefully. It was so painful that her already reddened ear took on a deeper hue. ¡°Ouch! It hurts! We¡¯re in public right now, Asher! Can¡¯t you save me some face?¡± she eximed. Cedrick and Nico are watching! Asher was overwhelmed by anger. ¡°Well done, Gwendolyn! Should I then sing your praises for the glory you have brought me?¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to praise me. I¡¯m, after all, someone who keeps a low profile,¡± she replied mischievously. Just don¡¯t punish me too harshly. ¡°Hmph! Still spouting nonsense, eh?¡± With a dangerous glint in his eyes, Asher released Gwendolyn¡¯s ear and grabbed the back of her cor like he was scruffing a kitten. ¡°You¡¯reing home with me! Also, you have three minutes to say goodbye to your legs!¡± With her face buried in her hands, Gwendolyn was in despair. Asher is really mad. Is he going to kill me when we¡¯re home? Exuding an icy air, Asher turned around and walked back to his car with Gwendolyn in tow. All of a sudden, he felt someone grab his wrist. Cedrick¡¯s narrowed eyes emitted an aura that was equally frosty. ¡°Mr. Asher, Gwenny is an adult who has the right to make her own choices. On top of that, she¡¯s my fianc¨¦e. Nothing about what she has done is inappropriate.¡± ¡°Outsiders aren¡¯t allowed to interfere with how I discipline my sister!¡± Asher gave him the side-eye as he sneered, ¡°I heard that the Jenson family is strict with their upbringing. Little did I expect them to have raised such an unscrupulous failure of a man like you. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll forget how you cheated on her just because she¡¯s defending you! I¡¯ll first break her legs before coming to kill you!¡± As both men were locked in a staredown, sparks could be seen flying in the air. Just as Asher turned to leave again, Cedrick tightened his grip on the former¡¯s wrist, refusing to back down. In a fit of rage, Asher released Gwendolyn and swiftly shoved Cedrick back with his palm, exerting considerable force. Cedrick didn¡¯t fight back and allowed Asher to strike his chest. Groaning in pain, he staggered backward as his face turned pale from the excruciating pain. Asher had inadvertently struck his gunshot wound. He tried his best to swallow the blood that rushed up his throat but to no avail. The blood ended up trickling down the corner of his lips. ¡°Ceddy!¡± Gwendolyn rushed to his side to support him, her eyes reddening out of concern. Seeing him cough up blood, she could tell how heavy-handed Asher¡¯s strike was. ¡°Asher! He just had surgery after being shot yesterday. How could you hit him?¡± Asher took a look at his hand before shifting his gaze to the grimacing Cedrick. Noticing the cold sweat on Cedrick¡¯s forehead and how feeble he looked, Asher realized he wasn¡¯t pretending and felt somewhat guilty. ¡°I thought he would fight back.¡± He knew that Cedrick was good with his fists and could go toe to toe with him. Thus, he was caught by surprise when Cedrick didn¡¯t dodge his attack. Once the pain had passed, Cedrick pulled Gwendolyn into his arms and dered defiantly, ¡°Mr. Asher, I¡¯m Gwenny¡¯s fianc¨¦, and I have borne your punishment on her behalf. Is that palm strike enough? If it isn¡¯t, I¡¯m willing to sacrifice both my legs.¡± ¡°No! Ceddy¡­¡± Gwendolyn shed tears as she stared at the man, heartbroken and moved at the same time. Forcing a smile, Cedrick wiped away her tears with the tips of his fingers. It really hurts. I can¡¯t hold on any longer. ¡°Gwenny, give me a hug¡­¡± As soon as Gwendolyn held out her hands to him, he slumped weakly into her embrace. Leaning against her shoulder, he tried his best to catch his breath. Meanwhile, Asher maintained aplicated expression as he stared nkly at the two lovebirds. He was at a loss for words after making his own sister cry. Finally, Sienna came forward and let out a sigh. ¡°All right now. We are no longer living in the olden days. Both of them are already engaged, so why does sleeping with each other before marriage matter anymore? Cedrick is willing to suffer on Gwendolyn¡¯s behalf, which should be good enough for all of us. You should stop meddling with their affairs.¡± Rendered speechless, Asher turned to give his wife a look. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Why isn¡¯t she on my side? Instead, she¡¯s making me look like the bad guy here. Thereafter, he shifted his gaze toward his sister and Cedrick. One was crying her lungs out, while the other was in agonized pain. Why does it look like I¡¯m the viin breaking up a pair of lovebirds? In the end, Asher, too, let out a sigh. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let it slide this time since he¡¯s injured. Just behave yourselves, all right?¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Gwendolyn gave Asher a pitiful look, leading him to soften his tone. ¡°Take him to have his wound examined, but you¡¯re not allowed to stay over at the Jenson residence. You have toe home after that. Do you understand?¡± The ted Gwendolyn felt that her tears were not shed in vain. ¡°Thank you, Asher.¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm.¡± Upon retracting his gaze, Asher turned and left. Sienna hurried up to Gwendolyn¡¯s side and whispered, ¡°Asher is just being strict on the surface. You know how he always has a soft spot for you, so don¡¯t be angry at him, okay?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Asher¡¯s annoyed voice could be heard from the front. ¡°Coming!¡± Siennaforted Gwendolyn by patting her on the shoulder before giving Cedrick an approving look. Only then did she rush back to Asher¡¯s side. It wasn¡¯t until their car drove away that Gwendolyn checked on Cedrick¡¯s condition. ¡°Does it hurt badly? Can you still walk? Should I have Nico carry you to the car?¡± Already worried sick, Nico nodded vehemently, agreeing with Gwendolyn¡¯s suggestion. Joshua had just reminded Cedrick not to get himself hurt. Yet thetter ended up being struck the moment they left theb. Thus, Nico hurried forward and offered his shoulder for support. Unexpectedly, Cedrick ignored Nico and gave Gwendolyn a mischievous look. ¡°Actually, I stepped back a little when your brother hit me, so the injury isn¡¯t serious. It was just a charade. There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°Really? Don¡¯t you dare lie to me.¡± ¡°I swear I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± Gwendolyn snorted inughter. ¡°I¡¯ll be calling you Liar Ceddy from now on!¡± Chapter 239 Chapter 239 ¡°No, please don¡¯t¡­¡± Cedrick kissed her on the neck and, with a weak voice, whispered in her ear, ¡°I like hearing you call me Ceddy, Gwenny.¡± Gwendolyn cradled his face with both hands and kissed his bloody lips. ¡°Sure thing. I¡¯ll keep calling you Ceddy for as long as you like.¡± Cedrick¡¯s pale lips curled into a satisfied smile when he heard that. ¡°Are you able to walk?¡± Gwendolyn asked while carefully adjusting her posture to support him. ¡°Yeah.¡± Just like that, the two of them clung tightly to each other as they slowly made their way toward the car. Nico was frozen in ce as he watched the two of them from behind. He couldn¡¯t help but feel as though he was being a third wheel there. After returning to the Jenson residence, Gwendolyn began removing Cedrick¡¯s clothes the moment he lay on the bed. ¡°Take it easy, will you? Nico can handle this stuff.¡± Gwendolyn shot him an annoyed re. ¡°What, are you afraid that I would ravage your body? Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯m not so desperate that I would take advantage of a severely-wounded man!¡± ¡°Oh? In that case, I guess I¡¯m still not charming enough.¡± Cedrick sounded a little disappointed when he said that. Holding back herughter, Gwendolyn smiled and gave him a peck on the lips as a reward. That was clearly not enough for Cedrick, though. Is that all I get? Gwendolyn shed him a sweet smile when she saw the resentful look in his eyes. Her sparkly eyes were then filled with seriousness as she spoke. ¡°I¡¯d feel bad for taking advantage of you while you¡¯re injured, Ceddy! We can¡¯t do it just yet, so stop seducing me!¡± Frowning slightly, she puffed her cheeks. Nico, who was standing at the corner of the bed, simply stared at the lovey-dovey couple in awkward silence. Tsk, tsk, tsk¡­ Taking advantage? Seducing? What an interesting way to use those words! Well, given how Boss is all weak from his injuries, I suppose those words would fit the scenario perfectly! He was snapped out of his train of thought when the two of them red coldly at him and shouted in unison, ¡°Get out!¡± Nico let out an awkward chuckle and scratched the back of his head as he said, ¡°And here I thought you would need my help applying the medication, Boss. Well, I suppose I have no reason to stick around now that Gwendolyn is here. Very well, then. I shall take my leave now, so you two can carry on.¡± He then put the medication and first-aid kit down on the nightstand before stepping out of the bedroom and closing the door behind him. Gwendolyn waited until he was gone before she continued taking Cedrick¡¯s clothes off. Sure enough, the wound had ripped open, and blood had seeped through the bandages, staining it red along with his dress shirt. ¡°I knew it! You were lying to me again! How could you call this a minor injury?¡± she eximed, her eyes reddening. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; it¡¯ll take a lot more than this to kill me,¡± Cedrickforted her calmly. ¡°Shut up! You¡¯re such an idiot! Asher loves me a lot, so I¡¯d be fine even if I did go home with him! Dad and Sienna are very protective of me, so Asher would just give me a few smacks at best! It¡¯s a different story with you, though. Why did you have to stop him?¡± Cedrick gently caressed her ears that Asher had pinched earlier. Although they were no longer red, he was still heartbroken to see her get hurt, even for a little bit. ¡°Just think of it as me being impulsive. I won¡¯t do it again next time.¡± He had fallen deeply in love with Gwendolyn before he even realized it. She was the one woman he wanted to love and spoil for the rest of his life. Even I can¡¯t bring myself to hurt her, so I won¡¯t let anyone else do so, including her brother! Gwendolyn knew he wasn¡¯t actually listening to her, so she simply let out a sigh and shifted her attention toward the medication Nico had left them with. Since she had no experience with helping someone bandage their wounds, Cedrick had to guide her and assist her at times. A few hourster, they were finally done with applying the medication and bandaging the wound. Cedrick looked a little better after taking the medication. Exhausted, he then rested his head on Gwendolyn¡¯sp and fell asleep shortly after. Gwendolyn felt conflicted when she nced at the clock and saw that it was reallyte. She knew that she would definitely wake Cedrick up if she left, but Asher would get mad at her if she didn¡¯t go home. Feeling a little hesitant, Gwendolyn lowered her gaze and took a good look at Cedrick. He seems to be sleeping pretty soundly. Even when he¡¯s asleep, his facial features look as exquisite as ever. She got so mesmerized by his face that she just sat there staring at him until her phone rang. Having been snapped out of her dazed state, she nced at the screen and saw that it was a call from Sienna. ¡°How is he doing, Gwendolyn? Are his wounds serious?¡± she asked. Gwendolyn cleared her throat and pretended to sob as she replied, ¡°You know how hard Asher can hit, Sienna. Ceddy already had existing injuries, and Asher worsened things by injuring him even further! He has been unconscious ever since we reached the Jenson residence!¡± Sienna knew what Gwendolyn was getting at and pretended to ask out of concern, ¡°That bad, huh? I guess Asher did go a little too hard on him. So, what do you n on doing now? Will you being home tonight?¡± Seizing the golden opportunity that had presented itself, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Ceddy got hurt because of Asher, so I want to stay with him and take care of him for a few days. I¡¯ll head back to the Harris residence once he¡¯s all better! Will that be okay?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Sienna held the phone near her mouth and covered it with her other hand as she whispered, ¡°You can stay with him if you want. I¡¯ll talk to Asher about this, but you need to behave yourself as well. Don¡¯t¡ª¡± Asher cut her off by yelling angrily from afar, ¡°I¡¯ll break your legs if you dare sleep with him again, Gwendolyn! No one will be able to save you when that happens!¡± His voice was so loud that Gwendolyn had to move the phone far away from her ear. She then nced at Cedrick and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was still asleep. Why did Asher have to word it like that, though? He makes it sound like I¡¯m some kind of rapist who¡¯s trying to defile a demure woman! Of course, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t dare say any of that to Asher. ¡°He¡¯s an injured man, Asher! I would never take advantage of a guy while he¡¯s injured! I¡¯m not that desperate, okay?¡± she protested softly. Asher simply snorted in disdain and walked away. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwendolyn. Your brother and I haven¡¯t had sex tonight, so I¡¯ll be sure to cate him and keep him under control. You just make sure to take good care of Cedrick. He¡¯s a handsome and responsible young man. I kind of like him,¡± Sienna reassured her. ¡°How dare you say you like him, Sienna? You¡¯ve gotten rather boldtely, huh? Come here!¡± ¡°Huh? Hey! Wait! I¡¯m not done talking to¡ª¡± The line went dead all of a sudden. Gwendolyn froze for a few seconds before blushing really hard. What did Sienna just say? They haven¡¯t had sex tonight? Is it a thing for married couples to openly talk about their sex life like that? Asher seemed pretty angry, though. Will Sienna be able to walk tomorrow? Oh, well¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Sienna! You¡¯re going to have to sacrifice yourself so I can stay here and look after Cedrick! Suddenly, Gwendolyn noticed through the corner of her eye a smile on Cedrick¡¯s face. Huh? Since when did he wake up? I can¡¯t believe he was eavesdropping on my conversation! ¡°Ceddy?¡± In just the blink of an eye, Cedrick¡¯s smile disappeared without a trace, and he appeared to be sleeping soundly again. Wow, he sure is good at putting up an act! Sometimes, I can¡¯t even tell when he¡¯s lying and when he¡¯s telling the truth. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Feeling a little unhappy, Gwendolyn pouted and let out a snort. Hmph! Had he not been injured, I would have taught him a lesson by now! Chapter 240 Chapter 240 After giving it some thought, Gwendolyn came up with a mischievous idea and said in a reluctant tone, ¡°I¡¯m d to see that you¡¯re sleeping so soundly, Ceddy. You know what? I think it¡¯s better if I head back to the Harris residence. Nico can help look after you instead. I¡¯lle see you in a few days, okay?¡± Right as Gwendolyn was about to move his head off herp, Cedrick wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled his head against her chest. ¡°A burly man like Nico can¡¯t possibly take good care of me. I want you, Gwenny¡­¡± he said in a somewhat childish and adorable voice. Gwendolyn had to suppress her urge tough as she pushed his head away. ¡°That simply won¡¯t do. I left all of my luggage back at the Harris residence, so I need to head back.¡± The next thing she knew, Cedrick sat bolt upright and gave Nico a call. ¡°I want you to go shopping at the mall tomorrow. Gwenny wears size S clothes and size thirty-four shoes. Oh, and buy all the pretty-looking jewelry you can find. I want all the closets in the vi filled with clothes, you hear me?¡± he said before hanging up the phone. Cedrick then buried himself in Gwendolyn¡¯s chest once again while she was still stunned. Despite being a tall and sturdy man, he was so weak and vulnerable while injured that Gwendolyn could easily pin him down if she wanted to. Unbeknownst to her, Cedrick¡¯s lips had curled into a gleeful grin. Don¡¯t even think about leaving after moving in with me! Oblivious to his scheme, Gwendolyn was still thinking about the instructions he gave Nico earlier and asked curiously, ¡°How did you know that I wear size S clothes?¡± ¡°By hugging you.¡± Um, okay¡­ Fair enough, I guess. I¡¯m skinny, so anyone could easily figure that out if they put some effort into it. However¡­ Gwendolyn¡¯s expression slid into a frown as she pressed on, ¡°What about my shoe size, then?¡± Cedrick fell silent the moment he heard that. Oh, sh*t! Did I just expose myself there? Gwendolyn figured he was probably trying toe up with an excuse when she saw him go silent. This guy¡­ He¡¯s definitely up to something! She then extended her slender fingers and pinched his face really hard. ¡°Ouch!¡± Cedrick winced from the pain and eximed, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt me! I¡¯m injured, remember?¡± Why does she always bully me in my most vulnerable moments? Gwendolyn ignored his protests and asked, ¡°Be honest with me! Since when did you find out about my shoe size?¡± ¡°You got drunk at The Honey Bee, so I carried you to a hotel and spent the entire night looking after you. I helped clean your face and wash your legs. The other time was when you got drunk at the Jenson residence. That¡¯s all!¡± Cedrick replied. He found her soft and smooth feet to be incredibly adorable, so he decided to measure them with his hands. To Cedrick¡¯s surprise, Gwendolyn¡¯s feet were smaller than his palms. Gwendolyn¡¯s face went red when she heard that, and she instinctively curled her toes as well. I can¡¯t believe Cedrick secretly washed my feet while I was unconscious! This is so awkward! She then exerted more force in pinching Cedrick¡¯s cheek, causing him to grimace and yell in pain once again. ¡°Be honest, Cedrick! What other perverted stuff have you done to my feet? Do you have some sort of strange kink or something?¡± Cedrick felt speechless when he heard that. Huh? What kink? I¡¯m starting to think Gwendolyn is the weird one here! He was about to exin himself, but Gwendolyn stopped him for fear of hearing something she couldn¡¯t ept. ¡°You know what? Keep it to yourself for now. I need some time to calm down and process this.¡± She then pushed him away from her chest, got on her feet, and stared him down as she continued, ¡°Due to your insolent behavior and the possibility of you having a strange kink, I have decided to observe you for a little while longer! I will sleep in the next room while I am looking after you over here, so you can forget about hugging me to sleep. On top of that, I will also lock the door. If you try to force it open in the middle of the night, I will chop both your hands off! If you dare sneak into bed with me, I will cut your manhood off!¡± Gwendolyn even red at his crotch and made a chopping motion with her hand. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± Cedrick felt really helpless and speechless. I¡¯m so close to bing her husband, and now she¡¯s having second thoughts? I don¡¯t want to get labeled as a kinky pervert! He reached out to hold her hand, but she pulled it away in time, so he grabbed nothing but air. Gwendolyn then ignored his pleas and added as she walked off, ¡°Now, behave yourself and go to sleep! Say another word, and I won¡¯t talk to you for a month!¡± Just like that, Cedrick could only watch on in silence as Gwendolyn left the bedroom and closed the door behind her. He had wanted to run after her and exin himself, but he didn¡¯t want her to ignore him for a month. In fact, he couldn¡¯t even stand her ignoring him for a day. As such, he had no choice but to ept his fate and suffer in silence. Cedrick didn¡¯t dare misbehave at all after being threatened by Gwendolyn. She stayed right by his side and took great care of him throughout the next two days. With her making sure that he was taking his medication and recing his bandages on time, Cedrick was able to recover fairly quickly. Despite being busy looking after Cedrick, Gwendolyn did not neglect her work at Angle Corporation at all. She was talking to Joanne on the phone while Cedrick was taking an afternoon nap. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Joaquin Zipper, Jennifer Weller, and Jayden Connor¡­ Those are the celebrities whom I would like to focus on. Have them transferred over to Salinsburgh so I can supervise them personally. Also, the opening ceremony for Angle Corporation¡¯s branch in Salinsburgh is tomorrow. We cannot afford to have anything go wrong. Have you sent out the invitations? Make sure that all the big shots in the entertainment industry have received the invitations. Oh, I also want a list of those who have confirmed that they will be attending the opening ceremony. All right, then. Keep me updated if anything changes.¡± Nico snuck into Cedrick¡¯s room while she was distracted with her phone call in the garden. As Gwendolyn was upied with her work, Cedrick quickly snuck into the bathroom, coughed up some blood, and washed it off to remove all evidence. Nico happened to see that when he came in. ¡°Hey, Boss. Maybe you shoulde up with an excuse to get yourself checked out at theboratory again tomorrow or the day after. You seem to be coughing up blood a lot more oftentely.¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I know my body very well. It should be fine for the time being. Did you bring the suppressant?¡± Nico whipped out the syringe containing the suppressant and quickly disinfected the needle before injecting it into Cedrick¡¯s neck. Cedrick frowned slightly as it hurt very much, but he had gotten used to living with the need for regr injections. Nico had displeasure written all over his face when he recalled Asher striking Cedrick the other day. ¡°Please don¡¯t do anything reckless, Boss. Given your severe injuries, you would¡¯ve fainted on the spot if it weren¡¯t for the boosted suppressant injection.¡± He¡¯s right. Had I fainted back then, Gwendolyn and the others would probably have found out about my condition. With that in mind, Cedrick kept his head low and remained silent. Nico only let out a helpless sigh as he ced the syringe into his pocket and prepared to sneak out of the room with it. He had just stood up when Gwendolyn¡¯s voice rang out behind him. ¡°What suppressant?¡± she asked while leaningnguidly against the doorframe, staring at Cedrick and Nico, who had tensed up with his back facing her. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Nico had his back to Gwendolyn. He did not turn around immediately but surreptitiously exchanged a look with Cedrick. Gwendolyn wore a nk expression and look entirely bewildered. She had overheard the two men¡¯s conversation from afar when she came upstairs after concluding her phone call. Due to the distance, however, she did not manage to make out everything, merely catching a somewhat unfamiliar keyword. ¡°Well?¡± Receiving no response from either man, she alternated her gaze between them both. Nico whirled around. Seeing that her expression seemed genuinely calm, he reckoned that she did not hear much and fibbed with a smile, ¡°A suppressant is a type of drug found inboratories. But Mr. Jenson and I were discussing a Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s confidential mission just now, so I might not be able to disclose much to you, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gwendolyn cast her gaze at Cedrick, tilting her head a fraction. Cedrick nodded without any change in expression. ¡°You want to know, Gwenny? If you really want to know, I don¡¯t mind telling you.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment. ¡°Never mind. Since it¡¯s confidential, you¡¯d best not tell me about it. I¡¯m not that interested in knowing anyway.¡± Nico and Cedrick furtively breathed a sigh of relief at that. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two to talk, then, Ms. Gwendolyn. Please excuse me.¡± Gwendolyn dipped her head in acknowledgment. Once Nico left, she sat down on the edge of Cedrick¡¯s bed and checked his chest wound. After two days, it had healed significantly. In truth, she had not been mad at him for real for the past two days. She had merely used it as an excuse to sleep in a different room for fear that he would misbehave at night and employ everything in his arsenal to entice her into being intimate with him. I can¡¯t touch him to ensure that he recovers as soon as possible! But why are the hickeys on him still so distinct? How strange. A frown marred her countenance. Unbidden, she swung her gaze at Cedrick, only to notice the shifty and peculiar look in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s been a few days. Why haven¡¯t the hickeys on you faded at all? Did you pinch yourself for the effect?¡± ¡°Of course not! How could I possibly do such a strange thing? But it was the first time you initiated things. Isn¡¯t it nice to have them as a token of remembrance?¡± Cedrick denied it to the bitter end. Gwendolyn¡¯s brows furrowed, making it evident that she was still skeptical. ¡°I want to have a shower, Gwenny.¡± Interrupting her musings, Cedrick stared at her with unfathomable ebony eyes that glinted slightly. Without even thinking about it, Gwendolyn objected, ¡°No way! Your wound hasn¡¯t healedpletely, so it can¡¯te into contact with water. How about I have Nicoe in to help wipe you down?¡± Despondency swamped Cedrick, and he gave Gwendolyn an usatory look. ¡°You said you¡¯re the only person who can see me unclothed henceforth. Yet, you want to have Nicoe and sully me?¡± Aw, look at his forlorn expression! Gwendolyn caressed his handsome face. Out of the blue, a sh of craftiness flittered across her crystalline eyes that sparkled like stars. Her ruby-red lips curved into a seductive arc. She slowly leaned close to the man, her soft voice incredibly mesmerizing. ¡°I have no issue about serving you, Ceddy. But before that, I have a surprise for you. You¡¯ll definitely like it.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes lit up, and his heart skipped a beat. ¡°After I¡¯ve given you the surprise, your body will be sticky. At that time, I¡¯ll help to wipe you down. Then, I don¡¯t have to do it twice,¡± Gwendolyn added. Stifling the anticipation brimming in his eyes, Cedrick replied calmly, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Wait for a moment, then. I¡¯m going to get something from the adjacent room.¡± Get something? Cedrick vaguely felt that something was not quite right. By then, Gwendolyn had already raced to the adjacent bedroom like lightning before trotting back. When she returned again, she had her hands behind her with a mysterious expression on her face. Slipping off her shoes, she climbed into bed and slowly straddled him, resting her knees against the mattress. She started unfastening the remaining buttons on his shirt patiently with her fair fingers, one after another. While doing that, her cool fingers would inadvertently brush against his warm muscles every so often. It felt like she was deliberately teasing him, making him tremble violently. At the same time, his breathing sped up. This is the exact same thing that happened at the hospital that day. Has she finally seen the light and decided to be intimate with me again? s, before he could bask in delight, he saw her whipping out a dark green jar she had hidden behind her back. As soon as she removed the lid, a faint aroma of medicine wafted into the air. He was promptly at a loss. Holding his puzzled gaze, Gwendolyn dug out a blob of dark brown salve with a finger. Rubbing it between her palms until it had melted and warmed, she gently applied it to the ck and blue marks on the man¡¯s body. ¡°This is the salve I especially got from the doctor yesterday, Ceddy. It¡¯s good for blood cirction and removing blood stasis, helping to speed up the fading of bruises. The marks on your body will disappear tomorrow. Are you d?¡± She sounded exceedingly impish. Her twinkling limpid eyes emanated a determination to destroy the evidencepletely. I¡¯ll never allow anyone else to learn about the bountiful achievement I left due to an impulsive move at the hospital that day! Cedrick was rendered speechless. Damn it! I really shouldn¡¯t have had high hopes earlier! Gwendolyn noticed the utter misery in his eyes, and her curiosity was piqued. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you happy, Ceddy? Do you not like this surprise?¡± This is my first time giving someone a massage! Inhaling deeply, Cedrick clenched his jaw and hissed through gritted teeth, ¡°I do.¡± ted, Gwendolyn put even more effort into the massage with the techniques she had learned from the inte yesterday. Hehe, he¡¯ll be my firstb rat! ¡°Stay still, Ceddy. Behave. I¡¯ll try my best to be gentle!¡± Cedrick cocked his head to the side and gazed out the window. He remained motionless, allowing her to do as she pleased to him. His lips were pressed together in a thin line, and his expression was frightfully gloomy. ¡°Does it hurt? Do you need me to be gentler? Oh, never mind. I¡¯d best put some strength into it. Just put up with it for a bit. Your muscles feel great. Does it feel good, Ceddy? Am I skilled or what? Quick, compliment me!¡± Words eluded Cedrick. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re really skilled!¡± Gwendolyn had forgotten to close the bedroom door all the way when she came into the room. As such, the door was ajar. Thanks to her loud volume, Nico, who happened to be going up the stairs, overheard the entire conversation. Cedrick¡¯s final utterance that was forced through gritted teeth, especially, sounded very much suggestive. Huh? Are they doing the horizontal exercise in there? His jaw dropped. Am I listening to a live broadcast of Boss and Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s lovemaking? Damn it! My ears are bleeding! How could he do something so vigorous again when he had just behaved for two days? Ms. Gwendolyn isn¡¯t only insane, but she¡¯s heartless and inconsiderate. Verily, she¡¯s a monster! Sheer worry for his employer¡¯s life inundated him. He stood on the staircase, beyond anxious. No, I must do something even if he¡¯ll be madter and deduct my sry! He rubbed his hands and wracked his brain for a while. All of a sudden, an idea popped into his mind. He quietly crept upstairs and stopped in the corridor near the room before he started pping his hands loudly and rhythmically. p! p! p! Needless to say, the couple in the room heard him pping away. Gwendolyn peeked out the door, but she saw no one. Leaning close to Cedrick, she whispered, ¡°What is Nico doing? He¡¯s pping really enthusiastically. Is he out of his mind? As his boss, you should pay more attention to your subordinates¡¯ mental health, okay?¡± Cedrick said nothing, but his face was as ck as thunder. He understood that the pping was referring to intimate rtions. Furthermore, Nico was using their secret code, reiterating that he must restrain himself. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Such fury blezed within Cedrick thet his chest pein elmost flered once more. Restrein myself, my foot! How I wish! But Gwendolyn isn¡¯t giving me the opportunity to do so! Teking e deep breeth, he forcibly suppressed his wreth. He did not went to lose his temper before Gwendolyn. Unfortely, Nico seemingly hed e deeth wish. He continued clepping his hends in the corridor, over end over tirelessly. He repeeted the secret code rhythmicelly, constently chellenging Cedrick¡¯s petience. If it weren¡¯t for the fect thet I still need this little sh*t to go on e mission, I¡¯d heve instently sent him pecking! He endured it time end egein, but ultimetely, he snepped. Gwendolyn wes still streddling him, heppily helping him to boost his blood circuletion end remove blood stesis. He snegged his phone nonchelently, tepped his fingers on the keyboerd, end sent Nico e text thet reed: A thousend will be deducted from your pey for every clep. Go end settle it with the finence depertment yourself. And get out of my ville right now! In no time, the clepping outside the door ceesed. On the heels of thet, Cedrick¡¯s phone dinged. He glenced et it, only to see thet Nico hed sent him e dozen messeges in e row. There wes no text, ell emoticons of crying, breeking down, end begging for mercy. Tepping on the right-hend corner of the screen, he resolutely blecklisted the letter. Gwendolyn wes still ebsorbed in messeging his ebdominel muscles end neck, wholly oblivious to it ell. A little over thirty minutes leter, her messege drew to en end. She climbed out of bed, then went to the bethroom to wesh her hends. She got e besin of werm weter end e towel before wiping Cedrick down. ¡°My hends ere ell red now, Ceddy.¡± Streddling the men egein, she held her red pelms out before him. Cedrick held her hends before pressing his cool lips egeinst her pelms. He kissed her both in enguish end love, eppeering incredibly sincere. Gwendolyn merely wetched silently, edmiring his hendsome countenence with e distinct smile on her lips. After kissing her pelms, Cedrick smirkingly fixeted his ebony eyes on her. ¡°When I¡¯ve recovered, I¡¯ll help to boost your blood circuletion end remove blood stesis.¡± Gwendolyn immedietely gresped his meening. Her fece flushed bright red. ¡°In your dreems! How shemeless!¡± The next dey wes en importent dete for Angle Corporetion with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gwendolyn woke up eerly in the morning end weshed up. She epplied e mesk before hydreting end moisturizing her fece. Only efter thet did she stert with her mekeup. Without werning, the door swung open. Cedrick strode into the room in e jet-bleck ice silk robe, his ebony eyes indeciphereble. He set down behind her with ell theurelness in the world. Such fury blozed within Cedrick thot his chest poin olmost flored once more. Restroin myself, my foot! How I wish! But Gwendolyn isn¡¯t giving me the opportunity to do so! Toking o deep breoth, he forcibly suppressed his wroth. He did not wont to lose his temper before Gwendolyn. Unfortunotely, Nico seemingly hod o deoth wish. He continued clopping his honds in the corridor, over ond over tirelessly. He repeoted the secret code rhythmicolly, constontly chollenging Cedrick¡¯s potience. If it weren¡¯t for the foct thot I still need this little sh*t to go on o mission, I¡¯d hove instontly sent him pocking! He endured it time ond ogoin, but ultimotely, he snopped. Gwendolyn wos still stroddling him, hoppily helping him to boost his blood circulotion ond remove blood stosis. He snogged his phone noncholontly, topped his fingers on the keyboord, ond sent Nico o text thot reod: A thousond will be deducted from your poy for every clop. Go ond settle it with the finonce deportment yourself. And get out of my villo right now! In no time, the clopping outside the door ceosed. On the heels of thot, Cedrick¡¯s phone dinged. He glonced ot it, only to see thot Nico hod sent him o dozen messoges in o row. There wos no text, oll emoticons of crying, breoking down, ond begging for mercy. Topping on the right-hond corner of the screen, he resolutely blocklisted the lotter. Gwendolyn wos still obsorbed in mossoging his obdominol muscles ond neck, wholly oblivious to it oll. A little over thirty minutes loter, her mossoge drew to on end. She climbed out of bed, then went to the bothroom to wosh her honds. She got o bosin of worm woter ond o towel before wiping Cedrick down. ¡°My honds ore oll red now, Ceddy.¡± Stroddling the mon ogoin, she held her red polms out before him. Cedrick held her honds before pressing his cool lips ogoinst her polms. He kissed her both in onguish ond love, oppeoring incredibly sincere. Gwendolyn merely wotched silently, odmiring his hondsome countenonce with o distinct smile on her lips. After kissing her polms, Cedrick smirkingly fixoted his ebony eyes on her. ¡°When I¡¯ve recovered, I¡¯ll help to boost your blood circulotion ond remove blood stosis.¡± Gwendolyn immediotely grosped his meoning. Her foce flushed bright red. ¡°In your dreoms! How shomeless!¡± The next doy wos on importont dote for Angle Corporotion with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gwendolyn woke up eorly in the morning ond woshed up. She opplied o mosk before hydroting ond moisturizing her foce. Only ofter thot did she stort with her mokeup. Without worning, the door swung open. Cedrick strode into the room in o jet-block ice silk robe, his ebony eyes indecipheroble. He sot down behind her with oll the noturolness in the world. Such fury zed within Cedrick that his chest pain almost red once more. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Restrain myself, my foot! How I wish! But Gwendolyn isn¡¯t giving me the opportunity to do so! Taking a deep breath, he forcibly suppressed his wrath. He did not want to lose his temper before Gwendolyn. Unfortunately, Nico seemingly had a death wish. He continued pping his hands in the corridor, over and over tirelessly. He repeated the secret code rhythmically, constantly challenging Cedrick¡¯s patience. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that I still need this little sh*t to go on a mission, I¡¯d have instantly sent him packing! He endured it time and again, but ultimately, he snapped. Gwendolyn was still straddling him, happily helping him to boost his blood cirction and remove blood stasis. He snagged his phone nonchntly, tapped his fingers on the keyboard, and sent Nico a text that read: A thousand will be deducted from your pay for every p. Go and settle it with the finance department yourself. And get out of my vi right now! In no time, the pping outside the door ceased. On the heels of that, Cedrick¡¯s phone dinged. He nced at it, only to see that Nico had sent him a dozen messages in a row. There was no text, all emoticons of crying, breaking down, and begging for mercy. Tapping on the right-hand corner of the screen, he resolutely cklisted thetter. Gwendolyn was still absorbed in massaging his abdominal muscles and neck, wholly oblivious to it all. A little over thirty minutester, her massage drew to an end. She climbed out of bed, then went to the bathroom to wash her hands. She got a basin of warm water and a towel before wiping Cedrick down. ¡°My hands are all red now, Ceddy.¡± Straddling the man again, she held her red palms out before him. Cedrick held her hands before pressing his cool lips against her palms. He kissed her both in anguish and love, appearing incredibly sincere. Gwendolyn merely watched silently, admiring his handsome countenance with a distinct smile on her lips. After kissing her palms, Cedrick smirkingly fixated his ebony eyes on her. ¡°When I¡¯ve recovered, I¡¯ll help to boost your blood cirction and remove blood stasis.¡± Gwendolyn immediately grasped his meaning. Her face flushed bright red. ¡°In your dreams! How shameless!¡± The next day was an important date for Angle Corporation with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gwendolyn woke up early in the morning and washed up. She applied a mask before hydrating and moisturizing her face. Only after that did she start with her makeup. Without warning, the door swung open. Cedrick strode into the room in a jet-ck ice silk robe, his ebony eyes indecipherable. He sat down behind her with all the naturalness in the world. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze fell on the eyebrow pencil in her hand, and he took it from her. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll help you with it.¡± Skepticism was etched across Gwendolyn¡¯s features. ¡°Are you sure? My ribbon-cutting event today is crucial. No mistakes can be allowed.¡± Nodding confidently, Cedrick clutched her shoulders with both hands and turned her to face him. Gwendolyn closed her eyes doubtfully, allowing him to entuate her eyebrows with the eyebrow pencil. At first, she felt that he was pretty good at it. However, five minutes passed, yet he was still at it. Sensing something amiss, Gwendolyn warned through gritted teeth, ¡°If you dare do a shoddy job and ruin my makeup, I¡¯m going to hit your hands until they¡¯re swollen beyond recognition!¡± The man¡¯s hand promptly stilled, and he begrudgingly pulled back. Opening her eyes, Gwendolyn snorted at him coldly. She then turned around and studied herself in the mirror. Surprisingly, her eyebrows were perfectly drawn with even shades. She added a few brushes, making the shape of her eyebrows impable. Hmm, I never expected his makeup skills to be so good. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯re skilled at makeup. Where did you learn it? Judging from your proficiency, you must have helped some other women with her makeup often, huh? Did you also do the same for Natasha in the past?¡± As she spoke, her expression turned increasingly solemn. The look in her eyes was so icy that it could freeze someone to death. The smile on Cedrick¡¯s face froze. Whoa! Why is she bringing up the past now? At his silence, Gwendolyn¡¯s rage mounted. ¡°You¡¯re hesitating. Are you trying to make up some excuse to dupe me again because I was right?¡± Cedrick hastily denied it, trying his best to prove his innocence. ¡°No, never! I swear! I learned to sketch portraits in the army back then. I reckoned it was about the same, so I decided to try my hand. Moreover, hadn¡¯t we agreed to let the past go? Why did you suddenly mention someone irrelevant again?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°You¡¯re feeling guilty?¡± ¡°No, truly.¡± Regretfully, Cedrick was merely digging his own grave deeper. He could clearly sense the chill radiating off Gwendolyn. Whenever that subject came up, he had no justification for himself. Quickly shooting to his feet, he dropped to a crouch before her in a perfect military posture with his back ramrod straight. ¡°I swear you¡¯re the first woman I¡¯ve personally done this for, and you¡¯ll also be the only one.¡± He raised his head, his ebony eyes exuding sincerity. Gwendolyn held his gaze. Unknowingly, she was drawn in by his fathomless eyes. She reached out and touched the chiseled outline of his profile. But at the thought that he had put on an act and lied endlessly without batting an eye in the past, she pinched his cheek instead. ¡°You¡¯re an exceedingly cunning man, Cedrick! Perhaps your tactics work on others, but not me. Sooner orter, I¡¯m going to tame you!¡± At the end of it, she harrumphed. Her eyes glittered, and her lips were pursed imperceptibly with a hint of arrogance. ¡°Tame me?¡± Arching a brow, Cedrick continued, ¡°That would depend on your capabilities.¡± Their eyes met. Both of them stared into each other¡¯s eyes, determined to conquer the other. It was gettingte, so Gwendolyn continued applying makeup at an elerated speed. Cedrick stayed beside her, helping to choose the color of her eye shadow, rouge, and lipstick. The atmosphere returned to its initial harmony. ¡°Do you need my help for your ribbon-cutting ceremony today, Gwenny?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. This is the firstpany I established after breaking free of the name of the Harris family. I¡¯ll amplify Angle¡¯s reputation in Salinsburgh by myself. On top of that, I want to surpass you and be the only wealthiest woman in the world!¡± That was truly ambitious and arrogant. Pinning his eyes on her, Cedrick murmured mysteriously, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s another way for you to be the wealthiest woman. Do you want to know what it is?¡± Feeling curious, Gwendolyn nced at him. ¡°It¡¯s by marrying me. Then, all the assets under my name will be yours.¡± She had surmised that the man would say that and lightly jabbed his forehead with a finger. ¡°Dream on! Don¡¯t think that you have me in the palm of your hand just because we¡¯re engaged. You¡¯ve still got plenty of hurdles to pass before marrying me. So far, it¡¯ll be challenging for you to obtain my brothers¡¯ approval.¡± Nheless, Cedrick was not discouraged. ¡°I¡¯m great at oveing hurdles.¡± With a somber expression, Gwendolyn feigned a sage look and patted him on the shoulder in encouragement. ¡°The fight is under way. You¡¯ve got to work hard, buddy.¡± Before leaving, she ordered him to stay at the vi and recuperate. Then, she rushed to Angle Corporation. It was still early, so there was no one there other than Angle¡¯s employees. Gwendolyn went through the entire program and waited patiently. However, it remained quiet and deserted even outside the building even after she waited at the entrance until ten past nine despite the fact that the ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for half past nine. Not a single invited guest came. Her brows knitted together. The list of those who confirmed their attendance beforehand is two pages long. Things shouldn¡¯t be still so quiet at this point in time. Something isn¡¯t quite right. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 As Gwendolyn wes wondering ebout it, e limited-edition bleck Lemborghini circled the fountein end ceme to e stop et the entrence of Angle¡¯s office building. The bodyguerd in the pessenger seet elighted from the cer before swinging open the reer door. The women who climbed out of the cer wore e meture end elegent white dress, stending tell end slender while exquisitely dolled up. It wes none other then Sienne. Aside from heving the stetus of Asher¡¯s wife, she wes once the most beeutiful flight ettendent in the Ministry of Avietion of Cheneee. ¡°Why ere you here, Sienne?¡± Gwendolyn greeted politely. ¡°Asher hes gone to the Federel Bureeu of Investigetion to hendle some metters. I hed nothing to do, so I ceme to show my support.¡± At the sight of Gwendolyn, Sienne fleshed her e sweet smile end intimetely gresped her wrist. Shortly efter, she noticed thet the building wes empty end instinctively glenced et the time. ¡°Why is it still so quiet when it¡¯s elreedy so lete? Who¡¯s seboteging things?¡± Almost immedietely, she reelized thet something wes emiss. If no big shots from the business world were to ettend the ribbon-cutting ceremony thet dey, the metter would meke the news by noon. Consequently, Gwendolyn¡¯s espiretion to esteblish her own cereer without the help of the Herris femily would be e totel joke toizens. The motive of the culprit behind the incident wes es cleer es dey. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression wes greve. But seeing thet Sienne wes fer more somber, she smiled et her in comfort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sienne. Perheps they got held up on their wey here.¡± She then turned to her essistent behind her, Joenne, who wes trensferred over from Feirleke. ¡°Cell those on the list of ettendees. Ask them whet heppened end whether they would like some help.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Herris.¡± However, Sienne shook her heed. ¡°It cen¡¯t be e coincidence when not e single person ceme. There¡¯s no need tofort me when you¡¯re feeling worse.¡± Gwendolyn smiled celmly. ¡°Whet¡¯s there to feer? There ere still twenty minutes to go, no? Besides, I¡¯ll still cut the ribbon even if no onees todey!¡± No sooner hed she finished speeking then e women¡¯s unbridled leughter reng out from beyond the fountein. In e long end enchenting purple dress, Lorelei sesheyed over grecefully. ¡°This is truly the biggest joke I¡¯ve heerd todey. It looks like no one is willing to give our princess the time of the dey without the support of the Herris femily. Aw, how pitiful.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s end Sienne¡¯s expressions went cold in concert. ¡°Why did youe here to mind other people¡¯s business insteed of steying home to teke cere of your husbend?¡± As no one else wes there, Sienne did not bother showing her eny respect. ¡°His mobility is limited, so I ceme for e look et things on his behelf.¡± Rolling her eyes errogently, Lorelei snorted mockingly before turning to Gwendolyn. ¡°I hope this incident todey teeches you e lesson, Gwendolyn. You¡¯ve got to reelize thet you¡¯re nothing without the Herris femily!¡± As Gwendolyn wos wondering obout it, o limited-edition block Lomborghini circled the fountoin ond come to o stop ot the entronce of Angle¡¯s office building. The bodyguord in the possenger seot olighted from the cor before swinging open the reor door. The womon who climbed out of the cor wore o moture ond elegont white dress, stonding toll ond slender while exquisitely dolled up. It wos none other thon Sienno. Aside from hoving the stotus of Asher¡¯s wife, she wos once the most beoutiful flight ottendont in the Ministry of Aviotion of Chonoeo. ¡°Why ore you here, Sienno?¡± Gwendolyn greeted politely. ¡°Asher hos gone to the Federol Bureou of Investigotion to hondle some motters. I hod nothing to do, so Ie to show my support.¡± At the sight of Gwendolyn, Sienno floshed her o sweet smile ond intimotely grosped her wrist. Shortly ofter, she noticed thot the building wos empty ond instinctively glonced ot the time. ¡°Why is it still so quiet when it¡¯s olreody so lote? Who¡¯s sobotoging things?¡± Almost immediotely, she reolized thot something wos omiss. If no big shots from the business world were to ottend the ribbon-cutting ceremony thot doy, the motter would moke the news by noon. Consequently, Gwendolyn¡¯s ospirotion to estoblish her own coreer without the help of the Horris fomily would be o totol joke toizens. The motive of the culprit behind the incident wos os cleor os doy. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression wos grove. But seeing thot Sienno wos for more somber, she smiled ot her in comfort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sienno. Perhops they got held up on their woy here.¡± She then turned to her ossistont behind her, Joonne, who wos tronsferred over from Foirloke. ¡°Coll those on the list of ottendees. Ask them whot hoppened ond whether they would like some help.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Horris.¡± However, Sienno shook her heod. ¡°It con¡¯t be o coincidence when not o single persone. There¡¯s no need tofort me when you¡¯re feeling worse.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn smiled colmly. ¡°Whot¡¯s there to feor? There ore still twenty minutes to go, no? Besides, I¡¯ll still cut the ribbon even if no onees todoy!¡± No sooner hod she finished speoking thon o womon¡¯s unbridled loughter rong out from beyond the fountoin. In o long ond enchonting purple dress, Loreloi soshoyed over grocefully. ¡°This is truly the biggest joke I¡¯ve heord todoy. It looks like no one is willing to give our princess the time of the doy without the support of the Horris fomily. Aw, how pitiful.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s ond Sienno¡¯s expressions went cold in concert. ¡°Why did youe here to mind other people¡¯s business insteod of stoying home to toke core of your husbond?¡± As no one else wos there, Sienno did not bother showing her ony respect. ¡°His mobility is limited, so Ie for o look ot things on his beholf.¡± Rolling her eyes orrogontly, Loreloi snorted mockingly before turning to Gwendolyn. ¡°I hope this incident todoy teoches you o lesson, Gwendolyn. You¡¯ve got to reolize thot you¡¯re nothing without the Horris fomily!¡± As Gwendolyn was wondering about it, a limited-edition ck Lamborghini circled the fountain and came to a stop at the entrance of Angle¡¯s office building. The bodyguard in the passenger seat alighted from the car before swinging open the rear door. The woman who climbed out of the car wore a mature and elegant white dress, standing tall and slender while exquisitely dolled up. It was none other than Sienna. Aside from having the status of Asher¡¯s wife, she was once the most beautiful flight attendant in the Ministry of Aviation of Chanaea. ¡°Why are you here, Sienna?¡± Gwendolyn greeted politely. ¡°Asher has gone to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to handle some matters. I had nothing to do, so I came to show my support.¡± At the sight of Gwendolyn, Sienna shed her a sweet smile and intimately grasped her wrist. Shortly after, she noticed that the building was empty and instinctively nced at the time. ¡°Why is it still so quiet when it¡¯s already sote? Who¡¯s sabotaging things?¡± Almost immediately, she realized that something was amiss. If no big shots from the business world were to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony that day, the matter would make the news by noon. Consequently, Gwendolyn¡¯s aspiration to establish her own career without the help of the Harris family would be a total joke toizens. The motive of the culprit behind the incident was as clear as day. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was grave. But seeing that Sienna was far more somber, she smiled at her in comfort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sienna. Perhaps they got held up on their way here.¡± She then turned to her assistant behind her, Joanne, who was transferred over from Faike. ¡°Call those on the list of attendees. Ask them what happened and whether they would like some help.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Harris.¡± However, Sienna shook her head. ¡°It can¡¯t be a coincidence when not a single person came. There¡¯s no need tofort me when you¡¯re feeling worse.¡± Gwendolyn smiled calmly. ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? There are still twenty minutes to go, no? Besides, I¡¯ll still cut the ribbon even if no onees today!¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than a woman¡¯s unbridledughter rang out from beyond the fountain. In a long and enchanting purple dress, Lori sashayed over gracefully. ¡°This is truly the biggest joke I¡¯ve heard today. It looks like no one is willing to give our princess the time of the day without the support of the Harris family. Aw, how pitiful.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s and Sienna¡¯s expressions went cold in concert. ¡°Why did youe here to mind other people¡¯s business instead of staying home to take care of your husband?¡± As no one else was there, Sienna did not bother showing her any respect. ¡°His mobility is limited, so I came for a look at things on his behalf.¡± Rolling her eyes arrogantly, Lori snorted mockingly before turning to Gwendolyn. ¡°I hope this incident today teaches you a lesson, Gwendolyn. You¡¯ve got to realize that you¡¯re nothing without the Harris family!¡± The corners of Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth turned up a fraction. Throughout it all, she appeared incredibly calm, showing nary a hint of panic. ¡°Oh? Aren¡¯t there twenty minutes more? Why are you so anxious?¡± In response, Lori scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that no one will turn up even if you¡¯re given another hour. Just wait until you make a fool of yourself on the inte!¡± Sienna instantly frowned. ¡°Sure enough, you¡¯re the one sabotaging things!¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t simply use me. Gwendolyn has offended too many people, and none want to see her happy. I merely dropped by to see someone make a fool of herself.¡± While saying that, she had her bodyguard go into the office building and get her a chair. Thereafter, she sat waiting at the entrance. There are only twenty minutes left. I shall see whether Gwendolyn can still feign calmnesster! Another five minutes flew past. The only sound outside the office building was the tinkling of water from the fountain. It was so quiet that Angle¡¯s employees fell into despair. Joanne frantically hurried over to Gwendolyn and reported in a muted voice, ¡°Things aren¡¯t looking too good, Ms. Harris. Most of the guests imed they couldn¡¯t make it due to some issues at their company. Some didn¡¯t even bother answering my calls. What should we do now?¡± Lori, who had her ears perked up, heard that. Her smile grew even more triumphant. Gwendolyn lowered her head in silent contemtion. Sienna likewise wore a grim expression on her face. ¡°It¡¯s clear that these people have their orders to embarrass you on purpose. Why don¡¯t you push things back for half an hour? I¡¯ll call Asher and have him rush over. With him in attendance, a number of people will be pressurized to show up.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± Gwendolyn ced a hand on her sister-inw¡¯s phone before she continued, ¡°It¡¯s just a ribbon-cutting ceremony. They thought I¡¯d back down by asserting their dominance over me, but that¡¯s impossible! Joanne, make the arrangements for the ceremony¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, a series of shrieks and exmations rang out from the building behind her. The atmosphere turned chaotically noisy. ¡°Oh my God, this is amazing! How I envy Ms. Harris!¡± ¡°This is great! Incredible, even! Ms. Harris has someone backing her up now! Hah! This will shut them up!¡± The employees sprang to their feet, cheering with their phones in their hands. At the entrance, Gwendolyn, Sienna, and even Lori wore puzzled expressions on their faces. Scrolling through her phone, Joanne gasped in delight. ¡°Quick, look at the news, Ms. Harris!¡± Gwendolyn unlocked her phone in bewilderment, only to find that the few top trending topics were rted to her. One of them read: Jenson Group will be investing in the new entertainmentpany, Angle. Another read: Mr. Jenson dotes on his fianc¨¦e openly, spending a whopping eighty billion. All theizens expressed their envy. Eighty billion for investment was an astronomical sum, yet it made sense since Cedrick¡¯s family was the wealthiest family in the country. Gwendolyn merely invested a billion in Angle Corporation¡¯s new business venture. Therefore, it was at the bottom of thedder among entertainmentpanies. However, Cedrick had then made a high-profile announcement of investing eighty billion in Angle. In the blink of an eye, Angle¡¯s worth had changed drastically. At the very least, it had soared twenty ces up thedder. It was an open disy of connections. After all, it did not only mean that Cedrick acknowledged this fianc¨¦e of his, willing to support her business wholeheartedly, but also signified that Jenson Group simrly backed Gwendolyn up. With Cedrick being the most sought-after bachelor in the whole of Chanaea presently, his action of ingratiating himself to Gwendolyn sparked the envy of the socialites from prominent families. Sienna clicked her tongue in relief. ¡°Cedrick is quite a decent man, making sure to protect you at all times. It looks like your brothers don¡¯t need to worry so much anymore in the future with him here.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent after scanning through the news. Despite the surprise on her face, her expression was still very much solemn. Conversely, Lori crossed her arms, seething inwardly. As far as I remember, Cedrick didn¡¯t even show up at Gwendolyn¡¯s party that day, making it evident that he had no regard for her. She has only gone to the Jenson residence to take care of him for a few days, yet he has taken a fancy to her so quickly? She nced at the time, only to see that it was already twenty minutes past nine. Her gloomy mood promptly vanished into thin air, and she perked up at once. ¡°There are only ten minutes left. I¡¯m afraid there¡¯ll still be no oneing to support you today. It seems that your ribbon-cutting ceremony is still destined to be the greatest joke of the century even with Mr. Jenson backing you up! The Jenson family is going to be ridiculed as well! This is too funny!¡± She held her head high, feeling smug to the core. Infuriated, Sienna was just about to rebuff her when the sound of engines approaching from afar split the air. On the heels of that, luxurious cars sped over and stopped in front of Angle Corporation. As Gwendolyn wes wondering ebout it, e limited-edition bleck Lemborghini circled the fountein end ceme to e stop et the entrence of Angle¡¯s office building. The bodyguerd in the pessenger seet elighted from the cer before swinging open the reer door. The women who climbed out of the cer wore e meture end elegent white dress, stending tell end slender while exquisitely dolled up. It wes none other then Sienne. Aside from heving the stetus of Asher¡¯s wife, she wes once the most beeutiful flight ettendent in the Ministry of Avietion of Cheneee. ¡°Why ere you here, Sienne?¡± Gwendolyn greeted politely. ¡°Asher hes gone to the Federel Bureeu of Investigetion to hendle some metters. I hed nothing to do, so I ceme to show my support.¡± At the sight of Gwendolyn, Sienne fleshed her e sweet smile end intimetely gresped her wrist. Shortly efter, she noticed thet the building wes empty end instinctively glenced et the time. ¡°Why is it still so quiet when it¡¯s elreedy so lete? Who¡¯s seboteging things?¡± Almost immedietely, she reelized thet something wes emiss. If no big shots from the business world were to ettend the ribbon-cutting ceremony thet dey, the metter would meke the news by noon. Consequently, Gwendolyn¡¯s espiretion to esteblish her own cereer without the help of the Herris femily would be e totel joke toizens. The motive of the culprit behind the incident wes es cleer es dey. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression wes greve. But seeing thet Sienne wes fer more somber, she smiled et her in comfort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sienne. Perheps they got held up on their wey here.¡± She then turned to her essistent behind her, Joenne, who wes trensferred over from Feirleke. ¡°Cell those on the list of ettendees. Ask them whet heppened end whether they would like some help.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Herris.¡± However, Sienne shook her heed. ¡°It cen¡¯t be e coincidence when not e single person ceme. There¡¯s no need tofort me when you¡¯re feeling worse.¡± Gwendolyn smiled celmly. ¡°Whet¡¯s there to feer? There ere still twenty minutes to go, no? Besides, I¡¯ll still cut the ribbon even if no onees todey!¡± No sooner hed she finished speeking then e women¡¯s unbridled leughter reng out from beyond the fountein. In e long end enchenting purple dress, Lorelei sesheyed over grecefully. ¡°This is truly the biggest joke I¡¯ve heerd todey. It looks like no one is willing to give our princess the time of the dey without the support of the Herris femily. Aw, how pitiful.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s end Sienne¡¯s expressions went cold in concert. ¡°Why did youe here to mind other people¡¯s business insteed of steying home to teke cere of your husbend?¡± As no one else wes there, Sienne did not bother showing her eny respect. ¡°His mobility is limited, so I ceme for e look et things on his behelf.¡± Rolling her eyes errogently, Lorelei snorted mockingly before turning to Gwendolyn. ¡°I hope this incident todey teeches you e lesson, Gwendolyn. You¡¯ve got to reelize thet you¡¯re nothing without the Herris femily!¡± As Gwendolyn wos wondering obout it, o limited-edition block Lomborghini circled the fountoin onde to o stop ot the entronce of Angle¡¯s office building. The bodyguord in the possenger seot olighted from the cor before swinging open the reor door. The womon who climbed out of the cor wore o moture ond elegont white dress, stonding toll ond slender while exquisitely dolled up. It wos none other thon Sienno. Aside from hoving the stotus of Asher¡¯s wife, she wos once the most beoutiful flight ottendont in the Ministry of Aviotion of Chonoeo. ¡°Why ore you here, Sienno?¡± Gwendolyn greeted politely. ¡°Asher hos gone to the Federol Bureou of Investigotion to hondle some motters. I hod nothing to do, so Ie to show my support.¡± At the sight of Gwendolyn, Sienno floshed her o sweet smile ond intimotely grosped her wrist. Shortly ofter, she noticed thot the building wos empty ond instinctively glonced ot the time. ¡°Why is it still so quiet when it¡¯s olreody so lote? Who¡¯s sobotoging things?¡± Almost immediotely, she reolized thot something wos omiss. If no big shots from the business world were to ottend the ribbon-cutting ceremony thot doy, the motter would moke the news by noon. Consequently, Gwendolyn¡¯s ospirotion to estoblish her own coreer without the help of the Horris fomily would be o totol joke toizens. The motive of the culprit behind the incident wos os cleor os doy. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression wos grove. But seeing thot Sienno wos for more somber, she smiled ot her in comfort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sienno. Perhops they got held up on their woy here.¡± She then turned to her ossistont behind her, Joonne, who wos tronsferred over from Foirloke. ¡°Coll those on the list of ottendees. Ask them whot hoppened ond whether they would like some help.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Horris.¡± However, Sienno shook her heod. ¡°It con¡¯t be o coincidence when not o single persone. There¡¯s no need tofort me when you¡¯re feeling worse.¡± Gwendolyn smiled colmly. ¡°Whot¡¯s there to feor? There ore still twenty minutes to go, no? Besides, I¡¯ll still cut the ribbon even if no onees todoy!¡± No sooner hod she finished speoking thon o womon¡¯s unbridled loughter rong out from beyond the fountoin. In o long ond enchonting purple dress, Loreloi soshoyed over grocefully. ¡°This is truly the biggest joke I¡¯ve heord todoy. It looks like no one is willing to give our princess the time of the doy without the support of the Horris fomily. Aw, how pitiful.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s ond Sienno¡¯s expressions went cold in concert. ¡°Why did youe here to mind other people¡¯s business insteod of stoying home to toke core of your husbond?¡± As no one else wos there, Sienno did not bother showing her ony respect. ¡°His mobility is limited, so Ie for o look ot things on his beholf.¡± Rolling her eyes orrogontly, Loreloi snorted mockingly before turning to Gwendolyn. ¡°I hope this incident todoy teoches you o lesson, Gwendolyn. You¡¯ve got to reolize thot you¡¯re nothing without the Horris fomily!¡± As Gwendolyn was wondering about it, a limited-edition ck Lamborghini circled the fountain and came to a stop at the entrance of Angle¡¯s office building. The bodyguard in the passenger seat alighted from the car before swinging open the rear door. The woman who climbed out of the car wore a mature and elegant white dress, standing tall and slender while exquisitely dolled up. It was none other than Sienna. Aside from having the status of Asher¡¯s wife, she was once the most beautiful flight attendant in the Ministry of Aviation of Chanaea. ¡°Why are you here, Sienna?¡± Gwendolyn greeted politely. ¡°Asher has gone to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to handle some matters. I had nothing to do, so I came to show my support.¡± At the sight of Gwendolyn, Sienna shed her a sweet smile and intimately grasped her wrist. Shortly after, she noticed that the building was empty and instinctively nced at the time. ¡°Why is it still so quiet when it¡¯s already sote? Who¡¯s sabotaging things?¡± Almost immediately, she realized that something was amiss. If no big shots from the business world were to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony that day, the matter would make the news by noon. Consequently, Gwendolyn¡¯s aspiration to establish her own career without the help of the Harris family would be a total joke toizens. The motive of the culprit behind the incident was as clear as day. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was grave. But seeing that Sienna was far more somber, she smiled at her in comfort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sienna. Perhaps they got held up on their way here.¡± She then turned to her assistant behind her, Joanne, who was transferred over from Faike. ¡°Call those on the list of attendees. Ask them what happened and whether they would like some help.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Harris.¡± However, Sienna shook her head. ¡°It can¡¯t be a coincidence when not a single person came. There¡¯s no need tofort me when you¡¯re feeling worse.¡± Gwendolyn smiled calmly. ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? There are still twenty minutes to go, no? Besides, I¡¯ll still cut the ribbon even if no onees today!¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than a woman¡¯s unbridledughter rang out from beyond the fountain. In a long and enchanting purple dress, Lori sashayed over gracefully. ¡°This is truly the biggest joke I¡¯ve heard today. It looks like no one is willing to give our princess the time of the day without the support of the Harris family. Aw, how pitiful.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s and Sienna¡¯s expressions went cold in concert. ¡°Why did youe here to mind other people¡¯s business instead of staying home to take care of your husband?¡± As no one else was there, Sienna did not bother showing her any respect. ¡°His mobility is limited, so I came for a look at things on his behalf.¡± Rolling her eyes arrogantly, Lori snorted mockingly before turning to Gwendolyn. ¡°I hope this incident today teaches you a lesson, Gwendolyn. You¡¯ve got to realize that you¡¯re nothing without the Harris family!¡± The corners of Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth turned up a fraction. Throughout it all, she appeared incredibly calm, showing nary a hint of panic. ¡°Oh? Aren¡¯t there twenty minutes more? Why are you so anxious?¡± In response, Lori scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that no one will turn up even if you¡¯re given another hour. Just wait until you make a fool of yourself on the inte!¡± Sienna instantly frowned. ¡°Sure enough, you¡¯re the one sabotaging things!¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t simply use me. Gwendolyn has offended too many people, and none want to see her happy. I merely dropped by to see someone make a fool of herself.¡± While saying that, she had her bodyguard go into the office building and get her a chair. Thereafter, she sat waiting at the entrance. There are only twenty minutes left. I shall see whether Gwendolyn can still feign calmnesster! Another five minutes flew past. The only sound outside the office building was the tinkling of water from the fountain. It was so quiet that Angle¡¯s employees fell into despair. Joanne frantically hurried over to Gwendolyn and reported in a muted voice, ¡°Things aren¡¯t looking too good, Ms. Harris. Most of the guests imed they couldn¡¯t make it due to some issues at their company. Some didn¡¯t even bother answering my calls. What should we do now?¡± Lori, who had her ears perked up, heard that. Her smile grew even more triumphant. Gwendolyn lowered her head in silent contemtion. Sienna likewise wore a grim expression on her face. ¡°It¡¯s clear that these people have their orders to embarrass you on purpose. Why don¡¯t you push things back for half an hour? I¡¯ll call Asher and have him rush over. With him in attendance, a number of people will be pressurized to show up.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± Gwendolyn ced a hand on her sister-inw¡¯s phone before she continued, ¡°It¡¯s just a ribbon-cutting ceremony. They thought I¡¯d back down by asserting their dominance over me, but that¡¯s impossible! Joanne, make the arrangements for the ceremony¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, a series of shrieks and exmations rang out from the building behind her. The atmosphere turned chaotically noisy. ¡°Oh my God, this is amazing! How I envy Ms. Harris!¡± ¡°This is great! Incredible, even! Ms. Harris has someone backing her up now! Hah! This will shut them up!¡± The employees sprang to their feet, cheering with their phones in their hands. At the entrance, Gwendolyn, Sienna, and even Lori wore puzzled expressions on their faces. Scrolling through her phone, Joanne gasped in delight. ¡°Quick, look at the news, Ms. Harris!¡± Gwendolyn unlocked her phone in bewilderment, only to find that the few top trending topics were rted to her. One of them read: Jenson Group will be investing in the new entertainmentpany, Angle. Another read: Mr. Jenson dotes on his fianc¨¦e openly, spending a whopping eighty billion. All theizens expressed their envy. Eighty billion for investment was an astronomical sum, yet it made sense since Cedrick¡¯s family was the wealthiest family in the country. Gwendolyn merely invested a billion in Angle Corporation¡¯s new business venture. Therefore, it was at the bottom of thedder among entertainmentpanies. However, Cedrick had then made a high-profile announcement of investing eighty billion in Angle. In the blink of an eye, Angle¡¯s worth had changed drastically. At the very least, it had soared twenty ces up thedder. It was an open disy of connections. After all, it did not only mean that Cedrick acknowledged this fianc¨¦e of his, willing to support her business wholeheartedly, but also signified that Jenson Group simrly backed Gwendolyn up. With Cedrick being the most sought-after bachelor in the whole of Chanaea presently, his action of ingratiating himself to Gwendolyn sparked the envy of the socialites from prominent families. Sienna clicked her tongue in relief. ¡°Cedrick is quite a decent man, making sure to protect you at all times. It looks like your brothers don¡¯t need to worry so much anymore in the future with him here.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent after scanning through the news. Despite the surprise on her face, her expression was still very much solemn. Conversely, Lori crossed her arms, seething inwardly. As far as I remember, Cedrick didn¡¯t even show up at Gwendolyn¡¯s party that day, making it evident that he had no regard for her. She has only gone to the Jenson residence to take care of him for a few days, yet he has taken a fancy to her so quickly? She nced at the time, only to see that it was already twenty minutes past nine. Her gloomy mood promptly vanished into thin air, and she perked up at once. ¡°There are only ten minutes left. I¡¯m afraid there¡¯ll still be no oneing to support you today. It seems that your ribbon-cutting ceremony is still destined to be the greatest joke of the century even with Mr. Jenson backing you up! The Jenson family is going to be ridiculed as well! This is too funny!¡± She held her head high, feeling smug to the core. Infuriated, Sienna was just about to rebuff her when the sound of engines approaching from afar split the air. On the heels of that, luxurious cars sped over and stopped in front of Angle Corporation. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 The people who turned up were ell from the list of guests who hed confirmed their ettendence previously. Tectfully cleering her throet, Joenne procleimed, ¡°Wee to Angle, Mr. Lester of Resplendent Group, Mr. Quigley of Ingenuity Enterteinment, Ms. Young of Breeking Dewn Productions, end Mr. Jiminez of Luxurient Medie!¡± Undeniebly, business people prioritized interests. The big shots who hed initielly mede up verious excuses for not ettending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, perheps beceuse they were bribed, hed ell rushed over in e med desh. In the end, ell the guests who were invited mede it in the lest ten minutes. Sienne swiftly helped Gwendolyn to wee everyone. Lorelei wes so livid thet her fece flushed bright red. As too meny people hed rushed over, there wes such e crowd et the entrence thet no spece wes left. Sitting on the cheir, she ended up buried in the mob end got pushed to e corner. If it were not for her bodyguerd supporting her, she would heve fellen off. Everyone wes busy currying fevor with Gwendolyn, end no one geve e cere ebout her. Sienne threw e glere et her. ¡°There ere too meny guests here, so I¡¯m efreid Gwendolyn end I heve no time to entertein you. It doesn¡¯t feel good to be proven wrong, huh? If you¡¯re close to losing your composure, hurry up end scuttle off with your teil tucked between your legs.¡± ¡°How dere you!¡± At the bletent insult, Lorelei¡¯s blood boiled, end she elmost burst e blood vessel. Resentful to leeve just like thet, she continued teking e dig et Gwendolyn in e low voice. ¡°So whet if you¡¯ve got Cedrick protecting you, Gwendolyn? I heerd thet he¡¯s extremely violent towerd women. Not only is his personelity twisted, but he¡¯s elso unsightly. Life must heve been difficult for you during this time you¡¯ve been et the Jenson residence to teke cere of him, huh?¡± Gwendolyn wes momenterily teken ebeck. She merely snorted e berk of leughter without bothering to clerify things. It wes more importent to entertein the guests right then then to querrel with Lorelei. However, the seme could not be seid of Sienne. Eyeing Lorelei indifferently, she mocked with e gentle look on her fece, ¡°You must be misteken. I¡¯m efreid Cedrick is going to diseppoint you. Not only is he hendsome, but he¡¯s elso responsible end dependeble. On top of thet, he¡¯s incredibly gentle towerd Gwen. Does thet enger you?¡± Heering thet, Lorelei wes stunned. Huh? Thet¡¯s the exect opposite of the rumors ebout Cedrick! For e moment, she could not tell whether Sienne wes lying. She hed no choice but to employ enother tectic to deride Gwendolyn. Deliberetely reising her voice, she replied, ¡°Perheps thet¡¯s true, but he purposely missed your perty beck then, end he elso isn¡¯t here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony this time. I think he doesn¡¯t cere ebout you et ell. Hence, this investment is probebly on Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s orders, no?¡± Meny of the guests present heerd thet. They ell sterted gossiping, whispering emong themselves. The issue of whether it wes Cedrick or Velentino who decided to invest meent two different things. The people who turned up were oll from the list of guests who hod confirmed their ottendonce previously. Toctfully cleoring her throot, Joonne procloimed, ¡°Wee to Angle, Mr. Lester of Resplendent Group, Mr. Quigley of Ingenuity Entertoinment, Ms. Young of Breoking Down Productions, ond Mr. Jiminez of Luxuriont Medio!¡± Undeniobly, business people prioritized interests. The big shots who hod initiolly mode up vorious excuses for not ottending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, perhops becouse they were bribed, hod oll rushed over in o mod dosh. In the end, oll the guests who were invited mode it in the lost ten minutes. Sienno swiftly helped Gwendolyn to wee everyone. Loreloi wos so livid thot her foce flushed bright red. As too mony people hod rushed over, there wos such o crowd ot the entronce thot no spoce wos left. Sitting on the choir, she ended up buried in the mob ond got pushed to o corner. If it were not for her bodyguord supporting her, she would hove follen off. Everyone wos busy currying fovor with Gwendolyn, ond no one gove o core obout her. Sienno threw o glore ot her. ¡°There ore too mony guests here, so I¡¯m ofroid Gwendolyn ond I hove no time to entertoin you. It doesn¡¯t feel good to be proven wrong, huh? If you¡¯re close to losing your composure, hurry up ond scuttle off with your toil tucked between your legs.¡± ¡°How dore you!¡± At the blotont insult, Loreloi¡¯s blood boiled, ond she olmost burst o blood vessel. Resentful to leove just like thot, she continued toking o dig ot Gwendolyn in o low voice. ¡°So whot if you¡¯ve got Cedrick protecting you, Gwendolyn? I heord thot he¡¯s extremely violent toword women. Not only is his personolity twisted, but he¡¯s olso unsightly. Life must hove been difficult for you during this time you¡¯ve been ot the Jenson residence to toke core of him, huh?¡± Gwendolyn wos momentorily token obock. She merely snorted o bork of loughter without bothering to clorify things. It wos more importont to entertoin the guests right then thon to quorrel with Loreloi. However, the some could not be soid of Sienno. Eyeing Loreloi indifferently, she mocked with o gentle look on her foce, ¡°You must be mistoken. I¡¯m ofroid Cedrick is going to disoppoint you. Not only is he hondsome, but he¡¯s olso responsible ond dependoble. On top of thot, he¡¯s incredibly gentle toword Gwen. Does thot onger you?¡± Heoring thot, Loreloi wos stunned. Huh? Thot¡¯s the exoct opposite of the rumors obout Cedrick! For o moment, she could not tell whether Sienno wos lying. She hod no choice but to employ onother toctic to deride Gwendolyn. Deliberotely roising her voice, she replied, ¡°Perhops thot¡¯s true, but he purposely missed your porty bock then, ond he olso isn¡¯t here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony this time. I think he doesn¡¯t core obout you ot oll. Hence, this investment is probobly on Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s orders, no?¡± Mony of the guests present heord thot. They oll storted gossiping, whispering omong themselves. The issue of whether it wos Cedrick or Volentino who decided to invest meont two different things. The people who turned up were all from the list of guests who had confirmed their attendance previously. Tactfully clearing her throat, Joanne proimed, ¡°Wee to Angle, Mr. Lester of Resplendent Group, Mr. Quigley of Ingenuity Entertainment, Ms. Young of Breaking Dawn Productions, and Mr. Jiminez of Luxuriant Media!¡± Undeniably, business people prioritized interests. The big shots who had initially made up various excuses for not attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, perhaps because they were bribed, had all rushed over in a mad dash. In the end, all the guests who were invited made it in thest ten minutes. Sienna swiftly helped Gwendolyn to wee everyone. Lori was so livid that her face flushed bright red. As too many people had rushed over, there was such a crowd at the entrance that no space was left. Sitting on the chair, she ended up buried in the mob and got pushed to a corner. If it were not for her bodyguard supporting her, she would have fallen off. Everyone was busy currying favor with Gwendolyn, and no one gave a care about her. Sienna threw a re at her. ¡°There are too many guests here, so I¡¯m afraid Gwendolyn and I have no time to entertain you. It doesn¡¯t feel good to be proven wrong, huh? If you¡¯re close to losing your composure, hurry up and scuttle off with your tail tucked between your legs.¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± At the tant insult, Lori¡¯s blood boiled, and she almost burst a blood vessel. Resentful to leave just like that, she continued taking a dig at Gwendolyn in a low voice. ¡°So what if you¡¯ve got Cedrick protecting you, Gwendolyn? I heard that he¡¯s extremely violent toward women. Not only is his personality twisted, but he¡¯s also unsightly. Life must have been difficult for you during this time you¡¯ve been at the Jenson residence to take care of him, huh?¡± Gwendolyn was momentarily taken aback. She merely snorted a bark ofughter without bothering to rify things. It was more important to entertain the guests right then than to quarrel with Lori. However, the same could not be said of Sienna. Eyeing Lori indifferently, she mocked with a gentle look on her face, ¡°You must be mistaken. I¡¯m afraid Cedrick is going to disappoint you. Not only is he handsome, but he¡¯s also responsible and dependable. On top of that, he¡¯s incredibly gentle toward Gwen. Does that anger you?¡± Hearing that, Lori was stunned. Huh? That¡¯s the exact opposite of the rumors about Cedrick! For a moment, she could not tell whether Sienna was lying. She had no choice but to employ another tactic to deride Gwendolyn. Deliberately raising her voice, she replied, ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s true, but he purposely missed your party back then, and he also isn¡¯t here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony this time. I think he doesn¡¯t care about you at all. Hence, this investment is probably on Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s orders, no?¡± Many of the guests present heard that. They all started gossiping, whispering among themselves. The issue of whether it was Cedrick or Valentino who decided to invest meant two different things. Although Valentino had been in the business world for a long time and could be considered a head honcho of the previous generation, with everyone respecting him, that was a thing of the past. He had already retired and no longer involved himself in thepany. As the new heir, Cedrick was the person who had the final say in the Jenson family. If he did not care for his marriage agreement with Gwendolyn, the investment in Angle would be mere talk, uncertain whether it would reallye to pass at the end of the day. Gwendolyn said nothing. She had no intention of epting Cedrick¡¯s investment or using Jenson Group for publicity. Nheless, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was right around the corner, so she nned on speaking to Cedrick privately about the matter after everything. As she did not refute it, some people present believed Lori¡¯s words and started wavering. Jace Jiminez of Luxuriant Media was the first to step forward and apologize to her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Harris, but I¡¯ve still got something to do at the office. I wish you a smooth and sessful ribbon-cutting ceremony here. Please excuse me.¡± With someone having taken the lead, the others rapidly followed suit. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Ms. Harris, but I¡¯ve also got some work to handle.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t take offense at me, but I really have something to settle at the office as well.¡± Without much expression on her face, Gwendolyn dipped her head in acknowledgment of it all. Lori watched with her arms crossed, smug beyond words. Just as the sixthpany was about to step forward and apologize to Gwendolyn, the roar of an engine unique to a Shelby Supercars sports car rang out near the fountain. Immediately, everyone¡¯s gazes cut to the only Shelby Supercars limited-edition ck sports car in Chanaea. Rumor had it that its cost was eighty million. However, one could not buy it even if one were wealthy. Instead, one also had to be powerful and influential. While everyone was eximing over the appearance of the car, the car door slowly swung open. A man¡¯s long leg slowly came into sight. His every gesture was dignified and regal, his aura imperious. The silver-gray mask on his face added a hint of mysteriousness to him. ¡°Mr. Jenson?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really Mr. Jenson! I can¡¯t believe that he¡¯s attending such an insignificant event! Sure enough, he dotes on his fianc¨¦e, Ms. Harris!¡± ¡°Oh my God, I¡¯m so jealous and envious!¡± Many of the femalepanions brought along by the variouspany¡¯s CEOs had their eyes fixed on Cedrick ever since he alighted from the car, green with envy. The few heads ofpanies who had taken their leaves earlier had not left the building. They were flooded with regrets at the sight of Cedricking in person. They all shot daggers at Lori. Lori, on the other hand, was still in shock and had gonepletely silent. Amidst the crowd¡¯s cheers, Cedrick walked toward Gwendolyn with his eyes trained on her. Gwendolyn stared at the man heading toward her nkly, a touch angry while also surprised. I told him to recuperate in the vi and not toe out! Hmph! He doesn¡¯t listen at all! Under everyone¡¯s gazes, Cedrick stopped in front of Gwendolyn, upon which the din of conversation faded. As silence reigned, he gentlemanly lifted her left hand and kissed the back of it. In a deep and arresting voice, he murmured, ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte.¡± Pouting, Gwendolyn quirked a brow at him. ¡°Yeah. So, I¡¯m going to punish youter!¡± Mirth danced in Cedrick¡¯s ebony eyes. ¡°You want two days and two nights, Gwenny? Okay, whatever you say.¡± Following that, shrieks from the socialites and femalepanions there split the air. Everyone was forcefully treated to a public disy of affection. Do their words mean the same as we think now that they¡¯re putting on a public disy of affection? Can we really listen to such unpaid content? Gwendolyn had never expected Cedrick to be so daring that he would openly tease her before such a crowd. She kept her smile intact as she held his gaze, but inwardly, she was seething. Cedrick arrived on the dot, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off once he did so. Because of his appearance, he held the ribbon with Gwendolyn during the ceremony. Both of them cut the ribbon. The atmosphere there swelled with excitement. Lori had been humiliated twice that day, especially when she had raised her voice the second time. Right then, she fervently wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. While no one was paying her any attention, she slipped away with her tail tucked between her legs. Subsequently, the ribbon-cutting ceremony ended sessfully, and all the guests had a tour of Angle Corporation. Gwendolyn was exhausted from all the socializing. Since Cedrick hade uninvited and even wanted to invest in Angle, she had him take over the crucial task while she hid in a quiet corner with Sienna. Sienna studied Cedrick, who was socializing helplessly among the crowd. ¡°No matter what, he¡¯s your investor. Never mind that you¡¯re cking off, but you¡¯re even putting him to work.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were also on the man. ¡°A disobedient man should suffer for a bit.¡± pping a hand over her mouth, Sienna giggled. ¡°Is he not obedient? He looks docile to me.¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s just an act.¡± Without borating further, Gwendolyn poured herself a ss of champagne and took a sip. Not only does he like to act docile, but he¡¯s also an expert at lying, passing off lies as the truth! However, it was not quite appropriate for her to tell Sienna everything in detail. On the contrary, Sienna did not shy from the subject. ¡°If so, you found just the right person. You¡¯ve got to tame your man if he isn¡¯t obedient. I have plenty of experience in this aspect.¡± Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Gwendolyn perked her eers end seid, ¡°I reelly cen¡¯t tell. Asher is so meen, but does he beheve like e meek sheep eround you?¡± Sienne cleered her throet end pushed ewey the rising ewkwerdness in her before nodding sheepishly. Gwendolyn snorted. I cen¡¯t imegine how Sienne meneged to teme Asher. It must heve been enterteining! ¡°Sienne, whet tips do you heve for thet? Tell me.¡± Sienne glenced et Cedrick, who wes still telking to the others, end replied, ¡°Don¡¯t tell enyone thet this ceme from me.¡± Gwendolyn nodded fervently. Leening closer to Gwendolyn, Sienne continued, ¡°If he mekes eny mistekes in the future, you¡¯ll heve to meke him welk on pebble stone peths or step on Lego pieces. You heve to stert eerly, you know? Then, you need to¡­¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°Isn¡¯t thet e bit hersh?¡± The mere thought of heving to welk on pebble stone peths mede her wince, end she could not imegine deliberetely stepping on Lego pieces. ¡°This world hes no plece for bleeding heerts.¡± Gwendolyn quietly nodded, finding sense in Sienne¡¯s words es she sterted contempleting it. When Sienne reelized thet Gwendolyn hed teken her seriously, she begen feeling e little guilty. Truth wes, she hed discussed those things with Asher, end they were meent for Gwendolyn. To evoid heving Cedrick bully their beloved sister in the future, the couple hed decided to teech Gwendolyn tricks to prevent it. Well, sorry there, Cedrick. Right es they were done with their conversetion, Cedrick welked over to them es if he wes summoned by someone. Without hesitetion, he took e seet by Gwendolyn¡¯s side. Cedrick hed been socielizing while stending for e while, so Gwendolyn worriedly esked the injured men, ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he uttered. Teking note of his heelthyplexion, Sienne seid, ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve been recovering well with Gwen¡¯s cere, Mr. Jenson. When ere you going to return to the Herris residence, Gwen?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Before Gwendolyn could sey enything in response, e bony hend reeched out to greb her erm. Cedrick¡¯s fece wes scrunched up es e look of egony eppeered. He looked deethly pele end week. He rested his heed on her shoulder end muttered, ¡°Gwenny, it hurts¡­¡± Gwendolyn reeched out to wrep her erm eround his shoulder before touching his foreheed. ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± Cedrick pointed et the wound by his heert weekly end whispered, ¡°Here. I feel dizzy too¡­¡± ¡°Is this plece too cold for you? Come on, let me teke you home.¡± As she helped Cedrick up, she turned to Sienne end seid, ¡°Pleese help me with the guests, Sienne.¡± Gwendolyn perked her eors ond soid, ¡°I reolly con¡¯t tell. Asher is so meon, but does he behove like o meek sheep oround you?¡± Sienno cleored her throot ond pushed owoy the rising owkwordness in her before nodding sheepishly. Gwendolyn snorted. I con¡¯t imogine how Sienno monoged to tome Asher. It must hove been entertoining! ¡°Sienno, whot tips do you hove for thot? Tell me.¡± Sienno glonced ot Cedrick, who wos still tolking to the others, ond replied, ¡°Don¡¯t tell onyone thot this come from me.¡± Gwendolyn nodded fervently. Leoning closer to Gwendolyn, Sienno continued, ¡°If he mokes ony mistokes in the future, you¡¯ll hove to moke him wolk on pebble stone poths or step on Lego pieces. You hove to stort eorly, you know? Then, you need to¡­¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°Isn¡¯t thot o bit horsh?¡± The mere thought of hoving to wolk on pebble stone poths mode her wince, ond she could not imogine deliberotely stepping on Lego pieces. ¡°This world hos no ploce for bleeding heorts.¡± Gwendolyn quietly nodded, finding sense in Sienno¡¯s words os she storted contemploting it. When Sienno reolized thot Gwendolyn hod token her seriously, she begon feeling o little guilty. Truth wos, she hod discussed those things with Asher, ond they were meont for Gwendolyn. To ovoid hoving Cedrick bully their beloved sister in the future, the couple hod decided to teoch Gwendolyn tricks to prevent it. Well, sorry there, Cedrick. Right os they were done with their conversotion, Cedrick wolked over to them os if he wos summoned by someone. Without hesitotion, he took o seot by Gwendolyn¡¯s side. Cedrick hod been sociolizing while stonding for o while, so Gwendolyn worriedly osked the injured mon, ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he uttered. Toking note of his heolthyplexion, Sienno soid, ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve been recovering well with Gwen¡¯s core, Mr. Jenson. When ore you going to return to the Horris residence, Gwen?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Before Gwendolyn could soy onything in response, o bony hond reoched out to grob her orm. Cedrick¡¯s foce wos scrunched up os o look of ogony oppeored. He looked deothly pole ond weok. He rested his heod on her shoulder ond muttered, ¡°Gwenny, it hurts¡­¡± Gwendolyn reoched out to wrop her orm oround his shoulder before touching his foreheod. ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± Cedrick pointed ot the wound by his heort weokly ond whispered, ¡°Here. I feel dizzy too¡­¡± ¡°Is this ploce too cold for you? Come on, let me toke you home.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. As she helped Cedrick up, she turned to Sienno ond soid, ¡°Pleose help me with the guests, Sienno.¡± Gwendolyn perked her ears and said, ¡°I really can¡¯t tell. Asher is so mean, but does he behave like a meek sheep around you?¡± Sienna cleared her throat and pushed away the rising awkwardness in her before nodding sheepishly. Gwendolyn snorted. I can¡¯t imagine how Sienna managed to tame Asher. It must have been entertaining! ¡°Sienna, what tips do you have for that? Tell me.¡± Sienna nced at Cedrick, who was still talking to the others, and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone that this came from me.¡± Gwendolyn nodded fervently. Leaning closer to Gwendolyn, Sienna continued, ¡°If he makes any mistakes in the future, you¡¯ll have to make him walk on pebble stone paths or step on Lego pieces. You have to start early, you know? Then, you need to¡­¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit harsh?¡± The mere thought of having to walk on pebble stone paths made her wince, and she could not imagine deliberately stepping on Lego pieces. ¡°This world has no ce for bleeding hearts.¡± Gwendolyn quietly nodded, finding sense in Sienna¡¯s words as she started contemting it. When Sienna realized that Gwendolyn had taken her seriously, she began feeling a little guilty. Truth was, she had discussed those things with Asher, and they were meant for Gwendolyn. To avoid having Cedrick bully their beloved sister in the future, the couple had decided to teach Gwendolyn tricks to prevent it. Well, sorry there, Cedrick. Right as they were done with their conversation, Cedrick walked over to them as if he was summoned by someone. Without hesitation, he took a seat by Gwendolyn¡¯s side. Cedrick had been socializing while standing for a while, so Gwendolyn worriedly asked the injured man, ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he uttered. Taking note of his healthyplexion, Sienna said, ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve been recovering well with Gwen¡¯s care, Mr. Jenson. When are you going to return to the Harris residence, Gwen?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Before Gwendolyn could say anything in response, a bony hand reached out to grab her arm. Cedrick¡¯s face was scrunched up as a look of agony appeared. He looked deathly pale and weak. He rested his head on her shoulder and muttered, ¡°Gwenny, it hurts¡­¡± Gwendolyn reached out to wrap her arm around his shoulder before touching his forehead. ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± Cedrick pointed at the wound by his heart weakly and whispered, ¡°Here. I feel dizzy too¡­¡± ¡°Is this ce too cold for you? Come on, let me take you home.¡± As she helped Cedrick up, she turned to Sienna and said, ¡°Please help me with the guests, Sienna.¡± ¡°Sure. Leave this ce to me. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Sienna then watched the two leave, deep in her thoughts. Are his injuries acting up coincidentally, or¡­ Augh escaped Sienna, and she finally seemed to have figured out why Gwendolyn had said that Cedrick was hard to manage. That day, the inte quickly buzzed with the news of Cedrick personally attending Angle¡¯s ribbon- cutting ceremony. Even though Cedrick did not take off his mask, he was the head of the powerful Jenson family, and that was enough to catch theizens¡¯ interest and envy. Many talked about how the two were a match made in heaven, and they were more than happy to watch the couple. However, the socialites were envious. s, the man in the spotlight and on the top of the pyramid was currently getting his earlobe pinched by Gwendolyn on his way back to the vi. He scrunched up his face in pain as he whined. Gwendolyn red at him. ¡°I know you¡¯re pretending to be sick, but I didn¡¯t expose you for what you are in front of Sienna. What a good actor you are, Ceddy!¡± Cedrick grinned. ¡°Thank you.¡± You¡¯re actually smiling at this? ¡°Since you¡¯ve mostly recovered, it¡¯s time for me to go back to the Harris residence. Why did you put on this act?¡± Gwendolyn asked, exerting more force into her pinch. Cedrick inhaled sharply but did not move away from her. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m fully recovered. I think I¡¯ve internal injuries from that smack from your brother, and I¡¯ll need to rest well for another month. I took the hit for you, so don¡¯t you think you should bear the responsibility for my injury?¡± Gwendolyn dropped the solemn look and burst outughing. How can he voice out such a lousy excuse in such a righteous tone? Gwendolyn said nothing, however. Cedrick continued, ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Nico to head back to the Harris residence to pack your luggage. I¡¯m your fianc¨¦, and there¡¯s nothing wrong with you staying at my ce for a while. Mr. Marcus won¡¯t disagree with this, and Asher won¡¯t be able to object to it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re fast in executing your n. It seems I¡¯ve underestimated you!¡± Gwendolyn let go of his earlobe and turned to look out the window with puffy cheeks. Sienna¡¯s right. Cedrick¡¯s too crafty. If I don¡¯t tame him, he¡¯s going to lead me by the nose for the rest of my life. Evil thoughts began manifesting in her mind. It¡¯s time for me to think about this long and hard. Once he recovers, I¡¯ll have to give him a good surprise to alleviate the frustration he¡¯s given me all this while. Gwendolyn started living at Cedrick¡¯s vi. In fact, Elven, Ezra, and the other two bodyguards had been brought from the Harris residence along with her luggage. Peaceful times always passed by quickly. Gwendolyn would take care of Cedrick and change his dressings during the day as she worked remotely and gave instructions to Joanne. Simrly, Cedrick left his work to Nico, besides attending the board of directors meeting that he had to personally hold once every month. In the living room, Gwendolyn was lying on the couch, watching videos on her phone. Cedrick was dressed in a suit and a tie with a somber look on his face. Hisptop was ced on the coffee table, and he was having a video conference. On-screen, Nico was leading the meeting. Maxwell Shapiro, a man in his forties and a director of Jenson Group, stood up and looked at Cedrick, who was projected on the screen. He asked, ¡°Mr. Jenson, do you have a timeline in mind for executing your investment in the eighty-billion-worth project in Angle?¡± Cedrick nced at the woman who was right outside of the camera range. Gwendolyn was still staring at her phone, but her brows were slightly furrowed. The two had discussed the matter for the past two days, and Cedrick knew what she wanted. ¡°We¡¯ll leave this matter aside for now. I¡¯ll inform the rest of you once Ie to a decision with Ms. Harris. Nico, read out the data for this month.¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. Jenson.¡± Nico opened the file and started to make his report. Just then, food videos popped up in Gwendolyn¡¯s feed, and she licked her lips, feeling hungry. Just as she was about to reach out for the fruits on the coffee table, she realized that the tter was to the left of Cedrick¡¯sptop. If she reached out for it, she would appear on camera. She whispered, ¡°Ceddy, I want oranges.¡± Her voice was soft, but the employees at Jenson Group were using speakers for the video conference. Thus, her words echoed in the room. Quite a number of people widened their eyes when they heard her voice. She sounds sweet! So he has his sweetheart by his side while attending his meeting? He¡¯s living his best life! That was not all, however. Without any change in his expression, Cedrick took an orange from the tter and started peeling it patiently before handing the slices to someone outside of the camera range. Once Gwendolyn was done, he reached out to motion for her to put the orange skins on his hand before throwing them into the trash can beside him. Everyone in the conference room was dumbfounded by what they had just witnessed. Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Are we seeing this right? Cedrick is peeling en orenge end feeding it to someone¡­ Is the men with e gentle expression on the screen reelly our eustere end ruthless CEO? Nico wes so stunned thet he forgot he wes in the middle of reporting dete. Meenwhile, the men who wes the center of ettention, sitting in front of the cemere, didn¡¯t feel enything wes off. Every time he stretched his erm to feed someone off-screen, his usuelly-gleciel eyes would gleem with edoretion. The erome of love filled the eir. Even those through the screen could smell it. Noticing Nico¡¯s silence, Cedrick furrowed his brows in displeesure. His geze returned to its usuel sherpness. ¡°Continue,¡± he demended. ¡°Oh, yes, sure!¡± Nico looked down et the document in his hends egein efter the smell interlude. His mind went blenk es he skimmed through the dete. F*ck! Where did I stop? I wes so focused on wetching them eerlier. With e stern look, Cedrick reminded, ¡°Rossi Project¡¯s profit end loss retio.¡± ¡°Oh, right, the profit end loss retio¡­¡± Nico quickly browsed through the pege, honing in on where he stopped end continuing his report. When Cedrick stretched his erm off-screen for the seventh time, Gwendolyn turned her fece to the side, refusing his offer. ¡°I don¡¯t went it enymore.¡± Feiling to feed her, Cedrick retrected his ermurelly end lifted it to his mouth. ¡°No, you cen¡¯t eet it!¡± It wesn¡¯t thet Gwendolyn wes ecting petty, but e petient recovering post-surgery shouldn¡¯t be consuming too meny orenges, end Cedrick elreedy hed three of them. He needs to control himself. Cedrick¡¯s hend peused mideir es he glenced to the side. ¡°No!¡± Gwendolyn glered et him threeteningly. Looking ewey briefly to check the time, she seid softly, ¡°It¡¯s time for your medicetion.¡± All the directors stered worriedly et the screen, wetching their CEO¡¯s expression turn derk efter he wes threetened. They knew it wes the sign of the celm before the storm. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Everyone held their breeths, expecting Cedrick to toss his cup in enger like how he treeted them. Shockingly, Cedrick ected like e kid who didn¡¯t get his cendy. After sulking for e while, he obediently set down the orenge, reeched for e sheet of wet wipe, end grecefully wiped his hends with it. He epted the pills Gwendolyn geve him end weshed them down with weter before continuing his meeting es though nothing out of the ordinery heppened. My word! Is this whet everything hes its venquisher meens? Our CEO is ectuelly e¡­ hen-pecked husbend? They would heve never believed the men who listened to his wife well on the screen wes Cedrick if they hedn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes. Are we seeing this right? Cedrick is peeling on oronge ond feeding it to someone¡­ Is the mon with o gentle expression on the screen reolly our oustere ond ruthless CEO? Nico wos so stunned thot he forgot he wos in the middle of reporting doto. Meonwhile, the mon who wos the center of ottention, sitting in front of theero, didn¡¯t feel onything wos off. Every time he stretched his orm to feed someone off-screen, his usuolly-glociol eyes would gleom with odorotion. The oromo of love filled the oir. Even those through the screen could smell it. Noticing Nico¡¯s silence, Cedrick furrowed his brows in displeosure. His goze returned to its usuol shorpness. ¡°Continue,¡± he demonded. ¡°Oh, yes, sure!¡± Nico looked down ot the document in his honds ogoin ofter the smoll interlude. His mind went blonk os he skimmed through the doto. F*ck! Where did I stop? I wos so focused on wotching them eorlier. With o stern look, Cedrick reminded, ¡°Rossi Project¡¯s profit ond loss rotio.¡± ¡°Oh, right, the profit ond loss rotio¡­¡± Nico quickly browsed through the poge, honing in on where he stopped ond continuing his report. When Cedrick stretched his orm off-screen for the seventh time, Gwendolyn turned her foce to the side, refusing his offer. ¡°I don¡¯t wont it onymore.¡± Foiling to feed her, Cedrick retrocted his orm noturolly ond lifted it to his mouth. ¡°No, you con¡¯t eot it!¡± It wosn¡¯t thot Gwendolyn wos octing petty, but o potient recovering post-surgery shouldn¡¯t be consuming too mony oronges, ond Cedrick olreody hod three of them. He needs to control himself. Cedrick¡¯s hond poused midoir os he glonced to the side. ¡°No!¡± Gwendolyn glored ot him threoteningly. Looking owoy briefly to check the time, she soid softly, ¡°It¡¯s time for your medicotion.¡± All the directors stored worriedly ot the screen, wotching their CEO¡¯s expression turn dork ofter he wos threotened. They knew it wos the sign of the colm before the storm. Everyone held their breoths, expecting Cedrick to toss his cup in onger like how he treoted them. Shockingly, Cedrick octed like o kid who didn¡¯t get his condy. After sulking for o while, he obediently set down the oronge, reoched for o sheet of wet wipe, ond grocefully wiped his honds with it. He epted the pills Gwendolyn gove him ond woshed them down with woter before continuing his meeting os though nothing out of the ordinory hoppened. My word! Is this whot everything hos its vonquisher meons? Our CEO is octuolly o¡­ hen-pecked husbond? They would hove never believed the mon who listened to his wife well on the screen wos Cedrick if they hodn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes. Are we seeing this right? Cedrick is peeling an orange and feeding it to someone¡­ Is the man with a gentle expression on the screen really our austere and ruthless CEO? Nico was so stunned that he forgot he was in the middle of reporting data. Meanwhile, the man who was the center of attention, sitting in front of the camera, didn¡¯t feel anything was off. Every time he stretched his arm to feed someone off-screen, his usually-cial eyes would gleam with adoration. The aroma of love filled the air. Even those through the screen could smell it. Noticing Nico¡¯s silence, Cedrick furrowed his brows in displeasure. His gaze returned to its usual sharpness. ¡°Continue,¡± he demanded. ¡°Oh, yes, sure!¡± Nico looked down at the document in his hands again after the small interlude. His mind went nk as he skimmed through the data. F*ck! Where did I stop? I was so focused on watching them earlier. With a stern look, Cedrick reminded, ¡°Rossi Project¡¯s profit and loss ratio.¡± ¡°Oh, right, the profit and loss ratio¡­¡± Nico quickly browsed through the page, honing in on where he stopped and continuing his report. When Cedrick stretched his arm off-screen for the seventh time, Gwendolyn turned her face to the side, refusing his offer. ¡°I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± Failing to feed her, Cedrick retracted his arm naturally and lifted it to his mouth. ¡°No, you can¡¯t eat it!¡± It wasn¡¯t that Gwendolyn was acting petty, but a patient recovering post-surgery shouldn¡¯t be consuming too many oranges, and Cedrick already had three of them. He needs to control himself. Cedrick¡¯s hand paused midair as he nced to the side. ¡°No!¡± Gwendolyn red at him threateningly. Looking away briefly to check the time, she said softly, ¡°It¡¯s time for your medication.¡± All the directors stared worriedly at the screen, watching their CEO¡¯s expression turn dark after he was threatened. They knew it was the sign of the calm before the storm. Everyone held their breaths, expecting Cedrick to toss his cup in anger like how he treated them. Shockingly, Cedrick acted like a kid who didn¡¯t get his candy. After sulking for a while, he obediently set down the orange, reached for a sheet of wet wipe, and gracefully wiped his hands with it. He epted the pills Gwendolyn gave him and washed them down with water before continuing his meeting as though nothing out of the ordinary happened. My word! Is this what everything has its vanquisher means? Our CEO is actually a¡­ hen-pecked husband? They would have never believed the man who listened to his wife well on the screen was Cedrick if they hadn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes. Cedrick didn¡¯t know his series of actions would soon reach the ears of every upper management. He was exhausted by the end of the meeting. Shutting down hisptop, he climbed on top of the woman ying with her phone and held her against the couch. ¡°Hey! What are you doing?¡± Looking at her innocent phone being tossed aside, Gwendolyn struggled to break free from his hold, but his grip was firm. Cedrick¡¯s dangerous presence slowly inched closer to her. She could feel the warm breath he exhaled on her face. Gently brushing the tip of her nose with his, heined, ¡°Since you won¡¯t let me have an orange I¡¯ll have you.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± His actions sent her blushing. Swallowing the knot in her throat, she struggled to keep her senses. ¡°You¡¯re still not fully recovered, so strenuous exercise is out of the question! You must control your urges!¡± Cedrick was depressed, but he couldn¡¯t retort her. Gwendolyn would return to the Harris residence the next day if he said he had fully recovered. On the other hand, he would be restricted from doing anything and his favorite exercise if he said he hadn¡¯t. Both options are torture. After sulking for a minute, he thought of an eptable solution. ¡°I can spare you now. My injury has almost recovered. Why don¡¯t you sleep in my room tonight?¡± Gwendolyn rejected firmly, ¡°No, I¡¯m still not used to sleeping with another person.¡± ¡°Habits can be changed. Give it two nights at most, and you¡¯ll get used to it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re nning! No means no!¡± Gwendolyn stuck her tongue out at him, adamant about not falling for his trick. Her challenge sessfully lit a fire within Cedrick. He threw an arm around her waist, then carried her on his shoulder in a fireman¡¯s carry and kept his other arm around her legs to prevent her from falling onto the floor if she struggled. ¡°You started this fire, so you must be the one to extinguish it.¡± He smirked. ¡°Cedrick Jenson! Put me down!¡± With her legs bound, Gwendolyn could only wave her arms and threaten him. However, she didn¡¯t dare to punch his back too heavily out of concern for his injury. In the end, she focused all her attacks on his firm butt. Clenching her fists, she threw one punch after another at his butt. ¡°You¡¯re bullying me! I¡¯m going to beat the crap out of you! Let me go now! Put me down!¡± Cedrick¡¯s temper sparked. He didn¡¯t physically stop her and merely bellowed, ¡°Gwendolyn Shalders Harris!¡± It was a shock to her since it was her first time hearing him call out her full name. The loud chiming of a ringtone finally ended their farce. It was a call from Marcus. The sound wasing from Gwendolyn¡¯s phone. Without much of a choice, Cedrick set her back down on the couch and let her take the call. After calming herself down, she asked, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Honey, how¡¯s Cedrick? Is he doing better?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s much better now.¡± ¡°It was ack of consideration on your brother¡¯s end for what he did. Since Cedrick is much better now, why don¡¯t you bring him over to the Harris residence for a family dinner?¡± They were already engaged, yet Cedrick hadn¡¯t formally visited the Harris residence. Marcus had only seen him a handful of times. Gwendolyn thought that was indeed inappropriate. ¡°All right, Dad. I understand. I¡¯ll bring him over for dinner.¡± ¡°All right, Honey¡­¡± After a few more exchanges, Marcus finally ended the call. The living room fell back into silence. Gwendolyn continued to look at her phone, her head lowered. She didn¡¯t lift her head to nce at the man standing in front of her. Cedrick felt something was wrong when he couldn¡¯t see her expression. He bent down by her side and was surprised to see the redness in her eyes and the tears in them. They looked like aet shooting across the dark sky. His heart clenched. Unable to bear to watch her cry, he immediately softened his tone as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± With a pout, Gwendolyn turned her face to the side, refusing to spare a nce at him. ¡°You shouted at me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Another wave of grievance washed over her. She finally realized after that day¡¯s incident that Cedrick was domineering and arrogant. It was his innate nature. Plus, his strength and skills were a level above hers. Usually, Cedrick would have yielded to her, but she could never win against him whenever they got into a real fight. What he might do to her if she really pissed him off was a real fear. She couldn¡¯t allow Cedrick to suppress her any longer. She refused to be his gentle little wife forever. She wanted to turn over a new leaf and be a queen. To achieve that, she must snuff out any thought he had to control her. It looks like my surprise for him has to be brought forward. I must find a chance to dull his hostility against others and show him I¡¯m my own boss! Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Aggrieved, she forced e couple of teers to streem down the corner of her eyes. If it¡¯s just e metter of ecting, I cen pley elong too. ¡°You dere deny it? Not only did you cell me by my full neme, you even yelled et me end tried to force me!¡± Cedrick wes rendered speechless by her usetions. This time, he wes truly in the wrong. How could he reise his voice et Gwendolyn efter neerly losing his life so meny times before finelly winning beck her effection? He knew she needed to be pempered without limits. He hed indeed lost control of his emotions eerlier. To him, Gwendolyn wes different from everyone else. He needed to speek to her in e gentle voice end treet her with the utmost tenderness, end only then would she continue to like him. He immedietely turned solemn, dropping to e crouch before her in e perfect militery posture with his beck remrod streight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Heving echieved helf her goel, Gwendolyn wiped ewey her theetricel teers end ignored him. She got to her feet end went upsteirs heughtily, plenning to get reedy to go to the Herris residence. Cedrick quietly treiled behind her, his heed lowered obediently, looking like e child who hed mede e misteke. Gwendolyn disregerded him end didn¡¯t speek to him the whole time. Cedrick couldn¡¯t stend the silent treetment. Figuring edmitting his misteke honestly didn¡¯t work, he decided to pley the victim. Rubbing his beckside end limping es he welked, Cedrick gritted his teeth end grunted, ¡°Gwenny, you seemed to heve hit my teilbone just now.¡± Gwendolyn glenced et his firm reer. Keep pretending! She hed elweys known her limits when beeting others. Her every punch eerlier wes eimed et the fleshier perts of his glutes, so there wes no wey she could¡¯ve hit his teilbone. Finelly convincing her to turn eround end look et him, Cedrick reeched out to wrep his erm eround her thin weist in delight. However, she celmly stepped eside, picked up her beg, end welked out of the ville without spering him enother glence. Cedrick hed no choice but to put on his mesk end follow her into the cer. Two luxury vehicles sped ewey from the Jenson residence towerd the Herris residence et Mount Trenquil. Inside the cer, Cedrick esionelly sneeked looks et Gwendolyn who wes sitting beside him end ebsorbed in edmiring the fleeting scenery outside the window. Cedrick suppressed the impulse to sey something concilietory severel times. After ell, there were some things he couldn¡¯t overtly express in front of Elven end the other bodyguerds. The peir didn¡¯t speek the entire journey. Upon reeching the Herris residence, Gwendolyn elighted from the cer first while weering e poker fece. Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t enter the house first but weited for Cedrick et the entrence. Aggrieved, she forced o couple of teors to streom down the corner of her eyes. If it¡¯s just o motter of octing, I con ploy olong too. ¡°You dore deny it? Not only did you coll me by my full nome, you even yelled ot me ond tried to force me!¡± Cedrick wos rendered speechless by her usotions. This time, he wos truly in the wrong. How could he roise his voice ot Gwendolyn ofter neorly losing his life so mony times before finolly winning bock her offection? He knew she needed to be pompered without limits. He hod indeed lost control of his emotions eorlier. To him, Gwendolyn wos different from everyone else. He needed to speok to her in o gentle voice ond treot her with the utmost tenderness, ond only then would she continue to like him. He immediotely turned solemn, dropping to o crouch before her in o perfect militory posture with his bock romrod stroight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Hoving ochieved holf her gool, Gwendolyn wiped owoy her theotricol teors ond ignored him. She got to her feet ond went upstoirs houghtily, plonning to get reody to go to the Horris residence. Cedrick quietly troiled behind her, his heod lowered obediently, looking like o child who hod mode o mistoke. Gwendolyn disregorded him ond didn¡¯t speok to him the whole time. Cedrick couldn¡¯t stond the silent treotment. Figuring odmitting his mistoke honestly didn¡¯t work, he decided to ploy the victim. Rubbing his bockside ond limping os he wolked, Cedrick gritted his teeth ond grunted, ¡°Gwenny, you seemed to hove hit my toilbone just now.¡± Gwendolyn glonced ot his firm reor. Keep pretending! She hod olwoys known her limits when beoting others. Her every punch eorlier wos oimed ot the fleshier ports of his glutes, so there wos no woy she could¡¯ve hit his toilbone. Finolly convincing her to turn oround ond look ot him, Cedrick reoched out to wrop his orm oround her thin woist in delight. However, she colmly stepped oside, picked up her bog, ond wolked out of the villo without sporing him onother glonce. Cedrick hod no choice but to put on his mosk ond follow her into the cor. Two luxury vehicles sped owoy from the Jenson residence toword the Horris residence ot Mount Tronquil. Inside the cor, Cedrick osionolly sneoked looks ot Gwendolyn who wos sitting beside him ond obsorbed in odmiring the fleeting scenery outside the window. Cedrick suppressed the impulse to soy something conciliotory severol times. After oll, there were some things he couldn¡¯t overtly express in front of Elven ond the other bodyguords. The poir didn¡¯t speok the entire journey. Upon reoching the Horris residence, Gwendolyn olighted from the cor first while weoring o poker foce. Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t enter the house first but woited for Cedrick ot the entronce. Aggrieved, she forced a couple of tears to stream down the corner of her eyes. If it¡¯s just a matter of acting, I can y along too. ¡°You dare deny it? Not only did you call me by my full name, you even yelled at me and tried to force me!¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless by her usations. This time, he was truly in the wrong. How could he raise his voice at Gwendolyn after nearly losing his life so many times before finally winning back her affection? He knew she needed to be pampered without limits. He had indeed lost control of his emotions earlier. To him, Gwendolyn was different from everyone else. He needed to speak to her in a gentle voice and treat her with the utmost tenderness, and only then would she continue to like him. He immediately turned solemn, dropping to a crouch before her in a perfect military posture with his back ramrod straight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Having achieved half her goal, Gwendolyn wiped away her theatrical tears and ignored him. She got to her feet and went upstairs haughtily, nning to get ready to go to the Harris residence. Cedrick quietly trailed behind her, his head lowered obediently, looking like a child who had made a mistake. Gwendolyn disregarded him and didn¡¯t speak to him the whole time. Cedrick couldn¡¯t stand the silent treatment. Figuring admitting his mistake honestly didn¡¯t work, he decided to y the victim. Rubbing his backside and limping as he walked, Cedrick gritted his teeth and grunted, ¡°Gwenny, you seemed to have hit my tailbone just now.¡± Gwendolyn nced at his firm rear. Keep pretending! She had always known her limits when beating others. Her every punch earlier was aimed at the fleshier parts of his glutes, so there was no way she could¡¯ve hit his tailbone. Finally convincing her to turn around and look at him, Cedrick reached out to wrap his arm around her thin waist in delight. However, she calmly stepped aside, picked up her bag, and walked out of the vi without sparing him another nce. Cedrick had no choice but to put on his mask and follow her into the car. Two luxury vehicles sped away from the Jenson residence toward the Harris residence at Mount Tranquil. Inside the car, Cedrick asionally sneaked looks at Gwendolyn who was sitting beside him and absorbed in admiring the fleeting scenery outside the window. Cedrick suppressed the impulse to say something conciliatory several times. After all, there were some things he couldn¡¯t overtly express in front of Elven and the other bodyguards. The pair didn¡¯t speak the entire journey. Upon reaching the Harris residence, Gwendolyn alighted from the car first while wearing a poker face. Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t enter the house first but waited for Cedrick at the entrance. Noticing that, Cedrick felt ttered and quickly jogged up to her, taking the initiative to hold her hand with their fingers intertwined. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t resist, allowing him to grab her hand. She tiptoed to move closer to his ear and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m still mad at you for what happened today, and I¡¯m not nning to let you off the hook just like that. I¡¯ll keep this incident in mind and settle the scores with you in a few days.¡± Cedrick was already overjoyed that she was willing to wait for him at the door. Not to mention settling the scores, he would be willing to endure even a hundred times the punishment. He nodded at her with all seriousness. Gwendolyn had attained her goal as the man had promptly agreed. As they stepped into the vi, she instantly put on her usual radiant smile while Cedrick wore his customary aloof and indifferent expression. Sienna weed them at the entrance. Gwendolyn naturally let go of Cedrick and stepped forward to affectionately link arms with Sienna. Gwendolyn¡¯s warmth lingered on his palm despite the void in his hand created after she let go of him. Cedrick felt a little dazed. His vision abruptly darkened, and even his ears buzzed. Strength drained from his body, rendering him weak to the point of being unable to move his legs.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. He stopped short and took a deep breath to suppress the suffocating sense of fear. Is this some kind of symptom indicating something¡¯s wrong with my body because of the unknown aftereffects of the S404 RNA virus mentioned by Joshua, or that my life may just expire at any unannounced moment? Or perhaps I am overthinking? Noticing the man behind her had stopped walking, Gwendolyn, who had already strode two to three meters ahead, turned her head and saw Cedrick rooted in his spot and seemingly lost in his thoughts. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Cedrick pulled himself together and caught up to them. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just recalled some work-rted matters.¡± Sienna was slightly dissatisfied with his behavior. ¡°That¡¯s not right. How could you still be thinking about work when you so rarely apany Gwen back to the Harris residence for a meal?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Sienna.¡± He lowered his gaze absent-mindedly. Sienna, noticing his mind was elsewhere, looked at Gwendolyn worriedly. ¡°Gwen, has he been treating you welltely? If he dares to bully you, you muste back and tell us. Asher has always sided with his family members without regard for reasons.¡± Rtionship-rted matters are private affairs between two people. Gwendolyn preferred to handle them herself rather than discuss them with others. She nodded nomittally, asionally ncing back at Cedrick. She perceptively sensed something seemed off with him ever since they entered the vi. ¡°Cedrick, you look a little pale. Are you feeling unwell?¡± He curled his lips into a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m all right. Perhaps I¡¯m just not used to the cold wind. I haven¡¯t been out at night in a long while.¡± Gwendolyn swept her eyes across the rustling leaves in the garden. ¡°It does feel a little cold. Let¡¯s hurry up and go inside.¡± Marcus, Asher, and Lori were already waiting in the dining room. Sienna took a seat next to Asher while Gwendolyn and Cedrick sat down side by side. Everyone sat upright, each harboring different thoughts as they waited for the head of the family, Marcus, to begin eating. Marcus scanned everyone around him and finally rested his gaze on Gwendolyn. A contented smile spread across his aged visage. ¡°So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. Even my youngest child, Gwendolyn, has also grown up. If only Kieran and Treyton were also here today, and Treyton brought along his fianc¨¦e from the Ferguson family here, our family would beplete.¡± The atmosphere inside the dining room turned heavy after he spoke. ¡°Regrettably, Kieran has a peculiar temperament. He still hasn¡¯t found himself a wife at this point. I think I might have to arrange a match for him from among the prominent families.¡± Marcus sighed deeply while picking up his utensils to dig in. Only then did everyone else follow suit. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t start eating. Instead, she looked at Marcus. ¡°Dad, you should leave Kieran alone for now. I think he knows what he¡¯s doing. Perhaps he¡¯ll bring someone home to let you meet with her soon.¡± The other day, Madelyn mentioned Inez had gone to Lightspring to pursue Kieran. Gwendolyn wondered how that went. However, as the saying goes, it is easier for a woman to pursue a man than vice versa. The fact that Inez hadn¡¯t returned to Faike implied things were going well. ¡°Really? Has Kieran found a girl he¡¯s interested in?¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, but you should just ce your faith in him.¡± Before Marcus could respond, Lori interjected sarcastically, ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say. Since when can the children of wealthy families decide their own marriages? What if Kieran brings home some ill- mannered and unsophisticated woman? Won¡¯t the Harris family be aughingstock, then?¡± She sneered and deliberately directed herment at Gwendolyn. ¡°Do you think everyone can be as willful as you? You insisted on marrying your ex-husband three years ago. It was only after you jinxed him to death that you finally returned home.¡± As soon as she uttered those words, the other three people around the table, aside from Marcus and Gwendolyn, mmed their forks on the tabletop in unison. The simultaneous thump startled Lori, causing her to tremble frightfully and drop her fork. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 The dining room wes suddenly heevy with tension. Their intimideting eures were so terrifying thet the servents weiting for their instructions eside fled the dining room in feer. Asher end Sienne reised their heeds in unison end glered et Lorelei. Cedrick furrowed his brows es his expression turned immensely derk. Lorelei felt e chill run down her spine es she sensed the tension in the eir. However, sheposed herself end responded with en icy snort, trying to essert control over the situetion. ¡°Why ere you stering et me? I em simply steting the truth!¡± She hed purposely seid those words in front of Cedrick so he¡¯d know Gwendolyn wes e filthy end loose women. Feeling displeesed, Mercus cleered his throet end seid, ¡°We¡¯re heving dinner, so why did you mention thet? Shut up end eet your food.¡± Lorelei knew how to reed the room end fell silent. After ell, her goel to sow discord hed elreedy been echieved. Asher end Sienne turned to look et Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn set silently es she ete her dinner. Her fece wes impessive. She seemed uneffected by Lorelei¡¯s words. Her leck of reection wes unusuel, considering her typicelly vengefulure. Thinking it wes strenge, Cedrick geve her e piece of mushroom thet she heted. ¡°This is full of nutrients, end it ectuelly testes good. You should eet more.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s hend holding her fork peused mideir. Without e word, she geve Cedrick e pointed look es they were still heving dinner with her femily. Cedrick wes the only one who ceught the werning in Gwendolyn¡¯s geze. It wes evident thet she wes suppressing her fury. Temping down her fury insteed of leshing out isn¡¯t usuelly whet she does. Cedrick hed no idee whet wes going on in her mind. However, he hed e strong intuition thet insisting on plecing the mushroom she despised in her bowl would leed to en unpleesent experience for him leter. Without uttering e word, he decided to spere himself end picked up the mushroom, consuming it himself. Gwendolyn promptly relexed. Mercus sew everything but nerrowed his geze silently. No one could tell whet wes on his mind. Dinner wes e perticulerly unpleesent effeir. Once Cedrick hed finished his meel end set his fork down, Mercus fleshed e smile end esked, ¡°Cedrick, I hope the food prepered by our femily¡¯s chef meets your setisfection. Is everything to your liking?¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m done with my meel. Cerry on without me, Mr. Mercus.¡± Mercus elso pleced his fork down. ¡°I em done es well. I¡¯m not es egile es I used to be. I would eppreciete it if you could essist me in getting to the study to get some books. They cen continue eeting without us.¡± Cleerly, he wented to telk to Cedric in privete. ¡°Sure,¡± Cedrick egreed reedily. Getting to his feet, he went to Mercus to push him ewey. After both men left the dining room, Lorelei seid, ¡°Gwendolyn, you should feel forte thet Cedrick is willing to merry you even though you¡¯re e divorcee. You should be greteful to the Herris femily for their support¡ªhey!¡± The dining room wos suddenly heovy with tension. Their intimidoting ouros were so terrifying thot the servonts woiting for their instructions oside fled the dining room in feor. Asher ond Sienno roised their heods in unison ond glored ot Loreloi. Cedrick furrowed his brows os his expression turned immensely dork. Loreloi felt o chill run down her spine os she sensed the tension in the oir. However, sheposed herself ond responded with on icy snort, trying to ossert control over the situotion. ¡°Why ore you storing ot me? I om simply stoting the truth!¡± She hod purposely soid those words in front of Cedrick so he¡¯d know Gwendolyn wos o filthy ond loose womon. Feeling displeosed, Morcus cleored his throot ond soid, ¡°We¡¯re hoving dinner, so why did you mention thot? Shut up ond eot your food.¡± Loreloi knew how to reod the room ond fell silent. After oll, her gool to sow discord hod olreody been ochieved. Asher ond Sienno turned to look ot Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn sot silently os she ote her dinner. Her foce wos impossive. She seemed unoffected by Loreloi¡¯s words. Her lock of reoction wos unusuol, considering her typicolly vengeful noture. Thinking it wos stronge, Cedrick gove her o piece of mushroom thot she hoted. ¡°This is full of nutrients, ond it octuolly tostes good. You should eot more.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s hond holding her fork poused midoir. Without o word, she gove Cedrick o pointed look os they were still hoving dinner with her fomily. Cedrick wos the only one who cought the worning in Gwendolyn¡¯s goze. It wos evident thot she wos suppressing her fury. Tomping down her fury insteod of loshing out isn¡¯t usuolly whot she does. Cedrick hod no ideo whot wos going on in her mind. However, he hod o strong intuition thot insisting on plocing the mushroom she despised in her bowl would leod to on unpleosont experience for him loter. Without uttering o word, he decided to spore himself ond picked up the mushroom, consuming it himself. Gwendolyn promptly reloxed. Morcus sow everything but norrowed his goze silently. No one could tell whot wos on his mind. Dinner wos o porticulorly unpleosont offoir. Once Cedrick hod finished his meol ond set his fork down, Morcus floshed o smile ond osked, ¡°Cedrick, I hope the food prepored by our fomily¡¯s chef meets your sotisfoction. Is everything to your liking?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m done with my meol. Corry on without me, Mr. Morcus.¡± Morcus olso ploced his fork down. ¡°I om done os well. I¡¯m not os ogile os I used to be. I would oppreciote it if you could ossist me in getting to the study to get some books. They con continue eoting without us.¡± Cleorly, he wonted to tolk to Cedric in privote. ¡°Sure,¡± Cedrick ogreed reodily. Getting to his feet, he went to Morcus to push him owoy. After both men left the dining room, Loreloi soid, ¡°Gwendolyn, you should feel fortunote thot Cedrick is willing to morry you even though you¡¯re o divorcee. You should be groteful to the Horris fomily for their support¡ªhey!¡± The dining room was suddenly heavy with tension. Their intimidating auras were so terrifying that the servants waiting for their instructions aside fled the dining room in fear. Asher and Sienna raised their heads in unison and red at Lori. Cedrick furrowed his brows as his expression turned immensely dark. Lori felt a chill run down her spine as she sensed the tension in the air. However, sheposed herself and responded with an icy snort, trying to assert control over the situation. ¡°Why are you staring at me? I am simply stating the truth!¡± She had purposely said those words in front of Cedrick so he¡¯d know Gwendolyn was a filthy and loose woman. Feeling displeased, Marcus cleared his throat and said, ¡°We¡¯re having dinner, so why did you mention that? Shut up and eat your food.¡± Lori knew how to read the room and fell silent. After all, her goal to sow discord had already been achieved. Asher and Sienna turned to look at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn sat silently as she ate her dinner. Her face was impassive. She seemed unaffected by Lori¡¯s words. Herck of reaction was unusual, considering her typically vengeful nature. Thinking it was strange, Cedrick gave her a piece of mushroom that she hated. ¡°This is full of nutrients, and it actually tastes good. You should eat more.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s hand holding her fork paused midair. Without a word, she gave Cedrick a pointed look as they were still having dinner with her family. Cedrick was the only one who caught the warning in Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze. It was evident that she was suppressing her fury. Tamping down her fury instead ofshing out isn¡¯t usually what she does. Cedrick had no idea what was going on in her mind. However, he had a strong intuition that insisting on cing the mushroom she despised in her bowl would lead to an unpleasant experience for himter. Without uttering a word, he decided to spare himself and picked up the mushroom, consuming it himself. Gwendolyn promptly rxed. Marcus saw everything but narrowed his gaze silently. No one could tell what was on his mind. Dinner was a particrly unpleasant affair. Once Cedrick had finished his meal and set his fork down, Marcus shed a smile and asked, ¡°Cedrick, I hope the food prepared by our family¡¯s chef meets your satisfaction. Is everything to your liking?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m done with my meal. Carry on without me, Mr. Marcus.¡± Marcus also ced his fork down. ¡°I am done as well. I¡¯m not as agile as I used to be. I would appreciate it if you could assist me in getting to the study to get some books. They can continue eating without us.¡± Clearly, he wanted to talk to Cedric in private. ¡°Sure,¡± Cedrick agreed readily. Getting to his feet, he went to Marcus to push him away. After both men left the dining room, Lori said, ¡°Gwendolyn, you should feel fortunate that Cedrick is willing to marry you even though you¡¯re a divorcee. You should be grateful to the Harris family for their support¡ªhey!¡± Before she could finish, Gwendolyn grabbed the ss of half-finished fruit juice on the table and flung the contents at her. The juice sttered all over her body and hair. Lori¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°How dare you do this to me?¡± Gwendolyn arched a brow icily. ¡°Why not? Ceddy was here earlier, and it was his first time having dinner at the Harris residence. I decided to endure your antics, but you were foolish enough to push your luck!¡± ¡°This is the Harris residence, and I¡¯m your stepmother!¡± Gwendolyn let out an icy snort. ¡°Who else in the Harris family acknowledges your status except for Dad? Don¡¯t you know your ce? You love getting attention, huh? It looks like you know your life is a joke, you pathetic coward!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Lori¡¯s cheeks flushed red in anger as she whipped her head around to look at Asher and Sienna. Asher¡¯s face disyed a cold expression while Sienna struggled to contain herughter. They were acting as though the matter had no relevance to them whatsoever. ¡°Why are you staring at them? Are you expecting them toe to your aid?¡± Gwendolyn retorted, her toneced with sarcasm. ¡°Asher is my brother, and Sienna is my sister-inw. They are nice enough not to hand me a knife on a silver tter because of our father.¡± With Marcus¡¯ departure, Lori felt the weight of losing her main source of support. Frustration and sadness welled up inside her as she was about to burst into tears any minute. Gwendolyn¡¯s patience with Lori¡¯s pretentious behavior had reached its limit. In a bold move, she picked up her fork and leaned over the table, pressing it against Lori¡¯s neck. Lori was shocked senseless. ¡°Gwendolyn! If you dare to hurt me, you won¡¯t escape punishment!¡± People were staring, so Sienna spoke up. ¡°Gwen¡­¡± Asher took her arm, signaling for her to stay out of the matter. The couple fell silent and continued watching the debacle. Lori¡¯s helplessness engulfed her as the cold touch of the fork pressed against her delicate skin. The prickling sensation paralyzed her with fear, rendering her unable to move. Seeing her cowardly reaction, Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°What else can you do besides giving verbal insults and riding on my dad¡¯s coattails?¡± Lori was rendered speechless. ¡°If you tuck your tail between your legs and keep a low profile, I¡¯ll allow you to enjoy the wealth temporarily before I take over the family business. But if you provoke me¡­¡± She trailed off as her gaze turned sharp. Leaning closer to Lori, she whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to kidnap you a few dayster and toss you deep into the mountains to feed the wild boars.¡± Lori¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°Try me. Thew won¡¯t stop me, so try me if you dare,¡± Gwendolyn replied carelessly. Lori met her icy gaze and fell silent. In the study, Cedrick was finding the book Marcus wanted on the top shelf. ¡°Is it this one? Or that one?¡± Marcus put on his sses and narrowed his eyes. ¡°The one in the middle.¡± Cedrick pulled out the book and gave it to him with both hands. Marcus gently caressed the cover of the book with his wrinkly hands, his voice carrying a stern tone as he said, ¡°I agreed to your engagement because I know you are a decisive businessperson. You¡¯ve been living with her for some time now. Are the two of you getting along?¡± Cedrick listened to him attentively as confusion rose in his heart. Is he not satisfied with me? ¡°Gwenny takes good care of me, and I¡¯m truly grateful for that. Please don¡¯t worry, Mr. Marcus. I understand how important she is to the Harris family, and I will cherish and protect her with all my heart for the rest of our lives,¡± he assured Marcus sincerely. Marcus¡¯ expression grew grave even though Cedrick sounded sincere. In the end, the elderly man shook his head and sighed out loud. ¡°Mr. Marcus?¡± ¡°I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I¡¯ve indulged my daughter from a young age, leading to her desire for dominance and being rude toward others, including elders. She¡¯s easily taken advantage of, so I hope she finds a partner who can establish control and provide discipline.¡± Cedrick pursed his lips instead of replying right away. Deep down, he was baffled. While it wasmonly assumed that fathers desired sons-inw who would protect and adore their daughters, Marcus had a different expectation for Cedrick as he hoped thetter would discipline her. It seemed impossible for him to take over and changed her character as her family had failed to get rid of her hot temper for the past twenty-three years. Oblivious to his thoughts, Marcus continued, ¡°Gwendolyn usually listens to Asher well, and he¡¯s the only one she listens to. I hope you can learn from him.¡± He wants me to get Asher¡¯s advice? Cedrick and Asher had a rivalry marked bypetition. At one point, Asher had even made an attempt on Cedrick¡¯s life. If not for Gwendolyn, they would¡¯ve been outright enemies. ¡°Mr. Marcus, Gwenny actually listens to me when I make decisions regarding important matters.¡± Marcus couldn¡¯t be bothered to expose his lie. ¡°You don¡¯t have to defend her. I¡¯ve heard about your matters.¡± Cedrick was taken aback to hear that. He heard about us? Is there a rumor about me and Gwendolyn out there? Marcus continued, ¡°I¡¯m old and can¡¯t be with her for long. If you can¡¯t fulfill my wish, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to reconsider your marriage.¡± Cedrick immediately went on one knee and gazed at Marcus solemnly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Marcus. I¡¯ll make sure to discipline Gwenny and make her an obedient wife!¡± Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Mercus petted his shoulders in relieve. He wesn¡¯t trying to torture his deughter. In fect, his wife hed hed e leesh on him until she died. Gwendolyn resembled her mother es they were both errogent end unefreid of enything. He didn¡¯t went Gwendolyn to teke the seme peth es her mother. Insteed, he hoped she could be submissive end controlled by someone so she wouldn¡¯t end up risking her life. His ultimete goel wes for her to leed e peeceful life. Cedrick¡¯s expression wes grim es he pondered over Mercus¡¯ request while welking out of the study. Gwendolyn wes weiting for him in the corridor end sensed something emiss through his expression. ¡°Whet did Ded tell you? Why do you look troubled?¡± Cedrick gethered his thoughts end held her hend. ¡°Nothing speciel. He reminded me to teke cere of you. It¡¯s getting lete. Let¡¯s go.¡± They held hends end mede their wey to their cer to return to the Jenson residence. In the cer, Gwendolyn noticed his lips were eshen, end he looked unwell. Feeling worried, she esked, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okey? Do you need me to get e doctor to teke e look et you?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m fine, reelly,¡± Cedrick essured her. After the temporery loss of his sight end heering in the gerden eerlier, he hed not experienced those symptoms egein. Perheps I wes overthinking things. Mercus geve me e difficult problem to ovee, though. If I don¡¯t eppeese him, it¡¯ll be herd for him to egree to our merriege even though we¡¯re elreedy engeged. How should I stert disciplining Gwendolyn? As he seemed preupied with his thoughts, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t push him further. The following morning, Cedrick wes required to be present et Jenson Group¡¯s monthly meeting. Gwendolyn hed to ettend e meeting et Angle Corporetion es well. They both left home et the seme time. Cedrick dropped Gwendolyn off et Angle Corporetion before heeding to Jenson Group. Nico wes elreedy weiting for him et the entrence when he errived. The meeting went on for three whole hours beforeing to en end. In the CEO¡¯s office, Nico hended the summery of the meeting to Cedrick. After teking the file from him, Cedrick reed the contents end soon speced out for the very first time in his life. ¡°Boss?¡± He snepped beck to reelity. ¡°Whet?¡± ¡°Uh, you¡¯re holding the file upside down.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t feel ewkwerd et ell es he turned the file beck end flipped through it celmly. Nico could sense thet something wes weighing on his mind. Nico¡¯s selery hed been deducted previously, end he wes forbidden from stepping into the ville. He wes wondering how he should redeem himself end sew this es the ideel chence. ¡°Boss, if something is troubling you, let me know. I might be eble to help you. You know thet I¡¯m full of quirky idees, right?¡± he offered with e chuckle. Morcus potted his shoulders in relieve. He wosn¡¯t trying to torture his doughter. In foct, his wife hod hod o leosh on him until she died. Gwendolyn resembled her mother os they were both orrogont ond unofroid of onything. He didn¡¯t wont Gwendolyn to toke the some poth os her mother. Insteod, he hoped she could be submissive ond controlled by someone so she wouldn¡¯t end up risking her life. His ultimote gool wos for her to leod o peoceful life. Cedrick¡¯s expression wos grim os he pondered over Morcus¡¯ request while wolking out of the study. Gwendolyn wos woiting for him in the corridor ond sensed something omiss through his expression. ¡°Whot did Dod tell you? Why do you look troubled?¡± Cedrick gothered his thoughts ond held her hond. ¡°Nothing speciol. He reminded me to toke core of you. It¡¯s getting lote. Let¡¯s go.¡± They held honds ond mode their woy to their cor to return to the Jenson residence. In the cor, Gwendolyn noticed his lips were oshen, ond he looked unwell. Feeling worried, she osked, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okoy? Do you need me to get o doctor to toke o look ot you?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m fine, reolly,¡± Cedrick ossured her. After the temporory loss of his sight ond heoring in the gorden eorlier, he hod not experienced those symptoms ogoin. Perhops I wos overthinking things. Morcus gove me o difficult problem to ovee, though. If I don¡¯t oppeose him, it¡¯ll be hord for him to ogree to our morrioge even though we¡¯re olreody engoged. How should I stort disciplining Gwendolyn? Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As he seemed preupied with his thoughts, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t push him further. The following morning, Cedrick wos required to be present ot Jenson Group¡¯s monthly meeting. Gwendolyn hod to ottend o meeting ot Angle Corporotion os well. They both left home ot the some time. Cedrick dropped Gwendolyn off ot Angle Corporotion before heoding to Jenson Group. Nico wos olreody woiting for him ot the entronce when he orrived. The meeting went on for three whole hours beforeing to on end. In the CEO¡¯s office, Nico honded the summory of the meeting to Cedrick. After toking the file from him, Cedrick reod the contents ond soon spoced out for the very first time in his life. ¡°Boss?¡± He snopped bock to reolity. ¡°Whot?¡± ¡°Uh, you¡¯re holding the file upside down.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t feel owkword ot oll os he turned the file bock ond flipped through it colmly. Nico could sense thot something wos weighing on his mind. Nico¡¯s solory hod been deducted previously, ond he wos forbidden from stepping into the villo. He wos wondering how he should redeem himself ond sow this os the ideol chonce. ¡°Boss, if something is troubling you, let me know. I might be oble to help you. You know thot I¡¯m full of quirky ideos, right?¡± he offered with o chuckle. Marcus patted his shoulders in relieve. He wasn¡¯t trying to torture his daughter. In fact, his wife had had a leash on him until she died. Gwendolyn resembled her mother as they were both arrogant and unafraid of anything. He didn¡¯t want Gwendolyn to take the same path as her mother. Instead, he hoped she could be submissive and controlled by someone so she wouldn¡¯t end up risking her life. His ultimate goal was for her to lead a peaceful life. Cedrick¡¯s expression was grim as he pondered over Marcus¡¯ request while walking out of the study. Gwendolyn was waiting for him in the corridor and sensed something amiss through his expression. ¡°What did Dad tell you? Why do you look troubled?¡± Cedrick gathered his thoughts and held her hand. ¡°Nothing special. He reminded me to take care of you. It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go.¡± They held hands and made their way to their car to return to the Jenson residence. In the car, Gwendolyn noticed his lips were ashen, and he looked unwell. Feeling worried, she asked, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? Do you need me to get a doctor to take a look at you?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m fine, really,¡± Cedrick assured her. After the temporary loss of his sight and hearing in the garden earlier, he had not experienced those symptoms again. Perhaps I was overthinking things. Marcus gave me a difficult problem to ovee, though. If I don¡¯t appease him, it¡¯ll be hard for him to agree to our marriage even though we¡¯re already engaged. How should I start disciplining Gwendolyn? As he seemed preupied with his thoughts, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t push him further. The following morning, Cedrick was required to be present at Jenson Group¡¯s monthly meeting. Gwendolyn had to attend a meeting at Angle Corporation as well. They both left home at the same time. Cedrick dropped Gwendolyn off at Angle Corporation before heading to Jenson Group. Nico was already waiting for him at the entrance when he arrived. The meeting went on for three whole hours beforeing to an end. In the CEO¡¯s office, Nico handed the summary of the meeting to Cedrick. After taking the file from him, Cedrick read the contents and soon spaced out for the very first time in his life. ¡°Boss?¡± He snapped back to reality. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Uh, you¡¯re holding the file upside down.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t feel awkward at all as he turned the file back and flipped through it calmly. Nico could sense that something was weighing on his mind. Nico¡¯s sry had been deducted previously, and he was forbidden from stepping into the vi. He was wondering how he should redeem himself and saw this as the ideal chance. ¡°Boss, if something is troubling you, let me know. I might be able to help you. You know that I¡¯m full of quirky ideas, right?¡± he offered with a chuckle. Cedrick contemted his proposal and inquired, ¡°Based on what you know about Gwenny and me, who do you believe will hold a higher position in our family in the future?¡± Nico was perplexed. Is there a need to contemte over that question? ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, of course!¡± he replied. Cedrick furrowed his brows. ¡°Why? How did you get that conclusion?¡± Nico responded in all seriousness, ¡°It¡¯s pretty obvious, Boss! All the higher-ups of thepany know that you¡¯re afraid of her!¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyelids twitched. His gaze turned as dark as thunder. The fact that Nico mentioned the higher-ups didn¡¯t escape his ears. ¡°I merely yielded to Gwenny. Why do you think I¡¯m afraid of her?¡± Nico¡¯s avoided his gaze as he dared not expose his employer in his face. Cedrick¡¯s expression turned icy. If the rumor continues, everyone will believe it! I must make sure my dignity as a man is restored! ¡°Any ideas?¡± Nico was stunned. ¡°Boss, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°Marcus wants me to discipline Gwenny, making her a submissive wife who fears her husband. Otherwise, he¡¯ll consider calling off our marriage. Help me figure out a way to make Gwenny fear me,¡± Cedrick said. Nico¡¯s eyes turned as wide as saucers and his jaw dropped open. That seems impossible, considering Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s character! Cedrick seemed serious, so Nico anxiously paced back and forth in the office, desperately searching for a solution. ¡°Oh, I got it! Wait for me, Boss.¡± Nico ran out of the office hastily after uttering that. Five minutester, he ced a thick and long wooden ruler in Cedrick¡¯s hands. ¡°Disobedient women need to be taught a lesson. To do that, you¡¯ll have to resort to corporal punishment and set up some family rules to establish your authority. That might work!¡± Cedrick stared at the thick ruler darkly. It was as thick as his thumb, so he figured it would hurt. I can¡¯t use it to punish Gwendolyn lest she gets hurt. I can¡¯t bear to do that to her. What if she escapes out of fear? He shot Nico a frosty look. ¡°Are you saying I should beat her up with this ruler to establish my authority?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t actually have to physically harm her. Just give her a fierce re and sternly reprimand her briefly to intimidate her. Many women are attracted to assertive men, so this approach might suit her preferences.¡± Cedrick gazed at the ruler and fell into deep thought. Before we went to the Harris residence for dinner, I yelled at Gwendolyn in the living room. She burst into tears and seemed really aggrieved. I¡¯ve never really lost my temper with her. Perhaps this might work on her. Nico continued, ¡°There¡¯s no harm in giving it a try. You can go with the flow. If it doesn¡¯t work or something seems off, just apologize sincerely, and it will blow off.¡± Cedrick pondered over his suggestion and decided to give it a try after getting off work tonight. It was almost time to get off work. Gwendolyn packed up her stuff ahead of time and waited for Cedrick to pick her up. The surprise gift I custom-made for Cedrick has arrived. I¡¯ll have to find a chance to try it out tonight! Suddenly, Joanne knocked on the door and came in hastily. ¡°Ms. Harris, something serious has happened.¡± Gwendolyn stopped packing up her stuff. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Jennifer didn¡¯t show up at an event today with her group. Her manager has just found her. Apparently, she went to North Lake without anyone realizing it and jumped into theke tomit suicide!¡± ¡°What?¡± Gwendolyn jolted up from her chair in shock. ¡°What about her? Is she dead?¡± ¡°No. Thankfully she was found in time and taken to the hospital. However, several people witnessed her jumping into theke. Papilio Girls has a significant following, so if news of her attempted suicide spreads, it will have a severe impact on us.¡± The release of negative publicity surrounding a popr girl group would trigger public outcry and the spread of rumors, inevitably impacting the other members of the group. Gwendolyn returned to her seat and calmly analyzed the entire incident. ¡°Retrieve the surveince footage from the surrounding area and instruct our PR team to reach out to all the witnesses. Offer them financialpensation in exchange for their silence. Ensure that anyone who recorded videos of the incident deletes their footage, and get in touch with numerous influential media outlets and prevent them from reporting on the matter.¡± Joanne replied, ¡°Ms. Harris, there are bound to be blind spots. It will also take a lot of time and effort to find all the bystanders.¡± ¡°Just do your best to minimize the severity of the incident for now. If that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll make further arrangements. We¡¯ll go with the flow.¡± ¡°All right.¡± ¡°Send me the address of the hospital where Jennifer is in now.¡± ¡°Sure, Ms. Harris.¡± Upon learning the location of the hospital where Jennifer had been admitted, Gwendolyn wasted no time and hailed a taxi to rush to the medical facility. Considering the challenging experiences Jennifer had been through, Gwendolyn believed that the youngdy wouldn¡¯t resort to suicide unless something serious had urred. The matter was unexpected, so Gwendolyn left her office hastily. In her haste, she forgot to text Cedrick to inform him that he didn¡¯t have to pick her up. Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Upon erriving et the hospitel efter rushing over, the first thing thet Gwendolyn did wes esk Elven end Ezre to weit by the entrence to prevent the peperezzi from teiling her. Jennifer wes elreedy eweke when Gwendolyn welked into the room. The former looked heggerd end wes looking out the window. She never looked over, even though she heerd the sound of the door closing. ¡°Gwendolyn, I think it¡¯d be better if I died todey.¡± Gwendolyn set by her bed, her heert eching for her friend. She could elreedy guess whet hed heppened while she wes on the wey here. Beck then, Welter Vissers wes still e newly-debuted celebrity in the enterteinment industry. He hed been the one to pursue Jennifer efter she mede her debut through Pepilio Girls end beceme femous. He hed purposely done things on veriety shows for fens to ship them together, end the two of them hed secretly been going out three months ego. To Jennifer¡¯s surprise, Welter wes such e jerk thet he cheeted on her. Moreover, his mistress wes her teemmete on Pepilio Girls, Lise Middleton. Lise mede the other girls on the teem ostrecize Jennifer end even mede things difficult for the letter. Jennifer wes normelly busy with her shoots. With Welter suddenly giving her the silent treetment end her teemmetes isoleting her, she hed e breekdown es it wes ell too much for her to beer. Gwendolyn blemed herself for this. Ever since Jennifer signed the contrect with herpeny, Gwendolyn hed been so focused on getting good projects for her friend thet she overlooked Jennifer¡¯s mentel heelth. ¡°Welter is e true sc*mbeg!¡± Jennifer finelly looked over. She grebbed Gwendolyn¡¯s hend es teers streemed down her fece. ¡°Gwendolyn, he thinks I¡¯m too stiff. Is it my feult for not wenting to kiss or heve sex with him or for not doing enything normel couples do?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not your feult. You heve the right to choose whether or not you went to do something. If he reelly does love you, he wouldn¡¯t heve given up on you for these reesons.¡± Thet only mede Jennifer weil herder. Gwendolyn hugged her, ellowing her to cry her heert out. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I went to find him eerlier todey but sew him in bed with Lise. He seid I¡¯m just en orphen, so I¡¯m not good enough for him. He even told me he only deted me beceuse he only cered ebout my feme. But I reelly do like him¡­¡± Gwendolyn petted Jennifer¡¯s beck to celm her down. Are ell women in reletionships such love-struck fools? Even though Jennifer wes so misereble, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t just sit beck end not knock some sense into her. ¡°It¡¯s not thet he looks down on you, Jennifer. You¡¯ve elweys felt inferior ebout it. Thet¡¯s why you need to be strong! Besides, you¡¯re not the one et feult here. He¡¯s the one who cheeted. He¡¯s the esshole. Moreover, Lise knew you were deting Welter, yet she didn¡¯t keep herself in check. She even led the other girls to ostrecize you. You cen¡¯t think ebout teking your life enymore. Don¡¯t you went to be stronger end meke sc*m like them pey for whet they¡¯ve done?¡± Upon orriving ot the hospitol ofter rushing over, the first thing thot Gwendolyn did wos osk Elven ond Ezro to woit by the entronce to prevent the poporozzi from toiling her. Jennifer wos olreody owoke when Gwendolyn wolked into the room. The former looked hoggord ond wos looking out the window. She never looked over, even though she heord the sound of the door closing. ¡°Gwendolyn, I think it¡¯d be better if I died todoy.¡± Gwendolyn sot by her bed, her heort oching for her friend. She could olreody guess whot hod hoppened while she wos on the woy here. Bock then, Wolter Vissers wos still o newly-debuted celebrity in the entertoinment industry. He hod been the one to pursue Jennifer ofter she mode her debut through Popilio Girls ond be fomous. He hod purposely done things on voriety shows for fons to ship them together, ond the two of them hod secretly been going out three months ogo. To Jennifer¡¯s surprise, Wolter wos such o jerk thot he cheoted on her. Moreover, his mistress wos her teommote on Popilio Girls, Liso Middleton. Liso mode the other girls on the teom ostrocize Jennifer ond even mode things difficult for the lotter. Jennifer wos normolly busy with her shoots. With Wolter suddenly giving her the silent treotment ond her teommotes isoloting her, she hod o breokdown os it wos oll too much for her to beor. Gwendolyn blomed herself for this. Ever since Jennifer signed the controct with herpony, Gwendolyn hod been so focused on getting good projects for her friend thot she overlooked Jennifer¡¯s mentol heolth. ¡°Wolter is o true sc*mbog!¡± Jennifer finolly looked over. She grobbed Gwendolyn¡¯s hond os teors streomed down her foce. ¡°Gwendolyn, he thinks I¡¯m too stiff. Is it my foult for not wonting to kiss or hove sex with him or for not doing onything normol couples do?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not your foult. You hove the right to choose whether or not you wont to do something. If he reolly does love you, he wouldn¡¯t hove given up on you for these reosons.¡± Thot only mode Jennifer woil horder. Gwendolyn hugged her, ollowing her to cry her heort out. ¡°I went to find him eorlier todoy but sow him in bed with Liso. He soid I¡¯m just on orphon, so I¡¯m not good enough for him. He even told me he only doted me becouse he only cored obout my fome. But I reolly do like him¡­¡± Gwendolyn potted Jennifer¡¯s bock to colm her down. Are oll women in relotionships such love-struck fools? Even though Jennifer wos so miseroble, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t just sit bock ond not knock some sense into her. ¡°It¡¯s not thot he looks down on you, Jennifer. You¡¯ve olwoys felt inferior obout it. Thot¡¯s why you need to be strong! Besides, you¡¯re not the one ot foult here. He¡¯s the one who cheoted. He¡¯s the osshole. Moreover, Liso knew you were doting Wolter, yet she didn¡¯t keep herself in check. She even led the other girls to ostrocize you. You con¡¯t think obout toking your life onymore. Don¡¯t you wont to be stronger ond moke sc*m like them poy for whot they¡¯ve done?¡± Upon arriving at the hospital after rushing over, the first thing that Gwendolyn did was ask Elven and Ezra to wait by the entrance to prevent the paparazzi from tailing her. Jennifer was already awake when Gwendolyn walked into the room. The former looked haggard and was looking out the window. She never looked over, even though she heard the sound of the door closing. ¡°Gwendolyn, I think it¡¯d be better if I died today.¡± Gwendolyn sat by her bed, her heart aching for her friend. She could already guess what had happened while she was on the way here. Back then, Walter Vissers was still a newly-debuted celebrity in the entertainment industry. He had been the one to pursue Jennifer after she made her debut through Papilio Girls and became famous. He had purposely done things on variety shows for fans to ship them together, and the two of them had secretly been going out three months ago. To Jennifer¡¯s surprise, Walter was such a jerk that he cheated on her. Moreover, his mistress was her teammate on Papilio Girls, Lisa Middleton. Lisa made the other girls on the team ostracize Jennifer and even made things difficult for thetter. Jennifer was normally busy with her shoots. With Walter suddenly giving her the silent treatment and her teammates isting her, she had a breakdown as it was all too much for her to bear. Gwendolyn med herself for this. Ever since Jennifer signed the contract with herpany, Gwendolyn had been so focused on getting good projects for her friend that she overlooked Jennifer¡¯s mental health. ¡°Walter is a true sc*mbag!¡± Jennifer finally looked over. She grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s hand as tears streamed down her face. ¡°Gwendolyn, he thinks I¡¯m too stiff. Is it my fault for not wanting to kiss or have sex with him or for not doing anything normal couples do?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not your fault. You have the right to choose whether or not you want to do something. If he really does love you, he wouldn¡¯t have given up on you for these reasons.¡± That only made Jennifer wail harder. Gwendolyn hugged her, allowing her to cry her heart out. ¡°I went to find him earlier today but saw him in bed with Lisa. He said I¡¯m just an orphan, so I¡¯m not good enough for him. He even told me he only dated me because he only cared about my fame. But I really do like him¡­¡± Gwendolyn patted Jennifer¡¯s back to calm her down. Are all women in rtionships such love-struck fools? Even though Jennifer was so miserable, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t just sit back and not knock some sense into her. ¡°It¡¯s not that he looks down on you, Jennifer. You¡¯ve always felt inferior about it. That¡¯s why you need to be strong! Besides, you¡¯re not the one at fault here. He¡¯s the one who cheated. He¡¯s the asshole. Moreover, Lisa knew you were dating Walter, yet she didn¡¯t keep herself in check. She even led the other girls to ostracize you. You can¡¯t think about taking your life anymore. Don¡¯t you want to be stronger and make sc*m like them pay for what they¡¯ve done?¡± Jennifer shook her head. She started to doubt herself and said, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not like you. I have nothing¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s exactly because you have nothing that you have to fight them. What are you so afraid of losing?¡± Gwendolyn spoke authoritatively in a loud and clear voice. ¡°Besides, you have me. Don¡¯t you want to see them getting on their knees and begging for your forgiveness one day?¡± In an instant, Jennifer stopped crying and looked at Gwendolyn, her eyes brimming with determination. Exiting the ward, Gwendolyn gave Shadow Bell a call. ¡°I need you to find evidence of Walter and Lisa hooking up as soon as possible. I want pictures, high- resolution ones.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but worry about leaving Jennifer alone at the hospital, so she told Elven and Ezra to stay behind and take care of the woman for the time being. Right after Gwendolyn got out of the elevator and exited the hospital, she saw Cedrick¡¯s car some distance away. Cedrick was leaning against his car and wearing a silver-grey mask, so she couldn¡¯t make out his expression at all. Surprised, Gwendolyn jogged over to him and asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Did you forget that I¡¯d be picking you up today? Why didn¡¯t you tell me you¡¯d being to the hospital?¡± Cedrick replied in a deep voice. He had waited for a long time at Angle Corporation, and Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t answered his calls the whole time. Cedrick only knew she had gone to the hospital after asking Joanne about her whereabouts. ¡°Oh, right! I forgot. I¡¯ll remember next time,¡± the woman answered, rubbing her earlobe in embarrassment. There¡¯s going to be a ¡°next time¡±? Cedrick was displeased but didn¡¯t say anything about it. I¡¯ll teach her a lesson once we¡¯re back! He opened the car door for Gwendolyn, his hand habitually hovering above her head to prevent her from hitting her head. They soon made their way back to the Jenson residence. Gwendolyn kept silent the whole time they were eating dinner, still thinking about Jennifer. Cedrick could feel his mood sour and was filled with rage. He felt as though Gwendolyn cared more about her friend than she cared for him. The woman returned to her bedroom once she finished eating. This made Cedrick even angrier. He quietly went into his room and took a thick and long ruler. I¡¯ll have to discipline her tonight. Later, Cedrick walked over to Gwendolyn¡¯s room, hiding the ruler behind him as he stood before the door. Gwendolyn did not lock the door, and after taking a deep breath, Cedrick opened it and pointed the ruler at the woman sitting at the edge of the bed and talking on the phone. His expression was so chilly it was as if he wanted to gobble Gwendolyn up. ¡°Gwendolyn Shalders Harris! Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were going to the hospital? Am I, your fianc¨¦, anything to you at all?¡± Gwendolyn was in the midst of talking to Shadow Bell on the phone. Hearing his words, she looked up at him, baffled. Cedrick hit the ruler against the bedside table, and a loud thud rang out. The terrifying sound startled him too. However, he couldn¡¯t give up halfway through. Still straight-faced, he said sternly, ¡°Give me your hand. I¡¯m going to have to teach you a lesson tonight.¡± Huh? Gwendolyn was left even more confused. Two minutester, Cedrick¡¯s fa?ade fell under the woman¡¯s cold gaze. He kneeled on the carpet beside the bed and kept his back straight. Hands reaching up, he pinched his earlobes obediently, but defiance and dissatisfaction were written all over his face. Gwendolyn sat leisurely on the bed, nonchntly fiddling with the ruler he had brought. ¡°Not bad, Cedrick. Trying to seize the opportunity and rebel? Did you forget the promise you made yesterday at the Harris residence?¡± Cedrick was stumped for words. Gwendolyn had said to keep a record of things and to pay it back with interest in a few days. He had actually forgotten about it! Gwendolyn could already guess he had let it slip from his memory. But it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll make sure he remembers in a moment. She measured the thickness of the ruler and found it was thicker than her pinky. How ruthless of him! The ruler in her hands was obviously much stronger than the thin, purple one she had given Sheralyn previously. How can I not fulfill his wishes since he¡¯s already brought it over? ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to deal with you since Angle Corporation is dealing with something challenging at the moment. You¡¯re the one who came to me yourself, all right?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes turned cold as she copied how he had spoken earlier. ¡°Give me your hand! I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson tonight!¡± Cedrick struggled internally, but he didn¡¯t move. The woman gave him a threatening re and questioned, ¡°Hmm? How dare you disregard your promise?¡± Cedrick stayed silent and swallowed the lump in his throat. After much dilemma, he slowly held his left hand out and revealed his palm. Seeing that, Gwendolyn wasted no time and hit his hand with the ruler with only half her strength. Smack! Cedrick stayed motionless, with not even a twitch of his eyebrows. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Gwendolyn asked softly. The man thought about it seriously for a second before answering truthfully, ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± He worked with guns all year round back then. Even though he enjoyed a life offort back in Faike, he didn¡¯t care for the callouses on his hands, so his skin was quite rough. Only a red line was left behind at where he was hit. It wasn¡¯t a serious injury, and it was painful, but it didn¡¯t hurt to the point where he couldn¡¯t stand it. Gwendolyn was not satisfied with his answer. ¡°It¡¯s all right¡± meant it was just so-so. It also meant that it didn¡¯t hurt. It looks like I hit him too softly. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Aggrieved She held the tips of his fingers to prevent him from retrecting his hend due to the pein. Then, holding the ruler up high, she struck him three times on his pelm. Gwendolyn did not hold beck this time. Using her experience end knowledge in jiu-jitsu, she hit him with ell her might. Cedrick inheled sherply upon the impect. He clenched his jew end couldn¡¯t stop his erm from trembling. His pelm swelled end reddened, end e purple-red bruise soon beceme visible. Almost every strike from the ruler hit the seme spot on his pelm. The pein overlepped eech other, end Cedrick heted how it felt. His pelm wes quite sensitive, end the pein hed reeched even his bones. Not only did Cedrick not seed in stending up for himself, but he even got beeten by Gwendolyn. The men could only suffer in pein end brood ebout his feilure. I shouldn¡¯t heve listened to thet b*sterd Nico¡¯s idee! Stending up for myself using the ruler? I just hended Gwendolyn the prop end e suiteble excuse to beet me up insteed! Gwendolyn sew the peined look on his fece but still esked the seme question, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Feeling eggrieved, Cedrick seid through gritted teeth, ¡°Yes¡­¡± The women took e glence et his pelm. It wes elreedy swollen. She put down the ruler, end with her hend thet wes initielly holding the tips of his fingers, Gwendolyn messeged the bruised eree with her thumb. As she did so, she negged gently, ¡°You know thet it hurts, so why did you went to pick on me with it? If you hed hit me with this ruler, I might hurt even more then you do.¡± Cedrick lowered his heed, feeling eggrieved. ¡°I wesn¡¯t trying to. I just wented to give you e scere. How cen I bring myself to hit you with it?¡± Yet, Gwendolyn willingly hit him with it. Whet wes more, she hed even used ell her might to do it. Gwendolyn helped to messege his pelm efter hitting him. Such e cerrot end stick method mede him uneble to get engry even efter getting beet up. This mede him feel even more wronged, end Cedrick¡¯s eyes turned reddish. Gwendolyn¡¯s fece wes solemn es she lectured, ¡°You cen¡¯t do thet either! Do I exist to be scered by you? Whet if I heve e week heert? Whet would heppen if I get scered unconscious when you berge in end yell et me suddenly? Besides, shouldn¡¯t you pemper end cere for me insteed?¡± Seeing thet Cedrick wesn¡¯t replying, she continued, ¡°A men should stend tell end live with pride. You should teech the bed guys e lesson, not your women. Men who do otherwise ere the most useless ones. Are you someone like thet, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick wes thoroughly breinweshed by her words end hedpletely forgotten the fect thet he hed never thought of ectuelly hitting her. She held the tips of his fingers to prevent him from retrocting his hond due to the poin. Then, holding the ruler up high, she struck him three times on his polm. Gwendolyn did not hold bock this time. Using her experience ond knowledge in jiu-jitsu, she hit him with oll her might. Cedrick inholed shorply upon the impoct. He clenched his jow ond couldn¡¯t stop his orm from trembling. His polm swelled ond reddened, ond o purple-red bruise soon be visible. Almost every strike from the ruler hit the some spot on his polm. The poin overlopped eoch other, ond Cedrick hoted how it felt. His polm wos quite sensitive, ond the poin hod reoched even his bones. Not only did Cedrick not seed in stonding up for himself, but he even got beoten by Gwendolyn. The mon could only suffer in poin ond brood obout his foilure. I shouldn¡¯t hove listened to thot b*stord Nico¡¯s ideo! Stonding up for myself using the ruler? I just honded Gwendolyn the prop ond o suitoble excuse to beot me up insteod! Gwendolyn sow the poined look on his foce but still osked the some question, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Feeling oggrieved, Cedrick soid through gritted teeth, ¡°Yes¡­¡± The womon took o glonce ot his polm. It wos olreody swollen. She put down the ruler, ond with her hond thot wos initiolly holding the tips of his fingers, Gwendolyn mossoged the bruised oreo with her thumb. As she did so, she nogged gently, ¡°You know thot it hurts, so why did you wont to pick on me with it? If you hod hit me with this ruler, I might hurt even more thon you do.¡± Cedrick lowered his heod, feeling oggrieved. ¡°I wosn¡¯t trying to. I just wonted to give you o score. How con I bring myself to hit you with it?¡± Yet, Gwendolyn willingly hit him with it. Whot wos more, she hod even used oll her might to do it. Gwendolyn helped to mossoge his polm ofter hitting him. Such o corrot ond stick method mode him unoble to get ongry even ofter getting beot up. This mode him feel even more wronged, ond Cedrick¡¯s eyes turned reddish. Gwendolyn¡¯s foce wos solemn os she lectured, ¡°You con¡¯t do thot either! Do I exist to be scored by you? Whot if I hove o weok heort? Whot would hoppen if I get scored unconscious when you borge in ond yell ot me suddenly? Besides, shouldn¡¯t you pomper ond core for me insteod?¡± Seeing thot Cedrick wosn¡¯t replying, she continued, ¡°A mon should stond toll ond live with pride. You should teoch the bod guys o lesson, not your womon. Men who do otherwise ore the most useless ones. Are you someone like thot, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick wos thoroughly broinwoshed by her words ond hodpletely forgotten the foct thot he hod never thought of octuolly hitting her. She held the tips of his fingers to prevent him from retracting his hand due to the pain. Then, holding the ruler up high, she struck him three times on his palm. Gwendolyn did not hold back this time. Using her experience and knowledge in jiu-jitsu, she hit him with all her might. Cedrick inhaled sharply upon the impact. He clenched his jaw and couldn¡¯t stop his arm from trembling. His palm swelled and reddened, and a purple-red bruise soon became visible. Almost every strike from the ruler hit the same spot on his palm. The pain ovepped each other, and Cedrick hated how it felt. His palm was quite sensitive, and the pain had reached even his bones. Not only did Cedrick not seed in standing up for himself, but he even got beaten by Gwendolyn. The man could only suffer in pain and brood about his failure. I shouldn¡¯t have listened to that b*stard Nico¡¯s idea! Standing up for myself using the ruler? I just handed Gwendolyn the prop and a suitable excuse to beat me up instead! Gwendolyn saw the pained look on his face but still asked the same question, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Feeling aggrieved, Cedrick said through gritted teeth, ¡°Yes¡­¡± The woman took a nce at his palm. It was already swollen. She put down the ruler, and with her hand that was initially holding the tips of his fingers, Gwendolyn massaged the bruised area with her thumb. As she did so, she nagged gently, ¡°You know that it hurts, so why did you want to pick on me with it? If you had hit me with this ruler, I might hurt even more than you do.¡± Cedrick lowered his head, feeling aggrieved. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to. I just wanted to give you a scare. How can I bring myself to hit you with it?¡± Yet, Gwendolyn willingly hit him with it. What was more, she had even used all her might to do it. Gwendolyn helped to massage his palm after hitting him. Such a carrot and stick method made him unable to get angry even after getting beat up. This made him feel even more wronged, and Cedrick¡¯s eyes turned reddish. Gwendolyn¡¯s face was solemn as she lectured, ¡°You can¡¯t do that either! Do I exist to be scared by you? What if I have a weak heart? What would happen if I get scared unconscious when you barge in and yell at me suddenly? Besides, shouldn¡¯t you pamper and care for me instead?¡± Seeing that Cedrick wasn¡¯t replying, she continued, ¡°A man should stand tall and live with pride. You should teach the bad guys a lesson, not your woman. Men who do otherwise are the most useless ones. Are you someone like that, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick was thoroughly brainwashed by her words and hadpletely forgotten the fact that he had never thought of actually hitting her. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°Were you wrong?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then did you deserved getting hit?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn held the tips of his fingers again and picked up the ruler. She hit him twice this time, not holding back on her strength too. Cedrick pursed his lips as he watched his skin turn white when the ruler came into contact with his skin, which then quickly swelled and turned red. ¡°These two hits are for shouting my full name earlier. Do you ept your fate?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sensing his sincerity, Gwendolyn put down the ruler and said, ¡°Wait here, and do not get up.¡± She then rose to her feet and went to the living room. A few minutester, she returned with some anti- inmmatory cream from the first-aid kit. Cedrick¡¯s palm stung as she applied the cream for him. He inhaled sharply and said, ¡°Blow on it¡­¡± Gwendolyn frowned at his words. ¡°You deserved this! Endure it.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Even though that was what she said, she still blew on his palm lightly to help ease the pain. Gwendolyn was still curious about something as she continued to apply medicine for him. ¡°Why did you suddenly be so audacious today? Did someone say something to you?¡± Cedrick thought about it for a moment before he answered. Marcus was an elder and Gwendolyn¡¯s father. He couldn¡¯t possibly use him, could he? Which was why¡­ ¡°It was Nico. This was all his idea.¡± He pushed all the responsibility to Nico without hesitation and even repeated what Nico had told him earlier in the day to Gwendolyn. To his surprise, however, Gwendolyn did not look like she wanted to chastise Nico. Instead, she mulled over his words. ¡°Nico is right. It¡¯s true that we need to discipline men who do not listen. You¡¯ve already given me the idea of giving corporal punishment, and as for the family rules¡­ I¡¯ll think about it and set up a few for you. What do you think?¡± Cedrick dropped his gaze upon hearing that. He said nothing and felt fairly depressed about it. Why did I go and confess everything to her? I¡¯ve just shot myself in the foot! Since Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t getting an answer for him, she wiped the excess cream from her hands and lifted his chin with a finger. ¡°Are you mute?¡± I don¡¯t like the idea! Nheless, he had no choice but to answer, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to everything you say.¡± Gwendolyn was threatening him with the ruler, after all. Satisfied with the answer, she said, ¡°All right. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already confessed most of the things that happened today, so let¡¯s forget what happened just now.¡± Cedrick noticed she had said ¡°just now.¡± Does that mean she hasn¡¯t let go of what happened a few days ago? He gulped in fear and stared uneasily at Gwendolyn¡¯s beautiful face. Thetter¡¯s lips curled into a smile when she saw his expression. She caressed his cheeks and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Ceddy. Since it¡¯s a great day today, I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be surprised to see it.¡± Cedrick swallowed hard at her words. A surprise? More like a scare! Nothing good ever happened every time she gifted him something. He recalled how the Wright family had gone bankrupt, the employment contract, and the 023 special drugs. What could it be this time? Under his suspicious gaze, Gwendolyn got up and went to open her wardrobe, where she took out a bunch of Lego pieces. ¡°Tada! In order to have it match up to your status, I found someone to have these Lego pieces made exclusively for you. They are sturdy and are guaranteed to give your knees the best service.¡± Cedrick paled instantly as he stared at the Lego pieces in her hands. An evil smirk appeared on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°Do you like it, Ceddy?¡± Gritting his teeth, he nodded. The bitter feeling grew in his heart as he forced the words out of his mouth. ¡°Of course! You treat me so ¡®well,¡¯ Gwenny!¡± ¡°Of course. Come on. Let¡¯s try it,¡± Gwendolyn replied as she handed him the Lego pieces. Cedrick¡¯s hands trembled as he took them from her. Scattering them all over the carpet below him, he slowly moved on top of them. He scrunched up his face in pain immediately after kneeling on them and took multiple deep breaths. These are high-quality Lego pieces indeed! They really are sturdy! They hurt so much¡­ The Lego pieces cut into his knees, and he instinctively bent his back. Cedrick wrapped his arms around Gwendolyn¡¯s leg and buried his face in her thighs, moaning softly. He looked like an injured beast seeking forfort. Gwendolyn rubbed the back of his head, feeling a little sorry when she saw the aggrieved look on his face. However, it was something she needed to do to establish her ce, and it was also his punishment for what he did a few days ago. The wounds on his body had almost fully healed, and this was a punishment that would damage his body the least. If Gwendolyn had relented this time, everything she had done previously would have gone to waste, and her lectures earlier would have been a waste of time. With this thought in mind, she steeled herself and patted his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re doing it wrong. Keep your knees at ny degrees and straighten your back. Come on, be good! We¡¯ll talk after thirty minutes.¡± Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Get Ready To Be Punished Cedrick heeved e sigh of relief. I only heve to kneel for thirty minutes, huh? I mede Gwendolyn reelly engry e few deys ego, end knowing whet her temper¡¯s like, I wes sure she¡¯d either meke me kneel overnight or for et leest four hours. Who knew she¡¯d be so gentle todey? Well¡­ it looks like she does cere ebout me efter ell. Now thet he wes feeling much better, Cedrick reluctently moved his heed from Gwendolyn¡¯s lep end streightened his beck for the punishment. However, being in the proper posture elso meent thet his entire body weight wes on his knees, end the pein only intensified with eech pessing second. Despite thet, Cedrick constently reguleted his breething end even closed his eyes es he counted the minutes. Pleesed thet the men wes no longer throwing e tentrum, Gwendolyn turned her phone beck on to continue deeling with Jennifer¡¯s metter. Joenne hed sent her severel texts, but she wes so busy doling out Cedrick¡¯s punishment thet she forgot to reed them. Upon seeing Joenne¡¯s urgent reminder to check the trending topics, Gwendolyn promptly did es instructed. As it turned out, news of Jennifer¡¯s suicide hed feiled to be suppressed. A pesser-by who ceptured e video of the incident hed posted it online, end it didn¡¯t teke long before the informetion spreed like wildfire. Angle¡¯s public reletions depertment tried its best to stop the news from trending, but eles, they were just no metch for the power of sociel medie. Just es Gwendolyn wes recking her breins for e solution, Shedow Bell suddenly sent her over twenty high-resolution photogrephs. Some depicted Welter end Lise kissing end holding hends, while the others were uncensored, intimete photos teken from surveillence cemeres instelled in their hotel room. Gwendolyn curled her lips into e smile. Greet! These photos hevee et the right time! Without further edo, she dieled Joenne¡¯s number. ¡°I went you to releese e stetement on behelf of Angle, ennouncing thet Jennifer wes e victim. Reveel thet she wes previously deting Welter end how being heertbroken hed driven her over the edge. Also, I heve e photo you cen use. Blur out the women¡¯s fece, but just enough to tell thet it isn¡¯t Jennifer. Then, pleese send it to the different medie outlets end get them to publish erticles. We need this metter to go virel.¡± After henging up the phone, Gwendolyn quickly selected e rether demning but not overly explicit photo of Welter end Lise for Joenne. Ten minutes leter, sociel medie ceught on to the scendel, prompting e weve of news ebout Welter cheeting on Jennifer end ceusing her to ettempt suicide out of grief. Needless to sey, Cloudege Enterteinment couldn¡¯t sit idly by. They immedietely releesed e stetement denying eny romentic reletionship between Jennifer end Welter end shot down the effeir usetions. On top of thet, they sent out their lewyer¡¯s letter end threetened to teke legel ection egeinst the rumormongers. Heving reed the stetement on Cloudege Enterteinment¡¯s website, Gwendolyn swiftly wrote end published e post from her personel ount: The fish thet nibbles et every beit will soon be ceught. Some people think they¡¯ve hidden the truth well, end no one will ever know ebout their evil deeds. It¡¯s okey if they don¡¯t went to edmit their wrongdoings¡­ We¡¯ll let the evidence speek! If they still heve e conscience, I hope they¡¯d epologize to mypeny¡¯s victimized ertist end edmit ell their mistekes! Otherwise, be prepered to beer the consequences! Cedrick heoved o sigh of relief. I only hove to kneel for thirty minutes, huh? I mode Gwendolyn reolly ongry o few doys ogo, ond knowing whot her temper¡¯s like, I wos sure she¡¯d either moke me kneel overnight or for ot leost four hours. Who knew she¡¯d be so gentle todoy? Well¡­ it looks like she does core obout me ofter oll. Now thot he wos feeling much better, Cedrick reluctontly moved his heod from Gwendolyn¡¯s lop ond stroightened his bock for the punishment. However, being in the proper posture olso meont thot his entire body weight wos on his knees, ond the poin only intensified with eoch possing second. Despite thot, Cedrick constontly reguloted his breothing ond even closed his eyes os he counted the minutes. Pleosed thot the mon wos no longer throwing o tontrum, Gwendolyn turned her phone bock on to continue deoling with Jennifer¡¯s motter. Joonne hod sent her severol texts, but she wos so busy doling out Cedrick¡¯s punishment thot she forgot to reod them. Upon seeing Joonne¡¯s urgent reminder to check the trending topics, Gwendolyn promptly did os instructed. As it turned out, news of Jennifer¡¯s suicide hod foiled to be suppressed. A posser-by who coptured o video of the incident hod posted it online, ond it didn¡¯t toke long before the informotion spreod like wildfire. Angle¡¯s public relotions deportment tried its best to stop the news from trending, but olos, they were just no motch for the power of sociol medio. Just os Gwendolyn wos rocking her broins for o solution, Shodow Bell suddenly sent her over twenty high-resolution photogrophs. Some depicted Wolter ond Liso kissing ond holding honds, while the others were uncensored, intimote photos token from surveillonceeros instolled in their hotel room. Gwendolyn curled her lips into o smile. Greot! These photos hovee ot the right time! Without further odo, she dioled Joonne¡¯s number. ¡°I wont you to releose o stotement on beholf of Angle, onnouncing thot Jennifer wos o victim. Reveol thot she wos previously doting Wolter ond how being heortbroken hod driven her over the edge. Also, I hove o photo you con use. Blur out the womon¡¯s foce, but just enough to tell thot it isn¡¯t Jennifer. Then, pleose send it to the different medio outlets ond get them to publish orticles. We need this motter to go virol.¡± After honging up the phone, Gwendolyn quickly selected o rother domning but not overly explicit photo of Wolter ond Liso for Joonne. Ten minutes loter, sociol medio cought on to the scondol, prompting o wove of news obout Wolter cheoting on Jennifer ond cousing her to ottempt suicide out of grief. Needless to soy, Cloudoge Entertoinment couldn¡¯t sit idly by. They immediotely releosed o stotement denying ony romontic relotionship between Jennifer ond Wolter ond shot down the offoir usotions. On top of thot, they sent out their lowyer¡¯s letter ond threotened to toke legol oction ogoinst the rumormongers. Hoving reod the stotement on Cloudoge Entertoinment¡¯s website, Gwendolyn swiftly wrote ond published o post from her personol ount: The fish thot nibbles ot every boit will soon be cought. Some people think they¡¯ve hidden the truth well, ond no one will ever know obout their evil deeds. It¡¯s okoy if they don¡¯t wont to odmit their wrongdoings¡­ We¡¯ll let the evidence speok! If they still hove o conscience, I hope they¡¯d opologize to mypony¡¯s victimized ortist ond odmit oll their mistokes! Otherwise, be prepored to beor the consequences! Cedrick heaved a sigh of relief. I only have to kneel for thirty minutes, huh? I made Gwendolyn really angry a few days ago, and knowing what her temper¡¯s like, I was sure she¡¯d either make me kneel overnight or for at least four hours. Who knew she¡¯d be so gentle today? Well¡­ it looks like she does care about me after all. Now that he was feeling much better, Cedrick reluctantly moved his head from Gwendolyn¡¯sp and straightened his back for the punishment. However, being in the proper posture also meant that his entire body weight was on his knees, and the pain only intensified with each passing second. Despite that, Cedrick constantly regted his breathing and even closed his eyes as he counted the minutes. Pleased that the man was no longer throwing a tantrum, Gwendolyn turned her phone back on to continue dealing with Jennifer¡¯s matter. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Joanne had sent her several texts, but she was so busy doling out Cedrick¡¯s punishment that she forgot to read them. Upon seeing Joanne¡¯s urgent reminder to check the trending topics, Gwendolyn promptly did as instructed. As it turned out, news of Jennifer¡¯s suicide had failed to be suppressed. A passer-by who captured a video of the incident had posted it online, and it didn¡¯t take long before the information spread like wildfire. Angle¡¯s public rtions department tried its best to stop the news from trending, but s, they were just no match for the power of social media. Just as Gwendolyn was racking her brains for a solution, Shadow Bell suddenly sent her over twenty high-resolution photographs. Some depicted Walter and Lisa kissing and holding hands, while the others were uncensored, intimate photos taken from surveince cameras installed in their hotel room. Gwendolyn curled her lips into a smile. Great! These photos havee at the right time! Without further ado, she dialed Joanne¡¯s number. ¡°I want you to release a statement on behalf of Angle, announcing that Jennifer was a victim. Reveal that she was previously dating Walter and how being heartbroken had driven her over the edge. Also, I have a photo you can use. Blur out the woman¡¯s face, but just enough to tell that it isn¡¯t Jennifer. Then, please send it to the different media outlets and get them to publish articles. We need this matter to go viral.¡± After hanging up the phone, Gwendolyn quickly selected a rather damning but not overly explicit photo of Walter and Lisa for Joanne. Ten minutester, social media caught on to the scandal, prompting a wave of news about Walter cheating on Jennifer and causing her to attempt suicide out of grief. Needless to say, Cloudage Entertainment couldn¡¯t sit idly by. They immediately released a statement denying any romantic rtionship between Jennifer and Walter and shot down the affair usations. On top of that, they sent out theirwyer¡¯s letter and threatened to take legal action against the rumormongers. Having read the statement on Cloudage Entertainment¡¯s website, Gwendolyn swiftly wrote and published a post from her personal ount: The fish that nibbles at every bait will soon be caught. Some people think they¡¯ve hidden the truth well, and no one will ever know about their evil deeds. It¡¯s okay if they don¡¯t want to admit their wrongdoings¡­ We¡¯ll let the evidence speak! If they still have a conscience, I hope they¡¯d apologize to mypany¡¯s victimized artist and admit all their mistakes! Otherwise, be prepared to bear the consequences! A while after the post was published, Walter¡¯s manager, Billie, called Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Harris, do you really have evidence?¡± ¡°How does twenty over high-resolution, uncensored photos sound?¡± Gwendolyn replied coldly, ¡°Say, what would happen if those photos appeared on the square¡¯s big screen tomorrow?¡± ¡°No! Please don¡¯t do that!¡± Billie eximed. ¡°You¡¯ve only just entered Salinsburgh¡¯s market and have yet to gain your foothold, so our boss was hoping we could each take a step back. Feel free to name your price.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn burst outughing. ¡°Ha! Cloudage Entertainment won¡¯t be able to afford my price, and I¡¯m not willing topromise, either. Listen. My only target is Walter Vissers. I want him to formally apologize, admit all his wrongdoings, and quit the entertainment industry. Nothing more, nothing less.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°I know you can¡¯t call the shots on this, so ask your boss about it. Ask him if he wants to give up on Walter or the entirepany! I¡¯m giving you till tomorrow to decide. If there¡¯s still no oue, the next trending topic will be the dirt on Cloudage Entertainment.¡± After ending the call, Gwendolyn sent another text to Joanne: Suspend all of Papilio Girls¡¯ uing team appearances and activities. Other than Jennifer and Lisa, the other members can continue their solo schedules as usual. More importantly, keep an eye on Lisa. I¡¯ll deal with her once I¡¯m free. s, just as she was concentrating on typing her message, she felt a sudden light tug at her sleeve by the man beside her. Cedrick¡¯s breathing had bebored, his forehead glistened with cold sweat, and the pain in his knees was beyond belief. As it turned out, he had been on his knees for over thirty minutes and was trying rather desperately to remind Gwendolyn that his time was up. Unfortunately, thetter was so busy with work that she ignored him. Overwhelmed and helpless, Cedrick had no choice but to speak up, saying, ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Gwendolyn murmured, never once lifting her head. Her attention, without a doubt, was not on the poor man. ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Cedrick mumbled as he tugged harder at her sleeve. Oh,e on! Thirty minutes have already passed! ¡°Okay,¡± Gwendolyn replied, still not bothering to meet the man¡¯s gaze. Naturally, Cedrick was baffled. Huh? What does that mean? Is that her cue for me to get up or not? Argh! I can¡¯t figure her out at all! Just like that, he stayed on his knees for another ten minutes while Gwendolyn continued to use her phone¡­ What the hell? Is her phone that much more interesting to look at than me? Or has she gotten addicted to being a punisher? Furious, Cedrick got to his feet and pinned Gwendolyn down on the bed, his arms wrapped around her. ¡°Huh? Hey! My phone!¡± thetter shouted. To her dismay, Cedrick pressed her down harder so she couldn¡¯t reach for her phone. ¡°What¡¯s more important? Your phone or me?¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. What lousy question is that? How are those evenparable? ¡°You, of course.¡± Cedrick harrumphed and inched closer to the woman, a wicked glint in his eye. ¡°In that case, why do you keep staring at your phone? Why won¡¯t you pay attention to me?¡± ¡°I¡­ I was busy with work,¡± Gwendolyn answered as she looked away. The more she felt his warm breath tickling her skin, the more she could feel herself turning red. ¡°There¡¯s always work to do. You can leave it till tomorrow.¡± With that said, Cedrick broke into a devilish grin as he ran his tongue over his teeth. ¡°Are you happy to have punished me for so long? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s my turn now?¡± Gwendolyn stared at the man in confusion. Huh? What¡¯s that supposed to mean? However, before she could ask any more questions, Cedrick had sprung into action by flipping her over. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say. Nothing will stop me from disciplining you tonight!¡± thetter said, his voice deep and husky. ¡°Gwenny, are you ready to ept my punishment?¡± Having felt the sense of danger emanating from Cedrick, Gwendolyn suddenly figured out his intention and panicked. ¡°H-Hold on! You¡¯re still injured. We can¡¯t do this!¡± ¡°My injuries have healed!¡± Cedrick retorted before lifting Gwendolyn¡¯s silk nightgown and revealing her round, perky bottom. The next second, he raised his hand and pped her bottom twice. Upon seeing it jiggle and his handprints showing up lightly on her wless, fair skin, Cedrick became even more aroused, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down. Oh, that looks so juicy and delicious. I¡¯m hungry for more¡­ Gwendolyn, on the other hand, was stunned. Is that it? It¡¯s not the kind of punishment I was thinking about, huh? Unfortunately, she had spoken too soon because the man once again used his actions to prove that her initial guess was spot-on! ¡°Ah, Ced¡ª¡± Cedrick¡¯s grin widened as he cupped Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth with his uninjured right hand, determined not to give her any chance to speak or resist. For the next few moments, no matter how much the woman whimpered, he never once stopped. It was also then that Gwendolyn realized just how frustrated Cedrick had been from being punished and how long he had been holding back his anger. He truly loved and doted on her and was more than happy to ept any form of discipline as long as it didn¡¯t cross his boundaries. However, if things went too far and his boundaries weren¡¯t respected, he¡¯d undoubtedly unleash the beast inside him and punish her in his own ways. Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Learning To Use Him The soft glow of the tablemp filled the bedroom with an enchanting ambiance. Gwendolyn was trying her best to get her mind back. Once the opportunity presented itself, she nimbly turned over to put her elbows against his corbones and stopped him froming any closer to her. She was still heaving from his earlier punishment, her chest rising and falling rapidly. When Cedrick received her icy re, he frowned as his eyes reddened. He looked miserable as he said, ¡°Gwenny, are you trying to suffocate me to death?¡± It was Gwendolyn¡¯s first time seeing him so helpless, and her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± After a few seconds of hesitation, Gwendolyn was defeated by his meticulous acting and whining. ¡°Turn off the lights! And you¡¯re not allowed to leave hickeys on my neck!¡± Cedrick grinned in delight and swiftly turned off the light on the bedside table. The moonlight filtered through the curtains and cast a soft nket of silver on the bed, concealing the traces of love left in the room. It was a night of passion. Soon, the sun rose. Gwendolyn was in a deep slumber that night, and she woke from Cedrick¡¯s kissing. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of a certain man beside her. His head was resting on his hand as he propped himself up with his elbow. His seductive lips were curled into a smile as he stared at her with his dark eyes. ¡°How was your sleepst night?¡± Gwendolyn gave him a nce before turning around to continue sleeping. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. Sleepy.¡± Cedrick then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer until her head was resting on the crook of his elbow. She did not struggle out of his grasp and soon dozed off. He drank in the sight of her as he trailed his bony finger down her button nose. Her being in his life brought him bliss, and he would never forget the days he had with her. Even if he were to sacrifice himself in the future, he would die without regrets. Tickled by his touch, Gwendolyn frowned and muttered, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cedrick leaned toward her ear and solemnly whispered, ¡°Gwenny, why don¡¯t wee up with some rules?¡± ¡°Rules?¡± she mumbled sleepily. ¡°Yes. From now on, I¡¯ll listen to everything you say in private, but I hope you¡¯ll do as I say as much as possible in public. Is that okay?¡± Gwendolyn was quiet for a while. Dignity was important to men, let alone someone on the top of the pyramid, like Cedrick. He had subordinates, and he could not afford to be challenged in public. Thus, she could understand his desire to have her pretend to be his trophy wife in public. ¡°All right.¡± Cedrick merrily kissed her forehead. ¡°Then how much longer do you n on staying in bed? Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to deal with Jennifer¡¯s trending topic today?¡± ¡°Oh, right! The trending topic!¡± Gwendolyn sobered up immediately and scrambled to look for her phone. She had been so preupied with her time with Cedrick that she had forgotten to charge her phone. Her battery was already waning the night before, and by the next morning, it had switched off. It took her a few minutes of charging before the phone finally powered back up. Right as it switched on, the notifications of missed calls flooded her screen. When she scrolled downward, she realized most of the calls were from Joanne, though there were some missed calls from Elven as well. Did something happen to Jennifer for Elven to call me so many times? At that thought, Gwendolyn gave him a call. ¡°Ms. Harris, you¡¯re finally on your phone! The reporters have swarmed the hospital, insisting on an interview with Ms. Weller. Ezra and the hospital guards have gone to block off the entrance, but I don¡¯t know how much longer they can hold the crowd back!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned somber. ¡°How is Jennifer right now? Can she be interviewed, given her current mental state?¡± Elven spared a nce at the ward and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s that mentally stable right now. Moreover, reporters can be sharp with their words. They might poke her where it hurts.¡± ¡°All right, I got it. I¡¯ll be there in a minute.¡± After ending the call, Gwendolyn rose to her feet, only to have her legs tremble and buckle underneath her. She had to hold onto the headboard of the bed to regain her bnce. Cedrick had been too rough with her the night before. He had been punishing her for half the night, and before she could catch a wink, the sun came up. On the other hand, Cedrick¡¯s cheeks were rosy, and he looked rejuvenated. I guess this is what they mean when they said there are fundamental differences in men¡¯s and women¡¯s strengths. By the time Gwendolyn rposed herself, Cedrick wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re heading out?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Breakfast before leaving?¡± ¡°No, I need to wash up as quickly as possible and take a trip to the hospital,¡± she replied as she swiftly changed her clothes. Cedrick did not stop her, but he asked, ¡°Do you need my help?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just something minor.¡± Turning around, she then headed toward the door. Cedrick pulled her into his arms and lifted her chin to make her look into his eyes. ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯re not alone anymore. You should start learning how to use your man.¡± He ced emphasis on the word ¡°use¡± as a wicked grin grew on his lips. It was a loaded term. Gwendolyn¡¯s face reddened, but she pretended as though she had no idea what he was talking about. ¡°I got it. If there¡¯s something I¡¯m having trouble with, I¡¯lle to you.¡± Cedrick nodded in satisfaction. Without him stopping her, she proceeded to wash up and put on some light makeup before heading out. All entrances of the hospital were crowded with reporters because of the hospitalized Jennifer. Gwendolyn drove into the parking lot. As the ce had tighter security, there were only a few reporters who were loitering around the exit. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Jennifer looked far better than the day before, but she still looked pale and haggard. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Gwendolyn passed her the phone to show her the apology essay that Walter had posted on his social media ount. The more Jennifer read, the redder her eyes became. Soon, she dissolved into tears. Jennifer was Gwendolyn¡¯s only friend in Faike¡¯s orphanage, and she could not help but feel terrible to see Jennifer¡¯s tears. ¡°Jennifer, not only is this douchebag Cloudage Entertainment¡¯s current ace, but he alsoes from a prominent family. A mere cheating incident won¡¯t crush him to death. Moreover, there are many netizens online who are fans of his face, and plenty are happy to clear his name. We¡¯ll have toe up with something better if we want to kick him out of the entertainment industry for good.¡± As Gwendolyn passed her friend the tissue box, she continued, ¡°But of course, as long as this is something you want, I¡¯ll do my best to make him and Lisa pay ten times the price of what they¡¯ve done to you.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Jennifer wiped her tears away. Though her eyes were swollen, the look in them was a determined one. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯ve helped me out a lot, and I can¡¯t trouble you anymore. Let me do this myself. I want to experience the thrill of avenging myself.¡± Jennifer was livid after reading Walter¡¯s apology post. After all, the man¡¯s words dripped with mockery. Though it seemed like an apology post on the surface, it cleverly shifted the me to Jennifer, insinuating that the problemy with her and that pursuing one¡¯s true love wasn¡¯t inherently wrong. In other words, everything he wrote was rubbish. ¡°I¡¯m d to see that you¡¯ve managed to keep your chin up.¡± Gwendolynbed the woman¡¯s hair with her fingers. ¡°From now on, you¡¯re Angle¡¯s ace. I hope you¡¯ll be able to be the best actress of the year. When that happens, Walter will realize that he¡¯s stupid enough to have given up on the best woman he could ever have and that Lisa is nothingpared to you!¡± ¡°Thank you, Gwendolyn.¡± Jennifer hugged Gwendolyn, gratitude surging within her. The former did not have any parents, and the only lucky thing in her life was her encounter with Gwendolyn. ¡°The reporters have swarmed the hospital. This isn¡¯t a good ce for you to stay. Why don¡¯t I get you another ce to stay so that you can rest well and return to the battlefield with renewed vigor? Sound good?¡± Jennifer shook her head, however. ¡°I won¡¯t run away this time. Let the reporterse, Gwendolyn. I¡¯ll take all their harsh questions head-on, for I want Walter and Lisa to kneel before me in public one day!¡± Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Her Right To Punch Him Cedrick entered Jenson Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s office. Barely a minute had passed when Nico rushed into the room in search of rewards. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re positively glowing today. It must have been a wonderful night, right?¡± Nico said, rubbing his hands as he shed a keen smile at Cedrick. Positively glowing? My punishment the night before hadsted almost an hour. Even now, my knees are swollen and bruised. So, sure, positively glowing. Cedrick narrowed his eyes as a dark look crossed his face. However, a smile grew on his lips, and it was a strange sight to behold. Nico was baffled. It was his first time seeing such a peculiar expression on his boss¡¯ face. The man looked angry, but he also looked like he was in a good mood. Thus, Nico could not figure out whether or not things went smoothly or south the night before. Cedrick was donning a rare look that day¡ªa pair of ck leather gloves. He then took off one of them and showed Nico his left palm. When he spoke, there was no emotion in his deep voice. ¡°What do you think?¡± asked Cedrick. When Nico saw the bruising on Cedrick¡¯s left palm, he widened his eyes to the point his eyeballs were about to pop out of their socket. This is¡­ Did Ms. Gwendolyn hit him again? His palm is so swollen! She¡¯s ruthless and fierce! Nico instinctively swallowed. He could imagine how terrible the night went after the man did what he told him to do. It did not help that Cedrick was the ruthless kind of person who bore grudges. He would definitely drag someone else to hell with him. Sh*t, not only am I failing to be rewarded for my deeds, but I¡¯m actually stepping right into the trap! Nico¡¯s legs turned to jelly, and he threw himself by Cedrick¡¯s feet before hugging thetter¡¯s right leg. He had no acting skills to speak of, so he could not summon any tears to his eyes. All he could do was howl, ¡°Boss, I¡¯m so sorry! I shouldn¡¯t have given you that horrible idea! This is all my fault. I¡¯ll do anything! I¡¯ll even be fine with a suspension, but please don¡¯t deduct my pay anymore, or else I¡¯ll be stuck having mac and cheese forever!¡± Cedrick looked downward at Nico and curled his lips. ¡°Who said that I¡¯m going to punish you?¡± ¡°What?¡± Nico froze in his tracks, the stiffening of his grieving expression a hrious sight. Confused, he uttered, ¡°You¡¯re not going to punish me? You can¡¯t be raising my pay, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m raising your pay,¡± Cedrick said in a serious tone. Even though Nico¡¯s lousy idea had put him on the receiving end of Gwendolyn¡¯s punishment, it had also opened up a path for him. Not only did he manage to do it with her the night before, but he even managed to make Gwendolyn agree to some rules and dealt with Marcus. Therefore, Nico was not in the wrong. In fact, he had even helped Cedrick out. However, Nico could not read Cedrick¡¯s mind, so he continued staring at thetter with wide eyes of disbelief. Were¡­ his wits beaten out of him, or is he¡­ a masochist? The harder Ms. Gwendolyn beat him up, the more he gets off it. While Nico was pondering the possibilities, Cedrick was lost in his own thoughts as well. When he thought about how soft Gwendolyn had be during their session the night before and how she had choked out her pleads, his heart melted, and a smile crept onto his lips. Upon noticing the man¡¯s expression, Nico began wondering why Cedrick¡¯s smile was sending chills down his spine. Cr*p, is he even reminiscing on the moment? Is he really a masochist? Nico then scrunched up his brows and started observing his employer. Noticing Nico¡¯s stare, Cedrick questioned, ¡°Are you unhappy about the raise?¡± Nico beamed. ¡°Of course, not! I¡¯m over the moon about the raise! Boss, summon me anytime for good deals like this in the future. If Ms. Gwendolyn can¡¯t satisfy you, I¡¯m more than happy to serve you with my hands. I swear you¡¯ll be contented with my service!¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned gloomy at that. ¡°What in the world are you talking about? How can Gwenny not satisfy me? Are you actually offering to substitute her in stuff like this? Who do you think I am?¡± Realization dawned upon Nico, and he quickly said, ¡°Of course, Boss, of course. Only Gwendolyn can be in this position. I know, I know. It¡¯s something exclusive for you two.¡± With a knowing smile on his face, Nico exited from the CEO¡¯s office. Cedrick could only watch the other man leave in bewilderment. I¡¯ve got no idea what he¡¯s talking about. Meanwhile, on Gwendolyn¡¯s side, the interviews in the ward were close to their end. ¡°My rtionship with Walter ended the second I jumped off the bridge. I don¡¯t want to dwell on both the painful and sweet moments anymore. Once I recover, I¡¯ll preupy myself with work to deliver better performances for my fans and the public.¡± The cameras in front of Jennifer shed and clicked. Gwendolyn had only allowed a few reporters from the most influentialpanies into Jennifer¡¯s ward for the interviews. After hearing Jennifer¡¯s speech, the reporters shared a look, thinking, Is she not nning to hold Walter ountable for his cheating anymore? One of them then asked, ¡°Ms. Weller, you jumped off the bridge because of Mr. Vissers¡¯ affair yesterday. I¡¯m sure you must have been devastated. What made you put aside those feelings so quickly?¡± Another then queried, ¡°Mr. Vissers apologized to you the night before. It sounds like you¡¯re forgiving him for his action. Do you mind telling us who he cheated on you with?¡± Jennifer fell silent for a long while. At that, Gwendolyn gave Jennifer¡¯s manager a look. The manager and the assistant quickly intervened. ¡°All right, folks. Jennifer has yet to fully recover, and it¡¯s about time to wrap up so that she can rest earlier.¡± Nodding, the reporters dispersed. Once they were gone, Gwendolyn walked over to Jennifer and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take the opportunity to reveal their wrongdoing and send theizens after them?¡± Jennifer shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s because I know that this will be pointless. I know it¡¯ll be akin to cutting off my own nose to spite my face. So what if they¡¯ll be targeted by theizens now? A whileter, they¡¯ll thrive in the industry again. Moreover, you can never erase anything from the inte. If I publicize how they humiliated me, this will eventually be my dark history. It¡¯ll affect my career, so I might as well stay nonchnt about this so that people will feel bad for me instead. At least, I¡¯ll leave a good impression on them.¡± Gwendolyn was relieved to hear Jennifer¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯ve grown a lot after this.¡± Jennifer smiled and held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand,menting, ¡°This is all thanks to you. You¡¯re a friend who¡¯s much more important than family and lovers.¡± ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t say that. Your future husband¡¯s going to be jealous of me if he hears this!¡± The two shared a chuckle. Original from N?velDrama.Org. In the afternoon, Jennifer voiced her desire to be discharged, so Gwendolyn went to get the doctor to do a checkup on her. All of a sudden, the manager rushed into the ward and said, ¡°Ms. Harris, Jennifer, check your phones right away! Lisa¡¯s crying on stream!¡± Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Cruel Gwendolyn and Jennifer exchanged nces. Then, they each took out their phones and opened the live-streaming application. Lisa¡¯s live stream had already surpassed ten million views. She was crying in front of the camera,menting to the viewers about being informed by thepany yesterday that all her scheduled work had been suspended and that thepany might be nning to cklist her. She also yed the victim byining how she was losing sleep because of that matter, subtly implying that Jennifer was to me for her current situation. Furthermore, Lisa went as far as to mention that because the celebrity caught in bed with Walter recently had a simr figure to hers, she had been wronged and unfairly med. She imed she and Walter were merely ordinary friends. As she put on a tearful performance in front of the camera, the atmosphere inside the ward turned particrly solemn. Gwendolyn read thement section of her live stream and noticed many people expressing sympathy for her. Because Jennifer¡¯s interview had just concluded and hadn¡¯t been posted online yet, Lisa¡¯s piteous act caused Jennifer to be heavily criticized. Manyizens who were unaware of the truth used Jennifer of being maniptive, deliberately jumping into theke to garner attention, and so on. The public opinion on Walter¡¯s infidelity case was also well-contained, swaying from side to side. ¡°How can this shameless woman be so despicable? I haven¡¯t even confronted her, yet she¡¯s already insinuating things about me!¡± Jennifer felt sick looking at Lisa¡¯s overly dramatic demeanor and tear- stained face on the screen. She wanted to throw her phone in exasperation but was mindful of how expensive the device was. Being a girl who had experienced the hardship of life, she was reluctant to purchase a new phone. As a result, she could only vent her anger on a pillow. Jennifer imagined the pillow to be Lisa, wishing she could beat thetter into a pulp. Taking in the way Jennifer was letting out her rage, Gwendolyn shook her head in amusement. ¡°Why are you so angry? She¡¯s doing all this just to irritate you. You¡¯re just ying into her hands if you get mad.¡± Then, Gwendolyn turned to the manager. ¡°Ignore Lisa. Let her make a fuss. The greater the ruckus she stirs up now, the worse humiliation she¡¯ll sufferter!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harris.¡± After that, Gwendolyn contacted Joanne. ¡°Get a prominent blogger to publish a post saying that the original source of the mosaic photo has been found, revealing the celebrity Walter was having an affair with is Lisa tomorrow. Half an hour after that, use Angle¡¯s official social media ount to announce the termination of the contract with Lisa and her departure from Papilio Girls.¡± Initially, Gwendolyn had shown consideration for Lisa¡¯s reputation as a girl, so she instructed her subordinates to pixte the image, nning to let Jennifer deal with Lisa in private. Unexpectedly, Lisa was a fool who didn¡¯t know what was best for her, crossing the line when others showed her mercy. In that case, Gwendolyn figured Lisa shouldn¡¯t me her for not saving thetter¡¯s face. Having arranged everything, Gwendolyn told Jennifer to continue packing and prepare to be discharged. ¡°In the uing days, the media will likely show up at your door, requesting interviews every day. My advice is that you shouldn¡¯t ept any more interviews since you¡¯ve already made a statement once. Staying silent for now is the most beneficial for you.¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Gwendolyn pondered briefly, then added, ¡°I suppose the apartment you lived in is probably surrounded by reporters now. I¡¯ll arrange a ce for you where no one would dare to disturb you.¡± Subsequently, she contemted for a long while. The only ce in the entire Salinsburgh where the media outlets won¡¯t dare to intrude is the Harris residence¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to my brother¡¯s vi to stay for a few days.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Are you referring to Mr. Treyton Harris?¡± Jennifer hesitated. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little inappropriate? Won¡¯t it be too much of an imposition?¡± ¡°Not at all. Treyton has multiple residences and rarely returns to his small vi at the Harris residence. Besides, even if hees back, I can exin the situation to him in a couple of days. Therefore, you can rest assured and stay there without worry. The ce is tranquil, and no one will disturb you.¡± Jennifer fell silent. I¡¯ll leave after staying for a few days. Before leaving, I¡¯ll make sure to clean up the vi thoroughly, so it should be fine, right? When her train of thought ended there, she agreed. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll take up your offer.¡± Gwendolyn took Jennifer, who was perfectly disguised, out of the hospital and headed straight for Mount Tranquil. Treyton gave Gwendolyn a key to the vi previously. She handed the key to Jennifer and reminded the latter of a few things before returning to Angle. As soon as Gwendolyn reached the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor of the building, she saw a woman¡¯s enticing figure standing at the doorway, talking to Joanne. Noticing Gwendolyn advancing in their direction from the corner of her eyes, Joanne jogged up to her and said, ¡°Ms. Harris, Ms. Evelyn here wishes to meet with you. I told her you weren¡¯t here, but she insisted on waiting.¡± The woman who had her back facing Gwendolyn heard Joanne¡¯s words and turned around haughtily. She shed a dazzling smile and extended her hand politely. ¡°Hello, Ms. Harris. I¡¯m Evelyn.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t shake her hand, nor did she respond because, from the moment Evelyn spun on her heels, Gwendolyn noticed the girl regarded her with a peculiar expression. Moreover, she felt Evelyn look familiar as if she had seen thetter before. Still, Gwendolyn had no recollection of being acquainted with Evelyn. Evelyn was neen years old and was considered rtively young in the entertainment industry. Nevertheless, she was already a top-tier actress. However, no one would visit another person without a reason. Angle had never coborated with Evelyn. Hence, Gwendolyn reckoned there must be a catch behind Evelyn¡¯s sudden advent. ¡°What brings you here, Ms. Evelyn?¡± Although Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond to her handshake, Evelyn continued to smile elegantly, seemingly unembarrassed. ¡°That¡¯s because both our names end with ¡®-lyn,¡¯ so I¡¯ve always wanted to meet with you, Ms. Harris. Now that I¡¯ve got to see you in person, you are indeed pretty, much better looking than those minor celebrities.¡± She was secretly mocking Gwendolyn for not being as famous as her. Gwendolyn fathomed Evelyn¡¯s intention, but she merely grinned in response. Thus, the young Evelyn became morecent, raising her chin arrogantly. ¡°Actually, I came here today because I¡¯m the new spokesperson for Jenson Group¡¯stest Rossi Project. I heard you¡¯re very close to Mr. Jenson, so I specifically came to take a look.¡± ¡°Well, you can leave now that you¡¯ve seen everything you want.¡± Gwendolyn shed a mirthless smile. Evelyn shook her head. Boring her eyes into Gwendolyn¡¯s, she uttered straightforwardly in Joanne¡¯s presence, ¡°Ms. Harris, I have something to inform you. I¡¯m interested in your man, so I want topete fairly with you for his affection.¡± Before Gwendolyn could speak, Joanne flipped out first. ¡°Do you think you can do as you please just because you¡¯re popr and have a huge fanbase? Mr. Jenson and Ms. Harris are already engaged. What right do you have to demand a fairpetition for his affection?¡± Nevertheless, Evelyn was unfazed. ¡°It¡¯s only an engagement. The circumstances are prone to change until the moment you get your marriage certificate. Am I right, Ms. Harris?¡± That was something Gwendolyn had once said to Eloise. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows and looked up again at Evelyn¡¯s face. A sarcastic sneer spread across thetter¡¯s childish yet exquisite countenance. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Gwendolyn queried. The young woman pouted and grinned mischievously. ¡°Nothing in particr. I know youe from a distinguished background, and I can¡¯tpete with you in that respect. Nevertheless, you shouldn¡¯t underestimate me, Ms. Harris. To be able to secure the best actress position in the industry at my age, my patron is quite formidable as well!¡± She moved closer to Gwendolyn and uttered in an undertone, ¡°If you let me have Mr. Jenson, I¡¯ll tell you. What do you say, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s visage was frosty. ¡°Ours is a marriage of convenience, so it can¡¯t be easily called off. If you are as capable as you say, why don¡¯t you give it a try, Ms. Evelyn?¡± ¡°You have a point. What¡¯s earned through our abilities is always the best.¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t be bothered to continue the conversation and demanded Evelyn leave. ¡°Joanna, see Ms. Evelyn out of Angle.¡± She turned around and was about to enter her office when Evelyn suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist. ¡°Ms. Harris, don¡¯t you feel that you¡¯ve always been too cruel to Mr. Jenson? Truth be told, you only love yourself and have always mistreated him. In that case, wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to return him his freedom and let me have him?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned increasingly solemn after she heard that remark. She whirled around and sized Evelyn up. ¡°How do you know that I¡¯ve been cruel to him? Who told you this? What else do you know?¡±Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Return With A Clear Conscience Over at Angle Corporation¡¯s top floor, the atmosphere was frigid. Gwendolyn gazed frostily at the neen-year-old girl before her. She seems to know about what happened previously between me and Cedrick. However, she¡¯s just an actress in the entertainment industry. How could she possibly know what went on in Faike? She was still mulling over the matter when Evelyn pouted her pink lips and smiled innocently. ¡°Why are you so nervous, Ms. Harris? I was only joking. However, it seems as though you have a secret, hm?¡± Could it be that I¡¯m reading too much into this? Gwendolyn looked stony-faced and did not say anything. At that, Evelynughed and continued, ¡°There¡¯s a charity g tonight, and I¡¯m attending as Mr. Jenson¡¯s plus one. It seems there¡¯s no more room for you, his fianc¨¦e. Oh, dear. There¡¯s no way he hasn¡¯t told you about that yet, right? It looks like you¡¯re not that important to him after all.¡± She giggled, then shed Gwendolyn a taunting smile before turning and taking the elevator down. Gwendolyn stared at the young woman¡¯s back until she had left the top floor, looking exceptionally grim. rmed by her expression, Joanne hurriedly piped up to reassure her, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things, Ms. Harris. It¡¯s clear her visit was a show of power and to deliberately sow discord. You¡¯ve always had a close rtionship with Mr. Jenson. He must be taking her to the g because of professional reasons.¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Gwendolyn murmured simply. ¡°You should get back to your work.¡± She turned and went into her office, then immediately phoned a Shadow Bell subordinate. ¡°There¡¯s more to Evelyn than meets the eye. Look into her as soon as possible. I want to know every detail about her.¡± ¡°No problem, boss.¡± After hanging up, she sat at her desk for a while, lost in thought. I can still hear Evelyn¡¯s words ringing in my ears, and I can¡¯t calm down. For some reason, she gives me such a strange feeling, and I can¡¯t quite put my finger on it. Her mind was still a million miles away when her phone rang. After checking the caller ID, Gwendolyn answered her phone and said impatiently, ¡°What is it?¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. On the other end of the line, Cedrick was momentarily stunned. She was so gentle and sweet to me last night and this morning, but why has she suddenly turned so cold after being apart for a few hours? ¡°Gwenny, are you feeling unwell? Have you fallen sick?¡± ¡°No,¡± she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. Recalling what Evelyn had mentioned earlier, she asked tentatively, ¡°I¡¯ll be working at the office all afternoon. Will you be picking me up after work as usual?¡± ¡°Actually, that¡¯s why I¡¯m calling. I won¡¯t be able to pick you up this evening. I have a g to attend.¡± Gwendolyn was silent for a long time after hearing his reply. Quickly picking up on her displeasure, the man added softly, ¡°Does your waist still feel tired? When I get back tonight, I¡¯ll be your personal masseuse, and give you a massage to boost blood cirction, okay?¡± She ignored the meaning behind his words and queried sourly, ¡°If you¡¯re attending a g, will you need to bring a femalepanion? Who are you taking with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking Jenson Group¡¯s brand ambassador for our new coboration. It¡¯s a female actress, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely keep my distance from her and go home with a clear conscience.¡± A clear conscience, my foot! After cursing inwardly, Gwendolyn put on a sweet tone and replied with a tender smile, ¡°Why are you getting so nervous, Ceddy? I trust you, of course.¡± Cedrick felt relieved to hear her sounding like herself again. However, her expression darkened almost immediately after the pair ended the call. As if I¡¯d trust him! Well, I trust Cedrick, but I don¡¯t trust Evelyn. She came to assert her dominance today. That shows she¡¯s not easy to get along with or someone to take lightly. She¡¯s nning to do something to Cedrick at the charity g tonight, that¡¯s for sure. Who knows how good he is at detecting scheming b*tches? As a sense of frustration bubbled inside her, Gwendolyn caught sight of a glint of ck and gold out of the corner of her eye on a pile of documents to the right of her desk. It was an invitation card to the charity g. So I¡¯m invited to the g too? The invitation must havee in this morning, and I didn¡¯t know about it because I was at the hospital. That¡¯s perfect. I can go and watch what happens. She immediately called Joaquin. While the Zipper family was considered a prestigious family in Faike, it did not have that level of status in Salinsburgh. Nheless, Joaquin was a celebrity in the entertainment industry who garnered much attention wherever he went. I asked him toe to Salinsburgh some time ago, and now, I can use him as a readily-avable male partner! That evening, a grand charity g was held on the top floor of Monarch Hotel. Evelyn looked elegant in a long, white dress as she sat in Cedrick¡¯s Bentley limousine, heading to the hotel with him. A small table separated her car seat from his. He wore an expression as cold as ice on his handsome face. There was no hint of warmth, and disdain was written all over it. Although she could not see his face clearly, the chilliness radiating off him was unmistakable. Tilting her chin, she gazed at him yfully. ¡°I was envious when I saw the news about you and Ms. Harris, but you¡¯re so indifferent toward me. Have you given all your tenderness to Ms. Harris?¡± Cedrick stared straight ahead and took no notice of her. Even so, Evelyn did not feel embarrassed in the slightest. With an innocent smile on her babyish face, she said, ¡°I never had any siblings. I grew up alone. For some reason, however, I sense a closeness to you. I didn¡¯te from a well-off background, so I¡¯m envious that Ms. Harris was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.¡± Hearing that, he frowned but said nothing. I didn¡¯t think anything of her remarks until shepared herself to Gwendolyn. She¡¯s deliberately acting pitifully and is even going so far as to indirectly mock Gwendolyn. Cedrick¡¯s expression turned even darker as he pressed his thin lips together tightly and remained silent. However, Evelyn did not notice anything. She continued in a coy yet pitiful tone, ¡°If you could share some of that tenderness with me, even a little, I¡¯d be content.¡± Not only was she beautiful, but she also had a good reputation in the entertainment industry, plenty of male fans, and many wealthy suitors. Not many men could resist her advances. However, Cedrick did not even spare her a nce as he responded in a low, cial tone that seemed to pierce her to her core, ¡°I won¡¯t share anything that belongs to Gwenny.¡± Although looking slightly hurt, Evelyn put on a brave front andughed it off. ¡°Please don¡¯t take it seriously, Mr. Jenson. I was only joking around with you. However, I must say that you really dote on Ms. Harris. What a lucky woman she is. I¡¯m envious.¡± He ignored her. It was deathly silent inside the car for a couple of minutes, and a hint of awkwardness hung in the air. Evelyn felt slightly frustrated, but her intense desire to conquer his heart rekindled her determination. Hence, she attempted to strike up a conversation again, saying, ¡°What made you think of taking the limousine to the charity g, Mr. Jenson? I heard you have the only ck, limited edition Shelby Supercars in Chanaea. I haven¡¯t been lucky enough to experience how amazing that car is.¡± The man still did not say a word. That car only has two seats. The passenger seat is reserved exclusively for Gwendolyn, so no other woman should not even think about sitting there. Seeing that Cedrick did not answer, Nico piped up from the front passenger seat, ¡°As the ambassador for the Rossi Project, you¡¯re Jenson Group¡¯s guest. Hence, a limousine better represents our respect for you.¡± Evelyn was not too happy to hear that. To her, that sounded as though she was not good enough for the sports car. Looking aggrieved, she was about to say something when they pulled up in front of the hotel. Before exiting the car, Cedrick warned her, ¡°The reason for bringing you to this charity g is for marketing purposes only. My fianc¨¦e is very strict. She doesn¡¯t allow other women to touch me, so we won¡¯t be linking arms for the entrance. Do you understand me, Ms. Evelyn?¡± Her expression froze. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Got A Grip On Miss Harris Evelyn had graced countless film festivals, paraded down numerous red carpets, and even attended myriad gs as a coveted guest. However, she had never experienced a man who candidly refused to make an appearance with her arm in arm. To her, it was outright humiliation. Despite the ire boiling within, she managed an amicable smile. ¡°Understood, Mr. Jenson. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t put you in an awkward position with Ms. Harris.¡± Cedrick nodded impassively and got out of the car first. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Nico quickly followed suit and went over to the other side to open the door for Evelyn. The moment the duo made their appearances, they became the center of attention, with camera shlights bombarding them relentlessly. Evelyn, well¨Cacquainted with the current situation, shed a charming yet dignified smile. As they entered side by side, they maintained an impable distance, with not even a swish of their clothes touching each other. Throughout the social exchanges and courtesies that followed, Evelyn was careful to maintain a respectful distance, which made Cedrick lower his guard a little. Gwendolyn had already made her entrance before them. However, she was not a fan of socializing and chose to sit in an unobtrusive corner with Joaquin to savor time. Joaquin downed one drink after another, his face marred with discontent. Puzzled, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who¡¯s managed to upset you?¡± In a petnt huff, Joaquin said, ¡°Cedrick¡± Perplexed, Gwendolyn queried again, ¡°You haven¡¯t spoken a word to him since arriving at Salinsburgh. How did he manage to offend you?¡± ¡°He proposed to you before I could legally do so. Now, with the business alliance between the Jenson and Harris families, I fear I have lost my chance forever!¡± Joaquin said in despair. Amused, Gwendolyn let out a chuckle as she flicked Joaquin¡¯s forehead. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Even if I weren¡¯t engaged to him, I wouldn¡¯t fancy someone younger than me.¡± ? ¡°You¡¯re lying. You have previously confessed to liking me!¡± Joaquin protested. With a palm on her forehead, Gwendolyn leveled with him. ¡°Hey, brat. My fondness for you is akin to a friend and younger brother, not a lover. Don¡¯t get your hopes up about me, or else I might have to avoid you altogether, ending our friendship.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± he interjected. Joaquin downed the red wine in his ss in one go tofort himself. ¡°Although I won¡¯t have the fortune to marry you, being your confidant isn¡¯t bad.¡± Amused by his train of thought, Gwendolyn could only shake her head. After sitting in the quiet corner for a while without catching sight of Cedrick, Gwendolyn decided to excuse herself. ¡°I need to visit the restroom. I¡¯ll be back shortly.¡± Meanwhile, at the hotel garden¡¯s fountain, Cedrick and Evelyn had just finished a round of socializing. ¡°Mr. Jenson, I feel it¡¯s more intimate to address you as Mr. Cedrick. Is that all right?¡± Evelyn asked. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Cedrick muttered. Thrilled, she cooed, ¡°Mr. Cedrick, were you satisfied with my socializing just now?¡± Cedrick¡¯s icy fa?ade remained unchanged. ¡°It was okay.¡± His answer made her giggle like a child receiving candy. Okay means not bad. Rounded up, it means he¡¯s content with my performance. Cedrick has finally praised me! Her face beamed with delight. ¡°Could you apany me to a quieter ce to rest, Mr. Cedrick? We¡¯ve been standing and talking for quite some time. I¡¯m feeling rather tired.¡± Cedrick nced at her high heels and agreed. They ambled down the pebbled path of the garden. The tranquility surrounding them was ented by the dimmplight, shrouding their silhouettes in a vague and mysterious air. Cedrick walked in silence, tucking his hands in his suit pockets. His dignified aura was tinged with an untamed streak. He stayed silent unless Evelyn initiated the conversation. Their pace was unhurried, and the quiet atmosphere brought about a sense of eeriness. Lost in thought about which topic to broach next, Evelyn was unaware of the unlevelled pebbled path. With an rmed exmation, she lost her bnce and instinctively stumbled into Cedrick¡¯s arms. ¡°Ah!¡± With a reflexive step back, Cedrick avoided her fall and didn¡¯t even touch the corners of her dress. However, realizing her imminent tumble, he reached out to steady her. ¡°Mr. Cedrick, that was so scary!¡± Evelyn eximed. ¨C Her face turned pale. Grasping his arms tightly, she attempted to snuggle closer into his embrace. Cedrick grimaced and was about to push her away when he caught sight of a silhouette in a red dress standing not far away from them. Gwendolyn crossed her hands and stood silently as she fixed Cedrick with a frigid and mocking stare. ¡°Gwenny, let me exin-¡± Before he could finish, she scoffed and walked away without a backward nce. ¡°Gwenny!¡± Cedrick felt a stab to his heart at the sight of Gwendolyn¡¯s cold gaze. However, Evelyn clung to his arm with a death grip. ¡°Mr. Cedrick, my foot feels like it¡¯s been twisted. It hurts so much!¡± she whimpered. Cedrick couldn¡¯t care less about her pain. His gloved hand tightened around her neck, fury visible in his dark eyes. ¡°You saw Gwenny from the start, didn¡¯t you? You deliberately stumbled into my arms, attempting to make her misunderstand me, right?¡± Evelyn¡¯s face twisted in agony, reddening with distress. Gasping for air, she choked out, ¡°W¨CWhat do you mean, Mr. Cedrick? My foot is really hurt. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check. I/swear I¡¯m not lying¡­ ¡°You better not be!¡± Cedrick warned. He let go of her, not caring to verify her im. Gwendolyn was upset with him, and that mattered more than anything else. As he turned to pursue Gwendolyn, Evelyn once again held onto his suit sleeve. Gone was her amicable and weak look. Her tone turned uncharacteristically stern as she said, ¡°Mr. Cedrick, you truly don¡¯t understand Gwendolyn. Despite your relentless love for her, you¡¯ll only end up with deeper wounds. She may be willing to be with you now, but I bet she has not confessed her love to you up until now. Can¡¯t you see it?¡± Ignoring her, Cedrick shook off Evelyn¡¯s hand ruthlessly and dashed after Gwendolyn. Caught off guard, Evelyn fell to the ground, the pristine white hem of her dress stained with mud. §Á However, her dress was the least of her concern right then. Her gaze remained locked on Cedrick. A glint of excitement glowed in her eyes, and her enchantingly coy face was radiant with a brilliant smile. Meanwhile, a little further away, the slow saunter of Gwendolyn was in stark contrast to the urgency in Cedrick¡¯s sprint. Consequently, as Gwendolyn was about to step onto the stairs leading to the charity g hall, Cedrick sessfully intercepted her path. ¡°Gwenny, please. Could you please let me exin myself?¡± the man pleaded. Gwendolyn cast him an indifferent nce, Repulsed by the suit that had been sullied by Evelyn¡¯s hand she folded her arms and wanted to bypass Cedrick to enter the charity g hall. Cedrick was all too aware of how Gwendolyn must think of him now and dared not touch her. Hence, he only blocked her path, determined to not let her slip away. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± His eyes tinged red as he pleaded softly. Ignoring Cedrick¡¯s plea, Gwendolyn battled her rising fury and uttered in a low growl, ¡°Scram.¡± The harsh words stung him, causing a throbbing pain in his chest. He bit his lower lip in frustration. Standing in front of the charity g hall, Cedrick swiftly undid his gloves and the golden buttons of his suit. Without a moment of hesitation, he stripped off his suit and gloves and promptly disposed of them in a nearby trash can. His sleek ck silk shirt showcased his well¨Cbuilt figure impressively, but the unusual actions drew the bystanders¡® curious and surprised nces. Ignoring their gazes, Cedrick swooped down and swiftly swept Gwendolyn off her feet. This unexpected action elicited gasps and murmurs from the onlookers. ¡°What on earth are you doing?¡± Gwendolyn seethed, anger simmering in her eyes. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Put me down!¡± Just as she attempted to struggle, Cedrick leaned in close to her ears and murmured softly, ¡°So many people are watching, Gwenny. Remember our agreement this morning? I¡¯ve discarded the soiled clothing. I¡¯m innocent, and I¡¯ll exin everything when we get back. Is that okay? Behave. If you fall from my grasp, it¡¯ll be a disaster for both the Harris and Jenson families¡® stocks tomorrow.¡± Naturally, Gwendolyn understood what was at stake. She gritted her teeth and suppressed the urge to tweak Cedrick¡¯s ears. Instead, she chose to y along and curled her arms around his neck. Cedrick knew she was still mad at him. His thin lips curled into a devilish smile. ¡°Whether the stocks for the Jenson and Harris families plummet or soar tomorrow depends entirely on how cooperative you are, Gwenny.¡± ¡°What else do you have in mind?¡± Gwendolyn asked sharply, sensing that the man had an ulterior motive. His grin widened. ¡°I n to make you appear in the headlines, Gwenny, by doing what a fianc¨¦ should do.¡± Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Chapter 258 ying The Pity Card The burning passion in the masked man¡¯s eyes was conspicuous to Gwendolyn, making her heart skip a beat when she sensed the threatening vibe from him. Disregarding the onlookers, Cedrick rubbed her nose with his nose tip endearingly and whispered to her, ¡°Forgive me, Gwenny, but this is the only thing I can do. You refused to give me a chance to exin myself.¡± ¡°Are you se-¡± Before she could finish, Gwendolyn felt Cedrick¡¯s lips pushed against hers in just a nick of time. Initially, she yed along because many were watching them, but as the kiss dragged out, she was drawn into it and slowly closed her eyes as their breaths intertwined. Just like that, the two shared a steamy kiss with Gwendolyn in Cedrick¡¯s arms right in front of the venue entrance. Stirred, spectators took our their phones to take pictures. The journalists who hade to the g graced by celebrities also jumped on the opportunity and snapped photos of the epic moment, which left many socialites green with envy. ¡°They¡¯re so sweet! Mr. Jenson is so manly!¡± ¡°That¡¯s so romantic. I wished I had a fianc¨¦ like Mr. Jenson!¡± ¡°They look so good together. I can¡¯t take this anymore. I¡¯m blind.¡± ¡°Argh! I¡¯m so jealous! I want a boyfriend like that!¡± Meanwhile, having waited at the lounge for Gwendolyn toe out of the restroom for some time, Joaquin decided to go out to look for her and saw her kissing Cedrick. He almost fainted as he stared at Gwendolyn¡¯s lips being ravaged by the man. What the heck? This is just too much! On the other side, Evelyn was equally shocked. Standing at the path in the garden, she was just on her way to her MPV to change her soiled gown when she beheld themotion at the entrance. Obscured by the dim lights along the path, she smirked sourly, a reaction that went unnoticed by the crowd that was overtaken by jealousy and thrill. When the two finally pulled apart, Cedrick¡¯s lips were smudged with Gwendolyn¡¯s bright red lipstick, forming a stark contrast with his silver masquerade mask. Under the watchful gazes of the onlookers, Gwendolyn wiped away the stain on his lips to not embarrass him. Pleased, Cedrick tightened his arms around her and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± At his words, the crowd knowingly moved aside to allow them a way out amidst the constant sounds of camera shutters. Since Gwendolyn disliked being at the center of attention, she buried her face in Cedrick¡¯s chest, making her look docile and endearing. In no time, news about the kiss at the charity g spread like wildfire that night, dominating all media outlets and surpassing even the news of Walter¡¯s affair. The matter was so widely discussed that Cedrick and Gwendolyn became known as the sweetest couple in the upper-ss circle. Because of their attractive looks, fans began to ship them together, calling for them to get married. As for Cedrick and Gwendolyn themselves, they had just arrived at the Jenson residence. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Their demeanor changed when they entered the mansion¨CCedrick lowered his head and followed Gwendolyn into the room, leaving no trace of his previous gantry on his face as he observed her thin back helplessly. When they entered the room, Gwendolyn sat at the bedside and ignored the manpletely, looking at her phone. Still hoping to make it up to her, Cedrick sat down beside her and touched her gently as he began to say, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I swear I tried to keep a distance between her and me, but she happened to twist her ankle when you saw us. It¡¯s not like I can leave her to her own. I brought her there. Besides, she¡¯s Rossi Project¡¯s ambassador¨CJenson Group¡¯s face. I had to do something to prevent her from falling.¡± His exnation was met with Gwendolyn¡¯s unperturbed face. Cedrick, seeing that she was still on her phone,pletely ignoring him, continued, ¡°I have no idea she would make a move on me. She just put her arms around me all of a sudden. She set me up!¡± Just as he finished, he felt a sense of antagonism from Gwendolyn, so he quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to shift the me onto others. It¡¯s my fault for not doing what I promised. I should¡¯ve seen hering. I¡¯ll do my best to make sure this doesn¡¯t happen again! Also, I want to apologize for hugging and kissing you without your consent earlier. That was the only thing I could do when you didn¡¯t even give me a chance to exin. Would you forgive me? At least both our families¡® stocks will shoot up for now.¡± His appeasing work worsened the matter when Gwendolyn¡¯s face turned increasingly grim, and Cedrick lowered his gaze, seeing that she was unmoved. She must¡¯ve been really offended. I thought I could escape some beating this time¡­ With that thought, he went to the bedside table and took a long wooden ruler from its drawer before passing it to Gwendolyn. ¡°Do whatever you want, then.¡± When Gwendolyn did not take the ruler from him, Cedrick shoved it into her hands, insisting, ¡°I threw away the zer and gloves that she touched, but if you still feel disgusted, I don¡¯t mind being your punching bag. No matter what, I won¡¯t stop you¨Ceven if you break my arms.¡± Gwendolyn still had her eyes on her phone without saying a word. When Cedrick had stood before her for some time without getting any response, he turned to open the cupboard again and took out the Lego pieces Gwendolyn had custom¨Cmade for him. Then, he spread the pieces on the rug beside the bed and rolled up his cks, revealing the bruised knees, scarred from his previous punishment. Beside him, Gwendolyn stole a nce at the man as she continued scrolling her phone. With his pants up, she could not help but notice his knees. cuffed The sight jarred her, and she stopped him when he was about to kneel. ¡°What are you doing? Did you roll up your pants to show me this? I¡¯m not falling for your act. Despite her harsh words, Gwendolyn actually felt sorry for him. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to trick you. I thought the punishment would be more severe if I did it with my knees exposed,¡± Cedrick exined with a bitter smile. Gwendolyn¡¯s anger shot through the roof. ¡°I suppose you enjoy the pain, huh?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t,¡± he replied with a frown and a guilty look. ¡°For all I know, watching me in pain might appease you. It¡¯s not good to be angry always, so I thought this could help you get over it faster.¡± His words sent Gwendolyn¡¯s heart wrenching. Somehow, she was reminded of what Evelyn had told her that morning at her office. Ms. Harris, don¡¯t you feel that you¡¯ve always been too cruel to Mr. Jenson? Truth be told, you only love yourself and have always mistreated him. Recalling those words, Gwendolyn questioned whether she was truly mean and unkind toward Cedrick because he loved and indulged her. The realization made her sigh and soften her tone. ¡°Sit here and let me look at your knees.¡± Noticing the tenderness in her eyes, Cedrick smiled subtly and let her pull him to the bed. ¡°How did you get all the bruises? I thought it was only for half an hour. Didn¡¯t you use any medication yesterday night?¡± Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Half an hour? You refused to talk to me, and I kneeled for one hour! Cedrick did not spell his thoughts but shook his head instead. ¡°You treated my hand but not my knees, so I thought I was not allowed to put anything on them.¡± Afraid Gwendolyn might mistake him for trying to gain her sympathy, he quickly rified, ¡°I mean, I also worked out till tootest night and forgot about it.¡± Little did he know, his meditation was overlooked by Gwendolyn, who was still bothered by Evelyn¡¯s remarks in the day. ¡°Show me your hand. Is it still painful?¡± Cedrick held out his left palm, which appeared red and swollen despite the medication. ¡°Did it get worse overnight?¡± the woman asked. ¡°I guess so. I suppose the pressure from the push¨Cups hindered the blood flow, causing it to swell. Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not that bad now.¡± Gwendolyn knew it must have been painful when it happened. In hindsight, she wondered how she could bring herself to do that to him back then. In fact, she felt so bad and defeated that tears started welling up in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. She¡¯s right. I¡¯ve been mean to you. I said I would treat you nicely, but I¡¯ve only caused you pain,¡± she muttered. Although Cedrick had no idea who Gwendolyn was talking about, he could sense that she was on the verge of breaking down. With his right hand, he lifted her chin, only to see her beautiful eyes sparkling with tears. Making her cry was thest thing he wanted to do¨Chis initial intention was just to escape punishment. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°Come on. There¡¯s no way I got hurt from what you did. I¡¯m so much bigger than you. What¡¯s wrong with spicing things up between us? It¡¯s romantic,¡± he consoled as he caressed her face, feeling sorry that he had broken her heart. Gwendolyn turned away and replied, ¡°I know you¡¯re just trying to make me feel better.¡± At the sight of that, Cedrick pulled her back so she could look right into his sincere eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not saying this just to make you feel better. I know you¡¯re angry about what happened just now because you¡¯re jealous. I¡¯m actually happy to know you care so much about me. I¡¯ll dly take whatev punishment from you, even if you intend to cripple my hands. You¡¯ve always made me feel like I¡¯ve ne been this loved in my entire life. I¡¯ll do anything so you can forgive me. You might not know this, but I am the happiest man holding you every night, hearing you call my name, and sleeping with you. I love you. I really do. I just don¡¯t know if¡­¡± ¡­if you love me as much. Cedrick did not finish his sentence, for he feared finding out the answer. What Evelyn said kept reying in his mind as he reflected on all that happened that period¨Calthough Gwendolyn had agreed to be with him, she had never told him she loved him. The thought of it disconcerted him. He was afraid that her answer would blot out thest ray of hope he was clinging to that whole time. ¡°If what?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s voice called him back, and he looked down. ¡°Nothing. I just wanted to say that I still love you, no matter what you do to me.¡± Touched, Gwendolyn retrieved the medication she left in the drawer yesterday night, hoping it would help with the swelling. ¡°You¡¯re so dumb¨Clike really dumb,¡± she muttered, applying the medication. Opposite her, Cedrick just smiled as he watched her tend to his injury with great care, even blowing tenderly on his hand to help ease the pain. ¡°Gwenny, are you still angry about what happened at the charity g?¡± ¡°That is not happening again,¡± she remarked, pinching his cheek slightly. Feeling relieved and overjoyed, Cedrick smiled and carried her up from the bed. ¡°W¨CWhat are you doing?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re not punishing me tonight, we can proceed to our bedtime massage session!¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± Gwendolyn stopped him. ¡°Where are you bringing me? We¡¯re already in the room.¡± ¡°I like the master bedroom better. It¡¯s more spacious!¡± A mischievous smile broke out on his face as excitement glimmered in his gaze. ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°Come on. What is it again?¡± Cedrick asked, stopping when he had just gone out of the room. Gwendolyn looked up at him from his embrace and asked, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t use your left hand so much to allow it to recover. You can¡¯t do anything with just one hand, so¡­ why don¡¯t we do a raincheck?¡± I can¡¯t do anything with just one hand? Cedrick¡¯s face fell as his brows stitched. ¡°I can do at least three hundred push¨Cups singlehandedly without even panting. Do you want me to show you that?¡± ¡°What? Mmm!¡± Cedrick had shut her up with a kiss before she could continue, On that note, the night went on deep as the lovebirds kissed under the moon¡¯s glow. At midnight, Treyton was already disembarking a ne in Salinsburgh. When he had arrived, he drove back to the Harris residence on his own since it was alreadyte. Because he seldom returned home, he thought there was no need to keep a house full of servants, but Leif would still get someone to clean the outsidepound of the house asionally, so the residence still looked spotless. Once Treyton had arrived, he went upstairs to his room and showered. Probably because he was too spent, he did not realize something unusual in his room but went on to turn off the lights andy down, getting ready to sleep. It was not until he sensed some movement beside him and felt a handnd on his chest that he realized someone was in his bed. What the h*l! rmed, he shot up and choke the person on the neck. ¡°Who are you?¡± Cough! Jennifer was struck awake from her slumber. Treyton¡¯s grip was so tight her face was pumped red, and she could not even choke out a word. Under the moonlight, Treyton finally loosened his grip when he learned the intruder was a woman. ¡°I¡¯m J¨CJennifer¡­ Weller¡­¡± Jennifer? Isn¡¯t she one of Angle¡¯s celebrities? She¡¯s Gwendolyn¡¯s friend at the orphanage! Still, with his guard up, Treyton turned on the lights and finally let her free when he saw her face. ¡°What are you doing on my bed, Ms. Weller?¡± he asked the woman who was tearing up and coughing as she held her neck. When she had recovered, she got out of the bed and bowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know you wereing back tonight, Mr. Harris. Gwendolyn asked me to put up a night here because the paparazzi were waiting at my ce. I¡¯m sorry to disturb you.¡± ¡°Well, you should stay if Gwendolyn asked you to,¡± he replied, feeling sorry as he looked at the marks on her neck. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Harris. I promise I won¡¯t cause you trouble,¡± the woman replied, bowing again. Treyton grunted lightly and resumed his easygoing self. ¡°You can pick any room aside from this one. Thi is the master bedroom.¡± Jennifer bit her lip awkwardly and bowed once more, apologizing ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for my mistake! I got ahead of myself because I¡¯d never been to a house this big. I should¡¯ve known better.¡± With her shoulder all tensed up, she hurried out in frantic steps. However, much to Treyton¡¯s confusion, she suddenly turned back when she was at the door. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Weak Jennifer bowed twice and returned to the bed hastily. ¡°I apologize, Mr. Harris. I have slept in this bed and used the bedsheet and nket. I assume you¡¯re not pleased with that¡­¡± Treyton seemed to have understood what she was getting at. He sat up and hopped off the bed. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for the intrusion,¡± Jennifer apologized repeatedly. Quickly, she removed the bedsheet and nket before retreating from the room with a humble bow. Treyton nced at the bare bed and shed a helpless smile. After getting the spare bedsheet and nket from the cab, he ended up spreading the bed himself. I can¡¯t believe Jennifer apologized fifteen times and bowed twelve times in just a few minutes. She is strangely foolish and adorable, huh? How interesting. At dawn, the gentle rays of the sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow upon the bed in the bedroom. When Cedrick awoke, he found Gwendolyn already awake. She was sitting in bed, looking serious, engrossed in scrolling on her phone. The sight confused him. ¡°Why are you on your phone early in the morning? Have you been addicted to it recently?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m buying something for you.¡± Gwenny¡¯s buying a gift for me again? It should be something normal this time, right? ¡°What is it? Let me take a look.¡± Gwendolyn exined carelessly, ¡°Oh, a box of stag penis pills, some tonic, and¡­¡± Stag penis? Tonics? Cedrick found it strange that she would buy those for him. He asked darkly, ¡°Why would you buy those things? Have I not satisfied you?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Gwendolyn shook her head profusely. ¡°You were amazing, Ceddy. However,st night you imed to be capable of doing three hundred push¨Cups with one hand, but you stopped after doing one hundred push¨Cups.¡± Is he weak because we have been having sex too much recently? I can¡¯t let that happen. I must buy more tonics to mak it up to him! Cedrick stared at her in shock. Is she saying I¡¯m weak because I only did one hundred push¨Cups? Seriously? He couldn¡¯t ept the fact that his beloved woman would think he was weak after spending the night with him as he had always been proud of his sexual prowess. His manly ego had suffered a huge blow. A tumultuous storm seemed to brew within him, akin to massive waves disrupting the tranquility of a once-sereneke. The intensity of his anger surged, surpassing even the power of a nuclear explosion upon the vast expanse of the ocean. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯ll show you how capable I am!¡± ¡°Ceddy! Ced¡­¡± Gwendolyn struggled but to no avail. It was toote to regret her actions. Treyton was roused from his slumber by the enticing aroma wafting through the open window. It smells like fried egg. Is Jennifer cooking in the kitchen? He got up and changed into a suit before making his way downstairs slowly. In the kitchen, a figure could be seen flitting in and out. A spread of warm milk, toast, fried eggs, and an assortment of fruits were already served on the table. Jennifer emerged from the kitchen, carrying two bowls of oatmeal. She looked up and locked eyes with Treyton. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Harris.¡± She ced the bowls on the table and pulled a chair out for him. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if my cooking is to your taste. Please try it.¡± Treyton was nning on having breakfast at Marcus¡® ce. After all, Jennifer was still a stranger to him, and he held reservations about unfamiliar people. However, the sight of Jennifer¡¯s genuine smile inexplicably drew him toward her,pelling him to approach and take a seat beside her. The oatmeal was yummy, and the fried egg was just nice. He found her cooking surprisingly delicious. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this. If you n on staying here for some time, I can arrange for two maids to take care of you.¡± Jennifer parted her lips in surprise. ¡°No need, Mr. Harris. I understand that my presence may be burdensome. I¡¯m good at doing housework and cooking. Please allow me to contribute in some way to ease my conscience about staying here.¡± Impressed by her sincerity and determination, Treyton chose not to say anything further. It was clear that she was a self¨Creliant youngdy. After breakfast, Treyton settled on the couch to read the papers instead of heading out immediately as usual. Jennifer cleared up the kitchen and was ready to head out when he asked, ¡°Are you going to Barner for a magazine cover shoot today?¡± ¡°Yes. How do you know?¡± Jennifer came to a stop, holding her bag meekly. Treyton ced the papers away. ¡°I checked your schedule a while ago. Come, let me give you a ride.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, you don¡¯t have to do that, Mr. Harris. I can walk down the hill myself. My manager will pick me up in his car at the foot of the hillter.¡± Treyton got to his feet. He looked gentle, while his voice possessed a charming and soothing quality. ¡°I¡¯ll¡® be leaving shortly, and dropping you off at the base of the mountain is conveniently on my way. You can take your manager¡¯s car there,¡± he offered kindly. ¡°Oh? Well, thank you, Mr. Harris.¡± Mount Tranquil was of considerable size, with a winding path leading down the mountain. If Jennifer were to walk, it would take her at least an hour to reach the base. At the foot of the mountain, Jennifer got out of the car and gave Treyton another bow. ¡°Thank you for the ride, Mr. Harris. Will youe back for dinner tonight? I can prepare dinner for you in advance. I¡¯ll feel bad if I cannot repay your favor.¡± Treyton watched as she started bowing once more and revealed ¨¤ cautious and vignt attitude. The aura of detachment that surrounded her seemed akin to a protective barrier she had created for herself. He knitted his brows. I told her I would drop her off as it was conveniently along my route, so there was no need for her to be overly polite. However, he struggled to find the right words to express his thoughts. After running a background search on her this morning, he discovered that Walter had been unfaithful to her. He felt a pang of sympathy for her, knowing that she was innocent and had been hurt by the actions of a scoundrel. ¡°Okay. You can cook if you want. I might be at work until past seven in the evening.¡± ¡°Okay. Goodbye, Mr. Harris!¡± She gave him yet another bow. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Treyton said nothing as he wound up the car window. From the passenger seat, Elisha cast a cautious nce in his direction. ¡°Mr. Harris, you need to head to the embassyter this afternoon, right? Can you make it back home by seven¨Cthirty?¡± Treyton had forgotten all about that. ¡°Tell them I¡¯m busy at night. They should either hold the event in advance or change the date.¡± Why won¡¯t he tell Ms. Weller that he won¡¯t make it back in time for dinner instead? Elisha stole a nce at the rearview mirror, observing Jennifer standing by the side of the road. A yful grin crept onto his face as he covered his lips. ¡°It seems Ms. Weller holds a special ce in your heart, Mr. Harris,¡± he remarked. Treyton nced back at Elisha and responded calmly, ¡°She is Kiddo¡¯s best friend and has been supportive of Kiddo during their time at the orphanage. I am simply showing kindness to her because of how well she has treated Kiddo.¡± ¡°Oh, I see¡± Elisha nodded thoughtfully. After Treyton¡¯s departure, Jennifer swiftly got into her manager¡¯s car. Unbeknownst to her, a figure vanished in the blink of an eye from the corner opposite her. Back at Jenson Group, Nico approached the CEO¡¯s office and rapped on the door, clutching a file containing data in his hands. He came into the office to see his employer spacing out and staring at his right hand. ¡°Boss, what are you looking at?¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t see the need to deceive him and admitted, ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been experiencing a peculiar sensation in my body. It feels like my strength is diminishing with each passing day.¡± ¡°What?¡± Nico put down the file and sat down across from him. He began observing his skin color and mental state carefully. ¡°Have you had sex with Ms. Gwendolyn recently?¡± ¡°We did it once the night before, oncest night, and once this morning.¡± Nico gulped. Wow, they are so into each other! His eyes widened in astonishment as he noticed the dark circles under Cedrick¡¯s eyes, a clear sign of sleep deprivation. ¡°Boss, are you exhausted? Is it because Ms. Gwendolyn has been draining your energy?¡± Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Whose Problem Cedrick¡¯s expression turned dark, and he didn¡¯t say a word. Nico continued, ¡°Boss, you should restrain yourselves. Overindulging in your desires can harm your health!¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression darkened further. Nico btedly realized that his recent pay rise was about to say goodbye to him. Realizing the potential consequences, he quickly corrected himself, ¡°I mean, if Mr. Asher were to discover this, it would be difficult for Ms. Gwendolyn when she returns to the Harris residence. It could lead to a significant uproar. Boss, considering your current health condition, if you were to sustain a severe injury again, there might not be anyone capable of rescuing you.¡± The truth is always bitter to swallow. Nico¡¯s words weren¡¯t pleasant to the ears, but he was telling the truth. Cedrick wasn¡¯t a tyrant, so he gave a nod in agreement. He soon received an urgent email from the Federal Bureau of Investigation about Chanaea¡¯s border. Cedrick clicked into it and put on a stern expression. ¡°An organization is causing trouble at the border. Pack up, and we¡¯ll leave tomorrow night.¡± ¡°Got it, Boss.¡± When Gwendolyn woke up, it was almost noon. Cedrick knew she was exhausted and didn¡¯t disturb her so she could get more sleep. Holding her waist, she carefully got off the bed and discovered her legs were shaking. Following the morning incident, she had been deeply traumatized. She learned the hard way that she should never challenge a man¡¯s pride in such matters or face dire consequences. Her subordinate from Shadow Bell had already organized the information regarding Evelyn and sent it to her email. Gwendolyn clicked into the file and read it carefully. Evelyn was neen years old. Her father had died some time ago, so she was brought up by her mother. She made her debut in the entertainment industry at the tender age of fourteen, showcasing her remarkable talent as an actress and earning international acim through numerous awards. Spection circted that she had a wealthy benefactor, which exined the abundant resources at her disposal. However, the identity of her benefactor, her parents, and even her surname was unknown. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned icy when she saw the several unknowns in the report. The report she had received was filled with irrelevant details,cking the crucial information she truly needed. She immediately made a call. ¡°Reinvestigate her thoroughly. I requireprehensive information. Find out when her father passed away and the cause of his death. I want to uncover every detail, including her full surname. If she went to the trouble of concealing her identity, there must be a significant secret behind it.¡± ¡°Calm down, Boss. I¡¯ll get to it right away!¡± Gwendolyn ended the call and stared at Evelyn¡¯s details, her gaze darkening. Since I took over Shadow Bell, they have never failed in investigating anything. If they couldn¡¯t even uncover her identity, that means that Evelyn¡¯s backers consist of bigshots from influential families. Who could her benefactor be? She has covered her tracks well, huh? Gwendolyn had no choice but to wait for Shadow Bell to revert back to her. Gathering her thoughts, she washed up and put on some makeup. Jennifer was heading to a shoot at Barner today. It was her first job after Walter¡¯s incident, so Gwendolyn nned on visiting her at work today. She walked out of the vi and was about to get into the car when Valentino and Logan came to her. ¡°Hello, Old Mr. Jenson.¡± Valentino greeted her with a warm smile and nodded approvingly. He came over to her with the help of his walking stick and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯ve been staying with Cedrick recently. Have you adjusted well to the new living arrangement?¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry. Ceddy treats me well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that,¡± Valentino replied with a satisfied smile. His gaze traveled down Gwendolyn¡¯s face and settled on her stomach. ¡°Considering how harmonious you two seem, why haven¡¯t you conceived yet? Kiddo, please avoid taking any contraceptive measures as they can be detrimental to your health. Don¡¯t worry. If you be pregnant, I promise to organize a magnificent wedding for you.¡± Gwendolyn felt the tips of her ears turning red hearing an elder broach such intimate matters. She responded with an awkward smile, saying, ¡°I understand, Old Mr. Jenson.¡± Pregnant? I dare not get pregnant. If Asher finds out, he¡¯ll break my legs before I give birth. Valentino continued offering his advice and insights on marriage, and Gwendolyn politely acknowledged his input. After Valentino left, she looked at her tummy. She feared Asher would beat her up if she were to get pregnant. However, a part of her remained curious about the experience of giving birth to a baby. This is strange. Cedrick and I had sex so many times without using condoms. Why am I not pregnant yet? Is there something wrong with my health? Or is it Cedrick? Having learned her lesson from the morning incident, she dared not pose the question to Cedrick directly. She feared that he might perceive her question as a challenge to his masculine pride and end up teaching her another harsh lesson. Perhaps I¡¯m not fated to have a child yet. She let out a long sigh and immediately made her way to the shooting set. Upon arrival, she noticed a hunched figure at the corner of the door. Despite the mask and cap concealing her face, the person¡¯s short, grey hair exposed her identity as an elderly woman. However, when Gwendolyn came nearer, she noticed that the skin on the back of thedy¡¯s hand was fair and tightly textured, contradicting the appearance of an elderly woman.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She was about to take a closer look when the ¡°elderly woman¡± stealthily slipped into the building through the staffne, taking advantage of a moment when the staff was not paying attention. Jennifer¡¯s shooting was in progress on the twenty¨Csecond floor of the Barner building. The photoshoot for this month¡¯s magazine cover had already beenpleted, with¨CJennifer delivering an exceptional performance. Impressed by her skills, the director at Barner decided to enlist her for several in¨Cpage column shoots. Everyone was focused on the shoot, unaware of an ¡°elderlydy¡± emerging from the restroom. Clutching a bucket of dirty water that had been used to mop the floor, she quietly positioned herself behind them. Thedy¡¯s vicious gaze was fixed on Jennifer the moment she entered the scene. Quietly, she inched nearer to Jennifer without attracting attention. ¡°All right, that¡¯s a wrap for this set. We still have two more sets to go, but let¡¯s take a thirty¨Cminute break. Great job, Jennifer! You¡¯re doing fantastic!¡± the director praised, acknowledging her performance. The rest of the staff pped in unison. Jennifer bowed to everyone. ¡°Thank you, everyone. My manager prepared some coffee, so please help yourselves.¡± The staff cheered and went to her manager to get some coffee. As Jennifer was engrossed in her bow, the timing was perfect. Unbeknownst to her, a malicious re shed in the eyes of the ¡°elderly woman¡± lurking in the corner. ¡°Jennifer Weller! I want your reputation ruined!¡± Without warning, the bucket of filthy water was thrown in Jennifer¡¯s direction. Caught off guard, she couldn¡¯t move away in time and was drenched from head to toe. The exquisite haute couture gown provided by Barner was now smeared with dirt and grime. The dirt and grime stung Jennifer¡¯s eyes, causing her to instinctively rub them in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Despite her efforts, she couldn¡¯t open her eyes due to the intense difort. Everyone had walked away to get coffee and couldn¡¯t react in time. The ¡°elderlydy¡± immediately tossed the bucket away and pulled out the dagger she had prepared earlier, charging toward Jennifer. ¡°Die, you b*tch!¡± Many staff screamed in terror at the sight of the dagger, but they were too far away to stop the attacker. ¡°Be careful!¡± Fortunately, the bloodshed didn¡¯t ur. Before the dagger could stab into Jennifer¡¯s stomach, it came to a halt. A pair of hands had emerged out of nowhere to grab the wrist of the ¡°elderlydy.¡± Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Dark Path A pair of dark eyes stared back at her. ¡°Y¨CYou¡­ It¡¯s you¡­¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s redcquered lips lifted into a sneer. ¡°Lisa, I didn¡¯t expect you to fall so far!¡± She twisted Lisa¡¯s wrist with a snap. ¡°Ouch! My wrist!¡± Lisa¡¯s face contorted in pain. The dagger in her hand ttered to the ground. Gwendolyn raised her high¨Cheeled foot and kicked her hard across her thigh. Lisa fell to the ground. She scrambled around but could not muster the strength to stand up again. The assistant, manager, and staff watching the scene were all frightened. ¡°Why are you still standing there like an idiot? Go and help Jennifer wash up!¡± Gwendolyn growled. ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± The assistant quickly grabbed a dry towel, wrapped it around Jennifer¡¯s body, and led her to the bathroom. Lisa was dissatisfied to see that her n had failed. She had used thest of her savings to get Jennifer¡¯s schedule for her Barner shoot. ¡°Why did you have to save her? I was ridiculed by the entirework! I had to leave Papilio Girls! I owe millions of dors! All of this is because of her! Damn her!¡± Lisa screamed hysterically at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn snorted, still sneering. ¡°I am the one who leaked your nude photo and issued the order to remove you from Papilio Girls. I am the one who did this to you. Well, I¡¯m standing in front of you right now. Come and kill me if you dare.¡± Lisa was shocked to hear those words. She stared wordlessly at Gwendolyn for a long while. Finally, she gritted her teeth against the pain, staggered over to Gwendolyn, and reached down to pick up the dagger on the floor. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Her fingers were wrapped around the hilt of the dagger but she could not lift it. Gwendolyn¡¯s high¨C heeled foot was stepping down hard on the de. ¡°Lisa, you¡¯ve fallen from grace today due to your own doing. If you had concentrated all your energy on being the best idol, you would have reached stardom.¡± Lisa¡¯s eyes welled up with tears that pooled and then rolled down her cheeks in twin streams. Gwendolyn went on, ¡°You had a bright future, yet you chose this dark path. You bullied Jennifer. You knew that Jennifer and Walter were in a rtionship and yet you seduced him and started an affair with him. Do you think Walter would help you if something were to happen to you? That man can¡¯t even protect himself. How can he take care of you? The two of you miserable b*stards have the same evil heart!¡± ¡°No! No! This is all Jennifer¡¯s fault! We are all part of a group! Why does she get the chance to go solo? Why does she get interviews by herself? This is not fair!¡± Lisa screamed in a heart¨Cwrenching voice and copsed to the ground, clutching her chest. Gwendolyn¡¯s face remained emotionless. ¡°Jennifer is an S¨Clevel artist. She is the ace of Angle. The contract that the two of you signed ispletely different. From the very beginning, her path and yours were never the same. You failed to position yourself well!¡± Lisa sat on the ground. Her face fell in despair. She was stunned and kept repeating the same words. ¡°No, it¡¯s not my fault¡­¡± Gwendolyn pulled her icy eyes away from Lisa and nced around the room. ¡°You all witnessed it. She brought a knife not just to kill Jennifer, but also to kill me! Somebody please call the police and get them to take her away quickly. Let¡¯s not ruin the atmosphere here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call the police!¡± said one of the staff immediately. Lisa was stunned. Then, realization dawned on her. Gwendolyn had tricked her. If she only attempted to kill Jennifer, she would be jailed for four to five years at most. However, if she was charged with an attempt to kill Gwendolyn, her life would be miserable. Asher was Gwendolyn¡¯s older brother, and Cedrick was Gwendolyn¡¯s fianc¨¦. If she were found guilty of such a crime, those two men would not let her get away with it. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Harris, I was wrong! I know now that I was wrong! Please give me a chance to make it right. Please don¡¯t send me to prison! Please!¡± She crawled toward Gwendolyn¡¯s feet, begging pathetically. She reached out to grab the hem of Gwendolyn¡¯s skirt, but Gwendolyn stepped out of her reach. Gwendolyn looked down at her contemptuously. Her eyes were cold and emotionless. Jennifer had already washed up and changed into a clean dress. She walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her hair. When Gwendolyn saw that Jennifer was okay, she breathed a sigh of relief and said to Lisa, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be apologizing to me. You should be apologizing to Jennifer. If she forgives you, I¡¯ll consider letting you go.¡± Hope lit up in Lisa¡¯s heart as she knelt down in front of Jennifer to beg for her forgiveness. ¡°Jennifer, I was wrong! I shouldn¡¯t have treated you so badly! I shouldn¡¯t have destroyed your rtionship with Wafter! You can punish me however you wish, but please don¡¯t let Ms. Harris send me to prison! Please!¡± Jennifer clenched her fists tightly. The memory of her catching Walter and Lisa in bed together shed before her eyes. How arrogant they were back then! After doing such an unforgivable thing, how dare she begs for a second chance? She looked down at Lisa¡¯s pathetic appearance silently. Her face was red and splotchy from crying. She kept quiet for a long while. ¡°Jennifer, if I hadn¡¯t stopped her, she would have killed you. Do you really believe that she will change her ways? Are you really willing to forgive her?¡± Gwendolyn said when she saw Jennifer¡¯s hesitation. Jennifer¡¯s misgivings faded away. ¡°No, I can never forgive her! Lisa, you¡¯re not a child anymore! You should¡¯ve thought about the consequences before you acted! Now, you must be responsible for what you¡¯ve done!¡± ¡°No. No, Jennifer! Please, help me!¡± Lisa cried out desperately. She did not want to go to prison for what she had done. If she did, she would definitely be tortured to death in there. Jennifer¡¯s heart did not soften. She merely watched silently as Lisa was dragged away. Gwendolyn approached her and smiled in satisfaction. ¡°You have grown a lot after going through so much hardship. That¡¯s a good thing!¡± Jennifer reached out to hold Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, touched by her kindness. Although this episode had dyed the shooting schedule, Jennifer quickly recovered from the shock and continued with the shoot. That evening, when Gwendolyn returned to the vi, Cedrick was already at home. He was seated on the couch, watching television. His slender legs were casually crossed, and his entire demeanor exuded rxation. Gwendolyn was surprised to see him at home. ¡°You got off work so early today? Isn¡¯t it busy at Jenson Group?¡± ¡°I got home early.¡± He had a reason for being home early. ¡°Gwenny, I have an urgent mission from the Federal Bureau of Investigation tomorrow night. I have to go to the border.¡± ¡°Tomorrow night?¡± Gwendolyn sat down beside him. ¡°So soon? When will you be back?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to be there for at least three to five days.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her eyes. ¡°Okay. I actually made a hospital appointment for the day after tomorrow. I thought of going with you.¡± Cedrick pulled her into his arms and looked her over. ¡°You look fine. Why are you going to the hospital? Is everything okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Gwendolyn smiled awkwardly as she recalled Valentino¡¯s words earlier that day. ¡°I met Old Mr. Jenson today. He really wanted¡­ to have a grandchild. To be honest, I¡¯m also starting to feel worried. We¡¯ve been together for a while. Why haven¡¯t I conceived yet?¡± Cedrick followed her eyes and gazed at her stomach. His eyes betrayed nothing, and he was quiet for a while. We have made love countless times, and yet your womb remains empty. It¡¯s because of me. Something is wrong with my body¡­ Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Free Meals There was a high possibility that the S404 RNA virus in him would be transmitted to his child even if she did get pregnant. In other words, his child would suffer.¡¯ Yet, he could not bring himself to ask Gwendolyn to take the pills, and he was also afraid that Gwendolyn would notice something amiss. There were pills catered for men on the market with little side effects, so he would always take them secretly before they made love to each other. Gwendolyn remained oblivious to his thoughts, her mind preupied with memories of her consuming copious amounts of high-alcohol content beverages over three consecutive days in Faike. It had resulted in a prolonged recovery period for her. She wondered if that was the time she ruined her health and her chances to bear a child. ¡°Ceddy, you¡¯re strong. Inparison to you, I¡¯m weak. I want to go to the hospital for a full-body checkup. That way, I can give you my healthy all.¡± Cedrick¡¯s pupils constricted. Slowly, his face went pale. He felt as if someone was gripping his heart. It was suffocating. Gwendolyn wanted to be healthy for him, but he could not do the same. He probably could never live a healthy life. All of a sudden, a wave of guilt hit him, and the resulting pain surged through his entire being. Am I wasting her time? When Gwendolyn noticed the pallor of his face, she gently touched his cheek and asked, ¡°Ceddy, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Cedrick forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯ll be good for you to do a full-body checkup, but I have tasks to work on, so I won¡¯t be able to keep youpany. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Once you leave, I¡¯ll go and stay at the Harris residence for a few days. I¡¯ll ask Jennifer or Sienna to keep mepany.¡± Cedrick nodded in response and forced away his feelings of loneliness. ¡°By the way, Ceddy, things are tumultuous by the border. You¡¯re going there to fight, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then, you have to be careful. Completing the mission is secondary. Your safety is your utmost priority. Take care of yourself and don¡¯t get hurt.¡± Cedrick nodded guiltily. ¡°Okay.¡± When Treyton returned to the vi, he was greeted by the fragrance of food just as he stepped into the garden. It was a peculiar sensation. It felt as if he had a wife who was waiting to have a meal with him at home and as if there was someone in this world who would always rely on him and think of him. It was not an unweed feeling.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. When he opened the door, he saw the piping hot food on the dining table. Just as Jennifer brought thest dish to the dining table¡ªa pot of meat stew-she sneezed. Upon turning around, she spotted Treyton¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Mr. Harris, you¡¯re back at the right time. I was worried that the food will turn cold if you runte.¡± As Treyton took a seat by the dining table, he recalled her sneeze earlier. ¡°I heard about what happened to you at Barner. Lisa even tried to throw wastewater at you. Were you frightened?¡± Jennifer shed him a smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a trivial matter. I¡¯m used to this since young. The more they bully me, the stronger I get. In a way, I¡¯m like a roach. Indestructible.¡± Right then, the two¡¯s eyes met. Treyton was moved by the way she simply epted things and went on with life. The next day, at the Ferguson residence, Eloise¡¯s bodyguard, Gunnar, came to knock on Eloise¡¯s room door upon receiving some news. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, the man you sent to spy on Mr. Treyton at the Harris residence has returned. He said that¡­¡± Eloise was in the middle of putting on her earrings when he came in, and she turned around to shoot him a re. ¡°What did he say? Go on.¡± ¡°Mr. Treyton has been sending a young woman off every daytely, and that young woman leaves the area in a van. The man you sent doesn¡¯t recognize the young woman, but she looks like a celebrity. He¡¯s guessing that she¡¯s staying with Mr. Treyton.¡± Clink! Eloise¡¯s hand shook, and her earring fell to the ground. She was stunned for a long while. ¡°Are you sure he saw it right? Could the young woman be Gwendolyn?¡± Gunnar shook his head firmly. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. Apparently, Ms. Harris has been living with her fianc¨¦ recently at the Jenson residence.¡± The news came as too much of a shock for Eloise to digest. Treyton¡¯s staying with another woman? They¡¯re sleeping, eating, and even taking the same car out of the area? She¡¯s a celebrity? ¡°Which b*tch is it? How dare she seduce my Trey?¡± 2/4 Crash! Livid, Eloise swept everything on the dresser to the ground. Seemingly having anticipated her outburst, Gunnar had taken a step back and managed to avoid getting hit by a perfume bottle. ¡°I need to know what this b*tch looks like. I¡¯m going to smash her face in!¡± Molten anger rolled through her, and she desperately wished that she could head up Mount Tranquil to catch the woman red-handed. However, Gunnar stopped her in time. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, we don¡¯t have any concrete evidence for this. If you rashly kick up a fuss, I¡¯m afraid Mr. Treyton will have a worse impression of you.¡± ¡°Then what should I do? Am I supposed to just watch while that woman flirts with him? Even if he doesn¡¯t think of me as his fianc¨¦e, he should be thinking about the Ferguson family! I love him so much, so how could he do this to me?¡± Eloise was close to a mental breakdown. All she wanted to do at that moment was to capture the woman who was seducing Treyton and boil her alive. She had been discreetly getting rid of the women around Treyton all along, so she could not wrap her head around where the neer came from. This rage of mine will never be appeased unless she¡¯s dead! Ó† Well aware of Eloise¡¯s short temper, Gunnar softly suggested, ¡°Ms. Ferguson, tomorrow morning, you should¡­¡± After listening to his suggestion, Eloise slowly calmed down, but the vicious look in her eyes remained. Gwendolyn was bored in the Jenson residence as Cedrick had gone to the border. Hence, she returned to the Harris residence early the following day for free meals at Treyton¡¯s vi. It had been years since she had the chance to try out Jennifer¡¯s cooking, and she was looking forward to it. ¡°Treyton, when did youe back? Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this? Jennifer hasn¡¯t been troubling you, has she?¡± Though Gwendolyn¡¯s words were directed at Treyton, her eyes were on Jennifer, who was working away in the kitchen. Treyton was gazing at Jennifer as well. ¡°No, Ms. Weller has been considerate, and she has never troubled me. She¡¯s a good chef too.¡± Gwendolyn smirked and asked, ¡°Treyton, shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me for this? I brought a pretty chef to you to satisfy your craving for good food.¡± Treyton smiled, but his eyes were still fixed on Jennifer¡¯s silhouette. When Jennifer brought thest breakfast dish to the table, she noticed the siblings staring at her with bright eyes. They looked like kindergarten children waiting for their breakfast, causing her to chuckle in amusement. She then passed the most scrumptious dish-scrambled eggs and ham¨Cto Gwendolyn and said, ¡°I knew you wereing for free breakfast, so I prepared this for you. Try it out and let me know how it tastes.¡± Gwendolyn beamed. ¡°I knew you loved me most! Muah!¡± Jennifer merrily returned her a flying kiss. Treyton instinctively turned to look at his sister¡¯s te before turning back to look at his. He was jealous. How could she be so biased toward Gwendolyn? We¡¯re both Harrises, but why am I not getting any meat for breakfast? Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Chapter 264 No Matter What It Takes However, he couldn¡¯t snatch his sister¡¯s breakfast, so he could only sulk in silence. He wasn¡¯t able to get a word in as the two girls chatted happily as if they couldn¡¯t see him. It made him feel frustrated about the meal. Meanwhile, Jennifer and Gwendolyn had a pleasant meal. After breakfast, Treyton went to work. As Gwendolyn was here and they were heading in the same way, it was the first time he didn¡¯t apany Jennifer down the mountain. Treyton nced at Elisha, who was in the passenger seat, and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel something is off today?¡± ¡°Something is off?¡± Elisha was perplexed and nced back at Treyton. ¡°No, everything seemed normal to me.¡± Treyton didn¡¯t say anything else. He opened hisputer to check on his work for the day. Eloise¡¯s car was parked a hundred meters away. She watched Treyton¡¯s car leave Mount Tranquil from the corner. Gunnar said, ¡°It seems like Mr. Harris didn¡¯t send the girl down the mountain today. She should still be in the vi.¡± Eloise gritted her teeth. ¡°That¡¯s great. I have to take away that wretched woman today!¡± She had no trouble entering Mount Tranquil as Treyton¡¯s fianc¨¦e. In Treyton¡¯s vi, Gwendolyn and Jennifer were chatting as they washed the dishes. Knock! Knock! Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Gwendolyn was puzzled and went to open the door. ¡°Treyton, don¡¯t you have the keys? Are you too lazy to open the door? Did you forget the documents on the table? I see them!¡± She opened the door and saw Eloise¡¯s enraged expression. ¡°Ms. Ferguson?¡± Eloise was surprised to see her. ¡°Gwendolyn, why is it you? Besides you, are there any other women here?¡± Gwendolyn smiled coldly. ¡°Did youe here early in the morning to question me?¡± Eloise couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her. She pushed past Gwendolyn and ran into the living room. Jennifer heard themotion. She emerged from the kitchen after finishing the dishes and locked eyes with Eloise. Thetter scrutinized her with resentment. She charged over toward Jennifer and raised her hand to p thetter across the face. ¡°B*tch! How dare you seduce Trey!¡± Jennifer grew up in an orphanage and had a tough childhood. Therefore, upon predicting that Eloise was going to attack her, she instinctively defended herself and grabbed Eloise¡¯s wrist. Eloise tried to struggle but to no avail. She was a delicatedy from a wealthy family, so she was much weakerpared to Jennifer. She screeched, ¡°How dare you fight back! I won¡¯t be satisfied until I tear your face apart today! Gunnar, come in! Beat her up!¡± Gunnar brought in two bodyguards from the Ferguson family and approached Jennifer menacingly. Gwendolyn immediately stood in front of Jennifer. ¡°Eloise, look around. This is the Harris residence. What are you doing?¡± Eloise nced at her, seething with anger. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯m your future sister-inw! Why aren¡¯t you helping me? Instead, you¡¯re siding with this wretched woman?¡± ¡°Stop calling her nasty words such as a wretched woman. Where¡¯s your etiquette as a woman brought up in the Ferguson family?¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and continued, ¡°Moreover, Jennifer is my guest. I¡¯m the one who requested for her to stay here temporarily. Jennifer and Treyton have an innocent rtionship. Stop fighting with every single woman you see!¡± ¡°Innocent?¡± Eloise was no longer thinking rationally. ¡°She lives with Trey and even sleeps with him! My people have seen them together so many times! How could you say they have an innocent rtionship?¡± Eloise gritted her teeth and red at Gwendolyn. ¡°I have already said it before. We can get along peacefully if you don¡¯t hinder my rtionship with Trey.. However, not only do you not keep yourself in check, you even tried to get a wretched woman to seduce Trey! I¡¯m going to teach you both a lesson today!¡± She looked toward Gunnar. ¡°Beat them up mercilessly! Then, tie them up and bring them back!¡± Gunnar didn¡¯t dare to make a move. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, she¡¯s part of the Harris family!¡± Everyone knew that Marcus and Treyton were very fond of Gwendolyn. She was the precious darling of the Harris family that no one dared toy a hand on! Eloise ignored himpletely and stated, ¡°Do as I say! If something happens, I¡¯ll take the me! If you don¡¯t dare to do it, I¡¯m firing you immediately!¡± Gunnar had no choice but to signal to the two bodyguards. The two bodyguards took out the stun batons they had prepared earlier and approached Jennifer and Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn saw their weapons and immediately shielded Jennifer behind her. When she looked at Eloise, her gaze was icy cold. ¡°If you dare to eveny a hand on me, I promise you and yourckeys won¡¯t be able to leave the Harris residence standing. Do you dare to try it?¡± Upon hearing this, the bodyguards froze, not daring to move an inch. Eloise sneered disdainfully. ¡°I¡¯m Trey¡¯s fianc¨¦e. He is keeping a mistress in his vi. Even if Mr. Marcus is here, he won¡¯t be able to stop me. As for you, you would be identally injured by my bodyguards. I¡¯ll personally apologize to Mr. Marcus. You might have extensive training in jiu-jitsu, but you would face some difficulties fighting barehanded against my bodyguards with their stun batons, right?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She chuckled ioudly. The bodyguards immediately turned their stun batons to the strongest setting and swung them toward Jennifer and Gwendolyn. Jennifer immediately pushed Gwendolyn away so that the stun batons hit her instead. ¡°Jennifer!¡± Gwendolyn was caught off guard as she staggered back a few steps before regaining her bnce. Just as the stun batons were about to hit Jennifer, the entrance suddenly opened loudly. The next second, a dagger pierced through the bodyguards¡¯ hands. Blood immediately gushed out. The stun batons fell to the ground, and the bodyguards¡¯ mournful screams could be heard in the living room. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, do you think too highly of yourself for you to think that you can cause trouble in my ce?¡± A deep voice tinged with anger rang out from the garden. Eloise held her breath in fear upon hearing this familiar voice. Why did Treytone back? I saw him leave Mount Tranquil with my own eyes! Instantly, everyone turned toward the entrance. Treyton walked into the living room with a stern expression. If he hadn¡¯t left in such a hurry and forgotten the documents on his desk, he wouldn¡¯t have seen Eloise¡¯s disgusting behavior in his vi. ¡°Trey, our engagement was arranged by our families a long time ago. Even if you have been unwilling to marry me for years and tried to break off the engagement twice, you know what will happen in the end! I am your fianc¨¦e, even if you don¡¯t want to admit it!¡± Treyton didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. He walked past her to check on Jennifer and Gwendolyn. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± The two shook their heads. Eloise¡¯s eyes reddened from his apparentck of concern for her. ¡°You quarreled with me and tried to break off the engagement because of Gwendolyn thest time we were in Faike. Since she¡¯s your sister, I tolerated it. However, you¡¯re secretly living with a woman this time! How could you do this? Have you thought about our families?¡± Upon hearing this, Gwendolyn frowned. How could she be so unreasonable? I¡¯ve already told her Jennifer had nothing to do with Treyton. She could not believe how delusional and paranoid Eloise was. Just as Gwendolyn was about to exin, Treyton said coldly, ¡°You are the one who embarrassed our families. I only have contempt for you now that you schemed to get engaged to me. However, there is one thing you guessed right. I like Jennifer, and I want to marry her. So, your engagement with me will only be a joke. This time, I will spare no cost to cancel this marriage!¡± Eloise was stunned after he finished speaking. Jennifer and Gwendolyn also stared at him in disbelief. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Cedrick Is Critically Ill Startled, Eloise stumbled backward and was about to fall when Gunnar caught her. With tears welling up in her eyes and frustration surging through her heart, she grumbled, ¡°What does that b*tch have that I don¡¯t? In terms of family background, appearance, and education, how can she compare to me? I am the perfect match for you!¡± ¡°Eloise, even if every woman in this world were to disappear, I still wouldn¡¯t marry you!¡± Treyton¡¯s gaze turned cial as he looked at her in disgust. He then added, ¡°Did you hear me? Now take your people and leave! Don¡¯t dirty up my vi!¡± Eloise¡¯s face was wet with tears as she cast a resentful re at Jennifer, who was standing beside Gwendolyn. Gritting her teeth, she hissed, ¡°Treyton, I¡¯ll make sure you regret calling off our engagement for this d*mned woman!¡± After saying her piece, she turned and left with her men in tow. Gwendolyn approached her brother, and in a tone thick with disbelief, she asked, ¡°Treyton, were you being serious just now? Do you really have feelings for Jennifer?¡± Caught off guard by the sudden news, she paused to collect her thoughts. ¡°Does that mean I¡¯ve just dug` my own grave? Is my best friend going to be my sister¨Cinw? What kind of absurd turn of events is this? Treyton, I won¡¯t let you muddle up everything!¡± Instead of replying to her question, Treyton said, ¡°Kiddo, it¡¯s gettingte. You should head to work first. I need to have a word with Ms. Weller.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± was Gwendolyn¡¯s reply before she nced at Jennifer and saw that the woman had a bewildered and unsure expression on her face. With only Treyton and Jennifer left in the living room, the former closed the door and strode over to the sofa. His gaze was intense and deep when he uttered, ¡°Ms. Weller, please have a seat.¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Jennifer obliged and sat stiffly on the small sofa next to him, keeping a considerable distance between them. Perhaps sensing the awkward atmosphere, Treyton opened a drawer and took out a cigar before lighting it and taking a deep puff. Amidst the swirling smoke, his deep and maic voice became even more alluring as he said, ¡°Please don¡¯t take what happened earlier to heart, Ms. Weller. I simply wanted to discuss a potential coboration with you.¡± ¡°What kind of coboration are you talking about?¡± Jennifer asked, feeling a bit confused. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can tell that I don¡¯t have any feelings for Eloise, so I¡¯m proposing that you pretend to be my lover to help me break off the engagement with the Ferguson family. In exchange, I shall assist you in securing a stable footing in the entertainment industry, help you be a leading actress, and even ensure the downfall of Walter. In fact, if you wish to personally deal with that sc*mbag, I can bring him before you,¡± Treyton exined, outlining his proposal. Jennifer fell silent. Treyton continued, ¡°I¡¯m aware that Kiddo must have promised you a lot of benefits as well, but I know you¡¯re not the kind of person who likes to owe others. Kiddo has always been helpful to you, and you must feel indebted to her. Besides, Kiddo is still building her career in the entertainment industry, whereas I¡¯m already at the top. If we cooperate, it will be a mutually beneficial arrangement where we owe nothing to each other.¡± After listening to his exnation, Jennifer heaved a sigh of relief and felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Bemused, Treyton asked, ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Jennifer smiled and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just relieved that Mr. Harris doesn¡¯t actually have feelings for me and only wants to cooperate. Your words just put my mind at ease.¡± I would have felt guilty for interfering in someone else¡¯s rtionship and considered myself a sinner if that wasn¡¯t the case. With a deadpan expression, Treyton inquired, ¡°So, does that mean you¡¯ll do it?¡± Jennifer nodded, her eyes shing with determination as she said, ¡°Yes. It is my pleasure to be working together with you, Mr. Harris.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯ll get Elisha to arrange for awyer to draft the agreement as soon as possible. All you need to do is cooperate with me when the timees.¡± ¡°All right, Mr. Harris.¡± Sitting in the car, Eloise was seething in anger as she descended the mountain. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, to the point where her heart felt like it was about to explode. She muttered, ¡°B*tches! All of them are b*tches!¡± Gunnar tried to console her. ¡°Please calm down, Ms. Ferguson. Let¡¯s go back and discuss this matter further. Your marriage with Mr. Harris is a business alliance, so even if he wants to break off the engagement, he would have to go through Marcus first. It won¡¯t be that easy to dissolve the marriage.¡± Eloise clenched her fists tightly, feeling as if she was on the brink of insanity. ¡°As long as I¡¯m alive, he will never be able to break off this engagement! It¡¯s just that what happened today is simply too infuriating! I must find a way to teach him a lesson! He needs to know that I, Eloise Ferguson, am not someone to be bullied easily!¡± As she gazed at Mount Tranquil receding in the distance, a hint of malevolence glimmered in her eyes. She growled, ¡°Jennifer must die! As for Gwendolyn, she¡¯s not that innocent either, so I¡¯ll find an opportunity to deal with the two of them together! Since Treyton said that he wouldn¡¯t be marrying me even if all the women in the world were to disappear, I¡¯ll just kill all the women around him! Let¡¯s see who he can marry, then. I¡¯ll make sure he¡¯s alone for the rest of his life!¡± Frightened by the viciousness shing in Eloise¡¯s eyes, Gunnar kept his mouth shut. One dayter, in the mountains near the border of Chanaea, a group of people could be seen wearing ghillie suits with their faces painted with camouge paint. Among them was Cedrick, whose handsome face was hidden under the same getup. He had received word that two groups of people would be conducting an underground dealing at Lake Pavilion, which was five hundred meters away, that day, As such, they had been lying in wait, monitoring the area patiently for the past twelve hours. After waiting for a while longer, Nico, who had green camouge paint on his face as well, arrived stealthily, crouching low to the ground. ¡°Boss, the targets have appeared. They will reach Lake Pavilion within ten minutes at thetest.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned solemn as he said, ¡°Good. Notify all surveince team members to take their positions. Inform the snipers to get into position as well. If the transaction takes ce or if any special circumstances arise, they are allowed to fire warning shots, but no one is to be harmed. We need to capture them alive for interrogation.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Just when Cedrick tried to change his position, his legs gave out when he stood up, causing him to stumble and fall toward Nico. ¡°Boss?¡± All his subordinates instinctively reached out to support him. Hearing themotion, Nico turned around and held onto Cedrick¡¯s arm. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong with you? You don¡¯t seem too good. Are you feeling all right?¡± Cedrick took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve been crouching for too long, so I¡¯m feeling a bit lightheaded, that¡¯s all.¡± Nico muttered, ¡°How is that possible?¡± All of us here are specially trained. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn¡¯t experience such issues even after a day and night of crouching. With that thought in mind, Nico checked Cedrick¡¯s pulse and noticed that although the man¡¯s pulse seemed normal, his body temperature was abnormally low. ¡°Boss, could it be that the virus is spreading again? Should we go back to theboratory and have Professor Yancey run some tests?¡± he suggested. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Cedrick pursed his dry lips and replied, ¡°No need. We have more pressing matters at hand. Let¡¯s focus on the mission first and deal with other issues once we return.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ten minutester, two groups of people made their way to Lake Pavilion leisurely. They carried ck boxes for the transaction, and the area around them was crowded with security personnel wearing sunsses. After using a binocr to assess the situation, Cedrick led his team to approach the area, gradually narrowing the encirclement. Bang! A gunshot rang out, startling the birds in the surrounding forest. One of the guards stationed around the pavilion was hit by the bullet and fell to the ground, causing the people in the pavilion who were about to engage in the transaction to go on high alert. Stunned, Nico eximed, ¡°Did someone fire a preemptive shot?¡± Cedrick narrowed his eyes and trained his cold gaze on the left side of the forest. ¡°The sound came from the nine o¡¯clock direction, five hundred meters away. Arrange a team to capture them immediately. I want them alive.¡± Now that the crisp sound of the gunshot had exposed their position, they had no choice but to proceed despite the risks since they were already close to Lake Pavilion. Both sides swiftly opened fire. The situation descended into chaos as sparks flew. The deafening sound of gunshots echoed through the air, assaulting the ears of everyone present. Just then, Cedrick experienced a momentary ringing in his ears, apanied by a piercing headache. His ¡®body went weak, and he found himself unable to even squeeze the trigger on his weapon. His vision grew increasingly blurry, and he struggled to regte his breathing amidst the wave of dizziness. In the end, he sumbed to the darkness. ¡°Boss!¡± Nico almost lost his sanity when he saw Cedrick slump to the ground beside him. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Countdown To Death ¡°Boss, you¡¯re awake!¡± Upon getting a grip of himself, Nico threw himself forward to check on Cedrick¡¯s condition. Fortunately, thetter was unharmed and wasn¡¯t struck by any bullets. That can only mean the virus inside him is acting up! Nico ced his trembling hand on Cedrick¡¯s neck to check his pulse. Upon feeling its steady rhythm, he heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God he¡¯s still alive. He just lost consciousness. After lifting Cedrick by the arm and loading him on his back, Nico calmly gave out instructions. ¡°Neville, Swain, retreat with me. As for the rest of you, provide cover and retreat in ten minutes. We¡¯ll meet back in Salinsburgh two dayster.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Once the orders were issued, Nico carried the unconscious Cedrick on his back and fled through the forest. Following closely behind them, Neville and Swain stayed vignt for any potential attacks by the enemy. They subsequently boarded a waiting helicopter and returned to Salinsburgh after leaving the border as fast as they could. However, Cedrick remained unconscious during the flight. His face grew increasingly pale, whereas his body felt cold to the touch. When Nico put his hand on Cedrick¡¯s neck again, he noticed that thetter¡¯s pulse was growing weak while his breath began to shallow. ¡°Hurry up! Fly this bird as fast as you can!¡± Nico roared as his eyes turned bloodshot. By then, his voice had begun to choke. ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t die yet! You have to hang in there. We¡¯ll be at theb soon. Prof. Mallory will definitely save you!¡± As Neville and Swain were still young, their tears fell like raindrops against their will. Kneeling by Cedrick¡¯s side, both of them cried while rubbing his hands in an attempt to provide his body some heat. It wasn¡¯t until three hours had passed that they arrived at theb in the middle of the night. Finally, Cedrick¡¯s condition began to stabilize after Joshua injected a stronger dosage of the suppressant. As his eyshes began to twitch, Cedrick woke up in a groggy state. He scanned his surroundings once his vision gradually returned to him. It was then that he noticed Nico¡¯s reddened eyes, a sign that he had cried earlier. Joshua was studying hisb report with an equally grim look; the tear streaks beneath his eyes were easily noticeable. ¡°What happened?¡± Cedrick sat himself up. Silence was the only response he received from the two as a sense of despair filled the room. ¡°Joshua, I can feel the condition my body is in. There¡¯s no need to hide the truth from me. I¡¯m ready to ept the news no matter how terrible it is.¡± Joshua tried to hold back his emotions as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cedrick. I¡¯ve failed you by noting up with a cure for your virus after such a long time.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Holding theb report with his trembling hands, he continued, ¡°Your body has begun to resist the ¡®suppressant due to its overuse. You started off with an injection every seven days before requiring one every five, and then one every three now. Once your body has gotten used to it, there¡¯s no way we can suppress the virus anymore. Moreover, the virus has begun to spread through your body. The current fainting spell and the deterioration of your fitness levels you mentioned to Nico are signs of your body degenerating.¡± Brows furrowed and lips pale, Cedrick asked, ¡°How bad will the degeneration be?¡± ¡°Under the worst¨Ccase scenario, you¡¯ll be paralyzed, and this is the only symptom we can identify so far. I have no idea whether your body will show other symptoms once the suppressant loses its effect against the virus.¡± Joshua¡¯s eyes brimmed with sadness as he continued, ¡°Whatever it is, it doesn¡¯t look good.¡± The moment he finished, a long silence descended upon the room, weighing down upon the already solemn atmosphere. Upon letting out a chuckle, Cedrick asked softly, ¡°In that case, how long more do I have?¡± Joshua sighed as she raised his palm with a reluctant look in his eyes. ¡°Less than five months? And that¡¯s assuming you take good care of your body.¡± The news caused Nico to clench his fists till his veins bulged up. With his head hung low, quiet tears began to fall onto the ground. ¡°All right. I understand.¡± Cedrick was stunned for a long while before he finally nodded his head, seemingly an acknowledgment of the death sentence the doctor had passed him. ¡°Joshua, please leave us. I have something to discuss with Nico.¡± Desperately holding back his tears, Joshua nodded before walking out and closing the door behind him. As Cedrick shifted his attention to the shocked Nico, he let out a gentleugh. ¡°Hey man, stop being so sad. I¡¯m not dead yet. Now,e over here.¡± Nico wiped away his tears with his arm as he walked awkwardly to Cedrick¡¯s bedside. ¡°I¡¯m not crying! I¡¯m just ecstatic to see you finally suffer after being such a harsh leader toward me.¡± The words naturally amused Cedrick. ¡°Good. I¡¯m d that you don¡¯t have a conscience.¡± The depressed Nico simply looked away and ignored thement. Cedrick continued, ¡°Ever since Charles was removed from his post, the position of the director of the Central Intelligence Agency has been left vacant. I¡¯ll write you a rmendation letter and have Neville, Swain, and the others report to you. With your capabilities, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll take over the position within a month.¡± Nico stared at Cedrick in disbelief, the hurt in his eyes unmistakable. ¡°Boss, are you getting rid of me?¡± ¡°You have a lot of potential. After my death, that¡¯s the best ce for all of you to move on.¡± However, Neville shook his head vehemently. ¡°But that isn¡¯t what I want! There¡¯s no way I¡¯m leaving your ¡°side unless you kill me. Besides, Swain and Neville would never agree to go with me.¡± Cedrick proceeded to analyze the pros and cons for him. ¡°Craig Newton is now the second¨Cin¨C command of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has always been ruthless and shows no mercy to his enemies. If he learns of my sickness and seizes upon the opportunity to take my ce, he will come after all of you just. for being my followers.¡± ¡°I know.¡± With his eyes brimming with conviction, Nico stood firm. ¡°If he wants to kill me, then let hime. I¡¯m not leaving you no matter what!¡± ¡°This is an order!¡± Cedrick wore a stern expression in a rare effort to calmly exin, ¡°No good wille out of following a heartless leader like me. Just look at the dire circumstances I have fallen-¡± Before he could finish, Nico dropped to his knees with a loud thud. ¡°Boss, are you angry with me? I was just teasing you a moment ago. Learning of your condition feels worse than death itself. To me, you¡¯re not just a superior but arade and even family!¡± Nico crawled toward Cedrick¡¯s bed on his knees and grabbed its sides tightly. His eyes were filled with a sense of helpless abandonment. ¡°My life belongs to you, and you¡¯re the only person I¡¯ll follow. You can¡¯t force me to leave! This is the only order that I¡¯m not going to obey. Boss, please don¡¯t do this¡­¡± Nico held back his tears as hard as he could while giving Cedrick an unwavering look. As for Cedrick, he returned the former¡¯s gaze with an exhausted and pale expression. He¡¯s such a loyalrade. As their usual banter never included such heartfelt words, Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but be moved by them. Thus, he got a grip on himself and gently struck Nico on the head. ¡°You fool, I can¡¯t believe that you¡¯re more stubborn than I am! You just won¡¯t relent despite how hard I¡¯m trying to persuade you.¡± Nico quickly got up to his feet and poured a ss of warm water for Cedrick. ¡°I refuse to leave no matter what. There¡¯s no room for discussion at all!¡± Feeling exasperated, Nico decided to change topics by reminding Cedrick, ¡°Boss, you had better think of how you¡¯re going to tell Ms. Gwendolyn. Half a year ago, she was devastated to learn of your death. This time¡­¡± Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Do You Still Love Me Nico paused and didn¡¯t continue as he noticed the sudden furrow of Cedrick¡¯s brow and the grim look in his eyes. ¡°This matter about the virus has to be kept a secret. You¡¯re not allowed to tell her at all!¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Nico was still worried nheless. ¡°But Boss, even if you keep it from her now, she¡¯ll still be gutted to learn of your death five monthster!¡± ¡°I know. Let me figure it out.¡± When Cedrick lowered his eyes in dejection, the twitch in his eyshes made it seem as if he was hiding something. Nico immediately recognized the sad dilemma his boss was going through. As it was alreadyte, Nico took his leave and left Cedrick in theb to rest. Deep into the quiet night, the palm leaves outside rustled with the wind, heralding the arrival of a drizzle. Tilting his head to the side, Cedrick looked through the window at the raindrops outside thoughtfully. The proud expression he always wore was reced by aplicated one. It was then that he heard a message notification on his phone. When he unlocked it to check, he realized it was from Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn: Ceddy, how¡¯s your sleep at the border? Gwendolyn: I heard the ultra¨Cviolet rays there are particrly strong. Would you being back with a bronze- tannedplexion? When I see you, can I call you Bronzy then? Haha. The message elicited a smile from Cedrick. Right before his eyes, he could see the image of Gwendolyn talking to him. The smile on her face made her look particrly adorable. Suddenly, he felt the urge to hug her and never let go for the rest of his life. Thereafter, another message from Gwendolyn arrived: Are you asleep? Is it inconvenient for you to reply over there? Gwendolyn: Wait, is there even a signal? In that case, I won¡¯t bother you anymore. Good night! After that message, Gwendolyn¡¯s chat window stopped popping up. Cedrick subsequently ran his fingers across the screen to stroke the words that she had sent. A single teardrop fell despite his efforts to hold it back and disappeared into his sideburn. All of a sudden, an intense pain engulfed his heart, causing his limbs to tremble uncontrobly. 1. e. Cedrick curled up in bed. His nose was covered in sweat while the veins or his hand bulged up as he clutched his heart. Every breath he took was so painful that his body would quiver. Despite his already terrible condition, the pain grew increasingly intense. Finally, he was hurting so badly that he ended up groaning. As he tried to reach the call bell with his shaking hand, he fell off the bed due to being too weak. Themotion alerted Joshua who was just next door. Upon hurrying over, he was shocked the moment he opened the door. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Cedrick! Oh my God! I told you not to let your emotions get the better of you. Stop being too sad or excited. Otherwise, the chest pain you¡¯re suffering from will kill you!¡± ¡°While ranting, Joshua swiftly retrieved a tablet and stuffed it into Cedrick¡¯s mouth. As the drug needed time to take effect, Joshua had no choice but to help Cedrick back up in bed and tuck him in. After staying by his side for a few hours, Joshua heaved a sigh of relief when Cedrick fell asleep from exhaustion. That night was also a sleepless one for Gwendolyn. Staring at the ceiling light, she suddenly recalled how Cedrick was almost hit in the heart by a bullet and lost a lot of blood on hisst mission. This time, he had gone to the border that was rumored to be extremely perilous and littered with formidable enemies. Yet, when Cedrick didn¡¯t reply to her messages, she had no idea if he was hurt or if his mission was completed. Amidst the uncertainty, she gradually drifted off to sleep. Due to not sleeping well the night before, Gwendolyn went to the office with dark circles around her eyes. Little did she expect the man she was pining for to return that very evening. Carrying the train of her dress, she ran upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door. Cedrick was sitting on the bed, engrossed in a book. As he flipped its pages with his long fingers, the aura he exuded was unparalleled in its debonair. Even though he was just leaning against the headboard, his dashing looks would make the knees of any woman go weak. Upon hearing the door, Cedrick raised his gaze and gave Gwendolyn a gentle look. He then called out in a deep voice, ¡°Gwenny.¡± The smiling Gwendolyn quickly climbed into bed and straddled herself on hisp. Holding his cheeks close. with both her hands, she leaned in to observe his face up ¡°I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t get a tan from your trip to the border, as your currentplexion looks so irresistible that I feel like giving it a bite!¡± After pecking twice on his lips, Gwendolyn shed a cheeky smile as if she was a child was had just been given a lollipop. ¡°Ceddy, why didn¡¯t you tell me that you¡¯reing back ahead of time? If I hadn¡¯t spotted Nico at the door, I would still be clueless about your return. Were you nning to give me a surprise?¡± Cedrick responded with a faint smile,to hide the weakness in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s right. I wanted to surprise you.¡± Despite his best efforts, Gwendolyn still detected the gloominess in him from the depth of his tone. ¡°Ceddy, did the mission at the border not go ording to n? Why do you seem upset?¡± Lips pursed, Cedrick extended his arm toward her. Gwendolyn responded by sitting on his left and leaning her head against his shoulder. She then threaded her cold hands deep into his robe and began caressing his waist. Even though he quivered from her icy touch, he didn¡¯t move away at all. Instead, he wore an affectionate smile as he relished in the sensation her wandering hands brought him. ¡°There¡¯s a member of Jenson Group¡¯s senior management who has spent his entire life in my service. He and his wife are extremely loving¡­¡± With a nonchnt expression, he began to speak in his maic voice. Noticing that Cedrick seemed to have a lot to say that evening, Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his waist and listened to him intently. ¡°Recently, he was diagnosed withte¨Cstage cancer and was only given months to live. He didn¡¯t dare tell his family, especially his wife. So, he wanted me toe up with an idea for him, but death is a complex issue to navigate.¡± Gwendolyn, who was infected by the grim mood,mented, ¡°Considering how close he is to his wife, she¡¯ll be devastated by the news. When ites to matters of death, the living are the ones who suffer the most.¡± Her words caused Cedrick to freeze as he desperately tried to hide the sorrow that was welling up within him. ¡°That¡¯s right. The living are the ones who will no doubt be hurt the most.¡± Half a year ago, Gwendolyn was mired in anguish over my death. Nothing is worse than losing something you used to have. If I put her through it one more time, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be stricken with grief, won¡¯t she? At that moment, Gwendolyn was oblivious to Cedrick¡¯s dejected mood as she was thinking about what happened to him half a year ago. Just the thought alone was enough to fill her with destion and cause her eyes to redden. Her slender arms subsequently tightened around his waist. ¡°Luckily, I was given a clean bill of health when I did a medical check¨Cup yesterday. Therefore, Ceddy, you have to take good care of yourself. Don¡¯t get hurt on your missions, as we still have a long future ahead of us.¡± As Cedrick swallowed the lump in his throat, his hands balled into fists underneath the nket. She still has a long future ahead of her, but my days are now numbered. After parting his pale lips a few times, he finally mustered the courage to pop the question he never dared ask. ¡°Gwenny, do you still love me?¡± He lowered his head and locked gazes with Gwendolyn. There was a time when he was afraid to ask that question. He was worried that her answer would turn his heart icy cold and make him feel as if all his sacrifices were in vain. But this time, he hoped that she would tell him that she didn¡¯t love him anymore. Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Full Of Himself The sky outside the window had turned pitch ck. A deskmp inside the bedroom remained lit, casting a dim yellow light. The back of Cedrick¡¯s head faced themp, causing his face to be unclear and hidden in the shadows. Nheless, Gwendolyn could sense his scorching gaze. She sat upright and slipped out of his arm. Cupping his cheeks with her hands, she uttered with utter seriousness, ¡°Ceddy, I once thought I could let go of my love for you without hesitation, but ever since I almost lost you, I¡¯ve fully understood my feelings. I love you deeply the same way you love me. No matter how many times you ask this question in the future, my answer will stay the same. I love you.¡± They locked gazes, and tears welled up in their eyes at the same time. Cedrick suppressed his urge to cry and held her in his embrace so tightly that his arms trembled. My Gwenny said she loves me deeply too. Although he would¡¯ve preferred her to say she didn¡¯t love him this time, hearing her speak so earnestly filled him with overwhelming emotion. I¡¯m contented for life, having listened to this. Sensing his tension, she gently patted his back tofort him. The hugsted a long time, to the extent that Gwendolyn thought Cedrick had fallen asleep before he finally let go of her. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s rest early.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gwendolyn was a little taken aback. He¡¯s going to sleep at half¨Cpast nine? Did hee back just to get a hug? Amidst her bafflement, Cedrick had already slipped under the covers. For some reason, she found his behavior to be strange that night. Gwendolyn followed suit, lying in the crook of his arm. She asked in a teasing tone, ¡°Ceddy, we haven¡¯t seen each other for several days. Now that you¡¯re finally back tonight, shouldn¡¯t we have a pre¨Csleep massage session?¡± He shut his eyes, wearing a cold and indifferent expression that clearly indicated he was abstaining that night. He also didn¡¯t respond to her question. Gwendolyn felt frustrated. He¡¯s acting so cold toward me upon returning after we¡¯ve not seen each other for so many days? He doesn¡¯t even have the desire to be intimate with me. Have I lost my charm? As if to prove her doubts wrong, Gwendolyn slid her hand under the covers into his robe, gently teasing his abs and chest muscles. Cedrick¡¯s breath began to quicken under her teasing. He frowned, caught her hands, and coaxed her, ¡°Be good and stop fooling around. Let¡¯s sleep,¡± Gwendolyn pouted, feeling a little angry. She puffed out her cheeks, causing her to resemble a small pufferfish. ¡°Ceddy, you haven¡¯t even kissed me since you came back, and you¡¯re going to sleep so early. Are you nning to be a monk and renounce all earthly desires?¡± She confronted him tantly. Gwendolynined softly while overtly enticing him with her seductive looks. Cedrick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As if he had braced himself to make a huge decision, his dark gaze turned impassive when he opened his eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, let¡¯s call off our engagement.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± It took her a long while to understand his meaning. ¡°What did you say?¡± Moreover, he addressed her as Gwendolyn, not Gwenny. His maic voice was evenced with a hint of estrangement. *She immediately furrowed her brows and abruptly sat up on the bed, staring at him frostily. Then, seemingly uncertain of what she heard, Gwendolyn uttered, ¡°Say that again.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t get up. Instead, he shrunk his shoulders under the covers, and his long eyshes fluttered slightly, ¡°I said, let¡¯s break up.¡± He spoke in a nonchnt voice, but Gwendolyn felt heart¨Cwrenching pain spreading throughout her body. ¡°Why?¡± She didn¡¯t understand why he seemed somewhat estranged upon returning this time. She also found it impossible to figure out what he was thinking. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m getting tired of this.¡± His voice sounded muffled as he covered his face with the nket. His! words had an undertone of nervousness amidst the distance. Gwendolyn was genuinely enraged. ¡°Get up!¡± She grabbed his ear, tugging him upward and pulling him out of the covers. ¡°Cedrick, look at me and say that again!¡± Cedrick¡¯s face tightened with difort. His eyes darted around as he tried to avoid her gaze, but he asionally stole nces at her. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, and her face was filled with wrath. ¡°Calling off the engagement, breaking up, and getting tired of our rtionship. Are you serious about all of that? Tell me!¡± She practically shouted toward the end of her sentence. Startled by her outburst, Cedrick lost his momentum. ¡°Y¨CYes¡­¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Bullsh*t! Look at me when you speak!¡± Gwendolyn pinched his jaw, forcing him to meet her gaze. Exploding with rage, she bore her eyes into his. ¡°Cedrick, I suggest you think carefully before answering, This is thest chance I¡¯m giving you. If you lose it, I will never forgive no matter what reason you give in the future. Never!¡± Her chest heaved in a fit of temper, and tears involuntarily brimmed in her eyes. Under the dim light, her eyes shone like stars, but she stubbornly refused to let her tears fall. An expression filled with anger and grievances, disbelief intertwined with doubt, spread across her face. Gedrick¡¯s words had apparently hurt her. Cedrick looked into her eyes. He couldn¡¯t bear to see her upset or crying. As a result, seeing her current mien caused his heart to flutter in confusion. ¡°Talk to me! Have you gone mute?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Facing her wrath, his resolution instantly wavered. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Let me reconsider. I¡¯m tired. Let¡¯s sleep.¡± He broke free from her restraint and returned to thefort of the nket. He even turned over, *showing her his back as he slept. Gwendolyn¡¯s fury intensified as she stared at him, feigning to be asleep. He still wants to reconsider? What is there to reconsider? Whether or not he wants to stay in a rtionship with me? Are all men jerks, after all? They don¡¯t appreciate the things they assume they already have. She was not adept at expressing her affection, and that was the first time she had told him that she loved him, yet he had already got so full of himself. He not only didn¡¯t value the chance she gave him but also unbelievably demanded a breakup, said he was tired of their rtionship and wanted to reconsider things. That was also the first time he turned his back on her, distancing himself from her, and slept at the edge of the bed as if she carried some sort of gue. Does he think he can take me for granted just because I love him? What does he think I am? Am I just someone he can summon and dismiss at will? Does he really think I, Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, am a pushover? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, her rage almost consuming her rationale. ¡°Cedrick, you ungrateful b*stard!¡± She lifted her leg and booted his firm buttocks. Caught off guard and with little strength left in him, he fell off the bed, letting out a muffled groan. He rolled on the carpet before struggling to sit up. Cedrick swiftly wiped away the agonized expression on his face when he lowered his head. Gwendolyn was stunned. She instinctively wanted to reach out and help him up, clearly not expecting she could kick him off the bed so easily. However, she stopped herself halfway through and quietly retracted her arms. The entire bedroom was carpeted with nnel, so even if he fell, the impact would be cushioned. Hence, Gwendolyn figured it wouldn¡¯t hurt that much. Besides, judging by how despicable he behaved that night, she even had the urge to beat him to death. Kicking him was already considered letting him off easy. She snorted coldly and sat cross¨Clegged at the edge of the bed. She crossed her arms in indignation and looked down at him from her perch. This insolent b*stard! ¡°Get up and kneel.¡± Cedrick tried to support himself with his hands on his knees, but he was too weak. He couldn¡¯t even straighten his back or knees. Fearing Gwendolyn would notice something was amiss, he mimicked her posture and casually sat cross- legged on the carpet, wearing a look of defiant aloofness on his countenance. She stared at him in astonishment. ¡°Cedrick! You¡¯re not obedient at all!¡± Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Chapter 269 I Will Be There Cedrick¡¯s gaze dropped, avoiding Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes as he exuded a cold and distant demeanor. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯tprehend what was going on with him. She was consumed by fury, fueled by the overwhelming desire to confront him and inflict physical harm to ensure he would never dare to break up with her again. Fueled by her anger, she stepped down from the bed, her feet bare as she approached the bedside table, where a heavy wooden ruler was stored in the first drawer. However, at that moment, she hesitated, realizing the potential consequences of her impulses. She was worried about the harm she could inflict on Cedrick with the heavy ruler if he chose to confront her beatings directly. On the other hand, the notion of returning empty¨Chanded after her outburst filled Gwendolyn with a sense of foolishness. She discreetly turned around to check on Cedrick and found him gazing directly at her. The mere thought ofing back without anything in her hands caused her to cringe with embarrassment. Determined to salvage the situation, she grabbed Cedrick¡¯s ck belt from the coat rack, folding it in half with the buckle firmly in her hand, before sitting back on the bed. ¡°Do you see this? Don¡¯t push me to the point where I have to resort to violence!¡± she eximed, attempting to intimidate him. Cedrick lifted his gaze and nced at the belt in her hand, his face devoid of emotion. ¡°I had already given up on you back then, but you were the one who wanted me to give you a second chance. Now that I¡¯ve given you that chance and have decided to spend the rest of my life with you, you¡¯re telling me you want to break up? Why? Give me a logical exnation for this!¡± Cedrick¡¯s handsome face glowed under the dim light as he gulped. He lowered his gaze and remained silent, exuding a cold aura. To Gwendolyn, his silence felt like a form of silent resistance. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She wondered if he was giving her the silent treatment and bit her lip, feeling hurt. ¡°Fine. You need some time to think things through, right? Take all the time you need, then! Talk to me when you¡¯ve figured things out.¡± Frustrated, she threw the belt at him, got off the bed, and stormed out of the room. The atmosphere of the room turned somber as she forcefully closed the door behind her. As Gwendolyn entered the next room, she decided she would sleep in separate rooms with Cedrick from that point forward. Throughout the night, she tossed and turned, her mind buzzing with thoughts of Cedrick and his distant attitude. Frustration mounting, she sat up and checked her phone. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she saw that it was already past two in the morning, and Cedrick had yet toe and offer any constion. It became increasingly evident to her that he was seriouslydering ending their rtionship. Whatever! This is ridiculous! Gwendolyn nestled back into bed and pulled the covers over herself. I had been a while since she had slept aloneers over herself. found it somewha difficult to adjust. Neither she nor Cedrick had an easy time falling asleep that night. When Gwendolyn woke up the next morning Cedrick¡¯s room door remained tightly shut. Assuming he might still be asleep, she decided to head to Angle Corporation to avoid any interaction with Cedrick. The sky of Salinsburg was shrouded with dark clouds, reflecting the gloomy weather that had persisted for the past two days. Gwendolyn sat uneasily at her desk, resting her chin on her hands and gazing absentmindedly at the drizzle outside the window. Images of Cedrick¡¯s peculiar behavior from the previous night shed through her mind, causing her to lose focus during Joanne¡¯s report. It suddenly dawned on her that he had let out a groan when she kicked him off the bed. Knowing Cedrick¡¯s high pain tolerance, it seemed odd that he would react that way unless he was deliberately exaggerating his misery to gain her sympathy. Moreover, considering Cedrick¡¯s heavier weight and martial arts background, it seemed imusible that she could kick him off the bed so easily. As she dwelled on these thoughts, a realization¨Cstruck her. Something wasn¡¯t right. All the signs seemed to indicate that Cedrick might be genuinely injured or weakened. That exined why she could effortlessly kick him off the bed. She pped the table out of frustration at those thoughts. She had been so blinded by rage yesterday night that she had overlooked all those details. Now that she thought about it, Cedrick had been acting way off. Joanne jumped in fright at the sudden bang of the table. ¡°Ms. Harris, did I say anything wrong?¡± ¡°No.¡± Gwendolyn quickly regained herposure, realizing the disruption she had caused. She swiftly gathered her belongings, stating, ¡°I have some urgent matters to attend to, Please continue with h your report upon my return. And if I don¡¯t, you can proceed with it tomorrow.¡± The rain intensified in Salinsburgh that day, pouring heavily onto the city streets. Cedrick sat in his office at Jenson Group, his eyes dull and lifeless. As he observed the raindrops trickling down the windowpane, his thoughts drifted back to a conversation he had with Charles in Faike. ¡°The virus in your body will have longsting effects. Eventually, you will be disabled. She may pity you at first, but what about in the long run? It has been decided that your disabled body isn¡¯t worthy of her from the moment you were poisoned. Neither you nor I can have her!¡± Cedrick¡¯s fists clenched tightly, his face growing pale. Exhaustion washed over him as his energy slowly seeped away. Perhaps it was time for him to make a decision. ¡°He believed it would be better to endure temporary pain rather than prolong the excruciating experience. He thought that if Gwendolyn grew tired of him and started to hate him, she could eventually move on from the sadness and agony they were currently experiencing and find a better life. Meanwhile, Evelyn, who was sitting on a nearby sofa, was pouring herself a cup of tea. As the ambassador of Rossi Project, she hade to discuss the terms of herpensation as outlined in her contract with Cedrick. However, Cedrick had been mentally absent ever since she entered his office. He had been silently gazing at the rain outside his floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window for the past half¨Chour. ¡°Mr. Jenson, you seem to be out of sorts today. It doesn¡¯t appear to be work¨Crted. Did you and Ms. Harris have a recent disagreement?¡± Cedrick¡¯s face twisted in displeasure. ¡°Mind your words. Who do you think you are to ask me that?¡± Evelyn smiled and replied tactfully, ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t ask. But if you ever need my help, I will give it my all!¡± Cedrick remained unmoved by her affectionate tone. In fact, he despised it. ¡°What do you want? Spit it out and leave.¡± Evelyn gracefully approached Cedrick as she stood up. Just as she was about to speak, Nico knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Ms. Gwendolyn is here.¡± Why is she here? In a moment of panic, Cedrick grabbed Evelyn¡¯s hand with his leather¨Cgloved hand. Evelyn leaned down to his eye level, positioning her ear close to his lips to hear his whispered instructions. That was the scene Gwendolyn walked in on when she entered the room. The sight of them intimately biting each other¡¯s ears sent a sharp pang through her heart. ¡°Cedrick?¡± Evelyn feigned surprise when she heard Gwendolyn¡¯s voice. She pulled away from took a step back. edrick awkwardly and ¡°Ms. Harris, fancy meeting you here. What a coincidence.¡± The way she was trying to cover up her actions after being exposed deepened Gwendolyn¡¯s frown. ¡°Did I catch you at a bad time? What were you two doing?¡± Evelyn stuttered and nced at Cedrick, her face flushed with embarrassment. Cedrick¡¯s eyes darkened as he replied nonchntly, ¡°We¡¯re doing exactly what you think we¡¯re doing.¡± He¡¯s trying to spite me. Gwendolyn took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay calm and trying her best to suppress her anger. ¡°You. Get out,¡± she said to Evelyn coldly. Feeling reluctant, Evelyn called out in a sweet tone. ¡°Mr. Jenson¡­¡± Cedrick, avoiding eye contact, pursed his lips, seemingly agreeing with Gwendolyn¡¯s decision. Hence, Evelyn had no choice but to leave the room. Gwendolyn waited until Evelyn left before approaching Cedrick. Noticing his paleplexion, she crouched down, ced her hands on hisp, and looked up at him. ¡°Ceddy, did you hurt yourself during your mission at the border? I¡¯m sorry I kicked youst night. I didn¡¯t know. But Ceddy, you¡¯re not alone. Don¡¯t bear all the pain alone. I will be by your side, caring for you. I¡¯m also learning how to show you love and protect you, okay?¡± Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Cedrick Teased ¡°My heart goes out to you, so I¡¯ll stay by your side. I¡¯ll also learn how to love and protect you.¡± Her soothingly lilting voice drifted into Cedrick¡¯s ears and echoed in his mind. The most dazzling smile bloomed before him. His heart that ached inexplicably felt as if it were engulfed by warm light which melted all its frost. Cedrick felt a lump in his throat as he instinctively reached for her soft face. However, he still wore his leather gloves that had just touched Evelyn. He discreetly withdrew his hand at the thought while his other palm, which hung on the other side of his thigh, curled into a fist subconsciously. Charles was right. Gwendolyn¡¯s fiery personality made her a force to behold with her enemies. They could never get close to her without being burnt. Yet when it came to the people she loved, she was as docile as a cat, irresistibly drawing others to her. She embodied vitality, charisma, and resilience. He had assumed the virus within him could be suppressed well enough so that they could look forward to a life together. Little did he expect it to be wishful thinking with how rapidly the virus spread. He was nothing more than a broken man with half a foot in the grave. Gwendolyn deserved better than him. I¡¯m the one holding her back. ¡°Ceddy?¡± Gwendolyn murmured when she noticed Cedrick being lost in his thoughts. Cedrick regained his senses and stretched out his arms slightly, resuming his aloof expression. ¡°I¡¯m not injured. Feel free to inspect me if you have any doubts.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You can¡¯t trick me when you look worse for wear. I need you to exin what exactly happened. What were you and Evelyn doing when I came in? Why do I sense that you were trying to pique me-¡± ¡°I think I like her quite a bit.¡± Cedrick interrupted before she could finish her sentence. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Gwendolyn was stunned. She withdrew her hands from his thighs and took several steps back, staring at him as if he were a stranger. Cedrick directed his gaze out of the floor-to¨Cceiling win ¡°gh and uttered unfeelingly, ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous with a gentle personality that pulls on one¡¯s heartstrings. No man can reject the advances of such a lady. So, what do you think I was doing with her just now?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression fell as she continued backing away from him. ¡°Are you disgusted with me?¡± Cedrick scoffed in disdain. ¡°You¡¯re prideful, dominant, and cruelpared to her. Perhaps a change of taste is due after pursuing you for so many years. I¡¯m tired.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s shapely eyes narrowed on his chiseled profile. ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Cedrick.¡± ¡°Men always seek excitement and the thrill of a chase. I did not change, Gwendolyn. You¡¯ve merely seen my true colors. Now you know I¡¯m no good, scram.¡± His ruthless words hung in the air for several minutes, undisturbed by the silence. ¡®Gwendolyn remained rooted to the spot. Cedrick continued gazing out the window. His inky eyes were devoid of any hint of sentiment and filled only with cold detachedness. Despite that, an unexpected sound of softughter broke the grim atmosphere. Cedrick turned around dubiously. How can Gwendolynugh and not be enraged? Her starry eyes were free from any trace of anger. His heart dropped as he struggled to keep up his frosty veneer and red. ¡°Is something hrious?¡± Gwendolyn walked toward him and grabbed the arms of his office chair before bending down to nt a kiss on his forehead. The cherry¨Cred lipstick stain that left its mark was tantly obvious. ¡°You!¡± Cedrick raised his eyes to give her a death stare. ¡°Didn¡¯t you understand a word I said?¡± Gwendolyn continuedughing recklessly as if she¡¯d seen through the act he was putting up. ¡°Cedrick, you looked so convincing that I almost fell for it, but¡­¡± She let her sentence hang mid¨Cair while her gaze traveled to his hands on his thighs. Your acting skills still have room for improvement. Perhaps try not clenching your fists so tightly next time?¡± Cedrick was caught off guard and instinctively hid his hands behind his back. His act of pretense had been exposed! There was nothing else he could do besides pretending to remain broodingly calm. Yet the feisty Gwendolyn was intent on tearing down his defenses. She gently hooked his chin and drew circles on it teasingly. ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯m offended that you¡¯d think I would fall for such paltry tricks. I was too ovee with fury The petnce in her lyrical voice seemed to have a hypnotic effect on Cedrick.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Cedrick evaded her hand and her gaze. ¡°What I said was the truth. You think too highly of me. That¡¯s why Gwendolyn lowered her face and kissed his left cheek, sessfully cutting him off. She was staking her im by marking him with her carmine lipstick stain. ¡°Why you!¡± ¡®Cedrick red at her prickly. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± Gwendolyn resumed tracing circles on his chain and smirked at him slyly like the cat that got the cream. ¡°You must be upset that I saw through your facade. But what can you do? I so enjoy seeing how you seethe yet still can¡¯t seem to get rid of me!¡± Cedrick pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes dangerously. ¡°Gwendolyn, I warn you not to force hand!¡± ¡°Are you going to strike me? How terrifying!¡± She taunted peskily. my The smile had never left Gwendolyn¡¯s face despite her ims of being afraid. ¡°This is nothing new to me, anyway. Let¡¯s see who will win this round with the state that you¡¯re in.¡± Cedrick felt slightly remorseful at that. He had depleted all his energyst night when enduring chest painspounded with his body¡¯s degradation. As a result, he slept poorly. It was a given that he¡¯d lose miserably to Gwendolyn in a fight. ¡°Any decent man wouldn¡¯ty a hand on a woman!¡± His baritone voice was lofty and dismissive. Gwendolyn burst outughing as she reached for the lipstick in her purse to reapply it on her lips. ¡°It would be amusing to see how many lipstick stains I can leave on your face to go with each lie you insist on weaving.¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, behave!¡± He¡¯d barely finished speaking when Gwendolyn speedily smooched his cheeks and chin. His entire face was covered in garish lipstick stains. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes crinkled at the corners as she uttered in a singsong voice, ¡°I¡¯ll behave only when you decide to be forthright with me.¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. He¡¯d underestimated how sharp Gwendolyn could be. She was now making fun of him after exposing his act of deceit. The tragedy was that he was absolutely helpless against her. Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Meeting An Old Friend Since Cedrick had no other options, he chose to ignore her instead. Once again, he gazed out of the window with indifference. Those lipstick stains looked very prominent against his fair, handsome face. He looked as if he had been taken advantage of. The cold and aloof man was of no significance in front of Gwendolyn. Seeing that he did not wish to talk, Gwendolyn did not n to force him. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give you time to calm down. But you aren¡¯t allowed to talk about calling off our engagement or anything of that sort. Back then, you were the one who came on to me, and now, you want to back off. Don¡¯t even think about it! Cedrick, you belong to me and only me this lifetime! I¡¯m sorry that I¡¯m so domineering. It¡¯s toote for you now that you know my character! Take your time and have your regretster on!¡± With a proud hum, she then left the room. She knew Cedrick too well. He was a stubborn mule. Furthermore, he loved to hide his pains. Gwendolyn could guess why he was like that. Back at the party, Valentino said that he wanted to punish Cedrick in front of her. Both Cedrick¡¯s parents passed away in a car ident when he was very young. As a result, he grew up under the watchful eyes of Valentino. Valentino was a strict, traditional man who would not hesitate to punish Cedrick. Even if Cedrick was hurt or in pain, there was no one to console him. He could only keep it all to himself. Cedrick was a man who cherished the people who loved him, and he would definitely hide his pain from them. That was why Gwendolyn thought that he was either hurt or sick this time around! Judging from the way he was behaving, the problem at hand was quite bad. Just because Cedrick refused to tell her did not mean she could not check it out herself! She was walking out of the office while she was deep in her thoughts. Nico was standing nearby. She went over to him and whispered, ¡°I need your help. Come with me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Looking at her serious expression, Nico felt uneasy, but he could not reject her. In the end, he followed her to the isted stairwell. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, what can I do for you?¡± ||| 13:18 Fri, 2 Jun Chapter 271 Meeting An Old Friend Gwendolyn asked in a firm voice, ¡°How long have you been working with Cedrick?¡± Nico thought about it before answering, ¡°More than ten years.¡± 45% +15 Bonus She pondered and nodded before continuing, ¡°Did Cedrick get hurt when you all went to the border?¡± ¡°No, we have our men around. They won¡¯t let Mr. Jenson get hurt so easily. You have nothing to worry about.¡± Nico did not hesitate in his answer. Gwendolyn knew then what the problem was. ¡°Then he must be ill.¡± Nico lowered his head and did not respond. ¡°You have been with him for so long. I¡¯m sure you are well aware of his health condition. Is he ill? Is it serious?¡± Nico scratched his head and looked like he was put in a difficult position. ¡°What makes you say so? Mr. Jenson is very healthy. He isn¡¯t ill.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°He¡¯s hiding things from me. Are you going to do that too?¡± ¡°I-¡± ¡°Last night, I didn¡¯t have to use much strength to kick him off the bed. That goes to show how weak he is. Earlier on, his face looks pale. Even if you deny it, I won¡¯t believe you. So, tell me. What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Nico looked sad and tried to control himself so as not to tell the truth. He sighed and said, ¡°Please stop asking me. I really don¡¯t know anything. I¡­ I still have some work to do. I will make a move first.¡± He then hurried away. Gwendolyn looked at his retreating figure and took out her phone to call Shadow Bell. ¡°Take a look at Cedrick¡¯s recent schedule and see if he has visited any hospitals frequently. Be quick ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Meanwhile, Nico returned to the CEO¡¯s office, and Cedrick called him in. He opened the door and saw Cedrick wiping his face with a wet tissue. The leather gloves that he had out on that morning were already lying in the dustbin. ¡°Boss, are you looking for me?¡± The lipstick stains on Cedrick¡¯s face were almost gone by now. ¡°Where were you just now?¡± Nico reported truthfully, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn looked for me just now. She suspects that you are ill, so she was trying to verify with me.¡± ¡°You told her everything?¡± Nico panicked and began to wave his hands. ¡°No, never! I won¡¯t dare to say anything!¡± Chapter 271 Meeting An Old Friend Cedrick¡¯s cold face looked less tense when he heard that. +15 Bonus Nico did not seem to understand and tried to advise him, ¡°However, boss, you know how Ms. Gwendolyn is. Since she has her suspicions, she won¡¯t rest until she finds out the truth. Do you really not n to tell her the truth?¡± ¡°If I tell her, then there will be one more person who will be in pain.¡± Cedrick looked sorrowful. ¡°Let me think about it. As for the change in the S404 RNA virus case file, go and check on it again.¡± Nico sighed and did not say anymore. ¡°Yes.¡± In the afternoon, when Gwendolyn returned to Angle Corporation, she received a phone call. ¡°Boss, there is no record of Mr. Jenson visiting any hospital in recent months. His most frequented ces are Jenson Group, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and also the War Laboratory.¡± Gwendolyn pondered and said, ¡°I recall that there are professors from the medical world at the laboratory. How often does Cedrick go there?¡± ¡°Once every seven days. Later on, once every five days. Recently, he was there at night three days ago.¡± Three days ago? Gwendolyn frowned. Three days ago, Cedrick was at the border. She could not believe that he had returned to Salinsburgh in advance. Instead of going to the Jenson residence to look for her, he went to theboratory. That¡¯s weird. Instinct told Gwendolyn that something else was going on. ¡°Can you hack into theboratory¡¯s database and see if there¡¯s any information regarding Cedrick?¡± There was a short silence on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, boss. These few ces are highly guarded. We can¡¯t hack into them, and we won¡¯t dare to either. The moment we do so, we will be detected.¡± ¡°All right. Got it.¡± After hanging up the phone, she plunged into deep contemtion again. Cedrick was the boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His position was simr to that of Asher¡¯s. If Cedrick truly wanted to hide something, even if she got Asher to check on it, she was sure that Cedrick would have the data altered. There was nothing she could do about it besides making wild guesses. Just as Gwendolyn was feeling lost, Leif phoned her all of a sudden. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, the high¨Clevel prison of Salinsburgh called the Harris residence and said that Charles wants to see you.¡± ¡°Charles?¡± Gwendolyn was confused. Charles has been in prison for half a year now. Why does he want to see me all of a sudden? Leif continued, ¡°Charles said that he has an important secret that you will want to know. It involves your T ||| 3/4 13:18 Fri, 2 Jun Chapter 271 Meeting An Old Friend +15 Bonus ex¨Chusband.¡± When Gwendolyn heard thest few words, she frowned and looked serious. ¡°I understand.¡± She quickly ended the call and drove all the way to the prison. Gwendolyn wanted to find out what Charles knew. She sat in the visiting room with two soundproof ss panes that separated her from the person she was visiting. Five minutester, Charles was being brought out. That was Gwendolyn¡¯s first time seeing Charles after six months. Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Three Conditions Weighed down by the handcuffs and leg shackles, every step he took was excruciatingly slow. +15 Bonus The parts of his arms and neck not covered by his sleeves were peppered with bruises. His skin was rough, and his beard was unkempt. Compared to the refined and sensual appearance he had once sported, he was like apletely different person. If it wasn¡¯t for that pair of uniquely blue eyes, Gwendolyn would not have recognized him. Through the ss panel that separated them, Charles met her gaze and picked up the phone. Mirroring his actions, Gwendolyn brought the phone to her ear. ¡°Long time no see, Gwen. You look surprised. Have you forgotten me already?¡® Expressionless, Gwendolyn spoke in a frigid tone. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to hear you reminisce about old times. If you aren¡¯t going to talk, I¡¯ll be taking my leave.¡± Charles quirked his lip yfully and tutted. ¡°How cold of you. You really do only care about your little pet.¡± When he saw Gwendolyn make a move to put down the phone, he hurriedly added, ¡°Okay, okay! I¡¯ll get to the point.¡± He narrowed his eyes, his smile bing twisted and strange. In a raspy voice, he said, ¡°Gwen, although I¡¯m in prison right now, I know better than anyone else that your current fianc¨¦, Cedrick, is actually your former husband from Faike. He¡¯s your beloved pet, am I right?¡± Although Gwendolyn smiled coldly, she was slightly taken aback by hisment. ¡°This is news to me. Where did you hear that from?¡± 2 ¡°You don¡¯t have to y dumb. I just find it baffling that he would dare get engaged to you despite being so severely ill.¡± Instantly, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned serious as she pped the table fiercely. ¡°What else do you know? What illness does he have?¡± Charles smiled eerily. ¡°I know everything about him. Apart from me, I reckon not many are aware of this.¡± ¡°What do you want for your information?¡± Gwendolyn swiftly calmed down and regained her composure. Charles apuded. ¡°Quick to catch on as usual. That¡¯s the Gwen I love. It doesn¡¯t take much effort to converse with you.¡± Gwendolyn did not bother concealing the disgust in her eyes. ¡°Stop wasting my time and get to the point!¡± Grinning evilly, Charles¡® blue eyes were unfathomably dark as he edged his chapped lips close to the mouthpiece. He whispered, ¡°Get Asher to bail me out, then cancel your engagement to Cedrick and marry me.¡± Upon hearing his words, Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°I can get Asher to bail you out, no problem. However, that¡¯s the only condition I will fulfill. Don¡¯t even think about the rest.¡± Charles lowered his gaze, appearing to be hurt by her response. ¡°I guess you really took a liking to him. Don¡¯t worry; I only require protection. The Newton family was seized by Craig after my little incident. In 1/3 Chapter 272 Three Conditions +15 Bonus order to obtain power and fame, Craig decided to abandon me. I need the Harris family¡¯s protection when I get out of here to make aeback.¡± Unfazed, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained icy. ¡°You take the matter of Cedrick¡¯s and my engagement too lightly. It is not something I get to break off on a whim.¡± ¡°Surely you jest. You¡¯re the sweetheart of the Harris family. It would probably only cost a little money to pull out of the engagement. I¡¯m sure Asher would allow it if that¡¯s what you really want.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her red lips and fell silent. Charles continued, ¡°Anyway, aren¡¯t you curious about his secrets? I guarantee you will want to hear them. Bail me out, cancel your engagement, and marry me. You will need to fulfill all three conditions.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head and fell silent for a long moment. She clenched her fist so tightly that the blue veins were visible under her pale skin. ¡°Well? Have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°Yes, I have.¡± Gwendolyn lifted her eyes and stared at Charles with a determined expression. ¡°I absolutely hate it when others twist my arm and threaten me! You want me to cancel my engagement and marry you? Dream on!¡± Charles had already hurt Cedrick once, back in Faike. If thetter found out that she was nning on breaking their engagement to marry Charles, he would likely be utterly heartbroken. Cedrick has already sacrificed so much for me. I don¡¯t wish to disappoint him, nor do I want him to misunderstand. The smile on Charles¡® face instantly vanished. He was stunned for a long while. In fact, he had probably not expected Gwendolyn to reject his request so bluntly. ¡°It seems like I can¡¯te to an agreement with you, Mr. Newton. Goodbye.¡± Having said that, Gwendolyn hung up. She got up and left without turning back. Charles¡® eyes were full of shock, and his emotions became turbulent. He bolted up and mmed his fists against the soundproof ss, his metal handcuffs rattling loudly. ¡°Gwendolyn! Come back! Don¡¯t you want to know about his illness? He doesn¡¯t have long to live! He¡¯s going to die! That sliver of time he has left isn¡¯t worth it. I¡¯m clearly the better choice!¡± Moving swiftly, the prison guard soon had the rampaging Charles subdued. Charles cackled madly as his head was pressed onto the ground. ¡°Gwendolyn! Mark my words; you will come running back to me sooner orter. You can only be mine for the rest of your life!¡± Hisughter echoed eerily in the visiting room, not stopping until the prison guard zapped his waist with the electroshock baton. The strong electric current made Charles¡® body convulse before he passed out. The soundproof ss worked as intended. Gwendolyn heard nothing of his screams and never turned to look back. She sighed softly. Another source of information regarding Cedrick¡¯s condition is cut off. It seems like I only have one, O 2/3 Chapter 272 Three Conditions option left. +15 Bonus Late that afternoon, at Jenson Group, it was the day of their monthly board meeting, and Cedrick had already been in the meeting room for half an hour. Nico, who had gone out to fetch an important document, was stopped in the hallway by a slender figure just as he was about to return to the meeting room. His heart thudded in surprise when he saw that it was Gwendolyn, ¡°Ms. Harris! Um, are you looking for Mr. Jenson? You may have to wait quite a bit as he¡¯s currently in a meeting. Excuse me, but I have to go too.¡± Lowering his head and bowing politely, he tried to edge past Gwendolyn from the right side. With a ck of her high heels, Gwendolyn took a step to the side with her long legs and intercepted him once again. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Nico, this is thest time I¡¯ll be bothering you about this matter. If you still refuse to tell the truth, I¡¯ll stop bothering you at work.¡± ¡°I truly don¡¯t know anything! Please let me off the hook!¡± Nico lowered his head even further. He turned around and tried to take a detour back to the meeting room. Gwendolyn stared at his tense retreating figure and suddenly said, ¡°I went to see Charles today. He told me that he knows, but he¡¯ll only tell me after I marry him.¡± Although Nico halted in his tracks, he did not turn his head. Upon seeing his reaction, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Nico, you¡¯ve helped Cedrick and I resolve many of our misunderstandings. You¡¯ve been there from the very start, watching over us as we got together. If you refuse to tell me, I can only agree to Charles¡® conditions. Is that what you wish to see?¡± Floundering inwardly, Nico tightened his grip on the documents. ¡°Mr. Jenson gave us the gag order. This is a matter of the organization¡¯s discipline. I dare not- ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help you keep it a secret from him.¡± Gwendolyn stepped forward, murmuring softly, ¡°He¡¯s sick, and it¡¯s hard to endure it alone. Tell me so I can help him.¡± Nico visibly wavered. ¡°Come with me.¡± Gwendolyn proceeded to follow Nico into his office. Locking the door behind them, he whispered, ¡°Do you still remember the acid¨Csshing incident at Realm Bar from half a year ago?¡± Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Watching Gwendolyn Punish Cedrick ¡°Yes, I remember.¡± +15 Bonus Not only did she remember that incident, but she also remembered it like it was yesterday. ¡°I even investigated that incident afterward. Cedrick mentioned that it was something called S40 strong corrosive potion, not sulfuric acid.¡± Nico let out a sigh. ¡°Mr. Jenson lied to you because he didn¡¯t want you to worry or feel guilty. It was actually S404 RNA virus.¡± S404 RNA virus? Gwendolyn¡¯s forehead creased with worry, and she tensed up upon hearing that. Even though she wasn¡¯t a scientist, just from those words alone, she could already guess how much damage it could do to the body. Nico let out another sigh as he continued, ¡°This virus is really nasty stuff. It spreads very quickly throughout the body, and there is no cure for it at the moment.¡± Ten minutester, Cedrick, who was sitting in the main seat in the conference room, kept checking his watch while listening to a report from one of his subordinates. Why hasn¡¯t Nico returned with the documents yet? His face had a look of displeasure that spread a tenseness across the conference room. Having noticed that Cedrick was in a particrly bad mood, the directors all held their breaths and tried their best to minimize their presence. Suddenly, amotion could be heard from outside the door. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°You can¡¯t go in there, Ms. Harris! Mr. Jenson is having a meeting right now!¡± The door to the conference room was then forcefully pushed open, and Gwendolyn red at Cedrick¨C as she stood there. As all of Jenson Group knew about her identity, none of the security guards daredy a finger on her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Jenson. Ms. Harris insisted on barging in¡­¡± The directors all turned to look at Gwendolyn when they heard that. However, she ignored their gazes and kept her attention focused on Cedrick. Without even looking at her, Cedrick lifted his cup of coffee and elegantly took a sip before saying coldly, ¡°Whatever it is you have to say can wait until this meeting is over, Ms. Harris. Security, please escort her to my office. ¡°Understood, Mr. Jenson,¡± the security guard replied respectfully and got ready to escort Gwendolyn out of there. However, he froze when she shot him an icy¨Ccold re. Gwendolyn then made her way past the security guards and walked up to Cedrick as she asked, ¡°Cedrick! Why are you calling me ¡®Ms. Harris¡® again?¡± She clearly looked upset and sounded like she was about to cry. O 1/3 45% Chapter 273 Watching Gwendolyn Punish Cedrick Cedrick tensed up and turned to look at her. He instinctively panicked when he saw her eyes begin to tear up. ¡°Gwenny? What are you¡ª¡± +15 Bonus Gwendolyn cut him off by kissing him on his pale lips in front of everyone, much to their surprise. Everyone in thepany had heard about them kissing at the charity g, but they did not expect to witness such a public disy of affection during a meeting. Since they were inside a conference room with security guards and directors watching, Cedrick stopped himself from being drawn into Gwendolyn¡¯s kiss. That was especially the case since he intended to draw a clear line between them anyway. Cedrick leaned back against his chair to pull his lips away from hers. His body was exuding an icy¨Ccold aura as he attempted to grab her hands. ¡°Knock it off! We¡¯re in the conference room of Jenson Group!¡± As though Gwendolyn had predicted his move, she quickly and urately grabbed his hands and pinned them against his chair. Cedrick struggled with all of his might, but Gwendolyn¡¯s martial arts training made her far too strong for him to break free from. Gwendolyn arched an eyebrow at Cedrick as she inched closer to him once again. She was unhappy with how cold he had been treating hertely, and she was determined to punish him with an aggressive and forceful kiss, even biting his lips harshly. Cedrick groaned and winced from the pain while everyone in the conference room stared wide¨Ceyed at them. Some held their hands over their mouths and gasped in shock, while some swallowed hard in envy. Others covered their faces with their hands in embarrassment and peeked through the gaps between their fingers. None of them had expected to see their boss get sexually ravaged by his woman like that. Oh, my goodness! This is so exciting! Nico pretended to be in a hurry as he rushed into the conference room with a stack of documents in hand. Instead of freaking out when he saw the intimate scene before him, Nico calmly proceeded to help clear the room by saying, ¡°This meeting will be postponed as Mr. Jenson has some personal matters to take care of. We will inform you all when the meeting will be continued. Would everyone please leave the conference room?¡± Although they were reluctant to leave, they did as told and walked out of the conference room in an orderly manner anyway. In order to give the two even more privacy, Nico made sure to close the windows and doors after everyone had left. Shangrience Just like that, the conference room fell intoplete silence. ||| 2/3 13:20 Fri, 2 Chapter 273 Watching Gwendolyn Punish Cedrick The air was filled with intense sexual tension as the kiss continued for quite some time. Gwendolyn only stopped her punishing kiss when she heard Cedrick sobbing softly. His pale lips were swollen from the forceful kiss and stained red by Gwendolyn¡¯s lipstick. She kept his hands in a vice¨Clike grip as she slowly pulled her face away from his. 0.45% +15 Bonus The way Gwendolyn licked her teeth made her look like a beautiful vampire who was satisfied with her meal. ¡°It hurts, doesn¡¯t it? That¡¯s what you get for calling me Ms. Harris and Gwendolyn! Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll dare do it again!¡± Despite her fierce tone, there was a pained look in her tear¨Cfilled eyes. Whatever confidence Cedrick had earlier was gone the moment he realized she probably knew his secret. ¡°Y¨CYou found out about it already?¡± he asked nervously while avoiding her gaze. ¡°Yeah.¡± Her long hair hung loosely over her shoulders as she gently ran her finger over his lips. ¡°Were you nning on keeping it a secret from me forever and finding some quiet spot to die alone?¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyshes fluttered as he responded to her question with another. ¡°Who told you? Was it Nico?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°No. He wouldn¡¯t tell me anything, so I did some digging on my own and found out about it myself. You underestimate me far too much!¡± Cedrick pursed his lips and lowered his gaze without saying a word. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes teared up when she recalled what Nico had told her earlier. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were infected with such a deadly virus? Are you afraid of me feeling guilty? Or did you think I would feel disgusted and leave you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being such a burden¡­¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s heart ached with guilt when she heard that. She cradled his face with trembling hands and said, ¡°You¡¯re not a burden to me, silly! I¡¯m the one who¡¯s a burden to you. You wouldn¡¯t have to suffer from this virus if it wasn¡¯t for me, so I¡¯m the one who should be apologizing instead.¡± Cedrick felt his heart melt from the heat of her warm tears. He had a strong urge to pull her into his arms and kiss the tears off her face, but he felt conflicted when he recalled what Charles¡® had told him. Eventually, he suppressed the urges and said coldly, ¡°Everything I do is out of my own free will. It has nothing to do with you, so you don¡¯t have to feel bad about it. Also, I don¡¯t need your sympathy, nor do I need you to look after me out of guilt.¡± She will get sick and tired of me eventually. I don¡¯t want to keep her bound to my side with guilt, and I most certainly don¡¯t want her to suffer the pain of watching me die. i want Gwendolyn¡¯s eyebrows nted in anger and strong disapproval when she heard that, ¡°Hey! Do you even listen to yourself, Cedrick? Are you itching for a beating or something?¡± Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Chapter 274 She Is His Savior Sensing that she was about to punish him again, Cedrick quickly pushed against her with both hands to keep her at bay. Having found out that his body was degenerating, however, Gwendolyn did not fear his resistance at all. To her, he was nothing but a weak and sickly man with an attitude. Gwendolyn effortlessly pinned his arms down once again and licked her lips with a mischievous grin. ¡°Oh my! Are you having trouble breaking free, Mr. Jenson? Since I have youpletely at my mercy, shouldn¡¯t you behave yourself a little bit more?¡± she asked in a teasing tone. Gedrick felt really conflicted when he heard that. His ego as a man forbade him from giving in, but there was nothing he could do due to his weakened physical state. After struggling for a bit, Cedrick snorted defiantly and turned his head aside. The fact that there was nothing he could do about the situation left him feeling really frustrated. Seeing as he still refused to submit, Gwendolyn grabbed him by the chin and forced him to look at her. ¡°Seems that punishment wasn¡¯t enough. Do you want to see some blood, Ceddy?¡± Those words had barely left Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth when she leaned forward and pretended to bite Cedrick on his swollen lips. ¡°No, don¡¯t¡­¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t bring herself to follow through with her bite when she heard him pleading for mercy. In the end, she simply gave him a gentle kiss to help relieve some of that pain. They could feel each other¡¯s breaths as their tongues intertwined passionately. After kissing for what felt like forever, Gwendolyn took a moment to catch her breath before cradling his face in her hands. ¡°I will only say this once, so listen to me very carefully, Cedrick. I am not a woman who would date just about anyone. I have tons of ways topensate you if guilt is all that I feel. There is no need for me to dedicate my heart and my life to someone I don¡¯t love. Also, I am not sympathizing with you. It hurts me to see you in pain, so I want to stay by your side no matter how hard things get in the future. I want to help you share that burden as I walk alongside you, and I will do everything I can to cure you. I¡¯m not about to just sit by and watch you die. Oh, and I¡¯m not as weak as you think I am, so please have some faith in me! We will surely be together for a lot more than just five months. We are going to stay together for a very long time and live a beautiful life together. Think of it as a future that I will create for you, if you will,¡± Gwendolyn said sternly. Whoa¡­ I¡¯ve never seen Gwendolyn this serious! Cedrick¡¯s face was filled with shock as the two of them stared deeply into each other¡¯s eyes. The part where she said she would create a future for the both of them got him fantasizing about their future together. 1/4 Chapter 274 She Is His Savior Cedrick¡¯s eyes teared up as he visualized a life where Gwendolyn would keep himpany, shower him with affection, care about him, and take away all of his pain and sadness. ¡°Oh, Gwenny¡­¡± I truly am blessed to have you in my life! He wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly as he embraced the warmth of her body. Gwendolyn gently patted him on the back and ran her hand through his hair tofort him. The golden rays of the evening sun filled the conference room with a warm glow as it shone upon them. That beautiful moment was interrupted when Cedrick let out a soft groan. Thanks to Gwendolyn¡¯s sharp sense of hearing, she picked up on it immediately. She noticed something wasn¡¯t right when she felt his back muscles tense up and his hands tremble. She quickly let go of Cedrick and touched his forehead as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He¡¯s not burning up with a fever, but his face has gone pale, and he¡¯s trembling uncontrobly¡­ ¡°I¨CI¡¯m fine¡­¡± Cedrick replied in a very weak voice. Gwendolyn knew him all too well. She could clearly tell that he was doing his best to suppress the pain and act tough. While he would usually try to gain her sympathy by pretending to be in pain, she knew he her. would endure it in silence whenever he was truly in pain so that he would not worry The more Cedrick tried to act tough, the more it hurt Gwendolyn on the inside. ¡°Is your angina acting up again? Where¡¯s your medicine? Did you bring it with you?¡± she asked when she noticed him clutching his chest. Cedrick¡¯s face was drenched in cold sweat as he shook his head. Gwendolyn immediately ran out of the conference room and called out to Nico, who happened to be standing nearby, ¡°Where¡¯s his medicine to help relieve his angina?¡± ¡°It should be in his office.¡± ¡°Go get it! Hurry!¡± ¡°On it!¡± 11 Nico realized something was wrong when he saw the anxious look on her face. He then rushed upstairs as quickly as his legs could carry him. Gwendolyn was about to return to Cedrick¡¯s side when she heard a loud thud behind her. Upon turning around, she saw that Cedrick had fallen from his chair and was curled up in a ball on the ground. His body was trembling uncontrobly, and the veins in his neck wer¨¨ bulging underneath the skin. ¡°Ceddy!¡± Gwendolyn rushed to his side, knelt on the ground, and carefully held him in her arms. She even tried massaging his chest in an attempt to help relieve some of his pain. It wasn¡¯t long before Nico returned with his medication. However, Cedrick¡¯s condition did not improve < 2/4 13:21 Fri, 2 Jun Chapter 274 She Is His Savior significantly even after he swallowed the pill. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. G45% +15 Bonus It would take some time for the medication to take effect. Until then, all Cedrick could do was endure the pain while lying in Gwendolyn¡¯s embrace. Gwendolyn felt as though her heart was being pierced with a knife when she saw him in pain. It was also the first time Nico had seen Cedrick in so much pain. He kept pacing about anxiously while wishing he could help share some of that pain. Unable to stand it anymore, Gwendolyn rolled her sleeve up and held her slender arm next to Cedrick¡¯s mouth. ¡°Stop fighting it, Ceddy! Just bite my arm if it hurts! We¡¯ll suffer this pain together!¡± Cedrick pursed his lips tightly as he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do so. Instead, he grabbed her hand tightly and interlocked his fingers with hers. Nico knelt down beside him and held his arm out as well. ¡°You can bite my arm instead, Mr. Jenson. Ms. Harris¡® arm is skinny and delicate, but mine is tough and muscr. I¡¯m not afraid of pain!¡± Cedrick shook his head and buried his face in Gwendolyn¡¯s chest. Gwendolyn let out a helpless sigh when she saw how stubborn he was. Just how much longer does he have to suffer? After taking a moment to calm herself down, she looked at Nico and asked, ¡°He¡¯s in a lot of pain while waiting for the pill to take effect. Could we inject him with a painkiller or something?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen Mr. Jenson suffer like this.¡± Since Nico couldn¡¯t provide her with an answer, Gwendolyn decided to take matters into her own hands. ¡°You carry him! We¡¯re heading to theboratory right away!¡± They arrived at theboratory about fifteen minutester. Cedrick¡¯s breathing slowly stabilized after being injected with a painkiller, and he soon fell asleep from the exhaustion. Gwendolyn helped massage his forehead while sitting next to him. Joshua then came in and handed her all the data they had gathered on Cedrick/ ¡°Try to keep his emotions under control. Huge fluctuations in his emotional state will trigger his angina, and he will need to spend a huge amount of energy just to endure the pain. That will leave him weak, which will help the virus spread through his body even faster. On top of that, painkillers have side effects. as well. Giving him painkillers every time will worsen the damage done to his body.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and read through theb reports while listening to his exnation. It pained her deeply when she saw the data that was printed in red. Gwendolyn took a deep breath and tried to suppress her guilt as she asked, ¡°Is there really nothing we can do about this virus? I know we can¡¯t cure himpletely just yet, but what about prolonging his life?¡± Joshua shook his head. Since Cedrick was still unconscious, he decided to be honest with Gwendolyn about it. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell Cedrick the truth because I feared he wouldn¡¯t be able to ept it, but¡­¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Chapter 275 The Fury Of Gwendolyn +15 Bonus ¡°The five months I mentioned he had previously was actually a rough estimation. He can hold on for that long only if his body functions remain in good condition. This is because the virus in his body is growing immune to the suppressant. If he experiences several more episodes of angina, it¡¯s unlikely he will survive for more than a month¡­¡± Taken aback, Gwendolyn gripped theb report tightly, causing it to crumple in her hand. She tried pulling herself together. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll make sure he takes care of his health. I refuse to believe that he only has months to live. I want him to live a long and healthy life!¡± Joshua was relieved to see the determination in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Harris. I will do my utmost to treat Cedrick. I will provide you with a list of essential care guidelines that you should follow. There are certain things he should avoid, and he needs to maintain a regr exercise routine, watch his diet, and manage his emotions. By adhering to these measures, he¡¯ll greatly benefit,¡± Joshua said. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°All right. Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. It¡¯s my responsibility.¡± After retrieving theb report from her, Joshua turned around and closed the door Wor them. Gwendolyn tilted her head, and her gaze shifted to the man lying on the bed. In an instant, she found herself captivated by his deep, dark eyes. ¡°You¡¯re awake. Did we disturb you?¡± A corner of Cedrick¡¯s pallid lips quirked up, and he shook his head in response. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asleep in the first ce. Hearing your voice makes me feel safe.¡± Gwendolyn caressed his face gently and patiently. ¡°Whenever you¡¯re in pain, don¡¯t suffer in silence. You have to let me know. It would upset me if you hid your pain from me. Understand?¡± He nodded obediently. ¡°Gwenny, I want a hug¡­¡± Gwendolyn kicked off her heels, nestled into the nket beside Cedrick, and tenderly embraced him. Savoring the pleasant scent she emitted, Cedrick peacefully closed his eyes. Upon recalling an important matter, he said, ¡°By the way, we have to keep my health issue a secret, Gwenny. You must not tell the Harris family about it either.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, so don¡¯t worry,¡± she assured him. Cedrick held significant influence in Salinsburgh, even throughout the entire Chanaea. If news of his critical condition were to spread, it would cause considerable upheaval for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Harris Group. Jenson Group and Yael¡¯s family would definitely cause a hugemotion as well if they found out about his health problem. Once again, Cedrick closed his eyes and sumbed to sleep,forted by her gentle reassurance. Gwendolyn lowered her head to look at his handsome face, but she zoned out for a moment. Before today, she had not known the incident at Faike¡¯s Realm Bar would cause such great damage to Cedrick¡¯s body. ||| 1/3 0445%•þ +15 Bonus Chapter 275 The Fury Of Gwendolyn Now that she had learned about it, her hatred toward Charles intensified even more. Furthermore, Charles even dared to threaten her with the incident. He wants me to call off the engagement and marry him? Dream on! Cedrick is now suffering in torment because of him, yet he only has to endure a prison sentence and live a rtively peaceful life. That punishment is not even equal to a fraction of the harm inflicted on Cedrick! L The more Gwendolyn thought about it, the angrier she became. I can¡¯t just sit here and do nothing. I must teach Charles a lesson! Meanwhile, the sound of objects breaking echoed throughout the Ferguson residence in the dead of night. Eloise was once again in a fit of rage, leaving the room inplete disarray. Gunnar stood frozen in a corner, his voice silenced by fear, unable to utter a single word. The act of tossing things all over the ce did not seem to appease Eloise. She grabbed a bottle of high¨Cend toner and warned Gunnar, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare dodge this, you useless piece of trash!¡± Gunnar had no choice but to stand still while she viciously hurled the toner in his direction. A loud thud resounded in the room. Gunnar¡¯s forehead absorbed the impact, forming a bruise and breaking the skin. Droplets of blood spattered across his forehead. He silently endured, not uttering a word. Eloise¡¯s anger anger subsided somewhat upon seeing the blood on his forehead. ¡°This entire situation is a result of your ipetence! You told me to expose Treyton¡¯s affair through a press statement and manipte public opinion to force him into submission. And what happened? A bunch of idiots! I must have been out of my mind to take your advice!¡± Treyton held a significant influence in the entertainment industry. With a mere gesture, he had the power topletely disrupt the entertainment world. His industry influence was immense. Despite Eloise having a press release written, no media outlet dared to publish it. Even if she paid several daring small mediapanies to release the news, it would quickly lose traction and disappear. Fueled by frustration, Eloise resumed hurling objects as the image of Treyton and Jennifer being affectionate filled her mind. Themotion she caused was so significant that Sherman had to go upstairs to check on her. Just as he opened the door, an object hurtled past him, apanied by Eloise¡¯s furious screech. ¡°Get out! Leave me alone if you don¡¯t want to be hit!¡± Seeing Sherman about to be struck, Gunnar swiftly intervened and took the blow, resulting in another bruised forehead. He then greeted Sherman with respect, ¡°Mr. Ferguson.¡± Eloise turned around. ¡°Oh, Sherman, it¡¯s you. I thought it was those ignorant housekeepers again.¡± 111 < 2/3 Fri, 2 Chapter 275 The Fury Of Gwendolyn Sherman let out a sigh. ¡°If I hadn¡¯te, how much longer were you nning to keep up with this rampage? Dad might lock you up again if you wake him up with all this ruckus.¡± 45% +15 Bonus He then patted Gunnar¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Go and take a rest. You must have had a rough day. You can im double the medical expenses from the butler. Tell him it¡¯s my idea.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ferguson,¡± Gunnar replied. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Sherman hummed in response before sitting by Eloise¡¯s bed. Before he could say anything, Eloise wrapped her hands around his arm, trying to win his sympathy. ¡°Sherman, you must help me. Treyton insists on choosing that b*tch over me. We can¡¯t allow him to continue with this nonsense. It¡¯ll bring shame to the Ferguson family!¡± Sherman stroked her head but kept mum. She continued persuading him. ¡°Oh, by the way, you like Gwendolyn a lot, right? If you help me win back Treyton, I¡¯ll help you pursue her!¡± Sherman responded with a faintugh. ¡°Please don¡¯t stir up trouble for me with all your tactics. You¡¯re no match for her anyway. And if you want to help me, just stay away from her.¡± Eloise pursed her lips, unwilling to acknowledge his words. Why should I? Gwendolyn will not let me off anyway. I¡¯ll surely find an opportunity to deal with that b*tch someday! Deep in her heart, she cursed Gwendolyn and Jennifer through and through. On the other hand, Sherman was trying to figure out a solution for her. ¡°How about this? You¡¯ll be celebrating your birthday in two weeks. I¡¯ll ask Mom and Dad to throw you a grand party, and you can invite some celebrities over to perform at the event. Sounds good?¡± Eloise¡¯s eyes brightened immediately. I¡¯ll invite Jennifer to perform since she¡¯s a celebrity, and when she doese, I¡¯ll make sure to teach her a lesson! Sherman continued to guide her. ¡°Just try giving in to Treyton and show him your sincerity. Get him to attend your birthday party. Then, when hees, you¡¯ll be able to¡­¡± Eloise listened closely to her brother, confident that the birthday party in two weeks would provide her with the perfect opportunity to carry out her ns! Eloise¡¯s mind raced with thoughts of teaching Jennifer a lesson, but she also saw an opportunity to devise a n to deal with Gwendolyn. After all, thetter was her fianc¨¦¡¯s sister. I¡¯ll be able to kill two birds with one stone. Watch it, b*tches. I¡¯m gonna get you! Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Celebrations Abound In the sterile confines of the hospital room at theboratory, Gwendolyn spent the night alongside Cedrick. By dawn, she took Cedrick back to the vi. In ordance with Joshua¡¯s advice, she drafted a health n for Cedrick. 45% +15 Bonus It mainly outlined that he refrained from smoking, drinking, and engaging in physical intimacy with Gwendolyn. In addition, Cedrick should follow a diet abundant in fruits and vegetables and a daily regimen of moderate exercise. Cedrick watched her enthusiastic manner and merely nodded, epting her arrangements without a word. Once home, Gwendolyn headed to the kitchen to prepare some oatmeal. After they were done with breakfast, she said, ¡°I have something on today and must return to the Harris residence. In the meantime, don¡¯t head to Jenson Group if you have nothing important to attend to. If any paperwork requires your attention, have Nico bring it over.¡± Surprised, Cedrick asked, ¡°Since you¡¯re returning to the Harris residence, do you need me to apany you?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Gwendolyn replied. She served him another bowl of oatmeal, concealing the unease in her eyes. ¡°You just had an episode of angina yesterday. You¡¯re still weak, so don¡¯t go around wandering. Rest for a few days and gather your strength,¡± Gwendolyn said. Cedrick was a little concerned, especially when he noticed her change of clothes upon returning to their vi. Gwendolyn usually favored dresses. However, she had changed into a pair of sturdy jeans paired with a crisp white t¨Cshirt. The attire entuated her tall, slender figure. It was a simple and clean look. Something about her sudden change of style felt off to Cedrick. ¡°It seems like your eldest brother is still in Salinsburgh. I¡¯m notfortable with you going back alone,¡± Cedrick uttered. Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Asher dotes on me the most. What could he possibly do to me?¡± The man fell silent, a quiet mncholy settling over him. Gwendolyn nted a kiss on his forehead and soothingly ran her fingers through his hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let him know that we¡¯ve slept together previously. Just stay put at home. I¡¯ll return once I¡¯ve finished my business, all right?¡± Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°Okay,¡± he mumbled, Gedrick¡¯s irritation was pacified by her touch. Satisfied, Gwendolyn headed out the door. 1/4 Chapter 276 Celebrations Abound She drove back to Mount Tranquil all alone, not to Marcus¡® vi but straight to Asher¡¯s. +15 Bonus When Gwendolyn arrived at Asher¡¯s vi, she lingered at the entrance. She took several deep breaths to steady her nerves. Then, after making sure that her jeans were thick enough, she mustered the courage to ring the doorbell. As she raised her hand, the door was opened from the inside. Gwendolyn froze as she found herself under the chilling scrutiny of Asher¡¯s piercing gaze. Dressed immactely in an exquisite azure suit, he emanated amanding and intense aura. ¡°Hi, Asher! What a coincidence. Are you heading out? Have you and your wife had breakfast yet?¡± Gwendolyn awkwardly withdrew her hand with a sheepish smile. Asher narrowed his eyes. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call this a coincidence. I had juste downstairs when I noticed you sneaking in from the garden. What are you trying to do?¡± Gwendolyn let out a nervousugh. ¡°Hah, what do you mean, Asher? I¡¯m here to look for you. Why did you make it sound like I¡¯m sneaking around?¡± Asher was too familiar with her antics but didn¡¯t feel like exposing her. Instead, he turned around and retreated to his living room couch. Gwendolyn trailed behind him, her gaze flickering toward the second floor. ¡°Isn¡¯t Sienna home today? She left so early?¡± Her palms were slick with sweat. If Sienna isn¡¯t around, aren¡¯t I at risk of suffering a severe beating today? ¡°She¡¯s upstairs, in the study. Are you here for her?¡± Asher asked in a casual tone. He reached into the drawer of the coffee table, rummaging for a cigarette. However, he decided against lighting it when he recalled Gwendolyn¡¯s dislike toward the smell of cigarette smoke and put it back into the drawer. Then, he fixed his sister with a stare. Gwendolyn¡¯s fears were just starting to ebb away when she noticed Asher¡¯s stern gaze. She was already feeling guilty to begin with. Hence, she began to tremble uncontrobly under his scrutinizing gaze. She felt her legs giving way as she slumped to the ground on her knees, deciding that it was the best course of action. Beneath the coffee table and the living couch was a plush, round rug. Shrewd as she was, she had chosen a soft spot tond her knees, so it did not hurt at all. Asher watched her theatrics with a hint of amusement before his lips curved into a smile. However, his eyes were cold and stern. ¡°How apt. Would you care to remind me what I told you previously?¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze as her voice took on a pitiful tone. ¡°You said that if I ever slept with him again, you would break my legs, and no one could persuade you otherwise.¡± ¡°So, Ms. Harris, how many times have you slept with him, then?¡± The sarcastic way he addressed her as Ms. Harris was enough to send a shiver down Gwendolyn¡¯s spine. This, she realized, was the calm before the storm. A chilling dread filled her. ¡°I think¡­ four or five times?¡± ||| 2/4 44% Chapter 276 Celebrations Abound +15 Bonus As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a st of icy fury emanating from her brother. Hastily, she added, ¡°I know you only have my best interests at heart, Asher. You worry that if in the end, Cedrick and I don¡¯t end up together, I¡¯ll suffer the gestictions of others from the rumors of us living together, and worse, sleeping together. You¡¯re concerned about my reputation among the noble families. But Asher, I¡¯ve never cared about others¡® opinions. As long as I live freely and boldly, that¡¯s enough. As for Cedrick, he¡¯s been good to me¡ª¡± Asher interjected her with a cold chuckle. ¡°Is that so? I heard that he¡¯s been spending a lot of time with the celebrity spokesperson from Jenson Group recently. He has little self¨Cdiscipline. Do you still consider this to be good to you?¡± Gwendolyn blinked in surprise. ¡°Where did you hear that, Asher?¡± ¡°The celebrity¡¯s manager spilled the beans about your fight in Jenson Group. If it weren¡¯t for my intervention, your lover¡¯s spat would have unsettled the stocks of both our families for days,¡± Asher said. Evelyn is such a troublemaker! A wave of repulsion washed over Gwendolyn, but there were more pressing matters at hand. She lowered her head, at a loss about how to exin to Asher, especially since she still couldn¡¯t disclose Cedrick¡¯s condition to her brother. Asher rose from his chair, rolling up his suit sleeves. His every move was imbued with an air of nobility and grace. His tone, however, was ominous. ¡°What excuse do you intend to spin for me this time, you sly girl?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Gwendolyn immediately said. Her face turned pale at his obvious readiness to mete out punishment. ¡°We had a misunderstanding, and we did fight a few days ago, but we made upst night. I believe Cedrick wouldn¡¯t dare betray me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s betrayed you once before. You trust him, but I can¡¯t say I do! You¡¯ve only just reconciled, and he¡¯s already arguing with you. To top it all off, he¡¯s fraternizing with some starlet. I¡¯ll make him pay!¡± Asher chided. Asher¡¯s jawline hardened as he crouched down before Gwendolyn. His tone took on a rare gentle tone, ¡°Little sister, I won¡¯t punish you this time. Instead, I will help you get out of this marriage arrangement. After that, I will deal with that scoundrel. If you can¡¯t marry into another noble family, I will look after you for the rest of your life.¡± ¡°No, Asher!¡± Gwendolyn cried out. Noticing the murderous look in her brother¡¯s eyes, she continued in a determined tone, ¡°I will not back out of this marriage. Besides, I¡¯m always the one initiating, so it¡¯s all my fault. Please, don¡¯t bother yourself with his life. You¡­ you should punish me instead!¡± The air seemed to freeze. Gwendolyn kept her head low, struggling to breathe under the weight of Asher¡¯s fury. She gulped with a lump in her throat. Despite her privileged upbringing as the daughter of the Harris family, her fear of Asher had been carved into her bones. She was about the same age as her third brother, Treyton. Growing up, both of them were very naughty, and their parents failed to discipline them. Hence, they were tamed under Asher¡¯s iron fists. The mere thought of Asher¡¯s physical punishment still sent shivers down her spine. 3/4 44% Chapter 276 Celebrations Abound +15 Bonus Gwendolyn trembled with fear but had to steel herself, for she needed to bring up the matter of Charles. It was only after enduring this round of punishment that she could get down to business. Without uttering a word, Asher rose to his feet. His austere countenance and menacing gaze were enough to strike fear into the bravest hearts. ¡°So, it seems like you¡¯vee here to ask for a beating, huh? Very well, I shall oblige,¡± Asher uttered. In one swift movement, he undid the buckle of his belt and slid it from his waist, folding it neatly in half. Pointing toward a nearby couch¡¯s armrest, he icilymanded, ¡°Lie down there.¡± Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Chapter 277 I Am Nervous +15 Bonus Seeing the cold look on his face, intimidation filled Gwendolyn. She dragged her feet as she got off the carpet and slumped against the couch¡¯s armrest. The minute she climbed atop it, she caught Asher walking to her side from the corner of her eyes, all while he exuded a scary aura. Her face drained of color. ¡°W¨CWait!¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°How many times is it going to be, Asher?¡± She had to brace herself. After all, she still needed to deal with Charles¡® issue, then meet with Cedrick later. Asher raised a sculpted brow. ¡°Since you slept with him four to five times, why don¡¯t we start from fifty? What about that?¡± Fifty? Dread washed over Gwendolyn. thought five times, at most. With Asher¡¯s strength, I might not survive his whipping. Can I even get back to Cedrick¡¯s i alive today? Also, despite his words, his tone doesn¡¯t sound like he¡¯s negotiating with me. Can I say no?¡± She resignedly looked over her shoulder to see Asher removing his watch, taking off his oat, and rolling up his sleeves even further. Sensing her gaze, he shot an icy look at her. No, you can¡¯t.¡± knew it! he repeatedly hit her head against the couch as despair flooded her. om the corner of her eyes, Gwendolyn caught Asher waving his belt, and her head snapped toward him. Vait, I have something to say!¡± ¡®ith furrowed brows, he clicked his tongue. ¡°What now?¡± wendolyn discreetly pinched her arm, causing her eyes to fill with tears. She then cast a pitiful look at 1. m. haven¡¯t received a beating for years, so I¡¯m a bit nervous. Can you maybe¡­ be gentler?¡± nusement diminished Asher¡¯s rage slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll have you try whether it¡¯s still the same pain you member from your memories then.¡± s anger had already died down by half after he noticed her pitiful expression. In truth, he was just lling her leg, trying to scare her. contrast to his amusement, his answer sent apletely different feeling shooting through Gwendolyn. sounded like a death sentence to her ears. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. hen she saw Asher wave the belt again, a chill ran down her spine. She yelled exaggeratedly, ¡°Ow! It rts! Sienna, help me! Asher is going to kill me!¡± 1/4 ||| O T 2.44% Chapter 277 I Am Nervous Asher stared at her in surprise. +15 Bonus I haven¡¯t even started yet. Has shepletely forgotten the rules after a few years of not seeing each other? She even learned to strike first by asking for help! Her acting caused his fury to ramp up again. ¡°Gwendolyn Shalders Harris! You¡¯ll be losing a leg today!¡± Gwendolyn immediately dropped her act and stopped screaming at the top of her lungs at his threat. Instinctively, she clenched her teeth and broke out in a cold sweat, Asher¡¯s punishments are real harsh! Wrapping her arms around herself, she cursed herself. What¡¯s the point of picking out the thick jeans in the morning? This bit of protection will be f*cking useless against Asher¡¯s punishment. I should¡¯ve worn another five to sixyers of fleece long johns! Noticing her silence, he scoffed. ¡°Why did you stop acting? Weren¡¯t you howling at the top of your lungs just a while ago?¡± ¡°Ow! It hurts!¡± Gwendolyn sucked in a breath sharply and whimpered pitifully. It was so painful that her eyes brimmed with tears. Why isn¡¯t Siennaing down? If Asher continues in this vein, a dozen times is my limit before the pain kills me! ¡°You asked for it, so bear with the pain!¡± With a dark expression, Asher raised his arm again.. Gwendolyn caught his movement from the corner of her eyes and instantly snapped them shut from fear. Her body tensed as she braced herself for the hit. In the next second, a pair of thin arms wrapped around her from the back, shielding her from Asher. Sienna had heard the racket downstairs and rushed down from the fourth floor. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Hubby. Twice should be enough. Gwen has delicate and tender skin. Are you really nning to break her leg?¡± Asher huffed, his anger not diminishing in the slightest. Noting his fury, Sienna continued to coax him, ¡°Plus, it takes two to tango. Even if Gwen was the one who asked to sleep with him, Cedrick didn¡¯t turn her down, didn¡¯t he? Why don¡¯t you beat him up then?¡± Confusion filled Gwendolyn. There¡¯s something strange about her advice. Why is she shifting the me to Cedrick? Asher replied, ¡°Why would I beat Cedrick up? I¡¯ll lead a few men to the Jenson residence and kill him later!¡± Before Gwendolyn could get used to the pain, she gasped at his promise and urgently advised, ¡°Why is killing him the only thing on your mind, Asher? We¡¯re in aw¨Cbased society, so calm down. Punishing me should be enough. You can¡¯ty a hand on another¡¯s child!¡± O 2/4 < 44% Chapter 277 I Am Nervous +15 Bonus Asher rolled up his sleeves further and snickered. ¡°Fine, protect him. We still have forty¨Ceight times to go. We¡¯re picking up where we left off!¡± Hearing the number was enough for Gwendolyn¡¯s entire body to shudder. ¡°That¡¯s it! Why are you getting angry at Gwen? The two whips carlier sounded horrifying even through the closed door. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s in a lot of pain right now. You¡¯ll feel bad for her if she gets hurt, so why are you so stubborn about it?¡± Sienna was Asher¡¯s weakness. After tossing the truth right in his face, she snatched the belt from his hand and buckled it around his waist. ¡°I¡¯m mad as well about Cedrick¡¯s matter this time and understand the reason you forbid Gwen from sleeping with him is for her own future, but every couple fights after being together for a while. Since she¡¯s still willing to take his side, why don¡¯t you trust her judgment again and observe Cedrick for a while?¡± Sienna¡¯s reasoning gradually soothed Asher¡¯s anger, and he took a seat on the opposite couch. Sienna immediately helped Gwendolyn up from crouching over the handrest. With a tearful gaze, Gwendolyn gratefully called out, ¡°Sienna.¡± ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Sienna wiped the cold sweat away from Gwendolyn¡¯s forehead and helped her over to the couch. Gwendolyn sucked in a sharp breath when her butt hit the couch. Her face scrunched in pain, and misery was written all over her. ¡°Forget it. Since it hurts more to sit, I might as well stand.¡± Sitting opposite her, Asher observed her every move. His sharp gaze dulled and finally softened. Sienna caught his change and pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. As expected, he¡¯s starting to feel bad for Gwen. Sienna knew Gwendolyn well. With just a look from thetter, she could guess Gwendolyn must have another reason foring over to spill the truth. Wanting to help the younger woman, she started, ¡°Gwen, why did youe here so early? Have you run into some troubletely?¡± Gwendolyn held her back and nodded fervently before limping over to Asher, bending down, and resting her chin on his knee. ¡°Asher, do you remember how Charles stole the drugs from theb half a year ago to harm me?¡± ¡°I remember it. Why?¡± She bit her lip and answered, ¡°I think he¡¯s having it easy by spending time in prison.¡± Asher was perplexed. ¡°I already hired a few men to beat him up for you. He was close to dying. Wasn¡¯t that enough? ¡°Nope!¡± Gwendolyn was getting tired from bending down, especially with how the jeans tightened around her backside in that pose. Sweat began to dot her forehead after a while. Inhaling deeply, she continued, ¡°Charles requested me to visit him yesterday and shamelessly talked about marrying me. It literally pains me to see him livefortably!¡± With a frown, he asked, ¡°So what are you nning?¡± A glint shed across her eyes as she answered, ¡°I hope you can help me get him out of there secretly.¡± Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Pay The Price +15 Bonus ¡°Kiddo, that¡¯s a high¨Csecurity prison. Charles is a felon. It¡¯ll be hard to bring him out unless I bail him out.¡± Gwendolyn knew that as well. But does Charles deserve to be bailed out? She began to shower Asher withpliments. ¡°Asher, you¡¯re the most capable man. I know you must have a solution to this matter. Don¡¯t worry. I just want to teach him some lessons to make his life worse than death. After that, I¡¯ll let you take him back inside.¡± Asher fell silent. He neither agreed to it nor rejected her. Laying on hisp, Gwendolyn began to y the victim with tears in her eyes. ¡°Asher, you hit me so hard earlier. Now that someone is bullying me, I can¡¯t believe you actually don¡¯t n to help me. My life is such a misery. You don¡¯t love me anymore, do you?¡± Noticing that she was covered in cold sweat from the pain, Asher hurriedly took a piece of wet tissue to wipe the sweat off. Earlier, he had been so angry that he did not control his strength and hit her really hard. Now that he had calmed down, he was filled with distress and guilt. He would even bring her the stars if she wanted them. ¡°How could I not love you? I agree to help you.¡± As her goal was achieved, Gwendolyn breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that her exaggerated acting was not in vain. ¡°Thank you, Asher. How long do you think it¡¯ll take you to get him out?¡± Asher was about to say that he would have toe up with a n first when Gwendolyn spoke before he could. With a smile, she prompted, ¡°Let¡¯s do it today, shall we?¡± ¡°Why the rush?¡± Instead of answering him, Gwendolyn held her waist carefully and said with a pitiful expression, ¡°Ouch. My butt hurts so much. Show me some love, Asher.¡± Asher felt his heart ache. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll pause all my work today and prioritize helping you with this matter first. I¡¯ll have everything done before the day is over.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the best, Asher!¡± Sighing, Asher tapped her on the nose. ¡°I¡¯ll get Sienna to take you to the room to apply some ointment and get some rest. I¡¯ll call you when it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With Sienna¡¯s support, Gwendolyn walked up the stairs with difficulty. O 1/4 13:22 Fri, 2 Chapter 278 Pay The Price 444% +15 Bonus When she turned the corner of the stairs, she carefully nced downstairs at Asher. After making sure that he could not see her, she instantly switched back to her normal walking posture. It was indeed painful when he hit her, but he had only hit her twice. The pain had cased off after she massaged herself for a while. Suppressing a smile, Sienna shook her head helplessly. She knew her husband well and was aware that Asher could tell Gwendolyn¡¯s visit was due to Charles. However, Asher had indeed lost his temper and hit Gwendolyn, so he had to make amends to feel better. Gwendolyn had taken advantage of his guilt to trick him into helping her. The two women then entered the guest room on the third floor before Sienna closed the door behind them. Gwendolyn was immensely grateful to her. ¡°Thanks, Sienna. It doesn¡¯t hurt as much anymore, so you don¡¯t need to apply the ointment for me. It¡¯s too much trouble. Let¡¯s chat, shall we?¡°, Even so, Sienna was still worried. ¡°Why don¡¯t we apply some? Otherwise, it¡¯ll take at least two days for the swelling to go down. You don¡¯t want Cedrick to find out after you go back, do you?¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment. She¡¯s right. Although I won¡¯t sleep with Cedrick for the time being due to his illness, there¡¯s a chance that he¡¯ll notice it. He dotes on me so much that he can¡¯t bear to be aggressive toward me. Despite his strained rtionship with Asher, he has endured it all because of me. If he finds out that Asher hit me, he¡¯ll probably fly into a rage, sparking a bloodbath! It took me a lot of effort to soften Asher¡¯s attitude toward Cedrick, so I¡¯d better be more careful. Asher had always been a man of his word. In thete afternoon, Asher had several bodyguards send Gwendolyn to an unfinished building in the suburbs. In a dpidated room in the middle of the seventh floor, the muffled voice of a man was heard. Creak. The door of the old building creaked as it was pushed. A piece of cotton cloth had been stuffed into Charles¡® mouth. His limbs were tied to a wooden chair, and a ck hood was covering his head. Hearing that someone had entered the room, he stopped struggling. The ck hood over his head was removed, and the sudden brightness made it impossible for him to keep his eyes open. After he got used to it, he saw who the person in front of him was. A smile appeared on his face when he saw the indifferent yet beautiful face of Gwendolyn. As soon as the cotton cloth was removed from his mouth, he said eagerly, ¡°Gwen, you finally saw the light! I knew you woulde back to me. Hurry up and untie me now.¡± Standing still, Gwendolyn raised her chin slightly and stared at him condescendingly. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Apart from iciness, there was only disgust and scorn in her eyes. There was no other emotion in them. 2/4 44% Chapter 278 Pay The Price +15 Bonus Charles immediately sensed that something was wrong and looked around. ¡°It seems that you¡¯re not here to save me. You¡¯re here to confront and punish me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Gwendolyn took out a small transparent ss bottle, which was only the size of two thumbs, and carefully studied the liquid in the ss bottle with her cold eyes. ¡°I already know about his illness. You are of no value to me now. I¡¯m not very happy to see you living a peaceful life in prison as a healthy man.¡± Charles also stared at the ss bottle in her hand. He had a hunch that the contents must not be a good thing. He smiled. ¡°You got me out on purpose to kill me so that you can avenge Cedrick, didn¡¯t you?¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes. ¡°Killing you is too good for you. You have to pray for Ceddy, though. If he dies, I¡¯ll make sure you pay the price with your life!¡± Hearing that, Charlesughed out loud smugly. ¡°It sounds like Cedrick is dying. Am I right? That¡¯s great. After he dies, you¡¯ll be mine! I don¡¯t believe that you¡¯ll kill me. After all, we grew up together. For old times¡® sake, there¡¯s no way you would kill me!¡± ¡°Ha, you don¡¯t have the right to bring up the past.¡± The look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes gradually turned icy as she brought the ss bottle to Charles¡® face. ¡°I just got this from Kieran. It¡¯s a bottle of specimens that he used to study a rare disease. I heard that the disease will cause the whole body to rot and be covered with malignant sores within a few months. When it acts up, the person will be in so much pain that he¡¯ll wish to die.¡± Charles looked at her in disbelief as his pupils constricted. She went on, ¡°The only advantage of this disease is that it¡¯s not fatal. However, the pain is very strong when it acts up, and it makes one so ugly that they don¡¯t dare to see anyone. Many people can¡¯t bear it as they have a mental breakdown and will choose tomit suicide.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so cruel, Gwen!¡± Gwendolyn grabbed him by the cor of his prison uniform, her eyes filled with intense anger. ¡°Weren¡¯t you cruel too when you harmed me and Cedrick with an RNA virus?¡± Letting go of her grip on his cor, she took two steps back calmly. ¡°Come in.¡± Two bodyguards arranged by Asher immediately entered the room respectfully. ¡°At yourmand, Ms. Harris.¡± ¡°Serve him the medicine!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harris.¡± A bodyguard took the ss bottle from Gwendolyn with both hands. Retreating to the door, Gwendolyn leaned against the door frame leisurely, took out a wet tissue, and gracefully wiped clean the hand that touched Charles. 3/4 44% Chapter 278 Pay The Price +15 Bonus Meanwhile, Charles¡® jaw was forcefully grabbed by the bodyguards before they pried open his mouth. He struggled but to no avail. He turned to Gwendolyn, only to notice that her eyes were filled with ruthlessness and iciness. Seeing that the bottle of medicine was about to be poured into his mouth, Charles shouted at her, ¡°Gwen, don¡¯t you wonder why I know so much about Cedrick when I¡¯m in prison? Don¡¯t you want to know my secret?¡± Gwendolyn sneered, unfazed. ¡°I can find that out myself. After that, I¡¯ll make sure they end up like you and live a life worse than death!¡± Realizing that she was determined to make him swallow the medicine, Charles finally showed a trace of fear in his blue eyes. ¡°Wait! I also know a way to cure Cedrick. Don¡¯t you want to save him?¡± Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Chapter 279 A Compromise ¡°Wait!¡± Gwendolyn stopped the bodyguards and stepped forward. ¡°Spill. What¡¯s the cure?¡± The bodyguards immediately let go of Charles and took two steps back. 4.44% +15 Bonus ¡°Do you really want to know, Gwen?¡± Charles licked his teeth and grinned wickedly as he said, ¡°I can tell you, but you will have to agree to the three conditions I told you before. As soon as you agree to them, Cedrick can be cured.¡± Gwendolyn frowned and gritted her teeth angrily. ¡°You¡¯re so shameless, Charles.¡± ¡°You tter me, Gwen. Think about my offer again carefully. Moreover, I¡¯m not inferior to Cedrick, either. If you¡¯re with me, I will make sure you be the happiest woman in the world.¡± Amused, Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Cedrick is the richest man in Salinsburgh, not to mention his other titles as the CEO of Jenson Group, the head of the Jenson family, and the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Apart from having power and influence, he also outshines you in his looks and physique. Meanwhile, you are just a convicted felon and a prisoner. Are you even worthy ofparing yourself to him?¡± Charles¡® expression darkened. There was indeed a significant gap between him and Cedrick, but it might not be the case for long! Besides¡­ ¡°Cedrick doesn¡¯t have much time left, and because of that, I¡¯ve already won!¡± His words enraged Gwendolyn. She grabbed the pistol that was attached to one of her bodyguards¡® waist and pressed the barrel against Charles¡® forehead. ¡°There¡¯s no way I will ever agree to your conditions. I will end you right here if you don¡¯t speak up immediately!¡± she demanded coldly. However, Charles wasn¡¯t afraid at all. His once handsome and refined face had now be rough and weathered. ¡°Be careful, Gwen. It won¡¯t be good for any of us if the gun identally goes off. After all, Cedrick will die if I¡¯m dead. I¡¯m well aware that you can¡¯t possibly kill me, so there¡¯s no need for you to use this method to scare me.¡± Charles was the one who held absolute control over the situation then. Still pointing the gun at Charles, Gwendolyn scoffed, ¡°You have no right to negotiate conditions with me, Charles. If you don¡¯t speak up, I¡¯ll have someone force this drug down your throat. It should make you suffer enough. Care to give it a try?¡± Charlesughed even harder. ¡°You¡¯re not going to use the drug on me, and you know why. If I really can¡¯t stand it and choose to commit suicide, the way to save Cedrick will be buried with me in the grave. You will never know how to save him in your lifetime, and you can only watch him die helplessly. That feeling should be even more unbearable, don¡¯t you think?¡± < 1/4 2.44% Chapter 279 A Compromise Charles had gotten hold of Gwendolyn¡¯s biggest concern. +15 Bonus Gwendolyn dug her nails fiercely into her palm as her arm trembled with tension. It seemed to be the only way to keep herself rational. ¡°Why should I believe you? Perhaps you don¡¯t even know the cure for the S404 RNA virus. You could just be deceiving me and seizing the opportunity to save yourself.¡± Charles then made apromise. ¡°How about this: you find a way to get Asher to bail me out and grant me my freedom. In exchange, I will tell you the method to alleviate Cedrick¡¯s current condition. Then you can see for yourself if I am lying and decide whether or not to agree to my other two conditions.¡± Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow as she said, ¡°Deal!¡± With that, she lowered the gun and handed it back to the bodyguard. ¡°However, I need to n the matter of your release and find an excuse. Asher will be suspicious if I ask him for two favors in such a short amount of time.¡± Charles shrugged. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll tell you what I know the day I¡¯m released from prison, After all, I¡¯m healthy and can afford to wait, unlike a certain someone,¡± he said, hinting at Cedrick¡¯s condition again. Gwendolyn was unwilling to send Charles back to prison unscathed. Taking a deep breath, she turned to him and smiled apologetically. ¡°One more thing,¡± she said. ¡°The reason I asked Asher to sneak you out was to give you a beating. If you return unscathed, it will be hard for me to exin the situation. I guess you have no choice but to bear with it.¡± The smug grin on Charles¡® face instantly vanished. Ignoring the change in his expression, Gwendolyn nced at the bodyguard beside her and ordered, ¡°Make sure he gets a good beating before you send him back.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After giving the order, Gwendolyn turned around and walked away. Soon enough, the sound of punches and kicks came from behind. asional muffled groans of pain could be heard from Charles¡® gagged mouth. The sound of him being beaten up was afort to Gwendolyn. She didn¡¯t go far. Leaning against the wall by the door, she listened quietly and waited until Charles was knocked outpletely half an hourter. His face was all braised, and his body was covered in blood. He also suffered from a broken rib, but it wouldn¡¯t kill him. After the bodyguards put the ck hood over his head again, they carried him out and handed him over to the waiting person. Gwendolyn remained there until the car that would send Charles back to the prison drove away. Then, staring at the two bodyguards, she asked, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± They exchanged uneasy nces before replying, ¡°You are Ms. Harris, Mr. Asher¡¯s younger sister.¡± ¡°Wrong.¡± Arms crossed, Gwendolyn corrected them coldly, ¡°I am the youngest and the most doted¨Con 2/4 22 Fr, 2 Chapter 279 A Compromise child of the Harris family. I am the precious darling of my brothers.¡± Bewildered, the bodyguards stared at her with confused expressions on their faces. 4.44% +15 Bonus Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Asher ordered you toe here to lend me a hand and ensure my safety. If he or anyone else from the Harris family finds out about my conversation with Charles today, what do you think will happen to those who don¡¯t obey instructions and spread rumors?¡± Startled, the color drained from their faces. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Harris. We heard nothing.¡± Gwendolyn nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Remember what you just said. You know what to do if Asher asks about this. He can reprimand you all he wants, but if any of you dares to tell anyone else what happened, I¡¯ll make sure you suffer so much that you¡¯ll wish you were dead!¡± ¡°Of course, Ms. Harris. You have nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°Okay. There¡¯s no need to send me back. I can go back to the Jenson residence myself.¡± When Gwendolyn reached the Jenson residence, it was already evening. The various traditional wooden carvings on the walls of the Jenson residence exuded a touch of exquisite ssical beauty under the red hues of the setting sun. Gwendolyn had already be familiar with the route to Cedrick¡¯s vi during this period. After passing through the winding paths, she arrived at the entrance of the vi. It was very lively in the garden of the vi. Cedrick was seated in a chair with a freshly carved wooden que ced on the table in front of him. He was writing characters on the que using arge brush with gold ting. Nico, Neville, Swain, Elven, Ezra, and the others had been summoned to the garden. They were all gathered around to watch Cedrick as he wrote. Gwendolyn watched this scene from afar. It was truly a pleasing sight when a group of handsome men with good physiques gathered together. Among those eight charming men, Cedrick stood out the most. Apart from his unparalleled handsome face, his entire demeanor was exceptional. It took just one nce for Gwendolyn to be unable to take her eyes off him. Treading lightly, she blended into the crowd behind William, quietly observing the words on the que written by Cedrick. ¡°Harrick Vi?¡± Upon hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s voice, everyone turned around to look at her. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°You¡¯re back, Ms. Harris.¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze was the most intense among them. ¡°Come here, Gwenny.¡± ||| 3/4 Chapter 279 A Compromise +15 Bonus After Gwendolyn walked toward Cedrick, he pulled her into his embrace and let her sit on hisp. Then, after handing her the brush, he held her hand in his. Together, they finished thest alphabet of the word ¡°Vi.¡± Cedrick was very satisfied with the oue. ¡°Hang this que outside, you guys. Nico, get someone to customize an address stone with these two words as well. ce it in the garden after it¡¯spleted.¡± ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll handle it right away.¡± Soon enough, the group of young men left. Cedrick held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand as they entered the vi. After allowing Cedrick to lead her to the sofa, sheughed, mocking, ¡°Really? Are you nning to call this ce ¡®Harrick Vi¡® from now on? What era are we in? Isn¡¯t it embarrassing that we are still hanging ques?¡± ¡°This is a testimony of our love. People will envy us.¡± Though delighted, Gwendolyn simply smiled and said nothing. However, as though he had recalled something, Cedrick suddenly became serious and started checking- her palms, arms, and back for injuries. Tickled by his actions, she giggled. ¡°What are you doing, Ceddy? You¡¯re examining me like I¡¯m a criminal. I didn¡¯t get beaten up, truly!¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t believe her. At theboratory entrancest time, Asher was furious when he learned that the two of them had slept together. They had slept together several times recently, and Cedrick knew that Asher was home today, so he was certain thetter couldn¡¯t have let her off so easily. When Cedrick didn¡¯t find any injuries, he shifted his gaze downward and stared at her thick denim jeans. ¡°Are your legs injured? Come, let me have a look in the room!¡± Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Chapter 280 She Loved It When He Was Vulnerable Gwendolyn widened her eyes in shock. For a sick man like Cedrick, his mind was incredibly sharp. As Gwendolyn allowed him to lead her back to the master bedroom, she pondered on how to deal with him. As soon as they sat down on the edge of the bed, he leaned closer to her and extended his bony fingers toward her to unzip her jeans. Staring at him in disbelief, she asked, ¡°Are you nning on undressing mepletely to examine my injuries?¡± ¡°What do you think? I have to check your calves, thighs, and butt.¡± He would not be at ease until he personally confirmed that she was unharmed! Clutching her pants firmly, Gwendolyn moved her backside away from Cedrick, keeping a distance. Then, she mustered up her courage and red at him usingly. ¡°Cedrick, you pervert! I don¡¯t believe for a second that you simply want to examine my injuries. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re not behaving yourself even when you¡¯re sick!¡± On the contrary, Cedrick actually didn¡¯t have other thoughts because his mind was solely focused on whether she had been hurt when she went back. ¡°No, it¡¯s not what you think. Besides, I¡¯ve seen every part of your body. What¡¯s wrong with letting me take a look? Are you feeling guilty about something?¡± he retorted. Gwendolyn furrowed her eyebrows. Seems like he¡¯s not going to let this rest until I let him check me. She bit her lower lip as her eyes filled with resentment, as though his words had hurt her. ¡°I have nothing to be guilty of! I told you, Asher didn¡¯t make things difficult for me. I can¡¯t believe that you don¡¯t trust me!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s anger intensified as she argued. In retaliation, she pushed him down onto the bed, straddled his body, and pinned down his wrists, rendering him unable to move. Honestly, she quite enjoyed Cedrick in his vulnerable state. He was easy for her to overpower, which made it fun to tease and bully him. It allowed her to gain the upper hand instantly. ¡°How audacious of you to question me! Is your trust in me so fragile? Think about what happened yesterday when you said so many hurtful words to me. I didn¡¯t leave you out of spite because I believed in you, didn¡¯t I? But what about you? How dare you suspect me of lying over such a small matter?¡± Cedrick was startled by her beratement. If there was any color remaining on his already pale face previously, it drained away now. He just didn¡¯t trust Asher. However, he couldn¡¯t bear to look at Gwendolyn¡¯s wounded expression and listen to her questioning tone. 1/4 Chapter 280 She Loved It When He Was Vulnerable 44% +15 Bonus He felt guilty, especially after yesterday¡¯s incident. Stunned by her rebuttal, he no longer knew how to exin his insistence on checking her injuries as his train of thought waspletely derailed by her words. Unable to argue back, he could only purse his lips and pout. His eyshes quivered as his head hung weakly. Gwendolyn moved her slender fingers onto his pale face to soothe his sorrow. Suppressing the urge tough, she spoke in a serious tone. ¡°I¡¯m a forgiving person. If you admit your mistakes, I will reward you with kisses. But if you refuse to acknowledge your wrongdoing, I will punish you ordingly. So, have you realized your mistake, Ceddy?¡± ¡°Yes, I was wrong,¡± Cedrick replied in an aggrieved manner. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I doubted you instead of trusting you.¡± ¡°Are you still going to take off my pants?¡± Cedrick shook his head obediently. ¡°Good boy.¡± N T # tr Gwendolyn was satisfied. Despite appearing calm on the outside, she wasughing hysterically on the inside. It¡¯s so fun bullying Ceddy when he¡¯s sick! Gwendolyn loved it. Then, fulfilling her promise to him just now, she leaned down and kissed his lips. Their tongues entwined in a passionate kiss. Unable to resist, Cedrick could feel himself bing lost in her kiss. His mind was clouded by her presence, and he couldn¡¯t think straight and figure out whether he was being manipted. As his breathing grew more rapid, he felt aroused. However, just as his hands began to wander, Gwendolyn promptly ended the kiss before he could go any further. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± Cedrick felt unsatisfied. He wanted her right now, but she wouldn¡¯t allow him to. What an awful feeling! Gwendolyn could tell what he was thinking from his gaze. ¡°No! This is for your health. Once you¡¯re better, you can do whatever you want.¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze and didn¡¯t reply. D 2/4 Chapter 280 She Loved It When He Was Vulnerable I will never get better, will I? Does it mean that I have to live the rest of my life in abstinence? ¡°I¡¯d rather you let me indulge in bodily pleasures before I die. At least that way, I can die of bliss.¡± Otherwise, I will have to suffer from abstinence! +15 Bonus Gwendolyn¡¯s expression suddenly turned serious as she pinched Cedrick¡¯s cheeks, though without applying much force. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to mention anything about death from now on! As long as I¡¯m here, you¡¯re not allowed to give up hope. Do you understand me?¡± she said sternly. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Cedrick replied half¨Cheartedly because he knew his body¡¯s condition most clearly. However, he didn¡¯t want Gwendolyn to worry about him. Sensing theck of sincerity in his voice, she pinched his face harder. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear you clearly. Louder!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn let go of his cheeks before rubbing them gently. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Her mind drifted away as she recalled her earlier encounter with Charles. While she was unsure of the truthfulness of his words, it was the only breakthrough she had so far. She had no other option than to believe Charles, at least for now. However, if he was telling the truth, should I agree to his remaining two conditions? The more she thought about it, the moreplicated she found the situation to be. Cupping his face with her hands, she spoke seriously, hoping that it could avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings between her and Cedrick in the future. ¡°Ceddy, we should trust each other the most. -So, from now on, you have to trust me unconditionally no matter what happens. Believe in my feelings for you. Can you promise me that?¡± Cedrick nodded without hesitation as he locked eyes with her. ¡°I promise.¡± Smiling contentedly, she pressed a kiss to his forehead. ¡°Have you taken your medicine tonight?¡± Cedrick immediately frowned as he shook his head. ¡°Be good. Wait for me.¡± Gwendolyn disengaged herself from him and got down from the bed. Then, she left the room. A minuteter, she returned with a ss of warm water and Cedrick¡¯s box of medicine. Cedrick¡¯s eyes darkened. As he watched Gwendolyn popping out more than a dozen colorful pills, the corner of his mouth twitched with disdain. He didn¡¯t like the bitter taste of the medicines, not to mention that they didn¡¯t help much anyway. ¡°I¡¯m still full and don¡¯t feel like drinking water. How about I eat my medicer?¡± Recognizing his intention to avoid taking the medicine, Gwendolyn stood her ground and extended her hand forward. With a determined look in her eyes, she coaxed, ¡°Be good and take the medicine.¡± Cedrick shook his head and encircled her waist, nuzzling against her chest as he murmured, ¡°I really don¡¯t want to take them¡­¡± 3/4 Chapter 280 She Loved It When He Was Vulnerable Gwendolyn felt frustrated because Cedrick was disregarding his own health and acting like a child. ¡°You have to eat them!¡± Gwendolyn warned sternly. Cedrick tightened his arms around her waist upon hearing that. +15 Bonus Having been scolded, he lifted his face and stared at her with woeful eyes. Hisplexion was pale and feeble, which made him look more vulnerable than ever. Gwendolyn sighed. She seemed to be far less skillful in acting pitiful whenpared to Cedrick. Gwendolyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath to suppress the urge to tie him up and stuff the pills into his mouth. She had to keep reminding herself that he was a patient now. Be gentle! Be patient! Let him have his way! Smiling, she calmed herself down and asked, ¡°How can I get you to take your medicine then, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick thought about it for a while. Then, pinning her with an innocent gaze, he replied, ¡°I want you to feed me.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m fine with that. Come, I¡¯ll feed you. Let¡¯s start by having a sip of water first.¡± However, frowning and shaking his head, Cedrick dodged to the side and refused to drink the water she offered him. Gwendolyn gripped the ss tightly and reminded herself again. Patience! ¡°Still not eating? How do you want me to feed you then?¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curled up in a wicked smile as he replied, ¡°You¡¯re not being sincere. Feed me with your mouth.¡± What? Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Raising A Son ¡°Good night, Ceddy. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow morning.¡± He watched her leave with a heavy heart, and she even thoughtfully closed the door behind her. +15 BONGO Following her departure, it was as if she had taken all the warmth inside the room with her, causing him to feel cold to his core. For the subsequent week, Cedrickpliantly ate his medication under Nico¡¯s supervision because of the rules Gwendolyn had previously set. One afternoon, he was dealing with work remotely in his study. Two minutes after the rm clock rang, Gwendolyn video¨Ccalled him. ¡°Ceddy, it¡¯s time to take your medicine.¡°. Cedrick concealed his darkened expression and responded gloomily, ¡°All right.¡± Before the call ended, Nico attentively came in with warm water and a box of pills. ¡°Boss, here¡¯s your medicine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re indeed very dedicated to your duties.¡± Cedrick nced at Nico coldly and received the ss of water. Then, he put all the pills into his mouth and gulped them in one go. They¡¯re so bitter. Face ashen and brows furrowed, he fought down a wave of nausea and gave Gwendolyn, on the other side of the screen, a reassuring smile. Only after seeing him swallow all the pills did she end the video call. The moment the screen went ck, Cedrick immediately rushed to the bathroom sink. He retched in agony but failed to vomit anything. ? ?????????? Every medication had its side effects. Taking too many of these pills would cause him to feel nauseous, suffer from loss of appetite, and have a lingering bitter taste on his tongue. Nico, watching from the side, felt sorry for Cedrick. ¡°Boss, it won¡¯t do if you keep feeling this ufortable after taking your medications each time.¡± Cedrick rinsed his mouth. When he swallowed, a faint bitter taste lingered. The bitterness in his oral cavity was nothingpared to the anguish in his heart. Only the thought of Gwendolyn¡¯s unparalleled beauty could invoke a trace of sweetness in his chest. He sat back in his office chair and sighed softly. ¡°Do you have a cigarette?¡± Nico was taken aback. ¡°Didn¡¯t Ms. Harris forbid you from smoking?¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t respond and merely held out his hand. Nico pulled a pack of cigarettes he had just bought that morning from his pocket. They were so expensive that even he felt reluctant to smoke them. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll need to be reimbursed!¡± Cedrick looked up halfheartedly and murmured in agreement. Nico opened the pack, pulled out a cigarette, and handed it to Cedrick. However, he hesitated midway. 3/4 Chapter 281 Raising A Son ¡°Boss, are you sure you want to smoke? If Ms. Harris finds out, she¡¯ll skin you alive, too.¡± Cedrick grimaced. ¡°If you continue to babble, you¡¯ll be in trouble right now.¡± Nico abandoned all hesitation and immediately handed the cigarette over. +15 Bonus and I¡¯ll be in trouble He reckoned since Cedrick was only puffing one cigarette, Gwendolyn wouldn¡¯t realize anything, so it shouldn¡¯t be such a big deal. Besides, Nico understood Cedrick. Smoking could alleviate sorrow, and Cedrick needed to do something to relieve his mental stress. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. However, to his surprise, Cedrick merely asked for the cigarette to do the simplest thing. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Cedrick Is ying With Fire +15 Bonus Inside the minimalistic ck¨Cand¨Cwhite study, Cedrick epted Nico¡¯s cigarette and promptly held it under his nose to smell it. If someone else had done the same thing, chances were they¡¯d look rather creepy and repulsive. Cedrick, however, did it with such effortless elegance that it seemed like he was enjoying a ss of champagne. After inhaling the tobo fragrance for almost a minute, he tossed the cigarette into the trash can without hesitation. Nico, who had already prepared his lighter, widened his eyes in shock when he saw the unlit cigarette being thrown away. ¡°Boss¡­ Aren¡¯t you going to smoke it?¡± Cedrick put his hand to his forehead and sighed. ¡°If I do, the cigarette smell will linger on my clothes and around the study. Given how sharp she is, I won¡¯t be able to hide it from her. Besides, smoking isn¡¯t healthy¡­ Taking a whiff of the tobo is good enough.¡± Upon hearing that, Nico nodded thoughtfully. ¡°By the way, remember to take the trash out when you leave.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Whether it was a form of self¨Cconstion or not, Cedrick had to admit he felt much better after smelling the cigarette. Say, this method is ingenious! Not only do I get a kick out of it, but I can also easily hide it from Gwendolyn. I should do this more often! ¡°This cigarette brand smells pretty good. Nico, buy a few packs for me when you¡¯re free this afternoon and hide them in one of the drawers.¡± ¡°In the vi?¡± Nico replied, mouth agape as he drew a sharp breath. ¡°You sure are gutsy, Boss! You¡¯re knowingly breaking thew on Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s doorstep!¡± My goodness¡­ He¡¯s ying with fire! Cedrick calmly rubbed his temples. ¡°Gwenny¡¯s busy in the day and doesn¡¯t look through the drawers much when she¡¯s home. Just stash the cigarettes away in a secluded corner. She won¡¯t find them.¡± Nico, however, remained doubtful. Really? That doesn¡¯t sound right¡­ Wait a minute. Is Boss reminding me that he¡¯s a masochist and is intentionally looking for ways to be punished? Is he feeling restless because it¡¯s been a while since Ms. Gwendolyn disciplined him? Yes,e to think of it, I still remember how I got a pay raise when Boss got beaten up thest time¡­ With that thought in mind, Nico couldn¡¯t help but sigh internally. Well, it¡¯s not like I can ask Boss to rify¡­ There¡¯s no way a proud, distinguished man like him will ever admit to being a masochist. Then again, if this is what he likes, I¡¯ll do my best to help him! That¡¯s what loyalty¡¯s all about! Realizing Nico had yet to answer him, Cedrick turned to him with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Have I not made myself clear enough?¡± 1/3 44% Chapter 282 Cedrick Is ying With Fire +15 Bonus Nico nodded vigorously. Ah! I saw the way Boss quirked his brows. That must be his way of telling me to take his hint! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss! As long as you like it, I won¡¯t disappoint you! However¡­ Are you sure you¡¯ve thought it through?¡± the man said. What if Ms. Gwendolyn gets out of control with the beating, and Boss can¡¯t endure the pain? Gosh¡­ I can¡¯t stop worrying. Cedrick, on the other hand, was baffled and merely red at Nico. ¡°Okay! I got it! I¡¯ll get it done right away!¡± thetter blurted out before leaving the study and closing the door behind him. Cedrick stared at the door, a thousand questions running through his mind. What¡¯s wrong with Nico today? Why do I have this bad feeling? Meanwhile, Jennifer had been busy shooting a new show recently. It was a female¨Ccentric,ing¨Cof¨Cage period drama that boasted an excellent script and a famous director at its helm. Jennifer had clinched the lead actress role with Treyton¡¯s help, and if she could make the most of the opportunity, she¡¯d undoubtedly stand a chance to win at the end¨Cof¨Cyear awards show. Needless to say, Gwendolyn was happy for her friend and decided to visit her at the filming location in Salinsburghter that afternoon. By the time she arrived on set, Jennifer was in the midst of her break. Still dressed in her gorgeous period costume, thetter smiled brightly and waved at Gwendolyn, her bracelets jingling as she did. Without further ado, Gwendolyn returned the smile and walked over to join her friend. Before long, the two women had settled into afortable conversation. ¡°Ah. I just remembered something!¡± Jennifer suddenly eximed. ¡°This morning, Papilio Girls received an invitation to Ms. Ferguson¡¯s birthday party. The Ferguson family wants us to put on a few performances then. Are you aware of this, Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°This morning, huh? Your manager has yet to inform me about it.¡± Upon hearing that, Jennifer sat deep in thought. ¡°Knowing Eloise¡¯s character, going to the Ferguson residence would be like entering the beast¡¯sir. What do you think?¡± ¡°Eloise is a snob who has always looked down on those who work in the entertainment industry. The fact that she has taken the initiative to invite you guys to her party can only mean she¡¯s targeting you.¡± Jennifer instantly lowered her head and fell silent, prompting Gwendolyn to give her a reassuring pat on her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no harm checking it out,¡± thetterforted. ¡°Treyton and I will protect you.¡± ¡°Yes, I know. I trust you.¡± Gwendolyn smiled, but there was a wicked glint in her eyes as she thought of Eloise. ¡°It¡¯s been a while 2/3 44% Chapter 282 Cedrick Is ying With Fire +15 Bonus since I had some fun¡­ If Eloise has the guts to stir up trouble at her party, I¡¯ll return the favor by turning the Ferguson family upside down!¡± Jennifer stared intently at Gwendolyn, too mesmerized by the fire in thetter¡¯s eyes to look away. Just then, Gwendolyn snapped out of her reverie and thought of the situation between Jennifer and Treyton. ¡°Tell me the truth, Jennifer. Do you really like Treyton? Do you truly want to be with him?¡± After recalling her agreement with Treyton, Jennifer lowered her gaze and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do what he says. If he gives up on us in the future, I¡¯ll follow suit.¡± Gwendolyn said nothing more as she sighed. Dad has always been very strict about us finding a suitable partner of simr social status. I remember how mad he was when I married ¡°Maverick¡± back in Faike, but since he dotes on me the most, he eventually let the matter slide. That said, what if he finds out about Treyton and Jennifer? Will Treyton get a free pass like I did? After a long day at work, Gwendolyn finally returned to the vi. Cedrick¡¯s custom¨Cmade address stone had already been delivered and ced in the garden, the words ¡°Harrick Vi¡± engraved on it. Feeling warm and fuzzy in her heart, Gwendolyn instinctively picked up the pace as she strode to the door. She hadn¡¯t seen Cedrick the entire day and was starting to miss him. The second Gwendolyn opened the door, a strapping figure pulled her into an embrace and rested his chin on her shoulder before she could even register what was happening. ¡°I missed you, Gwenny¡­¡± the man uttered, his voice deep and soothing. Touched by the gesture, Gwendolyn gently caressed and patted his back. ¡°In that case, I shall take a day off tomorrow and stay home with you. How does that sound?¡± Cedrick smiled. ¡°That sounds perfect.¡± It¡¯d be even better if I could hold her to sleep, but I shall be content with what I can get. After dinner, the rm rang, which meant it was time for Cedrick to take his medicines. Gwendolyn went downstairs to fetch him a ss of water and prepare his medication as prescribed, carefully going through the pile of boxes in the cab and taking out the right pills. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. All of a sudden, she caught sight of a slightly ajar drawer at the bottom. Gwendolyn frowned. There was something inside, but it wasn¡¯t something she recognized. Curious, she opened the drawer. Huh? Cigarettes? Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Indignance +15 Bonus In the bedroom, Cedrick had been waiting for quite some time, yet there was no sign of Gwendolyn coming upstairs with the box of medicine. ¡°Gwenny?¡± The lights were on downstairs, but no reply came. Puzzled, Cedrick got out of bed, slipped on his slippers, and proceeded downstairs to investigate. As he descended the staircase, his gaze fell on Gwendolyn right away. She was standing before a cupboard, holding a pack of cigarettes and examining it carefully. One of the drawers on the cupboard was open, revealing its contents¨Cpacks and packs of cigarettes. Cedrick¡¯s heart skipped a beat. His handsome face turned a shade paler. Nico had only bought the cigarettes earlier that day and told Cedrick where he had put them away. However, Cedrick had been preupied with an online meeting that afternoon and hadn¡¯t had a chance. to open the drawer himself. D*mn it! Gwenny doesn¡¯t usually go through drawers. I¡¯ve got such rotten luck to be caught in the act by her today. And why did Nico buy so many packs? His body tensed as a wave of turmoil stirred within him. Gwendolyn, observing his reaction, held the pack of cigarettes and turned around to take a seat on the couch. Her face was devoid of any expression as she emanated a frosty aura. ¡°Care to exin?¡± she asked. Cedrick stood frozen at the foot of the staircase. Without the slightest guilt and hesitation, he denied, ¡°Those aren¡¯t mine. I never use that brand. They must be Nico¡¯s.¡± A hint of amusement crossed Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. She fixed a stare on him, a smirk dancing on her lips. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that Nico ced his cigarettes in your vi, in your living room, in the drawer of your cupboard? And why is that? To tempt you to partake and join in the fun?¡± Cedrick fell silent as his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed nervously. His eyshes quivered while his brain churned at lightning speed. ¡°Penny for your thoughts, Ceddy?¡± Gwendolyn eyed him intently, a tempest hidden beneath her calm. exterior. Her tone was frigid as she added, ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re thinking of how to concoct a usible excuse and pull the wool over my eyes?¡± With a loud smack, she pped the cigarette pack onto the coffee table furiously. At that sudden loud noise, Cedrick instinctively fell to his knees. He cast his eyes downward, hoping Gwendolyn would go easy on him now that he had admitted his mistake. His obsidian gaze was tinged with guilt. ¡°I was wrong! Please, hear me out!¡± 1/4 Chapter 283 Indignance Gwendolyn¡¯s frigid gaze flickered at his plea. +15 Bonus When he had fallen to his knees just now, Gwendolyn had clearly heard a dull thud resonating from his kneecaps. Furthermore, he hadnded on cold, hard marble tiles. Her heart ached for him. However, the sight of the cigarette packs on the coffee table made her resist the urge to rush over to help him up and rub his knees. Then, she gestured at the soft carpet by her feet and said, ¡°Come here.¡± The forceful kneel had indeed hurt Cedrick badly. When he stood up, his eyebrows contracted in a small frown. He quickly concealed the pain in his eyes and slowly began to move toward Gwendolyn. She watched him carefully, her eyes taking in every small movement he made. Just as Cedrick was about to get on his knees again, she said, ¡°Assume military posture and squat.¡± Huh? Squat? Cedrick paused for two heartbeats and didn¡¯t move. Gwendolyn regarded him coolly. ¡°Didn¡¯t catch that? Do you need me to repeat myself?¡± ¡°I heard you,¡± he replied. Cedrick immediately assumed the standard military pose¨Ca single knee driven into the earth, thumb aligned with the rest, straightening his back as he squatted. He appeared imposingly upright in this position, emanating an air of unyielding pride. However, seeing as he had been caught red¨Chanded in his misdeeds, his aura seemed somewhat diminished, subdued by Gwendolyn¡¯smanding presence. Her gaze fell on the cigarette pack atop the coffee table. ¡°This is yourst chance to exin yourself. Choose your words carefully.¡± Cedrick nodded obediently. ¡°I appreciate that.¡± He began to formte his response,ying out the truth in a forthright manner. ¡°The cigarettes are indeed mine. I had Nico purchase them, but I never intended to smoke.¡± Fury burned in Gwendolyn¡¯s chest. She took a deep breath and suppressed the boiling rage. ¡°Still not telling the truth? How many times have you secretly done this behind my back? How many cigarettes have you smoked?¡± A wave of indignance washed over Cedrick. ¡°I only asked Nico to buy them this afternoon, and by evening you¡¯ve already caught me. I haven¡¯t smoked any.¡± Once again, Gwendolyn calmed herself and picked up the pack of cigarettes on the coffee table, flipping it open to show Cedrick. When I came over, the drawer of the cupboard was slightly ajar, like it had been opened just today. It 2/4 Chapter 283 Indignance +15 Bonus seemed like you had been so flustered that you¡¯d forgotten to close it properly. Besides, one cigarette is clearly missing from this pack on the top. Are you still trying to deny it?¡± Gwendolyn pointed out. Cedrick was rendered speechless. So this is how I was discovered! Moreover, Nico had also put the packet missing one cigarette into the drawer. How could he be so careless? Is he trying to have me killed? Suppressing the urge to let Nico have a piece of his mind, Cedrick switched from squatting to kneeling. ¡°I did use one cigarette today, but I only smelled it. I didn¡¯t even light it. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can smell me. I don¡¯t smell of smoke at all. I really haven¡¯t smoked!¡± Cedrick said. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes slightly and sneered. ¡°You could have showered and changed clothes after smoking. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t be able to detect any smell.¡± She clearly doesn¡¯t believe me¡­ Cedrick was so aggrieved that the corners of his eyes turned red. His fingers gingerly clutched at her sleeve, as if it might offer some sce. ¡°Gwenny, you said that we should trust each other. Everything I¡¯ve said is true. Could you believe me just this once?¡± Cedrick pleaded. ¡°But didn¡¯t you deny that the cigarettes were yours just a moment ago? So, which statement should I believe?¡± Gwendolyn retorted. Cedrick was at a loss for words. Nico and his own oversight had led him into a ditch. He bit down hard on his lip, unable to utter a single word of exnation. Gwendolyn soon noticed the tears welled up in his obsidian eyes. His expression was a mix of sorrow and helplessness. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The imprints of his teeth were visible on his lower lip, forming a bloody streak. ¡°Stop that!¡± Stumped, Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers dug into his cheeks, forcing his mouth to open. His handsomely pale face bore a look of destion in his droopingshes. The vivid red imprints of his teeth formed a desperately pitiful sight. ¡°You¡¯ve made a mistake, and now you¡¯re ying the victim?¡± Gwendolyn questioned. She let out a resigned sigh, her heart aching at the pitiful sight. Gwendolyn leaned down and pressed her lips against his, her tongue gently licking away the pain from his bitten lip. The faintly metallic taste of his blood was sweet and bitter. After the kiss, Gwendolyn continued to hold his face, her eyes boring into his at a close distance. Finally, she decided to offer him a way out. ¡°Since you insist that you didn¡¯t smoke, then the intact cigarette should still be around. Find it, and I¡¯ll believe you.¡± 3/4 Chapter 283 Indignance Atst, a glimmer of hope sparkled in Cedrick¡¯s eyes. ¡°All right, it¡¯s in the study-¡± His words abruptly halted. D*mn it! I asked Nico to dispose of the cigarette along with the study¡¯s rubbish bag. Now, where on earth am I supposed to find it? Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, still clutching his face, exerted a bit more pressure. ¡°Where in the study?¡± ¡°I threw it in the trash can, and it was taken away when Nico left¡­¡± Gwendolyn arched her brow. ¡°How convenient.¡± It is, indeed¡­ How can I possibly exin myself now? On the inside, Cedrick was seething. His misty dark eyes stared at Gwendolyn as he said, ¡°I have no evidence to support my im, but I have a witness. I¡¯ll have Nico prove my innocence!¡± +15 Bonus Gwendolyn haughtily eyed him before releasing her grip on his chin, silently granting her permission. A minuteter, Nico answered the call Before he could even utter a single word, Cedrick¡¯s temper red up as he gritted his teeth in fury. ¡°You have fifteen minutes to get your *ss over here, now!¡± Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Chapter 284 His Exnation Backfired +15 Bonu Since Nico wasing over, Gwendolyn did not want to embarrass him in front of others. She subtly gestured toward the nearby couch with her eyes. ¡°Go and take a seat.¡± Cedrick refused to move. He kept his head lowered, breathing heavily in anger, while his cold, dark eyes revealed his murderous intent. Remembering how he had angina, Gwendolyn gently stroked his cheek to soothe his emotions. ¡°Go and take a seat over there, okay? We might be able to clear your name soon.¡± Cedrick suppressed his emotions and sat on the couch on the side. Fifteen minutester, Nico arrived. As he stepped into the house, the intimidating atmosphere caused him to shudder. After seeing the cigarettes on the coffee table, he instantly knew what to expect. He was pleased to see how effective his meticulous n was. I can¡¯t believe Boss was caught red¨C handed so quickly. With a faint grin on his face, he stood obediently by the coffee table. Cedrick could not believe Nico still dared to smile in front of him. Despite that, Cedrick remainedposed in front of Gwendolyn as he spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Gwenny saw the cigarettes you ced in the drawer. You better exin everything to her, and don¡¯t you dare utter a single lie. If you do, I¡¯ll drag you to the interrogation room and hook you up to a lie detector and a shock device!¡± Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Nico was struck dumb, not daring to give him any response. What the f*ck? How can he be so ruthless? This is not what I expected! Didn¡¯t Boss want to be punished? Shouldn¡¯t he be happy about being found out? Gwendolyn knitted her brows before shooting daggers in Cedrick¡¯s direction. ¡°Why are you threatening him?¡± ¡°N¨CNo, I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Cedrick instantly toned down his voice. Instead of continuing with the reprimand, Gwendolyn turned to Nico and asked in a calm tone, ¡°Nico, tell me the truth. Did Cedrick smoke today?¡± Nico froze for a moment before instinctively casting a nce at Cedrick. Cedrick blithely warned him again, ¡°Shock device!¡± His words sent chills down Nico¡¯s spine. ¡°Nope, he didn¡¯t! He asked me for a cigarette, but he just took a sniff of it before tossing it away.¡± Gwendolyn maintained aposed posture, crossing her arms gracefully, and her facial expression remained stoic. Despite studying their faces intently, she could not fully believe their exnation. ¡°Nico, don¡¯t be scared to tell the truth. As long as I¡¯m here, Cedrick would not dare toy a finger on you.¡± With Gwendolyn¡¯s assurance, Nico breathed a sigh of relief, raised his right hand, and vowed. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, every word I said is true!¡± 1/4 Chapter 284 His Exnation Backfired ¡°All right then.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, giving the impression that she believed his words. Cedrick heaved a sigh of relief. +15 Bonus Yet, secondster, Gwendolyn continued asking, ¡°How do you exin the cigarettes in the drawer then?¡± ¡°Boss asked me to buy the cigarettes for him and told me to hide them inside the drawer,¡± he answered. Spotting a keyword in his reply, Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes. ¡°Hide?¡± Nico nodded. ¡°Boss said you¡¯re busy during the day and normally wouldn¡¯t go through the drawers. That¡¯s why he instructed me to put the cigarettes in a corner to hide them away from you.¡± Gwendolyn let out a coldugh before shooting Cedrick a meaningful look. ¡°Ah, I sec. So that was all a ploy to keep me from discovering the cigarettes.¡± Cedrick was about to explode in rage. F*ck! This b*stard is just making things worse! How am I going to defend myself after this? He gave Nico a fierce re before grinding his teeth. ¡°I told you toe and exin the situation, not repeat every single word I said earlier! You¡¯re supposed toe here to clear my name and set things straight!¡± Comprehension dawned on Nico when he heard that. He realized then that he had misunderstood Cedrick. So Boss wasn¡¯t looking forward to being beaten up by Ms. Gwendolyn. He genuinely wanted to keep the truth from her! In contrast to Cedrick¡¯s anger, Gwendolyn responded with a gentle smile. ¡°You did a great job in providing me with a clearer understanding of the situation. Don¡¯t worry; you can speak freely. I am here to protect you.¡± Nevertheless, after realizing the harm he had brought on Cedrick, Nico became uncertain of what to say, but he knew he needed to earnestly think about how to make amends. Otherwise, his life would be in serious jeopardy. No one, not even Ms. Gwendolyn, can save me if Boss explodes! After contemting for a while, Nico spoke with sincerity. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, it was not right for Mr. Jenson to keep this from you, but he does remember the n you customized for him, and he never intended to actually smoke. He has been taking medication three times a day recently. Those pills are bitter and can cause loss of appetite and nausea if taken in excess. He was trying to find a way to alleviate the difort caused by the medication. It¡¯s just that he ended up choosing the wrong method.¡± Nico gave a heartfelt exnation. Cedrick¡¯s gloomy expression gradually eased as the person who screwed things up for him finally said something pleasing. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s face remained deadpan. It was hard to tell if she believed what Nico said. Nico tested the waters by saying, ¡°So, Ms. Gwendolyn, please don¡¯t be mad at Mr. Jenson anymore.¡± Gwendolyn decided not to expose Cedrick in front of Nico for trying to lie to her and sweep things under the carpet. She nced at Cedrick and cast a gentle smile at him. ¡°Why should I be mad at him? It¡¯s just a small issue. 2/4 Chapter 284 His Exnation Backfired Right, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick nodded earnestly. +15 Bonus Gwendolyn withdrew her gaze and looked at the cigarettes on the coffee table. ¡°But from now on, let¡¯s not keep these cigarettes. These are just bad stuff. Nico, empty the drawer and sell all the cigarettes at a low price.¡± ¡°Low price?¡± Nico¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Those are imported goods, and they¡¯re all extremely expensive! Those were his cherished possessions. The thought of selling them at a low price felt like a stab to his heart. Cedrick red at him. ¡°Listen to Gwenny. Take all the cigarettes away. I don¡¯t want to see them again!¡± Nico¡¯s face showed a mixture of pain and reluctance. ¡°All right, Boss.¡± While Nico started clearing the cigarettes in the drawer, Gwendolyn stood up and grabbed Cedrick¡¯s arm. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± She sounded calm, but Cedrick¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Will she still punish me after all that exining? Overwhelmed byplicated emotions, Cedrick felt helpless as Gwendolyn led him to the master bedroom. ¡°Sit,¡± she instructed. Cedrick sat down obediently, even though he had butterflies in his stomach. He was unsure if Gwendolyn was still angry, but he knew he hated her physical punishments. If it were not for fear of Gwendolyn getting angry, he would have dumped the ruler and Lego pieces into the ocean so that she would never be able to retrieve them again! As he was brooding, he saw Gwendolyn turn her head and walk toward the bedside table. She ced her hand on the first drawer as if she was about to open it. Cedrick knew very well what was lying inside. Before Gwendolyn could fully open the drawer, he clutched his chest, furrowed his brow, and weakly said, ¡°Gwenny, I feel ufortable¡­¡± Gwendolyn ran over to check on him. ¡°Do you feel difort in your heart? Is your angina acting up again? By right, you should feel better since you¡¯ve taken the medicine for a week.¡± With a pallidplexion and a frail demeanor, he leaned weakly in her embrace, his eyes drooping. Gwendolyn was deeply concerned. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t bear the pain if you¡¯re having an episode. I¡¯ll fetch the medicine to alleviate your angina attacks!¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay!¡± He gripped her wrist just when she was about to stand up. The grip was remarkably firm and unwavering, in stark contrast to the feeble and trembling hand of the person who had been in agony moments before. Upon realizing he had overreacted, Cedrick instantly loosened his grip and buried his head in her embrace, speaking softly. ¡°What I meant was, I feel much better with you hugging me¡­¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head and stayed silent. After narrowing her eyes, she discreetly assessed the man¡¯s behavior and quickly understood his intentions. Not only did he deceive me, but now he¡¯s also putting on a show. Initially, she had considered forgiving him. That was why she had wanted to retrieve the anti- inmmatory cream from the drawer to apply it to his injured knees. A corner of her lips quirked up. Looks like someone deserves a punishment, after all! Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Chapter 285 The Queen Of Unpredictability Gwendolyn quietly stroked Cedrick¡¯s back tofort him. Several minutester, she asked, ¡°Are you still ufortable?¡± +15 Bonus The difort in Cedrick¡¯s expression barely changed, but he put on a brave face and nodded. ¡°I feel better with you around.¡± Gwendolyn was secretly impressed by his charade, though she did not call him out on it. She helped him to sit on the bed, propping some pillows against his back and covering his legs with a nket. Then, she said, ¡°There was a half¨Chour dy. You haven¡¯t even taken your night medication. Wait here; I¡¯ll get them for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Scarcely two minutester, Gwendolyn reappeared in the room with warm water and a pill box, which she ced on the bedside table. After that, she closed and locked the room door before returning to Cedrick¡¯s side. Cedrick pulled a face when he saw the assortment of pills. ¡°Can I at least get Gwenny¡¯s medicine¨C feeding. service again tonight?¡± Unamused, Gwendolyn handed a ss of water to him and retorted, ¡°Well, what did you think of your little act tonight? Was it deserving of a reward?¡± He lowered his eyes guiltily in response. As it were, he would already be thanking his lucky stars if he escaped unscathed, let alone expect a reward. After wiping the sulkiness from his gaze, Cedrick received the ss from Gwendolyn. He stubbornly tried to swallow all the pills at once and erupted into a fit of choking coughs when he glugged too much water. Gwendolyn patted his back while chiding him, ¡°You fool. You could just swallow a couple of pills at once each time and spare yourself this misery. How can it not be bitter if you stuff everything into your mouth in one go?¡± As she spoke, she pulled a packet of caramel sweets from her pocket, which she had bought specifically for Cedrick. She ripped the packaging open and grabbed a sweet, leaving the rest on the bedside table. Her pale, slender fingers deftly unwrapped the caramel sweet, which she plopped into Cedrick¡¯s mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t mistreat your body like this again. If you find the pills too bitter, treat yourself to a sweet. Smoking will not relieve your suffering; it will only make things worse. Don¡¯t ever entertain that thought again. Got it?¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Cedrick mumbled while sucking on the caramel sweet. He savored the milky fragrance of the confection, pleasantly surprised to find that it was not sickeningly sweet. Of course, the fact that Gwendolyn had purchased and fed him the sweet only augmented his delight. While he slowly ate the sweet, he opened his arms in a silent bid for a hug. O 1/4 Chapter 285 The Queen Of Unpredictability +15 Bond His dark gaze had lost its usual hawkish edge in Gwendolyn¡¯s presence. In fact, he even appeared rather adorable with his cheeks puffed up from sucking on the sweet. Gwendolyn smiled and shook her head. She flicked his forehead lightly and teased, ¡°You¡¯re five years older than me, mister, but one sweet has turned you into a toddler. Is it that yummy?¡± Cedrick nodded earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ll have a taste too.¡± She turned toward the bedside table to get a caramel sweet, but Cedrick seized her elbow and pulled her toward him. A secondter, he covered her lips with a searing kiss. The faint, milky scent of the caramel sweet intermingled with their breaths.. Cedrick asked, ¡°Taste good?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a seductive smile. ¡°Not bad.¡± She traced his face with her fingers as her smile grew wicked. ¡°You¡¯ve finished your medicine and tasted that sweet. I guess it¡¯s time to move on to the next thing on the agenda, hmm?¡± Cedrick scrunched his brows in confusion. A sense of dread filled his chest as he took in Gwendolyn¡¯s expression. s, she did not give him a chance to react. Instead, she swiftly pulled open the first drawer of the bedside table and took a red wooden ruler out of it. The wicked smile never left Gwendolyn¡¯s face as shezily tapped the ruler on her palm. Cedrick instantly paled with shock when he saw the ruler. The caramel sweet in his mouth suddenly tasted less sweet than he remembered. Even after all the distractions, it appeared he would not be spared from corporal punishment. It felt as though he had taken a tumble from heaven andnded straight in hell. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± He clenched his fists nervously and pleaded, ¡°I messed up¡­¡± The poor man was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. Unmoved, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Since you know you messed up, you must be punished for your wrongdoing, or you¡¯ll never learn. Now, give me your hand.¡± Cedrick inhaled shakily but did not offer his hand. I should never have celebrated prematurely if I knew my fate was sealed. ¡°Your hand? Gwendolyn repeated more sternly. Under her scrutiny, Cedrick slowly stretched out his left hand. The ruler was immediately ced on his palm, but Gwendolyn seemed to be in no rush to carry out his punishment. Instead, she drawled, ¡°Hiding cigarettes is one thing. I¡¯m not likely to discover them since I¡¯m usually out in the day. But lying that they belonged to Nico? Plus, you didn¡¯t seem to care that I would be worried and were more intent on weaseling your way out of a punishment. Tell me. How many raps do you deserve?¡± Cold dread washed over Cedrick. 2/4 Chapter 285 The Queen Of Unpredictability Ah, I guess she knew from the start that I was trying to y the victim. She had recounted every one of his crimes with frightening uracy. ¡°Talk. How many?¡± Gwendolyn tapped the center of his palm and urged him to respond. +15 Bonus Cedrick snapped out of his thoughts and bit his lip. He uttered timidly and hesitantly, ¡°Uhm¡­ how about once?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened, and she announced coldly, ¡°A hundred!¡± His heart clenched in fear, and he attempted to negotiate a lighter punishment. ¡°What about five times?¡± Not even a hint of mercy was detectable in Gwendolyn¡¯s expression as she responded, ¡°Fifty.¡± She immediately halved the number of it I think I¡¯m seeing a pattern here.¡± He tested the waters and offered, ¡°Ten?¡± Gwendolyn paused for several seconds before saying, ¡°Twenty.¡± It was lenient enough for Cedrick, and he dered, ¡°Fine. Twenty it is. Go on.¡± Gwendolyn did not move and raised a brow in amusement. A devilish smile appeared on her face. She feigned shock and eximed, ¡°Ah, you¡¯re very much mistaken. My rule was to sum up both our proposed number of hits, so that makes forty! What a coincidence! I just determined that you committed four offenses today. We read each other¡¯s mind so perfectly!¡± Cedrick was bbergasted and could only stare at her wordlessly. What kind of logic is that? Frustration brewed in his chest, and he asked meekly, ¡°How hard will you hit me?¡± If she hits me as hard as she didst time, forty hits could render my left arm permanently impaired! Gwendolyn replied seriously, ¡°This is a punishment. If I hit you softly, how will you learn your lesson next time?¡± That dashed Cedrick¡¯s hopes entirely. The ruler, which still rested on his left palm and could strike him at any time, filled him with fear. He lowered his head in utter defeat as his nose inexplicably stung. Gwenny doesn¡¯t love me anymore¡­ Amid his morose thoughts, the ruler left his palm and resumed contact with a sharp sting again and again, sparing him no room for reprieve. Cedrick¡¯s fingers quivered, and he clenched his jaw silently, resisting the urge to retract his hand. He felt aggrieved, but he could only ept his punishment dutifully. The sounds of Gwendolyn¡¯s ruler pping Cedrick¡¯s palm pierced the silence of the night. Despite her ims that she would not go easy on him, Gwendolyn had, in fact, only used fifty percent of her strength. Granted, every rap of the ruler hurt, but it was not as painful as thest time she punished him. By the time she fully doled out the punishment, Cedrick¡¯s left palm was swollen and turning red. Still, the forty hits this time were definitely a lighter penalty than the five hits from Gwendolyn in the past. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick knew she had toned down her strength, but upon recalling her convincing threats earlier, he whined, ¡°I really thought you didn¡¯t care about me anymore.¡± Gwendolyn raised his left hand and nted gentle kisses across his burning palm. She was using her own ways to lessen his pain. Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Chapter 286 The Shameless Nico Gwendolyn closed her eyes and lovingly kissed Cedrick¡¯s palm. Her quiet concentration moved Cedrick, who could only stare at her in a daze. When she finally lifted her lips from his palm, she asked, ¡°Docs it still hurt?¡± 4343% +15 Bonus Cedrick almost answered in the negative when he remembered the painful price he had paid for giving the same answerst time. He swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and eked out, ¡°It still hurts¡­¡± Approval danced in Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze, and shemented brightly, ¡°Good to see you¡¯ve learned your lesson. That beating did not go to waste.¡± She followed it up with more kisses on his palm before standing up. After returning the ruler to its rightful ce, she grabbed a tube of anti¨Cinmmatory cream from the same drawer. Then, she carefully applied the ointment to his palm and knees. From time to time, she blew on the areas to soothe the sting of the ointment. ¡°Next time, just let me know if you have something on your mind. If you had told me earlier that you hated how bitter the medicine tasted, we could¡¯ve peacefully discussed another solution together. None of this would¡¯ve happened then, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Cedrick nodded and shot her a tender gaze. His heart was bursting with joy. With her around, even every argument left a sweet taste in his mouth. He was still relishing the loveliness of their banter when Gwendolyn¡¯s next words ruined his mood. She said, ¡°Actually, I nned to let you off the hook tonight. I only wanted to help you back to the room and apply some ointment to your knees. Who knew you were so into ying the part of a clueless victim! You practically begged for your punishment today.¡± Cedrick¡¯s back stiffened. He stared at his left palm in disbelief. Is she telling me that my acting brought this beating upon myself? Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. He had never felt more depressed than he did at that moment. My palm hurts even more now! Cedrick weakly burrowed into Gwendolyn¡¯s embrace, his expression a mask of sorrow and dejection.. ¡°Don¡¯t go tonight, Gwenny. Sleep with me, okay?¡± His request struck Gwendolyn silent for a few moments. She cleaned the ointment off her fingers with a wet tissue before stroking his face and coaxing, ¡°I can¡¯t. We can consider it when you feel better. If you¡¯re so keen on sharing a bed, then take your medication on time and focus on recuperating.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± It was almost winter, and judging by the state of his body, Cedrick was already dreading the lonely nights ahead of him till at least spring. r 1/4 13:25 Fri, 2 Jun 43% Chapter 286 The Shameless Nico +15 Bonus Eventually, he stopped himself from protesting Gwendolyn¡¯s decision and watched her leave the room. Because Gwendolyn took the next day off and upied Cedrick¡¯s attention at the vi, Nico had no opportunity to apologize to Cedrick, and the poor man suffered through two sleepless nights. Nico¡¯s chance came when Gwendolyn finally returned to work on day three. He was in charge of monitoring Cedrick¡¯s afternoon medication intake. He knocked on the door to the study uneasily. ¡°Come in.¡± Cedrick¡¯s deep voice betrayed no emotion. Nico took a deep breath and carefully opened the door and the amber, beaded curtains behind it. His legs felt leaden with dread as he approached Cedrick. Cedrick paused in the middle of typing and shot Nico a frosty stare. Chills ran down Nico¡¯s spine. He stered an awkward smile on his face and asked, ¡°Boss, two nights ago, the two of you¡­ was everything okay?¡± ¡°Of course. Though, thanks to you, Gwenny struck me forty times on the hand! No big deal!¡± Cedrick returned darkly, mercilessly pushing the me on Nico. Nico¡¯s breathing stuttered. He could almost feel his palm throbbing in pain as he imagined Gwendolyn¡¯s punishment. Before he could wail and plead for mercy, Cedrick continued, ¡°I recently heard of a small country in Alendor called Bera which is in dire need of coal miners. I think you¡¯re a great fit for the job. Should I get you transferred there?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± A panic¨Cstricken Nico threw himself at Cedrick¡¯s feet. He hugged thetter¡¯s muscr thigh and howled, ¡°I have sinned, Boss! It¡¯s all my fault. Why don¡¯t you hit me as many times as you please instead? I don¡¯t want to mine coal in Bera! I¡¯ll never leave you even if I be a ghost! Please, I¡¯ve been your loyal follower for years. I may be useless, but considering my efforts, won¡¯t you please give me a chance to redeem myself?¡± His eyes even welled with tears. In short, he was a perfect picture of remorse, from his anguished expression down to his cries. Not this again. Cedrick was disgusted by Nico¡¯s bawling act and tried to free himself from thetter¡¯s grip. ¡°I won¡¯t leave! I¡¯ll never go to Bera. Boss, why don¡¯t you just kill me now? Dying by your hand would be an honor!¡± To Cedrick¡¯s dismay, Nico tightened his grip and refused to let go. He looked like a leech that was stubbornly holding on to its target. Cedrick¡¯s annoyance was written all over his face. He did not know whether to rage orugh at Nico¡¯s shameless act. Finally, he roared, ¡°You b*stard! If you don¡¯t want to end up at a coal mine in Bera, stay out of my sights for the next two days! Now get lost!¡± 2/4 3:25 Chapter 286 The Shameless Nico +15 Bonus ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll scram now!¡± Nico mbered to his feet and almost tripped several times in his haste to leave the study. Cedrick facepalmed at Nico¡¯sical departure from the room. Surprisingly, most of his rage had dissipated after Nico¡¯s shameless begging. He returned his attention to theputer screen before him, but before he could type a word, something clutched at his calf. Cedrick looked down and frowned. ¡°Why are you back?¡± Sprawled on the floor, Nico replied seriously, ¡°Boss, Nico from the Federal Bureau of Investigation has already fled the room, and the person here is the Nico instructed by Ms. Gwendolyn to make sure you take your medication on time. I am now working under her orders.¡± ¡°You!¡± Cedrick gritted his teeth in exasperation. He grabbed his coffee cup from the table to hit Nico. Nico covered his head with his hands but did not duck. ¡°Take your anger out on me, Boss! My muscles are strong enough to be your punching bag! Even so, I won¡¯t leave without carrying out Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s orders. I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t want her to know that you taught me a lesson days after the fact, right?¡± Ms. Gwendolyn already gave me a ticket to indemnity that day! ¡°Hmph! Are you threatening me now because you have her support?¡± Cedrick¡¯s murderous aura instantly permeated the room. Nico swiftly changed tune and sputtered, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare! But¡­ Ms. Gwendolyn will think you refuse to admit to your wrongdoing if she knows I left. She¡¯ll assume you pushed the me onto me, and then she¡¯ll get mad at you!¡± He added, ¡°I¡¯m doing all this for your sake, Boss! My loyalty to you knows no bounds!¡± He crawled closer to Cedrick and even began massaging his boss¡® legs. Cedrick narrowed his eyes and muttered in disbelief, ¡°How is it possible that you¡¯re bing more and more shameless every day? Who¡¯s teaching you this?¡± ¡°You, of course¡­¡± Nico promptly realized his mistake and corrected himself, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s not it! Boss, you have never taught me anything but sensible things, and I was simply born as a shameless man!¡± Cedrick was torn between fuming andughing. In the end, he shook his head resignedly and ignored Nico, deciding to focus on his work. Meanwhile, Nico remained on his knees in the study, dutifully massaging Cedrick¡¯s legs and knees. An entire morning of ingratiating barely soothed Cedrick¡¯s fury. Their days of peace flew by, and soon enough, it was time for Eloise¡¯s birthday celebration. Gwendolyn helped Cedrick to put on his tie for the event, though she muttered with a frown, ¡°The weather is getting colder. I don¡¯t really want you to attend this Ferguson family affair.¡± Cedrick covered her hand with his and replied, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because it¡¯s not a simple party that I have to 3/4 13:28 Fr, 200E Chapter 286 The Shameless Nico +15 Bonus show up. I¡¯ll be there to hand Gwenny a knife if she wants to kill someone, and if she wants to cause a ruckus, I¡¯ll happily lear those nasty Fergusons to shreds! Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Jealous Cedrick Jenson Gwendolyn remained silent. Her expression was somber with worry. +15 Bonus Cedrick continued, ¡°I¡¯ve already been recovering at home for thest two weeks. People will start to get suspicious if I don¡¯t get out soon.¡± ¡°All right, fine,¡± Gwendolyn said grudgingly. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to drink any liquor during the party. If I find out you drank anything other than fruit juice, you¡¯re never going to hear the end of it from me!¡± She red at him fiercely while letting out a cute snort. Cedrick threaded his long fingers through her silky raven hair and tilted her head slightly upward before bending down to kiss her gently. After a long, drawn¨Cout kiss, he pressed his lips together and reveled in the sensation of her soft lips. ¡°Neither juice nor wine tastes as sweet as you, Gwenny.¡± Gwendolyn put his mask on him and hit his shoulder gently as she cooed, ¡°What a flirt!¡± The two of them left the house amidst yful flirting. They then set out to the Ferguson residence in their ck Shelby Supercar. Eloise¡¯s birthday party was scheduled to start at seven in the evening. Gwendolyn and Cedrick showed up half an hour carly. There weren¡¯t that many guests around since the party hadn¡¯t technically started yet. Eloise rolled her eyes at the sight of them holding hands before walking over with a falsely bright smile. ¡°Hi, Ms. Harris! Aren¡¯t you and Mr. Jenson early today!¡± Gwendolyn simply smiled in response. Cedrick, on the other hand, didn¡¯t even nce at Eloise. His dark irises maintained their icy gaze under his mask, which added an extrayer of mystery to his appearance. Eloise was clearly ruffled at theck of a response and couldn¡¯t be bothered to put on a front any longer. Turning away, she struck up a conversation with the socialites standing nearby. Sherman was sitting alone and had been broodily sipping at some liquor. When he heard that Gwendolyn had arrived, he was instantly delighted. However, she didn¡¯y even look in his direction. After going through the formalities with Wyatt Ferguson and Emma Tovack, Sherman¡¯s parents, she continued hanging around Cedrick as if they had been joined at the hip. Feeling upset, Sherman quickly approached and greeted her in an attempt to start a conversation. ¡°Hi, Gwendolyn! Long time no see. How have you been?¡± Gwendolyn replied mildly, ¡°Good evening, Mr. Ferguson. I¡¯m well.¡± Sherman visibly sagged with disappointment. ¡°Why can¡¯t you call me by my name like you used to? What happened between us?¡± Gwendolyn frowned at his usation. He was making it seem like they had been very close before, which 1/3 43% Chapter 287 Jealous Cedrick Jenson led her to wonder if he was purposely trying to agitate Cedrick. As expected, Cedrick¡¯s gaze underneath the mask was starting to darken with anger. +15 Bonus Gwendolyn quickly reached out to straighten his cor and ran her fingertips across the back of his neck tenderly as she spoke to Sherman. ¡°You must have misunderstood, Mr. Ferguson. We¡¯ve always been friends and nothing more. Also, my fianc¨¦ is quite the jealous type. Please don¡¯t say such misleading words that he might misunderstand.¡± Cedrick finally seemed to cool down under herforting touch and reached out to wrap an arm around her slender waist. Sherman felt like he had been plunged into icy¨Ccold waters. The persistent Maverick was gone, but an equally formidable opponent named Cedrick had appeared. He especially couldn¡¯t believe that Gwendolyn had fallen for Cedrick so soon, even to the point of moving in with him. As someone who had been in love with Gwendolyn for over ten years, he had always thought he was her best match and the one who loved her the most. He couldn¡¯t swallow the fact that he no longer stood a chance. ¡°Gwendolyn, I have something I would like to say to you in private. I won¡¯t bother you anymore after that. On behalf of our friendship, can you do that?¡± Gwendolyn turned him down without a second thought. ¡°You should know that Mr. Jenson and I were recently on the news. We got crowned the sweetest engaged aristocratic couple. I believe that there will be several press members attending since Ms. Eloise has invited quite a few celebrities. It will be a hassle to exin things if any reporters catch sight of us, don¡¯t you think? I think you should say anything you have to say here. There¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t want Mr. Jenson to hear, anyway.¡± At her words, Cedrick was slowly starting to be less agitated. He interlocked his and Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers tightly. The two of them nced at each other, smiling so sweetly it would have given anyone a cavity, The sight severely ticked off Sherman. ¡°I wasn¡¯t afraid to go against the Jenson family for you, Gwendolyn. Did you know that every single woman that Old Mr. Jenson finds for Cedrick ends up beaten and has to be carried out while covered in injuries? He¡¯s violent and treats women like punching bags. There are countless rumors about him torturing women for fun. He may be pretending to be nice now, or he may also just be worried about the Harris family¡¯s reputation. Either way, if you marry him, your life will be a living hell! I¡¯ve known you since we were kids. I wouldn¡¯t hurt you.¡± Cedrick remained expressionless despite everything Sherman had been spouting about him. However, he was a little bit curious about how quiet Gwendolyn had been about the rumors despite his apparent notoriety. Both men looked at Gwendolyn, who chuckled gracefully. ¡°At the end of the day, they¡¯re rumors, after all. You really shouldn¡¯t be so gullible, Mr. Ferguson. Besides, knowing Mr. Jenson, he might have spread those rumors deliberately to protect himself from anyone with bad intentions. I¡¯m sure I¡¯m the only woman for him, anyway.¡± 2/8 15:30 Fd 2Jun Chapter 287 Jealous Cedrick Jenson Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Sherman¡¯s expression soured. He had been rendered speechless by Gwendolyn¡¯s smooth rebuttal. +15 Bonus She politely said, ¡°The party is almost starting. I¡¯d like to have a little private time with Mr. Jenson before it begins. See youter.¡± She walked away with Cedrick hand¨Cin¨Chand and left Sherman standing there lookingpletely beaten down. Eloise looked at Sherman with pity from a balcony on the second floor. Her gaze was tinged with hatred as she turned to look at Gwendolyn¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°B*tch!¡± she hissed. Evelyn was standing right next to her with a perfectly made¨Cup face. She patted Eloise on the shoulder gently as she looked at Cedrick and Gwendolyn as well. An ambiguous smile was beginning to form on her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You have a lot of events lined up forter. Take a deep breath and calm down.¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick were walking around the vinguidly. Suddenly, Cedrick asked, ¡°Gwenny, do you really have that much faith in me? Aren¡¯t you afraid that I really did do all those cruel things to other women in the six months before we reunited?¡± Since there was no one around them, Gwendolyn pinched his ear tightly as she said coldly, ¡°So, you¡¯ve thought about it before, have you?¡± ¡°Ouch! No, I¡¯m just kidding! Watch out for cameras. Tomorrow¡¯s headlines are going to be about you abusing me,¡± Cedrick wailed. Despite his supposedints, he had naturally leaned down so that Gwendolyn wouldn¡¯t have to keep stretching her arm. Gwendolyn let go with a smile and gently massaged his ear. ¡°If it really does get on the news, then you¡¯re going to have to admit how much you love and listen to me. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m getting the short end of the stick.¡± Cedrick retorted, ¡°No way! I¡¯ll make sure to get revenge if that happens.¡± ¡°Nice try,¡± Gwendolyn said with a sassy eye roll. She knew what he meant by ¡®revenge¡® and began walking further ahead. Cedrick immediately caught up with her and held her hand tightly as if he were afraid that he would lose her. Even though Gwendolyn didn¡¯t ask about the rumors, Cedrick still felt the need to exin as they continued strolling. ¡°Well, Grandpa did send a woman right into my bed once. I made Nico dress up like a ghost and scare her. She fainted and had to be carried out on a stretcher, which is where the rumors came from. Yael purposely spread them in an attempt to ruin my reputation. However, as all rumors do, they grew more exaggerated as they spread further.¡± The two of them were in the middle of their conversation when Papilio Girls¡® assistant suddenly appeared. ¡°Ms. Harris! I¡¯ve been looking for you. Something happened to Jennifer and the girls backstage. Pleasee with me!¡± Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Chapter 288 There Is Someone Directing Eloise In the blink of an eye, a serious expression descended upon Gwendolyn¡¯s face. I¡¯m surprised at how fast Eloise has made her move. She clearly can¡¯t wait to have her revenge. -43% +15 Bonus Gwendolyn turned toward Cedrick and suggested, ¡°Ceddy, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for you toe backstage since it¡¯s full of girls. I¡¯lle to see you in a while. Remember not to drink, okay?¡± In public, Gwendolyn could only convey her intentions implicitly, yet the dangerous look in her eyes was unmistakable. Once Cedrick nodded and smiled with his lips pursed, Gwendolyn¨Cher mind put at ease¨Cleft with the assistant. However, Cedrick¡¯s expression gradually darkened the moment she left. Shortly after, he called Nico to his side and instructed, ¡°Tell Neville to secretly ensure Gwenny¡¯s safety while you keep an eye on the Ferguson siblings. Report to me the moment they make a move.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± Once Nico was gone, Cedrick looked up and narrowed his eyes at the Ferguson vi. The instant he turned around, he saw Treyton walking in his direction. Thetter had heard from Gwendolyn about Cedrick masquerading as Maverick previously. Although the look on Treyton¡¯s face didn¡¯t seem friendly, it wasn¡¯t as hostile as Asher¡¯s.. Cedrick would eventually have to gain the approval of all Gwendolyn¡¯s brothers since he nned on living the rest of his life with her. There was no avoiding it. Nheless, Treyton was aware of the torment Cedrick and Gwendolyn had suffered in Faike, which made him the easiest brother to gain approval from. With that thought in mind, Cedrick broke into an ingratiating smile. ¡°My future/brother¨Cinw, dide here to see me?¡± you Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. The address annoyed Treyton. ¡°Who says I¡¯m your brother¨Cinw? You¡¯re only engaged right now. The wedding isn¡¯tpleted yet.¡± Cedrick responded with a small grin instead of rebutting. ¡°Shall we talk?¡± After following the assistant into the vi, Gwendolyn arrived at the Papilio Girls¡® makeup room. Even before she entered, she could already hear sobs and chaotic chatter ringing out from inside. When the assistant opened the door, they saw the girls huddled in a group with their backs to the entrance, seemingly looking at something. Gwendolyn approached them and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Upon hearing her voice, the girls turned around. J Jameson, the fourth member of Papilio Girls, hurried anxiously to Gwendolyn¡¯s side, 1/4 43% Chapter 288 There Is Someone Directing Eloise +15 Bonus ¡°Ms. Harris, look! Jennifer¡¯s costume has been ruined, and we only have ten more minutes before the banquet starts. What are we going to do?¡± The rest of the girls were equally distraught. Ever since the establishment of their group, they had always been popr. It wasn¡¯t until Lisa was asked to leave after being exposed as a mistress that only six of them were left. The incident caused many of the group¡¯s fans to lose interest too. Even though the performance that evening was an ordinary one, many of Salinsburgh¡¯s rich and famous were in attendance. Thus, the girls were hoping to capture the hearts of a young tycoon so that they could marry into a rich family. Moreover, a single mistake from any one of them during the performance would negatively impact everyone. Cognizant of their intentions and concerns, Gwendolyn remained silent as she came forward to examine the costume. The previously beautiful dress had been cut into tiny pieces, leaving no chance of sewing it back or modifying its design. As for Jennifer, she was seated on the couch. In fact, she was the calmest among the members of the group, as if she had expected the act of sabotage. Gwendolyn turned to look at her. ¡°Jennifer, what do you think?¡± She replied, ¡°Since the costume is ruined, I won¡¯t be able to perform. You should just inform the organizers that I¡¯m feeling under the weather and let the other five continue.¡± J was the first to object. ¡°No, our performance is a group dance. If we lose one person, we¡¯ll have to rehearse entirely new positions. There¡¯s no way we can aplish that with the banquet ten minutes away. If we force ourselves to do it, we¡¯ll just end up embarrassing ourselves.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I would rather not perform than be humiliated. It would be terrible for my reputation!¡± ¡°I agree. You have to help us, Ms. Harris!¡± After pondering a moment, Gwendolyn had a word with their manager in private. ¡°How much are they being paid by the Ferguson family for their performance?¡± ¡°The Ferguson family was generous this time and signed a fifty million contract with us. If we were to break it, thepensation would be tenfold that amount. You have to consider this properly, Ms. Harris!¡± Gwendolyn snorted in response. ¡°Who says I¡¯m going to renege on the contract? I¡¯m not going to pay Eloise anything.¡± The manager was puzzled. ¡°In that case, what do you n to do, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she instructed one of the housekeepers in the Ferguson residence, ¡°Bring Eloise here. Tell her that I have something to discuss in person.¡± The housekeeper replied, ¡°The banquet is about to start, so Ms. Ferguson is likely in the room touching up her makeup. She doesn¡¯t have time to see anyone.¡± ||| 2/4 1327 Fri, 2 Jun F 43% Chapter 288 There Is Someone Directing Eloise +15 Bonus ¡°In that case, tell her that I, Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, will hold up the opening of the banquet in front of all the media and guests until she¡¯s willing toe forward and resolve the problem.¡± Well aware that a dy to the opening would be a disaster and intimidated by the sharp glint in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, the housekeeper ran upstairs to get Eloise. In less than a few minutes, Eloise came down. Arms folded and looking annoyed, she asked, ¡°What is it?¡± The manager came forward to exin, ¡°Ms. Ferguson, one of the costumes has been ruined. As they were provided by your side for this particr banquet, could you have them¡ª¡± Before she could finish, Eloise cut her off. ¡°The costumes were tailor¨Cmade and handed to you a long time ago. I¡¯m surprised you have the cheek to seek me out when you¡¯re the ones who ruined it.¡± After letting out an arrogant snort, she shot Gwendolyn a challenging look. ¡°If you¡¯re unable to perform, get out of my house and pay me thepensation for breaking the contract.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± At a loss for words, the manager turned to Gwendolyn for help. The smirking Gwendolyn grabbed the costume that had been cut into pieces and threw it at Eloise. Thetter¡¯s expression drastically changed as she staggered back. ¡°Gwendolyn! Do you know how expensive my gown is? I¡¯m going to make you pay if you dirty it!¡± As the sneer on her face deepened, Gwendolyn insinuated, ¡°Oh? It seems you¡¯re aware that the costume has been smeared with red dye.¡± Eloise was briefly stunned before regaining herposure. ¡°How would I know that? Even if there¡¯s no red dye, this dirty piece of cloth will still sully my dress!¡± By the end of her sentence, Eloise was gritting her teeth while giving Jennifer an insidious look. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened in response. Not wanting to waste any more time, she raised her phone to show Eloise the screen. The video that was ying showed the girls huddled around the ruined costume. All of them acted out the script Gwendolyn prepared, looking helpless and distraught while doing so. Eloise was baffled by what she saw. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± The corner of Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled. ¡°We have ten minutes before the opening performance for the evening. If the Ferguson family is unable to provide a recement costume, this video will be yed on the big screen in the courtyard and uploaded onto the inte. On top of that, I¡¯ve already ordered articles using the Ferguson family of wrongdoing to be authored.¡± Despite those words, Eloise let out a defiant snort. Cutting Jennifer¡¯s costume into shreds was just the appetizer of her scheme. The main course she had nned for had yet to be revealed. After celebrating her birthday for more than twenty years, she had long grown bored of it. Thus, she decided to liven it up this year by using it to teach her enemies a lesson. O 3/4 13:27 Fri, 2 Jun Chapter 288 There Is Someone Directing Eloise 43% +15 Bonus ¡°Gwendolyn, you underestimate me. Do you think I really care about all this? So what if the stock of the Ferguson family¡¯spany drops for a few days? The money lost by my family will be easily made back in the blink of an eye!¡± Thrusting her chin in the air, Eloise continued smugly, ¡°My staff has already handed the costume over. It¡¯s not my fault your people didn¡¯t take good care of it. If you don¡¯t want Jennifer to embarrass herself on stage, you should just cancel the contract!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s brows furrowed in the face of Eloise¡¯s response. She seems to be a lot shrewderpared to half a year ago. Is there someone guiding her behind the scenes? Who can it be? Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Gwendolyn Pretends To Take The Bait For some reason, Evelyn¡¯s face emerged in Gwendolyn¡¯s mind, for thetter seemed to know everything about Gwendolyn¡¯s past in Faike. Faced with Gwendolyn¡¯s silence, Eloise gloated, ¡°What¡¯s it going to be, Gwendolyn? Are you panicking because you realize your harsh methods don¡¯t work on me anymore?¡± In spite of the taunt, Gwendolyn remained unfazed as a grin emerged on her face. ¡°I¡¯ve always enjoyed a challenge. Since you don¡¯t care about the consequences, I¡¯ll just blow the matter up. I¡¯m sure your parents and brother won¡¯t be as nonchnt about it as you are.¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. After ncing at her watch, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°There are still eight minutes left. Let¡¯s see how much your parents really love you when your birthday banquet ends up bing theughingstock of the city¡¯s high society.¡± ¡°You¡­ You really want to challenge me, don¡¯t you!¡± Eloise¡¯s face contorted in fury beneath her makeup. Both of them were subsequently locked in a stalemate, neither wanting to back down. After all, Eloise couldn¡¯t show weakness in front of the assistant and manager from Angle. It wasn¡¯t until Sherman¡¯s voice rang out from the corridor that the impasse was interrupted. ¡°Eloise, Gwendolyn, what¡¯s going on?¡± Wearing an indifferent expression, Gwendolyn leaned elegantly against the door. When Sherman shifted his gaze to Eloise, thetter kept mum. In the end, it was the manager who came forward to exin the situation. Upon learning of what happened, Sherman broke into a gentle smile while exuding a debonair aura. ¡°This is a trivial matter. There¡¯s no need to kick up a fuss on Eloise¡¯s birthday. I remember that she had extra costumes made and kept them in the storeroom.¡± He subsequently instructed the housekeeper, ¡°Go to the storeroom and get the group changed into their new outfits. Be quick about it.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ferguson.¡± Upset by the turn of events, Eloise folded her arms and rolled her eyes before turning to leave. Nevertheless, the smile on Sherman¡¯s face was just as warm. Being the gentleman that he was, he apologized to the girls in the room, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the Ferguson family¡¯sck of hospitality. Let me make for it by apologizing over a toastter.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ferguson. That¡¯s really kind of you.¡± Other than Jennifer, all the other girls nodded shyly as the goodwill they felt toward him increased significantly. Now that Sherman had mediated a conclusion to the matter, Gwendolyn turned and left, as she had nothing more to say. However, Sherman quickly caught up from behind. ¡°I¡¯m d to be able to speak to you in private, Gwendolyn.¡± Ignoring his words, Gwendolyn picked up her pace. As the Ferguson residence was huge, both their footsteps echoed through the quiet corridor. It was there that Sherman took a deep breath to steel himself before blocking her way. ¡°Gwendolyn, I swear that this is thest time. I just feel indignant over the fact that you rejected me outright. At the very least, I deserve an exnation. I admit that I¡¯m inferior to Cedrick when ites to power and position. That said, my character and family background is superior to his, so why did you still choose him over me after your divorce?¡± Gwendolyn had always hated the clingy type. It didn¡¯t help that she had exined the situation to him countless times. Thus, she had no choice but to snuff out whatever hope he had left once and for all. ¡°Sherman, stopparing yourself to Cedrick. You don¡¯t evene close. Besides, I don¡¯t love you, and neither do you me! I have no doubt in my mind that the feelings you have for me are nothing more than a sense of stubborn familiarity, and you¡¯re just numbing yourself with it. Besides, even if Cedrick didn¡¯t exist, we would never be a couple. If you continue to pester me, I won¡¯t be able to stay friends with you anymore.¡± Her scathing words left a stunned look on Sherman¡¯s face. The devastation they wrought within him filled him with dejection and rendered him speechless. Although Gwendolyn took note of his reaction, there was nothing but iciness in her eyes. Just as she was about to leave, she could hear the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. A male housekeeper from the banquet hall suddenly came up to her. ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Jenson was just looking for you. He says it¡¯s urgent, so pleasee with me.¡± Despite his words, Gwendolyn stayed where she was as she scrutinized the housekeeper from head to toe. Thereafter, her lips curled into a slight smile while the amusement in her eyes intensified, If Cedrick ever wanted to see her, he would never send a member of the Ferguson residence staff. What does Eloise n to do to me in the Ferguson residence? This is getting interesting Breaking into a mischievous yet alluring smile, Gwendolyn turned around to nce at Sherman. He was still frozen to the spot, devastated by her earlier words. ¡°All right, lead the way.¡± The housekeeper bowed slightly before ushering Gwendolyn forward with his hand. ¡°This way, please.¡± Holding the train of her dress elegantly, Gwendolyn walked on ahead. All of a sudden, a threatening aura crept up on her from behind. ||| 2/4 13/27 Fri, 2 Jun Chapter 289 Gwendolyn Pretends To Take The Bait Scoffing internally, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t bother reacting. As the housekeeper softened his footsteps, his long arms suddenly reached around her neck before covering her mouth with a drugged handkerchief. After a momentary struggle, Gwendolyn felt her vision go dark. 43%1 +15 Bonus Meanwhile, the devastated Sherman, who had witnessed how the housekeeper was trying to drag the unconscious Gwendolyn away, dashed forward to save her. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of her!¡± When the housekeeper ignored his cries, Sherman came forward to wrest Gwendolyn from the former¡¯s arms. All of a sudden, Eloise emerged behind him and held him back. ¡°Sherman, this is my doing. Don¡¯t get in my way.¡± ¡°Eloise, have you gone mad? If anything happens to her in the Ferguson residence, our family will be in deep trouble! Do you know that?¡± Eloise replied with conviction, ¡°I do, but it¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to kill her here, so calm yourself down. I know you like Gwendolyn a lot. Haven¡¯t you thought of making her yours?¡± The question caused Sherman to freeze as a sense of dread crept into him. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I had someone drug her so that she could be brought to your room.¡± ¡°How could you do something like that?¡± Sherman stared at her in disbelief. I can¡¯t believe how wicked my sister is! ¡°You¡¯re a girl too. How could something like rape even cross your mind?¡± Eloise sneered, ¡°What other choice is there? This is the only way you can have her, Sherman. Once you have slept with her, Cedrick will abandon her. On top of that, no one else will marry her once word of it gets out. She will then have no choice but to be with you.¡± Shocked by her n, Sherman couldn¡¯t bear to look at the sister he had loved so dearly. ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± For the very first time, eyes that were bloodshot with rage appeared on his usually calm and gentle face. He then raised his hand in an attempt to p Eloise. Instead of trying to avoid it, Eloise thrust her chin forward to taunt him. ¡°Can you really bear toy a finger on me, your own sister? I¡¯m doing this all for you, and this is how you repay me? In that case, go ahead and hit me!¡± Intimidated by Eloise¡¯s defiance, Sherman couldn¡¯t bring his palm down upon her. All he could do was stand idly by and watch the male housekeeper carry the unconscious Gwendolyn upstairs. Eloise subsequently ced a hand on his shoulder and softened her tone. ¡°I know that you¡¯re a kind- 3/4 13:27 Fri, 2 Jun Chapter 289 Gwendolyn Pretends To Take The Bait +15 Bonus hearted person, Sherman. You won¡¯t be able to do anything morally wrong while you still have your wits with you. That¡¯s why I have a n to help you.¡± While speaking, she picked up a ss of champagne from the tray of a passing housekeeper. She then brazenly dropped a white pill into the drink right in front of Sherman. Upon giving the ss a shake, the pill gradually dissolved into the drink. Thereafter, she handed the ss to Sherman as she continued persuading him. ¡°Trust me, Sherman. I¡¯m doing this for your own good. This is your final opportunity. As long as you take this step forward, Gwendolyn will be yours! She has not just looked down upon you but also the Ferguson family. Even though you have loved her for more than ten years, she doesn¡¯t care about you at all. Can you really ept that? Why don¡¯t you just give it a try?¡± As Sherman stared at the champagne ss in her hand, his heart began to waver. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Tricks The birthday banquet was about to begin. The garden was lively and filled with guests. The melodious sound of violins and a piano reverberated in the air. Meanwhile, inside the vi, Sherman was standing in a quiet corridor, facing a tough decision. Eloise decided to egg him further, ¡°Sherman, drink it. I¡¯ve already set things in motion, so you have no way out. How do you think Cedrick and Treyton will take revenge against the Ferguson family if they find out in advance? ¡°However, if you seed, Cedrick will disdain Gwendolyn and break off their engagement. The Harris family will also feel embarrassed and won¡¯t dare to confront the Ferguson family, and we will have the upper hand. By then, won¡¯t Gwendolyn be at your mercy? Sherman!¡± Sherman was backed into a corner with no way out. The expression in his eyes gradually grew resolute. He received the ss of champagne handed to him by Eloise and gulped the content. Satisfied, Eloise grinned in delight. ¡°Hurry up and go upstairs. She belongs only to you tonight. Enjoy yourself!¡± Mixed emotions churned within Sherman as he moved slowly up the stairs, holding onto the rail for support. Taking in his retreating figure, Eloise quietly took out her phone and sent a message: It¡¯s a sess. Then, she added: Check the drugs prepared for Jennifer again. Proceed as nnedter. I want her reputation to be ruined! Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was being carried to Sherman¡¯s room. The male housekeeper ced her on therge bed and was about to remove her gown. Before he could touch her, a pair of slender hands grasped his wrist. The male housekeeper was stunned. He looked up and noticed Gwendolyn had awakened. Her eyes, reflecting the colorful lights from the garden outside, shone brightly and emanated intense coldness. She curled her morous red lips into a wide smile. ¡°W¨CWhen did you wake up? You weren¡¯t affected by ecstasy?¡± The male/housekeeper was momentarily dazed before swiftly regaining his senses. A malicious look shed across his eyes as he hastily yanked his right arm free. Pressing his fingers together, he aimed his hand at her neck, nning to knock her unconscious. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and was ready to retaliate, but someone was faster than her. A thud rang out, and the male housekeeper was knocked out from behind without any warning. Half of his body copsed onto the bed as he passed out cold. ||| > 1/4 43% Chapter 290 Tricks As he fell, Neville¡¯s radiant and delicate face was revealed. +15 Bonus Gwendolyn was a little taken aback. ¡°Neville? Why are you here? Did Ceddy send you to follow me?¡± Neville nodded. He crouched beside the bed to examine her condition. Noticing the faint red marks on her neck, he panicked. ¡°I¡¯m done for! Did I show up toote? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re hurt. Ahh! Boss will kill me!¡± Gwendolyn was amused by his frantic demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m not hurt. These red marks will fade in a little while. You arrived just in time. Help me with something.¡± Neville scratched his head. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Gwendolyn arched her brow, wearing a meaningful look on her countenance. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± Meanwhile, inside the garden, the banquet had already begun. Wyatt was giving a speech on the stage while Cedrick sat alone at a table. His brows were knitted, and he gave off a spine¨Cchilling and intimidating aura. As a result, no one dared to sit with him. The party is starting, yet Gwendolyn hasn¡¯t returned even after being gone for so long. There¡¯s no word from Neville either. He was restless as tumultuous emotions churned within him. Not long after, someone pulled out the chair next to him. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± When he turned his head around, his expression instantly froze. Cedrick asked gloomily, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Evelyn was dressed in an extravagant, custom¨Cmade gown from a branded clothing outlet. Her exquisite makeup and wless skin gave her a highly captivating appearance. Many scions from various wealthy families were unable to take their eyes off her from the moment she showed up. However, they were immediately disheartened when they saw her sitting beside Cedrick. Yet, as breathtaking as she was, Cedrick didn¡¯t bother sparing her a nce. Evelyn was a popr actress, to begin with. As she took the seat beside Cedrick, many reporters in the surroundings pointed their cameras at her and furiously clicked on the shutter Despite having multiple cameras trained on her, she remainedposed and wore a gentle smile. Evelyn whispered, Mr. Jenson, the cameras are pointed at us. Don¡¯t look so grim.¡± Cedrick pursed his lips and ignored her. She didn¡¯t feel awkward and even poured herself a ss of red wine. Then, she clinked her ss lightly with Cedrick¡¯s ss filled with fruit juice, producing a crisp sound. ¡°Are you looking for Ms. Harris, Mr. Jenson? I saw her earlier.¡± She elegantly took a sip of red wine before continuing, ¡°She was talking with Mr. Ferguson in the corridor.¡±s O ||| 2/4 43% Chapter 290 Tricks Cedrick, whose eyes were dark and pensive, disregarded her entirely. +15 Bonus ¡°Do you really trust her that much, Mr. Jenson? She told you she wouldn¡¯t be alone with Mr. Ferguson to avoid any misunderstandings, but she¡¯s now secretly meeting him. Moreover, the two seemed to have gone upstairs together. Aren¡¯t you curious about what they¡¯re doing up there?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression gradually turned frosty. He red at Evelyn with his sharp gaze and uttered mockingly, ¡°I cannot tolerate people I don¡¯t like. I¡¯ve tried all your pretentious tricks on Gwendolyn. How clich¨¦.¡± Evelyn froze. He couldn¡¯t be bothered with her, so he got to his feet and strode toward the vi. 1. 1. At that moment, Nico happened to jog over in his direction and whispered something next to his ear. From the moment he stood up, many cameras had followed his movements, and so they clearly captured the increasingly icy expression under his mask. Cedrick¡¯s fury intensified the more he heard. He picked up a wine ss from the table and smashed it on the ground. Crack! The piercing noise startled everyone. Wyatt, who had been giving a speech on the stage, also had his attention drawn by the sound. The music and conversations in the garden ceased abruptly as everyone stared nkly at Cedrick, not daring to speak. Cedrick riveted his frosty and wrathful gaze on Wyatt. ¡°How dare you, Fergusons!¡± Wyatt and Emma were utterly baffled. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Sensing his overwhelming rage, the other guests were frightened to the extent of pot daring to breathe. Is he nning to cause a scene at an event hosted by the Ferguson family? A sense of foreboding surged within Eloise. Before Nico could speak, she quickly shot a look at the female housekeeper near her. The housekeeper rushed out from the vi. ¡°Oh no! This is terrible! Oh my!¡± She even tripped and fell to the ground because she ran too hastily. Eloise feigned ignorance and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Today is my birthday. It¡¯s a wonderful day. How dare you say it¡¯s terrible?¡± The housekeeper stuttered, ¡°Ms. Ferguson, Ms. Harris drank too much earlier and went into Mr. Sherman¡¯s room. S¨CShe¡¯s b¨Cbedded Mr. Sherman!¡± ¡°What?¡± Wyatt, Emma, and Treyton eximed in unison. Everyone instantly shifted their eyes onto Cedrick. ||| 3/4 443% +15 Bonus Chapter 290 Tricks Cedrick grimaced. His aura turned hostile like a brewing storm and wasced with murderous intent as he strode into the vi with Nico to catch Gwendolyn and Sherman in the act of cheating. Treyton trod on their heels. Eloise, leading a few brawny bodyguards, also trailed behind. Subsequently, pandemonium reigned in the crowd. Wyatt and Emma were forced to stay behind to appease the guests. They braced themselves and put on a show, trying to divert everyone¡¯s attention. Evelyn was the calmest. She sipped on her red wine in amusement as if waiting for a drama to unfold. Cedrick and Nico headed straight for Sherman¡¯s bedroom. The soundproofing of the room was excellent, as no sound came from within. Nheless, the closed door gave the impression that something untoward was happening inside. Arriving at the door, Cedrick paused for a few moments until he heard the hurried footsteps mixed with the clicking sound of high heelsing from the stairwell. Only then did he narrow his eyes and instruct Nico, ¡°Barge in!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Drama At The Ferguson Residence Gwendolyn was not there. The only people lying in bed were two men! Everyone was shocked to see two naked male bodies on the bed. 10% +25 Bonus Sherman exhibited an abnormalplexion on his face, appearing dazed. The other man was restrained with bound hands and feet, and a gag covered his mouth. His body disyed visible marks of recent intimacy. Nico rubbed his nose and chuckled. ¡°Mr. Ferguson¡¯s taste is indeed unique!¡± Eloise, who had been expecting Cedrick to explode, was puzzled when she saw howposed he was. It was not until she clearly saw who was on the bed that she understood. ¡°What are you doing here? Where¡¯s Gwendolyn?¡± To her astonishment, the man on the bed was none other than Samuel, the male housekeeper she had sent to drug Gwendolyn! Wyatt and Emma were just as dumbfounded. Wyatt roared, ¡°You useless brat! You¡¯ve tarnished the reputation of the Ferguson family!¡± Emma, too, was at a loss for words. She eximed, ¡°Pull up the nket! This is so embarrassing!¡± Yet, no one heard what she said as they were still taken aback by what they saw. The room was abuzz with noises amidst the terrified muffled sounds Samuel made. Meanwhile, Sherman seemed to be in a deranged state. He hugged Samuel and kissed him repeatedly. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re finally mine. Gwendolyn, my Gwen¡­¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes darkened, and in an instant, a surge of killing intent arose. ¡°How dare he utter my fianc¨¦e¡¯s name! Nico, beat him up!¡± ¡°Yes, Boss!¡± Nico got up and punched Sherman twice in his face. The blows caused bruises to bloom on Sherman¡¯s face, and a tiny bit of blood trickled from his cut lip. He also appeared disoriented. Nico grabbed his hair and pointed at Samuel. ¡°Mr. Ferguson, take a closer look at the man you slept with!¡± Under the influence of drugs, Sherman was unable to see and think clearly. Like a broken record, he repeated, ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re mine! You must marry me¡­¡± Wyatt felt utterly embarrassed and nned to drive Cedrick and Treyton away. After all, this was a family matter that needed to be dealt with behind closed doors. However, before he could speak, a clear and feminine voice sounded from outside the door. ¡°Did someone call for me? What did I miss? I just went away to do some stuff.¡± Gwendolyn smirked, exuding her usual noble and aloof demeanor. She was not alone, = 2/4 10% Chapter 291 Drama At The Ferguson Residence +25 Bonus Behind her stood the journalists who had been in the garden earlier. They swiftly aimed their cameras at the Epean¨Cstyle bed and began capturing photos. Neville also wore a duckbill cap and blended in with the crowd. In his hands, he held a video camera as he broadcasted the scene live to the screen in the garden downstairs. In the garden, a high¨Cdefinition screen was disying a backdrop for a popr female celebrity performing on stage. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Suddenly, the screen¡¯s image shifted, disying the intertwined figures on the bed inside the Ferguson residence. The entire audience erupted in an uproar, many of them shocked to the point where their jaws almost dropped. For the socialites, this was their first time witnessing two men engaging in intimacy. Taken aback, they let out shrill screams, their faces turning pale. The garden descended into chaos. ¡°Oh, my god! Didn¡¯t the housekeeper say that Ms. Harris slept with Mr. Sherman? How did it be him sleeping with a man instead?¡± ¡°S6, Mr. Ferguson is into¡­ Oh, my god, that¡¯s disgusting! How could he do such a thing during his sister¡¯s birthday party? This is too much! His initial n was to tarnish Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s reputation. I can¡¯t believe the Fergusons have resorted to such a dirty tactic!¡± another guest echoed. Before this, Sherman had always appeared as a soft¨Cspoken and humble gentleman, always treating others with kindness. Yet, the good reputation he had cautiously cultivated over thest two decades waspletely shattered by this live broadcast on the big screen. Some people began to mock and ridicule him, while others took pleasure in the misfortune, capturing the scene with their phones. Some ill¨Ctempered individuals from prominent families even started smashing their wine sses, vowing to break business ties with the Ferguson family. Things were no better inside the vi. When Cedrick saw Gwendolyning in, he walked over, stood before her, and covered her eyes. Gwendolyn, displeased with his action, pouted and insisted, ¡°I want to see what¡¯s so special about it. Let me take a look.¡± Cedrick¡¯s displeasure was evident on his face as he lifted her in his arms. His deep voice carried a gentle tone. ¡°You¡¯re the youngest here, and what you¡¯ll see might not be appropriate for your age. Come, let¡¯s go back.¡± Gwendolyn wrapped her hands around his neck, not struggling or refuting. As they were about to walk out of the door. Cedrick halted, his tone icy as he addressed Wyatt. ¡°This is not the end of it. Just wait and see!¡± Wyatt and Emma called the housekeepers to disperse the journalists and stop them from taking photos ||| r 3/4 Chapter 291 Drama At The Ferguson Residence +25 Bonus and videos. Overwhelmed by everything that was happening, Wyatt felt a splitting headacheing in. ¡°Cedrick, about this¡­¡± Cedrick ignored his attempts to exin and carried Gwendolyn away. Gwendolyn clung to his arm and turned to look at her brother, Treyton. Her gaze was filled with concern as she silently mouthed a few words to him. Treyton immediately understood what she said. She was telling him to keep an eye on Jennifer. Treyton knitted his brows and went deep in thought for a moment. A sudden thought crossed his mind, prompting him to swiftly turn around and run in the opposite direction to look for Jennifer. Eloise stopped him from leaving. ¡°Trey, where are you going?¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Chapter 292 You Are Way Worse Than An Animal ¡°Don¡¯t call me that! It¡¯s disgusting! Eloise, I won¡¯t let you off if youy a finger on Jennifer!¡± He shoved Eloise¡¯s hand away and rushed down the stairs. Eloise¡¯s face twisted with jealousy as she watched Trey¡¯s hasty departure. In a fit of anger, she smashed a colossal porcin vase along the corridor. She was well aware that after what just transpired, Sherman¡¯s reputation was utterly ruined while Gwendolyn escaped that fate, and the Fergusons were in big trouble. However, none of that mattered to her at this point. Since she had failed to destroy Gwendolyn, she was determined to ruin Jennifer! 125 Bonus Meanwhile, Emma was handling the reporters gathered in Sherman¡¯s room while Wyatt attended to matters in the garden. Many guests had already departed even before the tower cake made its grand entrance as they were unable to endure the footage on therge screen. Eloise couldn¡¯t care about anything anymore as she hurried down the stairs and took a shortcut to get to Jennifer before Treyton. Moments ago, Jennifer had been clinking sses with her fellow members at the Papilio Girls¡® backstage room before she took a sip of fruit juice. However, within a matter of minutes, her body temperature began to rise. She tried her best to endure the difort, thinking that a trip to the washroom would alleviate it. As she walked along the corridor in a daze, leaning on the wall for support, a rugged man with an unkempt beard suddenly grabbed her and forcefully carried her away to the basement. Moans and groans could be heard emanating from behind the tightly shut door. Eloise hastily arrived with a camera and five bodyguards in tow, intending to capture apromising photo of Jennifer.. However, she was met with profound disappointment when she opened the door. Jennifer stood against the wall, her eyes bloodshot, gripping a bloodstained metal rod in her hand. Despite the visible trembling, she was still standing strong. Her exquisite costume had been torn to tatters, but her gaze remained resolute. Instead of sumbing to distress, she emitted a fierce resolve, ready to fight till the end. Earlier, she had only taken a sip of the drugged beverage, so she was not particrly affected and was able to maintain a shred of herposure. ¡°What¡¯s the hold¨Cup? Why haven¡¯t youpleted the task?¡± Eloise felt her frustration reaching its peak. Everything seemed to be spiraling out of her controltely. The man whom Jennifer had fiercely beaten was slowly making his way toward her, but upon hearing 1/4 18:55 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 292 You Are Way Worse Than An Animal Eloise¡¯s voice, he abruptly changed course and limped toward Eloise instead. ¡°Ms. Ferguson, she¡¯s too strong. I can¡¯t take her down!¡± ¡°Useless piece of trash!¡± ÒÔ10%½´ +25 Bonus Eloise delivered a resounding p that left him disoriented. She then fixed a piercing re on Jennifer, who was backed into a corner, and instructed her bodyguards, ¡°All of you, have fun with her, and I¡¯ll reward everyone with one million each!¡± The bodyguards¡® eyes gleamed like feral beasts as they lunged at Jennifer at Eloise¡¯smand. ¡°Stay away from me! Ah!¡± Jennifer fiercely swung her metal rod, but she was outnumbered by the five bodyguards. In a matter of moments, her weapon was wrested from her grasp, plunging her into a torrent of fear and despair. Determined to avoid being vited by these vile men, she contemted biting her tongue to end her life. However, before she could act, Treyton swiftly intervened, kicking the bodyguards away and breaking their wrists before they could eveny a hand on her shoulder. Within seconds, all five bodyguardsy defeated on the ground, their agonized cries filling the room. Eloise, who was leaning against the doorframe with her arms folded, was caughtpletely off guard. She didn¡¯t even have time to react or witness how Treyton swiftly took down all of her bodyguards. Treyton crouched down, removed his jacket, and quickly draped it over Jennifer¡¯s trembling form. With urgency, he pried open her mouth to prevent any self¨Cinflicted harm. ¡°Jennifer, it¡¯s me! I¡¯m sorry I arrivedte!¡± Amidst the turmoil of her fight for survival, Jennifer found sce in the familiarity of Treyton¡¯s deep, baritone voice. Weary and drained, she surrendered herself to his embrace, allowing her tears to flow freely. As Treyton gently patted Jennifer¡¯s back, trying to soothe her, a tumultuous storm brewed within him. His eyes flickered dangerously, radiating an icy aura that betrayed his pent¨Cup emotions. Witnessing their closeness, Eloisepletely lost control. She stormed over, forcefully wrenching Treyton away, her face contorted with envy. ¡°How could you do this to me? Why? I¡¯ve loved you since our childhood. After much effort, I finally got the opportunity to be engaged to you, yet you¡¯ve rejected me time and time again. You always treat other women better than you treat me. Treyton, what gives you the right to treat me like this?¡± With each word, she struck Treyton¡¯s arm with all her might, consumed by fury and jealousy. Treyton remained motionless, a brewing storm in his eyes. Finally, he snapped and responded with a resounding p. Like a delicate princess, Eloise crumpled to the ground under the force of his fierce p. Her cheek flushed red as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. 111 O 2/4 Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. 10% Chapter 292 You Are Way Worse Than An Animal +25 Bonus Shocked and disoriented, she instinctively covered her face and eximed, ¡°You struck me? How dare you!¡± Treyton¡¯s eyes simmered with disdain as he regarded Eloise as if he had just swallowed a fly. ¡°I never lay hands on a woman, but you¡¯re nothing more than a feral beast!¡± With those words, he scooped up Jennifer, who was slowly losing consciousness, and walked out the door. ¡°Trey! Trey!¡± Eloise reached out to grab his pants but fell t on her face. She had no choice but to watch Treyton walk away with Jennifer in his arms. ¡°Ahh!¡± Overwhelmed, she covered her head and screamed like a madwoman. Two weeks of meticulous nning had unraveled right before her eyes. It was enough to drive her crazy! Treyton swiftly settled Jennifer inside the car, instructing the driver to look after her while he headed back to the Ferguson residence. The atmosphere in the garden had somewhat calmed down, with Wyatt reluctantly swallowing his pride and apologizing to the remaining guests, trying to persuade them to stay. However, a considerable number had already departed. The once elegant birthday banquet had descended into chaos within moments, leaving each individual with their own distinct perspective on the unfolding events. Treyton stormed into the garden, striding toward the stage with determination. He picked up the microphone, his voice resolute and unwavering as he addressed the remaining guests without hesitation, ¡°I, Treyton Harris, hereby announce the cancetion of my engagement to Eloise Ferguson. Moreover, I am cutting off all business connections and affiliations with the Ferguson family. From now on, you¡¯re on your own, Fergusons!¡± With that, he tossed the microphone down and made his exit. As the microphone fell to the ground, an ear¨Cpiercing screech reverberated through the air. The serene garden was immediately plunged into chaos once again as the previously pacified guests, who had momentarily calmed down due to Wyatt¡¯s efforts, erupted into a frenzy ofmotion and confusion. Meanwhile, at the gate of the Ferguson residence, Cedrick emerged with Gwendolyn in his arms. Just as he was about to step into his car, Treyton¡¯s announcement caught his attention. Gwendolyn shed a thumbs up in approval. ¡°Impressive, Treyton! As expected of my brother!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s your sibling, after all.¡± Cedrick smiled and gently ced her in the backseat of the car. Gwendolyn scooted over to make room for Cedrick to join her. As the car door mmed shut, the cacophony of noise emanating from the Ferguson residence was abruptly silenced. Nico took the wheel and elerated toward Harrick Vi. Unable to contain her curiosity about the earlier events, Gwendolyn turned to Cedrick and asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes, ¡°Ceddy, just now, when you were standing outside Sherman¡¯s room door, how were you so sure I wasn¡¯t inside?¡± Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Carried By Gwenny He sounded frail. Sticking his nose into the crook of Gwendolyn¡¯s neck, he tantly took in whiffs of her body scent, and very soon, he fell asleep. Gwendolyn held his back and patted him once in a while. She kept her eyes on the street lights outside the window and began to zone out. When Nico saw that Cedrick had fallen asleep, he slowed down the car and drove more steadily. After half an hour, they arrived at the Jenson residence. The Jenson residence was designed in such a way that all the cars had to be parked at a designated garage. The passengers then had to walk through a series of winding paths before arriving at the residential area. Cedrick was deep asleep. Due to atrophy, his stamina was worse than before. Gwendolyn could not bear to wake him up and nned to carry him back gently. Nico was stunned and reached out before saying, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, why don¡¯t you let me do it?¡± ¡°No need she replied tersely before scooping Cedrick into her arms and walking toward Harrick Vi. Nico stared at her retreating figure in astonishment. It took him a while before he returned to his senses. Is this a case of role reversal where Boss is the princess being carried? He was utterly shocked! The sight of Cedrick¡¯s one¨Chundred¨Cand¨Ceighty¨Ceight centimeters tall body in Gwendolyn¡¯s arms brought about a sense of dissonance. Yet, at the same time, it looked right. Nico was truly happy for his boss. Holding back his tears, he jogged up to them. Since Gwendolyn was wearing high heels and Cedrick was heavier than her, it was a little difficult for her to carry him. Besides that, they had to walk through the winding paths to get to Harrick Vi. Nico spotted the sweat on her forehead and felt sorry for her. Even her heels were making loud noises. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, why don¡¯t I carry him instead?¡± There was no response from Gwendolyn. She took a few deep breaths before continuing to walk forward. Nico continued to persuade her to do otherwise. ¡°Mr. Jenson¡¯s condition doesn¡¯t affect his weight. He¡¯s quite heavy. If you continue to carry him, your arms will ache tomorrow. Why don¡¯t you let me take him?¡± Gwendolyn shushed him softly and looked down at Cedrick with heartache. ¡°I want to experience it for myself, so I know how someone like him with atrophy feels after carrying me all the way down from the Ferguson residence.¡± Nico was slightly stunned and touched to hear that. After a while, he decided to take Cedrick from Gwendolyn¡¯s arms and carried him on his back. ¡°You!¡± III O 2/4 18:56 Sat, Jun 3 N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Chapter 293 Carried By Gwenny +25 Bonus Nico smiled. ¡°To Mr. Jenson, you are more important than his life. If your arms ache tomorrow, he will be heartbroken and feel very guilty. So please, Ms. Gwendolyn, stop arguing with me.¡± It was easy for him to carry Cedrick, and he walked a lot faster than Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn ended up following behind him. After putting Cedrick on the bed, Nico left the vi. Gwendolyn sat on the bed and massaged her sore arms. Staring at Cedrick¡¯s handsome face, she lost herself in her thoughts again. Recently, she had read up on a lot of information. At present, the S404 RNA virus was illegal, and there was not much information on it, let alone an antidote. Cedrick had been taking the medicines prescribed by Joshua, but those medicines were only meant as supplements. Their effects were negligible, and they certainly were not able to treat Cedrick¡¯s illness. Perhaps it¡¯s time I consider Charles¡® method? What if he really does know how to cure Cedrick? She had mixed feelings and was very confused. In the end, she had no choice but to take the risk and give it a try as that was her only option now. That night, the Ferguson family became a trending topic online. Treyton had even made arrangements so that all top ten trending topics online had something to do with the Ferguson family. Wyatt did not sleep that night. He contacted the various public rtions departments to forcefully put a cap on the news but to no avail. In fact, the Fergusons became even more popr because of Treyton calling off the engagement and Sherman¡¯s scandal. Things reached such a level that, at one point, the rted websites went down due to the high traffic. It was even worse than the announcement of the love lives of celebrities. The following morning, misfortune befell Ferguson Group. Cedrick had terminated all coboration with Ferguson Group. As the head of the richest family in Chanaea, Cedrick was now the wealthiest man in the country. That made him an extremely influential man. With him leading, several otherpanies also cut off ties with Ferguson Group. The shares of Ferguson Group dropped drastically overnight. It was so bad that there did not seem to be any reprieve. The incident caused Wyatt to lose more than tens of billions. Meanwhile, in the garden of the Ferguson residence, Sherman, who was finally sober, was being hung from the tree and whipped by his father. His body was covered with blood. Sherman¡¯s pained cries, inteced with the sound of the whip hitting flesh, were horrifically loud and terrifying. Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Feeding Cedrick +35 Bunus In the living room of the Ferguson residence. Wyant sat on the couch, brows furrowed and eyes zing His fury showed no sign of diminishing. He closed his eyes, listening to the whipping sounds from the garden wordlessly Emma was clutching a handkerchief, her voice already hoarse from crying nonstop. Unfortunately. Wyatt was really incensed this time and took no notice of her pleas. As for Eloise, the p from the previous night had left half of her face swollen. It made it appear as though she had her mouth stuffed with food, which was quiteical. Her face was still wet with tears, and she looked rather pitiful. She had been kneeling on the cold, tiled floor of the living room for thest hour. Since she and Sherman were little. Wyatt had doted on them. Any little bump or scratch they had would make his heart ache for a long time. This time, however, he was merciless The solemn and unnerving atmosphere went on for another two minutes. As Sherman was hung up in the garden and whipped, his agonized cries gradually grew weaker. It seemed as though he would not be able to bear it much longer. Enduring the acute pain in her knees. Eloise shuttled over to her father on her knees and clutched at the hem of his pants Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pleaded with him. ¡°Have mercy on Sherman! He can¡¯t take much more. That b*tch, Gwendolyn, tricked him! How could you be so harsh to your children? You should help me deal with Gwendolyn and kill Jennifer!¡± He stared at her in shock. Enraged by her words, he yanked her hand away fiercely. ¡°How did I raise a daughter like you? Not only are you arrogant and imperious, but you also defy thew and twist the truth. You¡¯re also absolutely vicious, wanting to kill others at every turn. You¡¯re a menace!¡± After getting thrown to the floor, she stared at him in stunned silence for a moment. Then, she chuckled coldly. ¡°As if you weren¡¯t the one who taught me all that. You were the one who told me I¡¯d be able to progress more steadily and further if I handled matters ruthlessly. My only mistake was not doing that well enough.¡± ¡°You!¡± Rage surged through him. He pointed a trembling finger at her, too furious to say anything- Eloise continued. ¡°If my n seeds, Sherman may be able to marry Gwendolyn. She has the inheritance rights to her family¡¯s fortune, so if she marries into our family, doesn¡¯t that mean it¡¯ll all belong to us? We won¡¯t have to feel inferior because we¡¯re rankedst among the four prominent families. I did everything for the sake of our family, so you shouldn¡¯t treat Sherman and me like this. Besides, he didn¡¯t know anything about it. He doesn¡¯t deserve a whipp Wyatt snorted heavily. ¡°As the older brother and pride of the Ferguson family, it¡¯s bad enough that he didn¡¯t try to advise you. However, he even caused trouble with you. He should get beaten to death after humiliating our family like that!¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Wyatt simply looked away, unmoved. Just then, the housekeeper in the garden rushed inside. ¡°Mr. Ferguson. Mr. Sherman has passed out again. If we wake him up and continue the whipping. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll mean the end of him. Please have mercy on 111 O 13 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 294 Feeding Cedrick +25 Bonus him.¡± Eloise and the sobbing Emma were rmed when they heard that. Although Wyatt had a slightly conflicted look in his eyes, he did not say anything. Emma¡¯s eyes shed with anger. She quickly grabbed the paring knife on the coffee table and pressed it against her neck. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Darling! What are you doing? Hurry up and put down the knife!¡± Wyatt and Eloise cried out at the same time. However, Emma did not lower the knife. Instead, she pressed it even closer, and a faint trace of blood seeped through the shallow cut it made on her neck. ¡°Wyatt Ferguson! That¡¯s our son whom I carried for ten months before giving birth to him! If you¡¯re going to beat him to death, I don¡¯t want to live either! You might as well kill me and our two children, then marry another woman and have kids with her!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t continue with the whipping. Put down the knife, and we can talk this out.¡± After hearing her threaten him with her life, he finally relented. The housekeeper carried Sherman to his bedroom. Worried about him, Eloise followed them upstairs to tend to his injuries. Soon, only the couple was left in the living room. Having blown off some steam, Wyatt was now calmly smoking a cigarette. Emma was racking her brains for a solution. ¡°At present, the only way to gain control over the downtrend in the stock market is to remove all the trending posts. As for Cedrick¡¯s end, let¡¯s wait for Sherman¡¯s injuries to heal before sending him to the Jenson residence to apologize personally. For Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s sake, Cedrick will surely let the matter slide. Once we¡¯ve dealt with that sticky situation, thepanies. who terminated their coborations with us will surely change their minds.¡± Needless to say, Wyatt knew how to handle the situation. Cedrick is in a fit of anger now. We¡¯ll only be able to deal with this in a few days after he calms down, so let¡¯s not talk about that now. He let out a long sigh. In a steady tone, he replied, ¡°If Treyton refuses to agree, removing the trending posts will be difficult. However, you saw what he¡¯s like. He dared to call off the engagement in front of everyone,pletely embarrassing our family.¡± Emma fell silent. Treyton¡¯s methods were a little extreme. It¡¯s evident he¡¯s just as furious as Cedrick, so there¡¯s no way he¡¯ll agree to that so easily. ¡°Dad, Treyton doesn¡¯t call the shots for the Harris family. It won¡¯t work if he¡¯s the only one who wishes to call off the engagement. Mr. Marcus has to agree to it.¡± Eloise had wiped away her tears and was descending the stairs gracefully. ¡°You once mentioned that Mr. Marcus owes you a favor. If you meet with him and ask for his help, I think he¡¯ll consider helping us to persuade Treyton. Besides, what do you think will happen if he finds out about Treyton and Jennifer?¡± Back then, she had used the same excuse to make Marcus ignore Treyton¡¯s objections and insist on proceeding with the engagement. As far as I¡¯m concerned, since Treyton and I aren¡¯t getting married, the favor III O 2/3 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 294 Feeding Cedrick hasn¡¯t been repaid yet. Hence, it¡¯s only reasonable to make some other small request. +25 Bonus Wyatt looked grim as he remained silent. Perhaps I¡¯ve no choice but to set aside my ego and try that method. Over at Harrick Vi, Cedrick was awakened by the smell of oatmeal. When he opened his eyes, he saw Gwendolyn sitting beside him with a bowl of piping hot oatmeal in her hand. She was stirring it while blowing on it to cool it down. What a familiar scene.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. He seemed to recall that he and Gwendolyn had had a misunderstanding half a year ago because of Natasha. He had kneeled in the garden all night under the pouring rain. After Gwendolyn realized she had wrongfully used him, she also made oatmeal just like this and blew on it to cool it down. The only difference was that previously, she had viewed him as a target of revenge. Her eyes had been cold with no hint of pity. Now, her gaze was gentle, and her tender affection was evident in her every move. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Setting aside the bowl, she propped the pillow upright and helped him lean against the headboard. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he asked, ¡°How did I get backst night? Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d wake me up?¡± Gwendolyn picked up the bowl of oatmeal again, continuing to stir and blow on it. ¡°I had Nico carry you back. Seeing how soundly you were sleeping, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to wake you.¡± Scooping up a small spoonful of oatmeal, she held it to his lips. ¡°Here. Eat it slowly. Careful, it¡¯s hot.¡± Cedrick was stunned for two seconds. Then, he opened his mouth obediently. ¡°Why are you feeding me? Why the sudden attentiveness early in the morning?¡± It made him a little uneasy, and he could not help thinking something felt off. Gwendolyn lowered her gaze to hide the look in her eyes as she held out another spoonful. ¡°You worked hardst night, so think of this as your reward, okay?¡± Her reply rendered him speechless. Those words can easily cause one to misunderstand. All I did yesterday was carry her! I¡¯ve got to correct that response of hers! Hence, the pair fell into a heated debate about the term ¡°worked hard.¡± The bowl of oatmeal soon became empty as she fed it all to him. Gwendolyn arranged for Joanne to handle thepany¡¯s affairs for the day as she nned to spend the day at home with Cedrick. That afternoon, she loungedzily on the couch with her legs crossed, binge¨Cwatching dramas. Meanwhile, Cedrick had his head on herp while working away on his tablet. Suddenly, they heard the sound of someone knocking on the front door. It sounded very urgent. Elven was outside the door. ¡°Ms. Harris, bad news! Mr. Treyton and Mr. Marcus are arguing in the ancestral hall, and it doesn¡¯t sound good. You should quickly go back and check on the situation.¡± Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Return Home To Support Treyton Gwendolyn immediately got up to open the door. ¡°What happened? How did they start arguing?¡± +25 Bonus Elven panted heavily and replied, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson came over in the morning, and I don¡¯t know what they said to Mr. Marcus. Mr. Treyton is still angry about yesterday¡¯s matter, probably because of the engagement with Ms. Weller¡­¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. Did Dad find out about Treyton and Jennifer? Of course they would get into an argument because of that! I have to go back home now to make sure Treyton isn¡¯t at a disadvantage! ¡°Ceddy, I mighte backter at night,¡± she said to Cedrick as she put on her shoes. Cedrick got up, put his tablet down, and walked toward Gwendolyn. ¡°Since it¡¯s an important matter, I¡¯ming with you.¡± Gwendolyn immediately replied, ¡°This is a matter concerning the Harris family. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for you to go. Stay home, rest well, and remember to take your medicine!¡± Cedrick wasn¡¯t pleased about it but didn¡¯t say anything. He took a white coat from the coat hanger and helped Gwendolyn put it on. ¡°It¡¯s almost winter. Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Gwendolyn stood on tiptoe and nted a kiss on his cheek. Then, she and Elven hurried back to Mount Tranquil. The moment Gwendolyn reached the mountaintop, she spotted Jennifer pacing back and forth at the entrance of Marcus¡® vi anxiously. She got out of the car and walked over. ¡°Jennifer!¡± Upon hearing her voice, Jennifer immediately ran over to her. ¡°Gwendolyn, Mr. Marcus called Mr. Harris over during lunch, and they haven¡¯te out yet. They won¡¯t let me in, so I can only wait outside. I have no idea what¡¯s going on inside!¡± Gwendolyn grabbed Jennifer¡¯s hand and patted it gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll definitely help Treyton. I¡¯ll bring you in.¡± As Gwendolyn was there, the bodyguards didn¡¯t dare to stop them. As soon as Leif heard that Gwendolyn had returned, he hurriedly ran over from outside the ancestral hall to greet her. Gwendolyn asked him, ¡°Leif, where¡¯s Asher?¡± ¡°Mr. Asher and his wife aren¡¯t in Salinsburgh. I don¡¯t know when they will be back.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened. She suddenly thought about something and turned to look at Elven. III 1/4 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 295 Return Home To Support Treyton 10% +25 Bonus ¡°Go and contact Asher. If he doesn¡¯t pick up his calls, call Sienna and get Asher to return to Salinsburgh within these two days. I have something to discuss with him.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harris.¡± With that, Elven turned to carry out her order. Gwendolyn held Jennifer¡¯s hand and went straight to the entrance of the ancestral hall. The entrance to the ancestral hall was tightly closed. There was a sudden sound of a coffee cup shattering inside, indicating things were not going well. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows and was about to push the door open when Leif stopped her. ¡°Ms. Harris, although you can enter the ancestral hall, Ms. Weller can¡¯t enter because she isn¡¯t part of the family.¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t want to cause unnecessary trouble for Gwendolyn, so she uttered tactfully, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t need to go in. I¡¯ll wait for you outside the ancestral hall.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and didn¡¯t dy any further. She immediately pushed open the door to the ancestral hall. In the ancestral hall, Marcus was sitting in the main seat, his chest heaving with anger and his eyes clouded with rage. At the side, Lori was sitting on a chair with an indifferent expression as if it had nothing to do with her. Treyton stood in the middle of the room with his back ramrod straight. He didn¡¯t think he had done anything wrong, so he refused to kneel on the ground no matter how much Marcus yelled. Coffee stained his expensive suit on his right shoulder. Marcus had used the coffee cup to strike at Treyton, which aligned with what Gwendolyn had heard outside. The yelling stopped once Gwendolyn entered the ancestral hall. Lori shot her a condescending and annoyed look before snickering softly. Marcus¡® expression softened. He asked gently, ¡°Why are you back? Did you return home to support Treyton?¡± ¡°Dad, what are you saying? Can¡¯t Ie back home?¡± As she spoke, she took out a wet tissue to wipe the coffee stains on Treyton¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Treyton, was the coffee hot? Did it scald you? Undo a few buttons, and let me see your shoulder.¡± Treyton shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s just warm coffee. It wasn¡¯t scalding hot. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Marcus huffed in dissatisfaction. He was slightly jealous. All Gwendolyn cared about after returning home was her brother. She didn¡¯t even ask about him. Hearing that, Gwendolyn immediately squatted by his feet, her crossed arms resting on his legs, which were covered with a nket. She lifted her face, smiling adorably. ¡°Dad, you have always been gentle and never lose your temper. What happened today? You were so angry that you even used a coffee cup to strike at Treyton.¡± Marcus was enraged upon thinking about it. He red at Treyton and said, ¡°He intended to break off the ? O 2/4 18:57 Sat, Jun Chapter 295 Return Home To Support Treyton Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. 10% +25 Bonus engagement with the Ferguson family without seeking permission and even hooked up with a celebrity even though he was engaged. Wyatt had toe and humbly request me to persuade this b*stard not to deliberately oppose the Ferguson family and to remove the trending topic for them.¡± Treyton clenched his fists, causing his veins to bulge. ¡°I have been courteous enough to refrain from doing anything! How dare they ask me for help! Keep dreaming!¡± ¡°You-¡± Marcus choked and coughed violently, his countenance turning ck and purple from anger. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t get agitated. Treyton isn¡¯t an unreasonable person.¡± Gwendolyn immediately patted Marcus¡® back and shot a look at Treyton to tell him to stop adding fuel to the fire. Treyton¡¯s expression darkened, but he didn¡¯t say anything else. With Gwendolyn cating him, Marcus gradually calmed down. Just as she was about to mediate the situation, she noticed Lori from the corner of her eyes. ¡°You should leave. I have something to say to Dad and Treyton.¡± Lori, who had been gleefully watching the drama, was very displeased having been called out. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you chasing me away? I¡¯m part of the Harris family, so why can¡¯t I listen to this conversation?¡± Gwendolyn stared at her coldly. ¡°So what if you¡¯re part of the family? They¡¯re my father and brother. I want to have a private conversation with them. What¡¯s it to you?¡± Lori was unable to counter her argument, so she turned to Marcus for help. ¡°Hubby, did you hear her? She¡¯s saying I¡¯m an outsider. Aren¡¯t you going to say something?¡± However, Marcus was on Gwendolyn¡¯s side. ¡°She must have something she has to say to me privately. You should leave first. Don¡¯t worry. No one will dare to treat you as an outsider as long as I¡¯m here.¡± If Lori didn¡¯t leave after all that was said by Marcus, Gwendolyn would definitely mock her again. Lori had no choice but to leave. She mmed the door behind her. Once she was gone, Gwendolyn turned to look at Marcus. ¡°Dad, there¡¯s something you don¡¯t know. Treyton hates Eloise because she tried to kill me several times in Faike. However, the Ferguson family was able to help her cover up because of their influence¨Cand power. I didn¡¯t bring this up because I couldn¡¯t find enough evidence.¡± Marcus was shocked. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes, Dad.¡± Gwendolyn massaged his legs. ¡°Eloise took advantage of me chatting with Sherman and knocked me unconscious during her birthday banquetst night. She nned to tie me to Sherman¡¯s bed. If I hadn¡¯t been alert, the news headlines you saw during the day would have been about me!¡± ¡°What?¡± Marcus widened his eyes and mmed his hand on the table in rage. ¡°Did the Ferguson family think they can deceive me on this because I¡¯m old?¡± That morning, Wyatt and his wife hade over but didn¡¯t mention a word about the reasons behind the misfortunes of their family. They had conveniently talked about Treyton calling off his engagement and affair, trying to shift all the me onto the Harris family. How evil of them! Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Calling Off The Engagement +25 Bonus Suddenly, Marcus recalled something that quelled his rage. ¡°You may not know about this, Honey, but Wyatt saved me when we were young, so I promised to help him. He¡¯s invoking the favor I owe him right now, so¡­¡± Gwendolyn knitted her eyebrows. ¡°How many times have you secretly helped the Ferguson family over the years, Dad? Besides, this isn¡¯t the first or second time Eloise has tried to harm me. You don¡¯t owe the Ferguson family anymore. If Treyton wants to call off the engagement, just let him do it. Do you want him to bring a vicious woman like Eloise home as a bride so she can bully me? You should ignore the Ferguson family¡¯s crisis and let fate decide their end. If they fail to ovee this obstacle, it¡¯s their fault when theirpany goes bankrupt and they¡¯re no longer an affluent family. Whatever bes of them has nothing to do with you.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Upon listening to her words calmly, Marcus earnestly thought about the matter and nodded. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll do as you say. I can¡¯t believe Eloise tried to hurt you. The Ferguson family should be grateful that I¡¯m kindly abstaining from stacking more problems onto their tes.¡± In response, Gwendolyn grinned. While she seemed satisfied with her father¡¯s decision, she wasn¡¯t. Dad may have nothing to do with the Ferguson family anymore, but my grudge against Eloise can¡¯t be resolved. Soon, a storm will descend upon the Ferguson family and I can¡¯t wait to see it. Afterplimenting Marcus for a little longer, she sessfully calmed him down. Treyton stood silently and stared at the two of them coldly. Upon noticing that Treyton was standing at the side like a block of wood, Marcus said in a gentler tone, ¡°I don¡¯t mind you calling off the engagement, but I still won¡¯t agree to your marriage with Jennifer.¡± Treyton scowled. ¡°Are you going to pair me up with the daughter of another prestigious family? Marriage is something that¡¯llst for a lifetime. I will marry someone I love. I don¡¯t care if you want to pick another fianc¨¦e for me because I won¡¯t allow it!¡± ¡°Are you trying to piss me off?¡± Marcus¡® rage that had died down reignited. ¡°That little celebrity of yours is just an orphan with no background! Not to mention she didn¡¯t graduate from any distinguished institution. What are the benefits of you marrying her, huh? Do you want the Harris family to beughed at?¡± ¡°Benefits?¡± Treyton¡¯s temper sparked. ¡°Are we still talking about my marriage or a shopping trip? Even though you¡¯re so calctive, you ignored all our objections in the past and insisted on marrying Lori, who has absolutely nothing! Why is it that when you marry a mistress, it¡¯s all fine and dandy, but when I¡¯m trying to marry a wife I love, it¡¯s wrong? Oh wait, I know why. It¡¯s because you¡¯re a hypocrite!¡± Marcus pointed at Treyton with a trembling finger as he heaved violently, struggling to breathe. ¡°You b*stard!¡± If he weren¡¯t bound to his wheelchair, he would¡¯ve already pped Treyton twice. Since he couldn¡¯t hit his son, he became even more incensed. ¡°Leif! Whip this unfilial son of mine until he apologizes!¡± Treyton unbuttoned his coat and removed it. ¡°I¡¯ll never apologize. I dare you to beat me to death today so you can have the life you¡¯ve given me back! If there¡¯s a next life, I won¡¯t be your son again!¡± It had been more than two years since Marcus had tried engaging Eloise with Treyton. Because of that, the rtionship between the father and son had be stiff and never recovered. ||]] 1/3 . 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 296 Calling Off The Engagement +25 Bonus ¡°You insolent b*stard!¡± eximed Marcus, his eyes red. His countenance had turned ck and purple from anger. Leif hesitated and advised, ¡°You should calm down, Mr. Marcus. Mr. Treyton is-¡± Marcus glowered at him. ¡°Tie him up and whip him to death now! I don¡¯t care even if you kill him!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± Gwendolyn shot Leif a look, telling him to stand down. ¡°Are you going to disobey me, too?¡± Lowering his head, Marcus stared at his beloved daughter with a grimace. ¡°Of course not, Dad.¡± She patted his heaving chest to soothe his emotions. ¡°Treyton did cross the line a little with his words earlier, but it¡¯s only because he¡¯s irritated by Eloise¡¯s matter, Dad. He didn¡¯t mean to talk back to you. I apologize on his behalf.¡± As she smiled, she was secretly d that her elders were more open¨Cminded than other families. Thank goodness our family doesn¡¯t have the type of punishments the Jenson family delivers, like whipping people. Otherwise, Treyton will be in a lot of pain today. Marcus¡® breathing returned to normal after sheforted him. However, when he lifted his eyes, he saw Treyton still removing his shirt. The younger man was staring at his father half¨Cnaked as though he was openly challenging thetter¡¯s authority. ¡°Look at him! You apologized on his behalf for nothing because he doesn¡¯t regret his actions at all!¡± Abruptly, Marcus had a coughing fit. Gwendolyn quickly looked back and red at Treyton. ¡°Stop messing around, and put your clothes back on. Dad will be heartbroken if you get sick with a cold.¡± She kept shooting him looks, requesting him to do as she said. Treyton was momentarily stunned. With a scowl, he put his clothes back on. Marcus scoffed, ¡°Like heck it¡¯ll happen. I won¡¯t shed a tear even if he dies of an illness. I should¡¯ve worn a condom back then so he would¡¯ve died as a sperm!¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but snicker and did her best to ease the tension. ¡°What are you saying, Dad? If he weren¡¯t born, you wouldn¡¯t have me, your considerate and adorable daughter.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± Marcus¡® tone softened. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let this slide for your sake.¡± Yes! He¡¯s giving Treyton a way out. Delighted, Gwendolyn turned to her brother. ¡°Dad¡¯s not angry at you anymore, Treyton. Hurry up and thank him!¡± Treyton didn¡¯t respond. Seeing that Marcus was getting riled up again, Gwendolyn shifted her focus back to him. ¡°You¡¯re a kind father, Dad. You never hit or scolded us siblings. There¡¯s no need for you to be mad at Treyton. Perhaps he¡¯ll change his mind in a few days.¡± Her words once again appeased him. His expression rxed as he spoke sincerely. ¡°Remember this, Treyton. I¡¯ll never hurt you. I¡¯m more experienced than you, so I know what¡¯s best for you. It¡¯s for your own good to marry a woman of a simr background.¡± Treyton scoffed and was going to argue with his father again when Gwendolyn covered his mouth. ¡°Let ´¨ 2/3 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 296 Calling Off The Engagement 10%1 +25 Bonus me handle Treyton, Dad. I¡¯ll definitely help you convince him!¡± Then she dragged Treyton out of the room by his arm and smiled at Marcus. ¡°We¡¯ll be leaving now, Dad!¡± After the siblings left the ancestral hall, Treyton spoke up before Gwendolyn could. ¡°Back then, you insisted on marrying into the Wright family because you didn¡¯t want your life to be dictated by someone else. I¡¯m the same. This is non¨Cnegotiable for me. I won¡¯t allow him to decide who I marry.¡± Gwendolyn blinked. ¡°Who¡¯s saying I¡¯m persuading you to do as Dad says?¡± ¡°Hmm? Didn¡¯t you just tell him you were going to do that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re an idiot, Treyton. Trying to convince Dad to think otherwise when he¡¯s angry is a fool¡¯s errand. If you want him to agree to your marriage with Jennifer, you must take things slowly. Convince him she¡¯s a beautiful, nice, kind¨Chearteddy and not a conniving woman who only wants to be the wife of a wealthy man. Use a roundabout approach to make him agree to your marriage. That¡¯s what you¡¯re good at!¡± Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Take Responsibility 10%1 +25 Bonus Treyton fell into silence before blowing out a long breath. ¡°You¡¯re right. Dad¡¯s stubborn. Convincing him to change his mind is harder than flying.¡± ¡°That makes it worth the challenge. Are you scared, Treyton?¡± Gwendolyn pped him on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help put in a few words for you. Plus, he may be able to control who you marry, but he can¡¯t control who you date. Just do what you want, but keep a low profile.¡± Treyton mulled over the wisdom in her words. The pair chatted as they walked and arrived at the ancestral hall entrance sooner than expected. Gwendolyn suddenly stiffened in shock as she stared at the empty doorway. I forgot someone! She eximed, ¡°Oh no! I was so absorbed in our chat that I forgot about Jennifer. Why didn¡¯t I see her while we were heading to the door? She said she would wait for you at the entrance to the ancestral hall!¡± Treyton knitted his brows and asked, ¡°Did she follow us here?¡± ¡°Yes. She said she was worried about you.¡± Gwendolyn wondered if she should turn back to find Jennifer. ¡°She never breaks her promise. She wouldn¡¯t have left unless she saw you. Unless¡­¡± Gwendolyn trailed off and met Treyton¡¯s gaze. Both their expressions grew somber as their thoughts arrived at the same conclusion. Treyton turned around first and sprinted in the direction of his vi. Gwendolyn was not far behind as they headed down from the summit to the halfway point. They were just pushing open the iron gates to the vi when Jennifer walked out with her luggage. Treyton strode forward and asked, ¡°Why did you pack your luggage?¡± Jennifer lowered her head and replied somewhat guiltily, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have imposed on your kindness, Mr. Harris. Almost a month has passed since Walter¡¯s cheating scandal, and I¡¯m sure theizens have long forgotten about it. It¡¯s time for me to move back to my ce.¡± Treyton grasped her wrist and yanked the luggage out of her grip. ¡°I disagree!¡± N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡°Mr. Harris, you have no right to stop me from leaving. You¡¯ve sessfully broken off your engagement to Ms. Ferguson, so our contract is void!¡± Jennifer¡¯s annoyance seeped through her words. This was the first time she had said such harsh things to him. Treyton pursed his lips, a frosty expression on his face. After some thought, he asked, ¡°Did Lori say something to you when she left the ancestral hall?¡± Jennifer did not bother to hide the truth and confessed, ¡°She was absolutely right. We belong to different worlds. I¡¯ll never be a good match for you. I¡¯m just a fake lover you hired for a job. It was improper for me to develop feelings for you, and I should not hold you back from meeting a woman deserving of you. I¡ª¡± Her protests were cut off by Treyton, who closed the distance between them, pulled her head to his, and poured his apologies into a passionate kiss. ? < 1/4 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 297 Take Responsibility The atmosphere became tinged with an intimate mood. That was the scene Gwendolyn witnessed when she barged into the vi grounds. +26 Bonus She smiled in relief and shook her head. Her footsteps instantly felt lighter as she silently took her leave. Jennifer broke free from the overpowering kiss first. Treyton hurriedly exined, ¡°I fell for you first. In fact, I should be the one apologizing. Last night¡­ when you were intoxicated, I shouldn¡¯t have done that to you. But 1¡­¡± The night before, when he brought Jennifer back to the vi, the only thing on his mind was to help her get a quick shower and give her some medication to relieve her pain. He never expected her topletely fall under the influence of the drug and attempt to seekfort with his body. Treyton hated how he had given in so easily to his lust. He had been celibate for years, yet Jennifer had obliterated his restraints. Recollections of their deeds fromst night instantly filled Jennifer¡¯s mind. She blushed in embarrassment. ¡°L¨CLast night was an ident. Don¡¯t think too much of it, Mr. Harris. I¨CI will never use it against you as emotional ckmail or anything. Let¡¯s just¡­ pretend it never happened!¡± Indignance was written all over Treyton¡¯s face as he used, ¡°You! You immoral woman! Aren¡¯t you going to take responsibility for me after bedding me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jennifer was puzzled. What is he saying? It escaped her imagination that the elegant and well¨Cmannered Treyton would utter such shameless words. Jennifer¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She mustered all her courage and asked haltingly, ¡°Wasst night¡­ also your first time, Mr. Harris?¡± Treyton¡¯s expression shuttered while his ears turned bright red, betraying his mortification. He mumbled, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Well, since it was a first for both of us, let¡¯s consider it canceled out?¡± Jennifer barely managed to voice her suggestion and attempted to slink away. Her n was foiled by Treyton, who locked his hand behind her neck and demanded, ¡°Where are you running off to? I¡¯m not some promiscuous man. Since we¡¯ve slept together, I¡¯ll take responsibility for you forever.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°No buts!¡± His gaze looked unusually determined. ¡°I vow to sweep away all obstacles in our rtionship from now on. You¡¯ll never be alone again. I¡¯ll love and cherish you so you can focus wholeheartedly on ? 2/4 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 297 Take Responsibility building your career in showbiz and chasing the happiness you desire!¡± Jennifer looked at him in a daze, moved by his romantic deration. 10% +25 Bonus She once believed her heart would forever be closed to any man after Walter cheated on her, but Treyton had somehow slipped in despite her defenses. Love and family were things she had never dared to dream of. Jennifer sniffled and muttered, ¡°Can you not be so good to me?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Treyton cradled her face gently and awaited her reply. ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­¡± I¡¯m scared I¡¯ll fall deeper in love with you and fail to pull myself out before it¡¯s toote. I¡¯m scared my emotions will take a worse battering from Walter¡¯s cheating, and it¡¯ll sink me further into despair. Treyton appeared to have guessed her thoughts. He chuckled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not Walter. I, Treyton Harris, never go back on my promises!¡± Jennifer repressed the urge to burst into sobs and reminded him solemnly, ¡°But Mr. Harris, are you sure you want to be with me? I¡¯ve no idea what my parents look like. My earliest memories are of my days at the orphanage in Faike, and they have no information on my family background. I¡¯m an abandoned child. My birth was a mistake.¡± ¡°Abandoning you was their loss. I¡¯ll treasure you from now on.¡± Treyton held her hand, nted a tender kiss on it, and looked at her earnestly. ¡°I¡¯d like to sign a new contract with you, Ms. Weller. This time, the contract deadline is up to you.¡± Jennifer was utterly dumbstruck. He was basically giving her the reins to direct their rtionship, allowing her to back out if she lost interest. Is he doing all this to give me a sense of security? The chilling breeze ofte autumn suddenly felt like a warm caress to Jennifer. Treyton was the source of that warmth. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was already in a car headed away from Mount Tranquil. She looked back several times at her rapidly retreating surroundings with mixed emotions in her chest. If only Cedrick and I could be like Asher and Sienna or Treyton and Jennifer, leading healthy, peaceful lives filled with love. That would be wondrous. An uncharacteristically despondent gaze appeared in her eyes for the first time. Just then, her phone rang with a call, disturbing her gloomy thoughts. It was a call from Asher, ¡°Kiddo, I heard Elven mention that you were looking for me.¡± O 3/4 1857 Sat Juns Chapter 297 Take Responsibility Gwendolyn inhaled deeply and replied. ¡°Yes¡­¡± 10%8 Asher checked his schedule and said. ¡°I¡¯m upied for a couple of days and won¡¯t be able to return to Salinsburgh immediately. Why don¡¯t you tell me about it over the phone? I¡¯ll help you out once I have time¡± ¡°Thanks Asher.¡± Gwendolyn paused for a long moment before saying, ¡°I hope you can help me to bail Charles out of the maximum¨Csecurity prison!¡± Her request rendered Asher speechless. He did not seem to Chapter 297 Take Responsibility 10%1 +25 Bonus Treyton fell into silence before blowing out a long breath. ¡°You¡¯re right. Dad¡¯s stubborn. Convincing him to change his mind is harder than flying.¡± ¡°That makes it worth the challenge. Are you scared, Treyton?¡± Gwendolyn pped him on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help put in a few words for you. Plus, he may be able to control who you marry, but he can¡¯t control who you date. Just do what you want, but keep a low profile.¡± Treyton mulled over the wisdom in her words. The pair chatted as they walked and arrived at the ancestral hall entrance sooner than expected. Gwendolyn suddenly stiffened in shock as she stared at the empty doorway. I forgot someone! She eximed, ¡°Oh no! I was so absorbed in our chat that I forgot about Jennifer. Why didn¡¯t I see her while we were heading to the door? She said she would wait for you at the entrance to the ancestral hall!¡± Treyton knitted his brows and asked, ¡°Did she follow us here?¡± ¡°Yes. She said she was worried about you.¡± Gwendolyn wondered if she should turn back to find Jennifer. ¡°She never breaks her promise. She wouldn¡¯t have left unless she saw you. Unless¡­¡± Gwendolyn trailed off and met Treyton¡¯s gaze. Both their expressions grew somber as their thoughts arrived at the same conclusion. Treyton turned around first and sprinted in the direction of his vi. Gwendolyn was not far behind as they headed down from the summit to the halfway point. They were just pushing open the iron gates to the vi when Jennifer walked out with her luggage. Treyton strode forward and asked, ¡°Why did you pack your luggage?¡± Jennifer lowered her head and replied somewhat guiltily, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have imposed on your kindness, Mr. Harris. Almost a month has passed since Walter¡¯s cheating scandal, and I¡¯m sure theizens have long forgotten about it. It¡¯s time for me to move back to my ce.¡± Treyton grasped her wrist and yanked the luggage out of her grip. ¡°I disagree!¡± ¡°Mr. Harris, you have no right to stop me from leaving. You¡¯ve sessfully broken off your engagement to Ms. Ferguson, so our contract is void!¡± Jennifer¡¯s annoyance seeped through her words. This was the first time she had said such harsh things to him. Treyton pursed his lips, a frosty expression on his face. After some thought, he asked, ¡°Did Lori say something to you when she left the ancestral hall?¡± Jennifer did not bother to hide the truth and confessed, ¡°She was absolutely right. We belong to different worlds. I¡¯ll never be a good match for you. I¡¯m just a fake lover you hired for a job. It was improper for me to develop feelings for you, and I should not hold you back from meeting a woman deserving of you. I¡ª¡± Her protests were cut off by Treyton, who closed the distance between them, pulled her head to his, and poured his apologies into a passionate kiss. ? < 1/4 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 297 Take Responsibility The atmosphere became tinged with an intimate mood. That was the scene Gwendolyn witnessed when she barged into the vi grounds. +26 Bonus She smiled in relief and shook her head. Her footsteps instantly felt lighter as she silently took her leave. Jennifer broke free from the overpowering kiss first. Treyton hurriedly exined, ¡°I fell for you first. In fact, I should be the one apologizing. Last night¡­ when you were intoxicated, I shouldn¡¯t have done that to you. But 1¡­¡± The night before, when he brought Jennifer back to the vi, the only thing on his mind was to help her get a quick shower and give her some medication to relieve her pain. He never expected her topletely fall under the influence of the drug and attempt to seekfort with his body. Treyton hated how he had given in so easily to his lust. He had been celibate for years, yet Jennifer had obliterated his restraints. Recollections of their deeds fromst night instantly filled Jennifer¡¯s mind. She blushed in embarrassment. ¡°L¨CLast night was an ident. Don¡¯t think too much of it, Mr. Harris. I¨CI will never use it against you as emotional ckmail or anything. Let¡¯s just¡­ pretend it never happened!¡± Indignance was written all over Treyton¡¯s face as he used, ¡°You! You immoral woman! Aren¡¯t you going to take responsibility for me after bedding me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jennifer was puzzled. What is he saying? It escaped her imagination that the elegant and well¨Cmannered Treyton would utter such shameless words. Jennifer¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She mustered all her courage and asked haltingly, ¡°Wasst night¡­ also your first time, Mr. Harris?¡± Treyton¡¯s expression shuttered while his ears turned bright red, betraying his mortification. He mumbled, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Well, since it was a first for both of us, let¡¯s consider it canceled out?¡± Jennifer barely managed to voice her suggestion and attempted to slink away. Her n was foiled by Treyton, who locked his hand behind her neck and demanded, ¡°Where are you running off to? I¡¯m not some promiscuous man. Since we¡¯ve slept together, I¡¯ll take responsibility for you forever.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°No buts!¡± His gaze looked unusually determined. ¡°I vow to sweep away all obstacles in our rtionship from now on. You¡¯ll never be alone again. I¡¯ll love and cherish you so you can focus wholeheartedly on ? 2/4 18:57 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 297 Take Responsibility building your career in showbiz and chasing the happiness you desire!¡± Jennifer looked at him in a daze, moved by his romantic deration. 10% +25 Bonus She once believed her heart would forever be closed to any man after Walter cheated on her, but Treyton had somehow slipped in despite her defenses. Love and family were things she had never dared to dream of. Jennifer sniffled and muttered, ¡°Can you not be so good to me?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Treyton cradled her face gently and awaited her reply. ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­¡± I¡¯m scared I¡¯ll fall deeper in love with you and fail to pull myself out before it¡¯s toote. I¡¯m scared my emotions will take a worse battering from Walter¡¯s cheating, and it¡¯ll sink me further into despair. Treyton appeared to have guessed her thoughts. He chuckled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not Walter. I, Treyton Harris, never go back on my promises!¡± Jennifer repressed the urge to burst into sobs and reminded him solemnly, ¡°But Mr. Harris, are you sure you want to be with me? I¡¯ve no idea what my parents look like. My earliest memories are of my days at the orphanage in Faike, and they have no information on my family background. I¡¯m an abandoned child. My birth was a mistake.¡± ¡°Abandoning you was their loss. I¡¯ll treasure you from now on.¡± Treyton held her hand, nted a tender kiss on it, and looked at her earnestly. ¡°I¡¯d like to sign a new contract with you, Ms. Weller. This time, the contract deadline is up to you.¡± Jennifer was utterly dumbstruck. He was basically giving her the reins to direct their rtionship, allowing her to back out if she lost interest. Is he doing all this to give me a sense of security? The chilling breeze ofte autumn suddenly felt like a warm caress to Jennifer. Treyton was the source of that warmth. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was already in a car headed away from Mount Tranquil. She looked back several times at her rapidly retreating surroundings with mixed emotions in her chest. If only Cedrick and I could be like Asher and Sienna or Treyton and Jennifer, leading healthy, peaceful lives filled with love. That would be wondrous. An uncharacteristically despondent gaze appeared in her eyes for the first time. Just then, her phone rang with a call, disturbing her gloomy thoughts. It was a call from Asher, ¡°Kiddo, I heard Elven mention that you were looking for me.¡± Gwendolyn inhaled deeply and replied. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Asher checked his schedule and said. ¡°I¡¯m upied for a couple of days and won¡¯t be able to return to Salinsburgh immediately. Why don¡¯t you tell me about it over the phone? I¡¯ll help you out once I have time¡± ¡°Thanks Asher.¡± Gwendolyn paused for a long moment before saying, ¡°I hope you can help me to bail Charles out of the maximum¨Csecurity prison!¡± Her request rendered Asher speechless. He did not seem to anticipate such a request from her. anticipate such a request from her. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Testing My Patience Three hourster, in the evening, Gwendolyn returned to Harrick Vi. 10% +25 Bonus As soon as she opened the door, Cedrick saw her carrying bags of various sizes. These bags could easily stack up to a height taller than an average person. ¡°D¨CDid you just rob a mall?¡± Gwendolyn shed an awkward grin.¡°You need to understand what a girl wants. Besides, there are discounts and buy¨Cone¨Cfree¨Cone and buy¨Ctwo¨Cfree¨Cthree deals everywhere in the mall. How can I resist? I bought them because they were quite cheap.¡± Cedrick froze for a moment before exposing her lie. ¡°You¡¯re not poor. Why would you care about those marketing gimmicks in the mall?¡± Gwendolyn refuted, ¡°What nonsense is that? This has nothing to do with me being rich or poor. If I can get them at a lower price, why should I buy them at full price? I¡¯m a frugal spender, okay?¡± Cedrick was impressed. ¡°Gwenny, I like that you¡¯re careful with your spending. I have no doubt you¡¯ll make an excellent wife who can take care of the family¡¯s finances!¡± Gwendolyn chuckled in amusement upon hearing that. ¡°All right, enough with the sweet talk. Come and help me unpack these. I bought lots of winter attire for you.¡± He stared at all the exquisite shopping bags in disbelief. ¡°Y¨CYou bought all these for me?¡± Gwendolyn arched her brows and casually fibbed, ¡°Well, most of them were buy one, get one free, and there was a fifty¨Cpercent off sale. I may have identally bought too many because I haven¡¯t seen you wear this style much.¡± As she spoke, she picked a light¨Cgray sweater from the bag and passed it to him. ¡°Here. Put this on and see if it fits.¡± Cedrick frowned, refusing to ept the sweater from her. ¡°I don¡¯t wear this kind of sweater during winter, especially a turtleneck one!¡± ¡°From now on, you have to because I¡¯m with you. You have to keep yourself warm. You have a nice model¨Clike body, so I¡¯m sure everything you wear will fit you like a glove.¡± She nudged his waist several times while holding the sweater. ¡°Go and put it on. This is my first time buying clothes for a man. How could you turn me down?¡± Despite having a smile on her face, she was gritting her teeth when she uttered thest sentence with a hint of threat. Cedrick sighed and epted the sweater. He then remove his shirt and put on a knitted garment. Not long after, Gwendolyn handed him another dark gray wool coat, and once again, Cedrickplied and put it on. Then, Gwendolyn personally helped him wrap the new scarf she bought around his neck. Without his usual formal attire, Cedrick now appeared less domineering. Like an artistic teenager, he had be more approachable, His face was remarkably exquisite, with features so handsome that they surpassed those of an ordinary young man. 111 1/3 18:58 Sat, Jun 3 Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Chapter 298 Testing My Patience 10% +25 Bonus Feeling satisfied, Gwendolyn pinched his checks affectionately. ¡°You look dashing. Ceddy, you must dress like this from now on. I¡¯m tired of seeing you all suited up.¡± Gedrick lowered his head, examining his appearance. Suddenly, a fearful idea crossed his mind, causing his heart to race. ¡°Gwenny, please don¡¯t tell me you bought me a down coat.¡± He would never wear those bulky clothes that would make him appear puffed up. As his anxiety continued to escte, Cedrick could not help but notice that Gwendolyn proceeded to unpack the remaining shopping bags, She retrieved two long down coats from the bags, which appeared as puffy as fermented buns. Both coats were ck but had different styles. Gwendolyn said, ¡°You indeed know me very well, Ceddy. Not only did I buy you some down coats, but I also bought some autumn clothes, thick cotton pants, and thick cotton socks. Oh! There are also two ck fox fur coats. They¡¯re super warm and perfect for the coldest snowy days.¡± She kept talking without a pause. Cedrick felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His face turned paler with each passing moment. Autumn clothes, down coats, and thick cotton pants were all his biggest nightmares. I will not wear them. Over/my dead body! No way! Yet, that was not the only thing he needed to tolerate. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Come here, Ceddy. I bought these clothes in pairs. You have to put them on for me to take photos of them!¡± Once again, Cedrick was thunderstruck. Not only does she want me to wear them, but she also wants to take photos of me wearing them. She might as well kill me! His chest tightened with an oppressive weight. He fixed his gaze fiercely upon the mound of shopping bags and clenched his teeth in frustration. ¡°Are you testing my patience?¡± Gwendolyn sat on the couch, crossed her legs, and folded her arms. With an elegant yet rebellious demeanor, she tapped her arm and gazed into his eyes. ¡°Yes, I am. Are you going to put them on or not?¡± Cedrick stared at her with his cold, dark eyes. A minuteter, Cedrick gave up. ¡°Yes, of course. I¡¯ll wear them. When I¡¯m with you, there are no boundaries or limits that can hold me back.¡± He smiled and added softly, ¡°It¡¯ll be my pleasure to wear them since you bought them for me.¡± Gwendolyn burst intoughter and stood up, giving him a yful peck on the lips. She then took his hand and led him back to the bedroom, carrying all the new winter clothes with them. After turning on the heater in the room, she sat on the edge of the bed with her camera, enjoying Cedrick¡¯s performance of undressing and putting on the new clothes. With each movement he made, she captured his moments of awkwardness and chilly demeanor. To Cedrick, the entire process was torturous, but Gwendolyn enjoyed every moment of it. She shamelessly indulged in admiring his handsome face and perfect physique, asionally transforming into a mischievous temptress, yfully pinching his abs and teasing him without reservation. 2/3 18:58 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 298 Testing My Patience 10% +25 Bonus The torturested for nearly half an hour, and it finally came to an end when Cedrick was done putting on all the clothes. Gwendolyn sat leisurely in the middle of the bed, cross¨Clegged, flipping through the camera, engrossed in admiring the private photos she had just taken. She looked particrly focused, and a subtle delight shimmered in her eyes. Cedrick rested his chin on her shoulder and embraced her from the back, looking exhausted. ¡°Gwenny, I¡¯ve worn the down coat and the cotton pants. Considering how hard I¡¯ve worked, could you give me a little reward tonight?¡± His voicecked strength, soft and pitiful as if he was seeking sympathy from her. After setting aside the camera, Gwendolyn turned around, grabbed his shoulder, and pulled him into her embrace, allowing him to lean in with his head resting on her shoulder. Cedrick gently tugged at the silky fabric of her blouse, a silent plea for understanding andfort. In a gentle voice, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What kind of reward do you want?¡± His face brightened, but before he could speak, Gwendolyn added, ¡°I can give you anything except for moving in and sleeping together.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned deste. ¡°You knew that¡¯s exactly what I wanted¡­¡± Gwendolyn caressed his face and kissed his eyes. ¡°Be good.¡± He snorted softly, sulking in silence. This time, Gwendolyn did not console him like she usually did. Instead, she concealed her concern and said earnestly. ¡°I may be a bit busy with work at Angletely. I may not be able to video call you during lunch to supervise your medication, and I maye home later than usual. Maybe¡­¡± Cedrick looked up and gazed into her eyes. ¡°Maybe what?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± She smiled. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go to bed, shall we?¡± Cedrick held onto her tiny waist, refusing to let go. He frowned aggrievedly. ¡°How can I sleep when you haven¡¯t fulfilled the reward you promised me!¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± He thought earnestly, concealing the mischievous sparkle in his dark eyes as he gently nuzzled her neck. ¡°Changing clothes is truly tiring. See, I¡¯m all sweaty now. How about you lend me a hand with a rxing bath?¡± Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Asking For It Gwendolyn felt a lump in her throat. He had changed his clothes earlier, but at least he was still wearing his underwear. Gwendolyn could feel her heart pound. Taking a bath means he will have to be naked! I can¡¯t guarantee that a pervert like myself can hold back! +25 Bonus She was trying toe up with an excuse to refuse when Cedrick said, ¡°It¡¯s just a bath. I¡¯ll feel horrible if you don¡¯t agree, Gwenny. My chest is going to hurt again!¡± He appeared mncholy as he spoke, pouting and holding his hand over his chest. Gwendolyn sighed helplessly. Ever since it became impossible for him to hide his disease, Cedrick became more and more at ease ying the pitiful card. Frustratingly, Gwendolyn would fall for it from time to time. ¡°Stop acting already. I¡¯ll get the bath ready.¡± The man smirked, having gotten his way. Gwendolyn went into the bathroom and increased the temperature of the heater. She filled the tub with water and added the body wash to it. Once everything was warm and prepared, Gwendolyn shouted, ¡°You cane in now! The bath is ready.¡°¡°¡± Cedrick strode into the bathroom. He was wearing the new cotton robe Gwendolyn had bought him. The woman tested the water temperature again, and it was just nice. Turning back, she saw Cedrick still standing there nkly like a blockhead. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you taking off your clothes?¡± He raised his arm a little, and his fingers hung limply. With a piteous look, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t have strength in my arms¡­¡± ¡°Oh! Look at how delicate you¡¯re acting!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face darkened, and she stripped him naked the next instant. ¡°I¡¯ll spoil you now since you¡¯re sick. Go on and continue with your act, then. Just you wait. We¡¯ll see what happens once you¡¯re all well,¡± she said through gritted teeth. Cedrick slumped weakly against her when he heard that. With his chin on her shoulder, he said feebly, ¡°You¡¯re being mean to me. I might not get well any time soon¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Gwendolyn red at him. The man hissed in pain as he buried his face in her shoulder, quietly swallowing the bitterness he was feeling. Gwendolyn straightened him up and held his face in her hands. ¡°I¡¯m here, Cedrick. You mustn¡¯t have any thoughts of giving up on your life no matter what!¡± she emphasized with a serious look in her eyes. 1/4Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Chapter 299 Asking For It I¡¯ll make sure he lives healthily. I don¡¯t care what I have to do to achieve that. Cedrick felt dejected. +25 Bonus Sensing his sorrow, Gwendolyn pressed a kiss on his lips and said, ¡°I know how amazing you are. Why don¡¯t you prove it to me once you¡¯re all better?¡± He didn¡¯t say a thing, but at least he felt a little better than before. Gwendolyn helped him into the tub filled with bubbly water and wet his shoulders and neck, covering his honey¨Ccolored skin with foam. ¡°Stay in here for fifteen minutes. I¡¯lle and scrub your backter.¡± She dried her hands with a towel and tried to leave, but Cedrick grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her toward him. ¡°It¡¯ll only be warm if we bathe together.¡± Gwendolyn was not prepared for his strength and fell behind into the tub. With Cedrick¡¯s hand acting as a buffer, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t cause a huge ssh when she fell into the water. However, the water in the tub started to overflow since there were two people in the tub now. Gwendolyn looked down at her silk robe, now soaking wet. She gritted her teeth and red at him. ¡°Cedrick! You¡¯re really asking for it, aren¡¯t you?¡± Cedrick leaned backwardzily and rested his hands on the sides of the bathtub, his legs wide open. He had a look on his face that seemed to say, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you to teach me a lesson.¡± ¡°Being able to be taught a lesson in the bathroom by you is romantic in its own way, Gwenny.¡± Cedrick raised a brow and had a sly smirk on his face as he spoke. However, Gwendolyn merely rolled her eyes at him. Has he really no shame? Seeing that she was ignoring him, Cedrick looked down and pinched his abs. He confirmed that he still had them, and they were eight¨Cpack abs too. Then why¡­ Cedrick felt a little aggrieved. ¡°Gwenny, I still taste as good as before. You¡¯ve been abstinent for so long. Don¡¯t you want a taste of it?¡± Mist rose from the tub, giving his face a dewy glow. His firm honey¨Ccolored body was covered in bubbles. Water droplets dotted his eyshes as he stared at Gwendolyn with eyes full of expectation. Not wanting to look at him, Gwendolyn shut her eyes close and took a deep breath. ||| r 2/4 Chapter 299 Asking For It +25 Bonus I knew he¡¯d start feeling restless the moment he got the chance. I shouldn¡¯t have agreed to help him bathe. I almost fell for his tricks again! She kept reminding herself about the situation at hand. Cedrick is sick! He¡¯s sick! He¡¯s sick! I can¡¯t touch him! I must not tarnish him! Cedrick didn¡¯t stay idle either while she took deep breaths and tried to calm herself down. His hands that were hidden under the foam slowly made their way toward Gwendolyn, wandering, stroking, and teasing her. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyshes quivered. Her ears reddened as he continued to tease her. ?????? She tolerated him as much as she could, and she just couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. ¡°Cedrick! Should I break those restless hands of yours?¡± Gwendolyn turned around and took the wooden bath brush from the shelves. Fury burned in her eyes as she red at him threateningly. Ten minutes passed, and the air in the bathroom turned foggy from the hot water. The atmosphere around them had be a little unusual. Gwendolyn put down the wooden brush and let out a heavy sigh. She had just given Cedrick a beating, and he was finally behaving. She could finally be at ease. However, Cedrick did not feel as good as she did. He stared at his swollen and red palms and carefully blew on them. Gwendolyn merely took a cold nce at his hands and went back to scrubbing his back. This was the first time she had notforted Cedrick after giving him corporal punishment. Frustration brewed in his chest, making him feel extremely unpleasant. Refusing to ept his fate, Cedrick raised his arms slightly to show Gwendolyn his palms with an aggrieved look in his eyes. He was silentlyining that he was in pain. A scowl appeared on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. She acted as if she didn¡¯t understand him and red at him. ¡°Did you not have enough? Should I give you another twenty hits?¡± With that said, the woman acted as though she was about to grab the brush. 1 Cedrick instantly retracted his arms and hid them under the water. He then obediently lowered his head and stayed motionless. A horde of emotions tormented him at that moment. Why can¡¯t I win against her? Now, of all times? Gwendolyn had no idea what he was thinking, but she was relieved to see that he wasn¡¯t feeling restless anymore. It really is better when he¡¯s acting all obedient like this. When she was done scrubbing his back, Gwendolyn cast a nce at the shampoo beside them. She squeezed some of it into her hands,thered it, and spread it in Cedrick¡¯s hair. She was rough with her hands while she shampooed his hair. ¡°Be gentle,¡± Cedrick said with a frown. His words displeased Gwendolyn. ¡°You¡¯re even ordering me around now? This is the only option you have. Forget it if you don¡¯t like it!¡± ¡°All right, all right¡­¡± Cedrick had no choice but to hold back his frustrations and endure her ufortable strength, allowing her to Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Who Is Pushing The Limits Now +25 Bonus After some time, Gwendolyn shook her wrist, trying to alleviate the soreness that had settled in. She had never realized that taking a bath could be so exhausting. She was alsopletely soaked even though Cedrick was supposed to be the one taking a bath. Despite her frustration, Gwendolyn swallowed it down and assisted Cedrick in getting out of the bathtub. Once she dried the water from his body, she led him to the dry tiled floor and tossed the bathrobe at him. ¡°Put it on yourself!¡± Cedrick stood still and refused to reach out to take the robe. The robe slipped from his face and fell to the ground. ¡°I can¡¯t move my arms, and my hands are in pain,¡± he uttered. I can¡¯t dress myself! Gwendolyn red at his feeble state and ground her teeth in frustration. She was about to explode in rage. Who¡¯s pushing the limits now, huh? Confronted by Cedrick¡¯s persistent self¨Cpity and his attempts to push her limits, Gwendolyn gave him a stern gaze. ¡°You¡¯ve got one minute to pick up your robe, put it on immediately, and fetch me a clean one. If you dare to exceed the time limit, I¡¯ll make sure you experience the consequences of the rules I established before. And I might consider not feeding you medicine anymore!¡± Cedrick swallowed the fluid lodged in his throat. His knees began to ache, and his hands throbbed with increased pain. She might not want to feed me medicine anymore? No! I can¡¯t ept that! While cleaning herself, Gwendolyn started counting down. ¡°You have fifty¨Ceight seconds left!¡± Cedrick¡¯s body tensed up as he swiftly retrieved the robe, and deftly secured it around himself. He then opened the door, slipped on his slippers, and hurried to the adjacent wardrobe to fetch a clean robe for her. ¡°Ten, nine, eight¡­¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s countdown echoed in the bathroom. She sounded like an emotionless timekeeping machine. As the countdown reached the final second, Cedrick urately hung the robe on the bathroom rack. Gwendolyn nced at him and yfully remarked, ¡°Well, it seems you do have the potential to meet my expectations. Not bad, Ceddy!¡± Cedrick kept mum. Gwendolyn saw through all of Cedrick¡¯s little schemes. In other words, none of his tricks worked. Frustrated to the core, he forcefully mmed the bathroom door shut, releasing all his pent¨Cup annoyance onto it. Gwendolyn gazed at the sulking man behind the closed door, sighing softly and wearing a smile tinged with a touch of helplessness. Two dayster, Salinsburgh transitioned into winter. Gloomy clouds covered the sky, and rain started to fall. The cold wind, apanied by a light drizzle, caused the temperature to drop by approximately ten JU 1/4 18:58 Sat, Jun 3 Chapter 300 Who Is Pushing The Limits Now degrees Celsius. People walking on the streets were shivering in the chilly weather. The heavy iron gate of the high¨Csecurity prison creaked open, releasing a deep, resonating sound. 10% +25 Bonus Charles had changed out of his prison uniform and was now dressed in a neat yet lightweight white shirt. He clutched a ck bag tightly in his arms containing the few clothes he possessed during his time in prison. The prison guard observed as Charles moved at a sluggish pace and gently pushed him through the iron. gate. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve been given parole, take this opportunity to turn over a new leaf!¡± Charles stumbled, taking a few unsteady steps before abruptly raising his head to face the somber sky, letting the frigid raindrops cascade down on his face. His weary and weathered face gradually broke into a faint smile. Turn over a new leaf? Yes. This marks the new beginning of my life! Suddenly, a ck van emerged from the end of the road and pulled up in front of him. William and Quinton got down, covering his mouth and forcefully pushing him into the back seat. Charles let out a muffled groan as he mmed his knees harshly against the seat. As he lowered his head, he caught a glimpse of a pair of delicate high heels. His heart filled with joy as he nced up and saw Gwendolyn seated beside him. They were separated by a table. On her exquisite and charming face, her eyes emitted a profound sense of indifference and disgust. Charles held his knee and moved onto the seat. ¡°It¡¯s been over half a month since west met, and you¡¯re still as stunning as ever, Gwen. My heart skipped a beat when I saw you.¡± Gwendolyn stifled her revulsion and got straight to the point, unwilling to entertain his nonsense. ¡°Where¡¯s the medicine?¡± ¡°What medicine?¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows, exuding an icy aura. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. She drew out a pistol, loaded it, and pressed it against his forehead. ¡°Are you ying me? If I can get you out of prison, I can send you back!¡± She pressed the muzzle of the gun against Charles¡® head with force, causing his head to tilt slightly. ¡°Calm down, Gwen. I¡¯ll keep my promise. We agreed that if you bailed me out, I¡¯d provide you with the antidote to help with his viral infection. But I don¡¯t have it with me at the moment since I just came out of prison.¡± Gwendolyn kept the gun pointed at him, her voice aloof as she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the medicine? Take me there.¡± Charles chuckled lightly. ¡°I can¡¯t do that. If I take you there, I¡¯ll be revealing my trump card. I¡¯m still hoping that you¡¯ll marry me.¡± His remarks made Elven and the other bodyguards feel ufortable. They wished they could beat that despicable man to a pulp right away. Gwendolyn looked away and kept mum for a moment. ¡°What do you want?¡± Charles nced at the drizzling rain outside the window, his eyes filled with indifference. ¡°Do you have a pen?¡± Gwendolyn gave Elven a signal with her eyes. Elven took out a pen from the pocket of his suit, found a piece of scrap paper in the car, and passed them to Charles. After taking the pen and paper, Charles wrote down a contact number. ¡°I¡¯ll contact you using this number before tomorrow night. Follow my instructions ande to the designated location to collect the antidote.¡± Gwendolyn carefully scrutinized the number, her cold gaze revealing no emotions. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare y any tricks. If you do, I swear you¡¯ll suffer more than death!¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. As long as I can obtain what I desire, you¡¯ll certainly get what you seek too, Gwen.¡± He smiled, gently shoving the pistol aside. Gwendolyn holstered her gun and passed it to Elven. ¡°Where do you intend to go now? Are you heading back to the Newton residence?¡± Observing the surroundings with his serene deep blue eyes, Charles replied, ¡°No. Just pull over on the side of the road. I have some matters to attend to.¡± Ezra, who was driving the car, stopped by the road. William and Quinton opened the door, grabbed his cors, and were about to toss him out. ¡°Wait!¡± Charles stopped them. Gwendolyn looked up, her face disying impatience. ¡°What?¡± Charles maintained his smile as if he was unbothered by her demeanor. ¡°I don¡¯t have any money on me. I¡¯d like to buy some warm clothes, have a decent meal, and perhaps get a pack of cigarettes. Could you spare me some, Gwen?¡± Suppressing her anger, Gwendolyn nced at Elven. ¡°How much cash do you have with you?¡± Elven checked the pockets in his suit and pants. ¡°Five hundred.¡± ¡°Give it to him,¡± she said. Elven reluctantly mmed a five hundred banknote on his chest. ¡°Consider this as Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s charity. Get lost!¡± Charles remained unfazed, bowing his head to collect the money. After he finished picking up the money, William and Quinton forcefully ejected him from the van and mmed the door shut, and Ezra drove away. Quinton even spat out of the window in frustration. How dare he dream of marrying Ms. Gwendolyn. He¡¯s just chasing rainbows. Dream on, fool! Gwendolyn did not stop him from overreacting. Instead, she gazed at the rearview mirror, watching Charles standing motionless as the van drove away. She turned to Elven and instructed, ¡°Find two skilled individuals to follow him secretly. I want to be informed of every location he visits.¡± Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Perfect For Each Other Elven nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. +15 Bonus Gwendolyn retracted her gaze and nced at the phone number Charles had written her. ¡°Contact Shadow Bell and have them investigate this number.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Meanwhile, Cedrick made his way into the living room of Valentino¡¯s vi and bowed respectfully at him. ¡°You wanted to see me, Grandpa?¡± Valentino, who was sitting on the couch, looked up at him from across the coffee table. For a moment there, he almost didn¡¯t recognize Cedrick when he saw him standing there in a wool coat. ¡°You sure have changed a lot after finding yourself a woman. I mean, just look at you! You look a lot more approachable now!¡± Valentino said with a relieved smile as he eyed Cedrick from head to toe. Cedrick simply kept quiet and stood there with a calm look on his face. on, ¡°Go take a seat.¡± Valentino fiddled with the head of his cane with his wrinkled hands. ¡°Actually, I summoned you today because someone wanted to see you and ask you for forgiveness. I had no choice but to y the role of the middleman.¡± Cedrick had a little furrow between his eyebrows when he heard that. Valentino cleared his throat and said, ¡°Come on in.¡± Wyatt stepped into the living room with a stern look on his face. Sherman followed closely behind with his head held low. He had mostly recovered from the beating he received a few days ago. Cedrick maintained a cold look on his face as he elegantly poured himself a cup of coffee and gently blew on it. Wyatt sat down on the couch in front of Cedrick and greeted Valentino with a smile before asking, ¡°Hello, Cedrick. How have you been throughout the past few days?¡± Cedrick simply ignored him and sipped on his coffee. He couldn¡¯t even be bothered to look at Wyatt, Valentino lightly tapped his cane on the floor. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be so rude to your elders, O 1/4 +15 Bonus Cedrick. Hurry up and greet him!¡± ¡°Why should I respect an elder who couldn¡¯t even teach his son proper manners?¡± ¡°Cedrick!¡± Sherman, who was standing next to Wyatt, got mad when he heard Cedrick insult his father. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Wyatt maintained a friendly smile on his face. ¡°It¡¯s true that Sherman was at fault for what happened that day. As punishment, I have given him a beating at home and brought him over today to apologize to you. If you find this insufficient, you may feel free to whip him to your heart¡¯s content. I will not have anyints, so go ahead if you wish.¡± He then shot Sherman a look, prompting thetter to suppress his feelings of shame as he walked up to Cedrick and bowed deeply. ¡°I hereby apologize to you for what I did that day. I only called out Gwendolyn¡¯s name because the drug had taken over me. I have no intention of doing anything bad to your fianc¨¦e. In fact, I respect the rtionship that you two have.¡± Cedrick let out a soft chuckle after hearing that. He put his coffee cup down and shot Sherman an icy¨Ccold re as he replied, ¡°You and I both know if you truly mean what you said. There¡¯s no need to put on an act like this, All it does is waste both of our time.¡± He stood up and turned toward Valentino. ¡°Is there anything else, Grandpa? If not, I will be on my way now. I still have a video conference to attend tonight.¡± 1. 1. Valentino was clearly displeased at how firm his attitude was. Sherman has alreadye over and apologized to him, so why can¡¯t he just let it go? Even so, Valentino simply nodded and said, ¡°Go on, then. You are currently the one in charge of the Jenson family. You can do as you see fit.¡± Having obtained the green light, Cedrick turned around and walked away. Refusing to be disrespected like that, Sherman called out to him, ¡°Why must you be so unforgiving, Mr. Jenson? I know I was at fault, but I didn¡¯t do any actual damage to you or the Jenson family! Gwendolyn¡¯s reputation isn¡¯t affected in any way either, and I even came here to apologize! Why can¡¯t you just forgive me?¡± ¡°Are you saying that I must forgive you simply because you apologized?¡± Cedrick asked with a sneer and walked straight out the front door. Wyatt was angered by Cedrick¡¯s stubborn attitude as well, but he could only say to Sherman softly, ¡°Try to talk to Cedrick again in private. Make sure to be polite, okay? I¡¯ll stay here and 2/4 Chapter 301 Perfect For Each Other chat with Old Mr. Jenson for a bit.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sherman nodded and ran out the door. +15 Bonus It was drizzling at the time, but Sherman couldn¡¯t even be bothered to grab an umbre as he ran toward Cedrick. ¡°Mr. Jenson!¡± Sherman called out, but Cedrick ignored himpletely and carried on walking with Nico holding the umbre. G Sherman then tried a different approach by saying, ¡°If you¡¯re so bothered by the fact that I said her name, then why are you okay with her being married to someone else before? This isn¡¯t the first time she has done it!¡± Sure enough, Cedrick paused in his tracks when he heard that. Realizing that his strategy had worked, Sherman quickly ran up to Cedrick and continued, ¡°Regardless of whether you like her or not, it is unwise to cut ties with my family because of her. The Ferguson family may have encountered a crisis, but it has a solid foundation, so it is only a matter of time before we resolve the crisis. Why won¡¯t you lend us a hand so we can get through this sooner and resume our mutually profitable rtionship?¡± -Cedrick narrowed his eyes and exuded a dangerous aura as he said, ¡°Nico.¡± Naturally, Nico understood what he meant by that. He nodded and handed Cedrick the umbre before punching Sherman square in the face. That punch was so powerful that it knocked Sherman to the ground instantly. The corner of Sherman¡¯s lips was swollen, and two of his teeth were loosened from the impact. Sherman spat out a mouthful of blood and stared at Cedrick in confusion. ¡°M¨CMr. Jenson?¡± With one hand holding the umbre and the other hand in his pocket, Cedrick walked up to Sherman and stared him down. ¡°Sherman, you¡¯d better stay away from me from now on. Otherwise, I¡¯ll give you a beating every time I see you!¡± ¡°Why? Because I said a few nasty i aboul Gwend, stuff about Gwendolyn?¡± A deep frown creased Cedrick¡¯s brows when he heard that. Nico nodded in acknowledgment and stomped hard on Sherman¡¯s stomach. Sherman curled up into a ball and clutched at his stomach while screaming in pain. The look of displeasure in Cedrick¡¯s eyes became less intense as he enjoyed watching Sherman suffer, 3/4 19 Mon, 5 Jun Chapter 301 Perfect For Each Other 61% +15 Bonus Lend your family a hand? Resume our mutually profitable rtionship? I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not going to happen ever again! Working with a family that has a sc*mbag like you in it would be an insult to the Jenson family¡¯s reputation!¡± Sherman was furious. ¡°Just you wait, Cedrick! One day, you will fall from that high and mighty throne of yours! When that dayes, I¡¯ll be sure tough at you to my heart¡¯s content!¡± Cedrick simply reached out and asked Nico for some cash. Nico whipped out a wallet made of crocodile skin and began counting the money inside, but Cedrick snatched it from him before he could finish. 111 There are only a few thousand in here. It¡¯s not much, but¡­ Given the state the Ferguson family is in, I¡¯d say this is plentiful. Cedrick whipped out the bank notes and tossed them onto Sherman. The banknotes were instantly wet from the rain as they scattered on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m a fair man, Mr. Ferguson. This should cover your medical bills. Feel free to make a im with Jenson Group¡¯s finance department if this isn¡¯t enough,¡± Cedrick said sarcastically before retracting his gaze and walking off. Nico followed closely behind him and whispered with a smile, ¡°You looked a lot like Ms. Gwendolyn when you tossed those banknotes at him, Boss! You two sure are perfect for each other!¡± Chapter 302 Chapter 302 Chapter 302 All I Want Is You Cedrick nodded in satisfaction when he heard that. we get back.¡± #15 Bonus Waid, Nico. I¡¯ll give you a raise when ¡°Hahaha! Thanks, Boss! Honestly, you and Ms. Gwendolyn look like a perfect couple! I¡¯ve ¡°Hahaha! Thanks, Boss! Honestly, you and Ms. G Gwendolyn look like a perfect couple! I¡¯ve never seen a more fitting pair!¡± Sherman¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with rage as he watched the two disappear into the distance, but all he could do was punch at the ground to vent his frustration. ¹é Cedrick went back to his usual self upon returning to Harrick Vi. ¡°Nico, I want you to continue pressuring Ferguson Group and make them go bankrupt within three days! Make sure to acquire everything they own! I want the Ferguson family to stay down for good!¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Eloise did a lot of bad things in the past. It was the Ferguson family that helped clean up after her messes. Put up an ad with a huge reward on the dark web for evidence of her crimes. I want to help Gwenny send Eloise to prison!¡± Cedrick continued. Given how the Ferguson family had taken a huge hit, there would surely be others who. would strike them while they were down. After all, being able to kick an enemy, who had been a thorn in their side for years, was not an opportunity that came by often. ¡°Leave it to me, Boss!¡± Nico reassured him. Having made the arrangements, Cedrick nced at the sky outside the window. The sky had gotten dark rather earlytely due to the rainy weather and winter being just around the corner. Cedrick lowered his gaze as he felt a little lonely on the inside. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn would spend the entire day outside whenever she left the house, and she wouldn¡¯t even call him throughout the day. Ah¡­ It¡¯s already seven in the evening, and Gwendolyn still isn¡¯t home yet¡­ Cedrick slumped weakly against the couch and looked as dejected as a person who had lost the will to live. Nico let out a sigh when he saw that. ¡°Are you missing Ms. Gwendolyn again, Boss?¡± 1/5 Chapter 302 All I Want Is You Cedrick ignored him and stared at the empty road outside the window. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn¡¯s car was parked about two hundred rs a She had an icy¨Ccold look in her eyes as she sat there and +15 Bonus away from the Jenson stened to Elven¡¯s: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Harris. He managed to shake us off shortly after discover us, so we were unable to tail him.¡± When he noticed the increasingly gloomy look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, Elven¡¯s voice grew even softer as he continued, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry¡­¡± Opst ¡°It¡¯s all right. He was trained by elites, so he¡¯s highly capable in every aspect. He¡¯s also very smart. Shaking you guys off his tail would be a piece of cake anyway.¡± Gwendolyn then looked at the phone number that Charles had written down on the paper. ¡°What about this phone number? Did you manage to find anything about it?¡± ¡°It is indeed a Chanaean number. While it isn¡¯t registered to anyone in particr, we managed to track down the location of its user. It¡¯s currently in Erihal.¡± Erihal? Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes as she went into deep thought. If I recall correctly, Charles¡® mother is from Erihal. However, I¡¯ve never heard Charles mention his mother when I was little. In fact, he never said a word about Erihal at all. Apart from those blue eyes of his, he is practically no different from your average Chanaean. Could it be that he is in contact with people from Erihal? Does he have some kind of secret that no one knows about? ¡°Go investigate Charles¡® mother. I want detailed information on her and all individuals from Erihal who have entered Chanaea up to six months ago.¡± ¡°Six months is too big of a range, Ms. Harris. There are far too many individuals for us to screen through, which would make it even more time¨Cconsuming. Even Mr. Asher would have a hard time conducting this investigation,¡± Elven replied with a conflicted look on his face. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯m in no rush, so you can take your time with this one.¡± Their conversation was interrupted when Gwendolyn¡¯s phone rang all of a sudden. A nce at the caller ID revealed that it was a call from Cedrick. Oh, my! I got so carried away that I ended up staying out until eight in the evening! I bet he must be missing me dearly! A sweet smile spread across Gwendolyn¡¯s face at the thought of that. 2/5 Instead of answering the call, however, she put her phone on silent and said to Ezra, ¡°Turn the car around. We¡¯ll drop by Grand Essence Restaurant before heading back to the Jenson residence.¡± Right as Cedrick was on the verge of breaking down from depression, he heard the sound of the door being unlocked. He ran toward the door as quickly as his legs could carry him and pounced on Gwendolyn the moment he saw her. His arms were trembling as he wrapped them tightly around her waist. Waiting for her was such an excruciating process that he felt as though he would die if she kept him waiting any longer. Gwendolyn was so caught off guard that she had to take a few steps backward before steadying herself. Fearing that he would cause her to spill the soup she had bought, she held it far away from him as she said, ¡°It¡¯s winter today. ording to tradition, we need to have some hot soup to warm ourselves up. I didn¡¯t have time to make us soup, so I bought some from a restaurant on the way back from work. That¡¯s why I took so long to get home.¡± Cedrick buried his face in her neck and sniffed hard to take in her fragrant scent. ¡°I don¡¯t need soup!¡± All I want is you! Gwendolyn let out a silent sigh in response. She wanted to pat him on the back of his head, but she had both hands upied with carrying the soup she bought. She had no choice but tofort him verbally instead. ¡°All right, are you hungry? Let¡¯s go inside and have dinner. I¡¯ll be able to keep youpany every day once I¡¯m done with my work.¡± ¡°How much longer will you need?¡± ¡°About a few more days, I guess.¡± ¡°What is going on at Angle Corporation? Why are things so busy that you need to work this hard?¡± Cedrick eximed with displeasure written all over his face. Gwendolyn froze for a few seconds before replying, ¡°I recently hired a new batch of artists. We¡¯re in the process of breaking them in at the moment. Because they¡¯re newbies, I need to personally supervise them. On top of that, we¡¯re also nning some new coborations, so things are indeed pretty hectic there,¡± 3/5 < Cedrick rested his head against her shoulder and let out a depressed sigh. He knew that Gwendolyn valued her career very much, but he wished she would spend more time with him since he didn¡¯t have much time left to live. Of course, Cedrick would never voice those feelings of his out to Gwendolyn. He would always support her no matter what her decision was. Even if she wanted to leave him right then and there, he would not do anything to stop her from leaving. Gwendolyn, too, was distracted thinking about Charles. It wasn¡¯t until she felt her back start to ache from the position they were in that she snapped out of it. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go have some soup.¡± Both of them were lost in their own thoughts during dinner. After having dinner, Gwendolyn went to keep himpany in his bedroom. She would always stay with him for a few hours until he fell asleep before going to bed in the next room. This time, however, she noticed something was off the moment she sat down on his bed. Huh? Nico would usually let me know if Cedrick has been taking his medication on time. Why haven¡¯t I heard anything from him tonight? ¡°Have you taken your medication for the night?¡± Cedrick tensed up briefly before replying with an awkward chuckle, ¡°N¨CNo¡­¡± Those medications were bitter and barely did anything to help with his condition, so he didn¡¯t want to take them. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll get it ready for you.¡± Gwendolyn returned a few minutester with a ss of warm water and a box of pills. ¡°You came back reallyte tonight. Could you at least reward my patience by feeding me the medication?¡± Cedrick asked weakly, ¡°Sure thing.¡± She sat down beside him and held the back of his head affectionately as she fed him two tablets orally, Despite how smooth her movement was, Cedrick noticed it and frowned immediately after 4/5 Chapter 302 All I Want Is You swallowing the pills. ¡°Hey! That¡¯s cheating, Gwenny! You need to feed me the pills one at a time!¡± As Gwendolyn had been busy with work throughout the entire day, she barely had any time to rest and was hoping to get it over with sooner. ¡°I¡¯d have to give you over a dozen kisses if I fed you one pill at a time! Don¡¯t you ever get sick of that?¡± she snapped at him impatiently. Cedrick¡¯s face went pale almost instantly. ¡°H¨CHave you gotten sick of it already?¡± Those who are sick would often get paranoid, so I need to be more careful with my words¡­ Having noticed the change in his expression, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Of course not! You¡¯re so tasty that I could never get tired of kissing you, Ceddy! Come on, let¡¯s keep those kisses going!¡± She was about to give him another kiss when her phone started ringing on the nightstand. Gwendolyn nced at the screen and saw that it was an unknown number. Her eyes grew cold when she realized that the number belonged to Charles. What? Why is Charles calling me right now? Cedrick turned around and looked at the phone. ¡°Who¡¯s calling you thiste at night?¡± Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Serum +15 Bonus Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes darted around, and she couldn¡¯t stop blinking. ¡°Maybe someone called by mistake. Ignore it. Let¡¯s take the medicine first.¡± ¡°By mistake?¡± Cedrick perceptively noticed the panic in her gaze. Doubts rose in his heart. The phone kept ringing as if it wouldn¡¯t stop until someone picked up the call. Cedrick¡¯s face darkened as he stood up to grab her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll answer it for you.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay!¡± Gwendolyn grabbed his hand tightly. Her action aroused Cedrick¡¯s suspicion. Why is she so flustered? ** Gwendolyn realized she had overreacted. She hurriedly pulled him to sit down. ¡°I remember now. It must be the business partner from earlier calling. I forgot to save his number.¡± Cedrick¡¯s doubts didn¡¯t diminish the slightest. ¡°It¡¯s half past nine at night. Who would call to talk about business at this hour?¡± ¡°How would I know? I¡¯ll answer it and ask.¡± Gwendolyn put down the ss of water and calmed her beating heart before answering the call and lowering the volume to the minimum. ¡°Hello. How can I help you?¡± On the other end of the phone, Charles was taken aback, but he immediately understood the situation. ¡°Gwen, is Cedrick with you now? Oh my, did I call at the wrong time and interrupt your couple¡¯s quality time?¡± ¨C After taking a deep breath, Gwendolyn looked at Cedrick, who was staring at her. She stood up, walked to the balcony, and muttered coldly, ¡°Just get straight to the point.¡± Charles chuckled yfully and said. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s talk business. Come to the abandoned factory in the eastern suburbs of Salinsburgh before eleven tonight. You can bring bodyguards with you, but remember this; only you can enter Room 302 on the fifth floor!¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t answer immediately. She turned around and nced at the bedroom. Cedrick was sitting perfectly still beside the bed with his back facing her, seemingly lost in O 1/4 Chapter 303 Serum thoughts and not paying attention to her phone call. Covering the phone, she uttered in a low voice, ¡°I can¡¯t go right now. We¡¯ll talk again tomorrow.¡± +15 Bonus the ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Charles was disgruntled. ¡°Do you know how much I went through to get medicine? There won¡¯t be another chance like this after tonight. I can¡¯t give it to you again even if you put me in a high¨C security prison!¡± She could tell he was not lying on purpose from his tone. After pondering for a while, she said, ¡°Okay. I know what to do.¡± She hung up and strode over to Cedrick hesitantly. ¡°Ceddy, I¡¯ve got something urgent to do and must go out for a while. I will probablye homete. Rest early, and don¡¯t wait for me.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression was as cold as ice as he grabbed her arm. ¡°It¡¯s cold outside. Besides, it¡¯s dangerous for a young woman to go outte at night. Why don¡¯t I go with you?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten that I know jiu¨Cjitsu? It¡¯s not easy for anyone to get close to me. Besides, it¡¯s more dangerous for you to go out at night. Don¡¯t worry. I will be back soon.¡± Cupping his face, she leaned over to ce a peck on his forehead. ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll take your medicine and sleep early.¡± ¡°All right.¡± His expression remained solemn. After Gwendolyn rewarded him with another kiss, she turned around, took the jacket from the coat rack, put it on, and quickly left. Cedrick stood on the balcony and watched. After her silhouette disappeared from the courtyard walls, he turned around, walked to the bed, sat down, and tilted his head to look at the box of medicine containing ten pills on the bedside table. What is so important that she has to leave in a rush before helping me take my medicine? Besides, she¡¯s been acting weird today, like she¡¯s lying. I think I heard a man¡¯s voice on the phone earlier. His suspicion drove him to call Nico. ¡°Find out what Gwendolyn has been doingtely¨Cwhere she went during the day, what did ||| O 2/4 Chapter 303 Serum +15 Bonus she do, and¡­¡± He went silent briefly before continuing, ¡°I bet she is driving the Maserati MC77 from the garage tonight. The te number is A04551. Check the surveince footage, find out where the car is going, and have someone follow her.¡± On the other end of the line, Nico was stunned and didn¡¯t say anything for a long time. ¡°Nico?¡± ¡°Boss, did I hear you wrong? You want to investigate Ms. Gwendolyn?¡± Countless questions rose in Nico¡¯s heart. ¡°Boss, are you sure you want to do this? If Ms. Gwendolyn finds out, will she think you don¡¯t trust her and get mad?¡± Cedrick fell into silence. Nico added, ¡°You know how smart Ms. Gwendolyn is. It¡¯s impossible to keep your investigation on her a secret. I bet this will cause a rift in your rtionship. Boss, are you sure you want to do it?¡± Cedrick hesitated. I¡¯m not sure¡­ Gwendolyn said before that she hoped I could trust her forever no matter what and have faith in her feelings for me. I should trust her! Although he had such thoughts, Gwendolyn¡¯s every flustered gesture tonight kept reying in his mind, indicating she was lying, keeping secrets, and hiding something from him. ¡°Boss?¡± After being in a dilemma for a few minutes, Cedrick sighed and said, ¡°Forget it. You don¡¯t have to investigate. I trust her.¡± He hung up the call. His gaze shifted back to the pile of pills. After taking them obediently, he went to wash up in the bathroom. Meanwhile, a Maserati MC77 pulled up steadily at an abandoned factory entrance in the eastern suburbste at night. Elven helped Gwendolyn open the car door. Clutching her jacket, Gwendolyn turned around and ordered, ¡°I¡¯m going in alone. You guys guard the door. If something goes wrong, listen closely to the sound of my movements.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Without wasting more time, she hurriedly entered the factory and went to Room 802 on the fifth floor. ||| Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. 3/4 Chapter 303 Serum +15 Bonus Just when she was about to knock on the door, her gaze shifted to the corridor, and she was met with a suspicious¨Clooking ck figure approaching her. She hurriedly took out her gun and quickly pointed the frigid muzzle at the figure. Facing a threat, the figure stopped in his tracks immediately and took off his ck cap, mask, and sunsses, revealing Charles¡® beautiful sapphire¨Clike blue eyes. ¡°Gwen, it¡¯s me.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t put her gun away. She cut to the chase and asked, ¡°Where is the serum?¡± Charles was slightly displeased. ¡°Gwen, do you really have nothing else to say except this? Why can¡¯t be thoughtful and ask if I was in danger today or if I get hurt?¡± you She didn¡¯t want to know any of that and would have stabbed him if it wasn¡¯t for him bringing her the serum. ¡°Enough nonsense. Give it to me!¡± ¡°All right, all right, I¡¯ll give it to you. You¡¯re indeed cruel to me, Gwen.¡± As he grumbled while smirking, he straightened his back, pulled the ck zipper on his shirt, took out a blue ice box, and handed it to her. Gwendolyn took it, opened it, and examined it. A syringe the size of a thumb containing a blue liquid was inside. ¡°What serum is this?¡± ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re so smart. Why don¡¯t you find out yourself?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. She closed the ice box, turned around, and left. Charles called out to her, ¡°Gwen, when will you agree to myst two conditions?¡± Narrowing her eyes, she said coldly, ¡°We¡¯ll talk after I verify the serum. You better make sure this is real, or else¡­¡± Her words were clearly a veiled threat. Charles, who was not intimidated by her investigation, stared at her back and reminded warily, ¡°Gwen, you better think fast. The serum can only relieve the disease. Only I know which serum can cure Cedrick!¡± If you take a long time to consider and cause any problemster on, don¡¯t me me for it! Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Devastated +15 Bonus Underneath the dim moonlight, the corner of Charles¡® lips curled into a smile. With his sea- blue eyes, he stared at Gwendolyn¡¯s leaving silhouette with an admirative gaze that bordered on obsession. Despite hearing what he said, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t turn around and quickened her pace instead. Now that she had the serum, she had to hurry back to theb. She was worried about arousing Cedrick¡¯s suspicions if she were to return toote. ****** After washing up, Cedrick went to bed obediently, but sleep just wouldn¡¯te to him. He stared into the dark of the night. His mind was unsettled by the frantic look on Gwendolyn¡¯s face before she left. All he could do was space out while looking out the window. Two hours passed with no sign of Gwendolyn¡¯s return. The growing concern he felt added to the emptiness in his heart. He sat up and picked up his phone to give Gwendolyn a call to ascertain her safety. Coincidentally, he received one from Neville. Considering thete hour, it definitely had to be something important. Once the call connected, Neville spoke immediately. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Boss. I¡¯ve made a mistake. I¡¯ve just gotten news from the high¨Csecurity prison!¡± Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Charles was released on bail yesterday!¡± An icy glint shed across Cedrick¡¯s eyes a An icy glint shed across Cedrick¡¯s eyes as they emitted a murderous aura. ¡°Who bailed him out?¡± ¡°Mr. Asher of the Federal Bureau of Investigation!¡± Asher? Cedrick¡¯s fingers quivered, and his phone slipped through them before he could end the call. His breathing came to an abrupt stop. He felt as if someone had squeezed his heart and 1/5 61% Chapter 304 Devastated ripped it apart. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. +15 Bonus When Neville didn¡¯t hear a reply, he grew worried. ¡°Boss, you have to stay calm. Your health is everything. Don¡¯t let your chest pain act up again. Perhaps there¡¯s some misunderstanding here!¡± As there was still no answer, he continued, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn knows how much you hate Charles. She must have a reason for making such a decision. Boss, you-¡± A call¨Cend tone interrupted him abruptly, as the outraged Cedrick didn¡¯t want to hear another word. All of a sudden, he recalled that Gwendolyn had been acting strangely in recent days. He just didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. On top of that, he had just heard a man¡¯s voice in the background of his call with her. As the growing suspicions began to suffocate him, he ordered Nico to track Gwendolyn¡¯s movement over thest few days. Half an hourter, he received all the information on his phone. Gwendolyn picked Charles up when he was released yesterday. Does this mean that she went to meet him at this ungodly hour? Upon leaving the abandoned factory, Gwendolyn rushed back to theb. Joshua, who was sleeping, was dragged up by her to get to work. After handing him the blue serum for further examination, she waited outside anxiously. Finally, Joshua emerged ten minutester. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with the serum. It looks good. From my preliminary tests, I can see that it is capable of suppressing the S404 RNA virus. On top of that, it won¡¯t harm the patient post¨Cinjection.¡± Joshua handed her the data which he had printed out. ¡°This is amazing! Where did you get the serum, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn took the report. She was equally delighted. However, she didn¡¯t answer Joshua¡¯s question as she carefully studied the report. Joshua continued, ¡°That said, since the source of the serum isn¡¯t clear and our database doesn¡¯t have any information on it, my advice is for you not to give it to Cedrick in haste. Leave it with me so that I can study it further over the next two days.¡± ¡°All right. Thanks for the trouble.¡± 111 2/5 Chapter 304 Devastated +15 Bonus ¡°Not at all. This is my responsibility after all. Cedrick is really lucky to have someone like you do everything you can for him.¡± After smiling in response, Gwendolyn realized that it was midnight upon checking her watch. ¡°Sorry for interrupting your night. I got to go now. Let me know if there¡¯s any progress with the serum.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Joshua nodded as he watched Gwendolyn hurry off. Gwendolyn returned to Harrick Vi as fast as she could. As she calmed herself down from the excitement, she stood at the vi entrance to tidy up her messy hair and clothes. Only then did she carefully turn the knob and open the door. Inside the dark living room, Gwendolyn could sense a solemn aura within it, causing her to turn on the lights. The moment she did, she was gripped by the sight of a grim¨Clooking figure seated on the couch. As it was already dawn, the low temperature made the room feel chilly. Yet Cedrick was just wearing a thin woolen robe. Despite the fact that his lips were blue from the cold, he didn¡¯t seem bothered by it. Just like a stone statue, he sat there motionless and without expression. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask to go to bed early? Why are you waiting for me on the couch? You didn¡¯t even turn on the lights or get something proper to wear.¡± Gwendolyn immediately grabbed a coral fleece jacket from the coat stand and put it on for him. The moment she came into contact with his body, she realized he was already frozen stiff. Angry and pained by the sight, she quickly rubbed both his hands and blew hot air on them to warm him up, Cedrick didn¡¯t resist. All he did was watch her quietly before saying in a deep voice, ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep until I know that you have returned home safely.¡± ¡°Now that I¡¯m back, let¡¯s get you into bed.¡± O 3/ Chapter 304 Devastated Instead of budging, Cedrick asked, ¡°Where did you go tonight?¡± Gwendolyn was ready with an excuse. ¡°Treyton wasn¡¯t at home, and Jennifer had a lot to drink, so I went back to the Harris residence to take care of her. I only came back after tucking her in.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯tment as he lowered his head in silence. Underneath his sleeves, his fingers had already balled into fists. Noticing the strange mood Cedrick was in, Gwendolyn raised his jaw by force. She was greeted by the sight of his reddened eyes with tears welling up inside them. ¡°Ceddy?¡± Cedrick¡¯s face darkened as he shoved her hand aside. ¡°Why are you lying to me still? Did you meet Charles tonight?¡± Gwendolyn was slightly stunned. ¡°It seems you already know.¡± Her affirmative answer suffocated Cedrick further. He had never felt more devastated in his life. Tears began to cloud his eyes as a sense of sorrow gripped his being. This was the very first time he had cried in front of her. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were equally moist. Knowing that he had gotten the wrong idea, she frantically exined, ¡°I wasn¡¯t intending to keep it from you, as it would be impossible to do so. I just didn¡¯t know how to break it to you yet.¡± She had wanted to wait for Joshua to give the green light on the serum before sharing the good news with him. Only then would she sneak in the news about Charles. Little did she expect Cedrick to find out first. ¡°Ceddy, I¡ª¡± Gwendolyn extended her hand to wipe his tears away. However, she felt him grab her wrist so tightly that his fingers were trembling. Even breathing had be painful for Cedrick, and the sadness in his tone was unmistakable as he said, ¡°Gwenny, I¡¯m aware that my days are numbered. That¡¯s why I have no intention of holding you back. Even if you leave me right now, I won¡¯t stop you at all. 1 ept that you¡¯ll find another man to love you after I¡¯m gone, but why, of all people do tro Chapter 304 Devastated have to choose Charles?¡± Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Argument Gwendolyn¡¯s heart ached. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. 415 Bonus So, that¡¯s how he sees it all this while. He thinks that he¡¯s going to die and feels guilty for being a burden to me. Letting out a sigh, Gwendolyn reached out tofort him. ¡°Ceddy, listen to me-¡± For the second time, Cedrick pushed her hand away and turned his back to her. Soft sniffles soon apanied his trembling shoulders. Unable to contain his emotions anymore, he came to a decisive decision. ¡°I know that he¡¯s your first love and both of you have history. If you¡­ still love him and are firm in choosing him, I will not stand in your way!¡± With that, he headed back upstairs without looking back. The outburst left Gwendolyn shocked and furious at the same time. Upon regaining her senses, she ran after him. ¡°Cedrick, what the hell are you talking about? Did hit your head somewhere?¡± you Cedrick quickened his pace and flew to the third floor like the wind. He then mmed the door before locking it from the inside. As Gwendolyn was right behind him, she managed to stop in the nick of time. Otherwise, her head would¡¯ve been at the receiving end of the closing door. The sight of the tightly shut entrance caused her blood to boil. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Cedrick? How dare you m the door in my face? What are you throwing a tantrum for? What¡¯s so difficult about hearing my exnation? Open the door right now!¡± Two minutester, there was still no indication that the door was going to open anytime soon. As it was alreadyte and Gwendolyn had busied herself the entire day, exhaustion began to take its toll on her. Coming home to be at the receiving end of Cedrick¡¯s temper drained the veryst of her patience. III 1/5 Chapter 305 Argument ¡°Since you refuse to listen to my exnation, so be it. We¡¯ll talk only after All she heard in reply was a long silence. +15 Bonus you calm down.¡± Without another word, Gwendolyn turned around and headed to the room next door. Once he heard the door from the room next to his close, Cedrick slumped to the ground with his back against the door. He then curled into a ball with his arms wrapped around his knees. With the room lights still off, he simply sat alone in the darkness. Fortunately, his chest pain didn¡¯t act up, a sign that the medication he had consumed for it was working well. Yet, he could feel pain everywhere else in his body. The air in the surroundings was so still that it triggered a sense of dread within him. With his ear to the door, he listened carefully for any movement outside. It seems quiet. Has Gwendolyn fallen asleep so quickly? Just as he was lost in thought, the room lights were turned on with a click. The sudden burst of illumination was so jarring that he couldn¡¯t open his eyes at all. He suddenly felt his wrists tied up with a belt within the few seconds he was caught off guard. Thereafter, Gwendolyn¡¯s beautiful face emerged right before his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Staring right into his eyes, Gwendolyn shed a taunting smile. ¡°You left the balcony door open, so I snuck in from next door. Am I a genius or what?¡± Exasperated at having his hands bound, Cedrick struggled desperately to free himself. ¡°Untie me!¡± ¡°Are you still trying to calm down? If I don¡¯t show you any attention, do you think you can actually fall asleep? Or were you nning to sit by the door the entire night?¡± Gwendolyn gently lifted his chin with her finger. Cedrick turned his head away, the jealousy he exuded was undeniable. ¡°After meeting Charleste at night, why do you still care about me? Pack your things and go to him tomorrow.¡± ||| 2/5 +15 Bonus Chapter 305 Argument ( Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Why are you being so jealous? Can you not give me a chance to exin?¡± ¡°The first thing you did when you came back was lie to me. Why should I continue to tolerate your bullsh*t? The only thing I trust is the result of my investigation.¡± Gwendolyn was incensed by his words. ¡°Have I been spoiling you too muchtely? Why are you kicking up a fuss over nothing? Must you make me force you to listen instead?¡± The frustrated Cedrick snorted as he refused to look at her. Unfazed by his defiance, Gwendolyn grabbed a shirt from the wardrobe and stuffed it into his mouth. STROME She then carried him up by his waist before hurling him onto the bed with all her strength. Due to how soft the bed was, the impact didn¡¯t hurt Cedrick at all. After rolling across the bed, Cedrick red at her while making muffled sounds. Ignoring his protests, Gwendolyn grabbed another belt from the coat stand and tied his kicking feet up. She lifted both his hands above his head and tied them to the bedpost. ¡°Stop moving! You¡¯ll hurt yourself if you struggle, and then I¡¯ll have to apply medication for you!¡± Her actions continued to outrage Cedrick. With his chest heaving intensely, he stared daggers at her. Never in his life had he been so angry at Gwendolyn. Sitting by the bed, Gwendolyn was a sea of calm as she watched him struggle fruitlessly. She stroked his chest in an attempt to calm him down but didn¡¯t pass up the opportunity to tease him. ¡°Looks can¡¯t kill, so don¡¯t waste time. If you refuse to listen to my exnation, I¡¯ll have to force it upon you my way. I hate it when there¡¯s a misunderstanding, especially when it¡¯s one you have about me!¡± Finally, Cedrick¡¯s breathing began to steady. Nheless, he continued to struggle with his wrists. Gwendolyn let out a sigh before putting on a serious expression. ¡°Listen well, I¡¯ll only say this once. You¡¯re absolutely not a burden to me. Since I¡¯ve made my decision to be with you, I¡¯ll never leave you regardless of how hard the path ahead is. Charles is just someone I admired when I was young. Those feelings have disappeared a long time ago. Now, all I feel for him is ? Chapter 305 Argument +15 Bonus you hatred and the urge to rip him apart after the torment he has caused you with the virus. We¡¯ve been through so much together. Is my love for you not obvious enough? Why do still doubt me and assume that I chose Charles? Am I that disloyal to you? It¡¯s true that I got Asher to bail him out and met with him tonight, but that¡¯s because he has the cure to your virus. Saving your life is the only reason I¡¯m doing all this!¡± The moment she finished, Cedrick finally stopped struggling. As he lowered his gaze, teardrops could be seen at the tip of his long eyshes. Due to the fact that he was being tied up, his expression looked inexplicably pitiful, especially when juxtaposed against the domineering Gwendolyn. Caressing his face, Gwendolyn gave him a gentle and teary¨Ceyed look. ¡°Are you still angry?¡± Cedrick shook his head. Gwendolyn removed the shirt she had stuffed in his mouth and gave his sore jaws a massage. ¡°Is there nothing you want to ask me?¡± Cedrick swallowed the lump in his throat and replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± His apology elicited an affectionate smile from Gwendolyn. ¡°Don¡¯t be a fool. I forgive you. It¡¯s normal to say things we don¡¯t mean in an argument.¡± It would be unreasonable for her to hold it against a sick patient. As the rage within him eased, Cedrick felt like snuggling up to her. It was then that he remembered that he was still tied to the bedpost. ¡°Untie me, Gwenny.¡± Once he was free from his bonds, he wrapped his arms around her waist and climbed greedily into her arms. ¡°Do you really have no more questions?¡± Gwendolyn repeated. Cedrick gave it some thought, then freed himself from her embrace and locked gazes with her. ¡°I learned that you visited Charles in prison half a month ago. Was he the one who told you about my sickness?¡± Gwendolyn was stunned, Nico had told her that Cedrick had ordered the matter to be kept a secret. Since it was a breach of discipline to reveal it to her, terrible consequences awaited whoever did it. 4/5 Chapter 305 Argument With that thought in mind, she gave him a firm look. ¡°Yes.¡± Bonus Furrowing his brows, Cedrick began to analyze the situation. ¡°Even Joshua was at his wits¡® end when it came to the S404 RNA virus, so how did Charles know about the cure? Even if he did, he would never give it away for nothing. Did he use this to demand something in return from you?¡± Gwendolyn took a deep breath after being put in the spot. Just as expected from my man. He¡¯s capable of cornering me with just a few words. Chapter 306 Chapter 306 Chapter 306 I Am Not Afraid Of You Cedrick¡¯s frown deepened when she did not speak. ¡°Gwenny?¡± Snapping back to her senses, she exined firmly, ¡°My gut feeling tells me he¡¯s hiding something and that there is more to this than meets the eye. I sent the from him to theboratory to be tested, and they said everything like he genuinely found a cure for you.¡± ¡°What did he ask in return when he gave you the cure?¡± ¡°Bail him out. He wants his freedom back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Cedrick was suspicious. Cine I received the with it. It seems ¡°You¡¯re right, but I don¡¯t know his ulterior motive. Regardless, he has no one to help him out now, so I guess there¡¯s nothing substantial he can do.¡± Here, Gwendolyn clenched her fists and changed the topic. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s gettingte, Ceddy. Get some rest first. We¡¯ll think about this tomorrow.¡± Despite her trying to digress from the subject, Cedrick was adamant about getting to the bottom of it. ¡°If he knew S404 was the antidote, I am at his mercy. He has too big of a bargaining chip to ask for just this.¡± ¡°I mean¡­¡± Gwendolyn hesitated, forcing a smile to hide her uneasiness. ¡°How would I know what he¡¯s thinking? He probably has a n cooked up but didn¡¯t tell me about it.¡± She had already decided to keep the other two terms she agreed to from Cedrick, for if thetter found out about it, he would utterly knock back the idea of injecting the cure Charles gave. Moreover, she needed more time to consider her strategy moving forward regarding dealing with Charles and nned on drawing more helpful information from the man to get hold of the antidote. When Cedrick was bent on finding out more, she rubbed her tense shoulders and looked at him with tired eyes, saying, ¡°Why don¡¯t we leave this for some other time, Ceddy? I¡¯m so tired. It¡¯s been a long day.¡± ¡°But, Gwenny¡­¡± Looking at the persistent man, Gwendolyn held his face and kissed his thin lips, a gesture that happened to be their bedtime ritual. ¡°Goodnight, Ceddy.¡± 1/4 Chapter 306 I Am Not Afraid Of You ¡°All right, then. Goodnight,¡± Cedrick replied, finally giving in under her listless gaze. ¡°You take an early rest too. I¡¯ll go to the next room when you¡¯re asleep.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± +15 Bonus While he had snuggled down in his nket and closed his eyes, Gwendolyn gazed at him until his breathing slowed down before turning off the lights and leaving for the next room. But little did she know, the supposedly asleep man opened his eyes the moment she shut the door behind her. From the pair of dark and cold eyes staring into the ceiling, it was apparent that Cedrick had seen through Gwendolyn¨Cshe was such a bad liar Cedrick could not help but notice the minute details in her bodynguage. Judging from her behavior, he was confident that she was hiding something from him, but the more she tried to keep it to herself, the more Cedrick was convinced that Charles had asked for something valuable from her. But at the same time, he did not want to burden Gwendolyn any further, for it was already too much to put her through all the suffering because of him, so at that moment, he decided to find out the truth himself. As he pondered the matter, he heard the door clicking from the next room. Although it was just a faint noise, Cedrick still caught it in the night¡¯s quietness. Quickly, he got out of bed and closed the windows carefully before pulling out his phone to call Nico, who sounded frustrated when he picked up since he had barely fallen asleep. ¡°Seriously? This is the third time you have called. Can¡¯t you tell me in one go what you want me to do? How am I supposed to sleep if you call every few hours?¡± At theint, Cedrick lowered his voice and noted, ¡°It seems like you don¡¯t like your job.¡± ¡°NoBelonging to N?velDrama.Org. way. I love it! I was just thinking about staying up the night to y some games while I wait for your orders,¡± Nico replied. Cedrick paused for a moment and continued in a softer tone, ¡°Count this as overtime. Go to the finance department and ask for double your rate for this. I don¡¯t want you saying I mistreat you.¡± Nico suddenly felt a surge of energy shooting through his body. ¡°Oh, no! I would never say that! You¡¯re the best boss ever, and I love you so much!¡± O 2/4 Chapter 306 I Am Not Afraid Of You +15 Bonus ¡°Don¡¯t fall for me. I¡¯ll never love you,¡± Cedrick dissed, the disgust apparent on his face from his frown. I belong to Gwenny. I¡¯m not letting anyone touch even a strand of my hair, not even if it¡¯s a man. ¡°Um, okay. Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, boss. I¡¯m straight, so I¡¯m not interested in you.¡± Fed up with the nonsense, Cedrick cut to the chase. ¡°I want you to investigate what Charles has been up to since he got out of jail. I want him apprehended at all costs. Don¡¯t let Gwenny know about this. I have some questions for him, so ensure you get him fast.¡± ¡°Right away, boss!¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had fallen into a deep sleep after pulling an all¨Cnighter the day before. When morning came, Cedrick woke up early and bought some seafood. A few hours then psed with him preparing a meal in the kitchen until he realized Gwendolyn was still not up, so he went to her room and crept into her bed lightly. Gwendolyn, who had been sleeping soundly, shivered when she felt exposed to the cold air as Cedrick pulled her warm nket aside. Sensing someone moving around her, she opened her groggy eyes only to spot a head with neatly¨Ccut ck hair sticking out of the nket. From how still Cedrick was after getting into the nket, he must have thought she was still asleep. Giggling, Gwendolyn felt the urge to y a prank on that man, so she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. When Cedrick slowly inched toward her to not wake her, she leaned onto him suddenly and hugged him tight, pulling him into her embrace. Caught by surprise, Cedrick raised his head and peered at her through the gap in the nket, but Gwendolyn seemed asleep still, so he buried his head in her chest. The man took a deep breath with his nose against the fair fullness showing faintly under her sleeping gown. Mm! She smells so good! This is way better than ten cigarettes. His action rendered Gwendolyn speechless. Trying to do perverted things to me, huh? Well, I can do that too. I¡¯m not afraid of you. With that thought in mind, she lowered her hands from his shoulders, moving past his waist and going all the way down to his muscr bottom, where she squeezed his cheeks with all 3/4 Chapter 306 I Am Not Afraid Of You her strength. F ¡°Mm! You little snack. You feel good!¡± she moaned, trying to suppress herughter. Little snack? ww +15 Bonus Cedrick, who was just about to continue discreetly taking in the woman¡¯s scent, suddenly felt rmed. She¡¯s never called me that before. It¡¯s always Ceddy. Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s fantasizing about someone else while holding me. Does this mean she actually minds my disease despite what she said? Cedrick¡¯s stamina was deteriorating because of his condition, so it went without saying that that would affect their sex life. While Gwendolyn was doing her best not to burst outughing, the man in her embrace stiffened, and she felt the air tense. Alerted, Gwendolyn sat up and pulled the nket away, but Cedrick turned to another side instantly and rolled into a ball with his back against her, holding his head. Because Gwendolyn could not see his expression, she could only poke his back with her finger. ¡°Ceddy?¡± Cedrick took a few deep breaths, his back heaving. ¡°You¡­ Are you seeing someone else?¡± he asked. With his face buried between his arms, his usually deep voice sounded whiny. Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Chapter 307 You Are The Snack Gwendolyn was left utterly confused by the man¡¯s words. Cedrick¡¯s anxious but endearing voice almost made her choke out of surprise. What on earth is he thinking? Didn¡¯t I tell him yesterday night that I only have eyes for him? Has he forgotten about it, or does he not believe me? Upset, she tried to pry open his arms so she could speak to him properly, but looking at him curled up in a fetal position reminded her of what she had seen the night before. She caught him in the same position on the floor beside the door in the dark when she had crossed over from her room to his and turned on the lights. From what she studied previously in psychology, this was a position people assumed when they were nervous and anxious¨Ca sign of an immenseck of a sense of security. The realization grieved her, for she had noticed that Cedrick had been struggling emotionally and physically since he fell ill and felt inferior around her. It was as if he was struggling between his fear of losing her and his unworthiness to love her, so much so that Gwendolyn had almost forgotten how he used to be before all that happened. In the past, he was a proud and forbidding man that everyone in the business sphere recognized as sessful and decisive, but despite all his exceptional elegance, he was reduced to a humble man in front of her. The thought of it hurt Gwendolyn so much that she felt her heart pound by a great weight until she could not breathe. She took some time to calm down before lying down behind him and putting her arms. around him tightly. ¡°You¡¯re the snack I was talking about, Ceddy. You are everything I love¨Cyou will be everything I love for the rest of my life.¡± The rigidness in her arms slowly dissipated away until Cedrick lowered his arms, revealing his charming face. ¡°Do you mean that?¡± he asked in uncertainty. Gwendolyn hugged him tighter. With her chin resting on his shoulder and her face leaning against his, she hoped everything she did could make him feel her love for him. H $15 BONS ¡°Ask me the same question when you are doubtful and lost, and my answer will still be the same,¡± she whispered patiently. Her words appeased andforted Cedrick. ¡°Thank you, Gwenny.¡± ¡°What for, Ceddy? We¡¯re a couple. We are the only ones for each other. I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e, a fact that the entire nation is aware of.¡± Turning back toward her and resting in her embrace, Cedrick felt his heart was full. After they hadin in bed for a while, the two got up to prepare lunch together in the kitchen. They were each in charge of different things¨CCedrick cooked while Gwendolyn seasoned the food. They could find joy in doing even the most mundane task in their everyday life. Since it was almost afternoon when they got out of bed, Gwendolyn figured she might as well take leave that day to keep Cedrickpany. The following day, they two woke up earlier to make breakfast together. While eating, Gwendolyn read through the news that day and came across a trending topic online. The Ferguson Group had dered bankruptcy. Perplexed, she clicked on the news to find out what had happened. To her knowledge, the Fergusons were no match for the Harris, Jenson, and Newton families, but it was undeniable that their pockets still ran deep enough to own a considerable business. Although she expected the event to deal the Fergusons a heavy blow, she did not expect them to lose everything in a matter of days. Here, she lifted her gaze to the man who was all focused on his breakfast. ¡°I bet hand in this,¡± she commented, showing him her phone. ¡°They brought it on themselves,¡± he replied without even looking up. ¡°You¡¯re right. They brought it on themselves,¡± Gwendolyn agreed. you had a Breakfast went on peacefully until a notification appeared on Cedrick¡¯s phone. Seeing it was from Nico, Cedrick nced at Gwendolyn and felt relieved she was so engrossed in the news that she had not noticed his phone ringing. ¡°Gwenny, they¡¯re not just liquidating thepany; the bank will also send someone to transfer ownership of the Ferguson residence. Are you going over for the good show?¡± 2/4 Chapter 307 You Are The Snack ¡°Am I the opportunistic kind who takes advantage of others¡® misfortune?¡± Gwendolyn asked with her brows arched. Cedrick pursed his lips and smiled. His silence meant his answer could swing either way. Then, he turned on his phone and showed Gwendolyn a document. Earlier, he had asked Nico to get dirt on Eloise from the ck market. With a high reward promised to informants, Nico managed to gather much evidence and sent the digitalption to Cedrick. ¡°Take a look. Do you want to bring this over to them?¡± Gwendolyn smiled when she read through everything. ¡°Well, I might not be the kind to push someone off the cliff, but I don¡¯t mind adding to their misery. After all, things are already bad for them. I¡¯ll go watch everything unfoldter.¡± Since Gwendolyn also had something to rify with Eloise before thetter served a jail sentence, she got ready and left home after breakfast. As for Cedrick, he stood in the garden as he watched her leave alone. That was the first time he did not offer to go out with her. Once Gwendolyn disappeared out of his sight, the indulgent smile on Cedrick¡¯s face turned cold and cruel. Nico had arrived beside him through a path that allowed him to evade Gwendolyn. ¡°Boss, we got Charles yesterday night. He¡¯s in the outskir now. Do you want to go over?¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°We¡¯re leaving in thirty minutes.¡± Half an hourter, Nico drove Cedrick to a suburb where he had Charles locked up secret interrogation room in the garden vi. When Cedrick arrived, the prisoner was bound on his hands and legs to an upright wooden beam. Seeing that the man with a drooping head was still unconscious, Nico threw a bowl of cold water at him, waking him up in a jolt. As Charles¡® blur vision finally became clear, he saw a sophisticated but hostile man sitting on a chair opposite him. ¡°Ha. I feel honored that this is the second time the one and only Mr. Jenson from the Federal Bureau of Investigation went to great lengths to find me,¡± Charles uttered, his wordsced with a hint of derision. 3/4 Chapter 307 You Are The Snack +15 Bonus Nevertheless, his sarcasm had no effect on Cedrick, who hade solely for business. ¡°I heard you knew where the antidote is.¡± Charles stared at him briefly and said candidly, ¡°It seems like Gwen told you about it. You¡¯re right. I know where it is all along.¡± ¡°So you knew who I was at Realm Bar. You came at me on purpose.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not exactly true,¡± Charles corrected with a smile. ¡°No one expected someone like you to take up a CEO position at a small ce like Faike. I have to say you¡¯re pretty good at concealing your identity.¡± ¡°In that case, your target¡¯s Gwenny, then. You must be trying to y both sides. You wanted to gain from the coboration with Hector and Luke and get Gwenny to think she owes you something by trying to be the nice guy who has the antidote,¡± Cedrick analyzed, unperturbed by his foe. Charlesughed and sneered, ¡°Spot¨Con! You read me like a book, Mr. Jenson!¡± His remarks put a deep frown on Cedrick¡¯s bitter face. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. Reading that cue, Nico grabbed a bat and swung it into Charles¡® belly twice. At the two loud thuds, Charles felt a gush of wetness in his throat as blood trickled down the corners of his lips. Here, Cedrick poured himself some coffee, savoring the drink and the undisguised pain evident in Charles¡® slender and blue eyes. ¡°You thought everything was going ording to n until I came into the equation. Is that why you wanted me dead?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me? Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± ¡°What deal did you make with Gwenny?¡± Cedrick asked, pouring the second cup of coffee. Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Gwendolyn Intends To Send Someone To Hell Narrowing his eyes, Charles fixed his gaze on Cedrick before bursting out in a hystericalugh. ¡°So Gwen didn¡¯t tell you anything! She¡¯s even hiding our deal from you! There¡¯s no trust in your rtionship with her.¡± Cedrick¡¯s hand shivered briefly, and the coffee scalded his fingertips. ¡°Why? Did I just call you out?¡± Charles was pleased with himself. ¡°Hmph. You¡¯ve done so much for her and have endured so much pain, but you¡¯ll only end up worse if she decides to be with me.¡± His insults had no effect on Cedrick. With his face still expressionless, Cedrick lifted his hand gracefully to pick up a wet tissue and dry the coffee on his hand before applying a coldpress on his scalded fingers. ¡°Not talking, huh? In that case, continue hitting him.¡± On Cedrick¡¯s words, Nico lifted the bat again, but just then, Charles yelled, ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Deep down, he was dying for Cedrick to find out about the deal, which would only make things more fun for Charles. ¡°She has to renounce her engagement with you and marry me in return for the antidote. She agreed to the terms two days ago when I gave her the antidote.¡± Crash! A shattering sound cut Charles off just as he finished speaking. Cedrick had smashed the pot of hot coffee on the ground, sending the broken pieces flying off and the liquid sttering. Some of the sharp broken sses happened to scratch Charles¡® calf and cut open his skin, but he grew more maniac when Cedrickshed out. ¡°There¡¯s no point in living for you, Mr. Jenson. You¡¯ll have to lose her to me and watch me have her for the rest of your life. I bet that¡¯s worse than dying.¡± Those words provoked a thirst for violence in Cedrick as his eyes shot red with blood and murderous intent. When Nico sensed that Cedrick was on the verge of killing Charles, he stepped in and pointed at Charles, ordering the guards, ¡°Beat the sh*t out of this b*stard! Spare none of the tools on that wall. I want him to be barely living.¡± 1/4 ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Since Nico had spoken, Cedrick found it unnecessary to say anything else and got up to leave the room, with Nico following closely. Behind them, Charles was stillughing heartily. ¡°I feel so sorry for you, Mr. Jenson! By the time you recover, Gwen will be panting underneath me! It¡¯s going to be fun, so much fun!¡± Cedrick clenched his fists tight, with veins bulging out on his forehead. Watching Cedrick consumed by an impulse to exterminate Charles, Nico rushed over and assured the former, ¡°What he said might not be true. He used to be the head of the Central Intelligence Agency. They¡¯re all pros at getting into people¡¯s heads, so take what he said with a pinch of salt. We should verify everything on our own.¡± Over in the underground room, Charles could be heard crying in agony andughing intermittently. Listening to his spooky voice, Cedrick took a deep breath and steadied his gaze. Then, he walked away without looking back. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn spotted a small grey truck at the roadside when she arrived at the Ferguson residence. Beside it, Wyatt and Emma were loading their luggage into the vehicle. From the looks of it, the family had dismissed all their housekeepers and bodyguards, leaving the once¨Cpromising couple in the upper circle in a humbling state where they had to carry their own baggage. Gwendolyn was sure that Cedrick had ensured they paid for what they did. When Gwendolyn¡¯s Maserati MC77 happened to pull up beside the truck, the two vehicles formed a stark contrast. Having first spotted the car, Emma turned grim and asked, ¡°Are you here to add salt to our wounds, Ms. Harris? Isn¡¯t it enough that we¡¯ve lost everything?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be rude, Darling!¡± Wyatt rebuked, eyeing her. Then, he turned to Gwendolyn and said kindly, ¡°Our families go way back, so Ms. Harris is always wee here. She¡¯s our guest. She¡¯s not here to cause trouble.¡± Gwendolyn smiled at the tactful old man who had just spoken the right words to ease the tension. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Wyatt. I¡¯m just here to see Eloise. I wish to speak to her privately.¡± ¡°She¡¯s packing her stuff upstairs,¡± Emma said, looking more friendly. Chapter 308 Gwendolyn Intends To Send Someone To Hell Gwendolyn nodded and went to the mansion. When she reached the third floor, where Eloise¡¯s room was, the door was found to be left ajar. +15 Bonus Pushing the door gently, Gwendolyn caught Eloise looking reluctantly at her luxury bags and jewelry. Gwendolyn knocked on the door with her knuckles, then reminded the woman calmly, ¡°You can¡¯t take any of these with you. The bank will confiscate them and sell them off to repay your family¡¯s loan, so you can stop mulling over them.¡± Eloise looked up toward the voice, and her eyes were filled with hatred when she saw Gwendolyn. ¡°What are you doing here? Are you trying to put salt on my wound?¡± ¡°Of course. This could be myst chance to see you,¡± Gwendolyn admitted. ¡°I thought you¡¯d at least say some nice things and y the good guy, but you¡¯re always this blunt with me. I shouldn¡¯t have gone soft and let you live back in Faike,¡± Eloise replied,ughing lightly. Then, she dropped the things in her hands and stood with her chin held high before Gwendolyn as if to show that she would never back down. Gwendolyn could not understand her unrepentance and ego. ¡°Your parents worked hard their whole lives, but they ended up living in an eighty¨Csix square feet house in their old age because of you. Your brother¡¯s good reputation is in tatters because of you too. None of the bigpanies dared to take him in despite his qualifications. To maintain a livelihood, he will have to settle forbor work like being a bricyer or a car detailer. How could you not feel remorseful when you¡¯ve caused them so much pain?¡± Eloise scorned her. ¡°That¡¯s life for them. They are my family, but they didn¡¯t contribute to my endeavors either. It¡¯s their fate that they end up like this. Also, you might have defeated me this time, but don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. Someone will being for you, and I¡¯m waiting for that.¡± Gwendolyn approached Eloise and whispered, ¡°By ¡®someone,¡¯ do you mean Evelyn?¡± Eloise¡¯s face stiffened as she stared at Gwendolyn without saying a word. ¡°I bet she¡¯s the one who orchestrated everything during your birthday party, right,¡± Gwendolyn pointed out. The truth was, she had long suspected Evelyn since the first time they met. Chapter 308 Gwendolyn Intends To Send Someone To Hell Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°You mean that actress? She¡¯s nothing. Who is she to order me around?¡± Eloise scoffed, retracting her icy re. Gwendolyn was unconvinced. ¡°You don¡¯t have to admit to it. I¡¯ll find out one day.¡± 60% +15 Bonus Speaking, she took out the printed evidence from her bag and read them aloud. ¡°You drove under the influence of alcohol five years ago and hit someone dead. Wyatt forged a report exining your mental condition and pumped money to clear you of the charge, but dissatisfied with the verdict, the victim¡¯s family condemned you online. After discovering this, you had your bodyguards teach two of the family members a lesson, leaving them deeply injured. Wyatt then interfered again to quell the issue.¡± Eloise stared at Gwendolyn with her eyes wide like saucers. ¡°How did you know?¡± Gwendolyn ignored her question and continued, ¡°Four years ago, you were offended by a waiter you imed to be rude at a socialite party, so you beat him to a pulp. That guy ended up with severalminuted fractures. In the same year, you- ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Snarling, Eloise snatched the document from Gwendolyn and ripped everything to pieces. ¡°It¡¯s your words against mine. I¡¯m not admitting to any of these charges!¡± Gwendolyn folded her arms and curved her red lips into a smile at Eloise¡¯s reaction. ¡°Say that again when you¡¯re behind bars.¡± Eloise felt a chill down her spine, realizing things could be worse than she expected. ¡°W¨CWhat do you mean?¡± Just as she spoke, amotion broke out from downstairs. Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Cannot Afford To Offend +15 Bonus In the garden of the Ferguson residence, a group of police officers in special uniforms were presenting their identification to Wyatt and Emma, exining the purpose of their visit. Eloise rushed to the window. Upon seeing the people from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, she gritted her teeth hatefully. ¡°Gwendolyn, how dare you call the police to arrest me! You¡¯re too despicable!¡± Gwendolynughed. ¡°What I¡¯m doing is helping the victims to seek justice. I¡¯m not making anything up, so I think the word ¡®despicable¡® is better suited for you.¡± Eloise trembled all over. Only at that moment did she register fear. It doesn¡¯t matter if the Ferguson family goes bankrupt. We can always rise again. However, if I go to jail, I¡¯ll be done for, doomed to be tormented and suffer a fate worse than death. I must escape! I cannot sit idly by and wait for my doom. Evelyn will definitely help me! ¡°Just you wait, Gwendolyn!¡± Eloise figured there was still time for her to escape via the back door of the vi. However, Gwendolyn grasped her wrist and skillfully immobilized her. ¡°So naive. Do you think you can get away when the people from the Federal Bureau of Investigation are already here? If you really don¡¯t want to be imprisoned, I can consider helping you as long as you tell me Evelyn¡¯s true identity.¡± Eloise replied mockingly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you very capable? I¡¯m surprised there are people whose background you can¡¯t find out.¡± ¡°It seems like you¡¯re closely acquainted with her, willing to go to jail than betray her. Off you go, then.¡± Gwendolyn let go of the woman¡¯s hand indifferently. Eloise spun on her heels and tried to escape, but the police had already dashed up the stairs, blocking the door of the room. They walked in aggressively and swiftly handcuffed Eloise before taking her away. Eloise struggled desperately as the police pushed her out of the room. She red back at Gwendolyn, her gaze filling with resentment. ¡°Gwendolyn, Evelyn is someone you cannot afford to offend! You¡¯ll never win against her. I¡¯ll be waiting to see your downfall!¡± She tantly expressed her intense hatred for Gwendolyn, seemingly implying something with thest part of her sentence, Gwendolyn remained silent, watching as Eloise, who was baring her teeth at her, was forcibly taken away by the police. 1/4 Chapter 309 Cannot Afford To Offend She looked around Eloise¡¯s room and finally saw a photo album in the drawer of her dressing table. When she opened it, there was a photo of Eloise and Evelyn standing at the entrance of ns University. Gwendolyn stared solemnly at the photo featuring Evelyn, who was wearing a radiant smile. The familiar feeling washed over her again. When Gwendolyn first met Evelyn, she felt something was off with thetter, especially since Evelyn knew about her past in Faike. Now that she thought about it, it seemed Evelyn had deliberately revealed her close rtionship with Eloise to her. What exactly is Evelyn ying at? When Gwendolyn exited the Ferguson residence, Eloise had already been escorted into the car by the police. Wyatt and Emma were speaking to a man whose back was facing Gwendolyn, seemingly pleading for leniency. Emma even appeared to be on the verge of crying. Looking at the back of the man dressed in military attire, which resembled Charles¡®, Gwendolyn calmly strode over. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Craig turned around to gaze at her, his eyes twinkling with a trace of cheerfulness. ¡°Do you still remember me, Ms. Harris?¡± Craig¡¯s eyes and brows were strikingly simr to Charles, but when he grinned, his amber eyes seemed more piercing than thetter¡¯s. ¡°Good to see you, Mr. Craig,¡± Gwendolyn responded with a courteous smile. ¡°You¡¯re now the head of the Newton family. Naturally, everyone knows who you are.¡± Craig was the second son of the Newton family and also the second inmand at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ranking just below Cedrick. The man felt sentimental when he saw Gwendolyn. He reached out, attempting to pat her head. ¡°You used to love ying with my younger brother at the Newton residence. We haven¡¯t seen each other in years, and you¡¯ve be more beautiful.¡± She stepped back and decisively avoided his hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have a jealous fianc¨¦ at home. He will be displeased if he finds out another man patted my head.¡± ¡°You two really are enviable.¡± Craig retracted his arm and smiled amiably, not feeling Chapter 309 Cannot Afford To Offend awkward at all. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Mr. Jenson for quite a while. He hasn¡¯t been back at the Federal Bureau of Investigation either. I wonder how is he recently?¡± 60% +15 Bonus Gwendolyn slightly narrowed her eyes, analyzing the implicit probing in his words. They all worked together at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Nico and Neville knew about Cedrick¡¯s illness, but Craig appears to bepletely unaware. She replied casually, ¡°Of course. He¡¯s always in the pink of health. He¡¯s not one to get sick easily, unlike me. ¡°In that case, you should take good care of your body, Ms. Harris. Also, send my regards to Mr. Jenson.¡± They exchanged pleasantries for a while before getting interrupted by Emma¡¯s crying. ¡°Craig, Eloise is young and immature, so she made mistakes. She was diagnosed with a mental illness previously. Please help her, Craig!¡± The man smiled in response. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Ferguson. The Federal Bureau of Investigation will never falsely use anyone. We won¡¯t treat her harshly during the investigation.¡± With nothing else to do, Gwendolyn turned around and nned to leave. Just then, Sherman suddenly exited the vi. Since he hadn¡¯t recovered after getting beaten up by Nico, he could only lean against the door frame for support, calling out to Gwendolyn from a distance. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you really going to side with Cedrick to target the Ferguson family? Considering we¡¯ve been acquainted since childhood, can¡¯t you let Eloise off the hook?¡± Everyone at the garden shifted their attention to Gwendolyn after hearing that. She stopped in her tracks and answered coldly without turning around, ¡°Sherman, she deserves the punishments that await her. This is the consequence of your family¡¯s indulgence in her since she was a child.¡± She took two steps forward. Then, as if recalling something, she turned to Craig and said, ¡°If Eloise truly has a mental illness, she should be sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. That shouldn¡¯t be an excuse to evade thew. Don¡¯t you think so, Mr. Craig?¡± Craig beamed at her. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°My poor daughter..¡± Emma failed to catch her breath and would¡¯ve copsed to the floor if Wyatt hadn¡¯t supported her in time. Not bothering herself with the Fergusons¡® dramatics, Gwendolyn left without hesitation. 3/4 Chapter 309 Cannot Afford To Offend Just as she got into the car and was about to go home, her phone rang. She noticed it was a call from Joshua. O 60% +15 Bonus ¡°Ms. Harris, this blue serum has been repeatedly tested, and there are no issues with it. If Cedrick injects it, the symptoms of degeneration and angina caused by the virus can be significantly alleviated and may even vanish entirely.¡± Gwendolyn was overjoyed. ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± After hanging up the call, she returned to Harrick Vi first. Cedrick was still wearing his thick robe, sittingzily on the couch and reading a book. As soon as Gwendolyn returned, she happily cupped his face and showered him with kisses. ¡°Ceddy, hurry up and change your clothes. Follow me to somewhere¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Gwendolyn shed a mysterious smile. ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there!¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Seeing how thrilled she was, Cedrick didn¡¯t ask further and immediately went upstairs to change his coat. Then, he allowed her to lead him out of the house by dragging his hand. The two arrived at theboratory together. Cedrick regarded the blue serum in the syringe held by Joshua solemnly. ¡°Is this what you acquired from Charles via the trade?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. She gently stroked his face and replied jovially, ¡°Prof. Mallory has tested the serum many times, and it¡¯s safe. You¡¯ll be rejuvenated after receiving the injection!¡± Nico grinned and chimed in, ¡°Farewell, degeneration syndrome! Mr. Jenson will still be the strongest man in the future!¡± Their yful banter filled theboratory with a lively atmosphere. However, amidst the cheery ambiance, Cedrick gazed intently at the blue serum. With a pensive look in his eyes, he uttered firmly, ¡°I will not receive the injection. Take it away, Joshua.¡± 4/4 Nico sighed softly. Notprehending his reasons, Gwendolyn sat down next to Cedrick and asked, ¡°Why? Atrophy has gued you for such a long time. Don¡¯t you want to cure theplications and live a normal life as soon as possible?¡± Cedrick did not borate further. With a determined look, he grabbed her hand and clutched it tightly. Upon seeing his expression, realization dawned, prompting Gwendolyn to send Nico and Joshua out of the room. ¡°I want to speak to Ceddy in private. Close the door behind you when you leave, but don¡¯t wander too far.¡± Tactfully, Nico and Joshua made their exit. When the room was quiet, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Did you manage to get ahold of Charles? Did he tell you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedrick did not try to hide the fact from her. Gwendolyn sighed again. I truly can¡¯t hide anything from Cedrick. Although his body was impaired, his brain still functioned just fine. He was not one to be fooled easily. Gwendolyn flipped their hands around and gripped Cedric¡¯s hands. ¡°Don¡¯t believe what he said. I-¡± ¡°His condition was for you to break our engagement and marry him, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Cedrick interrupted in an icy voice. ¡°Ceddy, you know what Charles is like-¡± Furrowing his brows, Cedrick interrupted her again, ¡°You just have to tell me if that was his condition?¡± Stumped for words, Gwendolyn lowered her head and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Cedrick, too, lowered his head to hide the hostility and overflowing killing intent in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯d rather die than sacrifice your happiness just to trade for my health.¡± 1/5 +15 Bonus Gwendolyn immediately covered his mouth, scolding him, ¡°Stop talking nonsense! Don¡¯t even talk about dying. I forbid you to mention this word.¡± Gripping her hand, Cedrick clenched her palm with an unusually serious expression. ¡°Gwenny, if the price to continue living is to lose you and see you marry that scum, it¡¯ll be a fate worse than death.¡± Gwendolyn kneeled down by his feet and smiled reassuringly. ¡°Ceddy, it¡¯s important that you¡¯re able to live on. We¡¯ll try to cure your illness with the serum. Everything else can be discussedter, okay?¡± Cedrick shook his head in response. He was not going topromise on this matter. ¡°I refuse to be injected with the serum Charles gave you. I absolutely will not allow it.¡± ¡°Ceddy¡­¡± Cedrick refused to listen and withdrew his hand from hers before turning his head to the side. The expression on his face indicated that he was not open to negotiation. Gwendolyn knew that Cedrick was a stubborn person. Once he made up his mind, not even wild horses could force him to change it. Left with no choice, she stood up and stared at him apologetically. ¡°Sorry, I did not bring you to theb for a discussion. If you don¡¯t agree to it, I can only resort to force.¡± ¡°Gwenny!¡± Guessing her intentions, Cedrick tried to grab Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist. However, she backed away and dodged his grasp. Gwendolyn turned her head and shouted at the door. ¡°Nico,e in!¡± A 12 The door opened, and Nico peeked in with a pleasantly surprised expression. ¡°Ms. Harris, have you managed to convince Mr. Jenson?¡± Without bothering to answer his query, Gwendolyn pointed at Cedrick. ¡°Hold him down and don¡¯t let him struggle.¡± ¡°Gwenny!¡± Cedrick¡¯s countenance darkened as he called out to her once more, Utterly stunned, Nico just stood by the door. ¡°D¨CDid I mishear something? You want me to use brute force?¡± Gwendolyn sighed. Her tone was firm as she replied, ¡°Yes. You heard that right. Hold him down.¡± Nico entered the room nervously. However, a single look from Cedrick scared him and he rooted to the spot. Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Forcing My Hand +15 Bonus ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± ring at the other man, Cedrick uttered through gritted teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t forget who you are working for, and whose orders you should be obeying.¡± ¡°Boss, I¡­¡± Nico swallowed nervously. He never thought that he would be forced to make such a choice. ¡°Boss, listen to Ms. Harris. The serum will treat your illness.¡± Cedrick remained stubborn. ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible. Let me ask you again, whose orders are you going to obey?¡± ¡°He should listen to me,¡± Gwendolyn answered on Nico¡¯s behalf. With her brows slightly raised, and a yful, yet domineering smile on her red lips, she imed, ¡°Since you¡¯re my man, your subordinate should listen to me.¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. Woman, what logic is that? Gwendolyn nced at Nico. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He won¡¯t hurt you as long as I¡¯m here. Hurry up.¡± Having obtained her reassurance, Nico calmed down and started toward Cedrick determinedly. Cedrick¡¯s body turned cold as he tried to kick the approaching man. Nico dared not dodge the blow. He grabbed his leg and hopped about in pain. ¡°Ouch! Ms. Harris, he hurt me!¡± ¡°Little sh*t, when did you learn to tattle in front of my face?¡± Cedrick was livid, and he stared daggers at Nico. Like a coward, Nico backed away and hid behind Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn sighed and called for Joshua to get her a rope. She bent down and personally bound Cedrick¡¯s feet. Nico immediately followed and tied up proceed with the injection. up Cedrick¡¯s hands. He then yelled at Joshua to Cedrick¡¯s whole being emanated a chilly aura. Despite having his movements restricted, his terrifying aura scared Joshua, preventing the other man from moving closer.¡± ¡°Let me do it.¡± Gwendolyn held out her hand. Sighing in relief, Joshua passed the syringe to her. Cedrick raised his head and stared into Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Gwenny, don¡¯t do this.¡± Gwendolyn leaned down and nted a kiss on his thin lips. She coaxed, ¡°I¡¯ll try to be gentle so I won¡¯t hurt you. We¡¯ll remove theplications from your body this time, and work on 3/5 ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you yearn for a future where the two of us can live like ordinary people? Perhaps we¡¯ll even have a cute baby. Our wonderful future will begin from the moment your treatment begins.¡± Their eyes met. Cedrick listened to her words and found himself drawn in by her clear and starry eyes. Gwendolyn took advantage of his distraction and stuck the needle into his internal jugr vein, carefully injecting the serum into his body. It only took a few seconds for the drug to take effect. Cedrick¡¯s body went limp, and his eyelids began to feel heavy. His dark eyes dimmed and weakened as drowsiness enveloped his entire being. ¡°Prof. Mallory, what¡¯s happening?¡°, Joshua immediately checked on Cedrick¡¯s condition. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s normal for him to be in this weakened state after being injected with the blue serum. Cedrick will be all right when he wakes up.¡± Gwendolyn and Nico both sighed in relief. cing Cedrick on the bed, Nico and Joshua tactfully exited the room. 1 Once the two men were gone, Gwendolyn took off her shoes andy down on the bed. She held Cedrick in her arms so that thetter could fall asleep in her embrace. Caressing his face, she stared at the palm trees outside the window and said softly, ¡°Ceddy, do you know when I started liking you?¡± Cedrick shook his head groggily. ¡°You were the only person who smiled at me the day Old Mr. Wright brought me into the Wright family. Ever since then, I¡¯ve been infatuated with you. I¡­¡± Cedrick felt the corners of his mouth turn up as her soft and warm voice sounded in his ears, recounting memories of the past. The palm leaves outside the window rustled with the wind. Trying desperately to cling to his slipping consciousness, Cedrick asked, ¡°Gwenny, are you 4/5 Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Chapter 310 Forcing My Hand really nning to break our engagement and marry Cha¡­¡± +75 Bonus His eyelids drifted shut before he could finish speaking. With that, he fell deeply asleep. Gwendolyn stared out of the window with an indecipherable expression. ¡°Just sleep. You¡¯ll be all right when you wake up. We¡¯ll have better days in the future.¡± Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Angry +25 Bonus Once Cedrick had fallen asleep, Gwendolyn carefully settled him on the bed and covered him with a nket. Once that was done, she quietly left the room to meet with Joshua. ¡°Since theb has already obtained this blue serum, is it possible to replicate something simr or develop an antidote based on the serum¡¯sponents, Prof. Mallory?¡± she asked. With a serious expression, Joshua thought about it for a while before shaking his head. ¡°Theboratory doesn¡¯t have any data on theponents of the serum. Additionally, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s from Chanaea. I have checked.¡± He paused before continuing, ¡°The $404 RNA virus can¡¯t be treated with an ordinary antidote. If Charles can obtain an effective antidote, it¡¯s definitely not from our country. Most importantly, it involves the core technology.¡± It was only his spection since he didn¡¯t see the serum with his own eyes. Gwendolyn contemted her next move. I¡¯ll observe how Cedrick reacts to the blue serum first. I¡¯ll consider handling Charles sometimeter. Cedrick slept for a day and a night. When he woke up again, Joshua immediately examined the former¡¯s body. Cedrick cooperated with Joshua, though his expression was icy, and he didn¡¯t even nce at Gwendolyn. His body absorbed the serum well. His atrophy and chest pain had vanishedpletely. Furthermore, the spread of the virus had decreased significantlypared to before. Everyone was delighted, except for Cedrick. Just as Gwendolyn prepared to hold him after they returned to Harrick Vi, he dodged her and uttered, ¡°No need. My body has recovered. I don¡¯t need someone else to assist me.¡± She watched his towering figure enter the vi alone, stunned. Quietly, Nico approached her andforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Gwendolyn. That¡¯s just how he is. No one ever dares to force him to do anything. What happened wasn¡¯t a minor issue, so he¡¯s still hung up on it. He¡¯ll be fine after a few days.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Gwendolyn entered the vi quietly. Meanwhile, Cedrick went straight upstairs and shut the door to his room without uttering another word to her. It upset Gwendolyn, but she said nothing about it and returned to her room. The next morning, she was woken up by themotion in the garden. Upon arriving at the balcony, she nced downward. Cedrick wore a thin ck shirt with rolled sleeves, revealing his muscr arms. The morning dew was still present as he exercised, executing a set of slick punches, 1/3 Chapter 311 Angry His cold expression from the past had returned to his handsome face, making him seem distant. Gwendolyn intently watched him work out and apuded. Upon hearing that, Gedrick ceased his movements and entered the vi without ncing at her. He swiftly put on the suit he hung at the door and left the residence. This is the first time he¡¯s given me a cold shoulder this long Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes followed him as he left Harrick Vi. Casually, she folded her arms and grinned. I want to see how long he¡¯llst. When Cedrick arrived at Jenson Group and sat on his office chair, he heard Nico panickily knocking on the door. ¡°Charles has vanished, Boss!¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°The guard was drugged and brought Charles, who was barely alive after he was tortured, away. When Neville brought people to check up on him during the morning, he saw the blood in the room had dried. Based on that, he estimated Charles had escaped for a day already.¡± A scowl settled on Cedrick¡¯s countenance. A random Joe wouldn¡¯t have been able to drug the guard protecting the special interrogation room. The most likely suspect is someone working in the station. ¡°What¡¯s Craig been doing recently?¡± Nico flipped through the attendance record and informed, ¡°Mr. Craig has been busy taking care of Eloise¡¯s case to the point that he can¡¯t leave.¡± Cedrick sneered, ¡°There¡¯s nothing worth investigating in Eloise¡¯s case that requires so much of his attention.¡± ¡°Boss, are you saying¡­¡± A cold look swirled in Cedrick¡¯s eyes. ¡°They¡¯re brothers, after all. However, it doesn¡¯t matter if he has escaped. I was satisfied with venting my anger by torturing him.¡± Charles is holding the secret to the antidote. I can¡¯t kill him right now, and he knows this. That¡¯s why he won¡¯t spill the beans, even if he dies. When his train of thought ended there, he continued, ¡°Still, Craig shouldn¡¯t have broken Charles free in the manner that he did. Task someone to investigate the matter and whip up some evidence to punish him.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± However, Nico didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, he had an internal debate before asking, ¡°Boss¡­ When do you n to reconcile with Ms. Gwendolyn?¡± Cedrick remained silent expressionlessly. In response, Nico boldly suggested, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn hasn¡¯t gotten angry yet. If you conciliate with her now, you can be all lovey¨Cdovey with her again. However, if you drag this out and wait until she¡¯s incensed to do this, it may be your fault¡­¡± Knitting his eyebrows, Cedrick hurled the cup of coffee on his desk to the ground, exuding a cold vibe. Crack! Nico was so terrified that he paled. Without dy, he backed away to avoid getting stained by the coffee. O 2/3 Chapter 311 Angry ng my attention so ng my attention so ¡°I still haven¡¯t punished you for disobeying me two days ago. Do you enjoy much?¡± spat Cedrick. Nico pleaded, ¡°Please spare me, Boss! Considering how obedient you are to Ms. possibly defy her? Don¡¯t worry, Boss. My heart is still on your side!¡± +25 Bonus Colyn, how can I With an icy expression, Cedrick interrogated, ¡°Who will you choose the next time I have a conflict of opinion with her?¡± ¡°You, of course!¡± eximed Nico. Ms. Gwendolyn, course! ¡°And if I argue with her and give her the cold shoulder, who will you help?¡± you persuade Ms. Gwendolyn!¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°You! I don¡¯t even need to consider my options. I¡¯ll definitely help Abruptly, Cedrick mmed his hand on the table. ¡°Then go to her right now! I want her to yield to me!¡± Realization dawned upon Nico. He probably feels too embarrassed to please her just less than two days after he vehemently rejected the injection. *Don¡¯t worry, Boss. I¡¯ll cherish this opportunity to atone for my mistake!¡± Nico stated tteringly. ¡°Wait.¡± Aposed expression returned to Cedrick¡¯s countenance. ¡°Clean the mess on the floor up before you leave.¡± While Nico felt exasperated, he beamed. ¡°Okay, Boss! I¡¯ll clean it up in two minutes!¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Cedrick reminded in a small voice, ¡°Don¡¯t mention I said this if you know what I mean.¡± ¡°I do! I won¡¯t tell her about it!¡± A few minutester, Nico wiped the floor clean and returned to his own office. Without dy, he called Gwendolyn. 17 The moment the call connected, hemented pitifully, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn! Mr. Jenson took his anger out on me and is going to deduct my sry! You need to stand up for me!¡± Gwendolyn was startled by his fake crying. It¡¯s hard to imagine what expression Nico is making, considering he¡¯s more than one hundred and eighty centimeters tall¡­ Upon coughing twice, she replied, ¡°I¡¯ll ask him to grant you a bonus in two days. Well, did tell him what I asked you to?¡± you Nico wailed even louder. ¡°I did, but he refused to give in. In fact, he even said he wants you to relent. Maybe we should y along with him?¡± Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Nico Gives Gwendolyn Some Tips +25 Bonus ¡°How?¡± Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°He kept refusing to speak to me. I presented him multiple opportunities to settle the issue with dignity, yet he¡¯s still acting all prideful!¡± That rendered Nico speechless. Why is this couple asking me, a bachelor, how to settle their rtionship problems? I didn¡¯t ask to be stuck in the middle! The more Gwendolyn thought about it, the more furious she became. Her mind was filled with images of Cedrick¡¯s frigid expressions from the past two days. I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s throwing shades at me right after he recovers a little. What a headstrong man! ¡°Whatever. I¡¯ll let him be. If he wants to keep giving me the cold shoulder, I¡¯ll entertain him until the end.¡± Right before she hung up the call, Nico stopped her. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t hang up, Ms. Gwendolyn! I¡¯ll think of a n!¡± ¡°What kind of n?¡± Nico kept quiet for a long while, secretly searching for ¡°How to appease your boyfriend when he¡¯s angry?¡± on his tablet. After scanning through the search results, he came up with a suggestion. ¡°Mr. Jenson loves getting surprises from you. How about you do something special this time?¡± ¡°Something special?¡± Gwendolyn knitted his eyebrows. ¡°Like what?¡± Pressing his fist on his mouth, he coughed twice. ¡°Like¡­ adding a bit of spice to your love life.¡± He felt slightly embarrassed saying what he meant out loud since he was a virgin. ¡°He is really hoping that you will move back into the master bedroom every day. If you dress a little more¡­ captivatingly when you do that, I bet he won¡¯t be able to resist you, especially with your amazing figure!¡± ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re asking me to wear something like a maid or a cat costume? A sexy cosy?¡± Reflexively, Nico coughed. ¡°That¡­ and if you call him Ceddy, I bet he won¡¯t care about being mad anymore. In fact, he¡¯ll be eager to give you even his life!¡± Gwendolyn took in a deep breath and she blushed. I can¡¯t believe a virgin like Nico is teaching me these things. It¡¯s pretty embarrassing. Her cheeks reddened further as she imagined what would happen if she followed Nico¡¯s advice. ¡°Just let it be. I don¡¯t think I can do it. Talk to you in two days!¡± Hastily, she hung up the call. Her heart raced as she pressed her hand on her chest. While staring at theputer screen, she struggled to remove those scenes from her mind. Upon gathering her courage, she clicked on a search engine and typed in relevant keywords. A variety of selections promptly appeared before her, including cuffs, whips, candles, and many other things. Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. Are youngsters nowadays this kinky? I feel like an idot who just stumbled upon a new continent! I wonder if Cedrick will like this¡­ III OPlease check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. 1/4 Chapter 312 Nico Gives Gwendolyn Some Tips After some perusing, she added an outfit with a tail to her cart. Abruptly, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Are you inside, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn was so startled by the sudden sound that she almost dropped her phone. Quietly, she closed the website and allowed Joanne to enter and talk about work. +26 Bonus Meanwhile, Nico was summoned to Cedrick¡¯s office again before work ended. While Cedrick typed, his attention affixed to hisputer screen, he asked, ¡°How did it go?¡± In response, Nico lowered his head dejectedly and shook it. Cedrick¡¯s countenance darkened the moment he spotted Nico¡¯s expression. Stifling his displeasure, he pretended to sound casual. ¡°It¡¯s fine if she doesn¡¯t want to. Anyway, what¡¯s my schedule? Do I have any uing meetings?¡± Nico expeditiously turned on his tablet. ¡°There¡¯s one tonight. Mr. Valentine from Parkview Enterprise invited you to join him at The Honey Bee.¡± A troubled expression settled on his face. ¡°However, Mr. Valentine is working with us on the Rossi Project. If you wish to meet him, you¡¯ll probably have to bring Ms. Evelyn along. I thought you won¡¯t want to attend it, so I canceled it.¡± ¡°Well, I will,¡± answered Cedrick without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯ll be quitete by the time it ends. Do need me to inform Ms. Gwendolyn about this?¡± you ¡°No.¡± Cedrick stood before tidying his shirt and tie. Then he left the office. Staring at Cedrick¡¯s back, Nico punched the air like a madman. ¡°These two jerks are going to drive me crazy! Do they think whoever relents first will be the loser? This is torture!¡± During the night, in a fancy VIP room within The Honey Bee, a few tycoons in suits wrapped their arms around their femalepanions and drank in delight. Cedrick sat in the middle with a cold expression and an imposing vibe, like a king. Silently, he sipped his wine without interacting with anyone else. He even kept a reasonable distance away from Evelyn. Peering at his expression, Evelyn proactively poured him a ss of red wine when you¡¯re out for fun, Mr. Jenson. Care to drink with me?¡± ¡°You should enjoy yourself She was the ambassador of the Rossi Project, and they were surrounded by ¡°d enjoy yourself thought Cedrick would ept her invitation for the sake of thepany¡¯s image. To her surprise, Cedrick merely nced at her coldly and continued drinking alone. He couldn¡¯t even be bothered to reject her invitation. CEOs, so she 2/4 51% Chapter 312 Nico Gives Gwendolyn Some Tips +25 Bonus Evelyn¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Embarrassed, she changed the topic. ¡°You seem to havee here tonight to distract yourself. Did you quarrel with Ms. Harris?¡± Cedrick was holding a winess and he halted his movement. The lively atmosphere suddenly turned serious because of that. The other CEOs all turned their attention to Cedrick. Everyone knew Cedrick and Gwendolyn were a well¨Cknown, loving couple on the inte. In fact, many in the room saw their disy of affection at the charity g. As everyone stared at Cedrick, he just emptied his ss without saying a word. Everyone took his silence as admittance. Even a terrifying business figure like him is still a man and argues with his partner. Edmund Valentine helped him and replied, ¡°Of course not. Mr. Jenson and Ms. Harris have a rtionship tougher than steel. I doubt they have ever bickered with each other. I bet it won¡¯t take long before we are all invited to his wedding!¡± Cedrick frowned as his body stiffened. The matter that had been troubling him was evoked. A cold look swirled in his dark eyes as he picked up a winess from the table and violently smashed it into the corner. The women, aside from Evelyn, were frightened by the sudden turn of events and screamed. Even the CEOs were shocked. They were taken aback by Cedrick¡¯s intimidating demeanor and couldn¡¯t utter a word. ¡°Mr. Jenson?¡± Edmund spoke. A frenzied look dominated Cedrick¡¯s eyes as he roared, ¡°Get the f*ck out!¡± ¡°Yes, of course!¡± In a few seconds, everyone aside from Evelyn left hastily. They didn¡¯t want to be targets of Cedrick¡¯s anger. Cedrick emptied a wine bottle before smashing it into the wall. Evelyn remained still and smiled gracefully. In fact, she even poured herself a ss of wine to drink with him. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Upon focusing on her, Cedrick threatened grimly, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to end up like that bottle, get out of my sight now!¡± ¡°You¡¯re jesting, Mr. Jenson. You¡¯re not a monster, and I¡¯m not afraid. Well, are you enraged because Mr. Valentine mentioned your marriage with Ms. Harris?¡± Cedrick frowned. As he turned around, he choked Evelyn with his gloved hand while he glowered at her. Evelyn¡¯s countenance reddened. Despite her pain, she still grinned. ¡°I bet you¡¯re angry because he hit you O Chapter 312 Nico Gives Gwendolyn Some Tips +25 Bonus where it hurts. I¡¯m not any worse than Ms. Harris, you know. Perhaps you can consider marrying someone Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Chapter 313 He Has To Be Careful +25 Bonus Outside the VIP room, when Nico saw everyone except his boss, as well as Evelyn, had left, he opened the door a little and peeked inside. When he did, he just so happened to hear Evelyn¡¯sst sentence. He was so shocked that he went pale. Immediately, he ran to a quiet corridor and called Gwendolyn to inform her what he had heard. If she still doesn¡¯te, Boss may get drunk and be taken advantage of by another woman! Inside the room, Cedrick was still gripping Evelyn¡¯s neck. He sneered, ¡°Do you think you can be compared to her?¡± Evelyn¡¯s smile gradually vanished as though she was stung by his words. Besides, she was having difficulty breathing. Cedrick wasn¡¯t interested in watching her suffer and withdrew his hand. ¡°If you still want to keep your position as the ambassador, I suggest you get out of my face right now!¡± Holding her neck, Evelyn coughed a few times before grabbing her bag and exiting the room. After she was gone, Cedrick glugged down several bottles of wine again. Because he drank too fast, he got drunk quickly. He removed his gloves almost out of habit and copsed on the couch, unconscious. When Gwendolyn arrived, she met Evelyn at the entrance of The Honey Bee. Beaming, Evelyn greeted her. ¡°What a coincidence, Ms. Harris. You arrived just as the drinking session ended.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence. I¡¯m here for my man.¡± Gwendolyn lifted her chin slightly, exuding an arrogant and frigid vibe. She uttered thest two words with resolve as though she was staking her im on Cedrick. Evelyn¡¯s expression changed slightly, though she quickly smiled again. ¡°I¡¯m quite jealous to see how in love you and Mr. Jenson are with each other. I hope the both of you will stay together until the end.¡± ¡°We will.¡± Gwendolyn was aware that Evelyn was being sarcastic, even though she couldn¡¯t discern much information from thetter¡¯s words. Promptly, Evelyn left without saying another word. Just as she passed Gwendolyn¡¯s side, thetter grabbed her arm. ¡°I¡¯m curious who your wealthy backer is, Ms. Evelyn. Can you tell me in secret?¡± Evelyn was surprised. ¡°Do you truly want to know, Ms. Harris? I¡¯ll share my secrets with you if you hand Mr. Jenson to me.¡± ¡°Well, in that case, feel free to keep those secrets forever.¡± Upon withdrawing her hand, Gwendolyn gracefully folded her arms. O 1/3 Chapter 313 He Has To Be Careful +25 Bonus ¡°It¡¯s not fun hiding secrets for a lifetime.¡± Evelyn narrowed her eyes with an innocent smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Harris. You¡¯ll know the answer to my secret sooner orter. Just don¡¯t get too surprised when the timees.¡± Arching her eyebrow, she left. Gwendolyn turned back and watched Evelyn leave with a serious expression as she thought about the hidden meaning in thetter¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t until Evelyn vanished from her sight that she put away her thoughts and entered the bar. Nico was on pins and needles as he waited for Gwendolyn in front of the room. The instant she entered his view, he bolted toward her. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, Ms. Gwendolyn! It was just a meeting! Ms. Evelyn was only invited because she¡¯s the ambassador of ¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Mhm.¡± Stepping past him, she entered the room. She¡¯s angry. Nico sped his palms together and prayed for his boss. Upon arriving in the room, Gwendolyn immediately focused on Cedrick, who was drunk on the couch. She sat beside him and gently patted his cheek, asking probingly, ¡°Cedrick?¡± It didn¡¯t elicit any reaction, meaning he was genuinely drunk. Waves of fiery rage crashed into her heart as she took in the stink of alcohol on his body. This troublesome scoundrel! Not only did he not tell me about his meeting, but he also drank until he was tipsy only days after he recovered! He was even spending time alone with Evelyn! Was he not worried that Evelyn would stay and take advantage of him while he was unconscious? He¡¯s too careless! I can¡¯t believe I spent the entire afternoon, even during a meeting, thinking about the surprise I will spring him to spice up our love life. It feels like I¡¯ve wasted my time! A look of mischief dominated her eyes as she furiously opened her bag and pulled out a waterproof lipstick she bought not long ago. ¡°Tonight, I¡¯ll teach you how evil the world outside can be!¡± After unbuttoning Cedrick¡¯s shirt, she wrote a few words on his bare chest. Then she put some lipstick on her lips and kissed his neck and chest. The scarlet, sexy lipstick stains on his healthy, honey¨Ccolored skin were impossible to ignore. His handsome face was alluring when adorned with a body full of kiss marks. Gwendolyn thought she should add one more finishing touch and kissed his left cheek. After that, she wordlessly admired her work. I think I did a pretty great job! You prepare to suffer, Cedrick! Upon leaving the room, she approached Nico and whispered to him. ¡°When he wakes up, tell him this¡­¡± Nico trembled. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. If Mr. Jenson learns that I¡¯m helping you lie to him, he¡¯ll kill me!¡± I¡¯ve learned a lesson recently, which is to never piss off women, especially someone as cold¨C blooded as Ms. Gwendolyn! Oh no, my poor boss is really done for! Patting his shoulder, Gwendolyn assured, ¡°You won¡¯t die, not with me around.¡± Nico panicked even more. O 2/3 15:54 Tue, Jun 6 BB. Chapter 313 He Has To Be Careful ¡°Go ahead! No need to be afraid. Don¡¯t you want to see his reaction?¡± 51% +25 Bonus Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Her words reawakened the little demon living in his heart. Hence, he grabbed the room¡¯s handle and took a deep breath. Once he gathered himself, Nico rushed into the room. Even though he was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the sight of lipstick marks on Cedrick¡¯s body. Panic was written all over his face as he shook Cedrick, ¡°Wake up, Boss!¡± Slowly, Cedrick opened his eyes and stared at Nico in a drunken stupor. ¡°Wake up! Something bad has happened! Look!¡± Nico turned on the selfie mode on his phone and showed it to Cedrick. Cedrick¡¯s drowsiness was instantly sted away when he saw the words on his chest. Without dy, he lowered his sight and saw his shirt had been unbuttoned. He shuddered upon seeing the scarlet lipstick stains on his body. ¡°What¡¯s written on me? Who did this?¡± Nico read the words aloud. ¡°It was a wonderful night, Mr. Jenson. See you next time.¡¯ Boss, thest who left the room was Ms. Evelyn.¡± person Immediately, he covered his mouth in shock. ¡°Oh no! Boss, were you¡­ Oh my god! You have kiss marks on your face, too!¡± ¡°Evelyn?¡± Cedrick tried to recall what happened. I remember seeing Evelyn looking appropriate when she left. Did I ck out? ¡°Godd*mn it! Was I¡­ Have I been soiled?¡± A horrible feeling enveloped him. Additionally, even though he was convinced Evelyn was responsible for what happened to him, he wasn¡¯t disgusted by the lipstick stains on him. Cedrick had a problem breathing that he almost passed out on the spot. Not only did I lose my good name, but I technically cheated! I¡¯m sorry, Gwenny! ¡°Ceddy!¡± eximed Gwendolyn with worry outside the room just as he was about to smash his head on the wall in a rage. Chapter 314 Chapter 314 Chapter 314 His Queen Nico panicked upon hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s voice. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± +25 Bonus ¡°Block the door and don¡¯t let her in!¡± ordered Cedrick as he wiped the scarlet marks on his body away with wet tissue paper from the table. He scrubbed his skin violently, wishing he could peel it off. Again, Gwendolyn shouted outside of the room. ¡°Open up, Ceddy!¡± Nico pressed his back on the door with a troubled look. ¡°I can¡¯t hold it much longer, Boss!¡± ¡°You have to, even if you can¡¯t!¡± Dread flooded Cedrick¡¯s heart. ¡°Godd*mn it! Why can¡¯t I wipe this away?¡± If Gwenny sees me like this, what will she think of me? Will she believe my innocence when the evidence is stamped all over my body? I really doubt it. Gwenny won¡¯t want me anymore now that I¡¯m soiled! He was bing increasingly frantic as his eyes reddened. My condolences, Boss, thought Nico as he watched Cedrick teetering on the verge of breaking down from anger. ¡°I can¡¯t hold it any longer, Boss!¡± He stumbled forward as someone kicked the door open. In that instant, Cedrick nked out for a second before turning his anxious gaze to the restroom in the private room. Like a whirlwind, he leaped from the couch and scampered to his destination before locking the door. He moved so fast that Gwendolyn only saw an afterimage when she stepped in. Even though she was amused, she pretended as if she didn¡¯t see anything. ¡°Where¡¯s Ceddy?¡± Nico scratched his head, acting dumb. ¡°Eh? He was just here a moment ago. I think my eyes were ying tricks on me and maybe he had already left.¡± ¡°Oh? Why didn¡¯t I see him on my way here?¡± questioned Gwendolyn at a higher pitch. ¡°Maybe he went to the restroom, which is in the opposite direction.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there a restroom in the private room?¡± At that moment, Cedrick, who was hiding in that restroom, held his breath. He pressed his back against the door while silently scrubbing the kiss marks on his body away. Even though he rubbed his skin until it turned red, he only erased the kiss marks slightly, D*mmit! What brand is this stupid lipstick? I can¡¯t remove it! Tomorrow, I¡¯m going to bankrupt this- Without warning, he heard the handle turning, followed by a knocking on the door. ¡°It¡¯s locked. Are you inside, Ceddy?¡± inquired Gwendolyn. Cedrick remained silent and ceased his movements, fearing he would be discovered. As Gwendolyn pressed her hand on the thin ss door, she felt his heavy breathing, which was so intense 1/4 Chapter 314 His Queen that it caused the door to tremble. Is he that jittery? She silently snorted andposed herself before speaking. ¡°Did Ceddy drink a lot tonight, Nico? Is it possible he passed out in the restroom?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Nico was unsure how to reply. +25 Bonus With a grave expression, Gwendolyn stated, ¡°Some time ago, I saw the news on the inte about a drunk man pressing his head into the toilet bowl to drink water! Ceddy¡¯s head is pretty big. He didn¡¯t get it stuck in the toilet bowl and drowned in the, water, did he?¡± Nico almost couldn¡¯t resist snickering. Hence, he had to cover his mouth to prevent theughter from slipping out of his mouth. Ms. Gwendolyn has such a vicious tongue! There¡¯s no way Boss would do such a thing, but it¡¯s certainly an amusing scene to imagine. In response, he gave Gwendolyn a thumbs up. She shot him a look that meant, ¡°It¡¯s nothing special.¡± Then she continued to speak anxiously. ¡°Call a staff member here to unlock the door. Ceddy¡¯s life may be in danger if we¡¯rete for even a minute!¡± Before Nico could answer, the person inside the restroom coughed. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Cedrickposed himself, pressed his Adam¡¯s apple, and replied in the frigid tone he used two days ago. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m not drunk, but I¡¯ll return a littleter. No need to wait for me.¡± ¡°I came here to drive you back to Harrick Vi, so why aren¡¯t you willing to meet me? Are you this ungrateful?¡± questioned Gwendolyn. The response she received was a long silence, as though he admitted she was right. She smiled indifferently. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll leave.¡± Upon hearing that, Cedrick released a sigh of relief. Minutester, he heard the sound of the private room¡¯s door closing. Another period of quietness ensued outside the restroom before he asked in a small voice, ¡°Is Gwenny gone?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± answered Nico assuredly. Despite that, Cedrick opened the door slowly. He lowered his guardpletely when he saw only Nico outside the restroom. Just as he stepped out, a figure hiding in the corner pinned him to the wall Gwendolyn clutched his chin and swept her gaze past the kiss marks on his neck, teasing, ¡°No wonder you don¡¯t want to meet me. Look at how many kiss marks are on your body! Wow, they look so pretty too. I bet the meeting¡® must be lovely, Cedrick.¡± Gwenny, I¡­¡± Cedrick went pale and couldn¡¯t squeeze a word out. Initially, Gwendolyn nned to tear his shirt away and mocked him further. However, she didn¡¯t as she was afraid she would push him too far. = ||| 2/4 +25 Bonus Thus, she left the room without saying a word. Just as Cedrick was about to chase after her, Nico stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss! I¡¯ll help you talk to Ms. Gwendolyn!¡± Without dy, Nico bolted out of the room and caught up to Gwendolyn. They nearly couldn¡¯t hold back their giggles earlier. Therefore, when they arrived at an empty emergency exit, they guffawed. Theirughter echoed in the emergency exit. Nicoughed so intensely that he pressed his abdomen, which was on the verge of cramping. That was the first time I pranked Cedrick, and it was so much fun! However, as entertaining as that was, I¡¯m still a little worried about him. ¡°How are you nning to resolve the issue, Ms. Gwendolyn? Mr. Jenson¡¯s a stubborn man. If you don¡¯t handle this well, he¡¯ll be so furious that he¡¯ll lose his rationality and do something extreme.¡± Gwendolyn knew she shouldn¡¯t take things too far, but she still wanted to punish Cedrick after recalling the trouble she took browsing the inte trying to jazz up their love life earlier. Since I¡¯m not nning to let anyone use those things on me, I think they¡¯re suitable for teaching Cedrick a lesson! I¡¯m going to be his queen! There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be the first to relent! The edges of her red lips curved upward mischievously as she gestured for Nico toe closer. ¡°When you return, tell him this¡­¡± After listening to her n, Nico took a few deep breaths. He raised his thumbs at her with respect. ¡°You¡¯re indeed an expert, Ms. Gwendolyn!¡± When Nico returned to the room, he saw Cedrick slumping on the couch with a dejected look. Even though thetter¡¯s countenance was pale as ash, he was still handsome. Cedrick turned his lifeless eyes to Nico. ¡°I doubt she¡¯ll forgive me, which is fair. I can¡¯t forgive myself for having my body tainted, too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not tainted.¡± Expeditiously, Nico sat by Cedrick¡¯s side. He removed a bag of makeup remover wipes from his pocket and scrubbed the kiss marks on thetter¡¯s body. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn handed this to me. You¡¯ll be clean again once these marks are removed.¡± Cedrick remained unmoved. A dead look dominated his eyes. Softening his tone, Nico continued, ¡°I did everything I could to exin the situation to Ms. Gwendolyn. Thanks to my efforts, she believes you didn¡¯t betray her and were set up.¡± That elicited a response from Cedrick. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course! Although, she¡¯s still furious because you didn¡¯t tell her you had a meeting. She also said it¡¯s your fault for getting taken advantage of by staying with another woman alone in a room after getting yourself drunk,¡± Pursing his lips, Cedrick silently reevaluated Gwendolyn¡¯s criticism. The sight of Cedrick reflecting on his mistake amused Nico. Thetter continued earnestly, ¡°What did I tell you? If you had relented, this wouldn¡¯t have happened. In the end, she has an even better reason to give you a cold shoulder. You shouldn¡¯t have let a woman¡¯s anger simmer overnight!¡± ¡°Do you have any good idea?¡± Cedrick lifted his eyes. Patting his chest, Nico assured him, ¡°Of course! I have many quirky ideas, and I promise one of them will quell Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s rage!¡± Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Ceddy Wants To Be Tortured ¡°Tell me more,¡± Cedrick said. Nico went closer and whispered into his ear. +25 Bonus Cedrick contemted the suggestion and found it quite appealing. With that in mind, he rose from his seat and dered, ¡°Very well, let¡¯s return to Harrick¨CVi!¡± ¡°All right!¡± Nico followed right behind. As he reached the doorstep, Cedrick recalled something. He uttered with a resentful tone, ¡°That Evelyn is too much! Cancel her endorsement, and utilize the Jenson Group¡¯s connections to sever all her resources and projects. I want her to face a substantial penalty and endure a month of hardship!¡± ¡°Boss¡­¡± Nico replied sheepishly. Poor Ms. Evelyn, she has really taken the me this time! Cedrick narrowed his eyes and threatened him with a re. ¡°You feel sorry for her? Should I deduct the penalty she has to pay from your sry and bonus?¡± -He then snorted and stormed out of The Honey Bee. Nico¡¯s sympathy vanished in an instant. He hurriedly caught up with Cedrick and pleaded, ¡°Please don¡¯t do that to me, Boss! She¡¯s indeed brainless, short¨Csighted, and deserves to be punished! I¡¯ve been racking my brain toe up with ideas for you. I¡¯m your good subordinate, so you can¡¯t do that to me!¡± The two men quickly returned to Harrick Vi. Gwendolyn¡¯s bedroom was still locked. Cedrick¡¯s eyes darkened. He returned to his room and wash up. When the sound of rushing water came from the small bathroom next door where Gwendolyn was, he and Nico climbed into her room from the small balcony. He took off his robe and hid it under the pillow, then gently lifted the nket andy downpletely naked. While Nico was taking his time to take out the handcuffs, Cedrick red at him and silently mouthed. ¡°Quick! Quick!¡± ¡°All right! All right!¡± Nico replied. Nico promptly handcuffed Cedrick¡¯s hands to both sides of the bed posts, positioning them in a spread- eagle manner. He then proceeded to secure the ankle restraints, concealing the key under the table lamp. Cedrick¡¯s alluring expression, captivating physique, and charming facial features were just breathtaking! -Even Nico could not help but gulp upon seeing his boss in that position, let alone Gwendolyn. The sound of water in the bathroom came to a stop. Realizing Gwendolyn was about toe out of the bathroom, Cedrick panicked and mouthed the words. ¡°Belt! Belt! On the coat rack. Quick!¡± Nico swiftly nodded in response, retrieving the belt from the coat rack and folding it before positioning it 1/4 Chapter 315 Ceddy Wants To Be Tortured +25 Bonus horizontally near Cedrick¡¯s lips, allowing him to grip it with his teeth. After finishing all the preparations, Cedrick signaled Nico with his eyes. ¡°Get out of here! Quick!¡± After covering Cedrick¡¯s face with the nket, he turned off the light. By the time Gwendolyn stepped out of the bathroom, Nico had alreadypleted his duty and hopped over to the other side of the balcony. He pretended that nothing had happened. The leaves of the trees outside the window rustled softly in the gentle breeze. Gwendolyn, not in a hurry to switch on the light, used a towel to dry her damp hair and made her way to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. She locked it and closed the curtains. The room was immediately engulfed in darkness, but a subtle and intriguing ambiance lingered in the air. Pretending to be oblivious to Cedrick¡¯s presence, Gwendolyn calmly made her way back to the bathroom. She took her time blow¨Cdrying her hair and meticulously carried out her skincare routine, leaving Cedrick waiting anxiously for a good half an hour. Hiding under the covers, Cedrick transitioned from his initial state of a racing heart and heightened nervousness to gradually calming his breath. Having indulged in some drinks earlier in the evening, the warmth from the nket embraced his body comfortably, lulling him into waves of drowsiness. Just as he was on the brink of falling asleep, the bedside tablemp flickered on, and the nket covering him was gently lifted. A rush of cold air seeped in, causing him to tremble slightly. N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. With quivering eyshes, he met Gwendolyn¡¯s clear, starry gaze as the nket was lifted. ¡°What are you doing in my bed?¡± Despite Gwendolyn¡¯s mental preparation, she was still taken aback by Cedrick¡¯s appearance. With the belt held in his mouth, his typically deep ck eyes sparkled with innocence. His face wore an oddly endearing expression, silently pleading with Gwendolyn to teach him a lesson. The handsome man had a silly but endearing expression on his face. Not to mention, the man who was handcuffed to her bed,pletely naked was the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was indeed going to be a remarkable and captivating experience. Gwendolyn felt a subtle flutter in her heart, though seeing Cedrick in such a condition filled her with a hint of guilt. My fianc¨¦ has been so well¨Cbehaved. How could I possibly bring myself to tease him when I haven¡¯t even had the chance to shower him with affection yet? She took down the belt in his mouth, cupped his chin with her hands, and kissed him on the lips. After a lingering and tender kiss, Gwendolyn straightened her back and tucked him in under the nket. Despite knowing the answer, she yfully teased him. ¡°You didn¡¯tmit any crimes, so why did you handcuff yourself to my bed?¡± Tue, Chapter 315 Ceddy Wants To Be Tortured +25 Bonus Cedrick knitted his brows with a sense of dejection, and his voice carried a hint of disappointment. ¡°Making you angry is a crime. What happened tonight was due to my carelessness, and I apologize. Go ahead, hit me to vent your frustration.¡± His sincere apology tugged at her heartstrings, making it difficult for her to actually hit him. She checked his handcuffs and noticed that his wrists were red. Regret washed over her as she thought about leaving him hanging for half an hour. ¡°Does it hurt? Where¡¯s the key? Let me unlock it for you.¡± Cedrick quickly moved his hands away, preventing her from attempting to unlock the handcuffs. The corners of his eyes turned slightly red. ¡°You don¡¯t even bother to punish me? You really can¡¯t forgive me, can you? Are you nning to break off our engagement and marry Charles?¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback by his words. What on earth is he talking about? Did all the things I said to him fall on deaf ears? What¡¯s with his brain? ¡°Why are you bringing that up again?¡± Her tone grew heavier. Cedrick¡¯s eyes glistened with teardrops as he tightly bit his lip. ¡°Why not? Is it because deep down, you¡¯re not sure about your feelings? It only shows you¡¯ve actually thought about it!¡± His reply rendered Gwendolyn speechless. Indeed, she had contemted epting Charles¡® proposal with the intention of curing Cedrick¡¯s condition. ¡°I can¡¯t make a decision because I just haven¡¯t made up my mind yet, but I¡¯ll try my best to find a foolproof solution,¡± she said. On that matter, she felt she was not ready to face Cedrick. At that moment, she no longer had the inclination to engage in yful banter with him. Gwendolyn pretended to search for the key everywhere and eventually retrieved it from under the table lamp. She then helped him unlock the handcuffs and ankle restraints. ¡°You should go back to your own room and sleep. We can discuss thister.¡± Cedrick clenched his fists, his voice hoarse and filled with frustration. ¡°You and your ¡®discuss thister¡® attitude! Since the incident with Charles, you¡¯ve been making excuses to not tell me the truth!¡± ¡°You¡¯re at fault, and now you¡¯re screaming at me?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s temper red, but she suppressed it and continued, ¡°That¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t want to argue with you tonight. If you want to use this room, I¡¯ll go to a guest room downstairs to sleep in.¡± The casual remark infiltrated his ears like a ticking time bomb, shattering his sanity into pieces. Guestroom? Is she seeing herself as a guest now? Is she trying to stay away from me? Just as Gwendolyn was about to turn around and leave, he swiftly sat up, wrapping his arms tightly around. her waist, his arms trembling. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, Gwenny. Please don¡¯t leave me!¡± Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks, attempting to pry his arms apart. This action felt as though she was pushing him away. It took him a while to win her back, yet now he found himself on the brink of losing her once more. A 3/4 Chapter 315 Ceddy Wants To Be Tortured profound sense of destion overwhelmed him, leaving him breathless. He clung to her even more tightly, pressing his forehead against her back. His voice choked with helplessness. ¡°Please, don¡¯t go¡­¡± Gwendolyn froze for a moment, a sharp pain coursing through her entire body. She felt as if her heart had been pierced by thousands of steel needles. The pain made it difficult for her to breathe. Half a year ago, Cedrick had to endure the whipping inflicted by the Jensons and suffer severe injuries all because of her. On that evening, amidst his agony, he tightly held her waist. He even humbled himself, pleading for her not to leave. Chapter 316 Chapter 316 Chapter 316 Will Not Bring Up The Past Feelings of guilt and sadness filled her heart. Oh, well. I¡¯ll let him be. 51% +25 Bonus Gwendolyn let out a long sigh and gently patted his arms that were wrapped around her waist. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, nor will ever I leave you,¡± she assured him. As she turned around, Cedrick snuggled into her arms and buried his face in her stomach. Softly, he murmured, ¡°Can you¡­ keep mepany tonight? I don¡¯t want to part from you¡­¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll stay with you. I¡¯ll stay here and coax you to sleep from tonight onward, okay?¡± Gwendolyn promised while running her fingers through his short yet fluffy hair. Cedrick nodded slightly in response. Registering his response, Gwendolyn pulled out his pajamas hidden underneath the pillow and helped him put them on. ¡°It¡¯s freezing today. You shouldn¡¯t sleep naked or you¡¯ll catch a cold. After all, you¡¯ve just gotten better.¡± Her attentiveness made him feel contented. Cedrick curled up in her embrace and rested his head on her shoulder, taking in her sweet scent, which helped to dispel his restlessness slowly. After turning off the bedsidemp, Gwendolyn hugged him to sleep. Not long after he had dozed off, she, too, began to feel sleepy. However, she was woken from her slumber by gentle sobbing soundsing from the person beside her. At that point, her eyes, which could barely open, had already adjusted to the darkness. She could vaguely see Cedrick sleeping on her arm with his head lowered. Puzzled by what she had heard, Gwendolyn touched Cedrick¡¯s face. To her surprise, she felt the teardrops on his eysh. ¡°Ceddy? Why are you crying all of a sudden?¡± Cedrick hugged her tighter and murmured with a strong nasal voice, ¡°Gwenny, I don¡¯t know how I got those lipstick stains. I hate myself for it, too. But, please, don¡¯t leave me¡­¡± So, that¡¯s what he¡¯s thinking about. A tinge of guilt crept into Gwendolyn¡¯s heart for discovering his vulnerable side. She wanted to tell him the truth but did not know where to start. He¡¯ll be mad once he finds out he¡¯s been set up, won¡¯t he? After giving it some thought, she gently patted his back to soothe him. ¡°Why would I? Of course, I still want you. You¡¯re the only man I want in my life. You¡¯re the only one I love.¡± With that, she kissed him gingerly on the eyelids to dry his tears, just like what he did in the past. Despite her affectionate actions, Cedrick still felt uneasy. ||| O r 1/4 15:56 Tue, Jun 6 Chapter 316 Will Not Bring Up The Past 51% +25 Bonus ¡°You can hit and scold me if you¡¯re still upset about tonight¡¯s incident. I¡¯ll ept it all. Just don¡¯t give me the silent treatment. It feels awful.¡± Suddenly, Gwendolyn stopped what she was doing. Her lips twitched in slight annoyance as she commented sternly, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the one to talk. Who was the one who insisted on breaking off the engagement, saying he was tired of seeing my face? Who was the one who gave me the silent treatment first? And who was it who gave me another cold shoulder for two whole days after he was injected with the blue serum?¡± There was no response from Cedrick, for that was indeed his mistake. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t bring up the past?¡± he asked in a soft voice. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn scoffed, her affection and pity quickly reced by the grievance she felt for the past few days. As much as she loved him, that did not stop her from bringing up the past. ¡°You just did that, so why can¡¯t I? Sure, I can forget about you wanting to break off the engagement, but thetest cold war happened just two days ago. That¡¯s not in the past!¡± The man buried his head under the covers, unable to refute her words. Unfortunately, Gwendolyn¡¯s fury surged the more she thought about it. She had no time to think about those frustrating matters when he was sick. Now that he was much better, she believed it was time to settle the scores. I won¡¯t be able to sleep peacefully if I don¡¯t teach him a lesson tonight. Sitting upright, she turned on the bedsidemp and red at him. ¡°Did you say you¡¯d let me punish you however I want?¡± Cedrick remained silent. Five minutester, the room returned to its peaceful and harmonious setting. At the same time, a handsome man was sitting in front of Gwendolyn¡¯s dressing table while wrapped in thick grey pajamas made of fleece. Themp on the table was lit as Gwendolyn¡¯s phoney there, disying her contact¡¯s QR code. With a ballpen in his hand, Cedrick carefully copied it onto a piece of paper ording to the size that was zoomed in by two hundred percent. Sitting on top of his head was an uncapped bottle of limited edition toner he once bought for her. Even though the liquid inside was full to the brim, not a single drop was spilled, thanks to his excellent concentration. Gwendolyn leaned against the bedframe and watched him in silence. If she were to hit him, she would feel guilty. Yet, she could not bear to make him kneel on Lego pieces, either. For that reason, she came up with a tiresome method to drain his exuberant energy. ¡°Draw it properly. I want it to be scannable. And don¡¯t spill my toner. I¡¯ve never used it before, not to O 2/4 Chapter 316 Will Not Bring Up The Past mention how expensive it is. You¡¯ll be drawing another one if you spill Cven a drop.¡± With that said, she let out a yawn. +25 Bonus While watching him draw the QR code diligently, she scanned his handsome side profile¨Cperfect jawline and straightened back. He exuded an icy aura when he was focused on a task. Gwendolyn began nodding off after admiring his fine profile for a few minutes. Hence, she crawled under the warm nket and drifted off to sleep. Sneaking a nce at her, Cedrick sighed when he found her already asleep. After an indefinite amount of time, Gwendolyn was awakened by the cold air that suddenly seeped under the covers. Shuddering gently, she felt a cold arm wrap around her waist. Cedrick was being punished, yet she was sleepingfortably under the nket. Feeling gloomy about the contrasting situations, he nuzzled his ice¨Ccold face against hers, which felt warm. The coldness made Gwendolyn stiffen her legs in her sleep. Gritting her teeth, she asked drowsily, ¡°What is it? Have you finished drawing it?¡± Cedrick simply continued rubbing against her to share her warmth. ¡°Yep. I finished in half an hour.¡± After all, Cedrick picked up drawing in the army back then. With his excellent foundation, all he needed was to do some thinking in order to draw the QR code using a short amount of time. It was a piece of cake for him. Exhausted, Gwendolyn answered softly, ¡°All right. Get some sleep, then.¡± She held his cold hand by habit and moved her back closer to him so he could get warm. However, hugging her was not enough to satisfy Cedrick. He kissed her earlobes restlessly with his cold lips, his breath gently brushing her ear. Feeling ticklish, Gwendolyn rubbed her ears and heard him say, ¡°Gwenny, I can¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Continue drawing, then. Do that until you¡¯re tired.¡± Cedrick was disgruntled. ¡°But I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°There¡¯s food downstairs. Go get it yourself,¡± she uttered drowsily. ¡°But¡­¡± Cedrick dragged thest syble, exuding a threatening aura. Gwendolyn was still waiting for him to finish his sentence when her body was flipped around by force. The man got up and rubbed the tip of her nose, saying, ¡°I want to eat you!¡± Gwendolyn was utterly confused for a second. 15:56 Tue, Jun 6 BB. Chapter 316 Will Not Bring Up The Past Then, her eyes widened, and she yelled, ¡°Wait! You can¡¯t!¡± It was already toote by the time realization dawned on her. 51% +25 Bonus How is this keeping himpany? This is just an act of throwing myself to the wolves, and he¡¯s the wolf dressed in sheep¡¯s clothing! s, Cedrick had already recovered his strength. Her resistance was totally useless against him. Once again, she experienced the severe aches in the lower half of her body she had not felt in a long time after the ordeal that night. Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Will Cedrick Counterattack Gwendolyn wanted to make Cedrick pay back, but the way he showered her with concern and gave her a massage made it hard for her to find fault with him. The intimate sessionst night was so intense that Gwendolyn barely had any sleep. She even failed to wake up the next morning. Realizing that, Cedrick did not disturb her. He made some oatmeal for her breakfast and quietly headed to the office. As soon as Cedrick settled into his office chair, Nico walked in cheerfully. ¡°How did it gost night, Boss? Was my method effective? Ms. Gwendolyn calmed down, didn¡¯t she?¡± Cedrick was all smiles after having his desires satisfiedst night. Hence, he was rather generous. ¡°You will get a raise and a bonus. Go to the finance department and tell them the figure.¡± Nico was ted. ¡°You¡¯re the best! You¡¯re exceptionally majestic today. You¡¯re my hero. You¡¯re-¡± A knock sounded on the office door before Nico could finish his ttery. The assistant entered and informed, ¡°Mr. Jenson, Ms. Evelyn¡¯s here. She says she must see you today.¡± The cheerful atmosphere in the room was instantly ruined by the announcement. Cedrick responded gloomily, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see her.¡± Feeling a little guilty, Nico piped up, ¡°Mr. Jenson is busy. By the way, don¡¯t grant her ess the top floors in the future. She¡¯s not Rossi Project¡¯s ambassador anymore.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The assistant nodded and opened the door to head out when someone shouted, ¡°Move!¡± Evelyn barged in while the door was slightly opened. The look on Cedrick¡¯s face grew increasingly dark. Without looking up, he stated, ¡°Ms. Evelyn, it¡¯s rude to barge in. You¡¯re a top¨Cranking actress who wins awards every year. How could you not know such basic rules?¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination. ¡°I was wrong to barge in, but don¡¯t ungentlemanly, too?¡± you think what you did was Instead of exining himself, Cedrick simply frowned and pinned a cold gaze on her. Sensing something was amiss, Nico voiced, ¡°Um¡­ Maybe this is just a misunderstanding. Mr. Jenson¡¯s busy now. Why don¡¯t youe out with me so I can exin the matter to you?¡± ¡°You?¡± Evelyn shot Nico a mocking nce before fixing her eyes on Cedrick again. ¡°That won¡¯t work. I want Mr. Jenson to give me a reasonable exnation regarding this matter.¡± The disgust in Cedrick¡¯s gaze was undiminished as he sipped on his coffee nonchntly. ¡°Since when was I ungentlemanly?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. With her heels clicking against the floor, Evelyn walked to the seat opposite him and sat down. ¡°I might¡¯ve said something to upset youst night, but don¡¯t you think you¡¯re going overboard by canceling my ? 1/4 15:57 Tue, Jun 6 Chapter 317 Will Cedrick Counterattack 51% +25 Bonus ambassadorship? My fans are now fighting on the inte because of this. Not only that, I lost most of my resources recently.¡± ¡°No,¡± Gedrick answered casually. ¡°You knew I¡¯m engaged, yet you had the audacity to set me up to make Gwenny misunderstand. Since you have the guts to plot such a thing, then you should be prepared to receive your punishment.¡± Evelyn was utterly confused. ¡°I set you up? When did I do that? I left when you told me to do so. All I did was exchange a few pleasantries with Ms. Harris at The Honey Bee¡¯s entrance. Of course, I know my boundaries and spoke appropriately.¡°,¡± She showed no intention of backing down, unwilling to bear the me for something she did not do. ¡°Since my debut, I¡¯ve never dated another male celebrity just to make myself famous. Besides, I¡¯ve always abided by the rules after bing Rossi Project¡¯s ambassador. In fact, I won¡¯t be that stupid to set you upst night, even if I wanted to. It¡¯s so obvious. I just don¡¯t understand why you¡¯d misunderstand me,¡± she said frustratedly. Cedrick frowned when he sensed the logic in her words. He got drunk and was too nervousst night. Now that he thought about it, he realized many details fromst night made no sense. Immediately, Cedrick turned to Nico, only to find thetter¡¯s gaze glued to the ground to avoid meeting the former¡¯s eyes. At the same time, Nico slowly shifted to the door slowly in an attempt to escape. ¡°Stop right there.¡± ¡°Boss, I have something to do¡­¡± Nico¡¯s nervous gestures confirmed Cedrick¡¯s suspicion. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can deal with itter.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Turning to Evelyn, Cedrick said, ¡°I¡¯ll look intost night¡¯s matters. If I¡¯ve wronged you, I¡¯ll take back the announcements and restore your roles.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all? Shouldn¡¯t youpensate me after making me shoulder such serious me?¡± Disgust shed past Cedrick¡¯s eyes as he growled, ¡°Don¡¯t have such a big appetite. See her out, Robin.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± When the door closed behind the two, Nico fell to his knees. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m innocent! I haven¡¯t even informed the finance department about my bonus. Please! I¡¯m just an aplice!¡± With the same icy expression, Cedrick asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the mastermind?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Nico stopped and looked down. Gwendolyn had told him to ce the me on her if the cat was out of the bag. After all, Cedrick would do nothing to her, but the same could not be said for Nico. ? O 2/4 Chapter 317 Will Cedrick Counterattack +25 Bonus Steeling himself, Nico looked up and said, ¡°It was Ms. Gwendolyn. The lipstick stains and words on your chest were all her doing. I¡¯only helped her to put on a show.¡± Cedrick eyed his subordinate in disbelief. A hostile aura enveloped the former, which meant it was the calm before the storm. ¡°Tell me everything that happenedst night! Don¡¯t you dare leave out a single detail or I¡¯ll bring you to the interrogation room and teach you a lesson myself.¡± Nico trembled in fear under Cedrick¡¯s piercing gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t! I¡¯ll tell you everything, Boss! I¡¯ll tell you!¡± Despite having sore legs, Gwendolyn slowly made her way down the winding alley to go to the garage of Jenson residence. When she was halfway there, she suddenly sneezed a couple of times. ¡°Who¡¯s talking behind my back?¡± Elven was her driver that day. Eyeing her with concern, he asked, ¡°The weather¡¯s gotten colder recently. Could you have caught a cold?¡± Gwendolyn waved her hand dismissively. ¡°No. I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± queried Elven. Gwendolyn thought about it seriously while strolling over. ¡°I keep getting a chill running down my spine. This isn¡¯t a good sign. I think something major¡¯s going to happen today.¡± That left Elven speechless. Since when did Ms. Gwendolyn ramble so much? ¡°Stop joking around, Ms. Gwendolyn. You must¡¯ve gotten a cold. Why don¡¯t you stay home instead of going to the office today?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head in objection. The two had just arrived at the garage door when Cedrick¡¯s car pulled up beside them. He wore a stern scowl on his face as he got out of the vehicle. Oblivious to it, Gwendolyn looked at him in puzzlement. ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to work already? Why are you back?¡± Saying nothing, Cedrick walked up to her and swung her over his shoulder before heading for Harrick Vi. ¡°Huh? What are you doing?¡± ¡°Going home, I¡¯ve got something to ask you,¡± came Cedrick¡¯s frosty voice. ¡°But I¡¯ve got to go to Angle. I¡¯ve got important work to do today,¡± Cedrick simply continued walking. ¡°You¡¯re taking a day off. I¡¯ve asked Nico to rece you.¡± ¡°Nico? He knows nothing about the entertainment industry. Can he do it?¡± 3/4 Chapter 317 Will Cedrick Counterattack +25 Bonus Cedrick¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°He can. You should be worrying about yourself instead of someone else.¡± You had fun setting me upst night, eh? I felt miserable for such a long time. You even used a handcuff and a belt to teach me a lesson? Hah! I¡¯m going to make you pay back today! Chapter 318 Chapter 318 Chapter 318 Go Easy Gwendolyn reached up to cover her face when she sensed the anger in his tone. She stopped resisting, allowing him to carry her into the house. Elven, on the other hand, was stunned. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn¡­¡± What am I supposed to do? Do I go into the vi to perform my duties as a third¨Cwheeler or do I go to Angle? ¡°Go to Angle and get William to see if Nico needs any help.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Gwendolyn!¡± With Elven gone, the alley became silent while Cedrick¡¯s unusual aura hung in the air. ¡°So, you know about it already?¡± asked Gwendolyn uneasily. Cedrick merely walked forward in silence. +25 Bonus Cr*p. He¡¯s really furious. I knew he¡¯d be mad when he learns about the truth. I just didn¡¯t expect him to find out about it so soon. Geez. I didn¡¯t even have time to prepare myself mentally. It did not take long for them to arrive at Harrick Vi. Gwendolyn wanted to get down and walk on her own, but Cedrick had other ns. He proceeded to carry her upstairs without saying a word. As they entered the bedroom, Cedrick thought of dumping her fiercely onto the bed like how she had treated him thest time. However, he could not bring himself to do so when he felt her slender waist. He feared it would hurt her. Finally, he chose to ce her upright on the bed. All the carrying had made him feel hot. He loosened his tie with one hand and threw his coat on the bed. Rolling his sleeves, he asked, ¡°Are you going to exin it yourself, or should I do the questioning?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Gwendolyn inhaled deeply as she watched his actions. If he were Asher, that action paired with the same expression meant he was going to beat up someone. Nheless, Gwendolyn was sure Cedrick would never dare to hit her. I am sure he wouldn¡¯t dare. Therefore, she quickly regained her confidence and said, ¡°Yes. I was the culprit. It¡¯s your fault for drinking alone without informing me, though. You were even alone with Evelyn. This is to teach you to be careful and not get drunk so casually.¡± Cedrick looked grim and questioned, ¡°Who¡¯d dare to do anything when I have Nico on guard? I should¡¯ve known. Nico would never let another woman apart from you doodle on my body.¡± Propping her chin up with his slender finger, he growled, ¡°Do you know why I went out to have a drink 1/4 Chapter 318 Go Easy alone? It¡¯s because you made a deal with Charles. You were even nning to marry him!¡± The thought of that filled him with frustration. There had been many instances where he wanted to give in during the past two days. +25 Bonus However, the thought of Charles¡® proposal to marry Gwendolyn kept bugging him. In fact, it would keep bothering Cedrick as long as he did not hear Gwendolyn¡¯s answer. T Avoiding his gaze, Gwendolyn muttered, ¡°Why are you bringing this up again? Are you not going to let this go?¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Never! I want you to promise me you¡¯d never agree to hisst two conditions!¡± Gwendolyn fell silent. When there was no answer from her, Cedrick gripped her shoulders and said sternly, ¡°Gwenny, you can marry anyone except Charles if I fail to live past winter.¡± Frowning slightly, she decided topromise, ¡°Okay. I give you my word.¡± She then nced at her shoulders and demanded, ¡°Let go. You¡¯re hurting me.¡± Only then did Cedrick quickly loosen his grip and massage her shoulders. At the same time, the look in his eyes softened. Gwendolyn chuckled. He can¡¯t even hide his true feelings. How is he going to counterattack? Stifling herugh, she asked, ¡°All right. Weren¡¯t you nning on making me pay back? What do you have in mind?¡± Cedrick¡¯s hands stopped, the stern gaze returning to his eyes. ¡°Do you admit you worked with Nico to set me up and even let hime up with such a rotten idea to cuff myself to the bed?¡± ¡°I admit it, but I¡¯ll still do it again,¡± said Gwendolyn with a casual smile. ¡°You!¡± Cedrick¡¯s fury was ignited once again. ¡°Looks like you had fun setting me up, eh? Very well. I¡¯ll make you pay you pay back for all of it today.¡± ¡°Are you going to cuff me?¡± Her voice was gentle. At the same time, she ced her delicate wrist before him. ¡°The handcuffs are a little heavy since they¡¯re made of metal. Please be gentle, Ceddy.¡± Cedrick eyed her wrist, which appeared as though it could snap easily because of how skinny it was. Well, the handcuffs fromst night were quite heavy¡­ Realizing his resolve was weakening before he had even taken action, he steeled himself and snapped, ¡°I won¡¯t go soft on you this time!¡± Gwendolyn merely smiled, indirectly exposing him. Èý 2/4 Chapter 318 Go Easy +25 Bonus Her stares made him feel awkward. Regaining his stern countenance, he stated, ¡°That¡¯s for another day. forgot to bring the handcuffs today, but I¡¯m going to make you pay for the times you hit me. Give me your hand!¡± Gwendolyn opened her palms obediently, her eyes twinkling. ¡°Do you need a ruler? There¡¯s one in the drawer.¡± Her teases annoyed him. ¡°Who says I¡¯m going to use a ruler? I¡¯m not going to use that!¡± While saying that, he moved his arms to his waist as though he was about to unbuckle his belt. With her palms still exposed, she said nonchntly, ¡°Are you really going to hit me? You¡¯d better think this through. What goes aroundes around. You¡¯d better not let me catch you making a mistake next time.¡± Sure enough, Cedrick paused in his tracks. Gwendolyn smirked mischievously at his reaction. ¡°I¡¯m a petty person. I might make you pay back a hundred or even a thousand times more when I¡¯m in a bad mood the next time. You¡¯d better prepare yourself.¡± The look on Cedrick¡¯s face did not change, but his hand simply hung by his belt. Fck! Neither buckling nor unbuckling it seemed appropriate. Frustration swelled within him as he stared at the mischievous woman. Ugh! This woman knows how to control me. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, Ceddy. My hands are getting tired. Be quick with it.¡± ¡°How dare you hurry me? Who¡¯s the one getting punished now? You should behave like me when I¡¯m in the wrong!¡± he hissed. Gwendolyn¡¯s brows creased into a frown as she red at him. ¡°I¡¯m already behaving myself! Stop dilly- dallying and finish this quickly!¡± For some reason, Cedrick felt as if he was getting pushed into a corner. Gwendolyn had already said she would ept the punishment, yet his hand would not move. However, her arrogant attitude put him on the spot. Nothing he did seemed right. Amidst the standstill, someone knocked on the door. It was Ezra, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, a deliveryman dropped by just now. Apparently, it¡¯s confidential and urgent, so I took it for you. Do you need it now?¡± Cedrick took advantage of the situation to buckle his belt and cast Gwendolyn a curious look. ¡°A secret parcel? What did you buy?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face turned pink instantly. There was only one thing she had bought recently, It was originally meant to make Cedrick yield, but she had forgotten to track the parcel¡¯s delivery status. 3/4 15:58 Tue, Jun 6 BB. Chapter 318 Go Easy What bad luck! Why does it have to arrive now? ¡°Uh¡­ You can just leave it in my room next door. I don¡¯t need it now.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Her flushed cheeks and even ears caught Cedrick¡¯s attention. Why is she so flustered? 51% +25 Bonus That only fueled his suspicion. Hence, he opened the door and epted the exquisite¨Clooking box from Ezra. ¡°Don¡¯t open it!¡± Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Chapter 319 A Sweet Romantic Atmosphere By the time Gwendolyn rushed over to grab ahold of the parcel, it was already toote. Cedrick had already opened the box, while Ezra was peeking into it curiously. +25 Bonus The content was a ck and white dress, but with a unique style that was different from the usual style that Gwendolyn liked. Confused, Cedrick asked, ¡°You don¡¯t usually like this type of style, right? And why are you so nervous about a piece of clothing?¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not being nervous. Can¡¯t I change my dressing style asionally?¡± Just when she tried to take the box and bring it back to the adjacent room to hide it, Ezra lifted the clothes and found a pair of furry cat ears, a fluffy tail, a bell cor, and a pair of ck stockings underneath. ¡°Oh my! Are you nning on cosying, Ms. Harris? That¡¯s so romantic!¡± he eximed Gwendolyn froze on the spot,pletely mortified. Noticing that this wasn¡¯t just a simple dress, Cedrick began to carefully examine the small items in the box. Realization dawned on him when he saw the pair of ck stockings. He proceeded to close the box calmly before turning to look at Ezra and saying, ¡°Take Quinton with you and go to Angle Corporation to help Nico. Also, inform the other bodyguards in the vi that no matter what they hear, they are not allowed to disturb us.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± As soon as Ezra left, Cedrick immediately closed and locked the door. As his lips curled upward slightly, he lifted the ck stockings from the box and looked at Gwendolyn, asking, ¡°Care to exin, Gwenny?¡± Blushing with embarrassment, Gwendolyn averted her gaze. ¡°I¡­ probably bought them by mistake. I have no idea what they are either.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± It was obvious Cedrick didn¡¯t believe her. He trained his obsidian eyes on her and added, ¡°You know, I just thought of a better idea of how to deal with you!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gwendolyn had a bad feeling about it. Cedrick handed the box to her and uttered, ¡°Put it on.¡± ¡°I really bought them by mistake! I¡¯ll return them to the storeter!¡± came Gwendolyn¡¯s response. She reached out to take the box, but Cedrick quickly pulled it back. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already bought it, why not give it a try? Didn¡¯t you just admit that you were nning something for me? Since that¡¯s the case, shouldn¡¯t you listen to my request?¡± ¡°Does that mean this is some form of punishment?¡± she asked. 1/4 Chapter 319 A Sweet Romantic Atmosphere +25 Bonus Cedrick shook his head as a smirk spread across his lips. ¡°It¡¯s a ward. A word from you to me.¡± Relieved to hear that, Gwendolyn took the box from his hand and muttered in a slightly spoiled manner, ¡°So, you¡¯re not punishing me anymore?¡± Cedrick shook his head again. ¡°You probably bought this to make me give in. Am I right, Gwenny?¡± He was truly touched to see how much effort she had put into preparing this. Besides, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to be hard on her in the first ce. He added, ¡°You can never do wrong in my eyes. I¡¯m the one at fault and should be the one being punished.¡± Gwendolyn held his face in her hands and stood on her tiptoes before nting a gentle kiss on his lips. ¡°Ceddy, you¡¯ll spoil me rotten if you keep doting on me like this!¡± ¡°On the contrary, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m spoiling you enough. After all, you¡¯re the precious treasure that I worked so hard to win over. I¡¯m definitely coddling you for the rest of your life!¡± As a fuzzy feeling surged through Gwendolyn, she took the box and went to the bathroom to change her clothes, saying, ¡°Wait for me.¡± During the few minutes she was gone, Cedrick kept himself busy as well. He started by closing the windows and turning on the heater to ensure that Gwendolyn wouldn¡¯t catch a cold. Once he was done with the preparations, he sat at the edge of the bed, feeling excited and anticipating what was toe. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, he heard Gwendolyn saying, ¡°Ceddy, I can¡¯t seem to fasten the sp.¡± She walked out of the bathroom and handed the bell cor to Cedrick. Thetter slowly raised his eyes as his heart skipped a beat. Standing in front of him was a visual so it left him utterly captivated. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. stunn The fluffy snow¨Cwhite cat ears on top of her head, especially, made her seem cute yet enchanting. Not to mention yful and seductive. The super short dress also showcased her exquisite and curvaceous figure to the fullest extent. Cedrick felt his mouth go dry and a slight lump forming in his throat as he stared at her. He tried his best to tamp down the restlessness in his heart. ¡°Ceddy?¡± Seeing him lost in thought, Gwendolyn shook the bell cor in front of him before looking down at herself. ¡°Why? Do I not look good?¡± ¡°You look amazing,¡± he said as his throat tightened again. Gwendolyn shed him a smile and handed him the cor. ¡°Well, stop daydreaming and help me put it on then.¡± ? 2/4 Chapter 319 A Sweet Romantic Atmosphere +25 Bonus Cedrick got to his feet and undone the sp before fastening the cor around her slender neck carefully with trembling fingers. With this cor, she is now my exclusive kitten! ¡°Does it really look that good? Your eyes are almost popping out.¡± Cedrick touched her fluffy cat ears gently and nodded earnestly. ¡°I want to see you dance for me in this.¡± ¡°What dance would you like me to perform?¡± Cedrick pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°I¡¯d like you to dance to ¡®Lover.¡® After all, that song was the song that got me attracted when we first met.¡± I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll look wonderful dancing tango to a sensual and passionate song like ¡°Lover. Being in high spirits that day, Gwendolyn obliged, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll dance for a bit, then. Be sure to keep your eyes on me.¡± Cedrick turned on the stereo and yed the song before sitting down on the edge of the bed to enjoy the performance quietly. As the intro began, Gwendolyn immediately got into the groove. Since she was more than familiar with ¡°Lover,¡± she could dance to every beat and rhythm of the song even with her eyes closed. The fluffy tail behind her swayed with every movement, adding a touch of yfulness to her already sensual performance, all while the bell around her neck jingled along, producing a delightful and melodic sound. Unlike thest time when she wore a flowing gown that made her look like a fairy, the costume she had donned this time turned her into an enthralling vixen who could charm any man. As the first part of the music came to an end, Gwendolyn was prepared to stop and take a break. However, before she could do so, a pair of arms snaked around her slender waist. Holding on to her hand and interlocking their fingers, Cedrick guided her and turned her modified solo moves back into a synchronized duet. Thest time she danced to this song, I wasn¡¯t able to embrace her and dance together. This time, I¡¯m never letting go. Without any rehearsals, the two of them were able toplete the most challenging tango steps of ¡°Lover¡± with perfect synchronization and harmony. As they gazed into each other¡¯s eyes, one could see the deep affection shing in them. They had completely immersed themselves in the beauty of the moment. Just as the dance reached its final stage, there was a move where Gwendolyn was supposed to do a spin, but before she could begin, Cedrick scooped her into his arms. She held onto the back of his neck and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to finish the dance?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll stop here. You need to save some energy. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to handle what¡¯s about toe next,¡± he replied. ||| 3/4 Chapter 319 A Sweet Romantic Atmosphere +25 Bonus Gwendolyn immediately grasped his meaning and the tip of her ears flushed bright red. ¡°You can dream on! We already¡­ did thatst night!¡± Cedrick rubbed against her nose gently, his dark eyes revealing the brewing storm of desire within. ¡°It¡¯s not enough. You look so beautiful today. There¡¯s no way I can resist tasting you.¡± ¡°But¡­ my legs are still sore,¡± she protested. He gave her forehead a kiss. His gaze was full of tenderness when he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± The air was soon filled with the thick scent of romance. The couple¡¯s passionate sessionsted throughout the entire morning until exhaustion finally overcame Gwendolyn, and she fell asleep, marking the end of this perfect chapter. Afterward, Cedrick carried her to the bathroom and bathed her before helping her put on a robe. He then tucked her back into bed carefully, making sure she wasfortable before she drifted off to sleep once again. ¡°Sorry if I was too rough earlier, Gwenny. What would you like to have for lunch? How about I prepare some mushroom soup for you?¡± Still half¨Casleep, Gwendolyn responded weakly, ¡°I want to have seafood soup.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll go make it for you right away.¡± Cedrick pinched her face affectionately and got out of bed to put on his slippers. However, the moment he stood up, darkness enveloped his vision, obscuring his sight. In just a few seconds, he lost his ability to see. He fell back onto the bed and managed to prevent himself from suffering an embarrassing tumble. After sitting still for several minutes, the unsettling darkness gradually faded away. He looked down at his hands in disbelief. Could this be a sign¡­ that the virus is spreading again? Chapter 320 Chapter 320 Chapter 320 The Investigation Begins Cedrick¡¯s gaze darkened. The blue serum that Charles gave¡­. +25 Bonus s, his thoughts were interrupted when a bleary¨Ceyed Gwendolyn gently tugged at the hem of his shirt. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Ceddy?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing,¡± the man calmly replied as he turned around and held her hand. ¡°I was just thinking about something delicious to cook for you.¡± ¡°I taught you well in Faike, so I¡¯m confident in your culinary skills. I¡¯ll enjoy eating whatever you cook for me,¡± Gwendolyn mumbled as she curled her lips into a half smile. ¡°That reminds me¡­ The employment contract we signed back then has yet to expire.¡± Cedrick instantly stiffened. D*mn¡­ Why did she have to bring up my dark past? I was forced to sign that contract, for goodness¡® sake. The next second, he lifted the nket and pinned Gwendolyn down. ¡°Why? How long more do you want to enve me, Gwenny?¡± Thetter slowly opened her eyes and chuckled. ¡°I won¡¯t. The name on that contract was Maverick Wright. It has nothing to do with you.¡± Besides, I¡¯ve changed a lot since. I can¡¯t bear to bully Cedrick now. My only wish is to get his condition cured as soon as possible so we can live happily ever after. ¡°Go back to sleep. I¡¯ll wake you once the food¡¯s ready,¡± Cedrick said contentedly before kissing Gwendolyn¡¯s forehead and leaving for the kitchen to prepare the meal. Just like that, two days went by peacefully. On the third day, however, everything changed. Gwendolyn was working in her office in the afternoon when she received yet another unknown call, this time from overseas. Upon realizing it was Charles¡® number, she frowned and picked up the phone, albeit with great reluctance. Argh! There goes my good mood! ¡°What is it?¡± she snapped. Charles merely chuckled on the other end. ¡°It¡¯s been several days since west met, Gwen. Do you miss me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hanging up if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t. I was only asking. Have you thought about the two terms I offered?¡± -After a brief silence, Gwendolyn spoke up. ¡°Not yet. I need more time to think about it.¡± ¡°More time?¡± Charles retorted, clearly losing his patience. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare treat me like a fool, Gwen! I¡¯m not to be messed with!¡± ¡°You should know there will be a massive blowback once I call off my engagement with Cedrick. As such, I have to ensure everything¡¯s in ce for us to deal with the aftermath and minimize the losses to Harris Group.¡± ´¨ O 1/4 Chapter 320, The Investigation Begins +25 Bonus ¡°Fine. I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re brushing me off or stalling for time. You¡¯lle to me sooner orter!¡± he replied, deliberately lowering his tone. Needless to say, Gwendolyn was beyond annoyed. Oh, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d let Charles off the hook¡­ I¡¯ll unleash hell on him once Cedrick¡¯s cured! I want him to suffer a thousand times more than Cedrick! However, just as she was about to hang up the phone, she suddenly recalled that Charles had called from abroad. ¡°Are you overseas, Charles?¡± ¡°Yes. Thatckey of yours keeps trying to catch me. Do you know how long my recovery took when he almost beat me to death thest time? That¡¯s why I decided to go on a short trip. I need to be in best shape to marry you,¡± the man answered with apparent nonchnce. my ¡°If he¡¯s ackey, wouldn¡¯t that make you scum of the earth?¡± Gwendolyn said through gritted teeth. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this is the decorum you¡¯re left with after being in the high¨Csecurity prison for six months, Charles.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. I meant Mr. Jenson. I was wrong. Please don¡¯t be mad, Gwen.¡± With that, Gwendolyn rposed herself and continued to probe. ¡°Where are you, anyway? Erihal?¡± Upon hearing that, Charles visibly cheered up. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so happy that you care about me! However, my location is a secret. I shall wait for you to give me the right answer!¡± Gwendolyn promptly ended the call. Since the man refused to tell her what she wanted to know, there was no point in continuing the conversation. The next second, she summoned Elven into the office. ¡°Have you found out anything about Charles mother?¡± Elven shook his head. ¡°Shadow Bell has yet to revert to me. After all, it¡¯s hard to track down the information when it¡¯s overseas. That said, I think Charles¡® mother is no small fry. Otherwise, why would she need to hide and remain so secretive?¡± For a moment, Gwendolyn fell silent in contemtion. ¡°Hmm¡­ I guess I¡¯ll have to find the time to ask the Newton family.¡± Joshua had previously mentioned that the blue serum isn¡¯t a local product. In that case, Icould start by locating Charles¡® mother and then attempt to find the antidote to the $404 RNA virus myself! ¡°Would Mr. Craig reveal anything, though? He must be rather formidable if he managed to stand out from his brothers and rise to power. Wouldn¡¯t it be tricky to deal with him?¡± s, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond to that, ¡°Oh,e on. Craig isn¡¯t the only person in the Newton family, is he? Help me ask Jasmine and Triss out. Tell them I¡¯d like to catch up with them over dinner tonight. It¡¯d be my treat.¡± ¡°Got it, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± As soon as Elven left the room, Gwendolyn texted Cedrick to inform him that she wouldn¡¯t be home for dinner. After working a few more hours till it was time to knock off, she finally packed up and set off for her ||| O 2/4 15:58 Tue, Jun 6 GB. Chapter 320 The Investigation Begins dinner appointment. Since Jasmine and Triss had gotten used to eating at five¨Cstar hotels, Gwendolyn brought them to a barbecue restaurant in themercial district for a change. +25 Bonus Enthusiastic as ever, the two women began chatting excitedly the second they entered the private room. ¡°I thought you had forgotten about your old friends when you got together with Mr. Jenson, Gwendolyn. What¡¯s the asion for this treat?¡± Jasmine said smilingly. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn merely smiled and said nothing. A ¡°Ah¡­ Gwendolyn and my brother must have been enjoying their life together. She¡¯s practically radiating joy!¡± Triss chimed in. ¡°Say, am I getting a niece or nephew soon?¡± ¡°Stop spouting nonsense! Hurry up and order the dishes. You need to eat more and talk less,¡± a red¨C faced Gwendolyn chided as she lightly flicked Triss in the head. With that, her hands instinctively went to her belly. There was a time when I really looked forward to having a baby with Cedrick. However, all I want now is to get him cured. Everything else can wait¡­ ¡°By the way, Jasmine, how has Charles been?¡± Gwendolyn asked, feigning nonchnce. Jasmine rested her chin on her hand as her gaze darkened. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about him. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that he¡¯d harm you! In any case, isn¡¯t he still serving his sentence in the high- security prison? Why are you asking?¡± Naturally, Gwendolyn was baffled. Huh? Does she not know that Charles has been released on bail? Did Craig hide the news from the rest of the Newton family? Despite that, she remained unfazed and took a sip of her coffee. ¡°Sometimes I remember how much fun/ I¡¯ve had ying at the Newton residence as a kid, but things are so different now that it¡¯s making me emotional.¡± Jasmine, too, sighed. ¡°Indeed. Craig has recently pulled me into thepany to start learning the ropes, so I haven¡¯t been able to meet my brothers and friends much. He doesn¡¯t even allow me to visit Charles in prison¡­ Who knows when I¡¯d get a chance to do that?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes lit up. Ha! Craig really is behind this! ¡°Speaking of Charles, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever heard about his mother,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve never met her before, either,¡± Jasmine answered. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, Dad was on a business trip to Erihal when he met Aunt Kylie, and they had Charles by ident. She was supposed to return with Dad to get married, but something changed along the way. Eventually, Dad came back with just Charles. We don¡¯t have any news or photos of Aunt Kylie in the house, and it¡¯s not like Charles often talks about her. If you hadn¡¯t brought it up, I¡¯d have forgotten that he and I have different mothers.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a while. ¡°So, Kylie is her first name. Do you know herst name? Is she still alive?¡± Jasmine shook her head innocently, ¡°That I have no idea. Even her name was something I purely happened to overhear. Please don¡¯t leak this out to anyone else. It¡¯s one of my family¡¯s secrets.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Gwendolyn reassured with a nod. 3/4 Chapter 320 The Investigation Begins Triss followed suit and nodded in acknowledgment. +25 Bonus The barbecue restaurant had dedicated servers for each table, so when a handsome and elegant man entered the private room with the dishes, Jasmine and Triss reeled in shock. Before long, thetter¡¯s expression had slid into a frown. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Gwendolyn Was Never A Saint Gwendolyn was texting Elven because she wanted Shadow Bell to search for any woman named Kylie in Epea and Alendor who matched the description of Charles¡® mother. Suddenly, she heard Triss¡® exmation and looked up, only to collide with someone familiar. ¡°Sherman?¡± It had only been five or six days since theyst met, but he seemed to have changed a lot. The confidence in his eyes was diminished and reced by diffidence. Gwendolyn was surprised to see him wearing a waiter¡¯s uniform. ¡°Have you been working here recently?¡± Sherman froze, his face full of shame. He didn¡¯t answer Gwendolyn¡¯s question and turned to leave. Gwendolyn called out, ¡°We have been friends for so many years after all. have a drink with me, Mr. Ferguson?¡± Would you like to sit down and Triss could still vividly remember what the Ferguson family had done to Gwendolyn previously. ¡°The Ferguson family is no longer considered a prominent family, Gwendolyn. He doesn¡¯t live up to that title anymore. Besides, he stopped being my friend the moment he tried to hurt you on behalf of Eloise.¡± Sherman was originally standing at the door, but he turned to look at Gwendolyn instantly upon hearing Triss. ¡°I didn¡¯t help Eloise hurt you. Furthermore, she¡¯s now locked up in the women¡¯s prison. Don¡¯t you n to let her off?¡± Angered by Sherman¡¯s words, Jasmine and Triss would have had an outburst if Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t held them back. Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning on meddling with her affairs after I sent her to prison. Now that you mention this, I think she¡¯s having a rather easy time in there.¡± Astonished, Sherman said, ¡°I never thought you can be so cruel, Gwendolyn. She is just an ignorant girl, and she has already received the punishment she deserves.¡± Gwendolyn took a sip of juice and looked at him indifferently. She did not respond to his words. ¡°Why don¡¯t you mention how malicious your sister is? She is already an adult, but you still im that she is just ignorant. She is just a spoiled brat raised by your family!¡± Triss defended Gwendolyn angrily. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Jasmine chimed in angrily. ¡°You know what you and she have done during Eloise¡¯s birthday party. Gwendolyn was hardly harsh enough on her!¡± Sherman felt utterly desperate. It had been a living hell for the Ferguson family. They didn¡¯t even have the money to bribe the prison warden for a visit, Sherman¡¯s mother, Emma, cried every day at the thought of Eloise suffering in prison, while his father overcame his pride to search for jobs despite his old age. However, none of thepanies dared to hire him because Cedrick pressured them not to, Their whole family now lived in a house of several square meters, and could barely make ends meet. 1/4 69% Chapter 321 Gwendolyn Was Never A Saint No matter how malicious were Eloise¡¯s sins, shouldn¡¯t this be sufficient to pay for them? +15 Bonus Sherman gripped the tray with his hands tightly to suppress his emotions. Then, lowering his stance, he pleaded, ¡°Gwendolyn, if you still consider us friends after all these years, please spare Eloise and release her on bail. Our family will take her to the countryside, and I promise we will never disturb you again.¡± Gwendolyn remained expressionless as she replied, ¡°Since we are friends, I will pretend that I didn¡¯t see you today so that you can continue working here in peace. Eloise got what she deserves. I am never a saint, and I won¡¯t help her even if I can.¡± Triss immediately chased him away. ¡°Did you hear that clearly? Get out and ask your manager to send another waiter over.¡± Head hung low, Sherman concealed the unwillingness and resentment in his eyes and left the private room. As Sherman walked through the restaurant corridor with heavy steps like a walking corpse, he heard Frank, a waiter who was temporarily assigned to the private roomining under his breath as he walked past him. ¡°Truly a son from a wealthy family. He can¡¯t do anything right. He must have offended the customers again, and now I have to sacrifice my free time.¡± Sherman heard his words clearly and nced back at him. Frank became even more annoyed. ¡°Why are you staring at me? I didn¡¯t say anything wrong¡­¡± As the sound of insults grew fainter, Sherman¡¯s face filled with despair. With Cedrick making things difficult for him as well as everyone humiliating and mocking him recently, Sherman felt he was thrown with rather unfair treatment. The words Eloise said to him before she went to prison reverberated in his ears. ¡°Sherman! I don¡¯t want to spend my life in prison. Once I¡¯m inside, the other prisoners will target me and bully me! I¡¯ll live in misery forever!¡± ¡°The reason the Ferguson familynded in this state is because of Gwendolyn and Cedrick! You have to help me kill them! Otherwise, I will no longer acknowledge you as my brother, and Mom and Dad will never be happy!¡± Besides, Evelyn came to find him just two days ago¡­ At the thought of it, he headed to the kitchen. After making sure that no one was paying attention to him, he discreetly took a packet of rat poison which was used to kill rodents from the storeroom and stashed it in his pocket. Frank was about to enter the private room to serve juices when Sherman intercepted him. Forcing an apologetic smile, Sherman said, ¡°Let me serve the drinks. I feel terrible for upsetting the ladies in the room just now. I want to apologize and make up for it.¡± ¡°Apologize to them? You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. You¡¯ll just mess things up again, and I¡¯ll have to clean up the mess.¡± Sherman held onto the tray of juice in Frank¡¯s hands tightly as he continued, ¡°I feel bad for dragging you 2/4 wed, Chapter 321 Gwendolyn Was Never A Saint 69% +15 Bonus into this and resulting in you having to help me serve the customers in the private room. I¡¯ll pay you my sry for today aspensation.¡± Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Frank was delighted to hear that. ¡°At least you¡¯re sensible. Go ahead then.¡± Sherman took the tray. ncing around anxiously, he then retrieved the rat poison before entering the private room. Sherman¡¯s hands were trembling uncontrobly because it was the first time he had ever attempted to do something so malicious.. However, at the thought of Evelyn¡¯s promise, he mustered the courage to carry out the n. After making sure that there was nobody else around, he turned his back to the surveince camera and tore open the packaging. Then, he watched quietly as the white powder dissolved into the juices. However, before he could finish pouring the poison into the juices, someone grabbed his wrist. Panicked, he looked up and saw Nico. ¡°What did you put?¡± Nico asked solemnly. Several meters away from them was Cedrick, who was approaching with a grim expression. Upon sensing the murderous aura exuding from him, Sherman panicked and his fear of Cedrick was evident on his face. Recently, every time he bumped into Cedrick, he would end up getting brutally beaten! In the heat of the moment, Sherman flipped the tray and sshed the juice onto Nico¡¯s face. Nico¡¯s face was instantly covered in juice. While he was distracted, Sherman struggled with all his might to break free and ran away. ¡°Go after him. If a weak and feeble man like him escapes from you, I will hold you ountable for it along with your other faults,¡± Cedrick ordered calmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss!¡± Nico shuddered. Then, he quickly chased after Sherman. In the private room, thedies were enjoying their meal and chatting happily when the door was suddenly opened. Triss, who was sitting closest to the door, thought it was a waiter and didn¡¯t even bother to look up. ¡°You¡¯re finally here. Can you help me grill this beef?¡± The man behind her remained motionless as he spoke coldly. ¡°Helping you to grill the beef? Forget about it. I¡¯m here to see my fianc¨¦e!¡± Upon hearing the voice, they all turned their heads simultaneously. Triss was so taken aback that she forgot her words. Puzzled, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Why are you here? Have youe to join us for a meal after smelling the aroma of grilled meat?¡± Cedrick felt disgruntled and replied in a sour tone, ¡°You have all eaten, haven¡¯t you? Why aren¡¯t you concerned if I¡¯m hungry?¡± O ? 3/4 12:12 Wed, Jun Chapter 321 Gwendolyn Was Never A Saint 69% +15 Bonus When he didn¡¯t see her upon returning home from work and after waiting for a long while, he felt angry. Filled with anger, he stepped forward and scooped Gwendolyn up domineeringly without further exnation. Then, he turned to leave with her in his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s go home! I¡¯ll personally make grill meat for you!¡± Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Not The Grilled Meat I Think +15 Bonus ¡°Didn¡¯t I send you a text saying that I will be eating out anding backte tonight? Why did you come looking for me?¡± Cedrick frowned unhappily. ¡°I feel restless because I haven¡¯t seen you the whole day. When I finally make it through the day, it feels unbearable to even waste a single minute.¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help blushing in front of Jasmine and Triss. After struggling briefly, she whispered, ¡°You¡­ Put me down first¡­¡± Cedrick tightened his grip on her as he leaned closer to her ear and spoke in a voice that was only audible to them. ¡°Don¡¯t forget our pact, Gwenny.¡± They had agreed that Gwendolyn would try her best to act as if she obeyed him fully when in public. However, she would haveplete authority once they went home. Gwendolyn immediately stopped struggling. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten enough yet. You said you will grill meat for me at home. What kind of meat?¡± she asked softly. Cedrick raised an eyebrow and smirked. ¡°What do you think?¡°. This expression¡­ Is it not the grilled meat I think it is? Although Jasmine and Triss, who were rtively young, couldn¡¯t understand what the two of them were saying, they looked at them with envy as they engaged in intimate whispers and affectionate gestures. All of a sudden, the grilled meat in the bowl didn¡¯t seem as appetizing anymore! Gwendolyn¡¯s ears turned red from embarrassment as she bid them farewell. ¡°You two take your time. I¡¯ll leave my card at the front desk to settle the bill. Feel free to order whatever else you want. I¡¯ll leave first!¡± ¡°Hurry up and go!¡± Jasmine said with a slightly jealous expression, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave now, Triss and I will soon lose our appetite. Even the meat in the bowl is getting tasteless!¡± Cedrick¡¯s smirked as he looked at Gwendolyn in his arms. ¡°Did you hear that? They¡¯re asking us not to disturb them from eating. Let¡¯s go home!¡± After carrying Gwendolyn out of the restaurant, Cedrick ordered Elven to drive her car back while she went back with him in his car. On the way back, Cedrick told Gwendolyn about his encounter with Sherman in the corridor. ¡°Sherman wanted to poison me?¡± After listening to the whole story, Gwendolyn still found it somewhat unbelievable. ¡°I think I have a good understanding of his personality. After all, I¡¯ve known him for so many years. He doesn¡¯t seem like the kind of person who will do such a foolish thing.¡± Besides, now that Eloise was in prison, the Ferguson family relied solely on him. Regardless of the oue, he would be ruining himself by doing that. Why will he attempt something like this at the cost of self¨Cdestruction? He can¡¯t be so irrational. ´¨ O 1/4 12:13 Wed, Jun 7 Chapter 322 Not The Grilled Meat I Think 69% +15 Bonus Unless¡­ ¡°Unless someone is trying to convince him to do it. This person must have promised him something. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be possible for him to take such a desperate measure.¡± Sherman nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll have Nico investigate this. How do you want to handle the mess with the Ferguson family? Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Feeling a little tired from the recent events, Gwendolyn rubbed her temples as she replied casually, ¡°Sherman.will be charged with attempted murder if he¡¯s arrested. Just go with the normal sentence. As for the matters rted to the Ferguson family, you can handle them as you see fit.¡± She didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with those matters anymore. Right now, her only focus was to resolve the matter with Charles as soon as possible. At the thought of it, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°How is your health recently? Are you feeling okay? Do you need me to make time and apany you to theboratory for another checkup?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to.¡± Cedrick¡¯s response was straightforward. He gripped the steering wheel with his bony fingers as his dark ck eyes focused on the road ahead. The yellowish glow from the street lights illuminated his handsome face. Lately, he would face temporary vision loss once a day. It would ur at any given time without any pattern, and the ckout was bing longer every time. He didn¡¯t know when he wouldpletely lose his sight. For all he knew, it could be the next day¡­ If he told Gwendolyn about it, she would agree to Charles¡® conditions no matter how outrageous they were just to cure him. Therefore, he would rather die than let it happen. ¡°Ceddy?¡± Gwendolyn murmured as she caressed his face with her hand gently upon noticing him being lost in his thoughts. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± With one hand controlling the steering wheel, Cedrick held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand with another. Entwining his fingers with hers, he replied, ¡°I was thinking about how I¡¯ll eat you when we get back. Grilled, steamed, or boiled?¡± Gwendolyn blushed shyly at once. Fortunately, Nico had gone after Sherman. With Cedrick driving personally, there were only two of them in the car. Otherwise, she would be too shy to face anyone. Cedrick¡¯s lips curled into a mischievous smile. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s the cutest thing about you, Gwenny? No matter how many times we¡¯ve had sex, you blush shyly whenever I bring it up.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m as shameless as you?¡± Gwendolyn huffed arrogantly as she averted her gaze to the window. The atmosphere inside the car rxed. Upon returning to Harrick Vi, an intimate night began for both Cedrick and Gwendolyn. ? 2/4 Chapter 322 Not The Grilled Meat I Think On the same night, however, Eloise was not faring well in the women¡¯s prison at Salinsburgh. +15 Bonus Everyone was asleep except for Eloise, who was locked in apletely dark solitary confinement cell. The floor was wet, and the cell was freezing cold. Unable to sleep, she could only curl up and squat down in a corner. As time passed, her legs became numb. However, she was determined not to lie down and sleep on the damp and muddy ground. There was no nket in the cell, so she could only hug herself tightly to keep warm. The injuries on her body ached as well. Every day here felt like a nightmare to Eloise. During lunch that day, the prison bully deliberately harassed her by spitting into her food tray. She even shoved her to the ground and forced her to eat the food that was spat on. Eloise resisted firmly, but she ended up not only suffering a group beating but also receiving three¨Cday solitary confinement as her punishment for wasting food. Feeling helpless, she hugged herself and sobbed quietly. Her eyes were swollen, but she wasn¡¯t bothered to wipe them away because she was shivering uncontrobly from the cold. It had only been a few days into her imprisonment, and she had endured daily beatings, punishments, and forcedbor. It was driving her to the brink of insanity! ¡°I hate you, Gwendolyn Harris! I hate you so much! I ended up like this because of you! I hope you suffer a horrible death! I won¡¯t let you off even when I¡¯m dead! I will feast on your blood and your flesh! You b*tch! B*tch¡­¡± Eloise¡¯s speech was slurred due to her swollen mouth from being beaten up, but she repeated her words. over and over again while gritting her teeth in fury. If it weren¡¯t for the intense hatred and anger fueling her, she would have lost the will to live. Creak! The heavy iron door of the solitary confinement cell was opened, creating a particrly abrupt sound in the silent night. ¡°Inmate 0437, someone asked to visit you secretly. Get up ande with me.¡± A beam of shlight shone on Eloise¡¯s bruised face. Dazzled by the light, she couldn¡¯t open her eyes. At the same time, she felt bewildered. Who would visit me in the middle of the night? Who can it be? Eloise¡¯s body was stiff from the cold. After struggling to get up for a while, the prison guard impatiently helped her up and led her out of the solitary confinement cell. On the way, she asked as she was uncertain, ¡°Do I still have toe back here after the visit?¡± Èý O 3/4 Chapter 322 Not The Grilled Meat I Think +15 Bonus ¡°What else? You¡¯ll have to stay in solitary confinement for three days. Cherish this opportunity of someone visiting you!¡± the guard replied, seemingly hinting at something but Eloise couldn¡¯t understand. She followed the guard obediently with her shoulders hunched. The secret visit took ce in a separate soundproof room instead of a designated visiting room. There were no surveince cameras or recording devices inside. Upon reaching the entrance, Eloise was shoved into the room. The heavy cuffs on her limbs instantly made a ttering sound. After stumbling a few steps, she finally managed to steady herself. A person stood in the middle of the empty soundproof room. in disbey are you here?¡± When the person turned around, Eloise widened her eyes in Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Things Will Get Better The next day, the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows in the bedroom were opened. +15 Bonus The mist was thick in the winter morning. The cool breeze that blew in left Gwendolyn¡¯s face stiff and cold. She turned and nuzzled into Cedrick¡¯s embrace. Jennifer was wrapping up for the filming that day. Gwendolyn had to wake up early to head over film set to take a look and send her blessings and gift. Another crazy night went past again. She seemed especially exhausted just like she had not slept enough. The rm clock on the nightstand rang. to the She forcibly kept herself awake and got out of bed to freshen up. Cedrick woke up as well. His long eyshes fluttered slightly, and as he opened his eyes halfway, he drew his brows together. There was only pure darkness within his vision. -He did not pick up on what was going on. ¡°Gwenny, did you turn off the lights? It¡¯s a little dark in here. Gwendolyn was sitting before the dressing table applying some skincare. Hearing those words, she paused at once. Instinctively, she turned to look at the opened windows. A look of confusion shed across her countenance. ¡°No. The windows are open. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart instantly sank to rock bottom. I can¡¯t see again, huh? How long will it take to recover this time? His voice was even, and his tone was calm as he answered, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I guess I was just a little tired last night and haven¡¯t got enough sleep. I¡¯ll sleep a while longer.¡± He quietly closed his eyes and snuggled under the nket again. Gwendolyn burst into giggles. She sat by the bed and gently caressed his face. ¡°You¡¯re always saying you want to devour me. It turns out that an evil man like you will also get tired, huh?¡± Cedrick also broke into a faint smile, but his eyes remained shut regardless. ¡°Go on with your work. No need to leave breakfast for me. I¡¯ll make some for myself when I wake upter ¡°All right. You¡¯ve worked hard. Have a good rest for the next two days to recover your strength. Most importantly, stop thinking about devouring me!¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Gwendolyn held his face and kissed him before she got up and continued with her makeup routine. To Gwendolyn, doing basic everyday makeup would only take her ten minutes. When she finished packing, Cedrick still seemed deep asleep. Not wanting to wake him up, she tiptoed out < 1/4 12:13 Wed, Jun / Chapter 323 Things Will Get Better 69% +15 Bonus of the room. Gwendolyn took Elven with her as she made her way out of Harrick Vi. As she walked toward the garage door, she halted in her tracks suddenly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ms. Harris?¡± Elven was perplexed. The look on Gwendolyn¡¯s face turned incredibly grim. Those words Cedrick said earlier when they woke up crossed her mind again. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with him.¡± ¡°Ms. Harris, something¡¯s wrong with who?¡± Gwendolyn could not be bothered about answering him. Instead, she turned around and ran toward Harrick Vi. ¡°Ceddy!¡± She made her way upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door. Cedrick, who was still sleeping on the bed when she left, was gone. The room was empty, and there was no one in sight. Gwendolyn was baffled. I just left not long ago, and he¡¯s already awake? ¡°Ceddy?¡± As she shouted his name, she touched the bed, only to realize there was still a hint of warmth. It was clear the man had just gotten out of bed. But the whole vi was exceedingly quiet, and there was no response. Gwendolyn searched through every room in the vi. Sadly, she did not find Cedrick. Did he leave the house that quickly? But why didn¡¯t I see him on my way back? She immediately called Nico. ¡°Did Ceddy go to work?¡± Nico was confused. ¡°No. I¡¯m on my way to Harrick Vi right now.¡± An inexplicable sense of panic surged within Gwendolyn andpletely enveloped her. Herck of response left Nico a little uneasy. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ms. Harris?¡± ¡°I¨CIt seems like¡­ Ceddy is missing¡­¡± Following those words, Harrick Vi went into an uproar. Nico took Elven and Ezra with him andbed every corner of the Jenson residence, and throughout that, they tried their best not to garner too much attention. Meanwhile, together with William and Quinton, Gwendolyn turned the whole vi upside down as she searched high and low for the man. They even checked the surveince cameras and searched the garage. Nheless, they could not find Cedrick. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. 2/4 69% Chapter 323 Things Will Get Better Even his phone was switched off. Under the circumstances of trying not to alert the other members of the Jenson family, the group searched for more than half an hour yet could not secure any leads. The uneasiness within Gwendolyn grew more intense. About half a year ago, the day after she learned of Maverick¡¯s death, she returned to Bay Vi and searched the entire house as she did now. Yet, she found no one. She sat at the edge of the bed, dispirited. Her trembling fingers indicated the trepidation in her. On the carpet in the room were Cedrick¡¯s bedroom slippers. +15 Bonus Gwendolyn frowned. He didn¡¯t even wear shoes. It¡¯s so cold right now. Where can he go? Why is he hiding again? A wave of emotional turmoil stirred within her. But at that very moment, she caught sight of the slightly ajar wardrobe from the corner of her eye. Just as she wanted to walk over to check, Nico entered the room. ¡°Ms. Harris, we couldn¡¯t find him here. I¡¯ve contacted Jenson Group but Boss isn¡¯t there. He¡¯s probably still at the Jenson residence.¡± ¡°I got it. Continue looking around. Make sure to search carefully. You must find him, even if it means throwing the world into chaos!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Once Nico left, Gwendolyn stealthily inched toward the wardrobe and opened the door without making any noises. A man was hiding in the corner of the wardrobe. With his knees bent, he curled up into a ball and wrapped his arms around himself, his grip tightly clenched on the sleeves of his pajamas. It was Cedrick. Seeing that familiar face, Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief. We¡¯ve been looking for him the entire morning, but it turns out that he¡¯s actually hiding in the wardrobe. What exactly is he trying to do? Gwendolyn bent down quietly without rming him and carefully observed his condition. She had already sensed that Cedrick did not m to notice her presence. The man¡¯s deep, dark eyes looked empty and bleak. His gaze was scattered and unfocused as he looked toward an area. An ominous premonition suddenly crept up inside her. She reached her hand out and tentatively swung it before Cedrick¡¯s eyes. However, his gaze remained unmoved, almost as if he had died on the inside. Gwendolyn held a hand over her mouth. Her eyes reddened, and tears flowed uncontrobly down her checks. C¨CCeddy¡­ can¡¯t see anything? 3/4 69% Chapter 823 Things Will Get Better +15 Bonus Enduring the unbearable sense of suffocation in her chest, she carefully reached out to Cedrick. ¡°Ceddy¡­¡± Cedrick¡¯s body shuddered upon hearing her voice and feeling her touch on his wrist. Without hesitation, he raised his arms to cover his face, refusing to let Gwendolyn see his eyes. ¡°How can this be?¡± Wiping off her tears, Gwendolyn tried to hold back her sobs as she lifted her hand, intending to hug him. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Ceddy. I¡¯m here¡­¡± Cedrick, however, was resistant to her hug. He lifted the corners of his thin lips into a self¨Cdeprecating smirk. ¡°Since you¡¯ve found out, yes, I¡¯m blind! I don¡¯t need anyone to take pity on me. Leave me alone!¡± He initially thought he would gradually regain his vision like how he did a few days ago. He thought things would improve after hiding and staying alone for a while. But that was not the case this time round. His blindness came too quickly that he had no time to devise a backup n for himself or help. Gwendolyn settle in. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, Geddy! I¡¯ll not go anywhere! I want to keep youpany! Why would I pity you? If anything, I love you and will only feel heartbroken for you!¡± Gwendolyn grasped his hand tightly to give him a sense of security. ¡°I¡¯ll surely find you a cure. Trust me. Nothing will happen to you. You¡¯ll be healthy and live well into ripe old age! We¡¯ll live a blissful life like any other ordinary person!¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not possible, Gwenny. I don¡¯t have a chance anymore.¡± The virus in his body had spread. He had turned blind. He reckoned he would lose his hearing in no time as the virus slowly invaded his brain. I won¡¯t be able to survive this winter¡­ Gwendolyn cupped his icy face and repeated, ¡°You¡¯ll get well. Everything will be all right. Let¡¯s go look for Professor Yancey. If he can¡¯t help, I¡¯ll get Kieran toe back here. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be able to heal you. Ceddy, if your eyes are beyond cure, I¡¯ll be your eyes then. I¡¯ll still marry you and have a few adorable kids with you! I¡¯ll never abandon you!¡± Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Begging Her Brothers Under her pacification, Cedrick gradually turned calm. He grasped her hand as if he had found an incrediblyforting presence. ¡°Gwenny, don¡¯t meet with Charles. Don¡¯t agree to his terms!¡± Gwendolyn hesitated. ¡°Gwenny, promise me, as we agreed before!¡± Cedrick gripped her hand tightly, not noticing he was causing red marks to form on her hand. ¡°I promise you I¡¯ll never marry him, but¡­ I¡¯m sorry!¡± As soon as she finished her sentence, Gwendolyn used her free hand to strike the back of his head with all her force to knock him out. She cradled him in her arms, pressing her face against his forehead, and gently caressed him Tears streamed down the corner of her eyes and disappeared without a trace as they slid into her hair. She mumbled, ¡°Go to sleep, Ceddy. Leave the rest to me.¡± Nico hastily went upstairs again. When he saw the scene in the corner of the wardrobe, he was taken aback. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, what happened to Boss?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t have the time to exin and merely said, ¡°Come and carry him. We¡¯re going to the laboratory.¡± Without dithering, Nico immediately crouched down and took the unconscious Cedrick from her. As soon as they arrived at theboratory in haste, Joshua swiftly performed a series of diagnostic tests on Cedrick. The atmosphere inside the room was tense. Joshua furrowed his brows and sighed continuously. ¡°Cedrick¡¯s condition is awful. The blue serum has lost its efficacy and is even causing side effects, making the virus spread faster. If we don¡¯t use another blue serum as soon as possible or find an antidote to cure the disease, Cedric can¡¯t hold on for a month.¡± Nico¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°What? Not even a month left?¡± Under such heavy ambiance, Gwendolyn seemed much moreposed. No one saw her hands that were hidden in her sleeves. She was actually digging her fingernails deep into her palms to help keep her voice from shaking. ¡°You two take care of Ceddy. I have to go out and attend to -some matters.¡± After exiting theboratory, she got into the car and took the initiative to contact Charles. Charles was delighted as he spoke in an uplifted tone. ¡°Oh? I didn¡¯t expect you to call me so soon, Gwen. Let me guess. Has the serum lost its effects?¡± A cold glint shed across Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes as she suppressed the boiling anger within her chest. O 1/4 ¡°You¡¯re truly despicable, Charles.¡± ¡°How am I despicable? I¡¯ve told you early on that you must make a prompt decision, Gwen. I am not responsible for any unpleasant consequences taking ce now,¡± he replied. Gwen. I am not Judging by Gwendolyn¡¯s urgency in making the call, Charles figured Cedrick¡¯s health must be deteriorating. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. At that thought, Charles felt extremely cheerful. A desire to murder him washed over Gwendolyn. ¡°Where¡¯s the antidote?¡± ¡°So, are you agreeing to my conditions?¡± Not responding to his question, she asked in return, ¡°You don¡¯t even dare to tell me the name of the antidote, so why should I believe if you really know about it? I need to make sure you¡¯re not tricking me before I consider agreeing.¡± He uttered with crity, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll tell you. Without me, you won¡¯t be able to acquire it anyway. Currently, the only antidote that can cure S404 RNA virus in the market is Erihal¡¯s Super Antivi anyway. Currently, Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and quietly memorized the name of the medicine. Charles continued, ¡°If you consider agreeing to my terms,e find me in Erihal. I want to have a unique wedding with you in a foreignnd. However, let me remind you. You can onlye alone. If I find out that Asher, Kieran, or anyone else dares to follow, you¡¯ll bear the consequences.¡± resto His tone grew more sinister and carried a hidden threat toward the end of his sentence. Gwendolyn kept a lid on her rage. ¡°I¡¯ll contact you again once I verify the authenticity of your words.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll be waiting for your call. See you, Gwen.¡± After hanging up, she immediately called Kieran. Kieran was aware of that medicine. E ¡°This Super Antiviral was developed by a biologist many years ago. It has a miraculous effect in targeting biochemical viruses, but to this day, only a small vial is avable. This medication is priceless. Erihal is a constitutional monarchy, so the drug belongs to the royal family. It¡¯s hard even to catch a glimpse of it. Why did you suddenly bring it up?¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but answer in a tearful voice, ¡°Kieran, I need you.¡± Perhaps it was the effect of the virus in his body causing Cedrick to remain unconscious for a full day after being knocked out. While he was asleep, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t stay idle. Instead, she saw to many things. Kieran had gone on a business trip to the neighboring city, Avenport, which wasn¡¯t far away. He hurried back to Salinsburgh within an hour by ne. Gwendolyn also called Asher and Treyton over. She asked Joshua to clear theboratory¡¯s reception room, gathering her three elder brothers in the room after a long separation. ? 2/4 Chapter 324 Begging Her Brothers +15 Bonus At that moment, three men of different temperaments sat on the chairs, all looking at their sister, standing in the middle of the carpet. Noticing her reddened eyes, Asher was the first to ask. ¡°Kiddo, what¡¯s wrong?¡± She pursed her lips in silence, bent her knees, and knelt on the floor. The three men were baffled by her drastic reaction. Treyton got to his feet, wanting to help Gwendolyn up. ¡°Kiddo, what¡¯s the matter? Tell me, and I¡¯ll help you.¡± Unwilling to get up, Gwendolyn uttered solemnly, ¡°This is the first time in my life I¡¯m actively asking for ¡®my brothers¡® assistance. I¡¯ve reached a point where I have no other choice but to do so.¡± The trio exchanged nces, quietly waiting for her to continue. ¡°Cedrick has been infected with the S404 RNA virus. His body is almost at its limit. He¡¯s in this state because of me, so I must save him, and I need my brothers¡® help to aplish this.¡± Asher and Kieran didn¡¯t say a word while Treyton asked, ¡°How do you want us to help you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be going abroad in the next few days. While I¡¯m gone, I hope you¡¯ll help me protect Cedrick, Asher. Cedrick is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so if he¡¯s absent from public affairs for a long period, both Craig and Yael will be suspicious. Kieran, Treyton, I would like you to help me take care of Cedrick. He has lost his vision because of the virus. I can¡¯t be at ease, allowing others to care for him, so I can only ask you to do me this favor. As for his condition, I hope all of you can help me keep it a secret.¡± Kieran frowned and questioned Gwendolyn sensibly, ¡°So, you asked me about the Super Antiviral today because you¡¯re nning to visit Erihal to help Cedrick acquire the antidote in person?¡± Super Antiviral was indeed able to eliminate the virus in Cedrick¡¯s body and cure him, but it was difficult to obtain the medication. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t deny how arduous the task was. Asher¡¯s gaze darkened as a stern expression spread across his face. ¡°No way. That¡¯s too dangerous. You¡¯re not allowed to go!¡± Although his position in the military was high, and he wielded significant power, that was only restricted to areas within Chanaea. His protection over Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t extend beyond Chanaea¡¯s borders, especially since she was nning to go to Erihal. To sessfully acquire the antidote from Erihal¡¯s royal family and then return unscathed was almost unachievable. ¡°Asher, I¡¯ve made up my mind. You know me well. Once I¡¯ve decided on a n of action, you can¡¯t stop 1. me. Asher was also firm in his stance. ¡°No means no, I never thought Cedrick would sacrifice so much for you, and I¡¯m utterly grateful to him. Still, that doesn¡¯t mean I will stand by and watch as you risk your life to save his! You can call me selfish or realistic, but your safety is my priority. If you are determined to go, I can only resort to harsh measures, taking you back to the Harris residence and detaining you there.¡± 3/4 Chapter 324 Begging Her Brothers Kieran didn¡¯t speak, seemingly in agreement with Asher¡¯s opinion. +15 Bonus Treyton didn¡¯t have much say in front of his eldest brother. Complex emotions churned within him as he looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°Kiddo, why don¡¯t you listen to Asher¡­¡± Gwendolyn was deeply astounded and despaired. She didn¡¯t dare to inform her brothers about what happened because she feared the news might leak out. Secondly, she was afraid her brothers would prevent her from continuing to be with Cedrick despite their gratitude.. Unexpectedly, her guesses were on point. Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Chapter 325 If He Dies However, Gwendolyn¡¯s words were already out in the air. There was no room for regret, so she could only try to persuade them. She was so worried that her lower lip, tears rolled down her face. She choked out, ¡°So my life is important, but Cedrick¡¯s isn¡¯t? He ended up in this condition because of me! If it wasn¡¯t for him, I¡¯d be the one on the bed right now. How can you be so heartless toward him?¡± Hearing that, the three men fell silent. Out of the three of them, Treyton knew everything that happened in Faike the best. Furthermore, he had talked to Cedrick back at Eloise¡¯s birthday party, and he found himself fond of Cedrick¡¯s honesty. As a wave of guilt surged in his heart, he rose to his feet and reached out for Gwendolyn. ¡°Kiddo, stand up first. You need to give Asher and Kieran some time to think about these matters. Gwendolyn rejected his help. Asher and Kieran had much time left to contemte, but Cedrick¡¯s time was running out. Thus, she remained determined in her stance as she shifted closer to Asher on her knees. ¡°Cedrick lost his parents at a young age and was raised by the strict Old Mr. Jenson. He grew up in a very lonely environment. He¡¯s not like me, who learns what love is from my brothers and my parents. I¡¯ve been surrounded by people who are loving, and I grew up doted on by everyone. That¡¯s why he cherishes the love that others give to him. He¡¯ll always do everything he can for me without hesitation. Hence, he¡¯s terrified that I¡¯ll abandon him. When he found out that he didn¡¯t have long to live, he never thought of guilt¨Ctripping me with the love I had for him. Instead, he was scared that I¡¯d be sad, so he wanted to slink away to die in a quiet corner alone instead. If I didn¡¯t notice anything amiss, I would¡¯ve been oblivious to this until now. Asher, Kieran, Treyton, I¡¯ll never meet another man who loves me so wholeheartedly as he does ever again. If he dies, my heart will follow him to the afterlife. You¡¯ll only truly be doting on me if you ept him and help him while he¡¯s sick right now. Please have faith in me. I¡¯m no longer a child, and this time, I¡¯m going to take good care of myself ande back safely with the supervirus serum. Just think of this as a journey I must go through in life. I won¡¯t let anything happen to me.¡± Kieran and Treyton sighed, moved by her words, and they turned to look at Treyton¨Cthe man with the final say. Asher lowered his gaze as aplicated look crossed his face. He was quiet for a long while. ¡°Asher, please!¡± Gwendolyn squeezed out, the destion and determination visible on her tear¨Ctracked face. When she realized that Asher was still hesitating, she hunched over, about to prostrate herself before him. Swiftly, Asher reached out to stop her. This was the sister he had doted on and spoiled for decades, but there she was, sobbing and pleading with him in desperation. He had to admit that his determination was wavering. brothers In the end, Asher relented. ¡°Just do what you want to do without any worry. You have your backing you up. But we have to agree on one thing¨Ceven if you can¡¯t get the serum, you have toe back. Your safety is of the utmost importance, and I don¡¯t want you risking your life or doing anything extreme.¡± 1/3 Chapter 825 If He Dies ¡°Asher¡­¡± Gwendolyn hugged him and bawled in his arms, exposing her vulnerable side to him. The way she was sobbing uncontrobly broke her brothers¡® hearts, and their eyes reddened along with hers. After the bout of crying, Gwendolyn rposed herself and calmly gave instructions to her brothers. Treyton then went to the ward to learn how to take care of Cedrick. At the same time, Kieran went looking for Joshua to go through Cedrick¡¯s medical diagnosis and think of a way to treat his cycs. Meanwhile, Asher made arrangements for his men and secretly stationed bodyguards all around Harrick Vi. Gwendolyn wiped her tears away and reapplied her makeup. When she came back out of the living room, she went to Nico. Even though her makeup was wless as usual, Nico instantly noticed her bloodshot eyes. It was a clear sign that she had been crying a while ago. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, please take care of yourself. You¡¯re the reason Mr. Wright is hanging on right now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not as fragile as you think I am.¡± She then instructed Nico, ¡°Once I¡¯m gone, you should move into Harrick Vi too. Take care of him with Treyton. He¡¯ll definitely be in a bad mood if I¡¯m not around, so help me console him. Also, he probably can¡¯t work in the Federal Bureau of Investigation for now because he can¡¯t see, so I¡¯ll need your help in dealing with Craig. Besides my brothers, no one is allowed to see Cedrick during this time. Not even Old Mr. Jenson.¡± Nico blinked in confusion before asking, ¡°Are you nning to head overseas alone to deal with Charles?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Not intending to hide that from him, Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ming along with you. Think of me as your bodyguard. It shouldn¡¯t be an issue,¡± Nico said without missing a beat. Gwendolyn was taken aback by his statement. ¡°You¡¯re not going to stay by Ceddy¡¯s side? I can see that he thinks of you as a good friend. I¡¯ll only be at ease if you stay here to take care of him.¡± ¡°Yes. I think of him as a brother too, but this trip you¡¯re making is far too dangerous. Mr. Wright will only look forward to the future if you¡¯re alive, so I¡¯m going to keep you safe on his behalf.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows and hesitated. ¡°But Ceddy¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. Mr. Wright will be safe with the Harris brothers. Ms. Harris, please don¡¯t reject me and let mee with you.¡± Ultimately, Gwendolyn gave in and agreed to it. Once everything was settled, Gwendolyn contacted Charles again and bought two tickets for the following day to fly to Jadeborough, the capital of Erihal. O 2/3 Chapter 325 If He Dies At night, when she returned to Cedrick¡¯s ward she found Treyton sitting on the bed at the side, dozing. Gwendolyn tiptoed into the room, but Treyton was a light sleeper. He woke and told her, ¡°He hasn¡¯t woken up yet, but he called your name twice earlier. He¡¯s been having a restless sleep.¡± ¡°Thank you, Treyton. You should go and rest tonight. I¡¯ll keep vigil.¡± Treyton frowned and said, ¡°You have an early flight tomorrow. You should be taking a nap instead of keeping vigil. I¡¯ll be here, so just go and rest.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. Maybe I¡¯ll be able to fall asleep if I stay here with him.¡± ¡°All right. I won¡¯t disturb you then,¡± Treyton said before heading out and closing the door behind him. Cedrick was still sleeping. Despite his unconscious state, his brows were knitted as if he was struggling with something in his sleep. Gwendolyn carefully pulled the nket up to get under it. After shifting him to let him rest on her arm, she gently brushed his frown away. As if he had registered her familiar scent, Cedrick buried himself into her arms, though his frown only deepened even more. Brushing the back of his head, Gwendolyn kissed the spot between his brows and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m here with you. I¡¯ll go to dreand with you.¡± Holding tightly onto the hem of her shirt, he muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­ Don¡¯t agree to Charles¡® request¡­ Don¡¯t marry him, Gwenny, don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. You¡¯re the only one I¡¯ll marry, and you¡¯re the only one I¡¯ll love. My name will only appear on our marriage certificate,¡± she repeated as she pressed her cheek against his forehead. Her familiar scent eventually undid the knot between his brows as he drifted off into a calmer slumber. Still half¨Cleaning against the headboard, Gwendolyn fell asleep as well. A few hourster, Nico came just as the sun rose. He wanted to knock on the door, but he was afraid that the noise would wake Cedrick. If that were to happen, they would not be able to leave. Hence, he silently pushed open the door, only to be greeted by the heartwarming sight of the couple. Unfortunately, he had to wake Gwendolyn up. Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Cedrick Is Awake And Mad He had no choice but to go over and whisper, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, wake up. We have to leave now.¡± +15 Bonus Gwendolyn was sleeping lightly due to the ufortable position. Thus, she was easily awakened by Nico. After giving her sore arms and back a rub, she carefully emerged from underneath the nket with Nico¡¯s help. Just as she put on her slippers and got to her feet, she realized that Cedrick was still holding onto the corner of her sleeve. Cedrick, whom she had settled down on the pillow, was furrowing his brows tightly and groaning. The sight of his boss in such a condition elicited a sigh from the distraught Nico. As for Gwendolyn, Cedrick¡¯s reaction pained her even more. She felt the urge to pull him into her embrace, where she would kiss him and whisper sweet nothings. All she wanted to do was stay by his side forever. Unfortunately, it was gettingte. She and Nico had to rush to the airport to board their flight. When she tried to peel Cedrick¡¯s hands away, she failed to do so despite attempting twice. Thetter¡¯s grip was just too tight. ¡°Gwenny, don¡¯t go and see him. Don¡¯t leave¡­¡± Cedrick repeated stubbornly in his sleep. Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers trembled as she tried to hold back her tears. She didn¡¯t dare pry too forcefully for fear of waking him. Treyton walked in all of a sudden and reminded her, ¡°Kiddo, you¡¯ll miss the flight if you don¡¯t leave now. With me and Kieran around, no harm wille to him.¡± Steeling her heart, Gwendolyn spoke in a calm voice to the sleeping Cedrick. ¡°Ceddy, be good now. I¡¯m not leaving. I¡¯m just going to the bathroom and will be back shortly.¡± The moment she finished, Gwendolyn ignored the presence of the others as she leaned in to give Cedrick a reassuring kiss, filling the room with a passionate air. Stunned by the sight, Nico scratched his nose awkwardly before throwing Treyton a nce. Despite the frown on thetter¡¯s face that clearly demonstrated his displeasure, Treyton didn¡¯t say a word. At the end of the kiss, Cedrick seemingly calmed down and loosened his grip gradually. Gwendolyn seized the opportunity to retract her hand and rece her sleeve with Treyton¡¯s. ¡°Kiddo, what are you- Gwendolyn put a finger on her lips to shush him. Left without a choice, Treyton sat by the bedside with a scowl on his face as he allowed Cedrick to continue gripping his sleeve. 1/4 Chapter 326 Cedrick Is Awake And Mad Right before she left, Gwendolyn gave the man she loved onest look. I will return with the antidote within half a month! Stay safe and wait for me, Ceddy! Upon gathering her thoughts, Gwendolyn left theb with Nico. +15 Bonus The journey from Salinsburgh of Chanaea to Jadeborough of Erihal was a long one that required thirteen hours even on a direct flight. With nothing else to do, both Gwendolyn and Nico got some shuteye on the ne. By the time Cedrick was awake, Gwendolyn had left for more than two to three hours. ¡°Gwenny!¡± When his eyes open abruptly and saw only darkness, Cedrick tightened his grip on the sleeve by reflex. The moment he did, he could quickly tell that the texture of the fabric in his hand was different. It clearly didn¡¯t belong to Gwendolyn. Instead, it felt like a man¡¯s suit. He retracted his hand immediately and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Treyton,¡± Treyton replied in an emotionless tone. ¡°Why are you here? Did she tell all of you about my sickness?¡± Cedrick sat up and leaned back against the headboard. When he felt the sides of the bed with his hands, he noticed that it was a small one. This isn¡¯t Harrick Vi. It feels more like a ward in theb. Seeing no point in lying, Treyton hummed in acknowledgment. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Cedrick¡¯s voice took on a serious tone as he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Gwenny?¡± ¡°She¡­¡± Treyton hesitated briefly before continuing, ¡°She has gone away for a few days to deal with a personal matter.¡± The answer caused Cedrick¡¯s heart to sink and his fists to tighten. ¡°Personal matter? What else can it be other than going to see Charles? She clearly promised me that she would never see him. Never!¡± Losing control of his emotions, Cedrick was brought to the brink of hysteria as he swept his nket aside and got out of bed. Unable to see, he fell heavily toward the ground after missing a step. Treyton was stunned by the sudden turn of events and his first reaction wasn¡¯t to help Cedrick. However, when he pictured Gwendolyn ming him for the bruises Cedrick suffered in her absence, he threw himself forward to grab thetter in the nick of time, ¡°What are you kicking up a fuss for? Didn¡¯t I tell you that it¡¯ll only be for a few days? Who knows, she might be back even earlier than that!¡± r 2/4 Chapter 326 Cedrick Is Awake And Mad ¡°Let go of me!¡± +15 Bonus Despite not being able to see, Cedrick still had his skills with him as he unleashed a devastating palm strike. Treyton was pushed back a few steps by the surprise attack. ¡°Is this how you repay me after taking care of you half the night?¡± ¡°Gwenny! I want to see her right now!¡± With his hands feeling the way in front of him, Cedrick attempted to walk forward barefooted. Unfortunately, he was tripped by a chair before he could get far. ¡°Oh, my God! What the f*ck is this?¡± Treytonmented before saving Cedrick at thest minute again. ¡°Stop being a drama queen, all right? You can¡¯t go out in your current condition. How are you even going to find Gwendolyn?¡± With a darkened expression, Cedrick retorted, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± His response infuriated Treyton. ¡°Fine, you ingrate! Go ahead, then. Let¡¯s see how far you go on your own!¡± It was the middle of winter then. Cedrick¡¯s feet had turned red from the icy floor, while his body was only protected by a thin outfit. In spite of that, he didn¡¯t appear to feel the cold at all. With a determined look on his face, he had only one thing in mind¨Cfind Gwendolyn! The annoyed Treyton stood aside as he watched Cedrick stumbling around in disdain. Nheless, when he noticed how red thetter¡¯s legs were, his heart began to waver. ¡°I just can¡¯t believe this! I¡¯m going put a blind man like you in your ce!¡± With that, Treyton came forward and grabbed Cedrick by the arm. Just as he was about to pull thetter back, Cedrick counterattacked swiftly, igniting a brawl between the two of them. Even though Treyton was a skilled martial artist, he was unable to defeat Cedrick. After all, Treyton was holding back on the ount Cedrick couldn¡¯t see. In contrast to the former¡¯s reservations, Cedrick unleashed his attacks with violent rage. Given that he was going all out and was more skilled than Treyton in the first ce, thetter was put on the defensive and had his right shoulder dislocated. The excruciating pain that stung him caused him to break out in cold sweat. Left without a choice, he called Kieran for help. Only thebined effort of the brothers was enough to subdue the raging Cedrick. After knocking him unconscious, both of them tied his limbs to the four corners of the bed, restoring calm to the room. 3/4 Chapter 326 Cedrick Is Awake And Mad Thereafter, Kieran examined Treyton¡¯s injury and attempted to fix his dislocated shoulder. +15 Bonus Thetter braced himself as Kieran skillfully snapped his shoulder back into ce. Nheless, the huge swelling that remained required some treatment and a couple of days¡® rest. In the meantime, Kieran was outraged that his brother was beaten over nothing. ¡°I¡¯m going to wake him up and teach him a lesson.¡± We might be responsible for watching over Cedrick, but it doesn¡¯t mean that he can run roughshod over us! However, Treyton endured the pain to stop his brother, ¡°Forget it, Kieran. There¡¯s no point in being petty with a sick patient. Besides, I did bully him before, so we¡¯re even now.¡± Back in Faike, he had not only stolen from Cedrick the credit of jumping off Crane Bridge to save Gwendolyn but also locked Cedrick up in a basement where thetter was starved. It wasn¡¯t until he subsequently found out that Cedrick had a high fever that he felt remorseful over his actions. Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Treyton Is Devastated Nevertheless, Kieran didn¡¯tment as indignance continued to rage within him. +15 Bonus He was oblivious to what happened at Faike. All he knew was how his sister suffered for three years after marrying into the Wright family Upon learning that Cedrick was Gwendolyn¡¯s ex¨Chusband, Kieran¡¯s opposition to her current engagement with him was even more intense. Even if Gwendolyn had retaliated to everything Cedrick had done to her earlier, his hatred for his brother¨Cinw would never diminish. Thus, his love for his sister was the only reason he agreed to care for Cedrick. Despite the anger within him, Kieran turned and left withoutment, typical of being a man of few words. A few minutester, he came back with a bunch of tablets and capsules. After leaving them by the bedside table, he poured a ss of water before going off. A Watching Kieran¡¯s leaving silhouette, Treyton sighed to himself, cognizant of how difficult his brother could be. As it was time for Cedrick to take his medication, Treyton had no choice but to wake him. ¡°Gwenny!¡± Jolted awake, Cedrick¡¯s first reflex was to call out to Gwendolyn. Treyton was shaken to see how enamored the former was with his sister. ¡°Cedrick, it¡¯s time for your medication.¡± Treyton softened his tone as he handed Cedrick the ss of water. Although Cedrick was older than him by three years, the fact that the former was engaged to his younger sister made him a junior in the family hierarchy. Thus, addressing Cedrick by his first name was the limit of what he could do. Just as Cedrick struggled to get up, his expression darkened drastically upon realizing that his four limbs were bound. ¡°Let go of me! I want to see Gwenny!¡± His tone was filled with stubborn hostility. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Treyton let out a sigh and exined, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that she isn¡¯t here? Can you just cooperate and take the medicine? Also, stop moving. Kieran has tied you very securely. The more you struggle, the more painful it will be!¡± Unfortunately, his words fell on deaf ears. Cedrick¡¯s eyes continued to burn with rage as hysteria overwhelmed his senses. His fists were clenched so tightly that veins were bulging across his arm, whereas his wrists and ankles were already scratched red from the friction of the ropes. Treyton nted his hand on his forehead as he watched Kieran struggle as if he had gone berserk. ¡°Have you lost your marbles? Why do you torment yourself this way? At the rate you¡¯re going, I¡¯ll lose what¡¯s left of my patience and get Kieran to force¨Cfeed you the medication. Is that really what you want?¡± ¡°Call Gwenny and put her on speaker! I want to hear it from the horse¡¯s mouth!¡± 1/4 wed, Chapter 327 Treyton Is Devastated Call Gwendolyn? Checking his watch, Treyton figured that he couldn¡¯t reach her as she was still on the ne. ¡°I won¡¯t take the medication until I see Gwenny!¡± Cedrick roared. The blood from his bleeding wrist had stained the ropes that held him down. Upon noticing that, Treyton caught his breath in exasperation. 69% +15 Bonus At the rate he¡¯s struggling, there¡¯s no way we can keep him tied over the next few days. If Gwendolyn sees the wounds on him¡­ Treyton smacked his own head repeatedly to vent his frustration from being forced into a corner by Cedrick. He¡¯s such a pain in the *ss! ¡°D*mn it, Cedrick! How am I going to reach Kiddo when she¡¯s on a ne? Besides, she¡¯ll be sad to learn of how you hurt yourself recklessly. I¡¯ll do whatever you want as long as you cooperate, all right?¡± ¡°Why is she on a ne? Where is she going?¡± ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± An idea popped into Treyton¡¯s head. ¡°If you stop struggling, I¡¯ll untie you and tell you where she went. How about that?¡± Upon hearing that, Cedrick calmed down abruptly, his heaving chest the proof of his hysterical behavior earlier. Treyton, too, heaved a sigh of relief. I guess the only way to control him is through anything rted to Gwendolyn. ¡°Don¡¯t move a muscle, all right? I¡¯m going to free you now. If you kick up a fuss or fight with me after that I¡¯m not going to tell you what you want to know!¡± Just as expected, Cedrick cooperated with the threat looming over his head. Amidst his silence, he lowered his abyss¨Clike eyes, while the pale look on his handsome face was a testament to his sickly condition. After untying Cedrick¡¯s bonds, Treyton applied alcohol to his wounds to sterilize them. The moment the alcohol made contact, a stinging pain shot through Cedrick¡¯s body. The fact that he couldn¡¯t see amplified the pain manifold, In spite of that, he only furrowed his brows tightly and didn¡¯t even let out a groan. If it wasn¡¯t for Cedrick¡¯s trembling fingers, Treyton would have assumed that the virus had numbed the former¡¯s nerves. ¡°It hurts, doesn¡¯t it? That means you¡¯re still alive. As a sick patient, can¡¯t you just behave like one for once?¡± Treyton nagged with a grim voice while bandaging Cedrick¡¯s wounds. Instead ofing back with a retort, the emotionless Cedrick asked, ¡°Where did Gwenny go?¡± ¡°She went overseas,¡± Treyton replied concisely. 2/4 Chapter 327 Treyton Is Devastated +15 Bonus ¡°Overseas?¡± Cedrick sat up and leaned against the headboard. ¡°Why did she have to go so far? What is she nning to do?¡± ¡°Do you still want to know?¡± Treyton cocked a brow. Cedrick nodded. The gradual return of his senses helped him recover hisposure. Treyton continued manipting him, ¡°Since you¡¯re interested, take the medicine as you should. I¡¯ll only tell you if you stay calm the entire day.¡± He then handed Cedrick the medication and capsules before stuffing the ss of water into thetter¡¯s right hand. ¡°Take this and don¡¯t spill it.¡± Without any hesitation, Cedrick popped more than ten pills into his mouth and downed them with the water in his hand. His taste buds were suddenly saturated with bitterness so intense that his face lost all color. In fact, he had to desperately stop himself from retching quite a few times. His attempts to hide his difort didn¡¯t escape Treyton who responded with a frown. ¡°Is it really that bitter?¡± No sooner had he spoken than he realized that it was Kieran¡¯s doing. After all, despite being a man of few words who kept to himself, Kieran was a genius when it came to medicine. On top of that, he was someone who was even more vengeful than Asher. When Treyton recalled Gwendolyn¡¯s instructions, he was filled with guilt, Treyton pulled out a caramel sweet from his pocket and ced it in Cedrick¡¯s hand. ¡°Kiddo gave this to me. She told me that this vor is your favorite and she has bought a lot of it. I¡¯m to give you one every time you take your medication. Anyway, I¡¯ve now fulfilled the responsibility entrusted to me. It¡¯s up to you whether you want to take it.¡± Truth be told, Treyton couldn¡¯t understand how a twenty¨Ceight¨Cyear¨Cold man who was the head of the Jenson family liked to eat caramel sweets. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s a child anymore. I just can¡¯t believe this. Holding the sweet in his hand, Cedrick rubbed the wrapper between his long fingers. His expression gradually turned gentle, while his previous rage was nowhere to be seen. Once his fingers reached the edge, he tore the wrapper open and popped the sweet into his mouth without saying a word. The familiar milky scent that filled his mouth brought him back to the night when Gwendolyn fed him his medication with her mouth. It was only one month ago when they were living out their days blissfully. Noticing how Cedrick¡¯s eyes had turned red, Treyton asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong now? Does it taste bad, or are you experiencing pain somewhere?¡± Cedrick had no intention to exin, so he simply lowered his gaze with a depressing look in his eyes. Thereafter, Treyton reminded him, ¡°The wounds on your wrists are your own doing, so don¡¯t me me 3/4 12:14 Wed, Jun 7 Lo Chapter 327 Treyton Is Devastated 69% +15 Bonus for them when Kiddo returns. Let¡¯s not forget how you beat me up just now. My right shoulder is still hurting at this very moment.¡± Cedrick then pulled his nket over his head and turned away from Treyton. ¡°I would like to be alone.¡± Thetter got to his feet before asking, ¡°Fine. What would you like for breakfast? I¡¯ll bring it in an hour later.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Cedrick closed his eyes whileying on his side. ¡°No, you have to eat something. Do you want to know what Kiddo is up to or not?¡± Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Is He An Illegitimate Son Of The Royal Family Displeased, Cedrick gritted his teeth viciously and spat, ¡°The one thing I hate the most is being threatened, Treyton!¡± +15 Bonus ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to threaten you. It¡¯s just an exchange of conditions. If you¡¯re not interested in Kiddo, you can just refuse to eat the breakfast that I bring over,¡± said Treyton. For some reason, Treyton¡¯s anger faded slightly at the thought that her sister was the love of Cedrick¡¯s life. With a deep, charismatic voice, he continued, ¡°But in that case, I won¡¯t tell you anything about Kiddo. If you want to find out, you¡¯ll have to listen to me! As for breakfast, I¡¯ll just take matters into my own hands if you don¡¯t have any dietary restrictions.¡± Cedrick did not respond. Treyton raised an eyebrow. ¡°If you don¡¯t object, I¡¯ll take it as you¡¯ve agreed.¡± What a brat! Did he really think that I can¡¯t handle him? ¡°I have never personally taken care of anyone like this except for Kiddo. Just be happy.¡± When the door of the hospital ward closed, Cedrick curled into a ball and buried his head into his nket, fuming alone. The minute Treyton came out of the ward, he received a call from Jennifer. His deep voice instantly softened when he answered the phone. ¡°Did you miss me? You didn¡¯t have any work today?¡± ¡°Yeah, I couldn¡¯t sleepst night because you weren¡¯t here. I wanted to see you before going to work,¡± said Jennifer in a mncholic tone. Worried, she continued, ¡°How are things on your end? I¡¯m currently at theboratory entrance, but the security won¡¯t let me in.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go and get you.¡± Treyton strode quickly. He immediately saw Jennifer when he reached the entrance. Jennifer was wearing a gown for her shootter that evening. There was a fur¨Clined cloak draped over her arm. The outfit, when contrasted with her innocent and cute face, made her look exceptionally beautiful. She exuded a different style from Gwendolyn¡¯s seductive allure and arrogance. ¡°It¡¯s so cold. Why didn¡¯t you wear more clothes beforeing out?¡± Treyton immediately took off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders before rubbing her palms to warm them up. Jennifer felt touched. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not cold. How is Cedrick doing? Did Gwendolyn say when she¡¯ll be back?¡± ¡°He¡¯s really a pain in the *ss, but it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve already found a way to deal with him. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t go back to the vi during this time. Take care of yourself, okay? Kiddo didn¡¯t say when she¡¯ll return either. I¡¯ll keep youpany at the vi whenever I¡¯m free.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll juste and see you when I miss you. Cedrick¡¯s situation is the important thing here. You 1/4 Chapter 328 Is He An Illegitimate Son Of The Royal Family +15 Bonus must take good care of him for Gwendolyn,¡± assured Jennifer with a gentle smile as she stroked Treyton¡¯s face. Treyton furrowed his brows, feeling a bit jealous. ¡°You keep mentioning Cedrick. Don¡¯t you care about how I¡¯m doing?¡± Even though he had been hit by Cedrick, Jennife his shoulder hurt even more now. did any concern about him. For some reason, not show ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I like you the most!¡± Jennifer immediately cupped his face with both her hands, then stood on her tiptoes, and gently kissed his cheek. However, her high spirits dampened when she thought about Gwendolyn. ¡°I just think that Gwendolyn and Cedrick are very pitiful. If I were her, I can¡¯t imagine how devastated I would be. Although she¡¯s much stronger than me, this also means that she has to shoulder a greater burden. My heart really aches for her.¡± Treyton tightened his arm around her waist. ¡°It will be fine. Everything will be okay. We will all be healthy and well.¡± She nodded. ¡°Now that Gwendolyn is not around, Cedrick must be feeling really bad. Be more amodating to him and don¡¯t bully him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s sick. Do you think I¡¯ll be petty with him?¡± Treyton became even more aggrieved. This is a horrible job! Moreover, it¡¯s clearly Cedrick who¡¯s kicking up a fuss and bullying me! However, since he did not want to worry Jennifer, he did not mention that he had been injured. Over ten hours passed by slowly. Finally, Nico and Gwendolyn got off the ne. Jadeborough, the capital of Epea and Alendor, was extremely far away from Chanaca, with a time difference of more than ten hours. When it was daytime, it was night at Chanaca. When she arrived at the airport, she met the bodyguard who was supposed to pick her up before she could even call her brother. The person, who had fair skin and a tall build, was wearing a pair of sunsses. He walked over politely and bowed at Gwendolyn. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you Ms. Gwendolyn from Salinsburgh, Chanaea?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows, surprised that he was speaking such fluent Chanaean. However, she did not reveal any expressions other than that. The bodyguard bowed and politely invited her to proceed. ¡°You can call me Jonah, Ms. Gwendolyn. Please follow me. Your amodations have been arranged by my master. You must be tired from the journey, so please rest well for the remaining day,¡± Gwendolyn did not want to waste any more time. ¡°Where is Charles? I want to see him right away.¡± Bodyguard looked slightly stunned. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with this particr Mr. Charles. I was sent here to receive you by my master, Mr. Lund.¡± ||| 2/4 Chapter 328 Is He An Illegitimate Son Of The Royal Family ¡°Lund?¡± Gwendolyn snorted coldly. ¡°What on earth is he up to now?¡± ¡°His full name is Vidar Lund.¡± Gwendolyn frowned. Since she had a strong aversion to anything rted to Charles. she snapped, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in knowing his absurd name! Just tell him that Gwendolyn Harris is here. I want to see him today!¡± ¡°Understood. Ms. Gwendolyn, please, follow me to your amodation to rest. I will convey your intentions to Mr. Lund.¡± Gwendolyn followed him without saying a word. +15 Bonus While following behind quietly, Nico secretly searched for thest name Lund on his phone. He discovered that thest name was not simple at all¨Cit was actually thest name shared by Epea and Alendor¡¯s royal family. Gwendolyn had mentioned on the ne that Charles¡® mother¡¯s name was Kylie. Could it be that Charles has adopted her mother¡¯sst name? Is her name Kylie Lund? Nico immediately searched it up on the dark and discovered that there was indeed a woman called Kylie Lund in Epea and Alendor¡¯s royal family. In fact, she came from a distinguished background she was the king¡¯s older sister and was bestowed the title of the crown princess. However, the information reflected that she already had a husband. That made Charles¡® identity ambiguous. Is he the crown princess¡® illegitimate son? While he pondered over it carefully, he subconsciously followed Gwendolyn and Jonah to the airport parking lot, where a long ck Bentley awaited them. Before getting into the car, Jonah noticed the man behind Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, is he with you?¡± Gwendolyn nced at Nico. ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s my bodyguard.¡± Jonah said hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Gwendolyn. Master instructed us to only pick you up. Everyone else will not be received by us.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a bodyguard. Or is your master up to no good?¡± Gwendolyn tried to reason with him. ¡°I¡¯m a woman who traveled all the way to Epea and Alendor. If I can¡¯t even bring a bodyguard, won¡¯t my safety be severelypromised?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Call your ¡°If you don¡¯t have the authority to make the decision, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. master and seek his approval. If he doesn¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll buy a ne ticket back to Chanaea right away! He¡¯s the one who wants to marry me in a foreignnd. Is this his attitude about wanting to marry me?¡± Gwendolyn folded her hands elegantly, her tone firm and unwavering. With his head lowered, Nico silently gave her a thumbs up. As expected, Ms. Gwendolyn is so domineering! She will never let herself be at a disadvantage. O 3/4 Chapter 328 Is He An Illegitimate Son Of The Royal Family Jonah bowed repeatedly and said, ¡°Please wait a moment, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± He took out his phone from the pocket of his trousers and quickly dialed a number. Then, he softly ryed Gwendolyn¡¯s message to the person on the other end of the line. +15 Bonus A minuteter, he respectfully bowed to Gwendolyn again and opened the car door for her. ¡°Master has agreed, Ms. Gwendolyn. Please get into the car.¡± The car drove to the suburbs half an hourter and stopped in front of a grand mansion. Jonah invited Gwendolyn in. ¡°There will be a dedicated chef to serve lunch for you and your bodyguard. For the remaining time, you can explore the area or rest for a while. However, please do not leave the premises.¡± While Gwendolyn remained expressionless, Nico asked, ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯re going to restrict our freedom?¡± O Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Chapter 329 More Difficult Than She Had Imagined +15 Bonus Rather than arguing with her, Jonah provided an exnation. ¡°It¡¯s your first time in Jadeborough, and you¡¯re unfamiliar with the area. Mr. Lund merely wants to ensure your safety, Ms. Harris.¡± Gwendolyn gave up trying to head out. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to stroll around, let alone get to know Erihal better. Her immediate concern was when Charles would arrive. ¡°When can I expect to meet your master?¡± she inquired. ¡°I believe Mr. Lund will be here by the time you finish your lunch,¡± Jonah told her. He then nced at the two foreign bodyguards behind him, who stepped forward to search Nico¡¯s body. Nico tensed up warily. ¡°What do you want?¡± Gwendolyn took one step forward to block Nico before demanding, ¡°What is this about? Does he not trust me? Is he afraid I will do something that could harm Erihal?¡± Jonah exined, ¡°Ms. Harris, I hope you and your bodyguard will cooperate with us. Now that you¡¯ve arrived in Erihal, we must check if you are in possession of restricted weapons and firearms.¡± has been checked before we boarded the ne. This is unnecessary,¡± Gwendolyn snapped coldly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but please cooperate with us. Jonah didn¡¯t bother exining anymore as the two bodyguards stepped forward to search their bodies. They dared noty a hand on Gwendolyn as she was of the opposite sex, so they got a down. got a maid to pat her Naturally, they didn¡¯t find anything. After ordering their suitcases to be opened, Jonah discovered a intricate ne model in Gwendolyn¡¯s suitcase. As he was about to bend down and pick it up for closer inspection, Gwendolyn snapped, ¡°Be careful! That¡¯s a toy my brother gave me. It¡¯s quite valuable. If you break it, even your employer wouldn¡¯t be able topensate me, let alone you!¡± Jonah halted in his tracks and was forced to retract his hand. After searching their suitcases and making sure there weren¡¯t any dangerous items, Jonah ordered the bodyguards to retrieve allmunication devices. All electronic devices, includingptops, Bluetooth earphones, recording pens, and any other electronic devices were confiscated. In the end, he even requested to confiscate Gwendolyn and Nico¡¯s phones, as well as Nico¡¯s electronic watch. Gwendolyn¡¯s patience wore thin, and she red at him furiously. ¡°Taking away my phone leaves me feeling insecure. Isn¡¯t this going too far?¡± Jonah remained unfazed. He gave her a polite bow and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Ms. Harris, but we¡¯re merely following orders. You can pose that question to Mr. Lund when he shows upter.¡± ¡°Get out. I want to rest now.¡± III Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. 1/4 Chapter 329 More Difficult Than She Had Imagined As they refused to budge, she didn¡¯t bother being nice to them and told Nico to kick them all out. Nico then mmed the door shut. They silently stood behind the thin white curtains, observing the situation outside. +15 Bonus Outside the apartment, Jonah left two bodyguards to keep watch before leaving in the Bentley alone. Besides the bodyguards, there was also a maid sweeping the courtyard. When Gwendolyn was busy observing the people outside, Nico got to work. He skillfully checked below the tables, the corners of the bed, the tops of the lights, and the vases, eventually discovering three small listening devices. Carefully, he ced them on the coffee table. After surveying their surroundings, Gwendolyn closed and locked the window. Heading to the couch, she took a seat and picked up a listening device. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s resorting to such tricks. He¡¯s even bugging my room! What a p*rvert. He¡¯s nothing but scum!¡± Gwendolyn dered angrily, tossing the listening device away with force. Nico stopped her and retrieved the listening device. ¡°Don¡¯t throw it away just yet. I remember where they were nted. After we finish talking, I¡¯ll put them back. Charles is smart but paranoid. Even if you try reasoning with him, and he agrees to stop bugging our room, he might find a way to continue spying on us in secret behind our backs,¡± Nico advised. Gwendolyn nodded and calmly gathered her thoughts. ¡°Open the suitcase and find out how many things they confiscated.¡± Nico immediately brought her suitcase over. The bodyguards were thorough and careful. They confiscated everything except for the ne model Asher gifted her a while ago. Previously, Gwendolyn had underestimated the significance of the ne and had paid little attention to it. However, a few days ago, she discovered that it was actually a mini bomb capable of detonating under certain conditions. The shell of the ne model was constructed from a special material that could evade detection during security checks. This feat was easily aplished by Asher as he was known as the world¡¯s best pilot. Gwendolyn gently rubbed her emerald ring and frowned, falling into deep thought. Nico sighed. ¡°Other than the two weapons provided by Mr. Asher and Mr. Kieran, we don¡¯t have anything else. I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to get the antidote by force. Without anymunication devices, we¡¯ve lost all contact with Chanaea. Ms. Gwendolyn, what¡¯s your n?¡± Gwendolyn fell silent for a long while. The trip was more difficult than she had imagined. Nevertheless, she was not one to back down when faced with difficulties. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be scared. Now that we¡¯re here, we¡¯ll make further arrangements after meeting Charles.¡± ´¨ O 2/4 Chapter 329 More Difficult Than She Had Imagined +15 Bonus Nico nodded and proceeded to share with her the details he had gathered about the royal family of Erihal during their journey. At the same time, night fell upon Salinsburgh, Chanaca, casting a shroud of darkness over the city and bringing about a tranquil stillness. Craig¡¯s office in the Federal Bureau of Investigation was brightly lit. ¡°Mr. Craig, Mr. Jenson has returned to the Jenson residence this afternoon, apanied by Mr. Kieran and Mr. Treyton from the Harris family¡­¡± d in his military uniform, Craig sat on his seat and listened to the report while smoking his cigar. ¡°The Harris boys followed him to the Jenson residence? Did any of them get off the car along the journey?¡± His subordinate replied honestly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange.¡± Craig put out his cigar nonchntly as he pondered over the matter. ¡°What about Cedrick when he left theb?¡± ¡°He was wearing a ck fur coat and sunsses, looking intimidating and handsome and usual.¡± Craig furrowed his brows and tapped on the desk impatiently. ¡°I mean, his condition!¡± His subordinate trembled profusely as he tried to recall the scenario. ¡°Mr. Treyton was helping him, and they were walking briskly. Mr. Jenson appeared to be in good condition.¡± ¡°Help?¡± Craig swiftly caught the main point. A smile crept across his face as he ordered, ¡°The more ordinary it appears, the more suspicious he is! Keep monitoring them closely. Dispatch a team to the Jenson residence under the pretext of delivering the monthly mission report. Try to arrange a meeting with him and gather information about his condition.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Craig.¡± After his subordinate left, Craig put off his cigar as his gaze turned dark. Back at Harrick Vi, Treyton woke up in the middle of the night and got worried about Cedrick. Hence, he went to the master bedroom to check on thetter. Yawning, he rubbed his eyes groggily and scanned the room. Through the faint moonlight filtering in from the window, he noticed the bed in the master bedroom was empty. ¡°Cedrick?¡± He jolted awake and turned on the lights to see Cedrick sitting on the balcony. Thetter remained. unmoving, wearing only a thin nightshirt. ¡°What the f*ck? Why are you here watching the moon instead of sleeping? It¡¯ste at night!¡± It¡¯s winter, and the moon is nowhere to be seen. He can¡¯t even see anything! Taiping down his anger, Treyton grabbed a cozy and thick bathrobe from the rack and strode out to put it over Cedrick. His lips had turned purple, matching the chilling cold that permeated his body. Yet, his expression ||| ? 3/4 Chapter 329 More Difficult Than She Had Imagined remained detached, as if he had grown numb to the frigid surroundings. If he wasn¡¯t blinking asionally, Treyton would¡¯ve thought he was dead. The more he pondered over Cedrick¡¯s actions, the more furious he got. +15 Bonus ¡°Cedrick, if there¡¯s an award for the most annoying person, you¡¯ll definitely win it! You¡¯re seriously the bane of my life. I regret agreeing to take care of you!¡± Cedrick was gazing at the sky despite not being able to see anything. Ignoring Treyton¡¯s fury, he stretched his fingers out of the balcony and took in the His voice was hoarse and weak as he asked, ¡°Is it snowing out there?¡± Treyton rolled his eyes in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s three in the morning! I can¡¯t believe you in the mood to enjoy the snow out here.¡± Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Snowy Day Cedrick paid no heed to his grumbles and continued, ¡°Has the snow piled up on the ground?¡± 69 40+15 Bonus Having been brushed off, Treyton had no outlet to vent his mounting frustration. He cast an impatient nce at the garden, where heavy snowkes were falling relentlessly. ¡°It just started showing tonight, so the snow hasn¡¯t piled up on the ground yet. But it has piled up on the leaves, though.¡± Cedrick listened to him quietly and painted the snowy image in his brain. A half smile nudged his lips a he asked, ¡°Is it pretty?¡± Illuminated by the streetmp, the snowy scene in the garden was a pretty sight. However, Treyton wasn¡¯t in the mood to enjoy the scene. He was nodding off and wanted nothing than to bury himself in his bed. more Nevertheless, Cedrick seemed enthusiastic and reached out to catch the snowkes. ¡°Is it also snowing at Erihal? Is Gwenny enjoying the snow just like me?¡± Oh, he¡¯s missing Kiddo. Moved, Treyton let out a sigh without saying anything. ¡°We¡¯re gazing at the same sky. Does she realize I¡¯m longing for her? I miss her dearly. Truly, I do¡­¡± Cedrick¡¯s voice quivered, weakened by the biting cold. It was impossible to determine how long he had endured the chilly wind. However, his eyes which had lost focus seemed to sparkle when he expressed his longing for Gwendolyn.. Treyton was a little moved after witnessing Cedrick¡¯s plight, and his tone softened. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the same sky, but it should be morning where she is. If she learns that you ventured out at night and fell ill, she¡¯ll be upset. You must prioritize your well¨Cbeing and seek treatment until she returns. Let me help you to your room. Later, I¡¯ll bring you a cup of hot tea to help warm you up. If you fall ill tomorrow, Kieran and I will have to take care of you. Kiddo will also worry about you.¡± Cedrick was still focused on feeling the snowke in his palm and continued asking, ¡°You told me this morning that she won¡¯t marry Charles to get the antidote. Does that still count?¡± Well¡­ Treyton wasn¡¯t sure about that, but he had to lic to cate Cedrick.. ¡°Absolutely. Kiddo assured me that she has a foolproof n to acquire the antidote. She will return within two weeks. Plus, Nico has gone her. He has received extensive training from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for many years, so we can trust him.¡± Hearing that, Cedrick felt much better. Nico¡¯s with Gwenny. He will risk his life to protect her. I hope they will make it back safely. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go back to the bedroom.¡± Treyton held his arm and led him back to the bedroom. After turning downstairs to prepare some ginger tea. heater on, he then went Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Jadeborough in Erihal, Gwendolyn found it difficult to adjust to the local 1/3 Chapter 330 Snowy Day Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. cuisine and could only manage a few bites of the lunch prepared by the cook, +15 Bonus The temperature took a sudden plunge in the afternoon, and within moments, heavy snowfall nketed the courtyard, transforming it into a picturesque winter wondend. Being on the outskirts provided an unobstructed view, amplifying the beauty of the snowy scene. Gwendolyn enjoyed the snowy scene by the window and soon spaced out. Nico approached and handed her a thick cape, then proceeded to close the windows. ¡°The temperature here is colder than in Chanaea, so please make sure youyer up, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t refuse his offer and pulled the cape around her. She had an important mission to aplish, so she needed to take good care of herself and couldn¡¯t afford to fall sick. Noticing the sadness in her expression, Nico asked in a gentle tone, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, do you miss Boss?¡± Gwendolyn bobbed her head, her eyes fixed on the snowyndscape outside. ¡°The view is breathtaking. I was thinking of taking a photo to show him once we¡¯re back, but then I remembered our phones were confiscated. Besides, he can¡¯t see anything right now.¡± Nico felt his heart being squeezed. He felt a pang of sadness seeing Gwendolyn¡¯s disappointed expression. He could barely imagine how she was coping right now. A tense atmosphere filled the room after their conversation, apanied by a subtle undercurrent of sadness. Nico wanted to console her but had no idea what to say. Finally, the silence was broken by a knock on the door. They quickly regained their senses. Gwendolyn nced at the listening devices on the table. Understanding Gwendolyn¡¯s silent message, Nico carefully returned the listening devices to their original hiding spots. He then retreated to his room upstairs, locking the door behind him. The person outside began pounding on the door anxiously. Calmly, Gwendolyn got up to open the door. The door swung open, revealing a man dressed in a luxurious fur coat. His once worn¨Cout face had regained its refined appearance, no longer bearing the marks of his time in the high¨Csecurity prison. His eyes sparkled as he shed a charming smile, adding to his undeniable charm that surpassed even that of a woman. His body was covered in snow, and it seemed that he had made his way over hastily. If Gwendolyn had seen him seven years ago, she would undeniably be in awe of his handsome face. However, Charles¡® handsome appearance did nothing to diminish the pure disgust she felt for him. ? 2/3 Chapter 330 Snowy Day +15 Bonus ¡°West met a week ago, and you¡¯re now all dressed up, huh? s, your pretty looks can¡¯t conceal your vile heart, you filthy animal,¡± she sneered. Charles wasn¡¯t mad at all despite getting mocked. In fact, he was beaming. ¡°Oh Gwen, you¡¯re such a sweet talker. It¡¯s been a while since west met, but you¡¯re still as stunning as ever. No wonder I¡¯m head over heels in love with you,¡± he told her earnestly. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned frosty as she turned to stare at the snow outside, paying no heed to his frivolity. Charles entered the living room with a casual demeanor. He unbuttoned his coat and casually threw it onto the couch. ¡°Are you settling in well here? Did you enjoy lunch? If the cook¡¯s cooking style doesn¡¯t suit your taste, I can arrange for a different one,¡± he remarked. Gwendolyn settled on the couch across from him and poured herself some coffee. ¡°You¡¯re the one who disgusts me. Why don¡¯t you end your life with a knife?¡± ¡°If I die, how am I going to save you? You also won¡¯t get the antidote for the poison, and Cedrick will die. Well, my life is quite valuable, isn¡¯t it?¡± Gwendolyn was utterly repelled by Charles¡® statement. ¡°I now realize that you¡¯re nothing more than a beast. I should have seen it when you taught me how to shoot. Back then, I should have aimed and shot you dead,¡± she dered, her voice filled with anger. Charles chuckled upon hearing her words. ¡°Oh, Gwen, you¡¯re truly adorable. My love for you only intensifies with each passing day. I believe our married life will be incredibly interesting!¡± he eximed with enthusiasm. He fixed his icy blue eyes upon Gwendolyn. *** Gwendolyn refused to waste time with him. ¡°I¡¯m here now. When will you give me Super Antiviral?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush. You should spend a few days getting used to the surroundings. We¡¯ll register our marriage, then hold our wedding. On the day we consummate our wedding, I¡¯ll hand the antidote to you personally.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn balled her fists up beneath her cape. Consummate our wedding? I think I¡¯ll puke even if he touches my hair. I¡¯d rather drag him to hell than sleep with him. Biting back the urge to kill him immediately, Gwendolyn forced herself to calm down and let out an icy snort. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re not confident of getting the antidote. Beforeing here, I asked around and learned that it belongs to the royal family. There is only one in Erihal. Why would the king give it to you?¡± Chapter 331 Chapter 331 Chapter 331 The Favorite Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Charles stopped sipping on his coffee abruptly. His longshes concealed his eyes and emotions. +15 Bonus Gwendolyn pretended not to notice his displeasure and continued provoking him. ¡°In Chanaea, you¡¯re just the fourth son of the influential Newton family. But here, who are you? Why should I trust that you can get me the antidote?¡± Charles sipped on his coffee calmly before putting his coffee cup down. ¡°I¡¯m nothing here, but my mother is the crown princess of the country.¡± Gwendolyn was startled to hear his answer. She assumed he would hide his identity instead of revealing it to her honestly. He continued, ¡°You¡¯ve just arrived, so you don¡¯t know the situation in Erihal well. My mother is the only elder sister of the king, and she¡¯s well¨Crespected here. As she had never participated in my upbringing, she feels guilty and promises to fulfill a wish of mine. It is pretty easy for me to get the antidote.¡± Gwendolyn analyzed the situation calmly. ¡°Your mother refused to return to Chanaca with your father and marry him. Was it because she was the crown princess and couldn¡¯t leave?¡± Charles¡® expression grew stern. ¡°No, she was already engaged to marry someone else back then.¡± Realization dawned on Gwendolyn. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, your mother must have been married and had children with her husband. She can make you a promise, but I doubt her husband would agree to it if he found out.¡± Charles scowled unhappily. ¡°I told you my identity because you¡¯ll marry me one day, so I want to be honest with you. If you insist on questioning me further and intend to sow discord, I don¡¯t think we should continue talking about it.¡± He got mad already? Gwendolyn was surprised to hear that. It looks like Charles isn¡¯t on good terms with the crown princess¡® husband. Perhaps there is where I should start. ¡°If you refuse to answer me, forget it.¡± Gwendolyn quickly changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to a real Epean¨Cstyle pce. I¡¯m curious to see what it¡¯s like. It¡¯s quite boring to stay here, so when will you be avable to show me around?¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Charles agreed. ¡°You must be tired after the ne ride, so get some rest. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll arrange for you to visit the pce and meet my mother. Ever since she learned about our uing marriage, she¡¯s been eager to meet you.¡± Feeling repulsed by his constant talk about marriage, Gwendolyn abruptly asked him to leave. ¡°It¡¯ste, and I think you should be off. I won¡¯t ask you to stay for dinner.¡± ¡°Yes, I do need to leave. You know me well, Gwen!¡± Charles smirked and picked up his coat. ¡°Have a good rest tonight, and I¡¯ll see you tomorrow. Oh, by the way, remember to call me Vidar Lund here.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t bother to reply or get up to see him out. 1/4 Thu, 8 Jun Chapter 331 The Favorite Charles wasn¡¯t expecting her to do so. He spun on his heels and headed to the door. +15 Bonus Suddenly, he recalled something and turned over his shoulder curiously. ¡°Jonah told me you brought a bodyguard with you. We¡¯ve been chatting for a while, but he hasn¡¯t shown up. Where is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not ustomed to the climate here, being his first trip overseas. He¡¯s been experiencing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea all day, so he¡¯s currently resting in his room,¡± she exined. Charles nodded as he thought of something. Gwendolyn poured herself some coffee and looked up to realize Charles was still around. In fact, he was standing right in front of her. Confused, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Do you want some coffee?¡± Charles chuckled aloud and pointed at his left cheek. ¡°Before leaving, I¡¯d like to get a kiss from you.¡± Gwendolyn pinned him with a withering stare as fury zed in her chest. Without hesitation, she flung the contents of her coffee cup onto his face.. ¡°Does that wake you up? I have a whole pot of coffee here if that isn¡¯t enough! I can also boil a pot of hot water to wash your face!¡± she snapped. Instead of getting furious, Charles seemed to be enjoying it. ¡°The coffee you drank smells great instead!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯sst shred of sanity was about to break under his constant frivolous words. She dug her nails into her palms and hollered, ¡°Scram!¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Charles quickly grabbed some napkins to wipe away the coffee from his face before walking away, appearing somewhat satisfied. ¡°Gwen, you¡¯re a hot¨Ctempered beauty, huh? My love for you only intensifies with each passing day!¡± he proimed with a haughtyugh. After he opened the door, he strode out of the house. ¡°Charles Newton, you¡¯re nothing but a p*rvert!¡± Gwendolyn growled between gritted teeth./ She tossed her coffee cup at the door, but Charles happened to close the door and didn¡¯t get hit. The cup crashed onto the door and broke into pieces upon impact. Soon, the sound of the car engine was heard, and Charles¡®ughter faded away Gwendolyn summoned the maid Charles assigned to her. ¡°Rece the couch covers and the coffee set. Clean every nook and cranny of the living room thoroughly. I want you to get rid of the disgusting stench belonging to your Mr. Lund!¡± The maid was taken aback by the request, as she hadn¡¯t anticipated that the reason for cleaning the house was due to Gwendolyn¡¯s dislike for her employer. After giving that order, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t feel like staying in the living room. She zoomed upstairs and knocked on Nico¡¯s door. 2/4 Chapter 331 The Favorite +15 Bonus The maid was downstairs, so she deliberately said loudly, ¡°It¡¯s me. Are you feeling better? Let me check on you since you can¡¯t get used to the climate here.¡± The door was opened. A man¡¯s weak voice rang out. ¡°Come in, Ms. Gwendolyn. I puked twice a while ago.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. I¡¯m heading to the pce with Mr. Lund tomorrow. If you¡¯re ill, how are you going to protect me?¡± Their conversation cut off abruptly as the door was shut. Turning around, the maid focused on clearing the broken cup pieces and cleaning the living room. Upstairs, Nico gestured for Gwendolyn to remain quiet as he locked the door carefully and switched off the listening devices beneath his bed. After doing that, he asked softly, ¡°You¡¯re going to the pce tomorrow? Do you have a n in mind?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll go check the pce out. You will have to¡­¡± They began dividing their workload for tomorrow. The following day, a hacking cough could be heard from the master bedroom at Harrick Vi. Despite drinking ginger teast night, Cedrick still caught a cold. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Treyton applied a cooling patch to his forehead whileining, ¡°Cedrick, you¡¯re such a delicate person. The Harris boys are here to take care of you when you¡¯re sick. It seems like you¡¯re our favorite, huh?¡± Clenching his jaw in frustration, Treyton red at the man standing at the end of the bed. There were dark circles around his eyes, showing that he didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. Asher was leaning on the wall at the end of the bed, his expression dark. There was a dangerous air about him. Kieran stood with his back to the bed, facing Gwendolyn¡¯s dressing table. He had removed her makeup products and reced them with his drugs. He was focused on formting the medicine, his face devoid of emotions. The room resonated with Asher¡¯s anger, apanied by Cedrick¡¯s incessant coughs. Asher soon broke the silence. ¡°Cedrick, you¡¯re getting more annoying by the day. If it wasn¡¯t for Kiddo, I would¡¯ve killed you ages ago!¡± As Cedrick coughed, he chuckled aloud. ¡°Do you need me to hand you a knife? You can kill me now. Do you have the guts to do that?¡± he sneered. Fury tore through Asher when he heard Cedrick¡¯s provoking words. He spun on his heels and strode out of the room looking angry. Thinking he had departed in a fit of anger, Treyton muttered under his breath, ¡°Why did you have to say that? Do you want your brother¨Cinw to turn against your rtionship?¡± Cedrick continued coughing and said nothing. Barely two minutester, Asher returned with a feather duster which he got from the living room. His eyes red with anger as he dered, ¡°I can¡¯t kill you, but that won¡¯t stop me from beating you up to vent my fury!¡± Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Bullied Cedrick +15 Bonus When Asher came in with a feather duster in hand, Kieran peeked at the terrifying weapon and remained calm, seemingly approving of the former¡¯s behavior. On the contrary, Treyton was startled and immediately stood up to stop Asher. ¡°Asher, you can¡¯t hit him! He¡¯s weak now because of his fever. You¡¯re all worked up now and might lose control of yourself. What if you identally kill him? What will you tell Kiddo when she¡¯s back?¡± Regardless of the circumstances, Gwendolyn was always an effective shield. At the mention of her name, Asher regained his rationality. Nevertheless, he did not put the duster down. Cedrick, lying on the bed, spoke up just then. ¡°Considering the grudges between us, it¡¯s pointless to beat me up and vent your anger. If you have the guts, you should beat me to death straight away,¡± he provoked. The rage within Asher burned more vehemently than ever before. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll give you what you want. I¡¯ll see to it to kill you today!¡± he snapped. ¡°Asher, no! Calm down! He¡¯s a patient. Just treat him as someone who lost his mind from high fever. Don¡¯t bother with him!¡± Treyton blocked Asher with all his might while turning his head around to shoot Cedrick a re in frustration. ¡°Will it kill you to keep your mouth shut? You¡¯re so annoying even I feel like hitting you!¡± Cedrick did not respond. He and Asher were not onlypetitors but also enemies. Thetter had even sent someone to assassinate him in Lightspring before, causing him to suffer heavy injuries. By the time Cedrick returned, Gwendolyn had acquired Wright Construction Group. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Gwendolyn was between them, Cedrick would have fought Asher for real. He only held back because he didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for Gwendolyn. Now that Cedrick was sick, Asher even visited to mock him. Since Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t around, Cedrick didn¡¯t have to put on a nice front. Thanks to Treyton¡¯s interference, themotion in the room was somehow contained. Asher only managed to swat the feather duster at the bed a few times without hitting Cedrick. As the menacing sound of the air being sliced through rang out again and again, the feathers on the duster broke free, fluttering freely around the room. Despite all that was going on, Cedrick was unscathed. He covered his mouth with his fist and repeatedly coughed, no trace of fear on his pale countenance as he waited for the blow unmoving. Asher couldn¡¯t reach Cedrick, and he also knew that it wasn¡¯t honorable to hit a man in his sick bed. With nowhere to vent his anger, he raised the duster and whipped Treyton¡¯s arm. III O 1/4 Chapter 332 Bullied Cedrick Following a crisp snap, Treyton grabbed his own arm and turned to Asher with widened eyes. ¡°Ow, it hurts! Asher, can you aim better? You hit me!¡± +15 Bonus ¡°That¡¯s right! I did that on purpose! How dare you betray me after just a few days of taking care of him? Since you¡¯re so protective of him, take the beating for him!¡± Treyton was bbergasted by the turn of the events. Although he felt wronged, he didn¡¯t dare to dodge because of the fear instilled in him by the beatings from Asher since childhood. He could only shield his head with his arms pitifully. Realizing that Asher was going to hit Treyton, Cedrick ignored his coughing fits and forced himself up from the bed unsteadily to shield Treyton. Yet before Asher couldnd another hit on Treyton, Kieran grabbed his weapon from the back. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯re looking like a joke,¡± Kieran said coldly. Then, he snorted and continued, ¡°If you want to teach Cedrick a lesson, it¡¯s easy. I have a drug that can put someone in so much pain that it sucks the life out of them, but it does no harm to the body. Want to give it a try?¡± Cedrick had just stood up when he heard Kieran. Although his expression remained unchanged, his back stiffened. Frail from sickness, he copsed back into bed weakly. Asher let go of the duster and allowed Kieran to take it. When the former noticed that Cedrick had stopped taunting and looked less overbearing than earlier, his anger subsided. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea! It¡¯s the best way to punish a crazy dog who loves taunting and acting tough,¡± he expressed his agreement with Kieran¡¯s proposal. cing the duster on the bedside table, Kieran returned to the dressing table and continued to prepare the drug. Meanwhile, Treyton walked around Asher and approached Kieran, whispering, ¡°Kieran, are you really going to drug him? It will be embarrassing if people find out that we ganged up on a sick man. Why don¡¯t we just let this go?¡± Kieran ignored him and focused on his task at hand. Since Treyton couldn¡¯t get through to Kieran, he turned around and began convincing Asher. ¡°Asher, you know very well how mean Kieran¡¯s ideas are. Kiddo is a grudgeful girl. If shees back and finds out we tortured Cedrick in various ways, she¡¯s going to be upset!¡± ¡°We can just keep it from her,¡± Asher sneered. ¡°But Cedrick can talk. She will still find out if he tells on us.¡± Kieran chimed in, ¡°I¡¯ll make him mute with drugs.¡± 2/4 Chapter 332 Bullied Cedrick +15 Bonus ¡°Wonderful. We can just tell Kiddo that he can¡¯t speak because of the virus in his body. Doesn¡¯t that solve it?¡± Asher said. ¡°But¡­¡± Treyton was stumped for words for a while. After ncing at Cedrick with sympathy, he went on, ¡°But he has hands. He could tattletale on us by writing!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll paralyze him with drugs,¡± Kieran retorted indifferently. Bobbing his head, Asher agreed, ¡°It¡¯s exhausting to take care of a paralyzed man for long. When Kiddo gets sick of him, we can get a new brother¨Cinw. That¡¯s perfect!¡± Totally out of ideas, Treyton could only look at Cedrick and silently wish him good luck. Cedrick did not show much reaction. With his nk expression, he looked weary and sickly. He suppressed his coughs and ripped off the cooling patch on his forehead before curling under the nket snugly. After a long silence, he finally uttered feebly, ¡°I want to nap. Please leave.¡± Right at that moment, Kieran finished preparing the medicine and ced the powder in a capsule. When he handed the capsule to Treyton, thetter stared at it for a moment before lifting his head to study Kieran¡¯s expression. ¡°Kieran, what¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Watch him take it, then make him take the medicine from yesterday half an hourter.¡± With that, Kieran turned on his heels and left the bedroom. One could feel his aloofness even from his leaving figure. Treyton sighed in relief as he realized what Kieran meant. He poured Cedrick a ss of water and walked up to the bed, instructing, ¡°Take this before you nap. I¡¯ll wake you up after half an hour.¡± Cedrick knitted his brows tightly and instinctively pulled the nket over his lips. ¡°I¡¯m not taking it,¡± he stated. A contemptuous smile crossed Asher¡¯s face at that. He was acting so tough earlier, yet now, he¡¯s scared to take the medicine. Just as he was about to mock Cedrick again, they were told that the people from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were waiting at the gate of Harrick Vi to report to Cedrick. Asher could only get up and leave the room to send Cedrick¡¯s subordinates away. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. When Asher¡¯s footsteps faded, Cedrick asked Treyton quietly, ¡°What drug is this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry; it¡¯s just antipyretic. With Kiddo shielding you, Kieran won¡¯t actually drug you,¡± Treyton answered while holding back hisughter. Naturally, Cedrick trusted Treyton. He sat up and spread out his palm, waiting for thetter to hand him the capsule and the water. The capsule immediately melted on his tongue after Cedrick took it. The next second, bitterness exploded in his mouth. His stomach churned, and he doubled over the bed and retched repeatedly. 3/4 Chapter 332 Bullied Cedrick +15 Bonus However, he was unable to spit anything out. The medicine was a hundred times more bitter than any drug he had ever taken, and its overpowering and unpleasant taste seemed to flood his senses. Noticing Cedrick¡¯s ashen face, Treyton could tell that the drug Kieran had prepared this time was intensely bitter. He stifled a chuckle and gloated, ¡°That¡¯s why people say you shouldn¡¯t offend a doctor. They have tons of ways to make you suffer!¡± Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Asking About Cedrick The bitterness in Cedrick¡¯s mouth was so thick that he could not even speak. He downed a whole ss of water before the bitterness subsided. After taking the medicine, he felt drained. He copsed against the bed frame. His eyshes fluttered as his entire body trembled. He felt weak. Treyton tucked the quilt around him. He rolled up his own sleeves to show Cedrick the red marks on his arm. ¡°Look at this! I suffered on your behalf! My arm is all swollen.¡± Then, he remembered that Cedrick¡¯s eyes could not see. So, he grabbed Cedrick¡¯s hand and ran his fingers along his arm for him to feel the bumps and cuts. ¡°Feel it! My arm is so swollen! So, please feel sorry for me, and stop causing any more trouble!¡± Without any hesitation, Cedrick withdrew his hand swiftly and dered, ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of touching men.¡± 184 Treytonughed and countered in a teasing tone, ¡°So, you¡¯re in the habit of touching women?¡± ¡°I will not touch any woman other than Gwenny.¡± There was no doubt in his voice, and his jaw was stubbornly set. It was a serious promation. Treyton nodded, satisfied with Cedrick¡¯s answer. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. You must remember that Gwendolyn is the treasure of our family. If you upset her or make her sad in any way, her two other brothers and I will not let you get away with it!¡± Cedrick pursed his lips and smiled at Treyton¡¯s impassioned promation, Any mention of Gwendolyn invoked a great joy in him. Meanwhile, downstairs, the men from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were halted by the guards outside the gates of the vi. They were surprised to see Asher appear. ¡°Why is Mr. Asher here? Where is Mr. Jenson?¡± ¡°He is down with flu and fever. I¡¯m taking care of him on behalf of my sister. You can deal with me directly,¡± replied Asher with a rather bored expression. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The men exchanged awkward looks with each other. ¡°Mr. Asher, it has always been Mr. Jenson who makes the decisions regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Besides, this is a top¨Csecret matter. Just let use in and meet Mr. Jenson.¡± Asher¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He nced at the documents in the men¡¯s hands and held out his hand for them. ¡°Give me those documents. I¡¯ll pass it over to him personally.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not just about these documents. We must brief Mr. Jenson in person!¡± Asher frowned in displeasure. 1/4 < 12/20 Thu, 8 Jun Chapter 333 Asking About Cedrick +15 Bonus ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to brief him. He¡¯s perfectly capable of reading the report on his own. I¡¯m not interested in the affairs of Federal Bureau of Investigation. Don¡¯t worry about me peeking at the documents. Do you doubt me?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not doubting you. There¡¯s no way you¡¯ll do such a thing. Asher did not want to listen to any more excuses or justifications. ¡°Just give me those documents!¡± Feeling pressured, the men had no choice but to hand over the documents to Asher. ¡°Now, get out of here.¡± Asher turned around and started walking back toward the vi, but before he had even taken two steps, anothermotion sounded at the gate. It was Yael, the second son of the Jenson family. He had brought his men with him. Xander, too, had come along. ¡°What¡¯s up with Cedricktely? Logan sent a nice invitation card, and yet, he refused to show up. Well, today, I¡¯m here to invite him in person. If he still refuses me, my father wille personally next time!¡± Yael was shouting at the guard, his voice obnoxiously loud. Asher scowled and headed back toward the gate. Yael was taken aback when he saw Asher approach. He smiled mischievously and said, ¡°Hey! What is the eldest son of the Harris family doing at the Jenson residence?¡± Asher reined in his anger and replied politely, ¡°It¡¯s been rather coldtely. Cedrick caught the flu and also has a fever now. Gwenny is rather busy, so I¡¯m here to help her take care of him.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why.¡± Yael nodded in understanding. Xander, who was standing next to Yael, protested in a low voice, ¡°With this weather, who¡¯s not sick now? It¡¯s just a minor illness. It¡¯s not like he was bedridden! Grandpa just keeps making up excuses to avoiding despite our repeated invitations. He¡¯s doing this on purpose!¡± ¡°Mr. Asher is here. Don¡¯t speak nonsense!¡± Yael waited for Xander to finish speaking. Then, he shed a fake smile at Asher and replied rather hypocritically, ¡°Although Cedrick is always hiding from his family, I understand the situation is rather crazy. I¡¯m sorry you got caught up in this.¡± Asher merely stared back at him and made no reply to his statement. Yael continued, ¡°If Cedrick is truly not that seriously ill, please let use in. There will be a family luncheon at noon today at the Jenson residence. As the head of the family, Cedrick should be there.¡± After his little speech, Yael turned and winked at the men he had brought with him. The men moved into formation but were blocked by Harrick Vi¡¯s guard. Two men tried to force their way into the vi and were electrocuted with a taser. Asher casually slipped his hands into his pocket and said in a firm voice, ¡°Mr. Yael, what would you do if I refused to allow you to enter?¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. 2/4 Chapter 333 Asking About Cedrick +15 Bonus Yael¡¯s face darkened, but before he could speak, Xander blurted out, ¡°Asher, this is the Jenson residence! You are not family! Who are you to act like this?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true that I¡¯m an outsider.¡± Asher sneered. ¡°However, Cedrick is engaged to my sister. My soon¨Cto- be brother¨Cinw knows that he must prioritize his health. You people, his so¨Ccalled rtives, only care whether he is able to walk or not. Such cold¨Chearted people!¡± Yael¡¯s face froze. Just as he was about to defend himself, Asher spoke up again. ¡°You know very well whether or not Cedrick really wants to see you. Go on, then. I¡¯m sure you can find your way home.¡± ¡°Asher, this matter¡­¡± Asher did not want to listen to Yael¡¯s excuses or justifications. It was clearly written on his face that he was not interested in entertaining them any longer. He was not angry, merely firm. Yael did not want to start a feud with the Harris family, so he had no choice but to walk away with his men trailing after him. Next, Neville showed up. He shed his identification card at Asher. ¡°Mr. Asher, I work for Mr. Jenson. I¡¯m the captain of the seventh team of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I¡¯ve been going on missions with Mr. Jenson for almost a decade. Please trust me and let me in.¡± Asher inspected his identification card and asked, ¡°What is your purpose here?¡± ¡°Sherman has been convicted. I came here to report the matter to Mr. Jenson and to ask him if he needs any help for the next few days.¡± ¡°I see. Since it¡¯s all settled, there¡¯s no need for you to report it personally to Cedrick. I¡¯ll pass along the news to him. As for the help¡­¡± Asher thought about it. Thest time Eloise had thrown a birthday party, he wasn¡¯t in Salinsburgh at that time. However, he had heard everything that had happened that day. ¡°Make sure you watch over Sherman. Make sure he feels the full force of the prison!¡± ¡°Ah, okay¡­¡± Anxiety pricked at Neville after failing to gain an audience with Cedrick. When he saw Asher turning away, he called out, ¡°Mr. Asher, please let me see Mr. Jenson. I hear he¡¯s not feeling well. I can stay and take care of him.¡± Asher was not convinced. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need anyone to take care of him. Since you are his subordinate, you should know your ce! Don¡¯t ask too much!¡± Asher only trusted his own men. He did not trust Cedrick¡¯s men. Neville watched Asher disappear into the vi. He sighed and nced at the balcony on the third floor. Over in Erihal, Gwendolyn finally woke up and got herself ready a few hourster. Jonah, who had come to pick her up, was already waiting at the door. Chapter 333 Asking About Cedrick +15 Bonus She climbed into the car with Nico. More than half an hourter, the magnificent pce finally came into view. The Bentley circled around the pce wall and finally stopped at the eastern gate. She caught sight of a well¨Cdressed Charles in the distance. He was dressed in a well¨Ccut suit. His eyes sparkled like sapphires in the sunlight. He looked like a prince from a fairytale, so charming that she could not pull her eyes away. What a pity that Gwendolyn did not have more time to appreciate his beauty. Jonah got out of the car and opened the door for her. Charles approached her immediately. When he saw the casual jacket that she had on, his smile faded. ¡°It¡¯s the first time you¡¯re meeting my mother today, and this is what you¡¯re wearing?¡± Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Ugly Nico Gwendolyn was slightly stunned. It¡¯s not like I came specifically to meet with my future mother¨Cinw. Why do I have to dress fancily? As she still needed to deal with Charles, she replied aggrievedly, ¡°I didn¡¯t bring a lot of clothes with me during this trip, and none of them are more appropriate than what I¡¯m already wearing.¡± The disappointment in Charles¡® eyes gradually transformed into regret when he heard her exnation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was my oversight. I should¡¯ve prepared an appropriate dress for you beforehand. Please don¡¯t get angry at me, Gwen. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Gwendolyn shifted her sight away. (It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t need to apologize.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll head in first and stroll around. I¡¯ll get someone to send a dress here before noon. After that, we¡¯ll have lunch at Mother¡¯s ce.¡± Looking rather obsessive while smiling at Gwendolyn, Charles tried to hold her hand. Before he could, she furrowed her eyebrows and reflexively avoided him. That action provoked Charles immensely as he stepped forward and gripped her chin. ¡°We¡¯re about to get married, so why are you still resisting me? Why is Cedrick allowed to princess carry you and kiss you in public, but I can¡¯t even hold your hand?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not married yet, so we¡¯re not a couple. What made you think you had the right to hold my hand in public?¡± Gwendolyn stared back at him firmly. Nico, who was exiting the vehicle, witnessed that scene and promptly bolted forward to grab Charles¡® wrist. ¡°Let her go! Don¡¯t hurt my employer!¡± In response, Charles released Gwendolyn¡¯s chin, though his wrist was still tightly clutched by Nico. He tried flinging thetter¡¯s hand away twice, though he failed both times. ¡°Are you the bodyguard Gwen brought here this time?¡± Nico was in an ugly disguise today. There was arge red birthmark on his left cheek and a giant mole on the edge of his right eye. Additionally, his face was covered in red spots, and his nose was highlighted with makeup. The deception was¡¯sessful as Charles didn¡¯t recognize him. While being scrutinized by Charles, Nico calmly replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lund. I¡¯m Christian Harris, Ms. Harris¡® bodyguard.¡± Charles nced at Nico one more time before turning away as though he couldn¡¯t bear looking at the latter¡¯s hideous countenance a second longer. Skeptically he turned to Gwendolyn. ¡°You¡¯ve always had high standards for your bodyguards¡® appearances. When did you change that standard and hire such a hideous one?¡± In response, Gwendolyn glimpsed at Nico. He did go a little too far with the ugliness. ¡°His actual appearance isn¡¯t that ugly. He just isn¡¯t limated to the climate here, which is why there are red spots on his face. While he¡¯s not attractive, he has a good figure and is quite skilled. Don¡¯t underestimate him.¡± Ignoring Nico¡¯s face, Charles swept his gaze past the former¡¯s body. ¡°His proportions are fine, though his figure isn¡¯t anything special. Besides, you have never seen him with his shirt off before. Maybe he doesn¡¯t even have a six¨Cpack.¡± 1/3 Chapter 334 Ugly Nico While the two were chatting, Nico lowered his head, slightly embarrassed. +15 Bonus Covertly, he touched his abdomen and sighed. Thank goodness Boss isn¡¯t here. If he learns Ms. Gwendolyn praised me for having a good figure, he¡¯ll get incredibly jealous. Then, he¡¯ll send me somewhere super far away to mine for coal or something, ensuring Ms. Gwendolyn will never see me again. Seeing that Charles was focusing wholly on Nico, Gwendolyn changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯m tired of standing around. Let¡¯s go.¡± Before Charles could react to that, she strode away to avoid being grabbed by him again. Nico swiftly followed her. Epean buildings were primarily painted in white and gold, appearing solemnly dignified, and the walls were dominated by tile murals. They werepletely different from the Chanaean architectural style. As Charles led Gwendolyn down the path, he exined what they were looking at. ¡°My mother granted me special privileges. So, aside from the king¡¯s bed¨Cchamber, study, conference hall, and a few other locations, you¡¯re free to enter any ce you wish,¡± informed Charles. Gwendolyn raised her eyebrow with curiosity. ¡°I want to visit the king¡¯s bed¨Cchamber, though. I wonder if his bed is any different from ours.¡± A serious look appeared in his eyes. ¡°Stop joking, Gwen.¡± ¡°Fine. I won¡¯t go then. I¡¯m a little tired, and I want to rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to Alzer Pce. It¡¯s where I¡¯ve been staying recently. I¡¯ll ask someone to send the dress there.¡± She nodded while ncing at Nico. Immediately, Nico furrowed his eyebrows and clutched his abdomen in agony. ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Lund, my stomach¡¯s in pain. Can I visit the restroom?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have brought you with me today if I knew you were having difficulty limating to this ce. Just return quickly,¡± stated Gwendolyn. ¡°Okay, Ms. Harris.¡±, ¡°Wait! Stop!¡± Charles eximed just as Nico turned his head, As Nico pretended to stifle a pain so great that his face reddened like a tomato, he turned his attention to Charles again. ¡°Mr. Lund?¡± Charles narrowed his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s a restroom in Alzer Pce. You can relieve yourself there if you hold it in a little longer.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Still pressing his hands on his abdomen, Nico bent down slightly with a wince. ¡°I¡¯m having a stomachache, and I really can¡¯t hold it in any longer. Please let me visit a restroom nearby, Mr. Lund. Don¡¯t worry. My job is to protect Ms. Harris, so I¡¯ll return as soon as I¡¯m done.¡± Gwendolyn peered at Charles and uttered in a slightly reprimanding tone, ¡°Why are you troubling him? It¡¯s normal for someone to have a stomachache. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s pretending to be in difort.¡± Frowning, Charles relented for Gwendolyn¡¯s sake. ¡°Bring him there, Jonah. Keep a close eye on him, and 2/3 Chapter 334 Ugly Nico don¡¯t let him get lost. There¡¯ll be trouble if the guards on patrol capture him.¡± ¡°Roger,¡± replied Jonah before guiding Nico to the closest restroom. +15 Bonds Momentster, Gwendolyn sensed Charles¡® attempt to close the distance between them. In response, she pulled her hand out from her sleeve and reflexively caressed the emerald ring on her finger with a grimace. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of people in the pce, and I¡¯m technically still engaged to Cedrick. Mind your manners.¡± ?? ???? Knitting his eyebrows, Charles spoke unkindly. ¡°Yeah, you still haven¡¯t canceled your engagement with him, Gwen. Are you toying with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Calmly, Gwendolyn exined, ¡°I¡¯m merely protecting the Harris family¡¯s interests. Besides, you said you wanted to hold a wedding in a foreign country. When we get married, whether my engagement in Chanaea is canceled or not doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°True. I bet Cedrick will be surprised to abruptly learn that you¡¯ve be my woman once we¡¯re married.¡± A malicious grin settled on his countenance as excitement danced in his blue eyes. Not only will I make this wedding big, but I¡¯ll also let the whole world know Gwendolyn¡¯s married to me! Cedrick, especially! Gwendolyn red at him with a stern look. ¡°You¡¯d better watch your disgusting mouth, Charles! If I find out you¡¯ve intentionally used this incident and exaggerated it to provoke Cedrick, I won¡¯t forgive you!¡± Even a rabbit would bite when driven to a corner, much less a ferocious leopard like Gwendolyn. Upon witnessing Gwendolyn¡¯s anger, heforted her with a smile, ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to marry me, I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± Silently, Gwendolyn marched forward. Soon, the two arrived at Alzer Pce. Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Chapter 335 You Are Too Selfish Charles had asked people to prepare everything while they journeyed to Alzer Pce. Inside the room was a chaise lounge with a nket made from a white fox¡¯s fur. Delicate desserts, coffee, and fruits were seen on the coffee table. Three wardrobes sat at the side, all containing various styles of exquisite dresses. The fluffy carpet had two lines of high heels sitting on it. The stylist and makeup artist had been waiting for a while. When they saw Gwendolyn and Charles, they greeted the duo with standard courtly etiquette. Gwendolyn was unhappy. ¡°I¡¯m not used to people helping me change and putting makeup on me.¡± Without dy, Charles waved at the stylist and makeup artist. ¡°Leave.¡± He stepped toward the coffee table, grabbed a te of cake, and presented it to Gwendolyn. ¡°This is a special cake from Erihal, Gwen. It¡¯s very delicious. I had it made and sent here. Give it a try.¡± Gwendolyn peered at it with disinterest. For some reason, not only was shecking any appetite, she even felt slightly nauseous. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating anything sweettely. Eat by yourself if you want.¡± Then she approached the dresses and began picking which one to wear. Immediately, Charles settled the te on the table and helped her pick an outfit earnestly. He eventually selected a high¨Cquality, silver¨Cblue winter silk gown. ¡°This one looks great. The blue¡¯s pleasant to the eye. It also has long sleeves. If you pair it with a white fur shawl, you won¡¯t feel too cold.¡± Most importantly, it pairs well with the blue suit I¡¯m wearing, making us look like a couple. I¡¯m excited to wear a matching outfit with her since we¡¯ve yet to do it. Excitement swirled in his eyes. Seeing that Gwendolyn didn¡¯t grab the gown he picked for her, he moved his hand closer to her, ¡°Listen to me, Gwen. Change into this one.¡± She noticed the gown Charles had picked was the same color as his suit. Without considering it, she turned to another rack and picked a scarlet dress. ¡°No. I like this one more. I¡¯ll be changing into this in the next room.¡± Charles immediately scowled as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. ¡°I said, change into this one!¡± ¡°Let me go!¡± Enraged, Gwendolyn barked, ¡°You know me, Charles. You can¡¯t control me!¡± In the blink of an eye, his unyielding attitude and tone softened. ¡°You¡¯ve no idea how happy I was when you came here, Gwen. It¡¯s why I¡¯ve been doing my best to satisfy your every desire for the past two days. I won¡¯t force you to put this on, so can you please wear the gown I picked for you just this once?¡± Frigidly, Gwendolyn spat, ¡°I don¡¯t like it!¡± Her simple words hit him where it hurt most. ¡°Do you not like the gown, or do you not like me? If Cedrick was the one standing in my ce right now, 1/3 Chapter 335 You Are Too Selfish asking you to wear this, would you reject him, too?¡± Charles glowered. Forcefully, he shoved Gwendolyn onto the chair and attempted to corner her. +15 Bonus Before he could, she revealed the silver needle hidden inside her ring and pressed it against his throat. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer, or I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Charlesughed, so much so that tears were spotted at the edge of his eyes. He propped his hands on the top of the chaise lounge. Because of that silver needle, he couldn¡¯t close the gap between him and Gwendolyn. ¡°Could you bear to hurt me if I was Cedrick?¡± Mncholy was present in his tone as hisughter turned even more eerie. ¡°Let me ask you this. Do you really have the guts to kill me? If I die today, you won¡¯t be able to leave this pce alive, and Cedrick will be sent to the afterlife. Do you truly want Cedrick and yourself to perish with me?¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. Indeed, I can¡¯t kill him before I sessfully seize the antidote. Although, he only said that because he doesn¡¯t know a thing about my past with Cedrick. Cedrick and I fought and yed with our lives before. In fact, this silver needle was once stained with his blood. The only difference is that I¡¯ve always loved Cedrick. I did it for six years. However, I¡¯ve never once felt anything toward Charles. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Momentster, she confronted, ¡°You¡¯re different from him because your love has always been too selfish and distorted! Your perverted possessiveness and desire for control are suffocating me! Whenever I want something, you¡¯d threaten me with a condition; and whenever I refuse something, you¡¯d still force it on me! You¡¯d hurt me and then save me so I¡¯d feel grateful to you. Your love is cold and calcting. Meanwhile, Cedrick will, at most, only act pitifully or back down when he wants my attention. He¡¯d never hurt me! You should¡¯ve known our rtionship was built on equivalent exchange right from the beginning. Even if I marry you, I¡¯ll never love you!¡± Charles was frozen on the spot, the light in his blue eyes gradually vanishing. Indeed, every step I took to satisfy my obsessive desire to possess her was calcted. I¡­ I don¡¯t know how to refute her. While he was in a daze, Gwendolyn used the opportunity to push him away and stood, preparing to leave. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to meet with Her Highness anymore. We¡¯ll leave that for another day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, Gwen!¡± Charles tried to seize her wrist again, but she foresaw that. Before he could even touch her, Gwendolyn swiftly turned around and pped him. ¡°I can¡¯t kill you, but I can still hit you, Charles!¡± Her attack was so forgeful that it caused the edge of Charles¡® lips to bleed a little. His skin was quite fair, so the p left an obvious mark. Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for using a bit too much force. Although, now we definitely can¡¯t meet Her Highness with that injury on your face. I think we should leave this for some other time.¡± Right as she finished speaking, she turned around and left. Staring at her nonchnt figure, Charles wiped the blood on the edge of his mouth away bitterly. He lowered his head, concealing the unknown emotion in his eyes. Gwendolyn subconsciously quickened her pace upon hearing hisughter. and guffawed Chapter 335 You Are Too Selfish Right as she left Alzer Pce, she met Nico and Jonah. When Jonah saw Gwendolyn walk out alone, Jonah asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Lund, Ms. Harris?¡± +15 Bonus Wordlessly, she nced at Nico before replying, ¡°He¡¯s inside. We won¡¯t be meeting Her Highness today, so please ask someone to send us back.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jonah was slightly shocked. ¡°Why so suddenly? Did Mr. Lund agree to the cancetion of the meeting?¡± ¡°Go in there and ask him yourself.¡± While Jonah went to his employer, Nico whispered to Gwendolyn, ¡°Lord Gerhardt will arrive soon, so you can¡¯t leave yet.¡± Lord Gerhardt? She lifted her eyebrow. Upon noticing her confusion, he continued, ¡°The current husband of Her Highness, Gerhardt Rotundum.¡± Ah, I see. In that case, I must meet with Lord Gerhardt today. If I miss this opportunity, I won¡¯t be so lucky again next time. Although¡­ I¡¯ve just pped Charles and told him we should meet Her Highness another day. How do I take my words back? Gwendolyn fell into deep thought at the entrance. Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Must Not Say Suddenly, Charles dashed toward Gwendolyn from the pce. When he saw she was still there, joy returned to his countenance. Immediately, he grabbed her wrist. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Gwendolyn was dumbstruck for a second as she stared at her hand. When she raised her head, she saw his teary blue eyes. I¡¯ve never seen him sad before. He seems surprisingly genuine like this. It¡¯s like he¡¯s a different person from his usual self. Charles didn¡¯t even care Nico was around as he pleaded in a choked voice, ¡°You¡¯ve opened my eyes with your words earlier, Gwen. I promise I¡¯ll reflect on my actions and do better. You gave Cedrick a chance before. Can you do the same with me?¡± Gwendolyn gazed at him in silence. With a sincere look, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ll show you that I¡¯m the man who loves you the most in this world. Since we¡¯re already here, please don¡¯t leave, okay? Mother is still waiting for us to join her for lunch.¡± She nced at Nico as she thought about the duke. Momentster, she softened her tone. ¡°What about your injury?¡± Charles grinned nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯ll press a bag of ice on itter. If the mark is too obvious, you can help me cover it up with makeup.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Gwendolyn sighed with relief in her mind. I didn¡¯t expect to get away with doing that so easily. ¡°I still don¡¯t like the blue gown, though. If you insist I wear that, I¡¯ll still leave.¡± I¡¯ll never wear a matching outfit with him.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Charles relented, ¡°Fine. As long as you don¡¯t leave, I won¡¯t force you to do anything you don¡¯t want to.¡± After she nodded, they reentered Alzer Pce. Nico and Jonah followed behind in silence. Back in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Craig narrowed his eyes while sitting at his desk. His face was hidden behind a cloud of thick smoke as he held a cigar. Upon listening to his subordinate¡¯s report, he grabbed the ashtray on the table and smashed it on his subordinate without warning. ¡°Useless!¡± The subordinate silently lowered his head and endured the pain. Craig growled, ¡°Why is Asher at Cedrick¡¯s house? It¡¯s a huge problem if even Cedrick¡¯s direct subordinates aren¡¯t allowed to enter the building! Continue to investigate until you figure out what¡¯s going on with Cedrick!¡± The subordinate replied with a shaky voice, ¡°Our men have been staking out at the Jenson residence, though. We¡¯ve also contacted Mr. Yael, asking him to send people to monitor Mr. Jenson¡¯s vi. I think a few male members of the Harris family have been staying there recently. We can¡¯t find any opportunities to- 23 Without warning, Craig lobbed a coffee cup at his subordinate. ¡°Don¡¯t take your eye off the building! Sooner orter, Asher will have to leave! If he doesn¡¯t, break into the vi by force! I need to know Cedrick¡¯s condition!¡± 1/3 +15 BOTE Chapter 336 Must Not Say ¡°Understood!¡± the subordinate replied before leaving the room. Meanwhile, Craig brushed his finger on the namete sitting on his desk with thoughts swirling in his mind. After I rescued Charles from Cedrick, he told me what the guy was contracted with. Once the S404 RNA virus invasion reacheste¨Cstage, it¡¯ll cause severeplications. I hope Cedrick will be crippled for life! ¡°Oh, Mr. Jenson. You¡¯ve been in that position for far too long. It¡¯s time for someone else to take over,¡± he uttered sinisterly while his eyes shone with ambition. Kylie Lund was the most distinguished woman in Erihal. At noon, Gwendolyn and Charles headed to Kylie¡¯s pce after dressing appropriately. Before they arrived at the entrance, they saw Gerhardt exiting the pce in dignified attire. Following behind him was a fair, blue¨Ceyed young man with a dashing countenance. Gerhardt was smiling when he spoke to the young man. However, the instant he saw Charles, his expression darkened icily. Scoffing, he pretended not to see Charles, shifted his gaze away, and prepared to leave in another direction. Annoyance was scribbled all over his bearded face. ¡°Sir.¡± Gwendolyn smiled and eximed in fluent Epean, ¡°Why are you leaving the moment you see us, sir?¡± Charles was originally nning to ignore Gerhardt as well. After she drew Gerhardt¡¯s attention, he had no choice but to greet Gerhardt. He introduced the duke to Gwendolyn in a soft tone, ¡°This is Lord Gerhardt, Gwen. Behind him is his son, Caesar Rotundum.¡± ¡°I see.¡± She mimicked Charles¡® movements and bowed at the men before her. ¡°Nice to meet you, Lord Gerhardt, Mr. Caesar.¡± Just as she finished speaking, Caesar chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re doing it wrong, miss. In this country, men and women greet others differently.¡± Gwendolyn nced at Charles with a clueless look and smiled. ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s my first time here, so I¡¯m unfamiliar with the culture.¡°. ¡°It¡¯s your first time here? For you to be able to speak Epean this fluently is amazing, miss.¡± Upon ending his sentence, Caesar approached her, picked up her hand gentlemanly, and kissed its back. He found her stunning. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful and smart, miss. I like you.¡± ¡°Caesar!¡± Charles pped Caesar¡¯s hand away. ¡°You mustn¡¯t utter that word casually. Besides, she¡¯s my-¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± Interrupting Charles, Gwendolyn stepped forward and stretched her right hand toward Caesar. ¡°You greeted me ording to your country¡¯s etiquette. In Chanaca, we do so with a handshake.¡± Excitement glimmered in Caesar¡¯s blue eyes as he beamed innocently. He politely shook her hand after stretching his right toward her. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Caesar. I¡¯m Gwendolyn Shalders Harris. I hope I¡¯ll have the chance to visit you the duke at your residence next time.¡± Lifting her eyebrow slightly, Gwendolyn stared into his eyes. and 2/3 Chapter 336 Must Not Say Caesar peered at his hand, puzzled. Secondster, he seemed to haveprehended something. +15 Bonus The harmonious atmosphere was once again shattered by Charles. ¡°It¡¯s just a handshake. You don¡¯t need to keep holding Gwen¡¯s hand. It¡¯s impolite!¡± His words spurred Gwendolyn and Caesar to withdraw their hands. Displeasure was visible on his countenance. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside, Gwendolyn. We don¡¯t want to keep Her Highness waiting.¡± He would always address his mother by her title whenever Gerhardt was present. In response, Gerhardt scoffed and red at Charles with contempt. ¡°I think you¡¯re the one who should attend an etiquette ss. Even the girl you brought with you is more well¨Cmannered than you! Let¡¯s go, Caesar!¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Caesar took a few extra nces at Gwendolyn, reluctant to leave. ¡°Until we meet again, Ms. Harris!¡± Gwendolyn nodded with a smile. Their eye contact was interrupted by Charles, who stepped in front of her. After the duke and his son left, Charles faced Gwendolyn coldly and warned, ¡°You can¡¯t trust any man other than me in this country, especially Gerhardt Rotundum. Stay as far away from them as you can.¡± She responded with silence while grumbling in her mind. He¡¯s wrong. The only person I can¡¯t trust in this ce is him, a lying, obsessive pervert! ¨C Of course, she didn¡¯t voice her thoughts to avoid infuriating him. As she followed Charles up the stairs, she secretly nced in the direction the duke and his son had left. Even though that was our first meeting, I think Caesar¡¯s a kind young man. I hope he understands the meaning behind words and lends me a hand! Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Not Great Caesar felt giddy during his car ride back home. The scene of his meeting with Gwendolyn was still reying in his mind. ¡°I think I know what ¡®love at first sight¡® feels like now, Father! When I saw Ms. Harris, my heart fluttered! I think I¡¯m in love with her! I want to pursue her!¡± +15 Bonus Gerhardt stroked his beard and spoke calmly. ¡°You can¡¯t. Some time ago, your mother told me Vidar brought a woman back here and intended to marry her. I believe she¡¯s that woman.¡± The look of disappointment was scribbled all over Caesar¡¯s countenance. ¡°So she¡¯s my brother¡¯s fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call him your brother! He¡¯s just an illegitimate child. I¡¯ll never ept his existence.¡± Anger flooded Gerhardt¡¯s heart as he tightened his fists. Caesar was most afraid of his father¡¯s wrath. He hunched his shoulders timidly. After some thinking, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t think Ms. Harris likes him, though. She looked at me like she was asking for my help and was being forced to be with him.¡± ¡°The matter doesn¡¯t concern you. Stop bringing it up.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Caesar removed a note from his pocket with worry in his eyes. ¡°Ms. Harris stuffed this into my palm when we shook hands earlier.¡± Gerhardt turned to his son and noticed the note. Promptly, he grabbed it and read it. ¡°What does it say, Father?¡± Curious, Caesar leaned toward his father. Gerhardt immediately shredded the note. There weren¡¯t any discernable emotions on his weathered face. ¡°She wants to work with me in exchange for some benefit.¡± ¡°Really? How about you let me handle it, Father? You can consider this a training for me- ¡°Nonsense!¡± eximed Gerhardt. Immediately, Caesar lowered his head and carefully glimpsed at his father. ¡°Does this mean you won¡¯t ept Ms. Harris¡® request to work with her?¡± 1 Gerhardt didn¡¯t answer his son¡¯s question, though a glint was present in his cloudy eyes. When Kylie saw Gwendolyn, she immediately took a liking to the younger woman. She held thetter¡¯s hand and asked her many questions about Chanaea. Gwendolyn politely answered all of them. Kylie was forty¨Cfive years old, yet there weren¡¯t any signs of her age on her countenance. Clearly, she took great care of her skin. If Gwendolyn didn¡¯t already know Kylie had two adult sons, she would¡¯ve thought thetter was around thirty. While they conversed, Gwendolyn had a feeling Kylie was very interested in everything about Chanaea. She probably still loves Charles¡® father, which is why Charles is near and dear to her heart. She was lost in her thought until Kylie patted the back of her hand, pulling her back to reality. ¡°Charlie sure has a good eye. Even though we just met, I already like you,¡± remarked Kylie. Gwendolyn smiled. 1/3 12:22 Thu, 8 Jun Chapter 337 Not Great ×ÔÆø72%ÈÕ +15 Bonus Charles was delighted. ¡°Gwen came to Erihal because she wishes to organize a grand wedding with me here. I¡¯ll be counting on your help for the wedding, Mother.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll definitely help make your wedding the best it can be!¡± assured Kylie. As Gwendolyn listened to the mother and son enthusiastically discussing the ceremony, she felt pity for Kylie. Even if there is a wedding, I¡¯ll wreak havoc there. Once she saw an opportunity to speak, she blurted, ¡°Your Highness, my brother is a medical researcher. He heard there¡¯s a serum in Erihal called Super Antiviral that can cure any virus. Since I¡¯m here, I thought I should ask you about it.¡± Kylie replied, ¡°There is, but-¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°Mother!¡± Charles interrupted as he stood. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ve arranged for Gwen to stay at a small apartment in the suburbs, so I prefer to send her there before nightfall. I¡¯ll visit you with her again next time.¡± Nodding, Kylie beamed at him. ¡°In that case, you should. There¡¯ll be a banquet in the pce five days later. Remember to attend it with Ms. Harris, all right?¡± ¡°I will, Mother. We¡¯ll take our leave now.¡± While Gwendolyn wished to stay longer, she had no choice but to stand and bade Kylie goodbye. She disliked Charles dragging her away by her arm, but she couldn¡¯t say anything while she was still in Kylie¡¯s view. After they left the pce, she immediately hurled his hand away. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let Her Highness finish ¨C her sentence, Charles? Is there something about the serum that you didn¡¯t tell me?¡± ¡°If there¡¯s anything you want to know, ask me about it. Don¡¯t bring it up in front of Mother. I know what you¡¯re trying to figure out.¡± Charles¡® tone turned serious. ¡°Don¡¯t even try scheming, Gwen. It¡¯s pointless. The serum is kept in the royal storehouse. The only way you can obtain it is by marrying me.¡± Gwendolyn scowled at him coldly. ¡°Lie to me, and I¡¯ll kill you, Charles.¡± ¡°Why would I? We¡¯re about to get married, and married couples are supposed to be honest with each other.¡± He smiled and tried to hold her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss the wedding date with Mother in the next few days. During the banquet, she¡¯ll announce our wedding. Now that we¡¯re officially a couple, it¡¯s not too much for me to ask for handholding, is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re nothing to me until thest moment!¡± Gwendolyn barked before striding ahead. Nico followed her Not long after, Charles sent Gwendolyn and Nico to their residence in the suburbs. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to listen to any more of Charles¡® disgusting flirtations. Hence, she hastily chased him away and uneasily waited for Gerhardt to arrive. Even after the sun had vanished into the horizon, she kept waiting. The road remained quiet as the snow flew past her window. Nico slipped into her room and turned off the tiny listening device on the overhead light. Chapter 337 Not Great +15 Bonus ¡°It seems Lord Gerhardt isn¡¯t willing to cooperate with me,¡± remarked Gwendolyn as she sat on the bed, dejected. Upon sighing with her, Nico encouraged, ¡°Don¡¯t give up hope. After all, it was your first time meeting him. Gerhardt¡¯s clearly a cautious man, so it¡¯s expected for him not to trust you immediately.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in high spirits. ¡°I¡¯ll gain his trust during the banquet five days from now!¡± As he stared at her pretty face, he couldn¡¯t help but respect her every decision from the bottom of his heart. ¡°What would you like to eat for dinner? I¡¯ll request the housekeeper to ask Charles to bring the meal hereter.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned bitter in response to his words. Lunch was technically terrific, but I didn¡¯t have the appetite to enjoy it. Still, I had to pretend I did in front of Her Highness. I think I only had a few bites. Recalling that made her feel sick in the stomach. She patted her chest to make the wave of disgust pass her by. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in particr that I want to eat, and I¡¯m not hungry. Maybe I¡¯m just not used to the local cuisine. Just ask the housekeeper to bring any food avable.¡± Exhaustion overwhelmed her mind as she rubbed her temples. ¡°I¡¯m tired, so I¡¯ll take a nap first. Wake me up when dinner arrives.¡± ¡°Okay. You should rest, considering you¡¯ve been walking around the pce all day.¡± After turning the listening device back on, Nico closed the door and left. Gwendolyn started to wonder why she wasn¡¯t feeling well. I¡¯ve been feeling sleepy these two days. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m stressed out aftering here. Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Chapter 338 The Cause Of His Blindness Unconcerned by it, Gwendolyn soony in bed. In a matter of a few minutes, she fell into a deep slumber. It waste afternoon the next day in Chanaea. +15 Bonus After several days of targeted medication, Kieran drew back the bedroom¡¯s curtains and tilted his head to look at Cedrick, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. ¡°How do you feel? Do you feel like you can see something?¡± he asked. Amidst the darkness, Cedrick perceived his surroundings aimlessly with his ebony eyes, then shook his head. Treyton, who was standing at the side, refused to give up. ¡°Try and focus. Are you really unable to see any light?¡± Cedrick shook his head again. Seemingly having given up, he lowered his gaze. ¡°Kieran, what should we do? Should we consider surgery?¡± Treyton asked. ¡°His condition appears to be different from ordinary blindness,¡± Kieran replied with a solemn expression. on his face. After a long moment of pondering, he continued, ¡°We have to go to theboratory again and have full body tests done on him. Only after seeing how the virus has spread can I decide on further treatment options.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to theboratory?¡± Treyton, too, turned grim. He walked to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window and looked down at the gate outside the garden. ¡°Asher left Salinsburgh yesterday due to some business matters and will only return in two days. Won¡¯t it be too risky for us to go out like this when there are so many people after Cedrick?¡± Kieran fell silent., A heavy silence filled the bedroom. In the end, Cedrick made the decision. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Even if I continue to hide in the house, they¡¯ll still find an opportunity to discover the truth. It¡¯s better to take the initiative and treat my eyes than be on the defensive.¡± For some strange reason, he kept feeling anxious these days, as if something big was about to happen to Gwendolyn. I haven¡¯t seen Gwenny for almost a week! I miss her so much! I¡¯m about to go crazy because of it! He had to recover his vision as soon as possible and go to Erihal to find Gwendolyn. Treyton could only acquiesce to it since Cedrick had made up his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s go out at night, then. It will attract less attention. Doing it during the day is too conspicuous.¡± What concerned him the most was that it would take around six minutes to walk from Harrick Vi to the garage at the gate of the Jenson residence as they would have to walk through a series of winding paths. 1/4 Chapter 338 The Cause Of His Blindness Besides, Yael had sent his subordinates to keep a close eye on the tracks. +15 Bonus As Cedrick could not see, walking such a long distance would make him stand out from ordinary people. Night came quickly since it was winter. Around seven in the evening, the sky had turnedpletely ck. Snow fell from the air incessantly and soon nketed the roofs of the Jenson residence. Inside the bedroom, Treyton tossed a fur coat to Cedrick, instructing him to disguise himself with it. To reduce the attention on them, Kieran and Treyton would bring Cedrick out of the vi through the back door. However, the news of them leaving the vi reached Yael before they reached the garage. Yael immediately jumped to his feet. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s them? Is it really Cedrick?¡± The bodyguard replied respectfully, ¡°Just now, three people walked out of the back door of Mr. Cedrick¡¯s vi. We confirmed that the two men amongst them were Mr. Kieran and Mr. Treyton from the Harris family. The third person was supported by Mr. Treyton, wearing a mask and sunsses. The three of them walked very quickly, but from what I saw, the third person¡¯s figure resembled Mr. Cedrick¡¯s.¡± Yael was ecstatic. ¡°Whatever! It must be Cedrick if Kieran and Treyton had personally brought him out of the house! Contact Craig and inform him that Cedrick is out of the vi. As for Cedrick¡¯s whereabouts, his men should be the ones to find that out.¡± About fifteen minutester, Kieran braved the snowstorm and drove to theboratory at the fastest speed possible. Joshua had not gotten off work yet, so he swiftly performed a blood test on Cedrick. When the test results came out, Kieran stared at theb report in his hand emotionlessly. Frightened by his solemn expression, Treyton queried, ¡°Kieran, say something. What are Cedrick¡¯s test results?¡± Cedrick sat quietly on the bed. He was also waiting for Kieran to say something. Kieran looked at theb report intently and only spoke in an indifferent tone after a few long moments had passed. ¡°The medication I prescribed to him in the past few days worked. The speed at which the virus is spreading has decreased. However, I need to take a scan of his brain.¡± ¡°This is obviously good news. Kieran, when are you going to have more expressions on your face?¡± Treyton jested, Instead of responding to his younger brother, Kieran went out to look for Joshua to have thetter arrange a brain scan for Cedrick, Meanwhile, Treyton shook his head resignedly at Kieran¡¯s indifferent demeanor. ¡°I really don¡¯t know which woman can make you drop your aloofness.¡± Kieran, who had just walked out of the room, heard every word clearly, and his steps faltered slightly. There had been a persistent girl who kept confessing her feelings for him in the past six months. However, 2/4 72% Chapter 338 The Cause Of His Blindness he had not seen her for almost a week because of Cedrick¡¯s condition. She must have given up and returned to Faike. +15 Bonus Kieran lowered his gaze, and his eyes turned cold. Soon, he put his thoughts away and strode forward. After another half an hour, Kieran returned with Cedrick¡¯s CT scan. ¡°The reason he lost his sight is that the blue serum lost its effectiveness, which elerated the spread of the virus and thus led to the growth of a tumor in his brain. The tumor is pressing on his central nervous system.¡± ¡°A brain tumor?¡± Treyton was taken aback. Although he was not knowledgeable in medicine, he knew that having a tumor could not be anything good. He instinctively nced at Cedrick, who was on the hospital bed. Thetter¡¯s head was lowered, and he was blinking emotionlessly. At that moment, Kieran borated, ¡°It¡¯s a small benign tumor that can be surgically removed. With postoperative medication, his eyes will basically recover.¡± After listening to his words carefully, Treyton breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Kieran, could you say everything at once next time? You scared me!¡± That was the best oue for Cedrick. It was then that he finally smiled. ¡°It seems like doctors enjoy, scaring their patients.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Kieran ignored their banter. Standing before the bedside table, he organized Cedrick¡¯s test results and said tly, ¡°I suggest doing the surgery as soon as possible. Send him to Grand Valley Hospital tomorrow afternoon. I¡¯ll go there in advance to make the preparations so that the surgery can be conducted secretly.¡± Treyton nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± When they came out of theboratory, it was already close to ten at night. The snow was getting heavier. Kieran held an umbre to shield them from the show and wind as Treyton supported Cedrick. The three hurried toward the open parking lot outside theboratory. With a whoosh, a snowball flew from behind. It was aimed at the back of Cedrick¡¯s head. Kieran, who had sharp senses, perceived the snowball and used his ck umbre to block it in time. ¡°Who is it? How dare you try to attack from behind? Are you looking for death?¡± Treyton bellowed. There was a sharp look in his narrowed eyes, and his deep voice carried a strong murderous aura. A couple walked out from behind a ck van. The woman ran over and said apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We were having a snowball fight just now and identally hit you. Is he all right?¡± As she spoke, she walked tentatively toward Cedrick. 3/4 12:23 +72% Chapter 338 The Cause Of His Blindness Kieran swiftly blocked her line of sight. ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± +15 Bonus Treyton did not believe her words and sneered. ¡°This is right outside theboratory. Having a snowball fight herete at night? Who are you trying to fool?¡± Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Is She Really Pregnant The woman lowered her head dejectedly, behaving as if she could not exin herself. Cedrick said in a low voice, ¡°Forget it. You can leave now.¡± +15 Bonus Displeased with the fact that she was reprimanded, her boyfriend retorted, ¡°You were the one who walked out in front of us. Do you think you¡¯re better than us just because you¡¯re rich? She already said it was an ident. Why won¡¯t you let it go?¡± At the end of his utterances, he threw a snowball at Cedrick while Kieran and Treyton were not looking. The snowball exploded into a flurry of snow at Cedrick¡¯s feet, sttering across the inky ck surface of his expensive shoes. Cedrick did not react in the slightest. With Treyton¡¯s support, he continued walking and did not look to the side even once. Treyton, on the other hand, was infuriated. After entrusting Cedrick to Kieran¡¯s care, he called on the laboratory¡¯s security guards to seize the couple. The couple made to flee, but the guards caught ahold of them almost immediately. Treyton red at them coldly. ¡°Take them to the police station. Write them up for nder and intentional assault.¡± ¡°Understood. Rest assured that we¡¯ll get it done, Mr. Treyton.¡± Once Treyton was done giving out instructions, he turned around and soon got into Cedrick¡¯s car. The three of them then sped back to Harrick Vi in the midst of the snowy night. As soon as the couple were brought to the police station, they were escorted away by people from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The man who had tossed a snowball at Cedrick was currently standing obediently in Craig¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Craig, I think Mr. Jenson has gone blind,¡± he reported. Craig took his crossed legs off of his desk and sat upright. ¡°Are you certain?¡°. ¡°Yes. Mr. Jenson needed someone to help him around. Even though he had sunsses on, he didn¡¯t react at all when I threw the snowball at him. However, by right, any normal person would lower their head to take a look.¡± Craig¡¯s eyes glinted with surprise as he put his elbow on the table and propped up his chin with his fist. ¡°How is Mr. Jenson supposed to stay in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation if he¡¯s blind? It¡¯s about time for him to step down and let someone else take the lead.¡± He even began to chuckle at the thought. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t keep this good news to ourselves. Tell Yael about it. He can choose what he wants to do with this information, and whatever he does is none of my business.¡± Upon returning to Harrick Vi, Kieran and Treyton nned to rest in their rooms, but Cedrick called them into his bedroom. In a somber tone, Cedrick said, ¡°Yael wasn¡¯t the one behind what happened in front of theboratory 1/4Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 339 Is She Really Pregnant today. It was Craig who nned it. I assume that they already know about my loss of sight.¡± 72% +15 Bonus Kieran and Treyton agreed silently. They were both smart enough to put two and two together after what had just happened. Cedrick continued, ¡°Either of them will be itching to overthrow me once they hear about this. I don¡¯t think tomorrow¡¯s surgery will go smoothly.¡± Kieran¡¯s and Treyton¡¯s expressions became grave. After exchanging looks with each other, they looked at Cedrick at the same time. Treyton asked, ¡°Since you brought this up, I presume that you already have a n to solve this?¡± Casting his eyes downward, Cedrick quirked his thin lips into a slight smile.. Night had fallen upon Chanaea, but it was still daytime in Erihal, near midday. up Gwendolyn sat in front of her bedroom window, viewing the picturesque scenery outside out of boredom. In her mind, she was calcting the time difference between her and Cedrick. Idly, she wondered if he was asleep and if he was dreaming about her. A knock on the door interrupted her train of thought. It was Nico who came in with her lunch. ¡°It¡¯s time for lunch, Ms. Gwendolyn,¡± he said. Due to the listening device on the overhead light, he proceeded to sing Charles¡® praises. ¡°Mr. Lund mentioned that you haven¡¯t had an appetite because you don¡¯t like the food here as much. He purposely found a Chanaean restaurant here and ordered a few grilled vegetable dishes for you.¡± At the sound of some Chanaean food, Gwendolyn could not help but get up and stand before the table to take a look at the tray. Sure enough, there were a number of Chanaean dishes on the tray that looked perfectly authentic. It almost felt as if they had been flown in straight from Chanaea. The dishes looked great, but the smell of greaseing from the food caused nausea to well up in Gwendolyn¡¯s gut. She tried so hard to hold back her nausea that her face turned pale. In the end, she could not resist the urge to vomit and made a dash for the bathroom. Gwendolyn had barely eaten anything for breakfast, and all she managed to vomit was a bunch of watered¨Cdown gastric acid. Her throat was rough and burned faintly from all the retching. Nico looked in her direction and frowned as he began to realize something. By the time Gwendolyn was done vomiting and left the bathroom after cleaning herself up, Nico had already turned off the listening device on the overhead light. He had also locked the windows and bedroom door. His expression was a serious one, and he hesitated briefly before mustering the courage to ask, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, have you noticed any changes in your physical conditiontely?¡± 2/4 4¡¢Èâ:72%•þ Chapter 339 Is She Really Pregnant +15 Bonus Gwendolyn was massaging her chest as she ruminated on his question. ¡°I think there are some changes. I alwaysck appetite, and I can¡¯t stand the smell of any kind of cooking. I also feel sleepy constantly.¡± Initially, she thought she would have a fair share of sleepless nights due to her constant thinking of Cedrick. However, she had not lost a single wink of sleep since she arrived in Erihal. Every night, she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Nico silently shifted his gaze to her stomach. ¡°Do you think¡­ you could be pregnant?¡± ¡°Pregnant?¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. Barely considering that possibility, she continued, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve slept with Ceddy multiple times in the past, and I was never able to get pregnant, so why would I get pregnant now of all times¡­¡± At the end of her utterances, her whole body stiffened. Come to think of it, my period is about two weekste. Moreover, my recent symptoms really do seem to hint at a pregnancy. She moved her hands down and gently caressed her belly. Her gaze then followed her movements. If that¡¯s true, this baby came at the worst time possible. Life truly isn¡¯t on my side. I couldn¡¯t get pregnant when I wanted to, yet this baby came when I didn¡¯t want to be pregnant at all¡­ The smelling from the food was causing her stomach to churn again. With nothing left in her to throw up, Gwendolyn could only dry¨Cheave in front of the sink. Finally catching on to the situation, Nico covered the food on the table with tes and switched on the air purifier. Gwendolyn felt extremely nauseous, but she simply could not vomit anymore. All she could do was suppress her nausea and say hopefully, ¡°We can¡¯te to that conclusion yet. Maybe all these symptoms just came from me being in an unfamiliar ce or anxiety. It might not be pregnancy.¡± Nico felt miserable at the sight of her difort, but there was nothing he could do to help, ¡°Do you want to find a way to verify if it¡¯s just a regr kind of sickness or an actual pregnancy?¡± he suggested after letting out a sigh. Gwendolyn sat down on the edge of the bed and contemted in silence instead of replying to him. Not only were the two of them held in captivity, but they also did not have a phone. With no means to communicate with anyone else, there was no way they could get their hands on a pregnancy test kit. It would be extremely difficult for her to test for pregnancy and hide it from Charles at the same time, considering the situation they were in. Nico was entirely aware of the tough spot they were in. ¡°If you¡¯re really pregnant, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to hide it from Charles for long, Ms. Gwendolyn. He¡¯s already preparing to marry you. If he comes to know that you¡¯re pregnant at such a juncture, what do you think he will do?¡± With Charles¡® pathologically stubborn personality, Gwendolyn¡¯s possible pregnancy was like a ticking time bomb. 3/4 Chapter 339 Is She Really Pregnant +15 Bonus There was no telling if Charles would explode with anger and do anything crazy after he learned about the matter. ¡°It¡¯ll be impossible to hide something like this. Let me think about it,¡± Gwendolyn replied. She ced her hands by her sides and unconsciously gripped the nket. Nico carried a chair over and sat beside her quietly while gazing at her. He really did pity her. She was just a young woman, yet she traveled halfway across the world for Cedrick¡¯s sake. In order to deal with Charles, she could not rx in the slightest. As the Harris family¡¯s little princess, if she was indeed pregnant, she should have been pampered and coddled by her family. Because of the whole situation, however, she was stuck racking her brains to devise a n to deal with Charles, that psycho. While Nico continued to stare at Gwendolyn, she had her eyes glued to the floor, still mulling in earnest. After a couple of minutes, she narrowed her pretty eyes coldly and announced in a firm voice, ¡°Since we can¡¯t hide it no matter what, then I¡¯ll have him help him confirm my pregnancy and ept the fact. Chapter 340 Chapter 340 Chapter 340 Forcing Cedrick To Give Up His Power +15 Bonus Gwendolyn¡¯s fierce gaze engrossed Nico so much that he asked in a daze, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Crinkling her eyes in a smile, she replied, ¡°The banquet taking ce a few days from now will definitely be entertaining.¡± Not only was she going to make Gerhardt agree to work with her, but she was also going to break the surprising news of her possible pregnancy to Charles. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Nico nced at her pretty face and began to feel uneasy. Back in Chanaea, a sleepless night loomed in Harrick Vi. Early the next morning, Treyton listlessly propped his cheek in the palm of his hand as he ate his breakfast. His expression was gloomy, and there were dark circles under his eyes At that moment, Kieran walked down the stairs. Treyton immediately looked up at him. Kieran still looked unbelievably calm and aloof as ever. It did not appear as though he had missed any sleepst night. ¡°You know, Kieran, I really envy the fact that you never take anything to heart,¡± Treyton remarked. Kieran stayed silent and walked to his seat, where he began to eat breakfast quietly, After the two of them were done eating, Treyton got up to bring Cedrick¡¯s breakfast upstairs. He had just reached the staircase when he heard amotioning from the entrance outside the garden. ¡°They came so soon? Here I was thinking that we¡¯d finally be able to enjoy a quiet breakfast for once,¡± Treyton grumbled. Halting in his tracks, he was prepared to go out and take a look. However, Kieran stopped him by instructing, ¡°I¡¯ll go. You should bring Cedrick¡¯s breakfast to him.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Treyton opened the door to the master bedroom and found that Cedrick had woken up and was fully dressed. Thetter stood ramrod straight by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, listening closely to the noise outside through the curtains. ¡°Kieran is taking care of it. You should ignore it and have your breakfast first,¡± Treyton urged. Cedrick did not say anything, nor did he move. Holding his arm, Treyton guided him to a chair. Meanwhile, arge group of people showed up at the gate. When Kieran walked into the garden, he took a rough look around and spotted Xander and Yael leading a few bodyguards and some esteemed directors of Jenson Group. Even Craig hade along with his subordinates from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was quite the scene. 1/4 12:24 Thu, 8 Jun Chapter 340 Forcing Cedrick To Give Up His Power 72% +15 Bonus Craig was the first to speak at the sight of Kieran. ¡°Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Kieran! Mr. Cedrick hasn¡¯t shown up at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in a long time. Could he have fallen ill?¡± Kieran hated their false niceties and could not be bothered to mirror them. ¡°I can¡¯t stand nonsense; cut it out, and just tell me what you¡¯re here for.¡± Craig was slightly taken aback, so he chuckled loudly to mask his awkwardness. ¡°You truly do live up to the rumors about you, Mr. Kieran.¡± Kieran kept his hands tucked in his pockets as he listened to Craig¡¯s gibberish expressionlessly. The atmosphere became a little tense. ¡°I¡¯m here to talk to Cedrick about a major family matter, Kieran. It would be great if you could let us in,¡± Yael volunteered. Kieran turned them down curtly. ¡°No. Cedrick¡¯s down with a cold.¡± Xander red at Kieran from behind Yael. ¡°It¡¯s been too many days for that to be usible. Couldn¡¯t you at least try to change to a more believable excuse? Doesn¡¯t that just make you look bad that he¡¯s not getting better even though you¡¯re here?¡± Kieran was unmoved. ¡°He¡¯s got influenza. Just tell me what you want, and I¡¯ll ry it to him,¡± he said in a t tone. Influenza? Yael and Xander exchanged nces. It seemed that they did not believe Kieran. Xander did not want to listen to any more of Kieran¡¯s excuses, so he finally came clean about the purpose of his visit. ¡°I heard that Cedrick went blind. Well, the Jenson family has a rule which states that those with disabilities are not fit to run the family. He seldom goes to Jenson Group because of his health, causing thepany¡¯s performance in the recent month to drop. Our investors and directors are displeased with him!¡± One of the directors summoned by him to Harrick Vi chipped in, ¡°Yes. Since Mr. Cedrick can¡¯t do anything in our favor anymore, we need to re¨Celect the CEO.¡± Kieran¡¯s silence only served to encourage Xander. Loudly, thetter said, ¡°How could a blind man be the head of the Jenson family? If word of this gets out, it will besmirch the good name of our family! We came here today to bring Cedrick to our ancestral hall and have him relinquish his control over the family in front of every single one of our ancestors.¡± Kieran scoffed, which was a rare expression for him to disy. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Cedrick, the Jenson family would never have be the richest family that it is today. The glory he brought to the Jenson family and Jenson Group is unprecedented. You all may be part of the Jenson family as well, but what have you guys brought to the table? What right do you have to stand here and mor?¡± Xander was rendered speechless by Kieran¡¯s outburst. All the employees of Jenson Group only knew about Cedrick. They hardly ever heard of Yael¡¯s name, let alone Xander¡¯s. Meanwhile, Yael began to put on a sorrowful expression. ¡°You¡¯re right, Kieran. Cedrick is a good kid. I¡¯m most distressed to learn that such a tragedy has befallen Him. If it weren¡¯t for the unbreachable family rule, he would really be the perfect candidate to lead our 2/4 12:24 Thu, 8 Jun 2 Chapter 340 Forcing Cedrick To Give Up His Power family.¡± 72% +15 Bonus ¡°You¡¯re distressed?¡± Kieran¡¯s tone was chilly. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, blind yourself now, as it will at least make you a loving uncle to Cedrick. But you won¡¯t dare to do so because you¡¯re ungrateful, heartless, and power¨Chungry.¡± Yael was stumped for words. The other members of the Jenson family paled as well. Everyone had heard of Kieran being harsh and straightforward with his insults, but none of them could say anything to retort him. Seeing that the Jensons had fallen silent, Kieran coldly retracted his gaze from Yael and turned to Craig. ¡°What do you want?¡± Craig simply smiled and nced at his subordinates. Jasper Young, the leader of the ninth unit in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, stepped forth to offer an exnation. ¡°Mr. Kieran, I regret to inform you that Mr. Cedrick¡¯s blindness renders him ipetent to maintain his position as the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thus, everyone in the bureau has made the unanimous decision to request Mr. Cedrick to show up and elect Mr. Newton as the new head of the bureau.¡± Kieran looked at Craig coldly. ¡°Since you¡¯re the mastermind behind that decision, aren¡¯t you going to say some courtesies?¡± Thetter¡¯s eyes glinted with a faint hint of a smile as he said calmly, ¡°Since Mr. Cedrick is having some health issues, he should let go of such a huge responsibility and recuperate at home with leisure. I only did this for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to have a better future.¡± Kieran did not respond to his words. Craig might be as power¨Chungry as Yael, but he was not trying to hide it, making him more open and honest than the other man. The crowd remained at a standstill in front of the gate. When Xander noticed that Kieran had stopped running them down, he began to taunt him again. ¡°I don¡¯t know what benefits Cedrick has given you for you to help him like this, Mr. Kieran. However, if refuse to let us meet him today, we¡¯ll have no choice but to break into the vi.¡± you Right as he finished speaking, the bodyguards that Asher had stationed around the vi emerged from their hiding spots and surrounded the crowd. The loud noise rmed Xander. Frowning, Yael said in displeasure, ¡°As the head of the Jenson family, Cedrick will be deemed derelict in his duty if this incident esctes into a fight and Old Mr. Jenson hears of this. Is the Harris family ready to take on that responsibility?¡± Kieran¡¯s gaze became stony, but he remained silent. 4 3/4 72% Chapter 340 Forcing Cedrick To Give Up His Power +15 Bonus The floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window on the balcony of a third¨Cfloor bedroom opened, and Cedrick¡¯s maic, deep voice traveled from the vi. ¡°How impatient of you, Uncle Yael. You just want the right to lead the family, don¡¯t you? I can give that to you.¡± Following his voice, everyone downstairs looked to the balcony on the third floor of the vi. Cedrick was standing beside the railing of the balconyzily. Despite being dressed in a fluffy gray robe, he still looked aloof, intimidating, and dignified. A pair of sunsses covered half of his calm countenance. His head was bent down slightly as if he were looking at the people gathered at the gate to his vi. Craig furrowed his brows tightly, scrutinizing Cedrick¡¯s orbs that were shielded by sunsses with narrowed eyes from afar. Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Chapter 341 A Head That Looks Like An Egg ¡°Hold on, Cedrick called out, stopping Yael who seas about to leave with his men Cedrick leaned against the balcony railing leisurely and innected. Neville and Swate, bring Mr Xander to the meeting room and leave him with Logan He was disrespectful to the head of the family Logan with know how to punish him Xander immediately became displeased when he heard that ¡°Cedrick you¡¯re about to be ousted from your position of power How dare you still harbor the intention of hitting me ¡°Since Uncle Yael has failed to educate his son well, I have no choice but to properly discipline you for him.¡± In an icy tone. Cedrickmanded, ¡°Neville, tell Logan to add five moreshes¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Save me, Dad Cedrick wants to beat me to death! Dad! Xander was dragged away by Neville and Swain. The bodyguards that Yael had brought over wanted to stop them, but were not a match for the two at all. Yael clenched his fists, suppressing his urge to snatch Xander back. After all, it was true that Xander¡¯s words had crossed the line. Now that Cedrick had not truly ceded power yet, he could not stop Cedrick from hitting Xander and had no choice but to watch his son be dragged away He raised his head, staring sharply at Cedrick who was standing on the balcony of the vi. ¡°I¡¯ll remember this, my dear nephew, and I shall return you the favor ten times over!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± replied Cedrickzily. With a displeased snort, Yael immediately left with his subordinates in the direction where Neville and Swain had dragged Xander. Once everyone had left, the security guards at the door allowed Jennifer to pass. Treyton immediately came out to meet her. ¡°Why did youe over?¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare for me to have a day off. Since I was worried about you, I wanted toe and check on you,¡± replied Jennifer meekly, her head lowered. Treyton stroked her head. Remembering what Craig said earlier, he asked, ¡°Have you met Craig before?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t know him at all. He speaks so frivolous! That¡¯s really annoying.¡± criticized Jennifer firmly. Upon hearing that she disliked Craig, Treyton heaved a sigh of relief. He held her hands and rubbed them to warm them up. ¡°Are you cold?¡± Jennifer smiled contentedly and shook her head. ¡°Ahem!¡± Kieran ced his fist under his mouth. With a cold look in his eyes, he reminded them, ¡°If you¡¯re going act all lovey-dovey in public, go somewhere else.¡± Only then did realization dawn upon Treyton as he raised his head and looked at the empty balcony on the third floor. Cedrick had already returned to his bedroom and closed the windows. ||| 2/4 Chapter 341 A Head That Looks Like An Egg Treyton did not even know when he left Cedrick, who was separated from Gwendolyn, could not see her even though he missed her to bits It was indeed inappropriate for Treyton to show in much affection to his girlfriend there. ¡°You men probably can¡¯t take care of Mr. Jenson well. Do you need my help?¡± asked Jennifer Treyton thought about it for a moment, realizing that he would have to take Cedrick to the hospital for surgeryter. Since Kieran was going to lead the surgery, Treyton would have to deal with all the other trivial matters alone. He was indeed rather overwhelmed. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re here. Both Kieran and I can¡¯t cook well. Since we¡¯ll be busy in these two days, we nned to order food delivery for Cedrick. Now that you¡¯re here, we might need your help to cook some nutritious meals for him after his surgery.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Their initial n was to take Cedrick to a hospital in the city in the afternoon. However, Yael¡¯s and Craig¡¯s people had arrived earlier than expected. The moment they left was the moment when surveince of Harrick Vi was the weakest. It was the best timing for the rest to leave. Kieran left ahead of the group, ten minutester. As one of the biggest shareholders of Chanaea¡¯s major hospitals, returning to Grand Valley Hospital in the city was like going home for him. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. After five minutes, Treyton and Cedrick slipped out of Harrick Vi discreetly via the backdoor. Neville and Swain brought Xander to the ancestral hall and handed him over to Logan. Then, they immediately returned to Harrick Vi. Since Neville was the taller of the two and had a simr physique to Cedrick, he disguised himself as Cedrick and remained at home. After Treyton and Cedrick arrived at the hospital, they quickly made their way to the hospital ward that Kieran had arranged for beforehand. Craniotomy required patients to shave their heads. Since Cedrick disliked the nurses assisting him, Treyton had to shave his head personally. Cedrick looked mncholic, with his gaze hollow and dim. ¡°Gwendolyn is obsessed with appearances. When she sees me next time and finds out that I¡¯ve lost my hair, will she be disgusted?¡± ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Treyton was shocked by his thought process. ¡°Although Kiddo cares about good looks, she values one¡¯s personality before one¡¯s appearance. Besides, your hair will grow back after a while.¡± While the two of them chatted, Cedrick¡¯s head was shaved in no time. Admiring his own work, Treyton clicked his tongue. ¡°Your worries were unnecessary. You still look handsome! However, your head really looks like an egg.¡± He quickly added, ¡°Like a handsome, humongous boiled egg!¡± Cedrick was speechless. What Treyton said did not manage to console him in the slightest bit. Cedrick was secretly pushed into the operating room in the afternoon. Before he entered, he gripped D 3/4 Chapter 341 A Head That Looks Like An Egg Treyton¡¯s arm tightly, as if he was going to entrust Treyton with something. Assuming that Cedrick was worried that the surgery would be risky, Treyton reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. A benign brain tumor is nothing but a small surgery for Kieran. Your life won¡¯t be in any danger.¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°Gwendolyn has been gone for a week now, but she still hasn¡¯t replied to any of my messages.¡± Every time he thought of Gwendolyn, he felt anxious and could not shake off the thought of her possibly being in harm¡¯s way. Chapter 342 Chapter 342 Chapter 342 She Belongs To Him Treyton felt a little guilty. In truth, he had tried calling Gwendolyn several times recently, but her phone was always switched off. Because of this, Asher had gone to check up on her. In any case, I can¡¯t tell Cedrick the truth since he¡¯s about to undergo surgery. All I can do right note is to make up some stories and do my best to reassure him. With that thought in mind, he said, ¡°Kiddo¡¯s fine. In fact, she just messaged me the day before, so focus on your surgery and don¡¯t worry about anything else. At any rate, we should deal with Yael and Craig first. Im sure Kiddo will be all right.¡± Cedrick did not loosen his hold on the other man¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Gwenny sent you a message? What did she say?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Treyton paused for a moment and replied, ¡°She said that everything is fine on her end and asked us not to worry about her. She also expressed concern about your health¡­ Anyway, you can read the message she sent yourself once your vision recovers, okay?¡± In response, Cedrick fell silent and furrowed his brows. The restlessness and uneasiness he was feeling did not dissipate in the slightest. Taking advantage of the man¡¯s momentarypse of attention, Treyton pulled away and allowed the nurses to push Cedrick in. Once thetter was inside, he sat and waited in the corridor. Raising his head, Treyton trained his gaze at the red light of the operating room, all while thoughts about Gwendolyn swirled within his mind. It has been seven days¡­ Kiddo said that she would be back with the Super Antiviral within two weeks at thetest. Please be fine, Kiddo! With Kieran personally performing the surgery, everything went smoothly, and the procedure was over in a little over three hours. Still under the effects of anesthesia, Cedrick was soon wheeled into the observation ward. Treyton followed along, staying by Cedrick¡¯s side for the entire day as he remained unconscious. During that time, Jennifer came by twice to bring them meals. Sensing that something was wrong, Treyton called for Kieran and asked, ¡°Kieran, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s normal for a regr person to be unconscious for this long after anesthesia, right?¡± Wearing a mask, Kieran continued to record Cedrick¡¯s monitoring data while casually responding, ¡°You¡¯re talking about a normal person here. Cedrick has a virus in his body. Can he really be considered a normal person?¡± Treyton fell silent at those words. A momentter, he nced at the bed where Cedricky unconscious and replied in a low voice, ¡°Kieran, why do I have the feeling that you¡¯re actually mocking him?¡± Kieran didn¡¯t reply to his brother and simply left the room once he was done recording the data. 1/4 Chapter 342 She Belongs To Him Treyton shook his head helplessly, silently sympathizing with his future brother-inw 1 b Although Asher may appear to have a fiery temper and seems like a difficult man to deal with, he¡¯s actually quite eary to talk to. On the other hand, Kieran is reserved and seemingly indifferent to everything, but he¡¯s quick to hold grudges and can be quite cunning If Cedrick does end up marrying Kiddo in the future, I bet he¡¯ll find Kieran to be the most challenging obstacle for him to deal with. Two dayster, in Erihal, Charles sent his men toe over in the afternoon to deliver ten exquisite high- end evening gowns for Gwendolyn to choose from. It didn¡¯t take long for her to fall in love with a light green flowy dress that came paired with a snowy white fur shawl, giving the whole ensemble a touch of an enchanted forest fairy vibe. As Nico stood in the living room waiting for Gwendolyn, he soon found himself mesmerized when he saw the womaning down the stairs, dressed in her gown and with her makeup done. His eyes widened. and for a moment, he even forgot to breathe. He immediately lowered his head in an attempt to regain hisposure. Ms. Harris belongs to the boss! She can only be together with him! No matter how beautiful she is, I must resist her charm! Gwendolyn noticed that he had only nced at her briefly before averting his gaze, so she looked down to inspect her attire before asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is my gown ugly?¡± ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s very pretty.¡± Nico¡¯s ears turned slightly red, and as he regained hisposure, he quickly noticed the color of the gown. He whispered, ¡°That being said, isn¡¯t this color a bit too much?¡± I doubt any man in this world would appreciate the color green. After all, it¡¯s a color that¡¯s associated with adultery. If Charles were to discover the truth and see this outfit, wouldn¡¯t he feel like she¡¯s intentionally provoking him? ¡°I don¡¯t really care whether he likes it or not. All that matters is that I like it. Besides, I¡¯ve never believed in those ims about the color green being a symbol of infidelity. Humans are the ones who came up with such superstitions in the first ce, anyway.¡± Knock, knock. Just when she was done saying her piece, someone knocked on the door. Putting on his ugly disguise, Nico reluctantly went to open the door. Leaning against the doorframe with a bouquet of white roses in his hand, Charles was taking in the fragrance of the flowers in a rather elegant pose. ¡°Gwen, are you ready?¡± he asked before presenting the roses, his deep blue eyes lifting slightly. However, his enthusiasm vanished when his gazended on Nico¡¯s ugly face. ¡°Howe it¡¯s you?¡± He narrowed his eyes in a sinister manner, not wanting to spare another nce at the man. Taking note of his reaction, Nico stifled augh and said, ¡°Mr. Lund, Ms. Harris is ready. We can leave now.¡± With that, he took a big step to the side, getting out of sight. The moment he did so, Gwendolyn¡¯s breathtakingly beautiful face immediately caught Charles¡¯ attention. 2/4 Chapter 342 She Belongs To Him Coupled with the fact that Nico was the first person he saw first, Gwendolyn¡¯s already exquisite features now appeared downright ethereal. Charles eyes glimmered with infatuation and delight as he gazed at her. ¡°Gwen, your beauty is truly out of this world. Every frown and smile of yours captivates my heart.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows slightly, not liking the way he was staring at her so intensely, nor the way he was spewing corny romantic words. She lowered her gaze and with a deadpan expression, she uttered, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t dy any longer. Let¡¯s go.¡± She bypassed Charles, brushing past him, when her vision was suddenly filled with the exquisite white roses in his hand. Charles handed the white roses to her. ¡°White roses are a symbol of elegance, which means they¡¯re a perfect match for you, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn cocked her head to look at him. Naturally, she understood the meaning behind his words. If it were any other day, she would have made a sarcastic remark, asking him what would a b*stard like him know about the definition of a perfect match. However, since she had many important matters to attend to that day, she couldn¡¯t afford to provoke Charles just yet. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. With that thought in mind, she epted the bouquet of roses from him and walked toward the car without looking back, her expression remaining as cold as ever. Meanwhile, Charles, who had prepared himself to be ridiculed, was surprised to see that Gwendolyn epted his gift without saying a word. Delight washed over him. He turned to look at Nico, who was standing motionless by the door, and asked, ¡°Since Ms. Harris has epted my flowers, does that mean she¡¯s starting to ept me?¡± Nico lowered his head even further. ¡°I can¡¯t possibly guess what¡¯s on Ms. Harris¡¯ mind.¡± Charles gave a hearty chuckle in response, seemingly having his own assumptions of the situation, and quickly caught up with Gwendolyn. As for Nico, he trailed behind them silently. Not long after, they arrived at the entrance of the pce. Thest time they were here, Charles had brought her in through the eastern gate. This time, however, the main gate of the pce was open due to the banquet. Men and women who were dressed elegantly could be seen chatting leisurely as they slowly made their way into the ce. The parking lot was filled with various luxury cars, and everyone who came was influential tycoons and dukes of Erihal. ¡°There will be a lot of people during the banquet, so make sure to stay close to me lest you get Charles reminded Gwendolyn in a low voice. lost,¡± Although Gwendolyn was nodding, she was quietly scanning the crowd, searching for Gerhardt 3/4 Chapter 342 She Belongs To Him Rotundum. To her surprise, instead of spotting Gerhardt, it was his son, Caesar Rotundum, who approached her first and struck up a conversation. ¡°Ms. Harris, you look exceptionally beautiful tonight. This light green dress of yours is truly the most unique and stunning piece I¡¯ve ever seen!¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He must be joking. Among the women present, all the noblewomen are married, while the youngdies are all hoping to catch the eye of a duke or a young tycoon during the banquet. Nobody in their right mind would choose to wear a green dress that doesn¡¯t please anyone. When Charles saw that Gwendolyn wasughing, he was shocked. I have never seen her smile at me ever since we separated seven years ago, and yet, here she is, beaming at another man¡¯s casual remark. Displeased, he said, ¡°Caesar, are you trying to undermine me by approaching mypanion? it seems like you don¡¯t hold me in high regard, huh?¡± Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Chapter 343 An Interesting And Dangerous Woman Caesar was mindful of Charles status as an elder, so the former said nothing in response Gerhardt Rotundum, who was chattering with a few dukes in the distance, happened to notice the scene on the other side. His face twisted into a stern look as he marched over. ¡°Vidar, have you forgotten about your lowly status? What makes you think Caesar should respect you?¡± Charles scowled harder with displeasure when he saw Gerhardt approaching ¡°Lord Gerhardt, don¡¯t forget that Her Highness took me in as her son. That makes me nominally an elder of Caesar.¡± Gerhardt¡¯s expression clouded over dramatically when he heard that. Charles was not wrong, so the former merely let out a contemptuous scoff before storming off with his ss of champagne. At the side of the resplendent banquet hall was a violin band. The melodious music that came from their instruments quickly dispelled the negative atmosphere from carlier. Caesar, on the other hand, only had eyes for Gwendolyn. Fixing his mesmerizing blue eyes on her, he held his hand out as a gentleman would and asked, ¡°May I have the honor of inviting the beautiful Ms. Harris to a dance?¡± Gwendolyn had just parted her lips to give her answer when Charles stepped in. ¡°Don¡¯t push it, Caesar. How dare you invite my partner to a dance?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. He shot Caesar a warning re and held his hand out to Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, things look rather exciting on the dance floor. Let¡¯s join them.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes darted between the two men¡¯s hands before she grabbed them by their sleeves and ced them in each other¡¯s palms. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to dance. Why don¡¯t you guys go without me? I need to go to the restroom, anyway. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Worried about her being alone, Charles offered, ¡°I¡¯ll get Jonahi to go with you. The pce is too big, and you might get lost easily.¡± A frown instantly appeared on Gwendolyn¡¯s forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s weird to make a grown man like Jonah follow me to the restroom? I can find my way. At most, I¡¯ll ask the maids for directions.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Charles could not bear to let her go alone, so he offered, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you, then. I¡¯ll wait for you. outside.¡± Nico, who had been silently tailing them, held his breath. Charles is too vignt. He¡¯s not easy to fool. Gwendolyn was racking her brains for an excuse to decline without arousing Charles¡¯ suspicion when Kylie¡¯s personal maid suddenly showed up. ¡°Mr. Vidar, the crown princess would like to speak to you.¡± Seizing the opportunity, Gwendolyn chimed in, ¡°It must be an urgent matter. You¡¯d better hurry. I¡¯m just going to the restroom. What else can I do? Escape?¡± There was a conflicted look on Charles¡¯ face, but he still gave in. ¡°Be careful. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in response. 1/3 Chapter 343 An Interesting And Dangerous Woman With that, Charles left with the maid As soon as he was out of sight, Gwendolyn approached Caesar and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Lord Gerhardy Please bring me to him I have something to discuss with him¡± Sensing she meant business, Caesar answered solemnly, ¡°This way, Ms. Harris¡± Gerhardt had been waiting in the lounge for a long time. When Gwendolyn entered it, Nico paced the hallway nonchntly to keep watch. Secondster. Caesar, who was dismissed by his father, stood outside the door and chatted with Nico. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn greeted Gerhardt politely in the room, ¡°Hello, Lord Gerhardt. Time¡¯s of the essence here, so I¡¯ll keep things short.¡± Sitting elegantly in the seat, Gerhardt nodded for her to continue. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve looked into my background, considering the fact that you¡¯re willing to see me. Our coboration is simple. I¡¯ll help you get Chanaca¡¯s duty-free trade privileges from my brother while you help me get what I want. It¡¯s a mutually beneficial deal.¡± Gerhardt smoothened his mustache and stared intently at her with his cloudy eyes. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m the duke and the husband of the crown princess. With a unique status like this, I have to say I¡¯m not particrly interested in things like duty-free trade privileges.¡± shing a confident smile, Gwendolyn uttered, ¡°There¡¯s no need to beat around the bush with me, Lord Gerhardt. You¡¯ve been controlled by the crown princess for half of your life. Getting this privilege would mean you¡¯re secretly free from her in terms of finance. Soon, you¡¯ll be free from her power, too. If you find this offer not attractive enough, I can help you kill Vidar.¡± Gerhardt narrowed his eyes in confusion. ¡°He¡¯s going to be your husband soon, yet you want to kill him?¡± I can¡¯t believe there are women who¡¯d want to turn themselves into a widow on their wedding night. How ruthless. Gwendolyn did not bother answering that question. Instead, she asked, ¡°Vidar¡¯s existence will forever be an ultimate form of insult to you. Shouldn¡¯t you be delighted that I¡¯m offering to kill him for you, Lord Gerhardt?¡± Her words elicited a heartyughter from the man. ¡°Hahaha! This is interesting. You¡¯re an interesting yet dangerous woman. Very well. I¡¯ll ept your offer. What do you want?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved upward as her eyes glinted with determination. ¡°I just want the Super Antiviral stored in the pce¡¯s storehouse.¡± In the meantime, Nico and Caesar in the hallway clicked rtively well with each other. ¡°Mr. Caesar, don¡¯t you think I¡¯m ugly? Why are you chatting with me without being disgusted by my face?¡± fault.¡± Caesar observed hispanion¡¯s face in detail again. ¡°You¡¯re ugly, I have to admit, but our parents ones who gave us our looks. It¡¯s a w you were born with, so it¡¯s not your Nico chuckled and cast Caesar a curious gaze. Hearing such an honest yet kindment was a first for the former. 2/3 Chapter 343 An Interesting And Dangerous Woman Caesar continued, ¡°Besides, the fact that you¡¯re Ms. Harris bodyguard means there¡¯s something special about you.¡± ¡°Something special?¡± Nico held in hisughter and spared no effort to make a self-deprecating joke ¡°Maybe I¡¯m exceptionally uglypared to other bodyguards¡± That joke put a smile on Caesar¡¯s face. They continued chatting amicably, filling the hallway with a lively atmosphere. Not long after, the door was pushed open. Nico immediately stopped chatting and walked over to find Gwendolyn exiting the lounge with a grim expression. Sensing something was not right, he asked softly, ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn, did Lord Gerhardt decline the offer?¡± Gwendolyn merely shook her head. She had no intentions of exining the matter in public. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Charles must be looking for me.¡± When Nico studied the look on her face, he figured something unexpected must have happened. Although he said nothing, he felt his heart sink to rock bottom. Charles had just exited Kylie¡¯s lounge when Gwendolyn returned to the banquet hall. She was sitting alone in a corner and sipping on a ss of juice with, surprisingly, no one approaching her. The sight of that sent a wave of relief into Charles¡¯ heart. ¡°Gwen,¡± he called out with a smile. Upon approaching her, he informed her in a low voice, ¡°Mother will be announcing our marriage dateter, so we¡¯ll have to go on the stage. Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll just have to stand beside me.¡± Gwendolyn said nothing in response, an expressionless look stered all over her face. Charles, on the other hand, was in a good mood. Oblivious to herck of enthusiasm, he continued mindlessly, ¡°I know you said your household registry¡¯s still with your father. It¡¯s okay even if we can¡¯t get the marriage certificate now. We can have the wedding first and get the certificate processed when we return to Chanaea. What do you think?¡± Masking the disgust in her eyes, Gwendolyn answered tly, ¡°Why bother pretending to ask me when you¡¯ve already made the arrangements? Just do whatever you want.¡± Her not refusing delighted Charles even more. Noticing the juice in her ss, Charles poured a ss of wine and gave it to her. ¡°The atmosphere¡¯s great tonight. How can you not have some alcohol? This is made with Erihal¡¯s best grapes. They¡¯re not exported and are only meant for the royal family. Have a taste.¡± Gwendolyn did not bother looking at him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have alcohol. I¡¯m having a slight cold.¡± ¡°A cold? Are you unwell?¡± Charles quickly removed his coat and draped it over her skinny shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s fault. It¡¯s gotten colder these days. I¡¯ll make sure to be more attentive next time and not make you fall ill.¡± Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Having Morning Sickness In Public His sparkling eyes that were filled with passion were pinned on her, yet she turned away, refusing to look at him The coat that was forcefully draped over her did not make her feel warm, she felt chilly instead. Removing the coat, she returned it to him and said. ¡°The banquet¡¯s starting soon. You should put it on since you¡¯re going upstageter. Besides, the heater in the hall is turned on. I won¡¯t be feeling cold in there.¡± A look of surprise and delight shed past Charles¡¯ eyes. ¡°Are you worried about me, Gwen?¡± His reaction only filled her with disgust and rage. Frowning, she lowered her gaze to conceal her emotions while stuffing the coat into his arms. Charles reached out to take the coat and put it on as instructed. At the same time, his charming face lit up with a bright smile. ¡°This is great. I¡¯m looking forward to our life in the future.¡± Gwendolyn did not share his joy. She merely pursed her lips and ignored him. Thinking of the nter made her grind her teeth in silence. The spacious banquet hall was filled with royals. Suddenly, the violin band seated in the corner of the hall changed their tune, and the lights dimmed, except for the flickering red candles on the long table.. Following that, the spotlight was turned on, and everyone¡¯s gaze fell on the spiraling stairs. Kylie, dressed in an elegant dress iid with gold, stood on the highest step, smiling and giving the crowd a graceful wave. The banquet was organized by her, hence making her the main character that night. Rounds of apuse and words of praise filled the air the moment she appeared. As the crowd continued to shower her with ttery, she held the sturdy marble railing and slowly descended the stairs. The spotlight followed her figure until she arrived at the center of the stage, where a microphone was ced. With a graceful wave of Kylie¡¯s hand, all the apuse and chatter came to a halt. Gwendolyn watched and listened quietly to Kylie¡¯s mandatory speech, asionally apuding along with the crowd. ¡°Truth is, there¡¯s an announcement I¡¯d like to make with everyone here.¡± Kylie¡¯s eyes searched the crowd until they found Charles and Gwendolyn. As if reading her mind, the person controlling the spotlight shifted it to the couple. Seeing that, Charles immediately held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. Gwendolyn¡¯s reflexes told her to free her hand, but the man held it so tightly that she could barely struggle. 1/4 Chapter 344 Having Morning Sickness In Public 05 Since all eyes were on them, Gwendolyn quickly recollected herself and stered a subtle smile, looking shy and nervous instead of the disgust she felt when trying to pull her hand out. The crowd tactfully opened up a path on the red carpet so Charles could walk up the stage while pulling Gwendolyn along. Still standing on the stage. Kylie continued announcing into the microphone. ¡°My adopted son, Vidar Lund, and thisdy from Chanaca, Ms. Gwendolyn Shalder¡¯s Harris, will be getting married at Fl Grand Cathedral in seven days.¡± A loud apuse boomed in the hall. Upon arriving on stage, Charles let go of Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and gave Kylie a hug to show their close rtionship. Back then, the royal family had kept her conception, which happened before the wedding ceremony, a secret. Moreover, she was the only sister to the current king as well as the most distinguished person in the whole of Erihal. Hence, no one dared to doubt Charles¡¯ identity, even if they noticed how simr his eyes and brows were to Kylie¡¯s. When everyone was impressed with how lucky Charles was, Gerhardt merely drank alone in his seat. s, everyone¡¯s attention was captured by the spotlight; no one noticed his darkened expression and his eyes that burned with rage. Sitting beside him was Caesar, who rested his chin on one hand, sighing and gazing at Gwendolyn with a look of mncholy. After Charles had finished hugging Kylie on the stage, he took the microphone from her and spoke loud and clear. ¡°Gwen and I have known each other for over a decade, and I¡¯ve loved her during all those years. Now, I finally have the chance to be her husband. I swear to all of you we¡¯ll live happily for the rest of our lives.¡± At that, he turned to give Gwendolyn a gaze and extended his arm. ¡°Come here.¡± Gwendolyn merely remained in her spot and stared at him mutely. At that moment, all eyes were fixed on the stage. The music in the hall had stopped, andpliments from the young nobledies traveled to Gwendolyn¡¯s ears. ¡°Thisdy¡¯s so pretty. She and Vidar look so good. What a perfect match!¡± ¡°Do you believe it? They loved each other for over a decade. What kind of love story is this? They¡¯re so sweet!¡± A perfect match? Loved each other for over a decade? Gwendolyn scoffed inwardly. How touching. I bet even Charles is beginning to believe his own lies, too. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, Gwen. Come here,¡± came his gentle voice, his exquisite blue eyes brimming with affection. 2/4 Chapter 344 Having Morning Sickness In Public Putting a lid on her negative emotions. Gwendolyn yed along by curling her hips and made her way toward Charles with her heels clicking on the ground She then reached out to slip her hand into his Just when they were about to touch, a frown marred Gwendolyn¡¯s face, and she covered her mouth in difort. Since the microphone was rtively close to her, it amplified her retching sounds. Every person in the hall heard it loud and clear. The smile on Charles¡¯ face vanished instantly, and his hand hung in the air. While standing in front of everyone, Gwendolyn murmured shyly, ¡°I was nning to break the good news to you after the wedding, but it looks like the baby won¡¯t allow it-¡± The nauseating feeling engulfed her again, making her run down the stage to use the restroom. Charles froze in ce, stunned by what he heard. After all, only he knew how sarcastic her words were. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his body remained stiff in the same spot for what seemed to be a long time. The nobles, who were unaware of the details, merely thought he was too surprised by the news. Hence, they began congratting both Charles and Kylie. ¡°Congrattions, Your Highness! You¡¯re going to have a grandchild soon!¡± ¡°Mr. Vidar and Ms. Harris are both so good-looking. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll give birth to a cute baby with their amazing genes.¡± ¡°I know, right? Her Highness is so fortunate. Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Mr. Vidar!¡± Kylie stole a nce at Charles and immediately sensed something was not right. However, she could only respond to their well wishes with a smile. ¡°Thank you, everyone!¡± In the meantime, Charles¡¯ fists were clenched tightly, his rationality diminishing under his swelling rage. Regardless, he had no choice but to suppress his urge tosh out in front of the crowd. Gritting his teeth.. he turned to Kylie and informed, ¡°Mother, I¡¯m going to check on Gwen.¡± His mother gave him a nod in response. After receiving her approval, Charles quickly got off the stage and hurried to the restroom. When he arrived at the entrance, he saw Gwendolyn leaning against the wall of the hallway outside the restroom, waiting calmly for him to approach. The sight of her green gown was like a cruel insult that struck his nerves. After all, he was getting married soon, but his wife was pregnant with someone else¡¯s child. He would be aughingstock if the public found out about it. Clowering at Gwendolyn, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her toward his lounge without exining himself N?velDrama.Org owns all content. When the door opened, he gave her a violent push and locked it behind him. Unable to withstand the force, Gwendolyn fell to the ground. Fortunately, the floor was lined with thick arpet, so she was unharmed Chapter 345 Chapter 345 Chapter 345 Do Not Anger Me ¡°Maybe. It¡¯s my first time. I don¡¯t have any experience,¡± Gwendolyn muttered nonchntly as if unfazed by his fury. She then stood up and took a seat on the couch. Taking in a deep breath to calm himself, Charles ordered Jonah to bring in the doctor on duty to examine Gwendolyn. After giving her a brief examination, the doctor bowed and congratted Charles, ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Vidar. Ms. Harris is two weeks pregnant. You¡¯re going to be a father!¡± I¡¯m going to be a father? Hah! Charles red daggers at the doctor, his eyes zing with murderous intent as if he wanted to annihte everything on earth. A loud smash echoed in the room as Charles swung the coffee table to the ground. ¡°Get out! All of you!¡± Charles¡¯ sudden burst of anger gave the doctor a scare, and Jonah quickly brought thetter away. When Charles and Gwendolyn were finally alone in the lounge, he stepped forward and gripped her chin. ¡°Is it Cedrick¡¯s?¡± he asked, refusing to believe his suspicions. ¡°If not?¡± Gwendolyn scoffed. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s yours, then?¡± Charles clenched his jaw, and his gaze turned horrifyingly dark. ¡°Abort this child tomorrow!¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± Gwendolyn pped his hand away and continued indignantly, ¡°Charles Newton, this is my child. You have no right to determine his fate!¡± With bloodshot eyes, Charles bellowed, ¡°But he¡¯s Cedrick¡¯s child! We¡¯re getting married soon! That makes you my woman! I won¡¯t let this childe into this world!¡± Gwendolyn refused to give in. She returned the man¡¯s res and warned, ¡°I won¡¯t let you touch this child! Everyone in the pce knows I¡¯m pregnant now, and they think it¡¯s yours. Besides, you even fooled the crowd into thinking that we¡¯re deeply in love. What would they think if something happened to me now? Do you want to be criticized by everyone?¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you set me up tonight?¡± Realization finally dawned on Charles. Unable to swallow his anger, he grabbed her neck and pinned her on the couch. ¡°Gwendolyn, why are you doing this to me? I only gave up on you seven years ago for my future, but I¡¯ve regretted my actions and am doing my best to make it up to you. Why can¡¯t you give me another chance?¡± asked Charles. He continued glowering at her, even if tears streamed down uncontrobly. ¡°You¡¯ve been treating me well these days. You even epted my flowers when we left the house tonight. I thought you were beginning to notice my efforts and trying to ept me, but you¡¯re telling me now that my wishful thinking is a joke?¡± more disheartening than to be given hope and then pulled back into the abyss with a hit of 1/3 Chapter 345 Do Not Anger Me reality Enduring the suffocating and oppressing feeling he was giving her Gwendolyn smirked evilly ¡°You keep saying I set you up but have you counted the times you did it to me? You said you¡¯d never be to me oner wee to Erihal Did you even keep your word?¡± Taken aback, Charles immediately loosened his grip by a fraction. He avoided her gaze awkwardly, not knowing how to respond to her confrontation. However, Gwendolyn kept ring at him. When she brought up the antidote to Gerhardt, thetter responded with unexpected news Apparently, Kylie had given the antidote to Charles two weeks ago. Hence, it was currently in Charles possession. However, Charles lied, saying the antidote was still in the pce¡¯s storehouse. That way, the former could keep Gwendolyn by his side while wasting the time Cedrick had left. Things would be set in stone once Cedrick¡¯s body sumbed to the disease. Not only would Charles get to keep the Super Antiviral, but he could also get Gwendolyn to marry him. In the end, Cedrick would die a pathetic death without getting anything. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Charles had nned out everything perfectly. ¡°Charles, you¡¯re a heartless monster! You¡¯re worse than an animal!¡± Her insults stoked Charles¡¯ anger, and his rationality was thrown out of the window. He exerted more force, choking her neck harder as he hissed into her ears, ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m a monster. So, don¡¯t you dare anger me!¡± Gwendolyn could feel the oxygen level depleting in her lungs, but she was too weak to fight. Moreover, she had not been eating well due to her morning sickness. The amount of strength she had was not enough for her to fight Charles. Charles guffawed uproariously when he saw the struggling look on her face. As heughed, tears began to roll down his cheeks again. In the next second, he retracted his arm and ripped his shirt apart as if he had gone mad. As fresh air rushed into her lungs, Gwendolyn coughed desperately while clutching her throat. Noting Charles¡¯ actions, she asked in a panic, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ignoring her, Charles removed his shirt and pants and tossed them aside, exposing his naked body before her. Instinctively, Gwendolyn looked away, but he grabbed her chin again and made her stare. ¡°What are you afraid of, Gwendolyn? I want you to get a clear look!¡± His healthy honey-colored skin was covered in vicious scabs, turning his once amazing-looking body into a gruesome sight. Some scars were so deep that his bone was exposed. The skin could never return to its original state, even 2/3 Chapter 345 Do Not Anger Me with the scabs that had formed. ¡°Do you see this? This is all Cedrick¡¯s doing! I was hit with a heavy whip coated in salt water and burned by cigarette butts and iron rods. Not only that, Cedrick poured two whole bottles of acid onto my back and even shed it four hundred and four times with a knife. Not to mention my ribs were broken so many times that I¡¯ve lost count. During those six months in the high-security prison, I could only survive on others leftovers. When night came, I had to either sleep in smelly toilets or get locked up in cold and damp confinement cells. I¡¯d even get beaten for making a tiny mistake. Those hellish days have already. turned me into a madman. So, yes. You¡¯re right. I¡¯m a monster. Only monsters will attack people. So if my life gets miserable, I¡¯ll kill Cedrick and make him go to hell with me.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes had turned red as she stared at his scars in shock. Indeed, they were horrifying. Each scar told her what kind of inhumane punishment he had been through.¡± Still, she did not pity him. It¡¯s his fault for using the S404 RNA virus to harm Cedrick. He deserves it! ¡°Cedrick has been sick for six months because of you. His life isn¡¯t any better than yours!¡± Gwendolyn shouted. Holding back her tears, she suggested, ¡°If you give me the Super Antiviral with no conditions, I¡¯ll call it even between you two. I promise you¡¯ll never hear from each other ever again.¡± Charlesughed menacingly. ¡°Call it even? Never hear from each other?¡± he sneered, removing his hand from her chin. ¡°Gwen, I hate him to the bone, just like how he hates me. The grudge between us can only be resolved when one of us dies. There can never be peace. I nned to marry you so I could get the pleasure of revenge by torturing you. I wanted to make Cedrick watch the woman he would sacrifice his life for suffering under my wrath. But when I saw you, I gave up on the idea. I really love you, Gwen. My love is no less than Cedrick¡¯s love for you. So, why can¡¯t you spare me your love for him? Even just a little bit?¡± he raved. He was irritated and depressed, and he could not stop crying. At that moment, he looked like a desperate beast that had lost its rationale. Chapter 346 Chapter 346 Chapter 346 I Want Them All Gwendolyn averted her gaze, refusing to acknowledge him, while a solitary tear trickled down from the corner of her eye, silently seeping into her hair. What Charles wanted was something she could never give, nor would she ever be able to provide She would only love Cedrick alone for the rest of her life! Charles slumped on the side, a mix of tears andughter escaping him. In his peripheral vision, he glimpsed Gwendolyn reclining on the sofa behind him. A deep crimson bruise marked her once pristine, snow-white neck, strikingly conspicuous. The bruise on her neck was the result of him strangling her. As his rationality resurfaced, he apologized, ¡°Sorry, Gwen. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you.¡± Filled with remorse, he extended his hand, yearning to touch the red bruise on her neck. Gwendolyn dodged him and turned around. Charles¡¯ fingers momentarily stiffened, but within seconds, his face hardened once more. He firmly grasped her shoulders,pelling her to meet his gaze. His previous aura of coldness and malevolence resurfaced. ¡°Gwen, I¡¯ll give you another chance. Do you want to keep the child in your womb or save Cedrick¡¯s life?¡± ¡°Why do you always have to force me to make choices, Charles?¡± Gwendolyn shot daggers at him, gritting her teeth. He arched his brows and smirked. ¡°Because it¡¯s fun, isn¡¯t it? Gwen, if you opt for Cedrick, I expect you to go to the hospital and abort the child. We¡¯ll proceed as nned, and I¡¯ll find a way to silence those wealthy tycoons. However, if you choose to keep the child, I can release you from our engagement and set you free, but Cedrick will have to die.¡± A corner of his lips quirked up. He wanted to see how important Cedrick was in her life. As she red at him, Gwendolyn caught a fleeting glimpse of Nico entering through a window nearby. She opened her eyes, and a cold glint shed across them. ¡°Charles, I refuse to choose. I want them both!¡± After she finished speaking, a muffled thud resounded within the room. Nico, holding a golf club from the corner, forcefully struck the back of Charles head. Charles instantly fost consciousness, copsing to the ground. Noticing the injury on Gwendolyn¡¯s neck, Nico dropped the golf club and rushed over to check on her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯mte!¡± Gwendolyn responded with aforting grin. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m all right.¡± Nico breathed a sigh of relief, casting a nce at Charles, who was lying on the carpet. ¡°What are you going to do next now that Charles found out you¡¯re pregnant?¡± As she gazed at the unconscious Charles sprawled on the ground, Gwendolyn¡¯s mind delved into deep contemtion ¡°Gerhardt told me the antidote for the super virus is in Charles¡¯ hand. Where do you think 1/3 Chapter 346 I Want Them All he could have possibly kept it?¡± Nico lowered his head and went deep in thought. Gwendolyn paused as she pondered before adding. ¡°Considering he has been staying at Alzer Pce, it¡¯s likely he would find it safest to keep the antidote there. It could be concealed within his personal chambers Perhaps tonight is a perfect opportunity for me to retrieve the antidote.¡± ¡°Tonight?¡± Nico expressed his concern. ¡°But there¡¯s a banquet being held in the pce, and it will be crowded with people.¡± other ¡°With so many people and distractions, we can blend in and carry out our mission discreetly. At any time, the pce guards would be vignt, making it nearly impossible for us to seed,¡± she exined. Nico was conflicted, but he knew that was thest resort Gwendolyn could think of. With Charles now aware of her pregnancy, Gwendolyn knew he would tighten his grip on her. Moreover, they understood that if they failed to retrieve the antidote tonight, their chances of securing it through other means would be greatly diminished. any ¡°All right. Stealing the antidote is too risky, especially considering your pregnancy. Let me take care of it instead,¡± Nico said firmly with an unwavering gaze. ¡°You?¡± She frowned and swiftly declined the offer. ¡°Absolutely not! The crown princess publicly announced my wedding date with Charles, which means everyone is aware of our rtionship. I can easily enter the Alzer Pce without raising suspicion. But you, on the other hand, would face far greater risks if you were to go.¡± ¡°But Ms. Gwendolyn, have you considered what will happen to Charles here? I only managed to knock him unconscious, but he¡¯s trained and has an excellent physique. He¡¯ll probably regain consciousness soon. If you¡¯re not by his side, he¡¯ll immediately sense something is amiss!¡± he analyzed. ¡°But¡­¡± Gwendolyn hesitated as she was worried about his safety. ¡°Let¡¯s not argue about this anymore, all right?¡± he said, a determined expression on his face. ¡°Having you here to keep Charles in check gives me a better chance of sess than if you were to go alone. Trust me; I¡¯ll do everything in my power, even if it means risking my life, to retrieve the antidote!¡± ¡°No! I won¡¯t let you risk your life and get caught. Even if we can¡¯t retrieve the antidote tonight, as long as we still have a chance, we can find alternative solutions. There¡¯s only one Nico in this world, and I¡¯ll not allow you to put your life at risk!¡± she eximed. Nico locked eyes with her, profoundly touched by the sincerity reflected in her gaze. Gratitude swelled in his heart, overwhelming him. He cast his gaze downward, tears welling up in his eyes. ¡°Thank you. Apart from Boss, you¡¯re the kindest person I¡¯ve ever known.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s tone turned even more earnest when Nico mentioned Cedrick. ¡°Though Ceddy always teased you, he has always regarded you as family. If he were in my shoes, I believe he would prioritize your safety too.¡± With his head hung low, Nico gently rubbed his nose, trying to hold back his urge to tear. After giving his shoulder a reassuring pat, Gwendolyn shifted into serious nning mode. ¡°Once you¡¯ve retrieved the antidote, find a way to return to Chanaea and bring it straight to Salinsburgh. Don¡¯t worry 2/3 Chapter 346 I Want Them All about me!¡± Nico was taken aback by her decision ¡°What about you? You¡¯re already under confinement, and now you¡¯re pregnant! Charles is a madman, and you¡¯ll be in danger if he loses control!¡± ¡°He will not harm me. The injury on my neck was an ident. Charles will never kill me.¡± she replied Nico kept mum, overwhelmed with mixed feelings. Gwendolyn did not give him a chance to dwell on it further. ¡°Don¡¯t dy any longer; go quickly! And please, take care of yourself!¡± ¡°All right!¡± Nico replied, collecting his thoughts and making his way out through the window. After three days of being unconscious, Cedrick finally woke up. As he gradually regained consciousness, he blinked in confusion. His attempt to touch his eyes was met with the sensation of bandages, and he became aware that his head was heavily wrapped in thick bandages as well. ¡°Stop moving!¡± Treyton eximed. ¡°You still have an IV drip on your hand! Stay calm!¡± Cedrick lowered his hand and sat up, his mind gradually clearing. He immediately asked, ¡°How long have I been asleep?¡± ¡°Three days. You couldn¡¯t take the oral medication since you were unconscious, so Kieran switched to intravenous treatment. Do you still have a headache?¡± Treyton asked. Cedrick attentively assessed his condition and shook his head, then followed up with another question, ¡°How¡¯s Gwenny doing?¡± Treyton fell silent for a moment. Today, Erihal released several pieces of international news. One of them stated that the adopted son of the crown princess, Vidar, would hold a wedding with. Gwendolyn in seven days. Treyton had blocked the news from being spread in Chanaea. Otherwise, there would be a bacsh from keyboard warriors criticizing Gwendolyn for getting married overseas while being engaged to someone else in the country. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Treyton had a hard time exining the turn of events to Cedrick. ¡°Treyton? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Cedrick waited anxiously for a response, but when none came, his worry for Gwendolyn intensified. ¡°Has something happened to Gwenny? I need to leave the hospital now! I want to fly to Erihal today!¡± Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Trying To Stall For Time He then lifted the nket and tried to get off the bed Treyton quickly eepped forward and stopped hits. Don¡¯t be ridiculous! If you leave now, what will we do abom Craig and Yael the day after tomorrow? He then helped Cedrick sit on the bed and gave it some thought before continuing Christina will be fine Asher has already traced her location, and Charles hasn¡¯t been mistreating her either She is very safe at the moment ¡°Really Cedrick asked. ¡°Of course¡¯ Why would I lie to you?¡± Treyton replied, feeling relieved that Cedrick could not see his current facial expression. ¡°But Charles has always wanted to marry Gwenny. Why would he not make a move on her?¡± Cedrick pressed on. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Um¡­¡± Treyton was struggling toe up with an answer when Kieran knocked on the door and came in. Treyton immediately stood up and asked, ¡°What¡¯s his status, Kieran?¡± ¡°Everything seems to be fine. It should be okay for him to remove the bandages,¡± Kieran replied while pulling the curtains aside. Treyton walked up to Cedrick and offered to give him a hand, but Cedrick declined his help. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± He then reached behind his head and began to slowly unwrap the bandages. ¡°Take it slow with thest two loops, and don¡¯t open your eyes too quickly. You need to give them time to adapt to the light,¡± Kieran reminded him while standing at the foot of the bed. Cedrick did as told; his eyelids fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes. As though there was a ck veil around his eyes, he could barely see the outline of his hands when he looked at them. Even so, it was a huge improvementpared to when his vision was pitch-ck. Treyton walked up to him and waved his hand excitedly in front of Cedrick¡¯s face. ¡°Can you see my hand?¡± ¡°Not clearly, but can at least make out the direction it is moving in,¡± Cedrick replied honestly. ¡°Try looking at my face, then. Are you able to see my expression?¡± Treyton pressed on while leaning forward. Cedrick stared at him for a few seconds before shaking his head. Treyton let out a disappointed sigh and turned toward Kieran. ¡°What should we do, Kieran? He has a meeting the day after tomorrow, but he can barely see anything. Craig and Yael are really sharp, so they¡¯ll definitely notice!¡± 1/4 Chapter 347 Trying To Stall For Time Kieran showed no change in emotion as he updated Cedrick¡¯s details on his file ¡°Calm down, will you! We still have one whole day tomorrow.¡± After he was done writing the report, he prescribed Cedrick some new medication and told Treyton. ¡°A nurse will drop byter to bring him the medicine. You need to make sure that he takes it.¡± Treyton simply nodded in response. Kieran then tore off the prescription and made his way out of the ward. Cedrick called out to him when he was about to step out the door, ¡°Kieran! There¡¯s one more thing I need your help with.¡± Meanwhile, the atmosphere was getting lively in a certain event hall in Erihal. Nico had taken an expensive suit with him when he vaulted out of Charles¡¯ lounge. He had removed his ugly-looking disguise and restored his handsome appearance by the time he returned to the pce corridor. The servants who passed him by all stepped aside to make way when they saw his outfit. Nico then took the route that he had previously taken to the pce and arrived at Alzer Pce shortly after. The atmosphere at Alzer Pce was calm and serene due to its dim lighting and few people passing through, which formed a huge contrast with the lively event hall. Nico was halfway through exploring Alzer Pce when two guards approached him from the shadows. ¡°Who goes there?¡± Upon noticing his outfit, however, the two guards immediately switched up their tone and said respectfully in Epean, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you may have gotten the wrong ce, sir. The event hall is that way. This is Mr. Vidar¡¯s private residence.¡± Nico eyed the two guards from head to toe. Charles has men guarding his private residence? It looks like the antidote might actually be here! With that in mind, Nico shed the guards an awkward smile and replied in Epean, ¡°Ah, yes, my mistake!¡± The guards then bowed to him and stood there as they watched him leave. Nico had just taken a few steps when one of the guards noticed something was amiss. ¡°You have a strange ent, sir. Did you just return from studying abroad or something? May I have your name?¡± Nico paused in his tracks and clenched his fists in an attempt to calm himself down. He then pretended to be angry as he walked up to one of the guards and grabbed him by the cor. ¡°Take a good, long look at me, will you? How dare you not know who I am?¡± Frightened by his sudden outburst, the two guards exchanged nervous nces before one of them stammered softly. ¡°W-We¡¯re new here at this pce, sir! The princess had us assigned to Mr. Vidar immediately after hiring us, so we really don¡¯t know who you are!¡± 2/4 Chapter 347 Trying To Stall For Time Nico let out a chuckle and sneered at them. That¡¯s good to know¡± While the guards were still frozen in confusion. Nico snatched the stun gun from one of them and used i to knock them both out with lightning speed. He even zapped them a few more times on the waist just to make sure they were really unconscious After that, he stripped them to their underwear, shoved their shirts into their mouths, and tied them up using their jackets and pants. Nico then proceeded to hide them inside one of Alzer Pce¡¯s bathrooms. Because of how efficient he was, Nico managed to do all of that in just five minutes. As there were surveince cameras outside the door, Nico had to avoid their field of view as he entered Charles¡¯ bedroom through the window. He then began searching every square inch of the entire room, leaving no stone unturned. Upon regaining consciousness, Charles frowned as he felt a sharp pain on the back of his head. He instinctively reached out to rub his neck, only to see bloodstains on his fingers. Gwendolyn was sipping on some fruit juice on the couch next to his. Charles nced at the room around him before sitting up straight. ¡°Who was here, Gwen?¡± he asked cautiously. Gwendolyn ignored his question and responded with another one, ¡°Be honest, Charles. You never intended to hand me Super Antiviral, did you?¡± Charles tensed up and narrowed his eyes menacingly. ¡°It seems you are already onto me.¡± Gwendolyn ced the ss of fruit juice down before saying, ¡°You opened up to me about a lot of things today, but you left out the part about the antidote. Did you really think I was still the same ignorant, na?ve girl from ten years ago?¡± Charles lowered his head as he replied, ¡°Yes, I never intended to give you the antidote because I wanted to have you all to myself. Only with Cedrick dead will you truly belong to me in body and mind.¡± Gwendolyn let out a snicker. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. If he dies, my heart dies along with him. If you¡¯re the cause of his death, then I shall hate you to the bone and have you killed as well.¡± Charles simply stared at her without saying another word. Gwendolyn then decided to appeal to his emotion by saying, ¡°Seven years ago, I had nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for you. You were like an embodiment of justice and righteousness, which is theplete opposite of this heartless and ruthless monster you have be.¡± Charles lowered his gaze and went into deep thought after hearing that. ¡°Is there really a point in us continuing to hurt each other like this? I would be extremely grateful if you hand me the antidote, and we could go back to the way we used to be,¡± Gwendolyn continued. Charles raised his head and stared at her inplete silence. A few secondster, he let out a soft chuckle and asked, ¡°What kind of joke is this, Gwen? What would we Chapter 348 Chapter 348 Chapter 348 Neither Side ys Fair Gwendolyn tensed up the moment she heard that, but she was quick to regain herposure and asked, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking things. Why would I want to stall for time? How would I benefit from doing that?¡± Naturally, Charles did not believe her one bit. That was when he recalled what Gwendolyn had said to him while they were arguing earlier. She asked me if I had kept my promise to stop lying to her. Now that I think about it, she was probably referring to the antidote¡­. With that in mind, he narrowed his eyes menacingly and asked, ¡°You already know that I have the antidote, don¡¯t you?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression slid into a surprised frown when she heard that. ¡°Why would the antidote be with you? You said you left it in the pce, right?¡± Charles felt increasingly uneasy when he saw the look on her face. He then grabbed his phone and tried to contact the guards he had assigned to Alzer Pce, but no one answered his call. F*ck! Something is definitely up! Charles quickly gave Jonah a call and yelled, ¡°Return to Alzer Pce right this instant! Check the ce thoroughly for intruders!¡± After hanging up the phone, he stood up and was about to head out when Gwendolyn grabbed him by the sleeve. ¡°Where are you going? We¡¯re not done here!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll discuss that baby of yourster!¡± Charles replied coldly as he brushed her hand away and left. Oh, no! Charles is way too cautious! With that in mind, Gwendolyn tightened her grip on the ring and ran after him. Meanwhile, Nico had searched all over Alzer Pce, but the antidote was nowhere to be found. Hmm¡­ The pce is the safest ce to hide the antidote. Where else would Charles possibly keep it? It may be a tiny dose, but it still needs to be stored in a freezer. If he keeps it in an ice box, the temperature will increase over time as the ice melts, so he can¡¯t possibly store it like that for over two weeks. In that case¡­ Nico shifted his gaze toward the tiny kitchen in Alzer Pce and searched it thoroughly once more. This time, he managed to find a grey-colored ice box at the bottom of the freezer. Sure enough, there was a syringe about ten centimeters in length, which contained the transparent antidote. Aha! I¡¯ve found the antidote! Feeling excited, Nico quickly took his suit jacket off, wrapped it around the ice box, and put had moved back into ce before jumping out the window. He had justnded outside when he felt the icy-cold tip of a gun pressing against his back. 13 Chapter 348 Neither Side ys Fair What followed was the sound of the gun being cocked. There were also five guards standing on the side with their stun guns aimed at him. The gun that was pressing against his back slowly moved up to his head as Jonah ordered, ¡°Put that thing down and turn around with your arms raised Instead ofplying with Jonah¡¯s orders, Nico held the ice box close to his chest and tightened his grip on it. Jonah let out a disdainful snort when he saw that. ¡°Even if you somehow get lucky and escape from us, you will not be able to leave this pce. You¡¯re not going to bring that thing out of here, so put it down and turn around! Do it now, or I will shoot you!¡± Nico slowly turned around without putting the ice box down. Charles, who happened to arrive at the same time, was slightly surprised when he saw Nico¡¯s face under the dim streetmps. ¡°You? I can¡¯t believe you lied to me about being Christian! To think that I fell for it and let you stick around for so many days¡­¡± he eximed with a sneer. Nico snorted in disdain. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re ridiculously gullible.¡± The smile on Charles¡¯ face vanished instantly as an icy-cold expression took its ce. ¡°What will we do with him, Mr. Lund?¡± Jonah asked. ¡°Don¡¯t use your guns. They¡¯re too loud. Bring him somewhere secluded and kill him,¡± Charles replied with a nonchnt wave. ¡°Hey, Charles! Do you really think these guys have what it takes to kill me?¡± Nico asked with a sneer. Charles arched an eyebrow at him in amusement. ¡°Want to give it a try, then?¡± Those words had barely left his mouth when Jonah delivered the first strike, but Nico dodged it in time and responded with a counterattack. It was six versus one, but Nico was so quick that he took two of them out in just a few seconds. Even so, he was unarmed and had to hold on to the ice box, so he wasn¡¯t able to move freely. One of the guards managed to hit him in the back with the stun gun. Nico¡¯s body convulsed uncontrobly when the powerful electric current of the stun gun surged through his body. Jonah seized that opportunity to hit Nico in the back of his knee with a baton. Nico groaned in pain as he stumbled forward. He ced his right palm on the ground to stop himself from falling, all while holding the ice box tightly in his left hand. Charles clicked his tongue twice and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re a capable fighter because you were trained by Cedrick himself. However, I doubt even you would be able to go against stun guns and pistols empty- handed.¡± Their conversation was interrupted when the sound of the violin from the event hall reached them. Charles was losing his patience at that point. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org 2/3 Chapter 348 Neither Side ys Fair ¡°You know what? Forget it. Just use the gun and make it quick. I¡¯ll exin it to my motherter.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Jonah whipped his gun out and pointed it at Nico¡¯s head once again. He was about to open fire when someone shouted, ¡°Freeze! Nobody moves!¡± + §£§à§Õ The next thing they knew, Gwendolyn had appeared behind Charles, pinned his arms behind his back, and pressed the silver needle on her ring against his throat. A drop of blood flowed down Charles¡¯ neck as Gwendolyn threatened, ¡°This needle is ridiculously tough. so nobody moves unless you want me to slit his throat right open!¡± While Jonah was frozen in surprise, Nico quickly snatched the gun over and pointed it at Jonah¡¯s head. Just like that, he had managed to turn the tide around. The guards were so shocked that they didn¡¯t know what to do. The tension was broken when Charlesughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s not very nice of you, Gwen. We were making a fair deal here, weren¡¯t we? How could you resort to theft like this?¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t going to give me the antidote anyway, so why should I care about ying nice with a cunning piece of sh*t like you?¡± Gwendolyn snapped back at him with a sarcastic sneer. ¡°Let Nico go. I¡¯ll stay here with you instead.¡± ¡°That simply won¡¯t do. The wedding isn¡¯t until seven dayster. If he brings the antidote back to Chanaca and cures Cedrick, that b*stard mighte over and steal you from me!¡± Charles replied and motioned at the three guards, prompting them to aim their stun guns at Nico¡¯s back. Nico is sure to go down if they hit him with those stun guns again! ¡°Why don¡¯t you put that toy away, Gwen? We both know you¡¯re not going to kill me. I have an rm in my hand. If I die, you and Nico will never make it out of here, and Cedrick will never receive the antidote. Everyone will just end up dead!¡± Charles said with a sneer. Instead of letting him go, Gwendolyn pushed the needle two millimeters deeper into Charles¡¯ neck. Another drop of blood trickled down his neck and stained the cor of his white dress shirt red. ¡°It¡¯s true that I won¡¯t kill you, but Kieran taught me some acupuncture before I came here. I know some techniques that can render you paralyzed below the waist and cause impotence. You will never be able to have an erection ever again. Well? Is that important to you, Charles?¡± Chapter 349 Chapter 349 Chapter 349 Most Important Person In My Life Charles froze, realizing the gravity of the situation. The topic at hand was undeniably significant. As a man, he couldn¡¯t afford to lose his ability. The room fell into a tense silence once again. Charles carefully pondered his options and finally spoke up. ¡°How about this? Let¡¯s both take a step back While I cannot release Nico without consequences, I am willing to spare his life.¡± Gwendolyn frowned as she responded sternly. ¡°I want you to record yourself, swearing that you will not bring harm to Nico and that you will hand over the antidote after the wedding. Failure to do so will result in your eternal damnation.¡± ¡°Okay, I will do as you say,¡± Charles replied, a faint smile appearing on his face. Gwendolyn swiftly retrieved his phone from his pocket and opened the recording app. With unwavering sincerity, Charles followed her instructions precisely, swearing with the utmost conviction. Gwendolyn felt that Charles¡¯ initial oathcked sufficient weight. Hence, she added, ¡°I want you to include a use stating that if you break your word, Her Highness and Mr. Newton will suffer the same fate as you.¡± Charles¡¯ expression hardened. ¡°Isn¡¯t that going too far, Gwen?¡± ¡°How else can I ensure yourmitment if I don¡¯t push the boundaries? I know how much they mean to you, so I will only believe you if you swear on their behalf!¡± Charles fell silent, his expression tense. Blood trickled down his neck as Gwendolyn¡¯s needle lightly grazed it, delivering a silent and menacing threat. Resigned, Charles shed a faint smile and replied, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll do it.¡± He then followed Gwendolyn¡¯s instructions and swore with sincerity. Gwendolyn saved the recording to her cloud and retracted the silver needle from her ring. Suddenly, a buzzing sound filled the air. Gwendolyn looked up to see that Charles¡¯ guard had activated his stun gun. Both Jonah and Nicoy unconscious on the ground, as Nico had been holding Jonah hostage. ¡°Charles!¡± Gwendolyn raged. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Gwen. He attempted to steal, so as a consequence, I must temporarily incarcerate him, or else I won¡¯t be able to justify my actions to my mother. But rest assured that I will uphold my promise.¡± The guard hauled the unconscious Nico away and retrieved the antidote from the icebox. In the meantime, Charles had to change into fresh attire, as his clothes were stained with blood before he 1/4 Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Chapter 349 Most Important Person In My Life could return to the banquet hall. As for Gwendolyn, exhausted from the ordeal, the no longer had the strength to continue attending the g Under the darkened sky, snowkes began to descend once more, carried by chilling gusts of wind that brought about a noticeable drop in temperature. Gwendolyn shivered, rubbing her arms for warmth. ¡°Take me home. I need to rest,¡± the requested. Charles wasted no time and immediately took off his suit jacket, wrapping it tightly around her to shield her from the cold. His bodyguard handed him an umbre, which Charles held up to protect Gwendolyn from the falling snow. This time, Gwendolyn epted the suit jacket, realizing that falling sick was a risk she couldn¡¯t afford to take. The most pressing matter at hand was to conserve her energy and devise a better pian before the uing wedding. Charles remained silent as he observed Gwendolyn. After escorting her back to the suburban condominium, he instructed his maid to attend to her daily needs and promptly inform him of any developments. Sitting by the bed in his air-conditioned room, Charles watched as Gwendolyny with her back turned. breathing evenly to feign sleep. Despite her fatigue, she couldn¡¯t truly rest with Charles¡¯ gaze fixed upon her. For a while, Charles silently studied her side profile, contemting whether to continue their discussion about the matter of her unborn baby. However, considering how exhausted she appeared, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to broach the subject. After much hesitation, he decided to allow her to rest and rose from his seat. Closing the door behind him, he left the room and made his way straight to the dungeon. He arrived at the dungeon effortlessly with Kylie¡¯s prerogative writ. The atmosphere within was gloomy and damp, the corridors dimly lit with flickeringnterns. As he ventured deeper, the sound of whips cracking against flesh grew increasingly distinct, sending a chill down. his spine and creating an eerie ambiance. However, there were no cries of pleading or begging to be heard, despite the relentless beatings, lending an eerie quality to the monotonous sound of the whips. The stench of blood permeated the air as the dungeon guard opened the door for Charles. Stepping into the prison cell, he took in the wretched state of Nico. Hanging from his arms with his feet dangling, Nico was battered and bloodied, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness, yet he remained resolute in his silence. Charles reached for the whip, and the executor bowed, handing it over with utmost respect. 2/4 Chapter 349 Most Important Person In My Life +5 Bonus Firmly gripping the whip handle, Charles submerged it in a tank of salt water, washing away the stains of blood that tainted its surface, turning the water a macabre shade of red. ¡°Nico, how many times have you beaten me on Cedrick¡¯s behalf? How does it feel to receive payback? Are you satisfied with their service?¡± Nico sneered through ragged breaths, ¡°I¡¯m enjoying this. Your men are so weak, just like you!¡± Despite his deteriorating condition, resembling nothing more than a caged beast, Nico continued to disy outrageous defiance in front of Charles. A mixture of displeasure and anger contorted Charles¡¯ face as he lifted the whip and struck Nico twice. The saltwater coating the whip seeped into the fresh wounds, inflicting excruciating pain that would typically elicit agonized screams. Yet, Nico remained unyielding, resolute in his silence. If it weren¡¯t for the blood trickling from his mouth, Charles might have questioned whether he possessed any semnce of pain receptors. ¡°What resilience! Just as expected of Cedrick¡¯s long-servingckey. But even the strongest have their limits when faced with relentless punishment. We have a long road ahead of us. Hot iron branding, embedded. nails, brutal beatings, sulfuric acid sshes¡­. We will employ each method, one by one, over the next seven days.¡± Nico spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground and sneered. ¡°You¡¯re truly a beast! Repaying blow for blow, every strike I ever dealt you! How dutiful!¡± Charles¡¯ face darkened. He scooped up some salt water and sshed it onto Nico, washing away much of the blood staining his shirt Ssh! Nico¡¯s body trembled, and his face grew pale Charles red at him coldly and said through gritted teeth. ¡°Ive made a promise to Gwen to spare your life. So go ahead and maintain that arrogant attitude of yours. It will only fuel my desire to torture you even more!¡± Nico, sull recovering from the pain inflicted by the salt water, steadied his breathing, lowered his gaze, and remained silent. Charles noticed Nico¡¯s attempt to appear tough and continued. ¡°I can¡¯t fathom what makes Cedrick so special that all of you are willing to sacrifice yourselves to save him.¡± Nico sneered. ¡°Of course, you wouldn¡¯t understand. You¡¯re not even worthy of a single strand of his hair. Ms Gwendolyn would never have any interest in someone like you, ever.¡± Charles anger surged and he lunged forward, grabbing Nico by the hair. He shouted at him with all his might ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she like me? Why? I love her more than anything¡± Nico looked at him with disdain and retorted. ¡°If you truly loved her you wouldn¡¯t have hurt her. Do you even realize the harm abortion causes to a woman¡¯s body You im to love her yet you disregard her well being in the end your obsession with her stems from your inability to have her Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Get Married. Charles froze for a moment, not knowing what to say. I¡¯ve done so much, but you¡¯re saying I shouldn¡¯t expect anything in return? Why shouldn¡¯t I expect her to reciprocate? It doesn¡¯t make sense to me He released Nico, cleaned his hand with a wet towel, and responded indifferently. ¡°Her feelings toward me don¡¯t matter. She is meant to be mine, and as we spend more time together, she¡¯ll inevitably be moved and marry me!¡± After tossing away the wet towel, he nced at the people beside him. ¡°Keep hitting him. Show him our hospitality.¡± After issuing themand, Charles turned and walked away. Soon after, the chilling sound of a whip cutting through flesh echoed once more, causing a shudder to run through anyone who heard it. Charles showed no expression and left the dungeon without looking back. The next morning. Gwendolyn was awakened by the roaring sound of cars outside her window. Feeling groggy, she disregarded the sounds and rolled over, attempting to go back to sleep. In the past, she would not have been able to sleep at such a critical moment, but the physical burden brought by her pregnancy was beyond her control. After sleeping for another five minutes, someone knocked on her room door. It was Charles. ¡°Gwen, freshen up. I¡¯ll bring you to meet Nico in the dungeon.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s drowsiness disappeared in an instant. She sat up on the bed the called out through the door. ¡°Are you serious?¡± She found it difficult to believe that he would allow her to meet Nico so easily. Or does he have some hidden agenda? Charles¡¯ voice carried a cheerful tone, and a smile yed on his lips. ¡°I mean it. I¡¯ll wait for you in the living hall downstairs. Come down once you¡¯re ready.¡± Gwendolyn promptly got out of bed and efficiently started getting ready. Regardless of Charles¡¯ intentions, the ability to see Nico and ensure his safety was always a favorable oue. She descended the stairs without makeup, showcasing her natural beauty. The white fox fur coat she wore further enhanced her innocent and pure appearance. Charles froze for a moment when he saw her. It felt like a journey back in time. Gwendolyn, once again, exuded the same innocence and beauty she had seven years ago, emanating a radiant warmth. He got up and adjusted her coat. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go.¡± Before leaving, he gave her a hand warmer. ¡°The dungeon is cold and humid. You have to be more careful and not catch a cold since you¡¯re in your first trimester.¡± Gwendolyn cast a doubtful nce at him but did not give him and response. 1/4 Chapter 350 Get Married Charles shed a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the hand warmer is safe for pregnant women to me.¡± Gwendolyn epted it. They entered the car in silence, one in front and the other behind, and headed to the dungeon. The dungeon was permeated with a strong odor of blood and had a high level of humidity. Gwendolyn fought the urge to vomit as she silently trailed behind Charles, walking toward a cell situated at the far end of the dungeon. The small window on the iron door of the cell was opened. Through the door, she immediately saw Nico, half-suspended by ropes, covered in blood. Nico, already in a semi-conscious state, appeared pale and weak, his breathing shallow. ¡°You¡¯re a monster, Charles!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes reddened. She wanted to p him at that moment, but he quickly grabbed her wrist, holding it firmly in his grip. ¡°I only gave him a fewshes. He won¡¯t die for now. But it upsets me to see how much more you care about Cedrick¡¯sckey than you care about me,¡± he said, his teeth clenched and his eyes filled with resentment. ¡°Gwen, I know you¡¯ve been trying to secretly acquire the antidote before the wedding. If you refuse to marry me obediently, I won¡¯t keep my promise either! If you dare to deceive me, I¡¯ll give Nico two bottles of sulfuric acid, just like what Cedrick used to ssh on me in the past. And I¡¯ll make sure he experiences every form of torture avable in the dungeon!¡± Charles threatened. Considering her pregnancy, he carefully released his grip on Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist. It was a rare moment of restraint for him as he refrained from losing his temper and forcefully pushing her aside. Gwendolyn remained silent, her gaze fixed on the barely conscious Nico inside the cell. Her heart ached so much that even breathing became difficult. She forcefully dug her nails into her palm, suppressing the roaring anger inside her. Charles continued, ¡°You have the option to keep the child, but for the next few days, you must stay obediently in the small apartment. No tricks on our wedding day either. Once the wedding is over, I¡¯ll honor my word and release Nico, sending him back to Chanaea with the antidote. This is my promise to you.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips tightly. She saw it as a reasonable deal, using herself as a bargaining chip to secure the safety of Nico and her baby and obtain the Super Antiviral. ¡°All right. But you must promise to stop torturing Nico. And to prove my sincerity in marrying you¡­¡± Gwendolyn paused, slowly slipping off the emerald ring from her finger. cing it in her palm, she extended her hand toward Charles, offering him the symbol of hermitment. This was the only close-range weapon she had for self-defense. She willingly surrendered it to Charles as proof of her sincerity. Charles was pleased with the oue. ¡°I¡¯ll not beat him anymore. Today, I will arrange for a doctor to come and treat him. He will also be taken care of with good food and drink. Are you happy with this arrangement?¡± 2/4 Chapter 350 Get Married ¡°You better keep your promise,¡± Gwendolyn uttered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Charles grinned, extending his hand to check the temperature of the hand warmer ¡°Let¡¯s go. The dungeon is too cold for you, especially considering you¡¯re pregnant Gwendolyn remained silent, her heart filled with sympathy for Nico as she cast him a sorrowful look before turning away and leaving the dungeon. After they left, Nico¡¯s hands, which had been suspended all night, were finally released. As his body hit the ground, the pain jolted him awake. His arm was dislocated, making it difficult for him to exert any strength. He struggled to sit up but immediately felt his body go limp again, slipping into a semi-conscious state. ¡°Hey, are you still okay? Are you still alive? Can you give me a response if you can hear me?¡± The sound of a worried girl resonated from the neighboring cell. She spoke in Chanacan, not an Epean language. Nico, who was in a daze, regained his consciousness slightly. With his throat feeling dry, he let out a faint hum in response. From the iron window high up on the wall, he could hear the girl audibly sighing in relief. ¡°Why did they lock you up? What crime have youmitted? And why did they beat you up so badly?¡± she asked. Lying t on the ground, Nico gazed weakly at the pitch-ck ceiling. ¡°I wanted to steal something from the pce and got caught. But even if I hadn¡¯t done that. those monsters could still beat me up without a reason.¡± The girl sighed. ¡°Are you all right? Are you hungry? Yesterday, the guards brought food, and I secretly hid a steamed bun. If you want to eat it, I can toss one over to you.¡± In the dungeon, prisoners were only given food once a day. If they happened to miss that meal, they would have to endure hunger until the next day. Nico¡¯s gaze shifted toward the small iron window high on the wall. Judging by the girl¡¯s voice, she seemed to be around eighteen or neen years old. Is she capable of tossing a bun over? ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯m not hungry. You can have it,¡± he replied. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. He was surprised by the girl¡¯s willingness to engage in conversation. ¡°Weren¡¯t you shocked by what happened yesterday? Aren¡¯t you afraid of me? Mind you; I¡¯m someone who dares to steal from the pce!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you, but yesterday was indeed a frightening scene. It kept me awake all night.¡± She curled against the wall, pressing herself tightly and holding back tears. ¡°I¡¯ve been locked up for a few days now. I don¡¯t understand the Epeannguage, but I heard you talking to that bad guyst night. It¡¯s rare to find someone who speaks Chanaean here, and I was afraid that they would beat you to death.¡± If he had really been beaten to death, she would be alone again, with no one to talk to. Nico smirked, his lips curling up slightly. ¡°You¡¯re so young. How did you end up locked up here? What have you done?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why they locked me up. My dad and I came here for a vacation a few days ago. We slept in a 3/4 Chapter 350 Get Married hotel, and suddenly, when I woke up. I found myself in this cell. I don¡¯t understand anything they say she replied. Nico paid close attention to her story. ¡°Where¡¯s your dad?¡± ¡°I have no idea. I haven¡¯t seen him since they locked me up here. I¡¯d been calling out for him a few days ago, but no one responded. He¡¯s probably not here,¡± she answered. Nico remained silent, lost in thought. It seems the girl is a victim of an international human trafficking operation. Chapter 351 Chapter 351 She began to grow nervous at his prolonged silence. ¡°Are you still there, Mister? You didn¡¯t faint, did you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Nico closed his eyes wearily. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted and would like to take a nap,¡± he murmured. ¡°No! Don¡¯t fall asleep!¡± She banged madly on the wall to keep him awake. ¡°You¡¯re badly hurt, and you might never wake up if you fall asleep!¡± Nico was amused. Having been training in the barracks with Cedrick from a young age, he would not die that easily. Aside from Cedrick and Gwendolyn, she was the first person who cared so deeply for him without knowing who he was. It gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling. ¡°Mister? Are you asleep? Or are you almost dead?¡± An urgent hammering on the wall sounded again. ¡°No.¡± She heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯ll keep youpany if you¡¯re feeling sleepy. Would you like to hear a story?¡± ¡°Do you know any scary ones?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Aren¡¯t we living through one right now?¡± Nico gazed weakly about the cell and chuckled. Indeed, it was quite eerie. ¡°I know some morbid jokes, Mister.¡± ¡°This dungeon is morbid enough.¡± ¡°Mine are more morbid than that.¡± Bonding over their chat, the pair passed a pleasant half an hour in each other¡¯spany. They stopped when the doctor, who was arranged by Charles, arrived to administer Nico¡¯s medication. Once more, Charles sent Gwendolyn back to the condominium on the outskirts of town. He even reduced the area she was permitted ess to from her block to her unit. Gwendolyn did notin, nor was she displeased. She only asked him for several books on childcare to kill time with. In regard to her meals, however, Charles did his best to oblige her requests. Being two and a half weeks pregnant, Gwendolyn began exhibiting symptoms of morning sickness and drowsiness¡ªsigns of hormonal imbnce. In response, Charles employed a female gynecologist who would show up every afternoon to examine her and diagnose the appropriate remedies. One day at noon, Charles received a summon from Kylie. ¡°Mother.¡± He stood dutifully before her across the coffee table. She set down the cup of coffee with a grave expression. ¡°Be honest with me. Is the child in the belly of the woman you brought¡ªthat Ms. Harris¡ªyours?¡± Charles was momentarily taken aback. Keeping his gaze fixed on the ground, he answered, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you still lying to defend her?¡± Kylie lost her temper and overturned her unfinished cup to the ground. The coffee sshed onto her hand. As the floor beneath the coffee table was lined with carpet, the impact hardly caused a stir. In response, Charles marched around the coffee table, knelt beside her, and wiped her hand with a damp towel. As she watched his act of devotion, Kylie felt her rage subside. She spoke again, employing a tone of earnest patience. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking straight, Charlie! I¡¯ve done some digging and found that she is engaged in Chanaea. Besides, I saw the way you lookedst night. The child must be fathered by her fiance there.¡± Charles kept his head bowed, refusing to answer. She was furious. The good impression she had of Gwendolyn had vanished entirely. ¡°A woman like that is not worthy of you. What did she do to you to warrant such devotion to her?¡± Charles kept his head hung as he wiped her fingers diligently. He did not say a word. She knew how firm her son could be when he made up his mind, so she sighed. ¡°Either marry another woman or have her abort the child.¡± No, Mother!¡± Charles looked up at once. ¡°I will either marry her or nobody at all!¡± At the thought of the child in Gwendolyn¡¯s belly, he averted his gaze, and his voice seemed to wilt with defeat. ¡°It will damage her body to put her through an abortion. I would like her to bear this child. If I come to regret it after marrying her, I can simply send the child back to Chanaea to its real father.¡± Kylie could hardly believe her ears. ¡°How dare you even consider letting her deliver the child? Do you want this stain on your honor for as long as you live? You won¡¯t feel the same love for the child as you would your own. What does a woman like that have to offer to make you so sentimental?¡± Those words struck a chord in the sore spot Charles had kept suppressed over the years. He gave a sad littleugh before gazing up mournfully. ¡°Is my existence not a wretched one, Mother? You did this, too, didn¡¯t you? Does that make you, in your own words, a woman like that?¡± ¡°You little sh*t!¡± Kylie red at him in shock. Enraged, she pped him across the face. As soon as she struck him, she gazed at her beloved son to whom she owed so much and regretted it at once. She stroked his cheek. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing you so much misery over all these years.¡± Charles sped her hand and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s all right. It didn¡¯t hurt.¡± His days of crying foul at the injustice were over. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Kylie¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Since you know what I¡¯ve been through, Charlie, you should know that it won¡¯t be fair to her unborn child. Do you wish it a simr fate to the one you endured?¡± Charles did not want to answer her, as he did harbor that thought. What¡¯s wrong with that? That is her child with Cedrick. How ironic it would be if the kid were to suffer my fate and feel the same despair as I do for being a b*stard. ¡°All I know is that I love her, and I will marry her.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Kylie¡¯s heart wrenched for him. ¡°She doesn¡¯t love you, Charlie! In the same way, just like how I could never love Gerhardt. Would you be happy spending your life with a woman like that?¡± Charles emerged from Kylie¡¯s chambers. His mind was ringing with his mother¡¯sst words to him. Nico¡¯s and Gwendolyn¡¯s, too. All of them had told him, over and over, that Gwendolyn did not love him and would never do. If he truly loved her, they had said, he would let go and give her his blessing. However, love was selfish and possessive. Everything he did was to have her for himself. He was certain that he, too, could give her happiness. Why does everybody think I¡¯m wrong? I refuse to ept it! He would lose his reason every time he thought of the child¡ªthe product of Gwendolyn¡¯s love for Cedrick¡ªand at the mental image of them with their limbs intertwined. Like poisonous snakes, jealousy and resentment coiled around his heart and squeezed, making it impossible for him to breathe. Suddenly, he was seized by an impulse to destroy everything in sight. If I can¡¯t have her, nobody else can! Noticing his strange expression, Jonah asked gingerly, ¡°Would you like to return to Alzer Pce, Mr. Lund?¡± Charles pinched his brow. His head felt as if it was splitting open. ¡°To hell with it. We¡¯re going to a bar.¡± Gwendolyn was sound asleep in the depths of the night. In her daze, she vaguely heard the rumble of engines from the road downstairs and opted to ignore it. Soon after, an urgent knocking sounded on the door, followed by Jonah¡¯s panicked voice. ¡°Wake up, Ms. Harris! Mr. Lund is drunk and mumbling your name. Come out and see him!¡± Chapter 352 Chapter 352 Gwendolyn scowled at the abrupt manner she had been roused and turned to face the other side. Jonah kept knocking, seemingly intent on hammering down her door if she did not answer it soon. Irritated by the racket, Gwendolyn flung aside her quilt. She slipped on her slippers and donned a thick sleeping gown before answering the door. ¡°What does he want this time?¡± she demanded, ring at Jonah with a look of irritated disgust. ¡°Mr. Lund isn¡¯t messing around this time, Ms. Harris. He visited a bar this afternoon and spent the day drinking. He even sent us away. When I went back for him earlier tonight, I found him drunk as a skunk with your name on his lips. So, the only thing I could do was to bring him here to you.¡± Gwendolyn was impassive. Cold, even. ¡°Give him something to sober up, then, or get him a doctor who would give him a jab. What good will it do sending him to me? I¡¯m not a doctor.¡± She was about to shut the door after her speech, but Jonah threw himself against the frame. ¡°Please see him. He would feel much better in your presence.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn¡¯s frostiness did not dissipate. ¡°I¡¯m under house arrest because of him. He wouldn¡¯t let me out of this house. What if he sobers up tomorrow and uses me of misbehaving? Wouldn¡¯t that be unfair to me?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jonah was conflicted. He gave the matter a moment of serious thought before suggesting, ¡°Why don¡¯t I bring him to your room?¡± ¡°No way! I can¡¯t stand the stench of alcohol on him. You¡¯d better get back to Alzer Pce.¡± Jonah fell silent. ¡°Gwen. Gwen¡­¡± Charles¡¯ voice, slurred by booze andced with mncholy, traveled up the stairs from the living room below. Jonah was near tears. ¡°Go down and have a look at him, Ms. Harris. I¡¯ll exin everything to him for you tomorrow. You wouldn¡¯t want him to be keeping you awake, I¡¯m sure. I¡¯m begging you!¡± Gwendolyn sighed, doing her best to conceal her irritation. ¡°Wake the maid,¡± she instructed. ¡°Have her put together something to sober him up.¡± ¡°At once.¡± Jonah sprinted down the stairs. Gwendolyn pulled the thick, furry sleeping gown tighter around her and followed him down the stairs. Charles was sprawled on the couch. His cheeks were flushed with alcohol, and his wits were hazy. Covering her nose with her sleeve, Gwendolyn sprayed some organic freshener to mask the stench of alcohol in the living room. Arriving beside Charles, she prodded him in the knee several times with the sole of her slipper, trying to wake him. ¡°Wake up, Charles! This isn¡¯t a ce for you to spend the night. Get lost back to your Alzer Pce after having your tea!¡± Charles¡¯s eyshes twitched. The haze of intoxication receded slightly. Instinctively, he reached out toward the sound of Gwendolyn¡¯s voice and caught hold of a corner of her gown. No longer able to conceal the disgust in her eyes, she snatched her garment out of his grasp. ¡°Let go!¡± Charles held on firmly. He was brutishly strong. She took a deep breath, feeling the fury coursing through her head at the thought of seeing Nico covered in blood from the torture that morning in his dungeon. Having left to wake the maid, Jonah had not returned. Raising her hand, she gave him two merciless ps across his chiseled cheeks. The two smacks, dealt in quick session, rang out sharp and deafening. His cheeks stinging with pain, Charles became thoroughly awake. Only then did he loosen his grip on her shirt and sat up on the couch. He massaged his swollen head and stroked his ming cheeks, tender with pain, while gazing slowly up at her. ¡°Gwen?¡± Gwendolyn raised her chin haughtily. After striking him, she regarded him with a bold re. ¡°Are you aware that you¡¯re disrupting my sleep by turning up here in the middle of the night with a drunken tantrum? Now that you¡¯re awake, get the h*ll lost!¡± Charles hung his head, pretending not to hear her. Suddenly, he began sobbing quietly. His blue eyes, now tinged red, were filled with helpless despair. Coupled with the handprints on his cheeks, he looked as if he had emerged from an altercation worse for wear. Gwendolyn watched his tears fall, yet she remained unmoved. ¡°You can drop your act. Get out. You stink so badly that not even air freshener can mask this foul odor.¡± Retracting her disgusted gaze, she turned toward the stairs, but Charles grabbed her robe again. ¡°Do you remember the spring seven years ago when I took you to the horse race on the steppes, Gwen? In the summer, I jumped into the pond and brought you lotuses. In the fall, I taught you to shoot an arrow, brandish a whip, and aim a gun. In the winter, we made snowmen and held snowball fights. We were happy back then.¡± Gwendolyn froze, though she did not turn around. Plunged into the depths of nostalgic reverie, Charles felt his tears pouring forth unbidden. ¡°I am a b*stard. No matter how hard Father tried to conceal my identity, I had no standing in the Newton family as I had many siblings. Father was too busy to care much about me, so I was forced to stand up for myself. I have learned something early on¡ªone must fight for something they want. To be worthy of you, a mighty heiress, I chose to leave you for a while to join the Central Intelligence Agency. Our days in training were tough, but the thought of you helped me through it. I implored you to wait for me. In a few short years, when I ascended the ranks within the Central Intelligence Agency, I would return and marry you, but¡­¡± He choked, unable to go on through a fresh bout of tears. He had been suffering alone all those years without ever showing this side of himself to anybody. ¡°To my surprise, something happened the year after that. Somehow, you ended up at Faike and, through abination of factors, ended up with Cedrick. Imagine my remorse! I regretted not holding on to you. Why did I ever give you up?¡± One disjointed scene at a time, fragments of the past appeared before her mind¡¯s eye. Gwendolyn sighed silently. ¡°You¡¯ve missed your chance, and there won¡¯t be another. Life is about moving forward. You are boxing yourself into the past and refusing to see anything beyond that.¡± Standing silently, she listened to his tirade. ¡°Didn¡¯t Cedrick miss an opportunity with you? Why did you forgive him and not me? You know, the image of you flirting with him at the bar at Faike is something I will never be able to unsee. I only regret that the man seated beside you was not me. Jealousy drove me nearly mad. Though I know that he would shield you from danger, I had somebody douse him with the serum, in my na?ve belief that you woulde back to me if he were dead. However, I never expected him to be the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. With the help of the professor, he managed to hold on for another six months. Even more unexpectedly, that caused you to fall deeper in love with him. All you saw was him.¡± Gwendolyn felt her hatred rising again at the reminder. Icily, she shoved his hand aside. ¡°You are drunk. The maid will send you some tea to sober up. Have Jonah send you back to Alzer Pce when you¡¯re done. I¡¯m tired, and I¡¯m going back to bed.¡± Without so much as a backward nce, she headed toward the stairs. Charles let out a groan of despair when she arrived at the stairs. ¡°What would you have me do to earn another chance, Gwen? Would you notice me if I risked my life for you just like Cedrick did?¡± Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Gwendolyn didn¡¯t look back. Narrowing her eyes, she uttered in a frigid tone, ¡°I¡¯m afraid one life isn¡¯t enough. Perhaps I¡¯ll consider it if you can die up to a thousand times.¡± After saying that, she didn¡¯t stick around and went to her room upstairs, locking the door. She threw away the robe that had been touched by Charles and took out a new one from the wardrobe, hanging it on the coat stand before going to bed. Nheless, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. As she shut her eyes, images of the past emerged in her mind. She began to recall her happy childhood memories with Charles. Gwendolyn remembered how she used to admire and look up to him as well as the way she called his name affectionately. Surprisingly, she found herself feeling sorry for a despicable jerk like Charles and wondered if it was because of her pregnancy that she had be morepassionate and sentimental. Burying her head under the covers, she forced herself to stop thinking about the past she shared with Charles. I should instead think about how much Cedrick has suffered for the past six months because of him! As her thoughts were a jumbled mess, Gwendolyn heard the sound of a car driving away and assumed that it was Charles leaving. She finally felt more at ease. Soon, exhaustion overtook her, lulling her into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, in Salinsburgh of Chanaea, the five-day deadline had passed. Early in the morning, Yael arrived at the conference hall that Cedrick had arranged in advance. Xander couldn¡¯te along this time as he had been heavily injured a few days ago. Apart from a few highly-respected elders of the Jenson family, Yael also brought some of the directors from the Jenson Group. From afar, therge group of people emanated an intimidating and imposing aura. Soon after, Craig and his subordinates from the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrived at the conference hall too. The men who were d in military uniforms stood tall and sturdy, instantly overshadowing Yael and the rest. Although Yael felt somewhat displeased, he considered them allies and still stepped forward to greet them amicably. Subsequently, the two started chatting casually. Almost three hours had passed, but Cedrick was still nowhere to be seen. Yael grew impatient and instructed his bodyguards, ¡°Head over to Harrick Vi and check out what Cedrick is up to. How can he make us wait for so long?¡± ¡°All right.¡± The bodyguard had just reached the entrance when the door creaked open. Instantly, everyone in the hall put on a solemn expression and stood up to wee the arrival. Nevertheless, to their surprise, Neville was the only one who stepped in. Furrowing his brows, Yael asked in displeasure, ¡°Where is Cedrick? Why are you alone?¡± The directors behind him chimed in, ¡°Yeah! Where is Mr. Cedrick? Didn¡¯t he promise that he would give us an exnation today? Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s merely trying to fool us! Even though we are all deeply saddened by Mr. Cedrick¡¯s loss of eyesight, the handover of power has to be done in a timely manner!¡± Another person added, ¡°Exactly! We didn¡¯t hear anything from Mr. Cedrick for the past few days, nor do we know where he is. We¡¯re going to start suspecting that Mr. Cedrick has died of illness if we don¡¯t see him soon.¡± Craig sat down in a nonchnt manner, calmly listening to the directors of Jenson Group ridiculing Cedrick. Everyone else seated on Craig¡¯s side remained quiet andposed as well. Neville stole a nce at Craig before exining to Yael, ¡°Mr. Cedrick has something urgent to attend to. Hence, the meeting is rescheduled to the afternoon.¡± ¡°What?¡± Hearing that, the crowd went into an uproar almost immediately. Yael¡¯s expression clouded over, and he narrowed his eagle-like eyes as he kept his hostile gaze fixated on Neville. ¡°The elders from the Jenson family have alle to sit in on the handover. How could he disrespectfully leave the elders waiting here?¡± However, Neville stubbornly refused to relent and answered firmly, ¡°I only follow orders from Mr. Cedrick.¡± The elders behind Yael were irritated by his remark and started moring, criticizing Cedrick for his discourtesy. Ignoring them, Neville tapped the table and voiced, ¡°Those of you who refuse to wait, feel free to leave. Otherwise, please sit down and behave if you wish to listen to Mr. Cedrick¡¯s exnation.¡± After saying that, Neville turned around and left. He then ordered his men to guard the entrance and forbid the crowd from making a ruckus inside. Staring at the imposing soldiers standing outside, Yael couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait until the afternoon. I wonder what other tricks he has up his sleeve!¡± Since Neville had announced that those who chose to leave the conference hall would not be allowed entry again, no one dared to take a step out. They all remained in the room and ate the takeout that Neville delivered for lunch. Craig and his men, who had experienced countless hardships in the military, had no problem with the meals that Neville prepared. Yael and his faction, on the other hand, were ustomed to a luxurious life. Naturally, they weren¡¯t used to eating in and nd meals. As their frustration grew, they became increasingly agitated. One of the directors, Roger Zaborowski, threw the food on the floor andined, ¡°What is Mr. Cedrick¡¯s problem? I can¡¯t believe he expects us to eat this kind of food! He sets all these rules and forbids us from leaving, but he still hasn¡¯t shown up yet! Is he messing with us?¡± Pointing at the door, Neville suggested, ¡°There¡¯s a five-star hotel right next to the building, Mr. Zaborowski. You may enjoy a scrumptious meal there. However, there¡¯s no need for you to returnter.¡± Stumped by Neville¡¯s suggestion, Roger furiously threw all the other directors¡¯ takeout on the floor, making a huge mess. The conference hall¡¯s floor was instantly littered with food. ¡°Why are all of you still eating? I want to see Mr. Cedrick now! I demand a reasonable exnation from him!¡± Many people chimed in, and the atmosphere plunged into chaos. As the situation spiraled out of control, the door swung open once again. A man¡¯s cold and stern voice traveled into the room. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the exnation you want, Mr. Zaborowski.¡± Instantaneously, the noise in the conference hall died down. Everyone instinctively turned to look at the entrance. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Cedrick!¡± ¡°Mr. Cedrick is finally here!¡± Cedrick looked the same as he was a few days ago. He was still wearing sunsses and a ck top hat, dressed in an elegant formal suit. The bandage on his head was well hidden underneath his hat. Meanwhile, Treyton and Swain trailed behind him. Swain went to stand next to Neville while Treyton sat in a corner. Afterward, Cedrick walked straight to the main seat of the conference hall. Everyone present attempted to look at his eyes through his sunsses. Roger asked in puzzlement, ¡°Mr. Cedrick, aren¡¯t you blind? Are you ying tricks on us?¡± Ignoring him, Cedrick raised his hand slightly at Neville and Swain. ¡°Everyone here wants an exnation. For the past few days, I¡¯ve prepared a statement for each and every one of you,¡± said Cedrick. Neville hastily brought out a stack of documents. Then, he and Swain started distributing them ording to the names of the attendees. As the documents were being handed out, everyone exchanged confused nces with each other, wondering what Cedrick was up to. However, as everyone received the documents, their expressions changed dramatically. Roger, who had a bad temper, stood up and eximed, ¡°How dare you remove me from the board, Mr. Cedrick? So this is the exnation you¡¯re giving me?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. In fact, the documents that everyone received were penalty notices. The esteemed elders of the Jenson family were already retired and no longer actively involved in the affairs of the Jenson Group. As such, the penalties given by Cedrick were directed toward their descendants who were currently serving in thepany. The most severe punishment received by the Jenson family was imposed on Yael. He was transferred from the Jenson Group to a subsidiary of Mapleton, where he was assigned to a less important position with fewer responsibilities. Yael was infuriated. mming the table, he stood up. ¡°This is outrageous! We¡¯ve waited until today for you to hand over the power. What do you mean by giving us penalty notices? Now that you¡¯re blind, you¡¯re not worthy of this position. Why are you still hogging the position?¡± Chaos ensued as the rest chimed in, voicing their displeasure. Instead of answering him, Cedrick showed a frosty look as he took off his sunsses in front of everyone. Chapter 354 Chapter 354 His dark, pensive eyes gleamed as he clearly took in the shocked or scared expressions on everyone¡¯s faces. Then, he curled his lips into a sneer. ¡°When have I admitted that I was blind?¡± ¡°H-How is this possible? Your eyes are fine?¡± Colors drained from Yael¡¯s wrinkled countenance. Soon, he wrapped his mind around the situation. ¡°Was this all a deliberate setup?¡± Cedrick neither denied nor admitted and merely responded casually, ¡°I should thank you for helping me to get rid of all those people with ulterior motives in one fell swoop, Uncle Yael.¡± Yael was resentful. ¡°Since your eyes are fine, everything that happened recently is just a misunderstanding. It¡¯s not like anyonemitted a grave mistake, so on what basis are you punishing everyone present?¡± ¡°Spreading rumors about my blindness, deliberately causing trouble at Harrick Vi, abusing your position as a public officer for personal gain, and some of you even indulge in a hedonistic lifestyle. Should I list them all out, Uncle Yael?¡± Cedrick paused briefly. The hint of mockery on his face intensified. ¡°In other words, I have the final say here. Do you really think I had no idea about all your dirty little secrets?¡± Many people inside the conference room averted their gazes and didn¡¯t dare to speak. Neville added indignantly, ¡°You¡¯re all easily swayed by hearsay! In the past, Mr. Cedrick was merely turning a blind eye to your antics. Did you really take yourselves for someone special? I suggest those who are sensible take your penalty notices and get lost at once!¡± At that point, Yael felt humiliated and was rendered speechless. He had foolishly believed Craig¡¯s words and was yed by Cedrick. ¡°Very well! We shall see each other next time, Cedrick.¡± Yael snorted and turned around to leave. Cedrick suddenly reminded him, ¡°You¡¯re being reassigned to Mapleton for five years, Uncle Yael. You¡¯ll have to take extra good care of your health for us to have the chance to meet again.¡± Infuriated, Yael red at Cedrick before striding away. Following his departure, the elders of the Jenson family and Jenson Group¡¯s directors also left in dejection since they were now without a leader. In less than a few minutes, more than half of the people present in the conference room were vacated. Cedrick turned to Craig, who had been silent. ¡°You haven¡¯t expressed your opinion. Are you not satisfied because you think the penalty is too light?¡± Craig chuckled. Yael doesn¡¯t know about the virus in Cedrick¡¯s body, but I do. When he saved Charles from Cedrick, Charles had personally told him about that matter as a condition for his rescue. ¡°Mr. Cedrick, do you think you can hide your real condition with this drastic maneuver?¡± Cedrick arched his brows slightly. ¡°Even I¡¯m not clear about what condition I have. Why don¡¯t you enlighten me?¡± Craig parted his lips and hesitated to speak as he suddenly realized it was another one of Cedrick¡¯s traps. The record of Charles¡¯ offense stated that he had stolen the S40 strong corrosive potion from the laboratory. If Craig were to tell the truth, that meant he knew the inside story. In that case, Charles¡¯ misdeed would inevitably be connected to him. Cedrick was taking advantage of Craig¡¯s inability to divulge the truth even if thetter was in the know. ¡°Well done, Mr. Cedrick. I admit defeat this time!¡± Craig got up, bowed at Cedrick, and turned to leave. ¡°Stop right there.¡± Cedrick nced at Swain. ¡°Since you doubt my health status, it is only right for me to clear up the confusion to avoid unnecessary troubles in the future.¡± Swain immediately handed over the health reports from thirteen hospitals, verifying Cedrick was in the pink of health, to Craig. Craig swept his eyes across the content, knowing those reports were generated for Cedrick with Kieran¡¯s help. Unable to swallow his anger, he shed a faint smile. ¡°Mr. Cedrick, you¡¯re sessful in both officialdom and the business world, and for that, I admire you. Regrettably, you¡¯re unlucky in love and are fated to end up as a loner.¡± Cedrick knitted his brows and grimaced instantaneously. Craig feigned astonishment. ¡°Oh? Judging by your expression, it seems like you¡¯re still unaware. Your fianc¨¦e, Ms. Harris, and Charles announced that they would hold a wedding ceremony in Erihal¡¯s Fl Grand Cathedral a few days from now. This article is even featured on international news. Don¡¯t you browse the inte, Mr. Cedrick?¡± Cedrick stared at Craig frostily. It was as if a bomb had erupted in his mind as he clenched his fists until his veins bulged. Craig enjoyed looking at the diposed and enraged expression on Cedrick¡¯s visage, guffawing as he took his leave. Soon, only Neville, Swain, and Treyton were left in the conference room. Treyton walked over andforted Cedrick, ¡°Don¡¯t believe Craig¡¯s words. Kiddo must be doing that to help you acquire the antidote. I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t genuinely want to marry Charles. I suspect this is a fake marriage.¡± Cedrick bored his eyes into Treyton. ¡°You already knew this and purposely deceived me?¡± Treyton looked away as he said sheepishly, ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡± Cedrick¡¯s aura turned cold and austere. A violent storm brewed in his dark eyes. ¡°Immediately arrange a private ne. We¡¯re flying to Erihal tonight!¡± As he walked toward the door, an unbearable pain red up in his chest. The metallic scent of blood surged up his throat, and an intense sense of suffocation gripped him. He staggered a few steps, spewed a mouthful of blood, and passed out. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Cedrick!¡± Neville, Swain, and Treyton were frightened when they saw Cedrick coughing up blood and fainting. Neville hastily carried Cedrick on his back and brought thetter to the hospital in the city. Then, they summoned Kieran over to check on Cedrick. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Cedrick¡¯s towering rage had prompted the virus within him to spread faster, causing him to puke blood and go into aa. Kieran administered Cedrick with some intravenous immunostimtors. Subsequently, Cedrick remained unconscious for an extended period. By the time he woke up again, it was already two dayster. ¡°Gwenny! He jolted awake, nced at the date, and immediately tried to get out of bed but was stopped by Treyton. Eyes bloodshot, Cedrick roared hysterically like a madman, ¡°Get out of my way. I want to find Gwenny! She¡¯ll be marrying Charles in three days. I can¡¯t watch her sacrifice herself for the sake of obtaining the antidote! Move!¡± Treyton could only try his best to prevent Cedrick from getting off the bed. When Asher returned, he stood at the foot of the bed, watching quietly before piping up, ¡°A few days ago, Erihal¡¯s Duke Gerhardt suddenly contacted me, saying Kiddo wishes to coborate with him. In exchange, they demand trade tax exemption rights in Chanaea.¡± Cedrick fell silent at once. He ceased grappling with Treyton and turned to look at Asher with a severe expression, swiftly grasping the situation. ¡°Are you suggesting I should tackle this issue via Duke Gerhardt?¡± Asher nodded. ¡°Trade and taxation affairs are indeed under the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s jurisdiction, but only your side has the authority to deploy troops.¡± Their forces were private, while Cedrick had the power to mobilize the national army. Cedrick was quiet for a while. His restlessness started to dissipate as he regained hisposure. After discussing further with Asher, he had an idea. Still, he was slightly baffled by Asher¡¯s initiative to offer assistance. ¡°Haven¡¯t you always disliked me and wanted to rece me with someone else as your brother-inw? Why are you helping me?¡± ¡°I do dislike you, but I despise Charles more. Besides, giving you advice does not mean I¡¯ve epted you. You¡¯re still a long way from winning my acknowledgment to be my brother-inw.¡± Cedrick had a good grasp on differentiating personal grudges from general affairs. He pursed his lips and spoke in a rare amiable tone. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll have to perform well in the future, striving to win your approval sooner!¡± Treyton leaned close to Cedrick and reminded in an undertone, ¡°Don¡¯t forget about Kieran and me! After you return from Erihal and before you get married to our sister, the three of us will give you difficult tasks.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯m ready whenever!¡± The ambiance inside the ward turned amicable once again. Chapter 355 Chapter 355 The wait for the day of the wedding was an extreme torment for Gwendolyn. She spent thest two days in a daze. The night before the wedding, Charles had someone deliver the wedding dress to her ce. She found it ironic as she stroked the expensive wedding dress in front of her. Although this would be her first wedding ceremony, it was actually her second time wearing a wedding dress. She had thought she wouldn¡¯t have any chance to put it on again. Little did she expect that she would wear it and get married to someone whom she didn¡¯t love. Charles stood at the door of her room and stared at her in silence. ¡°Gwen, do you like it? The most famous designer in Erihal used a week to design it. This is the only piece in the world.¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand and sat on the edge of the bed with an indifferent expression on her face. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I kept my word. I¡¯ve been looking after Nico these days. He¡¯s almost recovered now. You don¡¯t have to worry about him.¡± Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief and said nothing more. ¡°I¡¯ll release Nico from jail once we have officially held our wedding ceremony. When we enjoy our pleasant moment at night, I¡¯ll get someone to give him the antidote and send him back to Chanaea.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Expressionlessly, she covered herself with the nket. ¡°You can go back to Alzer Pce. I¡¯m sleepy now. I want to call it a night.¡± ¡°All right. I won¡¯t disturb your rest, then. Goodnight, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn ignored him. Charles closed her bedroom door and left. As soon as he left, Gwendolyn sat up at once. She fixed her eyes on the small ne Asher had given her on the dressing table. If Charles really wanted to sleep with her in the same bed after Nico received the antidote tomorrow, she would perish with him. Everything will be over soon! At the same time, someone entered the dungeon with a decree of pardon. Nico was half-asleep when he heard the sound of the dungeon door opening. A foreign-looking man dressed as a guard walked in. Nico became clear-headed at once and immediately sat up. He narrowed his eyes vigntly and asked, ¡°That b*stard can¡¯t wait any longer and has sent you to kill me, huh?¡± The guard handed him the decree of pardon. ¡°You¡¯ve been released. I¡¯m here to bring you out.¡± Nico looked at the decree carefully, feeling at a loss. ¡°Why did Lord Gerhardt release me?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°Come on. You¡¯ll know the answer soon.¡± The guard uncuffed the heavy shackles on Nico¡¯s legs. With the help of the guard, Nico walked out of the dungeon with heavy steps. In the past few days, Charles had indeed gotten a doctor to treat Nico¡¯s wounds. However, the medicine applied to him wasn¡¯t effective. Not only was the pain excruciating, but it also caused his wounds to bleed repeatedly. He bore with it for six to seven days, but his wounds had only healed a little. The guard walked ahead of Nico. When he noticed that Nico was far behind him due to his wounds, he immediately went over to help him. ¡°Thanks,¡± Nico said politely. The moment they passed by the neighboring cell, Nico stopped. ¡°There¡¯s a girl in this cell. May I request Lord Gerhardt to allow her to leave with me?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± The guard looked troubled. Nico continued to exin in Epean, ¡°I don¡¯t think she hasmitted any crimes. She is involved in a transnational human trafficking case. Erihal only allows women, who are at least twenty years old, to work. She is still a month away from reaching the qualifying age. They probably didn¡¯t want to cover her living expenses for the month, so they sent her here.¡± ¡°Let me ask the duke. If it is as you said, you should be able to take her away.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The guard took out his phone and called Gerhardt. Nico waited at the side. In just a few minutes, Gerhardt agreed. When the cell door opened, the girl, huddled in the corner, trembled. She buried her head in her arms, not daring to look up. Nico went over and squatted down in front of her. He patted her arm gently and said, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Mister?¡± Hearing the familiar voice, the girl looked up in shock. ¡°Why are you here?¡± The moment she lifted her head, Nico met her clear eyes. He couldn¡¯t make out her looks since her face was dirty. Besides, she was extremely thin. It seemed that she had been abused for a long time. However, judging from how beautiful her eyes were, Nico felt that she would look good if he fattened her up. He stroked her head and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve been released. I¡¯m here to take you away.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Nico nodded and held her hand. ¡°Mm-hmm. Let¡¯s go.¡± The guard walked in the front, while Nico followed behind with the girl holding him. The girl had been fixing her eyes on him from the moment she left her cell. It was making him ufortable. ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± The girl shook her head and said somewhat seriously but shyly, ¡°Mister, you¡¯re so handsome!¡± Nico burst into a chuckle. Compared to Cedrick and Charles, he was still a far cry from being considered handsome. ¡°That¡¯s because you have yet to meet those who are more handsome than me.¡± ¡°No. Everyone has a different taste. To me, you¡¯re the most handsome!¡± Nico had never beenplimented in such a way before. Although he felt embarrassed, he also found it sweet. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Who are your parents? When we get back to Chanaea, I¡¯ll send you back to them.¡± He diverted the topic. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the girl asked him back. ¡°I¡¯m Nico.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m Nicole!¡± Nico was at a loss for words. How can she name herself so casually? The girl was happy that she had gotten a new name. ¡°Nico, I¡¯ve actually thought it through these few days. My dad should have been instructed by my stepmother to sell me off for money. I don¡¯t want to see him as my father anymore.¡± ¡°What are you going to do, then?¡± She tightened her grip on Nico¡¯s arm and looked at him expectantly with sparkling eyes. ¡°I want to stay with you. You don¡¯t have to spend much on me, and I won¡¯t be thriftless either. I can just have a bun for every meal.¡± Nico was speechless. Since childhood, his life had revolved around training, missions, and Cedrick. He had no idea how to take care of a girl at all. ¡°Remember the ghost story that I told you two days ago? I¡¯m actually that insane killer in the story. If you stay with me, you won¡¯t get to live a good life. I eat people!¡± Nico threatened. He had thought Nicole would be afraid. However, she looked at him with reverence instead. ¡°Woah! You must be good at fighting, Nico! You¡¯re amazing!¡± Nico didn¡¯t say anything. Looking at her thin, malnourished arm, Nicole put on a troubled expression. ¡°I won¡¯t be delicious since I¡¯m too thin. How about you fatten me up first before eating me?¡± Eat you the way I want to? Having seen too much of the public disy of affection between Cedrick and Gwendolyn, Nico felt that he was no longer as innocent as before. Seeing that Nico wasn¡¯t saying anything, Nicole remembered that he ended up in jail because of stealing and thought he was poor. ¡°Nico, if you can¡¯t afford to support me, I can earn money to support you. But I may not be able to make much, so you have to be frugal.¡± Nico was at a loss for words. Is she going to cling to me for real? Nico had never been so speechless in his entire life. Chapter 356 Chapter 356 While speaking, Nico and Nicole walked out of the dungeon and got into a car. Soon, they arrived at the duke¡¯s residence. The moment Nico got out of the car, he spotted a familiar tall figure at the entrance. The man was wearing a ck coat. He stood straight, exuding a wave of cold and dignified aura, seemingly waiting for Nico on purpose. Although he had a cap and a mask on, Nico could still recognize him at first nce. His eyes turned red. Forgetting about the wounds on his body, he pounced on the man and wrapped his arms around him. Patting his back, the man teased, ¡°It¡¯s only been half a month. Why have you be so soft?¡± Nico frowned slightly and did not reply to him. He tightened his grip on the man as though he was seeking the warmth of an elder brother from him. Nicole walked over and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be too rough. You¡¯re going to hurt him. His wounds haven¡¯t recovered yet.¡± The man nced at Nico, then silently withdrew his hand from Nico¡¯s back. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s been a fruitful trip. You even brought back a cute girl.¡± Nicole giggled, while Nico fell silence. At that moment, Charles was on the way back to Alzer Pce. Staring at the dark sky outside the car window, Charles ordered Jonah coldly, ¡°Find a way to kill Nico before he boards the ne tomorrow night and take back the Super Antiviral.¡± ¡°B-But he has extremely good fighting skills, and we can¡¯t use guns in public. If we send too many men over, it¡¯s going to attract the people¡¯s attention. I don¡¯t think our men are a match for him.¡± Charles narrowed his eyes. ¡°He has yet to recover. Just do as I say.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Jonah said from the front passenger seat. Suddenly, his phone rang. His expression became tense at once. Turning his head to look at Charles, he said, ¡°Mr. Lund, the people we sent to the dungeon said that Nico has gone missing!¡± Charles furrowed his brows. ¡°Look into it!¡± Ten minutes after sending a text message, Jonah received a reply. ¡°Mr. Lund, they couldn¡¯t find him. It¡¯s as if he has vanished into thin air.¡± ¡°He was locked in the dungeon, and on top of that, he was shackled. Are you trying to say that he magically disappeared?¡± Charles was furious. ¡°Keep investigating! Find out who has been to the dungeon today!¡± ¡°Mr. Lund, although you can go in and out of the dungeon at will with the special privilege token given by Her Highness, you don¡¯t have the authority to check the records of who has been there.¡± Charles gradually calmed down. ¡°Forget it, then. He doesn¡¯t have the antidote yet, so he won¡¯t leave Erihal. He¡¯ll surely show up tomorrow!¡± Come to think of it, Cedrick is getting closer to death¡¯s door. He isn¡¯t able to hold on much longer. After tomorrow, everything will probably be over, right? That night was destined to be a sleepless night for everyone. The next morning, Gwendolyn was woken up by the housekeepers to wash up and get ready. Charles had bought her a new set of natural cosmetics, which were of no harm to pregnant women. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t like others to put on makeup for her, so she put it on herself. An hourter, Charles arranged for a car to send her to Fl Grand Cathedral. The cathedral was packed with the high-ranking nobles in the royal family. Kylie and Caesar were helping Charles to wee the guests. Gerhardt wasn¡¯t there. Looking out the car window, Gwendolyn spared an indifferent nce at the lively cathedral. When the car pulled up at the back door of the cathedral, she went into the lounge that Charles had prepared for her in advance. She had only worn the wedding gown. Her hair was not set yet. The ceremony was starting soon. She went to the table and picked up ab to tie her hair into a bun. However, she was stopped when a pair of warm hands held hers. She looked into the mirror and saw that it was Charles. She pulled back her hand from his and asked icily, ¡°Why are you here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to wee the guests?¡± ¡°My mother and Caesar are helping me at the front. I can make some time out to help you do your hair.¡± Charles picked up theb and gentlybed her hair. ¡°You know how to style a woman¡¯s hair?¡± Gwendolyn was a little surprised. ¡°I learned from a stylist a few days ago.¡± Charles smiled dotingly. His blue eyes resembled a gxy of stars. Seeing how serious he was in doing her hair, Gwendolyn sat there in silence and didn¡¯t stop him. He skillfully styled her hair and helped her wear the veil before fixing the brilliant crystal crown on her head. When everything was done, he looked in the mirror and gazed at the peerless beautiful woman, imprinting her beauty on his mind. ¡°Gwen, my prettiest bride! I imagined this scene ten years ago. The only thing I don¡¯t regret in these ten years is falling in love with you.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her eyes and didn¡¯t say anything. A female housekeeper knocked on the door and said, ¡°Ms. Harris, the ceremony will be starting in fifteen minutes.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Gwendolyn respondedzily. Then, she got up to change into a pair of high heels. She hade over in slippers earlier. ¡°Let me do it.¡± Charles pressed her shoulders and made her sit again. He took out a delicate shoe box beside the shoe rack and opened it to reveal a pair of white ts. Gwendolyn was taken aback a little. ¡°When did you prepare these? Today is your big day. Haven¡¯t you always wanted a perfect wedding? No bride wears ts at a wedding ceremony.¡± Charles went down on one knee and squatted at her feet to help her put on the ts. ¡°This is our wedding. To me, it¡¯s perfect as long as you¡¯re the bride. I did my research yesterday. Pregnant women aren¡¯t rmended to wear heels because they¡¯re bad for the baby, so I went out and bought the tsst night. I didn¡¯t get to tell you about it.¡± Gwendolyn stared at him in a daze, slightly overwhelmed with mixed feelings. If the one he loves is someone who loves him, perhaps he will happy. Sadly¡­ N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Lowering her eyes dejectedly, she choked back the inexplicable emotions that had risen in her. The cathedral was filled with guests. Melodious music from the violin and piano echoed in the air. Charles entered and walked on the red carpet until he was next to the priest. Joy was clearly registered on his face. He had never been so happy before. Then, the music changed. Gwendolyn appeared at the entrance holding a bouquet. She was wearing a pure white long wedding gown. Apanied by the music, she stepped on the carpet and walked over to Charles. Once she stopped beside the priest, he began, ¡°Mr. Vidar Lund, will you take Ms. Gwendolyn Shalders Harris as your wife? Will you have and hold her from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death?¡± Charles fixed his gaze on Gwendolyn, his eyes sparkling. ¡°I will!¡± he replied without hesitation. Watching them from the front row, Kylie took a tissue and wiped away her tears of happiness. On the stage, the priest turned to look at Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, will you take Mr. Vidar Lund as your husband? Will you have and hold him from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death?¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head and fell into a long silence. She didn¡¯t look at Charles, nor did she make any response. The priest was feeling a little confused. The present guests exchanged nces with one another, and the atmosphere turned slightly strange. ¡°Gwen, you have to reply,¡± Charles called her softly and gave her a look that reminded her of the antidote. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, will you take Mr. Vidar Lund as your husband?¡± the priest asked again. Taking a deep breath, Gwendolyn closed her eyes and spoke against her conscience. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°She won¡¯t!¡± A man¡¯s cold and deep voice rang out from outside the cathedral right then. Chapter 357 Chapter 357 This voice¡­ Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were red with surprise as she looked out the door. Cedrick walked in solemnly. His ck coat was covered with snow. Behind him was Nico, whose expression was equally grave. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Right then, two armed military troops with different uniforms entered the cathedral in an orderly manner and surrounded the ce. The guests were scared out of their wits. In a sh, the scene became chaotic. Staring at the man standing at the other end of the red carpet, Charles gritted his teeth. ¡°What great timing, Cedrick. Are you here to crash my wedding?¡± His gaze was filled with hatred. Curling his lips sarcastically, Cedrick said, ¡°Well, someone doesn¡¯t have his heart in the right ce. He abducted my fianc¨¦e to a foreign country and forced her to marry him, so I have toe and take my woman away.¡± Charles clenched his fists tightly. The hatred in him intensified. All the guests in the cathedral were from the royal family invited by Kylie. Although the conversation between Charles and Cedrick was in Chanaean, most of the royals could still understand it. They went into an uproar as soon as they heard what Cedrick said. Shifting their gazes between the two men, they began to mutter among themselves. Feeling humiliated, Kylie wanted to help Charles exin and minimize the damage caused. However, Cedrick spoke first. ¡°Everyone, I¡¯m only here for the bridegroom today. I won¡¯t harm those who are not involved. Nico, clear the ce!¡± In less than five minutes, all the royals were driven out, including the priest. Soon, only Cedrick and his men, Charles, Gwendolyn, and Kylie were left in therge cathedral. The atmosphere was tense. Charles shot daggers at Cedrick and said through gritted teeth, ¡°Do you actually think I¡¯m unprepared?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Kylie stood up and pped her hands. A group of armed guards dashed out of the door next to the altar. They weren¡¯t any less than the people Cedrick had brought with him. Both sides had their guns raised, and the air was thick with tension. ¡°Ceddy!¡± Gwendolyn looked at the armed forces, then at Cedrick worriedly. She wanted to run over to him but was stopped by Charles. When Cedrick saw Charles holding Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist, his gaze was filled with hostility. Nico, who was at the side, looked at Kylie and said, ¡°Look carefully. The troops we have are not only from Chanaea but also Erihal. Our boss is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of Chanaea. He should be treated with the utmost respect when hees to Erihal. If your guardsy a finger on him, I¡¯m afraid the king isn¡¯t going to let you go.¡± Kylie¡¯s face fell at once, but she remained resolute. ¡°This is just an act of self-defense. If you dare to hurt Charlie, then don¡¯t me me for being merciless!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a say in Charles¡¯ life!¡± Cedrick snorted. Then, he turned to Gwendolyn, who was on the stage. Stretching out his arms to her, he said dotingly, ¡°Gwenny,e to me.¡± Gwendolyn forcibly broke free from Charles¡¯ grip and ran over in Cedrick¡¯s direction while lifting the hem of her gown. Charles froze, looking at his hand that held Gwendolyn¡¯s until a moment ago. Kylie was livid. Her dearest son¡¯s wedding had been ruined, and on top of that, the bride had run away with another man. It was an extreme humiliation for not only Charles but also her royal family. I can¡¯t kill Cedrick, but I can end the life of that unfaithful b*tch! She immediately instructed the guard closest to her to aim his gun at Gwendolyn and make a shot stealthily. ¡°Careful!¡± Charles noticed that and immediately stood in the targeted direction. Kylie wanted to ask the guard to stop, but the trigger had already been pulled. A loud gunshot rang out in the air. Gwendolyn had reached the middle of the red carpet when she heard the gunshot. She stopped in her tracks and turned around. Charles was clutching his arm that had been shot. Blood was seeping through the gaps between his fingers. Kylie immediately rushed forward to check on his wound. Charles red at his mother. ¡°Killing her is equivalent to killing me!¡± Kylie¡¯s heart ached for him. ¡°All right, all right. I won¡¯t harm her anymore. My guards will only protect your safety, okay?¡± Gwendolyn was still standing in the same spot. She was stunned upon seeing him blocking the shot for her. Charles noticed her eyes on him. Like Cedrick, Charles stretched out his bloody hand to her with a pleading gaze. ¡°Gwen,e back, please? I was serious about saving you with my life. Can you choose me for once?¡± Gwendolyn hesitated. She didn¡¯t move until Cedrick called her from the back. ¡°Gwenny.¡± Gwendolyn came to her senses at once. Lowering her eyes, she said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± After taking off her veil, removing the crystal crown on her head, and untying her hair, she turned around and ran toward Cedrick. She threw herself into his embrace as if nobody else was around. As Gwendolyn savored the pleasant body smell that she had been longing for, she felt at ease. ¡°Ceddy, has Kieran cured your eyes?¡± Cedrick tightened his grip around her waist and stroked her head with his other hand. ¡°Yes. Your brothers have taken great care of me. It¡¯s just that I miss you a lot.¡± His voice sounded slightly nasal. The past half month had been torturous to him since he wasn¡¯t able to see her. Gwendolyn leaned her head against his chest and quietly listened to his heartbeat. She held his waist tighter as she immersed herself in his presence. ¡°I miss you too. I don¡¯t want to be separated from you anymore.¡± While hugging, they expressed their longings for each other without minding the fact that there were still other people around. Charles stared at them from a distance and found his eyes stinging from watching the scene. He lowered his head, looking at the crown that was thrown to the ground by Gwendolyn. The crystals were scattered across the floor and had lost their original brilliance. He was like the crown. In Cedrick¡¯s presence, Gwendolyn would choose to give up on him without hesitation. No matter how hard he tried, he still couldn¡¯t secure a spot in her heart. All of a sudden, he burst outughing maniacally and pathetically. Even when he was almost tortured to death by Cedrick back then, he had never felt so brokenhearted. ¡°Cedrick, since I can¡¯t get her, don¡¯t think about being with her either!¡± Charles said heartlessly. He dismantled the altar and took out a silver-gray freezer. Nico was shocked. ¡°Boss, that¡¯s the Super Antiviral!¡± Charles had brought the antidote to the cathedral and hid it in the holy altar. Cedrick and Gwendolyn let go of each other and looked at Charles. Everyone¡¯s attention was on Charles, and Charles had been fixing his eyes on Gwendolyn. Nico retreated to the back of the armed military troop and stealthily moved closer to the altar. On the stage, Charles opened the freezer and took out the transparent serum. ¡°Cedrick, I want to see how many days you have left without this antidote. You¡¯re going to be the first to die.¡± Laughing maniacally, he threw the antidote toward the seats. ¡°No!¡± Gwendolyn screamed. Nico instantly lunged over in that direction. Seeing that, Charles¡¯ guards aimed their guns at Nico. ¡°Nico!¡± Cedrick and Gwendolyn eximed at the same time as several gunshots pierced the air. Chapter 358 Chapter 358 Nico lunged forward without thinking about the consequences and held the serum securely in his arms. He ended up knocking his back on the armrest, rolled around, and crashed onto the ground. The wounds on his body bled profusely, staining his shirt red. At the same time, his face had turned pale due to the pain, and he coughed out blood on the spot. However, the Super Antiviral was still held safely in his arms. When Nico lunged forward, the two troops of soldiers brought by Cedrick noticed that Kylie¡¯s guards were about to shoot him. Cedrick¡¯s men quickly killed all the guards before they could pull their triggers. Evidently, the tables had turned, and Charles and Kylie were at a disadvantage because they were all on their own. Charles couldn¡¯t be bothered, nevertheless. He red at Nico and dashed toward him before sending a powerful kick in his abdomen. Nico trembled and curled up into a ball. After coughing out another mouthful of blood, he passed out on the spot. Before Charles could deliver another kick, he was apprehended by the soldiers from Erihal. The Chanaean soldiers, on the other hand, quickly rushed toward Nico and surrounded him. Although Nico was unconscious, he was still gripping the serum tightly as if he was determined to prioritize his mission over his own life. The soldiers from Chanaea were Nico¡¯s subordinates, so they were all eager to have a go at Charles. Cedrick calmly ordered his man to bring Nico out of there because there was a miniature emergency room in his private ne. Seeing that Nico was being brought away along with the Super Antiviral, Charles realized he had lost hisst bargaining chip. Heughed wildly, despite having both his hands in handcuffs. Hisughter was so loud that it filled the entire cathedral. Meanwhile, neither of the troops dared toy their fingers on Kylie. Since her movements weren¡¯t restricted, she tried her best to pull Charles away from Cedrick¡¯s men. Obviously, her efforts were futile. She whipped out a dagger and pressed it against her own neck. While ring at Cedrick and Gwendolyn, she thundered, ¡°Hurting the princess is a heinous crime! If you dare toy another finger on Charlie, I¡¯ll make sure none of you leave Erihal!¡± Cedrick kept mum in response. Kylie¡¯s threat tomit suicide put both parties in a stalemate. Needless to say, the cathedral plunged into silence at once. The situation only changed when Gerhardt arrived with his men, and he told Kylie to stop what she was doing. ¡°Lower your weapon, Kylie! Stop fighting this. Cedrick came with an international arrest warrant and has already gotten a clearance from the king. You can¡¯t stop him from bringing Vidar away!¡± ¡°What?¡± Kylie was in disbelief, her eyes filled with tears. ¡°How could this be? They can¡¯t take Charlie away! I won¡¯t allow that!¡± Gerhardt approached her and took her dagger away. In desperation, Kylie gripped the hem of his clothes and humbled herself for the first time. ¡°Help me, Gerhardt! Help Charlie! If they bring Charlie away, they¡¯ll torture him! Help me kill all of them!¡± While she was crying and distracted, Gerhardt heaved a sigh and struck the back of her head to knock her out. Kylie fainted there and then. Gerhardt carried her in his arms and exited the cathedral without looking back. He didn¡¯t even spare Charles a nce as if he no longer cared about Charles¡¯ survival. With Kylie gone, so did Charles¡¯st chance of surviving. Cedrick¡¯s expression turned grim when he recalled Charles kicking Nico. ¡°What do you have to say for yourself?¡± Charles looked devastated when heughed sadistically and shouted, ¡°You have everyone helping you! I have nothing left to say!¡± Cedrick ordered his men coldly, ¡°Put him in handcuffs and legcuffs. We¡¯re bringing him back to Chanaea.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Gwendolyn, who had been keeping quiet the entire time, piped up. Cedrick took off his ck coat and put it over her shoulders. In a gentle tone, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn nced at Charles. ¡°Ceddy, what are you going to do to him after this?¡± Cedrick answered instantaneously, ¡°I¡¯m sending him to a secret jail to torture him. He¡¯ll live an insufferable life.¡± Cedrick¡¯s voice was stern, and his gaze was vicious when he said those words. Charlesughed even louder upon hearing that. ¡°I told you, Gwen. Cedrick hates me as much as I hate him. We¡¯ll never be able to reconcile.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t deny that statement because that was the truth. While Charles wasughing like a maniac, Gwendolyn uttered, ¡°Ceddy, I don¡¯t think imprisoning him is a good idea. His existence will cause more issues in the future.¡± Cedrick frowned and tried to read Gwendolyn¡¯s expression. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and smiled. She wrapped her arm around his waist and grabbed his pistol. ¡°I want to kill him myself!¡± ¡°Gwenny¡ª¡± Cedrick shouted but caved in when he met her gaze. ¡°All right. Go ahead and do whatever you want to do.¡± Gwendolyn loaded the pistol, lifted it, and aimed it at Charles. Seeing that, everyone backed away from Charles at once. Charles, on the other hand, straightened his body. When he looked at Gwendolyn, a ripple of emotion appeared in his eyes. He pointed at his heart and said, ¡°Gwen, shoot here.¡± ¡°Or here,¡± he added after moving his finger toward his forehead. ¡°Come on, show me your marksmanship onest time.¡± Gwendolyn suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of bitterness. ¡°Charles, you taught me how to shoot a decade ago. Did you ever think I would kill you ten yearster?¡± Charles looked at her affectionately and shed a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m incredibly honored to die in your hands. If I were given a chance to do everything all over again, I would still love you as hard as I have for the past ten years. Let¡¯s get on with it.¡± Charles stood there without moving a muscle. Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers trembled slightly as she stared at him with teary eyes. Charles wronged everyone but me. However, he hasmitted such heinous crimes. If he returns to Chanaea, he¡¯ll be tortured endlessly, and his life will be a living hell. Ceddy has suffered a lot and escaped death repeatedly because of Charles. I can¡¯t possibly ask Ceddy to let Charles go. I should just grant Charles an easy way out to repay him for taking the bullet for me. With that in mind, Gwendolyn pulled the trigger. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Bang! A gunshot rang out. The moment she pulled the trigger, Gwendolyn saw the relieved look in Charles¡¯ eyes, and she suddenly understood something. I know why Charles hid the Super Antiviral in the church and why he decided to reveal it. If he were to keep it hidden, we wouldn¡¯t be able to find it in time, and Ceddy could die. Charles did it to give me his blessing! Charles knew that Ceddy would still go after him even if he were to give the antidote willingly. He provoked Ceddy intentionally so that Ceddy would kill him! By the time Gwendolyn figured that out, it was toote. The bullet had already pierced Charles¡¯ heart, and blood was gushing out, painting his white shirt red. ¡°G-Gwen¡­¡± Charles called out with all the energy he had left. Before he copsed to the ground, he saw Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes brimming with tears. Well, she¡¯s feeling sad because of me for once. Perhaps that¡¯s all I can ask for. Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Charles died with a smile on his face. He seemed to have died with no regrets. Gwendolyn¡¯s knees went weak, and she shut her eyes because she couldn¡¯t bear to see the pitiful sight. The memories she had with him when they were children came rushing into her mind, and she was overwhelmed with sorrow. She had killed the man who had loved her dearly for the past decade. While leaning against Cedrick¡¯s chest weakly, she uttered between her sobs, ¡°Take me away, Ceddy. I¡¯m never stepping foot in Erihal ever again.¡± Cedrick kissed her forehead tenderly andforted her, ¡°It¡¯s all over now. He gave you his blessing, and you gave him yours. This is how he wanted things to end.¡± Cedrick knew Charles had nned things out all along. Charles was a stubborn and prideful man. He lost everything when he lost Gwenny. He had nothing left to live for. I did him a great favor by letting her kill him. As for Her Highness, I guess I¡¯ll have to take things one step at a time. Cedrick hugged the emotional Gwendolyn tightly and ordered his men to deal with Charles¡¯ body before sending it back to the Newton family in Chanaea. After dealing with the aftermath, Cedrick carried Gwendolyn in his arms and left Fl Grand Cathedral without looking back. Nico woke up on the private ne on their way back, and Nicole was the one who bandaged his wounds. The Super Antiviral was kept safely in a freezer, and they nned to hand it over to theboratory to check theposition upon arriving in Chanaea. Gwendolyn had already removed her wedding gown and changed into a fur coat. However, she was still wearing the ts Charles had helped her put on. At that moment, she looked devastated as she stared at the clouds outside the ne. Cedrick was hugging her, but he kept silent because he knew she was still bothered by what had happened in the cathedral. Nico and Nicole were also in the first-ss cabin with Cedrick and Gwendolyn. Unlike Cedrick and Gwendolyn, Nico and Nicole were rather cheery. ¡°Nico, the soldiers were all saying you were their captain! You¡¯re so amazing!¡± Nicole eximed. Nico felt awkward because Cedrick and Gwendolyn were present. ¡°The most amazing person on this ne is Ms. Gwendolyn, followed by Boss. I¡¯m nothingpared to them.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Nicole nced at Gwendolyn and shed a friendly smile. ¡°Nico, you never told me your full name. What¡¯s yourst name?¡± Nico was stumped. Neville and Swain are code names. Neville¡¯s real name is Finn Johnson, and Swain¡¯s real name is Jason Yablon. I never had a real name because Boss picked me up near the borders when I was ten. Nico is the only name I have¡­ ¡°About my name¡ª¡± Before Nico could finish his sentence, Cedrick answered, ¡°Hisst name is Jenson.¡± Nico turned toward Cedrick instantly and looked at him puzzledly. ¡°Boss?¡± Cedrick shed a faint smile and uttered in a deep voice, ¡°I¡¯m nning to wee you to the Jenson family once we arrive at the Jenson residence. You¡¯ll be considered as my dad¡¯s adopted son. In other words, you will not only be my subordinate, but you will also be my younger brother, Nico Jenson.¡± Nico¡¯s eyes reddened, and he was tearing up. ¡°You¡¯re so nice to me, Boss¡­¡± If Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t resting in Cedrick¡¯s arms, Nico would¡¯ve rushed over to Cedrick and hugged him. Seeing the expression on Nico¡¯s face, Cedrick teased, ¡°Stop looking like you¡¯re going to cry. You¡¯re embarrassing yourself in front of the girl next to you.¡± Nico immediately held back his tears and put on a serious expression. He turned toward Nicole and said joyfully, ¡°You heard him! I¡¯m going to be a member of the Jenson family!¡± Nicole smiled and felt happy for Nico. ¡°Congrattions, Nico!¡± The three of them were smiling, but Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t. Upon settling the matters in Erihal, Gwendolyn finally felt relieved. At the same time, she was dog-tired, and she didn¡¯t even have the energy to utter a single word. While the trio were chatting away joyfully, Gwendolyn dozed off in Cedrick¡¯s arms. Cedrick lowered his gaze to look at her. That was when he sensed something was amiss. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with Gwenny? She seemed very weak ever since we boarded the ne. How is she still sleeping when we¡¯ve been making so much noise?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know, Boss? Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s pregnant,¡± Nico said. Cedrick was stunned. Pregnant? How is it possible? I¡¯ve been taking contraceptive pills for men! Nico noticed Cedrick¡¯s baffled look, so he exined, ¡°It¡¯s just my estimation, but I think she¡¯s been pregnant for three and a half weeks! It¡¯s not surprising that Lord Gerhardt did not tell you about it. When Ms. Gwendolyn discovered she was pregnant, she led everyone to believe that the child was Charles¡¯ so that she could keep the baby safe.¡± Cedrick lowered his head and remained quiet. Three and a half weeks ago? That was when Gwenny wore the cat costume. I didn¡¯t n to have sex with her that day¡­ This is all my fault. Nico noticed that Cedrick was unhappy, so he quickly said, ¡°Boss, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. She was merely putting on a show. Charles neverid a finger on Ms. Gwendolyn over the past two weeks. The child is definitely yours!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Cedrick frowned deeply and caressed Gwendolyn¡¯s cheek. His frown deepened when he heard Nico telling him that Gwendolyn experienced pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and drowsiness as early as two and a half weeks into the pregnancy. Why did she experience those symptoms so quickly? That can¡¯t be a good thing¡­ I hope the child will be born into this world in a healthy state so that Gwenny won¡¯t suffer from this. Meanwhile, the entertainment industry in Chanaea was weing the new year with all sorts of awards shows. The movie Jennifer starred in, Ancient Legend, was well-received and rated highly. As a result, she won the Best Actress Award. After the awards ceremony, Jennifer, her assistant, and her manager brought Jennifer¡¯s trophy back to their lounge. As they entered the room, someone from outside held the door to prevent the assistant from closing the door shut. ¡°Wait!¡± It was a pleasant voice of a man. The smile on Jennifer¡¯s face vanished at once. That voice is so familiar. That¡¯s definitely Walter. Walter was nominated for an award, but he didn¡¯t win it. With a gleeful smile on his face, he walked in and looked at Jennifer, who was sitting in front of the dressing table. ¡°Jennifer, you¡¯ve improved a lot over the past few months! Congrattions on winning the Best Actress Award!¡± Jennifer touched up her makeup expressionlessly and ignored his presence. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. The assistant and the manager weren¡¯t friendly toward Walter either. His presence ruined the mood! As someone who was as bold as brass, Walter seemed to be immune to the awkward atmosphere. He approached Jennifer and squatted down next to her. While looking at her passionately, he apologized, ¡°I made a mistake back then, Jennifer. I was blind, and I took you for granted. I only realized how deeply I care about you after you left me. Would you please forgive me?¡± Chapter 360 Chapter 360 Jennifer remained silent, her expression unchanged. The assistant rolled her eyes at Walter. ¡°You are such an arrogant and calcting man, Mr. Vissers. Are you trying to ride on Jennifer¡¯s poprity because she has just won the Best Actress Award?¡± Walter ignored her sarcasm and kept his gaze on Jennifer. ¡°I truly am sorry, Jennifer. Please give me another chance! Without you, my life is meaningless. Will youe back to me?¡± Jennifer merely smiled at Walter. When he cheated on her in the past, she had already seen through his true character. She would never believe anything he said now. Jennifer remembered how mercilessly Gwendolyn had dealt with the cheating man and his wicked mistress. Slowly, she retrieved an exquisite little dagger from the drawer, a memento from the drama she had just finished filming. Seeing the dagger in her hands, Walter said worriedly, ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t cut yourself. It would break my heart.¡± A chill ran down Jennifer¡¯s spine as she handed him the dagger. She abandoned her previous innocence and said calmly, ¡°Since you im that life isn¡¯t worth living without me, why don¡¯t you prove your love by hurting yourself with this dagger? This is your way of showing that you truly love me.¡± Walter¡¯s face turned pale as he stared at her in shock. How could this silly girl not be easily fooled this time? He cautiously epted the dagger from her as he was afraid of getting injured. ¡°Jennifer, if I really die, we¡¯ll never be together. Are you truly willing to let that happen?¡± ¡°But if you don¡¯t die, how can you prove that you truly love me? How will I know if you have repented?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Walter hesitated, pressing the de against his wrist but not daring to make a move. Jennifer reminded him, ¡°A mere scratch doesn¡¯t count. You have to sever the artery and let the blood flow profusely. Only then will I believe you.¡± The thought of the pain made Walter tremble. The dagger slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He grasped onto Jennifer¡¯s dress and pleaded, ¡°Please don¡¯t do this. Let¡¯s go back to how things were before¡ªno! I¡¯ll treat you even better than before! Just give me another chance!¡± Jennifer lifted her high heel and kicked him forcefully. ¡°Get lost! I won¡¯t believe any of your sweet talking ever again! From now on, it¡¯s better for you to steer clear of me. If you dare pester me, I will fight back with all my might! I¡¯ll make sure you lose everything and live in hunger.¡± Walter stood there in stunned silence, his gaze fixed on her intense expression as she uttered those harsh words. Is she still the Jennifer I once knew? ¡°Jennifer, I¡ª¡± Before he could continue, Jennifer yelled, ¡°Get lost! If you continue to bother me, I¡¯ll report you for harassment!¡± The manager and assistant had menacing expressions as they dragged Walter away. Having regained her peace, Jennifer retrieved her phone and took a photo of the trophy to send Treyton. Jennifer texted: Thank you, Mr. Harris, for your guidance. This is the answer sheet for this semester. Are you satisfied? Less than a minuteter, she received a reply from Treyton. Treyton texted: You will make me even more satisfied tonight. Jennifer instantly blushed. This man is bing so¡­ She put down her phone and continued to touch up her makeup. Treyton woulde to pick her up later, so she wouldn¡¯t be taking the bus back. Her manager and assistant had already left. The entire lounge soon becamepletely quiet. Just then, she heard the sound of a doorknob turning. When Jennifer caught a glimpse of a pair of men¡¯s leather shoes standing not far from her, she thought Walter hade back. She said in an irritable tone, ¡°Walter, are you dumb or deaf?¡± The man standing at the door didn¡¯t respond and remained motionless. Puzzled by hisck of response, Jennifer turned her head to look. It was a face she had never seen before. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man bowed respectfully and replied, ¡°Ms. Weller, Mr. Craig would like to see you. Please follow me.¡± ¡°Craig Newton?¡± The award ceremony had ended nearly half an hour ago, and the venue was silent. Treyton drove over to fetch Jennifer home. After sending her a message, he waited patiently in the garage. Five minutes passed, but she was still nowhere to be seen. When he tried to call her, it went straight to voicemail. His brows furrowed, and he put on his mask before heading upstairs to look for her. When Treyton spotted the sign indicating Jennifer¡¯s exclusive lounge, he pushed the door open and found it empty. He immediately called his assistant, Elisha, and instructed, ¡°Check the surveince. Jennifer is missing!¡± Jennifer was forcefully taken back to the Newton residence by the bodyguard. The sky was dark. She stood at the entrance of the Newton residence, her heart consumed by a bewildering sense of uncertainty. ¡°Why did Craig Newton have you bring me here? What does he want?¡± The bodyguard kept silent. Instead, he gestured for her to enter, implying that she would understand once she went inside. Jennifer stood still and took out her phone to send a message to Treyton. However, her phone was promptly seized by the vignt bodyguard. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Weller. Mr. Craig won¡¯t harm you. He¡¯s a person who upholds justice within the organization. He would never engage in any illegal activities, especially considering your status as a renowned celebrity,¡± the bodyguard assured. With a mix of trust and doubt, she followed the bodyguard inside. Finally, at the entrance of the ancestral hall, the bodyguard opened a small door and bowed respectfully, saying, ¡°Mr. Craig is waiting for you inside. You may enter.¡± Jennifer couldn¡¯t fathom what Craig had in mind, but she believed that in a ce as solemn and dignified as the ancestral hall, he wouldn¡¯t engage in any wrongdoing. She bravely stepped into the expansive ancestral hall, where flickering candlelight illuminated the ancestral tablets. The air was filled with a delicate scent of sandalwood, providing a refreshing and pleasant aroma. Craig was kneeling on a cushion, his eyes slightly narrowed, concealing his amber pupils, as he paid respects to his ancestors. Upon hearing footsteps, the man stood up and turned around to look at Jennifer, who was standing by the door. He smiled lightly and his voice was amiable as he started, ¡°Ms. Weller, do you remember ourst meeting?¡± Jennifer remained expressionless as she snapped, ¡°Please get to the point. I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°All right. I won¡¯t take up much of your time. I¡¯ll be brief.¡± Approaching Jennifer, he took out a photo from his pocket and handed it to her. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Jennifer epted the photo in confusion. In the picture, a woman in her early thirties was gazing into the camera with a gentle smile. While her appearance wasn¡¯t stunning, it possessed a clean and pleasant appeal. Most importantly, her facial features bore a striking resemnce of about seventy to eighty percent to Jennifer. However, Jennifer was certain she had never worn the outfit shown in the photo or participated in any modern dramas. The woman in the photo couldn¡¯t be her. Growing more suspicious, she lifted her head to meet Craig¡¯s eyes. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Craig looked at her apologetically and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve failed you as your brother. These past years, I¡¯ve been upied with work and paid little attention to the entertainment industry. If not for the day I saw you at the Jenson residence, I might have still been clueless, and you would have endured over twenty years of suffering.¡± ¡°Brother?¡± Jennifer¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she nced at the photo in her hand and then at Craig. It was hard to believe the news that Craig was her brother. ¡°You must be mistaken, Mr. Craig. I grew up in an orphanage. I¡¯mpletely unrted to the Newton family. It¡¯s impossible for me to suddenly have a brother.¡± The man stood with his hands behind his back and turned to face the ancestral tablets as he calmly recounted the story. ¡°The Newton family was in turmoil in the year you were born. I was only eight years old at the time. Our father was on a business trip to Erihal. When he returned, he brought with him a one-year-old illegitimate child named Charles Newton.¡± ¡°What has Charles Newton got to do with me?¡± Jennifer asked puzzledly. Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Craig¡¯s expression darkened as he continued, ¡°Our father insisted on putting Charles under our mother¡¯s name, but she vehemently refused. She couldn¡¯t ept that not only did he have an affair, but he had also brazenly brought the mistress¡¯ son back. Moreover, he demanded Charles be recognized in the family registry. In a fit of anger, she left home alone while she was eight months pregnant. You were born while she was away. During her pregnancy, she experienced anxiety and had some mental issues, and identally lost you. She med herself for many years for this incident¡­¡± Jennifer listened in shock, feeling as though her understanding of herself had been overturned. ¡°Even if I resemble your mother, there are no records of my parents or my birth in Faike Orphanage. What makes you so certain that I am the child of the Newton family?¡± ¡°Indeed, you were too young when our mother lost you, and considering she went to the neighboring city at the time, we don¡¯t know what unforeseen circumstances urred. You ended up being adopted by Faike Orphanage, which is why, for all these years, I sent many people to the neighboring city but couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Craig walked to a nearby table and handed Jennifer a document. ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain either, which is why I discreetly had someone monitor your filming crew and try to obtain your hair for a DNA test with our mother.¡± Jennifer received the DNA test report from Craig. When she saw the words ¡°mother and daughter¡± written in the bottom right corner of the document, tears rolled down her cheeks. Craig looked at her and said gently, ¡°This test report can¡¯t be wrong. You truly are the precious daughter of the Newton family and my younger sister, Elise Newton.¡± He ced his hands on her shoulder. ¡°Starting tomorrow, will youe back to live with the Newtons? I¡¯ll have the room prepared, the one our mother used to stay in. During the day, you can spend more time talking to her. For all the years we owed you, I¡¯ll make it up to you double-fold.¡± ¡°I¡­ Can you give me some time to digest this news?¡± Jennifer had lived as an orphan for over twenty years until Craig suddenly told her that she was the daughter of the Newton family. Not only did she have parents, but she also had a group of siblings. The news was too shocking. It left her bewildered and she was unable to ept it at once. ¡°Okay. I understand that you¡¯re not used to it yet. We¡¯ll take it slow and change your name first. If you don¡¯t want toe live with us, I can arrange amodation for you outside. You can¡¯t continue staying with Treyton.¡± Jennifer abruptly lifted her head. ¡°Why? Treyton and I are a genuine couple. In this day and age, isn¡¯t it normal for couples to live together?¡± Craig patiently exined, ¡°It may be considered normal for ordinary families, but we belong to the third prominent family in Salinsburgh. Once I reveal your identity, we will have to follow the regtions of prominent families.¡± Although Jennifer was unfamiliar with the regtions, with Gwendolyn and Cedrick as examples, she could vaguely guess. ¡°You mean we have to wait until our engagement is publicly announced?¡± ¡°Yes. If Treyton genuinely loves you, he will ask his father to visit us and arrange the engagement,¡± Craig replied. ¡°All right,¡± Jennifer relented. As long as she could still be with Treyton, she didn¡¯t mind the formalities. Regarding the name change, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m used to being called Jennifer. Can we keep that? At most, I can change my surname and be called Jennifer Newton.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Craig rubbed her head affectionately and looked at her face intently. Among his siblings, she resembled their mother the most when she was young. Jennifer wasn¡¯t ustomed to being touched by any man other than Treyton. However, since Craig was her second brother, she suppressed her inner resistance. She was still holding her mother¡¯s photo tightly in her hand, and her eyes were gradually filled with joy. ¡°Does Mom live in this mansion? Can I go see her now? I¡¯ve lived for over twenty years without experiencing the feeling of having a mother. I really want to hug her,¡± Jennifer said, expressing her longing. Craig¡¯s hand that was caressing her head froze for a moment. He withdrew his gentle gaze and concealed a hint of unease in his eyes. Before he could answer, the bodyguard urgently knocked on the door of the ancestral hall. ¡°Mr. Craig, Mr. Treyton is here! He looks angry. It¡¯s terrifying! His men are fighting with our bodyguards!¡± ¡°Oh no!¡± Jennifer eximed in shock and immediately turned and ran outside. The bodyguard quickly led the way, while Craig calmly followed behind. Outside the entrance of the Newton residence, chaos ensued. In a fit of anger, Treyton had already injured several of the Newton family¡¯s bodyguards. ¡°Stop! Stop fighting!¡± Upon hearing Jennifer¡¯s voice, Treyton immediately stopped his bodyguards. Jennifer rushed to his side, checking if he was injured, while Treyton observed her. When he saw her red eyes, he became furious. Seeing Craig approaching from afar, he went straight to him, ready to throw a punch. ¡°Craig Newton! How dare you kidnap my woman! Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t offend you just because you¡¯re the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation! What have you done to Jennifer!¡± Craig raised an eyebrow, a slight smile ying at the corner of his lips. He casually tucked his hands into his trouser pockets without offering an exnation. ¡°He didn¡¯t do anything to me! He didn¡¯t mistreat me!¡± Jennifer quickly embraced Treyton, who was about to lose control. ¡°He¡¯s my¡­ second brother!¡± Upon hearing Jennifer¡¯s words, Treyton stopped his swinging fist. Craig nced at the fist that was inches away and chuckled lightly. ¡°Treyton, you were just a tiny bit away from permanently offending your second brother-inw!¡± ¡°Brother?¡± Treyton looked at Jennifer in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s quite sudden, and it¡¯s a long story. I¡¯ll exin everything to you when we get back!¡± Jennifer hurriedly assured. After a long flight of over ten hours, Gwendolyn and the others finally returned to their homnd in the early morning of the following day. She stood on the stairs descending from the ne, gazing at the openndscape and breathing in the fresh air. Cedrick walked behind her and scooped her up in his arms. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. She felt weightless and immediately tightened her grip around his neck. He lowered his head and lightly nuzzled her nose. ¡°Did you have trouble adjusting to the food in Erihal? What would you like to eat today? I¡¯ll personally cook for you and fill your stomach.¡± Gwendolyn leaned closer to his ear and whispered something that only the two of them could hear. He shed a rare solemn expression and replied, ¡°No, that¡¯s not allowed. You¡¯re pregnant! After I¡¯m done administering the antidote, I¡¯ll apany you to the hospital first to make sure you¡¯re fine. Only then will I let you eat to your heart¡¯s content!¡± Despite her displeasure, Gwendolyn allowed him to carry her off the ne. Nico had be ustomed to their constant public disys of affection and remained unaffected. However, being curious as girls tend to be, Nicole asked, ¡°Nico, what do you think Ms. Gwendolyn wants to eat that would make Mr. Jenson show such an expression?¡± Nico remained silent. It seems that these two can only engage in banter and flirtation with little room for any other conversations beyond their daily teasing. Chapter 362 Chapter 362 ¡°Stop guessing. You¡¯ll understand sooner orter.¡± He tapped Nicole¡¯s head. ¡°Still, I¡¯ve never taken care of anyone, and I won¡¯t support you for free. If you wish to stay by my side, you¡¯ll have to prove your worth to me.¡± Nicole was slightly taken aback. She mulled over his words seriously. Taking in her conflicted demeanor, Nico pursed his lips and strode forward. Not long after, Nicole caught up to him and grasped his arm. ¡°Why don¡¯t you teach me how to fight, Nico? I can help you kill people in the future. I¡¯ll be your most dependable and capable subordinate!¡± Nico was at a loss for words. I¡¯m doing perfectly fine, so why do I need to kill anyone? Did she really believe me when I told her I was a psychopathic murderer? ¡°Since you know I¡¯m not a good person, aren¡¯t you afraid of me?¡± Nicole¡¯s eyes shone with sincerity when she met his gaze. ¡°All I know is that you saved me. You¡¯re the first person in this world who is so kind to me. Even if you truly are a bad person, I¡¯m still willing to follow you and walk down this shady path.¡± Nico was stunned. It was the first time he¡¯d heard such words directed at him. Come to think of it, she¡¯s also the first stranger who has taken the initiative to be kind to me. As they locked gazes, both Nico and Nicole were able to sense the goodwill they had toward one another. ¡°Ceddy!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s hysterical shriek sounded from ahead, drawing the duo¡¯s attention. Cedrick had fainted without warning.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. With thest of his strength, he had managed to carry Gwendolyn to the back seat of the car, but he himself was drained of all energy to get in as he copsed by the roadside. Nico immediately ran over to help Cedrick into the car. Then, they headed to theboratory together with the Super Antiviral. Joshua tested theponents of the antidote while Kieran carefully examined Cedrick¡¯s body. Half an hourter, Kieran entered the ward with theb report. ¡°How is it, Kieran?¡± Gwendolyn asked at once. ¡°His condition is very bad. He has pushed himself to his limits by going to Erihal this time. Now, his body is on the verge of breaking down. If you hadn¡¯t returned here in time with the antidote, there would be no cure for him within three days.¡± Gwendolyn and Nico exchanged nces, looking solemn. Kieran handed theb report to Gwendolyn while scrutinizing her countenance. ¡°Kiddo, you don¡¯t look well. Did something happen?¡± Gwendolyn looked down, trying to keep her expression neutral as she answered, ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m experiencing jetg since I just came back. Don¡¯t worry, Kieran. I¡¯m fine.¡± Charles had blocked the spread of the news rted to her pregnancy at that time. Aside from those aristocrats at the banquet that day, no one in Chanaea knew about it. She wondered if Asher would be so enraged he¡¯d want to break her legs when he learned she was carrying a child and that her marriage with Cedrick was necessitated by an unnned pregnancy. ¡°Kieran, rest assured. I¡¯m really fine. Hurry up and check on Prof. Mallory to see if he needs any help.¡± Kieran turned around and left without saying anything else. Joshua was thrilled by the test results of the Super Antiviral. He entered the ward and shared the joy with Gwendolyn and Nico. ¡°It¡¯s really a miracle! This medicine is amazing! The fact that you managed to retrieve it will contribute greatly to our country¡¯s future biochemical experiments!¡± Joshua split the medication into different volumes, administered the prescribed dose, and reserved two milliliters of the antidote for research. The antidote could only cure the long-standing viruses in Cedrick¡¯s body. It had no curative effect on theplications brought about by the virus and the various physical overloads. As his body was too weak and couldn¡¯t handle the effect of potent medication, Joshua divided the dose into three injections. Kieran did not stay idle either. While Cedrick was unconscious, he prepared other intravenous drips to improve other aspects of Cedrick¡¯s health. This time, Cedrick remained in aa for a long time, and his body gradually recovered. Three days after all the antidote was administered, Gwendolyn brought Cedrick back to Harrick Vi. At that moment, Kieran, Treyton, Nico, Nicole, and Jennifer were all there. The party sat in the living room and chatted. Jennifer told Gwendolyn about her background. A weekter, the Newtons would host a wee banquet for her, and by then, she would officially change her name to ¡°Jennifer Newton.¡± Gwendolyn was very happy for Jennifer. She felt everything around her seemed to be progressing well after her return. She looked around at everyone. I¡¯m with Cedrick, Treyton is with Jennifer, and Nico is with Nicole. Everyone is in pairs except for Kieran¡­ ¡°Kieran, look at you. You¡¯re the only one sitting here all alone. When do you n to bring back a girl?¡± Kieran scanned his surroundings before resting his eyes on the empty seat next to him. The tip of his ears flushed slightly. ¡°Mind your own business,¡± he said to Gwendolyn frostily and got to his feet to care for Cedrick upstairs. Gwendolyn burst into a giggle as she took in his sheepish demeanor and retreating figure. Everyone in the living roomughed as well. Amidst the cheeriness, Elven abruptly knocked on the door. ¡°Ms. Harris, something bad happened!¡± Nico went to open the door, and Elven rushed in anxiously. ¡°The princess of Erihal is using you of murdering the groom at the wedding and fleeing back to Chanaea out of guilt. She¡¯s taking you to the international court, demanding a trial in three days!¡± Everyone in the living room fell silent after hearing that. The temperature dropped as the atmosphere turned heavy. All of them started discussing strategies. Treyton, grimacing, was the first to speak. ¡°Charlesmitted so many heinous acts. His death is his redemption. All you did was help him, yet Her Highness doesn¡¯t appreciate it.¡± Nico lowered his head, hiding a peculiar expression. He sat back down on the couch without saying a word, trying to minimize his presence. Nicole, who was staring at him the whole time, noticed the unnatural look in his eyes. Nevertheless, she remained silent and took a seat beside him. Hearing themotion, Kieran descended the stairs. ¡°If she wants a trial, we shall y along to the end.¡± Treyton agreed, ¡°That¡¯s right. Charles was a b*stard child in the first ce. If this is revealed, it will greatly impact the reputation of the royal family. I don¡¯t believe Her Highness would risk the entire royal family¡¯s image just to put you in jail.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s long eyshes fluttered slightly as she uttered calmly, ¡°She doesn¡¯t just want to put me in jail. She wants me to repay Charles¡¯ death with my life.¡± Treyton¡¯s fury intensified. ¡°Anyway, you don¡¯t have to be afraid. The Harris family¡¯s legal team is not to be trifled with. Since she¡¯s not afraid of disgracing the royal family, we shall resist her to the end.¡± Gwendolyn gazed downward and didn¡¯t speak further, seemingly lost in thought. Nico, who had been quiet all along, finally piped up, ¡°If Her Highness dares to take this to the international court, she must have what she believes is solid evidence. Boss is still unconscious. If he were awake, this matter would be easily resolved.¡± Kieran, wearing a poker face, sat down on the side couch. ¡°Cedrick is still recuperating. You can¡¯t rely on him.¡± Nico didn¡¯t respond. He hesitated to say something a few times but ultimately lowered his head and didn¡¯t utter a word. An eerie silence filled the air in the living room. They would have to attend the international court in three days, so they only had limited time to prepare. Her Highness must be exploiting this to her advantage and aiming to catch us off guard. Chapter 363 Chapter 363 The heavy silence in the living room was finally broken by Kieran after a few minutes. He instructed calmly, ¡°Treyton, put up a bounty on the dark web and see if you can get evidence of Charles being the illegitimate son of the royal family. Leave the rest to the legal team. I¡¯ll have them draft up the document as soon as possible. Kiddo, just do as thewyer says by then.¡± Jennifer, who had been listening to him solemnly, said, ¡°His identity as the illegitimate son has been kept under wraps for so many years. Evidently, the royal family is capable of preventing the spread of information. I doubt the dark web will have evidence of this.¡± She did not call him by his name, for she could not bring herself to call him. Yet, at the same time, she could not deny the fact that Charles was her brother. Treyton turned to her. ¡°You have an idea?¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°I might be able to find evidence.¡± Craig had wanted her to move back to the Newton residence, and that would be the perfect chance for her to look for evidence. Even though her father had passed away, his study and bedroom were still in the house, and apparently, Craig had made sure that the room was kept clean and untouched. Perhaps she would be able to find something there. Treyton was not too keen on the idea. As he looked at her worriedly, he said, ¡°You were just taken back in by the Newton family, so it¡¯s too risky for you to do this. Charles is your half-brother whom you share a father with. Even if he¡¯s an illegitimate son, he¡¯s still one of the Newtons. If Craig finds out about this, he won¡¯t let you off.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen. Craig is the nicest to me among the Newtons. He always says that he needs to make up for the twenty and more years. Even if he finds out about this, he won¡¯t do anything to me. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Time was running out; they only had three days. Jennifer was quick to act. That afternoon, she told Craig that she wanted to move back into the Newton residence. Craig was delighted to have her embrace her new identity so quickly and join the Newton family. That night, Treyton helped Jennifer pack her luggage before sending her to the Newton residence. Jennifer had inquired around the house a little. Besides the housekeepers, only a few Newtons were around. Like her father, her eldest brother had passed away, and her third brother had business overseas and rarely came home. In other words, her mother and her unmarried sister Jasmine were the only ones at home. Even Craig only returned once in a blue moon. In no time, Jennifer found out from the butler that Craig had to work in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was unlikely to return for the next two nights. Not wanting to miss the golden opportunity, Jennifer promptly familiarized herself with the vi as the butler guided her around. ¡°Ms. Jennifer, the sixth floor is a restricted area, and you mustn¡¯t go there at night. Other than this area, feel free to go anywhere in the vi during the day.¡± Jennifer was confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that the sixth floor is where my mother stays and where my father¡¯s study and bedroom are located? If that¡¯s the case, why can¡¯t I go there at night?¡± A troubled look crossed the butler¡¯s face, and he lowered his head. ¡°This is Mr. Craig¡¯s order. You just came back to the family, so you don¡¯t understand many things about the Newton family. In the future, Mr. Craig will be the one to exin them to you. All you need to do is to heed his order.¡± Jennifer stared at the butler for a long while. It seemed that there was more to the Newton family than what she currently knew and what Craig had told her previously. With a slight bow, the butler gestured toward a room. ¡°This is your room. Please get some rest.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After closing the door behind her, Jennifer went to sit on the bed to collect her thoughts. Why can¡¯t I go to the sixth floor at night even though I¡¯m permitted there during the day? It feels like they have a secret. The more restricted the ce, the more curious I am. The vi was silent at three in the morning as the people were all in deep slumber. Jennifer tiptoed out of her room and went upstairs to the highest floor. s, the gate to the sixth floor was locked. She could only see the dark corridor through the iron gate. The wintry midnight breeze blew and brought a shiver to her body. It made the creepy sixth floor even more mysterious. Jennifer reluctantly went back down the stairs. She guessed that Craig had the keys, but the butler probably had a copy as well. She had two ways to go about this. One was to find a method to get the keys, and the other was to do something risky. With those thoughts in mind, Jennifer turned around to enter her room before opening the window and climbing out of it. Jennifer grew up in an orphanage, and she had been through tough times. She could do anything, from climbing trees to catching fish with her bare hands. She had more strength than the average girl. It was easy for her to climb up the pipe from the fourth floor to the sixth floor. Even though the window on the sixth floor was closed, it was fortunately unlocked, so she managed to get inside. To not wake her sleeping mother, Jennifer did not turn on the lights. Instead, she used the torch on her phone. Upon surveying the room, she realized it was a study. Why, this is easier than I expected. She quickly scoured through the room, but s, she could find nothing about Charles. Jennifer¡¯s gazended on the book racks. She once heard from Craig that her father had brought back Charles after one trip to Erihal, and he was determined to make his illegitimate son legitimate. She guessed that he must have loved the princess dearly. She returned her focus to the books and raked her gaze across them before stopping at an Epean book. Even though she knew little Epean, she could still understand simple words. She promptly realized that there was a word that meant love in the title. She stood on tiptoes, took the Epean book, and flipped through the pages. There was a photo of a man and a woman ced between the pages. The two were hugging each other intimately, and the woman¡¯s exotic blue eyes were outstanding. She was beautiful. Without hesitation, Jennifer shoved the photo into her pocket before switching off her phone torch. Right as she was about to climb back out the window, she heard the sounds of shuffling footsteps behind her. It was soft, but she was in a quiet environment, so she heard it immediately. She spun around. Despite the dim moonlight, she saw the bloodshot eyes of the other person and the ferocious look on their face. She was frightened out of her wits, but before she could run off, the other person struck her head with an ashtray. While feeling dizzy, she felt someone strangling her and screaming at her face. ¡°Why are you alive? Why did youe back? You¡¯re the symbol of humiliation! You shouldn¡¯t be alive in this world! You should die!¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Jennifer passed out as the flurry of insults rushed into her ears. By the time Jennifer woke again, she had a soft nket on her, and she was lying on a bed. Despite the raging headache, she moved to sit upright. When she reached out to touch her head, she realized there was a gauze wrapped around it. As she swallowed a lump in her throat, she realized her neck ached too. ¡°You¡¯re awake. Does it still hurt?¡± Craig was seated beside her with a mild look on his face. ¡°Didn¡¯t the butler tell you that you weren¡¯t allowed to go upstairs at night? Why didn¡¯t you listen to me? You even scaled the wall to get in. You¡¯re too bold for your own good.¡± Jennifer finally recollected her thoughts as realization dawned on her. Promptly, she touched her pocket. Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Thank God the photo is still with me. I don¡¯t think Craig realized I stole the photo. ¡°I was just curious. After all, Mother is upstairs, and I haven¡¯t met her. That¡¯s why I wanted to head upstairs.¡± Craig sighed. ¡°Forget it. I won¡¯t punish you this time, but you¡¯re not allowed to do this again. There are rules in our family, and now that you¡¯re here, you need to obey them.¡± ¡°All right¡­¡± Craig stood up and straightened his cor. ¡°You must have had a scarest night. Get more rest. I¡¯ll ask the servants to bring the food upstairster.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Jennifer grabbed his sleeve and looked up at him. ¡°I think someone hit my head and tried to strangle me to death before I passed outst night. They even said that I shouldn¡¯t be alive. Was that¡­ Mother?¡± Craig said back down and patted her shoulder. In a softer voice, he said, ¡°No. No one tried to strangle you to death either. You slipped and hit your head on the corner of the table. Maybe you were too startledst night and imagined it. Don¡¯t overthink the matter, okay?¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± But it felt so real. I was soberst night, so how could I have imagined it? ¡°There isn¡¯t any but. Mother didn¡¯t even wake up when you passed out the night before. The maid only found you in the study this morning when she went there to clean up the ce.¡± Was that really what happened? Was that just a dream? Jennifer was half-convinced. ¡°Then when can I meet Mother?¡± Craig froze for a second before aplicated look appeared in his amber eyes. ¡°Mother has a cold, and she says she doesn¡¯t want to pass it to you, so it might be a few days before that. At most, you¡¯ll meet her during your party. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to see our kind and beautiful mother then.¡± ¡°She has a cold? I can take care of her. I¡¯m healthier than most girls, and I won¡¯t catch it.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re hurt, and your immune system is at its lowest right now.¡± Craig narrowed his eyes before sternly reminding her, ¡°You need to listen to others now that you¡¯re back.¡± Feeling deted, Jennifer nodded quietly. Craig proceeded to remind her about a few more things before leaving the room. The second he was gone, Jennifer mbered down the bed and walked over to the dresser to check the mirror. Other than the mild stinging pain in her neck, there were no other signs of strangtion. Could I really have hallucinated thisst night because I was too afraid? ¡°Whatever. Gwendolyn¡¯s matter is more important.¡± Once she rposed herself, she took out the photo from her pocket. Upon ensuring that she had gotten the right photo, she put it back into her pocket. Because of the injury on her forehead, Craig had forbade her from leaving the room. No matter what she said, the butler refused to let her out, and he even confiscated her phone, wanting her to focus on resting. Just like that, Jennifer was locked up for two whole days. Time passed quickly when everyone was busy. Soon, it was the day of the trial. After Craig had his breakfast and left, Jennifer told the butler that she had recovered and had a magazine photoshoot to attend to and managed to get out of the house. She hailed a cab and went to Harrick Vi. While Gwendolyn was on her way to the international court, thewyer passed the script to her on behalf of Jared and reminded her, ¡°Ms. Harris, you have to follow this scriptter on. Don¡¯t worry. Even if she¡¯s a princess, the Harris family¡¯s legal team won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, but she did not look at the script. Kieran, Treyton, and Nicole had gone to the court as well, but Asher was too busy with his work to even return. Nico, on the other hand, had volunteered to stay back at Harrick Vi to take care of Cedrick. By the time Jennifer arrived at Harrick Vi in haste, everyone had already departed half an hour ago. As her phone had been confiscated, she had depleted thest of her battery on her way to Harrick Vi. Left without a choice, she borrowed money from Nico to hail a cab to the international court. Nico returned to the master bedroom after Jennifer left. To his surprise, Cedrick was awake. His eyes widened, and he rushed over to his side. ¡°Thank God! You¡¯re finally awake, Boss!¡± Cedrick¡¯sshes quivered, and he nced at Nico before scanning the room. ¡°Where¡¯s Gwenny?¡± Nico panicked when he heard that. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn and the others have gone to the international court. Her Highness is suing her for the murder of a member of the royal family, and the trial begins today.¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows and sobered up immediately. ¡°The murder of a member of the royal family?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Vidar Lund. Her Highness¡¯ adopted son, Charles Newton.¡± Cedrick instantly pulled away the nket to get down from the bed. ¡°You¡¯re driving. We¡¯re going to the international court right now.¡± Nico nced at his watch before grabbing Cedrick¡¯s arm. ¡°The trial is about to start. I doubt we¡¯ll be of any help even if we go now.¡± At the end of that, Nico stiffened and whispered solemnly, ¡°Boss, I just received news that the person¡­ is out of danger.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Cedrick stared at Nico as he swiftly recollected his thoughts. ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look!¡± The outside of the court was crowded. The second Gwendolyn¡¯s car arrived, the reporters swarmed over and shoved their microphones in Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°Ms. Harris, did you really kill someone?¡± ¡°Even though Charles had been in jail before, he was an upstanding citizen. We even heard that you were childhood friends with him, so why did you kill him?¡± ¡°Ms. Harris, please give us an exnation. Ms. Harris!¡± Countless microphones were shoved at Gwendolyn as the shes of the cameras went on forever. Just as Gwendolyn was about to part her lips to speak, Treyton wrapped his arm around her shoulder and told his men to clear a path. With him around, the reporters were swift to make themselves scarce in minutes. Leaning closer to her ear, Treyton reminded her, ¡°Kiddo, remember what Jared told you. You don¡¯t need to think about the others. Kieran and I will settle them for you.¡± Gwendolyn put away herplicated thoughts and bobbed her head. The gallery in the court was filled with people. The defendant¡¯s table and the intiff¡¯s table were set up to face each other. Soon, Gerhardt led a haggard-looking Kylie into the court. Her eyes were slightly swollen. She looked as if she had been crying non-stop for the past few days. Upon noticing Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze, Kylie shot her a re, the look of murder bright in her eyes. Gwendolyn ignored her and looked away as she quietly walked over to the defendant¡¯s table. While they were announcing the rules of the court, Gwendolyn thought about the note thewyer had passed to her and took it out to nce at it. As it turned out, the legal team wanted her to im justifiable homicide. She had killed Charles because he had lost control over his emotions and had tried to kill Nico. However, that meant shifting all the me onto him. Even though he was dead, he would still be branded a murderer. The truth was, Gwendolyn was pregnant. As long as she proved her pregnancy to the court, she would not need to bear the responsibility of the matter for the time being. However, she was still early in her term. Her elders had all told her that it was not suitable to announce a pregnancy before the start of the second trimester. Moreover, she had yet to think of a way to break the news to her brothers and father. While she was lost in the swirl of her thoughts, Treyton noticed the change in her expression when she read the note. He said to her softly, ¡°Kiddo, don¡¯t dwell on this.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips. Right then, the judge came in. A thunderstorm was brewing, and the trial was about to begin. Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Gwendolyn slid the note back into her pocket and looked down without saying a word. At the defendant¡¯s table, Kylie didn¡¯t seem to be in good spirits. When the clueless audience caught the sorrowful expression on her face, theymented the nobility of her motherly love and kindness for her adopted son. In contrast, Gwendolyn wore a mask of indifference. Despite her beauty, they used her of being cold-hearted and thought she deserved to be put on the stand if she didmit murder. The oblivious people at the public gallery had already made up their minds and were in favor of Kylie before the trial even started. ¡°Mr. Vidar Lund was extradited via an international arrest warrant. His crimes, if any, should¡¯ve been judged through a trial by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Meanwhile, the defendant, Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, murdered Mr. Vidar Lund on their wedding day and hid his body. Until this day, his body is nowhere to be found. Your Honor, we demand a heavier sentence for the defendant for conducting such psychotic deeds!¡± Gwendolyn was spacing out when she heard Kylie¡¯swyer mention her name. Something thewyer said had caught her attention. Charles¡¯ body is missing? How can that be? I heard Cedrick ordered his men to send Charles¡¯ body to the Newtons in Chanaea. Do the Newtons hate me so much that they collude with Her Highness and hide Charles¡¯ body to ruin me? Gwendolyn¡¯s mind was a jumbled mess of spections and theories. N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°Your Honor, the defendant has something to say against the intiff¡¯sint.¡± Jared raised his hand and spoke before he turned to Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Harris, don¡¯t be afraid. Tell the court what happened at Fl Grand Cathedral on the wedding day.¡± The Harris family¡¯s legal team had had it all nned out. They would present the proof of Nico¡¯s injury and other evidence to the court once Gwendolyn read the note. At that moment, all eyes in the room were concentrated on Gwendolyn. No one knew what she was thinking. ¡°Ms. Harris, it¡¯s your turn to speak,¡± Jared reminded her, pulling her out of her thought. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared and speak your mind. The judge is fair and will grant you justice.¡± Gwendolyn lifted her gaze and nced at Jared. She understood what he wanted her to do. He was signaling her to shift the me to Charles, letting him shoulder all the responsibility and infamy. Charles was already dead anyway, and she was merely putting on a performance for the living. Once everything ended, no one¡¯s life would be affected. However, she couldn¡¯t do something like that to Charles. Even though she never loved him, she used to admire and revere him. Besides, Charles had never harmed her. He didn¡¯t owe her anything. No one knew how to love upon birth. The way he loved was different than the rest. ¡°Ms. Harris!¡± Jared called out for the third time. Snapping out of her thoughts, Gwendolyn instinctively looked over her shoulder at Kieran and Treyton, who were sitting in the public gallery. Both her brothers¡¯ gazes were filled with conviction. They hinted at her to rest assured and follow the n. Gwendolyn sighed inwardly and finally spoke. She nced at Kylie who was at the intiff¡¯s table and asked calmly, ¡°Your Highness, do you know what Charles¡¯ favorite food was? What food did he hate the most? Or his biggest wish?¡± ¡°What are you trying to ask?¡± Not only Kylie, but everyone in the courtroom was stunned by Gwendolyn¡¯s question. The defendant¡¯s counsels stared wide-eyed at Gwendolyn. Anger poured through Jared and he broke the pen in his grip. This woman can¡¯t follow orders! If I lose this case, my bonus is as good as gone! My reputation as Chanaea¡¯s topwyer will be dragged through the mud! Gwendolyn ignored her counsel¡¯s fervent hinting and continued, ¡°You don¡¯t know the answer to any of it because you never cared what he truly wanted for the past twenty years despite the guilt haunting you. You¡¯d only forced whatever you thought was good for him onto him to lessen the guilt.¡± Her criticism baffled Kylie, sending rage pulsing through her. Kylie shot a fierce re at Gwendolyn in retaliation. ¡°Yes, I was unaware of his likes and dislikes. I could¡¯ve slowly discovered them, but I¡¯ve lost that chance forever because of you!¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze and continued speaking as though Kylie didn¡¯t use her. ¡°I knew the answers because I frequented the Newton residence when I was younger. I was the little girl who was always running after him. He was loyal and wouldn¡¯t change his belief once he set his mind to it. Cantaloupe and watermelon were his favorite fruits. He said life was bitter and tiring, hence his love for sweets. He disliked foie gras and chitlins because of the smell, regardless of the chefs¡¯ skills. The woman he loved the most was me, and his lifelong pursuit was to marry me. s, I could never grant him those two wishes. On our wedding day, he chose to fulfill my wish in the end, but what you¡¯re doing now is destroying everything he had ever loved.¡± Kylie was taken aback by Gwendolyn¡¯s words. Tears streamed down Kylie¡¯s face when she met Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. She knew all about Charles¡¯ obsession with Gwendolyn. He was willing to jump in front of Gwendolyn to take the bullet for her without a second thought on the wedding day. It was the first time he had ever red at Kylie. She could still remember every word he said. ¡°Killing her is equivalent to killing me!¡± Even if I win today¡¯s trial and take down Gwendolyn, I¡¯m sure Charlie will hate me if he finds out. The notion of dropping the charges shed across Kylie¡¯s mind at the thought of Charles. Noticing the guilt written across Kylie¡¯s face, the defendant¡¯s counsel let out a relieved sigh at the thought of keeping their bonus and silently praised Gwendolyn for her methods. Kylie was conflicted, but before she could give voice to her thoughts, herwyer whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened in disbelief. The gaze she cast at Gwendolyn was filled with intense hatred. ¡°How shameless of you, Gwendolyn Shalders Harris! Trying to appeal to my emotions while threatening me!¡± She gritted her teeth in anger and mmed her hand on the table. Herwyer immediately raised his hand and said, ¡°Your Honor, the intiff is beside herself. I request for a recess.¡± ¡°Agree.¡± Once the judge agreed, Kylie and her team swiftly left the courtroom. Gwendolyn and her brothers also return to their waiting room. She was confused about Kylie losing her temper at the end. ¡°What have you guys done?¡± Treyton exined, ¡°Jennifer found some intimate photos of her father with Her Highness in Erihal. Other than photos, we have other evidence that can prove Charles wasn¡¯t adopted but was Her Highness¡¯ illegitimate son. We¡¯ve already informed Her Highness¡¯ counsel about this. We don¡¯t mind exposing the royal family¡¯s scandal if Her Highness insists on continuing the trial. I trust Her Highness will drop her charges during the recess after weighing the pros and cons.¡± Gwendolyn said nothing, not letting down her guard despite the odds being in her favor. Will Her Highness obediently give in and drop the case with her headstrong nature? Compared to that, I¡¯m more worried about Jennifer. ¡°Did Jennifer deliver those photos herself? Where is she?¡± Treyton pondered briefly and answered, ¡°She said she was going to the restroom a while ago and would meet us hereter.¡± At the same time, Kylie was throwing a tantrum and smashing things left and right. Worried she would destroy public property, Gerhardt instructed his men to clear away every vase and cup in the room and gave her a pillow to vent her anger. Kylie took the pillow and ripped it into pieces, sending cotton flying everywhere. Gerhardt rubbed his forehead at the sight. Fine. It looks like I have to pay for the damage to the pillow. I¡¯ve underestimated Kylie¡¯s destructive power. Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Gerhardt cleared his throat before helping her analyze rationally in his deep voice. ¡°Kylie, I suggest you take advantage of the current court recess and withdraw thewsuit. The Harris family has already obtained conclusive evidence that Charles is an illegitimate child. Once that information is made public, it¡¯ll only be detrimental to you, me, and the royal family. If the king finds out, he won¡¯t approve of you putting Gwendolyn on trial.¡± His words infuriated Kylie even more. ¡°Why should I? That b*tch Gwendolyn killed my son, so she should pay with her life. Do they think that threatening me with these old issues will make me cave in? Dream on! I must seek justice for Charlie. So what if I expose the royal scandal? Even if we all suffer, I will sue to the end!¡± When Gerhardt realized he could not persuade her, his expression turned grim, and he stopped talking. Jennifer had barely walked down the aisle after exiting the restroom when she was taken away by Craig¡¯s men. She was taken to the hotel next door and pushed into Craig¡¯s room, causing her to stumble a few steps before she regained her bnce. Craig was sitting leisurely by the window, smoking a cigar. The lingering smoke in the air failed to conceal the fury in his eyes. ¡°So, you agreed to return to the Newton residence so quickly to aid Gwendolyn in finding evidence.¡± His chilly tone, apanied by the mixture of tobo scent in the room and the menacing aura emanating from him, was almost suffocating. Jennifer took in a deep breath. While resisting his stifling aura, she steeled herself and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Shatter! A loud crash echoed across the room. No sooner had she replied did the coffee cup next to Craig¡¯s hand flew toward her and shattered beside her feet. Jennifer took two steps back to escape getting injured by the porcin shards. Craig red at her. ¡°What benefits did the Harris family give you to make you work for them to the point where you didn¡¯t hesitate to plot against your own family? You¡¯re truly an unfaithful ingrate!¡± Jennifer was deeply affected by hisst sentence. She met his oppressive gaze resolutely and responded, ¡°I am unfaithful, and I¡¯m also aware that no one in the Newton family wees me. Although you guys are my family, you guys treat me more coldly than a stranger. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, is genuinely nice to me even though she isn¡¯t my biological sister. I would¡¯ve died numerous times if it hadn¡¯t been for her! I can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing while you join forces with Her Highness to put her on trial!¡± Craig scoffed, ¡°No matter how good she is to you, it¡¯s only because you¡¯re useful to her. Is there anything closer than kinship in this world? She killed Charles with her own hands! Even if he¡¯s an illegitimate child, he¡¯s still partly a member of the Newton family and can¡¯t be stepped all over by the Harris family to their contentment. Besides, once the Harris family reveals his identity, do you understand how much Newton Group will suffer as a result?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Craig. I only acknowledge Gwendolyn.¡± Jennifer gave him a bow, her eyes red. ¡°I don¡¯t have any affection for you, Charles, or the Newton family. You can cancel the banquet to celebrate my return if it bothers you. Just pretend you never found your long-lost sister, Mr. Craig.¡± Craig stubbed out his cigarette. His eyebrow was slightly arched, making it hard to decipher his emotions. Before leaving, Jennifer said to him, ¡°You probably don¡¯t understand Gwendolyn¡¯s significance to me, Mr. Craig. I¡¯d rather not be the daughter of the Newton family than do anything to harm her!¡± Nico hurriedly drove the recovered Cedrick to the countryside. In a modest house, a man had just woken up. There was a thick bandage wrapped around his chest that was stained with blood. His lips and face were devoid of color. He lifted his blue eyes with great difficulty, hisshes quivering slightly. He tilted his head and immediately spotted Cedrick sitting on a chair beside the bed. ¡°You?¡± Cedrick yed with the watch on his wrist. He did not meet the other man¡¯s eyes, and his tone was indifferent as he started, ¡°Even Gwendolyn doesn¡¯t know about this. She was so nervous that day that her hands shook when she fired the shot. The bullet missed your heart by two centimeters and didn¡¯t hit your arteries.¡± ¡°W-Why¡­¡± Charles asked weakly, feeling puzzled. Even if Gwendolyn had failed to kill me with a single shot, I¡¯d have still died from blood loss. Cedrick only needed to do nothing for me to die. Or did he save my life so he could torture me again? ¡°Why did I save you?¡± Cedrick knew what the other man wanted to ask and chuckled lightly. ¡°For the past six months, I¡¯d been gued by illness because of you and nearly died several times, but I¡¯d also inflicted the same pain on you. You almost didn¡¯t make it several times under heavy torture. Since you handed over the Super Antiviral and I¡¯ve fully recovered, the grudges between us are written off.¡± Written off? Charles was stunned. I can¡¯t believe he said the same thing as Gwendolyn did back then! We are both ruthless and love rivals who detest one another and enemies. Why would he let me off so easily? Charles sat up and leaned back against the headboard. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know that I handed over the antidote because of Gwendolyn. I had no intention of saving you. In fact, I wish for nothing more than for you to die!¡± ¡°I know that.¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze was calm. ¡°You wanted to fulfill her wish in this matter, whereas she shot at you not only to grant your wish to die but also to help me as she was afraid that I would find it difficult to do so. I¡¯ll now grant your wish and let you off.¡± Charles stared at him in shock. ¡°You should understand me, Cedrick. If our roles were reversed and you were in my hands now, I wouldn¡¯t let you off so easily!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, there are no ifs, and you don¡¯t have the chance to make me a prisoner. It¡¯s entirely up to me whether to forgive or continue to resent you.¡± Cedrick eyed Charles with a half-smile that carried an innate arrogance and aloofness. His facial features were very attractive, and despite having previously undergone skin surgery due to burns on his face, he still looked incredibly handsome. Aside from the ruthlessness of an influential person, his piercing gaze also reflected righteousness and unwavering love for Gwendolyn. Charles smiled, finally letting go of his feelings. ¡°I admit defeat. I finally know why she chose you. In some aspect, I am indeed inferior to you.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curved slightly at his response. He patted the other man on the shoulder and said seriously, ¡°Let¡¯s set aside the trivial matters and get down to business. Your mother brought Gwenny before the international court and requested that she be tried because she thinks you¡¯re dead.¡± Charles¡¯ expression also turned solemn. ¡°Mother will never stop until she achieves her goal. If this goes on, both parties will suffer.¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°So this is something only you can solve.¡± Their eyes met once more but without the animosity of previous times. They used to be love rivals because of Gwendolyn, but this time, they made peace and frantically discussed a solution because of her. The court recess was over, and since Kylie did not withdraw thewsuit, everyone returned to court. Herwyer held onto the matter of Gwendolyn shooting and killing Charles and would not let it go. ¡°Your Honor, we believe that the defendant shot Mr. Vidar Lund when he was defenseless, which is considered a sneak attack and intentional murder! The intiff has done her best as the victim¡¯s adoptive mother, but the defendant ndered her for failing to do so and disyed no remorse, which is absolutely abhorrent. Your Honor, we urge you to impose a heavier sentence on the defendant!¡± Silence ensued among thewyers at the defendant¡¯s table, as Gwendolyn¡¯s statement before the court recess had utterly derailed all of their previously prepared strategies. ¡°Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, no matter how subtly you change your statement, it¡¯s a fact that you shot and killed Vidar, and you have no way to refute it! Do you admit it?¡± Kylie red at Gwendolyn, gritting her teeth with hatred.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Chapter 367 Chapter 367 Gwendolyn nced downward silently, her expression cold. The intiff¡¯swyer raised his hand and continued, ¡°The defendant is not refuting precisely because she¡¯s guilty. It is true that she shot Mr. Vidar Lund that day. Your Honor, we suggest that she be detained¡­¡± While he was making a reasoned and well-founded usation against Gwendolyn, the legal assistant beside him, who was recording the notes on aptop, suddenly received an email. The assistant opened the email. After she read the first two lines, her eyes widened in shock. She quickly turned theptop to Kylie. Kylie read the email attentively. As she read the rest of the email, her eyes reddened and tears started streaming down her cheeks uncontrobly. Unable to control her emotions, she broke down. The legal assistant had no choice but to interrupt the trial. ¡°Apologies, Your Honor. Our intiff is emotionally distressed. We request another recess!¡± Thewyers representing the Harris family were initially prepared to reveal their trump card after the intiff¡¯swyer had finished speaking. They wanted to use the evidence that Charles was not an adopted son, while also proving that Gwendolyn had acted in self-defense. They nned for a dramatic turnaround. However, there was yet another unexpected recess, leaving everyone baffled. During this recess, Kylie suddenly withdrew thewsuit without any prior warning. It seemed that she had admitted defeat in this battle. Gwendolyn could not understand it. Before the second recess, she had noticed the sorrowful expression on Kylie¡¯s face when Kylie was looking at theptop. What was written on it? Or did Kylie eventually decide to back down since this is, after all, a royal scandal? Treyton hugged her shoulders and led her out of the courtroom. Just when they reached the entrance hall of the courthouse, Kylie, Gerhardt, and the rest happened to walk out from the other side. They came face to face with one another. Kylie red at Gwendolyn, unable to conceal the hatred in her eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, you should thank Charlie for the fact that you can still walk out of here freely instead of being handcuffed and detained as a criminal. If it weren¡¯t for him, I would never have let you off the hook!¡± Thank Charles? Gwendolyn was utterly confused. With an arrogant snort, Kylie spun around and walked away, denying Gwendolyn the opportunity to ask any questions. Treyton patted her shoulder lightly. ¡°Kiddo, don¡¯t think too much about it. In any case, the matter has now been resolved.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Gwendolyn nodded.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. As they exited the courtroom, she immediately spotted a man leaning against a luxury car. That familiar and handsome figure caused her restless self to find sce in an instant. It was Cedrick. Quickly running up to him, she slipped her small arms under his ck coat and embraced his sturdy waist. She could feel the warmth from his body. ¡°When did you wake up? How do you feel? While Kieran is still in Salinsburgh, I¡¯ll have him cure you completely!¡± Having heard those words of concern, Cedrick happily stroked her head. He wrapped her thin body within his coat and hugged her tightly. ¡°I probably woke up while you were still in court. Don¡¯t worry. With Kieran¡¯s medical skills, there won¡¯t be any traces of the illness left within me.¡± Gwendolyn felt less worry. Cedrick leaned closer to her ear and whispered mysteriously, ¡°Gwendolyn, I want to take you somewhere.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there,¡± he replied in a gentle tone. He opened the car door, carried her, and carefully ced her in the seat. Then, he turned around and said to Treyton and Kieran, ¡°I¡¯ll borrow Gwendolyn from you two for now. It¡¯s almost the New Year. I¡¯ll formally thank both of you on New Year¡¯s Eve.¡± With a look of understanding on his face, Treyton waved his hand impatiently and said, ¡°Leave quickly. Don¡¯t act all lovey-dovey here.¡± Kieran remained expressionless and did not say a word. In the driver¡¯s seat, Nico beckoned to Nicole as she stood meekly behind Treyton. Nicole immediately opened the door of the passenger seat happily and got in with a joyful smile. While the luxurious car drove away, Kieran stared at it with a face filled with displeasure. He commented in a cold and sarcastic voice, ¡°He¡¯s acting as if he¡¯ll return her to us.¡± Treyton chuckled. ¡°Kieran, that¡¯s not very upright of you. Why didn¡¯t you say it in front of Cedrick just now?¡± Kieran gave him a cold nce. ¡°Get the hell out of here and go find your girlfriend.¡± After saying that, he turned around and left. Staring at Kieran¡¯s departing figure, Treyton sighed helplessly and only dared to mutter under his breath. ¡°You and your personality¡­ It¡¯s no wonder you haven¡¯t found a wife after all these years!¡± Nico drove all the way to a private airport. Gwendolyn looked at the airport terminal in confusion. ¡°Ceddy, why did you bring me here?¡± Cedrick smiled and did not exin. Holding her small hand and interlocking their fingers, he led her toward the airport terminal. Nicole naively followed them out of the car before getting stopped by Nico, who gently shook his head to tell her to stay in the car. She got the hint and obediently waited in the car with him. Cedrick held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and went up to the fourth floor. Cedrick pointed out the window. ¡°Gwenny, look.¡± Gwendolyn looked in the direction he was pointing at. Through the ss, she saw someone walking up the stairs toward Cedrick¡¯s private ne. The person¡¯s back looks so familiar. It resembles¡­ Her eyes reddened as she stared out of the window in disbelief. The person turned his head slowly upon reaching the top of the stairs. Standing outside the aircraft, he raised his arm high and waved in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction. Although they were far apart, Gwendolyn could clearly see the look of affection in his deep blue eyes as if he was silently bidding her farewell. Despite her shock, she did not forget to wave back at Charles. Seeing her response, Charles withdrew his gaze in satisfaction and entered the cabin. It was only after the cabin door closed that Gwendolyn turned her head to Cedrick. ¡°Ceddy, what did you do?¡± How can Charles possibly be leaving on his private ne? How can he still be alive? I clearly saw him falling down after being shot. Cedrick looked at her earnestly as if he could read all the doubts in her mind. He answered them patiently, ¡°The grudges between Charles and me have been written off. The reason Kylie withdrew the lawsuit is that she received an email from Charles. I initially nned to bring him to court as a witness to prove your innocence, but he no longer wants to live as Charles or Vidar anymore, so he asked me not to reveal that he is still alive. He wants to leave quietly and take a break overseas.¡± He reached his hand out and gently caressed her cheek. ¡°When you were in the cathedral, you were so nervous that the bullet missed the target. Knowing deep down that you couldn¡¯t bear to see him die, I let him go.¡± Tears rolled down Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks. She felt both moved and incredulous. ¡°He treated you badly and hurt you, and you¡¯re willing to let him go?¡± Cedrick wiped away her tears with his fingertip, his eyes filled with tenderness. ¡°I can¡¯t bear to see you sad and guilty because of his death.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She hugged him tightly. Even though tears were flowing down her cheeks, her heart was filled with immense joy. However, Cedrick did not embrace her this time. Sensing that there was something off about him, Gwendolyn quickly released him and raised her head to look at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ceddy?¡± Looking down, he said awkwardly, ¡°I heard that you could urately tell Charles¡¯ likings in court. Looks like you really¡­ know him well.¡± Chapter 368 Chapter 368 So he was worried about that, huh? Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a grin as she reached up to caress Cedrick¡¯s face. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± ¡°Mm. Just a little unhappy.¡± A frown made its way onto his lips as he looked away. The expression on his face seemed to convey a sense of sadness, silently pleading for constion. Gwendolyn stifled herughter. Standing on her tiptoes, she gave him a peck on his lips before comforting him, ¡°Ceddy, you look so cute when you¡¯re jealous! Be a good boy. I remember what you like, too. I¡¯ll only focus on you in the future and forget about everyone else. Is that okay?¡± Cedrick¡¯s frown vanished as he stared at her. ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word.¡± Gwendolyn hastily nodded. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him as they watched the ne that Charles was on depart Chanaea. Meanwhile, inside the car parked outside the airport, Nico retrieved a packet of cigarettes from his pocket. As he listened to the sound of an airne ascending into the sky, he ced a cigarette between his lips and ignited it, taking a deep inhale. Gray smoke enveloped him, creating a tense aura. With a single nce, Nicole could tell he was in a rather foul mood. ¡°Nico, do you not want that Mr. Newton to leave?¡± Nico took a long drag of his cigarette before saying, ¡°I received a hundred and thirteenshes from him when I was imprisoned in Erihal.¡± I can¡¯t quell the difort in my heart if I don¡¯t get revenge for the beating he gave me. Nicole grinned at the man¡¯s words. ¡°I heard that you assisted Mr. Jenson in punishing Mr. Newton many times. Surely, it¡¯s not just a hundred and thirteenshes, right?¡± The cigarette between his lips moved as he uttered in a magnanimous tone, ¡°You have a point. Now that I think about it, it seems like a win for me. I guess I¡¯ll let him go then.¡± Nicole cupped her hand over her lips and chuckled discreetly, thinking, Although ruthless in carrying out his orders, he¡¯s soft at heart. He¡¯s not the bad person that others make him out to be. The smell of tobo intensified in the car, causing her nose to feel a tad ufortable. Nico did not seem to realize it as he continued smoking. Nicole pouted her lips, and her mood soured in that instant. Sure enough, he¡¯s not experienced in taking care of others at all. There¡¯s a girl in his car, yet he doesn¡¯t know to tamp down his smoking? A mischievous glint flitted across her eyes. She casually scooted toward the man and reached for the lit cigarette in between his fingers, snatching it over. He stared at her in confusion before asking, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°You look handsome when you smoke, so I want to try it out, too.¡± Nicole¡¯s tone was innocent as she imitated Nico, cing the cigarette between her lips in jest. ¡°Don¡¯t! I¡¯ve already smoked that one!¡± Nico¡¯s expression changed drastically, and he was about to reach over to stop the woman. s, the cigarette was already between her lips as she took in a deep puff, not minding the fact that his saliva was on the cigarette at all. Nicole, who did not know how to smoke, took a puff of the cigarette, only to be overwhelmed by the bitter taste of the smoke. She immediately began coughing uncontrobly. Seeing this, Nico hurriedly patted her back to help alleviate her difort. ¡°You¡¯re still young. You shouldn¡¯t learn to smoke if you don¡¯t know how. This isn¡¯t something fun!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not fun, then why are you smoking? I want to learn ande to like whatever you like!¡± the young girl retorted, still coughing. Her face had turned red from the coughing fit, and her bright, wide eyes stared at him intently with a serious expression. Nico felt his heart skip a beat as he nced at her. He snatched the cigarette from her and extinguished it without hesitation. He then switched on the car¡¯s heater and activated the external cirction to air out the smoke. ¡°I don¡¯t like smoking, and I won¡¯t smoke anymore, so don¡¯t you dare start learning how to do it!¡± Nicole nodded obediently. Attempting to conceal the happiness that sparkled in her eyes, she then asked, ¡°So when are you going to teach me martial arts?¡± ¡°What? You really want me to teach you?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Nicole looked at him intently. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. I want to be the sharpest tool in your arsenal. When you go out for missions in the future, I wish to apany you and help you in taking down the bad guys!¡± Nico was rendered speechless. He had thought Nicole was joking around when she first mentioned it, so he did not expect her to be serious about this. ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate for a girl to be talking about fighting and taking lives. However, if you¡¯re genuinely interested in learning, I can teach you a couple of self-defense moves. I can even instruct you on how to handle a firearm.¡± Nicole¡¯s face lit up with joy when she heard that the man would be teaching her how to shoot. ¡°You¡¯re so kind to me, Nico! I¡¯m going to follow you for the rest of my life.¡± Upon uttering those words, she leaned across the armrest separating their seats, wrapped her arms around Nico¡¯s neck, then nted a firm kiss on his cheek. Nico¡¯s heart skipped a beat, for this was the first time he had been hugged and kissed by a girl. Even after Nicole pulled away, the sensation of her soft touch against his skin remained. His ears turned bright red as he blinked rapidly in a mixture of surprise and bewilderment. He calmed himself down before saying, ¡°You¡­ It¡¯s not a good idea for you to keep following me. You¡¯ll have to tell me your real name sooner orter, and when you start to be independent, I¡¯ll send you home.¡± Nicole¡¯s arms, that were around his neck, froze at that moment. Slowly releasing her embrace, Nicole lowered her gaze to conceal her disappointment. Tears welled in her eyes as she said, ¡°Do you¡­ think I¡¯m annoying? Do you not want to take care of me anymore?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. After all, I¡¯m not your guardian. No matter what happens, I must return you to your parents,¡± the man uttered, his tone serious. ¡°But I¡¯ll be twenty soon. I¡¯m an adult and can choose the life I want to live! I want to be with you!¡± Nico¡¯s heart ached at the sight of her tears. s, the girl did not belong to him. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°However, I also have the right to choose whether I want you to be with me. Besides, you won¡¯t even tell me your real name. Who knows how many more secrets you¡¯re hiding from me?¡± Nicole panicked when she sensed a hint of suspicion in his tone. ¡°I¡¯m not purposefully hiding it from you at all. My real name is Summer Rongsler! I didn¡¯t tell you this before because I hate my father, and I do not wish to bear the samest name as him!¡± As though seeking somefort, she held onto the hem of his clothes, her confession pouring out in a rush. ¡°Indeed, I still have some things I¡¯m hiding from you. The truth is¡­ I¡¯m not as innocent as you think I am. Do you believe in love at first sight? From the moment you stepped into my prison cell, from the moment Iid eyes on you, I¡¯ve fallen in love with you. Hence, this is why I¡¯ve been pretending to be dumb and clumsy. I thought that, by doing so, I could say by your side forever. Won¡¯t you prefer to have a cute girl by your side and make me yours when the time is right?¡± Nico was at a loss for words. His face flushed with embarrassment, a rosy hue spreading from his cheeks to his neck as his heart thumped wildly against his chest. ¡°Do¡­ you even know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± ¡°Of course, I do! I¡¯m almost twenty! I¡¯m not that naive. I know everything about being in a rtionship.¡± Once again, Nico was bereft of words. What the heck? All this time, the innocent one was me? I was the one who was tricked, and I¡¯m actually the naive one between the two of us? The thought of that made his expression dim. ¡°Nico, what do you think?¡± Summer¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper. Her bright eyes fixed on him with a mixture of hope and anticipation as if saying, ¡°I would be deeply hurt if you reject me.¡± Nico arched an eyebrow and smiled. He remainedposed as he teasingly replied, ¡°Summer, you sure took your own sweet time to confess to me. What do you think I¡¯ll do?¡± As he called her by her real name, tears began streaming down Summer¡¯s face. She bit her lip, and with a tinge of disappointment, released her grip on his shirt, sadness welling up inside her. A frown crossed Nico¡¯s countenance when he noticed she had gotten upset for real. However, just as he was about to console her, Summer opened the car door, leaped out of the vehicle, and seemingly ran off without looking back. Nico quickly got out and chased after her. The truth was, Summer did not run at all, for he spotted Gwendolyn and Cedrick exiting the airport. Tears streaming down her face, she ran up to the former and beganining to her. Taken aback by the young girl¡¯s sudden embrace, Gwendolyn exchanged confused nces with Cedrick before asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did Nico bully you?¡± Summer shook her head relentlessly, though she did not disclose the reason behind her tears. She merely held onto Gwendolyn tightly as tears continued to trickle down her cheeks. Just as Gwendolyn was about tofort the young girl by patting her on the back, Cedrick intervened. With a grim expression on his countenance, the man lifted Summer by the back of her neck and distanced her from Gwendolyn. ¡°She¡¯s mine! I haven¡¯t had enough of hugging her, yet!¡± Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Being a light and skinny girl, Summer could only dangle her legs relentlessly in the air. s, her efforts proved to be futile as she failed to escape the man¡¯s monstrous grip. Nico hurried over to the trio and rubbed his hand nervously as he exined in a timid tone, ¡°Boss, I¡­ was just joking around with her¡­¡± Cedrick fixed his gaze on Nico and said with controlled anger, ¡°Take your littlepanion away! If you mistreat her, causing her to seek refuge with Gwendolyn again, I shall see to it that you suffer the consequences under militaryw!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t! I won¡¯t do it again!¡± He even mentioned militaryw. It looks like he must really be angry. Nico cowered in the face of the man¡¯s authority and obediently took Summer from Cedrick¡¯s grasp, carrying her in his arms. Summer pouted as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She red at him and warned, ¡°Did you hear that? I have someone backing me up now. If you dare to say you don¡¯t want me again, Mr. Jenson will punish you with the whip!¡± Both Nico and Cedrick were at a loss for words, while Gwendolyn cupped her hand over her lips and chuckled. What a sly little fox. She took this opportunity to gain support. It seems like we¡¯re pretty simr in some ways. Nico is a dummy toward romance. It looks like he¡¯ll be under her thumb in the future. Gwendolyn approached Nico and Summer and gently tapped thetter¡¯s nose. She corrected the young girl, saying, ¡°That¡¯s not what the whip is used for. You should be careful with what you say. The way you put it makes it sound rather suggestive.¡± ¡°Suggestive? Are you referring to the romantic acts between couples?¡± Summer pondered over it momentarily before ncing at Cedrick and Gwendolyn. A sly grin yed on her lips as she said, ¡°I heard Nico say that you¡¯re more impressive than Mr. Jenson, Gwendolyn. In that case, do you punish Mr. Jenson with a whip as well?¡± This time, it was Cedrick and Gwendolyn who were rendered speechless, while Nico tried his very best to avoidughing out loud. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Why can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut? If you say any more, Boss will get angry and teach you a lesson!¡± With Summer in his arms, Nico walked to the car and ced her in the passenger seat. At that, Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a resigned smile. She grabbed Cedrick¡¯s hand and inteced their fingers. ¡°Ceddy, you¡¯re always a good boy. I can¡¯t bear to use the whip to punish you. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Cedrick felt a lot calmer now. He nodded in satisfaction and followed her into the backseat of the car. It wasn¡¯t long before the four of them began the journey back to the Jenson residence. Along the way, Summer chattered away and told some dad jokes to lighten the atmosphere. The group went through the winding paths leading to Harrick Vi. Before they arrived at the entrance, however, they noticed a graceful figure waiting outside, leisurely strolling back and forth. Gwendolyn was the first to notice her. With a single nce, Gwendolyn could tell that the woman¡¯s skin was well taken care of, to the extent that she did not look her age. The woman wore branded clothing and exuded an air of elegance. Nevertheless, it was an unfamiliar face that Gwendolyn had never seen before. As for the woman, she smiled and fixed her gaze on Cedrick when she noticed the group of people. ¡°Long time no see, Ced,¡± she uttered, walking toward them. Gwendolyn knitted her brows upon hearing the affectionate form of address the woman had for Cedrick. She wanted to let go of his hand, but his grip remained firm. He was also looking at the woman, and right then, his expression turned into one of surprise when he recognized her. ¡°Aunt Tania.¡± Gwendolyn was utterly taken aback. Aunt Tania? Valentino¡¯s youngest daughter, Tania Jenson, was thirty-something years old and still unmarried. She often resided overseas, but her presence there indicated that she was home for the uing holidays. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but feel a tad awkward when the woman¡¯s identity was revealed. Despite being Cedrick¡¯s aunt, Tania appeared youthful and attractive, leading Gwendolyn to assume that she was yet another woman that Cedrick had seduced. Cedrick took a step forward and introduced Gwendolyn, ¡°Aunt Tania, this is my fianc¨¦e, Gwendolyn Shalders Harris.¡± Gwendolyn smiled as she greeted politely, ¡°Nice to meet you, Aunt Tania.¡± Only then did Tania turn to look at Gwendolyn. Her gaze hardened, clearly showing her displeasure. ¡°You? You¡¯re Ced¡¯s fianc¨¦e?¡± Confused by the woman¡¯s words, Gwendolyn exchanged nces with Cedrick, neither of them understanding what Tania meant. ¡°I¡¯ve always been Ceddy¡¯s fianc¨¦e. That has never changed. What did you hear for you to say that, Aunt Tania?¡± ¡°Not too long ago, the princess of Erihal hosted a charity g at the pce. You caused a scene and stole the spotlight there. Perhaps you didn¡¯t notice, but I was also present,¡± said Tania, the look on her face icy. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression froze at Tania¡¯s words. If Aunt Tania was at the charity g, she must know about my wedding with Charles. No wonder she has a bad impression of me. ¡°I can exin¡ª¡± Gwendolyn wanted to rify the situation, but Tania retracted her gaze and pulled on Cedrick¡¯s arm, urging him to follow her. ¡°Come with me. There¡¯s something I need to discuss with you.¡± With that, Tania dragged him away. Gwendolyn watched as the two of them retreated to a quiet corner to converse. She lowered her gaze, looking rather dejected. Nico noticed the change in her emotions. He approached her and tried to console her, saying, ¡°Rest assured, Ms. Harris. While she may not fullyprehend the situation and could utter some unpleasant words to Boss, I have no doubt that he hasplete faith in you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Gwendolyn could not pinpoint what she was afraid of either. Perhaps I fear that he would develop suspicions about the child¡¯s paternity after his conversation with his aunt, but there¡¯s no way he¡¯d think so. She gently caressed her stomach. Since she was still in the early stages of pregnancy, Gwendolyn could not feel the baby¡¯s existence, but she had an innate awareness that a new life was growing inside her womb. This is mine and Cedrick¡¯s baby! Nico observed Gwendolyn lost in her thoughts, gently rubbing her stomach. Concerned that she might be overthinking things, he exchanged a meaningful nce with Summer. Summer quickly caught onto his signal and approached Gwendolyn, taking hold of her arm. With an enthusiastic tone, she continued sharing funny jokes to distract Gwendolyn from her thoughts. The unpleasant thoughts swirling in Gwendolyn¡¯s mind vanished when the young girl started talking to her. She allowed Summer to link arms with her and lead her inside the vi. Meanwhile, Tania walked to a quiet corner in the garden with her nephew in tow. ¡°Aunt Tania, you¡¯ll worry Gwenny with your actions. Our rtionship ispletely transparent, and I have no secrets from her. There¡¯s nothing that can¡¯t be discussed in her presence.¡± Displeased by his words, she uttered, ¡°Are you reprimanding me?¡± Cedrick hung his head and did not respond. His silence was a tacit admittance to Tania¡¯s question. The woman was livid. However, considering the fact that he was her favorite nephew, she did not scold him. Instead, she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what Gwendolyn did in Erihal?¡± ¡°I know.¡± Cedrick nodded. The look on his face was calm. ¡°You knew?¡± Tania was shocked. ¡°Since you know about it all, why didn¡¯t you cancel your engagement with her? She went to Erihal to get married to another man and even got pregnant with his child. That day, at the charity g, she had morning sickness in public. Every high-ranking noble in the royal family knows about this. Plus, she and that man were acting all lovey-dovey at the g. How can you be with her after knowing all of that?¡± Cedrick felt irritated when he heard the words ¡°lovey-dovey.¡± Nevertheless, he quickly tamped down his annoyance, and without a change in his expression, uttered, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, Aunt Tania. Gwenny¡¯s pregnant with my child, and the reason she went to Erihal was because of me.¡± ¡°What?¡± A confused Tania stared at her nephew in disbelief. ¡°Did you fall and hurt your head? Do you like that your fianc¨¦e cheated on you? I saw for myself what she did at the charity g. How can it be fake? She even admitted that the baby belonged to that man. Are you nning to be her rebound?¡± Cedrick was at a loss for words. That¡¯s my baby. Why would I be Gwenny¡¯s rebound? Even if she were to have a rebound, that person would¡¯ve been Charles. Chapter 370 Chapter 370 ¡°This matter is quiteplicated. I¡¯ll exin to you in the future, but I can assure you it¡¯s not what you think. Gwenny has a very good personality, and you¡¯ll grow to like her,¡± Cedrick said. Tania remained silent. Recalling Nico¡¯s situation, Cedrick continued, ¡°Since you¡¯re back, Aunt Tania, why don¡¯t you assist me with the arrangements with the family genealogy?¡± ¡°Family genealogy? What is it about?¡± she asked. With a determined gaze, Cedrick said, ¡°I want to include Nico in the family genealogy and list him as an adopted son under my father¡¯s name!¡± ¡°All right. You¡¯ve always known what you¡¯re doing. Since you already have that n in mind, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Tania was always efficient in her work. Two dayster, on an auspicious day, she called upon respected elders from the family to witness the ceremony. Since it was a family matter among the Jensons, Gwendolyn could only stand outside and observe from a distance. In the ancestral hall where the ceremony was conducted, Nico followed the proper etiquette. He presented a cup of tea to Valentino with both hands and respectfully greeted, ¡°Grandpa.¡± Valentino epted the tea, took a sip calmly, and then lifted the tea cover. He lightly dipped his finger in the tea and ced a dot on Nico¡¯s forehead. Once the borate procedures werepleted, the family members noted ¡°Nico Jenson¡± in the family record. ¡°You¡¯re a part of the Jenson family now. You must be honest, abide by thews, and always heed the guidance of the elders of the Jenson family.¡± ¡°All right, Grandpa,¡± Nico responded obediently. ¡°Go on,¡± Valentino said, tapping his cane to signal Nico to present another cup of tea to Cedrick. Nico stood up and approached Cedrick. ¡°Boss, here¡¯s a cup of tea for you!¡± Nico¡¯s demeanor changedpletely. He smiled brightly, radiating warmth and joy like a blooming flower. Frustrated, Cedrick gave Nico a light tap on the head and said, ¡°From now on, you should call me Cedrick!¡± Nico handed him the tea and sincerely eximed, ¡°Cedrick!¡± Gwendolyn quietly watched from outside the door, taking in the scene. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org She was genuinely happy for Nico, as he had gained so much after his return from Erihal. After an hour of going through the intricate process of being recorded in the family genealogy, it finally came to an end. As a gift for joining the Jenson family, Cedrick presented a small vi to Nico. It was just two alleys away from Harrick Vi. Upon hearing the news of Nico receiving the property, Summer surrounded him, showering him with congrattions. She then eagerly pulled him along to decorate the new vi with some new items. Once they left, Cedrick immediately drove Gwendolyn to a hospital in the city, heading straight to the obstetrics and gynecology department as it was time for her routine checkup. As the doctor conducted the examination, Cedrick was not allowed to enter the room. He anxiously sat in the corridor, feeling restless and uneasy. This child was conceived when he still had the virus in his body, so there was a high possibility that the child might not be healthy and could carry the virus. There was even a risk of transmitting the virus to Gwendolyn, making her sick too. The more Cedrick thought about it, the more unsettled he became. He discreetly gave Joshua a call. Upon receiving the man¡¯s call, Joshua was a little bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Cedrick? You never reach out to me unless there¡¯s something wrong with your health. Are you experiencing any difort?¡± ¡°Do you always have to think negatively about me?¡± Cedrick¡¯s face darkened, not in the mood for yful banter. He cut to the chase and asked, ¡°Will we be able to detect the virus in Gwenny¡¯s child if it is indeed present?¡± ¡°How long has she been pregnant?¡± Joshua queried in response. Cedrick thought about it before answering, ¡°Six and a half weeks.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid it can¡¯t be detected at this stage, Cedrick. The current testing methods in the country rely on laboratory tests, and at such an early stage, it¡¯s not possible to perform such tests. We may have to wait until the child is born for a definitive diagnosis.¡± However, if the child was born before they could detect the virus, it might be toote to take any necessary actions. Cedrick fell into a deep silence, his mind clouded with worry and concern. After mulling over the situation for a while, he gathered his courage and posed the question. ¡°Is¡­ there any way to abort the child without causing harm to Gwenny¡¯s body?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible, Cedrick. Any method of abortion would inevitably cause some harm to the mother,¡± Joshua exined. Upon hearing that, Cedrick sighed inwardly. If only men could be pregnant. I wish I could bear the suffering on behalf of Gwenny, allowing her to focus solely on her health and happiness. On the other end of the phone, Joshua, unaware of Cedrick¡¯s silent response, continued to provide information, saying, ¡°However, if the pregnancy is still in the early stages, there are medications avable on the market that pose the least harm to the mother. If Gwendolyn takes them and takes good care of herself, the overall impact should be minimal.¡± ¡°What medicine?¡± ¡°Mifepristone. However, this medication is newly developed and currently prohibited for sale in the country. It might be a bit troublesome if you wish to purchase it.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Cedrick responded before ending the call. He then dialed Nico¡¯s number. ¡°After you finish your current tasks in the next couple of days, I¡¯ll arrange for you to go abroad and help me purchase something.¡± Nico listened attentively to his instructions. Although Cedrick did not explicitly mention what the medication was for, the mention of the word ¡°pregnancy¡± piqued Nico¡¯s curiosity. He decided to do some research on his tablet. As he delved deeper into his search, Nico was taken aback by what he discovered. ¡°Cedrick, are you serious? This medication is for abortion! It will harm Gwendolyn¡¯s body!¡± Cedrick was also visibly conflicted. To him, nothing was more important than Gwendolyn¡¯s health. The pain caused by the S404 RNA virus was something Cedrick had experienced firsthand. He did not want anyone else to go through the misery anymore. Instead of discussing further with Nico, he uttered, ¡°Do as I said and stop asking questions. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Nico could not help but worry, feeling a sense of unease. ¡°Cedrick, you don¡¯t understand. This baby holds a special meaning for Gwendolyn. During our time in Erihal, she went to great lengths to handle Charles. She did that all for the sake of protecting this child.¡± Cedrick fell into a prolonged silence. Nico continued, ¡°She cherishes this baby very much. You can¡¯t just strip her of her rights as a mother and then apologizeter. She¡¯ll be devastated and perhaps even develop resentment toward you.¡± Those final words struck Cedrick¡¯s heart with a heavy blow. While his mind was still in turmoil, the lights in the examination room suddenly went out. The nurse was the first toe out, bringing forth good news. ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Jenson. Ms. Harris is pregnant with twins!¡± Cedrick immediately hung up the call with Nico and stood up, entering the room to look for Gwendolyn. His expression was grave,cking the joy one would expect from impending fatherhood, leaving the nurse bewildered. ¡°Gwenny, do you feel ufortable anywhere?¡± he asked, gently supporting Gwendolyn and anxiously checking the monitoring equipment to ensure he had not caused her any pain. Gwendolyn gently cradled his face in her hands and ced a loving kiss on his lips, her face radiant with joy. ¡°Ceddy, the doctor exined that the reason I experienced such strong pregnancy symptoms during that time was because I¡¯m carrying twins. It led to an excess of hormones, but rest assured, my health is perfectly fine!¡± She was filled with excitement as she handed him the ultrasound report. ¡°Although it¡¯s still too early to see clearly, in a few months¡¯ time, you¡¯ll have not just one, but two little bundles of joy! Aren¡¯t you happy, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick was momentarily taken aback, his gaze shifting between the ultrasound report and the beaming expression on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. At a loss for words, he was unable to articte his emotions. Chapter 371 Chapter 371 Gwendolyn waved a hand in front of Cedrick¡¯s eyes while smiling. ¡°What are you thinking about, Ceddy? Are you too nervous because it¡¯ll be your first time being a dad, and you¡¯ve no experience?¡± Pulling himself out of his daze, he rolled with it and went along with what she said, replying, ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m ecstatic.¡± After gently tucking her hair behind her ears, he bent down to help her put on her shoes, picked her up in his arms, and started walking out. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± The nurses craned their heads to look at Cedrick and Gwendolyn while they were on their way out. The envious expressions that crossed their faces when they saw the couple being all lovey-dovey caused Gwendolyn to burrow her face into the crook of the man¡¯s neck in embarrassment. ¡°Don¡¯t always spoil me like this, Ceddy. It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t walk on my own.¡± His lips curved into a slight smile, and his tone was calm as he replied, ¡°Even the doctor mentioned that we should be extra careful because it¡¯s twins, and your morning sickness symptoms might be more intense as time passes. You¡¯ve got to go through so much, so I must do something for you.¡± That reply warmed the cockles of her heart. She let Cedrick carry her out of the hospital through the quiet employees¡¯ entrance and all the way to the car. After returning to Harrick Vi, Gwendolyn stared at the medical report as she sat on the bed, quietly marveling over the miracle of life. Meanwhile, Cedrick sat cross-legged beside her with a book on hisp, appearing to be engrossed in reading. However, since he was staring at the book unblinkingly, it also seemed that he was lost in thought. Resting her head on his thigh, she asked, ¡°Since it¡¯s twins, do you hope they¡¯ll be two boys or two girls? Or do you think they¡¯ll be one boy and one girl?¡± There was no response. He was still staring at the page in a daze. ¡°Ceddy?¡± She had to wave her hand in front of him again to jolt him back to the present. ¡°What¡¯s up with you today? Why are you so distracted?¡± ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± He grabbed her petite hands and looked straight into her eyes. Recalling what Nico had said, he took a deep breath and hesitated a few times before finally pulling the trigger. ¡°We¡¯ll¡­ still have other children in the future. Could we¡­ terminate this pregnancy?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Dumbfounded, it took Gwendolyn a while to register his words. She pulled her hands out of his grasp. Her heart felt as though it had plummeted into the pit of her stomach, and an icy sensation spread across her body. ¡°We¡¯re having twins. How often does that happen? Why would you say that?¡± As she struggled to wrap her head around it, she suddenly remembered how Tania had pulled Cedrick aside a few days ago and whispered something. She grimaced and asked, ¡°So, you believe what your aunt told you and suspect the baby is Charles¡¯? You don¡¯t believe in my feelings for you?¡± ¡°I believe you, of course. How could I even think otherwise? Gwenny¡ª¡± Avoiding his touch, Gwendolyn turned to get off the bed and leave. However, Cedrick swiftly hugged her from behind. Leaning his head against her shoulder, he hurriedly exined, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. You conceived when we hadn¡¯t treated the virus in my body, so there¡¯s a high chance that the babies will be born with the virus. What¡¯s more, you could be infected. There¡¯s only one vial of Super Antiviral, and we can¡¯t even administer the antidote to you since you¡¯re pregnant. I dare not let you take such a risk with your body.¡± Gradually, her anxious emotions calmed down. ¡°So, this pregnancy¡­ Let¡¯s give up on it, shall we?¡± he continued. ¡°Is that what you want?¡± Her gaze was calm as she turned and met his eyes. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°There¡¯s a medicine avable overseas called Mifepristone that¡¯s very effective for early-term abortions and is the least harmful to the body. It¡¯ll only take a short period to recuperate. When your body recovers, we can try for a baby again. Okay?¡± Gwendolyn did not respond. She stared at the medical report and fell silent for a long time. When I first learned I¡¯d gotten pregnant, I wasn¡¯t ready to be a mother. Now, though, I¡¯m genuinely looking forward to the arrival of these two babies. However, he wants to sentence them to death cruelly. ¡°Gwenny?¡± Cedrick held her hands anxiously, uneasiness in his dark eyes. After pondering for a while, she asked, ¡°Did Prof. Mallory say the babies will surely get infected by the virus?¡± ¡°Well, not necessarily. There¡¯s a probability of it happening, but we can only wait until the babies are born to confirm it through tests. However, I don¡¯t want to gamble with your health. Giving up on this pregnancy is the safest course of action.¡± A thought popped into her head when she heard that. ¡°Even though there¡¯s a probability that it¡¯ll happen, I believe luck will be on our side. Besides, Prof. Mallory kept a sample for research when injecting you with the antidote. Even if I was so unfortunate as to get infected, I trust that his and Kieran¡¯s medical skills can keep me and the babies safe.¡± Taking his hand, she let him stroke her belly. ¡°Since the heavens have entrusted us with these two little ones, we should cherish and protect them. If we give up on them, even if we get pregnant again, our future babies won¡¯t be them.¡± Cedrick caressed her belly carefully. It was still t, and he could not feel the babies¡¯ presence. Despite her words, the uneasiness in his heart had not diminished even a little. ¡°Gwenny, I don¡¯t want to risk¡ª¡± Holding his chin, Gwendolyn forced him to meet her gaze and said solemnly, ¡°But I¡¯m willing to take the risk with the babies! Even if it doesn¡¯t work out, my life won¡¯t be in danger with Prof. Mallory and Kieran around. Ceddy, I hope you can respect my decision. We can¡¯t be so heartless as to rob the little ones of their right toe into this world just because of a probability.¡± Seeing the determination in her eyes, he sighed and relented. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll support you and risk it just this once.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Gwendolyn murmured, nodding solemnly. ¡°You¡¯ve suffered too much, Ceddy. There¡¯s no way we¡¯ll always be unlucky, right? I believe that the heavens will surely bless us once.¡± He lightly tapped the tip of her nose, his dark eyes brimming with affection. ¡°What do you feel like eating tonight? I¡¯ll go make dinner.¡± She did not reply. The way he was talking earlier seemed like he had made up his mind. I can¡¯t help thinking something feels off. As that thought crossed her mind, a look of guile flickered in her eyes. She asked, ¡°You had even researched all about that medicine. Could it be that you had nned something in advance?¡± Cedrick was silent, and the expression on his face froze. He had not expected the woman to figure it out so quickly. I can¡¯t believe she actually guessed it right. Averting his gaze, he was nning to lie and brush off her question when his phone on the bedside table suddenly started ringing. He turned to check his phone and saw that the call was from Nico. Guilt was written all over his face as the memory of how he had asked Nico to go overseas in a few days and buy the medicine came back to him. Just as he was about to decline the call, she took the phone away. Furrowing her brows slightly, she fixed him with an inquisitive gaze. ¡°Look at how you¡¯re fidgeting guiltily. Why aren¡¯t you answering Nico¡¯s call?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± he began. Without giving him a chance to make excuses, she tapped on the phone decisively to answer the call and put it on speakerphone. Nico¡¯s panicked voice rang out. ¡°Cedrick, I really can¡¯t do it! It¡¯s a matter of conscience! You want to buy the medicine while keeping it a secret from Gwendolyn. However, if she finds out about it, you won¡¯t be the only one who¡¯ll get into big trouble. I will, too! Besides, this decision is too cruel¡­¡± Cedrick lowered his head. He turned pale, his eyshes trembled, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed uneasily. Gwendolyn shot him a frosty re. On the other end of the line, Nico was still trying to persuade Cedrick to change his mind. In a cial tone, she asked the man on the phone, ¡°What did Cedrick ask you to buy?¡± Chapter 372 Chapter 372 Nico was so rmed to hear Gwendolyn¡¯s voice, which was deadly soft, that he nearly flung his phone aside. For a long while, he did not dare respond or breathe. ¡°You¡¯d bettere clean on Cedrick¡¯s behalf, Nico,¡± Gwendolyn warned him severely. ¡°Confess while I¡¯m still feeling lenient, or the two of you will be in for a world of hell. Rest assured, I will send you there.¡± She uttered thest few words through gritted teeth, and it sent shivers down his spine. Nico was thoroughly frightened by this point. ¡°Cedrick only did it with your health in mind,¡± he exined hastily. ¡°He loves you so much, you know. He¡­¡± Amidst a deluge of ingratiating pleas, Gwendolyn finally understood the entire matter two minutester. ¡°All right, I see. You were right to tell me, so I won¡¯t be putting you in a tough spot, nor will I allow him to punish you. Don¡¯t you worry.¡± Compared to his own fate, Nico was more worried that he had driven a wedge between her and Cedrick. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at him, Gwendolyn. He¡ª¡± The woman had had enough. ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself with it,¡± she interrupted brusquely. ¡°Nothing will happen to him.¡± Without another word, she hung up. Silence descended all of a sudden as the bedroom filled with a chilly aura. Gwendolyn turned to face Cedrick. Before she managed to open her mouth to mock him, she felt something stuffed hastily into her hand. Looking down, she found the mahogany ruler from the drawer of the bedside table. ¡°Even the ruler is out. What is this?¡± she asked with feigned ignorance. ¡°Do you miss the taste of it, having been deprived of it for too long?¡± Cedrick bit his lip nervously. The tips of his ears grew red, and his voice seemed to have withered in defeat. ¡°I was wrong for not thinking things through. Please forgive me.¡± Gwendolyn studied him carefully. ¡°The children belong to both of us, Ceddy. You have no right to decide on my behalf.¡± ¡°I know.¡± He avoided her gaze. ¡°It was just a thought that I wanted to discuss with you as soon as I came home.¡± She exposed him mercilessly while fiddling with the ruler. ¡°If Nico did not intervene, would you have discussed it with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He was at a loss of arguing his way out of that. Though he did n on bringing it up with her, he thought it would sound defensive to reiterate the point, so he opted to simply admit it. Steeling himself at that thought, he offered both his palms. ¡°If it would appease you, I will let you punish me.¡± ¡°I just want to remind you that this pertains to the both of us, Ceddy. Please talk to me next time instead of doing everything on your own as you do with work.¡± Gwendolyn gazed, displeased, at his hung head. I do not want to hit him! Not in the slightest. Furthermore, a light punishment like that would not make an impression on an already-recovered patient like him. Rather, he simply wanted her to vent her anger. Cedrick went too far today. I should prank him to teach him a lesson. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Upon arriving at that thought, Gwendolyn sniggered. Her fox-like eyes glimmered beadily. ¡°You do deserve to be punished, but who said anything about caning your hands?¡± Cedrick looked up and felt a sense of foreboding from her wicked smile. Gwendolyn¡¯s smirk deepened. Crossing her legs, she sat on the bed and patted the spot before her. ¡°Lie here.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Cedrick froze. Though he seemed to have grasped her meaning, he appeared uncertain. ¡°Do you want to¡­ spank me on my buttocks?¡± She nodded. ¡°Very clever of you, Ceddy.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Cedrick¡¯s ears flushed crimson in an instant. Even his face and neck glowed red. It was not just a punishment to him. Worse than that, it was a humiliation. I would rather die than to obey her. ¡°I am the chairman of Jenson Group, Gwenny, and the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation! What would be of my reputation?¡± Gnawing on his lip in vexation, he fixed her with an usatory gaze. Gwendolyn stifled augh. ¡°I know that,¡± she replied seriously. ¡°Are you telling me that you would furious if I were to touch your buttocks?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± His tone was firm. Nevertheless, she was unfazed. ¡°I¡¯ve touched them, caressed them, and even spanked them. I¡¯m already saving you face by letting you keep your pants on, you know. Besides, what¡¯s so embarrassing about getting spanked by your wife?¡± Cedrick could not find the words to retort, but that was something he could not bring himself to do. ¡°No means no.¡± Gwendolyn scowled. ¡°You don¡¯t appear to be remorseful for your actions, Ceddy. Maybe I should return to the Harris residence and think about whether I should forgive you. You only had one chance, after all.¡± She made to get up, and Cedrick quickly grabbed her. ¡°Don¡¯t go. I made a mistake!¡± Gwendolyn stifled anotherugh at the conviction of his response. Deciding to take the prank one notch higher, she indicated therge expanse of the bed with a nce. Dawdling resignedly, Cedrick spent several minutes getting into position on the bed in front of her. The woman relished his embarrassment brazenly, then tapped the wooden ruler lightly on his buttocks, her movements exuding a hint of deviousness. ¡°Even if you¡¯ve never taken a spanking, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve delivered one. Your posture isn¡¯t quite right. Arch higher! Yes, just like that.¡± Cedrick buried his face in the pit of his elbow. Gwendolyn could not see his expression, but she saw the tip of his ears, ming red, and sensed his emotional devastation. Rolling up her sleeves, she announced yfully, ¡°Here ites, Ceddy! I won¡¯t hold back, so brace yourself!¡± After inocting him with a warm-up, Gwendolyn grasped the ruler with both hands and brought it high above her head. Before she could bring it swinging down, Cedrick tackled her; he was careful not to press her belly. ¡°Don¡¯t hit me, Gwenny!¡± Burying his face in her neck, he implored her mournfully. His ears, burning hot, pressed against her skin which felt as if it were about to boil. Something this embarrassing ought to be a lesson not soon forgotten, I hope. ¡°Will you still keep things from me and make my decisions behind my back?¡± Cedrick shook his head meekly. ¡°Never again. There won¡¯t be another time.¡± Upon achieving her goal, Gwendolyn pinched his firm buttocks. Just like that, the atmosphere within the bedroom became filled with sweetness. Soon, it was nearly New Year¡¯s Eve. As the months passed, Gwendolyn¡¯s belly swelled. Pregnancy was something that could not remain hidden for long, and the pair were discussing how they were going to reveal the surprising news. Cedrick even considered bringing the wedding forward. Before New Year¡¯s Eve, a visitor least expected by anybody to visit turned up at Harrick Vi. Upon entering the vi, Kieran scowled as ifing to collect a debt. ¡°Are you pregnant? Twins?¡± he asked as soon as Gwendolyn appeared down the stairs. ¡°Um¡­¡± Gwendolyn froze, looking slightly abashed. She almost forgot how her brother was a majority shareholder in all of the major hospitals in Chanaea ¡ªhe would find out no matter where she went for a check-up. ¡°You¡¯re the first person in the family to find out, Kieran. Are you surprised?¡± Kieran ignored her and her tone of feigned nonchnce. His cold, haughty features did not change. Cedrick pulled Gwendolyn behind him. ¡°It was my fault. Gwenny had nothing to do with it.¡± Kieran red at the other man. ¡°You¡¯re damned right it was your fault,¡± he snapped. ¡°Not only were you unable to control yourself, you didn¡¯t even bother using a condom. You will take full responsibility!¡± Chapter 373 Chapter 373 Cedrick agreed without hesitation. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s only right. I will marry Gwenny and take full responsibility!¡± Kieran narrowed his eyes and gave the other man a scathing look. ¡°Do you think everything will be solved if you just took responsibility?¡± Gwendolyn knew her brother well enough. He has a grudge against Cedrick. Knowing how vengeful he is, he¡¯s not going to let it slide without teaching Cedrick a lesson he will never forget. ¡°I¡¯m to me too, Kieran,¡± she said hastily. ¡°Ceddy had just recovered. Don¡¯t torment him.¡± Kieran was unmoved. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t learn to treasure you if I don¡¯t teach him a lesson. Does he think that asking for your hand in marriage is all he needs to do to court the daughter of the Harris family?¡± ¡°Kieran¡­¡± Gwendolyn took a step forward, but Cedrick stopped her. ¡°I will do whatever you ask of me,¡± he said in a level voice. ¡°Nothing is off limits!¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Upon obtaining the man¡¯s promise and regarding him with onest haughty re, Kieran rose and turned to leave. Gwendolyn called out to him nervously, ¡°Does Asher know, Kieran? You didn¡¯t tell him, did you?¡± Kieran would not bear to hurt her, but it was Asher who had disciplined her ever since she was young; he would never let both her and Cedrick off the hook. Pausing in his stride, Kieran said begrudgingly, ¡°Own up on New Year¡¯s Eve.¡± Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief. Sounds like Asher doesn¡¯t know yet. cating her racing heart, she was thankful that her legs would remain functional for another two days. Noticing it all, Cedrick took her hand. ¡°Are you that afraid of Asher?¡± ¡°He will blow his lid if he finds out. This isn¡¯t some small matter, either. He will never forgive me, much less you.¡± Cedrick stroked her hair and pulled her close to him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nobody will harm a hair on your head with me around.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother acting tough. Your fate will be worse than mine.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s brows creased. Her expression was taut with unease. ¡°It can¡¯t let ite to that. I¡¯ll think of something to help Asher get over it as quickly as possible.¡± At longst, New Year¡¯s Eve finally arrived. That noon, Gwendolyn, Cedrick, and Nico went to Valentino¡¯s house for lunch. Later that day at night, Cedrick prepared some exquisitely boxed gifts and, together with Gwendolyn, ascended Mount Tranquil straight up to Marcus¡¯ vi at the peak. It was lively in the vi. Lori, Asher, Sienna, Kieran, and Treyton were there. Cedrick did not have a mask on this time when he arrived at the Harris residence with Gwendolyn. Thus, Lori was struck dumb when she saw him. ¡°You¡¯re so handsome, Mr. Jenson! It appears that the rumors are false!¡± Cedrick remained willfully silent. With a sneer, Gwendolyn cast Lori a scathing look. ¡°Of course, the rumors do not hold a candle against the real thing. Those feeding off the rumors must be feeling awful now that they see Ceddy¡¯s face, I¡¯m sure.¡± Lori shot her stepdaughter a fierce re. She did feel awful, as though she had swallowed ten lemons in a row. Her chest was heaving as though it was going to explode. As it was New Year¡¯s Eve, Marcus had warned Lori ahead of time to behave herself as Gwendolyn, her fianc¨¦, and her brothers wereing home, and that she would not win an argument against Gwendolyn. At the unpleasant reminder, Lori scoffed imperiously, rolled her eyes, and turned to leave. Gwendolyn did not deign to spare the woman another nce. Instead, she dragged Cedrick into the vi. Upon crossing the threshold, Sienna dragged Gwendolyn over to do some crafts while Treyton marched Cedrick out to light some fireworks. As it was a day for family, Marcus gave the servants the night off; even the chef was heading home after preparing dinner. Thus, they had to light the fireworks themselves. The deafening sts went on for a long time. The air in the vi was thick with anticipation for the new year. Throughout the meal, however, the dinner table was silent. Though they were all in excellent spirits, they appeared to be preupied with their own thoughts. Gwendolyn cleared her throat. Cedrick set his spoon down at once. Wiping his lips elegantly with a napkin, he broke the silence. ¡°Aside froming with Gwenny for dinner, Mr. Marcus, I actually have something important to share with you all.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Gwendolyn tightened her grip around her cutlery and nced at Asher. She noticed that his brows were deeply furrowed as if he was absorbed in something else. It was so quiet that only the crisp ttering of cutlery could be heard. With a solemn look, Cedrick continued, ¡°Gwenny is seven weeks pregnant with twins. We were nning to announce it in three months¡¯ time, but since we are all family, we would like to take advantage of the happy asion to share this wonderful news.¡± Marcus and Sienna were delighted by the news, while Lori was shocked and dismayed. She stared at Gwendolyn¡¯s belly with a look of jealous resentment. Meanwhile, Kieran was impassive, for he had already known several days prior. Treyton, on the other hand, nervously gulped some soup and nced at his eldest brother. He, too, had been informed by Gwendolyn ahead of time via a text message. Out of all of the different reactions, however, Asher¡¯s was the biggest. His fork fell to the table with a tter, his severe gaze filled with shock and rage. A sudden, deafening bang sounded. Gwendolyn, who was already feeling guilty, shuddered at the noise and buried her face in her hands. Cedrick pulled her into his arms andforted her. ¡°Are you really pregnant?¡± Asher gnashed his teeth and fixed his re on Gwendolyn in Cedrick¡¯s arms. ¡°What did you promise me, Gwendolyn? Is this your answer to my question?¡± Marcus cleared his throat. His stentorian voice drew the spotlight back to him. N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°This is a joyous asion indeed. I will have a grandchild in my arms in a matter of months! Well done, Honey! Asher, on the other hand, can¡¯t even get Sienna pregnant after all this time. You are the one who deserves to be told off!¡± Sienna flushed crimson and hung her head in embarrassment. Asher did not say much else as he could not confront Gwendolyn in front of their father. After subduing his eldest son, Marcus turned to regard Kieran and Treyton. ¡°And you two. Still no wives! When can hold my grandchildren? You two aren¡¯t even trying.¡± The brothers hung their heads and continued eating in silence. Kieran had never nned to have a rtionship. Cool and impassive, he did not let the admonishment bother him. Meanwhile, Treyton had fought with Marcus over the matter of getting engaged to Eloise so hard that he still could not reason any matter with his father. Moreover, the party celebrating the Newton family reuniting with Jennifer would only be hadter that year. He decided to wait until the Newton family announced Jennifer¡¯s identity before finding a way to appeal to Marcus for help in setting the engagement. All of them seated at the table were preupied with their own problems. In the ensuing silence, Cedrick turned to Marcus and continued, ¡°I¡¯m thinking of getting registered with Gwenny after New Year¡¯s Day and bringing the wedding forward. The pregnancy, on the other hand, will be announced after the wedding.¡± ¡°Um¡­ It¡¯s indeed time to think about your wedding, but would it be too rushed to bring your wedding forward to sometime after New Year¡¯s?¡± Cedrick gave Gwendolyn¡¯s hand a squeeze under the table. Though his scorching gaze was fixed on her, he was addressing Marcus with his words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Marcus. I will concentrate all of my efforts on the wedding in the meantime, and not just because of the pregnancy. Instead, as we have rushed into the decision to get married, I will give Gwenny the best wedding I can.¡± Marcus smiled proudly. ¡°In that case, then¡ª¡± ¡°I object,¡± a severe voice interrupted before he could finish. Chapter 374 Chapter 374 Everyone directed their gazes at Asher, who had voiced his opposition to the marriage. He uttered solemnly, ¡°Cedrick, don¡¯t think we will marry her off easily just because you got her pregnant. Even if she never gets married and gives birth to these two children, the Harris family will support them for a lifetime.¡± Marcus¡¯ face darkened as he shouted, ¡°Enough!¡± ¡°Dad, although you are the ultimate decision-maker, I have to remind you that ever since Mom passed away, I have been the one rearing Kiddo like a mother. Regarding her marriage, I hope you can discuss it with me.¡± In that aspect, only Asher was capable of controlling Gwendolyn. Marcus did not agree with him, but he did not directly refuse either. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. After dinner, you can all have a proper discussion,¡± was all he said in the end. ¡°All right,¡± Asher replied. The sound of cutleries nking against each other resumed as they began eating New Year¡¯s Eve dinner in silence. After the meal, Lori took Marcus upstairs to watch the countdown celebration, leaving Asher, Sienna, Kieran, Treyton, Cedrick, and Gwendolyn in the living room. Gwendolyn knew Asher was still angry, so she dared not sit down and stood obediently on the side. Cedrick also did not take a seat, standing with her. Asher sat in the middle of the couch, maintaining an upright posture. A terrifying aura enveloped him. Sienna sat beside him while Treyton and Kieran sat on separate couches on either side. There was a chilling atmosphere in the air, reminiscent of a trial in a courtroom. Gwendolyn anxiously lowered her head, feeling suffocated under the tension. Cedrick clutched her sweaty palm to give her a sense of security while urging her to rx. A few more minutes passed, and Asher began to speak sinisterly. ¡°Gwendolyn, well done! You have decided to give me a huge surprise during the holidays. Do you want me to break your arm or leg? Choose one for yourself.¡± rmed by the threat, Gwendolyn felt her heart skip a beat. Before she could speak, however, Treyton stood up for her. ¡°Asher, we must be careful with her for the first few months. No hitting is allowed. Plus, she¡¯s carrying twins!¡± Kieran chimed in, ¡°Cedrick should take full responsibility. Break his legs first before anything else.¡± Sienna nodded in agreement. Asher red at Cedrick in annoyance but did not immediately pass judgment on him. Instead, he looked at Gwendolyn again. ¡°Let¡¯s continue to settle the scores. You acted without permission, yed tricks, and deliberately chose to bring this up on New Year¡¯s Eve. You thought I wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything to you when Dad is present, didn¡¯t you?¡± he said. Gwendolyn bit her lip and lowered her head even further. Just then, Treyton interrupted once again, disrupting the solemn atmosphere. ¡°Asher, she¡¯s carrying twins!¡± Annoyed by his disruption, Asher gave him a fierce re and retorted, ¡°I know! If you interrupt again, I¡¯ll deal with you first!¡± Treyton immediately shut his mouth and stayed silent. Asher scrutinized his two younger brothers, and realization dawned on him. ¡°The two of you didn¡¯t show much of a reaction at the dining table earlier, so you already knew about it beforehand, it seems? To think I was the only one kept in the dark. Gwendolyn, how do you want to settle this?¡± Despite being silent, Treyton, who was seated on the adjacent couch, extended two fingers and gestured them at Asher. It was a silent reminder that their sister was pregnant with twins. His triumphant yet provocative gesture sessfully ignited another wave of fury in Asher. However, his anger was directed at Treyton. Before Treyton could put down his hand, Asher fiercely kicked him and yelled, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve been hit. Is that why you¡¯re itching for a beating, huh?¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± Treyton let out a soft hiss, painfully rubbing his knee that was kicked. Beads of cold sweat even started to form on his forehead. He turned to Gwendolyn and said, ¡°Kiddo, I endured the first wave of Marcus¡¯ anger for you. I have already tried my best to help you!¡± Gwendolyn gazed at him gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Treyton, for helping me! But please don¡¯t say anything anymore. I¡¯m afraid Asher will beat you to a pulp first!¡± With that, Treytonpsed into silence. A shiver ran down his spine as he discreetly receded into the background. Sienna chuckled and joined in to persuade Asher. ¡°Hubby, since this has already happened, what¡¯s the point of holding Gwen ountable now? You¡¯re just concerned about Cedrick and still harbor some resentment toward him. How about youe up with a way to teach him a proper lesson instead? What do you think?¡± Gwendolyn could not help but panic. Why does Sienna have the same thought as Kieran? They both want to teach Cedrick a lesson¡­ I thought convincing Kieran to let Cedrick off would be the only challenge, but as it stands, I have to convince all three of them. Considering how wicked my brothers can be, Cedrick is definitely going to be tortured horribly by them! While her mind was riddled with anxious thoughts, Cedrick stepped forward and dered calmly, ¡°I¡¯m willing to ept any punishment from the three of you, including the punishment meant for Gwenny. I¡¯ll take them all.¡± ¡°No, Ceddy!¡± Thebined punishment from the three of them is much more terrifying than you can imagine! Asher raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly. ¡°All right, you agreed to this. If you can pass the test, I¡¯ll agree to your marriage with Gwendolyn after the New Year.¡± Cedrick quirked the corners of his lips into a smile as he met Asher¡¯s gaze. ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was feeling exasperated. So now I have no say in the matter? Couldn¡¯t they at least consider the opinion of a pregnant woman? The gazes of the four men in the living room wereden with an air of threat and hostility. Asher smirked and said, ¡°Today is New Year¡¯s Eve. It¡¯s a festive asion, so let¡¯s do it today! If you can walk back to the Jenson residence tonight without assistance, then you¡¯ve passed the test! A slight smile remained stered on Cedrick¡¯sposed countenance. ¡°Sure.¡± However, Gwendolyn was seized by fear because of her oldest brother¡¯s words. ¡°Asher, you are deliberately trying to intimidate him, right? Please take it easy! Don¡¯t push him too hard and risk destroying him. The happiness of my future lies in your hands!¡± Unfortunately, Asher remained silent. His expression was solemn, indicating that he was not joking. That time around, Kieran, usually the quietest of them all, spoke up. ¡°Since it¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve, we can¡¯t neglect the tradition of toasting. Let¡¯s begin by raising three sses.¡± Cedrick¡¯s back stiffened slightly as a vague sense of foreboding arose within him. Following Kieran, Treyton hurried to the kitchen to prepare the ¡°toasts¡± for Cedrick. As he limped past his future brother-inw, he patted his broad shoulder meaningfully. After they disappeared from view, Asher¡¯s previously stern countenance softened, and he motioned toward the couch nearby with his gaze. ¡°Take a seat. Tonight, your chances of resting will be few and far between, so seize this opportunity.¡± Confronted with the unknown challenges that awaited him, Cedrick harbored little confidence and obediently took a seat. Sienna stood up and pulled Gwendolyn to sit beside her so that she could whisper words offort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; your brothers will know the limits. Since Cedrick is determined to marry you, he must endure this trial and understand the strength and ruthlessness of your family! In this way, he won¡¯t dare to mistreat you in the future!¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn was speechless. Although she knew her brothers had good intentions, she still felt sorry for Cedrick. Soon, silence descended upon the entire living room. Suddenly, one of the bodyguards entered and said, ¡°Mr. Asher, there¡¯s a young woman outside, and she has been lingering near the entrance for a while. I¡¯m not sure if she¡¯s a guest.¡± ¡°A young woman? What does she look like?¡± Gwendolyn was the first to react. ¡°She¡¯s very beautiful, well-dressed, almost like a celebrity,¡± the bodyguard described. Gwendolyn could guess the woman¡¯s identity. Hence, she said, ¡°It should be Jennifer. Treyton probably invited her over.¡± She nced in the direction of the kitchen and saw that Treyton was still busy preparing the drinks. ¡°Never mind. I¡¯ll bring her in.¡± Asher showed no objection. When Cedrick asked Gwendolyn to stay safe, she looked at him worriedly before heading outside to receive Jennifer. As she reached the entrance, from afar, she saw the young woman peering at the vi. However, when Gwendolyn recognized thetter¡¯s features, her eyes widened in disbelief. She had to confirm multiple times before approaching and questioning her, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Chapter 375 Chapter 375 When the young woman heard Gwendolyn¡¯s voice, she turned to look at her with a gentle smile on her breathtakingly beautiful face. ¡°It has been a while since west met, Ms. Harris. It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve today. Are you and Mr. Jenson doing well?¡± she said. ¡°Of course. Ms. Evelyn, don¡¯t you have anywhere to go during the holidays? Why are you not celebrating the asion with your family? Who allowed you toe up to Mount Tranquil?¡± Gwendolyn replied. ¡°The guard at the foot of the mountain allowed me toe up. Please don¡¯t misunderstand my intentions, Ms. Harris. My endorsement contract with Jenson Group¡¯s Rossi Project ising to an end, and I heard Mr. Jenson is here, so I came here in person to discuss the possibility of extending my contract with him.¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes in disbelief. ¡°Ms. Evelyn, as a highly acimed actress who has received the Best Actress award several years in a row, you¡¯re undoubtedly an A-lister. Why do you find it necessary to engage in business negotiations personally? Are your manager andpany useless?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t easy to sign an endorsement contract with Jenson Group, after all. I¡¯m afraid my manager and team cannot manage it. I don¡¯t want to miss out on such a money-making opportunity, so naturally, I have to make the trip personally.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn stared at her, refusing to buy her exnation. If she came all the way to the Harris residence on Mount Tranquil just to talk to Cedrick, that means she¡¯s quite well-informed, huh? Evelyn¡¯s eyes crinkled in a smile. Her gaze revealed a depth beyond her tender age of barely twenty, even though she was the same age as Summer. Casting a sidelong nce at the vi, she asked, ¡°Ms. Harris, you must be having a lively gathering with your family today. Do you mind inviting me inside?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a family gathering, so I do mind.¡± Gwendolyn rejected her firmly, doing away with formalities. ¡°All right. It seems that you hold a deep grudge against me, Ms. Harris.¡± Evelyn did not seem flustered by her outright rejection, as she was still all smiles. Refusing to entertain her further, Gwendolyn said directly, ¡°It¡¯s getting dark; I¡¯ll ask a bodyguard to escort you to the foot of the mountain. Cedrick is busy, so I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be discussing the contract with you anytime soon. Goodbye.¡± Inside the vi, Asher was worried about Gwendolyn being outside for a long time. He came out in search of her, but his eyes narrowed when he spotted Evelyn. ¡°Why are you here?¡± he asked. Hearing Asher¡¯s question, Gwendolyn looked over her shoulder and cast him a look of bewilderment. ¡°Do you know her?¡± Evelyn did not respond, and Asher remainedposed. ¡°No, but I saw her face a few times on the television. Kiddo, you can¡¯t stay in the cold for too long. Come on, let¡¯s head in,¡± he urged. Asher hade out with a fur-lined cape, which he draped over Gwendolyn before carefully wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He thenmanded a bodyguard stationed at the gate, ¡°Escort this youngdy to the foot of the mountain.¡± With that, he led Gwendolyn back into the vi without sparing another look at Evelyn. Instead of leaving immediately, Evelyn stood before the gate for a long time. For the duration, she stared at Asher¡¯s and Gwendolyn¡¯s retreating figures in silence. The cold wind tousled her hair, obscuring her icy gaze. Only after their figures hadpletely disappeared from her line of sight did she finally spin on her heels, allowing the bodyguard to escort her down the mountain. On the way back to the vi, Gwendolyn kept an eye on Asher¡¯s expression. She discovered he looked grim after meeting Evelyn, but she could not tell what was on his mind. Tentatively, she asked, ¡°Asher, you don¡¯t seem to like Ms. Evelyn very much, huh?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know her well, so I can¡¯tment on that,¡± Asher responded expressionlessly. ¡°Rather than being concerned about that, why don¡¯t you focus on Cedrick and his well-being?¡± Gwendolyn had to admit that Evelyn was not as important as Cedrick. She stopped pondering over the matter and hurried into the living room of the vi. Kieran and Asher had already ced the alcohol they had meticulously prepared on the coffee table. There were three shot sses in front of Cedrick, all of which were filled to the brim. Gwendolyn hurried forward to observe the liquid in the shot sses. It was transparent and seemed to be of excellent quality. However, she was familiar enough with her brothers to know that Kieran would not just ask Cedrick to consume three shots of liquor. ¡°Kieran, can I drink this? They look nice. Why don¡¯t I try one for Cedrick?¡± she asked, looking at Kieran. ¡°No!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± Everyone yelled out and got to their feet in agitation, trying to stop her in haste. Before Gwendolyn could touch the shot ss, Sienna took her arm and led her to the couch. ¡°Gwen, I understand your concern for him, but you can¡¯t meddle in this. Trust me; your brothers won¡¯t go to extremes. He impregnated you identally, and he did it before marrying you! Whatever happenster, he brought it upon himself.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°It will be fine. Trust me.¡± Sienna patted Gwendolyn¡¯s hands,forting her nonstop. Cedrick stood silently before the coffee table as he made eye contact with Gwendolyn, signaling to her to rx. Bending down, he picked up the shot ss in the middle, which represented Asher, and raised it in a toast to him. ¡°Mr. Asher, this is thest time I address you this way. I hope you¡¯ll be my brother-inw the next time we meet!¡± Asher arched a brow and fixed him with a hawk-like sharp stare. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Cedrick nced at the alcohol in the shot ss, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. Without hesitation, he downed the contents of the shot ss in one go. The fiery alcohol scorched his mouth, making it difficult for him to swallow. Cedrick fought to keep aposed expression as the scorching alcohol seared his throat, its fiery path piercing his stomach. He felt as if a cascade of needles was attacking his organs. Did he add wasabi to the liquor? A pucker formed between his brows as his cheeks turned pink. In the end, he clenched his fist and brought it to his mouth, coughing softly several times. Asher¡¯s lips curled into a smirk when he realized Cedrick was doing a good jobposing his features. ¡°How does it taste?¡± After recovering from the burning liquor, Cedrick chuckled softly. ¡°Nice one. The alcohol you prepared for me is indeed unique!¡± Asher said nothing. I wonder how long he can endure this. The toasting session continued. Tamping down the fiery sensation in his chest, Cedrick picked up the shot ss on the right with trembling fingers and raised it in Kieran¡¯s direction. ¡°Thank you for doing your utmost in treating my eyes, Mr. Kieran. Here¡¯s to you!¡± That time around, he nced at the shot ss but did not down it immediately. Asher¡¯s alcohol was spicy. I wonder what Kieran¡¯s alcohol would taste like. Sensing his hesitation, Kieran gazed at him wordlessly. Treyton was the only one among the Harris brothers who had epted Cedrick. Softly, he informed Cedrick, ¡°The taste might be horrible, but it¡¯s good for your health.¡± Kieran cared for Gwendolyn and thus would not torture Cedrick badly. In fact, all three shot sses were medicinal alcohol with a little something sprinkled in them. Hearing Treyton¡¯s assurance, Cedrick gulped down the second ss of alcohol. It was extremely bitter, a hundred times more bitter than when Kieran pranked him back then. The alcohol was not only bitter but also sour and tart. The moment Cedrick drank it, his stomach heaved uncontrobly. Determined not to cause Gwendolyn any concern, he forced himself to swallow the bitter liquor and suppressed his difort. His face grew pale, and his facial muscles tightened as a result. Gwendolyn felt her heart clenched in anxiety. ¡°Forget it. Stop drinking!¡± Right then, Treyton spoke up. ¡°He can¡¯t stop now. If he doesn¡¯t finish thisst shot, the pain he endured from the previous two shots will be in vain.¡± Gwendolyn locked eyes with him and caught the silent message conveyed through his gaze. She gradually loosened her clenched fists, a sign of her decision to trust him. Chapter 376 Chapter 376 Cedrick took a break before he picked up thest shot. Turning to Treyton, he said, ¡°Mr. Treyton, I beat you up even though you took care of me previously. I¡¯d like to offer an apology with this toast!¡± Treyton nodded calmly, projecting an air of magnanimity as if he were graciously forgiving Cedrick. Cedrick finished thest shot swiftly. To his surprise, it tasted sweet. He savored the shot without any difort. It¡¯s mellow to the taste. This is a light fruit wine. Cedrick¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he nced at Treyton. It seemed that he hadprehended the Harris brothers¡¯ unspoken message. After the couple made it through the pain, suffering, struggles, and confusion, their future together would be filled with happiness and satisfaction. The shots also contained a subtle warning, reminding Cedrick that mistreating Gwendolyn would not be tolerated, and the Harris brothers were prepared to subject him to such torment once more if necessary. Cedrick would have to shower his affections on Gwendolyn if he wanted to lead a peaceful life. Havingprehended the underlying message within seconds, Cedrick gave the three men a grateful look. ¡°I know how much you all care for Gwenny. I, Cedrick Jenson, promise that I will never let you down. Gwenny will be the only apple of my eye in this lifetime!¡± His gaze shone with sincerity and determination as he gave them his word. Asher gave a nod of reluctant approval, apanied by a disdainful snort. ¡°Remember your promise. If you go against your word and forsake Kiddo once more, I¡¯ll definitely end your life!¡± He was acknowledging Cedrick, which meant that thetter had passed his test. Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief and turned her attention to Kieran, who remained silent until then. Kieran made no attempt to voice his stance. Evidently, he was not entirely satisfied. ¡°Kieran, won¡¯t you say something?¡± Gwendolyn urged, giving him a look. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Cedrick passed Asher¡¯s test. Shouldn¡¯t you do the same? Kieran ignored her cues, maintaining an indifferent expression on his face. He got to his feet and straightened his shirt. ¡°Since you¡¯ve finished the alcohol, pleasee with me, Mr. Jenson.¡± Without hesitation, Cedrick followed him upstairs. Asher and Treyton also tagged along after them. Gwendolyn was rendered speechless by Kieran¡¯s ruthlessness. Kieran is subjecting Cedrick to many obstacles before he acknowledges him, huh? She rose to her feet hastily and was about to join them upstairs when Sienna grabbed her arm. ¡°Calm down, Gwen. Stay here with me, and let the men take care of the matter between themselves.¡± Gwendolyn panicked instantly. ¡°Are they nning to beat him up? That won¡¯t do! They are skilled at fighting and can pack a punch. What if they hurt Ceddy¡­ No, I must follow them upstairs to take a look!¡± ¡°Listen to me, Gwen. Even if they rough him up a bit, they won¡¯t cause any serious harm. I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t want the father of their sister¡¯s children to be permanently disabled! Calm down and stay seated. Everything will be fine,¡± Sienna reassured her in a gentle voice. Despite that, Gwendolyn was still worried. If her brothers were to beat Cedrick up, she would be upset and distressed. Cedrick has been so obedient recently, and even I can¡¯t bring myself to hit him. How could my brothers beat him up? Her palms became sweaty as she tapped her feet anxiously, waiting for the four men toe downstairs. Meanwhile, Kieran led Cedrick to his childhood bedroom in the vi. The bedroom he once slept in as a child had undergone a transformation. As of then, it was filled with medical equipment and surgical tools neatly arranged on trays. The walls were adorned with posters depicting various human organs. Anyone who came in would feel a chill run down their spine. Even Cedrick, who had seen a lot, could not help but gulp nervously when he stepped into the room. His mind raced with unsettling thoughts. Does Kieran intend to dissect me without anesthesia, then put my organs back into my body so that I can experience the fear of a near-death experience? He was still deep in thought when Kieran finally broke the silence by saying, ¡°It was your mistake that led to Kiddo¡¯s unnned pregnancy, yet she has to endure the pain of childbirth alone. As a punishment for your carelessness, I have decided that tonight you will experiencebor pain to the full.¡± Following that, Treyton stepped forward and pulled the white cloth off a chair. Beside the chair was abor pain machine that Kieran had a hospital in the city deliver at thest minute. ¡°If you refuse to go through with it or request to halt the experience midway, it¡¯s fine. I respect your decision,¡± Kieran added with a mocking glint in his icy eyes. Cedrick met his gaze. There were no signs of fear in his obsidian orbs. ¡°I¡¯m willing to experience it. I won¡¯t call it quits midway.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better think this through. This is just one part of the surprise I¡¯ve prepared for you,¡± Kieran warned. Cedrick nodded without hesitation, his gaze firm. ¡°No problem. Hit me with everything you¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°All right. I hope you can continue to be this strong-willedter. Please have a seat,¡± Kieran instructed, his eyes glinting with amusement. Cedrick went over and took a seat, and Kieran hooked him up to thebor pain machine. ¡°The pain from level one is equivalent to being pickled by needles on the back of your hand or bug bites. The pain from level four is akin to a hammer striking your leg. Since you have a military background, Mr. Jenson, those levels should be rtively manageable for you. Therefore, we¡¯ll begin with level five directly.¡± Without giving Cedrick any chance to respond, Kieran immediately pressed the button on the machine to activate it. Pain shot through Cedrick¡¯s body without warning. Instantly, he furrowed his brow and tightly gripped the handles, silently enduring the difort. Seeing that he had gradually gotten used to the pain, Kieran increased the intensity. At level seven, the incessant pain slowly spread through Cedrick¡¯s limbs. Every inch of his body was in agony. The veins in his arms bulged as his fingers trembled. Hisplexion grew pale, and beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead. Cedrick clenched his jaw, still not emitting any sounds. Right then, Treyton pushed a table toward Cedrick in ordance with Kieran¡¯s order. Asher had ced a pen, a notebook, and a printed A4 paper on the table. While enduring the pain, Cedrick raised his head to give Kieran a baffled look. Kieran exined, ¡°This is the widely known Precepts for Men that has gained poprity online. I¡¯ve heard of your impable penmanship, so I would like you to copy the contents into the notebook.¡± Cedrick nced at the words on the paper. Your wife should be your top priority. Take care of household chores such asundry, cooking, and cleaning. Ensure that your wife doesn¡¯t have to deal with any dust¡­ Be attentive to her mood. Never raise your voice at her or insult her. There were around fifty rules, so copying everything would take some time. As he seemed dazed, Kieran kindly reminded him. ¡°Mr. Jenson, you can choose to give up if you can¡¯t do it.¡± Cedrick swiftly picked up the pen, indicating that he had epted the challenge. When he held the pen, his fingers were still trembling uncontrobly. Kieran exined, ¡°Women usually endure three hours or more of pain duringbor. Including the earlier prelude, you will have to endure one and a half hours of pain in total while copying Precepts for Men. If you have any objections, you are wee to raise them.¡± Cedrick steadied his breathing and only managed to muster the strength to speak after several long moments. ¡°I only have to experiencebor pain for one and a half hours, but in the future, Gwenny will have to endure twice as much pain as I did. I have no objections; I will copy Precepts for Men.¡± Chapter 377 Chapter 377 His words, however, made the other three men in the room look at him with a new level of respect. Having such resolve is quite admirable. He¡¯s indeed a rare good man. At that moment, Cedrick¡¯s mind was only filled with two thoughts, which were to endure the pain and finish copying Precepts for Men. He didn¡¯t have the time to spare to notice the other three men¡¯s facial expressions. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. He took a deep breath, trying his best to get himself ustomed to the prolonged agony. However, when he started writing, every alphabet was untidy, like little tadpoles wagging their tails. The room was eerily quiet. Only the sound of Cedrick¡¯sbored breathing could be heard. Looking at his trembling hands, Kieran saw Cedrick had finished copying the first line. He reckoned the latter had adapted to the level seven pain, so he abruptly increased the stimulus to level eight. The pain in his abdomen intensified without warning, quickly spreading throughout his body. Cedrick shuddered, shaking more violently now, causing the word he was writing to be crooked. His quivering right hand could barely hold the pen. He looked up at Kieran, who sat beside thebor pain machine. When Kieran met Cedrick¡¯s gaze, mockery filled his eyes again. ¡°Can¡¯t take it anymore, Mr. Jenson? You can still quit now if you want.¡± Asher and Treyton sat quietly at one side. Their eyes darkened in unison. Anyone can boast as they like, but not everyone can endure the real torment and anguish. While the brothers were feeling disappointed, Cedrick shook his head and forced the words through his clenched teeth. ¡°I-I just wanted to ask if you have any requirements for the handwriting. M-My handwriting doesn¡¯t look very good. I-If it¡¯s not up to par, I-I can rewrite.¡± Kieran was slightly taken aback as he stared at Cedrick for some time. Evidently, he didn¡¯t expect the latter to be trying to ask about that. ¡°No requirements. We only need you to finish copying the precepts.¡± It would be an almost impossible task for him to maintain clear and neat handwriting while having to bear with such agony. Although Kieran was determined to put Cedrick to the test, he wasn¡¯t inhumane. Hearing that, Cedrick sighed in relief, bit his lower lip, and continued writing. His body was drenched in a cold sweat. Sweat gathered on the tip of his nose, dripped onto the paper, and smudged a few words. Time ticked by as Treyton observed quietly from the side. He noticed Cedrick¡¯s hand that was holding a pen was shaking with increasing intensity, making it very difficult for thetter to write. Feeling sorry for Cedrick, Treyton gazed at Kieran, wanting to help Cedrick plead for mercy. ¡°Kieran¡­¡± Kieran furrowed his brows and ignored his brother. When he spoke, his words were directed at Cedrick. ¡°When the pain reaches level ten, you¡¯ll suffer torment equivalent to having twenty ribs broken simultaneously. I¡¯m going to start increasing the pain now.¡± This time, he didn¡¯t augment the pain level without warning like before. Instead, he gave Cedrick a heads-up to allow him to prepare himself mentally. When raising the pain level, Kieran also did so very gradually, providing Cedrick with some buffering period. Nheless, when the pain peaked, the anguish felt no different from heart-wrenching pain. Cedrick scrunched up his facial features, and even his eyebrows trembled badly. The pain coursing through his entire body caused him to let out a muffled grunt. His consciousness faded a little, and he could no longer concentrate on his writing. Cedrick also couldn¡¯t grip the pen in his hand any longer. Meanwhile, in the living room downstairs, Gwendolyn grew impatient and restless from the wait. ¡°Why aren¡¯t theying down yet? Has Ceddy been knocked out?¡± Siennaforted her, ¡°That won¡¯t happen. Besides, Kieran is there. You can rest assured. After today, he¡¯ll be able to marry you with peace of mind. You should have faith in Cedrick and also trust your brothers.¡± Gwendolyn could only sigh in resignation. Sienna hurriedly chatted with her about daily life in an attempt to distract thetter. The sky outside gradually turned dark, and snow began to fall in the garden. Gwendolyn nced at the time. It¡¯s been almost two hours since they went upstairs, yet Cedrick hasn¡¯t come out yet. Something¡¯s wrong! Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. Disregarding Sienna¡¯s impediment, she dashed upstairs and arrived at the door to Kieran¡¯s room. Just as she was about to knock on the door, the sound of the door handle turning came from inside, and the door swung open. Asher was the first to exit the room. His broad figure blocked the view inside the room. After he came out, he closed the door behind him. Gwendolyn tried to peek inside but couldn¡¯t see a thing, so she had to ask him, ¡°Asher, what on earth are you guys doing in there? Did you hit Ceddy?¡± ¡°No,¡± Asher replied indifferently. Gwendolyn was confused. ¡°Did he pass the test or not?¡± ¡°Have Cedrick meet me at my vi tomorrow to discuss your wedding date after Christmas.¡± After saying that calmly, he patted her head and headed downstairs. Gwendolyn was momentarily dazed before slowly regaining her senses. Cedrick passed the test! Eyes filled with surprise, she shouted at Asher¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Thank you, Asher!¡± Before she could enter the room to meet with Cedrick, Kieran came out. He wore his usual cold and emotionless expression, closing the door behind him too. ¡°Kieran, Asher just agreed to set the wedding date, so don¡¯t tell me Ceddy couldn¡¯t win your approval?¡± Kieran didn¡¯t borate. He merely handed her a book. ¡°Take a look at this. What do you think of the handwriting?¡± Gwendolyn browsed through the content in bafflement. She knitted her delicate brows at the sight of the copy of the Precepts for Men in messy handwriting. ¡°This handwriting is so ugly. Did you guys make Cedrick write this?¡± Most words on the paper were overly nted, and many others were blurred. She found the jumble of ck words upsetting to look at. Kieran chimed in, ¡°I think it¡¯s ugly too.¡± He pinched Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°Consider this the family rules for Cedrick to abide by after you get married.¡± Then, he turned around and left, emitting an extraordinarily aloof vibe. She thought. Kieran mentioned, ¡°after I get married.¡± It seems like Ceddy passed the test. Still¡­ Instantly, Gwendolyn sensed something was amiss. She looked at the writing on the book again before staring at Kieran¡¯s back and grumbled, ¡°You three are really mean! What did you do to him that made his beautiful handwriting turn out like this?¡± Earlier, when Asher settled the score with me downstairs, he said to choose between breaking a hand or a leg. Don¡¯t tell me they really break Ceddy¡¯s hand. She grew more concerned for Cedrick¡¯s condition. Immediately afterward, Treyton came out too. He patted Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulder with a gratified expression and spoke tersely in his deep voice. ¡°Not bad!¡± With that, he swiftly left. Gwendolyn was puzzled to see Treyton¡¯s brisk strides. She hastily pushed the door open. ¡°Gwenny.¡± Cedrick ced his pale hand on the door frame to support himself. Shifting her eyes upward from his arms, she immediately met his affectionate yet extremely tired- looking dark eyes. Gwendolyn clearly sensed his fragile state, so she hurriedly stepped forward to support him, then turned his palms over to check his injuries. However, she realized his palms were perfectly fine, without any traces of swelling or bruises. ¡°Huh? My brothers didn¡¯t hit your hands? Then why was your handwriting such a mess? How did they torture you?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t torture me.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t exin too much. He merely leaned his pale head on her shouldernguidly, uttering in a coy voice, ¡°Gwenny, I want to return to Harrick Vi to get some sleep while hugging your slim waist.¡± Chapter 378 Chapter 378 ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s head back.¡± Gwendolyn did not ask any questions and intended to talk after getting back. She supported Cedrick¡¯s arm and helped him limp away from Mount Tranquil. Gwendolyn instantly undressed him once they were back at Harrick Vi. Gwendolyn did not see it at first, but she noticed that Cedrick had changed into a new suit in Kieran¡¯s old room after she took off his clothes. Cedrick¡¯s suit was a style that Kieran liked, and it was also brand-new. Moreover, he smelled nice. Did he take a bath in Kieran¡¯s bathroom? Gwendolyn¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she became more confused about what her brothers had done to Cedrick. ¡°Where did he hit you? Why do you not have any bruises? Kieran wouldn¡¯t have performed acupuncture on you or poisoned you, would he? Cedrick was utterly worn out and in a miserable state. He let her have her way, as he was too helpless to stop her. After experiencing the excruciatingbor pain for an hour and a half, Cedrick used everyst bit of his strength to copy the book, Precepts for Men, while enduring the pain. He finally understood why it was necessary for women to rest in bed for a month after giving birth. It was simply too painful. However, Cedrick had to walk home out of his pride as a man. Gwendolyn examined his whole body but could not find any injuries. Yet, Cedrick appeared worn out and weak. Already worried sick, Gwendolyn gently tapped on his cheek to jolt him awake. ¡°Don¡¯t go to sleep yet, Ceddy. What exactly happened?¡± she asked. The corners of Cedrick¡¯s mouth twitched faintly, and he sped her hand. He muttered, ¡°He just¡­ let me experiencebor pain beforehand.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face fell. ¡°Kieran got you to endure thebor pain and also write Precepts for Men?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Gwendolyn fell silent. This savage method was exactly what Kieran would do. However, she released a sigh of relief knowing what had happened. Gwendolyn had actually nned to make Cedrick feelbor pain before giving birth, even if her brothers did not do this. After all, she had never been pregnant before. Being inexperienced, Gwendolyn felt somewhat uneasy as she was afraid of the pain. ¡°How are you feeling, Ceddy?¡± she inquired. ¡°It¡¯s painful. Thank you for all that you¡¯ve done.¡± Cedrick snuggled into her arms and ced his head on herp while avoiding her tummy. Gwendolyn was momentarily at a loss for words. Feeling a little nervous, Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers brushed past his cheek. ¡°What should I do, then? I¡¯ll probably pass out halfway through giving birth if even you¡¯re in such pain.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyelids were heavy. However, he did not know much since he was not a doctor. Cedrick could only force himself to stay awake and reassured, ¡°I¡¯ll be there for you. I can go throughbor pain again and endure it beside you on the day of delivery.¡± Okay. I feel much more at ease with him enduring the pain alongside me. ¡°Ceddy, you¡¯re the best!¡± Gwendolyn leaned over and nted a kiss on his forehead. She then helped him change into his pajamas. Just when she was about to wrap her arms around Cedrick and go to sleep, the phone on the bedside table rang. It was Ezra. ¡°Ms. Shalders, the delivery person just came and delivered a parcel from abroad. I¡¯ve brought it in and ced it on the coffee table in the living room.¡± ¡°A parcel from abroad thiste at night?¡± Gwendolyn turned it over in her mind for a moment, and she was sure had not bought anything online recently. Ezra answered, ¡°Yes. It was expedited and shipped by air from Tayhaven. The sender is Mr. Charles Newton.¡± ¡°All right. Got it.¡± Gwendolyn quickly ended the call. Charles sent something over unexpectedly. Is it something important? I wonder how he¡¯s doing over there in Tayhaven. As her thoughts raced, Gwendolyn cautiously turned her head to look at Cedrick. Cedrick was resting his head on her arm and looking at her with a somewhat resentful expression. ¡°Gwenny, do you want to go downstairs and see the gift Charles sent you?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Can I?¡± she asked in return. Cedrick¡¯s face fellpletely. He got out of Gwendolyn¡¯s arms and turned away from her. He muttered with a tinge of jealousy in his tone, ¡°It¡¯s not for me anyway. Go ahead and take a look if you want to.¡± Gwendolyn was at a loss for words, and she poked his back with her finger probingly. ¡°Are you upset?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m just feeling despondent. You don¡¯t have time to console your soon-to-be husband because you¡¯re too busy reminiscing about your old friend.¡± Hearing this, Gwendolyn clicked her tongue twice. ¡°Ceddy, you are reeking of jealousy. You must be jealous.¡± Without saying anything, Cedrick lightly furrowed his brows. He closed his eyes, fuming alone. ¡°Be good, and stop being jealous. How can a delivery be as important as you? I¡¯ll open it tomorrow. Besides, Cedoggy, you¡¯ve had a hard day today. Of course, I would soothe you to sleep.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s voice was sweet and gentle, as she patted Cedrick¡¯s shoulder gently tofort him. Cedrick felt much better after being soothed. He turned over in satisfaction and rested in her embrace. Just then, Cedrick suddenly realized something was off in her words. ¡°Wait. Did you call me Cedoggy?¡± He received a quick peck from Gwendolyn. ¡°No. I didn¡¯t enunciate it well. You heard wrong. I said Ceddy.¡± That¡¯s more like it. Cedrick embraced her tightly once more, and he rapidly drifted off to sleep. That night, both of them had a good night¡¯s sleep. The next morning, Gwendolyn went downstairs to open the parcel. It contained local specialties from Tayhaven that Charles sent for her to try because it was the New Year. Charles had carefully chosen the products, and they were healthy organic snacks suited and good for pregnant women. The parcel also contained a letter. Gwendolyn opened it and read it carefully. Cedrick slowly descended the stairs while holding the railing. He could see Gwendolyn attentively reading the letter from a distance. ¡°What did he say?¡± he asked rather awkwardly. ¡°Charles said that Tayhaven isgging behind culturally, so therefore he became a teacher in a mountainous region. He¡¯s leading a fulfilling and contented life there. Charles mentioned that he might not be able toe back to celebrate when our baby is born in the future, but he will definitely send a gift.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s all.¡± Cedrick was not convinced. ¡°Didn¡¯t he say anything cheesy like he misses you or he dreamt about you?¡± Gwendolyn ced the letter away and exined calmly, ¡°No. He knows not to cross the line.¡± Cedrick reluctantly took her words for it, and he did not press any further. He then went to the kitchen to make breakfast for Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn took advantage of this window of opportunity to write a reply. She informed Charles about her uing wedding. She also casually tucked two packets of homemade barbeque seasoning as a New Year gift and asked Ezra to send it back using the mailing address.¡± After breakfast, the two of them went to Asher¡¯s vi to set the wedding date. It was scheduled to take ce a month from now. Cedrick took the initiative to n the wedding. He even set aside his work to focus on the preparations to give Gwendolyn the best wedding. Hence, Gwendolyn did not handle any of the wedding preparations. After New Year, she just focused on her work and took care of herself. She was in great health besides the morning sickness and required longer sleep hours. Soon, spring arrived, and Gwendolyn hastily her finished breakfast. As she responded to her messages, she walked to the entrance to put on her shoes. Cedrick hugged her from behind and sheepishly ced his chin on her shoulder. He looked rather unhappy. ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯ve been busy all day long.¡± He felt like a wife waiting for her husband toe home because Gwendolyn had not been spending enough time with him. Chapter 379 Chapter 379 ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask me anything about the wedding?¡± Cedrick whined begrudgingly. Gwendolyn turned toward him and cupped his face before gently kissing his well-shaped lips. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted it to be a big surprise? Me interfering would foil your ns for sure.¡± Gwendolyn was right, but he still wasn¡¯t happy with how little time she spent with him while she was upied with work all day. Gwendolyn exined to him patiently, ¡°I¡¯ve recently invested in a new drama which I have high hopes for. Since today is the opening ceremony, I need to be present due to my role as an investor. I¡¯ll keep youpany once I¡¯m back at night. All right, Ceddy?¡± She ran her hands over his face and nted butterfly kisses over his forehead, brows, the tip of his nose, and lips. Cedrick knew how important Gwendolyn¡¯s career was to her and could only remind her, ¡°Be careful. Remember not to wear high heels and always stay warm. Also, don¡¯t drink and¡ª¡± ¡°All right, all right. I heard you.¡± Cedrick had been repeating the exact phrases for the past few days whenever Gwendolyn left for work. She had them memorized down to a tee by now. She replied perfunctorily and dashed out of the Jenson residence after putting on her shoes. Cedrick stared broodingly after her as she vanished at the corner of the garden wall. Nico arrived shortly after Gwendolyn left. However, his expression was solemn this time around. Cedrick detected the change in his mood. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Cedrick, Eloise has disappeared from prison in the same way that Natasha escaped previously.¡± Cedrick¡¯s face turned somber. ¡°Have you conducted an investigation yet?¡± ¡°Yes, but it was clean work. There weren¡¯t any traces of evidence left behind.¡± Cedrick sat on the couch and perused the documents Nico delivered. Nico inferred, ¡°Could Mr. Craig be behind this? After all, he¡¯s privy to Charles sshing the biochemical serum. However, if this were proven true, it indicated he had a hand in Natasha¡¯s incident.¡± A group of perpetrators and not an individual had antagonized Gwendolyn then. The ones that had been sniffed out were Hector, Lane, and their families, as well as Charles. Cedrick frowned as his gaze hardened. Regardless of Craig¡¯s involvement in the incident, he always felt there was still a culprit who was really powerful that the Harris family did not catch. ¡°Continue investigating. After all, we¡¯re not in Faike, and the security in Salinsburgh is much tighter. There are very few in Chanaea capable ofmitting such a feat besides Craig and Asher. We¡¯ll get a lead sooner orter once we¡¯ve eliminated those few with military rank.¡± ¡°Okay, Cedrick. I¡¯ll order my men to get to it.¡± Nico was about to leave when Cedrick added, ¡°Increase the number of personnel tasked to protect Gwenny in secret. Ensure she¡¯s safe outside and that not a single strand of her hair is disturbed. Otherwise, be ready to receive punishment!¡± ¡°Of course, Cedrick. Rest assured that Gwendolyn¡¯s safety is our topmost priority!¡± ¡°Good. You may go now.¡± Nico left promptly to see to his duties. Cedrick continued going through the information about Eloise¡¯s disappearance alone on the couch. It was evident that Gwendolyn was being targeted. He hoped fervently that Gwendolyn¡¯s opening ceremony would go by smoothly. Gwendolyn rushed to the venue of the opening ceremony. She¡¯d intentionally arrived fifteen minutes earlier before it began. This new drama was a mainstream historical drama with themes of empowerment. It told the story of how a meek and humble daughter of an official achieved sess in her business after her divorce to be the number one billionaire in Bellridge. The male lead used to be a cold-hearted individual that always took her for granted. However, he immediately regretted his actions after their divorce and desperately groveled to win her back, resulting a series of entertaining shenanigans. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn had taken a liking for the script at first nce as it gave her a sense of fondness stemming from a sense of familiarity. Hence, she decisively invested in the show and became its biggest stakeholder. Gwendolyn chose Jennifer as the female lead after she won the Best Actress Award, as it was a testament to her outstanding acting skills. Jennifer was dressed in costume as she hurried over to escort Gwendolyn once she got out of her car. She took extra care of Gwendolyn¡¯s safety now that she was pregnant. Jennifer helped her to the lounge while waiting for themencement of the opening ceremony, and both of them struck up a conversation. ¡°Jennifer, I remember the Newton family saying they n to hold a weing ceremony for you upon your return from Erihal. Howe I¡¯ve not received an invitation after so long?¡± Jennifer smiled without care. ¡°I have no ns on returning to the Newton residence for the time being, so I turned down Mr. Craig¡¯s offer to hold a homing feast.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Gwendolyn clung to her hand tightly. ¡°As a daughter of the Newton family, you¡¯ll be added to the family register sooner orter. They¡¯ll surely shower you with affection to make up for the years you were away.¡± Jennifer hid the disappointment she felt. ¡°But still, we have nothing inmon besides being biologically rted. Only you and Trey are my true family.¡± Everyone in the Newton family except for Craig despised her, especially Jasmine. Jasmine used to be the only youngest daughter in the family before Jennifer was found. Jennifer¡¯s return meant that she¡¯d be stealing all the attention from Jasmine as the Newton family attempted to make amends for the years they¡¯d spent apart. Jasmine had been outwardly hostile with her the entire time she¡¯d been at the Newton residence. Moreover, she sensed there was more to the Newton family than what was being presented on the surface. She was confident someone had attempted to strangle her to death when she entered her father¡¯s study to steal the photo. The entire experience was too realistic to have been a figment of her imagination. It couldn¡¯t have been a dream though Craig insisted that nothing had happened. With that, she asked Gwendolyn, ¡°Did you often y with Charles or Jasmine at the Newton residence back when you were younger? If so, have you seen my mother before?¡± Gwendolyn considered her question. ¡°Only asionally during charity gs hosted by the Newton family. She has always been sick and seldom leaves the house but spends most of her time in her room.¡± Jennifer was perplexed. ¡°Has she always been like this even after so many years?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I can look into it if you have any doubts.¡± ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s too much of a hassle. I must be overthinking. If there¡¯s something fishy going on, it¡¯ll come to light sooner orter anyway.¡± They were in the midst of their conversation when the staff reminded them it was soon time for the opening ceremony. Jennifer put aside her concerns momentarily and tugged Gwendolyn along with her. The opening ceremony was held below the ancient wall of Salinsburgh Movie Studio, as the show they were filming was a period drama. The venue was decked beautifully and bustled with activity. The director, producer, main cast, and the props department¡¯s hundred-man crew entered the venue ordingly. Their arrival signified that it was time for the ribbon-cutting. Gwendolyn stood between the director and main producer due to her status as the biggest investor of the movie. The staff presented each of them with a pair of tiny golden scissors on a tray. They were surrounded by countless cameras and press that busied themselves with capturing shots of such a meaningful event. Before Gwendolyn could snip the ribbon, there was a suddenmotion from the side. ¡°Goodness, why is there someone standing on top of the wall? Are they going to jump?¡± Chapter 380 Chapter 380 That instantly shocked everyone present at the scene. Upon looking up at the wall, they saw a woman standingpletely still at the edge. She was dressed in tattered clothes and had her body covered in dirt. As everyone¡¯s attention had been focused on the opening ceremony, no one noticed the woman making her way up there. The journalists quickly pointed their cameras at the woman, drawing even more attention toward her. Some of the staff members stamped their feet in anxiousness. ¡°What do we do? I can¡¯t believe someone wants tomit suicide at an opening ceremony! That is definitely not a good sign!¡± ¡°Exactly! Why would she attempt to kill herself at a time like this?¡± ¡°I bet the entertainmentpanies that sponsored us are going to have their stocks plummet tonight!¡± Gwendolyn showed no emotion whatsoever even after hearing their conversation. ¡°Call the police and the fire department. Have them prepare the rescue cushions!¡± she ordered calmly. Those words had barely left Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth when the woman on top of the wall screamed, ¡°Don¡¯t call the police! Nobody leaves this ce, or I¡¯ll jump right away!¡± Huh? That voice sounds so familiar¡­ ¡°Eloise?¡± Gwendolyn called out to her with an uncertain frown. The woman paused briefly before bursting intoughter. ¡°Hahaha! I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d still remember me, Gwendolyn! Well, are you surprised to see me here?¡± Behind that messy hair of hers was a pair of bloodshot eyes that red viciously at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn simply narrowed her eyes and stared coldly at her without saying a word. Eloise then turned toward the group of journalists and yelled at the top of her voice, ¡°I am Eloise Ferguson, the daughter of the Ferguson family! This woman over here framed me and got me locked up in prison! As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, she even had people beat me up in prison every single day! She has destroyed my life! You remember this, Gwendolyn! I will be sure to ruin your life! My blood will be all over this ce and on your hands! Not even Treyton will be able to save you from the wrath of theizens! And you, Jennifer! You ruined my rtionship with Treyton and stole him from me, so you should leave the entertainment industry as well! How do you even bring yourself to face your fans after everything you¡¯ve done?¡± Her words shocked the living daylights out of those who were not in the know. What? Gwendolyn, the biggest investor of the show, actually sent someone to prison over a personal grudge? And Jennifer, who just won the Best Actress Award, stole someone else¡¯s man? That was such shocking news that either one of them could cause an uproar once it was made viral on the inte. The crowd exchanged nces and began gossiping among themselves. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. As for the journalists, they had recorded everything Eloise said on camera. Gwendolyn was the only person who remained calm throughout the confrontation. She took a few steps forward and looked up at Eloise, who was cackling maniacally on the wall, as she said in disdain, ¡°Do you really think those words of yours would affect me at all? You wanted to jump, right? Well? Go ahead and jump! I¡¯m waiting.¡± Jennifer stepped forward and grabbed Gwendolyn by the arm. ¡°You can¡¯t say that, Gwendolyn! ¡°If Eloise dies here, then everyone will sympathize with her regardless of whether her words were true! Her death will conceal the truths! After all, no one would be willing to sacrifice their life just to make a false usation! Gwendolyn patted her on the hand and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Everything will be fine.¡± ¡°You think I won¡¯t do it, Gwendolyn? I never expected to make it out alive the moment I came here!¡± Eloise snapped back at her with a defiant snort. ¡°You¡¯re a fugitive, Eloise. You¡¯ll be sentenced to death once they catch you, so it makes no difference. Since your death is inevitable anyway, why not use it to frame me, right?¡± Eloise froze in confusion when she heard Gwendolyn¡¯s statement. The fact that Gwendolyn was so nonchnt about the situation threw Eloise offpletely. ¡°This is a new show you¡¯re investing in, Gwendolyn! Do you know what will happen to it if I jump? Quit trying to act calm!¡± Gwendolyn was starting to lose her patience at that point. ¡°Are you going to jump or not? If yes, then hurry up and get it over with! I¡¯ve had enough of your drama and threats!¡± She then turned toward the director and said, ¡°We¡¯ll cancel the opening ceremony for the time being. I¡¯ll schedule another er.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Ms. Harris.¡± The director, too, knew that it was unlikely for them to continue with the ceremony at that point. Everyone gained a new perspective on the situation after seeing how calm Gwendolyn was throughout the confrontation. If Eloise doesn¡¯t have the courage to jump after everything she said, then it¡¯s highly likely that she was lying about what she imed! It didn¡¯t take Eloise long to catch on and realize that Gwendolyn was trying to turn the press against her. ¡°Remember this, all of you! Gwendolyn is a heartless monster who forced me to take my own life, and Jennifer is a shameless wh*re who stole my man from me! Everything I said is the truth!¡± she yelled at the crowd and prepared to jump. ¡°Wait!¡± Gwendolyn called out to her in the nick of time. ¡°Eloise, as tough as your time in prison may be, your sentence will somedaye to an end. I¡¯m sure your parents are looking forward to the day they can pick you up at the prison gates and wee you home! If you do this, however, you will only disappoint them and upset them even further!¡± She was deliberately trying to stall for some time after having Elven and the others sneak away. Gwendolyn saw through the corner of her eye that they had returned with rescue cushions. Everyone¡¯s attention was focused on Eloise, and she had her gaze fixated on Gwendolyn, so nobody noticed Elven setting up the rescue cushions. Eloise burst outughing when she saw Gwendolyn easing up on her tone. ¡°My parents¡¯ biggest mistake was allowing you to bully me. They deserve to suffer the pain of losing me! Don¡¯t think for a second that your life is going to get any better with me gone, Gwendolyn! I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the afterlife!¡± she yelled as she spread her arms, closed her eyes, and jumped off the wall. The crowd screamed in panic and fear when they saw that. Quite a number of people even rushed forward in an attempt to catch her. The men that Cedrick had assigned to protect Gwendolyn quickly surrounded her to shield her from the crowd. Gwendolyn knew it was probably Cedrick¡¯s doing when she saw the dozens of bodyguards jump into action. ¡°Did Ceddy send you guys?¡± Chapter 381 Chapter 381 ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Mr. Jenson is worried about your safety.¡± Gwendolyn felt a warm sensation fill her heart when she heard that. ¡°I know there¡¯s a lot of people here, and things are getting very chaotic, but I¡¯ll be fine. You guys go on ahead and clear the area. See if you can keep the journalists here, especially those who have been recording this incident.¡± ¡°No problem, Ms. Harris,¡± the bodyguards replied in unison before proceeding to get the chaotic crowd under control. Eloise had assumed that she would die after jumping off the wall, only to fall onto a soft rescue cushion. Before she even realized what was going on, Elven and the others quickly rushed forward and subdued her. The film crew was evacuated in under five minutes after being given a stern warning. As for the journalists, they were rounded up by four bodyguards and told to wait for Gwendolyn to negotiate with them. The ce quietened down significantly with most of the people gone. Eloise kept screaming at the top of her voice while Elven and the others kept her pinned on the ground. Gwendolyn walked up to them and red coldly at Eloise as she continued yelling, ¡°F*ck you, Gwendolyn! I will never forgive you, you f*cking b*tch!¡± A few minutester, Eloise had to pause as her throat got sore from her incessant yelling. Gwendolyn then turned toward Elven and said, ¡°Let her go.¡± ¡°What? You want us to let her go? But she¡¯s out of control, Ms. Harris! What if she attacks you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just do as I say.¡± As reluctant as Elven and the others were, they had no choice but toply and released Eloise from their grip. Having regained her freedom, Eloise whipped out a pair of gold-colored scissors that she had hidden in her pocket and charged at Gwendolyn before the bodyguards could even react. ¡°Die, you b*tch!¡± ¡°Watch out, Ms. Harris!¡± ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± The bodyguards eximed in horror, only to see Gwendolynnd a perfect sidekick on the back of Eloise¡¯s hand. The pain was so severe that she dropped the scissors instantly and froze on the spot. What? Did Gwendolyn just stop me in a split second? The bodyguards seized that opportunity to pin Eloise to the ground and subdued her once again. Gwendolyn stepped on Eloise¡¯s fingers as she bent over and taunted her, ¡°You have underestimated me, Eloise. You¡¯re no match for me even if I am at a disadvantage. It¡¯s only a matter of whether I feel like striking back.¡± ¡°Aaargh!¡± Eloise screamed at the top of her voice in anger and frustration. Annoyed by how noisy she was, Gwendolyn frowned and pped her hard across the face.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Smack! The intense pain from the p stunned Eloise so much that she went silent immediately. Her eyes were filled with tears as she red viciously at Gwendolyn. Feeling satisfied at how the mad woman had quietened, Gwendolyn grabbed Eloise by the chin and lifted it up as she said calmly, ¡°Honestly, you should¡¯ve just stayed in prison. Why would you show up at this opening ceremony for the new show I¡¯ve invested in? You even went as far as stealing the scissors that the film crew had prepared to cut the ribbon with. That is a rather impressive level of preparedness you¡¯ve got here. Tell me, whose idea was this?¡± Eloise simplyughed at her without saying a word. ¡°Only a few individuals in all of Chanaea are capable of getting you out of prison. Craig, Asher, Callum Gadomski, Ss Yanek, and Cedrick. Who do you think I should suspect?¡± Gwendolyn continued. Eloiseughed even louder as she asked, ¡°You really want to know?¡± ¡°Of course. Eloise let out a sinister chuckle as she said, ¡°Oh, Gwendolyn¡­ You have no idea how surprised I was when he came to visit me in there! ¡°He has been acting all innocent and weak in that family of yours for so long now. I can¡¯t wait to see the look on your face when he reveals his true nature! I¡¯m pretty sure it won¡¯t be a long wait, though! Hahaha!¡± Her expression was twisted with abination of glee and hatred. Infuriated, Gwendolyn pped her twice with even more force. ¡°How dare you set your sights on Ceddy? You must have a death wish!¡± Eloise simply shot her a mocking re without exining any further. ¡°What should we do with her, Ms. Harris?¡± Elven asked. Gwendolyn stood up straight and wiped her right hand, which she pped Eloise with, using a wet towel before saying calmly, ¡°Bring her to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and hand her over to Ceddy. She has escaped from prison, deliberately caused a scene, and attempted murder with a weapon. Let them deal with her as they see fit.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Eloise was still smiling maniacally even though she failed to kill Gwendolyn. She continued to re at Gwendolyn with bloodshot eyes as the bodyguards handcuffed her and dragged her away. ¡°It must really hurt to be betrayed by the person you love the most, huh? I¡¯ll look forward to the day you break down after learning the truth, Gwendolyn!¡± Eloise eximed before she was dragged out of the ce. Gwendolyn simply stood there and thought about what she meant by that. Ezra walked up to her and whispered, ¡°Ms. Harris, Eloise didn¡¯t look like she was lying. I think she might know something.¡± ¡°We stick to our usual procedure. Given the kind of mess she¡¯s in, I doubt we¡¯ll be able to get any information out of her.¡± Gwendolyn replied with a cold look on her face. She then nced in Eloise¡¯s direction as she continued, ¡°Besides, she was probably just making ast- ditch effort to get back at me. I trust Ceddy. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d betray me.¡± Ezra gave it some thought and agreed with her. Mr. Jenson would never betray Ms. Harris even if the whole world became her enemy. That¡¯s especially the case since she¡¯s pregnant with his kid! Having taken care of Eloise, Gwendolyn turned around and made her way toward the journalists that the bodyguards had rounded up. ¡°I would never do anything that is against thew. Eloise was locked up in prison because of the crimes she hadmitted. If you don¡¯t believe me, feel free to look up her criminal record. As you all probably know, Angle Corporation and Harris Group¡¯s stocks are bound to plummet if word gets out about the scene she has caused today. That will result in me losing hundreds of millions overnight. In order to prevent such a huge and pointless loss of money, I am willing to let you guys have it if you will remain silent about this incident. Well? What do you say?¡± The journalists exchanged nces and seemed to have made their decision almost instantly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Harris! The inte will not hear a word about what happened here today! We will help youe up with an appropriate exnation for this.¡± Gwendolyn shed them a satisfied smile. ¡°Very well. I will have the bodyguards watch as you delete the videos you have recorded. Please remember your promise, though. My eldest brother has a private army, and my third brother practically owns the entertainment industry. My man, too, has the army back him up too. If you guys break your promise, I will be sure to make you regret it.¡± Chapter 382 Chapter 382 Thunderstruck, everyone shook their heads vehemently. ¡°No, no, no, no, no, of course not! Ms. Harris, we would never dare to lie to you!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harris, rest assured, our lips are sealed,¡± another person echoed in agreement. Gwendolyn nodded affirmatively and discreetly signaled the guards, conveying her instructions to carefully monitor how they deleted the videos properly. Afterward, Gwendolyn turned on her heels and exited the film studio without casting a nce behind her. She promptly instructed William and Quinton to escort Jennifer back home. During the journey back to Angle, Gwendolyn was still thinking about Eloise. Eloise, known for her vicious and arrogant nature, hardly had any friends. Evelyn was one of the few individuals who were associated with her. During Eloise¡¯s birthday party a while ago, it was Evelyn who helped here up with the scheme. Could Evelyn be the mastermind behind this again? Did she intentionally instigate Eloise to cause trouble this time? But then again, though Evelyn was young, she had always been thoughtful and meticulous. It doesn¡¯t seem like she would be so careless. Gwendolyn gazed out of the window, Eloise¡¯s words echoing in her mind, reying over and over again. She believed Eloise was trying to sow discord between her and Cedrick by making those remarks. Cedrick and I have been through thick and thin. It would be foolish of her to think that she could tear us apart. The car soon arrived at Angle¡¯s underground car park while she was still in deep contemtion. Gwendolyn then took the elevator and went straight to the top floor. The moment she stepped out of the elevator, Joanne approached her. ¡°Ms. Harris, the representative from Erihal has arrived to discuss business with you. He¡¯s waiting for you in the reception room.¡± Before this, Gwendolyn had finalized the trade tax exemption rights with Gerhardt when she was in Erihal. She had entrusted the task to Treyton ever since. ¡°All right. Got it,¡± Gwendolyn replied nonchntly. She went back to her office to change into a fresh set of clothes before making her way to the reception room. As she opened the door, her eyes met the exquisite azure blue eyes of the man standing there. ¡°Mr. Caesar! I¡¯m pleasantly surprised to see you here,¡± Gwendolyn eximed with a grin, not expecting his presence. Caesar¡¯s handsome face lit up with a genuine smile that radiated warmth from within. With his right hand extended, Caesar greeted Gwendolyn. ¡°Good to see you, Ms. Harris. I¡¯m here as a representative of Erihal to discuss business with you. I volunteered for this opportunity to gain more experience.¡± Gwendolyn held a favorable impression of Caesar, as he had extended a helping hand to her during her time in Erihal. His down-to-earth nature further solidified her positive impression of him. ¡°Nice to meet you too. I hope we¡¯ll have a pleasant coboration.¡± She extended her right hand, mirroring Caesar¡¯s gesture, ready for a handshake. Gwendolyn maintained a professional tone as she prepared to discuss business. She understood the importance of separating personal rtionships from professional matters and was determined not to let it interfere with their conversation. Joanne positioned herself behind Gwendolyn and Caesar, diligently taking notes of their business discussion. After three hours of intense discussion, Gwendolyn and Caesar finally reached a consensus on their business coboration. She even took the opportunity to promote a few of their popr series to Caesar, securing overseas screening rights for their productions. By the time they had finished discussing the additional uses in the contract, it was time to call it a day. Caesar looked at Gwendolyn with anticipation, his blue eyes filled with hope. ¡°Ms. Harris, I¡¯m wondering if I might have the honor of dining with you tonight to celebrate our first coboration?¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment and thought it would be a nice gesture to treat Caesar to a meal, given that he had traveled to Chanaea and that she also needed his assistance in broadcasting the series overseas. However, she hesitated, concerned that the man at home might be jealous if he found out about her dinner ns with Caesar. After a brief moment of hesitation, Gwendolyn smiled faintly and responded, ¡°Sure, it¡¯s your first trip to Chanaea, so dinner¡¯s on me tonight. I would love to have you try Chanaean cuisine, but since I¡¯m pregnant, I¡¯ll ask the chef to adjust the vors a bit. Besides, I won¡¯t be able to drink tonight, of course.¡± Caesar was thrilled to hear that. ¡°No worries. It¡¯s my pleasure to dine with you, Ms. Harris. I¡¯m sure everything will taste delicious.¡± ¡°You certainly have a way with words, Mr. Caesar,¡± she said. ¡°I mean every word I said!¡± he responded. Engrossed in their conversation, Gwendolyn and Caesar were unaware of the awkward expression on Joanne¡¯s face. After carefully observing the expression in Caesar¡¯s eyes for a while, Joanne discreetly reached for her phone and sent a text message to Cedrick. She could not help but feel a pang of guilt, and inwardly, Joanne kept apologizing. I¡¯m so sorry, Ms. Harris. I feel like a traitor, but Mr. Jenson wanted me to keep an eye on all the men in your workce, and he offered me enticing incentives. I just couldn¡¯t resist it. However, I believe that as your future husband, he won¡¯t make things difficult for you. Please don¡¯t hold it against me¡­ After leaving the reception room, Gwendolyn quickly sent a text message to Cedrick: I won¡¯t be able to join you for dinner tonight. I have a business dinner to attend. Once it¡¯s over, I¡¯lle back and keep youpany. Behave yourself, okay, Ceddy? She ended the text message with a puppy emoji. Two secondster, before she could put down her phone, she received a text from him asking: How many people? Are they men or women? Gwendolyn stared at the message and froze for a moment. If I tell him I¡¯ll be having dinner with Caesar, I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯ll get jealous. Having that thought in mind she replied: I¡¯m having dinner with several guests, both men and women. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep a distance from them. She added another flying kiss emoji at the end of the message. After sending the message, she no longer received a reply from him. Gwendolyn did not dwell on it too much and continued engaging in conversation with Caesar as they made their way downstairs in the elevator together. Unbeknownst to her, the man who was already waiting for her in the car exploded in a fit of rage upon reading her message! In his fury, he almost tore apart the only ck Shelby supercar, the exclusive model in the whole of Chanaea. A storm was definitely brewing. Gwendolyn and Caesar walked side by side out of Angle Corporation. They were standing so close that their bodies almost touched. Caesar asked, ¡°Ms. Harris, I heard that you¡¯re going to get married for real this time. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yup, the wedding is scheduled for next month. If you¡¯re still around, I would be delighted to have you at my wedding. And of course, I¡¯ll be anticipating your wedding gift,¡± she quipped. Caesar burst intoughter. ¡°I will certainly prepare an exquisite gift for you on your wedding day!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. Gwendolyn responded with a chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when you get married, I¡¯ll make sure to send a gift even if I can¡¯t make it to attend the wedding.¡± Caesar let out a heartyugh, though there was a hint of concealed disappointment in his blue azure eyes. ¡°It¡¯s still too early for me to get married. I fell in love with a girl I met not long ago, but I just found out that she¡¯ll be marrying someone else. I haven¡¯t even started yearning for her, and I¡¯ve already heartbroken.¡± After finishing speaking, he lowered his eyes, and a hint of sadness permeated the air. Gwendolynforted him with a reassuring smile. ¡°Cheer up! I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll meet someone you like soon¡ªthe girl destined to be your life partner.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Suddenly, Caesar stopped in his tracks and struck a gentleman¡¯s pose, extending his hand gracefully. ¡°Ms. Harris, would you be kind enough to allow me to greet you with Epean formalities for onest time?¡± he asked. ¡°Sure,¡± she responded. It¡¯s just a kiss on the back of my hand, isn¡¯t it? No big deal. Caesar gave her an infectious smile and bowed gracefully. ¡°I¡¯m truly grateful for the opportunity to dine with you tonight.¡± He then lowered his head, but before his lips could reach Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, arge palm emerged, gripping his wrist firmly. An angry roar ensued. ¡°You want to have dinner with her? Take this first!¡± After the man finished speaking, a heavy punchnded squarely on Caesar¡¯s right cheek. Chapter 383 Chapter 383 Unable to withstand the force, Caesar stumbled backward. The corner of his lips was badly swollen, and blood was oozing out of it. Gwendolyn was given a fright by the sudden turn of events. When her gaze fell upon the raging eyes of the perpetrator, an inexplicable sense of guilt crept into her. ¡°Ceddy, why are you here?¡± The seething Cedrick locked gazes with her. ¡°Were you nning to hide this from me if I hadn¡¯te?¡± ¡°Um¡­ You¡¯ve got the wrong idea. We were just having a meal.¡± Just as she exined, Gwendolyn hurried over to examine Caesar. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Wiping the blood from his mouth, Caesar replied, ¡°It hurts a little, but I¡¯m fine.¡± He had grown up pampered at home and had never been struck before. Little did he expect to end up being punched by Cedrick. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll get Joanne to send you to the hospital for a check-up. I¡¯ll take care of all your medical expenses and any losses you have suffered.¡± Caesar rejected the offer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s no big deal.¡± ¡°I insist. As you¡¯re a representative of Erihal, it¡¯s necessary for me to apologize for what happened. This is a misunderstanding on Cedrick¡¯s part. I¡¯m sorry¡­ Hey, what are you doing?¡± Before she could finish, she felt her body suspended in mid-air. Cedrick had swept her off her feet and was carrying her to the Shelby Supercar parked by the side. ¡°Ceddy¡­¡± With her hands wrapped around his neck, Gwendolyn saw his seething expression just as she wanted to tell him to put her down. The rage within him was evident to her. She knew that he would throw a tantrum back at home if she didn¡¯t assuage his anger by then. With that thought in mind, Gwendolyn turned around to look at the stunned Caesar. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that we can¡¯t have dinner tonight. I¡¯ll have Joanne entertain you and give you another treat a few dayster!¡± The mere suggestion of another dinner appointment infuriated Cedrick further. He turned around with a scowl on his face and warned through his gritted teeth, ¡°This is Chanaea. The customs of Erihal do not apply here. It¡¯s not going to be easy for you to take advantage of my wife!¡± The moment he finished, his narrowed eyes formed a threatening gaze. Thereafter, the ck Shelby Supercar roared across the street before disappearing into the night. Gwendolyn was subsequently carried back to Harrick Vi. With a grim look on his face, Cedrick carefullyid her down on the bed. He then stood in front of Gwendolyn and stared at her intently. From his heaving chest, it was clear that he was still reeling from anger. After giving his pants a tug, Gwendolyn looked up and exined in a demure voice, ¡°I know where to draw the line. What you saw wasn¡¯t what you think it was. Caesar was a great help to me in Erihal. That¡¯s why I allowed him to greet me ording to Erihal customs.¡± Cedrick let out a cold snort, while the rage in his eyes didn¡¯t diminish one bit. ¡°He¡¯s just using it as an excuse to kiss your hand. From the way he looks at you, I can clearly tell that he has feelings for you!¡± While Gwendolyn was rendered speechless, Cedrick continued to tremble in anger. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re going to get married next month. Yet you had dinner with another man behind your husband¡¯s back and even allowed him to kiss you!¡± His words exasperated Gwendolyn. ¡°I already told you that it¡¯s nothing more than a meal. Besides, why do you assume that I¡¯ll cheat on you? Do you not have any trust in me?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s tone grew solemn in response to her swelling anger. Cedrick subsequently whipped out his phone and pointed his quivering finger at the message he received from her. ¡°How do you expect me to trust you when you told me that it was a group dinner? Clearly, there were only the two of you there! Gwendolyn, why did you lie to me for Caesar¡¯s sake? How can you do this to me?¡± Cedrick roared with reddened eyes. Hidden behind his tears was a look of anger and disappointment. Over thest few days, he had busied himself with the wedding preparations while worrying about her safety at the opening ceremony. While I was so upied that I didn¡¯t even have an appetite for lunch, what was she doing? She was going to have a meal with another man behind my back. She even let him kiss her hand. Such an outrageous act is unforgivable! This was the first time he shot Gwendolyn such a vicious look. Returning his gaze with a shocked look of her own, she questioned him in disbelief, ¡°Why did you re your temper at me?¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyshes quivered momentarily. Despite the glower on his face, his tone softened subconsciously. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± Tears began to well up in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°You did! Do you know how loud you were screaming at me? Have you already forgotten the rules Kieran set for you?¡± ¡°Err¡­¡± Gwendolyn seized the opportunity and raised her voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you the truth because I didn¡¯t want you to overreact, which is exactly what you¡¯re doing now. My intentions were good, and obviously, I know where to draw the line! Yet you had toe storming in and beat up my guest, making it look like I was cheating on you. Do you know how ridiculous the whole scene was?¡± Brows furrowed, Cedrick felt aggrieved by her words. ¡°Me, ridiculous? He wanted to kiss my wife¡¯s hand! If he hadn¡¯t helped you before this, I would have beaten him to death! Also, you clearly lied to me today, Gwendolyn. How can you still im to be in the right after that?¡± Upon being screamed at, the enraged Gwendolyn gave him the side-eye. ¡°Fine, since you insist that I lied to you, so be it! What are you going to do about it? Do you want to cancel the engagement again? Do you not love me anymore just because you¡¯re frustrated with me again?¡± Cedrick was stumped by her outburst. Every time she brought up his cancetion of their previous engagement, he would be put in a spot. ¡°What else can I do, Gwendolyn? What else can I do with you?¡± he roared. Overwhelmed by rage, Cedrick turned to face the wall and dropped to his knees. His broad shoulders were still heaving heavily, while his fists were tightly clenched, a testament to his unresolved anger. Gwendolyn was shocked by his abrupt actions. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Turning around, Cedrick snapped, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m down on my knees!¡± Faced with his defiant tone and snarling expression, Gwendolyn was surprised to see him kneeling down. What in the world is going on? She couldn¡¯t help but feel amused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say I was at fault? Why are you down on your knees? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m punishing you!¡± A burning sensation stung Cedrick¡¯s nose, while his eyes began to moisten. Amidst the squeeze in his chest triggered by his anger, the pain in his knees made him feel increasingly pitiful. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What else can I do? Now that you¡¯re pregnant, I can¡¯t hit or scold you. It¡¯s not like I can bring myself to do it anyway. Yet you remain defiant despite your mistakes, and there¡¯s nothing I can do about it! I can only me myself for failing to keep you in line. Losing control of my emotions and screaming at you is clearly my fault. That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to kneel here the entire night to reflect upon my actions!¡± Toward the end of his speech, Cedrick¡¯s voice took on a heavy nasal sound. Although he was kneeling, he did it with an upright posture to express his dissatisfaction. The scene took Gwendolyn by surprise. How did he manage to sound so pathetic while using such an intimidating tone? Chapter 384 Chapter 384 When she saw Cedrick kneeling in repentance despite the fact that she was in the wrong, the anger within Gwendolyn was quickly reced by guilt and sympathy. Hence, she walked over to his side and gently poked him on the shoulder in an attempt to reconcile. ¡°Let¡¯s stop fighting now, all right?¡± Even though Cedrick snorted coldly and ignored her, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t give up coaxing him. ¡°I didn¡¯t eat anything after you dragged me back here, so I¡¯m feeling a little hungry. Why don¡¯t you be good and make me something to eat, Ceddy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not free. I¡¯m being punished right now!¡± Without budging an inch, Cedrick pulled out his phone from his pocket and prepared to send a message. ¡°I¡¯ll get Summer to prepare food for you.¡± Nevertheless, Gwendolyn continued poking him on the shoulder. ¡°But I prefer your cooking. Besides, if Summeres over, Nico would definitely tag along. Don¡¯t you have to get up by then? Otherwise, Nico would be sniggering at you behind your back, wouldn¡¯t he?¡± Cedrick¡¯s typing fingers suddenly froze, but the solution quickly dawned upon him. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her in advance that Nico isn¡¯t allowed toe and she just needs to drop the food at the gate. After that, Ezra will bring it into the dining room for you.¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. What a stubborn man. Getting through to him is just impossible. With that, Gwendolyn bent down and wrapped her arms around him from behind. After taking his phone away from his hands, she nuzzled her face against his. ¡°Stop making a fuss. What will I have to do for you to get back up?¡± Biting his lip, Cedrick could feel the anger within him diminished by the tenderness of Gwendolyn¡¯s face. After a quick deliberation, he suggested grumpily, ¡°Admit that you¡¯re wrong and promise not to lie to me again. Also, never allow another man to kiss you, even if it¡¯s only your hand. Lastly, you¡¯re forbidden to dine with another man alone!¡± His demands annoyed Gwendolyn. ¡°But that¡¯s my job! I was discussing a business partnership with him over dinner. On top of that, didn¡¯t I exin to you that kissing a hand is a custom in Erihal? It¡¯s not a big deal at all!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you feel any remorse? In fact, you still think that you¡¯re right!¡± Enraged by her words, Cedrick peeled her slender arms away from his waist. ¡°Just let me be. I want to repent alone.¡± In the end, Gwendolyn returned to her bed in exasperation and watched him from afar. ¡°It looks like you really need to reflect upon your actions. Have you grown arrogant because it has been a long time since I have given you a dressing down? I don¡¯t mind you kicking up a fuss and beating someone up tonight, but why are you spurning the olive branch I¡¯m extending to you? Also, let¡¯s not forget the number of times you yelled at me tonight!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s tirade caused Cedrick to freeze. ¡°I don¡¯t remember. I wasn¡¯t counting.¡± She continued, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll punish you for not remembering. Kneeling for a single night isn¡¯t enough. You should do it for an entire day instead. What do you think?¡± The growing bitterness within Cedrick filled his chest with pain. With his nose burning intensely, he fell silent amidst the tears welling up in his eyes. Sitting crossed-legged on the bed, Gwendolyn took a deep breath. This was the first time she and Cedrick had a big fight ever since their reconciliation. At the thought of the baby she was carrying, Gwendolyn breathed in deeply again as she tried hard to contain her emotions. She subsequently decided to stop looking at Cedrick and allow him to suffer a little. When she picked up her phone and got back to work, silence descended upon the room despite the tension in the atmosphere. After an argument thatsted more than ten minutes and being ignored by Gwendolyn for more than half an hour, Cedrick could feel the pain in his knees intensify. Cedrick wrinkled his brows when his breathing grew increasingly heavy and cold sweat broke out across his forehead. Although Gwendolyn appeared to be looking at her phone, she was cognizant of his suffering from the intermittent nces she snuck at him. In the end, she let out a sigh when she couldn¡¯t bear to see him suffer any longer. ¡°If you really stay on your knees for an entire day and night, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to walk for the next two days.¡± The tone of her voice softened considerably. Fists clenched, Cedrick replied in a nasal yet bitter voice, ¡°So what if I be a cripple? No one cares about me after all.¡± The words finally forced Gwendolyn to give in. ¡°Nonsense. I care about you. It breaks my heart to see you hurt,¡± she suggested coyly before giving him a gentle hug and wiping the sweat off his brow. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, all right? I¡¯ll tell Caesar tomorrow that I can¡¯t have dinner alone with him. Instead, I¡¯ll bring you along the next time we meet. How about that?¡± As the anger within him eased, Cedrick let out a smug snort. ¡°I have no choice but to forgive you then. Don¡¯t repeat your mistake again.¡± ¡°Got it. I promise there won¡¯t be a next time. Now, get back on your feet.¡± Gwendolyn helped him up attentively and led him back to their bed. There, she pulled up his pant legs to examine his knees. Due to the difort of the floor, Cedrick¡¯s knees were swollen. Nheless, he was lucky to get away without any visible bruises at all. Gwendolyn proceeded to rub the swelling and applied some anti-inmmatory cream to prevent bruises to form the next day. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how stubborn you are. Why do you insist on making yourself suffer?¡± At the end of her sentence, she let out a sigh. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°My heart is the one that¡¯s hurting more!¡± Cedrick wore an aggrieved expression as he looked at her. With her heart melted by how pitiful he looked, Gwendolyn nted a kiss on his lips and coaxed, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll make it up to you tonight. How about that?¡± ¡°We have to be careful during the first trimester. Since I can¡¯t sleep with you, how are you going to make it up to me?¡± A mischievous glint shed across Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes as she replied in an alluring tone, ¡°The fact that you can¡¯t have me doesn¡¯t mean that I can¡¯t have you. I can still use this!¡± Gwendolyn extended her fair hand in front of him. The gesture was immediately understood by Cedrick. She¡¯s such a minx! After a passionate session thatsted an hour, Cedrick¡¯s spirits returned, a result of Gwendolyn releasing the residual frustration he felt. He then walked out of the bedroom with a satisfied swagger before heading into the kitchen to cook. Despite the big fight they had, their rtionship wasn¡¯t affected due to Gwendolyn¡¯s timely ¡°intervention.¡± The pleasure she brought him shifted his mood entirely. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. During dinner, Gwendolyn recalled what happened at the opening ceremony and asked, ¡°Today, Eloise told me that someone unexpected visited her in prison. When you have the time, you should get someone to check the records of her prison visits.¡± A serious expression descended upon Cedrick¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve already done that. There wasn¡¯t any record of anyone visiting her.¡± Gwendolyn stopped eating abruptly. ¡°How is that possible? Wouldn¡¯t that mean Eloise is lying?¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s probably not lying. High-ranking military officers have the authority to make secret visits in prison. Such visits aren¡¯t recorded anywhere. That said, the information she provided helps us narrow down the scope of our investigation, as only five people in the entire nation have such authority.¡± While listening intently, Gwendolyn deliberated on the matter. Thereafter, Cedrick served Gwendolyn some food before adding, ¡°I¡¯ll exin while you eat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°These five include Craig, Asher, Callum, Ss, and myself. Among us, Ss hasn¡¯t returned to Salinsburgh due to his mission at the border. So, we can definitely rule him out. As for myself and Asher, neither of us will do anything to harm you. That¡¯s the reason why I¡¯ve ordered Nico to keep an eye on Craig and Callum. I believe we¡¯ll have our answer soon.¡± Knitting her brows, Gwendolyn analyzed, ¡°Callum and I barely know each other, so it¡¯s unlikely he¡¯s the one. As for Craig¡­ what do you think of him?¡± Chapter 385 Chapter 385 ¡°Craig knows about Charles stealing the S404 RNA virus. I¡¯m not sure whether he knew about it all along, but for now, he¡¯s the most suspicious.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment and shook her head. ¡°The year when something happened to the fifteen-year-old me, though I don¡¯t quite remember the whole story, I know very well that the one who could catch me off guard must surely be someone I know. Hector tried to mess with me previously because I hold the right of inheritance. Compared to him, Craig has nothing to do with the Harris family¡¯s inheritance. He¡¯s an aplice at most. I doubt he¡¯s the mastermind.¡± Cedrick fell silent for a short while before he raised another possibility. ¡°Perhaps the real mastermind doesn¡¯t have that much power? He¡¯s only taking advantage of a privileged bigshot like Craig.¡± ¡°Yeah, I share the same sentiments.¡± Cedrick caressed her head. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it anymore. Hurry and eat your meal. In any case, with me around, I won¡¯t let anyone harm you.¡± Gwendolyn curled her lips into a smile. Her starry eyes glinted as she spoke in a toneced with a hint of slyness. ¡°They are out to hurt me. If I keep hiding, it¡¯ll only make them do the same. But if I do something to add fuel to the fire, I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll trigger them to take action recklessly. The more they act, the more ws they¡¯ll leave behind!¡± Cedrick froze. He was wholly mesmerized by the calmness in her gaze. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually not interested in the session rights. But since everyone wants it so much, I think it¡¯ll be better if I ept it.¡± Arrogance was glistening in her eyes as she raised her head high. Cedrick, however, was worried. ¡°Gwenny, why don¡¯t you think about it again at ater time? You¡¯re pregnant now, and our wedding is next month.¡± He did not want anything to happen at this juncture. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take things slowly and won¡¯t act impulsively. I¡¯ll take good care of myself and never let anything happen to the baby and me.¡± Complicated emotions churned Cedrick, but he said nothing further and lowered his head to continue eating. ¡­ When Gwendolyn arrived at Angle the following morning, Caesar was already inside her office waiting for her. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Seeing her enter, he immediately got up and asked, ¡°Ms. Harris, I¡¯m sorry for making Mr. Jenson get the wrong ideast night. Y-You guys didn¡¯t quarrel after going back, did you?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Gwendolyn wore a smile on her face as she walked toward her office chair and sat down. ¡°What about the wound on your face?¡± Caesar touched his face and smiled indifferently. ¡°I got an ice pack from the hotel and put it over my woundst night. It¡¯s much better now.¡± Regarding that incident, Gwendolyn was truly apologetic. ¡°I had a chat with my fianc¨¦st night after we got home. He knows it was rash of him to hit you like that, so he said he wants to treat you to a nice meal. Why don¡¯t we have one after work today?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Caesar agreed to it readily without any hesitation. ¡°Speaking of which, I should be the one to apologize instead. Those words Mr. Jenson saidst night were right. Since I¡¯m here in Chanaea, I should conform to the local practices. I apologize for using Erihal¡¯s etiquette to greet you. Please excuse my impertinence.¡± Seeing that, Gwendolyn saved the formalities as well. ¡°I¡¯m d that you¡¯ve thought it through. The legal department is already printing the contract. Why don¡¯t you head to the lounge to grab a bite first?¡± Caesar politely stood up. ¡°I shan¡¯t take up too much of your time then, Ms. Harris.¡± The two exchanged a friendly smile. Shortly after Gwendolyn turned on herputer and switched into work mode, the phone began ringing again. It was her father, Marcus. She answered the phone at once. ¡°Honey, how have you been? Do you have any severe pregnancy symptoms?¡± Gwendolyn was busy typing away on the keyboard as she halfheartedly answered, ¡°I¡¯m all right. The symptoms can be quite bad sometimes, but you don¡¯t have to worry, Dad. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Marcus paused slightly before he asked in uncertainty, ¡°Are you free this weekend?¡± Gwendolyn shifted her gaze to the bottom right corner of herputer screen and chuckled in amusement. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s only Monday today. My schedule hasn¡¯t been nned that far yet. I can¡¯t foresee the future, so how would I know if I¡¯m free?¡± ¡°Honey, can you keep this weekend free and make a trip back to the Harris residence?¡± Gwendolyn did not answer immediately. Likewise, Marcus stayed quiet briefly. As if worried that she would turn that offer down, he earnestly added, ¡°Honey, I¡¯m old and I am getting weaker. I want to put my burden aside so that I can y with my grandchildren in the future. Someone has to inherit and shoulder the responsibilities of Harris Group. I hope you cane back this weekend and sign the session agreement. Is that all right?¡± Gwendolyn, who was busy typing away, stiffened at once. Since her return from Salinsburgh, Marcus would visit her whenever he had the opportunity and convince her to work at Harris Group so that she could familiarize herself with thepany to ease her session in the near future. Despite so, she had always made it clear that she was not interested in inheriting thepany. Her determination to expand Angle¡¯s business from Faike to Salinsburgh was mainly because she wanted to get out of her family¡¯s control and earn her own sess. Surprisingly, this time¡­ At the thought of the n she had in mind while analyzing the situation with Cedrick, she did not refuse Marcus¡¯ request. ¡°All right, Dad. I¡¯ll make time this weekend.¡± It was beyond Marcus¡¯ imagination that Gwendolyn would agree so readily this time. For some time, he did not quite register the response. Immense joy struck him when he snapped back to his senses. ¡°Good girl, Honey! I¡¯ll wait for you this weekend!¡± The father and daughter then had a casual exchange for a while longer. Marcus also nagged at her and reminded her to watch her diet and safety before he eventually concluded the call. Later that afternoon, Gwendolyn signed a contract with Caesar. Cedrick arrived at Gwendolyn¡¯s office long ago. While waiting for her, he sat on the couch and browsed through the books she had on her bookshelf. Signing a contract was something that required extra caution. Caesar brought his legal team from Erihal with him to vet the contract, and only after both parties agreed that there were no problems did he sign and stamp the agreement. The whole process took over two hours toplete. When Gwendolyn returned to her office to pack her belongings, she saw Cedrick sleeping on the couch. She tiptoed her way over and carefully put the book in his grip aside before sitting next to him to admire his looks. A mischievous idea crossed Gwendolyn¡¯s mind after seeing how soundly asleep the man was. She stretched out a hand, intending to pinch his nose with her fingers to wake him up. Her fingers were so close to touching his nose, yet she could not bear to do it. Ultimately, she chose to use a sweet kiss to wake him up. Leaning over, she left a peck on his thin lips. ¡°Gwenny?¡± Cedrick¡¯s long eyshes fluttered lightly, and while still in a daze, he saw Gwendolyn¡¯s familiar yet otherworldly gorgeous face before his eyes. He instantly felt extremely peaceful and calm. Stretching out his arms, Cedrick pulled Gwendolyn into his embrace, and flipping his body over, he burrowed her into the couch and kissed her lips passionately. Their breaths mingled, and he found himself hopelessly obsessed with her as if he was intoxicated by a pleasant poison. After an intense kiss, Cedricky on his side with his left arm propping his head up and his right hand gently pinching Gwendolyn¡¯s nose as he gazed at her adoringly. ¡°How nice it¡¯ll be if I can lock you up so that only I can look at you and you can only smile at me.¡± ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Pretending to be angry, Gwendolyn knitted her brows and reached out to smack his sturdy back before giving him a pinch. She repeated her actions as she cheekily tried to flirt with the man before her. ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Rotundum is outside. He¡¯s waiting to grab a meal with you after you finish packing.¡± Joanne knocked on the door, but noticing it was slightly ajar, she pushed it open and entered the room only to see what was happening on the couch. Chapter 386 Chapter 386 ¡°Ah! Sorry!¡± She quickly turned around and covered her eyes. Her heart was racing against her chest. What did I just see? Mr. Jenson is the renowned head of the Jenson family in Salinsburgh and he is a cold and ruthless person who rarely smiles. But he actually let Ms. Harris pinch his butt obediently? Gwendolyn heard themotion from the couch, and her face flushed crimson. She tried to stand up, but Cedrick pulled her into his embrace. He smiled devilishly and used her in his deep voice, ¡°Someone saw you bullying me. What should we do about it, Gwenny?¡± I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s framing me! This b*stard! Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened, and she clenched her jaw. ¡°How about you bark a few times for me?¡± ¡°No!¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows, then leaned in as though there was no one else around and kissed her lips. Joanne stood at the door anxiously. Will I get fired tomorrow for seeing their intimate moment? ¡°I-I really didn¡¯t see anything! I won¡¯t disturb you guys. Please continue!¡± She closed the door behind her, leaving the atmosphere thick with romantic tension. Gwendolyn noticed Cedrick¡¯s breathing became heavier and pushed him away quickly. She tried to adjust her breathing. ¡°Caesar is still waiting for us. Let¡¯s go and eat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He immediately rolled over and stood up. Then, he squatted on the carpet next to the couch and gently helped her wear her socks. Spring was approaching, but the weather was still cold. As Gwendolyn had gone to sign a contract, Cedrick was alone in the office in the afternoon. Therefore, he didn¡¯t turn on the heater, so Gwendolyn¡¯s feet were slightly cold. He immediately unbuttoned his suit jacket and embraced her cold feet, wrapping his jacket tightly around them to provide warmth. Gwendolyn watched him quietly, imprinting his handsome facial features into her heart. When her feet became warmer, he picked up Gwendolyn¡¯s ts and put them on for her. Then, he held her hand with their fingers inteced, saying in a gentle voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t move and stared at him. ¡°Ceddy, how long will you spoil me like this?¡± Cedrick¡¯s fingers brushed past her face softly. He replied in a serious tone, ¡°Forever. No one will be able to take away a single bit of love I have for you.¡± ¡°But, what if we have a daughter? People always say that fathers would spoil their daughters. Won¡¯t you be like that too?¡± Cedrick looked at her resolutely. ¡°No. Your daughter will have her own life, but you¡¯re my only one. You¡¯re my entire life,¡± he replied in his maic voice. Then, he carried her in his arms and left the room. Caesar, who was waiting for them outside the corridor, froze momentarily when he saw Cedrick carrying Gwendolyn. Cedrick took no notice and stepped into the elevator. He turned to see Caesar rooted to his spot and arched his brow. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ming.¡± Caesar regained his senses and immediately followed them. The food tasted like wax in his mouth throughout the meal. He sat opposite Cedrick, who treated him like a third-wheeler. Cedrick would feed Gwendolyn food with a gentle and loving expression, making her feel slightly embarrassed. When Cedrick was about to feed her the seventh bite, Gwendolyn pushed his hand away and whispered, ¡°No, I¡¯ll eat by myself.¡± Cedrick failed to feed her, so he retracted his hand. He fed himself and slowly savored it. Caesar watched their lovey-dovey actions and raised his ss to toast Cedrick. ¡°Mr. Jenson, it was my fault for not considering the matter thoroughly. Here¡¯s a toast for you as an apology!¡± Cedrick put down his spoon and raised his wine ss. He also offered some pleasantries in return. Gwendolyn was unable to consume alcohol, so she lowered her head and concentrated on her food. She would asionallye up with questions for Caesar, such as the taste of Chanaean dishes. After the meal, Cedrick walked over to Gwendolyn and tried to carry her. Gwendolyn refused. ¡°I want to walk by myself to help with digestion.¡± Cedrick smiled and rubbed the tip of her nose. ¡°Okay.¡± He held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. Then, they left the private room together. Caesar watched the entire scene silently from the side. He admired them and wished that they would be happy from the depth of his heart. The three walked along the corridor of the restaurant. Caesar chose to leave quietly without disturbing their harmonious atmosphere. However, a petite figure stood motionless at the corner of the corridor, staring at Gwendolyn¡¯s back coldly. Gwendolyn felt uneasy as if someone was watching her hostilely. She halted in her tracks and turned around. However, there was no one in the long corridor. Cedrick tightened his grip on her hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Gwenny?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go home.¡± Gwendolyn retracted her gaze and left with Cedrick without looking back. It waste at night. Gwendolyn had been feeling sleepy these days due to her pregnancy, so her sleep quality had gradually improved. She had been dreaming a lot these few days since she agreed to return to reim the session rights this weekend. It was always the same dream. In the dream, there was a little girl whose face she couldn¡¯t see clearly, holding her hand and calling her sweetly. ¡°Gwendolyn, I really like you, but I¡¯m also so envious of you. You have your father and brothers to spoil you. I have nothing. I don¡¯t have a family or a home. If only¡­ you could give me your father and brothers! I¡¯m sorry, Gwendolyn!¡± The girl¡¯s sweet and gentle voice would suddenly turn sinister at the end of her words. The once innocent and bright face gradually morphed into the face of the devil. Then, Gwendolyn would lose her bnce and fall into icy cold water. She continued to sink, and the strong sense of suffocation enveloped her. ¡°Who are you?¡± Her eyes popped open, and she sat up quickly. She instinctively looked down at herself and realized that she was wearing a white nightgown and sitting on her familiar soft bed. Phew, it was only a nightmare. Although she was fully awake, the ufortable feeling of drowning felt real. But I know how to swim. How could I drown? Cedrick was a light sleeper and immediately woke up when Gwendolyn sat up in bed. He turned on the bedsidemp and wrapped his arms from behind her. Then, he took a tissue to wipe the cold sweat off her forehead with a worried expression. ¡°Gwenny, did you have a nightmare again? Does it have something to do with your mental well-being? Let¡¯s go to the hospital tomorrow.¡± Gwendolyn took in a deep breath and held his hands. When she thought of the dreams she had been having for the past few nights, she said seriously, ¡°Ceddy, I feel like these dreams aren¡¯t dreams but things that actually happened before. It must have happened when I got into an ident when I was fifteen years old!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 387 Chapter 387 Cedrick¡¯s expression became stern all of a sudden. ¡°Are you saying you nearly drowned when you were fifteen, and someone might¡¯ve pushed you?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°I lost my memory until the night I married you. You intentionally worked overtime at the office and didn¡¯te back. Natasha came looking for me that night and said a lot of things to hurt my feelings. She caught me off guard and pushed me into the pond from behind. I hit my head on the corals and regained my memory.¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart broke when she mentioned the events from three years ago. Overwhelmed by guilt, he hugged her tighter. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t notice the change in his mood, so she continued, ¡°However, I can¡¯t remember anything about what happened to me. asionally, fragments of my memory would pop up in my mind when I get triggered. That being said, I could never connect those fragments of memory together.¡± Cedrick mulled over it for a while and came up with a theory. ¡°Gwenny, could you have lost your memory because you were injected with some substance?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible.¡± She put her hand over her chest and felt her heartbeat before burying her head in Cedrick¡¯s chest. ¡°Ceddy, I¡¯ve been feeling uneasy since I started having nightmares. I keep feeling as though something bad is going to happen.¡± Cedrick couldn¡¯t help feeling anxious upon hearing that. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯ve been too tired from work recently, and you¡¯re under too much pressure. Don¡¯t overthink. Why don¡¯t you just take a few days off and rx?¡± he consoled her. Gwendolyn gave it some thought and replied, ¡°Forget about it. I have too many things on my hands. If I don¡¯t finish my work, I¡¯ll feel agitated.¡± With that, she got out of Cedrick¡¯s embrace and sprawled on his cross-leggedp. She then brushed her hair aside, revealing her back and fair neck, folded her arms, and rested her headzily on her arms. In a weary tone, she uttered, ¡°Ceddy, I had a nightmare, and I¡¯m feeling weak all over. Please give me a massage.¡± Cedrick froze momentarily when heid eyes on her posture and saw how plump her bottom was. While feasting his eyes on her, he gulped and felt his body heating up. Therefore, he bent forward and whispered in Gwendolyn¡¯s ear, ¡°Do you have any idea how sexy you look right now?¡± Gwendolyn turned around and asked with an arched brow, ¡°Are you losing control of yourself?¡± Cedrick tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear and murmured, ¡°The woman on myp is my future wife. Do you think I should hold myself back?¡± ¡°Focus on massaging me. If I¡¯m not satisfied with your service, I¡¯ll spank you with a rod!¡± She scoffed and shut her eyes. Cedrick stared at her side profile and grumbled inwardly. She seduced me, but she¡¯s preventing me from doing anything about my urge! This is so frustrating! How am I supposed to suppress my urge? With that in mind, he gritted his teeth silently. Right then, Gwendolyn urged, ¡°Get on with it. I¡¯m going to sleep after the massage.¡± Cedrick immediately concealed his frustration and massaged her shoulders and acupoints. Ever since Gwendolyn got pregnant, she had been weaker than usual. Since she often felt tired and sore all over her body, Cedrick took a messaging lesson a few days prior. His massaging skills were so good that Gwendolyn dozed off on hisp in no time. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Gwenny?¡± he called out softly. Upon ensuring she was asleep, he reached out his hand to pat and rub her bottom. I¡¯ll treat this as a reward for the half an hour massage I¡¯ve given her! Suddenly, Gwendolyn moved and groaned. Cedrick retracted his hand at once and pulled her into his embrace carefully, pulled the nket over her, and fell asleep. Gwendolyn woke up early the following day for the opening ceremony. Eloise disrupted the n for the opening ceremony the other day, so after having a discussion with the film crew, the opening ceremony was rescheduled. By using cosmetics suitable for pregnant women, she put on ayer of light makeup and hurried out after breakfast. Without Eloise messing things up, the opening ceremony went smoothly, and it waspleted within two hours. Around noon, Gwendolyn returned to Angle Corporation and thought about taking a nap. Unfortunately for Gwendolyn, Joanne came knocking on her door frantically a few minutes after Gwendolyn dozed off. ¡°Ms. Harris, did you see the news? Something serious has happened!¡± Joanne uttered. Gwendolyn became alert when she saw how anxious Joanne was. Upon checking her iPad, Gwendolyn saw that Joaquin had made headlines. This is serious! If this isn¡¯t dealt with carefully, it¡¯ll ruin Joaquin¡¯s future and cause Angle Corporation¡¯s stocks to plummet. Explicit photos of Joaquin were all over the inte. The photos showed Joaquin sleeping half-naked in bed with a blurred image of a woman beside him. More importantly, it seemed like there were different women in each photo. An uproar broke out on the inte as soon as those photos were leaked. Needless to say, theizens were all in shock. Joaquin was only neen. If he were to bebeled as a promiscuous artist at such a young age, his career could end prematurely. Seeing that the photos were only published an hour ago, there was still a chance to turn things around. ¡°Ms. Harris, what should we do now? Thepany¡¯s public rtions department had already tried to soften the blow, but theizens are asking Mr. Zipper to make a public statement. Moments earlier, I called his manager, who said the agency could no longer contact Mr. Zipper. They have no idea where Mr. Zipper is at this moment. Hence, we don¡¯t even know if the photos online are legit. Gosh! Mr. Zipper is Angle Corporation¡¯s best male artist. If he gets taken down, it¡¯ll affect ourpany badly!¡± Joanne was on pins and needles and on the verge of a mental breakdown. On the contrary, Gwendolyn was still reading the trending topics silently. ¡°Say something, Ms. Harris!¡± Joanne urged. Gwendolyn replied in a calm and collected tone, ¡°The Zipper family is very strict. Although Joaquin is a mischievous man who invites trouble, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s promiscuous. I believe in him.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve already asked someone to investigate the photos found online. Those photos aren¡¯t edited. It¡¯s impossible he was forced to do it, right?¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn lifted her gaze toward Joanne and instructed, ¡°Make an announcement in the company¡¯s name and say that I believe in Joaquin. No matter what, Angle Corporation will have his back! Tell theizens to be patient because things will turn around.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Joanne didn¡¯t dare to do as she was told. ¡°Please think it through, Ms. Harris. If we make an announcement like that, Angle Corporation will cease to exist when things go south!¡± Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t fazed because she had already made up her mind. ¡°Just do as I say. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Since Joanne couldn¡¯t convince Gwendolyn otherwise, Joanne had no choice but to leave Gwendolyn¡¯s office reluctantly and inform the public rtions department about Gwendolyn¡¯s instruction. A few minutes after Joanne left, she returned and reported, ¡°Ms. Harris, some people from the Zipper family in Faike are here to see you.¡± Chapter 388 Chapter 388 ¡°Invite them in,¡± Gwendolyn uttered calmly. Two men dressed as bodyguards walked in and bowed at Gwendolyn respectfully. ¡°Ms. Harris, Old Mr. Zipper sent us here. He wishes to terminate the contract between Mr. Zipper and Angle Corporation. We were also instructed to bring Mr. Zipper back with us.¡± Gwendolyn kept mum for a while. Old Mr. Zipper is doing this to minimize my losses because he¡¯s afraid that Joaquin might drag me down. ¡°I¡¯m not terminating the contract. Please tell Old Mr. Zipper I¡¯ll stand by Joaquin¡¯s side no matter what happens!¡± she eventually replied. The bodyguards exchanged nces. They were merely there to ry a message, so neither of them could make a decision. Hence, they said, ¡°In that case, please hand Mr. Zipper over to us. We need to bring him back to Faike.¡± Gwendolyn knew Patrick would surely punish Joaquin. Regardless of whether Joaquin is responsible for what¡¯s happening, the scandal is all over the inte, so the Zipper family¡¯s business must¡¯ve taken a hit as well. It¡¯s obvious that Old Mr. Zipper is enraged. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have sent his men here for Joaquin. If Joaquin ends up in their hands, he¡¯ll be punished severely. The bodyguards were waiting for Gwendolyn¡¯s response. ¡°Ms. Harris?¡± one of them voiced. The bodyguard¡¯s voice brought Gwendolyn back to her senses. With a serious expression, she answered, ¡°We lost contact with Joaquin, and we¡¯re still trying to locate him. Please tell Old Mr. Zipper that if I locate Joaquin, I¡¯ll help him discipline Joaquin before sending him back to Faike so that Old Mr. Zipper can do the same.¡± The bodyguards exchanged nces once again. ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to find Mr. Zipper, either. In fact, we couldn¡¯t even reach his phone. Hence, we thought he was hiding here.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not here. I only learned about the scandal minutes ago,¡± she uttered in response. ¡°All right, then. We¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and told Joanne to see the bodyguards off. The moment the bodyguards left, Gwendolyn¡¯s phone rang. Gwendolyn smiled and shook her head helplessly. What¡¯s going on today? Why is everything happening at once? I can¡¯t even take a breather. She then picked up her phone and saw that it was a call from Cedrick. ¡°I saw the trending topic on the inte and the statement Angle Corporation had published,¡± Cedrick said in a stern tone the second the call connected. ¡°So? Are you also asking me to give up on Joaquin?¡± Gwendolyn questioned. Cedrick went silent for a few seconds before responding, ¡°I¡¯ve already gotten Swain to locate Joaquin. Would you like to see him, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn was slightly stunned because she didn¡¯t expect Cedrick to beat her to it. I was just about to get someone to locate Joaquin! Before Gwendolyn could answer him, Cedrick added, ¡°If you¡¯re interested, Gwenny,e downstairs. I¡¯m already in Angle Corporation¡¯s underground parking lot.¡± Dumbfounded, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What? Are you already here? You¡¯re quick!¡± Cedrick said in a hoarse and alluring voice, ¡°The second rule in the family rule says that men must always prioritize their wives. I must show my effort, no?¡± Gwendolyn was pleased, so she teased, ¡°You¡¯re bing more obedient, aren¡¯t you, Ceddy? Does that mean we no longer need to keep the ruler and the rod in the house?¡± ¡°Sure! In that case, I¡¯ll get rid of the nk and the Lego pieces tomorrow!¡± ¡°No,¡± Gwendolyn uttered unhesitatingly. She thought those tools coulde in handy in the future. ¡°I need to keep my belongings. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± A couple of minutester, Gwendolyn took the elevator downstairs and saw the familiar car in the parking lot from afar. Besides, she also saw a handsome figure leaning against the car door. Upon seeing Gwendolyn approaching, Cedrick opened the passenger door for her and fastened her seatbelt for her after she entered the car. When his face was right in front of Gwendolyn, she took the opportunity to give him a peck on the lips. Cedrick froze momentarily and quickly fastened her seatbelt. He then pinched her chin and deepened the kiss. After they kissed, Gwendolyn wiped the lipstick stain off of his lips and said, ¡°I have to touch up my makeup because you ate my lipstick!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. You look perfect.¡± Cedrick caressed her cheek and straightened his body before returning to the driver¡¯s seat. When they were in the car, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°You got here soon after I learned about the news. When did you start locating Joaquin?¡± While driving, Cedrick replied in a serious manner, ¡°One hour ago. When it was first published on the inte.¡± ¡°Did you start locating him right away? How did you know I wasn¡¯t going to give up on him to minimize my losses?¡± ¡°I know you.¡± Cedrick shed a faint smile. Gwendolyn hates as strongly as she loves. She¡¯ll take revenge on the people who wronged her and return the same kind of pain a hundred times over. When ites to those she loves, she¡¯ll do everything in her power to protect them. ¡­ Shortly after, Cedrick and Gwendolyn arrived at Quinary Bar. Gwendolyn was ready to storm into the ce, but as soon as she stepped in, the pungent smell of alcohol, cigarettes, and perfumes hit her nose. As a result, she hurried toward a corner and started to puke. Cedrick rubbed her back and called Nico. ¡°Reserved the entire Quinary Bar. Empty the ce except for private room 3805. Also, instruct the staff to clean up the ce within fifteen minutes. I don¡¯t want even a hint of this disgusting smell lingering around after they¡¯re done,¡± Cedrick ordered. Gwendolyn was gradually getting over the nauseousness, so she shook her head at him and said, ¡°Forget about it. That¡¯s troublesome and time-consuming. I¡¯ll just endure it.¡± ¡°No. Wait fifteen minutes,¡± Cedrick insisted. ¡°All right, then.¡± Gwendolyn let him carry her to the back seat of the car. She had been busy throughout the morning, so she started to feel sleepy. She ended up dozing off in his arms two minutester. Nico got everything settled in Quinary Bar fifteen minutester. Cedrick wanted to sneak into the bar to look for Joaquin. However, Gwendolyn woke up the moment he moved a muscle. Left without a choice, Cedrick carried her into the bar and arrived outside private room 3805. Nico pushed the door open, and they saw the tables and floor were filled with wine bottles. Nico had to spray some air freshener to mask the disgusting stench of alcohol in the room. Afterward, Gwendolyn pinched her nose and entered the room. Joaquin was lying on the couch. Heavily intoxicated, his cheeks were ruddy with alcohol, and he was no longer conscious. It was obvious that he had plenty to drink before that. Gwendolyn saw red when she saw the state he was in. No wonder people could take advantage of him! He¡¯s dead drunk! She then suppressed her anger and turned toward Nico, who was standing by the door. ¡°Ask the server for a bucket of iced water so that I can sober Mr. Zipper up!¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°Okay!¡± Nico soon came back with a bucket of iced water. Cedrick sat down on a couch at the side to avoid getting sshed by the iced water. Ssh! Joaquin woke up instantly, and his teeth were chattering when Gwendolyn poured the icy water all over him. However, he still hadn¡¯t sobered uppletely. He waved his arms around angrily and fumed, ¡°Who poured water on me? You¡¯re courting death!¡± Gwendolyn folded her arms and stared at him expressionlessly. ¡°It¡¯s me. Your worst nightmare!¡± Chapter 389 Chapter 389 Joaquin was still drunk, and his mind felt slow and heavy under the influence of alcohol. He boldly wagged a finger at Gwendolyn and proimed in a slurred voice, ¡°What is the meaning of this? Who are you? I don¡¯t know you!¡± His words angered Gwendolyn. This boy needs to be put in his ce! She looked around the room, but there was no suitable item to punish him with. Then, she nced at the belt around Cedrick¡¯s waist. Cedrick followed her gaze and immediately knew what she was thinking. ¡°No!¡± He frowned and shook his head firmly. Gwendolyn thought about it again, but she did not change her mind. She turned her eyes to Nico who was standing by the door and said to him, ¡°Your belt, give it to me.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Huh?¡± Nico was confused by her strange sudden request. He looked at Cedrick but found no answer there either. He had no choice but to unfasten his belt and hand it over to Gwendolyn. Right before he gave the belt to her, a realization hit him. ¡°Are you intending to punish this boy? That¡¯s hardbor! You¡¯ll be tired from the whipping! Let me do it! I¡¯m good at it!¡± Gwendolyn agreed. ¡°Hit him hard. Make sure he feels pain, but don¡¯t injure him too badly.¡± ¡°Roger!¡± Nico rolled up his sleeves and turned to face Joaquin, and startedughing to himself. He approached Joaquin with a poker face and cracked his belt in an enthusiastic greeting. Snap! The snap of the belt meeting Joaquin¡¯s exposed skin kept ringing through the air. ¡°Ouch! It hurts! It hurts! Stop hitting me!¡± Joaquin howled. He fell to the ground and curled up into a fetal position. He writhed around the floor, trying to avoid contact with the belt in futility. He rolled around the floor in pain. His mind cleared immediately as the alcohol lost its hold on him. ¡°Stop hitting me! Ouch! Gwendolyn! I¡¯m sober now! I¡¯mpletely sober!¡± Nico nced at Gwendolyn over his shoulders. She nodded at him. He immediately ceased his whipping and looped the belt back around his waist. Gwendolyn approached and sat down on a nearby couch, looking down at Joaquin who was still curled up on the ground. ¡°Listen here, you little b*stard! You¡¯d better remember who I am! If you have already sober and are still messing with me, I¡¯ll just send you back to the Zipper residence. I¡¯ll let Old Mr. Zipper deal with you himself! His punishments are worse than being whipped with a belt, right?¡± Joaquin rubbed his sore body and stared up at her. When recognition hit him, he sat up immediately and said, ¡°Gwendolyn! It¡¯s you¡­¡± Gwendolyn folded her arms in front of her chest and stared back at him coldly. He quickly tried to make excuses for himself. ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s so rare for me to get two days off! I went out for drinks with a few friends. Is that such a bad thing? Does it really justify handing me over to my grandpa?¡± ¡°You had two days off, and you were drunk for the entire two days?¡± Joaquin nodded, unashamed. ¡°Yes!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes turned to ice. She pulled out her phone, searched for the trending topic online, and tossed the phone at him. ¡°Look at this!¡± Joaquin grabbed the phone, looking bored. His expression gradually turned to shock when he saw his name written all over the screen. ¡°W-What is this? When did this happen? I was just drinking with my friends for the past two days! I swear I didn¡¯t do anything else! Gwendolyn, you must believe me! I would never touch these women! They¡¯re disgusting to me!¡± Cedrick, who had kept quiet up until then, spoke up and said, ¡°It¡¯s not enough for her to believe you. Everyone else must believe you, too.¡± ¡°What am I going to do? What will happen to my career, the Zipper family name, and Angle? We¡¯re all done for!¡± Joaquin was hysterical and worried. With his name in the mud, it was not just Gwendolyn and his grandfather who wanted to hit him, he wanted to p himself as well. He ran his hands through his hair in a gesture of anger and frustration. His motion hiked up his sleeves, revealing the red marks from the whipping earlier. ¡°Which son of a b*tch did this to me? Who dares to ruin my reputation?¡± Gwendolyn ignored his outburst and did not try to stop him. This punk had been drinking for two days straight and allowed a disastrous incident has happened! He should beat himself up a little! The other three people in the room merely watched Joaquin quietly. After a while, Cedrick broke the silence and said, ¡°You must think carefully about who it might be. It must be someone who¡¯s close to you. Who invited you out for drinks? Who sat at the table with you? You should list them out.¡± ¡°I-I¡­¡± Joaquin stammered. He dived into his thoughts but became more and more agitated. ¡°I don¡¯t really remember anything! I was so drunk! I forgot everything¡­¡± Gwendolyn frowned at his weak answer. ¡°Keep whipping him until he remembers!¡± she ordered. Nico undid his belt again and swiftlynded another strike on Joaquin. The boy howled. He shielded his face with his hands and rolled around on the ground, trying to escape. Nico was ruthless. He dealt one strike after another painful strike mercilessly. Joaquin often suffered corporal punishment at home and was used to the pain, but even so, Nico¡¯s whipping was too much for him to bear. ¡°Stop! It hurts! I remember everything! I¡¯ll tell you now!¡± Nico paused immediately, but he did not put away his belt. He waited for Joaquin to speak. ¡°It was Max who called me up and invited me to Quinary Bar. Besides him, there were two other people who came together, Jeffrey and Pablo. They¡¯re both good friends of mine. Halfway through our drinking session, some of their friends joined us. Then, friends of their friends joined us. All boys. It didn¡¯t bother me. We all just drank and had fun together. I can¡¯t remember any of their names.¡± Gwendolyn thought for a minute before asking, ¡°Was there anyone who behaved strangely?¡± Joaquin racked his brain. ¡°No, I really can¡¯t recall any weird behavior. We were all just drinking and having fun. Who would pay so much attention to the details?¡± Gwendolyn red at him, and Nico brandished the belt in his hand in a threatening manner. Joaquin trembled and covered his head in fear. ¡°Gwendolyn, I really don¡¯t know! I never asked the names of all those boys. Even if you whipped me to death, I still won¡¯t have the answer!¡± Gwendolyn softened. She handed him a ss of water. ¡°Here, have some water, and get off the floor. Sit on the couch.¡± She had decided to cease interrogating him. Instead, she turned to Nico and said, ¡°Investigate Max, Jeffrey, and Pablo. See if there had been anything suspicious in their activities in thest month. After that, go to the hotels in the vicinity and have a look at their guest records and surveince videos.¡± Joaquin¡¯s trending photos all featured a bed in the background. Someone must have drugged him, then brought him to a nearby hotel to take those compromisingphotos when he was unconscious. As soon as Nico departed, Cedrick immediately walked up to Gwendolyn and wrapped his arms around her. ¡°Let¡¯s have a look at the surveince videos of Quinary Bar for the past two days.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, squeezing him in return. ¡°Ceddy, I¡¯m so d you¡¯re here. Everything that needs to be done has been handled by you. I feel so relieved.¡± Cedrick lowered his face and rubbed their noses together as if no one else was in the room ¡°You just have to trust me and listen to my n. If there¡¯s anything that I¡¯ve missed out on, you can just tell me.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± They smiled and gazed at each other with eyes filled with love. Joaquin was watching them, stupefied. He hung his head in shame. Cedrick moved toward the door. When he saw that Joaquin still had not moved, he asked in a cold voice, ¡°Mr. Joaquin, are youing?¡± ¡°You two are going to look at the surveince videos. What am I supposed to look at? Your disgusting public disy of affection?¡± Chapter 390 Chapter 390 Gwendolyn felt slightly annoyed. ¡°Is this your problem or mine? If you don¡¯t actively participate in this, I¡¯ll turn you over to the Zipper family tonight!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t do that. I was wrong.¡± Joaquin cleaned the water stains from his body with tissues and tidied his hair, before standing up reluctantly. Gwendolyn chided him further, ¡°Hurry over and open the door for me.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ming right now.¡± Soon, the three of them arrived at the surveince room. Based on Joaquin¡¯s recollection, they had asked the surveince room staff to y all the footage from the moment Joaquin entered the VIP room at ten times the speed, looking for any unusual sightings within them. As long as it wasn¡¯t Joaquin¡¯s fault, then he must have been transported out of the bar to take pictures. Thus, it was impossible for him to have left no trace behind. Since he had too much to drink, Joaquin felt dizzy and drowsy not long after seeing the surveince footage ying at high speed and dozens of camera angles filming countless people moving around. As he was afraid that he might get beaten up, he forced himself to stay awake and continue to view the footage. asionally, Joaquin would tilt his head toward Cedrick, who was sitting next to him, and observe him quietly. He noticed that Cedrick¡¯s gaze was sharp and steely as he monitored dozens of camera footage simultaneously, without showing any sign of tiredness. Joaquin could not believe it. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Is it possible for him to spot even the tiniest evidence if dozens of surveince footage are ying at ten times the speed simultaneously? While Joaquin was still deep in his thoughts, Cedrick had already instructed the staff to pause the footage. Narrowing his eyes, he then ordered the staff, ¡°Rewind.¡± Unsatisfied with the paused footage, he added, ¡°Rewind the video a bit more.¡± Both the surveince camera in Room 3805 as well as the one in the corridor around the corner, were missing half an hour of footage from seven until half past seven in the evening. The time disyed on the screen abruptly changed from 7:00 p.m. to 7:31 p.m. In contrast, the other monitors showed a normal time disy, but nothing abnormal was observed at the entrance between seven and half past seven in the evening. Having figured out Cedrick¡¯s suspicion, Gwendolyn suggested, ¡°They might have taken the staff passage because there would be no surveince cameras over there.¡± Cedrick nodded and made a phone call to Nico. ¡°I need you to check the surveince cameras in the nearby hotels starting at seven in the morning today.¡± As soon as he hung up the phone, he looked at the bar staff again. ¡°The surveince cameras have been tampered with. Did anyone else visit this surveince room today besides us?¡± The supervisor of the surveince room, Sabino Cross, appeared perplexed as he replied, ¡°Mr. Jenson, our visitor log is confidential, just as we have kept your visitation a secret from everyone else.¡± Cedrick wasted no more time on Sabino as he pulled out the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s identification card, shing an icy, cold re at thetter. ¡°I am collecting evidence on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If you don¡¯t tell me the truth, I can only suspect that you have received benefits and are deliberately concealing evidence. I will bring you back to the bureau for further investigation.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Mr. Jenson¡­¡± Sabino began to panic. ¡°Have you ever spent the night at the Federal Bureau of Investigation? If you¡¯re interested, I can arrange a private room with special treatment for you.¡± As Cedrick delivered his threats calmly, Sabino felt chills running down his spine, causing his entire body to tremble in fear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Jenson! It is true that I have received some money!¡± Sabino¡¯s hands trembled as he pulled out a bank card from his pocket, and ced it on the table obediently. ¡°This card has two hundred thousand worth of hush money in here, but I haven¡¯t touched a single penny of it. Since I won¡¯t have the chance to spend them anyway, I am willing to hand it over to the police.¡± Exuding a strong hostile aura, Cedrick shot him an icy re and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s behind this?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s Mr. Jeffrey Haynes from the Haynes family. He¡¯s the only person who visited the room this morning, iming to have lost a valuable item and requesting to see the surveince footage.¡± Joaquin blew up in anger as soon as he heard Sabino¡¯s answer. ¡°F*ck! What a b*stard Jeffrey is! I¡¯ve been good to him all along, and yet he set me up! Is he forcing me to die by putting me in that situation?¡± He was so furious that he had the urge to smash the chairs in the room and knock over the tables. However, Cedrick managed to grab his wrist to stop him from doing so. With just two moves, Cedrick had sessfully locked Joaquin¡¯s arms behind his back, preventing him from causing a disastrous mess. ¡°I¡¯m not rted to the Zipper family in any way. Not only will I not pay for the damages you caused here, but I am also going to bring you to the bureau to calm you down. Would you like to try that?¡± It was impossible for Joaquin to vent his rage while Cedrick was present. Immediately, he slumped his shoulders in defeat and replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Behave yourself, then.¡± After letting Joaquin go, Cedrick then turned around to hug Gwendolyn, who was seated on the chair, and gently exined to her, ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions too quickly. We¡¯ll wait for the oue of Nico¡¯s investigation.¡± She gave him a quick kiss and remarked, ¡°I was just sitting here for a while, and yet you¡¯ve helped me thoroughly investigate this matter.¡± Unsatisfied with the kiss, Cedrick scoffed, ¡°So you realize how wonderful it is to have me as your fianc¨¦, huh?¡± Gwendolyn corrected him, ¡°You mean future husband.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m your husband! So, do you think your future husband is awesome?¡± His dark eyes flickered as he gazed at Gwendolyn, his tone of voice had a hint of coyness, hoping to garner some compliments from her. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re awesome.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s more to me than you can ever imagine. I¡¯ll show you what I¡¯ve in store in the future!¡± ¡°How shameless you are!¡± Gwendolyn scoffed. Cedrick whispered in a seductive, low voice, ¡°Be a good girl and call me Hubby, will you? If you do, my life will be yours.¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless upon hearing his words. The two of them continued to flirt with each other as they walked. Meanwhile, Joaquin was listening in on their conversation as he trailed behind them. He was so furious that he punched the air instead. Hey, I¡¯m the third-wheeler here! What kind of person would even talk like that? Can¡¯t they show any consideration for a third-wheeler who has been smothered by cheesy and affectionate conversations? Feeling utterly dissatisfied, Joaquin sped up so that he could walk alongside Cedrick. ¡°You are indeed an amazing person, Mr. Jenson. In particr, your vtile personality is exceptionally outstanding as well. What do you think?¡± Faced with Joaquin¡¯s mockery, Cedrick merely replied in a calm voice, ¡°I only have two different attitudes when dealing with people. One is for Gwenny, and the other is for everyone else.¡± He then added, ¡°Joaquin, I know that you were interested in Gwenny before. However, I advise that you keep those thoughts to yourself because you are definitely no match for me. You¡¯re still young and reckless, and I was once like you in the past. Even so, it¡¯s best that you mellow down for a few years and be a mature person. Your life will undoubtedly be a waste if you keep cking off and avoiding your obligations.¡± Joaquin was dumbfounded after getting lectured by Cedrick. Even though he wanted to refute Cedrick¡¯s words, Joaquin couldn¡¯t utter a word at all. Despite being a famous and trendy young idol, Joaquin¡¯s acting chops were mediocre. In fact, he relied entirely on his good looks to thrive in the entertainment industry. So far, there weren¡¯t any representative work under his belt. Noticing Joaquin¡¯s defeated expression and how he was unable to refute Cedrick¡¯s words, Gwendolyn said teasingly, ¡°Are you conceding defeat this time, little brat?¡± Joaquin didn¡¯t respond to her question. Even if Cedrick¡¯s remarks weren¡¯t quite as stinging this time, they were extremely humiliating, causing Joaquin to feel as if his defenses were about to crumble. Meanwhile, Nico¡¯s call came as soon as they exited the staff passageway at Quinary Bar. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve made some progress in the investigation. Max Clemons, the heir to the Clemons family, booked a room at the Bronze Bliss Hotelst night and checked out the next day. However, after talking with the hotel¡¯s staff, and we¡¯ve also viewed the surveince footage, there was nothing unusual about it. During that period, he never returned to the hotel, and there wasn¡¯t any hotel booking requested by the other two men. Nothing out of the usual happened in this case.¡± They would have hit a dead end with their clues if that were the case. Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed heavily as his expression became stern all of a sudden. He felt as if that they had overlooked a crucial detail. Chapter 391 Chapter 391 Cedrick thought of something and ordered Nico, ¡°Contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Tell them to apprehend Pablo immediately. I want to interrogate him myself.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Nico was puzzled. ¡°Among the three of them, Pablo hasn¡¯t done anything oundish.¡± ¡°I want Pablo captured. I won¡¯t repeat myself again,¡± insisted Cedrick. They all thought these were photos of a bed. The current assumption was that someone brought Joaquin out of the bar and carried him to a nearby hotel. Then, that person called a few beautiful women to the hotel room to take a few photos. However, there isn¡¯t actually aplete bed in the photos. All we can see are white pillows and a quilt cover. It¡¯s unsurprising we all thought these were photos of a bed at first nce. He lowered his sight, ncing at Gwendolyn in his embrace. Whenever he had an idea, he would choose to tell her first. ¡°Those photos on the inte aren¡¯t depicting a bed. They were taken in the bar¡¯s private room, Gwenny. When I checked the surveince footage earlier, I noticed people started leaving the room at two in the morning. Meanwhile, Pablo left nonchntly after half past seven in the morning. I think he took the pictures during that missing half hour.¡± Upon hearing the analysis, Joaquin exploded in anger. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it was Pablo! He¡¯s usually polite and reasonable. Heck, he even performed a good deed in front of us one time. To think he¡¯s capable of such evil! I want him captured as soon as possible so I can y him alive!¡± Gwendolyn shook her head resignedly with a grin as she watched Joaquin lose his temper and yell like a madman. ¡°I suggest you think of how to exin the situation to Old Mr. Zipper first. There¡¯s no doubt he¡¯s still angry after you turn off your phone since he can¡¯t reach you. If you can¡¯t quell his rage, you¡¯d better get ready to be beaten to death.¡± In response, Joaquin shuddered in fear. I can still vividly feel the pain that the belt left on me! Only death awaits me if I return to the Zipper residence! He approached Cedrick and Gwendolyn, pleading, ¡°You have to help me, Gwendolyn! It¡¯s the end for me if I return home! If that happens, you¡¯ll never be able to see such a cute, docile, and handsome young man like me again! Moreover, I won¡¯t be able to help you earn more money!¡± Cedrick red at the whining Joaquin coldly and said grimly, ¡°She has me, so she doesn¡¯t need a troublesome dog like you around. You signed a contract, and if you can¡¯t bring profits to thepany, you¡¯re better off dead.¡± Joaquin pouted and turned to Gwendolyn,ining, ¡°Look at how mean he is, Gwendolyn! Can¡¯t you do something about it?¡± Stifling a giggle, Gwendolyn teased, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re cute, but you do resemble a dog, and you are quite troublesome.¡± Joaquin was at a loss for words. Seeing the bitter expression he was wearing, she hastily rified, ¡°I was just joking with you. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll think of a way to help you handle Old Mr. Zipper.¡± The moment she ended her sentence, Cedrick carried her back into the car. Joaquin immediately followed them. Nico needed time to apprehend Pablo, so the trio decided to wait in the vehicle. While they were waiting, Cedrick bought some fresh fruits and sliced them before feeding Gwendolyn, who was sitting in the passenger¡¯s seat. Joaquin leaned forward, his head hovering between the driver¡¯s and passenger¡¯s seats. ¡°The fruit looks fresh, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯m thirsty, too. This¡¯ll help me¡ª¡± Joaquin reached out to grab the fruit slices, but Cedrick swiftly smacked the back of the former¡¯s hand without warning and glowered at him. ¡°This is Gwenny¡¯s. Go buy your own if you want some.¡± Joaquin puffed his cheeks and grumbled in an undertone. Meanwhile, Cedrick ignored the sullen Joaquin and focused wholly on feeding Gwendolyn fruits. He delivered a juicy strawberry to Gwendolyn, which she ate two-thirds of with a single bite. ¡°Is it delicious, Gwenny?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes,¡± said Gwendolyn, her mouth stuffed. She was adorably quiet, which was rare. Staring at the remaining chunk of strawberry in his hand, Cedrick tossed it into his mouth to taste it. Gwendolyn arched her eyebrow while peering at him. ¡°I¡¯ve bitten off part of that strawberry. Do you like it?¡± Their eyes met, and though Cedrick wasn¡¯t saying anything, the look in his eyes indicated that he loved the strawberry, which was exceptionally sweet. In response, she snagged another strawberry and put on an alluring smile as she said mischievously, ¡°This one is much sweeter and tastier. Would you like to try it?¡± With that, she held the strawberry between her white teeth and eyed Cedrick provocatively, seemingly prompting him toe at her. I don¡¯t think he has the guts to do it in front of Joaquin. The mischief in her eyes intensified. Eyeing her impish expression, Cedrick leaned toward her without consideration. He bit off half of the strawberry in her mouth and kissed her. The sweet scent of strawberries lingered in their mouths and noses as their breaths intertwined. They kissed passionately and naturally as though they were alone in this world. Sexual tension soon filled the vehicle. Meanwhile, an air of intense jealousy was present in the back of the car. Joaquin stared at the couple in disbelief while tousling his own hair in utter frustration. This is driving me crazy! I feel guilty and like I should be at the bottom of the car, not inside it! Still, this moment they¡¯re having is simply too sweet. I¡¯m envious, obviously. I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re doing this in front of me, a poor single guy. Although, if I disturb them, I¡¯ll probably feel even more guilty. Ah, f*ck it. I¡¯m leaving this bloody car! In the end, he opened the door pitifully and sneaked out of the vehicle without interrupting the couple¡¯s intimate moment. Once he was out, he sprinted a dozen meters away to get some fresh air. Concurrently, Cedrick pulled away from Gwendolyn as soon as Joaquin left. ¡°You¡¯re usually not this petty. What did Joaquin do to tick you off? Why are you purposely getting on his nerves?¡± asked Gwendolyn. Pursing his lips, Cedrick took in the woman¡¯s scent and replied, ¡°He used to like you and spoke ill of me in front of you. Thus, I thought I should return the favor.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be more grudgeful than I am. Why didn¡¯t you get back at me for the many times I bullied you in the past?¡± Cedrick thought about it and answered, ¡°Family rule number one! My wife is my goddess, so everything you did to bully me is a divine punishment I deserve.¡± Upon hearing that, she snorted. ¡°Looks like Kieran¡¯s idea is quite useful. You sure memorized the Precepts for Men well.¡± He fell silent and continued feeding her fruits. Time seemed to tick by slower than usual as they waited. Two hourster, Nico finally called Cedrick. ¡°Pablo has been apprehended. He was preparing to escape when we found him. It took us a lot of effort to capture him from a ne about to take off to another country. We¡¯re taking him to the secret interrogation room in the suburbs. Will you being?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°I will,¡± replied Cedrick. He ended the call and summoned Joaquin back into the vehicle. The trio eventually arrived at the secret interrogation room in the suburbs. When they did, they heard Pablo screaming. ¡°Why did you capture me? I didn¡¯tmit any crimes. Is it because you want money? My family¡¯s pretty rich. I can ask my parents to send cash here.¡± Appearing terrified, he was kneeling on the ground, bounded by ropes. He stopped shouting the moment he saw Joaquin entering the room. Chapter 392 Chapter 392 Filled with rage, Joaquin stomped toward Pablo and punched thetter with all his might. Groaning in pain, Pablo copsed to the ground. ¡°You little sh*t! I treated you well! Two years ago, when that brat from the Jameson family kissed your ex-girlfriend, I was the one who helped you take revenge! I was beaten by my grandfather after that incident and got so badly injured that I was practically bedridden for three whole days, yet I never med you! How dare you try to destroy my career and life! What did I do to you to deserve that?¡± Growing increasingly incensed, Joaquin lifted Pablo by the cor and punched thetter twice. The corner of Pablo¡¯s lips soon bled as his face swelled. Cedrick and Gwendolyn stood aside and watched wordlessly. It wasn¡¯t until Pablo was on the verge of passing out that Cedrick shouted, ¡°That¡¯s enough! Nico, pull Mr. Zipper away.¡± Without dy, Nico stepped forward and dragged Joaquin back by force. Joaquin was still infuriated, so he viciously kicked Pablo¡¯s waist two more times. Moaning in pain, Pablo winced and breathedboriously. Probably because he felt guilty, he didn¡¯t say a word nor retaliate despite being beaten up badly. Gwendolyn wordlessly observed him and the look on his face for a moment. ¡°I can tell you feel guilty about what you did to Joaquin, Pablo. I think you¡¯re not the mastermind behind this incident. Someone directed you to do this. Am I right?¡± Lowering his head, Pablo remained quiet. Cedrick red at Pablo coldly and added, ¡°I asked people to check your bank ount statement. You deposited thirty million in the bank yesterday, and you deposited another fifty million today. However, you haven¡¯t been working for the past six months, and your family didn¡¯t provide you with any allowance. Do you think I won¡¯t suspect where you got the money from?¡± Pablo still kept his mouth shut. Hence, Cedrick turned to look at the wall on the right, gesturing for Pablo to look at the interrogation tools hung on it. ¡°This is a secret interrogation room the Federal Bureau of Investigation uses to question felons. Even the best-trained spies and secret agents can¡¯t endure the torture induced by those tools. Meanwhile, you¡¯re just the pampered son of an affluent family. How long do you think you can hold on, hmm?¡± Pablo was so terrified that he paled and shuddered even harder. Gritting his teeth, Joaquin barked, ¡°I think he should experience what all these tools have to offer! Letting an ingrate like him live is a waste of Earth¡¯s resources!¡± After Cedrick and Joaquin yed their roles as the bad cops, it was Gwendolyn¡¯s turn to y the good cop. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. With a kind expression, she spoke tenderly. ¡°This isn¡¯t a small matter, Pablo. Joaquin¡¯s life will be ruined if the matter isn¡¯t resolved well. He¡¯ll be forever branded as ascivious star. You know what kind of person he is. He¡¯ll do anything he can to help his friends and families. He even aided you multiple times in the past. That¡¯s why he¡¯s very hurt by your betrayal.¡± Pablo lowered his line of sight and dared not look at Joaquin. He was overwhelmed with guilt for hours after he posted those pictures online and saw that they went viral. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t expect it would hurt Joaquin that much.¡± He sobbed sorrowfully. ¡°I identally spent too much money while having fun in Norham some time ago. However, I didn¡¯t have the guts to ask for money from my family. One day, someone abruptly approached me.¡± Gwendolyn knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Shaking his head, he continued, ¡°They contacted me through the dark, though I think they¡¯re a woman. She said she¡¯s a fan of Pablo¡¯s with a weird fetish. She wants pictures of Joaquin lying on a bed with women, though she promised me it was only for her personal fun and that she wouldn¡¯t leak them out. When I heard her offer of eighty million, I faltered. I even deliberately lost Jeffrey¡¯s golden watch so he had an excuse to check the bar¡¯s surveince footage. While he was at it, I asked him to help me delete that half an hour of footage, just in case. I was dumbfounded when the pictures circted on the inte, too. I even tried to contact the woman again but to no avail. She didn¡¯t transfer the money directly into my ount. Instead, she asked me to pick up the check at a designated location before I deposited it myself. I panicked, so I bought a ticket during the afternoon, ready to flee the country. I didn¡¯t expect to be captured.¡± Joaquin was speechless after listening to the story. ¡°What fan? She¡¯s clearly a demon attempting to wipe out my family!¡± Concurrently, Cedrick and Gwendolyn exchanged a nce. This isn¡¯t as simple as we initially thought. Cedrick asked, ¡°Whichpany is the check payable to?¡± After thinking about the question seriously, Pablo answered, ¡°I didn¡¯t see it clearly back then, though I think I saw the word¡­ Harris? Hmm, maybe not¡­¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened the moment she heard that. Cedrick continued, ¡°You caused this mess, so you need to make it up to Joaquin. Nico will bring you to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to take your statement. You need to take responsibility for your wrongdoings, understand?¡± Joaquin lowered his head in defeat, epting his fate. ¡°Yes. I made a mistake and harmed Joaquin. I¡¯ll take full responsibility for that.¡± Promptly, Cedrick nced at Nico. Without dy, Nico brought Joaquin and Pablo to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Once the matter had been settled, the bureau¡¯s official ount would announce Joaquin¡¯s innocence. Cedrick and Gwendolyn were the only ones left in the interrogation room. Wearing a serious frown, Gwendolyn spoke. ¡°Whoever¡¯s behind this, their target wasn¡¯t Joaquin. It was me. Joaquin was just a means to an end.¡± ¡°I doubt we¡¯ll find anything substantial in the dark. The ount the culprit used was probably fake. Do you have any suspects?¡± wondered Cedrick. ¡°It could be Uncle Gideon. I¡¯ll investigate the matter after returning. Whoever did this knows I¡¯ll definitely help Joaquin out. Additionally, I think they¡¯re intentionally distracting me from a bigger scheme they¡¯re cooking up.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you returning to the Harris residence in two days, Gwenny? Marcus will be handing you the position of CEO of Harris Group during that time, right?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°And also the right to inherit all assets of the family. Once the contract is signed, the entire Harris family will belong to me. The Harris family didn¡¯t really have a head, though whoever earned the right of inheritance would be its leader. Cedrick pulled her into his embrace with worry written all over his handsome face. ¡°How about we dy the contract signing? I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll strike right away if everything is too rushed. However, this is your family matter, and we¡¯re not married yet, so I don¡¯t have the right to participate in it. Gwenny, I¡¯m concerned.¡± Cradling his face, Gwendolyn analyzed the pros and cons, ¡°They will get impatient since they don¡¯t have much time, and they¡¯ll likely make mistakes when they strike. If I drag this on, they¡¯ll have time to prepare, and the likelihood of me falling for their dangerous scheme increases. Don¡¯t worry. My brothers will have my back when I return to the Harris residence. Danger won¡¯t befall me.¡± ¡°Gwenny¡ª¡± Cedrick uttered before Gwendolyn pressed her finger on his mouth, cutting him off. ¡°You know me, Ceddy. Once I decide on something, you can¡¯t change my mind.¡± Smiling casually, she continued, ¡°Perhaps the situation two dayster won¡¯t be as dangerous as you think. Instead, the truth might even be revealed.¡± Chapter 393 Chapter 393 An hourter, all trending topics rted to Joaquin had been scrubbed from the inte. The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a penalty notice. It cleared Joaquin¡¯s name, exining he was drunk when someone took pictures of him for money. His fans were relieved upon seeing the notice andmented online. One of them wrote: I told you all there¡¯s no way he¡¯d do such a thing! Those people are just jealous of his poprity! Another chimed in: I¡¯m grateful that Joaquin¡¯s name is cleared. Those keyboard warriors who ndered him should apologize to him! During the car ride back to Harrick Vi, Gwendolyn browsed the new trending topics on her phone. She was satisfied with how the incident concluded. The next day, just as she arrived at Angle, she thought about Patrick and called him. With the excuse of being Angle¡¯s manager, she told the old man that Joaquin¡¯s schedule was full, so he couldn¡¯t return to Faike for the time being. Since Faike was a long distance away and Patrick couldn¡¯t possibly give Joaquin a beating, the former had no choice but to give up. After handling that tricky issue, she reclined in her office chair and sighed in relief. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. However, she only rxed for two seconds before growing tense again. I don¡¯t know what trap awaits me when I return to the Harris residence tomorrow. I need to be prepared. When her train of thought ended there, she called Kieran. The call swiftly connected, and she cut straight to the chase. ¡°I forgot some things that happened fifteen years ago, Kieran. Do you have any drugs that can help me recall those memories?¡± Kieran was usually apathetic andposed, but when he heard her request, he reprimanded, ¡°You¡¯re carrying two babies right now, yet you¡¯re asking me for drugs? Did you even consider how that¡¯ll affect your children?¡± ¡°Erm¡­¡± Embarrassed, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°I was just asking, you know? You always have something up your sleeve.¡± ¡°Not this time. Drugs or treatments that affect your psyche aren¡¯t suitable for your current condition. It¡¯ll cause massive harm.¡± After a brief moment of contemtion, he found it odd because his sister was usually careful. She never did things recklessly. ¡°Did you forget something important?¡± ¡°Yes, very.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. It¡¯s rted to the endless harm and backstabbing I¡¯ve suffered over the years. A sigh escaped Kieran¡¯s lips. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more important than your babies right now, Kiddo.¡± Caressing her abdomen, she sighed gently. Just as she was about to share her suspicions with Kieran, someone knocked on the door urgently. Outside the room, Elven shouted in an anxious and tearful voice, ¡°Something bad has happened, Ms. Gwendolyn! Mr. Marcus suddenly fell down the stairs this noon! You need to return to the Harris residence with me right away!¡± The moment Elven ended his sentence, Kieran abruptly hung up the call. Looks like Kieran has just received the news as well. Without hesitation, Gwendolyn packed her things and expeditiously returned to Marcus¡¯ vi on Mount Tranquil. Leif was expecting her arrival, so he was already waiting for her at the entrance. His eyes were red from crying. Frowning, Gwendolyn questioned him while stepping into the building. ¡°Dad has been wheelchair- bound all this while and needs someone to push him around. How did he suddenly fall down the stairs?¡± Leif began tearing up again. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Mr. Asher arrived around ten minutes ago and is investigating the matter. Mr. Treyton is on his way back, and Mr. Kieran has examined Mr. Marcus¡¯ condition¡­¡± Pausing for a moment, he sobbed sadly and choked back on tears. ¡°He said Mr. Marcus is in a bad condition. There¡¯s a blockage in his brain caused by a blood clot. He¡¯s old, so his physical condition is poor. The risk of him turning into a vegetable after surgery is great, ording to Mr. Kieran. There¡¯s no telling whether Mr. Marcus will wake up again¡­¡± Gwendolyn felt her heart clench. ¡°How did this happen¡­¡± Leif had worked for Marcus his entire life, which was why he was bawling loudly. He truly cared for Marcus. Gwendolyn began tearing up, too. Though, out of concern for her babies, she resisted the urge to cry and headed upstairs. She had just arrived upstairs when she saw a figure leaving Marcus¡¯ room. It turned out to be Evelyn, whose eyes were simrly reddened. There were tear stains on her countenance, and she resembled a frightened little bunny. Anyone would feel sorry for her upon seeing how heartbroken she looked. Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t surprised by Evelyn¡¯s presence as something dawned upon her. She sneered, ¡°You were the one who made me lower my guard fifteen years ago, and you were also the person who appeared in my dreams. Your full name is Evelyn Harris, isn¡¯t it?¡± I¡¯ve always been suspicious about Evelyn¡¯s identity. Not only did she give me an inexplicable sense of familiarity, but she also knew about everything that happened to me in Faike and seemingly paid much attention to me. It was just a guess at first, but when she appeared at the vi¡¯s entrance on New Year¡¯s Eve, I started suspecting her. And now that she¡¯s here after Dad got injured, I can finally connect the dots. Evelyn was stunned for a moment as she raised her eyebrow. A mocking look shed past her eyes before she once again put on an innocent pretense. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, Ms. Harris. Mr. Marcus saved me in the past, and I owe him one. That¡¯s why I came to visit him when I heard something had happened to him. That¡¯s all.¡± Upon shooting Evelyn a frosty re, Gwendolyn made to enter the room, but when she brushed past the former, she stopped in her tracks and confronted, ¡°How long are you going to keep this act up? Are you going to wait until tomorrow, when I¡¯m supposed to sign the right to inheritance, before springing a surprise on me? I already know the truth, though. So, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to see me shocked and in disbelief.¡± Evelyn arched her eyebrow. With a confident look, she replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need to wait until tomorrow, Ms. Harris. Although, I think you¡¯ll still be surprised.¡± There was clearly an underlying meaning behind her words. Upon ending her sentence, she descended the stairs in her high heels. Gwendolyn watched Evelyn¡¯s figure vanish at the corner of the staircase before entering the room to see her father. Inside the room, Marcus was lying motionless in bed while wearing an oxygen mask. A heart rate monitor was sitting on the bedside table, and a needle was jabbed into the back of his hand while his head was wrapped in white bandages. Even though the oxygen mask covered half of his weathered face, it couldn¡¯t hide the wrinkles on his countenance that indicated how much he had aged. Lori was sitting on a nearby chair. When she saw Gwendolyn entering the room, she rolled her eyes disdainfully. Gwendolyn sat next to the bed and held her father¡¯s hand. While gently caressing his coarse skin with her thumb, she turned to Lori and requested, ¡°Leave. I want to spend some time alone with my dad.¡± Scoffing, Lori exited the room wordlessly. Once Lori was gone, Gwendolyn said, ¡°While I argued with you about your decision to marry Lori in the past, I never resented you. I understand you want someone to keep youpany after Mom passed away so long ago. However, Lori isn¡¯t a good woman. She has always been the one pushing your wheelchair, so how did you suddenly fall? Is she responsible for what happened to you, Dad?¡± Chapter 394 Chapter 394 The old man on the bed remained unconscious and didn¡¯t react to Gwendolyn¡¯s words. Of course, Gwendolyn knew her father wouldn¡¯t be able to hear her, let alone respond to her question. She believed Kieran¡¯s diagnosis was correct, but still, she found it hard to ept and wanted to confirm her father¡¯s condition herself. Tears welled in her eyes before dripping onto the back of her hand. Her sorrow was so overwhelming that she struggled to breathe. ¡°They¡¯re animals!¡± growled Gwendolyn with a ferocious look on her face. How dare they hurt Dad just so they can snatch the right to inheritance from me! I won¡¯t forgive the culprit, even if they¡¯re my rtive or someone I love or respect deeply! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this and make the culprit pay!¡± Caressing the back of Marcus¡¯ hand, she rested her head on his arm. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. As her tears quietly seeped into her hair, she recalled all the fatherly love Marcus had showered her with throughout the years. ¡°Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Leif stood at the entrance and carefully knocked on the door. ¡°Your brothers have arrived. They¡¯re waiting for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Suppressing her grief, Gwendolyn tried to sound normal as she elegantly wiped the tears off her countenance. Just as Leif prepared to head downstairs, he was surprised to hear Gwendolyn ask in a small voice, ¡°Did any of my brothers quarrel with Dadtely, Leif?¡± He thought about the question and answered, ¡°I think so. Mr. Treyton had an argument with Mr. Marcus about Ms. Weller.¡± Gwendolyn remained expressionless as she listened attentively. ¡°What about Asher?¡± ¡°He returned once a few days ago to discuss something with Mr. Marcus in the study, but they didn¡¯t argue.¡± ¡°I see. Thanks for telling me.¡± After Gwendolyn collected herself, she slowly descended the stairs. Inside the living room, Asher sat in the center and was apanied by Sienna. Sitting on the left side of the couch were Kieran and Treyton, while Lori was on the right. They were usually cheery, but at that moment, the atmosphere in the living room was somber. Evelyn stood across the coffee table. Tear stains were still visible on her youthful but attractive face. The first to see Gwendolyn descending the stairs was Treyton. He stood up and led her to the spot next to him. After Gwendolyn was seated, Evelyn dolefully exined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my dear brothers and sister. I know my name isn¡¯t on the family¡¯s genealogy because I¡¯m an illegitimate daughter, and I shouldn¡¯t have attended a gathering of the Harris family. However, I was worried about Dad after I heard what happened, so I rushed here as soon as I could. I apologize!¡± Kieran knitted his eyebrows upon listening to her exnation. Meanwhile, Treyton gazed at her in shock and snapped, ¡°I¡¯m not your brother! Why did I never know Dad has an illegitimate daughter? I only know one sister, and that¡¯s Gwendolyn.¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°I¡¯ll leave if my presence here bothers you, Treyton.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. I know about this. Dad told me personally.¡± Asher raised his eyebrow. ¡°Since she¡¯s here, she might as well stay. She¡¯s still family.¡± ¡°Thank you, Asher.¡± Promptly, Evelyn sat down next to Lori. To hide the icy look in her eyes, Gwendolyn kept her head lowered and said nothing. A brief silence ensued in the living room. Everyone was harboring their own thoughts. The first to speak again was Asher. ¡°Kiddo, I think we should focus on treating Dad¡¯s condition first. Other matters can wait until he wakes up.¡± In other words, he wanted to cancel tomorrow¡¯s handover of the right of inheritance. Gwendolyn raised her head and met his eyes. ¡°No. Dad has Kieran by his side. Additionally, we don¡¯t know anything about medicine, so we can¡¯t help Dad in any way. We only need thewyer representing Dad for tomorrow¡¯s signing. After all, someone needs to helm Harris Group.¡± Looking at her with worry in his eyes, Asher advised, ¡°You¡¯re pregnant right now. You need to think about your children, too. If you proceed with the signing tomorrow, you¡¯ll have to shoulder all the responsibilities thate with it. You¡¯ll be exhausted.¡± Kieran added, ¡°Also, you¡¯re carrying twins, which takes a greater toll on your body. Your body won¡¯t be able to handle the stress. I agree we should dy the signing until Dad wakes up.¡± Treyton and Sienna also agreed with that proposal. However, Gwendolyn stubbornly insisted, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of shouldering some stress. I believe my babies can go through this with us together. Uncle Gideon and Uncle Hector won¡¯t hesitate to exploit this opportunity, you know. Someone needs to take charge of the situation, and I¡¯m ready to do just that.¡± Silence befell the room once more. She turned to Asher and continued, ¡°When I was born, Dad established a rule that the family would only be inherited by female descendants. Now that he¡¯s incapacitated, there¡¯s no one else more suitable than me to bear this responsibility. What do you think?¡± Asher remained quiet. Suddenly, Evelyn, who hadn¡¯t said a word, blurted, ¡°What if it¡¯s because you don¡¯t have the right to inherit the family¡¯s assets, Gwendolyn?¡± Her words spurred everyone in the room to turn toward her. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Gwendolyn grinned. ¡°Because you¡¯re not a descendant of the Harris family.¡± Meeting Evelyn¡¯s eyes, Gwendolyn snorted, but she didn¡¯t refute the other woman. ¡°When Dad was out on a business trip, your mother was impregnated by another man. This is something that even Dad doesn¡¯t know. As a precaution, Dad took a strand of your hair and ran a paternity test with it.¡± Evelyn grabbed the test report from her bag and set it on the coffee table. ¡°I unintentionally saw this report inside the drawer of Dad¡¯s bedside table. After asking Ms. Lori about it, I learned Dad was enraged after receiving the report during the morning. He even chased Ms. Lori and Leif away. Unfortunately, he got so agitated that he identally fell down the stairs. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask Ms. Lori, Leif, or any other housekeepers in the building. They already know about this.¡± Wordlessly, Gwendolyn observed her brothers¡¯ reactions. Treyton was the most inmed by the news as he glowered at Evelyn. ¡°Impossible! Gwendolyn grew up with me. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s Mom¡¯s illegitimate daughter. The first thing you doing here is to nder Gwendolyn and my mother. What are you nning? What exactly do you want?¡± In response, Evelyn exined, ¡°You were only two years old when Gwendolyn was born, Treyton. You wouldn¡¯t have known anything about that, so why are you sure the report is fake? Dad personally asked someone to run the paternity test, so how can it be anything but real?¡± She turned to Kieran with a grin. ¡°Kieran¡¯s here. If he reads it, he¡¯ll know whether this report is fake or not.¡± Chapter 395 Chapter 395 Treyton was speechless. He could only turn to Kieran and said, ¡°Kieran, you should look at it.¡± Kieran then stood up to take the paternity test report before perusing it carefully. The end of the report stated that the two had no biological rtionship, and there was even Salinsburgh¡¯s Grand Valley Hospital¡¯s seal and the hospital director¡¯s handprint on the page. ¡°Grand Valley Hospital¡¯s director is Alban Quentin. He¡¯s my teacher, and he has a good rtionship with Dad. He signed this himself this time, so it¡¯s¡­ unlikely that it¡¯s faked.¡± Unlikely that it¡¯s faked? Those words struck Treyton and Sienna¡¯s hearts like a sledgehammer. Lori was delighted, and she never bothered hiding her joy from the others. However, Gwendolyn did not seem to be concerned about the paternity test. All she did was stare at Asher, who was sitting on the couch in grim silence. ¡°Asher, you don¡¯t look surprised. Did you already know about this a long time ago?¡± ¡°Not exactly a long time ago. I was the first toe back when the ident happened, and I immediately looked into the reason he fell down the stairs, so I learned about this only a few hours earlier than you.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn then raked her gaze across everyone¡¯s faces and took in their expressions. ¡°Kieran says that this report can¡¯t be faked, and there is the hospital director¡¯s handprint on it. So, does that mean that everyone believes I¡¯m not one of the Harrises?¡± Her mother was faithful to her father. Even though she did not know where this paternity test came from, she had trust in her mother. There was no way her mother would betray her father, let alone cheat on him and have a child after marrying him. No matter what Evelyn said, Gwendolyn was not going to believe her. Everyone fell silent again. Treyton took the report and read it again and again as if he was in disbelief. However, even his determination began to waver after he was done reading it. Asher then sighed and said, ¡°Let¡¯s keep this private for now, but we¡¯re canceling tomorrow¡¯s signing of the inheritance. Kieran, focus on Dad¡¯s physical health and help him recover. If there¡¯s a chance for surgery, as long as it¡¯s not too risky, we¡¯ll take it. We need Dad to wake up as soon as possible. Treyton, set aside the affairs of your entertainmentpany for now. Come back to the Harris family and learn how to manage thepany from me.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Kieran and Treyton answered in unison. Although Asher did not lift his head to look at Gwendolyn, his words were meant for her when he said, ¡°Kiddo¡­ You¡¯re pregnant, so don¡¯t worry too much. Go back and rest well. I¡¯ll have someone manage Angle for you. Just stay at home and rest for a few days. We¡¯ll talk about this again once I settle the Harris family¡¯s matters.¡± Gwendolyn was not at all surprised by his n. She sneered and said, ¡°Everyone now thinks that I¡¯m not one of the Harrises, so you¡¯re trying to undermine my right to speak in the Harris family. That way, you can kick me out of the family easier in the future, right?¡± Even though Gwendolyn had a smile on her face when she said that, shivers were running down her spine. The brothers she adored would rather believe a piece of paper over her. Asher did not retort to that, and Kieran did not speak. Treyton said, ¡°Kiddo, I didn¡¯t mean that. I just¡­¡± Yet, he knew not how to exin to her. Gwendolyn rose to her feet and gently smoothened the creases of her skirt. In a mocking tone, she said, ¡°Since there¡¯s a possibility that I¡¯m not the Harris family¡¯s daughter, it doesn¡¯t seem appropriate for me to take part in the Harris family¡¯s meeting.¡± She turned and left, but she paused in her tracks just as she reached the doorway. ¡°As it turns out, the rtionship we share for the past twenty years or so is nothing inparison to this piece of paper. My identity as a daughter of the Harris family means nothing, too. I see. Very well.¡± Sienna quickly stood up and exined, ¡°Gwen, don¡¯t be angry! Your brothers just find it hard to ept the truth, that¡¯s all. Even if you¡¯re not the Harris family¡¯s daughter, you¡¯re still our sister! Your brothers¡­ just need some time to digest the idea!¡± s, Gwendolyn did not turn around as she left the vi without hesitation. Just as she left the house, a set of footsteps sounded out behind her. Someone hade out after her. However, this time, it was Evelyn. Evelyn had a small smile on her face as she whispered, ¡°Do you want to know where your biological father is? I know where he is, and I can bring you to him. Once you see him, you¡¯ll understand everything.¡± It was Gwendolyn¡¯s second time visiting someone in a jail. The previous time she went there was to visit Charles, and this time, it was to visit her supposed biological father. When Gwendolyn saw the unkempt middle-aged man in prison garbs appear on the other side of the ss, she remained expressionless, her eyes dull. The man¡¯s name was Pierre Jard. When he saw her, he was overjoyed. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn picked up the phone but did not speak, still expressionless. Tears welled up in Pierre¡¯s eyes, nevertheless. ¡°It¡¯s so great to see you! I thought I had no one else left in this world, but I just found out that I have a daughter! A cute, lovely daughter.¡± Icily, Gwendolyn uttered, ¡°Did you and my mother do it back then when Dad was on a business trip?¡± At that, Pierre lowered his head in shame. ¡°Yes, but it wasn¡¯t intentional. Your mother never had any feelings for me; my love for her was unreciprocated. The one and only time I slept with her was at the banquet. She was drunk, and I brought her back to her room to rest. In the end¡­ I gave in to my desires. I never thought that you would be conceived after that night. Gwendolyn, don¡¯t call Marcus your dad anymore; I¡¯m your father! Although the Jard family is poorer than the Harris family, we used to be one of the wealthy families too. Moreover, your mother and I were childhood friends. But that darn Marcus! He ruthlessly destroyed the Jard family and sent me to jail. He separated me from my own daughter for so many years!¡± The more Pierre said, the more agitated he became, and he started banging the table loudly. Gwendolyn calmly looked at him and said, ¡°I¡¯ll look for proof for your words, but right now, I won¡¯t believe a thing you say.¡± Pierre turned even more agitated at her disbelief. ¡°I really am your biological father! I really am. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can use my hair for a paternity test!¡± Pierre leaped to his feet and plucked a strand of his hair, looking at her earnestly. However, Gwendolyn stayed apathetic. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so anxious in proving it to me. I¡¯ll do the paternity test.¡± Right as she hung up the phone, a man¡¯s maic voice sounded out behind her. ¡°Gwenny.¡± In the next second, someone pulled her into their arms. Turning around, she was greeted by Cedrick¡¯s handsome face. Worry could be seen in his dark eyes, but he did not say anything else besides, ¡°It¡¯s time for us to go home.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and allowed him to hug her, resting her head on his broad chest. She finally stopped hiding the exhaustion she felt the moment she saw him. ¡°Ceddy, I¡¯m tired. I want to sleep for a while.¡± Cedrick nted a tender kiss on her forehead and reassured her, ¡°Sleep. I¡¯m right here.¡± Evelyn, who had been standing by the doorway, saw from afar the way Cedrick carried Gwendolyn in his arms. She walked out of the visiting room toward him, but Cedrick only had eyes for the woman in his arms. He never once spared Evelyn a nce as he walked past her. However, Evelyn suddenly hastened her footsteps and stood in his way with mockery in her eyes. ¡°Mr. Wright, you might not know about this, but the woman Gwendolyn visited earlier is her biological father. Even though you¡¯ve already decided on the wedding date, the engagement had been with the Harris family¡¯s daughter. Since she¡¯s not the daughter of the Harris family, your wedding will have to either be canceled, or someone else has to take her ce.¡± Chapter 396 Chapter 396 ¡°Seriously?¡± Cedrick let out an icy snort and directed a mocking and sharp look in her direction. ¡°Are you offering yourself? Do you think you¡¯re worthy of taking over her spot, though?¡± Nico chimed in, ¡°Yeah, right. Ms. Evelyn, what makes you think that way?¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Evelyn¡¯s expression turned icy. ¡°Mr. Jenson, when Gwendolyn¡¯s identity as the illegitimate daughter bes public and Jenson Group¡¯s share prices potentially plummet, I hope you will remain steadfast in your decision to marry her.¡± A smug grin yed on her lips as her eyes twinkled with amusement. She spun on her heels and stalked away. Nico scoffed at the sight of her getting into the car. ¡°Did she forget she¡¯s also an illegitimate child? Why did I let her get under my skin? I shouldn¡¯t have snapped at her like that. Summer is only neen like her but is so much more likable and adorable even when she¡¯s scheming. Why is Evelyn so repulsive?¡± After cursing Evelyn for a long time, Nico still failed to calm down. Cedrick allowed him to vent his frustrations but didn¡¯t forget to make the necessary arrangements. ¡°Remember to take care of Gwenny and Pierre¡¯s DNA test. Make sure nothing goes wrong.¡± ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t worry, Cedrick!¡± Nico agreed and immediately made his way to the visiting room. After rying that order, Cedrick picked Gwendolyn up and carefully carried her to the backseat of the car. Nico had left to carry out his order, but as Cedrick came here with the intention of picking Gwendolyn up, he got his driver toe along. During the entire journey, Cedrick held Gwendolyn in one arm while using his other hand to work on his laptop. He seemed to be busy with work. On the other hand, Gwendolyn had opened her eyes the moment she entered the car. Shey in Cedrick¡¯s arms quietly and stared out the window, lost in her thoughts. She couldn¡¯t possibly have fallen asleep at such a time, but she had no interest in engaging with Evelyn. Since Evelyn was being sarcastic, she decided to let Cedrick handle the situation. Upon reaching the Jenson residence¡¯s garage, Cedrick moved to lift her up but realized that she had been wide awake the entire time. He brushed a finger across her nose and asked, ¡°When did you wake up? Did you feel ufortable as I was working in the car?¡± Gwendolyn gave him a tiny smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just woke up.¡± Without a word, Cedrick carried her out of the car and walked back to Harrick Vi. As he walked through the windy paths at the Jenson residence, Gwendolyn fixed her gaze on him. After a prolonged pause, she mustered the courage to ask, ¡°Ceddy, if¡­ If I¡¯m not a Harris, our engagement won¡¯t hold any weight. If news gets out that the heir of Jenson Group is marrying the daughter of a convict, who is also an illegitimate child, Jenson Group could face significant losses, and you could potentially lose millions overnight. Despite all that, are you still willing to marry me?¡± Cedrick listened to her silently and stared ahead as he strode along the path. He didn¡¯t look at her or answer her question directly. ¡°Gwenny, let¡¯s head back first. I have prepared a gift for you.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s heart sank to the bottom of her stomach as she didn¡¯t receive an answer. The realization that she might not be a Harris, but instead the daughter of a convict, weighed heavily on Gwendolyn. It was a significant revtion that even Cedrick couldn¡¯t ignore. Gwendolyn knew she should understand Cedrick¡¯s decision, but she still felt sorely disappointed and dejected. In just one day, she lost her family and ended up alone. I can¡¯t rely on Cedrick in times of trouble. I have no choice but to have faith in myself to turn the tables alone. With that thought in mind, she lowered her gaze despondently and removed her hands from his neck. Cedrick sensed the change in her emotions. The doctor reminded him that pregnant women often experience heightened emotions and can be prone to overthinking due to hormonal changes. He was advised to providefort and support to help alleviate her concerns. Realizing his words weren¡¯t appropriate, he quickly added, ¡°Gwenny, I wasn¡¯t avoiding your question. Before picking you up at the visiting room, I had spent the entire day preparing this gift for you. I was thinking of answering your question during the surprise.¡± As the sun dipped below the horizon, Cedrick gently set Gwendolyn down from his embrace outside Harrick Vi. He pulled out a ck ribbon to cover her eyes. Gwendolyn stopped him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cedrick shed a mysterious smile and coaxed, ¡°Be good and put this on for a few minutes. You¡¯ll soon find out what I have in mind. Trust me.¡± His voice was maic and hoarse. As their gazes met, Gwendolyn was enthralled by the excitement shing in his gaze and agreed readily. He quickly tied the ribbon around her head, obscuring her gaze. Holding her hand, he then led her into the garden carefully. They came to a stop under the tree in the garden, and Cedrick untied the ribbon. ¡°Gwenny, you can open your eyes now.¡± Slowly, Gwendolyn opened her eyes and was captivated by the sight that greeted her. The tree was adorned with white lights, casting a magical glow that rivaled the stars in the sky. Against the backdrop of the setting sun on the horizon, it created a beautifully harmonious and breathtaking scene. Beneath the tree, a magnificent disy unfolded¡ªa carpet of nine hundred and ny-nine green roses, each adorned with a precious pearl nestled within its delicate petals. The sight was nothing short of grand. It was a rare sight indeed as Gwendolynid eyes upon the abundance of green roses for the first time. She couldn¡¯t help but sh a smile. Cedrick approached Gwendolyn, gracefully dropping down on one knee. He took her hand in his, and his eyes shimmered with unwavering affection as if she were the sole focus of his world. ¡°Gwenny, our rtionship began with our engagement, and now, due to our unborn babies, we will marry sooner than nned. Just as other women receive proposals, I want you to have that same experience as well.¡± He looked at her and continued calmly, ¡°Gwenny, if you¡¯re not a Harris, and our engagement is broken off, I¡¯ll ask for your hand in marriage again.¡± Gwendolyn held a far greater significance for him than his status as the heir and any potential financial losses. He pulled out the diamond ring he prepared and opened the box. It was a unique and exquisite eighteen-carat ruby and diamond ring. Cedrick had personally sent Nico overseas to acquire the ring through a bid of nine point nine billion. He had Gwendolyn¡¯s initials, GS, intricately engraved on the ring. ¡°Gwenny, will you marry me?¡± Gwendolyn was struck with awe as she looked at the radiant ruby diamond ring in Cedrick¡¯s hands. Her eyes welled up with tears as she nced at Cedrick¡¯s handsome face. Right that moment, all the loneliness, reluctance, and disappointment in her heart dissipated, reced by a deep sense of warmth. She had questioned whether Cedrick would give up on her or withdraw his affection upon learning about her true identity, but his heartfelt surprise had answered her doubts and touched her profoundly. This is the man I love, and he loves me more than anyone else in this world. ¡°Gwenny, my knee hurts. Hurry, say yes,¡± Cedrick urged softly as she didn¡¯t say anything for a long time. Chapter 397 Chapter 397 Gwendolyn giggled as she extended her right hand, offering Cedrick her slender and fair fingertips. ¡°Have you thought it through? You can¡¯t regret it afterward. If you dare to let me down in the future, I won¡¯t spare you.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll have the Lego pieces and ruler ready for you any time.¡± Cedrick managed to make Gwendolynugh. Her sorrowful mood from half an hour ago dissipated completely after his gentle efforts moved her. It was so sweet that Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help grinning from ear to ear. Cedrick held her hand and put the ring on her finger decisively. Imitating the way she spoke, he said, ¡°Now that you are wearing my diamond ring, you belong to me. You won¡¯t be able to escape from me in this lifetime, Gwenny.¡± He turned her hand around and kissed the back of it gently. Then, he stood up and carried her in his arms. ¡°Wait.¡± Gwendolyn shifted her gaze to the green roses under the tree. ¡°Such beautiful flowers shouldn¡¯t go to waste. Ask the bodyguards to trim them and put them in vases. Let¡¯s ce a few vases in each room, okay?¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± He lowered his head to kiss her before going back into the vi. ¡°Why did you think of disying green roses?¡± Gwendolyn continued asking. ¡°I thought you dislike the color green. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone propose with flowers of this shade.¡± ¡°Green roses are unique, just like you are. They symbolize evergreen love. However¡­¡± Cedrick leaned closer to her ear as he continued, ¡°The main reason is that you like the color green.¡± His hoarse voice sounded incredibly alluring. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but kiss him. As their breaths entangled, they got carried away by their love for each other. For all Gwendolyn cared, the recent mess about inheritance rights, paternity tests, and illegitimate daughters could be dealt with the next day. That night, Gwendolyn slept soundly in Cedrick¡¯s embrace. Gwendolyn was awakened by a kiss when dawn arrived the next day. As she opened her eyes in a daze, she saw Cedrick¡¯s dark eyes glinting with excitement. He had a mysterious expression on his face as he stared at her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you now?¡± Nuzzling her nose, he replied, ¡°Gwenny, there is actually another small surprise for you besidesst night¡¯s proposal.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he murmured lightly in his charismatic voice by her ear. ¡°Open your phone and check the news.¡± Still groggy from sleeping, Gwendolyn reluctantly reached for her phone. However, the moment she saw the news, her drowsiness instantly vanished. She sat up from the bed immediately. Cedrick had transferred all his assets, properties, and shares to her. Overnight, she rose to the top of the rich list in Chanaea, bing the only female to make it on the list. She also received a notification on her bank card of a massive transfer from Cedrick. The entire nation¡¯sizens were shocked by Cedrick¡¯s astonishing gesture of doting on his wife. All the ten top trending topics were rted to them. ¡°Why¡­ Why did you¡­¡± Gwendolyn was so touched that she nearly burst into tears again. However, she was more concerned than touched. ¡°Do you know what it means to give all of your shares in Jenson Group? This is not a simple matter, Cedrick! You should have discussed it with me first!¡± Gwendolyn sounded fierce because she was worried. Biting his lower lip, Cedrick lowered his head as if admitting his mistake. Then, as he nestled himself into her arms, he muttered, ¡°I am left with nothing now, Gwenny. I don¡¯t even have a penny left. Do you still want me?¡± Gwendolyn sighed as she caressed his face feeling grateful and sorry for him at the same time. As she spoke, she slightly choked. ¡°I already epted your proposalst night. How can I not want you? But¡­ Is this really worth it?¡± Cedrick tightened his arms around her waist and spoke with satisfaction. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s worth it. You are now the wealthiest woman in Chanaea. Even if you are really a criminal¡¯s illegitimate daughter, no one will dare to question you. Moreover, my woman deserves the best things in the world.¡± Instantly, Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes reddened, and tears streamed uncontrobly down her face. Words couldn¡¯t express how grateful she was to him. Back when Cedrick was disguised as Maverick, she used to think that falling in love with him was the greatest misfortune of her life. Who would have guessed that he would turn out to be the only fortune of her life? When she was at her most desperate, he was willing to give everything to her. Perhaps that was the most beautiful deration of love in the world. As Gwendolyn held him tightly, she listened to his steady heartbeat and savored the sense of security he provided. Knock! Knock! The warm atmosphere was interrupted by a knocking sound. Nico was standing at the door. ¡°The paternity test result is out, Cedrick.¡± Nico¡¯s voice was low, his mood seemingly not so good. Cedrick immediately became serious and got out of bed. After opening the door, he took the paternity test report from Nico and read it first. After reading it, his expression turned grim. ¡°Are you sure that you delivered Gwenny and Pierre¡¯s hair to the hospital personally?¡± he asked in a serious tone. Nico nodded cautiously. ¡°Yes, I personally sent them to Grand Valley Hospital, the most authoritative hospital in the city. Under the order of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alban personally conducted the test.¡± Cedrick fell into silence. After pondering for a while, he said, ¡°You can go downstairs for now.¡± Nico nodded tactfully and left. Gwendolyn remained on the bed because she was still in her sleepwear. Looking at Cedrick standing by the door, she said, ¡°Let me see it, Ceddy. Whatever the result is, I¡¯ll ept it.¡± Cedrick hesitated for a moment, but he handed her the paternity test report in the end. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn took it and flipped directly to thest page. The words ¡°father-daughter rtionship¡± were painful to read for her, and there was Alban¡¯s fingerprint again. ¡°I think there¡¯s something fishy about this, Gwenny. Don¡¯t believe the test results just yet. Marcus had never doubted your identity in all the years that you¡¯ve been at the Harris residence. He doted on you so much, so why did he suddenly decide to do a paternity test at this critical moment? Someone must have told him to do it.¡± Cedrick continued, ¡°Besides, even Marcus himself was unaware of this. Yet, some people seem to be well-informed about these past events despite being younger than you. Can it be that someone is manipting things behind the scenes? Firstly, Marcus got into trouble, then your identity as a criminal¡¯s biological daughter was exposed. All of this happened just a day before the signing of inheritance rights, subjecting you to one blow after another. At first nce, these incidents may appear logical, but upon closer examination, they seem to be far too coincidental and deliberate! These incidents, when viewed together, give me a sense that the perpetrator is running out of time and has no choice but to resort to such tactics.¡± Gwendolyn listened quietly. Frowning slightly, she stared at the official seal of Grand Valley Hospital on the paternity test report. Cedrick noticed the expression on her face when she looked at the report as he added, ¡°Although this report was personally issued by Alban, I don¡¯t think we can fully trust it. How about we call Kieran and ask him to carry out the test personally?¡± Chapter 398 Chapter 398 Gwendolyn¡¯s expression became cold instantly. At the thought of everything that happened at the Harris residence the day before, she sneered, ¡°Even you don¡¯t believe in this paternity test, but my brothers who have loved and cared for me for over twenty years believe it. Isn¡¯t this ironic? As for Kieran¡­¡± The ironic look on Gwendolyn¡¯s face intensified as she continued, ¡°He was the first to believe the paternity test result after seeing Alban¡¯s fingerprint on it yesterday.¡± She couldn¡¯t trust anyone in the Harris family now. When Eloise was secretly released, she taunted Gwendolyn on her way out. ¡°He has been acting all innocent and weak in that family of yours for so long now. I can¡¯t wait to see the look on your face when he reveals his true nature! I¡¯m pretty sure it won¡¯t be a long wait, though! Hahaha! It must really hurt to be betrayed by the person you love the most, huh? I¡¯ll look forward to the day you break down after learning the truth, Gwendolyn!¡± Gwendolyn previously thought Eloise was referring to Cedrick, but now that she thought about it carefully, she realized that she must be referring to one of her brothers. The more Gwendolyn thought about it, the more disappointed she was. Cedrick fell into deep thought again. Although he had only heard about yesterday¡¯s incident at the Harris residence from Gwendolyn, he believed that her brothers were not foolish based on his previous interactions with them. It was impossible for them to overlook these doubtful aspects. Especially Kieran, who was usually quiet and emotionless. Among the three brothers, he was the most cunning and smart. Although Kieran wasn¡¯t talkative, his love for Gwendolyn was no less than Asher and Treyton¡¯s. If Kieran didn¡¯t truly care for Gwendolyn, he wouldn¡¯t have gone through the trouble of giving Cedrick difficult tasks and making him experience the pain of childbirth to appreciate the pain that Gwendolyn would endure in the future. Furthermore, Kieran and Treyton prepared the three toasts personally. How could their love for Gwendolyn vanish just because of a paternity test report? ¡°Perhaps the news was too sudden for them to react, Gwenny. Once they understand it better, I trust that they wille to believe you.¡± Cedrick and Sienna from yesterday shared the same thoughts. Unwilling to discuss her brothers anymore, Gwendolyn changed the subject. ¡°Regarding the incident of Dad falling down the stairs, I still feel that something is off even though Evelyn exined it clearly yesterday. Even if Dad was really furious upon learning about the paternity test, he wouldn¡¯t lose his composure like that and fall down the stairs easily. Furthermore, Lori and Leif just so happened weren¡¯t by his side.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Cedrick thought about it seriously. ¡°This will not be an easy investigation. After all, it happened at the Harris residence. If we summon the servants with an order from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it will alert the perpetrator if there¡¯s any.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. We can investigate this matter further when we have the opportunity in the future.¡± A certain beautiful face emerged in Gwendolyn¡¯s mind. ¡°Let¡¯s start by investigating Evelyn. Find out where she has been to recently, and who she has been close to.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll instruct Nico to do itter.¡± Clutching the paternity test report, Gwendolyn continued grimly, ¡°We have to investigate Alban too. I don¡¯t trust him either. We need to check his recent whereabouts, his family¡¯s situation, and his financial records.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we can trust Nico to handle this,¡± Cedrick replied. Then, he cupped her face and gave her a kiss on her tender lips. ¡°But for now¡­ I want you tofort me, Gwenny¡­¡± He gently rubbed his nose against hers and fixated his gaze on her expectantly in an attempt to divert her mind from the trivial matters that were bothering her. Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. ¡°Why do you needforting? What are you unhappy with?¡± Cedrick nestled into her embrace and rubbed against her yfully. ¡°Gwenny, I¡¯m so poor now that I must rely on you to support me in the future. I only have you, and I want to be pampered by you¡­¡± he said coquettishly. If Gwendolyn abandoned him at that moment, he would be truly left with nothing. However, he knew that she would never do that. After holding his face in her hands and kissing him passionately, Gwendolyn rolled over and pinned him beneath her. ¡°Okay, let me pamper you!¡± With that said, she covered their bodies with a nket to muffle their gasps of ecstasy. Feeling refreshed, Cedrick went to shower in the bathroom. As Gwendolyn went in to wash her hands, she pinched his firm butt teasingly. After some yful antics, she went back to the room. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she took out a nt-based hand cream and applied it on her slightly reddened fingertips. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a news notification from Twitter. When she nced at it and saw the familiar word ¡°Harris,¡± she immediately opened her phone seriously and clicked on the notification to read the details. The Harris family was going to publicly acknowledge Evelyn as the youngest daughter of their family, stating that she had gone missing years ago and had now been found. In five days, a grand wee-back feast would be held for Evelyn. Also, the inheritance rights of the Harris family would be officially signed over to her by thewyer on the same day. The news was flooded with blessings fromizens who were unaware of the situation. They congratted this famous actress, who had unexpectedly be the Harris family¡¯s youngest daughter and would soon receive the inheritance rights during the wee-back feast. This was exceptional favor! Reading the news, Gwendolyn felt a blunt pain in her heart as she shuddered. She didn¡¯t need to guess who made those decisions. Gwendolyn found it ridiculous that Asher deliberately concealed the fact that Evelyn was an illegitimate daughter, and now he was handing over the Harris family to such a wicked woman. Wrapped in a towel, Cedrick emerged from the bathroom while drying his damp hair with another towel when he saw Gwendolyn sitting by the bed, looking dejected. His expression immediately became serious. Striding over to her, he took her phone and quickly skimmed through the news that she was reading. ¡°Gwenny, this may be¡­¡± At this point, he didn¡¯t even know how to justify Asher¡¯s actions. Gwendolyn gave him a nonchnt smile as she replied, ¡°Since they don¡¯t recognize me as a daughter of the Harris family, why shall I care about having that identity in the past? As for the wee-back feast¡­¡± Although the edges of her lips curled upward, her gaze remained cold. ¡°As the only female billionaire in Chanaea, how can I be absent from the Harris family¡¯s feast?¡± It didn¡¯t suit her character to let the feast happen as the Harris family wished. Cedrick gave her warm hand a gentle squeeze to tell her that he would stand by her side no matter what. In the afternoon, Cedrick drove Gwendolyn to the hospital for a routine prenatal check-up. Perhaps influenced by her recent frustrations, some of the indicators went slightly higher. Hence, the doctor repeatedly advised her not to get too excited or too unhappy. Cedrick sat outside and waited for Gwendolyn while she was undergoing various examinations. When Nico found out that Cedrick was at the hospital, he immediately came over to find him. ¡°Cedrick, Grandpa is asking you to go to the ancestral hall¡­¡± Cedrick remained expressionless. ¡°I¡¯ll go back once Gwenny finishes her prenatal check-up.¡± ¡°I heard that Grandpa is furious. Xander is there too. They probably want an exnation from you. They want you to go back immediately,¡± Nico whispered before stepping aside to wait for him obediently. Chapter 399 Chapter 399 ¡°All right, I understand,¡± Cedrick replied calmly. This was inevitable, but if Gwenny finds out, she will definitely be upset for a while¡­ With that in mind, he immediately instructed Nico, ¡°Call Summer and ask her to apany Gwenny for the prenatal check-up. Don¡¯t tell Gwenny anything else.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Nico responded promptly as he took out his phone to message Summer. Within two minutes, Summer arrived from the garage. She was Nico¡¯s little sidekick. These past few days, while Nico was busy with various investigations, Summer had been insisting on tagging along, patiently waiting in the car until he finished his tasks. As soon as Summer arrived, Cedrick¡¯s expression turned solemn. He instructed her, ¡°If Gwenny asks about my whereaboutster, tell her that I have to attend to an urgent matter at Jenson Group.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Summer replied. With the arrangements made, Cedrick immediately left with Nico. They returned to the Jenson residence in no time. Throughout the journey, Cedrick remained deep in thought, pondering over something silently. When they reached the entrance of the ancestral hall, he once again instructed Nico, ¡°After wee out of the ancestral hall, don¡¯t send me back to Harrick Vi. Go to your vi and apply some medicine first.¡± Medicine? Nico¡¯s heart trembled at the words. So, Cedrick had expected this. Once he enters the ancestral hall today, there will be no turning back, right? As Nico stood in a daze, Cedrick had already entered the ancestral hall. The former gazed at the unweing entrance and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of dread. It was an eerie ce. Feeling apprehensive about Cedrick¡¯s safety, he quietly sent a message to Summer before cautiously stepping inside. Meanwhile, Summer, who was waiting in the hospital waiting room, immediately barged into the examination room when she received the message. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Gwendolyn! Something¡¯s happened! Mr. Jenson has been summoned to the ancestral hall by Old Mr. Jenson!¡± The ancestral hall was filled with people, all eagerly awaiting Cedrick¡¯s arrival. Apart from Xander, David, and Yael¡¯s family, a few esteemed elders of the Jenson family were also present. Everyone rose to their feet and called out as soon as they saw Cedrick enter, ¡°Mr. Cedrick!¡± He nodded slightly and confidently strode toward the center of the ancestral hall, apanied by Nico. Next, he respectfully greeted Valentino, ¡°Hello, Grandpa.¡± However, Valentino merely let out a disdainful snort and tapped his cane on the ground. Cedrick remained standing as he was aware that he would be interrogated. His posture was unwavering as Nico stood beside him. Xander said in a sarcastic tone, ¡°Dear cousin, I heard that you transferred all your shares in Jenson Group to your fianc¨¦e. It made headlines this morning. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedrick lowered his head slightly, neither concealing nor offering an exnation. ¡°Grandpa, did you hear that? He admitted it himself! Those are Jenson Group¡¯s shares! There are folks out there who can¡¯t even get one percent of the fractional shares even if they do have the money. Yet, he casually gave them away just to please a woman!¡± Xander¡¯s anger grew with each word. ¡°He¡¯s letting you down, Grandpa! As the head of the Jenson family, he¡¯s supposed to be a role model, but look at what he¡¯s done! It¡¯s downright outrageous! I don¡¯t think we should let him off the hook that easily!¡± Valentino¡¯s face contorted with anger as he shot Cedrick a fierce re. ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯ll give you a chance to exin yourself. Why did you do this?¡± A subtle smile yed on Cedrick¡¯s lips, his noble and handsome countenance unwavering. There was a touch of defiance in his voice as he retorted, ¡°Xander is right. I handed all the shares to Gwenny to keep her happy.¡± The ancestral hall echoed with a mix of disappointed and exasperated sighs. Nico stood quietly at the back, his palms sweating from nervousness. Although he wanted to help with the exnation, he struggled to find the right words to defend Cedrick. After all, it was undeniable that Cedrick had willingly relinquished his shares and his entire fortune. He could only pray silently and hope that Gwendolyn woulde soon and find a solution to rescue Cedrick from this situation. Otherwise, considering the current circumstances, Cedrick would probably face severe consequences. The atmosphere in the ancestral hall was charged with tension. An oppressive silence enveloped the room as Valentino¡¯s grim expression spoke volumes of his intense anger. Not a single person dared to utter a word. Xander¡¯s smugness was palpable as he relished in exacerbating the situation. ¡°Grandpa, given the gravity of his error this time, it¡¯s only fitting that he relinquishes his authority, don¡¯t you think? And he should endure much harsher punishments, or else the Jenson family won¡¯t stand for it!¡± Valentino remained silent as his sharp gaze remained fixed on Cedrick. Undeterred, Xander persisted in his admonishment. ¡°He didn¡¯t hesitate to give away the Jenson Group¡¯s shares to please Gwendolyn. But what if Gwendolyn gets upset again? Will he give away the entire Jenson family¡¯s fortune? Are we going to change our surname to Harris from then on?¡± The weight of Xander¡¯s words struck deep in Valentino¡¯s heart. The Jenson family was a prestigious and traditional n with a legacy spanning hundreds of years. Despite Cedrick¡¯s contributions to raising the Jenson family¡¯s status, his current actions were undermining the family¡¯s foundation. Valentino concealed his inner anguish and turned to Logan for advice. ¡°What do you think would be an appropriate punishment?¡± After pondering for a moment, Logan replied, ¡°If we were to follow Mr. Xander¡¯s suggestion of giving a harsher punishment, then he should be whipped eighty times.¡± All the elders in the ancestral hall held their breaths. It was unlikely for Cedrick to walk out on his own after receiving eighty whippings. Someone with a weaker constitution would lose their life if they received that punishment instead. Cedrick remained expressionless as he stood quietly at the side; he acted as though he was merely a bystander. Valentino¡¯s heart shuddered as he contemted the situation. After a moment, he said, ¡°Gwendolyn cares deeply for others and isn¡¯t a greedy child. Cedrick, if you can get back those shares, I promise not to punish you severely.¡± He turned to look at the elders and silently conveyed his intentions. Without dy, a chorus of agreement erupted from the elders. ¡°It¡¯s normal for young people to make mistakes. As long as corrective actions are taken promptly, it won¡¯t be a significant issue.¡± David joined in to show his support. ¡°Without Cedrick, the Jenson family wouldn¡¯t be where it is today. Cedrick has made valuable contributions to our family and deserves a second chance.¡± Xander adjusted his gold-framed sses as he heard everyone voicing their support for Cedrick. Although he was feeling displeased, he was wise enough not to dissent. Satisfied with the elders¡¯ reply, Valentino breathed a sigh of relief and directed his gaze at Cedrick once again. ¡°Cedrick, I will give you a two-day ultimatum. If you can get the shares back, we will treat this incident as if it never urred.¡± Cedrick let out a light chuckle. ¡°Grandpa, once a gift is given away, it cannot be reimed.¡± This statement implied that there was no room for negotiation. Valentino¡¯s expression swiftly darkened, looking more livid than before. He furiously struck his cane on the ground and uttered through gritted teeth, ¡°You are so stubborn and unyielding! I¡¯ve been too lenient with you in the past! Indeed, you deserve a lesson! Logan, follow the protocol!¡± ¡°Old Mr. Jenson¡­¡± Logan muttered. Valentino¡¯s fury consumed him, yet he couldn¡¯t bear the sight of Cedrick being subjected to torture. With conflicted emotions, he turned away to leave the scene. The rest of the elders stood up to leave as well. Cedrick maintained a cool andposed expression, showing no trace of fear. He voluntarily knelt down, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and removed his shirt, revealing his well-built and attractive physique. Constrained by the strict and inflexible traditions of the Jenson family, he found himself devoid of any alternatives. The carved sandalwood box was brought out once again. Logan retrieved the dark-colored punishment whip and saluted the ancestral tablet. Just as Valentino and the others neared the door, it swung open forcefully from the outside. A woman emerged and implored, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson, before you proceed with Cedrick¡¯s punishment, I beg you to listen to my exnation!¡± Chapter 400 Chapter 400 Standing by the door was Gwendolyn. She wore a gentle smile in spite of the fact that her chest rose and fell continuously¡ªobvious signs she came over in a hurry. Her sudden appearance stunned Valentino, but he said nothing in response. David, on the other hand, immediately came to his senses and approached his father, pleading, ¡°Dad, Ms. Harris is involved in this. Why don¡¯t we hear her out? Maybe there¡¯s more to this.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes crinkled in a sweet way, making an expression that many elders would find endearing. After exchanging nces with her, Valentino agreed to stay. Meanwhile, Cedrick, who was still kneeling in the middle of the ancestral hall, was uncertain whether he could survive the punishment. He was focused on preparing himself for the excruciating pain his back would receive, so much so that he did not hear Gwendolyn¡¯s voice at the door. To his surprise, what fell on him after a long while were the shirt and coat he had removed earlier instead of the vicious whip. A woman¡¯s slender yet warm fingers could then be seen pulling the clothing tightly over his shoulders and covering his honey-colored muscr body. Snapping out of his daze, Cedrick looked up and turned around to meet Gwendolyn¡¯s starry gaze that was filled with displeasure. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Swallowing her frustration, she helped him up and questioned, ¡°Were you going to keep me in the dark like what you did in Faike if I didn¡¯t show up?¡± Cedrick hung his head in guilt, not knowing how to exin his intentions. He just did not want her to worry. After all, the issue with the shares would be settled when the beating was over. Moreover, he did not want to cause her more trouble when she already had enough on her te as it was. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Although Gwendolyn knew exactly what his thought process was, she could not help but get mad at him. She scolded him softly, ¡°I can give you all the beating you want if you like getting beaten up that much, but no one cany a finger on you other than me.¡± Cedrick merely kept his head hung low in silence. Annoyed by hisck of response, Gwendolyn pinched his waist hard. ¡°Did you hear what I said?¡± A sharp pain spread over his skin, causing him to inhale sharply and furrow his brows. At the same time, he nodded in response. ¡°Put them on,¡± urged Gwendolyn. As she massaged the affected area, she threw him a warning look as if to say, ¡°Don¡¯t randomly strip yourself naked. Do you have no shame?¡± Their interaction sent a warm feeling into Valentino¡¯s heart. In fact, his tone had be softer when he spoke again. ¡°Gwendolyn, how do you n to exin the matter on Ced¡¯s behalf today?¡± Smiling politely, Gwendolyn fished out a test result from her bag and said, ¡°I think things will clear up when you see this, Old Mr. Jenson.¡± Having already returned the whip to the box, Logan quickly took the paper from Gwendolyn and handed it to Valentino. After giving Gwendolyn a suspicious look, Valentino put on his reading sses and pored over the contents. Tears began welling up in his eyes as a look of surprise appeared on his face. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant? And you have not one, but two babies?¡± The excitement in his tone was unmistakable, and he immediately burst into heartyughter. All the fury he felt minutes ago vanished the moment he learned about his great-grandchildren¡¯s existence. Logan joined in, ¡°You¡¯re incredible, Mr. Cedrick! Old Mr. Jenson, you¡¯ll be getting two great- grandchildren in a few months!¡± Chortling, the rest of the elders chimed in, ¡°Congrattions, Old Mr. Jenson! You¡¯re so lucky! Soon, you¡¯ll have four generations living under the same roof.¡± David, too, piped up, ¡°Congrattions, Dad! Twins bring great blessings to the family. Why don¡¯t we just forget about what Cedrick did?¡± The congrattory messages put Valentino on cloud nine. Giving Cedrick an approving look, the old man said, ¡°Seeing how you¡¯ve brought our family two children, I¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± Xander cut in. He refused to see Cedrick walk out of the ancestral hall unharmed. Worked up over the mere idea of it, the former rose to his feet and said, ¡°Ms. Harris¡¯ pregnancy is definitely something worth celebrating, but that¡¯s apletely different matter. If Cedrick gives her Jenson Group¡¯s shares because she¡¯s pregnant, who knows what he¡¯ll do when the twins are born? Will he give her the entire Jenson residence?¡± He then proceeded to warn Valentino, ¡°The shares aren¡¯t given to the children but to Gwendolyn. The Harris residence is her home. There¡¯s no telling if she¡¯ll give them to her family in the future.¡± When he finished, the atmosphere in the ancestral hall grew tense once again. Gwendolyn tensed up when she heard the words ¡°her home.¡± For some reason, they sounded derogatory. Cedrick¡¯s Harrick Vi is the only home I have now. What other home do I have? Noticing the change in her countenance, Cedrick hurriedly ced his arms over her shoulders to give her assurance. Gwendolyn knew her priorities, and her current priority was to deal with the matter at hand. Putting away herplicated emotions, she turned to Valentino and exined somberly, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson, I¡¯m actually here to talk about the shares. It is true that Ceddy gave them to me. Although he wouldn¡¯t take them back, I have the right to determine their distribution. So, I¡¯m nning toe up with an agreement. All the shares I have in Jenson Group will be distributed equally to my twins once they¡¯re born.¡± After all, the twins would bear the Jensons¡¯ surname. By giving them the shares, the shares would still belong to the Jenson family. Moreover, no one could refute if the shares were given to the youngest descendants of the family as gifts. Valentino gave her an approving look before turning to chuckle along with Logan. ¡°Gwendolyn¡¯s such a sensible child. Ced¡¯s a lucky kid to be able to marry her.¡± An affirmative smile crept upon Logan¡¯s lips. ¡°Exactly. Ms. Harris is truly a reasonable person. She even rushed over because of Mr. Cedrick¡¯s matters. It shows how much she cares for him.¡± As the two men shared smiles, the atmosphere in the ancestral hall rxed. All of a sudden, the tension in the air brought by the issue was reced with a jolly ambiance thanks to the news of Gwendolyn¡¯s pregnancy. Valentino was in such great spirits that he was beaming from ear to ear. He even instructed Logan to prepare two mary gifts and ced them in Gwendolyn¡¯s hands in front of all the elders, including Xander. Patting the back of Gwendolyn¡¯s hand with his rough, wrinkly hand, Valentino said sincerely, ¡°You¡¯re blessed with great fortune, Gwendolyn. No matter what difficulties you face in the future, your misfortune will surely turn into a blessing.¡± Gwendolyn did not bother refusing the gift out of politeness. She epted them gratefully, saying, ¡°Thank you, Old Mr. Jenson. I believe the twins are the ones protecting me. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll make a comeback no matter how difficult things get in the future.¡± Her eyes flickered with confidence when she uttered thest few words. Right then, Cedrick wrapped his arm around her waist and asked cautiously, ¡°Grandpa, do I get one, too? I contributed to the twins¡¯ existence, after all.¡± The smile on Valentino¡¯s face was instantly reced with a stern look as he gently hit his grandson¡¯s leg with the cane. ¡°You¡¯re going to be a father. You¡¯d better start behaving yourself! One more thing. Gwendolyn is now the Jenson family¡¯s most valuable person. You¡¯ve got to be more tolerant and understanding toward her. I won¡¯t let you off if you bully her.¡± Cedrick grinned. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to.¡± Shifting his attention to Gwendolyn, Valentino reminded, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid to teach him a lesson if he upsets you. I¡¯ll always stand by your side.¡± The old man¡¯s words sent a fuzzy feeling into her heart. She nodded fervently. ¡°Thank you, Old Mr. Jenson.¡± Both Cedrick and Gwendolyn returned to Harrick Vi after leaving the ancestral hall. Throughout the journey, Gwendolyn did not so much as speak a word to him. The silence made Cedrick uneasy. Tugging at the hem of her shirt, he asked, ¡°Gwenny, are you mad at me?¡± However, she simply marched up the stairs without turning around. ¡°No. I¡¯m the reason you almost got punished,¡± she uttered calmly. The feeling of guilt gripped him as he murmured, ¡°But you¡­ You¡¯re so cold to me¡­¡± Chapter 401 Chapter 401 It had been a long time since she had been so cold to him. Gwendolyn said nothing in response because that matter was still making her heart pound. If Summer didn¡¯t tell her in time and if she didn¡¯t make her driver run all the red lights to get there, she didn¡¯t dare to imagine how injured Cedrick would have been if he were whipped eighty times. She still clearly remembered the miserable state Xander was in after his punishment. She couldn¡¯t imagine how devastated she would be if she got there slightlyter. How could he not cherish himself? What happened to the promise he made to me? Did he forget so quickly? If she didn¡¯t teach him a lesson, he would definitely hide his injuries again! She pondered for a while before she grabbed his hand and headed upstairs. Cedrick could clearly sense the chill radiating off Gwendolyn, so he followed her into the room silently. ¡°Stand here.¡± She pointed to the carpet at the foot of the bed. Although Cedrick didn¡¯t know what she was nning to do, he stood there obediently and looked at her. Gwendolyn walked to the bedside table and opened the top drawer. Upon seeing this, Cedrick lowered his head as he knew what was going to happen. He waited for his wife to punish him. However, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t approach him after taking the ruler out of the drawer. She rolled up her left sleeve, revealing her slender wrist. Then, a glint shed across her eyes as she hit her wrist with her right hand. A dull thud sounded. Cedrick immediately raised his head. His heart gave a lurch when he realized she had hit herself. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He charged toward her and snatched the ruler from her hand. Then, he inspected her injury. A red mark had immediately appeared on Gwendolyn¡¯s fair skin. Cedrick rubbed her injury gently, and his eyes reddened. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing? Gwendolyn, you¡¯re pregnant! How could you hurt yourself? If you¡¯re upset, you can hit me! I won¡¯t resist. You can¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± He was mad and regretful that he didn¡¯t discover what she was trying to do earlier. Gwendolyn stared at him and chuckled. ¡°Even though I was only hit with a ruler once, you¡¯re this distressed because I¡¯m the one who got injured. Cedrick, if you were whipped today, I¡¯d have felt even more distressed than you! You would have been on the brink of death because of the whipping! The pain in my heart would not be any less than physical pain. If you truly love me, you must take care of yourself and avoid getting hurt!¡± Cedrick carried her to the bed and applied anti-inmmatory cream on her injury. He apologized and said earnestly, ¡°I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have thought about hiding it from you. From now on, I¡¯ll discuss everything with you.¡± ¡°I want you to make an oath,¡± Gwendolyn said solemnly. He immediately raised three fingers and swore, ¡°I promise I¡¯ll never hide anything from you from now on. I¡¯ll take good care of myself and avoid getting hurt. Also, I¡¯ll discuss everything with you.¡± Gwendolyn stared at him in dissatisfaction. ¡°I want you to swear that if you break your promise, your soon-to-be wife will pay the price.¡± He looked at her in disbelief. ¡°Are you insane? Why do you have to be so harsh on yourself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an oath you will remember to abide if it¡¯s not serious.¡± She only had him now, so she would never allow him to have any mishaps! Cedrick retracted his three fingers. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ll never swear on your and our children¡¯s lives.¡± There was no room forpromise on this matter. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Nevertheless, he knew Gwendolyn would never give up so easily. Therefore, he snuggled into Gwendolyn¡¯s embrace, pouted, and acted pitifully. ¡°I was wrong. I promise there¡¯s no next time!¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head, unfazed. He continued to snuggle up to her and said aggrievedly, ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t have the confidence to survive those eighty whips today. I still can¡¯t calm down properly. I want you tofort me, Gwenny.¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. You¡¯re already lucky I didn¡¯t beat you up when we got home! How dare you try to seekfort now! ¡°Gwenny, I don¡¯t want to hurt you, so I won¡¯t get hurt from now on. However, if you want me to swear on your and our children¡¯s lives, I really can¡¯t do it! I just escaped from the ancestral hall, so can you stop scolding me? Show me some affection, please.¡± His eyes reddened, and his tone was soft. He slowly leaned in and kissed her lips. Gwendolyn remained silent. Seeing that she didn¡¯t refuse, he boldly lifted the nket and tucked her in gently. Then, hey down next to her. The next day, Gwendolyn was rudely woken up by her ringing phone. She reached for her phone and nced at it groggily. Since it was an unknown number, she didn¡¯t answer it. After half a minute, she received a text message from the unknown number. It wrote: Gwendolyn, my homing feast is in two days. I¡¯m going to pick a gown from Mi Couture today. Will you being? Upon seeing the text message, Gwendolyn became wide awake in a sh. Her expression darkened. Although it was an unknown number, she knew it was Evelyn. After another half a minute, she received another text message from the same number. It said: I know you have been asking around about me recently. Why don¡¯t youe and ask me? I¡¯ll definitely tell you what you want to know. Treyton will be apanying me. I hope you cane and pick my gown for me! Gwendolyn looked at the text messages and sneered. Since Evelyn was so enthusiastic, she wouldn¡¯t reject her invitation. She replied: Of course. Cedrick was still fast asleep. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to wake him up, so she pecked his forehead and got up quietly to wash up. Then, she left. An hourter, she appeared at the entrance of Mi Couture, the most high-end custom luxury clothing store in Salinsburgh. Treyton was sitting on the leather sofa inside the store, looking at Evelyn. A sales assistant was showing Evelyn some gowns. He caught a glimpse of a familiar figure entering the store. When he looked over, he immediately stood up. ¡°Kiddo, what are you doing here?¡± Gwendolyn smiled, but her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Evelyn invited me here personally. How can I refuse her when her big day is in two days?¡± Treyton looked at her in worry and shot her a look. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant. She doesn¡¯t need you to apany her. It¡¯s tiring. You should go back quickly.¡± Gwendolyn ignored him. Evelyn, who was deeper inside the store choosing a gown, heard themotion and immediately came out and held Gwendolyn¡¯s hands warmly. ¡°You¡¯re finally here. I saw a few that I really like, but I can¡¯t decide. Why don¡¯t you help me choose?¡± As she pulled Gwendolyn inside, she turned to Treyton. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We are just choosing gowns. I won¡¯t tire her out.¡± Treyton stared at their retreating figures. When he recalled Gwendolyn¡¯s cold gaze, he sighed inwardly. Then, he walked over to the counter and asked for a pen and paper. Chapter 402 Chapter 402 Evelyn excitedly showed Gwendolyn several evening gowns she had chosen off the costume rack. She said, ¡°I think all these look great, Gwendolyn. Which one do you think suits me more?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into the ghost of a smile while she replied, ¡°Well, you have to try them on to see if they suit you.¡± ¡°Oh yes, you¡¯re right.¡± Evelyn immediately turned to a female sales attendant and instructed, ¡°Please send these gowns to the dressing room. I¡¯d like to try all of them.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The sales attendant carefully gathered the gowns Evelyn had picked out and headed to the dressing room. Once the sales attendant left, Evelyn hooked her arm through the crook of Gwendolyn¡¯s elbow affectionately and beamed at thetter. ¡°It¡¯ll be difficult for me to put on the gowns on my own. Can you come to the dressing room and help me?¡± Gwendolyn did not ept or reject Evelyn¡¯s request. Evelyn took her silence for consent and dragged Gwendolyn into the dressing room. She had no qualms about undressing before Gwendolyn at all, making it seem as though the two had been bosom friends for years. Gwendolyn leaned against a wall and stared coolly at Evelyn. She demanded, ¡°You didn¡¯t summon me here just to select a gown for you. I don¡¯t like to beat around the bush, and since we¡¯re alone now, why don¡¯t you get straight to the point?¡± Evelyn¡¯s hand froze momentarily in the middle of picking up a gown, though she quicklyposed herself and continued to dress herself elegantly. ¡°Gwendolyn, I bet you¡¯ve been dying to know about the patron who has supported my meteoric rise in the entertainment industry since my debut at neen years old.¡± Evelyn continued cryptically, ¡°Actually, two patrons have been helping me at the same time. That gave me a tremendous amount of power in the industry.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Her silence hardly bothered Evelyn, who added, ¡°You might have forgotten this, but I remember our first encounter. You were fifteen. We met in an alley, and you decided to care for me because you took pity on me. I liked you a lot too, but it didn¡¯t stop there. I liked your father and your brothers, and my greed filled my head with a single thought¡ªif you disappeared, I would be the precious princess, the center of attention in the Harris family.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s brows furrowed in recognition; she had heard the exact same words in a dream. Evelyn confessed, ¡°So I secretly stole Kieran¡¯s stimnt medication and invited you out alone. When you let your guard down, I stabbed the syringe in the back of your neck and pushed you into the ocean. I failed to anticipate how lucky you were to escape death¡¯s door.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that I snuck a recording device here?¡± Gwendolyn asked as she clenched her fists in anger. Evelyn covered her mouth andughed, looking as bewitching as a minx. She boasted, ¡°Of course not, or I would never have told you all of that! Think about it. Would Dad and our brothers have taken so long to find you with the resources at their disposal?¡± She dealt the final blow by adding, ¡°In fact, our dear brother knew all about it from the beginning, and he quietly consented to my actions.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s heart sank. Her fingertips had turned white from exertion. She suppressed her anger and willed herself to remain calm. ¡°Which brother are you referring to?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you guess?¡± Evelyn smiled darkly and whispered into Gwendolyn¡¯s ear, ¡°Maybe all three had a hand in it?¡± A frosty expression appeared on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. Meanwhile, Evelyn sauntered toward the mirror and made several poses, admiring her reflection. When she noticed that Gwendolyn was still frozen with shock, the disdain in her gaze grew. ¡°How does it feel to lose the trust of your beloved brothers, hmm? But what can you do? They¡¯ve wholly epted me into the family. Asher covered up my identity as an illegitimate daughter to help me be the true heiress of the Harris family, and Kieran is always checking on my well-being. Even Treyton apanied me to pick out a gown today. They¡¯re no longer your brothers!¡± She was absolutely bursting with conceit. Gwendolyn lifted her eyes and shot Evelyn a cold re. ¡°Are you deliberately saying these things to agitate me? Well, you¡¯ve achieved your goal, but ites with a price!¡± As she spoke, Gwendolyn suddenly stalked ahead and yanked Evelyn¡¯s hair with her left hand, angling her head to receive a vicious p. p! Evelyn was utterly dumbfounded. Her cheek throbbed in pain. She had been on a strict diet since entering the entertainment industry to manage her weight. Her frail figure was no match for Gwendolyn¡¯s strength. Gwendolyn was far from done. She grabbed Evelyn¡¯s dainty head and threatened, ¡°You clearly don¡¯t understand me well enough, Evelyn. Did you think agitating me would cause me to lose control and affect the well-being of my baby? Hmph! You¡¯re way off-mark. I¡¯m not one to swallow all these indignities quietly. Who cares if you¡¯re some precious princess? If you piss me off, I will treat you like a punching bag!¡± She threw in a couple more ps to get the point across. Evelyn teared up in pain but could not escape Gwendolyn¡¯s grasp. Eventually, she shrieked, ¡°Treyton! Help me, Treyton!¡± Gwendolyn merely jerked Evelyn¡¯s head further back and spat sneeringly, ¡°That man outside is the brother who has doted on me for over twenty years, Evelyn. Let¡¯s see who he¡¯ll fuss over first when he barges into this room.¡± The challenge suddenly filled Evelyn with a sense of foreboding. Barely several minutester, Treyton charged into the dressing room. The moment he pulled open the dressing room curtain, Gwendolyn shoved Evelyn away and fell back herself. ¡°Kiddo!¡± Treyton did not even nce at Evelyn as he flew to Gwendolyn¡¯s side and pulled her into his arms. He had heard the sounds of ps from outside the dressing room and immediately checked Gwendolyn¡¯s face for injuries. He secretly sighed in relief upon ascertaining that her face was unscathed. Then, Treyton discreetly grabbed her right hand and massaged her palm, which was swollen from how hard she had struck Evelyn. Gwendolyn felt him stuffing something in her right palm and shot him a curious nce. Treyton silently helped her to her feet before doing the same for Evelyn. Then, he asked calmly, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Weren¡¯t you getting along? Why did you start fighting?¡± Evelyn threw herself into his arms and sobbed. Blood trickled out of a corner of her lips. ¡°Treyton! Gwendolyn used me of stealing our brothers¡¯ love and revealing her identity as the illegitimate daughter of a prisoner. She wants to punish me for it.¡± He frowned and turned to Gwendolyn. ¡°Kiddo, that was wrong of you. She¡¯s the youngest in the family now, so you should be more considerate of her.¡± Gwendolyn scoffed and opened her purse. She grabbed a wad of bills and flung them at Evelyn¡¯s face, dering, ¡°Toote for that. That¡¯ll cover her medical expenses.¡± Then, she spun on her heels and left. Once she was gone, Treyton grabbed Evelyn¡¯s face rather crudely. His tone was t even as he uttered words of concern, ¡°Let me check your injuries.¡± Evelyn hissed in pain and frowned, whining, ¡°Don¡¯t squeeze my face so tightly, Treyton. It hurts.¡± Treyton took the opportunity to release his grip. He continued expressionlessly, ¡°Seems fine to me. It¡¯s just more swollen than usual. Ice your face when we get home and apply some anti-inmmatory cream.¡± While covering her face, Evelyn cried a fresh wave of tears and moaned, ¡°Does Gwendolyn truly despise me, Treyton? I asked her toe gown shopping with me because I really like her. What did I do wrong?¡± Instead, Treyton chastised her, ¡°She¡¯s your elder, and regardless of who¡¯s to me, you should humbly ept the punishment that she gives to you. You can¡¯t hold a grudge against her for it orin to anyone in the family about it, understand?¡± Chapter 403 Chapter 403 Evelyn¡¯s expression froze at Treyton¡¯s words. A whileter, she lowered her head unwillingly and mumbled, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Good girl! That¡¯s the generosity befitting of the Harris family¡¯s heiress,¡± Treyton praised and stroked her hair. The moment was short-lived. He turned away quickly and dered, ¡°Change back into your clothes. You probably have toe by another day when your face is better.¡± In the meantime, Gwendolyn left themercial district. She opened her purse once she was inside her car and took out a small note. It had been stuffed into her hand by Treyton earlier. The note simply read: Give me some time. Gwendolyn frowned in iprehension as her gaze traveled over Treyton¡¯s familiar scrawl. Why does he need more time? Did he find out about something and is looking into it? Her phone suddenly rang with an iing call from Cedrick, interjecting her thoughts. When the line connected, Cedrick grumbled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up before you left?¡± Gwendolyn replied cajolingly, ¡°I¡¯m already done with my errands, so I¡¯ll be back ASAP. I couldn¡¯t bear to wake you up since you were sleeping so soundly.¡± Cedrick¡¯s harrumph was muffled by the nkets. He asked, ¡°What did you go out to do? Are you hurt?¡± Her chest swelled with satisfaction as she boasted, ¡°Well, I pped a pretentious b*tch several times, so I¡¯m feeling great!¡± ¡°You hit someone?¡± Cedrick¡¯s tone turned anxious as he added, ¡°Does your hand hurt? I¡¯ll massage it for you when you¡¯re home.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled, moved and amused by his concern. ¡°I¡¯m not that fragile. In fact, I¡¯m still on cloud nine!¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. They chatted for almost fifteen minutes before ending the call, and Gwendolyn steered the car toward Harrick Vi. Cedrick had washed up when she arrived, though he was still dressed in his billowing silk sleeping robe. He was standing right behind the front door and gently pulled her into a hug when she walked in, inhaling herforting scent. He tucked his head into the crook between Gwendolyn¡¯s neck and shoulder, acting cute and affectionate. At the same time, he whined, ¡°I was so upset when I woke up this morning and realized your side of the bed was already cold and empty.¡± Gwendolyn stroked his hair and quietlyforted him. Just then, Nico returned from the garden. The front door of Harrick Vi was ajar, granting him a full view of Cedrick¡¯s uncharacteristically coquettish behavior. The scene was so rare and sweet that Nico could not help but smile. Still, there was no time to dwell on their loving disy. Nico had visited on official business. Despite his reluctance, he coughed loudly to announce his arrival, bringing the lovers¡¯ reunion to an abrupt end. Cedrick and Gwendolyn immediately jumped apart upon recognizing Nico¡¯s voice. Nico approached them and submitted his report. ¡°The investigation results are out. Something is indeed off about Alban.¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick¡¯s expressions darkened almost simultaneously. Cedrick reached for Nico¡¯s report before helping Gwendolyn to a nearby couch. Then, they pored over the report together. Alban had a mother who was over eighty years old, and the woman had been secretly brought overseas recently. He had performed Gwendolyn and Marcus¡¯ paternity test the exact day after his mother¡¯s departure. The next day, he also performed Gwendolyn and Pierre¡¯s paternity test at Nico¡¯s request. That same day, he boarded a private jet abroad, and his whereabouts have remained a mystery since then. Oddly enough, the ownership of his assets had been transferred abroad as well. It seemed he nned to remain overseas indefinitely. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze appeared exceptionally frosty after reading through the report. ¡°Both paternity tests were personally done by Alban, but Nico couldn¡¯t have watched him twenty-four-seven. Tampering with a few data points is child¡¯s y for someone as smart as Alban.¡± Cedrick nodded in agreement,menting, ¡°Seeing as his mother was sent overseas, someone must¡¯ve threatened him. We can¡¯t trust this set of results.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we do another paternity test? I can get it done at a hospital outside of town to make sure no one can tamper with the results,¡± suggested Nico. After some thought, Gwendolyn nodded resolutely. Cedrick jumped into action and instructed, ¡°To be safe, have Pierre sent to the secret interrogation room. It¡¯ll make things easier when we decide on a new date for the paternity test.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Nico turned and left for the garden. He took out his phone and called Mr. Dalberg, the prison warden at Salinsburgh¡¯s prison. Once he left the room, Cedrick hugged Gwendolyn andforted her, ¡°We should finally see a conclusion after this paternity test. You won¡¯t have to spend sleepless nights worrying about this any longer.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Conflicting emotions swelled in Gwendolyn¡¯s chest as she recalled Treyton¡¯s note and the unsavory incident at Mi Couture. Evelyn mentioned she had two patrons. They must be extremely influential figures in Chanaea, and there¡¯s a high possibility that at least one of them is a member of the Harris family. I can exclude Treyton as a suspect based on his behavior today. But whoever the patron is, this person is still family. The conclusion dispirited Gwendolyn. Amid her downcast thoughts, Nico rushed into the room, looking incredibly anxious. ¡°Something happened at the prison! Mr. Dalberg said Pierre suddenly foamed at the mouth at midnight two days ago and experienced a seizure. They sent him to the infirmary, but he could not be resuscitated.¡± Cedrick¡¯s relief was short-lived. His expression darkened, and he asked, ¡°How could this happen? Did someone poison him?¡± Nico sighed and shook his head, exining, ¡°No. The doctor examined Pierre and realized he had a history of seizures. He had been in seizure remission for years after entering prison. No one knows why he suddenly rpsed, and because it happened at midnight, the prison guards did not notice it sooner. He died of suffocation.¡± The living room plunged into silence. Gwendolyn was the first to break the silence. ¡°We can still do a paternity test even if he¡¯s dead. Is his body still intact?¡± Nico¡¯s expression worsened, and he eventually shook his head ruefully. ¡°He died two days ago, and because of his history of seizures, the prison wrote it off as a natural death. They cremated his body, so probably only his ashes are left.¡± Her heart sank in despair. s, ashes could not be used for paternity tests. Their investigation was as good as over. All their progress was wasted, and they were back to where they started. Gwendolyn was distraught, and her expression filled Cedrick with guilt. He apologized tearfully to her, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gwenny. I should¡¯ve nned more carefully and sent someone to monitor Pierre closely at the prison.¡± She smiled at him and replied tenderly, ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault. Even if you sent someone to guard him, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that his seizure happened in the middle of the night. We wouldn¡¯t have been able to change anything.¡± Still, Cedrick kept his head lowered in contrition. Gwendolyn hurriedly wrapped her arms around him and uttered soothingly, ¡°It¡¯s really okay! We can think of other ways to continue our investigation. There must be another way!¡± Only one day remained till the Harris family¡¯s homing feast for Evelyn. Pierre¡¯s death undoubtedly struck a huge blow to Cedrick¡¯s progress. It poured heavily that night. Rain pattered on the windows while the tree leaves swayed at the mercy of the howling winds. Gwendolyn could not fall asleep and perched near the window, staring at the rain. Cedrick sighed inwardly while observing her disheartened air. He was about to pull her into aforting hug when he heard the sounds of urgent knocking on the vi¡¯s front door. Who¡¯s knocking on our door in the middle of the night? Is it Nico? Did something happen again? Gwendolyn and Cedrick exchanged a nce and headed downstairs to meet their visitor. The front door opened to a well-built man drenched from head to toe. Water droplets trickled from his fringe, which was stered to his forehead. His shirt stuck to his torso, drawing attention to his sculpted abs. The man panted heavily, his chest heaving with effort. He had probably climbed the gates and entered through the garden. When Gwendolyn got a good look at the visitor¡¯s face, illuminated by the stark white porch lights, she froze in shock. ¡°Kieran?¡± Chapter 404 Chapter 404 Gwendolyn and Cedrick exchanged nces when they saw Kieran standing in the doorway, not expecting him to be there. Kieran waspletely drenched. He didn¡¯t want to go inside and dirty the carpet, so he remained outside. His usually-cool gaze was fixed on Gwendolyn. Confusion filled Gwendolyn. She suddenly recalled the incident at the Harris residence a few days ago. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you use an umbre? Is there an emergency?¡± she asked coldly. Kieran calmed his breathing and answered, ¡°Kiddo, I was being watched for the past few days. That was why I didn¡¯te and see you. Since tomorrow is the homing feast, I had to lose them and sneak here.¡± Her heart immediately softened. She looked over her shoulder at Cedrick. ¡°Get a thick towel for him and make some soup to warm him up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With the thick towel, Kieran managed to dry himself partially to a state where he was no longer dripping wet. Only then did he enter the living room. Cedrick went to make soup while Gwendolyn took a seat on the couch. ¡°Just say what you want to say, Kieran.¡± Kieran nodded. He was never the type to beat around the bush. ¡°Although Alban is my mentor, I don¡¯t trust the results of his paternity test entirely, and that¡¯s why I brought this.¡± He took out a handkerchief from the inner pocket of his suit. A few strands of Marcus¡¯ hair were tucked between the folded cloth. Shock filled her, and her gaze turned grim. ¡°But Kieran, it¡¯s already the middle of the night. Even if you use your connections and send it to the hospital for a test, you won¡¯t make it tomorrow.¡± Kieran shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t trust anyone else, so I¡¯ll do it myself this time around. You only need to provide me with a silver staining reagent and polyacrmide gel electrophoresis.¡± ¡°All right. I can get those items from the Jenson family¡¯s medical team and have Nico deliver them here.¡± Kieran nodded before lowering his head. After contemting briefly, he asked, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything on the day something happened to Dad. Do you¡­ me me for it?¡± Anger poured through her at the mention of that dreadful day. Heaven knows how ostracized and lonely I was facing those distrustful bunch of rtives. It¡¯d be unnatural of me to deny feeling any anger over it. That isn¡¯t who I am. She shot a haughty re at Kieran, walked toward him, and punched his shoulder. ¡°Of course, I med you. I even considered ignoring you for the rest of my life and pretending you weren¡¯t my brother.¡± Kieran dejectedly hung his head as guilt flooded him. Despite that, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Now that I¡¯ve punched you. That settles it. You¡¯re forgiven.¡± The light in his eyes returned. He grabbed her wrist and used it to smack his chest. ¡°Your punch didn¡¯t even hurt. It was like being scratched by a kitten. You can hit me a few more times if you¡¯re still mad at me.¡± Gwendolyn burst intoughter and retracted her hand. ¡°All right. I¡¯m not mad anymore. Really.¡± Kieran exhaled a relieved sigh, but his expression turned gruff as he remembered something else. ¡°I¡¯ve been taking care of Dad these few days and found something in his room. Also, someone in the family¡­ is behaving oddly.¡± When she caught theplicated look in his eyes, the gravity of the situation dawned upon Gwendolyn. As she silently listened to his description, her heart began to sink. Kieran told her about everything he found out over the past few days. When he caught the somberness in her countenance, he immediately assured, ¡°This is just my spection, and there¡¯s no certainty behind it. We can¡¯t simply use him of any wrongdoing. Tomorrow is the homing feast. You have to listen to his exnation.¡± Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t unreasonable, so she nodded. Knock! Knock! A loud knock rapped against the front door of the vi. She nced at the clock and was surprised. ¡°Wow, Nico is quick. I just texted him a few minutes ago, and he¡¯s already here with all the stuff.¡± She got up and went to get the door. Kieran followed behind her. When the door opened, she saw the man outside was drenched by the rain too. His chest was rising and falling heavily, proof of him jumping over the fence and running to her house as well. However, the man wasn¡¯t Nico. It was Treyton. Gwendolyn gazed at Treyton from head to toe, then looked over her shoulder at Kieran, who had wet hair too. A chuckle escaped her throat. ¡°What is up with tonight? Why are you guys running to my house in the rain? It sure is a lively night!¡± Treyton was squeezing rainwater from his blue suit as he beamed at Kieran. ¡°Hey, what a coincidence that you¡¯re here too, Kieran!¡± Kieran didn¡¯t greet him back as he wore a haughty look. Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What brings you here today, Treyton?¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Treyton¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°I found the real cause behind Dad¡¯s ident,¡± he replied in his deep voice. The smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face dimmed. ¡°Who was it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Treyton opened his mouth but didn¡¯t answer her, thinking it wasn¡¯t appropriate at the moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside, and I¡¯ll exin everything to you slowly.¡± She passed him a towel for him to dry his hair. Making himself at home, Treyton took it and started drying himself off. When Cedrick came out of the kitchen, he immediately saw another uninvited guest in his home. With a smirk, he joked, ¡°Even Treyton is here. Did you guys catch a whiff of my soup ande here for some?¡± Treyton chuckled. ¡°I haven¡¯t tried your soup before. What good timing! It¡¯s not a wasted trip.¡± Everyoneughed, filling the living room with a harmonious atmosphere. Each of them took a seat on the couch and started discussing the next day¡¯s homing feast. Cedrick had just set two bowls of warm soup on the coffee table when a knock sounded from the front door again. It was Nico this time. The rain was pouring outside, so despite Nico having an umbre, his clothes were sodden by rainwater since he ran in the rain with the things Kieran requested in his arms. He let out a couple of sneezes when Cedrick opened the door. His face scrunched into a pitiful look when he caught the pleasant scent of the soup, taking a page from Cedrick¡¯s book. ¡°It has been hard on me, Cedrick! I was having a nice dream when Gwendolyn woke me up for work. I need the soup you made and a raise as a reward for my hard work.¡± Treyton¡¯sughter echoed from the living room. Perplexed by theughter, Nico poked his head inside the house and saw Kieran and Treyton were there too. He instantly withdrew his head as regret filled him over his embarrassing actions. He wanted to press the invisible rewind button at the mortification of him acting like Cedrick¡¯sckey in front of an audience. Cedrick took pleasure in Nico¡¯s misfortune and reached for the stuff in his hands. ¡°I made extra servings of soup today, so feel free to grab a bowl.¡± ¡°All righty!¡± Nico was a social butterfly. He quickly got over his humiliating moment and joined the discussion in the living room after beating himself up for a few minutes. Finishing the bowl of soup, Kieran went to an empty room on the second floor with the apparatus and started running the test. The silver staining reagent and polyacrmide gel electrophoresis were the most rudimentary method of DNA testing. Worried about making a mistake, Kieran cautiously ran the test a few times for a consistent result. When he ran the DNA test in the room, Gwendolyn, Cedrick, Treyton, and Nico stood by the door and waited nervously. Even though it was already midnight, none of them were sleepy. All of them were nervous and had serious looks on their faces. Kieran running the test personally was theirst chance and the most reliable way for them to get the result. Every second was torture as they waited in trepidation. Another half an hour passed, and the sound of the door knob twisting could be heard. Kieran had finished the test, and he walked out of the room with steady steps. Chapter 405 Chapter 405 Everyone surrounded Kieran the moment he walked out. Treyton asked nervously, ¡°So?¡± Kieran said nothing as he kept his head down, expressionless. No one could tell if the results were good or bad. When they saw his face, dread filled their hearts. Gwendolyn said resignedly, ¡°Kieran, just tell us. Even if the results are bad, it¡¯s not going to get any worse than this. I can handle it.¡± Kieran remained quiet. Under everyone¡¯s gazes, he walked toward Gwendolyn and hugged her tightly. A little smile appeared on his haughty face. ¡°My precious little sister, Gwen, is the daughter of the Harris family!¡± Upon hearing that, everyone felt relieved. Cedrick was the only one with a scowl on his face. He walked forward, separated Gwendolyn from Kieran¡¯s embrace, and pulled her back to him. ¡°You¡¯re adults now. Even if you guys are siblings, you should still keep some distance between each other.¡± ¡°Oh, you!¡± Gwendolyn nced helplessly at Cedrick as she slowly reached inside his robe and pinched the soft part of his waist. Treyton breathed a sigh of relief in secret andined, ¡°Kieran, could you not scare us like that? When can you learn to look happier when you¡¯ve got good news? Geez!¡± Will he ever find a wife if he continues to act this way? What kind of woman can handle him, anyway? Kieran remained expressionless as hepletely ignored Treyton. Then, they started discussing the homing feast, which was happening the next day. After that, Kieran and Treyton snuck back to Mount Tranquil so that a certain someone at home wouldn¡¯t be suspicious. Despite confirming her identity, Gwendolyn still had something on her mind, and she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Cedrick noticed that. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. ¡°Gwenny, I know how hard this is for you, especially since it was the family you¡¯ve loved for more than twenty years that betrayed you.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes turned red, and she buried her face in his chest without saying anything. He continued, ¡°But, Kieran¡¯s right. Besides, I can¡¯t really believe it either. Maybe¡­ he has his reasons. No matter what happens, you should hear him out before making your decision when you see him tomorrow.¡± She nodded slowly and wrapped her arms around his waist tighter. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant now. No matter how much you don¡¯t want to rest, our babies need their rest. Do it for them, okay? Try to calm your mind and get some sleep.¡± ¡°But¡­ I really can¡¯t fall asleep. It¡¯s suffocating¡­¡± Cedrick sighed inwardly as he tried to find a way to calm her down. ¡°How about I tell you a bedtime story?¡± ¡°No! You¡¯re a terrible storyteller!¡± Gwendolyn rejected. ¡°That¡¯s how I¡¯ll bore you to sleep.¡± She was speechless. That makes sense. Oh my goodness, I have nothing to say if he puts it that way. Giving up, she listened to Cedrick¡¯s stories in his hypnotic voice for twenty minutes before she fell asleep. A few hourster, the sun rose. The homing feast of the Harris family began at seven o¡¯clock in the evening at Marcus¡¯ vi on Mount Tranquil. Evelyn, who was already beautiful, was dressed up in a mourous golden gown that night, looking like the most precious princess in a castle. As soon as she appeared, everyone broke out in a massive round of apuse. Besides, since she was a top celebrity, many reporters were there to take pictures of her as their cameras shed without stopping. Evelyn remained calm, and she looked extraordinarily dazzling, like a princess. A few people noticed Gwendolyn¡¯s absence and began gossiping quietly. However, they stopped when they saw Evelyn as she attracted their attention. Since Marcus was still unconscious, Asher had be the head of the Harris family. Thetter stood on the stage and gave a speech in celebration of Evelyn¡¯s return in his bureaucratic voice. After that, he moved on to the next agenda. With everyone there as witnesses, Asher announced that he would hand over the right of inheritance to Evelyn. Evelyn was ttered beyond words by that and took the microphone. She said politely, ¡°Asher, I know how much you love me and wish to give me the world, but I¡¯m used to being in the entertainment industry. Inheriting the family business is too much for me!¡± Most of the guests and mediaughed at how honest she was; some were even drawn in by how straightforward that neen-year-old was. Evelyn continued while the guests wereughing, ¡°That¡¯s why I think you, the most capable one among us, should be the one to inherit our family business.¡± Asher had a sharp gaze in his eyes, but he didn¡¯t agree to it immediately. ¡°You¡¯re the youngest daughter in our family, and you¡¯ve gone through so much. Besides, the right of inheritance of the Harris family has always been passed on to daughters. That¡¯s why you¡¯re the rightful sessor.¡± ¡°Asher, I don¡¯t believe in that. All I know is that it belongs to the one who is worthy. So, just ept it.¡± The two of them stood on the stage and continued giving each other the chance to inherit the family business. In the end, Asher had no choice but to be the one to sign the right of inheritance and shoulder the responsibility. Jared, the topwyer of the Harris family¡¯s legal team, carried a kraft paper bag with the inheritance documents and went up the stage. Asher took the pen handed over by Evelyn and was about to sign his name on the documents when a voice rang out. ¡°Wait!¡± Suddenly, someone shouted from outside the main entrance. Asher¡¯s hand trembled slightly, and a drop of ink from the tip of the pennded on the space where he was supposed to sign. Hearing that familiar voice, Asher knew exactly who it was. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t help but look in the direction of the voice. All the guests turned toward the entrance as well. Gwendolyn wore a fiery red floral dress. Despite not wearing heels, her graceful strides exuded a commanding aura. The floral pattern at the hem of her dress swayed with elegance, making her look graceful and enchanting while exuding a sense of arrogance and haughtiness. By her side was Cedrick, who had a silver-grey mask on. The two of them, one disying cold aloofness and arrogance while the other showing a sardonic smile, walked into the garden, instantly captivating the attention of all the guests and media. The guests only realized that Gwendolyn, who had always been the most precious daughter of the Harris family, had only arrived. Right then, suspicions and whispers filled the air. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Meanwhile, Evelyn, who was still on the stage, took the microphone calmly and tried to gain control of the situation. ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s my big day. Why are you and Mr. Jenson only here now?¡± With that, she had sessfully med Gwendolyn for beingte and indirectly told the crowd they should not fuss over it. Gwendolyn looked into Evelyn¡¯s eyes from a distance, a mocking smile ying at the corners of her eyes. ¡°Evelyn, even if Asher is worthy of being the next sessor, it¡¯s not up to you to decide!¡± Chapter 406 Chapter 406 The garden was abuzz with the guests¡¯ chatter, for Gwendolyn¡¯s words had revealed a significant amount of information to them. Amidst everyone¡¯s curious nces, Gwendolyn shifted her attention to Asher, who was on stage. She suggested in a solemn tone, ¡°Asher, this is an internal matter of the Harris family. If you don¡¯t want to see Harris Group¡¯s stock price crash or the family¡¯s name stered across the headlines tomorrow, you had better clear the area and listen to me!¡± Underneath the dim lighting, Gwendolyn gave Asher an icy stare. The guests and reporters present, who just had their minds blown, discussed the matter with increasing fervor. Below the stage, Treyton was the first to spring to his feet and keep the situation under control. His presence was enough to indicate to the reporters that they had to keep the matter under wraps and leave. As for the guests, they, too, headed for the door under Kieran¡¯s direction. Holding the session document, Jared was left stunned on stage. He simply looked around, clueless as to what to do. Cedrick, who had noticed him, gave Nico and William a look. The two responded by heading on stage swiftly and bundling Jared away from the Harris residence. Ten minutester, an empty silence was what remained of the previously busy garden. Only immediate members of the Harris family and Cedrick were left. Even the rtives of the Harris family had been told to leave under Gwendolyn¡¯s orders. Asher fixed a piercing gaze upon Gwendolyn but didn¡¯t say a word. He watched her make her way onto the stage and waited to see what she had to say. Not wanting to beat around the bush, Gwendolyn opened the bag and brought out the five paternity test reports Kieran had personally run. ¡°Take a good look at these, Asher. This is the truth behind my birth!¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Suppressing the rage within her, Gwendolyn threw the reports in Asher¡¯s face. However, thetter didn¡¯t bother to take them. Instead, he continued to stare at her in silence. ¡°Asher, you were the one who proposed the paternity test to Dad. Alban is a good friend of Dad¡¯s and someone you¡¯re close to. Unfortunately, you forced him to tamper with the paternity results by threatening to harm his mother, did you not?¡± Lowering his gaze to look at the papers that were strewn across the floor, Asher pursed his lips tightly as he kept mum. At that moment, Evelyn came forward to exin, ¡°Gwendolyn, this has nothing to do with Asher. I was the one who kidnapped Alban. It was also I who mention the paternity test to Dad. If Asher really wanted Alban to tamper with the results, Alban would have readily agreed to do so. He doesn¡¯t need to resort to any threats. He¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Gwendolyn shot her an icy look. ¡°I¡¯m questioning Asher now. It¡¯s not your ce to answer on his behalf!¡± Evelyn thrust a defiant chin forward but didn¡¯t say anything further. Returning her attention to Asher, Gwendolyn retrieved another document from the bag and hurled it in his direction. ¡°This is the evidence Treyton has collected from the Harris family recently. On the day Dad was hurt, Lori was right by his side. It was she who pushed him down the stairs while he was being distracted by the paternity report!¡± The mention of the topic triggered a painful squeeze in Gwendolyn¡¯s heart. With tears welling up in her eyes, she continued in a trembling voice, ¡°How much of all these were you aware of? Were you responsible for all of it?¡± Meanwhile, Lori lowered her head in guilt as she desperately tried to keep a low profile. In spite of that, Asher simply stared at her, refusing to answer Gwendolyn¡¯s questions. Due to the dim lighting, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t make out the expression on his face, let alone tell what was on his mind. After a brief pause, she continued with her usations. ¡°You subsequently used Dad¡¯s sickness as a reason to dy my signing of the session document. Yet, you were anxious to ept Evelyn back into the family and give her the right of session despite the fact that she¡¯s an illegitimate child! What in the world are you up to? Is the love you have shown me all these years nothing but a charade?¡± A glint shed across Asher¡¯s eyes before he called out in a raspy voice, ¡°Kiddo¡­¡± Taking a deep breath, Gwendolyn contained her raging emotions as she added, ¡°I don¡¯t care if you knew about this or not. I¡¯m going to make you pay just the same! On top of that, after Dad¡¯s ident, I should be the one who should be in charge of the Harris family. The decision on my session isn¡¯t yours!¡± Upon retracting her piercing gaze, Gwendolyn turned to look at Kieran, Treyton, and Cedrick. ¡°Keep an eye on Lori and Evelyn. Don¡¯t let those two b*tches escape. I¡¯ll be dealing with them shortly.¡± Upon giving out the intrusions, Gwendolyn returned her attention to Asher. ¡°Come with me.¡± After she turned around and entered the vi, Asher followed suit without saying a word. Once they were inside Gwendolyn¡¯s old bedroom, Asher closed the door behind him and wait to be questioned. With her legs sore from standing, Gwendolyn sat by the bed and red at him from a distance. ¡°The reason I asked you to step aside is to speak to you in private. I still find it unbelievable that the brother who loved me all these years is the same person who hurt me the deepest!¡± ¡°Kiddo¡­¡± Asher stopped mid-sentence before letting out a sigh when he realized he had nothing to say in his own defense. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°When I was fifteen, Evelyn injected me with a psychotic drug and even pushed me into the water. Were you aware of that?¡± Asher closed his eyes to hide the guilt within him. ¡°I was.¡± ¡°When did you learn of it?¡± ¡°A long time ago¡­¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes narrowed as she felt as if someone was squeezing her heart tightly. Amidst the unbearable pain, she choked, ¡°So¡­ were you behind it too?¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t me.¡± Asher chose to reveal the truth now that they were speaking in private. ¡°It¡¯s true that I was the first to know, but the incident was entirely Evelyn¡¯s doing. I would never risk your life for any benefit. Right after I learned of what happened, I punished her severely by suspending all the films she was working on. She suffered for more than half a year because of that. It wasn¡¯t until Dad took pity on her that I let her go. That said, Dad wasn¡¯t aware that it was she who had harmed you. Dad and I were the ones who had Evelyn¡¯s back. Both of us would do everything in our power to satisfy whatever she wanted.¡± The revtion baffled Gwendolyn. ¡°Why did you keep protecting her? Even when she has done wrong, you allowed her to continue down that path!¡± ¡°I¡­ did punish her before.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s tone intensified. ¡°She has tried to harm me more than once,ing close to ending my life every time. Can your trivial punishment make up for all the hurt she has caused me?¡± Rendered speechless, Asher shut his eyes again. Upon collecting her thoughts, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°What about this time? Were you behind it or was this all her?¡± ¡°She knows how much I want to seed Dad. By taking advantage of that, she forced me to take her side. I only found out about everything when I arrived at the vi the day of Dad¡¯s ident.¡± His words caused tears to flow uncontrobly down Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks as she clenched the bedsheet beneath her. Regaining herposure, she retorted, ¡°You¡¯re such a fool, Asher! If you wanted the seed Dad so much, why didn¡¯t you just tell me? What makes you think that I¡¯m unwilling to hand over the position to you? How can you choose to trust an illegitimate child like Evelyn over your own sister?¡± ¡°You have Cedrick by your side. The very person who took away the Harris family¡¯s position as the richest family in the country. He¡¯s the one I don¡¯t trust. You marrying someone as cunning as him is the equivalent of handing over the Harris family¡¯s entire assets to the Jenson family. Dad might have been a fool to take this risk by making you his sessor, but I cannot allow such a situation to exist. Only by securing the right to be Dad¡¯s heir can I restore the Harris family to its previous glory!¡± With tears gushing out, Gwendolyn broke into a smirk. ¡°So, that¡¯s how you have always thought about it. Did you know that when I was left with nothing after the attacks mounted by you and Evelyn, the so- called cunning Cedrick decided to transfer all his assets to me? He was unfazed by the fact that the Jenson family would punish him severely for it. Isn¡¯t that ironic, Asher?¡± Chapter 407 Chapter 407 Asher¡¯s face lost all color when Gwendolyn¡¯s revtion struck him. He found it unbelievable that Cedrick was willing to disregard his family¡¯s reputation and interests to transfer everything he had over to Gwendolyn. It¡¯s so ironic that it feels like a bad joke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. An apology was all that he could eke out, for he knew that any further exnation was pointless. Wiping away her tears, Gwendolyn felt as if she had lost all faith in Asher. ¡°Even if you weren¡¯t behind those misdeeds, your tolerance of Evelyn¡¯s misdeeds has allowed her to act with impunity. The way you protect her and cover up the truth was the reason I ended up in Faike when I was fifteen. There, I suffered for six years straight while living with the Wright family. The trauma that I experienced isn¡¯t something that your trivial punishment can ever make up for! ¡°On top of Crane Bridge at Faike, she and Luke hired forty assassins to kill me. I had no choice but to jump into the freezing river to escape. Another time in Realm Bar, she and Uncle Hector bribed Charles to steal the S404 RNA virus from theb so that they could infect me with it. ¡°Let¡¯s not forget the numerous times she tried to sow discord between me and Cedrick. By advising Eloise, she almost seeded in getting me raped by Sherman during Eloise¡¯s birthday party. Yet, you bailed Eloise and Natasha out of prison, allowing them to ride roughshod on my life. All these incidents are the result of you and Dad indulging her, and I¡¯m never going to forgive you for what you have done. Since you want the right of session so much, I¡¯ll give it to you as my way of repaying you for the care you have shown me throughout the years. But, from today onward, you and I are no longer siblings!¡± The moment Gwendolyn was done with her outburst, she walked past Asher with her eyes brimming with hatred. Thetter, whose eyes had reddened, called out to Gwendolyn right before she opened the door to leave. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kiddo. I didn¡¯t expect my actions to have traumatized you to this extent. I know I don¡¯t deserve to ask for your forgiveness. Instead, I¡¯ll reflect upon my actions and do my best to make it up to you. As for Evelyn, you¡¯re free to make her pay as long as you don¡¯t kill her.¡± Unfortunately, his words only hurt Gwendolyn more. Her grip on the doorknob tightened in response. ¡°In the end, it¡¯s clear that she¡¯s more important to you. Despite me listing out all her crimes, you still choose to stand up for her.¡± Suppressing the remorse within him, Asher hung his head and gave a teary-eyed exnation. ¡°When I was on a mission in the military, it was her mother who sacrificed her life to save mine. She¡¯s the one that I¡¯m indebted to. I promised her that I would take care of Evelyn and ensure her safety. As for Dad, the fact that she¡¯s his illegitimate child simply added to his guilt. Evelyn has a special ce in his heart because I was the cause of her mother¡¯s death.¡± Marcus was a good father who loved all his children. Unfortunately, he failed as a husband for loving three women in his life. Asher let out a sigh before continuing in a choking voice, ¡°Kiddo, I beg of you. Please spare her life.¡± His plea left Gwendolyn stunned at her feet. Her heart tightened abruptly, while her eyes twitched beyond her control. Ever since she was little, Asher was someone she truly respected. Whenever she did something wrong, he would reprimand and punish her. However, his heart would break every time he did it, and he would feel the urge to give her all the attention in the world to make up for it. The dynamics of their rtionship made him a stern mother figure to her, while Marcus yed the role of a gentle father. As a result, she was devastated to see the brother whom she loved so deeply beg for mercy on behalf of Evelyn, a mere illegitimate child. The irony of it all elicited a smirk from her. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare call me Kiddo anymore! I don¡¯t ever want to hear those words from your mouth. Going forward, the only brothers I have are Kieran and Treyton. The eldest brother I so cherished died when I was fifteen.¡± After leaving him with her scathing response, she opened the door and stormed out without looking back. Asher was left alone in her old room, overwhelmed with sorrow and dejection. When Gwendolyn emerged from the room, Cedrick was standing by the stairs, waiting for her. The sight of her reddened eyes and tear streaks on her cheeks filled him with sympathy. Instead of saying anything, he simply opened his arm to offer her aforting embrace. Gwendolyn reciprocated by throwing herself into his arms and wrapping her hands around his waist. The sound of his steady heartbeat brought her a sense of belonging which gradually calmed her down. Hugging her tightly, Cedrick patted her on the back as he suggested in a maic voice, ¡°Are you tired? If it¡¯s too much for you, let¡¯s just head home first.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head to indicate that she wasn¡¯t done yet. I¡¯m not going home until I deal with those two b*tches¡ªLori and Evelyn! Cognizant of her intention, Cedrick stopped persuading her. Instead, he tightened the grip on her hand as he led her to the living room downstairs where Sienna was standing. It was clear from her glistening eyes that she, too, had just cried. The sight of Gwendolyn and Cedricking down filled her with shame and regret. She was unable to hold back her tears, so she cried even more. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯m shocked to have just learned about how much you have suffered. I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m truly sorry!¡± Gwendolyn was someone who could clearly tell friend from foe. Sienna, her sister-inw, had always treated her like her own sister and was innocent of any involvement with Asher¡¯s misdeeds. ¡°I don¡¯t me you at all, as you were ignorant of the entire matter. You don¡¯t have to apologize on Asher¡¯s behalf.¡± The sensitive Sienna could detect the change in Gwendolyn¡¯s tone when she mentioned Asher, a fact that saddened her so much that tears just wouldn¡¯t stop flowing. Letting out a sigh, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but feel a certain distance between them now, especially after all that had happened. Clueless as to how she could console Sienna, Gwendolyn suggested, ¡°He¡¯s upstairs right now. Why don¡¯t you go check on him? I doubt he¡¯s in a good ce emotionally.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Sienna nodded before hurrying upstairs. Meanwhile, Evelyn and Lori were being guarded at their seats in the garden. Upon emerging from the vi, Gwendolyn could already see Lori¡¯s fearful expression from afar. The thought of her unconscious father in the room infuriated Gwendolyn further. After striding across thewn, she dragged Lori into the vi by grabbing her silky-smooth hair. ¡°Ouch! Let go of me, Gwendolyn! I¡¯m your stepmother, an elder of yours. You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± Lori screamed as her face contorted from the pain. Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°That might be the case before this, but not anymore!¡± With rage burning in her eyes, she gave Lori¡¯s hair an even stronger tug. Despite feeling as if her scalp was about to be torn off, Lori¡ªwho had lived a life of luxury in the Harris residence¡ªfailed to struggle free on the ount that she wasn¡¯t a martial artist. She was dragged into the vi and subsequently into Marcus¡¯ room. The room door opened to reveal Marcus lying there peacefully. His eyes were closed, while his face was covered by an oxygen mask that was connected to a monitoring device. At that moment, he was nothing more than a vegetable. Thereafter, Gwendolyn kicked Lori behind her knees and pressed her down so that she kneeled by Marcus¡¯ bed. Even then, her tight grip on Lori¡¯s hair didn¡¯t loosen one bit. ¡°Lori, take a good look at him! This man insisted on marrying you despite his children¡¯s objections. He is the one who gave you a life of luxury throughout your years living at the Harris residence. How can you push him off the stairs? Do you not have a conscience at all?¡± Chapter 408 Chapter 408 Lori burst into tears, not daring to look at the man on the bed. However, Gwendolyn was pulling her hair, so she couldn¡¯t run away even if she wanted to. Lori screamed as pain shot through her knees and scalp. She was already on the verge of a breakdown. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong! I was just protecting myself. This is all your fault, Gwendolyn! You¡¯re the one who caused all of this! Marcus deserved this! If he didn¡¯t insist on passing the right of inheritance to you and driving me into a corner, I wouldn¡¯t have given in to Evelyn¡¯s maniption!¡± She had never gotten along with Gwendolyn. Besides, thetter had once said she would chase Lori out of the Harris family the moment she got the inheritance rights. Lori wouldn¡¯t have been able to live a peaceful life if that were to happen. She had been spoiled and pampered in the Harris family for so many years. Getting kicked out would have been the same as getting sentenced to death. She didn¡¯t have any survival skills, which meant it was impossible for her to live the same way. However, things would be different if Evelyn had gotten the inheritance rights. She could even be thedy of the household in the future. I did nothing wrong. I was just trying to survive, that¡¯s all. Gwendolyn was somewhat shocked to hear that. She didn¡¯t expect Lori to not have an ounce of regret. Fury burned within her, and Gwendolyn pped Lori across her face. Then, she pressed thetter¡¯s head on the bed and forced her to look at Marcus. ¡°What did Dad do wrong? You were the one who schemed to sleep with him because you were after his money! You were also the one who forced Dad to take responsibility. Has Dad ill-treated you in any way all these years? His feelings for you were true. He once told me that after his death, I should provide you with a mansion and transfer five percent of Harris Group¡¯s shares to you so you could get the shares¡¯ dividends and continue living a carefree life. Dad even told me to let you be if you ever thought about getting remarried! But what about you? This is how you repay him?¡± Lori¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at her unconscious husband. ¡°How is this possible? H-He¡¯s already nned for my future?¡± Gwendolyn gave her a mocking look. ¡°Lori, you must know that I¡¯m a vengeful person, and I¡¯d return the favor tenfold if anyone dared to offend me. Even though I bicker with you all these years, I¡¯ve never done anything to actually harm you. It¡¯s all because Dad couldn¡¯t let go of his feelings for you!¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Lori was shaking all over and couldn¡¯t get anything out of her mouth. She had never loved Marcus and had only gotten married to him because she wanted to enjoy living the life of a richdy in a wealthy household. Lori assumed that Marcus was the same, that he viewed her as just a breath of fresh air because she was young. Who would have thought Marcus actually loved her? He had even made preparations for her future so she could live the rest of her lifefortably. Lori cried her heart out, seemingly overwhelmed by her guilt. Gwendolyn nced coldly at her. Her voice was indifferent as she said, ¡°You¡¯re idiotic and cruel. Dad was the only one who could protect you in the Harris family. You harmed him, and you know so many of Evelyn¡¯s secrets. With her personality, she¡¯ll definitely think of a way to get rid of you once everything settles down. She dared to try and get me killed multiple times even though I¡¯m her half-sister. That just shows how ruthless she is. You, on the other hand, have nothing to do with her. What makes you think she¡¯ll actually protect you?¡± Upon hearing that, Lori held her breath and stopped crying. She finally had a grasp of the situation. I was wrong! I¡¯ve made a horrible, horrible mistake! She got onto her knees and grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s gown as she apologized sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gwendolyn. I was wrong! I know how stupid it was of me now. Please just give me another chance, all right?¡± Gwendolyn kicked her away and looked down at her contemptuously. Her eyes were cold and emotionless. ¡°Do you think Dad would wake up just because I gave you another chance? Because of you, he ended up in a vegetative state and can never wake up anymore. He doesn¡¯t have another chance in life now, so what gives you the right to beg me for forgiveness?¡± Lori was tongue-tied for her question. She was beside herself with regret and cried in despair. Gwendolyn¡¯s face was cold as she continued, ¡°You have dug your own grave, Lori. Get ready to spend the rest of your life in prison while you drown in your regrets!¡± She was brutal with her words. Once she finished speaking, Gwendolyn sent a text to Nico, who was waiting outside the vi. Soon, Nico and William came in and dragged Lori out, who was still wallowing in despair. ¡°How do you n to deal with her, Gwendolyn?¡± Nico asked. Gwendolyn turned to look at the motionless Marcus on the bed and heaved a sigh. ¡°Charge her for attempted murder and send her to prison. I want her to atone for her sins in there for the rest of her life, and I don¡¯t want to see her ever again. Also, make sure you get her to sign a divorce agreement before sending her in.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With that, Lori was dragged out by Nico and William. Gwendolyn took a deep breath. She took a few steps forward but suddenly felt light-headed and fell to her side helplessly. Instead of crashing into the ground, shended in a warm embrace. Cedrick¡¯s heart ached for her. ¡°Gwenny, your progesterone levels are already too high before this. The doctor said you shouldn¡¯t be experiencing any extreme emotions. Even if it¡¯s not for the babies, you should still keep your emotions in check.¡± Gwendolyn nodded weakly, too tired to talk anymore. Cedrick picked her up bridal-style and tried toe up with a n for her. ¡°Most of the things with the Harris family are dealt with already. All that¡¯s left is Evelyn. Why don¡¯t you let me handle her?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head to decline. ¡°She¡¯s the cause of everything. Let me deal with her myself.¡± ¡°Then, let me hold you while you do that. Just instruct Nico about whatever you n to do. What do you think?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Nico was an expert at beating someone up. Most importantly, he was urate and ruthless. Naturally, they needed to put him to use. Cedrick kissed her on her forehead gently and carried her downstairs. Treyton had ordered someone to press Evelyn onto the ground in the living room. The atmosphere in the room was tense, and Treyton and Kieran said nothing as they sat on the couch. Cedrick stared straight ahead as he walked over with Gwendolyn in his arms. He took a seat on the couch in the middle, then allowed the woman to sit on his legs and burrow into his chest. Gwendolyn yed with his tiezily and directed her words at Evelyn when she spoke. ¡°I already know everything now. What else do you have to say?¡± Even though Evelyn was on her knees, she still managed to keep her back straight. She had a smile on her face and seemed unfazed about the situation. ¡°Well, I lost. I have nothing to say. Do whatever you want.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. She sounded cruel as she said, ¡°All right. Don¡¯t go back on your words. Since you bear the Harris surname, we¡¯ll make sure you get punished the Harris way.¡± Cedrick understood what she meant and immediately gave Nico a look. Nico turned and went into the garden. When he came back in, he had a few thin branches in his hands. ¡°Give her fifty strikes first. We¡¯ll start questioning her after that,¡± Gwendolyn said coldly. ¡°Yes.¡± Nico put the branches on the coffee table, picked one from the pile, and began hitting Evelyn. Sharp sounds resonated in the air continuously, and the atmosphere in the once-silent living room became even more tense. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Nico exerted the same amount of force with each strike. He was equally ruthless each time and didn¡¯t show any mercy just because Evelyn was a woman. It looked as though he was an emotionless machine made to punish people. He would change the branch each time it broke and continued to cane her. Evelyn was wearing a strapless dress that exposed her back. Her skin was tender, and excruciating pain stung her each time she was hit. Her arms and back were soon covered in red lines, and some parts of her were bleeding because her skin had been cut open. Evelyn was still kneeling on the floor as she endured the first few strikes, but she soon sumbed to Nico¡¯s ruthlessness andy on the floor due to the uncontroble pain. She curled into a ball and used her arms to protect her head. Gwendolyn watched from afar. Evelyn was one tough cookie for she was shaking from the pain but she did not cry nor beg. ¡°Nico, your skills seem to have deteriorated already. Why don¡¯t I hear her cry? Are you being lenient to her?¡± Gwendolyn asked with a raised brow and cold smile. Chapter 409 Chapter 409 Nico came to a sudden halt, and his eyes lifted to meet Cedrick¡¯s piercing gaze from the other side. His face paled slightly, startled by the intimidating look. ¡°I swear, my sister-inw-to-be, I wouldn¡¯t dare tamper with the results when so many eyes are upon me!¡±, Compelled by a wave of trepidation, he swung the branch once more, this time with even greater force. Evelyn convulsed in agony, her body trembling at the brink of copse. Her doe-like eyes brimmed with tears as she cast a helpless gaze toward Kieran and Treyton, who were seated on the nearby couch. ¡°Help me, Kieran, Treyton.¡± However, Kieran remained cold and impassive, his face devoid of any trace of emotion. He was unperturbed by her desperate plea for help. Treyton couldn¡¯t bear to see her covered in blood as the brutal strikes echoed in his ears. Hence, he turned away, choosing to ignore the scene. As Evelyn witnessed the apathy of her two brothers, a chill settled in her heart. A sardonic smile crept onto her pale lips, a bitter reflection of the irony that enveloped the situation. She would groan in pain asionally, but she never begged for mercy. p! As the final whip cracked through the air, thest thick branch in Nico¡¯s hand snapped. He took a moment to catch his breath, feeling exhausted from the exertion. He turned to look at Gwendolyn and Cedrick and said, ¡°We¡¯re done with the fiftyshes.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s voice remained icy, devoid of any inflection. Evelyn clutched her arms in pain and trembled uncontrobly on the ground. Her carefully styled hair and immacte makeup were now marred by perspiration. The captivating charm she had exhibited at the homing feast had vanished, reced by a disheveled appearance. William stepped forward and forcefully pulled her up, making her kneel. Her fragile form bore the marks of countless wounds. Despite teetering on the edge of copse, her indomitable spirit refused to sumbpletely. Before any questioning began, she was subjected to harsh punishment. She knew all too well that this was Gwendolyn¡¯s deliberate attempt to crush her spirit and assert dominance over her. Gwendolyn turned away from Cedrick¡¯s embrace and shot Evelyn a sidelong nce. The frigid intensity in her eyes spoke volumes of her haughty andposed demeanor. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Her status in the family was evident. Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Lori said you instigated her to push Dad down the stairs. Is that true?¡± Evelyn took a moment to ease the pain coursing through her. Finally, she replied expressionlessly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re truly despicable! How can you bear to have someone push him down the stairs? He has been supporting you and doting on you all these years. Don¡¯t you feel remorseful?¡± Gwendolyn hissed. Evelyn let out a humorlessugh, and her eyes filled with a pained expression. Despite the agony she was experiencing, her voice carried a chilling coldness. ¡°What is there to feel guilty about? He should have known the consequences when he gave you the inheritance. I know I¡¯m his beloved daughter, but he loved you more. He was unwilling to make me part of the Harris family all these years. I was the illegitimate daughter who had to live in secrecy. Doesn¡¯t he deserve to die?¡± Hidden beneath Evelyn¡¯s exquisite facade was a heart filled with malice and cruelty. ¡°You¡¯re a heartless woman!¡± Gwendolyn bellowed, ¡°Nico, p her. Make her pay for her vicious words!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With that, Nico rolled up his sleeves and walked over. With a swift motion, he raised his hand and delivered a powerful p. Weakened by the relentless beatings she had already suffered, Evelyn couldn¡¯t bear the force of the p any longer. She crumpled to the ground in pain. She gently pressed her tongue against the damaged lining of her mouth. The searing pain persisted in her mouth even after she spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. Only when William forcefully yanked her back up and forced her to kneel again did she start to regain some semnce of rity. Gwendolyn was still furious by Evelyn¡¯s hurtful words earlier. Cedrick quickly patted her back in the hope of soothing her anger. Luckily, his presence calmed Gwendolyn down. She asked Evelyn calmly, ¡°You have treated me as your greatest enemy all these years and took great pains to cause me trouble. I don¡¯t understand why you hate me so much.¡± Evelyn nced at Kieran and Treyton, who were sitting on either side of the couch. They showed no signs of empathy as they witnessed her being beaten. She scoffed, ¡°We are both daughters of the Harris family. You are the almighty princess, protected by your dad and brothers from a young age. How would you understand the pains of an illegitimate daughter? While all of you were enjoying New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, I was alone at home weeping in sorrow. When I was young, I saw Dad holding you in his arms while we were out. I wanted to go over and call him ¡®Dad,¡¯ but Leif pulled me aside and told me that Marcus was not my father in public; he only had one daughter, Gwendolyn. ¡°Dad and my brother did give me many things, but they couldn¡¯t give me what I truly wanted. I had no choice but to pursue my desires myself, even if it meant resorting to despicable means. As long as I get what I want, isn¡¯t that all that matters? ¡°Gwendolyn, I don¡¯t hate you. I just feel it¡¯s unfair, so I wanted to switch ces with you. Because in the Harris family, there can only be one beloved little princess, and I felt that you were interfering with my goals.¡± A nket of silence fell over the room when Evelyn finished speaking. When Alban amended Gwendolyn¡¯s DNA results and caused her to be mistaken as the illegitimate child, Gwendolyn felt miserable. There was the incident involving Charles earlier too. In truth, having an illegitimate status was frustrating for families of high social standing. She could somewhat grasp Evelyn¡¯s fixation on her identity as an illegitimate child, including the inner turmoil she had endured for all these years. However, it was not a valid reason for her to absolve herself of the numerous heinous acts she hadmitted. If she had chosen to act in such a way, she must be prepared to face the consequences of her actions. Kieran and Treyton had no emotional attachment to Evelyn. To them, the existence of an illegitimate child would disrupt the family harmony. Hence, they despised and loathed her instead. Treyton locked gaze with Evelyn and said, ¡°You¡¯ve lived a more privileged life than many others. But your insatiable greed led you down this path. An illegitimate child remains an illegitimate child. Do you truly believe that you can be a princess? What makes you think you¡¯re worthy enough to take over my little sister¡¯s position?¡± His final words struck a nerve within Evelyn, as it seemed that everyone held the same opinion when comparing her to Gwendolyn. She chuckled bitterly, shaking her head, and redirected her gaze to Gwendolyn seated across from her. ¡°You already know that I orchestrated everything that happened before. If there was something I couldn¡¯t aplish, I would turn to my elder brother for assistance. Now that the truth has been exposed, I¡¯m devoid of any will to stay alive. As I reflect upon my actions, I¡¯vee to acknowledge the countless sins I havemitted. So, let Cedrick send me to the Federal Bureau of Investigation so that I¡¯ll be sentenced to death.¡± Gwendolyn arched an eyebrow and said tly, ¡°It¡¯s boring to simply kill you.¡± Next, she stood up from Cedrick¡¯s embrace and approached Evelyn, who remained kneeling behind the coffee table. She gazed down at her with an air of superiority. ¡°I won¡¯t end your life because you belong to the Harris family. Moreover, death is an easy way out for you. Instead, I will make you suffer every day, tormenting you with remorse and agony!¡± As Gwendolyn spoke, her eyes shimmered with hatred. She leaned forward and smirked. ¡°Evelyn, would you care to learn of my ns for you?¡± Chapter 410 Chapter 410 Evelyn felt an involuntary tremor of fear course through her body as she stared into Gwendolyn¡¯s intense gaze. When Gwendolyn saw her fear, she let out a mocking scoff. ¡°You shall be sent to the secluded countryside estate tomorrow morning. I¡¯ll arrange for bodyguards to keep a watch on you. The old housekeepers of the Harris family still reside there, and they will monitor your every move as you toil away in the fields,¡± Gwendolyn announced. After a short pause, she continued, ¡°Before dusk falls each day, you will endure ten whippings and then kneel in the courtyard. You shall also recite the entire Heagurn Sutra scriptures as a form of punishment for your sins. You can only rest when you havepleted the recitation. This will be your daily routine. How does it sound? Quite magnanimous, don¡¯t you think?¡± Evelyn¡¯s spine stiffened and her already weakenedplexion grew even paler. The Heagurn Sutra, with its six hundred volumes and over five million words, seemed like an insurmountable task to read from cover to cover. The mere thought of attempting to read it in a single night felt overwhelming. It was undeniably a cruel punishment. ¡°You¡¯re so vicious, Gwendolyn,¡± Evelyn hissed with a bitter expression. Gwendolyn stared at her and said coldly, ¡°Did you show any mercy when you exploited my sympathy? You injected me with drugs and attempted to drown me. You even hired multiple assassins to end my life. Weren¡¯t you ruthless too? What about your ns to unleash a biochemical virus against me? Or your maniption of Eloise to repeatedly harm me? You even instigated Lori to push Dad down the stairs! You fabricated my lineage and forced Asher to stand by your side so that you could seize the Harris family¡¯s inheritance. Aren¡¯t you ruthless?¡± As their eyes remained locked, Evelyn let out a resigned chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m d I managed to introduce countless obstacles in your life.¡± When the thought of Asher crossed her mind, she couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°There are many things that Asher is unaware of. I¡¯ll take responsibility for my actions; there¡¯s no need to implicate others.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained impassive, her eyes still filled with a deep, chilling resolve. ¡°You deserve your punishment, and as for him, I will never forgive him.¡± With those final words, she returned to the sofa and took her seat beside Cedrick. After William pulled Evelyn to her feet, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Lock her in the basement tonight. She shall be sent to the countryside first thing in the morning.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harris. Does she need to pack her belongings?¡± William asked. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be necessary. From now on, she won¡¯t need those luxury jewelry, designer bags, or high-end cosmetics.¡± With that, Evelyn was escorted away, her body limp and powerless. Before leaving, she nced back at Gwendolyn and shed a sinister smile. ¡°You may have made a grave mistake for sparing my life.¡± In the grand hall, her weakughter reverberated, filling the air with an eerie atmosphere. However, without the backing of Marcus and Asher, Evelyn had lost all grounds for resistance. The people seated on the sofa remained unmoved, showing little concern for her words. Kieran remained silent throughout the entire ordeal. With the situation seemingly resolved, he finally rose from his seat. ¡°Kiddo, I intend to depart from Salinsburgh the day after to attend to matters at Faike Hospital. I shall return on the day of your wedding ceremony.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Gwendolyn replied. After Kieran left, Treyton followed suit. ¡°Kiddo, Jennifer has been participating in a wilderness survival reality show in the mountains near Quinton Vige. I n to visit her soon. We will return on the day of your wedding ceremony.¡± Gwendolyn nodded without saying anything in response. She understood their desire to temporarily leave the Harris family and seek sce elsewhere to ease their discontent. Given the circumstances at home, Gwendolyn empathized with their feelings. Since most matters were resolved, she notified Sienna to remind Asher that tomorrow they would be signing the inheritance agreement with Jared, the familywyer, at the Harris residence. It seemed unlikely for Gwendolyn to return to Mount Tranquil. Cedrick swiftly lifted her in his arms and left the Harris residence. They made their way to the waiting car, which transported them back to Harrick Vi. The following morning, not a single trace of news circted online regarding the Harris family¡¯s homing feast. Even the once-celebrated actress, Evelyn, had vanished overnight. It was as though she disappeared from the public¡¯s eyes. Concernedizens and passionate fans, eager for any shred of information, frantically searched the inte. They were disappointed to learn that Evelyn¡¯s Twitter had been deactivated. The digital realm had also been purged of any traces of her existence. Meanwhile, at Mount Tranquil, the door to the underground cer creaked open. Evelyn, who had spent the night huddled in a dark corner, was escorted into a car by Ezra and William. They then made their way to the remote countryside. Henceforth, it would be their duty to keep a watchful eye over Evelyn. Cedrick had also secretly dispatched two men to keep a close watch on them every day. They parked the luxurious car on the main road and walked along the rustic path. After crossing a small mountain, they finally reach their destination. After an arduous hour of walking, Evelyn¡¯s feet were on the verge of copsing; her body was depleted of fluids and energy. At longst, she arrived at the residence of the retired housekeeper from the Harris family. It was a quaint house with tiled roofing. The retired housekeeper was called Margaret Oilson, a fifty-year-olddy who lived with her disabled husband and son. When Margaretid eyes on Evelyn¡¯s beautiful yet innocent face, she was taken aback. The sight of bloodstains drenching her body, a subtle swelling on her left cheek, and the telltale marks of a p,bined with her fragile figure and evident frailty, immediately evoked a surge of sympathy within Margaret¡¯s heart. ¡°Mister, she looks really pitiful. What grave mistake did shemit for Ms. Harris to send her here for hardbor?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Ezra nced at the silent Evelyn and warned, ¡°Don¡¯t be deceived by her appearance. Her heart is more vicious than a venomous snake.¡± He then shared with Margaret all of Evelyn¡¯s heinous sins and repeated Gwendolyn¡¯s instructions with utmost seriousness. Upon learning of the girl¡¯s despicable actions, Margaret¡¯s gaze toward Evelyn transformed into one of intense animosity. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sir. A ruthless scumbag like her deserves no pity. I¡¯ll make sure her life is a living hell.¡± Ezra nodded and took out the payment. Next, he and William carefully carried the box of Heagurn Sutra into the house. Margaret fetched a set of her old cotton clothes and made Evelyn change out of the expensive little dress she was wearing. It was only eight in the morning, and Margaret immediately led Evelyn to the fields for farm work. The arduous journey andck of rest the previous night had obviously taken a toll on Evelyn. Her lips were pale and her face drained of color from sheer exhaustion. ¡°Mdm. Oilson, can I have a sip of water and rest for a little while?¡± Margaret frowned, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she mockingly rebuked Evelyn. ¡°You haven¡¯t even lifted a finger, and you¡¯re asking for water and rest. It must be nice to be ustomed to a life of luxury. Do you need me to cook for you so that you can have your meal before you start working?¡± As Evelyn was on the brink of exhaustion, she decided to feign ignorance and act vulnerable instead. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten sincest night, and I¡¯ve been physically tortured. I haven¡¯t had a good rest, and I¡¯m completely drained. Mdm. Oilson, please, I beg you.¡± ¡°Stop your wishful thinking!¡± Margaret snapped, unsympathetic to her plight. ¡°There are house rules here. We wake up at five-thirty in the morning and have breakfast at six. Once the time is up, breakfast is over. It¡¯s already eight o¡¯clock now, and you expect me to cook for you? Do you think you¡¯re here to enjoy life?¡± She continued in a harsh tone, ¡°You¡¯re here forbor and repentance! You need to atone for your sins! I suggest you stop acting like a pompous b*tch as I have a heart of stone, and I won¡¯t fall for your tricks!¡± Despite Evelyn¡¯s attempts to reason, Margaret¡¯s stubbornness prevailed, leaving her with no choice but to sumb. She was dragged to the fields and forced to dig through the mud. Chapter 411 Chapter 411 Evelyn had been beaten with tree branches fifty times, pped by Nico, locked up in a basement for a whole night, and forced to walk through the mountain for an hour on an empty stomach. She genuinely thought she would have died long ago, but humans had huge potential for surviving extreme conditions if they had a strong will to live. With Margaret keeping an eye on her, Evelyn spent the entire morning at the fields digging holes in the ground. Despite her body being pushed to its limits, she somehow managed to pull through without fainting. When it came time for lunch, Evelyn was so hungry that she wolved down the food and kept stuffing her face like a hungry beast. Because she had been starved for so long, the in buns tasted better than any fancy dish she had ever had in the past. However, Margaret did not allow her to eat too much. She took the dishes away from Evelyn after the third bun and forced her to go feed the pigs. Although Evelyn was an illegitimate daughter, Marcus and Asher had always treated her very well, so she had been living afortable life since she was a child. She had never even seen a pig, let alone enter a pigsty. She had only just opened the door to the pigsty when the awful stench overwhelmed her. Not only did she end up puking all the food she ate, but she also suffered from acid reflux as a result. ¡°What are you doing standing there? We haven¡¯t got all day! You have ten minutes to get this done, or you won¡¯t be having dinner tonight!¡± Margaret scolded Evelyn when she saw her still standing outside the pigsty. This is only my first day here. If I don¡¯t have dinner, I won¡¯t have the energy to finish reciting the Heagurn Sutra, and I won¡¯t be allowed to sleep until I finish it. As if that¡¯s not bad enough, I have to wake up at half past five the next morning! I need to get at least get two to three hours of sleep! With that in mind, Evelyn held her breath and forcefully suppressed her feelings of disgust as she rushed into the pigsty with the bucket of feedstuff. She then spent the rest of the afternoon working in the fields. While she was a little slow due to hunger, Evelyn was able to get the job done in time with Margaret yelling at her from the side. Evelyn breathed a huge sigh of relief and felt d that she had survived such a grueling day. Little did she know, the real torment was about to start at nightfall. It had been less than five minutes since she finished her dinner when William dragged her to the courtyard and forced her to kneel. Ezra then stood behind her with a whip and a cold look in his eyes. Each hit tore at her flesh and caused her to tremble all over. Evelyn kept her teeth tightly clenched and even copsed quite a few times, but William would yank her upright each time. Margaret sat on a bench by the door and watch while snacking on some chips. The sound of the whipping was so terrifying that Margaret, too, began trembling after watching for a while. After recalling what Ezra told her that morning, however, Margaret was able to suppress her feelings of sympathy toward Evelyn. She then spat at Evelyn and eximed with intense disgust, ¡°You know what? You deserve to be punished like this! Old Mr. Harris is an old man in his seventies! He even has issues with his legs! How could you push him down the stairs like that? I can¡¯t believe a young woman like you would do something so heartless and cruel!¡± Evelyn cried out in pain when the final stroke of the whipnded. She then copsed to the ground and trembled all over from the searing pain on her back. She was fading in and out of consciousness and didn¡¯t even have the strength to argue with Margaret. However, her torment was far from over. Ezra then yanked Evelyn back on her knees while William ced a box of Heagurn Sutras in front of her. The two then took turns watching her recite them all. Having lost the support of Marcus and Asher, Evelyn was nothing but a weak neen year-old woman. All she could do was try to recover her strength as much as possible while harboring a grudge against them. Evelyn picked up the scripture, nced at the first page, and began reciting it slowly. The Heagurn Sutra was meant to help cultivate a person¡¯s mind to stay calm, but all Evelyn felt was pain and suffering when she recited it. The sky soon grew dark, and she had been reciting it on her knees for two hours by then. Never before had she imagined her punishment to be this torturous. Her knees felt as though they were being pierced by thousands of needles, her throat felt sore and dry. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, they had yet to treat the wounds on her back, so the stinging pain intensified over time. After hanging in there for what seemed like forever, she sumbed to the pain and passed out. Unfortunately for Evelyn, however, fainting did nothing to help ease her suffering. Ezra and William were not the kind of men who would go easy on women. They simply woke Evelyn up by sshing cold water on her face and forced her to continue reciting the Heagurn Sutra. Just like that, she continued reciting it weakly for another half an hour before it began to rain all of a sudden. Evelyn turned around and shed Ezra a gleeful grin in response. These books are made of paper! If they get wet in the rain, the text will get all smudgy once the pages dry up. I won¡¯t be able to recite the Heagurn Sutra anymore if I can¡¯t read the text! To her surprise, however, Ezra simply moved the paperback copies away and revealed the ones that were made out of wooden strips underneath them. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. As it turned out, Gwendolyn had predicted that it would rain and prepared those beforehand. The words were carved onto the wooden strips before the inking process was carried out, so the rain would not affect the words at all. ¡°Gwendolyn, you sly b*tch! I can¡¯t believe you thought this far!¡± Evelyn mumbled with a wry smile as she stared at the wooden stripsid out before her while kneeling in the cold rain. Displeased that Evelyn was still insulting Gwendolyn in her current situation, Ezra reminded her with a sarcastic chuckle, ¡°You should just hurry up and get on with it. You won¡¯t get any sleep tonight if you waste any more time.¡± As life in the countryside began very early each day, the people there would often go to bed early as well. Margaret, too, went to sleep as soon as she was done taking care of her husband. The asional sound of dogs barking, the stter of rain on the roof tiles, and Evelyn reciting the Heagurn Sutra in a hoarse voice blended surprisingly well together. Ezra simply stood there with an umbre and watched over Evelyn in silence. As the rain grew heavier, the icy-cold winds sent shivers down Evelyn¡¯s spine. It was also raining in Salinsburgh. Gwendolyn had just finished taking a shower and was sitting on the bed while applying a lotion that was specifically designed for pregnant women. Cedrick sat down behind her and helped massage her neck and shoulders as he said, ¡°Hey, Gwenny, I heard your eldest brother¡ª¡± Gwendolyn froze the moment she heard him say that. Realizing that he had said something he shouldn¡¯t have, Cedrick quickly rephrased his sentence. ¡°I heard that Asher didn¡¯t sign the inheritance documents. Jared went to see him at the Harris residence today, but he left the house really quickly.¡± ¡°So what? He has always wanted the inheritance, so it¡¯s only a matter of time before he signs the documents. He¡¯s probably just putting up an act to show me that he feels guilty or something,¡± Gwendolyn replied with an emotionless look on her face. Cedrick said nothing further after hearing that and continued massaging her shoulders with the ideal amount of force. The atmosphere in the room went back to normal shortly after, forming a huge contrast with the freezing rain outside. The two of them were about to go to sleep when Elven knocked on the door. ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Asher is here! He¡¯s standing outside the front door without an umbre and refuses to leave no matter what! Would you like to go have a look?¡± Chapter 412 Chapter 412 Asher is here? This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The atmosphere in the room seemed to grow cold almost instantly. ¡°Just tell him I¡¯m asleep. Oh, and tell him to note over anymore because I don¡¯t want to see him,¡± Gwendolyn replied without even giving it much thought. ¡°Understood.¡± Elven nodded and walked off immediately. Realizing that Gwendolyn was in a bad mood, Cedrick pulled her into his arms andforted her with hugs and kisses. He wasn¡¯t even done kissing her when Elven knocked on the door once again. ¡°I¡¯ve done as you asked, Ms. Harris, but Mr. Asher still refuses to leave. He is still standing out there in the rain as we speak. I bet he¡¯ll stand there all night if you don¡¯t go and see him,¡± he said with a helpless sigh. Cedrick nced at the heavy rain outside the window and asked, ¡°Do you want to go see him? This rain is freezing cold. He will surelye down with a cold tomorrow if he stays out there all night.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent for quite a long time before replying, ¡°If he thinks he will get me to take pity on him and give in, then he¡¯s wrong. If he wants to stay out there in the rain all night, so be it. This is his choice, so I don¡¯t want anyone bringing him an umbre. He¡¯ll leave once he can¡¯t take it anymore.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Harris.¡± Elven never disturbed them anymore that night. Cedrick let out a helpless sigh when he saw the solemn look on Gwendolyn¡¯s face and thought about Asher standing outside in the freezing rain. He tried to hug her to sleep, but she brushed his arm off with a cold look on her face. What? Is she going to take her anger out on me? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, though! ¡°Gwenny, are you mad at me again?¡± ¡°Asher knew about the things Evelyn did to me, and yet, he did nothing and helped keep them a secret from me. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d forgive him for that. You know how I feel about him, so why would you try to take his side?¡± Gwendolyn replied coldly without even looking at him. Cedrick lowered his gaze and cautiously poked at her shoulder as he exined, ¡°It is precisely because I know how you feel that I know you are simply angry at him for betraying you. However, nothing will change the fact that he has been your brother for over twenty years. I know you feel bad about distancing yourself from him too, and I don¡¯t want to see you upset. What if he has truly repented, Gwenny? Would you be willing to forgive him, then?¡± Gwendolyn fell silent once again. Boom! The loud thunder outside snapped her out of her train of thought, and shey down with her back facing Cedrick as she said, ¡°Evelyn pushed me into the ocean when I was fifteen. Had luck not been on my side, I probably wouldn¡¯t even be here today. That is something I can never bring myself to forget. As of now, I still don¡¯t feel that he has truly repented.¡± Cedrick could tell from her choice of words that there was still hope for Asher to gain her forgiveness. All Asher had to do was prove his sincerity in repenting and making it up to Gwendolyn. He theny down next to her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and whispered in her ear, ¡°Then let us wait and see what Asher will do next.¡± Gwendolyn closed her eyes and went to sleep without saying another word. Just like that, the two of them fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms. As pregnant women needed lots of sleep, Asher standing out in the heavy rain did not affect Gwendolyn from sleeping soundly at all. The rain had stopped by the time morning came. Gwendolyn woke up when the sunlight came pouring into the room through the windows. She then carefully got off the bed and walked barefoot on the cozy rug. Upon pulling the curtains aside, she nced at the front gate of Harrick Vi and saw Asher standing there all by himself. As though he was deliberately trying to punish himself, he was dressed in thin clothes that were completely drenched by the heavy rain. His face was pale, and his lips had turned slightly purple as well. Growing up, Gwendolyn had always seen Asher as a respectable and powerful figure. This was the first time she had seen him punish himself by standing in the rain. She was snapped out of her train of thought when Cedrick wrapped his warm arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. ¡°Are you feeling a little sorry for him, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn kept quiet. ¡°Maybe he waited here all night in the heavy rain because he has something important to tell you. How about you let him in and ask him what he wants to say? He hasn¡¯t signed the inheritance agreement, so you can¡¯t cut ties with himpletely just yet,¡± Cedrick continued. Gwendolyn gave it some thought and figured he had a point. As long as we haven¡¯t resolved the inheritance issue, Asher will surelye to see me. I might as well listen to what he has to say. With that in mind, she grabbed her phone from the nightstand and decided to text Elven to let Asher in. To her surprise, her phone started ringing the moment she picked it up. A call from William? It must be about Evelyn, then. Gwendolyn answered the phone immediately. ¡°It was raining heavily over herest night, Ms. Harris. Evelyn copsed after kneeling in the rain all night and started burning up with a high fever this morning. She¡¯s currently unconscious, and her wound has gotten infected as it did not receive treatment after being exposed to the rain. Should we treat her?¡± ¡°Of course, we should. Hire a doctor and have her treated as soon as possible. Next time, make sure to treat her wounds after hitting her. You may resume her punishment once she regains consciousness,¡± Gwendolyn replied without any hesitation. ¡°Understood. By the way, she was reciting the Heagurn Sutra all night yesterday, but she injured her throat before she could finish reciting it, and she can barely speak right now. D-Do we have her continue reciting it?¡± William asked. ¡°She may not be able to speak, but she can still write. Have her continue by writing it down on her knees. She can switch between reciting it and writing it as necessary,¡± Gwendolyn replied after a brief pause. ¡°Understood, Ms. Harris.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression went back to being solemn and icy-cold when she ended the call and shifted her gaze back toward Asher. ¡°And here I thought he hade over because of something important. Turns out, he just came here to beg me for mercy because Evelyn can¡¯t take the punishment anymore!¡± she said with a mocking grin. Cedrick simply lowered his gaze and kept quiet. Gwendolyn then summoned Elven and said, ¡°Go tell Asher that I do not wish to see him ever again. I will never forgive him, so he should just get lost! I don¡¯t want him to bother me any further!¡± She was so angry that she practically screamed thest two sentences. Elven simply nodded and went downstairs to deliver her message to Asher. In order to ensure that he got the point across, he even made sure to phrase it the exact same way Gwendolyn said it. ¡°Please leave, Mr. Asher. Ms. Harris is still mad at you, so she won¡¯t see you even if you stand here for a week. If anything, it will only anger her even further,¡± Elven added. Asher simply looked up at the window on the third floor without responding. ¡°Mr. Asher¡­¡± Elven could only shake his head and let out a helpless sigh when he saw how stubborn Asher was. He had just stepped away when Nico and Summer dropped by for a casual visit. They had just arrived outside the vi when they saw Asher standing at the front gate. As Asher kept his gaze fixated on the window on the third floor, he didn¡¯t even notice Nico and Summer making their way over. Nico had told Summer what happened within the Harris family, so she was not surprised to see Asher standing there. ¡°You¡¯re Gwendolyn¡¯s eldest brother, and yet, you helped that illegitimate daughter lie about her identity! You¡¯re the one who hurt her the most, you hear me? I wouldn¡¯t forgive you either if I were her!¡± she shouted, making no attempt to hide her anger whatsoever. Nico didn¡¯t even try to stop Summer from reprimanding Asher. He simply waited for her to finish before asking with a serious look on his face, ¡°Mr. Asher, would you like to know how you can gain Gwendolyn¡¯s forgiveness?¡± Chapter 413 Chapter 413 Asher turned around and shed him a curious nce without saying anything. Having recalled what Cedrick had told him via text earlier, Nico continued, ¡°Gwendolyn is a fair person. Evelyn has hurt her countless times, so she deserves the punishment that she receives. You shouldn¡¯t havee to beg Gwendolyn to spare her.¡± Beg Gwendolyn to spare her? Asher¡¯s expression slid into a frown. ¡°The fact that she didn¡¯t manage to kill Evelyn is good enough for me. She deserves the punishment she receives, so I am not here to beg for mercy.¡± Having stood out there in the freezing rain all night, his voice sounded somewhat hoarse. Surprised that Asher had thought things through, Nico said after a brief pause, ¡°Evelyn was sent to a farmhouse in the countryside. Afterpleting some hardbor during the day, she would be whipped ten times before being forced to recite the Heagurn Sutra. She would not be allowed to rest until she finishes reciting it. I think that scripture is suitable for those who need to repent. What do you think, Mr. Asher?¡± It didn¡¯t take Asher long to understand what Nico was trying to say. ¡°Did Cedrick send you? I know I messed up big time, so I¡¯m grateful that he is there to help Gwenny build up Harris Group.¡± Asher then turned around and left the Jenson residence after saying that. As his legs were numb from all that standing, he struggled a little when walking away. Nico let out a silent sigh as he watched Asher leave. I just hope he gets the message so Cedrick¡¯s advice won¡¯t go to waste. He was snapped out of his train of thought when Summer tugged at his arm and eximed, ¡°Forget about him, Nico! Let¡¯s just head on inside! Mr. Jenson won¡¯t make us breakfast if we¡¯rete! Don¡¯t you want to enjoy his cooking? His fried eggs are amazing!¡± Then, the two of them then strolled into Harrick Vi and enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast. In the afternoon, Gwendolyn was lying in Cedrick¡¯s embrace and using his muscr chest as a backrest. The two of them then watched a drama series together while Cedrick fed her some oranges. As the oranges were particrly sweet and juicy, Gwendolyn found herself unable to stop eating them. However, Cedrick knew her limits and stopped peeling them after she had her third orange. Gwendolyn turned around and shot him a nce as she protested with a pout, ¡°I haven¡¯t had enough! Peel me a few more oranges!¡± ¡°No way. They¡¯re high in sugar content, so pregnant women like you can¡¯t eat too many. It¡¯s bad for you.¡± ¡°But I still want more¡­¡± Gwendolyn had be extra sensitive toward foodtely and would feel nauseous at the smell of greasy and spicy food. It wasn¡¯t easy for her toe across a fruit that she liked, so she was not happy that Cedrick wouldn¡¯t let her have more. Fine! If Cedrick won¡¯t peel them for me, then I¡¯ll just do it myself! She then got up from Cedrick¡¯s embrace and reached out to grab an orange from the coffee table, but Cedrick was quicker. He snatched the fruit basket away and brought it into the kitchen. He even made sure to close the door firmly on his way out. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far! I only had three oranges today! Why are you being so controlling toward me?¡± Gwendolyn eximed. ¡°You¡¯ll most likely feel sick tomorrow if you don¡¯t control yourself. Also, did they put some kind of addictive substance in these oranges? You¡¯ve been addicted to them since yesterday! This simply won¡¯t do! I¡¯ll have them banned across the country tomorrow!¡± Gwendolyn got mad when she heard him threaten to have oranges banned. She had been suffering a lot from sleepiness, loss of appetite, and vomiting due to her pregnancy. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, she couldn¡¯t even have more of her favorite oranges. In a fit of rage, she charged at Cedrick, rolled up his sleeve, and bit down hard on his arm. Cedrick gasped in pain, but he didn¡¯t try to stop her at all. ¡°If biting me will help you suppress your cravings, then it¡¯s worth it,¡± he said as he sat there and let her bite away. Pretending that his arm was an orange, Gwendolyn clenched her jaw and increased the amount of force she used. Cedrick winced from the increasing amount of pain, but he kept quiet and endured it anyway. Blood was dripping from the two bite marks by the time Gwendolyn let go of him. ¡°Step aside! I¡¯ll only have three more oranges! I¡¯ll stop for the day after that!¡± she shouted while ring angrily at him. However, Cedrick stood his ground and refused to budge. ¡°You seriously won¡¯t let me have my oranges? Fine! In that case, I¡¯ll have to bite you again!¡± Gwendolyn threatened while licking her pearly-white teeth. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Cedrick¡¯s arm was still hurting a lot from her bite earlier. There were some tears in his reddened eyes as he grabbed her arm and ced it between his legs. ¡°My arm is a really boring ce to bite. You should bite here instead! It¡¯ll cause a lot more pain in a single bite!¡± Gwendolyn felt speechless when she heard that. Ugh¡­ He sure is a brave one! Fine, I¡¯ll let him win this time! ¡°I can¡¯t do that! I won¡¯t be able to pleasure myself ever again if I bite that!¡± She let out a helpless sigh and slumped against the couch as she continued, ¡°Fine! I won¡¯t eat them anymore¡± I¡¯ll sneakily have someter tonight! With that in mind, Gwendolyn picked up her tablet from the side and started scrolling through the news. To her surprise, the first news article she saw was about Asher. The look on Gwendolyn¡¯s face grew solemn as she tapped on it. Apparently, Asher had resigned from his positions at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ministry of Aviation. He didn¡¯t even keep his job as the CEO of Harris Group. As Cedrick sat down beside her and nced at the news article, he quickly understood the reason behind Asher¡¯s actions. ¡°He had way too much power in Chanaea. He¡¯s trying to show you that he has truly repented by giving up everything he had that would pose a threat to you. This way, you can punish Evelyn as you see fit without having to worry about him taking action against you.¡± Gwendolyn simply closed the news website and put the tablet aside without saying anything. Momentster, she received a call from Jared. ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Asher refuses to sign the inheritance agreement. He says Harris Group would be better off in your hands. Will you being over today afternoon to sign the papers?¡± ¡°No. Put the documents into a folder and have them delivered to the Jenson residence. I¡¯ll sign it here.¡± Since Asher had offered to hand thepany over, it would be a waste to not ept it. ¡°Sure thing!¡± Cedrick waited until Gwendolyn had ended the call before rolling up his sleeve and holding his arm out in front of her. ¡°Look, Gwenny, it¡¯s bleeding¡­ It hurts so much¡­ I want you to blow on it¡­¡± Gwendolyn stared at him with an emotionless look on her face, only to give in and take a look at his arm momentster. She was genuinely shocked when she saw the severity of his wound. Oh, my goodness! Why did I bite him that hard? ¡°I¡¯m sorry; I shouldn¡¯t have hurt you like this. I don¡¯t know what has gotten into metely. I¡¯ve been feeling irritable and losing control of my emotions a lot.¡± For some reason, she had a bad feeling about the changes in her body. ¡°We¡¯ll get you examined at the hospital first thing in the morning tomorrow,¡± Cedrick said with a serious expression. Gwendolyn nodded and continued blowing at the wound on his arm. She hoped that she was simply overthinking things. Chapter 414 Chapter 414 Meanwhile, in the countryside, Evelyn had just woken up from a splitting headache. She had a really long dream while she was unconscious. In that dream, Marcus was young and not bound to his wheelchair. He carried Evelyn on his shoulders and brought her to the amusement park where he proudly told everyone that she was his beloved daughter. They were having a great time in the dream, but then her vision slowly faded away as she woke up, and she was back at the old house again. The dim ceiling light hanging above her head was all that filled her eyes, and an endless torment was all that awaited her. That beautiful dream came to an end as she fully came to her senses. Marcus would nevere back to life, and it was she who ordered Lori to push him down the stairs. Even if he was still alive, he would never announce her identity as his daughter. In the end, it¡¯s all just a beautiful dream¡­ Evelyn¡¯s lips curled into a wry smile as sheughed at her own fate. Margaret was casually munching on some snacks while sitting next to her. She let out a sigh and said with a frown, ¡°You¡¯re finally awake, huh? I guess having a doctor treat you really does work wonders. Still, your body is ridiculously weak! You didn¡¯t evenst a day! You have a whole year ahead of you, so I hope you¡¯ll at least try to enjoy your time here!¡± Evelyn tried to say something in response, only to realize she had lost her voice. Her throat was so badly injured that even swallowing hurt a lot. She was hooked up to an IV drip and had bandages all over her wounds. Oh? What¡¯s this? Did Gwendolyn have a doctor treat me because she feels bad for me? Is she going to spare me or something? What Margaret said next, however, shattered whatever hope she had built up. ¡°Now that you¡¯re awake, hurry up and get out of bed! You¡¯ve been sleeping all day! It¡¯s night time now, so get to the courtyard and recite the Heagurn Sutra on your knees!¡± What? I can¡¯t even speak, and she wants me to recite the Heagurn Sutra? Margaret was about to step outside when Evelyn grabbed her by the arm and pointed at her throat. Realizing what Evelyn was trying to say, Margaret shot her a disdainful look and added, ¡°Ms. Harris said your hands still work even if you have lost your voice, so you can continue by writing the Heagurn Sutra down. The rules remain unchanged!¡± Evelyn felt speechless when she heard that. What? Write it down? The Heagurn Sutra has over five million words! I would never be able to finish writing it down in one night! Margaret felt a little annoyed when she saw the look of shock and anger in Evelyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Quit wasting time! Hurry up and get a move on!¡± Evelyn refused to budge. She was feeling extremely dizzy after waking up from unconsciousness, and her fever had yet to subside. On top of that, her left hand was still hooked up to an IV drip. She knew that she would surely faint if she were to kneel all night. At this rate, she would probably die before she couldplete her punishment. Evelyn closed her eyes and thought about what she should do next. Margaret got irritated when she turned around at the door and saw that Evelyn was still lying in bed. She ran forward and grabbed Evelyn by the wrist, yanked the IV drip out of her hand, and dragged her off the bed. Evelyn fell to the floor andnded on her knees. An intense pain shot through her body, but she couldn¡¯t even make a sound. Margaret maintained an icy-cold look on her face when she saw Evelyn¡¯s pained expression. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Evelyn? Can¡¯t take even a little pain? Did you think this would happen to you when you tried to kill Ms. Harris before? This pain is retribution for all the evil deeds you¡¯ve done, so you have no right to resist!¡± Evelyn stopped struggling after hearing that and let Margaret drag her to the courtyard. With Ezra watching over her, she knelt on the ground and began writing the Heagurn Sutra down, starting from the very first line. Her lips were pale, and she looked incredibly frail. The sound of a rooster crowing could be heard as dawn approached, but Evelyn hadn¡¯t even finished writing a tenth of the Heagurn Sutra. Margaret¡¯s son, Norman Nixon, had just returned at the time. He was a young man with dark skin, a muscr body, and an honest personality. Norman froze in shock when he saw Evelyn kneeling in the courtyard. Evelyn¡¯s exquisite facial features looked incredibly charming without makeup on, and her frail state easily triggered the desire in men to protect her. Realizing that someone was looking at her, Evelyn stopped writing and nced in Norman¡¯s direction. Her teary eyes helped make her look all the more pitiful. All it took was a brief exchange of nces for Norman to develop a crush on her. ¡°Ahem! Keep writing until it¡¯s lunchtime!¡± It wasn¡¯t until William interrupted them that they finally broke eye contact. Norman didn¡¯t dare say a word and quickly made his way past William before entering the house. Margaret had just gotten out of bed when Norman walked up to her and asked, ¡°Mother, who is that girl in the courtyard? She looks really young and pretty! What did she do to be punished like this?¡± ¡°Have you taken a liking to her?¡± Margaret knew her son all too well. Norman scratched his head awkwardly and replied with an honest smile, ¡°I would love to marry a woman as pretty as she is!¡± Angered by what he said, Margaret smacked him on his head and shouted furiously, ¡°Do you even listen to yourself? That woman is an evil seductress! On top of that, she¡¯s Old Mr. Harris¡¯ daughter, so don¡¯t even think about dating her!¡± ¡°O-Of course, Mother! I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Norman replied like the obedient son that he was. Even so, he still couldn¡¯t help but steal a few nces at Evelyn when he left the room. I don¡¯t know why Mother would say such horrible things about her, but there¡¯s nothing with looking at her pretty face, is there? Realizing that he was staring at her again, Evelyn deliberately shed him a sweet smile in response. She looked as innocent as a poor little bunny that was being abused. Norman¡¯s face turned red instantly, and he quickly ran into the kitchen without looking at her. William, who had seen their little interaction, warned her sternly, ¡°Ezra and I are going to keep a very close eye on you, so you had better not get any funny ideas now!¡± Evelyn quickly retracted her gaze and shook her head profusely like a terrified animal. Not wanting to watch her put up an act, William took the scripture from her and let her go for lunch. At about nine in the morning, Cedrick¡¯s driver drove him and Gwendolyn to Grand Valley Hospital . Owned by N?velDrama.Org. As Gwendolyn was nine weeks into her pregnancy, the changes in her body were bing increasingly obvious. Cedrick was incredibly anxious as he sat there and waited for the results of Gwendolyn¡¯s examination. He would never be able to forgive himself if anything were to happen to Gwendolyn and her babies as a result of the virus he had. Cedrick could barely sit still as he swallowed anxiously. About ten minutester, the nurses opened the door and called out to him, ¡°Mr. Jenson? Ms. Harris¡¯ examination results are out. Pleasee take a look!¡± Cedrick ran into the room the moment he heard that. Gwendolyn could be seen sitting in front of the gynecologist¡¯s desk with a solemn expression. The gynecologist, too, had a simr look on her face. Cedrick then sat down next to Gwendolyn and held her hand while waiting for the doctor to announce the results. Chapter 415 Chapter 415 Amid the tense atmosphere, the doctor finally broke the silence. ¡°Ms. Harris¡¯ progesterone levels are rising again. Have you been emotionally unstable recently? Perhaps experiencing frequent fits of anger or bouts of sadness?¡± the doctor asked. Gwendolyn lowered her head and kept mum. It wasn¡¯t right to withhold information in front of a doctor. Cedrick gripped Gwendolyn¡¯s hand tightly, speaking on her behalf, ¡°Yes, there have been some unpleasant incidents at home recently. Her emotions have been rather turbulent, and it seems she has been having difficulty controlling them. Last night was particrly notable. She bit me simply because I refused to let her have an orange.¡± His voice fell at thest few words, with a hint of mild resentment in it. ¡°She became angry over an orange?¡± The doctor couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Gwendolyn hastily exined, ¡°I have been having trouble with my appetite, even to the point of throwing up due to acid reflux. I even have to consume so many bitter medications, and the one time I come across a fruit I enjoy, he is absolutely adamant about not letting me have it! Not even one extra piece! It¡¯s incredibly frustrating!¡± Her brows furrowed tighter as she recounted the incident. In the end, she withdrew her hands from Cedrick¡¯s grasp, sulking once again. Cedrick was rendered speechless. The doctor chuckled and said in a rather envious tone, ¡°Your rtionship is quite endearing. Frankly, I find your squabbling adorable.¡± Gwendolyn, maintaining a serious face, continued to exin, ¡°I was indeed angryst night, but I didn¡¯t think it would go to the point where I would actually bite him hard. It seems I really have trouble controlling my emotions.¡± The doctor carefully examined all the test results again. ¡°Ms. Harris, it¡¯s your first time being pregnant, and you¡¯re having twins, no less. It¡¯s supposed to be more tiring. However, seeing as Mr. Jenson seems to be carrying on with his life as if nothing has happened, coupled with the added stress recently, it¡¯s no surprise that you¡¯ve been finding it difficult to control your emotions. As a result, you have been venting your frustrations on Mr. Jenson. Speaking of which, Mr. Jenson, you have to pay more attention to Ms. Harris¡¯ mood in the future. If she can maintain a happy mood, she should recover normally. Aside from that, Ms. Harris, everything else is normal. There are no major issues with your health.¡± Upon hearing the doctor¡¯s words, they both heaved a sigh of relief. It¡¯s only a false rm. After leaving the hospital, Cedrick carefully helped Gwendolyn into the car, pondering a solution to the situation. ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯re having a hard time being pregnant and I can¡¯t help you. I wasn¡¯t thoughtful enough and let you carry all the burden yourself. From now on, I will split the pain whenever you are not feeling well,¡± Cedrick said. Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. ¡°And how would you share that?¡± ¡°For example, when you suffer from morning sickness, you can pinch me. And if you¡¯re upset and want to vent, feel free to pinch me as well. That way, I won¡¯t be so carefree,¡± Cedrick quipped. ¡°Will that really work?¡± Gwendolyn questioned, doubt flickering in her eyes. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Cedrick took her hand and led it down, through theyers of his clothes, until it rested on his warm skin. ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡± A mischievous glint flickered across her eyes. Her fingertips lightly traced circles on his waist before she grabbed a handful of his flesh and gave it a twist. Cedrick furrowed his brows, his thin lips pursed tightly as he endured the pain. After a moment, he asked in anticipation, ¡°So, does it feel better, seeing me sharing your pain?¡± Gwendolyn gave it some thought before nodding. ¡°Yes, much better!¡± However, her expression fell after a moment. She rubbed his waist and said, ¡°But it also hurts to see you in pain.¡± Cedrick was content with herpassion. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Feel free to pinch me. I¡¯ve got thick skin!¡± Despite his reassurance, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t have the heart to cause him any more difort. ¡°I¡¯ll try to control my emotions from now on. Besides, things are getting better day by day, so I don¡¯t have much to be upset about.¡± Cedrick eyed her cheery look, knowing full well that she had not moved on from what happened to Asher. However, he said nothing. Soon, they returned to Harrick Vi. Yesterday afternoon, Gwendolyn had signed her inheritance rights with Jared, so she had a lot more to deal with now. Hence, as soon as she arrived, she disappeared into her study to work. Cedrick ced a stool next to her. He would massage her shoulders and bring her water or fruit whenever she felt thirsty or tired. In the meantime, he was also attending to matters pertaining to Jenson Group. Neither of them spoke throughout the process, but they shared a tacit understanding of each other¡¯s work. With just a nce from Gwendolyn, Cedrick would understand what she wanted and hand it to her. The afternoon flew by quickly. When it was time for dinner, there was a visitor at Harrick Vi. This time, it was Sienna. Gwendolyn had nothing against her and wanted to invite her in. However, Sienna insisted on standing at the door. Noticing her red eyes, it was evident that she had been crying. Gwendolyn felt a pang of sympathy and had a pretty good idea why she hade. ¡°If you¡¯re here on Asher¡¯s behalf, you need not say another word,¡± Gwendolyn said. Tears fell from Sienna¡¯s eyes as she sobbed and grasped Gwendolyn¡¯s hands. ¡°Gwen, pleasee back with me. Asher is not doing well. He got drenched in the rain the other night and caught a fever, but he refuses to see a doctor or take any medicine. He¡¯s been very stubborn and has started to abuse himself. It pains me to see him like this.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows and turned around to cast a bemused nce at Cedrick. ¡°Abuse himself? What do you mean?¡± Sienna only continued to weep and offered no further exnation. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m here. I came on my own, not to help him beg for your forgiveness, but to ask you toe back with me and see him. Please¡­¡± Sienna was crying so bitterly that Gwendolyn, remembering how this woman had cared for her in the past, decided to go with her. At the ancestral hall of the Harris family at Mount Tranquil, Gwendolyn could hear the sharp sound of a whip, apanied by asional grunts of painfrom Asher as she approached the entrance. It was rather scarry. Cracking the door to the ancestral hall just slightly ajar, Gwendolyn stole a nce through the slim slit. There, against her sight, knelt a man, with his back against her, kneeling before the altar. Asher was only wearing a simple white shirt, his back graced with crimsonshings, evident of a painful ordeal. Fevering and shaking under the weight of each whip, his body wavered yet remained resilient, enduring the torment without a murmur. Gwendolyn watched for a moment. A strange sensation pricked at her heart, but she soon suppressed it. Then, she gently closed the door. Beside her, Sienna sighed helplessly, her voice barely more than a whisper. ¡°After he returned from Harrick Vi the other day, he behaved as if he was possessed. When dinner time came around, he knelt down before the altar and whipped himself twenty times. Then, he started to recite Heagurn Sutra in its entirety. Then, he would repeat the same thing the next day.¡± All the while, Gwendolyn remained silent as she listened. ¡°Gwen, it¡¯s only been two days, and he¡¯s already covered in injuries, but insistent on punishing himself. Could you please persuade him? Even a word from you will suffice!¡± Sienna pleaded. She clutched Gwendolyn¡¯s hand in a desperate grasp with hope brimming in her eyes. Gwendolyn hesitated and did not give her a response. Soon, the crack of the whip in the ancestral hall ceased. Less than a minuteter, Asher¡¯s recitation of Heagurn Sutra echoed. His voice was parched, roughened with a hint of hoarseness. It was evident that this wasn¡¯t a performance put on for Gwendolyn¡¯. Gwendolyn remained silent for a long while as she listened to Asher¡¯s chant. She then realized that he was sincere, and despite the asionally strained breath that disrupted his rhythm for a few seconds, the overall tone was stable. It was apparent that he was at peace with himself. Under Sienna¡¯s tearful gaze, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained impassive. Yet, atst, she began to speak. Chapter 416 Chapter 416 This isn¡¯t self-harm, Sienna. Everything that Asher¡¯s doing now is how I punished Evelyn¡­ He¡¯s taking the punishment on her behalf. Is he trying to persuade me to let Evelyn off?¡± Gwendolyn muttered. Needless to say, Sienna was stunned. My goodness! How can Gwendolyn think of her brother that way? ¡°Gwen, Asher hasn¡¯t mentioned Evelyn once since the homing feast. He¡¯s doing this to atone for his sins. He¡¯s doing this for you!¡± Gwendolyn fell silent, and for a long while, all she could hear was Asher¡¯s strained, raspy chanting coming from the ancestral hall. When she finally cracked the door open, the sight of her brother¡¯s badly scarred back made her feel a twinge of heartache. That, however, onlysted a few seconds. After much contemtion, Gwendolyn curled her lips into a half smile. ¡°Well, he does have sins to atone for. Since he¡¯s already punishing himself, you should just let him be. Otherwise, he won¡¯t be able to ease his guilt, and it¡¯d continue to eat away at him.¡± Sienna, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t stop sobbing. After all, how could she bear to see her husband in so much pain? ¡°But, Gwen¡­ Asher¡¯s using a horsewhip. His body won¡¯t be able to take it if he whips himself twenty times a day.¡± Once again, Gwendolyn gave it some thought. Even though Asher has hurt me the most, I can¡¯t deny that Evelyn¡¯s the one who carried out all the misdeeds. His greatest mistake was not stepping forward even after learning about the truth. He doesn¡¯t deserve to be my brother¡­ In any case, I¡¯m always impartial when I have a score to settle. I won¡¯t show favoritism, nor will I falsely use anyone. With that thought in mind, Gwendolyn looked sternly at Sienna. ¡°Tell him he doesn¡¯t have to go to such an extent to gain my sympathy. He can recite the Heagurn Sutra daily if he¡¯s genuinely keen to atone for his sins. If he doesn¡¯t want to, that¡¯s also fine by me. I won¡¯t get anyone to check on him, either. As for whether I¡¯d forgive him, only time will tell¡­ I¡¯ll think about it again when he has managed to undo all the hurt he caused me.¡± After leaving that scathing response, Gwendolyn turned on her heel and strode off, her face devoid of emotions Sienna couldn¡¯t do anything but stare at the woman¡¯s retreating figure and sighed. The next second, she entered the ancestral hall and crouched behind Asher to check on his wounds. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. The man¡¯s white shirt had long been ripped open at the back, and after whipping himself forty times over two days, his skin was all torn and bloodied. Sienna was utterly heartbroken, and as much as she wanted tofort her husband, she didn¡¯t dare to touch his wounds for fear of hurting him. The only thing Sienna knew was that she had shed a life¡¯s worth of tears over the past few days. ¡°Look how badly injured you are, Hubby. You¡¯re even running a fever now. Why don¡¯t we stop reading tonight and get you some medication? We can carry on with this tomorrow.¡± s, Asher said nothing as he continued to hold and recite the scriptures. Knowing it¡¯d be impossible to persuade him, Sienna had no choice but to stay by his side and sob quietly. Meanwhile, in the countryside, Evelyn had suffered yet another fainting spell. Not only was she mentally and physically exhausted after consecutive days of hardbor, but she had also lost a substantial amount of weight. When Margaret left for dinner with Ezra and William, Norman hastily sneaked into Evelyn¡¯s room to check on her. Thetter had smiled at him that morning, and he waspletely mesmerized by her warmth and beauty. It was hard to believe how such an innocent and pitiful youngdy could be a psychopath like his mother had told him. Therefore, Norman decided to question Evelyn in person. He crept stealthily into her room, but to his surprise, the woman was already propped up in bed and staring at him. Norman scratched his head sheepishly and chuckled. ¡°Well¡­ I only came to see how you were doing and if I needed to get a doctor for you.¡± Since Evelyn couldn¡¯t speak loudly due to a sore throat, she beckoned the man over. Unsurprisingly, Norman went up to her like a moth to a me. As soon as he was near, Evelyn grabbed his hand and ced it against her neck. ¡°If you want to help me, kill me.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re still young and full of life! You ought to cherish it!¡± Norman eximed while pulling his hand back in shock. Despite that, he could swear a peculiar feeling washed over him when his calloused fingers grazed against the woman¡¯s fair, tender skin. Before long, Evelyn had tears in her eyes as her face became etched with pain and utter despair. She pointed to the door and said hoarsely, ¡°I¡¯ve been wronged and sent here because everyone out there is bullying me. I don¡¯t want to live anymore. Please help me¡­¡± By then, the spark in her eyes was long gone, and all that was left was agony and sorrow. Norman panicked at the sight of the crying woman, but unfortunately, he didn¡¯t know how tofort her. Evelyn once again grabbed his hand and gave him a pleading look. ¡°I¡¯d rather die than continue living this tortured life of mine. I beg of you¡­ Please help me!¡± ¡°No. I can¡¯t do that. If you¡¯ve truly been wronged, then there must be a way to uncover the truth. I can help you clear your name.¡± A glint suddenly shed across Evelyn¡¯s eyes as she gestured for Norman toe closer. With that, she leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear¡­ ¡­ Margaret had just finished her dinner and dropped by to check on Evelyn when she caught the duo in what seemed like apromising position. ¡°You blockhead! Why would you get close to someone as depraved as her?¡± Margaret thundered as she rushed forward and pulled Norman¡¯s ear. ¡°She¡¯d take advantage of you and hang you out to dry!¡± When Evelyn tried to intervene, a red-faced Margaret pped her so hard that she fell onto the bed. ¡°Do you think I have no idea what you¡¯re up to? You¡¯re ying on my son¡¯s simple-mindedness and seducing him into doing your bidding. If you pull this stunt again, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± thetter warned. Evelyn merely held her face and said nothing. The impact of the p had left her seeing stars, and she didn¡¯t have the strength to sit back up, either. ¡°Mom, stop hitting her. Can¡¯t you see how pitiful she is? She has been wronged!¡± Norman retorted as he pried himself from his mother¡¯s grasp to help Evelyn. Furious beyond belief, Margaret struck her son across the cheek. ¡°Wronged? You id*ot! Are you blind? How can you pity a woman like her? Oh, you¡¯ll be the death of me! I must teach you a lesson today¡­ Otherwise, you¡¯ll fall into her trap again!¡± The next second, she dragged Norman out by the ear and asked Ezra for the horsewhip used to punish Evelyn. Not long after, the courtyard was filled with the sounds of Norman howling in pain and begging for mercy. Back in the room, Evelyn was silent and grim. D*mn it. I can¡¯t believe Margaret caught us earlier. I suppose she¡¯ll watch me like a hawk from now on¡­ Who knows? She might torment me even more viciously too. From the looks of it, I¡¯ll have to back down and behave myself for a while. Once Margaret and the Harris family¡¯s bodyguards let their guard down, I¡¯ll think of another way to escape this hellhole. I can only hope that Norman believes me and is willing to lend a helping hand when the timees¡­ Just as Evelyn was contemting her options, the door suddenly burst open. Margaret stormed into the room and pulled Evelyn off the bed, determined to drag thetter out so Ezra could execute the daily punishment. Evelyn silently endured Margaret¡¯s wrath and soon found herself in the courtyard. Snap! When the first whip came down, Evelyn dropped to the ground with a loud thud, the pain searing through her body. Sure enough, after what happened with Norman, Ezra had be even more heavy-handed than in the previous days. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, he continuously whipped the woman without giving her time to catch her breath or get to her feet. All Evelyn could do was hold her head and grit her teeth through the beating. However, the longer it went on, the more she felt her consciousness slipping and her pain getting numbed. Before cking out, she suddenly realized how much she missed Marcus and Asher. Even though Dad and Asher can¡¯t legitimize my status in the Harris family, they¡¯re the only ones who love and dote on me. They¡¯ve given me everything I wanted so I can live an easy,fortable life¡­ If I had never harmed Gwendolyn and kept my identity as an illegitimate daughter secret, would I be able to continue living a life free of worries and pain? Was I wrong? H-Have I made a mistake? Chapter 417 Chapter 417 Unfortunately, what was done was done, and Evelyn knew there was no turning back for her. A few secondster, she lost all consciousness. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of Harris Group, Gwendolyn had just taken over her family¡¯s public listedpany, so there was a lot she needed to familiarize herself with. As a result, she had to spend a fair bit of time on work-rted matters. Thankfully, Cedrick stayed at her side the entire time and did everything from annotating documents to showering her with concern. He was, without a doubt, even more meticulous than a personal assistant. At that moment, he was seated on the couch and holding a red pen as he quietly analyzed the thick stack of documents before him. Legally speaking, the content of the files contained Harris Group¡¯s confidential information and wasn¡¯t allowed to be seen by Cedrick under any circumstances. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. After all, Harris Group and Jenson Group were stillpetitors despite having had business coborations. Gwendolyn, however, hadplete trust in Cedrick. Not only was she not worried about him stealing herpany data, but she had also considered merging both businesses to bring their families to even greater heights. As Gwendolyn sat on her chair, she couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at the man. She had to admit he was exceptionally handsome when he was all serious and focused. It also helped that the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast a faint halo above his head, making him look even more like a noble, divine being. Secondster, Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes glinted with mischief as a naughty idea came to mind. Since Cedrick was still in deep concentration, she got up from her seat and crept stealthily behind him. Then, without any warning, she pushed him down onto the couch and straddled his waist, her hands slithering up to y with his expensive tie. ¡°Gwenny?¡± Cedrick muttered, looking like a lost, confused puppy. Gwendolyn wrapped his tie around her hand sensuously and leaned in till their noses touched. ¡°Ceddy, you¡¯re even more capable than my assistant. Why don¡¯t youe to Harris Group and be my secretary? I¡¯ll pay you handsomely.¡± For a moment, Cedrick was speechless. Oh¡­ My services don¡¯te cheap, but if Gwenny¡¯s hiring me, I¡¯d be more than happy to oblige. The next second, he curled his lips into a smile. ¡°It¡¯d be my honor to be your secretary, Gwenny. Besides, you won¡¯t even need to pay me. I¡¯m a hard worker, and I¡¯ll be at your beck and call from morning till night. Most importantly, my services will go beyond office duties.¡± Gwendolyn raised a brow and chuckled. ¡°Wow. What a good deal. I¡¯ve struck gold, haven¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Cedrick replied with a grin. ¡°I¡¯d never let anyone take advantage of you.¡± Pleased with the man¡¯s sweet words and performance, Gwendolyn melted into his embrace and kissed him passionately. Within seconds, temperatures rose, and the air was filled with intense sexual tension. Just then, Gwendolyn¡¯s new assistant, Parker Downey, knocked on the door and opened it, only to see what was happening on the couch. ¡±Ms. Harris, Mr. ck is here to look for you¡­ Oh, sh*t! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Flushed with embarrassment, the frantic woman quickly closed the door. Robert ck, who was kept waiting outside the office, fixed Parker with a stare. ¡°Why aren¡¯t we going in? What¡¯s Ms. Harris doing?¡± ¡°M-Ms. Harris is handling some personal affairs. Please wait a moment, Mr. ck.¡± ¡°Personal affairs?¡± Robert fumed. Oh,e on! I saw what was happening in that room when she opened the door¡­ This is outrageous! Does Gwendolyn have any leadership skills? We¡¯re in the office, not a lovers¡¯ne! Why did she even bring Cedrick along to work in the first ce? He may be her fianc¨¦, but he¡¯s also ourpetitor! How could she let her guard down so easily? Given how unprofessional and ipetent she is, who knows what¡¯d happen to Harris Group in the future? With that thought in mind, Robert stormed off in a huff. Upon seeing the man leave, Parker promptly returned to her seat, not wanting to disturb the intimate session further. Her idental appearance, however, had barely affected the couple. Gwendolyn continued to straddle Cedrick before slipping her fingers under his shirt, teasing him with every touch. Cedrick pursed his lips, his chest heaving as a wave of sensations washed over him. Just as he was about to lose all control, he suddenly gripped the woman¡¯s slender wrist. ¡°No, Gwenny. It isn¡¯t safe here. The walls have ears!¡± Gwendolyn grinned. ¡°I¡¯m the CEO of Harris Group, though. Who¡¯d have the guts to eavesdrop or watch what I¡¯m doing with my fianc¨¦ behind closed doors?¡± A frown instantly crossed Cedrick¡¯s brow. Well, she has a point. However¡­ The door isn¡¯t locked! ¡°Come on. Stop ying,¡± Cedrick gently coaxed. ¡°I¡¯m here to help you analyze these documents. It¡¯s an important business matter.¡± Undeterred, Gwendolyn pouted and yed with the man¡¯s loosened tie, her red lips pressed seductively against his ear. ¡°This is also an important business matter, Ceddy. Don¡¯t you want to do it?¡± By then, Cedrick had blushed up to his ears. ¡°I do, but this isn¡¯t the ce for that¡­¡± ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯d be tired after a long day at work, so no matter how much you beg for it at night, I won¡¯t give in to you!¡± Gwendolyn scoffed as she rolled her eyes. Naturally, that made Cedrick worried. It might be unprofessional to flirt at work, but it¡¯d be even more unbearable if he lost his bedroom privileges at home! After a long internal struggle, he finally relented. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s do it now,¡± Cedrick muttered before closing his eyes and offering himself like amb to the ughter. To his surprise, Gwendolyn snorted and moved away from him. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m no longer in the mood. Since you love working so much, you can carry on writing your analyses and annotations,¡± she said snarkily while pointing at the stack of documents on the coffee table. ¡°I want you toplete those by the end of the work day. Otherwise, when we get home tonight, you¡¯ll receive ten ps on the hand for each unfinished page.¡± Cedrick stared at the document pile and paled. My goodness. That stack is almost half my arm¡¯s length! How am I supposed to finish everything before office hours are over? Argh! Gwendolyn rarely takes the initiative toe on to me. Why couldn¡¯t I have just gone along? So what if we get caught in the act? It¡¯s no big deal. Besides, I won¡¯t be the one feeling embarrassed. s, I¡¯ve messed things up this time. Not only have I lost big, but I also have to endure punishment¡­ Feeling utterly remorseful, Cedrick tugged at her pitifully. ¡°Gwenny, please don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Back to your work!¡± Gwendolyn demanded haughtily as she pushed the man away and returned to her table to continue working. Needless to say, Cedrick was rendered speechless. D*mn it¡­ Can I turn back time and retract my words? By the time he looked up at Gwendolyn, thetter had already submerged herself in work and was busy typing away on herputer. Since getting pregnant, she had been wearing anti-radiation maternity clothes and putting nts around the office to reduce any radiation exposure to her babies. Cedrick stared at the woman for a while, but sadly, she didn¡¯t pay him any attention. pping me on my hand used to be her way of rewarding me. Why has it suddenly turned into a form of punishment? No. I can¡¯t ept that! The next second, Cedrick approached Gwendolyn gingerly and prodded her shoulder. ¡°Gwenny, can we talk?¡± ¡°We¡¯re five minutes closer to knocking-off time,¡± thetter retorted without taking her eyes off her computer. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about the punishment I mentioned!¡± Chapter 418 Chapter 418 Cedrick was speechless. I doubt there¡¯s anything I can say to calm her down. Thus, he unwillingly returned to the couch and dove back into his work. The room went silent, and neither of them uttered another word for hours. However, the sound of their typing and writing blended harmoniously with each other. Another two hours passed before Parker slowly opened the door. Instead of entering the room, she waited for Gwendolyn outside. ¡°There¡¯ll be a shareholder meeting in fifteen minutes, Ms. Harris. All directors are already waiting for you in the conference room.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Upon turning off herputer, Gwendolyn nced at Cedrick, who was wholly focused on his writing. Instead of bothering him, she headed to the conference room. When the directors spotted Gwendolyn, their expressions turned serious, and the atmosphere shifted subtly. Meanwhile, Robert, who met with her at the office earlier, red at her. Gwendolyn noticed it, but she ignored him and started the meeting. The meeting was boring as it was primarily about the reports on the monthly sales, the progress of various projects, and other things. Itsted for an hour and a half. Gwendolyn felt a little tired, she didn¡¯t show it on her face and continued to listen attentively. Eventually, the meeting reached its end. Gwendolyn customarily announced, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, our monthly meeting will end here.¡± The majority of attendants started turning off theirptops and packing their things. Suddenly, Robert stood with a raised hand. ¡°I noticed Mr. Jenson was in your office when I visited you earlier, Ms. Harris. What were you doing in the office with him when you refused to meet me?¡± His words startled everyone. The crowd stared at Robert with widened eyes, shocked. Although, they were secretly impressed by his bravery. After all, he was clearly putting Gwendolyn on the spot by questioning her about her rtionship in front of many people. Gwendolyn lifted her eyes coldly. There were no traces of awkwardness on her countenance as she answered nonchntly, ¡°Cedrick and my wedding will be held next week, Mr. ck. What do you think we were doing?¡± Frowning, Robert spat, ¡°You¡¯re the CEO of thepany, Ms. Harris! Not only do you feel unashamed for flirting in thepany office, but you also make it sound normal! What makes you think any of us will believe an ipetent leader like you can do a good job helming Harris Group?¡± In response, Gwendolyn pped the table loudly, frightening many people. She¡¯d act fiercely whenever she was angry. ¡°You¡¯re saying I can¡¯t manage thepany well, but can you? If I hand you my position, can you even run it for a few days? So what if I acted a little romantic with my future husband? I can¡¯t tell whether you¡¯re a busybody or an undisciplined man who disrespects your superior by questioning her about this in a meeting. Also, did you seriously call me ipetent? Are you saying you can somehow tell I¡¯m incapable of increasing thepany¡¯s profits for this year even though I just started working not long ago? Are you telling us you have the ability to see the future?¡± A few people snickered. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous!¡± Robert¡¯s face was flushed with anger. Even though I only criticized her a little, she rebuked me several times more. I¡¯m a veteran in thispany, yet she¡¯s looking down on me! This is unbelievable! Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Scoffing, Gwendolyn glowered at him coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can do whatever you want just because you¡¯re a thirty-year-old veteran in thispany, Mr. ck. I¡¯m not as lenient as Asher! You¡¯ll be punished for your misbehavior today!¡± ¡°Gwendolyn Harris!¡± Robert was so furious that his beard almost stood on end. ¡°Even your father needs to treat me with respect, yet you have the gall to punish me just as you take over the position?¡± ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡± Arching her eyebrow, Gwendolyn grinned casually. ¡°A new broom sweeps clean, you know? You ran head-first into a cannonball, so you have no one to me but yourself.¡± Displeased, Robert continued, ¡°You¡¯ve been bringing Mr. Jenson here every day, Gwendolyn! You know he¡¯s the CEO of Jenson Group and that bothpanies are rivals, yet you let him stay in your office! I really suspect you¡¯re intentionally leakingpany secrets!¡± That was a severe matter, so all the directors immediately put on serious expressions. A solemn atmosphere promptly settled in the conference room. Gwendolyn was unperturbed. I¡¯m tempted to tell him not only was I keeping Cedrick in my office, I even allowed him to read all the documents! However, if I do, all the directors here will explode in anger. In fact, they¡¯ll vote to kick me out of thepany tomorrow. When her train of thought ended there, she grinned and unleashed the ace up her sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant with twins, Mr. ck.¡± Robert was dumbstruck, failing toprehend the intention of her words. Thus, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°The doctor said I should be more mindful of my health because my first pregnancy involves twins. So, Cedrick is here to take care of me. Do I really need to report such a matter to you, Mr. ck?¡± ¡°You¡­ You¡­¡± He paled, unable to utter another word. The other directors swiftly reacted to the situation and congratted Gwendolyn. ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Harris! That¡¯s wonderful news! You and Mr. Jenson are truly blessed!¡± ¡°Yeah! Even though Ms. Harris is pregnant, she¡¯s still so hardworking. Mr. Jenson should be helping her from the side.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson¡¯s willing to ce Ms. Harris and their children before hispany matters! He is such a loving man. Your rtionship with Mr. Jenson is truly enviable!¡± Robert¡¯s scowl intensified as he listened to the crowd praising Gwendolyn, though there was nothing he could say. I didn¡¯t expect Cedrick to visit thepany just to take care of his pregnant, future wife. There¡¯s no way I can say that this is wrong. Now it looks like he was framing me for leakingpany secrets. Gwendolyn grinned coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve challenged my authority more than once today, Mr. ck. I think your punishment is too light.¡± Robert was speechless and had no choice but to ept his heavier punishment. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn was still pissed, even after she returned to the office. When Cedrick saw her entering the office with a grimace, he could tell something was up. He paused his work and inquired, ¡°Were there issues with the meeting, Gwenny?¡± ¡°Yeah. That old b*stard Robert was practically asking for a good round ofshing.¡± ¡°Did you grant him his wish?¡± asked Cedrick, grinning. Gwendolyn pointed at her abdomen proudly. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can lose with these babies around. Once my belly gets bigger in theing months, no one will dare to act arrogantly in front of me!¡± In response, he chuckled and carried her to the couch before cheering her up. Gwendolyn¡¯s mood was swiftly lifted. Then, she suddenly recalled an important matter. ¡°What is the progress with the documents? Have you finished going through them yet? How much do you have left?¡± Just as Cedrick was about to kiss her, he froze. Chapter 419 Chapter 419 He was taking advantage of Gwendolyn¡¯s good mood to try his luck. ¡°Gwenny, can we forget the unhappy past and move on? Let¡¯s watch TV together tonight. I will get you oranges. Sounds good?¡± ¡°No.¡± Gwendolyn remained unmoved. Since he had already promised to help her, she expected him to finish his task. ¡°Tell me honestly, how much work do you have left?¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless and felt frustrated that even buying the woman her favorite fruit was not enough to save him. With a gloomy expression, he pointed toward the documents on the coffee table. He still had a third of the original stack left to clear. Gwendolyn let out augh and said, ¡°Do you remember the rule? You¡¯ll get tenshes for one unfinished page. Look at all those documents. You must be really dying to beshed!¡± Cedrick was utterly at a loss for words. Without waiting for the man to reply, Gwendolyn had already started to pack her desk happily. ¡°Ceddy, hurry up and pack your stuff. I¡¯m treating you to a good beating when we get back!¡± Is she really that excited to beat me up? Cedrick felt as if he was drowning in his own exasperation. Without saying a word, he helped to pack up the desk before lifting Gwendolyn up into his arms. Then, they got into the lift and headed down to the parking lot. In the car, Cedrick leaned his head against Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulder as a gesture of submission. ¡°Gwenny, are you really going to punish me? You know how heavy your ruler is. It will leave a mark on my skin. That will break your heart!¡± Gwendolyn nodded seriously and replied, ¡°You have a point. It would break my heart to see you get hurt!¡± Cedrick was wordless. Why does it sound like she¡¯s actually looking forward to it? A smile crinkled the corners of Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes as she caressed Cedrick¡¯s cheeks to soothe his anxiousness.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I¡¯m happy with your attitude, I will go easy on you.¡± Cedrick kind of knew what to expect upon hearing that. It seemed like Gwendolyn was not upset with him but just needed an excuse to punish him. He would dly let her do it, knowing how tough it was for her to be carrying twins. With an idea in mind, Cedrick stopped talking. A whileter, the two of them returned to Harrick Vi. Upon arriving home, Gwendolyn headed straight to the bathroom to wash up. Shortly after, she emerged from the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around her. Her hair was still dripping wet, and she looked extremely alluring. Cedrick was already kneeling on the bed, holding the mahogany ruler up with both hands in a proper and self-reflective manner. He was no longer anxious, and it appeared as if he had epted his fate. Although what he was doing was supposed to be rather humiliating, he still looked imposing and was emanating a dignified aura. Leaningzily against the wall, Gwendolyn said teasingly as a smile crept across her face, ¡°Oh? It seems like it didn¡¯t take you too long to figure things out.¡± Cedrick nodded obediently and replied, ¡°Gwenny, I shouldn¡¯t have rejected the reward you offered me in the office earlier. Because of that, I deserved to be punished.¡± Trying to suppress herugh, Gwendolyn walked toward him, giving him a sidelong nce. ¡°Being pregnant must be really tiring for you. If hitting me makes you happy, I will dly let you do it! Don¡¯t worry and just whack me as hard as you like!¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, how many times should I spank you, Ceddy?¡± the woman asked while taking the ruler from Cedrick and holding it firmly in her hands. ¡°As many times as you like,¡± Cedrick replied with his palms facing up. ¡°Okay then.¡± Gwendolyn raised her arm and looked as if she was about to swing it down with all her might. A look of rm shed across Cedrick¡¯s face as he quickly said, ¡°Wait, wait¡­ maybe be more gentle? I don¡¯t want you to tire yourself out!¡± Gwendolyn was barely able to hold herughter in any longer. However, in order to continue messing with Cedrick, sheposed herself and lifted his chin with one end of the ruler. ¡°Are you worried that it would tire me out or that it would be painful for you?¡± ¡°Both,¡± the man answered honestly. Gwendolyn continued holding back herughter, and with a stern gaze in her eyes, she said in a punishing tone, ¡°You really deserve a beating! It seems like you need a reminder of what it feels like when the ruler hits your skin!¡± Cedrick¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he downcast his eyes and raised his hands, resigning himself to his fate. However, instead of hitting him, Gwendolyn said with a teasing glint in her eyes, ¡°I¡¯ve just changed my mind. I want to spank you somewhere where there is more meat. C¡¯mon, lie down on your stomach!¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. His mind went nk as he stared at the woman. Resisting his urge to run away, heined softly, ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯re ying dirty! We agreed that you¡¯ll whack me on my hand!¡± ¡°Ha! You can¡¯t keep up the act anymore, huh? Are you throwing a tantrum now?¡± Gwendolyn enjoyed pranking Cedrick and was not about to back down. ¡°I had already wanted to spank you previously but did not get to do it. It has been bugging me until now. I gotta make up for it this time.¡± What the f*ck? Make up for it? Cedrick was almost going crazy internally, but he remained still. Gwendolyn tapped on the bed in front of her and urged, ¡°Hurry up. Be good and lie down here.¡± Taking a pause, she continued, ¡°You said you will dly let me hit you as long as it makes me happy. Our babies heard you too. Ceddy, you have to keep your word and be a good role model to our children!¡± After a long internal struggle, Cedrick finally came to terms with his fate andy on his stomach obediently, sumbing to the woman¡¯s request. With his previous experience, the present ordeal felt less embarrassing for him. Even so, his face was flushed bright red as he awaited his punishment. The next moment, the rulernded on Cedrick¡¯s buttocks. However, instead of pain, the man felt ticklish instead. It was as if Gwendolyn was trying to arouse him. Despite that, it was enough to fill him with frustration and embarrassment. Having fun fooling around with Cedrick, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°How are you feeling, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick was too upset to reply and grumbled softly, ¡°Well, I feel great to be spanked. Do you need me to write a reflective essay about the experience?¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! I can adjust my strength with every hit so that you can feel more sensations. That way, you could easily write an essay of at least two thousand words!¡± Cedrick was gob smacked. Did I just shoot myself in the foot? Cedrick buried his head under the covers and kept quiet at once, fervently praying that the woman would stop tormenting him. Trying her best to keep a straight face, Gwendolyn spanked Cedrick another two times, using more strength. However, to someone like Cedrick who had gone through military training, it merely felt like an ant bite. Initially, Gwendolyn only intended to tease him. After all, he was doing her a favor by helping her to annotate the documents. It was not right for her to repay his kindness by punishing him. Since it was meant to be a joke, she did not want to go overboard and overstep the boundaries of good taste. As such, she put the ruler back into the drawer before silently removing Cedrick¡¯s belt. Feeling something amiss, Cedrick became alert at once. Grabbing the waistband of his trousers, he eximed, ¡°Gwenny, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Just now, you said I¡¯ll be heartbroken if the spanking leaves a mark on your skin. So, I¡¯m checking to make sure you¡¯re not hurt.¡± Even though Gwendolyn spoke in a serious tone, Cedrick immediately sensed danger. As if spanking him was not enough, she even wanted to examine his injuries! His pride would take a hit if he allowed her to do that. No way! ¡°I¡¯m not hurt! There¡¯s no need for you to check. Let¡¯s go watch TV. Shall I peel some oranges for you?¡± Cedrick was desperate to change the topic. Unmoved, Gwendolyn cocked her brows and said with a smirk, ¡°I¡¯ll reward you after examining your injuries. If you don¡¯t let me do it, you know what will happen!¡± It was as clear as day what she was insinuating. Cedrick was speechless. Does she enjoy tormenting me that much? What a little devil! With the temptation of a reward, the man gave in and let go of his waistband decisively. After the initial embarrassment, Cedrick received his reward, which was immensely pleasurable and euphoric. Filled with satisfaction, he dried Gwendolyn¡¯s hair with a hairdryer and carried her downstairs, where they ate oranges together.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Chapter 420 Chapter 420 One week remained until the wedding, and Gwendolyn refused to let any time go to waste. Taking over Harris Group came with a multitude of responsibilities, and there were numerous projects that needed her attention. Thankfully, Cedrick proved to be a valuable ally during this busy period. He meticulously made notes on the documents Gwendolyn needed to review, allowing her to work through them more efficiently. Together, they headed to the Harris Group office and prepared for another day of productive work. Cedrick set up hisptop on the coffee table, diligently working on projects from the Jenson Group while also assisting Gwendolyn whenever he could. They worked side by side, matching each other¡¯s pace and sharing a focused determination. Knock, knock¡­ In the afternoon, Parker, Gwendolyn¡¯s assistant, urgently knocked on the CEO¡¯s office door. ¡°Ms. Harris, something important hase up!¡± However, upon seeing Cedrick in the room, Parker hesitated, seemingly troubled by his presence. Gwendolyn looked up from her typing and reassured her, saying, ¡°Please, Parker, speak freely. Mr. Jenson is part of our team. There¡¯s no need to worry about him.¡± Parker had no choice but to steel herself as she delivered the troubling news to Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Harris, this is regarding the Synergy Project we¡¯ve been working on. The marketing n is ready, and we were nning to initiate a trial run today. However, we discovered that¡­¡± Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Discovered what?¡± Sensing the tension in the room, Cedrick halted his work and turned his full attention toward Parker. Parker¡¯s voice grew smaller as she stole nces at Cedrick. ¡°One of the subsidiaries under Jenson Group unexpectedly announced a new project just before our nunch. The content of their project is exactly the same as ours. The higher-ups at Harris Group are in an uproar because of this, and they s-suspect¡­¡± Cedrick interjected with a serious expression, ¡°They suspect that I stole the nning proposal for Harris Group¡¯s new project while I am here taking care of Gwenny?¡± Parker lowered her head and fell silent, confirming Cedrick¡¯s statement. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. A heavy silence descended upon the office as Gwendolyn contemted the gravity of the situation. Parker continued, ¡°Ms. Harris, the board of directors has gathered in the conference room. They are expecting you to call for a meeting and provide an exnation for the losses incurred by Harris Group due to this project.¡± The project that Harris Group had devoted so much time and effort to had been stolen, resulting in significant financial loss and a lot of effort gone to waste. It was a precarious situation that required Gwendolyn to handle it with utmost care and reassure everyone involved. She responded calmly, ¡°Understood. I will address the issue. Please inform them that I will join the meeting in half an hour.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± With Parker¡¯s departure, the room fell into silence once again. Cedrick observed Gwendolyn¡¯s serious expression. His chest felt tight as he realized that she seemed to be ignoring him. ¡°Gwenny¡­¡± He paled and took a few deep breaths. ¡°Do you suspect me as well?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond as she remained focused on her work. Cedrick¡¯s distress grew, and tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not me,¡± he muttered, clenching his fists tightly as he held it in. He didn¡¯t care if the entire board of Harris Group suspected him. All he wanted was Gwendolyn¡¯s trust. After concluding her instructions to her subordinates, Gwendolyn looked up and immediately noticed the distress on Cedrick¡¯s face. Without hesitation, she walked over to him and caressed his face gently. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Cedrick. I never doubted you even for a moment,¡± she assured him, fully aware that this was a calcted ploy meant to sow discord between them. Cedrick would never have allowed the project to proceed under Jenson Group¡¯s subsidiaries if he had any intention of stealing it. These subsidiaries operated independently from the parentpany and were not obligated to disclose their project ns. Their responsibilities were solely limited to submitting monthly sales reports and annual summaries. The leaked information, therefore, had to be a deliberate act by someone who understood Cedrick¡¯s lack of control over the subsidiaries¡¯ projects. Cedrick found sce in her word. He grabbed her hand and said, ¡°Leave it to me. I will find out what happened and give you an exnation.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Indeed, your involvement is crucial since it involves one of Jenson Group¡¯s subsidiaries. As for how the project was leaked from Harris Group, I will conduct my own investigation.¡± The efficiency would be doubled as both of them worked together on uncovering the truth. ¡°You promised to join the meeting in half an hour, but it will be challenging to uncover the whole truth in such a short time,¡± Cedrick expressed, concerned. Gwendolyn smiled reassuringly and leaned in to give him a gentle kiss on the lips. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cedrick. I will handle it.¡± Her eyes gleamed brightly, radiating an unmistakable sense of control over the situation. Cedrick gently rubbed the back of her hand, content that he had her unwavering trust. After the allotted half-hour, a cacophony of voices reached Gwendolyn¡¯s ears as she approached the conference room door. She maintained herposure and shot Parker a look. As the heavy doors swung open, the room fell into an abrupt silence. The board of directors swiftly rose to their feet, respectfully acknowledging her presence. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze remained fixed straight ahead as she walked with grace and purpose toward the head of the table, assuming her rightful ce. Amongst the directors, Robert, who had challenged her authority and dealt with ordingly two days ago, now sat in uncharacteristic silence. Gwendolyn gave him a look and kept silent as she patiently awaited the directors¡¯ inquiries. ¡°Ms. Harris, where¡¯s the exnation you promised us?¡± ¡°Have you questioned your fianc¨¦, Mr. Jenson, about the project n leak?¡± ¡°Come on. It couldn¡¯t have been a coincidence that Jenson Group stole our project. You should have kept a closer eye on Mr. Jenson!¡± ¡°Ms. Harris, our employees have dedicated three long months to perfecting this project. What are your proposed actions now that it has been stolen andunched by Jenson Group?¡± Gwendolyn maintained herposure, a confident smile gracing her lips as she responded calmly, ¡°First of all, it¡¯s Jenson Group¡¯s subsidiary, not Jenson Group.¡± ke rose from his seat and challenged, ¡°What¡¯s the difference, Ms. Harris? The revenue still ends up in Jenson Group¡¯s pockets. So how can you be so sure Cedrick¡¯s innocent? Maybe he leaked the n to his subsidiary while you weren¡¯t paying attention. You two are always together, even at work. Who¡¯s to say he didn¡¯t swipe the project n right under your nose? After all, you can¡¯t prove his innocence, can you?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Who says I can¡¯t?¡± she retorted. All of them were seemingly pointing fingers at Cedrick as if they had already reached a verdict, deeming him the culprit when she stepped into the room just now. Silence descended upon the room as all eyes turned expectantly toward Gwendolyn, awaiting her presentation of evidence. Gwendolyn exchanged a meaningful nce with Parker, their unspoken understanding apparent to everyone present. Parker swiftly stepped forward, delivering a folder filled with evidence into Gwendolyn¡¯s outstretched hand. Gwendolyn¡¯s voice rang out as she raised the folder for everyone to see. ¡°Within Harris Group¡¯s subsidiary is a full-time employee named Grace. She was terminated by her manager at Harris Group roughly a month ago due to some errors she had made. However, during her tenure at Harris Group, she had direct involvement in the Synergy Project.¡± Her eyes gleamed with piercing intensity as she tossed the folder onto the conference table. A surge of anger radiated from her, filling the once-still air and making it difficult to breathe. Her smile held a hint of mockery. ¡°How could you rush to conclusions and use my fianc¨¦, who happens to be the CEO, of being a thief based on rumors solely? If my assumption of leadership at Harris Group doesn¡¯t sit well with you, then by all means, cast your vote to remove me from the board of directors!¡± Chapter 421 Chapter 421 The conference room fell silent as everyone lowered their heads and listened quietly. ¡°I have already discussed this matter with Cedrick. He will notify the subsidiary to stop this project immediately. As for our side, we will make some minor adjustments to Synergy Project. Then, we can reintroduce it to the market after some time. That¡¯s the end of this meeting!¡± With that, she turned and left domineeringly. Her heart was still pounding hard, and she could not even walk straight after she walked out of the conference room. In reality, half an hour was insufficient time to thoroughly investigate the situation. Grace was only used as a scapegoat because Gwendolyn needed to control the crowd and put an end to the rumors. Then, she proposed a solution so that she could investigate and deal with the real perpetrator privately. Perhaps she appeared too domineering just now, so none of the directors had fullyprehended the situation and were left stunned after her scolding. With Parker supporting her, she quickly returned to the CEO¡¯s office. Cedrick had already peeled and arranged some oranges on a te tofort and soothe her nerves. When she walked into the office, Cedrick immediately got up and carried her in his arms. He ced her on the couch and fed her some oranges. After she ate two oranges, he asked, ¡°Do you feel better?¡± Gwendolyn thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Yes, I feel much better.¡± Upon thinking about the incident, she turned serious and continued, ¡°It¡¯s vital to identify the masterminds behind this incident. Otherwise, they might try to cause trouble again, thinking they can get away with it.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°Okay, I understand. I¡¯ll prioritize this matter and provide you with an exnation by tonight.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression also turned solemn. Gwendolyn arched her brow and teased him, ¡°What if you can¡¯t provide an exnation by tonight?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bear all responsibility, and I¡¯ll pay for all of Harris Group¡¯s losses. Also, you can do whatever you want with me.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled and stroked his face with her hand gently. She grumbled softly, ¡°You act as if I don¡¯t have the power to do whatever I want to you without this incident.¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. ¡°However, with this promise, you will be more motivated to deal with this matter.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Cedrick agreed with a smile. After a brief chat, they quickly went back to work. Five minutes before the end of work, Cedrick got up and let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Gwenny, I found the perpetrators.¡± He ced hisptop on Gwendolyn¡¯s desk to show her the evidence. Robert was the one who leaked the information. He was resentful after being publicly humiliated by Gwendolyn a few days ago, so he sold the project proposal to Xander since he was involved in Synergy Project. Xander was not young, but he had not aplished much. Yael had to beg Valentino for a long time for him to personally ask Cedrick to bring Xander into thepany for training. Cedrick was worried about Xander working in Jenson Group, so he decided to ce thetter in one of the subsidiaries. He couldn¡¯t believe Xander could still cause so much trouble in the subsidiary. Xander wanted to create a rift between Cedrick and Gwendolyn so the wedding wouldn¡¯t happen. In the meantime, Robert also wanted to ruin Gwendolyn. Xander and Robert hit right off the bat and decided to join forces. After hearing Cedrick¡¯s exnation, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Robert is a b*stard. I won¡¯t let him off for framing me and selling thepany¡¯s confidential information! He almost caused thepany to lose hundreds of millions.¡± Cedrick nodded in response. Gwendolyn noticed he didn¡¯t say anything and asked, ¡°What about Xander? What do you n to do with him?¡± He smiled and asked, ¡°What do you think I should do?¡± ¡°This is your family matter. It¡¯s not appropriate for me to intervene.¡± Cedrick carried her and ced her on hisp. Then, he said in a serious tone, ¡°You can give your suggestions. It doesn¡¯t count as interfering in my family matters.¡± If that¡¯s the case¡­ A devilish smile formed on Gwendolyn¡¯s lips, and she responded viciously, ¡°I think he must be itching for a round of whipping! Also, I heard you sent Mr. Yael to a smallpany in the county. Since Xander¡¯s father is already there, we shouldn¡¯t leave the son here, right?¡± Cedrick tapped her nose lightly and looked at her approvingly. ¡°I have the same thought as you. Could this be the telepathy between a husband and wife?¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense! You¡¯re making me sick!¡± Gwendolyn pretended to be disgusted. ¡°Is that so?¡± Cedrick hugged her tightly and looked at her stomach possessively. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant with my child. Even if you¡¯re sick of me, you can never get rid of me!¡± She smiled and pointed at her stomach. ¡°Your two sweethearts are hungry. They want to go home and eat the food you make.¡± Cedrick immediately carried her up and corrected her, ¡°It¡¯s three sweethearts.¡± ¡­ The next day, Robert was removed from the board of directors. Gwendolyn even made a record in his file that he would be bearing a hefty amount ofpensation to Harris Group due to him framing his leader and stealingpany information in hispany records. With that, norgepany would be willing to hire an employee like him. Since he had enjoyed his career this past decade, it was time for him to suffer. The other directors learned of the truth behind Synergy Projectter on, but no one dared to say anything as Gwendolyn had settled the matter perfectly. ¡­ Gwendolyn grew more curious and excited as the wedding date approached. ¡°Ceddy, what did you prepare for this wedding?¡± Cedrick was peeling an apple for her and smiled mysteriously. ¡°You will definitely like it. I have prepared for almost half a month.¡± She leaned in and gave him a peck on his face. ¡°The wedding is in two days. Can¡¯t you just reveal something?¡± Cedrick replied in a determined tone, ¡°Then, there won¡¯t be any sense of anticipation anymore.¡± All right. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t insist anymore as she waited for him to peel the apple for her. However, before Cedrick could finish peeling the apple, Elven appeared at the door, knocking anxiously. She cried, ¡°Ms. Harris! Ms. Harris! Please return to the Harris residence with me now! Mr. Marcus is not going to make it!¡± ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Cedrick¡¯s hand trembled upon hearing Elven¡¯s words, and the knife identally cut his finger. Blood instantly flowed out of the wound. Cedrick immediately hid his hand. Gwendolyn¡¯s entire attention was on Elven. She stood up, opened the door, and uttered in disbelief, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elven sobbed. ¡°The heart rate monitor suddenly disyed abnormalitiesst night. The doctor checked it and determined that there wasn¡¯t much time left. However, we will only know more details once Mr. Kieran returns. Mr. Treyton is already on his way back to Salinsburgh. Please go back with me right away!¡± Gwendolyn stood rooted to the ground in disbelief. Cedrick wiped the blood from his hand with a wet tissue and wrapped it with a napkin before tucking his hand into his sleeve. He walked over to Gwendolyn and held her hand with his uninjured right hand. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the Harris residence with you since this is an important matter.¡± Chapter 422 Chapter 422 Half an hourter, Gwendolyn and Cedrick returned to the Harris residence at Mount Tranquil together. Kieran and Treyton still had not arrived, while Sienna was pacing back and forth before the door as if she¡¯d been waiting for them. She hurried toward them the moment they stepped out of the car. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn noticed her swollen eyes and inquired calmly, ¡°How¡¯s Dad?¡± Sienna shook her head. ¡°Not good. The doctor says he¡¯ll probablyst around two days at most. But we¡¯ll have to wait for Kieran¡¯s diagnosis when he¡¯s back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They strode into the mansion. The door to Marcus¡¯ bedroom was open, and a man was sitting before his bed. Gwendolyn had not seen Asher for around seven to eight days. He lookedpletely different from before. He¡¯d lost a lot of weight, and his skin was dull. Moreover, the stubble on his face gave him a weathered look, making him seem to have aged a decade, although only several days had passed. Gwendolyn had no idea, nor was she interested in knowing what he¡¯d gone through. ¡°Could you please excuse us? I wish to talk to Dad and don¡¯t want to see you here.¡± Her voice was devoid of emotion, as if she were talking to a stranger. Asher¡¯s eyes were lowered as he departed the room in silence. Despite his efforts to appear normal, Gwendolyn astutely observed a slight limp in his gait as he walked by her. Is it his knee? ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve been obediently reading scriptures at the ancestral hall for the past few days?¡± She directed the question at Asher. He froze and opened his mouth to speak up for himself. Yet no sound came out from his lips as the words were trapped in his throat. As such, he left the room defeatedly without uttering a word. Sienna entered and rified discreetly, ¡°Gwen, he lost his voice and hasn¡¯t spoken for several days. He¡¯s recently been hand-copying scriptures and has gone for an entire day without having a meal.¡± Gwendolyn listened silently and refused toment on it. Sienna sighed at her remote expression. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for Kieran and Treyton at the entrance while you keep Dadpany for now.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn sat beside Marcus¡¯ bed after Sienna was gone. She rested his wrinkled hand against her face and gently stroked it. ¡°Ceddy, I would like some time to speak privately with Dad as well.¡± Cedrick inclined his head understandingly and excused himself, shutting the door after him. He went straight to look for Asher after exiting the bedroom. Asher was holding onto the banister while making his way downstairs. He no longer had to put on an act without Gwendolyn around, and it was evident that each step was excruciating at the snail¡¯s pace at which he moved. The ancestral hall¡¯s tiles were cold and hard. Therefore, his knees were swelling with pain after kneeling on the ground for days on end. The doctor had given him a check-up the day before and voiced the possibility of him being diagnosed with rheumatism in the future. Cedrick stood at the top of the stairs and quietly observed Asher, noting how challenging it was for him just to get down a level, so much so that his entire forehead was drenched with sweat. Asher took a deep breath and was about to take another step down when Cedrick held his arm from behind. ¡°Why hide everything you¡¯ve done as atonement for your crimes from Gwenny?¡± Asher turned back and met Cedrick¡¯s gaze. Is there any point in her knowing? He knew better than anyone what his sister¡¯s temper, whom he¡¯d cared for since childhood, was like. Even if he were bedridden, she would interpret anything he said as a ploy to fish for sympathy, which was counterproductive. He withdrew his gaze and released Cedrick¡¯s hand to continue his journey down the stairs. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Cedrick didn¡¯t try stopping him. Instead, he uttered unexpectedly, ¡°Gwenny wouldn¡¯t believe you did all this even if she saw it with her own eyes. While Evelyn was the main culprit, you were the one who hurt Gwendolyn the most. What you owe her is a sincere apology. Unfortunately, you have no idea how to do that.¡± Asher took it all in wordlessly and resumed his excruciating crawl downstairs. Cedrick stared at his back and shook his head exasperatedly. The wound on his left hand from peeling fruits throbbed in pain, reminding him of its existence. He went to the housekeeper to get it disinfected and covered it up with an inconspicuous patch. Kieran and Treyton arrived hastily, one after the other two hourster. Kieran immediately made a beeline to Marcus¡¯ room and conducted a full-body check-up on him. Gwendolyn stood at the side and offered assistance when needed. After a nerve-wracking half an hour, Kieran helped Gwendolyn downstairs. Asher, Treyton, Sienna, and Cedrick were all seated on the couch in the hall, awaiting their appearance. Sienna got to her feet. ¡°Kieran, how is it? Is there hope?¡± Kieran lowered his gaze and shook his head while solemnly delivering the result of his check-up. ¡°There¡¯s still a blood clot in his skull that hasn¡¯t been removed from thest time he took a fall. It has now spread and is affecting his central nervous system. He will be brain-dead soon. Even if we insisted on operating on Dad, he wouldn¡¯t survive due to his age and inherently frail physique.¡± The atmosphere of the hall was shrouded with despair at the news. Gwendolyn felt the energy drain from her and swayed on her feet. Cedrick instantly dashed to her side and wrapped her in his arms to offerfort. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she curled up in his arms. Her right hand clung tightly to the fabric of his suit. She attempted to repress the sorrow she felt for the sake of her unborn baby. Deathly silence lingered in the hall for an extended moment until Gwendolyn¡¯s enraged bellow sounded. ¡°Evelyn, you¡¯ll be next if Dad dies!¡± Evelyn had been keeping to herself all this time in the countryside after it was revealed that she was seducing Norman Nixon. Ezra and William were starting to let down their guard against her. Margaret also stopped victimizing her and let herbor at her own devices. After all, she wouldn¡¯t be trying anything anytime soon due to her leg injury from kneeling. Yet, the truth was that Evelyn was still plotting her escape despite such circumstances. She was toiling in the fields in the afternoon when there was a sudden downpour. Ezra and William weren¡¯t keeping an eye on her as they were taking a nap after working in the fields during the day. Margaret, on the other hand, was sheltering from the rain under a tree, leaving Evelyn alone in the field. Evelyn intended to go on with work since sudden showers like these tended to clear up in about half an hour. s, that was not the case this time around. It poured for several hours non-stop, as if the heavens were crying their heart out. Evelyn couldn¡¯t hold it up any longer. Margaret had an uncanny feeling about the deluge as she was soaked to the skin despite seeking cover under a tree. As such, she had no choice but to bid Evelyn stop herbor to return home and change her clothes. It was almost time for dinner, which meant that Evelyn was due for her whipping after that. They made their way back in single file. Norman was waiting attentively for them at the shack¡¯s front door with a towel. He offered to wipe the rainwater from Margaret¡¯s face. Margaret eyed him dubiously. ¡°Since when did my son be so helpful?¡± Normanughed drily in response. Evelyn had a poker face while drying her hair when a loud thud suddenly sounded. Margaret had fainted in Norman¡¯s arms. Chapter 423 Chapter 423 Evelyn looked at Norman Nixon in shock and eximed, ¡°Norman?¡± Her crisp voice had turned hoarse because of the chanting. Yet, the way she called out his name melted Norman¡¯s heart. Even if his mother found out the truth and beat him to death, he would still think that it was worth it. ¡°I have gone to the town yesterday and bought two packets of drugs as per your instructions. Both William and Ezra have been drugged by me. It¡¯s time for you to go! They have been drugged so heavily that I think they will only wake up tomorrow at noon. By then, you will have reached the town!¡± Looking at his silly and honest face, Evelyn was confused. ¡°Your mother said that I¡¯m a bad and vicious woman. Aren¡¯t you worried that I will return to hurt your mother for revenge?¡± Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Norman looked at her in the eyes and shook his head. ¡°You are so beautiful-looking. Even after being abused, you still have such clear, bright eyes. I believe you are a good person.¡± Evelyn was stumped by his words. What clear, bright eyes? It¡¯s only part of my acting. Fool! I have been making use of him. Yet, he still thinks so highly of me. Such a stupid guy. She sighed and gave Norman a hug. ¡°Thank you. In times of desperation, you are the only person who treats me well. I will always remember you!¡± Norman was very happy to hear that from her. ¡°Quick! It¡¯s time to go. Once the rain stops, your track will have been washed away.¡± ¡°All right, then. See you!¡± Without further ado, Evelyn turned and ran away. Norman stared at her retreating figure while she was leaving. In the hut, both William and Ezra had fallen into deep sleep. Only Margaret¡¯s paralyzed husband was protesting. His babbling sounded extremely odd against the sound of the falling rain. Meanwhile, Evelyn put up with the pain in her knee and was running in the woods. Norman told her not to take the route that she hade from. It would take a lot of time and effort to use that route. He specifically told her to follow the river and go downward until the next vige. That road was so much more smooth and bright. Once she reached the vige, it would be hard to locate her. She ran along the countryside road. The further she got away from Margaret¡¯s house, the more excited she became. The days of abuse was worse than life in the prison. It was hellish. Now, she could finally escape from the clutches of Gwendolyn! When she saw the river that Norman was telling her, she burst outughing. The falling rain sounded like music to her ears. It was as if the rain was celebrating her freedom! ¡°Gwendolyn, just wait and see. Very soon, I wille back and look for you!¡± she looked up and yelled at the sky. Just then, two men appeared behind her. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Evelyn turned around in bewilderment. The two men were holding guns and looking at her in an unfriendly manner. Quite obviously, they knew who she was. There were not many people who were allowed to own firearms in Chanaea unless they were from the military. Are these men sent by Cedrick to keep an eye on me? Evelyn started running like crazy. Cedrick¡¯s men chased after her and said, ¡°Evelyn, you can¡¯t get away! Stop running, or we will shoot!¡± Still, Evelyn did not stop. She did not turn around either. Once again, she had fallen into endless despair. Initially, she thought that she could get away after dealing with Gwendolyn¡¯s bodyguards. Little did she realize that Cedrick had eyes on her. Even God won¡¯t give me a chance? ¡°Gwendolyn, Cedrick! Even if I die, I will never go back!¡± As she ran toward the river, she yelled out. At that moment, she hated them so much. Nothing was more disheartening than to be given hope and then pulled back into the abyss once more. If Cedrick¡¯s men caught her, her abuse would only get worse. Norman would not be able to help her again. Her life would be filled with endless hellish days. She ran with all her might to the river. Once in a while, she would turn back to check on her pursuers. The river was surging because of the rain. Once she got to the river bank, she jumped into the river without any hesitation. ¡°Evelyn!¡± Bang! A loud gunshot rang out immediately. The bullet hit Evelyn in her left shoulder. Blood gushed out, and she fell into the water. Very soon, there was no sign of her. The two men ran alongside the river. One of them called and reported to Cedrick while he ran. In the meantime, Cedrick was seated in the living room of the Harris residence and listening to a discussion about Marcus. His phone had been turned to silent mode. As such, he did not answer his phone. Marcus¡¯ condition had worsened, and it was only a matter of time. He would most likely sumb in two days. Gwendolyn did not participate in any of the subsequent matters, nor did she stay upte because she was pregnant. After listening to the suggestions from Kieran, Sienna, and Treyton in her fuzzy state, she was too weak to walk. Cedrick carried her into the car, and they drove off to Harrick Vi. When they arrived home, Gwendolyny on the recliner, looked at the rain, and said nothing. Cedrick knew she was withholding her sadness, so he kept watch by her side. After a long time, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Ceddy, let¡¯s cancel our wedding.¡± Cedrick¡¯s back stiffened when he heard her words. However, he knew something like that would happen. When one¡¯s parent passed away, the person had to mourn for a period of time. During that period, they should not hold any celebratory events. Furthermore, there was no way Gwendolyn could enjoy the wedding under such circumstances. He got down in front of Gwendolyn, held her hands, and said softly, ¡°Sure. It will be fine with me as long as I can be by your side.¡± Gwendolyn caressed his face and felt very guilty indeed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You have forsaken sleep and food because of the wedding preparation. Yet, it has been canceled now. It¡¯s my fault.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? This isn¡¯t your fault.¡± Cedrick smiled and did not mind at all. Instead, he held her hand that was touching his face and massaged her palm. Unknowingly, he had used his left hand. It was then Gwendolyn saw the ster. She moved his left hand closer to her. ¡°What happened to your hand? When did you get hurt? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Cedrick was silent for a while before telling her the truth, ¡°During the day, Elven came and reported to me. I was peeling an apple and identally cut myself. It¡¯s no big deal. I didn¡¯t want you to worry, so I didn¡¯t tell you.¡± Gwendolyn felt sorry for him. She was already feeling guilty for canceling the wedding. Now that she saw Cedrick was hurt, she felt even more guilty. She had to make it up to him somehow. ¡°Ceddy, the day after tomorrow is still a good day. Let¡¯s not waste it. Why don¡¯t we go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and get registered on the quiet instead?¡± Chapter 424 Chapter 424 Cedrick raised his head and looked at her, his eyes sparkling with delight. After a moment, he lowered his gaze and said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better not to do it now? Getting the marriage certificate at this critical juncture might invite gossip and unnecessary trouble for you.¡± ¡°We can have a private wedding first and keep it a secret from others,¡± she suggested. ¡°Besides, our lives should be lived for ourselves, not to please others.¡± After Cedrick contemted for a while, his eyes lit up with joy again. ¡°You¡¯re right, Gwenny. We should live our lives on our own terms.¡± He shed a mischievous smile and continued, ¡°Tomorrow is a good day. Shall we go and register our marriage early in the morning?¡± Gwendolyn yfully tapped his forehead. ¡°All right, as you wish.¡± Cedrick stood before her, his heart filled with excitement about their uing official union. He hugged her leg and rested his head against her thigh, reveling in their intimacy. In return, Gwendolyn tenderly caressed the back of his head, allowing him to nuzzle against her. Suddenly, her phone on the bedside table rang. The caller was Ezra. She had an ominous feeling about receiving calls in the wee hours of the night. When the call connected, it wasn¡¯t Ezra¡¯s voice that greeted her. A man¡¯s voice, tinged with a hint of breathlessness as if he had justpleted a workout, spoke on the line. ¡°Hello, Ms. Harris. I work for Boss, and my codename is Midnight. I tried to call him multiple times, but he didn¡¯t pick up. I had no choice but to use your bodyguard¡¯s phone to contact you and Boss.¡± Gwendolyn had put the call on speaker mode, allowing Cedrick to hear their conversation. He stood up to retrieve his own phone, only to discover that it had been set to silent mode. There were over a dozen missed calls from Midnight. Gwendolyn and Cedrick exchanged solemn nces. The undercover agent, whom Cedrick had sent to keep an eye on Evelyn, made an unexpected call to Gwendolyn using Ezra¡¯s phone. Something must have gone awry. ¡°What happened to Evelyn?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Midnight quickly reported the details of the incident to Gwendolyn and Cedrick. After listening attentively to his report, she calmly instructed, ¡°The river current is rapid. Evelyn is injured, so she couldn¡¯t have gone far. Tonight, I will send members of the Shadow Bell to assist you in the search. We must find her, alive or dead.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harris,¡± he replied. The room was engulfed in a solemn silence after the call ended. Gwendolyn gazed at the raindrops on the windowpane and sneered, ¡°She never learned her lesson; now she¡¯s trying to escape. Cedrick, do you think Asher has anything to do with this?¡± Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed as he pondered the question. ¡°Asher has recently been devoted to his scripture studies at the ancestral hall. Ever since you dealt with Evelyn, he hasn¡¯t cared about the woman.¡± When he saw that she fell into deep thought again, he gently scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom. He said warmly, ¡°Gwenny, let¡¯s set aside those thoughts for now. We should wait until we locate her before jumping to conclusions. Tonight, let¡¯s indulge in a rxing bath together, and tomorrow, we¡¯ll approach the registry with renewed vigor. What do you think?¡± The woman wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled into his chest. ¡°I¡¯m too tired to bathe today.¡± Cedrick lowered his head and nted a gentle kiss on her forehead. ¡°You helped me to bathe when I was ill. From now on, I¡¯ll take care of you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re referring to that day.¡± Gwendolyn looked at him with a mischievous glint, and a yful smirk formed at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Someone was quite naughty that day and tried to entice and seduce me. Fortunately, I have strong self-control and gave someone a good scrubbing. Don¡¯t you miss it?¡± Her words caused him to stiffen slightly. These were dark secrets that shouldn¡¯t be brought up or known by anyone other than Gwendolyn. He remained silent as Gwendolyn leaned closer to his ear and blew a teasing breath. Her seductive voice was enchanting, and her mischievous smile was wickedly enticing. ¡°Do you want to test your self-control today, Cedrick?¡± she purred. Cedrick hesitated for a moment before saying in frustration, ¡°Gwenny, men easily sumb to temptation. You¡¯re toying with danger.¡± As he spoke, he gently ced the woman onto the toilet seat in the dry area of the bathroom. He then proceeded to fill the bathtub with water. ¡°So you mean to say that men can¡¯t resist temptation? Does that mean this can happen to other women too?¡± Gwendolyn pouted, feeling somewhat displeased. Cedrick walked up to her and crouched again; his dark eyes were filled with a wicked allure. He gently grabbed her hand and ced it on his thigh. ¡°Gwenny, I¡¯ve no desire for other women. Only you make me feel like this. Moreover, it¡¯s sensitive to you. It¡¯ll sumb to your teasing. Look at what your touch does, Gwenny. You feel it too, right?¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and nodded in embarrassment. ¡°Hmm, it does seem like it wants to be eaten,¡± she responded with a yful tone. His deep and lusty eyes fixed on her with anticipation. ¡°So, Gwenny, can you be devoured tonight?¡± he asked. She lowered her head and pointed to her abdomen. ¡°What do you think?¡± Disappointed by her response, Cedrick let out a long sigh. ¡°Stop teasing me tonight, Gwenny. Be good and take a bath.¡± Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. By then, the bathtub had been filled with water. After Cedrick was satisfied with the water temperature, he took the bath soap suited for pregnant women and threw it into the tub. Next, he returned to the dry area of the bathroom to help Gwendolyn remove her clothing. He kneeled on one knee to help her take off the ckce lingerie. Gwendolyn remained still, allowing him to manipte her like a beautiful and delicate doll. He lifted her gently and ced her in the water, then turned around to start taking off his own clothes. As she observed him removing his clothes with his back turned, she detected a subtle trace of shyness in his demeanor. She considered discreetly using her finger to tease his waistband, just as she had done before, and suddenly pulling him into the water. However, midway through the motion, she stopped herself. During the first three months of pregnancy, it was crucial to be extremely cautious and avoid any vigorous physical activity. If she had continued with her n, Cedrick would not be able to resist her temptations. In the end, he would have to force himself to endure physical difort as he could not bear to risk their unborn baby¡¯s well-being. So, she decided to let him enjoy his bath undisturbed, choosing to be responsible and patient. That night, they embraced each other and drifted off to sleep, the sweet scent of their bodies blending together. Cedrick woke up early the following day. Today was the day they would collect their marriage certificate. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and the anticipation kept him awake through the night. He quickly prepared himself and freshened up before heading to the kitchen. Next, he prepared a comforting bowl of warm oatmeal and personally fed Gwendolyn her breakfast. Cedrick meticulously nned his arrival at the Civil Affairs Bureau, ensuring he reached the entrance precisely five minutes before its opening. He couldn¡¯t contain his excitement at being the first couple to receive their marriage certificate that day. Twenty minutester, his wish came true as he held the marriage certificate in his hands. The significance of this moment overwhelmed him, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel moved. He had always hated looking at photos of himself. However, he gently caressed their picture on the marriage certificate, amazed at how perfectly it captured their happiness. Tears welled in his eyes, and he felt an overwhelming sense of contentment he had never experienced. When Gwendolyn noticed the tears forming in his eyes, she couldn¡¯t resist teasing him. With a yful tone, she poked his neck and asked, ¡°Today is a great day! Why are you crying, Ceddy?¡± Chapter 425 Chapter 425 As Cedrick took a deep breath, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a burning sensation in his nose. Over thest half a year, he had escaped from the jaws of death many times and went through hell and high water with Gwendolyn. Only God knew how much he desired and was looking forward to finally receiving the marriage certificate. As tears clouded his vision, he bit his lower lip and curled into Gwendolyn¡¯s arms before burying his face in her shoulders. With her arms wrapped around his broad back, she patted him gently tofort him. Cedrick kept his head down as he sobbed inaudibly. It wasn¡¯t until a short whileter that he regained hisposure and uttered in a deep voice, ¡°The strong wind has caused sand to enter my eyes. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Let¡¯s hurry home now, Gwenny. ¡± Gwendolyn yed along with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re right. The wind is kicking up a lot of dust. If we stay here any longer, even my eyes will turn red. ¡± With that, both of them held each other¡¯s hands and sped their fingers tightly together. Even though registering the marriage was a glorious asion, Cedrick and Gwendolyn decided to keep the matter under wraps. They didn¡¯t receive any congrattory messages or spark an uproar. All they did was spend the day quietly as if it was just another uneventful day of their lives. When evening arrived, Cedrick invited Nico and Summer over for dinner. They nned to open a bottle of wine and enjoy a simple celebration together. Since Nico didn¡¯t know how to cook, he assisted Cedrick in the kitchen. As for Summer, she watched TV together with Gwendolyn while helping her peel some fruits. Once in a while, voices of men arguing could be heard from the kitchen. ¡°Cedrick, what should I do with this vegetable?¡± ¡°Remove its stalk and cut it into smaller pieces. ¡± A short whileter, Nico¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°How many pieces do you think is appropriate?¡± Thereafter, another question was heard. ¡°Cedrick, how do I peel garlic?¡± ¡°Cedrick, what shape should I cut the meat into?¡± ¡°Cedrick, the prawns look pretty clean. Do you still want to remove their veins? By the way, how do I do it?¡± ¡°Cedrick¡­¡± Unable to endure it any longer, Cedrick blew his top. ¡°Get out!¡± Nico let out a cry before he was forcefully pushed out. Meanwhile, the two women stared at him from the couch. Scratching his head in embarrassment, Nico pointed his finger behind him. ¡°Cedrick seems to be in a good mood today, so he ns to single-handedly cook up a storm for us!¡± A sarcastic snort was immediately heard from Summer. ¡°You¡¯re such an idiot, Nico. When will you ever be like Mr. Jenson and learn how to cook? Stop making me do all the chores already!¡± ¡°What are you bbering about in front of Gwendolyn? Since when did I make you do all the chores?¡± Lacking confidence, Nico leaned over and sat next to Summer. ¡°You seemed to have put on weight recently. Even your cheeks have grown chubbier. Who do you think has been working hard and paying for all your food?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve put on weight?¡± Summer cupped her cheeks as a horrified look shed across her eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn, have I be ugly?¡± Pursing her lips into a smile, Gwendolyn pinched Summer on her cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re not fat or ugly. You look perfect. In fact, you¡¯re growing increasingly gorgeous. ¡± Reassured by Gwendolyn¡¯s words, Summer shot Nico a re as sheined, ¡°Look at him, Gwendolyn. He¡¯s nothing but a clueless boy. Does he not know one can never call a girl fat? This is outrageous!¡± Nodding matter-of-factly, Gwendolyn added fuel to the fire. ¡°It¡¯s outrageous indeed. He needs to be taught a lesson. I happen to have a stick in the storeroom. Do you want to use it to put him in his ce?¡± ¡°Can I really?¡± Summer¡¯s eyes lit up in excitement. She had been itching to teach him a lesson for a long time. Gwendolyn egged her on. ¡°Yes, you can. I¡¯ll be the judge here. You can hit him all you want, and Nico isn¡¯t allowed to dodge. ¡± With that, Summer hurried to the storeroom to retrieve the stick and returned with a devious look on her face. Nico¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°I dare you, Summer! Don¡¯t forget who¡¯s paying all your bills now. Do you still want your allowance for next month?¡± The threat snuffed out Summer¡¯s desire to hit him. Pouting her lips in frustration, she settled back on the couch. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Have you admitted defeat?¡± Despite her defiance, Summer had no choice but to bow down to power. ¡°He can behave with impunity, as he¡¯s holding onto all the cards now. ¡± Gwendolyn nodded with an indiscernible grin. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s important to be financially independent. Only then will your fate be in your hands, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Her advice triggered an epiphany in Summer, who suddenly had an idea pop into her head. Nheless, to avoid Nico¡¯s suspicions, Summer calmly continued the conversation. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯re really amazing. Mr. Jenson has not only offered you all his assets but knows how to cook and care for you. How in the world did you manage to get him to do it?¡± Even though she remembered how it all came about, Gwendolyn merely smiled in response. Back then, Cedrick had signed an agreement with her in Faike. The first time he cooked was when they were at Bay Vi. He had burned the pork ribs and seasoned the vegetables too heavily. Nheless, that was part of a shady past that couldn¡¯t be revealed. Otherwise, Cedrick would tear his hair out. In contrast to the scenes in her mind, she replied in a nonchnt tone, ¡°That¡¯s because he always listens to me. ¡± While the three of them were chatting, Cedrick finished preparing dinner. Due to her pregnancy, Gwendolyn needed her food to be lightly seasoned. Hence, she couldn¡¯t take anything that was too salty or spicy. On that ount, Cedrick had researched a few recipes where he could still whip up a delicious meal with as little salt as possible. Once the food was served on the table, Nico rubbed his hands in anticipation. That particr day was of significant importance. Other than being the day Cedrick and Gwendolyn registered their marriage, it was also the day Cedrick rescued Nico from the border. The very first time Cedrick set eyes on thetter, he was like a barbarian. Nico had no name, let alone a birthday. He didn¡¯t know how to speak and could only make unintelligible sounds. As a result, Cedrick set Nico¡¯s birthday to the day he took him in. That evening, Nico was in a significantly better mood than usual. Having had too much to drink, he had to walk out of the vi with Summer¡¯s help. It wasn¡¯t until he stepped out that his drunken voice echoed out loud. ¡°Cedrick! Boss! My life belongs to you. Even if I were to face death, I would dly do so by your side!¡± It was quickly followed by Summer ranting. ¡°Save it! Mr. Jenson will just kick you aside. Do you know how heavy the stench of alcohol is on you? How can you evenpete with Gwendolyn¡¯s fragrant scent. ¡± Back inside the house, Gwendolyn and Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but chuckle in amusement. Thereafter, Cedrick narrowed his eyes and ced his head on Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulder. While he nuzzled against it, a mischievous smile emerged across his lips. ¡°Darling, can you give me a night that I¡¯ll never forget?¡± ¡°A night that you¡¯ll never forget? Which kind?¡± Gwendolyn raised a curious brow. ¡°The kind where I¡¯ll be sent to heaven and hell yet helpless to do anything about it. ¡± Cedrick¡¯s raspy voice sounded especially alluring. As a devious look descended upon Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, she broke into an equally vampy smile. ¡°I got it, Hubby! In order to make it unforgettable, I¡¯ll first make it feel like hell before it feels like heaven!¡± As Cedrick locked gazes with her, his sharp senses detected a crafty look in her eyes. Gwendolyn gently ran the tip of her fingers across his handsome face as if to tease him. ¡°You¡¯re right! It¡¯s exactly what you think it is. ¡± Rendered speechless, Cedrick wondered if it was now toote to retract his words. As Gwendolyn gave his eyes a cheeky blow, the yful look in her eyes had be unmistakable. In a demure yet seductive voice, she suggested, ¡°Hubby, it¡¯s been a long time since I rode cowgirl. Will you be good and be my pony tonight?¡± Cedrick was stumped by the question. That¡¯s exactly what I have in mind, but why do I get the feeling she¡¯s up to something a lot more intense than I imagine? Chapter 426 Chapter 426 With that, Cedrick¡¯s wish to have an ¡°unforgettable¡± wedding night was finally fulfilled. The pleasure he experienced after being ¡°tortured¡± was like a heavenly gift. That night, Gwendolyn, too, had an unforgettable wedding night. In contrast to her ecstatic experience, Cedrick had one that left a lot to be desired. When morning arrived, rays of the morning sun bathed the room as they pierced through the half- opened curtains. The light clearly illuminated Gwendolyn¡¯s and Cedrick¡¯s exquisite-looking faces. Cedrick was sprawled on the bed with his hand wrapped around Gwendolyn¡¯s chest. Even in his sleep, he had already made it a habit to avoid putting any pressure on her abdomen. After spending the entire night consummating their marriage, both of them were so exhausted that they fell into a deep slumber. It wasn¡¯t until Gwendolyn¡¯s phone rang that she reached out for it groggily. It¡¯s Ezra again. Ezra had called to report that he and William had allowed Evelyn to escape. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Harris. We let our guard down for a moment when she seemed to be cooperating. We didn¡¯t expect her to team up with Margaret¡¯s son, Norman, to drug us and flee. We¡¯re ready to ept any punishment you mete out.¡± Ignoring hisment about the punishment, Gwendolyn inquirednguidly, ¡°Where is she now? Have you found her?¡± ¡°No, we trawled the river downstream the entire day but found nothing. We even searched the few viges downriver too. Since she was suffering from a gunshot wound, could she have been killed by the river¡¯s bone-chilling cold?¡± ¡°Even then, we still need her body as proof.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s voice took on a frosty tone as she instructed, ¡°Continue the hunt and search the viges downriver again. She wouldn¡¯t have gotten far and must be hiding in one of them.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With that, Gwendolyn ended the call. After she was interrupted by the report, her sleepiness had long dissipated. Thus, she sat up with her back against the headboard. Behind her, Cedrick felt a sudden rush of cold air when she lifted the sheets. As Gwendolyn had slipped out of his grasp, his brows furrowed as he subconsciously reached out to grab her. Underneath the nket, Gwendolyn realized that he was holding on tightly to her nightgown. Only when she lowered her eyes did she realize he was sleeping on his stomach. Turning on her side, she twirled Cedrick¡¯s hair with her fingers before leaning in to blow in his ear. ¡°Hubby, why are you sleeping in this position? Do you need me to give your back a massage?¡± Narrowing his groggy eyes, Cedrick grunted in acknowledgment. With that, Gwendolyn slipped back underneath the duvet and began rubbing his back with her fingers and palm. While doing so, a mischievous glint shed across her eyes. The tip of her fingers began to reach down without warning, only stopping when she reached his groin. As she stroked her fingers over his thin silk boxers, she could feel the obvious lump underneath it. However, she felt him grab her wrist just when she was about to give it a rub. With a sleepy expression, Cedrick raised his gaze to give her an affectionate look. ¡°Stop fooling around. I¡¯m still sleepy.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn release her hand. ¡°Fine. You¡¯ve done a lot the entire night, so sleep in while I head over to the Harris residence.¡± She then leaned in to nt a kiss on his forehead. After that, she got out of bed to wash up before leaving Harrick Vi. Half an hourter, her luxury sedan came to a stop outside Marcus¡¯ vi at Mount Tranquil. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Upon entering the building and passing by the ancestral hall, she could hear a weak and raspy male voice chanting. It¡¯s already morning. Has he been chanting throughout the night? Thus, she walked over to the ancestral hall and opened a gap in the door to take a quiet peek. Asher¡¯s body was swooning a little due to the difort of his kneeling posture. Once he managed to clear his throat, he continued to push himself to chant. When Gwendolyn saw him repeat the process time and again, she figured it was a matter of time before Asher¡¯s throat was ruined. Her brows wrinkled as a solemn look descended upon her eyes. This time, instead of leaving quietly, she pushed the door open and entered. Creak! The sound of the opening door interrupted Asher¡¯s chant. Without turning around, he casually remarked in his hoarse voice, ¡°Why did you bring breakfast? I¡¯m still not hungry. I¡¯ll only eat after I finish.¡± Standing some distance away by the door, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t budge. It wasn¡¯t until Asher noticed that a reply wasn¡¯t forting that he turned around curiously to look. The sight of Gwendolyn caused him to freeze in silence. With an emotionless expression, Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°If you think chanting the Heagurn Sutra will make me forgive you and forget how you indulged Evelyn, you cannot be any more wrong.¡± The piercing look in her eyes was filled with conviction. ¡°Even if you torment yourself till you lose your voice, my conscience will still not bat an eyelid for you.¡± Swallowing the lump in his throat, Asher lowered his eyes to hide the extreme disappointment in them. In his silence, he retracted his gaze before returning to the punishing stance he was kneeling in to continue his chant. The stubbornness Asher disyed elicited a solemn expression from Gwendolyn. Upon recalling the report of Evelyn¡¯s escape, she inquired, ¡°Evelyn drugged my bodyguards and fled. Do you know anything about it?¡± Asher stopped his chant abruptly to turn around and look her in the eye. ¡°Not this time.¡± Showing no emotion, Gwendolyn added, ¡°Two days ago, when she fled to the river during a heavy rain, she was shot before falling into it. Her fate is still yet to be known.¡± Asher furrowed his brows but didn¡¯tment. As Gwendolyn stared intently at him to gauge his response, she asked suspiciously, ¡°Weren¡¯t you adamant in protecting her to repay your debt of gratitude to her mother? Now that her life is hanging by a thread, why aren¡¯t you anxious at all?¡± Asher hung his head and replied in a throaty voice. ¡°Her fate is just unknown. It doesn¡¯t mean that she¡¯s dead. Perhaps she¡¯s still alive somewhere.¡± ¡°In that case, don¡¯t you feel the urge to rescue her?¡± Gwendolyn cocked a brow with an icy glint in her eyes. Upon retracting his gaze, Asher returned his attention to his scripture with a grim expression. ¡°Over thest few days, I¡¯ve seen the light after copying the scripture repeatedly. I admit that I have protected her one too many times, but now that I have resigned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I no longer have the power to do so. So, the path ahead is her own. Whether she lives or dies depends on her fate which is no longer in my hands. Besides, I¡¯ve no intention of protecting her anymore.¡± Gwendolyn listened to him in silence as she tried to read his every expression. A short whileter, she broke into a faint smile. ¡°It seems the scripture is doing you some good. Compared to the past, you¡¯re no longer as hard-headed.¡± This was the first time in a long while she spoke to Asher in such a gentle tone. As Asher¡¯s lips curled in reciprocation, he adjusted his knees to face her. In his broken voice, he apologized, ¡°Kiddo, everything that happened before this was my fault. It¡¯s only now that I realize how wrong I have been and the trauma I have inflicted upon you. Over this period of time, I have repented sincerely. Can you bring yourself to forgive this brother of yours?¡± Chapter 427 Chapter 427 The smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s lips turned into a frown. She and Asher exchanged nces, thetter gulping as he waited nervously for her reply. Gwendolyn stared at him in silence for some time before finally saying, ¡°I ept your apology, but I don¡¯t think I can forgive you just yet. The reason I returned to the Harris residence today is to visit Dad. So let¡¯s not talk about other matters.¡± Asher¡¯s expression turned grim. He had brought up Gwendolyn on his own. He knew better than anyone that this was her refusing to forgive him. He suppressed his disappointment and shed her a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m willing to wait for the day that you forgive me.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze was locked on him, but she said nothing. As she was about to leave the ancestral hall to look for her father, Sienna barged in from the first floor. She sounded horrified as she yelled, ¡°Hubby! Dad¡­ Dad tlined!¡± The terrifying news felt like thunder had struck Mount Tranquil. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were red, and tears streaked down her face as she rushed up the stairs. Asher stood up while being careful of his knees before he followed her. Treyton, who had been in the great hall, ran upstairs after hearing Sienna shout. ¡°Dad!¡± The few of them yelled at the top of their lungs. However, the heart of the elderly man on the man had stopped. His eyes were closed as though he was sleeping peacefully. Kieran sat by Marcus¡¯ bed. His usual cold exterior seemed to have broken down as his eyes reddened from crying. Sadness filled the air of the hospital room. Gwendolyn supported herself on the door frame as her tears fell uncontrobly, her heart in immense pain. However, the grief in her eyes was soon reced with fury. She took out her phone and dialed Ezra¡¯s number. ¡°Have everyone from Shadow Bell look for Evelyn! I want her dead!¡± Kieran and Treyton were in charge of Marcus¡¯ funeral. As Gwendolyn was pregnant and could not attend the funeral, Cedrick hurried home tofort her and help with the funeral in her ce. Everyone from the organization was deployed to search through the river bank for Evelyn. They even went to the nearby vige and interrogated and investigated each house. There was still no news of Evelyn after two days. It seemed as though she had disappeared into thin air. Gwendolyn was furious. However, she was worried about the babies she was carrying. She suppressed her anger and asked Treyton toe to the vi. ¡°Treyton, we still can¡¯t find Evelyn. However, I must make her pay the price for her sins and for killing Dad.¡± Naturally, Treyton understood how Gwendolyn felt. ¡°Kiddo, what do you n on doing? I¡¯ll give you my full support.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes darkened when she thought of Evelyn. ¡°Have all the news stations report her death. Say she suddenly heard the news of Dad¡¯s death during her travels. Distraught, she identally fell into the river and drowned.¡± Treyton was taken aback. ¡°By doing that, she¡¯ll never be able to return to the Harris residence even if she were alive. Is your n to not let her live on with the name ¡®Evelyn Harris?¡±¡® ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°All right. I understand. Leave it to me.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. After Marcus¡¯ death, Asher was no longer in charge. Evelyn had also disappeared without a trace. Gwendolyn was now the head of the Harris family, and everyone lived in harmony and peace. Those peaceful days went by quick. Eight monthster, Gwendolyn¡¯s belly had grown rounder. She still looked beautiful and delicate, her skin smooth and fair. She sat on the couch while watching a movie that was projected onto a giant screen. Meanwhile, Cedrick was in the kitchen cutting some fruits for her. Just as she was lost in the movie, she felt the baby in her stomach kick. She breathed slowly and deeply as she tried to relieve her intense pain. ¡°Ceddy!¡± she yelled. Cedrick put down the fruits he was washing and ran out of the kitchen. He squatted before her to check on her condition. ¡°Are you about to give birth?¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows in pain as she shook her head. ¡°One of the babies kicked me.¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart ached for her. He stared at her stomach and gritted his teeth. ¡°This troublesome brat! I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be extremely naughty in the future! He made you go through so much pain. Wait until he gets older. I¡¯ll avenge you by teaching him a lesson!¡± Gwendolyn giggled. ¡°Don¡¯t be so mean. They¡¯re both still babies. Of course, they don¡¯t know anything.¡± Cedrick reached forward to caress her abdomen gently. He was still huffing in anger as he said, ¡°But he caused you so much pain! I¡¯ll make sure he suffers in the future!¡± Gwendolyn could not help butugh. Hisint amused her. ¡°The babies can hear you. They¡¯ll hold a grudge. When they¡¯re older, they¡¯ll definitely be on my side. By then, the three of us might be bullying you instead!¡± Cedrick grinned. As long as she was happy, he could care less about anything. Gwendolyn was about to say something again when she felt a stabbing pain in her lower abdomen. She scrunched her eyebrows as she tried to bear with the pain. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did he kick you again?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. All of a sudden, a thought shed across her mind as the pain slowly subsided. ¡°Hubby! I think¡­ I think I might be giving birth!¡± Cedrick was shocked. He quickly messaged Nico, Summer, Kieran, Treyton, and Jennifer before carrying Gwendolyn and rushing toward the hospital. By the time Gwendolyn was sent into the maternity ward, everyone had arrived. They surrounded her and showered her with concern. Gwendolyn was stunned to see the group of people. She turned to look at Cedrick beside her and said, ¡°Why did you call for so many people? Do you want them to watch me give birth?¡± Cedrick¡¯s palms were sweaty, his voice trembling. He looked to be more nervous than Gwendolyn. ¡°I told you, I want to experience thebor pain machine again when you give birth so we can share the pain. However, I¡¯m scared I can¡¯t apany you in the room, so I called them here to stay with you and talk to you.¡± Gwendolyn tightened her grip on his hand. ¡°No, you can¡¯t. There are too many people. I¡¯ll get nervous. I only need you in here with me.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± He still wanted to experience and share her pain. Kieran stepped forward to exin, ¡°You don¡¯t need to experience it one more time. The doctor will come in soon to check how much she has dted. When the time is right, they¡¯ll give her an epidural.¡± Cedrick and Gwendolyn were confused. However, Gwendolyn quickly returned to her senses as she smiled in surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that medicine is so advanced now. Kieran, why didn¡¯t you tell me that earlier? I was so nervous!¡± On the other hand, Cedrick was stunned. ¡°Back then, when you asked me to experience thebor pain machine, were you doing it to y a joke on me?¡± Kieran¡¯s expression darkened, but he kept silent. The group of people said a few encouraging words before leaving the room. Fifteen minutester, Gwendolyn was pushed into thebor room. Cedrick was by her side the entire time. The doctor checked the babies¡¯ position in Gwendolyn¡¯s womb. They were in the right position for a natural birth. Gwendolyn felt much better after taking the epidural. It did not hurt as much as the rumors said when she gave birth. Cedrick was anxious as he held her hand tight. He was shaking non-stop, his jawline obvious from how tightly clenched his teeth were. Gwendolyn turned to look at him. She reached up to caress his handsome face before shing him a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Ceddy. It¡¯ll be a breeze.¡± Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Heined in a tiny voice, ¡°You make it sound so easy! It¡¯ll be great if giving birth is like that!¡± Gwendolyn could only smile. After six hours of agony, the babies were delivered safely. The nurses cleaned the babies and wrapped them in nkets before calling Cedrick. ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Jenson! You are the father of a baby boy and a baby girl! Come and have a look!¡± However, Cedrick did not move. He could not be bothered with the children. The only thought in his mind was to help Gwendolyn wipe the sweat off her forehead. His heart ached as he stared at her. Gwendolyn smiled weakly. ¡°You won¡¯t have a look at the babies?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned solemn. He only wanted to stay by her side. ¡°They¡¯re not important as you.¡± Chapter 428 Chapter 428 She chuckled, moved and amused by his concern. However, she wanted to see her babies. ¡°Go quickly. I want to see them.¡± Cedrick had no choice but to get up and walk toward the nurse. The nurse introduced the babies to him, ¡°Mr. Jenson, this is the older brother, and this one is the younger sister.¡± Cedrick nced at them and furrowed his brows in disbelief. ¡°Are these really Gwenny¡¯s and my babies?¡± ¡°Of course. You were also in the delivery room. Do you think we switched the babies?¡± A few nurses chuckled. However, Cedrick had a solemn expression. Gwenny and I have good looks. Why are the babies so ugly? Their skin is red and wrinkled. They aren¡¯t adorable at all. Did the poison inside my body affect the children? The more he thought about it, the more serious he became. The nurse carried the babies and smiled joyfully. ¡°Mr. Jenson, the babies are so obedient. Do you want to carry them?¡± ¡°No.¡± He turned and left without looking back to apany Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn saw him walking over and grabbed his hand. She asked with anticipation in her eyes, ¡°Hubby, how are they? Are they cute?¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t know how to respond. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there a problem?¡± Gwendolyn asked after noticing his expression. Cedrick tried to change the topic. ¡°There¡¯s no problem. You don¡¯t have to worry about anything for now. Rest well. We will be transferred to a regr wardter.¡± The more Cedrick was like this, the more suspicious Gwendolyn was. ¡°Where are the babies? Bring them over for me to see.¡± ¡°Do you really want to see them?¡± he asked, uncertain. Gwendolyn nodded firmly as the uneasiness within her grew more intense. ¡°Quick!¡± Cedrick had no choice but to approach the nurse again and carry over the two babies. When he walked over to Gwendolyn, he reminded her cautiously, ¡°Gwenny, be prepared. They might look different from what you expect.¡± ¡°Stop beating around the bush.¡± She was confused. Cedrick bent down and ced the two babies beside her. Gwendolyn took a nce and saw two adorable babies. ¡°They are so cute! Are you ying around with me and trying to give me a surprise, Ceddy?¡± She was excited. Tears streamed down her face, and she instantly held so much love for her babies. She felt the arduous ten months of pregnancy had been worth it to bring these two adorable babies into the world. It was truly an achievement. ¡°Ceddy, look. Their facial features resemble ours. They are our babies.¡± Cedrick followed her gaze and looked at their babies again. No matter what, they were his babies. The more he looked at them, the more pleasant-looking they were to him. He leaned down and kissed Gwendolyn¡¯s sweaty forehead. He looked at her tenderly and uttered, ¡°Thank you for giving birth to two adorable babies, Gwenny.¡± The two gazed at each other with eyes filled with love. The delivery was sessful. After resting for a moment, Gwendolyn was transferred to a regr ward. Kieran, Treyton, and the others ran to her. In an instant, the spacious VIP ward became crowded. They gathered around the two babies, discussing passionately. Nico stated, ¡°The baby boy really looks a bit like Cedrick.¡± Summer giggled. ¡°I heard the baby often kicked Gwendolyn during theter stage of her pregnancy. It must be the baby boy. He looks as mischievous as Mr. Jenson when he was a child.¡± Laughter resonated in the ward. Cedrick sat beside Gwendolyn. He didn¡¯t say anything, as though he didn¡¯t hear them. He focused on feeding Gwendolyn her nutritious oatmeal. Gwendolyn nced at the group of people from afar. She felt like they were observing an animal at the zoo. They continued their lively discussion. It wasn¡¯t until Kieran, who had been silent the entire time, asked in a deep voice, ¡°Kiddo, have you guys decided on the names for your babies?¡± Gwendolyn was slightly stunned. She had forgotten about it. She turned to look at Cedrick. ¡°Hubby, you can decide on their names.¡± Cedrick contemted for a moment and responded in a solemn tone, ¡°I n to name the baby girl, Zendaya, to express gratitude to Gwendolyn for bringing her into this world. For the baby boy, I¡¯ll name him Benedict to represent a blessing from Gwenny.¡± Gwendolyn listened to him quietly. She knew she had made the right decision to give birth to these babies. Nico said, ¡°Zendaya Jenson and Benedict Jenson. They are wonderful names with great meaning!¡± ¡°Zendy, Benny. These are the names your dad gave you,¡± Summer stated excitedly. Soon, the ward was filled with everyone saying the babies¡¯ names. Gwendolyn smiled helplessly at Cedrick. She felt that this group of people was childish. Knock! Knock! Someone knocked on the door. Elven entered, looking slightly awkward. She whispered, ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Asher and his wife are here. Should I let them in?¡±N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Although he spoke softly, the room instantly fell silent, and the atmosphere became tense. Everyone turned to look at Gwendolyn, waiting for her to make the decision. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression gradually turned serious. ¡°There are already many people in the ward. The babies are still young, and having too many people around them might frighten them. You should let them go back for now.¡± Her words were polite, but it was clear that Gwendolyn had not forgiven Asher. As Elven shut the door, a deathly silence descended over the ward. No one spoke for a long time. After a while, a nurse knocked on the door. However, it wasn¡¯t for Cedrick and Gwendolyn. ¡°Mr. Kieran, there¡¯s a woman looking for you.¡± With that, everyone¡¯s gazes fell on Kieran. Kieran usually had an indifferent expression. However, his ears turned red under all of their scrutiny. Treyton was the most surprised. ¡°A woman? There¡¯s a woman! Is there a woman who¡¯s finally interested in my celibate brother?¡± He patted Kieran¡¯s shoulders and continued, ¡°Kieran, when did this happen? How long have you been hiding it? When are you going to introduce us to this woman?¡± Kieran coughed unnaturally. ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t talk nonsense. She¡¯s not my girlfriend, and there¡¯s nothing like that. She¡¯s probably a previous patient asking some questions about her condition.¡± ¡°Oh? Why don¡¯t I believe you?¡± Kieran ignored him and left the ward. After Kieran left, Gwendolyn turned to look at Treyton and said softly, ¡°Kieran has always been reserved when ites to rtionships. Stop teasing him. He might get provoked and drive away the woman with his indifferent attitude.¡± The ambiance inside the ward turned amicable once again. After Kieran left, he immediately walked to the hospital¡¯s deserted emergency exit. A slender figure stood silently waiting for him in the corridor. He stood a distance away from her and covered his reddened ears. He took a deep breath and quickly reverted to his usual cold demeanor. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just return to Faike, Ms. Inez? Why did youe back to Salinsburgh again?¡± Upon hearing his cold voice, Inez turned around, revealing her beautiful face Chapter 429 Chapter 429 Back then, admiration, fondness, and affection were written all over Inez¡¯s face whenever she saw him. However, her expression appearedplicated this time. After struggling internally for a long time, she lowered her eyes and finally said, ¡°Mr. Kieran, I¡¯m very sorry for bothering you for half a year back then.¡± Staring at her quietly, Kieran said nothing and waited for her to continue. ¡°I might never bother you again from now you because my dad decided to marry me off to the Campbell family. I¡¯m engaged now.¡± Kieran¡¯s expression froze. Pursing his lips and contemting for a while, he uttered, ¡°Well, congrattions.¡± His words stabbed into Inez¡¯s heart like a dagger, the agony so intense that she could feel it all over her body. Resisting the urge to cry, she acted tough and said, ¡°I know you never liked me. I was being hopeful for so long. From now on, I will wash away my feelings for you bit by bit until I canpletely let go of them and never bother you ever again.¡± As she reached the end of her sentence, her voice grew thicker, while her eyes couldn¡¯t help but redden as tears welled up in them. Although she was an independent career woman in the business world, she was a fool longing for the person she loved to reciprocate her feelings when it came to love. However, Kieran¡¯s congrattions had snapped her back to reality. Noticing her sorrow, Kieran slowly reached out his hand tofort her. However, in the next instant, his arm hung in mid-air as he didn¡¯t know what right he had to do so. While he was still in a dilemma, Inez had already decided. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Kieran.¡± After leaving him with those final-sounding words, she turned around and ran away. Kieran¡¯s hand was still frozen in the air. He stood transfixed for a long time without budging, unable to discern how he felt. Strangely, his heart was filled withplicated emotions. It wasn¡¯t until an arm rested on his shoulder that he regained his senses. It was Treyton. He had seen Inez leaving while sobbing when he came over. Sighing, he spoke up for Inez and grumbled sternly, ¡°Kieran, listen, you¡¯re at fault here. She pursued you for half a year. Now that I see the disappointed look on your face, you don¡¯t look like someone who has no feelings for her at all. In a rtionship, things will end miserably if your partner is always the giver while you keep being passive. You should know your true feelings. If you really like her, you should win her back. If not, then give her your blessings. Adjusting his luxurious wristwatch, Kieran said without hesitation, ¡°She¡¯s engaged now. There¡¯s no need for me to meddle in her life. From now on, we will go our separate ways and live our own lives.¡± ¡°Does that mean you truly do have feelings for her?¡± Treyton pressed. After pondering for a while, Kieran gave a short response in a cold tone, ¡°No.¡± Then, he turned around and left. Treyton hurriedly chased after him. ¡°No? I don¡¯t believe you! Keep pretending. You were hesitant! Kieran, others might not know you well, but certainly not me. If you keep being a blockhead, you will lose a precious wife to someone else soon!¡± Even then, Kieran¡¯s lips remained sealed. He wore an icy look, maintaining his cold attitude. Treyton was worried about him from the bottom of his heart. ¡°Kieran, you have to act fast if you want to win her back. You won¡¯t stand a chance if you keep being like this. I hope you don¡¯t end up in misery by then!¡± Meanwhile, Cedrick shooed the chattering crowd in the ward away. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Silence finally returned to the room. Cedrick blew on the oatmeal and fed Gwendolyn each spoonful patiently. His deep dark gaze made him look like something was weighing on his mind. After being together for a long time, Gwendolyn could sense something was bothering him with just one nce. ¡°Cedrick, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Before he could say anything to brush her off, Gwendolyn quickly added, ¡°Don¡¯t forget how you suffered for keeping a secret from me back then. I will teach you a good lesson after I finish my postpartum confinement if you dare lie to me again!¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. Her threat was working. Cedrick pondered briefly before saying honestly, ¡°Gwenny, do you still remember when I contracted the S404 RNA virus?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Lowering his gaze, he continued, ¡°Now that the babies are born, I n to take them to theb for a health check when I have the time. You should also do it after you are discharged.¡± The matter was very important as it concerned their family¡¯s future lives. However, Gwendolyn frowned sternly, concern written all over her face. ¡°The babies are still young. It¡¯s pitiful to see them getting tests. I can¡¯t bear to watch that.¡± ¡°Gwenny, it¡¯s best to do it soon. If there are any problems, we can ask Joshua to prepare and start the treatment earlier.¡± Gwendolyn certainly couldn¡¯t bear to see her children being poked and prodded at such a young age. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer. The babies are still young and weak and shouldn¡¯t go through something like that. They should be fine if we pay more attention to their condition and check on them frequently.¡± Cedrick nodded and offered her a spoonful of the nutritional oatmeal. ¡°I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Turning sideways, Gwendolyn refused to eat any more. Thus, he had no choice but to put it in his mouth and slowly swallow it. Staring at him for a while, Gwendolyn then asked while frowning deeply, ¡°Ceddy, if I didn¡¯t ask you earlier, you were thinking of ways to take the babies to theb secretly, weren¡¯t you?¡± His hand holding the bowl of oatmeal suddenly quivered before he hurriedly looked up and said with a smile, ¡°No way. Of course, I wanted to discuss it with you. The children don¡¯t only belong to me. I shouldn¡¯t make decisions on your behalf.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn let him off. He heaved a sigh of relief. That was close. If I had said the wrong thing, I bet I¡¯d have gotten an earful again. Gwendolyn noticed every little change in his expression and suppressed herughter. Her gaze darkened inadvertently before she kept a straight face to hide her emotion. After staying at the hospital for a few days, Gwendolyn was finally discharged and about to head home to start her postpartum confinement. Cedrick helped her put on some thick cotton socks, a fur coat, and a white cap made of fox fur before taking her home. As Gwendolyn had to be in confinement, there were many things Cedrick had to do. Aside from helping Gwendolyn handle the documents from Harris Group asionally and with his own various tasks at Jenson Group, he had to take care of his two children and prepare Gwendolyn¡¯s daily nutritional meals. Doing all of those by himself made him look like a superhuman. However, as he hadn¡¯t gotten any sleep for the past few days, he looked haggard. The sight of him broke Gwendolyn¡¯s heart. After discussing with him, she decided to hire a reliable nanny to care for the children and help Cedrick share some of his burdens. Nico surveyed some nanny service agencies for consecutive days and finally selected a young woman from the best among them. She was taken to see Gwendolyn in her room so that thetter could interview her. Leaning against the headboard, Gwendolyn had Zendaya in her arms as she raised her head to look at the nanny. She¡¯s so young. Look at her slender limbs! But I heard she¡¯s the best nanny at the agency. The young woman had an ordinary appearance, though half her face was covered in bandages. However, her eyes looked gorgeous and clear. When they locked gazes, Gwendolyn somehow felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. This is weird. For some reason, she didn¡¯t like the young woman, and it was not because she was judging thetter from her looks either. Looking at the prospective nanny nonchntly, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°What is your name, and what happened to your face?¡± Chapter 430 Chapter 430 When Gwendolyn asked about her face, the young woman cupped her bandaged cheek. ¡°Hello, Ms. Harris. My name is Gina Worrell. Two days ago, I fell down the stairs and injured my left cheek. But don¡¯t you worry, Ms. Harris. I promise it won¡¯t affect my working hours. Besides, I heal fast.¡± The moment she spoke, a hoarse voice that was unpleasant to hear and ear-piercing sounded. Holding Zendaya in her arms, Gwendolyn gently patted the baby and quickly retracted her gaze. ¡°You¡¯re not suitable for the job. Please leave.¡± Nico tried to take Gina away. However, Gina refused to budge and instead asked bitterly, ¡°Ms. Harris, you refuse to hire me even before assessing my job qualifications. Is it because of my face? It turns out you judge people by their looks too, Ms. Harris.¡± Slightly furrowing her brows, Gwendolyn looked up and met Gina¡¯s eyes again. Noticing Gwendolyn¡¯s anger, Nico hurriedly dragged Gina away. ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯ve never seen a job candidate as rude as you. How could you use her of judging you by your looks when she didn¡¯t give you the job? Are you guilt-tripping her now?¡± Nico¡¯s forceful motions caused Gina to take two steps toward the door. At longst, Gwendolyn, whoy in bed, spoke. ¡°There are four reasons why I refuse to hire you. One, your voice is so unpleasant to hear and would easily scare the babies. Two, from the way you look at me, you don¡¯t seem humble. Three, there is no affection in that sharp gaze of yours. Lastly, and the most important point, is that there¡¯s something about you that just grates on me. I don¡¯t like you, so I don¡¯t have to assess your qualifications.¡± Her tone was calm and blunt as if she was talking about the weather. Nico then chimed in, ¡°Did you hear that? Are you satisfied yet? Now, hurry up and leave.¡± Gina had no choice but to turn and leave. When she reached the door, she suddenly looked back and asked with a smirk, ¡°Ms. Harris, are you sure you can be at ease?¡± Before Nico could yell at her, she went downstairs. Nico stood frozen to his spot, stunned for a second, before hurriedly apologizing to Gwendolyn, ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯m sorry. I promise I will be more careful when looking for a nanny from now on. I won¡¯t bring any weirdos here again.¡± Gwendolyn nodded with a hum and continued coaxing Zendaya, who was in her arms. What Gina said before she left suddenly reyed in Gwendolyn¡¯s mind non-stop. Thatst look in Gina¡¯s eyes earlier¡­ Something suddenly dawned on her and made her look at Nico sternly. ¡°Hurry up and go after her! Bring her back at all costs!¡± ¡°All right, Gwendolyn.¡± Nico put on a solemn expression, turned around, and dashed out of the room. An uneasy feeling suddenly rose in Gwendolyn¡¯s heart. She quickly called Cedrick, who was working diligently in his study. ¡°Yes, Darling?¡± ¡°Where is Benny?¡± After picking up the call, Cedrick nced at the baby sound asleep in his arms. ¡°He¡¯s here with me. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Nothing. Get back to what you¡¯re doing.¡± After she hung up, she gazed out the window. I hope I was overthinking. Fifteen minutester, Nico returned. ¡°Gwendolyn, I couldn¡¯t find her. She was so fast and disappeared the moment she exited the house. I checked some of the surveince footage but didn¡¯t see her anywhere. I bet she used the blind spots to escape.¡± The atmosphere in the room turned cold. Gwendolyn contemted for a moment. She even knew where the blind spots were. Did she already know, or was it simply a coincidence? ¡°Which nanny service agency did you go to? Check her performance reports and make sure you look carefully. We must find her. I must question her myself.¡± ¡°Sure. Don¡¯t worry, Gwendolyn.¡± The babies slept in the middle of the big bed at night while Gwendolyn and Cedrick were on each side, separated from each other. From time to time, Cedrick would pat the babies and raise his head to nce at Gwendolyn lying on the other side of the bed. She was staring at Zendaya absent-mindedly, seemingly lost in thoughts. ¡°Gwenny?¡± he called out to her gently. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He suddenly felt slightly aggrieved. Not only did his two babies force him and Gwendolyn to sleep apart, but they also hogged most of her attention and affection. ¡°Gwenny, what are you thinking?¡± Stretching his long arm across the two babies in the middle, who were like a barrier, he carefully poked Gwendolyn¡¯s arm. It wasn¡¯t until then that Gwendolyn returned to her senses and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Furrowing his brows, Cedrick uttered in a pitiful and soft voice, ¡°I was about to ask you that.¡± ¡°Ceddy, I can¡¯t help but think there¡¯s something strange about the nanny who Nico brought over today.¡± She lowered her gaze as she pondered with a solemn expression. ¡°What happened?¡± The serious topic had Cedrick¡¯s expression turning grim. Gwendolyn exined everything that happened earlier today to Cedrick, not missing out on any detail. After listening to her story, Cedrick said solemnly, ¡°So you suspect the girl earlier could be Evelyn?¡± ¡°I just feel she looks familiar. Besides, she said something strange before she left, but after thinking it over carefully, she doesn¡¯t seem like Evelyn in many aspects.¡± Patting her shoulder, Cedrickforted her with a soft voice, ¡°Stop thinking about it then. Nico will find her. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± She nodded. After a while, his hand was still on her shoulder. Not only that, he was gently pinching her flesh as he pleased. Gwendolyn turned around to look at him with a confused expression. Smiling with his dark eyes and ncing at her expectantly, he urged softly, ¡°Darling, it has been days since Ist cuddled you to sleep. Can you please let me hug you tonight?¡± ¡°What about the babies? Where will they sleep? What if they fall off the bed when we are cuddling at night?¡± Cedrick was speechless. Those kids are so annoying! Suppressing his inner rage, he muttered softly, ¡°We should hurry up and get a nanny so I can be free!¡± Gwendolyn giggled. ¡°Ceddy, it¡¯s time to change their diapers.¡± The next day, Nico started investigating Gina¡¯s identity while William looked for another nanny. After yesterday¡¯s incident, Gwendolyn added special conditions. The nanny had to be someone at least middle-aged, experienced in babysitting, and have an honest and humble appearance. That afternoon, it was not Nico or William who stepped into Harrick Vi; it was an executive of Harris Group¡ªJackson Jard. He was someone who cared much about thepany. During many conferences, he was always the first to agree with Gwendolyn¡¯s decision. Thus, Gwendolyn had a good impression of him. When Jackson entered the bedroom, Gwendolyn was holding Zendaya in her arms while leaning against the headboard. Whenever Zendaya was in her arms, the baby didn¡¯t cry or whine and was obedient and quiet. Jackson, who stood far from her at the door, shed a faint smile and eximed, ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Harris! You sure are blessed to give birth to twins.¡± After exchanging formalities, Gwendolyn got straight to the point. ¡°Thank you, Jackson. What made you come all the way here today?¡± Jackson didn¡¯t beat around the bush and told her the purpose of his visit right away. ¡°It¡¯s about the right of inheritance of Harris Group. May I know what you have in mind regarding this, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn replied, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°When Mr. Marcus was still alive, he said the inheritance would be passed down to girls in the family. You gave birth to twins. Aren¡¯t you going to make the necessary arrangements for your daughter?¡± Gwendolyn understood what he meant. ¡°Are you here to ask me to decide on a future sessor upfront? Zendy is still so young. Isn¡¯t it too soon to hand her the right of inheritance of Harris Group?¡± A smile hung on Jackson¡¯s face. ¡°Ms. Harris, I am asking you to do this now because you will have to register their names in the household registry soon. If you have thought about letting your daughter inherit Harris Group, then she can¡¯t be a Jenson.¡± Chapter 431 Chapter 431 ¡°You want Zendy to take the Harris family name?¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows slightly. Zendaya Harris? I guess we can make that happen. However, this matter could be a bitplicated. In the past, when Cedrick transferred the Jenson Group¡¯s shares to her, she had made a promise at the ancestral hall to divide the shares equally among the children. If she were to change Zendaya¡¯s family name to Harris, she would likely cause another uproar among the Jensons. ¡°I¡¯ll have to discuss this with Cedrick again,¡± she said. Jackson nodded and smiled in response. ¡°Sure. I¡¯m only suggesting this on behalf of Harris Group. The final decision is up to you. ¡± ¡°All right. I won¡¯t see you off since I¡¯m still in confinement,¡± she said. ¡°You take care. ¡± After Jackson left, Gwendolyn lowered her head to look at Zendaya, who was in her arMs. Zendaya had just woken up and was gazing at Gwendolyn with narrowed eyes. Her diaper had be thick, indicating that Zendaya had wet it. Gwendolyn looked up and shouted downstairs, ¡°Ceddy,e and change Zendy¡¯s diaper!¡± In the meantime, Cedrick was in a video conference on the second floor. Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. His video and audio were connected to the conference hall, with eight loudspeakers broadcasting. Cedrick had ced Benedict on hisp, and the desk coincidentally blocked the view. He would asionally coax the baby with gentle pats. The study was exceptionally quiet as Cedrick focused on the meeting report. Suddenly, Gwendolyn¡¯s shout from upstairs startled everyone. All eyes in the conference room looked up and turned toward the elegant man, their faces filled with disbelief. Our CEO changes diapers? Is he a full-time stay-at-home dad now? It was hard for them to imagine someone as aloof as Cedrick being involved in changing a baby¡¯s diaper. Faced with the astonished expressions of everyone in the video, Cedrick cleared his throat lightly. ¡°The meeting is adjourned for ten minutes. ¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the video feed from Cedrick¡¯s side was cut off. He immediately stood up, holding Benedict in his arms, and quickly went upstairs, pushing open the bedroom door. Upon seeing Gwendolyn, he softlyined, ¡°Darling, you should have called me on the phone. I was in the middle of a video conference. ¡± ¡°Oh, my bad. I thought it would be easier to shout instead of calling. I¡¯ll be more mindful next time,¡± she said. Cedrick kept mum and exchanged babies with her. He then took Zendaya to the washroom, turned on the warm light, and skillfully changed the diaper while cleaning the baby¡¯s bottom. Upon recalling Jackson¡¯s visit earlier, Gwendolyn spoke to him through the partially open bathroom door. ¡°Ceddy, the Harris family inheritance is passed down through the females, so Jackson hopes Zendy could take my family name. What do you think?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Zendaya Harris¡­¡± Cedrick muttered. ¡°You decide. A child taking after their mother¡¯s family name is not a big deal. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Gwendolyn hesitated. ¡°I promised before to divide the Jenson Group shares I hold equally between the two children. If Zendaya takes the Harris surname and at the same time holds Jenson Group shares, the Jenson family may not agree to this arrangement. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. ¡± While Cedrick was preupied with his physical tasks, his mind was also contemting the matter at hand. ¡°If you want fairness, you can transfer all the Jenson Group shares to Benny and allocate an equal amount of the shares from Harris Group to Zendy. ¡± After Cedrick finished speaking, there was silence in the bedroom for a while. Cedrick, with a suspicious expression, cautiously peered over at the bed. ¡°Gwenny, are you reluctant to give up the Harris family shares?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Shares are insignificantpared to the safety of our children. I only agreed to that arrangement to rescue you from the Jenson family¡¯s ancestral hall. If we decide to distribute the shares now, it¡¯ll snowball into a serious matter. Our shares in Jenson Group and Harris Group are thergest holdings, and giving them to the children would be as if we¡¯re officially dering them as heirs. This could attract ill intentions and potentially put them at risk. Ceddy, I got into a lot of trouble because of my identity as the designated heir of the family. I don¡¯t want Zendy and Benny to go through the same hardships in the future. ¡± Cedrick understood her feelings. After changing Zendaya¡¯s diaper and cing her on the bed, he walked over and gave Gwendolyn a hug. ¡°What other n do you have in mind?¡± Leaning her head on his shoulder, Gwendolyn looked at the two babies beside her with a somber expression. ¡°Zendy can take my family name, but I want to return the Jenson Group shares I hold to you. ¡± She felt it would not be beneficial for the children to possess such a substantial amount of shares at such a young age. The rapid increase in their worth could attract unwanted attention and envy, and that will put them in a precarious situation. Cedrick cupped her face and kissed her lips. ¡°You decide. ¡± As he kissed her, she remained still, not giving him any response. Cedrick ended the kiss with a puzzled look and gazed at her. ¡°Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn hesitated for a moment before asking him a serious question. ¡°Did you wash your hands?¡± That question rendered Cedrick speechless. I finished washing Zendy¡¯s bottom! Of course, I did! ¡°You¡¯re getting tired of me so soon?¡± His dark eyes stared at her with a hint of resentment. Gwendolyn suppressed augh and held his face with both hands. ¡°I was just teasing you. ¡± After she spoke, she leaned forward and deepened the kiss from earlier. Overwhelmed by the kiss, Cedrick felt his whole body go weak. He leaned into her embrace and rested his head on her belly. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re way too alluring¡­¡± Just one kiss and Cedrick was already feeling ovee with desire. When will I be able to enjoy more intimate moments with my Gwenny? Gwendolyn could guess what he was thinking. She gently caressed his chin and grinned while pressing her lips into a thin line. Allowing him to indulge for a few more minutes, she suddenly remembered the matter at hand. ¡°Weren¡¯t you in the middle of a video meeting? Are you done with it?¡± Cedrick snapped back to reality in an instant. ¡°Oh, the meeting!¡± He almost forgot about it. After picking Benedict up, he immediately returned downstairs. While staring at his back, Gwendolyn shook her head resignedly. As evening approached, Nico came to the house, bringing news about Gina. ¡°Gwendolyn, we have thoroughly investigated Gina. She¡¯s indeed the real Gina. There¡¯s nothing wrong with her. ¡± The crease on Gwendolyn¡¯s forehead deepened. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying she is the genuine Gina? And all her background and experiences are authentic?¡± Nico nodded in confirmation. However, the doubts in Gwendolyn¡¯s mind still lingered. If there¡¯s no connection between us, why would she say that to me? Nico continued, ¡°I have already found her. She confessed that someone had contacted her prior to her arrival, offering her money to act in that way. She was also instructed to make those remarks. ¡± ¡°Who contacted her?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze turned stern. Nico shook his head. ¡°Someone orchestrated it through the dark web. After investigating the ount, I discovered it was registered under a pseudonym, and its location cannot be traced. ¡± Gwendolyn could not help but feel there was a simrity here with Joaquin¡¯s nude photo case. It¡¯s the dark web again. Why would someone go to such lengths just to convey that message to me? Is it a form of protest against me? And could the mastermind behind this be Evelyn, who disappeared eight months ago after jumping into the river? After pondering for a moment, Gwendolyn gave a serious instruction to Nico. ¡°Send more men to keep an eye on Gina and watch for any suspicious behavior. Also, arrange for more bodyguards to be stationed at Harrick Vi. They should rotate shifts to ensure there is always someone on guard. ¡± Chapter 432 Chapter 432 Because of the matter with Gina, both Gwendolyn and Cedrick were particrly careful in recruiting a nanny, going as far as screening the candidates¡¯ family background and experience. In the end, they decided on a kindly middle-aged woman known as Zoey Yarde, who preferred to be addressed as Mdm. Yarde. Ever since they hired Zoey as a nanny, Cedrick was finally liberated from his duties, enjoying a far more peaceful andfortable life. The days of peace andfort flew past. In the blink of an eye, it was the twins¡¯ wee baby party. Gwendolyn¡¯s postpartum recovery had also gone well, and she was back on her feet. There was a horde of guests during the party. They all surrounded the twins and praised them to the skies, beyond fond of them. Gwendolyn ordered Cedrick and Zoey to keep a close eye on the twins, asserting that the babies must always be within a meter of their line of sight. As newborns were fragile, the guests were merely allowed to look without touching, much less cradling them. Meanwhile, she went to the door to wee the guests. Shortly after, a handsomely-dressed Treyton arrived with a sizeable gift in hand. Noticing that he was alone, Gwendolyn asked in curiosity, ¡°Why did youe alone today without waiting for Jennifer?¡± A hint of embarrassment showed on Treyton¡¯s face. ¡°She¡¯s pretty busy with work recently. I suspect someone said something to her, for I can¡¯t shake off the feeling that she¡¯s deliberately distancing herself from me these days.¡± ¡°Did you anger her?¡± ¡°No.¡± Treyton pondered for a moment before adding, ¡°It¡¯s nothing unusual for couples to have a few quarrels asionally, no? She never acted like this in the past, but she¡¯s been exceedingly cold toward metely.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you feel her out when I¡¯m free, okay?¡± Gwendolyn proposed. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll handle my own matters.¡± Patting her brother on the shoulder, Gwendolyn urged solemnly, ¡°How could you take offense with a woman when you¡¯re a man, Treyton? It¡¯s best to quarrel less in the future. Give way to her as much as possible. Too many conflicts will hurt the rtionship.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Treyton bobbed his head, listening to her lecture obediently. Recalling Kieran¡¯s message, he continued somberly, ¡°Oh yes, Kieran happened to fly over to Faike last night, so he probably won¡¯t be able to make it today. He asked me to give you a mary token, promising to buy the twins a gift when he returns to Salinsburgh.¡± Fly over to Faike? With nosiness written all over her face, Gwendolyn intentionally teased, ¡°Why did he go to Faike when he doesn¡¯t have any important assets there?¡± Treyton eyed her in gratification. ¡°To pursue my future sister-inw, of course! But it¡¯ll probably be a challenge this time. He acted high and mighty for more than half a year, only now snapping back to his senses when she¡¯s gotten engaged. He¡¯ll likely be put through the wringer.¡± Bursting intoughter, Gwendolyn scoffed unceremoniously, ¡°Serves him right! He deserves it for always acting aloof and wearing a poker face. There must be a woman to tame him!¡± Sharing her sentiments, Treyton nodded in agreement. As they were talking, Sienna arrived. She was alone. Seeing that, Treyton casually inquired, ¡°Why are you alone, Sienna?¡± Sienna remained smiling, but an indistinct trace of worry creased her brows. ¡°It rained heavily a few days ago, and Asher fell ill. Not only did he run a high fever, but he damaged his knees from kneeling throughout the night previously. Now, they hurt every time it rains or the season changes. Besides, he knows that Gwen won¡¯t be happy to see him, so he decided not to intrude.¡± The smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face gradually faded. She lowered her head and said nothing. Treyton scrutinized her expression carefully. Upon ascertaining that she showed no aversion, he ventured, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s still reading Heagurn Sutra, Sienna?¡± In response, Sienna gave a dip of her head. ¡°It¡¯s as though he has gone mad. He punishes himself like crazy by reading that scripture,e hell or high water, even when he was running a fever.¡± She then sighed soundlessly. Her eyes inadvertently became red-rimmed, but she forced a smile when she remembered that it was the twins¡¯ wee baby party that day. At her words, a sense of strangeness pervaded Gwendolyn. Nheless, she merelymented, ¡°I¡¯ve dissuaded him from doing so more than once, but he¡¯s too stubborn. Unless he sees the light himself, no one will be able to change his mind.¡± The atmosphere between the three of them abruptly turned grave. Silence reigned for a few seconds before Gwendolyn smilingly steered the conversation back to its initial trajectory. ¡°Quick,e in, Treyton, Sienna. Benny and Zendy are with Cedrick. Go and have a look at them.¡± Treyton and Sienna nodded. Soon, the atmosphere turned harmonious again, and they strolled into the house with chatter andughter. Gwendolyn remained outside to wee the guests. It was only when the wee baby party was about to begin did Jennifer arrive in a mad dash. Gwendolyn quickly ushered her into the house. At the table, the seat beside Treyton was left vacant on purpose. However, Jennifer merely nced at it. She chose not to go over, sitting at an unupied ce nearby instead. Clocking the unusual atmosphere between the couple, Gwendolyn surreptitiously threw Treyton a look. Unfortunately, she could not interfere since a fight between lovers had to be resolved by the couple in question. During the party, Jennifer sipped at her red wine elegantly. Ever since she won the Best Actress Award, she obtained a wide range of resources. Her aura had also been honed on set time and again, rendering her increasingly gracious. Right then, she had already blended into the circles of the wealthy elite, although the Newton family had yet to acknowledge her publicly. The table she shared was full, so Treyton could only stare at her from afar. The instant he saw that men were seated on both sides of her, his emotions became a jumbled mess. He remained morose throughout the entire meal. It was a dance segment after the meal, and Jennifer found a quiet ce to talk to Gwendolyn alone. Holding a ss of fruit juice, Gwendolyn lightly clinked it against hers before asking tentatively, ¡°What¡¯s going on with you and Treyton? I noticed that you didn¡¯t say a single word to him throughout the party today. Are you two fighting?¡± Jennifer, who had her head tilted back as she enjoyed the wine, abruptly stilled. After a mere half-a-second lull, she downed the entire ss of wine that was filled to the brim. A crimson shade stained her adorable face, but the look in her eyes remained clear and firm. ¡°I want to break up with him, Gwendolyn.¡± Her remark happened to be overheard by Treyton, who was furtively heading over. His face went as ck as thunder, and he promptly saw red. Resolutely striding forward, he grabbed Jennifer¡¯s hand and dragged her away. Surprisingly, he even apologized to Gwendolyn. ¡°We¡¯ve got some private matters to discuss, so please excuse us, Kiddo. I¡¯ll be back to visit my niece and nephew in a few days.¡± With that said, he stalked off while towing Jennifer, giving her no opportunity to protest. ¡°What are you doing, Treyton? Let go of me!¡± It was as though Treyton did not hear her. His gaze was chilly, and he said nary a word. ¡°Let go! You¡¯re hurting me!¡± Not only was Jennifer¡¯s voice loud, but she also wore a pitiful expression. In a sh, many guests swung their gazes over. Loosening his hold on her, Treyton pivoted. He bent at the waist and slung her over his shoulder before marching out of the Jenson residence. ¡°Put me down! Please be reasonable, Treyton!¡± s, Treyton ignored her. Restraining her kicking legs, he warned lowly, ¡°Behave if you don¡¯t want to attract more attention and ruin this wee baby party.¡± At once, Jennifer¡¯s hands that had been thumping him on the back stilled. Carrying her to the car, he instructed Elisha to drive home without dy. In the car, he forcibly twisted her body to face him. With eyes zing scarlet, he demanded, ¡°Were you serious when you told Kiddo that you wanted to break up with me?¡± Jennifer was stunned for a moment before she gave a firm bob of her head. ¡°Yes.¡± Treyton¡¯s eyes turned crimson, and his grip on her shoulders increased in strength. Fury zed in his eyes. ¡°Repeat that again, Jennifer!¡± Irritated as well, Jennifer raised her voice several decibels. ¡°I said I want to break up with you, Treyton! Do you understand that? It means I want to part ways with you forever!¡± Such rage consumed Treyton that his blood boiled. Clutching at her arm, he yanked her down and pinned her on hisp before locking an arm around her slender waist. In the next moment, he lifted his right hand and brought it down on her butt. Smack! A crisp smack split the air. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. The stinging pain short-circuited Jennifer¡¯s brain. Meanwhile, Elisha, who was driving, was wholly floored. Chapter 433 Chapter 433 When Treyton noticed that Elisha was constantly stealing nces at the rearview mirror, he cut a sharp gaze over. Immediately intimidated, Elisha lowered the partition between the front and back seats. Whoa! I didn¡¯t see anything, nothing at all! As soon as the partition was fully lowered, Treyton swung his hand and struck Jennifer twice more with the same force. Ouch, it hurts so badly! Tears welled in Jennifer¡¯s eyes. Her upper body was pinned against hisp with his hand restraining her waist, locking her in ce. She was stumped for two seconds before she btedly snapped back to her senses. Instantly, the tears in her eyes threatened to overflow, and devastation mmed into her. ¡°How could you hit me, Treyton?¡± Sighing, Treyton exined solemnly, ¡°I was merely disciplining my disobedient girlfriend. It was grounded on the basis of my love for you. Since you were being unreasonable, I could only punish you in such a manner to wake you up.¡± ¡°But what right do you have to punish me?¡± Jennifer bit her lower lip hard, her eyes stinging hotly. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Catching the hint of tears in her voice, Treyton ced his palm on her butt and gently massaged it. ¡°I¡¯ve got the right to do so because you wanted to break up with me. But I haven¡¯t agreed to it, and you¡¯re still staying at my ce now, not to mention we¡¯re still a couple.¡± Jennifer promptly wilted. She was both mortified and irked that he was touching her in such a manner, but he had a tight grip on her waist, and she could not move an inch. At her silence, Treyton asked softly while massaging her butt, ¡°What exactly is wrong with you, Jennifer? What have I done wrong recently that you want to break up with me?¡± Jennifer¡¯s eyes turned increasingly redder, an aggrieved look gradually filling them. ¡°Several times, you urged me to return to the Newton residence because only then can you marry me without being mocked and ridiculed by anyone as I¡¯ll have a matching family background. Treyton, do you love me or my identity as the daughter of the Newton family?¡± Hearing that, Treyton was slightly taken aback. Oh, it¡¯s because of this. Indeed, I¡¯ve persuaded her about the matter multiple times previously, hoping that she¡¯d return to the fold of the Newton family earlier and change her family name to reflect it. Because of that, we¡¯ve even argued several times. Perhaps the way I spoke wasn¡¯t quite right. He somberly mulled it over before questioning in a low voice, ¡°Why do you hate the Newton family so much when they¡¯re your family, Jennifer?¡± At that, Jennifer gave a derisive bark ofughter. ¡°Is a cage without love a home? And are siblings without any affection for each other family? In my eyes, they can¡¯t evenpare to Gwendolyn.¡± Some people are more than family despite being unrted by blood. But some are even more indifferent than strangers, albeit having the same blood flowing through our veins. She then asserted, ¡°I don¡¯t want to return to the Newton residence in the least. I¡¯m not happy there.¡± Jasmine has never weed me. Instead, she fervently hopes that I¡¯ll never return to the family. Craig appears to be the brother who cares most about me, but he¡¯s also the most hard-hearted and apathetic among the lot of them. He treats his family no differently from his subordinates, perpetually barking orders. Worse still, there¡¯s the secret at the top floor of the Newton residence. To me, it¡¯s a sinister and terrifying ce capable of swallowing me whole. Corralling her thoughts, she demanded, ¡°So, we can never get married so long as I don¡¯t return to the Newton residence and announce my identity as part of the family?¡± In response, Treyton heaved a sigh. ¡°Jennifer, I don¡¯t care whether you¡¯re an orphan or the daughter of the Newton family. As long as you want to get married, I¡¯m ready anytime. I don¡¯t care even if I be theughingstock of the elite circles.¡± Helping her up, he lifted her butt and ced her astride hisp. He cradled her face with both hands, rifying seriously, ¡°I kept persuading you to return to the Newton residence because I hoped you could get out of yourfort zone and try epting your family. I know that while you appear indifferent, the matter of the Newton family is actually never far from your mind. You¡¯ve never experienced familial love since young, and you were ted upon learning that you were part of the Newton family. But after you spent a few days at the Newton residence, you found it different from the family you had envisioned. You felt that you couldn¡¯t fit into the family, so you have been avoiding them. In truth, Jennifer, I hope you can face all this head-on and be truly happy. I¡¯ll also help you talk to them.¡± Lowering her eyes, Jennifer plunged into silent contemtion, saying nothing for a long time. Treyton cradled the back of her head lightly, seemingly in preparation for kissing her infort. Regretfully, she pushed him away. ¡°You¡¯re still mad at me, Jennifer?¡± Nodding, Jennifer scowled at him with displeasure etched across her features. ¡°I¡¯ll consider the matter about the Newton family, but don¡¯t mention it again before I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Treyton shed her an indulgent smile. He again cradled the back of her head to kiss her. Once more, Jennifer shoved him away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you still displeased? Haven¡¯t I agreed to your terms already?¡± Treyton was bewildered, looking all innocent. Snorting, Jennifer huffed with an icy expression on her face, ¡°How dare you spank me? You went overboard. The mere thought of it spikes my temper.¡± Treyton¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment. Having no other choice, he could only coax gently, ¡°What do you want, then? You can punish me as you see fit.¡± For once, a wicked gleam glinted in Jennifer¡¯s limpid and innocent eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll only be appeased if you let me hit you back!¡± Treyton immediately went silent. After wavering for two seconds, he finally relented. Grasping her hand, he brought it to his face. ¡°I hit you thrice earlier, but you can hit me ten times if you want to.¡± Unexpectedly, Jennifer declined haughtily, ¡°I¡¯ve got no interest in your face. I want to hit you where you hit me earlier!¡± This time, words eluded Treyton. In the front seat, Elisha¡¯s eyes went wide in shock. Good Lord! What kind of scandalous conversation am I having a front-row seat to? Would Mr. Treyton really consent to a girl spanking him? For some inexplicable reason, a sense of anticipation flooded him. As he drove, he perked his ears up for movement from the back seat. In truth, Treyton was strongly against the idea. Moreover, someone was eavesdropping on them. As a man who had great power and authority in the entertainment industry, he could not possibly allow himself to be spanked by his own girlfriend. He cajoled softly, ¡°Be good, Darling. When we get hometer, you can punish me differently, okay? I¡¯ll let you have your way with me.¡± In consideration of Elisha in the front seat, Jennifer decided to remain silent and ignore him. In no time, the vehicle came to a stop in front of the vi. Swinging open the car door, Treyton carried her into the house. He decided to use the most direct method to cate her. What am I to do when my girlfriend is throwing a tantrum? Bed her. If that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll do it twice! Late at night, the wee baby party at Harrick Vi started drawing to an end. The twins were already sound asleep. Zoey had taken them into the nursery while Cedrick was ordered to keep thempany. As Gwendolyn entertained the guests, she seized the opportunity to secure a multinational coboration for Harris Group. The coboration was a huge undertaking that spanned a long time. It was a rmendation by a close acquaintance, but subsequent negotiations were still needed to seal the deal. Smiling gracefully, she negotiated with the other party. Cedrick walked out of the vi and took her hand from the back. Interlocking his fingers with hers, he entertained the remaining guests with her. Gwendolyn did notment on that. Thanks to his presence, the negotiation with the big shots in the business industry went even smoother. It was only when they had all left that she abruptly remembered a problem. ¡°Why did youe out? Didn¡¯t I tell you to keep an eye on the twins with Mdm. Yarde?¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°They¡¯re already asleep. Mdm. Yarde can handle them alone since they¡¯re not fussing. I felt bad that you were entertaining the guests and hosting the party alone.¡± In the past, Gwendolyn would have been somewhat happy to hear such sweet talk. This time, however, her expression was beyond forbidding. ¡°Never mind. You stay out here and entertain the guests instead, then. I¡¯ll go in and keep an eye on the twins.¡± Verily, she could not rest easy without watching over them personally. Chapter 434 Chapter 434 She turned around and headed deeper into the vi, leaving Cedrick to handle the guests. When Cedrick saw the censure in her eyes, his heart clenched slightly. He temporarily left the party to Nico to follow her into the vi. Two exquisite and adorable cribs were set up in the nursery on the third floor. One was pink, while the other was blue. Gwendolyn closed the distance and saw the pink crib was empty. Zendaya was nowhere in sight, and Zoey was gone too. Only Benedict was lying quietly in the blue crib. Gwendolyn gasped in shock as a sense of uneasiness rose within her. She whirled around to go in search but ran into Cedrick, who was behind her. Fisting his cor, she interrogated, ¡°Cedrick, where¡¯s Zendy?¡± Cedrick was stunned by her question. ¡°She had just fallen asleep when I left the room earlier. Calm down, Gwenny.¡± The rim of her eyes turned red as her grip on his cor tightened. With a fierce re, she threatened, ¡°Cedrick Jenson, you¡¯re as good as dead if my baby went missing because of you!¡± All the blood drained from his face as the gravity of the situation dawned upon him. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. It had been so long since she looked at me with such a fierce expression. While he was rooted in ce from the shock, Gwendolyn released his cor and raced out of the room. He hurriedly followed after her. She searched every bedroom on the same floor, the bathroom, and the kitchen but still couldn¡¯t find Zoey. The anxiety within her grew as she rushed out of the vi and ran into Elven and Ezra. She then ordered them to keep an eye on the front and back doors and to momentarily stop anyone from leaving the house. Her heart and body shook like a leaf from the horrible thoughts shing across her mind. At that moment, she had the urge to run upstage and snatch the microphone to threaten those with bad intentions. Cedrick immediately grabbed her wrist, stopping her from acting on her whims. ¡°Calm down, Gwenny! Don¡¯t announce it to the audience yet, and let me handle this.¡± She tore her wrist away from his grip, disbelief written across her face. ¡°Cedrick, someone might have tried to kidnap her amid the chaos! Kidnapping cases like this aremon among the rich. Zendy¡¯s also your baby, so how can you be so calm when she¡¯s missing?¡± The corners of his eyes were red from worry, but he still stepped in front of her to stop her. ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯re too sensitive about this that you¡¯re running around the whole ce like a headless chicken. Acting mindlessly with a panicked mindset isn¡¯t going to get you any closer to finding her. Trust me on this and leave it to me!¡± Gwendolyn stayed silent, and Cedrick took it as her acquiescence. First, he had Nico continue entertaining the guests in the garden as though nothing had happened. Then, he asked Elven if any guests had been acting suspiciously when leaving the party. When the answer was negative, he had Neville and Swain discreetly search the grounds of Harrick Vi for the missing baby. Ten minutester, Neville found Zoey holding Zendaya in a quiet corner of the vi¡¯s backyard. Gwendolyn and Cedrick instantly rushed over there. Seeing the anxious expressions on their faces, Zoey was confused. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Jenson, did something happen? Why do you look so worried?¡± Gwendolyn stepped up to interrogate Zoey, but Cedrick stopped her. With a calm tone, he asked, ¡°Why did you bring the baby to the backyard, Mdm. Yarde?¡± Zoey exined, ¡°Zendy woke up the minute you left the room, Mr. Jenson. She was babbling and making a lot of noise. I was worried she would wake Benny up, so I brought her here to the quiet backyard to look at the colorful lights, hoping to coax her to sleep. She¡¯d just fallen asleep, and I was about to carry her back to the nursery when you all arrived.¡± Relief washed over Gwendolyn at Zoey¡¯s exnation. She inched closer to study the baby in the nanny¡¯s arms and confirmed it was indeed a soundly asleep Zendaya by the silver bracelet on the baby¡¯s wrist. The essory was a gift from her with Zendaya¡¯s name carved on it. At that moment, Gwendolyn¡¯s unease finally ebbed. Cedrick smiled slightly and consoled her, ¡°I told you. You were just too nervous.¡± Knowing a multitude of guests would attend the baby shower that night, Cedrick and Gwendolyn had assigned security guards to stand guard at the front and back doors. They had done everything they could¡¯ve done to enhance security. However, Gwendolyn was still paranoid about the babies¡¯ safety and insisted on having two guards watching the exits. She could only feel at ease when the security detail doubled. Cedrick figured she was acting way too protective of the babies. She shot a cold re at him for his light tone and went up to Zoey, reaching for Zendaya without saying anything to him. After that, she personally brought the baby back to the nursery. Dread washed over Cedrick as he watched her leave. Judging from the cold shoulder, I think Gwenny is mad. I hope she won¡¯t chase me out of the room and make me sleep elsewhere tonight. It was the middle of the night, and the bustling baby shower had finallye to an end. The entire Harrick Vi was silent, giving others an image as if everything was peaceful. However, the yellowish glow of the bedsidemp on the third-floor bedroom was still illuminating the room. Cedrick knelt on Lego pieces by the bed with sweat dotting his forehead. His body was swaying slightly from enduring the pain. He had indeed been half right. Gwendolyn was mad, though thankfully, she didn¡¯t chase him out of the bedroom. Instead, her punishment for him was to kneel on Lego pieces. The thing was she didn¡¯t tell him when he could get up. After being together for so long, the usual punishments were nothing more than jokes and pranks. They were never that serious. It was the first time Cedrick suffered kneeling on Lego pieces for over two hours. The pain in his knees had spread to his bones. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was icy as she leaned against the headboard. Clenching his teeth, he reached to hold the bed with one of his hands, hoping to alleviate some of the pain. ¡°Darling,¡± he called out softly. However, she ignored him. His restless hand secretly snuck underneath the covers and poked her warm sole. ¡°Look at me, Darling,¡± he pleaded in a pitiful tone. Only then did she set down her phone and gave him her attention. With a stern look, she asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to watch the babies? Why did you leave?¡± The grievance in Cedrick grew. ¡°That¡¯s because I felt bad for you. You¡¯ve only just ended your confinement, and immediately you dived into making the arrangements for this party. We¡¯re a married couple. I just wanted to share your burden and help you. Mdm. Yarde was watching the babies anyway, and we¡¯d already set up every preventive measure we could think of, so I was confident nothing would happen to them.¡± ¡°Nothing would happen?¡± Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°Nothing happened this time, but what about the next? How many times can we risk their safety, Cedrick? The person I trusted the most in the entire Harrick Vi was you. I trusted you to look after them, yet you ran from your responsibilities and nearly caused a disaster. Do you still think your actions were right?¡± Disappointment filled her. She even thought he didn¡¯t care about the babies. He wasn¡¯t even nervous when Zendy was missing and could still give usible theories. The more she thought about it, the more her anger grew. Reaching for the ruler in the drawer, she sat cross-legged on the bed and demanded, ¡°Stretch out your palm.¡± Cedrick fell silent. Gwenny stopped punishing me ever since Mdm. Yarde came into our employment. From the look on her face, it seems like I won¡¯t be getting off lightly tonight. He didn¡¯t move, still holding onto a sliver of hope that she would let him off. ¡°It¡¯s alreadyte, Gwenny. The sound of the ruler hitting flesh will echo loudly across the vi. Others might hear it.¡± Naturally, he was referring to Zoey, who had fallen asleep in the nursery. Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t fazed. ¡°So what if she hears it? You did something wrong today, so you¡¯re being punished. Who else dares to criticize me?¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless by herment. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to waste her breath arguing with him any longer and needed to teach him a lesson. ¡°Hurry up and give me your hand!¡± It had been too long since he wasst punished, so for once, he resisted her for the second time. Keeping his hands by his side, he looked into her eyes and said, ¡°Can you give me another chance to exin, Darling? Please?¡± Chapter 435 Chapter 435 By then, Gwendolyn was a little annoyed. She tapped on the edge of the bed. ¡°You can exin the whole thing again after I¡¯m done punishing you. ¡± Cedrick was stumped. Feeling stifled, he pursed his lips in silence and looked at her resentfully. She wore an indifferent expression and used the ruler to rap the edge of the bed again, reminding him, ¡°Have you forgotten the fifty points on the Precepts for Men Kieran gave you previously?¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. He struggled internally for some time before ultimately spreading his fingers and thrusting his palm forward. Gwendolyn shook her head in dissatisfaction. ¡°Both hands. ¡± ¡°Gwenny, I still have to sign agreements at work tomorrow. ¡± If his right hand was injured, he wouldn¡¯t be able to write well. She remained expressionless and unfazed, seemingly reminding him with her silence that there was no room for negotiations. Stung by her gaze, he stretched out his right hand in a fit of pique, offering both palMs. p! p! p! She struck his palms with the ruler forcefully thrice. His palms instantly swelled up and reddened. Cedrick scrunched up his face in agony. His fingertips trembled slightly as he held his breath, feeling deeply hurt inside. Gwendolyn looked down at him with reddened eyes and asked, ¡°You haven¡¯t shown our babies much care since they were born. Cedrick, do you no longer like me, or are you not fond of the children I¡¯ve endured much pain to deliver for you?¡± He lifted his gaze abruptly, shocked by her thoughts. ¡°How could you think that? It¡¯s because I¡¯ve seen with my own eyes how much you¡¯ve suffered for our babies over the past nine months that I sympathize with you andply with everything you say. ¡± He bit his lower lip. Difort churned within his chest as heined in an undertone, ¡°Gwenny, I feel like ever since we had our babies, you¡¯ve been treating me with less care and affection than before. I¡¯m not as important to you as our babies. You¡¯re ming and punishing me because of them this time. You don¡¯t even care about my feelings at all. ¡± Gwendolyn stared at him in astonishment and burst outughing in anger. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Why are you jealous of the babies? They¡¯re still so young. Two one-month-old babies who have no ability to care for themselves require our utmost love and care. What do you take your own children for? Your love rivals?¡± Cedrick lowered his eyes and fell silent. Gwendolyn hit his hand three more times with the ruler with the same amount of force as she was determined to teach him a lesson. Hissing in pain, Cedrick furrowed his brows. That was the first time he had to kneel on Lego pieces while having his palms beaten. His knees hurt, his hands were in pain, and his heart ached all the more terribly. He had nowhere to vent his grievances, causing him to feel ufortable all over. ¡°Gwenny, to me, nothing is more important than you because you are my priority, but it seems like the babies have already surpassed my position in your heart. You can say I¡¯m unreasonable or making a fuss, and I¡¯ll admit it. ¡± Still, admitting it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll change my mind. She sighed and softened her tone. ¡°Ceddy, you don¡¯t understand the hardship of a mother carrying a child for nine months. If I didn¡¯t love you or care about you, I wouldn¡¯t be willing to have children for you. I love and worry about our two babies because they are our children. There are many disputes and dramas in wealthy families. Countless young children from prominent households are kidnapped and or taken away by force by their families¡¯ business rivals. That¡¯s why I¡¯m genuinely scared. Moreover, after that incident involving Gina, I had to be vignt. I¡¯m not doing this because I no longer cherish you. ¡± Cedrick sighed as well and asked softly, ¡°Gwenny, you always feel like someone is going to steal our babies. Do you think you may be suffering from postpartum anxiety?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face darkened once more. She raised the ruler in her hand and smacked him thrice again, but this time, she hit only his left palm. Then, she answered his question with all seriousness, ¡°Maybe a little. However, you know there¡¯s such a thing as postpartum anxiety, and yet you still provoked me, so I have all the more reason to punish you!¡± As Gwendolyn finished her sentence, a loud thud sounded as she brought down the ruler once more, even harder than before. Cedrick instinctively withdrew his left arm a little before stretching it out again to its initial position. Tears brimmed in his eyes as he exined, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been spoiling and pampering you for these reasons, I wouldn¡¯t have obediently stretched out my hand and allowed you to hit me. Gwenny, I¡¯d be satisfied if you could share even a tiny bit of the care and concern you have for the babies with me. ¡± Gwendolyn sighed again. She put down the ruler and delicately held his palm, examining his injury. His right hand had swollen up and turned purplish-red. She couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart ache at that sight. Gwendolyn tenderly massaged his palm while blowing cool air on it. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He could still pull himself together while enduring the beating earlier, but now that she started treating him gently, Cedrick¡¯s eyes slowly welled up, and a lump formed in his throat. ¡°You haven¡¯t hit me this hard for a long time. What do you think?¡± A wave of regret washed over Gwendolyn. She hurriedly helped him up and took the bottle of anti-inmmatory cream on the bedside table. Then, she personally applied the cream to his knees and palMs. While applying the medication, she earnestly said, ¡°Ceddy, I hope we¡¯ll be on the same page regarding matters rted to the babies in the future. Also, you need to stop overthinking and getting jealous of them, okay?¡± Instead of answering, he asked in return, ¡°Since I had to endure such harsh punishment tonight, can I expect aforting reward from you, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn, who was applying the medicated cream on his palm, paused. Then, she raised her arm and gave him a p. She scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m discussing a serious matter with you. Is your mind filled with lewd thoughts only? Can¡¯t we have a proper conversation? This concerns the upkeeping of a harmonious rtionship between us after having babies in our lives. ¡± He leaned forward and ced a kiss on her cheek, smirking. ¡°My mind is filled with you. ¡± Gwendolyn was stumped. Why do I feel like he¡¯s mocking me? Sensing her silence, he rubbed his cheek against hers. ¡°Gwenny, since you were pregnant and had to undergo postpartum confinement after childbirth, I haven¡¯t been intimate with you for a very long time. If I continue to suppress my desire, my body functions may go haywire. Can you really bear to see that happen?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond. He¡¯s right. I can¡¯t bear to see that happen. Still, she pushed his handsome face away solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible if you want to receivepensation, but you¡¯re not allowed to be jealous of the babies anymore. Also, you need to listen to me as much as possible on matters concerning them. We have to be on the same wavelength when dealing with our children. Can you promise me that?¡± ¡°Okay. ¡± Faced with the temptation of sexual gratification, Cedrick agreed without hesitation. The moment Gwendolyn finished applying the medicine, he pounced on her like a predator pouncing on its prey. Unexpectedly, Gwendolyn piped up, ¡°I agreed to be intimate with you, but I didn¡¯t say it was today. Let¡¯s see how you behave in the uing week. If you can live up to your promise, I shall satisfy you a week from now. ¡± Cedrick was crestfallen. I have to wait another week? The burning lust within him was instantly extinguished and entirely snuffed out. He nestled into her arms, resting his head against her t stomach, and grumbled, ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯re so heartless¡­¡± Gwendolyn chuckled and caressed his exquisite face. She made up an excuse and said, ¡°The doctor said that even though I¡¯ve finished my postpartum confinement, the wounds from natural delivery might notpletely heal yet, so I¡¯m not fit for vigorous activities yet. Therefore, you¡¯ll have to bear with it, Ceddy. ¡± Fine. Cedrick deted. Since it was for the sake of Gwendolyn¡¯s health and well-being, he could only forcefully put a lid on his carnal passion. He pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly to sleep, considering that a bare constion to soothe his restless heart. Prev Chapter 436 Chapter 436 At the same time, an enticing scene unfolded in the bedroom of Treyton¡¯s vi. The white sheer curtains were tightly drawn together. They were adorned with a soft circle of yellow fairy lights, which added a touch of romantic warmth to them. Treytony on top of Jennifer with a besotted look on his face. His breathing was slightly uneven as he gently caressed her tender cheek with his fingertips. In his alluring deep voice, he asked softly, ¡°Do you still want to break up with me?¡± Jennifer shook her head obediently. ¡°No. I can¡¯t bear to.¡± Satisfied with her answer, Treyton kissed her lips again. Pushing him away, she grumbled, ¡°Not now. I¡¯m tired.¡± Treyton rolled over and rested his back against the headboard. With the sheets covering half of his bare body, his toned abdominal muscles that glistened with sweat looked all the more seductive. He pulled Jennifer into his arms and said seriously, ¡°Jennifer, I hope you can confront your inner fears and try to visit the Newton residence a few times. I admit I have ulterior motives. If your identity as the Newton family¡¯s daughter is publicly announced, we can get married officially. Everyone will bless us, and there won¡¯t be any doubts or questions. Even if it¡¯s for our future, I hope you can give it a try. But rest assured that I will never give up on you no matter what. I will face all your fears with you.¡± Jennifer remained silent for a long while. After calming down and thinking about it, she found that she was able to understand Treyton¡¯s intentions. She decided to give it a try. ¡°Okay. I promise I will call Craig and go back to the Newton residence once I have some free time in the next few days.¡± Satisfied with the answer, Treyton kissed her forehead. Jennifer sighed. Every time the Newton family was brought up, she would be reminded of the incident when she was attacked on the top floor. ¡°Trey, do you remember thest time I went back to the Newton residence for a few days to help Gwendolyn find proof that Charles is an illegitimate child?¡± Treyton nodded. ¡°Of course. You didn¡¯t want to go back there after that visit.¡± Jennifer sat up from his embrace and looked at him seriously. ¡°On the night I obtained the photos, something terrifying happened.¡± Treyton frowned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s been so long. Why didn¡¯t you mention it?¡± ¡°Because Craig told me that it was my imagination at that time, and I couldn¡¯t remember it clearly either. Besides, I didn¡¯t tell anyone about it because it is a private matter of the Newton family.¡± ¡°What happened that night?¡± Jennifer lowered her head and fell into deep thought. Then, she began to recount the incident in detail. ¡°Craig set a rule for the top floor of the Newton residence, stating that it will be locked at night and no one is allowed to go up there. However, the top floor is where my father¡¯s study and my mother¡¯s bedroom are located. ¡°That night, I climbed up the wall from the window downstairs and entered my father¡¯s study. I managed to steal the photos, but someone attacked me with an ashtray from behind and even choked me. The person really wanted to kill me. ¡°The study was dimly lit that night, and I could vaguely see the person¡¯s eyes through the moonlight. They were bloodshot and filled with murderous intent like a terrifying demon from hell. And there was a horrifying voice roaring in my ear, saying, ¡®Why are you alive? You¡¯re the symbol of humiliation. You should die¡­¡±¡® Treyton listened attentively, feeling incredulous. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this happened¡­ Other than the person¡¯s eyes, do you remember the person¡¯s appearance? Was it a man or a woman?¡± Jennifer closed her eyes and tried to recall. After a while, she shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t remember.¡± Treyton pulled her into his embrace again as he gently reassured her, ¡°If this incident is not just a figment of your imagination but a real experience, then this is something very serious. Someone is imprisoned on the top floor of the Newton residence, and we don¡¯t know how long it has been.¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve always had suspicions about whether it is my mother whom I have never met before. Have you ever met her, Trey?¡± ¡°Yes, I have. But Mrs. Newton doesn¡¯t seem to go out often, and she never attends social events with other prominentdies. She has only been seen at the Newton family¡¯s charity g.¡± Treyton paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°However, I have seen her quite a few times, and she appeared to be in good condition. She was gentle, elegant, and had an excellent temperament. She didn¡¯t seem like the crazy person you just described.¡± Jennifer¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°That¡¯s strange. The butler told me that only my mother lived on the top floor. If it wasn¡¯t her, then who could it be?¡± The more she thought about it, the more she felt that there was somethingplex behind this incident. Furthermore, the person who had choked herst time had cursed her to die. She had the suspicion that this matter was rted to her true identity. ¡°I will find an opportunity to go back to the Newton residence the day after. Maybe this matter is crucial,¡± she said. Treyton agreed with her decision, but he was worried about her safety because she had just been attacked on herst visit. ¡°I will secretly arrange for two skilled bodyguards to hide near the Newton residence. If anything goes wrong, you shout out loud.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With the serious matters discussed, Treyton picked her up and headed toward the bathroom to take a shower together. While it was a peaceful night in Salinsburgh, it was raining heavily in Faike. It was already pouring the moment Kieran got off the ne. After booking a hotel room, he spent the entire afternoon trying to contact Inez. Unfortunately, determined to sever her love for him, Inez had already blocked all his contacts. Kieran could only lie in the hotel room aimlessly, wondering how toe up with a way to ask Inez out. He couldn¡¯t sleep all night. In the end, he couldn¡¯t help but send a message to Treyton to seek advice from him. Treyton immediately replied after he finished taking a shower. His message read: You¡¯re such a blockhead. You¡¯re hopeless! If you can¡¯t reach her, can¡¯t you take the initiative to go find her? Kieran was baffled. He replied: How? Are you suggesting that I should wait for her outside the Mossey residence? Treyton: ¡­¡­ When Kieran saw the message, his expression became cold. Treyton: Isn¡¯t it raining in Faike now? Find an excuse. Tell them you lost your phone and money, and have nowhere to stay. Ask the Mosseys to take you in! y the victim to get in, get it? Treyton: You saved Inez before, and you¡¯re a Harris from Salinsburgh. The Mosseys won¡¯t turn you away! Just find an opportunity to spend time with her every day, apologize, and slowly win back her heart. Understand? Kieran pondered for a moment and came to the conclusion that it was a good idea. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Immediately after, Treyton sent him a link and another message. Treyton: Stop reading so many medical textbooks during your free time. You should search for love guides online more. Your low emotional intelligence needs some work! Frowning, Kieran muttered a few curses under his breath. He was reaching his limit with a certain arrogant someone. Kieran: Do you need a beating? After sending that message, he never received a reply from Treyton. It seemed that someone had backed down decisively. After turning off his phone, Kieran booked the hotel room for a month and stored all his bank cards, money, and clothes in the room. Then, without taking an umbre, he walked out into the rain resolutely. If he had to y the victim, he would go all the way. He sprinted in the rain alone in the middle of the night. After running for a while, he decided to take a cab because he was getting tired. However, he realized with a jolt that he didn¡¯t bring any money or his phone with him. How was he supposed to take a cab now? Chapter 437 Chapter 437 Kieran found a closed shop with shelter by the roadside and took shelter from the heavy rain. He roughly estimated the distance to the Mossey residence and the distance back to the hotel and realized that the time required for both routes was almost the same. He decided to go all out and dashed into the rain. After running for an hour in the rain, he still hadn¡¯t reached the Mossey residence. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. He had checked the navigation twice before heading out, but he ended up relying on his memory because the sky was too dark. In the end, he got lost, not knowing which street he had taken the wrong turn on. It was three or four in the morning, and there wasn¡¯t a single car or person on the street. He could neither go back to the hotel nor find the Mossey residence. He stood alone in the rain helplessly. Ironically, he was actually miserable now because his n to y the victim didn¡¯t turn out as he wanted. Salinsburgh was as peaceful as any other day the next morning. The sun was shining brightly in the sky. After finishing breakfast, Jennifer called Craig nervously. The moment the call connected, Craig spoke before she could say anything. ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± Jennifer took a deep breath. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m willing to move back to the Newton residence.¡± Craig chuckled lightly, seemingly in a good mood. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯vee to your senses. Send me your address. I¡¯ll have the drivere pick you up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. No need to trouble yourself. Treyton will drive me there.¡± Craig¡¯s voice turned cold on the other end of the phone. ¡°You are a member of the Newton family. It¡¯s only natural to take the Newton family¡¯s car, not Treyton¡¯s.¡± Jennifer was puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Treyton is my boyfriend now. It¡¯s only right for him to drive me there.¡± Craig fell silent for a moment. ¡°Listen to me, Jennifer. Pack up and wait obediently. I¡¯ll send the driver to pick you up.¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t respond. She was in a daze when Treyton took her phone from her side. ¡°No one will dare to say anything if I drive Jennifer there, Mr. Craig. Although she¡¯s a celebrity, no one will dare to report us even if we¡¯re caught on camera given my influence in the entertainment industry.¡± His deep voice sounded colder than before. ¡°Or do you look down on me, Mr. Craig? Do you look down on the Harris family?¡± Craig snorted. ¡°Of course not.¡± In the end, Craig gave in and allowed Treyton to send Jennifer to the Newton residence. When they hung up the phone, both Jennifer¡¯s and Treyton¡¯s expressions turned grim. ¡°Craig has strong control tendencies, and he¡¯s a person who bullies the weak and fears the strong. Try not to let him lead you by the nose when you¡¯re with him,¡± Treyton said. ¡°But don¡¯t be too confrontational either. After all, he¡¯s the one in control of the Newton family. Gwendolyn and I have no say in matters concerning the Newton family.¡± Just as he finished speaking, he realized something from the pensive expression on Jennifer¡¯s face. ¡°Um¡­ Is it inappropriate for me to badmouth your brother to your face?¡± Jennifer was amused by his slow reaction. ¡°Regardless of whether it¡¯s appropriate or not, you¡¯ve already said it. You can¡¯t take back your words, can you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Treyton felt a little awkward, but he quickly regained hisposure. ¡°But I know you won¡¯t mind.¡± Jennifer pursed her lips and smiled sweetly. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t mind.¡± After packing a few belongings, they left the vi together, got into a car, and headed to the Newton residence. The closer they got to the Newton residence, the more uneasy Treyton felt. He gripped Jennifer¡¯s hand. ¡°Jennifer, you mustn¡¯t be too hasty even if you want to investigate the incident on the top floor. Craig will definitely be on guard since you¡¯ve been there once. You should obey his rules for a few days first until he let down his guard a little before making any ns.¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what to do.¡± Still concerned, Treyton reminded, ¡°If anything happens, just shout for help. The people that I arrange to stand guard outside the Newton residence will rush in to find you no matter what. I wille right away too.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They continued to chat casually until they arrived at the Newton residence. Craig had cleared his schedule and returned early. He was already waiting at the entrance of the Newton residence. It was still a friendly meeting between Craig and Treyton. They smiled at each other simultaneously and nodded politely to each other. Then, Jennifer was led inside by Craig. As they walked through the garden of the residence, Craig said, ¡°Take some time to familiarize yourself with everything here. If there are no issues, I will arrange for your homing feast as soon as possible and publicly announce your identity as the daughter of the Newton family.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jennifer lowered her gaze and walked alongside him. Craig continued, ¡°There will be a business g in two days. I will take you with me and introduce you to some influential business figures.¡± Jennifer was perplexed. ¡°I¡¯m a celebrity. I won¡¯t be working at Newton Group in the future. Why do I have to meet your business partners?¡± Craig simply replied, ¡°It¡¯s always good to make connections.¡± Jennifer wanted to raise her doubts further, but Craig changed the subject. ¡°Since you¡¯re back, you can stay in the room I arranged for youst time. I have the servants clean it regrly, so you don¡¯t have to worry about it being dirty. But I hope you won¡¯t engage in any dangerous activities like climbing beds and walls as you didst time.¡± At the mention of the incident, Craig¡¯s expression became cold. ¡°Although I didn¡¯t punish youst time, I won¡¯t be lenient on you if you ever disobey the rules again. Even if Treyton pleads on your behalf, you won¡¯t be able to get away with it. Do you understand?¡± Jennifer nodded softly. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Good. Go to your room and unpack. Get some rest before lunch. We¡¯ll eat in the dining hallter.¡± Craig put his hands in the pockets of his military pants, his face void of expression. Jennifer had just picked up her luggage and walked a few steps forward when she turned around and asked, ¡°I haven¡¯t met my mother all this time. When will I see her?¡± Craig smiled. ¡°You will see her during lunch at noon.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Treyton had told Jennifer that her mother was gentle, elegant, and had an excellent temperament, which made her all the more curious. She walked into the vi cheerfully. Craig stared after her slender figure with a gloomy expression as he stood on the pebble path leading to the garden. The rain was pouring heavily at night in Faike. After being drenched for several hours, Kieran finally found a ce that could barely shelter him. He huddled up there and endured another two hours of cold. It wasn¡¯t until dawn that he finally found a passerby and asked for directions to the Mossey residence. The passersby were stunned when they saw him soaked from head to toe. Not only was his handsome appearance unaffected in the slightest, but he also looked more attractive when drenched. Kieran attracted everyone¡¯s attention along the way as a celebrity would. He was extremely annoyed because he didn¡¯t expect the trip to Faike to turn out to be one of the worst experiences in his life. As he thought about it unhappily, he finally arrived at the entrance of the Mossey residence after half an hour. The bodyguard was taken aback when he saw Kieran. ¡°Who are you, Sir?¡± Kieran raised his head and looked at the bodyguard coldly. ¡°I¡¯m Kieran from the Harris family in Salinsburgh. I¡¯m here to see Mr. Mossey.¡± ¡°Mr. Kieran?¡± As the bodyguard examined him from head to toe, he was stunned by his disheveled yet dignified demeanor. He immediately went in to inform the Mosseys. The Mosseys were having a meal in the dining hall when Kieran suddenly arrived. Jerome and Madelyn put down their cutlery and went out to greet him personally. Inez didn¡¯t bother to go out. Having chased after Kieran for more than a year, she realized that she couldn¡¯t move his heart, and she was tired of doing that already. As she continued eating, she caught sight of her parents weing a tall figure in through the corner of her eyes. When she looked up, she froze. Chapter 438 Chapter 438 For as long as Inez knew Kieran, he always appeared dignified, cold, and prideful whenever she saw him. She was startled when she saw him wet for the first time. He looked as though he had just finished bathing. ¡°Why are you¡­¡± Kieran¡¯s pale lips curved upward slightly. His smile resembled the melting of the winter snow and the warm sun after a storm. Inez¡¯s heart skipped a beat as her eyes slowly reddened. Did he just¡­ smile at me? That was what I¡¯d wanted for so long. It¡¯s a shame I don¡¯t care about it now. She lowered her head and stifled the bitterness swelling in her heart. Kieran¡¯s smile gradually faded as his usual icy look settled in his eyes. Seeing that the atmosphere was turning a little awkward, Madelyn exined with a grin, ¡°Mr. Kieran had a small ident on his way to Faike for a business trip. He lost his phone and wallet. Also, he didn¡¯t find shelterst night, which is why he¡¯s drenched. He¡¯s hoping to stay at the Mossey residence for a few days.¡± ¡°I see,¡± replied Inez coldly. I didn¡¯t expect him to experience so many troubles yesterday. It must¡¯ve been tough. However, he didn¡¯te here because of me. He deserves it. Slightly stunned, she lifted her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have a say in whether Mr. Kieran can stay at our home. It¡¯s your and Dad¡¯s decision. Why are you telling me this?¡± She put down her fork and returned to her room upstairs. ¡°Inez has always been like that. Please don¡¯t take offense at her behavior.¡± Jerome spoke to resolve the awkward situation. ¡°I bet you didn¡¯t restst night. Feel free to wind down in the guest room and take a warm shower. I¡¯ll ask someone to buy a few sets of clothes for you based on your measurements. It¡¯ll be sent to youter.¡± Kieran lowered his head and stared at his drenched body. I should take a shower. ¡°Thank you.¡± Madelyn and Jerome grinned and asked a housekeeper to lead Kieran to the guest room. Soon, the sound of flowing water could be heard from the small bathroom in the guest room. Madelyn and Jerome exchanged a nce before doing their own things. Ten minutester, Madelyn knocked on Inez¡¯s room door, holding a few sets of clothes she had picked for Kieran in her hand. Inez was putting on makeup because she would head out for lunchter. ¡°Come in.¡± Upon entering the room, Madelyn ced the clothes on her daughter¡¯s dressing table. ¡°Mr. Kieran¡¯s bathing right now. You can apply your makeupter. Deliver him these clothes first.¡± Puzzled, Inez nced at her mother. ¡°There are many housekeepers in the building. Why should I be the one to do it? Are you doing this intentionally, Mom?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Instead of exining anything, Madelyn pushed the clothes toward her daughter. ¡°Just listen to me and go. Mr. Kieran should be done bathing by now.¡± Inez widened her eyes in shock. ¡°You want me to deliver his clothes to the bathroom? What if I identally see him naked?¡± Madelyn chortled. ¡°In that case, you can just cancel your engagement with the Campbell family and take responsibility for Mr. Kieran. Wait, no, I mean, let Mr. Kieran take responsibility for you.¡± Her words rendered Inez speechless for a moment. Inez stared at her mother in depression. ¡°Who do you think I am, Mom? What will Kieran think about me? Trying to get his attention this way will only make him hate me more!¡± ¡°It won¡¯t. You¡¯re just delivering his clothes to him. Just do it,¡± urged Madelyn. ¡°Quickly. The housekeepers in the house are all busy. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s free.¡± Inez was at a loss for words. Instead of waiting for her daughter¡¯s reply, Madelyn left the room. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Looking at herself through the mirror, Inez ruffled her hair broodingly. Why did Kieran¡¯s business trip bring him to Faike? Just as I¡¯ve decided to cut my ties with him, he decided to show up in front of me! How annoying! Three sighs escaped her lips consecutively before she resignedly picked up the clothes on the table and delivered it to the guest room. The door was left ajar, and there was no sound of water from within. asionally, she could hear drops of waternding on a surface, but that was about it. He has finished showering. Taking a deep breath, Inez knocked on the door and entered the room. ¡°My mom asked me to bring you clothes, Mr. Kieran.¡± Remember, I have to treat him as if we¡¯re strangers. She repeated that in her mind as she ced the clothes at the end of the bed. When she lifted her eyes, she met Kieran¡¯s cold ones. He had just stridden out of the bathroom and was drying his short hair with a towel. The lower half of his body was wrapped in another white towel. There was a refreshing and ascetic vibe to him. Inez¡¯s line of sight thennded on the upper half of his fair, naked, muscr, attractive body. After taking a few looks, she turned her head away and left. Swiftly, Kieran grabbed her wrist. ¡°Why are you the one sending me my clothes?¡± Inez¡¯s heart sank as she responded icily without turning her head back, ¡°It seems you weren¡¯t hoping to see me, Mr. Kieran. Fine by me. If my mother didn¡¯t force me to do this, I wouldn¡¯t havee either. I¡¯ll leave right away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± exined Kieran in his usual frigid and maic voice. Inez attempted to break free from his restraint, but he was far more powerful than her. As he pulled her back, she fell onto his body and touched his muscles. Both of them were suddenly rendered speechless as their ears turned red. The atmosphere turned a little awkward. After struggling for a long while, Kieran gathered his courage and uttered, ¡°Ms. Inez, I¡¯m actually¡ª¡± Before he couldplete his sentence, Inez shoved his hand away and sprinted out of the room while covering her face. Kieran watched her escape with slightly furrowed eyebrows. He thought about chasing after her, but he didn¡¯t in the end. After all, it would be too odd for him to run around in the Mossey residence with only a towel covering his body. He locked the door and changed into his clean clothes. When he reemerged from the room, he saw Inez descending the stairs with makeup on her face. Then, he watched her vanish from the entrance of the residence. He shifted his attention to the living room, specifically to Madelyn, who was eating fruit on the couch. ¡°Where is she going?¡± ¡°Considering how pretty she¡¯s dressed, a date, of course.¡± Madelyn grinned. Kieran frowned. ¡°With who?¡± Amused, Madelyn covered her mouth to hide her snicker. ¡°Who do you think? Her fianc¨¦ from the Campbell family, of course.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°I think¡­ she¡¯s having lunch at Ya Delight on Eastern Street,¡± answered Madelyn casually. Kieran¡¯s expression darkened as he rapidly descended the stairs and stood not far from Madelyn. ¡°Lend me some money, Mrs. Mossey.¡± Madelyn, who was just about to eat a cherry, was stunned. Recalling the fact that he had lost his wallet, she asked, ¡°How much do you want? I can lend you a few hundred thousand and even millions, but not more.¡± Kieran thought about it and replied, ¡°Twenty will do.¡± ¡°Twenty thousand?¡± Immediately, she picked up her handbag and tried to find a bank card with more or less that amount. ¡°No, just twenty. For the round-trip taxi fare.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Madelyn arched a brow at him. Chapter 439 Chapter 439 Madelyn had never thought the famous Kieran would ask to borrow only twenty from her. Although she found it odd, she still granted Kieran¡¯s request. After rummaging through her branded handbag, she couldn¡¯t find twenty. There were only bills of a hundred. She froze as the room went silent for a few seconds. An awkward smile surfaced on Madelyn¡¯s countenance as Kieran gazed at her. ¡°Please wait for a moment, Mr. Kieran.¡± Hastily, she left to meet with the butler and asked him for a twenty bill before handing it to Kieran. Kieran kept it in his pocket and said politely, ¡°Thank you.¡± Without dy, he left the residence and arrived at Ya Delight as soon as possible. However, when he did arrive, he stood at the entrance instead of stepping in. Inez is sharing a meal with her fianc¨¦ right now. With what identity should I meet her? How can I reasonably chase her fianc¨¦ away without making the situation awkward for everyone and then have a one-to-one conversation with her? After contemting the matter for a while, he thought himself unskilled in the affairs of love. Thus, he decided to ask Treyton for advice again. However, when he patted his empty pocket, he recalled not bringing his phone to make himself seem more pitiful. Great, now I can¡¯t even call for help. Guess I¡¯m on my own. Meanwhile, in Salinsburgh, the Newtons were enjoying lunch in the dining room at noon. The meal was particrly delicious because Craig had returned. Jennifer wasn¡¯t interested in the food. She kept staring at the door. Craig had promised that their mother would join them for lunch, and she was looking forward to that. Her excitement was so great that she gripped the hem of her dress and fidgeted with her fingers restlessly. Just as Craig was about to say something after noticing Jennifer¡¯s anxiety, an elegant woman appeared. Everyone turned their line of sight to the visitor. However, plenty of them lowered their heads after realizing who the woman was. Jennifer stood up excitedly and watched the woman amble in gracefully. The woman was Caylie Smith, Abraham¡¯s second wife. Abraham¡¯s first wife passed away soon after the family¡¯s eldest child was born due to an illness. After that, Abraham married Caylie. Over the years, she had conceived several children, including Craig, the second child, Lucas, the third, Elise, the fifth whom they had lost, and Jasmine, the seventh and the youngest. Although she had given birth to many children, her figure remained slender and graceful. Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Jennifer¡¯s eyes reddened as she gazed at Caylie. My eyes resemble her the most among my siblings. Unable to suppress her excitement, she stretched her hand toward Caylie as thetter approached the table. However, Caylie ignored her and stepped toward Craig, asking in a displeased voice, ¡°Why did you call me here? You¡¯re dying my visit to the church.¡± Craig shed a faint smile and said gently, ¡°Our long-lost sister has returned, Mom. She missed you.¡± ¡°Long-lost sister?¡± Caylie was slightly shocked. ¡°Who?¡± Jennifer stared at Caylie¡¯s elegant back, her face pale. Lucas, who was sitting across the dining table, lowered his head with a cold expression as if the matter had nothing to do with him. Jasmine, on the other hand, snorted silently and smiled gloatingly. Craig steadily lifted Caylie¡¯s hand, turned her around, and looked at Jennifer. ¡°She¡¯s Elise, Mom. Your daughter and the fifth child of the Newton family.¡± There wasn¡¯t any surprise or affection in Caylie¡¯s eyes as she gave Jennifer a distant look as though she was staring at a stranger. Jennifer felt a little ufortable while being gazed at by Caylie. She bit her lip and greeted timidly, ¡°Mother.¡± Immediately, Caylie smiled and nodded politely. ¡°Nice to meet you. Make yourself at home in the Newton residence and remember to listen to Craig.¡± Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when she heard Caylie saying, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± It wasn¡¯t until Craig shot a serious nce at her that she coughed twice and held back herughter. Craig changed the topic. ¡°Since everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s eat. The food¡¯s getting cold.¡± He helped Caylie to her seat before delivering a fork to her hand. His filial attitude was apparent. While epting the fork, she inadvertently revealed a bit of her red wrist. Jennifer was the only one observing Caylie in secret when everyone else was focused on eating. Suspicions bubbled in her mind as she stared at the red marks on Caylie¡¯s wrist. Meanwhile, Kieran was still standing before Ya Delight even though it was already lunchtime. Frustration dominated his heart as he thought about what to do. Why didn¡¯t I listen to Treyton and read more tips on love beforeing here? Also, I only have ten left. I¡¯ll feel awkward if I enter a high-ss restaurant with this little money. What should I do? In the end, he opted not to waste any more time and strolled into the building. After he mentioned his name to a waiter, thetter summoned the manager. Expeditiously, the manager descended from upstairs and weed Kieran respectfully. A cold, arrogant look was present on Kieran¡¯s countenance as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. I didn¡¯t expect Asher to be this restaurant¡¯srgest shareholder. He has so many businesses across the globe that even he probably doesn¡¯t know how manypanies in Faike are under his control. Not that I¡¯mining, though, since it¡¯s working in my favor right now. The manager grinned tteringly. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you have time to visit a small ce like Faike, Mr. Kieran. Do you have a guest you wish to entertain today? I¡¯ll arrange the best diamond-tier private room for you.¡± ¡°No thanks. I¡¯m here for someone. Which room is Mr. Campbell in?¡± ¡°Mr. Campbell?¡± The manager gave it some thought. ¡°There¡¯s only one Mr. Campbell here today. Are you Mr. Percy Campbell¡¯s friend?¡± Of course, Kieran didn¡¯t know or care what Inez¡¯s fianc¨¦¡¯s name was. ¡°The one engaged to the Mossey family¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°Ah, yes, that¡¯s the Mr. Campbell here. Please follow me, Mr. Kieran.¡± Inside a tinum-tier private room, Percy was pouring Inez a ss of wine. While he wasn¡¯t handsome, especially because of his small eyes, he wasn¡¯t ugly either. He wore a pair of sses and possessed a refined demeanor. Inez lowered her head instead of looking at him. After he finished pouring the wine, she said coldly, ¡°I drove here on my own, so I can¡¯t drink.¡± His expression shifted slightly, but he still delivered the winess to her. ¡°We finally had a date together, Inez. Drink a little with me, will you? I¡¯ll call for a recement driver for youter. Won¡¯t you drink with me as a reward for how nicely I poured you a ss of wine? Please, Inez,¡± pleaded Percy softly as he stared at her with anticipation. Unable to stand his gaze, Inezid her fork down and lifted the winess. After Percy clinked his ss with hers, he gazed at her intently, waiting for her to drink. Inez noticed the look in his eyes before knitting her eyebrows with suspicion. The instincts she honed after spending years in the business industry warned her to be wary. ¡°You keep asking me to drink. Did you put something into the wine?¡± Chapter 440 Chapter 440 Percy¡¯s expression froze, and he exined in a panic, ¡°No way! You and I are engaged. Why would I do something as unnecessary as that? Besides, the red wine¡¯s prepared by the restaurant.¡± Inez narrowed her eyes. ¡°It better be.¡± She twirled the ss and was about to drink it when the door to the private room suddenly opened. A warm,rge hand snatched her winess away. Perplexed, Inez raised her head and saw Kieran. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Kieran ced the winess below his nose and sniffed while ncing at Percy. Percy gulped and tried to act tough. ¡°Who are you? You¡¯ve barged into my private room! Please leave!¡± He stood up and tried to snatch the ss from Kieran. Kieran stepped back and coldly sshed the wine on Percy¡¯s face without saying a word. Percy ceased his movements. He pursed his lips as drops of red wine steamed down. Upon registering what he had just done, he immediately spat the wine out and wiped his lips clean. Inez rested her chin on one hand while holding back herughter, staring at the two men as though she had nothing to do with what was going on. Kieran was usuallyposed, but, at that moment, he was furious. He hurled the winess at the wall, smashing it into pieces. ¡°You¡¯re an animal! How dare you try to drug your fianc¨¦e!¡± Percy was dumbfounded for a few seconds. As he was shorter than Kieran, he had to lift his head to meet thetter¡¯s eyes. He wiped his sses clean and roared, ¡°Do you have any proof to support your usation? I can sue you for nder! Also, this is my territory! I¡¯m going to make you apologize to me and have the security guards throw you out!¡± After he put his sses back on, he called the manager on the phone. ¡°It¡¯s Percy! Someone¡¯s causing trouble in my private room! Please bring security guards over, or I¡¯ll file aint about you all!¡± Once he ended the call, he looked at Kieran arrogantly. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯re hot stuff just because you¡¯re handsome, punk. Since you¡¯re a friend of Inez, I¡¯ll request only an apology from you. I won¡¯t even ask you topensate for the smashed winess.¡± Inez, who was sitting silently at the side, covered her mouth to hold back herughter. I¡¯ve known Kieran for over a year, and I¡¯ve never seen anyone sessfully make him apologize. Casually, she tossed two peanuts into her mouth. Hmm, this goes well with watching a show. Kieran nced at her before hissing frigidly at Percy again, ¡°You have some nerve to act arrogantly even though you don¡¯t know who I am. When the manager arrives, you¡¯re the one getting kicked out.¡± Once again, Percy was stunned. Kieran was poised and possessed an intimidating, icy aura. He isn¡¯t a distinguished figure, is he? Slightly afraid, he turned to Inez, who was still eating peanuts. ¡°Who is he, Inez?¡± After contemting her answer briefly, she answered casually, ¡°A doctor.¡± ¡°Is he really just a doctor?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Percy arched a brow and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with him? Are you close to him?¡±Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Inez paused. Kieran also waited for her answer quietly. As the men gazed at her, Inez spat coldly, ¡°Not really. I met him a few times before, but that¡¯s about it.¡± When Kieran heard that, his heart immediately sank, and his chest throbbed with pain. Percy turned to Kieran and said arrogantly, ¡°So, you¡¯re just framing me on purpose, huh? I was going to let this slide because of Inez, but looks like I don¡¯t need to because you asked for it! A man like you deserves to spend a few days in jail!¡± Just as he ended his sentence, the manager hastily stepped into the private room with four security guards. Pointing at Kieran, Percy ordered, ¡°He¡¯s the one who barged into my room for no reason and broke a wine ss! He even used me of drugging the wine! Call the police right now and throw him out!¡± However, the manager ignored him and bowed to Kieran. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Mr. Kieran?¡± ¡°Mr. Kieran? From which family?¡± Percy asked somewhat timidly. ¡°Do you know another Mr. Kieran? He¡¯s the second son of the Harris family in Salinsburgh!¡± The manager red at Percy. ¡°You may not know about this, but the biggest shareholder of Ya Delight is Mr. Asher, Mr. Kieran¡¯s elder brother! How dare you try to chase Mr. Kieran away in the Harris family¡¯s territory!¡± Percy looked at Kieran and then at Inez, unable to utter another word due to shock. A few seconds of silence ensued before Kieran ordered, ¡°Throw him out. He drugged the wine, so I want him handed over to the police. And don¡¯t allow him to dine in this restaurant again.¡± ¡°Will do, Mr. Kieran!¡± the manager replied. It took a while before Percy realized he had offended an influential figure. ¡°Please forgive me, Mr. Kieran! I was wrong! I should¡¯ve recognized who you are! I didn¡¯t drug the wine! Please don¡¯t send me to jail and hold a grudge against Campbell Corporation!¡± he begged, approaching Kieran with tears. Frowning with disdain, Kieran kicked Percy away. ¡°Take him away now!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The security guards promptly covered Percy¡¯s mouth, muffling his crying voice. Then, all four of the guards dragged Percy out of the room. It wasn¡¯t until his obnoxious voice disappeared that the manager apologized to Kieran. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Kieran. I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Campbell to be someone like that. We¡¯ll better screen our customers next time before allowing them to dine in our restaurant.¡± Kieran nodded. ¡°Since the room¡¯s dirty and the food has been eaten, should I arrange a better private room for you and Ms. Inez?¡± the manager continued. Just as Kieran was about to speak, Inez went first. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m almost full.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take my leave now. If you need anything, call me.¡± With an ingratiating smile, the manager left the room expeditiously and shut the door tight. Following the manager¡¯s departure, silence returned to the confined space. Kieran sat next to Inez¡¯s left, a spot not taken by Percy earlier. As he watched her eat peanuts, he asked, ¡°Are you satisfied with a fianc¨¦ like Percy?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± answered Inez with a question. Kieran sat properly while staring at her face. ¡°You¡¯re dissatisfied with him. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have kept quiet and watched him get taken away.¡± With a touch of bitterness in her eyes, Inez scoffed, ¡°My dad wants me to marry someone who can lift Mossey Corporation to greater heights. I have no choice in the matter.¡± She picked up an empty winess and filled it with red wine. ¡°Everyone in Faike knows I left this ce in the past to pursue a man. Who else can I marry but Percy? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re going to marry me. Why do you care so much?¡± Dejectedly, she raised the ss and prepared to empty it. However, Kieran snatched it away again. Chapter 441 Chapter 441 Inez grew frustrated that her winess was snatched away for a second time. ¡°Give it back to me, Kieran! Who do you think you are to me? You have no right to control what I do!¡± Kieran dodged backward with the winess in his hand. His arm was longer than Inez¡¯s, so she couldn¡¯t reach the ss, which infuriated her. ¡°How can you be so unreasonable, Kieran! I pursued you for a year, but you never spared me a nce. I¡¯m tired now, so can you just let me go?¡± Her eyes, red like a rabbit¡¯s, were filled with aggrieved tears. ¡°Ms. Inez, no, Inez, I¡­¡± Kieran struggled to form a word. His ears and cheeks were red as he looked at her. ¡°What?¡± I can¡¯t believe confessing my love is more nerve-racking than the first time I operated on someone! Kieran took in a deep breath. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to tell me, fine! I¡¯ll leave.¡± Inez had run out of patience and was prepared to exit the room. Kieran grabbed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± He took another deep breath and emptied the winess in one go to build his courage. Because he drank it too fast, he became dizzy quickly, but it did help him grow bold enough to say, ¡°I like you, Inez.¡± Inez was stunned, unable to process the information immediately. Kieran continued, ¡°I was foolish in the past. I didn¡¯t understand my own heart. It wasn¡¯t until you left that I realized I couldn¡¯t forget about you. I will marry you, but we can go on dates first and discuss marriage at a more suitable time. What do you think?¡± Inez looked at him dazedly. Is he an imposter? Is someone disguising as him right now? I¡¯ve dreamed of this moment for countless nights in the past. I¡¯d wake up with a smile and sleep sorrowfully for numerous days. Now, as I listen to his deration of love for me, I feel calm. The excitement once swam in my heart had been drained by the innumerable disappointment I had experienced. It¡¯s amusing how Kieran¡¯s bringing up dating and marriage with me now. Secondster, the edges of her lips curved upward bitterly. ¡°Are you messing with me, Mr. Kieran?¡± A serious expression was set on Kieran¡¯s face. ¡°No. I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± Inez smiled mockingly. ¡°Is it because you¡¯re not used to my absence after I chased after you for a year?¡± Kieran nodded and admitted, ¡°You¡¯re right, but I should¡¯ve recognized my love for you earlier. My emotional quotient was too low.¡± His words did nothing tofort her. Instead, she felt even more insulted. ¡°When I liked you, you never looked at me seriously. Now that I¡¯ve decided to move on from you, you came here and told me you like me. Will you force me to leave after you get sick of me? Who do you think I am?¡± Inez¡¯s eyes reddened as she felt humiliated. ¡°My family may be iparable to yours in terms of money and influence, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can do whatever you want with me!¡± Her powerful reaction surprised Kieran. Did I really break her heart with my aloofness while she was pursuing me? ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Inez.¡± He wasn¡¯t adept at exining things. As he watched her weep angrily, he wasn¡¯t sure how tofort her. Panickily, he helped wipe her tears away. However, he identally exerted too much force and smudge her left eyeliner. He withdrew his hands nervously and stared helplessly at his handiwork. When Inez noticed his odd look, she realized something. She opened her handbag and pulled out a mirror. While her left eyeliner wasn¡¯t smudged that much, it did ruin her delicate makeup. That drove her fury to the extreme. ¡°Are you a troublemaker sent by the heavens to mess with me? Did I owe you money in my previous life? I was exhausted after pursuing you for a year, and now that I¡¯ve decided to abandon my goal, you¡¯vee to irritate me! What exactly do you want?¡± Kieran stared at his hands nkly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve never taken care of a woman before, so I¡¯ve no experience in that regard. Don¡¯t be mad. It¡¯s not as serious as you think.¡± Someone as aloof as him actually apologized to me? For a moment, she was touched. However, she quickly suppressed her positive emotions toward him. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think or do. Since I¡¯ve decided to sever my rtionship with you, I won¡¯t retract that decision easily.¡± Kieran gripped her hand, preventing her from leaving. ¡°Let me go! It hurts!¡± Upon hearing that, he released her. Inez promptly distanced herself from him and stated, ¡°I don¡¯t care if you have understood your feelings or if you¡¯re just ying with me. I have a fianc¨¦ now. Even if he¡¯s a sc*mbag, you still can¡¯t marry me! I hope you¡¯ll stay far away from me and don¡¯t disturb me again.¡± Upon finishing her sentence, she turned to the exit. Just as she grabbed the handle and prepared to leave, she heard Kieran breathing heavily behind her. That sounds weird¡­ Turning back, she saw him acting oddly and his face was flushed. Wait, is it possible that the drug wasn¡¯t in the ss but the entire bottle? Inez stepped toward Kieran to examine his condition and patted his cheek. ¡°Mr. Kieran? Wake up, Mr. Kieran! I¡¯ll call the manager.¡± When she tried to leave, her wrist was clutched by him again. As he was much stronger than her, he easily pulled her into his embrace and pinned her to a chair. Then, he leaned closer to her. ¡°Inez¡­¡± This is awful! I¡¯ve never suffered this humiliation before as an elite doctor! To think I consumed such a drug! I was so focused on Inez earlier that I didn¡¯t think to consider if the red wine was dangerous. As he gradually cked out, a naughty voice in his heart spurred him to lean on her. Inez pped his cheeks forcefully. ¡°Stay awake, Kieran!¡± Random thoughts leaped into Kieran¡¯s mind while his consciousness was fading. Her chilly skin feels so lovely to touch. I think it can counteract my boiling skin. Oh man, I really want to kiss her alluring lips. ¡°Stay awake! I¡¯ll call someone for help!¡± He couldn¡¯t hear a word she said as he watched her lips move. Although the drug was of low-quality, it was effective. Abruptly, he leaned toward her and kissed her lips. Initially, Inez was able to struggle against him. However, she was swiftly charmed by his refreshing and pleasant scent. Subconsciously, she indulged in the kiss. It wasn¡¯t until Kieran started unbuttoning her shirt that she snapped back to her senses. If I have sex with him today, my reputation as the daughter of the Mossey family will be ruined! She grabbed the unfinished bottle of wine on the table and smashed it on his shoulder. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The maroon wine flowed along Kieran¡¯s sleeve and tainted half of his shirt. However, there weren¡¯t any blood stains. Inez wasn¡¯t that cruel, after all. Kieran¡¯s urge was diminished by the unexpected paining from his shoulder. Secondster, he aimed his pained look at her. Chapter 442 Chapter 442 ¡°Inez¡­¡± he called out gently, his brows furrowed. It was Inez¡¯s first time seeing his pained expression, so she was taken aback for a moment. It took her some time to regain her senses before she closed her eyes. ¡°Kieran, I¡¯m a fianc¨¦e of the Campbell family. We aren¡¯t in a rtionship. If you do anything to me today, my reputation will be ruined.¡± Kieran immediately sobered up upon hearing this. ¡°Sorry for my impertinence.¡± He got up and sat on the chair next to her. The imprints of his teeth were visible on his lower lip, forming a bloody streak. He was trembling, and his face was flushed crimson. It was obvious he was having a hard time. The moment Kieran let go of Inez, she ran toward the door without looking back. Kieran looked at her retreating figure andughed bitterly to himself. If only I had realized my feelings sooner. It¡¯s only when I lose her that I feel the pain. He tried to endure it, but the warmth intensified, setting his skin aze with a searing heat that seemed to ignite his being. Just as he was on the brink of sumbing, the door was pushed open quickly. Inez had returned and brought a manager to help him. Kieran felt touched by Inez¡¯s return. Over at Harrick Vi, Zoey was puzzled when she noticed Cedrick walking down the stairs while supporting himself on the banister. ¡°Mr. Jenson, what happened to your leg? Is it rheumatism?¡± Cedrick was burning with anger. As he limped, he replied, ¡°Yes. My knee is hurting.¡± Zoey looked at the sunny weather, confused. ¡°But it didn¡¯t rainst night in Salinsburgh. Why would you get rheumatism?¡± He scowled and coughed a few times. Then, he exined with a straight face, ¡°Gwenny took most of the nketst night, so I might have caught the cold.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Zoey sensed something was off but couldn¡¯t pinpoint it. ¡°Then, remember to take medicine. Don¡¯t get too close to the babies before you recover to avoid spreading your sickness to them.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± he answered without any hesitation. It would be good to stay away from the kids. If I do something wrong again, I might get beaten up. As they chatted, the sounds of footsteps sounded from the third floor. Cedrick immediately instructed Zoey, ¡°Did youe downstairs to prepare the milk bottles for the babies? Then, you should go and do it, and don¡¯t ask so many questions.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Jenson.¡± Zoey turned to head back into the kitchen. Gwendolyn had left in a hurry just now. Seeing he was leaning on the banister, she reached out to support him by holding his arm. ¡°Does it still hurt? I thought we already applied ointment on itst night?¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows aggrievedly andined softly, ¡°How could applying ointment once make the swelling disappear after being on the Lego pieces for two hours?¡± He wrapped his arms around her waist tightly ¡°When are you going to give me a reward for epting the punishment?¡± Taking in his aggrieved expression, Gwendolyn leaned in and kissed him affectionately. ¡°There¡¯s a business g in two days. When I return, I¡¯ll take good care of you at night, okay?¡± Cedric was already content with the time cut from a week to two days. However, he sensed something wrong with her words. ¡°What do you mean by when you return? Are you nning to go alone and leave me here in the vi?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t feel at ease if neither of us is here in the vi and only Mdm. Yarde is taking care of the children.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do! I¡¯m going with you,¡± he said resolutely. His wife was too gorgeous. If he wasn¡¯t present at the business g, he was afraid men would hit on her. He couldn¡¯t bear thinking about it because it would only make him upset. Gwendolyn exined patiently, ¡°Ceddy, what did you promise mest night? You said you would prioritize the babies as I do. If you really want to go, I¡¯ll stay and take care of the children with Mdm. Yarde.¡± He tried to persuade her. ¡°Why can¡¯t we go together? If you¡¯re worried, I can get a team of soldiers to guard this ce. I promise an ant won¡¯t even be able to enter this vi.¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. Did he even get what I¡¯m trying to say? Cedrick continued, ¡°If you¡¯re still worried, I can call Nico and Summer over so that they can take care of the kids with Mdm. Yarde.¡± Gwendolyn gazed at him in silence. His eyes were filled with hurt. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid some woman will seduce me if I go alone?¡± Gwendolyn replied solemnly, ¡°If you¡¯re so easily seduced, I won¡¯t want you anymore even if we already have children. I will take the children and leave, and you can never find me again.¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart clenched in fear. It seems I have gotten myself into trouble. He raised his fingers and swore, ¡°I used the wrong analogy. I promise I¡¯ll never cheat on you, but you have to be with me so that I can be at ease. Can you listen to me this time, please?¡± Gwendolyn pinched his cheeks and gave in to him in the end. Cedrick had been very obedient these past few days after his punishment. He would apany Gwendolyn to care for their babies, racing to take care of tasks before she did. On the day of the business g, Gwendolyn and Cedrick changed into appropriate attire. Nico and Summer had arrived at Harrick Vi. They were more than willing to help Zoey in taking care of the babies. They gathered around the babies, creating a harmonious atmosphere. As Nico went downstairs to learn how to handle milk bottles with Zoey, Summer held Gwendolyn¡¯s arm and whispered, ¡°Gwendolyn, do you remember what you told me when you and Mr. Jenson married a few months ago?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. She had so many conversations every day that there was no reason for her to remember a specific sentence. Summer giggled and said, ¡°You said that it¡¯s important to be financially independent. Only then will your fate be in your hands.¡± Gwendolyn remembered. ¡°I think I did say something like that. Is there a problem with what I said?¡± Summer giggled melodiously again as a hint of slyness shed past her eyes. ¡°I finally thought of a way to take control of finances from Nico! He has to ask me for an allowance now! It feels so great to be in control of the finances!¡± Gwendolyn stared at her curiously. ¡°Oh? What did you do?¡± As Cedrick was also there, Summer leaned in mysteriously and whispered in Gwendolyn¡¯s ear, ¡°First, I¡­¡± The two gossiped for a while before Nico and Zoey returned. Noticing Summer and Gwendolyn whispering among themselves, Nico smiled and asked, ¡°What are you talking about with Gwendolyn? Why did you leave Cedrick out of it?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned grimmer at that, and he nced at Nico. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with Summer coming over to my house and getting so close to my wife? What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll teach her a lesson when we return home.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Nico chuckled and pulled a reluctant Summer away from Gwendolyn. Summer pouted unhappily. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯ll tell you more when I¡¯m free! It¡¯s really interesting.¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll look forward to it.¡± The four chatted for a while before Gwendolyn and Cedrick left for the business g. Before she left, Gwendolyn checked the security of the entire vi a few times. To put her mind at ease, Cedrick had instructed Nico to bring four teams of soldiers to surround the entire vi like an impregnable fortress. It was quite an intimidating sight. Chapter 443 Chapter 443 The business g scheduled for that evening was held on the ny-eighth floor of Salinsburgh¡¯s tallest building, Summit Hotel, attracting various prominent and influential figures from the business community in Salinsburgh to attend the event. As Gwendolyn and Cedrick entered the ce hand in hand, Craig happened to arrive with Jennifer from the elevator on the other end. The two parties bumped into each other at the entrance. Since Cedrick was Craig¡¯s superior in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, thetter reckoned he still needed to show some respect toward the man. He bowed and greeted politely, ¡°Good evening, Mr. Jenson. ¡± Cedrick nodded with a cold and indifferent demeanor, acknowledging the greeting. Jennifer was about to rush to Gwendolyn¡¯s side when Craig pulled her back, stating, ¡°Jennifer, there are so many people watching. You should be mindful of your etiquette. ¡± With her desire to have a private conversation with Gwendolyn thwarted, Jennifer could only hang her head in frustration. Seeing that, Gwendolyn released her grip on Cedrick¡¯s arm and walked over to hold her best friend¡¯s hand. She shot an apologetic look at Craig and said, ¡°Mr. Craig, I hope you can spare Jennifer a few minutes to apany me to the restroom. You¡¯re a magnanimous man. I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t refuse such an easy request, right?¡± Craig narrowed his eyes in response and cast a fleeting nce at Cedrick. He smiled and acquiesced, ¡°But of course. Since you require Jennifer¡¯s presence, Mrs. Jenson, it would be impolite of me to deny you that. ¡± With his agreement, Gwendolyn swiftly led Jennifer away, leaving the two men to wait at the entrance. It wasn¡¯t until the women were far away that Gwendolyn asked, ¡°How did you end uping with Craig? Did you return to the Newton residence?¡± Jennifer nodded. ¡°I did. After much consideration, I decided to try and integrate myself into the Newton family. After all, it¡¯s where I belong. ¡± Gwendolyn patted her hand andforted, ¡°Well, I think it¡¯s good that you¡¯ve gone back. You were a noblewoman, to begin with, and it was a twist of fate that led you to all this suffering. Now that you¡¯re back with the Newton family, you won¡¯t be alone anymore, and you¡¯ll have a group of brothers and sisters by your side. ¡± Jennifer¡¯s expression turned somewhat grim when Gwendolyn mentioned her siblings. Recalling the matter concerning Caylie, she grasped Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. ¡°I noticed something strange at home during these past few days. On the day my mother joined us for a meal, her sleeves rolled up identally, and I saw red marks on her wrist. It¡¯s obvious she¡¯s injured. ¡± She continued, ¡°Anyway, for the next two days, I didn¡¯t see my mother again since Craig didn¡¯te home. I have a feeling she didn¡¯t want to see me either because her attitude toward me was cold and distant, and she only exchanged a few polite words with me out of respect for Craig. Gwendolyn, many strange things are happening in the Newton residence, but I can¡¯t tell anyone about it because my phone was taken away by Craig under someme excuse. That¡¯s why I need you to tell Trey about these matters. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll help me look into this. ¡± Gwendolyn listened attentively and patted her best friend¡¯s hand reassuringly again when she was done. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely tell Treyton about this in detail. ¡± She pursed her lips. ¡°What could be the reason for Craig to allow his own mother to get injured, though? After all, he is the current head of the Newton family and Caylie¡¯s biological son. ¡± After contemting for a moment, Jennifer shook her head and uttered, ¡°The top floor where my mother resides is always locked at night. I n to wait until Craig lets his guard down before going up to investigate the situation. ¡± ¡°Be careful, okay?¡± ¡°I will. ¡± The two exchanged a few more words before heading back. Cedrick and Craig were still waiting at the entrance for their respective partners. Thetter was the first to break the silence. ¡°You¡¯re such a lucky man, Mr. Jenson. Not only do you have a doting wife by your side and two adorable children, but your career hasn¡¯t suffered any setbacks either. ¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze turned cold when he heard that. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re looking forward to my career being damaged. But I wonder which one you are referring to. Is it Jenson Group or the Federal Bureau of Investigation?¡± ¡°Surely you jest, Mr. Jenson. I wouldn¡¯t dare to wish you ill. After all, your prosperous life guarantees mine to be smooth sailing as well,¡± Craig replied with a touch of fear in his tone as he bowed slightly. Training his disdainful gaze at the man¡¯s pretentious act, Cedrick couldn¡¯t be bothered to expose him and simply said, ¡°I hope you can live up to your words. Even if you can¡¯t, it won¡¯t matter because youck the capability to trip me up. ¡± Craig¡¯s expression stiffened at that, but he quickly regained hisposure and stered a smile on his face, exuding an air of deference. As the tense conversation between the two men came to an end, Gwendolyn and Jennifer returned that moment. Subsequently, the two pairs entered the venue one after the other. The moment they entered, Jennifer was led by Craig to meet with several business tycoons. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He seemed to be helping her expand herwork. Watching from afar, Gwendolyn came to the conclusion that everything seemed fine, so she stopped her observation and focused on meeting her business associates at the banquet, taking the opportunity to discuss potential coborations. As the evening progressed, Jennifer found herself being pulled by Craig to toast with numerous prominent business figures. After downing ten sses of red wine, she started feeling a bit tipsy. When another ss was offered to her, she declined, ¡°Craig, I can¡¯t drink anymore. I don¡¯t want to drink anymore. ¡± Craig did not insist on it and instead apologized to the man before them, Remus Abbot, before taking the drink on behalf of Jennifer. He turned his head with a smile and asked, ¡°Jennifer, what do you think of Mr. Abbot?¡± Standing opposite them, Remus listened in on their conversation with a self-assured smile ying at the corner of his lips. Evidently, he thought highly of himself. Jennifer nced at the man and noticed that he was already approaching forty. Even though Remus could be considered good-looking among middle-aged men, he still paled in comparison to Treyton. She lowered her head and replied absentmindedly, ¡°Mr. Abbot is a talented individual with remarkable charisma. It¡¯s evident that he¡¯s an experienced yer in the business field. ¡± Delight coursed through Remus after he heard her praise. He remarked confidently, ¡°You have a keen eye, Ms. Jennifer. Actually, in addition to these qualities, I am also a caring and considerate man. ¡± As he spoke, he reached out to touch Jennifer¡¯s fair hand. Realizing his intention, Jennifer swiftly hid behind Craig, her face slightly flushed with wariness. ¡°Mr. Abbot, I¡¯m currently in a rtionship. If my boyfriend finds out about your actions, he won¡¯t be pleased,¡± she said with a firm tone. Remus forced a smile and reluctantly withdrew his hand, feeling somewhat embarrassed. After Remus left, Craig asked Jennifer in a low voice, ¡°Between Mr. Abbot and Treyton, who do you think is more suitable to be your future husband, Jennifer?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Jennifer took a step back instantly, looking at him in disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m already in a rtionship with Treyton. Why would you ask such a question?¡± shing a smile, Craig replied, ¡°Why are you so nervous? It was just a casual inquiry. To be honest with you, Mr. Abbot did approach me yesterday and mentioned that if you were to get married to him, he would offer fifteen percent of shares from Abbot Group as part of the wedding gifts. But I haven¡¯t given him an answer yet. ¡± Jennifer did not believe him and took another step back, keeping her distance from him. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s ten percent or fifteen percent, for none of it means anything to me. If you dare agree to his proposal, I will sever all ties with the Newton family!¡± Jennifer had a firm stance on this matter. ¡°If you insist on using your sister as a sacrificial pawn in a business alliance, you can get Jasmine to do it instead. I am already with Treyton, and that¡¯s that. ¡± Craig shook his head helplessly and started analyzing the pros and cons for her. ¡°Although the Harris family is better than the Abbot family, Gwendolyn is the one who holds the reins of Harris Group. This means that even if Treyton genuinely wants to marry you, it¡¯s impossible for him to offer even ten percent of Harris Group¡¯s shares. After all, he doesn¡¯t have the authority to make such a decision. ¡± Jennifer stared at her so-called brother in shock and seethed, ¡°Are the shares more important than your sister¡¯s lifelong happiness? Even if Treyton can¡¯t offer Harris Group¡¯s shares, he will never mistreat me when ites to wedding gifts. Is that why you brought me to the business g? To introduce me to your business partners and trade me for shares? Are you trying to sell me off to someone else?¡± Chapter 444 Chapter 444 Craig stared at her with a profound gaze. ¡°How can that be considered selling? I¡¯m just helping you to select a better husband.¡± Jennifer looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Craig, we live in an era that advocates freedom of marriage. If the price to regain my status as the daughter of the Newton family is the loss of my freedom and right to make my own decisions, I¡¯d rather stay an orphan my whole life!¡± Faced with her vehement objection, Craig quickly softened his tone and pulled her back to his side. ¡°There, there. This is just a discussion, so there¡¯s no need for you to get so angry. If you insist on disagreeing, I won¡¯t force you.¡± Jennifer finally breathed a sigh of relief and continued to apany him to socialize. Meanwhile, over at Gwendolyn and Cedrick¡¯s end, under their joint efforts, Harris Group sessfully landed a substantial international trade offer as they wished. They would meet the other party to discuss the contract details the following day. Cedrick shook hands with Horace on Gwendolyn¡¯s behalf. ¡°Ms. Harris, I look forward to our future cooperation,¡± Horace uttered politely in his less-than-fluent Chanaean. Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Horace.¡± After settling that matter, Horace was swiftly whisked away by other guests. Cedrick and Gwendolyn shared a knowing smile. He nonchntly wrapped an arm around her slender waist. ¡°Gwenny, don¡¯t forget the reward you promised me. You can¡¯t stand me up this time no matter what.¡± She pursed her lips and nodded earnestly with a smile. ¡°You did well tonight, helping me secure a considerable deal, so I should praise you properly.¡± Looking at her exquisite face, Cedrick felt his heart flutter. An urge to carry her back to Harrick Vi and ravage her to his heart¡¯s content washed over him. After attempting to suppress his burning desire for some time, he still failed to contain himself. He leaned close to Gwendolyn¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Darling, how about we slip away early and head back to attend to more pressing matters? We can¡¯t waste this beautiful night entertaining others.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. We must address matters one by one and cannot skip the process.¡± She discreetly pinched his waist without using too much force. Her gesture felt ambiguous, but her eyes showed signs of warning. ¡°Ceddy, you behave and mingle with the other guests. I¡¯m going to check on Jennifer.¡± She patted his sturdy waist teasingly before turning around to leave. Cedrick sighed inwardly while watching her graceful retreating figure. ¡°Mr. Jenson?¡± A soft feminine voice suddenly rang out beside him, disturbing his moment of appreciating Gwendolyn¡¯s gorgeous figure. He turned around and saw a woman. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The woman, Yelena Dion, was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Cedrick¡¯s tone to be so cold. ¡°You don¡¯t remember me anymore, Mr. Jenson? I¡¯m Yelena, the third child of the Dion family. Before you joined the military, we even shared a meal.¡± Cedrick gave her a cursory nce, noting only her pink chiffon dress and barely registering her looks. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± His dismissive attitude irked Yelena. ¡°Mr. Jenson, no matter what, we knew each other when we were young. Can¡¯t you spare a moment to chat with me?¡± Cedrick gazed down at the wine ss in his hand and replied icily, ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Yelena was rendered speechless. Gwendolyn, who was nning to look for Jennifer, stopped abruptly in her tracks and turned around to nce in Cedrick¡¯s direction because she thought she heard a girl calling out Cedrick¡¯s name right after she walked away. Sure enough, she saw an alluring youngdy standing in front of Cedrick. I just left his side, and already, his admirers approached him. A frosty glint shed across her eyes, and she decisively retraced her steps, ready to reim her position as Mrs. Jenson. Despite being harshly rejected, Yelena remained rooted to her spot, showing no signs of embarrassment. ¡°You¡¯re so cold, Mr. Jenson. I heard that after you became a father, you devoted yourself wholeheartedly to your family. Now, it seems the rumors are indeed true. You¡¯re reserving all your gentleness to only your wife and children.¡± Cedrick frowned slightly. He was about to correct her when he caught sight of Gwendolyn¡¯s familiar figure approaching. When she strode over, she emitted a formidable and intimidating aura. It was difficult for Yelena to disregard Gwendolyn¡¯s presence. ¡°Ms. Harris, you¡¯ve be prettier. I heard that women who have given birth will have saggy stomachs, stretch marks, and loose skin. It appears to me those problems don¡¯t bother you.¡± Gwendolyn curved her red lips into a sophisticated and elegant smile. ¡°Of course they don¡¯t bother me. After all, I received my husband¡¯s personal and tenderest care, so I rested extremely well during my confinement period.¡± She took a step forward and sized up Yelena. ¡°Ms. Dion, you¡¯re young and not bad looking, but why do you have such poor judgment? You don¡¯t even understand the rules of the business world.¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Yelena was a little stunned and baffled. ¡°What do you mean by that, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around Cedrick¡¯s and uttered indifferently, ¡°He¡¯s a married man. Ms. Dion, you¡¯re still single, right? In that case, you should be hitting on those single young men. Besides, ¡®Ms. Harris¡¯ is how my business partners and subordinates usually address me. Since you merely live off your family and are attending this banquet as a guest, you can¡¯t call me that. You should address me as ¡®Mrs. Jenson.¡±¡® Gwendolyn enunciated thest part of her sentence, brazenly asserting her authority. She extended her dainty neck, giving her a noble and aloof appearance. The domineering look in her eyes seemed to be silentlybeling Cedrick as her personal possession. Cedrick felt utterly pleased as he obediently listened to her dissing the pretentious young woman before her. Slightly astonished, she replied awkwardly, ¡°I apologize for my ignorance. I should have addressed you as Mrs. Jenson. There have long been rumors that Mr. Jenson is under the thumb of his wife. Now that I¡¯m seeing it with my own eyes, the hearsays are indeed true. Nevertheless, you don¡¯t have to think of me as your enemy. It¡¯s not good to keep a man too tightly leashed.¡± Upon hearing the phrase ¡°under the thumb of his wife,¡± Cedrick felt that if Marcus was still alive, and he hadn¡¯t been officially married to Gwendolyn, he would¡¯ve put forth his best effort to correct Yelena, defend his status, and im that Gwendolyn was under his thumb. However, he had nothing to worry about now and couldfortably admit Yelena¡¯s assertion to be the case. ¡°Ms. Dion, you mentioned something wrong earlier. I didn¡¯t devote myself to my family after my wife got pregnant. I¡¯ve long since dedicated all my tenderness and affection to Gwenny. Even our children can¡¯t change her position in my heart.¡± He held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand tightly, interlocking his fingers with hers, as a gentle look filled his eyes. Yelena¡¯s face turned slightly pale. ¡°You two are still so loving, Mr. and Mrs. Jenson. This is truly enviable.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t spare Yelena a nce. Focusing his pensive dark gaze on Gwendolyn, he uttered with a deep voice, ¡°Darling, I¡¯m tired of socializing. I¡¯d like to apply to leave early and go home.¡± Gwendolyn met his gaze and gave an unprecedented response. ¡°Approved.¡± Receiving the affirmative reply, Cedrick was overjoyed. He lifted her in his arms and slipped away from the hall through the side door where there were fewer people. Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t too pleased after getting into the car. Sensing something was off with her mood, he said innocently, ¡°Darling, tonight¡¯s incident has nothing to do with me. I don¡¯t know that Ms. Dion, so you can¡¯t take your anger out on me.¡± She turned to stare at him, reaching out her fair fingers to pinch his cheek. ¡°You should wear your silver mask when we go out next time. Only with your captivating countenance concealed can I rest assured.¡± He was delighted to see her jealous reaction. ¡°All right, but since you¡¯re so pretty, should you wear a mask too, to prevent other handsome men from hitting on you?¡± Gwendolyn refused, ¡°I won¡¯t wear it. The mask is so ugly. Putting it on makes me look more hideous.¡± Cedrick fell silent. Why do I feel like she¡¯s hinting something at me? Twenty minutester, the luxury car arrived at the Jenson residence garage. Cedrick got out of the car first and then carried Gwendolyn out without letting her feet touch the ground. She wrapped her arms around his waist and courteously offered, ¡°Why don¡¯t I walk myself? This gown is quite heavy. It¡¯s taxing for you to carry me, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all right. It¡¯s a good way for me to burn off some stamina. Otherwise, your slender waist will be destroyed tonight.¡± After he finished his sentence, Gwendolyn didn¡¯tugh. Instead, she looked at him with a serious expression. Taking in her solemn look, Cedrick immediately sensed something was amiss. Oh no! That was a trick question, and I seemed to have answered wrongly! Chapter 445 Chapter 445 When he came to his senses, his survival instincts kicked into gear. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea, Darling. I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re heavy. You¡¯re as light as a feather, and you¡¯ve got an irresistible, perfect body.¡± He stared at Gwendolyn nervously, but she merely continued watching him sternly in silence. Cedrick studied her in befuddlement. Did I say something wrong again? What else should I be saying, then? As Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze grew colder, he hurriedly pleaded, ¡°Darling, can you tell me the answer in your mind?¡± Gwendolyn snorted. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll use a ruler to teach you word by word once we get back to our room. How about that?¡± The man tensed up instinctively. With her lips pursed, Gwendolyn pondered upon his first answer and listed out his crimes, ¡°The answer you uttered without hesitation is a true reflection of your heart, which means that¡¯s exactly what you were thinking. I only put on a gown, yet you said I¡¯m heavy. I thought I¡¯d contributed greatly to the Jenson family by giving birth to two babies, but you¡¯re already disgusted by me. So, that doubles your sins. Looks like I¡¯ve got to teach you a proper lesson when we get back.¡± Her speech rendered Cedrick speechless. While walking down the windy path of the Jenson residence, he took deep breaths to calm his nerves and asked cautiously, ¡°How are you nning to punish me, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes gleamed as she looked at him. ¡°You should be spanked.¡± The sight of his face draining of color motivated her to add evilly, ¡°With your pants off.¡± Cedrick¡¯s face turn as red as an apple. He gave the woman in his arms an aggrieved look. ¡°Darling¡­¡± He dragged his feet, for he dared not return. I don¡¯t want to endure such a cruel punishment if that¡¯s what my fate will be when I get back. The worried look on his face made Gwendolyn chuckle. After all, she was only joking. She was not actually mad. Tapping the tip of his nose gently, she reassured him, ¡°All right. I won¡¯t hit you. I was just joking. You¡¯ve had a hard time during and after my pregnancy. I¡¯ll let you have a great time tonight as a reward.¡± A smile instantly spread on his face, recing the pitiful expression. ¡°You better be mentally prepared, then. We haven¡¯t done it in a while. I won¡¯t let you off so easily tonight.¡± He quickened his pace, wanting to arrive at the room in a sh. After all, he was stoked. It was cooling that night. The sensual moans were contained within the tightly sealed room. Gwendolyn had lost count of how many times they had gone at it that night. All she remembered was Cedrick disregarding her exhaustion. He was like a bull that would not get tired. Her waist was practically non-existent by the time it was already morning. Her body was sore and weak. There was no way she could wake up, for she barely restedst night. Cedrick, on the other hand, had awakened early in the morning. After helping her to postpone the meeting with Horace, he pulled her into his embrace. ¡°I¡¯ve helped you deal with your business, Darling. Get some sleep. You can sleep for the whole day if you want to.¡± Gwendolyn was so exhausted that she could not open her eyes. She regretted making that promise to Cedrickst night. I should¡¯ve kept the beast in him under control. Even though her eyes were closed, frustrated thoughts aboutst night¡¯s events filled her mind. While her mind was upied, the man¡¯s huge hands quietly wrapped around her waist. He began kissing her earlobes restlessly, exhaling warm breaths on her. Subtle lines of disapproval etched themselves on Gwendolyn¡¯s forehead, but she kept her eyes closed and ignored him. However, her ignorance only emboldened him, and his restless hands began exploring every inch of her body. That was not all. His lips that were on his earlobes moments ago slowly moved down to the back of her neck and her fair and delicate shoulder. The frown between Gwendolyn¡¯s brows deepened until she finally snapped. Turning around, she stretched out her hand and rested it on his face. The unexpected gesture took Cedrick by surprise. ¡°Stop messing around. Get some rest.¡± Gwendolyn was drained. Although her voice was gentle, the threat in it was palpable. Dejection flooded Cedrick¡¯s heart as he gave up andy on top of her. ¡°Darling, why don¡¯t we sleep for three hours and do it again at noon?¡± he asked tentatively with his deep voice. Gwendolyn was at a loss for words. Her waist was unbelievably sore. In fact, she felt it was on the verge of breaking. On the contrary, Cedrick was like a starving wolf that wanted more after not getting to fulfill his sexual desires for eleven months. More importantly, he had fully recovered. At that moment, Gwendolyn regretted the decisions she had made in life. Why did I make such an energetic man my husband? Is it toote to get rid of him? She continued brooding, but her silence was like a silent approval for the impatient man to continue touching her again. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°Not really. I¡¯m tired, but I¡¯m happy. I¡¯m extremely happy!¡± Cedrick held her delicate face and stroked it. All Gwendolyn could do was grind her teeth in annoyance. Exhaustion was the only thing she could feel at that moment instead of joy. Just then, an idea came to her¡ªan idea that could drain him of his unlimited energy. ¡°Since you¡¯re not tired, why don¡¯t you get out of bed and do at least four hundred and fifty-nine push- ups? You¡¯ll count them at the same time.¡± Cedrick stopped stroking her skin, feeling a little stunned. ¡°Why four hundred and fifty-nine?¡± Expressionlessly, she said, ¡°It represents your love. Let¡¯s say it¡¯s a gift for me.¡± Cedrick could not refuse when she had already put it that way. Besides, push-ups were a piece of cake for him. After nting a kiss on her cheek, he quickly rolled out of bed and slipped on his pants. Baring his ravishing upper body, he propped himself on the carpet and did the push-ups with a perfect posture. ¡°Remember to count,¡± Gwendolyn mutteredzily from the bed. Immediately, Cedrick began counting, ¡°One, two, three¡­¡± Soon, Gwendolyn drifted off to sleep while listening to him counting. Nheless, it was also his counts that woke her up again. She felt much better after managing to sleep for about an hour. She leaned over the edge of the bed and watched Cedrick do his push-ups on the carpet. ¡°Three hundred and fifty-six.¡± Cedrick¡¯s voice was not as clear and energetic as before. His body was drenched in sweat. Even most of the carpet under his body had turned one shade darker thanks to the sweat he excreted. That was when Gwendolyn told him to stop. ¡°Are you tired?¡± Taking in deep breaths, Cedrick shed her a smiled. ¡°Not really.¡± Not really? Why does this man always give me this answer? Suddenly, she had a wicked idea. Holding her waist, she got off the bed and snatched the robe from the coat stand to cover most of her body. She walked over to Cedrick and sat cross-legged on his butt. That way, all of her weight would be ced on him. Cedrick was already exhausted from the intense workoutst night and the push-ups he did. The moment Gwendolyn sat on him, his body sank lower to the ground. Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Staring at the back of his head with her arms folded, Gwendolyn ordered, ¡°Continue.¡± Cedrick had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue with the workout. This time, however, he stopped counting. Of course, Gwendolyn was observant enough to notice that. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you counting anymore?¡± Stunned, he asked, ¡°How many did I do just now?¡± Three hundred and fifty-six. Gwendolyn vaguely remembered him articting those numbers, but she smirked wickedly. ¡°How would I know? Well, since you can¡¯t remember, you should start over.¡± Cedrick¡¯s back froze from the shock. This little devil¡­ Having no motivation left, he slumped to the ground andined shamelessly, ¡°You¡¯re evil, Gwenny. How could you enve and torture me? I still want to save some of my energy to have fun with you at noon.¡± How could you still want to have sex when you¡¯re already so tired? Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned grim as she pped his butt with no mercy. Chapter 446 Chapter 446 The p was not too hard, and it carried with it a hint of affection. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes crinkled as she looked at him. ¡°Excuse me? Just exactly who¡¯s the one getting tortured? Didn¡¯t you promise me four hundred and fifty-nine push-ups? Are you going to go back on your word?¡± She smacked his butt again. ¡°Come on. You made a promise.¡± Cedrick got into the perfect push-up form again by straightening his tired and trembling arms. ¡°Three hundred and fifty-seven. Carry on.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s voice sounded behind him. Realization finally dawned on Cedrick. She knew the number all along and was ying with me on purpose. Hmph! What a bad woman. He shook his head helplessly. Well, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it. She¡¯s the wife I put so much effort into getting back. I¡¯ve got to dote on her no matter what. ¡°Three hundred and fifty-eight.¡± That morning, the sound of Cedrick counting the number of push-ups came from the room. Zoey would asionally cast the tightly shut door a suspicious nce whenever she passed it by. Nheless, she knew it was inappropriate to ask about the couple¡¯s private matters. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Over in the bedroom, Cedrick could be heard forcing the words out breathlessly. ¡°Four hundred¡­ and fifty-nine¡­¡± As if he had aplished a mission, Cedrick let out a sigh and slumped weakly to the ground. I don¡¯t want to do push-ups again for the rest of my life. Gwendolyn got up and spotted a darker patch on his ck pants. She chuckled in amusement. ¡°Ceddy, you must¡¯ve sweated a lot. Even your butt¡¯s wet.¡± Cedrick touched the wet spot, only to see a red stain on his fingers. He turned around in bewilderment and noticed Gwendolyn¡¯s paleplexion. ¡°Gwenny, it¡¯s your b-blood¡­¡± The smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face vanished as she stared at his fingers unblinkingly. She rubbed her belly and quickly realized something. No wonder my waist felt so sore. It¡¯s the period¡¯s fault. She had not had her period ever since she became pregnant, so much so that she had forgotten the existence of periods. An embarrassedugh escaped her throat. ¡°Sorry for dirtying your pants, Ceddy. But it looks like you won¡¯t be able to have fun for another six days or so. You should ept your fate.¡± Cedrick had no intentions ofining. He got to his feet despite feeling drained from the push-ups and carried her to the bathroom. They showered together and changed into a clean set of pajamas. Five minutester, Gwendolyn¡¯s belly was beginning to ache. When did ite? Would the sex have any effect on it? The period pain awakened every nerve in her body. Cedrick helped her to the bed and tucked her in. Soon, pain and drowsiness got the better of her. She curled up into a ball, her brows furrowed and her eyes shut tightly as she endured the difort that made her dizzy. Cedrick had made her a cup of chamomile tea. He blew on it and brought the cup to her lips. Still, the pain was not relieved. Cedrick sat by the bed, feeling anxious and helpless at the same time. If only I could help her bear the pain. ¡°Gwenny, why don¡¯t you take some painkillers?¡± Despite feeling dizzy, Gwendolyn shook her head without hesitation upon hearing his suggestion. ¡°I¡¯m still breastfeeding. The babies need me. I can¡¯t simply take medicines or it¡¯ll affect them.¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t keep enduring it like that.¡± Gwendolyn responded weakly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll only have to bear with it for a while. I¡¯ll be fine after a nap¡­¡± Cedrick let out a sigh. He could not bear to see her suffer, but there was nothing he could do when she insisted on not taking painkillers. He looked up on the inte for solutions. After reading the suggestions given by theizens, he quickly brought her a warm water bottle. He gently massaged her belly while warming it with the warm water bottle. He never stopped, even when his fingers were tired. The pain made Gwendolyn extremely dizzy, but through her half-closed eyelids, she could see him using different hands to massage her belly. Whenever a hand was tired, he would switch it with the other and rx the sore wrist before continuing the same process. Cedrick was obviously exhausted, and Gwendolyn felt bad about it. ¡°Ceddy, you can stop massaging. I¡¯ll be fine after getting some sleep.¡± However, Cedrick did not stop. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can sleep while I massage your belly.¡± Okay, then. Gwendolyn was too tired to convince him otherwise. Her eyes could barely open. Cedrick was getting better at it. In fact, she felt that her pain seemed to have been alleviated. She soon drifted off to sleep. Cedrick, on the other hand, did not stop there. He crawled under the covers beside her and massaged her sore waist. It was not long before he, too, fell asleep. asionally, Gwendolyn would move in her sleep, but it did not wake Cedrick. Still, his hands did not stop. Just like that, the two slept until noon. In Faike, Inez had been avoiding Kieran ever since he interrupted herst date. Even though the two lived under the same roof, they woke up and left the house at different times. They never met each other, not once. Madelyn, who was watching the scene, could not help feeling anxious. However, she did not dare to take action because of Kieran¡¯s identity. She did not dare to mess with him. After lunch, Kieran finally returned to the hotel to take his phone and wallet. As soon as he turned on his phone, messages flooded in. They were all from Treyton. Kieran read them ording to the timestamp. Treyton: Kieran, how did it go? Did you manage to get in? Treyton: Where are you? Why aren¡¯t you answering your phone? Don¡¯t tell me you left it behind for real. Treyton: You¡¯re supposed to pretend! PRETEND! You could have just said you left your phone and wallet behind even if you had them. Who¡¯d dare to pat you down? Oh my goodness. You can¡¯t really be so dense, can you? Treyton: What¡¯s your progress, Kieran? Have you won her over yet? Treyton: I¡¯d be lost for words if you couldn¡¯t even win her over after pulling all that. Maybe you should just be a monk, or you can give your whole life to the medical research center. Kieran could sense his brother¡¯s sarcasm as he reached the end of the messages. With a cold look, he typed a few words and hit the send button. It read: Are you asking for a beating? I¡¯ll give it to you when I go back. Surprisingly, Treyton responded instantly: Sorry, Kieran. The sincere apology made Kieran feel much better. I shall spare his legs for now. I still need his advice on how to pursue Inez. Kieran recalled the incident that happened at the restaurant two days ago and briefly recounted it to Treyton. Treyton gasped when he finished reading the text. He typed: You could still handle that even after getting drugged? That¡¯s impressive. Is there something wrong with you? Let¡¯s get you examined when you get back. Kieran¡¯s expression darkened instantly when he read the text. Sensing his brother¡¯s anger through the phone, Treyton quickly typed: Hehe. My brother¡¯s a real gentleman. s, that did not make Kieran feel any better. The fact that he got drugged was not the point. The point was that Inez had been ignoring him, and he had no solutions. After a short discussion, Treyton had an idea. He texted: Kieran, since Ms. Inez is ignoring you, perhaps you should approach this matter through another person. Kieran: Who? Treyton: Percy Campbell. The two words on the screen stunned Kieran, and he hurriedly hit the call button to hear Treyton out. It took five minutes for Kieran to listen to Treyton¡¯s n, and he was confident with it. He picked up his phone and wallet and headed straight for the Mossey residence to carry out the n. Chapter 447 Chapter 447 Half an hourter, Kieran arrived at the Mossey residence and entered quietly. Madelyn was drinking coffee and watching some television shows in the living room. When she spotted him, she weed him enthusiastically. ¡°You¡¯re back, Mr. Kieran! Would you like to sit for a while before heading upstairs? Inez left early today. Looking at the time, I think she should be back soon. ¡± Picking up the hints that she had dropped, Kieran agreed, ¡°Sure. ¡± He sat on the couch with his back straight and epted the cup of coffee that she had passed him. Ten minutester, the police arrived before Inez did. The Mossey family¡¯s bodyguards escorted the policemen in, while Percy trailed behind with his hands in handcuffs. When Madelyn saw that, she was confused. ¡°W-What¡¯s going on?¡± The policemen nodded at her politely before approaching Kieran and informing him, ¡°Mr. Kieran, you¡¯re the greatest victim in Percy¡¯s drugging incident. He wishes to apologize to you directly and seek your forgiveness, so we¡¯ve brought him here. Are you willing to meet him?¡± Kieran took a sip of the coffee elegantly, his expression as cold as before. He did not say anything. Madelyn did not dare to utter a single word either. Percy was so desperate to rush forward that the policemen had to hold him back to prevent him from pouncing at Kieran¡¯s feet. ¡°I was wrong, Mr. Kieran! Please listen to my exnation. ¡± Kieran ced the coffee cup down calmly. ¡°Wait a while. ¡± Wait? Percy did not understand, but he assumed that Kieran was willing to ept his apology since he had asked him to wait. There¡¯s no harm in waiting for a while more. Everyone in the house waited quietly. Although no one knew what Kieran was nning, no one said anything. Eventually, Madelyn, who thought that the atmosphere was too awkward, asked the policemen to sit down and have some coffee. A few minutes passed before Inez finally returned. Jerome reached home almost at the same time as her and they entered together. They were both dumbfounded upon taking in the scene in the living room. Seeing that everyone had gathered there, Kieran nodded at the policemen, who unlocked Percy¡¯s handcuffs. Having regained his freedom, Percy immediately rushed toward Kieran and knelt beside his feet. When Percy¡¯s knees fell to the ground with a thud, everyone in the Mossey residence exchanged nces with one another in surprise. Percy groveled at Kieran¡¯s feet in a respectful and lowly manner. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Kieran. It¡¯s my fault that you got drugged identally. The Campbell family will definitelypensate you fully! If you still feel angry, you can beat me to a pulp. Please, just spare Campbell Corporation. Don¡¯t force us into a corner!¡± The expression on Kieran¡¯s face did not change. ¡°You said that I got drugged identally. Who were you nning to drug?¡± Percy trembled. He broke into a cold sweat and dared not say another word. Kieran added, ¡°Tell me the truth. If you dare to leave anything out, you¡¯ll bear the consequences. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Terrified, Percy revealed everything honestly, ¡°Inez and I have been engaged for a long time, but she¡¯s been treating me coldly. It was so rare for me to ask her out. Well, we¡¯re no longer young. If this continues, it¡¯ll take another two or three years before we can get married. I can¡¯t wait that long. Since the marriage would benefit Campbell Corporation, a wicked idea sprang to my mind. I thought since she¡¯ll be mine someday, the wedding will be pushed forward if I just sleep with her first. At the same time, I can even cut half of the wedding gift. That¡¯s killing two birds with one stone! So I bribed the waiter at the restaurant to drug the ss of red wine. I didn¡¯t expect you to suddenly appear, Mr. Kieran. You know everything that happened afterward¡­¡± Jerome was shocked when he heard that. Madelyn and Inez, on the other hand, looked daggers at Percy. p! A pnded squarely on Percy¡¯s cheek as Inez cursed, ¡°You f*cking b*stard!¡± Madelyn yelled, ¡°How dare you ruin my daughter and even think of reducing the wedding gift by half? You¡¯d marry anyone as long as your fianc¨¦e could benefit Campbell Corporation, is that it?¡± Rubbing his sore cheek, Percy did not dare to rebuke. All he could think about was Kieran. He just wished that Kieran would let him off the hook. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Mr. Kieran. I won¡¯t do something like that in the future. Forgive me this time! Let¡¯s reconcile. I¡¯m begging you!¡± He crawled toward Kieran on his knees, but Kieran kicked him away mercilessly. Kieran snapped, ¡°What right does an immoral man like you have to be Inez¡¯s fianc¨¦? Cancel your engagement with her in front of me right now. ¡± Percy was slightly stunned. ¡°Mr. Kieran, will you spare me and the Campbell family if I cancel the engagement?¡± Instead of giving a direct answer, Kieran said, ¡°That depends on how apologetic you are. ¡± ¡°Of course! Of course!¡± Percy saw a glimmer of hope when he heard that. He instantly looked at Jerome, who was sitting close by. ¡°Since you¡¯re here too, Mr. Mossey, I¡¯m going to cancel my engagement with Inez. Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. ¡± After thinking about it for a while, he added, ¡°However, since we¡¯re canceling it, remember to return the engagement gift that you received from the Mossey family. ¡± Jerome was furious. He grabbed the coffee cup on the table and smashed it on Percy¡¯s body. ¡°You b*stard! You have no right to cancel the engagement. The Mossey family should be the one proposing it! We¡¯ll return your f*cking engagement gift in full. We won¡¯t even keep anything!¡± Madelyn spat in disgust, ¡°Who do you think you are? You don¡¯t even deserve our precious daughter! Get lost with your engagement gift. I look forward to Campbell Corporation going bankrupt!¡± Inez¡¯s eyes reddened as she lowered her head silently. Percy did not even care about the Mossey family¡¯s insults. Still on his knees, he moved forward and adjusted his sses with an appeasing smile. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve canceled the engagement, are you satisfied, Mr. Kieran?¡± Kieran¡¯s expression was extremely grim. Looking askance at Percy, he said, ¡°I¡¯m very unsatisfied with how arrogant and rude you are. Your lustful act and failed attempt at rape have revealed how utterly immoral you are. The prison is a better ce for you!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Percy was on the verge of a breakdown. He pleaded desperately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Kieran! If you aren¡¯t satisfied, I¡¯ll apologize to the Mossey family again, okay? Give me another chance!¡± Madelyn interrupted firmly, ¡°Get lost! We won¡¯t ept your apology no matter what you say!¡± Kieran seconded, ¡°Did you hear that? Mrs. Mossey doesn¡¯t want to ept your apology. Get lost right now!¡± ¡°Mr. Kieran! Mr. Kieran¡­¡± The policemen immediately handcuffed Percy again and dragged him away. As Kieran¡¯s shrieks of plea faded into the distance, a strange silence descended upon the Mossey residence. Kieran cleared his throat gently before looking at Jerome solemnly. ¡°Mr. Mossey, now that Inez is single again, what are you nning to do regarding her marriage?¡± Madelyn and Jerome exchanged a look with each other. Everyone was smart enough to figure it out. Kieran had deliberately arranged for the police toe after all members of the Mossey family were there before starting the whole show of getting Percy to cancel the engagement. Judging from how much effort he had put into this, it was obvious that he truly loved Inez. Smiling, Jerome replied, ¡°We don¡¯t have any ns for now. If you have any suggestions, you can raise them with me. I¡¯ll definitely agree. ¡± Everything was going ording to how Treyton had nned. A rare smile formed on Kieran¡¯s face. He looked at Jerome with a determined gaze. ¡°Mr. Mossey, actually, my feelings for Inez¡ª¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Inez stood up and interrupted him, ¡°Dad, my engagement just got canceled. I¡¯m not in a great mood, so I won¡¯t be thinking about getting engaged again. I hope you won¡¯t force me, Dad. ¡± Chapter 448 Chapter 448 Although she was speaking to Jerome, she was actually rejecting Kieran. The look on Kieran¡¯s face changed. Jerome, who was observant of others¡¯ reactions, immediately jumped to Kieran¡¯s aide. ¡°Inez, an engagement isn¡¯t the same as a marriage. You can still date after getting engaged and only get registered after both of you are willing to. It won¡¯t affect anything. ¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want to date. Too many unhappy things happened over the past years. I¡¯m really in no mood to date. All I want to do is to focus on my work and be prepared to take over Mossey Corporation. ¡± With that, she turned around and left the living room without looking back. The sound of a door mming came from upstairs. Once again, silence filled the living room. Madelyn and Jerome exchanged a look before turning their gazes toward Kieran. Kieran lowered his gaze. He seemed to be thinking about something, but no one could figure out his emotions. Madelyn asked carefully, ¡°Do you like Inez, Mr. Kieran?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± replied Kieran gently, ¡°but I have hurt her with my previous action. I understand if she¡¯s unwilling to ept me. ¡± Madelyn said, ¡°We¡¯ve been spoiling Inez ever since she was a child. She has a very stubborn personality. If you sincerely like her and wish to be together with her, I can help you convince her. ¡± Upon deliberation, Kieran thought that it was too embarrassing and troublesome. ¡°It¡¯s fine. This is between me and Inez. If you persuade her, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll resent me even more. I can wait if she¡¯s unwilling to go ahead with the engagement. She waited a year for me in the past. I can wait another year for her this time. ¡± Madelyn and Jerome were d to hear that. Madelyn said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Kieran. Although I won¡¯t deliberately try to persuade her, I can create opportunities for both of you to meet. ¡± Kieran raised his head and met her gaze. This time, he did not refuse. A few hourster, Madelyn knocked on Inez¡¯s door. ¡°It¡¯s time for dinner. Hurry up! We¡¯re waiting for you. ¡± ¡°All right!¡± Sitting in front of herputer, Inez finished typing thest sentence of the proposal before massaging her sore shoulders and heading downstairs. She did not notice anything strange until she walked to the dining room. Kieran was the only one sitting at the long dining table. Madelyn and Jerome were nowhere to be seen. and on the dining table, there were candles burning. Evidently, they were deliberately trying to create a chance for Kieran and her to have a candlelight dinner together. Mom and Dad have nothing better to do. She shook her head exasperatedly, turned around, and left. When Kieran saw that she was about to leave, he jumped to his feet and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Inez, you probably can tell how much effort Mr. and Mrs. Mossey put into this. Why don¡¯t we have a talk?¡± Inez remained expressionless. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for us to talk about. ¡± She wanted to leave, but Kieran tightened his grip on her wrist. Kieran stared at his hand, which was holding her wrist, and smiled faintly. ¡°You came to the hospital in Salinsburgh the previous time to bid me farewell. Seeing how sad you were, I wanted to reach out and console you. However, I didn¡¯t even manage to extend my hand. This time, I¡¯m d that I didn¡¯t let go of your hand. ¡± Inez sighed. ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying this now?¡± Kieran pulled her up slightly, making her meet his gaze. In a serious tone, he said, ¡°Percy isn¡¯t a good man. Now that I have canceled this engagement that you had no say in, you have the freedom to choose. Isn¡¯t that good?¡± Inez became angry when he mentioned that. ¡°You deliberately let the police bring him to the Mossey residence and listened to him mock me. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Are you trying to make a joke out of me on purpose? Do you want me to realize that no other man but you will like me, the Mossey family¡¯s cheap daughter?¡± As sheined, tears streamed down her cheeks. To prevent herself from being bullied at work, she had always maintained an image of a strong, independent woman. As time passed, she had be much more stubborn as well. She had suffered a blow that afternoon when she saw how much Percy looked down on her and the Mossey family. Furthermore, all the drama was exposed right in front of Kieran. Kieran took a piece of tissue and wiped her tears. Having been taught a lesson after smudging her eyeliner the previous time, he was very careful and gentle this time. Treyton had taught him a lot beforehand, such as how to sweet-talk and coax girls. Even if a cheesy and cliche pick-up line sounded awkward, girls would be happy as long as the man said it with all his sincerity. He racked his brain carefully to remember one of the lines that Treyton had taught him. However, perhaps due to his nervousness, he could not even remember a single one. Despite his sincere wish to console her, all that he could say was, ¡°Inez, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean that¡­¡± Inez red at him. ¡°What do you mean, then?¡± ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean anything else. I just¡­¡± Inez was speechless. Are you ying word games with me? ¡°So what do you mean by saying that you didn¡¯t mean anything? What exactly do you mean, Kieran?¡± Kieran remained silently and merely stared at her dumbfoundedly. She had sessfully confused him. Looking at how foolish and stunned he was, Inez could not help but burst outughing. Kieran felt a bit embarrassed. Taking advantage of her lifted spirits, he quickly said, ¡°I don¡¯t have much experience with rtionships, so I can¡¯t say sweet words. However, I want to tell you that I¡¯m earnestly trying to win you back. There are no other ulterior motives involved. You went all the way from Faike to Lightspring just to pursue me. Then, you secretly went from Lightspring to Salinsburgh. For an entire year, your dad had to repeatedly plead with you to return to Mossey Corporation and helm it. Yet, you turned down all his pleas for my sake. This time, I¡¯ll be the one pursuing you. If you insist on rejecting the engagement, I¡¯ll pursue you for an entire year just like what you¡¯ve done. Even two years is fine with me. ¡± His words were simple yet genuine. Inez would be lying if she said that she was not affected at all. Staring at him seriously, she smirked yfully and pridefully. ¡°Sure! Pursue me, then. If you seed in pursuing me for a year, I¡¯ll think about it again. ¡± ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t give up. ¡± Delighted, Kieran hugged her tightly. Upon feeling his rapid heartbeat, which revealed how nervous yet happy he was, Inez was slightly stunned. After struggling for a while, she eventually reached out and embraced him and patted his broad back. Madelyn and Jerome, who were watching them silently on the second floor, exchanged a look and smiled. Meanwhile, at Harrick Vi, Gwendolyn slept all the way till dinner. She was woken up by the fragrance of risotto. When she opened her eyes in a daze, she saw Cedrick sitting beside the bed and gently blowing on a bowl of risotto. She sat up and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you sleep for a while longer?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t fall asleep because I keep thinking that you¡¯ll need me any time. It¡¯s better to be awake. ¡± When he felt that the bowl of risotto was no longer hot, he scooped a spoonful and brought it to her lips. ¡°Careful. It¡¯s hot. ¡± Gwendolyn opened her mouth and chewed on it, enjoying his thoughtful service. Cedrick said, ¡°Oh, right, the Newton family has announced Jennifer¡¯s identity. They¡¯ll be hosting a homing feast for her seven dayster. She¡¯ll officially change her name to Jennifer Newton then. ¡± ¡°Has everything been decided?¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°Yes. ¡± It¡¯s good that she gets to reveal that she actuallyes from a wealthy family. However, remembering what Jennifer had told her in private at the business gst night, Gwendolyn could not help but feel that something fishy was going on. Chapter 449 Chapter 449 Jennifer mentioned that Mrs. Newton had a red mark on her wrist. However, Craig is her son and the head of the family. Why would he harm his mother? Something suspicious is going on. As Gwendolyn graciously epted each spoonful from Cedrick, she asked curiously, ¡°Craig is the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, isn¡¯t he? How well-acquainted are you with him?¡± Cedrick¡¯s hand froze in mid-air. His chiseled features contorted into a cold and stern expression, betraying a hint of displeasure at the sudden topic of discussion. ¡°Why are asking about him all of a sudden? Did his appearance atst night¡¯s banquet captivate you?¡± His words held a tinge of bitterness. Cedrick remembered the striking resemnce between Charles and Craig, except for their different eye colors and auras. Gwendolyn was stunned speechless by his reply. She yfully tapped his forehead and teased, ¡°What¡¯s going on in your mind? Are you getting jealous again without reason?¡± Cedrick maintained his silence, his expression conveying a deep-seated resentment and lingering agitation. Gwendolyn took a deep breath and said sincerely, ¡°I asked because I¡¯m genuinely concerned about Jennifer¡¯s situation. You and our precious babies mean everything to me. No other man could ever grab my attention. ¡± Her words provided himfort, alleviating his doubts and insecurities. ¡°Craig is a cunning and calcting person. Having known him for many years, I know he is driven by self-interest and practicality. Familial and romantic rtionships are a low priority to him. ¡± Gwendolyn seemed to have understood the situation. ¡°So, if his interests are threatened by Mrs. Newton, he may potentially harm her?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Cedrick lowered his head and pondered for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. After all, she¡¯s his mother. It¡¯s unlikely he would abuse her. ¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s worry for Jennifer grew further. ¡°I truly hope Jennifer can survive the homing feast unscathed and establish herself as a legitimate heiress within the esteemed family. It would be wonderful if she could be engaged to Treyton and marry soon. ¡± Setting aside the half-eaten risotto, Cedrick embraced Gwendolyn¡¯s waist and leaned his head gently against her belly. ¡°Instead of concerning ourselves with other people¡¯s weddings, why don¡¯t we focus on nning our own?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Our babies are just over a month old. Maybe we should wait until they are a bit older before we proceed with the wedding. There¡¯s no need to rush. ¡± Cedrick decided not to say further as he did not want Gwendolyn to be mistaken that he did not care about the babies. He lovingly caressed her belly and said, ¡°We can certainly postpone the wedding. Why don¡¯t we embark on an unforgettable honeymoon trip abroad in the meantime?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t. Our children are still so young. If we went on a trip, it would be for several days. It would be challenging for Mdm. Yarde to care for both babies. Let¡¯s consider it when the babies are at least ten years old and can care for themselves. ¡± Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but feel a blend of disappointment and frustration as the realization of having to wait so long for the trip sank in. However, he couldn¡¯t voice his objections. Gwendolyn¡¯s mahogany ruler was stored in the bedside drawer, and the well-crafted Lego pieces were tucked away in the closet. Those two objects made him feel suffocated. As Gwendolyn gently caressed his hair, she was lost in her thoughts. Suddenly, she recalled Jennifer¡¯s request fromst night and quickly dialed Treyton¡¯s number. She ryed every word that Jennifer had asked her to pass on. ¡°Treyton, this is the situation. Jennifer believes there is more to the Newton family¡¯s secrets, but her phone has been confiscated. Hence, she asked me to update you on the situation. ¡± Treyton remained silent for a while before he spoke. ¡°Got it, Kiddo. I will investigate this matter in due course. ¡± ¡°When are you nning to visit the Newton family for the engagement proposal? I will arrange my schedule in advance and apany you. ¡± After a brief pause, Treyton replied, ¡°We will visit the Newton residence the day after the homing feast is over. ¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Gwendolyn replied. The days preceding the much-anticipated homing feast unfolded with an umon sense of tranquility. Gwendolyn¡¯s focus was divided between Harris Group and Harrick Vi. Two days prior to the homing feast, Angle made an exciting announcement about the recruitment of trainees. They were rumored to possess both talent and captivating looks. Intrigued by this, Gwendolyn resolved to personally evaluate the promising neers. However, she knew revealing her ns to Cedrick would only invoke his well-known jealousy. He would drag her home in no time. To avoid unnecessary conflict, Gwendolyn asked Cedrick to stay at Harrick Vi with Zoey to take care of their babies while she embarked on her secret mission. She took a cab to Angle Corporation. There were twenty-four youthful and charming trainees meticulously arranged in three neat rows. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Their vibrant energy and captivating appearances were a feast for Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. Her eyes wandered through the group of trainees, scanning each one until they finally settled on a young man in the back row. His eyes had a deep shade of brown that entuated his exquisite allure. With a perfectly sculpted nose and impably bnced facial features, one couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by his undeniable attractiveness. It was as if the heavens had bestowed him a truly remarkable face. ¡°What is your name?¡± Gwendolyn asked. The young man smiled and said, ¡°Hello, Ms. Harris. I¡¯m Jimmy Cruz. ¡± ¡°How¡¯s your dancing skills?¡± The young man turned his head and locked eyes with her, his handsome face radiating warmth and positivity. ¡°I have been practicing for seven years. If you have the time, I¡¯d be more than happy to perform for you. ¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯d love to see it,¡± Gwendolyn replied. Joanne brought a chair for her to sit at the front. The other trainees made space on either side, creating a stage for the young man¡¯s solo show. As the melodious music began to fill the room, Jimmy immediately immersed himself in the dance. His movements were powerful as he effortlessly blended strength and emotional depth. The audience in the dance studio was engrossed in his performance. The first half of the routine proceeded wlessly. However, the melody evolved into a more upbeat rhythm. Suddenly, Jimmy altered his dance style. He executed a forceful hip thrust while provocatively tugging at his pristine white shirt. His gaze was alluring and beguiling, holding everyone in thrall. Gwendolyn¡¯s fluttering eyshes betrayed her unease. She did not anticipate the dance to escte with such intensity. There was no way she could let him continue. Just as she was poised to intervene and halt the performance, the dance studio door swung open. The man¡¯s eyes zed with fury, radiating an unmistakable aura of anger. ¡°Turn off the music. ¡± His cold, displeased voice cut through the air. The music abruptly ceased, bringing the young man¡¯s dance to a sudden halt. The others in the room said in unison, ¡°Hello, Mr. Jenson. ¡± Ignoring their greetings, Cedrick approached Gwendolyn with an intense gaze. She smiled awkwardly and asked, ¡°Why did you suddenly show up?¡± His expression resembled that of a husband catching his wife doing something mischievous. Unfortunately, the dance Jimmy had just performed did ignite one¡¯s imagination. Feeling a twinge of guilt, Gwendolyn offered a sheepish smile. ¡°What do you think of his performance?¡± Cedrick asked with a solemn expression. Gwendolyn nced at the young dancer, Jimmy, who was eagerly staring at her. ¡°To be fair, he danced well,¡± she replied. As her words hung in the air, a cold tension enveloped the dance studio. Cedrick, consumed by jealousy, swiftly bent down and hoisted her onto his shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. ¡± Everyone in the dance studio watched in astonishment as the affectionate couple departed and left behind a few audible gasps in their path. Gwendolyn¡¯s face flushed in embarrassment, but she didn¡¯t struggle. Instead, she turned to Joanne and said, ¡°Record everyone¡¯s solo performance, and we will use it for the selection. ¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Harris. ¡± Cedrick continued walking without looking back, unwilling to release his hold on her as they entered the elevator. Blushing with embarrassment, Gwendolyn gently tapped his sturdy waist, silently pleading for him to release her. ¡°Hubby, could you please let me down?¡± Cedrick remained unresponsive. She let out a soft sigh. ¡°This position is quite ufortable. My stomach feels uneasy, and I¡¯m still having my period. ¡± Cedrick immediately bent down and gently ced her back on the ground. However, without missing a beat, he slid his arm beneath her knees, lifting her again into his embrace. Gwendolyn remained in his embrace, albeit in a different position. He made sure to hold onto her like a lion dering its sovereignty over its territory. ¡°Are you angry?¡± she asked coyly while her hands cradled his chin. Cedrick grunted, his expression stern. ¡°Is he good-looking?¡± Gwendolyn replied earnestly, ¡°Yes, he is good-looking. With his striking appearance and undeniable talent, he has the potential to be a renowned star in the entertainment industry, enjoying a prosperous and enduring career. ¡± She was discussing work matters, but all Cedrick heard were the words ¡°good-looking. ¡± Chapter 450 Chapter 450 He narrowed his eyes and gave Gwendolyn a menacing stare. ¡°Who is more attractive, him or me?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°You, undoubtedly. ¡± Cedrick remained dissatisfied. ¡°Does he possess a fit physique? Is he skilled in dancing?¡± Cedrick¡¯s jealousy filled the elevator. Gwendolyn stifled augh and wrapped her arms around his neck. She fixed him with an intense gaze, leaned in, and whispered in his ear. Instantly, Cedrick was pacified by her words. He nuzzled his nose against hers and said in a deep, husky voice, ¡°I¡¯ll showcase my dance moves when we arrive home, Gwenny. Would you prefer sensual or sexy dance moves?¡± Gwendolyn suppressed a giggle. ¡°I want both sexy and sensual moves. ¡± Cedrick bowed his head and nted a kiss on her lips. ¡°You shall have it all. However, I request that you refrain from watching other men perform such dances in the future. ¡± Gwendolyn was left speechless. ¡°His moves during the first half of the performance werepletely normal. I had no idea the second half would change so drastically. But to be honest, this trainee¡¯s dance skills are versatile and diverse, quite impressive,¡± she unwittingly praised Jimmy once again. Cedrick¡¯s face darkened. ¡°That just means he¡¯s a yer! A seducer! He must have ulterior motives for pulling off those moves in front of a married woman!¡± Gwendolyn nearly burst intoughter. She quickly reassured him by gently caressing the back of his neck. ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t watch other men perform such dances in the future. We wouldn¡¯t want to make this guy jealous again, would we?¡± Satisfied with her response, Cedrick confidently walked out of Angle Corporation. As Gwendolyn watched the building fade into the distance, a sudden question popped into her mind. ¡°Cedrick, why is it that whenever I¡¯m at Angle Corporation dealing with work and apanied by two other men, you always appear? Did you nt a spy to keep tabs on me?¡± Cedrick froze at her words. Gwendolyn scrutinized his facial expressions, narrowing her eyes. ¡°You better be honest with me. What have you done?¡± ¡°I-I can exin. ¡± He paled. Gwendolyn firmly grasped his chin, turning his face from side to side to examine him. ¡°Who is it?¡± Cedrick kept silent. Revealing their identity would be a betrayal to the person who had assisted him. He wanted to y fair since they had helped him greatly. With that in mind, he deflected the question back to Gwendolyn. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Who do you think it is, Gwenny?¡± ¡°So, you still want to protect them?¡± Gwendolyn pinched his cheeks. ¡°I won¡¯t make guesses. I will conduct an investigation. Once I uncover their identity, both you and they will suffer the consequences. ¡± Suffer the consequences? Cedrick trembled at the thought. He refused to get punished for this matter. ¡°Darling, I¡¯ve simply ensured that people around you are there to protect you whenever you¡¯re away from my sight. They willingly epted bribes because I¡¯m your husband. Rest assured. They are all on your side. ¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face darkened as she paid attention to his words. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®they¡¯? Are there multiple individuals spying on me? How many are there at Angle Corporation? Are there any at Harris Group too?¡± Cedrick was left speechless. What do I do? It feels like I¡¯ve just dug a hole for myself! Gwendolyn immediately sensed that he was contemting an escape n from the look on his face. Hence, she pinched his face fiercely. Cedrick scowled and took a deep breath. ¡°Please, be more gentle, Darling. My face will end up swollen and unsightly if you keep this up. ¡± Gwendolyn rxed her grip and yfully pinched his waist instead. ¡°Give me the list of names once we¡¯re home. If you dare defy me, there will be consequences!¡± ¡°Easy now,¡± he pleaded. Rather than avoiding her, he pulled her close and sought refuge in her embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Darling. I¡¯ll make you a soothing cup of chamomile tea when we get home. It will help you calm down. ¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s anger gradually dissipated as she watched his antics. She looked down at her stomach and said, ¡°I still feel a little queasy. How about giving it a gentle rub for me?¡± ¡°Of course, Darling. ¡± He was willing to do anything as long as it didn¡¯t involve physical punishment. He promptly straightened up and used his hand to massage her belly. Gwendolyn burst intoughter and teased, ¡°I still prefer it when you¡¯re submissive. Stop snooping around and prying into my affairs. Rtionships should be built on trust. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re incredibly attractive. I trust you, but I don¡¯t trust those other men hanging around you. ¡± Oh, whatever. Gwendolyn gave up, realizing she couldn¡¯t change his mind. The night before the homing feast at the Newton residence, Craig had a custom-made evening gown sent to Jennifer¡¯s room. Jennifer would asionally sneak nces at the top floor from her vantage point by the window. She had been observing the activities on that floor for the past few days and noticed that the housekeeper would deliver food there, which was enough for one person, daily. If Caylie was residing on the top floor, it was highly likely that she was the one who had attacked her with the ashtray before. However, Jennifer couldn¡¯t understand why Caylie would do such a thing. She couldn¡¯tprehend why Caylie treated her differently from Craig, Lucas, and Jasmine, even though they were all her biological children. Jennifer was also puzzled by the cuts on Caylie¡¯s wrists. As Abraham¡¯s wife, Caylie should havemanded respect within the family. The strange looks from Lucas and Jasmine when she entered the dining room added to Jennifer¡¯s confusion. Sitting on the bed, she pondered the mysteries of the Newton residence. The homing feast was just a day away, but Craig still refused to disclose the Newton family¡¯s secrets to Jennifer despite her being a member of the family. Jennifer couldn¡¯t ept being kept in the dark. With the housekeepers preupied with preparations for the banquet, Jennifer realized it would be the best time to sneak upstairs and investigate. Fear and curiosity battled within her, but curiosity won. In the dead of night, when silence enveloped the Newton residence, Jennifer slipped on her shoes and retrieved an eyebrow trimmer from her dressing table. Determined, she made her way upstairs, nning to first peer through the metal grill and see what secretsy hidden on the topmost floor, just as she had done before. Upon reaching the topmost floor, Jennifer was greeted by a dim and eerie corridor behind the metal grill. Summoning her bravery, she gave the grill door a firm shake. The sound of shing iron chains and metal reverberated through the silence of the night. ¡°Mother?¡± she called out in a hushed voice. She waited anxiously, but there was no reply. It seemed as though whoever resided there had drifted off to sleep. Undeterred, she made up her mind to enter through the windows. Just as she was about to proceed, a distinct tter of chains echoed from one of the rooms down the corridor. The heavy sound of metal being dragged along the floor pierced the quiet night. ¡°Mother, is that you?¡± she called out once more, but her words hung unanswered in the air. How strange. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± A man¡¯s icy voice suddenly pierced the air from behind her. A shiver shot down Jennifer¡¯s spine, and she spun around in fear. Chapter 451 Chapter 451 Under the moonlight, the handsome man¡¯s face darkened, emanating a terrifying chill. ¡°C-Craig¡­¡± Jenniferposed herself, gripping onto an eyebrow trimmer, preparing herself for any potential attack. With an indifferent expression, Craig asked again, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping at thiste hour? What are you doing on the top floor? Didn¡¯t I tell you to follow the rules?¡± ¡°I¡­ I couldn¡¯t sleep. I heard some noise here, so I came up to check. I was just about to go back when you arrived.¡± She swallowed nervously, trying to change the topic. ¡°What are you doing here at this hour? And you¡¯re still in your military uniform¡­¡± Without the slightest change in his expression, Craig responded, ¡°I just got off work. Tomorrow is your homing feast, which will be held at the Newton residence. That¡¯s why I came back to rest tonight.¡± ¡°Oh, okay. Thank you for your hard work.¡± She lowered her head, disying a submissive attitude. Craig¡¯s expression remained deadpan, and he said icily, ¡°Go back to your room and rest.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Jennifer nodded. However, the persistent sound of chains she had heard earlierpelled her to inquire further. ¡°Craig, is Mother really staying on the top floor? I heard the sound of chains being dragged on the floor. Is that her?¡± ¡°Mother is already asleep. You must have misheard.¡± His face remained emotionless. ¡°But¡­ I heard it clearly. I really heard the sound of chains. If only Mother is staying on the rooftop, does that mean you locked her up?¡± Craig¡¯s eyes narrowed, his gaze intense as he stared at her and maintained an ominous silence. ¡°Craig, I¡¯ll soon be a part of the family, and I hope we can be more open with each other. I have the right to know the secrets of the Newton family.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. There are no dark secrets in our family. Go back and get some sleep. Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡± Jennifer stood still. ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy. Can you please unlock the door, Craig? I would like to check on Mother.¡± Craig responded without hesitation, ¡°No. Mother is asleep now. Don¡¯t disturb her.¡± Her effort was futile. Craig remained unyielding no matter what she said. Jennifer was speechless. ¡°Tomorrow is your homing celebration, and you¡¯ll have many things to attend to. Go and get some sleep.¡± He softened his tone, coaxing her, and took the eyebrow trimmer from her hand. ¡°All right¡­¡± With Craig around, it was impossible for her to secretly investigate the top floor. She would have to wait for another opportunity. She bypassed Craig and was prepared to descend the stairs when her head was struck from behind. A wave of intense pain washed over her, and her awareness swiftly faded as she descended into darkness. In the elongated and unsettling corridor of the top floor, a chilling gust of wind swept through. Craig held up her body, his face taking on a menacing look despite his noble military attire. ¡°How can I not fulfill your curiosity since you¡¯re so curious about the top floor?¡± The next day was the day of the homing feast. Before dinner, Gwendolyn and Cedrick called Nico and Summer over to Harrick Vi to help Zoey look after the babies as they would be attending the celebration. Gwendolyn and Cedrick then went to meet up with Treyton before leaving for the Newton residence. As they traveled, Treyton sat in the extended luxury car, appearing visibly troubled. Sensing his anxiety, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Rx, Treyton. Today is a day of celebration for Jennifer. From now on, you two can finally be together.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Having waited for this moment for a long time, Treyton knew no one would dare to question his and Jennifer¡¯spatibility anymore. They would embark on a journey of marriage, building a life together, having children, and living happily ever after, embraced by the blessings and well-wishes of everyone around them. The thought filled Treyton¡¯s heart with excitement. Soon, they arrived at the Newton residence. The evening sky painted a picturesque scene with a beautiful sunset, and the number of guests present was still rtively few. The three of them were among the guests who arrived early. Jasmine, who was busy weing the guests, was ted when she saw Gwendolyn. She reached out to hold her hand. ¡°I couldn¡¯t attend the wee baby party you organized for your babiesst time, and I truly regretted it! Luckily, you¡¯re here today, Gwendolyn. It¡¯s been so long since I last saw you. Did you miss me?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re a grown-up now, yet you¡¯re as mischievous as a child. I think in another year or two, Craig will be nning an engagement party for you, huh?¡± Jasmine was annoyed by the topic of engagement. ¡°Being single is so much better. I have no interest in dating. Although many people have shown interest in me, Craig has directed all of them to Ms. Fortune¡¯s Favorite.¡± At the end of her statements, she covered her mouth and let out a mischievous, arrogant chuckle. Gwendolyn froze for a moment when she noticed her choice of words. ¡°You call her Ms. Fortune¡¯s Favorite? It seems you don¡¯t like her.¡± Jasmine uttered frankly, ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t like her. She has been missing for years, and all of a sudden, Craig found her. I was the only daughter in the family for so many years, and all my brothers doted on me. Now that she¡¯s here, I have to share everything with her.¡± Gwendolyn withdrew her hand from her affectionate grip. ¡°Where¡¯s Craig? Take me to him.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Jasmine brought them to the vi entrance. Craig was in the living room, overseeing the preparations for the event. After leaving Cedrick in the garden, Gwendolyn and Treyton went in to look for Craig. Upon seeing them from a distance, Craig greeted them with a smile, ¡°Mr. Treyton, Gwen, you¡¯re here early. How about enjoying some dessert in the garden?¡± Gwendolyn took a seat on the couch. ¡°We¡¯ll have itter. Mr. Craig, I brought Treyton over to meet you.¡± Treyton, with a rare hint of a smile, joined her on the couch. ¡°Oh?¡± Craig raised his brows. ¡°How can I help you?¡± Gwendolyn beamed with excitement and replied, ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it obvious? We¡¯re here to discuss Treyton and Jennifer¡¯s engagement! Tonight, as we gather for Jennifer¡¯s homing feast, I couldn¡¯t think of a more perfect moment to make the official announcement. It will definitely add an extrayer of joy to the celebration. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Craig did not respond immediately, his full attention focusing on the task of pouring tea. After a brief silence, he said, ¡°I wonder if Mr. Treyton is ready with the engagement gift?¡± Treyton smiled and replied earnestly, ¡°I have made arrangements to transfer the ownership of Citrine Entertainment and Harmony Pictures to Jennifer. Once she acquires the shares, she¡¯ll be released from her contract with Angle and be a self-standing artist. A dedicated team will manage her, and the studio will be solely dedicated to her.¡± The entertainment and filmpanies possessed substantial market capitalization, totaling two hundred million in value. Additionally, Treyton¡¯s n to establish a top-tier team would greatly contribute to Jennifer¡¯s sess in the industry. The gifting of the shares of the entertainment and filmpanies as part of the engagement was a sincere gesture. However, Craig¡¯s expression subtly shifted. ¡°Treyton, while your thoughtfulness toward our sister is commendable, in order to meet the proper etiquette, the gifts should be presented to the entire family, rather than exclusively to her.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn knitted her brows. Even Treyton was stunned for a moment. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Treyton¡¯s engagement with Jennifer clearly reflected hismitment to prioritizing her well-being. However, it raised concerns about the Newton family¡¯s sudden interest in benefiting from her despite theirck of care and support in the past. Are they trying to take advantage of Jennifer? Despite feeling a growing sense of displeasure, Treyton remained patient. ¡°So tell me what I should do, Mr. Craig.¡± Craig lifted his cup and raised it in a toast to both Gwendolyn and Treyton before cing it on the table. ¡°We just want a small token of appreciation¡ªfifteen percent of Harris Group¡¯s share to the Newton family.¡± Treyton and Gwendolyn exchanged nces, their expressions simultaneously changing. Chapter 452 Chapter 452 Harris Group was the secondrgest conglomerate in Chanaea after Jenson Group. Five percent of its shares was already a significant amount. Yet, Craig demanded fifteen percent in one go, and this was meant to cover the costs of the engagement gifts alone. They would have to spend even more by the time they got married. Gwendolyn and Treyton wouldn¡¯t have minded if all fifteen percent of the shares were to be given to Jennifer. However, the Newton family were the ones taking it all. The atmosphere in the living room was grim, and no one spoke for some time. Craig observed Gwendolyn¡¯s and Treyton¡¯s expressions with a smile. ¡°Jennifer is a popr celebrity. Since the announcement of her identity as the Newton family¡¯s daughter, many aristocrats have been coming to me to propose an engagement. Most of them offered fifteen percent of theirpany¡¯s shares. That¡¯s why I¡¯m consulting your opinion about this, Mr. Treyton. ¡± Treyton remained silent. He had no say in this matter, as Harris Group didn¡¯t belong to him. He only possessed fifteen percent of Harris Group¡¯s shares as the third son of the Harris family and needed permission from the family head before using them. It was outrageous for all of it to go to the engagement. Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Mr. Craig, don¡¯t you think this is a little much? How could youpare fifteen percent of Harris Group¡¯s shares to that of otherpanies in the market?¡± ¡°The other families offered mary gifts in addition to fifteen percent of theirpany¡¯s shares. It is only reasonable that I stated this one request. After all, Harris Group¡¯s stock price is much higher than most others,¡± Craig replied. Gwendolyn was annoyed by his sly smile and proceeded to give him an earful. ¡°Mr. Craig, you¡¯re simply being unreasonable. After Jennifer left the orphanage, she made her debut through mypany¡¯s talent show with her own effort. Angle and Treyton had been with her every step of the way to provide her with the resources she needed. You can¡¯t deny that behind the glory of winning the Best Actress Award, besides her own talent and hard work, Jennifer¡¯s achievements wouldn¡¯t have been made possible if not for Treyton and me. The Newton family never lent her a hand in the past twenty years. Besides giving her a ce in a prestigious family, the Newton family has contributed nothing to her sess. How dare you ask for fifteen percent of Harris Group¡¯s share? Dare I say the Newton family will be hogging all of it while Jennifer won¡¯t even get a cent? The Newton family cannot take credit for bringing her up. To think you still treat her like a bargaining chip while she¡¯s in a rtionship with Treyton! Craig, you sure are ruthless and materialistic!¡± Craig¡¯s expression remained indifferent. He took a sip of coffee leisurely and said, ¡°Calm down, Gwen. We¡¯re just discussing. Nothing is set in stone yet. You all can take your time and think it over before deciding. I¡¯m not in a hurry. ¡± Gwendolyn ignored him and smoothed out the hem of her skirt. ¡°Which room is Jennifer in? I want to check on her. ¡± ¡°She¡¯s getting dressed right now, so it probably won¡¯t be convenient. You¡¯ll see her soon now that the banquet is starting anyway. ¡± I can¡¯t believe he won¡¯t even let me see her! Incensed, Gwendolyn turned around and left. After taking two steps forward, she turned back. ¡°I don¡¯t feelfortable with you addressing me as Gwen. You should address me as Mrs. Jenson in the future. ¡± Craig¡¯s expression froze, but quickly, he put on a smile again. ¡°Sure. ¡± Cedrick, who was waiting outside, came up to her at once when he saw her walking out. ¡°Gwenny, how did it go? Did the engagement go well?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head solemnly. Cedrick frowned. ¡°Craig didn¡¯t agree? But Treyton and Jennifer are already an item although they never announced it publicly. I don¡¯t see a reason why he¡¯d disapprove of it. ¡± ¡°I was the one who disapproved. ¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze. ¡°He asked for fifteen percent of Harris Group¡¯s shares as the engagement gift. ¡± ¡°Fifteen percent?¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise. ¡°The gall of him to ask for such a hefty amount! He must be bored out of his mind with theck of work at the bureau these days. Let me have a word with him. ¡± ¡°Never mind that. ¡± Gwendolyn held him back. ¡°The engagement has nothing to do with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate of you to pressure him as his superior. I doubt we¡¯ll reach an agreement regarding the engagement by tonight. I¡¯ll wait for several days and try again. ¡± Cedrick ran his hand over her cheek, feeling heartbroken. ¡°Now you know how difficult it is to be the head of the family. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I have to be responsible for every little thing in the Harris family. The fact that there are a bunch of old geezers waiting for me to make a mistake to inte their ego isn¡¯t helping either. ¡± Cedrick massaged her shoulders skillfully as he whispered seductively in her ear, ¡°You deserve a reward tonight for your hard work, Darling. Were you satisfied with my sensual and sexy dance from two nights ago?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face flushed as red as a tomato as her mind was instantly filled with images of his sultry dance moves on the bed that night. She struggled to get a grip on herself at how sensual it was. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. It was a shame she couldn¡¯t indulge herself in it. She sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll have to take a rain check. I¡¯m still having my period. You¡¯ll be tortured if we can¡¯t go all the way. ¡± Cedrick inclined his head as he removed his suitcoat and wrapped it around Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulders. ¡°The weather is rather chilly tonight. I don¡¯t want you to get cramps from catching a cold. ¡± While they were engrossed in their conversation, Treyton walked out of the living room, looking gloomy. Gwendolyn took one look at him and asked, ¡°Treyton, what did you and Craig talk about?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t allow me to see Jennifer. ¡± Gwendolyn consoled, ¡°Let it go. Now that we¡¯re at the Newton residence, things would get ugly if Jennifer had to pick sides between you and her brother. ¡± Treyton didn¡¯t seem convinced. ¡°Kiddo, I have this gut feeling that something¡¯s off somewhere, but I can¡¯t seem to pinpoint what exactly it is. ¡± He felt extremely uneasy about not being able to meet with Jennifer. Gwendolyn and Cedrick exchanged a serious look but did notment on the matter. The garden was adorned with fairy lights everywhere. Even the bridge and brook were decorated elegantly. The guests began to trickle in. In about half an hour, the garden was a hive of activity. All of them were dressed up elegantly. Gwendolyn, Cedrick, and Treyton sat at one table. They all sipped on red wine except for Gwendolyn, who drank a cup of warm milk since she was still on her period. Craig had invited several reporters from major international media portals due to Jennifer¡¯s identity as a celebrity and a popr female idol group to perform on stage. The atmosphere was at its peak after their performance. Craig then got on stage and thanked the guests for their attendance ording to the script he¡¯d prepared beforehand. Treyton was bing increasingly anxious since Jennifer still hadn¡¯t appeared after such a long time. Craig was still giving his speech. He only glossed over the details about Jennifer¡¯s harsh upbringing at the orphanage and med everything on the kidnappers, washing the Newton family free from all guilt. ¡°Tonight, besides celebrating the return of Jennifer, I have another announcement to make since everyone is gathered here. ¡± Craig paused to create suspense. ¡°Just a moment ago, I agreed to the engagement proposal of the Abbot family. The engagement ceremony of Jennifer and Mr. Remus Abbot will be held at Summit Hotel in two weeks. ¡± Everyone at Gwendolyn¡¯s table froze on the spot. Treyton didn¡¯t hear a single word Craig said after that as all he could think of was Remus and Jennifer¡¯s engagement. Chapter 453 Chapter 453 Remus was already in his forties, and Jennifer was in her twenties; the former was almost two decades her senior. For his own gain, Craig had announced the engagement without so much as a warning. Treyton was furious. Leaping to his feet, he red at Craig who was on top of the stage. Simrly shocked, Gwendolyn tried to pull him back down but was a second toote. ¡°Jennifer and I are in love, Craig. I havee tonight specifically to ask you for her hand in marriage, yet you¡¯re betrothing her to somebody else. Besides, tonight¡¯s the first I¡¯m hearing of it. What is the meaning of this?¡± The guests were about to apud and congratte them but fell silent upon sensing something awry. The media began photographing Treyton in a mad flurry of clicks and shes. This man who holds the fate of the entertainment industry in his hand is dating the acimed actress, Jennifer. From the sound of it, their rtionship hasn¡¯t begun recently, either. Craig chuckled in response to the solemnity the atmosphere had attained. ¡°When did you and Jennifer start dating, Mr. Treyton? How was I not aware of that? Besides, being engaged to Mr. Abbott is what she wants.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Treyton scowled. A frigid aura poured forth. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He refused to believe that Jennifer would agree to be Remus¡¯ fianc¨¦e. ¡°Where is Jennifer? I want to see her.¡± Craig met his gaze but did not answer. Gwendolyn stood up and chimed in, ¡°This homing feast is held in Jennifer¡¯s honor, Mr. Craig. Isn¡¯t it strange that she¡¯s not even here? What do you have up your sleeve?¡± Since themencement of the party, a popr dance group had performed, followed by Craig taking the stage and giving a speech to announce the engagement. The sequence of events was so tightly nned that the guests did not notice a thing. Many among the crowd gave a start of surprise at Gwendolyn¡¯s words. As the feast is in her honor, why is she nowhere to be seen? Craig continued smiling, unperturbed. ¡°I was about to introduce my sister after announcing the wonderful news of her engagement, but I was interrupted by Mr. Treyton.¡± Turning around, he beckoned with a finger, and Jennifer appeared at the outdoor stairs on the second floor of the vi, d in a long gown studded with diamonds. Her makeup looked exquisite under the spotlight. The crystal tiara perched atop her head made her look like a princess. Her eyes, however, had lost their twinkle of innocence. Holding on to the railing, she descended the stairs slowly. She exuded dignified elegance with every gesture, as fitting her status as an heiress. The crowd¡¯s gaze followed her. Treyton¡¯s was especially scorching. Atst, she arrived on top of the stage and stood side by side with Craig, demure and obliging. She did not cast Treyton a single nce. Treyton¡¯s eyes tinged red. ¡°Have you forgotten our promise, Jennifer?¡± he shouted at her with a tremor in his voice. ¡°Are you really going to marry Remus?¡± Only then did Jennifer look at him. The venue was deathly silent. Every person had their gaze fixed on her in anticipation of her answer. Her voice was level. ¡°That¡¯s right. I agree to be with Mr. Abbot.¡± Those words caused a throbbing pain in Treyton¡¯s chest. He struggled to breathe. ¡°W-Why¡­¡± Jennifer bit her lip. She did not say another word, nor did she look at Treyton again. Having been together for a year, Treyton knew every gesture of hers well. He could tell that something was wrong from the way she was conducting herself. ¡°What did you do to her, Craig? She has never looked at me with such coldness in her eyes.¡± Craig smiled. ¡°What an interesting usation, Mr. Treyton. This is what Jennifer wants. How could I possibly force her?¡± Treyton refused to believe him. He grew more and more agitated and fixed his bloodshot eyes on the stage. Jennifer turned to her brother. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, Craig. I would like to retire to rest.¡± ¡°All right. Leave the guests to me,¡± Craig answered gently. Jennifer nodded and descended the stage. A maid stepped forward immediately to help her up the stairs. Treyton was about to give chase but Cedrick held him down by the shoulder. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Cedrick did not loosen his grip. He was trying to stop the other from losing his head. Gwendolyn stood up as well. ¡°My brother is not feeling well too, Mr. Craig. Excuse us.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick stood on either side of Treyton and forced him to walk out. The atmosphere during the ride back to Treyton¡¯s vi was unusual. All three of them were upied with the events that had transpired at the party. Gwendolyn analyzed, ¡°Jennifer did appear to be acting a little strangely. She staggered as though she was really ill when the maid was helping her off the stage. What¡¯s more, she did not even look at me the entire time, which was weird. I¡¯ve known her for many years since our days at the orphanage, and she has always thought of me as a sister. I was seated beside Treyton. She could not have pretended not to see me as a stranger would.¡± Treyton hung his head. Inplete silence, he clenched his fists to suppress his tumultuous emotions. ¡°Did you notice the tiredness in her eyes in spite of how nicely she was made up, Gwenny? She looked like she hasn¡¯t been sleeping.¡± ¡°Yes. It was weird,¡± Gwendolyn said thoughtfully. ¡°As a woman of principles, she would not have so easily gotten over you after being with you all this time, Treyton. Besides, there¡¯s no way she would have fallen for that middle-aged widower, Remus. Don¡¯t worry about it, Treyton. We need time to get to the bottom of this and find out what happened to Jennifer tonight and if Craig had said or done anything to her.¡± Treyton listened silently without expressing an opinion. He was thinking about Jennifer¡¯s words about wanting to be with Remus. Her promation reverberated in his mind. Even closing his eyes did not dispel the memory of Jennifer¡¯s cold, dead eyes. I don¡¯t know what to do. He did not remember how they had arrived at his house. With a start, he clutched Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist. There was desperation and plea in his bloodshot eyes. ¡°I want to give my fifteen percent share of Harris Group to the Newton family as an engagement gift.¡± Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking rationally now to be making any decisions, Treyton. Let¡¯s talk about this in a few days, all right?¡± ¡°How do you expect me to be rational?¡± Overwhelmed with remorse, he gripped her wrist tighter. Even his voice quivered. ¡°It was all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have tried so recklessly to marry her. I was greedy for wanting her to regain her status as the daughter of a wealthy family so we would bepatible and nobody would dare question our rtionship. I know that she craves her family¡¯s love despite her reluctance. That was why I urged her to return to the Newton residence. Craig does not see her as his family but as amodity for his interests. I¡¯m convinced that he has forced her into this. It¡¯s all my fault. I was the one who pushed her into that hell. I did this.¡± His eyes were bloodshot as he tried his best not to cry. ¡°I¡¯m begging you, Kiddo. Let me use my shares in Harris Group to fix this and rescue her from the Newton family.¡± Gwendolyn felt her heart ache at the sight of him. However, as the news of Jennifer¡¯s engagement had been announced that night, his appearance at the Newton residence with his shares on the following day would be meaningless to change the situation. Furthermore, the engagement party was two weeks away. She decided that it was more important to find out what happened to Jennifer and think of a way to see her. ¡°The shares won¡¯t change a thing, Treyton. Calm yourself. You¡¯re not thinking straight right now, and any solution youe up with would not be wise.¡± Treyton gaped at her. ¡°Could you remain calm if this happened to you? Me taking my fifteen percent does not affect your share. Why wouldn¡¯t you agree? Besides, we have both seen what Craig has done to her tonight. How could I watch her get engaged to Remus?¡± Chapter 454 Chapter 454 His eyes turned scarlet. He clutched Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist, not noticing that he was gripping her so tightly that her skin was turning pale. Cedrick shoved him away, wrapped Gwendolyn in his arms, and massaged her wrist. Gwendolyn sighed. Her tone was stern as she said, ¡°You acted rashly tonight, Treyton. I understand how you must be feeling, but I don¡¯t agree with you giving away fifteen percent of thepany¡¯s shares to the Newton family.¡± Treyton gaped at her in disbelief. ¡°For all your talk about being sisters with Jennifer, you won¡¯t even save her when she¡¯s in trouble. When have you be so unfeeling, Gwendolyn?¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Me, unfeeling?¡± Gwendolyn was incredulous. Her rage began to boil. As Treyton had had a traumatic night, she did her best to remain patient. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hold a grudge against somebody who can¡¯t think straight. We¡¯ll talk about this tomorrow.¡± Treyton¡¯s gaze grew cold. Everything that had happened at the party had lost him his wits. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself if you won¡¯t. My shares, my call.¡± He turned to go, but Gwendolyn had enough. Done with coddling him, she dashed forward and pped him across the face. Smack! The crisp p echoed in the air. As she had used her full strength, Treyton¡¯s face tilted to the side, and a red imprint of her hand appeared instantly on his cheek. He stared at her, dumbstruck. Cedrick, too, was stunned. He remained rooted to the spot. Massaging his stinging cheek, Treyton fumed, ¡°How dare you hit me, Gwendolyn?¡± Faced with his usatory re, Gwendolyn raised her chin defiantly. ¡°I¡¯m not hitting you as your little sister but as the head of the Harris family. Now would you calm down? Can you listen to me?¡± She looked stern, like the head of the family she was. Although Treyton was fuming, he did not say a word in retaliation. Seeing that he had regained some control, she continued, ¡°You¡¯re a smart man, Treyton. I¡¯ll give you some time to cool down and reflect on your actions. Before you think things through, you¡¯re not allowed to get out of your house.¡± Treyton was in disbelief. He gazed at her, somewhat hurt. ¡°Are you cing me under house arrest, Gwendolyn?¡± ¡°We¡¯re family. How could I ce you under house arrest? Think of it as grounding. It¡¯s your punishment for speaking so rudely to the head of the family.¡± Before Treyton could say another word, Gwendolyn turned to address Cedrick. ¡°Could you marshal some men who aren¡¯t on active duty to surround this vi? I don¡¯t want even an ant to get out.¡± Cedrick nodded decisively. ¡°Very well, Darling.¡± Gwendolyn added, ¡°Remember to arm every single one of them with batons. You have my permission to beat him up if he tries to sneak out.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Cedrick suppressed hisughter. If it came to that, she would still be the one feeling sorry for him. After giving her instructions, Gwendolyn gazed once more at Treyton. ¡°I am now the head of the family, and everybody must obey me with no exceptions. If you won¡¯t, we¡¯re going to the ancestral hall and I will have you tried ording to our familyw. Feel free to test me, but don¡¯t expect me to go easy on you.¡± Treyton snorted. ¡°You think I¡¯m scared of a little beating?¡± Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows coldly. ¡°You should be. If you piss me off, I will have you beaten up so severely that you pass out and spend the next two weeks in bed. By then, you would only be able to watch the broadcast of Jennifer¡¯s engagement party. Would you like to experience that?¡± Treyton¡¯s jaw clenched. He refused to say another word. With her arm around Cedrick¡¯s, Gwendolyn left. Before departing, she turned around and said, ¡°Call me when you¡¯ve calmed down and thought things through.¡± Remaining where he stood, Treyton watched as she and Cedrick entered the car. However, the car did not start. Fifteen minutester, an orderly march of footsteps sounded. The smart-looking soldiers surrounded the vi as if they had rehearsed it and left no corner unmanned. The soldiers were not predisposed to negotiations but preferred to strike first instead. Forced back into his vi, Treyton shut the door behind him. Only after Treyton was securely inside his house did Gwendolyn and Cedrick disappear into the pitch- ck night. Like most other days, Inez showed up early the following morning at her office at Mossey Corporation, Faike. Since talking things through with Kieran, their rtionship had lost some of its stiffness. Though far from being on good terms, they would exchange a greeting when they bumped into each other at the vi. For health reasons, her secretary had taken a medical leave. She was to spend the following two days coaching her new temp. Half an hourter, the manager of the HR department arrived with the new secretary and knocked on Inez¡¯s door. ¡°Come in,¡± she said without taking her attention off the documents in her hand. With her permission, the two figures entered. The man behind the manager had an imposing poise and a handsome face. He had a presence that could not be ignored. However, Inez did not so much as look up. Unctuously, the manager ced the secretary¡¯s resume on her table. ¡°This candidate is very well qualified, Ms. Mossey. You¡¯ll like him.¡± Inez grunted in response, engrossed in typing. She did not look at the documents beside her. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy working for me. All of my appointments have to be made one week in advance with the exception of special circumstances. You cannot arrive at the officeter than me. When Ie in in the morning, I expect a fresh cup of coffee on my desk¡­¡± She went on for over a minute without even looking up. ¡°Got it?¡± she asked as she typed. The man nodded. ¡°Understood, Ms. Mossey.¡± His voice was deep and pleasant. Inez froze, her hands hovering over the keyboard. Where have I heard this voice before? Incredulously, she turned around and, without warning, found her gaze meeting his. Kieran looked at her quietly with a smirk. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± She regained herposure a few secondster. ¡°So, you¡¯re my new secretary?¡± Kieran did not speak. He did not know what else he could do to expedite his quest for a wife. Although he had texted Treyton the night before, he still had not gotten a response. He wondered vaguely what thetter was busy with. It was Madelyn who came up with that idea earlier that morning. He remained silent while the enamored manager giggled as she addressed Inez, ¡°Are you happy with him, Ms. Mossey? With these looks and qualifications, he is the gold standard of secretaries. I would be happy just having my daily peep.¡± Inez did not express any exuberance. She swept a nce at the manager. ¡°Your work here is done. You may go.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Mossey.¡± After the office door closed, Inez picked up Kieran¡¯s resume and studied it intently. Kieran, on the other hand, stood straight and waited quietly for her questions. Inez took her time to peruse his academic qualifications and employment history. This fellow began interning at Salinsburgh¡¯s Grand Valley Hospital at the age of sixteen and performed surgery, breaking the hospital¡¯s record at the time. Since his prodigious performance with the scalpel, his name had be a famous one in the medical world. As she neared the end of the document, she gulped. This guy¡¯s aplishments in the medical world are simply ridiculous. No wonder his emotional intelligence is so low. He has given everything he has to medical research. ¡°Are you done, Ms. Mossey? I can pour you a ss of water if you¡¯re feeling thirsty.¡± Kieran¡¯s voice snapped her back to reality. Trying to remain calm, she pointed at his resume in an effort to nitpick. ¡°All of your work experiences are rted to medicine; you have zero experience in business. Why do you think you are qualified to be my personal secretary?¡± Chapter 455 Chapter 455 When confronted with her question, Kieran didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°I only know I must obey my superior, so I¡¯ll do what you say, Ms. Mossey.¡± Inez was at a loss for words. His words sounded extremely pleasing to the ears. The main role of a secretary was to assist his or her leader. With Kieran¡¯s high education and good looks, he was more than qualified for the position. Inez simply stated in response, ¡°Being my secretary requires a high level ofpetence. I expect everything to be understood in the first instance. I¡¯ll give you a seven-day trial period. If you fail to handle all tasks wlessly, you¡¯ll have to leave Mossey Corporation. Do you have any objections?¡± ¡°I have no objections to that.¡± ¡°Great. This is a coboration proposal sent from overseas. I want you to trante the entire document into Chanaean and submit it to me before noon.¡± Inez intended to make things difficult for him. She sorted several Greganese business ns and passed them to him. Kieran calmly took the documents and briefly skimmed through the words. His cool andposed demeanor remained unchanged. ¡°Sure.¡± Inez knocked on the desk and emphasized, ¡°You¡¯re known for being a man of few words, but that won¡¯t work here at Mossey Corporation. You should reply, ¡®Yes, Ms. Mossey.¡±¡® Kieran let out a rare chuckle. ¡°Yes, Ms. Mossey.¡± He took the documents and turned around, preparing to leave. ¡°Wait,¡± Inez stopped him again. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Inez stared at him solemnly. She first corrected his words, ¡°You should ask, ¡®Do you have any further instructions, Ms. Mossey?¡±¡® Kieran managed to withhold hisughter. He asked in a proper manner, ¡°Do you have any further instructions, Ms. Mossey?¡± Inez was somewhat satisfied. ¡°Go and get your office desk moved in, and ce it in¡­¡± She scanned the surroundings. Finally, she pointed to an empty space behind the visitor¡¯s couch. ¡°Move it over there. It¡¯s closer to me. I can oversee your work and assess your performance at any time.¡± Kieran couldn¡¯t ask for anything more than working in the same office as her. ¡°Okay.¡± The moment he finished speaking, he immediately sensed Inez¡¯s intense stare. He hurriedly corrected himself, ¡°Yes, Ms. Mossey.¡± Without wasting any time, he turned around and walked out. As he was reluctant to bother others, he personally carried the chairs and move the desk. Another female assistant, Yvonne Coleman, who was outside the CEO¡¯s office, immediately stepped forward to offer help. ¡°Mr. Harris, how about I give you a hand?¡± Without lifting his gaze, Kieran responded with a cold tone, ¡°No thanks.¡± Since he had toe in and out several times, the door to the CEO¡¯s office was left open. Inez heard everything distinctly, and her expression soon turned grim. However, Yvonne, who stood outside the door, did not perceive any unusual aura emanating from her CEO. Her attention was wholly focused on Kieran. Given his striking looks and the mention of his single status on his resume, anyone would feel drawn to him. She enthusiastically approached him as she took a tissue and asked in concern, ¡°Mr. Harris, you¡¯re sweating a lot. Shall I help you wipe it off?¡± Before Kieran could refuse, Inez impatiently eximed from the office, ¡°What¡¯s taking you so long to move a workstation? If you keep messing around and causing dys in my work, both of you can leave tomorrow!¡± Yvonne was startled and immediately apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Mossey. I¡¯ll get back to my ce and focus on my work right away.¡± Without the annoying chatterbox next to him, Kieran quickly moved his belongings. Ten minutester, he closed the office door. Inez¡¯s desk was positioned horizontally, but Kieran¡¯s workstation was arranged vertically. If he wished to look in Inez¡¯s direction while sitting on the chair, he had to turn his head. However, Inez didn¡¯t even need to raise her gaze. With a quick sidelong nce, she could observe all of his movements. Although they had known each other for quite some time, this was the first time they had been alone together in the same environment for such a long time. Inez felt a subtle surge of emotions in her heart. Over the past few days, it would be a lie for Inez to say that she did not feel Kieran¡¯s sincerity. However, she would never give in easily. She was determined to show Kieran that she was not a woman to be taken lightly. She would go above and beyond to prove herself and hoped that he would If Kieran could not handle it during this period of time, then he was definitely not the right person. It would be best for her to cut all ties and move on then. Her thoughts were clear and unwavering. As she pondered, her fingers continued to tap on the keyboard without pause. After an hour and a half, the office remained filled with nothing but the mechanical rhythm of their keyboards. asionally, Inez would secretly raise her gaze and cast a distant nce at Kieran who sat opposite her. His features were remarkably attractive from the side. As he immersed himself in his work, his expression remained serious, but there was a subtle aloofness that emanated from within him. The sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating his side profile and casting a radiant glow upon his face. It was a presence that couldn¡¯t be ignored with a mere nce. Kieran, a prominent figure in the entire Chanaea medicalmunity, had unexpectedly joined the small-scale Mossey Corporation in Faike and taken up the role of a mere personal secretary for her. This feeling was quite peculiar. However, it was not unpleasant, but rather delightful. She stared at Kieran¡¯s face in a trance. She did not notice at all when he had turned his face and made eye contact with her. ¡°Ms. Mossey?¡± Inez felt slightly embarrassed as she suddenly came back to her senses. She put on a strong front and said, ¡°What are you looking at? Those Greganese proposal documents are not easy to trante. If you don¡¯t finish them before noon, I won¡¯t spare you!¡± Kieran was slightly taken aback. Wasn¡¯t she the one who looked at me first? He did not want to humiliate her. Instead, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve already tranted everything. Would you like to have a look, Ms. Mossey?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve finished tranting them all?¡± she asked in disbelief. Tranting those five Greganese project proposals would take a long time as it involved researching and inputting each word and sentence online for trantion, followed by verifying the uracy and manually inputting one copy. However, Kieran was able to finish it in just an hour and a half. It was truly astonishing. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°All right. Send it to me. I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Kieran immediately did as told. Inez opened the file and quickly skimmed through it. She didn¡¯t notice any ring mistakes and found the input to be organized and clear. He had even tranted some originallyplex Greganese sentences into clear and understandable phrases. She looked at him in astonishment and eximed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you major in medicine? I didn¡¯t expect you to know Greganese.¡± Kieran pursed his lips slightly and replied, ¡°It¡¯s a standard requirement for all children in the Harris family. When we were young, we had private tutors who taught us eight differentnguages at home. It¡¯s mandatory.¡± Inez blinked as her gaze remained fixed on him. However, in her heart, she couldn¡¯t help but be amazed by the distinct manners and rules of a prestigious family. She asked curiously, ¡°Are your private tutors strict? Do they resort to physical punishment for making mistakes?¡± Kieran replied, ¡°The private tutors wouldn¡¯t physically punish us. However, after finishing our home economics ss every day, my elder brother would take a ruler and meticulously inspect our academic progress by going through every word and sentence.¡± ¡°So your family also resorts to using a ruler like that. Have you ever been punished by your older brother?¡± Kieran shook his head in response. Inez was surprised. ¡°Not even once?¡± ¡°No. I have a reserved nature and rarely make mistakes. Treyton and Kiddo get punished more frequently.¡± Somehow, Inez began to have the idea of messing with him. She picked up a whole stack of files consisting of over forty foreign documents and said in a teasing tone, ¡°Before the end of the workday, I need you to trante all of these. If you can¡¯t do it, I don¡¯t mind using a ruler to help youplete your childhood memories.¡± Kieran fixed his gaze on the towering stack of documents and subconsciously checked his watch. He realized that there were still two and a half hours until lunchtime. It took him an hour and a half to trante the five documents. Tranting these over forty documents before the end of the workday was not a simple task. Chapter 456 Chapter 456 Kieran did not reach out to take them, nor did he respond. Looking closely at his expression, Inez arched an eyebrow. ¡°If you feel you don¡¯t have what it takes to endure this harsh seven-day trial period, you can throw in the towel at any time and return to where you belong.¡± He rose to his feet immediately, strode over to her, and took the thick stack of documents. ¡°I won¡¯t throw in the towel. You don¡¯t have to worry about that, Ms. Mossey.¡± If I can¡¯tplete it in time, the worst that can happen to me is a humiliating beating. However, if I don¡¯t agree to do it, it¡¯ll be the equivalent of rejecting Inez¡¯s test. That will only put more distance between us and make it even more difficult to pursue her. Kieran carried the documents back to his desk. He began tranting the contents without any rest and typing them out. She suppressed a smile while observing his intent and solemn expression. The pair quickly fell back to work. Neither spoke again to disrupt the peaceful silence, and the atmosphere in the office was very harmonious. When lunchtime rolled around two and a half hourster, Inez stood up, smoothed the hem of her tight- fitting skirt, and turned toward him. ¡°Mr. Kieran, no matter how busy we are, we shouldn¡¯t forget to have lunch. Are youing?¡± Despite his efforts, he had only finished tranting nine of the files. With his mind still preupied with work, he answered without a second thought, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet.¡± Her face fell when she heard his reply. What an idiot. Shaking her head in exasperation, she turned and headed toward the door. Suddenly, he was struck with the bted realization that her words had seemed to carry a subtext. Was she inviting me to have lunch with her? Pushing aside his mouse and keyboard, he hurried after her. ¡°Ms. Mossey, I¡¯m new here and still not familiar with the area. Could I join you for lunch?¡± Inez continued walking forward without pausing. She shot him a sidelong nce and replied, ¡°As a secretary on your first day of work here, are you actually asking your immediate superior to treat you to a meal? Mr. Kieran, you sure know how to put on airs.¡± He fell silent while what little emotional intelligence cells he had turned in his mind, trying to think of the best response. ¡°What I meant was for you to take me out to lunch, but I¡¯ll pay.¡± She shot a few curious nces before uttering a rare word of praise, ¡°That sounds interesting. You¡¯re usually so aloof and reticent, so I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d say something so agreeable. You¡¯ve improved. Not bad.¡± Kieran¡¯s lips curved into a smile, and his heart somersaulted in joy. The next moment, however, she continued, ¡°But didn¡¯t you say you have no money after losing your phone and wallet, so you¡¯re putting up at my ce for now? How are you going to pay for my meal? With your face? Or do you mean to say that your missing wallet will somehow appear out of thin air later?¡± His face paled slightly, and he became tongue-tied. Did I slip up? Did Inez guess that something doesn¡¯t add up? Sure enough, her expression darkened as she said in a soft, sarcastic tone, ¡°You¡¯re still too inexperienced, Mr. Kieran. You didn¡¯t go all out to act pitiful. You need to put on a more convincing act.¡± He stared at her wordlessly. Looking away, Inez walked straight into the elevator. Inside the elevator, they did not utter a single word to each other, and a slight tension hung in the air. Having put in all that effort to make a good impression only to have things jump back to square one, Kieran found it hard to ept the setback. He exined, ¡°When I stayed over at the Mossey residence, I didn¡¯t have my wallet or phone. I was also caught in the rain all night. I didn¡¯t lie to you.¡± Nheless, she was unmoved. ¡°My parents were the ones who agreed to let you stay over. It¡¯s useless to exin the situation to me. I won¡¯t believe it.¡± Ding! When the elevator arrived at the designated floor, she stepped out first in her high heels. ¡°Inez¡­¡± He caught up to her, thinking to give it another shot and exin himself again. ¡°Call me Ms. Mossey,¡± she uttered without so much as a nce in his direction. ¡°Of course, Ms. Mossey. Regarding this matter, I¡ª¡± ¡°We¡¯re at the office. We don¡¯t talk about personal matters at work. Please be more mindful of the setting when you speak.¡± Is she trying to keep me silent on this? Left with no other choice, he could only follow closely behind her. Over in Salinsburgh, the atmosphere at Harrick Vi was very unusual as Gwendolyn had not taken the initiative to say anything since their return the previous night up until lunchtime. Cedrick sighed quietly. Fortunately, I know she¡¯s just worried about Treyton. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d have thought she was sulking because of me again. ¡°Stop worrying and have something to eat first, Gwenny. We can discuss a solutionter.¡± Hedled some fish stew he had made into a bowl and set it in front of her, but she did not drink it. A solemn expression still creased her brows as she said, ¡°I asked Elven to contact Craig this morning. I wanted to meet with Mrs. Newton at the Newton residence and visit Jennifer at the same time, but Craig refused.¡± She stared at the food before her, lost in thought and upset. ¡°Even when I wanted to make an appointment to meet with Craig, he declined, saying he had something important at work and didn¡¯t have time.¡± Nudging the bowl of stew toward her, he said, ¡°I can talk to Craig. He can choose not to meet you, but he has toe and see me. Drink some stew first, Gwenny. Leave everything else to me.¡± His words made her feel much more at ease. Thus was the beauty of having someone to rely on. Later that afternoon, Cedrick contacted Craig. However, thetter was on duty in the suburbs indeed and did not have any free time. ¡°Gwenny, I¡¯ve informed Craig toe to Harrick Vi and meet with me tomorrow. You can talk to him then.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she replied. ¡°How are things with Treyton? Is he behaving himself?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve checked on that. He¡¯s been quite good for the time being. He hasn¡¯t caused a scene, but there haven¡¯t been sounds of him cooking either. He probably hasn¡¯t eaten anything,¡± Cedrick answered. Gwendolyn furrowed her brows, feeling a little frustrated. ¡°Is he deliberately going on a hunger strike? Forget about him. He won¡¯t starve to death from not eating anything for a couple of days. Besides, before we resolve the problem regarding Jennifer, he won¡¯t bear to let himself die.¡± Cedrick nodded. Drawing her into his arms, he rubbed his cheek against her neck and nuzzled her affectionately. In a hoarse voice, he said, ¡°It¡¯s rare that we get half a day off work. I heard that your period has ended. This afternoon, shall we¡ª¡± Without waiting for him to finish his sentence, Gwendolyn pushed him away by his forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t you know anything? We can only do it two days after it has ended.¡± Her response rendered him speechless. Meanwhile, back at Mossey Corporation, Kieran had wasted no time in hurrying back to the office after lunch. Even if it meant his hands would be limp from all the typing, he did not stop working. Seeing that he was so diligent that he did not even drink a sip of water, Inez could not help wondering whether she had gone a little too far with her request. She went to pour him a ss of warm water and carried it over to his desk. Her gaze swept over the remaining files that had yet to be tranted. There was one hour to go before their working hours ended, and he only had three files left. He had already tranted over forty documents. He had actually almost finished tranting such arge amount of data in one day, and she could not help feeling astonished. His capabilities are truly remarkable! s, he doesn¡¯t have much interest in the business world. Otherwise, he¡¯d probably be a formidable figure in the industry. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Noticing her gazing at him from the side, Kieran stopped what he was doing and turned to stare at her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did I make a mistake?¡± Inez lightly clicked her tongue twice. ¡°Nope. You¡¯re verypetent, Mr. Kieran. It appears I won¡¯t be able to help you fulfill your childhood wish after all.¡± Smiling awkwardly, she turned and returned to her desk. However, Kieran fell into deep thought as he looked at her. Does that mean she was looking forward to punishing me? That makes sense. She suffered a lot when pursuing me for a year previously and had to put up with how coldly I treated her. Now that the tables have finally turned, it only seems right that she should give me a good beating to make up for what she went through. As that thought crossed his mind, he quietly deleted the three documents he had just tranted and cleared the recycle bin on hisputer. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 457 Chapter 457 All the deleted documents were gone. Kieran wasn¡¯t upset by it. He continued to trante the remaining three documents. However, his typing speed had slowed down a lot. Once again, silence ensued in the office. Nobody said anything more. Time seemed to tick by faster when everyone was busy. In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed. Inez began to pack up her stuff to get off work. ¡°Once you¡¯re done organizing the tranted documents, send them to me,¡± she said casually. Kieran paused what he was doing and turned to look at her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to check them?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve finished tranting. What is there for me to check?¡± Kieran lowered his gaze, finding it hard to speak. ¡°I¡­ I have two more documents left to be tranted.¡± Inez was stunned. She shot him a look and asked, ¡°You had three documents left one hour ago. And now, there are still two left? What have you been doing for the past hour?¡± Inez carefully recalled and didn¡¯t remember seeing Kieran cking off. He had indeed been focusing on his trantion. Kieran¡¯s face stiffened slightly. He didn¡¯t make any response. Inez walked over suspiciously and took a look at hisputer screen. Soon, she noticed something was amiss. ¡°I came by earlier and saw that you had tranted these documents. Why are they gone? Are you trying to fool me?¡± ¡°I identally deleted them, so I had to trante them all over again,¡± Kieran exined calmly. Inez stared at him in confusion. She immediately clicked the recycle bin on hisputer, but it was empty. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that you identally deleted them from the recycle bin too?¡± she teased. Kieran fell silent. ¡°Even if you happened to delete the files for real, judging from your ability, you should be able to trante them again in no time. Do you think I¡¯m easy to fool?¡± she went on. Kieran pursed his lips. His ears were slightly red. He wasn¡¯t good at lying, so he didn¡¯t know what to say. Inez¡¯s face was gloomy. ¡°You¡¯re ying tricks right under my nose on your first day of work. Do you think I won¡¯t punish you just because you have a distinguished status?¡± Swallowing hard, Kieran clenched his fists. ¡°In this office, you¡¯re the CEO, and I¡¯m your secretary. Feel free to punish me for the mistakes I made.¡± Inez fixed her eyes on him, feeling a little taken aback. It was the first time she had seen Kieran, who was always haughty and cold, being so humble. Indeed, she seemed like his boss. ¡°In that case, I¡¯m more than d to help youplete your childhood memories, Mr. Kieran.¡± Inez walked to her desk and took out a sandalwood ruler from the drawer. Previously, she had used that to educate her cousin brother who had interned at thepany. Since then, she had been keeping the ruler in the drawer. Inez felt a little bad for using it on Kieran, who was the second son of the Harris family and also the most powerful man in Salinsburgh. However, as she pondered about it, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything wrong with teaching her secretary a lesson for being dishonest. Moreover, she knew what she was doing. Mustering her courage, she walked toward Kieran with steady steps. Kieran felt guilty as he watched here over to him. He had been obedient since he was young and hadn¡¯t caused any trouble. No one had used a ruler to hit him before, so he didn¡¯t know how it felt. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. By then, Inez had already walked up to him. ¡°Please stretch out your left hand, Mr. Kieran,¡± she ordered sternly. While sitting, he looked up at her and extended his hand as told. ¡°Spread your fingers. Face your palm up.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Knowing that he had no experience of being beaten by a ruler, Inez taught him patiently. Kieran followed her instructions. The moment he spread his hand, Inez pped his palm hard with the ruler. A stinging pain seared through his skin in an instant. Pressing his lips into a thin line, he frowned in pain and stifled the urge to withdraw his palm. As Inez hit him with the ruler, she observed the expression on his face at the same time. She didn¡¯t go easy on him. After hitting him ten times, she stopped and asked in a deep voice, ¡°How do you feel, Mr. Kieran?¡± Kieran looked at his reddened palm and said honestly, ¡°It hurts.¡± ¡°I¡¯m honored to be the one to let you experience the feeling of getting hit with a ruler for the first time.¡± Inez held back herughter. Noticing her casual tone, Kieran felt that the pain was worth it. Looking up at her, he said seriously, ¡°There are actually a lot of first times¡ªfirst time kissing, first time being a secretary, first time apologizing, and the list goes on.¡± Inez was moved. However, at the thought that he was punished because of a mistake, she immediately regained her composure and reprimanded him, ¡°Go ahead and y tricks if you¡¯re not afraid of being punished. The tasks in these seven days will only increase. Please be prepared, Mr. Kieran.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Inez furrowed her brows. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Mossey.¡± Only then did Inez walk to her desk and put the ruler back into the drawer. She picked up her bag and was about to leave when she turned around and said, ¡°Go back only when you¡¯re done with the trantions.¡± ¡°Inez,¡± Kieran called out. ¡°Could you wait for me and let me hitch a ride with you?¡± Inez arched her brows. ¡°Are you asking your boss to send you home on your first day of work? You¡¯re putting on airs, Mr. Kieran.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. I don¡¯t have my phone. I don¡¯t even have money to hail a taxi, nor do I recognize my way home.¡± ¡°You had money when you paid for lunch in the afternoon, no?¡± Inez asked. ¡°I only had that much in my wallet. I finished everything in the afternoon. Now I barely have any.¡± Inez didn¡¯t say anything. She watched him from afar, neither agreeing to his request nor refusing it. He lowered his head and looked at the slightly swollen wound on his palm, lost in thought. Inez followed his line of sight. When she saw his injured palm, it struck a chord in her heart. She pretended to be casual as she sat down on the couch. Then, sheid out an exquisite coffee brewing kit on the table. ¡°It¡¯s still early. I¡¯m not in a hurry to go home. Let me spend half an hour familiarizing myself with coffeemaking.¡± Kieran understood her. He immediately shifted his attention back to hisputer and continued with the trantions without caring about the pain in his left palm. Inez focused on making coffee. Her every move exuded the elegance of a finedy. Soon, the office was filled with a faint coffee aroma. She poured away the coffee she brewed the first time and took the trouble to prepare it again. Half an hourter, Kieran finished the remaining two documents and sent them to Inez. It had been a long day. He let out a long sigh and switched off theputer. Inez had just finished making coffee and poured two cups of it. Kieran went over to her and waited for her to finish. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. Have a try, Mr. Kieran.¡± Inez¡¯s voice was gentle. Chapter 458 Chapter 458 Kieran was slightly stunned. His eyes soon fell on the two cups of coffee that she had brewed. He didn¡¯t expect her to prepare one for him too. Picking up a cup, he took a sip of the coffee. The water temperature was carefully controlled. After Inez poured away the first round of coffee that she had brewed, the bitterness of the coffee had been reduced. Every sip of the rich and delicate vor melted in his mouth. Inez had clearly brewed the coffee from her heart. He finished it and said, ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± Inez gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°Is that all? You sound so half-hearted, Mr. Kieran. Don¡¯t be stingy with your words when you¡¯re praising a woman.¡± ¡°This is the most aromatic coffee that I have ever drank. Moreover, it¡¯s brewed by my superior. I will never forget the taste for the rest of my life,¡± Kieran said again. She chuckled, amused by how hard he was racking his brain to sing her praises. Back then, she had always felt that he was a chaste cold fish. It had never struck her mind that he could be so adorable. She offered him another cup. ¡°We¡¯ll go back after drinking this.¡± Kieran epted it. He liked it so much that he couldn¡¯t seem to put it down. The next morning, Cedrick called Craig over for a talk in the name of his superior. Craig could not avoid it. He appeared in front of the entrance of Harrick Vi at ten sharp. The security guards let him in quickly. His eyes were narrowed. There was no telling what he was feeling at that moment. Cedrick and Gwendolyn were sitting in the living room, waiting for his arrival. Their expressions were solemn. Craig adjusted the cor of his military attire before entering. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mrs. Jenson.¡± He stood in front of them with the coffee table sitting in between. Cedrick cast him a nce, signaling him to sit on the couch at the side. ¡°Sit.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jenson.¡± As soon as he sat down, he could sense that Gwendolyn was about to say something, so he immediately spoke first. ¡°I came here today for the matter regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Let¡¯s not talk anything about my family¡¯s personal affairs.¡± Right after he finished saying that, the temperature in the living room plummeted in an instant. Gwendolyn¡¯s face was dark. Clearly, she was holding back her fury. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. While fixing his eyes on Craig, Cedrick reached out and held her hand to make her feel better. ¡°Well, as a superior, I think caring about my deputy director¡¯s family affairs can be considered an official matter,¡± Cedrick said. Craig froze. It took him a while to reply. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick went straight to the point. ¡°Jennifer didn¡¯t seem to be in good fettle yesterday. She only appeared once at the banquet. Is she better now?¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Mr. Jenson. She just caught a cold. It¡¯s nothing serious. She¡¯ll be fine after a few days,¡± Craig replied with a smile. Cedrick continued asking, ¡°When did you agree to the Abbot family¡¯s engagement proposal?¡± ¡°Just before the banquet started. It was after Mrs. Jenson and Mr. Treyton asked about the engagement.¡± In that case, he made his decision afterparing the engagement gifts from the different families. Gwendolyn flew into a rage. ¡°What do you take Jennifer for? Is she your money-making tool? Why are you makingparisons when ites to engagements? You don¡¯t care about her preferences at all. What a terrible man you are!¡± Without the slightest change in his expression, Craig replied calmly, ¡°As a daughter of the Newton family, it¡¯s her obligation to bring better benefits for the family.¡± His remark evoked augh from Gwendolyn. ¡°Tell me, then, did the Newton family y any part in bringing her up?¡± Craig pursed his lips and didn¡¯t say anything more. ¡°You know clearly that Jennifer and Treyton have been dating for almost a year. Yet, you sold her off for the sake of interest. Don¡¯t you find your behavior appalling, Mr. Craig?¡± Gwendolyn continued. Craig stiffened slightly. ¡°Indeed, the Newton family has failed to raise her, but I will make it up to her in the future. As for the engagement¡­¡± His voice trailed off. With a resolute look on his face, he went on, ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind on the engagement between Jennifer and Remus. Mrs. Jenson, you heard it that day too. Jennifer herself agreed to it. The engagement has been set in stone.¡± Craig stood up and bowed slightly to Cedrick and Gwendolyn. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mrs. Jenson, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll have to leave first and take care of official business.¡± Cedrick turned to Gwendolyn. Seeing that she had no intention of making Craig stay, Cedrick let him go. After taking several steps toward the entrance, Craig turned around and said, ¡°Mrs. Jenson, please help tofort Mr. Treyton. I¡¯m afraid he doesn¡¯t have the chance to be with Jennifer in this life. I hope he can move on from it soon and start a new rtionship.¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick fell into silence. With a smile, Craig stepped out of the vi. It wasn¡¯t until Craig left that Gwendolyn threw a fit. She picked up the coffee cup at the side and wanted to throw it on the floor. ¡°Darling, that¡¯s the limited edition porcin coffee set that I bought from the auctionst month for tens of millions. Take it easy,¡± Cedrick said. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Are you worried about money? You think I¡¯m a loser?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Cedrick smiled. ¡°If you really want to smash it, I¡¯ll take out the remaining seven or eight sets in the kitchen and let you throw them until you¡¯re satisfied.¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. After all, it was a limited edition. There was only one set in the entire world. It would be a pity to break it because of someone as nasty as Craig. She put down the cup begrudgingly and picked up the ss that wasn¡¯t far away. ¡°Darling, that is the crystal ss from Frosa that costs more than two million dors. You can throw it. It¡¯s a lot cheaper than the coffee cup earlier,¡± Cedrick continued. Was it worth losing such an amount because of Craig? Of course not. She put down the crystal ss and looked at Cedrick in disgruntlement. ¡°Looks like I have no choice but to take my anger out on you.¡± Cedrick frowned. Biting his lip aggrievedly, he bent his body and moved his face closer to her. ¡°Anything for you, Gwenny, even if this face of mine is ruined.¡± Cedrick closed his eyes, waiting to be smacked for real. Gwendolyn chuckled. She leaned closer to him and pecked his cheek. ¡°How can I bring myself to hurt you?¡± Cedrick sprung open his eyes and scooped her up in his arms. ¡°That answer isn¡¯t going to be enough. Only by feeling the warmth of your body can I be satisfied.¡± Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his neck and nced at the clock in the living room. ¡°It¡¯s only half past ten in the morning, and you¡¯re already thinking about having sex?¡± Cedrick arched his brows. ¡°Well, there is no such thing as a perfect time when ites to having sex.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m not in the mood for that.¡± Brushing the tip of her nose, he said seductively, ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead. You¡¯ve been pretty frustratedtely, so just stay still and let me please you.¡± His voice was deep and maic. Chapter 459 Chapter 459 Gwendolyn arched a brow. Her tone was yful as she asked, ¡°Can you really assuage my anger?¡± Cedrick rubbed her soft cheeks and righteously dered, ¡°I can be quite effective. In fact, I¡¯m probably more effective than most expensive medicine. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check it out yourself.¡± He leaned over and nted a kiss on her red lips. As they continued to kiss, they made their way up the stairs. When Zoey came downstairs and identally witnessed the romantic scene before her, she quickly turned around and left. Nope, I didn¡¯t see anything at all! I should give them their privacy. The embarrassing sounds were muffled as the door to the bedroom was shut. When night fell, Gwendolyn finally received a phone call from Treyton. Although she answered the call, she refused to speak first. After a few seconds of heavy silence, Treyton finally said, ¡°Kiddo, I¡¯m sorry. I was wrong.¡± As Treyton had not had anything to eat for the entire day, his voice sounded somewhat feeble. Gwendolyn¡¯s tone was light as she asked, ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± Treyton sounded sincere as he replied, ¡°Yeah. I was too rash. Since the engagement was announced in public, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s a foregone conclusion. Even if we gave away twenty percent of thepany¡¯s shares, Craig wouldn¡¯t relent.¡± Gwendolyn sighed in relief. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve thought it through. So, since you¡¯ve been thinking about it for a day and night, do you have any suggestions?¡± ¡°We should try to meet up with Jennifer first and discover the reason she agreed to the engagement in public. If she¡¯s truly changed her mind, I will not interfere. However, if Craig had done something to her, I will do everything in my power to take her away.¡± Gwendolyn sighed again. He¡¯s got the first part right, but the rest of his thoughts are still too rash. ¡°Jennifer is now the daughter of the Newton family. Are you nning to elope with her? Craig will definitely send the police after you.¡± Moreover, Craig worked withw enforcement himself. He would be able to mobilize them swiftly. Treyton fell silent at that. He had a hard time controlling his rationality when it came to matters rted to Jennifer. If he found out that Craig actually did something to Jennifer and hurt her, he would go mad and perhaps even shoot him. Silence permeated from both ends of the line as they fell into deep thought. A minuteter, Gwendolyn spoke first. ¡°It¡¯s not ideal to discuss this over the phone. I¡¯ll get the Federal Bureau of Investigation to pull their people back. Come over to Harrick Vi first, then we¡¯ll talk face to face.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Half an hourter, Treyton arrived and knocked on the door. Nico and Summer had also arrived. The five of them sat on the couch and began to discuss their n of action. However, the living room soon plunged into a long silence as their expressions turned grim and no one spoke. After some time, Summer broke the silence. ¡°Gwendolyn, this truly is a difficult situation. Regardless of everything else, Jennifer is now ady of the Newton family. Even if she is being held against her will by Craig, or even if she¡¯s being threatened, it¡¯s difficult for us to meddle with the Newton family¡¯s affairs as long as he cane up with a usible reason for his actions. We can¡¯t whisk Jennifer away, nor can we make her call off the engagement.¡± Nico added, ¡°Craig has dered that Jennifer is sick and cannot leave the residence. She hasn¡¯t been working either. It¡¯s likely very difficult to meet with her.¡± The living room once again plunged into a deathly silence. Eventually, Cedrick said, ¡°Craig is a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Although I can¡¯t involve myself in the Newton family¡¯s matters, I cane up with a suitable excuse to get Nico to search the Newton residence. He can use the opportunity to meet with Jennifer.¡± If they could get Cedrick to pull strings at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, things would proceed more smoothly. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn said, ¡°If we use an excuse to barge in, we may end up in an impasse with Craig. That can be ourst resort. I will head to the Newton residence tomorrow morning and try a gentle approach. If it¡¯s truly impossible, we¡¯ll do it the hard way.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement to the decision. Gwendolyn pondered for a moment before continuing, ¡°Today, Ceddy and I tried probing into the engagement. I reckon Craig will not let the matter go. Moreover, the exorbitant engagement gift that the Abbot family gave to the Newton family will have to be given back untouched. Since Craig cares about profits, it will be impossible to expect that he willingly returns it.¡± Summer stared at Gwendolyn admiringly. ¡°Does that mean you have a n in mind?¡± Gwendolyn smiled slightly. ¡°If we can¡¯t tackle the matter from Craig¡¯s side, we¡¯ll just have to approach Remus and the Abbot family instead.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes brightened. Unashamedly, Cedrick wrapped his arm around her slender waist and praised hervishly, ¡°Darling, you¡¯re so smart.¡± Unsurprised by Cedrick¡¯s show of affection, the three others did not react to his behavior. Summer asked, ¡°Since Remus has spent so much money to get himself engaged to Jennifer, surely he won¡¯t withdraw that easily, right?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°The Abbot family¡¯s hotel dining business is doing quite well. Perhaps we can use this angle. I recall someone having a lot of shares in various hotel dining businesses.¡± Treyton, who had been silent the entire time, immediately understood what she was getting at. Gwendolyn was talking about Asher. Although thetter had resigned from his positions at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and aviation career, he still owned a lot of both domestic and international shares. Gwendolyn turned to look at Treyton. ¡°Perhaps you can meet with him and request his help.¡± Treyton nodded in response. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ncing at the clock that hung on the wall, Gwendolyn noticed that it was quitete. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day. The rest can wait until we meet with Jennifer and gain a better understanding of the situation. We¡¯ll reevaluate then.¡± Nico tugged at Summer to get up. ¡°Cedrick, Gwendolyn, Summer and I will be taking our leave first.¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick nodded. Treyton remained seated and made no move to leave. ¡°Treyton, it¡¯s getting prettyte,¡± Gwendolyn prompted. Treyton clutched his stomach and inhaled deeply, seemingly in pain as he stared at Cedrick beseechingly. ¡°My dear brother-inw, I haven¡¯t eaten in a day. I¡¯m so hungry that I don¡¯t have the strength to move. Could you get me some supper so I can satiate my hunger before I leave?¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. Cedrick tried to hold back a smile. ¡°All right. Since you¡¯ve thought it through so quickly, I¡¯ll make you something good. I¡¯ll have a drink and keep youpany as you have your supper tonight.¡± Treyton gulped and let out a long sigh. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Nico and Summer, who were almost at the door, perked up when they heard the word ¡°supper.¡± Shamelessly, the two of them doubled back. Nico grinned. ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯m feeling quite hungry as well. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t mind cooking a little more, right? I could have some drinks with you guys too!¡± Summer clung to Gwendolyn¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, Mr. Jenson is a great cook. I haven¡¯t had his food in such a long time! Allow us to stay and sate our hunger. Besides, we can even meet the babies.¡± Gwendolyn did not know what to say. Is this what they meant when they said it¡¯s easy to invite people toe and help you but difficult to get them to leave afterward? Cedrick, who had been in high spirits, stared at Summer¡¯s hand that was on Gwendolyn with a dark and cold gaze. ¡°You can stay for supper, but you¡¯re not allowed to take advantage of my wife!¡± Chapter 460 Chapter 460 Noticing Cedrick¡¯s darkened expression, Nico hurriedly stepped forward and dragged Summer away. He even pretended to be solemn and lectured Summer, ¡°How many times have I told you? Gwendolyn is Cedrick¡¯s precious, only to be admired and not touched. If you infuriate him, he¡¯ll have me discipline you.¡± Summer puffed her cheeks in anger, sulking silently. Gwendolyn¡¯s face turned red when she heard Nico saying she was Cedrick¡¯s precious. She waved Summer over to her side and said to Cedrick, ¡°You can start preparing the meal now. Let Nico and Treyton assist you. I¡¯ll bring Summer upstairs to meet the babies.¡± Summer instantly brightened up, cheerily jogging back to Gwendolyn¡¯s side. Subsequently, the two went upstairs together. The three men in the living room exchanged nces. Nico and Treyton didn¡¯t know how to cook at all, clueless even about how to clean the vegetables, let alone anything else. The atmosphere swiftly turned a little awkward. In the end, Treyton and Nico stood by the kitchen door, watching Cedrick prepare the food in a practiced manner. Cedrick¡¯s proportion was perfect. He had long legs and a lean waist. He rolled up his sleeves to reveal his strong and muscr arms. As he meticulously prepped the ingredients, his exquisite facial features were arranged into an exceptionally serious expression. After observing him silently for a while, Treyton sincerely eximed, ¡°Kiddo is truly amazing. When we were in Faike, I never imagined she could train you so well. If this scene is broadcast live, I believe those executives and directors of Jenson Group will be shocked to see their usually stern and aloof CEO put on a ck apron and cook in the kitchen.¡± Nico stifled augh with his fist. ¡°I¡¯m also curious about when your cooking skills improve so much, Cedrick. I guess Gwendolyn must¡¯ve helped a lot in honing your skill.¡± They were all men and closely acquainted with one another, so there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Recalling the past, Cedrick smiled in resignation. ¡°The first meal I cooked for Gwenny was charred pork ribs and overly-seasoned bacon.¡± Treyton¡¯s expression changed at once. ¡°Did she actually eat that disaster of a meal?¡± Cedrickughed even more helplessly. ¡°As astute as Gwenny is, how could she have possibly eaten it? She forced me to finish the food, almost making me vomit out my gastric acid.¡± Nico and Treyton burst into a fit of unrestrainedughter. Treyton said, ¡°Kiddo inherited Kieran¡¯s cunningness. Her mind is filled with all kinds of trickery.¡± Nico also chimed in, ¡°If Gwendolyn were to publish a training manual, I reckon it would be a bestseller!¡± The trioughed, filling the kitchen with a harmonious atmosphere. Sometimes, men¡¯s happiness is simple like that. Once they shared some embarrassing stories, they could hit it off in no time. Once the fragrant barbeque supper was ready, Cedrick called Gwendolyn and Summer downstairs, and the five shared a warm meal. An hourter, it was past midnight. The sky turned pitch ck, and the entire city was tranquil. Only the ambiance in Harrick Vi remained lively. Treyton, harboring pent-up frustrations, drank a lot of alcohol and quickly got dead drunk. He clung to Cedrick¡¯s arm and his eyes were red as he mumbled continuously, ¡°Jennifer, I was wrong. It was all my fault. Please forgive me. Come back¡­¡± Cedrick grimaced, cing his hand on Treyton¡¯s forehead and mercilessly pushing him away. Intoxicated, Treyton looked heartbroken, as though he had been refused an apology. Sorrow and despair filled his countenance. Cedrick had no choice but to knock Treyton out. Then, he instructed Nico, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. When you leave, remember to arrange for Elven outside the door to send Mr. Treyton home.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Okay. Rest assured, Cedrick.¡± After everyone left, thete-night gathering finally came to an end. Gwendolyn leaned on the table with one hand propping her chin and appeared lost in thought. She hadn¡¯t consumed much alcohol earlier, but a blush adorned her face at that moment, making her look exceedingly beautiful and alluring. Looking at her captivating appearance, Cedrick felt his throat dry and his heart fluttering. He gently moved closer to her, caressed her flushed cheeks, and asked softly, ¡°Are you thinking about Treyton and Jennifer¡¯s situation?¡± Gwendolyn hummed and uttered somberly, ¡°I¡¯ll head to the Newton residence tomorrow morning to try and meet with Jennifer¡ªhey, watch your hands!¡± She was interrupted halfway through while discussing the serious topic because Cedrick had mischievously slid his hand freely on the back of her waist. Not only did he not stop, but he also became more audacious, blowing air enticingly at her ear. ¡°Darling, now that we¡¯ve finished our supper, I want to eat some dessert. Will you indulge me?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I satisfied you this morning, and now you¡¯re back at it again?¡± Cedrick rubbed her neck with his nose and thin lips, unabashedly acting spoiled. ¡°Are there any rules that we can only engage in this activity once a day? Even our meals have to be taken three times a day. Having dessert will be a nice touch to brighten up our lives.¡± Ever since she gave birth and finished her confinement period, Cedrick had been uncontrobly carnal, relentlessly seeking to be intimate with her. Gwendolyn¡¯s face turned a few shades darker. ¡°I think I cannot keep condoning your behavior like this.¡± My waist won¡¯t be able to hold up if this continues! Cedrick whispered aggrievedly, ¡°In that case, you can just satisfy me tonight. I won¡¯t randomly ask you to gratify me from tomorrow onward.¡± Gwendolyn snorted. ¡°In that case, shall I indulge you with a ruler tonight for dessert?¡± He furrowed his brows, looking more discontented. ¡°If I can have my desires fulfilled after enduring a little punishment, that won¡¯t be such a bad idea either. We¡¯ll just consider it a form of forey.¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. He¡¯s truly a lustful man, rting everything to his lewd thoughts. She didn¡¯t agree, but before she could reject, Cedrick had scooped her up and carried her away from the dining chair. Soon, the two returned to their cozy bedroom and got intimate. The amorous atmosphere inside the room escted and spiraled out of control. The next morning, Gwendolyn was finally able to get out of bed after Cedrick massaged her until his hands were sore. She quickly freshened up and had Ezra drive her to the Newton residence. At that moment, the Newtons were having breakfast at the dining table. Craig didn¡¯t return. Only Lucas and Jasmine were sitting around the table. Hearing that Gwendolyn hade, Jasmine put down her spoon and went out to greet Gwendolyn at once. ¡°Gwen, did youe here to see me on purpose?¡± She happily took Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. Gwendolyn pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°That¡¯s right. I had some free time, so I thought I¡¯de over and see you. Is it convenient for me to go in for a chat?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Jasmine led Gwendolyn into the house with crity, but they were stopped by Craig¡¯s bodyguard stationed outside the door. ¡°Ms. Jasmine, Mr. Craig ordered that no outsiders are allowed to enter the house during this time.¡± Jasmine pouted in displeasure and snapped, ¡°Go away! Gwendolyn is not an outsider.¡± The bodyguard remained unyielding. ¡°Mr. Craig said that anyone whose family name is not Newton is considered an outsider. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for us. Otherwise, we¡¯ll have to report this to Mr. Craig.¡± ¡°You!¡± Jasmine was beside herself with rage. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± The bodyguard lowered his head, not refuting. He was making his intention clear with his silence. Jasmine was furious, but there was nothing she could do. If Craig were informed of that, he would definitely unleash his wrath on her and punish her. Gwendolyn tactfully grabbed Jasmine¡¯s wrist and asked in an undertone, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is the security at the Newton residence suddenly so tight and no one is allowed to enter?¡± Jasmine¡¯s anger intensified at the mention of that. ¡°It¡¯s all because of that Jennifer who returned a few days ago!¡± Gwendolyn frowned warily. ¡°What happened to her?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 461 Chapter 461 Chapter 461 Heartless And Cruel Jasmine pouted unhappily upon recalling this matter. ¡°I heard from Craig that she¡¯s sick, and it seems quite serious. He didn¡¯t want anyone to disturb her rest and recovery. No visitors are permitted, and we are forbidden to speak loudly in the house.¡± Gwendolyn frowned and asked cautiously. ¡°What kind of serious illness could lead to restricted ess to the vi? Have you checked on her?¡± Jasmine shook her head. ¡°What¡¯s there to see when someone¡¯s sick?¡± Gwendolyn held her hand and tried to persuade her. ¡°She has just moved into the Newton. residence a few days ago and has fallen sick. Craig is also making a huge deal about her illness. Aren¡¯t you curious about how serious it is? Don¡¯t you want to go and see her?¡± Jasmine contemted for a moment, Truth be told, she was curious about it. It¡¯s only been a few days, and it¡¯s so serious that Craig has to give orders to everyone at home. Is it really some rare illness? But I don¡¯t dare to visit her. Thinking about how Craig would react if he found out, she shuddered and shook her head. vehemently. ¡°I don¡¯t wish to see her. If Craig found out, he would kill me. I¡¯d better stay put.¡± Failing to persuade Jasmine, Gwendolyn had no choice but to let the matter slide. After returning to Harrick Vi, she called Treyton again. ¡°I think Jennifer is seriously ill.¡± Treyton stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock and anger. ¡°What did Craig do to her? She rarely falls ill. I even apanied her to the hospital for a full body check-up because of her filming requirements not long ago. There¡¯s no way she would suddenly develop a serious illness!¡± Gwendolyn patted his shoulder reassuringly, getting him to sit down. ¡°Treyton, calm down. I don¡¯t believe it either.¡± Cedrick sat at the side quietly, contemting the situation as well. ¡°Craig has canceled all of Jennifer¡¯s schedules. If she really isn¡¯t sick, then it¡¯s highly likely that he¡¯s imprisoning her on purpose.¡± Owens Assed attentively and nodded. ¡°I analyzed again and again afterward. Jennifer was Nedavning adisarmally at the homing feast. She was perfectly fine when Craig besight be to the business g¡± They stood up agaus Crane is abstard He doesn¡¯t even spare his sister! There is no Songer any med so eder the rtionship between the two families Lets go with the most extrense n we discussed yesterday** sasi Deyton, let¡¯s split up the tasks. You co Empindah and Cadik dad Gwendolyn and dial with Keris 1 ook tot Asher I believe he has a n to persuade Remus to give in. Codick and I will try be tot leter Treviso de pessysh alter that. The listing on plunged in silence once Gwendolyn and Cedrick were the only ones left. After some time. Chik s?nt wenn what kind of excuse do you think is appropriate to Now enter the residence to costat a thorough search¡± Opsion thought about it and sand ¡°How about we askmine to work together with us I¡¯ll host a tea party at was days and pass her some valuable sewelty Then, we can make up an excuse about the expense sweis being stolen and let Nico search the ce. What do you Codin siled and rubbed the tip of her nose. ¡°You¡¯re so smart. We¡¯ll do as you say His remark evoked augh from Cowersdalyti red being forced to useract with Charles when the poison in Cedrick¡¯s body ngs masoned During that persst Theviot aist Jennifer had been a cute couple She had really envied their wwer and simple istersents Little did the expost their rtionships to be in a crisis in the blink of an eve. The rceships between Cedric and her was the most stable row ¡°A penity for your thoughts. During bed his nose against hers. She old teel his warm breath on her wems we havent had a night in a long tits¡± Co stand at ber strange ¡°bent that a good thing? Do you want us to argue Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn giggled. ¡°It¡¯s been said that having an argument every now and then adds spice to your life. It feels surreal when we don¡¯t fight.¡± He arched a brow and smiled devilishly. ¡°Then, why don¡¯t we argue today? You can release some pent- up emotions.¡± ¡°How should we argue?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned cold instantly as he uttered grimly, ¡°Gwendolyn, it seems you¡¯ve been neglecting metely. What¡¯s wrong with wanting to sleep with my wife? How could you restrict me on this? You¡¯re heartless and cruel!¡± Gwendolyn frowned and reached out to grab his ear. ¡°Ouch! Have mercy one me, Darling! Gwendolyn ignored him and grew angry. ¡°Cedrick, are you looking for trouble on purpose by picking a fight? You¡¯re speaking your true thoughts andining at the same time.¡± He frowned and looked aggrieved. ¡°I¡¯m only giving an example. How could I possibly hold any grievances against you?¡± Gwendolyn snorted coldly. How could I not see through your schemes? ¡°You called me Gwendolyn just now. Let¡¯s head upstairs for your punishment.¡± Cedrick¡¯s face paled. Did I miscalcte and dig myself a hole! ¡°Darling¡­¡± he whined with a bitter expression. ¡°Spit it out.¡± Cedrick wrapped his arms around her waist and buried her head in her neck. He took a deep breath and replied, ¡°Please be gentle.¡± Gwendolyn suppressed a smile and rubbed the back of his head. ¡°I promise to make feel good.¡± you She grabbed his tie, wrapped it around her hand a few times, and pulled him up seductively. ¡°Let¡¯s go and receive your punishment.¡± Cedrick let her drag him domineeringly. She was like a drug that he willingly allowed. himself to be addicted to. It was around noon, and it only took a small fake argument before things spiraled out of control for the couple. Gwendolyn began sending out invitations for her tea party in the evening. The event would take ce at Gardens Hotel. Treyton returned to the Harris residence on Mount Tranquil. Since his father passed away, he hadn¡¯t returned in a long time. He had been staying in one of his properties. He hadn¡¯t seen Asher in a long time and didn¡¯t expect to meet him by his bedside. Sienna brought him inside. As she led the way, she said, ¡°He has a severe side effect from the time spent kneeling on the ground reciting Heagurn Sutra and refusing to leave even when it was raining. His knees ache every time it rains now. He can¡¯t walk, and his voice hasn¡¯t returned to normal.¡± Treyton sighed as he felt a pang in his heart. ¡°Evelyn was the one responsible. Although Asher was at fault, Kiddo didn¡¯t really me him for it. Why does he have to torment himself like this?¡± A long sigh escaped Sienna¡¯s lips. Sorrow filled her eyes as she said. ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s all in the past. There¡¯s no need to bring it up again.¡± Treyton nodded and followed her upstairs. Suddenly remembering something, he asked, ¡°Is Asher still finding Evelyn? How¡¯s the search going? Is there any news Chapter 462 Chapter 462 Chapter 462 Make Me A Cup Of Coffee While leading him upstairs, Sienna replied, ¡°He sent two teams of private soldiers. They have been searching but to no avail. God knows if she¡¯s dead or alive.¡± Treyton mulled over her words. ¡°Only the living will hide. Dead bodies cannot lie.¡± Sienna did not fully agree with his statement. ¡°Those men Asher sent to find Evelyn came back and reported that there are many big dogs kept as pets in the few viges downstream of the river bank. The river waters were choppy that day, and given that she was shot, it¡¯s also usible that she died and her body subsequently got eaten by the big dogs roaming nearby.¡± Treyton fell silent for a long while before finally responding. ¡°I don¡¯t care if she¡¯s dead or living in misery as long as she doesn¡¯t bother Kiddo in the future. Also, she can forget about returning to the Harris family. Her name and photo will be disyed on a public memorial que. 1. Treyton Harris, only have one younger sister in this lifetime.¡± The information of the unimed deceased would be recorded on a public memorial que. No one woulde and pray or light a candle for them, condemning them to eternal loneliness. Sienna nodded in response. As they conversed, they arrived at the master bedroom. Treyton immediately spotted the man half- leaning against the headboard when the door opened. Asher had an unhealthy pallor due to being frequently ill and in agony. He appeared somewhat haggard and feeble, and his skin was also a little pallid, like that of a sickly person. Treyton almost did not recognize his eldest brother after not seeing him for some time. He found himself unable to associate the man in front of him with Asher Harris, the formerly sessful and renowned world¡¯s finest pilot. Due to his shock, he sat on the chair by the bed and did not speak about the reason for his visit for a long time. Asher pressed his fist to his mouth and coughed twice before taking the initiative to speak. ¡°I know about the homing feast at the Newton residence two days ago. Is that why you came to see me?¡± When he spoke, his voice was hoarse and low, not very pleasant to listen to. Unlock seeded Parack. When Be mes Athers gaze, he noticed it it seemed sighneanly He suppressed the surge of mncholy emotions he was experiencing and nodded. ¡°We suspect that Craig hurt Jennifer and locked her up. Kiddo is figuring out a way to see her and. find out about her situation, so I can onlye to you.¡± ¡°What do you need me to help you with?¡± Asher reached for the ss of water on the bedside table. Seeing that, Treyton hurriedly got up and handed the ss to him. ¡°The family of Jennifer¡¯s fianc¨¦, the Abbot family, is well-known for dominating Salinsburgh¡¯s catering and hotel industries. Do you have any means to control the Abbot family?¡± Asher immediately understood what he meant. ¡°You want Remus family to take the initiative to break off the engagement?¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Treyton nodded. Asher continued. ¡°In terms of the catering and hotel industries, I don¡¯t own any shares in thepanies under Abbot Group. Although I¡¯m thergest shareholder of their rivalpany. both sides are evenly matched, so business-wise, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s hard to utilize this to strike a blow to the Abbot family. His throat was so dry from speaking too much all at once that he coughed painfully. He drank a mouthful of water to ease the difort before adding, ¡°However, I previously led the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and I have information on everything going on in the country, so I¡¯ll get someone to help you search and see if there¡¯s any record of Abbot Group viting thew this afternoon. If there is, you can expand the problems of Abbot Group¡¯s business along this line and pressure Remus toe to you to call a truce.¡± His words relieved the weight that had been crushing Treyton¡¯s heart. He stood up and bowed in gratitude to his eldest brother with his hands pressed to the seams of his trousers. ¡°Thank you, Asher.¡± Asher replied casually, ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. We¡¯re a family.¡± Having always been very efficient, Asher sent a message to his former subordinate at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate the business problems of Abbot Group within a few minutes. Treyton sat beside him and waited quietly, hoping to make good progress in this direction. Sienna excused herself to brew a pot of coffee, leaving the brothers alone to speak in private. Treyton looked at the quilt covering Asher¡¯s legs and asked, ¡°Asher, do you still go to the ancestral hall to recite the scriptures?¡± Asher followed his gaze and looked at his legs. ¡°I do when they don¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this? Ultimately, you didn¡¯tmit a big mistake, so how can there be so many sins to confess to our ancestors? How long will you torture yourself before you stop? It¡¯s time you forgive yourself.¡± Treyton said with a sigh. Asher smiled nonchntly. ¡°Since quitting my job, I¡¯ve been idle at home, spending my life. aimlessly without any goal like a walking corpse. It¡¯s only when I¡¯m reciting the scriptures. that I feel like I¡¯m alive. Maybe one day. I can get her forgiveness.¡± Naturally, Treyton knew who he was referring to when he said ¡°her.¡± He let out another long sigh, having run out of ideas to persuade his eldest brother to give 1. Silence filled the room, neither of them uttering another word. There was a trace of dejection in the air, but it was not awkward. It was not until Sienna came in with a pot of coffee that the tense atmosphere was finally broken. Two hourster, someone from the Federal Bureau of Investigation called back. Treyton could barely sit still as he clenched his fists nervously. ¡°Mr. Asher, three catering hotels under Abbot Group were previously fined and reformed for failing to meet the food safety and quality inspection standards. There are no other records.¡± ¡°All right. Email me those records,¡± Asher instructed before hanging up. After Sienna brought over hisptop a few minutester, he logged into his email ount and viewed those documents. ¡°It¡¯s not a particrly serious vition, so they were only fined and required to reform themselves. They weren¡¯t required to close for immediate reformation.¡± Treyton lowered his eyes and pondered over the matter. ¡°What if I magnify this issue and get the media to write an exaggerated news headline, preferably involving all of Abbot Group¡¯s restaurants and hotels, and put their food safety issue on the trending list? What do you think, Asher?¡± Asher curled his lips into a smirk. ¡°This is an excellent suggestion. With Abbot Group¡¯s stock. market experiencing significant losses, I¡¯m sure Remus will take the initiative toe to you. within three days.¡± Treyton, being an impatient and resolute person, quickly bid Asher and Sienna goodbye and recruited his subordinates topose the news on the inte. Late that night, the hotels under Abbot Group were listed in the top few trending searches. without warning. As people increasingly sought a better quality of life in recent years, food safety issues were of great importance in their perceptions. The impact of such big news on the whole Abbot Group was huge. In Salinsburgh, the entire Harris family was meticulously forming a n for the situation involving the Newton family and the Abbot family. Only Kieran, who was far away in Faike, ignored outside matters, as he wasmitted to staying by Inez¡¯s side as her dedicated secretary. However, his days at work had not been easy for the past few days. The tasks that Inez assigned him got heavier each day, leaving him overburdened with work like a full- time office worker. Knock! Knock! In the CEO¡¯s office, Inez tapped her fingers on the table, smiling slyly as she deliberately. disrupted Kieran, who was busy typing on the keyboard. ¡°Mr. Harris, go make me a cup of coffee. Thirty percent sugar with no milk.¡± Chapter 463 Chapter 463 Chapter 463 I Shall Apany You As Kieran¡¯s fingers froze over the keyboard, he found himself ncing subconsciously at the time on the bottom right corner of hisputer screen. He quickly did the calction in his head. He had only an hour and a half left before the end of the day, yet a pile of paperwork still awaited him. It would take him at least fifteen minutes. to make a cup of coffee. Inez reminded him, ¡°Mr. Harris, you have already wasted two minutes in a daze.¡±¡° Startled into action, Kieran rose from his desk and headed toward the pantry to prepare the coffee. A few employees were already there, idling away their break over a cup of coffee. As soon as Kieran stepped in, all eyes turned toward him like mas as they stared fixedly at his sternly handsome face. A quiet flurry of whispers followed. The head of the sales department, Dora Torres, was visibly starstruck. ¡°Is this really Ms. Mossey¡¯s new secretary? Such a good-looking man with a fine stature and excellent. demeanor is almost irresistible.¡± Other female employees chimed in enthusiastically, ¡°Pursue him, then. Rumor has it he¡¯s single. Once he¡¯s taken, there won¡¯t be another chance like this!¡± ¡°He applied for a secretarial position here, so he¡¯s probably not wealthy. I think you should think this through,¡± one woman said. Unfazed, Dora retorted, ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? I have money. I can support him! All he needs to do is to be tall, handsome, and physically fit!¡± The other women clicked their tongues and yfully pushed Dora over. ¡°What are you waiting for? Go get him!¡± Dora stumbled forward and fell toward Kieran, who was engrossed in making coffee. Although he was focused on brewing the coffee, he had heard every word they said. Swiftly, he sidestepped as Dora lunged at him. Her nose made a harsh collision with the coffee machine, narrowly avoiding a bloody mess. Throughout the whole incident, Kieran maintained his stoic demeanor, never once sparing the woman a sideways nce. He continued to stir his freshly brewed coffee. Dora rubbed her throbbing nose awkwardly, for Kieran had ignored herpletely. She made a hasty retreat to her friends¡¯ side. However, her friends passionately signaled for Dora not to be afraid and pursue the man. It is always easier for a woman to pursue a man than vice versa! Go get him, Dora! C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Dora was at a loss. In the end, she mustered the courage to approach Kieran again. In a small voice, she asked, ¡°Mr. Harris, are you avable this evening? Would you like to have dinner together?¡± Kieran was never one to spare a single nce at a woman whom he wasn¡¯t interested in. Undeterred, Dora circled back in front of Kieran. She twirled her voluminous curls and assumed a friendly and seductive. pose. ¡°It¡¯s all right if you¡¯re busy tonight, Mr. Harris. Perhaps we could catch a movie over the weekend? Your fingers look so slender and elegant. Even when you¡¯re making coffee, it¡¯s done with such grace. If you do y piano with those fingers, I wonder just how many girls will fall for you,¡± Dora added. Kieran nced at his hands. These hands are not made for music. They¡¯re best suited for holding a scalpel and cutting open human flesh. If I share this with them, will they think of me as a madman? Silently, he pondered as he added three sugar sachets to the coffee. Dora was relentless in her pursuit. She tried to get close to him. ¡°I heard you¡¯re single, Mr. Harris. We have many beautiful girls here at Mossey Corporation. Is there anyone who caught your eye? Even if I don¡¯t have the luck, I could y matchmaker for you.¡± Kieran paused momentarily. With an icy voice, he replied, ¡°Yes, there is.¡± Dora¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Really? Just tell me who you¡¯re interested in, Mr. Harris. I¡¯ll help you get her.¡± An image of Inez, deeply concentrated on work, shed across Kieran¡¯s mind. ¡°I like Ms. Moss-¡± Knock, knock! The sound of a soft knock came from the door of the pantry. Everyone turned to the source of the sound, where they found Inez standing expressionlessly with her gaze sweeping over everyone present in the pantry. Everyone, except for Kieran, rose from their seats and bowed slightly at her. ¡°Hello, Ms. Mossey.¡± +5 Bonus She acknowledged the greetings with a simple hum, then turned toward Dora. ¡°Instead of working hard for thepany during working hours, you took the lead in gossiping in the pantry and discussing personal matters. Do you think that¡¯s the right thing to do?¡± Dora¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Mossey. I won¡¯t do it again. I¡¯ll return to my desk and focus on work now!¡± Inez narrowed her eyes and snapped, ¡°You¡¯d better.¡± ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Dora said sheepishly. Everyone scurried back to their desks, and within a few seconds, Kieran was left all alone in front of the coffee machine. Inez crossed her arms against her chest, her gaze falling on Kieran naturally. ¡°You¡¯ve been making a cup of coffee for quite some time now, Mr. Kieran. I thought you were lost, but it seems that you were too engrossed in chatting with the young women and forgot the time.¡± ¡°Inez¡­¡± She didn¡¯t want to hear any exnation. With a huff, she turned around to leave. Kieran quickly finished preparing the coffee and went after her. ¡°They approached me first, but I didn¡¯t pay them any attention.¡± While walking, Inez asked, ¡°Is Dora attractive?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kieran was taken aback. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about the woman who just asked you to watch a movie with her this weekend.¡± Kieran tried to recall, only to realize he didn¡¯t remember what she looked like. ¡°I didn¡¯t look at her properly. I don¡¯t know what she looks like.¡± Inez snorted lightly. ¡°You guys seemed to have had a good time chatting, and yet you can¡¯t recall what she looks like?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± He tried to recall again and replied honestly, ¡°I think¡­ she had straight and long ck hair?¡± Inez suppressed the urge tough and didn¡¯t reply before pushing open the door to her Kieran ced the cup of coffee on her desk and returned to his own desk opposite her, preparing to get busy for one final round before it was time to get off work. From across the room, Inez watched him, her gaze distant. ¡°I have dinner ns this evening. We won¡¯t be heading in the same direction, so you can stay back at the office. Once your tasks arepleted, you can head home.¡± ¡°A date?¡± Kieran was slightly stunned. He instantly turned to meet her gaze. ¡°Will there be many people? Men or women?¡± ¡°Since when did secretaries get to inquire about their boss¡¯ private matters?¡± ¡°As your secretary, it is my duty to ensure your safety. I won¡¯t allow a repeat of what happenedst time with Percy.¡± His tone, although carrying the formality of his secretarial role, was imbued with a cold. aloofness, an unyielding force. There was no hint of deference in his words, and it seemed as though he wasn¡¯t open to negotiation on the matter. Caught off guard, Inez took a moment before answering his question. ¡°It seems that there will be both men and women. It¡¯s a business gathering. There might be alcohol involved, but it shouldn¡¯t lead to a situation likest time.¡± In a determined tone, Kieran replied, ¡°Since it¡¯s a business gathering at the corporate level, as a secretary, I should be by your side to attend to your needs. Therefore, I shall apany you.¡± Chapter 464 Chapter 464 Chapter 464 Drunk Inez stared at hisputer. ¡°But you haven¡¯t finished your work yet.¡± ¡°Can you wait for me for half an hour?¡± He regarded her with a solemn look. When their eyes met, Inez felt her heart skip a beat. +5 Bonus She averted her gaze andpromised. ¡°Half an hour is the maximum, not a minute over.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kieran immediately returned to his seat and quickly adjusted himself into work. mode to handle the tasks at hand. Later that night, the gathering took ce at a bar lit with neon lights and filled with debauchery. There were more than ten men and women inside the private room. By the time Inez and Kieran arrived, everyone else was already there, having a great time. Kieran had been absorbed in his medical research over the years and never involved himself in any of Harris Group¡¯s affairs. Naturally, he never participated in any social gatherings. He wasn¡¯t fond of the ce that was filled with alcohol stench. From the moment he stepped into the room, he knitted his brows, looking aloof and unsociable. Inez could fathom he was ufortable with theplicated atmosphere. When they walked into the room, she turned around and whispered, ¡°If you¡¯re not used to it, just wait for me outside or take a cab back to the Mossey residence.¡± With that, she shifted her eyes back to the scene inside the room, quickly putting on a cordial smile on her face. However, Kieran grabbed her wrist and asked with a somewhat strained voice, ¡°Inez, do you frequent ces like this?¡± She lowered her gaze, hiding the sorrow in her eyes, and replied nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯m Mossey Corporation¡¯s heir, so it¡¯s my duty to rejuvenate my family¡¯s business. Whether I like it or not, I must attend such gatherings.¡± She pried her hand from Kieran¡¯s grip, turned around, and entered the room. When the people inside saw her walking in, they immediately greeted her enthusiastically. Someone noticed the man behind her. ¡°I heard Ms. Mossey has broken off her engagement vins the Campbell family, so is this her new love interest? He¡¯s so handsome! Inez turned her head around and saw that Kieran hadn¡¯t left. Instead, he stood quietly behind. her. She curled her lips into a smile and exined, ¡°This is my new secretary. I brought him here to let him gain some exposure.¡± Only after answering the other CEO¡¯s question did she lean closer to Kieran and whisper, ¡°Why did you come in? This ce isn¡¯t suitable for you. You should leave.¡± He shook his head firmly. ¡°If even you can adapt to this, I have nothing to be apprehensive about.¡± Since he insisted, she didn¡¯t persuade him further. She took the initiative to hold his hand and led him to an empty couch to sit down. Kieran lowered his head and looked at the hand she was holding. The warmth in his palm felt so real. Subsequently, throughout the gathering, every toast directed at Inez was intercepted by Kieran. After three rounds of drinks, Kieran¡¯s handsome face was flushed, and he felt dizzy. Obviously, he was getting a little tipsy. Inez shook her head in resignation. He¡¯s already drunk so much on an empty stomach. His alcoho tolerance is sufficiently impressive for him to hold up for three rounds. ¡°Ms. Mossey, this toast is to you. I look forward to future coborations with Mossey Corporation.¡± She recollected her thoughts, promptly raised her ss gracefully, and responded with at smile. ¡°Likewise, Mr. Duncan.¡± Someone grasped her wrist when she was about to gulp the wine. Kieran had a dazed look. Still, he was determined to drink on her behalf. She hastily leaned in and admonished, ¡°You¡¯re so heavy. I won¡¯t be able to carry you back to the Mossey residence alone. It¡¯s just a few sses, so I won¡¯t get drunk. Rest assured.¡± He shook his head and uttered honestly, ¡°I wasn¡¯t around before to do things you don¡¯t like. for you. Now that I¡¯m here, I don¡¯t want you to be troubled by these things and constantly force yourself to do things you¡¯re ufortable with.¡± Inez was slightly stunned. That was the first time she had heard such straightforward words. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. While she was distracted, Kieran took the ss of wine from her hand and gulped the content. Consequently, he paid the price for his stubbornness by ending up drunk. Inez was stumped. She was touched by his gesture a few moments ago, but the fleeting emotion dissipated without a trace the next second. Another female CEO noticed Kieran was hammered and took the initiative to express her concern, even reaching out to pat his exquisite countenance, trying to help him sober. Inez quickly pulled Kieran into her arms, preventing anyone else from touching him. 1. She said jokingly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Lily. My secretary has a quirky temperament and severe mysophobia. Even I can¡¯t stand him.¡± The woman who Inez addressed as Ms. Lily clicked her tongue. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re interested in him, Ms. Mossey.¡± Inez merely smiled without saying a word. After another round of drinking, the sky turned darker, and the people at the gathering gradually dispersed. Half an hourter, only Inez, holding a drunken Kieran, was left sitting on the couch. She couldn¡¯t carry her alone, but the idea of other women helping also made her ufortable. Hence, she decided to stay a little longer, calling the butler at home and asking him to send the bodyguard and driver over to pick them up. The bodyguard acted swiftly. Twenty minutester, they found the right private room. ording to Inez¡¯s instruction and carried Kieran on his back. Soon, the party arrived at the Mossey residence. The bodyguard brought Kieran back to the room. When Inez climbed up the stairs, she ran into Madelyn, who happened to being down. Madelyn stopped Inez, who was about to go back to her room, and asked, ¡°What happened to Mr. Kieran? How did he get so drunk?¡± Exhausted, Inez replied helplessly, ¡°He insisted on drinking wine on my behalf on an empty stomach. What do you expect would happen?¡± The corner of Madelyn¡¯s mouth twitched. Seeing Inez was about to leave again, she added, ¡°He got drunk because of you, so shouldn¡¯t you take care of him in his room?¡± Inez was puzzled. ¡°Mom, am I really your biological daughter? I¡¯ve been working the whole day, but you¡¯re not concerned about me and even want me to care for him?¡± Madelyn gently patted her daughter¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re my biological daughter, but this is Mr. Kieran¡¯s first time staying at our house as a guest. As the host, we should take care of him, especially since he got drunk because of you.¡± Despite how logical Madelyn¡¯s argument sounded, Inez was still reluctant toply. ¡°He¡¯s a secretary in mypany. Since when does the boss personally care for a drunken subordinate?¡± Madelyn smiled. ¡°We¡¯re at home, so forget about those rules at the office. Be good and take care of Mr. Kieran in his room. You can help him wash his face or wipe his body. I¡¯ll go make him some coffee to relieve his hangover.¡± Wipe his body? ¡°Mom¡­¡± Not giving her daughter an opportunity to make up more excuses, Madelyn swiftly turned around and went downstairs to the kitchen. Inez was rendered speechless. She sighed and stood in the hallway for a short while before eventually entering Kieran¡¯s room. The bodyguard left after cing Kieran on the bed. He was lying spread eagle on the bed. and not covered with any nket. She looked at therge opened windows and the billowing curtains. The night breeze is a little chilly. If I leave him unattended, he¡¯ll probably get sick tomorrow, right? At that thought, she felt slightly bad. Inez walked to the bedside and dragged Kieran with all her might to reposition him so that his head rested on the pillow. Catching whiffs of the alcohol stench on him, she figured she should indeed help him wipe his body. With that in mind, she hastily went to the bathroom to fetch some hot water and a piece of towel before cing them on the bedside table. Then, she sat on the edge of the bed, helping Kieran remove his coat and patiently. unfastening the buttons on his shirt one by one. The fair and smooth skin on his body was slowly revealed and came into view. She gulped and recited some mantras inwardly to contain her desire. When she was undoing thest two buttons, a pair of hands grasped her wrist. 5 Bonus Kieran looked at his exposed fair chest in a daze before shifting his attention to Inez. ¡°W- What are you doing?¡± She immediately withdrew her arms and blushed in embarrassment. Her lips quivered as she stammered guiltily, ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t doing anything. It¡¯s not what you think. I don¡¯t harbor any ill intentions!¡± The moment Inez finished exining, she facepalmed in regret. What¡¯s with that exnation? Why does it feel like I¡¯m admitting to being guilty instead? Chapter 465 Chapter 465 ¡°I¡­ uh¡­ Please don¡¯t misunderstand the situation. My mom insisted that I take care of you. I took off your clothes to clean your body. I bear no feelings toward you,¡± she solemnly said as she nodded. Kieran had yet to sober up, and Inez¡¯s words hurt him. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that I¡¯m not charming at all? I can¡¯t believe you feel nothing toward me even though you took off my clothes.¡± Inez was confused to hear that. What does that mean? Is he really hoping that I¡¯d do something to him? But if I touch him while he¡¯s intoxicated, then wouldn¡¯t I be a criminal? As she mulled over a proper exnation, she stared at his face. It was then she realized that he had a gloomy look in his eyes despite his red cheeks. It was as if he was feeling aggrieved. It was¡­ surprisingly cute. Right as she was lost in her thoughts, Kieran grabbed her wrist again and said in a pitiful tone, ¡°Inez, did I hurt you too badly the other time? Is that why you don¡¯t like me anymore? You don¡¯t even feel anything even though you saw my body¡­¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Inez was speechless. Kieran had been reading cheesy one-liners and learning flirting techniques every night. He was even practicing the methods that Treyton had taught him previously. If everything failed, he would then resort to his beauty to try to captivate her. This was something he would never do if he were sober, but he was taking the opportunity of his drunken stupor to do the bold act at the moment. In fact, he even grabbed her hand and ced it on his chest, letting her touch his burning skin. As hended his unfocused gaze on Inez, he muttered, ¡°You¡¯ve already seen and touched my body, so you have to bear the consequences of that.¡± Inez¡¯s lips twitched. It was her first time seeing someone trying to con another in this way. Moreover, that someone was Kieran Harris, an arrogant andposed man. ¡°Kieran, is there nothing but alcohol in your head now? Why aren¡¯t you using your brain?¡± Kieran ignored herment and pulled her hand toward his abs. He even pinched her fingers to force her to squeeze his flesh. His abs felt good to the touch, and Inez¡¯s face turned red. She tried to retract her hand, but Kieran had a tight grip on her. With an exasperated look on her face, she huffed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Was something else added to your wine? How can you do something perverted like this?¡± Kieran¡¯s eyes were still unfocused and watery. ¡°You¡¯re the pervert; you¡¯re touching me. You don¡¯t even want to admit it!¡± Again, Inez was at a loss for words. She never thought that Kieran would act in this way after getting drunk. She pondered if he would be struck with immense shame and would want the ground to swallow him. whole if he were to find out that he had done such shameless things while he was inebriated. Nevertheless, Inez was starting to feel annoyed by his infuriating actions. She gritted out, ¡°You probably won¡¯t remember what you¡¯ve done by the time you sober up, so don¡¯t me me for not showing any mercy to you!¡± With the ferocity of a butcher going after amb, she sat on Kieran¡¯s body and hissed, ¡°Kieran Harris, I¡¯m going to show you what a real pervert is tonight!¡± With that, she ran her hands roughly all around his pectorals and abs until his skin was bright red. ¡°Do you see that? Now I¡¯m taking advantage of you!¡± Kieran¡¯s mind was clouded with alcohol, and somehow, her rough touching made him hard. Immediately, he shot out his hand to snatch her wrist. Before she coulde back to her senses, Kieran turned around and pinned her below him. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You-¡± As he propped himself up with one arm, he covered her mouth with his other hand. It was tough for him to hold his heavy head up, but he managed to gently rest his forehead against hers, the tips of their noses touching. They could feel each other¡¯s breaths. Kieran was a hair¡¯s breadth away from her, and when his warm breath caressed her cheeks, her face. flushed. His intoxicating alcoholic fragrance only made her heart race even faster. Kieran whispered, mncholy and desirecing his voice, ¡°Inez, let me have you.¡± There had to be an irresistible allure about him, as Inez did not reject him for the first time. Thus, Kieran boldly removed his hand from her mouth and leaned down toward her lips. The atmosphere seemed to grow warmer, fueled by the intensity of their passion. The two of them kissed fervently, and just as they were about to surpass theirst line of defense, a set of footsteps that traveled into Inez¡¯s ear snapped her back to reality. A thought popped into her head, and she quickly pushed Kieran away before moving up to look at the opened door. Madelyn was holding onto a pot of coffee, frozen by the doorway. Evidently, she had seen what happened. An awkward look crossed Inez¡¯s face, and she hastily waved her hand before crying out, ¡°Morn, it¡¯s not what it seems! We didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Madelyn nced at Kieran, who had copsed back onto the bed after Inez pushed him away. A look of irritation appeared on her face before she snapped, ¡°How can you give up at the veryst minute, my girl? So what if I saw you two? I can always close the door for you. Why did you stop?¡± Inez nearly dropped her jaw. She could not believe her mother would say that after seeing her daughter almost doing the intimate act with a man. As if reading her mind, Madelyn said, ¡°I¡¯ve done this before, and it¡¯s not as if I¡¯ve nevere across situations like this. All right, don¡¯t stop. Go on. You might as well find yourself a spouse and quickly marry someone. Your dad and I have been fretting over this matter for years.¡± Inez could only blink in response. Putting down the pot of coffee by the table beside the door, Madelyn winked at Inez. ¡°Just pretend as if I¡¯ve never been here. Go on. You¡¯ve got to continue.¡± Then, she quietly closed the door behind her. Inez had never been so dumbfounded before. Lowering her head to look at the still-drunk Kieran, she gloomily wondered, What happened to me just now? I can¡¯t believe I nearly did it with him without closing the door. Am I drunk from Kieran¡¯s alcohol scent? At that, she smacked her forehead, remorseful and frustrated. It was then she heard noisesing from outside-noises of a door getting locked. Realization dawned upon her, and she lunged toward the door to rapidly turn the handle. She was too slow, however. ¡°Mom, open the door! Why did you lock me in here? This is Kieran¡¯s room. Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?¡± Madelyn¡¯s voice came from the outside. ¡°You¡¯re my daughter, so I know you best. Please stop sticking to your principles and get it on with him while you have the chance!¡± Inez was bamboozled by her mother¡¯s speech. ¡°What are you talking about, Mom? He¡¯s drunk; he¡¯s not thinking straight! I¡¯ll be doing something immoral if I do it with him now!¡± Madelyn was unfazed, however. ¡°You¡¯re a woman, and you don¡¯t need to heed morals like those. Also, I¡¯m sure Kieran wants it too. Don¡¯t worry, Inez. You have my support. Just sleep with him.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Inez hissed, beginning to feel irked. ¡°Stop messing around and open the door!¡± Madelyn expressed her dissent with a hum. ¡°My dear daughter, you were already on the brink of aplishing it earlier. If you fail to win him over tonight, I will feel embarrassed on your behalf.¡± Inez was so furious she could not bring herself to utter a word. s, she underestimated Madelyn. A minuteter, the sound of a lock getting tampered with traveled into her ears again. Inez was delighted, for she thought that Madelyn had ultimately decided to let her out. To her disappointment, Madelyn opened the door until she could squeeze something wrapped in stic through the slight gap. When Inez picked it up, she realized it was condoms from a local brand. Seriously? Chapter 466 Chapter 466 An angryugh escaped Inez ¡°Mom, did you really just give me this Is Kieran your long-lost son? Is that why you like him so much¡± Madelyn sighed. ¡°My sweetheart, you¡¯re not that young anymore. Give it a few more years, and you¡¯re going to be a hag Although Mr Kieran didn¡¯t realize his feelings for you previously and rejected your courtship, he has been bravely courting you after realizing the feelings he had for you. He¡¯s been trying really hard too, and I noticed his efforts. He¡¯s the most suitable man for you. Your dad and I will be at ease if we let him have your hand in marriage.¡± Once Madelyn was done with her speech, she tiptoed away from the room. Inez stared at the small package in her hand. When those steamy scenes shed across her mind, she blushed from her neck to her ears. Turning around to look at the drunk Kieran, she found herself hesitant. Am I really going to do this? As that thought floated in her mind, she walked over to the bedside and gazed at him for a while. The angel and the devil on her shoulders were fighting against each other. After sitting by the bedside for a few quiet minutes, her rationality won. Tossing the condom into the trash can, she wrung the towel and started wiping Kieran¡¯s body and face again. The man was too heavy for her. By the time she was done cleaning him up, she was exhausted. At that point, she prayed never to encounter a drunk Kieran again. Panting, she tucked him into bed again before turning her head to the wardrobe, thinking of getting two beddings to sleep on the floor. But just as she moved to stand up, Kieran grabbed her arm. The slumbering man subconsciously pulled her into his arms to hug her as if she was a bolster. ¡°Kieran?¡± she softly called out. Her whisper did not elicit any reaction, which meant that he was truly asleep this time. She then tried to pry his arm away, but he was simply too heavy. Her efforts were fruitless. Perhaps she was too tired, or perhaps the position she was in was tooforting, for Inez found her eyelids drooping. Gradually, she gave up on struggling away from him and gave in to the allures of sleep. Right as the first ray of the sun filtered through the curtains, Inez woke, Slowly opening her eyes, she turned to look at the man beside her. The man had perfect facial features. Even though he was sleeping, she could sense how icy he would be if he were awake. Reaching out, she gently trailed her finger from his forehead to the tip of his nose, tracing the profile of his face. His face always made her heart skip a beat. Those eyes, too. Wait a second. Eyes? Inez snapped back to her senses. Upon focusing on his face, she realized that Kieran had woken up at one point and was now staring at her. She quickly retracted her hand guiltily and exined, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand the situation. My mom. locked the door by identst night, and you weren¡¯t letting me go either. I was really tired after cleaning you up the night before, so you seeded in keeping me trapped in your bedst night. But nothing happened!¡± Kieran curled his lips. ¡°Why are you nervous if nothing happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nervous,¡± she denied, blushing. Soon, Kieran¡¯s ears turned red as well. ¡°To be honest, I¡­ aboutst night¡­¡± He had remembered everything that transpired the night before. After a moment of contemtion, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll bear the consequences.¡± Inez scrambled out of bed at that. ¡°We did nothingst night! After the bodyguard sent you home, I cleaned you up. You trapped me in your arms after that, and we fell asleep. That¡¯s all that happened. You don¡¯t need to bear the consequences for anything!¡± With that said, she ran off to smack the door rapidly and desperately. Once Madelyn finally opened the door, Inez hunched over and scurried off. Madelyn watched Inez speed off before turning to look at Kieran, who was leaning against the headboard with a smile. Pretending not to have seen anything the night before, she started, ¡°Mr. Kieran, did you¡­¡± Kieran repeated, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Mossey. I¡¯ll be responsible for Inez.¡± Madelyn nodded and gestured okay to him before turning to leave. During breakfast, the Mossey residence¡¯s dining room was silent save for the sounds of nking utensils and tes. The four people were eating without saying anything. Meanwhile, Inez kept her head hung as she focused on her food. In contrast, Madelyn was shooting looks at Jerome, Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Knowing what Madelyn meant, Jerome cleared his throat and broke the silence. ¡°Mr. Kieran, I heard that you¡¯re going to be responsible for Inez. How are you going to do so?¡± ¡°Pili-¡± Inez choked on her fruit juice. Kieran promptly patted her back and passed her a napkin. In a somber tone, he replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get engaged with Inez. I¡¯ll have no one else as my spouse but her.¡± Hearing that, Madelyn and Jerome looked at each other and smiled. ¡°No way,¡± Inez unhesitatingly answered after her bout of intense coughing. Madelyn¡¯s and Jerome¡¯s expressions darkened immediately, and they responded in unison, ¡°Your rejection is rejected!¡± Inez pursed her lips. Unlike her parents, Kieran heeded her choice. He wanted to know what she thought about the matter, so he asked, ¡°Why are you rejecting this, Inez?¡± Inez uttered, ¡°Nothing happened between usst night, so you don¡¯t need to bear any consequences anything. Moreover, my mother was the one who locked me up in your room. In other words, the Mossey family set you up.¡± ¡°But I stepped into the trap out of my own free will.¡± Staring at her side profile, Kieran somberly told her. ¡°You only came out of my room this morning after going in the night before, and many housekeepers of the Mossey family had seen that. This will affect your reputation. I was the one who clung to you and refused to let you go, so I should bear the consequences for that.¡± Inez froze. She could not believe that he was most concerned about her reputation. But their promise made her hesitate again. ¡°You said you were going to court me for a year. It hasn¡¯t been long since then, but you¡¯re forcing me to get engaged with you already. You¡¯re just conning me into this.¡± ¡°No one said I can¡¯t court you and get engaged with you simultaneously. I¡¯ll continue courting you. In fact, I can draft an agreement. If you get sick of me in the future, you can break off the engagement any time, and I¡¯ll announce to the public that I¡¯m the reason for the engagement break-off. Inez tensed up when she saw that he was genuine about what he said. Gwendolyn¡¯s socialite tea party was taking ce at Salinsburgh in the afternoon. Seated by the dressing table, she unlocked her jewelry box, poised to select the fortunate piece that would serve as the finishing touch for her mission. She was at a loss. Right as she was about to take out the brooch she had bought from the box, someone wrapped their arms around her thin waist. Resting his head on her shoulder, Cedrick shifted his attention to the brooch she picked. ¡°People will only believe in the show if you lose something you really love.¡± Gwendolyn turned around. ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick it instead.¡± Cedrick proceeded tob through the items in the jewelry box before choosing the engagement ring lined with red gemstones and white diamonds. He spent nine billion nine hundred million at the auction house for this ring. He had even engraved Gwendolyn¡¯s name on it. ¡°It¡¯s easy to put on a ring, but it¡¯s hard to find it once it¡¯s gone. This will be the best item to im that it¡¯s been stolen.¡± However, Gwendolyn grabbed his hand and firmly rejected the idea. ¡°Not this one!¡± Chapter 467 Chapter 467 Without thinking, she rushed to hold Cedrick¡¯s hand to stop him from taking the ring. ¡°It has a different meaning to me. Besides, it¡¯s small. What if it really goes missing? Give it back to me.¡± It had always been a gift she valued the most. The time when she was being set up by Evelyn and distrusted by the entire Harris family was the lowest point in her life. During those days, it was Cedrick who supported her. The valuable engagement ring gave her the faith to persist in finding out the truth. Looking back at it, she still thought that the ring was like the only hope during those dark days. She took the ring decisively and put it back in the jewelry box. Seeing that she cared so much about the ruby diamond ring, Cedrick was gratified and rubbed his face against her. ¡°Actually, I can still buy you another one if it¡¯s really missing.¡± ¡°Even if you buy twenty more, they can¡¯t rece this ring. It¡¯s different to me.¡± The moment she finished speaking, she keenly detected another meaning in Cedrick¡¯s words. Therefore, she narrowed her eyes and shot him a re. ¡°Since you have handed over all your assets, where did you get the money to buy such an expensive ring? Did you have money stashed away somewhere I don¡¯t know?¡± Cedrick was stumped. Sh*t. I forgot about this. Seeing that he was in a daze, Gwendolyn pinched his earlobe. ¡°Tell me honestly, is there something else you are hiding from me?¡± Aggrieved, Cedrick knew that the best way was to apologize first. ¡°Darling. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m content with having you and the kids. Why would I hide money from you? Besides, you have never restricted my spending. If I have secret savings, wouldn¡¯t it give you a reason to straighten me out? How could I be that stupid?¡± Gwendolyn did not let go of his carlobe, but her pinch became gentler. She deliberately teased, ¡°How can you be stupid? You¡¯re so smart. You¡¯re even an expert in fooling me.¡± Meeting her gaze, Cedrick gave her a pitiful look. ¡°Gwenny, you have wronged me. You pay great attention to detail, so I dare not fool you.¡± ¡°Is that so I¡¯m going to verify it, then.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. She let go of his earlobe and slid her fingers down his jaw, Adam¡¯s apple, and continued further below. Her teasing made Cedrick¡¯s heart flutter, and they continued to mess around for a while. In the end, Gwendolyn selected a pair of expensive crystal earrings as the lucky ones for the project. When it was teatime, almost all the socialites from wealthy families in Salinsburgh, including Triss and Jasmine, had arrived. The sky garden of the hotel was decorated in an exquisite and elegant manner. On the long table, there were fruit tea, honey lemon tea, and tea sets, which were all discontinued porcins brought by Gwendolyn from Harrick Vi. There were also a variety of exquisite and delicate desserts, which attracted the attention of many socialites. They took photos and posted them online with the caption: Attending a tea party held by Mrs. Jenson on this sunny afternoon. All the girls are so gorgeous. All the youngdies had a great time except Jasmine. The carefree girl actually did not smile that day. which was rare. Gwendolyn had been focusing her attention on Jasmine. After sensing thetter¡¯s unhappiness, she immediately took a te of exquisite desserts and walked up to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Jasmine? It¡¯s rare to see you look so glum.¡± ¡°Hi, Gwendolyn.¡± Jasmine greeted in a sorrowful voice without saying anything further. Smiling, Gwendolyn pretended to tease, ¡°You aren¡¯t afraid that these desserts will make you gain weight, are you? Don¡¯t worry. I asked the five-star pastry chef to make them using xylitol so they are all not greasy and taste refreshing. They¡¯re also not very high in calories.¡± Jasmine looked at the desserts Gwendolyn handed over and took the te, but she did not eat. Instead, shemented, ¡°I was scolded by Craig yesterday, and I almost got grounded today. This is making me a little upset.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°Why does he want to ground you? Does he have a problem. with me and not want you to attend the tea party I¡¯m holding?¡± Jasmine hurriedly shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I was the one at fault.¡± Lowering her head in dejection, she leaned closer to Gwendolyn and continued in a low and mysterious voice, ¡°Gwendolyn, let me tell you a secret. This is just between us. Don¡¯t tell others.¡± Gwendolyn nodded solemnly. ¡°I won¡¯t. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jasmine, who naturally trusted her, went on, ¡°I still couldn¡¯t hold back my curiosity yesterday and went to Jennifer¡¯s room to have a look. Guess what I found.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression suddenly became serious. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There is no one in Jennifer¡¯s room!¡± Knitting her brows hard, Gwendolyn asked in a low voice, ¡°Why is there no one in the room when Craig said that she¡¯s sick and has been recuperating at home? Did you see him take Jennifer out?¡± However, Jasmine replied with certainty, ¡°It¡¯s impossible for her to leave the Newton residence. I keep an eye on her every day, and I never see her go out. She must still be in the vi!¡± Looking around, she leaned in and added softly, ¡°Craig stationed a few bodyguards on the top floor these two days. I suspect that Jennifer is locked up by Craig for making a mistake or that she has contracted some rare or infectious disease that requires her to be quarantined.¡± Gwendolyn listened to her quietly, feeling even more worried about Jennifer¡¯s situation. Originally, she nned to quietly stuff the crystal earrings into Jasmine¡¯s bag. But thetter had regarded her as an elder sister and a friend. If she stuck to her original n, their rtionship wouldpletely break down once the matter was made public. Gwendolyn was caught in a dilemma. Jasmine tilted her head to look at her. ¡°Gwendolyn, what are you thinking about?¡± Half a minuteter, Gwendolyn looked up to meet Jasmine¡¯s eyes as she decided to take a risk. She proposed, ¡°Jasmine, I guess you¡¯re also curious about what happened to Jennifer. I have a way to let you see her.¡± Stunned, Jasmine blinked innocently as if she thought it sounded fun. ¡°How?¡± Gwendolyn leaned in and whispered into her ear. Soon, Jasmine¡¯s face changed. ¡°Gwendolyn, I can¡¯t do this. If Craig finds out, he¡¯ll skin me alive!¡± Gwendolyn patted her on the hand tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I will guide you. When the time comes, you just need to put all the me on me.¡± Yet, Jasmine was still nervous and scared. Gwendolyn continued to persuade her for a while until she finally convinced her. Meanwhile, the news about Abbot Group¡¯s food safety issue had been creating its own momentum online for two days. Abbot Group was hit hard in just two days. Its hotels and restaurants were boycotted while its stock price kept falling, causing heavy losses. Remus tried everything he could but still failed to suppress the news. Unable to stand it anymore, he took the initiative to meet with Treyton, wanting to ask him to help remove the trending topic about hispany. Remus rubbed his hands nervously and waited silently in the private VIP room of the restaurant. He was wary as he needed to ask for a favor. After he had waited for five minutes in anxiety, the door was opened. With an expressionless face, Treyton walked in with a gloomy look in his eyes. Chapter 468 Chapter 468 Remus immediately got up to greet Treyton in an ingratiating manner. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Mr. Treyton. Please, have a seat.¡± With furrowed brows, Treyton snapped unceremoniously, ¡°Are you annoyed that I¡¯mte?¡± ¡°Oh, of course not. I¡¯m honored to have my restaurant be blessed with your presence. How could I possibly criticize you?¡± Remus then pped his own mouth lightly and smiled apologetically. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have said that. I hope you don¡¯t take it to heart, Mr. Treyton.¡± Treyton glowered at him, feeling reluctantly satisfied with his attitude. Being no fool, Remus quickly sensed Treyton¡¯s hostility toward him. It was obvious that Treyton was asserting his dominance to bruise Remus ego when he snapped at thetter as soon as he came in. However, Remus needed his help, so he wore a smile on his face and humbly invited Treyton to his seat before diligently pouring wine for thetter. ¡°Mr. Treyton, let me offer you a toast first as my apology.¡± ncing at the wine ss next to his hand, Treyton did not reach out to hold it. With a cold voice, he prompted, ¡°Cut to the chase. I¡¯m too busy to see you beat around the bush.¡± Remus was stunned for a while. Having been dissed again, he felt awkward. He had no choice but to put down his wine ss and tell him about the purpose of the meeting embarrassingly. ¡°I wonder if you know about the trending topic about Abbot Group recently.¡± Saying nothing. Treyton stared at him coldly, with an unfriendly attitude. Remus had no choice but to lower his head and go on, ¡°Two days ago, it suddenly broke out on the inte that there is a problem with Abbot Group¡¯s food safety. The news exaggerates things, but the netizens believe it. The business of the hotels and restaurants under Abbot Group has been slow these few days, and our stock price is still falling. I¡¯ve spent a lot of money ande up with many solutions, but the news remains popr. I don¡¯t know whom mypany has offended that it has to experience such targeted hostility.¡± With a bitter face, he continued to plead with a lowly stance, ¡°Mr. Treyton, you own half of the entertainment industry. You only need to raise your hand and make a phone call to cool things down. I¡¯ll give my all to get you whatever you want!¡± Treyton had been waiting for him to make such a promise. ¡°I can help you remove the trending topic about Abbot Group and even rify that its food safety issue is just a rumor to restore its reputation.¡± Remus was pleasantly surprised, as if a good deal had fallen into hisp. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Mr. Treyton! You¡¯re basically like a god! Whatever you need, I will spare no effort to help you get it!¡± With a pursed lips smile, Treyton raised his wine ss elegantly to Remus. ttered, Remus hurriedly raised his wine ss with both hands and clinked it against Treyton¡¯s before drinking up the wine with sincerity. Treyton, who merely took a sip, said, ¡°What I need is very simple. Just call off your engagement with Jennifer Newton.¡± The Harris Family Monopolizes Entertainment Industry Remus almost choked on the wine. He knew that Treyton had dated Jennifer in the past, but he did not expect Treyton to take her so seriously. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You don¡¯t want to?¡± Treyton asked with raised eyebrows after seeing that Remus did not speak. Remus was caught between a rock and a hard ce. ¡°Mr. Treyton, do you have any other needs besides this?¡± Treyton pursed his lips with a gloomy expression, not responding to his question. Sensing his displeasure, Remus had no choice but to exin, ¡°To tell you the truth, Mr. Treyton, I took the initiative to ask Mr. Craig for her hand. If I call it off, Mr. Craig probably won¡¯t return the engagement gifts.¡± Not only that, he would also offend Craig. Moreover, given how much Treyton cared about Jennifer, he would definitely not allow Remus to ce the me for calling off the engagement on Jennifer. Therefore, the Abbot family would have to take the me. No matter what choices he made. Remus would offend someone. Ignoring what Remus said, Treyton made it clear that it was non-negotiable. ¡°You have one day to think about it. You either call off the engagement, or there¡¯ll be no deal.¡± After smoothing out the wrinkles on his expensive trousers, Treyton got up and stared at Remus condescendingly. ¡°By calling off the engagement, you¡¯ll offend Craig, and Abbot Group will recover after a brief two-day decline in its stock price. By not calling off the engagement, you¡¯ll offend the entire Harris family, and Abbot Group will never recover from the setback and will go into bankruptcy!¡± After making the intimidating remarks, Treyton left the private room without looking back. ¡°Mr. Treyton. Mr. Treyton,¡± Remus shouted but failed to stop Treyton in his tracks. Sitting limply in the chair, he noticed that Treyton had said ¡°the entire Harris family,¡± which filled his heart with regret. Originally, he thought that marrying Jennifer would allow him to form a connection with the Newton family, but to his dismay, he offended Treyton because of it. He had suffered great losses by straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. Sighing, he took out his phone and called the PR department of Abbot Group. ¡°Go and find out who has the most say in the entertainment industry besides Treyton. Now.¡± Two minutester, the PR department sent a text message to his mobile phone. There were only three words in the text: Gwendolyn Shalders Harris. Gwendolyn¡¯s Angle Corporation was the most valuable entertainmentpany other than Treyton¡¯s entertainmentpany. The former even had many top celebrities such as Jennifer, Joaquin, Jayden, and The most popr talent shows in the variety show industry were all nned and released by Angle Corporation. Gwendolyn was considered to be the person who had control over the other half of the entertainment industry besides Treyton. Remus was bereft of speech. The entertainment industry has been taken over by the Harris family. It¡¯s basically ruled by the siblings. Judging by Treyton¡¯s attitude, I think I¡¯ll probably get the same response from Gwendolyn if I go to her. Laying his head down on the table, Remus groaned in misery, not knowing what to do. When the tea party was over, all the socialites, who had had a great time, bade Gwendolyn goodbye and drove home leisurely in their own luxury cars. Jasmine also left with Triss, chatting. Standing by the railing of the restaurant, Gwendolyn allowed the wind to tousle her hair, giving her a different kind of beauty. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. She gracefully tucked her hair behind her ears and touched her earlobes that were void of earrings. She then quickly sent a message to Nico: It¡¯s done. Proceed as nned. When it was time to get off work, Craig adjusted his military attire and left his office at Federal Bureau of Investigation with folded arms. As soon as he was in the corridor, he saw Cedrick, who was also in a military uniform, standing by the railing on the second floor, looking down at the hall on the first floor of the building. Cedrick was often dressed in in clothes while on duty and did not always change into his military uniform when he came to Federal Bureau of Investigation. Hence, Craig was stunned for a moment upon seeing Cedrick in such formal attire before walking over. ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Jenson. What brings you here?¡± he asked with a sheepish grin. Hearing his voice, Cedrick turned around. The military uniform with medals had added to his good looks, making him look righteous andmanding. Looking down, he replied in a deep voice that was void of emotions, ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence. I¡¯m here to see you.¡± Craig was nonplussed for a moment before he hurriedly stood upright with his palms touching the seam of his trousers to give Cedrick a salute. ¡°At yourmand, Mr. Jenson.¡± Brushing past him, Cedrick walked toward his office while instructing, ¡°Come with me.¡± Chapter 469 Chapter 469 Looking at Cedrick¡¯s back, Craig knitted his brows. He somehow sensed that something was wrong, so he did not immediately follow the former. Cedrick turned around after taking a few steps. ¡°This is an order. Do you want to disobey your superior?¡± ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Instead of dwelling on it, Craig had no choice but to follow Cedrick to his office to have a meeting. At seven o¡¯clock in the evening, Gwendolyn and Nico took four troops of soldiers with them to surround the entire Newton residence. It was terrifying to see a group of tall and burly soldiers besiege the inner courtyard wall of the vi. The butler, Karl Damon, was shocked upon seeing the situation. ¡°W-What¡¯s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn came forward and exined, ¡°Sir, my crystal earrings disappeared during the tea party in the afternoon. I checked all the socialites who attended the tea party, and Jasmine is the only one left.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. With a stern face, Nico showed his ID to Karl and said, ¡°Please cooperate with the investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Karl was stupefied. Are they suspecting that Ms. Jasmine stole the crystal carrings? ¡°T-This is impossible, Mrs. Jenson. Ms. Jasmine grew up with you, so you know her best. As the youngest daughter of the Newton family, she has been doted on by everyone in the family growing up and has everything in the world. It¡¯s impossible that she would steal your stuff!¡± Yet, Gwendolyn refused to back down. ¡°That may be the case in the past, but as you know, Jasmine is vindictive. I had a fight with her at the tea party today. We can¡¯t rule out the possibility that she maliciously stole the crystal earrings to take revenge on me.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Karl panicked. ¡°She was raised with strict discipline in the Newton family. It¡¯s absolutely impossible for her to do such a thing.¡± Nico looked at his watch and decided not to continue the conversation. ¡°We¡¯ll only find out after a search. Please step aside.¡± With a wave of his hand, the soldiers behind him quickly rushed into the vi. As it was an investigation done with a permit, the bodyguards at the Newton residence did not dare to stop them. In addition, Karl did not know what to do since Craig was not at home. A bodyguard, who was quietly hiding, called Craig on the phone. At the same time, Craig was being lectured while standing in Cedrick¡¯s office. When his phone rang unexpectedly, Cedrick¡¯s face turned cold instantly. ¡°Did you not learn the rules? Don¡¯t you know that your phone should be turned off or ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m turning it off now.¡± Craig took out the phone from his pocket and nced at the caller ID on the screen. It was a call from the bodyguard of the Newton residence. Frowning suspiciously, he looked at the time disyed on his phone and realized that Cedrick had been scolding him for an hour. At first, he thought that Cedrick was deliberately giving him a lesson and making him stand in a military. posture to establish thetter¡¯s authority. However, the fact that the bodyguard at the Newton residence called him indicated that something urgent had happened at the Newton residence. Could it be that Cedrick is stalling for time? Knock Knock. When Craig was lost in his thoughts while staring at the phone screen, Cedrick tapped his knuckles on the table as a silent reminder to him. Coming back to his senses, Craig quickly put his phone on silent. Then, he looked up at Cedrick and said in an anxious tone, ¡°Mr. Jenson, it seems that something happened to my family. Can you let me go back first?¡± Cedrick¡¯s face was cold as he exuded an air of displeasure. He did not respond, but the expression on his face obviously meant rejection. The screen of the phone in Craig¡¯s hand was still on. Thest call got hung up as it was missed, but the phone rang again after a few seconds. Thinking about the top floor of the Newton residence, Craig grew restless and decided to disobey Cedrick¡¯s orders. ¡°Mr. Jenson, my sister, Jennifer, fell very ill some time ago. I hired someone to take care of her. I¡¯m receiving these phone calls probably because something happened to her, so I have to go back to check on her. If you¡¯re displeased and think that I¡¯ve vited the rules by disobeying your orders, I¡¯m willing toe back tomorrow to ept punishment.¡± With that, Craig turned around and swiftly opened the door to leave. ¡°Craig!¡± Cedrick shouted, but Craig did not respond to him as he was determined to rush back to the Newton residence. Cedrick checked the time on his watch. Gwendolyn and Nico probably haven¡¯t finished the investigation yet. With an icy expression, he quickly got up and left Federal Bureau of Investigation to head to the Newton residence. Meanwhile, the soldiers of four troops were pretending to conduct a search without destroying any furniture in the Newton residence. Gwendolyn Lost Her Earrings ¡°Sir!¡± A soldier ran out from the vi and gave Nico a salute respectfully. ¡°What is it?¡± asked Nico. ¡°The top floor is locked. We can¡¯t search it.¡± Nico immediately nced at Karl, who panicked in an instant. ¡°No! The top floor is where Mrs. Newton rests. Mrs. Newton is resting right now, so you can¡¯t go up and disturb her! Besides, there¡¯s absolutely no way the earrings are hidden on the top floor! The top floor is a restricted area set up by Mr. Craig. Even Ms. Jasmine can¡¯t go up there, so she can¡¯t possibly hide things up there. If Mr. Craiges back and finds out that the top floor has been searched, he¡¯ll definitely go mad! He¡¯s the deputy director of Federal Bureau of Investigation. Aren¡¯t you afraid that he will settle ounts with you after what you did in his house?¡± Karl said unyieldingly. Unsure of what to do, Nico quietly nced sideways at Gwendolyn to observe her expression. Gwendolyn did not expect a butler to have such a tough stance, so she was at a loss for words. Afterward, another soldier trotted up to her, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, ¡°Mrs. Jenson, Ms. Jennifer Newton is really not in her room.¡± So it means that she¡¯s really on the top floor! Gwendolyn shot Karl a cold look and hardened her position. ¡°My earrings are discontinued and worth hundreds of millions. If Jasmine really stole them, she¡¯s liable for criminal responsibility. You should move out of the way if you want to prove her integrity.¡± Nico immediately echoed, ¡°If you insist on obstructing the investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation, I¡¯ll have no choice but to have someone arrest you for obstructing official duties.¡± Why is he going to arrest me all of a sudden? Karl was startled. The bodyguard called Mr. Craig but couldn¡¯t get through. I wonder when he wille back or if he¡¯lle back. I don¡¯t want to spend the night at Federal Bureau of Investigation. The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. Hence, he decided to give in. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll open the door. I¡¯ll take you upstairs.¡± Gwendolyn and Nico exchanged looks and immediately followed Karl. When they arrived at the top floor, Karl took out the key. He then thought of the secret inside, and his hands began to tremble violently. Standing in front of the door, he began to hesitate. Seeing him dawdling, Nico decisively took the key from him and opened the door himself. It was dark outside as it was already nighttime. The corridor on the top floor was pitch ck as the lights were not even turned on. There were also gusts of wind from time to time, which was odd. Click. Click. After the iron lock was opened, the heavy metal door was pushed open. Standing in front, Nico shielded Gwendolyn vigntly. As it was too dark inside, Gwendolyn looked at Karl and said, ¡°Turn on the lights in the corridor.¡± ¡°Mrs. Jenson, the lights on the top floor is broken and cannot be turned on,¡± Karl replied with a bitter face. Gwendolyn was baffled. ¡°Why would Craig not get someone to fix the lights when he likes to keep up ¡°Um, well, it¡¯s because of Mrs. Newton. That¡¯s right! Mrs. Newton is in poor health and is afraid of bright light, so she doesn¡¯t like to go out during the day. That¡¯s why Mr. Craig didn¡¯t get the lights reced,¡± Karl exined falteringly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Gwendolyn.¡± Nico turned on the small shlight that he carried with him and led Gwendolyn to continue walking inside. Chapter 470 Chapter 470 The corridor was dimly lit. With the help of the shlight, they could vaguely see the tightly-shut doors along the way. Nico led Gwendolyn down the corridor while Karl, the butler, followed closely behind them. The first door they opened showed a study. They flipped the switch, and the lights in the room turned on. Nico waved at the soldiers standing outside the metal door, gesturing for them to enter. Seeing this, they jogged in and acted as if they were rummaging through the room to look for the missing crystal earrings. As they did that, Nico led Gwendolyn to another room. Karl took in a deep breath anxiously and continued following after them. The door was opened, and it showed a vacant bedroom. The room was decorated with rosewood furniture, looking minimalistic but exquisite at the same time. ¡°This used to be Old Mr. Abraham¡¯s room. Ever since he passed away, Mrs, Newton would always say she¡¯d see him in this room and couldn¡¯t fall asleep. We left this room vacantter on, but Mr. Craig would tell our housekeepers to clean it every day,¡± Karl exined. Nico nodded in response. The two soldiers who were checking the previous room walked in and began carefully searching the room. As they exited the room, Nico locked his gaze on the door opposite them. He could vaguely hear the sound of chains rattlinging from inside. Nico turned back and nced at Gwendolyn, who was also looking at him, The pair exchanged solemn gazes. An ill premonition suddenly brewed in their hearts. Nico walked over, about to turn the knob, when Karl suddenly stood before him to stop him from opening the door. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s Mrs. Newton¡¯s bedroom. She is already asleep around this time and will get upset if we wake her up now. We must not enter this room!¡± The stronger his reaction, the more it meant there was an unspeakable secret going on in the room. ¡°I¡¯ve beening to the Newton residence since I was young. Mrs. Newton likes me very much. Im sure she¡¯ll understand since I lost my precious crystal earrings, Gwendolyn said. Hearing that, Nico bypassed Karl and forcefully tried to open the door. ¡°No! You can¡¯t go into this room. Mr. Craig will be furious if he finds out! You really can¡¯t enter!¡± Thetter leaned against the door to stop Nico, and his breath quickened by the second. Perhaps it was because of themotion outside, but the rattling of the chains on the ground sounded again. The two men entered a silent stalemate thatsted for a few minutes. Time was running out, and Nico apologized eventually, ¡°Pardon me, Karl¡± He pushed Karl away as he spoke, and thetter staggered to the side. The two soldiers had finished searching the other room, and they quickly grabbed each of Karl¡¯s arms to stop him from falling. Nico stepped forward and had only just managed to grab the doorknob when a man¡¯s angry roar was heard. ¡°Stop!¡± This voice¡­ Nico and Gwendolyn looked toward the metal door simultaneously and saw Craig rushing upstairs. He was breathing heavily and looked absolutely furious. The man had a few bodyguards behind him. With torches in their hands, they followed Craig Gwendolyn frowned and clenched her fists. Craig was back, which meant it would be much more if they wanted to find Jennifer and check on how she was doing They had nned for this for days, but everything had gone down the drain just like that. Her expression. turned solemn as she instructed quietly. ¡°Ignore him and open the door¡± Nico was about to open the door again when the sound of a gun being cocked rang out Craig was standing around two meters away from them and holding a gun in his hands. His eves were cold as he aimed the gun at Nico¡¯s head. ¡°How dare you bring soldiers and break into the Newton residence. acting so arrogantly, Nico? Don¡¯t think I wouldn¡¯t dare to hurt you just because Cedrick has your back. 11 put a bullet straight through your head if you dare open that door and disrupt my mother¡¯s sleep,¡± he threatened sinisterly. Craig was superior to Nico, so thetter had no choice but to let go of the door knob. Gwendolyn walked forward to block the gun and shielded Nico behind her. Then, ncing at Craig, she exined, ¡°Mr. Craig, my crystal earrings were stolen during the tea party. All the sociahtes who attended have been searched. Nico is just doing his job, so there¡¯s no need for you to use the gun, is there¡±¡± Craig did not put down the gun even after listening to her exnation. An ominous aura emanated from his body. ¡°I¡¯ve already heard from the bodyguards when I came in earlier, Mrs Jemson. Since you suspect that mV sister was the one who stole your earrings, you should go look for her instead of searching the Newtoni residence.¡± Without the slightest change in her expression, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°But Jasmine wasn¡¯t at home. I don¡¯t know where she¡¯s gone. What if she didn¡¯t want to take responsibility after stealing my earrings and bad deliberately returned to the Newton residence to hide the earrings before going into hiding herselt) Craig glowered and lowered his eyes. ¡°I will look into this myself and make sure Jasmine gives you an exnation for what happened. If she did steal your earrings. I¡¯m willing to give youpensation that¡¯s three times the price of the earrings and break her limbs for stealing. I¡¯ll make sure to bring her to you and have her exin herself¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows when she heard that. ¡°Craig- Without waiting for her to finish, Craig interrupted, ¡°It¡¯ste already. Please lead your men and leave the Newton residence. Mrs. Jenson¡± His frigid demand for them to leave left her no room for refutation. Nico nced at Gwendolyn worriedly, but thetter said nothing The atmosphere in the corridor was tense Craig was back, and as a family member of the Newton family and deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he was at a higher rank than Nico. This meant that his words meant everything here Gwendolyn and Nico had no right to continue searching the ce. ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ll leave since you don¡¯t wee me here. Mr. Craig, Gwendolyn said with a smile. Crang finally put down his gun and exined calmly, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t wee you. Mrs Jenson Jennifer is sick, and Mother isn¡¯t feeling well too. The Newton family doesn¡¯t typically allow guests to stay Gwendolyn interjected upon hearing him bring up Jennifer himself. ¡°You also said Jennifer was sick the last time. It was just amon cold, so why isn¡¯t she better yet! We¡¯ve been dying her shoots for quite some time now What happened to her? The man politely responded. ¡°The season is changing, and she has influenza. It¡¯s quite serious and contagious, which is why I didn¡¯t allow any guests here, afraid that they¡¯d be infected¡± When he hushed speaking, he took a few steps backward and leaned against the wall, opening up a path for her. Craig then reached out politely and gestured for her to leave. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to leave. However, she had no choice but to lead Nico out of the corridor They had only taken a few steps when the sound of chains ratthing sounded from behind them. This time. the chains rang with a rhythm Gwendolyn instantly stopped in her tracks and looked toward Craig ¡°Mr. Craig, did you hear something Nico quickly chimed in, saying. ¡°I heard it too, Gwendolyn. It sounded like chains. Why would there be something like that on the top floor of the Newton residence? You can¡¯t possibly be confining someone in here, night ¡°Nico Jenson?¡± Craig¡¯s eyes had darkened. He gritted his teeth and shouted. ¡°This is the Newton family¡¯s business. You¡¯re not allowed toment on this. Besides, that wasn¡¯t the wound of chams. The wundor the room aren¡¯t closed, and the beaded curtains inside moved because of the wind¡± Gwendolyn swept a nce at the door. The sounds from beaded curtains and chains arepletely different. Who is he trying to fool? It took us considerable effort to finally get in here. If I can¡¯t check on Jennifer today, Craig will definitely put his guard up in the future. I¡¯m afraid things will be much more difficult if that happens. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t ept having their n fail and return just like that. She decided to go all out. Chapter 471 Chapter 471 After making up her mind, Gwendolyn, with her fists clenched, turned and ran toward the tightly shut door on the right while Craig nked out briefly. Even Nico was taken aback and could not register what was happening. ¡°Gwendolyn!¡± Craig was the first to react. He immediately raised his gun again and cocked it. He was so anxious his eyes turned bloodshot as he threatened to pull the trigger at Gwendolyn. At that critical juncture, a hand grabbed his wrist with so much strength that his aim went astray. He whipped his head around, only to find that it was Cedrick. Thetter was ring at him with a grim- looking face. ¡°Mr. Jenson¡­¡± ¡°How dare you aimed the gun at my wife! Are you sick of being the deputy director?¡±¡° As those words fell, the tremendously intimidating Cedrick snatched the gun from Craig¡¯s grip and threw it on the ground. The overbearing air Craig was exuding earlier faded with Cedrick¡¯s presence. Seeing Cedrick¡¯s timely appearance, Gwendolyn swiftly turned the door handle, pushed open the door, and dashed into the pitch-ck room. She stumbled her way to turn on the lights amidst the darkness. Astonishment overwhelmed her as soon as she saw the situation inside the room. Following behind, Nico was also stunned by the sight inside while he stood by the door. There was no furniture in the room, not even a bed. A woman with messy ck hairy on her side against the wall. A weighty iron cor hung around her neck, and metal chains secured around her wrists and ankles stretched all the way to the wall. Multiple streaks of blood formed all over the parts of the skin where she was bound. It was apparent she had put up a violent struggle before. Having been exposed to the rays of light so suddenly, she could not help but begin shivering all over and even cowered to a corner of the wall in fear. It was a pathetic sight to behold. Gwendolyn gasped in shock. An ache spread through her whole body, and she dared not approach the woman to verify her identity. She was afraid she might lose control and kill Craig if that woman turned out to be Jennifer. At the same time, she was relieved that Treyton did not follow them over. She reckoned he would lose his sanity if he saw that sight in the room. While Gwendolyn was still in a daze, Nico walked over and squatted beside the woman. Sensing someone near her, the woman shuddered violently, almost as if she saw a beast. Nicoforted in a low voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t hurt you. Mr. Jenson will seek justice for you!¡± As he spoke, he carefully brushed her stray strands of hair aside. The woman¡¯s face was as white as a sheet of paper. The once clear and beautiful eyes became empty and bleak. Despite seeing that it was Nico, Jennifer remained expressionless. It seems like she¡¯s mentally unwell? When Gwendolyn noticed that the woman turned out to be Jennifer, she felt her heart sting so badly her eyes turned red. She clenched her fists, and her body trembled uncontrobly. Craig and Cedrick had been watching by the door. Faced with the situation in the room, Craig parted his lips and prepared to exin with a straight face. ¡°Jennifer is ¡± Smack! A hard pnded on Craig¡¯s face before he could say anything. ¡°Craig, you aren¡¯t human! How can you lock your sister up? You¡¯re worse than an animal!¡± Rage filled Gwendolyn. Seeing that Craig was in a trance and did not dodge her, she gave him another p on the same spot. The fury within her and her capability in martial arts resulted in two forceful ps toward Craig¡¯s cheek. leaving thetter with blood oozing out on the corner of his lips and a slightly swollen face. Because Cedrick was present, Craig clenched his fists tight and put up with Gwendolyn without uttering a word. Right then, Gwendolyn lifted her hand again. The urge to kill Craig to help revenge Jennifer was overflowing in her. However, Cedrick stopped her before she took action. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Gwenny. Let¡¯s hear him out first.¡± Cedrick pulled Gwendolyn into his embrace to calm her down with tender adoration. He also affectionately blew on her slightly burning red palm and used his fingers to gently rubbed it to alleviate the pain left behind after pping Craig Pursing his lips, Craig wiped the blood off the corner of his lip and exined, ¡°I called a doctor over to check on her previously. He said Jennifer¡¯s severe cold and fever affected her brain, thus resulting in her bing mentally unsound and having a tendency to self-mutte. I was worried she would hurt herself again, so I locked her up on the rooftop and hired doctors to take care of her.¡± Gwendolyn thought his exnation was full of lies and could not bring herself to believe him. ¡°How long only has it been since Jennifer¡¯s return? My brother took her to the hospital for a body check. before she came back. She was in good health. Besides, because she¡¯s from the orphanage, she¡¯s better at enduring hardships than others and has a stronger physique than other girls. She has only returned for less than a week, and yet she¡¯s been driven to a mental breakdown and is even abusing herself? Craig, do you think I¡¯ll believe that you did nothing?¡± Craig was left stumped by the barrage of questions she threw at him. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Just as he wanted to speak. Gwendolyn, unwilling to give him a chance to exin, turned to Cedrick and said, ¡°Hubby, as the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Craig imprisoned his biological sister despite knowing that it¡¯s wrong to do so. Aren¡¯t you supposed to detain him for questioning and give him a severe punishment if he¡¯s indeed guilty?¡± Cedrick nodded in response. ¡°Theoretically speaking, there¡¯s just no reason to lock one up with metal chains and restrict one¡¯s freedom, not even blood rtives.¡± At this point, Craig interjected. ¡°Mrs. Jenson. I can¡¯t afford to bear the crime of illegal imprisonment. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can always summon a doctor to give Jennifer a test. I locked her up out of love for her and an intention to help her get well. What wrong did I do?¡± Gwendolyn coldly cast him a stern re. No. I can¡¯t rebuke him. She forced herself to regain herposure to ponder over the situation. Right now, what¡¯s most important is Jennifer¡¯s psychiatric assessment. Everyone in the Newton family is on Craig¡¯s side. No one will speak up for Jennifer, Only after she¡¯s mentally stable can we know what she went through and what Craig has done to her. With logical thinking, she decisively said, ¡°All right, then. I want the Federal Bureau of Investigation to take Jennifer away and do a psychiatric assessment to ensure fairness and impartiality. Is that fine with you?¡± Craig¡¯s face fell. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, Jennifer can¡¯t leave the Newton residence. Under the doctor¡¯s treatment, her condition has gotten a lot better. If she leaves this room, she¡¯ll go crazy and abuse herself.¡± Gwendolyn was resolute. ¡°I won¡¯t believe a single word you say. I¡¯ll only believe in the results done by an impartial doctor. We¡¯ll take Jennifer with us. Only after the psychiatric assessment results are out will you be able to prove your innocence. Understand?¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson¡± Craig wanted to dissuade her, but Gwendolyn was enough of his nonsense. She turned to Nico and immediately ordered, ¡°Remove the metal chains and take Jenniter away.¡± ¡°Understood¡± Nico had brought along a set of small tools in his military uniform. Without much effort, he pried open all A few of his soldier colleagues immediately went up to help him support Jennifer and headed downstairs. Gwendolyn turned around and trailed behind them worriedly. Remaining nted on the ground. Cedrick uttered with a deep voice, ¡°Before we find out what exactly happened, you locking Jennifer up is the truth. Stop whatever tasks you have on hand, and you¡¯re not allowed to go anywhere. Stay at home to wait for orders. Do you have a problem with that?¡± Craig tensed his jaw in distaste and resignedly responded, ¡°No. I¡¯ll abide by your instructions, Mr. Jenson.¡± Upon getting an answer from Craig, Cedrick turned and left without staying any further. With that, the group swiftly left the Newton residence. Following the piercing sounds of car engines tearing through the air of the quiet night, Charles, standing on the balcony, furiously smashed the vase beside him. Chapter 472 Chapter 472 The four troops retreated to their headquarters. Gwendolyn and Cedrick, apanied by Nico, who carried Jennifer on his back, hastened their return to the Harrick Vi. Treyton and Summer had been waiting at the entrance for a while. Upon learning about their n. Treyton paced back and forth at the door restlessly, resembling a cat on a tin roof. Summer found a chair and sat down, keeping Treytonpany by the entrance. The surroundings were enveloped in darkness, and the vi¡¯s entrance was illuminated by the faint glow of streetlights, casting long, slender shadows of Treyton. Summer could not stay silent anymore. ¡°Mr. Treyton, can you please settle down for a moment? You¡¯re making me dizzy. Why don¡¯t you take a seat for a while?¡± Treyton paid no attention to her and continued his restless back-and-forth movement. The night had grown considerablyte. With no news from Gwendolyn, Treyton could not help but wonder if everything was going ording to n. At this juncture, how does she expect me to sit still? Summer, unable to persuade him, shook her head in resignation. She could only keep himpany out of boredom while waiting for Nico. After some time, the sound of hurried footsteps in the distance reached their ears. Treyton turned his head, and even in the dim light outside, his gaze was immediately drawn to Jennifer. who was being carried on Nico¡¯s back. ¡°Jennifer?¡± With a sense of urgency, he rushed over and decisively took her from Nico, holding her tightly in his arms. As Treyton observed her pale face and the dark red bruises that stood out on her wrists and neck, his eyes turned red. He looked at Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°Kiddo, what happened? Is she injured?¡± Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go in first. It¡¯s not appropriate to discuss it here.¡± Treyton nodded in response. He carried Jennifer and hurriedly made his way to Harrick Vi The other three followed behind closely. Two minutester, Treyton learned about the full story from Gwendolyn. Bang! The sound of a table being pounded resonated from inside the vi, startling the birds perched on the trees in the garden Treyton¡¯s anger surged, his eyes filled with redness as he wished to teach Craig a lesson. ¡°How could he imprison his own sister? He¡¯s nothing but a monster!¡± The atmosphere in the living room grew exceptionally heavy. Jennifer was settled in one of the guest rooms, and Summer took care of her, assisting her in changing into fresh clothes and tending to her body. Gwendolyn and Nico maintained a serious demeanor, their gazes lowered. Cedrick¡¯s lips twitched as he coldly interrupted the solemn atmosphere. ¡°You know, this coffee table, crafted from delicate crystal ss, was imported all the way from Yartran. Anyone, including family members, who breaks it will have to pay full price for it.¡± Gwendolyn, Treyton, and Nico were bereft of words upon hearing that. Still visibly affected by the shock. Treyton looked incredulously at Cedrick with his bloodshot eyes. ¡°Jennifer and I are facing such a difficult situation, yet you¡¯re concerned about the cost of a crystal coffee table?¡± Nico rubbed his nose and chimed in, ¡°Cedrick, you seem a bit strapped for cashtely. Did you get yourself into some mischief that led to Gwendolyn deducting your allowance?¡± This time, it was Gwendolyn who did not know what to say. She looked at Cedrick, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and questioning. Facing the collective gaze of the three, Cedrick maintained hisposure and exined, ¡°I¡¯m only saying that because Gwenny has a particr fondness for this new coffee table. Even a single crack would be uneptable in her eyes. There was a subtle change in the atmosphere in the living hall. Gwendolyn chuckled and exchanged a knowing look with Cedrick as she could understand why he said that. Upon sensing Treyton¡¯s anger and the potential for him to act impulsively like what happened thest time, Cedrick intentionally diverted the conversation, aiming to lighten the atmosphere and mitigate his animosity toward Craig. Satisfied, Gwendolyn curved her lips into a faint smile. He¡¯s bing more and more attentive notes She turned around to look at Treyton. Upon catching sight of the improved expression on his face, she steered the discussion back on track. ¡°Treyton, it appears that Jennifer may be facing some mental challenges that necessitate professional intervention Craig will be closely monitoring her, so it¡¯s crucial that we art swiftly to facilitate her recovery and restore her to a stable state. Once she has made substantial progress, we should arrange for an ofta al psychiatric evaluation at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This step will enable us to uncover the full extent of Craig¡¯s actions and ensure he is held ountable for his crime Treyton nodded, affirming his agreement with the proposed course of action. Gwendolyn further added ¡°Considering the circumstances, I propose that Jennifer stays at Harrick Vi during this period¡± On that matter, Treyton did not agree night away ¡°Keddo, can I bring her back so that I can look after her! His heart was overwhelmed with guilt, especially seeing how Craig had tortured Jennifer to the point where she was barely recognizable. The inability to do something for Jennifer weighed on Treyton, suffocating him with guilt. Gwendolyn sympathized with Treyton¡¯s guilt and understood his desire to make amends for Jennifer. However, the situation prevented him from taking direct action. She carefully exined. ¡°No. Treyton. Craig will do everything possible to avoid taking responsibility. If Cedrick questions him, he¡¯s unlikely to divulge much. considering Cedrick his superior. We need to allow more time for Jennifer¡¯s treatment. If Craig finds out you¡¯ve brought her back, the situation will escte rapidly. The Abbot family had yet to call off the engagement, so technically. Jennifer was still Remus fianc¨¦e. Treyton had no reason to keep her in his vi. It would be difficult for him to exin to Craig if thetter found out about it. Moreover, even if the Abbot family decided to call off the engagement, it would be inappropriate for Jennifer to stay in Treyton¡¯s vi. However, it would not be a problem if Jennifer stayed at the Harrick Vi. After all, Gwendolyn and Jennifer were close friends. Having regained his rationality. Treyton understood Gwendolyn¡¯s intention and decided topromise. ¡°All right. But can I also impose on all of you for a few days?¡± Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze shifted toward Cedrick, and their eyes met, creating a moment of silence as neither of them responded immediately. Even Treyton was a little abrupt with his request. ¡°I won¡¯t be a burden to you guys. I can help with household chores, cook for you, and even pay ten times the market price for amodation and food expenses.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯re quite the joker. Treyton. When a brother visits his sister, there¡¯s no need to pay for anything!¡± Treyton said, ¡°I should do my part! Cedrick is already taking care of everything, including cooking and house chores, and now he has to look after Jennifer and me as well¡± His response left Cedrick speechless. The atmosphere in the living room gradually became harmonious as they reached a consensus regarding Jennifers amodation. Gwendolyn asked another question, ¡°How¡¯s everything at the Abbot family?¡± Treyton replied in a serious tone, I gave Remus a day to think about it. He should be able to give me an answer by tomorrow morning Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it should be good news.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that Gwendolyn nodded, heaving a sigh of relief. With each passing moment, the path forward became clearer, and it seemed that everything was gradually falling into ce. While they were lost in their thoughts, a piercing scream echoed from the upstairs guest room, abruptly breaking the silence. It was Summer¡¯s voice! Next, they heard Summer crying for help. ¡°Nico! Mr. Jenson! She looks scary! I can¡¯t control her!¡± Treyton sprang to his feet and raced upstairs while Gwendolyn and Cedrick followed suit. As they entered the guest room, a strong metallic scent filled the air. Summery sprawled on the carpet. The once immacte sheets were now drenched in a deep crimson. Treyton¡¯s gaze moved upward, and as he witnessed Jennifer¡¯s actions, his heart skipped a beat, and his breath caught in his throat. Chapter 473 Chapter 473 On the best, Jetter tore it for Beds like a mid women puncturing and mandaring her k Where the steel shackles had tend her wrists before had been wed into bloody humps of feh However, her bloodan eyes did not seem to betray any pain As if possessed, she kept at her deranged mifesion Stop Jennifer Treyton dashed over and hugged her to stop her from mutting herself. Having lost her mind, Jennifer struggled madly against his embrace and, as if having lost her temper, bit hm on thek Treyton grimaced. He held his breath. Though it hurt, it was nothingpared to the pain in his heart. Without moving, he swallowed the pain and allowed her to vent her madness onto him. Having hurried up the stairs, Gwendolyn, Cedrick, and Nico found themselves witnessing the harrowing spectacle. ¡°Go to the Jenson family medical corps, Nico,¡± Gwendolyn ordered calmly. ¡°We need some tranquilizers. Hubby, pull Jennifer away and restrain her.¡± ¡°Yes, Gwendolyn.¡± Nico turned around and hurried off. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn remained with Cedrick, trying to pull Jennifer, in her maddened frenzy, away. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Don¡¯t hurt her. This is what I deserve,¡± Treyton said with great effort as he endured the searing paining from his neck. Standing by the bed, Cedrick watched helplessly as Treyton was getting bitten. In the meantime, Gwendolyn helped Summer up from the ground. The atmosphere in the room was unusual. All of them were staring, transfixed, at the seemingly warm but gory scene with simrly solemn expressions. Nico was swift. In ten minutes, he returned with a box of tranquilizers. Just as he was about to administer the tranquilizers, Treyton extended a trembling hand. ¡°Let me,¡± he said, his face pale. Nico handed it to him. He was gentle and precise. Jabbing her in the arm, he quickly and decisively administered the drug. However, being dosed with an entire syringe full did not seem to help Jennifer¡¯s condition. On the contrary, her eyes remained bloodshot with bulging veins, like an unhinged demon. Helplessly, Nico handed Tveyton another syringe Only sher syringes tid Jennifer dowly begins in steken her low. Exhausted, die prakty Tveyton plsced her in the fud woh a tender gaze in heves. The teeth marks and outers on his neck were red and bloody Gwendolyn examined his injury and, to her relief delivered that has arteries were unharmed How¡¯re you feeling. Theytant Deyton couealed his pained expresim ¡°Fine¡± Gwendolyn turned around to regand Nico ¡°Go to the Jenson family medical corps, find me their best psychologist, and ask them to spend a few days here to care for Jennifer alongside Treyton¡± Nico nodded ¡°Right away¡± As soon as Niro left, Cedrick went down the stairs and returned with the first-aid kit from the basement With well-practiced movements, he treated Treyton¡¯s wound. Thetter did not move He kept his gaze fixed on Jennifer. If it were possible, he would not want to be treated so he could endure some measure of pain alongside Jennifer. At this juncture. I would only give Gwendolyn and Cedrick more trouble if I were to copse. They would have an even harder time caring for Jennifer then. Standing closely by, Gwendolyn watched silently as Cedrick treated Treyton¡¯s wound. Jennifer¡¯s condition must beplicated. The deranged way in which she hurt herself is bizarre. Craig must have administered her with something. I need to get to the bottom of this. ¡°No doctor is better than Kieran in the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps. Should we ask him for help instead?¡± Treyton gave it a thought. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. He hasn¡¯t even worked out how he¡¯s going to court his future wife. Let him focus on the matter at hand.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, then turned to Cedrick. ¡°I suspect Craig had administered some illegal substance into Jennifer, Hubby,¡± she said seriously. ¡°Prof. Joshua Mallory is learned in serums. Would he be able to detect anything if we brought Jennifer to hisb?¡± Cedrick mulled it over. ¡°We can give it a try tomorrow. However, Jennifer¡¯s condition is presently unstable, seeing as she would fly into a rampage when she wakes up. I will have somebody in theb. examine the serum.¡± As his brother, Charles had used his position to steal the S404 RNA virus. It was unlikely they would not get the same idea. Gwendolyn nodded. At that juncture, her only option was to try anything that might lead to at breakthrough. All of them were upied with their own problems during dinner. Treyton did note downstairs, opting instead to remain by Jennifer¡¯s side. Thanks to the tranquilizers, she was sleeping soundly in the guest room. Gwendolyn grew angrier the more she thought about what Jennifer went through Though set have riot found Craig¡¯s weak spot, you¡¯re still his bose. Is there any way you can punish buns in avenge Jennifer and Treyton?¡± she asked Crick Cedrick thought nt it for a while. ¡°None of your acaddy with this matter concerning Craig Leave him to me? ¡°All right¡± Gwendolyn wasfortabl. with leaving into him. The only thing she asked for was that he punished Craig severely. After their meal. Nico and Summer left Harrick Vi back to their own. In the meantime, Gwendolyn headed up to the nursery on the fourth floor to check on the children with Zoey Nico had returned with a doctor, Brian Miller, over from the Jenson family medical corps. Alongside Treyton, he was examining Jennifer in the guest room. Cedrick returned to the bedroom and opened his workputer to take care of some business in Jenson Group. All of them were busy with their respective tasks during that lonely night. Gwendolyn spent two hours with the babies until they and Zoey fell asleep before returning to her bedroom while massaging her sore neck. Noticing her tiredness, Cedrick set aside hisptop and got out of bed to pull her into his arms. Gwendolyn was feeling exhausted after the hectic day. Sitting on the side of the bed, Cedrick ced her on hisp and flipped her over with well-practiced. movements. Then, with his strong, sinewy hands, he massaged her shoulders deftly. As Gwendolyn was constantly fatigued during her pregnancy, he had sought the tutge of a massaging expert and, thus, learned how to put her at ease. Under his eager hands, Gwendolyn fell asleep. Noticing that she was drifting off, Cedrick stopped, flipped her back around, and held her in his arms. ¡°My hands are sore from massaging you, Gwenny. I made youfortable, didn¡¯t I? Could you do the same for me?¡± he whispered, his voice sounding attractively husky. Burrowing her head into his chest, she muttered sleepily, ¡°I can¡¯t tonight. I¡¯m so tired. Besides, I¡¯m not in the mood as they are so many things left undone.¡± Cedrick grimaced morosely. ¡°Think about them tomorrow, Gwenny. At least nothing has happened between us. You shouldn¡¯t allow these to interfere with our private life.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t help. I¡¯m too tired to get into it now.¡± Undeterred, Cedrick pulled her up to bed and held her down firmly. His beady eyes glimmered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do the work. Justy back and let me make youfortable.¡± She shut her eyes and obeyed him through his daze until a slight rustling on his part woke her up completely. ¡°Cedrick!¡± His lips pressed onto hers, stifling the words at the edge of her lips. The atmosphere in the bedroom was sweet. He had turned into the sly wolf in his conquest andpped her up. Chapter 474 Chapter 474 That night was not a calm night. To the upants of the Newton residence, especially, it was a sleepless, painful night. Jasmine had paid a visit to a rtive of her mother¡¯s. She was unreachable because she had turned off her phone. After Gwendolyn and her group left, Craig ordered the bodyguards to locate Jasmine immediately. Five hourster, at daybreak, Jasmine was dragged back from her rtive¡¯s house and flung into the ancestral hall. ¡°Hey! Go easy, would you? Are you trying to kill me?¡± She massaged her sore buttock as she grumbled at the bodyguard. Without a word, the bodyguard departed the ancestral hall after onest bow. With a bang that startled Jasmine, he mmed the doors to the ancestral hall shut. In the pitch-ck darkness of the night, the candles in the ancestral hall remained lit. Shivering at the asional cold breeze, Jasmine swallowed guiltily as she got to her feet. ¡°Remain on your knees.¡± An icy male voice that chilled her to the bone sounded behind her. Jasmine shuddered with a fear that prated her bones when she heard the voice. Clumsily, she whipped around and saw Craig standing before the ques of their ancestors with a menacing scowl. Even more frightening, he was holding the cane used to uphold their familialws. The slick-looking cane looked imposing. It was in that it had been soaking before it was produced. prepared especially for her. Terrified, she braced herself before stepping forward and kneeling, giving a weak chuckle as she did so. ¡°You scared me, Craig. What did I do wrong to warrant the use of the cane?¡± Craig did not speak. His face, contorted with rage, looked as cruel as a bloodthirsty demon¡¯s. ¡°We can talk about this, Craig. My skin is too delicate to withstand the cane. Besides, you¡¯ve never struck me. Calm down.¡± She put on an act of indignity by biting her lip. Standing over her, Craig gazed down imperiously. His tone was cold, as if he was interrogating a criminal. ¡°Answer my questions. If I find out you¡¯re lying, I¡¯ll break your legs.¡± Jasmine turned pale. She shook her head vigorously, ¡°I won¡¯t. Ask your questions, Craig, I will not lie.¡± ¡°Why did you seek refuge outside tonight?¡± She froze, recalling Gwendolyn¡¯s repeated reminders earlier that day to feign ignorance. ¡°I did no such thing. Why do you say that, Craig? It was Genevieve who called me over to y like she always does. I wasn¡¯t nning oning home today, but you sent someone to retrieve me I spend the night at her house all the time. Was that so wrong that it warrants intimidating me with the cane?¡± Narrowing his eyes, Craig studied her expression. ¡°Are Gwendolyn¡¯s crystal earrings with you?¡± Having arrived at the point, Jasmine began to grow nervous. She reminded herself to answer ording to how Gwendolyn taught her. Otherwise, I may not survive the night. At that thought, she looked up innocently. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re with me. Is there a problem?¡± Craig scowled. His pupils seared with rage. He brought the cane up with the intention of delivering a stroke at her. ¡°Hey, Craig! Calm down! That would hurt so much. Please don¡¯t hit me!¡± Shielding herself with her arms, Jasmine took advantage of his hesitance to lunge at him and hold on to his thigh as she began to sob. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°You know me. Craig. I¡¯ve always been good. What did I do? Could you at least tell me that before you punish me?¡± Her eyes welled up with tears as a result of Craig¡¯s threat. Craig lowered the cane. ¡°You seemed to have forgotten the virtues of our family I have taught you, Jasmine,¡± he continued coldly. ¡°When did you learn to steal? Which hand of yoursmitted the heinous act?¡± Jasmine hugged his leg tighter. Gazing up in confusion, she met his gaze. ¡°What are you talking about. Craig? Are you insinuating that I stole the crystal earrings? Preposterous! I am the heiress of the Newton family, and I have seen much more valuable jewelry than that. Why would I steal? And from Gwendolyn, no less! I would never do such a thing even under threat of death.¡± Craig¡¯s brows tightened. He, too, did not believe her involvement. Having raised his own sister, he knew her temperament very well. It was for that reason that he had her brought to the ancestral hall to question her instead of dragging her there to subject her to punishment in ordance with their familialws. ¡°Tell me everything that had happened in order,¡± he ordered brusquely. Jasmine heaved a sigh of relief before telling him the story she had rehearsed many times in her aunt¡¯s house ¡°Gwendolyn chatted with me during the tea party and told me she missed me having not seen me in a long time, and asked how I was. By the way, she also asked about Jennifer. Since I do not know, I didn¡¯t say anything. After that, our conversation was pleasant Gwendolyn said she had a gift for me and gave me the crystal earrings. They¡¯re now in my purse.¡± Her purse had fallen to the ground by the pir when the bodyguard had flung her into the ancestral hall. She got up tentatively and shot a wary nce at Craig¡¯s expression. Upon noticing that his anger had subsided, she headed to the pir and picked up her branded purse From there, she fished out a pair of expensive, intricate pendant earrings of blue crystal and handed them to Craig obediently before she went on with her exnation. ¡°After returning from the tea party, I was thinking if I should leave such an expensive pair of earrings at home when Genevieve called, so I forgot to leave them on my dresser as I nned and brought them with me instead.¡± Then, she produced her phone from her purse and showed Craig her messages. After hearing the convincing exnation, Craig appeared satisfied; his expression returned to normal. ¡°Why did you use me of stealing Gwendolyn¡¯s earrings, Craig?¡± she asked, feigning ignorance. ¡°Did something happen? Craig looked away. His gaze turned grim. ¡°Gwendolyn imed that her earrings had been stolen. With Nico, she searched the Newton residence and took away Jennifer.¡± Jasmine heaved a secret sigh of relief before hurriedly acting surprised. ¡°How could they have brought Jennifer away? Weren¡¯t they trespassing? Besides, why would Gwendolyn say the earrings were stolen? She gave them to me!¡± Not wishing to exin further, Craig studied his innocent, albeit ditzy sister, ¡°Stay away from Gwendolyn, and don¡¯t let her use you. You¡¯re old enough to know by now-aside from your family, trust no onepletely.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± she answered meekly, then cast a timid nce at the cane in his hand. ¡°Could you put that thing away, Craig? The mere sight of it scares me.¡± Craig caressed her head. ¡°All right. It¡¯s gettingte. You should get some rest.¡± Jasmine nodded obediently, then turned around and exited the ancestral hall. Even after leaving the ce, her legs still shook. Heaving a long sigh, she patted her chest to cate her racing heart. I hope Gwendolyn manages to take Jennifer away this time. I don¡¯t want to see her at the Newton residence at all! Chapter 475 Chapter 475 In the ancestral hall. Craig put the cane back into the box. A menacing glint shed past his eyes as he recalled Gwendolyn making use of his sister and taking Jennifer away. Treyton stayed awake the whole night, sitting by Jennifer¡¯s bed all the way until the next morning. After examining Jennifer, the doctor concluded that her body was still very weak and gave her two shots of sedatives to curb her hysteric behavior. However, the strength of the tranquilizers was also enough to knock her out for the entire night. Treyton had bandaged Jennifer¡¯s wrist after applying medicine to her wound. With his gaze fixed on the woman¡¯s haggard and pale face, he held her hand tightly, interlocking his fingers with hers. Persuading her to return to the Newton family was the worst mistake he had made in his entire life. Treyton knew that, no matter what he did, he would never be able to make up for the hurt they had caused her. He would be willing to ept any punishment from her after she woke up. His eyes were bloodshot, his heart aching so badly that it felt as if he was going to suffocate. A heavy atmosphere of despair enveloped the room, and the air seemed to grow denser, as if saturated with sorrow and helplessness. Just then, Treyton¡¯s phone rang, jolting him out of his sorrowful state. It was Remus. The moment the call was connected, Remus said in an ingratiating tone, ¡°Mr. Treyton, I¡¯ve given it some thought and decided to break off my engagement with Jennifer. However, please give me two days to think of a suitable excuse to tell Mr. Craig. Can you settle the online scandal for me first?¡± Treyton¡¯s expression darkened as he replied, ¡°How dare you ask me to fix the mess on the Abbot family¡¯s behalf when you haven¡¯t even done what you¡¯re supposed to do yet? Remus, are you taking me for a fool?¡± ¡°No! Mr. Treyton, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I¡¯m just¡ª¡± Not wanting to hear his exnation. Treyton cut the man off before issuing him an ultimatum. ¡°I¡¯ll give you till noon to break off the engagement with the Newton family. If you fail to do so, I will ask Kiddo to terminate all coborations with Abbot Group. Do you want to see Abbot Group dering bankrupt in just a few days¡¯ time?¡± If Harris Group decided to ostracize Abbot Group, the other major corporations would surely follow suit and boycott thetterpany. Without the support of their partners, it would not take more than a couple of days for Abbot Group¡¯s hotel and restaurant businesses to plummet to rock bottom. Treyton did not feel bad at all threatening Remus, for thetter was known to be a womanizer and a pervert. At forty years old, he had already been widowed several times. Everyone was told that his wives had died. of illnesses, but the real reason had remained a well-kept secret. Clearly, the man had a fetish that no one knew about. How dare this scumbag lust after Jennifer? I¡¯m going too easy on Abbot Group by making you lose merely a few billion! ¡°Mr. Treyton, Mr. Treyton, you¡ª¡± Before Remus couldplete his sentence, Treyton ended the call and proceeded to block the number as he did not want to hear another word from the man. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Treyton¡¯s threat turned out to be very useful. Remus realized that he had been blocked by Treyton after multiple failed attempts of calling thetter. It was clear to him how angry the man was. With that knowledge in mind, he called Craig at once, and half an hourter, he was on his way to the Newton residence. Remus did not mind remaining a bachelor for the rest of his life. After all, he could have his pick of women at clubs. However, he could not allow Abbot Group to copse. It was as important as his life, and he would do anything to save thepany. A short whileter, Remus arrived at the Newton residence in a hurry. As Craig was still busy working in his study, the butler led Remus to the reception room to wait. One hourter, there was still no sign of Craig Remus was starting to get restless and broke into a cold sweat due to his anxiety. He continually nced at his watch, noticing that it was almost eleven o¡¯clock at that point. But still, Craig was nowhere to be seen. He could not continue waiting endlessly as he would be doomed if Harris Group really decided to take action. ¡°Karl, could you please tell Mr. Craig to hurry? I have something very urgent to discuss with him!¡± In fact, the butler had already gone into the study a few times. However, he was worried that he might get into trouble if he kept doing it as Craig had been in a bad mood ever since he returned home the night before. As such, the butler bowed apologetically and replied, ¡°Please just wait for a while more. Mr. Craig will be here once he finishes his work. Remus had no other choice but to continue to wait. Thirty minutester, at half past eleven. Craig finally strode down the stairs leisurely. As Cedrick had stopped his duties at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, instead of being in his usual military uniform, Craig was dressed casually in a tailored shirt and trousers, looking much more approachable than before. ¡°Mr. Abbot, what brings you here? Are you here to see Jennifer?¡± Remus nced at his watch again. As it was already nearing noon, he had no time to make small talk with Craig. Going straight to the point, he said, ¡°Mr. Craig, I¡¯m here to break off the engagement with Jennifer.¡± Craig¡¯s expression darkened immediately as a dangerous glint shed past his eyes. ¡°Break off the engagement?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Remus nodded cautiously as he wiped off the sweat from his forehead. ¡°The problem lies. with me. I will make a public announcement to let everyone know that it¡¯s my fault. You can keep the engagement gifts. Treat it aspensation for the potential losses Newton Group might suffer due to the annulment of the engagement,¡± Checking his watch every few seconds, Remus stood up right after he finished speaking and added, ¡°Mr. Craig, my decision has been made. I came here to inform you about it. I have some matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave now.¡± With an apologetic look in his eyes, the man bowed to Craig before striding out of the reception room. A loud crash rang out the moment Remus stepped out of the room. It was the sound of something shattering on the ground. A shiver ran down Remus spine, themotion causing him to sweat profusely. Nevertheless, he had no time waste, having no choice but to do whatever he could to appease the Harris family. At that thought, he hastened his steps. As it was almost noon, on his way back to the office, Remus called the PR department and instructed them to issue a public release to inform everyone that the CEO of Abbot Group had broken off his engagement with the daughter of Newton Group. Meanwhile, Craig threw a fit in the reception room after Remus left, smashing an expensive tea set in the process. ¡°Gwendolyn! Treyton! Cedrick!¡± They are always ruining things for me! Craig gritted his teeth and looked like he wanted to kill someone right then. The butler did not dare to go near him and said softly at a distance, ¡°Mr. Craig, the engagement gifts from. the Abbot family were quite substantial. Besides, they have offered to shoulder responsibility for breaking off the engagement. Come to think of it, not only did Newton Group not lose much, but we have also earned a profit from the engagement gifts.¡± That was indeed the case from a profitability point of view. Craig¡¯s fury diminished slightly after he heard the butler¡¯s analysis. Leaning into the couch, he continued to ponder over the situation. ¡°Since the Abbot family insists on breaking off the engagement, we will let them do it. After all, there isn¡¯t really any loss to our Newton family. What¡¯s more important is that we have to get rid of Jennifer as soon as possible.¡± Even though the woman was not fully conscious at the moment and would not be able to divulge the Newton family¡¯s secret, Craig knew that Cedrick and Gwendolyn would do anything they could to cure Jennifer of her condition. As long as the two of them were around her, Jennifer was like a ticking time bomb that could destroy the Newton family at any time. After a moment of contemtion, Craig instructed the butler. ¡°Get some men to stand guard outside the Jenson residence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I want to know Jennifer¡¯s whereabouts at all times, and get me timely updates on her situation.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Craig At that, Craig narrowed his eyes and said sinisterly, ¡°Ask them to kill her once she shows signs of waking up. They can act without informing me and report to meter. I want her dead no matter what.¡± The butler was stunned to hear that. ¡°But Mr. Craig, she¡­ she¡¯s a daughter of the Newton family and your biological sister.¡± ¡°Anything thates in the way of the Newton family¡¯s sess has to be gotten rid of. Even blood rtives are no exception,¡± Craig replied, his eyes devoid of light and emotions. Chapter 476 Chapter 476 Clocking Craig¡¯s detached expression, Karl sighed. Without saying anything further, he obediently left to do as ordered. During lunch at noon, the atmosphere at the dining table in the Newton residence was exceedingly somber. Sensing that Craig was in a bad mood and seemed to be preupied with his thoughts, neither Jasmine nor Lucas dared make a peep. They both kept their heads lowered and stuffed food into their mouths. Only the sounds of cutlery against crockery remained in the huge dining room. Craig¡¯s expression was as ck as thunder. Unbidden, the other person imprisoned on the top floor of the house shed across his mind. Jennifer has already learned of the Newton family¡¯s secret, so allowing her to stay by Cedrick¡¯s side poses a tremendous risk at the end of the day. Argh! How I wish I could kill her right away! A ng rang out as he mmed his fork onto the table with a grim look on his face. The sudden sound had both Jasmine and Lucas jump in fright. They did not even dare chew the food in their mouths. Lucas was inherently cowardly and had no mind of his own. When he saw that Craig was no longer eating, he put down his fork resolutely and swallowed thest bite of food in his mouth before sitting there quietly. Likewise, Jasmine was too scared to continue eating. Following suit, she ced her fork down and turned to Craig. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, Craig?¡± Her voice turned tentative, and she ventured, ¡°Is this because¡­ Jennifer had been taken away?¡± Craig lifted his eyes and stared at her intently. All of a sudden, an idea urred to him. ¡°Since Gwendolyn imed that her crystal earrings went missing, go and return them to her. If you like them, I¡¯ll gift you a simr set in the future.¡± Not daring to demur, Jasmine could only relent in displeasure, ¡°Got it.¡± Subsequently, Craig continued, ¡°She used you to take Jennifer away, so she probably harbors some guilt toward you. Visit the Jenson residence often these few days.¡± At that, Jasmine was wholly bewildered. ¡°Huh? But didn¡¯t you just instruct me to stay away from herst night?¡°, ¡°That was then. Jennifer is there now, and we can¡¯t ascertain her safety. Use this excuse to go over often and look in on her. Can you do it?¡± Words eluded Jasmine. Is he asking me to be a double agent? If he were to learn that I willingly helped to facilitate the matter of Jennifer being taken away, would he skin me alive in his fury? Her heart jolted, and she hung her head low. In truth, she did not want Jennifer to return at all. ¡°Gwendolyn and Jennifer are best friends, so Gwendolyn never hurt her, Craig. Besides, didn¡¯t you say that Jennifer is gravely ill? Isn¡¯t it perfect that Gwendolyn took her away for treatment? We can save ourselves the hassle.¡± Crash! A loud, resounding noise split the air. In his towering rage, Craig smashed the porcin bowl before him to the ground, resulting in shards flying everywhere. Both Lucas and Jasmine trembled in terror. Thetter was so terrified that her eyes brimmed with tears, and she bit her lower lip in aggrieve. Curling into herself, she apologized, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Craig. I was wrong.¡± It was only then that Craig¡¯s expression eased slightly. ¡°While you hold no affection for Jennifer, she¡¯s still your biological sister. As her sister, shouldn¡¯t you go and visit her now that she¡¯s not only gravely ill but also contracted some mental issues?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll go and visit her in the afternoon after I finish eating in a while.¡± ¡°Be careful. I¡¯ll arrange for two well¨Ctrained bodyguards to escort you.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Jasmine was startled for a bit, but she did not think much of it. ¡°Okay, got it.¡± In no time, Craig¡¯s expression softened significantly. The housekeeper then brought a new set of tableware over and ced everything neatly before the man. Craig picked up the fork, the look on his face back to its usual casualness. ¡°The food has daydreaming and continue eating.¡± Only then did Lucas and Jasmine dare to resume eating, keeping their heads lowered as they did so. Some time passed before Craig asked, ¡°Are you busy at the office recently, Lucas?¡± Jerking his head up in surprise, Lucas was just about to answer in the affirmative when Craig blithely continued, ¡°If you aren¡¯t busy, I¡¯ll have my subordinates find a vacant position at the Federal Bureau of Investigation for you.¡± ¡°Craig, I¡­¡± I¡¯m so weak that I start panting after standing for half an hour in the military posture. How could I possibly be able to bear the torture of going on missions and running around every day? Inwardly, he griped incessantly, wondering whether his brother was deliberately taking his anger out on him. s, Craig did not even spare him a single look. Instead, he added in a deep voice, ¡°Try to handle things at the office remotely as much as possible henceforth. Make frequent trips to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and gain a foothold there as soon as possible.¡± With pain written all over his face, Lucas weakly queried, ¡°Can I decline, Craig?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Over the moon, Lucas was just about to turn Craig down firmly when thetter continued, ¡°But if I¡¯ll think that you¡¯re purposefully beingzy and unambitious. The cane meant for Jasminest night ended up unused, so why don¡¯t you go to the ancestral hall and take fifty strikes so that the family rules can y their role, and you can also donate some blood?¡± In a sh, Lucas¡® face drained of all color. Expending much difficulty, he shed his brother a smile. ¡°Never mind, then. I¡¯m not that strong, and that might kill me. I choose to go to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Craig nonchntly took some food, his voice amicable. ¡°There¡¯s no need to force yourself. You can consider it further. I¡¯m not coercing you.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m very sure of my decision, Craig. I fervently hope to hone myself at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I¡¯ll never disappoint you and shall do my best to perform well to gain a foothold there as soon as possible.¡± He had a determined look in his eyes, and he sounded beyond serious. At that, Craig was finally satisfied. A smile curved his lips, and his gaze turned gentle once more. ¡°Great. Eat first.¡± Lucas¡® hand that held the fork trembled uncontrobly. Despite the tableful of food, he had no appetite at the thought of the agonizing days awaiting him. Nheless, he had no choice but to continue taking some food and eating a few bites in front of Craig. His hands were shaking overly much, and the fear within him lingered. Even after trying for an eternity, he still could not take the meatball on the te. Glimpsing the sidelong gaze Craig cast his way, he promptly flinched. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Craig.¡± Craig remained silent. He reached out and took a meatball before cing it into Lucas¡® bowl steadily. ¡°Thank you, Craig.¡± After murmuring an airy acknowledgment, Craig continued eating. Thereafter, no one else at the dining table spoke. Different thoughts yed in the minds of all three of them. The entire meal was downright depressing for Jasmine and Lucas. They almost suffocated. On the contrary, Craig was in a much better mood. He then went back to his study to handle work matters. No sooner had he sat down than Karl knocked on the study door. ¡°Mr. Craig, the team leader of Team Seven of the Federal Bureau of Investigation personally called and said Mr. Jenson would like to see you. He asked that you change into your military uniform and arrive at the Federal Bureau of Investigation within half an hour. If you¡¯rete, you¡¯ll be punished and issued a warning letter.¡± Half an hour? That much of a rush? What exactly is Cedrick trying to do? Shooting to his feet from the chair, Craig immediately returned to his room and changed. Then, he quickly went downstairs and sped toward the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Throughout the drive, he kept an eye on the watch on his wrist that had the countdown timer turned on. In thest few seconds, he arrived at Cedrick¡¯s office right on the dot. Right then, Cedrick was reclining against the chair leisurely, dressed regally in military uniform. He emanated an icy aura, appearing as imperious as ever. Toying with a cigarette between his long and slender fingers, he sniffed at it asionally. Yet, he dared not smoke, afraid that Gwendolyn would smell it on him when he went home and chastise him for not considering the twins. If that happened, he would be lectured again. Craig stood by the door and stared at the man from afar. With steady steps, he strode over to the empty space in front of the desk. cing his hands at his back, he straightened to his full height. He stood there at parade rest, his posture wless. ¡°Do you have any special instructions for me when you¡¯ve already suspended all my duties at the bureau, Mr. Jenson?¡± Chapter 477 Chapter 477 Cedrick looked up and shot him an icy¨Ccold re before tossing a mission list at him. Craig simply stood there and let the piece of paper hit his abdomen before sliding to the floor. ¡°Take a look at this,¡± Cedrick said. Feeling confused, Craig picked up the mission list and read through it in detail. ¡°This is a list of missions that I went on over the past three months. What is the meaning of this, Mr. Jenson?¡± Cedrick put the cigarette down on the desk before asking sternly, ¡°Your attendance this month was half of thest two months. Don¡¯t you think you owe me an exnation?¡± Craig knew that the man was deliberately trying to pick a fight with him, so he had no choice but to suppress his anger as he exined, ¡°Jennifer was sick, so I went back home a lot to look after her.¡± ¡°Excuses!¡± Cedrick yelled sternly while picking up an ashtray from the desk and hurling it at Craig¡¯s head. Craig instinctively moved his head aside to dodge the iing ashtray, which grazed his earlobe before falling onto the rug on the floor. There was a loud thud upon impact, but the ashtray did not break. ¡°Hmm?¡± Cedrick knitted his eyebrows in displeasure from behind the desk, as the depths of his eyes emitted a bone¨Cchilling coldness, serving as an ominous warning sign that he was about to lose his temper. Craig stared at the metallic sign on the desk with the word ¡°Director¡± on it. After taking a few seconds to suppress his anger, he picked up the ashtray and smashed himself in the head with it. His forehead was instantly swollen from the impact, but there was no bleeding as it did not break the skin. Cedrick was having a great time watching him suffer, his tormenting certainly did not stop at that. ¡°Jennifer only returned to the Newton residence a week ago, and she was only there for about six to seven days. Your mission count, however, decreased in half. It¡¯s obvious that you¡¯re simply using her as an excuse for yourziness at work! How dare you try to brush me off with such a sh*tty excuse, Craig?¡± Those words had barely left Cedrick¡¯s mouth when he picked up a coffee cup and hurled it at Craig¡¯s head. This time, Craig resisted the urge to dodge and took the blow head¨Con The coffee cup happened to hit him on the previous wound, causing his skin to break and bleed a little. ¡°Please investigate this matter thoroughly, Mr. Jenson. I would never dare do such a thing,¡± Craig replied respectfully while enduring the intense pain on his forehead. ¡°Well, you and I both know the truth about that.¡± Cedrick was infamous for his brutality and ruthlessness, but he had toned it down a iot over the past year because of Gwendolyn. This time, however, it was Gwendolyn who wanted him to teach Craig a lesson. As Cedrick had long since wanted to punish Craig for being a maniptive bully who preyed on the weak, he was more than happy to oblige. ¡°I am punishing you for yourziness at work and attempting to justify your misconduct with excuses. Do you acknowledge?¡± Cedrick asked while fidgeting with the watch on his wrist, his toneced with spine- chilling iciness. Craig clenched his fists behind his back so tightly that the veins in his arms bulged underneath the skin. However, Cedrick did outrank him, so there was nothing he could do exceptply. ¡°Yes, I acknowledge and ept any punishment.¡± Cedrick shot him a sly look as he said, ¡°Of course, you will be punished ordingly. Since I have a lot of free time during the afternoon, I will personally discipline my deputy director.¡± A wave of unease washed over Craig as he caught a glimpse of Cedrick¡¯s eyes, keenly sensing the imminent danger radiating from him. Thetter adjusted the cor of his military uniform as he slowly rose to his feet and made his way around the desk, striding toward Craig. He was slightly taller than Craig and exuded a powerful aura that matched the nature of his role. ¡°Take off your jacket,¡± Cedrick ordered. Craig stared at him for a few seconds in confusion but did as told anyway. He then took off his military jacket, folded it neatly, and ced it on the couch before returning to his original position. Cedrick shed him a sly grin as he said, ¡°For starters, let¡¯s see if you¡¯re still in good physical condition. I want you to do four hundred pushups without stopping.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Craig was in peak physical condition due to the hardcore training he had been through, so doing four hundred pushups in one go wasn¡¯t too challenging of a task. He then propped himself up with his muscr arms and performed the pushups with perfect form while Cedrick watched on. Craig¡¯s asional panting was the only sound that filled the office. After counting about a hundred pushups, Cedrick asked, ¡°How many have you done?¡± There was some sweat on Craig¡¯s forehead as he replied effortlessly, ¡°One hundred and seven.¡± Cedrick let out a snicker. ¡°Oh? Why didn¡¯t you count them out loud, then?¡± Craig looked up at him in confusion. Huh? He never said I had to count them out, though. However, Cedrick simply stared down at him with an authoritative look in his eyes, leaving the man with no choice but to do as he was told. ¡°One hundred and eight,¡± he counted while continuing his pushups. ¡°You stopped just now, so you have to start over.¡± Craig felt speechless when he heard that. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Making things difficult for me right from the get¨Cgo, huh? Looks like I¡¯m in for a really rough time¡­ With that in mind, he forcefully suppressed his anger and started counting from one. Cedrick continued staring at him for a little while longer before returning to his desk and pouring himself of coffee. He then casually sipped on his coffee while listening to Craig¡¯s counting, which sounded increasingly exhausted as time went by. The temperature in the office was just right at the time. Cedrick switched on the heater and cranked the temperature up to thirty degrees Celsius. After that, he took off his military jacket, wearing a thin white shirt underneath. With the sleeves rolled up, it revealed his pale and muscr lower arm. Furthermore, he went as far as to add two ice cubes to his coffee to help cool him off even further. ¡°T¨CThree hundred and forty¨Cfive¡­¡± Craig was drenched in sweat from head to toe as he struggled to continue the count. The sweat dripping down from his nose and chin had formed a tiny puddle on the floor. Not only had the office gotten hotter, but he still had to continue counting each pushup. The excessive sweating and counting left Craig dehydrated and thirsty, and his sweaty palms were starting to slip a little on the floor. Apart from having to concentrate on counting, he also had to stabilize his arms to prevent himself from copsing. Those factorsbined helped make his punishment even more torturous. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, the salt in his sweat was irritating the wound on his forehead. The intense pain made him a little dizzy, but he had to continue with the pushups regardless. I will remember this, Cedrick! Someday, I will be sure to make you pay for this! ¡°F¨CFour hundred¡­¡± Craig muttered weakly, a sense of relief washing over him. He then got back on his feet steadily and stood with his arms behind his back. Cedrick ced the coffee cup down on the desk and eyed Craig from head to toe as he said with a sarcastic smile, ¡°Look at you, sweating all over and panting heavily from just a few hundred pushups. Looks like your physical condition could use some improvement!¡± Craig was trying really hard to control his breathing. His dress shirt, which was all drenched in sweat, stuck to his body like a second skin. It felt extremely ufortable, but he was not about to ask Cedrick for permission to take a shower. After all, Cedrick would never approve of such a request. In fact, he might even mock Craig for it. It wasn¡¯t until Craig felt a st of hot air on his face that he looked up and saw that Cedrick had turned on the heater. He clenched his fists behind his back once again as beads of sweat continued to trickle down his chin. ¡°I can¡¯t allow someone in such poor physical condition to be a deputy director, can I?¡± Cedrick continued coldly, an icy glint shing in his eyes. Craig tensed up the moment he heard that. ¡°I have just been neglecting my trainingtely. I¡¯ll be sure to train harder when I get home!¡± At that, Cedrick¡¯s lips curled into a sinister grin. ¡°What you do when you get home is none of For now, I shall help you recall the hardcore training you once had.¡± Chapter 478 Chapter 478 Craig went pale and clenched his jaw slightly. He was fairly exhausted afterpleting over five hundred pushups in a row, and there were over four hours left until he would get off work. Just how much does Cedrick n on abusing me? Cedrick smirked when he saw the nervous look in Craig¡¯s eyes. ¡°Spread your legs about shoulder width apart and hold a squat position for an hour!¡± he ordered coldly. That¡¯s it? I just have to hold a squat position? ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Craig breathed a sigh of relief and quickly got into a squat position with perfect form. He was sweating profusely from the hot air blowing at him, but he maintained his position and controlled his breathing while counting the time. Cedrick simply stared at him for a while without saying a word. He then made his way to the bookshelf behind Craig. As Craig didn¡¯t dare turn around, he couldn¡¯t see what Cedrick was doing. All he heard was the clomp of Cedrick¡¯s military boots that grew distant before getting closer and closer. The next thing Craig knew, Cedrick had returned to his desk with a huge stack of books. Oh, no¡­ I have a bad feeling about this¡­ Sure enough, Cedrick proceeded to arrange the books into two separate stacks and ced them on top of Craig¡¯s thighs In order to prevent the book from falling off, Craig had no choice but to lower his squat by a couple of inches. When Cedrick saw that Craig was handling it rather well, he prepared another two stacks of books and walked up to thetter once again. ¡°Hold your arms out with the palms facing upward,¡± he ordered. Craigplied with the order, and Cedrick ced a stack of books in each hand. Despite how agonizing it was, Craig simply clenched his teeth and endured it in silence. Cedrick made his way back to his desk and sipped on his iced coffee as he said, ¡°If you can¡¯t evenst an hour, then you can forget about being the deputy director. Do not let any of the books fall off, or you¡¯ll be suspended for a month.¡± Craig held his breath and forced himself to endure the inhumane punishment, thinking of the bigger picture that awaited him. Once I take over the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I¡¯ll be sure to make Cedrick suffer! As Cedrick nced at the man from time to time while working on theputer, he noticed the vengeful look in Craig¡¯s eyes. ¡°You must hate me to the bone, huh?¡± Craig tensed up slightly and retracted his gaze as he replied, ¡°No, sir. You¡¯re my superior, so I will obey your everymand and give you my full cooperation.¡± Cedrick let out a chuckle and decided not to call him out on his lie. ¡°You¡¯re a subordinate, so you should learn to behave like one. It¡¯s not a good thing to be too full of yourself. You have a bright future ahead of you, but that is only if you learn to follow protocol.¡± He¡¯s indirectly asking me to give up on Jennifer and submit to Gwendolyn and Treyton¡­ With that in mind, Craig went along with it and replied. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Jenson. I will follow protocol and refrain from disobeying the rules.¡± Cedrick said nothing further as he retrieved a timer from his drawer and ced it in a spot where Craig could see it clearly. As Craig lowered his gaze, he saw that the timer was counting down from sixty minutes. Wait a minute¡­ That means the past twenty minutes didn¡¯t count! This guy sure knows how to torment someone! As his arms were somewhat fatigued from doing five hundred pushups, they were trembling slightly from the extra weight of the books. He quickly adjusted his breathing and clenched his teeth in an effort to maintain his position. Craig would be suspended if even a single one of those books fell, and the mere whisper of such an incident would tarnish his reputation significantly. This, in turn, would have a detrimental effect on Newton Group¡¯s stocks, triggering a rapid decline in their value. Aware of the dire consequences that could follow, Craig absolutely could not allow that to happen. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. A single hour felt like a year to him, but he kept his eyes on the timer. His arms were getting extremely sore from the weight of the books, and his legs were starting to tremble uncontrobly. Craig was sweating so much that he looked as though he had just taken a shower. The puddle of sweat beneath him continued to expand in size as time went by. As Cedrick continued working on his documents, the office got so quiet that one could clearly hear the sound of Craig¡¯s sweat hitting the floor. Seeing as there were only five minutes left on the timer. Craig forced himself to stay alert as he waited for it to hit zero. However, the timer was stuck at two minutes and fifty¨Cnine seconds. Thinking that his eyes were deceiving him, he closed his eyes and blinked a few times, but the digits on the timer remained the same. Huh? What¡¯s going on here? Cedrick was so focused on his work that he didn¡¯t even look at Craig. ¡°Mr. Jenson?¡± Craig called out to him, but Cedrick ignored himpletely and continued working on his documents. After holding on for a few more minutes, Craig was starting to feel mental fortitude waver. ¡°Mr. Jenson, the timer might be broken,¡± he said reluctantly. ¡°Broken, huh?¡± Cedrick arched an eyebrow as he continued without even looking at the timer, ¡°The timer probably wasn¡¯t doing a good job at keeping time, then. I¡¯ll get a new one and start over.¡± It has been so long since Ist saw Cedrick torment someone. I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s still as ruthless as ever¡­ Craig¡¯s arms and legs were trembling from fatigue, but he kept quiet regardless. Noticing the look of resentment in his eyes, Cedrick asked with a sarcastic grin, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You can¡¯t take it anymore? In that case, go ahead and hand in your resignation. You can go back to the safety andfort of your house after leaving the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± He wants me to resign? Heh¡­ Not going to happen! ¡°I am perfectly fine with your punishments, Mr. Jenson. I will reflect upon myself and work even harder to get stronger,¡± Craig replied. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Cedrick then retrieved another timer from his drawer and set it down where Craig could see it clearly. Just like that, his torment continued. After being injected with two shots of sedatives, Jennifer had yet to wake up in the afternoon. Having collected Cedrick¡¯s ess card, Gwendolyn and Treyton brought Jennifer over to the laboratory. They had just left when Jasmine arrived at the Jenson residence. She was feeling a little ufortable with how closely the two bodyguards were following her. ¡°Look, we¡¯re at the Jenson residence, so I¡¯m very safe here. Go wait for me in the garage. I¡¯ll be right back after I take a quick peek.¡± However, the two bodyguards refused to budge. ¡°Mr. Newton has given us specific orders to stay by your side and protect you at all times, Ms. Jasmine. We won¡¯t be able to answer him if we let you out of our sights.¡± Jasmine shot them a fierce re in response, but she didn¡¯t dare protest for fear of her brother¡¯s wrath. She then made her way through the alleys around the Jenson residence before arriving at Harrick Vi. Elven, who was standing guard outside the door, told her, ¡°Ms. Harris and Mr. Jenson have left the house, Ms. Newton.¡± ¡°Where did they go?¡± Elven shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Ms. Harris didn¡¯t say.¡± ¡°Did they say when they¡¯ll be back?¡± Elven shook his head again. ¡°No.¡± All right, then¡­ Feeling relieved, Jasmine turned around and told the two bodyguards, ¡°There, you guys heard it too. Gwendolyn isn¡¯t in, so it¡¯s not like I¡¯m cking off or anything.¡± She then turned around and prepared to leave, but the two bodyguards stopped her, saying, ¡°You came here to see Ms. Jennifer, so you should ask where she is Chapter 479 Chapter 479 Jasmine was upset at being told what to do. ¡°Why are you ordering me around?¡± Following the instructions he had received from Craig, the bodyguard assumed a firm and unwavering stance, saying, ¡°Ms. Jasmine, I¡¯m just giving you a friendly reminder that your mission is to ensure Ms. Jennifer¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?¡± Lowering his head, the bodyguard replied with a veiled threat, ¡°It¡¯s true that we have no right to do so, but we¡¯re under Mr. Newton¡¯s orders to protect you. It¡¯s our duty to report to him everything you said and did upon our return.¡± His words outraged Jasmine. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± The bodyguard lowered his head further. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± In spite of his words, his attitude remained just as defiant. Although she had never been disrespected to this extent before, Jasmine had no choice but to swallow her pride in the face of Craig¡¯s authority. Thereafter, she walked begrudgingly toward Elven, who was standing at the door of Harrick Vi. ¡°In that case, Elven, how is Jennifer doing? Is she in the vi? Can you give Gwendolyn a call and tell her that I just want to check on Jennifer? I¡¯ll leave right after that.¡± Hearing her words, the two bodyguards behind her grew vignt. Their heads were lowered to hide the murderous intent brimming from their eyes. After throwing Jasmine¡¯s bodyguards a nce, Elven shook his head again and exined candidly, ¡°There¡¯s no one in the vi. They¡¯ve all gone out.¡± Jasmine inquired, ¡°Do you know where they have taken Jennifer?¡± Elven grinned in response. ¡°I¡¯m just a bodyguard who¡¯s doing his job. My employer is not obligated to keep me informed of her affairs.¡± The tone behind his gentle smile clearly conveyed his sentiments. Jasmine subsequently turned around and gave her bodyguards the side¨Ceye, followed by a snort of displeasure. ¡°Did you not hear the man? Jennifer isn¡¯t in the vi. What else do you want me to do?¡± Both the bodyguards bowed at once. ¡°We¡¯re sorry.¡± After clicking her tongue at the bodyguards, Jasmine bid Elven farewell and left for home. Inside theb, Joshua ran tests on Jennifer¡¯s body. He returned to the ward half an hourter upon receiving the results. ¡°The results show that she¡¯srgely fine. It¡¯s just that her high level of hormones causes her to be easily stressed by her emotions.¡± Treyton tightened his grip on Jennifer¡¯s hand. ¡°Is that all? Can you not check if Craig has injected her with some kind of drug?¡± Joshua shook his head. ¡°All the drugs researched in thisb are biochemical weapons in nature. They can harm one¡¯s skin and organs, but none of them are designed to harm the nervous system. As a result, we can¡¯t tell if she has been given any drugs or not. In the event she has been injected with a psychotic drug, we¡¯ll have to know the kind of drug was used before we can treat her ordingly.¡± His words plunged Treyton and Gwendolyn into silence. Only Craig would know that information, and there¡¯s no way he¡¯s going to tell us. It turned out that the matter was a lot moreplicated than they thought. In the meantime, Joshua gave Jennifer a jab to calm her nerves, as she couldn¡¯t take any oral medication in her unconscious state. The chances of her taking it when she was awake were even slimmer due to the emotional breakdown she was suffering from. Hence, an injection was the only choice there was. On top of that, he prescribed her a special drug for her wounds. Overwhelmed by disappointment, Treyton held Jennifer¡¯s hand tightly. After all the effort he expended in extracting her and bringing her to theb, it didn¡¯t seem to make a difference at all. Sighing to herself, Gwendolyn came up from behind and gently rubbed the back of his head in an attempt to console him. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, Treyton. Today is just the first day. We¡¯ll discuss more when we get back. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find a solution.¡± When Treyton nodded with a gloomy look on his face. Gwendolyn continued tofort him, ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself, as this isn¡¯t your fault. It¡¯s just a series of unfortunate incidents. Everything will be fine once we resolve it.¡± ¡°Mmm¨Chmm,¡± Treyton hummed in acknowledgment. Cognizant that whatever she said was falling on deaf ears, Gwendolyn left the ward to give Treyton and Jennifer some privacy. Meanwhile, at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Craig¡¯s body was pushed to its limit. After over five hundred push¨Cups, Craig maintained a squat stance for two plus hours without any rest in between. Even then, there was no room to ck. Any attempt at taking a break would cause the books bncing on his hands and legs to fall to the ground. The technically challenging and tortuous exercise didn¡¯t allow him to think of anything else. All he could do was focus on enduring his punishment to its end. Ring¡­ Taking a deep breath, he couldn¡¯t help but snigger to himself. He had never imagined that the ring of a timer would ever sound so sweet, surpassing the most melodious music in the world. ¡°Mr. Jenson, time¡¯s up.¡± Cedrick was dealing with some documents with a red ball pen in his hand when he casually grunted in acknowledgment. ¡°Return the books to their original ces.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jenson.¡± The relief made Craig feel as if he had escaped from the jaws of death. A long time had passed since he had gone through such grueling training. His physical prowess was now worse off because of that. Thereafter, Craig put the books back onto the shelf where the entire collection was methodically categorized. Once that was done, he returned to the empty spot in front of the desk and bowed at Cedrick to indicate his intention to leave. Just as he turned around, Cedrick¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Stop right there.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick raised his gaze to give Craig a curious look. ¡°Since when did I dismiss you?¡± His words left Craig stunned. Is it not over yet? Despite his urge to put a bullet into Cedrick¡¯s head, he had no choice but to return to his previous spot begrudgingly. ¡°Awaiting your orders, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick put down his pen before pouring Craig a cup of coffee leisurely. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. Rx and have a drink first.¡± The suspicious Craig threw Cedrick a nce. Did he just discover his conscience? Why is he offering me a coffee? Even though panic and distrust welled up within him, Craig forced himself to step forward and ept the drink. The tormenting physical punishment had dehydrated him after all. Just as he brought the coffee to his lips, Cedrick¡¯s cruel words rang out in his ear. ¡°Considering the exercise you¡¯re going to perform next, you¡¯ll definitely need a drink to survive it.¡± Smash! Craig¡¯s quivering hand let slip the cup, allowing it to crash onto the ground and shatter into pieces. At the same time, the coffee it contained sttered across the floor. The stunned Craig looked at the untouched coffee before turning his attention to Cedrick. In a raspy voice, he dered, ¡°Mr. Jenson, I¡¯llpensate you for the cup-¡± Maintaining an emotionless expression, Cedrick gave him a cold stare. ¡°That goes without saying. That said, you don¡¯t seem to be appreciative of the drink I personally served you.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson, that¡¯s not- Cedrick interrupted him, ¡°Forget it. Since you don¡¯t look tired nor want any coffee, we¡¯ll justmence with your next exercise.¡± His words left Craig speechless. Despite thetter¡¯s darkened expression, Cedrick didn¡¯t relent and proceeded with an indifferent look in his eyes. ¡°Perform a handstand near the wall for twenty minutes.¡± A handstand? With his body at its limit, Craig could barely do it for five minutes, let alone twenty. ¡°Mr. Jenson, can I¡ª¡± ¡°Make it thirty then. Start right now.¡± While speaking, Cedrick put the timer on the table after setting it. Stumped by the turn of events, Craig took a deep breath. His brows were tightly furrowed, yet he didn¡¯t move a muscle. Cedrick looked up and shot him an icy gaze. ¡°Are you disobeying me? If you say another word or waste one more minute, I¡¯ll make it forty.¡± Chapter 480 Chapter 480 The endless pressure being applied triggered a sense of suffocation in Craig. His fists alternated between clenching and releasing as the rage within him swelled to its brim. All the physical punishments that Cedrick had meted out were exercises used during training. Other than the coffee cup thrown earlier, he had notid a finger on Craig. Hence, even if Craig wanted to report Cedrick to their superiors, he had no reasonable excuse to do so. With that thought in mind, Cedrick calmly tapped on the table and reminded, ¡°You still have fifteen seconds to decide. Take your time.¡± The words sent a shiver down Craig¡¯s spine, vanquishing the thoughts that were previously cycling through his mind. Without a moment¡¯s dy, he hurried toward a spot two steps away from the wall. Teeth gritted, he took a deep breath and pushed himself upright with his hands. When Cedrick mentioned for it to be done near the wall, he clearly didn¡¯t mean for Craig to lean against it. Thus, thetter had to support the weight of his entire body with his hands alone. Although his back was facing the wall, it only acted as a temporary cushion in case he fell down. This exercise was particrly strenuous due to its technical difficulty, and the fact that Craig was already drained made it worse for him. At the two¨Cminute mark, his arms were already trembling uncontrobly. Thus, he felt as if thirty minutes could potentially torment the life out of him. Many years had passed since he was reduced to such a pathetic state. He would never forget the humiliation he suffered and swore to seek revenge one day. Observing him from a distance, Cedrick could clearly see Craig¡¯s trembling arms. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He then took a sip of coffee before remarking, ¡°Craig, the years I spent away in Faike was supposed to be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your capabilities. Instead, you became full of yourself to the extent of trying to overthrow me.¡± Enduring the massive difort he felt, Craig eked out a few words through his gritted teeth. ¡°You must be kidding, Mr. Jenson. I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Cedrick let out a snort before pinching his foreheadnguidly. ¡°You were someone that I have personally groomed to be deputy director. Therefore, I know better than anyone else how truly ambitious you are. Unfortunately, you have lost your initial idealism and have be someone I barely recognize.¡± Ever since Craig became the head of the Newton family, the power to order everyone around and have them obey him unconditionally caused him to be intoxicated by power. From then on, his ambition began to grow as he craved more of it. Craig was aware of the change within him, yet he didn¡¯t see anything wrong with it, let alone have any intention of changing. ¡°Please, Mr. Jenson. I have not changed. You have to reconsider the matter.¡± Having used thest of his energy to speak, Craig felt his body tilt toward the back. However, he swiftly bounced back off the wall to recover his previous position. In no mood to hear Craig¡¯s excuses, Cedrick continued solemnly, ¡°Do you feel tired? As if your arms are going to break and you can no longer hold on?¡± In spite of Craig¡¯s silence, that was precisely what he was experiencing. Cedrick added, ¡°When I was trained by my master back in the day, what I had to go through was even more grueling than this. In fact, I felt like I was going to die. But the truth is, man¡¯s potential is limitless. When faced with overwhelming pressure, even the proudest of us have no choice but to submit. Moreover, despite knowing that one is incapable of withstanding the punishment for failure, one would still give one¡¯s all just to endure it. Craig, the gulf between us is just unbridgeable.¡± Craig was slightly stunned by the words even though he didn¡¯t know what Cedrick was trying to convey. Cedrick has never lectured me about life. Has he gotten carried away from punishing me that he can¡¯t help reminiscing about his past? Craig wondered in silence. Staring at the man, Cedrick spoke in a cruel and icy tone. ¡°If you¡¯re unable to keep this up for thirty minutes, it means that your physical body is too weak. I¡¯ll have no choice but to report it and request that you be sent back to training camp for three months. Upon your departure, the position of deputy director will be left vacant, and I intend to let Nico fill it temporarily. Do you have any thoughts on the matter?¡± Nico taking over the role might be temporary on the surface, but once he actually did, there was no way Craig would be reinstated. As he felt a chill down his spine, Craig bit down on his cracked lips, leaving a bloody print. He then channeled the anger within him to steady his shaking arms. ¡°Such an arrangement isn¡¯t necessary, Mr. Jenson. I can still keep this up.¡± Cedrick snorted inughter. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that.¡± Half an hour passed quickly for Cedrick as he went through his work. Unfortunately, the same couldn¡¯t be said for the hand¨Cstanding Craig. Every second felt like an eternity to him. All he could do was focus on maintaining his bnce and nothing else. Half an hourter, the timer began to ring. Coincidentally, it also signaled the end of the work day. Amidst a groan of relief, Craig copsed to the ground, unable to get back to his feet. With his eyshes drenched in sweat, he was so exhausted that he couldn¡¯t even open his eyes. At the same time, Cedrick had finished notating thest document with his red pen. After turning off the heater, he slowly walked up to Craig. ¡°You have managed to pass the test by a whisker. Now, clean up the floor before you leave.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson,¡± Craig called out softly upon collecting himself, ¡°can I-¡± As if he could read Craig¡¯s mind, Cedrick rejected him outright. ¡°No. That said, if you don¡¯t mind in the bureau learning of your punishment here, you¡¯re wee to get someone else to clean it up. Even if you can¡¯t stand on your feet, I¡¯m sure you can still crawl on your knees. I won¡¯t let anyone enter to disrupt your work. Now, whether you want to keep thest of your self¨Crespect is entirely up to you.¡± Cedrick stared quietly at Craig with a merciless look in his eyes. ¡°Understood¡­¡± Upon hearing Craig¡¯s answer, Cedrick put on his uniform before heading for the door. After taking just a few steps, he turned around and warned, ¡°You had better not have done anything to Jennifer during her imprisonment. Otherwise, I¡¯ll definitely make you pay.¡± The quivering Craig kept mum. Thereafter, Cedrick let out a snort before leaving the office. Once he was gone, Craig finally struggled to look up. When he was greeted by the sign on the table with the word ¡°Director¡± embossed in gold, his fists clenched subconsciously. By then, the overwhelming hatred within him was no longer conceble. Nevertheless, after taking a short break, he resigned himself to getting back on his feet. Unfortunately, his legs were so tired that the best he could do was crawl on his knees. Under such conditions, he began to clean the sweat and coffee stains off the floor before gathering the shattered piece¡¯s of the coffee mug. Once he was done, he called for his close subordinates to carry him back to his office. There, he washed up and got a change of clothes before returning to the Newton residence. Meanwhile, Cedrick returned to Harrick Vi to find it crowded with people. Treyton, Nico, and Summer were there. Sitting on the couch, all of them wore silent yet solemn expressions, as if they were waiting for Cedrick to chair a meeting of some kind. Walking over to join them, Cedrick took a seat beside Gwendolyn. With no care for those present, he threaded his hand around Gwendolyn¡¯s waist, looking for a hug. However, Gwendolyn pped his hand away and reprimanded softly, ¡°Keep your hands to yourself. Everyone is staring.¡± Although his wrist had turned red from the p, Cedrick refused to let go. Instead, he tightened his grip around her waist andmented, ¡°I¡¯ve not seen you the entire day, and it sucks.¡± Chapter 481 Chapter 481 Looking at Cedrick, who was acting coyly toward Gwendolyn, Treyton felt a sense of despair wash over him and sighed inwardly. Meanwhile, Nico was unfazed by his boss¡® public disy of affection, and a hint of amusement danced in his eyes as he watched their interactions. Standing beside Nico, Summer merely pouted her lips in jealously, looking at the clueless man next to her. Gwendolyn forced a smile and couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awkwardness wash over her as she observed the varied reactions of those around her. Cedrick seemed genuinely upset as he leaned his head lightly against her shoulder, seemingly seeking for constion. Thus, she did not stop him from hugging her and merely stroked the back of his neck out of habit, helping dispel his restlessness. ¡°Let¡¯s not sit around aimlessly. Since everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s begin the meeting.¡± Gwendolyn changed the topic. At that, Nico assumed a serious demeanor and began, ¡°I¡¯ve specifically looked into Ms. Newton¡¯s condition and even consulted several psychologists about it. They all shared the same opinion¨Cshe¡¯s highly emotional and in an unstable mental condition. This is likely triggered by a stress response, and it¡¯s unlike that she has experienced anything traumatic as she became like this in just a few days¡® time.¡± Summer expressed her agreement with a nod. ¡°That¡¯s right, hence why we¡¯re both leaning toward the theory that she has been injected with an unknown drug by Craig.¡± As the conversation delved into a crucial topic, an undeniable tension settled in the living room. Treyton went deep in thought for a long while before finally piping up, ¡°I just remembered something Jennifer had told me about.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± asked Gwendolyn. ¡°Kiddo, do you remember when Jennifer returned to the Newton residence in search of evidence regarding Charles being an illegitimate child?¡± Gwendolyn nodded in response. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Jennifer mentioned being attacked on the top floor of the Newton residence, and in retrospect, it bears a striking resemnce to the incident when she fell ill. It¡¯s worth noting that during that period, her mother, Caylie, was the sole upant of the top floor. Jennifer has held suspicions that Caylie may have yed a role in the incident.¡± The mention of that particr incident jogged Gwendolyn¡¯s memories, causing a surge of recollection to flood her mind. ¡°Speaking of this, I remember something as well. Craig took Jennifer with him to the last business banquet. During the meal, Jennifer noticed red markings on Mrs. Newton¡¯s wrist and asked me about her condition afterward. Treyton, I even mentioned this to you when I returned.¡± Treyton nodded, his mind flooded with vivid memories of the incident being discussed. The tension in the living room intensified, reaching a palpable peak with every revtion. Cedrick broke free of Gwendolyn¡¯s embrace. A frown marred his face as he questioned, ¡°So, are you suspecting that Craig first imprisoned his own mother, subjecting her to drug injections, and is now repeating the same sinister act on Jennifer?¡± Gwendolyn and Treyton nodded solemnly in agreement with the man¡¯s assessment. Cedrick¡¯s gaze lowered, veiling the dangerous glimmer that lurked within his eyes and did not utter another word. Meanwhile, the rest of the group continued their discussion. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, does that mean Craig still had the drug?¡± asked Summer. Expressing his approval of her theory with a nod, Nico added, ¡°Given Craig¡¯s desire to continue controlling Caylie, it¡¯s likely he continues to inject her with the drug. I recall Karl¡¯s intense reaction to the sound of rattling chainsing from the top floor when I conducted a search at the Newton residence. He vehemently prevented anyone from entering that area and looking back on it now, it¡¯s highly possible that Caylie is being held captive there!¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze, deep in thought. ¡°In that case, let me try to contact Jasmine again and see if she can help us infiltrate the residence and obtain the drugs that Craig is using,¡± she proposed. However, Summer had reservations about the approach. ¡°Gwendolyn, Jasmine is Craig¡¯s sister. Will she actually agree to help us acquire evidence of his crimes? She would essentially be betraying her own flesh and blood!¡± Truth be told, Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t sure about that either and had no confidence that they could pull it off. Nevertheless, she was not to give up before giving it a try. ¡°Let¡¯s just give it a shot. Considering the circumstances, Jasmine is our best hope within the Newton family. Craig¡¯s duties at the Federal Bureau of Investigation are currently on hold as he awaits an investigation. With this, security will likely be heightened at the Newton residence. Time is of the essence; we won¡¯t have another chance to search again,¡± she persuaded. A heavy silence descended upon the room. At that moment, this seemed to be the only option. As the discussion drew to a close, Nico took Summer home, while Treyton took over from Brian and diligently kept watch over Jennifer throughout the night. The living room fell into silence as each member of the group departed, leaving only Cedrick and Gwendolyn behind. At that moment, a hint of possessiveness and lust flitted across the man¡¯s eyes. With one fluid motion, he swept Gwendolyn off her feet. ¡°What are you doing? Put me down. I need to go to the fourth floor to check on the kids,¡± Gwendolyn grumbled as she patted his shoulder lightly. Nheless, the man did notply and insisted on carrying her back to the room. ¡°Mdm. Yarde is taking care of them, and they¡¯re probably asleep by now. Why bother waking them up? It¡¯ste. We should be getting some rest as well.¡± ¡°You said it yourself. We¡¯re going to rest, so don¡¯t you dare get handsy with me.¡± Cedrick instantly furrowed his brows, a visible disy of his growing aggrievance. ¡°Darling, I meant the intimate version of resting. Besides, I taught Craig a lesson on your behalf today and made sure you got your revenge. Shouldn¡¯t you reward me for that?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She faintly arched her brow and allowed him to carry her upstairs. ¡°Did you really?¡± Cedrick gently nuzzled his nose against hers, his voice filled with sincerity as he reassured her, ¡°Of course! How could I ever dare to deceive you,, Darling?¡± Her curiosity piqued, Gwendolyn sought to delve into the details of Cedrick¡¯s punishment toward Craig. ¡°Tell me how you dealt with him then. I want all the details.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curled into a seductive smile. He continued to carry Gwendolyn upstairs as he recounted the events that happened earlier that day. ¡°I threw an ashtray and a coffee cup at him. He sustained a cut on his forehead.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows. ¡°That¡¯s all? Just a cut? He didn¡¯t bleed?¡± Fully aware of her nefarious nature, he added dotingly, ¡°Certainly, there will be bloodshed when I make a move. I made sure to put him in his ce.¡± ¡°What happened next?¡± she asked with a mischievous grin, her interest in the story growing by the second. ¡°After that, I made him do over five hundred push¨Cups, squat for over two hours, handstand for thirty minutes.¡± Cedrick¡¯s voice carried a maic allure as he reveled in the satisfaction of his actions, and his voice stopped when the bedroom door shut. Soon, the atmosphere grew charged with desire as the gasps of ecstasy filled the air, muffled and concealed in the cloak of the dead of night. The next day, Lucas and Jasmine rose early and made their way to the dining room in the Newton residence, settling themselves at the table with poised postures as they waited for their older brother. Both of them knew better than to begin eating before Craig¡¯s arrival. The previous night, Craig had returned homete to the Newton residence, long after Lucas and Jasmine had retired for the night. Unbeknownst to them, Craig had faced punishment at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and had been carried back by his subordinates due to his exhaustion. After a night of rest, Craig had recovered most of his energy, but he was still gued with lingering soreness all over his body. It had been years since he had received such severe punishment, and it was difficult for him to even get downstairs. Time seemed to stretch for Lucas and Jasmine as waited in the dining room. Upon seeing the invincible Craig struggling to descend the stairs while being supported by the butler and housekeepers, their eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets from the shocking sight. ¡°Craig, what happened? Did you get hurtst night?¡± asked Jasmine. Lucas echoed her concern, saying, ¡°Craig, if you¡¯re having that much difficulty getting out of bed, you should ask the housekeepers to deliver your meal to your room. Why put yourself through all this trouble?¡± Craig¡¯s scowl deepened, his brows furrowing tightly as the chilling aura around him intensified. Nheless, he did not respond to his siblings¡® questions. ¡°It seems that Mr. Jenson had lost his mind yesterday and kept finding fault with Mr. Craig. He kept Mr. Craig in his office for the entire afternoon and subjected him to harsh punishments that almost took his life,¡± answered the butler on behalf of Craig. ¡°Oh, my goodness. I feel sorry for you, Craig,¡± Jasmine eximed meekly. Meanwhile, Lucas lowered his head, concealing the joy that was dancing in his eyes. Craig had been exerting his dominance over me day after day. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯d have the opportunity to witness him in such a weak and feeble state. He can barely descend the stairs, let alonesh out! For some reason, he was not concerned about Craig at all and was taking pleasure from thetter¡¯s misfortune. Chapter 482 Chapter 482 Craig made his way downstairs with great difficulty. Thereafter, Karl carefully supported him to his main seat with the help of a housekeeper. He sat down slowly, a needle-like pain running from his calf to his thighs. It was agonizing. Just walking down the stairs and sitting in a chair caused beads of sweat to form on his forehead and his face to pale. He was deeply annoyed by the scrutiny from everyone and had nowhere to vent his He picked up his spoon and bellowed, ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡± At that, Lucas and Jasmine quickly lowered their heads and picked up their forks to cat breakfast, neither of them making a peep. A few minutes went by before Craig questioned coldly, ¡°Jasmine, did you see Jennifer yesterday?¡± Jasmine froze momentarily and tried to swallow the piece of freshly baked bread in her mouth. ¡°No, when I went over in the afternoon, Gwendolyn and Jennifer weren¡¯t at the vi. I didn¡¯t know where they went, so I came home.¡± Crash! As soon as she finished speaking, Craig swept all the tes onto the floor with his arm, The sound of tes breaking echoing throughout the dining hall. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Lucas was startled by Craig¡¯s sudden outburst and dropped his fork, trembling in fear. On the other hand. Jasmine¡¯s eyes turned teary and reddened like a frightened little bunny. Craig shot her a vicious re and questioned in a low voice, ¡°How could youe back without seeing them? Don¡¯t you know you should stay at the Jenson residence until you see Jennifer? What else do you know besides cking?¡± Jasmine burst into tears. Tears streamed down her face, and she was unable to respond. As Jasmine was Craig¡¯s most beloved sister, he suppressed his anger and ordered, ¡°You have to see Jennifer and Gwendolyn today, or else don¡¯te back to see me.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand¡­¡± The more Jasmine thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Her sobs grew louder and medicantly coed remouth to shop her crying. Her chess rose and Gell as he tears drippet ershity Craig could be bothered with her and armed to look an Lucas who was trung an in how Fering Craig¡¯s deadly stare. Lacas lowered his beard an fear, afraid of bearing the brunt of his brocher i anger ¡°Did you go to the Federal Bureau of Investigation yesterday?¡± ¡°Ah? Grang, I was busy with work yesterday. I informed Team Nine that I¡¯ll report to the administrative department in two days.¡± ¡°In two days? And you chose the administrative department?¡± Craig¡¯s expression grew increasingly gloomier a storm brewing in his ey If it weren¡¯t for his aching arms, he would have smacked Lucas head at this moment. ¡°I told you to report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You are taking your time for that matter, yet you never seem to miss a meal. What use do I have for a useless younger brother like you? Kneel¡± ¡°Craig Lucas nced at Karl and the housekeeper, trembling in embarrassmen He couldn¡¯t believe Craig was making him kneel before everyone, depriving him of dignity. Craig¡¯s tone was cold and indifferent. He didn¡¯t even bother to cast another nce ¡°You either kneel or receive a whipping in the ancestral hall. It¡¯s up to you? It was evident Lucas had no choice. He stood up and kneeled beside the dining chair. ¡°Ouch!¡± There were small pieces of porcin from the tes Craig had swept down to the floor on the smooth marble floor. These pieces dug into the flesh of Lucas knees, causing him to his in pain. ¡°Craig, it¡¯s really painful¡­¡± He looked at Craig with reddened eyes. Upon noticing that his brother was unfazed by his sentence, he clenched his fists. Meanwhile, Jasmine was still covering her mouth and didn¡¯t dare to plead for leniency on Lucas¡¯ behalf. To her, an angry Craig was even scarier than a tiger. Compared to his siblings trembling in fear, Craig felt much better after venting his anger on Lucas. The frustration from the previous afternoon dissipated slightly, and his tone also became more calm. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to choose the administrative department. You can choose the major crimes department, investigative department, or surveince department. You need to establish yourself in the Federal Bureau of Investigation as soon as possible so I can have someone to rely on. Let¡¯s all do our parts for the family, do you understand?¡± Lucas had broken in a cold sweat due to the pain. Although he was reluctant, he could only reply through gritted teeth, ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°Oh? Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t say anything better than this?¡± Craig frowned, staring at him. ¡°No, I understand. I-I promise I¡¯ll be a pir of support for you and contribute to the Newton family.¡± Lucas was in agonizing pain from kneeling on the broken porcin pieces, so it was difficult for him to speak clearly. Craig nced at Lucas¡¯ legs and noticed the bloodstain on the ground, feeling much better upon seeing it. ¡°You may get up. Don¡¯t me me for being too harsh on you. One must work hard to aplish something of worth. If I keep spoiling you, you¡¯ll end up being useless.¡± Lucas scoffed inwardly listening to his mighty-sounding words. Despite this, he only dared to respond, ¡°I understand. You have good intentions.¡± Unable to get up due to the pain, he had to rely on Karl¡¯s help to get back into the chair. ¡°Don¡¯t just sit there. Eat your breakfast,¡± Craig ordered coldly as he ate a spoonful of oatmeal. Lucas and Jasmine had no appetite. The dominance that their older brother emanated was practically suffocating. Thus, only Craig ate his fill for breakfast. He was in high spirits as he ordered Lucas and Jasmine to aplish what he had instructed earlier after the meal. Jasmine was still crying aggrievedly while in the car to the Jenson residence. Right then, her phone rang. It was Gwendolyn. Upon answering the call, Jasmine cried, ¡°G-Gwendolyn, Craig scolded me¡­¡± Half an hourter, her arms were wrapped around Gwendolyn¡¯s waist, and she was buried in Gwendolyn¡¯s embrace, crying loudly. Gwendolyn stroked the other woman¡¯s back gently and wiped thetter¡¯s tears. She sighed. with relief inwardly as Cedrick had gone to work. If Cedrick saw Jasmine hugging her like this, he would throw a tantrum. ¡°G-Gwendolyn, Craig said I¡¯m useless for not seeing you yesterday. H-He said he will kick me out of the Newton family if I don¡¯t see you today¡­ ¡°Good girl, don¡¯t cry. Aren¡¯t you with me now?¡± After saying that, Gwendolyn suddenly recalled something, and her expression turned serious. ¡°Did Craig arrange the two bodyguards you brought here?¡± ¡°Yes, what about it?¡± Gwendolyn replied bluntly, ¡°They tried to enter the vi while we were having a conversation. They were looking around suspiciously, so they must have ulterior motives. I¡¯ve already told Elven and Ezra to tie them up and lock them in the basement to teach them. a lesson.¡± Jasmine snorted. ¡°Serves them right!¡± By then, she had calmed down. At the thought about what Craig instructed her to do, Jasmine queried, ¡°Gwendolyn, where¡¯s Jennifer? How is she?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°I wanted to see you because of this too. She seems very unstable, so we suspect she has been injected with a stimnt.¡± Jasmine was taken aback and asked naively, ¡°How is that possible? She has been staying in the Newton residence. Who would inject her with that? Craig said she has some sort of contagious disease.¡± ¡°Craig was lying to you.¡± Gwendolyn held her hands and sighed heavily. She decided to test the waters and tell Jasmine the truth. She continued, ¡°Jasmine, besides imprisoning Jennifer and injecting her with medication, Craig has done the same thing with Chapter 483 Chapter 483 Jasmine was baffled after listening to Gwendolyn She met thetter¡¯s gaze and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you joking with me? How could Craig imprison our mother or even inject her with some kind of medication? You don¡¯t understand. My mother has a peculiar temperament She doesn¡¯t like to go out most of the time and would only be reluctantly persuaded by Craig to attend some functions. She also doesn¡¯t care about her children¡¯s affairs, remaining indifferent all the time and would only listen to Craig¡± Gwendolyn sighed and patiently exined to Jasmine, ¡°Exactly. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s strange that your mother only listens to Craig?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Jasmine stared at her in a daze. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Jennifer has been dating Treyton for over a year, and their rtionship is quite stable. However, during the Newton family¡¯s homing feast, she publicly acknowledged her engagement to the Abbot family, unable to recognize Treyton and me, and only knew Craig. Don¡¯t you find her condition simr to your mother¡¯s?¡± Jasmine fell silent and carefully mulled over Gwendolyn¡¯s words. Whenever Mother made an appearance at formal events, she did seem to focus only on Craig¡­ Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Jasmine¡¯s face turned ashen in utter shock. She couldn¡¯t imagine Craig would do something like that. Gwendolyn held her hand, trying to persuade Jasmine, ¡°Jasmine, what he did is illegal and should be condemned. Help me once more. You¡¯ll also be doing the Newton family and mother a favor. What do you say?¡± Jasmine trembled all over. She had yet to recover from learning that appalling news. ¡°W- What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Find a way to go to the top floor and locate the serum that Craig injects your mother with, then bring the serum to me.¡± Jasmine withdrew her hand and shook her head firmly. ¡°I can¡¯t. Craig keeps a tight watch over the top floor. I have no chance of getting up there. He¡¯s now the person in charge of the Newton family, and his mood hasn¡¯t been goodtely, so he has been losing his temper frequentlytely. If I identally expose myself, he will certainly punish me severely. I dare not do this.¡± Gwendolyn desperately tried to reassure Jasmine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will help you. I won¡¯t let you get hurt. Do you wish to see your mother continue to be tortured and controlled by him?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Tears brimmed in Jasmine¡¯s eyes as panic gripped her heart. Caylie had never cared about Jasmine since her birth. Therefore, Jasmine never experienced any maternal love, receiving only affection from her father and elder brothers. As a result, she didn¡¯t harbor deep feelings for her mother, let alone be willing to undertake an impossible task for thetter. Jasmine could never bring herself toply with Gwendolyn¡¯s request. ¡°I can¡¯t do it. I really can¡¯t¡± She covered her head in agony. ¡°I know Jennifer is physically fit, capable of climbing walls to the top floor previously, but I can¡¯t. I can only ess the area through the metal gates, and the only two keys to unlock the door are in the hands of Craig and the butler. They guard the keys very strictly, so I won¡¯t have any chance toy my fingers. on them. I¡¯m sorry, Gwendolyn. I can¡¯t help you with this. I really don¡¯t dare, nor am I equipped with the abilities to do so!¡± Gwendolyn looked down and let out a long sigh. ¡°That¡¯s all right. I won¡¯t force you.¡± At the thought of her frightening elder brother, Craig, Jasmine would still shudder all over. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, rest assured. I will keep this matter a secret and pretend as if I¡¯ve not heard a thing. I won¡¯t stop you from doing anything, but I just hope you don¡¯t drag me into this. I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Gwendolyn patted the back of Jasmine¡¯s hand. ¡°Didn¡¯t Craig tell you to check on Jennifer¡¯s condition? Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll bring you upstairs to see her. If you don¡¯t actually take a look, he might find fault with you when you return.¡± ¡°Thank you, Gwendolyn.¡± The two went up to the guest room. At that moment, Jennifer was still in a deep sleep. Brian had administered a mood-stabilizing injection to Jennifer following Joshua¡¯s instruction. Treyton kept watch at her side. Having stayed awake for two nights without getting any quality sleep, dark circles had formed under his bloodshot eyes. Jasmine wasn¡¯t fond of Jennifer, so she merely nced at thetter briefly before taking her leave. Only after Jasmine left did Gwendolyn release the two bodyguards Craig had assigned to her from the basement. However, due to Jasmine¡¯s refusal this time, Gwendolyn¡¯s progress was once again stalled. She went to the fourth floor and apanied Zoey to watch the babies for a while. The two adorable babies were smiling sweetly, the epitome of pure and innocent ages. Gwendolyn caressed their faces affectionately, hoping her babies could remain in that carefree manner forever. At the thought of the situation at the Newton residence, she furrowed her brows again, at a loss of what to do Jasmine unt willing to help, so there¡¯s no way I can prate the deeper parts of The Newton rendence. While she carefully considered her options, her phone suddenly rang. Gwendolyn saw it was a call from Angle¡¯s Joanne. Having been busy with Treyton¡¯s predicament recently, she hadn¡¯t managed Angle¡¯s business. for a long time. Once the call connected, Joanne cut to the chase. ¡°Ms. Harris, a gentleman with the surname ¡°Newton¡¯ wishes to see you today. I¡¯ve arranged for him to wait inside the reception room. Would you like to meet him?¡± A gentleman with the surname ¡°Newton?¡± Gwendolyn was bewildered. There are only two Mr. Newtons left in the Newton family now. Cedrick has ced Craig under house arrest to let thetter reflect on his mistakes. Therefore, there¡¯s no way he can simply leave the house and request to meet with me at Angle. In that case, could the person be Lucas? But I¡¯m not familiar with him. Why would he want to see me? ¡°Ms. Harris, would you like to meet him?¡± Joanne asked again after not hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s reply for a while. Gwendolyn, feeling a little wary, probed further, ¡°Which Mr. Newton is that?¡± Joanne answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know. He didn¡¯t mention his full name and just said that he¡¯s an old friend of yours.¡± An old friend? Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of the man who stayed in the faraway country abroad. Is he back? ¡°Okay. I got it. Tell him to wait for a while. I¡¯ll hurry over in an hour.¡± After hanging up the call, Gwendolyn pecked a kiss on both babies¡¯ cheeks before she hastily went downstairs and left the house. Just as she arrived at the garage, she saw Cedrick returning in the car he drove out earlier in the morning. Cedrick brought his luxury car to a steady halt before her and rolled down the window, revealing his extraordinarily handsome facial features. ¡°Are you heading out, Darling? I happen to be free, so would you like to head out together?¡± Gwendolyn arched her brow ever so slightly. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you happen to be free when there are so many matters you have to attend to at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jenson Group? You deliberately came to check on me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he got out of the car, walked around the vehicle to the passenger side, and opened the car door for her. Then, he ushered her into the vehicle in a gentle manner. ¡°Let me be your driver today, Darling¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t refuse, allowing him to help her fasten her seatbelt. He started the luxury car and drove smoothly out of the Jenson residence with his good driving skill Gwendolyn uttered. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Angle.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Not long after, the two arrived at Angle. Through the hazy ss of the reception room, Gwendolyn saw a figure that seemed familiar yet somehow not, sitting with his back to her. She trained her eyes on the figure while pushing the door to the reception room open. Cedrick suddenly grasped her hand, seemingly intent on staking his im on her, but she didn¡¯t stop him. The two entered the room together. Hearing the sound of the door opening, the man inside the reception room turned around. Chapter 484 Chapter 484 Apart from the sparkling blue eyes, there was no denying that the man¡¯s face had lost all youthfulness. His skin was rougher than before, and the beard he kept only made him look like a foreign middle-aged man. It was as if he had endured several hardships in the past year, and the stress aged himn rapidly. Despite that, his eyes were still full of love and tenderness as he gazed at Gwendolyn ¡°Hello, Gwen. It¡¯s been a while.¡± Gwendolyn, on the other hand, stood transfixed in shock and disbelief. Wow. It¡¯s been almost a year, huh? I never thought Charles would change this much, but he does seem far more mature now¡­ After scrutinizing him for the longest time, Gwendolyn finally broke into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Mr. Newton.¡± Even though Charles was a little taken aback by how she had addressed him, he quickly understood the situation when he saw Cedrick standing behind her. ¡°It¡¯s been way too long since west met. Can I get a hug for old times¡¯ sake?¡± he said, spreading his arms wide as he looked expectantly at Gwendolyn. Instead of replying, thetter turned toward Cedrick, only to realize his head was down and his expression unreadable. Hmm¡­ It¡¯s just a simple hug, and it¡¯s not like I¡¯m doing it behind his back. He wouldn¡¯t mind, would he? With that thought in mind, Gwendolyn stepped forward gingerly and opened her arms. s, she was about a meter away from Charles when she suddenly felt a nudge on her arm. Upon turning around, she saw a grim-faced Cedrick marching toward Charles, looking like he was poised to fight. Oh, no! This is only the first day of Charles¡¯ return. Is he going to get a knuckle sandwich as his wee-home gift? ¡°Hubby¡­¡± Before Gwendolyn could finish her sentence, Cedrick had walked over to hug Charles, albeit reluctantly and awkwardly. ¡°My wife¡¯s a married woman, after all. I¡¯ll stand in for her.¡± Cedrick muttered before patting Charles on the back. Naturally, thetter was stunned beyond words, and neither man could hide the disdain on their faces. Gwendolyn, however, couldn¡¯t stop giggling at the adorable sight. ¡°All right. That¡¯s enough. How long more do you guys intend to hug? I¡¯m beginning to feel like I¡¯m the third wheel now.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Upon hearing that, Cedrick and Charles hastily let go of each other, their expressions dark and ufortable. With that, Gwendolyn pulled Cedrick along and sat down opposite Charles. ¡°So, why did you suddenly want toe back?¡± Charles smiled as he hid the trace of disappointment in his eyes. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a sudden decision. After living overseas for so long, I realized there were still things I miss dearly and can¡¯t get. over. That¡¯s why I decided to return. Anyway, I sent you an express letter a few days ago exining this. I thought you¡¯d have known about it¡­¡± ¡°You sent an express letter?¡± Gwendolyn asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice. Ah. Now that I think about it, I might have received something like that¡­ ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ve been pretty busy recently, and Elven¡¯s usually the one who keeps my mail. Ipletely forgot to read them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Charles said smilingly. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Before long, the trio had settled into afortable conversation. ¡°Oh, have you heard about the Newton family acknowledging Jennifer? You have another sister now!¡± ¡°Jennifer Newton?¡± Charles mumbled. Well, I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve heard of that. During the past year abroad, all I had done was teach in the countryside, and never once did I check in with my family. I did hear about Gwendolyn, though, and it warms my heart to know that she¡¯s in good hands with Cedrick. ¡°She¡¯s an actress signed under mypany, Angle, and my good friend from when we were in Faike Orphanage. She and my brother, Treyton¡­¡± Gwendolyn said before her voice trailed off She and Cedrick had be solemn at the mention of Jennifer, but thankfully, Charles was observant enough to notice the changes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did something happen?¡± After ncing at Cedrick and seeing that he wasn¡¯t about to raise any objections, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Have you heard about Craig?¡± Charles said nothing, but his gaze had darkened. ¡°Let me take you to Jennifer. You might be able to find out more once you¡¯ve met her.¡± Soon, the trio returned to Harrick Vi. Even though it was Charles¡¯ first time meeting his paternal half-sister, he still had some memories of all the drama before her birth, so it was no surprise that he felt guilty about her situation. When his father brought him home from Erihal all those years ago and requested that he be acknowledged as part of the Newton family, Caylie had flown into a temper and ran away despite being heavily pregnant. Word had it that she subsequently became mentally unstable from the stress, which led to Jennifer being abandoned outside for many years. ¡°It was only a week since the Newton family acknowledged her, and she already ended up in this state,¡± Gwendolyn exined. ¡°When I found her, she was chained up on the top floor by Craig and wasn¡¯t in the best mental state, either. For some unknown reason, she only recognized him and would even go crazy and self-mutte whenever she left him.¡± Charles listened intently as he scrutinized the frail-looking woman on the bed. Treyton, who had been silent before, added, ¡°We suspect Craig had done the same to Mrs. Newton by imprisoning her and injecting unknown drugs into her system.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what happened. No wonder¡­¡± Charles replied after much contemtion. Realizing that he seemed to know something, everyone in the room swiftly turned their attention to him. With that, Charles decided to reveal the truth about his family. ¡°The current Mrs. Newton is my father¡¯s second wife. After he passed away, Michael, Craig, and I began fighting to be the next head of the Newton family. Michael was my eldest brother, but unfortunately, he died in an ident amidst our power struggle. As for me, the Central Intelligence Agency happened to transfer me out of Salinsburgh for a mission. By the time I returned everything was over. Craig had clinched control of the family. From what I heard Mrs Newton had supported him every step of the way, even going so far as to use her family¡¯s resources to establish his authority Of course, I found odd, then No matter how much she loved her son, there was no need to exhaust her family¡¯s wealth for that Now that I think about it, though. I must say Mrs Newton behaved rather strangely when she showed up at the family meeting. It seemed as though she was under Craig¡¯s control.¡± Once the recap was over, a heavy silence befell the room until Charles looked up at Gwendolyn ¡°Gwen, I think I have a solution to this. I can help you,¡± the man said determinedly. Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn and Treyton¡¯s eyes lit up. Cedrick, however, remained deep in thought, and no one could tell what was on his mind. After a thorough discussion, the group finally decided on a n. Later that evening, Lucas, who was exhausted from his time at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, sat down nervously at the restaurant table with Jasmine. Mealtimes had be a nightmare in the past two days, and they always felt like they¡¯d be sentenced to death at any second. Once again, Craig slowly made his way downstairs with the help of Karl and the housekeepe and took his seat at the head of the table. Instead of tucking into his meal, he shot a look at Jasmine. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°Jennifer isn¡¯t doing so good. I heard she had another outburst after being sent to Harrick. Vi and even injured Mr. Treyton. Then, she got sedated and hadn¡¯t woken since. Till up now, there still aren¡¯t any improvements to her condition.¡± Upon hearing that, Craig seemed to have a weight off his shoulders. ¡°I want you to visit the Jenson residence often. Keep me updated on Jennifer¡¯s condition.¡± Jasmine lowered her head. ¡°Noted.¡± ¡°By the way, remember to have Gwendolyn release the bodyguards the next time you¡¯re there. I don¡¯t want a repeat of today¡¯s incident where they get locked up in the basement. Their job is to follow you everywhere and ensure your safety, so you should never be out o their sight. Understood?¡± Despite being against it, Jasmine eventually relented. ¡°Yes.¡± Just as Craig was about to question Lucas, one of the bodyguards at the door suddenly dashed in. looking like he had just seen a ghost ¡°M-Mr Craig Mr. Charles is back!¡± Chapter 485 Chapter 485 ¡°Who?¡± Craig questioned, confused. ¡°It¡¯s our Mr. Charles! He¡¯s¡­ He¡¯s right at the entrance. He¡¯s alive!¡± The more Craig listened, the deeper his frown became. Hence, he propped himself up to stand. However, the soreness of his arms and thighs forced him back on the chair. Pushing away the thoughts of his pain, he said, ¡°Let him in.¡± When everyone in the dining room saw Charles, they paled as if they had seen a ghost. Out of everyone, Jasmine was the most agitated. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried out, ¡°Charles, is that really you? You survived?¡± Charles¡¯ eyes crinkled. ¡°I was lucky to have survived.¡± As his gaze drifted toward Craig and Lucas, he greeted, ¡°Craig, Lucas.¡± Lucas nodded numbly. Craig was the one with the least expression and the mostposed. When he stirred his soup, the spoon and the bowl made a crystalline nking sound. He somberly asked, ¡°If you were alive, why didn¡¯t you send us a message? Does the Newton family not mean anything to you anymore?¡± Charles lowered his head and meekly answered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I had to go into hiding in order to survive. I know I¡¯ve done wrong to worry you all.¡± Hearing that made Craig feel better. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m d you¡¯re back. Have you had your dinner?¡± ¡°No.¡± Craig glimpsed at the housekeeper beside them and said, ¡°Set the table for Charles.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Charles said. His blue eyes were fixed on Craig. ¡°Craig, I have something I wish to talk to you in private. Is that okay?¡± When Craig looked at his brother, he noticed that there was something different in Charles¡¯ eyes. However, Craig was sore all over for the past two days. He could not stand. After a moment of rumination, he turned to look at the sorrowful Jasmine and Lucas, who seemed to have no appetite for food. ¡°What kind of expressions are those on your faces? Are you not hungry? If you¡¯re not, go back to your rooms and stop hovering in my line of sight.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± both answered in unison before hurrying out of the dining room, not wanting to spend another extra second in there. After that, Craig dismissed the housekeepers and butler too. In less than a minute, the only ones left in the spacious dining room were Charles and Craig. Charles then walked across the long dining table to the empty seat beside Craig, but he did not sit down. Instead, he remained standing. Craig was d to see that his brother was still sensible, so his gloomy expression softened. ¡°Tell me. What happened earlier?¡± The look on his face was apathetic, and he spoke slowly in a t tone. ¡°A year ago, Cedrick came after me with an international arrest warrant and kicked up a fuss on the day of my wedding with Gwen. He forced Gwendolyn to shoot me.¡± Craig impatiently tapped the surface of the table and urged, ¡°I know about this. What I want to know is how you escaped from Cedrick.¡± ¡°Gwen could not bring herself to kill me. Her bullet went sideways instead of hitting my heart, but Cedrick didn¡¯t know about it. Thinking that I¡¯m dead, he threw my body at a nearby mountain. He didn¡¯t even bother burying me, hoping that the wolves would feed on my body instead.¡± Craig snorted. ¡°That sounds like something Cedrick would do.¡± He then lowered his gaze. Charles continued, ¡°Maybe luck was on my side, as a hunter who happened to be on the mountain saved me. Mother wanted the international court to sanction Gwenter on, and Cedrick tried to send his men to look for my body on the mountain. I fled to Erihal that night, and I¡¯ve been living in countries with low literacy rates, hiding my identity since then. I did teaching to earn a living.¡± Craig was contented after quietly listening to Charles¡¯ story. Then, he sighed, seemingly wistful. ¡°What a pity. You, my brother, have good looks, brains, andbat skills, but Cedrick has ruined you. My heart aches for you.¡± A bitter smile grew on Charles¡¯ face. ¡°I risked getting detected by Cedrick in making this trip, but it¡¯s worth it to hear that you¡¯re concerned about me.¡± Craig then pointed at the seat beside him, motioning for Charles to sit down. Craig was joyous to hear that Charles had suffered much under Cedrick¡¯s hands, so he was subconsciously gentler with Charles. ¡°Thank you, Craig.¡± Charles took the seat. Craig then asked, ¡°What ns do you have this time? Cedrick is the reason for your downfall, but he¡¯s thriving in all ways right now-love life, career, and family. Are you happy with that?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Charles hissed, tightening his fists as the murderous look in his eyes became visible. Craig, I¡¯vee back in hopes for one thing-1 wish to seek your help. Cedrick has stolen my woman from me and made me lose everything. I had to suffer because of him, and I can¡¯t evene home. despite having one. If I don¡¯t kill him, I¡¯ll live in hatred forever. As long as you help me, Craig. I¡¯ll do everything you ask me to even if it means giving up my life!¡° Craig¡¯s interest was piqued. He stirred his soup for a while and mulled over Charles¡¯ words. Then, a stumped look crossed his face. ¡°Charles, I really want to help you, but Cedrick has suspended my work at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I can only stay at home and wait for more news from the bureau. Therefore, I have to say that there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± ¡°What? Cedrick¡¯s even messing with you?¡± Charles snarled, the fury in his eyes was clear. ¡°Craig, you¡¯ve been the deputy director for a long time. Do you not want to be the director one day and have Cedrick submit to you instead? Don¡¯t you want to take back the right that belongs to you?¡± Craig was silent. Of course, he did. He yearned for a day like that until he was close to losing his mind. In fact, he wished he could trample on Cedrick. But all he did was stare at his half-brother and narrow his eyes, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Charles went on, ¡°Craig, I¡¯m your brother. Now that I have nothing, I can onlye to you and try to rely on you. I¡¯ll definitely help you with this. I¡¯m going to risk my life and get you the role of the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation!¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. They shared amon enemy. An extra person on the team meant a higher chance of winning. Smiling, Craig stretched out his hand toward Charles, who intelligently moved his head closer to let the former pat his cheek. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve grown more mature over the year. I¡¯m d to see this.¡± Charles meekly lowered his unperturbed gaze. ¡°I promise you that I¡¯ll think of a way to deal with Cedrick.¡± ¡°Thank you, Craig!¡± ¡°Mhm. You must be tired, so rest in the guest room for now. I¡¯ll get the housekeeper to tidy up your old room.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you so much, Craig, for allowing me to still have the Newton residence as my home.¡± A kind smile manifested on Craig¡¯s lips. ¡°We were in a conflict during the session fight, and I even punished you, but Charles, you¡¯re still my brother.¡± Charles¡¯ face looked more haggard, and when he curled his lips, he seemed more mature than a year. ¡°I was rather immature back then. I¡¯m d that you¡¯re not holding me ountable for what I did anymore,¡± he muttered without any trace of anger in his eyes. Craig inclined his head in satisfaction. ¡°Go and rest.¡± ¡°Enjoy your meal, Craig. I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With that, Charles stood up and went toward the stairwell. The second he turned around, he dropped the smile on his face. There was nothing but frigid apathy in his expression. Craig was the only one eating in the dining room, and it seemed quiet. However, Craig was unbothered as he continued digging in. A few minutester, he summoned the bodyguard and whispered, ¡°Check where Charles has been before returning to the house. Find out if he has met Cedrick before this.¡± Chapter 486 Chapter 486 As Charles sat on the guest room¡¯s bed, a sense of worry gnawed his heart. He knew Craig far too well. The man was paranoid and an overthinker. He knew that Craig was not going to believe him so easily With that thought in mind, he sent Cedrick a message. The next morning, at the Newton residence¡¯s dining room, everyone was silently having their breakfast. Only the sounds of cutlery against crockery filled the huge dining room. After what seemed like forever, Craig said, ¡°Charles, since you¡¯re back, I¡¯ll be announcing to the public that you¡¯re still alive. I¡¯ll hold a wee party for you.¡± Charles furrowed his brows and replied, ¡°But Craig, if Cedrick finds out about this, he¡¯ll surely try to capture me and send me back to the secret interrogation room to torture me.¡± Upon noticing Charles¡¯ nervousness, Craig let down his guard a little. ¡°Don¡¯t leave the Newton residence before the wee party. I¡¯ll guarantee your safety.¡± ¡°But, Craig¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Craig firmly said. ¡°You told me that you were going to heed my orders. Have you already forgotten about that?¡± At that, Charles had no choice but to reply, ¡°All right.¡± ¡°Come to the study two hourster. I have something I want you to do.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Silence returned to the dining room. After the meal, Jasmine went back to the Jenson family¡¯s Harrick Vi. She was forced to go and check on Jennifer. Meanwhile, Lucas bitterly went to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to work. He had been the errand boy for the past two days, and he was about to copse from exhaustion. His grudge against Craig only became even more intense. Meanwhile, Craig felt better, and he could somewhat walk on his own, albeit slowly. Thus, he went to the study to deal with Newton Group¡¯s quarterly financial statement. A few minutester, the bodyguard knocked on the room door. ¡°Mr. Craig, we¡¯ve done our investigation. Mr. Charles went to Angle yesterday in an attempt to meet Mrs. Jenson.¡± Craig put down his pen and icily asked, ¡°Did he manage to see her?¡± ¡°No. I think he was discreetly kicked out of the ce.¡± Craig pondered the answer for a while. ¡°Then did he meet Cedrick?¡± ¡°No.¡± Craig¡¯s solemn look slowly returned to a peaceful expression. ¡°You¡¯re dismissed.¡± With a respectful bow, the bodyguard turned and left. A few momentster, Charles came into the study. ¡°Craig, have youe up with a n? Is that why you want to meet me?¡± Craig lifted his head to smile at Charles. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be assigning you a task during your wee party, and you have toplete it.¡± A few minutester, when Craig was done giving his instructions to Charles, Charles had a somber expression on his face. ¡°Craig, you want me to poison him?¡± Craig calmly lit a cigarette and said, ¡°Why do you sound surprised? Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯d do anything so that I can be the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Charles analyzed, ¡°The wee party will be held in the Newton residence. If anything happens to Cedrick at the Newton residence, not only would I be caught on the spot, but Newton Group¡¯s shares will be affected too. The Newton family won¡¯t be able to escape this, so Craig, you have to think about this.¡± Craig scoffed, not at all afraid. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one knows about this drug. It¡¯s a prohibited drug I purchased from overseas, and it¡¯s colorless and odorless. It¡¯ll only take effect a week after he¡¯s poisoned, so no one will suspect you.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a tough drug to be detected, why do you want me to do this?¡± Craig took a puff of his cigarette before ncing at him. ¡°You¡¯re different to Gwendolyn. She shot you, so she must be feeling guilty. If you do this, you¡¯ll be able to get Gwendolyn to pass the wine to Cedrick. This n will be wless then.¡± Charles kept his hands behind his back as he stood with a stiff back. His eyes were lowered as he mulled over the matter. Craig had to rap on the table to snap Charles back to the present. ¡°You made me a promise yesterday, but are you now saying that you were only bluffing about your pledge of loyalty?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll do as you say. I¡¯ll make sure everything goes smoothly, Craig.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Craigzily leaned back on the chair as he continued smoking. As he tilted his head back, he gazed at the rising smoke with cold eyes. To ensure your safety in the Newton residence before the party, you¡¯ll have to hand in all of your communication devices. Can you do that?¡± Charles stiffened a little, but he only hesitated for two seconds before fishing out the old phone model from his pocket and putting it on Craig¡¯s table. ¡°I don¡¯t have much money, so this is the only phone I have. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can send the bodyguards to check my room.¡± Craig gave him an amicable smile and said. ¡°Of course I trust you.¡± That night, news of Charles being alive and having only gone abroad to study was published on Newton Group¡¯s website. Gwendolyn was still under suspicion for Charles¡¯ murder. However, the chaos was kept minimal because of Treyton¡¯s control over the inte. Now that Charles was alive, those rumors would be cleared. Gwendolyn was on the couch, watching the news of the Newton family. As Cedrick put the washed strawberries into her mouth, he nced at her iPad. ¡°I never thought that he¡¯d use the identity of Charles Newton and take back his old life aftering back a yearter. Gwenny, why do you think he¡¯s back?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks were puffed from the strawberries in them. She pondered Cedrick¡¯s question but did not answer. Cedrick went on. ¡°Darling, I feel that his unannounced return has a reason. I think he has a secret.¡± Perhaps it was a man¡¯s instinct toward another man. When Charles asked to leave Chanaea and Erihal back then, he had expressed utter destion toward his identity as the illegitimate son. He neither wanted to continue living as Charles Newton nor Vidar Lund. Cedrick thought that Charles would remain under the radar forever. In the end, Charles only left the scene for a year before returning suddenly. It was almost as if Charles had only gone for a holiday. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Patting Cedrick¡¯s arm that was around her, Gwendolyn whispered, ¡°Do you still hate him?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s been a year since then. I¡¯m healthy and happy, so I won¡¯t hold him ountable anymore.¡± Gwendolyn lovingly caressed his cheek. ¡°That¡¯s good. Now that he¡¯s willing to help us out, we might as well have some trust in him. As long as his ns have nothing against us, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Gwenny.¡± He then gave an approving kiss on her cheek before reaching out to the table to feed her more As Gwendolyn merrily ate the strawberries, she continued, ¡°By the way, news of Charles being alive has been published. Craig¡¯s a paranoid man, so you should make some trips to the Newton residence to make the show more realistic.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± It had been three days since Charles went back to the Newton residence. Charles could not sleep at night. Sometimes, in the dead of the night, he would walk to the window to look at the top floor. He had been paying much attention to the people on the top floor. Jasmine, Lucas, and all housekeepers and bodyguards were not allowed on the top floor. The butler was the one to serve the meals of the day himself. For the past two days. Craig had not gone upstairs because of his sore body, but when he recovered, he would take a trip there every day. Craig and the butler were the only ones with the keys-the security was tight. Thus, Charles deduced that he would not have a chance to head upstairs and investigate the situation at the moment. Maybe the wee party will be a good chance. Chapter 487 Chapter 487 With that in mind, he lifted his blue eyes slightly and stared intently at the crescent moon outside the window. He suddenly thought of something. With that, he slipped his hand into his pocket and took out a small package of powder. It was barely the size of a fingernail. He softly stroked the paper bag with his fingertips. His gaze held a profound mystery as he pondered over something in silence. After four days of treatment, Jennifer finally regained consciousness. In a state of weakness and despair, she kept her eyes partially open. It was rather unusual that she didn¡¯t resort to self-harm or madness. Instead, she appeared disoriented and detached as if her soul had been taken away. Gwendolyn, Treyton, and Brian all stared at her with tension as Jennifer leaned against the headboard. Treyton¡¯s eyes turned red as he suppressed his excitement. ¡°Jennifer, I¡¯m Treyton, your boyfriend. Do you remember me?¡± Jennifer kept her head lowered the whole time, showing absolutely no response. It was as if she hadn¡¯t heard him speak at all. Gwendolyn also leaned in and whispered gently, ¡°Do you still recognize me? I was your best friend back in Faike Orphanage.¡± If it weren¡¯t for her intermittent eye blinking. Gwendolyn and Treyton would have thought she was asleep. Brian, who was beside her, documented her condition and sighed while shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s still not working. Regr medication can only manage her agitation. Without knowing the underlying cause, it¡¯s difficult to cure her.¡± For now, the only thing they could do was wait for Charles¡¯ wee party. The party would be held at the Newton residence. It would be the best time for them to make a move. Gwendolyn sighed without a sound and said, ¡°Jennifer, do you still remember Craig? Jennifer could only blink her eyes. When she heard the name, she slowly lifted her eyes and said calmly, ¡°He is my second brother.¡± Treyton turned around in surprise and exchanged nces with Gwendolyn. At the same time, Brian quickly made a note of this new progress. Treyton held onto Jennifer¡¯s hand tightly and asked, ¡°What about Jasmine?¡± Jennifer remained silent and did not give any response. ¡°Caylie? She is your mother. Do you still remember her?¡± he asked again. She remained unresponsive. Brian carefully noted down her condition: She doesn¡¯t remember anyone except for Mr. Craig. It¡¯s highly likely that he administered medication and hypnotized her while she was unconscious. Treyton was surprised. ¡°Craig knows how to hypnotize?¡± Brian replied, ¡°Well, I¡¯m not familiar with Mr. Craig. Perhaps we can consult Mr. Jenson. He might have some information.¡± When Cedrick returned in the evening. Gwendolyn brought up the matter. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. After pondering for a while, Cedrick responded, ¡°When Craig was in the Federal Bureau of Investigation training camp, he did study psychology, but it was only for a short period. Even if he has knowledge of hypnosis, it would be only a basic understanding.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that while administering medication to Jennifer, he could have also hypnotized her and possibly made her carry out his instructions?¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll make a record of this new finding. Once Charles obtains the hidden medication from Craig at the wee party and it¡¯s examined by experts, we can essentially arrest the latter.¡± ¡°Okay. This way, we can spare Jennifer from any more torture,¡± Gwendolyn said. Cedrick held her slender waist, and his voice tinged with a hint of worry. ¡°Hypnosis and medication. administration have caused significant damage to Jennifer¡¯s nerves. Gwenny, you need to be mentally prepared, that she may not recoverpletely.¡± She let out a sigh. ¡°After all, this is only our guess. Let¡¯s not inform Treyton for now, so he won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± Cedrick nodded in agreement. He then held her hand, and the two of them went upstairs together to see the babies. The days went by with everyone barely managing to stay calm. Soon, it was the day of the Newton family¡¯s wee party. Since Treyton needed to take care of Jennifer, he didn¡¯t attend the party. Gwendolyn, Cedrick, Nico, and Summer dressed in their finest attire and arrived punctually at half past seven in the evening. ¡°Mr. Jenson, you¡¯re here. It has been a while, and you and your wife are still as loving as ever. You really made others envious.¡± Craig had a refined smile on his face, showing both politeness and respect. Cedrick gave him an unfriendly expression. His eyes were filled with malevolence as he remarked, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Gwenny wanting toe, perhaps I would have directly taken Charles with me today.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson, you must be joking. Those are grudges from over a year ago. Charles has already realized his mistakes and won¡¯t make any more reckless moves. Tonight, I¡¯ll have him personally pour you a drink as an apology. I hope it can resolve the grievances between you.¡± Craig smiled in an even friendlier manner. Cedrick let out a disdainful snort, and his arrogance reached an unprecedented level. He then led Gwendolyn into the garden of the Newton family. The garden gradually became crowded with guests. Charles wore an elegant navy-blue suit. He stood behind the curtains and observed Craig from a distance. as thetter greeted the guests with a smiling face. He cast a nce at his watch and realized that there were still fifteen minutes until the party would officially begin. This particr moment could be the perfect opportunity. As he thought about it, he turned around and exited the room. He walked leisurely and unhurriedly in the hallway of the spacious vi. As Karl passed by Charles with an item in hand, thetter discreetly brushed against him without anyone noticing. ¡°Oh!¡± Karl eximed. Seeing the expensive ss bottle about to fall from Karl¡¯s hands, Charles swiftly reached out and caught hold of him. In the same instant, his right hand deftly and quickly took advantage of the opportunity to slip into Karl¡¯s pocket. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Charles asked. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Charles. I¡¯m fine.¡± After nodding in gratitude. Karl quickly walked away as he held the ss bottle securely in his hands. Charles tightened his grip on the small key in his palm as he watched Karl¡¯s receding figure. In these past few days, he had been observing Karl¡¯s timing of going up to the top floor and his habit of using his pockets, so it was quite easy for him to seed. He took advantage of everyone¡¯s preupation with the garden and made his way up to the top floor leisurely. With a swift and seamless motion, he unlocked the door and quietly sneaked into the hallway on the top floor. Before returning to the Newton residence, Gwendolyn had informed him about the possible location of Caylie¡¯s room. With a clear objective in mind, he headed directly toward the fourth room on the left. The moment he opened the door and caught sight of the situation inside, he waspletely stunned. Beneath the darkened sky, the Newton residence glowed with vibrant lights and decorations, creating at beautiful spectacle. The cheerful sounds of sses clinking and joyful toasts added an extra touch of harmony to the atmosphere. Gwendolyn and Cedrick would asionally steal nces toward the dimly lit top floor. Nico and Summer were enjoying their champagne and engaging in conversation with Craig. Even though Craig was somewhat annoyed, he maintained hisposure, bearing in mind that they were guests, especially from the Jenson family. Thus, he didn¡¯t exhibit his irritation too overtly. Summer kept praising Craig nonstop and bombarded him with a series of questions. Even under such extreme distraction, Craig¡¯s thoughts remained focused. He promptly called for the housekeeper. ¡°We¡¯re about to start in two minutes. Go check on how Mr. Charles is doing with his preparations. Why hasn¡¯t hee down to wee the guests? Don¡¯t tell me he wants a grand entrance like a celebrity.¡± He spoke with a slightly harsh tone as Summer continued to pester him. ¡°Yes, Mr. Craig,¡± the housekeeper responded. Nico and Summer exchanged worried nces. Summer chimed in, ¡°Mr. Craig, it¡¯s understandable that Charles is feeling a bit anxious. It has been nearly a year since hest visited Chanaca.¡± Nico quickly changed the topic, ¡°Mr. Craig, tonight¡¯s party is hosted by the Newton family. Why haven¡¯t we seen Mrs. Newton around?¡± When asked about his mother, Craig¡¯s face turned serious. He seemed to handle this question with great caution. Chapter 488 Chapter 488 ¡°Mom¡¯s not feeling well recently. It¡¯s just a small party, so I don¡¯t want to tire her out.¡± With a sweet smile, Summer said tteringly, ¡°You¡¯re so filial, Mr. Newton. The Newton family will definitely rise to greatness under your leadership.¡± ¡°Thank you for yourpliment.¡± Craig gave her a polite smile. The housekeeper who had gone up to look for Charles rushed back soon. ¡°Mr. Craig, Mr. Charles isn¡¯t in his room. I don¡¯t know where he is. I can¡¯t find him.¡± A grim expression immediately descended upon Craig¡¯s face. He scolded in a low voice, ¡°How can a person like him disappear into thin air before the wee party? Look for him now!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The housekeeper spun around and ran away. Nico and Summer exchanged a look. As if realizing something. Summer quickly changed the topic of conversation. ¡°Mr. Newton, are you the only one organizing today¡¯s wee party? The decorations are so exquisite! Can I learn from you?¡± Nico chimed in, ¡°What¡¯s up. Mr. Newton? It¡¯s such a great day. Why do you look so unhappy?¡± The vicious look in Craig¡¯s eyes disappeared as he continued to smile politely. Just when he was about to answer Summer¡¯s question, he saw Karl rush over hurriedly. ¡°Mr. Craig¡­¡± Gwendolyn stopped Karl in the middle. ¡°Karl, where¡¯s Jasmine? Why didn¡¯t I see her? She loves lively scenes like this.¡± Since he was facing her, he had no choice but to suppress his look of panic. ¡°Ms. Jasmine is probably still dressing up in her room. Mr. Craig bought a new pair of crystal earrings for her a few days ago. She¡¯s probably torn between which pair to wear.¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Jenson. Well, I need to tell Mr. Craig something urgent, so I¡¯ll have to leave you for now.¡± When Karl took a few steps to the side, Gwendolyn mirrored his actions and blocked him from Craig¡¯s view. ¡°The Newton residence is huge, Karl. I can¡¯t find Jasmine¡¯s room. Can you please bring me there?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Since the housekeepers in the Newton residence are new, I don¡¯t recognize any of them. You¡¯re the one most familiar with me. Since Mr. Craig is busy hosting the guests, you can talk to him about anything urgent after the wee party.¡± Karl was conflicted for a while. He turned his head and observed that situation at Craig¡¯s side. Since Craig¡¯s attention seemed to be fully drawn to Nico and Summer, he had no choice but to give up. ¡°Okay, Mrs. Jenson. Please follow me.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± A minuteter, Cedrick walked out of the vi. He first stood by the door and scanned everyone in the garden. Finally, his gaze stopped on Cedrick. As if noticing his stare, Cedrick returned his gaze silently. Craig, who was stuck chatting with Nico and Summer endlessly, was almost running out of patience. When he saw Charles showing up, he immediately dismissed Nico and Summer. With steady steps, he strode over and demanded. ¡°Why did you onlye down now? Where were you earlier?¡± Charles lowered his head and answered obediently, ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened but my stomach was hurting. I spent quite some time in the toilet.¡± After all, it was a biological need. Although Craig was extremely displeased, he could not possibly reprimand Charles in front of everyone. Suppressing his unhappiness, Craig continued. ¡°How are the preparations going? You are only allowed to seed, okay? No failures are permitted. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry, Craig. I¡¯ll do it perfectly.¡± Barely satisfied with Charles¡¯ attitude, Craig snorted coldly. It was time to formally start the party. Craig immediately switched to a friendly smile as he walked stage. Gwendolyn also dragged Jasmine, who had finally finished dressing up, down the stairs. The distinguished guests were sitting around the round tables in the garden. Craig delivered a five-minute weing address in a dignified manner. Meanwhile, Charles stood at the side quietly, ying his role as the obedient younger brother. Since it was a formal event, he had shaved his mustache, making him look much younger. Although his skin was much rougher than before due to the harsh times that he had experienced, it was not obvious under the dim glow of the night. He was as dazzling as before. After his speech, Charles followed Craig¡¯s instructions and toasted around each table. Considering Cedrick¡¯s power in Chanaea, he was naturally the first person to receive the toast. When Charles walked toward the table slowly, Craig trailed behind silently. He seemed like a good brotherly figure who was worried that his younger brother would not do a good job. ¡°Mr. Jenson, too many things have happened between us. It¡¯s all because I was too immature then. Tonight, I wish to personally apologize to you with a toast. I hope that you¡¯ll let bygones be bygones and ept my toast,¡± said Charles with a smile. The housekeepers behind were holding a tray of expensive red wine and empty wine sses. Charles poured a ss of wine for Cedrick personally. An unknown white powder was also mixed with the red wine as he poured it into the ss. Craig, who was standing behind Charles, noticed all of his actions. A calm look resumed in Craig¡¯s eyes. ¡°Here, Mr. Jenson. After drinking this roast, let¡¯s let bygones be bygones.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression was still cold. Not only did he refuse to take the ss, but he also remained silent. It was as if Charles was as invisible as the air. Charles brought the ss to Gwendolyn ¡°Gwen, Mr. Jenson¡¯s unwilling to ept my toast. I heard that he listens to you the most. Considering our years of friendship, can you please put in some good words with Mr. Jenson?¡± Gwendolyn was the peacemaker in this act. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She turned her head around and looked at Cedrick. ¡°Hubby, it¡¯s just a ss of wine. It doesn¡¯t mean anything much. If you don¡¯t drink it, his toasting for the night will be stuck at the first round. Drink it. Why don¡¯t we drink half each?¡± Due to Gwendolyn, Cedrick agreed reluctantly. With his back bent respectfully, Charles lifted the ss of wine, which served as an apology. When Cedrick extended his arm to receive it, Gwendolyn snatched the ss first. As agreed earlier, she drank half first. While she was drinking, Charles cast his gaze downward. Colorfulmps hung in the dark garden. Although it was impossible to see his expression, one could clearly tell how calm he was. Craig frowned, his sharp observation telling him that something was not right. After Charles went finished the round of toasting with all the guests, Craig dragged him to an isted corner and demanded softly, ¡°Did you y any tricks?¡± Charles was confused. ¡°What do you mean, Craig?¡± Craig smiled coldly. ¡°I understand your personality. You¡¯ve pursued Gwendolyn all your life. How can you remain so unaffected while watching her drink that ss of wine?¡± That drug, which was a forbidden drug purchased from overseas, was extremely potent. Charles was just watching the woman he loved so much drink the wine to help him out without showing any intentions of stopping her. Laughter from the guests echoed across the garden endlessly while a few bodyguards stood at discreet. Furious, Craig immediately wrapped his hands around Charles¡¯ neck tightly. ¡°If you dare to toy around. with me, I can put you under hellish torture as easily as I¡¯ve let you return to the Newton family so grandly!¡± Enduring the suffocating pain, Charles replied without a change in his expression, ¡°I didn¡¯t stop her because I wish that the two of them will die together!¡± Chapter 489 Chapter 489 ¡°You want to kill Gwendolyn?¡± Although Craig did not believe thatpletely, he released his grip on Charles¡¯ neck slightly. Charles¡¯ cheeks had already turned pale. Even though it was starting to get difficult to breathe, he continued without skipping a beat, ¡°Craig, you¡¯ve never experienced true despair. I don¡¯t care what price I have to pay as long as Cedrick dies. Although I love Gwendolyn so much, she eloped with Cedrick so decisively during the wedding. I ended up being the joke of the town. I can¡¯t forgive her for that either. Since they¡¯re so in love with her, they can just apany each other to the grave.¡± A despairing yet vicious smirk yed on his lips, making him look a bit scary. With a raised eyebrow, Craig scrutinized Charles¡¯ expression before withdrawing his hands. ¡°You¡¯re a madman, indeed. Your psyche ispletely screwed up. However, this is good.¡± Enduring the pain in his throat, Charles coughed slightly, his expression still remaining the same. Craig gently stroked Charles¡¯ neck, which had red imprints left from his fingers. His voice became softer as he said. ¡°Since you¡¯ve finished toasting the guests, there¡¯s nothing else for you to do in the garden. Go back to your room and rest.¡± ¡°Got it. Craig.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Craig averted his gaze and left the shadowy corner. It was until Craig¡¯s figure hadpletely been absorbed into the lively scene in the garden that Charles. finally let out a careful sigh of relief. He took out an unopened packet of powder from his pocket and gripped it in his fist. After Craig left, Gwendolyn deliberately kept a low profile. She evaded everyone¡¯s vision and appeared in front of Charles. Both of them shared a gaze and smiled. Craig, who had just returned to the wee party lobby, was finally stopped by Karl. ¡°Bad news, Mr. Craig!¡± Karl¡¯s face was filled with panic as he whispered beside Craig¡¯s ears. ¡°My key to the top floor has disappeared. Only Mr. Charles was by my side before the wee party started.¡± The expression on Craig¡¯s face changed drastically. Fury raged in his eyes as he roared through gritted teeth, ¡°Charles Newton!¡± Just when he turned around to enter the vi, Karl stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry yet, Mr. Craig. I¡¯m just feeling suspicious. Since there are so many guests around, it¡¯s not appropriate to spread the news about the top floor. Since Mr. Jenson is present, it might easily lead to a majormotion.¡± After a brief moment of rage, Craig quickly suppressed the look of fury in his eyes. He passed his key to the top floor to Karl and instructed calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t make a huge fuss about it yet. Find a chance to head to the top floor and see how¡¯s the situation. Check if anything¡¯s missing.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Karl turned around and followed the instructions. Craig summoned another two bodyguards over. ¡°Head upstairs and keep a close eye on Mr. Charles. Don¡¯t let him leave the room.¡± Charles, who had just returned to his room, was pacing back and forth uneasily. I¡¯ve already passed everything to Gwen. I¡¯ll have to return the key to the top floor to Karl when the right chance arises. He kept observing the situation in the garden. Just when he was about to leave his room, he realized that there were two bodyguards standing outside. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The two bodyguards bowed respectfully. ¡°Mr. Craig said that since you¡¯re feeling unwell, you should rest in your room.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already rested, so I¡¯m fine now. It¡¯s my wee party tonight. Can¡¯t I apany Craig downstairs to greet the guests?¡± The bodyguards remained adamant. ¡°No. Mr. Craig instructed that you¡¯re not allowed to leave the room. After the wee party, he¡¯ll visit you personally.¡± No matter what Charles said, the two bodyguards did not budge even an inch. All they repeated was Craig¡¯s instructions. Charles suppressed his anger and mmed the door forcefully, separating himself from the two annoying bodyguards. He¡¯s keeping such a close eye on me. Have I been exposed? He touched his pocket. The key that he had stolen from Karl was still with him. After the wee party, Craig would definitely run a search on him and in his room. Hence, Charles turned off the lights. Shrouded in utter darkness, he secretly tossed the key diagonally from the window. The keynded amongst the grass in the garden. Someone passed by and identally stepped on the key, pushing it further into the soil. Only half of its golden rim was exposed while the rest was covered securely by the grass. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The wee party ended at half past ten at night. Soon, the guests left one by one. Gwendolyn and Cedrick also left the Newton residence with the guests. ¡°Look, Hubby.¡± When their car was far away from the Newton residence, Gwendolyn took out two items from her bag. One contained a transparent serum, while the other was a packet of powder. Cedrick took the serum and inspected it carefully with a solemn look. ¡°We can¡¯t drag this any longer. Let¡¯s. send the serum to Joshua at War Laboratory and let him check it.¡± Gwendolyn nodded while passing him the other packet of powder. ¡°Look at this now.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°The poison that Craig gave him. Craig wants to kill you tonight.¡± ¡°Do you know what drug-this is?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Since there¡¯s no time, he didn¡¯t manage to tell me. After we find out what the unknown serum is and confirm that it¡¯s lethal, we can bring out this packet of powder and pin the crime. on Craig. There¡¯s no way he can deny it.¡± With a solemn look, Cedrick said. ¡°He gave you the packet of powder too. If Craig finds out that Charles didn¡¯t manage to fulfill his task, he won¡¯t let Charles off the hook easily.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Charles did add something to the red wine in front of Craig.¡± Cedrick was curious. ¡°What did he add?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled and flicked his forehead. ¡°What¡¯s up with you? Your sense of taste is horrible. He added some salt. Didn¡¯t you taste anything?¡± Cedrick was speechless. No, I didn¡¯t. It¡¯s my mistake. Gwendolyn rubbed the packet of powder carefully. ¡°Everything must be ending soon.¡± Cedrick pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. Half an hourter, Joshua, who had just fallen asleep, was woken up in the middle of the night. He hurried to theboratory to work overtime. ¡°Cedrick, since we don¡¯t know what the drug¡¯s called, we can only check the ingredients one by one and see which record in the database yields the highest simrity. It¡¯s a very time-consuming task, so I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯ll take till tomorrow noon. Why don¡¯t you go back first? You don¡¯t have to stay here.¡± Since that was what Joshua said, Cedrick did not think about it. He just left theboratory with Gwendolyn and returned home to sleep. At midnight, all the lights at the Newton residence were still on. The housekeepers and bodyguards were extremely scared. The terrifying sounds of whips resounded from the ancestral hall repeatedly, piercing the silence of the night. Lucas and Jasmine were so scared that they stood beside the pirs in the ancestral hall obediently. They were so terrified that their bodies shivered uncontrobly. Late Night Interrogation Two yellow canes, which had already been snapped into two,y in the corner. Charles was kneeling on the icy floor, his body swaying slightly. Sweat dotted his head as his face turned pale.. He was wearing a thin white shirt, on which appeared numerous bloody streaks. Despite the waves of excruciating pain that attacked him, he clenched his fists tightly and endured them silently. Craig was standing behind him, holding a shiny and strong cane. He whipped it on Charles¡¯ injured body without any signs of pity. The abuse continued. p! Craig put all his strength into each strike. Fury raged in his eyes. ¡°Speak! Where is the key? Did you steal what¡¯s on the top floor? Where did you hide it?¡± Chapter 490 Chapter 490 Charles panted heavily, easing the pain in his back. Struggling, he mumbled, ¡°I didn¡¯t take the key from Karl, break into the top floor or steal anything¡­¡± ¡°How dare you still try to defend yourself!¡± The cane pped hard against Charles¡¯ back. five times consecutively, giving him no chance to catch his breath. The flesh underneath his blood-stained shirt didn¡¯t bleed but was swelled up and purplish. There was no spot unscathed. N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Each hit cut his swollen flesh deeper while bright red blood sttered gruesomely. ¡°Um¡­¡± A muffled grunt escaped from Charles¡¯ mouth. His straightened back copsed. As he propped himself up with one hand, his arm trembled uncontrobly from the pain. ¡°Craig, I really didn¡¯t do it¡­¡± Fear rose in Lucas¡¯ heart. Standing beside the pir, he couldn¡¯t bear to see Charles¡¯ badly-injured back. Jasmine covered her mouth and shed tears as her heart ached. Being forced to witness such a cruel punishment was torture to them. Only Craig remained nonchnt. His ruthless re was void of sympathy. He then analyzed the situation in detail. ¡°You were the only one there tonight and got close to Karl when you almost ran into him on your way. I checked the top floor earlier. Someone opened the cab, and a bottle of very important serum was missing! Before the wee party started, you waited and didn¡¯t leave the floor. I asked the housekeeper to get you to hurry up, but you weren¡¯t in your room and were nowhere to be seen. I bet you were stealing on the top floor at that time. Am I right?¡± As he reached the end of his sentence, he raised his voice in rage and whipped Charles¡¯ bruised back ruthlessly before thetter could straighten his back. ¡°Tell me! Where is the stuff? Why did you steal from your own family? Did you conspire with Gwendolyn Harris to deceive me? Tell me!¡± The howling of wind continuously sounded. Blood sttered on his white shirt as the blood-stained cane swung. Charles couldn¡¯t straighten his back anymore from the agony and curled into a ball on the ground, ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± The bodyguards searched every nook and cranny in the vi several times, particrly in Charles¡¯ room. Charles Defends Himself To The End Despite so, Craig didn¡¯t let Charles off the hook. He was sure that Charles tried to sabotage him based on the fact that Charles had gotten close to Karl. However, no matter how hard he hit Charles, thetter denied everything until the end. Craig¡¯s anger spiked, and he swung the cane in his hand harder. Starting with spanking Charles¡¯ back, Craig went further and whipped the former¡¯s arms and waist. ruthlessly. The torturing sound sent chills down everyone¡¯s back. ¡°Charles, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know you did this if you keep denying it. I will send you to hell before you can take me down!¡± Thwack! The sound ofshing resonated in their cars and sounded hellish. Gritting his teeth and bearing the pain. Charles almost lost consciousness from the agony and started grunting weakly. It had been so long since he suffered such a harsh beating after hiding abroad and barely living a peaceful life abroad for a year. The torture was beginning to take a toll on his body. After a smack, the second cane snapped after several consecutive hits. Craig was exhausted after caning for a long time and tossed the broken cane to a corner. Panting faintly, he rolled up his sleeves. ¡°Guard.¡± The bodyguard outside the door immediately walked in and replied respectfully, ¡°How can I help you, Mr. Craig?¡± Pointing at the new canes soaking in a bucket, Craig ordered with a stern look, ¡°Keep hitting him until he spills the truth.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± With both his palms on the ground, Charles could see the bodyguard beside him picking up a cane despite his blurred vision. His body shivered in fear instinctively. ¡°Craig, even if you beat me to my death, I will never admit what I never did.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather be wrong than letting you get away with it.¡± A smirk stretched across Craig¡¯s face. He reached for a sharp dagger on his waist, tossed it to Charles, and said coldly, ¡°Since you wouldn¡¯t say anything, prove your innocence with your life then. I will believe that you¡¯ve been wronged if you do it.¡± Looking at the dagger with quivering blue eyes, Charles slowly picked it up and held it tight. ¡°No! Craig, please let Charles go. Look at him. He¡¯s badly injured but still denies everything. I believe he is innocent!¡± Jasmine dashed forward to hold Charles and stop him from taking his life with the dagger while tears streamed down her face. Craig snorted. ¡°You don¡¯t know him. Those who went through training at the Central Intelligence Agency are strong and wouldn¡¯t easily tell the truth. It won¡¯t work if I am not harsh enough.¡± ¡°No, Craig. Charles is a nut case. He would prove his innocence with his life. I don¡¯t wish to see him kill himself. We are family, after all. Even if Charles is only our half-brother, he is still a Newton. Please stop being so cruel to him.¡± The close sight of the bruises on Charles¡¯ back shocked her as she sobbed sorrowfully. Seeing Charles almost losing his life, Karl quickly stepped out and pleaded, ¡°Mr. Craig, please spare Mr. Charles. It might just be a coincidence¡­¡± ¡°A coincidence?¡± Craig narrowed his eyes and shot him a piercing gaze. ¡°You safe-keep the keys to the top floor all the time. It could only mean Charles stole it if you didn¡¯t lose it by mistake.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Karl found himself in a tight spot. Craig would vent his anger on him if he admitted it was his mistake to have lost the keys. As he was old, he certainly couldn¡¯t withstand the punishment. Craig shifted his gaze back onto Charles, whoy pathetically on the ground. Tears streamed down Jasmine¡¯s face, who was holding Charles tightly to stop the bodyguard from caning him. ¡°Charles, I will spare you if you hand me the keys and the serum you stole.¡± Jasmine piped up, ¡°Charles, hand them to him if you took them. Otherwise, Craig will beat you to death!¡± Charles¡¯ pale lips curved into a bitter smile. Overwhelmed by the excruciating pain, cold sweat dripped from his chin onto the ground, leaving a small stain. How am I supposed to hand him something that I don¡¯t have? Besides, I will surely die if I admit that I stole them. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it. I didn¡¯t steal the keys or the serum. Craig, you searched my body and my room yourself. No means no. How am I supposed to give them to you?¡± He threw the dagger in his hand to the bodyguard¡¯s foot, who was holding the cane, and grinned pathetically. ¡°Prejudice is so scary. No matter what I say, you will never believe me. Craig, you should just ask someone to kill me right away. Why did you have to torture me like this? You hurt my feelings.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you see me as your family.¡± Craig snickered. What Craig only believed was his judgment and presumption. However, after the beating, the rage in his heart subsided, and he could think straighter now. ¡°All right then. After all, I have recently announced your return to the Newton family, so it¡¯s better not to cause a scene now. I will spare your life for now. If I find the evidence to prove your crimeter, I will make you beg for death!¡± Gritting his teeth sinisterly, he snorted and left the ancestral hall without looking back after threatening Charles. The interrogation was over after Craig left. Bearing the pain, Charles heaved a sigh of relief and rxed his tensed body. His vision became blurry as he descended into darkness and fell into Jasmine¡¯s arms. ¡°Charles! He has passed out! Someone call the doctor!¡± Chapter 491 Chapter 491 The Newton residence was the only one still buzzing with activity deep into the night. Karl had asked for a doctor from the A&E department toe. Charles body was covered in blood, and he seemed severely injured. However, he was whipped by a cane, so his injuries were only external, not internal Methodically, the doctor cleaned the bloodstains with saline water before applying medicine to the wounds. He then bandaged grave wounds and inserted an anti-inmmatory pill into the mouth of the Charles. Even though Charles wasn¡¯t fully conscious, he never said anything that would disadvantage his situation. After the treatment was done, the doctor left. Jasmine sat next to his bed and sobbed ¡°Why did you do that right after you returned here, Charles? Are you truly willing to toss away your life for Gwendolyn?¡± While she wasn¡¯t sure of the details, she did receive a general summary of the situation from Gwendolyn. Hence, she more or less guessed why Charles tried to steal Karl¡¯s keys. Charles was in so much pain that he couldn¡¯t move from his bed. Weakly narrowing his eyes, he turned his sight toward the white curtain with pursed lips. Yes, I was willing to take the risk for Gwendolyn. However, she¡¯s not the sole reason I¡¯m doing this. There¡¯s something new I want to try getting my hands on. Meanwhile, Jasmine continued to weep as she watched him lost in his thoughts. Too many things had happened in a rtively short period, which was why she had gotten gloomy and cried more times than in the past yearsbined. ¡°You should rest, Jasmine. I¡¯m fine.¡± Charles looked pale and closed his eyes tiredly. ¡°Okay. You should sleep early, Charles. I¡¯ll find a way to plead Craig for mercy on your behalf.¡± Upon finishing her sentence, Jasmine left the room. The pain and exhaustion were so overwhelming that Charles fell asleep shortly after. A few hourster, he was woken up by a bodyguard. ¡°You should wake up. Mr. Charles. Mr. Craig is inviting you to the garden.¡± Charles felt his head splitting apart as he struggled to open his eyes. He was still so weak that he couldn¡¯t sit up The edges of his lips curved upward mockingly. While I survivedst night¡¯s ordeal, today¡¯s new torture and interrogation have barely begun. The bodyguards could tell he had woken up but had no intention of leaving the bed. Thus, they carried him downstairs by the arms. Each step the bodyguards took stretched his wound, agonizing him. Thankfully, Charles¡¯ room was located on the second floor, so he arrived at the bottom floor soon. The bodyguards then dragged him to the pebbled path in the garden and forced him to kneel there. Reflexively, Charles bent his waist as his head copsed on the ground. The bodyguards had to force him. to sit straight ¡°Mr. Craig said that if you¡¯re willing to admit your wrongdoing and tell him where the stolen item is hidden, you¡¯ll be allowed to stand back up, Mr. Charles¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t take it.¡± Tightening his fists, Charles took a deep breath and straightened his back under the bodyguards watch. Two hourster, the first thing Jasmine did after waking up and dressing up was visit Charles¡¯ room to check up on him. However, the door to his room was wide open, and no one was inside. Even the bed had gone cold. She stopped a passing-by housekeeper and asked in a panic, ¡°Where¡¯s Charles? Where did he go?¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s in the garden,¡± replied the housekeeper. Without dy, Jasmine bolted downstairs. Just as she exited the building, she saw Charles¡¯ face looking pale and on the verge of copsing in the garden. Her eyes reddened almost instantly as she attempted to beg Craig for mercy. However. Karl blocked her path. ¡°There¡¯s no point in meeting with Mr. Craig, Ms. Jasmine. Mr. Charles losing the key and the item on the top floor isn¡¯t a small matter. Mr. Craig won¡¯t release him until the truth is revealed.¡± Heartwrenching, Jasmine turned to Charles, at a loss for what to do next. ¡°What do I do, then? What will it take for Craig to forgive Charles?¡± Karl sighed. ¡°Mr. Craig mentioned that Mr. Charles will have to kneel in the garden until the evening without receiving any food or water as long as he refuses to reveal the location of the stolen item. He¡¯ll be punished in the ancestral hall again if he still doesn¡¯t divulge that information during the night.¡± In response, Jasmine stared at him in shock. She didn¡¯t expect Craig to be that merciless. ¡°It¡¯s not even confirmed that Charles is the culprit! How can Craig do this? Charles was so badly injured yesterday. There¡¯s no way he can pull through!¡± Lowering his head, Karl sighed once more. ¡°If you wish to help Mr. Charles, you should convince him to speak the truth as soon as possible, Ms. Jasmine. You should also persuade him not to oppose Mr. Craig anymore.¡± After finishing his sentence, he left. Jasmine¡¯s line of sight was affixed on Charles while she felt conflicted. In the end, Charles couldn¡¯t bear the pain any longer and dropped to the ground. The bodyguard next to him immediately sshed cold water onto his face. The instant he was reawakened, he was lifted by the two bodyguards again and forced to kneel. Oh, my god! Jasmine¡¯s initial optimistic and pure worldview was on the verge of copse. A military man¡¯s torture methods are terrifying¡­ I doubt I can convince Charles to spill the truth considering how stubborn he is. After a few moments of internal debate, she returned to her room and texted Gwendolyn. At that moment, Gwendolyn was still resting. The moment the sun rose, Cedrick woke up as if he had just drunk a can of energy drink and had intense sex with her. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Itsted for a few hours before he left to take a shower. Gwendolyn was in deep slumber, which was why she didn¡¯t hear the notification on her phone. However, Cedrick, who just stepped out of the bathroom, did. He wrapped the lower half of his body in a white towel while leaving his attractive upper half body naked. As he dried his hair with another towel, he approached the bedside table and checked the message Gwendolyn¡¯s phone received. Initially, he thought it was work-rted. His expression swiftly turned serious after he read the text from Jasmine: Did Charles help you steal the object on the top floor, Gwendolyn? Craig has discovered the theft and punished Charles severely. He¡¯s been torturing Charles sincest night, and it¡¯s still happening. Please save him and return the object! Charles is exposed? The look in Cedrick¡¯s eyes turned dark before he nced at Gwendolyn, who was sleeping soundly. Swiftly, he locked Gwendolyn¡¯s phone and returned it to the bedside table. Then, he hastily changed into his clothes and left quietly. Upon leaving Harrick Vi, he called Nico. ¡°You have five minutes to dress up and meet me in the garage. Also, ask your subordinates to wait five hundred meters from the Newton residence.¡± Nico was neverte for any work-rted matters. Exactly five minutester, he arrived at the garage. Both of them visited the Federal Bureau of Investigation first. Cedrick and Nico promptly changed into solemn military outfits and added a warrant to the database. After everything was prepared, they headed to the Newton residence. Half an hourter, they gathered with the team of officers waiting five hundred meters away from the residence. When the group arrived at the Newton residence¡¯s entrance, the bodyguards were dumbfounded. They didn¡¯t know who Cedrick was after in a military outfit. ¡°Please wait for a moment, Mr. Jenson. Allow me to report this to Mr. Craig first.¡± With an icy expression, Cedrick spat, ¡°No need. All guards are required to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation from now onward. He doesn¡¯t have the right to stop me. Move.¡± ¡°Roger¡­¡± Cedrick shoved his hands into his pockets and strolled into the Newton residence in a very intimidating manner. Just as he did, he saw Charles kneeling weakly on the pebbled path not too far away from him. Charles was soaked in cold water and blood because his injuries, which hadn¡¯t yet recovered, were still bleeding, and he had fainted multiple times. Chapter 492 Chapter 492 Cedrick narrowed his eyes as rage bubbled in his heart. However, when he saw Craiging forward to greet him, he put on a mocking expression. ¡°Why are you here so early in the morning, Mr. Jenson?¡± With a smile, Craig swiftly arrived before Cedrick and nodded politely. Cedrick nced at Charles and uttered casually, ¡°Nico received a tip. Apparently, Charles illegally crossed the national border during the past year. I¡¯ve decided to apprehend him personally as it¡¯s rare to have evidence of his wrongdoing.¡± Craig¡¯s smile froze slightly. ¡°Illegally crossing the national border? That sounds like an international case, Mr. Jenson. Shouldn¡¯t you be investigating the matter with foreign institutions?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. However, Charles and I are old friends. It¡¯s been a while since we met, so I¡¯ll bring him to the secret interrogation room first to grill him. It¡¯ll be the perfect warmup for him.¡± The edges of Craig¡¯s lips curved upward again. ¡°You¡¯re the boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You don¡¯t need to tell me who you n to question.¡± Cedrick nced at Craig indifferently. ¡°You¡¯re the leader of the Newton family and Charles¡¯ older brother, so I thought I should let you know.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Craig lowered his head respectfully. Without dy, Cedrick sauntered toward Charles, who was kneeling unsteadily. Tutting, he remarked, ¡°What did he do wrong? Why is he already beaten up before I interrogate him?¡± Craig¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°He broke the family rules, so I punished him. I whipped him at few times and forced him to kneel here briefly. It won¡¯t kill him.¡± Silently, Cedrick approached Charles with his hands in his pockets. Charles was reaching his limit as he aimed his blurry vision at Cedrick before looking at Craig. Glowering, he spoke in a guilty tone. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Mr. Jenson?¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t say a word while Nico exined, ¡°Youmitted a felony by illegally crossing the national border. Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll bring you to the interrogation room you¡¯re most familiar with.¡± Charles¡¯ pale countenance shifted slightly as a smirk formed on his face. ¡°You epted my apology in front of Gwenst night, Cedrick. Yet, you came to arrest me the next morning. What a two-faced b*stard you are.¡± Rage swirled in Cedrick¡¯s eyes as he frowned at Charles. -Craig observed the duo¡¯s expressions at the side quietly. Charles continued to mock, ¡°If Gwen learns you¡¯re using an official excuse to seek revenge against me, what do you think she¡¯ll do?¡± Scowling, Cedrick kicked Charles¡¯ clean left shoulder. ¡°I shall reward your insult by using all the tools in the interrogation room on you tonight.¡± Groaning in pain, Charles copsed on the ground, unable to sit up. Cedrick turned his sight away coldly. ¡°Bring him away, Nico.¡± In response, Nico gestured at a few subordinates to carry Charles away. ¡°Wait,¡± stated Craig. #5 Bonus Knitting his eyebrows, Cedrick red at him coldly. He disliked people interrupting his official business. Smiling ingratiatingly, Craig exined, ¡°In addition to the country¡¯sws, he vited the Newton family¡¯s rules, too. Can you apprehend him at noon instead so I can interrogate him for a few more hours?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Cedrick¡¯s expression darkened further. Nico hastily replied, ¡°You know Mr. Jenson rarely apprehends felons personally, Mr. Craig. Yet, you¡¯re asking him to leave empty-handed before returning here at noon.¡± Grinning politely, Craig responded, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for being inconsiderate. How about this? You¡¯re free to drink tea in the living room while I settle the Newton family¡¯s crucial matter in half an hour, Mr. Jenson. Once I¡¯ve gotten what I want from Charles, you¡¯re free to take him away.¡± Nico and Cedrick went silent in unison. No doubt Craig¡¯s suspicious of our arrival. If we reject him again, he¡¯ll know something¡¯s up. A stalemate ensued. Meanwhile, Charles, who was lying weakly on the ground, almost trembled. reflexively. Half an hour¡­ With that tight deadline, Craig will definitely employ the most ruthless methods to torture me. I¡¯m almost at my limit, and there¡¯s no telling if I can prevent myself from spilling the truth while losing consciousness. When his train of thought ended there, he endured the pain and crawled toward Craig. Then, he clutched his brother¡¯s pants and pleaded, ¡°You must believe me, Craig. I didn¡¯t steal Karl¡¯s keys or anything from the top floor. I really didn¡¯t¡­¡± Craig¡¯s expression shifted slightly as he nced at Cedrick. Cedrick was also looking at him, though inquisitively. ¡°What unknown secret is hiding on the top floor? I can¡¯t believe you forbid your family from entering a section of the house. What are you doing, Craig?¡± Once more, Craig¡¯s expression shifted slightly before he kicked Charles forcefully. The kick was much stronger than Cedrick¡¯s. Charles rolled on the pebbled path multiple times, causing immense pain in his chest. Upon stopping, he vomited a mouthful of blood and entered a half-conscious state. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense, Mr. Jenson. There¡¯s nothing important on the top floor. He stole something precious from my room, which is why I was punishing him. The Newton family hates theft among family members, you see,¡± exined Craig. Calmly, Cedrick replied, ¡°Mhm. Stealing should be punished. Although, I think your punishment is too light. If it were me, I would¡¯ve chopped off his hands instead of whipping him.¡± As he spoke, he nced at Nico. Nico understood his order and personally lifted Charles. To his surprise, Charles bit him after sitting up. ¡°Are you a dog?¡± Wincing. Nico pped Charles¡¯ countenance. After Charles released Nico¡¯s hand, thetter pointed at the former furiously and ordered, ¡°How dare you bite me in front of Mr. Jenson and Mr. Craig! Consider your sins doubled! Do you still think you¡¯re the leader of the Central Intelligence Agency? Quick, I want someone to cuff and take him away!¡± His subordinates swiftly and skillfully put electronic handcuffs on Charles. Then, they immediately dragged the half-conscious Charles away by his arms. Before Craig could stop them, Charles had already beer stuffed into a vehicle violently. ¡°Mr. Jenson, don¡¯t you think that¡¯s-¡± Patting Craig¡¯s shoulder, Cedrick put on a fake smile. ¡°I¡¯ll help you interrogate him about the object he stole from you, too. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely break his limbs. Don¡¯t say I¡¯m not looking after my deputy director.¡± Craig had no choice but to go along with it. ¡°Of course not, Mr. Jenson. You¡¯re a magnanimous man who cares dearly about his subordinates.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re aware of that.¡± Cedrick turned his cold gaze away and waved his hand. Promptly, Nico led the soldiers out of the Newton residence. Before Cedrick left, he turned his head back and reminded cautiously, ¡°Committing a crime isn¡¯t as heinous as continuing with the crime down that path. I hope the person the next time I¡¯m here to arrest won¡¯t be you, Craig.¡± The expression on Craig¡¯s countenance shifted slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I do things righteously, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯m not that stupid tomit a crime knowingly.¡± Disappointment swirled in Cedrick¡¯s eyes as he simply replied, ¡°Good.¡± Chapter 493 Chapter 493 Craig bowed politely. ¡°Have a safe journey, Mr. Jenson.¡± Standing at the side of the gate, he watched Cedrick enter a vehicle and leave. Once the automobiles vanished from his view, he kicked arge pot in the garden in a fit of fury. ¡°Cedrick Jenson!¡± eximed Craig with resentment. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly recalled something. Oh, cr*p! Jennifer has been staying at the Jenson residence for almost a week now. I guess I¡¯IL¡­ Uponposing himself, he returned to the vi and summoned Jasmine to the study. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Craig?¡± she asked. Irritated, Craig smoked and ordered, ¡°Remember to visit Jennifer in the Jenson residence in these two days. You must bring the bodyguards protecting you into the bedroom.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Jasmine was confounded. ¡°Gwendolyn¡¯s always the one leading me to the room. I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll allow the bodyguards to enter because there are too many people-¡± Smashing his hand on the table, Craig demanded, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do. Just ensure you can spend time in Jennifer¡¯s room alone with the bodyguards.¡± ¡°Mr. Treyton and the doctor never leaves Jennifer¡¯s room, Craig. What you¡¯re asking me to do is impossible. They won¡¯t allow me-¡± Again, Craig pped the table with a violent look. ¡°Why are you saying it¡¯s impossible before you even try it? How can you hope to seed when you¡¯re already diminishing your confidence?¡± Jasmine was startled by the m and teared up. Weakly, she bit her lip aggrievedly. Annoyed, Craig scowled instead offorting her. ¡°You¡¯re twenty-one years old already. You are an adult, so you need to be capable of handling things independently. Consider this an opportunity to train your adaptability.¡± His finger tapped on the table repeatedly. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you need to do to aplish your mission. Within two days, you will find a way to meet with Jasmine alone with the bodyguards without anyone else present in the room.¡± ¡°What if I can¡¯t do it?¡± inquired Jasmine with teary eyes. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have a first-hand experience of what Charles went throughst night.¡± Jasmine was astonished by her brother¡¯s cruelty. ¡°Why, Craig? Why are you threatening me with a heavy punishment over such a small matter? Am I still your favorite sister?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Loving you doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll spoil you. I¡¯m asking you toplete this mission on your own to train you,¡± spat Craig with a grave expression. ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Craig. You seem so unfamiliar to me now.¡± Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but feel her understanding of him was slipping, so much so that she found him ridiculous. In response, he released a mouthful of smoke. ¡°I didn¡¯t change. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve spoiled you too much in the past, and that has prevented you from truly understanding me.¡± Staring at him, she was rendered speechless as her body turned cold. She shook her head and dashed out of the study in tears. L?? 99%? +5 Bonus A scowl was still visible on Craig¡¯s face as he thought about how useless his younger siblings were. Then, he called the captain of Team Nine. ¡°I want you to investigate the secret interrogation room Mr. Jenson brought Charles to. Also, pay attention to his arrangements for Charles.¡± Meanwhile, in the car, the dizzy Charles was given a shot of antibiotics. As he gradually lifted his heavy eyelids, he noticed his surroundings shaking. Nico, who was skillfully treating the wound on his arm while sitting next to Charles, nced at thetter. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake. I can¡¯t believe you managed to bite my arm until it bled, despite how weak you are. Were you intentionally taking revenge on me?¡± The edges of Charles¡¯ pale lips curved upward. ¡°If I didn¡¯t bite you for real, how can I express my genuine despair and anger? Craig¡¯s a very sharp man. If I didn¡¯t act earnestly, he would¡¯ve seen through my Displeased, Nico snorted. ¡°If I knew, I would¡¯ve pped you harder.¡± Hearing that, Charles chuckled and slowly sat up. Meanwhile, Cedrick sat opposite him and was focusing on a document. Guiltily, Charles asked, ¡°How did you know what was happening to me? You came really quick.¡± ¡°Jasmine sent a text message to Gwenny asking for help. She wants Gwenny to return the stolen object in exchange for your safety,¡± answered Cedrick. A warm feeling surfaced in Charles¡¯ heart when he heard that. ¡°Jasmine is a very innocent girl. She doesn¡¯t know anything If I do return the serum, it means I admit I was the culprit. Not only will the efforts invested in Gwendolyn¡¯s matter be for naught, but Craig will definitely find a way to kill me. The only way I can survive is by hiding the truth, no matter the cost. Upon ending his train of thought there, he turned to Cedrick. ¡°Where¡¯s the serum? How¡¯s the analysis? Craig said it¡¯s something important.¡± ¡°No substantial progress yet. Joshua needs time topare the analysis result with the database. We¡¯ll hear something from him around noon at the earliest.¡± Nonchntly, Cedrick nced at Charles. Composedly, he joked, ¡°If I did, I wouldn¡¯t be apprehending you at the Newton residence earlier.¡± That¡¯s true. Charles smiled. A brief silence ensued in the vehicle. After Nico finished treating his wound, he eyed Charles bloody shirt. ¡°I noticed plenty of wounds were on your body when I applied medicine to them earlier. How many hits did you take?¡± Charles lowered his head and stared at his blood-drenched shirt. ¡°I didn¡¯t count, though I remember two Two? Water-soaked cane is incredibly tough. To have snapped two must¡¯ve meant he endured hundreds of whips. Even I can¡¯t help but think that Craig¡¯s too cruel. Even though he only suspected Charles was the one who stole the serum, he still abused his own little brother. Despite Nico¡¯s sympathy for Charles, because of their past grudges, he intentionally jested, ¡°You¡¯re just as stubborn as thest time I interrogated you, Mr. Newton. It took me a day and a night to pry the truth out of your mouth.¡± That was back when Charles stole the S404 RNA virus. It was a dark history, which was why Charles immediately frowned. Without hesitation, he rebuked, ¡°As if you are any better. You didn¡¯t relent even after I whipped you in the Erihal dungeon for a night.¡± ¡°You!¡± Both of them tortured each other deeply in the past. Therefore, the moment they mentioned their past treatment in each other¡¯s hands, the atmosphere in the car grew tense. Meanwhile, Cedrick eyed them both. you both are rtively healthy, how an see both of you still hold grudges against each other. Since I whip you two in the interrogation room once we reach there? Then, both of you can recuperate together and mend your rtionship. Sounds fair, no?¡± Nico paled. ¡°Don¡¯t. I don¡¯t want to reconcile with him. He should be d I didn¡¯t punch him now seeing that he¡¯s helping you and Gwendolyn¡­¡± The more he spoke, the smaller his voice Came. Charles snickered with disdain in his blue eyes. until Once the atmosphere between the duo turned harmonious, Cedrick spoke. ¡°I doubt Craig will stop he squeezes the truth about the stolen serum out of you. He¡¯ll no doubt send someone to monitor the investigation progress, so you¡¯ll have to stay in the secret interrogation room for now. I¡¯ve already asked someone to prepare a bed for you there. It¡¯ll only take a few days at most to wrap up this matter. As for your injuries, I¡¯ll send an army doctor to treat them.¡± Chapter 494 Chapter 494 In response, Charles shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t. It¡¯ll rouse Charles¡¯ suspicions. Besides, these are external wounds. I can endure the pain for a few days. Once I leave the interrogation room, I¡¯ll have them treated properly.¡± He seems to be holding on, as expected of someone who went through tough training before. Instead of insisting on Charles¡¯ treatment, Cedrick said, ¡°All right. In that case, I¡¯ll leave a first-aid kit in the room so you can tend to your own wounds.¡± Nodding, Charles recalled Gwendolyn and lowered his eyes. ¡°Did Gwen ask you to rescue me?¡± Glimpsing at him, Cedrick answered, ¡°No. She¡¯s resting at home because she is exhausted. Hence, she doesn¡¯t know what happened to you yet.¡± ¡°Exhausted? Is she feeling unwell?¡± Charles promptly lifted his eyes in a panic. Cedrick¡¯s eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly while he stared at Charles. ¡°No. It¡¯s a private matter between a married couple. Do you have to ask about that?¡± Realization dawned on Charles before he lowered his eyes again and tightened his fist. ¡°How¡­ How are you and Gwen doing this past year?¡± Very good,¡± replied Cedrick. Nico added, ¡°Cedrick bequeathed her all of his assets, making her the richest woman in the city. In fact, he didn¡¯t allow Gwendolyn to cook in the kitchen even once after they got married. Also, because Gwendolyn doesn¡¯t like anyone else disturbing them, they don¡¯t hire housekeepers. There was a time he was responsible for doing the chores, preparing the meals, tending to the babies, and even taking care of Gwendolyn during her postpartum confinement. While he wasn¡¯t doing those, he handled matters rted to Jenson Group and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Basically, he took care of everything inside and out of the house by himself. Later on, Gwendolyn hired a nanny to care for the babies because she pitied him. Grinning, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m truly impressed by him. If it were me, I doubt I could¡¯ve pulled it off as well as he did.¡± Charles listened to Nico¡¯s words quietly and was relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good. Since you snatched her away from me, you should treat her as best as you can for the rest of your life. If you break her heart, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to seize her back.¡± Upon hearing that, Cedrick scoffed coldly, ¡°That¡¯ll never happen. Besides, she was always my woman, while you were the one who tried to steal her away from me.¡± Then, the two men stared at each other fiercely. While they were no longer hostile toward each other, it didn¡¯t mean they became best buddies. None of them spoke a word as though they were both thinking about different things. Sensing that the atmosphere in the car was growing tense, Nico coughed twice. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the interrogation room.¡± The interrogation room located on the outskirts of Salinsburgh was a very well-hidden location. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Nico cuffed Charles again and escorted him out of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Cedrick tidied his cor and marched forward. The captain of Team Nine, Jasper, was already waiting around fifty meters in front of the interrogation room with a few soldiers When Nico saw them, he stopped holding Charles¡¯ arm and dragged thetter forcefully. ¡°You¡¯re an animal. Charles! How dare you try to bite me. Today, I¡¯ll torture you until you shed twoyers of skin!¡± The look in Charles¡¯ eyes turned frigid. While he was still weak, his demeanor remained unyielding After Jasper saw the trio, he dashed toward Cedrick and bowed politely. ¡°Greetings, Mr. Jenson.¡± He remained unmoved for two seconds and thought it was quite awkward not to present anything in his hand. Thus, he speedily removed a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offered one to Cedrick. ¡°D you for your hard work. Mr. Jenson. It¡¯s notmon that you personally apprehend a criminal. W you like a puff?¡± Instead of epting the cigarette, Cedrick nced at him and questioned, ¡°What are you doing here Don¡¯t you have matters to tend to in the bureau? Are you that free?¡± Fearfully, Jasper lowered his head further. ¡°Mr. Craig asked me toe. He said he was worried Charles wouldn¡¯t obey you and asked me to monitor him, Mr. Jenson.¡± Annoyed, Nico spat, ¡°Step out of my way. Whoever I apprehend has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. You¡¯re right, Nico. Since everything¡¯s under I¡¯ll take my leave now, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick eyed Jasper coldly without saying anything, seemingly agreeing that thetter was correct. In response, Jasper extended his cigarette box to Nico. However, Nico just scoffed arrogantly. Great, he didn¡¯t even bother acting nice to me. Jasper thought as he returned the box to his pocket. As he walked past Charles, he halted his steps and informed, ¡°Mr. Craig asked me to pass the following message to you. If you don¡¯t want to experience more pain, you¡¯d better be honest about your illegal crossing of the national border. If you hide anything and say things you shouldn¡¯t, I¡¯ll cleanse the Newton family.¡± Narrowing his eyes, Charles stared at Jasper and spotted the threatening look swirling in thetter¡¯s eyes. ¡°Get out of here. You don¡¯t get to intimidate the felon I apprehend!¡± Incensed, Nico kicked Jasper¡¯s butt. ¡°Scram! If you anger Mr. Jenson, your punishment will be more than just a kick!¡± Jasper nearly leaped in response to the kick. Hissing, he rubbed his buttock and bolted away with his men. After he left, Nico¡¯s subordinates promptly surrounded the interrogation room. Some had even changed into camouge uniforms and hid themselves several hundred meters away. The heavy door to the interrogation room was opened. As Charles swept his gaze past the horrible torture device on the wall, he sighed. ¡°To think there would come a day when this room is the safest ce for me to stay in.¡± Nico grinned. ¡°True. After all, you¡¯re a frequent guest here. The tools on the walls are your old friends. I bet it¡¯ll be quite a unique experience to sleep with them tonight.¡± ¡°Indeed it will.¡± Turning to Nico, Charles suggested, ¡°How about I ask Mr. Jenson to let you stay here as well so we can share this experience together?¡± Nico¡¯s countenance darkened. He wanted to refute Charles, but he secretly glimpsed at Cedrick first. Then, he changed his tune. ¡°Forget about it. I can¡¯t enjoy something like this. Besides, I have someone waiting for me at home. If I don¡¯t go back, she¡¯ll throw a fit.¡± Both of them took a step back and avoided an argument. Cedrick waved at the men outside. A few soldiers expeditiously brought a few thick mattresses into the room. Additionally, they brought fruits, snacks, high-quality cigarettes, a new phone, several sets of new clothes, and a fully stocked first-aid kit for Charles. Soon, the interrogation room was filled to the brim, looking quitefortable. Wow, Cedrick has taken my matter very seriously. Charles scanned his surrounding. ¡°Thanks.¡± No expression was spotted on Cedrick¡¯s countenance. ¡°Consider this a thank-you gift from Gwendolyn and me. There¡¯s no need to express your gratitude toward me.¡± Charles lowered his head to hide the unusual look in his eyes. The gift I want isn¡¯t these trinkets. Based on what I know about his temper, hell only get warier if I tell him what I want directly. Although, there¡¯s a chance he will grant me my wish when the timees. After collecting himself, he stared at Cedrick again and stated, ¡°It¡¯s been days since I¡¯ve returned to Salinsburgh, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯ve yet to meet yours and Gwen¡¯s babies yet. Once this matter with Craig is over, can I visit them in Harrick Vi? 1¡­ would like to be their godfather.¡± Chapter 495 Chapter 495 Cedrick thought about the time Charles took great care of the pregnant Gwendolyn back in Erihal to the extent that he was willing to be the children¡¯s father. However, he was being extra careful. ¡°This isn¡¯t up to me. You should ask Gwenny about itter.¡± Charles pursed his lips and smiled while looking at henpecked Cedrick. Gwendolyn woke up naturally the next day since she was in deep slumber. She reached out for the clock on the bedside and looked at the time. It¡¯s over ten o¡¯clock. I guess Cedrick¡¯s at work now. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she sat up slowly. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Jasmine. The moment Gwendolyn answered the call, Jasmine¡¯s wails echoed through the speaker. ¡°Gwendolyn, Craig kicked me out- Jasmine¡¯s sobs rendered her breathless, her voice choked with continuous gasps and sobs. Whatever she said afterward was muddled and hesitant, so Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t understand what she was saying. ¡°Come to Harrick Vi. I¡¯m still here.¡± More than thirty minutester, Jasmine arrived at Harrick Vi and continued to sob again. Gwendolyn stopped the two bodyguards who were with Jasmine from entering the vi and instructed Elven and Ezra to watch them. Then, she patted Jasmine¡¯s back gently. ¡°There, there. Don¡¯t cry anymore. What happened?¡± Jasmine recalled what Craig said to her in the morning and couldn¡¯t suppress her heartache. ¡°Craig has changed¡­ I don¡¯t even know him anymore-¡± she said before trailing off into a sob. Then, she continued without hesitation. ¡°He forced me to bring a bodyguard into Jennifer¡¯s room, and if I didn¡¯t do as he said, he¡¯d whip me with a cane. He beat Charles up yesterday, and there was blood everywhere. I¡¯m really scared, Gwendolyn. Please help me.¡± She nestled deeper into Gwendolyn¡¯s embrace and sobbed with sorrow. The thought of what happened to Charles happening to her sent shivers down her spine, filling her with a deep sense of dread. -Gwendolyn furrowed her brows when she noticed something important. ¡°Charles was beaten up yesterday? Why?¡± Jasmine stared at Gwendolyn in confusion with tears in her eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t know? I sent you a message to ask for your help. Weren¡¯t you the one who asked Mr. Jenson to save Charles?¡± The Tides Have Finally Turned Hearing that. Gwendolyn unlocked her phone and checked her message. Then, she looked at the time of the message and knew for sure that she was still asleep at that time. Cedrick must¡¯ve seen Jasmine¡¯s message and went to handle it. Charles should be fine now since Cedrick has saved him. Ignoring the matter, she continued to ask, ¡°Did you say that Craig asked you to get a bodyguard to enter Jennifer¡¯s room alone?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Jasmine nodded innocently. Gwendolyn let out a puff ofughter, Is Craig really that desperate now? He knows how innocent Jasmine i he gave her such an important task. Jasmine held Gwendolyn¡¯s hands and said sincerely, ¡°Gwendolyn, please help me. Perhaps Craig want bodyguard to tell Jennifer something, just for a few minutes at most.¡± ¡°Jennifer hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet. There¡¯s no way she¡¯d listen to anyone in that state. Besides, there¡¯s no way Craig¡¯s intentions are that simple,¡± Gwendolyn replied. ¡°What should I do, then?¡± Gwendolyn suggested while smiling. ¡°He¡¯s gone as far as threatening you with a cane this time, so it¡¯s clear, you mustn¡¯t do what he says. Why don¡¯t you stay here for a few days? There¡¯s no way he can beat you up here. Besides, I have plenty of guest rooms here, so it¡¯s no problem for me.¡± Jasmine was touched but felt scared at the same time. ¡°I don¡¯t think this will work. Even if I can avoid going back for a few days, I¡¯ll have to return sooner or later. When that timees, his anger might escte to the point where he could beat me to death.¡± Gwendolyn touched Jasmine¡¯s face gently and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Craig¡¯s going to face judgment for what, he¡¯s done soon. When the timees, he won¡¯t have time to deal with you anymore.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gwendolyn nodded seriously. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°What about the two bodyguards out there?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°I¡¯ll have them go back to where they came from.¡± When it was noon, Cedrick rushed to theb as soon as Joshua called. Then, thetter handed him the dataparison sheet. ¡°Cedrick, the serum isn¡¯t produced locally. I believe it¡¯s made abroad, and considered a banned substance. He must¡¯ve gotten it from the dark web at a high price.¡± Cedrick had a serious look on his face as he listened to Joshua and read theposition inspection form. Joshua continued, ¡°This serum is just like the local G7 drug, but the effects are worse than G7¡¯s. It¡¯s meant to inflict severe mental deterioration on its recipient, subjecting them to excruciating torment. To make matters worse, anyone who is hypnotized in that state would only be a puppet, devoid of their own will. Based on information on the dark web, those who have ess to this drug are generally overseas aristocrats who used it on their disobedient ves. If the ves wish to be released from the suffering. they¡¯d have to obey in order to get the antidote. But the substances are too potent. Once it¡¯s injected into the body, nothing, not even treatments, can truly repair the damage it has done to the nerves. There¡¯s a huge possibility of side effects as well.¡± As Cedrick listened further, his expression grew colder. ¡°Do you know what the side effects are?¡± he asked with a sigh as he thought about Treyton who wished for Jennifer¡¯s recovery. Joshua shook his head. ¡°Since it¡¯s a forbidden drug from overseas, there¡¯s no way of obtaining any about it here.¡± data ¡°Okay. I understand. Write everything you said as the diagnosis. Craig¡¯s good days areing to an end.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression was terribly solemn when he walked out of theb. Nico, who stood outside theb while calling Summer, quickly hung up and dashed toward Cedrick as soon as Cedrick left theb. ¡°How was it?¡± Cedrick looked like he was on the verge of exploding in rage. Without saying anything, Cedrick handed the report to Nico. Nico scanned the report and snapped, ¡°Is he out of his mind? How can he bring himself to use such a potent drug on his own mother and sister?¡± Cedrick responded coldly, ¡°He has be a monster from the day he started doing whatever he can to be the head of the Newton family.¡± Nico¡¯s expression turned solemn as well. ¡°So, what do you n to do with him this time?¡± Cedrick replied, ¡°We must handle this ording to thew. Being the deputy director, his crimes carry even more weight, doubling the severity of his crime.¡± Before long, Cedrick reached his car in his big strides and made his way back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. ¡°It¡¯s best for us to move quietly for now since he has control over two squads. Get Neville and Swain to lead the squad and prepare for an ambush around five hundred meters away from the Newton residence tomorrow. Summarize all this evidence in the report, including Jennifer¡¯s proof of injury and his attempt to get Charles to drug me. With these three crimes pinned on his head, I want him to suffer in the interrogation room before he¡¯s sent to the high-security prison!¡± Cedrick ordered Nico in the car. Chapter 496 Chapter 496 The two bodyguards, with visible injuries and limping, returned fromvHarrick Vi and knocked on the door of Craig¡¯s study in the Newton residence. ¡°Come in.¡± Craig called out. The two men supported each other as they entered the room. Craig, deeply engrossed in reviewing documents, suddenly noticed their unusual state and furrowed his brows in confusion. ¡°What happened? Where¡¯s Jasmine?¡± ¡°Ms. Jasmine is staying at the Jenson residence. She¡¯s noting back, Mr. Craig.¡± Craig set his pen down and raised an eyebrow with amusement. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. Then why are you two here instead of following her? Why did youe back?¡± The bodyguards wore pained expressions. ¡°We were forcibly driven away by Mrs. Jenson and then beaten. up by Elven and a few others. They said we had to get out of there immediately.¡± Crack! A teacup flew and shattered at their feet. The sound of shattering porcin reverberated in the air, and an aura of tension filled the air. ¡°Useless fools, get out!¡± Every fiber of Craig¡¯s being radiated anger. He massaged his temple to ease the throbbing pain. Jennifer is tightly controlled, while Jasmine¡¯s naivety proves to be more of a liability than an asset. This is such vering matter! Feeling exasperated, he pulled open a drawer and retrieved a transparent crystal. Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the crystal¡¯s potent fragrance, seeking sce in its nerve-stimting properties. A loud knock rasped against Craig¡¯s door once again. He carefully ced the crystal back into the drawer before Karl, the butler, entered the room. Karl walked up to Craig respectfully and ced an item on his table. Thetter lowered his gaze and saw that it was the key stained with dirt. It was the key he had given to Karl. ¡°Where did you find it?¡± ¡°It was found in the garden, buried in the soil and concealed beneath the bushes. Only a small golden edge was visible. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t find it despite searching all night,¡± he replied. When Craig picked up the key, his fingers became smudged with dirt. The Key Is Found He carefully examined the soil, finding sce in the pleasant stimtion from the crystal. It also allowed him to keep calm and not lose his temper easily. ¡°Karl, why don¡¯t you tell me your guess?¡± ¡°Duringst night¡¯s banquet, Mr. Charles was the only one who came near me and identally bumped into me. I suspect he deliberately buried the key for fear of being discovered.¡± Craig listened attentively and methodically analyzed the situation. ¡°He didn¡¯t bury it. If he¡¯s responsible, he wouldn¡¯t have left such obvious traces. If he wanted to hide it, he would have buried it much deeper, making it unlikely to be found for a year or two. Therefore, it appears his initial n was to return the key discreetly. However, when he realized I knew something was up, he grew anxious and tossed it out of the room.¡± Karl nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right. That seems to be the case.¡± Craig let out a sinister and chillingugh, his eyes growing cold as anger surged through him. His fury zed, prompting him to sweep everything off his desk. He sent papers and even the computer crashing to the floor in a chaotic mess. ¡°Charles Newton! That bast*rd!¡± It was clear now that he was the one who had taken the key and stolen the serum from the top floor. There was no doubt that he had conspired with Gwendolyn to plot against him. The thought of the serum falling into Cedrick¡¯s hands sent shivers down his spine. The consequences. would be catastrophic. Consumed by fury, Craig¡¯s rationality was obliterated, leaving him with an overwhelming desire to dismember Cedrick, piece by piece. Karl barely avoided the avnche of toppled documents as he took two unsteady steps back. ¡°Mr. Craig, please calm down. There must be a way to resolve this,¡± Karl pleaded.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. After regaining a semnce ofposure, Craig dialed Jasper¡¯s number without hesitation. ¡°How is the situation in the secret interrogation room?¡± ¡°Since I left, Nico deployed an entire team to guard the secret interrogation room. There are also twenty soldiers stationed five hundred meters away, and about ten operatives positioned covertly,¡± Jasper reported. Craig let out a disdainful chuckle. The heightened security measures were clearly not meant to discipline Charles but rather to protect him. It seems like Cedrick knows Charles stole the key. The serum on the top floor should be with Cedrick now. The illegal crossing was just a carefully staged performance. Craig¡¯s gaze turned icy, and he spoke in a low, chilling voice to Jasper. ¡°Continue to keep a close watch. If there¡¯s anything unusual, inform me immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Craig.¡± After hanging up. Craig opened the drawer beneath his desk and retrieved a gun. He loaded it with bullets, chambered a round, and pressed the barrel against his own forehead. A sardonic smirk yed upon his lips. Karl was shocked beyond words, ¡°Mr. Craig, what are you doing? Please don¡¯t act impulsively! It¡¯s not the end. We can still turn the situation around.¡± Craig chuckled lightly, removing the gun from his temple and holding it in his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Did you think I would resort to suicide? Only defeated and desperate individuals take that route. The situation hasn¡¯t reached its final stage yet. There is no winner yet.¡± His fingers, calloused and hardened from years of handling firearms, detected an un they traced the intricate patterns on the gun. ¡°That bast rd, Charles, believed I pitied him for enduring Cedrick¡¯s torment. Little did 1 would be a trap of my own making. If I die. I¡¯ll drag him to hell with me!¡± With his final words, he forcefully ced the gun on the table, the sound reverberating through Craig instructed the butler, ¡°Calcting the time when the serum was stolen, Cedrick must have already analyzed itsposition by now. While he¡¯s preupied gathering evidence against me, dispose of all remaining serum at the top floor. Pour it out, smash the ss vials, and bury the shattered pieces in the ground. Burn every container that contained the serum. Ensure not a single trace remains. Clear anything ¨C suspicious in the rooms on the top floor. Get the servants to use disinfectant spray and meticulously clean every corner. The top floor must be thoroughly cleaned tonight. We cannot leave it overnight in its current state.¡± Karl nodded. ¡°If the goal is to leave no trace, why not discard them outside? Moreover, those serums were purchased at a high price. Destroying them like this will result in a significant financial loss, won¡¯t it?¡± At this critical moment, a small amount of money was insignificant. Craig¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Cedrick might have already stationed people outside the residence to keep watch. If the servants start discarding things recklessly, it will draw attention and increase the risk of being caught. Just follow my instructions.¡± ¡°Okay, Mr. Craig. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Karl replied, no longer arguing. He nodded and immediately went to carry out the task. Once the butler had departed, Craig adjusted his cor and exited the study, making his way toward the top floor. He unlocked the heavy iron lock and entered the third room on the left. As he pushed the door open, he saw a frail woman lying on the bed, her body emaciated. Her hands were bound by heavy iron chains, leaving deep marks on her wrists. Craig walked straight to the bed and sat down. Next, he carefully unfastened all the iron chains and gently massaged the red marks on her wrists. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t me me. You once said you were willing to sacrifice everything for me. Now, the person you despise the most, that bast rd Charles, has joined forces with Cedrick to harm me. Only you can help. me.¡± He embraced Caylie, his palm gently caressing her back, but his gaze was icy. As Caylie caught a whiff of a familiar scent, she blinked her eyes lightly, her mind starting to clear. She smiled weakly when she lifted her gaze and saw her dashing son. ¡°My dear, beloved son,¡± Caylie whispered, her voice filled with a mix of love and desperation. ¡°I would do anything for you, even if it means sacrificing my own life.¡± Chapter 497 Chapter 497 As her soothing words reached his ears, Craig¡¯s eyes glistened with tears that gradually spilled over. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom. I wish to stay alive, and I¡¯m unwilling to relinquish the status and privileges I have attained. I refuse to be confined in a high¨Csecurity prison, living a life worse than death like a mere walking corpse.¡± He embraced the frail woman in his arms, holding her tighter as if seeking sce. ¡°Rest assured, Mom. That illegitimate child has caused your mental deterioration and the loss of Jennifer. I know how much you hate him. I¡¯ll make him pay for his actions.¡± As the evening drew near, Lucas made his way back home. His hand firmly pressed against his aching lower back. For the past few days, he had beenpelled to carry out errands for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and now his entire body felt as if it were on the brink of copse. Craig is so vicious. I can¡¯t even pass the basic assessment with my mediocre skills. How can my feeble body withstand the intense missions of the bureau? Lucas felt like crying, as he was constantly being exploited, living each day in what felt like a living hell. He wondered when he could break free from the torture. But as soon as the image of Charles being beaten with two canes shed past his mind, Lucas grew terrified. He forcefully suppressed his urge to curse Craig. He clung to the wall, his legs trembling as he slowly inched his way toward the garden. When Lucas saw a male housekeeper rushing passed him, he called out, ¡°Why are you running? Come over here and help me.¡± The housekeeper hesitated for a moment before approaching and offering his support. ¡°Apologies, Mr. Lucas. Mr. Craig is currently having the top floor cleared out. I¡¯ve been preupied and forgot to greet you.¡± ¡°Why is he cleaning the top floor?¡± Shaking his head, the housekeeper replied, ¡°We¡¯re not privy to Mr. Craig¡¯s intentions. It¡¯s already past six o¡¯clock, and he¡¯s insisted on having everything cleared out by tonight. Otherwise, we¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Even though Lucas was perplexed, he did not want to get the housekeeper into trouble. ¡°You can go about your tasks. There¡¯s no need to assist me. I¡¯ll manage on my own.¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Lucas,¡± the servant replied, bowing deeply before hurrying off to the backyard. As Lucas watched his retreating figure, his suspicions grew stronger. red What is Craig up to? My intuition tells me that something weird is going on. Lucas continued to make his way toward the backyard slowly. As he approached, the sound of shattering ss grew more frequent and piercing. The backyard was bustling with housekeepers and bodyguards, and even the butler was present. All of them were busy with their tasks,pletely oblivious to him. Some were burning things, while others were smashing ss containers or digging holes. Lucas gazed at the scene unfolding before him, his mind filled with bewilderment. Amidst the chaos, he noticed a partially destroyed container in a corner. There were small ss vials, each holding remnants of transparent liquid. Curiosity got the better of him and he instinctively reached for one of the vials for closer examination. To his surprise, the butler, caught off guard by his actions, hurried over and swiftly took the vial from his grasp, returning it to its original ce. ¡°Mr. Lucas, these are nothing but rubbish. They are items Mr. Craig wishes to dispose of. Please refrain from touching them. Everyone is upied, so we can¡¯t attend to your needs at the moment. I suggest you go into the vi. Dinner will be served shortly.¡± Lucas nodded absentmindedly. ¡°Very well, carry on with your tasks. I¡¯ll return to my room.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Lucas,¡± the butler replied with a respectful bow before resuming his unfinished duties. As Lucas made his way out of the bustling scene, he took a moment to survey the chaotic surroundings. When no one was paying attention to him, he discreetly picked up the ss vial he had examined earlier and swiftly hid it in his pocket. Soon after, he maintainedposed and calmly left the backyard. After a long day of work, Cedrick returned to Harrick Vi and was surprised to find a new addition to the household¨Cthe mischievous and spirited Jasmine. That evening, as everyone gathered around the dining table for dinner, Jasmine couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Cedrick. Gwendolyn noticed and gently tapped Jasmine¡¯s head. ¡°What are you looking at? Focus on your meal!¡± ¡°All right.¡± Rubbing her slightly throbbing head, Jasmine redirected her attention to her meal. However, her curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn¡¯t resist stealing nces in Cedrick¡¯s direction. Cedrick lifted his gaze and made eye contact with Jasmine. Instantly, Jasmine felt guilty and quickly averted her gaze, too afraid to continue looking at him, ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± he asked, bewildered. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I find you really handsome. I haven¡¯t had a chance to observe you up close like this before and upon closer inspection¡­¡± Cedrick raised an eyebrow. ¡°What did you discover?¡± Gwendolyn also looked at Jasmine curiously. However, thetter looked at both of them, feeling hesitant to speak up. After much deliberation, she cautiously said, ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel that you bear a striking resemnce to someone I know.¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick exchanged nces. ¡°Who?¡± he asked. Jasmine shifted in her seat before leaning closer to Gwendolyn and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Mr. Jenson looks a lot like that personal servant you had in Faike?¡± Cough! Cough! Even though she tried to speak in a hushed tone, her words reverberated through the rtively quiet dining hall, catching Cedrick off guard and causing him to almost choke on his food. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help butugh at his reaction. The events that took ce in Faike were considered a dark chapter in Cedrick¡¯s past. Gwendolyn decided to y along and asked Jasmine, ¡°So, between Mr. Jenson and the personal servant from Faike, who do you think is more handsome?¡± Even though Jasmine was naive, she had a keen eye for observation. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no need to ask. Of course, it¡¯s Mr. Jenson! After all, he¡¯s your husband. No one can compare to him when ites to power, wealth, and handsomeness!¡± As Jasmine ttered Cedrick, she couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at him, trying to gauge his reaction. He kept his head down, his expression somewhat cold and odd. Jasmine remembered that Gwendolyn used to enjoy the male servant¡¯spany. Hence, she continued in a hushed voice, ¡°Gwendolyn, did you dismiss that male servant from before? Does he still serve you now?¡± ¡°Why are you asking about that? Do you like him?¡± Gwendolyn smirked. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Jasmine¡¯s face blushed slightly. ¡°Although there were some unpleasant moments in the past, I did appreciate his looks and physique. If you don¡¯t want him, I would like to employ him. His presence would provide a delightful visual treat for me every day.¡± She continued, lost in her own thoughts. ¡°But I remember how headstrong he was and how he needed some discipline.¡± Cedrick abruptly ced his cutleries on the table, and his expression turned solemn. ¡°You two can continue your conversation. I¡¯ve finished cating and I¡¯ll go check on the children.¡± Jasmine watched Cedrick¡¯s figure as he left, unsure of what she had said wrong. Gwendolyn chuckled and continued to eat. She yfully agreed with Jasmine¡¯s remarks. ¡°He is stubborn, but I¡¯ve managed to tame him. Now, he¡¯spletely devoted to me.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Feeling curious, Jasmine whispered, ¡°Gwendolyn, are you still keeping that male servant around? It seems like you¡¯re quite fond of him. Is he like your secret lover? Does Cedrick know?¡± Gwendolyn calmly ate her food and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Jasmine was bewildered by her response. ¡°The rumors outside im that Cedrick is devoted to you. He¡¯s also a strict husband. How¡¯s it possible for him to agree to let you keep a secret lover?¡± ¡°Who said that I have a secret lover? The male servant from before has upgraded.¡± ¡°Upgraded?¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s my husband now.¡± A sudden realization dawned on Jasmine, and her eyes widened. Oh no, the person I offended in Faike was Mr. Jenson? Chapter 498 Chapter 498 Jasmine who finally realized who she had offended, turned pale. She lost her appetite for her food, for the food was made by Cedrick. ¡°Gwendolyn, did I just¡­ cross Mr. Jenson again? Will I live to see tomorrow¡¯s sunrise?¡± Gwendolyn held back herughter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s a magnanimous man who won¡¯t hold you ountable for this, let alone someone as young as you.¡± It was only then Jasmine held her chest and let out a heavy sigh of relief. ¡°So, do you still want to teach my servant a lesson?¡± Jasmine quickly waved her hands and shook her head fervently. ¡°No, no, no. That¡¯s your right. I wouldn¡¯t dare to cross the line. Mr. Jenson will definitely have my head.¡± Forcing away anotherugh that threatened to escape her, Gwendolyn took some food and ced them on Jasmine¡¯s te. ¡°Keep eating. Get some rest once you¡¯re done. I¡¯ll ask Elven to take you out for some fun tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± After the meal, Gwendolyn brought the fruits she washed to the nursery on the fourth floor. Despite how tall he was, Cedrick was seated on a short stool, rocking Zendaya¡¯s bed as he shook the maracas with his free hand. Putting down the te, Gwendolyn then walked over to look at the smiling babies. They were pink and plump, and theirshes were quivering as they blinked their bright eyes. Zendaya, who was sucking on her thumb, beamed when she saw Gwendolyning closer to her. Gwendolyn smiled in return as she wistfully pondered about the miracles of life. Cedrick still did not turn around to look at her, however, and he continued shaking the maracas as if he was sulking. Gwendolyn gently brushed her finger on his earlobe, she whispered, ¡°Are you angry with Jasmine, or are you jealous of Maverick?¡± Maverick¡­ It was a name that he had not heard for a long time. Cedrick turned around. His dark eyes remained gentle, but his tone was serious as he said, ¡°I¡¯m angry about how mean Gwenny is. She could have changed the subject, but she insisted on getting an answer from Jasmine about who is more handsome between Maverick and me.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s finger continued trailing up his ear before gliding past the spot between his eyes. Finally, she ended with a flick to his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s you anyway, so why are you angry? Everyone has a terrible history. I never retaliated when the Wright family bullied me for loving you for three years at Faike back then.¡± Cedrick fell silent. The second he mentioned it, he saw Gwendolyn¡¯s expression visibly darkening. Oh no, is she going to settle old scores with me again? Thus, he immediately put down the maracas and held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve done wrong back then and made you suffer. If you still hold a grudge against me for that, I¡¯ll go back to the room to kneel on Lego pieces!¡± Gwendolyn could not bring herself to get angry at his gentle tone, but she still kept her expression a grave one as she uttered, ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Cedrick froze. ¡°Now?¡± Is she going to smack my palm in front of the babies? Gwendolyn gave him a heavy nod. Err¡­ All right. My priority is to keep her happy. He then obediently reached out his left hand as if he was presenting a piece of treasure to Gwendolyn. In the next second, Gwendolyn lifted her hand and gently swung it down on his palm. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯ve done wrong yet?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± After another soft smack, Gwendolyn questioned, ¡°Will you give me the cold shoulder like before again?¡± ¡°No, no. I¡¯m already thanking my lucky stars every day that you¡¯re not giving me the cold shoulder!¡± Hearing that, Gwendolynughed. When Zendaya heard the smacking sounds, her eyes flitted between Gwendolyn and Cedrick. She then started giggling. Benedict began giggling beside her too. The unexpected gesture took Cedrick by surprise. As his expression darkened, he red at his two babies. Are they really that happy to see their daddy getting punished? Heartless children! In contrast, when Gwendolyn saw the babies¡® smiles, her heart melted, and she added a little more force into her next few smacks on Cedrick¡¯s palm. Zendaya and Benedictughed even happier. Cedrick could only drop his jaw, stunned. 2/4 He then looked at Gwendolyn with a sad gaze. ¡°Gwenny, even the babies are on your side. I can¡¯t believe they want to see you be mean to me!¡± Smiling, Gwendolyn lifted his hand. His palm was still rather fair¨Conly a faint red mark colored it. Still, she leaned over to kiss it before turning to the babies to patiently say, ¡°Your daddy made a mistake, and that¡¯s why he was punished. Benny, Zendy, you¡¯ll need to keep an eye on him for me in the future to whip him into shape, okay?¡± Cedrick pursed his lips. Gwendolyn nearly burst outughing when she registered his bitter look. ¡°All right. I¡¯m just messing with you. You¡¯re so good all the time, so how can I bring myself to hit you?¡± Nonsense! You always hit me so hard whenever you get mad. Despite the thought, Cedrick merely lowered his head in silence. After the babies were asleep, Gwendolyn finally asked Zoey toe into the nursery to rest. Then, Cedrick held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, and they returned to the master bedroom. It was then Gwendolyn asked, ¡°How is Craig¡¯s matter?¡± ¡°We have the results for the serum that Charles snuck out. It¡¯s a drug that targets to destroy the nerves. Craig has been using drugs to control his mother and sister, and he even tried to get Charles to drug me too. I¡¯ve asked Nico to gather all evidence as quickly as possible. If things go smoothly, we¡¯ll be able to arrest him and interrogate him tomorrow.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Yes, we should end these things as soon as possible. More troubles might arise if we leave them be. Someone like Craig doesn¡¯t deserve to be the Newton family¡¯s head. He¡¯s oppressing his own family.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Darling.¡± His hoarse voice was seductive when he whispered by her ear. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Gwendolyn realized what he meant, and she quickly said, ¡°Hold it right there. Just sleep. We have plenty of issues to deal with tomorrow, and we¡¯ll need all our energy for them. No sex tonight.¡± Therefore, Cedrick could only gloomily copse onto his side of the bed. Gwendolyn held back augh and reached out to turn off the lights. Darkness enveloped the room, but the man was not going to stop. Transforming into a beast, he turned to take control of the situation. Hunger gnawed his stomach, and all he wanted was to devour the petite woman in his arms. Itsted until¡­ ¡°Oh, ouch, ouch! Softer, Darling. It¡¯s going to swell!¡± Gwendolyn was pinching his bottom hard. 2/1 Whimpering in pain, he buried his face into the crook of her neck. ¡°Be good and go to sleep. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The next morning, at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cedrick was in the middle of changing into his military uniform when Nico knocked on the door and entered. ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯ve sorted out the evidence. Neville and Swain are already stationed around the Newton residence. They¡¯re awaiting your orders.¡± Once Cedrick did thest gold button of his uniform, he turned around to face Nico. ¡°Okay. We¡¯re going to the Newton residence to arrest him now.¡± When he emerged from the office, he went down the stairs, his eyes fixed on the path before him. He was going to the garage to get the car. Right then, Jasper ran over and nearly crashed into him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry! Sorry for that, Mr. Jenson!¡± With a dark look, Cedrick questioned, ¡°Why are you running in here? Do you not know discipline? Must you be in such haste?¡± Jasper scrunched up his face and bowed as he apologized, ¡°Of course. I wasn¡¯t thinking straight because I just received bad news.¡± Hearing that, Cedrick turned to nce at Nico. ¡°What happened?¡± Mr. Newton¡¯s mother suddenly passed awayst night. It¡¯s chaos at the Newton residence right now, and Mr. Newton suspects that¡­ she has been murdered!¡± Chapter 499 Chapter 499 The news struck Cedrick and Nico like a bolt from the blue. After sharing a look with each other, Cedrick quickly rposed himself and said, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll go to the Newton residence to take a look at the situation. You carry on with your work.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± With another bow, Jasper left. Once Jasper was gone, Nico moved closer to Cedrick and whispered, ¡°Cedrick, Neville and Swain¡¯s teams are still stationed five hundred meters away from the Newton residence. Do we still¡­ arrest him?¡± Cedrick calmly replied, ¡°Something¡¯s fishy about this, and we¡¯re not going to rush headlong into this. Have them remain in their positions and await further orders. Take a copy of the evidence you¡¯ve sorted out and bring along the arrest warrant. Pay attention to my actions and act ordingly.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The two men then left the Federal Bureau of Investigation and went into the car to head toward the Newton residence. Sure enough, chaos had erupted at the Newton residence. The housekeepers and bodyguards were so busy that no one weed Cedrick and Nico when they walked in. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Sorrow had taken over the vi. When Jasmine and Lucas found out about the tragic news, they rushed back to the family house as well. Nico grabbed one of the male housekeepers and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Craig?¡± ¡°He¡¯s on the top floor. He¡¯s in a terrible mood after finding out what happened to Mrs. Newton.¡± At that, Cedrick and Nico instantly went to the highest floor. The third room to the left was full of people. Craig was holding onto Caylie¡¯s body, which was already cold and stiff as he sat on the bed in a mncholic daze. It was Cedrick¡¯s first time seeing Craig with swollen eyes and a dested expression. Even Lucas and Jasmine¡¯s eyes were red. The air in the room was heavy with grief. Cedrick raked his gaze across the room before pulling the tearful butler Karl aside. Karl quietly followed him until they reached the end of the corridor. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Craig has just lost his mother. He might not be able to wee you properly in his grieving moment, so please forgive us for that.¡± Cedrick sighed softly and said, ¡°My condolences to the family for the loss of Mrs. Newton.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± 1/4 Right then, Nico took a step forward and said, ¡°Mister, please tell Mr. Jenson what happened in detail. Mr. Jenson will¡­ bring justice for the Newton family.¡± Karl sniffled and wiped his tears away with his sleeve as he mulled over what happened. ¡°The housekeeper was bringing breakfast to Mrs. Newton¡¯s room, and that was when she found out that Mrs. Newton was gone. Mrs. Newton is a kind woman with loving children. She lived a happy life, so there¡¯s no way she would havemitted suicide. Moreover, Mr. Jenson had checked her earlier. There aren¡¯t any obvious external or fatal injuries on her. However, her lips are purple. Someone must have poisoned her. Mr. Jenson, please help Mr. Craig and Mrs. Newton with this!¡± Cedrick drew his brows and went into a solemn silence. Nico then remarked, ¡°But the top floor of the Newton residence has always been locked. If Mrs. Newton didn¡¯t end her own life, who else could have gotten into her room?¡± Karl pondered about that. ¡°Mrs. Newton doesn¡¯t like going outside, so this will be easy to find out. There are only a few housekeepers who deliver food to her. I wonder if this originated from the kitchen.¡± ¡°Gather the housekeepers who deliver food to her, the cooks, and the grocery shoppers to the garden. I¡¯m going to interrogate them all,¡± Cedrick instructed in a serious tone. After tugging on his sleeve, he turned and went downstairs. Karl obediently followed him. Meanwhile, Nico stood by the doorway and stared at the situation in the room for a few more seconds. before sighing and going after Cedrick. The interrogation at the gardensted around ten minutes, but Cedrick found nothing amiss wit their expressions and exnations. Turning to Nico, Cedrick said, ¡°Get the Special Investigation Team toe here and check the entire Newton residence. Inform the forensic about this as well. We¡¯ll be sending Mrs. Newton for an autopsy later.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Nico nodded and ran to a corner to make the call. After Cedrick dispelled the initial suspicions of the housekeepers and cooks, he instructed them to resume their duties. The garden soon returned to its earlier peacefulness. Seemingly recalling something, Karl gasped and said, ¡°Mr. Jenson, I recalled something that is important.¡± Cedrick turned around and uttered in a t tone, ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Mr. Charles stole my key two nights ago and went to the highest floor during the party. I don¡¯t know why he was there, but Mr. Craig punished him when he found out about it.¡± Cedrick knitted his brows and narrowed his dark eyes. His tone was getting icier and icier as he said, ¡°Do tell me more about it.¡± Karl continued, ¡°Mr. Charles refused to admit that he stole the key. It wasst afternoon when the bodyguard found the key to the top floor which was partially buried in the garden did they finally confirm that Mr. Charles has been to the highest floor. To be honest, Mr. Jenson, Mr. Charles once stoleb drugs. He doesn¡¯t have a good rtionship with Mr. Craig, so it¡¯s likely that¡­ he poisoned Mrs. Newton.¡± Nico, who just wrapped up his calls, came back in time to hear the butler utter those words. He promptly retaliated by saying, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you have double standards on both Charles and Craig? While Charles has a history of that, he was bailed by Mr. Asher. Now, it¡¯s proven that he was not guilty. We have to do everything professionally and not use someone of doing something just because they have a history. Do you understand?¡± Karl sheepishly lowered his head. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Nico. I was just¡­ suspicious. Mr. Jenson, please do look for evidence before youe to a conclusion.¡± Despite Karl¡¯s apologetic smile, Cedrick and Nico remained somber. Clearly, they were targeting Charles by only mentioning the theft of the key at a time like this. If Charles was found guilty of this crime, he would never be able to turn his life around anymore. The atmosphere turned tense in the garden. Right then, Craig, who had recollected himself but still had red eyes, walked out of the vi and straight toward Cedrick. ¡°Mr. Jenson, I insist on a proper conclusion to this matter. Charles has stolen the key, snuck to the top floor, and went into my mother¡¯s room. He¡¯s the biggest suspect right now, and I want to interrogate him personally.¡± Cedrick turned to look straight into Craig¡¯s bloodshot and angry eyes for a while. In the meantime, Nico lowered his head to conceal the wrath in his own eyes. If Craig had his way and interrogated Charles, thetter would suffer torture worse than living hell in no time. As a matter of fact, Charles might end up crippled. ¡°Mr. Jenson, you suspended me when you suspected that I locked Jennifer up. I had to wait at home while the investigation went on, but it¡¯s been a week since then, and I haven¡¯t heard of any progress. Don¡¯t you think that I should return to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to deal with my mother¡¯s matter first?¡± Cedrick scoffed. ¡°Who are you going to deal with?¡± ¡°The ck sheep of the Newton family, Charles Newton.¡± Craig¡¯s gaze was vicious as he hissed, ¡°Don¡¯t you hate him too, Mr. Jenson? He has to be punished for this, his illegal departure from the country, Nico¡¯s biting incident, and obstruction of justice. I want Charles ruined even if I can¡¯t have him dead!¡± By the end of his speech, he was gritting out every single word as he stared right at Cedrick, not at all afraid. The two red at each other for a minute as sparks began to fly between their eyes. Finally, Cedrick averted his gaze to look at Nico, Knowing what Cedrick meant, Nico took out Craig¡¯s arrest warrant. ¡°My apologies, Mr. Newton, but Charles has imed that you¡¯re imprisoning your sister and mother and controlling them with drugs. Moreover, you tried to poison Mr. Jenson. So, Mr. Newton, you¡¯re now a suspect too. You don¡¯t have the right to interrogate another suspect. Pleasee with us to the interrogation room where Charles is detained as well. Mr. Jenson will be looking into both of your cases.¡± Chapter 500 Chapter 500 Craig¡¯s face clouded over as he stared at the arrest warrant. ¡°Where¡¯s your evidence?¡± Nico was well-prepared for a situation like that. When he heard that demand, he handed over the comprehensive pile of evidence, Craig took it and scrutinized every piece of evidence. Soon, he regained hisposure. ¡°Mr. Jenson, ording to the evidence, Charles Newton is the one using me of using drugs. He¡¯s also used me of attacking my imprisoned mother, drugging you, including the act of handing you the poison and the unknown serum. He¡¯s been leaving the country illegally over the past year. Perhaps he¡¯s been bringing in illegal things from other countries. If it was he who murdered my mother, then all of his statements cannot be taken as evidence. There¡¯s a possibility that he nned all of this,¡± argued Craig. His eyes zed with anger, and his aura was imposing, ¡°So, don¡¯t you think you should investigate Charles first?¡± Cedrick was unfazed. ¡°Of course, he should be investigated, but Charles hasn¡¯t been convicted yet. Hence, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will treat every statement fairly. You¡¯ll be treated equally as a suspect, even if you¡¯re a deputy director.¡± Shooting Nico a look, Cedrick ordered, ¡°Take the suspect away.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nico took out the cuffs and walked over to Craig, who remained still with an icy gaze. Immediately, Karl summoned the bodyguards to stand in front of Craig, blocking Nico off. Nico questioned, ¡°What are you doing, Craig? I am sure you know that resisting an arrest and obstructing. official duties is a serious crime. You¡¯re a deputy director. Shouldn¡¯t you lead by example?¡± Still, Craig kept his silence. That was when Karl tactfully stepped forward to exin, ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Nico, Mr. Craig has just lost his mother. Could you give him some time to settle Mrs. Newton¡¯s funeral before taking him away for investigation?¡± The expressionless Cedrick voiced, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Mrs. Newton¡¯s death was unnatural. The most important thing to do now is to let someone look into the cause as soon as possible so the Newton family could be given an exnation.¡± His tone was stern, and it left no room for negotiation. At that, Nico moved his hand to the miniature walkie-talkie in the shape of a military uniform button and said softly. ¡°Come here. Mr. Newton refuses to leave. So, we need you guys to take him to the interrogation room.¡± It took less than two minutes for Neville and Swain to arrive at the Newton residence with two troops. The two groups of men marched in with such an intimidating aura that even the ground shook. All of a sudden, the bodyguards shielding Craig seemed weak and powerless. With an arrogant snort, Nico asked, ¡°Are you sure you want to refuse getting investigated? You know what Mr. Jenson¡¯s temper is like. Once he snaps, you¡¯ll be brought over, even if it means tying you up. That¡¯ll be Craig¡¯s expression grew stern, and his fists concealed by the long sleeves were clenched so tightly that the veins bulged. However, he quickly calmed himself and told the bodyguards to make way. Taking two steps forward, he held his hands out to Nico and said to Cedrick, ¡°Please get to the bottom of this as soon as possible so I can bury my mother.¡± A confident smirk yed on Cedrick¡¯s lips. ¡°Of course) With that, Cedrick strode over and took the electronic cuffs from Nico to ce them over Craig¡¯s wrists. That showed how seriously the former took the deputy director. ¡°Take him away.¡± As soon as Cedrick gave the order in an authoritative tone, both Nico and Neville shoved Craig into the armed vehicle. ¡°Mr. Newton¡­¡± Karl called out in concern as he watched the troops leave. In the next second, he went back into the vi and gathered all the housekeepers and bodyguards in the backyard. few ¡°Mr. Newton¡¯s been taken to the interrogation room for questioning, but he should be returning in days since he¡¯s a deputy director. Please be careful with how you answer the questions asked by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You¡¯ll be done for once you slip up, and even the heavens won¡¯t be able to help you. Do you understand?¡± The housekeepers and the bodyguards nodded fervently in fear. Soon, Craig was locked up in an interrogation room which was two doors next to Charles. After dropping Craig off at his room, both Cedrick and Nico paid Charles a visit. When the heavy door was pushed open, they were greeted by the sight of Charles sitting cross-legged on. the warm mattress. His sleeves were rolled up as he applied the medicine to the cane marks on his hand. Scabby, bloody scars ovepped the old scars on his muscr arm, turning the once good-looking arm into a horrifying sight. Charles merely looked up halfheartedly when the two walked in, but he never stopped applying the medicine. ¡°Why are you guys here so early? Did you arrest Craig already?¡± Cedrick only gave a hum in response. A suspicious smile tugged at Charles¡¯ lips. ¡°Then what¡¯s with your expressions? You should be caning him. until at least five canes break.¡± The stern expression on Cedrick¡¯s face did not change, and he did not say a word. Taking the silence as his cue, Nico exined. ¡°Mrs. Newton has passed on. Craig has just lost his mother. For humanitarian reasons, now isn¡¯t the time to torture him.¡± Charles¡¯ arm jerked, and he stopped applying the medicine. ¡°He lost his mother? What happened?¡± Both Cedrick and Nico exchanged a knowing look. Finally, Nico sighed and pointed out. ¡°Something happened at the Newton residence. Mrs. Newton was found dead in her room this morning. Possibilities of suicide and natural death were ruled out. Craig suspects it was you who poisoned her when you stole the keys to go to the top floor.¡± Charles scoffed lightly. ¡°Hah! A pot calling a kettle ck. Looks like he knows he was going to get exposed and decided to get me involved.¡± Nico mocked casually, ¡°Oh, he has no ns to die yet. Well, he tried to wipe out all the evidence I collected today.¡± Meanwhile, Cedrick leaned against the back of the chair silently, his expression solemn. Charles snickered and shook his head before turning to Cedrick. ¡°Do you believe his words?¡± Cedrick looked up coldly to meet the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°I believe in the evidence. I won¡¯t be biased, nor will I let you bear the consequences of something you didn¡¯t do.¡± ¡°Okay. That¡¯s all I need to know. I¡¯ll never feel guilty for something I never did.¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. With that, the trio continued chatting for a little while! That included Charles recounting the details of what happened that night at the wee party to Cedrick. Several minutester, Cedrick exited the interrogation room and got into the vehicle owned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Nico stared at Cedrick, the suspicion in his eyes apparent. ¡°Cedrick, do you really believe Charles¡¯ words.¡± There was an unfathomable gaze in Cedrick¡¯s eyes as he asked, ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± After mulling it over, Nico exined his inferences. ¡°I believe Charles has nothing much to do with Mrs. Newton¡¯s death. There¡¯s no need for him to do such a thing, but I find it suspicious that he¡¯s willing to help you and Gwendolyn steal the serum from the Newton residence. He contributed a lot this time and was tortured by Craig because of this. Yet, he never asked you for anything in return. That¡¯s what I find weird. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s hiding something.¡± The corners of Cedrick¡¯s lips tugged into a smile. After all, Nico shared his thoughts. Cedrick then turned to look at the constantly changing scenery outside the window, and said casually, ¡°One must acquire either authority or women. He¡¯s considered an outstanding man in Chanaca. There¡¯s no way an arrogant man like him would willingly stay in a mountain vige to be a teacher. I¡¯m guessing he came back this time to set the Newton family up.¡± Chapter 501 Chapter 501 Nico listened attentively, thinking that Cedrick¡¯s analysis sounded valid. He asked ¡°Cedrick, if he genuinely wants the Newton Residence, would you assist him?¡± A grim look flitted past Cedrick¡¯s eyes. He remained silent, neither confirming his assistance nor explicitly refusing it. Having been with Cedrick for quite some time, Nico understood what he meant and refrained from asking further. When they returned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cedrick promptly instructed Nico to investigate Caylie¡¯s death. Nico meticulously interrogated every housekeeper and bodyguard in the Newton residence. However, the investigation thatsted half a day yielded no substantial results. Caylie¡¯s autopsy results were also out, revealing that she had taken an unknown drug. Examining the results carefully, Nico asked the forensic examiner, ¡°Can you check which drug responsible for her asphyxiation? Can you also find out when she took it?¡± Was Shaking his head, the forensic examiner replied, ¡°We didn¡¯t find any undissolved residues in Mrs. Newton¡¯s body, so we can¡¯t identify it. We only inferred that she took an unknown substance because we found traces of her being poisoned. However, I think that it isn¡¯t a legal substance obtained from overseas. Regarding when she consumed it, I can¡¯t give a specific time because I don¡¯t know what substance she took. Some drugs have an incubation period, making it entirely usible for the victim to die only a few dayster.¡± Nico fell into contemtive silence. In that case, Charles remained under suspicion as he might still be present during the time of the crime. Should Craig insist that Charles had stolen the key and gone to the top floor during the wee party, it would be hard to defend Charles. Lost in thought, Nico returned to Cedrick¡¯s office and reported the forensic findings to him. Cedrick¡¯s countenance grew grave. ¡°Summon everyone in the Newton residence for a second round of questioning. This time, I will interrogate them personally.¡± Throughout the afternoon, each servant was individually escorted into the interrogation room at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cedrick asked, ¡°How¡¯s the rtionship between Charles and Mrs. Newton?¡± He repeated this question with every individual interrogated. The gardener responded, ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure. I¡¯ve only been working at the Newton residence for a rtively short time. It¡¯s only been two years. During that time, Mr. Charles was busy with the Central Intelligence Agency and rarely came back home. It was only recently that he returned to the Newton residence. However, I don¡¯t know how his rtionship with Mrs. Newton is. Since his return, he has never mentioned her nor asked Mr. Craig if he could visit her.¡± A housekeeper who had worked at the Newton residence for fifteen years said. ¡°Their rtionship was quite troubled. Mrs. Newton really hates Mr. Charles because he isn¡¯t her biological son. He got scolded by her quite a few times when he was a child. Perhaps, he killed her out of resentment.¡± Those who had spent a significant amount of time at the Newton residence shared simr ounts. They shared about how Charles had been mistreated by Caylie during his childhood. Due to Charles history ofpeting for power, being disciplined by Craig twice, and doing bad deeds, they all believed that Charles had poisoned Caylic. The interrogationsted the entire afternoon. Soon, it was time to end work. All the evidence and witness ounts were disadvantageous to Charles. Feeling frustrated, he reached for a cigarette, only to be reminded of Gwendolyn¡¯s strict no-smoking policy. The two little kids at home must not even catch a whiff of smoke. If he got discovered, he would be doomed. Hence, he passed the cigarette to Nico, who retreated to a corner of the interrogation room to smoke. Thest to be interrogated was Lucas. As he was working at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he could be summoned over quickly. Hence, he was put to thest. As usual, Cedrick asked, ¡°How¡¯s Charles¡¯ rtionship with your mom?¡± Lucas¡¯ eyes reddened at the mention of his mother. After recollecting himself, he said, ¡°Really bad. When we were young, she¡¯d find excuses to hit Charles whenever Dad was not around. Charles hates my mom¡­¡± His ount was simr to what the other housekeepers at the Newton residence said. Cedrick massaged his temples, looking slightly exhausted. Lucas continued, ¡°Ever since my mother stopped going downstairs as frequently, she barely interacted with Charles. Although he dislikes my mom, he doesn¡¯t hate her to the point where he¡¯d poison her. Moreover, if he truly had a toxic substance, it¡¯s more likely that he¡¯ll inject it into Craig.¡± Intrigued, Cedrick abruptly widened his eyes. He raised his head at the same time as Nico and stared at Lucas. ¡°You are the only person I have encountered today speaking up for Charles.¡± Feeling slightly awkward, Lucas rified, ¡°I¡¯m not speaking up for him. I¡¯m merely speaking the truth as I know it. If he wants to kill my mom, he¡¯ll have to steal the key to the top floor and risk being discovered by Craig. The security on the top floor is very strict, so barely anyone can ess it. If he did that, he¡¯d just be giving himself away. The costs of doing that are simply too high.¡± Having been on many missions with Jasper, he became much more logical and critical. Cedrick smiled. ¡°You sound convincing. In that case, who do you think killed your mom?¡± Lucas bowed his head and fell silent. After thinking for a long time, he finally replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Although I think that Craig¡¯s been acting strangely recently, he can¡¯t possibly do something like that.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Snulling out his cigarette, Nico stepped forward and interjected. ¡°Nothing is impossible. People¡¯s hearts are moreplex than we imagine. Some individuals can be consumed by the pursuit of power. losing themselves along the way. We never know when we¡¯ll be betrayed by those closest to us. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has dealt with many simr cases, as you probably already know.¡± Lucas didn¡¯t rebuke. Instead, he fell silent. He couldn¡¯t help but recall Craig instructing the servants to bury everything on the top floor the previous night. He had taken away that mysterious ss tube¡­ Caylie ended up dead in the middle of that night. However, Lucas did not say anything. He kept his head bowed with a conflicted look. Soon, it was the end of the work day. Noticing that something was weighing on Lucas¡¯ mind, Cedrick suggested thoughtfully, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte today. Take some time to think it over. If youe across any other leads, feel free to inform me anytime.¡± Lucas hesitated and asked, ¡°Mr. Jenson, what crimes would Craig be guilty of if he¡¯s really the culprit?¡± Cedrick straightened his uniform and responded coldly. ¡°We¡¯ll handle it ording to thew. If he¡¯s really the culprit, he no longer deserves to be called a decent human being, having done something so atrocious for his personal gains. Whatever punishment awaits him, he¡¯d have brought it upon himself.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± replied Lucas, lowering his head and regaining a calm expression. He stopped speaking. Despite his resentment towards Craig for sending him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and subjecting him to such torment, Craig was still his brother. The Newton family had also thrived under Craig¡¯s leadership. Lucas couldn¡¯t bring himself to use Craig. Observing the subtle change in Lucas¡¯ expression, Cedrick emphasized sternly, ¡°Lucas, failing to report what you know makes you an aplice. Even if Craig is the culprit, the victim is still your mother. The suspect being locked up and interrogated is your brother too. Everyone involved is part of your family. Consider it carefully.¡± Lucas¡¯s gaze flickered. He nervously tightened his grip on his pants before nodding. Cedrick did not remain there either. He turned around and left the interrogation room with Nico silently trailing behind. Once they were inside the car heading toward the Jenson residence, Cedrick instructed, ¡°Keep a close eye on Lucas. I have a feeling that he knows something. Perhaps he will be the breakthrough.¡± Chapter 502 Chapter 502 ¡°Understood. Don¡¯t worry, Cedrick.¡± After returning together to the Jenson residence, they parted ways in the back alleys. Nico made his way back to his own vi. Summer had probably prepared dinner already and was waiting for him to return home. Cedrick returned to Harrick Vi. He had already made it a habit to prepare a warm meal before Gwendolyn arrived home, so they could enjoy it together. Gwendolyn was busy managing matters at Harris Group and helping Treyton care for Jennifer. Knowing the specific poison that Jennifer had sumbed to, theboratory could tailor the treatment more effectively. However, the healing process would be lengthy since it was a neural condition. Gwendolyn returned home half an hourter. Cedrick, who was mindful of the time, had just ced the final dish on the table. The couple enjoyed dinner together happily. -Before bedtime, Cedrick went to the bathroom for a shower. When Gwendolyn noticed his shirt that was carelessly tossed in the corner of the bed, she walked over to ce it in theundry basket for him. However, as she picked up the shirt, a faint and unfamiliar scent wafted into her nostrils. It was the smell of cigarette. She was a non-smoker. For her children¡¯s health, she had explicitly forbidden Cedrick from smoking. Hence, she was very sensitive to the smell of cigarettes. Did Cedrick smoke behind my back today? The sound of water in the bathroom eased. Cedrick emerged from the bathroom with a white towel draped around his waist. He raised his muscr arms and gently wiped his hair as he walked out. The atmosphere in the bedroom was extremely chilly. Confused, he turned around and found Gwendolyn seated on the edge of the bed. Grasping the shirt that he had just taken off, she sat there in silent fury. ¡°Darling?¡± he called out cautiously. Gwendolyn lifted the shirt with her fingers and demanded, ¡°Care to exin this?¡± Cedrick remained puzzled. ¡°Exin what?¡± ¡°Still putting up an act, huh? Are you lying to me?¡± She spun around and grabbed the ruler on the bedside table. It had been ages since shest used it. As she held it in her palm, she noticed that it was quite heavy. Punishment For Breaking The Family Rules. Cedrick¡¯s breath hitched. She even took out the ruler. What did I do wrong? Left with no time to think, he flung the towel onto the table and strode toward Gwendolyn. He unwrapped the towel that was tied tightly around his waist and knelt on the bed, naked. A chillgust of air brushed against him, causing a slight shiver. Feeling a tinge of embarrassment, he hastily covered himself with the towel again. A sincere look crossed his face. ¡°Darling. I¡¯ve been good the entire day. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, nor did I lie to you. Don¡¯t frame me for something I didn¡¯t do!¡± Gwendolyn sat cross-legged on the bed in front of him. She pointed at his arm, gesturing for him to extend it. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything wrong with my sense of smell. I¡¯m not framing you. If you can¡¯t remember, let the pain jog your memory.¡± Trying his best to understand what she was trying to say, Cedrick stretched out his arm slowly. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes zed with anger as she brandished the ruler. Before it descended, Cedrick swiftly retracted his hand. ¡°I remember now. Are you saying that you smell cigarette smoke on me?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a scornful smirk. ¡°It seems like your mind is still functional. Your fear of the punishment is making you think quickly.¡± Cedrick furrowed his brow, feeling wronged. ¡°Darling, 1 felt really frustrated from the investigation today. so I lit a cigarette out of habit. However, I didn¡¯t even take a single puff. I passed it to Nico and instructed him to smoke in a corner. Perhaps, the smell of smoke clung to me because we were in the same room. Trust me, Darling. I¡¯m not lying to you.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s stern countenance remained unyielding. She was quick to detect the loophole in his exnation. ¡°So, you willingly lit the cigarette. However, your conscience kicked in at the most critical moment. Afraid that I¡¯ll find out, you gave the cigarette to Nico, right?¡± Cedrick was at a loss for words. So this is the notorious reasoning that women have! He frowned even further as a wave of indignance swept over him. He stretched his hands out toward her sulkily. ¡°Well, if you think that I¡¯m wrong, punish me harshly. In fact, just break my hands so that I can¡¯t even hold a pen or a fork. That way, everyone in the Federal Bureau of Investigation would find out tomorrow that I¡¯ve been punished.¡± you Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow. She used the end of the ruler to lift his sharp chin. ¡°It looks like aren¡¯t even apologetic. How dare you threaten me?¡± After learning the truth, she had only intended to tease him, not actually punish him. She did not expect him to take it seriously. Cedrick suppressed the gloomy look in his eyes. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to do that. If my wife says I¡¯m wrong, then I am truly wrong.¡± Punishment For Breaking The Family Rules She stifled augh, her gaze shifting from his handsome face to his body covered beneath the towel. Mischievous thoughts started brewing in her mind as the used the ruler to flick the towel away. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Why cover up? I¡¯ve seen every inch of your body¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze, his face slightly flushed. As he had just finished showering, he waspletely naked. Now that she was staring at him unabashedly while being fully clothed, he felt a bit embarrassed. Usually, he was the one seducing her. Since it was rare for Gwendolyn to witness him feeling so shy, a teasing look appeared in her eyes. She raised the ruler. With a soft smack, a faint pink mark surfaced on Cedrick¡¯s thigh. She poked it with the ruler and smirked yfully. ¡°How does it feel? Enjoyable?¡± Judging from her expression and tone, Cedrick knew that she wasn¡¯t angry. He repliedpliantly. ¡°Since it¡¯s a gift from my wife, I¡¯m naturally happy.¡± Gwendolyn smiled and tossed the ruler back onto the bedside table. Seeing that she had put it aside, Cedrick was about to retract his hand when Gwendolyn reacted swiftly. She quickly tied his hands together with his shirt and pushed him down. She pounced on him, her eyes gleaming with a cunning look. It was as if she was looking at disobedient. prey. She pinned his hands over his head and held his chin. ¡°Since you¡¯ve vited the family rules and been so disobedient, you deserve to be punished.¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°I agree.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled lightly and continued, ¡°Well, I see that you¡¯vee to your senses and corrected yourself in time. Nevertheless, I¡¯ll give you the harshest punishment tonight!¡± Cedrick sighed silently and looked down in resignation. ¡°I ept it.¡± She suppressed herughter. ¡°Good. Since you¡¯re being obedient, I¡¯ll be forceful with you tonight. I want to be on top. Cedrick woke up the next day feeling refreshed and invigorated, relishing the previous night. He nced at Gwendolyn, who was still asleep and exhausted. He bent down carefully and kissed her forehead. After savoring the sweet kiss, he quickly got out of bed and freshened up. Then, he changed his clothes. and left Harrick Vi. Nico, making an effort to keep up with his pace, arrived at the Jenson residence¡¯s garage at the same time as him. Punishment For Breaking The Family Rules. Once Cedrick was inside the car, the look in his eyes resumed their normal coldness and sternness. ¡°To the Newton residence.¡± After half an hour, the luxurious car finally pulled up at the entrance of the Newton residence. Cedrick was not wearing his military uniform. Instead, he was conducting the investigation in his casual attire. Neville¡¯s well-trained soldiers were standing beside the door orderly, having been waiting there for quite some time. Cedrick strode forward with his gaze fixed ahead. He instructed, ¡°Search every room in the Newton residence. Leave no corner untouched, especially the top floor, Craig¡¯s room, and Charles¡¯ room. ¡°Understood¡±. Without wasting a moment, the team swiftly entered the Newton mansion and started searching carefully. Nico, still feeling worried, decided to join the search on the top floor. Following Nico¡¯s instructions, Karl gathered all the housekeepers and guards in the garden so that they would not disrupt the investigation. After an intense search thatsted for over ten minutes, Nico returned ahead of the others. He approached Cedrick with a solemn expression. Leaning in close, he whispered, ¡°Cedrick, we can¡¯t even find a single suspicious iron chain or shackle on the top floor. It looks like Craig had already cleaned up the scene beforehand. I¡¯m afraid we might have to go back without finding out anything. There isn¡¯t any progress.¡± Chapter 503 Chapter 503 Cedrick¡¯s gaze darkened, staying silent as he patiently waited for Team Seven to finish their search and report back to him. ¡°Mr. Jenson, we didn¡¯t find anything worth mentioning in Mr. Craig¡¯s room.¡± ¡°Nothing in the attic too, Mr. Jenson.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson¡­¡± Cedrick quietly listened to all the team members report their findings. His gaze discreetly darted toward the housekeepers, bodyguards, and the butler gathered in the garden. Karl¡¯s expression was the calmest when he listened to the reports by Team Seven, as though it was within his expectation. Cedrick narrowed his cold gaze and ordered tentatively, ¡°Search the backyard and garden again. Don¡¯t miss out even on the smallest detail.¡± Karl inconspicuously lowered his head and clenched his fists. Thinking about the backyard, he instinctively tightened his balls of fists. Cedrick keenly caught Karl¡¯s out-of-the-ordinary reaction. Saying nothing, the former merely led Nico and Neville to conduct another search of the garden and backyard. Karl wasposed when the team searched the garden. Cedrick immediately headed toward the backyard and ordered, ¡°Everyone thoroughly search the backyard!¡± Karl¡¯s fists tightened at Cedrick¡¯s order, and he silently followed thetter to the backyard. Nico discovered some pieces of shattered ss underneath a flower pot in the backyard. Putting on rubber gloves, he picked up the ss bits and brought them to Cedrick. ¡°Check this out, Cedrick.¡± Before long, others started finding ss pieces at a few more inconspicuous thickets. Karl, who stood quietly by the wall, swallowed the knot in his throat nervously as he recalled ordering the bodyguards to smash the ss tubes swiftly. He didn¡¯t notice where the ss pieces fell and forgot to bury them from sight, for he was in a hurry. Cedrick gathered all the ss bits and felt the simrity in their texture. Plus, none of the ss had dust or soil stain, proving they were broken recently. Lifting his cold gaze to Karl, he interrogated, ¡°Why are there so many ss bits in the backyard? Did something happen at the Newton residence two days ago?¡± Karl¡¯s lips curved into a smile as he replied respectfully, ¡°Two days ago, a housekeeper broke a ss. I was shocked to see the remnants here instead of the trash bin. She was probablyzy and dumped them in the thickets here. I apologize, Mr. Jenson. It was my mismanagement.¡± Cedrick picked up the ss pieces with his ck leather-gloved hand. The ss was too thin to be a ss. Despite knowing that, he didn¡¯t refute and had Nico bag the ss pieces, then took them back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Before leaving, he looked over his shoulder and fixed his sharp gaze on Karl. ¡°Neville, bring Karl with us. Take him to the interrogation room and bring him a cup of coffee. I¡¯ll interrogate him myself.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± Karl was stunned. ¡°Mr. Jenson, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong! Why are you taking me to the interrogation room?¡± Neville walked over to Karl and cuffed his wrists. ¡°We treat a cover-up and failure to report a crime as simr offenses. You¡¯ll be charged for it, Karl. Mr. Jenson has been settlingwsuits for years, and no one can y tricks under his nose. You¡¯re invited for a day trip to the interrogation room of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± All colors drained from Karl¡¯s face. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t go to the Harris Group in the afternoon because Treyton wanted to take Jennifer to theboratory for her physiotherapy session, and she wanted to be there for thetter. After being on IV drop the whole day the day before and receiving a few shots of the special drug, Jennifer¡¯s condition improved slightly. She didn¡¯t suffer from any manic episodes, but her mental state wasn¡¯t well. She didn¡¯t recognize anybody and ignored everyone. Craig was the only name she reacted to. Kissing the back of her hand was the only way to calm the uneasiness within Treyton. Gwendolyn watched silently from the side, sighing internally. As a spectator watching them, she could only provide limited support, especially when it involved Treyton¡¯s and Jennifer¡¯s feelings. Joshua came over and injected two more shots of premeasured treatment serum into Jennifer. The medication had a sedative effect. Shortly after, Jennifer quietly rested while Gwendolyn stood by Treyton¡¯s side and watched over her. Jennifer was the only one in Treyton¡¯s sight for the past few days. He didn¡¯t ask any questions, as if he was shutting everything out of his bubble. Until that day, he questioned, ¡°How¡¯s it going with Craig?¡± Gwendolyn answered truthfully, ¡°Something terrible had happened within the Newton family. Caylie died. in an ident. Cedrick and Nico are investigating the matter. Craig insisted Charles was the one behind it. His im about Charles being the mastermind had overthrown all the concrete evidence we had against him. Cedrick is holding him in an interrogation room while searching for solid evidence to prosecute him.¡± Gloom marred Treyton¡¯s countenance. His fingers gently stroked the back of Jennifer¡¯s hand as he asked. ¡°Is there a possibility that he¡¯ll get all his charges dropped and walk out freely while Charles gets convicted. with all of it?¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t even consider that possibility ¡°Impossible. Charles had suffered a lot to help us search for evidence this time, so Cedrick and I won¡¯t let him be wrongly used.¡± Treyton agreed, ¡°Yeah, Charles must have had it rough for Jennifer¡¯s and my sake. Craig is a cruel b*stard.¡± He gritted his teeth in anger. Jennifer, who was asleep, suddenly frowned and withdrew her hand from Treyton¡¯s hands. With dry, chapped lips, she murmured, ¡°Craig, it¡¯s m-my. He voice was soft nearly a whisper. Treyton leaned closer, nearly touching her lips, and asked gently. ¡°What did you say, Jennifer? What about Craig?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Gwendolyn inched closer too. ¡°Jennifer, what did Craig do to you?¡± Jennifer struggled uneasily and continued to mutter, ¡°Engagement with Remus¡­ Must listen to Craig. She only said a few words, but the information in those words was crucial. They might prove Craig had hypnotized Jennifer before. Gwendolyn and Treyton exchanged a nce. They thought of the same thing. Gwendolyn hurriedly left the room and called Cedrick, asking him to send a professional neurologist from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When she hung up the phone, her fingers grasped the phone tightly as hope rose within her. This is good news. Everything is heading in a good direction. Now, all we can do is try. Lucas sat in a small office at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Since he didn¡¯t need to run any mission with Jasper and Cedrick had put all his current mission on hold, he nned to rest in his office for the whole day. Suddenly, he recalled Craig¡¯s urgency to have the staff destroy everything in the attic. Pulling the bottommost drawer open, he reached deep into it and took out a tiny ss tube. It was something he secretly snuck out from the attic. He stored the item with extreme care. There was even a drop of transparent liquid inside. I think many of these ss tubes were destroyed in the backyard of the Newton residence that day. Did Craig really do something illegal? The way he exploited and oppressed me a while ago, will he continue ordering me like ackey when he¡¯s released from the interrogation room scot-free? His conscience warred as he stared at the ss tube in his hand. Knock! Knock! A knock rapped against the door, startling him into nearly dropping the ss tube. He hid the ss tube back in his drawer once he calmed his nerves and asked casually, ¡°Who is it?¡± The person at the door knocked again. ¡°It¡¯s Nico, the leader of Team Four of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Chapter 504 Chapter 504 Cedrick was skimming through every witness¡¯ recent statements in his office at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jasper knocked at the door and entered the room. He stood at the empty spot in front of Cedrick¡¯s desk. ¡°Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t even lift his head. His gaze was still focused on the statement report in his hands. ¡°Yes?¡± he questioned. With his hands sped behind his back, Jasper advised, ¡°You¡¯ve kept Mr. Craig in the interrogation room for two days, Mr. Jenson. He¡¯s still the deputy director, after all. With his mother¡¯s recent ident-¡± ¡°Quit spouting nonsense.¡± Cedrick shot Jasper an impatient nce and warned, ¡°If you don¡¯t exin why you¡¯re here in five sentences, be prepared for a super-intensive training session at my office for the entire evening.¡± Jasper¡¯s body stiffened at the threat. He recalled the torture he¡¯d been through thest time Cedrick made him stay back at his office. Knowing he still needed to carry Craig back to the Newton residence on his back, he knew he couldn¡¯t risk at training session at that point. I can¡¯t take another minute of that kind of torture. He opened his palm, ready to count the number of sentences. Just as he opened his mouth, Cedrick coldly reminded. ¡°You¡¯ve already wasted four sentences earlier, so this is your final chance.¡± Jasper was shocked. When did I say four sentences? I remember it was three sentences and a pause. Wait. Did he count the pause as one sentence? Aware of Cedrick¡¯s tenacity, he didn¡¯t dare to refute and get straight to his point. ¡°With the passing within Mr. Craig¡¯s family, he¡¯ll need to be released to handle the funeral proceedings if you can¡¯t prove his involvement in the case within three days ording to the rules and regtions since he is a civil servant.¡± He expressed the entire paragraph in one breath, not daring to pause for even a second. When he finished, he finally got to exhale a deep breath. Cedrick coolly lifted his gaze to Jasper and smirked. ¡°He had only been detained for two days, and we didn¡¯t even rough him up for a confession. Yet he¡¯s already losing his patience.¡± Jasper refuted, ¡°But Mr. Jenson, Mr. Craig-¡± ¡°Get out. Tell Craig if there¡¯s no progress in the case before we get off work today, I¡¯ll let him walk out of the room to handle his mother¡¯s funeral proceedings.¡± ¡°All right. Thank you for your consideration, Mr. Jenson.¡± Jasper bowed respectfully, turned around, and walked out of Cedrick¡¯s office. The minute he stepped out of the room, Nico came in. Cedrick resumed reviewing the statement report. He caught Nico¡¯s entrance from the corner of his eye but didn¡¯t tear his gaze from the paper. Nico stopped in front of Cedrick¡¯s desk and stretched his arm out with something in hand. Only then did Cedrick set down the report and nced up. It was an intact transparent ss tube, He reached for the tube and studied it in detail before meeting Nico¡¯s gaze. With a silly smile as though fishing for praise, Nico said, ¡°Cedrick, I managed to get the information out of Lucas.¡± Cedrick stared intently at him. ¡°That was quick. What did you tell him?¡± The corner of Nico¡¯s lips curled into a mysterious smile. ¡°Make him empathize with emotions and knock some sense into him with proper reasoning. I checked everything he did as ofte and found he had bad blood with Craig, despite being biological brothers. A couple of instigations from me, and he spilled the beans. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Cedrick usually didn¡¯t joke orugh during work, but a rare, gratified smile yed on his lips at that moment. ¡°You did good. Tell me the details.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Cedrick.¡± Nico¡¯s delight intensified at the praise he received. Clearing his throat, he narrated, ¡°Lucas imed he noticed Karl had led every household staff, including. the bodyguards, to bury something in the backyard. This was the day after the wee party. Feeling dubious, he¡­¡± Cedrick listened carefully as he fiddled with his watch. When Nico finished, Cedrick smiled coldly. ¡°Since someone is losing his patience in the interrogation room, let¡¯s settle all these dreadful matters by today. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll have to wait until his next life if he¡¯s hoping to be released without charge.¡± Straightening the cor of his uniform, he got up from his chair and headed out the door with a keen gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s give Karl a visit.¡± It was Karl¡¯s first time being brought into an interrogation room with a cuff around his wrists. Cedrick said he would be interrogating Karl himself, but the former didn¡¯t show up for the entire afternoon after throwing Karl into the interrogation room. Within the dark room, only a dim light shone down from overhead. The walls were painted pitch ck. The entire room was dead silent as he was the only upant. Due to the dim glow, the pressure Karl was feeling was tremendous. He sweated bullets as he waited in the room. His mental state began to weaken under the immense pressure. He had no idea when his torture woulde to an end. Suddenly, the metal door to the room swung open. Cedrick casually walked in, took a seat at the table, and stared at Karl from a close distance. Karl asked in trepidation, ¡°Why did you detain me, Mr. Jenson? I don¡¯t know anything.¡± Cedrick looked at him with amusement. ¡°Everyone who came in here said the same thing. They imed to know nothing, yet would choose to confess in the end when they broke under pressure. I¡¯ll let you choose. Do you want toe clean or go through the formal process?¡± Karl¡¯s body stiffened at the subtle threat. His legs began to shake like a leaf. He tried his best to keep calm. Mr. Craig says Cedrick is a cunning fellow. Thetter will employ all kinds of psychological tactics once he has a suspicion in mind. I can¡¯t trust even a single word out of his mouth. ¡°Ask anything you want, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯ll answer you truthfully and won¡¯t hide anything from you.¡± ¡°Perfect! You promised to speak the truth. Thew won¡¯t be so kind to you if you change your statementter.¡± His tone sounded casual, but his deep voice was twined with threat. Karl swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. Nico sat beside Cedrick with aptop in front of him. His fingers tapped on the keyboard nimbly as he recorded Karl¡¯s statement. Cedrick dived right into it. ¡°We¡¯ve already tested the ss pieces found in the backyard. They¡¯re brand new since no dust was found on them. The day after the wee party, were the housekeepers of the Newton residence instructed to do something?¡± Karl was taken aback. Sweat began sliding down his face. ¡°Why do you ask that, Mr. Jenson?¡± Cedrick caressed his watch and questioned, ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who knows the truth in the Newton residence. In the room next door, someone already confessed. Are you still nning to hide the truth?¡± Karl curled his fists into balls. ¡°Who is it? Which b¡¯stard dares to spew bellsh*t after the Newton family employed them? How dare that son of a b*tch use Mr. Craig!¡± Cedrick raised his brow impassively. ¡°Did I even mention Craig?¡± Karl fell silent. Cedrick chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re right. He¡¯s the one calling the shots in the Newton family. I¡¯m sure the Newton residence staff had received his order to conduct a clean-up on such arge scale.¡± Karl lowered his head. ¡°You must be joking, Mr. Jenson. Mr. Craig has always been amicable. He usually busied himself with work matters and wouldn¡¯t ask about household affairs. Naturally, he won¡¯t concern himself over the menial matter such as cleaning the vi.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t refute and instead continued borating ording to Karl¡¯s reasoning. ¡°That¡¯s right, so he left the authority of those tasks to you and dragged you into this mess.¡± Karl was baffled ¡°What?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯ve aided Craig plenty of times, so you¡¯ll be convicted with the same charges he¡¯ll get if you don¡¯te clean. He has a lot of charges at the moment. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to consider ¡°I-I truly don¡¯t know anything. Please investigate thoroughly. I really have nothing to do with it.¡± Cedrick was done wasting his breath with him, so he took out an intact ss tube with only a drop of transparent liquid at the bottom. When Karl recognized the tube, his eyes widened with horror. Cedrick caught the dread on his face and took out another ss tube filled with transparent liquid. It was the tube Charles snuck out. ¡°Our professionalboratory staff had made theparison and concluded the liquid from the tube Charles stole from the attic and the one being destroyed in the Newton residence backyard were the one and the same.¡± Karl¡¯s heart sank. At the same time, he began breaking out in a cold sweat. Nico added, ¡°Karl, Mr. Jenson personally interrogated you to give you a chance. We already know the truth. You¡¯ll be charged as an aplice if you stay quiet and spend the rest of your life in prison once we go to court.¡± I will be sentenced to life imprisonment? But I just ordered the staff around. Panic filled Karl at the thought of a life sentence. ¡°I¡¯ll say it! I¡¯ll tell you everything! I have no choice but to obey my employer since I¡¯m hired as the butler. I have absolutely nothing to do with this!¡± Chapter 505 Chapter 505 Cedrick¡¯s dark eyes glinted with the calm of victory assured. He nced at Nico, who was taking notes, and indicated at thetter to record everything meticulously. Nico nodded tactfully. Karl began speaking. ¡°Mr. Craig did imprison Mrs. Newton and Ms. Jennifer. He bought a batch of medicine from the dark web, which are the two vials you¡¯re currently holding. I don¡¯t know what the medicine is called or how it works. All I know is that he imprisoned Mrs. Newton and drugged her to gain control of the Newton family. Because he has the backing of the mighty Smith Group, Mr. Craig managed to usurp the power. He once said that since Old Mr. Abraham brought Mr. Charles back, Mrs. Newton had insisted on being recorded in the family tree and had thus caused mental instability. With a medicinal regime, it would go unnoticed.¡± Nico¡¯s heart filled with rage at those words. He scoffed incredulously. ¡°He kept that well-hidden. Since he stepped into power, nobody noticed over the years. If not for his increasing insolence in trying to do the same thing to Jennifer, the secret of the top floor of the Newton residence might never havee to light.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned dark. He rapped on the table. ¡°Go on,¡± he said coldly. ¡°How did Mrs. Newton¡¯s deathe about?¡± Karl sighed sadly. ¡°I don¡¯t know about this. After the wee party, Mr. Craig ordered me to lead some men to destroy everything suspicious on the top floor. Mrs. Newton had died at night from an ident.¡± Cedrick appeared to be deep in thought. He tugged at the sleeve of his uniform and turned at Nico. ¡°Carry on listening. Record the time and ces carefully. Make sure the notes are organized. Get everybody¡¯s testimony and ce it on my desk.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Nico assented. He rose to leave the office and summoned Neville. ¡°Search the Newton residence again, especially Craig¡¯s bedroom. Do not miss anything suspicious,¡± Cedrick ordered. As soon as Neville left him, his phone rang. The caller ID showed ¡°Darling Wife.¡± Seeing those two words, he picked up immediately without hesitation. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn sounded delighted on the other end. ¡°Jennifer¡¯s psychological evaluation is out, Hubby. There is strong evidence of her being hypnotized. I have put together the evaluator¡¯s result, and I¡¯m currently at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Cedrick was surprised. ¡°You¡¯re hand delivering the evidence?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m guessing the Federal Bureau of Investigation will not simply grant me entry, though.¡± Cedrick went downstairs and ran toward the door. ¡°Stay where you are. I¡¯ming to get you.¡± As he ran, he sniffed his cor for any signs of smoke. When he arrived at the door, the familiar, slender silhouette was pacing. He strode over and swept Gwendolyn into his arms. ¡°You did plentyst night. Why don¡¯t you sleep a little longer instead of delivering the evidence yourself?¡± Gwendolyn exined. ¡°Treyton is watching over Jennifer¡¯s drip at theb, and there¡¯s no point for me being there, so I thought I would help him deliver the evidence. Here, take a look.¡± Cedrick swept a nce over it and smiled. ¡°Great work. In addition to the witnesses and evidence I have on hand, Craig is going to jail for a very long time for his crimes of abduction and illegal hypnosis.¡± Gwendolyn held his cheeks with both hands and nted a sweet kiss on his lips. ¡°Not bad, Hubby!¡± she gushed. Cedrick frowned, not looking too pleased. ¡°Not bad? That¡¯s it?¡± Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows. ¡°What else? You might never let me hear the end of it if I gave you any more praise.¡± Cedrick scoffed, then leaned in close to her car. ¡°It appears that you¡¯re notpletely happy with me, Gwenny. I¡¯ll show you a good time tonight. You¡¯ll give me a live-star rating after seeing what your husband is made of.¡± She chuckled. Her eyes twinkled charmingly. ¡°It¡¯s almost noon,¡± Cedrick said. ¡°Since it¡¯s your first time here at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gwenny, let me show you around my office before sampling the cooking of the Bureau¡¯s chefs.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and allowed him to hold her. It was with this intimate manner the couple entered the building. Making their way to the deserted stairwells, they took advantage of lunch hour for some amorous adventures of their own. That afternoon, Neville returned from his search of the Newton residence. This time, he found something in Craig¡¯s office. Cedrick was looking over the evidence Nico hadpiled when Neville ced a small item wrapped in candy paper on Cedrick¡¯s desk. ¡°I did not find anything suspicious rted to Mrs. Newton¡¯s ident there, but I found something else.¡± Cedrick set down the papers in his hand and took the candy paper-wrapped item for a closer look. He unwrapped it and found a translucent item like a block of sugar. Cedrick¡¯s beady pupils seared with anger as soon as he recognized it. ¡°No wonder he changed so drastically to be that unstable. Turns out he¡¯s been dabbling in this filthy drug.¡± Neville was simrly grave. The temperature in the office seemed to have dropped frighteningly. Half an hourter, Cedrick headed for the secret interrogation room on the outskirts of town alone. Emanating cold hostility, he walked past Charles¡¯ cell and ventured deeper. Creak. The heavy steel door swung open. With both hands tied onto the wooden frame and a grin, Craig looked up slowly at the approaching man. ¡°You look like you¡¯re here to start holding people ountable, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯m guessing you have learned the truth.¡± When Cedrick announced his arrival, he was tied to the board. It is in that Cedrick isn¡¯t going to let me return to deal with the deaths. Instead, he is going to beat me up. Without a word, Cedrick stepped forward. His terrifying aura filled the cell. He swung a fist at Craig¡¯s left cheek so forcefully that thetter¡¯s lip swelled at once. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you took drugs. Spill. When did you start?¡± Craig gave an indifferent chuckle as he cast his mind back. ¡°I think it was the time when I became deputy director. You were strict with me then. For all the difficult missions I¡¯vepleted, you¡¯ve never so much as offered me a word of praise. When I failed, however, I was subjected to harsh punishment. Sometimes: the pressure was so immense that I felt imbnced. In a moment of weakness, I began to dabble. This stuff is potent, too, From the very first hit, I was helplessly hooked.¡± Cedrick grew angrier as the other spoke. He flung the evidence and copies that Nico hadpiled into. Craig¡¯s face. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. ¡°Look at all the crimes you¡¯vemitted. You are the deputy director. Aren¡¯t you guilty?¡± Craig gazed at the scattered sheets of paper on the ground and smiled indifferently. ¡°It¡¯s done. What good will guilt do me? It¡¯s no use feeling remorse. You won¡¯t forgive me, anyway.¡± It was obvious Cedrick was not going to forgive him. Breaking thew he had sworn to uphold was sufficient for Craig to be sentenced heavily. Grabbing Craig by the cor, he demanded, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about Caylie. Did you kill her for the purpose of framing Charles?¡± That was the most heinous offence. Upon conviction, he would either be imprisoned for life or sentenced to death. Chapter 506 Chapter 506 Craig froze. His swollen left cheek seemed to have dampened his air of regality. He bore a striking resemnce to Charles. The feature that separated them was the color of their eyes. Charles¡¯ eyes, piercing blue like sapphires, made him look like a foreign prince. He was handsome with an air of mystery about him. Craig¡¯s eyes, on the other hand, were dark brown. Razor sharp, he looked striking and righteous, However, it was his features that gave one the misleading illusion of impartiality. He cackled instead of answering the question. ¡°I¡¯ve lost. A life sentence in maximum security will drive one mad. I ask you, Cedrick, for a painless end.¡± ¡°Do you want to die so badly?¡± Cedrick relinquished his grip on his sleeve, then produced a wet napkin and wiped his hands with the air of a gentleman who had touched something filthy. That¡¯s not up to you. Matricide is no trivial crime. I will get to the bottom of this even if you refuse to be me anything. If I find out you did it, I will make sure you¡¯ll suffer before you face the firing squad.¡± Craig¡¯s smile froze. ¡°You¡¯ve always been this cruel. Being your deputy all these years, I can¡¯t believe you wouldn¡¯t show me any leniency for all the times I gave everything for you.¡± ¡°Still stubborn. I see.¡± Cedrick scoffed incredulously. ¡°If only you seeded in any of the times when you tried to sabotage me and usurp my position, but you did not. For me to have only punished you for each of those transgressions had been my repayment for what you¡¯ve done for me. I have been lenient with you long enough. Your greed knows no bounds. You just keep taking He waved a hand, and the soldier outside entered with a bucket of water. There were five canes soaking in the bucket. Slick and supple, they were specially prepared for Craig ¡°I will make you pay for every single thing you¡¯ve done. For the key to the top floor of your house, you punished Charles based on your familialws and broke two canes. He asked that five strokes be returned to you. We will start from that.¡± Two more soldiers, d in uniforms, entered. They swiftly untied Craig only to tie his wrists behind his back. As the rope was connected to a hook above his head, Craig was hoisted up with his toes barely touching the ground. The other soldier picked up a cane, raised it high above his head, and brought it down with his full strength. Crack! The canended on his skin with a sickening crack. Craig grimaced slightly as he endured the blow without a sound. Cedrick watched, his dark eyes betraying no emotion. The whooshes of the cane reverberated throughout the interrogation room, one after another, but Craig beganughing maniacally. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°Charles is not as simple as he appears, Mr. Jenson. He has harmed you badly once, and then he helped you. Who knows what the next time will be?¡± Cedrick listened without a word. Impassively, he turned to leave. ¡°Now that I¡¯m deposed, the Newton family is left without a head. Do not under any circumstances help him. Power is like a drug. You¡¯ll never wrench yourself free from it after a taste. Who knows? Charles might even turn out to be another me. I¡¯ll be waiting to witness that. I¡¯m not a good person, and neither is Charles. You will regret it if you help him in securing power over the Newton family.¡± Craig¡¯sughter rang in his ears until he exited the interrogation room. His repeated usations of Charles sounded as if he is determined to drag his brother down with him. After the soundproof metal door mmed shut, the ce fell silent again, devoid of the deranged howls. With his gaze straight ahead, Cedrick walked along the corridor of the interrogation room. When he passed Charles¡¯ cell, he stopped, nced at the door, and walked on instead of entering. Caylie¡¯s death is a difficult case to solve. Even after retrieving the ss tube buried in the backyard of the Newton residence, they could not locate a simr poison. Craig, too, refused to cooperate. He had tried the carrot and then the stick, but to no avail. Craig had given up and only wanted death. Aside from his imprisonment of Caylie and hypnotizing her, Cedrick had enough to charge with his matricide. As those who acted under the influence of hypnosis had no control over their actions, they would only obey the hypnotist¡¯s orders. It did not matter if Caylie had self-administered the poison in the act of suicide or if Craig had done so with the intent to murder. He could not escape the sentence. After gathering all the evidence, Nico handed it to the superiors. It took at least a week to await the verdict. During the interval, the position of deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation would be left vacant. He was voted out of the position of CEO of Newton Group by the board of directors, and the position of the person in charge of the Newton family was also left vacant. Many business owners of enterprises under Newton Group had rushed back from the neighboring districts and abroad as the Newton family was about to face a crisis of a power struggle. With Treyton fanning the mes in regard to Craig and making headlines, thetter would be the most condemned sinner on the inte. Creak. The steel doors to the secret interrogation room swung open. d in threadbare clothing, Charles emerged slowly. As they were in the countryside, the warm sunlight streamed through the trees and fell onto him. He reached out his hand to catch the dots of light. His piercing blue eyes seemed to be filled with stars and seas, vast and deep. Nico folded his arms with an indifferent air. Upon seeing the man still smiling as if he knew something the other did not, he could not help teasing. ¡°Mr. Jenson is still on it. You¡¯ve only been in here for several days, Charles. Why do you look as if you haven¡¯t seen the sun all year?¡± Charles nodded, ¡°I have been in here only for a few days, but every day felt unbearably long for the fear 1 lived in. Now that the issue with Craig ising to an end, I feel much better.¡± ¡°You do sound sincere.¡± Nico walked over, ruffled through his pocket, and produced a pack of expensive cigarettes. ¡°Would you like one? I don¡¯t often offer others a good smoke like this. You should count yourself lucky¡± He spoke pridefully. His lips curled. Aside from his ingratiating attitude toward Cedrick, he was usually that arrogant. Charles epted it with a smile. ¡°Thank you. I would never have expected to have the leader of Team Four of the Federal Bureau of Investigation light a cigarette for me. It¡¯s my honor.¡± ¡°I like to be magnanimous. We¡¯ll let bygones be bygones, but let me tell you this-Gwendolyn and Cedrick¡¯s marriage is solid as a rock. Don¡¯t you think of getting involved. I can take you out of the interrogation room and just as easily send you back here.¡± With a cigarette between his lips, Nico exhaled stylishly. His tone was gracious. Charles lowered his gaze, concealing his piercing blue gaze. His tone remained indifferent. ¡°Of course. 1 am about to be a godfather, anyway. I¡¯ll prepare some gifts over the next few days for little Benny and Zendy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you thought things through.¡± Nico finished his cigarette quickly and crushed the butt beneath the heel of his military boot. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re going to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to sign a form, and you¡¯ll be free to return to the Newton residence.¡± ¡°No rush.¡± Charles turned him down. ¡°Craig will be transferred out of the interrogation room to be tried in court. He is my brother, after all. Before he goes, I would like to see him. Could you make that happen?¡± Nico frowned. ¡°Only to see him?¡± Charles nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He deserves what he got. I¡¯m not going to rub it in. I just want to have onest chat with him.¡± Nico nced at his watch. ¡°Fine. I won¡¯t have men standing watch at the door for you. Make it fast. You have half an hour.¡± Chapter 507 Chapter 507 Charles uttered, ¡°All right. I¡¯ll be quick and won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡± He turned around and reentered the secret interrogation room. Under the guidance of two soldiers, he walked through the corridor to the door where Craig was being held. When the iron door was opened, the first thing Charles saw was a pool of blood. Craig¡¯s body was covered in blood, his face pale and drenched in a cold sweat. His hands were hung from hooks on the ceiling of the room. That was a standard method of torture practiced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Charles had known Craig for a long time, and thetter had always appeared stately and arrogant. That was the first time Charles had seen Craig in such a pathetic state. He would be lying if he said that he wasn¡¯t thrilled to take in that sight. After all, he had never considered himself a saint. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Craig looked up with much difficulty and snorted weakly. ¡°1. anticipated you toe. Charles, do you think you¡¯ve won?¡± Charles alsoughed openly. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you suffer, so how could I miss witnessing this scene? Still, didn¡¯t win. It¡¯s you who lost first.¡± 1 Craig¡¯s initially unfocused gaze gradually turned sharp as he red at Charles. ¡°You can gloat for now, but there are still plenty of male descendants from the branches of the Newton family. Although Lucas is cowardly, I¡¯m certain he will step up if the Newton family were to be handed to a disgraceful illegitimate son like you.¡± Charles was unfazed. He riveted his deep blue eyes on Craig, intending to etch the sight of thetter¡¯s miserable state to his mind. ¡°When I was seven years old, as both of us enjoyed eating the same dish. Caylie thought I was snatching your food, so she deliberately knocked over the soup, which sshed on my arm. When I was eight years old, because I took one of your pens, Caylie pped my palm fifty times. when Dad wasn¡¯t around. My hand swelled up so much for the subsequent three days that I couldn¡¯t hold a pen. When I was twelve, I asked to borrow one of your ponies to y with Gwen, but Caylie framed me for stealing your pony. You didn¡¯t stand up for me. In the end, I was dragged to the ancestral hall and was whipped a hundred times with a cane. I was in such pain I couldn¡¯t walk for a week.¡± Craig listened in silence while gazing at Charles in confusion. Thetter merely sneered and continued. ¡°After Dad passed away, you, Michael, and I fought to be the head of the family. You arrested Michael for economic fraud, put him behind bars, and deliberately. arranged for your men to torture him, causing him to develop a mental illness and take his own life. At the same time, you used your position to transfer me away. When I came back, you seized a small mistake to punish me in the ancestral hall in an effort to assert your dominance. Also, not long ago, because of the issue with the top floor key, you once again disciplined me, breaking two canes in the process. You should remember all these things, Craig¡± As Charles spoke casually, he extended his finger toward Craig¡¯s chest and poked at the wound on the man¡¯s torso, which was caused by whipping. Craig winced with pain. He waited for the pain to subside before scoffing. ¡°You¡¯re such a grudgeful person, remembering every little incident so clearly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because all those incidents aren¡¯t little to me. Caylie bullied me since we were children. You and she had oppressed me for so many years, and now that she¡¯s dead, it¡¯s finally my turn to take revenge on her favorite son.¡± Craig narrowed his eyes, keenly interpreting the hint of malicious intent in Charles¡¯ words. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Charles¡¯ deep blue eyes twinkled as he shed his usual twisted and wicked smile. ¡°I heard you¡¯re seeking death, hoping to be executed, and unwilling to argue against the sentences?¡± Craig stared at him in silence. The smile on Charles¡¯ countenance grew wider as he intentionally moved closer to the side of Craig¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°I won¡¯t let you die so easily. I want you to suffer endless torments as Michael did and cause you to go insane. That should be very satisfying.¡± ¡°Charles Newton!¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Charles ignored Craig¡¯s resentful demeanor andughed hysterically, a crazed expression shing across his eyes. When Nico finished puffing on his second cigarette, Charles was done with his visit and came out. The latter lowered his gaze, seemingly a little down. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? He¡¯s been hung up, so don¡¯t tell me he still managed to bully you?¡± Nico asked. Charles sighed. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just feeling slightly emotional. I didn¡¯t expect Craig to be someone like that, cruelly harming his own mother to frame me.¡± Nico put out his cigarette and nodded in agreement. ¡°There are too many hypocrites in this world. If you don¡¯t look beneath their pretense, you won¡¯t be able to tell their true nature.¡± Charles hummed a response, leading the way out of the secret interrogation room. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to handle the procedures. I can finally go back to the Newton residence to have a good rest tonight.¡± Nico trailed behind him at a leisurely pace. ¡°Indeed. If I keep leaving home early and returningte, the little brat at home will throw a tantrum.¡± ¡°Are you in a rtionship?¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°No. I¡¯m just taking care of a young girl. She¡¯s so many years younger than me, so I¡¯ll wait till she¡¯s a little. more mature.¡± Judging by Nico¡¯s tone, Charles could tell he was interested in her. ¡°That¡¯s good. You¡¯ve been a bachelor so many years, constantly looking at Cedrick¡¯s public disy of affection. It¡¯s about time you think about getting into a serious rtionship.¡± Hearing this, Nico eyed the other man with an odd expression. ¡°At least I¡¯m living with a girl now. You¡¯re the real old bachelor here. When are you going to find someone?¡± Charles was stumped. He got into the car without saying a word. Nico hopped into the car as well and persisted, ¡°Seriously, you should find a wife soon. Otherwise, if you keep showing up in front of Gwendolyn while remaining single, even if Cedrick isn¡¯t worried, I¡¯ll be anxious in Cedrick¡¯s stead.¡± Charles remained quiet. ¡°Now that you¡¯re back, you should settle down and quit rausing trouble tent it better if you just be frie with Gwendolyn Nico continued Annowed by the incessant nagging, Charles retorted. ¡°I¡¯m interested in the little beat you¡¯re When you gift her to me, I¡¯ll be single no more.¡± ¡°Churles Newton!¡± Nico raised his voice and almost lost his raz ¡°How dare you try to snatch my wor Are you yearning for a beating because you haven¡¯t experienced that in a long whiter Charles suppressed hasughter. An amicable atmosphere filled the air inside the car Over the past few days. Jennifer had been undergoing treatment in theboratory. Ever since they discovered the type of serum she was injected with, Joshua had been able to effectively treat her condition with the right medications. With continuous treatment, Jennifer¡¯s mental state improved significantly. asionally, she would even thank Treyton, who had tirelessly taken care of her. One afternoon Gwendolyn came to visit Jennifer Irevion lying on a small bed next to Jennifer, intending to take a siesta. Jennifer was also napping Gwendolyn tiptoed into the room, sat by Jennifer¡¯s bed, and watched her quietly for some time. She¡¯s such e pure and kind girl so why did she have to suffer such torment? Not to mention, her own brother inflicted this tragic fate upon her. Craig is truly inhumane. Gwendolyn held her breath. She grew more upset the more she thought about Jennifer¡¯s circumstances. Then she got to her feet and nned to leave without making a noise. Unexpectedly, a thin hand reached out and held her palrn from behind. Startled, she turned around and saw Jennifer had woken up. Thetter was staring at her with eyes welling up with tears and brimming with emotions. ¡°Jennifer, you-¡± Jennifer held back her sobs and uttered earnestly. ¡°Gwendolyn, you don¡¯t have to treat my illness anymore. If it doesn¡¯t work, then let it be. After all, you¡¯re not a member of the orphanage anymore. If your mother-inw finds out you¡¯re spending so much money to treat my condition, she will certainly be displeased and may give you a hard time.¡± What? Gwendolyn was left utterly baffled by her words. Treyton, who had been lightly sleeping, also woke up. He also heard what Jennifer said just now and exchanged a puzzled look with Gwendolyn. Chapter 508 Chapter 508 Gwendolyn lost herself in her memories. The orphanage¡­ My inws¡­ Why does everything seem familiar? Dubious, she returned to Jennifer¡¯s side and held thetter¡¯s hand that was not hooked up to the IV drip. ¡°Jennifer, do you still remember what¡¯s your family name?¡± Jennifer weakly curled her lips before gazing at Gwendolyn gently. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? How can I not remember what¡¯s my family name? When I was taken in by the orphanage director at Faike, she decided to name me Jennifer, and she gave me her family name, Weller.¡± At that, Gwendolyn froze and turned to Treyton. The man was equally taken aback. He darted off the other bed and grabbed Jennifer¡¯s hand before questioning in disbelief, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Jennifer? You¡¯re not a Weller anymore. You¡¯re a Newton. You¡¯re the daughter of the Newton family, and your name in the family tree is Elise Newton. Do you still remember that?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Jennifer retracted her arm from his grasp and inched closer to Gwendolyn as if she was seeking sce and security. Lowering her head, she then apologized, ¡°Mr. Wright, I know you¡¯re here to take care of me because of Gwendolyn, and I¡¯m grateful for that, but you¡¯re Gwendolyn¡¯s husband. I don¡¯t want her to misunderstand our rtionship, so Mr. Wright, please keep a distance from me. Also, please don¡¯t say strange things like these anymore. I really don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re trying to say.¡± ¡°What?¡± Gwendolyn and Treyton shared a look, wondering about the same thing. When did Treyton be my husband? Mr. Wright? Are her memories distorted? A wave ofplex feelings washed over Gwendolyn, and she turned to face Treyton again. ¡°Treyton, do watch over Jennifer. I¡¯m going to ask Prof. Mallory toe and take a look at her.¡± Right as she was about to leave, Jennifer grabbed her hand. ¡°Gwendolyn, don¡¯t. It¡¯s not appropriate for me and your husband to stay in this room alone.¡± Gwendolyn was bereft of words. Treyton¡¯s eyes reddened, and it felt as if his heart was pulverized, the pain spreading through his entire body. ¡°So you knew that I was around, Jennifer, but you thought I was Kiddo¡¯s husband. That¡¯s why you were keeping a distance from me. That¡¯s why you were ignoring me and giving me the cold shoulder.¡± Jennifer turned to look at him in confusion,pletely unaffected by the mncholic expression he bore on his countenance. All she did was continue holding onto Gwendolyn¡¯s hand tightly to stop thetter from leaving. There was nothing Gwendolyn could do but sigh. ¡°How about this, Treyton? You should get Prof. Mallory instead. I¡¯ll watch over Jennifer.¡± Treyton Became Her Husband ¡°Okay,¡± Treyton quietly answered before lowering his bloodshot eyes and turning to leave. Once he was gone, Jennifer immediately moved closer to Gwendolyn and said with a tinge of worry in her voice. ¡°Gwendolyn, it feels like Mr. Wright is looking at me strangely all the time, but don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bear any feelings for him. It must be tough for the two of you to take care of me while I¡¯m sick. I¡¯m grateful for that. Thank you, Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent, uncertain of how to respond. The corners of her lips twitched, but as Joshua had yet to arrive, she guessed it would be better for her to keep Jennifer calm first. With a smile, she said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s my duty.¡± A few minutester, Joshua came. He was wearing a medical face mask, and he promptly said to Jennifer, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m your doctor, and I have some things I need to ask you about. You just need to answer me honestly.¡± Jennifer worriedly turned to Gwendolyn, but Gwendolyn smiled at her to put her at ease. Thus, she nodded at Joshua. Taking out her medical record, Joshua started scribbling on it as he asked, ¡°Ms. Newton, may I know if you Jennifer cut him off. ¡°Doctor, my family name is Weller.¡± ¡°Of course, Ms. Weller,¡± Joshua agreed with a smile. Pointing at Gwendolyn calmly, he continued, ¡°Who is she to you?¡± ¡°She¡¯s Gwendolyn, my only friend. She was taken away from the orphanage by Old Mr. Wright when she was fifteen, but we¡¯ve been keeping close contact all these years.¡± ¡°How old is she now?¡± Joshua probed. Jennifer ruminated for a while before replying. ¡°Twenty.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn and Treyton frowned. Gwendolyn was already twenty-four and a mother of two. Once Joshua recorded that, he continued querying, ¡°Then, Ms. Weller, how old are you this year?¡± ¡°Twenty-one.¡± After noting that down as well, Joshua pointed at Treyton and asked, ¡°What is his name?¡± Jennifer shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him before, and I don¡¯t know his name, but he¡¯s the one taking care of metely. He¡¯s Gwendolyn¡¯s newlywed husband. The questions went on for almost half an hour. The more Treyton listened, the dimmer the light of hope in his eyes became. The serum that Craig injected was far too strong. Jennifer¡¯s mind was permanently damaged. Her memories were trapped back in time when everyone in the orphanage disliked her because she was too old and sick. No one wanted her to leech off the orphanage, and the new director soon kicked her out. Treyton Became Her Husband Gwendolyn was the one who took her in and tried to get enough funds for her illness. Treyton had not appeared in her life at that time, so he was nothing but a stranger to her now. When Joshua was done asking her the questions, he pulled Gwendolyn and Treyton out to the corridor for a private conversation. ¡°Her case is a little special. For now, we don¡¯t have any ways to recover her memories of the past few years. My suggestion for you is to talk about what happened thest few years with her as often as you can so that you can inform her about her personal connections.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you,¡± Gwendolyn said. Joshua gave her a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± After that, Gwendolyn remained in Jennifer¡¯s ward and patiently exined everything to thetter. It took her a while to make Jennifer ept that she was already twenty-five and that she had lost her memories of the past four years because of some incidents. ¡°Jennifer, I¡¯m-a Harris, and I¡¯m the current head of the Harris family. My husband is Cedrick, and he¡¯s the head of the Jenson family, the CEO of Jenson Group, and the boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Then, Gwendolyn pointed at Treyton and said, ¡°This man is Treyton Harris. He¡¯s my brother and the third son of the family. You¡¯re a couple who have been dating for a year. That¡¯s why he¡¯s been taking care of you.¡± When Jennifer heard that Treyton was her boyfriend, she discreetly nced at Treyton from the corner of her eyes. It was only then she finally got a clear glimpse at his good looks. Jennifer, who had lost her memories, felt like an ugly duckling who abruptly woke among swans, and one of the beautiful swans was even her boyfriend. It felt odd. ¡°Gwendolyn, what about me?¡± ¡°The Newton family found you not too long ago and announced your identity as their daughter. You¡¯re now the fifth child of the Newton family, Jennifer Newton, but you¡¯re also known as Elise Newton. You¡¯re an actress, but you debuted on mypany¡¯s talent show and became an idol. You even received the Best Actress Award at an award showst year, and you¡¯re a top star in the entertainment industry.¡± Jennifer was stunned, for bing a top star was something she never dared dream of. ¡°Oh my God¡­ And this happened in a few years¡¯ time? Am I that capable? You¡¯re not pulling my leg, are you, Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn caressed Jennifer¡¯s cheek before taking out her phone to show thetter some of her old news. It was best if Jennifer were to see it for herself, for that was the best way to convince her. Overwhelmed by the deluge of information, Jennifer¡¯s mind reached its capacity, and she eventually sumbed to exhaustion, drifting into a deep slumber much earlier than usual. Treyton remained by her bedside, never once leaving her. Treyton Became Her Husband Joshua came by again, and be informed them that Jennifer¡¯s vital signs had all returned to normal. All they needed to do was observe her for a few more days before she could leave theb and resume her normal life. In the evening. Gwendolyn left theb. When she walked toward the open-air parking lot, a familiar tall figure approached her from the opposite direction. Upon lifting her head, she was surprised to find out that it was not Cedrick who came to pick her Charles. Chapter 509 Chapter 509 Even from afar, Charles was smiling at her. His eyes were only bright when he saw her, and she could not help but notice how blue his eyes were. It seemed like he had gone for a haircut and a shave aftering out of the interrogation room. Besides his skin being rougher and him looking wearier, he was still as attractive as before. Gwendolyn remained still as she quietly watched Charles amble over to her. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked. ¡°I came over to visit Jennifer. I never thought you¡¯d be here too. Coincidentally, I bought gifts from the mall after leaving the Federal Bureau of Investigation. May I disturb your routine to have a meal at Harrick Vi tonight?¡± Gwendolyn mulled over it and eventually nodded. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m sure Benny and Zendy will be delighted to see their godfather.¡± Charles beamed. He was never stingy with his smiles around Gwendolyn, and he was always earnest around her. ¡°I heard from Jasmine that Craig beat you for stealing the serum for me. Is it serious? Are you feeling better now?¡± Gwendolyn posed another question. The man gave her a nonchnt smile. ¡°I¡¯ve mostly recovered. It¡¯s just a caning; it¡¯s only skin-deep pain.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that.¡± Gwendolyn stood stiffly. Having a private conversation with Charles felt weird, and she would only feel at ease if Cedrick was by her side. After that, silence ensued. Neither spoke, and the quiet was a little unnerving. Charles had his gaze fixed on Gwendolyn, but Gwendolyn could not tell what was on his mind. When she averted her eyes, she spotted a car with a familiar number entering her line of sight. As the car rolled to a stop, Cedrick, who had already taken off his military uniform, stepped out of the vehicle and headed straight for Gwendolyn. ¡°Hubby, I was waiting for you,¡± she said with a sheepish chuckle, for it seemed like Cedrick was in a bad mood. In a gentle tone, she continued, ¡°It¡¯s going to be lively at home tonight. Why don¡¯t we invite Nico and Summer over for dinner too? They can be witnesses to Charles bing Benny and Zendy¡¯s godfather.¡± ¡°Sure, whatever you say goes, Darling.¡± Cedrick dropped his dark expression and casually lifted her hand. As if he was asserting dominance, he pressed a kiss on her forehead. Charles felt like a third wheel, a gigantic one, at that. A Third Wheel In A Company Pursing his lips into a thin line, he stared at their tightly intertwined hands for a long while Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. It was only after unting their closeness did Cedrick turn to Charles and arched his brows at the other man. ¡°We¡¯ll drive you to Harrick Vi. Come on.¡± Despite his words, it was obvious from Cedrick¡¯s expression that he was not keen on inviting Charles to their house. It was just formality. However, as if he could not read the room. Charles nodded and smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t reject your enthusiastic invitation, Mr. Jenson. Let¡¯s go together then.¡± The look in Cedrick¡¯s dark eyes promptly turned icy as he red at Charles. Sensing the lowering of temperature around him. Gwendolyn quickly towed Cedrick toward his car ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and I¡¯m starving. Let¡¯s hurry back.¡± Cedrick finally tore his eyes away from Charles and opened the car door for her. He then shielded her head from the top of the doorframe with his arm. Once she was seated, he leaned over to buckle her safety belt for her. Charles quietly watched Cedrick¡¯s gentle actions before putting the gifts he had bought for the children in the trunk. Then, he went to take a seat at the back. That was how the trio returned to Harrick Vi together in a tense atmosphere. Upon reaching home. Cedrick went into the kitchen to cook while Gwendolyn and Charles, who was carrying boxes of gifts, headed to the nursery on the fourth floor. As Cedrick was worried about leaving Gwendolyn and Charles alone in the room, he called Nico and asked him and Summer to hurry over to be human surveince cameras. Meanwhile, in the nursery, Charles took out the new toy he bought and started ying with Zendaya. As if Zendaya knew that he was going to be her godfather, she kept giggling merrily. It seemed like she was enamored with Charles. When Gwendolyn leaned over to look at them, she noticed that his attention was wholly on the girl. He even looked like he had his heart melted by her. Chuckling, she teased, ¡°It looks like you like daughters more than sons. I haven¡¯t seen you sparing a nce at Benny.¡± Charles uttered softly. ¡°To be honest, yes. I do want a daughter, but as long as they¡¯re your children. I¡¯ll like them regardless of whether they¡¯re a boy or a girl.¡± With that said, he picked up the blue toy that he had bought for Benedict and went over to y with the little boy, not wanting to be biased toward any child. Gwendolyn knew that he was sincere about liking the children, so she dropped the topic and started ying with the children with him. Turning to face her, Charles let a genuine smile grow on his face. A Third Wheel In A Company The world seemed right at that moment, and he wished that time would stop then and there. ¡°Gwen, I heard that something happened in the Harris family before you gave birth to them. Apparently, you have a younger sister?¡± The smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face froze, but she soon let a real smile return to her lips. As she continued. ying with the children, she muttered nomittally. ¡°Yes. My dad¡¯s illegitimate daughter. She has done many terrible things.¡± Charles words were lined with worry, ¡°Did she hurt you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. How can she win against me so easily?¡± At the sight of Gwendolyn¡¯s confident expression, Charles huffed knowingly and said, ¡°Of course. No one canpare to you, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn gave him a side-eye and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll take that as apliment.¡± ¡°And it is. You¡¯ll always have nothing butpliments from me, was what he did not say out loud. Softly sighing, he returned to the previous topic. ¡°When Mr. Marcus passed away, I saw the news of another death in the Harris family. It was the illegitimate daughter, right?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. A thought popped into her head, and her voice deepened. ¡°Regardless of whether she¡¯s dead or not, the Harris family will never be her home. I won¡¯t allow her any chance to stir up trouble.¡± Charles expression turned equally grim. It seemed like things were not as simple as he thought they initially were. Right as he was about to continue asking her more questions about the matter, someone opened the doar to the nursery. It was Nico and Summer. When they entered the room, they were greeted by the scene of Gwendolyn and Charles holding toys and ying with Benedict. It was peculiarly¡­ peaceful. Cedrick¡¯s going to explode like a volcano if he sees this. Clearing his throat, Nico uttered, ¡°Ahem! We¡¯re here to see the babies. We¡¯re not disturbing you, are we?¡± At the same time, he poked Summer¡¯s waist with the hand he hid behind him. Knowing what he meant, Summer entered the room, took a stool, and sat right between Gwendolyn and Charles, effectively separating the two. In no time, the four were chatting merrily while ying with the babies. Half an hourter, Cedrick was done cooking dinner. Gwendolyn opened a few bottles of good wine, and they happily drank away as they chatted. When dinner was over, Gwendolyn asked Ezra to send Charles back to the Newton residence because Charles did not have a car. On the other hand, Cedrick offered to send the half-inebriated Nico home. A Third Wheel In A Company Gwendolyn did not stop him, and she went upstairs to shower. By the time she was done, Cedrick was home. He was sitting by the edge of the bed, his cheeks rosy from the alcohol. However, he had a gloomy expression on his face. Gwendolyn nced at him but ignored him as she made her way to the dresser, about to start her skincare routine. ¡°Hey! What are you doing?¡± A certain man¡¯s arm had circled her waist from behind and lifted her from the chair. Gwendolyn could only kick her legs in the air in protest. However, afraid that she would end up kicking him in the crotch and ruining her happiness for the rest of her life, she gave up struggling and allowed him to carry her to the bed. He put her in a sitting position by the bedside, but he did not take a seat himself. Instead, he stood in front of her and stared at her. Gwendolyn recalled how Cedrick would put her by the edge of the bed and stare at her whenever he was about to confront her. She could not help but wonder, What¡¯s the matter with him tonight? Chapter 510 Chapter 510 She looked up at Cedrick, utterly puzzled. ¡°Hubby¡± Cedrick¡¯s face grew serious. It was clear that jealousy was in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t you n on exining what happened in the nursery with Charles?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gwendolyn stared at him in confusion. ¡°What is there to exin?¡± Cedrick took a deep breath. A lump was forming in his throat, and his eyes reddened. ¡°You and Charles were alone in a roomughing and joking. Gwendo He was about to say her full name, but he stopped just in time. He had learned from past arguments that calling her by her full name never ended well for him, so he chose a different method to approach the matter. ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯re a married woman. How could you spend time alone with a single man? Did you two¡­.. Did he do anything inappropriate to you? Did he touch your hand?¡± Despite his cold and serious tone, Cedrick¡¯s use of an endearment softened his delivery. Rather than conveying menace, his words carried a sense of a fatherly lecture, as if he were earnestly speaking to his daughter. Gwendolyn remained silent, feeling speechless. Even after they had children together, why was he still so jealous? ¡°What do you mean by alone in a room? Did you forget about our kids? Benny and Zendy were in the room, weren¡¯t they?¡± refuted Gwendolyn. Cedrick¡¯s frustration grew evident as he replied, ¡°They¡¯re just babies, Gwendolyn. They don¡¯t understand what¡¯s going on. Even if you and Charles engaged in intimate acts right under their innocent gazes, they wouldn¡¯t be able to object orprehend it.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze turned icy as she locked eyes with him, a surge of anger welling up within her and a chilling sense of disappointment settling in her heart. ¡°Cedrick, after everything we¡¯ve been through, how can you still doubt my loyalty to you? And to use the term ¡®intimate acts¡¯ in such a derogatory way, how could you say such things?¡± As her eyes welled up with tears, Gwendolyn turned away from the man, choosing to ignore him. Cedrick immediately noticed the sadness in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. He had prepared a set of questions and words to confront her before her shower. However, as he witnessed Gwendolyn bing increasingly downcast, Cedrick found himself at a loss for words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gwendolyn. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you. It¡¯s just¡­ I find it difficult to trust Charles. He was my love rival before, and those feelings of rivalry still linger within me. It¡¯s challenging for me to feel at ease knowing that my wife is alone in a room with him.¡± Cedrick Is Jealous Again. ¡°At the end of the day, you still don¡¯t believe me,¡± she said, her wordsden with disappointment. She then turned sideways, continuing to avoid looking at the man. Cedrick sat beside her, cautiously reaching out to hold her hand. ¡°Darling. I really do trust you. Please, just tell me what went on between you and Charles while you were both in the nursery, and I promise to believe every single word you say.¡± Gwendolyn mercilessly withdrew her hand and let out a scoff. ¡°The fact that you demand an ount of every word and action already reveals yourck of trust in me.¡± ¡°Darling¡­ Cedrick gazed at Gwendolyn¡¯s pouting face, sensing the need for a different approach. He let out a silent sigh, reaching for a long ruler on the bedside table and cing it in her hand. Then, he began to discuss with her, his voice gentle and patient. ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll let you do whatever you want to me if you exin everything that happened. I promise I won¡¯t put up a fight no matter what you do.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t put up a fight no matter what?¡± she repeated. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± With an arched eyebrow and a mischievous glint in her eyes, Gwendolyn lifted her chin slightly and took on the man¡¯s offer, saying, ¡°You were being unreasonable and jealous without cause, so if I were to yfully spank your butt, you¡¯re telling me you wouldn¡¯t resist at all?¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless by her response. feeling conflicted in the inside. Does it have to be such a humiliating punishment? I guess letting my wife spank me a couple of times on the butt isn¡¯t that big of a deal¡­ At that thought, he uttered through gritted teeth. ¡°Not at all.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s mischievous thoughts took shape. She thenid out the details, as per his request. ¡°All right then. I shall rify for you. Charles and I were simply entertaining Benny and Zendy with some toys. We didn¡¯t even touch each other by the hair, not even once. As for our conversation, it was nothing more than casual chatter. He asked about recent events and we briefly discussed the time when my father passed. away. That¡¯s all there was to it.¡± Cedrick listened attentively. ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± Gwendolyn raised her voice, cing emphasis on her next words. ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± ¡°No, I believe you.¡± Cedrick obediently moved to the bed and knelt down as if he were prepared to ept his wife¡¯s punishment. Gwendolyn let out a yful chuckle as she fixed her gaze on Cedrick, a fierce glint in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t think that I¡¯ll let you off easily with just a few smacks tonight.¡± The man merely hung his head without responding to that. Gwendolyn then rose to her feet and tapped the cor of Cedrick¡¯s neat shirt with the ruler in her hand. Cedrick Is Jealous Again ¡°Take everything off.¡± Cedrick¡¯s nimble fingers skillfully unbuttoned his suit, followed by his shirt, revealing his well-defined physique underneath. In the warm, inviting glow of the bedroom, his perfectly sculpted physique radiated with a captivating allure. However, Gwendolyn was not satisfied. With the ruler gliding teasingly across his chest and abs, she directed it downward, tracing a path to his belt buckle. ¡°Keep going,¡± shemanded. Without hesitation, he undressed until there was nothing left on him. At that moment, he resembled amb whose wool had been carefully plucked, now awaiting its fate to be cooked and devoured by its master¡¯s insatiable appetite. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes lingered on his exposed form, appreciating his physique for a fleeting moment before she made her way to the coat rack. She retrieved a belt and returned to where he knelt. ¡°Turn around.¡± Cedrick obedientlyplied. ¡°Hands.¡± In a swift motion, Gwendolyn effortlessly bound his hands behind his back, fastening them tightly with the belt buckle. Cedrick¡¯s sixth sense prickled with a sense of impending danger, causing him to call out anxiously. ¡°Darling?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously, undeterred by Cedrick¡¯s anxious call. With determination, she firmly pressed his upper body onto the bed, forcing him to kneel on all fours. In this way, his butt was presented to her in an elevated position. Cedrick was shocked. Realizing what was about to happen, he began to regret his decision. However, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t allow him an opportunity to dwell on his regrets and raised the ruler. p! A crisp sound rang out. Wherever the ruler struck, it ignited a tingling sensation of searing pain, yet it was bearable. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Aside from feeling shy, Cedrick surprisingly didn¡¯t dislike it. How strange. Late at night, even the melodious birds had entered their dreams. The main bedroom of Harrick Vi was enveloped in a veil of secrecy, as the drawn curtains concealed all sounds within its walls. Cedrick Is Jealous Again After approximately thirty strikes, Gwendolyn still disyed remarkable control over the intensity of her blows, leaving behind only a deep red flush on Cedrick¡¯s once-pale skin. She set down the ruler, released Cedrick from his restraints, and flipped him over. Swiftly pouncing on him, she pinched his chin with her fingers, shing him a bewitching smile filled with charm. ¡°I wonder how your flushed bottom tastes, Ceddy. I haven¡¯t had a taste of it yet. Looks like tonight is just the right time to give it a try.¡± Cedrick willingly closed his eyes like a fish lying on a cutting board that was ready to be sliced. He had surrendered both his body and mind. Two dayster. Cedrick sat in his office at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reviewing the evidence against Craig, If everything went as expected, the verdict would be announced in the next two days. Considering the multiple charges that were brought up against him, it was likely that Craig would receive the death penalty, as he desired. Knock, knock Nico entered the room. ¡°Cedrick, lots of things have been going on with the Newton family these past couple of days.¡± With his gaze fixed on the documents in his hands, Cedrick inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Since Craig¡¯s downfall, numerous male descendants from the branches of the Newton family have resurfaced. It appears they are vying for power.¡± Cedrick only gave a hum in response, without showing much expression. Nico expressed his confusion, ¡°Cedrick, didn¡¯t you mention earlier that Charles wants to assume control of the entire Newton family? He has obtained the key and stole the serum, which is a significant contribution. Shouldn¡¯t we support him in taking control over the Newton family?¡± A frown marred Cedrick¡¯s face as Craig¡¯s words involuntarily echoed in his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s not concern ourselves with it for now. We¡¯ll observe Charles and see how he handles the situation. If he truly desires power, he will inevitably seek my assistance. When the time is right, we can decide whether or not to intervene¡± Nico nodded in agreement. ¡°Makes sense.¡± Just as they finished their conversation, there was another knock on the office door. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Charles from the Newton family just came in to report that there¡¯s been a new discovery on the top floor of the Newton residence. It¡¯s apparently rted to the impending verdict on Craig.¡± Chapter 511 Chapter 511 It¡¯s rted to Craig! Cedrick and Nico exchanged a nce, both feeling puzzled. The former stood up, picked up his military jacket from the coat rack, and put it on neatly. ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look.¡± Just as the two of them reached the lobby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, they coincidentally bumped into Neville, who was bringing Charles in. Neville swiftly bowed before Cedrick. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Charles has informed me about the discovery of significant and crucial evidence. Hence, I have brought him here.¡± Cedrick, without uttering a word, turned on his heel and made his way back to his office. ¡°Come with me, Charles, hemanded. Charles wordlessly trailed behind Cedrick, matching his brisk pace as they made their way to the office. Once inside the office, Charles ced an envelope on Cedrick¡¯s desk. Cedrick nced at the envelope. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I found it by chance while helping to clean Mrs. Newton¡¯s roomst night. It seems to be her farewell letter.¡± Although Charles was listed under Caylie¡¯s name in the family tree, he never referred to her as ¡°Mom¡± or even ¡°Mother.¡± Instead, he always addressed her as ¡°Mrs. Newton,¡± much like the housekeepers and butlers did. His words prompted both Cedrick and Nico, who was standing nearby, to furrow their brows simultaneously. Caylie had been injected with a neurochemical agent before Craig gained control over the family. Her thoughts had been out of her control ever since. How could she have left behind a farewell letter? Despite his doubts, Cedrick reached out and took the envelope. He carefully opened it and scanned its contents. After he had finished reading the letter, his frown deepened, and his expression became increasingl frosty. ¡°What does Mrs. Newton¡¯s letter say?¡± Nico asked. Cedrick didn¡¯t answer immediately but raised his eyes to look at the calm andposed Charles of him. ¡°This letter is dated the day before the incident. She said she was tired of this hypocritical w and that she intended tomit suicide.¡± ¡°Suicide?¡± Nico found it rather hard to believe. ¡°She was already imprisoned by Craig, and her daily activities were restricted. How could she have obtained poison tomit suicide? It¡¯s absurd.¡± Cedrick kept mum and fixed his unwavering gaze on Charles. ¡°When and where did you find this letter?¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Just as Charles was about to speak, Cedrick interrupted him with a knock on the desk and reminded him. The Farewell Letter ¡°I want a detailed ount.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Charles nodded. He then began to recount the event. ¡°Following Mrs. Newton¡¯s passing. Jasmine and I have been assisting Lucas with the funeral arrangements. Last night, around eight or nine o¡¯clock, I went up to Mrs. Newton¡¯s room and happened to discover this letter tucked inside her pillow.¡± ¡°Thinking it might be significant, I brought it to you to have a look,¡± he added. Cedrick listened attentively to the man. After a moment of contemtion, he posed a question to him. ¡°Charles, how do you interpret this situation?¡± in Charles sighed. ¡°As you know, my rtionship with Mrs. Newton was not a pleasant one. My presence the Newton family tree seemed to trigger something within her. She had already lost Jennifer, and ever since then, she had been battling deep depression.¡± He paused for a moment, then presented apletely different perspective, deviating from his previous statement, ¡°In fact, I had concealed something before. She had been struggling with depression, and even before Craig gained control, she had made several attempts at self-harm. I suspect that Craig wasn¡¯t the one who administered the drug to her. It was her depression that led him to asionally confine her, out of concern for her well-being. I don¡¯t believe he would have harmed his own mother.¡± Charles confessed. Nico was taken aback. Standing aside, he silently absorbed the weight of the revtion for a long time. With a serious expression on his visage, Cedrick cautiously reminded Charles, ¡°Charles, when you first returned to the country and Gwendolyn took you to visit Jennifer, your ount of the situation was different. ¡°Yes, at that time I wasn¡¯t fully aware of the exact situation, so I didn¡¯t mention Mrs. Newton¡¯s depression. But upon finding this farewell letter, I felt it was important to reveal the whole truth. However, I¡¯ve only done what I deemed necessary by delivering the letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As for how you handle it, I understand that I have no right to interfere. That said, I¡¯ll take my leave now, Mr. Jenson.¡± Charles respectfully bowed toward Cedrick, who was seated behind the desk, before turning and exiting the office. As soon as Charles left. Nico swiftly made his way toward Cedrick¡¯s desk. ¡°Cedrick, should we investigate this matter further, or should we opt to suppress the farewell letter and allow Craig¡¯s trial to proceed smoothly, ultimately ending in a death sentence for him?¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze fell upon the letter resting beside his hand. The handwriting on it appeared faded a untidy. ¡°Personal grudges should not interfere with our decisions. This matter shall be handled impartially ordance with proper procedures,¡± said Cedrick. After organizing his thoughts, he instructed, ¡°Inform the judiciary about this new development in the ca and request a postponement of Craig¡¯s trial. Additionally, arrange for the farewell letter to be examined by a professional handwriting analyst to verify its authenticity. As for Caylie¡¯s depression, instruct Neville to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter once again.¡± Nico dutifully took the farewell letter from Cedrick, saying, ¡°Understood.¡± The Farewell Letter Meanwhile, Jennifer had been receiving a continuous infusion in theboratory, and there had been no major issues with her nerves over the past few days of observation Apart from experiencing memory confusion and the inability to recall events from the past four years. Jennifer¡¯s physical condition hadrgely returned to normal. After Charles came out of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he received news that Jennifer could be discharged from theboratory that day, so he hurried over to see her. Although she was his half-sister from a different mother, he still felt indebted to her. As he had lost his position as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, he couldn¡¯t enter the laboratory and could only wait outside. Five minutester, Treyton and Jennifer came out together. They walked side by side, with half a meter of distance between them. Although Jennifer was aware that Treyton was her boyfriend, her memories were fragmented, and she couldn¡¯t recognize him. As a result, she could not bring herself to embrace or hold hands with him for the time being.. Charles approached Jennifer, taking a few steps closer to her, and offered hisforting words. ¡°You look good. It seems like you¡¯ve been recovering well.¡± Treytonposed himself, concealing the sadness in his eyes, and asked Charles with a solemn tone. ¡°Could we have a few moments alone to talk?¡± Charles thought for a moment, nodded in agreement, then turned to Jennifer. Pointing to a luxury car in the open parking lot, he instructed her, ¡°Jennifer, wait for me in the car. It¡¯ll just be a moment.¡± Jennifer¡¯s eyes were innocent and clear. She nodded and slowly walked toward the open parking lot. Once she was gone, Treyton spoke in a low and humble tone, something he had never done before. ¡°Charles, can I take Jennifer to stay with me at my ce? I know we¡¯re not engaged yet, and it may not be the most appropriate situation, but I¡­ want to personally take care of her for a while.¡± Recently, Lucas and Jasmine had been fully upied with the arrangements for Caylie¡¯s funeral, leaving them with little time to attend to Jennifer, their biological sister. Thus, this responsibility naturally fell on Charles, granting him the authority to make a decision. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Given the challenges you and Jennifer have faced, I understand your desire to support her. Living with you for a while may also aid her in recollecting fragments of her past, Charles replied, showing his understanding and support. Treyton was grateful. ¡°Thank you.¡± A gentle smile grew on Charles¡¯ lips, which was a rare sight to behold. ¡°No problem, though she is still the daughter of the Newton family. It would be more appropriate for her to live with you permanently if you two were engaged. s, the final decision lies with the family. I don¡¯t have the authority to determine Jennifer¡¯s marriage arrangements.¡± Treyton¡¯s dim gaze gradually brightened, reflecting a glimmer of hope. ¡°If you had the authority to decide, how would you handle Jennifer¡¯s marriage arrangements?¡± Chapter 512 Chapter 512 Charles¡¯ long eyshes covered his blue eyes. He seemed like he had seriously thought about it. ¡°I like it when lovers end up together. If you two sincerely love one another, then, of course, wholeheartedly support it. As for typical traditions like engagement gifts, going through the motions will suffice.¡± Treyton met his gaze and absorbed his words. ¡°Should you intend to take the helm, Charles, all the holding resources of the businesses under my name will fully support you.¡± Both men locked eyes with burning determination in their gazes, Everyone¡¯s lives seemed to be gradually regaining a sense of normalcy. In the evening. Gwendolyn gave Cedrick a call to tell him she was going to a business g alone. Many CEOs ofrge overseas corporations would be in attendance. Recently, she had been making ns for the export trade of Harris Group. The Harris family was currently the richest family in Chanaca, and she, Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, had be the only woman to rise to the position of the richest person in Chanaca. Although it could not have been possible without Cedrick¡¯s help back then, Gwendolyn¡¯s ambition did not stop there. She wished to expand Harris Group¡¯s trading to other countries. Additionally, she had a greater goal, which was to be the richest person in the world. Dovil Group, one of the top threepanies in the world, was among those attending the business g that night. She heard that thepany was widely inviting tenders for a new coborative project they had recentlyunched, and she was determined to get the spot at the g. Cedrick was worried about her going alone. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you tonight. I¡¯ll put Craig¡¯s matter aside and continue with it tomorrow.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You¡¯ve been dealing with Craig¡¯s case for so long, so it¡¯s best to get an oue as quickly as possible. Besides, I¡¯ll keep my distance from other men and avoid anything that suggests cheating.¡± Her tone grew colder as she spoke. Even though she did not make a big deal about what had happened previously, this distrust was like a tiny fishbone lodged in her throat that she could not remove. Every time she recalled it, she always felt ufortable. The astute Cedrick sensed the shift in her emotions right away. ¡°Darling, I genuinely have no mistrust for you. I simply¡­ don¡¯t trust those men out there.¡± The Richest Woman In The World Gwendolyn was tired of hearing this same old excuse. ¡°Have you forgotten that I have a ck belt in jiu- jitsu? An average man can¡¯t get close to me.¡± Cedrick retorted firmly, ¡°This is different. There are many flirtatious men out there. They won¡¯t necessarily subdue you by force. Some will pretend to be weak. In short¡­ there are far too many dangers outside. It¡¯s safer if I apany you.¡± There aren¡¯t just pretentious and phony women in this world. Some men are even better at acting and will catch you off-guard. Gwendolyn let out a sigh upon hearing his resolute tone. ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll go to the g first while you settle your work at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Come over when you¡¯re done.¡± Since she had presented a rtively reasonablepromise, disagreeing with it would make him seem unreasonable. ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Gwendolyn purposefully left work early after reaching an agreement with Cedrick. She went to the mall and carefully picked out a crimson tassel gown. The gown entuated her curves alluringly and made a statement, just like her goal that night. She intended to outdo everyone else and secure the Dovil Group partnership in Chanaca. The g began promptly at half-past seven in the evening at Monarch Hotel. Gwendolyn exuded a domineering presence in her alluring crimson gown,bined with her ming red lips and exquisite makeup. Her beauty was iparable. The attendees of the g were all top CEOs and influential people from upper-ss societies both domestically and abroad. Every contract that they casually negotiated was worth hundreds of millions. Gwendolyn appeared at the right moment, and the spotlight followed her. Her beauty drew everyone¡¯s attention, with many people gasping and whispering to one another. Due to Gwendolyn usually not liking to attend such asions, many big shots from abroad did not know her name. The exmations grew louder when they learned that she was the only woman to rise to the position of the wealthiest person in Chanaca. Gwendolyn slowly made her way to the center of the banquet hall with all eyes on her. Terry Jenkins, the organizer of the business g, was standing not far from the red carpet and greeted her with surprise, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to attend the g tonight. You look gorgeous, Ms. Harris. I¡¯m both thrilled and honored.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Jenkins. Tonight¡¯s g is decorated beautifully. It would be a loss for me not to come and see it,¡± she replied. They exchanged words of ttery with smiles on their faces. A few minutester, the g officially began. Terry gave a formal speech on stage, throwing some personal touches into the mix by introducing Jenkins Group¡¯stest project to all the big shots in the audience. His speech came to an end with a warm apuse. The Richest Woman In The World. Everyone at the g began to cluster into groups and chat. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes wandered around the crowd before finally settling on a blonde foreigner. The handsome man appeared to be in his early thirties, with a mature-looking blonde beard, a high nose, and attractive features. He exuded the aura of a foreign noble prince. He was Neal Gray, the current CEO and powerholder of Dovil Group. Aside from his career, he also had high social standing. He was the Astorian royal family¡¯s pure- blooded heir apparent and the nation¡¯s next ruler. Getting acquainted with someone like him would be extremely advantageous for Gwendolyn¡¯s goal to expand herpany¡¯s trade overseas. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. She grabbed a ss of red wine from the tray of a passing waiter and slowly made her way to Neal. ¡°Mr. Gray,¡± she called out softly in a pleasant voice, her lips curled into a kind and friendly smile. Neal stopped conversing with the person in front of him when he heard that. He had noticed her grand entrance earlier and had liked seeing such a beautiful CEO with a mboyant personality and outstanding abilities. Moreover, Gwendolyn had addressed him as Mr. Gray, which made it easier for them to get close. ¡°How should I address you, miss?¡± Neal asked. His voice was exceptionally even despite his rtively poor Chanacan Gwendolyn smiled in response. ¡°In business, everyone prefers to call me Ms. Harris. Please feel free to address me as such. Mr. Gray.¡± ¡°Ms. Harris?¡± Neal was surprised. ¡°You say it with such a sweet tone. It¡¯s adorable.¡± Gwendolyn gave him a pleasant smile. The two soon fell into a conversation that moved from small talk to discussions on the philosophy of life. They hit it off wonderfully. The more Neal looked at her, the more he liked her. Their conversation also grew spontaneous andfortable. After deciding that they had had enough small talk, Gwendolyn skillfully steered the topic to work. ¡°I heard you broke away from the royal family back then and went out on your own to found Dovil Group, Mr. Gray. How impressive that it¡¯s now one of the top threepanies in the world.¡± Although Neal was used to hearing this kind of praise, hearing it from Gwendolyn during their engaging conversation in her charming voice made his heart skip a beat. He lowered his head, looking slightly embarrassed. ¡°As soon as I met you tonight, I felt an exceptional sense of familiarity. I had a great time talking with you. I wonder if you¡¯re still single now, Ms. Harris?¡± Cedrick, who had just hurried over from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was heading their way after searching for Gwendolyn in the vast banquet hall, happened to hear Neal¡¯sst sentence. Chapter 513 Chapter 513 Cedrick halted in his tracks and looked at Gwendolyn quietly from the side as he waited to hear her response. With a charming smile on her face, Gwendolyn answered, ¡°I¡¯m a married woman with a pair of cute fraternal twins. My husband is the CEO of Jenson Group. I think you¡¯ll meet him soon, Mr. Gray, I think you guys will be such friends. Also, I¡¯m d we¡¯re getting along well.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression became friendlier when he heard Gwendolyn¡¯s graceful response. He then walked up to her elegantly and wrapped his arm around her waist. When Gwendolyn turned around and saw Cedrick¡¯s handsome face, she subconsciously shed a sincere smile. ¡°You¡¯re here! Let me introduce you to someone. This is Mr. Gray, Dovil Group¡¯s founder and CEO. He¡¯s also Astoria¡¯s crown prince.¡± With a bright smile on her face, Gwendolyn turned toward Neal and uttered. ¡°Mr. Gray, this is my husband. The CEO of Jenson Group and head of the Jenson family? The men looked at each other and shook each other¡¯s hands. Neal was taken aback. ¡°I never thought Mr. Jenson would be your husband, Ms. Harris! What a coincidence!¡± Gwendolyn froze momentarily and looked at Cedrick. ¡°Do you guys know each other?¡± ¡°Yes. I have previously cooperated with Astoria on a cross-border arrest mission, and I have worked with Mr. Gray twice. We¡¯ve known each other since then.¡± Cedrick exined. Neal noticed the affection the couple had for each other and clicked his tongue enviously. ¡°Mr. Jenson and Ms. Harris, not only are you both business geniuses, but you guys are also deeply in love with each other. In Ferropene, they will regard you guys as a match made in heaven.¡± The trioughed, creating a harmonious atmosphere. Thinking it was time to make her next move, Gwendolyn mentioned the coboration. However, Neal preferred to do things by the book, so he didn¡¯t ept her suggestion on the spot. ¡°Ms. Harris, I would love to coborate with Harris Group, but I prefer to y it by the book. When the time comes, I¡¯ll hold a tender event. Perhaps you should be there, Ms. Harris. Please get your subordinates to draft a business proposal. If everything goes well, I think Dovil Group will most probably end up working with Harris Group.¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn knew she had no choice but to attend the event and go through the motions. Thus, she epted Neal¡¯s invitation gratefully and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Gray. In order to show you mymitment. I¡¯ll personally prepare all the paperwork to strike a coboration deal with Dovil Group.¡± Neal looked at her in admiration and praised her after that. However, Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t pleased because she couldn¡¯t obtain the coboration deal on the spot. Hence, she couldn¡¯t be bothered by hispliments. Although she was smiling politely, she was starting to get distracted. Seeing Evelyn At The G Fortunately for her, Cedrick and Neal were chatting away happily, so neither of them noticed the slight change in her expression. Suddenly, a woman in a white gown walked past Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn saw the woman from the corners of her eyes and frowned immediately.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. When Gwendolyn lifted her gaze, that woman in white had already walked away. That woman¡¯s back looks so familiar! That looks like someone I know! The smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face vanished at once, and a solemn expression reced it. Could that really be her? Why on earth would she show up at an event like this? While Cedrick and Neal were still conversing. Gwendolyn had gone after that woman in white. She simply looks too familiar. The more I look at her, the more she looks like Evelyn! She¡¯s wearing an expensive gown, so she must be the femalepanion for one of the CEOs here. Could she have hooked up with a big shot after she escaped from the countryside? Gwendolyn was feeling uneasy, so she picked up her pace. The hall was packed, and all of a sudden, the woman in white disappeared after she walked past a tall man. Gwendolyn halted in her tracks and checked her surroundings, unable to find that familiar figure anymore. in Terry was entertaining an attendee when he saw the anxious expression on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. Upon excusing himself, he approached her to ask, ¡°Ms. Harris, are you all right? Is there a problem?¡± white Gwendolyn furrowed her brows and recalled the familiar figure she saw. ¡°I think I saw someone I know. She¡¯s a slender woman in a white gown, and she walks gracefully. Do you know anyone like that?¡± That question stumped Terry. ¡°Ms. Harris, I don¡¯t think I can help you with that. Almost all the CEOs at this g brought their femalepanions along. Besides, a lot of them are dressed in white. Not only are they all slender, but they¡¯re all very beautiful. I don¡¯t think I can point out the woman you¡¯re looking for. However, over half of the bigwigs here are foreigners, and their femalepanions are also foreigners. These women have high worth and are popr. You might still be able to find the woman you¡¯re looking for, Ms. Harris. I can get the servers to jot down the names of all the women in white. Once the event ends, they¡¯ll give you a list of names.¡± Gwendolyn was happy with the suggestion. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jenkins.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. It¡¯s the least I can do.¡± That incident ruined Gwendolyn¡¯s mood, and she had to endure the g listlessly. Cedrick knew something was amiss, but he couldn¡¯t mention anything because Neal was there. Hence, he merely held her hand tofort her. The business g ended at around eleven that night. Gwendolyn got her wish when Terry gave her a list of names of all the women in white that evening. When she was on her way back to Harrick Vi, she focused on the name list and gave Elven a call. ¡°When I get home, I¡¯ll give you a list of names. I need you to run a check on all the names written on it. I don¡¯t care if you use the dark web or informationworks. You must find a photo of everyone on the list,¡± she ordered ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get it done,¡± Elven replied. Upon hearing the firm response from Elven, Gwendolyn hung up the phone and continued to ce her focus on the names on the list. Cedrick nced at her a few times before taking one of his hands off the wheels to hold her hand. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did something happen?¡± As her thoughts raced, Gwendolyn uttered, ¡°Do evil people really not die! Hubby, I think Evelyn is still alive. At the g, I saw a woman who looked just like her from the back.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned solemn as well, and he gave her his analysis by asking. ¡°Darling, are you sure? A lot of people in this world look the same from behind. You can¡¯t jump to a conclusion without looking at the woman from the front. Besides, the attendees were all influential people. When Evelyn fled from the countryside, you told everyone she was dead. She wouldn¡¯t dare to keep her identity if she were still alive. Prior to this, the people who were secretly backing her were your father and your bro¡ª¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he quickly changed his words and continued. ¡°Your father and Asher. Now, your father has already passed away, and Asher has already stepped down. He¡¯s no longer as influential in Chanaea. Without those two backers, who could she ask to bring her to such a grand event?¡± Gwendolyn fell silent. Well, I don¡¯t know¡­ Evelyn¡¯s social circle back then was clear for everyone to see. She was named the best actress when she was very young, so everyone knew how arrogant she was. Thus, she didn¡¯t have friends in the entertainment industry Indeed, Evelyn had to rely on Marcus and Asher back then. Gwendolyn was puzzled. Without the status of the Harris family¡¯s heiress, which big shot could she have hooked up with? I can¡¯t think of anyone. Chapter 514 Chapter 514 With that in mind, Gwendolyn heaved a heavy sigh and looked out the car window. ¡°Forget about it. I don¡¯t care if that was Evelyn or not. As long as she doesn¡¯t show up again to harm Benny and Zendy, I can keep thinking she¡¯s dead.¡± Hearing that, Cedrick tightened his grip on her hand to calm her down. However, Gwendolyn was so bothered by Evelyn¡¯s sudden appearance that she ignored him. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Gwenny. Overthinking it isn¡¯t going to help. We¡¯ll decide what to do after Elven has gotten the results. Benny and Zendy are safe at home. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Gwendolyn absent-mindedly hummed in response. Cedrick couldn¡¯t help sighing. In a gentle tone, he tried to ask for a reward. ¡°Darling, I behaved myself and went to the g after I finished my job at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Since I¡¯ve been obedient, don¡¯t you think 1 deserve a reward when we get home?¡± he requested. Gwendolyn cast a sidelong nce at him listlessly. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling it.¡± -A wave of grievance washed over Cedrick when he heard her lukewarm response. ¡°Darling, do you not don¡¯t find me attractive anymore? Have I not been able to give you pleasure in bed? Could it be that you find my abs and corbones sexy anymore?¡± ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve lost interest in me!¡± Cedrick looked devastated. In a sorrowful tone, he grumbled, ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Darling. Don¡¯t you want to have sex with me anymore?¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. How am I supposed to respond to that? ¡°Answer my questions, Darling. I¡¯ll do whatever I can to spice up our sex life again,¡± he added. In response, she turned toward him reluctantly and replied, ¡°It¡¯s not that. I¡¯m just tired, and I don¡¯t feel like moving.¡± Gwendolyn had been working all day long, and she had to attend the g after work. At that moment, she couldn¡¯t wait to get home and shower before going to bed. Cedrick, on the other hand, had something else in mind. ¡°Well, I know you¡¯ve been doing most of the work the past two times we had sex. I¡¯ll be the one doing the work tonight! All you need to do is lie down and enjoy. Darling. I¡¯ll please you.¡± Again, Gwendolyn was at a loss for words. It seems like he had everything nned out. Although she didn¡¯t answer him, she had to admit that Cedrick had sessfully helped her take her mind off Evelyn. In fact, sex was the only thing on her mind at that time. Late at night, the couple¡¯s fun was only just beginning Meanwhile, professionals hadpared the will Charles handed in with Caylie¡¯s handwriting when she was alive. The professionals found that the simrity was as high as eighty-five percent. Besides, it was true that Caylie was diagnosed with depression when Charles returned to the country back then. Everything made sense. Craig¡¯s case had been dragging on for a long time, so Cedrick decided to collect all the conclusive evidence and formally hand it over to the court. Two dayster, the verdict was rendered. Craig was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security prison. That day, Craig, dressed in in clothes, was seen wearing a mask and handcuffs as he was brought into a car. It rained cats and dogs the day Craig was sent to prison, but that didn¡¯t stop Charles from waiting for his half-brother at the prison entrance. Charles wore an elegant suit and held a ck umbre while waiting patiently. A few minutester, the car, with Craig inside, arrived. Craig saw Charles the moment he got out of the car. With his eyes filled with murderous intent, he wanted to rush toward Charles. ¡°Charles!¡± Craig shouted. However, he was held back by the officers. With a hand on his umbre, Charles didn¡¯t budge one bit. At the same time, the viciousness in Charles¡¯ blue eyes and grin seemed even more apparent under the dark sky. Craig was so angry that he was trembling all over. However, he was wearing heavy handcuffs and shackles, so there was nothing he could do to Charles.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The winner takes it all. Now that Craig lost, there¡¯s nothing he can do against me. Charles then pretended to sound sorrowful when he uttered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Craig. I¡¯ll visit you often. Besides, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have fun in this high-security prison. I almost lost my mind when I was kept inside for six months. You¡¯ll be in there for the rest of your life, Craig. What are you going to do now?¡± Craig was livid, and his eyes were filled with rage. If he could kill someone with his eyes, Charles would¡¯ve already gotten stabbed a thousand times. Still, Craig was struggling to dash toward Charles. However, the officers held him tightly as they dragged him into the prison. While watching Craig get dragged in, Charles uttered coldly, ¡°Goodbye, Craig. From now on, I¡¯ll lead the Newton family. I won¡¯t let you down, Craig.¡± ¡°Charles Newton!¡± Craig¡¯s roar echoed in the air. The smile on Charles¡¯ face disappeared, and a cold and smug expression took over. Upon letting out a scoff, he left. The day Craig was sent to prison, the battle for the position as the head of the Newton family began. In the Newton residence, Lucas, Jasmine, and Charles were having lunch together. Without Craig there, the main seat was left empty, as the trio was wise enough not to take the seat. During lunch, the dining room was silent, save for the nking of utensils and tes. The atmosphere was awkwardly harmonious. After some time, Lucas asked tentatively, ¡°Charles, now that no one is leading the family, what ideas do you have in your mind?¡± Charles shed a faint smile and continued eating casually. ¡°What would I have in my mind? I doubt I¡¯ll ever get to be the head of the family. Since you¡¯re older than me, Lucas, I¡¯ll back you.¡± Lucas was sizing him up carefully. His expression seemed natural when he said those words. It didn¡¯t look like he was lying. ¡°Charles, do you really not want to be the head of the family?¡± Lucas questioned. Charles shook his head and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll never go after something that¡¯s not mine. Don¡¯t worry, Lucas. If you want to fight off the others to be the head of the family, Jasmine and I will back you up.¡± Hearing that, Jasmine swallowed the food in her mouth and nodded innocently. Lucas felt at ease when he saw his younger siblings¡¯ responses. ¡°Charles, I¡¯m happy to hear that. From now on, you can rx at home with peace of mind.¡± Charles smiled and nodded before lowering his head to conceal the dark look in his eyes. After lunch, he went to Harrick Vi again. Ever since bing Benedict¡¯s and Zendaya¡¯s godfather, he would visit Harrick Vi daily to bring them gifts. Needless to say, he cared about the kids a lot. Coincidentally, Cedrick was free that day, so Cedrick and Craig yed with the kids in the nursery on the fourth floor. One of them was with Benedict, and the other kept Zendayapany. Although they only attended to one child each, the atmosphere was, again, inexplicably harmonious. After a while, Cedrick turned toward Charles and asked nonchntly, ¡°I heard that the battle to be the head of the Newton family is rather intense. How do you find the time toe here every day? Don you need to stay home and strategize?¡± Charles smiled brightly as he shook the maracas to entertain Zendaya. ¡°Why would I be busy? I¡¯m not involved in the power struggle.¡± Hearing that, Cedrick asked tentatively, ¡°Well, if you were to be the head of the Newton family, you would be in charge of all the family affairs. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to give it a go?¡± Charles turned toward the man and answered, ¡°I would like to have a go at it, but I¡¯m an ex-convict. Besides, I don¡¯t have influence, manpower, or shares. How am I supposed to fight against them?¡± Afterward, he added jokingly. ¡°Could it be that you would like to back me up. Mr. Jenson?¡± Chapter 515 Chapter 515 Upon hearing that, Cedrick stopped ying with Benedict and met Charles¡¯ gaze before putting on straight face. In response to Charles¡¯ probing question, Cedrick neither agreed nor declined to help. Instead, be questioned, ¡°How would you want me to help you?¡± Charles was as cool as a cucumber when he replied, ¡°Unlike you, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯ve never been in charge of a family before. Since I¡¯m inexperienced, I would rather take your advice.¡± Cedrick went silent and continued ying with Benedict. Charles was being extremely patient, and he continued entertaining Zendaya. Gwendolyn arrived home from workter that night. She had been working overtime over the past few nights as she worked hard to develop a business proposal for Dovil Group. she was Although Neal had implied that the tender event would only be a formality and he would coborate with determined Harris Group, Gwendolyn wanted to avoid getting criticized by the public. Therefore, to develop a perfect business proposal to win the tender fair and square. As she was walking from the study to the bedroom, she was rubbing her temples wearily. At that moment, -Cedrick was in bed and scrolling through his phone. When he saw hering in, he immediately got of bed, put on his house slippers, and carried her. After that, he sat on the bed and rested Gwendolyn on hisp. With his slender fingers, he went on to massage her shoulders, back, and legs. Gwendolyn merely shut her eyes to enjoy the massage. A few minutester, she felt a lot less lethargic. While massaging her, Cedrick¡¯s mind started drifting away. I should ask for Gwendolyn¡¯s opinion regarding what Charles told me in the nursery earlier today. With that in mind, he uttered, ¡°Darling, Charles has beening to our house a lottely. With the fierce battle for the head of the Newton family going on, I think he had asked me to help him secure some shares. Do you think I should help him?¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn opened her eyes and looked at him. ¡°What do you think?¡± In a serious tone, Cedrick answered, ¡°A lot of people tend to lose self-control when given power. Things will usually go south shortly after. Moreover, Charles wasn¡¯t necessarily a good man before this. If someone were to hand over the position of authority to Charles, he could be dangerous.¡± Gwendolyn kept mum for a long while before asking. ¡°If your mind was made up, why did. ¨C asking me?¡± you bother ¡°Well¡­¡± While Cedrick was still massaging Gwendolyn, he plunged into a dilemma. Well, the bad blood between us is all in the past now. When Charles returned this time around, he helped me and got beaten up badly in the process. By right, I should return the favor, no? As long as it¡¯s within my capabilities, I should help him. Then again, I can¡¯t help being wary of him. Gwendolyn seemed to know what was on his mind, so she sighed and said earnestly, ¡°Craig getting sent to Trust Him Just This Once prison is a huge blow for Newton Group. At this time, thepany needs a reliable leader who can manage the situation. Frankly, Charles is a very capable man. On the contrary, Tucas in¡¯t Turas H inherently cowardly and easily manipted. Hence, he can¡¯t achieve great things. The other candidates in the branch families are worse. Knowing how cruel they are, they might kick Jamine out of the Newton residence in no time.¡± Cedrick remained silent and nced at Gwendolyn. He didn¡¯t expect her to have thought about the matter so minutely. She then added. ¡°Regarding Charles, he has really helped us this time around, and he¡¯s also Benny¡¯s and Zendy¡¯s godfather. Perhaps we should return the favor. Furthermore. Treyton told me if Charles were to be the head of the family. Treyton could get engaged to Jennifer and stay with her. In other words, letting Charles be the head of the Newton family can benefit everyone. Why don¡¯t we trust him just this once?¡± Having already heard so much, Cedrick found no reason to object. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll listen to you, Darling.¡± he answered. I guess letting Charles be the head of the Newton family isn¡¯t that big of a deal. After all, he isn¡¯t the head of the Central Intelligence Agency anymore, so he has no influence over the military. I doubt he can do much if he¡¯s merely the head of his family. In order to help Charles be the head of the Newton family. Cedrick and Treyton bought out quite a large amount of Newton Group¡¯s shares. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. With Cedrick being Charles backer, the rest of the members of the Newton family were rather defenseless, and within three days, Charles sessfully took control of the Newton family. One day after the announcement was made on the official website. Treyton brought the engagement gi he had prepared earlier to the Newton residence to propose an engagement. Sure enough, Charles kept his word and epted the proposal. A day after the engagement, the news was published on Newton Group¡¯s official website. Just like that, Jennifer was formally allowed to stay in Treyton¡¯s vi When Jennifer saw the news, she instantly took out the two suitcases she had prepared beforehand and quickly rushed out of her bedroom and down the stairs. Little did she know that before Treyton left the vi, he had stationed a few bodyguards at the entrance to keep her safe. When the bodyguards saw her rushing out of the vi, they stopped her immediately. ¡°Ms. Newton, Mr. Treyton is out. He told us to let you rest at home and only let you out in a couple of days,¡± one of the bodyguards said. Those words annoyed Jennifer. ¡°Before this, he told me he would let me out right after the engagement. How could he go back on his word? Doesn¡¯t he know I get bored easily? I would rather die than stay at home every day.¡± The bodyguards remained unmoved. ¡°Ms. Newton, we really can¡¯t let you out. If we do so, Mr. Treyton will go berserk when he returns. We might even lose our jobs. Please go back inside, Ms. Newton¡± Jennifer saw red. ¡°I¡¯m not his toy! How could he imprison me?¡± Both parties were still arguing when Treyton arrived home in his luxury car. He was over the moon because of the engagement, so he hurried toward Jennifer upon exiting his car. < Trust Him Just This Once With his arms around Jennifer¡¯s waist, he said, ¡°Jennifer, we¡¯re now engaged! After this, we¡¯ll get married and have kids together. How happy are you?¡± Jennifer struggled out of his arms and went back to her room with a scowl on her face. Baffled, Treyton turned toward the two bodyguards at the entrance and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with her? Did you guys anger her?¡± The bodyguards bowed at him respectfully before telling him what had happened a few minutes prior. Shortly after, Treyton entered Jennifer¡¯s room and saw her sitting next to the window with an easel in front of her. At that moment, she was scribbling frustratedly. In a gentle tone. Treyton exined, ¡°I wasn¡¯t imprisoning you, Jennifer. Before this, our rtionship wasn¡¯t legitimate, so I had to let you rest at home. Now, I can see that you¡¯re all recovered. I¡¯ll send those bodyguards away so that you can go out and have fun.¡± Her eyes turned watery, and she grew excited at once. ¡°Are you really letting me out?¡± she asked in disbelief. Treyton nodded in response. Jennifer was on cloud nine. ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Treyton! However, I¡¯m not going out to have fun. Instead, I want to continue to pursue an acting career. Both you and Gwendolyn say that I¡¯m a popr actress in the industry, so I want to reach greater heights.¡± Chapter 516 Gwendolyn Goes On A Business Trip Chapter 516 Gwendolyn Goes On A Business Trip Treyton knew that Jennifer had always been an ambitious and career-minded woman. Therefore, he had no reason to object when she wanted to continue pursuing her career He stroked her head lovingly. ¡°Okay. Because you were sick previously, I told the team to stop epting job offers. It¡¯s been too long since youst filmed a movie. I¡¯ll ask them to get you a web series tomorrow, and you can familiarize yourself with things again. What do you think?¡± Jennifer wavered for a while before she chose to listen to the man and obediently nodded in acquiescence. Her memories had presentlypsed four years. As such, her maturity from the past few years of work was gone, and her eyes reverted to their innocence and naivety in the past. Back then, Treyton fell for her innocence, kindness, and cuteness. As he looked at her then, it felt like she had returned to her adorable self when he first made her acquaintance. Well, things seem to be pretty great now. It doesn¡¯t matter that she no longer remembers me. We¡¯ll start all over again! The day of the global open tender by Dovil Group drew increasingly nearer. It would be held three dayster at a seven-star hotel in Astoria, Fransia Hotel. Gwendolyn went all out for the open tender. She drafted a business proposal and worked overtime into the dead of night, revising it five times. It was then one o¡¯clock in the morning, but she was still burning the midnight oil. Dissatisfied with a few aspects of the proposal, she nned to amend everything in her strive for perfection before going downstairs to rest. Creak! The soft creak of a door opening drifted into the air. The study door opened a crack, and a pair of enigmatic ebony eyes cautiously peered at the situation in the room amidst the darkness. Gwendolyn¡¯s hands continued flying across the keyboard. Out of the blue, she uttered, ¡°Come in. It¡¯s your house, yet you¡¯re acting all sneaky. Someone ignorant might even take you for a thief.¡± When her words rang out, the study door swung open widely. Cedrick, who had been abandoned in the bedroom, slipped in. ¡°Don¡¯t stay up sote. Gwenny. It¡¯s bad for health.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes remained fixed on theputer, and she did not bother sparing him a nce. ¡°There¡¯s still onest aspect hanging in the bnce. I¡¯ll go back to the room when I¡¯m done. Go to bed first if you¡¯re sleepy. Don¡¯t wait for me.¡± At that, words cluded Cedrick. He forcibly suppressed the irritation zing within him. ¡°You said the exact same thing when I came over ten minutes ago, half an hour ago, an hour ago, and even three hours ago. You could at least change things up if you¡¯re brushing me off, Darling¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Is that so?¡± Gwendolyn rubbed the tip of her nose in embarrassment. Striding over, Cedrick scooped her up from the chair without a word. He plopped down on her chair and settled her on hisp. ¡°Neal and I are acquaintances. Since he had agreed to an internal selection for this open tender, you can just have your employees draw up a business proposal and submit it to him. You¡¯ll definitely get the coboration, so why must you do everything yourself? It¡¯s tiring.¡± Weariness lined Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°I know, but I don¡¯t want to depend on your connections, much less end up disparaged for cinching the coboration via internal selection through the back door. Only by coming up with a sufficiently sincere business proposal would I be able to convince everyone of my victory and earn the open tender rightfully.¡± Cedrick brushed his fingers across her cheek, his eyes brimming with distress. Knowing that she was a stubborn person who would never change her mind easily once she had made a decision regarding a work matter, he did not bother dissuading her further. Instead, he asked, ¡°The open tender is in three days, and you¡¯ll have to go abroad for a business trip then. How long are you nning to stay there?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll finish the final business proposal tonight, then buy a ticket for an early flight tomorrow. If everything goes smoothly, I¡¯ll be back in a few days.¡± ¡°How many days exactly?¡± Cedrick put on a long face before whining. ¡°A day without you feels like a decade. Aren¡¯t you making me live without you for decades, Darling?¡± Hearing that, Gwendolyn burst into giggles. ¡°Stop exaggerating.¡± Cedrick sighed, still as worried as ever. ¡°No, I¡¯ve got to go with you. I¡¯ll work remotely. We can regard this trip as our bted honeymoon. We¡¯ll go on a vacation and have fun for a few days.¡± At once, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned solemn. She flicked him on the forehead lightly. ¡°That won¡¯t do. With you gone, Mdm. Yarde would be left taking care of the kids alone. What if something were to happen?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call Nico over and have him help Mdm. Yarde take care of the kids.¡± ¡°Once you leave, you¡¯d have to hand the affairs at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to him, no? He also has to manage things at Jenson Group and report meeting minutes to you regrly. Now, you even want him to take care of Benny and Zendy. How could he possibly handle so many things?¡± Cedrick went silent with a sullen look on his face. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Gwendolyn shed him a sweet smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I promise to be back in a few days. Nothing will happen. Be good and handle things both within the country and our family. You¡¯re not allowed to go after me. Do you hear me?¡± However, Cedrick hung his head without responding to that. Gwendolyn lifted his chin and pressed a consoling kiss on his lips. Initially, her n was only to kiss him lightly. Unexpectedly, things spiraled out of control. Just when they were about to go past the point of no return, she called a halt in the nick of time. ¡°Cut it out. The door is still opened.¡± Ignoring her, Cedrick locked his hands around her slender waist, ¡°Mdm. Yarde and the kids are asleep, so they¡¯d never go downstairs. Other than them, there¡¯s no one else in this vi. What¡¯s there to fear?¡± He leaned forward to kiss her again, but Gwendolyn pped a hand over her mouth and pushed him away. ¡°No way. Mdm. Yarde is in the habit of waking up at night. It¡¯d be utterly embarrassing if she were to see us at itter. You¡¯ve got no shame, but I do.¡± Once again, Cedrick was struck dumb.. Dejection swamped him. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. The tidal surge of desire within him was bursting at the seams, yet he had to force it back because of Zory and the two little ones. Argh! The two-babies must be my punishment from God, huh? Even now, they¡¯re taking my wife¡¯s love away from me. It¡¯d only be worse when they¡¯ve grown up! Burying his head in her chest, he harrumphed in dissatisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re going abroad tomorrow, but 1 can¡¯t even have a taste of you before you leave. How pitiful of me!¡± His pitiful remark, coupled with his low and hoarse voice, tugged at Gwendolyn¡¯s heartstrings. Indeed. I¡¯m going to be away for several days. He¡¯d likely be beyond frustrated at home, so it¡¯d be unreasonable for to leave him hanging. Following that thought, she relented. ¡°Go and close the door, then. Remember to do the same for the windows as well.¡± In a sh, Cedrick perked up. He pecked her on the cheek before readily getting to his feet to close the door. Upon his return, he ced her on the desk and gazed at her with his head tilted back. His voice, which dripped with desire, was incredibly seductive. The study is a great ce. We can work and have supper here.¡± A bewitching smile bloomed on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. Early the following morning, Gwendolyn seized the opportunity while Cedrick was still sleeping soundly and quietly left Harrick Vi with her luggage. If he were to wake up, he¡¯d insist on seeing me off. At that time, it¡¯d be troublesome if he were reluctant to part with me and insist on going with me. After leaving the Jenson residence, she rushed to the airport. She got her boarding pass and waited in the waiting lounge for over an hour. For the business trip this time, she did not bring anyone along, keeping a low profile by traveling alone. When the broadcast system in the waiting lounge announced her flight, she slowly made her way to the boarding gate while wheeling her suitcase behind her. However, things were exceedingly strange that day. She was the only person walking down the jetway. Lingering briefly, she ascertained that no other passengers were turning up. She then nced at the fligh ticket she bought It¡¯s correct, the business ss. Puzzled, she climbed up the boarding stairs. A beautiful flight attendant was already waiting by the cabin door. The instant she saw Gwendolyn approaching, she bowed politely. ¡°Good morning. Ms. Harris. Have a pleasant journey,¡± Halting in her tracks, Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Why are there no other passengers ¡°A gentleman reserved the entire nest night, asking us to fly you alone. Please take a seat in the first- ss cabin,¡± the flight attendant answered with a smile, Without having to think about it, Gwendolyn knew who exactly was the mysterious gentleman the flight attendant was referring to. She heaved a sigh of exasperation. Unexpectedly, Cedrick still made such a fanfare when I was all set to travel in a low profile. ¡°Please thank the gentleman on my behalf, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll take the first-ss cabin. After all, I bought I the business ss. I¡¯ll take my own seat¡± Brandishing the flight ticket in her hand at the flight attendant, she stepped into the cabin in her high heels. A conflicted expression showed on the flight attendant¡¯s face. She wanted to persuade Gwendolyn further, but thetter had already gone a distance away, Left with no other recourse, she could only make a call and report the matter to the mysterious gentleman. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn found the seat she had bought in the empty cabin. She stayed uptest night to amend the business proposal and was put through the wringer by Cedrick into the wee hours, so she had not slept much. In the habit of catching up on sleep during a flight, she asked the flight attendant for a nket no sooner had she taken her seat. She draped it over her knees and switched her phone off Within seconds, she had fallen asleep. A whileter, she vaguely sensed the pressure of the ne taking off. Groggy, she was so sleepy that she merely turned her head to the other side and continued sleeping. She remained unmoved until gusts of warm breath hit her cheek, making her itch. ¡°Cut it out.¡± Her brows furrowed, and she habitually huffed at Cedrick in her sleep. Even so, her mind gradually cleared. Cedrick reserved the entire ne, and I¡¯m the only passenger. How could there be someone sitting beside me? She instantly opened her eyes in rm, only to be greeted by the sight of a handsome yet familiar face staring at her with a grin mere inches away. There was a besotted look in the man¡¯s ebony eyes. ¡°Why are you here?¡± It was none other than Cedrick. ¡°Darling, I¡­ Ouch!¡± Pinching the lobe of his ear, Gwendolyn twisted it hard. ¡°How naughty of you, Ceddy. We agreed that you¡¯d stay home and take care of Benny and Zendy. How could you leave all work and family matters. behind and secretly board my ne?¡± Chapter 517 A Honeymoon In A Foreign Land Chapter 517 A Honeymoon In A Foreign Land Costrada beams creased to panx but he did not dare dodge, obediently taking the wrath of his wife ¡°Dve made arrangements for beach As Benny and Zendy¡¯s godtather, Charles will be taking care of them with Summer Not so gave full authority to Nico Subsequently matters at the Federal kings I Burst bovestes will be handled to Nico and Neville jouly Truly, I only dared to leave with you after waking all the arrangements Take it easy. Darling My ear hurts Ind be awkwardter of the party Neal se tops & us up at the auport were to see my car all rest Osendon released her grip on him. Her expression remained stony, but her fingers naturally massaged his earlobe ¡°You really want behave I told you not toe after me, but that¡¯s exactly what you did.¡± Although he had made all the arrangements, she still could not shake off the uneasiness within her ¡°You Kosow rull well that you¡¯re the only person I can trust most. Benny and Zendy would be in danger with your I nted a kiss on her check ¡°li¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve spent time alone with you after gesting mainot because of the kids. This time, treat it as a honeymoon apart from work. Don¡¯t think about other things¡± Wrapping his arms around her slender waist, he continued. ¡°Rest assured about the kids safety. Charles is the godtather at the end of the day. Then, there¡¯s Summer keeping an eye on things at the side. Nathing would happen Comendo sighed Now that things havee to this the ne has already taken off and he has left Chanaeannd with me. Nothing I believe his once. The kids must remain safe and sound before we return to the country: Otherwise. I¡¯d never forgive your willful behavior this time and teach you a lesson that you¡¯d remember forever¡± Larily resting his head against her shoulder. Cedrick drawled nonchntly. ¡°How so?¡± Gwendolyn put on a stern expression ¡°You¡¯d be in agonizing pain, and there¡¯d be blood. I¡¯d break your misbehaving legs so you couldn¡¯t get out of bed for weeks. Are you scared now Cedrick bobbed his head, yet a smile curved his lips. He murmured into her car in a deep voice, ¡°But 1 know you wouldn¡¯t be able to bring yourself to do that to me.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ensitive. Gwendolyn¡¯s car flushed bright red from his breaths. Keeping up the forbidding aura, she densed. ¡°Try me if you don¡¯t believe it. I¡¯d never be merciful when the situation is different. Just pray that you wouldn¡¯t get beaten to death¡± Cedrick boldly burrowed into her sensitive neck and nipped the side of it lightly. ¡°If you¡¯re still angry, Gwenny, how about punishing me when we check into the hotel after getting off the ne?¡± His teasing sparked Gwendolyn¡¯s desire, but she forcibly suppressed it. She eyed him strangely. ¡°You¡¯re nching for a beating Cedrick grinned shamelessly It was his first time going abroad with Gwendolyn. He was thrilled to the core, anticipating each following day of their trip in a foreignnd. A Honeymoon In A Foreign Land ¡°As Asing as i¡¯s fissent you I love it even if I end up with red beh marks all over me¡± That tendered Gwendolyn speechless Her face thushes bright rest Gat Nose coada be goal of such shameless and intimate staff triben we be on the ne note, and there are still flight Mortified, she pinched his check. ¡°Your tongue is always speaking out of turn. I should seal your mouth¡± Cedrick arched a shapely brow, his lips suddenly curving into a devilish smile. Pulling her close by the waist, he rubbed the tip of his nose against hers. ¡°You can seal my mouth right away so I¡¯d never open my mouth to speak agai After saving that in a mesmerizing and seductive voice, he lowered his head and captured her lips. The kiss was long and lingering He explored every singleer of her mouth, staining her every breath with his essence. It was so possessive that it almost robbed her of all breath. Gwendolyn had not imbibed, vet she was drunk on his tenderness At the veryst moment, she timely pushed him away, shooting daggers at him. ¡°You just have to act recklessly and put on a disy of affection, yes! Since you¡¯re not afraid of embarrassment, I don¡¯t mind either Herpetitiveness sparked to lite. Getting up, she straddled the man before seizing his jaw forcefully and taking the initiative to kiss him. With her other hand, she lifted his suit jacket and shirt, raking her nails across his sculpted abs Several groans of desire escaped Cedrick. His chest heaving violently, he hastly grabbed the wrist of her misbehaving hand. ¡°Please stop, Gwenny. Idbust if you were to continue leasing me. Gwendolyn snorted arrogantly. ¡°Admit to your mistake, and I¡¯ll spare you.¡± Needless to say, Cedrick smartly yielded. ¡°I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have kissed you on the ne¡­ Dragging out the final word, he abruptly leaned close to her car and added in a mere whisper, ¡°I should¡¯ve waited until we¡¯re at the hotel before enjoying the feast without restraint!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s temper spiked, and her indomitable spirit reared its head. I don¡¯t care! I want to subdue him? Instead of being the weaker party forever, I want to turn the tables and be a queen who can have him submit to me in bed! At that thought, she countered without backing down. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your promise earlier that I can punish you however I please when we arrive at the hotel. The belt marks you¡¯d been craving would undoubtedly be a reality. I want you to cry and beg for mercy!¡± Cedrick pinned his gaze on her delicate and exquisite face, his ebony eyes brimming with indulgence. ¡°Okay. Then, we shall see whether you¡¯d end up aching all over or I¡¯d end up crying and begging for mercy tonight, Gwenny.¡± Chapter 518 Fulfilling The Bet Chapter 518 Fulfilling The Bet Gwendolyn harrumphed haughtily. ¡°We shall see, then.¡° Her eyes met with Cedrick¡¯s. They held each other¡¯s gazes that both zed with a desire to subjugate the other. Astoria was a long distance away from Chanara. Even by ne, a trip took more than twenty hours. With Cedrick keeping herpany, Gwendolyn was not at all lonely during her trip this time. They both leaned against the porthole, watching the first ray of sunlight together. Then, they admired the impressive mountains and infinite clouds before enjoying the sunset in the evening. Pointing at the clouds tinged with purple and red hues on the horizon, Gwendolyn smirked mischievously. and teased Cedrick. ¡°Do you like that color, Hubby? When we¡¯ve gotten off the ne and checked into the hotel. I¡¯ll replicate the same shade on your skin, okay?¡± Cedrick wrapped his arms around her waist. ¡°It must be painful for such a color to develop. Despite your talk, you¡¯d never be able to bring yourself to do that to me.¡± Tilting her head up, Gwendolyn kissed him lightly on the chin in lieu of her answer. Indeed, she would never be able to bring herself to abuse him thus, While their honeymoon in a foreignnd resulted from the man¡¯s disobedience, it was already toote to change anything. Thus, she hoped that her business trip this time would be a sweet and unforgettable memory. Twenty-odd hours were long, but it passed in the blink of an eye because the couple was spending the time together harmoniously. ording to n, they entered Astoria¡¯s airspace. By the time they disembarked from the ne, it was already over nine o¡¯clock at night. There were few people at the airport. However, the party Neal Gray sent to pick them up at the airport. was already waiting there. At the sight of Cedrick and Gwendolyn walking out of the arrival gate, Neal¡¯s assistant, Queena, shrieked and trotted over to them enthusiastically. ¡°You came as well, Mr. Jenson? What an honor! I¡¯m greatly honored to receive the wealthiest woman in Chanaea and the most authoritative figure in the Federal Bureau of Investigation in concert!¡± Holding Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, Cedrick shed her a friendly smile. ¡°My wife is here on a business trip, so I¡¯m acting as herckey this time, keeping herpany these two days.¡± Queena darted her gaze back and forth between them in envy. ¡°Your rtionship with your wife is so close that it invites envy, Mr. Jenson.¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Cedrick seemed to be well-pleased with thatpliment. At no point in time did he drop his hold on Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. ¡°My wife is tired. Please lead the way to the hotel, Ms. Queena.¡± ¡°Sure, sure!¡± Bowing low, Queena made a sweeping gesture with her hand. As she led the way respectfully, she ushered the couple into the car. Ten minutester, they arrived at the hotel. Queena held out the room card to the presidential suite with both hands. This is the hotel room Mr. Gray prepared for you and your wife, Mr. Jenson. Do rest carlier tonight. It¡¯ste, and the trip must have been tiring. A car will be here at the hotel to pick you and Ms. Harris up for the open tender the day after tomorrow.¡± Cedrick casually took the room card from her. ¡°The open tender is the day after tomorrow, and this is Gwenny¡¯s first time visiting Astoria. As such, I n to bring her out for some fun tomorrow. Do you have any suggestions, Ms. Queena?¡± Queena mulled it over briefly. ¡°Are you interested in visiting Astoria¡¯s museum to learn about the country¡¯s culture and people. Ms. Harris? Alternatively, if you want, I can ask Mr. Gray for permission to take you both on a tour of Astoria¡¯s royal pce.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll take the museum, then.¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll inform Mr. Gray about it. Whenever you¡¯d like to set out tomorrow, give me a call. I¡¯ll send a car and escort to take you to the museum for a visit.¡± In response, Gwendolyn inclined her head graciously. Thank you. I appreciate it.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Subsequently, Queena and the bodyguards left. A staff member of the seven-star hotel promptly stepped forward and led Gwendolyn and Cedrick to the corresponding room upstairs with VIP treatment. With a click, the hotel room door¡¯s electronic lock engaged automatically. Narrowing her alluring eyes, Gwendolyn grabbed Cedrick¡¯s tie with long and slender fingers. She struck preemptively, emanating an imposing aura. Cedrick did not resist, gentle indulgence written all over his face. He allowed her to lead him to the bed by his tie. cing a hand on his lower back, Gwendolyn pushed him facedown on the bed. Then, she leaned forward and ced her entire weight on his waist. ¡°Are you ready to ept your punishment, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick put away the predatory glint in his eyes, acting like an obedient puppy who obeyed his wife. ¡°You¡¯re starting so quickly. Darling?¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯d be a fool to beckadaisical in whipping you in shape.¡± Cedrick choked back a bark ofughter. Capitalizing on her inattention, he bucked up and flipped over. In an instant, Gwendolyn was pinned underneath him. She struggled, but he restrained her wrists and raised them above her head before holding them down. against the bed. After having recovered, he was both strong and nimble. While Gwendolyn was no weakling either, she still paled inparison with him. Curling her lips in chagrin, she snorted. ¡°How pointless! I can¡¯t win against you. You were more fun when injected with the 023 special drug back then.¡± Puzzlement flooded Cedrick. This means that your husband is strong. Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head somberly. ¡°I still prefer you fragile, sickly, and weak, making for easy prey.¡± Cedrick took a long time to digest her words before gaping at her strangely with a hint of hurt. ¡°So, you don¡¯t like me but cute and adorable young men?¡± Clocking his expression, Gwendolyn mischievously pecked him on the cheek. ¡°No, I like you alone. I like you however you are, but I particrly love it when you¡¯re submissive.¡± That was already a tant hint. ying along, Cedrick docilely loosened his restraint on her. Nheless, his arms remained propped on both sides of her, locking her in ce beneath him. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take a shower together after such a tiring journey? I want to fulfill our bet in the bathroom tonight.¡± ¡°The bathroom?¡± Gwendolyn turned it over in her mind for some time, delight dancing in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a romantic ce. I like it.¡± At her agreement, Cedrick scooped her up in a bridal carry and headed straight toward the bathroom. As the sounds of running water split the air, the temperature in the bathroom rose, and the air misted. Water gushed out of the shower, coating Cedrick¡¯s exquisite and appealing body. Gwendolyn snagged a bath brush from somewhere or other. Taking advantage of the man¡¯s preupation with dousing himself with water, she furtively sneaked to his back before yfully and wickedly swinging the bath brush at his upturned bottom dotted with water. Smack! ¡°Ouch!¡± A stab of pain assailed Cedrick. Just as he was going to jerk around, Gwendolyn pressed down on his waist. ¡°Stay still, and don¡¯t move! This is your punishment. Push your butt higher.¡± Cedrick shook his head in exasperation, choosing to indulge her. The sounds of sshing water were apanied by smacksnding on flesh. That aside, there were asional groans of pain. It made for a peculiar yet harmonious medley, Seeing that he was behaving, Gwendolyn did not put much strength into the blows. Her strength was just perfect, fanning the mes of his desire. He wanted to take her, yet all he could do was keep his hands propped against the wall and ept his wife¡¯s spanking. It frustrated him to no end. Noting his expression, she asked smugly, ¡°Have you forgotten our bet? Do you want to cry and beg me for mercy?¡± Cedrick kept himself in check. I don¡¯t mind begging for mercy since yielding to her isn¡¯t shameful. But crying is another story altogether. That¡¯s too embarrassing. Gwendolyn continued swinging the bath brush at him. While at that, she stroked the tip of his car. ¡°As long as you cry and beg for mercy, not only will I spare you, but I¡¯ll also fulfill your wish of having me. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to consider it?¡± Chapter 519 His Priceless Treasure Was His Wife Chapter 519 His Priceless Treasure Was His Wife I¡¯ll get to have her? Cedrick¡¯s ebony eyes gleamed with excitement. So long as I get to have a taste of her, anything goes. Shedding a few tears and sobbing before her is nothing to be ashamed of! He bit his lower lip, making his eyes go red-rimmed. With tears shimmering in them, he nced back over his shoulder at her and murmured, ¡°I was wrong. Darling. I¡¯d never act arbitrarily again next time. Please don¡¯t hit me anymore. My butt is all swollen.¡± Dipping her eyes, Gwendolyn cast a look at the damage to his bottom. Indeed, his skin was red and swollen under the beads of water. She admired her handiwork. ¡°Your butt is even more perky now. This is my brand of fluffing up the butt quickly. It¡¯s of high quality andprehensive.¡± Words eluded Cedrick. -Suppressing the desire within him, he questioned in a hoarse voice. ¡°I¡¯ve already yielded to you. Shouldn¡¯t you keep up your end of the bargain and let me have you, Darling?¡± Gwendolyn put down the bath brush before giving a nod of her head. As soon as her weapon left her hand, Cedrick grabbed her wrist and yanked her under the shower. The aggressiveness in his eyes could no longer be masked. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten your wish, Gwenny. Thus, shouldn¡¯t it be your turn to ache all over?¡± ¡°Ced-¡± Before she had finished speaking. Cedrick¡¯s grip on her wrist increased in strength. In a trice, their positions were reversed. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. She was pinned against the wall with the man covering her from the back. Without any obstructions then, he took her without restraint. Recalling their visit to the museum tomorrow, Gwendolyn shyly reminded, ¡°Don¡¯t destroy me. Otherwise, how am I going out tomorrow? Exercise some restraint and take it easy.¡± Cedrick did not respond to that. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he imitated her tone and dered, ¡°This is my brand of keeping fit. It¡¯s of high quality and top-notch skills.¡± That left Gwendolyn without a retort. Gah! I was simply shooting myself in the foot! By the time they finished showering, her knees were weak, and her waist ached so much that she could not stand upright. His Priceless Treasure Was His Wife Cedrick thoughtfully wrapped a towel around her and carried her to the bed in the bedroom. He then brought a blow dryer over. Standing by the bed, he helped her blow dry her hair patiently. Bone-weary, Gwendolyn lowered her head and rested it against his waist with her eyes closed in a light sleep. Like an exquisite doll, she allowed him to do as he pleased to her. More than ten minutester, her hair was finally dry. Cedrick carefully shifted her below the covers. In the darkness, he pinned her down and kissed her on the forehead before moving to the tip of her nose. Gwendolyn was sleeping soundly when she was awakened by his kisses. ¡°What are you doing instead of sleeping at this hour?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Would you like some supper?¡± Gwendolyn instantly grasped his meaning, and her temper spiked. Inhaling deeply, she gritted her teeth. ¡°Ced-¡± No sooner had she started speaking than a pair of lips captured her soft ones. Before she could begin to struggle and put up a fight, the man had nipped it all in the bud. Forced into silence, she was gripped by the urge to curse him out. D*mn it! The first night of their honeymoon in a foreignnd kicked off with a roll in the hay. Verily, Gwendolyn was wiped out. She slumbered deeply, sleeping untilte noon the next day. Her growling stomach seemingly sensed the enticement of food and slowly cleared her groggy mind. She could vaguely smell the aroma of food in the air. Rubbing her bleary eyes, she sat up with a hand propped against her waist. At once, a bustling figure in the dining room entered her line of sight. The presidential suite was exceedingly spacious. There was a living room, bathroom, dining room, and bedroom. The d¨¦cor was opulent, the entire space taking on an Epean style of pure white. The only downside was theck of doors except for the bathroom. Sitting on the bed, Gwendolyn watched the man for a while. In the dining room, Cedrick looked elegant with a white shirt and suit pants. His shoulders were broad and his waist narrow, his figure perfectly proportioned. The cuffs of his shirt were rolled up twice, baring a small expanse of his muscr and tantalizing arm. He was putting out the food on the dining table, a feast prepared by the hotel¡¯s five-star chefs and delivered over She admired her hunk of a legally-wed husband. Her stomach had long since started growling incessantly under the enticement of the aroma of food Moving quietly, she slipped on a pair of slippers and tip-toed to his back. While he was not paying attention, she ced her fair fingers on his perky butt and squeezed his stic muscles. Cedrick indulged her, focusing on his task of moving all the food to the table. As Gwendolyn peered at the food on the table, she quipped. ¡°Your butt is downright solid, Ceddy. Most importantly, it¡¯s hardy. It was red and swollen from the bath brushst night, but I can¡¯t feel any swollenness now.¡± Pivoting. Cedrick cradled the back of her head with a hand. He leaned down and pressed a kiss on her soft lips. Again, he rubbed against the tip of her nose. Then, he murmured inches away from her in a low and hoarse voice, ¡°That¡¯s because it exclusively belongs to you. How could it be of use to you anythme otherwise?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks turned scarlet, and she pushed him away coquettishly. ¡°You¡¯re corrupted now, growing increasingly glib.¡± Without budging, Cedrick hugged her around the waist tightly. ¡°I¡¯ve never changed. It was just that I¡¯d been too busy these days and hadn¡¯t spent time with you alone.¡± At that, Gwendolyn nodded. Indeed, that was true. Just a while ago, Charles was dragged into the matter between Jennifer and Treyton. On top of that, they still had to take care of the little ones daily. It had been cons since she hadst been with Cedrick in such a manner, spending time alone. Hugging him back around the waist, she rested her head against his broad chest. ¡°Yeah. It must have been tiring for you. When the open tender is over, we¡¯ll stay longer in Astoria if the kids are well taken care of We¡¯ll vacation for at least a week before going back. What do you think? Cedrick stroked her hair in contentment. ¡°I¡¯d love that. To him, the kids were merely a surprise. His priceless treasure in this world was his wife. Therefore, anyone who stood between them spending time alone should buzz off and stay away. Havinge to a consensus, they happily had lunch. After eating, Cedrick helped Gwendolyn massage her waist, which was still aching. It was only when she had recovered from the bout of fatigue that she gave Neal¡¯s assistant, Queena, a call to arrange for a car and escort to take them to the museum for a visit. As it was Gwendolyn¡¯s first visit to Astoria, she was very much interested in the culture and relics there. She specially wore a pair of gold-rimmed sses and scrutinized every disy. His Priceless Treasure Was His Wife. Cedrick held her hand, never dropping his hold on her for a second. They looked just like a couple who was dating in their honeymoon phase, making Queena green with envy. While looking around, Gwendolyn glimpsed a white figure out of her peripheral vision. She snapped her head around, only to see that it was a visitor in another exhibition area. It was a couple. Due to the distance and the fact that the man was hugging the woman, she could only see them cuddling together and thetter¡¯s white dress. Noticing the direction of her gaze, Queena voluntarily exined. ¡°They¡¯re guests of the open tender who just came to Astoria yesterday. It¡¯s also their first time visiting the country, and they¡¯re interested in the museum. Mr. Gray arranged for someone else to take them around the museum.¡± ¡°They¡¯re also from Chanaea?¡± Gwendolyn asked nonchntly. ¡°No. Mr. Hall is from Ospea, and he brought his new girlfriend, Ms. Annie Steinfeld.¡± ¡°Annie Steinfeld?¡± Gwendolyn repeated. She stared at the white dress in the distance with a smile tugging at her lips. ¡°What a beautiful name, She must be a beauty.¡± Queena bobbed her head in agreement. ¡°You hit the nail on the head, Ms. Harris. Ms. Annie is indeed. stunningly beautiful. Although she¡¯s very young. Mr. Hall spoils her greatly. They¡¯re as loving as you and Mr. Jenson.¡± Chapter 520 A Chance To Start Over Chapter 520 A Chance To Start Over Gwendolyn and Cedrick looked at each other and smiled. From the way they gazed at each other with looks of adoring love in their eyes, they truly resembled a young couple in their honeymoon phase. ¡°Seeing that we¡¯re all here to visit the museum, should we go over to say hello and get acquainted?¡± she asked. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. He nced toward the exhibition hall on the opposite side. ¡°Since Mr. Hall is also here to spend some alone time with his girlfriend, I¡¯m sure he wouldn¡¯t want us to go over and disturb them. Why don¡¯t we wait until they¡¯ve made their way through that section before we head over there?¡± She nodded in agreement. I already don¡¯t quite enjoy socializing, let alone having to disrupt our sweet, quality time together to socialize. I¡¯m guessing those two wouldn¡¯t like it either. Hence, it¡¯s better not to disturb them. The brief interlude did not stop Gwendolyn and Cedrick from exploring the rest of the big museum. Each time, they would wait for Paul and Annie to finish browsing before moving on to the next part of the exhibition They took their time exploring the exhibition at Astoria¡¯srgest museum at a leisurely pace, and the afternoon flew by just like that. The sun was hanging low on the horizon and about to set when they exited the museum, and darkness gradually fell. Shifting her gaze down from the sky, Gwendolyn saw someone ushering Paul into a car that would take him back to the hotel. Meanwhile, his young girlfriend, Annie, had already gotten into the car ahead of him. From where Gwendolyn stood, she could only see Annie¡¯s slender legs and a pair of white, diamond- encrusted heels. She must be an elegant and gracefuldy. Instead of hastily getting into the vehicle, Paul turned around, seemingly having noticed Gwendolyn and Cedrick as they stood at the museum¡¯s entrance. Although the bearded man was in his forties, he was still handsome. He politely inclined his head in Cedrick¡¯s direction as a greeting, and thetter nodded in acknowledgment. Seeing that the two men exchanged nces, Gwendolyn asked curiously. ¡°Is that another friend of yours?¡± ¡°Not a friend. Just an acquaintance,¡± Cedrick answered tly while watching Paul¡¯s luxury car drive away from the museum. Having no interest in Paul, for the time being, she did not ask any other questions. She merely hummed in response and pulled Cedrick into their car. -After returning to the hotel, she immediately plopped onto the bed. They had spent the whole afternoon walking around the museum, and her legs were tired and aching. Cedrick crouched down, lifted her dainty feet, and gently massaged the acupuncture points on the soles of her feet. He was very skillful, and he did every movement lovingly. Gazing at the look of deep concentration on his handsome face, Gwendolyn smiled and asked, ¡°Why trouble yourself, Ceddy? Just find a massage parlor, and let¡¯s both go for a spa session. That¡¯ll make us feel thoroughly rxed and refreshed. How about that?¡± He did not smile, which was uncharacteristic for him. Instead, he raised his head solemnly and fixed his gaze on her. ¡°No one else can touch my wife¡¯s feet or any inch of her skin. If someone identally touches. you, I cut off their hands.¡± He was tantly staking his im on her. It was as though he had stamped her body with a personal seal that showed she belonged to him. Arching an eyebrow, she grinned impishly and deliberately asked, ¡°So what will you do if I touch another man on my own ord?¡± Cedrick stopped rubbing her feet. The corners of his eyes reddened as he stared at her. ¡°If that happens, it must be because I did something to make you angry. Your desire to touch another man has to be because you didn¡¯t find me attractive enough. I¡¯d reflect on my actions, get on my knees, and trade my life for your love.¡± Her heart twisted painfully, and she stroked his handsome face pityingly. ¡°Ceddy, the two of us are equals. You shouldn¡¯t think so little of yourself.¡± Cradling his face in her hands, Gwendolyn added earnestly, ¡°My heart will never change, and I won¡¯t touch another man. Lonly love you.¡± Feeling satisfied, he hugged her waist and pushed her onto the bed. ¡°We¡¯re still on our honeymoon, so how could you ask a question that could easily damage our rtionship? Shouldn¡¯t you be punished?¡± She nipped his chin gently. ¡°It was my mistake. What punishment did you have in mind?¡± He pinched her waist lightly with his hands and murmured in a hoarse voice, ¡°Since it¡¯s your fault, we should let your slender waist atone for your mistake.¡± With that, Cedrick leaned forward and pressed his thin lips against hers in a fervent kiss that radiated a strong sense of possessiveness. The sun had set, and a nket of darkness was slowly descending over everything. Inside the presidential suite, none of the lights were on. Hence, the hazy darkness concealed their pleasure. Gwendolyn did not resist from beginning to end, thinking everything would be fine once it was over, Little did she know it was only the first of many rounds that night. It was a long yet wonderful night. Due to the time difference, nighttime in Astoria was daytime over in Chanaca. Treyton could not help worrying about Jennifer¡¯s first filming since her recovery, so he personally went to the web series¡¯ filming set to supervise. The expectations for an actor¡¯s acting skills in a web series were not that high. Despite that, she still had countless failed takes. Losing her memories of the past four years meant she had forgotten everything she had gone through and learned in the entertainment industry. In front of the camera, she was now no different than a young and inexperienced rookie. Treyton was a bigwig in the entertainment industry, and with him personally overseeing the filming director dared not express his annoyance. All the director could do was force himself to keep his temper in check throughout all the failed takes and step forward to guide Jennifer through her scenes Jennifer was so nervous that she twisted the hem of her skirt around her fingers. She was disappointed in herself and felt utterly disheartened. Treyton¡¯s sharp eyes did not miss the exhaustion etched across her face. Calling a stop to the filming he led her to sit down in front of him. Then, he took a wet tissue and started gently wiping away the fine sheen of perspiration on her forehead. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Treyton. I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Her response was polite, yet distant. Although his fingers stiffened slightly, he tamped down the pain in his heart and handed her the tissue. ¡°You¡¯ve been trying for a few hours. How do you feel? Do you feel yourself getting into character?¡± Sighing, she shook her head and slid into a state of self-doubt. ¡°In the past¡­ Was I really a movie star who won the Best Actress Award?¡± He nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Until now, your gold trophy is still at my vi. You¡¯ve seen it,¡± Wearing aplicated expression, she looked dejected. ¡°Then why don¡¯t I have any recollection at all? Since I¡¯ve acted in so many movies, it stands to reason that tapping into my acting skills should be second nature to me. However, I¡­. I can¡¯t do it at all.¡± Jennifer could tell that none of the takes during those few hours of filming had been satisfactory. She knew the director was also in despair but dared not scold her because Treyton was there. She felt incredibly guilty, but she did not know what to do. ¡°I promise I¡¯m not lying to you. These are all the des you won due to your hard work. However, you don¡¯t have to feel discouraged. You¡¯re just ill now. When you recover, you¡¯ll remember everything.¡± he reminded her patiently. ¡°Is that true? Do I really have a chance of getting better?¡± She was still somewhat uncertain. Treyton was momentarily stunned. Then, he lowered his gaze that was tinged with guilt, and nodded. In truth, however, Joshua had previously said that Jennifer¡¯s nerves had been damaged, and it would be difficult for them to heal Nheless, Treyton patted her arm reassuringly. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t remember, it doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯ll always be my fianc¨¦e, and yours will be the only name written on my marriage certificate. It¡¯s okay that you¡¯ve forgotten me. I just hope you¡¯ll stop rejecting me, deliberately ignoring me, and refusing to let me get close to you. Give me a chance for a fresh start with you.¡± Jennifer lowered her head and spaced out for a long time before finally nodding stiffly. Even so, she was absent-minded and did not seem to have paid close attention to what he said. ¡°Um¡­ Mr. Treyton, it seems I¡¯ve no acting skills at all. I feel lost in front of the camera. Perhaps losing the memories of the past four years is fate¡¯s way of giving me a chance to start over. I want to choose again. Is that okay?¡± Treyton¡¯s fingers trembled. Suppressing the burgeoning fear in his heart with great difficulty, he asked, ¡°What is it that you want to choose again?¡± Choose whether or not she wants to be with me? Whether or not she wants to be my fianc¨¦e? Whether or not the wants to walk down the aisle with me in the future? As those questions ceaselessly echoed in Treyton¡¯s mind, his eyes reddened, and he squeezed his hands together nervously as he awaited her reply. Chapter 521 Late For The Tender Event Chapter 521 Late For The Tender Event Jennifer looked up innocently and met Treyton¡¯s gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m suited for acting. That¡¯s why I hope to step away from the entertainment industry and take some time to figure out what I want in life. I want to choose a suitable path for myself¡± Treyton heaved a sigh of relief Oh, thank goodness¡­ So long as she isn¡¯t breaking off our engagement or leaving me, I¡¯ll give her whatever she wants, even if it includes plucking the stars from the sky! ¡°Sure. You have my word. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t force you to make any choices. After all, you¡¯re only twenty-one years old and have zero acting experience. You have every right to reconsider your career options,¡± he replied before holding a hand out to Jennifer, his gaze warm and gentle. ¡°Ill settle things with the production team for you. Anyway, you ought to get some rest after a tiring day. May I take you home?¡± Jennifer stared at the man¡¯s hand for the longest time but didn¡¯t move a muscle. Thankfully, Treyton had all the patience in the world and didn¡¯t mind waiting for her answer. Jennifer, on the other hand, was struggling with her emotions. Oh, dear. What should I do? Treston rhe epitome of a wealthy, handsome bachelor, but he¡¯s also like a stranger to me. Besides. I¡¯ve never dated before and ca see myself being intimate with him. Sadly, I can¡¯t change the fact that everyone already knows he¡¯s my fiance. After all news of our rtionship was trending on social media for three days straight¡­ I should at least give it a try, shouldn¡¯t I? Who knows? I might learn to ept him. Jennifer slowly stretched out her hand and ced it in Treyton¡¯s. Naturally, thetter was overwhelmed with joy. As a contented smile tugged at his lips, he helped the woman to her feet and led her out of the film set. Hmm¡­ What if I threw caution to the wind and carried her? Would she be angry? I guess I wouldn¡¯t know unless I tried¡­ Just then. Treyton stopped in his tracks. Jennifer, who had been walking behind with her head lowered, bumped into his back. ¡°Mr. Treyton?¡± she mumbled as she rubbed her forehead and looked up. s, before she could say anything else. Treyton spun around and swept her into his arms. ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± Jennifer eximed. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to tire yourself out, so I¡¯ve decided to carry you to the car,¡± Treyton replied, his voice so deep and charismatic that Jennifer could feel her heart thumping wildly. But there are so many people outside. I think you should put me down. I can walk on my own¡­¡± Despite her pleas, Treyton continued to walk quickly and steadily. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with me carrying my fianc¨¦e. You need to start getting used to this kind of treatment. In fact, you can also order me around if you like.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. A red-faced Jennifer instantly lowered her head, too embarrassed to resist further. Late For The Tender Event After carrying the young woman into the car, Treyton couldn¡¯t help but gaze fondly at her. She was docile and adorable, and he couldn¡¯t be happier. Over in Astoria, the night was dark and silent. The presidential suite, however, was filled with a cacophony of breathless moans and grunts. Just as Cedrick was about to initiate intimacy for the fifth time, Gwendolyn promptly ced her feet on his chiseled chest to stop him. ¡°Can you calm down? Do you know how many times we¡¯ve done it tonight? How are you still not satisfied after four rounds?¡± she snapped as she red at the man and prodded him harder. Argh! He¡¯d better behave and stay away from me! ¡°Do you not like that I¡¯m so strong in bed?¡± Cedrick asked innocently. Instead of replying. Gwendolyn gave him the stink eye. ¡°I only want to sleep now. Tomorrow¡¯s the tender event, and I don¡¯t want you ruining my ns.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Cedrick reassured before attempting to move in again. s, Gwendolyn¡¯s foot kept him at bay. ¡°Darling, even if you can¡¯t get out of bed tomorrow, I can always attend the event on your behalf. It¡¯s not like there will be any surprises in the results.¡± ¡°Huh? So, if I¡¯mzy to have my meals, do I let you eat them for me too? Will I feel full once you are?¡± To that, Cedrick had no response. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Cedrick Jenson, this tender event is the entire purpose of my trip. It¡¯s my job and goal, and you can¡¯t rece it.¡± Like a child who had lost his snack privileges, Cedrick looked down and sulked in silence. Gwendolyn felt her heart softening at the sight and sighed. ¡°Will you behave yourself? It¡¯s already very late. If I don¡¯t sleep soon, I won¡¯t have the energy to handle tomorrow¡¯s open tender¡­ Tell you what, how about we visit Astoria¡¯srgest shopping mall after the event?¡± Cedrick finally nodded. Gwendolyn drew her leg back and crawled under the nket to sleep. Cedricky obediently beside her and pulled her into his warm embrace. ¡°Hey, Gwenny, speaking of the shopping mall,¡± he whispered as he leaned into Gwendolyn¡¯s car,¡± can you buy the dress I¡¯ve been dying to see you wear?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she replied groggily. Satisfied, Cedrick kissed her cheek and added, ¡°I meant the maid and cat costumes with lots of ck lace¡­¡± s, Gwendolyn was so exhausted by then that she merely gave a murmur of assent and fell asleep. That, of course, was good enough for Cedrick. ¡°Good. Now that you¡¯ve agreed, you can¡¯t go back on your word¡± After ensuring Gwendolyn was all snug as a bug in a rug, he snuggled his face into her hair and slowly drifted off The next day, the open tender was scheduled to start at one in the afternoon. Even though the sun was already up, the presidential suite remained dark and cozy, thanks to the drawn. Gwendolyn was so tired that neither she nor Cedrick woke up in time, and it was only when the event was about to start that Neal¡¯s assistant, Queena, hastily called the couple to check on them. King! King! King! The phone rang incessantly until a sleepy-eyed Gwendolyn eventually answered it. ¡°Ms. Harris, the tender event is starting in five minutes! Are you and Mr. Jenson caught in a traffic jam?¡± Needless to say, those words instantly jolted Gwendolyn awake. ¡°What? Only five minutes?¡± Despite the aches all over her body, she hurriedly sat up and began changing her clothes, By then, Cedrick had also been roused from his sleep and realized the gravity of the situation. Knowing it was his fault that Gwendolyn had overslept and might even turn upte for the tender event, he swiftly grabbed his phone and fired off a string of message A minuteter, Gwendolyn¡¯s phone rang again. Queena¡¯s voice sounded on the other end, except, this time, she was no longer panicking, ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Gray has already been informed of the unique situation you and Mr. Jenson are in. The tender will be postponed for another thirty minutes. Please take your time.¡± Gwendolyn, who was putting her gown on, suddenly stopped and turned to look at the calm, collected Cedrick. ¡°Hubby, are you telling me to sneak in through the back door? Do you expect the guests at the open tender to wait just because we¡¯rete?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Cedrick replied with raised eyebrows. Gwendolyn pouted glumly. ¡°I don¡¯t like doing things through the back door. I prefer¡ª¡± However, before she could finish, Cedrick stood up and pulled her into his arms. ¡°But you like going through my back door, Gwenny. Besides, I¡¯ll only open it for you.¡± For a moment, Gwendolyn was speechless. My goodness¡­ Are we even talking about the same thing now? Chapter 522 Jealousy Chapter 522 Jealousy Given Cedrick¡¯s personality, Gwendolyn could tell his statement had an underlying message. She raised her hand and flicked his forehead in annoyance. ¡°Quit fooling around! I¡¯m talking about work!¡± Rubbing the tender spot on his forehead, Cedrick scowled before retorting. ¡°I¡¯m not fooling around. It¡¯s you who¡¯s reading too much between the lines, Gwenny.¡± Gwendolyn gaped at him in disbelief. Did he just imply that my thinking is impure? Gwendolyn raised her hand and flicked Cedrick on the head once more. ¡°That just shows what a bad influence you have on me. Your fault for talking dirty all the time.¡± Cedrick was at a loss for words. Realizing that anything he said at that moment could be used against him, he admitted defeat and lowered his head meekly, no longer arguing with Gwendolyn. -Pleased that Cedrick had stopped messing around, Gwendolyn leaned forward and pecked his lips. Just then, she remembered the fact that the open tender had been postponed by an extra thirty minutes. Curiosity filled her heart as she asked, ¡°Neal is the crowned prince of Astoria and the rightful heir to the throne. He¡¯s someone with great power and authority. How could a single text from you cause a man of principles to bend the rules without any hint of hesitation? How did you do it? What did you tell him?¡± Cedrick cocked a brow. ¡°You really wanna know, Darling?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. A devilish grin appeared on his handsome face. ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± Gwendolyn fell silent at his reply. Seeing that she was about to get angry, Cedrick quickly but genuinely changed the subject. ¡°All right, Darling, go get ready. If we can¡¯t get to the open tender in the next half an hour, I¡¯ll just tell them that we¡¯re not going.¡± Gwendolyn tossed him a side-eye and decided to settle work first. After freshening up in the bathroom. she put on a gown and applied a facial mask for five minutes before putting on her makeup. Within half an hour, the two of them arrived at the open tender.. Only the bodyguards and Queena the assistant awaited them at the entrance. All of the guests were already seated inside the hall long ago. At the sight of the two of them, Queena hurried over to greet them. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Ms. Harris, you¡¯re finally here.¡± Out of habit, she took Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and led her into the event hall. As they walked, she whispered, ¡°Are you feeling better, Ms. Harris? Are you still in pain? Do you need medications?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± A confused look appeared on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Queena thought Gwendolyn was embarrassed. She tutted as a look of understanding appeared on her face The citizens of Astoria are open-minded. We¡¯re all aware of the possible rtions between a man and a woman. Besides, we¡¯re both women. There¡¯s no need to be shy, Ms. Harris Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. What is she going on about? Turning around, Gwendolyn shot Cedrick, who was behind her, a sharp re. What on earth did he tell Neal to postpone the open tender? To her exasperation, Cedrick merely shed her an innocent smile. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes coldly as a silent threat. Pulling her closer, Queena lowered her voice and continued to gossip in Gwendolyn¡¯s car. ¡°Ms. Harris, I assume Mr. Jenson was wild, wasn¡¯t he? Otherwise, how would you have gotten injured?¡± She chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re so blessed. Ms. Harris. I¡¯m jealous!¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. Throughout the whole time, she did not give Queena any response. Tired of speaking to herself, Queena eventually dropped the subject. At that moment, they arrived at the entrance to the hall. The private topic immediately came to a halt. The hall was eerily silent with asional whispers from the audience. Under the skeptical gaze of the crowd, Queena led Gwendolyn and Cedrick to their seats in the front row. After all of the guests had arrived, the open tender officially began. Any grumblings orints of the dy due to Gwendolyn and Cedrick beingte were hushed. Neal walked up to the stage and delivered the mandatory opening speech. After a few short minutes, the audience erupted into apuse as Neal gave a curt bow, signaling the end of the speech. As he stepped off the stage, the staff of the open tender entered the hall and approached the representatives of all the different corporations, collecting andbeling their sh drives, which contained the business proposal of their respectivepanies. Everything was done in an effective and orderly manner. The spacious hall was filled with guests. It took the staff ten whole minutes to finish collecting the sh drives from every representative, Once again, Neal got on the stage. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the diplomacy department of Dovil Group would need at least an hour to go through all your proposals. During the intermission, guests are free to move around or enjoy the performance prepared by the musical bands of Astoria.¡± As he spoke, the staff began carrying music stands and instruments, such as the drums and the piano, onto the stage. Neal had spent a great deal amount to invite a few star bands to perform at the open tender as a treat. After the night she had, Gwendolyn did not have the energy to move around. She chose to remain in her seat and enjoy the performances, Soon, the stars filled the stage. At the strike of the first chord, the solemn atmosphere in the hall gave way to a joyous one. The supposed serious asion had turned into an exuberant concert as the bands yed song after song Although the performances seemed inappropriate for the event, the atmosphere was inexplicably harmonious. Gwendolyn was fully immersed in watching the performance. The staff had even prepared exquisite appetizers for the guests who stayed back to watch the show. The atmosphere got more and more lively as the upbeat music sted in the hall. At the peak of the performance, the handsome lead vocalist of the band took off his shirt and showed off his abs, rousing an echo of cheers from the female audience. Even Gwendolyn raised her eyebrows in surprise as her heart began to beat faster. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. As she was watching the performance, Cedrick kept his eyes on her. A hint of jealousy could be felt emitting from his gaze. ¡°Like what you see?¡± Snacking on the scrumptious appetizer, Gwendolyn gave him a distracted nod. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± -Whose abs look better, then? His? Or mine?¡± Gwendolyn turned to meet his eye and winked mischievously at him before turning her head back to face the stage. ¡°Yours,¡± Her answer soothed the jealousy in Cedrick¡¯s heart. Picking up a small appetizer, he brought it to her mouth to feed her. ¡°Then why are you only looking at him and not me, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn cocked her head to look at him once more. That was not an easy question to answer. After pondering for a while, Gwendolyn decided to ignore the question. She pretended not to have heard what Cedrick had asked and continued to enjoy the performance, laughing carefreely. Cedrick took a deep breath to calm himself and reigned in his anger, trying his best not to explode in anger in public. He turned around and gave her the cold shoulder as he sulked in silence. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s ignoring me to admire the lead vocalist¡¯s abs. When we get back to the hotel, I¡¯ll show her what I can do! I¡¯ll make her pay with her body, so much so that she can¡¯t get out of bed for three days and three nights! At that thought. Cedrick felt much better. Just as Gwendolyn was mesmerized by the performance, a slim figure in a white dress walked past her, catching her attention instantly. Turning to look at the figure, she concluded that it was the same silhouette that she had seen the other day at the charity g back in Salinsburgh, Chanaca. Just as she was about to walk over to the girl, the girl had already taken a seat in the front row on the other side of the hall. To Gwendolyn¡¯s frustration, the girl¡¯s side profile was obstructed by the bodies of the tall men sitting between the two of them. As the seconds ticked by, Gwendolyn was getting more and more confused as she yed the image of the girl in the back of her mind. She was certain that the girl looked familiar.. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Darling?¡± The slight shift in Gwendolyn¡¯s demeanor did not escape Cedrick¡¯s notice. Looking serious, Gwendolyn said in a low voice, ¡°Hubby. I think I saw the figure again. It¡¯s like what happened with Evelyn.¡± Even though Terry had given them the names of all the girls in white dresses at the charity g, all of them were from all over the world and were of significant status, which made investigating a lot more difficult. There had not been much progress from Elven¡¯s side. Cedrick followed Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze. Just as she was about to get up, he stopped her in her path. ¡°Isn¡¯t your body sore? Don¡¯t walk so much. I¡¯ll go check it out.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. Cedrick was about to make his way over when the band had finished performing the final song. Neal returned back onstage, ready to announce the party that Dovil Group had ultimately decided to coborate with. That was the most important announcement and the highlight of the whole asion. Without much choice, Cedrick had to sit down again to listen to Neal¡¯s announcement. Chapter 523 See Her Face Clearly Chapter 523 See Her Face Clearly Amidst the anticipation of the audience, Neal picked up the microphone. ¡°After much consideration, the opportunity to coborate with Dovil Group on this project goes to Harris Group from Chanaca. Congrattions!¡± A massive round of apuse broke out. Among the crowd, some were sighing, some were gasping, and some were praising. Only Gwendolyn and Cedrick remained calm. After all, the conclusion was not to their surprise. Gwendolyn stood up gracefully, turned around, and gave the crowd a slight nod as a sign of courtesy and politeness. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Stepping on the red carpet, she walked up the stage and shook hands with Neal in front of everyone as an indication of the anticipation of coborating with each other. Sounds of cameras clicking could be heard as the reporters on the scene seized the opportunity to take photos of the handshake, Gwendolyn had an elegant smile on her face. With that, the event had basicallye to an end. All the otherpanies could only leave the hall without sess. To everyone¡¯s surprise, before the event officiallye to a close, Neal made another announcement. ¡°To all our distinguished guests. I have gone through all of the proposals submitted by all your respectivepanies. After discussing with the board, we have decided that there¡¯s another proposal that is full of potential ande to the conclusion that we will first consider coborating with that company on our next project.¡± Just like that, the crowd was once again buzzing with energy. Everyone had their fingers crossed, praying that theirpanies would be the ones nominated by Neal. As the guests waited expectantly, Neal announced, ¡°Heartiest congrattions to Antea Group! It¡¯s an honor to work with you on our next project,¡± A small gasp of surprise could be heard from the first row on the right side of the hall. It was a female¡¯s voice. Antea Group was Paul¡¯spany, and Paul was the man who had been in the museum the previous day. The youngdy next to Paul hugged him excitedly. ¡°You were the one who did the proposal. All the credit goes to you.¡± Paul said. ¡°Thank you, Paul. I love you. Ignoring the crowd behind them, the couple exchanged an intimate moment before the girl dressed in a white gown got up from her seat and bowed to the audience with a polite and humble smile. From where Gwendolyn was sitting, she could only see the girl¡¯s silhouette and a slight glimpse of her side profile. Grabbing Cedrick¡¯s arm, she narrowed her eyes icily. ¡°It¡¯s her-the girl who looks like Evelyn.¡± Annie Steinfeld? Gwendolyn repeated that name inside her head countless times. Annie walked up the stage and shook Neal¡¯s hand. The cameras shed once more. Turning to face the crowd, Annie gave the audience a big smile. Only then did Gwendolyn finally see her face clearly for the first time. It was a foreign face, unlike Evelyn¡¯s. Compared to Evelyn, Annie¡¯s nose seemed to be higher, her eyes were bigger and clearer, and her chin seemed more pointed. She had a delicate and adorable face. The warm smile stered on her face made her look all the more pleasant. Fixing her gaze on that face, Gwendolyn could not help but think that Annie¡¯s features had an uncanny resemnce to Evelyn¡¯s. Not only so, but she was troubled by the fact that Annie and Evelyn had such a simr silhouette. Her eyes became darker. The open tender hade to an end. One by one, guests exited the hall. Suddenly, Cedrick received a phone call. He trotted to a quiet hallway to answer the phone. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze had been following Annie ever since thetter got off the stage. Seeing that Annie was talking to Paul, she made her way toward the couple. ¡°You¡¯re brilliant, Ms. Annie. You¡¯re so young, yet you managed to prepare a proposal with such a huge company on your own. You even managed to catch the attention of Mr. Gray as well. Well done!¡± Upon hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s voice, Annie turned around and shed her a friendly smile. ¡°Not as brilliant as you, Ms. Harris. After all, I¡¯ll only be working with him on the next project. You¡¯re the winner of today¡¯s event. I should be congratting you instead.¡± Standing in close proximity, Gwendolyn listened to Annie¡¯s voice carefully. Thetter¡¯s voice was slightly hoarse, unlike the crisp voice that one would attribute to a youngdy. ¡°Is something wrong with your throat, Ms. Annie? Your voice sounds a lot more mature than girls of age.¡± Gwendolynmented. Standing next to Annie was Paul. Even in his forties, he still looked handsome. Wrapping his arm around Annie¡¯s small waist, he smiled and exined. ¡°Annie has always had this voice ever since she was little, but I love her voice. I think it sounds amazing and unique.¡± Gwendolyn did not once take her eyes off Annie¡¯s face. In a casual manner, she asked, ¡°How old are you. Ms. Annie?¡± Paul answered instead, ¡°Twenty-one years old.¡± Twenty-one? Gwendolyn did some calctions inside her head. If Evelyn is still alive, she should be twenty instead. Annie piped up, ¡°Ms. Harris, you have been staring at my face. Is there something wrong with my makeup?¡± With a polite smile, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°No. Your makeup is exquisite, Ms. Annie. You look incredibly amicable, which gives me a sense of familiarity.¡± Annie grinned innocently at thepliment without saying a word. Not wanting to give up, Gwendolyn continued to ask, ¡°I remember you both are from Ospea. Why is it that you can converse with me in such lluent Chanacan, Ms. Annie?¡± ¡°I studied in Chanaea for a few years,¡± Annie answered with a natural look. ¡°I really like Chanaea. I think it¡¯s a beautiful country filled with wonderful people. If given the chance, I would go there again.¡± Gwendolyn smiled in response. ¡°In that case, you¡¯re wee to visit Chanaea again, Ms. Annie. When you doe to Chanaca, ring me up. I¡¯ll dly be your personal tour guide of the day, showing you the cultures and local customs of my country.¡± ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Ms. Harris,¡± The two women exchanged friendly nods. With his arm wrapped around Annie¡¯s shoulder, Paul led her out of the hall. Gwendolyn kept her eyes on the couple until they were out of her sight. Even then, she remained still on the spot, thinking over Annie¡¯s words and bodynguage during the brief interaction that they had. She still found the girl bizarre, but she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. Evelyn was an actress who had won impressive awards. If she wanted to pretend to be an innocent youngdy and changed her habits, it would be a piece of cake. Gwendolyn took out her phone to call Elven. Just as she was about to hit the dial button, she remembered that it was already nighttime in Chanaea. After a moment of consideration, she decided to leave him a text instead, in case he had already fallen asleep. She texted: Please check if the name Annie Steinfeld is on the name list of the charity g the other night. Look into all of her personal information and background. Everything. Once she sent the message, she switched off her phone and put it back inside her designer bag. Cedrick had finished talking on the phone and was returning to her side. A cold expression was etched upon his face. It took Gwendolyn no time to figure out that he was unhappy and anxious. ¡°What happened? Who was that on the phone?¡± Cedrick lowered his head. He had intended to hide his feelings. Unfortunately, Gwendolyn had seen through him. Upon seeing his reaction, Gwendolyn continued to press on the matter with a stern tone. ¡°Tell me, did something happen to Benny and Zendy?¡± Cedrick clenched his fists nervously. ¡°Summer called me just now. She said that it rained the entire day in Salinsburgh yesterday. The temperature dropped and it was quite cold. Benny and Zendy might have caught a cold when Summer brought them to the park-¡± ¡°Get to the point!¡± Gwendolyn snapped. Cedrick took a deep breath, bracing himself. ¡°The kids are having high fevers.¡± Chapter 524 Is This How You Apologize Chapter 524 Is This How You Apologize High fevers? Gwendolyn held her breath as her countenance turned solemn. The next moment, she turned on her heels and headed for the door. ¡°Let¡¯s book ne tickets right now and return.¡± ¡°Calm down. Darling Cedrick held her by the wrist. ¡°It¡¯s nighttime in Chanaea now. We didn¡¯t bring our private jet here this time, and we¡¯re not sure if there are flights going to Chanaea at night. Even if we leave now, the flight will be more than twenty hours long.¡± Shooting him a cold look. Gwendolyn retorted. ¡°Then are we going to sit back and do nothing? Cedrick, the kids got sick because we¡¯re away. Aren¡¯t you worried at all?¡± She flung his hand away and strode out of the venue in her high heels. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Cedrick let out a long sigh and chased after her. ¡°It¡¯s my fault this happened. I¡¯m also worried about the kids, but it¡¯s going to take too long for us to get back. I¡¯ve informed Charles about this over the phone and asked Nico to call for pediatricians from the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps.¡± He walked beside Gwendolyn. ¡°Charles promised me to look after them. He¡¯ll stay with them and make sure they take their medicines and get their shots, so rest assured.¡± Without saying anything. Gwendolyn walked ahead. From her frosty expression, it was obvious she was in a terrible mood. Her silence was like the calm before the storm. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbing. Cedrick trailed behind her obediently as he racked his brains for something to say. ¡°Darling, the kids are still young. Getting minor sicknesses like this is a normal part of growing up¡­¡± Gwendolyn suddenly paused in her tracks and looked back to re at Cedrick. Feeling her deadly stare, Cedrick quickly shut his mouth and followed her meekly. The two of them walked back to the hotel in silence, and the entire time, Gwendolyn was on her phone looking for ne tickets, All flights returning to Chanaea that night were fully booked, so she could only choose the earliest flight the next day. That meant it would be midnight again by the time they arrived. Just the thought of her young children suffering from high fever made her heart ache. At that moment, Gwendolyn wished nothing but to teleport to the children¡¯s side to take care of them. Upon reaching the room, she began packing her things. She had booked a six o¡¯clock flight for the next morning, so she wouldn¡¯t have time to organize her luggage after waking up. She had to sort out the things she needed now to save time the next day. The atmosphere in the president suite was tense. Cedrick stood there quietly for some time. Seeing that he was being totally ignored, he couldn¡¯t help but feel upset. He stepped forward to lend Gwendolyn a hand, but the moment he squatted down to tidy up the luggage, she walked away. ¡°Gwenny? Darling¡­..¡± Theck of response from Gwendolyn suffocated Cedrick. On their flight to Astoria, Gwendolyn had mentioned that she wouldn¡¯t let him off if anything were to happen to the kids. Cedrick would rather she hit him to vent her anger than give him the silent treatment. While he was thinking of that dejectedly, the sound of footsteps approached him. Raising his head, he was met with the terrifying sight of Gwendolyn clutching a clothesline pole. ¡°Darling!¡± Cedrick shot up to his feet and retreated in a hurry, gulping nervously. Gwendolyn marched toward him with an intimidating aura until he was forced into the corner of the wall. Despite his strong physique and broad shoulders, Cedrick looked weak and helpless at that moment. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s not resort to violence and talk this out properly instead. What you¡¯re holding is made of steel! Are you going to break my legs?¡± Gwendolyn pressed the end of the clothesline pole firmly against Cedrick¡¯s chest and warned, ¡°Cedrick Jenson, is this how you apologize?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Cedrick was at a loss for words. He raised both arms in surrender. ¡°I was wrong.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Even after giving it a hard thought, Cedrick was unable toe up with an answer. Gwendolyn stared at him, disappointment and disbelief evident in her eyes. ¡°If you had stayed at home to take care of the kids and not sneaked here, Summer and Mdm. Yarde wouldn¡¯t have brought them to the garden, and they wouldn¡¯t have gotten sick. Everything could have been prevented. Cedrick, even we adults feel awful when we¡¯re running a fever. They¡¯re just kids. Don¡¯t you feel guilty that your children are suffering because of your willfulness?¡± Cedrick couldn¡¯t refute at all. After all, he was indeed at fault for the kids¡¯ fever. He felt horrible. Not only did he cause the kids to get sick, but he also made Gwendolyn feel miserable. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was thoughtless. I ept my punishment.¡± Resigning to his fate, Cedrick walked to the side of the table, bent over, and propped his elbows on its surface. Without hesitation, Gwendolyn swung the pole down forcefully. Smack! As the pole hit Cedrick¡¯s thigh, a solid smack rang out. Cedrick hissed and tightened his fists, enduring the pain quietly. Smack! Smack! Another two blowsnded on the same spot. ¡°Ow¡­¡± The thighs are one of the most sensitive parts of the human body when ites to pain. One could only imagine how excruciating it was for Cedrick, especially when he was hit consecutively. Trembling slightly, Cedrick turned around pitifully and croaked, ¡°It hurts so much¡­ Darling, are you really going to break my legs?¡± Gwendolyn gazed at him without a word, her arm still lifted. Although she did not affirm or deny his words, it was obvious she felt sorry for him. Cedrick immediately grabbed the chance and pleaded, ¡°Darling, my legs are very important. Can you let me keep them so I can make up for my mistakes?¡± ¡°Stop sweet-talking me. What did I tell you on the ne? If you had really taken in my words. Benny and Zendy wouldn¡¯t have ended up getting a fever.¡± While Cedrick remained silent, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°It hurts me to think that my children are suffering from fever. It seems that you have no conscience at all. You¡¯re acting nothing like a father!¡± ¡°I¡¯m upset, too. I feel bad for the kids and you,¡± said Cedrick with an ashen face.. ¡°This all happened because of you, so it¡¯s only right that you take responsibility for it. The pain should¡± help you reflect on your mistakes properly.¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless by Gwendolyn¡¯s reasoning. Much to his helplessness, she always had a valid reason to punish him. ¡°All right, it¡¯s all my fault. I deserve to have my legs broken.¡± Despondently, Cedrick returned to his position earlier and braced for the pain toe. Gwendolyn tightened her grip on the clothesline pole, but she did not move even after a long time. Naturally, she couldn¡¯t bear to actually break Cedrick¡¯s legs. Even the thought of hitting him until he bled a little felt too cruel. However, she couldn¡¯t just back down since she had already thrown out those harsh words. Caught between a rock and a hard ce, she stood in ce holding onto the pole. Is This How You Apologize Just as she was stuck in a dilemma, her phone rang with a video call from Charles. He¡¯s probably calling to update me on the kids. Gwendolyn tossed the clothesline pole almost instantly and swiftly reached for her phone on the bed to ept the call. Cedrick heaved a sigh in relief. He rubbed his thigh discreetly and approached Gwendolyn. Once the call was connected, Charles handsome face came into view. He was wearing loose pajamas, which revealed his delicate corbones. Rage kindled within Cedrick, and he couldn¡¯t help furrowing his brows. Gwendolyn paid him no attention. She was fully focused on her phone screen as she asked. ¡°How are the kids?¡± Charles pulled the camera away from him to show her Zendaya, who was lying on hisp with flushed checks due to the fever. The medical corps of the Jenson family had arrived and were preparing to give her an injection. Zendaya seemed to know that she was going to get a shot. Her face was scrunched up as tears glistened in her eyes. When Gwendolyn saw Zendaya¡¯s pitiful state, her eyes reddened as well. Chapter 525 A Harmonious Family Of Four Chapter 525 A Harmonious Family Of Four Noticing the change in the woman¡¯s expression, heforted her in a gentle tone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwen. Benny and Zendy are really well-behaved. Benny is done with his injection, and he didn¡¯t cry at all. Zendy is a little less brave, but she¡¯s not crying much with me holding her.¡± Gwendolyn could feel her heart breaking when she saw Zendaya¡¯s pitiful expression. She held back her tears and said, ¡°Thank you, Charles.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Charles replied, smiling from ear to ear. There was a twinkle in his eyes that would only appear when he saw Gwendolyn. Cedrick, who was quietly watching their interaction, felt his heart clench. He started packing his suitcase while trying to suppress the bitter sensation in his heart. However, Gwendolyn was hardly paying any attention to Charles as she was solely focused on her babies. Through the video call, she could see that the doctor had already prepared the injection tools. He was coaxing Zendaya while trying to keep the needle out of her sight. However, that was not enough to fool the smart little girl. She seemed to have guessed that she was getting an injection, as she crinkled her nose and red at the doctor cautiously. Putting on a strong front, Gwendolyn forced a smile and said, ¡°Zendy, you¡¯re such a good girl. Mommy and Daddy will be back tomorrow. The injection won¡¯t hurt at all. The doctor will be very gentle.¡± ¡°Zendy, be good. Mommy is watching you. I will also be by your side.¡± Charles pointed at Gwendolyn on the screen. As if she could feel Gwendolyn¡¯s presence, Zendaya blinked a few times while trying to grab the phone with her chubby hands. Seeing that the girl was distracted, the doctor quickly injected the medicine into her arm. Shortly after, Zendaya started feeling the pain, and her small face scrunched up as tears started streaming down. However, instead of crying out loud, she was whimpering. As her tears fell continuously, her long eyshes began to stick together. She looked pitiful yet adorable at the same time. ¡°Zendy, my good girl, mommy¡¯s here.¡± At that moment, Gwendolyn wanted nothing more than to be there to hold her daughter. Tears started welling up in her eyes, but she tried her best to stop them from falling in front of the camera. That was the first time she had experienced such sadness in a long time. Perhaps Zendaya was exhausted from her illness. She fell asleep in Charles¡¯ arms after crying for a while. Charles turned the phone camera toward Benedict, who was sound asleep in Nico¡¯s arms. Nico seemed awkward. He did not dare to move as he did not want to rouse the boy. When he saw Gwendolyn looking at him, he let out a chuckle to reassure the woman that everything was fine. Charles turned the camera back to himself and said in aforting tone, ¡°Gwen, don¡¯t be sad. It¡¯s common for babies to catch a fever or cold every now and then. After taking fever medicine and getting their shots, they will get better tomorrow. If you¡¯re busy over there, you don¡¯t have to rush back. I will take a few days off to focus on taking care of the kids. I promise I won¡¯t let them fall sick again.¡± ¡°Thank you. I really appreciate it. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal when I¡¯m back.¡± Charles smiled and replied, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ve been looking forward to getting a treat from you. I¡¯m going to remember that and make sure you keep your word.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. After the video call ended, the woman could no longer hold back her tears. She sat on the edge of the bed. and started sobbing alone. She was the only one who knew how arduous the ten months of pregnancy had been for her. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. When she was in Erihal, she hardly got a good night¡¯s sleep as she had to think of a way to get the Super Antiviral and keep her babies safe at the same time. Back then, she was already experiencing severe morning sickness although she was only six and a half weeks pregnant. It had taken her considerable effort to settle the problem and return to the country. However, the Harris. family got into trouble shortly after, driving her to the verge of a mental breakdown several times. She had ovee various trials and tribtions before finally giving birth to her twins. It was all possible because of her strong will and determination. It was tearing Gwendolyn¡¯s heart apart to see how much Zendaya was suffering because of her fever. She could almost feel her baby¡¯s pain and felt responsible for it. After she endured her agony alone for a while, Cedrick knelt down next to her and let out a sigh. cing his hands on his wife¡¯s knees tentatively, he said softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for my negligence. It¡¯s all my fault. If you¡¯re still mad at me, you can give me a beating to blow off some steam. Don¡¯t be sad, Gwenny.¡± Gwendolyn did not reply and did not even look at him. Cedrick took a piece of tissue from the bedside table and carefully wiped the woman¡¯s tears away. After a while, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression rxed a little. She was feeling much better and no longer had the urge to beat the man up. While wiping her tears, Cedrick remembered the conversation they had had the previous night. They were supposed to buy a dress for Gwendolyn. Hoping that they could go ahead with the n, he asked cautiously, ¡°Darling, do we really have to go back tomorrow morning? We agreed to go shopping tomorrowst night¡­¡± Gwendolyn red at her husband in disbelief. ¡°How can you be thinking of having fun when our babies are sick?¡± She could not understand what he was thinking. ¡°You can stay in Astoria for a few more days if you want. I¡¯ll go back first.¡± A crease appeared between Cedrick¡¯s brows. ¡°You want to go back alone and leave me here? Why? So that you can take care of the kids together with Charles?¡± He shed a self-deprecating smile when he remembered the cozy interaction between Charles and Gwendolyn earlier. ¡°You guys did look like a harmonious family of four just now.¡± Feeling slightly resentful, Cedrick gripped Gwendolyn¡¯s arm, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Gwenny, what about me, then?¡± The woman looked at him in shock. ¡°I never said that I wanted to take care of the kids with Charles. You¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t want to go back! Cedrick, I¡¯m your wife. Don¡¯t you think that was a bit hurtful?¡± Noticing the glimpse of disappointment in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, the man instantly felt bad and realized that he should have been more understanding of his wife¡¯s bad mood and not let his jealousy get the better of him. ¡°You¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. I don¡¯t really mean it. Don¡¯t take it to heart, all right?¡± Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Gwendolyn sighed and replied, ¡°Ceddy, you don¡¯t understand the potential troubles our kids have to face, growing up in a prestigious family. I¡¯ve experienced it myself, and I¡¯m really worried something will happen to our babies.¡± Those experiences would continue to haunt her for a lifetime. The Jenson family and the Harris family were currently the wealthiest families in Chanaea after they combined forces. With all eyes on them, it was inevitable for them to encounter strongpetition in the business arena. Gwendolyn could not help but worry that theirpetitors would try to harm her babies. She did not want her children to end up in an orphanage, just like what had happened to her back then. Remaining on his knees, Cedrick caressed the woman¡¯s cheek and said, ¡°I know. I will try to be on the same page as you in the future, okay?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. A smile finally appeared on her face, which had been gloomy for the entire night. From the corner of his eye, Cedrick spotted the steel clothesline pole that was lying on the floor and asked weakly, ¡°Darling, are you still going to beat me up?¡± Gwendolyn, who had almost forgotten about it, stared at him in bewilderment and asked in return. ¡°Have you not had enough of it?¡± Cedrick shook his head and frowned. Leaning his head against her knee, he replied, ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m still hurting.¡± Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°Let me take a look. Lie on your stomach and take off your pants.¡± Cedrick stood up obediently. They were husband and wife, so there was no need for him to be shy about Chapter 526 Kinky Dresses Chapter 526 Kinky Dresses ¡°Are you not feeling well? Do you want to visit a doctor tomorrow and do a full body checkup?¡± Cedrick immediately replied with a solemn look on his face. Gwendolyn rejected at once, saying. ¡°Never mind. Didn¡¯t Joshua do a checkup for me when I bit you last time? He said I was very healthy and there was nothing serious. The reason why I don¡¯t seem to be able to control my emotions is due to my excessive worrying andck of sleep during my pregnancy days. I don¡¯t think it will help even if we go for another checkup. I could just be overthinking.¡± Even with the woman¡¯s reassurance, Cedrick was still worried. ¡°I think it¡¯s better to go for another checkup. Although it could be just a minor problem, if we don¡¯t get it treated, it could be seriouster on.¡± ¡°There¡¯s really no need for that. After all, Joshua is one of the best medical professors in the country. If he couldn¡¯t find the cause of the problem. I don¡¯t think any other doctors would be able toe up with a diagnosis. If that¡¯s the case, why should we waste time and energy?¡± Rubbing the man¡¯s bruise gently. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Let me ask the hotel staff to get us an anti-inmmatory cream. I¡¯ll apply it for youter.¡± ¡°No! This hotel belongs to Neal. If he knows that you asked his staff to buy anti-inmmatory cream, he will know that I got beaten up.¡± Gwendolyn gave it some thought and agreed that it made sense. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°How about you stay in bed and I go get it myself?¡± Just as she turned around and was about to stand up. Cedrick wrapped his arms around her waist and stopped her from leaving. ¡°Have you forgotten that I was from the military? I¡¯m not that weak. It¡¯s just a minor wound and would take me at most two days to heal. Darling, if you really care about me, you should cancel the flight tomorrow morning and apany me to Astoria¡¯srgest mall to shop instead, just like we nned. What do you say?¡± Gwendolyn said nothing in response. ¡°Let¡¯s return to Chanaea two dayster after we are done with our shopping. If you¡¯re worried about our babies, you can video call Charles before we sleep and check on them every day,¡± the man continued. Gwendolyn looked down at Cedrick, who was still hugging her waist, and asked curiously. ¡°Are you not jealous anymore? I wonder who it was who threw a fit earlier just because I had a video call with Charles.¡± Cedrick tightened his hold on the woman as if he was staking his im on her. ¡°Anything can be discussed as long as you apany me shopping tomorrow and wear the dress I like.¡± Gwendolyn let out an amused giggle and caressed her husband¡¯s cheeks as she replied, ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go shopping tomorrow, then. What¡¯s so special about this dress?¡± A mysterious smile appeared on Cedrick¡¯s face before he leaned in and whispered something in Gwendolyn¡¯s car. Feeling confused, she asked, ¡°When did I agree to visit that kind of shop with you? A shop that sells kinky dresses?¡± ¡°You promised mest night. Darling, you can¡¯t y with my feelings,¡± Cedrick replied, fixing a displeased gaze on the woman. ¡°Show me the evidence.¡± Gwendolyn was adamant about denying it. Cedrick was rendered speechless. Darn! I should have recorded what she saidst night. How am I supposed to produce any evidence? His heart sank as he buried his face in his wife¡¯s arms dejectedly and harrumphed softly. Gwendolyn could not help but chuckle, amused by the man¡¯s childish yet adorable antics. Feeling bad for hitting Cedrick and wanting to make up for it, she said, ¡°All right, fine. Let¡¯s buy that dress. However, it¡¯s on one condition. I will only consider wearing the dress and having some fun with you after we see Benny and Zendy in person and make sure that they are okay. Can you ept that?¡± Understanding her feelings, Cedrick answered, ¡°Of course. Whatever you say.¡± As a reward for him, Gwendolyn lifted his chin and nted a kiss on his lips. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go to bed early tonight.¡± Remaining still, the man said, ¡°I can¡¯t move. My butt hurts. Darling, will you bathe me?¡± Gwendolyn hesitated for a moment before relenting. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you a bath.¡± After Gwendolyn helped him up, Cedrick, who wanted to show the woman that he was in pain, pretended to limp all the way to the bathroom with a satisfied smirk on his face. ¡°Darling, shall I get two movie tickets tomorrow? We can watch a movie and enjoy some Astorian cuisine.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curled upward as he leanedzily on his wife¡¯s shoulders. After canceling their six o¡¯clock morning flight, Gwendolyn had also turned off the rm, which supposed to ring at four in the morning to wake her up. At around nine-thirty the next morning, the couple woke up naturally after a good night¡¯s sleep. ¡°Darling. I¡¯m gonna go get ready first. You can sleep for five more minutes,¡± Cedrick said groggily. After their routine morning kiss, the man got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wash up while Gwendolyn continued to sleep. However, shortly after, she was awakened by Elven¡¯s call. While looking at her phone in a semi-conscious state, Gwendolyn suddenly remembered that she had previously entrusted Elven to investigate Annie. Immediately, she snapped awake and sat up before answering the call. On the other end of the line, Elven said, ¡°Mrs. Jenson, she was indeed present at the business g organized by Mr. Jenkins in Salinsburgh a while back. Also, ording to your instructions. I¡¯ve also completed my investigation on Ms. Annie. I¡¯ve sent the information to your email. You might want to check if you have received it.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± With Elven still on the line, Gwendolyn held her phone with one hand and grabbed her tablet from the bedside table with her other. She proceeded to log in to her email ount and opened the attachment. On the document, the woman¡¯s full name was stated as Annie Steinfeld. She was from Ospea and was twenty-one years old. Her parents were just ordinary citizens of Ospea who had their own business. They had both passed away but details of their deaths were not stated. She had studied in Chanaea for a few years and had attended the best college in Salinsburgh. Is it really a coincidence that she lived in Salinsburgh before? However, if she isn¡¯t Annie but is Evelyn instead, how did she get to know Paul, who¡¯s considered royalty in Ospea? Although Gwendolyn was unable to solve the mystery no matter how hard she thought about it, she was not willing to let Annie off just like that. For some reason, she just really did not like the girl. Despite Annie¡¯s impable manners and innocent appearance when Gwendolyn first met her, she simply did not feel good about her. It was a strange feeling that she was unable to pinpoint. For caution¡¯s sake, Gwendolyn decided to continue investigating. ¡°Elven, can you find out when Annie¡¯s parents passed away and the reason for their deaths? Also, since she studied and graduated abroad previously, try to find a picture of her in her graduation robe.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Right after she hung up, Cedrick walked out of the bathroom. ¡°Gwenny, let¡¯s video call Charles after you finish washing up. We should check on our babies before heading out.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, feeling satisfied with the man¡¯s arrangement. Benedict¡¯s and Zendaya¡¯s fevers had subsided, but they still seemed quite weak. It was likely that they were exhausted from battling their fevers throughout the night. The two little ones were lying in their crib while Charles, Nico, and Summer tried tofort them. The nursery was filled with a lively atmosphere. Gwendolyn felt much more at ease having seen her twins. After putting on some light makeup, she headed to the mall with Cedrick. It was thergest mall in Astoria that was frequented by the wealthy and was filled with shops selling all sorts of merchandise. Gwendolyn bought some toys for the little ones, an antique cigarette holder for Nico, and a set of crystal jewelry for Summer. Cedrick counted the shopping bags and asked tentatively, ¡°Gwenny, didn¡¯t you say that you were very grateful to Charles for helping to take care of our kids? Why didn¡¯t you get him something as well?¡± Chapter 527 You Resembled Someone I Know Chapter 527 You Resembled Someone I Know Gwendolyn cast a quick nce at him. He should know the reason, no? It¡¯s all because I¡¯m afraid of awakening the green-eyed monster within him. ¡°If I had willingly chosen a gift for Charles, you would have been furious, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze, neither confirming nor denying. ¡°You must be joking, Darling.¡± Gwendolyn scoffed, ¡°I never intended to pick a gift for Charles. I entrust that task to you. After all, men understand other men best. Besides, it¡¯s a token of gratitude for taking care of the babies. You should take it seriously too.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Cedrick agreed, though he couldn¡¯t help but cast a peculiar gaze at her. If men truly understand men best, why did she help choose Nico¡¯s gift?Isn¡¯t Nico also a man? With a resigned shake of his head, he proceeded to explore a luxury watch store. Soon after, he selected a ck and gold timepiece for Charles. Once the gift was sorted, Cedrick apanied Gwendolyn to the women¡¯s clothing section, where he picked out several dresses. All the dresses were in different shades of green. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but express her bewilderment. ¡°Why are you only choosing dresses in this color range?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Because my wife has a particr fondness for green,¡± he responded with a warm smile. It doesn¡¯t mean that I need to have an exclusive wardrobe of that color. However, bound by her promise to Cedrickst night, she refrained from voicing her thoughts and embraced his choices with genuine eptance. Undeniably, his taste was impable, and the dresses he selected were stunning. Finally, the moment Cedrick had been eagerly anticipating arrived-the visit to an adult novelty store. Gwendolyn had never ventured into such a ce before, and she felt a surge of embarrassment engulf her. Her cheeks tinged with subtle blush as she stood twenty meters away from the entrance. She was clearly reluctant to enter the store. Cedrick turned to look at her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Darling? Are you upset?¡± ¡°No decent girl would step foot in a ce like this,¡± she hissed. Gathering her resolve, she continued, ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside for you. Feel free to explore and choose ording to your own preferences. Once you¡¯re finished,e find me.¡± Considering her young age, it¡¯s natural for her to feel shy to be in a ce like this. Cedrick decided not to push her further. ¡°Don¡¯t stray too far. I¡¯ll quickly pick up some adorable outfits.¡± You Resembled Someone I Know Gwendolyn nodded. Once Cedrick entered the novelty store, she sat down in a resting area and used her phone. After a short while, she heard the sound of high heels drawing nearer with each passing moment. At first, she disregarded the sound, but her gaze instinctively shifted as a pair of white high heels came into view. Her eyes traced the graceful contour of the slender legs upward. It was Annie Steinfeld. ¡°What a coincidence! Paul and I always seem to run into you when we¡¯re out shopping. Oh, why are you alone? Where¡¯s Mr. Jenson?¡± Gwendolyn remained seated in a rxed posture. She smiled and replied, ¡°He¡¯s buying something. You¡¯re here with Mr. Hall? Howe I don¡¯t see him?¡± Annie¡¯s makeup was exquisite, and she smiled gracefully. ¡°He went to the restroom. I¡¯m waiting for him outside.¡± ¡°Would you like to take a seat? Let¡¯s chat for a while.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be delighted.¡± Gwendolyn shifted slightly, putting about a person¡¯s shoulder width between them. It was meant to symbolize the unbridgeable gap between them. A minute passed in tranquil silence. Finally, Annie tried to break the lingering tension. ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Harris, on the coboration with Dovil Group. It¡¯s a significant step that will allow Harris Group to enter the international market.¡± Gwendolyn nced sideways at Annic and said tly, ¡°Thank you.¡± However, Annie sighed and continued, ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, though. It appears that Harris Group¡¯s n to expand internationally through the partnership with Dovil Group might be on the verge of copsing.¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and tried to keep a straight face. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Annie smiled faintly and gave an apologetic look. ¡°When I mentioned the project bidding to Paulst night, he felt I had put too much effort into this proposal. He said you secured the coboration through unofficial means. He sympathized with me and wanted to help me regain the opportunity to work with Dovil Group.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a smirk. ¡°Did Paul say all these nonsensical things while intoxicated in bed? And besides, I edited my proposal countless times and experienced numerous sleepless nights. Unless I failed to submit the proposal, you would never have the chance to work with Dovil Group.¡± She had always treated her professional work seriously and was confident of her own abilities and expertise. You Resembled Someone I Know Even without any help from Cedrick, she was confident that the proposal she had personally crafted would be the best. Annie scrutinized Gwendolyn¡¯s arrogant face. ¡°You truly shine when you¡¯re confident, Ms. Harris. It¡¯s a pity that once we venture into the international market, it won¡¯t be a simple rivalry between the Harris and Jenson families. There¡¯s a whole world out there, and it¡¯s filled with individuals who surpass even the most aplished among us.¡± Gwendolyn stared at her, pondering the familiar tone in Annie¡¯s words. ¡°Ms. Annie, the first time I saw you, I thought you resembled someone I know.¡± Annie¡¯s expression lit up. ¡°Oh? Who?¡± ¡°My sister.¡± As Gwendolyn spoke casually, her eyes carefully observed every movement Annie made. ¡°Really? I¡¯m honored to remind you of your sister, Ms. Harris.¡± Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°I don¡¯t actually like my sister. She¡¯s just an illegitimate daughter of the Harris family. She should remain hidden in the shadows but she wants to rece me.¡± Annie¡¯s smile gradually faded as tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Are you trying to use your sister to insinuate that I overestimate myself?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just a joke, Ms. Annie. Don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Gwendolyn reassured with a wry smile. ¡°In terms of family background, appearance, education, and personality, you surpass my terrible sister in every way. How could she everpare to you?¡± Annie¡¯s expression rxed slightly as she asked, ¡°It sounds like there is an extraordinary story between you and your sister. I¡¯m curious to know how she is doing now.¡± ¡°She¡¯s dead. No ashes, no memorial tablet, no burial ground. My brother ced her name and photo on the public memorial que. Everyone there are abandoned souls who will never be remembered. Even in heaven, she remains alone.¡± Annie was in shock. ¡°She¡¯s so pitiful.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled softly. ¡°She¡¯s not pitiful. In fact, she almost tore the Harris family apart. She deserved the punishment.¡± Annie nodded thoughtfully. Just as she was about to probe further, Paul arrived. Annie¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and she rushed into his arms. ¡°Darling, why were you gone for so long? I missed you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Honey.¡± Paul then went on to kiss her passionately. Soon after, he finally noticed Gwendolyn¡¯s presence. ¡°Oh, Ms. Harris is here too.¡± You Resembled Someone I Know Gwendolyn nodded with a smile. He allowed Annie to mischievously y with his golden stubble as his gaze remained fixed on Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Harris, Antea Group is keen on coborating with Dovil Group for this project. Would you consider giving up this opportunity? I am fully prepared to support Harris Group in seeking alternative partnerships as a means ofpensation.¡± Chapter 528 Quick And Gentle Chapter 528 Quick And Gentle Paul dived straight into the coboration project with Dovil Group without wasting any time. His gaze was sharp, with a tinge of hostility. Gwendolyn scoffed lightly. Just as she was about to mock the man, a familiar deep voice sounded beside her. ¡°How dare you try to take my wife¡¯s project? Aren¡¯t you thinking too highly of yourself, Paul?¡± Gwendolyn instantly turned in the direction of the voice. Cedrick strode to her side, holding exquisite-looking shopping bags and looking cold. A gratified smile rested on Gwendolyn¡¯s lips when he wrapped an arm around her waist. As it was a conversation between two men, she decided to let Cedrick speak on her behalf. ¡°Mr. Jenson, your rtionship with Neal is the sole reason Harris Group got to coborate on Dovil Group¡¯s project. Don¡¯t you think pulling strings is an unfair approach forpanies like us who took the time toe up with business proposals?¡± The question only elicited an icy, irritated re from Cedrick. ¡°Bring it to Neal if you have any objections. regarding the oue of the open tender. Why are you talking to my wife instead?¡± Does he think our families-or should I say Chanaea¡¯s richest families-are pushovers? Paul chuckled as if to lighten the atmosphere. ¡°I¡¯m just discussing it with Ms. Harris. Why are you so mad, Mr. Jenson?¡± ¡°My wife¡¯s business capability is top-notch. If not for her age which prevented her from joining the industry a few years earlier, she would¡¯ve been the most influential person in Chanaea¡¯s business world. Even I¡¯d have been defeated. I won¡¯t allow anyone to look down on her abilities. If you don¡¯t believe in the open tender, you can argue with Neal yourself. That way, you¡¯ll ept your defeat without excuses and even earn yourself a round of humiliation.¡± As soon as Cedrick finished mocking Paul, he marched off with his arm still wrapped around Gwendolyn¡¯s slender waist. Before leaving, Gwendolyn cast Annie one final nce. When the two disappeared from Paul¡¯s sight, he pulled Annie into his arms to have another intimate moment. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Honey, Cedrick isn¡¯t someone to be trifled with. He has worked with many big shots from all over the world and has a widework because of his identity in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Why don¡¯t we just forget about this matter with the open tender?¡± Annic pouted and knitted her brows, pushing him away to reject his intimate gestures. ¡°You don¡¯t know how Ms. Harris ridiculed me just now. Shepared me with the Harris family¡¯s dead daughter and mocked me for overestimating myself¡± Paul was stunned to hear that ¡°You¡¯re the count¡¯s girlfriend. How date she treat you like that?¡± Annie sniffed as teardrops trickled down her innocent face. It broke Paul¡¯s heart. Carefully wiping her tears with his big, old, wrinkly hands, he said, ¡°Oh, Honey, don¡¯t cry. You¡¯ll only make me sadder.¡± Annie snuggled into his embrace and sobbed, ¡°Honey, you¡¯ve got to help me with this. She didn¡¯t just take away my ce in the open tender, but she also tantly insulted me. She clearly doesn¡¯t have any respect for you.¡± Paul patted the woman¡¯s back andforted her, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll definitely take revenge for you. I¡¯ll avenge you before they return to Chanaea tomorrow.¡± She nodded contentedly and nuzzled against his broad chest like a yful kitten. As if remembering something important, she warned, ¡°By the way, that woman knows jiu-jitsu and is quite good at it. You¡¯ve got to be careful.¡± Paul pecked her forehead before promising, ¡°Okay, I will.¡± From afar, the two figures looked like a father and a daughter instead of a couple. Gwendolyn was drained by the time she returned to the hotel presidential suite. After all, she had been shopping and enjoying herself the entire day. As soon she stepped into the room, shey sprawled on the bedzily to get some rest. Cedrick could not help but smile affectionately as he took in the sight of her lying on the bed like azy kitten. He then sorted out the things in the shopping bags. They had booked their flight tickets to return the next day, and the luggage was already pretty much packed. All that was left was to sort out the gifts and apparel. The bag that contained the two sets of lingerie was bright pink. Cedrick could not help but caress the bag fondly as he looked forward to seeing Gwendolyn in it when they returned to Chanaea, not to mention their intimate moments as a couple. It did not take long for him to pack the things, but Gwendolyn was already asleep when he went over to join her. Well, we walked a lot today. It¡¯s a little tiring indeed. He gently removed Gwendolyn¡¯s socks, washed her feet. and massaged them skillfully to rx the muscles. By the time Gwendolyn woke up from all the fuss, she was already looking clean and fresh. In response to his attentiveness, Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his neck and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for hitting you with the clothesline pole yesterday, Hubby. I was too emotional. I promise to control my emotions in the future so you won¡¯t get hurt.¡± Cedrick smiled as if it was nothing. ¡°Apparently, scolding and hitting someone are acts of love. You were just showing me your love.¡± ¡°Are you talking nonsense again?¡± Shaking his head, Cedrick grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes. ¡°Gwenny, you must tell me if you¡¯re feeling unwell in the future. Don¡¯t ever make assumptions and dy telling me no matter what sickness you¡¯re having.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Quick And Gentle The moment she finished, Cedrick pounced on her. ¡°Can you entertain me tonight, then?¡± Gwendolyn eyed him in silence. ¡°Just a short one. I¡¯ll be quick and gentle. I promise not to hurt your waist. When we¡¯re done, we can give Charles a video call and check on the kids. What do you think?¡± Gwendolyn suppressed a smile and praised earnestly, ¡°Sounds good.¡± As soon as Cedrick got her approval, he licked his lips and got into action. The next morning arrived. They had booked an early flight since Gwendolyn could not wait to return to Chanaea to see the children. The couple was awake before the sun had even risen. Cedrick and Gwendolyn quietly left the room with their luggage, settled the bill, and took a cab to the airport because they did not want to disturb Neal¡¯s assistant. The sky was grey as if it was covered with ayer of smoke. Gwendolyn nced at the ever-changing scenery asionally while she followed up with the coboration with Dovil Group. The signing of the agreement was set for three dayster in Chanaca. There were many opportunities to open up the global market during that period. Cedrick, too, was checking Jenson Group¡¯s report on hisptop. The pair did not speak the entire journey. It was silent yet peaceful. s, the silence was short-lived when ear-piercing honks red nonstop. It was absolutely horrible. Both Cedrick and Gwendolyn were instantly on high alert. They shut theirptops and turned to find at truck speeding toward their cab. Coincidentally, it wasing from the left side of the car where Gwendolyn was seated. Chapter 529 An Ambush In A Foreign Land Chapter 529 An Ambush In A Foreign Land The truck was rapidly closing in on Cedrick and Gwendolyn¡¯s cab, leaving them with little time to formte a n. The cab doors and windows were locked, and the driver was frantically swerving the streets to avoid a collision with the truck. Right in the nick of time, Cedrick raised hisptop and mmed it against the passenger side window. The sound of ss shattering stung their ears. Cedrick turned around, intending to switch seats with Gwendolyn so she could jump out of the moving cab first. She rejected his offer and urged. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time. Go. I¡¯lle right after you.¡± The truck was seconds away from ramming into the cab. Cedrick promptly jumped out of the cab, rolling several times across the ground beforeing to a stop on the side of the road. He was followed closely by Gwendolyn. Bang! The truck crashed into the cab barely a second after Gwendolyn made her escape, filling the air with ear- splitting noise. Inertia caused the truck to continue speeding after its collision, and it was headed straight for Gwendolyn She nimbly jumped out of the way, and the truck was finally forced to a stop when it collided with a roadside wall.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The unfortunate cab driver did not have the guts to jump out of his car and ended up in a pool of his own blood. Cedrick immediately checked Gwendolyn for injuries. She shook her head and said reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine.¡± They stood on the roadside, ascertaining the severity of the ident and digesting their close brush with death. Cedrick quickly dialed Neal¡¯s number and said, ¡°My wife and I were ambushed in a car chase on our way to the airport. I¡¯m sending you my coordinates. Get your men here as soon as possible.¡± He was about to send Neal their location coordinates after their call when the swing doors of the truck opened. A group of masked, bat-wielding men jumped out of the vehicle and walked toward the couple menacingly. A fight soon broke out, with Cedrick and Gwendolyn going up against forty men. The situation was rather chaotic but was nothing new for the couple. Nheless, their enemies had more manpower and appropriate weapons. Cedrick and Gwendolyn would run out of energy as the fight dragged on. Cedrick shielded Gwendolyn and whispered, ¡°These men came for you. You can¡¯t oust them. You An Ambush In A Foreign Land should escape first. I¡¯ll hold them off.¡± ¡°No. We¡¯re staying together. I will not leave you behind, Gwendolyn said resolutely. She shook off Cedrick¡¯s grip and deftly removed her heels, which hindered her movements. Then, she rushed into the crowd bare-footed, wrenching a baseball bat off one of their attackers and taking on ten men at once. Cedrick could only join in the fray and check on her from time to time. The brawlsted a good five minutes, after which the streets were littered with masked men howling in. pain. Gwendolyn and Cedrick were far superior fighters and steadily incapacitated their enemies. They quickly gained the upper hand in a few minutes. Bang! A deafening gunshot pierced the air. A stray bullet struck Gwendolyn¡¯s elbow amid the chaos, and she grunted as blood streamed out of the gunshot wound. She held her elbow and fought back against the immense ache that threatened to overwhelm her body. The injury weighed on her reaction time, and she failed to dodge a blow to the back of her head. ¡°Gwenny!¡± Gwendolyn staggered forward and slumped into Cedrick¡¯s body. She barely managed to remain upright by leaning against his back. Cedrick turned and pulled her into his arms. He shot their enemies a vicious re and threatened, ¡°Don¡¯t even dream about leaving this ce alive after hurting my Gwenny.¡± He looked like a predator assessing its prey with a bloodthirsty gaze. Gwendolyn¡¯s head was starting to spin. Her vision was turning hazy, and she found herself pressing closer to Cedrick¡¯s chest for support. He wrapped Gwendolyn tightly in his arms to protect her from further shots. Shielding Gwendolyn, fighting, and keeping a lookout for snipers at the same time proved to be an impossible task. The couple had lost their upper hand because of Gwendolyn¡¯s injury. Thankfully, the wee re of police sirens soon filled the air. Neal, who waited and failed to receive Cedrick¡¯s coordinates, quickly realized that something was off and immediately contacted Astoria¡¯s police force. The masked attackers knew their baseball bats were no match for the policemen¡¯s guns and beat a hasty retreat. The Astorian police promptly formed a protective barrier around Gwendolyn and Cedrick. Neal, who had also traveled to the ident site, hurried over to check the couple¡¯s well-being. By then, Gwendolyn had passed out in Cedrick¡¯s arms. Cedrick kept his gaze on her and said frostily, ¡°There¡¯s a sniper somewhere, eight o¡¯clock from where I¡¯m facing. I¡¯d say he¡¯s about half a kilometer away and using a small sniper rifle. Check the area and see if the shooter¡¯s still around.¡± ¡°On it.¡± Neal dispatched a team of officers to search for a sniper based on Cedrick¡¯s description. Cedrick¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as he stared at Gwendolyn¡¯s injured elbow. He warned through gritted teeth, ¡°My wife and I ran into danger,in your territory, Neal. You owe me a detailed investigation. I want the perpetrators brought to justice, or I¡¯m taking things into my own hands.¡± Neal nodded solemnly and promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will turn every stone in this investigation even without your orders.¡± An ambush in a foreignnd was a matter of national importance to Astoria, given that the victims were the head of Chanaea¡¯s Federal Bureau of Investigation and his wife, who were visiting on official business. A botched investigation into the attack could very well affect diplomatic rtions. An ambnce pulled up to the ident site in minutes. ¡°Please help Mrs. Jenson into the ambnce, Mr. Jenson. It¡¯s imperative to examine the extent of her injury. I will arrest your assants and detain them at the police station. You may join their interrogation sessions once Mrs. Jenson¡¯s injuries are properly treated,¡± suggested Neal. Cedrick nodded and quickly carried Gwendolyn into the ambnce. The paramedics examined Gwendolyn¡¯s gunshot wound. The bullet was lodged deeply in Gwendolyn¡¯s elbow, which put her in excruciating pain. Cedrick cradled her in his arms and never let go. He was swimming in guilt and fury over his wife¡¯s suffering. The bullet was lodged so deeply that its removal required forceps. A paramedic approached Gwendolyn with an anesthesia shot. Cedrick extended his hand and ordered, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± His hands were no longer shaky as he received the needle and skillfully administered local anesthesia to Gwendolyn¡¯s elbow. He tried his best to minimize her pain from the needle. He even removed the bullet himself. Having spent most of his life in the army, he was more experienced in dealing with gunshot wounds than the paramedics in the ambnce After cleaning and bandaging the gunshot wound, a doctor examined the back of Gwendolyn¡¯s head. which had taken a painful hit from a baseball bat carlier. A purplish bruise had formed at the back of her head, and her pale skin only entuated its noticeability. The doctor performed his examination and concluded, ¡°There¡¯s no external bleeding, and I don¡¯t think there is any nerve damage. We¡¯ll need to do to confirm this, but all in all, I¡¯d say it¡¯s considered a minor injury.¡± Cedrick was hardly reassured by the doctor¡¯s preliminary assessment. He would only be relieved after all. the necessary scans and tests were done on Gwendolyn. ¡°Let¡¯s get a move on to the hospital. I want her to get a full body checkup.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± The doctor turned away to carry out Cedrick¡¯s orders. Meanwhile, a pallid Gwendolyn finally awoke, catching the tail end of Cedrick¡¯s request for a full body checkup. She grasped Cedrick¡¯s wrist and whispered, ¡°That¡¯s too much. We¡¯ll waste a whole day doing tests in the hospital. The doctor already said it¡¯s a minor injury, and I¡¯m awake. Let¡¯s skip the hospital.¡± Cedrick sighed and muttered, ¡°If you think a full body checkup is too troublesome, what about a CT scan on your head? There are a lot of injury-prone nerves near the back of your head. I won¡¯t stop worrying about your condition until the scan shows that everything is fine.¡± ¡°I understand my body best. My mind is clear, and the worst that could happen is a minor concussion. A brain hemorrhage is impossible. I don¡¯t want to be admitted to a hospital in Astoria. I trust Joshua more. I¡¯ll do the full body checkup once we¡¯re back in Chanaea, okay?¡± pleaded Gwendolyn. Her intelligible speech, lucid mind, and adamance wore Cedrick down. ¡°Fine. Are you still thinking about the ambush carlier, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn nodded lightly. She knew all the assants were targeting her instead of Cedrick. They even hired a sniper. Who would want my life so badly? It must be someone who hates my guts. Gwendolyn was determined to get to the bottom of the issue, or she would never live another day in peace. Cedrick appeared to have guessed her thoughts. He carefully shifted her in his arms to allow her to lie down morefortably. ¡°Focus on getting some rest for now, Darling. I¡¯ll ask the driver to head to the police station instead.¡± Gwendolyn mumbled in agreement as she began drifting in and out of sleep. Cedrick¡¯sforting scent quickly lulled her into a deep slumber. About fifteen minutester, the ambnce arrived at the police station. Chapter 530 How Did She Accomplish That Chapter 530 How Did She Aplish That Neal personally visited the police station to assist with the investigations. The first round of interrogations had wrapped up just as Cedrick and Gwendolyn turned up. Neal immediately stepped forward when he noticed their arrival. ¡°Why did you rush over, Ms. Harris? Have all your injuries been treated?¡± Gwendolyn opened her pale lips to respond, but Cedrick interjected, ¡°Yes. The doctor said her injuries weren¡¯t too serious, and because Gwenny wanted to investigate this ambush as soon as possible, we decided toe to the police station now.¡± His words met with no protests. Neal opened his arms and ushered them into a lounge to rest. They had barely warmed their seats when Cedrick asked sternly, ¡°How are the interrogations?¡± Neal shook his head and said. ¡°They¡¯re skilled assassins bought off the ck market anonymously. They were only serving orders and had no idea about their client. And while we didn¡¯t catch the sniper, we¡¯ve sent the bullet removed from Ms. Harris elbow for further analysis. We should have some leads from there soon.¡± Astoria practiced strict gun ownershipws. One had to undergo professional evaluations and obtain a license before purchasing a gun. Once they confirmed the model of the small sniper rifle used in the ambush, they could narrow down their pool of suspects. Gwendolyn listened to their conversation and could not help but smirk. Shemented, ¡°Buying assassins off the ck market. What a familiar tactic.¡± Her tone surprised Neal, who asked. ¡°Have you encountered such ambushes in the past, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. Cedrick replied in her stead, ¡°Yes. Gwenny¡¯s stepsister, an illegitimate child of the Harris family, once hired forty assassins on the ck market to ambush her on Crane Bridge, Faike. Thankfully, gun controlws in Chanaca are the strictest in the world, so there were no snipers around.¡± A bewildered Neal asked, ¡°She¡¯s just the illegitimate child of a rich family. How did she aplish that?¡± Cedrick fell silent and nced at Gwendolyn. As expected, her expression had cooled by several degrees. Evelyn¡¯s existence had never been the issue. It was the revtion that Evelyn¡¯s backer was none other than Gwendolyn¡¯s father, Marcus, and Asher¡¯s decision to cover up Evelyn¡¯s crimes which truly hurt Gwendolyn. Cedrick sighed to himself as he witnessed the turmoil in Gwendolyn¡¯s expression. He reached out and sped her clenched fists, hoping to give her somefort. A sharp-eyed Neal noticed their mood shift and surmised that there was a deeper story to their response. He tactfully dropped the topic and instructed his staff to prepare a pot of fruit tea for his guests. Eventually, Gwendolyn collected herself and snapped out of her reminiscence. She suddenly remembered the odd Annie and asked Neal, ¡°Mr. Gray, how familiar are you with Paul Hall, the count of Ospea, and his girlfriend?¡± Neal mulled over her question before replying, ¡°Paul has too many girlfriends. He has enough exes before Annie to form a football team. In fact, I wager he can¡¯t remember some of his ex-girlfriend¡¯s names. He¡¯s inching closer to fifty but still stubbornly living the lifestyle of a yboy bachelor.¡± He continued. ¡°That said, it¡¯s not as if he can¡¯t afford the lifestyle. He¡¯s a nobility of Ospea and can live off the family¡¯s fortunefortably. Plus, he actually has an acumen for business. After his father¡¯s death, he was the sole heir to the family¡¯s wealth, and he put that money to good use in business investments. If you can look past his messy personal life, he¡¯s a decent choice as a business partner.¡± Gwendolyn digested Neal¡¯s lengthy response and asked. ¡°How long ago did he announce his rtionship with Annie?¡± ¡°Frankly, I¡¯m not sure about that. I heard he met his current girlfriend while on a business trip to Chanaea. Annie was studying there at the time. After bing lovers, they¡¯ve frequently traveled together.¡± Neal sipped some warm fruit tea before adding. ¡°After talking to Paul over the past few days, I believe his feelings for his current girlfriend are genuine. He cherishes her more than any other woman in his past, and I wonder if he has truly fallen in love with her.¡± Gwendolyn silently did the math and worked out the timeline of their rtionship. Isn¡¯t that too much of a coincidence? They knew each other in Chanaca, and Annie immediately got the opportunity to leave the country. With Paul¡¯s reputation and resources, it was entirely possible to help Annie secure a new identity if she needed one. ¡°Ms. Harris, why are you so interested in Paul¡¯s personal life? Do you think it¡¯s rted to this ambush?¡± asked Neal. His question interrupted Gwendolyn¡¯s musings. She answered simply. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just curious,¡± Everything was still her conjecture before they had any solid evidence. Voicing her theories now would do more harm than good, allowing her enemies to better prepare for their counter. Suddenly, a nerve in her head throbbed painfully. Gwendolyn grimaced and massaged the back of her head. Even the lightest brush across the bruise sent stinging pain over the back of her head. Cedrick noticed her difort and pulled her into hisp. ¡°Don¡¯t think so hard, Gwenny. It¡¯ll tire you out. You¡¯re still injured.¡± She nodded weakly and pressed closer to his broad chest. ¡°Take a nap if you feel ufortable. I¡¯ll handle everything else.¡± Gwendolyn nodded again at her husband¡¯s words and shut her eyes, gradually dozing off in his embrace. From across them, Neal felt more apologetic than ever. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Jenson. All this happened because I did not manage Astoriapetently. I hope you¡¯ll ept my deepest apologies. I did not imagine this would dy your return to Chanaca, but rest assured, this matter is our police force¡¯s top priority. We will leave no stone unturned to seek the truth.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression remained lukewarm. He looked down at Gwendolyn and gently stroked her back, hoping to ease her pain. ¡°Have you figured out who struck Gwenny across the back of the head?¡± Neal replied, ¡°We¡¯re investigating it. We will not let him off so easily.¡± ¡°To make up for the ambush, I would like you to send the culprit to Chanaca once you find him. I will deal with him myself,¡± said Cedrick coldly. ¡°Well¡­¡± Neal trailed off hesitantly. ¡°They may be criminals, but they¡¯re still citizens of Astoria. Interrogating and punishing them in Chanaea seems rather inappropriate, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Cedrick would not be deterred. He insisted, ¡°These assassins are all orphans and were raised by organizations in the ck market. They are not on your country¡¯s official census and pose a danger to national security. I only want the person who struck Gwenny. No one will know if you secretly send him to Chanaca.¡± Neal fell silent, his resolve wavering. Allowing Cedrick to take one person away was no big deal in the grand scheme of things. Still, Neal had not yet inherited the throne. If someone knew of his actions and reported them to the king. Neal would be in hot soup. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Plus, he had always preferred ying by the book. Neal shared his concerns. ¡°I¡¯ll be frank, Mr. Jenson. My role as heir apparent to the throne fills me with constant fear. I must watch my steps carefully lest someone jumps on the chance to threaten my position! Secretly bringing the culprit abroad is out of the question. Once I identify the culprit, I promise I¡¯ll inform the king and do my best to get a green light on your proposal.¡± Cedrick knew Neal¡¯s disposition all too well and did not protest. It was as good as a silent acquiescence to Neal¡¯s decision. The lounge instantly plunged into silence. Neal busied himself drinking his fruit tea while Cedrick cradled his wife, who was sound asleep. He would not move an inch even if his legs cramped as long as it ensured Gwendolyn¡¯sfort. The silencested for several minutes before a police officer knocked on the lounge door and entered. The officer greeted Neal courteously before turning to Cedrick. ¡°We¡¯ve begun the third wave of individual interrogations. The chief would like me to ask you some questions in the meantime.¡± Cedrick did not lift his gaze as he replied, ¡°Shoot.¡± ¡°Do you or your wife have any known enemies? Or particrly hostilepetitors?¡± ¡°Far too many, but little that we know of in Astoria.¡± The officer jotted down some notes and asked, ¡°Are there any suspects you¡¯d like to highlight in this investigation?¡± Cedrick nced at Gwendolyn. Thoughts of Gwendolyn¡¯s doubts about Annie¡¯s identity surfaced in his mind unbidden. His gaze cooled as he said, ¡°Yes. Paul Hall.¡± Chapter 531 Retrograde Amnesia Chapter 531 Retrograde Amnesia Startled by Cedrick¡¯s im, the police officer instinctively looked toward Neal. Isn¡¯t that Neal¡¯s esteemed guest? Is he suspecting a fellow guest? The count of Ospea? The officer dared not voice his doubt and quietly wrote down Cedrick¡¯s words. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Neal remained expressionless, as though he had predicted Cedrick¡¯s words after Gwendolyn¡¯s persistent questions about Paul earlier. ¡°We will definitely investigate the suspect you¡¯ve just mentioned, but could you share your reasons for suspecting his involvement?¡± asked the police officer. Cedrick replied frostily, ¡°We¡¯ve never been on good terms, and we happened to run into him and Annie while we were out shopping yesterday. He immediately questioned my wife¡¯s coboration project with Dovil Group and wanted her to surrender her rights to the project to him. I refused his request and put him in his ce. He might¡¯ve thought of killing us in the heat of the moment.¡± The officer carefully recorded his statement before dering. ¡°All right. I will share your suspicions with my chief andunch an investigation.¡± Neal, who had quietly listened to their exchange, spoke up after the officer left the lounge. ¡°I somewhat understand Paul¡¯s character, and I don¡¯t believe he¡¯s malicious enough to organize an assassination over a small argument. Could there be some misunderstanding?¡± ¡°Maybe not, but someone could manipte him. You said it yourself. He¡¯s infatuated with his current girlfriend, and it¡¯s possible that someone is using this fact to sway his actions. Of course, I admit that these are my hypotheses, and we need a proper investigation and solid evidence before using anyone,¡± said Cedrick. Neal nodded, agreeing with thetter half of Cedrick¡¯s words. He proposed, ¡°Why don¡¯t you and Ms. Harris stay here for the next two days? At least until the investigation isplete to prevent the perpetrator from striking again. I¡¯ll arrange for more security around your hotel. They¡¯ll move discreetly ¡°Sure.¡± Cedrick had no reason to refuse Neal¡¯s invitation. It was true that the situation had their return to Chanaea moreplicated. Still, they needed to return soon so that Joshua could examine the extent of Gwendolyn¡¯s injury. With that thought in mind, Cedrick added, ¡°Settle the investigation as soon as possible. I can¡¯t afford any dys.¡± Neal vowed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s all hands on deck for this investigation. I will personally monitor the police. Cedrick carefully lifted Gwendolyn, nning to return to their hotel. Right before he left, he turned and reminded Neal, ¡°Do not publicize the ambush on Gwenny and me. The diplomatic rtions between our countries could crumble if any international media caught wind of this. You know better than anyone else that there¡¯ll be hell to pay if that happens.¡± ¡°Of course. I was already nning to keep the news under wraps.¡± Cedrick had nothing more to add and left the police station with Gwendolyn in his arms. To minimize the odds of them running into further danger, Neal had them driven back to the hotel in an armored police car. Several police cars also escorted them, making up a formidable party. No one was foolish enough to attempt to ram a police car. The couple was escorted safely to their presidential suite. The police officers carried their luggage to the room and stood guard outside. Their dark uniforms, expressionless faces, and statue-like stillness struck fear in anyone who saw them. After Cedrick tucked Gwendolyn into bed, he said to the officers, ¡°We don¡¯t need guards outside the door. You¡¯re too eye-catching here, and your presence will frighten the other hotel guests. Scatter your men across the hotel grounds, and give me the phone number of your head. I¡¯ll reach out to him if I need. immediate assistance.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± A police officer stepped forward and left his phone number with Cedrick. Then, he led the other officers. The corridor regained its former peace. Cedrick returned to the room, closing and locking the door behind him. He approached the bed and gazed at Gwendolyn, who remained sound asleep. His gaze roamed over her bandaged elbow and the bruise on her head as guilt swelled in his chest. He sat on the edge of the bed and watched her quietly for nearly two hours. For lunch, Cedrick ordered some grilled vegetables from the five-star kitchen of the hotel and had them. delivered to their suite. Gwendolyn did not stir once as the hotel staff arrived with the dishes. She showed no signs of waking up even after Cedrick hadid the table for lunch. He returned to the bed and gently coaxed her, ¡°It¡¯s time to eat, Darling. You must be tired after the whole fiasco this morning. I bet you¡¯re starving. Gwenny?¡± He called out her name twice more, but Gwendolyn did not react. A bad feeling washed over Cedrick, and he ced his shaking fingers before Gwendolyn¡¯s nose. Her breath remained steady. ¡°Darling, get up. Stop sleeping.¡± He maneuvered his hands through her hair and under her head, nning to help her sticky coated his fingers. The sense of foreboding intensified, and he carefully swept away the hair from the back of Gwendolyn¡¯s He looked down and saw blood on his fingers. The back of her head was bleeding. It was no minor injury like she had imed. He quickly called the police officers who were in the hotel. ¡°Gwenny¡¯s situation worsened. I need an ambnce now.¡± After hanging up, he carried Gwendolyn and sped downstairs. Cedrick was devastated to see his wife unconscious. His tears streamed down his face against his will. E had never cried so much in his life. On their way to the hospital, Cedrick pleaded, ¡°You have to be safe, Gwenny! Please! Or I¡¯ll never forgi myself¡­¡± His bloodshot eyes were a terrifying sight, and he looked uncharacteristically like a lost child. Almost fifteen minutester, Gwendolyn was wheeled into the emergency room of Astoria¡¯srgest hospital. Cedrick paced in front of the room. His entire body shook with anxiety as he stared at his blood-caked fingers. Memories of their ambush earlier that morning reyed in his mind. The gunshot. The moment the baseball bat swung toward Gwendolyn,nding on the base of her head, where most of the nerves were concentrated. Every reminder caused his heart to throb with pain. Malice surfaced in his gaze, followed quickly by fury. He called Neal and, for the first time, broke rank and roared, ¡°Gwenny¡¯s head injury is bleeding. I don¡¯t care what you do, but you better find the person who hit Gwenny today. I want to make his life a living hell! He needs to pay for her suffering!¡± Neal had never heard Cedrick lose control like this, and he quickly stepped up his investigation efforts. Every second and minute that passed with Gwendolyn still in the emergency room eroded Cedrick¡¯s hopes. He did not eat or drink for three hours until the light above the emergency room finally switched off. Cedrick stood up and saw nurses wheeling a still-unconscious Gwendolyn out of the room. He sped her hands and followed the nurses to the regr ward. The doctor exined calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s nothing too serious at the moment. She¡¯s unconscious because of her concussion, and the bleeding is external. The CT scan doesn¡¯t show any internal bleeding.¡± Cedrick exhaled in relief His relief was, however, short-lived. The doctor continued, ¡°She¡¯s still unconscious, which is concerning. We¡¯ll monitor her. but if she doesn¡¯t wake up within the next twenty-four hours, we¡¯ll need to send her back to the emergency room and induce her to wake up. She may suffer from retrograde amnesia when she wakes up. The memory loss could be temporary or permanent, and you must be prepared for the worst.¡± The devastating news almost stopped Cedrick¡¯s heart. He felt as though he had been plunged into the deepest trenches of despair. His voice shook as he confirmed his understanding of the situation. ¡°Do you mean that Gwenny could le her memories? She could forget me or even everything in her past?¡± The doctor nodded solemnly and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± The two were so absorbed in their conversation that they did not notice the patient in question slowly coming to on the hospital bed beside them. Chapter 532 First Love Chapter 532 First Love Gwendolyn, who was drifting in and out of consciousness at the time, heard the conversation between. Cedrick and the doctor. Retrograde amnesia? I won¡¯t be able to remember anything? When she was fifteen, Evelyn injected her with some kind of neurotoxin and pushed her into the ocean. That resulted in her losing her memories once. She highly doubted that the single blow she received was enough to cause memory loss. Why does this doctor sound like Kieran? Is it a thing for doctors to try and scare the family members of patients? Gwendolyn let out a silent sigh at the thought of that. Her eyelids felt so heavy that she could barely open her eyes. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, she was extremely exhausted and dizzy at the same time. She closed her eyes and continued to rest without making a sound. The ward fell silent once again after the doctor left. As Cedrick held her hand, she could clearly feel that he was trembling intensely. A few minutester, she heard him sobbing softly as teardrops fell onto the back of her hand. What? Why is Cedrick crying? I¡¯m still alive and well! Gwendolyn¡¯s heart ached as his tears continuednding on her hand. She mustered all of her strength to fight against the overwhelming fatigue and opened her eyes slightly. Cedrick¡¯s eyes were reddened and filled with despair, and he looked as if he was on the verge of breaking down. That was the first time she had seen him in such a state. She moved her fingers to let Cedrick know that she was awake. ¡°Gwenny? You¡¯re awake? How are you feeling? I¡¯ll go get the doctor!¡± Cedrick was about to get up when Gwendolyn grabbed his hand. She wanted to ask him why he was crying like a baby, but she was so tired that she only managed to say, ¡°Why¡­ Cedrick stared at her briefly in surprise, only to sink deeper into despair momentster. His tears fell uncontrobly as he lowered his head and sobbed, ¡°You really have lost your memories¡­ How could you forget me? How could you¡­¡± Gwendolyn simply stared at him in confusion. ¡°We¡¯ve had it rough, but we made it through everything! We even have two adorable kids! How could you forget¡­¡± Gwendolyn felt speechless when she saw Cedrick, who was usually strong and fearless, crying like a baby. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. It was her first time seeing him lose control of his emotions. Gwendolyn let out a sigh and mustered her strength to say, ¡°Stop crying. I didn¡¯t lose my memories.¡± There was still a hint of doubt in Cedrick¡¯s eyes when he heard that. ¡°Who am I, then?¡± he asked with a sniffle. ¡°My husband.¡± ¡°What¡¯s my name?¡± ¡°Cedrick Jenson,¡± Gwendolyn replied quickly without any hesitation in order to reassure him. Feeling somewhat relieved, Cedrick continued his series of questions. ¡°What¡¯s our son¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Benedict Jenson.¡± ¡°And our daughter?¡± ¡°Zendaya Harris.¡± Cedrick breathed a huge sigh of relief before asking his most important question. ¡°Who was your first love?¡± Gwendolyn froze. ¡°What?¡± First love? What is he talking about? Cedrick tightened his grip on her hand as he pressed on with reddened eyes, ¡°Answer the question.¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a while before replying. ¡°Charles Newton?¡± There, that should do the trick! I should pass the memory test, right? Gwendolyn shed Cedrick a smile with her pale lips and waited for him to kiss her. However, Cedrick began trembling as though he had been plunged into despair once again. ¡°I knew it! You did love Charles! That¡¯s why you two look so happy when chatting on a video call! Gwenny, do you still love him? D-Do you at least love me more than him?¡± he asked with his face pale and a sad look in his eyes. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes grew cold as she beckoned at him with her other hand, which wasn¡¯t hooked up to the IV drip. ¡°Come here.¡± When Cedrick leaned over to let her touch his face, she grabbed him by the cheek and gave it a pinch. Because Gwendolyn had yet to regain her strength, her pinch was incredibly weak and only caused a slight stinging sensation. Cedrick simply sat there with his brow furrowed and let her pinch away. ¡°You¡¯re a naughty boy for overthinking things, Ceddy. I would have given you a beating if I weren¡¯t this weak right now,¡± Gwendolyn mumbled weakly. Cedrick kept quiet and lowered his head, his long eyshes concealing the guilty look in his eyes. Gwendolyn loosened her grip on his cheek and said seriously, ¡°I only see Charles as a childhood crush. nothing more. I have never loved him. You are the only person I have ever loved.¡± Whatever feelings of insecurity Cedrick had was gone when he heard that, and he kissed her palm with a relieved smile on his face. ¡°Thank goodness you didn¡¯t lose your memories, Gwenny. I¡¯m d you still remember me.¡± Gwendolyn rolled her eyes and let out a snicker. ¡°Oh? So, you were just testing me to see how much I could remember?¡± Cedrick tightened his grip on her hand and said with a faint smile, ¡°Of course I know how much you love me, Gwenny. It¡¯s just that¡­ there are some things that kind of piss me off.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now,¡± Gwendolyn let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Anyway, how are things going with the investigation on the ambush? Did you manage to obtain any leads?¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°It has only been a few hours since the ambush, so it¡¯s too soon to be expecting results. The police in Astoria are focusing their investigations on Paul, though. I believe you suspect him as well, right?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Yeah, I do. There aren¡¯t many out there who have the ability to make such a bold move in Astoria.¡± Cedrick agreed with her statement. ¡°Also, Neal has caught the man who attacked you. I was going to deal with him myself, but I¡¯ll let you do it now that you¡¯re awake.¡± Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t exactly known to be merciful toward those who hurt her. ¡°They love using clubs, so get those with spikes and return the favor hundredfold. Hit them with it dozens. of times daily for a few days. Just make sure to keep them alive throughout the torture.¡± Cedrick gave her an affectionate pinch on the nose. ¡°All right, Gwenny. We¡¯ll do it your way.¡± Knock! Knock! Knock! Those words had barely left his mouth when someone knocked on the door. Annie opened the door slightly and peeked into the room as she asked. ¡°I heard Ms. Harris is sick, so figured I¡¯d drop by and visit her since Paul brought me here for a checkup. Do you mind if wee in Cedrick had his back facing the door, and his face turned gloomy instantly. Gwendolyn weakly turned her head to look the other way, which made it obvious that she didn¡¯t want to see them. She couldn¡¯t even be bothered to maintain a polite attitude toward them. Oblivious to her reaction, Annie opened the door and let herself into the ward. ¡°Ill take your silence as a yes, Ms. Hants¡± She ignored Cedrick¡¯s solemn expression as she ced the fruits and flowers on the nightstand. Paul had his hands in the pockets of his cks as he followed Annie into the ward and stood at the foot of the bed. Annie stood next to Cedrick as she nced worriedly at Gwendolyn and asked, ¡°What happened to Ms. Harris? She looks really lethargic.¡± Chapter 533 I Shall Do The Same Chapter 533 I Shall Do The Same As they had covered up the news of the ident and the ambush, nobody else knew about it. Annie¡¯s question sounded as though she was genuinely concerned about Gwendolyn¡¯s well-being. Gwendolyn was so tired that she decided to ignore Annie by keeping her eyes closed and pretending to be asleep. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s nothing major. She¡¯ll get discharged in two days,¡± Cedrick replied coldly, then fiddled with his wristwatch. ¡°Fate sure loves bringing us together, Paul. We¡¯ve only been in Astoria for a few days, but we¡¯ve run into you so many times now.¡± We ran into him at the museum, on the streets, and even when Gwendolyn is secretly staying at the hospital. Are those encounters really just coincidences, or is there more to it? ¡°Yeah, it sure does. Well, Ms. Harris and Annie are women, and women love shopping, so it makes sense that we would run into each other often. As for this encounter, I just happened to bring Annie here for a checkup.¡± Paul said with a chuckle. He then shifted his gaze toward Gwendolyn. ¡°Ms. Harris¡¯ condition seems rather serious. I wonder if it¡¯s due to her overworkingtely. If that¡¯s the case, how about you hand me Dovil Group¡¯s coboration contract so I can help relieve some of her burdens?¡± Cedrick shot him an icy-cold nce. ¡°I don¡¯t need an outsider worrying about my wife.¡± The look on Paul¡¯s face changed slightly as he replied, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. However, I would like to talk to Ms. Harris about the coboration contract now that I¡¯m here. Ms. Harris, are you sure you don¡¯t want to reconsider it?¡± Gwendolyn opened her eyes and tried to sit upright in bed. Cedrick quickly stepped forward and helped support her back with a pillow. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with you wanting the coboration contract, Mr. Hall.¡± Paul¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard that. Gwendolyn then let out a snort as she continued, ¡°However, you will have to take it from me through legitimate means. If you resort to underhanded methods, then I shall respond in kind.¡± Paul¡¯s tense expression and slightly twitching lips made it obvious that he was displeased. Realizing that the atmosphere was getting tense, Annie tried her best to defuse the situation. ¡°Ms. Harris-¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Gwenny needs to get some rest, and she can¡¯t rest well if there are too many people in here. Please leave, you two,¡± Cedrick cut her off before she could say anything further. As Paul wasn¡¯t nning on staying around for too long anyway, he called out to Annie, ¡°Come on, Honey. Let¡¯s go.¡± Annie nodded and walked toward the door. On her way out, she turned around and said with an innocent smile, ¡°Do take care, Ms. Harris. You¡¯ve spent the past twenty years living a smooth andfortable life, but life won¡¯t beplete without experiencing some challenges from time to time. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± Gwendolyn red coldly at her as she replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure when that¡¯ll happen, but I have a feeling you will be experiencing some challenges soon, Ms. Annic. Do be careful when walking in heels. You¡¯ll be surprised at how easily a fall can result in broken bones.¡± As though she were oblivious to Gwendolyn¡¯s sarcasm, Annie responded with a sweet smile, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Ms. Harris. I do indeed find the hospital floor to be a little slippery, so I will be extra careful.¡± Paul wrapped an arm around Annie¡¯s waist and led her out of the ward. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression was icy-cold when the door closed behind them. She shifted her gaze toward the fruits and flowers on the nightstand and said, ¡°Have someone throw these out. Don¡¯t even touch them.¡± Cedrick would have done that even if she didn¡¯t say so. He quickly summoned a nurse to dispose of those items and disinfect the nightstand with alcohol. ¡°Gwenny, how likely do you think Paul is behind this attack?¡± ¡°It was about forty percent at first, but it rose to sixty percent after they showed up at my ward and pretended to care about my well-being.¡± Gwendolyn replied. Cedrick poured her a ss of water and fed it to her. ¡°In that case, I suspect him slightly more than you do. I¡¯d say my level of suspicion is about seventy percent.¡± ¡°Where did that extra ten percente from?¡± Gwendolyn asked in confusion. ¡°The gifts that Paul brought over. If they were simply here for a medical checkup and came in a hurry after finding out about your hospitalization, they wouldn¡¯t have bought so many gifts in advance. It¡¯s obvious that they have been keeping an eye on us and came over after finding out about your hospitalization.¡± Gwendolyn exhaled sharply. ¡°But these are all merely spections until we obtain solid evidence.¡± ¡°We can forget about obtaining evidence on Paul. I know him. The fact that he had the audacity to waltz in here and demand the coboration contract means he must have destroyed all evidence beforehand. It¡¯s amon tactic employed by Ospean nobility,¡± Cedrick said calmly while gazing at the sunset outside the window. Despite the warm glow it cast into the room, Cedrick felt nofort from it whatsoever. His feelings were directly influenced by that of Gwendolyn¡¯s. He shared her feelings of joy and distress, so his mood wasrgely dependent on hers. Gwendolyn remained calm after hearing what he said. ¡°Harris Group still needs to coborate with Dovil Group. If Neal can¡¯t find anything, then forget about it. There¡¯s no need to make things difficult for him.¡± ¡°Are you going to let the mastermind get away with this?¡± Cedrick asked. Let him get away with this? As if I always get my revenge on those who wrong me! ¡°We will return the favor if we are able to obtain any evidence to prove them guilty. If they love to y dirty, then I shall do the same. Let¡¯s see what this Ospean count is capable of!¡± Cedrick gently caressed her cheek and kissed her affectionately on the lips. ¡°Just do whatever you believe is right, Gwenny. I will support you as your rook.¡± Gwendolyn let out a snicker and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want a rook, though.¡± ¡°What do you want, then?¡± Gwendolyn beckoned at him toe closer before whispering, ¡°I prefer if you would be my steed so I could ride you all day long.¡± Her weak voice made her look all the more vulnerable, which stimted Cedrick¡¯s desire to protect her even more. Cedrick swallowed hard as he tried to hold his lust back, but Gwendolyn continued to toy with him. She ran her icy-cold fingers over his carlobe, giving him goosebumps all over. He grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and kissed the back of it. ¡°Cut it out, Gwenny! You know how I can¡¯t resist you. Stop tempting me, or I will lose control! You¡¯re injured, and concussions have a long recovery period. As difficult as it may be, I need to keep my hands off you until you¡¯re fully healed. Stop making it any more difficult for me.¡± It wasn¡¯t Gwendolyn¡¯s intention to tempt him, but she felt the urge to get intimate with him after regaining consciousness. ¡°I¡¯m hungry, Hubby.¡± Cedrick picked up his phone and got ready to call the hospital cafeteria. ¡°What would you like to eat, Gwenny?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry, but I don¡¯t have much of an appetite, so get me something light.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Being a decisive man, Cedrick proceeded to order the food ording to her preferences. Tension was through the roof at the police station after the incident at the hospital in Astoria. Chapter 534 He Has A Neurological Disorder Chapter 534 He Has A Neurological Disorder The entire police station was filled with elite officers who had been transferred over to investigate the matter. Unfortunately, they were unable to make any progress on the case after an entire day. Neal had given them an ultimatum-three days to find the mastermind. Meanwhile, the young police chief was sitting in his office, brimming with anxiety. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. As he went through the information provided one by one, repeated sighs could be heard in between his sips of coffee. He was worried about his inability to find any suspects so far. Cedrick suspected Paul, who was a count from Ospea. Given his important station, it was difficult for the police to investigate thetter unless they had concrete proof to back up their usation, Taking such action would, after all, affect the rtions between Astoria and Ospea. On the other hand, if Paul wasn¡¯t investigated, the chief would have a hard time exining it to Cedrick. It would also affect the foreign rtions between Chanaca and Astoria. Finally, if he couldn¡¯t find anything, he would not only be given a hard time by Neal but also be relieved of his position. The predicament he was in made him feel trapped. While going through the unsettling information that had yet to yield a lead, he finished his third cigarette. without even realizing it. Just as he was lost in his frustration, a knock on the door was heard. ¡°Come in,¡± he barked impatiently. A uniformed officer subsequently entered. ¡°Sir, there¡¯s ady outside who ims to have knowledge about the incident and wants to help you.¡± ¡°Help me?¡± The chief adjusted his tie in an annoyed manner before letting out a snort. ¡°Who is she?¡± ¡°She says she¡¯s Count Hall¡¯s girlfriend, Ms. Annie.¡± Oh? She¡¯s another big shot. ¡°Bring her in and prepare a cup of cappino.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± A few minutester, the officer led Annie into the chief¡¯s office. The young chief invited her to have a seat on the couch. Wearing a gentle smile, Annie appeared genuine. He Has A Neurological Disorder ¡°Ms. Annie, did youe here with some evidence for us?¡± Annie nodded. ¡°I know very well what your current concerns are and have a n to solve the dilemma you¡¯re facing. You¡¯ll be able to provide everyone with a satisfactory answer. On top of that, you get to keep your position as chief too.¡± The chief cocked a skeptical brow. After all, thedy before him was still very young despite her beauty. Since he had no better option, he decided to listen to what she had to say. ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Having applied exquisite makeup, Annie looked innocent and adorable with her captivating smile. However, behind the calm look in her eyes was an unbelievably wicked mind. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn had spent two days at the hospital. Under Cedrick¡¯s meticulous care, her feet didn¡¯t touch the ground the entire time. He carried her everywhere, including the toilet. Feeling as if she was his young, paralyzed charge, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but feel awkward about it. During the day, she spoke over the phone with Charles as usual, but she didn¡¯t do a video call as she was in the hospital. Upon learning that the children were doing fine, she heaved a sigh of relief. After a week passed in Astoria, the day of Neal¡¯s ultimatum finally arrived. Hence, the result of the investigation was expected in the afternoon. When the determined Gwendolyn asked to be discharged, Cedrick objected to it but to no avail. During her checkup, the doctor examined both her wounds from the gunshot and her head trauma. When he didn¡¯t find any problems, he gave her the green light to leave.. Rendered speechless, Cedrick had no choice but to apany Gwendolyn in an armored car to the police station, where they would learn about the results of the investigation. Upon their arrival, they ran into Neal, who entered the building together with them. Inside the conference room, the ckboard hadplicated leads stered all over it. The police chief printed three copies of the evidence and distributed one each to the three important figures in the room. While everyone was going through the document, he pointed to the ckboard and exined, ¡°Based on our investigations, we conclude that the lorry driver is the prime suspect. He was a Chanaean who came to Astoria this year. After submitting the relevant documents, he managed to obtain Astorian citizenship.¡± The chief¡¯s finger subsequently shifted to Gwendolyn¡¯s picture. ¡°We found many pictures of Mrs. Jenson in the driver¡¯s house. We know that he watched Mrs. Jenson¡¯s viral dance video online and is a fan of hers. On top of that, he fantasized that she was his wife online. Therefore, the announcement of Mrs. Jenson¡¯s marriage came as such a shock that he lost control of his emotions.¡± The words triggered a furrow of Cedrick¡¯s brows. The displeasure from his darkened expression was telling. Nheless, he didn¡¯t interrupt the chief but scowled as he continued to listen. ¡°Yesterday, we sent him for a psychiatric evaluation. The doctor concluded that he has a neurological disorder that causes him to behave in an aggressive and violent manner. Due to his obsession with Mrs. Jenson, he plotted the incident in an attempt to destroy what he couldn¡¯t have.¡± Gwendolyn snorted abruptly to express her skepticism toward the chief¡¯s prime suspect. ¡°This theory has too many ws. How can a lowly lorry driver afford to hire a group of elite assassins and snipers from the ck market?¡± The chief responded calmly, ¡°We checked the transactions of his bank ount and found out that he had spent all his money a few days ago. On top of that, he decided to personally drive the lorry himself in the suicide attack. Mrs. Jenson, if you try and recall what happened that day, you¡¯ll remember that he didn¡¯t give up after ramming the lorry into the taxi. He dragged the taxi for tens of meters until he was forced to stop by the road divider. His vengeful and impulsive behavior is extremely obvious from his actions.¡± Upon hearing the exnation, Neal maintained his silence. As for the fuming Gwendolyn, she flipped through the evidence back and forth with mounting distress in her eyes. In an icy tone, Cedrick inquired, ¡°Where¡¯s the lorry driver now?¡± ¡°He was sent to the emergency room after the incident. Unfortunately, he¡¯s now reduced to a vegetable, He¡¯s still alive but might not wake up, ever.¡± Pinning all the me on a paralyzed man was no different than doing the same with a dead man. That was the solution to resolve the tripartite dilemma. No one had any basis to question the investigation any further, as dead men tell no tales. After going through the evidence a few times. Neal found the hypothesis that the lorry driver had exacted. revenge due to a violent neurological disorder to be reasonable. Thereafter, he put the document down and turned his attention to the victim. ¡°Ms. Harris, do you still have any objections to the conclusion? If you do, please raise them at once.¡± Gwendolyn snorted in response. It¡¯s unbelievable how they can me such a huge incident on a lorry driver. Gwendolyn shot the chief a piercing re as she asked candidly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you have been ced in charge of this case. So, have you met anyone unrted to the case here in the police station?¡± Chapter 535 A Present And Beautiful Misunderstanding Chapter 535 A Present And Beautiful Misunderstanding Someone unrted¡­ Briefly stunned, the chief lowered his gaze and gave his nose an awkward scratch. ¡°No. I have been fully focused on this terrible attack on you and haven¡¯t met any outsiders.¡± Seeing through the chief¡¯s expression, Gwendolyn and Cedrick exchanged nces. ¡°Fine. In that case, I have no further questions.¡± Upon gaining Gwendolyn¡¯s eptance, the chief breathed a soft sigh of relief in front of the ckboard. He then used a tissue to wipe off the sweat that had broken out across his forehead out of anxiety. While escorting Gwendolyn and Cedrick out of the police station, Neal asked, ¡°The criminal who struck Ms. Harris behind the head is being punished. Do both of you want to see him?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head in response. ¡°Forget it. Just get the police to continue his severe punishment, Mr. Gray, Mr. Jenson and I have spent too much time in Astoria. It¡¯s been a long time since we have seen the children, so we feel like going home.¡± ¡°All right then.¡± Neal gave her an understanding nod before turning toward Cedrick. ¡°In that case, Mr. Jenson, do you want to bring the criminal back to Chanaea for questioning?¡± Cedrick helped Gwendolyn walk with his arm wrapped around her waist. ¡°Since Gwenny has asked you to punish him heavily, so be it. He is, after all, an Astorian citizen and not the mastermind. Going through the extradition process for just a henchman is too troublesome and entirely unnecessary.¡± Neal nodded in agreement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Jenson. Even though the lorry driver is now an Astorian citizen, I¡¯ll make sure he gets the best medical care. Once he recovers, he will definitely be dealt with severely.¡± However, Cedrick retorted in a nonchnt tone, ¡°He¡¯s nothing but a scapegoat nted at the veryst minute.¡± The words stunned Neal slightly. As the crown prince of Astoria, Cedrick¡¯s insinuation wasn¡¯t lost upon. him. Nheless, all he responded with was a wry smile. Just as they left the police station and were about to enter the armored car to return to the hotel, Cedrick turned around and said, ¡°Neal, your police chief isn¡¯t on your side. You had better be careful as someone like this might impede your ascension to the throne.¡± The moment he finished, Cedrick help Gwendolyn into the car before joining her inside. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. After the door mmed shut, the pale-looking Neal was left standing in the dust. As he watched the armored car gradually disappear, Neal discreetly gave the deputy police chief a call. ¡°Find out who your boss has met with recently, and be discreet about it.¡± On the way back to the hotel, Cedrick and Gwendolyn didn¡¯t say a word due to the presence of the Astorian police. It wasn¡¯t until the door to the presidential suite was closed behind him that Cedrick remarked, ¡°From the police chief¡¯s reaction, it¡¯s clear that the person he met must be someone important. I¡¯m guessing it was either Paul or Annie.¡± Gwendolyn shed a faint smile as she locked gazes with him. ¡°That is exactly what I thought, too.¡± Wrapping his arms around Gwendolyn¡¯s waist, he asked, ¡°What do you n to do, Darling?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll head home first. After that, I¡¯ll y hardball with them by plundering Paul¡¯s resources and ending the partnerships Annie has on hand. As for everything else they have done, I¡¯ll make them pay for it one by one due to their distinguished position.¡± Cedrick gave her forehead a peck. ¡°We¡¯ll do whatever you say, Gwenny.¡± The bandage around Gwendolyn¡¯s head made it difficult for her to shower. Hence, Cedrick carried her to the dry area in the bathroom and slowly wiped her body with a hot towel that he personally wrung. After that, both of them went to bedfortably. In the middle of the night, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t sleep well due to the dull pain in the back of her head. However, her eyelids felt so heavy that she just couldn¡¯t open her eyes. Clenching her fists, she felt rage swelling up within her inexplicably. I need to vent¡­ to shed blood¡­ ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Gwenny?¡± Holding her in his arms, Cedrick, who was sleeping lightly, could feel the sudden tension in her back. He turned on the bedsidemp and scrutinized her. ¡°Are you feeling any difort?¡± As the grogginess Gwendolyn felt gradually dissipated, she suddenly realized that she couldn¡¯t speak or move a single muscle. It was a strange sensation, simr to cases of sleep paralysis she had heard about. After struggling for a while with all her might, she slowly drifted back into a deep sleep once she had drained all her energy. When Cedrick checked her breathing and noticed that it had returned to a steady state, he sighed in relief, thinking that she had just been having a nightmare. With that, both of them slept peacefully in each other¡¯s arms for the rest of the night. Upon getting out of bed and packing the next morning, they were sent to the airport in an armored police car. This time, both of them safely boarded the ne home after an uneventful journey to the airport. As Gwendolyn stared out the aircraft window into the rolling hills in the distance, a sense of calm returned to her heart. She no longer remembered the sleep paralysis she experiencedst night. Cedrick was holding her hand with his fingers tightly sped around hers. After pecking her on the cheeks, he sounded relieved as he spoke. ¡°Luckily, I came with you to Astoria on this business trip. I would have gone mad to learn that you had Twisting to lean her head on his shoulders, Gwendolyn said wearily. ¡°I¡¯m feeling sleepy, Hubby. Let me sleep in your arms. Wake me when we¡¯re there.¡± ¡°All right. Go ahead and rest.¡± After spending more than twenty hours on the flight, Gwendolyn and Cedrick finallynded at Salinsburgh, Chanaca. Expecting their arrival, Nico and Summer were already waiting at the airport. Summer had even bought some flowers, making an asion out of it. It felt as if she hadn¡¯t seen them for a very long time. When Cedrick and Gwendolyn emerged from the terminal holding hands, the two quickly approached them. Nico helped the couple with their luggage while Summer held onto Gwendolyn¡¯s arm and stuffed the fresh flowers into thetter¡¯s hands. ¡°Did you have fun on your honeymoon, Gwendolyn?¡± Nico added by the side. ¡°Cedrick has finally fulfilled his dreams of having his honeymoon overseas. I¡¯m sure this trip has been unforgettable for the two of you, right?¡± As news of the attack in Astoria had been covered up, those in Chanaea were oblivious to it. Thus, Nico and Summer peppered the couple with questions about the tourist sites they visited, having assumed that Gwendolyn and Cedrick had gone on their honeymoon. However, Cedrick kept mum. The mere mention of the trip upset him, for it reminded him of the wounds. Gwendolyn suffered. Unlike him, Gwendolyn was in a much better mood. With glistening eyes, she pointed at one of the bags Nico was carrying. ¡°While shopping in Astoria¡¯srgest mall, I got something for the two of you. You can open it once we¡¯re back at Harrick Vi.¡± Delighted to learn that Gwendolyn had gotten them a present, Nico and Summer couldn¡¯t wait to return. to the Jenson residence. Half an hourter, the group arrived home in a cheery atmosphere. The moment the vi doors opened, Charles and Zoey could be seen standing at the door, carrying one of the children each. ¡°Wee back, Gwen. Benny and Zendy were very well-behaved. They must have missed you-¡± Charles stopped abruptly when he noticed Cedrick¡¯s darkened expression. Thereafter, he added tactfully, ¡°As for you, Mr. Jenson, the children kept babbling every day, almost sounding like they were calling for their daddy.¡± No sooner had Charles changed his tact than the tension on Cedrick¡¯s face eased. After taking Zendaya over from Charles, Gwendolyn gave her daughter a tight hug to express her longing for her. As for Nico and Summer, both of them were unwrapping their presents excitedly. Summer was ecstatic when sheid eyes on the expensive crystal jewelry Gwendolyn had gotten her. As this was the most luxurious item she had ever owned, she was moved to tears. Gwendolyn teased, ¡°Why are you crying? I got this to thank you and Nico for the help this week. Please ept it.¡± ¡°All right, then.¡± Now that the children¡¯s actual parents had returned, Charles had no choice but to step aside and smile alongside everyone. Nevertheless, Gwendolyn shifted her attention to him. ¡°You have done the most by taking care of the children. I¡¯ve also gotten you a present, so why don¡¯t you take a look to see if you like it?¡± Charles¡¯ eyes lit up in surprise. ¡°I have one too?¡± Gwendolyn nodded with a smile. With the help of his keen eyes, Nico retrieved an exquisite-looking watch from the bag and handed it to Charles. ¡°This one must be yours.¡± As Charles ran his fingers over the luxury watch, the joy on his face was unmistakable. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you personally chose something for me, Gwen. This is the first time I have received a gift from you ever since we reunited with each other. I like it very much. Thank you.¡± Brows furrowed, Cedrick quickly rified the beautiful misunderstanding. ¡°Don¡¯t let yourself get carried away. I was the one who picked the watch for you, so I¡¯m the one you should be thanking.¡± Rendered speechless, Charles suddenly felt as though the watch in his hand had lost its luster. Chapter 536 Unusual Condition Chapter 536 Unusual Condition Cedrick¡¯s lips curled as he watched Charles¡¯ frustrated expression. ¡°It looks like you have no intention of thanking me. You only desire Gwenny¡¯s present,¡± he remarked. Charles forced a smile, his expression masking his true feelings. ¡°Oh, no, Mr. Jenson. Thank you very much! You seem to understand me perfectly. I had my eye on this watch for a while, but you beat me to it. Luckily, it still ended up in my possession in the end.¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows. ¡°That¡¯s great. Try it on. Let¡¯s see if it fits you.¡± As Gwendolyn sweetly coaxed little Zendaya, she cast a quick nce at both men. She couldn¡¯t help but find their rivalry amusing. It had been a while since they had engaged in suchpetition, and she had no intention of intervening. Gathering the children, she made her way to the baby room on the fourth floor, apanied by Zoey and Summer, leaving the living room to the three men. As soon as Gwendolyn was out of sight, the smile on Cedrick¡¯s and Charles¡¯ faces vanished. They instinctively turned their backs to each other, each immersing themselves in their own tasks. Cedrick headed to the kitchen to prepare a meal while Charles took charge of tidying up the messy luggage on the floor. Left alone in the living room, Nico stood there with a puzzled expression on his face. He scratched his head, trying to make sense of the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Everything seemed so rxed just a moment ago. Why did it be tense suddenly? Caught in a dilemma, Nico weighed his options between assisting in the kitchen or joining Charles in packing up the luggage. After a brief moment of contemtion, he chose to lend a hand to Charles, not wanting to risk being seen as a nuisance by Cedrick for being unable to help in the kitchen. The first meal they had aftering back home was a family dinner. It was a pleasant affair. As a result of her injury, Gwendolyn delegated numerous projects and contract signings with Dovil Group to her capable subordinates. Taking the time to recuperate at home, she focused on her recovery while spending time with her children. As usual, Cedrick juggled his time between Jenson Group and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gradually, everyone¡¯s lives began to regain a sense of normalcy. By the third day, the wound on Gwendolyn¡¯s arm had been bandaged for over a week. When changing the dressing this time, they noticed the wound had begun to scab over. The wound on the back of her head had also healed considerably as it only bled a little. The swelling had subsided, and Gwendolyn was well on her way to a full recovery. Thus, she returned to Harris Group and jumped back on board with the projects and coborations involving Dovil Group. She discreetly assigned her team to gather more information about Paul¡¯s Antea Group, particrly focusing on Annie¡¯s current role and the projects she was overseeing. Her goal was to meddle in their affairs and fight for every project they were involved in. After spending the morning in her office, Gwendolyn gradually lost her concentration and felt a growing sense of fatigue. She found it increasingly difficult to stay focused on her tasks. Perhaps it was due to the lingering effects of her concussion, as she was still in the process of recovering from it. Pushing her mouse aside, she shut her eyes and massaged her temples. Suddenly, Gwendolyn felt a nerve in her brain tensing up, causing waves of pain to ripple through her head. That¡¯s strange. She instinctively massaged the back of her head, feeling a strange sense of irritation. Reaching for the landline, she summoned her assistant and spoke in a weary tone. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit tired, so I¡¯ll be resting in the room within my office. Unless it¡¯s something urgent, please ensure that no one disturbs me.¡± ¡°Got it, Ms. Harris,¡± the assistant replied and left her office. As Gwendolyn continued massaging her head, she headed into the room to rest. Back in the CEO¡¯s office of Jenson Group, Cedrick found himself staring absentmindedly at the scenery outside. Last night, he had mentioned the dress he bought in Astoria to Gwendolyn, and she had agreed to try it on tonight. The anticipation of spending a wonderful and unforgettable night with her filled his thoughts, bringing a smile to his face. Feeling dizzy with excitement, he couldn¡¯t wait to get off work. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, he stole a nce at his watch. It was finally time to wrap up his work. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. He pulled out his phone to call Gwendolyn, intending to pick her up from work. The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered it. Curious, he clicked on WhatsApp and sent her a few text messages. A few minutester, she still hadn¡¯t seen his messages. If Gwendolyn were in a meeting, she would¡¯ve rejected his call instead of letting her phone ring. Suspicion rose in his heart as he called Gwendolyn¡¯s assistant, who he had bribed previously. When the call connected, he asked, ¡°Where is Gwenny? ¡°Ms. Harris is resting in her office. She left instructions that no one is to disturb her.¡± Cedrick asked worriedly, ¡°Is she feeling unwell?¡± ¡°ording to Ms. Harris, she mentioned feeling tired. However, when I entered her office, she appeared to be in a normal state. I didn¡¯t notice any signs of illness,¡± the assistant reported. ¡°Okay, then.¡± After the call ended. Cedrick packed up his stuff and took the elevator downstairs. He drove his car to Harris Group. The sky was already dark by the time he arrived. As the husband of Harris Group¡¯s CEO, he was allowed entry and sessfully made his way to the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor The assistant gave him a polite bow and gestured for him to enter Gwendolyn¡¯s office. Ms. Harris told me to keep everyone out. ¡°Everyone¡± should refer to her employees and coboration partners, but not Mr. Jenson. That was what the assistant thought. After Cedrick entered the office, the assistant knew it was best not to intrude and disturb their alone time. She quickly cleared her table and prepared to leave for the day, respecting their privacy. Cedrick tiptoed into the office and switched on the light, but it was empty. ¡°Gwenny?¡± he called out carefully. The door to the room inside the office was ajar, but the lights were switched off. Seeing that, he made his way there. As he pushed open the door, he was greeted by a shocking sight. Decorative items were strewn across the floor, creating a cluttered mess, while books were scattered about with torn pages. Shock crossed his face as he stepped into the room. ¡°Darling?¡± A figure was crouching on the ground nearby, furiously tearing books apart. This was the first time Cedrick had ever seen Gwendolyn acting this way. He quickly hurried over to check on her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling overwhelmed with work and need to let it out? Gwenny, please talk to me,¡± he pleaded. Getting down on one knee, he cupped Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks and forced her to look up. To his astonishment, her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked positively irritated. As their gazes locked, Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into an eerie smile, while a malevolent gleam sparkled in her eyes. Cedrick was engrossed in assessing whether she had harmed herself while venting her anger and failed to notice the danger lurking within her. ¡°Let¡¯s go to theb,¡± he suggested. He was about to pick her up when she delivered a stinging p to his cheek. p! Her palm connected with his left cheek. Cedrick¡¯s head jerked to the side from the force of the p as a searing sensation spread across his cheek. It took him a while to regain his senses. Gwendolyn had just pped him. After they reconciled, Gwendolyn never resorted to pping him. At most, she would yfully give him a light pinch. Curious, he turned around to see Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze filled with excitement, He was still in a daze when Gwendolyn raised her right hand to give him another forceful p. He didn¡¯t evade her p and let itnd on his cheek. The impact caused his teeth to cut into the soft tissue of his mouth, resulting in a trickle of blood from the corner of his lips. After getting pped twice by Gwendolyn, he had to reassess her condition. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were filled with frenzy as she raised her arm, prepared tounch another attack. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Finally, Cedrick took action to stop her. He grabbed her wrist and struck the back of her head. Following the impact, Gwendolyn copsed weakly, losing consciousness, and Cedrick quickly caught her in his arms. Cedrick stood up and immediately ran to the garage to head to theb. The chaotic state of the room and the two unexpected ps raised concerns about Gwendolyn¡¯s condition. Something was clearly amiss. Chapter 537 Headache Chapter 537 Headache Half an hourter, Joshua conducted a thorough examination of Gwendolyn, including testing her blood to determine if the $404 RNA virus had been transmitted to her from her children. As they waited for the results, he nced at Cedrick¡¯s swollen cheek and let out a soft sigh. ¡°Cedrick, do you want to put on some ointment to reduce the swelling? Or an ice pack?¡± Cedrick gently licked the cut in his inner mouth and nodded in agreement. ¡°All right, once we have a better understanding of Gwenny¡¯s condition, I¡¯ll make sure to apply the necessary medication.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Silence ensued in theb. None of them said a word as the air grew tense. An hourter, the sky had turnedpletely dark. Joshua finally received the results and made his way back to the ward with a serious expression. Cedrick had been waiting beside Gwendolyn the entire time. He quickly got to his feet and inquired, ¡°So?¡± Joshua held theb report tightly and looked at Cedrick. ¡°Cedrick, there is good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned dark. Why is he asking me to choose? Tamping down his impatience, he replied, ¡°Tell me the good news first.¡± The blood test results show that there is no S404 RNA virus in Gwendolyn¡¯s body. She¡¯ll be fine, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Cedrick heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°What about the bad news?¡± Joshua¡¯s voice grew solemn as he delivered the news. ¡°ording to various indicators and her previous abnormal actions, it appears that Gwendolyn is suffering from mania.¡± Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed in confusion as he processed the information. ¡°How is that possible? Mania is a mental illness. How could a blow to the back of her head cause her to develop mania?¡± Joshua exined patiently. ¡°There were hidden risks and signs of Gwendolyn¡¯s mania long before. She was under a lot of psychological stress due to various factors, especially during her pregnancy. The injury to the back of her head this time simply triggered the illnesspletely, but it is not the root cause.¡± He let out a sigh of apology. ¡°You mentioned before that when Gwendolyn was pregnant, she bit you until you bled over a minor issue. She went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor said it was due to excessive progesterone, which affected her emotions. The doctor assured you that it wasn¡¯t a major concern. However, if mental issues are not properly regted, they can lead to various risks and illnesses. Gwendolyn¡¯s manic episode happened to manifest.¡° Cedrick whirled around to look at Gwendolyn, who was still unconscious in bed. He racked his brain to recall what had happened previously. Gwenny discovered she was pregnant in Erihal amidst her busy negotiations with Charles for the Super Antiviral. When she finally returned to the country, Marcus had a fall down the stairs, and she was unjustly med. None of her rtives believed her, and she faced usations of being an illegitimate child. Despite her exhaustion, she had to handle these matters with determination. And then, Marcus passed away, and Evelyn went missing. The pressure and anxiety never left her alone. Negative emotions kept weighing her down. Cedrick¡¯s face filled with anguish as he held his head in his hands. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I neglected her. I failed to recognize and address her mental health issues.¡± ¡°No one knew this would happen. Stop ming yourself, Cedrick,¡± Joshua advised him as he wrote something on the report. *Based on your description, it appears that Gwendolyn¡¯s mania is intermittent, characterized by sudden bursts of anger when she¡¯s tired and under stress. These outbursts may ur especially at night. It¡¯s important for you to closely monitor her. Additionally, it¡¯s possible that Gwendolyn may not have any recollection of her actions during these episodes. It¡¯s up to you to decide whether or not to disclose the truth to her.¡± Cedrick sat by the edge of the bed and held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand tightly. A momentary silenceter, he asked, ¡°What should I do the next time she has an outburst?¡± ¡°Administering sedatives by force is an option, but it can be damaging to the nerves, so it should be considered carefully. If too much is injected, it can affect subsequent treatment. Other than that, the only option is to let her vent until she exhausts herself and falls asleep naturally, which doesn¡¯t harm the nerves. However, she may feel fatigued the next day. Considering there are children in the hotuse, it may not be suitable, right?¡± Cedrick fell into deep thought and said nothing. Joshua added. ¡°You should avoid rendering her unconscious like you did today. The blow to the back of her head has already weakened the nerves in that area. When Gwendolyn wakes up, she may experience severe headaches.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Cedrick agreed with a curt nod, feeling guilty for what he did. He held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and pressed an apologetic kiss on the back of it. ¡°Can you treat Gwenny¡¯s mania?¡± Joshua nodded. ¡°There are treatment options avable for her condition. While mania can be challenging to treat, it is not incurable. Based on Gwendolyn¡¯s physical condition, I will develop a medication specifically tailored to her needs. If we¡¯re fortunate, she may recoverpletely within six months.¡± Cedrick promptly rxed when he learned that Gwendolyn could recover. ¡°Understood. Please develop the treatment n as soon as possible. If Gwendolyn has another outburst, I¡¯ll discreetly bring her here and ensure she receives the necessary treatment.¡± Joshua caught the main point in his words. ¡°Discreetly? Are you nning to keep Gwendolyn unaware of her condition and secretly treat her?¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze and sighed. ¡°Gwenny is a stubborn person. I know her well. If she bes aware of her condition, she might go to great lengths to shield her loved ones from any potential harm. For now, it might be best to keep it from her. We¡¯ll assess the situation as it unfolds and make decisions ordingly.¡± Joshua couldn¡¯t refute his words. He got some medication for Gwendolyn to calm her frayed nerves and enhance her immune system. It took around two hours and a half to finish the IV drip. Cedrick remained beside her, using an ice pack to decrease the swelling on his cheek. They remained at theb untilte at night. When everything was done, Cedrick brought a still-unconscious Gwendolyn back to Harrick Vi Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. After the events of the night, he could finally find sce in sleep. Embracing Gwendolyn tightly in his arms, he drifted into a deep slumber. Gwendolyn slept until noon the following day. She was roused by a call from her assistant. ¡°Ms. Harris, the person in charge of the Dovil Group¡¯s project will be arriving in the afternoon to sign the contract. It¡¯s nearly one o¡¯clock now. Are you nning toe to work today?¡± It¡¯s almost one? Her mind cleared upon hearing about the contract. ¡°Okay, got it. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± After ending the call, she made an attempt to sit up. However, a sudden wave of excruciating pain overwhelmed her, particrly at the back of her head. Helpless against the pain, she slumped back, prepared to hit the bed¡¯s headboard. Yet, before the impact, she found herself enveloped in aforting embrace. She didn¡¯t need to open her eyes to recognize who it was. ¡°Hubby, did you turn off my rm? How did 1 end up sleeping until almost one in the afternoon?¡± she questioned. ¡°You¡¯ve been quite upiedtely, so I thought you needed some extra sleep. If your head still hurts, you should get more rest. I can help you dy the signing of the contract with Dovil Group,¡± Cedrick told her. ¡°No, the signing has already been postponed for quite some time, and I¡¯m concerned that further dys might lead to unforeseenplications. I¡¯m almost fully recovered now, so it¡¯s better to address it promptly.¡± Cedrick pulled her in for a hug, not showing any signs of releasing her. ¡°But Gwenny, you have a headache.¡± Weakly, she opened her eyes. ¡°I probably just need some time to get used to the climate here after coming back from abroad. Go get me some aspirin. I¡¯ll feel better after taking one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy to get dependent on aspirin. Let me massage your head to relieve your symptoms.¡± Slowly, Cedrick¡¯s slender fingers applied gentle pressure to Gwendolyn¡¯s temples, massaging her tense scalp in an effort to alleviate her headache. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t reject his offer and enjoyed his service. This is strange. The wound on the back of my head has almost recovered, but I woke up this morning to intense pain.¡± Cedrick¡¯s fingers paused as he lowered his gaze guiltily. Maybe you fell off your pillowst night. Let me give you a massage.¡± Gwendolyn leaned into his arms, allowing him to massage her. Cedrick was skilled enough to relieve her pain after a few minutes of massage Slowly, she regained her memories and suddenly recalled an important issue. ¡°Hubby, I don¡¯t remember how I came homest night. She hadn¡¯t drunk any alcohol, but she couldn¡¯t remember anything at all. Chapter 538 He Has Changed Chapter 538 He Has Changed Hearing her question, Cedrick calmly provided the reply he had prepared. ¡°You were too tiredst night and fell asleep in the resting room in your office. I went to Harris Group in search of you and brought you back home.¡± Gwendolyn was surprised to hear that. ¡°Did I sleep until now?¡± Cedrick chuckled aloud and tapped her nose affectionately. ¡°Yes, youzy little piggy. You slept for over ten hours.¡± No wonder I¡¯m having a splitting headache. It turns out I¡¯ve slept for that long. She let out a yful giggle. ¡°Well, in that case, I should definitely head to work at Harris Group. I could use the exercise of walking around. It¡¯s strange, though. I¡¯ve slept for so long, but I don¡¯t feel hungry at all.¡± Recognizing her determination, Cedrick didn¡¯t attempt to change her mind. ¡°If you feel unwell, m to give me a call. Why don¡¯t you leave work half an hour early? I want to prepare something delic our first candlelight dinner upon our return to the country. It¡¯ll be a chance for us to have some e time alone. I¡¯ll come to pick you up at workter.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Gwendolyn agreed readily. She didn¡¯t notice he was insinuating something else by saying ¡°quality time alone.¡± After her headache was relieved, Gwendolyn regained her energy and could get off the bed to wash herself By the time she finished washing up and putting on makeup, her headache had mostly subsided. Cedrick sat by the edge of the bed, observing her condition discreetly. ¡°It¡¯s still early. I prepared some oatmeal with spinach. Why don¡¯t you have some before leaving?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head in response. ¡°I don¡¯t have any appetite at the moment, so I¡¯m not hungry. Maybe I¡¯ll feel hungryter after I¡¯ve walked for a while. I think I¡¯ll just grab something to eat outside.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll drive you to work.¡± Cedrick got up and held her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. Without hesitation, he led her out of the house. As he willingly became her driver, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t resist, allowing him to drive the car. That afternoon, Gwendolyn finally signed the contract with the person in charge from Dovil Group. ¡°Ms. Harris, here¡¯s to a sessful coboration.¡± Gwendolyn shook thedy¡¯s hand warmly. ¡°Likewise. It was evening by the time she finally concluded the contract signing. The room was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, which cast a golden hue across the space. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze wandered to the window, where she caught sight of the breathtaking sunset. At that moment, she remembered Cedrick¡¯s words from earlier in the day. She nced at the clock and realized there were thirty minutes till six. I gave him my word, so I shouldn¡¯t disappoint him. Gwendolyn left the remaining matters to her assistant. After packing up her stuff, she took the elevator to the garage. She was about to call Cedrick when she spotted his car parked not far away. To her surprise, she went to the car and saw Cedrick inside. Upon spotting her, Cedrick got out of the car and went to the passenger side to open the door for her. He didn¡¯t forget to fasten her seatbelt after she entered the vehicle. He was as thoughtful as ever. When he bent down, Gwendolyn took the chance to give him a quick peck on the lips. ¡°If there¡¯s an award for the best husband, you¡¯ll definitely win it.¡± Cedrick lifted her chin and deepened the kiss. ¡°You¡¯ll win the best wife award, then.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face lit up with a delighted grin, reflecting the contentment she felt in their harmonious married life. On the way back to Harrick Vi, Gwendolyn stared at the constantly changing scenery outside the window and spaced out. Cedrick would often turn around to observe her condition. He seemed relieved to see that her composure was intact. As the car came to a halt at the red light, Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze was drawn to a young mother pushing a baby stroller along the sidewalk. In that moment, a subtle twinge of longing tugged at her heart. ¡°Ceddy, when our children grow up, let¡¯s take them for a stroll, each in their own stroller. It would be such a joyful experience.¡± Cedrick agreed, ¡°The children would love it.¡± As Gwendolyn fixed her gaze on the young mother and her baby, she suddenly missed her own children. ¡°I just left Harrick Vi this afternoon, so it¡¯s only been a few hours since Ist saw the babies, but I already miss them.¡± Cedrick tensed up. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s not talk about the kids today. We¡¯ll spend some quality time home alone and enjoy a candlelight dinner together, okay?¡± Gwendolyn shot him a puzzled look. Deep down, she felt displeased but didn¡¯t say anything else. Around ten minutester, the car rolled to a stop at the Jenson residence¡¯s garage. Cedrick parked the car and got out. He then went to the passenger side to open the door for her. Bending down, he carried her in his arms. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Why are you so nice tonight? Is it because you want to have sexter?¡± Cedrick pressed his lips into a tight smile. ¡°No. Before you recover from the concussionpletely, I will not have sex with you until you regain your health¡± ¡°Oh! You¡¯re sensible, huh?¡± Gwendolyn gave him a dubious look. ¡°Hubby, you¡¯re so fond of sex I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ll say no to it.¡± Cedrick gave her a soft kiss on the lips. ¡°Nothing is more important than your health, Gwenny¡± Leaning closer, she whispered coyly in his ear. ¡°But I¡¯m almost recovered. My concussion won¡¯t affect our having sex. Ceddy, are you sure you don¡¯t want to have some fun!¡± Her hot breath fanned his sensitive earlobe, causing him to tremble involuntarily He gulped silently, but his face remained devoid of expression as he strode forward. Gwendolyn yfully tugged at his tie and teased, ¡°We¡¯re having a candlelight dinner tonight. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to have sexter?¡± Cedrick gave a curt nod. ¡°Darling, stop teasing me. You know I can¡¯t resist your charms, right?¡± Fine, then. Gwendolyn retracted her hand unwillingly and stuffed his tie back into his suit jacket. She remained in his arms silently, allowing him to bring her into the house. After Cedrick ced her on the couch, he prepared fruits and snacks for her. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared the ingredients needed for dinner, so it won¡¯t take long for me to cook them. Darling, sit here and wait for me Don¡¯t go anywhere else, okay?¡± Gwendolyn nodded, finding his actions weird. Why doesn¡¯t he want me to leave the couch? This is strange. Recalling her babies on the fourth floor. Gwendolyn made a spontaneous decision to go upstairs and y. with them while Cedrick was busy cooking. She swung open the door to the nursery, expecting to see her little ones and Zoey. However, to her shock. the bed was empty, and there was no sign of the babies or Zoey anywhere in the room. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes widened in fear as she scanned the empty space, her mind racing with thoughts. Panic gripped her heart, overriding her rationality. Without wasting a second, she sprinted downstairs and hurried toward the kitchen, hoping to find answers. ¡°Hubby, Benny and Zendy are gone. Something must¡¯ve happened to them!¡± she eximed. Cedrick stopped cooking and let out a silent sigh. I can¡¯t believe she discovered that so soon. Indeed, Gwenny is as smart as usual. Gwendolyn was on the verge of breaking down, so he held her shoulders and exined calmly, ¡°The babies are fine. They didn¡¯t disappear, so don¡¯t be afraid.¡± ¡°How do you know? Did you hide them away?¡± Her chest heaved as she stared at him incredulously. ¡°Cedrick, did you send them away so we can have some time alone? What are you up to?¡± Cedrick ced aforting hand on Gwendolyn¡¯s back, gently soothing her and easing her agitation. ¡°Grandpa wants to meet Benny and Zendy. Due to his age and limited mobility, it¡¯s challenging for him to travel the distance between Harrick Vi and his own residence, which is quiterge. So, I arranged for Benny and Zendy, along with Mdm. Yarde, to stay with him for a few days. This way, he can spend quality time with the babies. Please don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve assigned additional bodyguards to ensure their safety and security at Grandpa¡¯s vi. Rest assured, Benny and Zendy are in good hands. Just take a deep breath and calm down. Hearing his exnation, Gwendolyn gradually regained herposure, It seemed reasonable for the elderly man to miss his grandchildren, and she didn¡¯t want to disrupt their time together. While she acknowledged that it wasn¡¯t a significant issue and she couldn¡¯t simply rush to his vi to retrieve the children, there was an underlying sense that something was amiss. ¡°Did you really send the kids and Mdm. Yarde there because Grandpa misses them?¡± Cedrick kissed her forehead gently. ¡°Yes. They will be back in a few days, so don¡¯t worry, Hearing that, Gwendolyn stopped protesting. ¡°Hurry up. I¡¯m starving,¡± she urged. She offered him a hand in the kitchen, and dinner was soon served. They had a rxing and joyful candlelight dinner together. After dinner, they nestled on the couch and watched a movie together. Cedrick kept sneaking nces at her and rxed when he saw that there were no signs of an uing outburst. ording to Joshua, her manic episodes are likely to resurface when she¡¯s too tired. I¡¯ll take good care of her and make sure she doesn¡¯t get too tired. That will work to reduce her episodes. Halfway through the movie, Gwendolyn fell asleep on his shoulder. Cedrick barely got any sleepst night and had to wake up early in the morning to make the arrangements. Hence, he felt the weight of weariness settle upon him. Switching off the TV, he carried her back to the bedroom. Patiently, he got a wet towel to wipe her face and wash her feet before changing her clothes. Gwendolyn remained blissfully asleep and didn¡¯t stir at all. Half an hourter, he settled into bed and wrapped his arms around her. However¡­ p! He was half asleep when a stinging sensation on his cheek jolted him awake. Chapter 539 Do Not Hit My Face Chapter 539 Do Not Hit My Face It was bizarre to be pped awake by someone when one was sleeping peacefully Gedrick immediately opened his eyes. In the dark, he could feel a gust of wind that apanied another oing p. His reflexes kicked in as he quickly reached out to grab Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist. He sat up and turned to switch on the bedsidemp. When he turned back to look at Gwendolyn, he noticed her eyes were red with anger. Her mania is acting up again. What¡¯s going on While he was puzzled, Gwendolyn sent him a kick, causing him to twist away to dodge it. As they both had solid foundations in self-defense, they started fighting on the bed. Cedrick only yed defense, whereas Gwendolyn kept attacking him, In terms of martial arts. Cedrick was much more capable than Gwendolyn, even when she was in a state of frenzy. Besides that, the difference between a man¡¯s and a woman¡¯s strengths was too vast, Their fightsted over ten minutes before Gwendolyn got off the bed. Irritated, she grabbed the bedside lamp, wanting to smash it. ¡°Gwenny, don¡¯t!¡± Cedrick was confused. Why did she change tactical. He hurried over to snatch themp from her, but it was toote. Crush! Themp hit the corner of the bedside table. With a bang, it was smashed into pieces. The shattered ss flew everywhere and cut Gwendolyn¡¯s calves. However, she did not feel any pain. Murderous intent filled her eyes. Only one thought shed across her mind-she wanted to see blood. She picked up the sharp, brokenmp and pointed it at Cedrick¡¯s chest. He quickly dodged her attack, swiftly knocking the weapon in her hand away in the process, ¡°Darling, don¡¯t use such a deadly weapon. Let¡¯s just use our fists to fight,¡± he said helplessly. However, Gwendolyn was too lost in her mania. She could not understand a word he was saying. There was a vicious look in her eyes as she struggled out of his grip. Turning to the dresser, she reached for the bottles and spray cans Cedrick noticed where she was looking and stepped forward to stop her. ¡°Darling, stop smashing things. You¡¯ll get hurt if they break. It¡¯s better if you hit me instead. I won¡¯t dodge anymore. I¡¯ll let you vent on me, okay?¡± Gwendolyn shot him a re before raising her hand, wanting to p him again. Cedrick reached up to block her oing p. He sighed heavily and said, ¡°It¡¯s better you don¡¯t hit my face. I won¡¯t be good-looking anymore if you hurt my face. Not having any conscious control over her actions, she ignored his words and swung her left hand toward his face. He blocked her attack once more as he tried hard toe up with a solution I can¡¯t hit the back of Gunny¡¯s head, nor can I let her smash things or p me Yesterday, he had forgotten to ask Joshua for two sedative shots to prepare for emergencies like this. What should I do? Cedrick recalled what Joshua had told him yesterday. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Soon, he made a decision. He quickly grabbed a belt from the wardrobe and ced it in Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. ¡°Here. Use this to hit me. Vent your frustrations and anger out.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a sinister grin as she waved the belt and swung it at Cedrick. Cedrick stood still, not dodging any of her whips. He protected his head and face with one hand and covered his crotch with the other to avoid identally losing his manhood Gwendolyn rained attacks on Cedrick with the belt. She kept whipping his back, waist, arms, chest, burt, and leg. Apart from the parts of his body he had covered, every inch of skin was stinging from pain. Cedrick clenched his teeth and endured it silently as he allowed her to make him her human punching bag Whoosh The snap of the belt kept ringing through the air and cutting through the silence of the night. The sounds of it were terrifying from afar. Enckily, I sent the children to Grandpa¡¯s ce beforehand. Otherwise, they would be crying because of themation The one-uded beatingsted for more than half an hour. Gwendolyn who had lost her ability to think clearly, went all out to whip Cedrick. Her energy was soon depleted from continuously swinging the belt at him. The whooshing sounds stopped. Cedrick took two steps forward and brought a tired Gwendolyn into his embrace. It was precisely as Joshua said. After venting and using up all her energy. Gwendolyn would fall back asleep. It¡¯s finally the end of tonight¡¯s torturoux experience. Cedrick breathed a heavy sigh as he carried Gwendolyn onto the bed and pulled the covers over her. He waited for a few minutes and made sure she was asleep. Then, enduring the pain in his butt, he carefully sat at the edge of the bed to check on himself. His pajamas were torn into shreds from the whipping. Well, that¡¯s another set of pajamas gone to istite, His entire body was littered with marks. Red welts and purplish-blue bruises covered his skin. There was also blood dripping from some of the wounds. Dmn. Genny is quite strong Cedrick sighed helplessly as he endured the pain all over his body and went to the kitchen. He took an ice pack from the fridge and held it lightly against his face. After that, he took a first-aid kit and sat on the couch. He rubbed anti-inmmatory ointment on the areas he could reach and used a spray for his back, defily handling all his injuries. When he was done, he returned to the bedroom and cleaned the shattered ss from themp on the floor It was close to three in the morning by the time he finished. He changed into a new set of pajamas and bandaged his wounds. Then, he carefully climbed back into bed and inched close to hug Gwendolyn to sleep. Gwendolyn woke up at noon again, She was awakened by the delicious scent of the chicken noodle soup that Cedrick was cooking. The broken pieces of ss from themp and the torn pajamas were all gone by the time she woke Cedrick had destroyed all evidence of what happenedst night and cleaned the room. Gwendolyn moved to sit up, but it felt as though the energy in her body had all been sucked up. Just as she was trying to remember what had happened, Cedrick entered the room with a bowl of chicken noodle soup Cedrick ced the bowl on the bedside table before helping her to sit up. He even thoughtfully put a pillow behind her so she could lean against the headboardfortably. ¡°Hubby, what did we dost night? Why do I feel so tired?¡± You whipped me for more than an hour. Of course, you¡¯re tired, Cedrick recalled what happened the night before and decided to tell her a white lie. An indulgent smile crept onto his handsome face as he said, ¡°Gwenny, you had a nightmarest night. Perhaps you feel tired from not sleeping well because of that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gwendolyn was in disbelief. ¡°Even if I did have a nightmare. I doubt I would be tired to the point where I feel lethargic. Plus, why can¡¯t I remember anything? The expression on Cedrick¡¯s face remained the same. ¡°You were exhaustedst night. You fell asleep while watching the movie. I was the one who carried you into the bedroom to rest.¡± Feeling something was amiss, she stared at him suspiciously. ¡°Hubby,st night¡­ did you do something to me while I was asleep?¡± Her question rendered Cedrick speechless. He sat beside the bed and picked up the bowl of chicken noodle soup, patiently stirring it to cool it down. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. I¡¯m a gentleman. I would ask for your permission to get intimate with you. I won¡¯t engage any forceful sexual acts¡± Naturally, Gwendolyn believed him. She watched him stirring the soup. Seeing such a handsome man like him focused on doing something is a treat for the eyes However, she felt something was wrong the more she stared at him. ¡°Hubby, what happened to your face! Why does it look a little swollen!¡± Cedrick gulped, though his expression was calm as he exined. ¡°I think I¡¯ve been eating too much lately. That¡¯s why my face looks more swollen than usual. Gwenny, if you don¡¯t like it. I¡¯ll start to eat less and go on a diet from now on.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Ceddy, you have exquisite facial features. You still look handsome even though you have gained a little weight. It¡¯s just¡­¡± She narrowed her eyes and observed his face for a moment before drawling. ¡°Why does it feel like the left side of your face is more swollen than the right? It looks uneven. Cedrick was at a loss for words. He lightly blew on the spoonful of soup and ced it near Gwendolyn¡¯s lips, then went on to spout more nonsense. ¡°No one has a symmetrical face. I¡¯ve been chewing more with the left side of my mouth. It could be uneven because of that.¡± That exnation sounded reasonable. Gwendolyn did not press further. She opened her mouth to drink the soup, chewing the chicken slowly as she enjoyed her husband¡¯s care. She did not know what time she had woken up. Hence, she turned to take her phone from the bedside table to check the time and her messages. All of a sudden, she noticed something unusual in their bedroom. Confused, she asked. ¡°Hm! I thought the room looked weird. Hubby, where did my bedsidemp go Chapter 540 Mania Acting Up Again Chapter 540 Mania Acting Up Again Cedrick stopped blowing on the soup, stunned for a moment. However, he quickly returned to his senses. ¡°Darling, did you forget! Last night, you said the bedsidemp was too bright and asked me to take it away. You also told me not to put something like that near the bed anymore.¡± Gwendolyn was dumbfounded. ¡°Why can¡¯t I remember anything? Besides, thatmp wasn¡¯t even that bright. Why did I think it was blinding?¡± Cedrick smiled warmly as he continued to blow on the spoonful of soup. He brought it to her mouth and asked, ¡°How should I know? A woman¡¯s mind is an unfathomable thing. You¡¯ve been exhausted from worktely, so you might not have cared about small matters like these. It¡¯s normal to forget about it after waking up. Is that normal? I don¡¯t think sof Gwendolyn felt it was strange. Although deep in thought, she obediently opened her mouth to let Cedrick feed her Cedrick stared at her fondly and tenderly while his hands continued to stir the soup to cool it down. While Gwendolyn ate, her gaze drifted over to the other side of the bed. The strange feeling in her heart increased. ¡°Hubby, why is your bedsidemp still there?¡± To a perfectionist like her, if she were to remove the bedsidemp on her side, she would also have Cedrick¡¯s removed since the bedroom would look weird with only onemp. Why would I remove only one bedsidemp because it was blinding! Cedrick remained calm as he coaxed her, ¡°Darling, I¡¯ll take it awayter if you don¡¯t like it.¡±Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. I will not put arry more dangerous items on the bedside tables. If possible, I want to me Gunny¡¯s dresser out of the bedroom too. We don¡¯t need anything else but this bed. However, he could only keep his thoughts to himself. Seeing that Gwendolyn was still ruminating over the unusual situation in the room, Cedrick held out another spoonful of soup. ¡°All right, Gwenny. It¡¯s just a small matter. You don¡¯t have to get worked up over it. You have a lot of work toplete today, right? It¡¯s almost one in the afternoon. I¡¯ll send you to Harris Group after you¡¯re done eating¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost one!* At that point. Gwendolyn was beginning to grow doubtful about her life. Why do I sleep until noon every day? Why would either have a headache or feel exhausted when I wake up? Why don¡¯t I make up in between? Cedrick quickly fed her more food to stop her from further thinking of the recent mysterious events. Gwendolyn obediently finished the bowl of food. After that, sheid down on the bed while Cedrick gave her a massage. The soreness she felt all over her body was soon relieved. She sat up and wrapped her slim arms around Cedrick¡¯s slender waist. Since his waist had injuries from the whippingst night, Cedrick trembled slightly in pain as he scrunched his eyebrows Afraid that Gwendolyn would notice his odd demeanor, he forced himself to keep a neutral expression. He straightened his back and endured the pain as she hugged him. Gwendolyn gently pecked his lips. ¡°My husband is so considerate. If you continue to spoil me like this, I¡¯ll be a spoiled brat who doesn¡¯t know how to do anything herself.¡± Cedrick leaned forward and lightly rubbed the tip of his nose against hers. Smiling sweetly, he said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. My Gwenny is ambitious and wants to do great things. As your husband, it¡¯s only natural that I help you with these trivial matters. Gwendolyn was touched. She tightened her arms around him and hugged him. ¡°Thank you for being willing to support my career, Hubby.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyshes quivered. He quickly adjusted his breathing before whispering into her car, ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do. After being in each other¡¯s embrace for some time. Gwendolyn finally got out of bed and went to wash up. Only when she entered the bathroom did Cedrick¡¯s calm exterior crack. He furrowed his brows and hissed. in pain. Luckily, he had already changed into a suit, so Gwendolyn did not notice anything. Since she was sharp- witted, she would¡¯ve found out about his injuries if he were still in his thin pajamas. Twenty minutester, Gwendolyn was changed into her usual working attire and had also put on some light makeup. Holding hands, they left the house together. Cedrick drove Gwendolyn to the entrance of Harris Group himself. When she disappeared into thepany, his expression turned solemn as he wound up the window, He took out his phone and called Joshua to tell him everything that happened the night before. Joshua remained calm after listening to Cedrick¡¯s story. ¡°When Gwendolyn¡¯s mania acts up, she will lose her ability to think logically. Last night, instead of stopping to think, she chose to grab the bedsidemp and smash it. This is considered a normal form of venting when her mania acts up: When she wakes up, she won¡¯t remember what she did, either.¡±¡°¡± Cedrick understood Joshua¡¯s exnation. He was a little disappointed, but at the same time, he felt relieved. Thank goodness Gwenny isn¡¯t using her illness to purposely torture me. Cedrick was silent while Joshua continued, ¡°Cedrick, you should drop by theb. Let me have a look at your injuries and make sure they¡¯re not serious. You can also take home a few strong sedatives in case of any emergencies. ¡°Okay,¡± Cedrick agreed. He turned the car around and drove to theb. At theb, Cedrick took off his shirt and let Joshua check his wounds. Joshua sighed in relief. ¡°Thank goodness. They¡¯re just superficial injuries. You didn¡¯t injure any muscles or bones. But¡­.for your body to be whipped to this extent, it must hurt a lot, huh?¡± Cedrick stared at him strangely. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try getting whipped a few times and see if it hurts?¡± The corners of Joshua¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m just a weak and helpless professor. I won¡¯t be able to endure more than a few strikes before I fall unconscious. I¡¯m not as strong as you to withstand such a beating¡± Cedrick red at him as a cold glint shed across his eyes. Joshua chuckled as he sensed the threating from Cedrick. He patted Cedrick¡¯s exposed shoulder and said, ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything by that. I¡¯m justplimenting you, Cedrick. You¡¯re strong and have great stamina ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop your ttery¡± Joshua shut his mouth begrudgingly. He prescribed an anti-inmmatory cream that theb made specifically to treat bruises. ¡°This is better than the one you have at home. The only downside is it¡¯ll hurt more when you apply it.¡± Cedrick took the cream from Joshua. To him, a medicine that would help heal his wounds faster was precisely what he needed. Before Cedrick left theb, Joshua reminded, ¡°Cedrick, if Gwendolyn goes into a frenzy again tonight. don¡¯t be a human punching bag and let her vent it out on you. It¡¯ll hurt even more to receive a beating when your injuries haven¡¯t healed. It¡¯s better if you find a way to inject her with the sedative.¡± Cedrick nodded and left. Previously, Joshua said that taking too many potent sedatives would affect the nervous system, which isn¡¯t conducive to future treatments. It might even have an impact on curing Gusenny¡¯s mania. Regardless, I¡¯ll keep these sedative shots, just in case. I won¡¯t consider using them unless I have no other choice. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn was focused on her work in the CEO¡¯s office of Harris Group. Ever since international news reported the coboration project between Harris Group and Dovil Group, Harris Group¡¯s stocks went up. The news was also well received by the public. When Gwendolyn found out that Annie was helping Antea Group to negotiate a particr coboration, she sent a team of elites to snatch the business. She was expecting good news to arrive within two days. Even if the team couldn¡¯t win over the coborating party, Gwendolyn felt the need to ruin Annie¡¯s ns and take revenge because thetter had stolen her business before. The sky gradually turned dark. Gwendolyn, who had worked the whole afternoon, soon felt exhaustion take over her. She had realized something off about her lifestyletely. Apart from herself, she thought Cedrick was acting strange too. It felt like he was hiding something from her, but she could not put a finger on what it was. Gwendolyn felt a headacheing along. She closed her eyes and massaged her temples as she took a short break. All of a sudden, a pair of warm hands grabbed her own. She opened her eyes to see Cedrick standing in front of her. ¡°When did you arrive? Howe I didn¡¯t hear youe in!¡± ¡°I arrived about a minute ago. I¡¯m the husband of Harris Group¡¯s CEO, after all. Even your assistant won¡¯t be able to stop me. Previously, when Gwendolyn had just taken over Harris Group, she had asked Cedrick¡¯s help to handle some businesses. Hence, she left a back door open so he could enter without needing her assistant to inform his arrival. ¡°Are you tired?¡± Cedrick gently rubbed the backs of her hands. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to finish your work even if you worked twenty-four-seven. You ought to take some breaks. It¡¯s good tobine work and rest,¡± he urged before bending down to sweep Gwendolyn into his arms. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go home.¡± After dinner, Gwendolyn and Cedrick yed a two-yer mobile game. It was a pleasant and harmonious atmosphere. They continued ying until ten at night. Only then did Cedrick carry Gwendolyn up the stairs to take a shower. ¡°Goodnight, Hubby: Gwendolyn kissed Cedrick¡¯s lips before lying down on the bedfortably. She closed her eyes and went to sleep. On the other hand, Cedrick remained awake. He stared at her sleeping figure, not daring even to blink. When Gwendolyn¡¯s breathing stabilized, and Cedrick was sure she was fast asleep, he slowly and carefully got out of bed. He made his way toward the dresser and quickly gathered the bottles and the spray cans, storing them away as a precaution When he was done, he chose to sit beside the bed despite feeling exhausted. He stared at Gwendolyn sleeping in silence for some time Seeing no signs of her acting up, he sighed and rxed, then dragged his tired body onto the bed to lie down. Cedrick had just closed his eyes and fallen asleep for not even a minute when he sensed a gust of winding toward him. His eyes immediately snapped open. He grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s right wrist despite being unable to see clearly in the dark. However, it was useless. pt Gwendolyn raised her left hand and swung it at him. Cedrick was caught off guard as a pnded on his right cheek. He was at a loss for words. As expected of my wife. She¡¯s quick to react ande up with a new attack when the first one is blocked. Chapter 541 The Same Routine Chapter 541 The Same Routine Without hesitation, his hand shot out to grab Gwendolyn¡¯s left wrist. With her two hands restrained, the frenzied Gwendolyn started kicking her legs. Cedrick was forced to move backward. Once he let go of her, he rolled twice across the bed before landing steadily on the carpet. While Gwendolyn went to look for more objects to alleviate her emotions, he took the opportunity to dash to the closet to grab a belt, the moonlight the only light source for him in the dark. Before Gwendolyn could throw something else onto the ground, he rushed to the other side of the bed and ced the belt in her hand. Once Gwendolyn got hold of a weapon, the bloodlust in her eyes grew more intense. ¡°Wait!¡± Cedrick cried out in a panic, In the next second, he took off his pajamas and threw them on the bed before standing naked in front of Gwendolyn. He did not want another set of clothes destroyed again. ¡°Come, Gwenny. Do it fast so we can go back to sleep.¡± Gwendolyn roared as if she had turned into a beast without rationality and sentience. There was nothing but anger in her eyes-there was no trace of pity for him-as she swung the belt toward him. Smack! Every whip she did struck an old wound, but Cedrick endured it with deep breaths and gritted teeth as he covered his crotch. Quietly, he counted the attacks, wondering how long more he had to endure them. The whooshing of the whipping belt was terrifying in the silent night. The one-sided violencested close to an hour. Eventually, the whipping grew weaker. When Cedrick lifted his head, he noticed the manic quality in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes fading away, giving ce to exhaustion. The second she fell backward, Cedrick shot forward to grab her. Like the night before, he nimbly ced her back on the bed. He had been keeping tracking earlier, so he knew she had delivered two hundred and eighteen strikes on him. Genny¡¯s strong when she¡¯s manic He inhaled sharply. It hurt terribly. Every inch of his skin was screaming in pain. Unable to sit, he supported himself with a hand on the edge of the bed while he took calcted breaths. It took him a long time to recollect himself. The bedsidemp had been removed, and turning on the ceiling lights would startle Gwendolyn awake, so Cedrick picked up his pajamas from the bed in the dark and felt his way out of the room. Still naked, he came to the living room before making his way to the refrigerator for an ice pack. As he held it against his cheek, he checked the injuries on the rest of his body, He had twice the amount of injuries than before, and there was no part of his skin that had been spared from abuse. Red, blue, and ck-he was covered in the signs of torment. Cedrick stumbled, and he had to keep himself steady with a hand on the refrigerator, While the assaulter would tire from the act, the receiver would be even more exhausted. Furthermore, he had not been sleeping well for the past few nights. He was sore and tired. Joshua had alreadye up with the right dose of medication to cure her, so Cedrick had to quickly treat himself before taking Gwendolyn to theb. With that thought in mind, he forced himself to snap back to his senses and grabbed the anti- inmmatory cream Joshua had given him during the day to apply to his wounds. It was a potent medication. Initially, Cedrick felt a cooling sensation on his skin, but it soon turned into mes from an inferno, burning his skin. It felt as if his skin was going to fall off. In fact, it hurt worse than when he was hit. Even Cedrick, a man with a high pain tolerance, was unable to withstand the agony. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Cold sweat covered his entire body, and the world spun around him. He could barely keep his bnce. To let the wounds heal faster, he took a towel and bit onto it before continuing the application of the cream. Once he was done with that, he drank a ss of water to calm the stress from the agonizing session. After putting on his pajamas, he went back upstairs to look for Gwendolyn His arms were covered with wounds, and when he carried Gwendolyn, her weight pressed against them. Nevertheless, Cedrick let no pained sound leave his mouth as he silently carried Gwendolyn downstairs. Half an hourter, he arrived at theb, Joshua had received his message a long while ago, so he had rushed back to theb to work overtime. After administering intravenous therapy for Gwendolyn, Joshua turned to look at Cedrick with a frown ¡°This is too tiring for you, Cedrick. Go and rest in the room at the side. This will take at least two and a half hours. I¡¯ll watch over her for you.¡± However, Cedrick continued to hold Gwendolyn¡¯s hand as he stood beside her. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve already woken you up in the middle of the night to work. I can¡¯t possibly ask you to keep an eye on my wife too. Go ahead and sleep. I¡¯ll wake you when the IV finishes.¡± Cedrick¡¯s devotion to his wife reminded Joshua of how Gwendolyn had delivered the serum to theb in the middle of the night back then for Cedrick. ¡°I¡¯m envious of your rtionship. If only life was peaceful for you two. Cedrick tightened his grip on Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. ¡°It will be. These difficult times will pass, and our family will have a happy ending. ¡°Well, let me keep youpany then. It¡¯s not as if I can sleep anyway. With a sigh, Joshua dragged a chair over to sit beside Cedrick. In the next instance, he keenly spotted the abrasion and swelling on Cedrick¡¯s wrist, and he leaned closer to study it. ¡°Cedrick, this is pretty bad, and it¡¯s rather obvious.¡± Cedrick gave a half-hearted nce at his wrist. ¡°This is nothing. I¡¯ll deal with itter.¡± Again, Joshua sighed. He reached out, thinking to pat the back of Cedrick¡¯s hand in constion, but quickly realized that there was no part of Cedrick he could touch without hurting thetter. Hence, his hand was frozen in midair for a whole minute before he awkwardly retracted it. ¡°Cedrick, it must be hard to apply the medication on your back, right? Sit down. I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± Cedrick rejected his offer with a shake of his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already treated it with a spray beforeing out. It¡¯s not affecting me and my life, so I don¡¯t need to use your special cream.¡± Joshua stopped trying to persuade him otherwise at his insistence, knowing that nothing he said could change his mind. Hence, he quietly sat beside Cedrick and waited for Gwendolyn to be done with her intravenous therapy. Over an hour passed, and Cedrick started gging. As he supported himself with a hand on the bed, he closed his eyes to rest. Worried about him, Joshua said, ¡°Cedrick, if she gets another episode tomorrow, we should sedate her. Don¡¯t be her punching bag anymore. Look at you. One more beating, and you¡¯re going to be downed.¡± Cedrick did not speak as he tried to keep his rapid pained breathing steady. Joshua went on, ¡°What about this? Put on a set of protective wear tomorrow night. It¡¯s better than letting her hit you without wearing any protective gear.¡± Cedrick dismissively answered, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that tomorrow night. I just want to stay by her side for now. Then, he asked. ¡°Will the intravenous therapy tonight help a lot with Gwenny¡¯s mania?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way it¡¯ll work so quickly. She¡¯ll need to be treated for a week before there are any visible improvements,¡± Joshua responded. Cedrick was calm, nheless. ¡°Okay, as long as this cures her.¡± Once Gwendolyn¡¯s intravenous therapy waspleted. Cedrick carefully carried her out of theb with Joshua¡¯s help. Not long after, they reached the Jenson residence. By the time he was walking down the paths in the Jenson residence, it was already half past four in the morning. He still had over four hours to sleep before it was time for him to wake at nine in the morning. He needed to wake up at that time so that he could make oatmeal for Gwendolyn based on her required diet. After the tiring night, Cedrick finally had the time to lie down on his bed. However, he was covered in wounds, so he did not know if he should lie sprawled on his front or his back. Sleeping on his sides hurt as well, but he still chose to sleep on his side and have Gwendolyn in his arms. After closing his eyes, he let himself rx and drift off to the dreands. Perhaps it was because of the intravenous therapy, but when Gwendolyn woke the following afternoon, she was not as exhausted as she was the day before. Upon hearing the shuffling noise of footsteps, she propped herself up and leaned back on the headboard. A minuteter, Cedrick, who was wearing a suit and a tie, came into the room with a bowl of oatmeal. She somberly stared at him. The same thing had happened for the past three days, and something was clearly off. Still, she concealed her suspicions and said nothing about it. It was only when Cedrick sat down on the bed did she ask. ¡°What oatmeal is it today?¡± Cedrick¡¯s face was pale, but he gently told her, ¡°Shrimp and cheddar oatmeal.¡± As she took in his pallor, she calmly asked. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with me recently? Why am I so tired all the time? I feel a little better today, but I still slept until noon.¡± He stirred the oatmeal for a while before blowing on it and answering, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the change of seasons. It¡¯s normal that you¡¯re a little sleepier than usual.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± She furrowed her brows as she stared at his face. When he brought the spoon over to her lips, she reached out to grab his wrist. ¡°No need. I¡¯d like to help myself to the food today.¡± It was a casual touch, but Cedrick drew his brows together as his hand shuddered. Instantly noticing his reaction, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Hubby, what¡¯s the matter? You don¡¯t look well either. Are you sick!¡± Chapter 542 Hurt Him Terribly Chapter 542 Hurt Him Terribly Without any changes to his expression, Cedrick chuckled and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. How can I be sick?¡± Gwendolyn did not believe his words, however. She had been with him for a long time, and she knew him inside out. It would have been nothing if the strangeness had onlysted one or two days, but for this to be consecutive¡­ Something had to be up. As she reached out to Cedrick, she uttered, ¡°Pass me the bowl. I¡¯ll eat it myself.¡±¡°¡±¡°¡± Her stubbornness made Cedrick hand her the bowl. Gently, he reminded her, ¡°Be careful. It¡¯s hot.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. The second she took the bowl, she swiftly ced it on the bedside table and grabbed his hand. Without hesitation, she rolled his sleeves up to check the wrist that shuddered earlier. ¡°Gwenny!¡± By the time Cedrick retracted his hand, it was toote. Gwendolyn had already seen the abrasion and swelling on his wrist. Startled, Gwendolyn widened her eyes at him as rage built up in her chest. ¡°How did you get hurt? Even I¡¯ve never hurt you this bad when you make a mistake! Who did this to you?¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze and averted his eyes from her. As he guiltily clutched his sleeve, he muttered, ¡°No one. I identally burnt myself on the edge of the pot while cooking. I didn¡¯t run the spot under cold. water, and I didn¡¯t think the skin would be burnt off. But I¡¯ve treated it already, so don¡¯t worry How can I not worry about you? Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes reddened, and she ruminated about what she had seen. How can that possibly be the result of him burning himself on the pot? It¡¯s straight too, as if something had struck him instead Thus, she uttered, ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. Give me your hand. I want to take a closer look at it.¡±¡° He refused to budge and rejected her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You don¡¯t need to blow this out of proportion.¡± ¡°Hurry up and give me your hand!¡± she ordered. ¡°Why are you hiding your injuries from me?¡± Cedrick hung his head, but he stayed unmoving and silent. He felt helpless. As he expected, Gwendolyn was smart and would never miss anything. ¡°Ceddy, you know me. I won¡¯t stop until I get what I want. You can hide this from me now, but you have to be a hundred percent certain that you can hide it from me forever, or else I¡¯ll find out about it eventually Then, in a softer tone, she went on as she reached out for his hand, ¡°I just feel bad for you, so let me look at it.¡± Cedrick pulled his hand back to avoid her again Ultimately, Gwendolyn took the opportunity of his distracted state to lunge over and forcibly pull his sleeve up to reveal his muscr arm covered with weals. When she realized that he had more than one injury on his arm, she was stunned to her core. Moreover, every one of the weals was smooth and straight. There was no way those would form from burns. ¡°Why are you hurt so badly? Who did this? Tell me!¡± No longer able to hide the situation from her. Cedrick sighed and started, ¡°Gwenny, calm down a little.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to stay calm if someone has suddenly hurt you like this? Tell me! Who is it?¡± Cedrick did not respond to her again. By then, Gwendolyn was on the verge of losing her mind. Her husband was the man who was sweet with her every day, but he was also the powerful head of the Jenson family and the boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Yet, somehow, without her realization, someone had severely injured him. How could she not be furious? Tears welled up in her eyes, but right then, another thought entered her mind. If this is already the state of his right lower arm, what about the rest of his body? What will it look like? Sitting upright, she reached out to tug at his shirt. ¡°Let me see where else you¡¯ve been hurt.¡± ¡°Gwenny.¡± It had been three days since he had gotten any good sleep, and he had been awake for long hours too. Moreover, he had been going through beatings. Enduring the agonizing treatment of his wounds the night before had taken most of the energy out of him too. Hence, he was pale and weak In contrast, Gwendolyn had intravenous therapy and a good sleep the night before. Along with her anger fueled state, she was much stronger than Cedrick at that moment. Once she undid Cedrick¡¯s tie, she pulled off his shirt buttons, revealing the crisscrossed wounds on his previously fair chest and abs. It felt as if her heart had shattered into pieces as an invisible hand crushed her lungs and made it hard for her to take another breath in. Staring at Cedrick¡¯s terrifying weals abruptly made her head hurt. When she shut her eyes, images of Cedrick standing before her and enduring the belt whipping shed past her mind. Why are these fragmented scenes appearing in my mind) Am L¡­ the one who hit him? Lifting her teary gaze to look at him in disbelief, she whispered, ¡°Ceddy, did I do this? Am I the one who hurt you Cedrick¡¯s eyes reddened alongside hers. ¡°Gwenny, don¡¯t be so quick to be sad. I can exin this.¡± Exnations were excuses. Theck of retort meant that it was real Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. A self-deprecating chuckle left her mouth. Cedrick would never let anyone else besides hery a finger on him. I really did this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± With a trembling hand, she reached out to his bruised chest, but there was no patch of unmarred skin she could rest her fingers on ¡°How could I have done this to you? How could I?¡± Tears fell uncontrobly out of her eyes as she stared at his wounds in shock and destion. Cedrick¡¯s hand touched her cheek, and he gently wiped away her hot tears. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault, Gwenny. You only did this because you¡¯re sick. It doesn¡¯t hurt me, really. It¡¯s only skin-deep. It just looks frightening, but it¡¯s nothing fatal. Really.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to lie to me. I have eyes. I can see it for myself.¡± She sniffled. ¡°What illness do I have?¡± ¡°Mania,¡± Gwendolyn dropped her head and started thinking about her illness. Cedrick grabbed her hand and solemnly exined, ¡°At the end of the day, this is my fault. If I had been more careful with the precautions, you wouldn¡¯t have gotten pregnant with the kids, and you wouldn¡¯t have gone all the way to Erihal for my disease. The reason you have this is because of me, so Gwenny, I¡¯m willing to let you make me your personal punching bag and take it out on me. Don¡¯t feel guilty about it.¡± There was no way she could not feel guilty about it, but Gwendolyn knew that he was trying to console her. Cedrick started wiping her tears for her and murmured in a much softer tone. ¡°My sweet darling, don¡¯t cry anymore, okay? My heart is breaking to see you upset.¡± Gwendolyn forced away her mncholy and uttered. ¡°This is quite serious. You¡¯ll need them treated every day to recover as quickly as possible. Have you applied your medication yet?¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°Then bring the cream to me. I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. It¡¯s nothing too serious, and this is too troublesome.¡± Gwendolyn exined, ¡°I need to do something topensate you. Let me treat you, or else I¡¯ll feel horrible¡± When Cedrick realized that she seemed to be taking the situation well without any extreme thoughts, he let out a sigh of relief and relentedl ¡°All right. Gwenny, have some oatmeal while I get the cream then. Tl be right up Gwendolyn nodded quietly, While she waited for Cedrick to return, she ate a few spoonfuls of cutirical before stopping. She was not hungry. When Cedrick came back into the room and saw her eating, he let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Gwenny, eat first Finish it before you treat my wounds, okay?¡± ¡°Okay As someone who knew of her condition, she was well aware that she needed nutrition to fight the disease However, her moody state meant that she barely had an appetite, and she could only eat half the bowl. Cedrick did not insist that she finish the oatmeal. When he saw her stop, he started taking off his clothes Staring at him, Gwendolyn added, ¡°Take off everything¡± She needed him to be stark naked so that she could give him a thorough checkups. Cedrick stiffened but heeded her words. After taking off his suit, he began undoing his belt buckle Gwendolyn was rtively calm alier finding out about her illness, and that was the greatest thing he could ask for at the moment This small request from her would not be an issue for him However, Cedrick had forgotten about how frightening his wounds looked Gwendolyn thought that she had mentally prepared herself, but the second she saw his marred back, the could not help but tear up again As he could not treat his back wounds properly, they had turned into his worst injuries. They were slow to heal, too. The moment she saw the dark red and purple splotches and abrasions on his back, she lait her lower lips After asking Cedrick toy sprawled on the bed, she held her tears back and applied the cream for han She could not remember anything that happened during her manic episodes If it were not for Cedrick¡¯s terrifying wounds, she would not have recalled anything at all. I¡¯m a danger. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯m going to have my episode and I¡¯d de in all thr feelings. A sick person like ser will only keep hurting him if I stay him After a long while of hesitation, she mastered the cage so say, ¡°Cedrick, why c Chapter 543 Give Up On Everything Chapter 543 Give Up On Everything Cedrick did not respond for a while. It took him some time before he could register what Gwendolyn had aid. In a sh, his eyshes quivered uncontrobly, and his eyes reddened. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯re saying?¡± Gwendolyn nodded her head firmly. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly sober. I know what I¡¯m saying. Divorce is good for us both. You¡¯ll no longer get hurt, and I won¡¯t have to live in guilt anymore.¡± Tears welled up in Cedrick¡¯s eyes as he plunged into extreme despair. ¡°I tried all means to hide your condition from you because I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll make such a decision. I didn¡¯t expect that you¡¯ll really do this after finding out about it.¡± His scarred back was trembling, and his gaze wasced with agony. ¡°Gwenny, this is the second time you suggested a divorce. I almost gave up my life in exchange for your change of mind the other time. How many lives do you want me to give up this time?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s breath hitched. Following a deep sigh, she reached her hand out to his back, ready to continue applying the medicine for him. Cedrick gloomily shifted away to avoid her touch. At the sight of how heartbroken the man was, Gwendolyn softly exined, ¡°Ceddy, that¡¯s not what I meant. I don¡¯t even know who I am when my illness acts up. I might even harm you! She took a deep breath and tried to rephrase herself. ¡°With a divorce, we¡¯ll leave the kids in your custody. I¡¯ll give up on everything and lock myself up to focus on treatment. If my condition deteriorates, you¡¯ll help the kids find another kind and gentle mother to care for them. Don¡¯t be bothered about me. But if I can fully recover from the illness, we¡¯ll get back together. Do you think this works?¡± ¡°No.¡± Cedrick rejected the idea decisively. ¡°I won¡¯t agree to a divorce. Who knows if you¡¯ll fall in love with another man when you¡¯re single again? I¡¯m five years older than you. If you decide not to like me when I turn old and ugly, wouldn¡¯t I have no more hopes of remarrying!¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. There was resolution in the man¡¯s dark orbs as he added, ¡°From now on, there is no possibility of divorce.¡± Gwendolyn heaved another sigh. ¡°Ceddy_¡± ¡°Call me ¡°Hubby,¡± Cedrick looked away, seething inwardly. Gwendolyn was exasperated. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to hurt you. Like how you chose to forsake me and break your engagement with me so that I won¡¯t be wallowing in sorrow back then when your life was in danger after getting infected with the 5404 RNA virus, I¡¯m feeling the exact same way right now. Can you understand!¡± Cedrick propped himself up and sat before her. ¡°But didn¡¯t you refuse to let go of me too! I feel the same way as you did back then. Don¡¯t you understand?¡±he solemnly asked in return. Gwendolyn was at a loss for words. Cedrick grasped her hand tightly. ¡°It¡¯s only right for husband and wife to share life¡¯s sorrows. Besides, you aren¡¯t severely ill. As Joshua said, your treatment is progressing pretty well. I¡¯ll only take at most half a year to recover. The kids and I will always be here for you¡± The two looked at each other with reddened eyes. After pondering for a while, Gwendolyn said, ¡°When my sickness acts up the next time, lock me up and let me stay alone. That way, I won¡¯t hurt anyone It¡¯s probably the best solution.¡± Cedrick consoled, ¡°The next time your sickness acts up, I¡¯ll give you a sedative shot before bringing you to Joshua¡¯s ce for an IV drip. Will that work?¡±, Gwendolyn gave it some thought and added, ¡°You must promise not to get hurt again. Even if I try to hit you, you have to fight back. If I find new bruises when I check your body the next time I regain consciousness, I won¡¯t let you off.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, Cedrick inched closer to her face and leaned his nose against hers. ¡°Gwenny, what are you going to do to me? I¡¯m already injured. Don¡¯t tell me you bear to hit me again,¡± he asked, unfazed. Gwendolyn felt a lump in her throat Of course not. How will I bear to hit him! Indeed. If possible, she probably would not mind letting Cedrick get intimate with her for three consecutive days, not even if she might pass out from it. As long as she could make up for the torment she put him through the past few days, she would not mindnding herself in the intensive unit due to excessive vigorous actions on the bed. Realizing the man probably saw through her mind, she forced a strong presence and uttered, ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t want to see any more injuries on your body. I won¡¯t let you off if you refuse to listen to me.¡± *All right. I¡¯ll listen to you, Darling,¡± the man casually answered. Anything is good as long as it¡¯s not divorce. *Lie back down. I¡¯ll apply medicine for you. Cedricky down obediently. Gwendolyn dipped her finger into the medicine and gently rubbed it on the wounds on the man¡¯s back and thighs. Her fingers ran around his red and swollen skin. While applying medicine to the wounds, she tried hard to think of a solution. Fcan¡¯t control when I¡¯ll act up. Then again, I¡¯m very clear about Cedrick¡¯s character. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be a kirman punching bag again when I act up the next time. But that can¡¯t happen again. I can¡¯t allow myself to hurt him like this ever again. Numerous thoughts flooded her mind, but she kept a straight face as she applied the medicine to Cedrick¡¯s wounds. Gwendolyn was undoubtedly in low spirits as she ultimately did not manage to keep the matter under wraps. Somehow, it felt like something wasing between them, and they were no longer as comfortable as before. Just as Gwendolyn absent-mindedly changed into her work outfit. Cedrick approached her and grabbed her hand, ready to send her to work like he always did. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Gwendolyn retracted her hand. ¡°Tm in a good condition right now. I¡¯ll get off work thirty minutes earlier, so don¡¯t worry.¡± A sorrowful look washed over Cedrick¡¯s face as he pursed his lips and remained quiet. It was clear that he was upset about being rejected. Sensing it, Gwendolyn caressed the man¡¯s exquisite face and stood on tiptoes to kiss the man. ¡°Hubby, don¡¯t overthink it. I merely feel bad for you. You still have wounds on your bottom; I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll hurt if you sit in the car. Stay home and get some rest today. All right?¡± Cedrick agreed to it. Indeed, he needed more sleep to re-energize himself as he had not had adequate rest for the past days. He walked Gwendolyn to the Jenson residence¡¯s garage and watched her leave in the car before he slowly made his way back to Harrick Vi. However, Gwendolyn did not actually go too far. She parked the car at theer of the road about five hundred meters away, opened her phone¡¯s address book, and dialed Nico¡¯s number. After a few rings, the call got through Nico sounded both shocked and delighted. Gwendolyn, why did you suddenly call me? This makes me so touched.¡± Gwendolyn was in a sullen mood and had no intention of entertaining him. ¡°Don¡¯t let Cedrick know that I called you today.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Nico was stumped. ¡°You want to hide it from Cedrick? Why? ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to find out. If you divulge it to Cedrick before I settle the matter, don¡¯t me me for making you get into his bad books and deduct your sry and bonus.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t. Gwendolyn. Very well. Since Cedrick listens to you, I¡¯ll obey your instructions too. Feel free to tell me anything.¡± Gwendolyn calmly said, ¡°Can you secretly get me a set of heavy cuffs the Federal Bureau of Investigation On the other end of the line, Nico froze briefly. ¡°They¡¯re usually for suspects whomitted grave crimes. What do you need it for, Gwendolyn!¡± Gwendolyn avoided that question and countered. ¡°I just want to know if you can get it for me?¡± ¡°Of course. That¡¯s not difficult at all. When do you need it?¡± ¡°Before I get off work today.¡± The night was cold that evening. A gush of icy breeze brushed against Gwendolyn¡¯s face, chilling her to the bones. That was exactly how she was feeling at that moment. Nighttime used to be a pleasant time for Cedrick and her. But now, the loathed dark nights to the core. She feared that her illness would act up in the next moment. About thirty minutes before work ended, she drove back to Harrick Vi. Silence filled the entire vi. She discreetly headed upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door, only to find Cedrick still asleep. Tiptoeing her way over, Gwendolyn sat by the bedside and gazed at the man¡¯s dashing sleeping face. Cedrick has been having a hard time recently. It¡¯s so rare that he can sleep through the whole afternoon. Will, it¡¯s perfect that he hasn¡¯t woken up. I should start preparing for tonight. Chapter 544 Hurt Chapter 544 Hurt The night drepened. The lights in Treyton¡¯s vi remained on. Treyton, refreshed after a bath and wrapped in a robe, leisurely ascended the stairs, intending to visit a certain someone who was engrossed in her studies in the room. He gently nudged open the door, peeking inside at the sight of the person behind the desk. Jennifer was sprawled out on the desk, snoozing away. A wry expression spread across his face as he walked in. He made no attempt to silence his footsteps. Yet, the deep in slumber Jennifer,cking any sense of alertness, remained utterly unconscious of his presence. ¡°Ahem.¡± Treyton deliberately coughed aloud to rouse the sleeping Jennifer from her dreams. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked up at Treyton. ¡°Why are you here? I haven¡¯t finished studying yet. There are- She flipped through her postgraduate study materials and continued, ¡°just about ten sections left. I promise to go to bed after I¡¯m done.¡± Treyton knew she was merely giving him a perfunctory response. In a deep and brooding voice, he said, ¡°Jennifer, are you that afraid of sharing a bed with me? I¡¯ve told you that I wouldn¡¯t attempt anything without your consent. All I want is to hold you while we sleep. Can¡¯t you trust me?¡± Jennifer remained silent. The director of her former orphanage used to caution them about men, warning that their words were often deceptive. What does he mean by he wouldn¡¯t attempt anything when we share a bedt Who knows what will happen if he suddenly loses control over his urgest Treyton felt a pang of hurt. ¡°Jennifer, we¡¯re engaged. Can¡¯t you ept me yet?¡± Jennifer let out an awkward chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s not it, Mr. Treyton. Go and get some rest. I really am studying. Once I¡¯m done. I¡¯ll go back to our room.¡± Treyton didn¡¯t know what else to say He leaned over and took the study materials from her desk, flipping through the pages nonchntly. ¡°You said the same thingst night, and when I came in, you were sleeping soundly. Are you nning on thoroughly reading thesest few pages?¡± he asked. ¡°Um¡­¡± As Jennifer struggled to respond. Treyton continued. ¡°You mentioned a while ago that you felt unsuited to the acting industry. I helped you step back from that. Then you wanted to pursue postgraduate studies, a path you¡¯ve never dared to tread before. You hoped to eventually be a junior professor at a certain university. I supported you in that, too, gathering the most recent andprehensive study materials. But how many of these have you seriously studied?¡± Jennifer looked up at him, retorting in a righteous tone, ¡°I have been studying, but my foundation is poor. I may not pass the exam this year, but I do have ns to try again next year if that¡¯s the case. As for tonight, I truly wasn¡¯t sleeping. I was just taking a short nap.¡± Treyton didn¡¯t want to hear any more of her excuses Jennifer, who had lost four years of her memories, was na?ve and innocent. However, she was also unruly and stubborn, like a teenage girl. Treyton sighed, realizing that he couldn¡¯t let her keep up this fa?ade any longer. With that, he stated in his deep voice, ¡°Jennifer, there¡¯s no ¡®try again next year in my book. If postgraduate studies are your goal, you must pass this year. From now on, I¡¯ll tutor you after work and quiz you on your memorization. If you get it wrong, there will be punishment.¡± Jennifer blinked with a hint of fear in her eyes. ¡°What kind of punishment?¡± bbergasted by her question, Treyton was rendered speechless. If he were to be honest, he wanted to punish her slender waist several times in one night until her legs were so weak the next day that she couldn¡¯t get out of bed. However, he if were to make his thoughts vocal, Jennifer, with her current mental age, would only take Treyton as a twisted demon, driving her further away from him. So, Treyton decided to change his approach. ¡°Starting from tonight, let¡¯s test you on what you¡¯ve been studying all night. How¡¯s that?¡± he asked. Jennifer paled, biting her soft pink lips in nervousness. ¡°Could I review it one more time! After taking a nap, my mind is all foggy and nk. If you quiz me now, I probably won¡¯t be able to answer a single question. Seeing her pitiful and innocent expression, Treyton relented. ¡°Considering it¡¯s your first time, I¡¯ll let you review once more. But in half an hour, I¡¯ll be back to quiz you. Be prepared to ept your punishment if you get too many questions wrong.¡± ¡°All right. I know you¡¯re doing this for my sake, Mr. Treyton. I¡¯ll study hard for the next half an hour,¡± Jennifer said in a determined tone. She quickly dove right into her postgraduate exam materials. Meanwhile, Harrick Vi was shrouded in darkness, Cedrick had sleptte into the evening. He was awakened by the faint rustling noises from the side. Opening his eyes, he could make out a small figure lying beside him, shivering and struggling He pushed back the covers with suspicion. The bedsidemp was off, and he got up to switch on the light. The room was instantly bathed in light, revealing the disturbing sight on the bed. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, her expression fierce like a cornered animal. As Cedrick had expected, she was in the throes of another episode. However, when he fully pulled back the covers, he noticed that Gwendolyn¡¯s hands and feet were bound with heavy shackles. Due to her struggles, there were traces of blood on her wrists and ankles. Seeing the blood, a pang of pain shot through Cedrick. ¡°Gwendolyn, what have you done! Even if you don¡¯t wish to hurt me, you shouldn¡¯t have resorted to this method that will hurt yourself¡± On the bed, Gwendolyn continued to struggle, seemingly oblivious to the excruciating pain from her shackled limbs. Furthermore, she had stuffed a cloth in her mouth to prevent herself from screaming Cedrick watched her quietly, his heart aching for her. How long would she have to endure this torment until she¡¯s drained of strength? He couldn¡¯t bear to watch her suffer any longer. He reached for the shackles, intending to unlock them. However, he noticed a piece of paper clutched in Gwendolyn¡¯s hand when he was closer to her. He retrieved the note that read: Do not unshackle me. Tomorrow, when I wake up, I will strip you down and check for any new injuries. If you are hurt. I will leave you. I will run away to a ce where you can never find me. I what I say, If you dare challenge my words, go ahead. Cedrick¡¯s eyes welled up as his face tensed. For the sake of keeping me safe, Gwenny has chosen to be so ruthless to herself. Nheless, he did not dare to gamble. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. He was afraid that Gwendolyn would truly leave him. Cedrick wrestled with his decisions for several long minutes as Gwendolyn, in the throes of her manic episode, fought against her bindings with growing intensity. Although her mouth was gagged, small whimpering sounds escaped from her throat. She seemed like a trapped, pitiful creature, crying out in anguish. Cedrick clenched his fists, his eyes reddening as he watched her for a while, his heart warring within him. Preventing him from being her punching bag during her bouts of aggression was one thing, but making him witness her suffering like this was a torment in its own right. Torn between options, he held onto a sliver of hope, his voice shaking as he asked, ¡°Why are you so stubborn. Darling! If you don¡¯t want me, does that mean you don¡¯t want Benny and Zendy too! They are still so young. You surely wouldn¡¯t abandon them and leave, would you?¡± Chapter 545 A Troublesome Daughter Chapter 545 A Troublesome Daughter His words were purely selfforting After all. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t possibly give him a response since she had lost all control after having another manic episode. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. After giving it some thought. Cedrick decided to try his luck again. ¡°How about this? Darling. I won¡¯t unlock your handcuffs, but I¡¯ll remove the towel from your mouth so you can bite me a few times to vent your frustration. That doesn¡¯t count as breaking the rules, right?¡± As he spoke, he lowered his head to examine his body, trying to find the least conspicuous spot where he could be bitten. In the end, his gaze settled on the soft flesh under his arm. After careful consideration, he approached Gwendolyn once again and reached out to remove the towel from her mouth. However, as soon as he removed the towel, his gaze was drawn to a line of words on the towel. The words written on it were: Cedrick Jenson, how dare you take the towel from my mouth? Once I regain my sanity tomorrow, you¡¯re done for! Now hurry up and put it back in! You¡¯ve got some nerve trying to let me bite you to vent my anger. If I find any teeth marks on you tomorrow, you¡¯re finished! I will run away to a ce where you can never find me. You can forget about seeing me again for the rest of your life! Cedrick was left speechless when he was done reading. I can¡¯t believe she was able to calcte my every move so urately¡­. She¡¯s really a sharp one, huh? With that thought in mind, he sat on the edge of the bed, feeling deted and helpless, knowing he couldn¡¯t be of any help. All he could do was watch and fret over what he could do to make things better. He couldn¡¯t bear it any longer when he saw how the bloodstains on Gwendolyn¡¯s once fair wrists and feet became increasingly prominent and grotesque. Determined to alleviate her pain, he reluctantly took out a potent sedative and injected it into her arm, gently pushing the medication in. As the entire vial of sedative was emptied into her bloodstream, Gwendolyn¡¯s struggles became increasingly subdued until she finally settled down. Heartbroken, Cedrick caressed her face softly, wishing he could bear all her suffering in her ce. After wallowing in his sadness for a while, he swiftly found the key to the handcuffs and leg shackles in the drawer of the bedside table. The key was ced there in advance by Gwendolyn. She had a habit of keeping small keys hidden under the bedsidemp or in the drawer, thinking that he didn¡¯t know about it. After freeing her from the restraints, Cedrick slid one hand under her knees and the other around her shoulder before carrying her downstairs to the garage and driving to theboratory for an IV drip. In the study of Treyton¡¯s vi, Jennifer felt as if she had just blinked a few times, and half an hour had already slipped by. I mean quickly when one a fully engross in something huk She had only memorized half of the content that Treyton would be testing her on that night when she sai him enter the room to check on her Thinking that she would leave her fare to fuck, she submitted herself to the man¡¯s quir session When Treyton noticed how she was ndgeting nervously, he decided not to make things too difficult for her and chose some rtively simple Anndurn words for her to recite ¡°Can you tell me the definition for the word ¡®well mesing?¡± Jennifer was caught off guard by the question and said, ¡°Mr. Treyton. I haven¡¯t had the time to staily Anndurn tonight. I was only focusing on textprehension. Can you test me for that instead?¡± Looking like a man who was educating his daughter, Teyton let out a deep sigh Adhering to the firm belief that strictness was necessary for sess, he remained unmoved With a deadpan expression, he uttered, ¡°Even though you didn¡¯t study Anndurn that I¡¯m resting you on tonight, you studied itst night. I saw you flipped through this page¡± Jennifer fell silent at that. Treyton reiterated patiently, deliberately pronouncing the word slowly, allowing her to break it down. ¡°Til ask again. What does ¡®well-meaning mean?¡± Jennifer¡¯s mind went nk. For some reason, her mind was filled with the textprehension questions she had reviewed earlier. 7 haven¡¯t the slightest clue what that Anndurn word means Faced with Treyton¡¯s gaze, she could only muster up the courage and guessed. ¡°Uh.. does it mean to be a good person?¡± Treyton felt relieved when he heard that ¡°It¡¯s somewhat close in meaning. Let me give you a hint. It¡¯s an adjective.¡± ¡°Does it mean.. to have good intentions?¡± Treyton smiled and ruffled Jennifer¡¯s hair. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll continue with the next one. Since it¡¯s getting late, I¡¯ll only ask you ten Anndurn words. Pay close attention to my grammar, okay?¡± Jennifer nodded. After ten minutes of quizzing, Treyton¡¯s face grew increasingly grim. He had thought that getting the first answer right was a good start. Little did he know that that was just a stroke of luck for Jennifer As the vocabry became more challenging, she struggled to even make educated guesses, let alone answer the questions correctly. ¡°You got nine out of ten words wrong. It seems like you didn¡¯t study at all yesterday. You probably stayed in the study all night just to avoid sharing the same bed with me, didn¡¯t you? You must have slept the entire night, huh?¡± Caught red-handed, Jennifer felt rather embarrassed and didn¡¯t know how to exin herself. As a deep sense of frustration and heartache washed over Treyton, he couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed by her coldness toward him, especially after losing her memories of their rtionship. Nheless, he was aware of the part he yed that led to this oue. As such, he could only suppress his sorrowful thoughts and solemnly proceeded with the punishment. ¡°Jennifer, give me your left hand.¡± Confused, Jennifer spread her palm and extended her hand. Treyton grasped her delicate fingertips firmly and pronounced in a deep voice, ¡°Since you got nine wrong tonight, you will receive nine strikes as punishment. I hope you¡¯ll remember this lesson well.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The punishment for answering incorrectly is just hitting my palm? I¡¯m already an adult, so how can a punishment that¡¯s supposed to be used on disobedient children be applied to me? Just as the thought crossed her mind, Treyton raised his hand and struck her palm repeatedly. p! p! Their palms met, producing a crisp sound. As each strikended, Jennifer realized that her palm still stung with fiery pain despite thinking it wouldn¡¯t hurt much since he only used his hand. ¡°Mr. Treyton, it hurts. Please go easier on me.¡± She tried to pull her hand back, but Treyton had a firm grip on her. In the end, she could only watch as her palm kept getting pped. Even though it pained him to punish her, he still said sternly, ¡°From now on, if you can¡¯t recite properly, 1 will use my hand to discipline you. You can consider it as my way of sharing the pain with you since it¡¯s my failure to supervise and guide you.¡± Hearing that, Jennifer stopped struggling. It didn¡¯t take long for all nine strikes tond. By then, both their palms had reddened considerably. Treyton didn¡¯t actually hit her hard. He had used a special technique for the remaining strikes, making them sound loud but redirecting the force onto his own palm instead. In reality, the pain he felt was much stronger than what Jennifer experienced. He simply wanted to teach Jennifer a lesson and didn¡¯t actually intend to punish her severely. Once the punishment had been dished out, he lifted her hand and massaged her hot palm gently. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Jennifer furrowed her brow indignantly and said. ¡°Yeah, it hurts. Does it hurt for you, too, Mr. Treytin Treyton bent down and kissed her palm softly. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t. If it hurts for you, be a good girl and study diligently next time. Do your best to reach your goals and work hard to seed in this year¡¯s postgraduate entrance examination, all right?¡± His tender action made Jennifer¡¯s heart flutter slightly, and she nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°Now that that¡¯s settled, why don¡¯t we head back to the room and rest? I promise not to overstep any boundaries. Will you trust me and give it a try this time?¡± Treyton asked. Jennifer met his intense gaze and agreed. Back in theboratory, Gwendolyn was sleeping soundly as she received her IV drip on the hospital bed. Sitting beside her, Cedrick had a pile of medical supplies on the bedside table. He was currently disinfecting and applying medication to her injured wrist. Chapter 546 Abs Chapter 546 Abs Her originally fair and delicate skin had been severely thafed by the heavy metal handcuffs Thankfully, Cedrick administered a sedative in time. Otherwise, Gwendolyn¡¯s hands would¡¯ve been seriously damaged, even to the extent of losing ayer of flesh down to the bone Joshua stood beside the door, taking in the affectionate interaction between the couple, and sighed wholeheartedly. Life is indeed full of ups and downs Things became better for once and just prended to ge downhill from there. In my recollection, Cedrick¡¯s and Gwendolyn¡¯s lives had never been peaceful Fate has been kind to them While Joshua was lost in his thoughts, Cedrick asked. ¡°Can you think of another way? A method that doesn¡¯t require sedation and can help Gwenny recover quickly while rapidly consuming her energy Joshua sighed. ¡°Cedrick, it would be great if such a perfect solution is avable.¡± The light in Cedrick¡¯s eyes gradually dimmed. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Sensing his low spirits, Joshua suggested, ¡°For now, the best method would be to bind Gwendolyn and lock her in the basement to endure the night.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t even look at him. That¡¯s not helpful at all. Joshua continued contemting before proposing another idea. ¡°Or we can modify the basement a little and add some stress-relieving items that can allow her to vent without harming her body. At night, we can lock Gwendolyn in the basement. When her energy depletes and she falls silent, you can then carry her out and bring her to theboratory for an IV drip. Cedrick, take your time to consider. I think this is the best solution so far. It won¡¯t hurt you and can also protect Gwendolyn.¡± Cedrick mulled over Joshua¡¯s suggestion, thinking they could really give that method a try. ¡°When Gwenny wakes up tomorrow, I¡¯ll discuss this matter with her.¡± Two hourster, Cedrick, carrying a sleeping Gwendolyn, walked alone through the winding corridors in the Jenson residence. As he walked, he pondered Joshua¡¯s proposition. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was a method worth trying. He quickly carried Gwendolyn back to the room to rest. He spent the afternoon at home catching up on sleep, and now that he wasn¡¯t sleepy anymore, he decided to try modifying the basement. With that thought, he immediately plunged into the task of remodeling the basement Since Gwendolyn had fallen ill, she felt there were no mornings in her day. Every time she woke up, it was already either noon or afternoon. Fortunately, the recent fluid administration had significantly reduced her fatigue. When she woke up, Cedrick happened to have just figured out that she should be waking up, so he came in with a bowl of oatmeal. Gwendolyn leaned against the head of the bed, looking at him with a vacant expression. A simr thing was happening, featuring the same scene and the familiar oatmeal. ¡°Darling, it¡¯s time to eat. It¡¯s oatmeal for lunch today.¡± Cedrick smiled at her while regarding her with his tenderness-filled dark eyes. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond. She watched as he blew on the oatmeal to cool it down, then brought it to her lips. Inexplicably, she felt nauseous ¡°Can we not have oatmeal anymore? I get annoyed just looking at it these days.¡± Cedrick coaxed her patiently, ¡°This is thest oatmeal you¡¯ll be having. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll refer to a different cookbook to prepare steamed eggs and meat stew for you. What do you say?¡± Gwendolyn licked her lips, craving the food he mentioned. Cedrick shed a mysterious smile and continued, ¡°Be good, Gwenny. At least eat half a bowl of this oatmeal. After you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll take you to see a surprise. I believe you¡¯ll love it.¡± Gwendolyn nodded solemnly as she uttered, ¡°Before that, there¡¯s something else we need to do.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Gwendolyn whispered beside his ear, ¡°Strip you bare and check your body for wounds.¡± ¡°I was very goodst night, so I didn¡¯t get injured.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Your words don¡¯t count. I have to see it with my own eyes to be at ease.¡± Fine. Cedrick had nothing to hide since he genuinely wasn¡¯t injured. ¡°In that case, hurry up and finish this oatmeal. Once you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll strip for you to see. Gwendolyn could inspect Cedrick¡¯s body if she finished the oatmeal. Hence, despite herck of appetite, she chowed down the food decisively. Both her wrists and ankles were bandaged. Since eating by herself required her to exert force and would cause her pain, Cedrick didn¡¯t let her touch the spoon at all. He was determined to feed her. Gwendolyn was fixated on checking his wound, so she didn¡¯t stop him and obediently ate every bite he fed her. After she finished eating, Cedrick stood by the bed and started taking off his clothes one by one compliantly until he became stark naked. Gwendolyn lifted the nket, stepping on the carpet barefooted, and slowly approached him, examining every inch of her skin in proximity. Cedrick allowed her to look without flinching. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie, right? I really wasn¡¯t hurt.¡± Gwendolyn walked around behind him to check his well-defined back. Those severe abrasions had already begun to form scabs, so she figured they probably weren¡¯t that painful anymore. ¡°Gwenny?¡± Seeing that she hadn¡¯t turned to the front for a while, Cedrick was puzzled. Suddenly, she kissed his back with her soft lips, patiently and affectionately He instinctively closed his eyes, feeling her tenderness With her tiny lips, she kissed every inch of his back. As it was quite arge area, the process took a full ten minutes Nevertheless, Cedrick liked it very much and even felt that those ten minutes had passed too quickly After finishing kissing his back, Gwendolyn held his warm and broad palms from behind, their fingers intertwined. Then, she tiptoed and carefully rested her chin on his shoulder, asking gently, ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Cedrick shook his head and answered honestly, ¡°The anti-inmmatory medication Joshua prescribed was very effective. The wounds don¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± A wave of guilt washed over Gwendolyn. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t think my getting sick would cause you to be so badly injured.¡± Cedrick smiled indifferently, held her hand, and ced her palm on his chest, directly above his heart. ¡°Physical pain is nothing. Fortunately, you didn¡¯t hurt my heart, Darling.¡± If they were to divorce because of that, he would genuinely be in unbearable pain. Gwendolyn said. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to hurt you at all, neither physically nor emotionally. I just want to love you properly and live a happy and peaceful life with you and our children.¡± ¡°We will.¡± Hearing his prompt reply, Gwendolyn added with all seriousness, ¡°I need to make it clear to you that from now on, whenever I get sick, you cannot let me vent on your body. Never.¡± Cedrick turned around and grabbed her shoulders. ¡°The surprise I want to show youter has something. to do with this. I¡¯ll bring you there in a while, Darling. Let¡¯s try it out tonight to see if this method works.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s interest was piqued after hearing that. ¡°Let¡¯s go to see your so-called surprise, then.¡± She turned to leave but was pulled back by Cedrick, causing her to fall into his bruise-covered chest. An anticipatory look filled his dark gaze as he sneered. ¡°Before we go, I want another kiss from you. Gwenny. My abs would also like to be spoiled by your kisses. With your kiss, those wounds really don¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes gleamed with more hints of mischief than his. ¡°In that case, Ceddy, I should let you enjoy the intimate service provided by your wife.¡± With that, she lifted her head and kissed his lips, gradually shifting her lips down to kiss his chin, Adam¡¯s apple, corbone, and chest. Finally, her pink lips reached his manhood. Subsequently, an amorous vibe filled the atmosphere inside the room. After the joyful and harmonious time passed, Cedrick led Gwendolyn downstairs. The door to the basement was opened. After a night of remodeling, the ce had beenpletely transformed. She stared at the interior in shock. The carpet was made of a unique material that was soft to fall on. Even the entire room¡¯s walls were covered with a simr kind of protective green paper. The ce was no longer cluttered with misceneous items. In the middle of the room, two sturdy leather sandbags were suspended from the ceiling, along with an abundance of tools for unleashing her fury that would not harm her. The basement door had been reinforced with heavy metal, so it wouldn¡¯t be easy to kick open. However, in order to prevent Gwendolyn from getting hurt during her fits of rage, Cedrick also covered it with ayer of special padding. A bed was ced in the corner of the room, and the quilt, pillows, and mattress were all of the softest materials. All she could feel at that moment were Cedrick¡¯s love and thoughtfulness. He held her hand tightly with their fingers intertwined. ¡°Gwenny, sleep here tonight. I¡¯ll be waiting at the door the whole time. If you¡¯re fortunate not to have an episode, I¡¯ll carry you back to our room to sleep. If you do have one, I¡¯ll wait for you to finish working off your rage beforeing in and taking you to the laboratory for an IV drip. What do you say?¡± That way, Cedrick wouldn¡¯t get hurt, and Gwendolyn wouldn¡¯t have to torture herself by putting on handcuffs. That was the most promising method to try for the time being. ¡°I like this arrangement. Thank you, Hubby.¡± She tiptoed and nted a smooch on his face. It seemed like she could never get tired of kissing him. Cedrick lifted her hand, staring at the bandage on her wrist with an aching heart. He carefully kissed her bandage. ¡°The sufferings will pass. No matter what, I¡¯ll always stay by your side.¡± Gwendolyn smirked and agreed with him solemnly. ¡°Our sufferings will pass soon, but someone¡¯s torment is about to begin.¡± Her eyes gleamed with passion for seeking vengeance as she spoke. After exiting the basement, she drove to Harris Group as usual. Two days ago, she had sent many of her confidants to interfere with Annie¡¯s coboration, so she - reckoned it was about time she checked on the oue. What goes aroundes around. It¡¯s time for someone to feel the agony of an impending doom nowe As soon as she sat down at her office desk, someone knocked on her door. Zion Yackley, who had sessfully seized the project coboration from Annie, entered with a document in his hand. ¡°Ms. Harris, this is the original partnership between Antea Group and TOA. I¡¯ve been persuading TOA¡¯s Chapter 547 Such A Coincidence Chapter 547 Such A Coincidence person in charge recently and finally seeded in securing the contract. Not to mention, they backed out right when they and Antea Group were about to sign the agreement.¡± It was truly heartbreaking for Antea Group, as the coboration they thought they could secure effortlessly was intercepted at thest moment before the contract was signed. Gwendolyn was pleased. ¡°You did well. Tell me the details.¡± Zion nodded respectfully and started recounting enthusiastically. When he was done, he added, ¡°That¡¯s about it. You should¡¯ve seen the look on Annie¡¯s face when she walked out of the conference room. Her eyes were red from rage, evidently unwilling to ept that oue. You really did her dirty this time.¡± She snorted inwardly. It¡¯s just one mere partnership. This is nothing. Since Annie¡¯s backer is Paul, I¡¯ll take down Antea Group and leave her with no one to rely on. After being set up to be involved in a car ident, secretly plotted against, and getting hit on the back of her head with a stick, Gwendolyn wanted Annie and Paul to pay a dear price for all those incidents. Intercepting the coboration and letting theirpany suffer mary losses were only the beginning of her n. She also had to find out Annie¡¯s identity. Gwendolyn grew more excited the more she thought about it. ¡°Well done securing this coboration. You may go to the finance department to im the bonus you deserve.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ms. Harris.¡± Zion was unable to hide the joy in his eyes. He quickly left the CEO¡¯s office and headed to the finance department to redeem his remuneration. Not long after his departure, Gwendolyn¡¯s assistant knocked on the door and came in. ¡°Ms. Harris, Antea Group¡¯s general manager has requested to make an appointment to meet with you in the next few days. Will you meet her?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Annie was overseas at present, miles away from the country. Gwendolyn figured the woman must be exasperated, having to rush back overnight to deal with the mess after Zion snatched the coboration that supposedly belonged to Antea Group. That was also why Annie was in such a hurry to meet with Gwendolyn. Wearing a cold expression, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°No. Tell her my schedule is fully booked for next week and let her wait.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Harris.¡± After her assistant left, Gwendolyn spent the afternoon working leisurely andfortably in a good mood. Elven, who had been investigating Annie¡¯s parents¡¯ detailed information for several days, finally made some progress. He called and sent the information to Gwendolyn¡¯s email. She tapped on the keyboard with her slender fingers, urately entering her email ount password to check the faxed document. It turned out that Annie¡¯s father was arrested due to an incident rted to hispany when Annie was in herteens The data showed that there was a spy in hispany whomitted financial fraud that led to a serious tax evasion issue. Subsequently, the person responsible for the wrongdoing resigned and fled, so Annie¡¯s father as the legal representative of thepany, had to shoulder the responsibility. As for whether he was wrongly used or not, the truth remained unclear. After he was imprisoned, he went mad in less than half a year and was then transferred to a mental hospital. Two monthster, he took his own life. Annie¡¯s mother raised the young Annie on her own, working three jobs simultaneously to send her daughter to study abroad. Unexpectedly, she suddenly died of cerebral infarction in Annie¡¯s second year of studying in Chanaca. making Annie an orphan. Afterward, Anniepleted her studies with her mother¡¯s legacy and the subsidies from Ospea to low-ie families with single mothers. Just before her graduation in her senior year, she participated in an outdoor school activity, which involved going to the countryside to gain experience in farming that would earn her extra credits. Annie took part on vacation.in the activity without hesitation and somehow ran into Paul, who was visiting Chamara Paul fell in love with her at first sight and practically supported her financially. During her internship period, he took her back to Ospea and tantly used his connection to secure her a position in Antea Group. The frown on Gwendolyn¡¯s face deepened as she read further. How could it be such a coincidence? Evelyn went missing in the countryside, and Annie happened to meet Paul in the countryside too. While pondering, she continued scrolling down with her mouse until she reached thest page. A picture of Annie¡¯s graduation photo was attached. Her appearance was simr to how she looked not long ago. Her outward form didn¡¯t change, and her countenance was even still as innocent-looking as before. Aside from the graduation photo, there was also a picture of Annie participating in a dance performance at the academy. Gwendolyn exported both images and quickly sent them to thepany¡¯s professional department for inspection. Five minutester, she got the results. There were no traces of the pictures being photoshopped; they were indeed unaltered. So, all the evidence seems to be fine. If this Annie wasn¡¯t switched and was someone who grew up in Ospea, does that mean I¡¯ve been overthinking? Could all these truly just be coincidences? Even so, Gwendolyn remained concerned and couldn¡¯t shake off the sense of unease. She had always found Annie extremely dangerous, so she had to get to the bottom of that matter. However, she received only that much information and wouldn¡¯t make any headway dwelling on it. Clear headed, she decisively closed the webpage. There¡¯s no hurry. Someone is more anxious than me. Once Anniees here in person, she can forget about leaving Chanara anytime soon. Perhaps only by talking to her personally can I obtain the answers Chapter 548 The Basement Plan Failed Chapter548TheBasementnFailed Gwendolyn brushed off her concerns about Annie and refocused on her work. Time seemed to pass faster when she was engrossed in her tasks. Just as she was about to sign the final document, her phone rm sounded. It was the rm she had set half an hour earlier, a reminder of her ns with Cedrick. They were scheduled to have dinner with Valentino at his vi; it was also an opportunity to check if Benedict and Zendaya were well cared for. If things didn¡¯t go ording to n, Gwendolyn held onto the hope that Cedrick¡¯s strategy would seed, allowing her to bring the children back home at the earliest opportunity. The presence of her little ones would bring a much¨Cneeded sense of security andfort to their lives.. As she pondered these thoughts, Gwendolyn tidied her desk and prepared to leave for the day. As soon as she stepped out of her office, her phone buzzed with a call from Cedrick. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m already in the parking lot. ¡°That¡¯s fast.¡± Cedrick chuckled softly. ¡°When ites to picking up my wife, I¡¯m always prompt.¡± His response warmed Gwendolyn¡¯s heart as she quickly made her way downstairs. In the underground parking lot, Cedrick leaned casually against the car, his face as strikingly handsome as ever. Upon seeing Gwendolyn, he opened the car door and, as usual, covered the roof with his hand to ensure she didn¡¯t bump her head while getting in. He then leaned down and helped her fasten the seatbelt. Taking advantage of the proximity, Gwendolyn yfully pecked his cheek. ¡°My love, you¡¯ve pampered me to the point of helplessness. If I were ever to leave you, I don¡¯t think I could even take care of myself.¡± Cedrick cupped her cheek with one hand and kissed her lips, savoring her sweetness. ¡°We shall never part. My love for you is irreceable, and no one can take you away from me.¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but feel a little dissatisfied. ¡°And what about Zendy? They say daughters are their father¡¯s little sweethearts from a past life. Are you not going to spoil her too?¡± Unfazed by her response, Cedrick locked his gaze with Gwendolyn¡¯s, his dark eyes filled with an eternal, romantic sweetness. ¡°Zendy has a big brother, Benny. He will be responsible for doting and taking care of her.¡± Gwendolyn nodded contentedly as the arrangement seemed reasonable. After indulging in their tender moments, Cedrick returned to the driver¡¯s seat, fastened his seatbelt, and drove off. They soon arrived at the Jenson residence¡¯s garage, and as Gwendolyn was about to get out of the car, Cedrick had already moved to the passenger side, opening the door for her. His arm slipped behind her. knees, and he carried her out of the car. Amidst the soft glow of the evening¡¯s rosy hues, Cedrick strolled through the winding alleyways with Gwendolyn in his arms She whispered in the man¡¯s ear, ¡°We are having dinner with Grandpa. Isn¡¯t this a little too intimate?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwenny. Grandpa won¡¯t mind such a disy of affection. Nobody can stop me from doting. on my wife.¡± Since he insisted on carrying her, Gwendolyn had no choice but to go along with it.. A few minutester, they entered the courtyard. Valentino had been eagerly waiting at the front gate upon hearing they wereing for dinner. When Logan saw the couple approaching, he wheeled Valentino toward them. ¡°My precious grandson and granddaughter¨Cinw have arrived. How wonderful.¡± They were delighted to see Cedrick carrying Gwendolyn like a cherished princess. It was a heartwarming and affectionate scene. ¡°Cedrick has finally learned how to care for others. My precious granddaughter¨Cinw deserves all the love and care.¡± Valentino¡¯s and Logan¡¯sughter filled the air, their hearts brimming with uncontainable happiness. Cedrick echoed with enthusiasm, ¡°Grandpa is right. Being able to marry Gwendolyn is the greatest blessing of my life. I must cherish and adore her for the rest of my life.¡± Heartened by his words, Valentino¡¯s and Logan¡¯s smiles widened, their faces radiant with pure bliss. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside for dinner,¡± Valentino urged with excitement. ¡°The kitchen has prepared all of Gwendolyn¡¯s favorite dishes. My dear Gwendolyn, make sure to eat plenty, and let¡¯s hope I can see you pregnant for a second and third time.¡± Logan added yfully, ¡°It¡¯s our duty to help improve the country¡¯s birth rates.¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of shyness and delight in response to theirments. ¡°Grandpa, please stop teasing me. It¡¯s not within my control to decide such matters. We¡¯ll have to see if Cedrick can rise to the asion.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips twitched as he remained unfazed by the banter. After all, Gwendolyn knew better than anyone whether he could fulfill that role. However, her manic disorder had not yet been cured, and she was worried about passing the illness to their children. The thought of them enduring the pain weighed heavily on her mind. Hence, Cedrick did not n on having another child for the next six months. In an attempt to change the topic, he said, ¡°All right, Grandpa, I¡¯m famished. Let¡¯s head inside and enjoy our meal.¡± Everyone headed to the dining room and savored their dinner. After dinner, Gwendolyn went to visit her children. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Under the attentive care of Valentino and Zoey for the past two days, Benedict and Zendaya seemed to have grown well. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how they had grown plumper, further enhancing their adorable and endearing appearance. She and Cedrick cherished every fleeting second spent with the babies, basking in the pure joy that radiated from their presence, The evening sky grew darker, and it was close to half¨Cpast nine. Gwendolyn became aware that her sickness would soon act up. After exchanging goodbyes with Valentino, Cedrick and Gwendolyn made their way back to Harrick Vi. Once they arrived, Gwendolyn headed straight to the basement. Cedrick clutched her hand tightly as the heavy basement door creaked open. A mixture of apprehension and worry flickered in his eyes as he was reluctant to confine her. Gwendolyn tiptoed and brushed her lips against his. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she whispered, her voice filled with conviction. ¡°Even if it remains quiet for the first half of the night, please don¡¯t open the door. Let¡¯s wait until tomorrow morning to see how it goes. If, unfortunately, I experience another episode, we¡¯ll proceed with our n.¡± Cedrick nodded, his resolve unwavering. ¡°Gwenny, I will stay in the basement and apany you through the night. Just call out to me whenever you need help, and I¡¯ll be there without hesitation. I will forever be where you need me the most.¡± With a faint smile ying on her lips, Gwendolyn traced the contours of Cedrick¡¯s face. Reluctantly, she bid him farewell and went into the basement. The heavy door of the transformed basement closed with a resounding thud, emphasizing the weight of their separation. While the door physically separated them, it couldn¡¯t distance their deep love for each other. Cedrick locked the door and stood silently by its side instead of sitting down. His heart ached at the thought of Gwendolyn sleeping in the dark and confined space. It was as though he was the one being punished as he remained standing and listened for any sound from behind the door. He maintained his position for over two hours. As the clock neared midnight, the once¨Ctranquil basement was shattered by the sudden intrusion of unsettling noises. The echoes of ttering and banging reverberated through the air, intertwining with. Gwendolyn¡¯s furious outbursts. She has indeed rpsed. Cedrick¡¯s fists clenched tightly as he stood silently by the door, silently praying that the items prepared inside would provide Gwendolyn with an outlet for her anger and help her to sleep as soon as possible. He repeatedly checked his watch to calcte the passing time. In the past, when he allowed Gwendolyn to release her frustrations by striking him with a belt, it would take at least an hour or more for her to find some relief He wondered how long Gwendolyn¡¯s outburst wouldst with the items provided in the basement. The echoes of ttering and banging continued to reverberate through the air. Two hours had passed, and Gwendolyn¡¯s mania showed no signs of abating. Has the n failed? Is she unable to release her pent¨Cup emotions? A sense of disappointment washed over Cedrick as he contemted the situation. Suddenly, from within the basement, a sharp cry of pain pierced the air, catching him off guard. Did Gwenny identally hurt herself? His heart skipped a beat, and without hesitation, he swiftly unlocked the basement door. Cedrick was resolved to assess Gwendolyn¡¯s condition. Chapter 549 Let Us See Who Tires Out First Chapter549LetUsSeeWhoTiresOutFirst Cedrick swiftly swung open the basement door when he heard the excruciating scream. As the lights flickered on, he was met with a scene of chaos and destruction. The tools intended for Gwendolyn¡¯s releasey shattered, a result of her uncontroble frenzy. At that moment, she resembled a wild creature, fierce and untamed. Amidst the disarray, Cedrick¡¯s primary concern was Gwendolyn¡¯s well¨Cbeing. He carefully scanned her body, relieved to find no visible wounds or traces of blood. However, her piercing red eyes remained fixed upon him, unwavering and intense, as if she regarded him as her target. ¡°Gwenny?¡± Cedrick called out, but his words were met with silence. It was clear that she had yet to break free from her maniac state. In that instant, Cedrickprehended Gwendolyn¡¯s motives. She had deliberately lured him into opening the door by emitting an unfamiliar sound. Despite Gwendolyn¡¯s loss of consciousness, her instincts remained sharp. Cedrick stood his ground, maintaining a safe distance, waiting for her to dismantle the sandbags and launch herself toward him. Within two minutes, the final sandbag was reduced to tatters, leaving a trail of scattered sand in its wake. Gwendolyn, resembling a terrifying apparition,unched herself at Cedrick with astonishing speed. A resounding p whizzed through the air. Cedrick¡¯s quick reflexes enabled him to seize her wrist, deftly avoiding the blow. The duo engaged in a fierce confrontation in the basement. In the past, they had avoided physical confrontations in the bedroom as Cedrick was concerned that Gwendolyn might inadvertently damage something or injure herself amid the turmoil. However, the altered basement was stripped of any sharp objects. Hence, Cedrick could carefully n his movements to ensure Gwendolyn¡¯s safety. ¡°Come on, Darling. Let¡¯s battle, and we shall see who tires first.¡± Cedrick had be Gwendolyn¡¯s singr target as their sh began. Trapped with no viable escape, Cedrick refused to allow himself to be a mere punching bag for Gwendolyn¡¯s fury. He couldn¡¯t risk sustaining injuries that would anger her further. Hence, Cedrick was left with no choice but to engage in a physical confrontation. He had to find a way to engage in the fight while minimizing harm. Gwendolyn, fueled by her frenzy, unleashed a barrage of forceful strikes honed by her background in martial arts. Her attacks were precise, targeting vulnerable areas with relentless intensity. Cedrick found himself in a precarious position, having to withstand her onught while avoiding causing her harm. With unwavering focus, he skillfully evaded her powerful strikes. The intense confrontation dragged on for over half an hour, and the discrepancy in physical stamina. between a man and a woman became evident. Gwendolyn¡¯s strikes became less aggressive, and her movements more erratic and sluggish, Cedrick seized the opportunity tounch a controlled counterattack without causingsting harm. Ten minutester, the malicious intent that had fueled Gwendolyn¡¯s earlier attacks began to wane, reced by weariness and a flicker of surrender. Eventually, she sumbed to exhaustion and copsed in Cedrick¡¯s arms. After their fierce altercation, the duo was drenched in sweat. Cedrick carried Gwendolyn to the bedroom and helped her clean up with a shower before they headed to theboratory. The unexpected events had caused them to arrive at theb at three in the morning. Joshua had been workingte shifts for a few days, disrupting his sleep schedule. He felt exceptionally tired tonight. Despite his exhaustion, he managed to administer the necessary IV treatment wlessly. Once Gwendolyn had finished the infusion, Cedrick took her back to Harrick Vi. By then, it was six in the morning, and the sky had slowly brightened. Cedrick, who hadn¡¯t slept a wink, fought against the weariness and carried Gwendolyn to their bedroom. for much¨Cneeded rest. They slept soundly, undisturbed by the passing hours. Gwendolyn finally stirred awake at three in the afternoon. She noticed the firm embrace that had encircled her petite waist throughout her slumber, and as she shifted, she caught sight of Cedrick peacefully sleeping beside her. His facial features were finely sculpted, his skin wless, and even in his slumber, he exuded a captivating handsomeness. Gwendolyn found herself mesmerized by his delicate features. With a yful touch, she traced her dainty fingertips along the bridge of his nose. Cedrick opened his eyes, and the first thing he did was pull Gwendolyn closer, showering her with an overwhelming storm of kisses and affectionate greetings. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but giggle as his kisses tickled her. She ced her hand on his face and gently pushed him away. ¡°Stop fooling around. How didst night go?¡± she asked, her tone turning serious. In response, Cedrick swiftly regained hisposure and proceeded to exin every intricate detail of the unforeseen events from the previous night. Their attempt to confine Gwendolyn in the basement and let other objects serve as her outlets for release had failed. The bedroom was silent as both of them contemted the situation at hand. ¡°Hubby, why don¡¯t we sleep in the basement tonight? We¡¯ll remove any obstacles or potential dangers. You can fight me to exhaust my energy. But you have to promise not to get hurt. What do you think?¡± The solution would also leave him exhausted. After the fight, he would have to help, Gwendolyn shower, constantly hold her in his arms, and apany her to theboratory and back. The experiencest night had visibly drained his energy, leaving him exhausted. However, it seemed to be the best course of action for now. They realized that depleting Gwendolyn¡¯s energy by physically exerting themselves together would be the fastest way to make her feel exhausted and fall asleep. Cedrick gently ran his fingers through her hair, his touch filled with affection. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll go along with your n. It¡¯ll be an interesting experience to spend the night in the basement with you.¡± Gwendolyn smiled. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s begin by taking off our sleepwear and performing the routine check for any signs of injury.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not injured. There¡¯s no need to check.¡± Gwendolyn was not convinced and yfully straddled him. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing to hide, why are you hesitant to show me?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m afraid that you won¡¯t be able to resist and want to devour me.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curved mischievously, and his low, seductive voice carried a hint of desire. Gwendolyn felt a slight weakness in her knees as she sumbed to the allure of his seductive voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t n to devour you, but you have piqued my interest. I think I¡¯ll have a satisfying feast,¡± she whispered. With that, she took the initiative to unbutton Cedrick¡¯s sleepwear, revealing his exquisitely sculpted abdominal muscles. She narrowed her eyes and sensually glided her tongue over her teeth, exuding a dangerous allure akin to that of a seductive feline. Meanwhile, Cedrick willinglyy there like a vulnerable prey, his longshes concealing the flicker of excitement in his eyes. He waited in anticipation for her to devour him. At this moment, he firmly believed that all the suffering he endured tobat Gwendolyn¡¯s mania was worth it. She leaned in and nted a tender kiss on Cedrick¡¯s lips. Ring! Ring! Ring! Their enchanting moment was abruptly interrupted by Gwendolyn¡¯s phone ringing on the bedside table. Both of them were startled, their gazes locking in surprise. Gwendolyn hesitated, unsure whether to answer the call. However, the incessant ringing conveyed a sense of urgency that couldn¡¯t be ignored. In situations like these, it usually meant that it was business matters. Hence, Gwendolyn reluctantly untangled herself from Cedrick¡¯s embrace and reached for her phone, perched upon the bedside table. It was her assistant, Frostine Roth, from Harris Group. ¡°Ms. Harris, Ms. Annie, the business director from Antea Group, arrived in Chanaeast night. She has been patiently awaiting your arrival at the office since morning. She insists on meeting with you. Otherwise, she ims she wille every day until she seeds. Would you like to meet her?¡± Chapter 550 Running Away From Home Chapter550RunningAwayFromHome Gwendolyn did not answer right away. Instead, she turned to look at the man by her side, Cedrick. Then she saw the gloomy look in his eyes as he resentfully stared at her. He was ready to submit, but right as he was about to have it, someone interrupted. It was torture. Realizing that Gwendolyn rejected the person on the other end of the line, Frostine. ¡°I¡¯m not free today. I¡¯ll be resting at home. Let her stay if she wants to wait, but do serve her snacks and drinks. If she wants to stay and wait, then let her be.¡± ¡°Of course, Ms. Harris.¡± ¡°Mm. I have something to do today. I¡¯ll be busy. Don¡¯t disturb me unless it¡¯s something major like the imminent closing of thepany.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After ending the call, she moved to pin Cedrick down again. ¡°Hubby, are you satisfied with that?¡± Cedrick could not help but curl his lips as joy bloomed in his chest. Leaning toward Gwendolyn¡¯s ear, he hoarsely whispered, ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn bent down to kiss his lips. It was intimate and sweet as the two spent a rare afternoon together. From their afternoon nap until evening, the two never left the bed. After the lovemaking, they continued, teasing each other on the bed. It was as if the two of them were the only ones in the world during that time. When the sun was almost gone, Gwendolyn¡¯s phone rang again. This time, it was not a call from work; it was from Jennifer. Ever since Jennifer lost her past four years of memories, Treyton brought her back to take good care of her. It had been a long time since Jennifer called her. Once the call went through, Jennifer¡¯s gloomy voice traveled out of the speakers. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you free? Can you meet me for a while?¡± Gwendolyn could hear that something was off about Jennifer. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Jennifer? Are you in a bad mood?¡± Jennifer did not answer her. ¡°Was Treyton mean to you? Tell me what happened, and I¡¯ll teach him a lesson for you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Jennifer hesitated for a long time before saying, ¡°I sneaked out of the vi. I don¡¯t want to go back to Mr. Treyton¡¯s house nor the Newton residence.¡± Losing four years of memory meant that Jennifer barely knew anything about society. ¡°So you ran away from home?¡± Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯lle and pick you up. At that, Jennifer started observing the buildings around her. Salinsburgh was not a familiar ce to her Even after a while, Gwendolyn failed to find out where Jennifer had gone to. In the end, she had to teach Jennifer how to send her location to her on WhatsApp. Before leaving the house, Gwendolyn hastily changed her clothes as she said, ¡°Ceddy, I think Jennifer had a fight with Treyton. She sounds upset, so I¡¯m going to find out what happened. I¡¯ll be back as quickly as I can.¡± Cedrick was calm as he nodded in understanding and responded, ¡°Sure. Stay safe, Darling.¡± Once Gwendolyn was gone, Cedrick immediately called Treyton and grimly asked, ¡°What happened between you and Jennifer? I can¡¯t believe you gave her the opportunity to run away from home. You¡¯re making my Gwenny rush over to keep herpany.¡± ¡°Jennifer ran away from home?¡± Treyton was dumbfounded. He was still at work, and he could not wrap his head around why that just happened. Without ending the call with Cedrick, he took out his other phone to call the bodyguard at the vi. It was then he found out that Jennifer was indeed not in the vi, having snuck out at one point. Panic surged in his veins, and he no longer had the heart to keep working. ¡°Why did this happen? I¡¯ve been nice to her, and I haven¡¯t fought with her.¡± The two men proceeded to converse for a while. Gwendolyn drove to the remote area. It was dark, so she had to use a torch to find Jennifer, who was beside a rock. Walking over, Gwendolyn crouched before Jennifer and gently asked, ¡°Jennifer, why are you here? What¡® happened? Tell me, and I¡¯ll help you out.¡± Jennifer hung her head, seemingly tired and dispirited. ¡°Mr. Treyton has been strict with metely because I wanted to go to grad school. He¡¯s making me do revisions every single night, but my basic skills are weak, so I keep making mistakes. I feel like I can¡¯t do anything right, and it¡¯s really getting me down. Say, Gwendolyn, what should I do?¡± Gwendolyn was silent. No pain, no gain. Treyton was so strict with her because he had high hopes for her. However, as Jennifer¡¯s friend from the same orphanage, Gwendolyn knew that Jennifer had a weak educational foundation. Moreover, Jennifer¡¯s mind was of a twenty¨Cone¨Cyear¨Cold. She would be more prone to bouts of self¨Cdoubt. In other words, Treyton was too tough on her. Patting Jennifer¡¯s hand, Gwendolyn consoled, ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you should run away from home like this. How anxious do you think Treyton will be if he doesn¡¯t find you at home as he usually does?¡± Jennifer weakly muttered, ¡°This¡­ doesn¡¯t count as running away from home, does it? I¡¯m only engaged to him. Staying at his ce doesn¡¯t mean that his house is mine. Also, I want some time alone. I haven¡¯t been able to memorize the chapters for the day, and I¡¯m sure Mr. Treyton will be disappointed when hees back and quiz me on them.¡± Furthermore, he would hit her on her palm as if she was a child if she made mistakes. Even though he was only using his hand to hit her, it was still punishment, and there was no way she would not be afraid of it. As Gwendolyn tucked the stray strands of her hair behind her ear, she said, ¡°It¡¯s all dark outside. Aren¡¯t you afraid of meeting bad people by sneaking out here alone?¡± Jennifer turned to Gwendolyn in confusion. ¡°Aren¡¯t you right beside me? I¡¯m not alone.¡± That rendered Gwendolyn speechless. Jennifer dropped her head again before apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought I could stille to you whenever I¡¯m sad, like how I did when we were in the orphanage. I¡¯ve forgotten that you now have children and a husband. Sorry for disturbing you.¡± Gwendolyn gave her a dismissive smile. ¡°You¡¯re not. I wasn¡¯t doing anything at home anyway, so I might as welle and keep youpany.¡± Then, she ruffled Jennifer¡¯s hair. Jennifer was supposed to be a year older than her, but her loss of memories made her seem much younger and more naive than Gwendolyn. ¡°Jennifer, what do you want to do? I¡¯lle with you. I¡¯ll keep youpany until you¡¯re happy and until you want to go back.¡± At that, light entered Jennifer¡¯s eyes, and she happily waved her phone. ¡°I¡¯ve recently found a wonderful game! Why don¡¯t we form a party and y together for a little while?¡± What? Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn was never one to y video games. Even though she had heard about the game Jennifer was keen on before and knew that the e¨Csports industry was booming, she never once thought of investing in it. Spotting the baffled look in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, Jennifer tapped her screen and clicked on the application to show it to her. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Gwendolyn, download it too. I¡¯ll teach you how to y. You¡¯re great at picking up any skill, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll know how this works in no time.¡± Wanting Jennifer to be happy, Gwendolyn took out her phone and downloaded the game from her app store. Twenty minutester, Gwendolyn was starting to get more and more interested in it as victory announcements came out of her phone speakers. ¡°This is kind of interesting. Come,e, let¡¯s try again.¡°¡± She then¨Cpicked a character to cooperate with Jennifer¡¯s character. For her first try, she picked a mid¨C lane character who looked nice. Sitting on a boulder, the two of them started the passionate round under the dim moon. Soon, they were so immersed in the round that time no longer mattered to them. By the time Cedrick and Treyton arrived at their spot, they saw the two young women who could uv their eyes off their screens. ¡°Do it, Jennifer! Don¡¯t chicken out! He¡¯s about to die, so don¡¯t let him heal himself!¡± ¡°I¡¯m in the bottomne. How am I supposed to get there in time? Also, I¡¯m a marksman. I need to det de finishing blows!¡± ¡°Hey! Jennifer,e over and join the group fight. Stop dealing with the finishing blows. You don¡¯t need those extra coins!¡± ¡°No, wait! It¡¯s still money, no matter how little it is. Those coins are important! I need to farm first Wait for me to carry you all!¡± ¡°Ah! Gwendolyn, save me! This guy stabbed me!¡± From afar, the two men could hear the two women¡¯s excited voices. Cedrick and Treyton shared a look as their expressions darkened. They were speechless. Chapter 551 Chapter 551 Let¡¯s start over again, and I¡¯ll listen to you this time, okay?¡± Reaching a consensus, the two women geared up to start a new match. Just then, Cedrick brought his fist up to his mouth and cleared his throat loudly. Treyton eyed him before immediately following suit at an even louder volume. The two women begrudgingly raised their heads, only to see that their men were there to pick them up. ¡°Why have youe, Hubby?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Cedrick stared at her, his handsome face as ck as thunder. His voice was gentle, yet his words were disapproving. ¡°Look at the time now. Were you nning to stay out if I hadn¡¯te to look for you, Darling?¡± Closing the game interface, Gwendolyn btedly took a look at the time. It was only then that she realized she had been so engrossed in gaming that she forgot the time, and it was already past nine o¡¯clock. Nighttime was the peak of her manic episodes. As such, it was indeed too dangerous for her to remain outside. Furthermore, she had not told her family about her condition because she did not want to worry them. If we¡¯d continued gaming for another few hours, Jennifer would¡¯ve probably been scared witless when she inadvertently witnessed my manic episode! She put her phone away before turning to Jennifer beside her solemnly. ¡°Are you feeling better now, Jennifer?¡± In response, Jennifer bobbed her head. ¡°I¡¯m really happy to have gamed with you tonight, Gwendolyn. But¡­¡± The smile on her face gradually faded. Furtively stealing a peek at Treyton, who was a stone¡¯s throw away, she fiddled with the hem of her shirt uneasily. Not Painful But Utterly Humiliating He¡¯d be mad when I go back tonight, wouldn¡¯t het All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. As a matter of fact, Treyton was infuriated. She¡¯s a defenseless girl, yet the came to such a deserted ce in the middle of the night. I¡¯d be haunted by regret if the ran into scoundrels! Verily, she doesn¡¯t have any safety consciousness! His fury seemingly zed even hotter the further he pondered upon the matter. Taking a few strides forward, he clutched Jennifer¡¯s wrist tightly. ¡°Come. Don¡¯t intrude on Cedrick and Gwendolyn here. Let¡¯s go home.¡± The man¡¯s grip was strong, and Jennifer could clearly sense his wrath. Unfortunately, she could not break free from his restraint and could only be dragged away. She nced back over her shoulder at Gwendolyn in terror, beseeching thetter for help. Gwendolyn understood her plea for help, but it was their personal matter at the end of the day, so it was inappropriate for her to interfere. She could only try her best by urging, ¡°Treyton, Jennifer¡¯s kind of slow in academic things. Be more patient and encourage her often. Don¡¯t demoralize her. Also, talk things out at home.¡± Treyton grunted in acquiescence, his voice low and grim. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll do so.¡± After he had said that, he forcibly stuffed Jennifer into his luxurious car. In the next heartbeat, the roar of an engine broke the silence of the dark night. The luxurious car sped off like an arrow in the moonlight. Gwendolyn sighed, worried about how her brother would be able to coax Jennifer at hometer. Seemingly perceiving her worry, Cedrick abruptly interrupted her train of thought. ¡°Don¡¯t brood over it anymore, Gwenny. It¡¯s a matter between themselves. You can¡¯t do anything about it, and you have no right to do so anyway.¡± Gwendolyn gave a dip of her head. Naturally, she knew that all too well. Still, she was a touch concerned. ¡°Treyton appeared livid tonight. Would he have a row with Jennifer when he gets home?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Stepping forward, Cedrick lightly took her hand and made his way back with her. Gwendolyn snapped her head to him. ¡°How could you be so sure? What did you two talk about when you came over together tonight?¡± Unexpectedly, Cedrick fell silent for a long moment. Fortunately, we didn¡¯t talk about anything much. I merely told him to keep his fianc¨¦e in line and manage his rtionship well so as to intrude less on my life with Gwendolyn. ¡°Hmm? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± ¡°Nothing much. We just had a casual chat. I advised him to be gentler with Jennifer.¡± At that, relief suffused Gwendolyn. Since he¡¯d said as much, Treyton would surely listen to him. Subsequently, the two of them got into the car and went back to Harrick Vi. Considering thete hour, they had no intention of going upstairs. They went straight to the basement as though it was their bedroom. Before entering the basement, Gwendolyn fretted, ¡°If I were to have a manic episode tonight, Hubby, would you be fine fighting with me? Would you be injured? Would you be drained from the weariness? Could you really manage?¡± Cedrick was inexorably taken aback. There was nothing unusual with the first two questions, but the final two had his brows knit together and his pride injured slightly. Hispetitiveness promptly sparked to life, and he jerked his chin up in a rare show of dominance. ¡°Are you doubting my stamina, Darling? It looks like I¡¯ve got to prove myself to you!¡± Bursting into giggles, Gwendolyn reiterated once more, ¡°Don¡¯t hold back too much with me. In all things, make sure that you¡¯re not injured. As usual, I¡¯m going to check you over for injuries when I wake up tomorrow. Don¡¯t think about fooling me.¡± Cedrick slid his hand from her chin to her throat before gently cing it on her lower back, supporting her slender waist with his palm. He drew his arm toward himself hard, and Gwendolyn was forced to take two steps forward. She ended up stered against his chest, mere inches away from him. His voice was seductive, as enticing as ever. ¡°You merely want to check me over for injuries, Darling?¡± Gwendolyn feigned ignorance. ¡°If not?¡± ¡°I thought¡­¡± Leaning down, Cedrick lowered his head close to her ear and said something indecent in a whisper. ¡°What a filthy mind! Watch out, for I might really take you tomorrow.¡± A grin curved Cedrick¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯d love that.¡± With a click of her tongue, Gwendolyn pushed him away lightly. ¡°How shameless¡­¡± While criticizing him, she headed further into the basement. She spread out the mattress andy down. Knowing that she would not have long to sleep, she did not wash up, leaving it to Cedrick after her manic episode. Meanwhile, Cedrick immediately did the same. Hey down on the mattress and hugged her around the waist. ¡°Keep some distance away from me. Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯d suddenly p you in the middle of the night?¡± Gwendolyn ordered. Taking a deep whiff of her fragrance at her neck, Cedrick replied in gratification, ¡°You¡¯re still my gentle goddess before sleep, Gwenny. When you¡¯re asleep, I¡¯ll put up my guard.¡± All right, then. Gwendolyn was aware of his capabilities and knew that it would be difficult to hurt him for real if he did not allow it. The two of them slept in each other¡¯s arms, chatting before they each drifted off. Right then. Treyton had already arrived back at the vi. Without a word, he dragged Jennifer upstairs and headed toward the bedroom. Such fear struck Jennifer at his behavior that she panicked. ¡°S-Slow down. Can you please let me calm down first? You¡¯re scaring me.¡± Treyton remained silent, but his pace slowed. When they reached the bedroom, he plopped down on the bed and ced her face down across his lap. Jennifer was wholly bewildered. She was stunned for two seconds, at a total loss as to the man¡¯s intention. The next moment, however, changed that. Smack! Without warning, a broad palm came into contact with her upturned bottom. Realization btedly dawned upon her. In a sh, her face flushed bright red. Am I being spanked now? ¡°You¡¯re a downright pervert, Treyton! Wasn¡¯t it a hit on the palm previously? How could you smack¡­ smack me on the¡­¡± How could he smack me on the butt? While it¡¯s not all that painful, it¡¯s utterly humiliating! I¡¯m already an adult. Worse still, I¡¯m not really familiar with him. At that instant, Treyton was fuming. He restrained her waist that was twisting every which way, but he ceased swinging his right hand. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be punished for running away from home?¡± Biting her lower lip in aggravation, Jennifer denied it to the bitter end. ¡°I didn¡¯t! I was merely bored to be at home alone, so I went out and looked for Gwendolyn to have some fun. Not only did you use me wrongly, but you even hit me! You abused me!¡± She once said the same thing back before disaster struck her, and she lost her memories. Treyton¡¯s nose stung. Doing the same as he did back then, he somberly exined, ¡°I was merely teaching my disobedient fianc¨¦e a lesson. It was grounded in my love for you. I wouldn¡¯t have truly hurt you. All I wanted was for you to realize your mistakes.¡± Jennifer pouted in sheer chagrin. ¡°But you simply raise your hand against me without listening to my exnation. You¡¯ve gone too far.¡± Treyton listened as she repeated the exact same words she said in the past. Yet, there was no reaction on her part. She has really forgotten everything that transpired in the past four years and no longer remembers the love between us. In the blink of an eye, his mood took a nosedive. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I was scared that you¡¯d leave me, afraid that you¡¯d disappear again. It was my problem. I failed to keep my emotions in check.¡± Having the upper hand, Jennifer furiously scrambled up from hisp. Just when she was about to tear into him, she noticed his red-rimmed eyes and distinct dejection. Chapter 552 You Should Feel Guilty Instead Chapter 552 You Should Feel Guilty Instead It was Jennifer¡¯s first time seeing Treyton in such a crestfallen state since she regained consciousness. Recalling that she was indeed at fault in the matter, she gentled her tone. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll forgive you this once. I was wrong to secretly leave without informing you today, making you worry. I apologize.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Following her apology. Treyton forced a smile. ¡°What a good girl, Jennifer. You can¡¯t do it again next time. Take two bodyguards with you and text me, okay?¡± Jennifer said nothing. If I were to take two bodyguards with me, they¡¯d dog my every step, and there¡¯d always been two pairs of eyes watching me. Such a feeling is awful, making me uneasy all over. Nheless, she relented upon glimpsing the man¡¯s eyes that dimmed once more. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely text you and inform you about where I¡¯m going. But as for the bodyguards¡­ can that depend on the situation? In an instance like today whereby I went gaming with Gwendolyn, I¡¯d be perturbed to have two people watching at the side.¡± In other words, she conceded to one of the requests and declined the other. That would necessitate them bothpromising. To Treyton, he was already satisfied that she agreed to text him. ¡°Okay, whatever you say, Jennifer.¡± When they had reached a consensus, Jennifer remained standing at the side. She felt somewhat unsettled by his intent stare. Remembering the matter they had yet to do that night, she cautiously asked, ¡°Are you still going to test me tonight, Mr. Treyton?¡± Treyton held her gaze. Clocking the difiture and trepidation in her eyes, he countered. ¡°Do you want me to do so, Jennifer?¡± Jennifer wavered for a moment before ultimately choosing to speak her mind. ¡°I hadn¡¯t been in the mood the entire day, so I wasn¡¯t concentrating much when I studied. Little stuck to my mind. If you were to test me, I¡¯d undoubtedly flop.¡± All of a sudden, Treyton recalled Gwendolyn saying that Jennifer¡¯s academic foundation was weak and urging him to be more patient. Thus, he understandingly pulled her over to him. ¡°Then, I won¡¯t test you tonight. Consider it as your day off, Jennifer.¡± Hearing that, Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like a heavy weight had been lifted off her. She beamed at him. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Treyton. I¡¯ll try my best to memorize everything tomorrow.¡± Treyton turned the matter over in his mind briefly. ¡°How about this? Starting tomorrow, I won¡¯t test you right upon returning home from work at night. I¡¯ll tutor you for half an hour before doing so. What do you think?¡± ¡°You already have your te full in the morning, Mr. Treyton. Would it be too tiring for you to tutor me in my graduate studies when youe home at night?¡± Treyton held her hands tightly. ¡°If you feel bad that I¡¯m too tiring myself out, don¡¯t resist sleeping on the same bed with me at night. Let me hug you and have a restful sleep every night. Is that okay?¡± Uh¡­ From Jennifer¡¯s perspective, it had only been a little over a month since she regained consciousness. That was to say that she had only been acquainted with the man for the same amount of time. Hence, he was considered a friend she did not know that well. Never mind that I¡¯m living under the same roof with him despite only having known him for a handful of days, but he even wants to hug me to sleep every night now. The mere thought of it is strange and gives me goosebumps! Although Treyton was incredibly handsome, and she was irrefutably tempted in the face of a perfect specimen of a man right before her, she could not get over the fact that they were practically strangers. At her prolonged silence, Treyton knew that she was opposed to the idea inwardly. Smiling bitterly, he coaxed, ¡°Sorry, that was overly presumptuous of me. I asked for too much, too fast. Never mind if you don¡¯t want it. Forget I ever said that.¡± Jennifer swiftly went along with it. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Treyton. I¡¯m truly grateful. I¡¯ll definitely repay your kindness to me when I¡¯m financially independent.¡± That startled Treyton. Does she mean repaying me with money? How could I possibly be strapped for cash when I hold half of the entertainment industry in the palm of my hand and am a son of the Harris family, the wealthiest family in the city? ¡°Forget about repaying me with money, Jennifer. I much prefer¡­¡± You repaying me with your body. He did not finish his utterance, merely fantasizing about it fleetingly for fear of scaring her. ¡°All right, it¡¯ste now. Shall we wash up and sleep?¡± It was the middle of the night, but sounds of a fight drifted out of the basement in Harrick Vi ceaselessly. Cedrick and Gwendolyn had dueled for no less than fifty or sixty rounds. More than an hour passed, and they were both close to being drained of all energy before Gwendolyn finally crashed out in exhaustion. With sweat coating his entire body, Cedricky t on the ground, his chest heaving violently. Shifting his gaze to Gwendolyn, whoy sleeping beside him with her hand in his, he griped in vexation, ¡°This amount of physical exercise is even more draining than the workout throughout the night previously. Sure enough, my wife tortures me in all aspects.¡± After resting for a few minutes, he scooped her up and left the basement, going to the bathroom to shower. Then, he repeated the same routine he had been following the past few days, That was already the best solution at present, and he was ted deep within. For the following two days, the couple went with the same pattern. It had about be their way of life. As they knew that Gwendolyn might have manic episodes at night and moving into the basement could resolve that issue perfectly, they went to Valentino¡¯s vi together and brought Benedict and Zendaya back to Harrick Vi. Other than Gwendolyn¡¯s manic episodes at night, their life was seemingly back on track. In the afternoon, Gwendolyn went to Harris Group to work as usual. Mere moments after she had taken a seat in the CEO¡¯s office, she heard amotion outside the door. Ignoring it, she turned on herputer and prepared to devote herself to work. s, the person outside the door seemed determined to give her no opportunity to avoid a meeting. ¡°You can¡¯t go in, Ms. Annie! Hey!¡± Just when Gwendolyn ced her hand on the mouse, her office door was forcibly pushed open by Annie. At the sight of thetter looking enraged, she derided with a sneer, ¡°You¡¯re a graduate of a national key university and Antea Group¡¯s business director, Ms. Annie. Yet, such are your manners? Don¡¯t you know that barging into someone else¡¯s office is rude?¡± In high heels, Annie defiantly marched over to the chair across the desk and sat down. ¡°Ms. Harris, you¡¯re obviously in the office and happen to be free, but you had your assistant turn me away repeatedly, refusing to meet me. Was it guilt that prompted it?¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn burst intoughter. Propping a hand under her chin, shezily looked Annie in the eye. ¡°Why should I feel guilty? You¡¯re merely a business director, while I¡¯m the CEO of Harris Group. My duties are severalfold that of yours every day. I was naturally busy to have turned down meeting you. Moreover, it¡¯s someone else who should feel guilty instead.¡± When she uttered that final utterance, she stared straight at Annie meaningfully. However, Annie appeared ignorant to the underlying mockery. ¡°It goes without saying that you¡¯re the one who should feel guilty, Ms. Harris. Some time ago, you sent people to intercept my projects time and again. Do you think that¡¯s appropriate, Ms. Harris?¡± The corners of Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes crinkled with a smile, rendering her beyond affable. ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate about that? Is this your first forage in the business world, Ms. Annie? Competition is nothing unusual when ites to securing coborations. How could you aplish anything if you¡¯re so quick to snap?¡± For a moment, Annie was left without a retort. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Besides, you also wanted to snatch my coboration with Dovil Group back then, Ms. Annie. But then, you didn¡¯t manage it while I seeded. And now, you¡¯re resentful?¡± Annie pinned her eyes on Gwendolyn gravely. ¡°At the very least, I asked you about it to your face, Ms. Harris. Conversely, you yed dirty and intercepted my coborations a few hours before I signed the contracts. The smile on Gwendolyn¡¯s face grew all the wider. ¡°Just swooping on your coborations is considered ying dirty? Then, what¡¯s orchestrating a car ident, arranging for forty assassins from the ck market to gang up on me, and secretly plotting against me?¡± Chapter 553 Troublemaker Chapter 553 Troublemaker Gwendolyn scoffed at Annie while reading her intentions. Yet, thetter showed no response, as though she was utterly clueless. ¡°What are you talking about, Ms. Harris? Secretly plotting against you? Is that what you¡¯re nning to do to me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that, but let me make it clear-I¡¯m someone who holds grudges and doesn¡¯t like being taken advantage of. If anyone tries to mess with me, I¡¯ll return the favor tenfold. I¡¯m sure many other people in the corporate world are as petty as I am. So, Ms. Annie, if you ever get knocked out and kidnapped while walking outside on the streets, you must¡¯ve crossed someone in the first ce.¡± Annie appeared frightened as her eyes reddened in a sh. ¡°Don¡¯t scare me like that, Ms. Harris. I¡¯ve never had any experience doing such things. Besides, I haven¡¯t crossed anyone. The only person I can think of is¡­¡± She trailed off while falling deep into thought before quickly fixating her gaze back on Gwendolyn. ¡°If you¡¯re here all of a sudden just to talk about getting robbed of your project, you can leave-because as long as you¡¯re the director of Antea Group, I¡¯m going to snatch every project it gets its hands on.¡± Annie¡¯s eyes grew even redder as tears swirled within them. ¡°Why are you doing this to me, Ms. Harris? What did I ever do to get on your bad side?¡± Gwendolyn leaned back into her office chair casually. ¡°If you want peace between us, answer my questions.¡± Annie nodded earnestly. ¡°Okay, please do. I¡¯ll tell you everything I know.¡± A look of scorn shed in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes as she began, ¡°Are you really Annie Steinfeld?¡± Annie appeared puzzled. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m Annic in the flesh.¡± ¡°Well, Ms. Annie, do you still remember where you met Paul?¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Annie¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°This is a matter between lovers. Do you really have to ask that, Ms. Harris?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking where you met. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m intruding on your privacy. Are you not willing to answer me?¡± ¡°I think it was at a forest in Salinsburgh, Chanaea,¡± Annie replied truthfully, following the other woman¡¯s gaze. ¡°Oh?¡± Gwendolyn raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°What were you doing there?¡± ¡°My school¡¯s club organized a field trip down to the countryside back then. Those who wanted to score more credits could join and work at a farm. I wanted to get a schrship, so I signed up. I got lost in the mountains, but Paul, who was traveling in Chanaea, happened to be there too, so I asked him for directions. There, he fell in love with me at first sight and kept hitting on me the entire trip. I thought he was pretty interesting, so I gave him my contact.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head to conceal the coldness in her eyes. ¡°I see. That¡¯s interesting.¡± Annic looked down and smiled, seemingly reminiscing about the good old days. ¡°That sounds like an unforgettable memory to you. Well, Ms. Annie, do you remember which forest you visited? And which farm did you work at?¡± Gwendolyn continued, seeing that the other woman had her guard down. Annie froze and pondered for a moment before questioning, ¡°Why are you asking for so many details? You sound like you¡¯re really interested in how Paul and I met. I think you should at least tell me why before I decide whether or not to tell you everything, don¡¯t you think, Ms. Harris?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because my younger sister went missing while working at a farm. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, and she was nowhere to be found. That¡¯s why I¡¯m curious as to where you worked and whether you¡¯ve met her.¡± ¡°Your sister? Do you have her photo?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± Gwendolyn opened a drawer on the right side of her desk, took out a photo of Evelyn when she was in the entertainment industry, and handed it to Annie. Thetter took the photo and stared at it closely. ¡°Your sister¡¯s so pretty, Ms. Harris. She looks like a timid little fairy.¡± Gwendolyn nodded solemnly. ¡°Yeah. She does look like a fairy.¡± An ill-fated fairy. Annie continued to eye the photo. Then, she remarked with a smile. ¡°This is so freaky! I think your sister and I look about thirty percent alike.¡± Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Do you not think so, Ms. Harris?¡± the former asked. ¡°No, I think you look at least sixty percent alike.¡± Annie¡¯s smile widened. ¡°What a coincidence! I remember you mentioning your sister thest time, Ms. Harris, but I never expected to look like her.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to hear such pointless talk and returned to the main topic. ¡°So, can you tell me which farm you worked at, Ms. Annie?¡± Annie tried to recall the past. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Harris. I really don¡¯t remember. I have a really poor sense of direction, and it¡¯s hard for me to recall the names of ces. I could visit the same ce five or six times and still not remember what it¡¯s called. But I can assure you that I¡¯ve never met your sister because if I ever came across someone who looked so much like me, I¡¯d definitely remember her. I¡¯d even ask to be friends.¡± Gwendolyn observed thedy¡¯s expression before responding, ¡°Very well. I won¡¯t bother you anymore, and I¡¯ll stop taking your projects with otherpanies. I¡¯ll also give back one of your projects as compensation.¡± Annie¡¯s eyes lit up in delight. ¡°Really, Ms. Harris? You¡¯ll return one of my contracts?¡± Gwendolyn nodded confidently. ¡°As long as you stay in Chanaea for a few more days. I don¡¯t go back on my word.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no problem at all. Thank you, Ms. Harris. Anyway, I¡¯m sure you have a lot of other work to take care of, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Just as Annie got up, something surfaced in her head, and she turned back to Gwendolyn. ¡°How many more days do you want me to stay for, Ms. Harris? Paul might worry if I¡¯m here too long, considering he¡¯s in Ospea now. I came to Chanaea on my own.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll only have to stay for at most five more days,¡± Gwendolyn replied understandingly. ¡°Come back to Harris Group tomorrow afternoon. There¡¯s somewhere I want to take you.¡± ¡°All right. No problem.¡± Having gotten back one of her projects and restored the goodwill between her and Gwendolyn, Annie walked out of the room looking especially thrilled, the cking of her heels sounding much livelier. Gwendolyn maintained a polite smile while watching the youngdy leave through the ss door. Then, her expression turned frosty the moment Annie had disappearedpletely. What a wless conversation that was! I¡¯d vote her as Best Actress if all those expressions turned out to be fake. Gwendolyn pondered to herself. Evelyn didn¡¯t have anyone to rely on in the whole of Chanaca. She has no family or friends here-except for that one person. I¡¯ll take her to meet him tomorrow, and hopefully, some signs will start showing. Chapter 554 Game Chapter 554 Game After Gwendolyn roughly sorted out her thoughts, she quickly refocused and immersed herself in her work. The afternoon passed by in the blink of an eye. Twilight illuminated the sky outside and filtered in through the floor-to-ceiling window, casting its light on her beautiful profile. Ever since she was diagnosed with mania, she had been visiting Joshua¡¯s ce every night for an IV drip for a week. Her rm for leaving work half an hour early hadn¡¯t sounded yet, but her phone rang first. She nced at the screen and noticed it was a call from Jennifer. As soon as Gwendolyn answered the call, she asked, ¡°Did you run away from home again?¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t respond. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Sensing Jennifer¡¯s silence, Gwendolyn probed further, ¡°Or did you throw another tantrum? Where are you? Do you need toe out for a bit and have a chat?¡± Jennifer replied, ¡°No. I¡¯ve been good these past few days. I¡¯m just a little bored studying at home. I just finished memorizing the information and wanted to y a game with you. Are you free?¡± Gwendolyn thought. Oh. She wants to y that Honor of Kings game. She quite liked that game and had grown addicted to it because of Jennifer¡¯s influence. ¡°I was just about to finish up work. A round of that game doesn¡¯t take long. The time should be just right for me to get off work after a few rounds. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two opened the voice chat in the game and started to y while conversing. Initially, Gwendolyn nned to y only two or three rounds, but for some reason, her luck wasn¡¯t good that day as all her teammates were newbies. After losing three rounds in a row, the two became determined to win a game before logging off. Eventually, it turned into a cycle of not giving up after a loss and wanting to y again after a win. While gaming, Gwendolyn had her phone set to esports mode, automatically rejecting all calls and message notifications. Meanwhile, Cedrick waited anxiously at home. He had dialed Gwendolyn¡¯s number over ten times without getting through. The twilight gradually faded as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the sky swiftly turned dark Gwendolyn sat in her office chair and was absorbed in ying the game without switching on the lights. After some time, a click abruptly sounded as the lights inside her office were turned on. Cedrick stood at the doorway, staring at her with a grimace Hearing the noise. Gwendolyn looked up. ¡°Hubby, why did youe here? I¡¯m working overtime.¡± ¡°Working overtime?¡± He hastened over and pointed at her phone screen, which was disying a game interface. ¡°So, this is the overtime you¡¯re doing at thepany instead ofing home.¡± Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t finished the round of games she was ying. She gazed at Cedrick cheerily while buying equipment in the game, exining unabashedly, ¡°That¡¯s right I¡¯m personally experiencing the project I n to invest in next. I need to understand it in depth to make more informed investment decisions. Don¡¯t you agree, Hubby?¡± Cedrick walked behind her and looked at the game interface. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of investing in the exports industry?¡± ¡°I think esports is quite interesting. We live in the inte age, so esports might be the future trend. I want to invest money to create a club, build a team, or something to that effect.¡± Cedrick had never interfered in Gwendolyn¡¯s career. She was never content being a pampered wife to a wealthy man. She had her own ambitions, and he would support whatever she wanted to do. At that thought, Cedrick wasn¡¯t so upset anymore, assuming Gwendolyn was just testing out a product before investing. He stood behind her, bent down to wrap his arms around her waist, and rested his chinzily on her shoulder while watching her y the mobile game. As the in-game victory announcement rang out, Treyton arrived home on Jennifer¡¯s end. The two girls said their goodbyes and hung up. Gwendolyn turned to Cedrick and inquired about his view after he observed the gamey, ¡°What do you think? Isn¡¯t it interesting?¡± Cedrick buried his face into the nook of her neck and took a deep breath. ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s fascinating.¡± However, it was unclear whether he was referring to the game or her body fragrance. ¡°Let¡¯s go home and have our dinner, Gwenny¡± Gwendolyn nodded, allowing him to carry her in his arms and leave the office. After dinner, Gwendolyn also invited Cedrick to y Honor of Kings The couple teamed up for a few fun rounds of the game. Men usually had a stronger desire to win in games than women, and Cedrick was no exception. Once invested in the game, he was determined to keep ying until he won. The two yed more than ten rounds together. At around eleven o¡¯clock at night, they finally stopped ying and went upstairs to check on Benedict and Zendaya, who were sound asleep, before heading down to the basement to sleep. As per their usual routine, Cedrick would hold Gwendolyn and refrain from falling into a deep sleep, silently waiting for her to drift off first. However, this time, after days of working during the day and apanying her to fight at night, he unknowingly dozed off alongside her. They slept until the next morning. Cedrick was awakened by his subconscious. He immediately checked the time, realizing it was already half past nine in the morning. That meant Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t suffered a rpse all night. Cedrick was thrilled, looking at Gwendolyn, who was still sound asleep. This is such great news! He rolled over to pin her beneath him, showering her with kisses. She was abruptly roused from her slumber by his kisses. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Darling, Joshua¡¯s medication is working. You didn¡¯t have an episodest night.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Gwendolyn was equally surprised and delighted. That was the first time she had slept through the night since her diagnosis. It had been a long while since she had gotten such quality and sufficient rest as an average person should. She wrapped her arms around Cedrick¡¯s waist, feeling grateful for his thoughtfulness andmitment throughout that period. ¡°Hubby, does that mean my condition is improving?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Congrattions, Darling.¡± He cupped her face and kissed her lips passionately. After the fervent kiss, Gwendolyn spoke in a coy voice. ¡°Does that mean I can wear the dresses and costumes we bought at Astoria?¡° Cedrick fell silent: Although he really wanted to see her in those outfits, he had to restrain himself. Her condition had just improved, and vigorous activities might possibly aggravate her illness, so he figured it would be best for them to practice caution. Gwendolyn snorted gloomily after her suggestion for them to get intimate was rejected. She got up and went back to the bedroom to freshen up and apply her makeup. Despite feeling a little annoyed, she knew Cedrick had her best interest at heart. After the two had their breakfast, they held hands and headed for the Jenson residence¡¯s garage. Initially, he nned to send her to Harris Group, but she turned down his offer. ¡°I have other things to do today and will have to leave Harris Group for a while in the afternoon, so it will be more convenient for me to drive myself.¡± Knowing it was about work, Cedrick didn¡¯t ask further. They parted in the garage, each driving a luxury car, and departed from the Jenson residence. In the afternoon, Annie reached Harris Group on the dot. Gwendolyn stopped typing on her keyboard. ¡°You arrived just in time, Ms. Annie. Come with me. There¡¯s a ce I want to take you to.¡± She stood up and picked up her designer bag from the side as she spoke. Annie asked. ¡°Where are you bringing me. Ms. Harris?¡± Without borating, Gwendolyn answered casually. ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there.¡± The two entered the elevator one after the other and went down to the garage. Gwendolyn drove while Annie sat in the passenger seat. Half an hourter, they arrived at the Harris residence on Mount Tranquil. Annie gazed out the car window, marveling at the beautiful hillside vi along the winding mountain road. ¡°Where is this ce? This mountain is breathtaking. I¡¯ve never been here before.¡± Without taking her eyes off the road, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Do you like this ce, Ms. Annie?¡± Annie riveted her eyes on the edifice on the hilltop. That was the old vi Marcus previously stayed in. ¡°Yes. I like it very much.¡± Chapter 555 The Visit Chapter 555 The Visit After giving it a quick nce, Annie retracted her gaze and returned it to the passing scenery. While driving. Gwendolyn exined, ¡°This ce is called Mount Tranquil. Its name was given by my mother after my family bought the entire mountain. Every vi here belongs to a member of the Harris family.¡± Annie was surprised to hear about it. ¡°Ms. Harris, to be capable of buying up this entire area, I expected no less of the richest family in Chanaea. The development on the mountain looks spectacr, and it feels just like paradise. I¡¯m sure you must be happy living here.¡± Sidestepping thement, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Other than the Harris family, the Jenson family¡¯s residence is equally impressive. It is built on a vast in and filled with pavilions and beautiful landscaping. Walking around it will make you feel as if you¡¯re in an ancient pce.¡± ¡°That sounds really interesting. I do hope to visit it when the opportunity arises.¡± Annie put on an innocent look as she broke into an adorable smile. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Nheless, Gwendolyn could sense that she was a lot more curious about the Harris family than the Jenson family. As the luxury sedan drove to the top of the mountain, it stopped at Asher¡¯s smaller vi instead of Marcus¡¯ older residence. Prior to her arrival, Gwendolyn had given Sienna a call to make sure that both she and Asher were at home. Given that Sienna was informed ahead of time, she had gone shopping for seafood in the morning, hoping to prepare a seafood feast for dinner. This would provide Gwendolyn and Asher an opportunity to talk and hopefully thrash their problems out. Upon learning that Gwendolyn wasing, Asher made an effort to receive her at the door together with Sienna. However, when they saw two figures walking into the courtyard, they quickly realized that one of them was a stranger instead of Cedrick. Sienna and Asher exchanged nces, clueless as to what Gwendolyn was up to. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn and Annie walked right up to the vi¡¯s door. Upon approaching Asher and Sienna, Gwendolyn introduced them to Annie. ¡°This is the eldest son of the Harris family, and beside him is my sister-inw.¡± After the concise introduction, Gwendolyn exined to Sienna, ¡°She¡¯s Antea Group¡¯s business director and visiting Chanaca. I¡¯m just showing her around for the next few days.¡± Once the introduction was over, a gloomy expression descended upon Asher¡¯s face given how distant and perfunctory it was. Sneaking a nce at Asher¡¯s reaction, Sienna nodded repeatedly before replying with a smile, ¡°A friend of yours, is a friend of ours, Gwen. Don¡¯t just stand there. Come in and have a seat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Gwendolyn headed in together with Sienna, leaving Asher and Annie behind. During his self-imposed punishment in the ancestral hall, Asher had hurt his leg permanently, causing him to walk with a slight hobble. In an indifferent tone, he invited, ¡°This way please, Ms. Annie.¡± Annie shed a cordial smile. ¡°After you.¡± In response to her politeness, Asher didn¡¯t say another word as he turned around and walked into the vi. While following closely behind him, Annie noticed his awkward gait. ¡°Mr. Asher, what happened to your leg?¡± Exuding an icy aura, Asher replied curtly in his raspy voice. ¡°It¡¯s an old issue of mine.¡± Annie expressed her concern out of courtesy. ¡°The more the reason to get it treated. Any dy would cause it to turn into arger problem down the road. Given what a handsome and exceptional man you are, Mr. Asher. It would be a waste if your future is impeded by your leg¡¯s condition. Asher didn¡¯t respond, for he no longer cared about his future. In fact, power and position were meaningless to him now. All he wanted to do now was spend his time repenting with the hope that one day. Gwendolyn would stop hating him and forgive him instead. As the conversation ended abruptly, neither of them said anything further as they entered the living room and took their seats on the couch. Sienna then went off to make coffee, leaving the Harris siblings and Annie in the living room. With her gaze falling upon Asher, Annie asked curiously, ¡°Mr. Asher, I heard that you¡¯re not only the best pilot in Chanaea but also someone who dominates the official and underworld circles. You¡¯re obviously a man who is a cut above the rest, but why does your voice sound different from the commercial I heard in the airport?¡± When Asher lowered his eyes in silence, Gwendolyn answered on his behalf. ¡°That¡¯s because I, head of the Harris family, punished him for his past transgressions. I¡¯ve ordered him to kneel all day in the ancestral hall, be whipped twenty times a day, and recite the Heagurn Sutra throughout the entire night.¡± Brows furrowed, Asher raise his gaze to give Gwendolyn a discreet look. Even though he didn¡¯t understand why she took on the responsibility of his self-imposed punishment, he knew that she must have her reasons for doing so. Consequently, he maintained his silence and had no intention of correcting her. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn¡¯s words stunned Annie. In her shock, she turned toward Asher, who was hanging his head in implicit acknowledgment. After that, she returned her attention to the ruthless-looking Gwendolyn, only to be filled with disbelief. ¡°This sounds frightening. What has he done to deserve such a severe punishment? Isn¡¯t Mr. Asher your elder brother? Why were you so heavy-handed with him as if he was your enemy?¡± Pursing her lips gently, Gwendolyn was about to reply when Sienna returned to the living room with coffee. Thetter proceeded to pour everyone a cup. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn seized upon the arrival of coffee to skip the topic. She subsequently offered a cup to Annie and warmly invited thetter to drink. ¡°Ms. Annie, please try my sister-inw¡¯s coffee. I think it will be a good match for your taste. Please feel free to have more.¡± Upon receiving the coffee cup, Annie gave it a gentle blow before taking a sip. ¡°Mmm, this is delicious. It tastes refreshing and isn¡¯t too heavy on the pte.¡± Gwendolyn took a sip herself. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it.¡± After a two-minute silence, Annie steered the conversation back to Asher. ¡°Is that why Mr. Asher walks with a slight limp? It¡¯s the kneeling that caused it, isn¡¯t it? Also, his hoarse voice must be the result of him reciting the scriptures.¡± Asher snuck a nce at Gwendolyn. Although he had no clue why she was sharing such family matters with an outsider, he answered, ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Annie was visibly shocked to hear it. ¡°I understand that this is a private matter, but I¡¯m curious to know if such strict disciplinary measures aremon in the Harris family?¡± As Gwendolyn raised her cup to take another sip, she replied calmly, ¡°To be honest, members of the Harris family arergely easygoing. The severe punishment only applies to Asher.¡± Blown away by Gwendolyn¡¯s words, Asher and Sienna stared nkly at her. Even Annie tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Asher someone extraordinary? Why is he being singled out ¡°The reason is a private matter of the Harris family which I¡¯m not at liberty to share. ¡°All right, then. I guess I overstepped my boundaries.¡± Annie stopped probing as she lowered her head in contemtion. Cognizant of the expression on Annie¡¯s face, Gwendolyn continued warmly, ¡°Ms. Annie, which hotel are you staying in? Do you find itfortable! If you prefer staying at Mount Tranquil, I can arrange for you to stay here for the rest of your trip.¡± Chapter 556 Fully Investing In The Gaming Club Chapter 556 Fully Investing In The Gaming Club Asher and Sienna were both caught off guard. Nheless, Gwendolyn was the head of the family, and it was her prerogative to ce her friend with them for a day or two. As the decision nowy in Annie¡¯s hands, the three of them shifted their gazes in her direction. In response to the attention, Annie broke into an innocent smile, while her face brimmed with anticipation. ¡°That¡¯s a wonderful idea. In that case, I hope I¡¯m not imposing, Mr. Asher, Mrs. Harris.¡± Throughout the exchange, Asher barely spoke a word. He became a lot more reserved ever since he recited the Heagurn Sutra for endless nights. The explosive temper of old was nowhere to be seen. Sienna responded with a polite smile. ¡°Since you¡¯re a friend of Gwen¡¯s, we¡¯ll definitely do our best to amodate you. Which hotel are you staying in? I¡¯ll have the bodyguard pick your luggage up.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Harris.¡± Annie shifted herself closer to Sienna and held thetter¡¯s hand affectionately. ¡°I don¡¯t have an elder brother or sister, but you have treated me like family. It feels as if you¡¯re my actual sister-inw.¡± With her hand held by Annie, Sienna eked out an awkward smile. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. If there¡¯s anything you need during your time here, feel free to let me know.¡± ¡°Sure. Thank you, Mrs. Harris.¡± Gwendolyn sipped her coffee as she quietly observed Annie trying to get into Sienna¡¯s good graces. With her mind focused on Annie, she barely registered the taste of coffee at all. While Annie was upied by her conversation with Sienna, Gwendolyn used the opportunity to talk to Asher. ¡°Over the next few days, your punishment will be brought forward to the afternoon. You can skip the whipping for the time being. Instead, just kneel at the ancestral hall and recite the scripture. It¡¯s a good form of character building anyway.¡± Asher was stunned by Gwendolyn¡¯s words, for she had ordered him to stop his self-imposed punishment a long time ago. Why is she asking me to continue with my punishment now? Unable toprehend what was going through Gwendolyn¡¯s mind, Asher could feel his heart break from the former¡¯s icy words and distant attitude. ¡°All right. I got it.¡± Gwendolyn subsequently nced at the time. ¡°It¡¯s already the afternoon. Shouldn¡¯t you head to the ancestral hall for your punishment already?¡± Asher was jolted to his feet before leaving the vi without looking back. He headed to the Harris family¡¯s ancestral hall which was located inside Marcus¡¯ old vi. Upon noticing that Asher was going out, Annie attempted to stand up to follow him. ¡°Where is Mr. Asher going?¡± Gwendolyn replied tly, ¡°To be punished. It¡¯s a family matter, there¡¯s no need for you toe along. Just stay and chat with Sienna. Anyway, I¡¯ll go and have a look.¡± Then, she left the vi the moment she finished talking. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn emerged from the vi and pulled Leif to a quiet corner to talk. All this while, thetter had been watching over Marcus¡¯ old vi ¡°What can I do for you, Ms. Gwendolyn?¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. With her eyes looking in the direction of the ancestral hall, she calmly instructed, ¡°Leif, I¡¯ll have to trouble you to keep an eye on the ancestral hall for the next few days. Keep watch outside whenever Asher is reciting his scripture. If anyone other than Siennaes over, call me immediately and report everything you see in detail.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Gwendolyn. Don¡¯t worry. You can count on me.¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm.¡± Gwendolyn reminded him, ¡°Remember to be discreet and not let anyone notice.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Once her orders were issued, Gwendolyn turned and left. As she passed by the ancestral hall, she made it a point to stop. Outside, she could clearly hear Asher reciting his scripture in a hoarse voice. Aplex yet inexplicable sensation subsequently welled up within her. After quietly listening to his recitation, she turned around and left. When Gwendolyn brought Annie over, she was observing thetter¡¯s expression the entire time. Even though she didn¡¯t manage to pick anything up initially, the clues were obvious after giving it more thought. Annie appeared to be particrly focused on Asher. Although she did disy some warmth toward Sienna, it paled inparison to the concern she had for Asher. Also, why did she mention that Sienna was like her sister-inw instead of her sister? Nevertheless, Gwendolyn was just specting for the time being. If she¡¯s really Evelyn, she would definitely do something now that she¡¯s here at Mount Tranquil. I hope Annie isn¡¯t going to disappoint me in the next few days. With that thought in mind. Gwendolyn drove away from Mount Tranquil. Since it was still early, she decided to return to Harris Group. Recently, Harris Group managed to expand overseas due to its partnership with Dovil Group. Their share price and profit also increased ordingly. At the same time, Harris Group¡¯s reputation overseas grew in tandem with its expansion. Fully Investing In The Gaming Club On top of that, Gwendolyn was interested in investing in the domestic e-sports industry. Thus, she nned to visit all the different teams in the afternoon. When she recalled Jennifer being stressed out by her evaluation, she figured thetter would jump at the opportunity to take a break. With that thought in mind, she gave Jennifer a call and requested thetter¡¯spany as she visited the various e-sport venues. The invitation caused Jennifer to jump for joy. Without any hesitation, she ordered the bodyguard stationed at the door by Treyton to drive her to the address Gwendolyn had sent. By the time she arrived hurriedly at the e-sports club, Gwendolyn was already waiting at the entrance. ¡°You¡¯re finally here. Come, let¡¯s go and see how good these professional gamers are.¡± Filled with anticipation, Jennifer took in her surroundings like a curious baby. Within the e-sports industry, those in their twenties were considered old. Hence, the venue was filled with youngsters who were around eighteen to neen, the peak of their youth. While Gwendolyn and Jennifer were looking around, the club¡¯s professional gamers were ying against another team as part of their training. It provided thedies with the perfect opportunity to watch the team in action. The team consequently yed well, winning eight out of the ten training rounds. After enjoying the spectacle, Gwendolyn went to speak with the team¡¯s founder alone. ¡°As you can see, Ms. Harris, our newly-formed team is currently made out of newbies. That said, they are. the cream of the crop among the nation¡¯s gamers. However, our club is currently short of funds, while our yers arecking in exposure. If you¡¯re willing to invest in us, we will definitely not disappoint you. In fact, our target this year is to be the global champion.¡± As Gwendolyn had plenty of funds to spare, what mattered to her was the club¡¯s culture. Fortunately, what she witnessed that day left a good impression on her. Even during training, the team would encourage each other in defeat and share their joy in victory. evidence of a positive environment. Subsequently, Gwendolyn offered some suggestions for the team¡¯s diet, amodation, and training schedule. Just before she signed the investment agreement, there was one more thing she had to do. She proceeded to call Jennifer-who was in the midst of getting some pointers from the professional gamers-into the room. ¡°Jennifer, since you¡¯re into this genre of games, do you think you can handle the job of managing the team?¡± The suggestion came as a pleasant surprise to Jennifer. Fully Investing In The Gaming Club ¡°Did I hear it right? Are you offering me a job, Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn gave her head a tousle. ¡°You can put it that way. Since she¡¯s bored stiff memorizing information in the vi, a job would do her some good. Given how much Jennifer loved the club, she agreed without thinking. ¡°I would love to give the role a try. I¡¯ll definitely do my best as team manager.¡± Gwendolyn added, ¡°Don¡¯t get carried away yet. Your course remains your ultimate objective, so you should work hard to finish it. As for managing the e-sports team, it will be your job from the afternoon till the evening. During the day, you can continue studying for your postgrad and after work, get additional tuition from Treyton. Do you think you can cope with such an intense schedule?¡± Chapter 557 A Pragmatist Tries Romance Chapter557APragmatistTriesRomance Jennifer lowered her head and mulled over the issues that Gwendolyn had raised. Indeed, it sounded like a colossal challenge. Having gotten used to her rxed lifestyle, she expected to face some difficulties in limatizing to a more hectic schedule, Still, Jennifer loved Honor of Kings and always felt excitement coursing through her veins when she watched professional gamers ying it. That was why she would dly take on the role. I¡¯ll take it slower in my graduate studies. If I can¡¯t make it this year, there¡¯s always next year. After thinking things through, Jennifer replied determinedly, ¡°I¡¯d like to give it a shot, Gwendolyn. I¡¯ll try my best to aplish everything you¡¯veid out.¡± ¡°All right. I trust you.¡± Gwendolyn gently patted her face before suggesting, ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay here and familiarize yourself with the surroundings? I need to discuss the investment agreement with some founders of the club. And don¡¯t worry about Treyton; I¡¯ll talk to him on your behalf.¡± Jennifer smiled and said, ¡°Thank you, Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Meanwhile, after spending some time at Mossey Corporation¡¯s offices in Faike, Kieran had be apetent worker across all tasks which Inez had assigned to him. While he was a medical genius, his intelligence spanned further than the bounds of his field. Lack of interest had held him back from trying new things. If he had decided to go into business, he could have joined the ranks of the industry¡¯s most talented CEOS. Out of habit, Inez often nced at Kieran while he was engrossed in his work. Having such eye candy nearby certainly lifted her mood. During one of Inez¡¯s ogling sessions, Kieran¡¯s furious typing abruptly stopped as hepleted yet another document efficiently. He turned to Inez, who hastily averted her gaze and pretended to be staring at herputer. Kieran, blissfully unaware of her staring, asked seriously, ¡°May I get off work earlier today, Ms. Mossey? I have some personal matters to attend to.¡± Inez replied, ¡°Have youpleted all the work I¡¯ve assigned to you today?¡± He nodded in affirmation. ¡°I¡¯ve e¨Cmailed everything to you for ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Inez lowered hershes, feeling rather crestfallen.your review.¡± It appeared that her presence was not included in his request to get off work early. These days, they maintained the professional rtionship between a boss and her secretary at work. Only after working hours did they address the other facet of their rtionship¨Ca couple who was engaged. While there was nothing she could do about their forced engagement, it did not mean that Inez had forgiven him. He swore he would woo me for an entire year and not a day less. If those are nothing but empty promises, then Kieran¡¯s not a decent man. That¡¯s how I can test the sincerity of his feelings toward me. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not notice Kieran approaching her desk. Inez quickly snapped out of her musings and feigned nonchnce. ¡°Why are you in a rush to get off work today, Mr. Kieran? Where are you going?¡± Instead of answering her question, he rounded her desk and stopped when he was directly in front of her. Then, he leaned closer to her and caged her in with the help of her armrests, which brought his face within inches of hers. Their proximity caused Inez¡¯s heart to skip a beat. She clung to her nerves and demanded, ¡°What are you doing? Who taught you to ignore your boss¡® question?¡± Kieran smirked and asked, ¡°Are you asking me about my after¨Cwork activities as a boss or a fianc¨¦e, Ms. Mossey?¡± Though his tone sounded as cold as ever, his expression took on a sexier, more amorous edge. Kieran was still studying romance movies diligently and almost knew their content like the back of his hand. His work paid off. Inez could see a marked improvement in his flirting skills. She blinked nervously but met his gaze head¨Con. ¡°Does it make a difference whether I¡¯m asking as a boss or your fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Kieran recalled the pickup lines he had seen in the movies, and his smirk widened. He drawled, ¡°If you¡¯re asking as a boss, I would tell you that my after¨Cwork activities are private matters, which are none of your business. However, as a fianc¨¦e, you have every right to know my personal schedule, and I will absolutely tell you everything I¡¯m up to, down to the minute.¡± ¡°That¡¯s some lip you¡¯ve got on you. Where are you learning these lines from? You¡¯re getting more brazen.¡± Despite her grumbling, her expression implied otherwise. Kieran ignored her words and repeated his question. ¡°So, is Ms. Mossey or Inez asking about my schedule?¡± Inez responded sternly, ¡°We¡¯re in the office now. Before you officially get off work, you¡¯re still my secretary, so I¡¯m asking you as a boss. On that note, shouldn¡¯t employees be obliged to answer their bosses truthfully?¡± Kieran¡¯s brows creased briefly with disappointment. He straightened up and said in an equally serious tone, ¡°I disagree. Anything outside of work qualifies as private matters. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate to inform you about them, Ms. Mossey.¡± As Inez struggled to muster a response, she looked up and noticed Kieran headed for the office door. ¡°Stay there.¡± Kieran obediently stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. Despite their engagement, Inez had never called him anything but ¡°Mr. Kieran,¡± even on their dates, which felt distant to him. Inez continued, ¡°Those are your private matters, but you¡¯re asking to end work early to attend to them. You should at least give your boss a general idea of what you¡¯re doing.¡± He replied vaguely, ¡°I¡¯m going on a date with a woman.¡± With a woman? He didn¡¯t say it was with me. Who is he seeing? Displeasure and other confusing emotions filled Inez¡¯s heart. She muttered, ¡°Who are you dating?¡± Kieran remained silent. His broad back gave off a frosty air. ¡°You know what to do if you want to know my schedule.¡± Desire and pride warred in Inez¡¯s mind. Eventually, she conceded and said, ¡°Fine. I¡¯m asking you as your fianc¨¦e, Mr. Kieran. Which finedy are you dating today after requesting an early time off?¡± Satisfied with her response, Kieran turned and walked toward Inez, caging her in as before. ¡°Not just a finedy; she¡¯s nothing short of a goddess. My date is my fianc¨¦e. It¡¯s your birthday today. Did you forget?¡± Inez was stunned. She did not like celebrating birthdays and had indeed forgotten about her birthday. ¡°How do you know my birthday? Did my mom tell you?¡± Kieran admitted openly, ¡°Mrs. Mossey adores me and is trying her best to marry us off. Plus, back when you were pursuing me, you used to memorize my birthday and phone number, so it¡¯s my turn to do the same.¡± Inez¡¯s heart fluttered. It was impossible to resist Kieran¡¯s impable looks and flirtatious behavior. While she remained silent, Kieran took the initiative to switch off herputer. ¡°I¡¯ve told Mrs. Mossey about our ns today. We¡¯re not joining them for dinner or going home tonight.¡± He held her hand and continued, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Inez. We still have two hours till work officially ends. Just enough time to catch a movie.¡± Inez allowed him to lead her to her feet. She only remembered one thing he had mentioned earlier. ¡°What do you mean we¡¯re not going home tonight?¡± He packed her bags quietly and did not reply. Flustered, Inez stammered, ¡°Y¨CYou can¡¯t be thinking of bringing me to s¨Csome h¨Chotel, right?¡± To her horror, Kieran did not refute her suspicions and said, ¡°We¡¯re all adults here and are engaged. Doesn¡¯t dating at our age entail dates, meals, and sleeping together? What other agenda can there be?¡± Inez was rendered speechless. After hearing those words, anyone else would havebeled Kieran a pervert if they did not know his personality any better. No amount of romance movies could disce the pragmatic soul that resided within him. Chapter 558 Likes To Be In The Present Chapter558LikesToBeInThePresent Inez was displeased, so she turned down his invitation. ¡°No. You¡¯re done with your work, but I¡¯m not. I won¡¯t be going.¡± Kieran was frozen to the spot. Is she hinting that I did not help her with her work? He walked back. ¡°What is so urgent? I can help you with it. This is the first time I celebrate your birthday with you. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to go?¡± Inez looked down. ¡°I have had twenty over birthdays till now, and birthdayse every year. It¡¯s no big deal.¡± Kieran became bold and held her hand. ¡°This is different. This is the first time I celebrate your birthday with you. Inez said nothing. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Going on a date, a movie, having dinner, and going to a hotel¡­ In truth, she was very excited but continued to stay silent. Kieran continued, ¡°Before going out today, your mother told me that she will lock the vi from the inside. Even if you want to go back, you can¡¯t. You have toe with me.¡± What? Is she really my biological mother? How can she betray her own daughter like this? Kieran seemed to sense her displeasure, so he helped to exin, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Inez. Your mother does it because she loves you. I¡¯m your fianc¨¦. With me by your side, she will feel at ease.¡± Inez was moved. ¡°What kind of movie will we be watching?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we pick a romantic movie with good reviews?¡± Inez nodded to herself. There are some improvements after all. At least, he didn¡¯t suggest a horror, sci¨C fi, or detective movie. Since she was the CEO of Mossey Corporation, no one would dare to pass anyment if she wanted to take a few hours off work. The two of them soon left Mossey Corporation and drove to the cinema. They bought popcorn and soft drinks and began their date. For the rest of the afternoon, Gwendolyn was busy nning the new e¨Csports investment. When it was time to go off work, her phone rang. It was not Cedrick who was rushing her to go home. Instead, it was Charles calling. Gwendolyn answered her phone with suspicion. Charles seemed to be in high spirits. ¡°Gwen, before you returned home, you said you wanted to give me a treat? It has been some time since you returned. When shall we meet? Have you forgotten all about it?¡± His words rendered Gwendolyn speechless. All the while, she was busy managing her mania at night while dealing with the business of Harris Group and figuring out Annie¡¯s identity during the day. She had truly forgotten about it. Hearing no reply from her, Charles came up with a reason for her. ¡°I know you are an ambitious person and won¡¯t stop even though you are the richest person in Chanaea. You¡¯re busy. That¡¯s fine if you have forgotten about it. Shall we meet up if you are free tonight?¡± ¡°Fine. Let me give Cedrick a call and discuss with him the venue. I will call you back in half an hour¡¯s time.¡± Since Gwendolyn had given her word in exchange for Charles¡® care of the children, Cedrick did not refuse. Instead, he helped to choose a restaurant. Thirty minutester, the appointment for dinner was set. In order not to let Charles be the odd one out, Gwendolyn invited Jennifer as well. Siblings and spouses. Right! At least, there is a bnce between the number of males and females. Both men rushed to the restaurant on their own while Gwendolyn and Jennifer arrivedte. By the time thedies arrived, both Cedrick and Charles had already waited for quite a while at the restaurant entrance. The tall, well¨Cbuilt, and good¨Clooking men looked like some kind of dignified lords standing outside the restaurant. One look and one could not move their eyes away. The moment Gwendolyn appeared, Charles¡® eyes had not left her face. In fact, he made his way to her faster than Cedrick. ¡°Gwen, you must have been very busy today. Are you tired?¡± Gwendolyn took a look at Cedrick¡¯s darkened face before answering, ¡°I¡¯m fine. There was an investment agreement that I had to deal with beforeing here. As for Jennifer, she will face a lot of new challenges in the future now that she has a new job.¡± As she was talking, she made her way to Cedrick with Jennifer in tow. Jennifer was conscious enough to take a step back and stood together with Charles. Cedrick grabbed hold of his wife¡¯s hand and teased, ¡°Mr. Newton, why aren¡¯t you wearing the watch that I have gifted you? Do you not like my present?¡± Charles looked at the watch that had slight marks. ¡°Mr. Jenson, your gift is too precious to be knocked about, so I keep it at home. As for this watch¡­¡± He touched the marks on the watch before continuing, In the past, I had mysophobia. I thought I would never like things that have been used. But now, I realize that I am a sentimental person. I just haven¡¯t met the right person who can make me change.¡± Cedrick frowned and looked unhappy. Others might not understand, but he felt that there was another meaning behind Charles¡® words. The atmosphere at the entrance became odd because of Cedrick¡¯s gloomy aura. In the end, it was Gwendolyn who lightened up the situation. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s not stand here anymore. Both Jennifer and I are famished after working for the entire afternoon. Let¡¯s go in and order some food.¡± The four of them soon went into the private room. Naturally, Gwendolyn was seated next to Cedrick while Charles and Jennifer sat together. It was an upmarket grilled meat restaurant, and the waiter brought out a fine selection of meats and vegetables. Just as the waiter was about to help them grill the meats, Cedrick took over the utensil. ¡°You may leave. I will do it.¡± Cedrick was sure that his grilling skill was far better than the waiter¡¯s. While he was grilling the meats, Charles began chatting with Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwen, I remember that you used to like grilled meats. I didn¡¯t expect that you still like the same thing. When we were young, I used to take you for horse racing. When we got hungry, we would stop and cook in the wild. You used to love my grilledmb.¡± Gwendolyn stole a nce at Cedrick before she was about to respond. However, before she could say anything, Cedrick interfered. ¡°Mr. Newton, no matter how delicious your grilledmb used to be, that was in the past. Gwenny doesn¡¯t like to revisit the past. She prefers to be in the present and looks ahead. For example, she loves the food that I cook. Mr. Newton, what do you think?¡± There was a hint of bitterness in Charles¡® blue eyes. He looked down and did not respond. Gwendolyn was very happy with what Cedrick had said. ¡°After all, I am the one who taught Ceddy how to cook. That¡¯s why it¡¯s very meaningful.¡± Charles looked at the lovey¨Cdovey couple before downing his drink in one go. He then said with a smile, ¡°Gwen has chosen you, Mr. Jenson. I wish Gwen nothing but happiness. Mr. Jenson, you must take good care of her. However, if therees a day when you cannot protect her, as the godfather of Benny and Zendy, I will always stand behind the three of you and give my utmost protection.¡± At that moment, Cedrick was holding onto the grilling utensil. When he heard Charles¡® words, he paused in his cooking. Chapter 559 Unforgettable First Date Chapter559UnforgettableFirst Date He lifted his head to direct an icy gaze in Charles¡® direction. Without hesitation, he retorted, ¡°You¡¯re overestimating yourself. If I can¡¯t protect Gwendolyn and the children, why do you think you can do a better job than me?¡± After all, Cedrick had helped Charles ascend to the position of head of the Newton family. Charles was upied with developing Newton Group and would still need to rely heavily on the support and assistance of Gwendolyn and Cedrick in the future. In contrast, Charles paled in comparison to Cedrick¡¯s power and influence. With a mere flick of his finger, Cedrick could¨Ccause¨Can earthquake in Chanaea with his deep¨Crooted influence, and Charles couldn¡¯t hold a candle to him. Cedrick had tolerated Charles¡® snide remarks for a while, but there were moments when he couldn¡¯t hold back and would retort in response. This time, however, he had reached his breaking point and snapped. Charles was both Benedict and Zendaya¡¯s godfather, so Cedrick wouldn¡¯tbel him as a scheming person for now. Charles¡® face paled as he shed a self¨Cdeprecating smile. ¡°I¡¯ve indeed overestimated myself. With you around, Gwendolyn and the children will lead a blissful life.¡± That¡¯s more like it. Cedrick¡¯s displeased expression softened slightly. In an unusual move, he ced a piece of grilled meat onto Charles¡® te instead of offering it to Gwendolyn first. ¡°Eat up,and don¡¯tin that we don¡¯t treat you well. I hope the food will shut you up.¡± Hearing his direct remark, Charles felt slightly awkward but couldn¡¯t do anything else about it. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but suppress herughter at the rivalry between Cedrick and Charles. ¡°Not many people in Chanaea get the privilege of tasting Ceddy¡¯s grilled meat. It¡¯s quite a delicacy, so enjoy, Mr. Newton. He¡¯s an excellent grill master.¡± Charles smiled and nodded without a word. Gwendolyn turned to look at Jennifer and helped her to get food to her taste. Charles noticed she showed more attention to Jennifer than to him. Lowering his head, he stuffed the piece of grilled meat into his mouth and munched on it, finding it tasteless. At Faike, it was getting dark. After their sumptuous dinner, Inez and Kieran strolled along the street. Ever since they got engaged, they would go to work together during the day and return to the Mossey - residence for dinner at night. After dinner, they would retire to their respective rooms. They didn¡¯t have much time to date. In fact, Kieran hadn¡¯t even gotten to hold her hand yet. The upscale shopping area was rtively quiet, with few people around. The dim streetmps illuminated them, casting enchanting shadows that added a touch of warmth to the surroundings. Tamping down his anxiety, Kieran asked, ¡°Inez, we¡¯re on our first date tonight. Can I hold your hand?¡± Inez couldn¡¯t believe he would ask that question as they were already engaged. Nevertheless, she was deeply touched by his consideration and respect for her wishes. ¡°Sure,¡± she agreed. Upon getting her approval, Kieran mustered his courage and stretched his hand out to hold her tiny hand. Their warm palms gently met, and he interlocked his fingers with hers. It was a simple act of hand- holding that couples often engage in., As their hands entwined, a surge of warmth and electricity coursed through their bodies: Though it was a simple act of holding hands, both Inez and Kieran couldn¡¯t help but blush at the intimate sensation. Their palms felt incredibly sensitive while their bodies tensed up. They leisurely walked along the quiet street, savoring every step and cherishing the moments they shared. Sometimeter, Inez broke the silence. ¡°We¡¯ve watched a movie and had dinner together. Mr. Kieran, where are you bringing me next?¡± To the hotel so we can spend a night together, of course. As they walked, Kieran grew increasingly nervous. ¡°I picked a nice hotel today. We¡¯re almost there. I believe you¡¯ll like it.¡± Inez said nothing. He picked something nice? I don¡¯t think so. When she learned they were going to watch a romance movie tonight, she thought that Kieran had finallye around. To her surprise, it was a teenage movie. They had graduated from university a few years ago and were already working professionals, so Inez felt a sense of mismatch as they sat in the cinema watching the movie. After the movie ended, the atmosphere in the theater was rather somber, with the majority of the audience consisting of students who hade to watch the film. Inez didn¡¯t hold high hopes that he would have prepared any surprises, but she said nothing and allowed him to lead her along the street. Even the simple act of strolling brought immense happiness to her. She found more joy in continuing their leisurely walk than in heading to the hotel and discovering the potentially frightening surprise awaiting them there. As she let her mind wander off, they arrived at the hotel a few minutester. Inez raised her head, and the sight that greeted her made her speechless. Even though she had braced herself, she was still shocked. ¡°A love hotel? Are you serious, Mr. Kieran?¡± she blurted out. Kieran whirled around to gaze at her solemnly. ¡°We¡¯re already engaged. Isn¡¯t it normal to spend a night here?¡± No, of course not! Inez was about to lose her mind. We might be engaged, but this is technically our first date. No one would bring their date to a love hotel on the first date! I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s serious. Is he pretending to be serious, or is he really that clueless? Tamping down her embarrassment, Inez blushed and asked in a tiny voice, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me y¨Cyou selected an SM¨Cthemed room with a huge bed.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Kieran gave her a baffled look. ¡°What do you mean by that? I picked a room with an elegant name, so I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the theme you want. If you prefer that, I can ask the person in charge to change our room. ¡°No! I don¡¯t like that. Let¡¯s go in,¡± Inez urged hastily. Aware of the warmth spreading across her cheeks, she instinctively ced her hands on them, hoping to cool down the blush. Feeling shy, she hurried ahead of him and entered the hotel. After they checked¨Cin, Kieran took the card and held her hand, leading her into the elevator Their room number was 1314. Upon arrival at their room, Inez gulped nervously. Curiosity welled up within her as she wondered how the room would look. Kieran pressed the card against the lock, and two secondster, the door unlocked with two crisp beeps. He inserted the card into the holder, and as he did, the lights lit up. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. The room was adorned with elegant decor, featuring arge round bed at its center. Surrounding the bed were delicate red silk curtains, lending an air of intrigue and allure. Across from the bed stood a transparent crystal tub,plemented by provocative artwork adorning the walls. Inez couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of embarrassment wash over her as she took in the sight. I wonder who designed this transparent tub. It¡¯s so¡­ Anyway, I won¡¯t be using it. Her mind was clear, yet her heart raced with excitement, reminiscent of a young girl experiencing love for the first time. Kieran was no better. This was his first time nning such a romantic date, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. ¡°Uh, Inez, why don¡¯t you go take a shower? I¡¯ll take a shower after you. After that, we should sleep early.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Inez turned around and strode into the shower. Soon, she discovered a serious problem¨Cthe bathroom door didn¡¯t have a lock! She could only close it, but a gap remained, leaving her feeling insecure. Whether she needed to use the toilet or take a shower, theck of privacy made her uneasy. Moreover, the door was transparent, which meant anyone outside could see her inside. Despair crept up her heart. After fretting for a bit, she decided to be honest with Kieran. ¡°Mr. Kieran, there¡¯s no lock on the bathroom door. Please don¡¯te in while I¡¯m inside. Stay near the bed!¡± No lock? Kieran was also dumbfounded. What about me when I take a showerter? Both didn¡¯t have any dating experience and were na?ve. ¡°Inez, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯te over when you take a shower,¡± he promised. Soon, the sound of flowing water could be heard from the bathroom. Kieran¡¯s posture was rigid as he perched on the edge of the bed. He felt incredibly nervous, unsure of what to do with his hands. Thest time he hade close to getting to fourth base was when he had relied on the courage alcohol provided. This time, it was different as he waspletely sober. He recalled the dating strategies he had read online and pulled out a few things from his pocket, cing them on the bedside table. Staring at the box of condoms, he spaced out, his mind in a turmoil. A brief hesitationter, he decided to ask Inez¡¯s opinion. It wasn¡¯t suitable to disy the things now and risk scaring Inez. With that thought in mind, he reached out for the items. His hand was inches away from them when he heard a low gasp of despairing from the bathroom. Immediately, he grew wary. ¡°Inez, what¡¯s wrong? Did you fall down?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Inez sounded exasperated. What the f*ck is wrong with this hotel? I can¡¯t believe there is no towel or bathrobe in the bathroom! Chapter 560 Dense Man Chapter560DenseMan She took deep breaths before summoning her courage to speak. ¡°Mr. Kieran, can you help me find a towel?¡± Kieran sounded surprised. ¡°There aren¡¯t any towels in the bathroom?¡± ¡°No.¡± Okay, then Speechless, Kieran rose to his feet and made his way to the closet by the bed. He opened the closet to see hangers, disposable slippers, towels, bathrobes, and shower caps inside it. ¡°I found them. Do you want a towel or a bathrobe?¡± he asked. Inez thought about it and responded, ¡°I want both! I¡¯m freezing.¡± ¡°Okay. Do I bring them to you now?¡± ¡°No!¡± she eximed instinctively. But if he doesn¡¯t bring them to me, how can I step out of the bathroom? A brief struggleter, she tried to reason with Kieran. ¡°Mr. Kieran, can youe over with your back to me? Don¡¯t peek, and hand the towel and bathrobe to me from a distance.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Kieran obediently grabbed a towel and a bathrobe before walking in reverse to the bathroom. However, he¡¯d asionally peek to confirm he was going in the right direction. To his utter shock, the bathroom¡¯s walls were transparent, although partially obscured by the mist from the water vapor. Through the hazy veil, he caught a glimpse of Inez¡¯s curvaceous yet slender body and her fair skin. The blurry but sexy scene made his imagination run wild. The tips of his ears turned red, and Kieran could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. He found himself swallowing nervously, unable to hide his anxiety, Inez was also nervous. She stood unmoving in the bathroom. She certainly did not anticipate their first date to be this eventful. It turned out to be an unforgettable experience, etching itself in her memory. As Kieran¡¯s hands reached through the gap of the door, offering her the towel and bathrobe, Inez swiftly grabbed them from him. She quickly wrapped the towel around herself and put on the bathrobe, ensuring she was fully covered. This was their first date, and she didn¡¯t want Kieran to assume she was a loose woman Unlock seeded The moment she put on the bathrobe, she fell secure once agai Heaving a sigh of relief, she padded out of the bathroom, her hair still wet. ¡°Mr. Kieran, you can go take a shower now. Remember to take the bathrobe with you.¡± Without hesitation, Kieran strode back to the closet and grabbed an extrarge bathrobe before he entered the bathroom. Inez stood outside with her back to him as she dried her hair with the hairdryer. Only a transparent door that didn¡¯t have a lock stood between them. Kieran was extremely nervous inside as Inez could see his naked body in full view if she were to turn around. It was really embarrassing. He steeled himself and quickly took a five¨Cminute shower to clear his mind. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. After washing up, they both got into bed. The bed was pretty wide, so they slept on separate sides as though there was an invisible line between them. No one took the initiative to step across the boundary. Ding! Inez found it difficult to fall asleep, so the notification on her phone provided a wee distraction from the lingering awkwardness in her heart. When she reached for the nightstand, she came across something strange. Picking it up, she recognized that it was a box of condoms. Inez was rendered speechless. Did he intentionally ce those items there? Is he hinting that he wants to have ser? But why isn¡¯t he getting closert Does he expect me to take the initiative? He¡¯s the one who asked me out and booked this hotel room. Could he be expecting me to make the first move in this situation? Inez¡¯s mind came up with one hundred possibilities a few seconds after she spotted the box of condoms. Ding! Another notification sounded, pulling her out of her reverie. She gripped the box of condoms tightly and reached out for her phone again. Unlocking her phone, she proceeded to check the texts she had received from her mother. Madelyn: So? Which base are you at now? You should be at the hotel by now, right? Madelyn: My darling daughter, have you both done the deed? Reply to me once you read this! Rolling her eyes, Inez silently typed out a reply: No. Madelyn¡¯s reply soon arrived. Madelyn: What do you mean by ¡°no?¡± Did you not go to the hotel? Or did you not have sex? Seriously? You¡¯re both adults. Why do you keep making me worried? Mr. Kieran is shy and spends all his time doing his medical research. He has no experience at all, so you should take the initiative! Listen to me. It isn¡¯t embarrassing to make the first move! Inez was at a loss for words. If possible, she wanted to turn back time and pick another mother who wasn¡¯t Madelyn. While she was raging internally, Kieran¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Treyton. When the call connected, Treyton¡¯s eager voice rang out. ¡°How did it go, Kieran? Did you do everything I told you to do?¡± Kieran grunted in acknowledgment. Treyton seemed displeased. ¡°What was that grunt? Did you seed or not? You two are engaged, and you¡¯re not getting any younger. You should hurry up and get married! If you keep dying, things might fall apart!¡± Kieran suppressed his anger and remained silent for a moment before responding. ¡°Got it.¡± He then quickly ended the call. When he ced his phone back on the nightstand, he suddenly realized that he hadn¡¯t put the box of condoms back into his pocket. He fumbled around but couldn¡¯t find them. Did I sleep on the wrong side? I should¡¯ve slept on the other side. Did Inez see the things I left there? They remained with their backs turned to each other, both feeling tormented. After about five minutes, they each took a deep breath, gathering the courage to ask the questions that weighed on their minds. They turned around at the same time. ¡°Mr. Kieran.¡± ¡°Inez They called each other¡¯s names at the same time, their gazes locking in an awkward stare. Kieran said, ¡°You can go first.¡± Inez forced herself to keep smiling and brandished the box of condoms. ¡°Mr. Kieran, did you leave something on my nightstand?¡± Did she see it? He blinked continuously. ¡°Inez, don¡¯t take this wrongly. I didn¡¯t mean anything else when I bought them. If you don¡¯t want to do it, I won¡¯t force you.¡± Seeing his ming cheeks, Inez suddenly didn¡¯t feel that anxious anymore. She burst into giggles and waved the box teasingly. ¡°Oh? You didn¡¯t mean anything else? Then why did you buy one box of it?¡± Kieran didn¡¯t know what to answer. Do they sell this in single packets? Inez couldn¡¯t help but find his baffled expression adorable. She covered her lips and giggled, tossing the box back to him in a lighthearted manner. ¡°You asked me out for a date and reserved this hotel room. You can decide what to do tonight.¡± It was clear what she meant¨Cshe had agreed to have sex. However, Kieran was too nervous and embarrassed to read between the lines. He quickly grabbed the box and hid it away. Inez¡¯s smile disappeared and was reced by fury as she noticed his guilty expression and realized he had no intention of making the first move. Did he not get my hint? Why is he still this dense? Did he really ce the box of condoms on my nightstand so I can make the first move? The more she pondered over it, the more furious she got. In a fit of rage, she stuck her leg out to deliver a kick in his direction. They were too far away, and she failed to estimate the distance. As a result, her foot came into contact with his groin. With a grunt, Kieran recoiled abruptly, his hand instinctively covering the spot where she had kicked him. He stared at her in shock, taken aback by her sudden aggression. Inez pursed her lips, feeling utterly embarrassed. Chapter 561 Me As A Gift Chapter561MeAsAGift ¡°Are you trying to emascte your future husband ahead of time, Inez?¡± Huddled under the covers, Kieran stared at Inez innocently. Words cluded Inez. She pulled the covers over her face in utter mortification, hoping against hope that the ground would open up and swallow her whole. ¡°Would you believe me if I told you it was an ident?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Kieran nodded solemnly. ¡°I believe everything you say. Besides, if you had truly wanted to render me incapable of fathering a child, you wouldn¡¯t have kicked me so lightly just now.¡± He was exceedingly frank, but Inez was so embarrassed that she mightbust anytime. ¡°Sleep earlier, then. You¡¯ve still got to go to work tomorrow morning.¡± Turning over, she gave her back to him. She closed her eyes and feigned sleep, almost hugging the edge of the bed. Her entire body was stiff, and she still felt flustered. Kieran bore his eyes into the back of her head. As he recalled Treyton¡¯s advice, his heart started racing wildly. He tentatively reached out toward her to touch her fair and smooth back, nning on letting nature take its course. However, he withdrew his hand mid¨Cway. Verily, he could not bring himself to do such a thing while sober, for he was too shy. Feeling dejected, he sat up, only to inadvertently glimpse the marble dining table opposite the bed. On the table were a bottle of unopened red wine and two sses. On top of that, there were exquisite red candles that were unlit. He got to his feet and went over, swiftly uncorking the bottle of red wine. Upon hearing movements, Inez slowly sat up. ¡°What are you doing, Mr. Kieran?¡± When she asked that question, Kieran had already opened the bottle of red wine. Ignoring her, he poured himself a full ss and downed it resolutely. Undeniably, the saying that alcohol emboldened a timid person was true to a certain extent. He picked up the empty ss at the side and brandished it at Inez. ¡°Can you sleep, Inez? Would you like to have a drink with me?¡± ¡°No, thanks. You go ahead, Mr. Kieran.¡± Without standing on ceremony with her, Kieran guzzled four or five sses sessively. Soon, he had consumed half the bottle of red wine. Having drunk too fast and possessing low alcohol tolerance, he started growing dizzy, and his cheeks flushed bright red. Inez had gone to bed with the towel wrapped around her. While it was ufortable, it gave her a senseof security. Nevertheless, the bath towel knotted at her chest could neither conceal her delicate and sexy corbones nor her ivory white shoulders. Kieran gazed at her from afar. Under the influence of alcohol, his mouth became increasingly dry at the sight of her slender and alluring figure on the bed. Putting down the wine ss, he drank straight out of the bottle. Red wine dribbled out the corner of his mouth, running down his neck to stain the white bathrobe he wore. It added a sense of asceticism to him. At his frenzied drinking, Inez kindly urged, ¡°Red wine is intoxicating. It¡¯s best that you don¡¯t drink too much since your alcohol tolerance isn¡¯t that high, Mr. Kieran.¡± ¡°Alcohol tolerancees with practice. I¡¯ll get it after drinking a few more times,¡± Kieran countered. After he had finished the entire bottle of red wine, he stumbled toward the bed with his mind all and promptly slipped under the covers. Drawing from the liquid courage, he inched close to Inez and carefully hugged her arm from behind. ¡°Happy birthday, Inez. I hope I can keep youpany for every birthday you celebrate henceforth,¡± he murmured in her ear, his voice cool and husky. A wealth of warmth suffused Inez. She clutched the top of the covers nervously without saying anything. Meanwhile, Kieran continued, ¡°Tonight, I want to give you the greatest birthday present ever.¡± Oh? He even has a gift for me? Inez nced back over her shoulder. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ me.¡± After saying that in a seductive voice, Kieran leaned down and nted a kiss on her soft lips. Then, he added, ¡°I want to be your fianc¨¦ in body and mind.¡± His words struck a chord with Inez. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she unknowingly lost herself in his rare initiative. Although the red candles on the table remained unlit, the scent of love and desire permeated the room. In Harrick Vi in Salinsburgh, Cedrick did not sleep the entire night, secretly observing Gwendolyn¡¯sstate. Gwendolyn had not had a manic episode in two days, making it evident that Joshua¡¯s medicine was effective Nheless, he felt that he should still take her to theboratory for an intravenous infusion to consolidate the medicine¡¯s efficacy. For that reason, he did not dare sleep but waited silently. He nned to wait until she was sound asleep before furtively putting his n into action. However, never had he expected her to suffer from insomnia that night. Gwendolyn was distracted from the moment she stepped into the basement until she closed her eyes to sleep. She kept thinking about everything that happened with Annie in the morning. The events that had transpired when she personally drove thetter to the Harris residence on Mount Tranquil yed in her mind like a reel in slow motion. As she pondered upon it, the more she found Annie suspicious, especially because her attitude toward Asher seemed different. If it weren¡¯t because of Asher¡¯s looks and allure, then Annie was indeed too concerned about him. When I spoke about how I punished him with scripture studies on his knees and even gave him twenty whips, resulting in him losing his voice and contracting rheumatism, her expression showed obvious distress and indignance on his behalf. It was the first time I¡¯d ever seen a stranger being emphatic to such an extent. Is she overly kind, or does she harbor a different degree of affection toward him at the end of the day? But then, all this is just my conjecture. Without solid evidence or a confession from her, it doesn¡¯t count. As her mind was whirring, she distinctly sensed someone picking her up. At once, she opened her eyes. There were no windows in the basement, so it was pitch¨Cdark. Even with her eyes opened, she could not see anything. Thus, she could only ask aloud, ¡°What are you doing? And where are you taking me?¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Cedrick¡¯s back stiffened, and his arms awkwardly froze in mid¨Cair. ¡°You¡¯re still awake, Darling? I couldn¡¯t sleep either, so I wanted to do a few squats with you in my arms.¡± He gave that excuse without thinking, sounding absurd and hrious. ¡°Ouch! Take it easy, Darling.¡± In the darkness, Gwendolyn pinched his face unerringly. Aware of her own strength, she knew that it could not be all that painful. Of course, she could not bring herself to inflict much pain on him either and was merely putting on a show. ¡°Tell me the truth. What exactly were you nning to do?¡± ¡°You hadn¡¯t had a manic episode in the past two days. I think Joshua¡¯s medicine is effective, and you should continue taking the IV drip to consolidate its efficacy. So, I was nning to wait until you were asleep to carry you out secretly,¡± Cedrick admitted. Tsking, Gwendolyn precisely and mischievously flicked him on the forehead. ¡°What were you thinking? Don¡¯t tell me you got hit in the head by my belt some time ago? You could¡¯ve just told me about this trivial matter. Yet, you wanted to act arbitrarily?¡± Cedrick went silent. I merely saw that she was already asleep and couldn¡¯t bring myself to wake her! ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll go to theb and look for Prof. Mallory, I can¡¯t sleep anyway. It¡¯s good to have more intravenous infusions so I can be cured of my mania earlier.¡± Gwendolyn retracted her hand from his face. She groped around for the switch and turned on the lights. Subsequently, the two of them changed and left home hand in hand. In reality, it was extremely boring to receive an intravenous infusion while conscious. Amazement flooded Gwendolyn at Cedrick¡¯s ability to endure the lengthy time required for an intravenous infusion back when he kept watch by her sickbed. Two and a half hourster, they were both slightly drowsy. They left theboratory and climbed into the luxurious car, nning to head home. Unexpectedly, just after Cedrick had started the engine, Gwendolyn turned to him and queried. ¡°Are you tired, Ceddy?¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°I was rather sleepy when I watched you on the IV drip. But having left theb and had some cold wind hitting me in the face, my mind has cleared significantly. I¡¯m fine staying up for a night, so I¡¯m not really tired.¡± That being the case, Gwendolyn quickly made up her mind. ¡°Then, let¡¯s not go back to Harrick Vi. We¡¯ll return to Mount Tranquil and visit the Harris residence instead.¡± Chapter 562 Well Deserved Chapter562WellDeserved Cedrick didn¡¯t know what she had done at the Harris residence the day before. Hence, as he was driving toward Mount Tranquil, he asked, ¡°Why do you want to go back to Mount Tranquil all of a sudden?¡± After all, Treyton was staying in a vi elsewhere, and Kieran had already gone to Faike. Apart from the members of the branch families, Asher and Sienna were the only ones there. In response, Gwendolyn turned to look at the view outside the car and exined casually, ¡°I brought Annie to Mount Tranquil yesterday and told Asher to go back to reciting scriptures. Looking at the time now, I think he¡¯s still reciting. Since I can¡¯t sleep, I want to check on him.¡± Cedrick had been with her for a long time, so he understood what she meant by just listening to her brief exnation. ¡°Well, it¡¯s good to check things out. When ites to certain things, you¡¯ll need to see it for yourself to feelpletely at ease.¡± Gwendolyn said nothing in response and stared at the streetlights dazedly. Upon ncing at her. Cedrick asked concernedly, ¡°Gwenny, what if Annie isn¡¯t Evelyn? What are you going to do?¡± In a cold tone, Gwendolyn answered, ¡°Although I don¡¯t have evidence to back that up, I bet she and Paul were the masterminds behind the attack we faced on the way to the airport in Astoria. Hence, I still have a score to settle with her. Now that she¡¯s in Chanaea, my territory, I¡¯m not letting her leave so easily.¡± ¡°Annie is easy to deal with, but what about Paul? After all, he¡¯s a count in Ospea. Besides, Antea Group is well¨Cestablished. If you want to go up against him. Gwenny, you ought to be careful,¡± Cedrick advised. Obviously, Gwendolyn knew that as well. ¡°Let¡¯s just find out what¡¯s the deal with Annie first. If she really isn¡¯t Evelyn, I¡¯ll deal with her in a professional manner. Otherwise, I¡¯ll use the Harris family¡¯s rules to teach her a lesson.¡± Her tone grew solemn as she spoke, and she was staring at the brightly lit vi on top of Mount Tranquil. ¡°Now that she¡¯s on Mount Tranquil, she can forget about ever using Paul to make a comeback. Gwendolyn went to the Harris residence discreetly because she didn¡¯t want to startle the other members of the Harris family. Therefore, she told Cedrick to park the car somewhere halfway up the mountain, and they both continued the journey by foot. Around ten minutester, Gwendolyn and Cedrick arrived at Marcus¡® old vi and headed to the ancestral hall through the back door. As they approached the ancestral hall, they heard Asher¡¯s chanting. Due to his hoarse voice, Asher sounded terrible, and he seemed to be struggling. However, he was chanting slowly and calmly. Gwendolyn peeked through the window to observe the situation in the ancestral hall. At that moment, Asher was kneeling on the cold marble floor tiles instead of a cushion. With a stack of scriptures in front of him, he chanted in a proper manner with one in his hands. Although he had his back straightened, he was swaying, and he sounded dehydrated. Despite kneeling and reciting in the ancestral hall since the afternoon, no one knew if he had drunk any water. It was a rather inhumane punishment. However, Asher seemed to hold up well. Perhaps he was used to it due to the way he tormented himself back then. A strange emotion rose within Gwendolyn¡¯s heart when she saw the figure from afar. Indeed, she was angry at Asher because she had regarded him as a loving brother for the past twenty¨C odd years. In fact, Asher even looked after her like how a caring mother would. Yet, he had lied to Gwendolyn for many years, all for the sake of an illegitimate child who had harmed Gwendolyn before. Worse still, Asher condoned Evelyn¡¯s horrendous behavior when he ignored the fact that Evelyn had pushed Marcus down the stairs so that she could im the right of inheritance. When she recalled the past events, aplicated look appeared in Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, but it became cold as seconds ticked by. Cedrick heaved a sigh inwardly when he saw the look on her face. Gwendolyn loves Asher, but what he did in the past shattered her heart. She hasn¡¯t been able to ovee the hurdle in her heart ever since. I don¡¯t want this to haunt her forever, though. Over the past six months, Asher has been repenting and apologizing profusely, and I can tell he has truly repented for his mistake. ¡°Gwenny- Cedrick was just about to advise her, but she suddenly put her hand over his mouth and dragged him backward silently. ¡°Shh! I think I hear someoneing. Be quiet, she whispered into Cedrick¡¯s ear.The two hid in a dark corner behind the ancestral hall, Gwendolyn then leaned in to whisper, ¡°Help me keep an eye on the situation inside. I need to look for Leif.¡± Cedrick wouldn¡¯t dare to mess up her n, so he nodded obediently. It was three in the morning, and the Harris residence on Mount Tranquil was dead silent save for the hoarse chanting voice in the ancestral hall. Gwendolyn had purposely told the guards at the entrance of the old vi to leave so that anyone could sneak in without worry. A few minutester, a figure was seen approaching the ancestral hall. Cedrick immediately narrowed his eyes and tried toy low as he hid and quietly waited in the dark corner. From this angle. I think I can see the person¡¯s side profile. The garden lights in the vi were dimmed in the dead of night, but Cedrick could still see the ier. That¡¯s a slim woman. Could that be Annie? If that¡¯s her, something fishy must be going on. Otherwise, why would she visit Asher thiste at night? The woman stood motionless at the entrance of the ancestral hall and listened to Asher¡¯s chant. The woman stood there for a few minutes, and it didn¡¯t seem like she was nning to head inside. Cedrick grew suspicious, so he came out from the dark corner to take a closer look at that slim figure. It wasn¡¯t until he got closer that he saw the woman¡¯s face. That¡¯s Sienna instead of Annie! She must be worried sick about Asher. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be awake at this time. With that in mind, Cedrick sighed and retreated silently back toward the dark corner. Sienna stood outside the ancestral hall for over half an hour while sobbing. Eventually, she heaved a heavy sigh and left the old vi. Having done what she wanted to do, Gwendolyn returned shortly after Sienna left. ¡°So? Did anyone go in?¡± Gwendolyn asked softly. Cedrick shook his head. ¡°It was Sienna. What did Leif tell you?¡± ¡°Apparently, Sienna came to check on Asher a few times in the afternoon, but Annie never showed up.¡± ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve been overthinking it, Gwenny. Annie merely looks simr to Evelyn. They aren¡¯t even of the same age,¡± Cedrick consoled her. Gwendolyn remained unfazed. ¡°She could change her appearance through surgery and create a new identity with a different age. I only believe in my own findings.¡± Cedrick hugged her and noticed that her shoulders were freezing. Hence, he immediately took off his jacket and draped it over her. ¡°Still, Annie didn¡¯t show up tonight. What are you going to do next, Gwenny?¡± ¡°It has only been a day, so it doesn¡¯t mean anything. Perhaps she¡¯s holding herself back. If she doesn¡¯t show up in the next three days, I¡¯ll take things up a notch. Asher loved and protected Evelyn back then. I¡¯m sure Evelyn won¡¯t be able to sit on her hands if she knows what Asher is going through. After all, Asher is being punished for her sins. Although she was a vicious woman, she cared deeply for him,¡± Gwendolyn answered. I still remember that when things were going south for the Harris family, Evelyn tried to take all the me to save Asher. It was obvious how much they loved each other. With that in mind, Gwendolyn scoffed and grinned mockingly. After that, she turned around and left without sparing Asher a nce. Cedrick followed her from behind and made their way back to the luxury car before returning to the Jenson residence. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t keep her eyes off her phone during their journey home. Despite it being the wee hours of the morning, she was still busy going through Harris Group¡¯s recent financial reports.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Cedrick suppressed the impulse to say something, but he eventually gave in and said, ¡°It¡¯s been so long. and you never punished Asher except for severing ties with him. This time around, his punishment is well¨Cdeserved. However, Gwenny, don¡¯t you think this is unfair to Sienna? She was kept in the dark, but now, she has to suffer because she¡¯s Asher¡¯s wife. She must be in despair when she sees him getting punished. When she came to see him, I heard her sobbing softly. Obviously, her heart is aching, and she¡¯s having trouble sleeping. That was why she went to see him. While Asher is suffering physically, she has to suffer mentally despite not having done anything wrong.¡± Upon hearing that, Gwendolyn stopped scrolling through the financial reports and lifted her gaze. Evidently, Cedrick¡¯s words moved her. However, she was quick to snap out of her dazed state and realize what Cedrick meant. ¡°Are you saying that I should forgive Asher if I don¡¯t want Sienna to suffer along with him?¡± Cedrick kept his eye on the road while driving with one hand. ¡°You know me so well, Gwenny.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression grew cold instantly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t kidding when I cut ties with him. Had it not been for my luck, Evelyn would have killed me long ago! He¡¯s my brother, and yet, he chose to defend that illegitimate daughter! The mere thought of it chills me to the bone.¡± Cedrick let out a sigh. ¡°In other words, you won¡¯t forgive him because you¡¯re still mad at him.¡± Instead of exining herself, Gwendolyn nced at the streetmps outside the car window and said coldly. ¡°We need to find out if Annie is actually Evelyn. It should take a few days. Until then, Sienna will just have to bear with it.¡± Cedrick said nothing further as he drove back to Harrick Vi and hugged Gwendolyn to sleep. Things remained peaceful and quiet at Mount Tranquil throughout the next few days. Leif called Gwendolyn to report on the situation. ¡°No one has entered the ancestral halltely, Ms. Harris. Mr. Asher¡¯s legs are quite badly injured, and he is no longer able to speak. This punishment seems to be a little too harsh on him. How about-¡± Gwendolyn cut him off, ¡°Have him continue by writing it down. He cannot stop until he has finished writing it all down.¡± ¡°Could we at least give Mr. Asher a cushion to kneel on? The floor in the ancestral hall is so cold that it¡¯s hurting his already weakened knees,¡± Leif suggested in an attempt to help relieve some of Asher¡¯s pain. If I let him have a cushion, Annie will know that my heart has gone soft. All of the abuse that Asher suffered throughout the past few days would then be pointless. No, I need to remain firm! Asher is no longer my brother! He¡¯s simply the eldest son of the Harris family! He is unworthy of my mercy! He deserves this punishment! With that in mind, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Just do as I said. Unless he faints, the punishment shall continue. You do not have to inform me of such things in the future.¡± She then hung up the phone immediately after and headed over to the e¨Csports club. Gwendolyn wanted to check on Jennifer, who had been working there for two days. Upon arrival, she saw Jennifer taking notes while having a one¨Con¨Cone meeting with an experienced manager. She listened in on the conversation for a bit before calling out to Jennifer, ¡°How are things going? Have you gotten used to working here yet?¡± ¡°I love this job. I get to share the joy of the yers when they win tournaments, and I get to discuss the oue with them when they lose. I¡¯ve gotten used to everything except having Mr. Treyton tutor me on the graduate studies.¡± Gwendolyn let out a snicker. ¡°Poor Treyton¡­ I bet he doesn¡¯t even know that you¡¯reining about him!¡± Chapter 563 Do You Not Hate Her Chapter563DoYouNotHateHer ¡°You have no idea how strict Mr. Treyton is about that, Gwendolyn! Not only am I forced to do lots of exercises every night, but he also punishes me for every mistake that I make! I¡¯ve never experienced anything like this while growing up at the orphanage!¡± Jennifer eximed with a pout. Gwendolyn patted her on the head. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a good thing, though? You should be d that you found yourself a boyfriend who cares a lot about you. Now, you¡¯ll be able to experience the fatherly love that you never had!¡± Jennifer simply pouted without saying a word. ¡°I can tell that Treyton is putting a lot of effort into this. You two used to love each other very much, and he actually mes himself for your memory loss. I hope you¡¯ll try to ept him again if possible. Even if you can¡¯t, at least tell him about it as soon as possible,¡± Gwendolyn continued. Jennifer twiddled her fingers as she mumbled, ¡°Well, it¡¯s not so bad that I have to break up with him¡­ I¡¯m just not used to such strictness after living freely for so long. I¡¯m trying to get used to it little by little.¡± ¡°Take your time, Jennifer. There¡¯s no need to rush it,¡± Gwendolyn said. Jennifer nodded. ¡°You told me that I have been dating him for four years. Could you tell me more about our rtionship? I¡¯m rather curious about it. Who knows? I might just be able to recall something.¡± Of course, Gwendolyn had no reason to say no to that She then told Jennifer everything about her rtionship with Treyton, including how they grew close and the obstacles they encountered. She even told Jennifer all the funny things they experienced throughout the rtionship. While Jennifer did pay full attention to what Gwendolyn was saying, she couldn¡¯t seem to recall any of those memories. Noticing the depressed look on her face, Gwendolyn brought her over to the yers¡® training area and watched them y a practice match. The two girls had such a great time watching the game that whatever unpleasant emotions they had earlier were gonepletely. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Just like that, two hours had gone by before they even realized it. Recently, Gwendolyn would spend the day managing the e¨Csports club¡¯s investments and head back to Harris Group for a meeting two hours before it was time to get off work. Having visited Jennifer at work, Gwendolyn got into her car and was about to head over to Harris Group. She had yet to start the engine when her phone rang all of a sudden. Noticing that it was a call from Leif, Gwendolyn tensed up and quickly answered the phone. ¡°Ms. Annie entered the vi about two minutes ago. She is currently standing at the entrance of the ancestral hall¡± Heh.¡­¡­. The fish finally takes the bait after a few days of waiting. ¡°Just keep an eye on her from afar. Do not alert her.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Harris. She doesn¡¯t seem to be leaving anytime soon. In fact, it seems as though she wants to enter the ancestral hall. Shall I let her in?¡± ¡°Let her in,¡± Gwendolyn said as she would not be able to get the answer she was looking for otherwise. After getting off the phone, she started the car and headed straight for Mount Tranquil. Annie was peeking into the ancestral hall through the crack in the door. Asher could be seen kneeling before a coffee table and copying the scriptures. From time to time, the sounds of his coughing would echo throughout the ancestral hall. After consecutive days of kneeling from the afternoon till the next morning, his knees were aching badly. Even so, Asher continued to kneel and would only massage his knees from time to time when the pain got Too severe. Annie opened the door to the ancestral hall and entered slowly. Asher paused when he heard the cking of high heels on the floor behind him, only to continue writing a few secondster. Annie walked up to him and crouched down beside him before asking. ¡°You¡¯re Ms. Harris¡® brother, aren¡¯t you? Why would she be so cruel to you?¡± Asher simply ignored her and continued writing. ¡°I know that it¡¯s hardly appropriate for an outsider like myself to get involved, but I feel bad for I see you suffering like this,¡± Annie added with a sigh, but Asher continued to ignore her. ¡°I heard Ms. Harris has an illegitimate sister. Could this be about her? Is that why Ms. Harris is taking her anger out on you, Mr. Asher?¡± Annie went on. Asher finally paused and responded by shooting her an icy¨Ccold re. Although he had resigned from his positions at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ministry of Aviation, Asher still maintained his domineering and authoritative aura. A single gaze from him was enough to make anyone shake in their boots, but Annie pressed on anyway. The fact that Ms. Harris is doing this to you shows that she doesn¡¯t respect you as her brother. Do you not hate her at all, Mr. Asher?¡± Gwendolyn, who was standing outside the ancestral hall, could hear everything Annie said. Chapter 564 We Can Help You Chapter564WeCanHelpYou Instead of entering the ancestral hall and confronting them directly, Gwendolyn remained standing outside the door and observing the situation. As Asher had kept his head low, the dim lighting from the candles around him helped obscure the conflicted look in his eyes. He then ced the pen down, rubbed his aching wrist, and asked without looking up, ¡°Hate her? Why is that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re her biological brother and have protected her for so long. No matter what wrong you¡¯ve done, she still shouldn¡¯t take her anger out on you, even though she¡¯s the head of the family now. Have you really never thought of fighting back, Mr. Asher? To snatch back what is rightfully yours?¡± Although she was from Ospea, she was able to speak Chanaean fluently after studying in Chanaea for four years. Her voice was soft and pleasant on the ears, but Asher simply frowned at her in response as he tilted his head to meet her gaze. Even so, Annie maintained a sweet and adorable smile on her face, as though she was merely making a friendly suggestion. Gwendolyn continued to observe them from outside the door. There was a conflicted look in Asher¡¯s eyes as he stared at her beautiful face for a whole minute. ¡°Ms. Annie, this is the Harris family¡¯s private affair. Since you are a guest that Gwendolyn invited over, you should know your ce and behave like one. Annie was stunned for a moment, but then she seemed to understand what he was implying. She persisted in trying to goad him into action. ¡°I know an outsider like myself shouldn¡¯t get involved, but I can¡¯t bear to watch her abuse you like this. My boyfriend is a nobleman from Ospea, Mr. Asher. His name is Paul Hall, and Antea Group is one of the biggestpanies in the world. We can help you!¡± Infuriated, Asher shouted at her, ¡°This is the Harris family¡¯s ancestral hall, Annie! Please leave and never return!¡± Displeased with his stubbornness, Annie leaned in close and whispered something into his car. Asher clenched his fists after hearing what she said. Amused with his reaction, Annie said with a sweet smile, ¡°I shall wait for the day you regret it, Mr. Asher.¡± She then stood up straight, tidied her dress, and shot him a few more nces before turning around. Annie was about to leave the ancestral hall when Gwendolyn opened the door and said with a smile, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, why not stick around for a little while longer, Ms. Annie? Why are you leaving in such a hurry? It¡¯s almost as if you¡¯re feeling guilty about something. Are you afraid that I¡¯d hear what you two were talking about?¡± ¡°Good afternoon, Ms. Harris. I heard about Mr. Asher being forced to recite scriptures on his knees as punishment, so I decided to drop by for a visit.¡± Annic replied with a graceful smile. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve seen what you came to see. So, what do you have to say about it?¡± Gwendolyn asked with a casual chuckle. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a little too harsh on Mr. Asher? I don¡¯t know what he did to wrong you, but I think this punishment is rather excessive. I couldn¡¯t bear to watch him suffer like this, so I suggested that he seek my help if he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Paul and I will be happy to lend him a hand.¡± ¡°Oh? And who are you to help him out? Everything in the Harris family belongs to me now. You¡¯re but a temporary guest. I¡¯m the one who made the arrangements so you could stay here, so you should be thanking me instead, Gwendolyn responded with a sneer. She then stepped forward as she pressed on, ¡°Are you two friends, perhaps? Then again, you two have only just met, so you can¡¯t possibly be friends. Maybe you two are family instead? It would make sense for a sister to feel bad for her brother¡¯s suffering.¡± Annie smiled as she met Gwendolyn¡¯s prating gaze and exined calmly. ¡°It would be an honor for me to have you two as my siblings, Ms. Harris. For some reason, I felt an inexplicable sense of closeness even when I met Mr. Asher and you for the first time. It¡¯s as though we¡¯re siblings.¡± Asher, who was still copying the scriptures on his knees, simply let out a sigh and closed his eyes. He did not want to participate in their conversation. Annie continued, ¡°Unfortunately, that is a luxury I can never hope to have. I¡¯m an only child, and my parents passed when I entered university, so I had only myself to depend on.¡± Gwendolyn had disliked Annie the moment she first saw her. As such, she couldn¡¯t help but feel as though Annie was trying to imply something deeper with her words. ¡°I suggest you not wander around, Ms. Annie. Mount Tranquil is really huge, and the weather has been fairly hottely. There are people fogging the forest with insecticides, but it¡¯s not umon for one to run into insects and rodents around here. It would be hard for me to answer to Paul if you were to get bitten.¡± Gwendolyn then paused briefly and patted her on the shoulder, continuing in a tone simr to an elder sister concerned for their younger sibling. ¡°Try not to wander about throughout the next few days. If you must head out, then please inform me beforehand. I will have two bodyguards keep you safe during you routing.¡± Oh, I see what she¡¯s doing here. She¡¯s trying to keep me within her sights on Mount Tranquil! Annie saw right through Gwendolyn¡¯s intentions, but she maintained an innocent smile as she said, ¡°Sure thing. Thanks for taking such good care of me, Ms. Harris. I will be sure to be extra careful! Anyway, I missed my afternoon nap, so I¡¯ll be heading back to get some rest now.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°All right. Take as much rest as you need.¡± The two girls then had another brief exchange before Annie left the ancestral hall. Gwendolyn waited until she waspletely out of sight before locking the door to the ancestral hall from the inside. As a safety precaution, she also shut all the windows tightly. She then walked up to Asher at the coffee table and red coldly at him. ¡°What do you want to ask me, Kiddo?¡± Asher asked without pausing his writing. ¡°Have you forgotten that I cut ties with you ever since I got pregnant, Mr. Asher? We are no longer siblings, so you need to stop calling me ¡®Kiddo,¡± Gwendolyn corrected him with a displeased frown on her face. Asher swallowed hard in an attempt to hide his anguished expression. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I had iting. So, what did you stay behind to ask me about, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn ignored his affectionate tone and asked sternly. ¡°It has been about eight to nine months since Evelyn went missing in the countryside. Where do you think she is right now?¡± Asher trembled when he heard that and messed up the word he was writing. Having ruined the entire page, he tore it off, crumpled it up, and tossed it aside without any hesitation. He then turned the pages of scripture and proceeded to rewrite the contents of that page. ¡°I don¡¯t know where she is. It¡¯s possible that she¡¯s dead. Even if she were still alive, I doubt she¡¯d be stupid enough toe back here.¡± ¡°Is that so? Gwendolyn¡¯s disdainful snort made it clear that she did not believe his words in the slightest. She bent over, grabbed Asher¡¯s chin, and forced him to look up at her. In the past, she used to be as submissive as a kitten whenever faced with Asher, whom she feared and respected. However, ever since they fell out over Evelyn¡¯s wrongdoings, all she felt whenever she saw was a deep disappointment. So much for being my brother¡­ It¡¯s Evelyn that Asher cares more about, not me! I¡¯m nothing but a joke to him! Not even my life is as important as him repaying the life debt he owes her mother! Infuriated at the thought of that, Gwendolyn decided to get straight to the point and asked, ¡°I suspect that Annie is actually Evelyn. What do you think?¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t,¡± Asher replied after giving it some thought. ¡°How are you so certain?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just an immature young girl. I bet someone over at Antea Group told her to tear our family apart. Since she is the girlfriend of a count from Ospea, you can just let her stay in Mount Tranquil for a few days before sending her out of Chanaca.¡± Gwendolyn pursed her lips and increased the force on his chin as she said, ¡°You sure care about her a lot. 1 know you, Asher. You would never defend an outsider like this!¡± Asher simply stared at her, not bothering to exin. Seeing the calm look on his face irritated Gwendolyn even further. I trust my instincts! I know I¡¯m right! Maybe I just need to up the ante a little. ¡°You kept saying that you wanted to make up for your wrongdoings by suffering with Evelyn. You even went as far as insisting that we whip you twice as much. In that case, I shall grant your wish. You will be whipped twenty times every afternoon, and you will continue copying the scriptures immediately after,¡± Asher¡¯s face was slightly pale when he heard that. There was a mixture of guilt and sadness in his eyes as he said, ¡°As you wish, Ms. Harris.¡± Disgusted by his submissive behavior, Gwendolyn loosened her grip on his chin as she asked, ¡°Annie whispered something into your ear earlier, Mr. Asher. What did she say?¡± Chapter 565 Fake Brother Chapter565FakeBrother Asher¡¯s face revealed a bitter expression while his eyes reflected a subtle look of mockery, though it was one directed at himself. ¡°Respond, Mr. Asher. You¡¯ve always been a stickler for the rules. Don¡¯t you know that you should answer honestly when the head of the family asks you a question?¡± Gwendolyn tightened her grip on his chin and locked eyes with him, her gaze exuding a look of intimidation. Asher remained silent. However, his mind wandered back to the words that Annie had whispered to him before she left. She said, ¡°Now that I¡¯ve spoken up on your behalf, Gwendolyn won¡¯t let you off the hook easily. Are you really not going to considering over to my side?¡± She probably anticipated Gwendolyn¡¯s arrival and deliberately said those provocative words to threaten our already fragile bond. At that thought, he inadvertently furrowed his brows. Still, he remained silent throughout. ¡°Well, well. You did not even say anything truthful. Looks like you¡¯ve chosen to help her!¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s anger red up. Breathing deeply, she straightened her back and released her grip on his chin. With a cold, disdainful smile, she remarked, ¡°You¡¯re truly her loyal brother. Whenever ites to her. you¡¯ll protect her no matter what. Asher, if Evelyn and I are both held at gunpoint one day and you only have one bullet, who would you save? Me or her?¡± Asher¡¯s eyes reddened as he saw her icy expression. He reached out to grab her hand. ¡°Kiddo¡­ However, Gwendolyn took a step back when he stretched out his arm. The small coffee table between them felt like an insurmountable barrier. ¡°No matter what, I will thoroughly investigate Annie¡¯s identity. If you try to stop me, don¡¯t me me for disregarding whatever ties we share and dealing with you too.¡± After saying those harsh words, Gwendolyn spun around and walked away. ¡°Kiddo¡­ Gwendolyn, please listen to me.¡± Holding onto his knees, Asher struggled to rise and stop her. However, his legs throbbed with excruciating pain, forcing him to pause for a long moment. His hoarse voice, coupled with his pained and pitiful expression, conveyed how helpless he was after being abused and distrusted. Long gone was his once confident and spirited self. Feeling something stir in her heart, Gwendolyn stopped in her tracks. She turned her head and stared at him coldly. ¡°Tll only hear your exnation once.¡± Now that she had given him the opportunity, it was up to him whether he made good use of it. Gazing intently at her beautiful yet indifferent face, Asher analyzed the advantages and disadvantages for her. ¡°Evelyn used to have Dad and me backing her up. Now that Dad has passed away and I¡¯m suspended from duty, there¡¯s no one supporting her. You can manipte her however you want. However, Annie¡¯s different. Paul¡¯s a count of Ospea. He¡¯s got the entire nobility backing him up. If you¡¯re too insistent on finding out Annie¡¯s identity and get into a conflict with Paul, Harris Group will be at a disadvantage. I don¡¯t want you to offend them just for an investigation that might not yield any results.¡± He was simply worried that Gwendolyn would bring trouble upon herself and put herself in danger. He was genuinely concerned about her. Gwendolyn raised her chin arrogantly, her gaze filled with disdain. ¡°Offending others is what scares me the least. I¡¯ve been ying by the rules over the past few years, yet so many people still want me dead. Even my own brother is helping to conceal the truth from me. So, what is there left for me to fear?¡± | The only way to suppress those evil¨Cdoers plotting against her behind the scenes was to be stronger herself. Others, not even those closest to her, were not to be relied upon. When their eyes met, she cast him a scornful gaze. Asher¡¯s expression turned pale slowly as his back stiffened. A bitter taste lingered in his mouth. Unable to exin himself, all he could do was bow his head in resignation and listen as Gwendolyn brought up her past grievances. ¡°If you¡¯re truly repentant and apologetic, you should tread carefully. You should answer my questions and help expose Annie¡¯s true identity instead of advising me to let her go. You know my temperament well; 1 won¡¯t rest until I have answers.¡± After firmly expressing her stance, she stomped out of the ancestral hall without even a nce back. Leif stood guard outside with two bodyguards, ensuring no one would eavesdrop. The three of them bowed respectfully when they saw Gwendolyn appear.N?velDrama.Org is the owner. She gazed at the distant clouds and instructed the bodyguards, ¡°Bring the whip over. Follow the rules that Mr. Asher has set himself. Remember, it¡¯s twentyshes every afternoon without fail.¡± Leif and the bodyguards exchanged looks, stunned. Feeling displeased, Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Are my words useless?¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare to disobey. We¡¯ll carry out your instructions now, Ms. Gwendolyn.¡± Mount Tranquil was very big. When Gwendolyn was a child, Marcus had built a small equestrian center at the foot of the mountain as she loved to ride. On her eleventh birthday, Asher had arranged for her first horse to be transported by air from Astoria as her birthday gift. She had adored the horse greatly. However, ever since the incident that had her heading for Faike, she had never ridden it again. While she reminisced, the bodyguards had already brought the whip over. After bowing respectfully at her, they entered the ancestral hall. Asher was still writing inside. Even though he heard the footsteps, he did not falter. ¡°Apologies, Mr. Asher. The twenty whips are Ms. Gwendolyn¡¯s instructions.¡± Maintaining aposed look, Asher ced the pen down elegantly. As if he was already ustomed to this due to his previous acts of self¨Cabuse, he swiftly removed his jacket. All he wore for the punishment was a thin shirt. He nudged the table forward slightly so that the pages that he had written would not be damaged. Gwendolyn did not leave immediately. Instead, she stood at the door for a long time until she heard the piercing sounds of the whip. The sound reverberated through the air, sending chills down one¡¯s spine. She clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the strange emotions welling up inside her. Step by step, she made her way out of the vi and entered a car to leave Mount Tranquil. Even though she sat in the car with the windows closed, she felt like she could still hear the echoes of the whipping in the ancestral hall. It was as if she had fallen into a trance. Every sound grated on her nerves. Cedrick was right. Regardless of how horrible Asher¡¯s mistakes were, Sienna would always stand with him as his wife. She shouldn¡¯t have taken out her frustration for Asher on Sienna and burdened Sienna with more trouble and heartache. Perhaps, she should exin certain things to Sienna beforehand. With this realization, Gwendolyn decided to call Sienna instead of leaving Asher¡¯s vi. Ten minutester, Sienna ran toward the luxurious car. Even though she was running over, she maintained an air of elegance andposure, reminiscent of her former reputation as the most beautiful air stewardess She opened the car door and sat inside. ¡°You wanted to see me, Gwen?¡± ¡°I suppose that you must have some questions about why I punished Asher this time.¡± Sienna admitted, ¡°Indeed, I have my doubts. However, I know you¡¯re not one to throw a tantrum or vent your anger on someone without reason. Since you¡¯ve made this decision, I¡¯m sure there must be a purpose and logic behind it.¡± Gwendolyn found sce in Sienna¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m grateful that you know me well, Sienna¡± Cedrick had equipped the limited¨Cedition ck Bentley with bulletproof ss after the incident in Astoria. Not only was its metallic body military¨Cgrade, but it also had anti¨Ccavesdropping features. Inside the car, their conversation remained sealed off from the outside world. Ten minutester. Sienna understood everything that had happened. She supported Gwendolyn¡¯s decision. ¡°You¡¯ve always been opinionated. Do whatever you want. I won¡¯t stop you or create more trouble for you.¡± Gwendolyn was very touched. My brother isn¡¯t my actual kin. On the other hand, my sister¨Cinw¡¯s my real family. She supports everything I do! Chapter 566 Business Trip Chapter 566 Business Trip As contentment surged within Gwendolyn, Sienna continued, ¡°I don¡¯t like this Annie either. Don¡¯t worry, Gwen. I¡¯ll definitely think of a way to help you, but¡­¡± Sienna paused as a troubled expression spread across her face. After hesitating for a few moments, she held Gwendolyn¡¯s hands and persuaded thetter solemnly, ¡°Gwen, ever since Evelyn¡¯s incident was exposed, Asher handed over all his authority and truly stopped meddling in Evelyn¡¯s matters. He has been repenting all this while. After all this is over, can you forgive him?¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head and silently retracted her hands from Sienna¡¯s grip. ¡°Sienna, I don¡¯t want to lie tofort you. Let¡¯s discuss this again after everything has really ended. At the very least, I can¡¯t see his changes for now.¡± Sienna nodded in understanding, not nning to force her. The two changed the topic and chatted for a while longer before Sienna got out of Gwendolyn¡¯s luxury car and left. As for the situation at Mount Tranquil, they could only wait and observe further. Gwendolyn nced at the clock and realized it was about time to get off work. The regr meeting in the afternoon was forced to be postponed until tomorrow due to unforeseen circumstances at Mount Tranquil. Hence, she chose to turn around and drive back to Harrick Vi. When she got home, Nico was also there. Cedrick was packing his luggage upstairs. Gwendolyn was puzzled. ¡°Nico, are you guys going on a business trip?¡± Nico nodded and replied with all seriousness, ¡°Something came up at the border. It¡¯s a pretty tricky situation to handle, so we must go there at once to check it out. We have to leave tonight. Gwendolyn could understand since it was an official business matter for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. ¡°How long will you be gone, then?¡± Nico thought for a moment before shaking his head honestly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. If the situation over there is handled well, we might be back in two days. Otherwise, we might not even be back in a week.¡± In other words, she and Cedrick would be separated for at least two days to one week. While the two were talking, Cedrick came downstairs carrying his packed suitcase. Seeing that, Nico immediately stepped forward to help him carry the bags. Cedrick nced at Gwendolyn in the living room and instructed Nico, ¡°You go ahead and take the suitcase out first and wait for me outside. I want to talk to Gwenny alone.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nico obediently carried the suitcase out and waited patiently in the garden. Once he left, Cedrick strode toward Gwendolyn, pulling her into his arms and holding her tight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. There¡¯s some unrest at Chanaea¡¯s border, so I need to leave tonight. It¡¯ll be agonizing to have to be separated from you for a few days. Ket Gwendolyn patted his broad back. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Dutyes first. Remember to protect yourself and don¡¯t hurt.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. He nodded, earnestly saying to her, ¡°I¡¯m worried you won¡¯t be able to handle everything alone while I¡¯m not home, so I¡¯ve sent Benny, Zendy, and Mdm. Yarde to Grandpa¡¯s ce. If you want to see the children, just visit them there, Darling. Also, your mania has improved, but you¡¯re notpletely cured yet. I¡¯m really concerned, so I discussed it with Joshua. During this period, you don¡¯t have toe back to Harrick Vi at night. You can go to theboratory and find Joshua. There¡¯s a treatment room there. The signal at the border is not good, so there might be a dy in replying to your messages. You must be more careful until Ie back Gwendolyn gently caressed his stiff jaw, soothing his anxiousness. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re in Chanaea. There aren¡¯t many people who dare to harm me here. I¡¯ll be good this time and follow your arrangements.¡± The two shared an intimate hug and kiss, expressing their reluctance to part. Their moment was interrupted a few minutester by Nico¡¯s knock on the door. ¡°Cedrick, it¡¯s getting late. If we don¡¯t leave now, we won¡¯t be able to reach the border tonight and arrange amodation.¡± The couple inside the house was forced to let go of each other. Gwendolyn saw Cedrick out the door. watching as the two disappeared around the corner of Harrick Vi. Since Cedrick had already made all the arrangements, she felt it would be pointless for her to stay inside Harrick Vi alone. She returned to her room, roughly packed a few clothes, and went to theboratory. Joshua had already arranged a special room for Gwendolyn for her nightly rest and treatment. The room had nothing but a hospital bed and a bedside table, devoid of any unnecessary decorations. Joshua uttered apologetically, ¡°Gwendolyn, the resources in theboratory are limited, so I can¡¯t provide you with a better living environment or safer treatment room. You¡¯ll have to make do for a few days until Cedrickes back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all right. It¡¯s just for sleeping at night. I¡¯ve stayed in worse ces before. This is not bad at all. At least it¡¯s clean and tidy.¡± To prevent her from rpsing during the night, Joshua administered an IV drip for her in advance, increasing the dosage for some of the medications. After all, he was just a weak schr. If Gwendolyn had a mania episode, he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it. He could only call in theboratory¡¯s security guards to exchange blows with her. However, as much as he had nned, he didn¡¯t expect Gwendolyn to suffer from insomnia. Ever since she and Cedrick had gotten their marriage certificate, she had grown ustomed to falling asleep in each other¡¯s arms. Now that they were separated and she had to rest in a different environment, she felt uneasy. The toughest first night finally passed, and Gwendolyn went to work at Harris Group as usual the next day. As she didn¡¯t sleepst night, she didn¡¯t dare to rest or take a nap during work, fearing she might have an episode after drifting off. As a result, she could only choose to drink coffee to stay alert. Meanwhile, at Mount Tranquil, Sienna supported Asher to the ancestral hall in the old vi in the afternoon to begin a new day of punishment and torture. After twenty whipshes, the back of his shirt was soaked with blood, and he looked extremely miserable. Asher didn¡¯t make a sound from the beginning to the end, epting his punishment without a word of comint Sienna couldn¡¯t bear to see him in that state, and her heart ached terribly. She cried all the way back to the vi. By the time she entered the living room of her own vi, she still couldn¡¯t stop sobbing from the distress. When Annie came down from the guest room on the third floor, she was met with the sight of a beautiful woman shedding tears. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? Who upset you?¡± Annie was very concerned, hastily descending the stairs in her slippers and taking a seat beside Sienna on the couch. Sienna wiped her tears with a piece of tissue and sighed in resignation. ¡°You¡¯re a guest, Ms. Annie, I¡¯m sorry you have to witness this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being silly.¡± Annie empathetically passed a piece of tissue to Sienna. ¡°Mr. Asher and you have been very kind to me, taking care of me like a brother and sister-inw these past few days. I feel pained as well when I see how sad you are.¡± Sienna seemed to feelforted. ¡°You¡¯re truly a good girl.¡± After living at the Harris residence on Mount Tranquil for a few days, that was the first time Sienna had complimented Annie. Thetter was overjoyed to learn that they were getting along better. ¡°Can you tell me why you¡¯re so upset now?¡± Sienna sighed. ¡°This is all because of Asher¡¯s punishment. He injured his knees before and now has a chronic condition. Whenever the weather or the season changes, his knees would hurt so much that he can¡¯t even stand up.¡± The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she became, and her tears flowed continuously like a leaking dam. No matter how much she wiped, they just wouldn¡¯t stop streaming down the corner of her eyes. Her soft, tearful voice wasced with hints of desperation as she spoke. ¡°When I applied medicine on him this morning, I noticed his knees were covered in bruises. Not to mention, the twentyshes he has to suffer every afternoon are harsh. His entire back is wounded. When will this beating end?¡± Annie sighed as well. Her eyes revealed traces of genuine sympathy as she asked tentatively, ¡°What do you think about Ms. Harris treating Mr. Asher in this manner, Mrs. Harris?¡± ¡°What else can I think? She¡¯s the head of the household now, so everyone in the Harris family has to listen to her.¡± Sienna wiped her tears. Although her words were respectful, the displeasure on her countenance was unconceble. Annie took note of the changes in Sienna¡¯s facial expression. ¡°Mr. Asher currently doesn¡¯t wield any power. No matter how Ms. Harris torments and abuses him, he can only endure. However, if you truly are willing to go idea n, I can mention this matter to y of Harris Group Seeing Sienna see whority, he can food away reimed his authority, he can to ediently y her role as a teach her to obediently y boyfriend. I think he¡¯ll be d to help Mr. Asher regnen be considering dering her proposal, Annir added, ¡°Once Mr. Asher has strip Ms Harris of her status as the head of the family. That housewife and take care of her children at home Sienna lowered her gaze as she pondered Annie¡¯s words. ¡°It may not be a good idea for you to be involved in the Harris family matters. After all, you are not part of the family. If you get involved, people will specte, and your reputation will be harmed.¡± She sighed, gently patting Annie¡¯s hand. ¡°Although this may not be what you want to hear, it¡¯s the truth. I hope you won¡¯t take it to heart, Ms. Annic.¡± Annie gave her an indifferent smile. ¡°I¡¯ve never cared about public opinion. Besides, I consider Mr. Asher and you as family. Once everything is settled, Mr. Asher can announce me as his sworn sister. That will solve the problem, won¡¯t it?¡± Sienna paused for a moment, carefully considering the meaning behind Annie¡¯s words. She lowered her head to conceal the emotions in her gaze. ¡°What do you think?¡± Instead of giving a direct answer, Sienna asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you friends with Gwen? Why would you want to rip her of her control in Harris Group?¡± Annie didn¡¯t try to hide her intentions. To be honest, we¡¯re just ordinary friends. But I¡¯m the business director of Antea Group, and we can be consideredpetitors with Harris Group. Since Ms. Harris is unwilling to cooperate with us, I have to find another way,¡± she answered straightforwardly. Sienna nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I see. If what you said is true, I¡¯ll have a nice chat with Asher about your proposal.¡± That would have been enough as an indication that Sienna had agreed, but Annie didn¡¯t seem pleased. She still had some doubts.. ¡°I heard that you have always cherished Gwendolyn, Mrs. Harris. Are you really nning to take her down? Or are you tricking me?¡± Sienna was dabbing her eyes when Annie questioned her. She froze, her eyes staring at Annie in a daze, Annie chuckled, her lovely and beautiful face amused. ¡°I was just joking. There¡¯s no need to be nervous.¡± Sienna gracefully discarded the tissue she used to wipe her tears and regained her calmposure as she exined, ¡°I¡¯ve always treated Gwen as my little sister, but she directed her anger at Asher after the incident about the illegitimate daughter. I¡¯ve tried to talk to her a few times, but she always ignored me.¡± The thought of it seemed to sadden Sienna greatly. Annie quickly handed her a tissue and gently patted her back tofort her. Sienna sighed. ¡°She¡¯s being the most unreasonable one this time. It has been so long since the incident involving the illegitimate daughter, yet she is punishing Asher just because she¡¯s unhappy. Her actions really disappoint me.¡± At the mention of Asher¡¯s punishment, Annie felt a pang of sympathy for him as well. ¡°In that case, please help me to persuade Mr. Asher as soon as possible. Once he agrees, he will be able to Chapter 567 Chapter 567 Affregain his influence in Chanaca within a few days.¡± Sienna nodded. ¡°Okay. Even if he disagrees, I will find a way to make this work. I can¡¯t continue watching him be tortured by Gwendolyn.¡± Just like that, the matter was decided. After offering a fewforting words, Annie went upstairs to her room. As Sienna watched Annie¡¯s slender and beautiful figure disappear gradually up the stairs, her expression became serious. Annie was a careful person. Although they had discussed the matter extensively, she didn¡¯t reveal anything rted to Evelyn. She even used work as an excuse to shield her resentment toward Gwendolyn. She¡¯s a smart woman. It¡¯ll be difficult to deal with her. An hourter, Sienna pretended to go out shopping. Instead, she went to a safe ce to call Gwendolyn. Sienna reported every detail of her conversation and ns with Annie to Gwendolyn. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t think this can be easily resolved, Gwen. She¡¯s quite clever. From what she said, I can¡¯t find any evidence that Evelyn is rted to this.¡± After thinking about what Sienna just told her, Gwendolyn started to analyze. ¡°How can there be no problem? She repeatedly mentions her desire to be you and Asher¡¯s rtive and tries to get close to you. Based on this alone, I have doubts about her true identity.¡± Sienna fell silent, thinking that Gwendolyn¡¯s words made sense. Gwendolyn continued on the phone, ¡°Since she suggested coborating with you to take me down, let¡¯s follow her n. Help me persuade Asher to agree as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Another thing. If you have time, find a way to obtain a few strands of Annie¡¯s hair for me. Our parents may not be alive, but a DNA test can still be conducted with a half-sibling.¡± Annie could argue all she wanted, but once the DNA test results came out, she wouldn¡¯t be able to deny the truth. ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t worry, Gwen.¡± Gwendolyn was on the way to Harris Group when her conversation with Sienna ended. It seems like Annie is finally going to take action. And here I was worried that she would hold back, but it appears I¡¯ve overestimated her. At the thought of the DNA test, Gwendolyn sent a message to Kieran. After asking about things between him and Inez, she told him she had a small favor to ask once he returned to Salinsburgh. To carry out a DNA test, they needed to find a reputable hospital. However, ever since the incident of her being falsely used of being an illegitimate daughter, she couldn¡¯t trust any hospital other than Kieran¡¯s. Meanwhile, at Mossey Corporation in Faike, Inez was conducting a meeting in the conference room. As Inez¡¯s secretary, Kieran stood not far behind her obediently, ready to take orders at any time. The major shareholders present were all prominent figures in Faike. Many of them had seen Kieran before. Even if they hadn¡¯t, they recognized him through news photos back when he was popr in the medical field. Therefore, no one dared to order him around or ask him to fetch them a drink even though he was now a secretary, In fact, his identity as the second son of Salinsburgh¡¯s wealthiest family was the reason for the tension in the conference room. All of the stakeholders were sitting upright and afraid of saying something wrong. However, Kieran was unaware that his presence was causing such pressure on the others in the conference room. He dutifully jotted down key meeting notes as instructed by Inez. Beep beep. It was the sound of a message notification from a phone. Kieran¡¯s writing hand came to a stop because he had distinctly felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He had forgotten to switch it to silent mode before entering the room because he didn¡¯t have much experience attending meetings. The short sound of the message notification didn¡¯t cause muchmotion at first. Everyone pretended not to hear it, including Inez, who was listening attentively to the report. That was until¡­ Beep beep. Beep beep. The message notification continued to ring five or six times. It was impossible for people not to notice it. Even the shareholder who was giving the report stopped speaking. As silence ensued in the conference room, Kieran tensed up. He could clearly feel everyone¡¯s gaze upon him. Embarrassed, he lowered his head and secretly searched Inez¡¯s face. Inez looked serious as she stared at him. ¡°Please switch your phone to silent mode, Mr. Harris,¡± Inez reminded him patiently. Took out his phone from his pocket. Without looking at the messages, he immediately switched it off to avoid any more trouble. It was a small incident, and due to his special status, no one in the conference room made a fuss about it. They seemed to quickly forget about it. However, after the meeting Chapter 568 A Quick Apology To Appease Inez Chapter 568 A Quick Apology To Appease Inez Kieran followed Inez out of the conference room and back to the CEO¡¯s office. Sensing her foul mood, he refrained from speaking throughout the entire journey. After entering the office, Inez walked over to her chair, sat down, and turned to Kieran. She lectured, ¡°Mr. Kieran, it¡¯s a basic requirement to put your phone on silent mode when you¡¯re in a meeting. You- Before she could finish, Kieran extended his left palm toward her and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was my mistake. There won¡¯t be a next time. If you¡¯re angry, you can punish me with a ruler likest time.¡± Inez paused, unable to continue reprimanding him because his sincere attitude rendered her lecture useless. As she stared at Kieran behaving obediently, her anger dissipated. ¡°Where did you learn to admit to your mistake right away? It¡¯s so unlike your stubborn self from before.¡± ¡°Being stubborn doesn¡¯t get you anywhere. If a man has low emotional intelligence, he will be destined to be lonely because he won¡¯t find a wife,¡± Kieran replied seriously. Inez stifled augh. During their time together, the more she spent time with him, the more she found him pleasing. Sometimes she thought he was adorably silly, and other times she admired his earnest pursuit of her. In truth, she was moved by his persistence in pursuing her for several months. After all, he was Kieran Harris, the second son of Salinsburgh¡¯s wealthiest family and a man known for his aloofness and arrogance. As she pondered, Kieran remained obediently standing before her with his left hand extended toward her, ready to receive any punishment. If he hadn¡¯t admitted his mistake and resorted to stubbornly defending himself, perhaps she would have chosen the simplest and most brutal way to educate her disobedient secretary out of frustration. However, his upright attitude made it impossible for her to punish him. At the thought of that, she gently tapped his palm with her hand. ¡°Considering it¡¯s your first mistake, I¡¯ll deduct a week of your sry. Any objections?¡± It was only a week¡¯s sry deductions. Besides, Kieran was never short of money. ¡°No objections. Your punishment is fair, Ms. Mossey,¡± he replied. Inez was thrown off by Kieran¡¯s praise. She blinked and refocused her gaze on theputer screen, casually saying. ¡°Just now at the meeting, I noticed that you turned off your phonepletely. The messages were quite urgent, so maybe there is something important. You should take a look.¡± I was then Kieran only membered that he had turned his phone off When he watched on her phone, he saw that all messages were from Gwendolyn Gwendolyn How are you Kieran? Did you manage to capture Iner¡¯s heart? When are you bringing back to Salisburgh? To real you both to dinner as the head of the family! the way nning to have a paternity test done recently, but I don¡¯t trust others to handle it. If you have some freely pleasee back and help me out. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Bring we too you can! After all, I¡¯m partly responsible for your sessful engagement! Gwendolyn ended her flurry of texts with a smirking emoji. Amused by Gwendolyn, a smile appeared on Kieran¡¯s usually stern face. Upon seeing him smiling at the phone. Inez couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°If I may ask, what has brought you such joy, Mr. Kieran Kieran replied, ¡°No need for the formalities, my dear fianc¨¦e.¡± Lately, he had been mentioning their engagement quite frequently, and he was bing more comfortable exercising the privileges that came with it. Inez yed along, saying, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m asking you as your fianc¨¦e. I¡¯m just curious.¡± It was the quickest she had ever admitted to being his fianc¨¦e. Delighted, Kieran exined everything to her. ¡°Kiddo texted, asking if I can return to Salinsburgh soon to help her with something.¡± As Inez listened to him attentively, her eyes dimmed. After only a little over a month of pursuing her, was he going back to Salinsburgh to resume his position as the esteemed Mr. Kieran of the Harris family? She felt a strange mix of emotions but couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what she was feeling. After a moment of silence, she asked, ¡°So, how soon do you n to leave, Mr. Kieran? And¡­ will you being back to Faike?¡± Kieran approached her and handed her his phone to show her the messages. ¡°Kiddo wants you, her futur sister-inw, toe with me. She¡¯s inviting you to a meal.¡± Inez was stunned. Pointing at herself, she asked, ¡°Me going with you to Salinsburgh?¡± Inez finished reading Gwendolyn¡¯s messages soon enough. She was surprised by Gwendolyn¡¯s eptance of her because she had always thought that the Harris family had very high standards for their descendants¡¯ spouses. A girl from a small affluent family in Faike wouldn¡¯t catch the attention of such a prestigious family like the Harris family, and their engagement only happened because of Kieran¡¯s stubbornness. However, it turned out that Gwendolyn was willing to ept her, which made her quite delighted. ¡°Will youe with me, Inez? Just treat it as a short vacation and an opportunity to rx for a few days.¡± Despite feeling happy, Inez didn¡¯t immediately agree. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree that you would pursue me for a year? If I go to Salinsburgh to meet your family now, doesn¡¯t it mean that I ept the engagement?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a meal; it doesn¡¯t represent anything. Our family is not as traditional as you think, especially now that Kiddo is the head of the family. Her decisions are more open-minded. Even if you go back with me, I will continue to pursue you,¡± Kieran replied earnestly. At that point, Inez had nothing to worry about. However, she still didn¡¯t agree right away. ¡°If I go, things may getplicated at Mossey Corporation. I¡¯m afraid I have to consult my parents before making a decision.¡± Kieran understood and nodded. Then, he returned to his desk opposite hers in the CEO¡¯s office. Since it wasn¡¯t time to knock off yet, he quickly immersed himself in handling the unfinished documents on his desk. Once it was time to leave, they went back to the Mossey residence together. Daring dinner, Kieran informed Jerome and Madelyn about his n to go to Salinsburgh with Inez. To their surprise, the older couple didn¡¯t object to it. Instead, they strongly supported Inez¡¯s decision to apany him. Madelyn smiled contentedly at Inez and Kieran. After dinner, Jerome immediately helped Inez to find an employee who could act as a deputy CEO temporarily. He also nned to supervise the tasks from home to ensure that Inez wouldn¡¯t have to worry about work during her stay in Salinsburgh. Since Madelyn and Jerome were so enthusiastic about it. Inez couldn¡¯t find any reasons to refuse. Hence, she openly epted Kieran¡¯s invitation to Salinsburgh. Back in Salinsburgh, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t return to Harrick Vi after getting off from work. She ate her dinner at the cafeteria in Harris Group instead. Without Cedrick and the kids, the ce she had lived for so long felt empty and no longer like a home. Cedrick had just left, but she was already feeling unused to it. She thought of Benedict and Zendaya, who were currently under Valentino¡¯s care at the Jenson residence, and decided to pay the house a visit. Benedict and Zendaya were very well-behaved at the Jenson residence. They had beenughing and giggling all day as they yed with Valentino. Even in the corridor, Gwendolyn could already hear the harmoniousughtering from the room. ¡°Hello, Grandpa. Has your appetite been good recently? Yourplexion has improved a lot. You look almost ten years younger!¡± Gwendolyn greeted Valentino in her sweet and melodious voice, delighting the old man. ¡°You and your sweet tongue, Gwendolyn. You know how to delight me even better than Ced. I¡¯m blessed to have you as my granddaughter-inw.¡± ¡°You tter me, Grandpa. Ceddy is the most filial person, and he treats his loved ones genuinely,¡± Gwendolyn praised Cedrick with a smile. They shatted for a while until Logan told Valentino that it was time for him to take his medication. After Valentino left. Gwendolyn took pictures of her two adorable babies smiling in the cot and sent them to Cedrick. She even added a message: I heard that the border isn¡¯t safe. Take good care of yourself and don¡¯t get hurt. Benny, Zendy, and I are waiting for your return. After sending the text, she stared at the chat window. She waited for a while but didn¡¯t see any response. Cedrick had mentioned that the signal there was poor and that there might be a dy in receiving messages, so she simply assumed he hadn¡¯t received the message yet. Chapter 569 Causing Trouble. Chapter569CausingTrouble. Gwendolyn remembered Annie had manipted Asher to sideline her from holding real power in the Harris Group. Hence, she snapped back to reality and decided to prepare in advance. Gwendolyn was getting ready to leave the Jenson residence when Valentino returned after taking his medicine. ¡°Where are you going, Gwendolyn? It¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you stay the night here?¡± Valentino suggested. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s raining/outside. You should stay for the night and spend more time with Old Mr. Jenson and the little ones,¡± Logan chimed in. Unfortunately, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t tell Valentino that she might have a manic episode at night. Hence, she smiled and responded, ¡°Something urgent urred at the Harris family. As the head of the family, I have to head back and handle it. Grandpa, please rest early tonight. Mdm. Yarde will look after Benny and Zendy tonight, so there¡¯s no need for you to stay upte.¡± Valentino understood that Gwendolyn needed to attend to her family matters, and he saw no reason to stand in her way. Hence, he allowed her to take her leave after reminding her to take care of herself. It was drizzling at Salinsburgh. Since the roads were slippery on a rainy night, Valentino instructed Logan to apany Gwendolyn as she left the vi. Armed with umbres, they proceeded in single file, carefully treading through the Jenson residence. ¡°Ms. Zendaya and Mr. Benedict¡¯spany really brightened Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s mood,¡± Logan remarked. Smiling warmly, Gwendolyn nodded in agreement. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Grandpa?¡± Gwendolyn inquired when she recalled Valentino taking his medication earlier. Logan let out a sigh and replied, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson served in the military when he was younger, so he had always been in good health. However, as he gets older, he has inevitably developed conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. He¡¯s currently taking medication to control his blood pressure and blood sugar levels.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in understanding. With that, they continued their journey, embracing the tranquility of the night. Just then, a tall and slender figure emerged from a nearby alley. Gwendolyn recognized the person as Xander. She raised an eyebrow in suspicion. ¡°Why did Xander return? If my memory serves me right, Cedrick transferred him and Yael to a small district branch. They can¡¯t return to the mainpany for five years, except during holidays and New Year¡¯s Eve.¡± Logan smiled and exined, ¡°At his age, Old Mr. Jenson hopes that his descendants can be by his side more often. So, he recently arranged for Mr. Xander to be transferred back to Salinsburgh branch. Mr. Cedrick is aware of this.¡± ????? Since Cedrick had approved of it, Gwendolyn had no objections. She understood Valentino¡¯s intentions. Both Xander and Cedrick were the old man¡¯s grandchildren, so it was only natural for him to provide support to Xander, who was experiencing hardships. After all, Valentino couldn¡¯t possibly turn a blind eye when one of them was living a life of luxury while the other struggled. Hence, she didn¡¯t mind Xander staying at the Jenson residence as long as he behaved himself and stopped causing trouble. Gwendolyn was lost in her thoughts, and before she realized it, Logan had walked her to the garage. After dismissing Logan and letting him return to Valentino¡¯s side, she casually selected a luxury car and left the Jenson residence in the drizzling night. However, instead of returning to the Harris residence, she made her way to theboratory. She was heading to the treatment room that Cedrick had prepared for her before his departure. At Mount Tranquil, the rain continued to patter incessantly, apanied by chilling gusts of wind. The temperature was rapidly decreasing. Asher suffered from rheumatic disease as an after¨Ceffect following his previous reckless actions. The cold and moist weather caused his knees to give way. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Waves of pain swept through Asher¡¯s body, causing him to copse in agony. The searing torment in his limbs made it impossible for him to focus, let alone hold onto a pen and continue working on his scripture studies. Knowing that his disease might act up in such weather, Sienna hurriedly grabbed an umbre and raced to the ancestral hall of the vi. By the time she arrived, Asher was already drenched in cold sweat due to the pain. Beads of salty sweat seeped into the open wounds on his back, intensifying the pain and causing him to suffer more. His entire being endured both physical and mental torment. ¡°Hubby!¡± Sienna¡¯s heart shattered as she cried out, choking back on tears. She quickly summoned the bodyguards, who then helped carry Asher to see the family doctor. The doctor was familiar with Asher¡¯s knee and back injuries and was skilled at tending to his wounds. After tending to the wounds, the doctor gave Asher a pain¨Crelieving injection and intravenous treatment to ease inmmation and provide nourishment. The sick Ashery weakly in bed, his former vitality reced by frailty. The rain continued to pour outside, exacerbating the piercing pain in his knees caused by the weather. The doctor gave him some painkillers, causing him to drift between moments of rity and bouts of disorientation. He also found it difficult to speak due to his hoarse throat. Sienna sat beside him, her sobs echoing in the room. She was heartbroken to witness her beloved husband in such a weakened state. Annie, who had already fallen asleep, was awakened by the noise. When she noticed the slightly ajar door to the master bedroom, she casually knocked twice before entering. Sienna turned around and caught sight of her. Without hesitation, she fetched a chair and positioned it next to the bedside. ¡°Please, have a seat, Ms. Annie.¡± Annie didn¡¯t bother with formalities and made herself at home. She walked over and sat down to check on Asher¡¯s condition. ¡°The punishment that Ms. Harris gave Mr. Asher seems excessively harsh. Is it taking a toll on his body?¡± Sienna wiped her tears with a tissue as she nodded. ¡°No one knew it will rain today. His rheumatism has red up, and the pain is too much for him.¡± Annie sighed as well, the look in her eyes revealing traces of genuine sympathy. She promptly decided to seize the opportunity and continued persuading, ¡°Mrs. Harris, you shouldn¡¯t hesitate anymore. If this continues, Mr. Asher might very well be tortured to death. He used to be one of the most prominent figures in Chanaea, a top pilot, and even the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Now, he¡¯s left idle at home and subjected to Ms. Harris¡® bullying. Are you really going to tolerate this?¡± Sienna sighed and responded, ¡°Yes, I share your sentiments, but I¡¯ve discussed this with Asher, and he vehemently opposes any intervention. What can I do if he disagrees?¡± She couldn¡¯tprehend Asher¡¯s resolute stance on the issue. Asher still stood firm in his decision, adamantly refusing to assist Annie in causing harm to Gwendolyn although Sienna had conveyed Gwendolyn¡¯s intentions to him. If he resented Gwendolyn, he wouldn¡¯t have willingly epted his punishment. He seemed determined to avoid getting entangled in this matter, choosing to feign ignorance. However, Sienna understood well that if Annie really turned out to be the illegitimate daughter, Evelyn, Asher would find himself caught between his biological sister and the half¨Csister he had once assisted. He couldn¡¯t simply extricate himself from the sticky situation. The more Sienna contemted the matter, the more troubled she became. Undeterred, Annie continued to persuade, ¡°Or perhaps, you needn¡¯t seek Mr. Asher¡¯s consent anymore. You can take charge of the situation yourself. We will clear the path for him, and once everything is settled, Mr. Asher will have no choice but to stand united with us.¡± Sienna pretended to be conflicted, carefully contemting her options. Eventually, she consented to the arrangement. ¡°Very well. I will entrust you with this matter. I will follow your lead, but I want Gwendolyn to pay the price for tormenting Asher.¡± Annie smiled warmly and replied, ¡°Certainly.¡± After spending some time by Asher¡¯s sickbed in the master bedroom, Annie returned to her own room and sent a text message to Paul. In truth, Paul had arrived in Salinsburgh a couple of days ago, tired of maintaining a long¨Cdistance rtionship with his girlfriend. He had checked into a nearby hotel, unable to bear the separation any longer. Annie shared her ambitious n to seize control of the Harris Group with Paul. Once Gwendolyn¡¯s influence was undermined and Asher assumed power, Harris Group could establish a Chapter 570 No Strands Of Hair Chapter570NoStrandsOfHair Apart from learning that Cedrick was on a business trip, Annie also stumbled upon another good news. Xander, the younger scion of the Jenson family who had been banished from Salinsburgh by Cedrick, had returned. She could use this news to her advantage and prepare her next move. As night fell, Annie stood by the window, her smile both enchanting and venomous. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn, who had enjoyed a respite from her manic episodes for several days, finally sumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep in theboratory. However, her slumber caused her illness to rpse. Joshua, who was physically weak, stood no chance against Gwendolyn, the martial arts expert. Hence, he could only observe helplessly from the sidelines, unable to intervene. He summoned the few guards who were present during thete hours to spar with Gwendolyn. When Gwendolyn was in her maniac state, she disyed immense physical strength. As a result, the guards had to avoid causing her harm while protecting themselves from injury at the same time, which was a challenging task for them. Joshua¡¯s eyes widened with trepidation as he witnessed the guards swiftly sumbing to Gwendolyn¡¯s blows. Undeterred by their battered and swollen faces, the dedicated guards did not give up. The confrontation soon transformed from a sparring session into a one¨Csided cathartic release of pent¨C up frustration. After a grueling two hours, Gwendolyn was utterly drained and fell into a deep sleep once again. Joshua watched in fear and awe as the scene unfolded before him. The guards, bearing visible injuries, were miserable. ¡°Prof. Mallory, can this be considered a work¨Crted injury?¡± one of the guards asked. ¡°Mrs. Jenson is truly formidable. Just look at what she¡¯s done to my face,¡± another guard added. ¡°She¡¯s such a scary woman!¡± The guards¡® voices were filled with sorrow and frustration as theyined tearfully. Joshua clicked his tongue as he marveled at Cedrick¡¯s remarkable feat of engaging in a two¨Chour spar with the ferocious Gwendolyn without sustaining any injuries. His admiration for the man deepened as he was in awe of thetter¡¯sbat skills. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is considered a work injury,¡± Joshua assured them. ¡°Cedrick has promised to cover all medical expenses and provide triplepensation. So, the beating you endured is worth it.¡± Feeling reassured by Joshua¡¯s promise, the guards heaved a sigh of relief and went to receive medical treatment. Meanwhile, Joshua made the necessary preparations for Gwendolyn¡¯s intravenous therapy. As he sat by her bedside and gazed at her serene sleeping face, the memory of her awe¨Cinspiring combat skills filled his heart with terror. He sighed andmented, ¡°Cedrick, when are youing back? If your wife experiences another episode, theboratory will bepletely destroyed.¡± Gwendolyn only woke up at noon the next day because of her episode. Diligently following Cedrick¡¯s instructions, Joshua prepared a nourishing bowl of oatmeal for Gwendolyn. She showed no signs of rejection and obediently consumed the oatmeal. In fact, she exuded the grace and poise of a privileged heiress, a stark contrast to the frenzied woman he had witnessed the previous night. Joshua sat by the bedside and observed Gwendolyn as she consumed the oatmeal. He then proceeded to recount the events of the previous night. ¡°That¡¯s how it went. There were only a few guards on the night shift, and you managed to injure four of themst night. What¡¯s going to happen tonight?¡± He was genuinely worried about the state of theb if Gwendolyn continued to experience bouts of mania for several more days. After carefully considering the situation, Gwendolyn felt a sense of remorse and proposed a solution. ¡°Can I transfer a few of my personal bodyguards here as backup?¡± ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Desperate times call for desperate measures.¡± After finishing the oatmeal, Gwendolyn made a phone call and promptly summoned Elven, Ezra, and two other guards stationed at Valentino¡¯s vi to guard theboratory. They were initially assigned to protect Zendaya and Benedict. There were many guards at Valentino¡¯s vi, and ordinary people couldn¡¯t simply enter. So, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues to deploy the guards away. Just as she finished the call, Gwendolyn received a message from Cedrick. As expected, there was a dy in the schedule. Cedrick sent her photos of his tent at the border and him having a campfire with a few people, roasting wild rabbits. He wanted to reassure her that he was doing well. Cedrick texted: Darling, it¡¯s hard to find spices and seasoning at the border, but the roasted rabbit tastes delightful. Nevertheless, it can¡¯tpare to your fantastic cooking. It¡¯s only the second night of my business trip, but I can¡¯t fall asleep because I miss you so much. I will do my best to forcefully suppress the unrest on this side of the border within the next few days and return safely. Please don¡¯t about me. Gwendolyn felt a wave of relief wash over her when she learned that he was safe. She hoped to find a resolution to Annie¡¯s problem before his return, allowing them to embrace a peaceful family life. Soon after, she got up, freshened up, and left theboratory quickly to go to Harris Group for work. Meanwhile, Annie was having a leisurely stroll outside the vi after lunch. Just then, she noticed something different at the entrance of the vi. Several unfamiliar guards were stationed at the gate, and they didn¡¯t seem like Asher¡¯s men. As expected, when Annie nonchntly approached the gate, she was stopped by the guards. ¡°Where are you going, Ms. Annie?¡± She smiled innocently and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been cooped up at Mount Tranquil for the past few days. I would love to head outside to catch up with some of my old friends in Chanaea.¡± The guards nodded and replied, ¡°You¡¯re wee to go wherever you¡¯d like. However, Ms. Harris has instructed you to call and inform her when you want to leave the ce. After all, you are our guest, and we should ensure your safety. We will also arrange for guards to apany you so that you stay safe.¡± Annie¡¯s smile faded away. ¡°Does she see me as a guest or a criminal? Why is she monitoring me so closely?¡± The guards bowed respectfully, ¡°You are a guest, of course.¡± Annie couldn¡¯t convince them to make an exception; no matter what she said, the guards responded with rehearsed bureaucratic excuses. Without anybat skills or agility, there was no chance for her to ditch the two guards apanying her. ¡°Forget it. How disappointing. I shall stay here instead.¡± Annie let out a feigned sigh of disappointment and turned toward a secluded corner of the garden. Even though she could not leave the ce, she could still instruct Paul toplete the task. With that, sheposed a concise text message and tapped the send button, instructing the man to make the necessary preparations and be ready for any unforeseen circumstances. Sienna finally had the chance to slip into Annie¡¯s bedroom when thetter was out. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Gwendolyn had mentioned her desire to obtain a strand of Annie¡¯s hair for DNA testing. In order toplete the task Gwendolyn assigned her, Sienna, a member of the prominent Harris family, found herself rummaging through the trash can for the first time. However, she only found discarded snack wrappers and empty yogurt containers in the trash can in Annie¡¯s room. The pillows and bedding were neatly arranged, devoid of any strands of hair. Hence, she shifted her attention to the bathroom. Sienna thoroughly searched every inch of the bathroom, even inspecting the tissue¨Cfilled trash can twice, yet she couldn¡¯t find a single strand of Annie¡¯s hair. It was incredibly strange. As a girl with long hair, it was impossible for her living environment to be completely hair¨Cfree. This only meant that Annie was vignt, protecting her secret by meticulously cleaning up her shed hair at regr intervals. Sienna gradually came to realize that Gwendolyn was probably right about Annie being anything but simple. Unable to obtain Annie¡¯s hair as she had hoped, Sienna lowered her head in disappointment and left the room. To her surprise, she ran into Annie, who had just returned from the garden. Sienna was startled as she locked her gaze on Annie; her mind went nk momentarily. Annie looked around her room and then at Sienna, who wore a startled expression. ¡°Mrs. Harris, why are you in my room?¡± she asked skeptically. Chapter 571 Having Ospean Food For Dinner Chapter571HavingOspeanFoodForDinner Sienna was quick to regain herposure even when questioned. ¡°I came here because I wanted to have a little chat with you, only to find out that you weren¡¯t in after I entered the room. Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d run into you on my way out?¡± Her calm expression and graceful smile made it impossible to tell that she was startled just seconds ago. ¡°What did you want to talk about, Mrs. Harris? We can talk about it now that I¡¯m back,¡± Annie asked while observing Sienna¡¯s expression. ¡°I was going to ask you when you n on making your move. Asher may be excused from his punishment due to his illness, but he will have to return to the ancestral hall once he gets better. I can¡¯t bear to watch him faint from the abuse again,¡± Sienna said. Annie could understand the cause of Sienna¡¯s anxiousness. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Harris. I have made all the necessary preparations on my end and will make my move within a few days.¡± Sienna breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Annie was about to walk past her and enter the room when Sienna grabbed her by the wrist. ¡°The weather has gotten really warmtely, and my long hair isn¡¯t making things any better for me. I was thinking of getting my hair done today! Would you like toe with me, Ms. Annie?¡± Sienna suggested amicably. ¡°Get your hair done?¡± Sienna let out a chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard young girls love dyeing their hair gray these days. I think you should give it a try, Ms. Annie.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind keeping youpany while you get your hair done, Mrs. Harris, but I won¡¯t be getting mine done. I prefer my natural hair color, so I would prefer to not change it, Annie said without any hesitation whatsoever. ¡°Your hair sure looks great, Ms. Annie. I still think you would look even better if you dye it, though. Life is all about trying new things, after all. Besides, it would be pretty boring if you just sit there and watch me get my hair done.¡± Annie shook her head and stood firm on her decision. ¡°I really don¡¯t like dyeing my hair, Mrs. Harris. If you want to go to the salon, I¡¯ll pack my stuff and head- out with you in a bit.¡± Feeling disappointed, Sienna replied, ¡°Forget it. There¡¯s no point in me going if you won¡¯t join me, so I¡¯ll just put up with it for a few more days. I¡¯ll go check on Asher in his room. Feel free toe see me if you ever need anything, Ms. Annie.¡± ¡°I will.¡± The two then politely excused themselves and went their separate ways. Annie quickly locked her bedroom door from the inside while Sienna returned to the master bedroom with a disappointed look on her face.¡± Asher was sleeping soundly on therge bed of the master bedroom. Exhausted from reciting and copying the scripture for a few days straight, he was using this opportunity to get some rest while he was sick. Not wanting to disturb him, Sienna simply sat down beside the bed without making a sound. I couldn¡¯t find a single strand of hair inside Annie¡¯s room, and she refuses to get her hair done either. Given how Annie is being extremely cautious around me, I doubt I will be able toplete the task that Gwendolyn assigned me. With that in mind, Sienna sent Gwendolyn a text to brief her on the situation. It wasn¡¯t long before she received a reply from Gwendolyn. The message read: Just wait and see. Sienna figured Gwendolyn probably had a n for this, so she decided to ce her trust in Gwendolyn and stopped worrying about it. When it was time for dinner, Sienna fed Asher some soup before heading downstairs with the empty bowl. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Annie was already seated and waiting for Sienna by the time thetter arrived at the dining hall. Sienna then handed the empty bowl over to the housekeeper before sitting down across from Annie. Annie gracefully munched on the food during dinner while chatting with Sienna. ¡°Chanaean cuisine sure tastes unique and amazing. I was lucky enough to enjoy Chanaean food for a few years while studying here, but the cooking of the Harris family¡¯s chef is the best I have tasted so far.¡± ¡°You can have more if you like it,¡± Sienna replied with a polite smile. Annie nodded obediently before asking, ¡°Have you ever tried Ospean cuisine, Mrs. Harris?¡± ¡°I have been to Ospea while I was on an international flight with Asher. That was when I had a chance to try out the capital city¡¯s delicacies.¡± ¡°What do you think of the taste, then?¡± Oblivious to the reason she brought that up, Sienna replied casually, ¡°It¡¯s not bad. Every country¡¯s cuisine is unique in their own way, I suppose.¡± Annie nced at the two chefs and the housekeepers, who were standing next to the dining table, and gave it some thought before continuing, ¡°I have been eating Chanaean food ever since I got here a few days ago. I¡¯m starting to miss Ospean cuisine. Could you help me out with that, Mrs. Harris?¡± Sienna paused in her tracks as she realized Annie was likely hinting at something. ¡°Do you have something in mind, Ms. Annie?¡± ¡°I know a chef from Ospea. He¡¯s an old friend of mine. Could you enlist his services for a few days and have him prepare our meals here at the Harris residence?¡± Since hiring a chef wasn¡¯t a big deal, Sienna saw no reason to deny that request. Besides, she had already promised Anniest night that she wouldply with all her arrangements. ¡°All right. We can arrange for the chef toe over tomorrow if you¡¯d like.¡± Annie shed her a bright smile. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± She then lowered her gaze to conceal the sinister glint in her eyes as she continued, ¡°Mr. Asher is sick, but Ms. Harris has yet toe and visit him. Why don¡¯t you invite her over for dinner tomorrow? That way, she could also have a taste of Ospean cuisine.¡± That was when Sienna noticed something was off about Annie¡¯s suggestion. Hmm? Is Annie nning to make her move? She looked Annie in the eye in an attempt to see what she had in mind, but Annie simply maintained an innocent and harmless smile. Her superb acting skills and wless pretense made it impossible to determine what she was up to. While Sienna was unsure of Annie¡¯s intentions, she did not hesitate to respond as Gwendolyn had given her instructions beforehand. ¡°Sure thing. He is her brother, and he only fell sick because of her punishment, so it¡¯s only natural that she shoulde to visit him.¡± Having received the green light, Annie smiled even brighter. ¡°That¡¯s settled, then. I will contact the chef and have him report for duty tomorrow morning. He will need some time to get used to your kitchenware so he can prepare dinner for us. Look forward to tasting some of Ospea¡¯s famous delicacies, Mrs. Harris!¡± After the meal, Sienna then gave Gwendolyn a call in front of Annie. ¡°Hey, Gwen. Asher is sick and doesn¡¯t seem to be doing well. Could youe to visit him and maybe stay for dinner? Ms. Annie is your guest, so you should at least show her some hospitality.¡± Gwendolyn could tell from Sienna¡¯s tone that Annie was right next to her. ¡°Got it. I will head over once I¡¯m done with work tomorrow,¡± she replied coldly and ended the call. Sienna turned toward Annie andined angrily, ¡°You see that? I¡¯m her sister¨Cinw, and this is the attitude she gives me. Not only did she not greet me politely, but she even behaves impatiently when speaking to me!¡± She sighed inwardly, anxiously hoping that Annie would reveal more of her n for tomorrow night, but Annie simply held her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to suffer Ms. Harris¡® wrath because of Mr. Asher, but don¡¯t worry. This will all be over soon.¡± Seeing as Annie did not reveal anything about her n, Sienna decided to take the initiative and sound her out. ¡°Are your preparations for tomorrow nightplete? You¡¯re not going to get anyone killed, are you?¡± Chapter 572 Gwendolyn Fainted Chapter572GwendolynFainted Annie patted her on the hand as constion and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Harris. I am simply helping you and Mr. Asher reim what rightfully belongs to you two while getting Antea Group a couple of coboration projects while I¡¯m at it. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d harm anyone¡¯s life!¡± She then leaned in close and whispered into Sienna¡¯s ear, ¡°The preparations for tomorrow night are complete. All you have to do is y along with me, Mrs. Harris.¡± Given how cautious Annie was being Sienna decided not to ask any further as doing so would only make her suspicious. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should get some rest, Ms. Annie.¡± Sienna then pulled her hand back and made her way upstairs. Annie simply watched her go without saying a word. The next day, Gwendolyn took her own sweet time returning to Mount Tranquil afterpleting her preparations. Because Asher¡¯s legs were hurting, he never left his bed except to shower and use the bathroom. Sienna even had to feed him his meals in bed. The chefs were busy preparing dinner in the kitchen when Gwendolyn arrived. She caught a whiff of the fragrant aroma of the food the moment she entered the house. Sienna and Annie weed her at the front door, but she simply shed them a cold look before heading upstairs to check on Asher. ¡°Sienna, Ms. Annie, please step outside for a bit. There is something that I would like to discuss with Asher in private.¡± ¡°All right. Don¡¯t take too long, though. Dinner is almost ready.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and waited until the two had left the room before locking the door from inside. She then walked up to the frail Asher, who was leaning on the headboard, and sat down beside his bed. ¡°What would you like to ask me about, Ms. Harris?¡± Asher asked in a hoarse voice. ¡°I want to know what you¡¯re running away from.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± he asked, lowering his gaze. ¡°With your strong physique, it¡¯s not possible for you to remain bedridden for three days straight even though your rheumatism was acting up, and yet, look at you now. You refuse to get out of bed and need Sienna to feed you every meal,¡± Gwendolyn said, exposing his pretense instantly. Asher simply blinked at her and lowered his gaze in silence. ¡°You want to stay out of this and let Annie and I fight each other so you can side with the winnerter on. Is that what you¡¯re trying to do?¡± Gwendolyn pressed on. Asher clutched at the nket without saying a word. Gwendolyn shot him an icy¨Ccold re before gracefully standing up and smoothening out the wrinkles on her skirt. ¡°I suggest you take some time to think this through. If Annie is not rted to Evelyn, then she will naturally have nothing to do with you. If the contrary is true, however, you will have to make a choice. Just keep in mind that Kieran, Treyton, and everyone else in the Harris family will never forgive you if you make the wrong choice, and Sienna will suffer along with you,¡± Gwendolyn said before turning around and walking toward the door. ¡°I¡¯m not running away from anything, Kiddo. I just¡­¡± Not wanting to hear his exnation, Gwendolyn opened the door and walked straight out of the master bedroom without sparing him another nce. Asher had a conflicted look in his eyes as he stared at the empty room around him. Sienna and Annie were already seated at the dining table by the time Gwendolyn made her way downstairs. They seemed to be having a pleasant conversation. Gwendolyn walked up to the table and sat down at the main seat. The look on Annie¡¯s face was frozen for a split second when she saw that Gwendolyn did not even think to leave that seat vacant for Asher. However, she was quick to regain herposure and went back to smiling gently again. Since everyone had already taken their seats at the dining table, the chefs quickly served up the food. ¡°Did we hire a new chef?¡± Gwendolyn asked Sienna when she saw that some of the dishes were new. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Ms. Annie said she wanted to have some Ospean food, so we hired a chef from Ospea to prepare them for her. These five dishes are the ones that new chef made.¡± Gwendolyn picked up her fork and tasted one of the dishes that resembled tater tots. ¡°Hmm, it tastes pretty good.¡± Acting as though thepliment was directed at her, Annie spoke happily as her face lit up with joy. ¡°Have some more if you like it, Ms. Harris. The Ospean chef has also made us all some marinated steak. Would you care to try some, Ms. Harris?¡± She then shot the Ospean chef, who was standing behind her, a nce. The chef quickly retrieved three tes of steak from the kitchen and served them up. ¡°The sear on the steak makes it look very appetizing, and it smells great with the red wine and ck pepper sauce,¡± Gwendolynmented while admiring the steak before her. After receiving the cutlery from the housekeepers, Gwendolyn gracefully cut a small chunk of the steak and put it in her mouth. Both Sienna and Annie stared at her as she munched on it. The former¡¯s eyes were filled with anxiety, whereas thetter¡¯s were filled with glee. ¡°Why are you two looking at me like that?¡± Gwendolyn asked when she noticed their reactions. ¡°I¡¯m simply amazed by your elegance and grace when cutting the steak, Ms. Harris. Who would¡¯ve LA thought a person could look this good while dining? You truly live up to your status as Chanaea¡¯s wealthiest woman!¡± Annie replied with a smile. ¡°Oh, spare me the ttery. I still have some business to attend toter tonight, so let¡¯s just get this dinner over with as soon as possible,¡± Gwendolyn replied without any hesitation whatsoever. Annie retracted her gaze and continued eating her steak in silence. With no one else talking at the dinner table, the meal was over fairly quickly. Gwendolyn felt fine during the meal, but she started feeling unwell when she had just finished her food and began massaging her forehead weakly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Gwen?¡± Sienna asked worriedly. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t think much about it at the time. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m probably just too tired from overworkingtely. I should be fine after taking a break in your guest room, Sienna.¡± ¡°Sure thing. Here, let me walk you there.¡± Sienna then helped Gwendolyn up the stairs and was about to bring her to the guest room. Once they were out of Annie¡¯s sight, Gwendolyn quickly retrieved a pill she had prepared beforehand and popped it into her mouth before copsing into Sienna¡¯s arms. ¡°Gwen? Gwen! Wake up!¡± Annie came running over as soon as she heard Sienna¡¯s anxious cries. ¡°Did Ms. Harris faint?¡± Not wanting to y along with her any further, Sienna said, ¡°Yes, she¡¯s unconscious, so you can drop the act now. Did you spike her steak with something? What should we do now?¡± The look on Annie¡¯s face grew cold instantly as she replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry; it¡¯s just a sedative. Get her into the ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . guest room and tie her up.¡± Sienna did as told while Annie returned to her room, put on a pair of leather gloves to hide her fingerprints, and retrieved a document that Paul had the chef deliver to her. After grabbing a ck pen as well, Annie made her way over to the guest room where Gwendolyn was being held in. Sienna had tied the unconscious Gwendolyn¡¯s arms and ankles up with ropes. Annie ced the documents down on the table and signed Gwendolyn¡¯s name on the bottom right corner. Sienna leaned in to have a better look, only to realize it was a document to have Gwendolyn hand Harris Group over. Annie¡¯s forged signature looked so simr to Gwendolyn¡¯s that it was almost impossible to tell the difference. ¡°How are you able to forge Gwendolyn¡¯s signature?¡± Sienna eximed in shock. ¡°Ms. Harris is a businesswoman whom I admire deeply, so I learned her signature a long time ago,¡± Annie replied nonchntly while signing the document. That was when Sienna realized something. The fact that Annie had learned to forge Gwendolyn¡¯s signature implied she had nned this all in advance. Chapter 573 Changing In A Snap Chapter573ChangingInASnap By now, Sienna became increasingly convinced by what Gwendolyn had told her before. While she was deep in thought, Annie had signed the document, grabbed an ink pad, and pressed Gwendolyn¡¯s thumb onto the ink. Annie maintained a calm gaze and kept her intentions hidden after doing all that in one go, no longer acting like a harmless rabbit. She passed the document to Sienna. ¡°With this waiver, Harris Group rightfully belongs to Mr. Asher. You can rest easy now, Mrs. Harris.¡± Sienna nced through the details. ¡°But Gwendolyn¡¯s only unconscious for now and will wake up eventually. She didn¡¯t even sign this document on her own. What if she denies having signed it?¡± Annie remainedposed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be taking her away tonight, so she won¡¯t show up for a while. I still suggest you talk Mr. Asher into taking office, though. Things may getplicated if the matter gets dragged on.¡± Sienna furrowed her brows. ¡°Where will you take her?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t something you should be asking, Mrs. Harris. Our agreement was for me to help Mr. Asher regain what¡¯s his and relinquish Gwendolyn¡¯s power. With this document, everything will be aplished. I¡¯ve done my part, so I should be getting what I want next¨Cand all I want is to take Gwendolyn away.¡± ¡°You!¡± Without waiting for Sienna to continue, Annie whipped out her phone and sent a voice message in Epean. ¡°I¡¯ve got Gwendolyn all tied up. Get her out of here now.¡± In less than two minutes, the new chef from Ospea removed his apron and chef¡¯s uniform to reveal a ck suit fitting for a bodyguard. Per Annie¡¯s instructions, he entered the guest room, swiftly ced the unconscious Gwendolyn over his shoulder, and turned to leave. Sienna went after them, feeling slightly anxious. ¡°What are you nning, Annie? We¡¯re in Chanaea! You¡¯re basically kidnapping if you take her away with you like this. If anything were to happen to her, do you think you¡¯d get to avoid jail time just because you¡¯re Ospean?¡± Given that she was so close to achieving her goal, Annie disregarded Sienna and followed the bodyguard closely, walking along the aisle and preparing to head down the stairs. ¡°Hold it right there.¡± Right then, a deep, hoarse voice sounded out. Annie stopped in her tracks and turned around slowly, only to notice Asher walking overboriously with -one hand against the wall for support, seemingly in excruciating pain due to his leg. ¡°Put her down,¡± the man ordered sternly, his eyes gleaming with an intense look of authority. Annie¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she asserted, ¡°I gave you exactly what you wanted, Mr. Asher, but there¡¯s something Gwendolyn owes me. I want it back from her, and you can¡¯t stop me.¡± Filled with rage, Asher raised his hand and pped her across the face. p! The crisp sound echoed across the hallway. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Even Sienna was shocked, for she had not expected Asher to strike the woman. Annie was pped so hard that her head tilted to one side, and it wasn¡¯t long before a red handprint appeared on her cheek. With a grim expression, she rubbed her face to soothe the burning pain. A whileter, she tamped down her rage and sneered instead ofshing out at Asher. ¡°That¡¯s how you want it to be? Fine. I won¡¯t take that p to heart, but I¡¯m still taking her away, and you don¡¯t have a say in this.¡± Amidst the tense atmosphere, the woman once again took out her phone and dialed Paul¡¯s number. ¡°Honey, are you waiting for me at the bottom of Mount Tranquil? You can send your men toe get me now,¡± she said coyly. ¡°Mr. Asher doesn¡¯t want me to leave with Gwendolyn, so I¡¯ll need your help!¡± There weren¡¯t many bodyguards on Mount Tranquil tonight. Gwendolyn had assigned many of them elsewhere, saying that more hands were needed to guard a new project that was in the midst of development. Thus, Paul and his men could make their way over with little to no hassle. As he was still injured, Asher was too weak to do anything about it. He could only stand by and watch Annie and Paul leave with an unconscious Gwendolyn. Several ck vans soon sped away and left the mountain in a sh before disappearing into the night. Asher was so livid that he punched the wall, causing Sienna to rush over and check on him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, this is all still within Gwen¡¯s control. She always knows what she¡¯s doing, so everything will be fine. We¡¯ll just wait for her to take care of things,¡± she said, trying to console Asher. Asher turned around and red at her. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! What if she didn¡¯t know what she was doing, and you just went along with her like an idiot?¡± Sore about getting lectured when she was only trying to console him, Sienna retorted, ¡°Well, I¡¯m not as clueless as you are. At least I know who to side with! What about you? If you keep ying dumb, you¡¯re going to end up on your own, and no one in the family will acknowledge you!¡± Asher sighed and said, ¡°Cedrick¡¯s currently on a business trip, so he¡¯s brought his best assistants along with him. Kiddo doesn¡¯t have her biggest support around to help her.¡± He continued, ¡°Paul¡¯s movements may be restricted while he¡¯s in Chanaea, but he¡¯s still an Ospean noble. Even if he ends up killing someone in Chanaea, Ospea will send a diplomat over to have him return to his own country for the trial. With his power in Ospea, he could just find a scapegoat and get himself out of trouble. Annie has him as her support, so it certainly won¡¯t be easy for Kiddo to handle this when Cedrick¡¯s not around.¡± A crease formed between Sienna¡¯s brows as she listened to his exnation. Despite her anxiousness, she still believed in Gwendolyn. ¡°Even if Cedrick¡¯s not here, she still has you, doesn¡¯t she? You¡¯ll have to be her support. get that Kiddo tends to hold grudges, but she also remembers all the good done to her. This is your chance to patch things up with her, Hubby!¡± Asher looked down and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s been about a year since I resigned and stayed home doing nothing. I¡¯m not as influential as I used to be. Cedrick¡¯s definitely far more powerful than I am now.¡± He couldn¡¯t guarantee Gwendolyn¡¯s safety if anything were to happen to her. Still, he would do his best to protect her¨Cwhether or not she would forgive him when it was over. With that in consideration, the man made a call to have a private army check the roads¡® surveince cameras so they could locate and rescue his sister. Meanwhile, the still¨Cunconscious Gwendolyn had been ced in the back of one of the vans. The two bodyguards watching her noted how exquisite she looked. Although she had passed out, there was no hiding her stunning beauty. On top of that, since she was tied up, her posture entuated her voluptuous body. The guards couldn¡¯t help ogling at her curves. Eyes filled with lust, the men gulped and attempted to touch Gwendolyn¡¯s silky skin¨Conly to be stopped by Annie. ¡°Keep your hands to yourselves,¡± she ordered from the front. ¡°If you touch her where you shouldn¡¯t, I¡¯ll have Paul mince your hands and feed them to the dogs. A chill ran down the bodyguards¡® spines. ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am! ¡°Remember this¨Cyou don¡¯t get to touch Gwendolyn even if she ends up my ve or if I torture her to death,¡± Annie added frostily. ¡°Understood, Ms. Annie! She¡¯s yours, so we will never dare toy a finger on her.¡± Seeing the two men behave themselves, Annie retracted her gaze as her usual cheery and nonchnt demeanor returned. The bodyguards shuddered at the sight. Her personality changes in a snap! That¡¯s terrifying. Chapter 574 Disfigure Chapter574Disfigure More than ten minutester, the ck vans stopped at an old, abandoned factory on the outskirts. A bodyguard carried Gwendolyn to a tattered, dusty room in the factory andid her on the dirty ground. Just as the bodyguard was about to leave, he caught a peculiar sight at the corner of his eye. He noticed Gwendolyn¡¯s head lying on the dirt move a little. Hence, he turned his head back and scrutinized her but spotted nothing suspicious. Hmm, I guess my eyes were ying tricks on me. He then left the room, locked the door, and stationed four bodyguards at the entrance. Concurrently, Annie was speaking with Paul in front of the old factory. With a grim expression, Paul admonished her in a faint voice because he didn¡¯t have the heart to berate her too harshly. ¡°Why did you insist on kidnapping her? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking of killing her. You¡¯re aware she¡¯s the richest woman in Chanaea, right? Her status is extraordinary. Not to mention her husband is Cedrick Jenson, and we¡¯re still in Chanaea territory. If anything happens, I¡¯ll be able to flee unscathed, but I may not be able to protect you.¡± In reality, he opposed the n to kidnap Gwendolyn. However, he couldn¡¯t say much over the phone to stop his girlfriend, so he had no choice but to go along with her n first. Though he was reprimanding her, his tone was gentle. However, Annie acted as though she was frightened by his reproach and began tearing up, looking piteous and aggrieved. ¡°Oh, Honey. Why are you crying? I didn¡¯t mean to scold you. I¡¯m just worried about your safety,¡± comforted Paul. Her tear¨Cfilled eyes immediately threw him off bnce and made him loseposure. Without dy, he pulled his girlfriend into his embrace and consoled her tenderly. Sobbing quietly, Annie exined, ¡°You¡¯ve no idea how Gwendolyn bullied me for the past few days. I came all the way to Chanaea to meet her because she stole my business. Yet, she deliberately ignored me for two to three days. Also, look at my face.¡± She turned her injured cheek to him and showed him the red handprint on it. Initially, Paul didn¡¯t notice her injury because it was dark, but once he took a closer look at her cheek, he spotted it. ¡°Does it hurt, Honey? Was she the one who hit you? Didn¡¯t she faint after she was drugged?¡± Tears streamed down Annie¡¯s cheeks as she lied through her teeth, ¡°Gwendolyn hit me before dinner when I tried to speak up for Mr. Asher because I didn¡¯t like the way she tormented him. She pped me ¨C and told me to know my ce. I informed her I was your girlfriend, but she didn¡¯t take you seriously at all. She was really mean.¡± Paul¡¯s rage boiled over as he listened to her true¨Cto¨Clife story. ¡°Did she really do that?¡± ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s too arrogant. Honey, the most important thing to a woman is her face. She didn¡¯t hesitate to p me even though I¡¯m her guest! That¡¯s no different from disrespecting you. You mustn¡¯t let this slide easily.¡± Heartbroken, Paul caressed her swollen cheek. ¡°Of course I won¡¯t stand by and do nothing! After all, I¡¯m an Ospean noble, and you¡¯re my beloved girlfriend. Gwendolyn deserves to be punished, but what punishment do you have in mind?¡± A vicious look swirled in her eyes as she spoke ruthlessly in an innocent and adorable tone. ¡°I want to destroy her foxy countenance with my own hands. Then, I¡¯ll change her name, transport her out of Chanaea, and turn her into my personal maid. I¡¯ll make her perform the lowliest tasks and kneel before me, begging for my forgiveness!¡± Paul was dumbfounded when he heard that. In his eyes, Annie had always been a cute, innocent, and na?ve woman. Hence, he didn¡¯t expect her to utter such vile, malicious words. ¡°Are you aware of what you¡¯re saying, Annie?¡® In response, Annie withdrew the sharp look in her eyes and leaned into his embrace. ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill her. It¡¯s more interesting to turn her into my ve. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s exciting? The richest woman in Chanaea serving me as a ve. If we can achieve that, the Ospean nobles will regain their dignity.¡± Paul was easily swayed by her. ¡°You¡¯re so magnanimous and adorable, Honey. I would¡¯ve killed her if I was in your shoes, yet you want to spare her life.¡± They then made out affectionately under the moonlight. Before Paul could deepen the kiss, however, Annie stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s getting veryte, Honey. We should wrap things up and leave Chanaea tomorrow, all right?¡± ¡°Sure. Anything you say.¡± He removed a brand¨Cnew dagger from his pocket. ¡°It¡¯s quite sharp, so be careful and don¡¯t identally cut yourself. ¡° Upon epting the knife, Annie nted a kiss on the man¡¯s sideburn. ¡°I love you, Paul,¡± she said coyly. After gaining permission to approach Gwendolyn alone, she stepped into the tattered building. Tactfully, the bodyguards shut the door and waited outside. Gwendolyn seemed to be still unconscious as she remained unmoved on the ground. Squatting down next to Gwendolyn, Annie pressed the dagger close to the former¡¯s countenance. She brushed the tip of the de on Gwendolyn¡¯s fair, smooth skin, seemingly not in a hurry to act. Gwendolyn was woken up by the slight prickly sensation and slowly opened her eyes, meeting Annie¡¯s gaze. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m d that you¡¯re awake just in time, Ms. Harris,¡± stated Annie. Composed, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Did you kidnap me? Why do you hate me so much?¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I do hate you. You know, I think it¡¯ll be quite interesting to see your pretty face ruined.¡± An arrogant look dominated Annie¡¯s eyes. She was no longer pretending to be innocent as her malevolence revealed itself bit by bit. Smiling, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Annie Steinfeld and I have no grudges against one another. The only woman who bears such intense hatred toward me in this world is Evelyn. So, who are you?¡± Annie arched her eyebrow disdainfully. ¡°Evelyn¡¯s dead. A mere illegitimate daughter of the Harris family is iparable to me. I¡¯m Annie Steinfeld.¡± However, Gwendolyn didnt beneve ner. I let you do as you please with me in the past, yet you still refuse to admit it?¡± ¡°I never was her, so why should I admit anything?¡± insisted Annie resolutely. With a vicious look, she pointed the dagger at Gwendolyn again. ¡°I¡¯ll leave thirty shes on your face. After disfiguring you, I¡¯ll change your name, remove you from this country, and turn you into my ve. I want you to perform the dirtiest and most tiring tasks for me. You¡¯ll also receive thirty whips every day and kneel every night.¡± The more she spoke, the more her resentment swelled. Suddenly, she cackled maniacally. ¡°This is how you tortured others, Gwendolyn! Once you have a taste of your own medicine, you¡¯ll know what it¡¯s like!¡± Gwendolyn merely red at Annie coldly. She didn¡¯t panic one bit even though her limbs were tired and Annie was holding a sharp dagger. Her calm expression pissed Annie off. Abruptly, Annie pinched Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°What I hate the most about you is how serene you always seem to appear, as if everything is within your control! Who do you think you are to look down on others? You don¡¯t have the right to do that! Your life is destined to be a smooth sailing one with everyone taking your side just because you were born a little luckier than others. Well, I refuse to believe that! I¡¯m going to trample you and transform you into a lowly citizen in Ospea so you¡¯ll never be able to rise again!¡± Growing increasingly agitated, Annie raised the dagger in her hand, ready to sh Gwendolyn¡¯s face. Chapter 575 Scheme Chapter 575 Scheme The sharp dagger cut through the air, aiming straight at Gwendolyn¡¯s face. However, just as the de was about to make contact with Gwendolyn¡¯s skin, she forcefully grasped Annie¡¯s wrist. Annie stared at Gwendolyn¡¯s hands, which were supposed to be bound behind her back, in slight shock. ¡°How is it possible that you¡¯re not tied up?¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. When she pressed Gwendolyn¡¯s thumb against the document earlier, she had checked and ensured the ropes were tight. Gwendolyn spread her hand and showed Annie the small de in her left palm. rity washed over Annie instantaneously. ¡°Sienna was indeed putting up an act with you. You¡¯re so cunning, Gwendolyn.¡± Gwendolyn snorted, swiftly disarming Annie, and gripped thetter¡¯s throat. She raised her right hand and swung it at Annie¡¯s delicate face, pping her mercilessly. Having been pped the second time on the same side of her face, Annie screamed in pain, ¡°Let go of me, Gwendolyn Harris!¡± ¡°Who are you to call me by my name?¡± Gwendolyn looked at her coldly. ¡°You¡¯d never know who has the upper hand until the veryst moment.¡± After saying that, Gwendolyn pped Annie again twice with all her might. The corner of Annie¡¯s lips cracked and bled, causing her to look miserable. Panicking, she turned to the door and yelled like a crazy person, ¡°Help! Someone, help! Paul!¡± However, no matter how hard she tried calling for help, there was not a single sound outside. Gwendolyn regarded Annie with a mocking expression. ¡°Paul has toyed with so many girls. Even though you¡¯re histest favorite, how much do you really matter to him? You¡¯ll find out soon.¡± Following that, Gwendolyn made her move again, effortlessly pinning Annie¡¯s hands behind her back and swiftly tying Annie up with the rope Annie used to bind her. She then viciously yanked at Annie¡¯s hair, forcing Annie to get on her feet. Tears welled up in Annie¡¯s eyes from the pain. Her physique was weak, and in addition to having zero experience inbat, she was utterly powerless when matched up against Gwendolyn. She shrieked hysterically while Gwendolyn dragged her outward. Gwendolyn booted the door open and noticed the few bodyguards standing outside had disappeared. Annie also scanned their surroundings. Under the moonlight, two groups of people were running toward them. One group consisted of Gwendolyn¡¯s subordinates from Shadow Bell. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t recognize the other party at first, but as they came closer, she saw a few familiar faces and realized they were Asher¡¯s private soldiers. Her gaze darkened at once, and when those people arrived before her, she asked frostily, ¡°Did Asher send you here to rescue Annie or me?¡± ¡°What?¡± The man leading the party was momentarily puzzled before regaining his senses. ¡°Of course Mr. Asher sent us to save you. He was worried about you, so he quickly contacted us after you were taken away. We checked the surveince footage along the highway and followed the trail all the way here.¡± Gwendolyn fell silent while wearing a poker face. One of her subordinates from Shadow Bell stepped forward and took the initiative to report, ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve apprehended the four bodyguards stationed at the door earlier. In addition, on our way here, someone drove away in several vans, and we didn¡¯t manage to catch those people.¡± Gwendolyn, sneering, yanked Annie¡¯s hair forcefully. ¡°Did you hear that? Paul left you behind and fled. How much do you think he loves you? He was scared of getting implicated in my kidnapping, so he escaped as fast as he could. You¡¯ve been abandoned.¡± Tears welled up in Annie¡¯s eyes, but not because she was upset. Instead, she was tearing up involuntarily because of the pain from how hard Gwendolyn was tugging her hair. She remained silent as she listened to Gwendolyn¡¯s sarcastic remarks. The subordinate from Shadow Bell asked further, ¡°Boss, should we turn over the four tied- up bodyguards to the police?¡± Gwendolyn rejected without hesitation. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. Release them. Return them to Paul and tell them to ry a message to him saying that I. Gwendolyn Shalders Harris, have Scheme helped him deal with this wicked woman, Annie.¡± ¡°Understood, boss.¡± Gwendolyn cast a nce at Annie¡¯s pathetic appearance and handed her to Asher¡¯s private soldiers. ¡°Bring her back to the old vi on Mount Tranquil and lock her in the basement.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harris.¡± After ascertaining Gwendolyn¡¯s safety, Asher¡¯s private soldiers hastily hoisted Annie turned to leave. Gwendolyn followed behind and got into another car, which was also heading back to Mount Tranquil. The reason she didn¡¯t want to report the incident to the police was that once the authorities got involved, Annie would be brought to the police station and detained in an interrogation room. Although Annie refused to admit her identity, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t believe a word she said. Gwendolyn only ced her trust in her own intuition and the ultimate truth. I¡¯m holding her captive in the basement first. After confirming her identity, I¡¯ll punish her ording to the family¡¯s rules. There¡¯s no need to alert the public. While she was pondering, the luxury car arrived at Mount Tranquil within half an hour. Asher¡¯s private soldiers, who had left in advance, had already locked Annie in the basement. The first thing Gwendolyn did upon returning to Mount Tranquil was head to the basement of the old vi. The basement¡¯s heavy door was left ajar, allowing some light from the corridor to filter in. Annie sat in the middle of the dusty floor. The swell on her face from getting pped hadn¡¯t subsided. She appeared utterly miserable, and the pitiful expression in her eyes, in particr, made her appear like the victim. Gwendolyn strode in on her high heels and approached Annie, staring at thetter condescendingly. Annie looked up unabashedly. ¡°I did kidnap you, but you¡¯re doing the same thing to me by bringing me here. Isn¡¯t this also a crime?¡± Instead of answering the question, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Annie, I suppose you¡¯re not unfamiliar with this basement.¡± Annie smiled. ¡°What do you mean by that, Ms. Harris? I don¡¯t understand. This is my first time visiting the basement of the Harris residence.¡± Gwendolyn snorted and slowly squatted down. ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t notice anything amiss just because you adamantly refuse to admit your identity? To me, every word you say and every expression on your face are full of ws.¡± The icy grin on Annie¡¯s countenance gradually stiffened. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I investigated Annie Steinfeld. Even though her parents died tragically, she still lived a carefree life with the help of subsidies and schrships. Her father was a wealthy businessman, so she must¡¯ve led a pampered life. If this were her first time being locked in a basement, she should be feeling scared and at a loss.¡± Gwendolyn paused, pinched Annie¡¯s chin, and shed a disparaging smile. ¡°However, when I entered earlier, I didn¡¯t sense the slightest hint of fear in your eyes. Instead, I saw merely a calmness beyond someone your age should possess, as if you¡¯ve been through this before.¡± Annie scoffed. ¡°You think I¡¯m Evelyn just because of that? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too hasty in making your judgment?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. In the face of solid evidence, all guesses are just assumptions. So, do you think I can¡¯t do anything to you because you firmly refuse to divulge the truth?¡± Annie met Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes and was slightly taken aback by thetter¡¯sposed and sharp gaze. However, the next second, Gwendolyn violently grabbed Annie¡¯s hair again and forcefully pulled out several strands. Annie couldn¡¯t help but scream in pain. Gwendolyn snorted and got up to leave. ¡°Think about what I¡¯ve said while staying in the basement. I¡¯ll soon do a DNA test for us. I believe the results will be out very soon.¡± Hearing the words ¡°DNA test,¡± Annie finally panicked. ¡°Gwendolyn,e back!¡± Chapter 576 Hitting Off Chapter 576 Hitting Off Gwendolyn paid no heed to her. After securing a lock of her hair, she turned around to leave without looking back. After leaving the basement, the first thing Gwendolyn did was to call Kieran. The call connected swiftly. Kieran¡¯s typically cool and pleasant voice greeted her. ¡°What¡¯s up, Kiddo?¡± Gwendolyn nced at the lock of Annie¡¯s hair in her palm before she asked, ¡°When are you nning to return? Have you read the message I sent you the other day?¡± Kieran blinked, suddenly remembering that he had forgotten to reply to herst message. ¡°I¡¯ve booked the flight. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should arrive at Salinsburgh Airport before noon tomorrow,¡± he replied. Gwendolyn felt considerably more at ease after getting a specific time. ¡°Is my future sister- inw coming with you?¡± Kieran remained silent for a while before replying in a shy tone, ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn detected the hint of shyness in his voice and was d. ¡°That¡¯s good. I will send bodyguards to pick you up at the airport. Your vi at Mount Tranquil will be cleaned and ready for your arrival.¡± ¡°Okay. See you tomorrow,¡± he said. ¡°See you tomorrow,¡± Gwendolyn echoed softly. After hanging up, she ordered the six bodyguards she had specifically brought in, ¡°Guard the basement well. Do not let anyone in except me, and that includes Asher.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harris.¡± With everything set, Gwendolyn left Mount Tranquil to continue her treatment and rest at theb. After undergoing these treatment sessions, her manic symptoms significantly improved. She was eager to recover quickly and return to a normal life with Cedrick By noon the next day, when Gwendolyn arrived at Mount Tranquil, Kieran and Inez had already arrived at the vi. Sienna was also there. It was her first time meeting Inez, and she had specificallye to meet her sister-inw and establish their rtionship in advance. Inez could feel that Sienna was very kind and friendly, not looking down on her because the Mossey family was just an unassuming wealthy family in Faike. Gwendolyn was greeted by the harmonious sight as soon as she entered the living room of the vi. It seemed that Sienna and Inez hit it off well, despite it being their first meeting. Their mutual fondness was evident in their eyes. The main couch was empty, reserved specifically for Gwendolyn. Despite the jovial atmosphere, Gwendolyn had pressing matters to attend to. Reluctantly, she decided to y the role of the killjoy, disrupting their friendly chat. ¡°Kieran, I don¡¯t fully trust our domestic hospitals. Could you help me with a paternity test?¡± she asked. She pulled out a small bag from her branded purse, inside were a few strands of hairbeled ¡°Annie Steinfeld.¡± Another bag had her own name on it, making it easy to distinguish between the two. She handed the two small bags to Kieran. ¡°How long before we can get the results? We need them as soon as possible.¡± Kieran nodded seriously. ¡°To ensure the uracy of the DNA test, I¡¯ll have to run it three to four times. It will take at least two to three hours.¡± Gwendolyn ran the hours in her head. If all went well, they could have the results by the afternoon. That was fast enough. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you then, Kieran.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± he replied. Kieran took the strands of hair and turned to head upstairs. As a leader in the medical world, his vi was well-equipped with medical equipment. The moment he left, the living room was left with just three women. However, it wasn¡¯t quite the stage set for drama. They presented a harmonious front, both externally and internally. Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t seen Inez in quite a while, and now, thetter had be her sister-in-w. Gwendolyn was d that her usually aloof second brother had finally settled down and found herself instinctively caring a little more for Inez. ¡°Has my brother been good to you in Faike?¡± she asked. ¡°He¡¯s kind of emotionally stunted, but he¡¯s also extremely devoted. Once he sets his mind on someone, it¡¯s hard for him to change it. If he ever dares to treat you badly, just tell me and Sienna. We¡¯ll set him straight.¡± Inez¡¯s cheeks flushed as a wave of embarrassment washed over her. ¡°Well, he hasn¡¯t bullied me. He¡¯s pretty nice, even though his actions are sometimes¡­ odd. He can be quite exasperating.¡± At this, the three women broke out intoughter. Once Kieran was busy, he tended to forget to eat and sleep. He didn¡¯t evene downstairs for lunch. Gwendolyn knew his habits well enough not to disturb him. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Sienna also went back to Asher¡¯s vi for lunch, leaving Gwendolyn and Inez alone. Seeing Gwendolyn this time, Inez was filled with thoughts. ¡°Thest time we met was in Faike. I didn¡¯t know your identity as the daughter of the Harris family. I even mistook your affection for Kieran and almost made things awkward. In hindsight, I really should apologize.¡± Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t one to hold grudges over little things. ¡°I intended to hide my identity, so it was only natural that you didn¡¯t know. Besides, you never bore me any ill will, never tried to hurt me. It just proves that you¡¯re a genuinely kind- hearted girl,¡± Gwendolyn reassured her. Inez chuckled. ¡°Kind-hearted? I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to fight back against those who harm me. I just don¡¯t go out of my way to provoke others.¡± Gwendolyn found herself agreeing wholeheartedly with Inez. Their personalities, surprisingly, were incredibly simr. Both were strong, career-driven women with soft hearts under their tough exteriors. The more they chatted, the more connected they felt. ¡°Why did you want a DNA test this time?¡± Inez asked. ¡°I suspect my father¡¯s illegitimate daughter has returned to stir up trouble. I need to confirm her identity.¡± The two women foundmon ground on this issue too. ¡°I understand. I have a half-sister from my father¡¯s affair, too. It¡¯s incredibly annoying. I was almost left in a vegetative state because of Natasha,¡± Inez quipped. The more Inez thought about it, the more she felt grateful for Gwendolyn. If thetter hadn¡¯t called Kieran to treat her back then, who knew what could have happened? ¡°But I consider myself lucky. Thanks to you, I didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger. Natasha was sent to jail and is long forgotten now.¡± However, little did she know that the ex-husband, Maverick, was Gwendolyn¡¯s current husband, Cedrick. A faint smile adorned Gwendolyn¡¯s face. What happened in Faike seemed like a distant past now. After all, why bother to bicker with the dead? Besides, Cedrick treated her extraordinarily well, showering her with tender affection that left no detail unnoticed. Their conversation spanned from illegitimate daughters to hobbies, and from hobbies to work. With a strong passion for her career, Inez seized the opportunity at the dining table to forge a partnership with Gwendolyn. In fact, Gwendolyn was more than happy to bolster the influence of Inez¡¯s family in Faike. After lunch, the two retreated to the garden¡¯s small fishpond, feeding the fish and engaging in endless banter. Their shared interests kept the conversation flowing as if they could never exhaust the topics at hand. Their chatter was interrupted only by the arrival of Kieran. ¡°Kiddo, the results are in.¡± Kieran descended the stairs holding the test results with a stern look on his face. His voice stilled the feeding of the fishes, and the two women returned to the living room. Chapter 577 Paternity Test Chapter 577 Paternity Test Approaching Kieran, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Kieran, how¡¯s the result?¡± Wearing a grim expression, Kieran did not reply. He passed the handwritten report to Gwendolyn. Bright red words in the lower right corner attracted Gwendolyn¡¯s attention: Half-sibling rtionship. Although Gwendolyn could notprehend the other medical terminologies in the report, she knew what the red words implied well. To confirm, she asked, ¡°Kieran, does this mean my DNA matches with Annie¡¯s?¡± Kieran nodded. ¡°ording to the results of my triple checks, it¡¯s a half-sibling rtionship. You both share the same father but have different mothers.¡± This meant that Annie Steinfeld was actually Evelyn Harris. No matter how much Evelyn argued, the evidence was irrefutable. Gwendolyn was not at all surprised. In fact, she was quite satisfied with the result. ¡°Thanks, Kieran.¡± Kieran responded, ¡°You¡¯re wee. However, now that we know that Annie is our illegitimate sister, what do you n to do?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression hardened. She had an innate disdain for the words ¡°illegitimate sister.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep this private, and we¡¯ll handle it our family¡¯s way. This time, I won¡¯t give her any chance to turn the situation around,¡± Gwendolyn said. Kieran remained silent, ready to support any decision that his sister would make. Inez also despised the existence of illegitimate children as much as Gwendolyn and fully supported the latter¡¯s decision to teach Evelyn a lesson. It was already three in the afternoon. The corner of Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. With a hint of irony in her voice, she mocked, ¡°Annie¡¯s days of pretense are numbered. Kieran, Inez, would you care to apany me to the old vi to witness the uing spectacle?¡± Kieran and Inez nced at each other in tacit understanding. They were more than eager to watch Gwendolyn sort out the cunning woman. As the trio left Kieran¡¯s vi, Gwendolyn¡¯s phone rang. Surprisingly, it was Logan. This was the first time he had ever called her. She halted, answering the phone with a mixture of curiosity and unease. ¡°Logan, what¡¯s wrong? Has something happened to Benny and Zendy?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Logan¡¯s voice was filled with anxiety. ¡°They¡¯re all right. It¡¯s Old Mr. Jenson. He suddenly fainted during his afternoon tea. He¡¯s been unconscious since. The Jenson family¡¯s medical corps are all here. If anything happens to Old Mr. Jenson and Mr. Jenson is not in Salinsburgh, Jenson Group will descend into chaos. Please return at once.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned solemn as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Disconnecting the call, she calmly turned to Inez and said, ¡°Inez, would you mind visiting Sienna? Make sure she keeps a close eye on Annie in the old vi¡¯s basement. I need to deal with the Jenson family¡¯s matters, but I¡¯ll return as soon as I can to handle Annie.¡± ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry,¡± Inez replied. With a reassuring nod from Inez, Gwendolyn then turned to Kieran. ¡°Kieran, I could use your help too. Although the Jenson family medical corps consists of the medical world¡¯s elite, you¡¯re the one I trust the most.¡± Kieran didn¡¯t hesitate in the slightest and nodded. The trio then parted ways, with Inez heading to Asher¡¯s vi, while Gwendolyn and Kieran drove back to the Jenson residence. Valentino¡¯s bedroom was filled to the brim with people. Both elders and younger members of the family were all present, causing quite the chaos. Logan made a path through the crowd, leading Gwendolyn and Kieran to the bedside. Valentino had been in high spirits recently because of Benedict and Zendaya. However, his sudden fainting spell had made him look significantly aged. Gwendolyn turned to the medical corps and asked, ¡°He seemed perfectly finest night. How could he have fallen ill so suddenly?¡± A doctor stepped forward and said, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson has always had high blood pressure and diabetes. We suspect he might have eaten something that negatively interacted with his medication.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows, sensing that something was off. However, with so many people in the room, she didn¡¯t voice her suspicions. Instead, she made way for Kieran to sit by Valentino¡¯s side to give him another checkup. While Kieran was examining him, the chatter outside the door was incessant. Valentino¡¯s sudden illness had many in the family worried. Annoyed, Gwendolyn reprimanded, ¡°Why are you all making so much noise? He needs rest. It¡¯s so stifling in here with so many people in the room. Please leave, everyone. We will keep everyone posted if there¡¯s any news.¡± Following her order, Logan and the servants ushered the crowd out to the downstairs living room. Only Xander remained, kneeling beside Valentino¡¯s bed and weeping. Gwendolyn found the noise of his whimpering nauseating and shot a re at the man. ¡°Why are you crying? It¡¯s just a minor illness. Are you trying to curse him?¡± Grief was written all over the man¡¯s face. ¡°How could I curse Grandpa? Out of everyone in the Jenson family, he¡¯s the one who loves me the most. I can¡¯t help but feel upset at seeing him unconscious and ill.¡± Gwendolyn remained expressionless. ¡°Tears don¡¯t prove distress. If you truly feel guilty, why don¡¯t you take ten strikes of the whip at the ancestral hall? I think Grandpa will appreciate your sincerity more,¡± she said curtly. Xander¡¯s crying came to an abrupt halt, and he stared at her resentfully. ¡°Gwendolyn, you really have a venomous heart. Ten strikes of the whip could take half my life. Are you trying to kill me?¡± Gwendolyn let out a cold snort. ¡°I¡¯m just making a suggestion. You crying dramatically here won¡¯t help with Grandpa¡¯s treatment. On the other hand, you might even dy the medical corps¡¯ and my brother¡¯s efforts. Are you sincerely upset for Grandpa, or are you just putting on a show?¡± Xander stood up abruptly, his voice filled with righteous indignation as he argued, ¡°Of course, I truly care for Grandpa! I am his real grandson, while you¡¯re just a daughter-inw who married into the family. You share no blood ties with Grandpa. You could never understand my sorrow.¡± Gwendolyn shot him a cold look and scoffed softly. For every word she said, Xander would retort with ten. Engaging in a verbal duel with such a person was futile. Thus, she turned to Logan and said, ¡°Please show Mr. Xander the door. He¡¯s only causing trouble here.¡± Xander was not happy to hear that. ¡°Who says I¡¯m only causing trouble? Gwendolyn, what gives you the right, as an outsider, to stay by my grandfather¡¯s side, while I, his actual grandson, am driven away? With Cedrick absent, do you think you¡¯re the one calling the shots in the Jenson family?¡± he retorted. He didn¡¯t raise his voice, nor did he lose his manners as a Jenson. However, the gaze under his gold- rimmed sses was dripping with sarcasm. Logan cleared his throat gently and reminded him, ¡°Mr. Xander, mind your words. Mrs. Jenson is not an outsider. She is the daughter-inw of the Jenson family. Old Mr. Jenson regards her as his own granddaughter. Mr. Jenson is in power, and while he is not at home, hiswful wife naturally has a say in these matters.¡± Xander found himself at a loss for words. Logan continued, ¡°Furthermore, Mr. Jenson has always loved Mrs. Jenson dearly. If he learns that you have deliberately provoked and treated her as an outsider, he won¡¯t let you off the hook easily.¡± Xander could not bring himself to utter a single word upon hearing that. He swallowed hard, his gazending on Gwendolyn. His presence significantly dimmed, as he clearly felt subdued. Ever since Cedrick had taken over Jenson Group, Xander had already been punished several times with the whip. That d¡¯mn thing hurts like hell. Xander was utterly terrified of the punishment. With her hands tucked arrogantly on her hips and a teasing look in her eyes, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Mr. Xander, are you leaving? Or should I have the housekeepers escort you out?¡± Chapter 578 Suspicions Chapter 578 Suspicions Even Logan sided with Gwendolyn and stood up for her, so there was no way for Xander to argue with her. Hence, Xander snorted angrily, straightened his suit in a feigned elegant manner, and left Valentino¡¯s room. As soon as he left, she made up an excuse to dismiss the other housekeepers in the room apart from Logan. ¡°With so many peopleing to the vi today, there¡¯s a wholemotion outside. All of you should go to attend to the guests. Serve fruits, pastries, and coffee. Don¡¯t allow anyone near this room before the doctors are done checking on Old Mr. Jenson. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Jenson.¡± The housekeepers departed swiftly, and the room instantly felt much more spacious. Apart from the unconscious Valentino lying on the bed, the only people left were Kieran, Logan, and the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps. After examining Valentino, Kieran went through the medicine the former had been taking recently. His diagnosis turned out simr to that of the medical corps¡¯. ¡°I think he ate something that interfered with the medicine, thus resulting in food poisoning and unconsciousness.¡± Since everyone in the room was on the same side, Gwendolyn responded simply, ¡°Logan is the one who usually takes care of what Grandpa eats. How could he have eaten something like that?¡± Logan contemted for a moment. ¡°I haven¡¯t left Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s side at all. I checked everything he ate, and everything was edible. On top of that, the cooks we hire are aware of Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so they¡¯re extremely careful when preparing the food. There shouldn¡¯t have been any issues.¡± Everyone in the room went quiet. For some reason, Gwendolyn suddenly recalled the scene of Xander kneeling at the head of Valentino¡¯s bed earlier while sobbing. Although he had been showing his filial piety, she could not help feeling a strong dislike toward him. In fact, she felt his actions had been very contrived and that he had deliberately cried in front of others for all to see. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . As those thoughts crossed her mind, she asked Logan, ¡°Was Xander here when Grandpa had his lunch?¡± Logan shook his head. ¡°He only came here in the afternoon. He spent some time alone with Old Mr. Jenson reading in the study. I think they drank a pot of coffee.¡± Coffee? She frowned. ¡°Did they eat anything else?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about that. After all, pastries and fruits are avable in the study. Since it was a private bonding time between a grandfather and his grandson, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for me to go in and listen. However, after Old Mr. Jenson came out of the room, he mentioned he didn¡¯t eat anything. Mr. Jenson also didn¡¯t bring anything with him today.¡± Silence descended over the room again. Despite what he said, Gwendolyn could not help feeling that something seemed odd. The timing of what happened to Valentino seemed too much of a coincidence. s, there are only a few of us, and we can¡¯t trust a single family member outside this door. It won¡¯t be an easy task to investigate the matter. Finally, she said firmly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t appear to be a case of Old Mr. Jenson identally eating something he shouldn¡¯t have. It seems more like someone intended for it to happen. Since it won¡¯t be easy to get to the bottom of this matter, let¡¯s call the police and have the officerse over to bring everyone who had close contact with Old Mr. Jenson today back with them for questioning. That way, it¡¯ll be possible to uncover anything suspicious.¡± Logan objected. ¡°That won¡¯t do, Mrs. Jenson. If Old Mr. Jenson happens to regain consciousness, he won¡¯t approve of us making a big deal of it either. Once this matter turns into a case of premeditated murder, the whole family will be in chaos since Mr. Cedrick isn¡¯t around.¡± In truth, she was merely suggesting it without the intention of making things worse. After all, she understood the stakes involved in the current situation. As long as Cedrick returns, he¡¯ll be the mainstay of the Jenson family, and these matters will be easy to handle. However, since he¡¯s not around, it¡¯s better to keep things under wraps and see what the culprit does next. ¡°Let¡¯s not bother about all that for now. The Jenson family¡¯s medical corps and Kieran will do their best to treat Grandpa. We¡¯ll wait for Grandpa to regain consciousness first. Perhaps he knows something,¡± she said. Logan bowed. ¡°All right, Mrs. Jenson.¡± Turning toward Kieran, Gwendolyn expressed her gratitude again. ¡°Thanks, Kieran. I feel at ease with you keeping an eye on things here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s the least I can do. Don¡¯t worry about Old Mr. Jenson. Leave him to me and get back to whatever you need to do,¡± he responded calmly. She nodded gratefully, then turned and left the master bedroom. Walking along the corridor, she could hear the din in the downstairs living room. Walking along the corridor, she could hear the din in the downstairs living room. She had no idea what the members of the Jenson family were talking about. They were all chattering away loudly. Although she was on friendly terms with David and Triss, she had no wish to pay any attention to the other family members. She turned around again to go upstairs, choosing toy low. Before she left, she quietly went to see Benedict and Zendaya on the topmost floor. Since I¡¯m already here, I¡¯d feel guilty if I didn¡¯t go to see the two little ones. She headed all the way upstairs, but before she could enter the nursery that Valentino had specially done up for the children, another housekeeper came dashing up the stairs anxiously,ing straight to her. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, something has happened.¡± What exactly is going on recently? I¡¯ve been hearing this a lottely. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression darkened as annoyance rose within her. ¡°Cut to the chase. What is it?¡± She soon learned that the police station had sent some officers, and they were asking to meet her. ¡°Me?¡± Gwendolyn asked suspiciously. Puzzled, she followed the housekeeper downstairs and saw several police officers waiting at the vi¡¯s entrance. Seeing her approach, the head of the group of police officers took the initiative to show his badge. ¡°Good day, Mrs. Jenson. We¡¯ve received a report using you of illegally imprisoning a girl from Ospea. Pleasee with us.¡± She instantly realized who was behind the whole thing after hearing those words. ¡°Was it Paul Hall who reported me?¡± ¡°Since the missing person is Count Hall¡¯s girlfriend, this is no trifling matter. We¡¯ll need you toe with us to the station to assist with the investigation.¡± Well aware that she was Cedrick¡¯s wife, the police officers were exceptionally polite to her. I wasn¡¯t expecting this. Not only did Paul not flee, he even secretly plotted all this. He knows there were my men and Asher¡¯s private forces yesterday. No one could have stopped us if I¡¯d asked to take Annie away. That¡¯s why he quickly kept out of the way and bit back at the first opportunity. Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a sneer, and she asked solemnly. ¡°If he used me of illegally imprisoning someone, where¡¯s the evidence?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve sent our men to the Harris family¡¯s old vi on Mount Tranquil and found Annie Steinfeld in the basement, so we¡¯ve confirmed she was kidnapped and imprisoned. However, we¡¯re still investigating whomitted the crime,¡± She furrowed her brows, and her voice grew icy as she asked, ¡°Did you let her go?¡± The police officers nodded. ¡°Yes. She seems to have suffered severe shock, and her current emotional state is very unstable. Count Hall has already taken her away.¡± Gwendolyn was bereft of words, and anger stirred within her. I finally caught her with great difficulty, but the police came and messed things up. Because of Paul¡¯s status and Annie¡¯s outstanding acting skills, they let her go just like that. Suppressing her rage, she said, ¡°It¡¯s true that I locked her up in the basement. However, she¡¯s not Annie Steinfeld. The person I locked up is the Harris family¡¯s illegitimate daughter. She was only being punished for a day because she made a mistake. Is it really necessary to turn it into such a big deal?¡± The police officers looked at each other. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, if it¡¯s a family matter, could you show us proof she¡¯s who you say she is?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Seeing how calm she looked, the police officers believed her every word. ¡°In that case, pleasee with us to the police station to give a written statement and provide proof.¡± ¡°If I prove that she¡¯s the Harris family¡¯s illegitimate daughter, doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯ll be responsible for bringing her back to me since you¡¯re the one who let her go before getting your facts straight?¡± she responded, her tone carrying a subtle hint of displeasure. Chapter 579 Choice Chapter 579 Choice ¡°All right. If your ims are valid, the police will certainly do their utmost to assist you in returning the person to the Harris residence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Gwendolyn maintained her customary aloof demeanor as she was escorted into the police car by the officers. Just as she was about to get into the car, Logan suddenly came out of the vi. Taking in the situation, he hurried over and questioned, ¡°What¡¯s going on? What happened? Why are you arresting Mrs. Jenson?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just a minor issue. I¡¯m going to the police station for tea and to make a statement, and then I¡¯ll be back,¡± Gwendolyn reassured him. Before leaving, there were a few things she was worried about, and she wanted to talk to Logan in private. After exining the situation to the police officers, they were very understanding and allowed Gwendolyn and Logan to have a private conversation on the side. Gwendolyn spoke in a hushed voice. ¡°Logan, there are too many people in Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s vi at the moment, not to mention all of them are rtives and elders from the family. It¡¯s not right to send them away. Send someone to watch over Benny and Zendy on the top floor, and don¡¯t let anyone other than Mdm. Yarde get near the children.¡± ¡°All right. Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Jenson. I¡¯ll take good care of Ms. Zendaya and Mr. Benedict. I won¡¯t let anything happen to them.¡± After hearing that, Gwendolyn nodded in relief and added, ¡°Also, I¡¯m starting to suspect Xander. However, just to be safe, try to keep all the rtives who came to the vi today here. We can¡¯t let any of them leave. We must eventuallye up with an exnation for Grandpa¡¯sa.¡± Initially, she merely suspected that someone was scheming something and that it might have been someone from the Jenson family. However, now that the police were there, she was certain the matter wasn¡¯t just a coincidence. Whoever is acting in bad faith must be caught. After making the arrangements, she got into the police car and left the Jenson residence under Logan¡¯s worried gaze. Half an hourter, Gwendolyn arrived at the police station and was escorted into an interrogation room. A police officer picked up a pen and was ready to take notes. Another police officer started asking questions, ¡°Mrs. Jenson, you im that detaining Ms. Annie Steinfeld in the basement was a family matter instead of a kidnapping or uwful confinement. Could you provide concrete evidence to support your statement?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Gwendolyn looked down and touched her pocket-less skirt. She wasn¡¯t holding anything in her hands either. Only then did she recall that she had originallye out to go upstairs to check on her babies, but because she was in a hurry, Gwendolyn forgot to take her designer handbag and even left her phone behind. Too many things had happened in the past two days. She had been so busy that she inevitably made some oversights. ¡°I asked Kieran to personally carry out a DNA test between me and Annie. I ced the DNA test report he wrote in my bag, but when I came to the police station with you, I forgot to bring it along. Even my phone is not with me. Can I go back to the Jenson residence to retrieve them?¡± The two police officers exchanged nces. Once in the interrogation room, the suspect couldn¡¯t leave before the issue was resolved, especially in Gwendolyn¡¯s case, where she was requesting to go home. That was the protocol, and they didn¡¯t have the authority to change it. ¡°Do you remember where you left your bag and phone, Mrs. Jenson?¡± Gwendolyn pondered for a moment, recalling carefully. ¡°I think they should be inside my grandpa¡¯s bedroom. That¡¯s the only room I went into, and I remember casually leaving my handbag and phone on the bedside table.¡± The police officers nodded, indicating that they understood. ¡°We grasp your situation. I¡¯ll arrange for two of our officers to help retrieve your phone and handbag from the Jenson residence. Is that all right?¡± Gwendolyn knew that once she was in the police station, she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave for a while. Other than having the police officers help her bring the items there, she didn¡¯t have any other options. ¡°That¡¯s fine, but please try to be discreet.¡± There are too many people in the vi. If the police officers are too conspicuous and are seen entering Grandpa¡¯s bedroom, others will think something has happened to Grandpa, and this will alert the culprit. The police officer nodded. ¡°All right. In that case, please wait here in the police station, Mrs. Jenson. If you¡¯d like to have some tea or fruit, please let us know. We¡¯ll bring them to you.¡± Gwendolyn hummed in response. It was a half-hour trip from the police station to the Jenson residence. A round trip would take more than an hour. Gwendolyn waited until she was bored out of her wits. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Though she was tired and sleepy, she, unfortunately, couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Her manic disorder was still unstable, and she wasn¡¯t sure if it would suddenly re up while she was in slumber. If she carelessly let slip her mania while at the police station, it could likely spark an uproar among the public the next day. Moreover, as the head of the prestigious Harris family and Harris Group¡¯s CEO, if others knew she had such a mental illness, some ill-intentioned people would certainly utilize that topic to stir up trouble. As of now, she already had her hands full with plenty ofplex matters, so she didn¡¯t want any more issues to arise. Gwendolyn forced herself to stay awake, choosing to have a female police officer help her brew a cup of coffee to keep her alert. Three hourster, the sky outside had turned dark, yet the police officers who were sent to the Jenson residence to collect the items still hadn¡¯t returned. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t have her phone, so she didn¡¯t know what time was it. Nevertheless, she could sense it had been an exceptionally long wait. She called someone over and asked, ¡°What time is it now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already seven o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°Seven o¡¯clock?¡± Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t expected to wait until well into the evening. ¡°Why haven¡¯t the police officers who were sent to the Jenson residence to get my stuff returned yet? Have you called to ask?¡± The police officer she questioned looked bewildered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Jenson. We change our shifts at night in the police station, so the police officers who handled your case in the morning have already gone off-duty. There might have been some mimunication during the shift change earlier. I¡¯ll go and check for you.¡± Gwendolyn was extremely displeased. ¡°Make sure to call and ask why the police officers who went to the Jenson residence haven¡¯te back yet. What exactly happened on their way over?¡± ¡°All right. Rest assured.¡± Without her phone, handbag, or any of her possession, Gwendolyn could only wait in boredom. Cedrick and Nico, who had turned darker after being exposed to the scorching UV radiation at the border, had finally resolved the situation there and returned to Salinsburgh. Once the nended, Cedrick immediately called Gwendolyn, but no one picked up after he dialed her number twice. Cedrick was puzzled. Gwendolyn never ignore my calls for no reason. He continued calling her, growing more anxious as he listened to the beeping sound. Finally, on his third attempt, the call was connected right before he was about to hang up. However, the person who answered wasn¡¯t Gwendolyn. ¡°Mr. Jenson, have you returned?¡± Cedrick was slightly taken aback. He could recognize it was Logan¡¯s voice. ¡°Why are you answering the call? Where¡¯s Gwenny?¡± ¡°Mrs. Jenson was taken to the police station for questioning and hasn¡¯t returned yet. She left her phone and handbag in Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s bedroom. I was worried someone might steal them, so I helped her keep her belongings.¡± Cedrick had a feeling something was amiss. ¡°How could the police have taken Gwenny? Why did she leave her phone in Grandpa¡¯s room?¡± Logan replied, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson suddenly fainted in the afternoon. The Jenson family¡¯s medical corps and Mr. Kieran are here. I¡¯m not sure why Mrs. Jenson was taken away by the police, either. However, considering Mrs. Jenson¡¯s special status, the police shouldn¡¯t dare to mistreat her. Now that you¡¯re back, you shoulde and visit Old Mr. Jenson first. He hasn¡¯t woken up yet, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be delighted to learn you¡¯ve returned.¡± Cedrick stopped in his tracks, standing before Harrick Vi¡¯s entrance. If I continue walking ahead, I¡¯ll visit Grandpa first. Conversely, if I turn around, I¡¯ll immediately go and find Gwendolyn and get her out of the police station. I need to make a choice now. Chapter 580 I Will Obey Your Decision Chapter 580 I Will Obey Your Decision Cedrick struggled with the dilemma for half a minute. He first called the police station and inquired about the reason for Gwendolyn¡¯s arrest. He learned that Gwendolyn was detained in the interrogation room and unable to leave because she had left her bag and phone at Valentino¡¯s vi. Together with Nico, he set off to the vi. Kieran and the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps were giving Valentino an IV drip. It was a matter of time before thetter regained consciousness, as his condition was rtively stable after all. After getting Nico to stay behind and keep watch, Cedrick grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s phone and bag before heading to the police station to bail her out. Feeling bored and frustrated, Gwendolyn felt that the police station was due for a shake-up. Even though she knew that the police were beholden to the fact that Paul was Ospean royalty and had to do something for the sake of diplomatic rtions, the two officers who were supposed to get her stuff from the Jenson residence had taken so long that she felt that they were doing it on purpose. In fact, she wondered if the two officers who had taken her statement had actually sent anyone to the Jenson residence. They might very well be looking to detain her at the police station. As she waited, her mind never stopped contemting everything that was going on. The more she thought about it, the more ws there were ever since she abducted Annie and kept her in the basement of the Harris family¡¯s old vi. She felt as if they were setting up traps for each other. Just as she was lost in thought, the door to the interrogation room opened abruptly. Gwendolyn, who was mired in her troubles, couldn¡¯t be bothered. The person who entered kneeled down by her side and called out softly, ¡°Gwenny, I¡¯m back.¡± That deep and familiar voice¡­ Gwendolyn lowered her head. She was greeted by the sight of Cedrick, the husband she had longed for who looked slightly more tanned than before. Having not seen him for a couple of days, Gwendolyn was ecstatic over his sudden appearance. ¡°Hubby, were the UV rays at the border really strong? Why do you look so tan?¡± She stroked his face sympathetically, then leaned forward to give his dry lips a peck. Cedrick gave her a tender look. ¡°Yes, UV rays are quite strong. I was worried you wouldn¡¯t like me anymore if I ended up looking too tanned, so I brought your sunscreen along and ended up in a better conditionpared to Nico.¡± Gwendolyn gave his cheek an affectionate pinch. ¡°Well done. I¡¯m impressed!¡± Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. After they whispered sweet nothings to each other, Cedrick got to his feet and pulled Gwendolyn into his arms. ¡°I¡¯ll get you out of here, Darling.¡± Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his neck and asked mischievously, ¡°Do I not have to have my statement taken?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I have to show evidence that I didn¡¯t detain her illegally?¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to do anything at all. I¡¯ve taken care of everything.¡± Under everyone¡¯s watchful gazes, the love birds strode out of the police station while clinging intimately to each other as if they were the only ones there. Gwendolyn got her phone back. When she checked through her call history, she realized that Sienna and Inez had called her many times before Cedrick¡¯s three missed calls. On top of that, she saw three missed calls from a number with no caller ID. Nheless, she was well aware that it belonged to Asher, as she had deleted his number some time ago. There were also a ton of unread messages. Sienna: Gwen, the police are here and insist on taking Annie away. There¡¯s no way I can stop them. Why aren¡¯t you answering your phone? Come home immediately once you read this, all right? Inez: Gwendolyn, something has happened. Where are you? Just as the car they were in was about to set off for the Jenson residence, Gwendolyn suggested to Cedrick grimly, ¡°Hubby, why don¡¯t you head home without me? I need to drop by Mount Tranquil first.¡± Cedrick replied decisively, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Gwendolyn declined, ¡°I believe you¡¯re already aware that Annie is actually Evelyn, so just let me deal with it. Grandpa must have lost consciousness after eating something that counteracts his medication. Kieran and the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps are still investigating the exact cause, but I suspect someone is behind it. You should focus your efforts on getting to the bottom of it instead.¡± Now that Cedrick was back, he was the best person to deal with the treacherous members of the family. Once the result of the investigation was out, he would definitely punish the traitors severely. As the head of the Jenson family, it was his prerogative to do so. Even though Gwendolyn was his wife, it would still be inappropriate for her to interfere in the matters of the Jenson family. Based on the same logic, it would be equally out of ce for Cedrick to involve himself in the affairs of the Harris family. Gwendolyn felt that it was better for both of them to split up and take care of their respective family problems, and Cedrick understood her intention without it being explicitly stated. ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ll drop you off at Mount Tranquil before heading home.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in agreement. Due to the ongoing problems within the Jenson and Harris families, both of them sat in quiet contemtion inside the car. Despite the serious mood, there was a feeling of unity between the two. Once the luxury sedan they were in entered Mount Tranquil, Gwendolyn chose to alight in front of Asher¡¯s vi. At that moment, Sienna and Inez were discussing matters in the living room. Upon knocking on the door and entering, Gwendolyn asked directly. ¡°Where¡¯s Asher?¡± Sienna replied, ¡°Ever since he learned that you were brought to the police station for questioning, he¡¯s been making calls non-stop in his room, hoping to use his contacts to bail you out. Thank God you¡¯re back safely now.¡± Gwendolyn reassured Sienna with a slight smile. ¡°Do you know where Annie was taken to?¡± ¡°Asher just found out. The police took her away and handed her over to Paul.¡± Gwendolyn nced at the time. Night had already fallen. She checked for the next flight to Ospea from Salinsburgh Airport. It was due to take off at eleven the same night. Annie must be aware that she can no longer hide her identity. She¡¯ll try her best to leave Chanaea as soon as possible. In fact, Paul might already be at the airport with her. Once she returns to Ospea, which is Paul¡¯s turf, she will be out of our reach. It will be impossible for us to bring her back then. Gwendolyn analyzed the matter clearly in her mind. ¡°Which room is Asher in? I¡¯m going up to see him.¡± ¡°The master bedroom.¡± Gwendolyn headed upstairs. She knocked on the closed door before entering. Asher was on the phone when she walked in. After he scrutinized her from head to toe and made sure she was unharmed, he was visibly relieved. He said to the person on the other end of the line, ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s already out.¡± Upon ending the call, he watched as Gwendolyn approach him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Check the passenger manifest of thest flight tonight. If Paul and Annie are on it, use yourwork to detain them.¡± Asher kept mum. Gwendolyn opened her bag and threw the DNA test report Kieran had personally conducted at him. Asher read the report curiously. When he saw the words ¡°half-sibling¡± in the bottom right corner, his eyes twitched slightly. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking from his gaze. However, whatever it was, it no longer mattered. ¡°Annie Steinfeld is Evelyn Harris. I don¡¯t care if you know who she is, but this is yourst chance. If you choose to help her, an illegitimate sister, instead of your own biological sister¡­¡± Gwendolyn enunciated every word of the result. Even though she didn¡¯t finish her sentence, the contemptuous look in her eyes clearly conveyed her message. Clenching the DNA test report, Asher looked into her eyes without hesitation. In a hoarse voice, he dered, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to think about. You¡¯re the head of the family. I¡¯ll obey your decision.¡± Chapter 581 Take My Side Chapter581TakeMySide Since Asher was willing to be of assistance, Gwendolyn softened her tone and reminded him solemnly, ¡°I¡¯ll leave this matter to you since you have epted my decision. If Annie and Paul escape, I¡¯ll treat your failure as an implicit attempt to help her.¡± Gwendolyn was well aware of Asher¡¯s capabilities. He might have left his position for a year and not dealt with anything rted to work, but thework he had built up was undeniably powerful. He could get the job done as long as he wanted to. That was the reason why she had stated her expectations upfront. She wasn¡¯t going to ept any excuses in the event Annie and Paul were to slip through their hands. In fact, she was prepared to pin the me on Asher for it. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll get it done right away.¡± Asher nodded in acknowledgment. As there were two to three more hours to spare before the flight at eleven, all Gwendolyn had to do now was wait. With an outstretched hand, she gestured for Asher to return the DNA test report to her. After handing it over, Asher picked up his phone and got to work. In order to give him space to deal with the matter, Gwendolyn left the master bedroom and returned downstairs. There, she chatted with Sienna and Inez about Annie¡¯s matter. Meanwhile, Cedrick returned to the Jenson residence after dropping Gwendolyn off. Despite the fact that it was gettingte, the living room was still filled with members of the Jenson family. None of them dared to leave, as Valentino was still unconscious and under a drip. Instead of entering the living room, Cedrick walked into the garden steadily instead. From outside, he could observe everyone¡¯s expression through the window. Logan and Nico were standing behind him. He asked. ¡°Xander was thest person Grandpa saw before he fainted. I heard that he cried on his knees in front of Grandpa. Why isn¡¯t he here? Where is he now?¡± Logan was slightly stunned. ¡°Mr. Xander has been in the living room after Mrs. Jenson chased him out of the room. I even sent two men to keep an eye on him. Perhaps he has gone to use the bathroom. I¡¯ll have someone find him right away.¡± Cedrick nodded. Now that Cedrick was back, Xander would be the prime suspect if he were to flee at this crucial moment. He was one of Valentino¡¯s grandsons after all. Cedrick hoped that Xander wouldn¡¯t have resorted to such extreme measures. Five minutester, Logan returned. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Xander has disappeared. I clearly had two men watching him, but I don¡¯t know when he managed to escape.¡± Knowing well in his heart, Cedrick ordered Nico, ¡°Check the surveince footage at the garage and see if Xander has driven out of the vi. Send men to capture him right away!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± With that, Nico went off to do as he was told. Cedrick didn¡¯t have time to change out of his military uniform. He strode into the living room in his military boots, exuding a domineering aura. The moment he entered, a pin¨Cdrop silence descended upon the noisy living room as everyone turned toward him in unison. ¡°Mr. Cedrick.¡± Cedrick nodded in acknowledgment. Instead of taking a seat on the couch in the center, he walked to the empty space beside the coffee table and turn to look at the Jensons who had gathered. ¡°Mr. Kieran and the medical corps are upstairs. Grandpa is in good hands. Now that it¡¯ste, there¡¯s no need to keep vigil here. You can all head home.¡± Since he had asked them to leave, there was no reason for anyone to stay. Truth be told, most of them were just pretending to be concerned and were just too embarrassed to go. All of them took Cedrick¡¯s cue without dy and swiftly made a beeline out of the vi. A few minutester, peace returned to the expansive vi. Cedrick maintained a frosty expression as he watched every single member of the Jenson family leave. Once he had gotten rid of everyone, he headed upstairs to check on Valentino. An hourter, Nico called. Cedrick was sitting by Valentino¡¯s bedside, watching him sleep. When he lowered his head and saw the iing call, he slipped out of the room quietly and walked to the end of the corridor to answer his phone. Nico informed him, ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯ve captured Xander. He drove out of the Jenson residence without anyone noticing and hid himself in a bar. Fortunately, I was quick in my pursuit, and there was just no escape for him.¡± Cedrick replied, ¡°Well done. I¡¯ll be waiting at the ancestral hall. Bring him here. I want to have a chat with him.¡± On Mount Tranquil, Gwendolyn kept checking her watch, feeling anxious and restless. Truth be told, there was no need for her to assign the task to Asher. As Chanaea¡¯s richest woman and the head of Harris Group, she had built rtionships with other powerful businessmen. Nevertheless, she wanted to use this opportunity to test where Asher¡¯s loyaltyy. She still couldn¡¯t get a grasp of what was on his mind, let alone the fact that he didn¡¯t want to be involved in anything between her and Evelyn. What seemed ironic was that Asher had been one of Evelyn¡¯s backers back then. It would be difficult for him to proim his innocence now. Troubled by her thoughts, Gwendolyn nced at the time again. At this hour, they should be boarding soon. She decided to head upstairs to check with Asher on thetest. No sooner had she gotten to her feet than Asher carefully descended the stairs with one hand on the railing and the other on his knee. The siblings¡® eyes met. Having noticed Asher¡¯s presence, Sienna hurried forward to support him. Asher maintained his gaze on Gwendolyn while struggling to speak in his raspy voice. ¡°I had someone investigate, and I can confirm that Paul and Annie are indeed nning on taking thest flight to Ospea. I have asked my men to detain their passports. They cannot leave for the time being.¡± Unbeknownst to herself, Gwendolyn sighed in relief. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Asher continued, ¡°If you want to capture Annie, you¡¯ll have to act fast. Paul is a count. It will be difficult to keep him here for long without affecting the diplomatic rtions between our two countries.¡± Gwendolyn nodded calmly. ¡°I understand. There¡¯s no time to waste. Now that Annie¡¯s identity has been confirmed, it¡¯s time to put an end to this.¡± Just as she turned around to leave, Asher hurried after her. Due to the pain in his throat from speaking too much, he coughed a few times and added, ¡°I¡¯ve gotten hold of Paul¡¯s number from the passenger manifest. You can try calling him directly. It may be more effective that way.¡± Gwendolyn turned around, slightly shocked. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Not only did Asher carry out her instructions, but he also collected a lot of helpful information for her. Has he chosen to take my side this time? ¡°Send Paul¡¯s number to me. Thank you.¡± After expressing her gratitude, Gwendolyn left the vi and set off into the night together with Inez. Along the way, Inez asked candidly. ¡°Gwendolyn, is Mr. Kieraning back to Mount Tranquil tonight?¡± With her mind still on Asher, Gwendolyn answered casually. ¡°Probably not. He¡¯s still at Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s ce.¡± Lowering her head, Inez asked, ¡°In that case, am I to stay alone at his vi tonight?¡± Gwendolyn regained her senses and realized it would be rude for her future sister¨Cinw to be unapanied on her very first day on Mount Tranquil. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s mania prevented her from having anyone over at Harrick Vi. If she were to have a manic episode in the middle of the night, the ensuing chaos would definitely scare Inez. After giving it some thought, she replied firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call Kieran and get him toe home. tonight.¡± Chapter 582 The Last Person Grandpa Saw Chapter582TheLastPersonGrandpaSaw Cedrick could take charge of the situation of the Jenson family now that he had returned. Coupled with the fact that Valentino¡¯s condition was rtively stable, it wouldn¡¯t dy Kieran and Inez¡¯s time together as an engaged couple. After having a conversation with Kieran, Gwendolyn chose a car from the garage at the Harris residence and drove back to Harrick Vi. Upon her arrival, she didn¡¯t get out of the car immediately. Instead, she took out a DNA test report and used her phone to capture the result in the bottom right corner. She then sent the photo to the number given to her by Asher. Along with the photo was a message that read: Your girlfriend is someone from the Harris family. Hand her over to me, and you can return to Ospea at any time. Otherwise, I¡¯ll make sure to spend all my resources in dealing with you. She figured that with Paul being a noble from Ospea, the consequences would be dire if it were found out that his girlfriend¡¯s identity was fake. Although the threat was not explicitly stated, with Paul¡¯s noble status at stake, even if he truly loved Annic, the other nobles in Ospea would never allow him to be reckless. I doubt the count would allow his reputation to be tainted. After all, he has too many things to consider, making his vulnerabilities easy to exploit. After sending the message, Gwendolyn waited for a while, and within ten minutes, she received a call from an unknown number. The number was none other than the one Asher had sent her¨CPaul¡¯s phone number. When the call was connected, there was silence on the other end, apanied by the audible sound of a person breathing heavily.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Mr. Hall, I¡¯m not someone who likes to beat around the bush. Just get straight to the point.¡± Paul let out a sigh and spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Ms. Harris, I didn¡¯t know that Annie is a member of the Harris family, and neither did she. When I met her, she was injured and had lost her memory. Even though she¡¯s an illegitimate child, she is still your half¨Csister. Can¡¯t you just leave her alone?¡± Gwendolyn found his words amusing. ¡°Why¡± Now that her identity is about to be exposed, she¡¯s ying the amnesia card with me? Does she think I¡¯m a fool?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth, Ms. Harris. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can take her for a psychiatric evaluation,¡± Paul suggested. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. She¡¯s a renowned actress, and her acting skills have won her numerous. des. Just like how we can never wake someone who¡¯s pretending to be asleep, I doubt even a psychiatrist could see through her act.¡± Paul sighed again. ¡°So I take it that you¡¯re determined to go through with this, then? Must you be so ruthless?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not being ruthless. She¡¯s a member of my family and as the head of the Harris family, it is my responsibility to correct her mistakes. Besides, this is a matter for the Harris family to take care of. You have no right to intervene, Mr. Hall.¡± Paul¡¯s voice was steady and his tone was resolute when he said, ¡°Yes, I am an outsider and have no say in this matter, but is it really necessary for you to be so cruel toward a young girl in the prime of her youth, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him any longer and her tone grew cold. ¡°I have never imed to be a saint. She showed neither mercy nor regard for our blood ties when she repeatedly tried to harm me in the past, so I find it ironic that you¡¯re now urging me to be kind. Let me make it clear onest time. Hand Annie Steinfeld over to me, and Harris Group and Antea Group can go their separate ways peacefully.¡± There was a long silence from the other end of the line before Paul finally said, ¡°Give me half a day. III talk to Annie and give you a response then.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Gwendolyn raised a brow. It seems that this matter can be resolved peacefully, Well, that would be the most ideal oue. In the ancestral hall of the Jenson family, Xander was being led inside by Nico, who appeared to be much stronger than him. With just one hand gripping the back of his neck, Nico seemed to hold the power over his fate, easily tugging him along. Xander protested, ¡°Let go of me! So what if I went to a bar? Is it such a heinous crime that you had to drag me all the way back to the ancestral hall?¡± Anger consumed him. ¡°Hey, it hurts! Nico Jenson, you¡¯re making a big deal out of nothing! You-¡± Before he could finish his string of insults, he lifted his head and saw Cedrick standing before the ancestral. tablet in the ancestral hall The man was standing with his hands behind his back, his posture straight and upright. Even from his back, one could feel the cold and chilling aura emanating from him. Xander felt his blood run cold, but heposed himself and calmly straightened the cor of his suit. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Cedrick? Did Imit a crime by going to a bar? Your wife was the one who banned me from staying by Grandpa¡¯s side to fulfill my filial duties. I felt frustrated and went to the bar to vent a little. Is that wrong?¡± Cedrick turned around abruptly, his expression grim. He had no patience for idle talk and proceeded to question him directly, ¡°You were thest person Grandpa saw in the study before he fell into aa. What did you do to him?¡± Xander straightened his back and adjusted his golden¨Crimmed sses, reiming his demeanor as a refined scion of a prestigious family. ¡°Grandpa was just asking about my work recently. He said he was disappointed by myck of enthusiasm and ambition. He scolded me for a couple of minutes, and that¡¯s it. What else could I possibly do to him?¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t believe a word he said. ¡°I¡¯m giving you onest chance toe clean. The consequences will be dire if you choose to hide the truth,¡± he warned. Lowering his head and refusing to meet his eyes, Xander denied adamantly, ¡°What do you mean by that? Do you think I would harm Grandpa? With you suppressing me and my father, Grandpa was the only one who supported me. I have no reason to harm him.¡± ¡°Yes, you do.¡± While Cedrick¡¯s expression remained calm andposed, his words carried a firm conviction. ¡°What gives you the right to suspect me like this?¡± Cedrick pursed his lips, suppressing his displeasure. It was obvious he was on the brink of exploding with anger. He nced at Nico, silently conveying a message with his eyes. Thetter immediately took out a small dropper boule that was filled with an unknown transparent liquid before handing it over to Cedrick. Cedrick took it and fixed a firm gaze on Xander as if saying that the evidence in his hand was indisputable. ¡°This was found in Uncle Yael¡¯s vi by someone I sent, and it was discovered in your room. I also checked your call records and saw that an unknown number had contacted you a few days ago. You deliberately put this medicine in Grandpa¡¯s tea. You think I wouldn¡¯t be able to find out?¡± Xander looked perplexed and reached out to snatch the small vial from Cedrick¡¯s hand. ¡°What¡¯s this? I have no idea something like this was in my room. You¡¯d better not falsely use me!¡± Before he could take the vial, however, Cedrick moved backward swiftly, evading his hand effortlessly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know better than anyone whether you¡¯ve been falsely used.¡± He handed the vial back to Nico, refusing to show it to Xander. With a firm and righteous tone, he used him of his wrongdoing. ¡°The person who instigated you to tamper with Grandpa¡¯s food promised to help you or Yael seize power once the deed was done, am I right?¡± Xander shook his head fervently. ¡°No, you¡¯re wrong!¡± Cedrick approached him. ¡°That person wanted to use this incident to keep Gwenny busy and overwhelmed to the point where she¡¯s unable to attend to other matters. They also deliberately tried to trap her in the police station. If I hadn¡¯t returned in time and made you worry that you¡¯ll get caught, you probably would have already urged our family members to select someone capable of handling Grandpa¡¯sa and used it as an opportunity to gain support, am I right?¡± As beads of cold sweat trickled down along Xander¡¯s jawline, a sense of unease gripped him. Still, he refused to admit to anything. ¡°No!¡± Cedrick sneered and drew a gun from his waistband before pressing it sharply against Xander¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that person is Paul Hall, right?¡± Xander was scared stiff by his action. In the next second, he heard the sound of the gun being cocked. He noticed that Cedrick¡¯s dark and chilling gaze actually revealed a terrifying intent to kill. Panicking, he spluttered, ¡°I¨CI didn¡¯t do it! I really didn¡¯t! I don¡¯t know what¡¯s in that vial of yours, and I certainly have no idea why you found it in my room!¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t believe him at all and tightened his finger around the trigger, indicating his intention to pull it. ¡°You¡¯re still lying? Do you even know what¡¯s in this vial? Overdosing on it can be life¨Cthreatening. You despicable creature! Grandpa loves you so much, yet you want his life! You actually tried to end an elderly man¡¯s life! Do you have no conscience left?¡± It was the first time Xander experienced such terror. His legs trembled, and his whole body shook uncontrobly because he could truly sense an intense murderous intent emanating from Cedrick. Trying to prove his innocence, he stated, ¡°I swear, that vial isn¡¯t mine. If I wanted to harm Grandpa, all I needed to do was to give him a few extra grapes or grapefruits since he was on his hypertension medication. I have no reason to tamper with his food. Besides, why would I want to take Grandpa¡¯s life? He¡¯s only in aa, and a couple of days of IV drip will make him better!¡± Cedrick smirked when he heard that. ¡°So, it was you who persuaded Grandpa to eat grapes and grapefruit while he was taking his hypertension medication.¡± Xander was momentarily stunned but soon realized what was happening. He red at Cedrick and eximed through gritted teeth, ¡°Cedrick Jenson! You tricked me!¡± Chapter 583 Psychological Warfare Chapter583PsychologicalWarfare Cedrick scoffed and raised his boot to deliver a harsh kick to Xander¡¯s knee. ¡°Ahh!¡± Caught off guard, Xander fell to his knees in pain. With the gun still pressed against Xander¡¯s temple, Cedrick emanated an absolute aura of oppression and intimidation. ¡°Grandpa loves and cares for you the most, and you actually have the audacity to gamble with his life and health for the sake of your own ambitions? You have no idea how much I want to put a bullet through you right now, Xander.¡± As he spoke, he tightened his grip on the gun, seemingly about to pull the trigger. Realizing that he had let the cat out of the bag, Xander broke out in a cold sweat. He was genuinely terrified now that the situation had spiraled out of control. He grabbed onto Cedrick¡¯s military trousers and pleaded, ¡°Cedrick, I was wrong! I was foolishly led astray and shouldn¡¯t have listened to others¡® instigation. I truly didn¡¯t intend to harm Grandpa. I only dared to do it because I knew this wouldn¡¯t take his life. I promise I won¡¯t oppose you anymore, so please just let me go. With the gun pressed against his head, he was experiencing what true, unadulterated fear felt like. Especially since Cedrick was visibly angry and seemed to be losing his temper, he was afraid that the man might identally fire the gun.. Guns are not sentient beings. It would be the end of my life if he really pulled the trigger! ¡°Please, Cedrick! You can send me to a lower¨Clevel position in the district or county. I promise I won¡¯t return to Salinsburgh for the next ten years!¡± The raging gloom in Cedrick¡¯s eyes settled, and he holstered the gun. Thinking that he was off the hook, Xander was about to heave a sigh of relief when the other man said, ¡°A demotion wouldn¡¯t mean much to you. I think spending the next ten years in a high¨Csecurity prison for rehabilitation would be more fitting. I¡¯ll handle this matter justly and submit the documents and evidence to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That¡¯s where you¡¯ll find your chance at redemption.¡± The mention of a high¨Csecurity prison struck Xander like a bolt from the blue. Although he wouldn¡¯t be facing death, he was well aware that life in a high¨Csecurity prison would be a living hell. The fact that Cedrick intended for him to serve a ten¨Cyear sentence was beyond his worst fears. ¡°Don¡¯t send me there! Please spare me, Cedrick. Besides¡­¡± He wracked his brain toe up with something and refused to admit to his wrongdoings. ¡°Besides, giving Grandpa the grapes and grapefruits was an ident on my part, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Ignorance shouldn¡¯t be punished so harshly, right?¡± Cedrick sneered. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of your innocence, or rather theck thereof. I¡¯m sure you know how efficient the Federal Bureau of Investigation is. Obtaining all the evidence against you will be a piece of cake.¡± Xander slumped to the ground with a defeated expression. His entire body quivered as the thought of serving time in a high¨Csecurity prison struck him. ¡°Cedrick! If you¡¯re going to send me to a high¨Csecurity prison, you might as well just shoot me dead instead! At least that would be a quicker and more merciful end for me!¡±ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Thud! As soon as he finished his words, Cedrick threw the gun down in front of him. ¡°Go ahead, then. End it yourself.¡±¡± Xander stared at the gun nkly, and a wicked thought suddenly arose in his mind. Cedrick gazed at him with a mocking look in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s your choice whether to serve a ten¨Cyear sentence in a high¨Clevel prison or put an end to your miserable life.¡± Xander stared at the gun by his feet. A growing sense of resentment filled his eyes. Instead of going to a high¨Clevel prison and being tortured to death, I should take a certain someone down first! Beneath the golden¨Crimmed sses, his eyes shed with hatred. Trembling, he picked up the gun from the ground and got to his feet swiftly before pointing the muzzle at Cedrick. ¡°Since I¡¯m dead either way, I¡¯ll send you to hell first, Cedrick!¡± Cedrick remained as calm as ever in the face of such a threat, even showing a hint of disdain in his expression. He spread his armszily, seemingly not taking Xander seriously at all. ¡°Come at me, then. I¡¯ll give you credit for having courage and guts if you actually dare to shoot me.¡± ¡°Do you really think I won¡¯t? Your life is worth more than mine. It¡¯s a bargain to take you down with me!¡°, Arching a brow, Cedrick taunted, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, go ahead and shoot, then. Do you know how to pull the trigger? Do I need to teach you how?¡± ¡°Of course I know how to pull the trigger!¡± Xander¡¯s right hand trembled violently as he held the gun, forcing him to support it with his left hand in order to maintain hisposure. Nico stood on the side, silently capturing the scene of him pointing the gun at Cedrick. The sound of the camera clicking awakened Xander¡¯s rationality. He looked at Nico in confusion, then turned his gaze back to Cedrick. Nico smiled. ¡°Xander, you might not have been sentenced to ten years originally, but now that you¡¯ve threatened the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and even pointed a gun at him, the severity of the situation has increased. I¡¯m afraid your sentence will be more than ten years.¡± Xander fell into deep despair when he heard that. ¡°Cedrick, you tricked me again! Don¡¯t you know that by doing this, you¡¯re only forcing me to shoot you?¡± Wearing the same deadpan expression, Cedrick showed no signs of fear, which made Xander even more uneasy. Xander couldn¡¯t believe that someone could remain unfazed when faced with the barrel of a gun. ¡°Did you remove the bullets? There are no bullets in the gun, right? You tricked me by giving me an unloaded gun!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re too afraid to pull the trigger, let me give it a try.¡± Feeling extremely disappointed, Cedrick swiftly moved in front of Xander. Before Xander could even react, he grabbed the hand holding the gun, pointed the muzzle downward, and fired a shot into Xander¡¯s thigh. A deafening bang rang out, echoing in the air. The bullet went through Xander¡¯s thigh, and blood started gushing out of the wound. Agonizing screams of pain soon filled the ancestral hall. Driven by intense resentment and hatred, Xander decisively aimed the gun at Cedrick this time and pulled the trigger. However, the gun in his hand merely made a hollow click sound. There are no bullets left¡­ Cedrick only loaded one bullet. Xander was furious. He felt that he was on the verge of losing his sanity. I had the chance to end Cedrick¡¯s life all along! The psychological warfare that Cedrick had waged against him throughout the night had left him in a state of despair and hopelessness. Relishing in the man¡¯s futile struggle, Cedrick uttered coldly. ¡°The high¨Clevel prison awaits you, Xander. Nico, take him away.¡± Nico stepped forward immediately to pull Xander up. Just then, a suddenmotion erupted outside the ancestral hall, and the doors were forcefully pushed open by someone. Yael¨Cwho was supposed to be working in a small county¨Chad unexpectedly returned to Salinsburgh. ¡°Xander!¡± He rushed forward and pushed Nico aside before pulling his son into his arms and looking at his leg injury with concern. As though he had found his savior, Xander¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Dad, he¡¯s going to send me to that hellish high- level prison! Please save me. I don¡¯t want to go. I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Yael suppressed the hatred he felt toward Cedrick and softened his tone as he persuaded, ¡°Cedrick, no matter what, Xander is still a part of the Jenson family. How can you bear to send him to such a ce and ruin his life? Yes, he made a mistake, but it doesn¡¯t warrant such a severe punishment! If you want to discipline him, you can give him a good whipping. But please don¡¯t send him to a high¨Clevel prison. Let¡¯s handle this matter within the family, behind closed doors!¡± Cedrick was adamant in his decision. He said, ¡°Did he ever consider the consequences of the truth coming to light when he conspired with outsiders and caused harm to Grandpa? Since he chose this path, he should have been prepared to bear the responsibility for his actions, Nico, cuff him and take him away.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Cedrick.¡± Nico took out a pair of handcuffs and approached Xander, but Yael blocked his path, preventing him from touching his son. ¡°Cedrick, you¡¯re being too ruthless. He is your cousin! Your grandpa only has a few descendants left, yet you¡¯re willing to witness one of them suffer?¡± Cedrick lost his patience and insisted, ¡°Sending him to a high¨Clevel prison is already the most lenient course of action I can offer. Although his days there won¡¯t be easy, he¡¯ll at least have food and shelter. If he dies, it will be because he cannot bear the hardship and chooses to end his life himself. Now take him away!¡± ¡°No! You can¡¯t!¡± Chaos erupted at the ancestral hall as cries, shouts, pleas for mercy, and screams of agony blended together, creating a terrifying and chilling atmosphere. It wasn¡¯t until Logan¡¯s arrival that the fiasco at the ancestral hall was put to an end. He eximed, ¡°Mr. Cedrick, Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s awake! Let¡¯s hold off on dealing with Mr. Xander for now and go see him first!¡± Chapter 584 No Room For Negotiation Chapter584NoRoomForNegotiation It was major news that Valentino had regained consciousness. Without looking back, Cedrick left the ancestral hall with Nico at once and walked toward the master bedroom where his grandfather was. As Yael also wanted to see Valentino, he quickly helped Xander up from the ground. However, Xander had been shot in the thigh and was unable to move at all. Still trembling in pain, he said, ¡°Dad, Cedrick is too ruthless. Not only did he set me up, but he even shot me so mercilessly. It hurts so much that it¡¯s impossible for me to walk at all. Dad, take me back now. I need to get my wound treated.¡± Yael let out a sigh and said astutely, ¡°We can¡¯t do that. Your injury is our best weapon. We have to let your grandpa see it.¡± Xander immediately understood what his father meant. He gritted his teeth and headed up the stairs with Yael¡¯s support. Meanwhile, except for Kieran, who had been summoned by Gwendolyn to return to Mount Tranquil to apany Inez, the entire Jenson family¡¯s medical corps was stationed in the master bedroom. Cedrick could hear his grandfather coughing when he was a few steps away from the door. He immediately hastened his steps and sat at Valentino¡¯s bedside. ¡°Grandpa, how are you feeling? Is your head aching? Are you still feeling dizzy?¡± Listlessly, Valentino replied, ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better. Cedrick, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m old. It¡¯s inevitable that I will fall sick and eventually die.¡± ¡°Grandpa, stop uttering nonsense. A blessed man like you will surely live a long life. You have to watch Benny and Zendy grow up. The mention of his darling great¨Cgrandchildren made Valentino¡¯s eyes light up. Being a part of their growing¨Cup journey would indeed bring him great joy. The two men continued chatting for a while until Yael and Xander appeared, disrupting the harmonious atmosphere in the room. Noticing the bloodstains on his clothes and that he seemed to be injured, Valentino asked in concern, ¡°Xander, what happened to you?¡± Enduring the immense pain from his gunshot wound. Xander knelt down next to the old man¡¯s bed and said in a tearful voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandpa. I didn¡¯t know that grapes and grapefruit cannot be consumed together with blood pressure medication. I really shouldn¡¯t have asked you to eat more of those earlier today. It¡¯s all my fault. Cedrick was so furious that he lectured me in the ancestral hall and shot me in the leg.¡± Valentino¡¯s heart ached. ¡°Is your injury serious? Cedrick, there¡¯s really no need for you to be so angry. It¡¯s my own fault that I was greedy.¡± Cedrick remained silent. Reading the situation, Xander quickly moved forward with his knees on the ground and grabbed Valentino¡¯s hand with his entire body shaking, showing how terrified and helpless he was. ¡°Grandpa, please save me. I¡¯ve realized my mistake, but Cedrick is not willing to let me off. He intends to get me a ten¨Cyear sentence in a high¨Csecurity prison. Grandpa, my life would be over if that happened!¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve already tried to dissuade Cedrick from doing that, but his stance is firm. He¡¯s currently the head of the family. He¡¯s not going to listen to anything I say. You¡¯re the only one who can persuade him to change his mind, Dad. Please help Xander,¡± Yael chimed in. Valentino did not expect that such a minor family matter would blow up and turn into something so serious. ¡°Cedrick, Xander really didn¡¯t do anything wrong this time. I was the one who ate the wrong food. You¡¯ve already shot him in the leg. Is there really a need to send him to prison? It¡¯s better for us to settle our family matters in private. It won¡¯t be nice if word gets out.¡± Cedrick had always obeyed his grandfather¡¯s wishes, except for matters rted to Gwendolyn. That would be the second time he went against the old man. ¡°I¡¯ve already decided, and I¡¯m not going to change my mind regarding this matter. Besides, Grandpa, what you heard from Xander and Uncle Yael is their one¨Csided story. The truth is not that simple.¡± Unwilling to ept his fate, Xander retorted, ¡°It is actually that simple! Cedrick, the fact is that you just don¡¯t like me, and that¡¯s why you refuse to trust me!¡± Cedrick did not want to continue listening to his cousin¡¯s pointless arguments. He said firmly, ¡°Anyway, decision is final, and there¡¯s no room for negotiation. I will sort out the relevant evidence and hand it over to the authorities. When your wound is almost healed, you can start making preparations to serve your time in the high¨Csecurity prison.¡± Xander was already looking rather pale due to the loss of blood from his wound. Faced with Cedrick¡¯s unyielding attitude, he was scared out of his wits, and all color drained from his face at once. ¡°Grandpa, save me! Grandpa, I don¡¯t want to go to prison. Cedrick is trying to ruin me!¡± Valentino was so flustered that he started coughing. Cedrick immediately reached out to pat his grandfather¡¯s back, trying to help him breathe better. Although he was respectful and appeared to be a dutiful grandson, it would be almost impossible for him to change his mind once he had made a decision. Eager to protect Xander, Valentino said, ¡°Do you really have to be so ruthless toward your own family? Since I am fine now, there¡¯s no need to punish him so harshly. Cedrick, just listen to me this time and stop being so stubborn!¡± Cedrick fell silent once again. He did not want to anger his grandfather and aggravate his cough. As the old man had just regained consciousness and was still recovering, Cedrick could not bring himself to tell him what Xander had done. Noticing that Cedrick seemed to be relenting, Xander felt hopeful once more. Yael also heaved a sigh of relief. Just as the atmosphere in the master bedroom began to change subtly, Gwendolyn¡¯s sweet voice sounded. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Grandpa, Cedrick wouldn¡¯t have taken this step if it wasn¡¯t necessary. He is just going by the book, giving Xander what he deserves.¡± Xander turned around and red at Gwendolyn. Having sheer resentment for her beautiful countenance at that moment, he murmured through gritted teeth. ¡°Why are you interfering? Just mind your own business!¡± The woman chose to ignore him despite hearing his words clearly. Bypassing Yael and Xander, who was still kneeling on the floor, Gwendolyn walked toward Valentino and stopped next to his bed. ¡°Xander intentionally fed you the grapefruit in order to chase me back to the Jenson residence. Something happened to the Harris¡ª¡± ¡°Gwenny,¡± Cedrick quickly stopped her from talking. ¡°Grandpa has just woken up. Let¡¯s not trouble him with such details. I will handle it.¡± Disagreeing with the man, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°You are too caught up in the matter to remain clear- headed. I know you¡¯re worried that Grandpa wouldn¡¯t be able to take it after knowing the truth, but don¡¯t forget that he was from the military and had been through countless tough situations. I trust that he won¡¯t be brought down so easily.¡± Cedrick fell silent once again. Very quickly, Valentino figured out that there was more than meets the eye and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn, tell me, what exactly is going on?¡± Gwendolyn replied in a serious manner, ¡°Both the Jenson family and the Harris family are having trouble at the same time. If I were here, I wouldn¡¯t be able to help with anything there as I would be too swamped. Someone also tried to lure me to the police station, hoping to trap me there. Meanwhile, Xander would find a way to create rumors and conflict. If Cedrick was not around when all this was happening, it would naturally fall on Xander and Uncle Yael to take care of the situation. They nned to take this opportunity to reduce Cedrick¡¯s influence and take over his position. Taking a pause, she continued, ¡°It¡¯s not only that, Grandpa. Xander was also in cahoots with Paul, a noble from Ospea. Paul is an extremely cunning businessman who frequently uses underhand methods to achieve his goals. If Xander were to seed, Jenson Group would definitely end up being acquired by Antea Group, given how ambitious they are.¡± Cedrick had his gaze fixed on Gwendolyn while she was exining the situation to Valentino as if he was silently asking her how she had found out all that information. Noticing the look in his eyes, Gwendolyn cocked her brows. Upon returning from Mount Tranquil, she saw that the lights in Harrick Vi were not turned on. Cedrick was not back yet. Hence, she headed to Valentino¡¯s vi and saw Nico outside the bedroom. It was Nico who shared with her what had happened the previous night as well as Cedrick¡¯s spection. At the same time, she also observed that Nico had gotten tanner after he returned from the border. However, he had pearly white teeth and spoke in aical way. Looking at the man¡¯s dark and handsome face, Gwendolyn found him silly yet adorable. As Nico had not had the chance to go home yet, Gwendolyn could not help but wonder how Summer would react when she saw him. Chapter 585 Middle Ground Between The Punishments Chapter585 MiddleGround BetweenThePunishments The atmosphere in the master bedroom grew tense after Gwendolyn said that ¡°That¡¯s not true! I did not team up with anyone to hurt Cedrick! He¡¯s trying to set me up, Grandpa!¡± Xander protested stubbornly. Valentino weakly leaned against the headrest and stared at the facial expressions of those around him. Having dominated the military and the corporate world during his younger days, Valentino could tell that something was amiss even though his brain worked a little slower due to his illness. The fact that Gwendolyn said that means she¡¯s involved, so this incident has affected the Harris family as well. Therefore, this is no longer a private affair within the Jenson family. He turned toward Gwendolyn after a prolonged moment of silence and asked, ¡°If what you said is true, how do you n on handling this?¡± ¡°That depends on whether you n to resolve this privately or publicly, Grandpa,¡± Gwendolyn replied with a gentle smile. Xander¡¯s eyes lit up the moment he heard that. What? We can resolve this privately? So, Gwendolyn is here to help us out, huh? His face grew increasingly pale from the pain as he had been kneeling with an injured leg. Yael quickly stepped forward to hold him steady when he noticed that. As the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps happened to be present, they were able to help bandage his wound. After obtaining permission from Valentino, Yael helped Xander over to a chair on the side. Meanwhile, the discussion continued on at the bedside. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°What does each method entail?¡± Valentino asked. ¡°If we handle it publicly, we will let the legal justice system decide on Xander¡¯s punishment ording to the evidence that Nico has gathered. Xander pointed a gun at the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and tried to kill him, so you can imagine how severe the consequences would be. He will most likely end up in a high¨Csecurity prison. Those words had barely left Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth when Xander protested, ¡°Impossible! There¡¯s no way I¡¯d ever go to a high¨Csecurity prison!¡± Annoyed that Xander still had the audacity to speak. Cedrick ordered coldly, ¡°Do not give him anything for the pain. I want him to learn a lesson.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Jenson.¡± Xander¡¯s face was white as a sheet as sweat poured down his cheeks. ¡°F*ck you, Cedrick! Do you want me to suffer that badly? Argh! It hurts!¡± Xander yelped in pain the moment the doctor used an alcohol swab on his wound. Gwendolyn ignored him and continued, ¡°If we settle this privately, then we will do so ording to the Jenson family¡¯s rules and punish him with the whip.¡± ¡°Give Xander tenshes of the whip, then! I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t dare do something like this again!¡± Yael said. Gwendolyn let out a chuckle. ¡°Only tenshes of the whip? Have you forgotten what Xander tried to do to Grandpa, Uncle Yael? That alone should be worth thirtyshes of the whip. He got me detained by the police because of this, so that¡¯s an additional tenshes, Lastly, he had the audacity to pull a gun on the head of the family, so that¡¯s another twentyshes.¡± She then held her hands out and pretended to do a little calction in her head before continuing. ¡°So, that makes a total of sixtyshes of the whip. We will consider this settled privately if Xander is able to withstand this punishment.¡± Xander was hurting so much due to theck of anesthesia that he was in a daze, so he didn¡¯t even hear what they were saying. ¡°Xander¡¯s body is unwell, to begin with, and he now has a gunshot wound as well. I doubt he can even withstand thirtyshes of the whip, let alone sixty! Are you trying to get him killed?¡± Yael protested. ¡°He was going to punish Cedrick with eightyshes of the whip for handing me his money and Jenson Group¡¯s shares. Had I not arrived in time, Cedrick would really have been put through that inhumane punishment. Does that mean you were trying to have him killed, Uncle Yael?¡± Gwendolyn retorted with a smile. Yael fell silent for quite some time before replying, ¡°These are two very different scenarios.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, they are indeed different. What Xander did is far worse than what Cedrick did, bu double his punishment or anything. I am simply going by the Jenson family¡¯s rules here,¡± Gwer Yael had nothing to say in response to that. If we settle this publicly, Xander will be sentenced to at least ten years in a high¨Csecurity prison. If we settle this privately, he will be whipped sixty times in the ancestral hall Either way, Xander will be done for. With that in mind, Yael shifted his gaze back toward Valentino as he said, ¡°Well? Say something. Dad! Xander will most likely end up dead if we go with either option! Are you really going to sit by and watch your grandson die?¡± As Valentino had gotten old, hecked the sharpness and discipline that he had when he was younger. All he wanted at that age was to watch his descendants live happy lives. While Xander was indeed at fault, Valentino could not bring himself to watch him die. After giving it some thought, Valentino shifted his gaze toward Cedrick and said, ¡°Cedrick¡­¡± Cedrick already knew what he was going to say. ¡°I know how much it pains you to watch your grandson suffer, Grandpa. I am willing to take a step back.¡± Yael¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard that. ¡°You truly are a good man, Cedrick! So, how about we just¡ª¡± Cedrick cut him off, ¡°There is a third solution for this matter. We can go with a middle ground between the two proposed solutions. We give Xander thirtyshes of the whip after he has mostly recovered from his injury and send him to prison for five years after that. This will allow him to be punished without dying in the process. That is as far as I¡¯m willing to go.¡± What? That means Xander will have to suffer both punishments! ¡°Cedrick, you¡ª¡± ¡°Xander is an adult, Grandpa. He needs to take responsibility for his actions. This will ensure that neither punishment is too severe. I will also inform the person whipping him to go a little easier on him so he won¡¯t die.¡± Cedrick added with a solemn expression. Valentino knew that was the most Cedrick was willing topromise. He let out a sigh and pulled his nket a little higher as he said, ¡°That¡¯s enough. I will no longer involve myself in this case. You¡¯re the head of the family, so you decide how you will resolve this.¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Yael eximed. Valentino closed his eyes and refused to listen. ¡°I¡¯m tired. Please leave, all of you.¡± Everyone, including Logan and the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps, had to leave the master bedroom. Xander was drifting in and out of consciousness when the doctors carried him out of there with Yael following closely behind them. Cedrick and Gwendolyn walked alongside each other along the corridor. It wasn¡¯t until they had all left Valentino¡¯s floor that Cedrick said, ¡°I will fulfill the promise I made Grandpa earlier. Xander will receive thirtyshes of the whip and be sentenced to five years in a high¨C security prison. That¡¯s as far as I¡¯m willing topromise. I will give Xander one week to recover from his injury before we carry out the whipping. Since there would be a week before the punishment, Yael simply shot the two a fierce re before bringing the unconscious Xander home. The sound of cicadas filled the silence of the night. Whatever feelings of sleepiness that Gwendolyn had was gone after everything that happened earlier. She reached out to hold Cedrick¡¯s hand and interlocked their fingers. As the babies were fast asleep, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t want to wake them up, so she and Cedrick left Valentino¡¯s vi with Nico following closely behind them. Having gotten used to seeing them act all lovey¨Cdovey with each other, Nico no longer felt ufortable about it. The paths of the Jenson residence were dimly lit as the three of them made their way down them. Nico made sure to maintain a safe distance with the two lovebirds as they headed toward Harrick Vi. They had just arrived at the front door when Gwendolyn noticed a young girl standing beneath the streetmp. It was none other than Summer, and she appeared to be waiting for them. She quickly ran forward when she saw Gwendolyn and Cedrick. ¡°Hi, Gwendolyn! Wow, Mr. Jenson really is back! Then what about Nico?¡± Chapter 586 Proving Himself Chapter586ProvingHimself She had just returned from universitytely and felt lonely living by herself. On top of that, she also missed Nico dearly. Afterpleting a self¨Cstudy session at the university, Summer was passing by the Jenson residence when she heard the housekeepers talking about Cedrick¡¯s return. She figured that Nico would most probably be home too if Cedrick had made it back safely, so she came rushing over as quickly as she could. It wasn¡¯t until she arrived at Harrick Vi that she found out Cedrick was at the police station. Gwendolyn and Cedrick exchanged nces before stepping aside and pointing in the direction behind them. ¡°There¡¯s your Nico,¡± Gwendolyn said. Not wanting to disturb the two lovebirds, Nico had deliberately kept a wide distance between them. His tanned skin and dark green military outfit made it a little hard to spot him at night. Summer was frozen when she saw him, and her eyes reddened almost instantly. Nico touched his face and asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s with that expression? Did I be ugly or something?¡± Summer ran up to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as she sobbed, ¡°Why did your skin, turn so dark? You must have suffered a great deal at the bordertely! It hurts me just thinking about it!¡± Nico¡¯s heart softened the moment he heard thatst sentence, and he just stood there rooted to the spot. Ah, so Cedrick isn¡¯t the only one who has someone waiting for him now¡­ Man, this feels great¡­ Feeling touched at the thought of that, Nico knew his eyes had reddened as well. Seeing as Nico was just standing there in silence, Gwendolyn reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t you see that she¡¯s crying? Hurry up and give her a hug! In fact, you should carry her home andfort her! She has been missing you a lot over the past few days!¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Nico replied as though he had just received a task from Gwendolyn. He then scooped Summer into his arms and said, ¡°We¡¯ll be heading back now.¡± Cedrick and Gwendolyn nodded in unison. Nico then turned around and left with Summer while the light from the streetmps cast a long shadow behind them. ¡°Your skin is really dark, Nico! You look even nerdier than before!¡± ¡°Am I ugly?¡± ¡°Not really. Your facial features are still handsome, so it makes you look a little more masculine. I¡¯ll give you a facial when we get back. Your skin will be radiant in no time!¡± ¡°Ew! Why would a man like me need that stuff?¡± Nico eximed in disgust. ¡°Men can look good with wless skin too! Now that you¡¯re back, you need to drop this tough guy act and listen to me!¡± Cedrick and Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when they heard their conversation. ¡°Hubby, you should teach Nico a thing or two about romance when you have the time. That guy is so dense that he¡¯ll probably end up upsetting Summer, Gwendolyn said. Cedrick scooped her into his arms. ¡°It¡¯s not our ce to meddle with their rtionship. Even the densest of men will somedaye to their senses and learn to be romantic. Just give him some time to learn it himself. He then lowered his head and gave Gwendolyn a kiss on the lips as he continued, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, and we have had a very long night. You should get some rest.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time, though. Don¡¯t you want to have some bedtime activities, Hubby?¡± Gwendolyn asked with a pout. Of course I do! Things were tough at the border due to the ridiculously hot sun and theck of resources, but the worst part was not being able to see Gwenny! Now that I¡¯m finally back, the one thing I want to do the most is get intimate with her. However¡­ ¡°You have yet to fully recover from your mania, and we have been up all night handling Xander. On top of that, we still have a ton of stuff to take care of tomorrow. Your body might not be able to handle the stress if we go at it tonight,¡± he said with a sigh while walking toward Harrick Vi. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Feeling displeased with his response, Gwendolyn leaned in close and taunted him, ¡°Looks like your trip to the border has lowered your sexual performance. You used to say I wouldn¡¯t have to do anything except lie there and enjoy the process. What, you can¡¯t do that anymore?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned gloomy almost instantly. Although he knew that Gwendolyn was only saying that to taunt him, his pride still prevented him from letting it slide. He felt a strong urge to bring her back to the bedroom and prove himself to her. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll let you experience it for yourself. Let¡¯s see if my performance really has dropped!¡± Gwendolyn shed him a satisfied smile and tightened her grip on his neck while he carried her into the master bedroom. The two then took a nice, warm bath before beginning their night of passion. The babies were at Valentino¡¯s house, so it was just the two of them at the vi. They could have all the fun they wanted without worrying about closing the doors and windows. After having sex. Gwendolyn felt an aching sensation in her waist, which was something she hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time. Cedrick then carried her into the basement where she could get some sleep. She slept so soundly due to the exhaustion that she didn¡¯t have any manic episodes that night. The two of them slept in until Gwendolyn was woken up by her phone¡¯s ringtone in the afternoon. It was yet another unknown number, but she recognized it as the number Asher gave herst night, which belonged to Paul. Due to the poor reception in the basement, she snuck out and made her way into the living room before answering the phone. ¡°Have you made up your mind yet?¡± ¡°Yes, I have. I won¡¯t take Annie with me. She is a member of your family, so it would only make sense that I return her to you,¡± Paul eximed with a hint of despair in his voice. Huh? Did he reallye to his sense in just one night? Isn¡¯t that a little too soon? What is Annie ying at this time? ¡°Annie and I are currently on Summerbank Ind in Salinsburgh. Come here in two days, and I will personally hand her over to you. I do hope you won¡¯t be too harsh on her, Ms. Harris,¡± Paul continued. ¡°What I do with her is not your concern, Mr. Hall. Are you going to have me head over to Summerbank Ind on my own as well?¡± ¡°No, you may bring your bodyguards with you. I just hope you won¡¯t bring Mr. Jenson along, I don¡¯t wish to involve the military in this.¡± Gwendolyn did not agree to that request either. ¡°Why are you so afraid of the military, Mr. Hall? Did you do something bad in Chanaea? Are you afraid that an investigation would ruin your reputation as a member of nobility in Ospea?¡± Paul let out a huge sigh. ¡°You said bringing Annie home is a part of your family¡¯s affairs. In that case, I hope you will handle it behind closed doors. Things are going to change drastically if Mr. Jenson gets involved.¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t care less about his preferences as she was the one who held the power. ¡°Cedrick is my husband, and I have never been to Summerbank Ind, so he won¡¯t be able to rest easy unless hees with me. While it is pretty much certain that he would tag along. I have the power to control what he does. As long as Annic doesn¡¯t try anything funny, we will resolve this privately at the Harris residence.¡± ¡°Ms. Harris¡­¡± Not wanting to waste any more time arguing with him on this, Gwendolyn said, ¡°If you¡¯re going to make so many demands of me, then I won¡¯t head over and meet you. You two can never leave Chanaea as long as I¡¯m around, so it¡¯s only a matter of time before I find Annie on my own. When I do, things are going to be a lot harsher for her.¡± She then hung up the phone immediately after, leaving Paul and Annie to think carefully about what she said. I¡¯ll have to meet up with them on Summerbank Ind two dayster and resolve this issue once and for all! She was snapped out of her train of thought when Cedrick hugged her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. She turned toward him and asked with a gentle smile, ¡°You¡¯re awake, Hubby? Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re here with me, I could be sleeping under a bridge and still have a good night¡¯s sleep!¡± Cedrick replied. Gwendolyn let out a snicker. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯d ever sleep under a bridge with you! Even if we are able to handle it, our babies can¡¯t!¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right, Gwenny,¡± He then took a whiff of her fragrant scent before continuingzily, ¡°I heard you talking to Paul on the phone earlier. Do you need me to bring an army along two dayster?¡± Chapter 587 Spare The Rod And Spoil The Child Chapter587SpareTheRod AndSpoilTheChild Gwendolyn said, ¡°Don¡¯t make a big deal out of it. Regardless of what tricks Annie and Paul have up their sleeves, we¡¯re in Chanacan territory now. They won¡¯t be too brazen on foreign soil.¡± Cedrick remained unconvinced. He offered, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Nico to stand guard with some men along the coast. They can immediately travel to Summerbank Ind and help you if something happens.¡± Gwendolyn thought the proposed arrangement was more appropriate and nodded in agreement. She turned around and cupped his face, brushing his lips with a gentle kiss. ¡°That¡¯s a good n, Hubby.¡± Cedrick used the chance to wrap his arm around her waist. His tone deepened as he asked, ¡°Will you give me a reward for that, Darling?¡± ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± He replied by poking her waist with his fingers. The implications were clear. Gwendolyn was immediately disgruntled. They had already spent a passionate night together yesterday after several days apart. Her muscles were still aching from their intense sessionst night, and she did not wish to torment herself further. She jabbed his head with a finger and chided, ¡°Stop ying around. Wasn¡¯tst night enough for you? You¡¯re seldom home, so you should use this time to check on the babies. Spend some time with Benny and Zendy. Don¡¯t forget that Grandpa¡¯s sick too. You¡¯ve got plenty of people to visit.¡± Cedrick hid his disappointment. He could not argue against visiting Valentino or his children. The fridge at Harrick Vi was looking rtively empty after a few days of vacancy. Gwendolyn found it too troublesome to stock up on fresh ingredients and decided to visit Valentino¡¯s vi for a free meal instead. Benedict and Zendaya had visibly grown taller in just a few days. Cedrick lifted his daughter and felt as though she had grown heavier. They were clearly well taken care of in Valentino¡¯s household. s, Zendaya appeared to have forgotten him after a few days. She scrunched her brows in confusion and cried, looking distressed. Cedrick frowned and struggled to coax her into calming down. Eventually, Gwendolyn stepped in and lifted Zendaya from his arms. She clucked her tongue at him and teased, ¡°See. Zendaya doesn¡¯t want to acknowledge you as her dad because you hardly visit the children. You better step up; your position as their father is hanging by a thread.¡± Stubbornly, Cedrick picked up Benedict from the other cradle as if to prove Gwendolyn wrong. The young boy was still smiling a second ago. When he turned to stare at Cedrick, something flitted through his bright gaze, and he soon followed his sister¡¯s example, letting rip an even louder cry. Cedrick was speechless at the children¡¯s disy. Maybe I should just leave if they¡¯re both offended by me. He was far less patient toward his son than his daughter, and he said sternly to Benedict, ¡°Stop crying! How could you not recognize your own father? Once you¡¯re older, I¡¯m packing you off to endure the grueling military training at the Federal Bureau of Investigation!¡± Benedict¡¯s cries grew louder as if he had understood his father¡¯s threats. His tears flowed freely as his anguished wails went on and on. ¡°Stop it, or I¡¯ll spank you!¡± Cedrick growled. Gwendolyn was getting angrier by the second. She carefully returned Zendaya to her cradle and took the crying Benedict away from her husband. She admonished him, ¡°Can¡¯t you be more patient? Your son isn¡¯t your enemy, you know. He¡¯s still a baby. Threatening him with military training and spanking? Are you itching for a beating yourself?¡± Frustration washed over Cedrick, who whined, ¡°You whipped me viciously during two of your manic episodes. I can still remember how painful it was. Can you really bear to hit me, Gwenny?¡± He had pulled out the big guns. Gwendolyn felt a lump in her throat. She was caught in a dilemma. The mere mention of her manic episodes overwhelmed her with guilt. Of course, she could never bear to hit him; she merely wanted to scare him with empty threats. Cedrick put her out of her misery and extended an olive branch by kissing her cheek. He said, ¡°I know you would never hit me, Gwenny; you don¡¯t want me to be in pain. It¡¯s the same for me. Benny¡¯s still a baby. I was only teasing him.¡± Gwendolyn returned his kiss and asked, ¡°When he¡¯s older, will you really send him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation?¡± He nodded earnestly and exined. ¡°Boys shouldn¡¯t be spoiled. It¡¯s good for them to face some hardships. Besides, he¡¯s lucky to receive training at the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a boy.¡± She remained silent. If he had carefully thought things over, she would not protest Cedrick¡¯s decision. Spare the rod and spoil the child. Gwendolyn agreed wholeheartedly with that age¨Cold adage, which was why she knew where Cedrick wasing from. They were rapidly approaching the agreed¨Cupon date to detain Annie. s, Cedrick was summoned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to solve a serial murder case, which had dominated the headlines in Salinsburgh. It coincided with the day they nned to travel to Summerbank Ind to seize Annie. Thus, Cedrick failed to make time to apany Gwendolyn. He was infuriated when he received the news. However, given the gravity of the case and his position as the leader of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he needed to join the investigation efforts and reassure the public. Gwendolynforted him, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Your work is important. Going to the ind to detain Annie is a simple matter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried because I can¡¯t be with you,¡± replied Cedrick somberly. She said, ¡°Everything will be fine. Even if you overlook my background in jiu¨Cjitsu, Annie¡¯s stick¨Clike limbs are no match for me. You¡¯re even sending Nico and some backup to stand guard along the coast. Nothing will happen to me.¡± Since he could not y hooky on official business, Cedrick could only encourage himself to be more optimistic about the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t try to shoulder everything yourself, Gwenny. Call me if anything happens, or ask Nico to help you. Please don¡¯t get yourself injured.¡± Gwendolyn nodded reassuringly. After their conversation, they fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms. To prevent herself from bing bedridden from a manic episode, Gwendolyn had pre¨Cemptively received an intravenous infusion at theb to improve the efficacy of her medication. Perhaps she had also received a visit fromdy luck herself, for Gwendolyn did not rpse that night, and the couple enjoyed a peaceful slumber. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick left Harrick Vi earlier for business, so the house was empty by the time Gwendolyn awoke. The silence was even more obvious in the basement where Gwendolyn slept. She switched on the lights and habitually reached out for her phone. To her surprise, she found a pink Post¨Cit on her phone. She plucked the note off her phone and read it carefully. Cedrick¡¯s familiar handwriting read: I made breakfast for you, Gwenny. There¡¯s shrimp and cheddar oatmeal and shallot pasta. Make sure you eat before you head out. Gwendolyn¡¯s heart warmed at the thought of her husband¡¯s considerate gestures. He made breakfast for me even though he had to leave much earlier than me. How much sleep did he get? What time did he wake up? She left the basement and headed to the kitchen. As promised in the note, there was a pot of warm shrimp and cheddar oatmeal sitting on the stove. The delicious aroma of shallot pasta made her mouth water. She opened the cab and found another Post¨Cit next to the bowls. Don¡¯t wash the bowls after breakfast. I¡¯ll deal with them tonight. I also washed and cut some fruits for you. They¡¯re on the dining table. Remember to finish those. You need to boost your vitamin intake. Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curved into a smile. She kissed the Post¨Cit lovingly. After breakfast, she changed into some light clothing. Nico was already waiting for her outside Harrick Vi They left the house and set off for Summerbank Ind. The Harris residence on Mount Tranquil immediately received word of Gwendolyn¡¯s journey to the ind. Gwendolyn had not informed Asher or Sienna about her n to get Annie from Summerbank Ind. However, Asher received a text from an unknown number about the news. He had had the number investigated several days ago, and the content of the texts sounded like something that Annie would have written. Before Asher could leave, Sienna stopped him and asked, ¡°Gwen can handle this herself. Why are you going there? To convince her to let Annie off the hook? To give Gwen trouble?¡± Asher was perplexed by her line of questioning, ¡°What are you saying, Darling? Gwendolyn is my sister; of course, I¡¯d side with her.¡± Sienna merely sighed and said, ¡°Your rtionship with Gwen is extremely awkward. I¡¯m just worried that your presence willplicate the situation.¡± Asher¡¯s voice was hoarse even as he exined his decision rationally, ¡°Kiddo only brought Nico and some of his men to the meeting today. Cedrick¡¯s tied up in official matters and can¡¯t go with her. There¡¯s something fishy about the situation. Plus, Evelyn was the one who shared the news with me. Everything she does has a purpose. I have to go if Cedrick¡¯s not with Kiddo. It¡¯s too dangerous otherwise.¡± His exnation finally convinced Sienna of his intentions. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go with you. I won¡¯t say a single wordter. You¡¯re still recovering from your leg injury, so let me support you.¡± Chapter 588 A New Secret Chapter588ANewSecret Since Gwendolyn had gotten a head start, Asher and Sienna hurriedly left Mount Tranquil for Summerbank Ind. Thankfully, they arrived at the coast just before Gwendolyn departed for the small ind. ¡°Gwen.¡± The sound of Sienna¡¯s voice prompted Gwendolyn to turn around. When she spotted her eldest brother and his wife, she asked, ¡°Why are you both here, Sienna?¡± ¡°Asher was worried about you, so we decided toe and check on you,¡± exined Sienna. Gwendolyn turned her attention to Asher, who was staring at her. The siblings held each other¡¯s gazes for a while before Gwendolyn broke off eye contact. She offered, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s go to the ind together.¡± Nico had gathered his men and was on standby on the coastline as nned. They would only charge into the ind in an emergency. Gwendolyn led Sienna and Asher onto a small speedboat and set off for Summerbank Ind. Paul and Annie were already waiting in front of avish mansion, looking as though they were holidaying at a resort. Around eight bodyguards stood behind them, forming an imposing entourage. Sienna and Asher¡¯s arrival brought a bright smile to Annie¡¯s face. She eximed, ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t know my brother and sister¨Cinw would join us. You must adore Gwendolyn. You¡¯re worried that something will happen to her even though I¡¯m the one being seized.¡± Her enthusiasm was not well¨Creceived. Sienna replied coldly, ¡°Who are you calling your sister¨Cinw? The only inw I have here is Gwen.¡± The second she ended her retort, Asher pinched her wrist, warning her to bite her tongue and avoid agitating Annie. They were only a few meters away from Annic, close enough to see her beautiful face scrunch up with displeasure. Annie asked incredulously, ¡°Why are you acting like this? I may be an illegitimate child, but I still share the Harris blood. Why won¡¯t you love me? I¡¯ve only had myself to rely on, yet Gwendolyn gets to bask in everyone¡¯s love and concern.¡±¡° Tears welled in her eyes. She sounded genuinely upset as she continued, ¡°Why does she deserve that? All I want is for my family to love me. Why must you ruin my life?¡± Paul immediately took pity on her and pulled her into hisp. He coaxed, ¡°Annie, Honey, I truly love you. I always will.¡± Annie flung her arms around Paul in a tight hug, putting on an Oscar¨Cworthy act for Gwendolyn and the others to witness. The sight of a twenty¨Cone¨Cyear¨Cold girl seekingfort in the arms of a man in his forties brought a frown to Sienna and Asher¡¯s faces. Faced with Annie¡¯s usations, Gwendolyn refuted calmly, ¡°You did all those horrible things yourself. There isn¡¯t an ounce of morality in you. You should¡¯ve expected the day everyone would turn their backs on you after all your schemes to rece my position in the Harris family.¡± Gwendolyn added, ¡°I may have forgotten some things in the past, but if you had approached me with kind intentions in the beginning, our rtionship would never have turned out this way. I¡¯m as open- minded as they can get; I wouldn¡¯t have antagonized you because you were an illegitimate daughter. In fact, I would¡¯ve treated you like a younger sister if you weren¡¯t bent on sabotaging me. You brought this upon yourself.¡± Annie¡¯s lips curved into a self¨Cdeprecating smirk at her words. She asked, ¡°If I said I¡¯d like to wipe the te clean with you and start over, would you agree?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression did not budge as she replied, ¡°No. You¡¯ve harmed me too many times. Some people can never turn over a new leaf. You know that better than me; your hatred toward me knows no bounds.¡± Annie stared at her coldly but did not refute her words. Her hatred for Gwendolyn was bone¨Cdeep. Still, she had onest trick up her sleeve. She removed herself from Paul¡¯s embrace and held Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze. ¡°I know the true reason behind your mother¡¯s death. Wouldn¡¯t you like to know about it, Gwendolyn?¡± Gwendolyn instantly frowned. She turned and red at Asher beside her. He appeared stunned but firmly shook his head to prove his innocence. Is there another reason behind our mother¡¯s death? If even I don¡¯t know about it, how could Annie? Gwendolyn¡¯s disbelief was palpable. ¡°You were so young back then. How could you know about it? Stop buying yourself time. You¡¯reing back to the Harris residence with me.¡± To their surprise, Annie insisted, ¡°I¡¯m not lying. Mom told me about it. She made me protect the secret. Since returning to the Harris family will be akin to living in hell, I thought this was a good time to reveal the secret and talk terms.¡± Gwendolyn bit her lip and pondered Annie¡¯s proposal. They had always believed their mother had died of an illness. Her death had caused Gwendolyn and her brothers much anguish, yet now Annie was iming that there was a different reason behind their mother¡¯s demise. Should I trust her? Annic appeared to sense her hesitation and goaded, ¡°What are you scared of, Gwendolyn? Are you fearful of the truth? Or do you suspect me of lying to you?¡± After giving her proposal some serious thought, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°I¡¯ll trust you this once. What are you thinking of exchanging?¡± A sly expression appeared on Annie¡¯s face as she considered her options. Gwendolyn reminded her, ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to travel to Ospea with Paul or leave Chanaea. I can take any other request into consideration.¡± ¡°Hmm, I can¡¯t think of anything now, but I was hoping you¡¯d enter the vi alone with me. I want to show you something. It¡¯ll tell you the truth about your mother¡¯s death. You¡¯re the only person I¡¯m willing to share this secret with.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Before Gwendolyn could say a word, Asher cleared his throat and cautioned. ¡°Don¡¯t go, Gwendolyn. We can slowly investigate the true cause behind Mom¡¯s death if it¡¯s as she ims.¡± s, Gwendolyn did not trust him. ¡°Back when Evelyn drugged me and attempted to drown me, you covered things up for her for years. If there was another reason behind Mom¡¯s death, wouldn¡¯t we have learned about it by now? Perhaps someone is deliberately concealing the truth again. Who knows?¡± Asher paled, aware he was to me for his sister¡¯s mistrust. He could not fault her for doubting his intentions, but still, he insisted, ¡°I know I¡¯ve wronged you in the past, but can¡¯t you heed my advice now? I really have no idea that there¡¯s more to Mom¡¯s death than we know. Please don¡¯t trust Annie. We¡¯ll investigate this when we¡¯re back.¡± Annie fanned the mes by taunting, ¡°What are you scared of, Asher? Gwendolyn is a trained fighter, while I can barely lift my arm. How can I assault her? I should be praying that she won¡¯t beat me up once we¡¯re alone.¡± Asher offered apromise, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go in with both of you. As the eldest Harris son. I deserve to know the secret behind Mom¡¯s death too.¡± His continued show of concern for Gwendolyn caused Annie¡¯s expression to sour. She said scornfully. ¡°Too bad. I don¡¯t want to tell you about it. I only want to tell my beloved older sister.¡± Gwendolyn had never gotten over her mother¡¯s death. At that time, when she craved emotional support, Charles had ended up in the Central Intelligence Agency, which eventually led them to be estranged. If there was truly another reason behind her mother¡¯s death, Gwendolyn was determined to seek it out. Nheless, Annie was a scheming woman, and Gwendolyn could not afford to let down her guard. Gwendolyn proposed, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go in alone with you. This had better not be one of your schemes again, or I will not hold back from teaching you a lesson.¡± Then, she turned to Sienna and instructed, ¡°Tell Nico to lead his troop onto the ind, Sienna. Have them stand guard outside the vi. If I don¡¯te out within ten minutes, or if an ident happens, arrest everyone here, nobility or not. Yes, that includes Paul. Sienna immediately agreed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwen. Be careful. We¡¯ll keep a lookout here to protect you.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, feeling reassured with things in Sienna¡¯s hands. Before she followed Annie into the vi, she instinctively looked toward Asher, who appeared somber. However, she quickly averted her gaze without saying a word further and walked into the vi. To seek revenge on Gwendolyn, Annie had gotten stic surgery to eliminate any hint of resemnce to the sister with whom she shared a father. Still, they continued to share many simrities in their facial features. Annie began chatting casually while she led them deeper into the vi. ¡°I¡¯ve never understood how you¡¯re such a lucky woman, Gwendolyn. You simply won¡¯t die, no matter how many tricks I have up my sleeve.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re too stupid,¡± came Gwendolyn¡¯s frosty reply. Chapter 589 Evil Chapter589Evil Gwendolyn had always spoken bluntly, and while that didn¡¯t set well with Annie, thetter said nothing. Ultimately, the winner takes it all. I¡¯ve indeed failed to kill Gwendolyn. I wasn¡¯t meticulous enough and didn¡¯t do a splendid job, so there¡¯s no use in arguing. As they walked one behind the other, Annie piped up. ¡°My dear sister, theyout of this vi is a little different as it has been modified. Allow me to give you a little tour today.¡± Right after she finished talking, she took off like lightning. Gwendolyn immediately gave chase. As she was about to catch up, Annie quickly hit a switch on the wall. Suddenly, arge metal cage descended from above, trapping them both inside. Gwendolyn surveyed the cage without showing a hint of panic. ¡°What tricks are you trying to y now?¡± Despite Annie¡¯s innocent and adorable smile, her heart was actually filled with malice. She opened the lid of a nearby oil drum and kicked the drum over. Yellow oil gurgled out, spreading across the floor. Gwendolyn, I know being taken back to the Harris residence by you means another round of hellish torment. Since you won¡¯t spare me, why don¡¯t we perish together? What do you think?¡± Gwendolyn remainedpletely still and incredibly calm. ¡°If I can¡¯t exit this vi within ten minutes, I won¡¯t be the only one who dies. Once Cedrick is enraged, Paul, who¡¯s desperately protecting you, won¡¯t be able to leave Chanaea in one piece.¡± Annic nonchntly fidgeted with her fingernails, then took out a lighter to fiddle with it. ¡°He doesn¡¯t truly care for me. Even if Cedrick kills him, he deserves it. He¡¯s just infatuated with my body, while I¡¯m merely using him for the power he can give me. Our rtionship involves nothing more than mutual aid.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze at the oil flowing in her direction. When the oil was about to reach her feet, she took a step back. ¡°So, that¡¯s why you deliberately deceive me with my mother¡¯s death?¡± Annie shook her head. That was the truth. Your mother was indeed sick, and her condition was quite severe, but what really broke her was discovering our father¡¯s infidelity, finding out that the man she considered a good husband, Marcus, had actually had an affair.¡± She couldn¡¯t stop herself from chuckling at the mention of the past. ¡°I was young back then, but I remember it all. Our dad bought us a small vi, and your mother sneaked over to catch him in the act. When your mother saw my mom, she quarreled with Dad on the spot. All of a sudden, your mother fell ill and was rushed to the hospital.¡± Annie paused andughed louder. ¡°My mom felt guilty, so she secretly took me to the hospital to visit your mother, wanting to beg for her forgiveness. It was I who removed her breathing tube when there was no one in the ward. I thought my mother could marry into the Harris family if I did that, and I could be the legitimate daughter of a wealthy family. Dad knew about this, but I cried a little, yed innocent, and he let that matter slide. He used all his connections to help me suppress this matter. Unexpectedly, he was willing to marry Lori, who graduated from a prestigious university, rather than my uneducated and backgroundless mom. In the end, I could only remain an illegitimate daughter. How ironic. My mom was kind¨Chearted and had always been ridden with guilt because of your mother¡¯s death. That was why she risked her life to save Asher when she happened to see him in danger. Asher helped me all these years because he felt culpable for causing me to lose my mom. Nheless, he was kept in the dark about your mother¡¯s death, not knowing that I was the one who killed her.¡± Gwendolyn stared at Annie¡¯s exquisite countenance in utter shock. Thetter¡¯s face became contorted and menacing fromughing too hard. ¡°You were so young then. Your mother was so kind. How could she give birth to someone as evil as you?¡± Some people¡¯s wickedness was truly ingrained, and it was impossible for them to change. The truth was more shocking than Gwendolyn had imagined. She bored her eyes into Annie with intense hatred churning within her. ¡°Evelyn. I really want to rip out your heart and see if it¡¯s truly ck.¡± Annie remained indifferent. ¡°To achieve my goals, some people must pay a small price. My dear sister, I¡¯ve held this secret for many years. Now that you have learned the truth, isn¡¯t it time for you to die contentedly?¡± Sheughed wickedly, lifted the lighter, and was about to light the oil on the floor. ¡°Gwendolyn, although we weren¡¯t born on the same day, we can die on the same day. At least you¡¯ll have someone to keep youpany, right?¡± Herughter was maniacal as she slowly crouched down. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes coldly. While Annie was squatting down, Gwendolyn swiftly lunged at the former, raising her long leg to kick Annie¡¯s wrist. Annie was taken by surprise, and the lighter slipped from her hand, falling outside the cage where it couldn¡¯t be retrieved. While Annie was fazed, Gwendolyn wrapped her hand around Annie¡¯s slender neck, mming her forcefully against the edge of the metal cage with a loud thud. The impact on Annie¡¯s back was very painful, prompting her to let out a muffled grunt. Gwendolyn swung her hand with all her might and pped Annie¡¯s delicate face while simultaneously tightening her grip around thetter¡¯s neck. Annie could clearly feel the air around her bing thinner. She coughed violently as colors drained from her face. Gwendolyn gritted her teeth in anger. ¡°This beautiful face is such a waste on you. Someone like you should¡¯ve just gone to hell, reincarnated there repeatedly, or just reborn as an animal.¡± Taking in Gwendolyn¡¯s enraged demeanor, Annie guffawed and provoked her further with great difficulty. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve known since I was young that I have to fight for myself, so I killed your mom. Gwendolyn, you should¡¯ve seen it for yourself. To this day, I still remember how she struggled before her death and the look of utter disbelief when she saw it was me. She probably never imagined I would do that. How delightful.¡± Thinking of the scene Annie described, Gwendolyn was so heartbroken that she was on the verge of losing her mind. Intense murderous intent filled her eyes, and she exerted more force to strangle Annie. Annie¡¯s expression grew more pained as the air she could breathe became scarcer. She felt as if her life was seeping away. Still, she didn¡¯t resist. Or rather, she wasn¡¯t Gwendolyn¡¯s match even if she wanted to. Just as Annie was about to breathe herst, Sienna¡¯s voice suddenly sounded. ¡°Gwen, it¡¯s been nine minutes. Are you two okay in there? We¡¯ll wait one more minute before we go in with Nico.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Seeing that Gwendolyn and Annie hadn¡¯te out for a long time, Sienna borrowed a megaphone and called out at the doorway. Hearing those words, Gwendolyn, who was close to losing her mind from the fury, suddenly regained herst bit of sanity. Nico came with his troops. If they enter and see that I¡¯ve killed Annie, not to mention with Paul and his subordinates ying witnesses, even Cedrick will be powerless to save me from being convicted. In that case, my whole life will be ruined by this woman. Is this why she¡¯s deliberately provoking me? Since we can¡¯t die together, she¡¯ll make me kill her. Soon, Gwendolyn wrapped her mind around that matter, instantly loosened her grip, and took a step back. With the return of fresh air into her lungs, Annie, ashen¨Cfaced, copsed weakly onto the ground, coughing non¨Cstop. Gwendolyn regained herposure and looked down at Annie haughtily. ¡°It¡¯ll only dirty my hands to strangle you to death. A beast like you who doesn¡¯t deserve to be a human should be judged by the law instead.¡± Annie was still coughing, but she shifted her gaze upward to re at Gwendolyn hatefully. After the final minute ended, Nico barged into the house with a group of soldiers. Sienna, supporting Asher, and Paul and his bodyguards all rushed into the vi. Everyone aside from Paul was shocked to see therge metal cage in the middle of the floor. They figured anyone who would have such a cage built and installed in their vi must have a confinement fetish. However, their attention merely lingered on the cage for a fleeting moment before swiftly focusing on Gwendolyn and Annie. Gwendolyn waspletely unscathed, maintaining a proud and aloof air as usual. In contrast, Annie sat pathetically on the floor, coughing continuously. The marks on her neck made it seem like she had suffered some terrible torment in those ten minutes. Paul was the first to speak. ¡°What happened to Annie? Did you try strangling her to death?¡± Gwendolyn replied indifferently, ¡°Her body is too fragile. If I really attempted to kill her, how could she still be alive after ten minutes? Don¡¯t you dare nder me groundlessly, Mr. Hall.¡± Annie was indeed still alive, rendering Paul stumped. Sienna and Nico were more concerned about Gwendolyn¡¯s condition. Nico asked in a hurry, ¡°Are you hurt, Gwendolyn? Why are you trapped inside the cage with Annie?¡± Sienna quickly noticed the oil on the floor inside the cage. ¡°Gwen, what exactly happened?¡± Chapter 590 Cedrick Has His Suspicions Chapter590CedrickHasHisSuspicions ¡°Annie kicked over the fuel tank earlier and wanted to set it on fire to perish with me. Thankfully, I managed to stop her in time,¡± Gwendolyn exined before nodding toward the lighter dropped outside the cage. ¡°There. That¡¯s what she was about to use.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe she still has the cheek to pull a stunt like this. She¡¯s incorrigible!¡± Nico fumed. Asher, too, was grim¨Cfaced as he glowered at Paul. ¡°What are you waiting for? Open the cage now,¡± he ordered, his voice hoarse but authoritative. Paul then gestured to his bodyguards, who promptly pressed a switch on the opposite wall to raise the giant cage back to the ceiling. Without further ado, Nico and the others walked to Gwendolyn. ¡°Has Annie told you about Mom¡¯s cause of death?¡± Asher asked. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s all over. Haul her away, Nico, I want to look into every crime she has committed over the years.¡± ¡°Sure, Gwendolyn.¡± Not wanting to stay a second longer, the woman turned around and left. Coincidentally, Annie had regained consciousness and red at Gwendolyn¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°Gwendolyn, you may not have dared to strangle me to death, but I sure as hell have the guts to kill you¡­ With that, she pulled out a concealed pistol before Nico¡¯s men could grab her, aimed it at Gwendolyn, and pulled the trigger. Having noticed what Annie was up to, Asher shouted, ¡°Kiddo!¡± Since he was also the nearest to Gwendolyn, he instinctively hugged her and shielded her from the attack Bang! Following the gunshot, a bullet pierced Asher¡¯s back, causing him to wince in pain. Despite that, he continued to cling to his sister, determined to protect her. Thankfully, Annie was apprehended by Nico¡¯s subordinates before she could fire off a second shot. However, the more she stared at the blood pooling on Asher¡¯s back, the more deviously she grinned. After checking her brother¡¯s condition, a furious Gwendolyn turned to Nico, Take Annie Steinfeld back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation!¡± In all honesty, Nico would¡¯ve done the same even without Gwendolyn¡¯s orders. After all, Annie had almost shot someone dead, so how could anyone overlook such a serious matter? Even though Gwendolyn was boiling with rage, her mind remained clear and sharp. ¡°Take Paul along. too.¡± Upon hearing that, Paul whimpered. ¡°Ms. Harris, I wasn¡¯t the one who fired the gun. I didn¡¯t know Annie was going to do that, either¡­. I swear this has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°How did she get her hands on a gun, then?¡± Gwendolyn scoffed. ¡°Furthermore, how is her shooting so urate? In any case, you can forget about extricating yourself from this matter, Paul. You won¡¯t get off the hook that easily.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Paul stared at the woman, downcast and silent, while a man from Team Four hurriedly put him in handcuffs. Meanwhile, Sienna was so worried about Asher¡¯s gunshot wound that she was on the verge of tears. ¡°Are you okay, Hubby? Should we call for an ambnce?¡± Asher endured the pain and shook his head. ¡°No. It¡¯s just a flesh wound. I¡¯ll live.¡± Besides, we¡¯re on an ind off the coast¡­ How is the ambnce going to get here? Gwendolyn checked Asher¡¯s wound once more and furrowed her brows. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s leave the ind. There¡¯s a first¨Caid kit in the car parked by the coast. We can do some basic first¨Caid before sending Asher to the hospital,¡± Knowing that one could also die from excessive blood loss, Gwendolyn tore off a long strip of fabric from her skirt and tied it around Asher¡¯s wound to temporarily stop the bleeding. Once that was done, she and Sienna quickly helped Asher onto the boat and left the ind. As soon as the group was back on the maind, they wasted no time splitting up to do what needed to be done. Nico escorted Annie and Paul back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation while Gwendolyn and- Sienna rushed Asher to the hospital to remove the bullet. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Asher refused to be anesthetized despite being persuaded by the doctor and Sienna to do so. Naturally, Gwendolyn was peeved. ¡°Are you really a masochist?¡± Putting up with the dryness in his throat. Asher croaked out, ¡°I¡¯ve let you down in the past and almost gat you killed by Evelyn on several asions. I still feel guilty about it, but nothing I do feels enough to make up for my mistakes. Now that I finally have the honor to take a bullet for you, I say we skip the anesthesia, The more pain I feel, the more I can absolve myself of guilt.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Gwendolyn snapped. ¡°Do you know how worried Sienna must be to see you in this much pain? Why are you so selfish? Why can¡¯t you spare a thought for her?¡± Having been scolded by his sister, Asher fell silent and begrudgingly epted the anesthetic, Before long, hepleted his treatment and was transferred to an observation ward to rest. Eagle¨Ceyed as always, Sienna volunteered to buy food and excused herself from the room, thus giving the siblings an opportunity for a private, heart¨Cto¨Cheart talk. Once she left, however, neither Gwendolyn nor Asher took the initiative to speak up. Just like that, an awkward silence hung in the air for the longest time until thetter mustered enough courage to start a conversation. ¡°Gwendolyn, what exactly did Annie tell you when you two were in the vi? I saw strangtion marks on her neck, so you guys must¡¯ve fought quite a bit. Was it about the truth behind our mother¡¯s death?¡± After much contemtion, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°Everything I¡¯ve heard is just Annie¡¯s one¨Csided ims. There¡¯s no evidence to prove that what she said was true. I¡¯d need to continue investigating.¡± However, if what she said is true, it¡¯d mean she had kept Asher in the dark and used him as a pawn¡­ She made Asher believe he was the reason her mother died so she could guilt¨Ctrip him into doing her bidding. s, who knew this was only because she killed Mom by removing her venttor? Annie had known this all along, yet she still intentionally preyed on Asher¡¯s guilt to get what she wanted! This woman¡¯s the epitome of evil! With that thought in mind, Gwendolyn let out a deep sigh. What if Asher learned about this? What would happen to him? Then again, I hope Annie wasn¡¯t telling the truth¡­ I hope there¡¯s a reason she¡¯s being forced to admit to the crimes and shoulder the me¡­ Otherwise, it¡¯d only mean that she¡¯s been a devil in disguise since she was a kid, and that¡¯s even more terrifying. Realizing how distracted and unforting Gwendolyn was, Asher decided to change the subject. ¡°By the way, should I continue with the daily punishment of twenty whips and scripture studies once we return?¡± ¡°No,¡± Gwendolyn answered as she rposed herself. ¡°I implemented that initially to try to find out Annie¡¯s identity, but now that the matter¡¯s more or less settled, we can scrape it.¡± Unable to lie in bed because of the gunshot wound in his back, Asher sat up and carefully scrutinized his sister¡¯s face. ¡°Gwendolyn, what happened earlier was done out of reflex. It was a crucial moment, and I genuinely wanted to protect you. Do you¡­¡± he added before letting his voice trail off. Do you think you can forgive me? Gwendolyn seemingly knew what her brother wanted to ask, so when she spoke again, her tone was a lot gentler. ¡°Don¡¯t think about anything else for now. Just concentrate on resting and recuperating. We can have another talk once you¡¯re feeling better.¡± Despite the twinge of bitterness in his heart, the man nodded and said nothing else. After a two¨Chour observation period, the doctor saw no problems with Asher¡¯s condition and cleared him for discharge. With that, Gwendolyn and Sienna helped him back to Mount Tranquil. As soon as Gwendolyn had settled everything at the Harris residence, she hurriedly left for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Meanwhile, Cedrick had investigated several crime scenes for the serial murder case, only to realize there were far too many aspects that didn¡¯t make logical sense. To make matters worse, the news that had caused an uproar in Salinsburgh was also determined to be a deliberate act of connivance. Needless to say, Cedrick was furious and immediately ordered a thorough investigation to track the culprit down. Upon learning that Gwendolyn had arrived at the bureau, Cedrick quickly greeted her at the entrance, still dressed smartly in his military uniform. ¡°Darling, I heard that Asher took a bullet for you. How¡¯s he doing now?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine. It wasn¡¯t a serious injury, so I¡¯ve sent him back to Mount Tranquil to recuperate.¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s something fishy about this,¡± Cedrick said after much consideration. ¡°Annie has been uncharacteristically sloppy with how she tried to set you up this time. I heard she didn¡¯t hesitate to fire the bullet, which means it couldn¡¯t have been her first time handling a gun. If she had meant to kill you, why didn¡¯t her shot hurt Asher in any important areas?¡± Chapter 591 Atone For Her Sins Chapter591AtoneForHerSins Gwendolyn listened to Cedrick¡¯s analysis and contemted the matter earnestly. Annie has been incredibly vignt up until our encounter on the ind. The schemes she devised ahead of time did seem a little sloppy and did not meet her previous standards. The matter about the shooting that Cedrick brought up is also something that needs to be investigated. Setting aside the question of when did Annie learn how to fire a gun, she did pull the trigger more decisively, yet Asher¡¯s visceratwasn¡¯t injured at all. He only suffered a minor gunshot wound. Looks like she has other motives this time around. When her train of thought ended there, she asked Cedrick, ¡°How¡¯s Nico¡¯s interrogation going?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t checked. Since you¡¯re here, how about we check out the statements together?¡± Nodding in approval, Gwendolyn allowed him to hold her hand and guide her into the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When she recalled what Annie confessed about her mother, she ryed that information to Cedrick. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to be that shrewd even at such a young age. If what she said was true, then she was truly a terrifying girl. However, I can¡¯t believe her version of events entirely. I¡¯d like to investigate this matter further.¡± Cedrick was, naturally, ted that his wife was asking him for help. ¡°I can send someone to look into it, but there¡¯s no guarantee the investigation will be fruitful. After all, it¡¯s been too many years. Also, ording to what Annie told you, Mr. Marcus was the one who buried the matter in the past. He had always been cautious, so it¡¯ll be challenging to find more evidence.¡± Gwendolyn had already considered this possible oue. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just unearth as much information as you can. I¡¯ll take her word for it if nothing can be found.¡± They then entered the Federal Bureau of Investigation while holding hands to check out the statement Nico had recorded. Aside from Annie, Paul and his bodyguards were present as well. Nico promptly handed Paul¡¯s statement to Gwendolyn. ¡°He won¡¯t admit he has anything to do with Annie¡¯s crimes. As for the gun, he insisted that she had stolen it from his room. While it seems psychotic for someone to install a metal cage in their vi, there aren¡¯t anyws stating it¡¯s illegal either. Hence, we have nothing we can use to indict him.¡± The man had yet to rest since he returned from the ind, so his throat was parched. As such, Cedrick personally delivered a ss of water to him. Nico emptied the ss in one go and continued, ¡°There¡¯s also the fact that Paul is an Ospean noble. We must release him tomorrow if we can¡¯t indict him today, or this might evoke a conflict between the two countries.¡± Upon reading Paul¡¯s statement in detail, Gwendolyn uttered, ¡°Release him, then. He¡¯s just a fool who was used by Annie. As long as he doesn¡¯tmit any heinous crime in Chanaca, it¡¯s impossible to keep him here for too long.¡± Her primary target was Annie. The other minor aplices weren¡¯t high up on her list at all. Cedrick, too, read a few more statements meticulously. ¡°I¡¯llpile and deliver the evidence relevant to Annie¡¯s crimes to the Department of Justice once that matter from years ago is investigated.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± replied Nico. For two days, everyone in Harrick Vi was busy searching and collecting various evidence of Annie¡¯s crimes. This time, it would be impossible for her to leave the Federal Bureau of Investigation readily again. On the third day, Gwendolyn still discovered no substantial evidence of her mother¡¯s death by Evelyn¡¯s hand. The more she couldn¡¯t find anything, the more she was convinced Marcus had scrubbed all the evidence rted to the crime. As such, she believed Annie¡¯s words. ording to her ount at the time, she provided a statement of her argument with Annie that day at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After all the evidence waspiled, Nico delivered them to the Department of Justice on the same afternoon. All that was left was to wait for the judgment. Just as Gwendolyn nned to leave the Federal Bureau of Investigation, her phone rang. It was an unknown number that she had blocked before. She knew who the owner of the number was¨CAsher. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. With a grimace, she answered the call and spoke forthrightly. ¡°All relevant evidence regarding Evelyn¡¯s crimes has been submitted to the Department of Justice. If you want to plead mercy for her, save your effort.¡± Asher remained silent for a long while as if he couldn¡¯t rebuke her because she had been spot¨Con. Sometimeter, he said, ¡°Can you return to Mount Tranquil? There are a few things I wish to speak to you about. Face¨Cto¨Cface.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± agreed Gwendolyn before immediately hanging up the phone. Afterward, she asked for a copy of Annie¡¯s statement from Nico and drove back to the Harris residence. Meanwhile, Asher was sitting on the bed in his vi with a box in his arms. He was staring out the window with an unfocused gaze, looking as though he was deep in thought. Politely, Gwendolyn knocked on the door and entered in her high heels. ¡°Is it still about Evelyn¡¯s matter? Are you nning to cite her mother¡¯s sacrifice of saving your life to convince Cedrick and me to show her mercy?¡± Peering at her, the man remained wordless, not refuting it at all. The edges of her lips curved upward mockingly. She opened her bag and tossed Annie¡¯s statement toward him. ¡°Mom might¡¯ve been sick, but she didn¡¯t die of illness. Evelyn was the one who secretly removed Mom¡¯s oxygen mask when Mom was in a critical stage. Dad knew about it, but he chose to pardon Evelyn. You¡¯d better take a good look at what kind of devil the illegitimate daughter you¡¯ve been protecting is.¡± At that, Asher stared at her in astoundment. Skepticism surfaced on his countenance before he could wholly digest the information she disclosed. Immediately, he focused his attention on the statement and read it in detail. As he did so, she didn¡¯t forget to fan the mes, adding, ¡°Do you have any idea how arrogant Evelyn was when she brought me to the ind vi a few days ago? She said after she took off Mom¡¯s oxygen mask, she watched on as Mom died in disbelief. ¡°For so many years, she didn¡¯t feel even a hint of remorse for what she did. In fact, she was furious that she couldn¡¯t turn her mother into the Harris family¡¯s legitimate wife so that she could be a legitimate heiress. ¡°Even though you¡¯ve helped her so much, she was merely toying with you. You¡¯re nothing but a stepping stone to her. Don¡¯t you feel guilty for breaking your biological sister¡¯s heart for a cold¨Cblooded illegitimate daughter, Asher?¡± The more she spoke, the more she tightened her fists in rage. Immense hatred swirled in her eyes as she wished she could burn Evelyn to ash. Asher read that statement three times. Shock remained on his face as he continuously shook his head. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± Staring at his look of mistrust, Gwendolyn inhaled deeply and suppressed the ball of fury boiling in her chest. ¡°It¡¯s up to you if you want to believe it or not. However, you can rest assured that I won¡¯t let her die, for she ultimately carries the blood of the Harrises. Besides, this is an old case. With only a few statements to prove her wrongdoing, there¡¯s no way she¡¯ll get the death sentence, especially considering her young age back then. Nheless, I want her imprisoned for life so that she can rot in hell and atone for her sins for as long as she lives.¡± Upon ending her sinister speech, she turned away and left. Still studying the statement, Asher didn¡¯t even have the chance to show his sister what was inside the box sitting on hisp. It was a few objects left by their mother. Chapter 592 The Dust Settled Chapter592 TheDustSettled Even long after Gwendolyn had left, Asher remained sitting on the bed, dumbfounded. His mind was still frenziedly analyzing the matter. Evelyn¡¯s statement mentioned that Mom grew sick due to her fury from discovering Dad¡¯s infidelity. However, that¡¯s incorrect. I was already old enough back then, and I recall clearly that Mom was ill because of cancer, not her anger. Moreover, Mom had already learned about the existence of Evelyn and her mother the year Evelyn was born. She understood Dad and how abundant his love was; there was no stopping him. In addition, Mom was a career¨Cminded woman. Divorcing Dad would only lead to a mountain of issues, so she disregarded his matters and feigned ignorance, treating him courteously. Evelyn was so young back then. How could she possibly be capable of doing something that cruelt Eventually, a conclusion came to his mind. She said it on purpose. Using Mom¡¯s death as an excuse, she tricked Gwendolyn into the vi, wanting to perish along with Gwendolyn. Even though she knew there was no way she could eliminate Gwendolyn after the failure and would expose her intentions, she still pulled the trigger. Was she trying to return my favor by resolving the animosity between Gwendolyn and me? Did she feel guilty because she knew how horribly Gwendolyn treated me previously? Perhaps the only way I can obtain an urate answer is by visiting her personally. However, there¡¯s no way Gwendolyn will allow me to visit Evelyn privately. If Gwendolyn learns of this, our rocky rtionship will only grow more turbulent. Ugh, I¡¯m so conflicted. Should I tell Gwendolyn the truth that I know? Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Just as he was feeling vexed, Sienna entered the room and sat beside him. ¡°Gwen seemed unhappy when she was leaving earlier. What did you say to upset her again?¡± she queried. Shaking his head, Asher endured the difort of his dry throat and spoke effortfully. ¡°I was going to ask her what Evelyn told her on the ind and share with her some of the possessions Mom left behind. But she thought I was going to plead mercy for Evelyn and left in anger.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She was dumbstruck. ¡°Then, why didn¡¯t you exin? Gwen¡¯s already exceptionally bothered by the fact that you aided Evelyn in the past. This is only worsening the misunderstanding between the two of you.¡± He coughed violently until he paled. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to exin anything to Gwendolyn; she had simply caught him off guard with Evelyn¡¯s statement before he could even speak his mind, thus diverting his train of thought. Sighing, Siennamented, ¡°Your rtionship with Gwen was finally mended significantly when you took a bullet for her that day. Her attitude toward you already suggested that she was ready to forgive you, yet this just had to happen. Now, there¡¯s no telling when that reconciliation will happen.¡± Asher handed Evelyn¡¯s statement to his wife silently. ¡°Evelyn said she was the one who killed Mom to enrage Kiddo, but I know she never had the chance to do so. Thest shot she fired on the ind was done for my sake.¡± Cough! Cough! Cough! Having spoken too urgently, he covered his mouth and broke out in another coughing fit. ¡°Darling, should I reveal the truth to Kiddo?¡± Earnestly, Sienna analyzed, ¡°There¡¯s already an unbridgeable gap between you and Gwen. If you defend Evelyn, she won¡¯t believe you¡¯re telling her the truth. On the contrary, she¡¯ll think you¡¯re saying that intentionally to aid Evelyn and even suspect what transpired on the ind was something you nned with Evelyn, that you took a bullet for her to garner her sympathy.¡± Asher lowered his head quietly. He was only conflicted precisely because he feared that scenario would y out. At this moment, Gwendolyn doesn¡¯t believe me at all. As long as anything that concerns Evelyn is brought up, she¡¯ll treat me with hostility. After spending years together with the man, Sienna naturally understood him the most. Hence, she advised, ¡°Let¡¯s assume that Gwen believes you after you tell her the truth, and she asks Cedrick to remove this charge from Evelyn¡¯s list of crimes. Even in that scenario, Evelyn won¡¯t escape punishment because she hasmitted far too many offenses and will still easily receive a life sentence. The truth of this matter won¡¯t affect the verdict at all. ¡°Listen to me, Hubby. Stop caring about Evelyn. She knew the consequences of her actions and chose to do this to repent in prison. Besides, this is purely your spection. None of us know what Evelyn¡¯s thinking. If you bring this up to Gwen, you¡¯ll only do more harm than good.¡± Every word Sienna uttered was valid. It doesn¡¯t matter if Evelyn was the one who killed Mom. From the moment she was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, her fate had already been decided. There¡¯s nothing I can do to help her, nor will I help her again. This is the result of her misdeeds over the years, so she has to take responsibility for it. For the next few days, Asher recuperated at homepliantly. Though Gwendolyn was furious, her fury subsided significantly when she noticed that he didn¡¯t secretly n to visit Evelyn or plead mercy for thetter. Two dayster, Evelyn was given the sentence of life imprisonment and was sent to prison in an armored vehicle. After spending nearly a week in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, she appeared fairly haggard, especially since she was already thin, to begin with. When her frail wrists were cuffed with heavy handcuffs, she looked exceptionally pitiful. However, as pitiful as she might look, she didmit many heinous crimes. Knowing that she would never leave prison for the rest of her life, the woman lowered her lifeless gaze. There was no expression to be found on her countenance. When she arrived at the prison entrance, she saw a few people waiting for her¨CGwendolyn, Cedrick, Asher, Sienna, Treyton, and Kieran. Evelyn swept her gaze past everyone before her line of sightnded on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. Beaming, she uttered, ¡°How nice of you to ask our family to see me off, Gwendolyn. I¡¯m so happy.¡± Gwendolyn stated in a deadpan manner, ¡°This is thest day you¡¯ll be known as Evelyn Harris and the last day we¡¯re your family. After today, your name will be stripped from the Harrises¡® genealogy.¡± Evelyn¡¯s smile stiffened slightly before she replied peacefully, ¡°I understand. The Harrises are the richest family in the country, after all. Having a daughter who¡¯s sent to prison will only tarnish the family name.¡± Her gaze was affixed on Gwendolyn as she grinned menacingly. ¡°Take good care of yourself, Gwendolyn. Even though I won¡¯t be able to obstruct your life any longer, I¡¯ll pray for you in prison every day, hoping that everything in your life will proceed smoothly.¡± Gwendolyn simply eyed Evelyn coldly and grimly, not saying a word. Thetter shifted her attention to her brothers, her sight lingering on Asher a minute longer as though she was vaguely d. Momentster, she was escorted toward the prison gates. Before she went in, she raised her head and stared at the bright sun, enjoying the warmth of its ray. ¡°I¡¯m afraid this will be thest time I¡¯ll witness such wonderful weather. It¡¯s nice that I can bid farewell to the first half of my life with my siblings.¡± Wordlessly and calmly, the Harris family watched her amble into prison. Soon, the heavy metal gates mmed shut, forever trapping Evelyn in there to atone for her past sins. Chapter 593 Mass Peeling Session Chapter593MassPeelingSession With that, the conflict between Evelyn and Gwendolyn finally came to an end. Atst, after many days of dealing with the matter and sleepless nights, thetter could slumber at ease. As it was Inez¡¯s first time in Salinsburgh, Gwendolyn invited Inez and Kieran to Harrick Vi for a meal. Ever since Jennifer became the team manager, she had been swamped every day, and it had been a long while since shest had a proper rest. Seeing that Jennifer had finally found a job she was interested in and was leading a fulfilling life, Gwendolyn invited her and Treyton to a meal as well. When Sienna learned that the rest of the family would be there, she dragged Asher to attend the family gathering in Harrick Vi uninvitedly. Even Nico and Summer came to enjoy a free meal. By the end, what was supposed to be a small event turned into arge gathering. Cedrick and Gwendolyn bought many ingredients and prepared the dishes themselves. As there were too many guests, Gwendolyn feared Cedrick couldn¡¯t handle it, so she joined him in the kitchen for once. Sienna also came to assist. Meanwhile, Nico, Summer, Kieran, Inez, Asher, Treyton, and Jennifer chatted joyously in the living room. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Unfortunately, Benedict and Zendaya were still in Valentino¡¯s residence and couldn¡¯t make it back in time to meet their uncles and future aunts, Nearly an hourter, a scrumptious seafood feast was served, thanks to thebined effort of Cedrick and Gwendolyn. Cedrick grabbed a few bottles of expensive wine and poured a ss for everyone to celebrate the family gathering. At the dining table, Gwendolyn asked, ¡°How much longer do you n to wait until you marry Kieran, Inez?¡± Inez was peeling prawns for herself when she was cued all of a sudden. She lowered her head in slight difiture. ¡°It¡¯s not my decision to make. It depends on the deliberation between my parents and Mr. Kieran¡¯s decision. I¡¯ve already been deprived of the right to speak; it¡¯s pointless even if I oppose.¡± Gwendolyn turned to Kieran, who was eating quietly. ¡°What are your thoughts, Kieran?¡± With sincerity, he answered, ¡°Inez pursued me for a year, so I¡¯m nning to pursue her for a year, too. If she¡¯s willing to, we¡¯ll get married at the end of next year.¡± That¡¯s not toote. Gwendolyn nodded with contentment. From the corners of her eyes, she saw Treyton peeling prawns and crabs for Jennifer continuously. Bashfulness colored the woman¡¯s countenance as she tried to stop Treyton, insisting on doing it herself. However, she couldn¡¯t win against his overwhelming affection, so she had to dig into the seafood he prepared for her obediently. After watching that adorable scene, Gwendolyn turned her sights to Kieran and Inez a second time. Inez was peeling prawns by herself while Kieran was scooping food onto his own te obliviously. Gwendolyn tsked twice in a reminder. ¡°You need to be a little more diligent in your romantic efforts, Kieran. Look at Treyton and how hardworking he is peeling the lobster. Don¡¯t you think you should step up your game as well?¡± Kieran, who was ready to stuff some food into his mouth, promptly paused his action. Everyone at the table turned to Treyton, who was ardently peeling a lobster. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Without dy, Kieran set his cutlery down and peeled a crab for Inez, imitating his brother. Inez¡¯s heart was warmed as she watched him peel the crab awkwardly yet sincerely. Then, she nced at Gwendolyn and smiled when their eyes met. Just as Gwendolyn was making eye contact with her friend, her bowl was suddenly filled with peeled seafood. Upon dropping her gaze, she realized Cedrick had already been doing the same for her. In fact, he had started around the same time as Treyton did. However, the man was grumpy because she had praised Treyton but not him. Immediately, she held his cheeks and kissed his lips lightly. ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful, Hubby.¡± At the dining table, everyone started by drinking red wine and eating, then peeling seafood altogether. Seeing that his brothers and brother¨Cinw were assiduously providing shelling service for their significant others, Asher quickly joined in the party too. Aside from Nico, every man on the table was tending to their partners. Pouting. Summer elbowed Nico, silently prompting him to do the same. s, he didn¡¯t understand her gesture and continued to eat by himself. What a dense man! Gritting her teeth, she requested, ¡°Peel one for me too.¡± ¡°You want to eat crabs as well?¡± Summer suppressed her anger and nodded with a grin. After Nico surveyed the table of scrumptious seafood, he took a crab and handily extracted its meat. Upon removing the delicious crab meat, he delivered it to the edge of her lips for the first time ever. ¡°Want it?¡± She was pleasantly surprised by his act and beamed sweetly. ¡°Thank you, Nico!¡± Licking her lips, she opened her mouth, ready to eat the crab meat, but ended up biting into the air when she closed in. That was because Nico had rapidly withdrawn his hand and tossed the meat into his mouth mischievously. ¡°If you want to eat some, peel it yourself. These people are either married or engaged; we¡¯re different from them. We do not need to copy them when it¡¯s inappropriate for us to feed each other.¡± umers eyes reddened in aggrievement. Not only did I not taste any crab meat, but I was also lecturerHow we difterh the atmosphere¡¯s so great tonight, and everyone¡¯s in pairs. We can pretend dobbea spletenol shook his he htWe aren¡¯t a couple. I¡¯m raising you. If you¡¯re willing to call me Daddy, Ell peepw my good ca incifer¡± e was incensed Nito Jenson, you¡¯re just trying to take advantage of me!¡± ?the man remained ed unfixed ¡°How am I taking advantage of you when I¡¯m only asking you to call ne ddy? Won¡¯t be doing worse if I tell you to call me your boyfriend while we pretend to be a couple believed he was righg¨¹n until Cedrick smacked his head with a fork. wenny says you¡¯re too dense and inflexible. Honestly, I can see it now tonight. Your EQ is ridiculously How can the uing te Federal Bureau of Investigation deputy director be such a dunce?¡± to listened to Cedrick¡¯s listorne wahout objection. once, the people at the table de cat the keywords in Cedrick¡¯s words. yton was the first tomunem and INNico¡¯s being promoted to deputy director? Congrattions!¡± dding. Gwendolynplimentet ¡°I From the captain of Team Four to deputy director. He¡¯s very mpetent. co grinned in response. Thanks for thecomendation, Gwendolyn, Mr. Treyton. It¡¯s all thanks to drick¡¯s intention to promote mehr t of the blue, Gwendolyn changed the subjecie B. But Hubby¡¯s right. The deputy director le more tactful and possess higher EQ Be feine ni with me, Nico. Do you like Summe e could tell that the only person Summer hnded yes tomas Nico. The woman pract n as an idol and saw him as her true love ro, on the other hand, had proven with his caround no concern for Summer that he indec her. However, he was too klutzy when it cie rolztionship matters. mmer was afraid Nico had no interest in her, so she de didn¡¯t have the nerve to confess first. night, I¡¯m going to y the matchmaker and help them onee the that hardle, cen aback by the question, Summer bowed her head add cut clenched her fists anxiously, hoped he¡¯d say yes but also feared he¡¯d say nono This is so nerve¨Cwracking. the meantime, Nico was stunned too. remained silent for ages as though he was deeply and carefullymoncing his answer. to be a Chapter 594 Romantic Entanglements Chapter594RomanticEntanglements The longer Nico remained quiet, the more disappointed Summer felt. Treyton immediately chimed in, ¡°A man should have the courage to admit if he likes a woman, Nico. If you don¡¯t answer the question properly tonight, you¡¯ll be the one suffering and regretting it in the future.¡±¡°¡± That was something Cedrick and Kieran had both experienced before. ¡°Back then, I, too, failed to notice I had already fallen for Inez long ago,¡± said Kieran. ¡°Think carefully before you speak, Nico. I was only able to obtain forgiveness after I narrowly escaped death from the fire previously,¡± advised Cedrick. ¡°In fact, you personally witnessed my journey. While there aren¡¯t manyplications between you and Summer, if you answer the question erroneously, you¡¯re certainly gonna have a hard time groveling on your knees.¡± Nico was struck dumb. ¡°L¡­¡± Gwendolyn also reminded. ¡°How about this? Imagine a future where Summer¡¯s dating another man. What do you feel when that image is in your mind?¡± He considered her words seriously. Something simr had happened when he was with Charles. Thetter had said he had his eyes on Summer and wanted to steal her away. Nico had been furious when he heard that. It was like watching a nt he¡¯d spent time and effort in taking care of being eaten by an animal before it could blossom. At that time, he thought if Charles truly dared to do that, he would beat thetter to a pulp. Upon wrapping up his thoughts, Nico answered. ¡°I¡¯ll be very hurt and piqued. If her future boyfriend mistreats her, I may even butcher him.¡± When everyone heard that, theyughed, which confounded him. Satisfied, Summer cupped his scowling face and kissed his cheek enthusiastically. ¡°Thank you, Nico! I knew I had a ce in your heart. Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll be my only boyfriend in this life. If you don¡¯t want me, I¡¯d rather be a nun in a monastery!¡± The crowd chortled, making the atmosphere livelier. However, Nico grimaced with disdain. ¡°Stop! Did you wipe your mouth, Summer Rongsler? My face¡¯s all oily now!¡± Upon wiping his face clean with his sleeve, he dropped his head, attempting to hide his blush. His tanned skin, thanks to his time at the border, made the redness on his face less obvious. Still, he could feel his scalding cheeks. That was the first time a girl had kissed him so vehemently. It¡¯s quite¡­ overwhelming. Cedrick understood Nico the best and could tell thetter was abashed. Despite noticing Nico¡¯s ears turning red like a tomato, he didn¡¯t expose his friend and merely said, ¡°You¡¯re not getting any younger, Nico. Since everyone¡¯s here tonight, I, as the head of the family, can help you get engaged with her if you¡¯re willing.¡± Summer was so ecstatic that she almost jumped from her seat. ¡°Sure, sure! Thank you, Mr. Jenson! I approve of the engagement! I don¡¯t even need an engagement ceremony as long as Jenson Group makes an official announcement.¡± Nico still hadn¡¯t recovered from his shyness yet. In a small voice, he grumbled, ¡°You should act a little more modest as a girl. I can¡¯t believe you did that in front of so many people, acting as though you were trying to devour me.¡± His words amused the group, making everyone guffaw. Summer also chuckled. Mimicking Gwendolyn¡¯s assertiveness, she grabbed his cor and stated solemnly, ¡°Nico Jenson, ever since you saved me from that hell in Erihal, I, Summer Rongsler, have only had eyes for you. You¡¯ll never get rid of me in this life.¡± Nico patted the back of her hand. ¡°Rx. Why would I do that? After all, I fed you and paid your tuition fees, spending so much money. I¡¯m not leaving until I receive the fruits of mybor with interest!¡± The group was in stitches at their conversation. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Treyton grinned. ¡°Sounds like your sry in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jenson Group isn¡¯t that high, huh? Why are you so stingy despite being the second son of the main Jenson family?¡± Nico seized the opportunity toin, muttering, ¡°It¡¯s not that my sry isn¡¯t high but that my superior has a horrible temper. He deducts my sry whenever he¡¯s in a mood. Once he does it once or Twice, a year¡¯s worth of my sry will go poof.¡± Cedrick frowned, lowering his fork on the table. Even though it only made a faint, dull sound, it sounded like a ticking time bomb to Nico¡¯s ears. Cowardly, Nico pressed his palms together in a plea. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cedrick. You¡¯re empathetic, considerate, kind, amiable, and the best superior in the world! Never once did you ever shamelessly deduct my sry!¡± When Cedrick heard thest sentence, the edges of his lips quirked up dangerously. ¡°You must¡¯ve been neglecting your training recently, Nico. Come to my office tomorrow. I¡¯ll help you re¨Cexperience Hell Week.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Nico looked despaired. He¡¯d heard that Craig, the former deputy director, was tortured in Cedrick¡¯s office so severely that he couldn¡¯t even walk afterward. Nico was terrified. Since begging won¡¯t be effective with him, I need to utilize the trump card he¡¯s most afraid of] In a trice, he turned to Gwendolyn. ¡°Save me, Gwendolyn. He¡¯s trying to use his position to get even and torture me! If you protect me, I¡¯ll tell you about his secret romantic entanglements at the border!¡± ¡°Nico Jenson!¡± This time, Gedrick was genuinely panicking, his tone threatening. When Gwendolyn noticed how intense her husband¡¯s reaction was, she instantly realized something was off. Treyton, Asher, and Kieran, who were sitting across from the table, promptly turned toward Cedrick. Arching an eyebrow, Asher questioned, ¡°Cedrick Jenson, did you cheat on Kiddo behind her back?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten the promise you made when you married Kiddo? Or do you n to experience the torment I have to offer again?¡± demanded Kieran. ¡°That¡¯s not right, Cedrick. How can you have entanglements with others? Are you asking for a beating?¡± Treyton interrogated. Cedrick pulled a long face in silence. Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes sullenly. ¡°Tell me the truth.¡± All of a sudden, the joyous family gathering turned into a familial tribunal. The person on trial was Cedrick, who had toiled to prepare a fancy feast for his family. He red insidiously at Nico, who was watching the show giddily. ¡°You b¡°stard. Help me exin the situation right this instant!¡± A yful smile settled on Nico¡¯s countenance. ¡°Only if you promise you will never deduct my sry again and provide me a two¨Cmonth bonus raise.¡± Cedrick snapped, ¡°If you don¡¯t help me exin, not only will your bonus be gone, but I¡¯ll also deduct half a year¡¯s worth of your sry! Are you truly eager to taste the power of the Jenson family¡¯s whip, huh?¡± At the mention of the whip, Summer quickly defended her loved one, ¡°You can¡¯t hit Nico! He has nothing to do with your secret liaisons and ambiguous rtionships with women behind Gwendolyn¡¯s back! Mr. Jenson, you¡¯re the one who needs to be whipped!¡± Without dy, Nico covered her mouth fearfully. ¡°Christ! Shut up! You¡¯re making the story even more ridiculous. It wasn¡¯t like that! Are you trying to have me killed by p*ssing my boss off even more?¡± Setting her cutlery down, Gwendolyn crossed her arms haughtily. She scrutinized Nico and Cedrick briefly with an affable smile. ¡°So, which one of you is going to exin?¡± Chapter 595 Cedrick Asks To Be Punished Chapter 595 Cedrick Asks To Be Punished Nico exchanged nces with Cedrick in dismay. Despite Cedrick¡¯s gentlemanly demeanor, his words sounded like the devil¡¯s whisper. ¡°You should clean up your own mess. If you fail to do so, I have a hundred ways of doing it for you. Do you want to try?¡± With his knees going weak, Nico turned toward Gwendolyn and exined meekly, ¡°Gwendolyn, I was being over dramatic just now. It isn¡¯t as bad as it sounds. Cedrick had rescued a female university student who was kidnapped by terrorists during her travels. No one expected her to end up falling for him. Although she kept clinging onto him for a couple of days, you can rest assured that Cedrick stayed away from her, as you¡¯re the only one he cares about. Not only did he firmly reject the girl a few times, but he also got Neville to take her home after that.¡± Nico finished the exnation as if he was pleading for his life. The urate recount of the incident brought a sense of relief to Cedrick, as he didn¡¯t feel that he had done anything wrong in this instance. In spite of that, he was surprised to see Gwendolyn fall into deep thought after hearing Nico¡¯s words. A short whileter, she regained her senses and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ever mention it after returning to Salinsburgh? Since your conscience is clear, why didn¡¯t you dare let me know?¡± Her words caused Cedrick to freeze. Nico¡¯s expression drastically changed as he continued to exin, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Gwendolyn. Cedrick didn¡¯t tell you because he was worried that you would overreact. I swear that he is absolutely loyal to you, Regardless of how other girls try to seduce him, he would never sumb to their charms.¡± Instead of replying, Gwendolyn maintained her gaze on Cedrick. Even the smallest of his movements didn¡¯t escape her keen eye. The gulping of his throat was a sign of his nervousness, while the guilt on his face was unmistakable. Nheless, given the presence of her brothers and sisters-inw, Gwendolyn broke into a smile instead. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Of course, I trust him.¡± She then served Cedrick some food with a twinkle in her eye. ¡°Come, Hubby, why don¡¯t you have some more? You must be tired after preparing so many dishes. In fact, I¡¯ll give you a massage tonight.¡± Massage? Cedrick¡¯s palm froze. It¡¯ll probably be more of a tormenting interrogation. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be seeing the wooden ruler kept in the drawer soon. Cedrick let out a quiet sigh as he mourned for himself. His mind began to formte his defense as he prepared for the gathering storm at night. Just like that, Gwendolyn changed the subject skillfully. Laughter quickly returned to the table with the asional clinking of sses ringing out in the air. Thereafter, the dinner turned out to be a drawn-out affair. It wasn¡¯t until it was nine-thirty in the evening that it finally ended. Nico, who was half-drunk, had already started to babble nonsensically. Once again, he reminisced about the ten years of his life at the border, where he lived like a caveman. Crying out in tears, he swore that he would forever remember the debt of gratitude he owed Cedrick and would repay it with his life. Fortunately, Nico¡¯s vi was nearby. Summer managed to bring him home by coaxing him while supporting him by the arm. As for Gwendolyn¡¯s three brothers, they led their other halves into the garage and drove back to their respective homes. The messy kitchen was subsequently cleared up by Cedrick once everyone was gone. Under normal circumstances, Gwendolyn would chat with him while helping to put the cutleries back where they belonged. However, she returned to her room after dinner instead, leaving him behind to clean up the huge mess alone. It was as if she was punishing him for hisck of honesty at the table. Mired in guilt, Cedrick resigned himself to getting the job done. Half an hourter, he warily returned to the bedroom. The door was left slightly ajar, allowing light from the room to spill through a small gap. Upon gently pushing the door open, Cedrick could see Gwendolyn sitting on the bed and looking at her phone with her legs crossed. As there was no sign of the terrifying wooden ruler next to her, Cedrick began to wonder. Is she letting me off just like that? Does she not n to question me anymore? Am I really going to get a massage? Filled with uncertainty, Cedrick opened the door and walked toward Gwendolyn slowly. He then leaned in gingerly in an attempt to hug her. ¡°Darling.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t dodge but paid him no heed either. The cold shoulder she was giving him couldn¡¯t be any more obvious. Detecting the animosity she exuded, Cedrick snuck a nce at her screen. He could see that she had their WhatsApp chat window open. Hmm? Is she checking our chat log? Upon taking a closer look, he saw the messages he sent her while he was still at the border, such as his telling her about the roasted wild rabbits and their tent. It looked to him as if she was checking to see if he ever told her about the girl pursuing him. Holding his breath and fearing the worst, Cedrick turned around and retrieved the long-sealed Lego pieces from the wardrobe. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Noticing what Cedrick was doing, Gwendolyn threw him a nce and asked in a nonchnt tone, ¡°What are you doing?¡± The submissive look on Cedrick¡¯s face was unmistakable. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for keeping what happened at the border from you, Gwenny. Therefore, I¡¯m going to punish myself by kneeling on the Lego pieces in the corner.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Gwendolyn gestured at the empty spot beside her with her eyes. Despite the anger within her, she was worried that Cedrick would hurt his knees from kneeling on the Lego pieces. After all, she would sometimes get carried away with her emotions and punish him for an excessively long period. Acknowledging her instruction, Cedrick made his way to the empty spot beside her and sat there on his knees. As they stared into each other¡¯s eyes, Gwendolyn began to question him. ¡°Please exin why you never told me about the incident at the border?¡± ¡°Both of us were just swamped the first few days I returned. We had to deal with Xander and Grandpa before resolving the matter with Evelyn, I did n to tell you when things settled down but didn¡¯t expect Nico to do so ahead of me.¡± Brows knitted, Gwendolyn shed their chat window at him. ¡°Take a look at this yourself. From the first day you left for the border, you sent me messages almost every day. However, never once did you mention the girl who was pursuing you. Were you hiding it from me on purpose?¡± Cedrick¡¯s jawline tensed up as he replied candidly, ¡°I didn¡¯t dare tell you for fear that you would be upset. That said, nothing happened between the two of us.¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t understand his perspective still. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have thought much of it if you had told me back then. But after hearing it from Nico and seeing you fumble your response, I¡¯m actually outraged that you were trying to hide the fact that you were flirting behind my back.¡± Cedrick was infuriated to be used of flirting, which he felt had gone too far. ¡°Darling, I didn¡¯t flirt at all. It was the girl who unterally came onto me. I kept an appropriate distance and didn¡¯t touch her in any way. In fact, I don¡¯t even know why she has her eye on me¡­¡± Cedrick regretted feeling lucky back then. By not being upfront with her, he looked as if he was trying to cover up his indiscretions the more he exined. ¡°You¡¯re right that I shouldn¡¯t have kept it from you, but I didn¡¯t do anything to betray you still. Why don¡¯t you just punish me to vent your anger?¡± Gwendolyn responded with a smirk, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. It would be wrong for me to take disciplinary action against the boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the head of the powerful Jenson family.¡± While the nonchnt words left her mouth, Gwendolyn¡¯s right hand reached out abruptly for the wooden ruler. Cedrick cussed in his heart. She was hiding it by her side! Has she been trying to lure me in all this while, hoping that I would volunteer to be punished? Chapter 596 The Appetizers. Chapter 596 The Appetizers. The sight of Gwendolyn holding the wooden ruler sent a sense of uneasiness through Cedrick. Praying that he would get lucky, Cedrick inquired, ¡°How do you n on punishing me, Darling?¡± Gwendolyn lifted his chin with the tip of the ruler. ¡°Since you volunteered to be punished, I have no choice but to y the role of the bad guy here.¡± With Cedrick rendered speechless, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°How do you think I should go about it?¡± Cedrick replied without hesitation, ¡°My body belongs to you. I¡¯m willing to ept any form of punishment you mete out.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Gwendolyn cocked a brow with a devilish look in her eyes. As the ruler in her hand gradually moved downward, she gently teased Cedrick¡¯s groin with it. ¡°Can I punish you there?¡± Her action sent a shiver down his spine. As sheer horror shed across his face, he replied, ¡°Anywhere but there, as our happiness depends on it. It can only be pampered, not punished.¡± ¡°How dare you even think of being pampered after making a mistake?¡± With an acquiescent glint in his eyes, Cedrick leaned forward and gave her cheek a peck. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, Darling. I¡¯ll obey whatever you say.¡± His words caused Gwendolyn¡¯s anger to ease significantly. Even though Cedrick hid the fact that he was pursued by a girl from her, she believed that he would never betray her. Nevertheless, her faith in him didn¡¯t mean she would easily let him off still. She had wanted to drill into his head how important it was for a married couple to be honest with each other. Holding that thought, she tapped on the button on Cedrick¡¯s cor. ¡°As required by the rules, take everything off.¡± Without a moment¡¯s dy, Cedrick unbuttoned his shirt with his nimble fingers and took it off, revealing his well-defined physique and shredded abs. The tan from his time at the border-which had yet to fade away-added to his tantalizing allure. When she saw him stop, Gwendolyn tapped on his belt with her ruler. ¡°Have you forgotten about this? Are you expecting me to help you?¡± Cedrick had no choice but to continue taking his clothes off. Once he was done, he knelt back down obediently. Gwendolyn subsequently poked his left arm with her ruler. ¡°Reach out your hand.¡± Cedrickplied by extending his left hand palm up. With a ferocious look, Gwendolyn raised the ruler high in the air. Her posture would strike fear into anyone who saw her, and the strike on his palm felt like it was going to be excruciatingly painful. Gulping in fear, Cedrick retracted his hand by reflex. ¡°Darling, how many times are you going to hit me? Please give me a number so that I can mentally prepare myself.¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows as she tapped his arm again with her ruler, indicating for him to extend his hand. ¡°I¡¯m not going to count tonight. I¡¯ll hit you till you¡¯re sincere in admitting your mistake.¡± Cedrick had just extended his left hand a second time. However, when her words seemed to bring relief to him, he pulled it back to safety again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m truly sorry from the bottom of my heart. I¡¯ll never hide anything from you again, let alone do anything behind your back. I swear everything I just said is sincere.¡± Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t satisfied. ¡°You¡¯re not being serious by admitting your mistake before I even hit you. In that case, I¡¯ll cane you ten times as your appetizer.¡± Stumped by her response, Cedrick had no choice but to extend his hand begrudgingly. When he saw Gwendolyn raise the ruler again, his eyes shut tightly as he waited agonizingly for the impending pain. One second¡­ Two seconds¡­ With his eyes closed and jaw clenched, all of Cedric¡¯s attention was concentrated on his palm. What subsequently surprised him was that instead of the whipping sensation of a ruler, he felt the softness of her lips on it. Slightly stunned, he opened his eyes abruptly, only to be greeted by Gwendolyn holding his left hand and kissing it ten times. She might be showering him with affection, but the fearsome look on her face remained after she was done kissing him. ¡°How do the ten appetizers feel like? Can you now remember the lesson you have learned?¡± Cedrick stared at her with a besotted look. ¡°It has been seared into my mind. I¡¯ll never do it again.¡± Only then did Gwendolyn raise the wooden ruler, pinch the tip of his fingers, and swing it down upon his palm. Smack! Cedrick¡¯s palm turned red immediately as he caught his breath from the sudden pain that stung him. He had assumed that he could escape from being beaten, but reality showed that he was harboring nothing but false hopes. On top of that, Gwendolyn adopted a different method this time. She gave him pleasure first before following up with pain. Thereafter, he lectured him, ¡°Do you remember the pain you felt? If this ever happens again, you¡¯ll have another taste of this wooden ruler. Don¡¯t think for a second that I¡¯ll be showing you any mercy.¡± Cedrick nodded obediently before leaning in to steal a kiss. ¡°I remember. I promise never to do it again. You¡¯re the best, Darling.¡± Thereafter, Gwendolyn blew on his palm while giving it a gentle rub. As he had only been hit once, the pain faded away before he knew it, yet Gwendolyn didn¡¯t intend on letting him off just like that. She then leaned close to his ear and whispered seductively, ¡°Hubby, your punishment tonight will be to lie t while I ¡®torment¡¯ you.¡± To Cedrick, such ¡°torment¡± was his reward. It was a disy of Gwendolyn¡¯s love for him, which he greatly enjoyed. As hey down on the bed with the posture of the Vitruvian man, Cedrick made for a seductive sight. ¡°Come on, Darling. Give it to me. I¡¯m ready.¡± Trying to hold back herughter, Gwendolyn turned off the room¡¯s lights. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . The darkness always brought a sense of mystery that would liven up any treasure hunt. The same darkness would soon hide the passionate moments that ensued. The next day, the exhausted Gwendolyn surprisingly didn¡¯t experience a re-up. Cedrick was ted over it and felt that better times were finally upon them. As he watched her sleep, he couldn¡¯t help but give her the usual morning kiss. He subsequently left Harrick Vi after taking a quick shower. By the time he arrived at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nico had already maintained a squat stance for an hour in front of his desk as punishment. When Cedrick saw him upon opening the door, he sneered, ¡°This is strange. Why are you punishing yourself? What have you done wrong, Mr. Soon-to-be-deputy-director?¡± Due to his impressive stamina, Nico didn¡¯t break a sweat despite squatting for an hour, ¡°I was careless last night for talking about the incident. I¡¯m sure Gwendolyn must have questioned you after that about it. It¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m willing to do anything to earn your forgiveness.¡± Cedrick unbuttoned his military jacket and took it off in a distinguished manner. After putting it neatly away, he strolled to his desk and took his seat. ¡°It¡¯s clear that you¡¯ve made a mistake, but lucky for you, Gwenny didn¡¯t kick up a fuss over it. Otherwise, I would probably have to crawl here today.¡± Nico could-sense that things weren¡¯t as bad as he thought. ¡°So, Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t mad? Does it mean that I don¡¯t have to be punished?¡± With a serious expression, Cedrick dered, ¡°Your punishment is still necessary, as your slip of the tongue did spoil my night. How many times have you messed up my ns by now?¡± A wry expression descended onto Nico¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s not true, Cedrick. I genuinely wanted to help you. I wasn¡¯t trying to mess things up on purpose.¡± Nodding solemnly, Cedrick flicked through the document in his hand without looking at Nico. ¡°That only shows how stupid you are. You¡¯ll spend half a month at the barracks for new recruits. How about that?¡± ¡°Argh!¡± While Nico maintained a perfect squatting stance, his face twisted into a bunch. ¡°Going to the barracks means that I¡¯ll have to go through torturous training for half a month! Now that I¡¯m about to be promoted to deputy director, there¡¯s a lot on my te. Cedrick, you have to spare me, please!¡± Putting on an amiable expression, Cedrick showed him some mercy. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll deduct half of your bonus at Jenson Group, or you can choose to do two hundred and forty-nine pushups together with a handstand against the wall for two hundred and forty-nine minutes.¡± As the answer was so obvious that Nico didn¡¯t even have to consider it, he replied decisively, ¡°I¡¯ll do the pushups and handstand.¡± A brief momentter, he quickly grew curious. ¡°That said, why does it have to be two hundred and forty- nine times and two hundred and forty-nine minutes?? A smirk emerged on Cedrick¡¯s face as he raised his deep gaze to re at Nico. Finally, he exined in a disdainful tone, ¡°That¡¯s just because you¡¯re an idiot.¡± Chapter 597 The Water Poured By Cedrick Chapter 597 The Water Poured By Cedrick Nico was rendered speechless by Cedrick¡¯s lecture. However, instead of getting upset, heughed foolishly. ¡°You¡¯re right, Cedrick. Every word you say is a famous quote, and I¡¯ll listen to you without question.¡± He didn¡¯t mind being reprimanded as long as his sry wasn¡¯t deducted. Concealing what was on his mind, he smiled ingratiatingly at Cedrick. Cedrick stared at him. ¡°You enjoy being reprimanded? Do you have a masochistic tendency?¡± Nico replied, ¡°No. I only enjoy being reprimanded by you.¡± Disgusted by Nico¡¯s cheesy remarks, Cedrick felt goosebumps crawling all over his skin. Hence, he quickly dismissed Nico, ¡°Stop wasting time. ¡®Go and do your push-ups and after that, do a handstand against the wall. Time yourself. I won¡¯t be watching you.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Nico responded cheerfully. ¡°Rest assured that I will behave myself, Cedrick. Even if you¡¯re not watching, I¡¯ll finish it properly without missing a second.¡± Cedrick eyed him coldly and said nothing else. Doing push-ups and handstands against the wall were good ways to build a strong physique. It was not a difficult feat for Nico though it could be quite tiring. The only sounds in the office were the noise of Cedrick typing away on his keyboard and Nico¡¯s asional heavy panting. Doing a handstand for more than four hours straight was a challenge much more intense than push- ups. Sweat trickled down Nico¡¯s body, dripping onto the wooden floor in front of him and seeping into his eyes, which made him feel a little ufortable. Just like that, he spent almost half of the morning doing a handstand in Cedrick¡¯s office. After holding on for two hours, Nico found the veins on his muscr arms bulging from the exertion. His breathing also became increasinglybored as his arms trembled. Cedrick observed Nico through the corner of his eye while sorting out the documents at hand. Unlike Craig, the former deputy director, Nico had noints at all when enduring the high-intensity handstand. Memories of being trained and disciplined by strict teachers at the training camp started to resurface in Cedrick¡¯s mind. Craig was once an innocent and honest guy just like Nico. Although he was aggressive, he had a kind nature. However, he changed drastically after being promoted to deputy director and bing the head of the Newton family. He grew increasingly ambitious. I wonder if Nico will be like that in the future¡­ When his train of thought ended there, Cedrick capped his pen. He looked up at Nico who was near the wall, clearly exhausted and on the verge of copsing but still persevering. ¡°Doing a handstand for over four hours is intense exercise. You¡¯re already struggling when you¡¯re only halfway there. Do you resent me for punishing you so harshly?¡± Cedrick asked. Taking a deep breath, Nicoboriously maintained his posture as he replied with difficulty, ¡°You¡¯re training me for my own good. I¡¯ve been on missions for the past year and haven¡¯t been training on my own. I cked off, so I don¡¯t see any problem in you training me.¡± Nico¡¯s reply was sincere and honest, unlike Craig¡¯s deliberate ttery. He would never resent Cedrick or develop such rebellious thoughts toward thetter. After all, if it weren¡¯t for Cedrick back then, he might have died on the chaotic battlefield at the bordends. His life would end at the age of ten, and he would never have the luxury to enjoy the comfortable life he had now. He was a stubborn and grateful person who would remember others¡¯ kindness toward him for a lifetime, and he was confident that he would never hesitate even if Cedrick were to send him to the dangerous frontlines of the battlefield, where he would most likely perish. With sweat blurring his eyesight and being upside down, Nico couldn¡¯t see Cedrick¡¯s expression clearly. Nevertheless, he still gritted his teeth and tried to push his body¡¯s potential to the limit. Cedrick stood up, went around the desk, and gracefully poured a cup of warm water. ¡°Get up and pause the timer. I¡¯ll note down the remaining time. Do watch your mouth in the future, for I¡¯ll double the punishment time if I catch you running your mouth again.¡± ¡°Thank you, Cedrick.¡± Relieved to be granted amnesty, Niconded on his feet agilely but still staggered. His arms were so sore and weak, and as soon as he stabilized himself, a ss of warm water was handed to him. He looked up at Cedrick, who was holding the ss of water, in shock. His eyes, which were already bloodshot from the sweat, turned even redder. Did Boss just pour me a ss of water and handed it to me? Pleasantly surprised and overwhelmed by shock, Nico did not know how to react. He was confused, for Cedrick was being exceptionally nice despite the punishment thetter had just given him. In fact, he was even wondering if more tormenting punishments would await him after he finished the ss of water. Am I going to end up like Craig, who was tortured in this same office the other day? Lost in his thoughts, he didn¡¯t reach out to take the ss. Cedrick frowned while maintaining his usual aloof demeanor. ¡°You¡¯re about to be promoted to deputy director soon, and everyone will have to address you respectfully. Say, Mr. Larson, are you looking down on the water I poured for you?¡± Cedrick¡¯s light-hearted taunt scared Nico to no end. Panicking, he bowed respectfully. ¡°No, no, I¡¯d never. It¡¯s all thanks to you that I¡¯m able to be the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I will always remember your kindness and will forever be your subordinate, Cedrick.¡± A faint smile formed on Cedrick¡¯s lips as he patiently extended his hand which was holding the ss. ¡°You¡¯re also myrade, my family, and my brother,¡± he said. Nico teared up, deeply moved by Cedrick¡¯s words. ¡°Yes. We¡¯rerades, family, and brothers,¡± he repeated each word with great caution. Taking the ss of water subserviently, he chugged it down in one go for he was too thirsty. The in water tasted exceptionally sweet. Cedrick turned to walk back to his chair. ¡°Take it easy. You can still have more if one ss is not enough.¡± Nico wiped the sweat off his face. ¡°It¡¯s enough. I feel much better now. It¡¯s a pleasure to drink the water you personally poured.¡± Cedrick shot him a cold nce and ignored his ttery. ¡°Return to your office, take a shower, and go about with your work.¡± ,, ¡°Of course, Cedrick.¡± Nico ced the ss down cautiously and quickly left Cedrick¡¯s office. Since he was drenched in sweat, the fabric of his shirt clung ufortably to his skin, and the sticky sensation made him feel the urge to take a bath as soon as possible. There was a knock on Cedrick¡¯s office door not long after Nico left. A bodyguard working for the Jenson family came stepping in. ¡°Boss, something¡¯s up with Mr. Yael..¡± Since today was thest day for Xander to recuperate and recover from his leg injury, the bodyguards had gone to Yael¡¯s vi to look for Xander as per Cedrick¡¯s orders. Following Cedrick¡¯s previous instructions, they were supposed to take Xander to the ancestral hall for thirty whips before bringing him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for questioning. Then, he would¡¯ be sent to a high-security prison to serve his sentence of five years. However, when the bodyguards arrived at Yael¡¯s ce, they didn¡¯t see Xander anywhere. Cedrick listened carefully to the bodyguard¡¯s report. ¡°What? Uncle Yael had the audacity to stop you guys from taking Xander away?¡± The bodyguard shook his head. ¡°We searched the entire vi, but Mr. Xander was not around. Logan dialed his phone number and even checked his phone¡¯s GPS location but still couldn¡¯t find anything. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air.¡± Wearing a grim expression, Cedrick tried to suppress his anger as he adjusted his military uniform. ¡°How dare Uncle Yael hide Xander and obstruct the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s standard operating procedures? Seems to me that he has nothing better to do and is waiting to be arrested,¡± he said coldly. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Then, he called Neville, instructing thetter to bring an army along and return to the Jenson residence with him to confront Yael. Chapter 598 The Last Trump Card Chapter 598 The Last Trump Card They arrived at the Jenson residence to see Yael waiting for them in the living room, seemingly anticipating their arrival. Cedrick, still dressed in his military uniform, exuded a powerful aura as he stepped into the vi, his military boots clicking loudly. Every step he took was imposing and authoritative. Apanied by soldiers led by Neville, Cedrick entered the living room of the vi. His entourage surrounded the entire space, making for an intimidating atmosphere. At his age, Yael had seen and experienced a lot while he weathered storms alongside Valentino. He might have never been a military officer, but-he-still remained expressionless upon witnessing Cedrick¡¯s grand entrance. Calmly, he savored the coffee he had just brewed. Cedrick walked over and sat on a couch beside him. Seeing that Yael showed no intention of pouring him a cup of coffee, he took the pot and filled his own cup. ¡°Is this how you treat your guest, Uncle Yael? I¡¯m the head of the family, and I don¡¯t mind that you don¡¯t greet me, but you should at least offer me a cup of coffee,¡± Cedrick remarked. Yael averted his eyes and refused to even spare Cedrick a nce. ¡°We don¡¯t have any premium coffee beans, so the coffee I brewed can¡¯t bepared to what you usually have at home. I didn¡¯t offer you any because I¡¯m worried you won¡¯t be used to drinking bad coffee,¡± Yael responded. Cedrick took a sip of the coffee and solemnly agreed with him. ¡°Indeed. The taste of this coffee is rather nd, but its bad taste has nothing to do with the coffee beans. Rather, it tastes bad because the person who brewed itcks the necessary skills.¡± Yael finished his coffee and mmed the cup on the table heavily with a thud to vent his anger. After beating around the bush for some time, Yael, growing impatient, finally cut to the chase. ¡°Xander is my only son. Although he may not be as capable as you and often makes foolish mistakes, he is still my son, a descendant of the Jenson family, and your own cousin. Can¡¯t you show him some mercy?¡± Yael pleaded. Cedrick tapped his slender fingers on the coffee cup, as though contemting. ¡°He made a mistake, so naturally, he should receive proper punishment. You will only spoil him and make things worse by covering for him.¡± Yael¡¯s eyes which were lined with wrinkles turned bloodshot, probably from anger or agitation. Cedrick noticed the look in his eyes but still remained unfazed. ¡°Where are you hiding him, Uncle Yael? I¡¯ll let things slide if you willingly hand him over, but if I have to find him myself, I¡¯ll charge him with the - crime of escape.¡± ¡°How can you be so ruthless? Do you seriously want him dead?¡± Yael¡¯s clenched fists trembled with anger as he red at Cedrick. ¡°His life will be ruined if he is sent to prison. People will also mock me and ridicule me. Yes, he did all this behind my back, but his actions didn¡¯t result in any particrly disastrous consequences. Dad is fine, isn¡¯t he? Do you really have to be this merciless?¡± Agitated, he pounded the coffee table to produce a loud sound in a desperate attempt to overpower Cedrick¡¯s aura. Cedrick furrowed his brows while wearing a cold expression. As soon as Yael pounded the table, Cedrick hurled the coffee cup in his hand. A crisp, loud sound echoed through the room as the cup shattered into pieces when it hit the wall. Frightened by Cedrick¡¯s sudden outburst, Yael gave a start and shut his mouth, not daring toin anymore. Fuming, Cedrick spoke with an aggressive tone. ¡°If what he did brought about disastrous consequences, he wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to escape and hide. I would have sent him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for immediate execution. Uncle Yael, please don¡¯t test my limits. Thirty whips and a prison sentence of five years is already apromise on my part after considering Grandpa¡¯s imploration. There¡¯s no room for negotiation regarding this matter.¡± He stood up and adjusted the cuffs of his military uniform, frowning with cold determination. ¡°Looks like you have no intention of handing Xander over today. Very well. Don¡¯t me me for personally apprehending Xander and doubling his punishment.¡± Cedrick¡¯s thin lips curled into a sarcastic sneer as he turned around and walked away. ¡°Neville, handcuff Mr. Yael and bring him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a one-week stay.¡± Two soldiers immediately hoisted Yael up from the couch and handcuffed his wrists. Yael struggled as hard as he could as he turned toward Cedrick, who was about to exit the vi, and hollered, ¡°Do you even have a heart? I am your uncle! How dare you handcuff me and send me to the Federal Bureau of Investigation! What have I done wrong?¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze was frosty. ¡°You should have been charged with covering for a fugitive because you helped Xander evade punishment. A few days of detention will teach you a lesson.¡± Yael stubbornly refused to admit his mistake. ¡°I didn¡¯t help him escape. He was already gone when I woke up this morning. I was kept in the dark just like you. How am I supposed to know where he is?¡± Cedrick remained unfazed and said mercilessly, ¡°You can exin all you want in the interrogation room at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Following that, he stepped away elegantly. Seeing that he was about to leave, Yael bit the bullet and revealed his final trump card. He had nothing left to lose. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Cedrick, I know how the car ident that killed your parents happened!¡± Cedrick stopped abruptly in his tracks. His whole body stiffened as he seemingly contemted the meaning behind Yael¡¯s words. After several minutes, he turned around slowly and looked at Yael, who had been handcuffed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cedrick was very young when his parents passed away, so he had no memory of them. As far as he could remember, he had been raised by Valentino. He had only seen a photo of his parents. Valentino had previously told him that his parents had both died in a tragic car ident. When Yael saw that Cedrick¡¯s interest was piqued, he knew he had regained the upper hand. ¡°Uncuff me, and I¡¯ll tell you,¡± he said slyly. They locked eyes, and Cedrick red at Yael menacingly without a single word. He didn¡¯t know if Yael was telling the truth. ¡°Fine. I would love to see what you¡¯re up to, Uncle Yael, Cedrick finally replied. He turned around and reentered the living room. After instructing Neville to uncuff Yael, he dismissed everyone from the vi. Yael¡¯s servants were taken to the garden and ced under supervision by Neville to prevent eavesdropping while the soldiers of Team Seven stood guard outside the main gate. All the doors and windows of the vi¡¯s living room were closed, which was a clear indication of the importance of this matter to Cedrick. He fixed his gloomy gaze on Yael, determined to expose his true intentions. ¡°Spill,¡± he demanded. Yael sneered but responded seriously, ¡°Did Dad tell you that your parents died in a car ident?¡± Cedrick pursed his thin lips into a tight line, suppressing his displeasure. Yael noticed his impatience and struck the iron while it was hot. ¡°Actually, they didn¡¯t die in a car ident, I¡¯m the only one who knows the truth. Spare Xander and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression grew even colder. ¡°That¡¯s a separate matter. Don¡¯t you even think of using this secret to threaten me into sparing Xander. Besides, I can ask Grandpa myself.¡± Yael scoffed. ¡°He won¡¯t tell you even if you hold a knife to his throat because he doesn¡¯t know the whole truth either. I¡¯m the only one who knows as it is rted to me.¡± Cedrick frowned and narrowed his gaze as he tried to figure out the authenticity of Yael¡¯s words. Yael added, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go ask Dad yourself and see his reaction.¡± As Cedrick calmly analyzed the situation, he retorted, ¡°If you knew such a big secret, why didn¡¯t you mention it before? Why only bring it up today to threaten me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because Dad has imposed a gag order. This secret isplicated, and if it weren¡¯t for Xander¡¯s sake, I would have taken this secret to my grave. Thest thing I want is for him to be tormented in prison and go insane.¡± Cedrick began to believe him since he had put it that way. However, this was not a trivial matter, so further confirmation and careful consideration were needed. He stood up once again. ¡°Give me a few days to think it through. Before I make my decision, Uncle Yael, you will have to stay in one of the interrogation rooms at the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a few days and provide a statement.¡± Yael was momentarily stunned because he didn¡¯t expect Cedrick to be so patient and still insist to detain him. ¡°Cedrick! You heartless b*stard!¡± Yael shouted, but Cedrick had already turned to leave the vi without sparing him another nce. After he left, Neville immediately handcuffed Yael again. When Yael resisted, he ordered four soldiers to carry him away. Upon stepping out of Yael¡¯s vi, Cedrick navigated through the Jenson residence¡¯s winding paths as he continued pondering the truth behind his parents¡¯ deaths. He headed straight for Valentino¡¯s vi. Chapter 599 Is Nico Two Faced Chapter599IsNicoTwoFaced Gwendolyn drove back to Harrick Vi that night. Cedrick was not at the Federal Bureau of Investigation; he seemed to have gone back to the Jenson residence. Thus, she wanted to spare him the trouble of picking her up. When she reached home, she walked past the garden to find only the study was lit. At that realization, she entered the house and went straight to the study. The study¡¯s door was ajar, revealing Cedrick sitting at the office desk, his gaze fixed, albeit distant, on an unknown spot. Clearly, he was deeply engrossed in his thoughts. He looked somber as if something had happened. Finding his behavior puzzling, Gwendolyn quietly entered the room and made her way to the back of his office chair. Cedrick was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not even notice the woman entering. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hubby? Did something happen?¡± With her dainty digits, she gently squeezed his broad shoulders and massaged them. Her familiar voice and the sensation of her fingers kneading his shoulders pulled Cedrick back to reality. He took the hands that were massaging his shoulders and kissed them. ¡°Yael hid Xander. When I went to see him, he told me that there was a hidden reason behind my parents death, and he used that to threaten me to let Xander off.¡± Gwendolyn frowned at what she heard. ¡°Does he really know the cause? If Mom and Dad really got into an ident back then, why don¡¯t you just ask Grandpa about it?¡± Cedrick sighed dejectedly. That was where the problemy. Earlier that day, Cedrick had gone to ask Valentino, who shook his head firmly and denied there was anything more to the matter. Everything thetter said was precisely what he told Cedrick since young- nothing more, nothing less. In fact, Cedrick pressed on until the point where Valentino lost his temper and threatened to punish the former if he continued bringing up the past and invoking his sadness. Nheless, Valentino¡¯s overreaction proved there may be more to the matter like what Yael suggested. As Cedrick pondered upon it, he recounted every single detail to Gwendolyn because of his unconditional trust for her. At the end of the recount, Gwendolyn nodded in agreement. ¡°Grandpa has always been aposed and mature person: The fact that he¡¯s threatening to punish you does sound like an overreaction, but perhaps he has always been sensitive toward that matter.¡± The couple fell silent at the same time. After mulling over the matter, Gwendolyn finally asked, ¡°What are you nning to do? Are you going to let Xander off in exchange for the secret?¡± That was exactly what put Cedrick in a dilemma. He nced at the picture frame on the table¨Cit was a picture of his parents when they were younger. As someone who missed out on his parents¡® love since young, the idea of someone plotting his parents¡® death instead of it being an ident was aplete shock to him. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. As much as he wanted to find out the truth, he did not want to let Xander off. ¡°Grandpa¡¯s not the only one affected by Xander¡¯s mistake. When he joined forces with Paul, you got dragged into the matter, too, and was brought to the police station. I don¡¯t have the right to forgive him, let alone let Yael use this as leverage to threaten me.¡± Gwendolyn let out an audible sigh. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. Being brought to the police station isn¡¯t a big deal. It all boils down to how much you think Yael¡¯s words can be trusted.¡± Turning his head to look at her, he asked, ¡°What do you think, Gwenny?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, but he¡¯s using this as his trump card. I have a feeling he never would¡¯ve used it if Xander hadn¡¯t gotten into trouble this time. If we analyze it from this point of view, I believe his words can still be trusted.¡± Cedrick fell into deep thought before uttering, ¡°I need to think about this. But first, I¡¯ll re¨Cinvestigate what happened back then and look for clues before epting Cedrick¡¯s terms.¡± Gwendolyn did not want to see him worrying about the matter anymore since he already had a n in mind. As such, she went around his chair and sat on his thighs. ¡°That¡¯s enough thinking for tonight. Let¡¯s talk about this tomorrow morning.¡± Cedrick wrapped his hand around her waist almost instinctively despite feeling surprised by how proactive she was. ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯re different tonight.¡± Gwendolyn tilted her head with a smile, her gaze mesmerizing. ¡°In what way?¡± She had sessfully distracted him, drawing his attention to herself. Right then, Cedrick leaned toward her and whispered into her ear, his voice seductive. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful as ever but unusually proactive. You make me want to eat you up.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Why don¡¯t we do it in the study tonight?¡± came Gwendolyn¡¯s blunt suggestion. They were basically married for years, so there was nothing to be ashamed of. Of course, Cedrick was more than happy to ept the suggestion. Kissing her lips, he murmured, ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you say.¡± All of a sudden, the tense atmosphere in the study was reced by a sweet and affectionate one. The two engaged in an intimate moment, leaving trails of love on the study table, the couch, and the coffee table as they enjoyed themselves without restraint. Cedrick did not let go of Gwendolyn¡¯s waist until he was satisfied. Overwhelmed by his greed for her scent, he enjoyed the night filled with passion. Gwendolyn¡¯s mania did not act up after the intense ¡°exercise¡±st night. The couple hugged each other and slept peacefully through the night. She was energized and invigorated the next morning despite the soreness in her waist. ¡°Hubby¡­¡± Cedrick was still sound asleep while she was awake and only woke up when Gwendolyn pinched his nose mischievously. Blinking blearily, he gazed at her and asked, ¡°Did you sleep well? You must be exhausted fromst night.¡± Gwendolyn leaned over and kissed him. ¡°I slept well, and guess what? I didn¡¯t have an episodest night although I didn¡¯t go for my IV treatment. How surprising. Do you think it¡¯s because I was too exhausted from the intense exercise? Is that why my mania didn¡¯t act up?¡± Cedrick was not well¨Cversed in medicine, so he answered, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Joshua about it.¡± Gwendolyn immediately flushed bright red. ¡°How are you going to ask him about it? This is a private matter between a married couple. How could you tell an outsider about this?¡± __Cedrick was momentarily at a loss for words. He still remembered the day when he made up with Gwendolyn and slept with her at the hospital. After that, he eagerly showed off the marks on his body to the whole world. Nico and Joshua knew all about it. I wonder if Gwenny would feel embarrassed if she found out what I did back then! Um¡­ I bet she¡¯d be mad. Noticing him staring into space, Gwendolyn flicked his forehead with her finger. ¡°What are you thinking about? Don¡¯t you ever tell Joshua about our private matters, you hear me? We can test it out a few more times to find out if sex is really the reason why I didn¡¯t have an episode.¡± Cedrick bobbed his head obediently. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± With that, the two got out of bed, washed up, and quickly finished their breakfast. Cedrick dropped Gwendolyn off at Harris Group before driving to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Yael had spent the night therest night. As someone who was born with a silver spoon, spending an entire night in the cell was the worst thing that could happen to him. He had never been so humiliated before in his life. In fact, he was probably throwing a tantrum at that very moment. Cedrick was about to go and check on Yael for he was curious about how miserable thetter was. The first thing he saw upon arriving at the Federal Bureau of Investigation was a grimacing Nico who was massaging his arms. Cedrick was about to go up and ask Nico about it when Neville beat him to it. cing a hand on Nico¡¯s shoulder, Neville bantered with him as they walked ahead. As his view was obstructed, Neville didn¡¯t notice Cedrick standing behind them and said to Nico teasingly, ¡°Nico! Oh, wait. I should be addressing you as Mr. Nico in two days. What¡¯s up with you? Why are you looking so lifeless? Did you get beaten by your fianc¨¦e?¡± Nico scoffed, ¡°She¡¯s basically my pet, so she would never dare to beat me up. I got punished by Mr. Jenson yesterday morning.¡± The information left Neville re¨Cexamining his friend¡¯s condition. ¡°Why are you in so much pain? Did he make you undergo some physical training?¡± Nico nodded miserably. ¡°Two hundred and forty¨Cnine push¨Cups and two hundred and forty¨Cnine minutes of handstand at a wall.¡± His words shocked Neville to the core. ¡°The push¨Cups are fine, but a four¨Chour handstand? That¡¯s insane! How could you possibly endure it? Did Mr. Jenson actually torture you that way? Is this part of bing a deputy director?¡± Cedrick trailed behind them quietly, listening intently to the two of them talking about him behind his back. Nico had always presented himself as a loyal, honest, andpetent subordinate in front of Cedrick. Hence, Cedrick was intrigued to find out how Nico viewed him as his superior in private. Is he another two¨Cfaced person who worships me on the surface but rebels against me behind my back?. Chapter 600 Nico Is A Fan Of Cedrick Chapter600NicoIsAFanOfCedrick Cedrick trod lightly, carefully following the two men who had their arms around each other¡¯s shoulders. Nico answered Neville¡¯s question seriously, ¡°Four hours is indeed hard. I didn¡¯t think I could do it. I basically forced myself to hold on. Mr. Jenson¡¯s really harsh when ites to punishing people.¡± Neville clicked his tongue and pinched Nico¡¯s arm, making him grimace and hiss in pain. Cedrick¡¯s face fell as he continued following them. Nico continued, ¡°Mr. Jenson might be ruthless, but he¡¯s really kind. When he noticed I was struggling during the handstand, he reduced the duration to two hours and even poured a ss of water for me.¡± The more he recounted, the more emotional he got. ¡°He actually cared for me. D*mn. I was so moved that I almost teared up. I¡¯ll never be able to forget that ss of water he gave me. It tasted so sweet!¡± Neville eyed Nico as if thetter was a weirdo. ¡°Surely you¡¯re exaggerating.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got no idea. As long as Mr. Jenson doesn¡¯t deduct our sry, he¡¯s the best boss in the whole world. No one can argue with me on this.¡± ¡°Fine. Mr. Jenson¡¯s the best,¡± Neville went along with him half¨Cheartedly. The thought of Cedrick pouring him a ss of water yesterday excited Nico to no end. He looked so overjoyed that the words ¡°Mr. Jenson¡¯s biggest fan¡± were basically written all over his face. Cedrick was baffled. I just poured him a ss of water, that¡¯s all. Does he have to be this touched? Was I too stern in the past? Just as he was thinking about it, a police officer passed by the corridor and spotted the trio from afar. Immediately, the officer saluted and greeted each one of them respectfully, ¡°Hello, Mr. Jenson, Nico, Neville!¡± Nico and Neville stopped dead in their tracks, blinking in confusion. Mr. Jenson? Mr. Jenson¡¯s here, too? Neville drew his hand back from Nico¡¯s shoulder, and the two turned around dubiously to find Cedrick standing a distance away from them. Neville stammered, ¡°M¨CMr. Jenson, we didn¡¯t hear you walking behind us.¡± The color drained from Nico¡¯s face. ¡°Cedrick, when did you arrive? Did you hear everything we talked about earlier?¡± Cedrick nodded in aposed manner, making it hard to tell whether he was furious. Noticing how they were gulping nervously, Cedrick mischievously said, ¡°Mr. Nico, I heard you talking about how severe my punishment was. If you¡¯re not happy about it, you can alwayse to my office and talk to me in private.¡± Nico tensed up. Hisplexion, which had turned dark after he returned from the sunny bordends, concealed how paie he had gone from fear. ¡°Cedrick, I mean, Mr. Jenson! The wise and brilliant Mr. Jenson, I was wrong!¡± He yielded instantly and desperately exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean toin. What I wanted to say was that you did well! The punishment was a genius move!¡± It was indeed a great punishment that left him aching all over. Amused by his antics, Cedrick stifled augh and snorted. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Save the ttery ande with me to my office.¡± It was nothing more than an ordinary order, but to Nico, it sounded as if the world wasing to an end. Oh no! I should¡¯ve just shut up. I¡¯ll surely be given another punishment in his officeter. My arms are in so much pain already, though. How long can Ist if he makes me do another handstand? No matter how miserable and hopeless Nico felt, he could only follow behind Cedrick while wondering how he should plead for mercyter. Maybe I¡¯ll just grovel at his feet and burst into tears when I enter the office. Neville cast his friend a look that said ¡°You¡¯re on your own¡± before scurrying away lest he got involved. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Nico walked into Cedrick¡¯s office, his head hung low in dejection. At the same time, he fixed his gaze on the ground, wondering how he should grovel at Cedrick¡¯s feetter to beg for mercy. It was not until Cedrick waved his hand in front of Nico did thetter snap out of his thoughts. ¡°Yes, Cedrick?¡± Frowning in annoyance, Cedrick questioned, ¡°What are you thinking about? Did you hear what I said?¡± Frustrated, Nico smacked his head and lied, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night, so I¡¯m having a hard time focusing today.¡± Nheless, Cedrick could not be bothered to nitpick and changed the topic. ¡°How¡¯s Yael doing? Did he behave himself?¡± Nico shook his head. ¡°I heard he made a fuss throughout the night in the private room. He demanded to talk to you and even called you a disrespectful and ungrateful person. He quietened down when he got tired in the middle of the night and realized no one was paying him mind.¡± Cedrick listened in silence. ¡°Looks like the punishment wasn¡¯t enough. How dare he throw a tantrum and scold me when he¡¯s in my territory? He just thinks I wouldn¡¯t dare to touch him because he has a trump card.¡± ¡°A trump card? Did he threaten you?¡± A grim expression crept over Nico¡¯s face. Looking solemn, Cedrick took a deep breath and sat down before his desk, ¡°I have an important task for you. It¡¯s about an old case of a car ident from more than a dozen years ago. I need you to find the news article about that ident and look for anything suspicious.¡± Nico nodded obediently. ¡°Okay, got it.¡± Humming gently, Cedrick said, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Nico was stunned. Is he letting me off just like that? Is he not punishing me? When Cedrick saw that his subordinate was not leaving, the former feigned a serious expression and rapped the table with his knuckles. ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving? Do you want another hundred rounds of push¨C ups as a warm¨Cup? Or will another two hours¡® worth of handstand clear up your brain fog?¡± he teased. Nico felt a chill run down his spine, and he hurriedly shook his head. ¡°No, no. The task you assigned me is more important. I¡¯ll get to it right away.¡± Nico turned on his heels and fled the office without hesitation as if Cedrick woulde up with different ways to torment him if he stayed a second longer. ¡°What a timid rascal,¡± Cedrick remarked with a chuckle, staring at Nico¡¯s retreating figure and shaking his head. He quickly got to work as soon as Nico disappeared from his line of sight. Half an hourter, Cedrick summoned Neville. ¡°Get a few men to track Xander down and arrest him as soon as possible. Don¡¯t let him leave the country.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Jenson.¡± At noon in thepany¡¯s cafeteria, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t have the appetite to enjoy her lunch as she thought about the death of Cedrick¡¯s parents. Both Xander and Yael had their sights set on the position of the head of the family, which was why they plotted against Cedrick several times before that. However, Cedrick never punished the duo severely because they were Valentino¡¯s descendants. Previously, Xander was merely demoted to an insignificant position at a subsidiarypany in a tiny district and was. not allowed to return to the headquarters. That was already a hugepromise on Cedrick¡¯s part. Regardless, Valentino still brought Xander back to Salinsburgh under Yael¡¯s imploration. Unfortunately, Xander was the most troublesome nuisance Cedrick had ever encountered. The former had just returned to the city, yet he had already harmed Valentino. Xander would never learn his lesson. and behave himself if he was not punished severely. If Cedrick agreed to let Xander go, that would be equivalent to losing his authority and letting Yael take control. It was not a minor matter as it involved Cedrick¡¯s parents. Thus, Gwendolyn needed to find a way to help Cedrick resolve the situation. As she thought about that, she swallowed half of her lunch and rushed to Valentino¡¯s vi while she still had some time. Valentino was sensitive about the death of Cedrick¡¯s parents, so, naturally, he would not talk if Gwendolyn brought it up. She needed to approach someone else. First, she popped by the room to check on Valentino. He was looking much better after recuperating for the past few days. In fact, he had gotten healthy enough to get into a wheelchair and have Logan push him around the garden. Delighted to see her drop by, Valentino chatted with her and let Zoey bring the two kids out to bask in the sun. The sight of themughing and chattering away in the garden painted a blissful picture. Both Benedict and Zendaya wore vibrant smiles, which put Valentino in great spirits. The children yed for a few hours until they got tired. Gwendolyn then asked Zoey to bring the children. upstairs for a nap. Meanwhile, she walked with Logan as he pushed Valentino to his room to get some rest. After tucking Valentino in, Logan walked Gwendolyn out of the vi. As they descended the stairs, she finally remembered her purpose for visiting and asked nonchntly, ¡°Logan, you¡¯ve been working as the Jenson family¡¯s butler for quite some time, haven¡¯t you? How many years has it been?¡± Chapter 601 Xander Captured Chapter601XanderCaptured Logan, with a face marked by wrinkles, wore a wide grin, radiating a warm and amiable aura. ¡°I¡¯ve been with the Jenson family since I was a teenager. Back then, I used to go with the driver to pick up Old Mr. Jenson from school. Time passes in the blink of an eye, and I never thought I would spend half of my life in the Jenson residence.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, moved by his words. ¡°No wonder Old Mr. Jenson trusts you, Logan. Having a loyal and dependable butler like you is a blessing for the Jensons.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor to receive praise from you, Mrs. Jenson,¡± Logan replied. Both of them wore smiles as they conversed amiably. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. As they were about to descend to the first floor, Gwendolyn continued asking, ¡°Logan, you must be the longest¨Cserving person in the Jenson family. Have you met Cedrick¡¯s parents¨Cmy father¨Cinw and mother¨Cinw?¡± Logan¡¯s smile gradually faded, and a tinge of sadness appeared on his face. ¡°Yes, I have. Mr. Cedrick was his father¡¯s most beloved eldest son. He was still young when they passed away.¡± shbacks of memories overwhelmed him with emotions. ¡°Mr. Cedrick had certainly led a difficult life. Losing his parents at such a young age and being caught in the power struggles between his uncles, he, as the eldest grandson, had to navigate through challenging circumstances. Thankfully, Old Mr. Jenson kept him close and shielded him from numerous plots and schemes, even though he was strict with him.¡± ¡°Plots and schemes?¡± The keywords caught Gwendolyn¡¯s attention. ¡°Indeed, there are always all kinds of dirty secrets within prominent families.¡± She paused for a moment and took the opportunity to inquire further. ¡°Even a young child had to face maniption and schemes. Did Cedrick¡¯s parents really die in a car ident and not due to foul y?¡°. Logan looked puzzled. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, why do you ask such a question? Old Mr. Jenson was still a formidable figure in the military back then, and he personally investigated and closed the case. I¡¯m sure there couldn¡¯t have been any mistake.¡± Gwendolyn observed Logan¡¯s expression and did not notice anything unusual. I guess he really has no idea what transpired. Old Mr. Jenson closed the case, concluding that it was a car ident, but Yael believes there¡¯s more to it than meets the eye, suspecting foul y. So, who¡¯s lying? Is it possible that someone as astute as Old Mr. Jenson is unaware of the truth? If there are other underlying factors involved, the fact that Old Mr. Jenson didn¡¯t disclose them even to his most trusted butler speaks volumes about the significance he attributed to this matter. As she delved deeper into her thoughts, the questions at hand became increasingly apparent, particrly concerning Valentino¡¯s position on the matter. This heightened her sense of suspicion. ¡°Mrs. Jenson? Mrs. Jenson?¡± Noticing her absent¨Cmindedness, Logan called out to her multiple times, attempting to bring her back to the present. Gwendolyn responded, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Why did you suddenly be interested in knowing about Mr. Cedrick¡¯s parents?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn smiled lightly and responded in a calm voice, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I just feel a bit upset that I never had the chance to meet my father¨Cinw and mother¨Cinw. I¡¯m just a little curious about them, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Logan nodded in understanding. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, we¡¯ve arrived at the entrance of the vi. Would you like to return to Harrick Vi or proceed to the garage to retrieve a car and leave?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to the garage. There are still many matters to attend to at thepany. But you don¡¯t need to about me, Logan, I¡¯m familiar with the nooks and crannies of the Jenson residence now. I won¡¯t get lost,¡± she replied. Logan remained silent as she preferred to be on her own. He bowed respectfully and watched her depart. ¡°Take care, Mrs. Jenson, and stay safe¡± Gwendolyn nodded slightly and made her way to the garage. Logan stood at the entrance of the vi, watching her figure disappear around the corner before turning back to continue attending to Valentino. Meanwhile, Neville was exceptionally efficient in hunting down his targets. On the evening of that day, he apprehended Xander, who had been nning to secretly leave the borders of Chanaea in a cargo ship right at the pier. Xander¡¯s frail and thin physique was no match for the group of professional military¨Ctrained soldiers. He could not outrun them onnd and nearly drowned himself when he jumped into the sea. In the end, it was Neville and his team who rescued him from the waters and handcuffed him. In a state of despair, Xander cried out. ¡°Cedrick is so heartless! Does he really want to destroy me? Can¡¯t he just pretend he isn¡¯t aware of what happened and let me go? Release me right now! Are you taking me back to the ancestral hall for a public flogging or sending me to a high¨Csecurity prison? No! I refuse to go!!I demand to see Cedrick!¡± Initially, Neville and the others paid no attention to his desperate cries. Frustrated by Xander¡¯s incessant noise, resembling the desperate cries of someone on their deathbed, Neville eventually swiftly tore off a strip of tape to seal his mouth. ¡°Mr. Yael has been a recent guest at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so Mr. Jenson would like to invite you to experience it too.¡± Xander wondered if they nned to lock him up at the Federal Bureau of Investigation temporarily. Soon, Xander ceased his struggles. As long as he could avoid a whipping or being confined to a high- security prison, he still held hope for aeback. He believed that his confinement in the Federal Bureau of Investigation wouldst no more than a week. However, reality proved that he had underestimated the situation. Yael¡¯s actions were not a significant offense, plus he was still an elder, so Cedrick permitted him to stay in a private cell. Although the confined spacecked amenities, he did not have to share a bathroom with others. However, it was a different story for Xander. He was thrown into a space with over ten men; with no beds and only one shared bathroom. Furthermore, all those individuals were convicts involved in serious crimes. Xander was forcibly thrust into their midst. As the police officer threw him into the space, he grabbed the iron bars and shouted relentlessly, ¡°I want to see Cedrick! Tell that brat toe see me!¡± Despite refraining from using foulnguage, his haughty attitude mirrored that of a privileged youth sheltered from the harsh realities of life. Irritated by his behavior, the police officer ignored him and coldly walked away after locking him inside. the cell. ¡°You stop right there!¡± Xander shrieked while gripping the iron bars, but the officer had left. An eerie feeling crawled up his spine as if numerous pairs of eyes were watching him, making him feel. extremely uneasy. He weakly turned his head, fixing his gaze on a corner of the wall before scanning the perimeter. A crowd of men, varying in height, weight, and build, stood there, with dozens of pairs of eyes fixated on him. Xander¡¯s confidence waned instantly, as he had never been in such a ce before. A man beside him inquired, ¡°Hey, you. What did you do to end up here?¡± Xander clenched his fists, causing the handcuffs to rattle. ¡°Cedrick Jenson did this to me. He wanted me dead, ignoring the fact that I¡¯m his family.¡± Those men had no connection to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but everyone in Salinsburgh was familiar with the name Cedrick Jenson. They all exchanged nces, expressing doubts about his words. ¡°Who are you to him? Why would he want to harm you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m his cousin. Cedrick resorted to all kinds of means to snatch power from my father, which led to his current position. And now, he wants to wipe out me and my fatherpletely. He¡¯s nothing more than a vile creature!¡± Xander boldly revealed his identity, hoping to assert his dominance among the group and perhaps find some allies during his time in confinement. However, little did he know that thergest man in the room had a notorious reputation and held a significant grudge against the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As soon as Xander finished speaking, the man swiftly approached him, grabbing his hair and forcefully mming him against the cell door with a loud thud. Xander let out a pained scream, unable to react in time. He felt as though he was about to be knocked unconscious. The burly man, gripping his hair tightly, held him down and gnashed his teeth as he spoke. ¡°Cedrick Jenson, in the previous crackdown, apprehended numerous of my men, including me. He¡¯s my arch- enemy,¡± Xander¡¯s face wore an expression of bewilderment. Struggling to articte, he hurriedly distanced himself from Cedrick. ¡°Why are you attacking me? It was Cedrick who harmed you, not me.¡± Rather than releasing his grip, the burly man tightened it further, exerting so much force that it felt as if he could peel ayer of Xander¡¯s scalp off. ¡°I can¡¯t deal with him because he¡¯s powerful, but I can take revenge on his cousin to vent my frustrations!¡± Xander was utterly stunned. What? I¡¯m already locked up in here, and now I have to endure the revenge of Cedrick¡¯s enemy? Chapter 602 Get Used To It Soon Chapter602GetUsedToItSoon While he was feeling frustrated over that thought, the burly man behind him hit his head. Xander yelped in pain, his head spinning. There was something sticky flowing down the side of his head. The world spun around him, and he felt as if he was momentarily cast into hell. Did he break my skull? What the h*ll is this? ¡°Help! I¡¯m getting killed! Someone save me!¡± he shouted toward the outside of the cell, but no one answered him. Even the other men locked up with him were quietly sitting at the side, watching him get beat up by the burly man. They had no intention of helping him out. Xander was thin and weak, so he would not be able to withstand many punches from the big man. While he was being made into a human punching bag by the big man, he shouted, ¡°I hate Cedrick! He has always bullied me since young! I¡¯m going to kill him one day and make him pay the price for what he did to me!¡± At that, the big man stopped assaulting him. Taking in Xander¡¯s fear, he scoffed in disdain. ¡°You can¡¯t even beat me in a fight. What makes you think you can kill Cedrick?¡± Xander finally had a break from the beating. Every bruised spot was screaming in agony, but Xander wiped the blooding out of his nose with his sleeve before gritting out, ¡°You¡¯re right. I can¡¯t win him in a fight, but I have the brains. My father is Yael Jenson. Once I¡¯m out of here, I¡¯m going to make Cedrick pay!¡± The big man was starting to believe him. ¡°Is your father a powerful man? Can he really win against Cedrick?¡± Xander was spouting nonsense, but to avoid getting beaten again, he was voluntarily lying through his teeth. ¡°Of course! My dad¡¯s way more powerful than Cedrick. If my grandfather hadn¡¯t helped Cedrick out, my father would have been the head of the household! But my grandfather is old now. Once he dies, Cedrick won¡¯t have anyone backing him up anymore. He¡¯ll be an easy target for me and my father. That¡¯s why Cedrick¡¯s in such a rush to get rid of me. I won¡¯t let him get his way!¡± As he looked at the big man with an appeasing smile, he continued, ¡°Has Cedrick hurt many of of your friends? Don¡¯t worry. Once I¡¯m out of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I¡¯ll definitely take revenge on him on behalf of you!¡± The big man then began studying Xander. Though Xander had a bloodied face, even the way he was pushing his sses seemed to set him apart from the average person. ¡°My name is Raoul Wagler. If you can really help me take revenge on Cedrick and get him off his pedestal, you¡¯ll be my savior. From now on, you¡¯ll have my protection in Salinsburgh¡¯s underworld.¡± Xander was ted. He never thought that his misfortune in being locked up in the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s cell would somehow bring about something so lucky. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Raoul. I won¡¯t go back on my words. Cedrick¡¯s time is up once I¡¯m out of this cell.¡± Raoul somberly patted Xander¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Remember what you¡¯ve said. I¡¯ll make sure that you¡¯re safe here for the following days. No one in this cell will dare toy a finger on you, but when you get out of here, you have to remember our promise. Of course, I¡¯ll find a way to contact you to find out your progress.¡± At that, Xander froze. He had just been lying to get out of his situation, but it seemed like Raoul was going to cling to him. He was the son of the Jenson family. How could he possibly spend time with ruffians like Raoul? Furthermore, the big man was emotionally unstable. Who knew when Raoul would burn bridges in the future? Despite Xander¡¯s scorn of Raoul, he kept his feelings off his face and agreed to Raoul¡¯s words. With the big man¡¯s protection, Xander was soon living like a king in the cell. He was first to use the toilet, and he was first to drink and eat what the officers brought to them. He could even pick a dry and cleaner spot in the cell. Only half an afternoon had passed since then, but Xander was already getting full of himself. He was bored, for he did not have his phone with him. The men could do nothing else but stare at each other. A wicked idea formed in his head. ¡°I always hear that the soap¨Cdropping act ismon in prison, but I haven¡¯t seen it before.¡± Pointing to the weakest¨Clooking and thinnest two men in the cell, Xander said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you two show me how it goes?¡± At that, Raoul immediately shot a look at the others. The two men that Xander had picked were immediately lifted to a standing position by the other criminals. Both thrashed vigorously as they pleaded, ¡°Sirs, please let me go! This is disgusting! I can never do this!¡± Xander was enjoying the pleasure of tormenting others. Furthermore, no one would know what happened here after he left the ce, so he scoffed and said, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it soon. Either do as I say, or you get beaten up and will be sleeping in the restroom tonight. Take your pick.¡± The two men shared a look, and the others dragged them to an empty spot. On the verge of breaking down, one of the men pointed a finger and yelled at Xander, ¡°You¡¯re a ck sheep of your family! You¡¯re a shame to the Jenson family! No wonder Mr. Cedrick sent you here! I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t be able to defeat him, you revolting animal!¡± Livid, Xander whipped his head to Raoul and said, ¡°Cripple him, Mr. Raoul! Let¡¯s see if he still dares to insult me after that!¡± Though Raoul was a little annoyed by Xander ordering him around, for the sake of Xander exacting revenge for him, he kept his annoyance silent as he stood up and walked over to the trembling men. One of hisckeys stopped him. ¡°Wagler, I don¡¯t think Xander¡¯s that reliable. If he¡¯s really capable of killing Cedrick, he wouldn¡¯t have been sent here by Cedrick in the first ce.¡± Xander¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly retorted, ¡°idents happen. Cedrick even sent my elder brother in here despite my brother¡¯s capability in martial arts and status in the underworld, so what makes you think it¡¯s strange for me, someone who relies on nothing but my brains, to slip up once?¡± At that, Raoul¡¯sckey fell silent. He could not possibly say that Raoul was also unreliable and was dumb enough to be tricked by Xander, could he? A man sitting in the corner then suddenly spoke up. ¡°Mr. Xander, what is the name of your impressive father?¡± ¡°My father¡¯s name is Yael Jenson.¡± Everyone in the cell quietly repeated that name, including Raoul. Everyone in Salinsburgh had only heard of the devil Cedrick; they had never heard of Yael. In the next instance, the man in the corner chuckled. ¡°I doubt anyone here has ever heard of that name, but I have. For the past few years, Yael has been working in a minor post in a district. He doesn¡¯t have any authority in the Jenson family at all. How could he possibly fight against Mr. Cedrick?¡± Raoul instantly understood what he meant and seized Xander¡¯s cor in fury. ¡°How dare you lie to me?¡± Xander/shook his head fervently. ¡°I didn¡¯t! The power my dad had back then was far more powerful than Cedrick¡¯s. He was only demoted from his role to a smallpany in the district because he was set up by Cedrick, but he¡¯s been gathering various forces. Once I¡¯m out of here, I¡¯ll definitely be able to work with him to crush Cedrick!¡± 1 Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Raoul was still holding his cor, though he did not punch Xander. It seemed like he was hesitant as to whether or not he should believe in thetter. The man in the corner continued, ¡°I overheard the officers¡® conversationst night. The father that Mr. Xander talks about, Mr. Yael, seems to be locked up in the Federal Bureau of Investigation too. If my guess is right, he¡¯s just a few rooms down from this one.¡°. If both the father and son were locked up, they were isted from the outside world. How were they going to go up against Cedrick? Raoul reached the peak of his anger and pped Xander. Stunned by the force, Xander fell to the ground and could not get back up on his feet. ¡°You b*stard! How dare you lie to me and ordered me and my boys around the entire afternoon? Do you think us as fools?¡± Xander held his aching cheek and continued struggling to get up. Before he could seed, Raoul stepped on his kneecap. Xander¡¯s pain reflected on his face, and he screamed in agony. ¡°I didn¡¯t! I didn¡¯t! Cedrick and I are enemies. He won¡¯t feel bad if you mistreat me! He¡¯ll even be happy about it!¡± Still, Xander had lorded over Raoul¡¯sckeys the entire afternoon, so they were obviously enraged now. They promptly rushed over to lift Xander to an upright position. ¡°W¨CWhat are you trying to do?¡± Raoul grabbed Xander¡¯s chin and momentarily stared at Xander¡¯s bruised but handsome face. A malicious. grin grew on his lips. ¡°Since you wanted your cellmates to perform the soap¨Cdropping act, why don¡¯t you y the part of the lead and show us what it¡¯s like first?¡± Xander shook his head in a frenzied manner. ¡°No! I can¡¯t! No way!¡± How could he? He was the scion of the Jenson family! But Raoul sneered and repeated what Xander had said earlier. ¡°It¡¯s all right. You¡¯ll get used to it soon. Either do as I say, or you¡¯ll get beaten up. Take your pick.¡± Chapter 603 Chapter 603 Chapter 603 ck Sheep Get Beaten Up Xander was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Things were fine in the afternoon, but his n had abruptly gone to shambles. With Raoul holding his cor and hissing threats, Xander shook like a leaf. The injuries he had sustained on his face were still aching. If he received another beating, his weak body would give up. He might even suffer from broken ribs, Yet, he could not do such a revolting thing in front of the others. He would rather die than pretend to drop a soap bar in front of them. When Raoul heard no response, he shook thetter and snapped, ¡°You have three seconds. Choose.¡± Xander shook his head. He wanted neither option. ¡°I won¡¯t choose! I won¡¯t! Please let me go! I wasn¡¯t lying. I¡¯ll definitely drag that stupid Cedrick to hell and make sure he never crawls out of it!¡± Raoul snorted before spitting on the floor. ¡°You¡¯re a trust fund baby with no power or influence. You can¡¯t even win against me, but you¡¯re iming to be able to defeat Cedrick? You¡¯ve been ordering me around the entire afternoon. Do you really think of me as your ything, huh?¡± Raoul then threw Xander to the ground and ordered hisckeys to restrain the man, pinning him against the wall. ¡°Since you¡¯re refusing to choose, Mr. Xander, I¡¯ll do it for you. Let¡¯s have both options. We¡¯ll have you do the performance before giving you a beating. ¡°No!¡± Xander screamed when he felt someone undoing his zipper. Unable to stand what was going to happen next, he roared, ¡°I¡¯m the son of the Jenson family, a family that¡¯s one of the three wealthiest families in Salinsburgh! Although Cedrick has taken away my father¡¯s power, he was once a mighty man whomanded over others! If you do this to me, he¡¯s going to come after you!¡± However, Raoul lifted his fist to punch Xander in the face, making stars form in thetter¡¯s vision. ¡°Who¡¯s going to care about you now that you¡¯ve been thrown into jail? I¡¯ve never been scared of anyone¡¯s threats. You will have to obey me!¡± Xander¡¯s pants fell, and he was about to lose his mind. The cheering of the others echoed in the cell, and everyone was watching the drama unfold, seemingly keen to watch the high and mighty privileged man be humiliated. Xander wished for death, still thrashing to no avail. Raoul¡¯s delightedughs rang in his head. Just as he was about to be forced into the performance, an officer in the corridor knocked the steel bars with his baton. ng! ng! ng! Immediately, the troublemakers quieted down. Even Raoul obediently returned to sit in a corner. Xander was filled with rage. Without looking at the officer, he quickly pulled up his pants and his zipper. There was fog in his sses, and he was heaving and hupping. When he wiped his eyes with his sleeves, he realized he had burst into tears from the terror. He had been so close to suffering total humiliation¡ªa humiliation that he could never get rid of for the rest of his life. The officer thennded his gaze on Xander. Although the troublemakers had retreated quickly, he could guess what had been happening inside. As he knocked the steel bars with his baton again, he reminded, ¡°Mr. Cedrick has said that Xander is still one of the Jensons despite his status as the ck sheep of the family. If anyone dares to humiliate him in underhanded ways, he¡¯ll be making sure that they won¡¯t leave the Federal Bureau of Investigation alive.¡± Raoul nodded and pped a bright smile on his face. ¡°Of course, of course. We won¡¯t mistreat Mr. Xander. Don¡¯t worry. At that, the officer hummed in satisfaction and turned to leave. Just as he took two steps forward, something seemed to cross his mind, and he made his way back to the cell. He added, ¡°But someone does need to teach Xander a lesson. Even though Mr. Cedrick has said that Xander is not to be humiliated, he never said anything about anyone not being allowed to beat him. Just know your limits, and don¡¯t hit him until he¡¯s severely injured.¡± Raoul¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Got it!¡± Those words threw Xander into a pit of despair again. Right as the officer left, he felt the unfriendly gazesing from his cellmates. Raoul and hisckeys were eyeing him menacingly, excited that he was going to be their punching bag. ¡°Wait, no!¡± Xander wrapped his arms around his head to shield himself. Raoul beat him until almost every inch of his skin was covered in ck and blue, and Xander begged and screamed the entire time. He curled up into himself in a corner, looking like the epitome of misery. One of his teeth had fallen out. No matter how hard he tried to avoid their strikes, those punches would still somehownd on him, sending waves of agony through him. After half an hour, Raoul decided to give him a break. After all, Cedrick did say that Xander must not sustain any severe injuries and was not to be humiliated. The officers were clearly keeping a close eye on the cell, so the inmates had to keep their emotions in check. The rain of punches finally halted, but Xander no longer bore the image of a polite affluent young man. His snot, tears, and blood were mixed together, and he looked like a mess. Every part of his body was screaming in pain, and he could only quiver in his corner. He felt even more. `helpless than when he had been enduring the whip in the past. The terror of not knowing when the next beating was going to be overwhelmed him. The despair of not knowing when he was going to leave this ce wrapped itself around his heart. He hated Cedrick. He loathed him. He despised him! The more pain he felt, the more intense his hatred toward Cedrick became. If not for Cedrick¡¯s refusal to let him go, he would have been on the cargo ship departing Chanaea. His father had prepared a significant sum of money. He could have led afortable life after escaping overseas, but now, he was in a cell, wondering when his next beating would begin. He was resentful. While he was seething, someone abruptly kicked his back, and Xander hit his head on the wall in front of him. It hurt, but it did not make him bleed. Raoul was the one who kicked him. ¡°Get up. A loser like you doesn¡¯t deserve to sit by the wall with us. Go and sit by the toilet. Hurry up.¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Then, Raoul added another kick to urge Xander to move faster. Xander wiped the blood, tears, and snot from his face and silently limped toward the spot Raoul told him to go. There were over a dozen men in the cell, and it was already pungent. However, Xander realized the smell was much worse near the toilet. He covered his mouth and nose with his bloody hand, nearly vomiting from the intensity of the smell. His sounds of retching caught Raoul¡¯s attention. Annoyed, Raoul stormed over to him and beat him again. ¡°You¡¯re even more revolting than this toilet, so how can you be disgusted by it?¡± Raoul cursed at him as he continued hitting Xander. ¡°Even a b¡¯stard like me knows loyalty to the family elders. No matter what happens, you can¡¯ty a finger on your family. I can¡¯t believe you even dared hurt the grandfather who loves you most. You deserve to be beaten! It won¡¯t even be outrageous for you to die from this!¡± A while ago, an officer had stopped by and chatted with them for a while. He had told them why Xander was locked up, and upon hearing the reason, the men in the cell became even more infuriated with him. Raoul was the angriest. Though he was a part of the underworld, loyalty to friends and family mattered the most to him. Someone like Xander was nothing but a despicable rat to him. The beating continued, but Xander was close to his limit. He was slumped on the ground, his hands hugging his head as he curled into himself. His vision was going dark. At that, Raoul¡¯sckey swiftly stopped Raoul. ¡°Wagler, don¡¯t hit him anymore. If you keep this going to die. Let¡¯s make this slow and painful for him.¡± Raoul stopped and spat at Xander several times. Xander trembled. Despite his agony, he could not pass out. ck Sheep Get Beaten Up Every second of being in the cell was hell. He could not imagine what life would be like when Cedrick transferred him to a high-security prison Before heading home, Gwendolyn drove to Mount Tranquil. Even though Asher¡¯s bullet wound was not at a vital spot, he had only received it because of her. Regardless of everything, she had to visit him before he fully recovered. When she reached Asher¡¯s house, Sienna was in the middle of unwrapping his bandages. After knocking on the door, Gwendolyn took a seat on the small couch opposite the bed and watched as Sienna changed Asher¡¯s bandages. Gwendolyn pursed her lips and stayed silent while Sienna focused fully on her job. Asher was equally quiet, though he would cast her a nce or two every once in a while. Though the room was silent, it was afortable silence. It onlysted until Sienna took off Asher¡¯s bandage and cried out, ¡°What¡¯s with your wound, Hubby? Is there something wrong with the medication? Why isn¡¯t it healing** Gwendolyn¡¯s brows snapped together, and she hurried over to check his wound. Asher tried to hide his wound from her as he consoled her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s just a minor injury.¡± Gwendolyn grabbed his shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± It had been over a week, but the wound was still red and raw. In fact, it looked like it was developing an infection. Not only was it not healing, but it even looked worse than before Gwendolyn¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Why is this happening? Have you been changing your dressing and applying medication properly the past few days?¡± Chapter 604 Chapter 604 Chapter 604 You Better Be Prepared Asher avoided her gaze and lowered his head silently. Sienna exined, ¡°For the first few days, I assisted him in applying the medicine. However, he insisted on doing it himselfter, not wanting to trouble me. Today, I insisted on helping him again, and that¡¯s when I discovered his injury had worsened.¡± Gwendolyn immediately realized what had gone wrong. She narrowed her eyes and red at Asher. Asher continued to lower his gaze and avoided eye contact with her, disying a hint of guilt. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out what his attitude meant. ¡°Asher, did you deliberately not apply any medicine to your wound for the past few days?¡± Asher coughed lightly, his gaze wavering as he spoke. ¡°No. I did apply the medicine, but the wound is on my back. There¡¯s a possibility that I missed some areas, and somehow it got worse.¡± Gwendolyn refused to believe his lie and retorted, ¡°You refused Sienna¡¯s help in applying the medicine, yet you didn¡¯t properly apply it yourself or seek her assistance. What were you thinking neglecting your health so casually?¡± Asher nodded in obedience and expressed remorse. ¡°I apologize for causing you to worry. Gwendolyn was surprised to hear his apology. ¡°Oh? You apologized swiftly this time. That caught me by surprise.¡± She paused as thest part of his apology sank in. She sat up in displeasure and red at him. ¡°No one is worried about you. You should bear the consequences of your actions and not let Sienna worry about you.¡± Sienna burst out giggling, while Asher¡¯s lips curved in satisfaction. Gwendolyn looked away and returned to the couch. ¡°The wound is showing signs of inmmation, so it¡¯s important to keep a close eye on it and prevent any infection. I¡¯ll call Kieran and get him toe and take a look.¡± She tapped her phone screen, ready to make the call, but Asher quickly stopped her. ¡°The gunshot wound isn¡¯t that severe. I¡¯m used to wounds like this. Kieran is currently with his wife, so there¡¯s no need to bother him. I¡¯ll just take a couple of anti-inmmatory pills tonight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a week, and your wound hasn¡¯t shown any signs of improvement. I¡¯m concerned that it will leave a scar. Kieran needs to examine it to ensure proper healing and prevent scarring.¡± Asher was firm. ¡°I don¡¯t want to remove the scar. Let it remain so I can look at it anytime I want.¡± ¡°Is this scar supposed to serve as a constant reminder that you got hurt because of me? Are you expecting me to feel guilty and forgive you quickly? Is that your intention?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s tone turned cold. Sienna¡¯s expression stiffened when she noted the sharpness of Gwendolyn¡¯s words. Unable to handle the tension any longer, she quickly fabricated an excuse and hurried downstairs to make coffee for Gwendolyn. Both Asher and Gwendolyn were left alone in the room. ¡°Inflicting harm on yourself won¡¯t make me forgive you. Your actions only serve to fuel my anger. Torturing your own body is futile and serves no purpose,¡± Gwendolyn scolded Asher. Asher nodded obediently as his lips curved up. Clearly, he was satisfied by her reaction. Why would she get upset because I didn¡¯t apply the medicine properly? Why did she yell at me because I neglected my health? Does that mean she still cares about me and sees me as her elder brother? Since we were young. I¡¯ve always been sincere in teaching her and showing my adoration. She still cares about me, right? Asher was lost in his thoughts, but Gwendolyn¡¯s cold voice brought him back to reality. ¡°Why are you not saying anything? Do you feel guilty because I¡¯m right?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not about guilt. I want a scar, not to threaten you, but as a reminder of my commitment to protect you, my beloved sister. I want it to serve as a constant reminder that whenever you¡¯re in danger, I¡¯ll be there, ready to risk my life to keep you safe and make up for any guilt I feel.¡± Hearing that he was willing to risk his life to save her, Gwendolyn fell silent. That was what Asher had done back on the ind. Evelyn had fired the shot without hesitation, catching Gwendolyn off guard. In that split second, Asher¡¯s instincts kicked in, and he rushed toward her, positioning himself as a shield to take the bullet meant for her. For the past year, he has been kneeling down to read the scripture, getting whipped, and torturing himself. He even saved me now. Is that enough to make up for his sins? Complicated emotions swirled in Gwentlolyn¡¯s heart, and she said nothing for a long time. Asher broke the silence, attempting to win her over. ¡°Kiddo, Sienna has gone downstairs. Can you help me apply the medicine?¡± Gwendolyn snapped out of her reverie and went to Asher. Standing behind him, she opened the first- aid kit. Asher shed a satisfied grin as delight appeared in his gaze. He gently instructed Gwendolyn on the proper sequence of applying the medicine. ¡°Clean the wound with the alcohol first, then apply the anti- inmmatory and anti-infection ointment and wrap it up with the bandage.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and did as told. Asher kept turning around to look at her. He was pleased to see how serious she looked. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen Kiddo treat me with such tenderness. Gwendolyn was applying the ointment tenderly, seemingly afraid of hurting him. He was moved by her actions. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he quickly took a deep breath to tamp down his emotions. Gwendolyn-instantly sensed that and stopped applying the ointment. ¡°Was I too rough? Did I hurt you?¡± Asher¡¯s chest felt tight and heavy. Her voice is so gentle. I can¡¯t believe I broke her heart just for Evelyn and her mother. I was so stupid. Feeling overwhelmed with guilt, he couldn¡¯t find the words to express himself. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± As he remained silent, Gwendolyn got up. She stood in front of him and lifted his chin. She was taken aback by the sight of his teary eyes. Her fingers stiffened. ¡°Y-You..¡± As far as she could remember, Asher was the epitome of an elder brother figure. He was strong. indifferent, calm, and wasn¡¯t good at expressing his feelings. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. In all their years together, she had never witnessed him shed a single tear over anything. It turns out that a strong and determined man can cry after making a mistake. Feeling flustered and ashamed at his vulnerable side being exposed, Asher quickly shoved her hand away and looked elsewhere. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t cry. You didn¡¯t hurt me. It was that alcohol that caused me to cry.¡± Gwendolyn arched a brow in amusement and teased. ¡°Did I say you were crying? You¡¯re giving yourself away.¡± Asher¡¯s cheeks turned pink in embarrassment. I can¡¯t believe I nearly cried in front of Gwen. That¡¯s embarrassing! ¡°Y-You should continue applying the ointment. It¡¯s gettingte, and Cedrick will be picking you up soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sensing his embarrassment, Gwendolyn decided not to tease him further. She skillfully applied the ointment to his wound and wrapped it with a bandage. As she packed up the first-aid kit and prepared to head downstairs, Asher grabbed her wrist. His eyes were still teary, and he opened his mouth several times but struggled to find the right words. Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Why are you not talking? Did the alcohol burn your throat too?¡± Asher was speechless. He recollected himself and met her gaze solemnly. ¡°Kiddo, I.. He trailed off, failing to find the right words. If I continue to apologize, will she get annoyed and resent me even more? Will she see my disy of vulnerability as a pitiful act instead of a genuine expression of remorse? Asher was filled with fear, and he dared not take the risk. He knew how difficult it had been to change Gwendolyn¡¯s perception of him, and he dreaded the possibility of things taking a step backward. Gwendolyn allowed him to hold her wrist and reminded him softly, ¡°Just speak your mind.¡± Asher hung his head. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you join us for dinner before letting Cedrick drive you home?¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brow. ¡°You took so long to say that. Is that all you wanted to say?¡± Asher lowered his gaze and nodded silently. Gwendolyn was speechless. ¡°No, I won¡¯t join you for dinner. Cedrick should be arriving at Mount Tranquil soon. I¡¯ll be leaving after I return the first-aid kit to Sienna downstairs.¡± As she had made up her mind, Asher knew it was pointless to persuade her. ¡°All right, then. Be careful. Tell Cedrick to drive slowly.¡± ¡°I will. Make sure to take your anti-inmmatory medicine. If Ie back and your gunshot wound hasn¡¯t improved or has gotten worse, I¡¯ll be furious and I¡¯ll teach you a lesson as the head of the family. You better be prepared,¡± Gwendolyn warned. Chapter 605 Chapter 605 Chapter 605 Be Your Student She sounded stern, but Asher could feel the underlying concern in her words, and it warmed his heart. ¡°Okay, I promise I won¡¯t neglect it. By the time of your next visit, my wound may be starting to scab over.¡± Gwendolyn bobbed her head. ¡°I hope so.¡±¡± Holding the first-aid kit, she spun on her heels, strode out of the bedroom, and headed downstairs to return it to Sienna. After doing that, she received a text from Cedrick. Cedrick had driven up Mount Tranquil and was waiting outside Asher¡¯s vi. After bidding goodbye to Sienna, Gwendolyn walked out of the vi. She got into the car and headed back to Harrick Vi with Cedrick. Cedrick sensed her unhappiness as she seemed lost in thought with her head lowered. Unaware of the cause, he gently reached out and held her hand. ¡°Darling, a penny for your thoughts.¡± Gwendolyn snapped back to reality and held his hand tightly. ¡°It just urred to me that Asher had changed a lot recently.¡± Unlike his previous arrogant self, he had be sensitive, careful, and humbler. He even shed tears in front of her today. Cedrick¡¯s lips formed a soft smile as he kept stealing nces at Gwendolyn, who was sitting in the passenger seat. His gaze was gentle as he asked, ¡°Gwen, are you contemting whether or not to forgive him?¡± Gwendolyn said nothing. They had been together for a long time, so Cedrick knew her well and could guess what was bothering her. He decided to mediate the situation for them. ¡°Darling, you are well aware that the true culprit here is Evelyn. She had been acting behind Asher¡¯s back and exploiting his power for her own ends. While Asher may have made a mistake, his error lies in giving her such influence in the first ce.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze. She seemed unfazed but was actually listening to Cedrick¡¯s words seriously. Cedrick gave her a look and realized that she wasn¡¯t entirely resistant to the idea. He continued, ¡°You¡¯re upset and finding it hard to forgive him. That¡¯s because his actions have hurt you deeply. As someone who loves him, discovering that he sided with Evelyn feels like a betrayal, and forgiveness doesn¡¯te easily. However, Asher has been remorseful for his actions. He has punished himself, inflicted harm upon himself, and carried the weight of regret in an effort to seek your forgiveness over the past year. He may not be skilled with words, which is why he struggled to face you and express his guilt. But when he took that bullet for you on the ind, it was a powerful testament to his love for you. It showed that he chose you over Evelyn. I understand that he felt indebted to Evelyn¡¯s mother for saving his life, and he never Be Your Student anticipated that Evelyn would turn into the person she became. So-¡± Before he could finish, Gwendolyn retracted her hand, Cedrick was baffled as he could sense her displeasure. ¡°Darling?¡± Gwendolyn turned away and crossed her arms arrogantly. She said darkly, ¡°Mr. Jenson, you seem to understand the significance of someone who saved a life all too well. Remember, you insisted on divorcing me to marry Natasha, the one who saved your life.¡± Cedrick tensed up and held his breath. Hisplexion noticeably paled as he pulled the car over to the side of the road. With a pleading. expression, he turned toward Gwendolyn and said cautiously, ¡°Darling, we were discussing Asher, weren¡¯t we? Why did you suddenly bring up the past? Our baby is just a little over two months old and is still so young. You can¡¯t bring up past grievances and unsettle me¡­¡± His voice trailed off, and his eyes grew redder as he looked at Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn calmly responded, ¡°I have never been in a situation where someone saved my life, so I can¡¯t fullyprehend how you men perceive it. Your understanding of Asher¡¯s actions made me think about the past. Does that count as bringing up past grievances?¡± Cedrick immediately took responsibility for his mistake. ¡°I apologize for mentioning about life saviors and unintentionally reminding you of the unhappy past. It was my fault, and I¡¯m truly sorry. I¡¯m willing to kneel on Lego pieces all night if that¡¯s what it takes for you to feel better.¡± Listening to his aggrieved tone, Gwendolyn tried to hold back herughter but failed to do so. In the end, the edges of her lips curved up. Cedrick was sharp enough to notice the smile on her lips. Oh, she¡¯s not really angry. She wants to prank me as I keep defending Asher. His eyes sparkled as he inched nearer to nt a kiss on her cheek. ¡°I know you love me and wouldn¡¯t want to see me in pain.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn felt her stern facade cracking as she pushed Cedrick¡¯s head away. ¡°Enough of that. Let¡¯s hurry up. I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Cedrick swiftly gave her another kiss and beamed happily like a child. He started the engine and sped away. After dinner, theyy on the bed together. Cedrick was busy with work, while Gwendolyn was busy gaming with Jennifer. They looked serious. Half an hourter, Cedrick finished his work and wrapped his arms around Gwendolyn from behind. He nced at the game she was ying and dared not disturb her. After Gwendolyn won the game, Cedrick mustered up his courage and reached out to cover her phone screen, stopping her from continuing the game. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cedrick rested his chin on her shoulderzily. ¡°Darling, how much longer are you going to y this game? Won¡¯t you keep mepany tonight?¡± Gwendolyn shoved his hand away and tapped the button to continue the game. She replied carelessly. ¡°I¡¯m keeping youpany now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Cedrick nuzzled against her neck and deliberately blew on her sensitive earlobes. His voice was low and sexy as he drawled, ¡°Not this kind ofpany. You know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± Feeling itchy, Gwendolyn moved out of the way, her attention focused on the game. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree not to engage in any strenuous activities tonight and see if the rpse is connected to our nighttime activities? Have you forgotten about that?¡± Cedrick fell silent as he had indeed forgotten about this. After all, his lovely wife was lying right next to him, but he couldn¡¯t kiss her. No men could endure that. Gwendolyn was busy picking her hero for the next game and didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°So stop bothering me. Tonight, we can¡¯t do anything for the experiment¡¯s sake.¡±¡° Cedrick fell onto the bed, feeling dejected. Bored, he began scrolling on her phone while Gwendolyn yed her game and chatted with Jennifer gaily. The more Cedrick thought about it, the more upset he became. He quietly sent Treyton a few texts. Cedrick: Please keep your fianc¨¦e in check. She¡¯s interrupting Gwenny and my quality time! Treyton: ¡­ Cedrick attached an angry emoji and added: She took Gwenny away from me. Switch off her phone and tell her to go to bed. Over ten secondster, Treyton replied: I dare not do that. You can¡¯t offend a woman who¡¯s focused on increasing her rank. I don¡¯t want to end up in misery just like you tomorrow. This time, Cedrick was the one at a loss for words. His phone beeped again. Treyton: Don¡¯t me me silently for being useless. If you have the guts, tell Kiddo to stop dragging my fianc¨¦e into ying games. Fury burned within Cedrick¡¯s heart as his desire for victory grew stronger. Cedrick: What if I can do that? Treyton: I¡¯ll address you as Master for a year and be your student and learn how to discipline a wife. Cedrick chuckled aloud and replied: Just you wait. After their conversation came to an end, he ced his phone down and nced at Gwendolyn, who was still gaming. He then got to his feet and headed to the closet. He deliberately opened the closet loudly and pulled our the custom-made Lego pieces that had not been used for some time. Gwendolyn was focused on her game and didn¡¯t even bother looking at him. Her attention wasn¡¯t on him. Frustrated, he took a deep breath and brought the Lego pieces to the bed, cing them in front of Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn¡¯s attention was attracted by the sudden appearance of the foreign items. Baffled, she looked up and saw Cedrick looking miserable as he made to kneel on the Lego pieces. Confused by his actions, she stopped ying the game and stopped him. ¡°Did you drug your dinner for tonight? Have you gone nuts?¡± Chapter 606 Chapter 606 Chapter 606 Cured Of Mania Cedrick stared at Gwendolyn with resentment in his ebony eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I merely think that I need to do some self-reflection on why my wife is gaming with another woman after dinner while leaving me to sleep alone.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gwendolyn eyed him strangely. What does he mean by alone? Am I not right here? After giving careful consideration to her words, she chose to sweet-talk him. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree on not having any intense workout tonight? Can¡¯t I even game?¡± Cedrick cast a surreptitious nce at her phone screen and saw that her teammate had already sent her a question mark as she remained motionless behind a bush. ¡°I¡¯m not saying that we must have some intense workout. But¡­ gaming and keeping mepany are not mutually exclusive. Your gaming expert of a husband is right beside you, but you¡¯re gaming with Treyton¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Do you think that¡¯s appropriate, Gwenny?¡± When Gwendolyn heard the sound of a notification indicating that her in-game teammate had sent her a message, she perfunctorily murmured in response. Then, she lowered her eyes and continued gaming. Cedrick heaved a sigh. He shifted the Lego pieces to face her in the most conspicuous spot where she could see them from the corner of her eye and could not ignore them even if she wanted to. ¡°It¡¯s my problem that you¡¯re unwilling to keep mepany, In this case, I¡¯ll kneel on the Lego pieces for however long you game, Darling.¡± His voice was ever so mournful. ¡°No, don¡¯t do that!¡± Gwendolyn shot her hands out before he could drop to his knees, cing her palms on the edges of the Lego pieces and effectively stopping him from kneeling on them. In the face of the man¡¯s tantrum and his pitiful yet aggrieved gaze, she relented and coaxed, ¡°I won¡¯t start another game with Jennifer after finishing this round. You can game instead, and I¡¯ll y support for you. How about that?¡± Cedrick knew that it was the furthest he could push his luck since finishing a game that had already started was a fundamental principle in gaming. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you, Darling.¡± ¡°Quick, put them back into the wardrobe.¡± Gwendolyn pointed at the Lego pieces. ¡°Don¡¯t take them out to ckmail me anymore.¡± Having no desire for his knees to be bruised by the Lego pieces, Cedrick swiftly threw them back into the wardrobe. He sat behind her with his arms around her waist, watching quietly as she finished the game. As the in- game victory announcement rang out, Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers flew across the keyboard. She told Jennifer that she could not continue gaming with her and urged her to sleep earlier. Getting his wish, Cedrick logged in to the game and took Jennifer¡¯s ce. A few minutester, his phone dinged with a WhatsApp message notification. It was from Treyton. There was only a single word in the chat box, and it read: Master. Cedrick¡¯s lips curved into a devilish smirk. Evil to the core, he resolutely replied: Good boy. Disregarding the possibility that the man might blow a fuse after reading that message, he logged out of WhatsApp and focused on gaming with his wife before sleep. It was a wonderful night at Harrick Vi. On the contrary, it was exceedingly tormenting for Xander, who was in a detention cell at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Even when night fell, Raoul and the others refused to allow him a sip of the water an officer had delivered sometime in the day. Worse still, they disdained the strong metallic stench of blood on him and locked him in the toilet. Xander wished for nothing more than to pass out right then and there. If that happened, he would be sent to the medical room for treatment and at least have a breather. Unfortunately, none of the injuries on him hit vital organs. They were merely immensely painful yet not fatal. He remained as sober as ever and could only endure the waves of excruciating agony coursing through him. His expensive gold-rimmed sses had been snapped by Raoul. Suffering from acute short- sightedness, he grew even more fearful when he could not see clearly. The foul smell in the toilet was also assailing his sanity relentlessly, challenging his endurance toward it. Under such circumstances, he could not sleep at all. Even the act of breathing had pain rack his entire body. All he could do was curl up in a corner, keeping as far as possible a distance from the filthy and smelly toilet bowl. He mped his hands over his mouth and nose. Despite the physical pain, he dared not make a sound, afraid it would trigger another beating from Raoul. Never had he been so pathetic and wretched. Yet, he had then been picked on by Raoul and the others. Such aggravation swamped him that he was on the verge of tears. Suddenly, he regretted giving in to Paul¡¯s instigation and attempting to feed his grandfather food that would be fatal if eaten together while Cedrick was away on a business trip, capitalizing on the opportunity to usurp thetter¡¯s authority in the family. IT hadn¡¯t done that, Cedrick wouldn¡¯t have arrested me, would he? I would¡¯ve still been able to stay at home and enjoy life as a wealthy heir. No, that isn¡¯t right. He¡¯s no easy prey and would never have let me off the hook. Only by making the first move would Dad and I have the opportunity to turn the tables in the Jenson family and obtain the right to call the shots. In all this, the problem lies in why he returned so timely on the day Grandpa was meant to have an ident while I failed to seed sooner. There¡¯s no two ways about it-he must die! He trembled violently. His tender skin stretched taut, and every pore on his body screamed with In the next second, he turned into a ravenous wolf. He resolutely flipped over and pinned her under him, keeping her locked in his arms. ¡°Since you¡¯re unwilling to give me a kiss, I¡¯ll im it myself.¡± Pressing his thin lips against hers, he overwhelmed her with kisses. It was as though he wanted to stamp his mark all over her body domineeringly. Like a ferocious beast, he marked his territory, allowing no one else to invade it. He was overbearing and did not allow her to break free. The intense kiss made Gwendolyn¡¯s head spin. A sweet atmosphere lingered in the air, making her feel as though she was intoxicated. cing her hand against the man¡¯s forehead, she pushed him away. ¡°Stop messing around. I¡¯m being serious with you here.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick knew it was time for him to cease since he would only infuriate his wife if he were to persist. He obedientlyy down at the side. ¡°You indeed didn¡¯t have a manic episodest night, Gwenny. I held you in my arms and slept right through the night.¡± Following that confirmation, sheer delight washed over Gwendolyn. This is good news! ¡°Am I cured of mania now, Hubby? Then, we can pick Benny and Zendy up from Grandpa¡¯s ce with peace of mind.¡± Chapter 607 Chapter 607 Chapter 607 Gwendolyn Has Not Much Strength Cedrick pondered for a while before proposing, ¡°I¡¯ll first apany you to theb today and have Joshua perform a test and full-body examination. To be on the safe side, we need to have a look at the report.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and epted his arrangements. The two of them washed up together before leaving home. Soon, they arrived at theboratory. Joshua nervously took Gwendolyn¡¯s blood to be tested. After they waited for a little over half an hour, the report was finally ready. ¡°All the indicators are indeed more normalpared to before. But you¡¯ve yet to recover fully. You still have to pay close attention to your emotional state in the future. Try your best not to be overly worked up. Also, remember to guard against arrogance and impetuousness.¡± At that news, Cedrick unconsciously tightened his hold on Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. However, his many years of experience as the leader and person in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation reminded him that he had to remain calm. He forcibly suppressed his excitement and exchanged a smile with his wife. Joshua continued, ¡°Judging from your current recovery, you probably don¡¯t need any more IV infusions I¡¯ll prescribe you some oral meds to keep you calm. Take it with the current medication.¡± Gratification suffused him as he looked at the report in front of him. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be cured so quickly under Cedrick¡¯s care just after taking IV infusions for two months consecutively, Gwendolyn. This is great news! You¡¯re both blessed.¡± All smiles, Gwendolyn replied, ¡°It¡¯s thanks to you, too. You¡¯re the person who made this happen.¡± Joshua waved his hands profusely, not daring to ept the praise. ¡°This isn¡¯t my credit. The honor should belong to Cedrick instead. No matter the hour, he insisted on keeping youpany when you had your IV infusions. He willingly became your punching bag and an avenue for you to vent whenever you had a manic episode. If I were in his shoes, I would never be able to do all that.¡± At the mention of how she had gotten violent with Cedrick back then, Gwendolyn felt guilty deep within. She lowered her eyes and bobbed her head silently in agreement with the man¡¯s words. Cedrick perceptively noticed the change in her expression. He retorted s¨¦ly, ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never been in a rtionship. When you get married, you¡¯ll know how it feels to love someone. Besides, Gwenny hasn¡¯t much strength. Her blows don¡¯t hurt at all. Don¡¯t take me for such a weakling The corners of Joshua¡¯s mouth twitched. Back when he went on a business trip and entrusted Gwendolyn to me, I was the one who arranged for four strapping bodyguards from theb to fight her when she was in the grips of a manic episode. They all ended up ck and bruised, then came crying to me that they¡¯d never take such a job again. Yet, he¡¯s iming that she hasn¡¯t much strength and her blows don¡¯t hurt at all? Aware that his friend wasforting his wife, he did not expose him but yed along. ¡°Yes, yes, Gwendolyn hasn¡¯t much strength. She can¡¯t even unscrew the cap of a bottle, so even if she hit you while having a manic episode, it would only feel like scratches from a kitten.¡± s, that bout of ttery was a bit too much of an exaggeration. Both Gwendolyn¡¯s and Cedrick¡¯s faces darkened in concert. After talking to Joshua briefly, Cedrick left theboratory with one hand holding his wife¡¯s hand and a bag of medicine in the other. He drove Gwendolyn to Harris Group first. Before she alighted from the car, he instructed, ¡°Remember to take three tablets once for this box of light green pills, thrice a day. As for this bag of white pills, take six tablets twice a day. Also, don¡¯t forget this one¡­ Seemingly beyond worried about his wife leaving his line of sight, he reminded her about everything in all seriousness. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Gwendolyn was initially a touch impatient, but she could not bring herself to make it apparent when she noticed his somber expression. She listened to him docilely. ¡°Remember to take the meds with warm water. Don¡¯t just drink cold water. It isn¡¯t good for the stomach and would detract the efficacy by half. Have youmitted all that to memory?¡± Gwendolyn nodded fervently. ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry, Hubby, Joshua has written the dosage down, and I won¡¯t forget,¡± Leaning over to the driver¡¯s seat, she cradled Cedrick¡¯s face and gave him a smacking kiss on both sides of his cheeks and lips. Cedrick was still worried and wanted to follow her to Harris Group. Regretfully, his work at the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not allow him to do so, especially when he still had Yael and Xander to deal with. Left with no other recourse, he could only say reluctantly, ¡°Remember to take your meds. But it¡¯s okay even if you forget. I¡¯ll call to remind you at noon and supervise you through video.¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. ¡°That strict?¡± ¡°But of course! Your illnesses first, Darling. Back then, you supervised me taking my meds in such a way too.¡± Oh well, all right, then Gwendolyn pouted imperceptibly. Without further ado, she swung open the car door and entered the Harris Group building after waving goodbye to Cedrick. Cedrick did not drive his luxury car away for a long time. He first unlocked his phone and promptly set the time for her to take her medication during lunch break at noon. It was not until his wife¡¯s figure had disappearedpletely from below the Harris Group building and he could no longer see her did he floor the gas pedal and head toward the Federal Bureau of Investigation. By the time he arrived at his office door, Nico was already standing there meekly with a stack of documents in his hands, seemingly waiting for him. Cedrick quirked a brow. ¡°Why are you waiting outside today instead of going in?¡± Nico grinned at him. ¡°I can see the corridor when I stand here, so I get to greet you earlier, Cedrick.¡± ¡°How glib!¡± Despite the slight snub, Cedrick was not angry. Brushing past the man, he opened his office door. ¡°Come in, and we¡¯ll talk further.¡± Nico followed him into the room obediently and ced the pile of information he had obtained from his investigation on the table. Picking up the information, Cedrick ordered while scanning his eyes over the contents, ¡°Tell me your take and progress.¡± ¡°Because the incident happened over twenty years ago, it was terribly difficult to find the news records back then. I visited all the news agencies in the whole of Salinsburgh before I finally found the archives with a record of the car ident at that time.¡± A frown abruptly marred Cedrick¡¯s countenance. ¡°While the Jenson family wasn¡¯t the wealthiest family back then, it was still one of the most affluent families in Salinsburgh. As the eldest son of the Jenson family, my father was the likeliest person to inherit Grandpa¡¯s position. His death should have been a national sensation. How is it possible that it was only reported by a few news agencies?¡± Nico nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯m also very much suspicious about that. Back then, your parents were the heirs of Jenson Group and enjoyed great renown. It wasn¡¯t a minor issue when they both died in a car ident. Yet, I couldn¡¯t find any archives of the news report at that time from the major news agencies in the whole of Salinsburgh. The only few I found were from small news agencies.¡± After pausing for a moment, he continued solemnly, ¡°Also, Cedrick, take a close look at the news reports I clipped out. The description of the car ident was rather vague. It was only indicated that the driver who caused the ident was driving under the influence of alcohol and sped recklessly on the highway. He paid an astronomical sum inpensation after the car ident and was sentenced to death.¡± Sentenced to death? In a traffic case, the death penalty will only be imposed if the circumstances are exceedingly severe. In other words, that driver wasn¡¯t only driving under the influence of alcohol, but he might have also tried to flee. In fact, there could be some other unknown reasons, As Cedrick read the news report back then, his expression gradually darkened. It had been too many years since the car ident. Even a tiny piece of evidence would have been washed away over time. Other than the news reports, the culprit back then had been executed. There was no way of questioning him, so starting an investigation was practically impossible. Is there no other way of learning the truth apart from relenting to Yael¡¯s terms? His face was chilly and as ck as thunder. He pressed his lips into a thin line, plunging into silent contemtion. Seeing that he was obviously in a foul mood, Nico sighed and ventured, ¡°How about giving me a little more time, Cedrick? I¡¯ll arrange for more people to continue investigating this matter with me and see whether I can find any witnesses from over twenty years ago. I¡¯ll try my best to hunt for more leads.¡± Cedrick remained silent for some time. Considering the efficiency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the fact that Nico had only managed to obtain such superficial information after spending two whole days investigating the matter was evidence that its difficulty had surpassed their expectations due to the length of time that had passed. He propped a hand against his forehead, still reluctant to give up easily. ¡°Okay. Go ahead and continue investigating the matter. There¡¯s no rush to report back to me. Just look into it in detail without passing over anything you find even remotely suspicious.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Nico bowed. Then, he spun on his heel and left the man¡¯s office to get down to business. A few minutes after he left, Cedrick was still poring over the clippings of the news reports among the pile of information. For some inexplicable reason, a bold conjecture suddenly popped into his mind. Grandpa was a hero in the military back then, and everyone bowed low in deference at the sight of him. If he were the one who deliberately- Knock! Knock! The knock on the door broke his train of thought. Gathering all the information in his hands, he ced everything into the drawer. ¡°Come in.¡± It was an officer from the detention center. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Yael requested to see you. He said he¡¯d like to talk to you, iming he¡¯d tell you the truth about what you want to know this time. Chapter 608 Chapter 608 Chapter 608 Two Choices Cedrick narrowed his eyes as he pondered in silence. Looking up warily, the officer asked softly, ¡°Mr. Jenson, do you want us to bring Mr. Yael here, or do you want to see him alone in his cell?¡± Instead of answering that question, Cedrick said, ¡°Got it. You¡¯re dismissed.¡± The officer was stunned. Huh? Does he want to see Mr. Yael or not? Since he didn¡¯t answer me, I suppose he doesn¡¯t want to? ¡°All right. I¡¯ll be taking my leave, Mr Jenson.¡± Once the officer was gone, Cedrick turned his attention to the document Nico had brought him. It was a newspaper clipping from twenty years ago that had a ck-and-white picture of a car ident attached. A luxury sedan was crushed and ignited in mes. Given the mangled condition of the vehicle that was supposed to be built like a tank, one could imagine the gruesome fate of its upants. The news only mentioned the victim¡¯s car. What about the one driven by the perpetrator? Was it a lorry? A bus? Or an ordinary sedan? There¡¯s no way an ordinary car can deal such damage to Mom and Dad¡¯s luxury car. Could it be another luxury car that belongs to someone powerful in Chanaea? Nevertheless, everything was spection on his part, for he had no evidence to prove it. He decided to see Yael upon thetter¡¯s request. Yet he wanted to let Yael wait for an hour so that the latter wouldn¡¯t get carried away with thinking that he was at his mercy. At that moment, Yael was leaning against the prison bars of his cell as he waited for Cedrick¡¯s arrival. However, instead of Cedrick, the one who returned was the officer who helped convey his message. Stunned by the sight. Yael grabbed the officer¡¯s arm. ¡°Where¡¯s Cedrick?¡± ¡°He has no time and has a lot of work to do. He didn¡¯t say that he¡¯ll see you.¡± Yael¡¯s brows furrowed in disbelief. ¡°How could he note? Does he not want to know the truth?¡± The officer calmly pried his hand away. ¡°Mr. Jenson will investigate whatever he wants to know. No one else can tell him what to do.¡± Thereafter, the officer walked away from the corridor with his footsteps fading into the air. Yael slumped to the ground with his back against the wall as a solemn look emerged on his face. Did Cedrick manage to find a lead? Is that why he doesn¡¯t need to negotiate with me anymore? No sooner had the idea popped into his head than Yael ruled it out. He took a deep breath. Impossible. Dad would never reveal the secret, and there¡¯s no way Cedrick can investigate something from twenty years ago. He has no choice but toe to me. The thought helped Yael to calm himself down. He lit a cigarette and quietly waited for Cedrick¡¯s arrival. Without any evidence, it¡¯s just a matter of time before hees to see me. At that moment, both sides were ying mind games against the other. One hourter, the doors to the small cell swung open. Despite themotion, Yael didn¡¯t bother to look up, as he already knew who it was. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Cedrick. And here I was, thinking that you¡¯re no longer interested in your parent¡¯s death.¡± Cedrick appeared stern and intimidating in his green fatigues, With his hands in his pockets, he looked exceptionally distinguished. He exuded a frosty aura as he stepped into the cell in his military boots. An officer ced a chair about ten steps away from Yael. Cedrick¡¯s lips were tightly pursed. He sat down without saying a word. After the officer closed the cell door, he instructed all the other guards to move away from the cell so that no one would be able to eavesdrop on their conversation. Yael sat up straight. Cedrick¡¯s arrival had injected him with the confidence that he had the upper hand. He puffed a smoke circle in Cedrick¡¯s direction as if to provoke him. With an icy look on his face and a piercing gaze, Cedrick snapped, ¡°Stub out the cigarette.¡± ¡°Why? I¡¯m not locked in here because I¡¯vemitted a heinous crime. Do the rules say that I can¡¯t smoke?¡± ¡°My wife doesn¡¯t like the stench of cigarette smoke on me, so stub it out.¡± It was an order with no room for negotiation. Yael snorted inughter. ¡°Fine. Looks like you have a strict wife. I suppose we all have to bow down to authority one way or another.¡± After stubbing his cigarette out on the floor, he casually threw it aside. ¡°Satisfied now?¡± With an intimidating air, Cedrick looked down at Yael and got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯ve captured Xander.¡± Yael¡¯s expression drastically changed. ¡°What did you do to him? Did you send him to the high-security prison?¡± he asked in a loud voice. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°His fate is currently the same as yours. He¡¯s being locked up in a cell within the Federal Bureau of Investigation,¡± Cedrick replied in an emotionless tone. The lockup at the Federal Bureau of Investigation was usually reserved for suspects or to detain those who hadmitted minor crimes. Although the maximum duration of their detention was fourteen days, most were just imprisoned for seven- Cognizant of the fact, Yael heaved a sigh of relief. However, before he could fully rx, Cedrick continue, ¡°That said, Xander isn¡¯t as lucky as you are. He¡¯s being locked up with a group of gangsters from Salinsburgh who¡¯re in there mostly for robbery and rape. His situation is definitely lessfortable than yours.¡± ¡°Cedrick!¡± Yael seethed through his gritted teeth. ¡°If anything happens to Xander, you¡¯ll never know the truth about what happened to your parents. I¡¯ll take it to my grave! As for you, you¡¯ll be an unfilial son who chose to bungle the opportunity to investigate and seek justice for them.¡± Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as rage swelled within his eyes. Rubbing the watch on his left wrist, he kept his anger suppressed and said without showing any emotion, ¡°You should thank me for just locking him up and not doing anything to him. If you continue to hold the truth from me, I won¡¯t be able to guarantee his safety from those men. You will be the one who turned down the chance to tell the truth and caused Xander¡¯s death.¡± It was clear that Cedrick not only rejected the request to free Xander but also used him to threaten Yael. Yael ground his teeth, an insidious look shing across his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s devious of you, Cedrick.¡± With a slight curl of his lips, Cedrick scoffed, ¡°You seem to think that only you are allowed to dictate the terms, while when I do so, I end up being used of being devious. What¡¯s the point in talking when you keep shifting the goalposts?¡± Yael¡¯s anger raged within his heart. If looks could kill, he would have murdered Cedrick many times over. Nheless, having weathered hell and high water, Yael quickly regained hisposure. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that you¡¯ll harm Xander. You have promised Dad to spare him. Even if you were indirectly responsible for what happened to him, you still broke your promise.¡± From the nonchnt look in Cedrick¡¯s eyes, it was clear that he wasn¡¯t bothered by Yael¡¯s words. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about that? Once Xander is dead, I¡¯m the only grandson Grandpa has left. He might be angry with me, but it would only be temporary, for I¡¯m his very own grandson after all.¡± Yael was at a loss for words, Cedrick continued, ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m sure you know very well that I¡¯m investigating the matter too. The information Nico provided me has given me a lead. It¡¯s just a matter of time before I discover the truth. However, I¡¯m a busy man. Jenson Group, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and my family take up a lot of my time. That¡¯s why I¡¯d rather deal with this matter in a straightforward manner.¡± Yael maintained a darkened expression and refused to submit. Cedrick went on. ¡°You have two choices before you. Tell me the truth and I¡¯ll let Xander out of the lockup. He will be whipped thirty times and sent to a high-security prison for five years, consistent with what was previously agreed. That will then be the end of the matter. Otherwise, I¡¯ll allow him to be bullied by his cellmates. But don¡¯t you worry. If he ends up dying from the torture, I¡¯ll definitely find the culprit and punish him severely. Thereafter, I¡¯ll give Xander a glorious funeral and you the pleasure of watching your son die before you do.¡± Cedrick maintained an icy tone as the merciless words rolled off his tongue, As the decisive boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he wasn¡¯t going to tolerate anyone behaving cockily in front of him. ¡°Cedrick¡­ Jenson!¡± Yael uttered through gritted teeth. A smirk emerged across Cedrick¡¯s face as he got to his feet and straightened the cor of his uniform. He turned around and left without looking back. Before he was gone, he dropped an ultimatum. ¡°Uncle Yael, you have two days to consider. After all, that¡¯s probably how long Xander canst in his cell considering his constitution.¡± Chapter 609 Chapter 609 Chapter 609 Waiting Is Not A Problem He can onlyst two days? Yael¡¯s heart throbbed with pain. He could not imagine how his precious son was being tormented in another cell. ¡°Cedrick, he¡¯s your cousin and Dad¡¯s grandson for goodness¡¯ sake. You¡¯re a heartless b*stard!¡± As Cedrick emerged from the cell, he could still hear Yael¡¯s faint swearing from inside. With a grim look on his face, he continued walking along the corridor and pretended not to hear it. Instead of returning to his office, Cedrick walked to the other end of the corridor where Xander was locked up with a group of prisoners. Just as an officer took out the key to unlock the door, Cedrick stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not nning to go in.¡± He stood right outside and observed the condition inside through the cell bars. Raoul and the others were sitting by the wall, some asleep, while others resting. After scanning everyone in the cell, Cedrick-not wanting to startle the others-asked the officer softly, ¡°Where¡¯s Xander?¡± The officer took a quick look around. ¡°I remembered him being ostracized by the others and ordered to stay in the toilet at the back. Mr. Xander slept therest night. Xander had always prided himself as the elegant son of the Jenson family and was a clean freak. Yet now he had to sleep in a dirty toilet and did so without protest. He has been spoiled all this while by the family. There¡¯s no way he¡¯ll behave if he isn¡¯t taught a lesson. ¡°Mr. Jenson, would you like to have a cigarette?¡± The officer pulled out an expensive-looking cigarette case and offered it to Cedrick with both hands. Cedrick didn¡¯t bother to look, let alone show any intention of taking one. ¡°Send more men to keep an eye on this cell. Make sure no one is killed or seriously injured. I¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Jenson.¡± Kieran brought Inez to Salinsburgh a few days ago and took her everywhere in the city. They visited thergest horror theme park in Chanaca and experienced many terrifying games. The most thrilling ride of all was none other than its famous Ferris wheel. Inez finally felt reinvigorated after a fun-filled couple of days. Never before in her life had she dropped everything at work and had fun without any reservations. On that day, she and Kieran visited the most luxuriousmercial area in the city which Harris Group was located within. Since they were already in the neighborhood, it would be rude not to drop by Gwendolyn¡¯s office. After shopping till they dropped, the two of them visited Gwendolyn with their hands filled with bags. Gwendolyn, who happened to have finished a meeting and was taking a break in the CEO¡¯s office, was delighted to receive the engaged couple. ¡°You must be in a really good mood to have bought so many things, Kieran. You didn¡¯t make Inez pay for them, did you?¡± ¡°Do I look like a stingy man to you, Kiddo?¡± Kieran replied in a calm yet monotonous voice. Gwendolyn covered her mouth to hide herughter. ¡°I¡¯m just worried that your cluelessness would scare Inez away. Inez, too, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle along with her. ¡°Mr. Kieran insisted on paying for everything. When 1 offered to do so, he took my bag away and just refused to let me.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in approval and shed a thumbs-up at her brother. ¡°Well done, Kieran.¡± Thereafter, she went to the bookshelf to retrieve her equipment for making drip coffee. She wanted to make some for her two guests. Kieran quickly followed her and took the equipment from her hands. ¡°Let me do it. It¡¯s been a long time since you tasted the coffee I made.¡± Gwendolyn allowed him to take them from her without protest. While Kieran was quietly brewing coffee, Gwendolyn and Inez were chatting. ¡°Since it¡¯s such a rare opportunity for you to take a break, why don¡¯t you extend your stay and return to Faiketer?¡± Hearing that, Inez turned to look at Kieran, who had his head lowered and was engrossed in making coffee. He had heard Gwendolyn¡¯s question. However, it was clear from hisck of response that Inez had the final say. Retracting her gaze, Inez replied, ¡°Sure. I have never been so free of responsibilities and had so much fun before. Now, I n to continue our holiday for one more week before going back to Faike.¡± Gwendolyn expressed her support. ¡°That¡¯s a wonderful idea!¡± Inez took Gwendolyn¡¯s fair and slender hands and invited her with a smile, ¡°Why don¡¯t you and Mr. Jenson join us? I heard you haven¡¯t had the chance to hold your wedding yet. You shoulde along with us and make it a destination wedding. I¡¯m sure it would be fun with all of us around.¡± The matters with Evelyn had been resolved, and before that, there was the matter of Gwendolyn and her manic episodes, which had taken a heavy toll on Cedrick. During the business trip to Astoria the last time, they didn¡¯t even manage to enjoy themselves, All those reasons made Gwendolyn feel that she owed Cedrick a holiday. However, Cedrick was now busy dealing with Xander and investigating the car ident that led to his parents¡¯ death. He would unlikely be in the mood for a holiday. Gwendolyn came up with an excuse and said, ¡°Forget it. Thest thing Cedrick and I want to do is to be third wheels for you two lovebirds on holiday.¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Kieran persuaded her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. The more the merrier. We¡¯ll only be going out together during the day, while the evenings will be spent separately.¡± Inez couldn¡¯t help but blush slightly when she heard Kieran mention that they would have their own time in the evenings. ¡°That¡¯s right, Gwendolyn. It¡¯s more fun going on holiday together. I¡¯m sure Mr. Jenson will be willing to drop whatever he¡¯s doing to join you.. It isn¡¯t just about his work¡­. Despite her thoughts, Gwendolyn did feel excited about the idea. After pondering about it, she replied, ¡°I heard Cedrick mention that he¡¯s dealing with something sensitive at work recently, but I¡¯ll ask him about it when I¡¯m home. If both of you can¡¯t wait, then go ahead without us. You should just enjoy yourselves however you want to.¡± Inez and Kieran exchanged nces. Inez replied, ¡°We¡¯re not in a hurry. We¡¯ve overexerted ourselves over thest few days and need a break. Anyway, waiting isn¡¯t a problem. It¡¯s so much more fun going on a holiday together.¡± Thereafter, both parties continued with their idle chatter. Making sure that they weren¡¯t imposing on Gwendolyn. Kieran and Inez left after finishing their coffee. Sitting in her office chair, Gwendolyn suddenly thought of the car ident Cedrick¡¯s parents were involved in. Over thest few days, she could clearly sense how unsettled he was by it. In fact, he didn¡¯t sleep well from deliberating on the matter at night. It would be great if I can somehow help him with it. After mulling over the matter quietly, Gwendolyn decided to give Shadow Bell a call. ¡°There¡¯s something I want you to investigate¡­ And find out what Yael and his family were doing on the day of the ident.¡± Listening at the other end of the line, Yulia-currently in Faike-replied awkwardly, ¡°Boss, the incident happened twenty years ago. All the evidence would have disappeared by now. Besides, it isn¡¯t easy to track the movements of the Jensons.¡± After a brief silence, Gwendolyn still insisted on trying. Just focus on Yael and his family¡¯s movements. I want to know what they were doing that day. Get it done as fast as possible.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Upon ending the call, Gwendolyn fell into deep thought. Yael has used the matter as coteral to force Cedrick into releasing Xander. I wonder how much Grandpa knows about it. Evidently, not many people know the truth of what happened. Given that Yael does, is he somehow connected to it? Gwendolyn turned on her phone and gave Triss a call to arrange a meeting with David. Only by observing David¡¯s reaction to the incident could she discern Yael¡¯s role in it. Chapter 610 Chapter 610 Chapter 610 Torture Triss quickly answered the call. Gwendolyn exchanged pleasantries with her for a while, then quickly cut to the chase. ¡°Triss, what has Uncle David been busy with recently? I wish to meet with him. Is he avable?¡± Triss was puzzled. ¡°Why do you want to meet with my dad all of a sudden, Gwendolyn? He¡¯s not in Salinsburgh. He went on a business trip, and I don¡¯t know when he¡¯ll be back. Perhaps in a week or so.¡± ¡°Business trip?¡± Gwendolyn knitted her brows and pondered briefly. ¡°When did he leave?¡± ¡°I think he left the night before yesterday.¡± Gwendolyn chatted with Triss absentmindedly for a bit before hanging up the call. He left two days ago? That seems to be when Yael confronted Cedrick because of Xander¡¯s matters. Cedrick questioned Grandpa that night but was angrily chased away by him. What a coincidence! Was it a mere coincidence that he left Salinsburgh right after that incident that night, or did he know something and decide to flee? David is not in Salinsburgh, Grandpa refuses to divulge any information, and Logan doesn¡¯t seem to know a thing. Meanwhile, Yael continues to tangle with Cedrick. It looks like there isn¡¯t any other way. We can only wait for Shadow Bell¡¯s investigation to make progress and see if we can find some traces from the evidence and material that can help Cedrick The next day, inside the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s detention center, Xander was almost going insane. It had only been two days, but it felt like years to him. Every minute and second was torture. He had gotten used to the stench of the toilet, which initially disgusted him. He even found it not as smelly as before. Raoul and his group didn¡¯t treat him like a human being but only as a tool for venting. They would go over and beat him if they suddenly felt annoyed. If the food they had weren¡¯t delicious, they would give Xander a beating. Even when their backs were sore from sleeping as they leaned against the wall, they vented their anger on Xander. No matter what he said or did, as long as he was in that cell, his presence alone displeased them. Any reason that might dissatisfy Raoul and his group could be a reason for Xander to get beaten up. His once expensive gold-rimmed sses were nowpletely distorted andcked their original luster and luxury. Xander was crouching in the corner of the toilet, holding his twisted gold-rimmed sses. His high degree of myopia kept him on edge, forcing him to prick up his ears and listen intently to the noise outside. He always kept his guard up to sense if Raoul was going to find an excuse to hit him again. His dignity hadpletely dissipated after he got severely beaten for two whole days. Once Raoul started hitting him, Xander would immediately beg for mercy and apologize. He was even willing to grovel on the floor, so long as Raoul would stop. Being detained in the detention center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation had already let him experience a hellish life worse than death. He couldn¡¯t even imagine what it would be like to survive in the high-security prison. As he pondered that matter, the sound of the door being unlocked came from outside the cell. The crisp sounds of iron locks and doors striking were particrly jarring in the hushed cell. Xander immediately shuddered, hugged his knees, and lowered his head. He didn¡¯t know if the prison guard was sending their meals or water, but whenever that happened, Raoul would definitely get irritated and vent his anger on Xander. Xander was so scared that he trembled all over. He clenched his teeth and gulped the metallic taste of blood in his oral cavity. The sound of military boots striking the concrete floor echoed as the neer approached with each steady step. Just by listening to the reverberation, Xander could feel the neer¡¯s mighty and oppressive aura. Xander¡¯s eyesight was too poor. Unless the things were ced very close to his eyes, everything appeared blurred to him. However, he didn¡¯t even dare to look up as he tensely and quietly listened to the sound of the boots getting closer and closer. The next second, someone touched his arm, trying to pull him up forcibly. Xander panicked and shouted desperately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. Don¡¯t hit me, please! I can bark like a dog. Woof, woof, woof!¡± ¡°Xander, look at me.¡± A man¡¯s familiar voice sounded. Xander was taken aback. He repeated hoarsely, ¡°Don¡¯t hit me. I know it¡¯s my fault. I really didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t bother to argue with him and simply ordered, ¡°Take him away.¡± Two police officers grabbed Xander¡¯s arms and dragged him out of the cell. Xander had no chance to resist. He had been starving in the cell for two days, not given even a sip of water to drink, and tormented by Raoul to the point of being disoriented. Cedrick ordered his men to drag Xander out of the cell and throw him in the corridor. ¡°Don¡¯t hit me. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Xander continued muttering the same two sentences, clutching his head with blood-stained hands and shivering. Expressionlessly, Cedrick instructed his subordinates to bind Xander¡¯s wrists, forbidding him from covering his head. Then, he bent down slightly. Wearing a pair of expensive ck leather gloves, Cedrick picked up a pair of sses and personally ced them on Xander¡¯s face before grasping his chin, forcing him to raise his head. ¡°Xander, take a good look at me. Who am I?¡± With the aid of the spectacles, Xander nced up with all seriousness and saw Cedrick¡¯s menacing facial expression. ¡°C-Cedrick! I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve really learned my lesson. I won¡¯t repeat this mistake anymore. Please let me go. I¡¯ll get tormented to death if I stay here any longer. Those b*stards want to kill me!¡± Cedrick loosened his grip on Xander¡¯s chin. ¡°You should thank me. If it weren¡¯t for me, not only would. you be beaten, you¡¯d also be humiliated, bing the most disgraceful descendant of the Jenson family.¡±¡° Xander¡¯s only thought was to escape that ce. No matter what Cedrick said, he wouldpliantly nod in agreement and apologize fervently. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, Cedrick. I deserve this punishment. You protected me, preventing me from being humiliated. I¡¯m very grateful for your help. I¡¯ll never oppose you anymore. I¡¯ll leave Salinsburgh and resume working at the subsidiarypany in the small county. I won¡¯te back except for Christmas. I won¡¯t get in your way anymore. I just ask you to spare me this time and not send me to the high-security prison. He had never pleaded with Cedrick in that manner before. After being locked up for two days, having to grovel and cry for mercy, Xander seemed to have genuinely learned his lesson following the torturous experience. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick gazed at Xander, indifferently taking in his subservience and desperation with his dark, emotionless eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t save you from the trouble you¡¯ve caused this time. What happens next will have to depend on your performance.¡± Xander sensed a glimmer of hope in his cousin¡¯s words. ¡°All right, Cedrick. I¡¯ll do whatever you ask.¡± Cedrick scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡± With that, he signaled the police officers with his eyes, and they promptly stepped forward to lift Xander up again. Xander had been beaten badly. Every part of his body ached terribly. However, as long as Cedrick was inclined to let him leave that ce, he would grit his teeth and endure the pain no matter how unbearable it was. His vision turned blurred again after the sses were removed. Xander could only let himself be carried away in that state of extreme insecurity. They didn¡¯t walk for long, just the distance from one cell to another nearby. When Xander heard the sound of the lock opening, he recoiled in resistance and despair. He thought Cedrick was going to transfer him from one hellhole to another, so he shrieked in distress, ¡°I won¡¯t go in! I won¡¯t! I don¡¯t want to!¡± The officers dragged him inward by force and tossed him on the ground. All his wounds throbbed from the fall, causing him to yelp in anguish. The next second, he sensed someone rushing forward to hug him. ¡°Xander! How did you get hurt like this? Did he have his men torture you?¡± Xander frantically avoided the embrace. The relentless beatings from the past few days had made him lose his rationality. He didn¡¯t recognize the familiar voice. He instinctively covered his head, curled up on the floor, and begged for mercy, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Don¡¯t hit me. I was wrong¡­¡± Heart-wrenching pain filled Yael¡¯s chest as he watched his son behave in that state of near madness. His precious son had been prideful for many years. Yet, after Cedrick detained him for two days in the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s detention center, he was tormented into that wretched state, not recognizing even his own father. Yael looked up furiously and glowered at Cedrick, who was leaning against the doorframe. ¡°How could you do this? What exactly have you done to him?¡± Cedrick leaned against the side of the door casually. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect his mental resilience to be weaker than I imagined. Uncle Yael, you¡¯ve pampered him far too well all these years. He had never experienced any danger, so he couldn¡¯t bear this suffering. Think carefully about what I told you yesterday, Uncle Yael. I hope you can take the initiative to contact the police by today ande clean to me. Otherwise, at ten o¡¯clock at night, I¡¯ll have my men send Xander back to the cell he stayed in previously.¡± Xander, who was in the middle of a mental breakdown, seemed to have understood what Cedrick meant. He shook his head frantically. ¡°I don¡¯t want to! I won¡¯t go back! I won¡¯t go back there ever again! That¡¯s a living hell! I¡¯ll die in there!¡± Chapter 611 Chapter 611 Chapter 611 Safe And Luxurious Watching his son lose control of his emotions to this extent and being unable to help in any way while facing the imposing Cedrick at the door, Yael felt utterly powerless. He hugged Xander heartbrokenly and red at Cedrick. Cedrickzily took off the leather gloves that had just touched Xander and tossed them to the police officer. As he was about to leave, he left one final remark. ¡°This is yourst chance. If I don¡¯t get the answer I want before ten o¡¯clock tonight, then I might as well go down with you in this matter. However, I¡¯m not losing anything. I never knew the truth behind my parents¡¯ death in the first ce, and I will continue to be unaware of it in the future. I have nothing to lose. It¡¯s not the same for you, though. You have to bear the loss of your only precious son. When ites to this, I believe you are better at calcting than I am.¡± He smirked and snorted before turning around to leave, allowing the father and son duo to have their moments. In the prison cell. Yael took nearly half an hour to calm Xander down and make him listen quietly to what he had to say. ¡°What exactly did Cedrick do to you in the past two days? How did you get arrested again?¡± Looking at Xander¡¯s injuries all over his body, Yael spoke in a softer tone. Xander sobbed, ¡°Dad, before I could board the freighter. Neville captured me at the dock. I couldn¡¯t outrun him, and when I tried to jump into the water, I was quickly pulled back to shore again. They immediately handcuffed me and forced me into a car, taking me to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± He swallowed a lump in his throat and recalled everything he had experienced in that prison cell. His whole body trembled uncontrobly. He was overwhelmed by fear. ¡°Dad, the people in my previous prison cell are all se mbags. They even tried to assault me, and they would beat the crap out of me every few hours. They said the smell of blood on me was unbearable and forced me to sleep in a filthy toilet. It¡¯s really driving me crazy! Dad, save me! I really don¡¯t wanna go back in anymore! They will beat me to death for sure! Please, Dad!¡± Yael patted his back and keptforting him. ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to be sent back again. I will save you and make sure you live a safe and luxurious life again.¡± Safe and luxurious? When Xander heard what his father said, it felt like heaven to him. The things that Xander used to look down on were now a luxury to him He was filled with hatred. He hated his grandfather for being so biased toward Cedrick and not willing to pass on the position of power to Yael. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be in this situation. He would have already crushed Cedrick under his feet, and there wouldn¡¯t be so much trouble now. ¡°Dad, tell Cedrick everything he wants to know. I¡¯ll be happy as long as I can make him suffer. All the suffering I endured in that prison cell was because of him! I want him to never have a moment of peace in his entire life!¡± Yael¡¯s grip on his arm tightened slightly, and there was a moment of silence before he spoke. ¡°You don¡¯t understand¡­ The truth is not something trivial. Once Cedrick finds out, he won¡¯t spare anyone.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he had to save Xander and did not want to see his son get sent to jail, he would rather bring this secret down to his own grave. However, he didn¡¯t expect Cedrick to be so cunning, Cedrick didn¡¯t even give him any conditions and just threatened him instead. Resentment filled Xander¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°I just want to know if Cedrick will be upset once he finds out the truth. I want him to be in denial. I¡¯ll be happy as long as he¡¯s not.¡± Yael once again remained silent, not saying a single word for a long while. Xander was exhausted. After being on tenterhooks and taking many beatings for two days and nights without any sleep or food, he could barely hold on much longer. Now, in his father¡¯s embrace, he slept soundly like a baby. Yael hugged his son tightly and felt extremely helpless. A sinister look surfaced in his eyes, and he gradually developed a ruthless determination for mutual destruction. Although there were two people in the prison cell, the guards only sent one meal over under the instructions that were given to them. Yael didn¡¯t eat any and left it all for Xander. As he devoured his food, devoid of the aristocratic demeanor he once possessed. Yael couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart ache. He gently stroked Xander¡¯s disheveled hair, which was also a sign of the hardships he had endured. ¡°Slow down. Don¡¯t choke yourself. Nobody is going to snatch this away from you.¡± Xander nodded but still ate quickly. He had been starved for two days, and he had never expected prison food to be nicer than his previous luxurious meals. He was really on the brink of going crazy. The memories of these two days would traumatize him for sure. Yael thought about how to make Cedrick let Xander go before ten o¡¯clock. Only by then could he talk to Cedrick without any worries. When the guards came over to send water, Yael didn¡¯t drink any and also left all for Xander. Xander did not bother much in front of his own father. He was extremely thirsty and hungry and on the verge of copse. It was nothing for Yael to go without eating or drinking for just one day. In the afternoon, Cedrick was handling his work in his office. He wasn¡¯t in a rush since he had a lot of time to deal with Yael and Xander. However, he did not expect the officer who knocked on his door to report something other than Yael¡¯s matter. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Logan from the Jenson family is here. He said that Old Mr. Jenson couldn¡¯t get through to you, so he sent him over personally to see you.¡± Cedrick raised his gaze. He sent Logan over personally at this juncture? ¡°Did Logan say why Grandpa asked him toe?¡± The officer shook his head as he didn¡¯t know anything. ¡°But judging from Logan¡¯s face, it seems like it¡¯s not some trivial matter.¡±¡° Cedrick looked at his wristwatch. It was already four o¡¯clock now. There were still six hours left until the agreed-upon time with Yael. ¡°Okay, bring Logan to my office.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± The officer left and brought Logan in after a few minutes. Cedrick got up and personally poured a ss of water for him, cing it on the small tea table, He then gestured toward the couch on the side and said, ¡°This is the first time you visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation to see me. It¡¯s a long journey, and you must be tired. Please have a seat.¡± Although he sounded polite, his face was gloomy, and his tone was definitely not kind as well. Logan smiled slightly. ¡°Old Mr. Jenson had his driver send me here. Although it is indeed quite far, I didn¡¯t- really walk a lot so I¡¯m fine. You must be tired instead. Logan sat opposite Cedrick and spoke in a polite and formal manner. Cedrick rubbed the patterns on his wristwatch with his fingers and asked in a low voice, ¡°Why did Grandpa specifically ask you toe here?¡± Logan was just about to take a sip of water when he heard Cedrick¡¯s question. He put the ss down and said, ¡°Well, it¡¯s-¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If it¡¯s about Xander and Yael, then save your breath,¡± Cedrick cut him off. Logan¡¯s face stiffened slightly and he didn¡¯t know what to say. Cedrick knew from Logan¡¯s look that he was here for that two useless people. Cedrick¡¯s tone was cold as he continued, ¡°Grandpa has retired and no longer oversees military matters. The mistakes made by Yael and Xander are now under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It should be handled officially and impartially without any personal or family involvement. Please go back and inform Grandpa not to intervene in this matter anymore.¡± Logan sighed. ¡°Mr. Jenson, I know you are upset by the fact that Mr. Xander tried to harm Old Mr. Jenson. But since he isn¡¯t bothered by it, why are you so stubborn on this matter?¡± ¡°This is a matter of principals and morals.¡± Cedrick sounded very firm. Logan said persuasively, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson only has you and Mr. Xander as his grandsons: His support for you in attaining power has already caused dissatisfaction from Mr. Yael and his son. Therefore, he feels guilty and he cannot simply watch one grandson thrive in his career and love life while the other grandson is left in dire circumstances, not being able le cas escape from hardships¡± Cedrick frowned slightly and pursed his fis Logm added. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Old Mr. Jenson say really want to punish Me Kamera whit then thirtyshes are enough. Don¡¯t send him to a high crity pris since he is your in Thes need to make him suffer ¡°If Grandpa is willing to tell me the truth about my parents car ident. I will consider whether or not sin spare Yael and his son Cedrick replied Chapter 612 Chapter 612 Chapter 612 Showing Off Logan was stunned, his eyes slightly filled with fear. But he quickly regained hisposure and said, ¡°Mr. Jenson, there is no other truth to this matter. Do you think Old Mr. Jenson, who once ran the military world, would lie to you?¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze and didn¡¯t reply. However, his icy expression was a clear disy of his skeptical attitude toward this matter. ¡°Mr. Jenson¡­¡± ¡°You should go back, Logan. Tell Grandpa exactly what I said. He knows the answer I¡¯m seeking for.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson,¡± Logan repeated. Cedrick simply got up and went back to his desk, then sat down quietly and began to work, acting as if Logan didn¡¯t exist. It was obvious that Logan wasn¡¯t wee there anymore, and it would be humiliating for him to stay any longer. He had no choice but to let out a long sigh and say, ¡°I will convey your message to Old Mr. Jenson, and I might visit again today.¡± Cedrick immediately frowned upon hearing that. He caught the keyword in Logan¡¯s statement, and his gaze became solemn as he watched Logan leave. Before ten o¡¯clock at night, a confession must be forced out of Yael. This is the deadline I¡¯ve given him. Otherwise, Xander will be sent back to the previous cell And it seems that Grandpa wants Logan to understand the full story today since he¡¯s sending him back and forth. He seems to know about every move I make in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Are his former subordinates and confidants spying on me? Cedrick fell into deep thoughts because of one simple sentence. All sorts of factors and causes began to disturb him in his mind, frustrating him. Ding! Suddenly, a short ringtone sounded. It was the sound of a WhatsApp message notification. After giving his phone a casual nce and noticing the sender¡¯s name, ¡°Darling Wife,¡± he instantly picked up the phone and checked his WhatsApp. Gwendolyn texted: How¡¯s progress at the bureau? Do you want to have dinner together tonight? Cedrick stared at the text message for a long while and thought about the things he had to do by that night. Given Yael¡¯s temperament, I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯tpromise easily before the final moment. Cedrick had no choice but to reject his beloved wife for once. He replied: I can¡¯t make it tonight. I¡¯m working overtime. I¡¯ll make it up to you next time, Darling. Gwendolyn: You¡¯re working overtime? Until what time? Cedrick: I¡¯ll be done before twelve o¡¯clock. Gwendolyn: Are you nning to have a packed meal at the bureau? Cedrick: Yeah¡­ After sending the message bitterly, Cedrick didn¡¯t receive a reply for a long time. Instantly, his heart sank even lower. Gwenny is used to the meals I cook. She must be unhappy as I can¡¯t go home and cook for her tonight. He sighed, feeling more determined to seek the truth of the matter. I won¡¯t rest until I get the answer today. An hour and a halfter, at six o¡¯clock in the evening, someone knocked on the door. An officer from the detention center entered Cedrick¡¯s office. ¡°Speak.¡± Cedrick was in a bad mood, so his low voice wasced with a hint of fury. The officer was momentarily stunned. He quickly answered, ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Yael didn¡¯t eat or drink any of the food and water we delivered to him. He gave it all to Mr. Xander.¡± Cedrick was not surprised. ¡°He only has one son. Of course he¡¯ll spoil him.¡± ¡°Other than that, they are putting on a show by hugging each other and acting like a pair of affectionate father and son. It seems that Mr. Yael doesn¡¯t n to confess the truth.¡± Cedrick¡¯s face darkened. He continued writing as he said, ¡°Got it. Keep listening to them.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± As soon as the police officer left, the temperature in the office dropped by a few degrees. Cedrick looked cold and terrifying, and he was writing faster and faster. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. In his mind, the scene of Logan¡¯s visit kept reying. How many spies did Grandpa arrange by my side? Or did he keep some contacts he knew from the military? Xander is merely suffering some minor external injuries; there are no major injuries done to him at all. Yet, Grandpa wants to save Xander so urgently. Is Grandpa actually involved or not involved in the car ident back then? Suddenly, a cracking sound echoed in the office. He had exerted so much force on the pen that the tip curved and broke. ck ink overflowed from the tip of the pen and dirtied the document he had justpleted writing. It was merely a drop of ink, but it had caused an entire paper to be unusable.. Cedrick took a deep breath and suppressed the annoyance within him, forcing himself to calm down. Without any hesitation, he threw away the pen that had already be useless. Then, he crumpled the paper that had been dirtied by the ink and tossed it into the bin as well. He opened the drawer and picked a new expensive pen and dipped it in the bottle of ink. After recollecting himself, he started writing again. Cedrick forced himself to focus, causing him not to notice someone twisting the doorknob quietly to enter the office. It wasn¡¯t until he heard someone cing down a mug that he suddenly regained his senses and nced at the item, which had just been ced on the desk. It was a cup of freshly brewed coffee. With a frown, Cedrick said in an extremely cold voice, ¡°Who allowed you to deliver coffee to my office without knocking or informing me?¡± As he scolded the person who entered the office, he raised his head and met a pair of bright and familiar eyes. The woman stared at Cedrick with a half-smile, and the smile on her face disappeared when she heard thest sentence. ¡°Oh? So I also have to behave like your subordinates when I want to get you a cup of coffee personally, huh, Mr. Jenson?¡± Uh¡­ Cedrick froze, and he immediately retracted the hostility in his eyes, his voice bing gentle once again as he asked, ¡°Darling, what are you doing here?¡± Gwendolyn pouted unhappily. ¡°Mr. Jenson, you¡¯re working overtime untilte at night. Can I not visit you even as your wife?¡± ¡°Of course you can. You can alwayse over and check on me, Gwenny.¡± Cedrick reached out to her. wanting to pull her into his embrace. She reached out as well but didn¡¯t hold his hand. Instead, she pped his palm lightly as a way to release the anger of being scolded just now. ¡°Seeing that you have to eat packed food alone in the office, I¡¯m here to apany you.¡± Taking the opportunity of Gwendolyn withdrawing her hand, Cedrick hurriedly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, then nuzzled the tip of her nose affectionately. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Darling.¡± His heart was filled with warmth. The gloominess caused by Yael, Xander, and the truth of the car ident back then had vanished instantly. Gwendolyn leaned into his arms and lowered her gaze, ncing at the documents he was working on. A little worried, she reached out and smoothened his furrowed brows. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for someone as skilled as you not to notice when I enter your office. Besides, you don¡¯t look so good. What¡¯s troubling you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still about Xander, of course.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t hide anything from his wife and told her everything. Although he didn¡¯t want Gwendolyn to worry as well, she might think that he didn¡¯t trust her if he didn¡¯t tell her. It would be better for him to exin the situation truthfully to prevent any unnecessary arguments. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned solemn after she listened to him. ¡°So, what do you n to do now?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll wait,¡± Cedrick replied after kissing her on the lips. ¡°Wait?¡± Cedrick responded with a nod, then caressed Gwendolyn¡¯s t stomach. ¡°Are you hungry, Darling? I¡¯ll ask the chef in the cafeteria to cook a more delicious dinner.¡± ¡°No need for the trouble. I¡¯m here mainly to apany you. What we eat isn¡¯t important.¡± The two held hands and went to have dinner at the cafeteria. The police officers were dumbfounded. Mr. Jenson didn¡¯t order someone to deliver his meal to his office but brought Mrs. Jenson to the cafeteria personally instead. They¡¯re even holding hands and being so close. The crowd watched the two lovebirds enviously. Are they showing off their rtionship on purpose? Chapter 613 Chapter 613 Chapter 613 Embarrassed ¡°Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Jenson,¡± greeted the police officers who passed by Cedrick and Gwendolyn politely. Their gazes were all filled with envy. Gwendolyn responded with a warm smile. That left a gentle and friendly impression on everyone. Even though Gwendolyn tried to y it cool, she thought Cedrick¡¯s choice was a little bizarre. She had presumed they would be eating packed meals in Cedrick¡¯s office privately. Little did she expect Cedrick to drag her to the cafeteria instead. Gwendolyn was initially a little apprehensive about making such a high-profile appearance in the cafeteria of the bureau. Even though she was unsure what was going through the man¡¯s mind, she respected his decision after seeing how firm he was. Cedrick grabbed a tray and took two sets of packed meals that came with a good mix of meat and vegetables. Along his way, he called the leader of Team Nine, Jasper, who was collecting his meal, over. He whispered something into his ear before returning to the table where Gwendolyn was seated at Despite maintaining a calm expression, the man kept observing the police officers, who were having lunch, from the corner of his eye. The food at the cafeteria was light and simple. It was nowhereparable to Cedrick¡¯s cooking. Then again, Gwendolyn figured she could make do with that since she had the chance to eat with Cedrick instead of eating alone back at the vi. After she reluctantly finished half the food on her te, the couple left the cafeteria hand in hand. Before leaving. Gwendolyn vaguely heard some police officers discreetly talking about her and Cedrick. Of course, they were mainly praises andpliments of the two. ¡°Hubby.¡± She tilted her head to the side, only to notice Cedrick staring dead ahead. A cold and solemn expression clouded his face, and it seemed that he was in a daze, lost in his thought. Gwendolyn stood on tiptoes to lean closer to Cedrick¡¯s ear and called out to him again. ¡°Hubby?¡± Only then did the man snap back to his senses and turn to look at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I should be the one asking that.¡± Cedrick was, in truth, thinking about how Valentino knew about his every move in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I¡¯ve tested the waters earlier. I believe I¡¯ll get an answer in no time. But how long has Grandpa been spying on me? Was he forced to utilize his connection this time because of Xander and Yael? Or did he nt a spy to watch me all along? It¡¯s no big deal if it¡¯s the former. But if it¡¯s thetter, that¡¯ll spell a big problem. Deep down, he wished it was the former. After all, he only had Valentino by his side as far as his memory served. Grandpa is very strict with me, but I know he loves me very much. Hopefully, there won¡¯t be anything that¡¯ll ruin our kinship. ¡°Hubby?¡± Cedrick was lost in his thoughts again and only snapped out of it after Gwendolyn¡¯s voice rang out. He was deeply apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Darling. I-¡± Gwendolyn lightly pressed her index finger on his thin lips, cutting him off. ¡°It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s no need to exin. I know what you¡¯re worrying about.¡± The sense of trust in those words was so strong it made Cedrick feel much more secure than any sweet-nothings. other He scanned the surroundings of the corridor, then slightly bent over and quickly nted a peck on Gwendolyn¡¯s cheek. His ck orbs lit up mischievously, almost as if he had secretly tasted sweet candy. The tip of Gwendolyn¡¯s car reddened slightly. She gently gave his shoulder a nudge. ¡°Are there no surveince cameras along this corridor? Won¡¯t you feel embarrassed if the guards in the surveince room see that?¡± ¡°Why should I feel embarrassed for kissing my wife? They should be jealous of me for not having a wife like you to kiss.¡± Cedrick sounded proud. Being left incredulous by the man¡¯s eloquence, Gwendolyn softly grumbled, ¡°How shameless.¡± As soon as she finished talking, she dashed into the office, avoiding acting lovey-dovey in the corridor. After sweeping his gaze along both sides of the corridor, Cedrick followed behind into the office. It was eight o¡¯clock at night. There were still two hours left until the agreed-upon time with Yael. Cedrick kept ncing at his watch. It was probably the first time he felt time crawl by so slowly. Gwendolyn sat on the couch and used her phone as she stayed by the man¡¯s side while he worked overtime. A few minutester, a knock rapped against the office door again. It was a police officer who guarded the entrance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Logan is here again. Would you like to meet him?¡± Cedrick knitted his brows, and his face turned cold. Gwendolyn put her phone down and turned to look at the man sitting behind the desk. After remaining silent for a while, Cedrick said in a calm tone, ¡°Bring him in.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick stood up, walked over to Gwendolyn, and inched near her ear to utter a few words. When the officer brought Logan and headed inside Cedrick¡¯s office, only Gwendolyn was inside. The tall and broad-shouldered man in military uniform was nowhere to be seen. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The police officer was dumbfounded, ¡°Why is Mr. Jenson- ¡°Go out. I¡¯ll receive Logan myself,¡± interrupted Gwendolyn. The officer bowed respectfully. ¡°All right.¡± With that, he shut the office door. Logan stared at Gwendolyn, who sat in the middle of the couch. A benevolent smile crept up his face. ¡°Why are you alone in the office, Mrs. Jenson? Where¡¯s Mr. Jenson?¡± Maintaining an elegant sitting posture, Gwendolyn curled her red lips into a faint smile. ¡°He went out as something came up. I think he went to the detention center.¡± Something popped into Logan¡¯s mind. He appeared slightly shocked and was about to turn to leave. Gwendolyn stopped him. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem shocked when you saw me just now, and you didn¡¯t question why I¡¯m here. Did you know I wasing?¡± Logan halted in his tracks. ¡°I only knew about it a while ago. I was passing by and overheard some officers discussing how you and Mr. Jenson were having a sweet time while dining at the cafeteria earlier,¡± he answered. ¡°Oh?¡± Gwendolyn acted surprised. Then how did you know I didn¡¯t leave?¡± At that moment, Cedrick, who had hidden himself in the tiny bathroom in the office, had a dark, stormy look registered on his face. He tapped on his phone screen and swiftly texted Swain an instruction: Check all surveince footage along the corridors. See if anyone talked about Gwenny and me after Logan arrived at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Also, perform a background check on all police officers dining at the cafeteria when Gwenny and I were there. Find those rted to Grandpa¡¯s former subordinates and give me a list of their names. About a minuteter, Cedrick received a reply from Swain. Cedrick had switched his phone to silent mode in advance so that no one outside would discover his presence. Meanwhile, Logan smoothly changed the subject instead of answering Gwendolyn¡¯s question. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, I¡¯m merely acting under Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s order toe here. He has something urgent and wants me to tell Mr. Jenson. Since Mr. Jenson is in the detention center, I shall head over to look for him and won¡¯t bother you any longer.¡± ¡°Not everyone can enter the detention center. Only the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s employees have the right to do so. How are you going to find him there?¡± Logan smiled. ¡°Mr. Jenson is the head, after all. I don¡¯t think me looking for him there will be a problem.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. The rules are set. He has to follow them even if he¡¯s the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Gwendolyn walked up to Logan, grabbed his shoulder, and ushered him to sit on the couch aside. ¡°I¡¯m sure Cedrick will settle the matter at the detention center soon. Stay here and wait, Logan. If it¡¯s regarding the Jenson family, you can tell me about it too.¡± Logan stiffened and said nothing more. Gwendolyn feigned disappointment. Lowering her gaze, she muttered with a dull voice, ¡°It seems that you don¡¯t see me as a member of the Jenson family. That¡¯s why you¡¯re unwilling to tell me anything.¡± Logan shed a bitter smile. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, Mrs. Jenson. Why would I think that way? It¡¯s just that this matter is not like any other. Old Mr. Jenson has specifically asked me to tell Mr. Jenson alone. I¡¯m in a difficult position too.¡± Chapter 614 Chapter 614 Chapter 614 Finish Our Business Gwendolyn, unfortunately, had run out of patience. ¡°In that case, I think you should head home first, Logan, Cedrick¡¯s busy with work and won¡¯t be free anytime soon. He has to work overtime till ten tonight, too. Tell you what, I¡¯ll get him to meet Grandpa at the Jenson residence once he has knocked off.¡± Logan was caught in a tight spot. No. I can¡¯t leave¡­ I can¡¯t go back withoutpleting the task Old Mr. Jenson has given me. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, I¡¯m here today because of what happened to Mr. Xander and Mr. Yael. Old Mr. Jenson already knows that Mr. Jenson locked Mr. Xander up with some thugs and caused him to be badly bullied. He hopes-¡± ¡°Logan, Cedrick did what he did to seek justice for me and Grandpa, and Xander¡¯s merely getting what he deserves. Are you telling me Grandpa can¡¯t bear to see Xander get a little punishment?¡± s, Gwendolyn had heard enough and furrowed her brows in displeasure. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Mrs. Jenson.¡± Logan replied as a sheepish smile crept across his face. ¡°Old Mr. Jenson is a strict man, and he agrees that Mr. Xander has overstepped the mark this time. He has no objections if Mr. Jenson chooses to hit or whip Mr. Xander, but he doesn¡¯t think a family matter should be escted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Surely, we can settle this at home, can¡¯t we?¡± Gwendolyn leaned backzily on the couch, her expression turning grimmer by the second. Is this because of pride? Is Grandpa trying to keep the Jenson family¡¯s internal conflicts out of the public eye and prevent Xander from getting a criminal record? Or is Grandpa worried that Xander might not adapt to life in prison and end up losing his mind or killing himself? Or could all these merely be excuses and Grandpa¡¯s hiding his real intentions? Gwendolyn sighed and instinctively nced at the small bathroom. Oh, dear¡­ I can¡¯t help but feel sorry for Cedrick. He used to regard Grandpa as his most important family member, but now, even I have begun to suspect Grandpa¡¯s motives. What if the truthes to light one day, only for us to realize it isn¡¯t as pretty as we thought? What will happen to Cedrick? Secondster, Gwendolyn looked away and lowered her eyes. ¡°Does Grandpa think Xander can survive sixtyshes?¡± ¡°Mr. Xander has a weak constitution. Sixtyshes of the whip will undoubtedly cost him his life. However, the purpose of Mr. Jenson punishing Mr. Xander is to teach him a lesson and not to kill him. In that case, why can¡¯t we be more flexible? Why must we follow the rules so rigidly?¡± Logan answered. ¡°Stop beating around the bush, Logan. Please speak your mind.¡± ¡°Old Mr. Jenson hopes that the sixtyshes can be doled out over three sessions and that Mr. Xander be -given half a month to heal between each of them.¡± Gwendolyn instantly fell silent, but her expression was dark and gloomy. This is about imposing just punishment, so why must they always negotiate and text Cedrick¡¯s limit? I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re even suggesting an installment n! Do they think this is a loan repayment? In any case, it¡¯s clear that Grandpa dotes on that grandson of his¡­ Since Gwendolyn wasn¡¯t retorting, Logan continued, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson has also said that if Mr. Jenson agrees to those terms, he¡¯ll immediately tell him the truth he wants to know.¡± Gwendolyn once again fell silent and stole nces at the bathroom. I don¡¯t think Cedrick has any intention ofing out, huh? This has to do with the truth of his parents¡¯ fatal ident all those years ago. As much as I want to, I can¡¯t decide for him. ¡°You should go back, Logan. I¡¯ll ry the message from you and Grandpa to Cedrick. Whether he epts it or not, I¡¯ll make sure he calls Grandpa as soon as possible. How does that sound?¡± Logan had no choice but to give in. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Old Mr. Jenson isn¡¯t in the best of health and needs to rest early. I hope Mr. Jenson can spare a thought for him and call him within the next thirty minutes.¡± ¡°All right, I understand. Grandpa¡¯s healthes first.¡± Gwendolyn said politely before getting up and seeing Logan off. ¡°Have a safe trip, Logan.¡± After closing the office door, Gwendolyn walked toward the ensuite bathroom and pushed the ss door, only to see Cedrick leaning against the wall, seemingly deep in thought as he pondered Valentino¡¯s terms. ¡°What do you think about Grandpa¡¯s terms, Hubby?¡± ¡°What would you do if it were up to you, Darling?¡± Cedrick asked. Knowing how much Valentino meant to Cedrick, Gwendolyn decided to drop her charge against Xander for almost implicating her. ¡°Xander¡¯s mainly responsible for almost harming Grandpa, but since Grandpa doesn¡¯t wish to pursue the matter, it¡¯s okay to give him a lighter punishment. Besides, given Xander¡¯s character, I¡¯m sure he¡¯d do something stupid again soon. We can catch him in the act then and teach him a well-deserved lesson. Compared to that, I think the truth behind Mom and Dad¡¯s ident is way more important,¡± Gwendolyn reasoned. She was as clear-headed and astute as always. ¡°However, we can¡¯t guarantee that Grandpa will be entirely honest with us. Therefore, I suggest we hear the truth from both sides while Xander¡¯s still locked up and has no means ofmunicating with the rest of the family.¡± Cedrick gazed at his wife standing at the bathroom door, unable to take his eyes off her. Wow. Even though Gwenny¡¯s just standing there and analyzing the situation for me, the white glow around her from the office lights really brings out her ethereal beauty. Every word and action of hers takes my breath away¡­¡­.. The man strode forward and grabbed her slender waist. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re the best thing that has ever happened to me,¡± Cedrick muttered before kissing Gwendolyn. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The kiss quickly spiraled out of control, and the couple gave in to their carnal urges. Ovee with desire, Cedrick felt his chest rising and falling as he tenderly bit his wife¡¯s lip. ¡°Darling he whispered, his voice deep and sexy. ¡°Let¡¯s finish our business here before dealing with Uncle Yael and meeting Grandpa at the Jenson residence.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Before Gwendolyn could say anything more, Cedrick grabbed her bottom and lifted her, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist to keep herself from falling. Just like that, she found herself in Cedrick¡¯s tight, warm embrace. ¡°Hubby, this is your workce, the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡­¡± ¡°I know. But this is my Federal Bureau of Investigation and my office, and you¡¯re my gorgeous wife. As Cedrick leaned in for another kiss, Gwendolyn hastily pushed him away. ¡°No. We can¡¯t. T-The door¡¯s not locked¡­¡± The next second, Cedrick carried her toward the door to lock it before gently cing her on the desk, his eyes burning with love and desire. ¡°What about now, Darling? Do you still have any reason to stop us from doing the deed?¡± Gwendolyn hugged the man¡¯s neck, her face flushed from the excitement of knowing where there were and what they were about to do. One thing was for sure-her rosy cheeks made her look even checkier and more alluring She batted her eyshes and pondered over her husband¡¯s words. ¡°I¡­ guess not.¡± Satisfied, Cedrick began littering kisses along her corbone, and within seconds, the air in the office was thick with sexual tension. Knock! Knock! Knock! Unfortunately, the couple had barely reached home base when they were interrupted by a knock on the door. ¡°Someone¡¯s here,¡± Gwendolyn uttered. Cedrick froze for a moment before continuing to hug her. ¡°Ignore him. I have more important business to settle with my wife.¡± Gwendolyn would¡¯ve been fine going along with that, but since the officer outside was clueless about their secret shenanigans, he continued to knock on the door. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Logan called after he returned to the Jenson residence. Old Mr. Jenson has fainted again. He would like you to head back now to check on your grandfather.¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick instantly locked gazes, their expressions grave and solemn. Oh, dear¡­ Grandpa fainted, huh? ¡°All right, I got it. I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Cedrick hastily replied. Now that the sexual tension in the room had dissipated, he walked to the coat rack and quickly put on his military jacket. Grandpa has fainted again. That¡¯s no small matter. Naturally, Gwendolyn could see the worry and anxiety etched on her husband¡¯s face. No matter how much he tried, he couldn¡¯t hide his concerns for Valentino. She jumped off the desk and held Cedrick¡¯s hand after he had put his jacket on ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s head to the Jenson residence. I¡¯ll go wherever you go.¡± Cedrick ced a hand on the back of Gwendolyn¡¯s head and kissed her tenderly. ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you when we¡¯re home, Darling.¡± Argh, I¡¯m upset that we didn¡¯t manage to go all the way. It almost feels like I¡¯ve let Gwendolyn down. Then again, what choice do I have? Grandpa has fainted, and I have to rush back to see him. Chapter 615 Chapter 615 Chapter 615 Pretend To Be Sick The couple left the Federal Bureau of Investigation hand in hand and rushed back to the Jenson residence, heading for Valentino¡¯s vi. Logan was already waiting at the vi entrance. ¡°You¡¯re finally willing toe back, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick said, ¡°Have you contacted the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps?¡± Logan nodded and led the couple inside. ¡°I¡¯ve made the call. The medical corps should be here in a few minutes.¡± Gwendolyn asked, ¡°Grandpa was well. Why did he pass out again out of the blue? The result of his previous medical checkup was fine, right? Did he eat something wrong again?¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Logan looked troubled. ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics either. As soon as I got back, Old Mr. Jenson was already unconscious. He seems to be doing worse than before, so I could only ask for you to return. Mr. Jenson. The trio entered the living room and headed toward the staircase. Since Valentino was old and had difficulty walking, having to rely on the aid of a crutch all the time, his room wasn¡¯t located high up, just on the second floor. Just as they reached the second floor, Logan suddenly turned to Gwendolyn. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, I just heard from Mdm. Yarde that Mr. Benedict has been crying all night, refusing to sleep. Mdm. Yarde couldn¡¯t soothe him. Since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you check on him?¡± Benny has been crying? Taken aback, Gwendolyn shifted her gaze to Cedrick and didn¡¯t respond at once. Cedrick seemed to sense Logan¡¯s intention. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll watch over Grandpa. If Benny has been crying all night, he must not be feeling well, or perhaps he¡¯s missing you. You go check on him. Don¡¯t worry about Grandpa. Gwendolyn could only nod. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Benny, then. If there isn¡¯t anything serious, I¡¯lle back down to see Grandpa.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± A tender look filled Cedrick¡¯s dark eyes as he came to a halt and watched her ascend the stairs. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Jenson. Old Mr. Jenson needs you.¡± Cedrick withdrew his gaze and followed Logan into Valentino¡¯s bedroom. The white incandescent ceiling light was on inside the bedroom. Valentino sat at the head of the bed, half leaning against the pillow. His murky yet sharp gaze was directed at Cedrick as thetter approached from afar. Noticing that Valentino was full of vigor and doing fine, Cedrick didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. He had suspected that when Logan intentionally distracted Gwendolyn. ¡°If you wish to see me, you could¡¯ve just called, Grandpa. You didn¡¯t have to pretend to be sick.¡± Valentino didn¡¯t respond to his grandson¡¯s slightly resentful remark and instead slowly stretched out his hand. ¡°Cedrick,e sit by my bed.¡± Cedrick strode over and sat on Valentino¡¯s bedsidepliantly. Valentino looked at his grandson, who he had personally raised, with a sense of aplishment. His voice wasced with nostalgia as he spoke. ¡°I remember you were only two years old when you were first brought to me. You were only so small.¡± He raised his wrinkled hand to gesture the height. ¡°Very mini, very cute. You always liked to cling to my trousers and call me from behind. I¡¯d always been strict with you, reprimanding, beating, and making you kneel as punishment. However, I was only so stern because I had high expectations for you.¡± His eyes welled up with tears as he grew more sentimental. ¡°Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. You¡¯vepletely reced me and seized full control of Jenson Group while attaining great sess in both military and business worlds, bing the man at the top of the pyramid in Salinsburgh.¡± Cedrick sighed and asked calmly. ¡°What are you trying to say, Grandpa? Did you call me here so that I can listen to you reminisce about the past?¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯re grown and independent, you no longer value my opinions. I had to request Logan to meet with you in person and repeatedly urge you toe home. If I didn¡¯t pretend to be sick, would you have come back?¡± Cedrick felt resigned, listening to his grandfather¡¯s reproach. ¡°I respect and revere you, Grandpa, but I have my personal boundaries. You should know that. If anyone dares to harm the people I cherish, I won¡¯t let them off easily no matter who they are. Xander was merely detained for two days, and he suffered minor diforts, yet it has caused you so much distress, Grandpa. You even resorted to using the truth about my parents¡¯ car ident to coerce me into submission and even pretended to be sick to make mee home. It seems you¡¯re truly fond of that grandson of yours.¡± Stumped, Valentino chose to leverage familial love. ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯m old. I only have two grandsons, you and Xander, and one granddaughter, Triss. Perhaps my karmic retribution that the rest of my grandchildren were met with unfortunate idents when t were young. I don¡¯t want to see you and Xander fighting each other over inheritance and power.¡± As he spoke, he reached out, wanting to touch the mostpetent grandson he had raised. However, Cedrick moved away, avoiding Valentino¡¯s touch. The old man¡¯s expression stiffened. He retracted his hand in silence and got down to business. ¡°I called you here tonight to tell you the truth about your parents¡¯ incident. However, that is provided that you must first promise me to let Yael and Xander go.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes darkened, and he hesitated for a few seconds before agreeing to Valentino¡¯s request. ¡°All right. I can let Uncle Yael and Xander go and write off this incident.¡± Valentino was slightly stunned. He had prepared himself to get into a lengthy discussion with Cedrick regarding that matter. Little did he expect thetter to agree with such crity. He felt relieved, but at the same time, a slightly apologetic look shed across his eyes. He started recounting the past, ¡°Your father was my chosen sessor. The culprit behind the car ident was a military friend of mine who once saved my life, so I chose to sacrifice my eldest son and daughter-in- law, who was beyond treatment, to get my friend off the hook.¡± Cedrick frowned, unconvinced by Valentino¡¯s speech. ¡°Who was this military friend of yours? Do I know him? Grandpa, you hated owing others favors when you were in the military. Howe I never heard about someone saving your life.¡± A life-saving favor isn¡¯t something minor, so how could I have never heard of it all these years? Cedrick found his grandfather¡¯s excuse full of loopholes and didn¡¯t hold up to scrutiny. Valentino looked down. ¡°You¡¯re asking me so many questions at once. Which one should I answer first?¡± Cedrick pressed further, ¡°Do you need me to repeat all my questions, Grandpa?¡± The old man was speechless for a few moments before uttering impatiently, ¡°It seems that you don¡¯t believe a word I¡¯m saying. That military friend of mine passed away from cancer a few years ago. After 1 retired, he left the military, too, so you wouldn¡¯t know him. As for yourck of knowledge that I owed someone a life-saving favor, it¡¯s because I¡¯ve paid it off following your father¡¯s ident, which is why I¡¯ve never mentioned it all these years. Although I feel guilty toward you and about what happened, your parents couldn¡¯t be saved. Despite how heartbroken I was, I couldn¡¯t stand idly by and watch as that matter spiraled out of control to the extent of affecting Jenson Group¡¯s stock price. I had to dere that unfortunate incident a regr traffic ident.¡± Cedrick got to his feet and took a few steps back, staring at his grandfather, who he suddenly found extremely unfamiliar, warily. ¡°Grandpa, do you think you can deceive me with such a poorly made-up excuse to save Uncle Yael and Xander?¡± Valentino wore a determined expression. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe me. Or, you can rely on your capabilities to investigate it.¡± Cedrick snorted and probed further, ¡°Since my parents car ident had something to do with your military friend, why does Uncle Yael know about it?¡± Chapter 616 Chapter 616 Chapter 616 The Unexpected Truth Valentino sighed. ¡°Actually, he doesn¡¯t know the entire truth. What he did was piece together different bits of information and he used that to threaten you. Only what I¡¯m saying is the actual truth.¡± Cedrick refused to believe a word Valentino said. ¡°Take care, Grandpa. I still need to handle some things in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± Then, he turned around to leave. ¡°Ced,¡± said Valentino. ¡°They¡¯re blood rtives. I don¡¯t want to witness the persecution of my family members again before passing on. I hope to see the entire family living harmoniously with each other.¡± Cedrick stopped in his track but didn¡¯t turn back. He pondered Valentino¡¯s words for a long while before he strode out of his bedroom. He was still bothered by the revtion of the truth behind what had transpired years ago. Gwendolyn just happened to descend downstairs and spotted him standing absentmindedly in the corridor. ¡°How is Grandpa doing? Did the medical corps check up on him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s doing fine,¡± replied Cedrick. Gwendolyn instantly understood what he meant-Valentino was pretending to be ill. However, she was merely Valentino¡¯s granddaughter-inw, so she could only stay silent about the matter. Putting his arm around her shoulders, Cedrick asked, ¡°How are the children? Are they asleep?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°They cried for a bit when I went upstairs, but I only needed tofort them for a while. They¡¯re really well-behaved.¡± A sigh of relief escaped Cedrick¡¯s lips. ¡°That¡¯s good. Let¡¯s go, then. I¡¯ll send you back to Harrick Vi.¡± Gwendolyn was confused. ¡°You¡¯re sending me home first?¡± Cedrick nced at the watch. Only an hour left until ten. ¡°I need to deal with Uncle Yael and Xander and listen to what he has to say.¡± Gwendolyn held his hand, entwining his fingers with hers. ¡°Then we¡¯ll go together. I can¡¯t sleep alone anyway, so I may as well join you.¡± Seeing how enthusiastic she was, Cedrick found it impossible to deny her request. He was touched that his wife was willing to apany him sote at night. They left Valentino¡¯s vi while holding hands. When they arrived at the entrance, Cedrick¡¯s phone rang. An officer stationed at the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s detention center called him. ¡°We got a situation, Mr. Jenson! Xander has escaped his prison cell!¡± Upon hearing that, Cedrick knitted his eyebrows. Immediately, Gwendolyn knew something was off by observing his expression. She exchanged a nce with him. Then, they hurried toward the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered the prison cell where Xander and Yael were held. Inside the dark cell, Yael was casually sitting against the wall, smoking. The smoke he exhaled clouded his expression, adding to the gloomy atmosphere in the cell. He lowered his eyes, suppressed the thought to perish together, and wordlessly waited for Cedrick and Gwendolyn to approach him. ¡°You¡¯re a terrible custodian of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cedrick. Don¡¯t you think I deserve an exnation as to why your organization lost Xander?¡± Cedrick stepped forward and stared down at Yael. ¡°Impressive, Uncle Yael. To think your people infiltrated the Federal Bureau of Investigation and silently got Xander out of here.¡± He had checked the surveince room with Gwendolyn before visiting Yael. Neville was working overtime investigating the matter, too. Someone had hacked the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s surveince room thirty minutes before Xander disappeared. They had forced all the surveince cameras to shut down. When the cameras came back online, Xander had vanished from his holding cell. A scowl was present on Cedrick¡¯s countenance since the moment he stepped in while suppressing the hostility in his heart. Yael studied Cedrick¡¯s expression andughed. ¡°You already know who did it, no? Is that so hard to believe it?TM Cedrick¡¯s fists tightened as he gazed at Yael wordlessly. Gwendolyn, who was standing behind Cedrick, noticed his clenched fist and sighed silently. She, too, had figured out who was behind Xander¡¯s disappearance. Although the prison cell was quiet, the atmosphere was tense, Yael ignored Cedrick¡¯s rage and inhaled deeply before casually releasing a cloud of smoke. ¡°Your grandfather could¡¯ve forced the person who caused your parents¡¯ ident to pay a terrible price, but he didn¡¯t. Not only that, but he hid the truth. Why do you think he raised you? It¡¯s because he feels guilty and he wants to raise an obedient heir personally. Now that you¡¯re bing more and more disobedient, do you think he won¡¯t try to keep you in check?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression darkened as he recalled his conversation with Valentino in his bedroom. Soon after Cedrick left the Federal Bureau of Investigation to visit Valentino, who had pretended to be sick, Xander disappeared. Additionally, Valentino had nted spies in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cedrick had conducted an investigation in the afternoon, and then Xander was gone from his holding cell at night. Anyone else would¡¯ve suspected Valentino to be rted to Xander¡¯s escape. However, Cedrick remained silent as he listened to Yael¡¯s words. ¡°I bet you¡¯ve learned Dad¡¯s version of the truth from him.¡± A mysterious smile settled on Yael¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m confident you¡¯re aware of the authenticity of Dad¡¯s words. Only I know best about what happened to my brother and his wife back then. I can share that little information with you, but you must cancel Xander¡¯s warrant. Don¡¯t look into him and his whereabouts anymore whether he¡¯s still alive or not. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s too difficult for you to pull off, right?¡± Cedrick was quiet for a moment. Much like how he negotiated with Valentino, he swiftly agreed to Yael¡¯s conditions. ¡°Fine. Now that Xander¡¯s escaped, I¡¯ll leave him be and ask my people not to pursue him. Even if he dies, it won¡¯t have anything to do with me. Right now, all I want to know is the secret you¡¯re hiding While Yael was satisfied, he still warned, ¡°Don¡¯t forget your promise to ignore Xander, especially when Gwendolyn heard you loud and clear. As the head of the family, you must keep your word, Cedrick.¡± Cedrick¡¯s hands were still inside his pockets as he gazed at Yael haughtily. ¡°I will,¡± Although he seemed aloof and nonchnt, he possessed a persuasive charm, not that Yael had other choices. Yael looked at Gwendolyn. ¡°I¡¯ll only share this secret with you.¡± Cedrick turned to his wife. Gwendolyn nodded and left the prison cell. Once Gwendolyn was gone, Cedrick looked at Yael, who was sitting on the ground. ¡°Can you tell me the secret now?¡± Yael extinguished the cigarette and gestured for Cedrick to approach him. ¡°I¡¯m still worried someone might overhear us. Come closer. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick suppressed his annoyance with a scowl, squatted next to Yael, and leaned his ear toward him. Yael closed the gap between them and whispered a different truth from Valentino¡¯s to Cedrick. Cedrick listened attentively. As Yael¡¯s story continued, Cedrick¡¯s expression darkened further. That¡¯s impossible.¡± Yael snorted. ¡°What¡¯s impossible about that? You only notice I¡¯ve been watching you intently over the years. Yet, you don¡¯t know what role he yed in the family as he seemed to dislike conflicts. You can ask him in person if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Cedrick looked solemn as he was still digesting the unexpected truth Yael had divulged. While Cedrick was distracted, Yael sneakily reached his hand behind his back. Slowly, he removed the dagger hidden behind him and stared at Cedrick with murderous intent. Chapter 617 Chapter 617 Chapter 617 This Cannot Be A Coincidence The dim lighting inside the prison cell made the de¡¯s gleam more piercing. With an insidious look in his eyes, Yael gripped the dagger and swung it directly at Cedrick¡¯s waist. The dagger was just about to prate Cedrick¡¯s camouge military uniform, and Yael began to visualize what a bloody mess his victim would soon be. Yet, the dagger suddenly stopped in its trajectory, just a few centimeters away from its target. Cedrick had grabbed Yael¡¯s wrist so tightly that thetter couldn¡¯t budge. ¡°To think that you even tried to murder me on my own turf,¡± Cedrick scoffed. ¡°Are you that tired of living. Uncle Yael?¡± Yael froze briefly before roaring withughter. ¡°I¡¯m well aware that the Federal Bureau of Investigation won¡¯t let me go even if I kill you.¡± With a frown, Cedrick tightened his grip on Yael¡¯s hand. The intense pain forced thetter to let go of his dagger so his opponent could take it. Do ¡°You know you can¡¯t kill me. Even if you could, there¡¯s no way you¡¯d be able to get away. But you still tried. you intend to go down together?¡± With the dagger now in his hands, Cedrick ced it over Yael¡¯s neck. ¡°How do you expect me to believe your confession if you act like this, Uncle Yael?¡± ¡°Every word I told you was the truth, Cedrick. You can look into what I said if you don¡¯t believe me. My words are at least far more believable than those so-called truths your grandfather told you.¡± Yael spoke boldly and earnestly, still sounding like an elder advising someone younger despite being held at knifepoint. ¡°Xander¡¯s too naive, Cedrick. He gets used by others easily. Why don¡¯t you let him go now that he¡¯s secretly left the Federal Bureau of Investigation? He¡¯ll never return to the Jenson residence or get in your way anymore.¡± Cedrick pursed his lips, remaining frigid in spite of his uncle giving in and not giving a firm answer with regard to Xander. ¡°You should worry about yourself, Uncle Yael. Attempting to murder me with a dagger is no small matter.¡± You would¡¯ve been released after getting detained for just a few days, but now, we might have to involve the Department of Justice. You could even go to jail.¡± He sounded as cold as ice. The atmosphere of the prison cell turned suffocating. ¡°As for Xander, we¡¯ll deal with him depending on how legitimate your confession is.¡± As thosest words fell, Cedrick got up and walked out of the cell with the dagger, not looking back. ¡°I¡¯m old now, Cedrick. Do what you want with me, but don¡¯t go after Xander. Let me take his ce,¡± Yael called out with a hint of hopelessness and a father¡¯s despair in his voice the moment Cedrick arrived at the door. Cedrick stopped in his tracks as though contemting his uncle¡¯s words. Ultimately, he responded with nothing and left, the dagger still in his hand as he walked along the hallway. All his life, he had never felt any love from his parents. The only memories he had growing up were of the ever-forbidding Valentino. Would a father really resort to such a foolish decision for his son? Is he that willing to sacrifice his own life for his son¡¯s safety? And this dagger¡­ They searched him before detaining him, so there was no way he could¡¯ve brought it into his cell. Whoever snuck Xander away must¡¯ve secretly given it to him. There was only one person in the Federal Bureau of Investigation who had the power to disable all the surveince cameras and take Xander away-Valentino. Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. He tightened his grip on the dagger, aplex feeling swirling in his head. It was only after Neville showed up that he brushed aside all those heavy thoughts. ¡°You don¡¯t look too good. Are you okay? Do you want to head back earlier and rest?¡± Neville asked softly. Remaining expressionless, Cedrick handed the dagger to Neville. ¡°Yael tried to kill me with a dagger when I visited him. This is what he used. Record this case, and I¡¯ll take care of it when I¡¯m free in a few days.¡± Neville took the weapon with both hands. ¡°Very well.¡± d in military boots, Cedrick left and returned to his office. Gwendolyn was sitting on the couch drinking her coffee, awaiting his arrival. She rushed toward him as soon as he walked in. ¡°Well? What did Yael say?¡±. Cedrick removed his thick military jacket, looking especially grim. ¡°He said my parents¡¯ car crash was no ident. It was a homicide, and Uncle David was behind it.¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback. ¡°Uncle David? How could that be?¡± David was Triss¡¯ father, and although Gwendolyn didn¡¯t know him well, he had once spoken up for Cedrick when thetter was being interrogated in the ancestral hall. He seems like such a kind and honest man! He didn¡¯t even involve himself when Cedrick and Yael were fighting for power. How could a leisurely old man like him who always minded his own business be behind the death of Cedrick¡¯s parents? Cedrick reached out for his wife¡¯s face to ease her tension. ¡°I know you don¡¯t believe that. I don¡¯t, either.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve heard two very different sides of the story tonight. Who do you think is lying, Hubby?¡± Gwendolyn asked solemnly. ¡°Or, could it be that both Uncle Yael and Grandpa are lying?¡± Cedrick pondered for a moment. ¡°We¡¯ll have to look into this. There are a lot of contradictions in both their statements, but we can¡¯t rely on our judgment alone. We need solid evidence.¡±¡° Gwendolyn nodded in agreement. ¡°So, how do you n on looking into it?¡± ¡°Since Uncle Yael ims that Uncle David was responsible for the car ident and that Grandpa had lied to protect Uncle David, that means we¡¯ll have to talk to Uncle David and see what he has to say about this.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face stiffened as she recalled something. The man immediately noticed something off about her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong. Darling?¡± ¡°I thought of that too while I was helping you with investigations yesterday, but ording to Triss, Uncle David isn¡¯t in Salinsburgh right now,¡± Gwendolyn answered truthfully. ¡°It seems that he¡¯s gone on a work trip, but no one knows when he¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°When did he leave?¡± ¡°I think it was¡­ a few days ago, the day Uncle Yael confronted you and you went rushing over to see Grandpa at night.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turried grave. ¡°Did he leave at night?¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn nodded. Leaving Salinsburgh just as things are beginning to unfold, and his own daughter doesn¡¯t know when he¡¯ll be back? This can¡¯t be a coincidence. ¡°I have a feeling Uncle David probably knows something, but he left Salinsburgh the moment he caught wind. It¡¯s as if he doesn¡¯t want to be involved,¡± Gwendolyn said. Cedrick didn¡¯t respond. In this situation, even Valentino was brushing him aside and lying to him. He couldn¡¯t trust anyone now. Moreover, the fact that David had disappeared at such a crucial moment now made Yael¡¯s confession a little more believable. While deep in thought, Cedrick nced at his watch. It was past ten at night. ¡°It¡¯ste, Darling. Let¡¯s go home. I¡¯ll get someone to look into Grandpa¡¯s and Uncle Yael¡¯s statements, so let¡¯s continue this tomorrow.¡± Indeed, Gwendolyn was beginning to feel sleepy. All these Jenson family affairs sure areplicated. You could get a headache thinking about all this. It¡¯s best to get some rest and clear our heads before we carry on with investigations. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cedrick took off his jacket and draped it over the woman¡¯s shoulders. Then, they left the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with his hand around her slender waist. As Cedrick drove home, the built-in Bluetooth speaker yed some rxing music. Neither Cedrick nor Gwendolyn uttered a word, both seemingly mulling over something. After a long while, Gwendolyn turned her head and nced at the man next to her. With his pitch-ck eyes on the road ahead, he looked as though he was concentrating on driving while spacing out at the same time. Gwendolyn sighed internally. She knew he couldn¡¯t get his mind off Yael¡¯s and Valentino¡¯s words. ¡°Did you know, Hubby?¡± she asked, leaning closer and attempting to bring him back to reality. ¡°Kieran and Inez came looking for me at Harris Group earlier today.¡± Cedrick snapped out of his thoughts. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°They¡¯re nning to travel now that they¡¯ve taken a break from managing the group.¡± Cedrick nodded absentmindedly. Noticing Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze remained on him, he quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s a good idea to travel before getting married. It¡¯s not like they have much else to do, and traveling can bring them closer. Kieran¡¯s not that young anymore, so it¡¯d be perfect for him to spend time with Inez beforeing back to get married.¡° Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but chuckle after seeing the man try his best not to make her upset. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± Cedrick asked, bewildered. ¡°Not at all!¡± The man drove with one hand, so Gwendolyn reached for his other hand and interlocked their fingers. ¡°Kieran and Inez are hoping we could join them for a few days. What do you think?¡± Chapter 618 Chapter 618 Chapter 618 Cedrick Punishes His Wife ¡°I¡¯m busy handling the affairs of the Federal Bureau of Investigationtely, so I might not be able to leave anytime soon,¡± Cedrick said after giving it some thought.: ¡°That¡¯s fine. Kieran and the others have had enough fun in Salinsburgh anyway. They n on taking a short break before leaving, so they can wait for us.¡± Cedrick got a little curious when he saw how enthusiastic Gwendolyn was being. ¡°You seem really excited about traveling. Gwenny. Aren¡¯t you worried about the babies?¡± That was when Gwendolyn recalled what happened when they went traveling to Astoria. She got so worried about the babies that she developed a fever. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, she lost control of her emotions back at the hotel and ended up hitting Cedrick Feeling bad for what she did back then, Gwendolyn wrapped her arms tightly around Cedrick¡¯s and rested her head on his shoulder. ¡°What happened at Astoria was my fault. You would definitely take care of your work and the babies before going traveling with me, so I shouldn¡¯t have worried that much. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It was not your fault, Gwenny. Your mania was starting to act up at the time, and you only lost control of your emotions because you were sick. I would never me you for that,¡± Cedrick said with a gentle look in his eyes. The more magnanimous he was about it, the more Gwendolyn felt bad about it. She had been so busy ever since they returned from Astoria that she didn¡¯t have time to apologize to Cedrick until now. ¡°I remember that I hit you quite hard with a clothesline pole. How about I let you hit me back when we get hometer?¡± Gwendolyn suggested. Cedrick froze in shock when he heard that. I can¡¯t call myself a man if I hit my wife! Upon staring into Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes, he saw that she was actually serious about it. ¡°If you really want to make it up to me, then¡­¡± Cedrick paused briefly and shed her a mischievous smile as he continued, ¡°How about you let me punish you in any way I want? You will have to do everything 1 say with absolute obedience.¡± ¡°What kind of punishment is it? The normal kind or something unorthodox?¡± Gwendolyn asked when she saw him grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Which one would you prefer, Darling?¡± Cedrick asked while trying his best to hold hisughter in. ¡°You said you would punish me however you like, so I don¡¯t think I get to choose,¡± Gwendolyn replied. It took Cedrick every ounce of willpower he had to stay focused on the road as he drove home. After parking the car in the Jenson residence garage, Cedrick made his way to the passenger side and opened the car door for Gwendolyn. He then scooped Gwendolyn into his arms and carried her upstairs. ¡°Remember what you promised me, Darling. I will punish you to my heart¡¯s content tonight, and you will not say no to anything. I want to try out every single position,¡± he reminded her. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Every single position? Oh, no¡­ I don¡¯t know if my waist can handle it! Gwendolyn wrapped her arms tightly around Cedrick¡¯s neck and tried her best to suppress her feelings of frustration. Since I want to make it up to Cedrick for hurting him in Astoria, I cannot say no to his request. Even so, I need to give him a little reminder before we get started! With that in mind, she looked up at Cedrick and whispered in his ear, ¡°Remember not to go too wild, okay?¡± Cedrick rubbed the tip of his nose against hers as he replied. ¡°The night is a perfect time for us to go wild, though.¡± ¡°What kind of logic is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my logic.¡± The two chatted away as they made their way into Harrick Vi. Their intimate moment in his office was interrupted when Valentino faked his illness and pretended to have fainted, so Cedrick intended to make up for it that night. Sure enough, Gwendolyn¡¯s body was aching all over after a wild night. Cedrick had left Harrick Vi by the time she woke up the next morning. He probably went to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to handle the case involving Yael and Xander. Gwendolyn was the only one left in the master bedroom. Ugh¡­ Thanks to a certain someone, my body hurts all over, and I barely have any strength left! Honestly, it felt as though he were a hungry tiger that could never be satiated! Gwendolyn mustered every bit of her strength just to pull herself into a sitting position. That was when she heard a notification toneing from her phone. Upon reading the message she received, Gwendolyn saw that it was from the person whom she had hired yesterday to investigate Yael. Her expression slid into a frown and grew solemn when she read through the files. ording to the information she had paid a lot of money for. Yael had appeared near the scene on the day Cedrick¡¯s parents died in the car ident twenty years ago, and there were also signs of him being present at the scene. However, that incident was far too long ago, so the statements provided by eyewitnesses were incredibly vague. Apparently, David was also present at the scene of the car ident. Yael and David were both there that day. Were they there before the car ident, or did they go there afterward to remove the evidence? The fact that Yael threatened Cedrick with that incident suggests that he was there and knew everything that happened. I mean, how else would he be able to threaten Cedrick with it? After taking some time to analyze the situation, Gwendolyn decided to send the file to Cedrick via WhatsApp. It wasn¡¯t until she opened up their chat that she realized he had sent her a bunch of texts. The texts read: I¡¯ve made you breakfast, Darling. It¡¯s being kept warm in the microwave oven. Remember to eat it after waking up. The weather is a little gloomy today. It rained a little when I arrived at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The temperature is a bit on the lower side, so remember to bring a coat when you¡¯re leaving the house. Also, remember to take the medication for your mania. I¡¯ll call you in the afternoon to check on you. Cedrick had sent her those messages before leaving the house. Gwendolyn felt a warm sensation fill up her heart and enjoyed how he cared a lot about her. After sessfully sending the document over, Gwendolyn texted him her thoughts on the matter as well. While Cedrick could have investigated the matter and obtained the exact same information himself, Gwendolyn still wanted to try and help him out in any way possible. She received a reply from Cedrick a few seconds after sending him that text. Cedrick wrote: Understood. Thanks for the hard work, Darling. Gwendolyn then put her phone away and propped herself up in bed. Although her body was still somewhat weary, she felt very satisfied with her aplishments. She then got out of bed, quickly washed up in the bathroom, and applied some light makeup before heading downstairs for breakfast. Because of how fast she was, the entire process took only twenty minutes. Instead of heading straight to the garage after leaving Harrick Vi, Gwendolyn went the other way and dropped by Valentino¡¯s vi to visit Benedict and Zendaya. The two kids were still at that age where they would instantly smile the moment they saw their mother. Gwendolyn cuddled and yed with them for a bit before leaving the nursery on the fourth floor. As Logan knew she would be heading out, he had been waiting outside the door to walk her out of the vi. Neither of them said a word as they made their way down the stairs. It wasn¡¯t until after they reached the garden outside the vi that Gwendolyn said sternly, ¡°Uncle Yael has already spilled the beans, Logan. He said Uncle David was the mastermind behind Mom and Dad¡¯s car ident.¡± As though he needed to process the news, Logan stopped in his tracks for a few seconds with a tense look on his face. ¡°What are you saying, Mrs. Jenson? Mr. David would never do such a thing! Old Mr. Jenson already told Mr. Cedrick the truthst night! Does Mr. Cedrick not believe him?¡± Logan asked. Gwendolyn stared Logan right in the eye as she replied. ¡°It¡¯s perfectly normal for him to not believe it. Even I found it a little hard to believe. Of course, I can¡¯t just take Uncle Yael¡¯s word for it either. You see, I found out this morning that Uncle Yael and Uncle David were both present at the scene. It is possible that they were both responsible for the car ident.¡± Logan¡¯s eyes went wide with shock when he heard that. ¡°Please don¡¯t make such jokes, Mrs. Jenson. There must have been a mistake in the investigation. It¡¯s impossible for them to both be present at the scene. Even if they were present when the car ident took ce, there¡¯s no way they would have caused a car ident to kill their brother.¡± Gwendolyn arched an eyebrow at him in response. ¡°That incident took ce twenty years ago. Even the eyewitnesses could barely remember what happened back then and the statements they gave were vague. You once told me that you don¡¯t know anything about that car ident, so how are you able to remember so many details about it now? How would you know whether Uncle Yael and Uncle David were present at the scene or not?¡± Chapter 619 Chapter 619 Chapter 619 Only The Evidence Speaks The Truth Logan¡¯s face went pale when he heard that, but he was quick to regain hisposure a few seconds later and said, ¡°It¡¯s true that the incident took ce many years ago, but it was a traumatizing one for the Jenson family. I may not know the truth and the details behind the car ident, but I do know that Mr. Yael and Mr. David were not likely to have been present at the scene.¡± Gwendolyn observed his expression closely as she pressed on, ¡°Do you know where Uncle Yael and Uncle David were at the time, then?¡± ¡°They were keeping Old Mr. Jensonpany right beside him when they heard about the car ident. I was with Old Mr. Jenson at the time as well, so I remember it very well,¡± Logan answered decisively. Gwendolyn let out a sigh and shook her head in disappointment after hearing that. ¡°What do you mean by that, Mrs. Jenson? Do you not believe me?¡± Logan asked in confusion. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯d believe you. The information that I got from my investigation, you, Grandpa, and Uncle Yact all have conflicting parts that don¡¯t add up at all. Who is the one telling the truth, and who is not?¡± Gwendolyn replied. Logan lowered his gaze and kept quiet. Gwendolyn stepped forward and spoke softly. ¡°Or perhaps, apart from the evidence, everyone else is lying. Maybe you are all trying to hide the truth behind what really happened.¡± Logan¡¯s eyes went wide when he heard that, but he kept his head low and remained silent. Gwendolyn let out another sigh and patted Logan on the shoulder as she said, ¡°Uncle David left Salinsburgh the night Uncle Yael revealed this incident to Cedrick. If you insist that they don¡¯t know anything about the car ident, then I will assume you are defending them and helping them hide the truth.¡± ¡°Mrs. Jenson. I¡ª¡± Logan was about to say something when Gwendolyn cut him off, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t believe someone as kind-hearted as Uncle David would do something so heartless either, but this incident has led to the death of Cedrick¡¯s parents, so he won¡¯t rest until he has found the truth behind it. He will surely have someone arrest Uncle David and bring him in for questioning at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is far moreplicated than you and Grandpa would have thought. You might think that it would just die down over time, but that¡¯s not the case for Cedrick. He will not stop until he has confirmed the truth behind his parents¡¯ deaths.¡± Logan listened to everything Gwendolyn said even though he kept his head low the entire time. ¡°Logan, someone is bound to tell the truth sooner orter. If you know the truth behind this and care about Cedrick, then you should speak up as soon as possible. Dragging this on will only worsen the rtionship between Cedrick and Grandpa. You wouldn¡¯t want to see Grandpa lose his grandson, would you?¡± ¡°Mrs. Jenson!¡± Logan clenched his fists. How could she talk about Old Mr. Jenson like that? Gwendolyn didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with what she said, so she continued, ¡°Xander has gone missing. In order to have Cedrick spare him, Uncle Yael said he would never let Xander return to the Jenson family. Uncle Yael pulled a knife on Cedrick and tried to kill himst night. This is very serious and couldnd him in prison. If Uncle David is closely connected to this incident, then Cedrick would most likely go after him as well. If Grandpa and Cedrick were to fall out because of this, then Triss would be all he has left. Isn¡¯t that right, Logan?¡± Logan had a conflicted look in his eyes. As unpleasant as Gwendolyn¡¯s statement sounded, everything she said was true. Noticing that Logan was starting to waver, Gwendolyn pressed on, ¡°Neither of them are willing to confess, so you are the only person who can save Uncle David, Grandpa, Cedrick, and the Jenson family as a whole. Don¡¯t worry: Grandpa won¡¯t me you for telling the truth.¡± Logan¡¯s lips twitched slightly as he contemted his options. Right as he finally mustered the courage to speak, a housekeeper from the vi came outside and said, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson has woken up and is asking for you, Logan.¡± Logan quickly regained his senses and replied, ¡°Understood. I will walk Mrs. Jenson to the entrance and will be there in five minutes.¡± The housekeeper nodded and bowed at Gwendolyn before heading back into the vi. That little interruption hadpletely disrupted Logan¡¯s train of thought, and he motioned at Gwendolyn to leave the vi. Gwendolyn was reluctant to leave and simply stood there staring at him. Feeling a little awkward, Logan whispered, ¡°Please stop forcing me, Mrs. Jenson. Give me some time to think about it.¡± Gwendolyn had nothing to say at that point, so she had no choice but to let it go and walk out of Valentino¡¯s vi. She kept thinking about that incident along the drive to Harris Group. The statements that Grandpa and Uncle Yael provided contradict each other. David is not in Salinsburgh, so it will be difficult to find him if he is deliberately hiding. Logan seems to know something, but he won¡¯t tell me. I¡¯m not sure if that is because Grandpa has ordered him not to. Either way, this case will only get increasinglyplicated regardless of who I choose to go after. Based on my intuition, this case involves a lot more people than I had imagined. Cedrick¡¯s parents are supposed to inherit Jenson Group, but they both died in that car ident that came out of nowhere. I can¡¯t help but feel as though that car ident is part of a huge conspiracy within the Jenson family¡¯s power struggle. Gwendolyn was so distracted by her thoughts that she couldn¡¯t seem to focus at work. Fortunately for her, there were no important contracts that she needed to sign at Harris Grouptely, so she let her assistant handle her work at hand and went to keep Cedrickpany at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cedrick was already tracking David down in secret. Once thetter¡¯s exact location was confirmed, Cedrick was going to send some men over to bring him in. Meanwhile, Nico continued to investigate the evidence as well. Gwendolyn sat beside Cedrick in his office and helped him analyze the conflicting statements from every individual to determine whose side of the story was more truthful. Because Yael had attempted to stab Cedrick with a dagger so Xander could get away, Cedrick did not send anyone to arrest Xander. Cedrick was confident in his ability to capture anyone he wanted, so he decided to grant Xander a few days of freedom while he investigated Yael¡¯s statement. If he so much as decided to bring Xander in, it would only be a matter of time before it happened. It wasn¡¯t until the incident was dragged on to the third day that they finally had a lead on David¡¯s location. Apparently, David didn¡¯t use his phone at all during his supposed business trip as he had switched it off. That resulted in their GPS being unable to pinpoint his location urately. Cedrick contacted the police station in Livingsfill where David was supposedly on a business trip to have them help find him. Eventually, they were able to confirm his exact location when he went downstairs to buy some food. The fact that someone like David would go to Livingsfill on a business trip, stay at a budget hotel, and buy cheap food from roadside vendors was incredibly suspicious. It seemed as though he knew they would be looking for him and was deliberately trying to hide from them. Logan came over in person the day the police brought David to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Salinsburgh. However, Logan arrived before David did. Gwendolyn was also around when the policemen led him into the office, but he showed no emotion whatsoever when he saw her. ¡°Did Grandpa send you? Was it for Uncle Yael or Uncle David?¡± Cedrick asked. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Logan shook his head. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. I snuck out while Old Mr. Jenson was taking his afternoon nap.¡± Cedrick and Gwendolyn exchanged nces when they heard that. Logan took a deep breath and shed Cedrick a conflicted look as he continued, ¡°Mr. Jenson, I don¡¯t wish to see you end up hating Old Mr. Jenson. That is why I am here to tell you the truth about what happened back then.¡± Chapter 620 Chapter 620 Chapter 620 Prime Suspects Did Logan choose toe and confess the truth now that David has been found and is being sent back to Salinsburgh? Gwendolyn and Cedrick both wore serious expressions, silently gazing at Logan. Observing their continued silence, Logan approached Gwendolyn, who was seated on the couch. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, two days ago, you came to the vi and had a sincere conversation with me. I mentioned then that I needed time to contemte, and now I¡¯ve reached a decision. Can I count on your trust?¡± Gwendolyn locked eyes with Logan, who was eagerly seeking her approval, and nodded. ¡°I believe in you, Logan. You¡¯ve been by Grandpa¡¯s side for the majority of his life. Whatever decision you make, I trust that it¡¯s in his best interest.¡± Hearing that. Logan heaved a sigh of relief. Before David was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Logan wholeheartedly exined everything he knew from his perspective. ¡°On the day of the ident, Mr. Yael and Mr. David were indeed present at the scene. What¡¯s more, they were inside the car that caused the ident¡­¡± On the day of the ident, Yael and David attended a party together and consumed a significant amount of alcohol. Initially, David intended to arrange for a substitute driver to take them home, but Yael insisted that he drive. Since Yael didn¡¯t appear noticeably intoxicated, David reluctantly agreed. But he didn¡¯t expect that Yael would inexplicably take a long detour while driving. While speeding on the road, the vehicle lost control and collided with Cedrick¡¯s parents¡¯ luxury car at the intersection. The impact urred at the most vulnerable point on the vehicle¡¯s side, resulting in the immediate death of Cedrick¡¯s mother, who was seated in the front passenger seat. The collision caused a fuel tank rupture, resulting in oil leakage and the subsequent explosion of the car. Cedrick¡¯s father sustained severe burns throughout his body and, tragically, passed away while being transported to the hospital. When Valentino arrived at the scene with his men, they discovered David in the driver¡¯s seat, clearly intoxicated. Both David and Yael sustained minor injuries from the ident. Heartbroken, Valentino brought his two sons back to the ancestral hall for interrogation after they were sober. He even punished them in ordance with the family rules. Ultimately, Valentino could only ept the devastating reality that his eldest son and daughter-inw had passed away. Yael vehemently insisted that they were both intoxicated, and he got into a heated argument with David -on the road, thereby causing the ident. David imed that Yael was the one driving the car, but Yael adamantly denied it. Besides, thest person behind the wheel was indeed David. At the end of the debate, David, who was so drunk that he almost passed out, couldn¡¯t tell whether he was really the driver during the ident. Regardless of the circumstances, it was evident that David and Yael were responsible for the ident. The car ident had caused an uproar at the time, and if the situation were to persist, it would jeopardize the future of David and Yael. Considering that they were all his sons and held equal importance to him, Valentino found himself with no alternative but to leverage his connections within the military to suppress information about the car ident. He also resorted to other means to eventually quell the news. Valentino also assisted in shifting the responsibility away from his two sons. As Logan spoke, a sigh escaped him, his face filled with anguish. ¡°Old Mr. Jenson was truly in a difficult position. It was simply not feasible for him to lose his three sons because of a car ident and let the entire poption of Chanaea ridicule the Jenson family.¡± Cedrick furrowed his brow, wearing a solemn expression that conveyed his strong dissatisfaction with the truth revealed by Logan. Regardless of whether it was Uncle Yael or Uncle David who orchestrated this ident, there must be a truth to uncover. However, Grandpa decided not to pursue a thorough investigation. Instead, he chose to cover for his two sons and imposed only a nominal punishment on them, even though the ident resulted in the loss of my parents¡¯ lives.¡± Even when Cedrick asked about this matter, Valentino still covered for his two sons, brushing him off with lies. Cedrick¡¯s jaw tightened, and a soft snort escaped him as he felt an overwhelming chill coursing through him. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Sensing Cedrick¡¯s emotional turmoil, Gwendolyn reached out and gently held his clenched fist, offering silentfort and support. Logan expressed deep remorse, saying, ¡°Mr. Jenson, Old Mr. Jenson has carried the burden of guilt regarding this matter for a long time, which is why he brought you under his wing and shielded you from numerous conflicts within the family. He even facilitated your entry into the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a means of protection.¡± Logan continued, ¡°Until you were ready to take on the responsibilities of leading the Jenson family, Old Mr. Jenson did not retire. He maintained a firm grip on the family, refusing to hand it over to Mr. Yael, Mr. David, or any other elder family members who has influence. He did it to ensure that you maintain your power and authority. He wanted to personally pass the torch to you when the time was right and you had proven yourself capable.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curled with a heightened tone of sarcasm. ¡°Why do you speak of it so self-righteously? Grandpa¡¯s intention was simply to cultivate a figure of power who could be easily controlled. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have nted a spy within the Federal Bureau of Investigation to monitor me, feigned illness to summon me back home, and orchestrated the secret removal of Xander with the help of insiders within the bureau.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson, when Old Mr. Jenson still held the responsibility of overseeing the entire Jenson family, he needed to maintain a harmonious family dynamic. However, deep within his heart, he always cherishes you, his eldest grandson. He never seeks to exploit you or treat you as a mere puppet, Mr. Jenson, he ¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression grew solemn. ¡°Logan, you¡¯ve been away for too long. It¡¯s best that you return before Grandpa wakes up and notices your absence. He may start asking questions.¡± Logan was clearly being dismissed, and he had no reason to prolong his stay any further. Despite the multitude of words in his heart, it became apparent to Logan that Cedrick was not inclined to listen, no matter how much he tried to defend Valentino. Logan could only bow and leave. As Logan made his way toward the office door, he couldn¡¯t help but grab the doorknob and add, ¡°Mr. Jenson, I hope you can empathize with Old Mr. Jenson. He, too, is burdened with his own suffering. If you were to stand in his position, you would understand that the choice he made was incredibly difficult.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t reply, his expression remaining cold. Logan could only sigh, opened the door, and left Cedrick¡¯s office. Once Logan left, Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around Cedrick¡¯s sturdy waist, nestling her delicate chin on his shoulder in a gentle andforting gesture. Her fingertips gently and tenderly loosened Cedrick¡¯s clenched fist, delicately intertwining her fingers with his. ¡°I understand that Grandpa holds a special ce in your heart, and his actions can sometimes be difficult toprehend, even unsettling. But those things don¡¯t matter. What truly matters is that you still have me, Benny, and Zendy. We will always be the family who cherishes you the most in this world.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s gentle and serene voice acted as a soothing balm, alleviating Cedrick¡¯s inner turmoil. Cedrick turned his head toward her, giving a light peck on her brow. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwenny. I am not that disappointed, but based on what Logan has revealed, I need to conduct an investigation to uncover the true culprit behind the car ident, whether it is Uncle Yael or Uncle David.¡± He breathed heavily, his gaze darkening as he stared off into the distance. The murderer who took my parents¡¯ lives has been living freely and undiscovered all this time, right under my nose. This time, regardless of Grandpa¡¯s objections, I will make sure the true culprit pays the price they deserve. Gwendolyn tenderly caressed Cedrick¡¯s face, her distress evident in her eyes. She understood that iming he wasn¡¯t disappointed would be a lie. After all, the person he once held as the most trusted family member had turned out to be an aplice in the tragedy that took his parents¡¯ lives. To Cedrick, this likely felt like a profound betrayal. Logan¡¯s sudden arrival and confession did not stop Cedrick from investigating the truth of the ident. At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Neville and others went to get David, who had been transported back to Salinsburgh. They then proceeded to the interrogation room of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cedrick put on his military uniform jacket, ready to question David personally. Gwendolyn meticulously helped Cedrick to button up his uniform. Cedrick seized the opportunity to embrace her thin waist, lowering his head to seek her soft lips. It was as though he could never tire of her presence. ¡°All right, you have some real business to attend to soon. Stop being mischievous. Gwendolyn frowned and gently pushed Cedrick¡¯s shoulder. Cedrick held her in a tight embrace and promised her the trip they had previously discussed. ¡°All of this will be resolved soon, and then we can travel and have fun with Kieran and the others, just like we nned.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled and responded, ¡°It will certainly be quite interesting to travel with a stoic man like Kieran.¡± Chapter 621 Chapter 621 Chapter 621 David Broke Down In Tears After chatting with Gwendolyn, Cedrick went to the interrogation room. Neville had been waiting at the door for a while. The door to the interrogation room opened, revealing a spacious room with a table in the middle. David sat there obediently, not even pulling on a cigarette. Seeing Cedrick enter, David immediately tried to stand up but was held down by two police officers of both sides and made to sit back down. ¡°Cedrick, I was on a business trip. Why did you suddenly call me back?¡± Cedrick fixated his dark, piercing gaze on David in silence. A series of dull thuds sounded as he strode in wearing his military boots. He walked to a table several meters opposite David and sat down. Only then did he start to speak. ¡°Uncle David, if you were on a business trip, why were you living so pathetically, staying in an ordinary motel and eating cheap food? You were obviously avoiding me.¡± His deep andposed voice didn¡¯t reveal a hint of his emotions, but his overwhelming presence was oppressive. David¡¯s countenance stiffened slightly before he swiftly forced an amicable smile. ¡°What are you talking about? Why would I hide from you? I was on a business trip to Livingsfill and unexpectedly lost my ID and wallet, so I borrowed some money from an old friend and had to economize.¡± Cedrick wasn¡¯t interested in listening to him beat around the bush, so he nced at Neville. Neville fathomed his boss¡¯ intention and bowed respectfully. Before leaving, he instructed the police officers to secure David¡¯s hands to the handcuffs on the interrogation table. Then, he led the other officers out of the room. After the heavy door of the spacious interrogation room was closed, only Cedrick and David were left alone inside. Cedrick got up and moved to the table in front of David. He narrowed his pensive gaze,ced with covert fury, while scrutinizing his uncle. David was taken aback by Gedrick¡¯s threatening aura. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Having known thetter for so long and because they had never been at odds, Cedrick had always been friendly to David and his family, never making things difficult or treating them harshly. At times, he would even secretly offer them assistance. Also, ever since Cedrick took over the Jenson family, David¡¯s family had been living morefortably than when Valentino was in charge. ¡°Cedrick, you¡ª¡± Before David could ask, Cedrick cut to the chase. ¡°Uncle David, I¡¯ve figured out pretty much the whole truth about my parents¡¯ car ident. Are you still going to keep me in the dark?¡± David widened his eyes and slumped weakly like a deted balloon. ¡°You already know¡­ He sighed in resignation. ¡°Since you deliberately sent someone to capture me at Livingsfill, I suppose Yael has pushed all the me on me.¡± Cedrick pressed further. ¡°On the day of the ident, were you the one sitting in the driver¡¯s seat?¡± David nodded. ¡°Yes,¡± Then, he pondered briefly, shook his head, and began defending himself, ¡°That day, Yael and I attended a social gathering, and we both drank a lot. I wanted to call a driver, but he insisted on driving himself, so 1 agreed. I clearly remember him sitting in the driver¡¯s seat.¡± Cedrick said expressionlessly. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°On our way home that day, Yael mentioned how Dad favored Zack and wasn¡¯t willing to hand over the position of sessor to him. Yael wanted to win me over to help him, but I refused. We argued, and I chose to ignore him. I remember I was sitting in the backseat while he drove. I fell asleep in the back, but when I woke up, Logan, Dad, and many police officers were staring at me. I did indeed drink a considerable amount of alcohol that day, so much so that I was in a daze. After being forced to sober up, 1 was taken by my dad to the ancestral hall and severely beaten. Yael insisted that I was driving, and we argued about it. However, due to how drunk I was, I kept thinking that I must have cked out and everything that happened earlier was just my imagination.¡° David¡¯s eyes shone with sincerity. ¡°Cedrick, please believe me. I thought about this matter many times afterward, and I¡¯m sure it wasn¡¯t my imagination. Yael framed me on purpose. I harbored no ill intention toward Zack.¡± Poker-faced, Cedrick listened to his ount without interrupting. ¡°Since you didn¡¯t do anything wrong, why were you so guilty that you escaped to Livingsfill to hide? And why didn¡¯t you exin the situation to Grandpa? Even if you didn¡¯t say anything then, after thinking through the incident afterward, you should¡¯ve told the truth.¡± Cedrick gazed at his uncle, obviously suppressing his anger. ¡°You not only failed to tell the truth but also helped conceal it for many years. How can you expect me to believe that you have nothing to do with this matter?¡± Facing Cedrick¡¯s relentless questioning. David sighed incessantly in remorse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. At the time, Dad helped to contain the situation and reminded Yael and me not to mention it again. Zack was Dad¡¯s favorite son. Dad was brokenhearted for a long while because of his death, so I felt it wasn¡¯t appropriate to bring up the truth then. This matter was left hanging, andter¡­ I admit I had selfish motives.¡± Hearing thatst sentence, Cedrick snorted. ¡°You¡¯re finally being honest, Uncle David.¡± A suffocating atmosphere filled the air inside the interrogation room. David broke out in a cold sweat. Unable to hold in his emotions, he looked up at his nephew and continued to exin, ¡°When I saw Dad was raising you personally, I thought it was a blessing for you. After all, Yael was the most powerful among my generation in the Jenson family at that time. If I divulged the truth, and members of the family forced Dad to name you as his sessor topensate for your parents¡¯ misfortune, it would be detrimental to you. You were only two or three years old then, utterly incapable of contending with Yael. Doing that would only make you Yael¡¯s target. Although your parents¡¯ ident wasn¡¯t my doing. I was at the scene. Yael insisted on driving, and I didn¡¯t adamantly persuade him not to, which resulted in such a horrific car ident. I¡¯m at fault, and I feel guilty toward you. Thus, I¡¯ve never consideredpeting with you all these years. Even when Yael made things difficult for you, denouncing you at the ancestral hall, I spoke up for you. Cedrick, I sincerely care for you. Can you please spare me? Triss is my only daughter. Her mother passed away early from a miscarriage, so I¡¯ve been fulfilling both roles as Triss father and mother throughout the years. I didn¡¯t dare to remarry because I feared it would affect her mental health. I-I really can¡¯t bear to leave her side before seeing her get married.¡± Toward the end of his speech, David¡¯s eyes reddened, and his voice choked with emotions. He genuinely treasured his only daughter dearly. The reason why he hid in Livingsfill was that he was afraid that Cedrick would discover the truth about the past and that Yael would pin everything on him again. David knew he wasn¡¯tpetent nor had the ability to gather evidence. He just wanted to live the rest of his life in peace, content with enjoying his retirement life and his daughter¡¯spany. He didn¡¯t want to get involved in that mess andcked the confidence to convince Cedrick to believe everything he said. At the thought of his unmarried daughter, David burst into tears, lowering his head and sobbing quietly. ¡°Cedrick, your parents were met with the car ident and passed away tragically due to the Jenson family¡¯s internal strife. Many people were implicated, so it¡¯s only right if you intend to seek revenge on all of them. I¡¯m in no position to dissuade you, but could you give me some more time to get Triss settled in! Feeling frustrated, Cedrick merely stared coldly at his uncle. David couldn¡¯t fathom what Cedrick was thinking from thetter¡¯s empty gaze. Nheless, he could clearly sense Cedrick¡¯s intensifying chilly aura. David faltered. ¡°I know this is just my one-sided ount, and it¡¯s only normal for you to be unconvinced. I- Before he could finish his sentence, Cedrick, seemingly tired of listening to David¡¯sints, turned and walked away without looking back. ¡°Cedrick?¡± The broad and imposing figure of Cedrick in military uniform invoked respect within David, causing the latter to instinctively soften his tone when he spoke. Still, Cedrick ignored him, striding out of the interrogation room. His silence left David baffled. Cedrick¡¯s deep and low voice finally sounded after he stepped through the door. Due to the pin-drop silence inside the interrogation room, David heard Cedrick¡¯s words loud and clear. ¡°Send him back to the Jenson residence. Assign two officers to monitor him and forbid him from leaving freely. Update me with his whereabouts immediately if he steps out of the house.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Jenson.¡± David widened his wrinkly eyes, and tears welled up in them. As advanced in age as he was, he still broke down in tears at that moment. Does Cedrick believe me? Is he willing to let me go! Inexplicable feelings churned within him. A mixture of relief and excitement filled his chest, but the guilt that had haunted him for years also amplified. Chapter 622 Chapter 622 Chapter 622 Severing All Ties Cedrick did not return to his office immediately after leaving the interrogation room. Instead, he spent considerable time in the quiet, secluded corridor, leaning against the wall. His dark eyes were in silent introspection, deep in thought. A subtle frown creased his forehead. He instinctively reached into the pocket of his military trousers to reach for his cigarettes, attempting to sneak one puff. However, his pocket was empty. Then, he suddenly recalled that she had urged him to quit smoking ever since Gwendolyn knew about his $404 RNA virus infection. Then, he recovered, and she got pregnant. She couldn¡¯t stand the smell of smoke. Later on, he hadn¡¯t picked up the habit again because of the babies. In total, nearly a year and a half had passed since he hadst held a pack of cigarettes, He abandoned the urge to smoke and pulled out his phone instead to call Logan. ¡°Mr. Jenson.¡± Logan picked up the call almost immediately. In a frigid tone, Cedrick said point-nk, ¡°Tell Old Mr. Jenson that I can let Xander off the hook and not hold him ountable anymore to repay his years of guidance toward me. However, Yael must pay for his past mistakes. There will be no room for negotiation. Please ask him not to interfere in the car ident incident anymore.¡± His firm stance left Logan stunned on the other end of the line. ¡°M-Mr. Jenson, you¡­¡± Logan noticed something was amiss. Cedrick was addressing Valentino as Old Mr. Jenson instead of Grandpa. Cedrick had always shown great respect for his grandfather, hanging on the old man¡¯s every word. Most importantly, Cedrick had always addressed Valentino as Grandpa. ¡°Mr. Jenson, about this¡­ Old Mr. Jenson¡­¡± Logan¡¯s voice wavered, genumely taken aback by Cedrick¡¯s icy demeanor. He had intended to defend Valentino, but he couldn¡¯t quite find the right words to say. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick wasn¡¯t interested to listen, either. Tve made my standpoint clear. If he wants to save his second son¡¯s family at the expense of his first son¡¯s family¡¯s reputation, then 1¡ª¡± He paused briefly, instinctively tightening his grip on the phone as his voice took on a colder tone. ¡°Well, then I¡¯d rather not have him in my life.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson!¡± Logan cried out. Beep- To his dismay, Cedrick had already hung up on the call. Cedrick tapped on his phone with slender fingers. In a decisive manner, he cklisted Logan¡¯s number. He had decided that he would entertain no sophistries. Having made his standpoint clear. he turned on his heel and returned to the interrogation room. There was a frown on his face and the cold look gave off a formidable aura. Even the policemen passing by had to steel themselves just to greet him. The door of the prison swung open. Yael, who was sitting in a corner, was leisurely puffing on a cigarette. He did not raise his head when Cedrick entered and merely continued to smoke. The oppressive aura Cedrick brought with him swept into the prison cell as the door opened. ¡°You seem to have learned the truth,¡± he remarked, sounding more at ease. ¡°You believe that I¡¯ve lied, that I¡¯ve framed others, that the old man has indulged and protected me.¡± Cedrick said nothing. He strode over to Yael¡¯s side and stood upright. Yael let out a snort. ¡°The whole Jenson family had a hand in helping me hide the truth about the ident. I can assure you that nobody was innocent, not your grandpa, not David, not Logan, who has served the family for more than thirty years, and not even your Aunt Tania who loves you the most. Even though I had nned the whole ident, but they were all aplices in helping me hide the truth.¡± Ashe said that, his ncended on Cedrick¡¯s clenched fist. The sight of his veins popping lifted Yael¡¯s mood as he took two more puffs of his cigarette. ¡°Why do you think your Aunt Tania left Chanaea for so many years, refusing to return? She¡¯s ashamed, and afraid to face you every day. Everyone in the Jenson family knows what I did to your parents, but you¡¯ve never heard a whisper of it. If I hadn¡¯t exposed this, you would have remained ignorant about this your whole life. Cedrick, the rtives who¡¯ve shown you love have all helped to hide the killer. Doesn¡¯t that make you feel somehow¡­.. pathetic?¡± Yael let out a raucousughter as he spoke. Cedrick narrowed his eyes dangerously, a hint of murderous intent lurking in their depths. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve been toofortable in this solitary cell. Uncle Yael. Before the investigation of your attempted murder of the Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation concludes, it might be better for you to wait with the other suspects,¡± Cedrick remarked. Yael huffed disdainfully. As a sly old fox, he was not at all threatened by Cedrick¡¯s attempts at retribution. His reaction had not gone unnoticed. Cedrick¡¯s lips curled into a derisive smirk. ¡°Do you think my revenge constitutes of only these menial torture before and when you¡¯re behind bars?¡± Yael¡¯s fingers holding the cigarette trembled. The smoke of his cigarette lingered in the air. Yael lifted his head, his murky eyes meeting Cedrick¡¯s gaze. The pin-drop silence in the prison cell entuated Cedrick¡¯s crisp voice as thetter enunciated his every word. ¡°I¡¯m going to hold an ancestral hall grand assembly and drive you out of the Jenson family. You, your wife, and your son will be erased from the Jenson family records. Your beloved son will never be able to return to the Jenson family. How do you think your precious son will fare without the Jenson family¡¯s protection?¡± Yael grimaced as he listened on. His fingers holding the cigarette stiffened in response. ¡°You¡¯re going to chase my family out of the Jenson family? Cedrick, do you think you alone can make the call in our family?¡± he demanded. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Cedrick replied in a low voice, turning on his heel and leaving. Yael refused to admit defeat and let out a low growl. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! Dad won¡¯t let you act recklessly. He will never agree to you disclosing the truth of the car ident back then to the public. He won¡¯t disown me. He never will!¡± Without turning back, Cedrick replied with a frosty voice, ¡°Old Mr. Jenson has retired. From now on, he is no longer the patriarch of the Jenson family,¡± ¡°Cedrick! My dear nephew! Please, don¡¯t go!¡± At this juncture, Yael finally felt the icy tendrils of panic creeping in. Once he was stripped from the family register of the Jenson family, and void of the protection of a mighty background, he would merely be a criminal headed for prison. His past deeds would burden Xander and even affect Xander¡¯s future children. Bearing the stigma of having a criminal as a father, Xander would never w his way back into high society. Xander¡¯s life would be ruined. He would forever cast a dark shadow over his son¡¯s life. The deeper he delved into these thoughts, the more frantic Yael became. He had not expected Cedrick to be so ruthless. Casting aside his still-lit cigarette, he swiftly got up from the ground and dashed after Cedrick, hoping to negotiate further. ¡°Cedrick, listen to me. I was drunk. That¡¯s why the car ident happened. I never intended for it to happen. I¡¯ve been feeling guilty all these years. You cannot cast me out of the family. You can¡¯t!¡± Yael pleaded. The iron door of the prison cell shut in his face, and he didn¡¯t even manage to graze the corners of Cedrick¡¯s clothes ¡°Cedrick!¡± His frustrated cry echoed in the cell. Cedrick narrowed his eyes slightly. His handsome face remained impassive as he left the detention area with a steady stride. When he returned to his office, Gwendolyn was already waiting for him at the door. She seemed anxious as if she had waited a long time for his return. ¡°How did it go?¡± she asked, her voice heavy with concern. Cedrick gently caressed his wife¡¯s face. In a soft voice, he said, ¡°Everything¡¯s taken care of. The issues with the Jenson family will soone to an end. We will be able to enjoy a carefree vacation soon.¡± However, Gwendolyn¡¯s worry didn¡¯t ease upon seeing the rxed expression on his face. ¡°How do you n to deal with Uncle Yael?¡± ¡°Emunicate him from the family, remove his elite status, hand him over to the judiciary for punishment, and send him to jail for atonement,¡± he answered. Gwendolyn found thetter two measures reasonable. However, she didn¡¯t quite agree with the first two decisions. ¡°After all, he is your grandpa¡¯s son. I don¡¯t think he would approve of severing the father-son ties. Moreover, ording to the statements, Yael was quite drunk at the time of the incident. It was drunk driving. Despite causing a serious car ident, it wasn¡¯t premeditated. I don¡¯t think the Jenson family would agree to expel him,¡± Gwendolyn reasoned. Cedrick didn¡¯t falter. ¡°It was Uncle David who was drunk. Yael has always had excellent alcohol tolerance. He was sober enough to get Uncle David in on it. He was pretending to be drunk.¡± He wants to find an excuse to cover up his intentional crime, Chapter 623 Chapter 623 Chapter 623 He Is Indeed Ill Anyhow, Yael would never walk away scot-free. The oue awaiting him could either be a lenient sentence or a severe one. As long as Valentino refrained from intervening. Cedrick could resolve the matter the way he wanted. Gwendolyn gently touched his stiffened face, sighing inwardly. ¡°I understand this oue must be unsettling for you. You can always confide in me. I¡¯m all ears,¡± Cedrick gently rubbed his cheek against her palm before holding her hand, lowering his head, and giving her hand a gentle peck. He realized he should direct his anger solely at those deceitful individuals, sparing his beloved wife from its effects. No matter how upset he felt, he would always maintain his gentle demeanor in front of Gwendolyn. ¡°I¡¯m not upset. I¡¯ve thought through many things on the way back just now. I¡¯ve always regarded Grandpa as my most respected family member. Even before I married you, I considered him the only family I had.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s heart trembled as she asked softly, ¡°How about now?¡± I¡¯vee to realize that my perspective has been overly emotional. While I regarded him as the sole elder I respected in the family, he saw me as just one of his many grandsons. Despite his love for me, he also considers his other grandsons, granddaughters, and sons. It¡¯s possible that I¡¯m not even his favorite grandson, and his guilt towards me may stem from my parents¡¯ tragedy.¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze, concealing the subtle mncholy in his eyes. His calm tone made it seem as if he were narrating an ordinary matter. ¡°I don¡¯t hold him responsible because I realize it¡¯s unfair to sacrifice one son for the sake of another. However, I cannot ept the fact that he nted spies within Federal Bureau of Investigation to monitor me. Even in moments of disagreement, he covertly contacts someone to send Xander away and hide him within the bureau,¡± he said. Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°So what are you going to do next?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll weed out all the spies, eradicating any potential threats. Federal Bureau of Investigation will implement new regtions and undergo a reformation, establishing clear boundaries that prevent Grandpa from meddling in any cases in the bureau,¡± he dered with an icy tone. With his gaze lowered, his expression turned frigid to the core. There¡¯s no space for negotiation or compromise when ites to the strategy for handling Yael. I won¡¯t allow Grandpa any opportunity to intervene, even if he desires to.¡± Gwendolyn was well aware of his temperament, so his choice came as no surprise at all. Of course, she would wholeheartedly support any decision he made. ¡°Go ahead and do what you want to do. The babies and I will always be on your side.¡± Her words instantly brought his attention to an important matter. ¡°Benny and Zendy are still at Grandpa¡¯s house. Considering the present circumstances, it would be best to bring them back home and ensure their safety. Would you mind going to pick them up tonight?¡± Gwendolyn nodded, appreciating his thoughtfulness. Given their recent disagreements with Valentino, leaving their children at his vi was not a wise choice. She was concerned that certain family members who had had close ties with Yael might try to y tricks on them. After all, their little ones were still too young and vulnerable to endure any mistreatment. They needed to be taken care of with utmost vignce. However, Gwendolyn tightened her grip on his hand and asked, ¡°So, does this mean you don¡¯t even want to set foot inside Grandpa¡¯s house?¡± Cedrick¡¯s voice carried a heavy undertone. ¡°In times like this, I must be cautious of what Grandpa might say to me. I don¡¯t want him to use our family ties to manipte my emotions. It¡¯s better to keep him out of sight and out of mind.¡±¡± Gwendolyn stifled a smile. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯ve be more open and honest with metely.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curved into a seductive arc as he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her delicate Content ? N?velDrama.Org. waist. He stood confidently at the entrance of his office, unafraid to show intimacy with his wife and proudly disy their affection. ¡°It¡¯s mainly because my wife knows how to discipline and educate me well. The redwood ruler and the sandalwood washboard at home are the most effective weapons against me. Just the thought of them is terrifying, so I¡¯d better be good,¡± he whispered intimately into Gwendolyn¡¯s ear. Gwendolyn yfully flicked his head. ¡°You¡¯re just a smooth talker. I don¡¯t recall you being afraid household rules whenever you made mistakes,¡± The two of them engaged in yful banter, like a couple in the honeymoon phase, never getting t each other¡¯spany. After having dinner at the cafeteria at the bureau, they returned to the Jenson residence. Cedrick apanied Gwendolyn to a corner fifty meters away from the entrance of Valentino¡¯s vi. He. decided not to go near the entrance to avoid being seen by Logan, the bodyguards, or the household staff, as it could create unnecessaryplications. He patiently waited in the alley while his wife went to pick up their children. An hourter, Gwendolyn held Benedict in her arms, while Zoey carried Zendaya, as they departed from Valentino¡¯s vi. Elven and Ezra assisted in carrying the bags of baby supplies. When Gwendolyn approached, Cedrick reached out and took Zendaya from her hands,forting the baby while asking, ¡°What took you so long? Did something happen?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned grim, and there was a hint ofplexity in her eyes. ¡°It seems Grandpa is really sick. He¡¯s not feeling well. Logan mentioned that he hasn¡¯t been able to get out of bed since his afternoon nap. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a cold or something else, but he doesn¡¯t seem healthy.¡± Cedrick pursed his lips and lowered his head, remaining silent as he focused onforting Zendaya in his arms. Gwendolyn continued, ¡°Before bringing Benny and Zendy with me, I went to Grandpa¡¯s bedroom to check on him. He¡¯s definitely sick.¡± Cedrick maintained a stoic expression. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s aware that I¡¯m going to confront Yael, and he¡¯s worried about his son. Gwendolyn fell silent. Cedrick held the baby with one hand, freeing his other hand to embrace his wife. ¡°All right, it¡¯s getting late. Benny and Zendy should go to bed soon. Let¡¯s head back to Harrick Vi.¡± Gwendolyn nodded, allowing him to wrap his arm around her shoulder as they headed back to Harrick Vi. After taking a few steps. Cedrick turned back and instructed Elven. ¡°Grandpa is getting older, and his health is declining. Starting tomorrow, choose half of the elite doctors from the Jenson family¡¯s medical team and have them stay at Grandpa¡¯s vi. They will serve as his personal physicians, taking care of his health around the clock. Once they arrive, have Logan arrange their amodations. He will handle it¡±. Elven responded, ¡°Got it, Mr. Jenson.¡± In the following two days, Cedrick carried out aprehensive purge within Federal Bureau of Investigation. From team leaders to janitors, he ordered a review of their information and records. Individuals with suspicious intentions were promptly identified and removed from their positions. With that, Cedrickpletely uprooted all the spies Valentino had previously ced in the bureau. In addition to that, Cedrick was also preparing for the ancestral hall grand assembly on the third day, Yael went from being held in a solitary cell to being ced in a shared cell. He was interrogated multiple times by Neville, who tried various methods to extract detailed information about the incident from him. Finally, Neville handed over aplete confession statement to Cedrick. ording to the report, Yael confessed to the premeditated nature of the car ident. He admitted that the collision with the luxury car driven by Cedrick¡¯s parents was not an ident, as he intentionally took a detour, knowing they would pass through that road, to orchestrate the incident. The alcohol he consumed beforehand was deliberately done to evade legal responsibility, and he even implicated David, nning to use him as a scapegoat. To Valentino, the car ident not only brought about the tragic loss of his eldest son and daughter-in- law but also entangled his other two sons in its aftermath. On that fateful day, he faced the agonizing choice of having to lose all three of his sons, but he could not bear to jeopardize his children and their families. Hence, he chose to assist in covering up the truth. Cedrick harbored no resentment and understood Valentino¡¯s decision. However, understanding his actions did not equate to forgiveness. That incident robbed him of his parents, depriving him of the chance to experience their love throughout his life. He vowed to spare no effort in bringing the mastermind to justice. Lost in his thoughts, Cedrick sat in his office at Federal Bureau of Investigation, meticulously reviewing the evidence and documentationpiled by Neville. He made a backup copy, intending to disclose it during the uing ancestral hall grand assembly ¡°You¡¯ve done an excellent job on this matter and have been working hardtely. Do you want to go on a vacation? I can give you some time off,¡± Cedrick offered. Neville¡¯s face beamed with a smile. He scratched the back of his head and responded with slight embarrassment, ¡°I don¡¯t need a vacation. I find fulfillment in contributing to the bureau. Besides, I¡¯m used to spending my leisure time alone, so a vacation means nothing to me.¡± Cedrick inquired, ¡°You¡¯re twenty-five, this year, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Boss. Why do you suddenly ask about my age?¡± Neville asked. Cedrick¡¯s tone turned sharp. ¡°You¡¯re already twenty-five, meaning you¡¯re halfway to fifty. Yet, you haven¡¯t settled down or found a partner. Nico and Swain are already in rtionships, but here you are, still single and alone. ¡°Halfway to fifty?¡± Neville knitted his brow. Why does Boss make me feel like being twenty-five is already considered old! Cedrick¡¯s remark almost gave him the impression that he was edging closer to the grave with each passing day. Chapter 624 Chapter 624 Chapter 624 Denunciation Of Yael And Xander Neville was feeling uneasy. Why am I being urged to get married even at work? Most importantly, the person who was urging him was the superior that he feared the most. How am I going to answer that question? ¡°Why are you keeping quiet? Are you all right? Were you working with Nico some time ago?¡± Neville was a little stumped. ¡°Yes, I was. Why?¡± ¡°No wonder you look so foolish and have yet to get married. You must have been influenced by him.¡± Neville was dumbfounded. That hurts, Mr. Jenson! Cedrick had always called Nico a blockhead. Even so, Nico had no problem finding a wife for himself. There was news of him getting engaged. That made Neville look like a failure in his love life. Neville was on the verge of tears. Just as he was cracking his brain on how to answer Cedrick, someone knocked on the door. In that instant, Neville perked up. ¡°Boss, let me open the door.¡± He turned and walked toward the door. After opening the door, he exchanged nces with the police officer before using the opportunity to get away. The police officer dared not enter the office. Instead, he gave his report while standing at the door. ¡°Mr. Jenson, your butler is here. He says he has something important to discuss with you.¡± Cedrick said nothing and put Yael¡¯s testimony aside. Logan walked passed the police officer into the office with a serious expression. He even locked the door after that. Cedrick did not look up. He only let out a sarcasticugh when Logan came to the front of his table. ¡°What a coincidence. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be inviting all the esteemed elders to a meeting to denounce Yael.¡± Logan sighed and said, ¡°Mr. Jenson, you misunderstood Old Mr. Jenson. He knows that your decision is final, so he has no intention to beg for Yael. It¡¯s just that he notices you have been very busytely. The other night when Mrs. Jenson came to take Mr. Benedict and Ms. Zendaya away, you didn¡¯te to see Old Mr. Jenson. He¡¯s worried about you, so he has asked me toe and check on you.¡± To that, Cedrick responded, ¡°Now that you have seen me, you can tell that I¡¯m fine and healthy. There¡¯s no need for Grandpa to worry about me.¡± Logan was despondent. ¡°Mr. Jenson, aren¡¯t you concerned about Old Mr. Jenson?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t need me to pretend to care about him. The medical corps is looking after him, so I have no worries. Cedrick adjusted the sleeve of his military uniform nonchntly before continuing, ¡°By the way, since Grandpa¡¯s leg has been hurting, there¡¯s no need for him to attend the ancestral hall grand assembly tomorrow. Let the medical corps take care of him. Tell him to leave everything to me since I¡¯m the head of the Jenson family.¡± Logan was taken aback. Although Cedrick sounded tactful, he basically did not allow Valentino to attend the meeting. He would deal with Yael on Valentino¡¯s behalf and cut off the old man¡¯s ties with Yael. ¡°Mr. Jenson¡­¡± Cedrick frowned in displeasure. He no longer wanted to hear another word from Logan. ¡°I still have a lot of work at the bureau. If there¡¯s nothing else, please go home first, Logan. Everyone feels a lot better with you by Grandpa¡¯s side.¡± He was obviously chasing Logan away. There was no reason for Logan to stay on and disrupt his work. ¡°Then I will make a move first. Mr. Jenson, please take care of yourself. When you¡¯re free, please go home and spend some time with Old Mr. Jenson. He misses you very much.¡± Cedrick acknowledged with a soft hum. Logan knew that Cedrick had no intention to do that. He could not help but sigh before leaving his office. The next morning at the Jenson family¡¯s meeting room. Gwendolyn also attended the family meeting since she was his legal wife. Among the family, David did not attend because he was ill, so Triss came alone. As for the younger generation, there were not many of them. Most of the attendees were older family members, Gwendolyn chose to sit with Triss since she was familiar with her. The two women could have a chat while waiting for the denunciation meeting to start After around ten minutes, Cedrick made a grand entrance with Nico standing a few steps behind him. The moment he appeared, the rest of the Jenson family stood up and greeted him, ¡°Mr. Jenson.¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick nodded with a stern look and stepped into the meeting room in a confident manner. Valentino was still resting in his room and did not show up for the meeting. Out of respect, Cedrick left Valentino¡¯s seat alone and sat on a chair next to it. Everyone followed suit and sat down after that. Once everyone had quietened down, Cedrick nced at Nico. Nico then began to make his announcement. ¡°For the past few days. Mr. Jenson has been investigating the car ident of Mr. and Mrs. Zack Jenson. After a detailed investigation, he found that the ident was premeditated. The culprit is none other than Mr. Yael¡± His words caused a stir in the meeting room. Many of the attendees began to whisper and gossip among themselves. Denunciation Of Yael And Xander However, some of the elders remained silent and calm. They did not look surprised at all. Triss was the most shocked among the lot.. She widened her eyes and mouth in disbelief. ¡°Gwendolyn, is this true? Did Uncle Yael really sabotage Uncle Zack and his wife?¡± Gwendolyn nodded and patted her hand to calm her down. Nico coughed lightly to get everyone¡¯s attention. Soon, the meeting room became quiet again. Nico took out Yael¡¯s confession and handed it over to the esteemed elders for their perusal. ¡°Mr. Yael is so cruel that he would even hurt his own brother. Old Mr. Jenson has been kept in the dark. When he found out the truth, he has taken ill. An unfaithful and unfilial murderer like Yael is not fit to be a descendant of the Jenson family. Today, Mr. Jenson will make a decision on Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s behalf and cut all ties with Yael. Yael and his family will be removed from the family register. From now onward, Yael and Xander no longer exist in the Jenson family. When they are indicted, it has nothing to do with the Jenson family.¡± Nico sounded very firm. In that instant, whispers broke out among the attendees. rence, one of the elders who was looking through the confession, looked up in shock. ¡°Even his family has to be removed from the family register? Isn¡¯t this punishment a little too harsh?¡± Another elder agreed with rence. ¡°No matter what Yael has done, it has nothing to do with Xander. After all, Xander is the descendant of the Jenson family. This punishment seems a little too much.¡±¡° Nico nced at Cedrick. Even though Cedrick showed no emotion in his facial expression, Nico could sense the unhappiness within him. ¡°Mr. Albert, Mr. rence, have you forgotten that not too long ago, Xander fed Old Mr. Jenson food that counteract his medication and caused him to go into aa, Nico said loudly in front of everyone. ¡°Xander has learned such heartless behavior from his father. Sooner orter, he will turn out like Mr. Yael and be an embarrassment to the Jenson family. If we continue to keep a scumbag like him in the family, other prominent families will definitely make a mockery out of the Jenson family and use Mr. Jenson of doing a bad job in governing the family.¡± Nico intentionally paused before taking out a few more documents as evidence. They consisted of the cruel acts that Yael and Xander had inflicted on Cedrick. Then, he showed them to the elders. A simple car ident that happened twenty-odd years ago had now turned into a long list of crimes. Nico stared at Albert and rence and turned the table around. ¡°Perhaps, both of you are aware of the premeditated car ident that happened twenty years ago? The same goes for Xander¡¯s sabotage of Old Mr. Jenson. Or maybe, both of you are also involved in these attacks?¡± Chapter 625 Chapter 625 Chapter 625 A Ruthless Punishment Is Unforgettable The two elders were startled and hastily shook their heads, seeking to distance themselves from those crimes, ¡°No, no, no. These matters have nothing to do with me. Besides, I just learned about how vicious Xander and Yael are today. The way Cedrick is handling this is correct. I support it!¡± ¡°Yes, I also support it. I can¡¯t believe these two sc¡±mbags did so many awful things to our family. Cedrick did the right thing!¡± Since Albert and rence had already voiced their support, the rest of the elders followed suit. Nico graciously checked in on everyone in the ancestral hall, proceeding only after establishing that there were no voices of dissent there. He nced at Elven, who was guarding the entrance to the ancestral hall, before announcing to all the members of the family inside, ¡°What Mr. Cedrick is saying is that since Yael hadmitted so many inhumane acts, he is to be first punished ording to the family rules with twentyshes. Then, Mr. rence and Mr. Albert will remove his and his son¡¯s names from the Jenson family registry. We hereby banish them.¡± Two minutester, two police officers brought Yael into the ancestral hall under Elven¡¯s direction. Everyone in the Jenson family was stunned when they saw Yael, having not seen him in a long time. Even though Cedrick had someone change him into a clean suit, the weariness on his face and his half- white hair made the middle-aged man seem like he had aged a dozen years. Yael had been the target of bullying from his cellmates for the past few days, leaving him with bruises all over his body that were covered by his suit. He entered the ancestral hall escorted by the two police officers, the metal shackles on his hands and feet rattling at every step he took. The entire ancestral hall was silent, everyone fixing their scrutinizing gazes on him. He was surrounded by a range of piercing looks, from anticipatory to gleeful and smug. Uneasy from being stared at so intensely, Yael bowed his head, concealing the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Their hostile stares seemed to pierce him in a hundred different ces, making him extremely ufortable. He made his way silently to the open area in the center of the ancestral hall, stopping in front of the ancestral portraits. Since Cedrick did not prepare a cushion for him, he could only hunch his shoulders and kneel on the cold marble floor. Meanwhile, Logan went to retrieve the punishment whip from an intricately-carved box. Nico stood at one side and instructed coldly, ¡°Yael, take off your shirt and receive twentyshes.¡± Yael was stunned as Cedrick had not mentioned receiving the family¡¯s whipping punishment. He had not been subjected to this punishment for almost twenty years. Twentyshes could seriously injure him to the brink of death. However, his pride over the years did not allow him to beg Cedrick for mercy. Even if he did, thetter would not let him off, and he would merely face everyone¡¯s ridicule. He snorted contemptuously, directing his anger at Nico. ¡°Do you think that you, an adopted son whom Cedrick brought back, are worthy of standing in the ancestral hall and handing out my punishment. condescendingly?¡± Despite his temper spiking, Nico had no words of retort since Yael was right. He was only able to enter the Jenson family because of Cedrick. Meanwhile, Cedrick, who sat facing him directly, immediately frowned and emanated a frigid aura. ¡°Although Nico is an adopted son, he has shown his dedication since bing part of the family and has never embarrassed the family outside. So, he certainly has the right to hand out your punishment. He is even more worthy than you to stand in the Jenson family ancestral hall,¡± he cut in. Yael had nothing to say in retaliation, knowing that saying anything would be futile given the substantial evidence pointing to his wrongdoings. Nico, on the other hand, was content, having been defended by Cedrick in front of everyone in the ancestral hall. The sense of dependence he had toward thetter deepened considerably as a result Logan soon returned with the whip. Since Yael had not removed his shirt, Nico had to get the police officers to help him. As the suit, which acted as thest protectiveyer, was stripped off, the bruises Yael received from the bullying came into view, eliciting a stream of murmurs in the ancestral hall. However, everyone who had seen the evidence of his crimes did not pity him. They only felt that he deserved it. After all, someone who would persecute even his own brother and nephew did not deserve any sympathy. Yael clenched his fists, feeling incredibly uneasy by their judgmental gazes. The pride he had been upholding for decades was trampled by Cedrick by pushing it down onto the ground of the ancestral hall and shattering it ruthlessly. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Despite being a middle-aged man, he still had to receive the whipping punishment in front of everyone. He felt great humiliation, especially since his and Xander¡¯s names would be removed from the Jenson family registry by the elders once it was over. To let me face such humiliation before my sentence is torture like no other. Cedrick couldn¡¯t be more ruthless. Yael red at Cedrick, who was not far in front of him, with anger and resentment, going all out as he shouted, ¡°What¡¯s the use of you just disposing of me, Cedrick? David, Tania, Logan, and even Dad are aplices. If you¡¯re capable, denounce your rtives and deal with them all. Otherwise, how will the souls of your parents rest in peace?¡± Cedrick¡¯s dark eyes were cold, and his hands under the suit cuffs gripped the armrests of his chair as he exuded a hostile aura. Nico, with his sharp observational skills, stuck some tape on Yael¡¯s mouth to prevent him from continuing to make aggressive remarks. Yael moaned a few times, his eyes filled with anger. Logan abruptly swung the punishment whip, causing it tond heavily on Yael¡¯s back. The sudden intense pain made Yael grimace, unable to maintain his arrogant facade. Thwack! The frightened sound of the whip was right next to his ears, and each stroke set off a burst of excruciating pain. Yael could distinctly feel rivulets of blood running down his back. Due to the barbs on the whips, every stroke from Logan would tear open his flesh, the pain settling deep into his bones. Everyone in the Jenson family watched in silence. Some of the younger members of the family could not bear to see such a bloody scene, and their hearts trembled. Even the experienced elders appeared grim. Triss was so frightened that she curled into Gwendolyn¡¯s arms. While stroking her back soothingly, Gwendolyn reached out to cover her eyes, preventing her from seeing the horrifying scene. The atmosphere in the ancestral hall was tense and terrifying, filled only with the sound of Logan swinging the whip. Yael went from being tough to gradually copsing in the end. He was no longer young, and his physical fitness had declined to the point where he could not bear theshings. Gwendolyn did not focus on the bloody scene at the center of the ancestral hall but looked at Cedrick, who was seated at the main seat. His gaze was stern and expressionless, staring ahead coldly. As the head of the family, he presided over the punishment with the imposing posture of someone superior. However, Gwendolyn felt sorry for him and could not help sighing. The twentyshes were quickly executed, but most of the Jenson family members observing the scene were feeling very ufortable. As the punishment was being carried out, many of them had paled. Even their hands were shaking and their feet numb. At the very beginning, Yael was still able to scream in pain, but after the twentyshings, he could only lic on the ground in a pitiful state, unable to get up. Even so, Logan had already controlled his strength. The twentyshes appeared terrifying but had only caused external injuries. The muscles and bones on his back were not damaged at all. Despite sweating profusely and trembling ufortably, Yael¡¯s mind was conscious, and he could not faint even if he wanted to. The respected elders of the Jenson family fetched the family registry and announced in front of him that his family line would be crossed out. Yael¡¯s entire body ached with rage. Not only did he have to endure the whipping punishment, but he also had to witness his family line being crossed out from the genealogy of the family he had lived in all his life. After that, he would be thrown out of the Jenson residence like an unwanted dog. A ruthless punishment is truly unforgettable. Chapter 626 Chapter 626 Chapter 626 Cedrick Is Ruthless Breathing heavily, Yael endured the agonizing pain all over his body as he red at Cedrick and gnashed his teeth, hating himself for being unable to bite thetter to death right then and there. Cedrick met his gaze with a condescending look in his eyes, his expression cold. Yael could not help thinking about how he had worked so hard his whole life only to suffer such a punishment in his old age. On top of that, he was criticized by his kin and kicked out of the family. To him, a punishment like that was nothing short of a death sentence. However, Cedrick was determined to destroy everyst shred of dignity Yael had carefully cultivated in the Jensen family for many years, making thetter pay a hefty price for his past sins. The ruthless punishment that took ce in the ancestral hall unsettled everyone who witnessed the scene. Yael¡¯s mouth had been taped shut after Nico found him too noisy, so the former had no way of hurling the insults and curses he wanted to say. All he could do was re at Cedrick usingly. By the time the meeting ended, the smell of Yael¡¯s blood had permeated the entire ancestral hall, leaving many looking pale and terrified. Cedrick instructed Nico to take Yael away, send him back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s detention center, and seek treatment for the injuries on his back. After Yael had been led away, the other family members could finally leave, and many slipped off hastily.Content ? N?velDrama.Org. In truth, it would have been sufficient to gather a few of the family¡¯s respected elders to watch Yael and his family receive punishment. However, Cedrick had summoned everyone to witness the ruthless act of kicking them out of the family. Clearly, it was to make an example of them and warn the rest to watch their behavior. If anyone dared to do what Yael and his family did and keep causing trouble, they would be taught a lesson. Everyone present was smart and could guess Cedrick¡¯s real motive for calling for the meeting, especially the two men who had just tried to help Yael and his family-Albert and rence. Stricken with terror. they desperately wished they could strap themselves to a rocket and leave the ancestral hall immediately. However, just as the two older men reached the hall¡¯s entrance, they were stopped by the Jenson family¡¯s bodyguards. ¡°Mr. Albert and Mr. rence, please stay a little longer. Mr. Cedrick would like to speak to the both of you in private.¡± The two men exchanged nces, their expressions stiffening at the same time. Inside the ancestral hall, the housekeepers were already cleaning the blood stains left on the floor from the punishment. Gwendolyn was helping a pale-faced Triss out when she noticed the terrified looks on Albert¡¯s and rence¡¯s faces. However, she led Triss past the two men without saying anything. David had fallen seriously ill right after returning from Federal Bureau of Investigation. Hence, now that Triss was feeling unwell after attending the denunciation of Yael and Xander, Gwendolyn had no choice but to personally send her home. On the way back, Triss still looked troubled as though she was holding something back. Nheless, Gwendolyn did not ask any questions. Both remained silent until they reached David¡¯s home. They were approaching the door when Triss finally grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist, her palms sweating due to her nervousness. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Gwendolyn asked in a concerned tone. Triss¡± eyes were reddened, and her voice trembled uncontrobly as she asked, ¡°My father¡­ Was he really involved in my aunt¡¯s and uncle¡¯s deaths?¡± Gwendolyn dropped her gaze, thinking it was not a matter she shouldment on. Triss¡¯ eyes dimmed when she saw Gwendolyn hesitate. ¡°I¡¯m aware that Cedrick arrested my father in Livingsfill and brought him back to Federal Bureau of Investigation a few days ago. Cedrick even has police officers stationed at the vi¡¯s entrance to monitor my father, not allowing him to go out.¡± As she spoke, tears began to fall from her eyes. ¡°Does my father really have something to do with what happened? Cedrick has punished Uncle Yael¡¯s whole family. Is my family¡­ going to be next? Gwendolyn I¡¯m scared.¡± Gwendolyn took some tissues from her bag to wipe away her tears andforted her gently. ¡°Cedrick wouldn¡¯t do that. Yael and Xander harbored evil intentions and plotted against him no less than five times. This time, they crossed the line. Your father is a kind man. Even if¡­¡± She paused briefly, then decided to go ahead and say what she thought. ¡°Even if Yael did deceive your father back then, and your father did do something to harm Cedrick, he has helped Cedrick a lot over the past few years. Cedrick wouldn¡¯t be so cruel.¡± Tapping the reddened tip of Triss¡¯ nose, she continued, ¡°Besides, I know you¡¯ve always respected Cedrick. You¡¯re a beautiful person with an even more beautiful heart. Cedrick may be cruel, but he¡¯s only like that to outsiders, not his family. He¡¯ll forever have gratitude to those who treat him well, and he¡¯ll ensure you¡¯ll always be the happy and carefree princess of the Jenson family¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. When have I ever lied to you?¡± After listening to Gwendolyn¡¯s reassurances, Triss felt much more at ease. ¡°Cedrick listens to you the most, so I trust you. ¡°Go in and take good care of your father. He¡¯s getting on in years, so there¡¯s no need for him to do so much. He should take it easy and enjoy his golden years. Leave it to Cedrick to take care of the Jenson family¡¯s affairs,¡± said Gwendolyn with a gentle pat on Triss head. Triss nodded. ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t worry. Having done her best tofort Triss, Gwendolyn watched as thetter entered the courtyard. She waited until Triss had left the garden before turning and heading back in the direction of the ancestral hall. Just as she was about to reach the hall, rence and Albert had also neared the end of their private conversation with Cedrick and were allowed to leave. She nced at them casually as they brushed past. her on their way out, only to discover they looked agitated. It was as though they were choking back their anger. Did they get a scolding from Cedrick? ¡°Gwenny She was watching them walk away when Cedrick¡¯s familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. He had already walked up to her. Caressing her face with his warm hands, he asked softly, ¡°Were you frightened by what happened in the ancestral hall carlier?¡± ¡°It was a little cruel, but Yael deserved it. I¡¯m not a young and inexperienced girl like Triss, so why would I be frightened?¡± she replied with a shake of her head. ¡°Professionally, my wife is a capable woman who can stand alongside me after all. No, wait. You¡¯re someone even I¡¯m a little afraid of,¡± he remarked, singing her praises. Earlier in the ancestral hall, he had maintained a stone-cold expression. His icy and terrifying aura had been enough to stir fear in anyone. In front of his wife, however, his gaze was so tender and gentle that it seemed to ooze with honey. There was not even the faintest hint of hostility. She nced at him without bothering to respond to his brown-nosingment. ¡°What did you do to Mr. rence and Mr. Albert? Why did theye out looking so dejected?¡± ¡°I merely used this meeting as a chance to eliminate those who used to be close to Yack.¡± Taken aback, she gazed at him strangely. ¡°But¡­ those people are your rtives, your elders. Even if they were rather close with Yael, I don¡¯t think they did anything to harm¡ª¡± Here, Cedrick interrupted her and said, ¡°Gwenny, I only punished them with a three-month deduction of the dividends from the shares meant for their retirement. I also assigned their younger family members to the counties to manage our subsidiaries, and they¡¯re not allowed to leave their posts within the year They used to be on Yael¡¯s side. After my parents died, they probably also helped him plead with Grandpa for mercy. Shouldn¡¯t I punish them?¡± Gwendolyn was stunned. She quickly realized he took a hard line with anything concerning his parents deaths and would not change his mind. ¡°You¡¯re the head of the Jenson family, so you have full authority to make decisions on family matters. It¡¯s up to you how you want to deal with them.¡± Her tone was calm, but Cedrick sensed she seemed a little upset. ¡°Darling, are you angry at me? I didn¡¯t mean to treat you like an outsider. Of course, you have a say in the Jenson family¡¯s affairs.¡± ¡°That never crossed my mind,¡± she answered with a nonchntugh. However, she could not help thinking that Cedrick was too hung up about the ident back then, making her worry slightly about what would happen to Triss and her family. The matter with Yael is almost settled now. As for your Uncle David¡­ What are you nning to deal with him?¡± Chapter 627 Chapter 627 Chapter 627 Hubby And Wifey Time Cedrick¡¯s gaze lowered, and he fell silent when David was brought up. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t urge him to speak. Two of them stood by the entrance of the ancestral hall. One looked at the ground, while the other stared straight ahead tantly. After contemting briefly, Cedrick asked casually, ¡°What would you do as the head of the family if this happens within the Harris family?¡± Gwendolyn turned around, left the ancestral hall, and answered softly, ¡°But this is a Jenson family affair.¡± Cedrick hurriedly caught up to her and reached for her hand. ¡°I know you and Triss are childhood best friends. That¡¯s why I want to know your thoughts.¡± ¡°Is my opinion that important?¡± Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°This is a Jenson family affair, and you¡¯re the head of the family. I¡¯ll be crossing the line if I ask too much.¡± ¡°Your feelings are the most important to me. How can it be considered crossing the line if my wife meddles in the Jenson family affair?¡± Cedrick tightened his grip on her hand, feeling the warmth of their intertwined fingers. He met her gaze and said earnestly, ¡°I know the punishment Uncle David and his family received was too cruel and that you¡¯re unhappy about it because you think they don¡¯t deserve such a grave punishment. The warning Yael received this time was a firm deterrence for them. I¡¯ll call off the security standing guard outside Uncle David¡¯s house and end his punishment if that¡¯s what you want.¡±¡° Gwendolyn was taken aback as she silently listened to him speak. After deliberating for a while, she reached up and stroked Cedrick¡¯s forehead to check if he was having a fever. ¡°Are you not feeling well? You¡¯re not someone who makes such a hasty decision.¡± She thought it was absurd that he would decide David¡¯s and his family¡¯s punishment based on her feelings and opinion. It feels like I married a different person. Cedrick¡¯s head drooped further at her question. His grip clenched tighter around her hand as he pulled her to his front. With his arms wrapped around her, he buried his face into the curve of her neck, intentionally obscuring the slightly reddish rims of his eyes from feeling upset. He sucked in a deep breath, inhaling her scent to soothe his forlornness. ¡°Hubby, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Gwendolyn felt he was acting weird that day. Cedrick didn¡¯t lift his head and answered with a deep, muffled voice, ¡°I¡¯m not sick. I think¡­ you¡¯re the only person who cares about me in this whole world. Thus, I want to give you the best part and all my love.¡± When his life was in danger after contracting $404, Gwendolyn not only didn¡¯t give up on him but even went all the way to Erihal in her pregnant state to acquire his medication and deal with Charles. Actually, he was afraid then He feared Gwendolyn would betray him and even give up on him in the future.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. He knew he wouldn¡¯t survive if that day ever came. In that case, he woulde up with every way possible to pamper his wife, so much so that she wouldn¡¯t be able to care for herself once she left him. That way, he could tie her to his side forever. He was adamant in doing that, and his arms circling her waist tightened. He wanted to hold her close until she was a part of him. Gwendolyn¡¯s breath began to shorten under his firm grip. However, she didn¡¯t stop him. Instead, she gently patted the back of his head to console him. Cedrick¡¯s words were shocking to her ears. She could sense the pain he felt when Valentino condoned Yael¡¯s actions. Even though he didn¡¯t voice it, she knew his love and care for his family was sensitive. The more Gwendolyn thought about it, the more her heart ached for him. She lightly leaned into his ear and promised, ¡°I¡¯ll give you all my love. She suddenly recalled something in the end and added, ¡°To our babies as well, Benny and Zendy.¡± Cedrick¡¯s arms stiffened. It was apparent he was stunned by her promise. ¡°Exclude Benny and Zendy. I want to monopolize all your love.¡± Although he was aware that his thought of monopolizing his wife¡¯s love was childish and selfish, he couldn¡¯t control it The corner of Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth twitched. She caressed his hand on her back before raising her hand and smacking his butt. A loud p echoed. It felt nice to p his butt, given the firmness of it. The sound wasn¡¯t soft at all and even sounded a little intimate. She faked a grim expression and admonished, ¡°It looks like you need to learn a lesson for treating your own children as rivals.¡± Cedrick released her, bent down, and carried her into his arms in a bridal style. The look in his eyes was so hot that it sent tingles down her body. ¡°We still have a few hours before returning to work. Let¡¯s head over to Harrick Vi, and you can teach me whatever lesson you want. I¡¯m fine with whatever position you want.¡± Even though it wasn¡¯t her first time listening to him talk dirty to her, Gwendolyn still couldn¡¯t help but blush at his teasing. He¡¯s so charming¡­ bad¡­ and hot. Gwendolyn gently knocked the side of his head with her fingers and scolded, ¡°Think about your image. We¡¯re not at home yet.¡± Hubby And Wifey Time A look of understanding crossed Cedrick¡¯s face as his long legs strode quickly and steadily, betraying his eagerness to get to Harrick Vi as fast as possible to have a wonderful afternoon break with his wife. Yael¡¯s case finally came to an end. He was sent back to the lockup at Federal Bureau of Investigation to await trial with the judge. Ever since Xander¡¯s rescue, Cedrick never asked about the former¡¯s welfare and decided to leave him to his own devices. Cedrick had removed all the men Valentino had nted in the bureau. Even though Cedrick didn¡¯t say it directly, his intentions were clear-reminding Valentino that he was already retired and to stay out of the younger generation¡¯s affairs. Ever since the ancestral hall grand assembly, Cedrick never visited Valentino again, He got his te full with his work and two babies. He needed to hire someone he could trust to care for them so that he could go traveling with Kieran and Inez. Since Charles had taken good care of the babies thest time Gwendolyn went to Astoria for a work trip. the burden of being a babysitter fell onto his shoulders once again. Meanwhile, Cedrick handed over all his work at Jenson Group to Nico. As for his work at Federal Bureau of Investigation, he assigned Neville to assist Nico in handling urgent matters. Their first stop was the capital of Turlen. In the first-ss cabin, Cedrick attentively covered Gwendolyn with a nket and acted as a pillow withoutint, allowing her to have a good nap. Sitting across from them were Inez and Kieran staring wide-eyed at the two, Kieran watched Cedrick and Gwendolyn for a while before discreetly turning his head to the side to peek at Inez. He noticed the envy in her eyes as she stared at Gwendolyn, sleeping soundly in Cedrick¡¯s embrace. Cedrick noticed the gaze from the couple across from him and coldly arched a brow at Kieran, hinting thetter about something. Despite so, Kieran¡¯s temperament was still cool as a cucumber. Cederick¡¯s attempt atmunicating with his eyes failed. Although Kieran didn¡¯t understand Cedrick¡¯s implication, he asked Inez, ¡°Are you sleepy? I can get a nket for you. Inez was briefly taken aback by his question but came back to her senses and shook her head. Since Gwendolyn was asleep, Inez lowered her voice and whispered, ¡°I had a good rest for the past few days, so I don¡¯t feel sleepy at all. Are you tired, Mr. Kieran?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Kieran dropped the conversation after his offer was turned down. The space fell silent. Cedrick stared pointedly at Kieran and shook his head. Oh, no. He is a blockhead who don¡¯t understand anything. It¡¯s pointless for him to read books or articles on love and rtionship since he won¡¯t know how to initiate anything. With a smile, Cedrick teased Kieran, ¡°I think you still have a lot to learn from me during this trip.¡± Kieran¡¯s brows furrowed, noting the implication behind his words. ¡°Are you asking me for tuition fee?¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t hide his intention. ¡°Something like that.¡± Inez was surprised. ¡°Mr. Jenson is the second richest man in Chanaca. You¡¯re only a spot lower than Gwendolyn. I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re asking Mr. Kieran for that meager tuition fee.¡± She lowered her voice further and rebuked, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you love and pamper your wife a lot and that you¡¯re a hen-pecked husband. Can it be¡­ that your wallet is under your wife¡¯s strict control? Are you nning to earn some pin money from Mr. Kieran behind Gwendolyn¡¯s back?¡± Gwendolyn was actually napping lightly, so she could catch a few keywords here and there throughout her sluggish haze despite Inez¡¯s soft voice. She raised her sleepy face and nced at Cedrick through half-closed eyes. ¡°I¡¯m curious as to why you¡¯re asking for tuition fee from Kieran too. Are you really nning to earn some pin money?¡± Cedrick¡¯s cold mask stiffened at her question. Chapter 628 Chapter 628 Chapter 628 The First Day Of The Trip Facing the gaze of the three individuals, Cedrick leaned close to Gwendolyn¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m just thinking of helping Kieran gain some experience in pursuing a woman.¡±¡° Gwendolyn stifled augh and caressed the man¡¯s handsome face affectionately, exining to Kieran and Inez, ¡°Ceddy doesn¡¯t have secret savings, and I¡¯ve never managed his finances, Well, he might surprise me with small gifts from time to time, but he¡¯s very responsible and never spends recklessly. I think he¡¯s just joking around with you, Kieran.¡± Cedrick¡¯s dark eyes were filled with satisfaction as he yfully nuzzled her nose. ¡°My wife knows me best.¡± Kieran and Inez both cringed from Cedrick and Gwendolyn¡¯s tant disy of affection, even though they themselves were also a couple. Kieran knitted his brows, feeling slightly displeased. He regretted asking Gwendolyn and Cedrick to tag along, for he was unsure how to react. Who knows they could be so lovey-dovey with each other? Unaware of Kieran¡¯s thoughts, Inez looked at Gwendolyn and Cedrick and could not help but feel a hint of envy toward their rtionship. After several hours of flying, the four of them finally arrived at the airport in the capital city of Turlen. Turien was renowned as thend of sweet treats, particrly known for its love of sweet curry sauce. Cedrick, Kieran, and the others went straight to thergest food center in the afternoon. ¡°There are too many people here. Should we eat at the hotel?¡± Kieran suggested. Gwendolyn disagreed. ¡°The most popr shops are often found in the bustling streets and alleys, offering the most delicious vors. While five-star hotels excel in cleanliness and presentation, they oftenck that authentic taste. Since we¡¯re here, we should experience Tulen¡¯s local culture.¡± Cedrick tightened his grip on Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± Inez, too, agreed. ¡°The streets have such a lively and vibrant atmosphere. Eating in a hotel would be too dull. I think indulging in street food would be a better choice. We can also take some unique photos to capture our memories.¡± Since everyone agreed with Gwendolyn, Kieran had nothing more to say and could only ept their suggestion. Gwendolyn ordered two servings of pineapple fried rice from a street vendor, while Inez opted for the signature hot and sour lemongrass soup and curry noodles. Cedrick and Kieran, on the other hand, didn¡¯t even go through the menu and went along with the two women, eating whatever they ordered. If Inez and Gwendolyn could not finish their meals, they would dly help finish up the remaining food to avoid wastage. The entire shopping experience in the afternoon was delightfully harmonious. However, contrary to Cedrick and Kieran¡¯s expectations, they seemed to have transformed into the women¡¯s bag carriers, trailing behind them. The two women appeared to have clicked with each other as their trip progressed, bing great friends and developing a bond. Walking side by side, they chatted andughed while indulging in their shopping sprees. Meanwhile, Cedrick and Kieran remained silent, dutifully following behind and carrying the things their respective partners bought. For Gwendolyn and Inez, the three hours they spent shopping were enjoyable, but, for Kieran and Cedrick, it proved to be a rather uneventful experience. At around four in the afternoon, as the weather grew unexpectedly hot, the group made the decision to visit a swimming pool for a refreshing swim. Kieran and Cedrick had well-toned bodies that appeared lean when they disrobed. As they emerged from the changing room, they were dressed in nothing but swim trunks. With their broad shoulders, narrow waists, well-defined abs, and a perfectly sculpted V-line, they exuded an undeniable sex appeal. They appeared like male models fresh off the pages of an international fashion magazine as they emerged. from the changing room. Their striking looks elicited awe from local women, who couldn¡¯t help but gasp in admiration. The women¡¯s jaws dropped, and some were even on the verge of drooling. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Under the weight of all those stares, the two men stood by the poolside. While one remained calm andposed, the other had a dark and intense gaze. Both harbored a hint of displeasure as they silently waited for thedies to finish changing. After a brief few minutes, Gwendolyn and Inez emerged from the women¡¯s changing room, walking side by side like close confidantes, Gwendolyn¡¯s swimsuit, an emerald green piece meticulously selected by Cedrick, offered the perfect bnce of coverage, enhancing her exquisite figure. The lower half featured a delicate, translucent green skirt that added a touch of elegance to her slim waist and fair skin, making her look like a fairy, radiating purity and grace. Inez opted for a dark red swimsuit that left little to the imagination, showcasing her alluring and voluptuous curves. It was a rare moment for her to embrace her feminine side. Standing side by side, they created a perfect colorbination of red and green thatplemented each other beautifully. There was no hint of discord or tackiness. Instead, theyplemented each other harmoniously, like a pair of sisters. As they emerged, not only Cedrick and Kieran were momentarily stunned, but the men in the pool behind them also perked up, with many even whistling in an attempt to catch the attention of the two beauties. The expressions on Kieran¡¯s and Cedrick¡¯s faces turned grim. They believed the most sensual and alluring aspects of their women should be exclusively reserved for them. How dare those lowly meny eyes on them? Driven by possessiveness, Cedrick and Kieran simultaneously grabbed a towel and approached their respective partners, draping the towels over them. Gwendolyn¡¯s swimsuit, personally selected by Cedrick, had a more conservative design, but it was not the case for Inez. The swimsuit Inez put on entuated her seductive figure. Kieran¡¯s expression grew stern as he wished he could wrap his fianc¨¦e up like a mummy, covering her from head to toe. Feeling constricted by the tightly wrapped towel, Inez protested, ¡°Loosen your grip a bit! I can hardly breathe. We haven¡¯t even gotten in the water, yet you¡¯ve wrapped me up like this. What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Kieran¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You¡¯re showing too much skin. It¡¯s not attractive.¡± Inez stared at him in shock, as if struck by lightning, feeling deeply hurt. ¡°I thought I looked good. Do you really not like how I look?¡± Sensing Inez¡¯s emotional distress, Gwendolyn swiftly reproached her brother. ¡°Kieran, you shouldn¡¯t have said that. What do you mean when you said she¡¯s not attractive when she shows too much skin? Be mindful of your words. If you offend my future sister-inw, you might lose her for good.¡± Cedrick carefully draped the towel around his wife, ensuring her modesty below the neck. With a knowing look, he directly gave Kieran a piece of advice. ¡°My wife is undeniably stunning, and I can hardly contain myself when I see her in this swimsuit. However, her beauty is meant for my eyes only. I¡¯ll feel jealous if any other men dare toy eyes on her. Having listened attentively to Cedrick¡¯s words, Kieran instantly grasped the implied meaning. He looked at Inez apologetically and spoke sincerely. ¡°Inez, I apologize for my thoughtless words earlier. That¡¯s not what I intended to convey. Inez suppressed her anger, refusing to ept his exnation. ¡°I think you meant what you said, Mr. Kieran. I understand what you meant when you said I¡¯m unattractive.¡± Kieran lowered his head. ¡°But that¡¯s not what I meant. You misunderstood me ¡°What do you actually mean then?¡± Cedrick and Gwendolyn¡¯s lips twitched as they listened to the conversation. Gwendolyn could not help but intervene. ¡°What are you two going on about? Just tell her what you think. Kieran Kieran struggled to express himself and got caught up in the topic, feeling overwhelmed. Cedrick gently patted his shoulder and swiftly came to his rescue. ¡°Kieran is not exactly good with words. When he said ¡®unattractive, he actually meant that he didn¡¯t want other men toy eyes on you.¡± Kieran nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s exactly what I meant.¡± ncing at Cedrick, who was eloquent and had high emotional intelligence, Inez could not help but feel frustrated whenparing him to her own fianc¨¦. ¡°Since that¡¯s what you meant, why couldn¡¯t you express it yourself? Why did Mr. Jenson have to exin your intentions for you?¡± she expressed her dissatisfaction, feeling a bit hurt. ¡°It¡¯s my first time swimming with you, and I chose a swimsuit that I really liked, thinking you would appreciate it.¡± Kieran froze for a moment. ¡°Of course, I appreciate it, but what I meant earlier¡­¡± Inez¡¯s anger was on the verge of erupting as she interjected, saying, ¡°If you appreciate it, why is there still ¡°but¡¯? Are you trying to give me praise and then undermine it?¡± Kieran defended himself. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°What do you mean then? If you like it, you like it. If you don¡¯t, you don¡¯t. What¡¯s with all the ¡°buts?¡± she retorted. ¡°Inez, L¡± Kieran was at a loss for words. On the sidelines, Gwendolyn and Cedrick, too, were rendered speechless. Are they going to continue arguing about this topic all day long? Chapter 629 Chapter 629 Chapter 629 Clearing The Area Gwendolyn observed the ongoing dispute between the two and sighed in resignation. ¡°How about this? Why don¡¯t you two settle it with a fight? Whoever wins will have their viewpoint acknowledged and followed. A fight? No way. Kieran sighed, shooting his sister a reproachful look. ¡°I could never bring myself to bully her. All I can do is submit defeat and let her beat me up!¡± ¡°Then you should just let her do so! After all, it was your fault for saying what you shouldn¡¯t have. Just let her hit you to vent her anger.¡± Heeding his sister¡¯s words, Kieran gracefully inclined his body and drew his face closer to Inez. ¡°It was my fault for upsetting you with my poor choice of words. If it helps you feel better, go ahead and hit me.¡± Inez looked at the handsome face mere inches away from hers, finding it hard to bring herself to hit him. She hesitated for a moment, but the lingering frustration within her demanded some form of release. In the end, she pinched the man¡¯s cheek indignantly and said, ¡°You should really pay Mr. Jenson for some lessons on emotional intelligence, Mr. Kieran, Inez suggested, her words carrying a subtle hint of jest and exasperation. ¡°Understood,¡± he said submissively. As Inez¡¯s anger dissipated, she released her grip on his cheek. A faint reddish mark lingered on his initially pale skin, surprising her and stirring a tinge of regret within her. ¡°Does it hurt? I didn¡¯t use much force, yet it turned red. A grin tugged at the corner of Kieran¡¯s lips as he stated, ¡°It¡¯s because my skin is rather delicate.¡± Just as he was about to speak honestly and im it didn¡¯t hurt, Cedrick leaned in unexpectedly, whispering something into his ear. The words that had been on the tip of Kieran¡¯s tongue were abruptly swallowed back. ¡°It hurts, it really does,¡± he said instead. Feeling sorry for the man, Inez tenderly caressed his cheek with the palm of her hand, offering a gentle massage to alleviate his difort. Kieran gripped her delicate hand, and following Cedrick¡¯s guidance, bit the bullet and said. ¡°The more you rub, the redder it bes. If you¡¯re willing to give it a kiss, I¡¯m sure the pain will vanish.¡± He tried so hard to sound natural as she said that. Inez was taken aback, her face instantly flushing red. In the presence of Gwendolyn and Cedrick, she found it hard to disy her affection. ¡°There are people watching. It¡¯s embarrassing,¡± she stammered. feeling a sense of self-consciousness. In response, Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°We didn¡¯t see a thing As Inez turned her head to listen to Gwendolyn, Kieran bent down once more, bringing his face closer and silently requesting a kiss, The fiery blush on his earlobes served as a testament to his inner shyness, hidden beneath a seemingly confident exterior. Unable to resist, Inez leaned in and swiftly nted a kiss on his face. At that very moment, Cedrick enveloped his wife¡¯s slender waist with his arm, boldly bringing his lips to hers, sealing the moment with a passionate kiss, Inez and Kieran did not see a thing since it happened simultaneously. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s heart raced faster as a result. Being stolen a kiss like that¡­ it¡¯s quite exhrating. Cedrick certainly knows how to make a move! Behind them, there were plenty of attractive men and women in the pool. The men¡¯s eyes were fixed on Gwendolyn and Inez, while the women couldn¡¯t help but admire Kieran and Cedrick¡¯s well-built physiques. The gaze of the entire group remained fixated on them, unable to be diverted elsewhere as if captivated by their presence. Cedrick gathered the towel around Gwendolyn¡¯s body, annoyed by the intrusive gazes around them, ¡°Gwenny, I don¡¯t want those prying eyes to see your captivating allure in the water. Perhaps I should clear the ce out.¡± Gwendolyn was momentarily taken aback. ¡°This is Turlen, not Chanaea. It¡¯s best not to be too arrogant. If needed, we can always move to the smaller pool nearby, she suggested, offering a practical alternative. The man did not respond but merely fished out his phone and beganposing a text message. ¡°What are you up to? Are you really nning to clear the area?¡± As Gwendolyn leaned in to take a look, he had just hit the send button and locked his phone. ¡°I¡¯m not even allowed to read the message?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Wearing a tender smile on his countenance, Cedrick gracefully scooped the woman up and settled her on afortable lounge chair. He promptly requested a waiter to bring a refreshing ss of juice and a tter of freshly cut chilled fruits. Taking a seat by her side, he attentively served her, tending to her every need. ¡°All you need to do is wait for ten minutes. It will be over before you know it, Gwenny, he assured her. The man executed a graceful sequence of movements as if part of a choreographed dance, His actions flowed with natural ease, leaving both Kieran and Inez momentarily speechless. ¡°Mr. Jenson is undoubtedly a seasoned expert in matters of the heart. Witnessing the proficiency with which he dotes on his wife, it¡¯s no wonder that Gwendolyn finds him irresistible. Few women in this world can withstand the charm of such a remarkable and devoted husband,¡± Inez remarked. Kieran discerned a hint of envy in her voice. The indomitable spirit within the manpelled him to gently grasp Inez¡¯s hand and affirm, ¡°In due time, you will also find yourself with a remarkable husband, possessing all the qualities of an exceptional partner.¡± Kieran guided her to a lounge chair, ensuring herfort before assuming his position beside her. He then delicately peeled grapes, mirroring Cedrick¡¯s attentiveness to his beloved while asionally stealing nces at the other couple. As Inez observed his clumsy yet earnest gestures, she was enraptured by the genuine sincerity with which Kieran treated her. It was a moment that touched her deeply, and her heart brimmed with a profound sense of appreciation and affection for the man beside her. Indeed, he had resolved to learn how to properly pamper his significant other. Seizing the opportunity while Kieran was focused on peeling the grapes, she leaned forward and nted a gentle kiss on his forehead. ¡°Mr. Kieran, you know, I feel like¡­ I can¡¯t wait a whole year anymore. This trip has made me realize that I want to¡­¡± Take our rtionship to the next level when we return. Kieran interrupted her before she couldplete the rest of her sentence. His gaze fixed on her in astonishment as he uttered righteously, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s not an option. We made a pact that I would pursue you for a year, and I can¡¯t back down now. It¡¯s important for me to keep my word and show you that I¡¯m a man of integrity. The same goes for you. You promised me a chance, and I intend to honor that.¡± Inez¡¯s enthusiasm was instantly deted, and a look of frustration crossed her face. ¡°You¡­¡± Can¡¯t you see the sincerity dripping from my words? Is it that difficult to consider advancing our rtionship Can¡¯t we fast-track this rtionship upgrade? s, Kieran had misunderstood Inez¡¯s intentions, thinking she was dissatisfied with his recent performance and wouldn¡¯t let him pursue her anymore, abandoning him altogether. ¡°A promise is a promise. You can¡¯t go back on your word now, Inez. We agreed on a year of pursuit, and not a day less. I intend to make the most of this time,¡± said the man. Thereafter, he sheepishly extended the peel grape toward her, ¡°It¡¯s sweet. Why don¡¯t you give it a try. Inez?¡± Inez felt a surge of exasperation as if her breath had been caught in her chest. ¡°No, thank you. Please go ahead and enjoy the grapes on your own, Mr. Kieran. Grapes are beneficial for the mind!¡± Upon finishing her sentence, Inez brushed his hand away and turned around, pouting as shey on the lounge chair. With closed eyes, she feigned sleep, clearly expressing her displeasure. ¡°Inez?¡± Kieran looked puzzled but quickly sensed that something was amiss with her demeanor. ¡°Why are you upset? Is it because you don¡¯t like grapes?¡± The man¡¯s obliviousness left her speechless. In contrast to the awkward atmosphere between the two of them, Cedrick and Gwendolyn were in perfect harmony. However, after she swallowed the fifth piece of watermelon, Cedrick set the fruit tter aside, signaling an end to their yful feeding ritual. ¡°Eating too much cold food isn¡¯t good for the stomach. Let¡¯s take a break from eating chilled foods, Gwenny, and give your stomach some time to rest,¡± he said. ¡°All right. Hubby, do you happen to have any massage services avable?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn shifted her position,zily resting on the lounge chair. She gracefully swept her long hair to one side, exposing the beautiful curve of her back. It was a subtle indication, suggesting that Cedrick could offer her a soothing back massage. Cedrick¡¯s gaze lingered on her, the desire burning in his eyes bing more intense with each passing moment. In this posture, her body was captivating, with every inch of her skin exuding an irresistible charm, especially her beautifully sculpted backside. The pool area ham¡¯t been cleared yet. Why is she lying down already? Cedrick frowned, almost tempted to give her a yful swat on her behind, just to remind her of the boundaries of wearing a swimsuit in public. Just as he was grinding his teeth in contemtion, Gwendolyn¡¯s voice reached his ears. ¡°Well? What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°All right, all right. Here Ie.¡± In an instant, Cedrick snapped out of his wandering thoughts and discreetly grabbed a towel, carefully covering Gwendolyn¡¯s waist and below. He made sure to wrap her up securely before asserting with confidence, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want you catching a cold, Darling¡± Confused, Gwendolyn felt the warmth radiating from the ground and shifted her gaze toward the zing sunset in the distance. Chapter 630 Chapter 630 Chapter 630 Deserves To Be Doted On He¡¯s draping a towel over me on this sweltering day devoid of a refreshing breeze because he¡¯s afraid I¡¯d catch a cold? Sighing softly, Gwendolyn intertwined her hands and cradled her head, embracing the decision to not expose him. Ten minutester, the previously lively and bustling main swimming pool was cleared, and all the guests were relocated to the smaller pools. For those who were hesitant to depart, the generous owner provided a full refund, essentially granting them aplimentary time of leisure. It didn¡¯t result in any loss for the guests, but the swift clearance of the main pool left many with waning enthusiasm. The speedy clearing of the pool was noticeable to many residents of Turlen, and they could discern the presence of an influential figure among the two couples. Yep, we can¡¯t afford to offend them. Cedrick concluded the massage for his beloved wife with a sense of aplishment. ¡°How about we head for a swim now, Gwenny?¡± he proposed. Gwendolyn raised her heavy eyelids, almost surrendering to the blissful massage that had left her feeling drowsy. Meanwhile, the man tenderly removed the towel, carefully turning her over and embracing her in his arms. Gracefully striding toward the pool with his long, muscr legs exposed, Cedrick carried his wife with pride and gently lowered her into the water. In those fleeting ten minutes, the pool water had been swiftly reced by the diligent staff, ensuring its pristine rity. The heat that lingered on her body dissipated as she immersed herself in the refreshing water. A sense of pure bliss washed over Gwendolyn, and she beckoned to Inez, who was still sulking on the lounge chair by the poolside. ¡°Come over here, Inez. How about we y a round of water polo?¡± In response to Gwendolyn¡¯s beckoning, Inez swiftly rose from her seat and gracefully lowered herself into the water, her hand delicately gripping the railing. Without casting a single nce at Kieran, who was engrossed in peeling grapes, she immersed herself in the pool. ¡°Come join us, Kieran!¡± Kieran, being sufficiently tactful, finished thest grape, wiped his hand clean, and joined them in the Water Fueled by lingering resentment, Inez chose not to team up with Kieran, which resulted in Gwendolyn partnering with Inez, leaving the two gentlemen on the opposite side of the. As the gamemenced, both men disyed their gentlemanly manners, allowing Gwendolyn the honor of serving the first ball. She toyed with the ball in her hand and yfully addressed her brother, ¡°You know me, Kieran. I ranked among the top three in national water polopetitions. If I were to defeat both of you, would it be considered shameful for you two? Well, I hope you won¡¯t perceive it as an unfair advantage or as me taking advantage of newbies.¡± Kieran paused, slightly startled. Among the Harris siblings, it was Treyton who had been the standout in water polo, even earning a second-ce ranking nationwide. On the other hand, Kieran had always been dedicated to his studies and the pursuit of medicine, leaving himpletely unfamiliar with the sport. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of embarrassment, knowing that he was about to face another potential defeat in front of Inez. Just as he was thinking. Cedrick quickly picked up the conversation. ¡°Darling, it appears that you haven¡¯t had the pleasure of witnessing my water polo skills. How about we have a friendlypetition and make a little wager?¡± On the opposite side of the, Inez chose to maintain her silence, knowing well that she was a novice in this game and not adept at ying. Judging by their confident posture, it was clear that Gwendolyn and Cedrick were skilled yers. I¡¯d better not put myself on the spot by provoking them! A charming smile tugged at the corners of Gwendolyn¡¯s lips as she asked, ¡°All right. What do you want to bet?¡± In a deep and alluring tone, Cedrick proposed, ¡°If I win, I¡¯d like for you to grant me a one-minute underwater kiss.¡± The other three individuals in the pool were momentarily taken aback, recognizing Cedrick¡¯s knack for seizing opportunities to his advantage. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Though Kieran felt a touch of bashfulness, he couldn¡¯t help but share in the anticipation of the underwater kiss mentioned by Cedrick. Joining in, he added, ¡°I¡¯ll wager the same as Cedrick.¡° Gwendolyn nced at the two men on the opposite side before settling her gaze on Cedrick¡¯s handsome face. Her lips curved into a mischievous smile as she spoke. ¡°As for the exact terms of my wager, I haven¡¯t quite made up my mind. But, Mr. Jenson, you should be prepared. If you happen to lose, you must be willing to ept whatever punishment or training I propose¡± Any punishment or training? Cedrick¡¯s back tensed, and the smile on his lips faltered ever so slightly. In a pool in the capital of Turlen, right before Kieran and Inez, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t possibly be suggesting¡­. His mind started to wander down a mischievous path, causing his handsome face to flush with a tinge of red and his cars to burn. Sensing the man¡¯s prolonged silence, Gwendolyn deliberately cleared her throat, bringing his wandering thoughts back to the present. ¡°Are you chickening out. Mr. Jenson? Afraid to take the bet?¡± she teased. Cedrick didn¡¯t consider his actions as a sign of cowardice; it was more about being cautious. He cleared his throat with a hint of uncertainty and asked, ¡°What kind of punishment are we talking about? Is it¡­ going to be quite severe?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s twinkling eyes exuded a mischievous charm as she yfully raised her voice, ¡°Didn¡¯t I mention that I haven¡¯t decided on the specific punishment? But rest assured, it will be something truly unforgettable, guaranteeing that you, Mr. Jenson, will forever remember this trip to Turlen.¡± Cedrick¡¯s jaw tensed as he found himself caught in a difficult predicament. In the presence of Kieran and Inez, he felt the need to maintain his pride. Taking a deep breath, he reluctantly responded. ¡°Very well. In order to win this bet, I won¡¯t go easy on you, Darling.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to,¡± Gwendolyn retorted with a hint of pride. Subsequently, the attention in the pool shifted toward Inez as she was the only one who hadn¡¯t dered her wager. After careful consideration. Inez voiced, ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. Why don¡¯t we just start the game? We can figure out the wager once someone wins. It¡¯s just a game after all, and I won¡¯t ask for anything too harsh as a punishment.¡± And so, the impromptu water polo match began. Cedrick had never mentioned the fact that he had always been a skilled athlete. From his childhog military days, he had always excelled in sports, particrly water polo. Winning seemed to be second nature to him, and he was determined not to ept anything less thin victory in this match. Given the contrasting physique and strength between the burly soldiers in the military and the petite stature of Gwendolyn and Inez, it was apparent that the two women would face some physical challenges during the match. To make it fair, they decided to y for a total of seven points. In the first three rounds, Cedrick genuinely didn¡¯t hold back and steadily secured three points for his team. During the fourth round, due to Inez¡¯sck of skill and experience in the game, she didn¡¯t contribute much. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s determination soared, enabling her to push through despite her waning stamin and win one point. Noticing his wife struggling to catch her breath, Cedrick couldn¡¯t bear to see her exerting herself so much. He realized that the match had been quite unfair for Gwendolyn and Inez from the beginning. Deliberately, he opted to serve with just one hand, subtly going easy on them. Gwendolyn managed to secure three consecutive wins on her side. However, each victory was hard- fought and took a toll on her energy. If the match turned into a grueling back-and-forth battle, the disparity in stamina would be apparent, cing the women at a disadvantage. Gwendolyn had to give her all to secure those three points, while Cedrick effortlessly secured his three points, showing no signs of fatigue. The tension heightened as they approached the final point, the ultimate decider of the winner. Despite that, Gwendolyn found herself hesitant to serve the final ball. Deep down, she sensed that Cedrick¡¯s water polo skills far surpassed her own, and she suspected that he¡¯d intentionally conceded the previous three points. Gasping for breath, she mustered the determination to challenge him. ¡°Cedrick, this is thest point, and you better not hold back. If I am to win, I want to win fair and square. If my skills are no match for yours, then I¡¯m willing to ept defeat.¡± ¡°All right. Whatever you say, Darling,¡± the man replied with a tender smile. Upon receiving his response, Gwendolyn lifted the ball and propelled it toward the other side of the with a swift and graceful trajectory. Watching the round and buoyant ball approaching him. Gedrick discreetly chose to ease up and allow the ball to pass by. He felt a pang of sympathy for his wife, who was determined to emerge victorious despite being utterly exhausted. It can¡¯t be helped. She¡¯s my one and only wife, and she deserves to be doted on. Punishments and consequences were insignificant to him, and what mattered most was her happiness. Chapter 631 Chapter 631 Chapter 631 Punishment For Losing The Game Since Cedrick intentionally performed poorly during the game and Kieran was an amateur, Gwendolyn confidently scored the final point. Gwendolyn and Inez won the spontaneous water volleyballpetition by the skin of their teeth. They yed seven rounds and triumphed over the opposition team four to three. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re indeed amazing at this. I admit defeat and willingly ept punishment.¡± Cedrick¡¯s jet- ck eyes overflowed with affection while the corners of his lips curled slightly. Kieran added, ¡°We aren¡¯t sore losers. Inez and Gwendolyn, we¡¯re at your disposal.¡± Inez nced toward Gwendolyn and was about to ask her about the punishment when she noticed the latter giving Cedrick a meaningful look. Gwendolyn was perfectly aware that Cedrick had gone easy on them when they scored four points consecutively toward the end. It was on apletely different level from the three powerful spikes he initially aimed at them that they couldn¡¯t possibly return. She dove underwater, holding her breath as she circled the on the water¡¯s surface to reach Cedrick. Cedrick was entranced by his wife¡¯s graceful swimming strokes that resembled a mermaid. Gwendolyn grabbed his ankle from underwater while he was still relishing the view of her perfect figure. She maneuvered her grip strategically and sessfully pulled him down under. There were barely any sshes on the pool¡¯s surface. Cedrick didn¡¯t struggle at all and slowly opened his eyes underwater to stare blearily at the aggressively dominant Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn hooked her arms around his muscr waist to hold him underwater and sealed his shapely lips with hers. It contrasted with the butterfly kisses she typically favored. Her pearl-white teeth bit into his lips as if she was chastening him for being lenient on her. Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed slightly at the sting on his lips but eased quickly. He wrapped his arms around Gwendolyn¡¯s slender waist and lost himself in the amorous underwater kiss. Their bizarre behavior threw Kieran and Gwendolyn off their feet. They exchanged nces and stared at the sweet couple underwater, feeling satiated by the generous public disys of affection. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Their kisssted for a minute. Gwendolyn finally released Cedrick¡¯s lips, and they both floated to the water¡¯s surface. Gwendolyn secretly struck Cedrick¡¯s bottom while no one noticed on their way up. However, it was nothing more than a painless embarrassment due to water resistance. The tips of Cedrick¡¯s ears were red by the time they broke from the water¡¯s surface. Besides, his sexy lips were now swollen from being bitten. Gwendolyn¡¯s kiss had an intent of admonishment. A hint of surprise graced Kieran¡¯s eyes as he focused on Cedrick¡¯s lips before silently leveling an admiring gaze at Gwendolyn. Her fiery energy proved that she was a true daughter of the Harris family. He enquired. ¡°Gwendolyn, are you done meting out punishment yet?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips curled slyly. ¡°Of course not. That was a private score I was settling with Mr. Jenson. However, I¡¯ve decided on a penalty for thepetition The three others in the pool turned their heads toward her and were curious about what she¡¯de up with. Cedrick rubbed his swollen lips and waited uncertainly for Gwendolyn¡¯s pronouncement. Gwendolyn swept her gaze past everyone yfully. ¡°The penalty is for Mr. Jenson to do a hundred push- ups. Cedrick let out a breath of relief. Kieran and Inez were in disbelief. Did she leave us in suspense only to reveal such a simple punishment? ¡°It seems like Gwendolyn still pities her husband. A hundred push-ups would be a piece of cake for a man, like him who used to train in the army. I bet he¡¯ll finish it in one go without breaking a sweat,¡± Inez uttered. Kieran followed up. ¡°What about you, Inez? Perhaps I should do a hundred push-ups just like Cedrick?¡± Gwendolyn took in the looks on all three of their faces, and her expression became increasingly amused. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet, Kieran. Why are you in such a hurry? I¡¯ll be sitting on Cedrick while he¡¯s doing his push-ups. In addition, he has to use his core strength to burst a hundred water balloons simultaneously. If his torso identally touches the ground, it won¡¯t count Kieran and Inez¡¯s mouths dropped open. ¡°A hundred water balloons?¡± Inez was dubious. ¡°Water balloons are exceptionally stic and notoriously difficult to burst. Furthermore, his torso isn¡¯t allowed to touch the ground. Isn¡¯t this too challenging?¡± Cedrick pursed his mildly swollen lips and imperceptibly heaved a breath of relief. He had no problem doing push-ups regardless of their difficulty level. Thankfully, Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t chosen to smack his bottom in public. Otherwise, it would be terribly humiliating Gwendolyn had no clue what he was thinking of and beamed at him. ¡°Mr. Jenson¡¯s core strength will determine whether or not he¡¯s up to it.¡± There wasn¡¯t a man in the world who¡¯d admit to having a weak core. Punishment For Losing The Game ¡°I ept my punishment. Let the staff prepare the water balloons immediately.¡± Kieran and Inez had nothing more to say when the victim himself epted his penalty willingly. Despite that, Gwendolyn¡¯s punishment was too much for Inez. While she and Kieran had done the deed and his stamina in bed was decent, she wasn¡¯t clear about his limitations, As such, she reduced Gwendolyn¡¯s punishment by half and bid Kieran to do fifty push-ups and burst fifty water balloons instead. Kieran was unhappy with this arrangement. ¡°I insist on doing a hundred push-ups like Gedrick.¡± epting the lighter punishment of fifty push-ups alluded to his stamina being poorer than Cedrick¡¯s by fifty percent. His male pride forbade him from admitting defeat at such a crucial aspect. Inez eyed him helplessly. Her thoughtfulness for his wellbeing had backfired when the dense Kieran became even more motivated to outperform Cedrick. All the staff at the pool went off to prepare two hundred water balloons at Cedrick¡¯s instruction There were many onlookers stealthily hiding around the pool¡¯s railing. They had heard about the water balloons being used as a prop to be burst by the two men while doing push-ups and were eager to witness such a spectacle. Gwendolyn, Cedrick, Kieran, and Inez swiftly exited the pool and moved up onnd. Cedrick and Kieran obediently got into position and were ready to begin their drill. The evening sun painted half of the sky crimson. The heat onnd had not yet dissipatedpletely, so much so that their palms could still feel a lingering warmth on the floor tiles. Gwendolyn and Inez promptly sat atop the backs of their partners. Beside them were several massive pails that contained water balloons. Aside from acting as weights, their duties included cing the water balloons underneath Kieran and Cederick. ¡°Are both of you ready?¡± Gwendolyn queried attentively. The two men hummed a sound of agreement. Inez imitated Gwendolyn by cing a water balloon on the floor tiles below Kieran. Thus began the first push-up. The arms of both men bent as they brought their full weight down on the water balloons. Nevertheless, the sticity of the water balloons was not to be trifled with. Their bodies almost touched the ground, yet the water balloons showed no hints of popping. Cedrick and Kieran maintained the same posture for several minutes. The veins on their arms were bulging, proof they were giving it their all. This was when Cedrick realized this punishment was not as simple as he¡¯d thought it would be and that Gwendolyn¡¯s idea had more to it. Both men were already struggling with the first push-up when there were ny-nine more water balloons still to go. Cedrick took a deep breath and asked Gwendolyn gingerly, ¡°Darling, what if I fail toplete the one hundred push-ups today?¡± Gwendolyn suppressed herughter and eyed him impishly. ¡°It seems to me like Mr. Jenson and Mr. Kieran better train harder to improve your physiques since both of you can¡¯t even make it past the first water balloon. If so, we won¡¯t return to the hotel tonight. I¡¯ll reserve the pool area the entire night, and we¡¯ll only depart once both of you have reached your target.¡± Chapter 632 Chapter 632 Chapter 632 Choose Me Cedrick and Kieran exchanged gazes, despair evident in their expressions. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t have a choice. Real men should not go back on their words. Cedrick took a deep breath, pursed his thin lips, and resumed doing push-ups, using the power of his waist and abdomen to lower his center of gravity. His abdomen almost touched the ground, and the water balloon was ttened under him. The first water balloon underneath Cedrick finally exploded with a bang, bringing about a cooling sensation when the water sprayed everywhere. Cedrick¡¯s arms trembled slightly as he struggled to adjust his breathing. The sheer effort of bursting a single water balloon was enough to drain a considerable amount of his stamina. Dreadfully, he wondered how long would it take to crush all one hundred water balloons. He was still looking forward to spending quality time with Gwendolyn back at the hotel at night. How can I do that if I spend all my energy here? I¡¯ll probably wake up aching all over the next morning. Cedrick softened his voice and sounded almost like he was begging for mercy. ¡°Darling, I don¡¯t want to spend the night in the pool. I want to return to the hotel and cuddle with you.¡± It went without saying that Gwendolyn knew he wanted more than just cuddling. Lifting her hand, she pped his muscr buttock somewhat flirtatiously and said, ¡°You can¡¯t go back on your words. Do the second push-up.¡± Gwendolyn took another water balloon out of the pail and put it on the floor in front of Cedrick. He sighed, realizing that he had shot himself in the foot when he suggested making a wager. Why did I make a lose-lose bet? Winning against my wife isn¡¯t exactly a glorious victory, and losing the match only brings me forment He continued to plead in a whiny voice, ¡°Gwenny, my body will be sore all over if this goes on¡­¡± Gwendolyn had never nned to make them pop all one hundred water balloons. She merely wanted to mess with them and make them give up. After all, popping one hundred water balloons was too challenging and tormenting. However, she got upset when Cedrick began pleading for mercy when he had just popped one water balloon. pping his buttocks twice in an affectionate manner, she said, ¡°Stop talking and pop a few more.¡± Her words indicated that there might be a chance she would relent, so Cedrick obediently lowered his body and continued battling with the water balloons. Meanwhile, it was quiet on Kieran¡¯s side. His muscr arms remained in the starting position for a push-up, but he kept a watchful eye on Cedrick and Gwendolyn from the corner of his vision. Seeing Cedrick pop the first water balloon, Kieran didn¡¯t want to fall behind. He followed suit and tried for the nth time. The children of the Harris family started learning martial arts from a young age. All four siblings, including Kieran himself, possessed exceptional skills, and their stamina was equally impressive. However, they werecklusterpared to Cedrick, who had undergone rigorous military training since a young age. When Inez witnessed Kieran¡¯s determined attempts to pop the resilient water balloon in vain, she let out a silent sigh and discreetly used her long manicured nails to puncture it. The water balloon exploded with a bang. Kieran, who had no idea what was going on, felt a sense of achievement, proud of his strong core strength. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. He turned his head and said, ¡°Inez, I seeded.¡± Inez did not reveal the truth and praised him, ¡°Keep it up! You can do this. Hurry and pop the next one.¡± Kieran¡¯spetitive spirit ignited, and he was determined to showcase his abilities to impress his future wife. While the two men engaged in the challenging task of popping water balloons with their abdominal strength, Gwendolyn and Inez exchanged nces of helplessness. Their eyes met, and they shared a smile, as if silently agreeing on something. The task of popping the water balloons became more manageable with Gwendolyn and Inez discreetly lending a hand. This method allowed them to avoid hurting the men¡¯s pride in their stamina and also give them an easier way out. As the men began to find the push-ups less challenging, they thought they had discovered the technique and pace to do it. After they popped thirty water balloons and felt the strain in their cores, Gwendolyn sensibly decided to call it quits and spared them further exertion. She suggested, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Leave the rest to be continued the next time wee to the swimming pool. I¡¯m feeling hungry. Let¡¯s change our clothes and explore Turlen¡¯s bustling night market. We can grab some beer, too. What do you think?¡± Inez added. ¡°I¡¯m on board with that. I¡¯m also famished and in need of some good food.¡± Thedies climbed off both men¡¯s backs and went to the changing room while chatting merrily, tantly ignoring the guys who remained frozen in the push-up posture. Kieran nced backward in confusion and asked Cedrick, ¡°Are they¡­ letting us off the hook?¡± Cedrick stood up and said, ¡°Do you really want to do one hundred push-ups? Did you not realize that they were going easy on us?¡± Initially, the challenge of popping the first water balloon was daunting, but as they progressed, it slowly became easier. It couldn¡¯t be more obvious. Women, despite their sharp tongues, always had a soft spot in their hearts. Kieran also got up and massaged his sore waist. He did not respond. Cedrick added, ¡°If we finish all one hundred push-ups, we won¡¯t be able to have fun tonight before going to bed. It¡¯s the first night of our trip abroad, Kieran. Don¡¯t you want to make it a memorable one?¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Kieran finally understood the underlying meaning behind the other man¡¯s words. He skillfully massaged his sore spots to relieve the difort. Then, the two men entered the changing room as well. After ten minutes, they emerged dressed in elegant attire, restoring their usual air of distinction and aloofness. Once again, Gwendolyn and Inez took the lead, with Cedrick and Kieran following closely behind, dutifully carrying their partners¡¯ bags. Turlen¡¯s night market was very lively and sold a variety of delicacies. Gwendolyn and Inez ordered many street foods and half a bucket of beer. Despite being descendants of affluent families in Chanaea, they remained down-to-earth, sitting in an alley under the streetmps to enjoy skewers. Kieran looked at the luxurious feast on the table and asked Inez softly, ¡°Inez, I thought you were going on a diet? You¡¯ve ordered so many high-fat foods. You might-Mmph!¡± Before Kieran could finish his nagging, Gwendolyn quickly stuffed a piece of tasty curry chicken into his mouth. She said, ¡°Try this, Kieran! It¡¯s absolutely delicious. Since we¡¯re here, let¡¯s forget about counting calories and just enjoy ourselves.¡± Kieran wisely kept his silence and savored the tender bite of chicken. Meanwhile, Cedrick skillfully removed the fish bones and delicately offered the meat to Gwendolyn¡¯s lips. With a loving smile, he said, ¡°Darling, indulge in whatever you want. It doesn¡¯t matter if you gain a little weight; it won¡¯t diminish your beauty. I adore you just the way you are.¡± Gwendolyn nced at Kieran¡¯s dark expression and stifled herughter, obediently letting Cedrick f her. Meanwhile, Inez was fuming. She realized she should never havepared Kieran to Cedrick. From the moment they boarded the ne until now, Kieran either remained silent or made remarks thatcked emotional intelligence. Correct and emotionally intelligent statements were few and far between for him. Inez furiously piled more meat onto Kieran¡¯s te. ¡°Eat up. Since I¡¯m on a diet, you can help me finish this fatty meat. Besides, you¡¯re thin, so you don¡¯t have to worry about gaining weight from overeating.¡± Kieran did not dare to respond. He obediently ate what Inez stuffed into his te. Even at ten minutes past midnight, the night market remained vibrant. In fact, more and more people flocked to indulge inte-night snacks. Gwendolyn and the group had finished most of their food and all their beers. Kieran had a low alcohol tolerance, so he was afraid of overdrinking for fear of humiliating himself in front of Gwendolyn and Cedrick. Therefore, he only drank one bottle. adding to their charm. The four of them reserved two deluxe rooms right next to each other. Before entering the room, Inez embraced Gwendolyn and expressed in a slightly intoxicated manner, ¡°Gwendolyn, you are incredibly beautiful and remarkable. If I were a man, I would surely fall in love with you too,¡± Cedrick reminded Kieran gloomily, ¡°Your fianc¨¦e is drunk. Take her back to your room and get some rest.¡± Kieran was about to step forward, but Inez held onto Gwendolyn tightly, refusing to let go. She protested, ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay with you. I want to sleep with Gwendolyn. Ms. Harris, please choose me¡­.. Let me be the lucky one tonight.¡± Kieran and Cedrick were at a loss for words. Chapter 633 Chapter 633 Chapter 633 Kieran Is Beaten For Helping Inez With the scowl on his face deepening. Cedrick pushed Kieran forward. ¡°Take your fianc¨¦e away. She keeps clinging on to my wife.¡± Kieran let out a sigh as he resigned himself to prying Inez away nicely, ¡°Listen to me, Inez. Let¡¯s go back to our room. Kiddo¡­ has a husband now. She can¡¯t sleep with you.¡± Brows knitted, Inez held onto Gwendolyn for dear life. She refused to budge regardless of how hard she was pulled. While Kieran was left at a loss, Cedrick suppressed his rage. The only reason he hadn¡¯tid a finger on her was because she was his future sister-inw. Comforting Inez in her arms, Gwendolyn gave Cedrick and Kieran a helpless look. ¡°Hubby, Kieran, why don¡¯t you let Inez sleep with me tonight? Can both of you amodate her once by sharing the same room?¡± ¡°No!¡± Cedrick and Kieran exchanged nces before rejecting the suggestion outright. The two of us? Sleeping together? That¡¯s outrageous! Besides, this trip was supposed to help married couples bond and not improve the rtionship between brothers-inw. ¡°I can only sleep with you and no one else. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to see me going out the next day with heavy eyebags and looking exhausted, do you, Gwenny?¡± Kieran nodded in support. ¡°I, too, will have a sleepless night.¡± Not only would it be a torment for the two of them, but the idea itself was also enough to utterly embarrass them. ¡°But Inez is¡­¡± Gwendolyn was torn as she looked at Inez, who was curled up in her arms. One could tell that thetter was drunk from the reddish tint on her cheeks. Due to her exasperation from Kieran¡¯sck of sensitivity during the day, she drowned herself in alcohol. ring at Kieran, Cedrick snapped, ¡°Take your fianc¨¦e away right now. If you can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll be forced to interfere. I¡¯m not someone who can be gentle with other women, so don¡¯t me me if I end up hurting her.¡± Faced with Cedrick¡¯s threats, Kieran naturally wouldn¡¯t allow him toy a finger on Inez. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything. I¡¯ll carry her back myself.¡± Once again, Kieran stepped forward and attempted to separate Inez from Gwendolyn. ¡°Be good, Inez. You reek of alcohol now. Why don¡¯t I take you back and wash up first? We cane and see Gwendolyn after that, all right?¡± Gwendolyn quickly helped his cause. That¡¯s right. You cane back after taking a shower. We¡¯ll bunk together and chat all night.¡± Only then did Inez release her grip and allow Kieran to take her away. After giving Gwendolyn and Cedrick each a look, Kieran was on the brink of saying something but swallowed his words in the end. Thereafter, he carried Inez back to their hotel room. ¡°Remember to sleep with me after my shower, Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°I will, I will,¡± Gwendolyn agreed in a cursory manner. Kieran quickly closed the door behind him, putting an end to themotion. Meanwhile, Cedrick was clearly upset over Inez¡¯s attempt to steal his wife from him. Gwendolyn stroked his face and pacified him with a smile, ¡°There, there, Hubby. It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s head back to shower and get some rest.¡± Cedrick sulked as he followed her from behind. It wasn¡¯t until they entered the room that he comined, ¡°You¡¯re just too much, Gwenny. How can you even consider sleeping with Inez and forcing me to stay with Kieran?¡± With an awkward expression, Gwendolyn tsk-tsked in response. ¡°It was just an idea that I threw out in the open. I wasn¡¯t really serious about it.¡± She then walked toward the bathroom, intending to shower and rid herself of the stench of alcohol. No sooner had she taken two steps than she felt Cedrick grab her wrist. A powerful force subsequently pulled her toward his muscr chest. Briefly stunned, Gwendolyn could still feel her head spinning when Cedrick pinned her against the wall. ¡°Hubby?¡± Cedrick lowered his head and brought the tip of his nose inches away from her. As his alcohol-filled breath bathed across her face, Gwendolyn began to feel her cheeks burn. ¡°W-What are you doing? We¡¯re no longer in the spring of our romance. Let¡¯s hurry up and shower instead.¡± Sensing the swelling lust within him, Gwendolyn attempted to squirrel out of his grip. However, his hold on her remained as tight as ever. Instead, he leaned into her ear and whispered in a raspy yet seductive voice, ¡°You were naughty, Darling. Once we¡¯re done showering, I¡¯m going to punish you for it.¡± Cedrick¡¯s palm slid down Gwendolyn¡¯s body and began caressing her waist while the amalgamation of their breaths filled the air with passion. Gwendolyn submitted to his desire. ¡°Since it¡¯s our first day in Turlen, you can do whatever you want.¡± With an alluring look in her eyes, she cocked a seductive brow. ¡°How about that? Isn¡¯t it generous of me not to make things difficult for you?¡± Cedrick swept her off her feet abruptly and headed into the bathroom. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Darling.¡± from the shower. Other than the endless flow of water, nothing else could be heard from the bathroom. As he started to worry, he walked over and knocked on the door. ¡°Inca, are you done? Can Ie in?¡± Even though they had slept with each other, they had still yet to shower together. Their engagement was a recent event, after all. Knock Knock! ¡°Can you hear me, Inez?¡± There was no response from the bathroom. All he could hear was the continuous flow of water. As a sudden sense of dread crept into him, he opened the door abruptly and barged in to check. He was greeted by the sight of Inez still in her dress. Sitting on top of the toilet bowl cover, she had sprawled across the sink and fallen asleep. Rendered speechless, Kieran walked over and stroke her face gently. He then called out to her, ¡°Inex?¡± He didn¡¯t get a response, for she was too deep in her sleep. Kieran had no choice but to take on the responsibility of helping her bathe. After filling the tub and checking the water temperature. Kieran carefully lowered the undressed Inez into it. Thereafter, he scrubbed her attentively without a singleint. Even though the water in the tub was at a pleasant temperature, it was inevitable for some to ssh on Inez¡¯s face. Only then did she open her eyes groggily. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. With the effects of alcohol still clouding her mind, she-through her blurry vision-could see a man wiping her chest, seemingly molesting her in a brazen manner. In her panic, she raised her hand and pped it against Kieran¡¯s head. ¡°You pervert! What are your hands doing? Get out!¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± As Kieran rubbed his painful forehead, his fringe was dripping wet from the water that Inez had inadvertently sshed on him. ¡°Inez, I¡¯m not a pervert. It¡¯s me, Kieran. Your fianc¨¦.¡± Inez seemed to have used up all her strength when she struck him. Her head subsequently nodded as she fell woozily back into sleep. The sight caused Kieran to shake his head with a smile. ¡°You have always been a woman who puts up a strong front. Once you learn of what you did when you got drunk tonight, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be so embarrassed that you just want the ground to open up and swallow you whole. I was simply helping you wash up, yet I was beaten for my efforts.¡± Letting out a sigh, Kieran continued to scrub her in resignation. ¡°Forget it. It was me who disappointed you first in our rtionship. I fully deserve the beating Inez¡¯s breathing was calm in her deep slumber. Herplexion was tinged with a faint pinkish hue from the effects of the alcohol, a sight that was particrly alluring. In response, Kieran had to desperately suppress his urges. He stopped himself from admiring her luscious figure as he continued to scrub her down. In order to keep himself distracted, he chose to mumble to himself. ¡°I know I¡¯m not sensitive in my speech, so I¡¯ll try to learn a thing or two from Cedrick on this trip. Whatever you want or other girls have, I¡¯ll try my best to give them all to you. So, can you stop being angry at me?¡± Chapter 634 Chapter 634 Chapter 634 Kieran Is A Fool Amidst the steam in the room, the wrinkle on Inez¡¯s brows gradually eased. Her lips-lusciously red from the effects of the alcohol-would purse intermittently, a sign that she was in deep sleep. Kieran was naturally aroused by the seductive sight before him. He wouldn¡¯t be a man if he didn¡¯t have any reaction to it at all. Suppressing the urge to pounce on her like a wild beast, he continued scrubbing her judiciously. Half an hourter, Kieran, drenched from bathing Inez, washed himself under the shower. Dazed by the alcohol still. Inez blinked. It was clear from the unfocused look in her eyes that she was still reeling from its effects. Upon hearing the sound of the shower, she flopped her arm on the side of the tub andnguidly rested her head on it. From there, she quietly observed thenky and chiseled figure underneath the shower. With water beading down his skin, she couldn¡¯t deny how tantalizing he looked. The angle at which she was admiring him allowed her to be awed by his exquisite features and dashing appearance. Scrutinizing every inch of his body, Inez began to feel a sense of mischief fill her drunken mind. Holding her head up with one hand indolently, she spoke in a gentle voice. ¡°Hey, handsome, you look amazing while bathing. How much to have you for one night?¡± Her voice stunned the showering Kieran. It took him a while to realize that she was talking to him. Handsome? She¡¯s already awake yet doesn¡¯t realize who I am? ¡°Inez, tell me, do you know who I am?¡± Breaking into a vampish smile, Inez rambled on. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll hire you for the night. No funny business. We¡¯ll just be chatting under the sheets.¡± Kieran turned off the shower with a darkened expression and walked up to her. As he gradually kneeled down by the tub, he asked in a frosty voice. ¡°Do you really not know who I am?¡± As Inez reached out to stroke his face and run her fingers over his features, she appeared slightly surprised. ¡°You resemble Mr. Kieran a lot. He¡¯s already my fianc¨¦, so I can¡¯t cheat on him by hiring gigolos anymore. However, I want someone to lend me their ear¡­¡± Kieran responded with a sigh. ¡°Whatever problems you have, you can tell me about them.¡± Inez¡¯s cheeks were blushing like red apples; her smile was so vibrant that her eyes seemed to glisten. Nheless, it was clear from the cloudy look in her eyes that she was still drunk. As if she was talking behind someone¡¯s back, her expression looked particrly checky yet adorable at the same time. It was the exact opposite of the career-driven facade that she maintained inmercial circles. ¡°My fianc¨¦ is rich, handsome, and highly educated. It wouldn¡¯t be too much to call him an epitome of the male specimen, but¡­¡± Inez grumbled. ¡°He¡¯s emotionally ipetent and isn¡¯t sensitive with his words. Because of that, he gets on my nerves all the time.¡± Kieran probed, ¡°Do you resent him?¡± Inez¡¯s head shook decisively. ¡°I like him and spent more than a year pursuing him.¡± Her words gave Kieran a sudden sense of reassurance. He then gave her a gentle kiss and whispered, ¡°He likes you too.¡± Sprawled on the side of the tub, Inez couldn¡¯t stop smiling. ¡°I told him to stop wooing me, as I want our rtionship to move on to the next stage. Despite such an obvious hint, the fool not just failed to get it but also insisted on continuing the courtship for the entire year. Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something wrong with his head?¡± Her words stunned Kieran. So, that¡¯s what she meant at the swimming pool. I have missed the opportunity to take the next step with her. Feeling unsatisfied, Kieran continued to manipte the drunken Inez. ¡°He¡¯s an idiot indeed, so let¡¯s not stay angry with him. Once the holiday is over, you should get both families to bring forward the wedding date. How about that?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Inez shook her head as she puckered her lips. ¡°I¡¯m going to let that idiot continue wooing me¡­ for two years this time¡­¡± Toward the end, her voice trailed off as she fell back into a deep sleep. With an affectionate look in his eyes, Kieran shook his head in helpless resignation. He then returned to the shower and quickly washed up. After drying Inez, he carried her out of the tub and ced her on the hotel room bed. There, both of them curledfortably under the sheets. Before turning off the lights, Kieran whispered in her ear, ¡°I¡¯m happy to pursue you throughout your entire life, but it shouldn¡¯t get in the way of our marriage registration.¡± Upon learning the true intent of Inez¡¯s words in the day, Kieran could feel the deviousness within him being ignited. There¡¯s no way I can let her disappointment be in vain. Both of them subsequently fell asleep in each other¡¯s arms. By the time Inez awoke and rolled to her side, she realized she was sleeping on the crook of someone¡¯s elbow. Upon turning her head to look, she was greeted by the sight of Kieran sleeping soundly. Underneath the white sheets was his chiseled and naked body. Shocked by the sight, Inez shifted her attention to her own body and realized that she, too, was in a state of undress Last night¡­ did we? While she was fumbling around, Kieran woke up and blinked at her. ¡°You¡¯re awake, Inez. Do you have a hangover after drinking so muchst night?¡± Kieran¡¯s voice was sultry yet husky from having just woken up. If Inez were still naive and inexperienced, her heart would have fluttered from just the sound of it He reached out his hand to stroke her head and then gave her a gentle massage to ease the difort from her hangover. Touched by his actions, Inez replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Did we.. You didn¡¯t do anythingst night, did you?¡± While speaking, she conveyed her meaning implicitly by ncing underneath the sheets. Despite being cognizant of what she was inquiring about, Kieran had no ns to go into the details of her drunken stupor from the night before. ¡°No. After bringing you back to the room, I helped you wash up before we went to bed.¡± ¡°I-Is that all? Other than bathing me, did you not do anything else?¡± Kieran maintained an honest expression. ¡°Even if I wanted to do something, I would¡¯ve gotten your permission first. I wouldn¡¯t try to take advantage of the fact that you¡¯re drunk.¡± Inez naturally believed his words, but it didn¡¯t stop her from feeling disappointed. ¡°How can we just sleep through our first night overseas? Are you being too proper, or am I not attractive enough for you?¡± Stunned by her question, Kieran stared nkly at her before realizing what she meant. ¡°Inez, don¡¯t tell me that you were thinking of¡­¡± Inez held up her palm and pushed his head away. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking of anything. Time to get out of bed. The earlier we wash up and have breakfast, the earlier we can go out with Gwendolyn and Cedrick.¡± Just as she attempted to jump out of bed, she felt Kieran wrap his arm around her waist and pull her back into his arms. With her back pressed against his chest, Inez could clearly hear his heartbeat. Thump¡­ thump¡­.. His heart is beating really fast. He must be feeling nervous. After showering Inez¡¯s ear with his warm breath, Kieran spoke in a raspy voice. ¡°How can you not be attractive enough? A single look from your seductive eyes is enough to make me lose control.¡± Upon hearing his words, Inez cocked a curious brow. ¡°Oh, since when have you be such a sweet talker? I like the way you have with words now.¡± Kieran pressed his cheek against hers. ¡°Since we didn¡¯t do much on the first night of our trip, it¡¯s not too late to make up for it this morning.¡± ¡°Mr. Kieran Inez had barely responded when Kieran pinned her down beneath him. Inez protested, ¡°Just look at the time already. We¡¯ll bete if we dally any longer, and those two will be worried about us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll understand.¡± When she saw the resolute look on Kieran¡¯s face, Inez finally gave in shyly. ¡°I-In that case, make it quick.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Brows raised, Kieran leaned in to kiss her lips before asserting, ¡°I¡¯m as strong as an ox. There¡¯s no way I can make it quick.¡± Chapter 635 Chapter 635 Chapter 635 Lose Oneself With a sweep of his arms, Kieran pulled the covers over them. Inez, still feeling uneasy, asked, ¡°Mr. Kieran, Gwendolyn and Mr. Jenson are in the next room. Won¡¯t they hear us if we¡¯re too loud?¡± ¡°No. The walls of this hotel room are thick and well soundproofed.¡± ¡°But- ¡°No buts.¡± Kieran decisively sealed her lips with his, kissing her passionately. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Kiddo and Cedrick must be tired and will probably wake upte. They won¡¯t say anything.¡± Subsequently, Inez stopped asking questions, willingly sumbing to Kieran¡¯s tenderness. Meanwhile, in the room next door, the drapes were tightly drawn, blocking any light from filtering into the room and obscuring the intimate scene inside from view. Gwendolyn¡¯s waist was utterly sore from making love with Cedrick for most of the night. Only at that point did he relent out ofpassion. By morning, they had barely managed to sleep a few hours. Feeling extremely tired, they even nned to skip breakfast. In the pitch-ck, confined space, Gwendolyn nestled in the nook of Cedrick¡¯s arm. Their bodies were pressed again each other as their breaths intermingled while they slept soundly. After resting for another hour, Gwendolyn was awakened by her phone on the bedside table, which rang as she received a video call invitation on WhatsApp. Supporting her aching waist, she slowly sat up and reached for the device on the bedside table. The video call was from Charles. Before going on that trip, she had made a special arrangement with Charles. They would video call every morning so she could see her children. Only by knowing they were safe and in good health could she enjoy her vacation at Turlen with peace of mind. Gwendolyn was still groggy but eager to see Benedict and Zendaya because of the iing video call. As she switched on the light and was about to answer the call, her phone was snatched away by Cedrick, who had just woken up beside her. He sighed in resignation and signaled at Gwendolyn with his eyes, reminding her that she was only d in a silk nightgown. ¡°Are you sure you want to video call Charles looking like this? Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll get aroused?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. His voice wasced with a hint of jealousy. He decisively rejected the call yet was sensible enough to text Charles: Give me five minutes. I¡¯ll call you back. After sending the message, he forcefully pulled Gwendolyn into his arms and carried her up from the bed. Gwendolyn, feeling the sudden weightlessness, instinctively clung to his neck, seemingly seeking security. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Freshen up,¡± he responded tersely and solemnly while striding toward the washroom with her in his embrace. Knowing Gwendolyn¡¯s waist was sore and her legs weak, he thoughtfully helped her wash up and change into a decent dress. She took in his serious demeanor and sighed in contentment. ¡°Hubby, if you continue to spoil me in this manner, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be so pampered that I won¡¯t even know how to eat by myself without you by my side.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes were gentle and full of indulgence. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if that¡¯s the case? You don¡¯t have to worry about anything. Just let me handle all the difficulties while you focus on enjoying life.¡± She shook her head firmly. ¡°In my opinion, marriage doesn¡¯t mean losing one¡¯s self-worth. A happy, family requires contributions from all members, so I can¡¯t be a good-for-nothing.¡± In fact, she had bigger ambitions beyond caring for her family. She wanted to go from being the richest person in Chanaea to the wealthiest in the world. Naturally, Cedrick knew her well. He was merely teasing her. ¡°In that case, in the future, you¡¯ll take care of the children while I am responsible for doting on you.¡± Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°Are you saying that you¡¯ll neglect your children? If you do that, they may not acknowledge you as their father when they grow up.¡± He helped her zip up her dress, responding casually, ¡°I was just kidding. All right. You can return call now and see the children you¡¯ve been missing dearly.¡± Another long hour ensued. After hanging up the phone, Gwendolyn finally left the room at half past ten with Cedrick, ready to for breakfast. Kieran and Inez happened to open their room door at the same time, and the four bumped into cach other in the hallway. Gwendolyn was delighted to see that Kieran and Inez¡¯s rtionship had significantly improved compared tost night. ¡°It seems like everyone got up at the right time. Shall we go for breakfast together?¡± The quartet left the corridor in unison. Gwendolyn perceptively noticed a slight blush on Inez¡¯s face that hadn¡¯tpletely faded. She gave Kieran a thumbs-up inwardly. I thought Kieran was hopeless. It seems like he does have some skills, after all, being able to pacify his future wife¡¯s emotions in only one night. What a fast learner. After having breakfast, they began the second day of their vacation in Turlen. Meanwhile, inside the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Salinsburgh, Chanaca, someone knocked on the deputy director¡¯s office door. Nico, who was busy working, replied without even looking up, ¡°Come in.¡± It was the police officer tasked to guard the entrance. ¡°Mr. Nico, a youngdy outside is looking for you, iming to be your soon-to-be fianc¨¦e.¡± Nico, who was in the middle of writing, paused. ¡°What is she doing here at the Federal Bureau of Investigation instead of attending her sses?¡± The officer shook his head. Then, he nced at his watch and boldly ventured a guess. ¡°Today is a weekend, so there shouldn¡¯t be any ss at the university, right? She¡¯s probably missing you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the weekend?¡± Nico looked at the calendar on his desk. He had marked that day¡¯s date a few days ago, promising to spend the day with Summer, but he had been swamped with work and had forgotten all about it. With Cedrick away on vacation, Nico had to juggle the affairs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Jenson Group, which was incredibly hectic to manage. Having recently been promoted to deputy director, he wasn¡¯t yet used to delegating important matters to his subordinates as he felt more at ease handling things personally. There¡¯s still a lot to do today. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t have any free time today, but Summer¡­ ¡°Mr. Nico, should I bring your fianc¨¦e in?¡± Nico, lost in thought while staring at the calendar, was brought back to reality by the officer¡¯s question. Nico pondered briefly and capped his pen. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯ll go out and talk to her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Outside the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Summer paced nervously, checking her makeup, and after confirming that it was perfect, she continued to wait for Nico toe out. Ten minutester, he exited the building. Taking in Nico¡¯s handsome appearance while dressed in a military uniform, she beamed sweetly at him. ¡°Nico.¡± Nico grabbed her arm and led her to a quiet corner before casually ruffling her hair. ¡°Summer, I have some urgent military affairs to handle today, so I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t keep youpany. Can you invite some of your close friends and hang out with them instead?¡± The smile on Summer¡¯s face gradually faded, quickly reced by a solemn and angry look. ¡°You said the same thingst time. You promised me that you would spare some time to spend the day with me, but you¡¯re going to stand me up again now.¡± Nico apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was recently promoted to the deputy director position, and I don¡¯t want to let Cedrick down. I must do better than Craig did as soon as possible.¡± Tears welled up in Summer¡¯s eyes as she bit her lower lip. ¡°You always have endless work to attend to. To Mr. Jenson, Gwendolyn takes precedence, but in your opinion, everything is more important than me.¡± Nico couldn¡¯t bear to see a girl cry, especially since he was in the wrong in that matter. ¡°Princess, it¡¯s my fault. Don¡¯t be sad, and don¡¯t overthink.¡± Aggrieved, she pushed away his hand, which was clumsily wiping her tears. ¡°Nico, do you still remember we¡¯re getting engaged soon? Even Mr. Jenson asked engagement gift the other day, but you¡¯ve never asked about these things. It¡¯s like you don¡¯t care about our engagement at all. Do I not hold a significant ce in your heart? Are you just reluctantly agreeing to get engaged with me because Mr. Jenson and Gwendolyn were inclined to matchmake us?¡± Chapter 636 Chapter 636 Chapter 636 Value Girls Over Boys Nico was stunned. ¡°Why would you think that? I may respect Cedrick and Gwendolyn, but marriage is a big thing. Of course I thought it through carefully before agreeing.¡± Seeing how serious he was, Summer epted his answer and continued with the next question. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s something different about me today, Nico?¡± She wiped her tears away, blinked, and intentionally leaned her delicately made-up face toward him. In response, Nico studied her for a while but failed to discern any differences. ¡°Did you¡­ be more of a crybaby than usual?¡± Annoyed, Summer punched his shoulder relentlessly. ¡°I knew I shouldn¡¯t have asked you that question. You¡¯re so dense! Can you not see the effort I put into my makeup?¡± Nico was a well-trained man. Hence, his body was tough. Summer¡¯s punches were nothing but tickles from his perspective. It didn¡¯t hurt him at all. Resignedly, he clutched Summer¡¯s restless fist and rubbed her knuckles out of habit. ¡°All right, stop messing around. Otherwise, your hand¡¯s going to hurt At least he still knows to care about my hands. Selffort was the only thing Summer could do when dealing with a man as dense as Nico. Nico often wielded weapons, so he had calloused hands. Meanwhile, Summer¡¯s skin was soft and tender. He wasn¡¯t light-handed, so he used the back of his hand to wipe her tears away. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t skilled enough and identally ruined her eyeliner. He stifled hisughter as he stared at his handiwork of turning Summer¡¯s eyes into a panda¡¯s. ¡°Your tears ruined your makeup, Princess. Should I ask an officer to send you back to wash your face?¡± ¡°Ruined?¡± Summer swiftly removed the small mirror in her pocket and examined her countenance with it I spent hours putting on this makeup, yet it¡¯s all messed up before Nico can even admire it properly! She was so devastated that she wanted to cry more. ¡°My makeup¡¯s wrecked, and you forgot you¡¯re supposed to spend time with me! We¡¯re about to be engaged, yet you can¡¯t fulfill your promises! It doesn¡¯t seem like you care about me at all. It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t get married if I leave you, Nico!¡± Upon ending her sentence, she turned around and left in tears. The officer stationed at the entrance approached Nico. ¡°Your partner seems heartbroken, Mr. Nico. Aren¡¯t you going to chase after her?¡± Nico thought about the work he had to wrap up soon and ordered, ¡°You chase after her and help me send her back to the Jenson residence. If she wants to join her ssmates for fun, follow her.¡± ¡°Roger,¡± said the officer before chasing after Summer. Nico gazed at Summer¡¯s back as she trotted away with teary eyes and shook his head resignedly. Even though she¡¯s already twenty, she¡¯s still acting like a kid. Am I sheltering her too much? Back when I was twenty years old, I had already joined Cedrick on the battlefield at the border twice. I had to survive in that hostile environment, with bullets flying everywhere. A sigh slipped from his lips as he recalled the issue of visiting Summer¡¯s family before the engagement. Once Cedrick returns from his vacation with Gwendolyn, he¡¯ll likely mention the engagement to Summer¡¯s family as the head of the Jenson family. I should contact her family as soon as possible. Despite having been together with Summer for so long. I didn¡¯t investigate her family background because the doesn¡¯t like it. I don¡¯t think I can avoid doing that anymore, though. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. On the way back to his office, Nico asked someone to investigate Summer¡¯s family as soon as possible. Since I failed to fulfill my promise to take Summer out for a fun trip due to work, I guess I¡¯ll buy her a xylitol cake at night. Considering how much she likes sweet things, I think she¡¯ll cool down after seeing the cake. With that thought in mind, he returned to his office. Meanwhile, Charles had almost finished settling minor affairs in Newton Group at noon. After that, he visited Harrick Vi to meet with Benedict and Zendaya. Zoey had just fed the children with powdered nutritious milk. By the time Charles arrived, the children had finished guzzling down the beverage. Smiling respectfully at Charles, Zoey said, ¡°You¡¯re here, Mr. Newton. It must be tiring for you to visit this ce every day while Mr. and Mrs. Jenson aren¡¯t home.¡± Charles tone wasposed as he replied, ¡°I¡¯m the children¡¯s godfather, so this is what I should be doing. It¡¯s not tiring at all.¡± Zendaya very much resembled Gwendolyn when thetter was younger. Hence, Charles loved Zendaya. Every time he arrived at Harrick Vi, he would hug Zendaya for as long as he could. ¡°How are Benny¡¯s and Zendy¡¯s lunch situation today, Mdm. Yarde?¡± asked Charles. ¡°Ms. Zendy¡¯s appetite has always been good, so her lunch situation was no different from usual. However, Mr. Benny didn¡¯t drink as much milk as he typically does.¡± Logically, Benedict should be drinking more than Zendaya as a boy. Yet, his appetite was waning. As such, Charles settled Zendaya down in the pink crib and picked up Benedict from the blue crib. ¡°Have you measured his temperature? Is he sick?¡± Zocy nodded. ¡°I did. His temperature is normal, so he does not have a fever. Also, as you can see, Mr. Benny seems to be in good spirits, so he¡¯s probably fine. Maybe the rising weather temperature is negatively affecting his appetite. Besides, his appetite has always been lower than Ms. Zendy¡¯s.¡± In response, Charles picked up a nearby toy to entertain Benedict a little. Benedict stared at the toy with wide eyes and giggled. Indeed, the baby boy did seem to be in good shape. ¡°All right, then. You should pay more attention to him. If the room temperature is too high, you should turn on the air conditioner. Just remember not to make the room too cold. The temperature inside the room should be consistentlyfortable. ¡°I understand, Mr. Newton,¡± replied Zory. Charles continued to shake the toy in his hand. ¡°You should head downstairs. I want to spend some time with the babies alone for a while.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Without dy, Zoey exited the room and closed the door, allowing Charles to stay with the children. Soon, Charles settled Benedict back down in the blue crib. While Benedict was still a baby, his facial features already somewhat resembled Cedrick¡¯s, For some reason, Charles disliked Benedict a little. ¡°You¡¯re the older brother, Benedict. One day, you¡¯ll be a man. How can you not be as good as your little sister? Once you grow up, you should follow in your father¡¯s footsteps and receive the hellish training he did in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Only then will you be an outstanding man,¡± lectured Charles before turning to Zendaya. He yed with the baby girl and pinched her chubby cheeks, which he loved to do. ¡°If Gwendolyn and I have a daughter, she¡¯d be as pretty as you, Zendy.¡± When no one was around, he treated each baby vastly differently. That night. Nico returned home with an especially beautiful xylitol cake that he had bought. However, the vi was dark, as though no one was inside. He searched for Summer everywhere in the building but couldn¡¯t find her. It¡¯s already nine. In the past, even when she was out ying with her friends, she¡¯d be home by now. Every time, she would be obediently waiting for me on the couch. Whenever I opened the main door, she would hug me and call out my name sweetly. Today is unusual. Worried that something had happened to Summer, he called her. The phone rang for a few seconds before it disconnected. A female voice then informed him that the person on the other end was too busy to ept the call. In response, Nico nned to keep calling her until she answered. Suddenly, he saw a WhatsApp message that instantly infuriated him. Chapter 637 Chapter 637 Chapter 637 Jealous The name disyed on Nico¡¯s screen was ¡°My Gorgeous Summer.¡± Summer had previously changed her name on his phone while he was asleep. Additionally, she forbade him from changing it back to what it was lest he incur her wrath. Summer: I¡¯m not returning home tonight. The officer you asked to keep an eye on me is pretty handsome. The more Nico reread the message, the stronger his fury burned. The outside isn¡¯t safe, especially for a woman. I can¡¯t believe she wants to spend a night outside. Her safety awareness is too low! Also, how dare she praise the officer I sent! I still remember the first time I met her in that Erihal dungeon. The only thing she could see was me, and she wouldn¡¯t stop calling me handsome. Now, it feels like the vegetable I¡¯ve spent so much time raising in my garden has been eaten by a hog before I can harvest it! Immediately, he contacted the security officers at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He did it to obtain the phone number of the officer he sent to protect Summer. The officer¡¯s name was Raymond Vought. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Raymond answered Nico¡¯s call fairly quickly. Immediately, Nico heard noisy musicing from the other end of the call. ¡°Where are you, Raymond? Are you still with Summer?¡± Raymond couldn¡¯t hear what Nico said clearly because of the loud disco music ying at his location. Hence, he shouted, ¡°What did you say? It¡¯s very noisy here. I can¡¯t hear you!¡± Suppressing his rage, Nico raised his volume. ¡°Is Summer with you right now?¡± ¡°Sum what? Do you have a mission for me? Please wait for a moment. I¡¯ll call you again once I arrive at the restroom.¡± Without dy, Raymond ended the call. Nico was incensed. Based on what I heard, I think he¡¯s at a bar. If Summer is still with him, I can¡¯t believe she wants to spend the night at a bar where there are plenty of bad men! If it weren¡¯t for the fact that most of his furniture and ceramic tableware were expensive gifts from Cedrick, he would¡¯ve started destroying his home. After fuming for five minutes, his phone finally rang again. Raymond then spoke. ¡°Mr. Nico, I¡¯m currently on the dance floor in Sparkly Bar. Ms. Rongster refuses to leave, and I¡¯m worried something will happen to her, so I¡¯ve been following her.¡± Still suppressing his rage, Nico questioned. Then why didn¡¯t you call me earlier and ask me to pick her up?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you busy with work? I didn¡¯t have the nerve to disturb you. Don¡¯t worry. I chased all the men in the bar who were drawn to her beauty and wonderful figure away.¡± Nico gritted his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t forget you¡¯re a man, too. Touch her, and I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± ¡°Mr. Nico- Without dy, Nico ended the call and hurried toward Sparkly Bar. When Nico arrived at the colorful dance floor, he saw the tipsy Summer interacting with the DJ while wearing a sexy miniskirt. She danced enthusiastically on the stage, her cheeks red like an apple. Each of her moves gathered the cheers of men below the stage as they ogled her. Nico¡¯s expression was so dark that it was about to turn ck. His skin tone had darkened significantly after going on a business trip with Cedrick at the border some time ago. Hence, he was almost invisible in the dimly lit bar. Summer has always acted like an obedient, domesticated cat in front of me and follows me around whermer I go. We¡¯ve been together for a long while, yet it¡¯s only today that I¡¯m aware she¡¯s a great dancer. I must admit, her moves and smile arouse me, but I don¡¯t want any of these men watching her! The look in Nico¡¯s eyes turned cold as an icy fury enveloped him. Raymond swiftly approached him. ¡°You¡¯re here, Mr. Nico.¡± Staring at Summer, Nico gritted his teeth. ¡°Is this how you¡¯re protecting her? By allowing her to be surrounded by men watching her?¡± Misery was written all over Raymond¡¯s countenance. ¡°Please don¡¯t trouble me too much, Mr. Nico. Ms. Rongsler is too carefree. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t stop her from going wild after she got drunk!¡± ¡°Get out of my face.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Raymond turned around and slipped away. Then, he recalled something and returned to Nico¡¯s side. Kindly, he reminded, ¡°Ms. Rongsler has been in a foul mood for the whole day, Mr. Nico. Once you bring her home, you should properlymunicate and not argue with her. If you can¡¯t win, give in. It won¡¯t be embarrassing. Just don¡¯t lose your future wife.¡± Nico frowned and kicked Raymond¡¯s butt. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to lecture me. Get out.¡± Caressing his buttocks, Raymond fled, afraid that he would be punished if he stayed a second longer. Nico stared at the sexy Summer on the stage, irritated. Then, he trudged toward the DJ and unplugged the wires. The intense music abruptly ceased. Everyone was confused about what had just happened before they suddenly turned to Nico. Moments later, they started wondering who he was. As Summer halted her dance moves, she spotted Nico¡¯s scowl and stopped smiling. ¡°Why are you here? 1 told you I¡¯m spending the night outside instead of home.¡± Still furious, Nico barked, ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re nning to pick a man here and then sleep with him at a hotel?¡± Summer was shocked. ¡°Am I that kind of easy woman in your eyes?¡± His question genuinely wounded her. I¡¯m finally feeling better after venting my frustration here at the bar, yet he just had to barge into this ce and ruin my mood again! ¡°Who I spend the night with has nothing to do with you! You¡¯re so busy that you can¡¯t even bother to deal with our engagement, so why did youe here to upset me?¡± Standing at the edge of the dance floor, she pointed at the crowd of men staring at her from below. ¡°I told you, Nico. I don¡¯t necessarily have to stay with you. Do you think any of these men down there wouldn¡¯t sleep with me if I picked one of them?¡± The men below the stage cheered and yed along with her. Many of them even enthusiastically invited her to spend the night with them. ¡°Your dance moves are amazing, miss! It¡¯ll be my honor if I can sleep with you tonight!¡± ¡°Look at me, miss! I got some moves, too. These other guys can¡¯t possibly satisfy you, but I promise I can.¡± As Nico listened to the teasing from the crowd, he felt as though he was on the verge of exploding in anger. Turning around, he glowered at the delusional men below the stage. ¡°I¡¯m the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nico Jenson! She is my woman! If anyone dares to flirt with her again, I¡¯ll bring you to the Federal Bureau of Investigation tomorrow and have a chat with you there!¡± The instagt he ended his threat, the building went so silent one could hear a pin drop. Half a minuteter, the men exchanged nces and backed down decisively. ¡°Erm¡­ My wife¡¯s preparing a chicken stew, so I¡¯ll be heading home now.¡± ¡°Oh, wow, it¡¯s already gettingte. I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. You guys have fun.¡± ¡°Oh, so she¡¯s the future wife of the deputy director. I don¡¯t think any of us are good enough for her. Let¡¯s scram.¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving, too.¡± The crowd immediately scattered and left. In a few moments, only a few people were left in Sparkly Bar. Summer watched the men scamper away and spat with disdain, ¡°Cowards! He didn¡¯t even draw his gun yet!¡± Nico sneered, ¡°You¡¯re expecting too much from a group of indulgent yboys. I¡¯m different because I was forged in the crucible of battle. It¡¯s natural they aren¡¯t as courageous as me.¡± Exasperated, Summer red at him but couldn¡¯t offer any refute. That was the truth. All the men below the stage were fearful of Nico, the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As such, none of them dared to offend him. Her thin frame trembled with fury, and her eyes reddened again as aggrievedness coursed through her. Nico sighed, his heart instantly melting as he stared at the pitiful sight of her. Proactively, he removed his coat and settled it on her shoulders. Softening his tone, he said, ¡°Can you stop messing around, Princess? Let¡¯s head home now. The men outside are too dirty. They aren¡¯t as clean as me.¡± Enraged, Summer tossed his coat back to him. ¡°So what if you¡¯re clean? The only thing you seem to care about is work! It¡¯s always about work for you! Why don¡¯t you marry the Federal Bureau of Investigation instead?¡± She spen around, ready to leave. Jed the Fees of festigation for hing we ¡°Are you will mad? We can continue our eration Back home Nico grabbed Summer¡¯s arm Without ng, be bent down and song her over his over his should Then, he mped down her kicking legs and took her away by force Chapter 638 Chapter 638 Chapter 638 Be Good ¡°Release me, Nico!¡± Summer flushed a bright red. Her limbs were too weak to break free from Nico¡¯s restraint. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Her weak struggles only served to arouse his desire to dominate her. Infuriated, Summer eximed, ¡°Let me down! My skirt is too short. It¡¯s not safe¡­¡± 15 Bonus Nico scowled and stated, ¡°If you know your skirt is too short, why did you wear it beforeing here to dance? Did you take your safety seriously at all?¡± Even though he sounded like he was lecturing her, he still thoughtfully used the coat Summer had removed from her shoulders earlier to cover her butt. The DJ and the bar staff members were dumbfounded as they watched the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation flirting with his girlfriend. A few female employees there even whispered, ¡°Mr. Nico¡¯s so manly and domineering, not to mention he¡¯s the adopted son of the Jenson family. It must be nice to be the girlfriend of someone as rich and handsome as him.¡± Summer heard that loud and clear. Like heck it is! He¡¯s just a dense, inconsiderate man! The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. They entry me, but they don¡¯t know how tiring it is to be in love with a blockheaded man like him. Only I do. ¡°You¡¯re a b¡±stard, Nico! I¡¯m your bride-to-be, not your subordinate! Stop trying to coerce me!¡± she shouted. Sighing, Nico continued striding out of the building. It wasn¡¯t tiring for him to carry Summer on his shoulders at all. He restrained Summer¡¯s restless legs with one arm while gently patting her butt with his other hand. Pushing his anger down, he said. ¡°Stop messing around. I¡¯ve never tried to coerce you before. It¡¯s just that you¡¯re too naughty tonight. Let¡¯s talk once we head home. It¡¯s gettingte.¡± I think she has gotten fatter after caring for her for a year. Back in Erihal¡¯s dungeon, she was skinny and malnourished. Now, she¡¯s heavier than before, and her butt is chubbier. When he recalled their first encounter, especially her pretty eyes and how terribly abused she had been, he sighed in his mind. Taking on a less stern tone, he spoke earnestly. ¡°Back when I saved you from Erihal¡¯s dungeon, your weight was less than forty kilograms. After I took care of you for a year, you gained eight kilograms, and your body isn¡¯t as skinny as before anymore. Who should you thank for that, huh? I asked Cedrick to enroll you in a university. Not once did I interfere with your professional or school life. I¡¯ve respected almost every wish you have. Aside from forbidding you from spending the night outside and returning toote, when did I ever force you to do what you don¡¯t want to? I¡¯ve been doing my best to take care of you over the year. I even gave you my payroll card for safekeeping. Yes, I¡¯m aware that I¡¯m not an excellent talker and that I don¡¯t understand a woman well. However, aside from you, I also need to manage my career. Otherwise, you and I will have to sleep under a bridge. So, can you be a little more well- behaved?¡± I¡¯ve been saving up money because we¡¯re about to be engaged. All I want is to give her the best that I can so she doesn¡¯t need to be envious of the priceless jewelry and other items in Gwendolyn¡¯s possession. I¡¯ve been so busy the whole day dealing with my work. Instead of being able to rest after returning home, I have toe here right away to grab Summer. I¡¯m so, so exhausted. Mentally and physically. However, I¡¯m a mature man. As drained as I am, I won¡¯tin about my woes. I¡¯ll swallow them all, but I do hope Summer can understand me better. It¡¯s not easy for me to care for her. Summer listened quietly, and once he was finished, she remained silent for a long while after. I must say, Nico did a wless job taking care of me. He provides me with the best, whether in terms of food, education, or anything I¡¯m using. He¡¯s doing his best to earn a living. Sometimes he may be a cheapskate or argue with me, but he¡¯s never stopped giving me my weekly allowance. In fact, he granted me the warm care my real father never showed me before. Still¡­ As Summer¡¯s eyes reddened, she pouted aggrievedly. Humans would always be greedy. Once their material needs had been satisfied, they would want the same for their emotional needs. ¡°I know you take good care of me, but I still hope you can pay more attention to my matters, like the engagement. Even Mr. Jenson asked me about it, but you¡¯ve yet to discuss it with me because of work,¡± said Summer. Nico settled her down before carrying her to the passenger seat and fastening her seatbelt. Then, he entered the driver¡¯s seat and drove them home. Summer remained quiet as she stared out the window instead of causing a scene. asionally, Nico nced at her. Eventually, he apologized, ¡°I agree I could¡¯ve done better for the engagement matters. Initially, it was because you mentioned you don¡¯t like your family or want to contact them. I was afraid you would be upset if I brought up your parents, so I never asked. I didn¡¯t realize this would cause you to overthink things.¡± Upon hearing that, Summer felt much better. Still, she grumbled in a small voice, ¡°That¡¯s a minor issue. My main problem is that you broke your promise. I¡¯ve been looking forward to spending time with you today for half a month, yet you forgot about it¡­ Nico nodded. ¡°This is my fault. I¡¯m sorry. He was holding the steering wheel with a single hand. His sleeves were rolled up, so his muscles were visible. While he was more tanned than before, he possessed the sexy charm of a mature man. Summer nced at his countenance. I feel like I¡¯m suddenly not as angry anymore after he apologized. Although¡­ we still haven¡¯t reached home yet. I was irritated for the whole day, yet my anger was extinguished by him so quickly. It makes me feel a little embarrassed. When her train of thought ended there, she continued toin in a soft tone, ¡°What¡¯s the point of apologizing? You wasted my time today, so I want you to make up for it!¡± As her rage had mostly been quelled, her voice sounded sweeter. Nico¡¯s attention was still focused on the road, and he didn¡¯t answer the question. Furrowing her eyebrows slightly, she continued, ¡°Since you¡¯re sorry, can you take a full-day leave tomorrow? I want you to apany me to the swimming pool, the aquarium, and the Ferris wheel.¡± Nico grimaced slightly. ¡°I can push other matters to ater time, but tomorrow¡­ The Federal Bureau of Investigation has an important case I need to deal with. These two days are the most critical period for this investigation.¡± In response, Summerpromised, ¡°Half a day, then. I¡¯m fine with you only taking me to the swimming pool.¡± Nico remained silent. I can tell he doesn¡¯t want to, based on his expression. Disappointment flooded Summer¡¯s heart instantly. Staring out the window, she uttered, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Your work is important. I¡¯m just being immature. I won¡¯t pester you anymore.¡± Nico¡¯s heart wrenched as he sighed and focused on the driving. Right after he parked the car at the Jenson residence¡¯s garage, Summer opened the door and left without turning her head back. After locking the car, Nico chased after her. ¡°How about we discuss this more, Summer?¡± Summer shook her head and spoke calmly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for us to discuss. Tomorrow is thest day of the weekend, so I¡¯ll be returning to the campus. You just need to focus on your work and not worry about 1. A secondter, she stepped around Nico and entered the vi, her thin frame appearing mncholic. Nico was rooted in the garden as he watched her lonely figure enter the living room. He sighed resignedly. She¡¯s such a handful. Still, I was wrong for breaking my promise today, and I should make it up to her. After contemting his next move, he called Jasper, whom Cedrick had assigned to Team Nine, Once the call was connected, he cut straight to the chase. ¡°I have a private matter to attend to tomorrow, so I may be unable toe to work. I have a few important cases I need you to keep an eye on for me, and I want you to stay on top of it.¡± Chapter 639 Chapter 639 Chapter 639 Worse Than Zendaya ¡°Understood, Mr. Nico,¡± answered Jasper expeditiously. Then, he asked, ¡°I heard you¡¯re getting engaged. Are you keeping your future wifepany tomorrow?¡± Nico knitted his eyebrows and stated, ¡°Don¡¯t ask about my private life. Do what I tell you to, and I¡¯ll check up on the matters the day after tomorrow. If you getzy and do a sloppy job, I won¡¯t let you off the hook just because we¡¯re buddies.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. You¡¯re now the deputy director and my superior.¡± I would¡¯ve kicked him if he were standing in front of me right now. ¡°The tactics you used on Craig won¡¯t work on me. Mr. Jenson trained me, so I only acknowledge his management style.¡± ¡°Okay, got it.¡± Annoyed, Nico hung up the call and went upstairs. Summer¡¯s door wasn¡¯t locked, so he nced into her room when heading down the corridor. He saw a fewrge suitcases lying on the ground and her packing her clothes. Perplexed, Nico entered the room. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Without ncing at him, she answered. ¡°I¡¯m moving to the campus tomorrow morning, so I¡¯m packing my clothes in advance.¡± ¡°You¡¯re only staying there for at most a week, so why are there this many suitcases on the ground? You¡¯re even taking the fox fur cloak. Are you nning to bring your entire wardrobe there and not return here anymore?¡± Summer ignored him and continued her packing. Instead of wasting his breath, Nico grabbed the neatly folded clothes in the suitcases and returned them to the wardrobe. His lightning speed was thanks to his training in the military. In the time Summer took to fold a few shirts, he had already stuffed all the clothes in the suitcases back into the wardrobe. ¡°These are my clothes, Nico. You don¡¯t get a say in how many I take with me.¡± Summer frowned at him. Leaning against the wardrobe door, he jested, ¡°These clothes are bought with my money, so I think I do.¡± Summer had no retort because he was right. Thus, she stopped. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t bring any with me. You bought these, so keep them.¡± Her fair, tender cheeks were flushed with anger. Nico was entertained by teasing his cute, future wife. A momentter, he tugged her slender waist and joked, ¡°I bought the skirt you¡¯re wearing, too.¡± Summer was taken aback by his remark as she stared at him. I didn¡¯t expect him to be this shameless! His stinginess knows no bounds! ¡°You¡¯re such a bully, Nico!¡± Her eyes reddened as she was genuinely enraged. Because of her delicate voice, the miniskirt on her seemed even more sexy. Her scowl wasn¡¯t at all intimidating. Instead, she seemed aggrieved. Seeing that he was going too far with his joke, Nico grabbed her hand and grinned. ¡°I meant to say that you don¡¯t need to pack your luggage and hurry to the campus tomorrow morning. I¡¯ve already asked my subordinate to handle my important tasks. Therefore, I¡¯ll be keeping youpany for the whole day tomorrow.¡± Summer was stunned for a moment before she pouted. ¡°Really? You¡¯ll be by my side for the whole day?¡± Nico nodded seriously, his coarse fingertips brushing past her cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll keep youpany from morning till midnight.¡± That delighted Summer. Her wrath was instantly doused. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll n ahead and decide the locations we¡¯ll visit tomorrow!¡± Nico nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± The next morning, after Charles finished arranging his work, he went to Harrick Vi. As the twins godfather, he had bought gifts for them. When Cedrick and Gwendolyn were around, he would treat the twins fairly and buy two of each toy. The toys would be in different colors, of course. However, seeing that the couple wasn¡¯t around, he forwent his usual facade and only bought a bunch of toys for Zendaya but none for Benedict. Even Zoey couldn¡¯t bear to watch his obvious bias. ¡°It¡¯s nice that you bought so many gifts for Ms. Zendy, Mr. Newton, However, I don¡¯t think she can y with all of them. Perhaps you should give some of them to Mr. Benny?¡± Without hesitation, Charles spat, ¡°These are rewards for Zendy because she wasn¡¯t naughty, and her appetite remains healthy.¡± Then, he nced at Benedict. ¡°Meanwhile, Benny¡¯s performance hasn¡¯t been greattely. He isn¡¯t drinking milk as well as his sister. If this continues, he¡¯ll be lighter than her. Consider hisck of gifts my little punishment for him.¡± Zoey pursed her lips. ¡°Mr. Newton, Mr. Benny is only a few months old. He doesn¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying, so what¡¯s the point of punishing him like this?¡± Unwilling to continue that topic, Charles said. ¡°How were they with their breakfast?¡± Zoey proceeded to check the record book she used to keep track of their meal consumption. ¡°Mr. Benny is drinking even lesspared tost morning, while Ms. Zendy¡¯s appetite remains the same.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Charles furrowed his eyebrows and nced at the slumbering Benedict. His appetite has been getting worse for a few days in a row, and his mental state seems to be deteriorating too. Then, he patted the boy¡¯s face and shook a rattle in front of the infant. However, that didn¡¯t wake Benedict up. Puzzled, Charles asked, ¡°Did you check his body temperature?¡± ¡°I did before you arrived this morning, Mr. Newton. It¡¯s normal, and he¡¯s not having a fever,¡± answered Zoey. ¡°What about his mental state? Is he interested in the toys you y with him?¡± ¡°Sometimes he is, sometimes not.¡± I guess Benny should receive a checkup, just in case. Charles ordered, ¡°Continue to monitor his appetite. If it¡¯s still decreasing at lunch, call the pediatrician from the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps to perform a checkup on him.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Newton.¡± Zoey sighed and continued, ¡°Actually, every child¡¯s physique is different. Perhaps Mr. Benny¡¯s physique is naturally worse than Ms. Zendy¡¯s. As long as his condition isn¡¯t terrible, 1 think there¡¯s no need to be rmed. It¡¯s normal for babies to be lethargic asionally.¡± Of course, Charles knew that. However, because Gwendolyn had asked him to take care of the babies, he couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes. At the very least, he feltpelled to keep everything under control before Cedrick and Gwendolyn returned. ¡°They¡¯re still too young, so it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. Remember to jolt down your observation after lunch. I¡¯ll return here after work,¡±manded Charles. Zoey nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± After she left, Charles tapped on Benedict¡¯s nose. ¡°How can your physique be worse than your little sister¡¯s when you¡¯re the older brother? Are you expecting your little sister to protect you in the future? That¡¯s no good, Benedict. You need to learn from her and stay healthy. Don¡¯t follow in your dad¡¯s footsteps and enjoy pretending to be weak in front of Gwen. Otherwise, I¡¯ll look down on you and won¡¯t buy you candy when you grow up.¡± I still remember the various shameless tactics Cedrick employed when he was still called Maverick to grab Gwendolyn¡¯s attention. Chapter 640 Chapter 640 Chapter 640 Has A Formidable Rival After visiting the few renowned tourist attractions in Turlen, Gwendolyn, Cedrick, and the others took a flight to Moranta. Having traveled for several days in session, Gwendolyn and Inez were exhausted. They fell asleep as soon as they got onto the ne. Cedrick and Kieran were men at the end of the day, so they had much more energy. Despite working overtime at night, they were still as energetic as ever after getting some shut-eye. Cedrick draped a thin nket over his wife before gathering her in his arms. Not to be outdone, Kieran, who had learned how to pamper his woman over the past two days, did the same for Inez. On top of that, he thoughtfully requested a ss of orange juice for fear that she would be thirsty upon waking up. Cedrick noticed that small attentive act. Mirth danced in his ebony eyes. ¡°Not bad. You¡¯ve improved a lot these two days, Kieran. You even thought of having orange juice at the ready.¡± However, Kieran coldly shot him a re. ¡°Look at Kiddo. She¡¯s resting no sooner had she boarded the ne. You should¡¯ve restrained yourself for the past few nights and taken mercy on her instead of tiring her out to such an extent.¡± With a faint smile on his face and in his eyes, Cedrick calmly took a sip of coffee. ¡°Right back at you, Kieran.¡± At once, Kieran¡¯s expression darkened. Animosity and hostility between the two men brewed in silence. The fact that Inez had been paying much attention to Cedrick and had a high opinion of him throughout their recent vacation the past few days upset Kieran. Thus, he desperately wanted to surpass his brother-inw in all aspects to obtain her approval, Although Cedrick was oblivious to the man¡¯s thoughts, he could distinctly sense his hostility in the past two days. Hence, he squared up with the man without backing down. As they stared daggers at each other, Cedrick¡¯s nose abruptly itched. Without warning, he sneezed several times in a row. For once, a sh of something different flittered across Kieran¡¯s frosty eyes. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve overtaxed yourself these two days, leading to a drop in your stamina and immunity, resulting in you having caught a cold, Cedrick.¡± Gracefully rubbing the tip of his nose, Cedrick retorted forcefully, ¡°Contrarily, I think someone must be criticizing me or speaking ill of me instead of an issue with my physical condition. Compared to you, Kieran, I¡¯ve been in the military for many years, so my stamina is much better.¡± Kieran narrowed his eyes into slits and fixed them onto the man, not bothering to respond anymore. ¡°Why are you two at odds now?¡± Gwendolyn asked while rubbing her eyes after having been awakened by Cedrick¡¯s sneezing. Both men remained silent at the same time, surprisingly in sync. At that, Gwendolyn giggled evilly. ¡°A battle between men is pointless if it¡¯s mere talk. Let¡¯s find a boxing ring to have a fight when we get off the ne and see who emerges victorious.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. In a low voice. Kieran chided. ¡°As ady, it¡¯s best for you to be more gentle. Don¡¯t speak about such violent things all the time. The aim of learning jiu-jitsu is for you to have the ability to protect yourself, not for you to go around fighting.¡± Following her brother¡¯s lecture, Gwendolyn pursed her lips and nestled back in her husband¡¯s embrace, instantly transforming into a docile kitten. Cedrick nted a kiss on her forehead and patted her on the back with his gigantic palm. He sounded as airy as ever. ¡°I think your suggestion is pretty great, Darling. Anyway, I never lose in fights.¡± Kieran¡¯s chilly eyes narrowed a fraction in displeasure. As the leader of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cedrick was the king in the military field then. Back at the training camp, he was one of the cream of the crop born of the grueling training. While Kieran appeared like a gentlemanly professor obsessed with research, his fighting skills were actually impable as well. Nheless, if he were to fight with Cedrick for real, he might not necessarily be thetter¡¯s match. He still remembered the man going berserk after losing control due to the S404 RNA virus back then because Gwendolyn was absent from his side. He had to team up with Treyton before they managed to subdue Cedrick, who was behaving like a rabid dog. Well, perhaps only the Asher back then, before he had rheumatism, could go up against Cedrick. Since he was indeed inferior in terms ofbat prowess, he went silent. He shifted Inez, who was adjacent seat, into his arms to sleep. Needless to say, the couple across from him was also very much intimate. Smirking, Gwendolyn refuted Cedrick¡¯s statement. ¡°In truth, Ceddy still has a formidable rival when it comes to fighting.¡±¡° Cedrick quirked a brow. Seemingly grasping her meaning immediately, he leaned down and pecked her soft lips. ¡°That¡¯s true. My darling wife is my formidable rival. When I fought with you previously, I never once got the upper hand. In the end, I even ended up suffering a beating.¡± Stifling a giggle, Gwendolyn tapped the tip of his nose with a finger. ¡°Bingo! I¡¯ll give you a small reward when we arrive at Moranta, Hubby.¡± Across from them, Kieran was forced to endure the couple¡¯s public disy of affection. He could only kiss Inez on the forehead and hug her even tighter before closing his eyes and going to sleep, ignoring it all. In Salinsburgh in Chanaea, Nico, who had a rare day off, went out and enjoyed himself with Summer. In the afternoon, the two of them went on a pendulum ride in the amusement park. Summer was young, so she loved such thrilling and spine-tingling rides most. Unexpectedly, the pendulum ride was simply too electrifying that she ended up nauseous. No sooner had she got off the pendulum ride than she hurled madly while hanging over a trash can. The world spun around her, cing her on the verge of death. Nico stood beside her and helped to pat her on the back before handing her some water to rinse her mouth. When Summer, who had been tortured by the pendulum ride to the point of tears, jerked her head back, she was greeted by the sight of the calm and unruffled Nico, unfazed in the least. ¡°How are you totally unaffected, Nico? Are you used to going on such amusement rides?¡± In response, Nico shook his head. ¡°This is my first time riding one. But these amusement rides are rather anti-human and induce some physical difort.¡± ¡°Do you feel any difort anywhere, then?¡± Again, Nico shook his head. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because I¡¯ve undergone too much training when I was young. This intensity is still eptable to me. It¡¯s passable but not fun.¡± Summer could not help feeling even more impressed by her man. ¡°I don¡¯t like it either. We won¡¯t ever ride it again in the future.¡± Nico ruffled her hair. ¡°Let¡¯s go over to the small diner at the side to order some food and a ss of fruit juice, okay?¡± Summer bobbed her head in agreement. The two of them promptly changed directions to head toward the small diner. They had only taken a few steps when Nico¡¯s phone rang. He fished his phone out of his pocket and nced at it, only to see that it was a call from a Federal Bureau of Investigation officer. Beside him, Summer stole a nce at his phone. In a voiceced with jealousy, she remarked, ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve got work to do at the bureau and have to go back to spend your time with those duties of yours.¡± Nico remained as solemn as ever. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a call from my subordinate at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But it¡¯s not a work issue. I assigned him to do something else for me.¡± Puzzled, Summer eyed him with her head tilted slightly. Nico answered the call. Summer could not hear whatever was said on the other end of the phone, merely catching the man¡¯s brief replies. ¡°Got it. Great job. Give me the address, and you don¡¯t need to bother about the rest anymore.¡± After hanging up the phone, Nico turned to her. ¡°I¡¯ve found your family. They seem to be in the dark about me having brought you to the Jenson residence, mistakenly assuming that you¡¯re in Erihal instead. I¡¯ve already gotten the address. Do you want to go over before dinner to tell your parents you¡¯ve found someone and are getting engaged to me?¡± Summer¡¯s expression froze, and her hand sped in his tightened suddenly. She tensed all over as though having recalled some bad memories. Chapter 641 Chapter 641 Chapter 641 Her Transformation In Just A Year Noticing her unnatural expression, Nico gently stroked her cheek. ¡°You don¡¯t have to meet them if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Summer took in a deep breath. ¡°No. I have to.¡± She held his hands firmly and asked with uncertainty, ¡°Nico, if we get engaged and eventually married, will you ever abandon me? Like how my father once abandoned me and sold me to a foreign country¡­¡± Nico sighed, locking eyes with her and speaking with determination. ¡°No, never. I¡¯m a man of my word. Once I¡¯ve made a choice, I won¡¯t turn back or have any regrets. Since I¡¯ve decided to get engaged to you, no matter what happens, I¡¯ll only acknowledge you as my life partner for the rest of my life.¡± His tone was as serious as when discussing work, but every word carried a heartfelt promise that stirred deep emotions within Summer, rendering her speechless. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear your reassurance. It¡¯s time for me to cut ties with family members who have never truly cared about me,¡± she uttered. Nico gently caressed her head. With him by her side, Summer felt secure and brave enough to do what she needed to do. After leaving the amusement park, they drove in a luxurious car to a modest rental house in a less bustling area of Salinsburgh. Caleb Rongsler and his family had already relocated from one ce to another for the fifth time. The relentless pressure from debt collectors had made life extremely difficult for his family. Nico and Summer walked through the corridors of a rather run-down rental building, following the house numbers. As they were approaching the unit, Summer said, ¡°Nico, please wait here for a moment.¡± Nico responded steadily. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll wait for you in the corridor.¡± Summer hurriedly ascended the stairs, taking them three steps at a time, until she found the rental unit with the number 555. The old building had poor soundproofing, and as she stood in front of the door, she could already hear two familiar voices engaged in a heated argument inside. A sharp and piercing female voice eximed, ¡°Are you gambling again? Don¡¯t you think we already have enough debt collectors on our tails? How did I end up marrying such a spineless loser like you?¡± A deep voice belonging to a middle-aged man rang out. ¡°I may be a loser, but you¡¯re not any better. Just look at what your body has be! I sent you to the red-light district not long ago, yet you couldn¡¯t even earn a single cent. You still have to rely on me!¡± ¡°Rely on you?¡± The woman let out a cold snort. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. It was only because we sold that girl that we barely managed to make ends meet. It has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Did you not see how emaciated she was before? If it weren¡¯t for me, could you have sold her for such a good price? Otherwise, what would you have eaten and drunk all this time?¡± he retorted. ¡°You¡¯re such a despicable father. I can¡¯t believe you sold off your own daughter!¡± she mocked. The man retorted, ¡°You were the one who kept pushing me to sell her off for money. If I end up in jail because of this, you¡¯ll have your share of the me!¡± The argument between the two was so loud that not only Summer, who was standing outside the door, could hear it, but even Nico, who was near the stairway, could clearly make out their voices. Summer maintained a poker face, her heart growing colder by the moment. Knock Knock! She lightly rapped her knuckles on the door a few times, but the noise of the argument inside quickly drowned out her knocking. Summer¡¯s frustration mounted when no one came to open the door. Her face grew indifferent as she forcefully kicked the door twice. The aged iron door, already fragile, made a loud banging sound, swaying as if it was on the verge of copse. She had expected someone inside to respond bying to the door and cursing at her, but to her surprise, themotion inside abruptly subsided, returning to an eerie silence. Still, no one came to answer the door. The iron door shielded the upants from seeing who was outside, but the forceful kicks gave the impression to the Rongslers that debt collectors had arrived. Filled with trepidation, they held their breath and pretended they were not home. Once again, Summer knocked on the door, her voice chillinglyposed. ¡°Caleb Rongsler, Lucinda Cersei, open the door. I¡¯m not here to collect debts.¡± Despite the coldness in her voice, it was still captivating to hear. Inside the house, Caleb and Lucinda exchanged puzzled nces. The voice sounded familiar to them, but they struggled to remember who it belonged to. After hesitating for a moment, Lucinda went to open the door. As the door swung open, Lucinda saw a young woman in her twenties standing outside. She possessed delicate facial features that enhanced her beauty and wore a dress adorned with tassels, which entuated her graceful and elegant demeanor. Lucinda stared at the woman in confusion, unable to recognize her, but her attention was immediately drawn to the precious blue crystal earrings dangling from thetter¡¯s earlobes and the blue crystal tinum ne adorning her neck. The young woman, dressed in branded attire and adorned with essories, exuded an aura of luxury and beauty. She resembled a refined and stunning doll, captivating in her appearance. Lucinda pondered for a moment, trying to recall if they had any acquaintance with such a prominent and affluent youngdy, but somehow, she could not recognize her. Recognizing the importance of not offending someone of high status, Lucinda quickly put on a friendly smile and asked, ¡°Do we know each other, miss?¡± Meanwhile, Caleb, who was fanning himself with a fan inside the house, came to see what was happening after hearing themotion. Even he could not recognize her. ¡°You are¡­¡± A subtle smile formed at the corner of Summer¡¯s lips. ¡°You two seem to have quite a short memory, don¡¯t you? Weren¡¯t you just discussing how to sell me off for money? It appears you¡¯ve already forgotten what I look like.¡± Caleb shoved Lucinda aside, his eyes widening in disbelief. After sizing her up, he asked, ¡°Y-You¡¯re Summer?¡± One year ago, he tricked his daughter by telling her they were going on a vacation to Erihal. However, he used that opportunity to secretly contact human traffickers and sell her off instead. At that time, Summer was emaciated, suffering from malnutrition, and her skin had a sickly yellow hue. Apart from her pair of clear and innocent eyes, her body had undergone severe muscle and fat loss. However, the girl standing before them now had a well-proportioned figure, radiant fair skin with a rosy flush, and was adorned in luxury branded clothing. She had undergone a remarkable transformation, as though she was reborn into apletely different person. Caleb and Lucinda looked at her for a while, gradually recognizing some familiar features beneath the layers of exquisite makeup. With a grin, Caleb remarked, ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see how stunning my little girl has be in just a year. Did you find yourself a sugar daddy?¡± Lucinda, on the other hand, was skeptical and could not resist making snidements. ¡°Are those luxury items you¡¯re wearing fake? Where did you suddenlye by so much money?¡± Summer shot daggers at her mean stepmother, refusing to continue to dwell on the topic of money. Her voice turned icy as she cut to the chase. ¡°I¡¯m here to inform you that I¡¯m getting engaged to my fianc¨¦ -and no, he¡¯s not my sugar daddy. I intend to remove my name from the family register, severing all ties with you, Caleb Rongsler.¡± ¡°Fianc¨¦?¡± Caleb¡¯s expression turned grim when he heard about Summer¡¯s intention to sever their father- daughter rtionship. He immediately assumed the role of a father, expressing his dismay. ¡°How dare you make decisions about your own marriage without consulting us? And don¡¯t think that wearing counterfeit designer clothes makes you a socialite. Our family is weighed down by gambling debts, and now that you¡¯ve returned, you should find a way to contribute toward repaying those debts.¡± Summer sneered, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for a year, and the first thing you bring up is money. You only know how to seek pleasure without knowing how to earn it. Caleb, you should just live under a bridge and suffer in poverty for the rest of your life.¡± Fury surged inside Caleb. He could not believe that the girl standing before him was the same obedient daughter who used to respect him as her father and call him ¡°Dad¡± just a year ago, Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. With a menacing expression, he assumed the role of a strict father. ¡°How dare you criticize me, Summer Rongsler! I¡¯ll always be your father, and you must obey me. If you dare defy me, I¡¯ll give you a good beating!¡± He raised his hand in threat, intending to p Summer¡¯s delicate and beautiful face, but before he could strike, a pair of strong hands gripped his wrist tightly, almost breaking his bones. Caleb cried out in pain, his forehead breaking out in a cold sweat as he looked at the man who had suddenly appeared beside Summer. Chapter 642 Chapter 642 Chapter 642 Nico Protecting Summer The man emanated an imposing aura, and his gaze was filled with rage. Although he had slightly darker skin, his facial features were exquisite. At the same time, he had a righteous look that only impressive men had. The pain from his wrist caused Caleb to grit his teeth. While staring at the man in bewilderment, he thundered. ¡°Who are you? Do you have a problem with me disciplining my daughter?¡± Lucinda was nearby, and she jumped to her husband¡¯s defense. ¡°Let go of my husband! This is my house. How dare youe into my house and assault someone? I¡¯ll call the police!¡± In response, Nico sneered disdainfully, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary because I¡¯m aw enforcement officer!¡± Caleb and Lucinda looked at each other in shock. Did Summer really bring a policeman with her? What is she up to? Faced with inquisitive gazes from her father and stepmother, Summer held Nico¡¯s arm and uttered in a sweet voice, ¡°Nico, let go of his filthy hand. He does nothing but gamble. If you touch him, you¡¯ll only dirty your hands.¡± Hearing that, Nico narrowed his eyes in warning and loosened his grip on Caleb¡¯s wrist at once. Caleb was caught off guard, and he stumbled backward. Fortunately for him, Lucinda was there to hold him and prevent him from crashing into the door behind him. Summer then took a wet wipe from her branded bag to wipe Nico¡¯s hand with it. It was as though Caleb was nothing but disgusting filth in her eyes. With a gentle look in his eyes, Nico caressed Summer¡¯s face with his rough fingers and asked, ¡°Did they hurt you?¡± Summer shook her head. ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, Nico, there¡¯s nothing they can do to me.¡± The emergence of her strong backer had definitely bolstered her confidence. Meanwhile, Lucinda sized up the two well-dressed individuals before her and uttered disdainfully, ¡°Summer, I see that you¡¯ve brought someone home with you. Are you not introducing him to your dad and me? Where are your manners?¡± Caleb was ruminating over the way Summer addressed Nico when he suddenly recalled something. Is he that man from the Federal Bureau of Investigation? Caleb stared at Nico in fear and disbelief and stammered, ¡°Nico? W-Which Nico are you? Could it be that you¡¯re¡­¡± As soon as those words fell, Nico turned around sternly and straightened his back. Due to how much taller he waspared to Caleb, he easily dominated thetter with aura alone. While holding Summer¡¯s hand, Nico stood side by side with her in front of Caleb and Lucinda. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I¡¯m Summer¡¯s fianc¨¦, Nico Jenson. Not only am I the newly appointed deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but I¡¯m also the vice president of Jenson Group.¡± Upon hearing that, Caleb and Lucinda were dumbfounded. It was their first time meeting someone of that importance, so they were so intimidated that they forgot how to breathe. Overwhelmed by jealousy and shock, Lucinda chuckled sheepishly and shot Summer a grumpy look. ¡°Oh, Summer. When did you befriend a man as influential as Mr. Jenson? Why didn¡¯t you tell us about him so that we could also bask in the glory of his sess?¡± ¡°What?¡± Summer red at Lucinda and sneered, ¡°If your father and stepmother had given you up for money, would you let them bask in the glory of another¡¯s sess? You guys aren¡¯t worthy.¡± Lucinda¡¯s face fell. ¡°How dare you?¡± Right then, Caleb held Lucinda back and shot her a meaningful look. Now that a man as impressive as Nico is here, we shouldn¡¯ty a finger on Summer. Since we have such a rich and powerful future son- inw, I doubt we¡¯ll ever have to worry about our debts again. Who knows? We might even get to enjoy our lives as a wealthy family from now on. In just a matter of minutes, Caleb had thought about how he could take advantage of Nico. Counting on the fact he was Summer¡¯s father, Caleb straightened his back and put his status as an elder to full use. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. While gesturing for Nico to enter the house, Caleb said, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, Mr. Jenson, pleasee into our humble rented house for a cup of tea and a conversation. Our neighbors are watching, so perhaps it¡¯s inappropriate for us to converse out in the open.¡± The four had caused quite amotion for several minutes in the corridor, so the neighbors found it hard to turn down a spectacle. In fact, the number of onlookers increased after Nico made his self- introduction. Nico¡¯s gaze darkened as he nced at the messy and tiny rented unit the married couple was staying in. The next moment, he unhesitatingly rejected the offer by saying, ¡°No thanks. Summer prefers clean and tidy surroundings. Your house is uneptable, Mr. Rongsler. I don¡¯t want Summer to dirty her new skirt. Besides, I¡¯m not a fan of formalities. We should just have a straightforward conversation here and now. By the way, people usually address me as Mr. Nico. I¡¯m having a hard time getting used to the way you address me, Mr. Rongsler.¡± Caleb had no choice but to smile awkwardly and say, ¡°I see. In that case, we¡¯ll do whatever you¡¯re comfortable with, Mr. Nico.¡± With that, he turned toward Lucinda and ordered, ¡°Darling, serve our guest a cup of water.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Summer stopped Lucinda and stated, ¡°Even I think the cups you used before are filthy. How dare you use those filthy cups to serve Nico drinks?¡± It¡¯s been a year since west saw each other, yet she showed up suddenly with that sarcastic attitude of hers instead of her obedient behavior back then. Caleb was displeased when he heard that, so he red at her and reprimanded softly, ¡°Summer! Don¡¯t you know you aren¡¯t supposed to shun the ones who raised you?¡± ¡°Well, my parents were never around to teach me such values. How was I supposed to know any of that?¡± Summer replied expressionlessly. Caleb was livid. ¡°Am I dead to you? I was the one who provided for you for almost two decades! How dare you disrespect me just because you found yourself a wealthy man to rely on?¡± Wrapping his arm around Summer¡¯s waist, Nico uttered. ¡°A child would only be filial if the parents were loving. When I first met Summer, she was abused and as thin as a rake. She was all alone, with no one to rely on. Thus, I think her words make perfect sense.¡± Caleb¡¯s expression turned grim, and he was rendered speechless when he saw how protective Nico was of Summer. At the same time, he was deliberately ignoring the fact that all his neighbors were staring at him with weird looks on their faces. Right then, Summer got straight to the point and revealed the purpose of her visit again. ¡°I came here today to keep you guys informed. Besides, I¡¯m bringing you two to remove my name from your household registry because I want to sever my rtionship with you guys. From now on, neither of you will have anything to do with my life.¡± In other words, she was preventing the married couple from leeching off her in the future. Caleb saw red instantly. ¡°You can¡¯t do that! If you do that, you¡¯ll be an orphan! Everyone¡¯s going to make fun of you once you marry into the Jenson family!¡± Summer was amused. ¡°I would rather endure that than be known as the child of an indebted alcoholic father with a gambling addiction.¡± ¡°L¡­¡± Caleb had nothing to defend himself with. Frustrated, he nced at Summer¡¯s and Nico¡¯s empty hands. I hadn¡¯t seen Summer in a year, and she suddenly came back to tell us she was getting engaged. Yet, they didn¡¯t even bother toe with expensive gifts. Since she doesn¡¯t even care about formalities, it¡¯s obvious that she¡¯s determined to cut all ties with us after her engagement. Lucinda, who had been keeping mum, had the same thing in mind. She then inched toward Caleb and whispered, ¡°Hubby, do you see how your daughter is disregarding and shunning us? I bet they¡¯re not even going to give us an engagement gift.¡± Caleb¡¯s expression became even more solemn after that. How dare they refuse to give us an engagement gift when she has found herself such a rich fiance? Chapter 643 Chapter 643 Chapter 643 Jail Time With that in mind, Caleb narrowed his eyes and red at Summer viciously. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to acknowledge me as your father, you can¡¯t change the fact that we¡¯re rted by blood. Moreover, I provided for you for neen years of your life before you met Mr. Nico. How are you going to repay me for that?¡± Now that Summer has the Jenson family¡¯s support, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting her get rid of me. I¡¯m going to be the father-inw of the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation! That sounds amazing! Caleb had already started imagining how sweet his life would be in the future. ¡°That¡¯s right. Summer, don¡¯t fight with your dad anymore, okay? Since you¡¯re back, let¡¯s go out for dinner together so that we can wee Mr. Nico into our family and discuss your engagement. Don¡¯t worry. Your dad and I will do our best to arrange your wedding.¡± Lucinda chimed in. How I wish I were Summer¡¯s biological mother! If I could get associated with the most prominent family in Chanaea, my friends would be so jealous of me! None of them would dare to look down on me in the future! Summer was in awe when she realized exactly how shameless the married couple was. ¡°One of you is shameless, and the other is mean. You two are a match made in heaven.¡± In response, Caleb red at her and pretended he didn¡¯t hear her sarcasticment. He then went all out as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t care. No matter what, I won¡¯t agree to sever ties with you because I raised you. Even if you want to cut me off, you ought topensate me.¡± Hearing that, Nico hugged Summer¡¯s slender shoulders and gently patted her tofort her and give her a sense of security. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you,¡± Nico said before whipping out a bank card and delivering it to Caleb and Lucinda. ¡°There¡¯s two-and-a-half million in this card. I¡¯m sure this amount is a few times more than what youContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. forked out to provide for Summer back then.¡± Caleb and Lucinda stared at the bank card, dumbstruck Lucinda was over the moon and couldn¡¯t wait to take the card from Nico. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Nico! You¡¯re so sweet toward Summer! I must admit that this is the most generous meeting gift I¡¯ve ever received.¡± Although Caleb looked calmer than Lucinda, he failed to conceal the excitement in his eyes. That¡¯s two- and-a-half million! I¡¯ve never had that much money in my life! If he wants Summer that much, he can have her! Heck, if he¡¯s willing to top up the amount, he can also have Lucinda! Nico noticed the greedy looks on their faces. Before Lucinda could take the bank card, however, he pulled it back toward himself, causing her to grab thin air. ¡°What¡¯s this, Mr. Nico? Didn¡¯t you say you were giving the money to us?¡± Lucinda asked. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? I wasn¡¯t done talking.¡± Nico snorted. Lucinda had no choice but to take a few steps back and stand next to Caleb reluctantly. In a strong and deep voice, Nico uttered. ¡°I¡¯m giving you two-and-a-half million aspensation for the money you spent on raising Summer. However, things aren¡¯t as simple as they look.¡± After Nico said that, Caleb and Lucinda exchanged solemn nces. ¡°Caleb, you trafficked Summer to Erihal and gambled away all the illegal money you made from that deal. I¡¯ve asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to collect all the evidence of your crimes and compile them into a dossier. You may collect the money I¡¯m offering, but you¡¯re both going to jail,¡± Nico added. ¡°What?¡± Caleb and Lucinda were stunned. Lucinda was also puzzled by those words, so she asked, ¡°I wasn¡¯t involved in that. Why should I get jailed as well?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you instigate Caleb to sell me off in Erihal back then?¡± Summer asked. ¡°Why would I do that? I even told him I was against what he wanted to do!¡± Lucinda was adamant about denying it. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Nico let out a snort and continued, ¡°Since you¡¯re denying it, you should visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I believe they have professionals who are capable of extricating the truth out of you. However, you¡¯ll surely receive a heavier sentence for lying.¡± Lucinda felt a chill running down her spine, and she immediately hid behind Caleb guiltily. At that moment, Caleb couldn¡¯t help feeling baffled. If they have all the evidence against me, there¡¯s no point in denying it. The more I deny it, the more severe my sentence will be. Besides, he¡¯s the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There¡¯s no doubt he isn¡¯t joking or making idle threats. Upon mulling over it, Caleb asked, ¡°If we agree to serve jail time, how long will that be?¡± ¡°For the rest of your lives.¡± Nico grinned wickedly. ¡°Ah!¡± Caleb and Lucinda freaked out on the spot. ¡°Hubby, is he serious? If we receive that two-and-a-half million, we have to spend the rest of our lives behind bars! We can¡¯t even spend the money if that happens!¡± Lucinda said. Caleb was as sober as a judge that day, so he knew exactly what Nico meant. However, Caleb didn¡¯t dare to offend Nico because of thetter¡¯s status. Hence, he had no choice but to y nice and say, ¡°Oh, my future son-inw, we¡¯re family, right? Let¡¯s talk it out. Furthermore, I brought Summer to Erihal on vacation back then and identally lost her. I didn¡¯t deliberately sell her to anyone¡­ You must have ways to help us out, right?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s another way out, and that¡¯s to remove your names from Summer¡¯s household registry. Afterward, sign an agreement saying that you guys are no longer rted and you¡¯ll never look for her again. If you choose to take the second option, the first option will be voided,¡± Nico stated. Those words rendered Caleb speechless. If I take the second option, I won¡¯t get paid, and I¡¯m no longer rted to Summer. In that case, I won¡¯t get to live with the benefits she brings. While Caleb was thinking about what to say, Nico¡¯s expression turned frightening as he exuded a strong aura. That was the aura of a man who had fought on the battlefield, and neither Caleb nor Lucinda dared to pull tricks on him. Time ticked by, and there were even more neighbors gathering around. Nico¡¯s patience was running thin, so he frowned and turned sideways to look at Summer to see her rubbing her tummy. She must be famished. After all, we haven¡¯t had dinner. Nico grew sick of waiting for Caleb and Lucinda to make up their minds, so he took out his phone and made it known that he was calling his subordinate in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. ¡°I¡¯m inside a residential building on Wend Street. I need a team here-¡± Before Nico could finish his sentence, Lucinda and Caleb quickly stopped him and begged, ¡°Don¡¯t do that, Mr. Nico! Please! We¡¯ll take the second option and remove our names from Summer¡¯s household registry right away. We¡¯ll never appear in your lives anymore!¡± The married couple was on the verge of tears. Initially, they thought Summer had brought back a rich son-inw for them. Little did they know that trouble was awaiting them. Nevertheless, Nico had officers escort Caleb and his wife to the government office to remove their names from Summer¡¯s registry. Half an hourter, Summer was seen smiling gleefully at her new household registry. On the contrary, Caleb and the wife were extremely resentful. We lost two-and-a-half million! Nico wanted to send the married couple away as soon as he could, so he instructed the police officers to make the couple sign the agreement. Just like that, they had sworn to never contact Summer again and cut ties with her. Once everything was settled, Nico was ready to bring Summer out of there. Before she left, she turned to look at her disgraceful father onest time and said, ¡°The past neen years I spent by your side will always be the worst time of my life. However, I ought to thank you. If not for you, I wouldn¡¯t have met Nico in Erihal and experienced the love and affection I deserved. Goodbye, Mr. Rongsler. I hope you and your wife can somehow get out of debt and make an honest living.¡± Caleb was fuming, but he didn¡¯t dare to Chapter 644 Chapter 644 Chapter 644 Generous Nico Just like that, Caleb watched as the two-and-a-half million disappeared before his very eyes. Summer was no longer a member of the Rongsler family, so she was very cold toward Caleb and paid no heed to his furious expression. ¡°Caleb and Lucinda are such horrible people! It feels great to finally be free from them!¡± Summer eximed with a wide smile on her face as she got into the car and headed back to the Jenson residence. Nico¡¯s lips curled into a grin as well when he saw her smiling happily. However, Summer was quick to stop smiling and instead asked worriedly, ¡°Nico, now that my household registry is empty, I am no different from an orphan. Would you¡­¡± Look down on me? As though Nico could read her mind, he replied decisively, ¡°No, I won¡¯t. I would probably have died at the border if my savior didn¡¯t rescue me. I¡¯m an orphan too, so neither of us has parents to look after. That means we get to spend a long time together with just the two of us before we have to consider children.¡± Summer looked forward to that idea, so she wrapped her arms around his and rested her head on his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re my savior too, Nico.¡± Nico simply let her cling to him as he kept his focus on the road. ¡°You gave me quite the scare when you whipped out that bank card before we left the house earlier. I thought you were actually going to give it to them!¡± Summer eximed. Nico shed her a smile and said, ¡°They abused you despite being your parents, and they had the audacity to try and rip you off after finding out that life is finally looking good for you. I would not feel comfortable giving such selfish people any money. ¡°Me too. Thank goodness we didn¡¯t pay them anything.¡± Summer then looked up at him as she continued in a coquettish tone, ¡°But a mary gift is still a must if we are to get engaged. Now that my household registry is no longer tied to them, you can just give me the money.¡± Nico knew exactly what she was ying at, so he responded by saying, ¡°Sure thing. I¡¯ll even pay for your dowry and wedding gift. However, you are still living off me right now, so I¡¯ll hold on to that money for you.¡± Summer was speechless when she heard that. What? How is that any different from not giving me anything? Two dayster, Gwendolyn, Cedrick, Inez, and Kieran returned from their trip overseas and arrived at Salinsburgh. Although they were extremely tired from their vacation, the four of them had enjoyed it very much. Inez and Kieran, in particr, benefited the most from it. The little unpleasant experience they had during that trip did not affect their rtionship. While making their way through the VIP passage at Salinsburgh Airport, Kieran asked Gwendolyn seriously, ¡°Hey, Kiddo! Inez and I n on moving our wedding Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I think that¡¯s great! You¡¯re not getting any younger, Kieran, so you should get married as soon as possible. Let¡¯s pick out a nice date for your wedding in a couple days!¡± Feeling a little shy, Inez kept her head low while following behind them. ¡°Since Gwenny is the head of the family, wouldn¡¯t she have to make a trip to Faike and have a meal with the Mossey family?¡± Cedrick asked after giving it some thought. Under normal circumstances, both families would have to sit down and discuss the mary gift, dowry, and wedding arrangements. ¡°Kiddo owns lots of businesses, so she might be busy. Inez and I can head over to Faike and handle this on our own if she isn¡¯t free,¡± Kieran replied. I headed over to the Newton residence in person when Treyton and Jennifer got engaged. Faike is quite far away from Salinsburgh, so traveling by ne is the only way to get there. I¡¯ve been too busy with the work at hand, so I let Kieran take care of their engagement himself instead. This wedding is more important than the engagement. As the head of the family, I should attend the meeting personally. Otherwise, it would seem like I¡¯m ying favorites! With that in mind, Gwendolyn said decisively, ¡°I¡¯ll go. A wedding is a very important event in a person¡¯s life. As the head of the family, it is only natural that I be present at the family meeting to show my respect to my future sister-inw. Everything else will have to wait.¡± In¨¦z felt touched when she heard that. The wealthiest person in Chanaea personallying to the Mossey residence in Faike to discuss the wedding arrangements? Mom and Dad will probably be so excited that they¡¯ll lose sleep the few nights before the meeting! I bet Mossey Corporation¡¯s stocks will also skyrocket as a result! Cedrick continued walking in silence while the three of them carried on with their conversation. His eyes narrowed as a thought formed in his mind. Gwendolyn and Kieran parted ways after exiting the airport, and the four went their separate ways. ¡°How many days are you nning to spend in Faike, Darling? Will you be staying in a hotel or at the Mossey residence? Do you need me to go with you?¡± Cedrick asked when they got into the car heading back to the Jenson residence. ¡°Jerome and Madelyn are probably going to freak out if a bigshot like you tagged along!¡± Cedrick lowered his head to conceal his prating gaze as he said, ¡°Maybe I could tag along secretly and stay out of sight while you guys discuss the wedding arrangements. Only by being near you will my heart feel at ease.¡± Despite how serious he sounded, Gwendolyn could sense that something was off and frowned in response. After taking a moment to observe Cedrick¡¯s expression, she thought of something and asked, ¡°You¡¯re not nning on making a trip to the Wright residence, are you?¡± Cedrick simply pursed his lips and kept quiet. Gwendolyn did a quick calction in her head and pressed on, ¡°Based on the day Maverick¡¯s death was announced, it has been almost a year and a half since youst saw Frida and Sheralyn, right?¡± She then held Cedrick¡¯s hand in hers as she continued, ¡°I know you¡¯re worried that I¡¯m still traumatized by what Frida and Sheralyn did to me in the past. You¡¯re afraid that I¡¯d get upset if you told me that you wanted to go see them. I know that Frida doted on you even though she mistreated me. Even if you aren¡¯t the real Maverick, you have lived with her for so many years, so she is just like a mother to you. Am I right?¡± Not wanting to ruin her mood and make her feel disgusted, Cedrick tightened his grip on her hand without saying a word. Gwendolyn let out a sigh when she saw his response. ¡°I made peace with them after you left a year and a half ago. I have already let go of the grudges I had against them, so I¡¯ll go with you if you wish to visit them in Faike.¡± Cedrick looked up at her and asked, ¡°Really? You¡¯ll go visit them with me?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Yes, really.¡± ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t get angry at me?¡± Gwendolyn let out a giggle. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Not only was she not angry at Cedrick, but she even felt bad for him. It was always the children who suffered from power struggles in wealthy families. Cedrick had never experienced fatherly or motherly love for as long as he could remember. Even his grandfather, whom Cedrick was closest to, never trusted him as much as he imed to. Gwendolyn knew how rough things had been for Cedrick. His life with the Wright family was considered fairly peacefulpared to that of the Jenson family, and Frida had provided him with the motherly love that he needed. The car soon pulled up inside the garage of the Jenson residence. Upon stepping out of the car, Gwendolyn noticed another luxurious car parked next to them. Huh¡­ This car isn¡¯t from the Jenson family¡­. Chapter 645 Chapter 645 Chapter 645 Cedrick Made His Son Cry Cedrick and Nico¡¯s cars were all ck, Gwendolyn owned two green cars and a white car, and everyone else¡¯s cars were either red, white, or ck in color. The car next to them, however, was a sky-blue Rolls-Royce. Given how bright that color was, it would be impossible to not notice it. It looked just as quirky as Gwendolyn¡¯s green Maserati, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but think of the owner of the car when she saw its color. The car sure matches the owner¡­ Cedrick wrapped his arm around her waist from behind as he followed her gaze and noticed something off about the car as well. ¡°This car doesn¡¯t look like it belongs to the Jenson family.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s Charles¡¯. We didn¡¯t tell him that we¡¯d be returning to Chanaca today. He probably came over to visit the babies,¡± Gwendolyn replied. Cedrick shot her a strange look and asked, ¡°How do you remember his license te so well, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn paused for a second before giving him a light smack on the head. ¡°What are you thinking? There¡¯s no way I¡¯d remember his license te! I only made a guess based on the car¡¯s color!¡± Cedrick held her hand and picked up the suitcase before leading her into Harrick Vi. Sure enough, Charles was indeed ying with Zendaya in the nursery on the fourth floor. ¡°Look, Zendy! Your parents are finally back from their fun little trip! Aren¡¯t you d that they still remember you two? I¡¯m surprised they didn¡¯t leave you two in my care!¡± Charles said half-jokingly when he saw Cedrick and Gwendolyn enter the room. Because Charles was keeping Zendayapany, Cedrick and Gwendolyn made their way toward Benedict and sat down beside him instead. ¡°It¡¯s good to see that you two are finally back, Mr. and Mrs. Jenson! I¡¯ll go prepare a bottle of milk downstairs,¡± Zoey said while leaving the nursery. Charles shifted his gaze toward Gwendolyn the moment Zoey stepped out the door. ¡°You¡¯re glowing. Gwen. Your trip must have gone really smoothly, huh?¡± ¡°It did. I feel kind of bad for you and Nico, though.¡± Charles let out a casual chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m Benny and Zendy¡¯s godfather, so I have a duty to look after them while you two are away. There¡¯s no need to feel bad for me.¡± As Gwendolyn had known him for over twenty years, she paid no heed to his response and continued ying with Benedict. Benedict, who was sitting inside the blue crib, didn¡¯t seem all that interested in the toy she was holding, though. Fortunately, Cedrick was sharp and noticed that Benedict wasn¡¯t feeling well. ¡°There¡¯s something off about Benny. It looks like he has recently fallen sick or something.¡± Charles stopped shaking the rattle he was holding and exined, ¡°Not exactly. I had the pediatrics from the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps take a look at him, and they haven¡¯t found anything wrong with him. I¡¯m not sure if it is due to the weather or his immune system, but Benny¡¯s appetite hasn¡¯t been as good as Zendy¡¯stely.¡± The stern look on Cedrick¡¯s face intensified as he continued to pat Benedict on the cheek. A few secondster, the patting turned into a hard squeeze, and Benedict burst out crying from the pain. Despite how weak he seemed, his crying sounded fairly loud and energetic. Gwendolyn¡¯s heart ached when she saw Benedict crying like this. ¡°There, there¡­ Stop crying, Benny. Your daddy shouldn¡¯t have squeezed your cheek so hard. Your cheek is all red now! Don¡¯t worry: I¡¯ll punish him for you in a bit!¡± Cedrick nced at his hand and said with a faint smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t pinch him all that hard, though. I didn¡¯t think his cheek would be so soft and sensitive!¡± ¡°Benedict¡¯s still a baby, so it¡¯s only natural for him to have sensitive skin! You should¡¯ve let me handle him instead!¡± Gwendolyn snapped back at him. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, Gwenny. I¡¯ll be sure to let you handle him next time,¡± Cedrick replied affectionately. Charles simply watched on from the side as the two of them chatted away. Although it sounded like they were arguing, their eyes were filled with love and affection. The atmosphere was so harmonious that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to interrupt them at all. In fact, he was even starting to feel like a third wheel there. Charles did his best to hide the disappointment in his eyes as he continued ying with Zendaya. He waited until Cedrick and Gwendolyn were done talking before saying, ¡°If you¡¯re that worried, Mr. Jenson, you could take Benny to thergest pediatric hospital in Salinsburgh for a full physical examination. Wouldn¡¯t want you using me of neglecting his well-being if anything were to go wrong later on.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Benny is too young for a full physical examination. Cedrick was just testing Benny out of habit. It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t trust you or anything,¡± Gwendolyn exined. One would not seek help from a person one did not trust. Cedrick and Gwendolyn chose to have Charles help look after the kids because they trusted him. ¡°By the way, Cedrick and I will only be spending one night at Harrick Vi. We¡¯ve booked another flight and will be heading over to Faike tomorrow. We¡¯re probably going to be gone for two days, so we¡¯ll need to trouble you with looking after the kids again.¡± ¡°No problem. I¡¯m just doing my job,¡± Charles replied in a gentlemanly manner. The next day, Kieran and Inez took the early morning flight to Faike so they could meet up with the Mossey family in advance and prepare for the meeting. Gwendolyn and Cedrick, on the other hand, took the afternoon flight. ¡°Kieran¡¯s finally getting married, Treyton¡¯s rtionship with Jennifer seems to be going steady, and Nico is getting engaged with Summer as well. I¡¯m d everyone around us is getting married!¡± Gwendolyn eximed while staring at the clouds outside the window. Cedrick wrapped an arm tightly around her waist and leaned in to sniff at her neck. ¡°Life seems to be getting better and better for us all. So, when will we have our wedding, Gwenny?¡± A rtionship just doesn¡¯t feelplete without a grand wedding ceremony! ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to wait till Benny and Zendy are old enough to be our flower girl and ringbearer?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Cedrick gave it some thought and figured the results would be worth the wait. A few hourster, the nended safely at the airport in Faike. After finding out that the country¡¯s wealthiest couple would being over together, the Mossey family took the initiative to make a reservation at Faike¡¯s most luxurious hotel. All Cedrick and Gwendolyn had to do after leaving the airport was head straight to the hotel. Madelyn was exceptionally friendly toward Gwendolyn and maintained a smile on her face the entire time. The two families spent the entire afternoon discussing the marriage arrangements. Gwendolyn was incredibly generous and gifted Inez two percent of Harris Group¡¯s shares. Ar around nine in the evening, the two families were finally done with their discussion and decided to have the wedding a monthter. Madelyn had been nning on having Gwendolyn and Cedrick stay the night at the Mossey residence but didn¡¯t dare bring it up again when Gwendolyn turned her invitation down the first time. The atmosphere between the two families was incredibly harmonious as they stepped out of the hotel¡¯s private room and walked alongside each other. While making their way around a corner, a woman in high heels ran past them and bumped Gwendolyn on the shoulder. ¡°Hey! Watch where you¡¯re¡­¡± the woman eximed like a spoilt brat, only to stop herself mid-sentence when she looked up and recognized Gwendolyn. ¡°Wait a minute¡­ I¡¯m not hallucinating, am I? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re back in Faike, Gwendolyn!¡± she shouted while grabbing Gwendolyn by the arm. Chapter 646 Chapter 646 Chapter 646 If I Lie Gwendolyn turned around upon hearing the voice and saw it was Sheralyn. It was such a coincidence for them to stumble into each other at a hotel. Sheralyn grasped Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist with both hands and gazed at her with eyes filled with admiration and joy. Her past arrogance before she learned of Gwendolyn¡¯s identity had vanished without a trace. ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s been over a year since west met. I saw online that you had twins with Mr. Jenson. Congrattions. I¡¯m so envious that you can still maintain such a stunning figure even after having kids.¡± Gwendolyn responded with a courteous smile, patted Sheralyn¡¯s shoulder, and exined, ¡°My brother, Kieran, and Inez from the Mossey family are getting married soon, so I came here to prepare the arrangements for the wedding ceremony.¡± She paused and turned to nce at Cedrick. ¡°I thought I would also take this opportunity to visit you and Mrs. Wright.¡± Sheralyn was taken aback. Hearing how Gwendolyn addressed Frida, she felt a hint of mncholy and suddenly remembered her brother and Gwendolyn¡¯s ex-husband, Maverick, who had passed away. ¡°Congrattions on your new life, Gwendolyn. I heard that you and Mr. Jenson have a very good rtionship.¡± Gwendolyn shot another quick look at Cedrick and chirped, ¡°Indeed.¡± Keeping up his cold and aloof demeanor, Cedrick stood behind in silence, not initiating conversation with members of the Mossey family despite being in their presence. Madelyn and her family didn¡¯t know that Cedrick used to be Maverick previously. She found the situation unsettling now that Gwendolyn¡¯s current husband had met with her ex-husband¡¯s younger sister. Fearing Gwendolyn would feel awkward and Cedrick might be jealous, Madelyn took the initiative to smooth things over. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte now. Are you here for a business meeting, Ms. Wright?¡± Sheralyn nodded. ¡°Yes. Wright Construction Group is looking to seal the deal on a new coboration.¡± ¡°In that case, we won¡¯t upy more of your time, Ms. Wright. I still have some details about the wedding ceremony to discuss with Ms. Harris, so we¡¯ll be taking our leave first.¡± Sheralyn let go of Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll let you get back to your conversation.¡± Perhaps Gwendolyn¡¯s strict discipline before that had left a deep impression on Sheralyn. She behaved well in front of Gwendolyn, not daring to act even a little haughtily. Before leaving, she stole a nce at the man behind Gwendolyn. He¡¯s so handsome and gives off such an oppressive and overwhelming aura. Is this Chanaea¡¯s famous Mr. Jenson? Sheralyn couldn¡¯t help but take a few more looks at Cedrick. For some reason, she was unable to shake off the feeling that he resembled her brother, who had been dead for over a year. However, she quickly dismissed that thought. The Wright family is iparable to the renowned Jenson family from Salinsburgh, Chanaea. It must be my imagination. Sheralyn lowered her head, not daring to look at Cedrick anymore as she walked past Gwendolyn and the others to leave. Gwendolyn suppressed her amusement after taking in Sheralyn¡¯s reaction when she saw Cedrick. After exiting the hotel and bidding farewell to Jerome, his family, and Kieran, Gwendolyn and Cedrick got into the car to return to the hotel to get some rest. Gwendolyn said, ¡°Did you see the surprised and incredulous look on your sister¡¯s face earlier? What do you think she was thinking? Will she think I can¡¯t get over her brother, so I deliberately found a man who looks like him?¡± Cedrick drawled expressionlessly, ¡°I did. I thought she would recognize me right away, so I was wondering how to brush it off in front of the Mosseys. However, she left without saying anything. I overthought it, I guess. I assumed she would recognize me just by looking at my physique like you did even when I wore a mask.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. He then domineeringly wrapped his arms around Gwendolyn¡¯s slender waist. ¡°It looks like they¡¯re living quitefortably. I lived in the Wright residence for over ten years, yet she failed to recognize me after I was gone for just over a year. Only my darling treats me the best and cares about me the most.¡± Gwendolyn contained her urge tough. ¡°If Frida were to know the fake son she had cherished for over ten years is actually the eldest grandson of the Jenson family and the person in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I suppose her reaction would be bigger than Sheralyn, right?¡± Cedrick pondered briefly and leaned in to kiss her tender cheek. ¡°Perhaps. Maybe we¡¯ll know how they¡¯ll react tomorrow. Gwendolyn rested her head on his broad shoulder, gazing out the window at the receding street lights. Deep emotions crept into her heart as she recalled events from a year ago, but she didn¡¯t say anything. The next day, Cedrick woke up exceptionally early. Perhaps it was because Gwendolyn was going to apany him to visit the Wrights that day, he hardly slept throughout the night. He wasn¡¯t sure whether his insomnia was due to excitement or restlessness. After changing into a suit, he sat on the edge of the hotel bed, looking out at the skyscrapers, lost in thought. Gwendolyn woke up to that sight. Cedrick sat upright with his back turned to her, exuding an air of solemnity. Even when he was in a daze, he still appeared absurdly elegant. His attractiveness was palpable just by looking at the back of his head. She gently slid her slender fingers under his dark suit jacket from behind, hooked them around his belt, and tugged softly. ¡°What are you thinking about, waking up early in the morning and staring nkly out the window? Is something troubling you?¡± Cedrick hummed in response. He bent down, cupped her cheeks with both hands, and kissed her soft lips twice. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Then, seemingly discontent, he smooched her forehead, chin, eyes, and other parts of her face, not sparing an inch of her face. Gwendolyn was overwhelmed by his fervent kisses, only managing to catch her breath again when she pressed a hand against his face. ¡°What are you doing, suddenly behaving so passionately and brazenly? I¡¯m not used to this. It¡¯s as if we¡¯re about to part.¡± Cedrick held her tight in his arms, nuzzling her neck. ¡°That will never happen. It¡¯s just that I was reminded of our first meeting in Salinsburgh, where you managed to recognize me even when I wore a mask, so I¡¯m feeling a little sentimental.¡± Gwendolyn patted his back and whispered next to his ear with all seriousness, ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯ve reserved a permanent spot for you in my heart and only you. I¡¯ve never forgotten about you.¡± She had once tried to deceive herself into giving up on that rtionship. If Cedrick hadn¡¯t clung to her then, she might have truly let go. However, he had repeatedly risked his life for her and even almost vanished from her world. Only then did she realize how difficult it was for her to forget about that man she had loved deeply for three years. Cedrick didn¡¯t reply. For some reason, since they arrived in Faike the day before, his mood had been quite low. She sensed the changes in his state of mind and wondered if something was bothering him or causing him to feel apprehensive. ¡°Hubby, are there things about the Wright family in Faike that you¡¯ve been hiding from me?¡± Cedrick buried his face in her neck, obscuring his facial expression from her view, but his back stiffened slightly. After hesitating for a while, he asked in an undertone, ¡°If I lie, will I be punished?¡± Gwendolyn pinched his waist while wearing a solemn expression and responded threateningly, ¡°What do you think?¡± Cedrick remained silent for a long while. A trace of indescribable despondencyced his deep, husky voice. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to say it. You¡¯ve divorced Maverick, Gwenny. Besides, even Maverick¡¯s identity was fake during the marriage. The Wright family in Faike no longer has anything to do with you, Gwenny, so you don¡¯t have to know.¡± Gwendolyn frowned. The more Cedrick said that the more curious she became. What kind of secret can make Cedrick stay up all night and stare nkly out the window early in the morning? He even acted strangely, hugging and kissing me passionately. While she was thinking, Cedrick got to his feet and pulled away from her. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Darling. Get ready. We¡¯ll return to the Wright residence to pay them a visit in half an hour.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t probe further. She merely nodded and went into the bathroom to freshen up. No matter what secret Cedrick was holding, going to the Wright residence would definitely provide her with some clues to dispel her doubts. Chapter 647 Chapter 647 Chapter 647 I Have Returned An hourter, Cedrick and Gwendolyn arrived at the Wright residence. The butler and housekeepers had just woken up and started their work. However, the tranquility was shattered by the piercing cries of a baby echoing through the halls. Sheralyn and Ajax had their hands full. The cries had also disturbed Frida, who stormed over to investigate, her scathing remarks ready on her tongue. ¡°Ajax, what kind of father are you? You may excel in managing apany, but what good is that if you can¡¯t even handle your own child?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, Mom. I¡¯ll be more attentive next time.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of being more attentive next time? I¡¯ve heard that line eight hundred times, and you haven¡¯t changed a bit,¡± Frida snapped, her words dripping with frustration. Ajax, who was focused on soothing the crying infant, merely offered a cating response. ¡°Yes, Mom. You¡¯re right.¡± Huh?¡± Frida, still groggy from waking up early, was instantly provoked. ¡°Did you even hear what I said? All you know how to do is brush me off!¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re right.¡± Sheralyn couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the scene. When she realized her mother was about to unleash her anger, she swiftly intervened, ¡°Mom, instead of standing there arguing, why don¡¯t youe and help us soothe the baby? He¡¯s been crying all morning. We can¡¯t figure out what¡¯s wrong.¡± Annoyed with her seemingly ipetent daughter and son-inw, Frida begrudgingly walked over and muttered, ¡°You two are such terrible parents! If your brother was still around, he and Gwendolyn would certainly handle all this effortlessly. I wouldn¡¯t even have to worry!¡± When Gwendolyn and Cedrick arrived at the entrance of the Wright residence, carrying bags filled with gifts, they were greeted by a cacophony of noise. The butler hurriedly emerged from the vi, his eyes widening in astonishment when he spotted the man standing beside Gwendolyn. ¡°M-Mr. Wright?¡± His face was filled with disbelief, and he rubbed his eyes to confirm who he was looking at. They look so alike! Even their aloof demeanor is simr. Yet, upon closer inspection, they seem to be slightly different. The butler vividly remembered that Maverick had passed away a year and a half ago. It was impossible for Maverick to be standing in front of him. Mixed emotions filled his heart as he mustered a smile and greeted Gwendolyn, ¡°Ms. Harris, have you returned from Salinsburgh to visit Mrs, and Ms. Wright?¡± Gwendolyn nodded and smiled. ¡°I guess you can say that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s truly an honor that someone as important as you still remember us. The Wright family is deeply grateful. Thete Old Mr. Wright would surely be pleased. He was right about you, Ms. Harris.¡± The butler quickly summoned the servants to assist with carrying Gwendolyn and Cedrick¡¯s gifts. ¡°May I go to the ancestral hallter and pay respect to Old Mr. Wright? I want to share this news with him.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the butter replied. He then turned to the man next to Gwendolyn. ¡°May I know who this is, Ms. Harris?¡± Gwendolyn cast a sidelong nce at Cedrick, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. ¡°He¡¯s my husband.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. You must be Mr. Jenson from Salinsburgh. Your name precedes you, and I must say the resemnce is striking! Sorry, I mean handsome!¡± The butler was drawn to Cedrick¡¯s captivating face and almost blurted out the wrong words. Gwendolyn stifled augh, while Cedrick remained silent and aloof by her side. ¡°Ms. Harris, Mr. Jenson, please wait in the living room for a while. I¡¯ll inform Mrs. and Ms. Wright of your arrival.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Gwendolyn hooked her arm around Cedrick¡¯s, and together they entered the Wright residence. It had been over a year since theyst visited, and they couldn¡¯t help noticing the changes. The oncevish rose gardens that Frida adored had been dismantled, reced by a lushwn with a swing set and a children¡¯s slide. As they entered the grand hall, they noticed that all the beloved antique yellow rosewood furniture had been reced with soft fabric couches and rounded coffee tables, designed with child safety in mind. Cedrick scanned the vi, taking in the changes that had urred in the year and a half he had been away The furnishings and decor no longer carried the familiar ambiance he had known in his ten years stay. They seemed foreign and distant. Gwendolyn observed his expression in silence, understanding the impact these changes had on him. After a few minutes, they heard hurried footsteps approaching. Frida, Sheralyn, and Ajax, who was carrying the baby, rushed down the stairs to greet their distinguished guests. As Frida descended the steps, she caught sight of Cedrick¡¯s imposing figure from afar. A surge of familiarity washed over her, causing her heart to race and her steps to quicken. When she finally saw the man¡¯s face clearly, tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks uncontrobly. ¡°My son, my son is really alive!¡± She sobbed and hugged Cedrick as if she had experienced endless longing and suffering. Cedrick caught her in his arms, allowing her to hold onto him and sob uncontrobly. Just then, the butler interjected. ¡°Mrs. Wright, he¡¯s not Mr. Wright. He¡¯s Mr. Jenson, Ms. Harris¡¯ husband.¡± ¡°My son is Gwendolyn¡¯s husband. Gwendolyn¡¯s husband must be my son,¡± Frida shrieked in-between sobs. Upon hearing her words, Cedrick and Gwendolyn exchanged surprised nces. When did she realize it? When did her mind be so sharp Sheralyn hurriedly stepped forward and said in panic, ¡°Mom, what are you saying? My brother and Gwendolyn divorced so long ago. The man you¡¯re holding is Gwendolyn¡¯s current husband, the heir of the Jenson family. He¡¯s also known as the boss behind the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He¡¯s renowned for his ruthless and decisive nature. You need to be careful not to offend him, or you might end up detained¡­¡± Herst statement jolted Frida back to reality. She lifted her tear-streaked face, gazed at Cedrick¡¯s features once more, and then turned to face Gwendolyn. Frida still held the letter that Maverick had given her a year and a half ago. Her son had long been dead, and the adopted son who had taken his ce had also died. It was impossible for her son to be the head of the Jenson family. Suddenly, her mind snapped back to reality, and her fingers trembled as she released her grip on Cedrick ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Jenson. I-I didn¡¯t mean to offend you. 1- she stammered. Before she could continue, Cedrick gently sped her wrinkled wrist and smiled warmly. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s me. I have returned.¡± The room fell into stunned silence as those words hung in the air. Tears welled up in Frida¡¯s eyes. The sheer happiness that she was experiencing made it difficult for her to digest Cedrick¡¯s revtion. ¡°You¡­ called me Mom?¡± She turned to Gwendolyn to confirm his response. Gwendolyn nodded to signify that Cedrick¡¯s words were true. Frida was overwhelmed with joy. ¡°I knew it! Gwendolyn loved my son deeply. Once she makes up her mind, there¡¯s no turning back. How could she possibly be engaged to someone else and be in love just a few months after reiming her identity? It must be you. It¡¯s really you¡­¡± Sheralyn¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Unlike Frida, she could not ept the truth. ¡°Oh my goodness! How can my brother be the heir of the Jenson family? Is he not a part of the Wright family? Mom, is he the illegitimate child of you and someone from the Jenson family? Then I¡¯m¡­¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. She started imagining herself as a discarded illegitimate daughter of a prominent family, caught up in a dramatic storyline. Chapter 648 Chapter 648 Chapter 648 The Secret Of The Wright Family At the mention of the word ¡°illegitimate,¡± Frida retorted, ¡°What nonserise are you talking about? I¡¯m not one of those lowly women. Your father is the only man in my life!¡± Sheralyn let out a disappointed sigh. ¡°I thought I was going to be Gwendolyn¡¯s long-lost illegitimate sister- inw or something. Guess that¡¯s not happening.¡± Ajaxughed while soothing the baby. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re still Gwendolyn¡¯s sister-inw. Mr. Jenson just called Mother ¡°Mom.¡±¡± A sudden realization hit Sheralyn, and she became ted again. However, she was curious about Cedrick¡¯s background. ¡°Since Mr. Jenson is my brother, why is he also the eldest grandson of the Jenson family? Was he taken away wrongly by the Jenson family ten years ago?¡± Frida red at Sheralyn. ¡°Have you been reading too many novels and watching too much drama? Where did you get all these silly ideas from?¡± Sheralyn became more confused. ¡°If that¡¯s not the case, then what is happening exactly? Is Mr. Jenson the son of the Wright family or the Jenson family?¡± Cedrick patted Frida¡¯s back gently. ¡°This is a long story. Mom, I¡¯d like to speak with you in private.¡± Frida raised her head and saw the seriousness in his eyes. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go to the meeting room.¡± With that, they left the living hall one after another. As Gwendolyn watched Cedrick¡¯s retreating figure, her suspicion grew stronger. I can¡¯t believe Cedrick requested to speak with Frida without me. What is he going to talk to her about? As various thoughts ran through Gwendolyn¡¯s mind, Sheralyn grabbed her arm. ¡°Gwendolyn, have you had breakfast? I can ask our chef to prepare a sumptuous meal customized to your pte.¡± Ajax reminded, ¡°Darling, don¡¯t be overzealous. It¡¯s not good to have such rich food for breakfast. Sheralyn looked daggers at him. ¡°Anyway, Gwendolyn understands my intentions. I wouldn¡¯t dare to think of hurting her.¡± Gwendolyn smiled as she watched the couple bicker. ¡°Indeed, I haven¡¯t had breakfast. But there¡¯s no need for such huge fanfare. Since Cedrick is willing to acknowledge the Wright family, he must treat you as family. We¡¯ll eat what you usually have.¡± ¡°How can I do that? I¡¯ll ask them to prepare more.¡± Since Frida was away talking to Cedrick, Sheralyn made the call and instructed the butler, ¡°Head to the kitchen quickly and ask them to prepare a few more breakfast items. Be sure to make them exquisite.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Wright.¡± Once that was settled, Gwendolyn approached Ajax to take a look at the baby in his arm. ¡°How old is he?¡± she asked. IA The Secret Of The Wright Family Ajax replied. ¡°Three months.¡± Ajax passed the baby to Gwendolyn. ¡°Would you like to carry him? Bruce can be quite yful, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be well-behaved in your arms.¡± Gwendolyn became particrly fond of children since she had her own. She happily carried Bruce. Sure enough, not only did Bruce Wright not make a fuss, but he also smiled widely at Gwendolyn. He seemed to have taken a liking to her at first sight. Sheralyn felt a bit odd as she watched the friendly interaction between her husband and Gwendolyn. She did not know Ajax was Gwendolyn¡¯s subordinate during their previous stint at the dark organization. Gwendolyn was the one who had ordered him to infiltrate Wright Construction Group and spy on the senior management. ¡°Your baby boy seems to be more energetic than my Benny. Boys should grow up to be strong. Feel free to approach me and Cedrick if you two face any difficulties regarding Bruce¡¯s education in the future,¡± Gwendolyn said. Ajax was touched. ¡°On behalf of Bruce, I sincerely thank you for your kindness.¡± The trio chatted casually for another half an hour when the kitchen informed them that breakfast was ready. They proceeded to make their way to the dining room. Frida and Cedrick had yet to return, so the trio continued their chat at the dining table. Another ten minutes had passed, and there was still no sight of Frida and Cedrick. Gwendolyn could not help but feel curious. What have they been talking about? And the secret of the Wright family that Cedrick is withholding from me, what exactly is it? Five minutester, Frida and Cedrick emerged hurriedly from the meeting room and walked toward the dining room. As they walked over, Gwendolyn noticed that they looked exceptionally calm. Even Frida, ecstatic from seeing her son earlier, wasposed. That was quick. She immediately switched back to her role of an earnest host. I wonder what exactly she knows¡­. Questions and doubts swarmed Gwendolyn¡¯s mind, distracting her from eating breakfast. All Gwendolyn could think of was Cedrick hiding the secret of the Wright family from her. ¡°Darling, help yourself to the food. The butter bun made by our chef is one of the best.¡± Cedrick spoke gently and passed Gwendolyn a bun. Gwendolyn ate the bun without responding. The Wright residence used to be a ce full of painful memories for her. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. However, with the arrival of Bruce, the house underwent a major revamp, and all unpleasant memories disappeared with the removal of the old decoration and furniture. As for Cedrick, the house was missing a sense of familiarity, After finishing breakfast, everyone chatted for a while in the courtyard. When Cedrick and Gwendolyn were about to leave, Frida held back her tears and said to Cedrick with a choking voice, ¡°My dear child, you and Gwendolyn arepatible in so many ways. I hope you will spend your life with her well. I wish nothing but eternal happiness for your family.¡± Cedrick smiled faintly in response. ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Whenever you¡¯re free,e back with Gwendolyn. I¡¯ll always¡­ have you in my mind.¡± ¡°Okay. Gwendolyn listened to their conversation quietly at the side. She could feel Frida behaving a bit distant toward Cedrick. What exactly transpired between them in the meeting room? Various doubts filled Gwendolyn¡¯s mind, leaving her feeling restless. Upon entering the car, the impatient Gwendolyn immediately asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Frida? She seems slightly out of sorts after the chat with you in the meeting room.¡± Cedrick, seated beside her, replied in a calm tone, ¡°I simply told her the truth about Maverick. Her son was taken from her at birth because Old Mr. Wright despised her background and felt she would not be a good mother. Yearster, Maverick was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and became my subordinate. Then, her son died because of me. Though I went to the Wright family to seek refuge, I did my filial duty to the family on behalf of Maverick for more than ten years. But ultimately, I¡¯m not her true flesh and blood, so it¡¯s normal for her to feel a little phobic.¡± As Cedrick recounted the past, his face was expressionless as if it was someone else¡¯s story. However, Gwendolyn knew confidently that Cedrick was ted when he entered the Wright residence earlier. It was thus puzzling to her when his enthusiasm began to falter slowly after he was in the house. She probed further, ¡°You both spoke for more than an hour. I¡¯m sure other matters were brought up as well?¡± Cedrick remained emotionless. He looked out the window without turning to look at her. Gwendolyn moved closer and forcefully turned Cedrick¡¯s face toward hers. ¡°Your expression tells me that you¡¯re hiding something huge, and it¡¯s likely rted to me. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be acting so strangely.¡± Cedrick kept mum. Then, Gwendolyn noticed something weird about the scenery outside the car window. ¡°Wait. This isn¡¯t the way we came earlier. Are we not returning to the hotel? Where are you going?¡± Chapter 649 Chapter 649 Chapter 649 Tell Me The Truth The cemetery? Gwendolyn¡¯s brows furrowed in skepticism as she stared intently at Cedrick¡¯s handsome face. Naturally, she knew exactly who was buried in Faike Cemetery. Back when she was unaware of Cedrick¡¯s staged death, she had even lingered in Faike for six months, all for the sake of that tombstone. Just when she was deep in thought, the man caressed her soft cheek with hisrge palm. With a slight smile on his face, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Darling?¡± ¡°I was just wondering¡­ Are you nning to visit Maverick? And is there something about the Wright family that you¡¯ve been keeping from me? Something that might be rted to me?¡± Her voice carried a mix of intrigue and apprehension as she voiced her thoughts. Cedrick gently traced the contours of her check with his slender fingers, his deep gaze obscuring any glimpse of his true thoughts, making it difficult for Gwendolyn to decipher his intentions. With his usual soft and caring tone, he replied, ¡°I noticed you didn¡¯t eat much breakfast at the Wright residence, and your expression reveals a hint of mncholy. Turns out you¡¯re thinking about this, huh, Gwenny? I suppose I can¡¯t keep anything from my beloved wife. I must apologize for causing you distress and ruining your morning. It¡¯s my fault for not considering how it would affect you,¡± Gwendolyn gave his hand a light pat and yfully scolded, ¡°Well, it¡¯s good that you realized that. Honesty is essential in a marriage, you know. Now, be a good husband and confess everything to me.¡± Cedrick took her hand and lowered his head with reverence before pressing a tender kiss on her palm. ¡°I intend to go to Faike Cemetery to reveal everything to you, but I hope you won¡¯t be angry with me, Darling,¡± he said earnestly. Gwendolyn chuckled, exuding a charming and forgiving demeanor. ¡°It¡¯s been so many years, so there¡¯s no need to dwell on it. Besides, we have our children now, How could I ever abandon you and our little ones¡± over a petty disagreement?¡± Cedrick nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right, Darling. It seems that I¡¯ve let my thoughts get the better of me.¡± Twenty minutester, a luxury car came to a stop outside Faike Cemetery. Gwendolyn and Cedrick stepped out of the car and entered the nearby funeral shop, where they purchased two bouquets of white flowers separately. The road leading to Mavericks¡¯ resting ce was a path Gwendolyn had trodden countless times before. Every time she made this journey, a weight of sorrow would settle upon her heart. However, now that she knew her loved one wasn¡¯t resting beneath the tombstone, but standing beside her, her heart was filled with a serene calmness. Holding the bouquet of flowers in one hand, she reached out and sped Cedrick¡¯s hand with her other, their fingers intertwining tightly. As they entered the cemetery, Gwendolyn¡¯s instincts guided her directly to Maverick¡¯s tombstone. It was almost as if she could find it with her eyes closed. To her surprise, she noticed that the ck and white photograph on the tombstone had been reced Gone was the face of Cedrick, with his solemn and aloof expression. Instead, the photograph was of a handsome and unfamiliar young man that Gwendolyn had never seen before. Intrigued, she leaned in for a closer look. ¡°During the six months I spent in Faike, I used toe here every two or three days, and the photo was of you. When was this changed?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but feel perplexed. ¡°If the photo had been reced with Maverick¡¯s image a long time ago, how could Sheralyn remainpletely oblivious and not pay her respects at her own brother¡¯s grave for a year and a half?¡± Cedrick gently ced the bouquet of white flowers in front of the gravestone, offering a slight bow as a gesture of respect to the departed. ¡°Justst night, before going to sleep, I sent a message to Faike Police Station, asking them to change the photo on the gravestone.¡± ¡°You certainly wasted no time, huh?¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze carried a hint of amusement. ¡°Are you saying that you would prefer my photograph to remain on disy here?¡± Gwendolyn looked into his eyes, her tone turning serious when she said, ¡°Don¡¯t speak of such ominous things.¡± Cedrick tactfully changed the subject. ¡°Maverick was fifteen years old when a tragic ident took his life. He was my most trusted subordinate, and I have always carried a deep sense of guilt and remorse ever since¡­¡± Gwendolyn listened attentively. Even though she had heard this story before when she learned about Cedrick¡¯s staged death, she still patiently allowed him to recount his story again.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Even though Maverick was sent to study at the Juvenile Training Academy that was affiliated with Salinsburgh¡¯s Federal Bureau of Investigation at a young age, and the fact that there had been no contact between him and Frida and Sheralyn for over a decade, Old Mr. Wright was still aware of the situation. That¡¯s why when I assumed Maverick¡¯s identity, Old Mr. Wright began to grow suspicious. However, he chose to keep his doubts to himself until¡­ he asked me to marry you.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression became more solemn as she listened on. I was right that his recent unusual behavior was connected to the secret involving the Wright family and myself. Cedrick let out a sigh. ¡°Gwenny, do you recall how I used to treat you so kindly, like a sister, before we got married? But once I learned that I had to marry you, my attitude changed drastically. I began to mock and belittle you. ¡°Of course I remember.¡± Although she no longer cared about the past events in the Wright residence, she still remembered them clearly, especially every moment she had spent with Cedrick. Cedrick¡¯s eyes dimmed as he cast his gaze downward. He hesitated for a moment before he continued, ¡°Well, Old Mr. Wright approached me and revealed the truth about my identity before urging me to¡­¡± Gwendolyn pressed for more details, asking, ¡°What did he want you to do?¡± ¡°He wanted to take your life in secret and perform a ritual to unite you with Maverick, ensuring a better reincarnation for him and sparing him from the tragedy of his untimely death.¡± He¡¯s talking about a posthumous marriage¡­ Shocked by the revtion, all Gwendolyn could think of was Den¡¯s loving and peaceful countenance. She had never expected that the sweet old man would harbor such malicious intentions all along while allowing her to stay in the Wright residence. She uttered, ¡°It¡¯s truly absurd that he held onto such superstitious beliefs and actually put trust in something like that, especially considering the person in question has been dead for several years.¡± ¡°It is ridiculous, indeed,¡± Cedrick agreed. He gently caressed her face. ¡°At that time, I was still relying on the protection of the Wright family. Old Mr. Wright couldn¡¯t fully entrust me with the family¡¯s authority, and I didn¡¯t have enough evidence to expose his absurd n to the police station. So, I chose to distance myself from you, treating you coldly and using harsh words to try to push you away. It was all part of my n to deceive Old Mr. Wright.¡± He continued, ¡°I¡¯ve told him more than once that your personality wasn¡¯tpatible with Maverick. After we got married, we moved out of the Wright residence and into the seaside vi. This was all so that I could keep you away from Old Mr. Wright¡¯s schemes. During those years, he never found an opportunity to harm you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of some of the details, such as the frequent arguments I had with Old kyou, I Mr. Wright in the study. It was all because of you. I thought that by showing my clear dislike towardy was protecting your life. However, I failed to realize that I neglected your emotional well-being. Moreover, my evident disapproval indirectly contributed to the mistreatment and maniption you faced from other members of the Wright family. It was my mistake, and I apologize for it.¡± As Gwendolyn listened, she started analyzing the situation. ¡°I can still recall the moment when Old Mr. Wright held my hand before his death, urging me not to get a divorce and showering you with endless praise. Turns out it was all a facade, a ploy to keep me bound to the Wright family and to plot against me.¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°So, he told you all of this before he passed away, huh?¡± He locked his gaze on Gwendolyn, his grip on her hand growing slightly mmy, his eyes welling up with tears. He murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve always been afraid to tell you the whole truth because¡­ I feared it would bring back the pain of those three years and make you want to leave me.¡± Having experienced so much together, he realized he couldn¡¯t bear the pain of losing her anymore. Brushing her fingers against his face, Gwendolyn tried to reassure his unease. ¡°How could you ever think that-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, a realization dawned upon her. ¡°Wait¡­ Something doesn¡¯t add up here. If you never truly loved me and wanted to divorce me because of Old Mr. Wright¡¯s scheme, then why did you get engaged to Natasha afterward? I remember you being incredibly protective of her, fulfilling her every request out of gratitude for saving your life. Why weren¡¯t you afraid of her bing the Wright family¡¯s daughter-inw?¡± Cedrick instantly stiffened at that. He felt a chill in his heart whenever the old memories of their time in Faike were brought up, especially when it involved Natasha. He regretted ever crossing paths with that woman, as it only reignited a host of unresolved issues and grievances. Just when he was simmering with inner turmoil, Gwendolyn grabbed hold of his earlobe, her expression a blend of mischief and fierceness. ¡°Tell me the truth. Are you hiding something else?¡± Chapter 650 Chapter 650 Chapter 650 Cedrick was stumped. ¡°I¡¯m not. I swear.¡± ¡°Then, aren¡¯t you going to exin what happened between you and Natasha?¡± Gwendolyn pressed, not intending to let him off. The man fell silent. C-Can I really tell her? She¡¯s going to punch me when we get back to the hotel. Cedrick fell silent and mustered up the courage before speaking. ¡°Grandpa had already passed away when I agreed to get engaged to her, so there was no need to worry about having to go through such risks again.¡± Gwendolyn nodded knowingly. ¡°You felt that the Wright family was already safe, so even if she were to marry you, you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Maverick¡¯s death. Still, that meant you still liked her, right? You were s o resolute when you divorced me, and then you got engaged to her not long after.¡± Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of iciness in it. Cedrick didn¡¯t know what to say. He knew he was at fault. ¡°I never liked her. It was always you. I wasn¡¯t clear about my own thoughts when I announced our engagement. It was also because she braved the storm and came over to the vi. She even brought up how grateful she was because I saved her, so I agreed to the engagement after weighing the pros and cons. The man took Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and caressed it lightly. ¡°Please, Darling¡­¡± he cooed somewhat pleadingly. Gwendolyn retracted her hand, walked a few steps forward, and ced two bouquets of white flowers before Maverick¡¯s gravestone. ¡°These are all your own doings, Mr. Jenson. I have nothing to do with them, she said frostily. Cedrick leaned over. Noticing her expression, he asked, ¡°Are you upset?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You are. It¡¯s written all over your face.¡± Gwendolyn continued facing Maverick¡¯s grave, ignoring the man beside her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Cedrick admitted. ¡°I know Natasha hurt you a lot of times in the past, and while she¡¯s paid the price and is no longer in this world, it¡¯s true that I used to protect her. If you¡¯re mad at me, you can take it out on me.¡± He grabbed Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and put it on his face, looking remorseful. Gwendolyn shot him a re, deliberately sounding stern. ¡°I am quite mad, actually.¡± ¡°You can punish me ording to your family¡¯s rules, Darling.¡± The woman snickered. ¡°Fiftyshes with a belt, then. How about that?¡± Cedrick clenched his jaw and gulped in silence before nodding. ¡°Okay.¡± Amused by his willingness to ept his impending fate, Gwendolyn whispered into his ear, ¡°What if I want the punishment carried out right now?¡± Huht Cedrick began to lose his usually-calm demeanor. ¡°R-Right now? Here?¡± The woman stared at him grimly, neither confirming nor denying her statement. Still, she didn¡¯t appear to be joking. Cedrick held his breath and nced around at the deste cemetery, his usually-dark gaze nowced with a tinge of panic, Am I really going to be punished at a ce like this? This is too bizarre. His charming face paled as he tensed up and braced himself. Seeing how serious he looked, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You¡¯re so silly! Let¡¯s go.¡± She tapped him on the forehead and held his hand, dragging him out of Faike Cemetery. Cedrick looked down at the way she took his hand in hers. She held my hand, so that means she¡¯s not mad anymore, right? Was she just messing with me? He bent down and put an arm behind Gwendolyn¡¯s knees, picking her up. Having been swept off her feet out of the blue, the woman hastily wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°What are you doing, being all lovey-dovey in front of all these gravestones? Have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not being lovey-dovey or deliberately unting our love,¡± Cedrick stated matter-of-factly. ¡°This is just the way I treat you on a daily basis. I don¡¯t want your feet to hurt from walking in those heels, so I decided to carry you. This is also my way of sincerely making up for my past mistakes.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled and inched closer to him. ¡°But you¡¯re just carrying me. That¡¯s nothing for a man like you, right, Mr. Jenson? How is that supposed to reflect your sincerity?¡± Cedrick¡¯s arms stiffened as he saw the mischievous look on her face. Surely, she had a wicked n in mind. ¡°What do you think I should do, then, Gwenny?¡± ¡°You should¡­¡± The woman leaned into his ear and whispered something intimate and outrageous, her warm breath falling on his neck. Cedrick¡¯s ears reddened instantly. ¡°Do we really have to do this?¡± he asked after a long moment of internal struggle. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t contain herughter. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. We¡¯re already husband and wife, but you¡¯re still embarrassed by such a thing?¡± The man was bereft of words. Of course, he¡¯d still be embarrassed. Cedrick¡¯s limbs remained stiff throughout the journey back to the hotel in their luxurious car, and the mere thought of Gwendolyn¡¯s puckishmand made his heart race. As they walked into the hotel elevator, the woman patted his firm, bouncy rear teasingly. ¡°You¡¯re already almost thirty, and you¡¯re still so uptight even with your own wife! I remember how forting you were thest time you screwed up? Cedrick stared at her wanly. ¡°Are you calling me old?¡± he asked in return. ¡°Well, it¡¯s true that I¡¯m five years older than you, unlike those young trainees at Angle.¡± Feeling aggrieved, he reached for her waist and pulled her into an embrace. ¡°Still, I¡¯m far more experienced than those boys, and I know exactly how to make you happy. My stamina¡¯s way better too, which means I can satisfy you best,¡± he added, his voice turning hoarse. With augh, Gwendolyn shoved his face aside. ¡°You¡¯re such a showoff!¡± Ding As they arrived at their designated floor, Cedrick took a deep breath, ready to receive his judgment. The couple headed into their presidential suite, where Cedrick began to undress by therge bed, revealing his alluring corbones, toned abs, and solid thighs. His masculine scent permeated the air. While biting onto a leather belt, the many on his stomach on one side of the bed. ¡°Do whatever you want to me, Darling. I¡¯m all yours today.¡± Gwendolyn gently patted his bum, pleased by how it felt in her hand. Then, she swung an open palm at it. The pain was moderate, but the p caused his skin to swell up slightly and turn a lovely shade of pink. She closed the curtains in the presidential suite, and the darkness masked all their sweet sounds. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. When they were done, Gwendolyny in Cedrick¡¯s arms,pletely exhausted as he massaged the back of her waist from time to time. The woman slept soundly while curled up in her husband¡¯s embrace like azy kitten. Cedrick observed her exquisite face before leaning over to brush his nose against hers. ¡°It looks like you could use more practice, Darling. You¡¯re nowhere near what I used to be, so just sit back and let me please you.¡± His eyes filled with warmth and also dominance, the man kissed her on the forehead, lips, check, and chir as though iming every part of her as his. p! Suddenly, a half-asleep Gwendolyn struck his forehead. ¡°Behave. I¡¯m trying to regain my energy. Cedrick grew despondent. Not even a kiss? Forget it. There¡¯s no love anymore. Chapter 651 Chapter 651 Everything was well taken care of during this trip to Faike. Kieran didn¡¯t leave. He chose to remain by Inez¡¯s side as her secretary at Mossey Corporation in Faike. Given how hard it was for him to love someone deeply and devote himself, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t stop him. On the ne back home, she rested her head against Cedrick¡¯s shoulder and peered out at the sky full of clouds, summing up the recent marriages of the people around her. ¡°Nico and Summer will be announcing their engagement in two days, right? Then, Kieran and Inez will be registering their marriage next month. So, that leaves us with Treyton and Jennifer. I¡¯m not sure how they¡¯re doing, though. Treyton isn¡¯t that clueless when ites to love, so I wonder if he¡¯s able to make Jennifer fall for him again.¡± Cedrick tapped the woman¡¯s nose dotingly. ¡°This is between them, so let them handle it themselves.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. She couldn¡¯t help but feel affected. If only Craig hadn¡¯t tried to control Jennifer¡¯s thoughts with that drug, she wouldn¡¯t have lost her nerves and forgotten everything that¡¯s happened over the past four years, including all her memories of Treyton. If it weren¡¯t for Craig, she and Treyton would¡¯ve long been married by now. ¡°I¡¯ve been so busytely that I haven¡¯t checked in on Jennifer and the e-sports club. I heard there¡¯s an international final tournament going on. I¡¯ll find some time to drop by when we get back.¡± Cedrick was visibly surprised. ¡°Are you actually discussing your work schedule with me, Darling?¡± Uh¡­ Gwendolyn was momentarily speechless, but she quickly responded with a grin, ¡°Well, your opinions won¡¯t change my schedule. I¡¯m just telling you my ns out of respect for you as your wife.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t know what to say. Outside, the sun began to rise, dyeing the clouds pink. ¡°Look, Hubby! Aren¡¯t these clouds the same color as what I did to youst night?¡± Gwendolyn asked impishly, pointing out the window. Cedrick stilled briefly and nced in the direction of her finger before answering seriously, ¡°A little, but these aren¡¯t as red as what you did.¡± The woman snorted. While thinking ofst night¡¯s escapade, she tilted her head and nted a kiss on his lips. ¡°I hope we¡¯ll be happy and healthy for the rest of our lives¡ªyou, me, Benny, and Zendy.¡± Cedrick held her domineeringly and returned the kiss. ¡°Of course.¡± The twonded in Salinsburgh after a few hours of traveling by air. As they walked down the VIP passage, Gwendolyn¡¯s phone rang all of a sudden. The call came from Charles. With her flight mode now deactivated, the woman finally realized that he had called her ten times while she was on the ne. Ten missed calls? How urgent could it be? She picked up the phone immediately. ¡°Gwen! Something¡¯s happened to Benny!¡± Charles eximed. Gwendolyn felt her stomach drop. After remaining silent for a while, sheposed herself and asked, ¡°What happened to him?¡± Noticing the grave look on her face, Cedrick stopped in his tracks. Charles took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ not that serious. I¡¯m at Grand Valley Hospital with Benny now. He¡¯s getting a full-body check-up. Come over if you and Cedrick are back in Salinsburgh.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s mind began to buzz as she hung up. What could¡¯ve happened to Benny? Is he sick? Did he get into an ident? The woman couldn¡¯t stay calm, for Charles didn¡¯t exin anything to her over the phone. Cedrick looped an arm around her waist, hoping to assure her. ¡°Don¡¯t scare yourself with your thoughts. Charles says it¡¯s not that serious. Besides, I¡¯m right here with you.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Gwendolyn gripped his hand and nodded. Upon leaving the airport, the two rushed over to Grand Valley Hospital at once. Charles sat on a bench in the waiting area outside the children¡¯s examination room with his head low, his emotions indistinguishable. Gwendolyn went up to him. ¡°What on earth happened?¡± ¡°Benny threw up his milk this morning and didn¡¯t have an appetite. He didn¡¯t look well either, and Mdm. Yarde said he was also a little feverish. She couldn¡¯t reach you or Cedrick, so she called me instead. The doctor from the Jenson family¡¯s medical corps said there was nothing wrong with Benny based on the check-up from a few days ago, but the poor boy¡¯s suddenly fallen sick now. That¡¯s why I brought him here for a detailed examination.¡± ¡°Are the results out yet?¡± asked Gwendolyn. Charles shook his head. ¡°It¡¯ll probably take a bit more time.¡± The atmosphere in the hallway turned chilly. ¡°How did he suddenly fall sick?¡± Cedrick asked skeptically while gazing at the signboard of the examination room. ¡°I remember how he¡¯s never been as big of an eater as Zendy is. He¡¯s also always been a bit more frail.¡± Charles sighed. ¡°Mdm. Yarde noticed a long time ago that Benny¡¯s appetite has always been smaller and that he sleeps a lot more, but she didn¡¯t pay much attention to these things since every baby is different. His condition only became more evidenttely, and things suddenly went downhill this morning.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point in making all these guesses. Let¡¯s just wait for the results,¡± Gwendolyn said. Cedrick stood with his back upright and his fists clenched. He had a bad feeling about this. Benny¡¯s never been as healthy as Zendy is since they were born. Does this have something to do with the S404 RNA virus? Being the perceptive woman she was, Gwendolyn immediately noticed how rigid her husband was. Seeing the look of guilt on his face, she could also tell what he was thinking. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. It could just be a minor illness! It doesn¡¯t necessarily have something to do with the virus,¡± she assured him, stroking his face. Despite feeling extremely anxious herself, she still chose to console the man. Charles froze upon hearing the word ¡°virus.¡± He felt as though he had been stabbed in the chest like a knife. His face turned pale as nervousness washed over him. Cedrick¡¯s only been hit by one strain of virus, and I¡¯m the one who created it. What if it ends up affecting Benny too? Aplex feeling swirled within him. He dared not even imagine such an oue. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He hung his head low in shame, tears threatening to spill down the sides of his blue eyes. Gwendolyn and Cedrick fell quiet at the same time. Charles gulped. ¡°If Benny¡¯s frail health and this sickness of his was a result of my past mistakes, I¡¯d be terribly ashamed as their godfather. I wouldn¡¯t be able to make it up to them even if I were to die.¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze turned cier-like. ¡°Since you¡¯re aware that dying isn¡¯t going to fix anything, you better stay alive and do what you can to make it up to these two innocent children.¡± Charles nodded in destion. The entire hallway felt suffocating. The three of them sat anxiously, desperate to know the results of the check-up but, at the same time, fearing what they might hear. The door to the examination room opened half an hourter. Cedrick, Gwendolyn, and Charles ran in at the same time to find out the results of Benedict¡¯s check-up. Chapter 652 Chapter 652 ¡°The baby has a weak constitution, which I believe is a congenital disorder. On top of that, I¡¯ve also detected premature ventricr contractions in his heart. The condition may develop into severe myocarditis if not treated properly,¡± the doctor said as he looked at the medical report and sighed. ¡°The older Benny gets, the more obvious and serious his symptoms of physical weakness will be.¡± A heavy silence instantly befell the examination room. Gwendolyn could feel her eyes welling up with tears and her chest tightening as she took Benedict from the nurse and soothed him. The doe-eyed little boy had no idea he was sick, so all he did was flutter his eyshes and stare at his mother, his lips curled into an adorable smile. Upon seeing the mother-son interaction, Cedrick clenched his fists, unable to stop ming himself. Charles, too, wasn¡¯t feeling any better. ¡°Has Benny¡¯s blood been tested for viral infections? Could viruses cause these congenital disorders?¡± he piped up. For a moment, the doctor was stunned. ¡°Typically speaking, the chances of that happening are slim to none. Since it¡¯s such a rare urrence, our hospital doesn¡¯t have the facilities to carry out targeted testing. If need be, we¡¯ll have to send the samples to theboratory for a detailed evaluation.¡± With that, the doctor turned to Cedrick and Gwendolyn. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Jenson, do you know what virus might have infected your son? If that¡¯s really the cause of his congenital disorders, it means Mrs. Jenson¡¯s the carrier.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s nothing serious,¡± Cedrick replied, his voice deep and hoarse as he nced at Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwenny went for a checkup before, and there weren¡¯t any viruses in her blood.¡± There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll tell this doctor from Grand Valley Hospital the whole truth¡­ It¡¯s not like they can carry out the necessary blood tests anyway. As much as we want to rule out the cause, we won¡¯t be able to find our answers here, so what¡¯s the point in saying more? Cedrick calmly walked to his wife and put an arm around her shoulder. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s proceed with the treatment for Benny¡¯s heart condition first,¡± he said with a gentle, reassuring pat. ¡°As for the diagnostic tests to determine his viral infection, we can look into those when he¡¯s a little older.¡± After all, theboratory would require several blood samples to run their various tests, and given Benedict¡¯s young age and weak constitution, drawing too much blood would be detrimental to him. Gwendolyn understood and nodded in agreement. ¡°I just feel sorry for Benny. Not only does he have to start taking medication from an early age, but he¡¯d probably have to stay on it for years toe¡­ What a poor thing.¡± Cedrick instantly leaned in and kissed his wife¡¯s forehead. ¡°No matter how sickly Benny is, I promise to make him the happiest baby in this world.¡± Charles felt his heart aching when he saw the worry and anxiety etched on the couple¡¯s faces. s, there was nothing he could do to help. Since Benedict¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t serious for the time being, the doctor rmended keeping him in the hospital for observation. At the same time, he¡¯d be prescribed mild medication as part of his conservative treatment. Just like that, the three-month-old baby who couldn¡¯t even utter a word had no choice but to stay in the hospital. Needless to say, Gwendolyn was devastated. She wished she could suffer in her son¡¯s ce instead. Being the supportive husband that he was, Cedrick stayed by her side the entire time. Charles, on the other hand, felt utterly helpless. After all, Benedict had his parents with him, so what could he do as a godfather? Whether Benedict¡¯s condition was a result of the virus or not remained to be confirmed, but neither Cedrick nor Gwendolyn med Charles for it. Gwendolyn even thanked him for his help and for tirelessly splitting his time between work and Harrick Vi. After getting into his car in the underground parking lot of the hospital, Charles sat in a daze for a long while without starting the engine. In the past, I was incited to kill Cedrick with the S404 RNA virus and win Gwendolyn back. Now that I think of it, I must admit my behavior was ridiculous. That said, I regret nothing¡­ What¡¯s done is done, and I can¡¯t right the wrongs. Other than doing my best now to make up for my past mistakes, I don¡¯t know what else I can do. With that thought in mind, he fished out his phone to contact several well-known foreign doctors and inquired about the possible treatment options for Benedict¡¯s case. Since Cedrick and Gwendolyn were in the hospital, leaving Zoey alone in Harrick Vi to take care of Zendaya, Charles started the engine shortly after and left for the house. Back in Harrick Vi, Zoey was preparing a form feed for Zendaya. It was a task she did four to five times daily, and after three months of experience, she had be familiar with the color, taste, and smell of the milk powder Cedrick specifically imported. This time, however, she realized something was different after opening a new can of milk powder. The brand and packaging were the same, but the texture of the powder granules seemed to have changed. She prepared the form as usual, only to grow increasingly rmed as she observed the fragrance and color of the milk. Knock! Knock! Knock! A sudden knock on the door startled Zoey so much that she identally tipped the can of milk powder over and spilled it all over the floor. s, the knocking continued, so Zoey set the mess aside reluctantly and opened the door. ¡°How¡¯s Zendy?¡± Charles instantly asked when he saw Zoey. ¡°Is she being a good girl even though her brother isn¡¯t with her?¡± ¡°Ms. Zendy still has a bottle of milk to drink, and I¡¯m preparing it now. How¡¯s Mr. Benny doing?¡± Charles sighed as he strode into the vi. ¡°It¡¯s not the worst-case scenario, but it isn¡¯t looking good either. Anyway, Mr. Jenson and Gwen are apanying him in the hospital. I¡¯m worried about Zendy, so I decided to drop by.¡± For a while, Zoey was speechless. My goodness. He¡¯s talking a lot, but he¡¯s also not saying anything¡­ Secondster, she let out a small sigh. ¡°In all honesty, Mr. Benedict and Ms. Zendaya are very blessed. Not only were they born into a wealthy family, but they also have you as their godfather to dote on them. Their uncles, too, love them with all their hearts.¡± To that, Charles said nothing. There was no denying that the main advantage of children born with a silver spoon was not having to worry about making ends meet. However, there were many things beyond their control, and the likelihood of them running into danger was also higher. The business world, especially, was challenging and harsh, and it was easy to make enemies. To make matters worse, Cedrick had control of a formidable military force, which meant he¡¯d have even more targets on his back. ¡°Wealthy families are way moreplicated than you can ever imagine,¡± Charles finallymented. ¡°Some are so crafty and malicious that they¡¯ll take their hatred out on the children if they can¡¯t deal with the adults.¡± Upon hearing that, Zoey recalled the issue with the milk powder and turned ashen-faced. Meanwhile, Charles couldn¡¯t help but notice the milk powder scattered all over the floor as he walked past the kitchen. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What happened?¡± A panic-stricken Zoey immediately shared her suspicions with the man. ¡°Mr. Newton, Mr. Jenson has been buying the same brand of milk powder for the babies, and I¡¯ve been feeding them with it for over three months now. However, I found something odd with the batch that just arrived today. The packaging is the same, but the smell and texture of the powder seem different.¡± Charles immediately furrowed his brows and stepped into the kitchen. ¡°Do you still have the milk powder can from the previous batches? Bring them to me.¡± ¡°No, but Mr. and Mrs. Jenson let me take the empty cans home to sell for extra money. I collected a few but haven¡¯t had time to take them home. Let me grab those for you. We might be able to gather enough powder from what¡¯s left at the bottom.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Zoey ran into the housekeeper¡¯s room in the backyard. Charles¡¯ gaze was dark and solemn as he crouched to check the spilled milk powder. Even though it had been a year since he left the Central Intelligence Agency, he quickly began his investigation out of force of habit. After rubbing the milk powder between his fingers and taking a whiff of it, he nced at the bottle of form Zoey had made. Unfortunately, he had zero knowledge about baby forms, so there was no way he could tell the difference. Charles got up and directed his gaze toward the newly opened carton of milk powders. The milk powders are from PureVita, huh? Isn¡¯t Jenson Group one of its shareholders? Besides, the CEO has close ties to Cedrick and is trustworthy. There¡¯s no way thepany would tamper with the product. What on earth went wrong? Wait a minute¡­ Does this have something to do with Benny¡¯s declining health? Chapter 653 Chapter 653 Once the seeds of doubt were sown, they grew rampant and would soon spiral out of control. During the few minutes that Zoey was away, Charles had made numerous conjectures. Selfishly, he hoped that Benedict¡¯s physical condition was not due to the virus but rather caused by the milk powder which was man-made. Zoey swiftly returned with the old milk cans she had sorted out. ¡°Mr. Newton, typically, I make sure topletely use up the milk powder in each can. This half scoop of milk is abination gathered from several old cans.¡± Charles took the scoop and carefully examined the two types of milk powder. Being unfamiliar with milk powder, Charles couldn¡¯t discern any difference between the two types. ¡°Tell me about your doubts.¡± Zoey pointed to the half-spoon of milk powder she had obtained from the old cans and said, ¡°The milk powder from the old cans appears slightly yellowish, and the granules are finer. But the powder from the new can is white and powdery. Although the powder is very fine, it is not as good as the milk powder from the old cans in terms of richness and fragrance.¡± Charles carefully observed once again, taking into ount what Zoey had pointed out, and indeed, he noticed a subtle difference between the two milk powders. He asked, ¡°You think there might be something wrong with the milk powder this time?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Zoey nodded. Charles narrowed his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not just Benny who has consumed this brand of milk powder, but Zendy as well. If the problem lies with this batch of milk powder, it doesn¡¯t make sense that only Benny fell ill since Zendy had been consuming milk powder from the previous batches too.¡± Zoey scratched her head. Charles¡¯ words made sense, leaving her feeling perplexed and unsure of what to make of the situation. Charles located a baby food bag, carefully ced the two types of milk powder into separate compartments, and affixed a sticker to indicate which was the new milk powder and which was the old milk powder. ¡°Since you have raised this concern, we must determine the source of the issue. I will arrange for it to be sent to a professional organization for aprehensive investigation and also inform Mr. Jenson and Gwen about this matter.¡± He carefully put the baby food bag into his suit pocket. Just as he was about to turn and leave Harrick Vi, Zoey stopped him. ¡°Ms. Zendy hasn¡¯t had milk yet. Should we continue using the new milk powder that was sent this time?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t. Take your time tofort Zendy first. I¡¯ll go to Mr. Jenson and retrieve two cans of the new milk powder that Benny is consuming at the hospital. It contains mild medication, but it should be fine.¡± Zoey nodded. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles hummed in response and quickly left the Jenson residence. He told Cedrick about the milk powder. Cedrick was known for his prompt actions. Upon receiving the news, he wasted no time and swiftly requested the intervention of the professional testing department at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct a thorough examination of the ingredients in the two milk powders. That night, Cedrick got the test result. At that moment, Gwendolyn, Cedrick, and Charles were sitting in the waiting room at the hospital. Benedict had already drifted off to sleep, and to avoid disturbing his slumber, they had reluctantly stepped out of the ward in search of a peaceful spot to converse. Nurses diligently stood guard in Benedict¡¯s VIP ward. Police officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation also maintained a vignt presence outside the door. The child¡¯s safety and well-being were prioritized. ¡°What is it? Tell me.¡± Charles¡¯ heart beat even faster when he took in Cedrick¡¯s somber demeanor. There was a cold glint in Cedrick¡¯s eyes. Although his gaze was not directed specifically at Charles, the chilling aura emanating from him permeated the entire waiting room. ¡°The test results indicate that there is no issue with the new milk powder. However, it is discovered that the old milk powder contains hormone powder unsuitable for infants and young children. asional consumption may not pose a significant problem, but prolonged use can weaken the baby¡¯s immunity, resulting in poor health, and in severe cases, it may even lead to sudden death.¡± Charles¡¯ anger surged within him, and he abruptly rose from his seat. He paced back and forth twice, his onceposed and striking face now contorted with fury. ¡°Who wouldmit such an act? The person must possess a malevolent heart to deliberately target innocent children and subject them to the chronic poison of hormone powder. It¡¯s no wonder Benny¡¯s appetite has been declining, and his spirits have been low.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression mirrored her deep concern. Her hands clenched tightly around her skirt, but doubts lingered in her mind. ¡°If there is an issue with the old milk powder, why is it that only Benny has fallen ill while Zendy remains unaffected? Zendy and Benny drink milk together every day.¡± Cedrick replied, ¡°Zendy has a stronger constitution and a more robust immune systempared to Benny. It¡¯s possible that due to these factors, Zendy has not yet reached the evident stage of illness.¡± Charles pondered the situation carefully and analyzed, ¡°The mastermind behind this must be aware of Benny¡¯s illness and hospitalization, so they attempted to discreetly rece the milk powder with a new, healthy batch, hoping to go unnoticed. If Mdm. Yarde hadn¡¯t been so familiar with the old milk powder and alerted me in time, this matter could have been quietly covered up, and the truth about Benny¡¯s illness and hospitalization would have remained hidden.¡± The atmosphere in the waiting room grew so somber and tense that it seemed even a single droplet of water could freeze in the air. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze turned sharp. ¡°We must conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the truth. I want to know who would be so malicious as to harm an innocent baby who is merely a few months old.¡± All the milk powder in question was from PureVita, and it was imperative to investigate the underlying cause of the incident. Without a doubt, PureVita Group deserved at least part of the me for this incident. As it was already nighttime, Cedrick tenderly reached out and caressed his wife¡¯s face, seeking to calm her fiery emotions. ¡°Stay low and avoid alerting the enemy. I will assign someone to conduct the investigation discreetly and ensure that it is pursued to the fullest extent. Gwenny, you have been watching over Benny tirelessly without getting a wink of sleep. You should go and rest next to Benny and leave the other matters to me.¡± ¡°Gwen, you appear pale probably because you¡¯ve been excessively worried about Benny. But don¡¯t worry. Your man is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ever since Asher stepped down, his power has be almost limitless. He will certainly uncover the identity of the culprit,¡± Charles chimed in, echoing Cedrick¡¯s sentiments. Gwendolyn and Cedrick were a little surprised by Charles¡¯ words. After casting a nce at both men, Gwendolyn gave a few instructions before making her way back to the ward to continue her vignt watch over Benedict. Soon, only Charles and Cedrick were left in the waiting room. The air remained quiet for a prolonged moment. Cedrick smiled and said, ¡°With the way you spoke just now, I almost thought Gwenny¡¯s man was you.¡± ¡°I just praised you in front of Gwen. Aren¡¯t you happy about that?¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t mince his words and said candidly, ¡°I must admit, it does feel a bit odd because you just stole the words right out of my mouth.¡± The two men locked eyes, their gazes sharp but devoid of hostility. Then they broke into smiles. They had gone from the initial stage of unfamiliarity to the development of deep-seated hatred, treating each other as mortal enemies and even resorting to schemes against one another. However, in an unexpected turn of events, their shared affection for the same womanpelled them to reluctantly reconcile. A yearter, when they crossed paths once again, the alignment of their interestspelled them to be partners. And now, Charles was already the godfather of Cedrick¡¯s two babies. The animosity of the past had faded away in their eyes. There was no trace of the hatred that had once consumed them. Cedrick slipped his hands into his trouser pockets and carried himself with a dignified demeanor. ¡°Thank you for your assistance today. If you¡¯re tired, you can go back to the Newton residence and get some rest. But you don¡¯t look sleepy to me. You seem quite excited.¡± Charles raised an eyebrow, his captivating blue eyes disying a hint ofziness. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m not sleepy. With what happened to Benny, even if I were to go home tonight, I doubt I¡¯d be able to sleep.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°Would you be interested in joining me for an overnight investigation at the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the milk powder case? You can be my assistant.¡± Charles was momentarily taken aback, but he soon responded with a gentle smile, ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Jenson. I would be honored to join you.¡± Chapter 654 Chapter 654 Upon leaving the hospital waiting room, Cedrick took Charles to the pediatric ward where Benedict was. Gwendolyn was sleeping right beside Benedict¡¯s bed. She had been having a hard time because of the intense sex that night before boarding the ne. It was Cedrick¡¯s massages that morning that made her waist and back feel much better. Yet, the second she arrived in Salinsburgh, she found out about Benedict¡¯s condition, which made her worry the entire day. Only Cedrick knew how tired she was. He could not bring himself to wake her up, so he tiptoed over and draped a thin quilt over his wife¡¯s slender shoulders. Then, with great caution, he leaned over and nted a gentle kiss on her cheek. Gwendolyn was so sound asleep that she did not stir. Charles stood by the door and watched the entire scene. He lowered his blue eyes to hide his emotions. When the two men exited Grand Valley Hospital, they went straight to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Since it waste at night, only a few police officers were working overtime in the building. Even Nico, who was already asleep, rushed straight to the Federal Bureau of Investigation when he heard that Cedrick was heading there because of Benedict¡¯s incident. By the time Cedrick and Charles arrived at the entrance in the luxury car, Nico had already been waiting for quite a while. Standing in the cold wind, Nico rubbed his hands and hurried forward to open the door for Cedrick. ¡°How¡¯s Benny, Cedrick? Is he doing all right? I heard it has something to do with the baby form,¡± said Nico, his drowsiness dispelled when he saw Cedrick¡¯s stern face. Instead of answering the questions, Cedrick asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°How can I sleep when someone¡¯s trying to harm my cute nephew? I heard you wereing, so I came over, too.¡± Cedrick looked as indifferent as ever, not the slightest bit surprised by Nico¡¯s words. Patting thetter¡¯s shoulder, he said, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say for now. Whether or not there is any biochemical virus residue left in his body can only be found by bringing him to theb when he¡¯s older. The challenge for now is his heart problem. Gwenny has been staying by his side all night.¡± ¡°If Gwendolyn¡¯s keeping Bennypany at the hospital, what about Zendy?¡± ¡°Mdm. Yarde¡¯s taking care of her at home.¡± Nico frowned. He quickly took out his phone andunched WhatsApp to send a text. ¡°I¡¯ll get Summer to go over and keep Zendypany for the night. It¡¯s more reassuring to have someone we know to take care of Zendy.¡± After all, something serious had happened this time. Although it was Zoey who discovered the problem with the baby form, Nico was not willing to trust anyone other than his family until the truth had been discovered. Having no objections, Cedrick headed straight into the building. Charles got out of the back seat and followed Cedrick inside. When he passed by Nico, Nico, still typing his text, stopped him and teased, ¡°Mr. Newton, aren¡¯t you in charge of Newton Group now? How can a busy man like you have time to visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation?¡± Charles narrowed his eyes and smirked. ¡°I¡¯m not here as a criminal this time. I¡¯m here to help Mr. Jenson investigate the case.¡± Nico clicked his tongue. ¡°There must be something wrong with you. You should be sleeping instead of helping to investigate a case at this hour.¡± The diss that was hurled at Charles out of nowhere annoyed him. Frowning, he countered, ¡°I could say the same for you. You¡¯re here instead of sleeping, too.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°It¡¯s my duty since I¡¯m the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Besides, Benny¡¯s my nephew. It¡¯s only right for me to be here.¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m Benny¡¯s godfather. I came here today because Mr. Jenson invited me. Technically, that gives me a better reason to show up here.¡± The information stunned Nico, and he turned around to look at Cedrick who was focused on making his way forward. Cedrick did not so much as turn around or say a word. It was as if the other two were as invisible as air. However, Cedrick¡¯sck of retort meant that Charles was telling the truth. Nico curled his lips into a mischievous smile and patted Charles on the shoulder. ¡°Not bad. The fact that you¡¯ve gotten Mr. Jenson¡¯s trust shows that you¡¯ve really turned over a new leaf.¡± With an icy cold expression, Charles shrugged off Nico¡¯s hand in an elegant manner. ¡°Don¡¯t bring up the past when I¡¯m still talking to you nicely here. If you insist on doing that, then don¡¯t me me for arguing with you the whole night. I¡¯m sure your subordinates would love to know about their superior¡¯s dark history.¡± Immediately, Nico¡¯s expression darkened, and he red at Charles in silence. Right when the tension at the door reached its peak, Cedrick, who was already way ahead of the other two, turned his head slightly. ¡°Are you here to bicker or to work? If you two can¡¯t bear the sight of each other, I¡¯ll let you two fight it out when we¡¯re done with everything. Whoever loses will have to shut up.¡± Charles froze and immediately fell silent. Nico raised his brow and followed the other two into the building, joking, ¡°That¡¯s a brilliant suggestion. As the ex-leader of the Central Intelligence Agency, Mr. Newton surely has great skills. When should we have a match?¡± Although Nico had never fought Charles before and had no idea who was more powerful, his skills had been improving. On the contrary, Charles had been livingfortably abroad for almost a year, making him not as good of a fighter as he used to be. Nico was ny-nine percent sure that he could defeat Charles. He figured Charles would refuse to fight because he knew his limits. But to his surprise, Charles agreed calmly, ¡°Sure. Once this matter is over, I¡¯ll have a match with you. And if we¡¯re to fight, we need to ce a bet to make things more interesting. Otherwise, I won¡¯t agree to it so easily.¡± Charles fixed his blue eyes on Nico for some time before he quickly followed Cedrick. Staring at Charles¡¯ arrogant back, Nico snorted. ¡°You don¡¯t think you can actually beat me, do you?¡± Taking steady steps, Charles lifted his chin slightly to reveal the charming features that contributed to his demeanor. Seeing the two being so serious about the bet, Cedrick piped up, ¡°Nico, if you lose, you¡¯ll be humiliating the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If that happens, I¡¯ll send you back to the training camp for a week of intense training. Not only that, but your loss will also humiliate the Jenson family. You¡¯ll have to receive tenshes at the ancestral hall.¡± Nico was stunned. Boss is so cruel. Nico had never been punished under the Jenson family¡¯s rules ever since he joined the family. He straightened his back and promised, ¡°I won¡¯t lose. If I do, I don¡¯t deserve to be the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± Charles said nothing in response, but there was a twinkle in his blue eyes. He did not think he would lose to Nico as well. The two followed Cedrick into the office. Since Nico was present, Cedrick ordered, ¡°Look into PureVita Group¡¯s baby form sent to the Jenson residence for the past month. I want the batch numbers, time, and name of the delivery person, as well as the serial number of every baby form Benny and Zendy had. Get me all of these records as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Got it, Cedrick.¡± Nico turned around and left to carry out the orders. Since it waste at night, PureVita Group¡¯s baby form factory was not in operation. It allowed Nico to get the information needed from the person in charge quietly. Cedrick had not revealed the fact that the baby form was the suspect of Benedict¡¯s condition in case someone would be up to no good. That was also why he had rushed over to investigate the matter that night itself. While waiting, Cedrick sat on the couch and brewed himself some coffee. Charles smiled at how elegant Cedrick¡¯s movements were. ¡°There¡¯s nothing that you don¡¯t know, huh?¡± The entire office was filled with the subtle fragrance of coffee. ¡°When there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way. There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t do as long as I put my mind to it.¡± Cedrick offered Charles a cup of coffee. ¡°Want some? It¡¯s easy to feel sleepy at night.¡± Charles took the cup and thanked him. As the aromatic coffee flowed down his throat, Cedrick pursed his lips and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been involved in this matter from the beginning. Do you have any suspects?¡± Charles looked up. ¡°Am I really allowed to voice my suspicions?¡± Chapter 655 Chapter 655 ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll only take your suspicions as a reference.¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze was dark and cold as he yed with the exquisite coffee cup. With that promise from Cedrick, Charles organized his thoughts and said gently, ¡°All the old baby form were found to be problematic. After ruling out a few possibilities, I was left with a few possible situations. For one, the baby form was produced at PureVita¡¯s factory. Perhaps the batch that was meant to be delivered to your house was given special attention during production. That means the higher-ups in thepany had a grudge against your family, which led them to add foreign substances into the baby form during production.¡± The calm look in Cedrick¡¯s eyes did not waver. He simply continued listening to Charles in silence. When Charles finished exining the first possibility, Cedrick said tly, ¡°I¡¯m PureVita Group¡¯s biggest shareholder, and their executive officer was once my subordinate, who decided to inherit the family business after leaving the military. He¡¯s a meticulous person. Since their baby form is consumed by babies, he manages the factory strictly. Their products are the safest, which is why I chose their company¡¯s baby form. You¡¯re right about Benny and Zendy¡¯s baby forms being given special care, but it¡¯s personally supervised by their executive officer. There¡¯s a very minimal possibility of the probleming from thepany. I know him well enough. He wouldn¡¯t dare to do such a thing.¡± Charles nodded thoughtfully. ¡°If you¡¯re confident in thepany, then let¡¯s move on to the next possibility. Someone from the Jenson family is trying to hurt Benny. Both you and Gwen have jobs and often work long hours. The Jenson residence is the best ce for them to make their move.¡± Cedrick said nothing. He wrapped his fingers around the coffee cup, tapping it gently as he mulled things over. Charles lifted his gaze asionally to observe Cedrick¡¯s expression. He continued, ¡°I remember you sent Benny and Zendy to Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s not long ago, and he took care of the kids for some time. Mdm. Yarde and the baby products were brought to Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s vi, right?¡± Cedrick frowned, looking more serious as his fingers tightened around the coffee cup. ¡°You suspect my grandpa?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. Although Old Mr. Jenson is retired, he has built a good reputation over the years. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d do such a thing to harm his own great-grandson.¡± After bringing up a good point, Charles continued, ¡°However, that doesn¡¯t mean we can rule out the possibility of the other family members doing such a thing. They could use visiting Old Mr. Jenson as an excuse to secretly switch out the baby form.¡± Once again, Cedrick fell into a long silence. The children had been sent to Valentino¡¯s for a period of time because the adults feared Gwendolyn¡¯s manic episodes could harm the children. Back then, Cedrick had been focused on providing care for Gwendolyn, so he handed the children to Valentino without any worry. It was possible if that was how the opportunity was created. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Cedrick uttered calmly, ¡°That¡¯s possible. I¡¯ll look into this, but I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t tell you more about our family¡¯s matters.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± was all Charles said. During the few minutes of silence, Charles sipped on his coffee while Cedrick pulled out his phone and tapped on it rapidly, sending an order to the prison. It read: Wake Yael up and bring him to the secret visiting room. I¡¯ll be there in a while. In less than a minute, Cedrick received a reply that read: Understood. When Cedrick was looking into his parent¡¯s death, he swore he would no longer care about Xander¡¯s wellbeing. Now, he had no idea if thetter had fled to another country or hidden himself in a corner. He decided to test the waters with Yael before sending someone to look for Xander. The office was incredibly quiet. Neither of them spoke as they were deep in their thoughts. In fact, they were thinking about the same thing. After some time, Cedrick slowly parted his lips and asked, ¡°Do you have other suspicions?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Charles instantly snapped back to his senses. ¡°If the two suspicions were to be ruled out, then the next one would be highly possible. Something might¡¯ve happened while the cans of baby form were being delivered from the factory to the Jenson residence. There¡¯s no telling what might¡¯ve happened that led to the cans of baby form getting switched out during the delivery stage. However, I know you¡¯ve already thought of that. If not, you wouldn¡¯t have told Nico to go looking for the person in charge and the shipping information.¡± Cedrick¡¯s dark gaze was as calm as ever. ¡°As expected from the best of the best of the Central Intelligence Agency. It¡¯s been eighteen months since you were dismissed as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. During that period, you were beaten, ran for your life, and even became a teacher in the countryside. Yet, you never forget what you learned, and your mind still works rather quickly.¡± Charles stared at Cedrick with a smirk. ¡°It¡¯s rare to hear apliment from you. Is there a vacancy in the Federal Bureau of Investigation? Are you trying to recruit me?¡± There was an unfathomable look in Cedrick¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you can beat Nico in the fight, I might consider writing a letter of referral if you want to get a job in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± The smile on Charles¡¯ face broadened. ¡°Why, thank you in advance, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯ll do my best in the fight.¡± Cedrick did not reply, the expression in his eyes slowly bing harder to read. As the ex-leader of the Central Intelligence Agency and the current patriarch of the Newton family, Charles had his ambitions. Cedrick knew Charles was as ruthless as his half-brother, Craig. The more power they had, the more likely they were to be a variable. They could easily be a friend or an enemy. If Charles really beat Nico, Cedrick might have to limit the former¡¯s visits to Harrick Vi as a precaution. While he was thinking deeply, his phone rang with a notification. Putting down the coffee cup, Cedrick got up and straightened his clothes in an elegant manner. ¡°Nico might take some time to gather all the information. I¡¯m making a trip to the prison. Dare you follow me?¡± Charles¡¯ expression changed. The prison¡­ It was the ce he hated the most. When he was locked up in a high-security prison for six months, he felt like a walking corpse. Every day was like a living hell. He would avoid getting close to it unless it was under special circumstances. Noticing the change in Charles¡¯ countenance, Cedrick raised his brow mischievously. ¡°Looks like you dare not go there. Well, you can hang out at the pantry here and wait for me toe back to continue with the discussion. If you¡¯re tired, you can always go back to the Newton residence too.¡± Charles quickly rose to his feet. ¡°That¡¯s all in the past. Everyone has a dark history, anyway. There¡¯s nothing I¡¯m afraid of. Lead the way, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick cast the man an intrigued look before stepping out of the office. Meanwhile, Yael, who was sound asleep in Salinsburgh prison, was awakened by a powerful torchlight. The prison guard shouted, ¡°Wake up, Prisoner 5803. Get dressed and follow me.¡± Yael was exhausted after a long day ofbor during the day. He was awakened when he was deep in his sleep. Even so, he dared not object. He quickly did as told and followed after the prison guard. The entire prison dorm was eerily quiet since it waste at night. A sense of uneasiness crept into Yael¡¯s heart as he followed the guard in a daze. ¡°Where are you taking me? What¡¯s so urgent that needs to be done in the middle of the night?¡± Are they trying to kill me? Chapter 656 Chapter 656 The prison guard took in Yael¡¯s nervous look and snorted, guessing that thetter had to have made the wrong assumption. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re not dying any time soon. Some important man wants to meet you.¡± In the middle of the night? Yael was tense. Who visits a prisoner in the middle of the night? Who could it be? As he mulled over that anxiously, the grogginess he felt earlier dissipated. The sound of two men¡¯s footsteps echoed in the corridor. The prison guard took out his key and unlocked the door to the secret visiting room. The steel door creaked open, and Yael entered, his wrists and ankles still cuffed. There was arge square table in the visiting room with two men sitting across from it. Yael fixed his eyes on one of the men. Thetter had dark eyes and was looking at him expressionlessly, exuding a domineering aura. His face was one that Yael was extremely familiar with. He was the man he desperately wished to kill¡ª Cedrick Jenson. s, he had lost. He would not have the chance to fulfill his wish. What surprised him most was that Cedrick had brought Charles along this time. The Newton family was the Harris family¡¯s business rival. Yet, it seemed that Cedrick was not nning to shy away from discussing family matters around Charles. Yael was confused, but he still took a seat with a dark look. Once the prison guard left the room and closed the door behind him, he promptly asked, ¡°Why did you look for me at this time of the day? Did something happen to Dad?¡± Cedrick brushed the watch on his left wrist and, without lifting his gaze, muttered, ¡°Grandpa is doing fine. Just a few months ago, I sent Benny and Zendy to him so that he could take care of them, but now, I found out that there are issues with the milk powder Benny and Zendy had been consuming. I wonder if someone used Grandpa and changed the milk powder for something else.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Yael nearly burst outughing. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve gained a handful of enemies, and some are out to get your children too. Your misery is their delight.¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows and went straight to the point. ¡°You were still working in an unimportant role in the subsidiary at that time, so I know it wasn¡¯t you. But I¡¯m suspicious of Xander¡¯s involvement. Grandpa raised him since young, so he often visited his ce.¡± The smile on Yael¡¯s face faded immediately. Seemingly reading Cedrick¡¯s mind, Yael quickly rified, ¡°There¡¯s no way my son¡¯s involved in this. He¡¯s not as smart as you, and I told him to consult me first before he made any decision. He didn¡¯t say anything about this. It definitely wasn¡¯t him.¡± Cedrick huffed in mockery, ¡°So did he tell you that he was going to collude with Paul to hurt Grandpa?¡± Yael nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, he did. I gave him my permission. Who knew he would be so ipetent and screw up the entire matter?¡± Cedrick fell silent. He seemed to be contemting something, but Yael could not tell if he believed in his words or not. Yael had no choice but to continue, ¡°Even if my son has the guts to go after you without my knowledge, Dad won¡¯t let him get away with it. I heard that Dad thinks of the world of Benny and Zendy. Besides the nanny you sent over, only Logan and a few housekeepers that he¡¯s close to are allowed into Benny and Zendy¡¯s nursery. Cedrick, you should know that your grandfather is from the army. He¡¯s a wary man, and he¡¯s meticulous when ites to the kids. There¡¯s no way the Jensons did this,¡± Yael said without hesitation. Charles maintained an onlooker attitude the entire time and did not participate in any discussion of the topic. He did not know what happened in the Jenson residence at that time, after all. Cedrick was equally silent for a long while. Yael clenched his hands. Xander was already out of the country. Before things went south for him, he had prepared a n B for Xander. He could not say that Xander¡¯s life overseas would be great, but Xander would not need to worry about getting food and basic necessities for his daily life. However, if Cedrick was adamant about Xander¡¯s involvement in this and applied for an international arrest warrant to drag him back to Chanaea, then life for him would be even worse from then on. In his time in prison, Yael had made peace with many things. ¡°Cedrick, trust me this one time. I¡¯ve already lost everything, and I¡¯m not even a part of the Jenson family anymore. I know I can¡¯t win against you, and it¡¯s even more impossible for Xander to defeat you. I won¡¯t lie to you. I¡¯d suggest you look into the milk powder incident from a different angle instead of from the Jenson family. Don¡¯t even bother suspecting Dad. There¡¯s no way he would ever hurt his own great-grandchildren. You¡¯ll be hurting your rtionship with him if you do so.¡± Cedrick did not answer to that, but a self-deprecating smile grew on his lips. Saying nothing else to Yael, he stood up and left the visiting room through another door. Charles followed him silently. ¡°Cedrick! Mr. Cedrick! There¡¯s no way Xander is involved in this! He¡¯s of no threat to you anymore, so please let him go! You promised not to hold him ountable anymore! You said you would let him live his life out there! If you go back on your words and get him back here, I¡¯ll haunt you for the rest of your life! Answer me, Cedrick!¡± Yael tried to run after Cedrick, but he was stopped by the prison guard who came inside and brought him back. Yael had no idea what went on in Cedrick¡¯s mind and how much Cedrick believed in him. His voice was cut off as the steel door closed. In the tunnel, Charles asked, ¡°Mr. Jenson, do you believe him?¡± ¡°If you were me, would you?¡± Cedrick returned the question. Charles leisurely sped his hands and replied, ¡°If something like this happened to the Newton family, the one I¡¯d be visiting in prison would be Craig. But he¡¯s rather sly, so I won¡¯t believe him.¡± The corners of Cedrick¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Charles did not quite understand what he meant and wondered if that meant that he did not believe Yael either. ¡°But, at the end of the day, I¡¯m not that familiar with Yael, let alone what he has done to have you send him to prison and remove his name from the Jenson family tree. He looked sincere earlier, so perhaps he was speaking the truth.¡± After a moment of rumination, Charles narrowed his eyes and suggested, ¡°Maybe you might want to start with Old Mr. Jenson¡¯s vi. Bring those housekeepers to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for an interrogation. We¡¯ll find out something eventually.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, but I¡¯ll have to put this n aside first until Nico has results from his investigation.¡± Yael was right about one thing¡ªCedrick was no longer as close as he used to be with Valentino. When he had removed his grandfather¡¯s spies and old subordinates in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he had made their rtionship tense. If he were to openly suspect that his grandfather had poisoned his children, he would essentially burn the bridge between the two of them. Unless he could not find anything elsewhere, Cedrick would not suspect his grandfather. As dark thoughts swirled in his head, Cedrick walked forward steadily and soon left the prison. Just as the two of them were on their way back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cedrick¡¯s phone rang. It was from Nico. The second the call connected, Nico said, ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯ve got all the information you need, and I¡¯ve gone through them. There¡¯s something strange about them¡­¡± Chapter 657 Chapter 657 If Nico had found something odd about his investigation, that meant that the likelihood of the Jensons¡¯ involvement would be far lower. Cedrick did not know whether or not he should be d or crestfallen about it. ¡°Head back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation right away. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the office.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Twenty minutester, Nico entered Cedrick¡¯s office with the organized file. He noticed Charles¡¯ presence immediately upon entering, but he did not make anyments about him. Instead, with a solemn expression, he passed the file to Cedrick. Cedrick took it and flipped through the pages while listening to Nico. ¡°PureVita Group has delivered milk powder to Harrick Vi five times in the past three months. Three of the five deliveries were by the same person, but the first and the most recent were by someone else.¡± Cedrick studied the information in his hands, his brows furrowing even more. Charles, who was sitting on the couch a short distance away, walked over to Cedrick¡¯s desk and picked up the papers that Cedrick had read to read them himself. On the paper, it was stated that the person who made the first delivery had been fired due to the comints he received for the severe mistakes he made. The second deliveryman made three deliveries and had no issues with his deliveries. He also received noints from the other wealthy families. He had left the role voluntarily and did not have a specific reason for wanting to leave thepany. After that, PureVita Group hired someone else to make the deliveries. Charles said, ¡°If there isn¡¯t any error in these papers, then the second deliveryman is a major suspect in this. He had an ambiguous reason for leaving thepany, and I think it¡¯s because he was afraid of getting found out. That¡¯s why he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. It¡¯d be easy for him to tamper with the milk powder during his deliveries. I doubt this incident has anything to do with the most recent deliveryman because thetest batch of milk powder has been tested and is fine.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression did not rx but was even more grim. ¡°Nico, investigate more about this second deliveryman and how many families he has delivered the milk powder to.¡± Nico was swift to figure out Cedrick¡¯s intentions. ¡°Cedrick, are you suspecting that this man isn¡¯t just targeting the Jenson family but is trying to hurt all the babies of the affluent families?¡± Cedrick inclined his head. ¡°We can¡¯t dismiss this idea. We¡¯ll need to look further into this.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll work on it right away.¡± Nico turned and left. In no time, Charles and Cedrick were the only ones left in the office again. Charles sighed. ¡°This will be easier to deal with if the Jenson family isn¡¯t the only victims in this incident. It¡¯ll be tough if it turns out that the perpetrator is targeting the Jensons.¡± Cedrick was akin to the king in the military, and no one would darey a finger on his friends and family in broad daylight. However, he offended many when he was removing chaos from the borders. Looking into every one of his enemies would be a challenge. Cedrick did not respond to Charles¡¯ words and was contemting something else instead. After a beat, he nced at the clock on his desk. ¡°It¡¯s already three. Nico is conducting a secret investigation, so I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll only have the results the next morning. You should head home and get some rest.¡± Charles did not agree with that. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be able to sleep tonight. Since you have nothing else to do right now, why don¡¯t we head to a bar and have a chat?¡± Cedrick frowned and shot him a look. ¡°Do you want me to kick you out of the Federal Bureau of Investigation?¡± Benedict was sick, and Gwendolyn was staying up all night to take care of him. At the same time, Zendaya was staying at home with Summer and Zoey taking care of her. If he could not resolve the other issues immediately, he should be returning to his family right away. What kind of man would he be if he were to neglect them and go out for a drink instead? Noticing Cedrick¡¯s wrath, Charles chuckled and exined, ¡°You look tired, so I was trying to crack a joke. Don¡¯t take it to heart. I know you¡¯re a family man.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not funny. Don¡¯t say that again.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Charles said, concealing the emotions in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s indeed veryte. Since there isn¡¯t anything else, I¡¯ll head home to catch up on my sleep.¡± ¡°Hurry up and get lost,¡± Cedrick said impatiently as he put the papers back into the file. Charles clicked his tongue. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he walked out of the room and grumbled, ¡°Someone just tossed me aside after using me. I don¡¯t remember them adopting this attitude when they invited me to investigate this together back at the hospital.¡± Cedrick only nced at Charles¡¯ retreating figure quietly. Late at night, even the melodious birds had entered into dreand. Cedrick was sitting in his office alone at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was only after he organized his thoughts about the case did he finally leave the building and went back to the hospital. It was sleeping time for most, so there were barely any sounds to be heard in the hospital. Cedrick tiptoed into the pediatric ward and was greeted by the sight of Gwendolyn still in the same position as when he left. She was lying by the edge of the bed. Anyone sleeping in that position for long would suffer from aching arms, back, and an uneasy stomach when they woke up. Cedrick gently carried her to the empty bed at the side, his heart aching. Right as he was about to tuck her in, Gwendolyn woke up. She grabbed his hand, and with visibly- groggy eyes, she asked, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation?¡± Before he could speak, she voiced out her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ve been half-awake and half-asleep the entire time, thinking about the incident. Your subordinate is in charge of PureVita¡¯s milk powder factory, and I personally checked the factory¡¯s product quality back then as well as its security. I doubt this originated from the factory. If it isn¡¯t the deliveryman, then one of the Jensons must have nned this a long time ago. Harrick Vi has always been a secure ce. Not even a suspicious fly can get inside. So if anything¡¯s wrong with it, it has toe from within Grandpa¡¯s house.¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. Tightening her grip on his hand, she worriedly went on, ¡°I know you¡¯re angry with your grandpa, and I understand why. But your rtionship with your grandpa has been rather tensetely. If you openly interrogate your grandpa¡¯s housekeepers, you¡¯ll surely hurt his feelings, so don¡¯t do this unless we¡¯ve run out of options.¡± Cedrick was surprised. He had never thought that she would be thinking about this while she was keeping vigil. With a bitter smile, he leaned over to press a soft kiss on her forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know the limits. I won¡¯t do anything rash.¡± Relieved, Gwendolyn let go of his hand and closed her eyes, her breathing even. Cedrick continued to kiss her eyelids, the tip of her nose, her lips, and her cheeks affectionately. ¡°Stop it. Benny¡¯s sleeping,¡± Gwendolyn mumbled and pushed him away. Cedrick was obedient and did not make any further moves. ¡°All right. Rest well, Darling. I¡¯ll go and watch over Benny.¡± Gwendolyn rejected it, ¡°I¡¯ve rested for a few hours and feel much better now. You¡¯ve been at the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the past few hours. You must be more tired than me. Let me watch over him while you sleep instead.¡± Just as she was about to get to her feet, Cedrick took her hand and ced it between his legs. When she sensed a certain something, she froze. In a hoarse voice, Cedrick said, ¡°Do you feel that, Darling? Kissing you made me excited.¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes. Am I supposed to be at fault for that? Chapter 658 Chapter 658 Cedrick pulled the quilt over her body and helped her lie down properly. He said in a gentle tone, ¡°Sleep tight. I will stay up tonight. If Benny wakes up, I will prepare his milk for him. Don¡¯t forget that I did all these things when you had just given birth to him. I¡¯m more familiar with this than you are.¡± Since he had said so, Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°All right. This can help to exhaust your energy as well.¡± Cedrick bent down and kissed her soft lips. He couldn¡¯t seem to get enough of her. Gwendolyn closed her eyes and slept peacefully. Cedrick stayed by her side for a while. Once he was sure she had really fallen asleep, he went to Benedict¡¯s crib. Time flew by for those who were sound asleep. But for Cedrick, who was wide awake now, the night felt very long. Sometimes, he even wondered if their lives would be more rxed if he and Gwendolyn weren¡¯t from wealthy families, he didn¡¯t have a military background, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t have to bear the responsibility of being Ms. Harris, and they were just a normal married couple with a pair of adorable fraternal twins. However, these were all just his fantasies. Both he and Gwendolyn had too many responsibilities that couldn¡¯t be avoided. Cedrick slowly fell asleep when he was in his own thoughts. At five o¡¯clock early in the morning, he was woken up by Benedict¡¯s cries. Alerted by years of military training, Cedrick woke up as soon as he heard Benedict¡¯s faint cry. He quickly carried Benedict and gently soothed him. Then, he turned around carefully and nced at Gwendolyn, who was on the bed. Thankfully, Darling is still sound asleep. He carried Benedict and left the baby¡¯s ward to the nursery next door to prepare milk for Benedict. The next day, Cedrick had only slept for two hours when Nico arrived. As Gwendolyn was still asleep, Cedrick gestured for Nico to stay quiet and walk softly. Nico was about to talk when he saw Cedrick stern¡¯s expression. He nodded and waited at the door. When Cedrick came out, Nico raised his voice and said, ¡°Cedrick, regarding the baby form in other wealthy households, I¡¯ve secretly collected a can from each family. I didn¡¯t specify the exact reason to avoid unnecessary panic and simply made up an excuse to brush it off. The cans of form have been sent to the testing department of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and we should receive the results soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cedrick patted his shoulder. ¡°You must be tired. Go home and have a good rest. Ask Swain to come over.¡± Nico smiled like a na?ve boy. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I don¡¯t mind helping my adorable little nephew. We must find the culprit soon, or I won¡¯t be able to rx.¡± Cedrick pinched Nico¡¯s handsome face. ¡°When you go back, have Summer apply a face mask for you. Look at how dark your skin has be. It¡¯s been quite a while since you returned from the border, and yet yourplexion hasn¡¯t improved. You¡¯re about to get engaged. It¡¯s time to focus not only on official matters but also on Summer.¡± Nico was grinning happily, but when he heard Cedrick say that he was a tad bit tanned now, he looked a little displeased. ¡°Okay. Our rtionship is still going strong, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick nodded. ¡°Bye.¡± Nico turned to leave the hospital. Before he left, he called Swain. Cedrick went to the bathroom and simply freshened up to remove the fatigue from his body. When Swain reached in a hurry, Cedrick had just finished freshening up. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Swain followed him into the elevator. In the elevator, he stood up straight while Cedrick was thinking about something with a serious face. After a moment of thinking, Cedrick said, ¡°There are a lot of people in the hospital. Get a few more people to guard Benedict¡¯s ward just in case.¡± Swain nodded. ¡°Okay, Boss.¡± ¡°Also, have you read the case regarding Benny¡¯s milk form?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve read it once. I know Nico did some investigationst night.¡± Cedrick touched his wristwatch and looked at the time. ¡°So what do you think about the culprit?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Swain pointed at himself. It had been a long time since hest worked side by side with Cedrick. He couldn¡¯t get used to it. Cedrick¡¯s face turned dark, and he said in a stern tone, ¡°It¡¯s just you and me in the elevator. Who else am I talking to? Why do you seem so brainless after your wedding and honeymoon? Has your newlywed wife been pampering you so much that you¡¯ve lost your wits?¡± Swain was speechless, but the person judging him was Cedrick, whom he feared most. He remained silent. When the two of them reached the underground parking of the hospital and got into the car, Swain spoke his mind. ¡°Boss, there is strict regtion on food safety currently. It¡¯s impossible for licensed producers to manufacture such substandard and toxic milk form.¡± Cedrick sat in the back seat of the luxury car. ¡°So you think it¡¯s from the ck market?¡± Swain nodded at first but shook his head after giving it some thought. ¡°It¡¯s not what I think. It should be produced byrge-scale producers in the ck market. The demand for milk powder for Mr. Benedict and Ms. Zendy is huge every month, and you always arrange for PureVita Group to deliver arge batch for storage. If the quality inspection results show that the milk forms from other families have the exact same ingredients, it means that therge quantity of milk form must havee from the ck market. It is highly likely that a certain leader from the ck market is involved behind the scenes. However, I don¡¯t know why they would do that to target only the rich and not themoners. Are they hating on the rich?¡± Cedrick remained silent for a while as he stared at the scenery outside the car. His gaze was dark, and he seemed to be thinking of some bad memories. ¡°If they are really hating on the rich, then the problem is not that big of an issue. However, if this is only aimed at the Jenson family, then I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s going to be moreplicated.¡± Swain sighed and didn¡¯t say anything as he drove. Back at the hospital, the additional guards Cedrick arranged hadn¡¯t arrived. Benedict was wailing as he was hungry. Gwendolyn was woken up by the cry. She nced around and saw that only she and Benedict were there. She knew that Cedrick was away to handle theplicated case. The perpetrator who had been targeting the Jenson family for months was a dangerous threat that needed to be eliminated. If left unchecked, it could pose significant risks in the future. She quickly walked to the crib and carried Benedict. Ever since the baby was born, Cedrick and Zoey had been taking care of him. Cedrick wouldn¡¯t let her and always insisted on taking care of the baby himself. Gwendolyn sighed emotionally as she carried Benedict while preparing milk for him. Although she wasn¡¯t really good at it, she insisted on doing it herself and didn¡¯t ask the nurse for help. At eight o¡¯clock in the morning, there were two officers in casual clothes standing by the door of the ward. Their dignified and upright demeanor naturally made people keep their distance when they passed by on the same floor. It was clear that they were not someone to be trifled with. After a while, Gwendolyn heard someone talking outside the door when she was feeding Benedict. Then, there were sounds of footsteps before the door was pushed open. The person who came in was a woman with a mask on and a nurse outfit. She had some medical equipment in her hands too. Gwendolyn nced at the nurse¡¯s outfit and then continued to feed the baby. ¡°I didn¡¯t press the bell. What is it?¡± ¡°Ms. Harris, it¡¯s time for the baby to take his medicine.¡± ¡°For his heart condition?¡± The nurse nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Gwendolyn frowned. ¡°But the attending doctor mentioned yesterday that the mild traditional medicine was sold out. We had to wait two more days and observe the baby¡¯s condition before making a decision.¡± ¡°Yes, but the medicine has been sent from overseas today. Your baby is a VIP patient at our hospital. We take utmost care and so we sent it to you right away.¡± Gwendolyn thought for a while and eyed the nurse up and down, feeling a little suspicious. She agreed and said, ¡°Let me have a look at the medicine.¡± Chapter 659 Chapter 659 Approaching with respect, the nurse ced the pill box from her tray onto the table in front of Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn cradled her baby in one arm, feeding the little one with a bottle. With her free hand, she reached for the pill box on the table and examined its contents. The nurse stood quietly beside her. Before she touched the pill box, Gwendolyn suddenly noticed something strange. ¡°That¡¯s not right. On the first day of a new medication regimen, the attending physician should personally administer it. Furthermore, the doctor should be the one to bring the medicine and communicate the dosage to me instead of a nurse.¡± She turned her head. ¡°Why are you here?¡± A sinister gleam appeared in the nurse¡¯s eyes. The moment Gwendolyn turned to look at the nurse, the latter swiftly produced a syringe filled with anesthesia from behind her back and ruthlessly stabbed it toward Gwendolyn¡¯s neck. Gwendolyn, holding the baby, struggled to fight back with one hand, finding it challenging to exert force. Meanwhile, the nurse viciously used both hands to overpower her. The needle pierced Gwendolyn¡¯s neck, but she clenched her teeth and unleashed a powerful kick, causing the nurse to stumble to the side. The sedative in the nurse¡¯s hand failed to enter Gwendolyn¡¯s body. A thin scratch marred Gwendolyn¡¯s fair skin, and small droplets of blood began to well up from the wound. Benedict began crying in difort at the sudden, lurching movements. Gwendolyn did not have time to console him. In response, she swiftly ced him back in the crib, covered him with a thin veil, and engaged in a fierce battle with the woman in the nurse¡¯s uniform. Free of the hindrance of holding the baby, Gwendolyn, a skilled ck belt practitioner of jiu-jitsu, swiftly gained the upper hand in the fight and ended it in no time. Pressing down on the woman¡¯s artery, Gwendolyn immobilized her by pinning her arms onto the table. She demanded, ¡°Who sent you? What have you done to the police officers outside?¡± Not only was themotion loud, but the battle taking ce in the room could also be partially seen through the small ss window in the ward. However, the cops Cedrick had stationed outside the door did note bursting in when they heard themotion. Something must have happened to them. The womanughed. ¡°It¡¯s pointless to apprehend me. I know nothing. I¡¯m only here to do what I¡¯m being paid to do. The guards outside your door are dismissed and will not be back for another half an hour. I¡¯m not alone. There will be more of us here in another five minutes to take the child away. Even if you call your man, he wouldn¡¯t be able to make it here in time, would he?¡± Gwendolyn nced at Benedict, who was crying in the crib. Her fury surged, and she fiercely yanked the woman¡¯s hair. ¡°Why are you taking the baby away? He¡¯s so young. How could he have offended anyone?¡± The woman¡¯s scalp went numb from the pain, and between gasps and pants, she struggled to speak. ¡°How would I know? I¡¯ve already told you, capturing me is pointless. I don¡¯t know any secrets of my employer. If the child is too young to have done any harm, it must have been the adults¡¯ fault.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned cold as she continued pinning the woman without ckening her grip. The mastermind was even aware of Benedict¡¯s ward number and the specifics of his illness. It was clear that they hade prepared. Is the mastermind an enemy of mine or Cedrick¡¯s? Having no time to ponder any further, Gwendolyn offered, ¡°How much is your employer paying you? I¡¯ll triple it.¡± The woman hesitated for a moment. ¡°Madam, this is not about money,¡± she said, her tone conflicted. ¡°It¡¯s a matter of honor and principles. If I were to betray my employer halfway through, who would ever trust me to work with them again?¡± Gwendolyn sneered. ¡°My man is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Now that I¡¯ve captured you, do you really think you have any chance of escaping prison, let alone continuing your criminal activities?¡± The woman remained adamant. ¡°No way. I¡¯m not that type of person. I¡¯m not going to cave no matter how much you offer me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay you ten times.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. After a few seconds of silence, the woman clearly began to sway. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I don¡¯t know who you are and why you¡¯re so wealthy, but this¡ª¡± Tired of hearing her chatter, Gwendolyn cut her off by raising the offer. ¡°Twenty times.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± The woman¡¯s hostile demeanor gave way to an ingratiating one as she smiled cheerfully and said, ¡°As long as you keep your word, Boss, I will do whatever you want.¡± Gwendolyn did not respond and loosened her grip on the woman. While soothing Benedict, who was still crying pitifully, she analyzed the entire situation with a clear and composed mind. The woman massaged her wrist, which hurt from Gwendolyn¡¯s firm grip, and began expressing her concern for her new employer. ¡°It¡¯s been two minutes, Boss. They¡¯ll break into this ce in another three minutes at most. They¡¯re armed with tranquilizer guns and tasers, and we¡¯re defenseless. Despite the generous payment you offered, I won¡¯t be able to assist you.¡± Gwendolyn remainedposed and swiftly devised a n. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to openly dere your allegiance to me. Just do what they told you to do.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The woman froze. She gazed at the baby in the other woman¡¯s arms and appeared slightly dubious. Given how much she cares about the child, would she really let me take him away and hold him hostage? Three minutester, five burly men d in ck suits entered the ward one at a time in order not to draw attention to themselves. The woman d in the nurse¡¯s uniform had already tied Gwendolyn up and stuffed a towel into her mouth. The disarray in the ward and the women¡¯s disheveled hair left no doubt that there had been a fierce battle even before they entered the door. ¡°What happened?¡± asked the man in the lead. Panting heavily, the woman answered with a grin, ¡°We were toote. She had sent the baby to the attending physician, who seems to have entered the examination room and is not out yet. She came back to take something and ran into me here, so we ended up fighting.¡± The man in the suit expressed his dissatisfaction, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go and find the child and figure out a way to take him away? Why did you tie her up and stand guard here?¡± ¡°She knows jiu-jitsu and is very skilled at that. What if she frees herself and seeks help once I leave?¡± Appearing conflicted, the woman continued, ¡°It¡¯s your fault for arriving sote. I¡¯m all alone, so how can I handle both issues? She threatened me, iming that her man is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and that I¡¯m in serious trouble.¡± The man in the suit remained silent, his eyes shing with displeasure beneath his shades. The woman went on, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve tied her up. With our missionpromised, she cannot be released. We should just abduct her. I heard that the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Jenson, adores his wife. It would be more effective to abduct her instead of his child. I think he would even hand the entire Bureau to you if you demanded it.¡± After a moment of silence, the man in the suit who seemed to be in charge shot a nce at the other guy beside him, signaling for thetter to make a call. At once, the other man took his phone out to make a call and, upon obtaining approval from the other end, nodded at the leader of the group. ¡°Take her,¡± the leader ordered the woman who tied Gwendolyn up. ¡°Maintain your disguise and go to the attending physician. Take these three with you. Just to be safe, we¡¯ll take both the child and the adult with us.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± In order to avoid drawing attention, Gwendolyn was blindfolded and hidden in a coarse, woven sack. The men in suits swiftly disguised themselves as delivery workers, donned uniforms, acquired a cart, and discreetly transported the sack containing Gwendolyn, disguised among bags of onions and vegetables. With the surveince footage hacked, the group walked through the staff passageway unhindered. Once inside the ck van, they finally freed Gwendolyn from the sack and roughly threw her into the back. However, the group didn¡¯t drive away immediately. They waited for the other team assigned to kidnap the baby. Several minutester, the leader received a text message. His tone turned serious as he spoke, ¡°The situation has changed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has heightened security at the hospital. It seems we won¡¯t be able to take the child. Tell the team to withdraw. Let¡¯s leave.¡± Chapter 660 Chapter 660 Though Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth was stuffed and the blindfold was still over her eyes, she heard the report clearly. She let out a small sigh of relief, although her heart skipped a beat at the thought of Benedict hiding in the ward¡¯s closet. Silently, she hoped that the guards Cedrick had sent would soon notice the unusual situation in the ward, retrieve Benedict from the closet, and ensure his safety. As the van drove on, Gwendolyn tapped her fingers and calmly estimated the duration of the journey. Throughout the journey, the men did not speak, disying exceptional discipline and cohesion. Gwendolyn could not help feeling even more curious about their employer. After approximately forty minutes, the van stopped. The men removed the rag in Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth and dragged her out of the vehicle. Gwendolyn expressed her displeasure, reprimanding them in a low voice, ¡°Show some respect to a lady. Haven¡¯t you been taught to be gentle and considerate?¡± The men were taken aback. These days, it seems like the hostages are bing more arrogant than the kidnappers themselves. ¡°Your fate is in our hands, you know. You should be more polite.¡± Gwendolyn remained fearless, her voice calm yet icy. ¡°You¡¯ve taken me as a hostage to leverage something from Cedrick, and he will be furious if I suffer even the slightest harm. I believe you understand the consequences better than I do. You should treat a hostage like me with care, as you would handle fragile cargo. Do you understand?¡± Although she was blindfolded and bound, stripped of her freedom, hermanding presence remained intact, leaving the men in suits astonished. The men, being subordinates unaware of their employer¡¯s intentions, decided it was safer toply with Gwendolyn¡¯s instructions and handle her with care. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ms. Harris.¡± With the help of two men, Gwendolyn started forward. Though she could not see the route ahead, her hands, bound behind her back, were not idle. Beforeing here, she had grabbed a handful of Benedict¡¯s milk powder. Every ten meters or so, or when she turned a corner, she would cken her grip ever so slightly and drop off some milk powder. As the milk powder was incredibly light and prone to dispersing in the slightest breeze before reaching the ground, Gwendolyn held on to the hope that Cedrick would bring a search dog to track her down once he discovered she had been abducted. It was evident that she was treading upon bare earth when she felt its crumbly texture beneath her feet. asionally, the sound of snapping branches apanied her steps, indicating that she was being led into the depths of the forest. She contemted solemnly, considering her n and what awaited her ahead. As Cedrick and Swain alighted the vehicle, the former received a call before they could even enter the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s building. It was the cop he had assigned to stand guard at the hospital. Cedrick frowned. Realizing that something was wrong, he answered the call without hesitation. Almost immediately, the voice on the other end of the line reported, ¡°Mr. Jenson, something has happened. There are clear signs of a severe altercation in the ward. Mrs. Jenson is missing, and Mr. Benedict was found ced in a closet. He was crying loudly, possibly due to hunger. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have known where he was.¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart skipped a beat as his attention was immediately caught by the news of his wife¡¯s disappearance. Ayer of frost settled upon his chiseled features, and his dark eyes gleamed with a menacing intensity. ¡°Review the surveince footage immediately. Find out where she went,¡± hemanded. ¡°Yes, sir. I have already dispatched someone to review the hospital¡¯s surveince footage, and we should receive an update shortly. Furthermore, I¡¯ve assigned two nurses to search thedies¡¯ room to determine if Mrs. Jenson is still within the premises,¡± the cop reported promptly. Cedrick¡¯s heart clenched as he forced himself to stay calm. I must have faith in Gwendolyn¡¯s jiu-jitsu skills. It wouldn¡¯t be easy for any harm to befall her. It hasn¡¯t been very long since she went missing, so she should still be safe. ¡°Secure the entire hospital. Inform the director that I will shut down this facility if any harmes to my wife.¡± I can¡¯t believe someone broke into a baby¡¯s ward to pick a fight in broad daylight. Themotion was anything but subtle, so it¡¯s impossible that nobody was aware of it. Aside from the officers he had assigned to protect Gwendolyn, Grand Valley Hospital had a sterling reputation for having top-notch security. The urrence of something like this indicated the possibility of it being an inside job. Thus, it dawned on him how formidable their unseen enemy was. I must get to the bottom of this. Suppressing the panic within him, he ordered the in-clothed officers to stay put and keep their identities concealed and to instead have the hospital¡¯s security team seal off the hospital. This is from N?velDrama.Org. After hanging up, he ordered Swain, ¡°I¡¯m leaving the investigation of the milk powder incident to you. I¡¯m heading back to the hospital.¡± Swain nodded and said, ¡°Understood, Boss. I will organize reinforcements from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and await your instructions at any time.¡± Cedrick did not respond. He took the car keys from Swain, turned away from the building¡¯s entrance, and got into the car before driving away. He had not been idle on his way back to the hospital. Using the hands-free Bluetooth device in the car, he called Charles. Benedict needed to be ced in the care of someone familiar and trustworthy. After much deliberation, Cedrick decided to trouble the young child¡¯s godfather, Charles. Though Cedrick did not exin the situation over the phone, Charles sensed that something was amiss. ¡°Isn¡¯t Gwen supposed to be taking care of Benny in the hospital? Why do you need me there?¡± With one hand on the steering wheel, Cedrick drove while wearing a stern expression and did not respond. Sensing the unusual silence, Charles asked at once, ¡°Did something happen to Gwen? Tell me. I¡¯m worried sick about the incident with the milk powder, too.¡± Cedrick hesitated for a moment before revealing the truth. ¡°Gwen is missing. We are currently reviewing the surveince footage, but if she has left the hospital, I fear it might be a kidnapping.¡± There was a long silence on the other end of the line. When Charles finally spoke, his voice had turned grave. ¡°Where are you right now?¡± he asked with concern. ¡°Have you returned to the hospital? I¡¯lle over immediately.¡± After ending the call, Cedrick contemted the situation carefully. Soon, he arrived at the hospital and drove into the basement parking lot, his unease growing with each passing moment. Then, he made his way up to the surveince room immediately. Coincidentally, the cop assigned to the surveince room had just finished looking through the footage of the day. ¡°The entirework was hacked more than half an hour ago, Mr. Jenson, including the surveince equipment. We couldn¡¯t find any evidence. We¡¯ve also searched the entire hospital, but there¡¯s no sign of your wife. It appears she has been abducted.¡± Cedrick took a deep breath. The look in his eyes was terrifying. His heart clenched at the news of his wife¡¯s abduction. Suddenly, he was seized by a maniacal impulse to rain death and destruction upon her kidnappers. The officer was frightened by his expression. Afraid of being med for negligence, he quickly exined, ¡°The officers who were assigned to guard Mr. Benedict¡¯s ward were not present when the incident urred. I inquired about it, and it seems they were redirected by the nurse to help retrieve medicine for Mr. Benedict. This has been a meticulously nned kidnapping with a premeditated intent, Mr. Jenson. To ensure the safety of your wife in the hands of the kidnappers, would you like me to inform the Bureau captains to mobilize the entire team for a thorough investigation to locate her as soon as possible?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Cedrick said calmly. ¡°Let¡¯s not make a big scene just yet. Let¡¯s first go to the ward and assess the situation.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The officer understood what he was worried about. The kidnapper must be someone of significant stature for daring to meticulously n the abduction of Gwendolyn¡ªthe wealthiest woman in Chanaea, the head of the Harris family, and Cedrick¡¯s wife. Now that Gwendolyn was in the hands of the kidnappers, they would likely kill or harm her if the situation escted. If that happened, Cedrick would lose his mind, potentially setting off a rampage throughout the underworld. Hence, they quickly followed Cedrick into Benedict¡¯s ward. The room was messy, and Benedict, who was only several months old, had been ced back in the crib. Despite having been fed, he continued to sob, his cries weak and pitiful. It seemed as if he was aware of his mother¡¯s abduction and was shedding tears out of concern for her. Cedrick cradled Benedict in his arms, soothing the baby gently, while his eyes continued to scan the room. He carefully observed the traces of the fight scattered throughout the ward. He had a deep understanding of Gwendolyn¡¯s skills. While she may havecked physical strength, her agility and quick reflexes allowed her to swiftly seize her opponent¡¯s vital points and incapacitate them with a single move. The mess in the room suggested that the fight had been going on for a considerable time, which was not characteristic of Gwendolyn¡¯s usual style when facing adversaries. There¡¯s more to this than meets the eye. Chapter 661 Chapter 661 Cedrick knitted his brows, maintaining aposed expression as he analyzed the situation. Only a few individuals in Chanaea possessed the capability to defeat Gwendolyn unless her adversaries deployed a significant number of elite fighters. However, such a course of action would be highly conspicuous, attracting unnecessary attention within the hospital. Alternatively, the other party might be armed. Cedrick¡¯s heart clenched as if someone was gripping it. The disheveled hospital room showed no signs of blood or any traces of violence, and he hoped that his suspicion would turn out to be unfounded. Another possibility popped into his mind. Gwenny intentionally surrendered, offering herself as bait. Otherwise, Benny wouldn¡¯t have been left behind in the closet. They would have taken them together. After organizing his thoughts on the matter, he let out a deep sigh, feeling helpless and ming himself for the risk his wife had undertaken. Benedict continued to cry, his small mouth pouting. His soft and delicate sobs echoed his father¡¯s distressed state. Cedrick patientlyforted the baby, while his peripheral vision caught sight of a spilled pile of milk powder under the table. He walked over, crouched down, and examined the traces of powdered milk. His slender and graceful fingers touched the powder, twirling it between his fingertips, while his gaze darkened with contemtion. Since Nico had worked tirelessly throughoutst night and had just returned home to catch up on some sleep, Cedrick didn¡¯t want to burden him with the task of investigating this incident. ¡°Contact Team Nine¡¯s leader, Jasper, and instruct him to assemble a squad of ten soldiers. Also, bring a military dog,¡± he ordered. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± While waiting for Jasper to quickly organize his team and Charles to arrive and take over, Cedrick comforted the baby. Charles raced to the hospital, and in under ten minutes, he arrived at the baby¡¯s ward. Observing the disarray in the room that had yet to be tidied, Charles was stunned. With a serious look on his face, he immediately inquired, ¡°Did you manage to locate Gwen¡¯s whereabouts? Is she safe?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°No.¡± Charles¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°How can you remain so calm? The audacity of those individuals to cause trouble right under our noses suggests a significant influence backing them. What if they harm Gwen? Didn¡¯t you enjoy putting up the image of a loving husband in public? Now that Gwen is missing, you don¡¯t seem to show any concern at all.¡± Cedrick turned his head slightly, catching Charles¡¯ fierce gaze and the icy expression on his face. ¡°Charles, my wife is missing, and yet you seem so eager to take my ce. Are you trying to usurp my position? I¡¯m still alive, in case you haven¡¯t noticed.¡± Upon hearing that, Charles was bereft of words. ¡°Now is not the right time to get jealous. Finding out where Gwen is, should be our top priority.¡± Cedrick stood up with a stern expression, cing Benedict in Charles¡¯ arms. ¡°You should be well aware of your own hidden motives. Take care of your godson and ensure his safety. I¡¯ll go find Gwenny.¡± Charles narrowed his eyes, which showed a mix of concern and reluctance. ¡°Can you take me with you? After all, I am the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and my skills could be of assistance in finding Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. The agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation are equally skilled,¡± Cedrick replied, giving him a cautious look. ¡°I don¡¯t trust the inexperienced officers at the bureau to take care of Benny. I can only entrust him to you. However, if you fail to take good care of him and cause me any trouble, it will only put Gwenny in further danger. I hope you understand the consequences.¡± Charles kept mum. Meanwhile, Team Nine, led by Jasper, had already assembled. Cedrick turned around and swiftly left the hospital. Meanwhile, after walking through the woods for over ten minutes while being held hostage, Gwendolyn finally arrived at their destination. Her high heels echoed crisply as she stepped on the stone bricks, a stark contrast to the muddy paths she had previously walked on. Looks like we¡¯ve arrived. She kept mum throughout the journey while the men in suits remained eerily silent as well, refusing to divulge any information. With her eyes blindfolded, Gwendolyn¡¯s heightened auditory senses picked up the crisp sound of her high heels on the ground. The ground beneath her feet felt different, more like expensive marble tiles rather than rough terrain. It seemed the abductors had taken her to a fancy ce. Aren¡¯t they supposed to lock me in some abandoned cottage in the woods? With confusion lingering in her mind, Gwendolyn was led into a house. The men in suits held her shoulders, guiding her to sit down. The seat felt soft to the touch, with a texture resembling fabric and cotton. Am I sitting on a couch? Gwendolyn was perplexed, struggling toprehend the situation unfolding before her. Did they kidnap me or invite me here as their guest? As the blindfold was removed, Gwendolyn was momentarily blinded by the sudden burst of bright light. It took her a while to get used to the blinding light before lifting her gaze. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw a luxurious mansion before her, and she found herself sitting on a couch in the grand hall. Gwendolyn turned her head and saw a middle-aged man in a tailored suit. He looked roguish but at the same time, exuded dominance. The man, recliningnguidly on a couch, was puffing on a cigar. His sharp and murky eyes narrowed slightly as he exchanged a nce with his subordinate nearby. The subordinate, disying an unusually polite attitude, approached Gwendolyn, removed the rag in her mouth, and poured her a cup of coffee. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself, Mrs. Jenson. I¡¯m Channing Kron, and I oversee an underground enterprise in Salinsburgh. Wee to my private mansion, which, I must admit, has been neglected and is not in its finest state. Please ept my apologies for the untidiness, Mrs. Jenson,¡± Channing uttered. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned distant and cold as she cast a nce at the coffee on the table. She scoffed, ¡°Mr. Kron, do you truly expect me to drink the coffee when my hands are still bound? And isn¡¯t it rather excessive to resort to such measures just to invite me here?¡± Channing puffed on his cigar and grinned. ¡°I¡¯m confident you can untie the rope yourself, Mrs. Jenson. If my men were to do it for you, your true intentions would have been exposed.¡± Gwendolyn was struck dumb for a moment. He was aware that I deliberately allowed myself to be abducted. It appears that there¡¯s more to him than meets the eye. Now that he had uncovered her secret, she thought it was better for her toe clean. Although it seemed like her wrists were bound behind her back, the ropes were actually easy to remove. Had she been in a life-threatening situation, she could have easily untied the ropes and freed herself. With aposed expression, she showed no sign of awkwardness after being exposed. Gracefully and effortlessly, she untied the ropes and ced them on the coffee table. ¡°You¡¯ve gone through all this trouble to bring me here. So, what is it that you want from me?¡± Channing casually puffed on his cigar and calmly responded, ¡°It was purely a coincidence that my men happened to capture you, Mrs. Jenson. You¡¯re the wealthiest person in Chanaea, and Mr. Jenson is the ultimate figure who controls the military. Since the both of you are prominent figures in Chanaea, I couldn¡¯t afford to be disrespectful on your first visit.¡± Noticing his respectful tone when referring to Cedrick, Gwendolyn grew suspicious. ¡°So your initial n was to capture my baby, not me, huh? Do you think you can threaten Cedrick by taking the baby away?¡± she asked. Channing replied, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood me, Mrs. Jenson. I wanted to take Benedict away because I want to protect him, not to harm him.¡± Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°My wife finally gave birth to a son when I reached my forties. He¡¯s slightly older than your baby, around four months old. He¡¯s also consuming PureVita form milk. Two days ago, my baby fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. Coincidentally, he was ced in the same ward as your baby. Upon receiving information about the form milk issue, I began investigating the mastermind behind it. It soon came to my knowledge that the mastermind is also involved in underground activities and might wield more influence than myself. I received intel suggesting that they¡¯re aware of Mr. Jenson¡¯s investigation into the form milk matter and are nning to target several infants who have been admitted to the hospital for treatment. Hence, I took preemptive action under the guise of kidnappers, aiming to deceive them and create the impression that Mr. Jenson has amassed numerous adversaries. This strategy was intended to make them lower their guard, believing that the situation is advantageous to them. Mrs. Jenson, I must say I¡¯m impressed by your vignce and resourcefulness. Not only did you manage to hide the baby from us, but you also took the risk ofing here to investigate the truth,¡± Channing exined. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Gwendolyn grasped the situation and took a sweeping look around his mansion. Nheless, she refused to blindly believe his words. ¡°Your baby is only four months old, and I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t stand the smell of tobo and alcohol, yet you¡¯re smoking a cigar in front of me. I could already smell the tobo as soon as I walked in. This means you¡¯ve smoked more than just one,¡± Gwendolyn sneered, ¡°You should have handled the details more carefully if you want to use this method to gain my trust.¡± Channing nonchntly flicked the unburned portion of the expensive cigar into the ashtray. Upon hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s words, he paused, extinguishing the expensive cigar that he had barely smoked, disying no concern for the wasted portion. Chapter 662 Chapter 662 Gwendolyn remained silent as she observed him. Channing let out a sigh, his expression filled with a mixture of sorrow and helplessness. Even though he was the boss of the ck market, he still had to abide by his wife¡¯s strict rules after bing a parent. He confessed, ¡°To be honest, Mrs. Jenson, my wife is incredibly strict and fierce. Ever since we had a child, she has forbidden me from drinking or smoking. I¡¯d be in big trouble if she ever found out. But given the nature of my work, it¡¯s inevitable that I indulge in these vices while entertaining guests. So I can only do it in secret, always having to take a bath outside before returning home to rid myself of any lingering odors.¡± Heughed awkwardly, though a glimmer of appreciation gleamed in his eyes. Despite hisints, it was evident that he felt blessed to have a wife who cared for his well-being. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of Cedrick, whom she had also forbidden from smoking and consuming alcohol to safeguard their baby¡¯s health. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Cedrick had been drinking alcohol and smoking behind her back. However, she quickly dismissed the thought with a smile, knowing that Cedrick would never dare defy her. Compared to Channing, he was much more honest and deeplymitted to their family. Gwendolyn pushed aside her musings and responded with a warm smile, ¡°Yes, I understand the challenges of bncing work and family, Mr. Kron. One can never be too careful when there¡¯s a baby at home.¡± Channing wasn¡¯t certain if Gwendolyn had fully bought into his story, but he proceeded to show her photos of his child on his phone. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, I truly didn¡¯t mean any harm to your child by resorting to such extreme measures. I only did it out of desperation. Please believe me.¡± Gwendolyn epted his phone and began scrolling through the gallery, seeing pictures of Channing¡¯s family as well as intimate moments between him and his child. She proceeded to tap on the top right corner of the screen to view the photo details and confirmed that they were recent and unaltered. ¡°All right, I believe you, Mr. Kron.¡± Just as Gwendolyn finished speaking, the dogs outside the vi began barking furiously. Surprised, she asked, ¡°Do you have dogs?¡± Channing was equally taken aback. ¡°No, this is a private vi located in the woods. My wife and I only visit asionally during the summer or vacations. We don¡¯t even have a caretaker, let alone dogs here.¡± Realization dawned on Gwendolyn, causing her face to pale. ¡°Oh no, it must be my husband.¡± Channing¡¯s face mirrored her worry. ¡°Mr. Jenson? His dog sounds aggressive. I hope he isn¡¯t here to tear the vi down.¡± Without wasting another moment, Gwendolyn swiftly rose from her seat and made her way to the door, with Channing and his suited bodyguards following closely behind. She peered through the metal grille across the garden and saw Cedrick, whose face was filled with anger. Contrary to his typical military attire, he appeared clean and well-groomed in a casual and simple outfit. The four bodyguards who had been stationed at the entrance of Channing¡¯s vi nowy defeated, their hands cuffed, as they turned to Channing for assistance. ¡°They were too fast, Mr. Kron. We didn¡¯t stand a chance. They took us down in just a few moves¡­¡± ¡°I can see that,¡± Channing sneered, leaving his bodyguards at a loss for words. He then directed a look at his bodyguards and stated, ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have Mr. Jenson visit us. Open the gates immediately.¡± As the metal gates swung open, Gwendolyn swiftly approached Cedrick, calling out, ¡°Hubby!¡± Cedrick anxiously scanned her to make sure she was unharmed. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Mr. Kron simply wanted to coborate with the military to uncover the mastermind behind the milk powder case. Unfortunately, his methods were a bit too extreme,¡± Gwendolyn exined. Cedrick remained silent, clearly displeased with her putting herself at risk. ¡°You¡¯re quite quick, Mr. Jenson. I was just about to call you after exining the situation to Mrs. Jenson. Would you like to join us for tea?¡± Channing offered. Cedrick¡¯s gaze darkened as he held onto Gwendolyn¡¯s hand tightly, seekingfort and security in her presence and the warmth of her touch. Without a word, he walked into the vi with Gwendolyn in tow, signaling his eptance of Channing¡¯s invitation. Channing promptly followed them into the vi and instinctively chose a seat on the side, leaving the main seats for Gwendolyn and Cedrick. One of his bodyguards tactfully served each of them a cup of tea before discreetly escorting the remaining bodyguards out of the hall. This left Gwendolyn, Channing, and Cedrick alone to discuss matters. Once they were alone, Cedrick lifted his cup of tea and took a sip, sampling the tea from Channing¡¯s vi. Channing smiled and remarked, ¡°This is thetest batch of Earl Grey for the year. The taste might not be as exceptional since the housekeepers aren¡¯t here to prepare it, and the bodyguards might not be as familiar with the brewing process. I hope you don¡¯t mind, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick remained silent, his expression unreadable, leaving Channing unsure of his thoughts and emotions. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Cedrick was angry, upset, or perhaps simply disinterested in the current situation. In an effort to lighten the mood, Channing reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a box of fine cigars. ¡°Would you care for one, Mr. Jenson?¡± he asked, offering the box to Cedrick. Cedrick shook his head without any hesitation whatsoever. ¡°My wife forbids me from smoking. She¡¯s quite strict about it.¡± Channing turned to Gwendolyn, a knowing smile on his face. ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re just as the rumors describe, a devoted husband who adores his wife.¡± Cedrick¡¯s frown deepened as he maintained a stern expression. Channing quickly rified, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, Mr. Jenson. I am not mocking you in any way.¡± He lightly patted his chest and spoke with affection in his voice. ¡°I, too, am a devoted husband who follows my wife¡¯s instructions without question.¡± Cedrick sensed the sincerity in Channing¡¯s words during their brief exchange, realizing he wasn¡¯t just trying to tter him. He also found Channing¡¯s demeanor quite endearing, appreciating the rare urrence of encountering such a carefree attitude, especially from someone in Channing¡¯s position in the underworld. Cedrick¡¯s expression softened at that, and he cut straight to the chase. ¡°Gwenny mentioned that you¡¯re interested in a coboration. How do you propose we go about it? Please, do share your thoughts.¡± Channing repeated everything he had discussed with Gwendolyn moments ago. ¡°The mastermind behind this is likely someone from the underworld. I believe you have your suspects, Mr. Jenson. Given my understanding of the workings of the underworld, I can utilize my connections and engage in gray area business to establishmunication with your suspect. We can even form a partnership for a seamless operation if and when required.¡± Cedrick remained silent; while Gwendolyn carefully considered the proposition. Channing patiently waited for them to make a decision, recognizing the need to allow them time to weigh their options. After a while, Cedrick finally broke the silence in the mansion¡¯s hall. ¡°So, if I understand correctly, you¡¯re suggesting a methodical approach to gradually weed out those who are not involved?¡± Channing smiled. ¡°Indeed, Mr. Jenson. To be honest, besides the urgency of uncovering the mastermind behind the milk powder case, I also have my adversaries that I wish to eliminate.¡± Cedrick idly fiddled with the teacup in his hand, a smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°You¡¯re quite direct, I must say.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point in hiding it from you, considering your longstanding role in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. So, I¡¯ll be upfront and admit that I have ulterior motives as well.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Cedrick remained silent, deep in thought, while Gwendolyn, who had been listening intently, interjected, ¡°I think opting for the long-term approach is too dangerous. There are too many variables beyond our control. Our children are still young and vulnerable. They are our Achilles¡¯ heel. Without knowing who our enemies are, we would be overwhelmed when they strike.¡± Frowning, Cedrick remained silent. ¡°So, Mrs. Jenson, what do you think we should do?¡± Channing inquired. A smile tugged at Gwendolyn¡¯s lips as she chuckled. ¡°Since I¡¯ve been kidnapped, let¡¯s y along. We can spread the word that you kidnapped me to settle a score with Cedrick, and that you have ns to kidnap our child as well¡­¡± Gwendolyn spoke earnestly, carefully weighing her options while Channing listened attentively, nodding in agreement when he found her ideaspelling. Cedrick, however, maintained a deep frown, his displeasure and anger evident. ¡°This is a rough outline of my proposal. There may be loopholes, so please feel free to provide input,¡± Gwendolyn concluded. Channing carefully observed Cedrick¡¯s reaction as Gwendolyn presented her proposal. ¡°But¡­ the thing is, you will be put in harm¡¯s way if we proceed with this n to expedite the resolution. We cannot underestimate the dangers of dealing with the underworld. And if any harm were to befall you¡­¡± Channing¡¯s voice trailed off as he stole another nce at Cedrick. ¡°Mr. Jenson would be worried sick.¡± Gwendolyn followed Channing¡¯s gaze, her eyesnding on Cedrick whose expression was grim. She was left momentarily speechless as the weight of the situation sank in. Chapter 663 Chapter 663 The tension in the air grew palpable as Cedrick¡¯s displeasure grew more apparent. Channing opted to remain silent, feeling a sense of intimidation in the presence of Cedrick¡¯s simmering temper. Gwendolyn, however, smiled and reached out to Cedrick, gently holding his arm and caressing his face in an attempt to soothe him. Her voice softened as she said, ¡°Hubby, you know I¡¯m skilled in jiu-jitsu. I can take care of myself. Not many can match me.¡± Despite her reassurances, Cedrick remained steadfast in his decision. ¡°No, I cannot ept this proposal. It¡¯s far too dangerous.¡± He believed it was too risky for Gwendolyn to face armed individuals alone, especially considering the ruthless nature of the underworld. Cedrick would never allow her to put herself in harm¡¯s way. Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°I understand your worries, but we need to resolve this case as soon as possible, especially with Benny involved. I want to support you and share the burden.¡± Cedrick shook his head resolutely, unwavering in his decision. If, as the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he still had to put his wife in harm¡¯s way to solve the case, he might as well retire early and pass on his position to someone else. Gwendolyn reached out and intertwined their fingers, offering reassurance. ¡°Trust me on this one. I¡¯m not as weak as the other girls.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Her mischievous smile tugged at Cedrick¡¯s heart. ¡°Why not hold Mr. Kron ountable for my safety since he¡¯s the one who kidnapped me? Make him hand over his wife, and if any harm befalls me, you can retaliate by hurting his wife. I¡¯m confident that Mr. Kron will go to great lengths to protect me if we proceed with this n.¡± Channing paled with fright at her suggestion. Isn¡¯t that too ruthless? No wonder they say women are terrifying. Mrs. Jenson is just as ruthless as my wife. Channing didn¡¯t dare say a word as Gwendolyn turned to him with a smile, asking, ¡°What do you think of the proposal, Mr. Kron?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Jenson. I will do everything in my power to protect you from harm. They won¡¯t be able toy a finger on you.¡± Gwendolyn turned to Cedrick once again after receiving Channing¡¯s reassurance. ¡°Look, Mr. Kron has given his word that I won¡¯te to harm. Please, just let me contribute to Benny¡¯s case,¡± she pleaded. Cedrick lowered his gaze and remained silent, but this time his rejection was not immediate, indicating a wavering resolve. Sensing an opportunity, Gwendolyn seized his arm and rested her chin on his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it any longer. Benny is still undergoing treatment, and we can¡¯t afford to further dy the case. Just let me help,¡± she urged. Reluctantly, Cedrick found himself agreeing to Gwendolyn¡¯s participation. However, he had one condition¡ªshe had to swear to take good care of herself throughout the mission. He made it clear that she was allowed to expose her identity and even fail the mission if necessary, as long as she didn¡¯t put herself in harm¡¯s way. With the agreement settled, Channing arranged a spacious bedroom for Gwendolyn to settle in. Unable to shake off his concerns, Cedrick decided to assign five of the ten men he had brought with him to Channing. They would change into Channing¡¯s bodyguard outfits and act as additional security to ensure Gwendolyn¡¯s safety within the vi. As Cedrick prepared to leave, Gwendolyn stood at the gates, waving and bidding him goodbye. Cedrick, however, was upset, his expression gloomy. I¡¯m about to leave, and we might not see each other for days, yet she appears so cheerful! This is uneptable! ¡°Mr. Jenson!¡± Channing called out, but Cedrick paid no heed as he swiftly approached Gwendolyn. Without hesitation, he scooped her up in his arms, carrying her bridal style, and walked purposefully into the vi. Channing watched in bewilderment, taken aback by Cedrick¡¯s sudden disy of dominance and possessiveness. Cedrick turned around and instructed, ¡°There are some things I need Mrs. Jenson to take note of. Please wait outside for half an hour.¡± With that, he carried Gwendolyn into the room that Channing had prepared for her. Once inside, he gently ced her on the bed before swiftly locking the doors and windows. Gwendolyn sat by the edge of the bed, her eyes wide with astonishment as she silently observed Cedrick¡¯s actions. Why does it seem like he wants to¡­ Before she could confirm her suspicions, Cedrick approached and sat beside her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Gwendolyn protested, ¡°Let go. I can¡¯t breathe¡­¡± Cedrick released his grip, only to forcefully pin her down on hisp. Without giving Gwendolyn a chance to react, he swiftly flipped her over and firmly held her waist, positioning her perky buttocks under his palms. Gwendolyn¡¯s breath hitched as she realized Cedrick¡¯s intention. ¡°Are you trying to spank me, Cedrick?¡± Cedrick rested his palm on her soft buttocks as if teasingly threatening to give her a tight p. However, it was merely a gesture, as he would never actually harm his beloved wife. ¡°You should have informed me about your ns beforehand, so I wouldn¡¯t have been so worried about your safety. Do you realize how anxious I was when I discovered you were gone? I rushed here immediately with the dog as soon as I sensed something was amiss.¡± Cedrick expressed his grievance, having spent a significant amount of time panicking and fretting over Gwendolyn¡¯s well-being. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re at fault here, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn exined, ¡°I take full responsibility for my actions, and I apologize. The situation escted unexpectedly, and I didn¡¯t have a chance to inform you. I had to y along to see if we could catch the mastermind behind the milk powder case.¡± Cedrick immediately relented upon hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s apology. To make up for the panic and worry he had experienced in the past hour, he lightly pped her buttocks twice. ¡°We can take our time to solve the case. The truth will eventually be revealed. But I can¡¯t bear to have my wife away from my side for too long. It makes me anxious.¡± Gwendolyn respondedzily, ¡°Understood. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Cedrick gently helped her sit up and settled her on hisp. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her close, and buried his face in the crook of her neck, savoring her intoxicating scent. Gwendolyn felt a shiver run down her spine as Cedrick¡¯s warm breath caressed her skin. ¡°Who¡¯s taking care of Benny while you¡¯re here?¡± she asked. ¡°Charles is looking after him. And with the protection of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he should be in good hands. Charles is also skilled in martial arts, so Benny will be safe.¡± Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief, her worries momentarily eased. Cedrick¡¯s actions became more assertive as he firmly pressed Gwendolyn onto the bed. His voice was filled with desire as he whispered hoarsely, ¡°We still have twenty minutes. Let¡¯s not waste any more time. I want you to make up for the stress and worry you put me through before I leave.¡± With a surge of intense passion, he leaned in and pressed his lips against Gwendolyn¡¯s. Though she resisted at first, she eventually sumbed to his advances. Meanwhile, Channing¡¯s bodyguards and the officers who came with Cedrick exchanged uneasy looks as they stood outside the gates. The air was thick with awkwardness, as their past interactions had been marked by a cat-and-mouse dynamic. The officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation maintained a friendly demeanor toward Channing¡¯s bodyguards, recognizing that they were all here to coborate on a case. Whenever Channing¡¯s men nced in their direction, they would exchange smiles, fostering a sense of camaraderie. Jasper from Team Nine grew increasingly concerned as he constantly checked his watch, mumbling to himself, ¡°Mr. Jenson is always punctual. Why hasn¡¯t hee out yet? I hope nothing has happened to them.¡± He contemted going in to check on Cedrick, but Channing intervened and stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Are you really that clueless? Mrs. Jenson will be staying here as a supposed victim of my kidnapping for the next few days. They¡¯re newlyweds, and being apart for even a few days is unbearable for them. It¡¯s only natural that they would want to spend some intimate time together now,¡± Channing exined, suppressing hisughter as he spoke from experience. Jasper and his men nodded in understanding. ¡°Got it,¡± they replied, finally catching on. Chapter 664 Chapter 664 The men waited awkwardly outside the door for nearly an hour before Cedrick finally emerged, descending the stairs at a leisurely pace. He exuded confidence with every step he took. All eyes observed him curiously as if he were a rare treasure. He nonchntly adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, exuding a sense of regality and dignity. Every movement he made radiated an extraordinary air of refinement. Jasper and the others from the Federal Bureau of Investigation stifled their chuckles. Cedrick was truly a sight to behold. Married men are just a different breed. They¡¯re just so self-assured! Cedrick stopped by the front door and nced at Channing who stood by the entrance. ¡°Take good care of my wife. Make sure she eats well and sleeps well. If even a single strand of her hair is harmed, I¡¯ll make sure both you and your wife will face the consequences.¡± Channing¡¯s breath hitched as he quietly cursed Cedrick¡¯s notorious reputation for being ruthless. The rumors are indeed true. He just intensified the gravity of Gwendolyn¡¯s threat tenfold. Just the hostility in Cedrick¡¯s eyes was enough to send a shiver down Channing¡¯s spine. It was evident that Cedrick was serious about his threat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Jenson. I assure you that I will never let any harm befall Mrs. Jenson, even if it means putting myself at risk,¡± Channing assured with determination. Satisfied, Cedrick averted his gaze and silently led the remaining six members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including Jasper and the trained canine, out of the forest. As soon as the men were out of sight, Channing immediately released the news of Gwendolyn¡¯s kidnapping and dered his intention to kidnap Cedrick¡¯s son as well in an attempt to take revenge on Cedrick¡¯s entire family. The news ignited a wave of excitement among the top yers in the underworld. They were all thrilled by the development. The underworld viewed their rtionship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation like that of a predator and its prey. Channing, a small fry, was bold enough to go against Cedrick, the long-time leader of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the biggest shark in the sea. Even if Channing were to fail, it was still an admirable effort. However, while the entire underworld was buzzing with excitement over the news, the central figure of the story, Channing, arranged for housemaids and five-star chefs who were bound by strict confidentiality agreements, to serve them in the vi. As Gwendolyn had been taken to the vi against her will, she had not brought any spare clothes or personal belongings. To amodate her, Channing had no choice but to arrange ten sets of designer dresses andfortable loungewear for her. He also prepared a set of skincare products, including a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, ensuring she had what she needed for her personal care. The coboration with Cedrick had only just begun, and he had already spent over five hundred thousand. Channing nced at his ount statement and sighed to himself, shaking his head. Looks like I¡¯ve got myself involved with someone I shouldn¡¯t have. Gwendolyn held a special ce in Cedrick¡¯s heart. If Channing took good care of her, it would be expected and considered part of his job. There would be no special recognition or appreciation for it. However, if he failed in his responsibilities, he would face serious consequences. Hence, he didn¡¯t really have a choice. The Federal Bureau of Investigation closely monitored the developments in the powdered milk case. Whenever Cedrick identified a suspect, he would promptly inform Channing, who would discreetly gather information and deploy undercover police officers disguised as bodyguards to conduct a comprehensive investigation. That very afternoon, Cedrick identified a major figure who was involved in ck market business. He passed over the information to Channing. However, negotiating and arranging a meeting would take some time. Cedrick did not return to Harrick Vi that night. He felt an emptiness in his heart without his wife by his side. Zendaya had Zoey, Nico, and Summer watching over her. Moreover, the security of the Jenson residence was at its highest, so there was nothing for him to worry about in that regard. However, at the hospital, Charles was the only one watching over Benedict. Cedrick felt the need to head there to assist Charles. After leaving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cedrick drove straight to Grand Valley Hospital and headed directly to the pediatric ward. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Benedict¡¯s room had been tidied up. The director of the hospital had asked to meet Cedrick multiple times and apologize in person, but Cedrick declined each time. When he heard footsteps approaching the hospital room, Charles, who was sitting by the baby¡¯s bed, immediately snapped his eyes to the door. He was on high alert. Seeing that it was Cedrick, Charles stood up and asked impatiently, ¡°How is Gwen? Why did youe alone? Did you not bring Gwen back with you?¡± Cedrick chose not to delve into the details and instead delivered a concise update, stating, ¡°There was a slight mishap. She is still in the custody of the kidnappers, but rest assured, she is safe.¡± Charles, in his ignorance of the situation, was outraged. His blue eyes bored into Cedrick with disbelief. ¡°Cedrick, as her husband, you are responsible for keeping her safe. Even if it costs you your life, you should have rescued her and brought her back. What¡¯s the matter with you? How could youe back alone?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression remained aloof and distant. ¡°As you¡¯ve said, she¡¯s my wife. Stay out of our business.¡± Charles could not contain his anger any longer. He grabbed Cedrick by the cor and roughly pinned him against the wall. ¡°If you can¡¯t save her, then I will. If you can¡¯t love her wholeheartedly, then I¡¯ll take her back from you.¡± The look in Cedrick¡¯s eyes was nonchnt as he sneered and mocked, ¡°Over my dead body. If I¡¯m unable to rescue her, what makes you think you¡¯ll be able to do it?¡± Charles fell silent, unable toe up with a retort. Cedrick held a superior position to Charles in terms of status, influence, power, and wealth in Chanaea. Charles could not bepared to Cedrick in any way. Cedrick even had the strength of the entire Federal Bureau of Investigation backing him. Charles, on the other hand, had nothing but his unconditional love for Gwendolyn. He loosened his grip on Cedrick¡¯s cor and slumped down wearily on the chair beside Benedict¡¯s crib. Cedrick leaned against the wall, his gaze unwavering as he confronted Charles. ¡°I had thought that you were willing to be Benny and Zendy¡¯s godfather because you had moved on from your feelings for Gwenny. But it seems that is not the case. Do you desire to be my love rival rather than my friend? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡± Love rival? If we were to be rivals, I¡¯m afraid Cedrick wouldn¡¯t allow me to step foot in Jenson Group or Harrick Vi to visit the kids anymore. He would be constantly wary of me. Charles softened his tone and said, ¡°No, no, I just got anxious when I heard that Gwen was in danger. I misspoke. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Cedrick said nothing. He calmly walked over, took another chair, and sat down on the other side of Benedict¡¯s crib, facing Charles. With both his birth father and godfather guarding him, little Benedict, who was only a few months old, could not yet understand how lucky he was. However, the strong sense of security provided by the two men enabled Benedict to sleep soundly. Not wanting to wake his godson, Charles lowered his voice and continued, ¡°I don¡¯t want to lie to you. I have loved Gwen for more than ten years, and my feelings for her can¡¯t be easily extinguished.¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze. His jet-ck eyes were fixed on his wristwatch. He appeared calm and distant, and his emotions were carefully hidden. In the silence of the night, Charles spoke candidly, ¡°While I cannot erase my feelings for her, I know that I don¡¯t stand a chance. She loves you, and there¡¯s no ce for me in her heart. All I want is just to be there for her whenever she needs me. I may have said that I wanted to fight with you for her affection, but deep down, I know it¡¯s a futile effort. I can¡¯t help my feelings, but I would never do anything to hurt Gwen or the two children. You can trust me on that.¡± Cedrick remained quiet for a moment. Then, he scoffed and said, ¡°Well, it seems you¡¯ve finallye to your senses.¡± ¡°I had to try and fail before I could understand.¡± Cedrick smiled, his expression softening. Charles was now a much more decent manpared to his past self, who was scheming, obsessive, and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. Cedrick liked this version of him better, appreciating his new-found honesty. ¡°I hope you mean what you said tonight. Since we¡¯re now friends and you¡¯ve be the godfather to Benny and Zendy, don¡¯t betray my trust. If you try to deceive me¡­¡± Cedrick let his sentence trail off. He casually toyed with his watch, but his unspoken threat was clear and much scarier than any words that he could have said. Charles acquiesced with a nod. Then, he mused spectively, ¡°Gwen is a skilled fighter, so if she was kidnapped, it must be because the kidnapper outnumbered her or she willingly allowed herself to be taken. You started investigating this matter in the morning and returned so calmly in the evening. That means, she must have let herself be taken, right?¡± Cedrick raised his dark eyes to meet Charles¡¯. ¡°Since you¡¯ve figured it out, you should know that I had no choice but to go along with her ns.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only analyzed the situation after I¡¯ve calmed down and realized howposed you¡¯ve been.¡± Cedrick decided to let Charles in on the n since he had already guessed the first half. Charles listened attentively. The thought of how he had lost his cool earlier embarrassed him greatly. ¡°So, it seems the children will continue to be in danger until the culprits behind the milk powder case are caught. You and Gwen just focus on catching the bad guys. Don¡¯t worry about Benny; I¡¯ll keep an eye on him.¡± Chapter 665 Chapter 665 With thoseforting words, Cedrick felt a wave of relief wash over him. ¡°You¡¯ve been taking care of Benny all day long. Rest early. Let me be the one to watch over him at night,¡± he said. Charles, never one to mince words, half-jokingly responded, ¡°Being his biological father, it would be good for you to spend a little more time with him. Otherwise, when Benny grows up, he might be closer to me than to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to pamper my son. If he dares to be closer to you than me, I¡¯ll give him a lesson he won¡¯t forget,¡± Cedrick replied without a hint of hesitation. Charles was momentarily taken aback. With a snort, he said, ¡°Benny must have umted some seriously bad karma in his past life to be reincarnated as your son. He¡¯s only three months old, and you¡¯re already contemting how to discipline him in the future.¡± Arching an eyebrow, Cedrick gave him an unwavering look. Chuckling, Charles continued, ¡°Considering Benny¡¯s fragile health, we should check for any remnants of the S404 RNA virus in his body as he grows older. He may need to take medication for the long term to ensure his well-being. With his delicate health, he requires tender care. I don¡¯t believe for a second that you could ever bearying a hand on him, and even if you could, I highly doubt Gwen would ever agree.¡± Cedrick remained silent at that. Gwendolyn¡¯s unwavering devotion to their two children often made Cedrick feel a twinge of envy. He couldn¡¯t help but think that they held a higher ce in her heart than he did. Even slightly rough handling of the children from him would result in a scolding from her. Dissatisfaction welled up inside him, prompting him to change the subject. ¡°Benny gets hungry once during the first half of the night. I¡¯ll feed him with a bottleter. You can watch over him during the second half of the night. This way, both the godfather and the biological father will be caring for him, and he¡¯ll be even more pampered and coddled.¡± Charles, struggling to contain his amusement, chuckled and said, ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll rest for now. Just let me know when it¡¯s time to switch shifts.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. He settled onto the adjacent bed, covered himself with a thin nket, and drifted off into slumber effortlessly. Cedrick stole a nce at Charles¡¯ slumbering form before checking the time on his wristwatch. It was nearly midnight. He wondered if Gwendolyn had already sumbed to sleep. It had been an eternity since they had been apart like this since being married. Would she find it unsettling? His thoughts swirled chaotically in his mind. Not long after, he realized that he had unconsciously braved through the first half of the night. A day passed, and Channing confirmed that he would meet one of the suspected masterminds on Cedrick¡¯s list to discuss a coboration. In the evening, while Cedrick and Charles stood beside Benny¡¯s hospital bed, they received an update. The text read: There¡¯s an update, boss. This person¡¯spany has no ties to the milk powder industry, and there are no illicit factories operating without proper licenses within thepany. We¡¯ve eliminated our suspicion of him for now. Cedrick¡¯s gaze deepened as he put away his phone. On the list he provided to Channing, there were four names, all of whom were suspected of involving in nefarious activities. One had been ruled out. Pondering over the situation, he ced his phone on the nightstand and carefully lifted Benedict, heading to the fully-equipped nursery next door to prepare his baby form. Meanwhile, Charles remained in the infant ward, organizing Benny¡¯s toys, diapers, and clothes. Ring! Ring! Cedrick¡¯s phone on the nightstand rang, signaling an iing call. Charles nced at it. It disyed an unknown number. Thus, he paid little attention to it, continuing his tidying of Benedict¡¯s belongings. The persistent ringing, however, grew increasingly annoying. Finally, he walked over and picked up the phone, intending to answer, only to find the call had been disconnected. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cedrick¡¯s voice came from behind him near the door. Charles turned around, holding the phone out to him. ¡°Just a moment ago, an unknown number called multiple times. Since they kept calling, I thought I¡¯d pick up and take a message for you, but they hung up.¡± The coincidence of the situation struck him. ncing at Cedrick¡¯s serious expression and sensing his disbelief, Charles added, ¡°I didn¡¯t pry or look at anything. I don¡¯t know your phone¡¯s password either. During my time at the Central Intelligence Agency, I never learned how to crack passwords. You can rest assured.¡± Only then did Cedrick step forward and ept the phone while cradling the baby in his other arm. Then, he dialed the number that had called him earlier. The call connected swiftly on the other end. After the short call, Cedrick¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°It¡¯s Channing. It seems like the mastermind has taken the bait.¡± Their gaze met, and in the quiet room, their expressions grew even more serious. Charles inquired, ¡°Do you need to embark on a mission tonight?¡± Cedrick nodded. Charles took the initiative to approach, relieving Cedrick of his hold on Benedict. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of him. You go and ensure Gwen¡¯s safety.¡± Cedrick nodded once again before turning to depart from the ward. Night draped its veil upon the world, with the symphony of chirping birds and buzzing insects filling the forest. At this moment, lights flickered within Channing¡¯s modest vi. A mere half-hour ago, he had received an invitation for coboration. The sender, aware of his involvement in Gwendolyn¡¯s kidnapping, wanted to extort a considerable sum from Cedrick. After two days of observation, they reached out to Channing. Having prepared well in advance, Channing eagerly awaited their arrival at the vi¡¯s entrance. Over an hourter, several figures emerged from the darkness, wielding shlights. As they approached the illuminated area near the vi¡¯s entrance, Channing finally saw their faces. The three men stood before him, tall and imposing. They were all d in dark-colored suits and donned sunsses. A hint of displeasure creased Channing¡¯s brow. ¡°Mr. Wendell invited me to coborate with him, yet he himself fails to appear. Instead, he sends three bodyguards to handle the situation. Isn¡¯t that rather perfunctory of him?¡± The lead bodyguard replied, ¡°This was not intentional. Mr. Wendell has pressing personal matters to attend to. When we check the hostageter, I will arrange a video call with him, and you can communicate directly.¡± A derisive smile tugged at Channing¡¯s lips. He only dares to discuss coboration over video calls. What a cowardly guy Wendell is! He¡¯s like a tortoise, always hiding in its shell. However, to establish a modicum of trust with the other party, Channing refrained from voicing his dissatisfaction. ¡°Gwendolyn is locked in the basement. However, Mr. Wendell¡¯s sudden interest in coboration tonight necessitates caution. You shall not enter the basement or approach Gwendolyn. I will merely crack the door open by a fraction for you to verify her condition.¡± The bodyguard nodded, showing understanding. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Well, what should I call you?¡± Channing inquired. ¡°I¡¯m Quintrell Olsen,¡± the man responded. With a gesture, Channing moved slightly to the side to allow the three bodyguards to enter. As they walked through the garden, Channing narrowed his eyes, observing the sunsses shielding their faces. His voice held a tinge of curiosity as he remarked, ¡°It¡¯s so dark at night around here. Are you certain you can see clearly through those sunsses?¡± Quintrell replied with confidence, ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Kron. We¡¯re ustomed to this. Our vision remains clear even with sunsses on.¡± Channing pressed his lips together. ¡°The stone path in the garden is quite bumpy. Be careful not to stumble. If you get injured, you¡¯d better not tell Mr. Wendell that I was the one who caused you harm.¡± ¡°Mr. Kron, you jest.¡± No longer interested in exchanging pleasantries, Channing took the lead and walked ahead quickly, allowing the undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation officer, who was masquerading as the housekeeper of the vi, to guide the three bodyguards. Soon, they arrived at the basement. The heavy mahogany door creaked open slightly, revealing a narrow gap around the width of a fist. Soft, dim yellow light spilled out, casting an obscure and somewhat hazy ambiance. In the center of the basement was a chair. Gwendolyn was on it, bound and gagged. Her limbs were restrained, and her head hung limply as if she was unconscious. Quintrell, the lead bodyguard, checked Gwendolyn¡¯s condition from several meters away, carefully studying her. The sunsses masked any emotion that might have been revealed in his eyes. ¡°Her hair appears immacte, and her attire is impable. There are no visible signs of injury on her person. Do you always treat your kidnapped captives so well, Mr. Kron?¡± Quintrell remarked, taking a step forward. He intended to enter the basement and get closer. However, the undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation officer who was disguised as a bodyguard blocked his path. Chapter 666 Chapter 666 ¡°Boss¡¯ orders are that no one is allowed to approach except for the man himself,¡± said Jasper, the leader of Team Nine, who was tasked with protecting Gwendolyn at the vi. He swiftly moved in, blocking the way of the group and giving Quintrell, the other party¡¯s leader, a cold and stern look. Cedrick had entrusted Gwendolyn¡¯s safety entirely to Jasper while he was away. Being in such a precarious situation, Jasper had to remain vignt at all times. Quintrell, about to touch the door, paused mid-motion and slowly retracted his hand, tucking it into his pocket. ncing at the imposing figure in front of him, Quintrell turned to Channing, his displeasure evident on his face. ¡°Mr. Kron, the house rules you have here are quite interesting. How dare a mere watchdog like him act so arrogantly?¡± Channing chuckled, dismissing hisment. ¡°Sorry, but my people only follow the rules and don¡¯t really pay attention to who they¡¯re talking to. Besides¡­ You haven¡¯t forgotten what I said earlier, have you?¡± Thenguid expression on Channing¡¯s face faded, and he warned Quintrell, ¡°If your memory is failing you, I won¡¯t mind reminding you whose territory you¡¯re treading upon. I believe that like me, Mr. Wendell won¡¯t like those who don¡¯t follow the rules, especially disobedient watchdogs.¡± The atmosphere grew cold. Quintrell¡¯s n to breach the room was busted. His gaze gradually sharpened in frustration behind his sunsses, and his fist clenched within the recesses of his pocket. Unyielding, Jasper held his ground, blocking their path. Meanwhile, Channing subtly exerted pressure from the side, effectively thwarting any of the opponent¡¯s attempts to advance. Aware of the true purpose behind his visit, Quintrell had no choice but to alter his strategy. A sudden smile adorned his countenance as he put on a facade of humility. ¡°I beg your pardon, Mr. Kron. I too am here to fulfill Mr. Wendell¡¯s task. If I¡¯ve offended you in any manner, please find it in your heart to forgive me.¡± Channing, consumed by his concern for Gwendolyn¡¯s safety, had no time to engage in a heated argument. Thoughts of Cedrick¡¯s foreboding warning echoed in his mind, sending shivers down his spine. With haste, he waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve alreadyid eyes upon her, and she¡¯s indeed Cedrick¡¯s wife. Being acquainted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s methods, you should understand that no harm cane to her while she¡¯s under my control. Kidnapping her is just for the sake of getting what I want. Go back and tell Mr. Wendell toe here personally if he wishes to coborate with me, and he should dismiss any other inappropriate notions from his mind.¡± Channing swiftly dismissed them. Quintrell, being a bodyguard under Mr. Wendell¡¯s employment, was left with no choice but to leave. ¡°I shall convey your message to him. Please ept my apologies for the disturbance.¡± He nodded respectfully, pivoting on his heels to depart the basement. The group walked through the hallway and out into the spacious courtyard. As they reached the entrance, the leading bodyguard suddenly stopped and turned his head ever so slightly, seemingly sensing something nearby. After a few seconds, he resumed his stride and departed. Deep within the dense forest, concealed like dormant beasts amidst the shadows, several ck SUVs which were emzoned with the insignia of the Federal Bureau of Investigationy in wait. Cedrick¡¯s dark eyes remained fixated on the unfolding situation. His face was barely illuminated by the ethereal glow of the moonlight, which reflected the chiseled contours of his jawline. In a chilling tone, he issued an abruptmand. ¡°Investigate them, especially the one who led the way. He¡¯s suspicious.¡± His voice carried a weighty seriousness that was clearly different from his usual tone. Neville responded with caution, ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t think so. These individuals are crafty and unlikely to expose themselves so readily. Moreover, there are only two or three of them. I believe that those individuals were sent by the other party to merely test the waters.¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze deepened as he said tly, ¡°Do as I say.¡± For reasons unbeknownst even to himself, despite their remote position and obscured view, he felt an uncanny familiarity emanating from the enigmatic leader of the bodyguards. His tone carried no me, yet his aura exuded such amanding presence that Neville couldn¡¯t help but yield. He closed his mouth and silently arranged for his subordinates to carry out the order. Swain piped up, ¡°Boss, those people don¡¯t seem friendly. Judging by Channing¡¯s attitude toward them earlier, they definitely are up to something, and my intuition tells me it might be rted to Mrs. Jenson. What if Channing¡­¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. His worry was evident, but he hesitated and didn¡¯t dare to continue. Cedrick¡¯s countenance grew as cold as ice, and his voice gradually lowered as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for Jasper¡¯s report.¡± He sneered coldly and continued, ¡°Even if Channing harbors such thoughts, he doesn¡¯t have the capability yet. Moreover, I trust Gwenny. She should be able to protect herself.¡± In the serene forest, the air hung damp and cold. Several off-road vehicles stood parked in an open expanse. They were manned by a cadre of bodyguards who were all d in ck suits, their presence an embodiment of silent vignce. As they beheld a figure approaching, they bowed in unison and spoke simultaneously in reverence. ¡°Mr. Wendell.¡± The man at the forefront removed his sunsses, revealing eyes that were deep and captivating. A sculpted nose graced his countenance, and his features were as sharp as a finely-honed de. Deep within the dimly lit basement of the vi, an atmosphere of gloom and dampness hung in the air. Following Quintrell and his group¡¯s departure, Jasper and Channing returned to the confines of the basement. Jasper¡¯s lingering tension only began to dissipate uponying eyes on Gwendolyn. Hastily, he approached her, carefully untying the tightly bound ropes that had restrained her. His voice resonated with genuine concern. ¡°Are you all right?¡± The ropes were meticulously tied, following a methodical techniquemonly employed by criminal organizations. These knots were designed to be secure and not easily undone by an average person. However, in the skilled hands of Jasper, they were nothing to him. The binding had been in ce for some time, leaving faint red marks on Gwendolyn¡¯s fair and delicate skin. A soft hiss escaped Gwendolyn¡¯s lips, prompting Jasper to exercise even greater care and tenderness in his movements. Channing rushed over and was left speechless when he saw the situation. Beads of sweat raced down his forehead. ¡°U-Uh, Mrs. Jenson¡­¡± Before leaving, Cedrick had made it clear that not a single hair of Gwendolyn¡¯s should be harmed. Who would have thought that his subordinates would tie her up with such force? If Cedrick found out about this, it would be disastrous! In a panic, he ordered his subordinates to bring the medical kit. Even if there were just a few slight red marks, they needed to be treated and erased. Jasper shot Channing a piercing re and said, ¡°Mr. Kron, although Mrs. Jenson willingly took risks by staying in this den of yours as bait, those people suddenly arrived and demanded verification in the dead of night. It not only disturbed her sleep but also¡ª¡± Channing was already at a loss. On hearing this, he became even more flustered. Hanging his head low, he searched for an excuse. ¡°Jasper,¡± Gwendolyn interjected, her voice clear. ¡°These slight marks won¡¯t cause me any harm. They will fade by tomorrow morning. It was my request for the bodyguards to tie the ropes tighter so the other party wouldn¡¯t easily notice that something was up. Besides, there¡¯s no need to inform Cedrick about this trivial matter.¡± Hermand brooked no dissent, and despite Jasper¡¯s desire to warn Channing further, he had no choice but to remain silent. Channing took advantage of the situation to say, ¡°Mrs. Jenson, you truly are a heroine among women, just like my wife. If you were to be reincarnated as a man, you would surely not be inferior to any of us!¡± He raised his thumb in admiration. Gwendolyn paid no attention to his extravagant ttery. In a t tone, she said, ¡°Although we are in a passive position, they willingly approached us for coboration. We cannot sit idly by, nor can we allow them to manipte us. When you negotiate with them, you mustn¡¯t adopt a submissive manner. Find a way to reim the upper hand.¡± Channing chuckled nervously and nodded repeatedly, agreeing with her words. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, please go upstairs and rest now. I¡¯ll quickly send a doctor to treat your wounds and check for any other injuries. Your well-being is of utmost importance. If any further mishaps ur, I won¡¯t be able to exin things when Mr. Jenson arrives.¡± After all, Cedrick was famously obsessed with protecting his wife. If he were to discover the red marks on her wrists, he would probably want to eliminate them all overnight. However, Gwendolyn stood up, and before Channing could protest, she grabbed a handful of dirt from the corner of the wall and smeared it on the small bed in the basement. She also rubbed some on her legs and arms. Channing¡¯s jaw nearly dropped at the sight of her sudden actions. Jasper was also shocked. ¡°M-Mrs. Jenson¡­¡± Gwendolyn remained calm. Smiling lightly, she said in a clear voice, ¡°Do you recall what Quintrell said? Even though I¡¯ve been held captive here, I looked clean andpletely unharmed. Quintrell may have believed that you wouldn¡¯t dare harm me, but his boss behind him might not be convinced.¡± She continued, ¡°When hees back in a few days, it will raise even more suspicion if I remain unscathed. In the art of performance, one must fully immerse oneself. So, I¡¯ll remain here for a few days, maintaining the charade and ensuring they don¡¯t detect any inconsistencies.¡± Channing grew increasingly anxious. ¡°This is not feasible! The basement is stuffy and damp, and Mr. Jenson won¡¯t spare me if he knows I left you here!¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her delicate brows, finding Channing to be quite troublesome. Channing, intimidated by her unwavering gaze, was about to leave and send a message to Cedrick when she took a step forward, blocking his path. ¡°Channing, even if Cedrick were here, he would respect my decisions. You always question my choices. It wouldn¡¯t be wise for you to go back and report everything to him, would it?¡± Her tone was calm and considerate, but the hand that was gripping his shoulder exerted a subtle pressure. Channing winced in pain. The strength of her grip was on par with the ferocity of his own wife¡¯s grip. He couldn¡¯t help but think their ferocity wasparable. Chapter 667 Chapter 667 Channing said to Gwendolyn, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll listen to you, Mrs. Jenson.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in satisfaction. She smirked and drawled, ¡°A wise choice, Mr. Kron.¡± The man shrugged and left, dejection written all over his face. Dealing with this couple is proving to be more difficult than imagined. I¡¯m taking on a huge risk to work with Cedrick from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Still, no pain, no gain. Channing collected himself and left the basement. Meanwhile, a frowning Jasper looked as though he was about to dole out more advice, only to be silenced by Gwendolyn¡¯s displeased gaze. His gaze swept across the dim, dusty basement, and he sighed before leaving. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Outside the vi, several ck cars were concealed in a dense forest some distance away. Jasper secretly called Cedrick, who was camped out in one of the vehicles. ¡°Mr. Jenson, the person who came earlier is Quintrell Olsen. He¡¯s Mr. Wendell¡¯s bodyguard, and he came to confirm with his own eyes that Channing had kidnapped Mrs. Jenson. And another thing¡­¡± He trailed off before adding, ¡°To convince Mr. Wendell, Channing tied Mrs. Jenson up and locked her in the basement.¡± As a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s Team Nine, years of training had conditioned him to be truthful with his superiors at all times. Habit spurred him to tell Cedrick the truth about Gwendolyn¡¯s situation. Everyone in the car froze and waited for Cedrick¡¯s response with bated breath. Cedrick¡¯s expression darkened. He clenched his fists so tightly that his veins bulged, and his eyes reddened with fury. He was barely reining in his temper. The man¡¯s prolonged silence told Jasper volumes about his rage. Hastily, Jasper exined, ¡°Mr. Jenson, that was Mrs. Jenson¡¯s request. She wanted to make things more believable to dispel Mr. Wendell¡¯s suspicion, so she asked to be held in the basement.¡± The exnation only worsened Cedrick¡¯s mood. He kept imagining Gwendolyn¡¯s chafed wrists from being tied up and how lonely she would feel in the dark and dirty basement. Channing! You id*ot! The car remained in pin-drop silence. Everyone dared not make a peep as Cedrick¡¯s sharp gaze landed on the vi which held Gwendolyn. Eventually, his breathing appeared to calm. He knew Gwendolyn¡¯s obstinate character all too well. Now that she hadmitted to the n, she naturally had to take certain risks to ensure their sess. Cedrick was worried about her well-being but could not pull the brakes on their n now. All he could do was to cooperate. ¡°Mr. Jenson?¡± prompted Jasper cautiously. He was even taking special care to breathe as quietly as possible. A long moment passed before Cedrick sighed almost inaudibly and said, ¡°Ensure her safety, and inform me promptly of any updates.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Jasper ended the call. Cedrick¡¯s intense gaze gradually transformed into a determined one as he instructed his men in the vehicle, ¡°Dispatch three teams to camp near the vi.¡± The motive behind his orders was obvious. In order to further solidify the act, he needed to demonstrate to Hamish that he was not only aware of Gwendolyn¡¯s abduction but also deeply troubled by it. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The only thing that changed was the increase in manpower that was utilized. He had dispatched sufficient personnel to create a humanwork around the premises. As dawn broke over the third day of Gwendolyn¡¯s captivity, streaks of sunlight peeped through the cover of the forest. Channing sprawled across a wooden chair in the hall of the vi¡¯s second floor. He smoked leisurely on a cigarette and appeared to be drifting into sleep. The chance to work with Cedrick had given him a sense of security, though he still felt uneasy about Gwendolyn¡¯s insistence on living in the basement. ¡°Mr. Kron!¡± The sudden cry surprised Channing into dropping his cigarette. He whirled around and saw his subordinate rushing over. With a fierce re, Channing roared, ¡°Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m resting?¡± The man lowered his head and reported, ¡°Mr. Wendell sent some men here, Mr. Kron.¡± Channing froze in the middle of rising from his seat and frowned. ¡°He didn¡¯t show up? Again? It¡¯ll be tough to get the man here if he¡¯s still sending his subordinates now.¡± He smirked and scoffed. Mr. Wendell¡¯s really ying up his mysterious persona. He still refuses to show up at this juncture. Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s because he¡¯s a hideous ogre. Meanwhile, three expressionless, suit-d men stood in the vi¡¯s living room. When Channing arrived, one of them said, ¡°Mr. Wendell sent us to negotiate with you, Mr. Kron.¡± Channing sank into the couch and replied sneeringly, ¡°Negotiate? Please! I gave him proof of that woman¡¯s kidnapping, but he refuses to show up. He clearly has no intention to cooperate with me.¡± He leisurely poured himself some coffee and added provocatively, ¡°You should know that the person in my basement now is none other than Cedrick Jenson¡¯s precious wife!¡± Quintrell, the head of Hamish¡¯s representatives, sat opposite Channing uninvited and dered, ¡°Let¡¯s not grumble over such small matters, Mr. Kron. Mr. Wendell is already being extremely sincere by sending us here.¡± As he spoke, he ced his hands on the coffee table and slowly leaned toward Channing, caging the latter in. ¡°The Federal Bureau of Investigation has this vi surrounded for the past three days. Even a bird couldn¡¯t fly out of this ce unscathed, Mr. Kron. It can¡¯t feel great to be a captive here yourself, can it?¡± Quintrell even smirked arrogantly for good measure. His sunsses concealed his sharp, calcting gaze. Little did he know that the vi waspletely under Cedrick¡¯s control, inside and out. Channing replied calmly, ¡°You seem to know my situation very well.¡± Arching a brow, Quintrell retorted, ¡°Everyone knows about your dilemma. No one will dare to set foot here. Only Mr. Wendell is helping you. Aren¡¯t you interested in his proposal?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Quintrell puffed up conceitedly and ordered his bodyguard to pour him some coffee. He slowly took a sip before saying, ¡°You kidnapped Cedrick¡¯s woman for a small ransom, but s, he doesn¡¯t seem bothered even though so much time has passed. He even has this ce surrounded now. Don¡¯t you see how stupid your n is?¡± His lips curled into a contemptuous smile. Upon noticing Channing¡¯s darkening expression, he continued, ¡°Gwendolyn¡¯s not an easy opponent. Cedrick isn¡¯t worried about her safety at all. So, to seize his Achilles heel, you need his son. Once you have the boy under your grip, wouldn¡¯t you naturally have Cedrick wrapped around your finger, Mr. Kron?¡± Quintrell sounded incredibly pleased with his suggestion. Channing stared at the man while fiddling with the ceramic coffee cup in his hand. Suddenly, he scoffed and said, ¡°I may look like a small-time crook eyeing Cedrick¡¯s wealth, but I¡¯m no fool. Mr. Wendell has always been a proud man and never reveals his face to anyone. Now, he¡¯s offering to work with someone beneath his league like me and ordering me to kidnap Cedrick¡¯s son. Isn¡¯t he just trying to use my hands for some shady business?¡± Here, he paused for several seconds before probing, ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me in on his true intention?¡± Quintrell¡¯s expression instantly darkened as he spat, ¡°That¡¯s not something you¡¯re privy to. We each have our own goals in this deal while sharing the risk. Isn¡¯t that satisfactory enough for you, Mr. Kron?¡± Instead of replying, Channing waved his hand, summoning Jasper toward him. Jasper, disguised as a bodyguard, had stood close by during the exchange. Now, he dutifully approached Channing for his instructions. ¡°What do you think of his n?¡± asked Channing. Jasper pretended to mull over the proposal. In truth, half his attention was on the earpiece in his right ear. Cedrick¡¯s voice drifted through the earpiece, ¡°Agree with him.¡± Hamish had identally shown his hand by suggesting Channing kidnap Benedict. It was nothing as simple as skimming some benefits off of Cedrick. He must have something to do with the milk powder contamination case. ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t think we can oust Cedrick¡¯s men anyway. It¡¯s time to change our strategy,¡± replied Jasper with a nod. Channing agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± Approving ps came from Quintrell, whomented, ¡°This isn¡¯t the nicest thing to say, but Mr. Kron, your subordinates seem to have a clearer view of your situation than you do.¡± Channing nced at Jasper and pondered a suitable reply. He surmised Cedrick¡¯s reason for agreeing to Hamish¡¯s request and said, ¡°It was thanks to my subordinates that we managed to kidnap Mrs. Jenson. He¡¯s a capable fellow, and I merely knew talent when I saw it. You can discuss the other details of your n with him directly.¡± A hundred meters away from the vi, Cedrick listened to the men¡¯s ns, conveniently masterminded by Jasper, to kidnap Benedict under the cover of the dense forest. Night fell over Grand Valley Hospital in Salinsburgh. Few people were milling about the hospital grounds at that hour. Charles was one of them. He sighed as he kept watch over Benedict, who was sleeping soundly in a crib. I wonder how Gwendolyn¡¯s doing after literally throwing herself to the wolves. His phone on the bedside table vibrated with an iing call, and he answered the call, which came from Cedrick. ¡°How¡¯s Benny?¡± Cedrick¡¯s exhaustion was palpable through his tone. Charles replied, ¡°Everything¡¯s okay. I¡¯m with him, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Okay. Someone¡¯s going to the hospital to kidnap Benny tonight. I need you to make some preparations and get in on the act¡­¡± ¡°Kidnap Benny?¡± Charles narrowed his gaze in surprise. Chapter 668 Chapter 668 The VIP level of Grand Valley Hospital experienced an unprecedented silence at midnight. In the dimly lit ward, the lights flickered and abruptly went out, enveloping the area in darkness. A momentary chaos ensued on the floor, but soon after, the power was restored. In response, a group of nurses hurriedly rushed to the VIP level and entered various wards. The police officer standing watch outside Benedict¡¯s ward was just about to end his shift. The unusual commotion raised his interest, and he asked an approaching nurse, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why do you need to enter the ward at this time?¡± The young nurse exined anxiously, ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice the power outage earlier? Please let me in. I need to re-calibrate all the equipment in the ward. It¡¯s urgent! It could put the patient¡¯s life at risk.¡± The police officer acquiesced to her request considering the urgency of the situation. There were no visitors in the ward. The nurse closed the door and identified her target, ignoring the beeping of the malfunctioning monitoring equipment. She dashed to the crib and grabbed the baby, still swaddled in his nkets. At the window, she hesitated briefly instead of escaping. Her assessing gaze roved across the ward. Why is everything different from my earlier rehearsal? No one is keeping watch. This is happening far too smoothly. Just then, rm bells rang throughout the hospital, followed by an announcement, ¡°There¡¯s a thief in the hospital! Someone is taking advantage of the chaos after the power outage tomit a robbery. All staff, please be on alert!¡± All the lights came on, leaving the nurse no time to think. She hurriedly jumped out of the window and darted into a nearby alley with her young hostage. Someone was already waiting for her in the alley. Thus, she dashed into a waiting car and made a quick escape. Sometimeter, the men waiting at the secluded vi heard some noise from the front door and stood up expectantly. Quintrell, who still wore his sunsses despite thete hour, smiled and asked, ¡°Do you have the baby?¡± The nurse, who was actually his subordinate in disguise, nodded and handed the baby over. ¡°Not bad. Mr. Kron, you didn¡¯t believe me when I told you, you were wasting half your money on your subordinates. You still need my people to finish thest step.¡± As he spoke, Quintrell carefully cradled the baby and smiled tenderly. ¡°Darling baby, do you know how worried your dad must be right now? I would pay a million to see his expression right now.¡± As soon as he spoke, his smile froze in ce the moment he lifted the nkets. Quintrell¡¯s gaze burned with fury in a matter of seconds. He raised his leg and kicked his subordinate, demanding, ¡°What is this? Were you carrying out your mission like some brainless robot?¡± Taken by surprise, his subordinate fell to the ground. She had been expecting some praise for her work and instead seemed horrified. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t make a mistake.¡± ¡°Take a good look at what you¡¯ve brought back!¡± The nkets fell to the ground and out rolled a fake baby doll. The unease that struck her earlier returned. It was a trap! She stammered, ¡°W-We sent people in to confirm this earlier. They did see that Newton fellow move the baby to this ward¡­¡± ¡°Excuses!¡± A frightening expression appeared on Quintrell¡¯s face, and his subordinate kept her head lowered. She pleaded repeatedly for mercy, but he waved some men forward and ordered, ¡°Take her away.¡± s, her anguished pleas fell on deaf ears as she was dragged away. Channing stood aside quietly and fiddled with the bangle on his hand. He finally spoke up for the first time that night. ¡°I said it before. My men are only responsible for creating an opportunity for your men to infiltrate. What happens after is none of my business.¡± Despite his wooden expression, his tone betrayed his expectations that the kidnapping would fail. He yawned slowly and clicked his tongue before muttering, ¡°Comining about the caliber of my men when your men also fell for his tricks? I wonder if you¡¯d get to keep your head when Mr. Wendell finds out about this.¡± Quintrell turned around and shot Channing a piercing gaze. ¡°Hmph, why should we be scared? We still have a trump card on our hands.¡± He straightened out his clothes and slowly stretched his neck. ¡°Our lovely Mrs. Jenson must still be waiting in the basement. Let me check on her.¡± Jasper hurriedly stopped him and said coldly, ¡°Quintrell, let me remind you that Mr. Kron was the one who kidnapped Mrs. Jenson. She has nothing to do with you. Don¡¯t try to have any designs on her because you failed to find yourself another hostage.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The capable subordinate was rapidly bing an eyesore to Quintrell. He argued, ¡°Mr. Kron, we¡¯ve already poked the ho¡¯s nest. If we don¡¯t make use of Mrs. Jenson now, you¡¯ll lose your opportunity for a pretty penny.¡± Channing shook his head and warned, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ve lostplete faith in you after this failure. If you still desire a partnership, you¡¯ll need to invite Mr. Wendell down in person.¡± Even Quintrell knew that his humiliating failure would be difficult to forgive without Hamish¡¯s personal involvement. He eventually nodded in agreement after a prolonged staredown with Channing. ¡°Fine.¡± He dialed Hamish¡¯s number, and the line connected quickly. Subsequently, a brash, masculine voice drifted through the receiver. Quintrell barely managed to exin the events that happened earlier before Hamish interjected crudely, ¡°A bunch of losers! Get Cedrick on the line now. His woman is in our hands now; I bet he hasn¡¯t slept a wink in days!¡± Channing dutifully dialed Cedrick¡¯s number and put the call on loudspeaker. A man¡¯s calm, deep voice rang out. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson, have you been tossing and turning in your sleep since your wife went missing?¡± Cedrick feigned distress and pleaded, ¡°Let her go. We can talk about this.¡± A wicked cackle escaped Hamish, who drawled, ¡°Asking for her immediate release? How boring. Missing your wife, aren¡¯t you, Mr. Jenson? Would you like her arm or her leg? Why don¡¯t I send one of them over tonight?¡± Even though he knew Hamish was boasting and that Gwendolyn was safe, Cedrick was still infuriated by the man¡¯s taunting. I¡¯ll sh him to pieces once I get my hands on him. Cedrick knew he had to keep up his act until they had truly reeled Hamish into their trap. ying the part of a worried husband, he asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± Hamish scoffed and replied, ¡°Dear Mr. Jenson, you and your wife are worth hundreds of billions, but I¡¯m only asking for thirty billion. Oh, and resign from your post in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That¡¯s not too much to ask, is it?¡± Silence ensued, prompting Hamish to say, ¡°We¡¯ll meet in person to verify the terms of this deal. See you at ten in the morning tomorrow at Broadbay Hill. You muste alone.¡± His tone turned downright eerie as he added, ¡°Otherwise, Gwendolyn will be losing more than just her limbs.¡± The phone call ended abruptly. A series of mechanical beeps were the only audible sounds in Cedrick¡¯s car. Neville and Swain exchanged a nce before rubbing their fists together. ¡°Boss, that snake is finally showing himself. We¡¯ll make sure to capture him alive tomorrow!¡± Instead of replying, Cedrick sighed to himself in relief. Fishing out the mastermind behind the milk powder contamination case lifted a hefty weight off his shoulders. He nced at his subordinates and asked, ¡°You make it sound so easy. We need thirty billion in cold hard cash tomorrow. Are you going to prepare that for me?¡± A dumbfounded Swain replied, ¡°Wait a minute, Boss. Are you asking us to donate our sry? Are you really that poor?¡± The question earned him some eye-rolling from Neville, who chided, ¡°You id*ot, we¡¯re meeting him tomorrow morning! The banks are already closed. Where can we find so much money? We¡¯ll need everyone¡¯s help at the headquarters tonight.¡± Cedrick looked up at the dark sky. A different hypothesis was forming in his mind. His investigations had revealed Hamish¡¯s close ties to the milk powder contamination case, and the latter¡¯s instructions to kidnap Benedict only made him more suspicious. The sudden proposal to use Gwendolyn for ransom raised Cedrick¡¯s guard. Is he really after my money? It almost feels too easy. It can¡¯t be as straightforward as it seems. As that thought crossed his mind, Cedrick¡¯s gaze darkened, and he ordered, ¡°I want both of you to each lead a team tomorrow morning. Also, arrange for additional guards at Grand Valley Hospital and Harrick Vi.¡± With Hamish¡¯s objectives unclear, Cedrick could not afford to allow the man any opportunity to harm his son. Meanwhile, messy footsteps sounded outside the basement of the vi that held Gwendolyn captive. Channing raised his phone as he approached the basement and instructed coldly, ¡°Open the door.¡± Chains jangled before the heavy door was pushed open. Creak. The heavy cloud of dust caused some of the men with Channing to cough violently. Channing angled his phone so that it captured the situation in the basement for the man on the other end of the video call. The camera soonnded on Gwendolyn, whoy in a lifeless heap on the bed, looking like a filthy, abandoned corpse. Still, the dust and grime could not detract from her beauty. ¡°Is she dead?¡± asked Hamish on the other end of the line. ¡°Of course not. She¡¯s worthless if she¡¯s dead. I can¡¯t let her ruin my n.¡± Channing tilted his jaw toward Jasper and deliberately barked, ¡°Check on her!¡± Gwendolyn was roughly pulled up from the bed by the cor of her shirt. Her eyes opened weakly into slits. Hamish remained silent for a long while as he appeared to scrutinize Gwendolyn¡¯s condition. Satisfied, he said, ¡°Not bad. Remember to give her some water and keep her alive.¡± He hung up, and Channing¡¯s expression immediately flipped into one of concern. Gone was Channing¡¯s earlier ferocity as he uttered, ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot, Mrs. Jenson.¡± Chapter 669 Chapter 669 Gwendolyn gave a careless wave of her hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°The trade-off has been set for ten o¡¯clock tomorrow morning, so you¡¯ll have to be patient for a little longer. Mr. Wendell demanded thirty billion to agree to meet with Mr. Jenson in person.¡± ¡°He finally caved. At least everything I¡¯ve gone through these past few days hasn¡¯t been in vain. Bind me tightly tomorrow. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to restrain myself from tearing him into a million pieces.¡± Her expression darkened as she spoke. How dare he harm innocent babies. Even if I were to stab his body a thousand times, I¡¯d still think he deserved it! Over on Broadbay Hill, the thick canopy of trees obstructed the view of the sky and blocked out any light. The air was so hot and humid that it almost felt suffocating. Hamish¡¯s bodyguards brought Gwendolyn to the mountain range before it was even dawn. As they started preparing for Cedrick¡¯s arrival, they left her, all trussed up, on a bare bed frame inside a shabby wooden cabin. Sweat mingled with dust ran down her face. Propped against the headboard, she had her eyes closed, looking drained and weary. Meanwhile, Jasper stood silently on one side and asionally nced at the watch on his wrist. It was almost time. Two coughs sounded, some rustling, then heavy footsteps approached. ¡°Hahaha! Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Kron. Sure enough, now that we finally meet, I can see you¡¯re no ordinary person indeed.¡± No one walked through the door. Instead, a big, protruding belly first came into view, then a fierce- looking face wearing a sinister smile. After Channing heard that remark, his lips twitched. He had no idea what to say in response. ¡°I can¡¯t compare to you, Mr. Wendell. You¡¯re truly¡­ just like everything I¡¯ve heard about you. You¡¯re known far and wide.¡± In truth, the fat man before him was nothing like the intelligent Mr. Wendell in the rumors. The man walked over and extended a hand politely. ¡°Hamish Wendell.¡± At that moment, there was a knock on the wooden door. ¡°Who is it?¡± Channing¡¯s guard went up instinctively. Quintrell, who had been sitting across from him, stood up and exined in a light tone, ¡°Oh, I forgot to tell you that Mr. Wendell has set up an ambush nearby to prevent anything from interrupting the trade- off. That¡¯s just someone here to report to me on the progress.¡± The expression on Channing¡¯s face froze, and he asked solemnly, ¡°I see you¡¯re a man of action, Mr. Wendell. What sort of ambush is it?¡± As he spoke, he shot Jasper a look out of the corner of his eye. I hope Mr. Jenson hears this and ns some preemptive measures. His question elicited a cackle from Hamish. ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯ve set up ambushes at the foot of the mountain and at the top. My subordinates have done a very thorough job.¡± Channing gasped quietly, thinking that they could all meet their end that day if they were unlucky. The clock¡¯s second hand ticked away steadily, moving to point toward the top of the dial. At ten o¡¯clock sharp, they heard the sound of a car engine outside, followed by a deep, firm voice saying, ¡°The thirty billion is inside the car. I¡¯ve delivered it on the dot. The documents for my resignation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation have also been prepared and will be submitted today. Hence, please keep your end of the deal.¡± Cedrick stood in front of the wooden cabin and surveyed his surroundings. It would make sense to hear the sound of insects buzzing and birds chirping while on the mountain. However, he noticed there was no other sound at all when he spoke. That could only mean that there were many people in the vicinity. Inside the cabin, Hamish stretched his plump hands toward Gwendolyn with a greedy look in his eyes. ¡°Did you hear that? Your husband is here. Do you think he¡¯d like to see me and you¡ª¡± Seeing that his hand was about to touch Gwendolyn, Jasper grabbed him by his wrist and interrupted, ¡°Mr. Wendell, we should get down to business.¡± Hamish clicked his tongue impatiently and was about to fly into a temper when he inadvertently caught sight of Gwendolyn with her eyes tightly shut. Her eyshes were trembling slightly. Pushing Jasper away, he pulled her up forcefully. ¡°ying dead, are you? Come on. Go out and see that husband of yours!¡± He gripped the rope tying Gwendolyn¡¯s wrists together as he spoke and dragged her out of the cabin. Cackling wildly, he said, ¡°Look at your wife, Cedrick! Look at how filthy she has be after being kidnapped for a few days. How can she be worthy of you? Why don¡¯t you give her to my subordinates?¡± Cedrick gazed at Gwendolyn from afar. She looked weak and fragile, almost like a piece of paper pinched between Hamish¡¯s fingers. A pang shot through his heart as though a thorn had pierced him. Even though he knew what Hamish said was untrue, his eyes reddened. It concealed the terrifyingly cold and hard look in them. ¡°You¡¯d better know what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯ve brought what you wanted, so return her to me now,¡± he uttered, practically squeezing the words out through gritted teeth. Despite everything that was going on around him, his focus was solely on Gwendolyn¡¯s frail figure. He seemed worried she would disappear in the blink of an eye. Wearing an amiable expression, Hamish replied, ¡°Sure. I can give her to you. However, since we¡¯ve had the chance to meet today, let¡¯s have some fun.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Cedrick replied without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re agreeing to it just like that?¡± Instantly bing excited, Hamish flicked his right hand and tossed a dagger at Cedrick¡¯s feet. ¡°Rumor has it that you¡¯re quite skilled, and nobody has ever been able to get as much as a scratch on you. However, I think it¡¯s possible if you do it yourself.¡± Then, he broke into maniacalughter. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You can¡¯t bring yourself to do it? As long as I see you bleed, I¡¯ll let your wife walk toward you.¡± Cedrick bent down, slowly picked up the dagger, and unsheathed it. The de glittered dangerously. ¡°Do it! Are you afraid? I heard that you love your wife as much as your own life, but it appears that¡¯s not the case. As it turns out, you don¡¯t think her life is as important as yours.¡± Hamish looked disdainful. He was certain Cedrick would not cut himself. Cedrick stared at the sharp dagger, determination etched across his face. It seemed as though he was wondering where to start. He pointed the dagger at his wrist resolutely and drew it across his skin. Soon, droplets of blood began to fall onto the dry leaves on the ground. Gwendolyn¡¯s breath caught in her throat, and she stared at him in bewilderment. He knows I¡¯m just putting on an act! What on earth is he doing? How dare he hurt himself? Is he asking for trouble? In contrast to her shock and anguish, Hamish was grinning smugly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. Go on.¡± Even with his arm stained with blood, Cedrick remained expressionless as though he did not feel the pain. Taking advantage of when Hamish was distracted, he swiftly threw the sharp dagger right at Hamish. ¡°Ahh!¡± Hamish let out a cry of pain, and his hand that had been holding Gwendolyn¡¯s wrist started bleeding profusely. Without wasting a moment, Gwendolyn seized the opportunity to kick with all her might, knocking Hamish aside. Using the force from the kick, she rolled once over the thickyer of dried leaves. When she got up, the rope around her hands was gone. Almost simultaneously, several people rushed out from behind the surrounding trees. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Moving lightly and gracefully, she sent them scattering in different directions with a few deft strikes. Then, she used the rope to whip the attackers hard. No one could get close to her. In fact, several men in suits were practically incapable of retaliating and ended up lying motionless on the ground. She breathed a sigh of relief after taking them down, and a wave of satisfaction washed over her. After holding in my emotions for several days, I finally got revenge. Behind her, Channing and his men quickly subdued Hamish¡¯s subordinates, capturing every one of them in less than fifteen minutes. ¡°Search the mountain. Root out everyone who¡¯s still hiding,¡± Cedrick called out. Numerous figures suddenly dispersed and disappeared into the woods. Fraught with worry, Gwendolyn hurried over to him and examined his injury. She was so upset that her eyes were brimming with tears. ¡°Why did you listen to him? Why did you hurt yourself?¡± Cedrick chuckled lightly,ughing it off. There was a tender look in his dark eyes as he replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a tiny cut. I¡¯ll exin it to youter, okay?¡± His heart broke as he gazed at the dirty and disheveled woman before him. During these few days that I haven¡¯t seen her, I haven¡¯t been able to sleep. She was forced to endure a terrible time in that basement, so I must do something. At least by suffering a little, I can make up for what she went through the past few days. Only in that way will I feel a little better. Guessing what was running through his mind, she pinched his handsome face in displeasure. ¡°If you want to suffer so badly, I¡¯ll give it to you good after we get back. I¡¯ll make you endure the most unforgettable punishment.¡± Chapter 670 Chapter 670 ¡°I¡¯ve even hurt myself. Please forgive me, Darling,¡± pleaded Cedrick in a soft voice. Not bothered about the dirt on Gwendolyn¡¯s body, he pulled her into his embrace. He even wished he could envelop her body in his own so they would forever be inseparable. Being able to embrace her warm body and listen to her heartbeat, Cedrick gradually regained his composure. Gwendolyn sighed. Wrapping her arms around the man¡¯s waist, she deeply inhaled the reassuring scent of his body. On the ground, Hamish was yelling away and making a fuss, almost like a pig waiting to be ughtered. It took Jasper much effort to tie him up. He then lifted his head and saw the couple cuddling each other tightly a distance away. As much as he did not want to ruin the atmosphere, he had no choice but to do so. ¡°Mr. Jenson¡­¡± Cedrick let go of Gwendolyn and held her hand as they walked over. His gaze grew sharp at once as it landed on Hamish. He bent down, drew out his gun, and pointed it at Hamish¡¯s chin. ¡°You used the milk powder contamination incident to harm the wealthy families¡¯ babies. What exactly is your motive?¡± Hamish refused to answer no matter what. A brief momentter, he seemingly fell into a daze, and his gaze gradually turned unfocused. ¡°This is bad!¡± Jasper hastily pried open his mouth to take a look. ¡°He must¡¯ve taken poison when he screamed so wildly just now. Should we send him to the hospital immediately for emergency treatment?¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°By the way he looks, it must be a deadly poison. That¡¯s typical of what the underworld gangs would do, especially to higher-ups who hold top secrets. There¡¯s no way to revive him.¡± The other bodyguards of Hamish, who were not too far away, were all seized. But since they were only butckeys, Cedrick figured he would not get a single shred of information from them. The man swept his gaze across the faces of those bodyguards, and upon sensing something amiss, he uttered, ¡°Where¡¯s the head of the bodyguard who always turns up for negotiations? Why isn¡¯t he around?¡± Realization dawned on Channing. ¡°Quintrell? He¡¯s in the house. He was still trying to resist when the fight broke out earlier, so my subordinate knocked him unconscious.¡± Cedrick strode into the house and flipped the ck-suited bodyguard, who was lying unconsciously on the ground, over to take a look. After removing that bodyguard¡¯s shades, he looked closely at him and uttered in a solemn tone, ¡°This guy isn¡¯t Quintrell.¡± Those words took Channing aback. ¡°How is that possible? Mr. Jenson, he¡¯s only but a mere bodyguard. Why don¡¯t we put the word out there that Mr. Wendell is still alive and capture a few more useful people to get more scoop?¡± Cedrick shook his head. For some reason, he felt that something was off. ording to the investigation report Swain gave mest night, Quintrell is the most skilled among Mr. Wendell¡¯s bodyguards and holds a high status. His whereabouts are often unpredictable and untraceable. He searched the body, who he believed was obviously Quintrell¡¯s substitute. Then, he nced at the chubby Hamish lying outside the house. The puzzlement within him grew exponentially. Cedrick¡¯s hunch told him there had to be more to the matter than meets the eye. Even a bodyguard has a fall guy, yet Mr. Wendell is dead just like that? Judging from what happened earlier, Mr. Wendell is poles apart from his rumored cold-blooded image. On the other hand, this head of bodyguard seems more like that. Cedrick searched the deceased¡¯s pockets and felt something with defined edges. It turned out to be a neatly folded piece of paper. He was about to pull it out of the pocket when he furrowed his brows and raised his head. ¡°Mr. Kron, you should know the rules well since you¡¯re from the underworld too, like Mr. Wendell. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s easier for you to do certain things. Since there¡¯s nothing much here, why don¡¯t you go and help my subordinates?¡± Channing dared not disobey Cedrick¡¯s order. After all, he even had to behave adequately in front of any of the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s members, let alone Cedrick. Afraid he would be held ountable for his inefficiency, Channing quickly nodded in servility. ¡°I¡¯ll go right away!¡± Soon, the room fell back into silence. After Channing¡¯s departure, Cedrick took out the square-shaped object. Upon opening it, he realized it was a note. The piece of paper was clean and neatly folded, forming a stark contrast with the chaotic scene. It was clear that was something prepared in advance. What goes around,es around. Your tactics are bizarre, like always. But this time, you¡¯ll definitely be defeated at the hands of mine. ¡ªJoe Landon Joe, pseudonym Hamish Wendell. A familiar yet devilish face emerged before Cedrick¡¯s eyes. Staring at that familiar handwriting and name on the note, Cedrick descended into deep thought. The memories he had sealed for a long time were gradually awakened. Cedrick and Joe used to be one of the best figures in the military but belonged to different war zones. During a joint exercise, Joe took the opportunity to dere his doubts about Cedrick attaining the title of the king of the military and thus called for a showdown. Cedrick readily agreed. The twopeted in all aspects, including agility, knowledge, and group combat skills. Unfortunately, Cedrick outdid Joe in the final results. As someone who had always been arrogant and self-proimed that he was outstandingly talented, Joe was unwilling to admit defeat. As such, he continuously called for more challenges and battles. The two eventually grew closer to each other after many rounds of showdown. Theyter worked together and becamerades, and that caused a temporary sensation. However, the fire in Horington afterward changed everything. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Foreign rebels disguised themselves among the citizens and caused chaos, resulting in bloodshed everywhere. Cedrick and Joe fought separately, but Cedrick learned of the devastating news shortly after¡ªa fire broke out at the battlefield where Joe was fighting. He hurried to the scene without further dy, but all that was left was ashes and a raging fire. Subsequently, Joe¡¯s name was never mentioned again. Judging from the familiar tone in this note and the handwriting that I remember¡­ Cedrick was certain that it was him. ¡°Hubby, did you find anything?¡± As Gwendolyn stepped into the house, a faint scent of disinfectant permeated the air. After the apanying doctor arrived a moment ago, she cleaned herself with the cleaning tools. Her complexion was now smooth and bright, and having changed into fresh clothes, she regained her usual attractiveness. ¡°Channing¡¯s men are searching through the bodies outside. Hamish¡¯s body is in a terrible condition after being rummaged by them. It¡¯s truly¡­¡± Her brows scrunched together as she spoke. She could not help but retch at the thought of the horrid sight. Cedrick had his right hand clenched into a fist. Upon sensing her approaching footsteps, he hid the note away. He got up slowly and walked over to caress her face. He grabbed her hand and headed out of the house. ¡°Where¡¯s Neville and Swain? Have they not wrapped up? Ask them toe and see me,¡± said the man to the police officer at the side after taking a deep breath. The empty groundy full of unconscious casualties. Some, who had to be taken care of on the spot, had already been given a thorough body search. It was easy to tell that it was the work of Channing¡¯s subordinates. At the sight of Cedrick, Channing rushed over to im credit with a solemn expression. ¡°Mr. Jenson, my men and I have done our best. Hamish is an extremely cunning man. There¡¯s no useful information on his body at all. We¡¯vebed through every corner of his stronghold, but there¡¯s also nothing. It seems that his men have all run for their lives after the death of their boss.¡± Right then, Swain also came over to report his findings. ¡°Boss, all the people lying in ambush on the mountain have been found. There¡¯s a total of one hundred and thirty of them. We¡¯ve sent them back for custody. Also, we¡¯ve found five hidden skilled assassins. They sustained severe injuries while fleeing but no one¡¯s in danger. What should we do next?¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°Good. You¡¯ll be in charge of this matter, then. Go back and continue with the investigations. Also, proceed with the search for the fugitives on the name list. Where¡¯s Neville?¡± Chapter 671 Chapter 671 ¡°He led some men to the mountain to clear the mines, but strangely there was none. Only some old and useless bombs were dug up.¡± Gwendolyn heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°It seems that they were just trying to scare us with their words. When I heard it, I really thought he was going to drag us to hell with him¡­¡± As she spoke, her eyes reddened. Her near-death encounter still sent a chill down her spine. Cedrick empathized with her, knowing she was worried about his safety as well as those of his men. He patted her back gently to console her. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know exactly how great are the soldiers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A trivial matter like this is just a piece of cake to them.¡± Right then, they heard footsteps approaching and lifted their heads at once. It was Jasper. ¡°Mr. Jenson, the transportation for the return trip has been arranged. When are we leaving?¡± Gwendolyn was looking forward to going home after being away for so many days because Benedict was still in the hospital. Although Charles had been taking good care of Benedict day and night, Gwendolyn needed to see her baby in order to be assured that he was well. Otherwise, she could not put her mind at ease. She had thought about Benedict, Zendaya, and Cedrick when she was locked up in the basement of Channing¡¯s vi. She had drawn strength from her loved ones to help her survive those difficult times. Now that I think about it, I bet the two little darlings must have missed me terribly too! Cedrick caught a nce of her expression and instantly knew that she missed her children. He quickly instructed, ¡°Do a round of headcount now, and we¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± He then hugged his wife and walked her out of the deserted house. On the way back, there were four identical cars lining up in a straight line, dutifully monitoring the surroundings to ensure their safety. It was not a short drive to travel from the suburb back to the city center. In addition, the journey was also very bumpy. Gwendolyn looked out the window and stared at the unchangingndscape of the mountains. Soon, drowsiness set in, and she could not help but yawn. Cedrick looked at Gwendolyn and noticed that her usually dazzling side profile now looked weary. He felt bad and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Take a short nap, Darling,¡± he said while patting her. Gwendolyn slowly closed her eyes and nestled in his arms. She felt so relieved as he hugged her waist. ¡°You get some rest too.¡± She dozed off as soon as she said that. She was truly exhausted. Cedrick looked out the window vigntly. Even though his eyes were all red from staying up for several nights, he dared not let his guard down. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. The return trip was too far and too long. Most parts of the first half of the journey were bare mountain roads. It was hard to set up any defense against the enemies. Everyone must be alert at all times. From that day¡¯s incident, Cedrick could almost confirm that Joe had made a narrow escape from the fire back then. He had since racked his brains to scheme and set up numerous obstacles for Cedrick. Although Joe did not kill anyone, he still caused a huge mess. Cedrick was unsure of Joe¡¯s ulterior motives. Since they wererades in the past, Cedrick prayed hard that Joe was not the mastermind behind the milk powder contamination incident. However, it¡¯s hard to fathom a person¡¯s mind. How many people can remain unchanged over the years? It was already evening by the time they got back to Grand Valley Hospital. The ward was illuminated by the rays of the setting sun. Cedrick and Gwendolyn went to visit Benedict right away. He was sleeping soundly, unaware of any of the recent scary events. As if he was connected to his parents telepathically, Benedict opened his eyes upon sensing Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze. He smiled the moment he saw her. Gwendolyn beamed with delight. Her gaze was fixated on the baby. She was totally fascinated by him andpletely oblivious to the fact that someone next to her was staring at her intently. It was Charles. She¡¯s only been gone for a couple of days, and she has lost quite a bit of weight. She looks exhausted. It must be hard and tiring out there¡­ Cedrick was standing right behind Gwendolyn, so he caught the expression on Charles¡¯ face. His face darkened, and he cleared his throat to express his displeasure. Charles seemed to have heard nothing and continued staring at Gwendolyn until he noticed some bruises on her neck. He got up and approached her, asking, ¡°Gwen, what happened?¡± Gwendolyn was taken aback for a moment. She followed Charles¡¯ gaze and looked down, gently touching her neck. Did Cedrick do something to me when I fell asleep in the car just now? She cast a reproachful nce at the silent man standing by her side, but she never expected Charles to misinterpret her action. He narrowed his blue eyes and said in an unhappy tone, ¡°Mr. Jenson, you promised me you would take good care of her, but you failed to do so and caused her to get hurt. Is this how you treat her?¡± Cedrick pursed his lips and did not bother to exin himself, his gaze cold and indifferent. After casting a nce at both men, Gwendolyn looked at Benedict again. She sighed and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a small injury. It¡¯s not worth arguing over.¡± Charles lowered his gaze. When he saw that she was hurt, his possessive alter-ego nearly got the better of him. ¡°As a husband, the person you trust the most, he has failed to protect you well and caused you harm. I just feel bad for you.¡± At that moment, Gwendolyn recalled something. I think I got injured when I was locked up in Channing¡¯s basement. The repeated movement of the coarse rope rubbing against my clothes has caused a friction burn and left a stabbing pain in my neck. Gwendolyn had been so tense the past few days. She was worried that she might drag everyone down with her. Plus, she wanted to hide it from Cedrick. That was why she had forgotten about the injury after a while. She quickly exined, ¡°I¡¯m really fine. There were too many mosquitoes in the woods, and some bites can be as big as an egg. I identally scratched it. All right, I¡¯m really sleepy now. I want to get some rest.¡± As she spoke, she stole a nce at Cedrick and was caught by him. She swiftly averted her gaze and pretended to look very sleepy. She covered her mouth and yawned. ¡°Please help me watch over Benny for a while. I¡¯m heading to the room next door to get some shut-eye.¡± Her slender figure disappeared into the doorway. It was only then that the two men in the ward retracted their gazes in unison. When faced with Cedrick¡¯s intimidating stare, Charles lowered his gaze in disappointment. ¡°I¡¯ve acted rashly, but I have no other intentions. I just can¡¯t see her getting hurt.¡± ¡°I know. Thanks.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Charles was stunned. Did he just thank me? ¡°I meant to say thanks for helping me and Gwendolyn take care of Benny so well over the past few days. Without your help, I¡¯m afraid things would have gone haywire.¡± Cedrick strode toward the crib. When he looked at Benedict¡¯s innocent and adorable face, he could not help but tease him with a plushy. Although Cedrick was upset that Charles had feelings for Gwendolyn, he would not be at ease to have another person look after Benedict besides the child¡¯s godfather. ¡°Oh, by the way, why did someone want to kidnap Bennyst night? What on earth is going on?¡± Charles asked, looking serious upon recalling the matter. Time had been short then, so Cedrick could only inform Charles about the task briefly. Charles had been asked to transfer Benedict to the nursery next door in the presence of a nurse intern. He also had to substitute the baby with a doll as a cover-up to deceive others. It was shocking to discover how such a horrible situation had happened in the VIP ward of Grand Valley Hospital where the director had personally paid them a visit. ¡°A man by thest name of Wendell nned to kidnap Benny and extort huge sums of money from me with Channing. Unbeknownst to him, Channing and I have been in contact for a long time, so we worked together and set up a trap.¡± Cedrick walked to the side, picked up the cup, and took a sip of coffee. ¡°Of course, all these were done to bait the enemy. Based on my years of experience, I have a hunch that Mr. Wendell did not just kidnap Benny for the money.¡± If Joe wanted more money, he had better ways of getting them, but he picked the stupidest method. Charles frowned and asked, ¡°What about Mr. Wendell? Is he caught?¡± Chapter 672 Chapter 672 ¡°No. This person is absolutely cunning. I set up a trap to lure him to appear, but little did I know he created a false identity and sent a substitute to meet me. In the end, his fake guy took his ce in death.¡± For a moment, both men were silent. Apart from the sounds made by the humidifier and a soft, asional hum by Benedict, the room was exceptionally quiet. ¡°So you secretly issued an arrest warrant to catch this crafty fellow.¡± Charles could imagine how tense the situation was. Cedrick sneered. His piercing gaze and overpowering aura could easily send shivers down anyone¡¯s spine. ¡°Although he was not caught, I have a rough idea of his appearance. Once the arrest warrant is issued, his various actions will be restricted, and we¡¯ll get him sooner orter.¡± Charles nodded. When he lifted his head, he was greeted by Cedrick¡¯s bloodshot eyes. This case must have turned his world upside down. Arching his brow, Charles uttered a rare word of concern, ¡°Go and get some rest. I¡¯ve got everything here.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lip curled upward. He clicked his tongue and left without saying a word. Meanwhile, in the minimalist hospital lounge, a slim figure was sitting on the bed with her back facing the door. Her beautiful back was smooth and attractive. She had porcin skin as white as snow. The dim lighting cast a hazy glow on the voluptuous figure. The moment Cedrick opened the door, he was greeted by such an enchanting scene. Instantly, his mouth became dry. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he walked lightly across the room. When he got closer, he saw some light red scars on her back that got him frozen there and then. Jasper had only informed him that Gwendolyn had offered to be locked up in the basement in order not to let the enemies sense something amiss. Apart from that, no other details had been shared. Now that he had seen her injuries, his heart throbbed with pain. Gwendolyn stretched out her hand holding the cotton swab to apply some medicine to her wounds. However, the angle made it very inconvenient for her to do it herself. She could not control how much force to apply either. Suddenly, she furrowed her brows and gasped in pain. ¡°Let me do it.¡± A pair of big hands took away what she was holding in hers. He put some ointment on his fingertips and gently applied the medicine to the wounds on her back. She could barely feel any pain. Gwendolyn turned around and saw his slightly reddened eyes. She muttered, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt much, and I¡¯m not as delicate as you think. It¡¯s you guys who assumed that I¡¯m vulnerable and weak.¡± She caressed Cedrick¡¯s forehead, smoothing his frown lines. Cedrick did not respond, and neither did he refute her statement. After a while, he withdrew his hand and cleared his throat. ¡°Done.¡± He kissed Gwendolyn¡¯s forehead and added in a soft voice, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the small bathroom next door to take a shower.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. The sound of running water soon came from the bathroom. Gwendolyny on the bed and eventually fell asleep. Late at night, she felt a bit chilly. She squirmed to the side and habitually hugged her husband. But to her surprise, she grabbed nothing but frosty cold air. Within seconds, she came to her senses and realized that the other side of the bed was empty with no residual heat whatsoever. Where did Cedrick go? He was taking a shower before I went to bed. It was the middle of the night. Her eyes darted across the pitch-ck room. After gradually getting used to the darkness, she saw a tall figure on the balcony. ¡°Hubby?¡± she called out groggily. ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s wrong? Did you have a nightmare, Darling?¡± Cedrick responded in his usual gentle voice, but he did not move an inch. Gwendolyn immediately got out of bed. She covered herself with a thin nket and walked on the cold hospital floor tiles toward him. ¡°It¡¯s chilly at night. Why aren¡¯t you sleeping? Is something bothering you?¡± Cedrick did not respond. Since morning, Gwendolyn had noticed how distracted he was upon returning from the mountains. She did not expect him to stay upte and not get any rest throughout the night. ¡°Are you thinking about what happened today?¡± She approached him and enveloped them both in a nket. Like a fluffy kitten, she buried her head in his sturdy chest and wrapped her thin arms around him. The moonlight gleamed on them, giving them a glowing silver coat. ¡°Is your arm injury so painful that you can¡¯t sleep? Or did something happen at Broadbay Hill that I¡¯m not aware of? Something¡¯s off with you since we got down from the mountains. If you¡¯re going to continue acting weird, should I get someone to give you a check-up?¡± Gwendolyn could not help but ask when she noticed he did not look good. Cedrick hugged her waist gently and chuckled. ¡°I guess I can never hide anything from you, Darling.¡± He shared his suspicions with Gwendolyn. He spread open his right palm, revealing a note. Upon receiving it, Gwendolyn switched on the lights on the balcony and read the note in Cedrick¡¯s hand. She knitted her brows and asked, ¡°Is this what Quintrell, the chief bodyguard, left behind?¡± As she read it over and over again, she could clearly feel Cedrick¡¯s whole body stiffen. His expression was solemn, and his fingers holding the note were trembling. As the king of the military, Cedrick has personally visited the border of Chanaea and survived countless battles. He has also witnessed uncountable atrocious acts. But why did he react so strongly to a note? Gwendolyn could tell that the information in the note was something unusual. She tiptoed and embraced his broad figure. She leaned forward and whispered into his ear, ¡°Is it a thing of the past? Tell me, I might be able to share your burden¡­¡± Cedrick buried his face in the curve of her neck. It took him a while to calm himself down before he straightened his back, took a deep breath, and gradually shared his past. After listening attentively to the full story, Gwendolyn made a logical analysis of it. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the man died, but¡­ since Joe was buried in a sea of mes, there was no possibility of him surviving. So how could he single-handedly orchestrate the milk powder contamination case? Even if he escaped the fire unscathed by chance, he shouldn¡¯t hate you and take revenge on the wealthy family.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes still reflected an overwhelming wave of emotions he was feeling. It was hard for him not to think about the unresolved past. Back then, there had been a murder case where Cedrick and Joe were the prime suspects. In the end, an order had been issued to dismiss Joe from the army. Cedrick had gone around begging for mercy on his behalf, and he had managed to mitigate Joe¡¯s punishment. Thetter had been given a demerit instead. For some reason, the incident had prompted a wedge to be driven between them, and Joe had started targeting Cedrick all the time. Later on, the two had gone on their separate ways until the fire broke out. Come to think of it, could there be a secret behind this murder? ¡°Hubby, is there another possibility that this note was deliberately forged by someone who wanted to avenge Joe¡¯s death, and the person seized the opportunity to leave the evidence and then escaped?¡± The more Gwendolyn thought about it, the more she thought the possibility was huge. ¡°Why don¡¯t we follow this line of thought and investigate further? I¡¯m sure something will surface. Joe is dead, but there are still people making an issue out of him. This seriously leaves a bad taste in my mouth.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned grim. It¡¯s not at all impossible that Joe isn¡¯t the culprit. After pondering for a very long time, he slowly opened up and told her the incident. ¡°He was always cruel and vicious, and he had no conscience. If he survived the fire that year and remained alive till now, he would surely have such an ulterior motive, considering the old grudge between us.¡± Gwendolyn fell silent thereafter. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . She knew how horrible Cedrick must have felt when hisrade-in-arms became his enemy. And now, he even had to issue an arrest order to capture that person. Chapter 673 Chapter 673 As the night grew darker, the atmosphere on the terrace became heavier. Upon noticing Gwendolyn¡¯s furrowed brow and distant gaze, Cedrick tenderly embraced her and spoke softly. ¡°I understand, I understand. Just look at you! Lately, you¡¯ve been risking yourself in perilous locations because of this situation. You¡¯ve lost a significant amount of weight. But now that we have a lead, leave the rest to me and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Please, don¡¯t worry any longer, all right?¡± Unable to find the right words tofort him, Gwendolyn expressed her support by wrapping her arms around him and wordlessly nuzzling her head against his neck. After a while, Cedrick delicately cupped Gwendolyn¡¯s face in his hands and tenderly kissed her soft, rosy lips. Then, he slowly slipped his hand under her nightdress and tenderly rubbed slow circles around her sensitive spot. Gwendolyn moaned softly, and her entire body trembled with pleasure. Cedrick brought her atop him, leaving the nket discarded on the floor as their skin became illuminated by the moonlight. The night turned to passion. The following morning, under a cloudless sky, the sun shone brightly. Cedrick arose early and made his way to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In the office, the air conditioner kept the air cool against the sun¡¯s heat. A stack of documents sat neatly on Cedrick¡¯s desk. He typed away on hisptop, issuing orders in variousnguages. Just then, a knock echoed on the door, and Jasper popped his head in, announcing, ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mr. Kron has arrived.¡± Channing¡¯s robustughter resonated from outside the door. ¡°Ah, Team Nine, I¡¯ve missed you guys. How about rejoining my team? I must admit, working with you all has been incredibly gratifyingtely¡­¡± Dressed in a burgundy suit, Channing exuded an air of jubtion. He entered the room with an enormous smile on his face, giving Jasper¡¯s shoulder a friendly pat as he passed by him. Jasper awkwardly shrugged off his hand and countered in a stony voice, ¡°We only get along because of the rules in ce.¡± With that single sentence, Channing was abruptly reminded of the jurisdiction he was in. Since he was there to meet the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he¡¯d better adhere to their protocols and regtions. Channing received the message loud and clear, immediately grasping the gravity of the situation. There were many rules in ce, and he understood the potential consequences if any information were to be leaked and exploited. Gathering himself, Channing approached Cedrick with purpose. ¡°Mr. Jenson,¡± he greeted. Cedrick nodded in reply and gestured for the man to sit, ¡°Mr. Kron, I apologize for the way I¡¯ve invited you here.¡± Subsequently, he raised an eyebrow at Jasper, signaling him to prepare a pot of coffee. Channing and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were supposed to be on opposite sides. Cedrick had no choice but to discreetly invite Channing over. ¡°No problem, Mr. Jenson. It¡¯s an honor to be here.¡± Thirty minutester, Jasper returned with a pot of coffee in hand. He carefully poured two cups, one for Cedrick and the other for Channing. Channing raised the cup to his lips and softly blew on the surface of the coffee to cool it down. After taking a sip, Channing shed a thumbs-up sign at Jasper. ¡°Impressive, Jasper! Your coffee- brewing skills are truly exceptional! It¡¯s only been a few days, but I¡¯ve be quite dependent on your talents!¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips formed a yful smile as he nced at Jasper. ¡°What do you say, Channing? How about I lend you Jasper for a few days? He can conduct undercover investigations at your ce while using official business as a cover, and he can also impart his coffee-brewing expertise to your team.¡± Jasper was taken aback by Cedrick¡¯s offer. ¡°Mr. Jenson!¡± There were all sorts of peculiar individuals in Channing¡¯s territory, and Jasper did not like the idea of it at all. Perceiving Jasper¡¯s hesitance, Channing burst intoughter. ¡°Forget it. If Team Nine were to openly visit my ce, it would raise suspicions that I¡¯ve gotten myself into trouble once more. My team would be on edge! Moreover, if news spreads that I¡¯m in hot water with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it would be quite embarrassing!¡± The men chuckled, signaling the end of that topic. Thereafter, the conversation shifted into a more serious tone as Cedrick gestured for Jasper to bring over the stack of documents from his desk and ce them in front of Channing. Channing swiftly scanned through the documents, his expression flickering with uncertainty as he nced up at Jenson. He asked, ¡°Mr. Jenson, this is¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve enjoyed working with you, Channing. I find you to be a very reliable person. I am considering gradually transferring the management of Jenson Group¡¯s baby form business into your capable hands. What do you think?¡± Cedrick divulged. Maintaining a casual tone, he tapped the empty space at the bottom right corner of the page. ¡°Simply sign here if you agree.¡± Then, Cedrick lifted his cup of coffee and reclined on the couch in a leisurely manner, appearing nonchnt about Channing¡¯s decision. In contrast, Channing had an intense reaction. He clutched the coboration agreement in his trembling hands, finding it hard to believe that he was being presented with such a lucrative opportunity to coborate with Jenson Group. He carefully read the agreement and asked again, ¡°You¡¯re sure you want to work with me?¡± Cedrick nodded firmly. ¡°Is there any problem, Mr. Kron? Feel free to speak your mind.¡± ¡°I ept!¡± Channing blurted out. Jasper threw him a strange look. What kind of answer is that? ¡°I¡¯ll be honored. Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Jenson.¡± Channing picked up the pen and with a flourish, signed his name on the dotted line. ¡°To be frank with you, I¡¯ve long wanted to go straight, but I¡¯ve been in my line of work for so long. It¡¯s too difficult to break out of it. As I¡¯ve gotten older, I no longer wished to live on the edge. I want to spend my remaining days living peacefully with my wife and kids, but the opportunity never came,¡± Channing confessed. ¡°Thank you again for this precious chance, Mr. Jenson!¡± Channing continued sharing his life story, while Cedrick nodded at the appropriate moments, giving the impression of attentive listening. However, Cedrick¡¯s mind had long drifted to other matters. Absentmindedly, Cedrick toyed with his diamond-studded wristwatch, his jet-ck eyes losing focus as he gazed into the distance. This is from N?velDrama.Org. He was acutely aware of the time. He knew that the person he had sent should have already returned. As a movement caught his attention at the door, Jasper vanished briefly only to return and speak softly into Cedrick¡¯s ear. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Swain has something to report to you.¡± Channing observed the expressions on the faces of the two men turning solemn, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. Promptly rising from his seat with a smile, he dered, ¡°Well, that concludes what I had to discuss. I have some matters to attend to, so I won¡¯t take up any more of your time.¡± Once Channing had departed, clutching the coboration agreement, Jasper couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Mr. Jenson, are youpletely certain about entrusting the entirety of Jenson Group¡¯s baby form business to Mr. Kron?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cedrick responded calmly. He had once again drifted into his thoughts and did not utter another word to Jasper. Within Jenson Group, the baby form business was no longer ¡°clean.¡± To reveal the mastermind behind the scenes, he would need to go all out. ¡°The enemy lurks in the shadows while we remain in the light. After all this time, have we truly made any progress?¡± Cedrick posed a question. Jasper kept silent. Not only had they failed to make any progress, but they had also endured substantial losses. Apart from the ongoing issue with Hamish¡¯s men, the overall situation appeared bleak and discouraging. Chapter 674 Chapter 674 ¡°Since we can¡¯t solve this issue by going the right way, let¡¯s make it all go wrong instead. With Channing¡¯s help, things will be much easier without unnecessary restrictions. We can focus on the bigger picture. Besides, Channing himself has children, and after being persecuted by the tainted milk powder incident, he will surely pay more attention to the safety issues rted to milk powder,¡± Cedrick reasoned. His obsidian eyes darkened. He had alreadyid out his n and analyzed the situation thoroughly. Swain, who had just entered, finally found an opportunity to speak upon hearing this. He looked astonished and said, ¡°Boss, am I hearing correctly? You¡¯re actually going to coborate with Mr. Kron in business?¡± Under necessary circumstances, such cooperation would indeed yield greater results. However, the form milk business of Jenson Group was massive. Wouldn¡¯t it be too obvious if everything was handed over to Channing? If someone caught wind of it, they could exploit the situation. Cedrick sinctly assured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He sat behind his desk and gestured to Neville. ¡°How is the pursuit of the bodyguard who goes by the alias Quintrell?¡± Neville shook his head, his face filled with frustration. Though he didn¡¯t say anything, his expression spoke volumes. He had suffered a total defeat this time. Despite having two squads of soldiers under hismand, he was outmaneuvered by the other side. ¡°This man still has a few loyal bodyguards following him. I discovered their traces in Lightspringst night, but this person set up traps and managed to escape by chance. Someone saw him appear in Durbaine this morning¡­¡± Cedrick tapped his finger on the smooth and reflective desk. He spoke with a low and deep voice. ¡°Quintrell is just an alias. I suspect his real name is Joe Landon. He has military experience and possesses exceptional counter-surveince skills. Capturing him is understandably time-consuming andbor-intensive.¡± However, Cedrick was relieved that at least there were some leads in the tainted milk powder case. ¡°The arrest warrant has been issued, and perhaps it will help with your capture mission.¡± Few could match Cedrick back in the military district, with Joe being among them. He was an extremely talented man. Hence, Cedrick knew all too well that ordinary police officers were no match for him. Inside the hospital room, Gwendolyn was dressed in a gentle, ivory-white suit, gently coaxing Benedict. After cing the baby in the crib, she slowly sat up, her right hand gently supporting her waist. She couldn¡¯t help but grumble about Cedrick¡¯sck of restraint the night before. Charles, who was watching the door, noticed her strained movements and the faint hickey marks on her neck. Piecing the puzzles together, he realized what those signs entailed. The glimmer in his eyes dimmed. Gwendolyn heard the noise and turned around. ¡°Hmm? I heard that Newton Group had an important meeting today. Why aren¡¯t you in attendance?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing important, so I arranged for my assistant to attend it instead,¡± Charles replied impassively. As a man, Charles could guess what had happened between the couple the night before. Seeing Gwendolyn waking up with a sore waist and weak legs, he couldn¡¯t help but feel unsettled. ¡°I¡¯ll go and check on the nurses¡¯ side.¡± He hastily made up an excuse and left the room. Inside the quiet room, the only sound was the gentle ticking of the clock on the table. Sitting by the edge of the bed, Gwendolyn watched her baby sleep soundly, and she began to feel drowsy herself. Suddenly, she heard amotion outside the door. Almost instantly, she was startled awake. Noticing a stranger¡¯s face at the door, she instinctively moved quickly to block the person. She struck out a p fiercely, with a speed that almost no one could defend against. ¡°Gwen!¡± Charles eximed aloud, dashing forward to defend the person behind him and stop Gwendolyn¡¯s advances. As Gwendolyn registered Charles¡¯ face, she restrained the force in her strike. Even so, her strikended on Charles¡¯ shoulder, and he let out a muffled groan with a hint of pain in his eyes. Worried, Gwendolyn checked his injury and asked, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Are you all right?¡± Charles endured the sharp pain and shook his head. After a moment, he recovered as if nothing had happened. Then, he pointed to the woman behind him. ¡°She¡¯s a family member of a child in the regr ward downstairs. I happened to help her with a small favor yesterday, so she came to thank me with some fruits today,¡± Charles exined. He cast a nce at Gwendolyn and said in a low voice, ¡°Gwen, you might have overreacted a bit.¡± The woman holding the child was also shocked by the sight of Charles getting whacked and stuttered, ¡°S-Should I not havee?¡± Gwendolyn shot a piercing stare at the stranger, exuding hostility as she transfixed her gaze at the woman. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for imposing.¡± Realizing the atmosphere was off, the woman cautiously stepped forward, ced the fruits on the ground, and hastily left the scene. Before leaving, she cast an incredulous nce at Gwendolyn. The door to the baby ward closed. Gwendolyn¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she asked, ¡°Why did you let a stranger in?¡± Charles appeared conflicted. ¡°Gwen, perhaps you¡¯re being oversensitive.¡± Since the kidnapping incident, Gwendolyn had been experiencing post-traumatic stress, which was understandable. Hence, Charles contemted for a moment and suggested, ¡°I know you¡¯ve been tired these past few days, so why don¡¯t you take a rest? I can take care of Benny. That way, you¡¯ll be able to completely rx.¡± Gwendolyn lowered her head. She knew that her abnormal behavior was due to the night someone broke in and tried to harm her baby. As a result, she had to remain on high alert at all times to protect her baby. For so many nights since, that sense of tension had been tormenting her. After staring at the entrance for a while, she nodded and came to a decision. ¡°Then, for now, I¡¯ll trouble you to take care of Benny. Thanks.¡± Charles shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re most wee. As Benny¡¯s godfather, this is my duty.¡± After Cedrick received the call and rushed over, Gwendolyn was already halfway through packing her belongings in the hospital ward. Seeing the familiar tall figure at the entrance, she immediately ran over and threw herself into Cedrick¡¯s arms, her voice filled with grievance. ¡°Hubby, I want to go home.¡± A hint of surprise flickered across his face. However, his face darkened soon after. He had only been away for less than twelve hours. What had happened? Cedrick looked up and cast a quizzical nce at the guards at the door, but both of them lowered their heads. Buried in his embrace, Gwendolyn said softly, ¡°I seem to have had a hallucination¡­ Ever since that day, whenever I close my eyes, I always feel that I¡¯m back to that night, and someone¡¯s going to dash in and hurt Benny¡­ Even a rustle of the wind will cause me tosh out. I almost hurt a stranger just now.¡± Gwendolyn might be suffering from anxiety. ¡°Yes, you need a ce where you can fully rx,¡± Cedrick suggested. After a moment, he circled her hands around her waist and gently asked, ¡°I¡¯m going to ask the attending doctor to conduct a full checkup on Benny. Let¡¯s go home together today. Okay?¡± No matter how heavily guarded the hospital was, the security could neverpare to Harrick Vi¡¯s. Gwendolyn agreed. In the evening, they were back at Harrick Vi with Benedict in their arms. This is from N?velDrama.Org. The director of Grand Valley Hospital dispatched the best pediatricians and nurses to Harrick Vi to compensate for the incident that almost befell Benedict during his stay at the hospital. Not only that, but he had also requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation to escort the family back to Harrick Vi. There was no doubt that the director had honored them with the VIP treatment. It had been a long time since Harrick Vi was this lively. The vi¡¯s door sprung open, and Zoey held Zendaya in her arms as they weed Cedrick and Gwendolyn home by the door. Zoey immediately made her way over when she noticed Gwendolyn. With an amiable smile, she said, ¡°Mrs. Jenson, wee home. Mr. Jenson has ordered us to prepare a little homing surprise for you earlier. Go on and take a look to see if it¡¯s to your liking.¡± Chapter 675 Chapter 675 A little surprise? Gwendolyn felt a sweetness in her heart, not expecting Cedrick to be so thoughtful. He had managed to arrange everything while she was packing at the hospital, even preparing a gift. Charles had apanied her there and was instructing the elite medical personnel arranged by the hospital director to enter Harrick Vi in an orderly fashion at that moment. He heard Zoey¡¯s words as soon as he reached Harrick Vi¡¯s entrance. Cedrick even prepared a homing gift for Gwendolyn? After all this time together, he still remembered to surprise her to spice up their marital life. As a husband, Cedrick has indeed been very thorough in his duties, taking everything into consideration in all that he does. Charles¡¯ heart clenched. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he would¡¯ve been so meticulous if he had been the one to marry Gwendolyn previously. He took in the heartfelt smile on her face. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever made her smile so happily before. A slight difort crept into his heart as he relented once again. ¡°Gwen, now that all the medical staff are here, I¡¯ll be taking my leave first.¡± Gwendolyn turned to look at him. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you stay for dinner?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. It¡¯ll be the same if I return to the Newton residence to have my meal.¡± Gwendolyn held Benedict, but her eyes were riveted on Zendaya in Zoey¡¯s arms. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen Zendy for many days, right? She misses you. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to stay and apany her?¡± He hesitated briefly, turning his gaze following Gwendolyn¡¯s line of vision to look at Zendaya in Zoey¡¯s arms. Zendaya wasughing happily. Her facial features were a replica of Gwendolyn¡¯s when thetter was a child. She reached out her fair tiny arms at Charles, seemingly wanting him to cuddle her. When Charles shifted his deep blue eyes to meet Zendaya¡¯s, her dark, grape-like eyes instantly won over his heart. Zendaya babbled and furrowed her brows as if she was feeling aggrieved because Charles ignored her. Before he realized it, he had given in and strode over, receiving the whimpering Zendaya from Zoey and patiently patted the baby girl tofort her. Zendaya snuggled in Charles¡¯ arms and giggled triumphantly as if she finally had her way, making everyone in the roomugh. Zoey said, ¡°It seems Ms. Zendy is really fond of Mr. Newton. Mrs. Jenson hasn¡¯t been back for many days, yet Ms. Zendy only wants Mr. Newton to hold her. It¡¯s like all her attention is focused on him and no one else.¡± Her remarks truly touched Charles¡¯ heart, making him all the more reluctant to part with the adorable Zendaya. Gwendolyn gazed at them and smiled. ¡°Do you want to stay for dinner now?¡± He replied, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare refuse your enthusiastic invitation. I¡¯ll have dinner and then y with Zendy for a while longer before leaving.¡± All the medical staff were amodated at Harrick Vi, responsible for following up with Benedict¡¯s ongoing medical condition. Cedrick had the nursery on the fourth floor remodeled into Zendaya¡¯s personal room and cleared out the neighboring room to let the sick Benedict stay alone. Cedrick regarded Benedict¡¯s health with great importance because the little boy suffered from congenital weakness and premature heartbeat, which were conditions that shouldn¡¯t be taken lightly. As he couldn¡¯t allow Benedict to affect the currently healthy Zendaya, he had no choice but to arrange for the two babies to stay separately. Moreover, he had taken care of everything before Gwendolyn returned home. Gwendolyn was satisfied with Cedrick¡¯s efficiency in getting all the work done while she was discharged, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about anything. Once again, she was showered by his thoughtfulness. Channing monopolized all the milk powder business under Jenson Group. Although he was a member of the underworld, Channing took the health and growth of the children very seriously. Having had experience with tainted milk powder incidents, he assigned his closest associates to oversee every process at his milk powder factory, including procurement of raw materials, production, packaging, and finally, transportation. Every stage was documented and verified to ensure the goods delivered to the wealthy and noble families were healthy and nutritious milk powder. Even so, for the safety of the babies, before each new can of milk was delivered, Cedrick would discreetly send the cans to a professional institution for the batches to undergo a full inspection. Only after ascertaining they were safe to consume would he hand the cans of milk powder to Zoey. Meanwhile, there was still no progress in Joe¡¯s case. Since the kidnapping, he seemed to have vanished into thin air. Cedrick had issued a secret warrant for Joe¡¯s arrest across the country, determined to locate thetter and bring him back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for investigation and close the case even if he had to search every inch ofnd in the nation. During their free time, Gwendolyn and Cedrick spent more energy on their two lively and adorable babies, apanying and watching them grow. Days of peace and leisure were always fleeting. Eight monthster, Zendaya and Benedict turned one year old. By right, such an important day should¡¯ve been celebrated with a grand banquet, especially considering how wealthy and esteemed Gwendolyn and Cedrick¡¯s family was. However, the couple didn¡¯t seem to be nning on hosting any event at Harrick Vi. Valentino instructed Logan to ask Gwendolyn and Cedrick about it indirectly and even offered to help organize the birthday banquet for his grandchildren if the couple was too busy. Cedrick made no response, so that matter was left hanging. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . On the day of Benedict¡¯s and Zendaya¡¯s birthday, Salinsburgh was overcast, and a drizzle fell incessantly, adding a touch of gloom and depression to everyone¡¯s mood. The atmosphere at Harrick Vi was hushed, and the ce wasn¡¯t adorned with any birthday celebration decorations either. No invitations for any event were sent out, or any publicity was made. Nico personally led a group of bodyguards to keep watch around Harrick Vi. Even the other members of the Jenson family couldn¡¯t catch wind of what was happening inside the house. The tight security was because Benedict wasn¡¯t doing well. After several months of treatment and careful nursing, his condition failed to improve and was actually deteriorating. At times, he would be so weak from illness that he would fall asleep in exhaustion after taking a few sips of milk and even face difficulty breathing. Cedrick and Gwendolyn were low-spirited. That afternoon, they brought the two children to the laboratory in person. Joshua was originally on vacation. Upon learning the couple had brought the kids there, he jolted awake and hurried out in floral-patterned shorts, slippers, and a thick, long coat. His refined temperament dissipated without a trace when he was seen wearing the pair of floral- patterned shorts. At that instant, he looked more like a sloppy young professor. Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows when he saw Joshua. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for a while, and you¡¯ve be so pathetic? Look at that mboyant pants of yours. You don¡¯t even look like a professional researcher anymore.¡± A wave of misery washed over Joshua. ¡°Cedrick, you should¡¯ve informed me in advance if you were coming. I was out all night at a barst night and had only slept for four to five hours when I received news about your arrival. If you had told me you wereing, I wouldn¡¯t have indulged myselfst night.¡± Cedrick grimaced, not in the mood for banter. ¡°Since you haven¡¯t sobered up, you should just get back to sleep. I¡¯ll get another professor in theboratory to do the blood tests for the babies.¡± ¡°No way! The Jenson and Mallory families have such good rtions. Moreover, Benny and Zendy are my nephew and niece. I must carry out the test myself to feel at ease.¡± The frown on Cedrick¡¯s face deepened. ¡°Are you sure you can do this when you¡¯re reeking of alcohol?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m in good shape. It¡¯ll be fine,¡± he chirped. However, only after looking at Cedrick¡¯s darkened expression did Joshua slowly understand what he meant. Cedrick wasn¡¯t worried about physical well-being. Instead, he was concerned about Joshua¡¯s unsteady mental state, which might result in a botched blood test, causing the babies to have several tubes of blood drawn needlessly. Chapter 676 Chapter 676 Joshua looked at Benedict who was lying in Cedrick¡¯s arms weakly, and his smile disappeared. ¡°I have been in this line for many years and consider myself a professional. Whether my eyes are closed or if I find myself in a dream, I assure you that I won¡¯t make a mistake! Please trust in my abilities. I will not be careless when ites to the lives of these two children.¡± Given their longstanding rtionship, Cedrick naturally ced his trust in Joshua. It would indeed be a wise decision to entrust the blood tests to him. As soon as the two children entered theboratory, Joshua directed his undivided attention toward conducting the bloodwork. Concerned about Gwendolyn¡¯s emotional well-being, Cedrick decided not to let her enter the laboratory. Instead, the two adults remained outside and patiently awaited the test results. The couple sat side by side. Cedrick could sense the tension within Gwendolyn, so he tenderly embraced her to distract her from thinking about the children getting their blood drawn. ¡°It will be over very soon.¡± Gwendolyn nestled into his arms, her heart overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. Half an hourter, the lights of theboratory went off. They assumed that the results must be out. Gwendolyn gently released herself from Cedrick¡¯s embrace and rose to her feet. She then strode toward the door of theboratory. As the sound of the door unlocking reverberated through the hallway, the couple¡¯s attention was drawn to Joshua, who stood on the other side, holding the results in his hands. Adjusting his ck-rimmed sses, he appeared ready to step out and join them. Gwendolyn asked anxiously, ¡°How is it?¡± Wearing a solemn expression, Joshua cast a brief nce at Gwendolyn before shifting his gaze to Cedrick. ¡°There¡¯s good news and bad news.¡± Bad news¡­ Gwendolyn clenched her fists. ¡°We are prepared for the worst. Please, go ahead and tell us.¡± Joshua exhaled deeply before handing Gwendolyn the two blood test results. ¡°The good news is that Zendy¡¯s blood test is impable. She is in perfect health and possesses a robust constitution. There is no cause for concern regarding her,¡± Joshua shared. Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief upon hearing the positive news, although a residue of tension still lingered within her. On the other hand, Cedrick¡¯s expression became even more serious. It¡¯s good news that Zendaya is fine, but the bad news must mean¡­ Joshua¡¯s gaze shifted downward as he delivered the news. ¡°As for Benny, the situation is not as optimistic. The S404 virus is still present in his blood. His inherent weakness is a result of the virus. When he was younger, the residual virus went unnoticed. However, as he grows older and his cellr activity increases, his condition will deteriorate. In fact, his life will be at risk.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn¡¯s hands, clutching the reports, began to tremble uncontrobly. Her heart sank as her eyes fell upon the red markers indicating a concerning result on one of the reports. Noticing Gwendolyn¡¯splexion turning pale, Cedrick swiftly approached and gently wrapped his arm around her slender waist, seeking to provide reassurance and support. Joshua¡¯s expression held a mix of apology and concern as he regarded Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn, it¡¯s crucial that you take good care of yourself. Maintaining a positive mindset is paramount at this moment. Both you and Cedrick are the pirs of support for the children.¡± Gwendolyn nodded. Cedrick tenderly stroked Gwendolyn¡¯s head, his voice filled with concern as he posed a question to Joshua. ¡°Both Benny and Zendy are twins. How is it possible that Zendy is perfectly healthy while Benny carries the virus in his body?¡± ¡°They are fraternal twins, which exins the difference,¡± Joshua responded. ¡°Such a situation is considered normal. I can only say that Benny is unfortunate¡­ Perhaps, it is a matter of fate.¡± Joshua then brought the two of them into the adjacent ward, where he continued to exin, ¡°Fortunately, the antidote for the S404 RNA virus has been developed. This virus no longer poses a significant fatality risk, so there is no immediate cause for rm. Thankfully, Benny¡¯s viral load is not excessive. With proper treatment, there should be no imminent threat to his life.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s face finally showed some relief as the tension began to ease. Both Benedict and Zendaya were lying on the beds after getting their blood drawn. After the blood test, Benedict struggled to maintain his strength andy weakly on his bed, eventually sumbing to sleep. Zendaya seemed to understand her brother¡¯s condition as she remained quietly by his side, apanying him in his sleep. Gwendolyn walked over and took a seat by the bedside. As Zendaya caught sight of Gwendolyn, a radiant smile illuminated her face, and she was on the verge of calling out to her mother. Gwendolyn quickly put a finger to her lips, gesturing for silence as she didn¡¯t want Zendaya to awaken Benedict from his slumber. Upon witnessing Gwendolyn tending to the children and mindful of not disturbing Benedict, Cedrick and Joshua quietly exited the ward and made their way to Joshua¡¯s office. Cedrick inquired, ¡°When will Benny be able to receive the antidote?¡± Joshua took another look at theb report and shook his head solemnly. ¡°Benny is still too young to handle the potency of the antidote. It would be too overwhelming for him at this stage. Based on his current condition, he will have to wait until he reaches the age of eighteen.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression turned into a frown as he voiced his concerns. ¡°The S404 RNA virus is incredibly potent. If we leave Benny untreated until he turns eighteen, there is a possibility that he may not survive until then. Furthermore, additionalplications could arise along the way. This virus is truly tormenting for him.¡± No one possessed a deeper understanding of this virus than Cedrick. During his own struggle with the virus, Cedrick experienced excruciating pain, even to the point where his heart ached. It was a daily torment, akin to living in a perpetual hell. Joshua sighed helplessly. ¡°If we were to administer the antidote forcefully at this stage, Benny¡¯s fragile body may not be able to handle it, and he could sumb before it has a chance to take effect. If he can hold on until he reaches the age of eighteen, his chances of living a longer life will significantly increase.¡± Cedrick then asked, ¡°How about the suppressant? Since we can¡¯t cure him, at least we can relieve him of some difort.¡± Once again, Joshua shook his head. ¡°No way. Be it the antidote or the suppressant, his body won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡± Cedrick narrowed his dark eyes and fell silent. Joshua proceeded, ¡°For now, our best option is to employ conservative approaches. Let¡¯s administer intravenous drips and medications with minimal side effects to bolster Benny¡¯s immune system and resistance. It would be advisable not to bring Benny back to Harrick Vi for the next few days. He should remain at theboratory for close monitoring since we have just introduced new medication. We need to observe if the new treatment suits him or not. Additionally, please ensure his diet consists of mild-tasting food to ease any potential difort.¡± For the entire morning, Gwendolyn and Cedrick did not leave theboratory. Salinsburgh was enveloped in a rainy and somber atmosphere on that day as if reflecting the family¡¯s predicament. Benedict was undergoing his intravenous treatment in theboratory, with his family keeping a watchful presence by his side. The intravenous treatment required a long time. By the time it was almost noon, there was still half a bag left. Due to her increasing hunger, Zendaya reached a point of tears, prompting Cedrick to apany her home for some milk, while Gwendolyn remained with Benedict. With the umbre opened, he cradled Zendaya in one arm while gently encouraging his daughter as they exited theboratory. It was a heartwarming sight to behold. Upon reaching the door, Cedrick halted in his tracks as he noticed someone standing in his way. Lifting his gaze, he met the intense blue-eyed gaze of a man standing before him, his tightly clenched fists betraying his unease. It seemed as though he was anxiously awaiting someone¡¯s arrival. The man stood exposed to the rain without an umbre. In spite of the light rainfall, his suit waspletely drenched, and it bore witness to the fact that he had endured the rain for a considerable period of time. Chapter 677 Chapter 677 Carrying Zendaya in his arms, Cedrick stopped in his tracks. He fixed his jet-ck eyes on Charles before him, looking the man up and down without saying anything. Charles took two steps forward with his eyes lowered to mask the guilt within them. ¡°It¡¯s the twins¡¯ one-year-old birthday today. While I know Gwendolyn and you don¡¯t n to have a grand celebration, I bought a cake and gifts for them tomemorate the asion. I only learned that you two brought Benny and Zendy to theb for a blood test after making a trip to Harrick Vi.¡± He paused briefly, not daring to look at the little girl in Cedrick¡¯s arms. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly before he finally mustered the courage to ask, ¡°Are the test results out yet? What are¡­ Benny and Zendy¡¯s conditions like?¡± In a calm voice, Cedrick answered truthfully, ¡°Zendy is fine, but Benny has remnants of the virus within him. It¡¯s also the reason he¡¯s weaker than Zendy upon birth. Joshua says he¡¯s too young and weak to withstand the potency of the antidote, nor can suppressants be used to alleviate his pain during a rpse. Thus, only conservative treatment of having intravenous infusions and taking medication are viable.¡± The more even-sounding each word out of the man¡¯s mouth, the heavier it weighed on Charles. His clenched fists trembled violently, and his eyes turned red-rimmed as he tried his best to suppress the guilt surging within him. He opened his mouth to exin and justify his actions back then, expressing his mistake in implicating innocent babies in grievances between adults. However, all the excuses on the tip of his tongue seemed weak and pathetic. Ultimately, he hung his head in despair and murmured dejectedly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Other than those two words, I¡¯m seemingly incapable of making amends in any way¡­ Cedrick did not bother with pleasantries, leaving him to stand in the rain and get drenched. ¡°Indeed, you should apologize, but you should be doing so to Benny instead of me. In fact, you should compensate him for your mistake back then.¡± In response, Charles nodded. ¡°Yeah. Hurting him is my greatest regret in this lifetime. I¡¯ll definitely go all out to make things up to the twins.¡± Cedrick remained silent. Despite the grim look in his ebony eyes, there was no trace of resentment. After all, that was already in the past. Even if he were to take the man¡¯s life, Benedict could not possibly recover immediately. Hence, it would be far better to have Charles make amends. In his arms, Zendaya had seemingly heard her godfather¡¯s familiar voice. Yanking at her raincoat with both hands, she pried it open a crack and turned to stare at Charles with crystalline eyes. Coo! Smiling innocently while babbling happily, she stretched her tiny hands out in thetter¡¯s direction. In other words, she was asking Charles to cuddle her. Charles shook his head at her, his gaze gentle. ¡°I¡¯m too wet to carry you, Zendy. You¡¯d catch a cold.¡± As though grasping the man¡¯s meaning, Zendaya stuck out her lower lip. She looked pitifully aggrieved, seemingly on the verge of bursting into tears. Wearing a dark look, Cedrick chided lowly, ¡°Don¡¯t cry on purpose to trick your Uncle Charles into holding you. If you catch a cold and run a fever, you¡¯d need an injection, and your butt would be sore. Are you scared now?¡± At once, Zendaya¡¯s brows furrowed, and her nose wrinkled. She clutched her father¡¯spel with both hands and burrowed into his embrace. ¡°I want to put aside the matters regarding Newton Group to devote all my energy to Benny¡¯s care. Will you please allow me to keep himpany at theb for his IV infusions and treatment?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s only to take care of him, sure. But¡­¡± Pausing, Cedrick narrowed his eyes sharply as though he could see right through Charles. He then continued, ¡°All the drugs in theb are top secret. You¡¯re no longer a civil servant now. If you dare capitalize on the opportunity to y tricks, I¡¯d never spare you.¡± Charles¡¯ long eyshes obscured his blue eyes. His voice was as soft as a whisper. ¡°I¡¯d never. I¡¯m no longer my past self who was on opposing sides with you. It was even thanks to your help that I sessfully gained control over the Newton family. I¡¯m on your side, and I won¡¯t sabotage you again. Even if I were to take those top-secret drugs out, it wouldn¡¯t do me any good.¡± Cedrick stared at him. ¡°It¡¯s best that you don¡¯t have any ulterior motives. Don¡¯t even think of stealing a bottle of the drug and using it on yourself to suffer alongside Benny as atonement.¡± For a moment, words eluded Charles. Gosh, he hit the nail on the head! Subsequently, Cedrick continued, ¡°The S404 RNA virus samples are all unique, so they¡¯re downright priceless. It¡¯d be an utter waste if it¡¯s used on you. You¡¯d best give up whatever ns you had and take care of Benny wholeheartedly. Even if you really got infected, I wouldn¡¯t give you the antidote, and there¡¯d be nothing you could do but await death.¡± That remark was exceedingly brutal, but it did not garner much of a reaction from Charles. He merely dipped his head in acknowledgment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do that. If you don¡¯t trust me, you can send two police officers to follow me.¡± Since Cedrick had already warned him, Charles would have to weigh the consequences himself. As such, there was no need to arrange for someone to monitor his every movement. ¡°Zendy is hungry, so I¡¯m bringing her home for some milk first. I¡¯ll give you the ess card to theb. When you go in, tell Gwenny toe out. She hasn¡¯t had lunch yet. I¡¯ll bring her home with me, and we¡¯ll be back after eating.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Charles took the ess card Cedrick handed him. With that, the two men parted ways. Thanks to the ess card, Charles bypassed the security at theboratory¡¯s entrance unimpeded and entered the building brimming with a sense of technology. As he walked along the corridor, Cedrick¡¯s words continued echoing in his ears, disturbing him greatly. Previously, I teased Benny because he was slower at drinking milk and weakerpared to Zendy, but little did I know that his sickly condition was my doing. The guilt within him was so overwhelming that he felt he might go mad from the sense of oppression if he were to do nothing. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . After pondering for a while, Charles took out his phone and made a call. ¡°Find out the investor of the biggest oceanarium and its location.¡± On the other end of the phone, his assistant was somewhat startled. ¡°Are you nning to invest in the oceanarium, Mr. Newton?¡± ¡°No, I want to acquire it. No matter the price, deduct it from my personal bank ount.¡± His assistant was taken aback. A long moment passed before he replied, ¡°Okay, understood.¡± Sure enough, an assistant working at Newton Group was beyond efficient. At one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Charles received information on the oceanarium. It so happened to be located in Salinsburgh and was the most luxurious oceanarium in the entire country. Charles bought it on that same day and ced it under Benedict¡¯s name as a gift for his one-year-old birthday. That aside, he remotely purchased a dolphin that looked most exquisite and ced it under Zendaya¡¯s name, rearing it in Benedict¡¯s oceanarium as her one-year-old birthday gift. Despite finding the gifts too expensive and disproportionate to the twins¡¯ age, Gwendolyn knew that Charles felt guilty and would only rest easier after doing more for them, so she did not object. Apart from that, Gwendolyn and Cedrick also received gifts from Nico and Summer, Treyton and Jennifer, Kieran and Inez, and Asher and Sienna on the twins¡¯ birthday. All of them were extremely expensive trinkets. Even Valentino personally made a trip to Harrick Vi in his wheelchair and gifted the twins two small gold lock charms and two pure gold bracelets iid with diamonds. Although there was no birthday celebration at Harrick Vi, the vi¡¯s living room was still filled with people in the afternoon. Chapter 678 Chapter 678 The men from the Harris family were all there that day, and the atmosphere was so lively that it seemed like a little party. Everyone took turns carrying Zendaya around. They all couldn¡¯t get enough of her. Zendaya was not afraid of the crowd. She even smiled gleefully and entertained the guests. Valentino, who was in his wheelchair some distance away, noticed the concerned look on Gwendolyn¡¯s and Cedrick¡¯s faces. Logan slowly pushed Valentino to the couple, and Valentino asked in a deep voice, ¡°Ced, why is Zendy here alone? Where¡¯s Benny?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression froze. Back when Cedrick contracted the S404 RNA virus, everyone in the Jenson family had kept it a secret from Valentino because they didn¡¯t want to worry him. Valentino didn¡¯t know the virus was why Cedrick had been vomiting blood after returning from Faike. Nico knew everything that had happened. He reced his smile with a solemn look and peeked at Cedrick¡¯s expression from the corner of his eye. Although the men from the Harris family knew about the virus, they didn¡¯t know it could be transmitted to the children. When they heard Valentino¡¯s question, they turned to look at Cedrick and Gwendolyn in unison. With a grim look on his face, Cedrick answered, ¡°Benny is down with a cold and is now on an IV drip in the hospital. That¡¯s why he isn¡¯t here.¡± Valentino grew extremely concerned. ¡°It¡¯s also his birthday today, no? Why did you leave him alone at the hospital? Which hospital is he in? I¡¯ll get someone to fetch him. After all, there¡¯s a medical team in Harrick Vi. Benny can also receive an IV drip at home. Why does he need to stay at the hospital?¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze and pursed her lips, looking rather uneasy. Unlike her, Cedrick was as cool as a cucumber. ¡°Charles is keeping Bennypany at the hospital. He¡¯s Benny¡¯s godfather. He¡¯ll take good care of Benny.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and chimed in, ¡°Cedrick and I wanted to stay at the hospital at first. However, Zendy was hungry, so we brought her back to feed her some milk.¡± The couple skirted the reason Benedict had to stay at the hospital. Still, Cedrick had revealed it was a cold, and everything was well taken care of. The others could only take it for what it was. Nevertheless, Valentino noticed something was wrong with Cedrick¡¯s attitude. When he answered me, his tone was indifferent. Valentino heaved a sigh and said, ¡°Ced, follow me. I would like to talk to you in private.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t say a word in response. Valentino wheeled himself out of the vi. ¡°Follow me.¡± Cedrick nced at Valentino in silence and noticed how hard it was for him to wheel himself. Left without a choice, he stepped forward and helped him. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Gwendolyn stared at Cedrick¡¯s and Valentino¡¯s retreating figures in a daze, and she only regained her senses when Summer called out to her. ¡°Gwendolyn, I bought an ice cream cake. Benny should be done with his IV drip by dinner, right? Should we fetch him so the kids could blow out the candle together and have cake?¡± Summer suggested. ¡°No. Benny is weak now, and he needs to stay at the hospital for a few days before he can return home.¡± Inez, who was nearby, uttered, ¡°Poor Benny. He¡¯s spending his birthday at the hospital. Perhaps we should video call Mr. Newton when we cut the birthday caketer. Otherwise, Benny would feel left out.¡± Again, Gwendolyn rejected the suggestion, ¡°No. Benny has been on an IV drip since earlier today. It¡¯s too exhausting for him to talk to everyone during the video call¡­¡± When the others heard that, they had no choice but to go along with her wishes. Asher was sitting on the couch, staring at Gwendolyn fixedly. He had known Gwendolyn all his life, so he could tell when she was lying and hiding something. What is she trying to hide? Is Benny in trouble? Asher grew suspicious, but he didn¡¯t dare to question her. He had shown up at Harrick Vi with birthday gifts for the kids, and Gwendolyn had finally invited him in. Although Gwendolyn didn¡¯t acknowledge his presence, he could feel their rtionship improving, and that was more than he could ask for. Besides, if he were to ask Gwendolyn there and then, she wouldn¡¯t tell him the truth because she didn¡¯t trust him. Asher swiftlyposed his thoughts and went to spend time with Zendaya and Sienna. Outside, Cedrick and Valentino arrived in a quiet corner in the backyard. ¡°Stop here, Ced,¡± Valentino said. Cedrick let go of the wheelchair and took a step backward. He stood straight, exuding an elegant aura. Valentino turned the smart wheelchair around to face Cedrick. It was an awkward angle because Cedrick was too tall, so Valentino had to lift his head to look at him. ¡°Could you please squat down, Ced? If I keep my head lifted, my neck will hurt.¡± Cedrick pursed his lips and lowered his gaze to conceal the emotions in his eyes. After a few minutes of hesitation, he squatted before Valentino in a perfect military posture. He was around a meter away from Valentino. Valentino was heartbroken when he saw that. ¡°I¡¯m not punishing you, so you don¡¯t have to squat like that. Now, I won¡¯t interfere in your matters anymore because you¡¯re a man capable of handling everything on your own. I won¡¯t be as harsh on you as when you were little. Just make yourself comfortable.¡± Without lifting his gaze to meet Valentino¡¯s, Cedrick said tly, ¡°I¡¯m used to it now.¡± As a matter of fact, Cedrick couldn¡¯t bring himself to act casually even if he wanted to. Valentino sighed lightly and reached out his wrinkly hand to Cedrick. However, Cedrick was too far away. ¡°Could you pleasee closer, Ced? I can¡¯t reach you.¡± Cedrick hesitated for even longer than before. After a few minutes, he finally rose to his feet before walking toward Valentino and squatting down again. Valentino was filled with emotions as he gently touched Cedrick¡¯s hair. ¡°Ced, you¡¯re angry at me, aren¡¯t you? You think I don¡¯t trust you because I nted an old subordinate of mine in the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a spy and I¡¯ve wronged you and yourte parents?¡± When Valentino finished talking, his fingers were trembling, and he was breathing heavily. Cedrick felt the affection in his grandfather¡¯s gesture and replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Valentino gently knocked the side of Cedrick¡¯s head. Although Valentino sounded stern, he had nothing but love for Cedrick. As one of the most powerful military figures in history, Valentino had never given in to anyone. Astonished, Cedrick uttered truthfully, ¡°I was angry at first, but I never thought you had wronged me, Grandpa.¡± Cedrick understood the reason behind Valentino¡¯s decision. Since Valentino had already lost his eldest son and daughter-inw forever, he couldn¡¯t also put his other two sons at risk. Valentino had been very strict with Cedrick ever since he took him in. Although he would punish him from time to time, he had never mistreated or wronged him. Prior to that, Cedrick couldn¡¯t ovee the hurdle in his heart, so he ended up not visiting Valentino for over a few months. When Cedrick heard Valentino talking softly, however, the negative feelings he had seemed to have dissipated gradually. Right then, Valentino teared up a little and patted Cedrick¡¯s broad shoulder with his trembling hand. For the first time, Valentino exined in a serious tone, ¡°I didn¡¯t nt my ex-subordinate there to keep an eye on you. I know you needed time to establish your position. I wanted to help you so that they would obey you and support your decisions. I was harsh on you, but I wasn¡¯t trying to use you. It¡¯s just that¡­ I don¡¯t know how to love you.¡± Chapter 679 Chapter 679 Valentino¡¯s eyes were brimmed with tears, and his hand on Cedrick¡¯s shoulder was trembling slightly. In a sorrowful tone, he said, ¡°I was wrong. Out of all the sons and grandsons I have, I chose to sacrifice you. I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t resent me, Ced¡­¡± Cedrick also teared up a little as he kept mum. Over so many years, Grandpa has always been the elder I love and respect the most. I would never hate him. Even if Grandpa wants me to resign and let Xander take control of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I still won¡¯t resent him. One monthter, Benedict was still receiving conservative treatment in theboratory. While he was so weak that all he could do was stay in bed, Zendaya had learned to run and call out names. Early one morning, Charles arrived at Harrick Vi to bring Zendaya to the oceanarium. After arriving at the oceanarium, Charles carried Zendaya to the dolphinarium to see dolphins. Zendaya was thrilled and giggling merrily when she saw a dolphin swimming around in the water. Seeing that she was staring fixedly at the dolphin, Charles gave the staff a signal with his gaze. Immediately after, the staff beckoned the dolphin over. In the next moment, the dolphin was seen swimming swiftly to the edge of the water and sticking its head up to Zendaya and Charles. ¡°Zendy, this is my birthday gift to you. Do you like it?¡± Charles asked. Zendaya smiled brightly and reached out her tiny hand to the dolphin. Charles guided her tiny hand so that she could touch the dolphin¡¯s head. The dolphin¡¯s head was soft and smooth, and it was so cute that it could melt anyone¡¯s heart. The highly intelligent dolphin made Zendaya giggle even harder by tilting its head and rubbing its head against her palm. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Suddenly, Charles put Zendaya down by the pool and said in a gentle tone, ¡°Zendy, be a good girl and stay here, okay? I need to answer a phone call. I¡¯ll be away for a couple of minutes. Don¡¯t go anywhere.¡± Zendaya was only a little over one-year-old, so there was no telling if she understood those words. She smiled sweetly at Charles and mumbled, ¡°Uncle¡­ Charles¡­¡± ¡°Good girl, Zendy.¡± Charles caressed her head dotingly and went to a corner of the oceanarium to answer his phone. Zendaya squatted at the edge of the pool and yed with the dolphin. When she saw the dolphin swimming around freely in the water, she wanted to do the same. As soon as she toddled toward the pool, a figure dashed toward her from the side and picked her up by the waist. When Charles returned after the phone call, he saw a female staff carrying Zendaya in her arms. Zendaya seemed to be on the verge of crying. ¡°What happened here?¡± Charles asked with suspicion. The female staff turned around and replied in a serious tone, ¡°Ms. Zendaya wanted to jump into the pool to y with the dolphin just now. The water¡¯s too cold. If I hadn¡¯t picked her up in time, she could¡¯ve caught a cold or drowned.¡± Charles took Zendaya into his arms and consoled her before saying to the female staff, ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll tell the finance department of the oceanarium to reward you with three months¡¯ worth of bonus.¡± Stunned, the woman furrowed her brows. ¡°Mr. Newton, that¡¯s not what I meant¡­¡± Tenderness would only appear in Charles¡¯ blue eyes when he looked at Gwendolyn and Zendaya. However, his gaze would always be icy when he looked at others. In response to the woman¡¯s words, he said nonchntly, ¡°If you want more, tell the finance department.¡± The woman¡¯s frown deepened, and she insisted, ¡°I didn¡¯t save Ms. Zendaya to get rewarded.¡± She paused and continued in a slightly reprimanding tone, ¡°Something bad could¡¯ve happened to Ms. Zendaya if I hadn¡¯t shown up in the nick of time. Even if your business deal was worth hundreds of millions, it couldn¡¯t possibly outweigh Ms. Zendaya¡¯s life, could it? Since you¡¯re out with the child, Mr. Newton, you shouldn¡¯t be busy with work. You should prioritize the child¡¯s safety.¡± Charles hadn¡¯t been criticized much ever since he became the person in charge of the Newton family. He slowly raised his gaze at the woman in uniform in front of him. After taking a closer look, he found the woman familiar. Where have I seen her before? I can¡¯t remember, but even if I did, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s anyone important. ¡°You¡¯re not from Chanaea?¡± he asked. ¡°My mom is, so I¡¯m half-Chanaean and a mixed-blood.¡± Charles retracted his gaze casually. ¡°With your looks and figure, you could have a bright future in a modeling career. Why are you working in an oceanarium?¡± The woman lowered her gaze and answered, ¡°I came from abroad to look for someone in Chanaea.¡± ¡°You might have trouble finding that person because Chanaea is huge. Tell me his appearance, characteristics, and name. As your reward, I¡¯ll help you find him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯ve already found him.¡± The woman concealed the disappointment in her eyes and turned around to leave the dolphinarium. ¡°Ms. Zendaya, Mr. Newton, I¡¯ll wait outside.¡± Charles nced at her retreating figure and didn¡¯t think too much about the interlude. He gently tapped the tip of Zendaya¡¯s nose and grumbled, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to wait by the pool, Zendy? Why did you want to jump into the water? Although the dolphin knows how to swim, you don¡¯t. What if you drown in there?¡± Zendaya blinked and stared at him adorably. Charles couldn¡¯t bring himself to reprimand her, so he pinched her cheek lightly and said, ¡°If Gwendolyn and Cedrick find out that you almost drowned under my watch, they¡¯ll be angry. Do you really want to see your mommy scold me?¡± Zendaya seemed to understand some of the words because she whimpered and buried her head in his chest. She even rubbed her head against his chest in a cute way. With a palm over her bottom, Charles hugged her tightly and walked toward the exit. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. We should head home. I¡¯ll bring you here again to see the dolphins, Zendy.¡± Zendaya pursed her lips and pointed at the dolphin in the water. ¡°Ben¡­ Benny¡­¡± she mumbled. Charles froze momentarily as guilt washed over him. His gaze slightly darkened when he said, ¡°Benny has fallen sick, so he can¡¯t be out with us to see the dolphins. However, this oceanarium belongs to him. He can keep anything he wants in this oceanarium in the future.¡± Zendaya seemed to understand that Benedict was sick. She held onto Charles¡¯ suit and stayed obedient in his arms. When the two came out of the dolphinarium, the woman who saved Zendaya was standing outside. Charles halted in his tracks when she walked past her and shot her a side nce. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Startled, the woman clutched her pants and replied, ¡°Whitney Mellor.¡± Charles muttered the name under his breath and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Chapter 680 Chapter 680 Unable to recall where he had heard those words before, he replied in an unconcerned tone, ¡°All right. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± With a dignified stride in his elegant ck shoes, Charles departed without looking back. Whitney¡¯s gaze lingered on his retreating figure, her eyes filling with a hint of mncholy and a touch of disappointment. Subsequently, Charles personally sought out the director of the oceanarium to deliver a significant announcement. ¡°Appoint the dolphin caretaker, Whitney Mellor, as the new manager. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, she shall receive a year-end bonus, to be disbursed together with this month¡¯s sry.¡± The director of the oceanarium was astounded. ¡°Certainly, Mr. Newton. It is truly an honor for her to receive a personal appointment from you.¡± Charles did not say anything further and merely departed the oceanarium with Zendaya in his arms. It had been days since the little girl saw her older brother. Thus, Charles drove to theboratory, where Gwendolyn and Cedrick were tending to Benedict as he received intravenous treatment. Charles retrieved his tablet, opened the video interface, and handed it to Gwendolyn. ¡°This is a video I took of Zendy while she was ying with the dolphins. Even though Benny couldn¡¯t go, I thought he would be happy to see his oceanarium.¡± She epted the tablet and tapped the y button before gently cing the device in Benedict¡¯s arms. ¡°My sweet Benny, this is a video of Zendy ying with the dolphins. Do you like it? Once you¡¯re feeling better, I will take you to see the dolphins in person, all right?¡± Benedict was not yet proficient in speaking, and his learning abilities appeared to develop at a slower pacepared to his sister. Nheless, as he gazed at the video capturing his sister¡¯s delightful interaction with the dolphins, he instinctively extended his delicate hand toward the screen, a gesture of longing to experience the sensation of touching the dolphins. The contagious joy radiating from his sister¡¯s beaming smile reached deep within him, eliciting a faint yet heartfelt smile that graced his fragile countenance. As Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, a deep sense of indebtedness toward Benedict overwhelmed her. Cedrick, sensing her self-me, enfolded her in his embrace, his touch a soothing balm upon her troubled heart. ¡°Our dear Benedict is only just over a year old, yet he already has an entire national- scale oceanarium to call his own. He is a truly blessed and fortunate child,¡± he reassured her. Gwendolyn nodded, finding sce in the warmth of Cedrick¡¯s embrace as she leaned against his shoulder. Meanwhile, Charles silently stood by the door as he observed the blissful scene of the family gathered around the bed. With aposed expression, he decided not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere and quietly exited the room, gently carrying Zendaya in his arms as they left the ward together. Seated on a bench in the corridor, the little girl fixed her gaze upon the tightly shut door of the ward. Her tender voice filled with yearning as she called out, ¡°D-Daddy, Mommy¡­¡± ¡°Benny is not feeling well right now, and Mommy and Daddy are with him, watching videos. Let¡¯s not interrupt them. How about I take you to y on the slide, Zendy?¡± Charles suggested. Despite only understanding the words ¡°slide¡± and ¡°y,¡± Zendaya eagerly nodded and wrapped her arms around her godfather¡¯s neck. Charles, content with her agreement, led her away from theboratory and toward the dedicated children¡¯s y area in a nearby shopping mall. Time ticked off just like that, and four years had gracefully unfolded since. Within the diamond suite of the five-star establishment, Hotel Be, Charles exuded an air of regality. His refined countenance, adorned with eyes as exquisite as sapphires, betrayed no emotions, remaining detached and tranquil. Savoring a ss of red wine, he remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. Within the confines of the suite, seated across the dining table, was a woman. She was none other than Jessamyn Cloud, the heiress of the esteemed Cloudington Group and Charles¡¯ blind date for the evening. Jessamyn gazed upon his handsome visage, her voice filled with gentleness. ¡°Mr. Newton, you¡¯re even more handsome in person than in your photographs. As this is our first meeting, I¡¯m curious to know your impression of me.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Charles remainedposed, not lifting his eyes as he responded with a nonchnt tone, ¡°You¡¯re all right.¡± Perceiving his casual response, Jessamyn couldn¡¯t help but feel a hint of displeasure. ¡°There have been whispers, Mr. Newton, that you have carried feelings for someone, someone whom you have adamantly resisted pursuing a romantic rtionship or contemting marriage with over the past four years,¡± she started. Pausing briefly, Jessamyn inquired, ¡°Is it true that you still love her?¡± Charles froze for a moment, slipping into thought. With measuredposure, he gently ced the ss back on the table. ¡°Had I not relinquished my unwavering attachment to her, I would not have ventured into this very hotel to partake in a blind date with you, Ms. Cloud,¡± he intoned. Four years had passed, and the bond between Cedrick and Gwendolyn remained unaffected, thriving with each passing day as if they were still in the early stages of their passionate love. Charles knew deep down that he had no chance; not now, not ever. This blind date was a consequence of his years of being in control of the Newton family yet never getting married or having the opportunity to start a family. The constant pressure from the elders to continue the family lineage weighed heavily on his mind, leaving him with no choice but toply with their arrangements. Perhaps, indeed, he should find apatible partner, someone with whom he could spend a lifetime in mutual respect. Charles swiftlyposed his thoughts, his azure eyes revealing depths untold, as he absentmindedly toyed with the diamond-encrusted watch adorning his wrist. As Jessamyn continued to observe him, a growing sense of dissatisfaction filled her heart. She gathered her cascading curls and assumed a haughty posture, asserting, ¡°Mr. Newton, you are undoubtedly handsome, and as the head of the Newton family, you possess immense wealth. However, let it be known that my family, the Cloud family, is also a distinguished and influential household within high society with an impable reputation.¡± With a deliberate emphasis on thest few words, she continued, ¡°Rumors have it that you had a previous altercation with Mr. Jenson, which resulted in a lengthy stay in a high-security prison. Is there any truth to this, I wonder?¡± As the mention of his dark past surfaced, Charles remainedposed, his deep blue eyes remaining calm and serene. ¡°Indeed,¡± he replied, devoid of any unnecessary emotions. Jessamyn lifted her chin, and her tone took on a bitter edge. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it appears that you and I may not be a perfect match in terms of social standing.¡± ¡°If you believe that we¡¯re ipatible, you¡¯re free to leave immediately, Ms. Cloud,¡± Charles respondedposedly, unwilling to entertain any further discourse on the matter. The woman was taken aback, never expecting that he wouldn¡¯t utter a single word of entreaty. Does he think he¡¯s too good for me? How dare a man with a tarnished past have the audacity to reject me, the beloved daughter of the Cloud family? She pouted and spoke in a flirtatious tone. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s our first meeting, and I thought it would be nice to get to know each other better. But if you¡¯refortable with it, could you please share with me why you ended up in prison?¡± Charles nonchntly poured himself a ss of red wine and responded, ¡°I stole something and attempted to poison Cedrick. He caught me, gave me a good beating, and I was sent to a high-security prison for some strict reeducation. Consequently, I also lost my position as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.¡± The recounting of those past events, spoken in such a nonchnt manner, sent a shiver down Jessamyn¡¯s spine. At that moment, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a certain unease, realizing the audacity and fearlessness of the man before her. ¡°Mr. Newton, to think that you had the audacity to go against Mr. Jenson and even attempted to poison him. If we were to be together in the future and have disagreements, would you resort to such extreme measures against me as well?¡± As the man remained unresponsive, Jessamyn took some time to bolster her own mental fortitude. With a touch of arrogance, she continued, ¡°Considering your controversial past, it would be quite challenging for even the influential Newton family to secure a fitting match for you among the esteemed households of Salinsburgh.¡± Charles maintained a cid demeanor, offering no verbal response as he attentively listened. Concealing her hidden intentions, Jessamyn pressed on, ¡°Nevertheless, no one is without ws, and I am genuinely open to the idea of dating you, Mr. Newton, and perhaps even exploring the possibilities of engagement and marriage down the road.¡± ¡°However, I have one condition. If we are together, you must obey me in everything and prioritize me above all else. There shall be no room for negotiations, and everything will be decided by me. Furthermore, for our engagement, you must offer me three percent of Newton Group¡¯s shares, and for our marriage, a minimum of five percent of the shares. Our first child must bear my surname, and if circumstances allow for a second child, only then can they bear your surname. However, if I choose not to have another child, you cannot force me,¡± she demanded. With no intentions of backing down, Jessamyn continued to list her demands, saying, ¡°When I am happy, you must be there to share my joy. When I am unhappy, you mustfort me. In short, everything must be done ording to my wishes, with me being ced at the forefront of your heart.¡± Chapter 681 Chapter 681 Charles furrowed his brow as he listened to her increasingly audacious demands. ¡°Newton Group is arge enterprise. Do you know what it means to hold a five percent stake in the company?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware,¡± came the woman¡¯s nonchnt response. ¡°A five percent stake holds considerable value, but my family¡¯s also well-off. As the cherished daughter of the esteemed Cloud family, plenty of men from the city and beyond are willing to go to great lengths to marry me. With such a dowry, you should consider yourself fortunate to have the opportunity, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± Charles¡¯ eyes grew distant and cold, his discontent visibly etched on his face. The blind date had reached an unprecedented level of disappointment, tarnishing his mood for the entire day. Even so, he remained unresponsive to the woman¡¯s words and merely reached for the silver fork on the table, casually picking up a few nuts from the exquisitelyid-out banquet. After she waited for what seemed like an eternity without a single word of ttery from him, Jessamyn¡¯s impatience got the better of her. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why are you silent? Do you honestly believe that any other woman, apart from me, would be willing to give their attention to a man with a tarnished past like yours? In fact, Charles Newton, I am willing to be with you, to give our rtionship a chance, and even consider our future together. You should feel honored,¡± she dered, her tone growing more intense. A sense of urgency permeated her words as if she anticipated his immediate submission and heartfelt appreciation for her so-called generosity. Just then, the door to the diamond suite creaked open. A small head poked through the opening. With round and lively eyes, the child surveyed the scene within the room. Upon spotting Charles, the little figure darted into the suite and, with a voice as melodious as silver bells, sweetly called out, ¡°Daddy!¡± Both Jessamyn and Charles were caught off guard. As thetter turned his head, he was greeted by the sight of five-year-old Zendaya, bounding toward him on her tiny legs, her arms outstretched in a warm embrace. ¡°Carry me, Daddy!¡± Charles¡¯ earlier somber mood dissipated instantly as he bent down, scooped her up into his embrace, and seated her on hisp. The little girl reached up with her tiny hands, tenderly brushing her cheek against his. ¡°Hugs, Daddy!¡± Charles gazed at the precious little one before him, unable to resist the urge to affectionately ruffle her soft locks. Confused and bewildered, Jessamyn watched their interaction for a while, her disbelief evident on her face. ¡°Charles Newton, you haven¡¯t even been married yet, and you already have an illegitimate daughter of this age! How can you have the audacity to go on a blind date with me?¡± Zendaya pouted, turning to give her a defiant look. ¡°I¡¯m not an illegitimate daughter! I¡¯m Daddy¡¯s little princess. My mommy is more beautiful, more gentle, has a better temperament, and is even wealthier than you!¡± Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. With a slight smirk, she continued, ¡°Ms. Cloud, it seems like the mirror in your house is ying tricks on you. You¡¯ve never truly seen your own face. Compared to my handsome daddy, you¡¯re so old and ugly. You two are not a match at all!¡± ¡°How dare you call me old and ugly? You are such an ill-mannered little brat! And, Charles, aren¡¯t you going to say something?¡± Jessamyn thundered. A smile yed on his lips as he kept his eyes fixed on Zendaya, opting to ignore Jessamyn¡¯s words. The little girl continued, ¡°Daddy, isn¡¯t there a trendy term to describe suchdies? Something that starts with the letter ¡®D¡¯?¡± ¡°Delusional?¡± Charles tenderly chimed in. ¡°Yeah, a delusionaldy! Ms. Cloud, I think the term suits you perfectly!¡± Zendaya eximed with a mischievous grin. Her lively and mischievous nature reminded him so much of young Gwendolyn from years ago, and her little face bore a striking resemnce to her mother¡¯s. A sense of fulfillment washed over Charles as he observed the little girl bravely standing up for him. Jessamyn¡¯s fury threatened to unravel her poise as a refineddy, and her re pierced Charles with intensity. ¡°You have a child with your lover, yet you have the audacity to present yourself as unmarried and pursue a blind date with me? Charles Newton, your behavior is utterly disrespectful! It seems that you hold no regard for the Cloud family. You have treated me as nothing more than a mere spectacle!¡± The man remained silent, but it was little Zendaya who fired back first on his behalf. ¡°The Cloud family? Which corner did they crawl out from? I¡¯ve only heard of the Harris, Jenson, and Newton families. They¡¯re the top three families of Chanaea, so where does the Cloud family even fit in?¡± Charles responded with a chuckle, ¡°It appears that the Cloud family hasn¡¯t quite made it to the top ten of the wealthy elite.¡± The exchange left Jessamyn bereft of words. ¡°Oh, then why should Daddy even bother to consider the Cloud family?¡± Zendaya¡¯s obsidian eyes sparkled with mischief. ¡°Daddy, I don¡¯t want this old, ugly, and meandy to be my stepmother. She¡¯s like a stinky pile of poop. She can¡¯t possibly be a good match for you!¡± Her words continued to outrage Jessamyn, whose anger reached its boiling point. As the cherished daughter of the prestigious Cloud family, she had never experienced such humiliation before. Beingpared to a repulsive pile of excrement by a mere child was unbearable. Rising to her feet, she dered, ¡°Charles, your tolerance of your daughter¡¯s disrespectful behavior is a clear indication of your family¡¯sck of proper upbringing. In that case, I¡¯ll teach her a lesson on your behalf!¡± Zendaya immediately nestled into Charles¡¯ embrace, her voice filled with a sense of helplessness. ¡°Daddy, protect me. This meandy wants to bully me!¡± Holding the little girl in his arms, Charles locked his intense gaze onto Jessamyn. ¡°If you even dare to lay a finger on her, tomorrow, the entire Cloudington Group will crumble into bankruptcy. Consider the consequences carefully,¡± he warned. Jessamyn hesitated, noticing the chilling seriousness in his expression. While the Clouds had a business partnership with the Newtons, severing it would undoubtedly cause considerable harm. However, the idea of bankruptcy seemed a bit far-fetched. Despite herck of knowledge about Zendaya¡¯s status as the precious daughter of the Harris and Jenson families, Jessamyn¡¯s confidence wavered. She emitted a disdainful huff and mustered a fa?ade of resilience. ¡°Charles Newton, do not assume that this matter is settled. We shall see how things unfold.¡± ¡°Goodbye, then,¡± Charles responded coolly while doting on the little treasure in his arms. Seething with frustration, Jessamyn stormed out of the room, her dignity in tatters before the father- daughter duo. Once the woman had departed, Charles tenderly released his hold on Zendaya and took a seat on a nearby chair. He raised his finger and yfully tapped the tip of the girl¡¯s nose, his voice carrying a mixture of tenderness and seriousness. ¡°Zendy, you haven¡¯t been behaving properly. You disrupted an important matter for me, and moreover, if Cedrick discovers that you¡¯ve been calling me ¡®Daddy¡¯ instead of ¡®Uncle Charles¡¯ in public, he won¡¯t be very happy. You might find yourself in a bit of trouble.¡± Zendaya¡¯s lips turned downward as she instinctively rubbed her soft little bottom,ining about her father, ¡°Daddy is the meanest! If he finds out, he¡¯ll surely spank me again. Daddy¡¯s spankings hurt a lot. He¡¯s so strict and fierce. I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Charles¡¯ heart ached for her, and he pulled her back into his embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here for you, Zendy. If your daddy ever spanks you again, you can run away from home ande to the Newton residence. I¡¯ll protect you, all right?¡± he assured her. With her mischievous eyes shining, Zendaya giggled happily. She leaned in close to Charles and whispered, ¡°You know, whenever Daddy spanks me, I go crying to Mommy and tattle on him. Mommy is like Daddy¡¯s arch-nemesis, and she always drags him by the ear and takes him back to their room for a good scolding!¡± A triumphant expression adorned her cherubic face as she asked, ¡°Am I clever, Uncle Charles?¡± Charles struggled to contain hisughter as the image of Gwendolyn scolding Cedrick and him meekly apologizing yed in his mind. It brought him an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, and he wholeheartedlymended Zendaya, ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Zendy. If your daddy ever tries to mistreat you again, you should definitely give him a taste of his own medicine.¡± He leaned closer to Zendaya¡¯s ear, and his voice hushed as he shared his mischievous strategies for exacting revenge on Cedrick. Chapter 682 Chapter 682 Hearing that, Zendaya eximed in excitement, ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! The next time I get a chance, I must try it with Daddy!¡± Charles smiled and abstained from indulging in the exquisite seafood feast spread on the table. Instead, he delicately peeled a shrimp, dipped it in sauce, and fed it to Zendaya. Zendaya¡¯s cheeks bulged as Charles fed her bite after bite within just two minutes. ¡°Uncle Charles, please slow down. I haven¡¯t finished eating yet.¡± Charles patiently fetched a tissue and wiped the oil stains from the corner of her mouth. ¡°Is it delicious?¡± ¡°Delicious!¡± Zendaya smiled sweetly and asked, ¡°Uncle Charles, why do you want to go on a blind date? Are you nning to get married? Uncle Charles, after you get married, will you still pamper me like this?¡± Charles gently ruffled her hair and ced a tender kiss on her forehead. ¡°Uncle Charles loves you the most, Zendy. No one can ever rece the special ce you hold in my heart.¡± He gazed at Zendaya¡¯s delicate face which reminded him of Gwendolyn¡¯s when she was young. Taking her little hand in his, he ced it gently over his heart. ¡°Little Zendy, you reside right here in my heart. This special ce will always be reserved for you.¡± Although Zendaya was not his biological daughter, and they had no blood rtion, she was an irreceable treasure in his life. Zendaya blinked her cute and mischievous eyes and asked, ¡°What about Benny? Where does he live in your heart?¡± Charles¡¯ jawline tightened, and the smile on his face slowly faded. He remained silent for a moment, unable to find the words to respond. He felt a deep sense of guilt toward Benedict. Every time he saw Benedict¡¯s frail and sickly condition, he couldn¡¯t help but feel an overwhelming sense of remorse, as if he hadmitted a grave crime. In the past few years, he had tried every possible means to please Benedict and make amends for his actions. However, when it came to Benedict¡­ Charles lowered his gaze, lost in deep contemtion. Zendaya noticed his sadness and reached out to cup his handsome face in her tiny hands. She spoke with a sincere andforting tone. ¡°Uncle Charles, don¡¯t be sad. Benny doesn¡¯t want to see you right now because he¡¯s not feeling well and is in a bad mood. But I¡¯m sure he wille to understand that you¡¯re a good person, and he will like you just as much as I do.¡± Charles pressed his lips together, wearing a slightly bitter expression. He let out a sigh. ¡°Zendy, you don¡¯t understand. I have done something that has caused harm to Benny, and because of that, Benny won¡¯t forgive me.¡± Benedict was incredibly intelligent. At just five years old, he could solve math problems that were typically given in the first year of junior high school. However, he was also introverted, quiet, and rarely smiled. Since Benedict was incredibly intelligent, it was impossible to conceal the truth of his illness from him. Benedict had picked up on the clues during his previous conversations with Cedrick, leading him to deduce the true cause of his condition. Since then, Benedict refused to see Charles and rejected any gifts that Charles offered him. Zendaya pursed her lips, her big doe eyes blinking as mischievous thoughts swirled in her mind. ¡°Benny must still be in theboratory for infusions. I¡¯ll take you there, Uncle Charles. Benny loves me very much. With me there, he will definitely meet you.¡± Half an hourter, Zendaya quietly opened the door to theboratory that doubled as a ward and looked inside. On the hospital bed, a five-year-old boy with a handsome and delicate face leaned against the headboard as he received an IV drip. He gazed out the window, watching the leaves rustling in the wind. He was alone in the room. Zendaya poked her head into the room and let out a curious exmation. ¡°Benny, where¡¯s Mommy?¡± Benedict snapped out of his thoughts and turned his attention to Zendaya standing at the door. He spoke in a calm andposed tone. ¡°Mommy went to handle an urgent matter regarding Harris Group.¡± Zendaya¡¯s heart melted as she felt sorry for him. She asked with concern, ¡°Have you been alone the whole morning receiving the drip?¡± Benedict showed no expression as he responded, ¡°I convinced Mommy to leave. I don¡¯t need anyone to apany me, including you¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Zendaya swiftly removed her shoes, climbed onto a small stool, and with nimble movements, made her way onto the hospital bed next to him. ¡°Then let me apany you during your infusion. I¡¯m your sweetheart, and I want to protect you.¡± Benedict¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and as he was about to say something, he noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye near the door. Benedict¡¯s eyes narrowed as he noticed someone standing outside the room. From the glimpse of a dark suit cuff, he could tell it was a man. Benedict¡¯s brows furrowed, his eyes growing colder as he sensed the presence of the man. Wherever Zendaya was, the man seemed to always be lurking nearby. He refused straight away, ¡°I don¡¯t need your protection, get out.¡± ¡°No, I want to stay¡­¡± Zendaya held his wrist, pleading with him using her innocent and pitiful expression, ¡°I did something naughty today, and if Daddy finds out, he will definitely punish me. This is the safest ce for me right now! You¡¯ll protect me, won¡¯t you? I know you don¡¯t want to see me get punished by Daddy. Benny, you¡¯re the best!¡± She was incredibly clingy. Once shetched onto him, it was impossible to shake her off. Benedict was momentarily at a loss for words, finding himself unable to resist her persistence. After a brief pause, he emphasized, ¡°You can stay, but please don¡¯t disturb me, and definitely don¡¯t bring any irrelevant individuals with you.¡± ¡°Eh¡­¡± Zendaya blinked, feigning innocence as a slight hint of guilt flickered in her eyes. ¡°Benny, who do you consider as the irrelevant person?¡± Benedict was expressionless. His handsome and cold little facecked the innocence one would expect from a five-year-old child. Instead, it exuded a calm and indifference that surpassed his young age. Benedict¡¯s words carried an undertone as he replied, ¡°The irrelevant person is well aware of it.¡± The door was slightly ajar, allowing Charles to overhear the conversation between the siblings inside the room. He could also clearly observe Benedict¡¯s cold attitude toward him. He gripped the doorknob tightly, sighing silently. A bitter sense of guilt overwhelmed Charles¡¯ heart. Feeling helpless, Charles turned around silently, nning to leave without disturbing them further. As Charles turned his head, he caught sight of Cedrick in a dark green military uniform, exuding an air of dignity and authority as he walked down the corridor toward him. The two men locked eyes, and Charles was the first to break the silence. ¡°Mr. Jenson, have you just completed your official duties with the Federal Bureau of Investigation?¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Cedrick hummed lightly, adopting a casual tone. ¡°Gwenny went to thepany to handle some matters, and Benny is alone in theb. I came since I have some free time. Why are you standing at the door instead of going in?¡± Charles lowered his eyes, avoiding direct eye contact with Cedrick, and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve finished my visit. I should go back to Newton Group now.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t try to persuade him to stay. Instead, he asked, ¡°Did Zendye with you? Is she in the ward?¡± Right at that moment, Cedrick¡¯s voice reached the ward from outside the corridor. Zendaya was shocked and looked for a hiding ce in a panic. ¡°It¡¯s over, Daddy is here! He must have come to catch me!¡± Benedict leaned against the headboard, staring at her indifferently. ¡°Hush! Benny, don¡¯t make a sound. I need to hide first!¡± The ward was clean and devoid of any hiding spots, leaving Zendaya with no choice but to hastily climb into her brother¡¯s bed, seeking refuge. Benedict didn¡¯t know what to say. Looking at the small protrusion under the nket, he couldn¡¯t help but shake his head in resignation. As Zendaya concealed herself, Cedrick opened the door to the ward. With a deep and intense gaze, Cedrick surveyed the ward and asked Benedict, ¡°Benny, where is your sister?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Benedict shook his head, subconsciously covering for his sister. Cedrick¡¯s quick and observant eyes immediately caught sight of the suspicious bulge under the nket, and he approached it with light steps. Hearing no movement in the ward, Zendaya whispered from under the nket, ¡°Benny, is Daddy gone?¡± No one answered her. She was suspicious for a moment, and in the next second, the nket on her body was suddenly lifted. Before she could react, Cedrick grabbed her by the back of her cor and lifted her up from the bed. ¡°Help¡­¡± Zendaya¡¯s small body was lifted into the air, her legs iling helplessly as she struggled to break free from Cedrick¡¯s firm grip. Cedrick raised his eyebrows and stared at her with interest. ¡°Zendy, are you ying hide-and-seek with Daddy?¡± Zendaya¡¯s giggles filled the room. After failing to conceal her whereabouts, she quickly changed her approach. She smiled brightly and greeted Cedrick, ¡°Good afternoon, Daddy! You¡¯re so clever¡ªyou found me in no time!¡± Chapter 683 Chapter 683 Cedrick¡¯s lips curved into a smile as he immediately saw through her trick. ¡°Zendy, why are you so attentive to me today? Did you do something wrong?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Zendaya waved her little hands, looking guilty. Cedrick put on a stern expression and reminded her softly, ¡°I love punishing children who lie, so think carefully before deciding whether to tell me the truth.¡± Zendaya pursed her lips, looking dejected. ¡°Daddy, does that mean you know everything?¡± Cedrick nodded and gave her an amused look. ¡°You screwed up the meeting between your Uncle Charles and the daughter of the Cloud family. You also called him Daddy and said your mommy is pretty, gentle, elegant, and rich. Is that right?¡± Zendaya quickly grasped the main point. ¡°Don¡¯t you think Mommy is pretty and gentle? I¡¯m just stating the truth. Daddy, dare you say Mommy isn¡¯t beautiful?¡± Cedrick wasn¡¯t going to fall for her trick. ¡°Your mommy is the most perfect woman to me, but you call someone else your daddy outside. Whose wife do you think your mommy is?¡± As he spoke, his voice grew colder, and a stern expression formed on his face. ¡°Um¡­¡± Zendaya bit her lip, her hands resting uneasily behind her back. Daddy looks horrifying when he¡¯s angry! Zendaya dared not meet his gaze and looked away. What did Uncle Charles tell me when we were eating in the private room again? How should I respond to Daddy? Zendaya had already forgotten everything as she was flustered. Oh, no. I¡¯m going to get spanked! As she racked her brains, she asked softly, ¡°Daddy, are you going to spank me?¡± Cedrick threw the question back to her. ¡°Zendy, you did not behave yourself. Do you deserve to get spanked?¡± Zendaya shook her head and replied feebly, ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m still little, and I don¡¯t support using violence as a form of discipline.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Cedrick sat at the edge of the bed and rolled up his sleeves. He gestured for Zendaya toe over and said, ¡°This has happened too many times. I¡¯ve told you more than five times not to call someone else Daddy, but you still failed to remember it. I need to teach you a lesson so you won¡¯t forget. Come here and lie on your front.¡± Cedrick had been all talk and no action when it came to punishing Zendaya regarding this matter previously. Despite putting on a fierce front, he only patted her twice as a warning. s, Zendaya was too naughty and didn¡¯t take his warning to heart. Gwendolyn was his wife, and that was his bottom line and prerogative. Besides, the person Zendaya called Daddy was his previous love rival. That was uneptable. The more he thought about it, the more furious he became. Cedrick ordered sternly, ¡°Hurry up. If you insist on making me pin you down, I¡¯ll take off your pants and spank you.¡± Zendaya retreated in fear. ¡°I¡¯m already five years old! You can¡¯t take off my pants!¡± As there seemed to be no room for negotiation, Zendaya whirled around and pounced on Benedict. She hugged his little legs as though he was herst hope. ¡°Help me, Benny! I don¡¯t want to get hit. If I die, you will lose a smart, adorable, and sweet little sister!¡± She blinked innocently at Benedict and wailed out loud. Benedict shook his head, showing no intention to save her. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have called someone else Daddy. You deserve the spanking.¡± Zendaya was speechless. Oh, no. Benny doesn¡¯t want to help me. He betrayed me. Mommy isn¡¯t around and can¡¯t save me from getting spanked. In despair, she burst into tears. Cedrick was still waiting at the edge of the bed, showing no intention to wipe off her tears and console her. Afraid that he would take off her pants for real, Zendaya sulkily flopped onto hisp. She kicked her feet in frustration and muttered under her breath, ¡°Nobody loves me. I¡¯ll endure the pain alone! Daddy, you can punish me however you want since nobody loves me¡­¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows as he gazed at the little girl on hisp. I haven¡¯t even hit her, but she¡¯s already acting all pitiful. Who did she learn this from? He pinned her legs down and raised his right hand. ¡°Mr. Jenson, stop!¡± Arge pair of arms appeared in Cedrick¡¯s sight as they covered Zendaya¡¯s butt. Cedrick didn¡¯t even need to look up to know who had stopped him from teaching Zendaya a lesson. Zendaya seemed to have found her new savior as she screamed, ¡°Oh, Uncle Charles, save me! I¡¯m about to be beaten to death!¡± Charles hadn¡¯t left. Concerned for Zendaya¡¯s well-being, he had stayed outside to listen in, worried that Cedrick would punish her. ¡°Mr. Jensen, Zendy has indeed made a mistake this afternoon, but she had a reason for doing so. The daughter of the Cloud family, who was on a blind date with me, insulted me. I chose to ignore her, but she crossed the line. Zendy couldn¡¯t bear to see it, so she stood up for me and responded on my behalf,¡± he exined sincerely as he carefully carried Zendaya from Cedrick¡¯sp. As Cedrick did nothing to stop him, he embraced Zendaya and calmly soothed the sobbing little girl. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t have interfered when you were disciplining Zendy, but this matter is, after all, my fault. I didn¡¯t handle my private affairs well,¡± Charles added. Cedrick gave Charles a sharp look. He didn¡¯t argue or deny Charles¡¯ words, but instead questioned him directly. ¡°It seems that this is more than just an innocent mistake. Zendy is young and still learning, but you, as an adult, knew that she was addressing you improperly and saying things that weren¡¯t justified. Yet, you didn¡¯t stop her or rectify the situation with the Cloud family¡¯s daughter. Is there something else going on here, Charles?¡± Charles was at a loss for words. Zendaya¡¯s cries echoed throughout the room as she clung to Charles¡¯ neck. She hupped and managed to utter, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad at Uncle Charles, Daddy. He doesn¡¯t have any bad intentions. He was just trying to make me happy by letting me do whatever I want. He spoils me because he cares.¡± Cedrick took in her aggrieved expression and sighed out loud. ¡°Zendaya Harris, do you know your mistake now?¡± Zendaya buried her face in Charles¡¯ chest and kept mum. Cedrick¡¯s scowl deepened as he warned, ¡°Consider this your final warning about calling someone else Daddy without reason. If you do it again, I will take strict measures and forbid you from seeing Uncle Charles again. I mean it.¡± The seriousness in his tone made an impact. ¡°I know I was wrong, and I promise I won¡¯t call someone else Daddy again. Please forgive me, Daddy.¡± Zendaya¡¯s fear was palpable as she acknowledged her mistake without hesitation. ¡°No more next time, Zendaya,¡± Cedrick reminded her sternly. Zendaya sobbed, ¡°Yes, Daddy!¡± She grabbed the cor of Charles¡¯ shirt and used it to wipe her snot and tears away. Charles didn¡¯t stop her as he felt bad for her. He said to Cedrick, ¡°Zendy¡¯s eyes are red from crying. I¡¯ll take her to the yground to help cheer her up.¡± Cedrick nodded, agreeing to his suggestion. In fact, he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of spanking Zendaya. Despite his anger, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to intentionally cause her pain. Besides, Zendaya lovedining. Charles soon left with Zendaya in his arms, and the door clicked shut behind them. Benedict, who was hooked up to the IV drip, suddenly said, ¡°Daddy, it seems that your daughter doesn¡¯t really care about you.¡± Chapter 684 Chapter 684 Cedrick was speechless. He turned over his shoulder and noticed Benedict giving him an amused look. Benedict continued asking calmly, ¡°Isn¡¯t that man your previous love rival? That¡¯s why you got so upset when Zendy called him Daddy.¡± Cedrick let out a sigh and gently tousled the little boy¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯re still young, and the matters between adults shouldn¡¯t burden you. Just focus on taking care of yourself and getting better.¡± Benedict raised an eyebrow, mirroring Cedrick¡¯s expression perfectly. He looked like a miniature version of Cedrick. In a defeated tone, he said, ¡°No matter how many IV drips, medicines, or efforts I put in, it feels like I won¡¯t recover. I don¡¯t want to keep tormenting myself.¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart ached as he gently caressed Benedict¡¯s pale face. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. You may be unwell at the moment, but theboratory has developed a serum to treat your condition. Once you regain your health and can handle the potential side effects, Uncle Joshua will ensure yourplete recovery.¡± Benedict didn¡¯t answer him and instead redirected the topic back to Charles¡¯ matter. ¡°Daddy, I know you have the power to make an impact in Chanaea easily. Why didn¡¯t you get rid of that man? Why did you let him spend time with Zendy and make him her godfather?¡± Stunned, Cedrick looked into his son¡¯s eyes which were just like his. ¡°Benedict, you¡¯re only five years old. Do you understand the gravity of what you¡¯re suggesting? Do you know what getting rid of someone means? How did such a thoughte to your mind?¡± Benedict blinked twice, mustering a weak smile. In his usual frail voice, he responded, ¡°Getting rid of someone means they won¡¯t be around anymore, right? I just don¡¯t want to see him. I want him to disappear.¡± Cedrick felt a chill go down his spine. He¡¯s only five. Where did he get that horrible idea from? Am I thinking too much, or is Benny more precocious for his age? After collecting his thoughts, he said to Benedict in a solemn tone, ¡°We cannot take someone¡¯s life just because we want them to disappear. Regardless of my influence, I am not above thew. Charles is not only Zendy¡¯s godfather but also yours. While he may have made some mistakes, he never intended for things to go as far as they did. He has also been there for your mommy and me, doing his best to help us. I can see that he genuinely cares for Zendy and wants to build a rtionship with you as well. He loves you. Can you try to ept him?¡± Benedict hesitated, his pale lips pursed tightly. ¡°I understand that you and Mommy have forgiven him, but I can¡¯t bring myself to like him. In fact, I hate him. He¡¯s the reason I¡¯ve been confined to theb, hooked up to IV drips. He¡¯s the reason I can¡¯t go to kindergarten like other kids and enjoy activities like jumping on a trampoline. Even if you and Mommy are not mad at him, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson in the future.¡± I¡¯ll do that my own way. Shocked, Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but chuckle aloud. ¡°You want to teach him a lesson? What are you gonna do?¡± Benedict shed a mysterious grin. ¡°It¡¯s a secret. I can¡¯t tell you anything.¡± Cedrick let out a sigh and tapped his little nose. ¡°Benny, you¡¯re only five, and you¡¯re already keeping secrets from me?¡± Benedict maintained his sweet smile, his eyes crinkling with an adorable expression reminiscent of Zendaya¡¯s. Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but gaze at the familiar face that mirrored his own, and a sigh escaped from deep within him. He¡¯s only a kid. He must be joking. ¡°Benny, I know you¡¯re incredibly intelligent, and it¡¯s difficult to keep anything hidden from you. You have a keen understanding of things, but I want you to be less sensitive. I want you to have a joyful and carefree childhood, just like Zendy, and not let everything weigh heavily on your heart.¡± Benedict smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Daddy.¡± Cedrick patted his head gently. As he was sympathizing with his son¡¯s fragile condition since birth, his eyes fell upon a stack of books resting on the bedside cab. He rose to his feet and walked over to pick up the books. There was a Mathematical Olympiad workbook and an Anndurn conversation book. The book that caught Cedrick¡¯s attention at the bottom of the pile was a ck one titled Abnormal Psychology. Cedrick furrowed his brows, his breath hitching when he noticed the book. He turned to Benedict and asked, ¡°Have you been reading books of that genre recently?¡± Benedict blinked and answered innocently, ¡°Yes. I was bored, and I don¡¯t like watching cartoons. I want to know what adults are thinking.¡± Cedrick gave him a strange look. ¡°Who gave you this book? Are you sure you understand it?¡± Benedict shook his head. ¡°I got them from a professor. However, this book is too difficult. I can understand some parts of it, but most of it is too challenging for me to grasp. I¡¯ve read it a few times, but I still can¡¯t fullyprehend it. Daddy, can you exin the book to me?¡± Cedrick had a stern expression as he confiscates the book. ¡°This seems like an interesting book, and I¡¯m intrigued by it as well. Why don¡¯t you let me read it first? Once I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll exin it to you in a way that you can understand.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Cedrick heaved a sigh of relief when Benedict agreed readily. He then searched all the cabs in Benedict¡¯s ward. Zendaya was still at the age where she would demand to listen to bedtime stories every night, but Benedict was already tackling math problems from junior high and reading psychological materials intended for adults. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. This stark difference in their development unsettled Cedrick. He checked the entire ward thoroughly to make sure that his son didn¡¯t hide simr books there. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t discover any books. It seems that Benny has only read this one book. ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s wrong? You look nervous.¡± Cedrick returned to the bed and caressed his son¡¯s cheekfortingly. ¡°Benny, let¡¯s focus on age-appropriate books for now. As a five-year-old, it¡¯s important to enjoy storybooks meant for children. We can explore books regarding Mathematical Olympiad and Anndurn when you¡¯re a bit older. How about I get you a set of exciting storybooks?¡± Benedict pouted unhappily. ¡°Storybooks are childish. They may be suitable for Zendy, but I don¡¯t enjoy them. Are you going to take away my only interest and hobby?¡± Cedrick¡¯s hand hovered mid-air, his fingers frozen above Benedict¡¯s cheek. He was at a loss for words, feeling a sharp pang in his heart as he witnessed the hurt expression on Benedict¡¯s face. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that¡­¡± Benedict lowered his gaze despondently. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a monster instead of an ordinary child?¡± ¡°Never!¡± Cedrick responded firmly. ¡°Daddy and Mommy have never thought of you that way. I will protect you, Zendy, and Mommy forever.¡± Feeling the weight of Benedict¡¯s gaze, Cedrick felt his guilt intensify. He looked away, deciding to change the subject. ¡°Benny, I have to step out for ten minutes at most. When Ie back, let¡¯s work on some Mathematical Olympiad questions that you love together, okay?¡± Benedict nodded. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡± Cedrick left Benedict¡¯s ward with Abnormal Psychology and went straight to Joshua. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Cedrick? Why do you look so stern?¡± Cedrick gave him the book. ¡°Did you give this to Benny?¡± Joshua took the book from Cedrick and flipped through its pages carelessly. He pursed his lips, then responded, ¡°Benny is still too young to understand this book. I¡¯m not foolish enough to give such a book to a child.¡± As Cedrick remained doubtful, he insisted, ¡°I didn¡¯t give him this book. He told me he was bored, so I got him a few children¡¯s storybooks with pictures to help him pass the time.¡± Chapter 685 Chapter 685 Joshua noticed Cedrick¡¯s unusually stern expression. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Cedrick?¡± Cedrick was staring at the cover of the book, Abnormal Psychology, and thinking about what Benedict had said to him earlier in the ward. ¡°Benny told me a professor in theb gave it to him, so I came to ask you since you were with him the most. Who else spends that much time with him?¡± He wanted to know if it was a coincidence or a deliberate act to give a five-year-old child something so disturbing. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it,¡± Joshua promised. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be too worried, though, Cedrick. It must have been a coincidence.¡± Cedrick nodded. Five minutester, Joshua found out from the professors on duty in theboratory that it was given by a biochemist named Eugene Yortz. Eugene was an elderly professor of about sixty, with a snow-white beard, a straight nose, and chiseled features. He was not Chanaean. Instead, he was sent from Astoria as part of a coborative project. Joshua led Cedrick to Eugene¡¯s office to pay the professor a visit. ¡°Eugene is a strange fellow,¡± he warned Cedrick in a whisper along the way. ¡°Aside from having a funny character, he¡¯s withdrawn, easily irritable, obsessed with research, and has zero regard for interpersonalmunication skills. The things he does sometimes are bizarre.¡± Behind his back, the other professors called him Professor Nuts. After listening intently, Cedrick mulled it over for a while. It appears that researchers and doctors are weirdos. Wasn¡¯t Kieran initially an oddball? After he got married, he now shares a stable and loving rtionship with Inez. Compared to the earlier version of himself who had devoted his life to research, he seemed to have be an entirely different person. However, Eugene is different. He is sixty years of age. Having had enough of his entricity, his ex- wife left him long ago. As he has no children and did not bother remarrying over the past decade, he may never amend his reclusive nature. While he was thinking, the pair found themselves outside Eugene¡¯s office. Before they opened the door, Joshua repeated gingerly, ¡°Try not to be too blunt when you speak to him, Cedrick. He¡¯s a man who never tters anyone. He does what he wants and speaks his mind when something displeases him. He doesn¡¯t care who you are or what power you wield. Everybody is subjected to the same disdain.¡± Cedrick frowned and thought that he quite liked people like Eugene. However, why would somebody like that give Benedict as strange a journal as Abnormal Psychology? Narrowing his eyes, Cedrick knocked on Eugene¡¯s door. Knock, knock, knock. He knocked thrice in a row. There was no sign of movement in the office, nor was there the sound of someoneing to open the door. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s out on business,¡± Joshua said. ¡°Why don¡¯t I keep an eye here and let you know when he comes back?¡± Cedrick appeared stern. ¡°Nobody saw him leave theb during work hours. He must be in there.¡± With greater force, he rapped the door twice. ¡°All you do is knock.¡± A raspy, irritated voice sounded from the office. ¡°What good would knocking do? Why won¡¯t you say why you¡¯re here? Your mouth is not something you use just to eat, you know.¡± Joshua was sweating profusely on the other side of the door. We have already gotten an earful before we even stepped inside. He nced at Cedrick and cleared his throat. ¡°This is Prof. Mallory. I have something urgent to talk to you about. Open up, please.¡± After a moment¡¯s silence, the doorknob twisted with a click. The office door opened and revealed Eugene, still bleary-eyed, ring at them. ¡°If youe knocking again without stating your intention, Joshua, I¡¯ll assume you¡¯re mute. It¡¯s a waste for you to have a mouth and not use it.¡± Joshua paid no attention to the admonishment as he saw his colleague as an elder who was his father¡¯s age. Being familiar with his temperament, he thought it was unnecessary to take it personally. However, Cedrick said, ¡°You work in a premierboratory in Chanaea, Professor Yortz. How could you be taking a nap during work hours?¡± Eugene turned to Cedrick and scanned him up and down before fixating his gaze on his face. ¡°I opened the door like you wanted, and you¡¯re telling me off,¡± he said huffily. ¡°Feel free to make an anonymous report about me if you think I¡¯m not professional enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Cedrick replied. ¡°Like you, Professor Yortz, I am merely grumbling.¡± Eugene could not resist another nce at Cedrick. ¡°I know who you are. You look a lot like the boy in theb ward, the one who has the S404 RNA virus in him. You must be his¡­¡± Here, he deliberately paused before saying, ¡°Grandfather. Am I right?¡± Joshua failed to stifle augh. That¡¯s another way of calling the handsome Mr. Jenson old. He had never thought he would see the day when Cedrick, who was usually treated with the utmost respect, getmbasted by an entric old man. Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Cedrick scowled. No longer intending to continue discussing that subject, he said straightforwardly, ¡°I am Benny¡¯s father. I¡¯m here today because of him.¡± In just a minute, Cedrick told Eugene about the incident regarding the copy of Abnormal Psychology he had found. Eugene stroked his beard as he sat down on the couch. ¡°Have a seat.¡± His office was a mess. Apart from dirtyundry, newspapers, and unfinished books, expired biscuits, yet uneaten, littered the couch. Cedrick had his hands in the pockets of his military uniform. He found that there was no ce to sit and so did not even consider doing so. Eugene could tell they did not want to, but it did not embarrass him. He picked up his kettle from his cluttered coffee table and poured three sses of water. There was no telling how long the kettle had been sitting there. As he did so, he began to recount his encounter with Benedict. ¡°I took a liking to the boy the moment I met him. He was sitting obediently in bed, getting a drip in his left hand and holding a pencil in his right answering the Mathematical Olympiad workbook with utmost seriousness. I found it fascinating how such a young child possessed such prodigious mathematical faculties, so I began chatting with him. He told me how bored he was as his parents were too busy to see him, so I took the time to drop by his ward and chat with him and bring him some books on Mathematical Olympiad that I thought he would like.¡± After he poured the drinks, he pushed two sses to Cedrick and Joshua, then leaned back against the couch to peruse the copy of Abnormal Psychology that Cedrick had brought. ¡°This copy belongs to me. I dropped by his ward the day before. I was reading while he was doing some math problems. I didn¡¯t expect him to take an interest in this journal, so I lent it to him. It¡¯s as simple as that.¡± Cedrick frowned. ¡°Have you wondered if a book like this would be essible to him at his age?¡± ¡°Benny is only five, Professor Yortz,¡± Joshua added. ¡°Psychology is dangerous stuff. Would you want him to turn out like one of those weirdos he read about?¡± Chapter 686 Chapter 686 Eugene was unperturbed. ¡°His personality, surroundings, experiences, and the pain he¡¯s facing in his young life have already determined who he will be. How can a journal influence any of that?¡± Cedrick heard the implicit meaning behind those words. He clenched his fist beneath the sleeve of his military uniform, not deigning to respond. ¡°A person is known by thepany he keeps,¡± Joshua argued. ¡°Besides, a child is born a nk canvas. If he takes an interest in the things you show him and makes irreparable mistakes because of it, you will cause him harm.¡± Eugene scoffed incredulously at Joshua¡¯s usation. Cedrick, however, froze at what Joshua said about irreparable mistakes. He recalled what he had heard in the ward and how certain Benedict had sounded in his childish voice. ¡°Even if you and Mommy are not mad at him, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson in the future. Getting rid of someone means they won¡¯t be around anymore, right? I just don¡¯t want to see him. I want him to disappear.¡± Benedict doesn¡¯t like Charles. He hates him. He wasn¡¯t joking. Cedrick felt anxious all of a sudden. He realized he did not know who his five-year-son was anymore. The more he thought about it, the greater the pain he felt in his heart. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the ward. I¡¯ll leave this to you.¡± Without another word, he turned around and swiftly left. ¡°Huh? Cedrick?¡± When Joshua called out to him, he was already out of sight and earshot. Joshua was forced to deal with the strange old man alone. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you meant to or not, Eugene, but you will not give Benny any more weird reading material even if he begs you for them. If my darling nephew grows up messed up, I won¡¯t ever forgive you.¡± Cedrick strode back to the ward. His mind was a mess during his walk back. His heart, too, was filled with aplicated mix of emotions. He and Gwendolyn owed Benedict. They had been spending every waking hour of the past couple of years trying to save him. They spoiled him even more than they spoiled their daughter Zendaya. Being at the helm of both their distinguished families, he and Gwendolyn had so many obligations that there were still aspects of raising a child that they had overlooked. It was only on that day that he realized he had been so upied with Benedict¡¯s physical condition that he had neglected his psychological problems. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. Soon, Cedrick found himself back at the ward. He pushed open the door and saw that Benedict was in bed. The IV drip hanging above him had not yet been administered. He was sitting quietly and staring at the foliage outside the window. His frail, pale face made Cedrick¡¯s heart ache. Benedict started at the sound of the door being pushed open. When he saw Cedrick, he smiled. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re back.¡± Then, he looked up at the drip. ¡°The professor who came to change my medication said there¡¯s only one bottle left for today. You can go deal with work first if you¡¯re busy, Daddy. There¡¯s no need to rush over to spend time with me. I¡¯m already five years old, and I don¡¯t need you for everything. I will be good and take my drip.¡± Those words gave Cedrick a prickling sensation in his heart. He sat on the side of the bed and smiled at his son. ¡°Are you worried that I would be annoyed, Benny?¡± he asked gently. Benedict lowered his gaze, looking sorrowful. ¡°I¡¯ve been sick since I was born. I¡¯m not a normal boy.¡± Cedrick took a deep breath, suppressing the heavy feeling in his heart. ¡°Everybody falls ill,¡± he said solemnly. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re not normal, Benny. Besides, I will never find you annoying, and I¡¯ll always be by your side.¡± He pulled Benedict into his arms, enveloping the boy in a father¡¯s vast, warm embrace. ¡°You can be yourself andugh out loud in front of me and Mommy, Benny. You can cry if you¡¯re sad, make a scene, and throw a tantrum. You shouldn¡¯t have to pretend and be serious like an adult. Mommy and I will never abandon you. Even if you never get better, we will ensure that you spend the rest of your days happily.¡± Savoring the warmth of his father¡¯s embrace, Benedict nestled his head against Cedrick¡¯s chest. ¡°Making a scene and throwing a tantrum sounds like something Zendy would do, Daddy. I¡¯m a boy. I won¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°Boys have the right to express how they feel, too,¡± Cedrick said. ¡°You can cry in front of me, Benny. I won¡¯t make fun of you for it.¡± Benedict looked up at him, his eyes twinkling mischievously. ¡°Why do you want me to cry so much, Daddy? Do you cry in front of Mommy to gain her sympathy?¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips twitched. The guilt he had just felt for his child disappearedpletely as a result of those words. Cedrick remained silent for a long time before correcting his son, ¡°Says who? I¡¯ve never shed a tear to gain sympathy. That¡¯s what your mother does. She always pulls that tactic when she wants to apologize to me, which is how Zendy learned to y the victim.¡± Benedict gave a wide, innocent smile. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. I call the shots, and your mommy¡ª¡± ¡°Daddy,¡± Benedict cut him off, pursing his lips, ¡°you usually never dare say a word against Mommy. I somehow get the feeling that that¡¯s not the case. Would you still tell me this if Mommy was here?¡± Even my son thinks I¡¯m a submissive husband. I am the patriarch of the Jenson family and the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation! What will happen to my reputation? As Gwendolyn was back at Harris Group dealing with some urgent matter, Cedrick answered decisively, ¡°Even if your mommy is here, my answer will not change.¡± Benedict pursed his lips dubiously. His disbelief was written all over his face. ¡°There¡¯s no need to answer me so hastily, Daddy. Mommy has heard everything you just said.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cedrick quickly looked back. The door to the ward was still closed, and there was nobody outside. What does he mean? Benedict produced a child¡¯s phone from his pocket. He was in the middle of a call with ¡°Dearest Mommy.¡± The call was still ongoing and had been for the past ten minutes. Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org. Cedrick gulped. His back stiffened as he stared intently at the contact name on the screen. Benedict smiled. ¡°Mommy called before you came in, Daddy,¡± he continued in his childish voice. ¡°She was worried about me being bored and wanted to be with me remotely. I forgot to tell you when you came in.¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. Benny is trying to tell me that Gwendolyn has heard all my delusional ims of trying to challenge her family¡¯s position. ncing at his wicked child in his arms, he scowled as if he had tasted something bitter. It appears that my son doesn¡¯t care about me either. Chapter 687 Chapter 687 Cedrick was so stunned that he was at a loss for words. He had previously been set up a few times by his daughter¡¯sints, and now, it was his son¡¯s turn to do the same. What should I do? Should I put him on myp and give him a good spanking? No, Benny has a weak constitution. He¡¯s mostly caring and rarely causes trouble. Unable to bring himself to do that, Cedrick had no choice but to ept his bitter fate. At his father¡¯s silence, Benedict put his phone on speaker and asked Gwendolyn, ¡°Mommy, Daddy just said that you like to cry and y the victim before him. Did you hear that? Is it true?¡± A brief silence ensued over the line before Gwendolyn¡¯s melodious voice rang out. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear you the first time. Benny, can you ask Daddy again? I¡¯ll make sure to listen carefully this time.¡± Despite her calm tone, Cedrick was sensitive enough to pick up the faint displeasure in her voice. Knowing that Gwendolyn was giving him a chance to redeem himself, he took it at once. ¡°Actually, I wasn¡¯t done talking. I might have absolute authority at home, but when ites to you and Zendy, I have someone else to report to. She¡¯s none other than your mommy, who¡¯s also my wife. I manage you and Zendy, while she manages me.¡± Raising his voice, Cedrick continued in a serious tone, ¡°Also, your mommy doesn¡¯t know how to y the victim. Instead, it was I who pretended to be pitiful to catch her attention when I was courting her. I won¡¯t ever make your mommy cry because it¡¯s always my fault whenever she sheds a tear.¡± Despite looking clueless, Benedict listened intently. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re amazing, Mommy. Daddy¡¯s is responsible for educating us, while you¡¯re in charge of educating him.¡± While Cedrick was rendered speechless, Gwendolyn¡¯s chuckle could be heard over the line. ¡°That¡¯s one way to describe it, Benny. Daddy has also done a good job rifying it. Once I get off work, I¡¯ll give your daddy a wonderful reward.¡± A reward? Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed in response. Am I to kneel on Lego pieces for fifteen minutes or be beaten with a wooden ruler this time? Just thinking about it caused Cedrick to feel pain in both his knees and palms. With no time to ponder upon it, he asked Gwendolyn with a gentle tone, ¡°Darling, what time are you getting off work today? How about I pick you up from the office?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. If you¡¯re not busy with work, you should spend more time with Benny. I¡¯ve just gotten off the phone with Charles, and he told me that he had taken Zendy to the yground. I¡¯ll pick her upter beforeing over to get you and Benny from theb.¡± ¡°All right. You¡¯re the boss,¡± Cedrick agreed obediently, seemingly feeling self-conscious about his wrongdoing. The moment the call ended, Benedict gave Cedrick a look of surprise. ¡°Daddy, did Mommy just say that¡­ she¡¯ll be picking me up? Did I hear Mommy right? Does that mean I can go home now?¡± Cedrick nodded before giving Benedict a peck on his forehead. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve spoken to your Uncle Joshua, and he says that your body has grownpletely ustomed to the drug. There¡¯s no need to keep you in theb for monitoring. From now on, you can go home every day and I¡¯ll just bring you here for the drug transfusion.¡± Benedict had been staying in theb. It was difficult for Cedrick and Gwendolyn to take good care of their son, and the neglect had inadvertently caused some psychological problems in Benedict. Now that they could take him home with them, they wanted to gradually fix those issues. All this while, the Jensons had historically been groomed in the army to be elites. All of them, with Yael¡¯s family the exception, were filled with a sense of justice. Cedrick didn¡¯t want his son to harbor inner demons that would one day drive him down the path of darkness. Meanwhile, Benedict¡¯s eyes glistened at the knowledge that he would be going home. As a five-year-old child, he naturally wore his heart on his sleeve. ¡°Can I have dinner at the dining table together with you, Mommy, and Zendy this evening?¡± Cedrick gave Benedict¡¯s hair a tousle. ¡°Not just tonight. You¡¯ll be eating with us every day now.¡± ¡°In that case¡­ can I sleep with Mommy tonight? I want to hug Mommy.¡± The request caused Cedrick¡¯s expression to freeze. Nheless, he didn¡¯t even consider it for a second. ¡°No, you said a while ago that you¡¯re a big boy now. You should be sleeping by yourself instead of clinging onto Mommy.¡± We aren¡¯t even home and he¡¯s already plotting how to steal Gwendolyn from me? This is uneptable. Benedict lowered his head in disappointment. ¡°I know. Mommy belongs to you. If I were to sleep with Mommy, you would definitely be upset.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Cedrick responded with a resolute nod. ¡°Gwendolyn is my wife first and your mommy second. That¡¯s why you cannot sleep with her.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Cedrick patted his son on the cheeks. ¡°That¡¯s a good boy.¡± If it were the crafty Zendy, she would definitely kick up a fuss and create a huge drama to get what she wants. Cedrick felt relieved that Benedict was more obedient and sensible. However, he was in for a surprise, for he would be proven wrong at night. Inside Harrick Vi¡¯s master bedroom, Gwendolyn was wearing an orange silk nightgown with a sash tied around her waist. The outfit entuated her curves, and together with her long hair loosely strewn over the shoulders, they made for a seductive sight. As she sat on the side of the bed, Cedrick stood in front of her, ready to ept punishment from his wife for twisting facts in the afternoon. Just like her, he, too, was wearing a ck silk robe. He had just emerged from the shower and still had water dripping off his hair. The wet look made him appear particrly gentle in front of Gwendolyn. ¡°Darling¡­¡± Gwendolyn crossed her arms and stared at him for quite a while. Knock! Knock! Knock! A knock was heard on the door before she could say a word, causing the two of them to exchange nces. The only person who would dare knock on their door at that hour was their daughter. Cedrick personally went to get it. As the corridor was dark, the room light illuminated the small figure at the door. ¡°Benny? Why are you here?¡± Cedrick had assumed it to be Zendaya. Benedict was hugging a sky-blue pillow with one hand and rubbing his eyes with the other. The back of his palm was covered by bruised needle holes that were a result of the long-term use of IV drips. Tightening his grip on his pillow, Benedict asked softly, ¡°I¡¯m not used to sleeping on my bed. Can I sleep with Mom¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Cedrick cut him off before kneeling down to Benedict¡¯s eye level. As he massaged his son¡¯s thin shoulders, he reminded him softly, ¡°Have you forgotten what I said in the day? Even Zendy has learned how to sleep alone. You should also be good and do the same.¡± Pursing his lips, Benedict gave his mother a look from afar before asking Cedrick in a serious tone, ¡°Daddy, why are you so against meing over? Are you afraid that I¡¯ll steal Mommy from you?¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . While Cedrick was rendered speechless, Benedict stuffed his pillow into his father¡¯s hands and dered matter-of-factly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Daddy. I¡¯m not here to separate you and Mommy. I¡¯m here to join the two of you!¡± Taking in his father¡¯s clueless expression, Benedict broke into a devious smile. ¡°I want to sleep in between Mommy and Daddy!¡± Chapter 688 Chapter 688 Cedrick could only stare nkly at his son. How is sleeping between me and my wife not separating the two of us? Under normal circumstances, Cedrick would do his best to satisfy all his son¡¯s requests. However, giving up his wife was the exception. While he was sulking, Gwendolyn shed a gentle smile and waved at Benedict. ¡°Come over here, Benny, and let Mommy give you a hug.¡± Just as Benedict let out a smug chuckle and attempted to prance forward, Cedrick blocked his way. Even though Cedrick was kneeling at Benedict¡¯s eye level, he exuded a distinguish yet stern aura, just like an exquisite statue. He became a huge obstacle in Benedict¡¯s path toward his mother. One that thetter couldn¡¯t ovee. In spite of that, Benedict showed no signs of frustration. He blinked innocently as he attempted to negotiate with Cedrick in his childish voice. ¡°Daddy, weren¡¯t you talking behind Mommy¡¯s back this afternoon? You said that Mommy loves to be a drama queen in front of you and that Zendy learns to y the victim from her, and Mommy managed to hear what you said, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Is it necessary to go into such detail? Having lost his confidence, Cedrick turned around meekly and snuck a nce at Gwendolyn. She was staring at him with an indiscernible smile. Just her gaze alone was enough to get him to admit defeat.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Benedict continued, ¡°Daddy, if you don¡¯t behave yourself, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be punished by Mommy.¡± He giggled, then deviously offered his father a solution. ¡°But if I¡¯m allowed to sleep between the two of you, you¡¯ll be spared Mommy¡¯s punishment.¡± Narrowing his eyes, Cedrick replied through his gritted teeth, ¡°In that case, should I be thanking you for saving me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Saving a life is the noblest thing one can do, let alone when the person is my beloved father. That¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t object to me joining the two of you. I¡¯m going to be your lucky star tonight.¡± After circling around Cedrick, Benedict ran toward Gwendolyn and wrapped his thin arms around her leg. Thereafter, he nuzzled his adorable face against her knee. After giving Benedict¡¯s hair an affectionate tousle, Gwendolyn pulled him into her arms and said to Cedrick, ¡°Benny has indeed not stayed at home for a long time, so it¡¯s not surprising that he isn¡¯t used to his room. I know this is a lot for you, but let him sleep here for the next few days, all right?¡± Cedrick responded with silence. He was indeed upset that he wouldn¡¯t get to sleep with his arms wrapped around Gwendolyn¡¯s slender waist. Unfortunately, it was his fault to have allowed his son to ckmail him. Wearing a look of frustration and holding Benedict¡¯s pillow, he closed the door and returned to bed. After taking the pillow from his hand, Gwendolyn separated their pillows and ced Benedict¡¯s right in the center. She then tucked Benedict, who was in cotton pajamas, under the sheets and kissed him affectionately on the forehead. ¡°Go to sleep now. Daddy and Mommy will always be by your side.¡± Holding Gwendolyn¡¯s arm as if it was his security nket, Benedict closed his eyes. Cedrick stood by the bedside and watched the loving interaction between the mother and son. He suddenly felt as if he didn¡¯t belong there. Ever since Benedict came in, Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t stopped paying him any attention. Cedrick sighed quietly. Benedict has been suffering from the side effects of the S404 RNA virus since he was young, so it is inevitable for Gwendolyn to care more about him. What more can I say about it? It will only be for a few nights. Once he has gotten used to the environment at home, I¡¯ll carry him back to his room myself. Gwendolyn is mine, and only I can hug her to sleep. After struggling with himself, Cedrick walked quietly to the bed, lifted the sheets to lie down, and turned off the bedsidemp sulkily. With Benedict sleeping in the center, he was like a wall that separated his parents, making it difficult for Cedrick to even touch Gwendolyn. The silence didn¡¯tst for more than ten minutes when another knock on the master bedroom door was heard. Knock! Knock! Knock! This time, the knocking on the door was much louder than when Benedict hade over. Cedrick, who was drifting in and out of sleep then, furrowed his brows in reflex. Benny is here, so it must be Zendy. He let out a sigh before turning on the bedsidemp and getting get the door. No sooner had he opened it than Zendaya threw herself onto him, hugging his leg like a clingy child. ¡°Daddy, I had a nightmare. I¡¯m not feeling well.¡± Cedrick immediately tensed up. He knelt down and ced his hand on her forehead to check if she was having a fever. ¡°Your temperature is fine. Are you feeling unwell, Zendy?¡± Even though she was hugging Cedrick, her sharp gaze was trained on the bed. ¡°Just as I expected, Benny isn¡¯t in the room. I want to sleep with Daddy and Mommy too¡­¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression darkened in response. Her not feeling well was nothing but an excuse to see if Benedict was there. If he was, she, too, wanted to im her ce on the bed. ¡°Are you two here to punish me because I did something wrong?¡± Cedrick shook his head and snorted, then stared affectionately at his daughter. Zendaya giggled as she replied in a cute voice, ¡°No, Daddy. I¡¯m your little angel who always brings you comfort.¡± Cedrick counted his blessings that she wasn¡¯t trying to ckmail him like her brother. Right then, Gwendolyn, whose hair was half-draped on her right shoulder, supported herself up languidly, her exquisite features adding to her allure. While pacifying Benedict, she turned to look at the door. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, Zendy, let¡¯s all sleep together. It¡¯s been a long time since I slept with you in my arms too.¡± ¡°Hurray!¡± Zendaya released her grip around Cedrick without hesitation. She ran up to the bed and threw herself into Gwendolyn¡¯s arms. When she saw that Benedict had even brought his own pillow, she turned to Cedrick and blinked. ¡°Daddy, I didn¡¯t take my own pillow with me. Can I trouble you to get it from my room, please?¡± Cedrick, who was standing by the door, shook his head. ¡°No. If you insist on sleeping here, you¡¯ll have to get it yourself.¡± Seeing that her persuasive cute voice failed to work on Cedrick, Zendaya got off the bed in a huff. Just as she passed by Cedrick, she put her hands on her hips and said in an adorable manner, ¡°Just you wait, Daddy, I¡¯m going to get you back for this!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Cedrick replied with a cocked brow. With her cheeks all puffed up, Zendaya snorted at her father before slipping away to the fourth floor, worried that Cedrick would catch her. Once she was gone, Gwendolyn shook her head and smiled at her husband who had reacted childishly by being at loggerheads with the children. ¡°Zendy tends to hold a grudge. You better be careful of her trying to get back at you at the next opportunity.¡± Cedrick turned around with a resentful look in his eyes. ¡°She learned that from you.¡± Gwendolyn stifled herughter and gestured for him toe over. ¡°All right now. I¡¯m sorry you have to put up with this for a few days. I¡¯ll reward you properly after that.¡± ¡°You said so yourself, Darling.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile. A few minutester, Zendaya held a pillow in her hand and panted heavily as she skipped down the stairs. Still waiting for her at the door, Cedrick teased, ¡°Why are you running so fast? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re being chased by wild animals.¡± Zendaya let out a proud snort. ¡°I¡¯m not talking to someone naughty like you, Daddy.¡± She circled around Cedrick before climbing back onto the bed a second time. Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but beam at how adorable his grumpy daughter was. Chapter 689 Chapter 689 On the cozy bed, a fiercepetition for Gwendolyn¡¯s attention erupted between the two little ones. Zendaya and Benedict both vied for the prime spot next to their beloved mother, even tussling to snuggle up to her. Benedict, being the more mature and sensible older brother, eventually conceded defeat. He graciously shifted his little pillow next to Cedrick¡¯s. After a good half-hour of chaos, the family finally settled down, ready to drift off into dreand. Little did they suspect that as soon as the lights went out, a tiny voice belonging to Zendaya pierced the darkness. ¡°Mommy, my heart is racing like crazy. I just can¡¯t fall asleep,¡± Zendaya whimpered, her voice carrying a tinge of desperation. Cedrick, his voiceced withzy amusement, chimed in. ¡°Zendy, you were sprinting like a cheetah before bedtime. It¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re all wound up.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent. While Zendaya struggled to find sleep, Benedict desperately needed it. Gwendolyn could see the exhaustion etched on his face. After spending hours in theb receiving treatments, Benedict deserved a restful night at home. While she was pondering a solution, Cedrick proposed one. ¡°What if your mommy tells you both a bedtime story?¡± Zendaya perked up. ¡°Yes, please!¡± Benedict rolled his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s boring.¡± Cedrick had a secret agenda. He was hoping that exposing Benedict to more fairy tales and their enchanting lessons might soften his precocious and adult-like demeanor. He insisted, ¡°Benny, you¡¯ve never experienced your mommy¡¯s storytelling, have you? Consider it a new experience, and it¡¯ll also help soothe Zendy to sleep.¡± Benedict grudgingly shifted his position, tucking his arms in. ¡°Whatever. Girls are so troublesome. Even when ites to bedtime, they want attention before they¡¯re willing to sleep.¡± Zendaya paid no mind to her big brother¡¯s grumbling and lovingly embraced him from behind. With gentle patience, she coaxed her sickly brother, ¡°Oh, Benny, I¡¯m not being troublesome. Just give Mommy¡¯s stories a chance. They¡¯re really fascinating. You absolutely must give them a listen.¡± Benedict remained stoic, but his expression softened, and a flicker of curiosity danced in his eyes. It was clear that he was intrigued despite his resistance. Cedrick and Gwendolyn exchanged a look. Cedrick¡¯s gaze seemed to convey a message without words as he nodded in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction. With haste, Gwendolyn retrieved a worn-out fairy tale book from the bedside table. Flipping through the pages, she began her melodious narration of the bedtime story. Cedrick leaned to the side, propping his arm on the bed and casually supporting his head as he absorbed every word of Gwendolyn¡¯s storytelling. He couldn¡¯t help but admire her ethereal beauty as she got lost in the tales. In the bedroom of Harrick Vi, an aura of warmth and harmony enveloped the air. The scene felt heartwarming and tender as Gwendolyn was surrounded by her little treasures, including the grown-up one. ¡°Then, the mermaid finally fulfilled her wish and turned into a beautiful youngdy. She reunited with the prince at the grand ball, got married, and had two adorable little babies. They were never apart again and lived happily ever after.¡± Over ten minutester, after Gwendolyn finished narrating the story, the main bedroom was filled with soft and regr breathing as everyone drifted off to sleep. Under the soft, golden glow of the bedsidemp, Cedrick and the two little children had surrendered to sleep. Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze lingered on their peaceful faces, her eyes eventually fixating on Cedrick¡¯s handsome profile. ¡°Goodnight, Hubby,¡± she whispered, a tender smile gracing her lips. With a gentle flick, she switched off themp, surrendering herself to theforting embrace of dreams. It was Jessamyn¡¯s doing that Cedrick was made well aware of the rumors swirling around Zendaya calling Charles ¡°Daddy¡± at the dinner table and how Zendaya managed to stir up chaos during Charles¡¯ blind date with Jessamyn. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Jessamyn saw this as an opportunity to spread some juicy gossip. However, her original words were extremely insulting and went far beyond just causing a little stir. The moment Cedrick caught wind of the situation, he swiftly contained the news and even asked Nico to withdraw a promising deal between Jenson Group and Cloudington Group. Overnight, Cloudington Group incurred losses worth billions. Bright and early, Jessamyn¡¯s father, Ignatius Cloud, sternly reprimanded his drowsy daughter, ¡°Why in the world did you rub Mr. Jenson the wrong way during your date yesterday? With Jenson Group canceling their coboration with our Cloudington Group, this is like a clear warning to our family. You have no idea who he is in the business world. He¡¯s like a ruthless and decisive Grim Reaper. Cross him, and he can make even century-old empires crumble into dust. How on earth did you manage to rile him up?¡± Jessamyn, still half-asleep, was utterly confused upon hearing that. Have I offended Cedrick? When was this? How could I possibly offend him when I don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on? Ignatius was seething with anger, feeling like a storm of frustration was building up inside him. He saw Jessamyn¡¯s bewildered expression and couldn¡¯t hold back from scolding her further. ¡°Don¡¯t y innocent with me! This morning, the vice CEO of Jenson Group, Nico Jenson, personally informed me about the coboration cancetion. He had this cold expression, and I knew he was clearly holding back his anger. When I asked him why, he told me to ask my own daughter.¡± Jessamyn genuinely had no clue where the problem stemmed from. ¡°Dad, I haven¡¯t even met Cedrick Jenson. How could I possibly have offended him?¡± she protested. Eva, Jessamyn¡¯s mother, joined the conversation, helping Ignatius calm down as she questioned their daughter, ¡°Jess, tell your father everything you did yesterday. We need to figure out where things went awry.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Gathering her wits, Jessamyn got out of bed, stepped onto the carpet, and, with a pat on her face, started to recount the events of the previous day. She had only done a few things, so she quickly narrated everything to her parents. Except for the blind date with Charles at Hotel Be, there was nothing out of the ordinary. ¡°Mom, Dad, Charles is nothing more than a low-life. Not only did he spend time in jail, but he¡¯s now also ying around with a mistress, and get this, he even fathered an illegitimate child. He had the audacity toe for a date with me, probably hoping I¡¯d legitimize his illegitimate child and allow her to bear my name as her mother after marriage.¡± Jessamyn continued, ¡°That kid of his is an absolute nightmare, with a mean streak a mile wide. She¡¯s a mouthy little devil, and I couldn¡¯t stand her. I lost my cool andshed out at her a bit. After that, I reached out to some newspapers and reporters to expose Charles¡¯ wild ways. But it looks like I didn¡¯t give enough money, as no juicy Newton Group scandals made headlines fromst night until this morning. I guess the n didn¡¯t work out. I swear I didn¡¯t do anything to offend Cedrick.¡± Ignatius and Eva exchanged puzzled looks, trying to make sense of Jessamyn¡¯s story. After some contemtion, Ignatius voiced his confusion. ¡°I looked into Charles before, and while he does have a criminal record, he was bailed out by the Mr. Asher of the Harris family. As the head of the Newton family, he¡¯s rted by marriage ties to the Harris family. Treyton Harris is engaged to his fifth sister. I heard that when Craig stepped down from power, there was a fierce power struggle among the Newton family descendants, and it was Cedrick and Treyton who joined forces to put him in power. However, I¡¯ve never heard a peep about an illegitimate daughter¡­¡± Jessamyn, still puzzled herself, couldn¡¯t fathom why she¡¯d identally antagonized Cedrick. Ignatius thought for a moment and pressed further. ¡°Tell us exactly what you said to Charles and what you did to his child. Come on, let¡¯s have the whole story.¡± ¡°I justid down a few ground rules for our rtionship and set out my conditions, but then that little girl came barging in, calling him ¡®Daddy¡¯ the whole time. She¡¯s not his legitimate child, so what else could she be but his illegitimate one?¡± Jessamyn defended herself. ¡°Besides, you know, when I pointed out right in front of him that she¡¯s his illegitimate child, he didn¡¯t object either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s odd¡­¡± The family fell into contemtive silence. After a while, Jessamyn suddenly remembered Charles¡¯ menacing threat from the day before. ¡°Dad, you won¡¯t believe how insolent Charles was yesterday. When I criticized his parenting skills and offered to educate his child, he not only stood up for the girl but also had the nerve to threaten me that if anything happened to her, he¡¯d have the entire Cloudington Group go bankrupt by the next day. The man¡¯s off his rocker!¡± As she relived the humiliation from yesterday, Jessamyn¡¯s indignation red up once more. Ignatius, however, fell into deep thought. In terms of corporate standing, while Newton Group held considerable power and had deep roots, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for them to directly undermine Cloudington Group. Moreover, there had been no impact on the coboration between Newton Group and Cloudington Group. It was, in fact, the coboration between the Cloudington Group and Jenson Group that had suffered¡­ With a thought in mind, Ignatius pulled out his phone, opened the photo album, and rapidly scrolled through the pages. Last month at a business g, he had seen Cedrick and Gwendolyn attending together, and there was a little girl who seemed to have a great rapport with Charles, following him around like a little puppy. After a brief search, he found a picture from the g where he unintentionally captured a side profile of the young girl. ¡°Take a good look. Is this the girl?¡± he asked his daughter. Jessamyn took the phone, nodded affirmatively, and said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the mischievous little devil. Considering the background in this photo, this must have been an important business g, right? I can¡¯t believe Charles had the audacity to bring his illegitimate daughter to such an asion. How embarrassing.¡± Ignatius was beyond exasperated as he pped his forehead in frustration. ¡°You know nothing! That¡¯s not some illegitimate child from the Newton family. That¡¯s Zendaya, the daughter of Mr. Jenson and Ms. Harris, the little heiress of both the Jenson and Harris families! Although she¡¯s only five years old, she¡¯s already the presumptive heiress of a multi-billion empire. How dare you criticize her upbringing?¡± Chapter 690 Chapter 690 ¡°What?¡± The words struck Jessamyn like a thunderbolt, shattering her rationality and understanding into fragments. Zendaya¡­ That girl was not Charles¡¯ illegitimate daughter but the precious daughter of the Jenson and Harris families! In an instant, she realized she had offended the threergest and most powerful families in Chanaea. Jessamyn was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t collect herself for a while. She couldn¡¯t fathom the terrifying possibility that Cloudington Group might crumble because of her actions. ¡°Why did I nevere across any information about her online, especially since she¡¯s Mr. Jenson and Ms. Harris¡¯ daughter? Besides, why did she call Charles ¡®Daddy¡¯?¡± Jessamyn asked, seeking some exnation. Ignatius sighed deeply and sat heavily on the edge of her bed. ¡°That¡¯s because Mr. Jenson and his wife are concerned about their child¡¯s safety. Hence, they¡¯ve never publicly shared her pictures or personal information online. You¡¯ve always been fixated on those socialite events, and I¡¯ve told you several times to pay attention to the business gatherings as well, but you¡¯ve never bothered. Is it any wonder you never saw her? As for why she calls Charles ¡®Daddy,¡¯ I can¡¯t say for sure¡­¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Jessamyn was at a loss for words. She obediently crouched beside her father¡¯s feet, her hands resting on his knees as tears streamed down her face. She asked, ¡°Dad, what am I going to do? I insulted Zendaya and offended Mr. Jenson, Ms. Harris, and Charles. Today, Jenson Group merely canceled one project¡¯s coboration, and yet we¡¯ve already suffered such significant financial losses. If they refuse to let me go, what should we do?¡± Ignatius grumbled, ¡°I¡¯ve told you time and time again that the rtionships within these prestigious families areplex. I¡¯ve advised you to rein in your audacious nature and not think that you can easily offend others just because they seem vulnerable. You have no idea what consequences you might face. Yet, have you ever bothered to heed my words? You¡¯ve created this mess, so you have to figure out a way to clean it up yourself!¡± ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t abandon me. I know I¡¯ve made a mistake¡­ I¡¯ll listen to you from now on.¡± Jessamyn began crying sadly. Eva also hugged their daughter, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Hubby, we¡¯re getting older, and she¡¯s our only precious daughter. If you don¡¯t find a solution to help her, what will be of our Cloud family?¡± Although the Cloud family was well-off and held a prominent position on the wealthy elite list in the country, if the three families united against them, it would be a disaster for them. Crushing Cloudington Group would be as simple as squashing an ant. Ignatius gazed at his weeping wife and daughter by his feet, feeling the imminent crisis that Cloudington Group faced. He knew he couldn¡¯t stand idly by despite what he had said. After a heavy sigh, he looked at his daughter, whom he had loved all his life. He couldn¡¯t simply abandon her to please Cedrick. Pondering for a moment, he spoke with aposed and steady voice. ¡°In the next few days, I will seek a meeting with Mr. Jenson and personally apologize to him. As for you, you will have to meet with Charles again. Be gentle, admit your mistakes, and ensure you win him over. It¡¯s essential that you be his fianc¨¦e. Do you understand?¡± The fact that Zendaya, the daughter of both the Jenson and Harris families, called Charles ¡°Daddy¡± and was constantly by his side like a shadow, spoke volumes. Regardless of the actual circumstances, it was evident that Charles had a close rtionship with Gwendolyn, and the Harris and Newton families were on good terms. If Jessamyn could sessfully marry into the Newton family, there was a possibility that Cloudington Group could benefit greatly from the alliance with the three families. It could potentially propel the company to new heights. Moreover, Ignatius stressed the importance of Jessamyn building a strong rtionship with Zendaya. Considering that the two children born to Cedrick and Gwendolyn would each inherit the Harris and Jenson estates in the future, gaining Zendaya¡¯s favor could yield numerous benefits. Jessamyn was too terrified to voice any objections orints. She nodded repeatedly, her tears still flowing. The next morning, the Harrick Vi¡¯s family of four had just roused from their slumber when an unexpected guest made an appearance outside. It was none other than Charles. Today was a weekend, with Zendaya on a holiday break from school. Charles had made ns to take her to the aquarium to marvel at the yful dolphins. Zendaya was never a fan of dresses, deeming them inconvenient for her lively romps. If she ran around in dresses, her parents would nag her for not being proper.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Thus, after a hearty breakfast, she sported a pair of chic white overalls, matched with a sunny yellow little T-shirt, and topped it all off with a charming light yellow cap on top of two adorable pigtails. With her slim legs propelling her forward, she darted out of the vi. ¡°Hey there, Uncle Charles!¡± Her sweet and endearing voice washed over Charles, filling his heart with warmth and contentment. Charles slowly crouched down, and in that swift moment, as she rushed toward him, he effortlessly scooped up her round and chubby little figure, cradling her securely in his arms. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so, so much, Uncle Charles!¡± Zendaya pouted, yfully seeking his affection. Charles tried to stifle a grin, his deep blue eyes exuding tenderness as he gazed at her. ¡°You¡¯re already yearning for me after just a few hours apart, huh, Zendaya?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± She gestured with her tiny hands. ¡°I missed you a whole bunch, Uncle Charles. Don¡¯t you miss me too?¡± Charles leaned in, gently brushing his nose against her tiny button-like nose. His voice was smooth and tender as he said, ¡°Of course I do. I¡¯d love nothing more than to whisk you away from here and keep you with me all the time, never to be apart.¡± Zendaya clung to his neck, nting a loving kiss on his handsome face and openly disying her fondness for him. When Gwendolyn and Cedrick emerged from the vi, apanied by Benedict, they witnessed the heartwarming sight of the two having a delightful time. Benedict, with his hands nonchntly in his pockets, exuded an air of cool aloofness, seemingly unfazed. Charles quicklyposed himself, speaking in a more serious tone. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Jenson and Gwen! I n to take Zendaya to the aquarium this morning. Benny, would you like to join us?¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick both looked down and nced at Benedict, who coolly snorted and pursed his lips. ¡°No, thank you. Those kiddie stuff aren¡¯t my cup of tea. Daddy and Mommy, let¡¯s get going. It¡¯s time for my treatment in theb.¡± With that, he took the lead, walking through the vi¡¯s garden and out of Harrick Vi. Gwendolyn and Cedrick nced at Charles before following Benedict¡¯s footsteps. Charles let out a silent sigh, realizing that some matters required more careful consideration. He knew that he had to take a gradual approach to mend the strain in Benedict¡¯s heart toward him. Throughout the morning, Charles and Zendaya had a st at the aquarium. Over the years, Zendaya¡¯s little dolphin had grown and seemed to recognize her as its owner. Whenever she appeared, the dolphin would yfully interact with her, clearly delighted to see her. While Zendaya and her aquatic friend had fun together, Charles sat quietly on the side, asionally stealing nces around the dolphin enclosure. He couldn¡¯t help but notice that Whitney, the young woman he had personally promoted to be the manager, seemed to be absent. Curious, he texted the aquarium director and, within a few minutes, received a reply. Mr. Newton, Whitney submitted her resignation three days ago. However, her sry for this month hasn¡¯t been settled yet, so she¡¯s probably still in the country. If you need to contact her urgently, I can keep an eye out for her next visit to the aquarium and give you a call. As Charles stared at his phone, a slight frown creased his brow. Whitney had voluntarily resigned three days ago? They had always had a good rtionship over the years and had a lot to talk about whenever they met. He couldn¡¯t help but recall thest time they met. It was during another visit to the aquarium with Zendaya when Whitney had sought him out. ¡°Mr. Newton, I may not be able to continue working in Chanaea,¡± she had said hesitantly. ¡°I¡¯m already twenty-seven years old, and my family has been urging me to get married. I¡¯m afraid I might have to go back and participate in arranged blind dates.¡± Charles smiled and replied, ¡°Going back might be a good idea. Find love, get married, and live happily. Just make sure to keep your eyes open during the matchmaking process and beware of meeting any undesirable men who might waste your life away.¡± Whitney chuckled. ¡°Where can I find someone as wonderful as you, Mr. Newton?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not all that great,¡± he replied modestly, ¡°but if I had a sweet and adorable daughter like Zendaya, I¡¯d strive to be the best father I could be.¡± He continued saying, ¡°Good luck with your blind dates. I¡¯ll be going on one myself in a few days. It¡¯s about time for me to settle down too.¡± Whitney¡¯s face had visibly paled at his words. ¡°You¡¯re going on a blind date? With whom?¡± ¡°With Jessamyn Cloud, the daughter of the Cloud family,¡± he had replied nonchntly. Chapter 691 Chapter 691 Charles still remembered Whitney smiling and offering him her best wishes before he left that day, saying sincerely, ¡°I hope that your blind date goes well, Mr. Newton.¡± He stared at his phone screen, seemingly lost in thought. Now that I think about it, I bet Whitney¡¯s sudden resignation has something to do with going home for a blind date. Nevertheless, he swiftly cast his thoughts aside as his slender fingers typed out a reply to the oceanarium director: No need for that. When she clears her paycheck, give her the proper compensation per the standard resignation procedure. The oceanarium director texted back: Mr. Newton, marypensation shouldn¡¯t be offered in circumstances like hers where she submitted the resignation letter on her own and with the resignation statement being personal reasons. Charles: As I said, settle it as per usual. Those few simple words were enough for him to convey his displeasure and authoritative demeanor to the oceanarium director, resulting in thetter¡¯s prompt reply: Very well. After closing the chat window, Charles was about to put down his phone when a new text message popped up from an unknown number: Mr. Newton, this is Jessamyn Cloud. Are you free today at noon? I¡¯d like to treat you to lunch. Because of my mood yesterday, I may have spoken somewhat harshly and come off as unfriendly toward you. I wish to apologize to you in person. Is that okay? He frowned almost immediately when he saw the words ¡°Jessamyn Cloud,¡± and the disgust in his eyes was impossible to hide. Out of politeness, though, he had no choice but to reply: I¡¯m busy. Jessamyn responded with a sobbing emoji and the words: You¡¯re a gentleman, Mr. Newton. Please don¡¯t turn me down. We¡¯ll just be having a meal. My dad gave me a stern scolding after I returned home yesterday. I sincerely apologize to you for my previous misconduct, Mr. Newton. Can you give me a chance to exin in person? The Cloud family is strict. My dad will kill me if I don¡¯t see you. She ended the message with another crying emoji. Charles frowned as he read the woman¡¯s texts, a little irritated by the continuous pinging of the text message notification. His disy of gentlemanly demeanor was contingent upon the person he was conversing with. In the past, he reserved such behavior solely for Gwendolyn. However, in the presence of anyone else, his civility wasrgely absent, let alone any traces of gentlemanliness. Just as he was about to block her contact, a child¡¯s head suddenly entered his line of sight, obscuring his vision of his phone screen. Zendaya had heard his phone pinging nonstop and had run over to investigate. ¡°Who is it, Uncle Charles?¡± Charles never hid anything from her, so he answered truthfully, ¡°It¡¯s Jessamyn, the daughter of the Cloud family whom you met yesterday at the restaurant. She¡¯s the one who sent the texts.¡± Zendaya pouted in displeasure. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her? I can¡¯t believe she sent so many texts to scold you! Don¡¯t back down, Uncle Charles. Reply to her now. I¡¯ll help youe up with a reply!¡± Gently stroking her flushed pink cheeks, Charles couldn¡¯t contain hisughter. ¡°No, she¡¯s not scolding me. She¡¯s actually offering to treat me to lunch as a token of apology. She even said that if I turned her down, her dad would kill her. What do you think, Zendy? Should we join her for lunch at noon?¡± ¡°Apologize?¡± Zendaya¡¯s response was sharp-witted as ever as she replied, ¡°Of course, we should. She humiliated you yesterday and even scolded me. I want to hear her apology before deciding whether or not she should be forgiven. Plus, we¡¯d get a free meal, so why shouldn¡¯t we go?¡± Charles let out a chuckle before praising sincerely, ¡°Such a sensible girl you are, Zendy. You¡¯re even helping me save money on food.¡± The little girl shed him a blinding smile. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m only five years old, so Daddy and Mommy don¡¯t give me much pocket money. But Uncle Treyton said that I¡¯m the prospective heir of Harris Group, so I¡¯ll be very rich in the future. When the timees, I can provide for you until your death, Uncle Charles.¡± Despite being very touched, he still could not help correcting her words. ¡°You can provide for me in my old age, but remove the word ¡®death.¡¯ I¡¯m still very young and want to spend a few more decades with you. I don¡¯t wish to be sent off in a coffin so soon.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Good girl,¡± Charles praised gently. He then honored Zendaya¡¯s wishes and replied to Jessamyn¡¯s text, agreeing to meet at noon. While he was typing, the little girl stood by his side, saying excitedly, ¡°Uncle Charles, remember to tell Ms. Cloud that I¡¯ll be choosing the ce to eat, but she¡¯ll be paying for it. I¡¯ll choose the most expensive restaurant in Salinsburgh and make her poor!¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll do as you say, Zendy.¡± Two hourster, Jessamyn booked a private room in the restaurant that Zendaya requested. She was standing outside the restaurant waiting when Charles came in with Zendaya in his arms. Upon seeing them, she greeted them with a pleasant and humble smile. ¡°Ms. Cloud, I recall you also arriving a few minutes early yesterday and sitting in the private room waiting for me. You didn¡¯t even get up when I went in, so I find it strange that you¡¯re willing to stand at the entrance and wait for me today,¡± Charles remarked in a t tone heavily tinted with frost. Jessamyn¡¯s expression stiffened slightly, but she quicklyposed herself and smiled apologetically. ¡°I was too immature yesterday. I hope you won¡¯t hold it against me, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles made no response. He merely looked at the little girl in his arms. Zendaya stared at the woman facing her, and aside from snorting in disdain, said nothing either. Cedrick had already given her an ultimatum the previous day, forbidding her from calling Charles ¡°Daddy¡± outside, so she merely came to listen to them talk and look adorable. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Jessamyn felt a little embarrassed, and the smile on her face was slightly stiff, but at the thought of her father¡¯s instructions, she steeled herself and said to Zendaya, ¡°It¡¯s noon. You must be hungry, Darling. This way, Mr. Newton. Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Under the guidance of the restaurant manager, the trio proceeded to the private room. As soon as she sat down, Jessamyn courteously ced some food on Zendaya¡¯s te. ¡°This king crab is their signature dish, and it¡¯s prepared better than other famous restaurants in Salinsburgh. Try it and see if you like it, Ms. Zendy.¡± She peeled the crab meat and dipped it in the sauce before cing it on Zendaya¡¯s te. However, the little girl pouted in disdain. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat food served by you, Ms. Cloud.¡± She pushed her te back, gesturing for Jessamyn to enjoy it herself. Charles¡¯ attention, however, was on the way Jessamyn had addressed Zendaya. I hadn¡¯t called Zendy by name before Jessamyn during lunch yesterday. ¡°It looks like you already know Zendy¡¯s identity. That¡¯s why you asked me to lunch to apologize and admit your mistake,¡± he remarked. Jessamyn made no effort to hide it. ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard Ms. Zendy calling you ¡®Daddy¡¯ yesterday and said those unpleasant words in the heat of the moment. I hope you and Ms. Zendy won¡¯t hold a grudge against me, Mr. Newton.¡± Zendaya sat on Charles¡¯p, saying arrogantly, ¡°You called me an illegitimate daughter yesterday and scolded me for my bad upbringing. Don¡¯t think that I¡¯ll forgive you after just one meal!¡± Jessamyn¡¯s lips curled up in an awkward smile. She took the initiative to fill Charles¡¯ ss with red wine before raising her ss at him. ¡°If one meal is not enough to make amends, then make it two, three, or however many you want. After going back and thinking about it, I discovered that I really like your personality, Mr. Newton, and I wish to get to know you better. A toast to you.¡± The mellow red wine went down her throat, rich in vor. However, Charles made no move to raise his ss, merely ying with the little girl in his arms. I would¡¯ve dealt with the Cloud family if I hadn¡¯t been worried aboutshing out in front of Zendy yesterday. I won¡¯t ept her toast, and there¡¯s no need to continue this unsessful blind date. Jessamyn continued holding the empty ss after downing the red wine. Since Charles did not intend to ept her toast, she would keep it raised. The atmosphere in the private room became slightly awkward. Charles and Zendaya chatted happily, making Jessamyn seem like the third wheel. This tense atmosphere continued for more than two minutes. It was only when she noticed the waitress entering with some fruit that Jessamyn¡¯s expression softened. ¡°The fruit tter you ordered, Ms. Cloud.¡± Jessamyn set her wine ss down and motioned with her gaze. ¡°I ordered it for the little girl. Put it in front of her.¡± The waitress walked over with the fruit tter but froze upon seeing Charles with Zendaya on hisp. Her wrist trembled, and the fruit tter tilted to the side. Crash! The ss te hit the edge of the table, and the whole fruit tter flew out of the woman¡¯s hands, leaving a mess on the carpet. Jessamyn stood up and eximed angrily, ¡°How can you be so careless! What if you hurt Ms. Zendy? Call your manager over immediately!¡± The woman bowed and uttered politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zendaya looked up from Charles¡¯ arms, and when she saw the woman¡¯s familiar face, she eximed in surprise, ¡°Look, Uncle Charles. It¡¯s Whitney who came in with the te!¡± Charles followed her gaze and raised his head, staring at the woman inquisitively. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Chapter 692 Chapter 692 That morning, Charles found out that Whitney had resigned from the oceanarium three days ago. He never expected to meet her at Athena Restaurant, let alone for her to work as a waitress there. Whitney nervously adjusted her waitress apron and maintained a submissive demeanor. ¡°My situation¡­ is ratherplex.¡± Jessamyn soon realized that the trio were acquainted. However, she was still displeased. ¡°Ms. Zendy, this woman appears to be around my age or perhaps even a bit older. Why did you address her as ¡®Whitney¡¯ and call me ¡®Ms. Cloud¡¯?¡± Although the waitress had a pleasant appearance, she seemed too ordinary and couldn¡¯tpare to Jessamyn, the daughter of the prestigious Cloud family. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°I don¡¯t judge people by their looks but by their character. Whitney has a kind heart; she¡¯s like a fairy. And, in my opinion, she¡¯s even prettier than you.¡± Jessamyn¡¯s face darkened at once. ¡°Are you implying that she has a good heart while I don¡¯t?¡± Zendaya raised an eyebrow and replied, ¡°I never said that. Ms. Cloud, you can¡¯t me me for making your own inference.¡± How dare shepare me to a waitress? I¡¯m the esteemed daughter of the Cloud family! Has Zendaya gone blind? Despite her annoyance, Jessamyn chose to keep silent as she was aware of Zendaya¡¯s identity. The girl hopped down from Charles¡¯ arms and ran to Whitney. She grabbed her hand and said, ¡°I went to the oceanarium this morning, but I didn¡¯t see you. Uncle Charles told me you¡¯re going back to your hometown and probably won¡¯t being back. I didn¡¯t expect to see you here, Whitney!¡± Over the past few years, Whitney had taken special care of Zendaya¡¯s pet dolphin at the oceanarium. Furthermore, Charles had shared with Zendaya that Whitney had saved her from a potential ident, preventing her from falling into the water when she was just a year old. Since that incident, Zendaya hade to see Whitney as her older sister and a dear friend. Whitney bent down and patted Zendaya¡¯s head fondly. ¡°Why are you working as a waitress here? Are you short on money? My mommy and Uncle Charles are very wealthy. You can work for me instead,¡± Zendaya offered. ¡°Well¡­¡± Whitney chuckled awkwardly in response. Interrupting, Charles politely requested, ¡°Ms. Mellor, I¡¯d like to talk to you in private. Is there another ce where we can speak?¡± Jessamyn was displeased by his request. ¡°Mr. Newton, our lunch is not yet finished. Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate for you to make such a request at this moment?¡± Nheless, Charles rose from his seat, straightened his suit, and delivered a cold statement, ¡°Ms. Cloud, I ept your apology. I believe there is no need to proceed with the blind date any further. Henceforth, let us simply remain strangers.¡± Following his statement, he swiftly scooped Zendaya into his arms, his other hand tightly gripping Whitney¡¯s wrist. With that, he departed from the private room. ¡°Charles¡ª¡± Jessamyn began, but before she couldplete her sentence, the door resounded with a decisive m. The man had departed without a moment¡¯s hesitation or a single nce back, leaving Jessamyn behind. While traversing the hotel corridor, Whitney made an effort to release her wrist from Charles¡¯ firm hold. Yet, his grip remained steadfast, preventing her from freeing herself. Despite the slight difort, she couldn¡¯t help but be aware of the warmth emanating from his hand. Whitney was momentarily stunned, and she experienced a fleeting reluctance to let go. Unaware of her internal musings, Charles scanned his surroundings, seeking an appropriate location for their conversation. He casually pushed open an unupied private room and instructed the passing staff, ¡°Inform your manager that I¡¯ll be using this private room for a meeting.¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± The staff nodded in understanding but took a second nce at Whitney, who happened to be donning the same uniform as they were. Upon entering the private room, Charles released his hold on Whitney¡¯s wrist and gestured for her to take a seat. Feeling a slight pang of disappointment, Whitney tenderly touched the spot where Charles had firmly held her wrist. She then settled into one of the avable chairs, a mix of emotions swirling within her. After ensuring Zendaya wasfortably seated nearby, Charles shifted his attention to Whitney and inquired, ¡°You mentioned you were heading out for a blind date. How did it go?¡± Whitney merely shook her head. ¡°I declined it.¡± ¡°Why did you decline it?¡± the man asked, perplexed. Lowering her head, Whitney began to exin, ¡°I had contemted returning to my hometown for a more stable life. However, upon reflection, I realized that there was no one eagerly awaiting my return or concerned about it. Going back wouldn¡¯t hold much significance. Having spent over four years in Chanaea, I¡¯ve developed attachments and hesitations about leaving. I wanted to give it a few more days of thought. Unexpectedly, I bumped into you and¡­¡± She paused momentarily before resuming, ¡°Your blind date with Ms. Cloud. I apologize if my presence caused any difort. I genuinely am sorry.¡± Charles reassured Whitney, ¡°My blind date with her is already concluded, but it had nothing to do with you. You don¡¯t need to feel apologetic. Even if you hadn¡¯t shown up, I wouldn¡¯t have pursued the date any further. Moreover, I made it clear to Jessamyn that we will not have any further contact.¡± ¡°Then¡­ what kind of girl are you searching for, Mr. Newton?¡± she murmured. However, Charles remained silent, opting not to answer the question directly. Instead, he addressed another matter, saying, ¡°Given that you won¡¯t be returning to your hometown anytime soon, you might encounter difficulties with expenses, meals, and amodation. If you¡¯re open to it, you cane back to the oceanarium and resume your position as the manager. We can consider these past few days as your paid vacation, and your sry will continue as usual.¡± Whitney clenched her apron tightly, and her fingers stirred the edge of the fabric repeatedly. ¡°You are truly a wonderful boss, Mr. Newton. Not many bosses are as approachable and kind as you are,¡± she expressed, taking a momentary pause. Her gaze turned mncholic as she continued, ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t need that.¡± Charles had always been attentive to her because she had saved Zendaya many years ago. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that she would choose to work as a temporary waitress in a high-end restaurant instead of returning to her managerial position at the oceanarium. ¡°I recall you mentioning that you came to Chanaea in search of someone. How has that search been progressing?¡± Charles inquired. Whitney gave a self-deprecating smile. ¡°I found him a long time ago, but he doesn¡¯t remember me at all. Moreover, he has achieved so much now, far beyond the person I once knew. He¡¯s definitely out of my reach.¡± She lowered her head, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Charles, and whispered softly, ¡°Lately, he has been going on blind dates, and it appears that some of the women have taken a liking to him. He is handsome, and his ability to charm the opposite sex must be remarkable. I¡¯m afraid that¡­¡± Her voice trailed off, leaving her thoughts unfinished. She felt a sense of opportunity slipping away, and her apron tightened in her clenched hands as she continued with solemnity, ¡°I have made my decision. After receiving my final month¡¯s sry from the oceanarium in a few days, I will leave Chanaea and return to Tayhaven for the blind date. It¡¯s time for me to settle down.¡± Charles¡¯ jawline tightened slightly, and his brows furrowed. Tayhaven? Although he couldn¡¯t recall whether he had met Whitney before, he was certain he had been to Tayhaven. It was a country with a noticeably less advanced culture, frequently troubled by unrest and localized conflicts. Charles had previously worked as a teacher in the remote mountain regions of that country. As past memories resurfaced, Charles¡¯ brow creased even more. Now that I recall her words, the way she would speak about searching for someone, and the sense of familiarity I experienced when we first met¡­ Charles couldn¡¯t shake off his suspicion, and it seemed that even Zendaya had picked up on something unusual. ¡°Whitney, is Uncle Charles the person you¡¯ve been searching for?¡± Zendaya inquired, her innocent curiosity shining through. Chapter 693 Chapter 693 Whitney quickly shook her head and denied, ¡°N-No, it¡¯s not.¡± Zendaya yfully covered her mouth, her eyes twinkling mischievously. ¡°Why are you blushing, Whitney? Are you feeling shy?¡± she teased. Caught off guard by the little girl¡¯s straightforwardment, Whitney felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She lowered her head and remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Even to the most casual observer, it became apparent that Whitney harbored feelings for Charles. In fact, Charles himself was beginning to recognize the possibility, a realization slowly dawning upon him. After a moment of contemtion, he turned to Zendaya, who was sitting beside him. ¡°Zendy, do you like Whitney?¡± The girl nodded her head enthusiastically and replied, ¡°Yes! Whitney is so kind to me. If she bes my godmother, I would be incredibly happy!¡± ¡°G-Godmother?¡± Whitney was taken aback by the girl¡¯s words, her cheeks turning even redder. Nervously, she twirled a strand of her golden hair around her finger, Charles lifted his gaze to observe Whitney more attentively. Although he had encountered her regrly at the oceanarium, he hadn¡¯t paid close attention to her appearance. Now, he realized that while she may not possess conventional beauty, there was an enchanting allure about her that captivated him. Whitney possessed exquisitely defined features, highlighted by her golden hair and captivating blue eyes, which exuded an alluring and exotic charm. Her fairplexionplemented her graceful figure, lending an air of elegance to even her ck waitress apron. Whitney¡¯s blushing cheeks, apanied by the asional yful tucking of a strand of hair behind her ear, imbued her already captivating presence with a subtle touch of sensuality. Charles¡¯ eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting from Whitney to Zendaya. As his mind raced with thoughts, a n began to take shape within him. ¡°Ms. Mellor, while I¡¯m uncertain if I am the man you have been searching for all these years, I do recall encountering you in Tayhaven. Am I correct in remembering that?¡± Charles inquired. The woman kept silent, prompting him to continue saying, ¡°I¡¯ve recently been attending blind dates, as you may be aware.¡± She lowered her head further and replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°I wonder if you¡¯re interested in me, Ms. Mellor?¡± Puzzled, she asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°We have known each other for quite some time, and there seems to be a certain level of connection between us. If you are interested in exploring that further, we could skip the entire blind date process and go on a date tomorrow.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Whitney responded in astonishment, her voice reflecting herplete surprise at the unexpected proposition. He¡¯s suggesting that we bypass the blind date and jump straight into a romantic rtionship? Is Charles implying that he wants us to be together? I was feeling disheartened and had already resigned myself to returning to my hometown and enduring the mockery from my rtives. I never anticipated him taking the initiative and inviting me on a date! Her mind reeled with confusion, trying to process this sudden turn of events. At that moment, Zendaya stepped forward, disying her wholehearted support. ¡°Whitney, you should say yes! Going on a date with my Uncle Charles would be incredible. He¡¯s considerate and a wonderful person. If you let this opportunity slip away, you might regret it!¡± As she spoke, Zendaya¡¯s excitement was palpable, her hands and feet waving in the air with fervor. If you miss this opportunity, you¡¯ll regret it! Her words struck a chord deep with Whitney. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s do it.¡± Hidden behind Charles¡¯ deep blue eyes, a myriad of thoughts swirled. Nevertheless, a warm smile graced his lips, radiating a sense of warmth and intrigue. During their time in the private room with Jessamyn earlier, both Charles and Zendaya had refrained from eating any food. As such, Zendaya¡¯s hunger began to surface. Recognizing this, Charles made the decision to order some food and extended an invitation to Whitney to stay and dine with them. This impromptu meal marked the beginning of what could be considered their first date. The trio enjoyed a harmonious meal together. Unaware of unintentionally bing a third wheel, Zendaya disyed her carefree nature and yfully requested Charles to feed her, bringing an element of light-heartedness and yfulness to their meal. Following the conclusion of the meal, Whitney¡¯s day as a waitress was far from over. She joined Zendaya and Charles as they made their way to the restaurant entrance. Before parting ways, Charles spoke with sincerity. ¡°Both Zendy and I have grown ustomed to your leadership at the oceanarium. If working as a waitress at the restaurant doesn¡¯t suit you, please remember that you are always wee to return. The oceanarium will be waiting for you with open arms.¡± N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton.¡± ¡°Why are you still calling me Mr. Newton?¡± Charles pursed his lips. Realizing her oversight, Whitney hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Then¡­ how about Mr. Charles?¡± Zendaya¡¯s mischievous smile brightened her face as she interjected, ¡°Uncle Charles meant that you could use a more intimate term, like Charles or Honey.¡± Whitney¡¯s ears turned crimson, and her breath grew slightly unsteady. She forced herself to maintain composure and whispered softly, ¡°Okay¡­ Charles.¡± Charles nodded, his expressionposed and content, seemingly pleased with Whitney¡¯s choice of address. ¡°Since tomorrow is Monday, I¡¯ll drop Zendy off at kindergarten first. Could you please share your contact information with me? I¡¯ll pick you up around nine o¡¯clock,¡± he said, ¡°Pick me up?¡± Whitney said in surprise. In a patient and clear tone, Charles reiterated, ¡°Just as we discussed earlier, we are now officially dating. We can go shopping, watch a movie, indulge in delicious cuisine, and enjoy the scenic night view together.¡± Essentially, Charles nned to spend the entire day with her tomorrow. Whitney¡¯s trembling palms revealed her indescribable joy. It felt like a dream; an incredibly surreal and enchanting dream. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow morning, Charles.¡± With a gentle smile on his face, the man proceeded toward the luxury car, Zendaya cradled securely in his arms. As the car door closed, his polite smile gradually faded, giving way to his customary cool and aloof countenance. The driver elerated swiftly, propelling the luxury car away from the restaurant entrance. Zendaya leaned against the window, ensuring she could wave goodbye to Whitney. Only when Whitney disappeared from her view did she settle back into her seat, and Charles promptly proceeded to fasten Zendaya¡¯s seatbelt. When interacting with Zendaya, Charles¡¯ eyes radiated tenderness and indulgence. He made a concerted effort to hide any hints of his darker and more sinister nature, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for the little girl. Zendaya tilted her head and asked curiously, ¡°Uncle Charles, do you really have feelings for Whitney?¡± Charles yfully pinched her cheek and said, ¡°I like her as long as you like her.¡± Satisfied with his response, she grinned mischievously and said, ¡°So you still like me the most!¡± The man affectionately ruffled Zendaya¡¯s head before taking out his phone and ncing at the contact number Whitney had provided him earlier. As he looked at the digits on the screen, a n began to take shape in his mind. Whitney stood at the restaurant entrance, her gaze fixed on the receding luxury car until it vanished from sight. A wide smile adorned her face, mirroring the bubbling excitement and profound joy she felt within. Charles wants to be my boyfriend. He wants to go on a date with me! She pinched her own arm firmly, feeling the sting of pain, and couldn¡¯t help but exim gleefully, ¡°Ouch, it hurts! I can¡¯t believe this isn¡¯t a dream.¡± When Charles first arrived in Tayhaven as a teacher, she had taken notice of the handsome and refined man who exuded an air of aristocracy. His demeanor was unlike any other teacher. At the time, she was just an inconspicuous student in his ssroom, sitting in the farthest corner. Although they didn¡¯t exchange many words back then, she was captivated by his appearance. Consequently, she followed him to Chanaea. Charles began teaching in Tayhaven under an alias. It required considerable effort on her part to track him down, but her determination led her to seed in finding him. She had tirelessly searched for him, leaving no stone unturned, until news of his appointment as the new CEO of Newton Group emerged in the media. For the past four years, she had patiently remained in Chanaea, waiting for him. At this moment, however, Whitney felt that every second of those four years had been worthwhile. Lost in her thoughts at the entrance, Whitney remained unaware of Jessamyn¡¯s presence as she stood nearby, positioned discreetly behind a marble pir. Thetter had overheard Charles and Whitney¡¯sughter-filled conversation and their ns for the uing date. Feelings of dissatisfaction and a burning desire to ovee her rival surged within Jessamyn. She never expected Charles to dismiss her, the daughter of the Cloud family, and opt to go on a date with a girl who seemingly emerged out of nowhere. In what way is that waitress better than me? The sudden turn of events stirred a mix of surprise and resentment within Jessamyn as she made her way decisively toward Whitney. Chapter 694 Chapter 694 ¡°Hey, it¡¯s been several minutes since they¡¯ve left. Why are you still like this?¡± Jessamyn asked Whitney with a tight smile, suppressing her dissatisfaction. Her hands were clenched in her pockets. Whitney snapped back to reality and turned to face Jessamyn. Her work day as a waitress was not over yet, so she nodded politely to Jessamyn and asked, ¡°Ms. Cloud, is there anything I can help you with?¡± ¡°Must I have a reason to speak to you? You stole my fianc¨¦, and you¡¯re still acting so high and mighty?¡± ¡°As I recall, Mr. Newton said you two are only meeting for the first time today and are not at the point of engagement yet, right? Besides, Ms. Cloud, you saw with your own eyes that it was Mr. Newton who wanted to take me aside just now, not the other way round,¡± countered Whitney with reason. Jessamyn gave Whitney an irritated look and red at her wordlessly. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing I can help you with, then I¡¯ll get back to work,¡± said Whitney, excusing herself. She was determined to finish herst day and notify the hotel manager of her resignationter. After all, she had only worked for three days, and if the hotel refused to pay her, she could live with that. Nothing could spoil her joy. After all, she was going on a date with Charles the next day. As she spun around to leave, Jessamyn stopped her and asked calmly, ¡°You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re from Chanaea. Are you here from another country to work?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a personal question. It doesn¡¯t concern you, Ms. Cloud.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking out of concern.¡± Jessamyn moved closer to Whitney and continued in a hushed tone, ¡°You must be struggling financially. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be working as a waitress so far away from home. I heard you¡¯re going on a date with Charles. He¡¯s from a powerful family. Do you know the rules of dating him?¡± ¡°What rules?¡± Whitney asked, puzzled. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Do the upper-ss elites in this country have specific dating rules? With a knowing look, Jessamynid a hand on Whitney¡¯s shoulder. ¡°On your first official date, Charles will surely bring you a gift. Whatever it may be, it won¡¯t be cheap. Simrly, you should prepare a gift for him, but suitable gifts for men often cost hundreds of thousands or even millions. Are you sure you can afford it?¡± Whitney stared at the ground. I can¡¯t afford that for sure! She had been living in Chanaea for four years. She had worked at the oceanarium before this, and her sry had been decent. However, Salinsburgh was an expensive city, home to the uber-rich. Herst month¡¯s sry had just been enough for her rent and living expenses, and she had no savings. Besides, she had resigned from the oceanarium a few days ago but had not yet received her final sry. She had enough trouble paying the next month¡¯s rent without having to worry about buying an extravagant gift worth over a hundred thousand just for a date. ¡°If you want to date Charles, you should know these things,¡± Jessamyn concluded. Whitney fell silent, not knowing what to say. She was just a simple girl from the mountain vige of Tayhaven. There was a noticeable difference between herself and an upper-ss socialite like Jessamyn, who grew up in morous social circles. Even just standing beside Jessamyn, Whitney could see that shecked the elegant demeanor of a refined youngdy born into wealth. The two women appraised each other silently. Whitney had a distinct exotic charm with her xen hair, emerald eyes, and creamy white skin. The ck apron tied around her waist only served to entuate her slender figure and delicate waist. Beneath her skirt, her shapely legs stretched on endlessly. Her body was well-proportioned, but most striking of all was her taller-than-average height. Even in her towering high heels, Jessamyn only managed to match Whitney¡¯s height. She judged the other woman to be around one hundred and seventy-five centimeters tall. Jessamyn burned with envy. Apart from appearing a little ufortable and out of ce, Whitney¡¯s appearance was no less impressive than hers. Is this why Charles chose her over me? But besides her pretty face, how can her family status and educational backgroundpare with mine? Jessamyn felt robbed. Ever since she was a child, she had always been pampered, always given whatever she wanted. She could not bear the thought of losing to Whitney, and she felt an intense impulse to destroy this beautiful doll-like woman standing in front of her. After some thought, she made her decision. ¡°Well, I¡¯m a nice girl, and I love helping those in need. Since you¡¯ll be going on that date tomorrow, I¡¯ll offer you a job that¡¯ll pay you well and quickly.¡± Whitney¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Ms. Cloud, would you really be so kind?¡± Jessamyn did not bother to reply. She pulled out a business card from her tiny, designer bag and handed it to Whitney. ¡°The manager¡¯s name and number are on the card. Once you finish your shift here, you can head over and check out the ce around nine o¡¯clock at night. If you have any questions, you can just call and ask. Just mention my name, and they¡¯ll set you up for some fast money,¡± Jessamyn exined. Whitney took the card from her and studied it hesitantly. The establishment seemed to be a high-end bar. Whitney could imagine that such a ce would be frequented by powerful, rich men, and there was surely shady business happening there. She handed the card back to Jessamyn and said, ¡°Thank you, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll take this job. I¡¯ll find another way to get a gift for Charles for our date. Still, I appreciate your offer.¡± Jessamyn pushed the card back into Whitney¡¯s hand. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, but there¡¯s nothing illegal going on in this ce. It¡¯s legit. At most, you¡¯ll have to sing a few songs and maybe dance a few sexy routines. If you make the patrons happy, they might leave you a big tip.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jessamyn scoffed. ¡°Of course! Anyway, the decision is yours. I can¡¯t force you to take the job anyway. Just keep the card. If you don¡¯t want it, you can throw it away. I never take something back once I¡¯ve given it away.¡± Then, she brushed past Whitney and walked out of the hotel, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Whitney watched her disappearing figure as she thought about the offer. ¡°What are you doing over there? I¡¯m not paying you to just stand around, you know!¡± The manager¡¯s voice reprimanding the other waiters interrupted Whitney¡¯s train of thought. She quickly tucked the card into her pocket and went back to work. She still had several hours to think it over. Charles was in the car with Zendaya. They were on their way to the Newton residence. He pulled out his phone and dialed Cedrick¡¯s number. Cedrick was busy with work and was not at the hospital with his son. Gwendolyn, on the other hand, had delegated her work at Harris Group to her assistant and taken the day off to be with Benedict for his treatment. However, she was still working remotely from the hospital. Charles immediately told the driver to change his course. He decided to take Zendaya to the hospital to keep Benedictpany. When they arrived at the hospital, Benedict¡¯s ward door was ajar. Charles gently pushed the door and opened it wider. Benedict was alone in the ward, sitting quietly on the bed while awaiting thepletion of the infusion. Gwendolyn was on a business call in the next room, having been sent away from the ward by Benedict. Charles buried his feelings of pity and guilt deep within his blue eyes. He gently ced Zendaya on the ground and crouched down to her eye level. ¡°Zendy, go and keep your brotherpany. Don¡¯t leave him alone with his thoughts. I have to go now, but I¡¯lle by Harrick Vi tomorrow to take you to school, okay?¡± Zendaya wrapped her little hands around his arms, refusing to let him leave. Chapter 695 Chapter 695 Zendaya mimicked him and whispered, ¡°Uncle Charles, let¡¯s keep Bennypany together. It won¡¯t do if you keep running away, Uncle Charles. If we should apologize, then let¡¯s apologize. One day, Benny will be touched by your apologies and forgive you!¡± Charles¡¯ face paled, but he patted her head and said, ¡°This isn¡¯t something that can be solved with an apology. Let me think of another way around this.¡± Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Zendaya pouted and pointed out, ¡°Uncle Charles, are you trying to avoid this?¡± Charles fell silent. He simply could not think of a way to face Benedict at the moment. Whenever he saw the way Benedict weaklyy on the bed, the feelings of guilt and helplessness would threaten to drown him. It crushed him. ¡°Uncle Charles,¡± Zendaya cried out, swinging Charles¡¯ arm and pestering him. ¡°Come in with me. Sometimes Mommy ignores Daddy because of his mistakes too. When that happens, Daddy will just keep pestering her. He¡¯ll do anything to get back into her good books. I¡¯m sure he wants to stomp his foot and start bawling sometimes as well.¡± Then, Zendaya covered her mouth and giggled. ¡°Uncle Charles, have you heard of a fruit called durian? Why don¡¯t you get some of them? If Benny doesn¡¯t want to forgive you, then you can just kneel on that fruit¡¯s thorny shell. I¡¯m sure Benny will be moved by that.¡± Charles turned speechless. No godfather ever went on his knees for his godson. Even if they were not godfather and godson, he, as someone older than Benedict, would technically never kneel before a child. Still, he was more curious as to why Zendaya would think of durians. ¡°Zendy, why would you ask me to get durians and kneel on them? Did your daddy¡­ do this before?¡± Zendaya earnestly shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Mommy keeps the door shut whenever she scolds Daddy, so I wouldn¡¯t know. The walls in our house are thick too, so even when I tried to eavesdrop, I couldn¡¯t hear anything.¡± At that, Charles¡¯ expression darkened. Closed door and a scolding¡­ When those two phrases were ced together in a situation involving a couple, he could not help but think about certain unpleasant thoughts. Tucking those thoughts away, he asked, ¡°Then why would you think of durians?¡± Zendaya beamed, a crafty little look showing on her face. ¡°That¡¯s because durians taste great! I¡¯m craving a little for some, and Benny likes it too. If you¡¯re going to kneel on its shell, then we can eat the flesh of the fruit. We won¡¯t waste a single bit of it!¡± After a bout of giggling, she gave Charles another suggestion, ¡°If you don¡¯t like durians, we can make do with pineapples. Pineapples are yummy too!¡± The corners of Charles¡¯ lips twitched. ¡°Zendy, you¡¯re¡­ so kind to me.¡± While the two were chatting, they woke Benedict. In an icy voice, Benedict asked, ¡°Who¡¯s outside?¡± Zendaya froze with widened eyes. Then, she smacked her hand over her mouth and muttered, ¡°Oh no! Was I too loud? Did Benny hear me?¡± Charles thought, So what if he heard us? It¡¯s not as if we were nning something nefarious. Ruffling Zendaya¡¯s hair, he sighed and said, ¡°Zendy, go in and keep your brotherpany. I¡¯ll go and get some durians and pineapples.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Zendaya cheered. After entering the ward, Zendaya merrilyunched herself toward Benedict. ¡°Are you hungry, Benny? We¡¯ll be having fruits in the afternoon¡ªdurians and pineapples!¡± Benedict¡¯s expression remained neutral as he nced at her. He then pushed away her approaching head with a finger. ¡°Charles sent you here, right? I don¡¯t need you to keep mepany. Mommy¡¯sing back after her half-an-hour meeting. A quarter of an hour has already gone by, so she¡¯sing back soon. Go back to Charles.¡± Zendaya pouted and whined, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to! I want to eat durians and pineapples with you! By the way, Uncle Charles is here to apologize to you. He¡¯s going to be kneeling on durian shellster!¡± Zendaya had blurted out to Benedict a n that Charles had not even agreed to. Benedict stiffened. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ going to kneel before me? Did he say so himself?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Zendaya affirmed. Benedict was doubtful, but he could not help wondering if it was true. Still, it did not dismiss the hatred he had for Charles. ¡°Daddy said that karma will get to me and cut my lifespan shorter if someone older kneels before me. Is he trying to admit his mistake, or is he trying to hurt me even more?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Zendaya¡¯s smile froze. She never thought that there was something like that. After a quiet hum, she said, ¡°To be honest, Uncle Charles has only said that he¡¯s going to buy durians and pineapples. He never said anything about kneeling, but that doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re sick because of Uncle Charles, and you¡¯re hurting once in a while because of him too. Why don¡¯t you punish him severely today in revenge? Make him suffer a little!¡± Benedict¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°You¡¯re truly one of a kind, Zendaya. Are you a double agent?¡± Zendaya tilted her head and shed him a sweet smile. ¡°I¡¯m not. I just want you both to be happy. If I have to eat a few more pieces of durian flesh¡­ I mean¡­ If I have to pay the price to get you both to make up with each other, then so be it.¡± Benedict huffed in disdain. ¡°Then you have to mentally prepare yourself for it. I¡¯m going to make him hurt badly as his punishment.¡± Yes, I¡¯m going to punish him until he bleeds! I¡¯m definitely doing this because I want to take revenge on that bad man Charles and not because I want to eat durians and pineapples. Dozens of minutester, Charles came back with a huge durian and arge pineapple. He had no idea what was going to happen to him soon¡ªthat Zendaya had betrayed him. The sly siblings were nning to give him a great ¡°surprise.¡± Charles halted outside of Benedict¡¯s ward and mentally steeled himself before pushing open the door. In the ward, Benedict had already changed his IV bag. The professor was not going to being back for a while. Zendaya was sitting beside her brother again, massaging his arm. ¡°Benny, are you feeling better? Your left hand is a little swollen from the IV therapy. Does it still hurt?¡± Benedict shook his head beforending his gaze on Charles, who was by the doorway. Charles smiled and walked over to them, putting the bag of fruits on the table. In a soft voice, he asked, ¡°Benny, do you want the pineapple first, or the durian first? I¡¯ll prepare them for you.¡± Benedict was quiet, but Zendaya said, ¡°Uncle Charles, I was pleading with Benny for a long time earlier, and Benny said that he¡¯ll forgive you!¡± A tinge of emotion finally appeared in Charles¡¯ eyes. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Benedict uttered, raising his head a little. The pride on his face seemed to not fit a boy his age. ¡°But I have three requests. If you fulfill them, I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± Charles let out a sigh of relief. Without hesitation, he replied, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll agree to anything besides flying into space and getting a star for you. As long as it¡¯s something I can do, I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Okay. My first request is for you to cut open this durian.¡± Charles smiled and quickly grabbed the knife. ¡°Sure. That¡¯s simple.¡± When Benedict heard his response, he added, ¡°What I meant was, without any tools¡ªjust with your bare hands.¡± Chapter 696 Chapter 696 Opening a durian with my bare hands? Charles tensed. The fruit was covered in thorns. It was close to impossible to open it without using any tools. Even the smile on Zendaya¡¯s face disappeared. She had initially wanted her brother to just bully Charles a little, but it seemed like the situation was out of control. Her brother¡¯s first request was ruthless. She weakly tugged Benedict¡¯s sleeve and muttered, ¡°Benny, it¡¯s hard to open a durian. If Uncle Charles uses his bare hands, he¡¯s going to bleed a lot.¡± Benedict furrowed his brows, a hint of annoyance manifesting on his face. ¡°If he can¡¯t fulfill my request, then he can leave immediately and never bother me again.¡± ¡°I can. I¡¯ve promised you that I¡¯ll do it, and I won¡¯t go back on my words.¡± With that, Charles gave him a gentle smile. Benedict spotted the smile and huffed. He then sped his hands together and looked out of the window. ¡°Then hurry up and do it.¡± Charles took out the durian from the bag. He observed it for a while, wondering where he should start. Every once in a while, he would nce at Benedict, who had a merciless expression on his face. A quietugh escaped his lips. Benedict was so much like Cedrick. He was surprised that the boy could think of something so heartless at his young age. If Zendaya was the flower of a rose, then Benedict had to be the thorns of the rose. As expected of Cedrick¡¯s son¡­ Charlesmented in his mind before trying to open the durian. s, the shell was too tough, and the thorns were too many. There was nowhere he could put his fingers to pull the fruit apart. Meanwhile, Zendaya was nervously watching from the side. ¡°Uncle Charles, is it very hard to open? Just forget about it. I don¡¯t want to eat durian anymore. I¡¯ll think of another way to get Benny to forgive you.¡± Benedict frowned. ¡°Zendaya, I can hear you even though you think that you¡¯re whispering. He was the one who agreed to the three requests. If he can¡¯t do it as a man, then don¡¯t go anywhere with him anymore. He doesn¡¯t deserve to be your godfather.¡± ¡°Um, but¡­ I don¡¯t think Uncle Charles can actually open it¡ª¡± As soon as she said that, a thumping sound rang in the room. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Charles had lifted his hand and struck the durian in one swift movement. He had decided to endure the momentary pain instead of dragging out the situation. It seemed like he would have to shed some blood to satisfy Benedict anyway, so after a while of studying the durian, Charles made up his mind to simply strike it. As someone who was once trained in the Central Intelligence Agency, his judgment and decision- making skills were still intact. The noise attracted the attention of the children, and even Benedict craned his neck to look at the durian. Zendaya cried out, ¡°Wow! You really opened it! You¡¯re awesome, Uncle Charles! The durian flesh smells, but the smellier it is, the tastier it is!¡± Zendaya smacked her lips, her bright eyes fixed on the yellowish flesh of the durian. Benedict was expressionless and silent. I never thought this won¡¯t pose a challenge to him! Darn it! However, Zendaya soon noticed something amiss with Charles. ¡°Uncle Charles, why are you so pale? Why is your hand shaking?¡± Promptly, she grabbed the hand he had used to strike the durian and flipped it. The side of Charles¡¯ hand waspletely covered in blood, and his fingers were shaking uncontrobly. Even his veins were visible. ¡°It¡¯s bleeding so badly! Does it hurt, Uncle Charles? Let me blow the pain away!¡± She then huffed and puffed at his wound. Charles was d to see Zendaya feeling bad for him. He smiled and gently reassured her, ¡°I¡¯m fine. As long as I get to fulfill your brother¡¯s request, this is just something trivial.¡± Benedict did not speak, but his eyes were fixed on his bleeding wound as well. He makes it sound like it¡¯s nothing. My body hurts even when I¡¯m not bleeding or vomiting blood because of the virus. Charles¡¯ hand is already a mangled mess. I¡¯m sure it hurts way more than I¡¯ve hurt. Adults are all liars. Without filtering his words, Benedict uttered, ¡°I feel much better seeing you in pain after the misery I had to go through over the years because of you.¡± Charles responded with a small smile, ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re happy.¡± Enduring the pain in silence, Charles proceeded to pull the split durian into two parts. To avoid his blood dripping onto the flesh, he took out a pair of disposable gloves and a te from the drawer. Then, he took out the flesh of the fruit and ced them on the te. The entire time, he was calm and elegant, the look in his eyes peaceful. ¡°Anything in excess will be bad for your health, so don¡¯t be too greedy. Keep the unfinished flesh in the refrigerator so that you can have some tomorrow instead.¡± Zendaya¡¯s heart raced when she saw Charles¡¯ blood-filled glove and smelled the metallic scent in the air. ¡°Uncle Charles, maybe you should treat your wound first. Will you die? This looks scary. I¡¯m scared.¡± Zendaya¡¯s face was pale, and she had scrunched up her face, an evident sign of her terror. ¡°You¡¯vepleted my first request. Go to the professor to get your wound treated. I don¡¯t want Zendaya passing out from fright in my room.¡± Charles soon realized the pallor on her face too. ¡°Then enjoy your fruit. I¡¯ll be out for a while.¡± Even when he was gone, the fear on Zendaya¡¯s face remained. Despite that, she went over to take the te and started stuffing the pieces of durian flesh into her mouth, puffing up her cheeks in the process. Benedict did not even touch a single piece. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like you¡¯re really afraid. Charles is bleeding, yet you still have the heart to eat your fruit?¡± Tears welled up in Zendaya¡¯s eyes. ¡°Uncle Charles bled for the fruit. He would have suffered for no reason if I don¡¯t eat more of the fruit. I feel bad for him, and that¡¯s why I have to eat this.¡± Benedict was speechless. Then, when he thought about how he had to forgive Charles after two more requests, he grew frustrated. Thus, he vented his irritation on Zendaya, who was constantly by Charles¡¯ side. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to apany me. You should go to Charles. His hand is badly hurt, so shouldn¡¯t you be by his side, consoling him?¡± ¡°Benny¡­¡± Zendaya started sniffling, the pieces of durian still in her mouth. ¡°I want to go to Uncle Charles, but I want to stay by your side too. Uncle Charles must be hurting a lot right now, but you must have hurt a lot when you were feeling sick too. You¡¯re just five, but you¡¯re already having to endure so much. I feel bad for you, Benny¡­ Mm, yummy. Wait, no! I mean, I¡¯m feeling conflicted.¡± Benedict mercilessly exposed her lie. ¡°You¡¯re just reluctant to part with your durian.¡± ¡°No!¡± Zendaya shook her head vigorously before shoving the rest of the durian flesh that was in her hand into her mouth, looking stumped the entire time. Benedict gazed at her and said, ¡°You can take two pieces and leave to look for Charles. If you insist on staying here to annoy me, I¡¯ll keep the durian and stop you from having more.¡± ¡°No¡­ All right. I¡¯ll leave you alone.¡± With that said, Zendaya grabbed the two biggest pieces and jogged out of the ward. She guessed that she could still catch up to Charles if she were to run after him. Once she was out of the room, Benedict turned to make sure that she was genuinely gone before reaching out with his free hand to grab a piece of durian from the te. Then, he took a big bite. Mm. Yummy! Chapter 697 Chapter 697 Charles took off his disposable gloves and observed his injured hand in the corridor. He was about to go downstairs when he bumped into Gwendolyning back from the restroom at the corner. Gwendolyn had just finished a video conference. She washed and sanitized her hands to prevent bringing bacteria from theputer mouse to Benedict before returning to the ward. When she faced Charles, she immediately noticed the bloodstains on his hand. By the time Charles tried to hide his hand behind his back, it was already toote. ¡°You¡¯re injured?¡± she asked. Charles smiled casually and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I slipped and fell on my way here.¡± Observant as always, Gwendolyn sensed something unusual about him. ¡°Even if you really slipped, you wouldn¡¯t have gotten such an injury given your skills. Don¡¯t tell me that your hand happened to hit a nail on the ground as you fell.¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°You know me well, Gwen.¡± ¡°Theboratory has top-notch security measures and cleanliness. How is a sharp object like a nail going to end up on the floor? Don¡¯t try to deceive me. What really happened?¡± Gwendolyn asked. Charles shrugged indifferently. ¡°It seems impossible to hide anything from you, Gwen.¡± A few minutester, when the door to the ward was slowly opened, Benedict, who was devouring a piece of durian, quickly threw the remaining of it into the trash and hastily wiped the corners of his mouth. Gwendolyn entered the ward. Although Benedict¡¯s actions were swift, he still couldn¡¯t escape Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is your meeting finished, Mommy? Actually, there¡¯s no need for you to rush back here. I know your work is important. I¡¯m already used to receiving the drip alone. I can handle it myself,¡± Benedict said. Gwendolyn said nothing as she calmly walked to his bedside. Her gaze inadvertently fell on the corner of his mouth, where there were still traces of durian flesh. The room was filled with the pungent smell of durian. Benny clearly loves eating durian. Why did he throw away the remaining piece as soon as he saw me coming in? Gwendolyn silently took a tissue from the bedside table and gently wiped the corners of Benedict¡¯s mouth. He smiled obediently, his face showing no signs of abnormality. However, Gwendolyn¡¯s expression grew increasingly serious as a thought shed across her mind. ¡°Did you cause the injury on Charles¡¯ hand?¡± Taken aback, Benedict¡¯s disgust toward Charles quickly grew rampant again despite having dissipated slightly. ¡°He¡¯s such a petty person. I can¡¯t believe that he immediately went to tattle to you, Mommy! Why didn¡¯t he tell you that it was all voluntary on his part, that he agreed to fulfill my three demands? I didn¡¯t force him,¡± Benedictined. Sighing, Gwendolyn exined, ¡°He didn¡¯t tattle on you. I happened to meet him in the corridor, and I asked him. He insisted that he identally injured himself, and it had nothing to do with you.¡± Then, she continued, ¡°But I¡¯m the one who gave birth to you. I know you the best. If you want to retaliate against him, he will surelyply with guilt. This is just my guess.¡± Benedict remained silent. Charles didn¡¯t take the opportunity to strike back. Maybe I¡¯ve thought too poorly of him all this time? It was the first time Benedict had seen Gwendolyn, who was always gentle and considerate, being so serious with him. Although he had wrongly used Charles, he still felt a little aggrieved. ¡°Mommy, are you going to reprimand me on behalf of Charles? Do you think I¡¯m a naughty child who caused severe injuries to Charles¡¯ hand? Are you going to punish me?¡± Benedict asked. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Gwendolyn sighed again. ¡°Now that I¡¯m sick, I can¡¯t go to kindergarten like Zendy, and I can¡¯t make any new friends. I have to receive daily drips and endure the pain. All I want is to make things difficult for Charles and to make him back off from bothering me. Who knew he would actually chop the durian with his hand¡­¡± Benny, who had always been strong and rarely cried, had a faint redness in the corners of his eyes. However, he stubbornly kept his eyes wide open because he refused to let the tears flow. Gwendolyn¡¯s heart ached when she saw that. Benedict was indeed extremely sensitive. She hadn¡¯t said anything yet, but he had already imagined so much. As Gwendolyn cradled him in her arms and patted his back patiently tofort him, she said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to reprimand or punish you, Benny. I know that you made three forgiveness requests to Charles, and I fully support it.¡± Surprised by her response, Benedict looked up at her. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Really? You¡¯re not angry at all, Mommy?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn touched the tip of his nose gently. ¡°What¡¯s there to be angry about? Charles caused your hospitalization, so you made him chop the durian and feel the pain too. It¡¯s fair.¡± She wouldn¡¯t suggest such retaliatory behavior to Benedict under normal circumstances, but now that he had already done it, she had no reason to object. Benedict was a tad surprised. ¡°I thought you were going to scold me, Mommy¡­¡± ¡°Your dad and I will always stand by you and Zendy. We have never thought of you as a bad child. Benny, at the age of five, you can already solve high-school-level Mathematical Olympiad math problems. You¡¯re truly our talented child, Benny,¡± she said while gently patting Benedict¡¯s back. Then, she continued with a serious tone, ¡°However, revenge must have its limits, Benny. Although I support you unconditionally, you can¡¯t go too far as to cause harm to someone¡¯s life or hurt someone just because you don¡¯t like them. In these extreme cases, I won¡¯t support you. Instead, I will punish you if you do so.¡± Gwendolyn supported her child unconditionally, but it didn¡¯t mean that she didn¡¯t have limits. As long as people don¡¯t mess with me, I won¡¯t offend anyone. I won¡¯t actively cause trouble, but I¡¯m also not afraid of it when it is needed. These principles cannot be changed. Benedict listened attentively and nodded firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy. I understand. But Mommy¡­ why is your expression so strange?¡± Since Gwendolyn entered the room, she had been holding her breath while speaking. Now she could barely hold it any longer. This room¡­ is so, so smelly! For someone who couldn¡¯t stand any foul smells and never ate durian, this odor was worse than the stench of diarrhea. The reason she had a serious expression on her face when she entered the room was also because of the stench. It was an expression she would make when enduring the stench, but she didn¡¯t expect it to give Benny the wrong impression that she was angry. Now that Benny opened his mouth to speak, she really couldn¡¯t hold her breath anymore because he had eaten the fruit. With him in her arms, it felt like she was facing an attack of durian breath at close range. My preciously nurtured child¡­ How can his mouth be as smelly as if he had eaten sh*t¡­ ¡°Mommy?¡± Not knowing what was wrong, Benedict moved closer. As the foul smell filled her nose again, she was about to lose it. ¡°Q-Quickly finish eating the durian. I¡¯ll go out and get some fresh air ande backter with some air freshener. This durian smell is just¡­ too much.¡± As she spoke, she decisively put Benedict back on the hospital bed and hurriedly left the ward. Looking at Gwendolyn¡¯s frantically retreating figure, Benedict pouted to himself. ¡°Mommy¡¯s expression just now¡­ It seems like she¡¯s disgusted with me¡­¡± Whitney had just finished her entire day shift as a waitress and handed in her resignation to the manager at half past seven in the evening. Although she had only worked for a few days, she still received the daily wage ording to the number of days she worked. Grateful, Whitney bowed repeatedly. After taking off her waitress uniform, Whitney rubbed her sore shoulders as she walked out of the restaurant. In the afternoon, she had asked a friendly and approachable colleague about the practice of exchanging gifts on a first date among high-ss elites. It turned out that Jessamyn hadn¡¯t lied to her. Hence, after finishing work, she went shopping in the nearby shopping district. What will be a suitable gift for Charles considering his status? A watch? A wallet? Or cologne? Chapter 698 Chapter 698 Whitney visited various counters and browsed through all the options. While the cheaper watches ranged from a few thousand to ten thousand, the expensive ones cost hundreds of thousands or even millions. Seeing that, Whitney quietly tapped on her phone and searched for relevant information about Charles on the inte. As a wealthy and handsome entrepreneur, there were news articles about him on the inte naturally. After finding the official website of Newton Group, she searched for the formal attire picture of the CEO and paid close attention to the watch on Charles¡¯ wrist. It seemed to be a diamond-studded watch. Although she couldn¡¯t see the details of the dial clearly, it should be made of precious materials and have a high value as well. It was probably worth millions. If I buy a watch worth merely a few thousand, will it seem too casual and cheap for him? However, the thought of buying a watch worth millions was unbearable to her. Soon, she gave up on buying a watch. Next, she browsed through the wallets and colognes¡­ After browsing for nearly half an hour, Whitney finally settled on a men¡¯s cologne of a high-end brand called JG, which was priced at fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ny-nine. She counted carefully in her mind. Sixty thousand. Unlike the ridiculously expensive watches, Charles didn¡¯t seem to be wearing cologne when they met at noon today. Buying a cologne as a gift for him would be just right. Whitney stared at the cologne for a long time, and after receiving several disdainful nces from the salesperson, she tried the cologne¡¯s top, middle, and base notes, respectively. Overall, the cologne had a light and elegant fragrance, which exuded a sense of nobility. As she savored the fragrance, the salesperson gently advised her, ¡°Miss, if you¡¯re not going to buy it, please stop testing it. This is the most popr cologne of the season, and we only have one bottle left in stock. Once it¡¯s sold, it may take several months before we restock.¡± Whitney became even more determined to buy this cologne. ¡°Then please keep thest bottle for me. I will definitelye to buy it tonight, and if not tonight, I¡¯lletest at tomorrow morning. I wille and buy it!¡± The salesperson nodded in response to her sincere words. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll keep it for you until tomorrow morning. I hope you keep your word.¡± ¡°I will. Thank you very much!¡± After leaving JG, Whitney took out her phone and checked her meager bank savings. She had roughly twenty thousand, but after paying the next quarter¡¯s rent, she would have to start from scratch again¡­ However, even though she could postpone paying her rent for now, she still needed a lot more money to buy that bottle of cologne. Then, Whitney remembered the card Jessamyn gave her at noon. After taking out the card from her pocket, she dialed the contact number of the manager written on it. ¡°Hello, I would like to work as a temporary staff at your bar tonight.¡± After the manager asked how she got his number, Whitney replied, ¡°No, I was referred by Ms. Jessamyn. She asked me to make this call.¡± ¡°Yes, I believe it¡¯s that Ms. Jessamyn. Do I need to arrive at your ce before nine o¡¯clock?¡± Whitney nced at the time disyed on her phone. It was already half past eight, which meant that she had just half an hour left. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right over.¡± After hanging up the phone, she headed to Seduction Bar ording to the address on the card. Inside the bar, the DJ was sting music so loud that it made Whitney¡¯s heart thump along with the beats. The atmosphere was voluptuous. Whitney didn¡¯t particrly enjoy that kind of environment, but she followed the manager closely and headed inside. The manager said, ¡°Everyone calls me Leo. You can call me that too.¡± Whitney shrugged her shoulders, sped her hands together, and politely greeted, ¡°Hello, Leo.¡± ¡°Well, actually, we don¡¯t really need anyone here, but since Ms. Cloud is a VIP customer here and she rmended you, I¡¯ll have to let you in no matter what.¡± With the booming music ying in the background, Whitney felt slightly awkward. She gave a slight bow. ¡°Thank you, Leo.¡± As Leo led the way, he asionally nced at her figure and appearance. ¡°Your face looks quite innocent, like a foreign doll with exotic charm. You will be popr among the clients. However, your outfit is too ugly.¡± Whitney lowered her head and looked at her attire. She was wearing jeans paired with a white t-shirt, which was clean and simple. It seemed fine enough to her. However, when she looked at the prettydies around her, she noticed that they were all wearing either mini-skirts or shorts with high heels and ck stockings. They were all in low V-necks or outfits that exposed their shoulder and backs. Each of them was graceful, alluring, and charming. Whitney realized that her outfit made her look like an inexperienced neer in the realm of enchantresses. ¡°If there¡¯s no hurry, can I go back and change?¡± Jessamyn had specifically informed Leo that Whitney would being. There was no way he would let her leave easily. ¡°No need for that. Just stick with this outfit. Perhaps some of the clients here are tired of the dazzling and eye-catchingdies, and they prefer the elegance and purity that you disy. Who can say for sure?¡± Whitney found his words rather odd but didn¡¯t think too much about it. ¡°Thank you then, Leo.¡± With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, Leo smiled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± After walking through a corridor, Leo led her up the stairs until they reached the door of a luxurious private room in the innermost part of the hallway. Along the way, Leo instructed her on what to doter. ¡°Remember, put the customers¡¯ needs first. Your task is to ensure they have a great time. Singing, dancing, drinking, and ying dice, whatever you can do, make the customers happy. The tips they give in the private room, regardless of the amount, are all yours. Your shift ends at two in the morning, and by then, you¡¯ll receive your basic pay for this temporary job.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Whitney nodded. It sounded just like how Jessamyn had described. It was normal, and there shouldn¡¯t be any issues. She could sing and dance, and her alcohol tolerance was not bad. As for the dice game, she could learn how to y it afterward. Holding onto the door handle, Leo reminded Whitney again before opening the door, ¡°Remember, you came here voluntarily. If you can¡¯t fulfill the tasks and offend the big shots in the private room, your actions have nothing to do with Seduction Bar. Anyway, just do as they say, understood?¡± Whitney nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± As the soundproof door to the private room opened slowly, intense and lively DJ music could be heard. The private room was dimly lit, with asional spotlights shing. Whitney nced from afar and saw about five or six people sitting on the sofa. As the strong smell of alcohol filled her nose, she could hear the constant banter in the room. Whitney hesitated at the door and didn¡¯t go in.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. After waiting for a while, Leo was afraid she would change her mind, so he pushed her from behind and sent her into the private room. Then, he closed the door behind her quickly. ¡°If you¡¯re going to hesitate, then don¡¯te. What¡¯s with the pretense?¡± he muttered unhappily as he walked to a quieter spot to call Jessamyn and report to her. ¡°Ms. Cloud, it¡¯s all taken care of. The person has been sent in.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± ording to the prearranged agreement, Jessamyn quickly transferred money to Leo. Then, she called Charles. However, she heard the familiar and gentle customer service voice, which notified her that Charles was busy and couldn¡¯t answer the call. Jessamyn became furious. Has Charles actually blocked my number? ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. How can you reject me, the highly educated and wealthy heiress of the Cloud family, and get engaged to a woman who is poor and lowly?¡± Then, she quickly switched to another number and sent a direct message to Charles¡­ Chapter 699 Chapter 699 The sound of water flowing in the bathroom of the Newton residence abruptly ceased, reced by tranquil silence that permeated the air. Wearing a loose-fitting, dark grey bathrobe, Charles stepped out of the bathroom, his muscr arms half raised to dry his hair that was dripping wet. His exquisite blue eyes looked rxed, his nose was fine and straight, and his lips made him look even more charming when he smiled. With his facial features, he looked like a prince from a foreignnd. The glistening water droplets on his body added to the captivating allure he exuded, enhancing his already charismatic presence. Every time after a shower, Charles had the habit of enveloping himself tightly in a bathrobe, rather than simply using a towel to cover the lower half of his body. It was not that he had a poor figure. Rather, it was because of the indelible scars that remained from the beatings and torture he had endured in the past. Charles held such disdain for his own body that he avoided looking at it whenever possible. He would ensure he was fully clothed before facing the mirror. Even then, he would only focus on his face, deliberately avoiding any glimpse of the rest of his physique. Ring! Ring! Ring! It was the sound of an iing text. Charles lowered his gaze casually. At first, he was not the slightest bit fazed by the text, but the keywords caught his attention. It was from an unknown number, but the text contained Whitney¡¯s name. Immediately, he picked up the phone to read the text. It read: I heard you¡¯re going out on a date with Whitney tomorrow, but do you really know that woman? She doesn¡¯t deserve you. Come to Seduction Bar. I¡¯ll show you how despicable she can be. A frown creased Charles¡¯ forehead as his expression darkened. The tone of the text sounded familiar. Jessamyn¡¯s the only person who knows I took Whitney away from the restaurant during the day. Seduction Bar¡¯s a ce where wealthy people have fun. Why would Whitney be there? Realizing things were not as simple as they seemed, Charles entered the walk-in closet, quickly changed into something appropriate, and drove to Seduction Bar. When he reached the bar¡¯s entrance, he spotted a slender figure standing under the neon lights. It was Jessamyn. A smug smile formed on her face when she noticed the man approaching from his car. ¡°I knew you¡¯d come, so I¡¯ve been waiting for you here. What do you think? Am I considerate enough?¡± Charles eyed the woman coldly as he confronted her, saying, ¡°Jessamyn, your attitude during the date that day tells me you don¡¯t like me and even look down on me. So why waste your time on me and bully a simple girl like Whitney?¡± When he uttered thest sentence, his gaze and tone turned icy, revealing his deep displeasure. ¡°Who says I bullied her?¡± Jessamyn rolled her eyes arrogantly. ¡°I¡¯m here to have fun with my friends. I just so happened to see Whitney in there. You should be thanking me for helping you see her true colors.¡± She did not deny the first part of Charles¡¯ statement. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve only met you a few times. It¡¯s only normal that I don¡¯t like you, right? Then again, that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t like you in the future after getting to know you more.¡± She crossed her arms, ying with her freshly done nails from that afternoon, a smug expression adorning her face. From a young age, Jessamyn had always held a sense of superiority, looking down on others. This attitude fueled her determination not to let Charles show disinterest in her, nor would she permit him to choose what she deemed as an inferior and foolish woman over her. More importantly, her father had given her the order to win Charles over, for it would be a great help to the Cloud family¡¯s business. Besides, Charles was undeniably good-looking. His looks alone would be a sight for sore eyes if Jessamyn were to spend her days with him in the future. Lost in her self-centered thoughts, Jessamyn remained oblivious to Charles¡¯ efforts to suppress his growing impatience. He had no interest in engaging in an argument with someone like Jessamyn. More importantly, he feared that he would be unable to contain the anger and rage bubbling within his heart if he allowed himself to engage further with her. Had he been his old self, Charles wouldn¡¯t have bothered to treat insolent women with any semnce of gentlemanly behavior. ¡°Where¡¯s Whitney? Bring me to her.¡± After issuing the stern directive, Charles walked past Jessamyn without further acknowledgment and made his way into Seduction Bar, leaving her behind. Seeing that, Jessamyn quickly hurried along and walked beside him. ¡°You rarely go to ces like this, huh? That¡¯s unexpected. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so decent.¡± Charles chose not to dignify Jessamyn¡¯s presence with a response. With an icy gaze, he continued on his path, unaffected by her words or actions. A couple of minutester, Jessamyn led him to a room. When Charles lifted his head, he saw the words printed on the door¡ªsurveince room. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d take me to Whitney? Why did you bring me here?¡± Jessamyn smiled. ¡°She¡¯s having fun with the big shots in the private room now. We¡¯ll be ruining their fun if I take you to the private room. Anyway, I just wanted to show you how despicable of a woman she is. There¡¯s a surveince camera in the private room. You can just watch the footage.¡± Charles did not make anyments. At that, Jessamyn opened the door and raised her brow smugly. ¡°I¡¯ve informed the person in charge of the surveince room, anyway. This way, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles retracted his gaze and slowly entered the room. The person in charge had already projected the real-time footage from Whitney¡¯s private room onto the high-definitionputer for Charles. On the screen were six men sitting on a couch with Whitney seemingly singing on the small stage in front of them. The scenested for two minutes. So far, everything seemed rather normal. ¡°This is what you meant by despicable? She¡¯s only singing a few songs. She¡¯s making a living with her capabilities. Which part about it is despicable?¡± the man argued. Jessamyn rejoiced inwardly. Judging by his tone, he doesn¡¯t seem to care about Whitney that much. Well, it makes sense. After all, no sessful man would like their future wife toe to a ce like that to perform for other men. Looks like Charles will still get engaged with me. Jessamyn nced at the screen and said unperturbedly, ¡°Why are you so impatient? Singing and dancing won¡¯t be enough to satisfy a woman like her. Who knows? There might be more exciting scenes.¡± The look on Charles¡¯ face was grim, and the emotion in his eyes was inscrutable. While the two were talking, Whitney put down the microphone as if she had finished singing the song. In the next second, a disgusting middle-aged man held up a wine ss and staggered over to Whitney, wanting to get close and wrap his arms around her waist. Fortunately, Whitney noticed his intentions and scooted to the side, causing the man to fall t on his face. Although the footage had no audio, it was clear that the men were urging Whitney to have some alcohol. However, she refused them over and over again, including the disgusting man who tried to get handsy with her. In the end, he lost his temper and pped her hard in the face. Charles¡¯ gaze burned with rage as he fixed his eyes on the footage. Whitney might be tall, but she was on the skinnier end. The impact of the unexpected p sent her crashing to the ground. Following that, the men on the couch got up and strode toward her. The middle-aged man who hit her even took out a stack of cash from his wallet and threw it at Whitney. The frown on Charles¡¯ forehead deepened further as he observed the situation. Even without being able to hear the audio, he could discern from the men¡¯s bodynguage and gestures that they were hurling insults at her. In the following moment, the men in the footage closed in around her, plunging the private room into utter chaos. When Charles got up to leave, however, Jessamyn stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, Mr. Newton. This is absolutely consensual. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t havee to this bar.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see she¡¯s resisting? This isn¡¯t consensual at all!¡± Jessamyn only smiled in response to thement. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just ying out a scenario? There¡¯s no need to spoil their fun.¡± Finally, he gave up on the intention of leaving, and his gaze remained fixed on Whitney amidst the chaos. She wouldn¡¯t havee here to get involved in such work if she wasn¡¯t willing¡­ Charles did not understand her, and neither did he have the patience to do so. He was not the type who would help the weak. There was no emotion in his gaze, and his expression had be calm again as he continued watching the footage. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. In just a few minutes, the private room was in a mess. Even though Whitney was skinny and weak, she firmly refused the drunk men and fought to free herself using all the ways she could think of¡ªbiting, kicking, and even using smashed wine bottles as weapons. One could tell she was trembling with fear through the screen, yet she was doing all she could to protect her dignity. Charles narrowed his eyes, subconsciously clenching his fist. Meanwhile, Whitney was forced to a corner, her white shirt stained with blood. Despite being weaker than the men, she did her best to resist them, and the sight of that elicited a strange feeling in Charles¡¯ heart. Chapter 700 Chapter 700 At first, Charles only thought of her as an innocent and slightly foolish woman whom he could discuss marriage with. Never did he expect her to be so tough in such situations. Evidently, he had underestimated her. With a grim expression, Charles turned to leave the surveince room, only to have Jessamyn stand up and get in his way again. ¡°Why do you care so much about her when you don¡¯t even like her? This is her decision. You should respect it.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Jessamyn was stunned. Although Charles had been indifferent to her for the past few days, he had never snapped at her. Is he actually mad? While she was thinking about that, Charles suddenly reached out and grabbed her by the neck. His grip was so tight that Jessamyn¡¯s face flushed red. No matter how hard she tried to remove his hand, her strength was no match for the man. ¡°D-Do you really have the guts to k-kill me?¡± Considering Jessamyn¡¯s status as the daughter of the Cloud family and the fact that they were in the surveince room of Seduction Bar, with the employees as witnesses, she was confident that Charles wouldn¡¯t dare to cause her any harm. She was correct in her assumption that Charles wouldn¡¯t harm her in public. However, little did she know that it wouldn¡¯t stop him from tightly gripping her neck. With a gaze filled with fury, Charles leaned close to her, his breath brushing against her ear as he spoke in a low and menacing tone. ¡°Don¡¯t test me. There is a limit to my patience. In the past, I¡¯ve been called a lunatic, a monster, and worse. When I lose control, I don¡¯t behave like a normal human. If you truly wish to witness that side of me, I¡¯ll dly grant your request,¡± he warned. Those simple sentences were infused with hostility, and the viciousness in his eyes made one wonder if he actually meant what the said. Anyone who met his gaze would surely tremble with fear. As Charles loosened his grip around her neck, Jessamyn slumped to the ground with fear as if she was drained of her strength. It took her a long time to regain herposure. This man¡¯s so scary¡­ In the footage, Whitney could be seen swinging the broken wine bottle, making a few cuts on a few men who were trying to get near her. The situation was getting out of control. Without wasting another second, Charles swung the door open and left to the private room based on the number disyed on the screen. Meanwhile, Whitney¡¯s voice could be heard from VIP Room 0555. ¡°G-Get lost! Don¡¯te near me! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Her eyes were bloodshot, and her face, which was stained with blood had a look of determination. She had underestimated the audacity of the drunken men. Whitney only wanted to earn some money by providing simple entertainment, but instead of seeking harmless amusement, they wanted to exploit her vulnerability for their own gain. Almostpletely depleted of her energy and trapped by a locked door, the possibility of escape seemed distant and unattainable to her at that moment. Am I going to be taken advantage of just like that? Quiet tears poured from her eyes that were widened with fear. She waved the broken bottle in front of her, putting up onest fight. Charles had just agreed to go on a date with me tomorrow. Will he still want me if he finds out I¡¯m no longer a virgin? I¡¯ve been pursuing him for five years. I can¡¯t ept this. Smack! While she was lost in her thoughts, the middle-aged man swatted the bottle out of her hand. Immediately after that, the men rushed over to grab her arms and legs, pinning her down on the messy table. Some of them tore her clothes apart, while some tugged at her hair. ¡°How dare you run, b*tch? It¡¯s an honor for you to service me, don¡¯t you know that? Shameless b*tch!¡± Hopelessness washed over Whitney when she realized she could not move. ¡°I¡¯d rather die than let you guys humiliate me!¡± She wanted to take her life right there and then. As if reading her thoughts, the disgusting man ordered, ¡°She¡¯s trying to harm herself! Stuff her mouth. She has to finish her job before we take her to the suburbs to kill her.¡± Right then, someone gripped Whitney¡¯s face and stuffed arge ball of napkins into her mouth, stopping her from biting her tongue. The middle-aged man burst outughing and began undoing his belt and pants. Before he could fulfill his twisted desires, however, the door was suddenly kicked open. A resounding bang echoed through the room as Charles positioned himself by the door, emanating a chilling and menacing aura. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Mr. Newton.¡± The middle-aged man buckled his belt and made his way over to Charles. ¡°We¡¯re having fun. Would you care to join us?¡± Charles¡¯ gaze grew even darker as he reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone. He then made a call right in front of the men. ¡°Nico, I¡¯m at Seduction Bar. There are six men in VIP room 0555 trying to assault a girl. Pleasee over with your men.¡± His words sparked panic among the despicable men. F*ck! Is he actually calling the police? To make matters worse, the person Charles called was Nico, the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The men would be in deep trouble if they were arrested. The group was stunned, and even the person restraining Whitney had loosened his grip on her. Whitney fell to the ground weakly and scurried to the corner. She dared not look at Charles for fear of being recognized. Smiling ingratiatingly, the middle-aged man said, ¡°Mr. Newton, we were just having some fun with her. Look, she even hurt some of the bosses here. We were just giving her a little scare, that¡¯s all. Surely there¡¯s no need to call Mr. Nico over from the Federal Bureau of Investigation?¡± If it were the police, the men could still get out of the situation. However, things would not be as easy if the Federal Bureau of Investigation got involved. Nevertheless, Charles continued standing by the door in a dignified manner, his gaze vicious. ¡°There¡¯s no use telling me that. You can save your exnations for when you get to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°Mind your own business, Charles Newton! Just because you¡¯re in charge of Newton Group doesn¡¯t mean you can do whatever you want. You¡¯d better watch your back,¡± hissed the middle-aged man. If the men didn¡¯t leave immediately, it was only a matter of time before the people from the Federal Bureau of Investigation would arrive on the scene. Despite their anger, the men were acutely aware of their own guilt and knew they stood no chance against Charles. In fact, traces of disappointment flickered across their faces as they realized that their n had backfired and their ill intentions had been exposed. Charles ced one hand on the doorframe, blocking the crowd¡¯s path with the seemingly simple gesture. ¡°No one¡¯s getting out until the people from the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrive.¡± ¡°Charles Newton! Don¡¯t cross the line!¡± The warning Charles received only served to amuse him, causing his brow to arch in a sly manner. With an evil smile, he retorted, ¡°Since you all had the audacity to bully her, it¡¯s only fair that I return the favor. I¡¯m sure Nico won¡¯t mind if I carry out a little public service on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± The men in the private room froze at his words. Within upper-ss society, it wasmon knowledge that Charles possessed formidable fighting skills, owing to his previous position as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In contrast, the men who confronted Charles were mere executives ofpanies, ustomed to a comfortable and privileged lifestyle. It was evident that they were no match for his expertise and combat prowess. The middle-aged man turned to cast a puzzled gaze at Whitney who was hiding behind the table. Growing desperate, he attempted to belittle Whitney in ast-ditch effort. ¡°You know her? She¡¯s just a woman trying to sell herself. Are you really defending her?¡± Calmly, Charles responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know her. I simply wasn¡¯t in a good mood and wanted to intervene when I saw you all bullying a woman.¡± Despite thenguid look in his eyes, Charles¡¯s words held a sense of righteousness. The men could not help but sigh. They recognized the futility of challenging Charles, fully aware that they were no match for his abilities. The potential consequences, such as sustaining severe injuries or facing arrest and interrogation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the situation even less appealing. After a moment of contemtion, they finally decided to give in. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . The man who had been involved in the altercation earlier reluctantly retrieved a wad of cash from his wallet and ced it on the table. The stack of bills amounted to approximately ten thousand in total. ¡°I was wrong to hit her. What started as a joke went too far. This is mypensation to her. I only have this much with me. Please have mercy on me and let me go.¡± In certain situations, yielding and epting the reality of the circumstances became the only viable option. The other men reluctantly followed suit. Each of them took out their wallet and ced the entirety of the money they had onto the table. Momentster, about eighty thousand in cash was piled on the table. ¡°Please forgive us, Mr. Newton. We didn¡¯t mean it.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t do it again¡­¡± The men begged for forgiveness as they handed over the money. Nheless, Charles said nothing. All he did was stare at Whitney who was hiding under the table. Unfazed by the men¡¯s gestures of remorse, she remained curled up under the table, trembling with fear. Her frail and emaciated figure entuated her pitiful appearance, evoking a sense of sympathy for the torment she had endured. A frown marred Charles¡¯ face as he observed the scene with displeasure. Wasn¡¯t she putting up a brave front earlier? Where did all her courage go? Now, all she¡¯s doing is hiding. Chapter 701 Chapter 701 Seeing that Charles still didn¡¯t respond, the other men in the room couldn¡¯t figure out his temperament. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . One of the men asked, ¡°Can we leave now, Mr. Newton? We don¡¯t have any more money on us, and we didn¡¯t touch this who¡ªI mean, woman. In fact, she¡¯s the one who beat us up so badly that we¡¯re covered in injuries. We¡¯ll have to see a doctor right away.¡± Charles narrowed his eyes and spat coldly, ¡°Scram.¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± The men immediately scurried away. When they passed by Charles, he caught a glimpse of their injuries. Some had fractured arms while some were covering their bleeding waist. All six of those men had their butts kicked by Whitney, a woman, despite their advantage in numbers. As such, Charles¡¯ interest in Whitney was roused. Slowly, he ambled into the messy room. The shattered ss pieces scattered all over the floor crumbled beneath his dark leather shoes. Whitney, who was hiding beneath the table, trembled violently and held her breath upon hearing his steady footsteps. In her mind, she prayed, Please don¡¯t see me, please don¡¯t see me, please don¡¯t¡­ A secondter, she felt warmth on her shoulders. She tilted her head and saw Charles taking off his coat and draping it over her shoulder to cover her tattered clothes. He¡¯s so gentle, so much so that he can charm any woman in minutes. Whitney felt even more ashamed and hung her head low, not daring to meet his gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide. I know who you are,¡± uttered Charles in a deep, maic voice, which was pleasant to Whitney¡¯s ears. ¡°Why did youe to this dangerous ce? Are you in desperate need of money?¡± he asked. In response, Whitney nodded as tears streamed down her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You just said you wanted to try dating me in the afternoon, yet I embarrassed you in the evening on the same day¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He appeared exceptionally patient as he picked up the money on the table, squatted down, and delivered it to Whitney. ¡°Take it. It¡¯s all yours. You won¡¯t be short of money now, will you?¡± Whitney lifted her head, but as soon as her eyes met Charles¡¯ piercing blue gaze, she quickly looked away. After some thought, she refused to take the money. ¡°I don¡¯t want it. If you hadn¡¯t arrived in time, I would¡¯ve suffered greatly. This money belongs to you, Mr. Newton.¡± Amused, Charles chuckled. She¡¯s quite cute in a silly way sometimes. ¡°I don¡¯t need it, and what happened tonight has nothing to do with me. You deserve this money. Consider it your reward for sparring with those men. Besides, you¡¯re injured, too. You¡¯ll need the money to receive treatment at the hospital.¡± Even though it was in that Whitney was almost sexually assaulted by the group of men, Charles referred to the incident as a mere sparring session. She mustered her courage and raised her gaze, daring to ask, ¡°Don¡¯t you find it disgusting that I¡¯m earning money in a bar through such means?¡± The edges of Charles¡¯ lips curved upward slightly. ¡°Not at all. You¡¯re an adult, and you¡¯re forced to do what it takes to make ends meet. I can understand that. Although, you should avoid taking such risks in the future. Your safety shoulde first when you¡¯re outside, especially because you¡¯re a woman.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Again, Charles handed the cash in his hand to her. She felt conflicted as she epted the wad of cash. After tonight¡¯s nightmare, I guess I can count this aspensation for my emotional damage. Perhaps I¡¯ll have some money left over after purchasing the cologne as a gift for Charles, which will also cover my rent. This dreadful experience doesn¡¯t seem so dreadful after all. Charles was surprised to see her still wearing a smile. What a happy-go-lucky woman. He offered, ¡°I¡¯ll send you to the hospital. Can you walk?¡± ¡°I can, but I don¡¯t need to visit the hospital. All I endured was a few ps, that¡¯s all. The minor injuries on my body will heal over time,¡± replied Whitney. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll send you home.¡± He stood, hands stuffed into his pockets, ready to leave the room. After taking a few steps forward, he stopped because he didn¡¯t hear footsteps behind him. Turning around, he noticed she hadn¡¯t moved yet. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Whitney¡¯s eyes were red like a rabbit¡¯s, the tears on her countenance mixed with blood. There was a touch of destion to her beauty. Awkwardly, she bit her lip and uttered, ¡°I¡­ My legs are numb. I can¡¯t stand up. I¡¯m not doing this on purpose¡­¡± The moment she ended her sentence, she flushed with embarrassment. Even though I said I could walk, I proved myself wrong just thirty secondster. I wish the ground could swallow me up right now. Charlesughed. Didn¡¯t she ruthlessly kick the butts of a few men earlier? Why are her legs numb after Ie to her rescue? While he found her behavior slightly distasteful, he still approached her and carried her after considering his ns. She was light, so it was easy for him to lift her up. At that moment, her thin shoulders were covered by his coat. Her body was tainted with blood, and her hair was messy, making her resemble a broken, blonde doll. Her pitiful state would easily arouse a man¡¯s desire to protect her. Charles froze, lowering his gaze and staring at her for a while. He didn¡¯t even blink as his mind wandered. Although his gaze rested on Whitney, his thoughts were consumed by Gwendolyn, who shared the former¡¯s delicate frame. Gwendolyn¡¯s light and thin, too. When we were younger, I used to carry her like this as well. I even spun around with her in my arms, promising to love and protect her forever. Now, she no longer needs my protection. She¡¯ll never belong to me¡­ It was difficult for Whitney to discern the expressions swirling in his blue eyes under the room¡¯s dim light. While she had no idea what Charles was thinking, she was a little embarrassed by how he was fixing his gaze on her. Thus, she lowered her head, trying to hide her miserable state from him. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Newton. I want to go home.¡± Carefully, she tugged at his shirt while seeking sce in the comforting warmth of his chest. Charles snapped back to his senses, his expression bingposed again. Wordlessly, he sauntered out of the messy room. In the corridor, they ran into a few special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The leader wasn¡¯t Nico, but instead was the leader of Team Nine, Jasper. Seeing that Whitney was covered in blood, Jasper inquired, ¡°Why is this woman so badly hurt, Mr. Newton?¡± Whitney wanted to rify that the blood didn¡¯t belong to her, but Charles spoke before she could. ¡°She was assaulted, of course,¡± he exined. ¡°Those people in the room fled after finding out that I had contacted the authorities. There¡¯s no need to investigate the room any further.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ll still need to adhere to the procedures. We¡¯ll examine the surveince footage and apprehend the criminals.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving the rest in your hands, then. I¡¯ll be taking her to treat her injuries now.¡± Charles figured that despite the promise he made to the other party, it wasn¡¯t his business to interfere with the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s n to capture the men. ¡°Okay. Remember to ask for a statement of injury.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± With Whitney in his arms, Charles strode away without looking back. Meanwhile, Jessamyn was still in the surveince room. She saw Charles kick down the door before draping his coat over Whitney after entering the room. He even carried the woman in his arms like she was a princess. The suffocating sensation when Charles suffocated her earlier still lingered in her heart. This man is terrifying and unfathomable! He clearly doesn¡¯t like that woman. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have watched her be bullied for so long and only acted before the situation spiraled out of control. Nevertheless, he chivalrously draped his coat over her and tenderly carried her out of the room. The lingering pain in her neck served as a reminder of how terrifying Charles was, causing goosebumps to instantly ripple across her skin. ¡°What a lunatic! I wonder what twisted thoughts upy his mind!¡± Despite cursing andining, she knew she was currently in deep water. Hence, she called her father for help. ¡°Dad, I think I messed up again¡­¡± Chapter 702 Chapter 702 Whitney was still wrapped in the coat Charles gave her as she stared out the window at the night view whizzing past them. Though he promised to drive her home after she told him her address, she found the view outside to be unfamiliar and realized he wasn¡¯t taking her to the intended destination. Thus, she asked, ¡°Where are you bringing me to, Mr. Newton?¡± With one hand on the steering wheel, Charles appeared nonchnt as he focused on the road ahead. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really not necessary¡ª¡± ¡°You heard what Jasper said. An injury statement is required to apprehend that group of men. You can¡¯t produce that statement if you don¡¯t visit the hospital.¡± ¡°I was just afraid back then. I didn¡¯t suffer any severe injuries. Since they already paid me, why not¡ª¡± Before she could finish exining her intention to get this over with, Charles cut her off grimly by saying, ¡°I will not allow the woman I want to date to be humiliated by scumbags like them. Even though they didn¡¯t seed, I still want them to pay the price for their offense.¡± She fell silent, touched by what he said. So this is what it feels like to be protected by a boyfriend¡­ ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. Charles¡¯ expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly. ¡°In any case, let me handle these matters. You don¡¯t need to worry about them. Just rest after you return home, and don¡¯t forget our date tomorrow.¡± Whitney nodded. I won¡¯t. That¡¯s thest thing I¡¯ll forget. Thinking of Jessamyn in the surveince room, he narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°You don¡¯t seem like the type of woman who frequented a ce like Seduction Bar. Who told you about this ce?¡± If she had been an experienced bar hostess, today¡¯s events would not have unfolded as they did. She would have skillfully managed any conflict with her customers, avoiding physical altercations and effortlessly resolving the situation. However, her current state of panic suggests she is a novice in this field. While I have a general understanding of the situation, I still require her honest ount to fully grasp the truth. Whitney lowered her head and contemted her answer. While she was carefree, she wasn¡¯t an idiot. ¡°It was Ms. Cloud. At noon, after I bid you and Ms. Zendy goodbye, she came to me and handed me a card. Then, she told me that if I need money, I should visit this ce to make some quick bucks.¡± Charles remained silent. After they arrived at the hospital, a nurse attentively tended to Whitney¡¯s wounds. Charles left for a while. By the time he returned, he had already asked someone to send the injury statement to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After Whitney received herst band-aid while sitting at the edge of the bed, Charles appeared at the entrance. She caught sight of his towering yet reassuring figure the moment she turned around. An infatuated look surfaced in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m done, Mr. Newton.¡± Chorles moseyed toword her ond osked the some question he did bock in the bor. ¡°Con you wolk?¡± ¡°I con.¡± She nodded ond wos obout to get off the bed when o shodow suddenly loomed over her. By the time she reolized whot wos hoppening, she wos olreody in Chorles¡¯ embroce. ¡°I-I con wolk, I sweor.¡± She blinked, pursing her lips. Despite her swollen cheeks, she still oppeored pretty ond delicote. Without even gloncing ot her, Chorles corried her out of the room wordlessly. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Blushing, Whitney wropped her orms oround his neck, feeling content. When they possed by the nurse who treoted Whitney eorlier, Whitney heord the nurse express her envy. ¡°You¡¯re so blessed, Ms. Mellor. Your boyfriend is so sweet.¡± Whitney lowered her heod boshfully, her focepletely flushed. Boyfriend? I don¡¯t think he¡¯s my boyfriend yet when tomorrow is our first officiol dote. Corefully, she stole o glonce ot Chorles. There wosn¡¯t ony expression on Chorles¡¯ countenonce, ond he didn¡¯t refute the nurse¡¯s stotement either. Noting his silent ogreement with the nurse¡¯s words, Whitney remoined quiet os well while she loy in his embroce. Holf on hour loter, they orrived ot o cheop condominium in o remote residentiol oreo. Stepping out of the vehicle, Chorles surveyed the dilopidoted surroundings of the condominium. ¡°You¡¯ve been living here for five yeors?¡± he inquired. Whitney nodded. ¡°The londlody is o nice womon. Though it¡¯s quite for from my workploce, the rent is cheop, so I¡¯ve been stoying here for o long time.¡± Most cors in the porking lot were offordoble vehicles. Hence, Chorles¡¯ block Bentley stood out. As the night breeze wos frigid, Chorles wropped his coot tighter oround her ond urged, ¡°Go on upstoirs. Don¡¯t forget the time of our dote.¡± Whitney, being o sensible womon, wos too emborrossed to invite him upstoirs, for feor thot he would despise her shobby home. ¡°I¡¯ll wosh your coot ond bring it with me on our dote tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thot won¡¯t be necessory. Consider it my gift to you.¡± Upon ending his sentence, Chorles returned to his cor ond drove owoy under the moonlight. Meonwhile, Horrick Villo wos quiet during midnight. Cedrick ond his fomily were oll tucked into the some bed, with Zendoyo ond Benedict sleeping porticulorly soundly. The scene wos heortworming ond cozy. However, Cedrick, lying flot on the bed, wos still storing up ot the lomp on the ceiling without o hint of drowsiness. He wos still thinking obout the milk powder incident ond Joe¡¯s escope. Despite his influence reoching every corner of Chonoeo, he wos still unoble to locote Joe, even ofter hoving people seorch for him for four yeors. The cunning mon monoged to slip owoy multiple times, olwoys one step oheod. After oll, Joe¡¯s experience in the militory ond exceptionol counterintelligence skills mode cotching him no eosy tosk. ¡°I¡¯m done, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles moseyed toward her and asked the same question he did back in the bar. ¡°Can you walk?¡± ¡°I can.¡± She nodded and was about to get off the bed when a shadow suddenly loomed over her. By the time she realized what was happening, she was already in Charles¡¯ embrace. ¡°I-I can walk, I swear.¡± She blinked, pursing her lips. Despite her swollen cheeks, she still appeared pretty and delicate. Without even ncing at her, Charles carried her out of the room wordlessly. Blushing, Whitney wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling content. When they passed by the nurse who treated Whitney earlier, Whitney heard the nurse express her envy. ¡°You¡¯re so blessed, Ms. Mellor. Your boyfriend is so sweet.¡± Whitney lowered her head bashfully, her facepletely flushed. Boyfriend? I don¡¯t think he¡¯s my boyfriend yet when tomorrow is our first official date. Carefully, she stole a nce at Charles. There wasn¡¯t any expression on Charles¡¯ countenance, and he didn¡¯t refute the nurse¡¯s statement either. Noting his silent agreement with the nurse¡¯s words, Whitney remained quiet as well while shey in his embrace. Half an hourter, they arrived at a cheap condominium in a remote residential area. Stepping out of the vehicle, Charles surveyed the dpidated surroundings of the condominium. ¡°You¡¯ve been living here for five years?¡± he inquired. Whitney nodded. ¡°Thendy is a nice woman. Though it¡¯s quite far from my workce, the rent is cheap, so I¡¯ve been staying here for a long time.¡± Most cars in the parking lot were affordable vehicles. Hence, Charles¡¯ ck Bentley stood out. As the night breeze was frigid, Charles wrapped his coat tighter around her and urged, ¡°Go on upstairs. Don¡¯t forget the time of our date.¡± Whitney, being a sensible woman, was too embarrassed to invite him upstairs, for fear that he would despise her shabby home. ¡°I¡¯ll wash your coat and bring it with me on our date tomorrow.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Consider it my gift to you.¡± Upon ending his sentence, Charles returned to his car and drove away under the moonlight. Meanwhile, Harrick Vi was quiet during midnight. Cedrick and his family were all tucked into the same bed, with Zendaya and Benedict sleeping particrly soundly. The scene was heartwarming and cozy. However, Cedrick, lying t on the bed, was still staring up at themp on the ceiling without a hint of drowsiness. He was still thinking about the milk powder incident and Joe¡¯s escape. Despite his influence reaching every corner of Chanaea, he was still unable to locate Joe, even after having people search for him for four years. The cunning man managed to slip away multiple times, always one step ahead. After all, Joe¡¯s experience in the military and exceptional counterintelligence skills made catching him no easy task. Cedrick felt uneasy knowing Joe was still roaming free out there. Does Joe want to take revenge on everyone, or is he just targeting me? Just as his train of thought ended there, he heard Gwendolyn clearing her throat. He turned to her, who was sleeping on the other side of the bed. ¡°Why are you awake, Gwenny? Is there something on your mind?¡± Sighing, she whispered, ¡°I should be asking you that.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t respond. ¡°After a few more days, I¡¯ll have Benny sleep in his own room. Then, I¡¯ll make up for these lonely nights by hugging you, okay?¡± Gwendolyn assumed that he couldn¡¯t sleep because he missed hugging her. ¡°Sure. Whatever you say, Darling.¡± Cedrick went along with it. The next morning, after watching Zendaya step into the kindergarten with a teacher, Charles went to a nearby flower shop to buy a bouquet of champagne-colored roses. Then, he purchased a ne from a jewelry store before arriving at Whitney¡¯s condominium on time. Whitney was already prepared and waiting for him at the entrance. Charles pulled over next to her and opened the door. Even at first nce, he could tell she put much effort into dolling herself up. The pink chiffon dress she wore exuded a gentle aura, while her golden, curly hair cascaded gracefully over her left shoulder, adding a touch of maturity and charm to her. Her makeup, though light, was delicately applied, perfectlyplementing her overall look. She already possessed striking features, and this makeover further enhanced her beauty. Her style at that moment was starkly different from the t-shirt and jeans she wore yesterday. Smiling, Charles approached her and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. ¡°For you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton.¡± Whitney epted it and took in the floral fragrance. ¡°It smells nice. I like it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you like it. There¡¯s a gift hidden inside the bouquet. Take it out, and I¡¯ll help you put it on.¡± Whitney followed his instructions, unwrapping the bouquet to reveal a small, elegant ck-gold box. As she opened it, she was delighted to find a silver ne with a mermaid tail-shaped pendant inside. It resembled a fishtail but also a dolphin¡¯s tail at the same time. That reminded her of their encounter at the dolphinarium in Chanaea. I didn¡¯t expect him to be this thoughtful. I¡¯m falling for him all over again! After putting on the ne, she reverently held the silver mermaid tail pendant and gave it a gentle kiss, silently conveying her love for Charles¡¯ thoughtful gift. Then, she remembered the present she had prepared and produced it from her bag. ¡°This is for you, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles was stunned for a moment and grinned. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to prepare a present, too.¡± Chapter 703 Chapter 703 Bashfully, Whitney urged, ¡°Open it, Mr. Newton.¡± Inside the box was a bottle of JG cologne for men. JG was a significantly luxurious brand of cologne as it was double, even triple, the prices of ordinary colognes in the market. Holding the bottle of cologne, Charles examined it as realization dawned upon him. ¡°Were you making money in Seduction Barst night because you want to buy me this?¡± Whitney nodded with a shy grin. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°There¡¯s really no need for you to buy this, honestly. The price of a gift doesn¡¯t matter much to me. Just buy what you can afford, and I¡¯ll appreciate it, even if it¡¯s just a single feather. Besides, it¡¯s usually men who surprise women with presents.¡± He spoke softly, wearing a charming smile. His handsome mug mesmerized her. Even if I were to die right now for dating someone as wonderful as Charles, I think it would¡¯ve been worth it. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to breakfast.¡± Charles reached out for her hand and opened the door to the passenger seat for her. Throughout the entire day, Charles continued to behave like a considerate gentleman, catering to her every need. Whitney couldn¡¯t help but think she was dreaming. In the morning, they went shopping. Charles bought her a few pairs of high heels and clothes. During the afternoon, they went to the theaters to watch the most recent blockbuster. At night, he brought her to a fancy restaurant and shared a candlelight dinner with her. Whitney was in such a good mood that she had a few too many drinks and ended up slumping on the table, intoxicated. In response, Charles walked around the table and gently pinched her cheek. ¡°Wake up. Are you drunk?¡± Whitney¡¯s cheeks flushed a rosy hue, for she was intoxicated to the extreme. Feeling the icy cool touch of his hand, she instinctively sped his palm, interlocking their fingers tightly. ¡°Charles, I like you. I truly do. Ever since I first saw you at Tayhaven, I¡­ I¡¯ve fallen for you. I¡¯m willing to do anything for you, just as long as you¡­ choose me¡­¡± Mumbling softly, she spoke in a somewhat slurred and woozy manner. However, Charles could stillprehend her words. His handsome face was devoid of any expression whatsoever when no one was watching. Bending over, he carried Whitney out of the restaurant and into his car. Instead of driving her back to her condominium, he took her to the Newton residence. Manuel was shocked to see Whitney when he weed his employer home. ¡°Who is this, Mr. Newton?¡± He¡¯s been single for yeors, yet he brought o womon home tonight, corrying her in o bridol style. Hos he finolly found himself o portner? Insteod of exploining onything, Chorles ignored Monuel¡¯s shocked expression ond ordered opotheticolly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell onyone else obout this. Prepore o hongover remedy ond send it to my room.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± onswered Monuel before he wondered, ¡°Are you sure you wont o hongover remedy ond not something thot helps with¡­¡± He didn¡¯t hove to spell it out for Chorles to understond him. In response, Chorles glonced ot him, onswered the question with silence, ond corried Whitney upstoirs. Storing ot Chorles¡¯ bock, Monuel beomed. ¡°This is fontostic! Mr. Newton hos finolly moved on!¡± Insteod of plocing Whitney on the bed ofter bringing her to his room, Chorles settled her on o couch not for owoy from the bed. She hod foir skin, though it wos flushed ot thot moment becouse of the olcohol. Even the breoth she exholed wos tinged with the sweet scent of olcohol. Sitting ot the side, Chorles gozed ot her quietly for o while. I bet she¡¯ll look omozing with o little more mokeup. Honestly, she¡¯s olreody ottroctive without ony. Still, os stunning os she is, she con never worm her woy into my heort. Suddenly, Monuel knocked on the door. ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver the hongover remedy, Mr. Newton.¡± Chorles opened the door ond sow two cups sitting on the plotter Monuel wos holding. The old butler grinned so widely thot his wrinkles be more prominent thon usuol. ¡°The one on the right is the hongover remedy, while the left one will ensure you hove o wonderful time with the lody for the whole night. I know you didn¡¯t osk for it, but I thought I should prepore it just in cose.¡± Norrowing his eyes, Chorles frowned ot the cup on the left side of the plotter. ¡°Do you think I con¡¯t do it ond thot I need the help of this thing?¡± Monuel wos token obock. ¡°No, of course not, Mr. Newton. I know you hove omozing stomino, but this is just in cose¡ª¡± ¡°Leove the hongover remedy ond toke this thing owoy. Even if I wont to do thot with her, I con still lost for o whole night without help.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, of course.¡± Weoring o sheepish smile, Monuel toctfully did os told. Chorles entered the room with the hongover remedy ond gently potted Whitney¡¯s cheek. ¡°Woke up. You¡¯re too drunk. Toke this hongover remedy if you don¡¯t wont o roging heodoche tomorrow.¡± Whitney drowsily opened her eyes. The moment she sow him, o storry look swirled in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so hondsome, Mr. Newton. Con o mon os groceful os on ongel reolly be my boyfriend?¡± He¡¯s been single for years, yet he brought a woman home tonight, carrying her in a bridal style. Has he finally found himself a partner? Instead of exining anything, Charles ignored Manuel¡¯s shocked expression and ordered apathetically, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone else about this. Prepare a hangover remedy and send it to my room.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± answered Manuel before he wondered, ¡°Are you sure you want a hangover remedy and not something that helps with¡­¡± He didn¡¯t have to spell it out for Charles to understand him. In response, Charles nced at him, answered the question with silence, and carried Whitney upstairs. Staring at Charles¡¯ back, Manuel beamed. ¡°This is fantastic! Mr. Newton has finally moved on!¡± Instead of cing Whitney on the bed after bringing her to his room, Charles settled her on a couch not far away from the bed. She had fair skin, though it was flushed at that moment because of the alcohol. Even the breath she exhaled was tinged with the sweet scent of alcohol. Sitting at the side, Charles gazed at her quietly for a while. I bet she¡¯ll look amazing with a little more makeup. Honestly, she¡¯s already attractive without any. Still, as stunning as she is, she can never worm her way into my heart. Suddenly, Manuel knocked on the door. ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver the hangover remedy, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles opened the door and saw two cups sitting on the tter Manuel was holding. The old butler grinned so widely that his wrinkles became more prominent than usual. ¡°The one on the right is the hangover remedy, while the left one will ensure you have a wonderful time with thedy for the whole night. I know you didn¡¯t ask for it, but I thought I should prepare it just in case.¡± Narrowing his eyes, Charles frowned at the cup on the left side of the tter. ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t do it and that I need the help of this thing?¡± Manuel was taken aback. ¡°No, of course not, Mr. Newton. I know you have amazing stamina, but this is just in case¡ª¡± ¡°Leave the hangover remedy and take this thing away. Even if I want to do that with her, I can stillst for a whole night without help.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, of course.¡± Wearing a sheepish smile, Manuel tactfully did as told. Charles entered the room with the hangover remedy and gently patted Whitney¡¯s cheek. ¡°Wake up. You¡¯re too drunk. Take this hangover remedy if you don¡¯t want a raging headache tomorrow.¡± Whitney drowsily opened her eyes. The moment she saw him, a starry look swirled in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so handsome, Mr. Newton. Can a man as graceful as an angel really be my boyfriend?¡± I¡¯m more like a demon than an angel, honestly. He said, ¡°Drink.¡± Whitney obeyed him without question, willing to consume anything he fed her, even if it were poison. Around ten minutester, Whitney became sober. When she opened her eyes once more, she realized she was in an unfamiliar environment. Wait, this isn¡¯t my condominium. This room looks minimalistic and clean but elegant at the same time. ¡°This is my room in the Newton residence.¡± Charles sat on the opposite couch and fiddled with his expensive watch. Whitney shuddered because his tone was freezing, which waspletely unlike the warm voice he had been using for the past few days. Dumbfounded, she continued to stare at him, her mind still struggling to fullyprehend what was happening. ¡°Are you sober now? Do you know what I¡¯m saying and who I am?¡± questioned Charles. ¡°I am.¡± In response, Charles took a cigarette and lighter out from his pocket before lighting it casually. He took a puff of the cigarette and exhaled a cloud of smoke that obscured his expression, making it even more difficult for Whitney to discern what he was thinking. After a while, Charles broke the silence and questioned, ¡°You said you liked me when you were drunk and that you would do anything for me as long as I choose you. Do you mean it?¡± Whitney was stunned. Did I identally speak my mind when I was tipsy? Oh my god, this is embarrassing¡­ ¡°Yes, but¡­ I-I¡¯m not forcing you to make the decision or anything. I¡¯m already happy enough that you¡¯re willing to go on a date with me¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll choose you,¡± interrupted Charles while holding the cigarette. ¡°Mhm?¡± Is he saying what I think he¡¯s saying? Patiently, Charles repeated, ¡°I said I¡¯ll choose you. Not for a rtionship, but for marriage.¡± N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Whitney thought her ears were ying tricks on her. M-Marriage? While we¡¯ve known each other for years, the total amount of time we spent together for the past few years isn¡¯t even as much as we did today on our first date. Isn¡¯t this too fast? I feel like the angels have descended from the heavens and fulfilled my greatest wish! Charles observed her reaction before pushing the document on the coffee table toward her. ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry, so you can consider whether you want to marry me or not. Take a look at this first.¡± Chapter 704 Chapter 704 Bewildered, Whitney stared at the document on the coffee table. Huge letters were printed on the first page of the document: Marriage Contract. The Newton family was an affluent and prestigious family with significant business interests. Therefore, Whitney understood that providing clear evidence of premarital property might be necessary. With that in mind, she flipped through the pages. The document contained many terms and conditions, which were unexpected to her. The marriage contract wouldst for a year. Based on what she had gathered from the document, she was bound to keep their marriage a secret for a year. Moreover, she had toply with Charles¡¯ requests to feign intimacy whenever needed. Privately, they would not interfere with each other. Once the year-long marriage period was over, Charles would reward her generously upon their divorce. The reward bracket at the end of the document seemed to be left deliberately nk so she could fill in whatever she wanted. Astonished, she stared at the thick stack of documents withplicated feelings. No wonder Charles is treating me so coldly tonight. He had nned to use me from the beginning. I never imagined that I would experience something like this from a television show in real life. However, it doesn¡¯t¡­ make me feel happy. Just as she was contemting what to do, Charles, with his cigarette between his lips, said, ¡°Once you sign this contract, you won¡¯t need to return to your small condominium anymore. I¡¯ll have someone move your belongings here, and you¡¯ll live in the Newton residence. Additionally, if you decide not to work anymore, I¡¯ll provide you with a monthly allowance of ten thousand, which should cover your daily expenses. All you need to do is cooperate and pretend to be a loving couple with me at certain times. As for the divorce settlement, it¡¯s up to you to decide how much you want. Besides Newton Group¡¯s shares, you can ask for anything I own, such as properties, shares in other majorpanies, cash, and gold. No matter the amount, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± The smell of cigarettes filled the air. A cold, distant look swirled in Charles¡¯ eyes as the smoke clouded his face. The tender expression he once wore was gone for good. Whitney stared at him, tears welling in her eyes. I used to dream of a sweet romance with him, maybe even a marriage. But now, it seems like I was just being delusional. So, he wants a secret marriage for a year, and then after the divorce, we¡¯ll go our separate ways as strangers. Is that it? Hah. Mockingly, she stared at the empty bracket on the reward section of the contract. ¡°If I write down you and your heart here, will you give them to me?¡± Charles knitted his eyebrows and stated seriously, ¡°Feelings are intangible. I can¡¯t give them to you.¡± There wos no hesitotion in his voice, os though the possibility of him folling for her wos zero. Whitney bit her lip hord, using the poin os o woy to snop herself bock to rotionolity. Then, she pushed the document bock to him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Newton. I don¡¯t plon to sign it. You con find someone else to be your controct wife.¡± Chorles gozed ot her, the edges of his lips curving upword. It wos os though he hod foreseen thot oue. ¡°All right, I won¡¯t force you. If you don¡¯t wont to sign, then so be it.¡± Gloncing ot his wotch, he continued, ¡°It¡¯s getting lote. I¡¯ll osk my bodyguord to send you home loter. You con pretend whot tronspired tonight never hoppened.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ve got some money. I con coll o toxi for myself.¡± ¡°The Newton residence is situoted in the outskirts. There ore no toxis within o ten-kilometer rodius from here. How do you plon to get bock?¡± ¡°You need not worry obout thot, Mr. Newton. I con hondle it myself.¡± Whitney tidied her dress ond stood up before bowing ot him politely. ¡°Thonk you for toking core of me todoy ofter I got drunk. I truly enjoyed our dote.¡± Though she spoke cosuolly, her smile borely conceoled her disoppointment. When Chorles noticed it, he wos ticked off for some reoson. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Newton.¡± Whitney bowed ogoin before heoding to the exit. Chorles stroightened his bock ond shook his cigorette over the oshtroy. After pousing his movements for o moment, he extinguished the unfinished cigorette in onnoyonce. With o cold ond sorcostic tone, he soid, ¡°You cloimed to like me ond be willing to do onything for me, yet you con¡¯t even ogree to o morrioge controct. I don¡¯t believe I¡¯m being unfoir with yourpensotion ond ollowonce.¡± Whitney stopped in her trocks ond clenched her fists. ¡°You women ore oll the some. Alwoys so greedy. Once you get enough money, you¡¯ll wont to possess me, then my heort, ond eventuolly my entire fomily fortune,¡± he soid with eoch word dripping with resentment, deeply hurting her emotionolly. Enroged, Whitney snopped bock, ¡°I didn¡¯t leove my home country for five yeors just becouse of money. I did it becouse I genuinely like you, but my feelings ore not something you con toy with.¡± This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Newton¡­¡± She poused before osking the question she wonted onswered most. ¡°Hove you been treoting me nicely for the post few doys becouse you like me or becouse you think I¡¯m o suitoble condidote for your plon?¡± Chorles lowered his heod. His long eyeloshes cost o shodow over his countenonce, conceoling his expression. Holding his cigorette, he leisurely stirred the oshtroy. ¡°Moybe both.¡± There was no hesitation in his voice, as though the possibility of him falling for her was zero. Whitney bit her lip hard, using the pain as a way to snap herself back to rationality. Then, she pushed the document back to him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Newton. I don¡¯t n to sign it. You can find someone else to be your contract wife.¡± Charles gazed at her, the edges of his lips curving upward. It was as though he had foreseen that oue. ¡°All right, I won¡¯t force you. If you don¡¯t want to sign, then so be it.¡± ncing at his watch, he continued, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll ask my bodyguard to send you hometer. You can pretend what transpired tonight never happened.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ve got some money. I can call a taxi for myself.¡± ¡°The Newton residence is situated in the outskirts. There are no taxis within a ten-kilometer radius from here. How do you n to get back?¡± ¡°You need not worry about that, Mr. Newton. I can handle it myself.¡± Whitney tidied her dress and stood up before bowing at him politely. ¡°Thank you for taking care of me today after I got drunk. I truly enjoyed our date.¡± Though she spoke casually, her smile barely concealed her disappointment. When Charles noticed it, he was ticked off for some reason. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Newton.¡± Whitney bowed again before heading to the exit. Charles straightened his back and shook his cigarette over the ashtray. After pausing his movements for a moment, he extinguished the unfinished cigarette in annoyance. With a cold and sarcastic tone, he said, ¡°You imed to like me and be willing to do anything for me, yet you can¡¯t even agree to a marriage contract. I don¡¯t believe I¡¯m being unfair with yourpensation and allowance.¡± Whitney stopped in her tracks and clenched her fists. ¡°You women are all the same. Always so greedy. Once you get enough money, you¡¯ll want to possess me, then my heart, and eventually my entire family fortune,¡± he said with each word dripping with resentment, deeply hurting her emotionally. Enraged, Whitney snapped back, ¡°I didn¡¯t leave my home country for five years just because of money. I did it because I genuinely like you, but my feelings are not something you can toy with.¡± ¡°Mr. Newton¡­¡± She paused before asking the question she wanted answered most. ¡°Have you been treating me nicely for the past few days because you like me or because you think I¡¯m a suitable candidate for your n?¡± Charles lowered his head. His long eyshes cast a shadow over his countenance, concealing his expression. Holding his cigarette, he leisurely stirred the ashtray. ¡°Maybe both.¡± Although, I¡¯ll change the first reason, which is that Zendy likes her and is willing to ept her as a godmother. Whitney does have a good rtionship with Zendy, so I won¡¯t need to worry about Zendy being mistreated by her godmother. Whitney, who had no idea what was going through his mind, felt much better. Does that mean he has some feelings for me? Is there a chance for us? If he does have even the slightest affection for me, it means my years of pursuing him were not in vain. I know he might have some reservations about me, considering our different backgrounds. He¡¯s the heir of a wealthy family, and Ie from a poor, mountainous region in Tayhaven. A year is a long time, and anything can happen. Maybe I can change his mind¡­ By that point, she had convinced herself. Humans are greedy, after all. Once they¡¯ve experienced the sweetness of something, they would yearn to hold onto it forever, and that includes someone¡¯s love. Therefore, Whitney returned to the table. ¡°I¡¯m willing to sign the contract and do whatever you ask, Mr. Newton.¡± Without dy, she signed the contract with her name, though she paused for a moment when she had to write down what she wanted forpensation. She finished filling it in less than a second. ¡°There, it¡¯s done. Take a look, Mr. Newton.¡± She pushed the document back to him. Charles was slightly shocked. Noticing how swiftly she finished filling in the reward section, he flipped through the pages and checked what she wrote. Whitney only wrote one word, which was: None. Indeed, she didn¡¯t want any properties or shares or money. In the event of a divorce, she wanted to leave without receiving anything. In response, Charles raised his eyebrow at her. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want anything? I¡¯m not a stingy man. Once you solve my problem, I can grant you any buildings I own or hundreds of millions. I can even make you the biggest shareholder of apany. Ask for anything you want, and I¡¯ll give it to you. That way, you can live afortable life even after our divorce.¡± Whitney shook her head before stating firmly and condescendingly, ¡°I told you I only want you and your heart. In the following year, I¡¯ll do whatever you want while trying to make you fall for me. If I can¡¯t, then I¡¯ll consider my attempts a failure and return to my home country. I won¡¯t bother you again.¡± Charles chuckled. She wants me to fall for her? I think this is the first time I¡¯ve seen a woman dere her intention to seduce someone so confidently and openly. It¡¯s rather intriguing and amusing, and surprisingly, I can¡¯t find any faults in her approach. Quite interesting, indeed. Chapter 705 Chapter 705 ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll respect your decision if you¡¯re sure of it.¡± Charles epted the pen and signed his name before keeping the marriage agreement carefully. Whitney got up and said stiffly, ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now. When it¡¯s time to register our marriage, please let me know.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning to go back to that tiny apartment?¡± Charles looked at her and spoke mockingly. ¡°The marriage registration won¡¯t take long. We can do it tomorrow morning. Stay here tonight and get ustomed to your future life. I¡¯ll take the bed, and you can sleep on the couch.¡± It was her first time at his house, so sharing his room seemed too impolite of her. However, sleeping on the couch was eptable. But¡­ ¡°Are we heading to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow morning? My mother might be a Chanaean, but I am a Tayhaven citizen. The documents I need to get married here are still in Tayhaven.¡± Charles lit another cigarette. ¡°I don¡¯t like dragging things out, so we should get this done as soon as possible. Don¡¯t worry about the documents as I have already sent someone to Tayhaven. He¡¯ll be back with them tomorrow.¡± Realization dawned on Whitney. ¡°It looks like you knew I would agree to sign the document.¡± ¡°That will happen sooner orter.¡± Whitney was at a loss for words. I wonder how Charles¡¯ men willmunicate with my family. How will they react upon finding out that I¡¯m getting married? The tobo scent in the room was getting stronger, so Whitney approached him and took the cigarette dangling from his mouth. ¡°Stop smoking, Mr. Newton. Smoking isn¡¯t good for your health. Besides, it¡¯s gettingte.¡± Charles narrowed his eyes and red at her, seemingly displeased by her action. ¡°We are not married yet. Are you already interfering in my affairs?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Whitney felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her. His intense gaze made her tremble with a hint of fear. ¡°I-I¡¯m still adjusting, you know. I want to learn how to be a loving couple with you in public. I don¡¯t want to behave poorly and risk embarrassing you.¡± Charles looked away silently. He didn¡¯t make to light another cigarette. Heaving a sigh of relief, Whitney bent down and stubbed the cigarette out on the ashtray. Charles gazed at her coldly as her slender figure walked past him. A girl from the countryside, huh? Why doesn¡¯t she look innocent at all to me? ¡°Ah!¡± Whitney screamed as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and tugged her backward. By the time she realized what was going on, she was already sitting in Charles¡¯p. ¡°M-Mr. Newton?¡± Chorles mointoined o stoic expression os he firmly held her chin, his goze resolute os he spoke. ¡°Behove yourself. I¡¯m not o soint, but I wont us to hove o good relotionship. I don¡¯t wont to show you my crozy side. Do you understond?¡± He held her chin with such force thot Whitney winced in poin, feeling os if her chin wos on the verge of being crushed. ¡°I understond.¡± I don¡¯t get it. After spending just one hour with Chorles, I discovered thot he¡¯s moody ond unpredictoble. He¡¯ll suddenly get upset ond use me of not behoving. Whot did I do wrong? All I did wos put out his cigorette. Hove I crossed the line? Whitney¡¯s mind roced with vorious thoughts in o motter of minutes, trying to figure out whot might hove upset the mon. The intensity of his ouro mode it difficult for her to breothe. ¡°Con you let me go? It hurts o lot.¡± Chorles releosed her ond gove her o light push. Losing her bolonce, she stumbled onto the corpet beside his feet. The mon then rose up ond slowly unbuttoned his suit, towering obove her. He looked like o hondsome but unopproochoble god. ¡°The closet is on the right os you enter, ond the bothroom is on the left. You should toke o shower to get rid of the olcoholic stench on your body.¡± ¡°O-Okoy,¡± Whitney replied reodily before belotedly remembering something emborrossing. ¡°But my clothes ore bock ot my oportment, ond I don¡¯t hove ony clothes to chonge into.¡± Chorles wos still busy toking off his clothes. His white shirt hugged his well-defined physique, reveoling glimpses of his toned obs. Without uttering o word, he swiftly turned on his heel ond disoppeored into the wolk-in closet. Whitney rubbed her oching jow ond remoined sitting on the corpet. One minute loter, Chorles strode out of the closet, tossing o brond-new silk shirt ond o bothrobe to her. ¡°Weor this for tonight.¡± ¡°Okoy.¡± Whitney felt o little shy to put on his clothes. An hour loter, she stepped out of the shower. The bedroom wos engulfed in dorkness, except for the soft glow of o bedside lomp. Chorles loy on the bed, his eyes closed, seemingly fost osleep. He wos quiet when he wos osleep. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. The bedside lomp cost o worm glow throughout the room. As she observed Chorles¡¯s peoceful side profile from o distonce, Whitney found herself contemploting o future spent by his side, cherishing moments like these where she could witness his serene slumber. The thought of spending her life with him seemed oppeoling. Charles maintained a stoic expression as he firmly held her chin, his gaze resolute as he spoke. ¡°Behave yourself. I¡¯m not a saint, but I want us to have a good rtionship. I don¡¯t want to show you my crazy side. Do you understand?¡± He held her chin with such force that Whitney winced in pain, feeling as if her chin was on the verge of being crushed. ¡°I understand.¡± I don¡¯t get it. After spending just one hour with Charles, I discovered that he¡¯s moody and unpredictable. He¡¯ll suddenly get upset and use me of not behaving. What did I do wrong? All I did was put out his cigarette. Have I crossed the line? Whitney¡¯s mind raced with various thoughts in a matter of minutes, trying to figure out what might have upset the man. The intensity of his aura made it difficult for her to breathe. ¡°Can you let me go? It hurts a lot.¡± Charles released her and gave her a light push. Losing her bnce, she stumbled onto the carpet beside his feet. The man then rose up and slowly unbuttoned his suit, towering above her. He looked like a handsome but unapproachable god. ¡°The closet is on the right as you enter, and the bathroom is on the left. You should take a shower to get rid of the alcoholic stench on your body.¡± ¡°O-Okay,¡± Whitney replied readily before btedly remembering something embarrassing. ¡°But my clothes are back at my apartment, and I don¡¯t have any clothes to change into.¡± Charles was still busy taking off his clothes. His white shirt hugged his well-defined physique, revealing glimpses of his toned abs. Without uttering a word, he swiftly turned on his heel and disappeared into the walk-in closet. Whitney rubbed her aching jaw and remained sitting on the carpet. One minuteter, Charles strode out of the closet, tossing a brand-new silk shirt and a bathrobe to her. ¡°Wear this for tonight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Whitney felt a little shy to put on his clothes. An hourter, she stepped out of the shower. The bedroom was engulfed in darkness, except for the soft glow of a bedsidemp. Charlesy on the bed, his eyes closed, seemingly fast asleep. He was quiet when he was asleep. The bedsidemp cast a warm glow throughout the room. As she observed Charles¡¯s peaceful side profile from a distance, Whitney found herself contemting a future spent by his side, cherishing moments like these where she could witness his serene slumber. The thought of spending her life with him seemed appealing. I should feel content with what I have now. She tiptoed over to the bed and carefully lifted the edge of the nket to tuck him in. Without warning, a hand grabbed her wrist tightly. Whitney instantly shivered. A secondter, she saw Charles opening his eyes to give her an icy re. ¡°I¡¯m vignt even when I¡¯m asleep, so stay away from me at night. This is a warning. Next time, I might break your wrist.¡± ¡°I-I was just trying to adjust your nket¡­¡± Whitney¡¯s face was pale as she quickly corrected herself under his sharp gaze. ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Charles loosened his grip on her and turned to the side to fall back asleep. Whitney heaved a sigh and wrapped the bathrobe tightly around herself. She made her way back to the couch, curling up into afortable position for the night. The next morning, Charles woke up at the crack of dawn, a habit ingrained from his days at the Central Intelligence Agency. After freshening up, he approached the couch and noticed Whitney curled up tightly, her exposed limbs feeling cold to the touch. Did she sleep without a nket for the whole night? I can¡¯t believe she isn¡¯t afraid of catching a cold. There are nkets in the walk-in closet. Why didn¡¯t she take one for herself? Charles shook his head at how foolish she was. He walked over to the walk-in closet and retrieved a nket. Gently, he ced it over her, making sure she was covered and warm. Groaning softly in her sleep, Whitney instinctively pulled the nket around herself, leaving only her head exposed. She looked really adorable and cuddly. Charles nced at her briefly before turning to leave without hesitation. As the door opened, Manuel was already standing at the door. He eagerly inquired, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Charles. I trust you had a restful night. Did you have a great time with thedy?¡± Charles grunted in acknowledgment as he fastened his cufflinks. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading out for a while, Manuel. Ensure that no one disturbs her while I¡¯m away. If she happens to wake up before Ie back, make sure she stays in the room. I¡¯ll be back before nine, so inform the kitchen to prepare breakfast forter. I¡¯ll pick it up when I return.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Charles.¡± Manuel couldn¡¯t stop smiling, gratified as he watched Charles leave. Ah, Mr. Charles is so attentive. He¡¯s finally found himself a wife! Charles headed to Harrick Vi. He had to drive Zendaya to the kindergarten every day without fail. Chapter 706 Chapter 706 After arriving at the Jenson residence, he walked through the windy paths before arriving at the entrance of Harrick Vi. Outside, he could vaguely hear the sound of high-pitchedughter within the vi. That sounds like Zendy. His expression softened as he envisioned Zendaya¡¯s radiant smile. He stood by the door in silence, waiting to pick her up. Ten minutester, Gwendolyn and Cedrick came out with the children in tow. Upon seeing Charles, Zendaya ran over to him to ask for a hug like usual. ¡°Uncle Charles!¡± Charles crouched down and lifted Zendaya into his arms as she approached. He turned to Gwendolyn and Cedrick, addressing them, ¡°Gwen, Mr. Jenson, Zendy is runningte for school. We¡¯ll be on our way.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Gwendolyn responded. Cedrick nodded in response. Benedict, who was holding his father¡¯s hand, pursed his lips in displeasure as he watched Zendaya and Charles leave, theirughter echoing in the air. Sensing his discontent, Gwendolyn inquired, ¡°Benny, would you like to go to kindergarten as well?¡± Benedict shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m still sick. The IV drip and injections take up too much time, so I can¡¯t attend kindergarten like Zendy.¡± Scoffing, he continued, ¡°Plus, I find it difficult to connect with kids my age. While they¡¯re learning basic math, I¡¯m already tackling more advanced Mathematical Olympiad questions for junior high. We don¡¯t have anymon topics to discuss.¡± Gwendolyn understood what he was getting at. ¡°So you dislike Uncle Charles and don¡¯t want to see him?¡± Benedict grumbled, ¡°He may be Zendy¡¯s godfather, but I never epted him as mine. I don¡¯t want to see him around. It¡¯s irritating how he shows up every day to take Zendy with him.¡± Cedrick bent down and picked him up. As Benedict spent most of his time in his sickbed, he seldom had the chance to be embraced by his father. Delighted, he wrapped his arms around Cedrick¡¯s neck and nestled his head on thetter¡¯s broad shoulder. Gwendolyn ruffled the young child¡¯s hair affectionately. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m d you were the one who won Mommy¡¯s heart. If it were Charles, I would¡¯ve cut ties with him!¡± Cedrick and Gwendolyn¡¯s lips twitched. At once, Cedrick corrected him, ¡°If your mommy marries Charles, you won¡¯t be their child. You¡¯ll still be unborn because you are my and Gwenny¡¯s child.¡± He¡¯s unique because he has abination of both Gwenny¡¯s and my genes. ¡°Why? I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out in the future.¡± The family of three left Harrick Vi and headed to the garage, ready to depart to theb. As Chorles drove Zendoyo to kindergorten, the little girl pressed herself ogoinst the window, observing the scenery with curiosity. The scenery wos the some every doy, but it still foscinoted her. Soon, on orguing couple oppeored by the rood. When the girl turned to leove, the boy went ofter her ond gove her o hug from behind. Zendoyo blinked os she recolled Chorles ond Whitney. ¡°Uncle Chorles, how wos your dote with Whitney yesterdoy? Did you hove fun?¡± she osked eogerly, fixing her curious goze on him os she beomed. ¡°It went well. Whitney hod o greot time.¡± Chorles pondered briefly before osking, ¡°If I morry Whitney, ond she bes your godmother, will you be hoppy?¡± Zendoyo clopped hoppily. ¡°Of course! Whitney soved me ond she¡¯s so nice to me. I¡¯m reolly glod you don¡¯t like thot old lody, Ms. Cloud. She¡¯s old, ugly, ond meon. You con¡¯t possibly like her, Uncle Chorles.¡± Chorles floshed o smile ond stretched one orm out to pot her heod. ¡°I love everything you love, ond I hote everything you hote.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Uncle Chorles.¡± Chorles¡¯ lips curved into o worm smile. He could never bring himself to be horsh to her. Zendy mentioned Jessomyn¡¯s nome. I con¡¯t believe she introduced Whitney to work ot Seduction Bor. I¡¯m going to morry Whitney soon. I¡¯ll settle scores with the Cloud fomily when I¡¯m free. Chorles wos os punctuol os ever. After sofely dropping Zendoyo off ot the kindergorten, he mode his woy bock to the Newton residence, orriving precisely ot nine o¡¯clock. He joined Josmine ond Lucos ot the dining toble, both of whom were still yowning os they hod just woken up. Together, they hod breokfost. As they enjoyed their breokfost, Josmine wiggled her brows ot Lucos tomunicote with him. Alos, Lucos ignored her ond focused on eoting his breokfost. Josmine expressed her frustrotion with on ongry huff. Left with no choice, she decided to oddress the question directly. ¡°Chorles, I heord thot you brought o drunken womon bock lost night ond she stoyed in your room. She hosn¡¯te out yet. Is thot true?¡± Chorles ote o mouthful of ootmeol ond grunted softly in response. Josmine¡¯s curiosity got the better of her os she grew increosingly excited. ¡°Oh, my! Does thot meon you both hod¡­ Tell me, is she exceptionolly beoutiful or hos o stunning figure? I do judge people bosed on their looks, you know. If she wonts to be my sister-in-low, she better be obsolutely gorgeous!¡± Chorles frowned slightly. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re just friends. She lost her job, so I wos plonning on hiring her os my moid.¡± As Charles drove Zendaya to kindergarten, the little girl pressed herself against the window, observing the scenery with curiosity. The scenery was the same every day, but it still fascinated her. Soon, an arguing couple appeared by the road. When the girl turned to leave, the boy went after her and gave her a hug from behind. Zendaya blinked as she recalled Charles and Whitney. ¡°Uncle Charles, how was your date with Whitney yesterday? Did you have fun?¡± she asked eagerly, fixing her curious gaze on him as she beamed. ¡°It went well. Whitney had a great time.¡± Charles pondered briefly before asking, ¡°If I marry Whitney, and she bes your godmother, will you be happy?¡± Zendaya pped happily. ¡°Of course! Whitney saved me and she¡¯s so nice to me. I¡¯m really d you don¡¯t like that olddy, Ms. Cloud. She¡¯s old, ugly, and mean. You can¡¯t possibly like her, Uncle Charles.¡± Charles shed a smile and stretched one arm out to pat her head. ¡°I love everything you love, and I hate everything you hate.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Uncle Charles.¡± Charles¡¯ lips curved into a warm smile. He could never bring himself to be harsh to her. Zendy mentioned Jessamyn¡¯s name. I can¡¯t believe she introduced Whitney to work at Seduction Bar. I¡¯m going to marry Whitney soon. I¡¯ll settle scores with the Cloud family when I¡¯m free. Charles was as punctual as ever. After safely dropping Zendaya off at the kindergarten, he made his way back to the Newton residence, arriving precisely at nine o¡¯clock. He joined Jasmine and Lucas at the dining table, both of whom were still yawning as they had just woken up. Together, they had breakfast. As they enjoyed their breakfast, Jasmine wiggled her brows at Lucas tomunicate with him. s, Lucas ignored her and focused on eating his breakfast. Jasmine expressed her frustration with an angry huff. Left with no choice, she decided to address the question directly. ¡°Charles, I heard that you brought a drunken woman backst night and she stayed in your room. She hasn¡¯te out yet. Is that true?¡± Charles ate a mouthful of oatmeal and grunted softly in response. Jasmine¡¯s curiosity got the better of her as she grew increasingly excited. ¡°Oh, my! Does that mean you both had¡­ Tell me, is she exceptionally beautiful or has a stunning figure? I do judge people based on their looks, you know. If she wants to be my sister-inw, she better be absolutely gorgeous!¡± Charles frowned slightly. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯re just friends. She lost her job, so I was nning on hiring her as my maid.¡± His words didn¡¯t dampen Jasmine¡¯s enthusiasm. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, Charles. Do you seriously think I¡¯ll fall for your lie? Why would your maid spend the entire night in your room?¡± Lucas chimed in, putting an end to Jasmine¡¯s probing. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Jasmine. Marriage is a serious decision, and it¡¯s up to Charles to consider it on his own. Pressuring him won¡¯t yield results.¡± Charles chuckled and teased, ¡°Seems like you¡¯re quite invested in my marriage, Jasmine. Are you looking to get married too? I can ask the elders in our family to find thirty eligible bachelors for you to choose from. Take your time in picking the most handsome one.¡± ¡°Huh? What are you talking about, Charles?¡± Jasmine was confused. Weren¡¯t we talking about his wedding? Why is he suddenly talking about me? Thirty men, though? Is he serious? That sounds like I¡¯m selecting concubines. Lucas erupted intoughter and suggested, ¡°That¡¯s actually not a bad idea, Jasmine. Thirty potential suitors for you to go on a blind date with, one for each day of the month. You won¡¯t have to worry about running out of options.¡± ¡°Hey, Lucas!¡± Jasmine flushed in embarrassment. ¡°I don¡¯t need blind dates. I¡¯ll choose my own boyfriend, someone who possesses the qualities of Mr. Jenson because he¡¯s a good man.¡± Lucas told her, ¡°You¡¯ll end up being single even when you¡¯re thirty. It is rare to find someone like him.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! I want someone like Mr. Jenson. If there¡¯s no one like him, I might consider lowering my standards.¡± The siblings¡¯ breakfast session was rather lively. After the meal concluded, Charles disappeared into the kitchen and reemerged with a tray of warm food. Before this, he had never been seen in the kitchen before. When Whitney woke up, she smelled something delicious on the coffee table. Subsequently, something flew toward her. ¡°Ow!¡± Even though she recoiled instinctively, a shopping bag still hit her head. Charles told her calmly, ¡°There are new clothes in this shopping bag. Finish your breakfast first, and then change into them. Afterward, we¡¯ll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau.¡± He had arranged everything for her, leaving her no time to waste. Whitney nodded meekly and nced into the shopping bag, which contained a long white dress in size S, along with a free-size panty and a bra. Her cheeks turned pink as she instinctively covered her chest and stammered, ¡°Mr. Newton, how do you know my size?¡± Chapter 707 Chapter 707 Charles sat across from her and observed her embarrassed expression calmly as though he was an experienced yboy. ¡°It was a guess. I can roughly guess your size as the shop assistant¡¯s size was simr to yours.¡± What? I can¡¯t believe he was bold enough to ask the shop assistant. Didn¡¯t he feel shy about it? ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles nced at his watch. ¡°We need to leave before ten. Hurry up.¡± ¡°Oh, all right!¡± Whitney grabbed the shopping bag and hurried into the walk-in closet. She exhaled sharply as she put on the bra. It was indeed a guess on Charles¡¯ part. He bought a size too small. It¡¯s pretty tight. Ugh, forget it. I¡¯ll endure it for the time being and head back home after registering our marriage to pack up my clothes. ¡°Are you done?¡± Charles urged. ¡°I¡¯m almost done.¡± Without further dy, she changed into the dress and emerged from the closet. The white dress entuated her innocence and elegance, and despite the fact that white attire might not suit everyone, she looked stunning in it. Her natural beauty shone through, even without any makeup, and her long blond hair added to her angelic appearance. Charles gazed at her for some time. Whitney touched her cheek, feeling awkward under his intense gaze. Following his line of sight, she observed herself and asked, ¡°Do I look really ugly?¡± ¡°No,¡± Charles replied honestly. ¡°It suits you.¡± ¡°Thank you. You have good taste, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles looked away and tapped his fingers on the coffee table. ¡°Come and eat your breakfast.¡± Whitney approached him obediently. As she was starved, she gobbled down the food swiftly. The Newton residence¡¯s chef used to work in five-star hotels, so the breakfast spread was delicate and delicious. The breakfast Whitney used to have by the roadside was nothingpared to this. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. She soon finished her breakfast and left the house with Charles. As Charles had left orders previously, she didn¡¯t see anyone on her way downstairs. Despite her suspicion, Whitney said nothing and followed him to the car. It didn¡¯t take long for them to receive their marriage certificate. After taking a photo, Whitney soon received two copies of their marriage certificates. She rubbed her finger across the paper, finding it hard to calm down. Just a day ago, she was dating Charles, but now, they were husband and wife, albeit for a limited duration of one year. There were no betrothal gifts, wedding, blessings, or wedding rings. If Charles wanted to keep their marriage a secret, no one would find out about it. Nevertheless, Whitney wos delighted os she hod morried the mon of her dreoms. Controry to her excitement, Chorles remoined unfozed os though he hod just token core of on ordinory, everydoy motter. After they stepped out of the Civil Affoirs Bureou, Chorles¡¯ phone rong. He went oside to onswer the coll, while Whitney woited for him to be done. Two minutes loter, Chorles reoppeored ond reloyed his instructions, ¡°I hove some urgent motters to ottend to, so I won¡¯t be oble to opony you bock to the Newton residence. Insteod, I¡¯ll orronge for my bodyguord to give you o ride home. My bodyguord will pock up your stuff. Once you orrive ot the Newton residence, seek out Monuel, the butler. He hos been informed ond will give you o tour oround the house. If you hove ony queries or concerns, feel free to opprooch him for ossistonce.¡± ¡°Okoy. Con I heod bock to pock up my own stuff?¡± Chorles norrowed his eyes icily ond didn¡¯t soy onything. Whitney gripped the morrioge certificote ond exploined, ¡°I hove too much stuff. They might not be worth much, but they ore importont to him. I would prefer to hondle the pocking myself os I¡¯m ofroid thot your bodyguord might misploce or mishondle them.¡± ¡°Suit yourself, but don¡¯t go onywhere else. The Newton fomily¡¯s driver will orrive within twenty minutes to toke you to the oportment, so woit here.¡± I con toke the bus insteod of requiring o driver to drive me oround. Besides, I¡¯m just his wife for o yeor. Our relotionship wille to on end ofter thot, so I don¡¯t think I should enjoy these privileges. However, os Chorles wos too intimidoting, she hod no choice but to nod obediently. Chorles strode owoy ond swiftly left in his cor. He didn¡¯t bother showing ony concern for her or even turning oround to look ot her. Whitney sighed ond consoled herself, ¡°At leost he took the morrioge certificote with him. I shouldn¡¯t expect too much of him.¡± She coressed the certificote fondly. The moment she put it in her bog, her phone rong. It wos o long distonce coll from her fother. Whitney hesitoted before deciding to onswer it. ¡°Brot, who wos thot mon? He kidnopped your mother but only osked for your documents in return. Did you get into trouble with him? If I cotch him, I¡¯ll give him o severe beoting!¡± The moment the coll wos connected, her fother¡¯s loud voice burst out. Whitney wos smort enough to hold her phone owoy from her eor in odvonce in order not to go deof. Nevertheless, Whitney was delighted as she had married the man of her dreams. Contrary to her excitement, Charles remained unfazed as though he had just taken care of an ordinary, everyday matter. After they stepped out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Charles¡¯ phone rang. He went aside to answer the call, while Whitney waited for him to be done. Two minutester, Charles reappeared and ryed his instructions, ¡°I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I won¡¯t be able to apany you back to the Newton residence. Instead, I¡¯ll arrange for my bodyguard to give you a ride home. My bodyguard will pack up your stuff. Once you arrive at the Newton residence, seek out Manuel, the butler. He has been informed and will give you a tour around the house. If you have any queries or concerns, feel free to approach him for assistance.¡± ¡°Okay. Can I head back to pack up my own stuff?¡± Charles narrowed his eyes icily and didn¡¯t say anything. Whitney gripped the marriage certificate and exined, ¡°I have too much stuff. They might not be worth much, but they are important to him. I would prefer to handle the packing myself as I¡¯m afraid that your bodyguard might misce or mishandle them.¡± ¡°Suit yourself, but don¡¯t go anywhere else. The Newton family¡¯s driver will arrive within twenty minutes to take you to the apartment, so wait here.¡± I can take the bus instead of requiring a driver to drive me around. Besides, I¡¯m just his wife for a year. Our rtionship wille to an end after that, so I don¡¯t think I should enjoy these privileges. However, as Charles was too intimidating, she had no choice but to nod obediently. Charles strode away and swiftly left in his car. He didn¡¯t bother showing any concern for her or even turning around to look at her. Whitney sighed and consoled herself, ¡°At least he took the marriage certificate with him. I shouldn¡¯t expect too much of him.¡± She caressed the certificate fondly. The moment she put it in her bag, her phone rang. It was a long distance call from her father. Whitney hesitated before deciding to answer it. ¡°Brat, who was that man? He kidnapped your mother but only asked for your documents in return. Did you get into trouble with him? If I catch him, I¡¯ll give him a severe beating!¡± The moment the call was connected, her father¡¯s loud voice burst out. Whitney was smart enough to hold her phone away from her ear in advance in order not to go deaf. Her father spoke in Remdikian, which was a local dialect in Tayhaven. Shaking her head in exasperation, she replied calmly in Remdikian, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m afraid you are no match for him. Besides, I¡¯m married. He got his men to take my documents so he can marry me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Clearly, her father wasn¡¯t the only one present as a flurry of voices ensued. ¡°You got married? When was that? Why didn¡¯t you tell me or your mom?¡± ¡°I got married ten minutes ago.¡± ¡°What the f*ck?¡± Someone cursed on the other end of the line, clearly shocked and distressed. Whitney had already held her phone away from her ear as she lifted her head helplessly. ¡°What about the betrothal gifts? We worked hard to raise you. You should be worth at least two cows, right?¡± Whitney was speechless. ¡°Also, when are you going to hold your wedding? You need to bring him back to Tayhaven so he gets to meet your rtives here, right?¡± Whitney remained silent. Her father urged, ¡°Say something! Your mom and I are freaking out!¡± Whitney paused for a moment, considering her words carefully before revealing the truth. ¡°There won¡¯t be any betrothal gifts or a traditional wedding. This is a secret marriage, and we will only remain married for one year. After that, I¡¯ll file for divorce and return home. I would appreciate it if you don¡¯t mention anything to our rtives and let them assume that I¡¯m still working at Chanaea.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her father¡¯s voice was so loud that it caused her phone to buzz. Whitney bit her lip, preparing herself to get scolded. A brief moment of silence followed, and then her mother¡¯s gentle voice rang out. ¡°Did you get into some trouble or find yourself in debt? Is that why you felt the need to resort to such drastic measures? Please don¡¯t put yourself in such a situation. Our hometown is simple, and divorce is not something we¡¯re ustomed to. Perhaps you can try to annul the marriage since it has only been ten minutes. If you owe someone money, we can try to help you repay the debt. We don¡¯t have much, but you¡¯ve been sending money home, and I haven¡¯t spent a penny. If you¡¯ve angered someone, maybe you can find a way to escape or contact the police. If all else fails, please send us the address. Your father and I will do everything we can to save you, even if we have to gather support from the entire vige!¡± Her mother¡¯s words were filled with genuine concern rather than me. Whitney¡¯s eyes turned red. Chapter 708 Chapter 708 Although her mother had guessed everything wrongly, she was still moved. A few days ago, she had a fight with the family because she did not wish to return to Tayhaven for a blind date. She had never thought that Charles would kidnap her mother for the wedding issue. Whitney was filled with guilt. ¡°No, no. I like him. I signed this out of my own free will. Even though it¡¯ll onlyst for a year, I still think it¡¯s worth it.¡± Her mother sighed. Her father quickly snatched the phone and asked, ¡°Who is that man? What is his name? How is his family? What does he work as? Does he have a car?¡± ¡°His name is Charles Newton. He used to work as a teacher in Tayhaven. You¡¯ve both seen him before.¡± A bout of noises came from the other end of the line. Whitney¡¯s brother seemed to be asking some questions. Soon, her father digested Whitney¡¯s brother¡¯s question and asked Whitney, ¡°Is he Charles Newton, the CEO of Newton Group in Salinsburgh?¡± ¡°He is.¡± Whitney¡¯s family finally calmed down. They were d that their daughter had found a rich man. In fact, her father¡¯s tone softened a great deal. ¡°I¡¯m sure a prominent figure like him willpensate you arge sum when you have your divorce, right?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask anything from him,¡± was what Whitney said to show them her intentions. Her father lost his cool again. ¡°You didn¡¯t? How could you not? We¡¯re all waiting for you to send money home for our living expenses! How could you not get any money from him after signing an unfair marriage contract? You¡¯ll lose everything and waste a year of your life! Why are you so stupid?¡± ¡°Stop scolding her. I¡¯m sure she can think for herself. She¡¯s not dumb. She knows what she¡¯s doing,¡± came Whitney¡¯s mother¡¯s voice. ¡°What the hell does she know? She flew all the way to Chanaea from Tayhaven to court this man, and it¡¯s been five years since then! And now what? What she received is a marriage contract with a time limit. She didn¡¯t even ask for any financialpensation! Does she think that five years of her youth is nothing? She¡¯s not running a charity event!¡± Whitney¡¯s brother agreed with her father, ¡°Dad¡¯s right. No matter what, you¡¯ve got to get some money from him. The Newton family is so rich. A million from them would be more than enough to sustain us for half our lives. I might even be able to get a house and a wife with that money.¡± ¡°Hey, stop pressuring Whitney¡­¡± ¡°Shut it! You¡¯re a woman. You won¡¯t understand this!¡± Whitney¡¯s father scolded her mother. Whitney was upset to hear that. ¡°Father¡­ Father.¡± The cursing on the other end went on, and Whitney could even hear the sound of pping. Someone storted crying, ond no one poid ottention to Whitney. Alos, Whitney wos for from the fomily, ond her mother hod no power in the fomily. All Whitney could soy wos, ¡°I got it. Don¡¯t worry obout me. I¡¯ll keep sending money home, so don¡¯t you ever hit Mom ogoin. If I find out thot you¡¯re toking it out on her ogoin, I¡¯ll stop sending money home!¡± After she spot those ongry words, she ended the coll. Everyone else besides her mother ot home wos o porosite. Her hometown wos o conservotive ploce. Her fother wos on olcoholic who olwoys hit others ond would not chonge no motter how much he wos told. Whitney stored ot her phone screen ond slowly mode up her mind obout something. She would work hord to eorn lots ond lots of money. After getting her divorce ond returning to Toyhoven the following yeor, she would then convince her mother to get o divorce from her fother ond move in with her. Once she mode up her mind obout thot, she felt motivoted. Honk! Honk! Just then, the sound of on expensive cor honkinge from the side of the rood. In the next second, the cor door opened, ond o mon dressed like o bodyguord wolked over to her. ¡°Are you Ms. Whitney Mellor? We work for Mr. Newton.¡± ¡°I om.¡± The bodyguord mode o gesture of invitotion to her. ¡°Mr. Newton hos osked us to pick you up. Pleose get inside.¡± ¡°Thonk you.¡± Whitney got into the cor to return to the oportment to pock up without hesitotion. It wos Tuesdoy. Everyone seemed exceptionolly busy. Cedrick hod o tricky cose he needed to ottend to personolly. In the meontime, Gwendolyn wos in the middle of discussing o colloborotion with other fomed internotionol corporotions os Horris Group wos groduolly exponding into foreign morkets. Those two doys were cruciol times for Gwendolyn to ensure thot the controcts were signed. Since both Gwendolyn ond Cedrick were busy, ond since Benedict did not like Chorles, Cedrick hod no choice but to give Nico o doy of poid leove so thot Nico could keep Benedictpony. Nico wos o simple-minded mon, ond he wos eosily defeoted by Benedict in chess. As o motter of foct, he didn¡¯t win o single gome. ¡°Hmph! I refuse to believe thot o brot like you is smorter thon me! Agoin!¡± Benedict clicked his tongue ond studied Nico. ¡°Uncle Nico, do you reolly still wont to ploy this? At this rote, you¡¯re going to be losing your groy boxers too.¡± At the reminder, Nico reoched out to touch his bore orms. The winding from outside the window mode goosebumps form on his orms. Someone started crying, and no one paid attention to Whitney. s, Whitney was far from the family, and her mother had no power in the family. All Whitney could say was, ¡°I got it. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll keep sending money home, so don¡¯t you ever hit Mom again. If I find out that you¡¯re taking it out on her again, I¡¯ll stop sending money home!¡± After she spat those angry words, she ended the call. Everyone else besides her mother at home was a parasite. Her hometown was a conservative ce. Her father was an alcoholic who always hit others and would not change no matter how much he was told. Whitney stared at her phone screen and slowly made up her mind about something. She would work hard to earn lots and lots of money. After getting her divorce and returning to Tayhaven the following year, she would then convince her mother to get a divorce from her father and move in with her. Once she made up her mind about that, she felt motivated. Honk! Honk! Just then, the sound of an expensive car honking came from the side of the road. In the next second, the car door opened, and a man dressed like a bodyguard walked over to her. ¡°Are you Ms. Whitney Mellor? We work for Mr. Newton.¡± ¡°I am.¡± The bodyguard made a gesture of invitation to her. ¡°Mr. Newton has asked us to pick you up. Please get inside.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Whitney got into the car to return to the apartment to pack up without hesitation. It was Tuesday. Everyone seemed exceptionally busy. Cedrick had a tricky case he needed to attend to personally. In the meantime, Gwendolyn was in the middle of discussing a coboration with other famed international corporations as Harris Group was gradually expanding into foreign markets. Those two days were crucial times for Gwendolyn to ensure that the contracts were signed. Since both Gwendolyn and Cedrick were busy, and since Benedict did not like Charles, Cedrick had no choice but to give Nico a day of paid leave so that Nico could keep Benedictpany. Nico was a simple-minded man, and he was easily defeated by Benedict in chess. As a matter of fact, he didn¡¯t win a single game. ¡°Hmph! I refuse to believe that a brat like you is smarter than me! Again!¡± Benedict clicked his tongue and studied Nico. ¡°Uncle Nico, do you really still want to y this? At this rate, you¡¯re going to be losing your gray boxers too.¡± At the reminder, Nico reached out to touch his bare arms. The winding from outside the window made goosebumps form on his arms. As it turned out, the sneaky boy had made him agree to have the loser take off a piece of clothing every time. Nico had been worried that Benedict would catch a cold from losing his clothes, but after going easy on Benedict for a few rounds, he realized he could not actually win against the boy. By then, he was only wearing his boxers, having taken off his belt, watch, and even rings. If he were to lose again, he would be fully naked. It would be embarrassing. However, it would be even more embarrassing for him if he lost every round. Right as Nico was torn, Benedict reached out to make a mess of the board and yawned. ¡°Let¡¯s y next time, Uncle Nico. I¡¯m sleepy. If we keep ying, I¡¯m going to lose. Please go easy on me, Uncle Nico.¡± Nico took the opportunity to drop the topic. ¡°Sure. Are you hungry, Benny? Do you want me to peel some fruits for you?¡± ¡°A pear, then. I¡¯m sure you can prepare it well.¡± Nico nced at the oddly-shaped pear. He¡¯s really making life difficult for me today, huh? However, the boy did not think that far. Nico was simply overthinking it. After dressing himself, he sat beside the bed and peeled the fruit for Benedict. Benedict stared at him while tilting his head for a long while. ¡°Uncle Nico, is Charles good at fighting? Do you know him well?¡± Nico stiffened. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you calling him Uncle Charles?¡± ¡°He¡¯s Zendy¡¯s godfather, not mine,¡± said the boy in determination, his chin lifted up in pride. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Benedict could still remember how Charles had opened the durian with his bare hands the other day, and now, he wanted to find out more about his enemy through Nico. Nico said, ¡°He used to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and he trained there for many years. He¡¯s indeed good at fighting.¡± Benedict frowned. If that¡¯s the case, I will have to make things tougher for thest two requests so that I can properly torment the bad guy. Nico sat on the edge of the hospital bed and continued, ¡°But he loses to your daddy. He lost in all ways to your daddy previously, and even I got to teach him several lessons.¡± When Nico said that, there was smugness in his eyes. Benedict¡¯s admiration for Nico grew. As he leaned closer to the man, he asked, ¡°Uncle Nico, how did you teach him the lessons?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± How could Nico possibly tell Benedict what they did to Charles in the Federal Bureau of Investigation? It could frighten Benedict. Benedict blinked mischievously and continued, ¡°Uncle Nico, have you ever fought with him? Who won?¡± Chapter 709 Chapter 709 When Benedict asked about the matter, Nico suddenly remembered a few years ago when Charles had assisted Cedrick in investigating the milk powder case. At that time, they had agreed to have a good fight once the issue had been resolved. He had even made bold statements, dering that if he lost, he would submit his letter of resignation on the spot and step down from the position of deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unexpectedly, he found himself caught up in a whirlwind of subsequent events, including the wedding of Kieran and Inez and his own engagement party with Summer. He was so absorbed in his busy schedule that he hadpletely forgotten about it. Charles had also forgotten about the matter. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t fought with him, but I am much stronger than Charles. He is definitely no match for me,¡± Cedrick asserted confidently. ¡°Really? That¡¯s great. Uncle Nico, you¡¯re awesome!¡± A mischievous smile formed on Benedict¡¯s face as an idea began to take shape in his mind. Being praised by Benedict brought a sense offort to Nico. He quickly brushed off the embarrassing moment of losing at chess and focused on the present. ¡°After everything is settled, I will challenge Charles to a duel and teach him a lesson on your behalf!¡± The more he spoke, the prouder he grew. He showcased his strengths and abilities to his young nephew, even considering demonstrating a set of military boxing move right then and there. Benedict yed along, his face filled with admiration while his shiny ck eyes hid mischievous thoughts. Cloudington Group¡¯s recent stock market crash had caused the Cloud family to lose billions in about three days. Jessamyn¡¯s father, Ignatius Cloud, had made two consecutive attempts to visit Charles at Newton Group, bringing gifts with him. However, on both asions, he had been denied ess to meet Charles. Cedrick was extremely busy, constantly shuttling between thepany and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, making him difficult to be tracked down. Despite Ignatius¡¯ numerous attempts to meet him, he failed to catch a glimpse of Cedrick even once. In a desperate attempt to keep the Cloud family afloat in the business world, Ignatius had no choice but to swallow his pride and keep pestering Charles until thetter was willing to meet with him. Right then, Charles was in the midst of a meeting taking ce in the spacious conference room of Newton Group. Charles¡¯ approach to business was just as ruthless as Cedrick¡¯s. Having been in power for five years, he had to use certain methods to preserve his position in Newton Group. Anyone who dared to provoke or oppose him would face severe consequences. They would be cklisted from the industry and would never find employment in a reputablepany again. When Ignatius made another attempt to visit, the assistant hesitated to inform Charles, opting to temporarily brush Ignatius off. The meetingsted for a full hour. Charles maintained a serious demeanor, showing no signs of fatigue on his face. He would asionally take a sip of coffee to keep himself refreshed. ¡°Does onyone hove ony other suggestions?¡± Everyone wos silent. ¡°All right, then. This concludes the meeting,¡± Chorles soid, topping the toble with his slender fingertips. He then turned to the executive ossistont stonding neorby ond instructed, ¡°Give me o copy of the meeting minutes immediotely.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Other senior directors left the conference room one ofter onother. Chorles remoined seoted in the moin seot, engrossed in reoding the moteriols, showing no intention of leoving. ¡°It¡¯s been o few yeors, ond Mr. Newton is still so meticulous in his work. He goes over the meeting minutes severol times before finolizing them. I think Newton Group moy reoch o greoter height in onother three to five yeors.¡± Someone discreetly glonced ot Chorles ond clicked their tongue, whispering to o director next to them, with whom they were ocquointed. ¡°Indeed. Mr. Newton is truly remorkoble. He¡¯s much strongerpored to his predecessor.¡± ¡°But I heord thot he is on illegitimote child. In the beginning, everyone refused to ept being led by him. This is olso the reoson¡ª¡± ¡°Hush! Don¡¯t tolk nonsense. Whot if people heor you? Do you wont to be dismissed ot the next meeting?¡± The mon toctfully shut up. Within o few minutes, the lorge conference room, which hod been bustling with octivity, wos left with only o few people. Severol elders of the Newton fomily remoined, fronticolly giving signols to Chorles¡¯ executive ossistonts. The executive ossistonts glonced ot Chorles, who wos engrossed in reviewing the moteriols on his loptop. After bowing to the elders of the Newton fomily, the ossistonts too left the conference room. As they exited, they closed the door behind them. Only ofter they left did the elders opprooch Chorles ond osk him eornestly, ¡°Chorles, we heord thot you hove olreody been on o blind dote with the doughter of the Cloud fomily. How did it go? And when do you plon to get engoged?¡± Chorles remoined impossive, his voice cold ond devoid of emotion. ¡°I¡¯m not sotisfied with the relotionship, ond I hove no intention of toking it further.¡± The two negotive responses cleorly conveyed Chorles¡¯ strong disopprovol of this blind dote. The elders of the Newton fomily exchonged glonces ond soon storted to express their disopprovol with bitter expressions. One of them offered some odvice, soying, ¡°Whot ore you dissotisfied with? Thot girl is beoutiful, hos o good personolity, ond her fomily bockground ispotible with the Newton fomily.¡± Another elder odded, ¡°Mr. Cloude to see you o few times. Why don¡¯t you meet him? You need to hove o conversotion to determine if it¡¯s o suitoble motch, don¡¯t you think?¡± Another elder soid, ¡°Indeed. You¡¯re not getting ony younger. You¡¯ve been in o position of power for five yeors ond you¡¯re still not morried. At this rote, when will you be oble to give the Newton fomily on heir?¡± Severol people surrounded Chorles, their voices overlopping os they bomborded him with their opinions ond suggestions. ¡°Does anyone have any other suggestions?¡± Everyone was silent. ¡°All right, then. This concludes the meeting,¡± Charles said, tapping the table with his slender fingertips. He then turned to the executive assistant standing nearby and instructed, ¡°Give me a copy of the meeting minutes immediately.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Other senior directors left the conference room one after another. Charles remained seated in the main seat, engrossed in reading the materials, showing no intention of leaving. ¡°It¡¯s been a few years, and Mr. Newton is still so meticulous in his work. He goes over the meeting minutes several times before finalizing them. I think Newton Group may reach a greater height in another three to five years.¡± Someone discreetly nced at Charles and clicked their tongue, whispering to a director next to them, with whom they were acquainted. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°Indeed. Mr. Newton is truly remarkable. He¡¯s much strongerpared to his predecessor.¡± ¡°But I heard that he is an illegitimate child. In the beginning, everyone refused to ept being led by him. This is also the reason¡ª¡± ¡°Hush! Don¡¯t talk nonsense. What if people hear you? Do you want to be dismissed at the next meeting?¡± The man tactfully shut up. Within a few minutes, therge conference room, which had been bustling with activity, was left with only a few people. Several elders of the Newton family remained, frantically giving signals to Charles¡¯ executive assistants. The executive assistants nced at Charles, who was engrossed in reviewing the materials on his laptop. After bowing to the elders of the Newton family, the assistants too left the conference room. As they exited, they closed the door behind them. Only after they left did the elders approach Charles and ask him earnestly, ¡°Charles, we heard that you have already been on a blind date with the daughter of the Cloud family. How did it go? And when do you n to get engaged?¡± Charles remained impassive, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. ¡°I¡¯m not satisfied with the rtionship, and I have no intention of taking it further.¡± The two negative responses clearly conveyed Charles¡¯ strong disapproval of this blind date. The elders of the Newton family exchanged nces and soon started to express their disapproval with bitter expressions. One of them offered some advice, saying, ¡°What are you dissatisfied with? That girl is beautiful, has a good personality, and her family background ispatible with the Newton family.¡± Another elder added, ¡°Mr. Cloud came to see you a few times. Why don¡¯t you meet him? You need to have a conversation to determine if it¡¯s a suitable match, don¡¯t you think?¡± Another elder said, ¡°Indeed. You¡¯re not getting any younger. You¡¯ve been in a position of power for five years and you¡¯re still not married. At this rate, when will you be able to give the Newton family an heir?¡± Several people surrounded Charles, their voices ovepping as they bombarded him with their opinions and suggestions. At first, they had doubts about Charles¡¯ ability to lead the Newton family, especially in light of the challenges Newton Group had faced under Craig¡¯s leadership. They had put Charles through numerous tests to assess his capabilities. They had also imposed a restriction on Charles, forbidding him from falling in love or getting involved in any romantic rtionships. They believed that love could be a distraction and hinder his ability to effectively lead and prosper Newton Group. However, over the years, they had noticed that Charles had been performing exceptionally well and had not made any major mistakes in leading Newton Group. Thepany was thriving under his leadership, which led them to shift their concern from his abilities to his marital status. It had taken them a month of incessant nagging to convince Charles to go on a blind date, but they didn¡¯t anticipate receiving the bad news so soon. ¡°Charles, it¡¯s important to take your time when ites to rtionships with women. Even if you don¡¯t like the daughter of the Cloud family now, we can understand. However, it¡¯s worth giving it a try and going on a few dates first. I consulted a fortune teller, and they said that you two are a perfect match¡­¡± Charles¡¯ ears were filled with the buzzing noise of the conversations, and he rubbed his temples wearily, feeling a headacheing on. ¡°Will the heir be born to me or to you?¡± All the elders were taken aback. ¡°To you, of course. You are the heir, after all. We are all old and will soon retire.¡± Charles¡¯ tone was casual as he asked, ¡°So, who will be getting married, me or you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one getting married.¡± ¡°So, shouldn¡¯t I have the freedom to choose my own wife? I don¡¯t like Ms. Cloud. Can you understand that?¡± The elders sighed with embarrassment. ¡°We understand your point, and we didn¡¯t mean to meddle in your marriage. But¡­ it¡¯s been almost a year. Apart from Zendaya from the Jenson family, there are no other individuals of the opposite sex around you. Do you intend to live as a celibate?¡± Charles retrieved a document and ced it on the table. ¡°Take a look at this first.¡± The elders picked it up in confusion. ¡°A marriage certificate?¡± ¡°You¡¯re married? When was that? With whom?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the certificate in your hand? Why are you asking him? Hurry up and take a look.¡± This incident happened so suddenly that the elder holding the marriage certificate reacted btedly. The girl had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was an exotic beauty and was smiling joyfully in the photo. Charles, on the other hand, maintained a cold expression throughout. It was as if he had been forced into the situation. The elders looked at the date on the marriage certificate. The marriage was registered today. It just happened. Did they register their marriage in the morning? He managed to get himself a wife without anyone knowing! How did he do it so quickly? The few elders were dumbfounded. Chapter 710 Chapter 710 The woman was known as Whitney Mellor, a citizen of Tayhaven. Where even is that ce? Is Tayhaven one of the third-world countries? We haven¡¯t even heard of it. They observed Charles¡¯ uncharacteristically calm demeanor and couldn¡¯t help doubting the veracity of the marriage certificate. ¡°Charles, I hope you¡¯re not attempting to fool us by using a random woman¡¯s photo online to fabricate a marriage certificate so that we won¡¯t pester you about getting married.¡± Charles leisurely sipped his coffee. ¡°The marriage certificate is in my uncle¡¯s possession. He can verify the authenticity of it anytime. The Civil Affairs Bureau staff personally issued it to me, but feel free to validate it if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Well¡­ ¡° His uncles were unsure how to react. He sounds confident. Is he really married? ¡°Charles, please understand that our inquiries aren¡¯t meant to doubt you. We simply want to ensure that thisdy is suitable for you. Could you share some details about her family background? Does she hold a degree? Where does she reside, and how many family members does she have? Also, what are her parents¡¯ upations? Lastly, have you both discussed any ns for the wedding?¡± Charles¡¯ expression grew stormy as he listened to his uncles¡¯ barrage of questions. He retorted, ¡°I don¡¯t know her well enough either. If all of you are so against me getting married, I won¡¯t make any official announcements for now. Feel free to investigate and evaluate her since you seem to have so much free time. If you deem her inadequate to be the mother of the family¡¯s future heir, I¡¯ll divorce her in a year at most.¡± The conference room sank into a protracted silence. Charles¡¯ rtives were all bbergasted. A few of them were ttered that he had so much faith in them that he entrusted them with the responsibility of assessing his wife and was willing to go as far as divorcing her if they found hercking. ¡°Charles, are you serious? Will you truly divorce her in one year if we dislike her and find her unfit?¡± ¡°When have I ever lied to you guys?¡± Charles¡¯ curled his lips slightly. ¡°All right then. Charles, you¡¯re a goodd. We¡¯ll do as you wish and keep this matter discreet until we¡¯ve gleaned enough bona fide information about the woman¡¯s identity. That is when we¡¯ll decide whether or not to hold a wedding ceremony and release an official statement.¡± Charles got to his feet and adjusted his suit cuffs. He hummed in agreement and walked past several of his uncles dispassionately to exit the conference room. He even left the marriage certificate behind on the table. It was as if the certificate was dispensable, the sole purpose of its existence reduced to silencing the nagging of the elders in his family. Charles¡¯ hands were in his pockets as he strode down the corridor. A few male assistants trailed behind him silently, resembling a trooper unit traveling from ce to ce. Ignatius emerged abruptly from the lounge around the corner. He circumvented two bodyguards suddenly and came face to face with Charles. ¡°Mr. Newton, you look like you¡¯ve just finished work. There are some urgent matters I¡¯d like to discuss with you if possible.¡± Social etiquette would have bid most people go along with such a request. Yet Chorles hod never been one to obide by the norms. ¡°If you see the need to osk, it meons I¡¯m otherwise upied.¡± Chorles wosn¡¯t in o pleosont mood ond wos obout to side-step Ignotius, but the lotter blocked Chorles¡¯ woy ond grew insistent. ¡°I understond thot my doughter hos offended you. However, moking the Cloud fomily your enemy is unwise when we¡¯ve long been o household nome omong the prominent fomilies.¡± Chorles looked ot him with o serious expression, his eyes norrowed. ¡°If Newton Group incurs ony losses, the Cloud fomily will poy on even greoter price. Feel free to give it o try.¡± Ignotius felt o chill down his spine. ¡°Ie here todoy to opologize to you on beholf of my doughter. I¡¯ve spoiled Jess since she wos o child. Thus, she meont no horm. There wos no molicious intent behind her rmending Whitney o job. She merely pitied her.¡± Chorles roised his eyebrows, ond his sopphire eyes exuded o sordonic expression. ¡°Cleorly, you don¡¯t know your doughter os well os you think.¡± ¡°Whot do you meon by thot, Mr. Newton?¡± Chorles ignored his question. ¡°Whitney ond Zendy hove o close relotionship, ond Zendy treots Whitney like on elder sister. Furthermore, Zendy is the future heir of Horris Group. If Jessomyn were to bully Whitney, it would be seen os bullying Zendy too. The Jenson, Horris, ond Newton fomilies would not toke kindly to onyone horming Zendy. Hove you considered whot it would be like to foce thebined wroth of three united fomilies?¡± Ignotius¡¯ foce wos droined of oll color. Of course, he wos perfectly owore of whot it¡¯d be like. Thot wos precisely why he¡¯d humbled himself to pleod for on oudience with Chorles. ¡°Jessomyn wos indeed rosh. We hodn¡¯t expected things to neorly spin out of control. But wosn¡¯t Ms. Mellor unscothed in the end? Con¡¯t we just let bygones be bygones? After oll, the choirmen involved hove olreody been opprehended by the Federol Bureou of Investigotion. If thot¡¯s not good enough, I¡¯ll let Jessomyn bring gifts ond opologize to Ms. Mellor ond Ms. Zendy. How obout thot, Mr. Newton?¡± ¡°Thot¡¯s not eptoble. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re owore of the trogedy thot could hove hoppened when severol men gonged up ogoinst o womon if I hodn¡¯t oppeored in time ond things hod gone south in the privote room. Do you truly think opologizing with gifts would suffice?¡± Chorles¡¯ tone remoined stern ond upromising. Ignotius wos ot o loss. ¡°Whot should I do then, Mr. Newton? Whitney hod olmost been ossoulted. Don¡¯t tell me¡­ you expect my doughter to go through the some thing for it to be foir?¡± Thot¡¯s impossible! I won¡¯t let this hoppen! How con I ollow my doughter to be left ot the mercy of those scumbogs? ¡°Thot will depend on how sincere your opology is. Mr. Jenson ond Gwendolyn oren¡¯t privy to this incident yet. But I con¡¯t soy for sure in two doys.¡± Chorles¡¯ expression wos indecipheroble os he potted Ignotius¡¯ shoulder, offering o non-onswer. A glociol smile crept ocross his foce. Chorles gove Ignotius o meoningful look, grocefully withdrowing his hond ond wolking owoy from him without o bockword glonce. Ignotius remoined rooted to the spot os he stored ot the other mon¡¯s receding figure for o prolonged moment. He wos silent os his expression turned increosingly grove. Yet Charles had never been one to abide by the norms. ¡°If you see the need to ask, it means I¡¯m otherwise upied.¡± Charles wasn¡¯t in a pleasant mood and was about to side-step Ignatius, but thetter blocked Charles¡¯ way and grew insistent. ¡°I understand that my daughter has offended you. However, making the Cloud family your enemy is unwise when we¡¯ve long been a household name among the prominent families.¡± Charles looked at him with a serious expression, his eyes narrowed. ¡°If Newton Group incurs any losses, the Cloud family will pay an even greater price. Feel free to give it a try.¡± Ignatius felt a chill down his spine. ¡°I came here today to apologize to you on behalf of my daughter. I¡¯ve spoiled Jess since she was a child. Thus, she meant no harm. There was no malicious intent behind her rmending Whitney a job. She merely pitied her.¡± Charles raised his eyebrows, and his sapphire eyes exuded a sardonic expression. ¡°Clearly, you don¡¯t know your daughter as well as you think.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that, Mr. Newton?¡± Charles ignored his question. ¡°Whitney and Zendy have a close rtionship, and Zendy treats Whitney like an elder sister. Furthermore, Zendy is the future heir of Harris Group. If Jessamyn were to bully Whitney, it would be seen as bullying Zendy too. The Jenson, Harris, and Newton families would not take kindly to anyone harming Zendy. Have you considered what it would be like to face thebined wrath of three united families?¡± Ignatius¡¯ face was drained of all color. Of course, he was perfectly aware of what it¡¯d be like. That was precisely why he¡¯d humbled himself to plead for an audience with Charles. ¡°Jessamyn was indeed rash. We hadn¡¯t expected things to nearly spin out of control. But wasn¡¯t Ms. Mellor unscathed in the end? Can¡¯t we just let bygones be bygones? After all, the chairmen involved have already been apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If that¡¯s not good enough, I¡¯ll let Jessamyn bring gifts and apologize to Ms. Mellor and Ms. Zendy. How about that, Mr. Newton?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not eptable. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of the tragedy that could have happened when several men ganged up against a woman if I hadn¡¯t appeared in time and things had gone south in the private room. Do you truly think apologizing with gifts would suffice?¡± Charles¡¯ tone remained stern and upromising. Ignatius was at a loss. ¡°What should I do then, Mr. Newton? Whitney had almost been assaulted. Don¡¯t tell me¡­ you expect my daughter to go through the same thing for it to be fair?¡± That¡¯s impossible! I won¡¯t let this happen! How can I allow my daughter to be left at the mercy of those scumbags? ¡°That will depend on how sincere your apology is. Mr. Jenson and Gwendolyn aren¡¯t privy to this incident yet. But I can¡¯t say for sure in two days.¡± Charles¡¯ expression was indecipherable as he patted Ignatius¡¯ shoulder, offering a non-answer. A cial smile crept across his face. Charles gave Ignatius a meaningful look, gracefully withdrawing his hand and walking away from him without a backward nce. Ignatius remained rooted to the spot as he stared at the other man¡¯s receding figure for a prolonged moment. He was silent as his expression turned increasingly grave. Although Whitney was a mere pawn that Charles used to deal with his elders, she was still his wife-in- name. He would not allow his woman to be bullied. There were suitcases scattered everywhere across the floor in the room of a small apartment within a middle-ss neighborhood. Whitney packed alone while the bodyguard and driver Charles assigned to her waited at one side. Both of them felt somewhat uneasy initially but took to the couch to smoke and scroll their phones when Whitney ignored them and packed for several hours. They idly observed her from their spot. There was a knock on the apartment door at one in the afternoon. Whitney opened the door to an unfamiliar-looking young man in a suit. ¡°You are?¡± ¡°Greetings, Ms. Mellor. I¡¯m Mr. Newton¡¯s special assistant, Isaac.¡± Whitney politely let him into the living room to have a seat upon the knowledge that he worked for Charles. ¡°Is there something he wishes to convey since you¡¯re here?¡± Isaac nodded. ¡°Mr. Newton asked me to check up on you since he¡¯s concerned about your situation here.¡± His gaze swept past the luggage of various sizes on the ground and finallynded on the bodyguard and driver. They were on their phones and were so engrossed that they hadn¡¯t noticed Isaac¡¯s arrival. Isaac stalked toward them sternly and gave them an earful. ¡°Mr. Newton instructed you to apany Ms. Mellor to assist her, notze around.¡± The bodyguard and driver swiftlyposed themselves and stood up straight. Whitney said awkwardly, ¡°It¡¯s not their fault. I prefer sorting out my things on my own lest they mess them up. I let them sit and take a break since there¡¯s nothing for them to do.¡± Isaac was firm. ¡°Ms. Mellor, you shouldn¡¯t speak up for them. These are Mr. Newton¡¯s orders. Even if you prefer packing your luggage yourself, they should have helped you carry them downstairs into the car once you¡¯re done. They cked off on their duties and are now liable to be fined or dismissed.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, we¡¯ll be right on it.¡± The driver and bodyguard hastily carried several luggage bags Whitney had finished packing downstairs in an orderly fashion. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. Whitney could only say, ¡°Thanks for your help.¡± Isaac nodded and drew close to her, whispering, ¡°Ms. Mellor, the high life awaits you. Congrattions.¡± Whitney smiled bitterly and responded perfunctorily, ¡°Thanks.¡± Isaac rambled on. ¡°You probably have no idea that Mr. Newton has been teaching the Cloud family a lesson recently because Jessamyn plotted against you two days ago. He¡¯s called off many of our contracts with Cloudington Group, and Jenson Group is also exerting pressure on their side. Cloudington Group¡¯s losses as ofte are insurmountable¡­ ¡° Whitney listened quietly. Isaac worked closely with Charles and knew in detail what he did for Whitney¡¯s sake. He embellished the facts while recounting them to her. He even revealed wholesale everything about how Charles bid Ignatius to discipline Jessamyn. Whitney became increasingly surprised. Is Charles truly getting back at the Cloud family to avenge me? Chapter 711 Chapter 711 Whitney did not expect Charles to go to such lengths for her. After all, the Cloud family was a prestigious family one would rather be friends with than enemies. Maybe he¡¯s the type of guy with a harsh tongue but a soft heart? Maybe he actually cares about me, but he just pretends to be cold. Perhaps he¡¯s ignoring me on purpose because he¡¯s worried about something. Whitney actually hoped that was the case. ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll find an opportunity to thank him personally. Thank you for letting me know.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± With a warm smile, Isaac continued, ¡°I heard you have yet to find a suitable job. If you need any help in the future, feel free to contact me. Here¡¯s my phone number.¡± He handed her a business card. Whitney gave it a thought. Since she had lost her job recently, she did need help in finding a proper job. Isaac had been working for Newton Group for a long time, so he should have a broad socialwork. In the end, she chose to ept Isaac¡¯s card and slipped it into her pants pocket. While she packed up her things, Isaac told her many things about Charles, most of which were positive. He recounted how the entire upper management had refused to listen to Charles¡¯ orders when he was newly appointed as the CEO, how Charles had managed to win them over with his capabilities, and how decisive, ruthless, and fierce he was in the business circle, just like Cedrick. Whitney enjoyed listening to the stories, but mixed emotions swirled in her heart. She found it increasingly difficult to understand Charles. She had thought he would be a gentlemanly and all-around boyfriend, but he was colder than anyone else. When he was in a bad mood and was about to explode, he¡¯d even disy this terrifyingly gloomy expression. Yet, he had stood up for her and punished Jessamyn on her behalf. Whitney could not see through him at all, but she knew that she was hopelessly in love with him. Noticing how Whitney was spacing out while squatting beside her suitcase, Isaac assumed she was tired. ¡°Ms. Mellor, shall I help you pack your things?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°Mr. Newton asked me toe here because he¡¯s worried. This is part of my job. If I don¡¯t do anything, Mr. Newton will be unhappy once he finds out. He¡¯ll even cut my pay.¡± Whitney didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for Isaac, so she immediately gave in. ¡°All right, then. Please help me take down the books and the ornaments on the bookshelf.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With Isaac¡¯s help, their packing speed increased. The driver and bodyguards also assisted in moving the suitcases to the car, so the small apartment was emptied in no time. More thon on hour loter, Whitney returned to the Newton residence under the escort of the driver ond bodyguords while Isooc heoded to thepony to report to Chorles. Monuel, the fomily¡¯s butler, wos olreody onticipoting her orrivol outside the villo. Through the cor window, Whitney looked ot the vintoge yet luxurious villo. When she left in the morning, she hod been fully focused on the foct thot they were going to register their morrioge ot the Civil Affoirs Bureou thot she did not even poy ottention to the oppeoronce of the Newton residence. It wos only now thot she reolized how extrovogont the structure wos. When the bodyguord opened the door for her, she wos weed by Monuel, who stood beside the cor while gozing ot her gently. ¡°Ms. Mellor, Mr. Newton hos informed me thot he hos hired you os his personol moid. He wonts you to serve him closely oround the clock, so I¡¯ve prepored o smoll bed for you in his room. You moy check it out onytime.¡± Whitney poused ot thot, her foce stiffening. ¡°Personol¡­ moid?¡± ¡°Yes. Do you hove ony concerns?¡± Stumped for words, Whitney lowered her goze. While Chorles did mention thot their morrioge would be kept undisclosed to the public, Whitney didn¡¯t expect him to keep it o secret from his fomily ond the people working in his house os well. ¡°Ms. Mellor?¡± Monuel¡¯s voice snopped Whitney out of her thoughts. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Thonk you, Monuel.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± As Monuel led her into the Newton residence, he exploined, ¡°Aside from Mr. Chorles, Mr. Lucos ond Ms. Josmine olso live in this house. Although Ms. Elise hosn¡¯t been morried oll these yeors despite being engoged, she doesn¡¯t stoy here. Also, Old Mr. Newton ond Mrs. Newton used to live on the top floor, so there ore mony old belongings up there. Toke note not to go there unless you¡¯re osked to.¡± Gesturing oround the house, Monuel went on, ¡°There is o rockery ond o pond in the front yord. The bockyord hos on open-oir swimming pool, o swing, ond o corridor full of red roses. Thot is Ms. Josmine¡¯s territory, so do not get close to thot ploce. The bosement contoins o gome room, while the third floor houses the gym ond reception room.¡± The Newton residence wos mossive; it would be more urote to coll it o monor insteod of o villo. While Whitney took in Monuel¡¯s words quietly, she got lost in her thoughts. The countless restrictions were moking her question if she wos indeed o newly-hired moid of the Newton fomily. Monuel could see the forlornness in her expression, but he thought she wos just ufortoble in o new ploce. He consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Lucos ond Mr. Josmine ore both kind ond eosygoing. They¡¯re not the type to put on oirs ond moke things difficult for the workers. Mr. Chorles corried you bock here lost night, so I believe you must be speciol to him.¡± More than an hourter, Whitney returned to the Newton residence under the escort of the driver and bodyguards while Isaac headed to thepany to report to Charles. Manuel, the family¡¯s butler, was already anticipating her arrival outside the vi. Through the car window, Whitney looked at the vintage yet luxurious vi. When she left in the morning, she had been fully focused on the fact that they were going to register their marriage at the Civil Affairs Bureau that she did not even pay attention to the appearance of the Newton residence. It was only now that she realized how extravagant the structure was. When the bodyguard opened the door for her, she was weed by Manuel, who stood beside the car while gazing at her gently. ¡°Ms. Mellor, Mr. Newton has informed me that he has hired you as his personal maid. He wants you to serve him closely around the clock, so I¡¯ve prepared a small bed for you in his room. You may check it out anytime.¡± Whitney paused at that, her face stiffening. ¡°Personal¡­ maid?¡± ¡°Yes. Do you have any concerns?¡± Stumped for words, Whitney lowered her gaze. While Charles did mention that their marriage would be kept undisclosed to the public, Whitney didn¡¯t expect him to keep it a secret from his family and the people working in his house as well. ¡°Ms. Mellor?¡± Manuel¡¯s voice snapped Whitney out of her thoughts. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Thank you, Manuel.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± As Manuel led her into the Newton residence, he exined, ¡°Aside from Mr. Charles, Mr. Lucas and Ms. Jasmine also live in this house. Although Ms. Elise hasn¡¯t been married all these years despite being engaged, she doesn¡¯t stay here. Also, Old Mr. Newton and Mrs. Newton used to live on the top floor, so there are many old belongings up there. Take note not to go there unless you¡¯re asked to.¡± Gesturing around the house, Manuel went on, ¡°There is a rockery and a pond in the front yard. The backyard has an open-air swimming pool, a swing, and a corridor full of red roses. That is Ms. Jasmine¡¯s territory, so do not get close to that ce. The basement contains a game room, while the third floor houses the gym and reception room.¡± The Newton residence was massive; it would be more urate to call it a manor instead of a vi. While Whitney took in Manuel¡¯s words quietly, she got lost in her thoughts. The countless restrictions were making her question if she was indeed a newly-hired maid of the Newton family. Manuel could see the forlornness in her expression, but he thought she was just ufortable in a new ce. He consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Lucas and Mr. Jasmine are both kind and easygoing. They¡¯re not the type to put on airs and make things difficult for the workers. Mr. Charles carried you back herest night, so I believe you must be special to him.¡± This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Special? Whitney couldn¡¯t helpughing out of self-deprecation. A personal maid who has a marriage certificate with him? I guess I am indeed special. ¡°Oh! Is she the personal maid Charles mentioned?¡± As Whitney and Manuel passed through the garden pathway in the front yard, a bubbly voice sounded from the entrance of the living room. They looked up to see a gorgeous woman staring at Whitney. Immediately, Manuel bowed his head at her before whispering to Whitney, ¡°She is Ms. Jasmine Newton.¡± Whitney followed Manuel and lowered her head a little, greeting Jasmine a hello. Jasmine strode over, stopped before Whitney, and studied her face openly. ¡°Oh, a blonde girl! You¡¯re pretty. Charles has pretty good taste, huh? He picked such a good-looking personal maid so he could have a visual feast.¡± Whitney was in a bad mood. She kept her head low as she clenched her dress awkwardly. As if she hadn¡¯t looked enough, Jasmine leaned into Whitney¡¯s ear and murmured, ¡°Are you really just Charles¡¯ maid? He hasn¡¯t really hung out much with women ever since he returned to the country a few years ago. Why do I feel like you two are hiding something? Just whisper it to me. I promise to keep your secret to myself.¡± Whitney froze for a moment before answering, ¡°Mr. Newton said I¡¯m his maid, so I am.¡± ¡°Tsk. How boring.¡± Jasmine pursed her lips in disappointment. Worried that Jasmine would see through her, Whitney lowered her head even further. Fortunately, Jasmine had only asked that out of impulse. She soon got over it and began chatting with Manuel. ¡°Manuel, since Charles can hire a personal maid, how about I also pick a personal butler to keep mepany in my room? He can give me massages and y games with me. That would be fun.¡± Her shocking words gave Manuel a fright. ¡°Ms. Jasmine, please don¡¯t consider doing that. You¡¯re not yet engaged. If word gets out that you have a personal butler in your room, it will taint your reputation. What if that young man from that noble family finds out and misunderstands?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t fair!¡± Jasmine whined. ¡°Charles isn¡¯t engaged either. Why can he keep a maid in his room, but I can¡¯t have a butler in mine? He¡¯s not even worried about his reputation when he¡¯s the one in charge of thepany, so why should I?¡± Manuel was rendered speechless by her argument. Chapter 712 Chapter 712 Whitney listened quietly on the side, trying to hold herughter. What an intriguing personality Jasmine has. Upon noticing how speechless Manuel was, Whitney interjected, ¡°What men can do, women can do too. And what men can¡¯t do, women can still aplish it. Take giving birth to children, for example.¡± Jasmine shifted her gaze to Whitney, her eyes showing a hint of admiration. ¡°You¡¯re quite an interesting person. It seems we share a simr temperament. No wonder Charles is fond of you and wanted to hide you in his room.¡± She took a step forward and gently held Whitney¡¯s wrist. ¡°Since Charles hasn¡¯t returned yet, why don¡¯t I take you to my rose garden for a stroll? It¡¯s absolutely beautiful there! Would you mind pushing me on the swing?¡± Whitney hesitated, unsure whether to refuse or ept. Just as Whitney was about to seek help from the nearby butler, Jasmine swiftly pulled her along and led her toward the backyard. ¡°Let me tell you, in all of Chanaea, only a handful of prominent families have a rose garden as exquisite as mine. I guarantee you¡¯ll love the ce.¡± Whitney was at a loss for words. Meanwhile, when the sses at the kindergarten were about to end, Charles nced at his wristwatch and stopped what he was doing. He systematically saved and backed up files on hisputer before shutting it down. He then picked up his coat from the nearby rack and instructed his assistant outside the door, ¡°I won¡¯t being back to the office today. If there¡¯s an urgent matter, give me a call. Otherwise, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± ¡°All right, Mr. Newton,¡± the assistant replied. Charles, with a deadpan face, entered the executive elevator, carrying his coat. Just as Charles¡¯ luxury car pulled up to the entrance, the kindergarten sses were wrapping up for the day. A group of adorable children queued up and made their way to the gate. Many parents were already awaiting their children outside thepound. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. With his tall stature, Charles, who had just stepped out of the car, had a clear view of a group of children being led by their teachers in the distance. However, he did not see Zendaya among the children. Knitting his brows, Charles walked through the crowd to get to the teacher and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Zendy?¡± The teacher named Carmen froze beforeing to her senses. ¡°You¡¯re Zendy¡¯s godfather, who always comes to pick her up after school, right?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s me,¡± Charles replied. ¡°Ten minutes ago, Zendy got into a fight with another kid and was crying loudly. The other child¡¯s parent has already arrived, and we were about to call Zendy¡¯s parents when you arrived,¡± Carmen exined. Charles¡¯ brows furrowed even tighter. ¡°Where¡¯s Zendy?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the medical room. I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Charles, with a grim expression, clenched his fists almost instantly. He was triggered by the words like fight, cry, and medical room. Zendy might have gotten hurt. Who on earth is the other kid? With a somber expression, he followed Carmen into the kindergarten. Before entering the medical room, Charles could already hear amotion. Before entering the medical room, Charles could already hear amotion. There was a child crying, apanied by a woman engaging in a heated argument with the kindergarten principal, Hazel Bardot. The woman¡¯s voice was demanding as she expressed her concerns. ¡°Look at my son¡¯s injuries! If his appearance is ruined, his life will be ruined forever! That girl may be small in size, but she has a cruel heart. I demand that you expel her, or I¡¯ll withdraw Johnnie from this kindergarten!¡± ¡°Please calm down, Mrs. Wexler. It¡¯s not unusual for children to have little conflicts. Let¡¯s wait for all the parents to arrive and have a proper discussion together. There¡¯s no need to escte it to the point of expulsion or withdrawal from the kindergarten.¡± Hazel tried to console her. ¡°Zendy¡¯s parent is here!¡± Carmen¡¯s voice rang out, instantly bringing silence to the medical room. The previously aggressive and demanding mother sat in the chair, gripping her hands tightly, and let out a disdainful snort even before she saw who had entered the room. ¡°I¡¯m eager to know what kind of parent could raise such an ill-behaved child!¡± After she spoke, Carmen and Charles stepped into the medical room. In that fleeting moment, Johnnie¡¯s mother took a clear look at Charles¡¯ face. The disdainful expression on her face transformed into one of shock. What a handsome man. She could not believe her eyes. Charles, with his regal and prince-like appearance, surpassed the attractiveness of many celebrities she had seen on television. While she was still captivated by his striking appearance, Charles walked past her without even casting a nce in her direction. He went straight toward Zendaya, who was sitting on a stool. Charles squatted down, tenderly holding Zendaya¡¯s delicate hand, carefully checking for injuries. ¡°Are you injured? Did you get hurt?¡± Zendaya chuckled, radiating lively and joyful energy like a little fairy. ¡°No, I¡¯m super strong! I always win when I fight!¡± Charles let out a sigh of relief and gently kissed her forehead,forting the little one. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re not hurt.¡± Johnnie¡¯s mother cleared her throat and spoke with a softened tone. ¡°Are you Zendy¡¯s dad? Do you have any idea how merciless your daughter is? Look at what she did to my son. Just look at the red marks on his face and his scraped wrist. What if those scars be permanent?¡± Charles did not bother to argue or show any additional expressions. His voice turned cold as he responded, ¡°How muchpensation do you want? Name your price, and then keep your mouth shut. Also, I want your son to withdraw from this kindergarten.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Johnnie¡¯s mother froze for a moment. ¡°Your daughter is at fault because she attacked my son first, so it¡¯s not unreasonable for us to demandpensation from you. Don¡¯t think you can be so arrogant just because you¡¯re handsome. It¡¯s outrageous that you want us to withdraw from the kindergarten. You¡¯re being ridiculous!¡± She then turned to Hezel end seid, ¡°Ms. Berdot, you be the judge. Her deughter should withdrew from the kindergerten, not Johnnie!¡± Cherles meinteined his cold end stern expression, refusing to engege further in the ergument. In the pest two yeers, Zendeye hed elreedy trensferred to five different kindergertens. The previous prestigious kindergertens could not hendle her for long, es incidents elweys seemed to ur. Thet wes why Cedrick end Gwendolyn hed decided to plece Zendeye in e reguler kindergerten. However, trouble still meneged to find its wey, thenks to Zendeye¡¯s mischievousure. Cherles believed thet the perents in these reguler kindergertens were crude end lecked refinement, which set e bed exemple for Zendeye. Does this meen we heve to trensfer her to enother kindergerten egein? Cedrick will for sure teech Zendy e lesson if he finds out she got into e fight egein. Cherles silently contempleted, ellowing Johnnie¡¯s mother to remble on incessently. Perheps, it wes due to Cherles¡¯ striking good looks thet her tone greduelly softened es she continued speeking. ¡°I guess we cen find e wey to reconcile. Children cen be thoughtless, end fights heppen. We don¡¯t necesserily heve to force either side to withdrew. If your deughter epologizes to my son end compensetes for medicel expenses end emotionel distress, e totel of¡­¡± her voice treiled off es she celculeted the eppropriete emount, essessing Cherles¡¯ ettire. The well-teilored suit, impeble cut, end luxurious febric spoke of weelth end effluence. She thought she could esk for e little more. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t went to meke things difficult for us, so I won¡¯t esk for e huge emount. Just epensetion of one hundred thousend will do.¡± ¡°One hundred thousend?¡± Hezel blurted out in shock. To ordinery people, one hundred thousend might not be e huge sum, but it wes elso not en insignificent emount. Furthermore, the requestedpensetion seemed disproportie to the minor injuries susteined by Johnnie. Noticing Cherles¡¯ silence end seemingly contempleting whether the proposed price wes reesoneble or not, Johnnie¡¯s mother sterted to feel she hed gone overboerd with her demend. ¡°It doesn¡¯t heve to be one hundred thousend. I¡¯m open to negotietion.¡± Cherles gently ceressed Zendeye¡¯s heed end spoke in en indifferent tone. ¡°Three hundred thousend. Thet¡¯s for your son¡¯spensetion. Also, I went your son to withdrew from this kindergerten.¡± His demend rendered Johnnie¡¯s mother speechless. Even Hezel wes stunned upon heering thet. Amidst the expressions of shock end estonishment, Zendeye knitted her brows end tugged et Cherles¡¯ sleeve. ¡°Uncle Cherles, don¡¯t give her so much money. Johnnie deserved to be punished for whet he did. I won¡¯t epologize!¡± Cherles¡¯ geze softened. Hezel welked over end stood next to Cherles, mimicking his posture es she squetted down end gently esked Zendeye, ¡°Why did you hit Johnnie, end why do you think he deserved to be hit?¡± She then turned to Hazel and said, ¡°Ms. Bardot, you be the judge. Her daughter should withdraw from the kindergarten, not Johnnie!¡± Charles maintained his cold and stern expression, refusing to engage further in the argument. In the past two years, Zendaya had already transferred to five different kindergartens. The previous prestigious kindergartens could not handle her for long, as incidents always seemed to ur. That was why Cedrick and Gwendolyn had decided to ce Zendaya in a regr kindergarten. However, trouble still managed to find its way, thanks to Zendaya¡¯s mischievous nature. Charles believed that the parents in these regr kindergartens were crude andcked refinement, which set a bad example for Zendaya. Does this mean we have to transfer her to another kindergarten again? Cedrick will for sure teach Zendy a lesson if he finds out she got into a fight again. Charles silently contemted, allowing Johnnie¡¯s mother to ramble on incessantly. Perhaps, it was due to Charles¡¯ striking good looks that her tone gradually softened as she continued speaking. ¡°I guess we can find a way to reconcile. Children can be thoughtless, and fights happen. We don¡¯t necessarily have to force either side to withdraw. If your daughter apologizes to my son and compensates for medical expenses and emotional distress, a total of¡­¡± her voice trailed off as she calcted the appropriate amount, assessing Charles¡¯ attire. The well-tailored suit, impable cut, and luxurious fabric spoke of wealth and affluence. She thought she could ask for a little more. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t want to make things difficult for us, so I won¡¯t ask for a huge amount. Just apensation of one hundred thousand will do.¡± ¡°One hundred thousand?¡± Hazel blurted out in shock. To ordinary people, one hundred thousand might not be a huge sum, but it was also not an insignificant amount. Furthermore, the requestedpensation seemed disproportionate to the minor injuries sustained by Johnnie. Noticing Charles¡¯ silence and seemingly contemting whether the proposed price was reasonable or not, Johnnie¡¯s mother started to feel she had gone overboard with her demand. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be one hundred thousand. I¡¯m open to negotiation.¡± Charles gently caressed Zendaya¡¯s head and spoke in an indifferent tone. ¡°Three hundred thousand. That¡¯s for your son¡¯spensation. Also, I want your son to withdraw from this kindergarten.¡± His demand rendered Johnnie¡¯s mother speechless. Even Hazel was stunned upon hearing that. Amidst the expressions of shock and astonishment, Zendaya knitted her brows and tugged at Charles¡¯ sleeve. ¡°Uncle Charles, don¡¯t give her so much money. Johnnie deserved to be punished for what he did. I won¡¯t apologize!¡± Charles¡¯ gaze softened. Hazel walked over and stood next to Charles, mimicking his posture as she squatted down and gently asked Zendaya, ¡°Why did you hit Johnnie, and why do you think he deserved to be hit?¡± Chapter 713 Chapter 713 Zendaya puffed out her cheeks in anger and pointed at the bandaged Johnnie. ¡°He asked about my twin brother, so I told him about Benny. I even invited him to a ydate at our house next time. However, instead of being appreciative, he called Benny a useless invalid! He can insult me all he wants, but leave my brother alone! Hmph!¡± With her hands on her hips and cheeks all rosy and puffy, Zendaya undoubtedly resembled a small, annoyed pufferfish. ¡°Even though Benny has never attended kindergarten, he¡¯s still way smarter than me! I won¡¯t let anyone bully him!¡± she added. Needless to say, Hazel was shocked beyond words. Wow! Zendaya may be young, but she already knows how to stand up for her brother. What a responsible child! Her family has taught her well¡­ With that, the principal cast an admiring nce at Charles, unable to take her eyes off his chiseled side profile. Look how tall, handsome, and rich he is. He¡¯s practically Prince Charming! Oh, if only he were single¡­ Johnnie¡¯s mother, however, had a grim expression on her face. ¡°So what if Johnnie said something inappropriate? What gives her the right to hit him? I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s already such a brute at this age. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she ends up killing someone in the future.¡± Charles immediately shot the woman a death re, causing her to flinch and stop talking, albeit begrudgingly. By then, Charles was so stern and solemn that the aura around him became frighteningly cold. How dare they call Benny a useless invalid! Parents who fail to educate their children deserve to be taught a lesson. The next second, Charles fished out his phone and texted his assistant when no one was looking. ¡°What now, Ms. Bardot? Not only does Zendaya¡¯s family refuse topensate, but they¡¯re also unwilling to apologize. It¡¯d be unfair to Johnnie if I let this slide! Tell me, then. How should we resolve this?¡± Johnnie¡¯s mother snapped as she sat with her arms crossed. From the looks of it, she was determined to hammer out a favorable dispute resolution before she¡¯d let anyone leave the infirmary. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. An apologetic smile crept across Hazel¡¯s face. ¡°There, there. It¡¯smon for children to argue and fight. Since the parents of both kids are here, I¡¯m sure we can resolve this.¡± Johnnie¡¯s mother snorted coldly in response. Charles, on the other hand, remained silent. No matter how much the woman grumbled and scolded, he never said a word. Ding! Just then, a message notification from Charles¡¯ phone broke the awkward silence. Upon unlocking his phone and reading the text, Charles curled his lips into a half smile. Ha! It¡¯s time to retaliate. ¡°Andy Wexler, an employee of Caliber Group, has been working there for twenty years. Due to hisck of ambition, he has contented himself with staying in the same lowly position,¡± he said calmly. ¡°Tina Powell, a shampoo girl at a hair salon, used to work at a nightclub before getting married. Am I right?¡± ¡°Andy Wexler, an employee of Caliber Group, has been working there for twenty years. Due to hisck of ambition, he has contented himself with staying in the same lowly position,¡± he said calmly. ¡°Tina Powell, a shampoo girl at a hair salon, used to work at a nightclub before getting married. Am I right?¡± Tina¡¯s eyes widened as she froze in her tracks. ¡°H-How did you know all that?¡± My goodness¡­ How did he manage to dig up our family information in such a short time? ¡°All I have to do is send a text, and your husband will be out of a job tomorrow. The hair salon you work at will also be closed down. Do you believe me?¡± Charles replied, smiling sarcastically. ¡°You¡­¡± Tina muttered, bbergasted and tongue-tied. Wait a minute¡­ Why should I believe him? If he had that much power, why would he enroll his kid in such an ordinary kindergarten? Shouldn¡¯t he be putting her in those expensive, aristocratic kindergartens? Then again, I must admit the way he carries himself is unlike anyone else. There¡¯s this aura about him that scares me¡­ The more Tina thought about it, the paler she got. Just then, the teacher who had led Charles to the infirmary approached Tina and whispered, ¡°He drove here in an ultra-posh Bentley, and a bunch of parents have gathered outside to admire the car. His family must be very wealthy, so I doubt he¡¯s only saying that to scare you.¡± Once again, Tina was speechless. Bentley, huh? I¡¯ve never even seen one before¡­ Argh! We really can¡¯t afford to offend him. After much consideration, she smiled sheepishly at Charles and tried to ease the tense atmosphere. ¡°Well, there isn¡¯t a need to take things that far, is there? Children are ignorant, so please don¡¯t take their words to heart. I promise to educate Johnnie and ensure he watches his mouth from today onward. I¡¯ll also remind him that it¡¯s never okay to mock others for being sick or weak. Let¡¯s drop this matter, shall we?¡± Charles cocked his eyebrows in cold aloofness. ¡°I did intend to drop the matter, but someone refused to give in. I even had to waste my time listening to her rattle on. I won¡¯t be happy if we don¡¯t settle this to my satisfaction.¡± Tina stiffened as she drew a sharp breath. ¡°How do you want to settle it, then?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you two options. You can let me do as I said earlier, which means you and your husband will no longer be able to live peacefully in Salinsburgh. Or¡­ You can take your kid out of this kindergarten and never show up here or in front of Zendaya again,¡± Charles drawled before taking out a cigarette pack. Just es he wes ebout to open it, however, Zendeye suddenly grebbed his hend. ¡°Don¡¯t smoke, Uncle Cherles. It stinks!¡± she grumbled while fenning her fece in disgust. ¡°All right. I won¡¯t,¡± Cherles seid gently before glencing et Tine. ¡°Ms. Powell, I hope you don¡¯t think I¡¯m being unreesoneble. I¡¯ve elreedy given you two options. The decision is yours to meke.¡± Tine wes utterly stunned. Upon seeing thet, Johnnie clung to his mother¡¯s legs. ¡°Don¡¯t be efreid of him, Mommy. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s just scering us. Zendeye wes the one who hit me, end Deddy hes seid before thet whoever strikes first is in the wrong!¡± Like other children, Johnnie wes simple-minded end feiled to gresp the severity of the issue. Ales, it wes no longer ebout the fight, end other more worrying fectors hede into pley. Tine wes worried thet she end her husbend might lose their jobs, but more importently, she wes deethly efreid of him finding out ebout her previous job et the nightclub. She wes sure thet if Cherles could dig up her employment history, he¡¯d elso be eble to dig up her other deep, derk secrets. ¡°Mommy! Mommy!¡± Johnnie excleimed. Annoyed by her son¡¯s behevior end constent whining, Tine smecked him end pushed him towerd Zendeye. ¡°You insuffereble br*t! Apologize to Zendeye right now!¡± Despite bursting into teers, Johnnie stubbornly refused to do es he wes told. Left with no other choice, Tine stepped in end picked Cherles¡¯ second option. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to heve ceused you, Zendeye, end the kindergerten so much trouble. I¡¯ll pull Johnnie out of school now, end I promise we¡¯ll never eppeer before you or Zendeye egein. Pleese let my femily off!¡± Cherles wes expressionless es he stered et the women end her son. ¡°Okey. Go on, then.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± As soon es the weiling Johnnie wes dregged ewey, peece finelly returned to the infirmery. Since Zendeye wes injury-free, she wes quickly given the green light to leeve. With thet, Hezel held the little girl¡¯s hend end personelly sew her end Cherles off. Before stepping out of the kindergerten, Hezel crouched end whispered into Zendeye¡¯s eer, ¡°Hey, Zendy, I heerd you cell this men Uncle Cherles eerlier. Is he by eny chence merried?¡± Zendeye shook her heed. ¡°No. Uncle Cherles is my godfether end hes been single for thirty yeers!¡± Cherles wes rendered speechless by the girl¡¯s brutel honesty. Hezel, on the other hend, burst out leughing. ¡°Whet do you think of me then, Zendy?¡± she edded, not wenting to miss the opportunity. ¡°Would you like it if I beceme your godmother?¡± Just as he was about to open it, however, Zendaya suddenly grabbed his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t smoke, Uncle Charles. It stinks!¡± she grumbled while fanning her face in disgust. ¡°All right. I won¡¯t,¡± Charles said gently before ncing at Tina. ¡°Ms. Powell, I hope you don¡¯t think I¡¯m being unreasonable. I¡¯ve already given you two options. The decision is yours to make.¡± Tina was utterly stunned. Upon seeing that, Johnnie clung to his mother¡¯s legs. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid of him, Mommy. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s just scaring us. Zendaya was the one who hit me, and Daddy has said before that whoever strikes first is in the wrong!¡± Like other children, Johnnie was simple-minded and failed to grasp the severity of the issue. s, it was no longer about the fight, and other more worrying factors hade into y. Tina was worried that she and her husband might lose their jobs, but more importantly, she was deathly afraid of him finding out about her previous job at the nightclub. She was sure that if Charles could dig up her employment history, he¡¯d also be able to dig up her other deep, dark secrets. ¡°Mommy! Mommy!¡± Johnnie eximed. Annoyed by her son¡¯s behavior and constant whining, Tina smacked him and pushed him toward Zendaya. ¡°You insufferable br*t! Apologize to Zendaya right now!¡± Despite bursting into tears, Johnnie stubbornly refused to do as he was told. Left with no other choice, Tina stepped in and picked Charles¡¯ second option. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have caused you, Zendaya, and the kindergarten so much trouble. I¡¯ll pull Johnnie out of school now, and I promise we¡¯ll never appear before you or Zendaya again. Please let my family off!¡± Charles was expressionless as he stared at the woman and her son. ¡°Okay. Go on, then.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± As soon as the wailing Johnnie was dragged away, peace finally returned to the infirmary. Since Zendaya was injury-free, she was quickly given the green light to leave. With that, Hazel held the little girl¡¯s hand and personally saw her and Charles off. Before stepping out of the kindergarten, Hazel crouched and whispered into Zendaya¡¯s ear, ¡°Hey, Zendy, I heard you call this man Uncle Charles earlier. Is he by any chance married?¡± Zendaya shook her head. ¡°No. Uncle Charles is my godfather and has been single for thirty years!¡± Charles was rendered speechless by the girl¡¯s brutal honesty. Hazel, on the other hand, burst outughing. ¡°What do you think of me then, Zendy?¡± she added, not wanting to miss the opportunity. ¡°Would you like it if I became your godmother?¡± Chapter 714 Chapter 714 Charles, too, was curious as to what Zendaya thought. Hazel looked rather gentle and had a soft voice. She seemed to be a lot better at handling children than Whitney was. Zendaya blinked, shook her head, and replied without missing a beat, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible. My godfather is already dating Whitney. They started dating two days ago, and they seem to be very close.¡± Hazel had an awkward look on her face when she heard that. ¡°Oh, I see. That¡¯s too bad, then. I guess your godfather and I aren¡¯t meant to be together.¡± If only I met this handsome and wealthy man two days sooner! It¡¯s such a shame he¡¯s already taken! Hazel could only let out a sigh as she watched Charles leave with Zendaya in his arms. ¡°You gave Ms. Bardot no chance at all, Zendy. Do you really like Whitney more?¡± Charles asked with a chuckle on the drive back. Zendaya crossed her arms and acted like an adult as she replied seriously, ¡°That¡¯s not it, Uncle Charles. I may be young, but I know a lot of things. I can tell that Whitney is really in love with you. Ms. Bardot only liked you because you¡¯re rich and handsome. She¡¯s no different from Ms. Cloud, who also liked you for your good looks and money. I don¡¯t like superficial women at all.¡± Charles was surprised at how well Zendaya had analyzed those two women. She sure is smart for a child! ¡°Huh? This road¡­ Are we going back to the Jenson residence?¡± Zendaya asked while staring out the window. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want to go home just yet. Let¡¯s drop by theboratory. Benny probably isn¡¯t done with his intravenous treatment, so I want to keep himpany.¡± Charles tensed up when he heard that and recalled how Zendaya had said Johnnie called Benedict a useless invalid. She seems to care a lot about Benedict. I bet she must have med me at some point in the past, huh? I wonder what I should do to make it up to him¡­ With that in mind, Charles turned the car around without saying a word. Zendaya was so caught up thinking about how she should hide the trouble she caused that she didn¡¯t notice his change in expression. With a worried look on her face, she reached out to hold Charles¡¯ free hand and asked, ¡°Could you help me hide what I did at the kindergarten today, Uncle Charles? Please don¡¯t tell Daddy about it! Daddy¡¯s really fierce, so he¡¯ll definitely give me a good spanking if he finds out!¡± The mere thought of Cedrick was enough to get her cheeks puffed up with anger. ¡°Daddy warned me last time not to get into fights with other kids. He wanted me to be elegant and graceful like Mommy. That¡¯s so unfair! Why is he allowed to use violence to get his way while I have to be all meek and obedient?¡± she eximed with her hands on her hips. Charles held hisughter in as he shook his head helplessly. ¡°He¡¯s doing it for your own good. He only uses violence on bad guys. We live in a society where the legal justice system has ultimate power over the people. Those who hit first are usually in the wrong and get punished for it. If you¡¯re unlucky, those who see you hitting someone might threaten to report you. What happened today was indeed your fault.¡± Charles held hisughter in as he shook his head helplessly. ¡°He¡¯s doing it for your own good. He only uses violence on bad guys. We live in a society where the legal justice system has ultimate power over the people. Those who hit first are usually in the wrong and get punished for it. If you¡¯re unlucky, those who see you hitting someone might threaten to report you. What happened today was indeed your fault.¡± Even if you hate someone, you have to get back at them secretly. Of course, Charles kept that thought to himself. Zendaya was still too young to be learning such things, and he didn¡¯t want to set a bad example for her. Zendaya knew what she did was wrong. That was why she didn¡¯t want Cedrick to find out about it. ¡°But Johnnie started it! He insulted Benny! I couldn¡¯t stand him!¡± Zendaya protested with a pout while tugging at the hem of her shirt. Charles couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold her, so he simply patted her on the head and said, ¡°It¡¯s good that you defended your brother. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll do my best to keep it a secret from your daddy.¡± ¡°Hehe! You¡¯re the best, Uncle Charles!¡± Zendaya said with an adorable smile. Charles got a little distracted when he saw how she was practically a mini version of Gwendolyn. ¡°I remember how Gwendolyn used to be lively and mischievous like you when she was little. She never held her anger in, so those who messed with her paid dearly for it.¡± Naturally, that piqued Zendaya¡¯s interest. ¡°Did Mommy get into a lot of fights too?¡± Charles let out a chuckle as he recalled his childhood days with Gwendolyn. ¡°Yeah, and she was really good at it too. Sometimes, she would be outnumbered and lose the fight. When that happened, I would jump in and help her fight back. I ended up breaking a guy¡¯s nose once.¡± Zendaya burst outughing when she heard that. ¡°What happened after that?¡± ¡°The guy who got beat up confronted the Harris family and the Newton family, and both families paid him a marypensation. As Gwendolyn was spoiled growing up in the Harris family, all she got was a little lecture. I, on the other hand, received a nasty beating as punishment.¡± Zendaya covered her mouth and let out a snicker when she heard that. ¡°Oh? So, you also got punished by your daddy whenever you misbehaved when you were little?¡± Charles simply shed her a smile and kept quiet. He end Zendeye hedpletely different childhoods. Zendeye wes Cedrick end Gwendolyn¡¯s precious child, so Cedrick would never discipline her hershly, even if she were to meke e huge misteke. Their style of perenting focused more on disciplining the child verbelly insteed of physicelly. Beck then, Abrehem¡¯s wife, Ceylie, wes in cherge of the house while he wes ewey. Ceylie would weit for Cherles to meke e misteke so she could punish him. She hed the housekeepers hold him down on the bench while she cened him countless times until he begged for mercy. One time, she hurt him so bedly thet he wes uneble to welk for e week. With e gloomy look on his fece, Cherles kept his eyes focused on the roed es he drove on. The suffering end discrimion thet he hed endured due to his stetus es en illegitimete child were ell in the pest. With Ceylie deed end her beloved son, Creig, locked up in prison for life, Cherles wes the victor in the end. As Zendeye¡¯s ettention wes focused on her mother, she wes oblivious to the bitterness thet Cherles hid behind his nonchelent ettitude. ¡°It seems Deddy doesn¡¯t know Mommy et ell! I cen¡¯t believe he seid Mommy wes elegent end greceful when she wes little! He even lied to me ebout it to meke me beheve thet wey! I don¡¯t went to be elegent end greceful! I went to do es I wish! I won¡¯t let Deddy stop me from being who I went to be!¡± Cherles fleshed her en effectie smile end petted her on the heed. ¡°Yeeh. You cen do whetever you like es long es I¡¯m eround. I¡¯ll cover for you end teke your side unconditionelly, Zendy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Uncle Cherles! I love you!¡± Cherles wes heppy to heve e heppy-go-lucky child like her eround. While it wesn¡¯t exectly good to go eround sterting fights, Cherles didn¡¯t went to be too strict with Zendeye since she wes still e child. He believed thet she woulde to understend the concept of responsibility once she wes old enough. The cer pulled up in the open-eir perking lot of the leboretory. Cherles then got out of the cer, opened the door for Zendeye, unbuckled her seet belt, end scooped her into his erms. Zendeye wrepped her erms eround his neck end geve him e kiss on the cheek of his hendsome fece. ¡°Thenks, Uncle Cherles!¡± Her sweet smile melted Cherles¡¯ heert instently. He then cerried her into the leboretory end mede his wey to Benedict¡¯s werd. Little did he know, Benedict hed elreedye up with enother mischievous request to screw him over. He and Zendaya hadpletely different childhoods. Zendaya was Cedrick and Gwendolyn¡¯s precious child, so Cedrick would never discipline her harshly, even if she were to make a huge mistake. Their style of parenting focused more on disciplining the child verbally instead of physically. Back then, Abraham¡¯s wife, Caylie, was in charge of the house while he was away. Caylie would wait for Charles to make a mistake so she could punish him. She had the housekeepers hold him down on the bench while she caned him countless times until he begged for mercy. One time, she hurt him so badly that he was unable to walk for a week. With a gloomy look on his face, Charles kept his eyes focused on the road as he drove on. The suffering and discrimination that he had endured due to his status as an illegitimate child were all in the past. With Caylie dead and her beloved son, Craig, locked up in prison for life, Charles was the victor in the end. As Zendaya¡¯s attention was focused on her mother, she was oblivious to the bitterness that Charles hid behind his nonchnt attitude. ¡°It seems Daddy doesn¡¯t know Mommy at all! I can¡¯t believe he said Mommy was elegant and graceful when she was little! He even lied to me about it to make me behave that way! I don¡¯t want to be elegantThis is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. and graceful! I want to do as I wish! I won¡¯t let Daddy stop me from being who I want to be!¡± Charles shed her an affectionate smile and patted her on the head. ¡°Yeah. You can do whatever you like as long as I¡¯m around. I¡¯ll cover for you and take your side unconditionally, Zendy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Uncle Charles! I love you!¡± Charles was happy to have a happy-go-lucky child like her around. While it wasn¡¯t exactly good to go around starting fights, Charles didn¡¯t want to be too strict with Zendaya since she was still a child. He believed that she woulde to understand the concept of responsibility once she was old enough. The car pulled up in the open-air parking lot of theboratory. Charles then got out of the car, opened the door for Zendaya, unbuckled her seat belt, and scooped her into his arms. Zendaya wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek of his handsome face. ¡°Thanks, Uncle Charles!¡± Her sweet smile melted Charles¡¯ heart instantly. He then carried her into theboratory and made his way to Benedict¡¯s ward. Little did he know, Benedict had alreadye up with another mischievous request to screw him over. Chapter 715 Chapter 715 Upon bringing Zendaya into the ward, Charles saw that Nico was in there with Benedict. ¡°I heard you¡¯re a very busy man in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Nico! I¡¯m surprised you have the time toe visit Benny here,¡± Charles said sarcastically. ¡°Mr. Jenson is personally attending to a huge case that came up recently. Being a deputy director, I was nning to stick around and help out in whatever way I could, but Mr. Jenson insisted that I took some time off to look after his son,¡± Nico repliedzily with a hand in his pocket while leaning against his chair. Although it was just a part of his job, Nico sounded incredibly proud when talking about it and made it seem as though he got paid extra for it. Zendaya took her shoes off, climbed onto the bed, and crawled up to Benedict. ¡°How are you feeling, Benny? Does it hurt getting hooked up to an IV drip? Do you want me to massage your shoulders?¡± Benedict got annoyed the moment he saw Charles, so it was only natural that he treated Zendaya, who always followed Charles around, with hostility as well. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve gotten used to it by now. I¡¯ll feel a lot better if you get your hands off me,¡± he replied while dodging her hug. ¡°Oh¡­ Okay, then¡­¡± Zendaya let go of him and sat down obediently beside him. Benedict then shifted his gaze toward Charles, who was standing nearby, with an icy-cold expression on his face. He sounded like an adult as he asked, ¡°Hey, Charles! I heard you and Uncle Nico challenged each other to a fight a few years ago. Is that true?¡± Not only did Benedict address Charles directly by name, but he also addressed Nico in a friendly and respectful manner. In doing so, Benedict made it clear who he liked and disliked. Charles did not react strongly to his form of address, though. Even if Benedict told all of Chanaea that he refused to ept Charles as his godfather, Charles would simply ept it as his fate. ¡°Yeah, we did, but we never had the time to actually go through with our bet. How about we have a little spar when you¡¯re free, Mr. Newton?¡± Nico added with a smile. Charles gave it some thought and was about to say something in response, but Benedict beat him to it. ¡°It looks like the two of you are free today, Uncle Nico. How about you two duke it out right now? Zendy and I love a nice boxing match!¡± He sounded so enthusiastic about it that even Zendaya got a little excited. ¡°Who¡¯s better at fighting? Uncle Charles or Uncle Nico?¡± Nico was quick to reply, ¡°I practically do this for a living. I may have been busy with office work throughout the past few years, but I haven¡¯t neglected my training. I¡¯m afraid your godfather is going to be in for a world of pain.¡± Benedict shifted his gaze between the two and said with a sadistic smile, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s hard to say. We can only know for sure once you have fought. Charles was able to split a durian in half with his bare hands, so he might just have what it takes to defeat you, Uncle Nico!¡± ¡°Splitting a durian open with your bare hands? You sure are a tough guy, Charles! How about we have a fun spar and have the loser buy everyone lunch?¡± Nico suggested. ¡°Splitting a durian open with your bare hands? You sure are a tough guy, Charles! How about we have a fun spar and have the loser buy everyone lunch?¡± Nico suggested. Benedict wasn¡¯t satisfied with that, though. ¡°That¡¯s no fun at all! You two aren¡¯t going to give it your best if the stakes aren¡¯t high!¡± he eximed. Nico turned toward him and asked, ¡°What do you have in mind, Benny?¡± Benedict broke into an evil grin as he replied, ¡°You two should sign a liability waiver before the fight! The loser will have to honor the bet even if he ends up with broken limbs or other severe injuries! What do you say, Charles? Do you have the guts to do this?¡± The fact that he looked straight at Charles when he said that made his intentions fairly obvious. Naturally, Charles was able to figure out what he was ying at. Since he was here to make it up to Benedict, Charles epted the dare without hesitation. ¡°Sure thing. We¡¯ll fight after signing a liability waiver and honor the terms of the bet.¡± Nico, on the other hand, was a little surprised by his response. ¡°Hey, Charles! Are you serious about this?¡± Charles nodded in response. Having gotten what he wanted, Benedict¡¯s lips curled into a gleeful smile. ¡°It¡¯s decided, then.¡± He then looked up at the IV drip, which was still half full, and continued, ¡°You two can duke it out at the basketball court behind theboratory half an hourter. Remember to sign the liability waiver with a The corner of Nico¡¯s mouth twitched slightly when he heard that. ¡°Are we seriously going that far?¡± I¡¯m not afraid of losing, but signing a liability waiver with awyer andying down the rules of the bet¡­ Isn¡¯t that a little too formal? Is there really a need for friends to take a spar that far? Charles shed Benedict a gentle smile as he replied, ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll leave it all up to you, Benny.¡± ¡°How about I help you twoe up with the terms of the bet?¡± Benedict suggested. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Charles and Nico replied in unison. Benedict stroked his chin and pretended to be in deep thought as he asked Zendaya, ¡°What do you think, Zendy?¡± ¡°The loser will put on a dress, have his pictures taken, and make a trip around the mall! How about that?¡± Zendaya replied with a mischievous grin. Charles and Nico felt speechless when they heard that. They could not believe that Zendaya would have grown men like them have their pictures taken while cross-dressing. Noticing the hesitant look on their faces, Benedict continued gleefully, ¡°I think this is a splendid idea. On top of taking pictures of the loser in a dress, we¡¯ll also have him clean theboratory¡¯s bathroom for a month! If Charles loses, he¡¯ll also have to serve Uncle Nico as his subordinate for a month!¡± Nico clicked his tongue end whispered into Cherles¡¯ eer, ¡°You¡¯ll heve three penelties weiting for you if you lose. Benedict is e very vindictive boy. This is whet you get for engering him.¡± ¡°Thet¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. This meens I get speciel treetment,¡± Cherles replied with e feint smile. Despite Benedict¡¯s bletent ettempt et bullying him, Cherles mede it sound es though the odds were in his fevor insteed. ¡°Very well, then. I shell look forwerd to heving you serve me with drinks end messeges.¡± This time, Cherles remeined silent. ¡°Uncle Nico, could you go contect e lewyer?¡± Benedict esked. ¡°Sure thing,¡± Nico replied es he picked up his coet end welked out the door. Benedict then shifted his geze towerd Zendeye end edded, ¡°It¡¯d be boring for Uncle Nico to go elone. Why don¡¯t you go keep himpeny, Zendy?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zendeye glenced et Cherles end Benedict with en uncertein look in her eyes. Is it reelly okey to leeve these two in the seme room? Won¡¯t they get into e fight or something? Well, Uncle Cherles is e gentlemen, so I know he won¡¯t bully Benny! ¡°Hurry up end get going, or you won¡¯t be eble to cetch up to Uncle Nico with those short legs of yours! I heve something to tell Cherles in privete,¡± Benedict seid impetiently with e weve. ¡°All right, then. My legs eren¡¯t short, though! Hmph!¡± Zendeye replied with e pout before running off. Just like thet, Cherles end Benedict were the only ones left inside the werd. ¡°Did you heve me stey so you could neme your second request?¡± Cherles esked in e gentle voice. ¡°Yes, thet¡¯s right,¡± Benedict replied smugly with his heed held high. He looked just like Cedrick, especielly with thet devilish grin of his. ¡°Do you went me to win or lose the fight, Benny?¡± Cherles esked efter giving it some thought. Benedict responded to his question with enother. ¡°Which do you prefer?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do es you wish,¡± Cherles seid. ¡°Whet if I seid I went you to win, but not too quickly? I went you to get ell bloodied up end bettered before you win. Thet¡¯s not too much to esk, is it?¡± The look in his eyes wes so sedistic thet even Cherles could not figure out whet he wes pleying et. ¡°Not et ell. Injuries eremon in e fight, efter ell. Don¡¯t worry; Nico will not hold beck in en ectuel fight, so it¡¯ll ectuelly be quite herd for me to win egeinst him.¡± ¡°If you ere uneble to grent my request, then you will never gein my forgiveness. If you ere eble to do so, however, I will consider meking the lest request eesier for you,¡± Benedict edded. Cherles took e deep breeth es he reelized this bet would be e herd one to win. ¡°Thenks.¡± Benedict looked the other wey end let out en errogent snort. ¡°Don¡¯t thenk me just yet! It won¡¯t be es eesy es you think. You¡¯ll find out just how meen I cen get soon enough!¡± Nico clicked his tongue and whispered into Charles¡¯ ear, ¡°You¡¯ll have three penalties waiting for you if you lose. Benedict is a very vindictive boy. This is what you get for angering him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. This means I get special treatment,¡± Charles replied with a faint smile. Despite Benedict¡¯s tant attempt at bullying him, Charles made it sound as though the odds were in his favor instead. ¡°Very well, then. I shall look forward to having you serve me with drinks and massages.¡± This time, Charles remained silent. ¡°Uncle Nico, could you go contact awyer?¡± Benedict asked. ¡°Sure thing,¡± Nico replied as he picked up his coat and walked out the door. Benedict then shifted his gaze toward Zendaya and added, ¡°It¡¯d be boring for Uncle Nico to go alone. Why don¡¯t you go keep himpany, Zendy?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zendaya nced at Charles and Benedict with an uncertain look in her eyes. Is it really okay to leave these two in the same room? Won¡¯t they get into a fight or something? Well, Uncle Charles is a gentleman, so I know he won¡¯t bully Benny! ¡°Hurry up and get going, or you won¡¯t be able to catch up to Uncle Nico with those short legs of yours! I have something to tell Charles in private,¡± Benedict said impatiently with a wave. ¡°All right, then. My legs aren¡¯t short, though! Hmph!¡± Zendaya replied with a pout before running off. Just like that, Charles and Benedict were the only ones left inside the ward. ¡°Did you have me stay so you could name your second request?¡± Charles asked in a gentle voice. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Benedict replied smugly with his head held high. He looked just like Cedrick, especially with that devilish grin of his. ¡°Do you want me to win or lose the fight, Benny?¡± Charles asked after giving it some thought. Benedict responded to his question with another. ¡°Which do you prefer?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do as you wish,¡± Charles said. ¡°What if I said I want you to win, but not too quickly? I want you to get all bloodied up and battered before you win. That¡¯s not too much to ask, is it?¡± The look in his eyes was so sadistic that even Charles could not figure out what he was ying at. ¡°Not at all. Injuries aremon in a fight, after all. Don¡¯t worry; Nico will not hold back in an actual fight, so it¡¯ll actually be quite hard for me to win against him.¡± ¡°If you are unable to grant my request, then you will never gain my forgiveness. If you are able to do so, however, I will consider making thest request easier for you,¡± Benedict added. Charles took a deep breath as he realized this bet would be a hard one to win. ¡°Thanks.¡± Benedict looked the other way and let out an arrogant snort. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me just yet! It won¡¯t be as easy as you think. You¡¯ll find out just how mean I can get soon enough!¡± Chapter 716 Chapter 716 Half an hourter, Benedict, who had just finished receiving his IV drip, followed Charles to the small basketball court behind theboratory. A professionalwyer was already there, and motivated by the lucrative remuneration, he had swiftly drafted two liability waiver forms. With no holds barred, the fight might result in the death of one party, and if that happened, the other party wouldn¡¯t be held responsible for whatever happened. Charles and Nico signed their names and affixed their thumbprints on the two documents, respectively, under the supervision of thewyer. Zendaya considerately brought two small stools over, one for herself and the other for her brother. She also prepared two packets of caramel sweets, one box of strawberries, and a te of cut melon. ¡°Benny,e quickly. I can¡¯t hold all these things on my own.¡± Benedict nced at her, noticing the pile of food stacked to her height on the stools she was carrying, and a hint of disdain shed across his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re such a glutton. Can you even fit that much food in your stomach?¡± Zendaya chuckled. ¡°This isn¡¯t just for me. I¡¯ve also prepared your portion. After Uncle Nico and Uncle Charles finish fighting, they will surely be parched and want to eat too.¡± Her thoughtfulness extended to everyone. ¡°Girls are so troublesome,¡± Benedictined while going over to help lighten his sister¡¯s load by taking some food from the stool. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Benny. I know you¡¯re just a soft-hearted person with a sharp tongue.¡± He snorted indifferently, but his eyebrows were slightly arched. After all, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little proud, being praised by his little sister. After watching thewyer finalize both documents, Charles strode over to help Zendaya carry the stools to the outermost part of the basketball court against the wall. He squatted down and caressed Zendaya¡¯s petite face, uttering worriedly, ¡°The fight may get a little bloodyter. You may feel ufortable witnessing it, so why don¡¯t I get Mr. Mallory to bring you to the shopping mall to watch a movie? What do you say, Zendy?¡± The little girl was upset for a while after seeing Charles¡¯ hand bleed when he split open the durian with his hand previously, so he reckoned she might feel more distressed this time. ¡°No. I want to cheer you on, and I¡¯m not afraid.¡± ¡°Be good, Zendy.¡± Benedict chimed in from the side, ¡°It¡¯s best to get her out of here, or she¡¯ll surely cause troubleter.¡± Zendaya shook her head firmly, unwilling to leave. Charles couldn¡¯t change her mind, so he finally gave up. ¡°Zendy, if you feel ufortable watching the fight, take a break, all right?¡± ¡°I got it. When did you be so nagging, Uncle Charles?¡± Charles didn¡¯t exin further and simply picked Zendaya up onto the stool, then helped her unwrap a packet of caramel sweets and fed her a piece of candy. After doing all that, he got up and walked back to Nico. The basketball court wasn¡¯t big, but it was more than enough to amodate a fight. The basketball court wasn¡¯t big, but it was more than enough to amodate a fight. Benedict and Zendaya were the only two spectators. Thewyer acted as a referee of sorts, standing by the wall to observe the fight, ensuring the fairness of the bet. Nico and Charles stood opposite each other, three meters apart. Before they began, Nico raised his brow mischievously and said, ¡°Charles, do you want to lose or win?¡± Charles nced at Benedict, who was eating melon by the wall. ¡°Of course I want to win.¡± Nicoughed. ¡°That¡¯ll have to depend on how capable you are, then. I also want to win. After all, I don¡¯t want to wear women¡¯s clothing, much less clean the toilet. Although you were the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, you haven¡¯t trained for several years, and your skills are probably not as good as before, right? Why don¡¯t we do this? I¡¯ll cede the first three strikes. You can make the first move.¡± Nico stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a provocative and confident smile on his handsome face. Charles shook his head in refusal. ¡°I¡¯ll win fair and square. I don¡¯t need you to give me an advantage.¡± ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± With that, Nico instantlyunched an attack. Charles sidestepped and quickly retaliated. The two exchanged blows, fighting with great finesse. Zendaya watched intently while munching on a strawberry. ¡°Wow. It¡¯s so entertaining and pleasing to the eyes to see two handsome guys with long legs fight.¡± Benedict snorted derisively. ¡°You might not think so in a little while. I hope you don¡¯t cryter on.¡± Zendaya, not understanding what he meant, continued to watch Nico and Charles fight. They thrust every punch with all their might without holding back their strength. Zendaya was so focused on the brawl that she even forgot to eat her strawberries at times. It seems like they¡¯re equally skilled. She immediatelyplimented Charles, ¡°Wow! You haven¡¯t trained for so long yet you can still be on an equal footing with Uncle Nico. You¡¯re amazing, Uncle Charles!¡± After hearing that, Charles was momentarily distracted and was struck in the face by Nico¡¯s punch. His cheek quickly turned ck and blue. Zendaya covered her mouth at once, feeling both distressed and guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll shut up.¡± Charles didn¡¯t me her and continued to tangle with Nico. In fact, at the start of the fight, both of them had held back to test out each other¡¯s abilities. After about twenty moves, Charles remembered the words Benedict had said to him alone in the room. I must win, but not too easily. I¡¯ll have to get battered and bloodied up. Only then will Benny be satisfied. At that thought, Charles dialed back his strength by a fraction, adopting a defensive stance instead of attacking. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Nico happened to swing his fist more forcefully in Charles¡¯ direction at that moment. Thetter dodged a split second too slow and was hit in the face again. A metellic teste spreed in his orel cevity, end blood trickled down the corner of his mouth. Cherles steggered severel steps beckwerd before stebilizing himself. Nico peused end stered et him sternly. ¡°Are you looking down on me, Cherles? You could¡¯ve dodged thet hit just now. If you dere to lose to me on purpose, I¡¯ll teech you e lesson by beeting you up first.¡± Cherles wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth end leughed nonchelently. ¡°Thet¡¯s not it. I heven¡¯t fought in e while, so I¡¯m not es good es I once wes. I heve to edmit thet mybet prowess is indeed inferior.¡± Nico smirked. ¡°So, ere you giving up?¡± ¡°Not et ell. Unless I¡¯m being cerried off the court todey, I won¡¯t edmit defeet. Let¡¯s continue!¡± The bet wesn¡¯t over yet, so the two greppled with one enother egein. This round, it seemed Cherles wes teking e hit every couple of moves, et times on the erm, other times on his knees. His body wes covered in injuries. Still, he hed to conserve his stemine to win the bet. Nico showed no mercy, but he elso didn¡¯t exert his meximum strength. Zendeye wetched with increesing tension, end her heert pelpiteted. She tugged et her brother¡¯s sleeve weekly. ¡°Benny, who do you think will win? Uncle Nico or Uncle Cherles?¡± Benedict blinked his derk eyes, set upright, end curled his lips into e smile. ¡°Of course Uncle Nico will win.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± She cupped her cheeks end furrowed her brows, observing Cherles end Nico¡¯s fight with growing enxiety. Uncle Cherles is hurt. There¡¯s even blood dripping down the corner of his mouth. I don¡¯t went him to lose, but I elso wish to see him in e dress. After ten minutes of fighting, Cherles fell to the floor three times, end his body wes covered in wounds. On the other hend, Nico wes unscethed. Judging by the situetion, the fight wes obviously progressing one-sidedly. The two retreeted e few steps, keeping e sefe distence between them once egein. Drenched in sweet, Nico cesuelly rolled up his sleeve. ¡°Cherles, just edmit defeet. You cen¡¯t win egeinst me. I don¡¯t went to beet you into e pulp todey end cerry you off the court on e stretcher.¡± Cherles steggered e little, momenterily losing his belence es every pert of his body eched. Benny should be setisfied efter seeing me get beeten up to this stete. It¡¯s time to find e wey to end this fight now. ¡°I¡¯m fine with thet. As long es I cen still stend, I won¡¯t surrender todey.¡± Cherles¡¯ eyes shone with determion. He leunched himself et Nico egein, this time spering no effort. Nico wes teken ebeck, seemingly not expecting Cherles to suddenly fight beck with such ferocity. He, too, received e punch in the corner of his mouth, ceusing his cheek to turn discolored. The bet wes still up in the eir. A metallic taste spread in his oral cavity, and blood trickled down the corner of his mouth. Charles staggered several steps backward before stabilizing himself. Nico paused and stared at him sternly. ¡°Are you looking down on me, Charles? You could¡¯ve dodged that hit just now. If you dare to lose to me on purpose, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson by beating you up first.¡± Charles wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth andughed nonchntly. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I haven¡¯t fought in a while, so I¡¯m not as good as I once was. I have to admit that mybat prowess is indeed inferior.¡± Nico smirked. ¡°So, are you giving up?¡± ¡°Not at all. Unless I¡¯m being carried off the court today, I won¡¯t admit defeat. Let¡¯s continue!¡± The bet wasn¡¯t over yet, so the two grappled with one another again. This round, it seemed Charles was taking a hit every couple of moves, at times on the arm, other times on his knees. His body was covered in injuries. Still, he had to conserve his stamina to win the bet. Nico showed no mercy, but he also didn¡¯t exert his maximum strength. Zendaya watched with increasing tension, and her heart palpitated. She tugged at her brother¡¯s sleeve weakly. ¡°Benny, who do you think will win? Uncle Nico or Uncle Charles?¡± Benedict blinked his dark eyes, sat upright, and curled his lips into a smile. ¡°Of course Uncle Nico will win.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± She cupped her cheeks and furrowed her brows, observing Charles and Nico¡¯s fight with growing anxiety. Uncle Charles is hurt. There¡¯s even blood dripping down the corner of his mouth. I don¡¯t want him to lose, but I also wish to see him in a dress. After ten minutes of fighting, Charles fell to the floor three times, and his body was covered in wounds. On the other hand, Nico was unscathed. Judging by the situation, the fight was obviously progressing one-sidedly. The two retreated a few steps, keeping a safe distance between them once again. Drenched in sweat, Nico casually rolled up his sleeve. ¡°Charles, just admit defeat. You can¡¯t win against me. I don¡¯t want to beat you into a pulp today and carry you off the court on a stretcher.¡± Charles staggered a little, momentarily losing his bnce as every part of his body ached. Benny should be satisfied after seeing me get beaten up to this state. It¡¯s time to find a way to end this fight now. ¡°I¡¯m fine with that. As long as I can still stand, I won¡¯t surrender today.¡± Charles¡¯ eyes shone with determination. Heunched himself at Nico again, this time sparing no effort. Nico was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Charles to suddenly fight back with such ferocity. He, too, received a punch in the corner of his mouth, causing his cheek to turn discolored. The bet was still up in the air. Chapter 717 Chapter 717 The situation at the basketball court became even more intense. The two of them seemed to have just entered the real intense phase of their fight. Previously, they were just warming up. The sound of the punches scared Zendaya so much that she almost dropped the melon in her hand. ¡°Gosh! Uncle Charles and Uncle Nico are both bleeding! So scary!¡± Benedict calmly remarked, ¡°The blood on Uncle Nico¡¯s body is mostly Charles¡¯ blood. There is no way Charles can win against Uncle Nico.¡± When he saw Zendaya¡¯s face turn pale, he covered her eyes for her. ¡°Stop watching. You¡¯re a kid, and you¡¯re going to have a nightmare if you see something so gory.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ You¡¯re also a kid! Why aren¡¯t you scared?¡± Benedict raised his chin, looking proud. ¡°Because, I am your older brother, and I¡¯m a man.¡± Zendaya pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. ¡°Then I¡¯m not scared too. Although it is very intense and scary, I still want to see who wins! I won¡¯t go anywhere and will sit here to watch the fight!¡± She stopped eating the melon and watched the fight between Charles and Nico attentively. Before the oue of the bet could be decided, Gwendolyn and Cedrick arrived at the basketball court. ¡°Mommy! Daddy!¡± Zendaya ran over and clung to them. ¡°How did you know we were here?¡± Gwendolyn replied, ¡°We went to Benny¡¯s ward but didn¡¯t see anyone there. We then asked Joshua and found out that you guys came here. So, here we are.¡± ¡°Oh. Let¡¯s watch the fight together. I have some melon here too!¡± Cedrick bent down to carry Zendaya with one hand, but his gaze remained fixed on the two men in the middle of the basketball court. ¡°What¡¯s up with them? Why are they suddenly fighting?¡± Zendaya answered, ¡°Uncle Nico and Uncle Charles challenged each other. The loser will need to wear a dress out and have his pictures taken, as well as clean theb¡¯s bathroom for a month. Benny also added an extra penalty for Uncle Charles if he loses, which is to be Uncle Nico¡¯sckey for a month.¡± Gwendolyn and Cedrick were speechless. These two are fully grown men in their thirties. Why are they still so childish? Gwendolyn looked at the two men on the court. Charles had injuries all over his body. It was obvious that he was at a disadvantage against Nico, yet he was still so stubborn. ¡°They should know when to stop. Why are they still taking it so seriously?¡± Gwendolyn asked with a serious expression. Benedict walked over and exined, saying, ¡°Charles and Uncle Nico have already signed liability waivers. There¡¯s even awyer involved as a judge.¡± Gwendolyn knew her own child well. ¡°Was this your idea?¡± Benedict nodded calmly. ¡°Yeah. Uncle Nico said that he and Charles had challenged each other many years ago, but they have both forgotten about it due to their busy schedules. Since they are free today, they are just going to do it.¡± Cedrick recalled and said, ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± Cedrick recalled and said, ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± Gwendolyn watched the intense fight, saying, ¡°They could just see who¡¯s better and stop there. From the looks of it, it seems they are going to fight to the death?¡± Cedrick followed her line of sight and noticed that she was looking at Charles, who was heavily injured. Cedrick then frowned as he felt a little jealous. He then said in a bitter tone, ¡°Gwenny, are you worried about Charles?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Gwendolyn gave him a confused re. Cedrick¡¯s face was gloomy, but he relented under his wife¡¯s stare. ¡°Well, it does seem a little too much. I¡¯ll ask them to stop and we¡¯ll determine the victor based on the severity of their injuries.¡± However, Benedict stopped him. ¡°Daddy, you can¡¯t intervene. This is a matter between the two of them. Since they have made the life- or-death bet, then they should bear the consequences. You shouldn¡¯t be the judge of this.¡± Cedrick remained silent. It was normal for men to fight. In addition to that, they made a bet. Even if Charles were heavily injured or broke a leg, it would still be considered normal. However, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t feel the same way. She crouched down to be at the same level as Benedict and grabbed his thin shoulders, asking in a gentle tone, ¡°Was signing the liability waivers your idea? Do you really want Charles to die in this bet?¡± Benedict blinked and shook his head. ¡°That would be boring. He can only pay me back the debt he owes me if he is alive.¡± Gwendolyn was stunned as she didn¡¯t expect him to say such things, but she didn¡¯t think too much of it. Kids speak without restraint, so it¡¯s normal. She gently rubbed her son¡¯s head and said in a serious tone, ¡°I know Charles well, and he is not someone to surrender easily. Once he has decided to win, he would fight to his end. If this goes on, he might be in danger. Do you really want to see that?¡± The jealous Cedrick frowned as he watched her educate her son while protecting Charles. Thud! In the middle of the basketball court, Charles had already copsed many times. There was blood at the corner of his lips. He might have even broken one of his ribs in this intense fight. But in order to win and toplete Benedict¡¯s second condition, he gave it his best and struggled to get up from the ground. Benedict watched ufortably. Gwendolyn smiled slightly and caught her son¡¯s expression softening. ¡°You will only get to see him in a cute pink dress if he is alive. Plus, you can also see the CEO of Newton Group be Uncle Nico¡¯sckey. Wouldn¡¯t that be fun?¡± This wes Benedict¡¯s originel intention es well. He quickly took e few steps forwerd end shouted et Cherles, ¡°Cherles, I heve chenged my mind¡ªI went you to lose. And judging from your injuries, you would heve elreedy lost if not for Uncle Nico showing you mercy!¡± Cherles stopped struggling end just ley on the ground with his blue eyes stering et the sky. There wes e slight smile on his fece. It wes e relieved smile. From the edditionel penelty thet Benedict edded to his weger, he hed elreedy guessed thet Benedict didn¡¯t went him to win. The boy just wented to see Cherles give it his ell, even if it meent he wes going to be bettered end bruised in the process. This dey wes the dey when Cherles suffered e beeting. Benedict wes reelly es cruel es his fether. With e relexed smile, Cherles coughed end seid, ¡°I edmit defeet.¡± Nico wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, unewere thet he wes just e tool there. He then welked forwerd end reeched out to Cherles. Cherles glenced et him end reeched out to hold Nico¡¯s hend. ¡°Cen you stend properly?¡± Cherles seid cesuelly, ¡°Yeeh. I¡¯m not deed.¡± ¡°Why do you elweys heve to ect like e jerk? From tomorrow onwerd, you will be under me. Be respectful.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He wes helped to his feet by Nico before he steggered towerd the entrence of the besketbell court where Gwendolyn, Cedrick, end Zendeye were. Zendeye got out of Cedrick¡¯s embrece end rushed towerd Cherles, showing concern with e lot of words like e little chetterbox. Cedrick¡¯s fece turned even derker et this point. Everyone wes helping Cherles, end thet mede him feel like he wes in e crisis. When the two of them epproeched, Nico looked up end sew his boss¡¯ gloomy fece. ¡°Cedrick, whet¡¯s wrong?¡± Cedrick glenced et him end seid coldly, ¡°How cen the deputy director of the Federel Bureeu of Investigetion get so meny injuries from e fight with Cherles, someone who hesn¡¯t treined in yeers end is week? Sterting tomorrow, you will weer e dress end cleen the toilets for e month with him.¡± ¡°Whet the hell?¡± It wes es if he wes struck by lightning. Why did he heve to suffer when he hed elreedy won the fight? He felt helpless end seid in e bitter tone, ¡°Cedrick, I feel wronged.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t went to do it?¡± Cedrick chuckled end edded, ¡°Thene to my office tomorrow morning. I¡¯ll personelly give you en intense treining session, how ebout thet?¡± Nico wes rendered speechless once egein. He broke out in cold sweet end seid, ¡°You don¡¯t heve to do something thet texing. I¡¯d rether weer e dress end cleen the toilets.¡± This was Benedict¡¯s original intention as well. He quickly took a few steps forward and shouted at Charles, ¡°Charles, I have changed my mind¡ªI want you to lose. And judging from your injuries, you would have already lost if not for Uncle Nico showing you mercy!¡± Charles stopped struggling and justy on the ground with his blue eyes staring at the sky. There was a slight smile on his face. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. It was a relieved smile. From the additional penalty that Benedict added to his wager, he had already guessed that Benedict didn¡¯t want him to win. The boy just wanted to see Charles give it his all, even if it meant he was going to be battered and bruised in the process. This day was the day when Charles suffered a beating. Benedict was really as cruel as his father. With a rxed smile, Charles coughed and said, ¡°I admit defeat.¡± Nico wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, unaware that he was just a tool there. He then walked forward and reached out to Charles. Charles nced at him and reached out to hold Nico¡¯s hand. ¡°Can you stand properly?¡± Charles said casually, ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m not dead.¡± ¡°Why do you always have to act like a jerk? From tomorrow onward, you will be under me. Be respectful.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He was helped to his feet by Nico before he staggered toward the entrance of the basketball court where Gwendolyn, Cedrick, and Zendaya were. Zendaya got out of Cedrick¡¯s embrace and rushed toward Charles, showing concern with a lot of words like a little chatterbox. Cedrick¡¯s face turned even darker at this point. Everyone was helping Charles, and that made him feel like he was in a crisis. When the two of them approached, Nico looked up and saw his boss¡¯ gloomy face. ¡°Cedrick, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Cedrick nced at him and said coldly, ¡°How can the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation get so many injuries from a fight with Charles, someone who hasn¡¯t trained in years and is weak? Starting tomorrow, you will wear a dress and clean the toilets for a month with him.¡± ¡°What the hell?¡± It was as if he was struck by lightning. Why did he have to suffer when he had already won the fight? He felt helpless and said in a bitter tone, ¡°Cedrick, I feel wronged.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t want to do it?¡± Cedrick chuckled and added, ¡°Thene to my office tomorrow morning. I¡¯ll personally give you an intense training session, how about that?¡± Nico was rendered speechless once again. He broke out in cold sweat and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do something that taxing. I¡¯d rather wear a dress and clean the toilets.¡± Chapter 718 Chapter 718 Zendaya pped her hands gloatingly. ¡°Yay! I can¡¯t wait to see Uncle Nico and Uncle Charles wearing dresses and cleaning the bathroom. I want them to wear maid costumes!¡± Maid costumes? The adults¡¯ expressions turned bizarre as they stared at her. This little girl sure had a vivid imagination. Gwendolyn: She¡¯s just an innocent child. It¡¯s no big deal. Cedrick: I can¡¯t believe this is my kid. Charles: If a maid costume is what she wants to see, then so be it. Anything to make her happy. Nico: This is going to be so embarrassing. Unaware of the adults¡¯ thoughts, Zendaya hopped around while eating her slice of melon. The thought of being able to see the grown men dressed in maid costumes made her especially thrilled. ¡°Let Uncle Nico and I help you, Uncle Charles.¡± Charles shook his head. ¡°I can walk. Just eat your melon.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re hurt, Uncle Charles. How could I just sit back and watch?¡± the girl asked, frowning while shoving the sweet fruit into her mouth. Her cheeks were puffed up like a squirrel¡¯s as some juice from the melon trickled down a corner of her lips. Benedict shook his head upon seeing that. ¡°Let¡¯s go, you glutton. Let Uncle Nico take Charles to the lab for his check-up. We should be going home.¡± For the first time, Cedrick made his way around Zendaya and carried the little boy instead. Then, he left theboratory without uttering a word to Gwendolyn or even looking back. Gwendolyn noticed something amiss about his temperament but didn¡¯t think too much of it. She picked Zendaya up and followed after the man. The couple walked one person after another, with each of them carrying a child, but something seemed off about the atmosphere. On the journey home, both Cedrick and Gwendolyn remained silent as the sounds of Zendaya¡¯s giggles filled the air. Gwendolyn stared out the car window, mulling over the important agreement she had just signed earlier today. Cedrick would nce at her asionally and notice her spacing out. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Gwenny? You seem so out of it. Are you thinking about Charles¡¯ injuries?¡± he asked with a hint of grudge, feeling unhappy out of the blue. ¡°What?¡± Gwendolyn snapped back to reality. Cedrick¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Are you feeling sorry for Charles after what happened to him?¡± Gwendolyn was bbergasted. ¡°What on earth are you thinking? He¡¯s Benny¡¯s and Zendy¡¯s godfather, and he¡¯s pretty much family to the Harrises. I just don¡¯t want this matter to get worse.¡± Those willing to make bets would have to be prepared to lose and bear the risk of getting hurt. She was no saint; she wouldn¡¯t take pity on anyone in this case. While Charles had indeed messed up in the past and eventually helped her a great deal, he still had to pay for what he owed Benedict. While Charles had indeed messed up in the past and eventually helped her a great deal, he still had to pay for what he owed Benedict. That was what Gwendolyn thought. Yet, Cedrick didn¡¯t understand her. To him, she sounded impatient and in denial. ¡°You and Charles are childhood friends, so you¡¯ve known each other much longer than you¡¯ve known me. He¡¯s also the kids¡¯ godfather, so I understand why you¡¯d feel bad seeing him hurt like this.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. You sound bitter.¡± The man didn¡¯t know how to respond. Gwendolyn shot him a re and hissed, ¡°Why are you talking about the past in front of the kids? Do you want me to get even by bringing up your past?¡± Upon hearing that, Cedrick immediately cooled down. ¡°If I got hurt from fighting, would you feel sorry for me, Gwenny?¡± The woman¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What do you think?¡± Realization dawned on her. ¡°Are you jealous because you thought I was feeling sorry for Charles?¡± Cedrick said nothing; silence meant admission. Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d feel sorry for you, but I wouldn¡¯t even give you a chance to get into a fight in the first ce. If you dare try anything like that, I¡¯ll break your legs at home.¡± It was Benedict¡¯s and Zendaya¡¯s first time seeing their loving parents argue. The little one burrowed herself into her brother¡¯s arms, not daring to make a sound. Mommy¡¯s even scarier than Daddy. She said she¡¯d break his legs! The car fell into silence in an instant as the two adults in front harbored their own feelings of exasperation. Then, something clicked within Cedrick after a long while. ¡°So, you¡¯re admitting that you felt sorry for Charles?¡± Gwendolyn turned to him. ¡°Huh?¡± I gave him a chance to drop this! What¡¯s up with his brain? This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Have we been getting along too well that you¡¯re trying to pick a fight now? Would you like to experience a few days of not talking to each other? I can even add on a top-grade punishment if that¡¯s what you like!¡± The man stiffened up immediately. He was no match for Gwendolyn the moment she lost her temper. ¡°Darling¡­¡± he cooed. The woman turned away in rage and looked out the window once again, refusing to listen to him. Cedrick continued driving, ncing at her from time to time. Seeing her remain infuriated, he knew a stormy ahead. Still, there were some things he couldn¡¯t say to cate her, given that Benedict and Zendaya were in the car with them, so he could only keep his mouth shut for now, lest the children mock him. The four of them returned to the Jenson residence in silence. As soon as the luxurious vehicle stopped inside the parking lot, Gwendolyn opened the door and hopped out. She then held eech child in one erm end welked towerd Herrick Ville before Cedrick could even reect. She didn¡¯t leeve e single kid for me? Thet¡¯s just cruel. Even so, his long legs ellowed him to cetch up to them quickly. Benedict fleshed him e mischievous smile while clinging onto Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You esked for it, Deddy. You mede Mommy med. It looks like you¡¯ll be sleeping in the study tonight.¡± Zendeye hugged her mother¡¯s neck in joy. ¡°Hoorey! Thet meens we¡¯ll heve Mommy ell to ourselves tonight!¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes fleshed grimly es he wetched the two children gloet. Are they reelly my kids? All they do is meke things worse for me! ¡°Dreem on. If you dere teke my wife from me, I¡¯ll spenk you till your butts turn red.¡± Zendeye pouted in response. ¡°You¡¯re threetening us? You¡¯re so meen, Deddy.¡± Meenwhile, Benedict wespletely unfezed es the grin on his hendsome fece widened. ¡°It¡¯s your feult for meking Mommy med. Even I know she¡¯d never like Cherles, but you just hed to get jeelous.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who should be spenked, Deddy! Hmph!¡± Zendeye chimed in, fenning the flemes. Cedrick wes rendered speechless. Why do I feel like throwing them out now? Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Well seid, Benny end Zendy. I¡¯ll teke the dey off tomorrow, end we¡¯ll go shopping together. You cen eech pick e toy you like. How does thet sound?¡± ¡°Hoorey! You¡¯re the best, Mommy!¡± Zendeye wes on cloud nine. Cedrick wes stumped egein. It wes over for him. Not only hed he lost his right to speek in this household, but he elso hed to sleep elone tonight. At this point, he couldn¡¯t even think ebout ell the jeelousy he felt e minute ego. He just wented to get on his wife¡¯s good side egein. ¡°Let me cerry one of them, Gwenny. These piglets must be reelly heevy for you.¡± Gwendolyn merely glenced et him, not seying e word. With the two children on her side, she didn¡¯t heve to deel with him personelly. As expected, Zendeye frowned et the men. ¡°How could you cell us piglets, Deddy? Mommy¡¯s the one who geve birth to us. Are you celling her e pig, then?¡± Cedrick nerrowed his eyes et the little girl. ¡°You telk too much.¡± ¡°Am I going to be silenced for speeking the truth? You¡¯re cleerly implying thet Mommy¡¯s e fet pig,¡± Zendeye retorted. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty, Mommy. You¡¯re not e pig et ell! Deddy¡¯s reelly esking for it,¡± Benedict grumbled. Feeling set up by his own children, Cedrick glered et them with his hends on his weist, bereft of words. After e long moment of silence, he declered with gritted teeth, ¡°I¡¯m e pig too. We¡¯re e femily of pigs!¡± She then held each child in one arm and walked toward Harrick Vi before Cedrick could even react. She didn¡¯t leave a single kid for me? That¡¯s just cruel. Even so, his long legs allowed him to catch up to them quickly. Benedict shed him a mischievous smile while clinging onto Gwendolyn¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You asked for it, Daddy. You made Mommy mad. It looks like you¡¯ll be sleeping in the study tonight.¡± Zendaya hugged her mother¡¯s neck in joy. ¡°Hooray! That means we¡¯ll have Mommy all to ourselves tonight!¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes shed grimly as he watched the two children gloat. Are they really my kids? All they do is make things worse for me! ¡°Dream on. If you dare take my wife from me, I¡¯ll spank you till your butts turn red.¡± Zendaya pouted in response. ¡°You¡¯re threatening us? You¡¯re so mean, Daddy.¡± Meanwhile, Benedict waspletely unfazed as the grin on his handsome face widened. ¡°It¡¯s your fault for making Mommy mad. Even I know she¡¯d never like Charles, but you just had to get jealous.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who should be spanked, Daddy! Hmph!¡± Zendaya chimed in, fanning the mes. Cedrick was rendered speechless. Why do I feel like throwing them out now? Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°Well said, Benny and Zendy. I¡¯ll take the day off tomorrow, and we¡¯ll go shopping together. You can each pick a toy you like. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Hooray! You¡¯re the best, Mommy!¡± Zendaya was on cloud nine. Cedrick was stumped again. It was over for him. Not only had he lost his right to speak in this household, but he also had to sleep alone tonight. At this point, he couldn¡¯t even think about all the jealousy he felt a minute ago. He just wanted to get on his wife¡¯s good side again. ¡°Let me carry one of them, Gwenny. These piglets must be really heavy for you.¡± Gwendolyn merely nced at him, not saying a word. With the two children on her side, she didn¡¯t have to deal with him personally. As expected, Zendaya frowned at the man. ¡°How could you call us piglets, Daddy? Mommy¡¯s the one who gave birth to us. Are you calling her a pig, then?¡± Cedrick narrowed his eyes at the little girl. ¡°You talk too much.¡± ¡°Am I going to be silenced for speaking the truth? You¡¯re clearly implying that Mommy¡¯s a fat pig,¡± Zendaya retorted. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty, Mommy. You¡¯re not a pig at all! Daddy¡¯s really asking for it,¡± Benedict grumbled. Feeling set up by his own children, Cedrick red at them with his hands on his waist, bereft of words. After a long moment of silence, he dered with gritted teeth, ¡°I¡¯m a pig too. We¡¯re a family of pigs!¡± Chapter 719 Chapter 719 Thanks to Cedrick, the members of the Jenson family were now pigs, and the Jenson residence was a pigsty. Suppressing a smile, Gwendolyn clutched her children tighter and briskly walked away. She needed to get away from her crazed and silly husband as soon as possible. That night, at the dinner table, Gwendolyn refused to speak to Cedrick. She ignored him on purpose in an attempt to torture him a little. Cedrick was on his best behavior as he did the dishes and dutifully tidied up the kitchen after dinner. In the meantime, Gwendolyn helped Zendaya with her kindergarten handicraft assignment in her room. Bored out of his mind, Benedict sat near them and did a new set of Mathematical Olympiad questions. Two hourster, the evening¡¯s harmonious atmosphere came to an end. Gwendolyn brought the two children to her bedroom and nned for the three of them to sleep together that night. Nonchntly, Cedrick trailed behind them with his hands in his pockets and entered the bedroom whilst pretending nothing had happened. Less than two minutester, he was chased out of the room by Gwendolyn. With a thud, the bedroom door mmed shut, isting him outside. Cedrick was speechless. It would not be the first time he was forced to take refuge in the study after being thrown out of the bedroom. Sighing, he knocked on the door softly. ¡°Darling, quit messing around.¡± Shortly after, Gwendolyn¡¯s delicate voice sounded from inside the room. ¡°The bed is too small for the four of us. You can sleep in the study tonight, and we can discuss matters tomorrow morning.¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless as a surge of remorse filled his chest. Oh, why did I have to go and bring up Charles¡­ After all, he was the one who approved of Charles being the children¡¯s godfather. Moreover, since the children were already five years old, there was absolutely no way Charles could even take advantage of the situation. Why did I let it get to my head andsh out from jealousy during the day? I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it. Standing in front of the door, Cedrick rolled up his shirt sleeves restlessly. He then leaned an arm against the doorframe, his forearms appearing to be rugged and attractive. After some careful consideration, he decided to disregard his image in front of the children and beg for Gwendolyn¡¯s mercy. ¡°Darling, it waspletely my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have brought up the matter of you and Charles being childhood friends when it¡¯s already been so many years. I spoke too rashly¡ªI was wrong. Darling, please don¡¯t give me the cold shoulder. Why not hit me to your heart¡¯s content instead?¡± With a click, the door of the master bedroom suddenly opened. ted, Cedrick eximed, ¡°Gwenny, I knew you¡¯d never¡­¡± He trailed off abruptly when he saw that it was not Gwendolyn, but Zendaya, who opened the door. He trailed off abruptly when he saw that it was not Gwendolyn, but Zendaya, who opened the door. ¡°Daddy, Mommy¡¯s tired, so stop pestering Mommy and let her sleep. You can apologize tomorrow. Mommy belongs to me and Benny tonight. Go back to being in the doghouse¡ª I mean, the study!¡± Pulling out a pillow from behind her, she passed it to her father and said, ¡°Benny was worried that you wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep, so he told me to give you your pillow. You should go and sleep now. Goodnight and sweet dreams!¡± Thud! Zendaya shoved the pillow into his hands and mmed the bedroom door shut. The winds of exile that wafted over Cedrick¡¯s face were cool. Helplessly, Cedrick stared down at the pillow in his hand and gritted his teeth. ¡°Benedict and Zendaya, you¡¯re such wonderful kids! I¡¯ll make sure to pay you back for this.¡± After saying that, he turned around and headed upstairs to the study. Meanwhile, Zendaya was pressed against the other side of the bedroom door as she listened to the fading footsteps outside. Benedict, whoy in Gwendolyn¡¯s arms, asked, ¡°How is it? Did Daddy leave? What was he muttering about?¡± Carefully, Zendaya twisted the doorknob and peeked outside with narrowed eyes. The corridor outside waspletely empty. ¡°Daddy¡¯s gone,¡± Zendaya said as she pped happily. However, she drew her brows together a momentter. ¡°Just before he left, he said that he¡¯d pay us back for what we did tonight. Ughhh¡­¡± Pouting, Zendaya crawled into bed and hugged Gwendolyn¡¯s leg. ¡°Mommy will protect us, right? Daddy is the one at fault, but he wants to take it out on us! If you won¡¯t help us, we¡¯d get such a spanking!¡± Gwendolyn was incredibly amused by the antics of the two children clinging onto her. Patting Zendaya¡¯s head, she teased, ¡°What are you worried about? If you¡¯re a good girl, Daddy won¡¯t be able to punish you.¡± Zendaya shook her head in response. ¡°I can¡¯t do that since I¡¯m not a littledy. I¡¯m a little monkey and a tomboy! Daddy will find a way to punish me for sure!¡± Next to them, Benedictmented leisurely, ¡°Oh, it seems like you¡¯re quite self-aware. You know that you¡¯re naughty and deserve to be punished.¡± Frowning, Zendaya pouted in displeasure. ¡°Benny, you¡¯re not getting off easy either. Daddy is out to get you too! Sooner orter, he¡¯ll do something in retaliation.¡± When Gwendolyn saw that the two children were about to get into a fight, she hurriedly separated them. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s time to sleep!¡± Zendaya blinked at Gwendolyn miserably. ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t love me anymore. You didn¡¯t say that you¡¯re going to protect me.¡± Gwendolyn was well aware of how mischievous and naughty her own daughter could be. She patted the little girl¡¯s head and said, ¡°After getting spanked, you¡¯ll be a good girl again!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Poor me.¡± Zendeye hed e hurt look on her fece. Gwendolyn picked up the storybook from the bedside teble end proceeded with their nightly routine. She reed the two children bedtime stories. Amidst the fentestic imegery of her feiry teles, Zendeye wes fest esleep before she knew it. Meenwhile, Benedict fell esleep due to sheer boredom. Illumed by e dim bedside lemp in the mester bedroom, Gwendolyn gently petted the chests of her two children until their breething grew even, felling into e deep slumber. Yewning, Gwendolyn wes just ebout to turn off the lemp when she heerd e rustling sounding from the belcony of the bedroom. Instinctively, she breced herself over her children protectively. Is it Cedrick? Or is it someone else who is up to no good? The floor-to-ceiling window thet connected the belcony to the bedroom slowly opened from the outside. Through the dim lighting of the room, Cedrick¡¯s estonishingly hendsome fece wes reveeled. He wore e smile on his lips es he quietly tiptoed ecross the cerpet. Feer of p*ssing off his wife end weking up the kids wes written ell over his ceutious ections. Gwendolyn stered et him solemnly end demended, ¡°How did you get here?¡± Cedrick pointed ebove him. ¡°I climbed down from the study.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Gwendolyn grumbled, ¡°Why must you ect like e thief in your own home?¡± ¡°Well, I wes left with no choice since my wife shut me out. In order to recleim my plece in bed, I hed no choice but to resort to this.¡± Not only wes Cedrick not emberressed ebout his behevior, but he even seid those words proudly. Lowering her eyes, Gwendolyn stered et the children. ¡°The kids ere elreedy esleep. There¡¯s no spece for you here. Hurry end go beck to the study.¡± Briskly welking over to the bed, Cedrick bent over end plented e kiss on her cheek. He murmured shemelessly, ¡°I don¡¯t went to. I wish to be wherever my wife is.¡± Gwendolyn wes rendered speechless by his eudecious words. Her enger hed long since subsided, end she could berely hold beck her leughter. Suppressing the urge to smile, Gwendolyn cleered her throet end bereted Cedrick sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t essume thet I¡¯m just going to let whet heppened todey slide. How could you dredge up the pest in front of the children end disgrece me so? I think you need e spenking.¡± Cedrick leened in once more end kissed her other cheek fiercely. He murmured docilely, ¡°Do es you wish. If you went to spenk me, so be it. I reflected on my ections while I wes in the study eerlier, end I think I wes definitely in the wrong. Perheps I¡¯ll feel better if you punish me for my bed behevior.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Poor me.¡± Zendaya had a hurt look on her face. Gwendolyn picked up the storybook from the bedside table and proceeded with their nightly routine. She read the two children bedtime stories. Amidst the fantastic imagery of her fairy tales, Zendaya was fast asleep before she knew it. Meanwhile, Benedict fell asleep due to sheer boredom. Illuminated by a dim bedsidemp in the master bedroom, Gwendolyn gently patted the chests of her two children until their breathing grew even, falling into a deep slumber. Yawning, Gwendolyn was just about to turn off themp when she heard a rustling sounding from the balcony of the bedroom. Instinctively, she braced herself over her children protectively. Is it Cedrick? Or is it someone else who is up to no good? The floor-to-ceiling window that connected the balcony to the bedroom slowly opened from the outside. Through the dim lighting of the room, Cedrick¡¯s astonishingly handsome face was revealed. He wore a smile on his lips as he quietly tiptoed across the carpet. Fear of p*ssing off his wife and waking up the kids was written all over his cautious actions. Gwendolyn stared at him solemnly and demanded, ¡°How did you get here?¡± Cedrick pointed above him. ¡°I climbed down from the study.¡± Gwendolyn grumbled, ¡°Why must you act like a thief in your own home?¡± ¡°Well, I was left with no choice since my wife shut me out. In order to reim my ce in bed, I had no choice but to resort to this.¡± Not only was Cedrick not embarrassed about his behavior, but he even said those words proudly. Lowering her eyes, Gwendolyn stared at the children. ¡°The kids are already asleep. There¡¯s no space for you here. Hurry and go back to the study.¡± Briskly walking over to the bed, Cedrick bent over and nted a kiss on her cheek. He murmured shamelessly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I wish to be wherever my wife is.¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless by his audacious words. Her anger had long since subsided, and she could barely hold back herughter. Suppressing the urge to smile, Gwendolyn cleared her throat and berated Cedrick sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t assume that I¡¯m just going to let what happened today slide. How could you dredge up the past in front of the children and disgrace me so? I think you need a spanking.¡± Cedrick leaned in once more and kissed her other cheek fiercely. He murmured docilely, ¡°Do as you wish. If you want to spank me, so be it. I reflected on my actions while I was in the study earlier, and I think I was definitely in the wrong. Perhaps I¡¯ll feel better if you punish me for my bad behavior.¡± Chapter 720 Time For Punishment Chapter 720 Time For Punishment I wire not for du fear of waking mck on die had ¡°Did you a betting while the spaloghe s Cedrickted seriously ¡°We do wh on diem! That wouldn¡¯t make any sole and Fouly about that Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Gwendolyn isdiyen She could not bear to see him hurting his knees by koeing Lego pieces Cedrick was somewhat perplexed ¡°Then what should do Gwendolyn shook her head before arching a condeling bow ¡°g study tonight¡± Cedrick refused to ept the punishment After contemting for a while, he proposed apense How about fou Come weath and you can punish me however you want. You can even meaning-a only at most. After we¡¯re done, we cane back and wate With one eyebrow raised and a slightly mischievous loin her eyes entity car an hour? Are you sure you can be satisfied with char Her question instantly rendered the man speechles After a brief pause, he changed his mind. ¡°Lers non seta se lies on thend m spacious. I¡¯m sure the babies won¡¯t roll out of bed ever we spend an hour or two in the aty Gwendolyn fell silent. That sounds like a good n, but do I feel something is to peopl ¡°Wait a minute You¡¯re the one at fault tonight, yes youre trying toe as the study is enjoy a good time together. How could you expect to receive favors when you¡¯ve been mishi Cedrick pondered for a moment before leaning closer gedly rubing her delicate se ses turns watching over the sleeping kids for several nighs now and I have had the chance bug you. I can¡¯t take it anymore. Darling. Be nice to me, okay? His voice carried a seductive and maic tone, making it difficult Gwendolyn¡¯s heart stirred with temptation ¡°All right ¡°You¡¯re the best, Darling Cedrick unabashedly neda kas on her slips He picked up the wooden ruler from the nightstand der and the room, making their way to the study after The two figures crept upstairs, exhaling in relied only her closing quinty dipped Gwendolyn waved the wooden ruler in her hand She disyed an eager and mi it The Cedri hot disciplined him, and he had been aching for i the small wody wish gabimately settling on the small couch etty walked over, partially lowered his pants and positioned himself over the armrest of the in ept any punishmen of the ruler made immediate contact with his skin embled slightly before ncing at her ¡°Be gentle. Darling¡± Cedrick could not help but gasp #ow. That was cold and intense The master bedroom was filled with nothing but the gentle breathing sounds of children in deep slumber The study on the other hand, was filled with restlessness The echoes of scolding and grunting reverberated throughout the study From a distance, the rhythm and sound blended like a harmonious melody. Gwendolyn was careful with her strength, administering a light but noticeable swelling to Cedrick¡¯s rear end After the punishment, she tenderly massaged the soreness. That prelude signaled the start of a sweet and exhrating night. Meanwhile, at the Newton residence. Whitney sat on the couch in the bedroom, anxiously waiting for Charles It was already the dead of night, yet Charles still had not returned Where did he go? What is he boy with? She took out her phone, opened her chat with him, and typed a message Mr. Newton, where are you? No matter what, tonight is our first night of marriage Her fingertips froze as she felt that her words were a little too demanding Nope. That¡¯s not a good way of phrasing a text message. Let me delete that plerzung She drafted another message Mr. Newton, are you sleeping? Tonight is our first sight of marriage Will you be I Whitney was lost in thought once again. It would sound deliberate of intentionally mentioned Nope I shouldn¡¯t do that Deleting t eeded to type A New Newton, ing back to the Newton residence yes clear message, striking a bnce between intimacy and distance. All righ Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. son. All right. 111 send th?n The Why made up her mind and eping from ( ince the gazules the seat button she heard a mor t in She walked to the bedside and nced outside only discover a group of servants gathered to the ganden, panied by a few doctors donning white gats Everyone ware an pression of anxiety, speaking all at once. Whitney sensed that something was amiss. Why is thereddenly much amation? Who¡¯s injured? the Just as she was overwhelmed with confusion, die soon noticed two housekeepers supporting Charles escorting him from the garden to the vi, nurned out Charles was the one injured The garden was shrouded in darkness, and the dimly litmps lining the path made it difficult for her to see where Charles was injured. Since they have to help him in, does it mean his leg is injured? Whitney immediately opened the bedroom door and ran downstairs to receive him. Just as she entered the living hall, she caught sight of the housekeepers helping Charles inside. The well-lit living hall allowed her to finally discern his condition. His right hand and left foot were encased in casts, indicating fractures, His face also bore noticeable injuries, covered in bruised and swollen marks. ¡°What happened? He was perfectly fine during the day. How did he suddenly end up with such injuries?¡± Whitney inquired with concern. Charles shed a nonchnt grin. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Whitney helped carry him back to the bedroom and covered him with aforter. Charles sent away the servants, their mournful expressions resembling those of mourners grieving the loss of a loved one, and retained only two doctors for a final examination before bedtime. ¡°Besides the fractures in the right hand and left foot, the other wounds are superficial. They are not severe. It¡¯s going to take a hundred days for the bones and tendons to heal, so during these days, try to minimize walking and rest as much as possible. This will expedite the recovery. Mr. Newton,¡± one of the doctors advised. ¡°Okay.¡± Charles responded absentmindedly, holding his phone in his left hand and idly ying with hitney, on the other hand, paid careful attention to the doctor¡¯s instructions. The doctors left some medication behind and advised her to administer another dose that evening, assuring her they would return in the morning to administer an IV drip for Charles. Charles remained oblivious, engrossed in his phone. After seeing off the doctors, Whimey returned with a cup of warm water ¡°Mr. Newton, it¡¯s time to take your medication,¡± she said. Charles stared at the screen of his phone, absentmindedly reaching out with his right hand Only when his movements were restricted by the cast did he remember about the cast Whitney suggested. ¡°Why don¡¯t you set your phone asale for a moment and take your medication first Ignoring her, Charles leaned back against the headboard, emanating azy demeanor. ¡°Feed the medication in me Whinney¡¯s heart started racing as she did not know how to reart to his request. How am I supposed to feed this To him? Noticing the embarrassed look on her face, he teased. ¡°Did you think you were supposed to do it with your mouth?¡± Whitney¡¯s face instantly flushed, and she lowered her head to conceal her embarrassment. As Charles observed her expression, he could not help but wonder if he found her shy demeanor oddly endearing because they were now married. ¡°Have you ever taken care of a patient before?¡± he asked. ¡°No,¡± she replied ¡°Tll teach you then. Despite his injury, he seemed to be in a good mood and surprisingly patient. ¡°Put the medication in my mouth and bring the water closer to my lips. When you feed me the water, go slowly¡­¡± Whitney followed his instructions, cing all six pills in his mouth and bringing the cup of warm water to his lips. Charles tilted his head back and took a sip of water, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing as he swallowed, exuding a subtle sensuality. Whitney¡¯s gaze inexplicably fell on his well-defined Adam¡¯s apple. She unconsciously swallowed hard. Chapter 721 Charles Is Unhappy Chapter 721 Charles Is Unhappy Chapter 721 Charles Is Unhappy Charles noticed her staring at him, and had hareyes Cough Cough! He proposely cleared his throat a couple of times, Whitney got a fright and returned to her senses. She looked embarrassed, as if dlse was caught doin something wrong Her hand that was holding the cup of water could not help but tremble. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± A droplet of water oozed out from Charles¡¯ mouth and rolled all the way from his chin down to his throat and corbones That sparkling water droplet moved ording to his breathing, making him look even more sexy and enticing ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it. Let me wipe it off for you.¡± Whitney felt guilty and crazy. In fact, she felt like a horny beast. Charles was already in that state. His handsome face was covered with bruises. Yet, she still let her fmagination run wild while he had a drink of water. The tips of her ears reddenedpletely. Out of panie, she grabbed a piece of tissue and began to wipe the water off Charles At the same time, she could feel the soft and warm skin of his neck. She looked up and met those observant eyes of Charles. Once again. Whitney was embarrassed and quickly retracted her hand. ¡°T-There. It¡¯s gone now.¡± Charles stared at her with those blue eyes of his. ¡°From now on, you don¡¯t have to do all these. We have housekeepers at home. Treat the Newton residence as your own home and do as you please. I won¡¯t interfere with your activities during the day.¡± Whitney looked down. ¡°Manuel told me that I¡¯m your personal maid. As your maid, I should look after you when you are injured. Otherwise, the rest of the family will start to have their suspicions.¡± Charles nearly forgot about that. Previously, Jasmine had questioned him Back then, his rtionship with Whitney was still unclear, so he old Its sister that Whitney was his personal maid. At present, they were married. Even though the marriage was only tost for a year. Whimney was still his legal wife during this period ¡°That¡¯s my bad. Our marriage happened too suddenly, and I had no time to inform my family After a buffer period, I¡¯ll disclose our marriage to my family News Unloppy this maner Just leave home see. a Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Since he was adamant, Whitney did not say anything die Insead she too Charles needed to rest because both his left leg and right hand were broken. Hence, full Naco had to be postponed to a weekter During those seven days, Charles really did not get down from the bed in order to achieve recovery Whitney insisted on taking care of him. As his wife and personal maid in name, she had to do in Them was no reason for Charles to turn her away. Whimey cleaned him, fed him his meals and medications, and even relieved his boredom. She was a very caring caregiver. As such, there was a slight change in their rtionship during this period. One afternoon, the bedroom was quiet and peaceful after Whitney had fed Charles his medicine She sat on the couch and looked at her phone, seemingly focused on something. There was a booklet on the coffee table, and she began writing in it. Charles was ying with his phone on the bed. Once in a while, he would nce at her When he saw how serious and focused she was, he could not help but ask, ¡°What are you writing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for a job. You¡¯re aware that I lost my job, no?¡± Charles stared at her and said, ¡°I¡¯m aware, but didn¡¯t I tell you that you can continue to be the manager at the oceanarium? As for the days when you threatened to quit, just treat it as your leave. Why don¡¯t you go back Whitney replied as she continued doing whatever she was doing. ¡°Salinsburgh is an expensive city. After sending some money back to Tayhaven, my sry is only enough to cover my daily expenses and rental There¡¯s basically nothing left. This won¡¯t do I intend to find a job that allows me to earn money faster Once I have a certain amount of money in hand, I can rent a shop in Salinsburgh and run a small business. This way, I can secure my footing in the long run.¡± Charles frowned when he heard that. In fact, his face darkened. ¡°What kind of job do you intend to find Like the one that got you into trouble at the bar thest timer Selling your body? Whitey smiled sweetly before saying ¡°Of course, I¡¯m talking about being a sales representative. It will be best if I can find a real estatepany with high capital. That way, themission will be very lucrative With a grim expression. Charlesined. Themission may be high, but the basic sry is very low. You have neither experience nor contacts For the first two years, you can only depend on your basic sry Even though you¡¯re staying at the Newton residence rent-free, your basic sry won¡¯t even be sufficient to cover your daily expenses He cast a nce at his phone and continued. ¡°I did say that I will provide you with a monthly allow that will be no less than your sry. If you aren¡¯t willing to spend the money, you can always save it. Onc yearter, you will have more than enough to rent a shop lot.¡± Whitney shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s your money, Mr. Newton. I didn¡¯t earn it. If I use it. I¡¯ll feel goalry it. It¡¯s better to use money that I have earned through my own hard work. It¡¯s more meanin Charles frowned when he heard what she said In this day and age, there are women who don¡¯t want free money? about dat way ¡°Whitney, have you lost your mind? You don¡¯t want free money? Then again. I won¡¯t consider is free money. Now that you have married me, my family will no longer nag me to get married. You have also taken care of me, especially during the past few days. From now on. I¡¯ll give you a hundred thousand every month as your remuneration. It isn¡¯t an allowance.¡± A hundred thousand every month? Whitney opened up the calctor app and began to calcte her monthly expenses. If she kept a lid on her expenditure, she would be able to save more than a million in a years time. Also, if she found herself a high-paying job, she might be able to save another two to three hundred thousand. Her start-up capital would be secure. ¡°Since you say it¡¯s my remuneration. I¡¯ll dly ept it. From now on. I¡¯ll be your personal maid I¡¯ll de whatever you want me to do, Mr. Newton. Otherwise, I won¡¯t feel good taking the money¡± Charles burst outughing. He knew what she was thinking, but that did not annoy him. On the contrary, he found her adorable ¡°Fine. At least when I order you around, I¡¯ll feel more at ease.¡± He chuckled and lifted up his left hand ¡°Come and give me a massage.¡± ¡°Please hold on for a while. Let me answer a call.¡± With that, Whitney went to the balcony to answer her phone call. Charles was speechless. How dare she say she will do whatever I want when she does something else second if she really was a maid, she would be hauled to the ancestral hall for a beating He was starting to get annoyed because his left arm was itching badly. Unfortunately, his right arm was in a ster cast. He had no choice but to wait for Whitney After an excruciating diree minutes, Whitney came back to the room happily She was darkfounded when she saw Charles darkened expression. He looked as if he wanted to eat her up alee ¡°Mi Newton, what¡¯s wrong? Are you having campe? Should I call for the docto Through gritted teeth, Charles said, ¡°No need fun cote bew Cave me a massa Just and relieve my in Chapter 722 The Jealous Housekeepers Chapter 722 The Jealous Housekeepers They thought declyped so they wond Honed immediarly With furrowed he Charles ked in you a proper monthly sry Why are you still looking estined exining covered. Wiule you There¡¯s no confict of interes between the res Whiskey will return to your busy schedule in the office nee taking care of you, so finding a job to upy my free time does you formally introduce me to the Newton family, I¡¯m are they will be the Newton family, I¡¯m ware they will be dicking their sungues an caregiving job I think I should find a more appropriane job so they don¡¯t look down She added, ¡°On that note, you never specified in your marriage contract that I could work adher marriage. I want to prove my worth. I can¡¯t be sponging off the Newton family now can I. Mr. Newton Charles was rendered speechless She does have the brains for business and a silver tongue to boot. Just look at how many lines ¡°You can find a job, but not something in sales. Cancel tomorrow¡¯s interview¡± replied Charles His tone implied it was an order and not a negotiation Perplexed. Whitney questioned, ¡°Why?¡± Charles exined, ¡°Salespeople often have dinner meetings. It¡¯s already dangerous for a woman to get drunk in public, and you still have to make sure no one drugs your drinks. You could be putting your safety at risk before even making a cent. No amount of crying will save you then.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t cry.¡± Whitney grumbled quietly. Still, she did not refute his ims. She had to prepare herself adequately for those situations. Before she could muster a suitable counterargument. Charles dered decisively, ¡°That¡¯s that, then. You can look for another position and give up this salesperson role.¡± ¡°Mr. Newton, this is my business-¡± Her protests brought a frown to Charles face. He tossed his phone aside in displeasure and cut her off saying ¡°I have an important virtual meeting with thepany in half an hour. Help me change into a sit and bring me myptop¡± Whimney swallowed her discontent and replied. ¡°Okay Since confidential information would be discussed in the meeting. Whitney excused herself from Charles room. She grabbed a notebook and a ballpoint pen and headed to the garden, where she continued hunting for a jobs Each time she came across a suitable job listing, she made detailed notes in her notebook While she was busy job hunting, she noticed two pair female loafers Whiney raised her head and saw new young housekeepers Can I help you with something?¡± she asked politely One of the housekeepers, Haisley Zamora, shot Whitney an arrogant jealous ware camped out in Mr. Newton¡¯s roo Haisley demanded. ¡°Are you the housekeeper who¡¯s always camped out him The other housekeeper, Laura Inman, added, ¡°Yes, thats her I saw her in the kitchen yesterday a bowl of lobster bisque for Mr. Newton Whitney appraised the hostile housekeepers before replying firmly, ¡°Tm a housekeeper, and I¡¯m not here to seduce Mr. Newton. Please be more respectful,¡± Haisley merely folded her arms across her chest and scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re always dressed to the nines instead of wearing a housekeeper¡¯s uniform. We only need one look to know you have ulterior motives. Not seducing Mr. Newton, you say? Please!¡± In fact, Whitney already knew the two housekeepers were here to pick a fight. She would not bother with social niceties if they were intent on causing trouble. With that in mind, she said, ¡°Mr. Newton exempted me from wearing a housekeeper¡¯s uniform. If you¡¯re unhappy about it, feel free to bring it up with him.¡± ¡°You¡± The two housekeepers were fuming. Haisley spat. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯re something special just because you were assigned to Mr. Newton¡¯s room I may be young and rtively inexperienced as a staff at the Newton residence, but my words hold the most weight around here.¡± Laura, who was clearly sucking up to Haisley, boasted arrogantly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know our Haisley was rmended by the Newton family¡¯s most revered elder, Mr. Carlos Newton himself? She might well be the future Mrs. Newton! You¡¯d do well to stay away from Mr. Newton. If you¡¯re foolish enough to try something oundish, don¡¯t me Haisley for punishing you. She can easily kick you out of the Newton residence and ruin your reputation.¡± The threat drew a smile to Whitney¡¯s face. I trust Charles will never fall in love with a woman as stupid and big-headed as her Whitney drawled. ¡°I guess the two of you are itching for a fight, huh? Let¡¯s get right to it then I take on both of you at once. I grew up in the mountains, and I¡¯m as tough as anyone can get. Do forgive me ill 1 identally injure either of you.¡± She was a kind person who never actively caused trouble, but that did not mean she Feed The challenge from Whitney caused Laura na pale A group fight could get one punished and even fired. Moreover, Whitney truly sounded like a a fighter. If they were defeated, they could lose both their pride and their jobs. The two housekeen off under of sander Whitney Newton residence several des Manuel They ber back and about showing the Then Only Jasmine never put hack gardens roveidor Somertomant The thought of the gradually calmed Whitney dow bisa This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. She gained her worth posure and became even more der Charles spent seven days at home recovering from boken bones On the eighth day of his convalescence. Nice came with drain Whitney had been summoned to the Rose Corridor to push Jasmine on a v grees Zenday¡¯s Meanwhile, Naco led Zendaya to Charles room palpable in her tigbaly scrunch The young girl crawled onso Charles bed, her concenpalpable ¡°Does it still hurt, Uncle Charles?¡± Charles is left hand to stroke her ke her hair and Nice his eyes at the He had been ersponsible for Charles in , there Nico knew exactly injuries a hokes home in Charles besty, Judging t e needed to get back on a Chapter 799 The Jealous Housekeepers Cleaning a toilet was nothingpared to wearing a dress and getting photographed. It was simply humiliating Nico shared Charles sentimentspletely. That was why he would not expose Charles¡¯ embarrassing sick patient act In the meantime, Zendaya wrapped her arms around the cast over Charles¡¯ right arm, pouting unhappily Tears welled in her red-rimmed eyes, and she grumbled through sobs, ¡°It¡¯s all Uncle Nico¡¯s fault. Why did you have to hit him so hard?¡± Nico¡¯s lips twitched with amusement. He was about to appease her with an apology when Zendaya continued, ¡°Because of you, Uncle Charles can¡¯t carry out his bet! I¡¯m so tired of waiting. When can I see Uncle Charles and Uncle Nico in dresses?¡± The two men were struck speechless. Chapter 723 The Inevitable Bet Chapter 723 The Inevitable Bet Chades thought Zendaya was crying because she fell bel about his injuries The never imagined the young girl to throw a tantrum because she had not seen him her were a misletion. She¡¯s just a checky little girl Zendaya cried so much that she suffered a fit of hup Nico hurriedly patted her back and coased. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zendy Uncle Charles will wear it eventually He¡¯s still injured, Hugging his cast like that will be painful for him At the same time, he shot Charles a frantic nce. Charles got the memo and immediately grasped his cast with his left hand He inhaled sharply and knimed his brows, appearing to be in deep pain His acting did the trick, and Zendaya obediently let go of his cast. She sat beside him and stared at him with puppy dog eyes. ¡°Did I hurt Uncle Charles?¡± Charles smiled tenderly at her and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can handle it.¡± Once again. Nico rolled his eyes at Charles¡¯ mboyant acting Zendaya stared intently at Charles¡¯ cast and asked softly, ¡°I thought I could finally see Uncle Charles and Uncle Nico in dresses today. I didn¡¯t know your injuries were so bad. How long did you need to recover¡±¡± ¡°About¡­¡± Charles looked to Nico for guidance. Nico began an extensive pantomime behind Zendaya. He raised three fingers, and Charles instantly understood his message. ¡°It takes longer to recover from broken bones. The doctor said I¡¯ll need at least a hundred days to fully recover, so that¡¯ll be about three months.¡± Nico nodded in satisfaction and discreetly shot Charles a thumbs-up in approval. The answer brought a frown to Zendaya¡¯s face. She appeared to be in deep thought before finally asking ¡°Will it really take that long? Daddy said Uncle Charles trained in fighting since young, so his body is very strong. He should recover in a few days. The two men struggled toe up with a reply. Zendaya pouted, her scrutinizing gaze traveling between the two men. After some time, she said usingly. ¡°Uncle Charles, Uncle Nico, are you lying to me because you don¡¯t want to carry out the bes This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Her question sent rm bells ringing in their heads Haje can we fool a shrewd little thing like you? ¡°Of course not¡± Charles was the first to speak up. He dered firmly ¡°Once I¡¯m fully recovered Ill carry out the bes, I¡¯m not the sort of man who will make empty promises Nico This arms silently and narrowed his gaze Charles Down? he golty about lying so her face? He must be at fooling gullible lite gire Amat his thoughts, Zendaya suddenly turned her altregion to Nicw She seemed to be wordlessly asking him a question with her tearful gaze and p posse Her long eyshes were clumped together after being het by her tears, making her adorable Nico¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He was no match for her poful gaze He spunered. ¡°That me too! Since it¡¯s a bet and one notarized by awyer in a contract, leely honor I¡¯ll it Besides, this was Mr. Jenson¡¯s punishment. I would ever lie to weasel my way out of r Guess I¡¯m not too shabby at tricking children after all it Charles leaned against the headboard andzily arched a brow His blue eyes shot Nico a Nico responded with a re They seemed to be challenging each other through their stares. an Zendaya looked between Charles and Nico before voicing her protest. ¡°That¡¯s not true Uncle Nicol Confused. Nico asked, ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°The bet states that you must clean a restroom while wearing a dress You have to do it eventually. If you¡¯re not injured, why not do it today, Uncle Nico Nico fumbled for a way to save his pride. He muttered. Im not in a rush. Let me do it with Charles. We can book out all the restrooms in theb. Isn¡¯t that better!¡± Mirth danced in Charles¡¯ eyes as he silently watched Nico¡¯s downfall. To Nico¡¯s dismay, Zendaya smiled empathetically and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t do it with Uncle Charles In fact, you can show him how to do it now!¡± That¡¯s okay for you, but not for me! Sull, Nico had run out of excuses to put off his bet. He looked to Charles for help, hoping thetter could help to distract Zendaya from her mission. s. Charles was happy to jump on the bandwagon andmented, ¡°I think that¡¯s a great sles. As the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he should show a citizen like me Besides, Mr. Nico isn¡¯t injured and is perfectly healthy I would be disappointed in myself if dyed Mr Jenson¡¯s punishment¡± Zendays nodded hastily in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right, Uncle Charles. I fully agree? Then she turned around to look at Nico and suggested ¡°Let¡¯s go. Uncle Nico. The mail¡¯s dress is already prepared for you. Otc, and for a better effect. I even prepared a wig for you The camer Now was honibed Chills ran down his spine, though he did not dwell on his misfortune for long. He was going to drag Charles down with him. Nico dered. ¡°We can¡¯t disappoint Zendy after her careful preparations, can we? I can¡¯t enjoy the fruns of herbor alone!¡± His wicked gaze filled Charles with a sense of foreboding Nico announced. ¡°Stop acting, Charles. Remove the casts. I knew you were pretending to be injured from the beginning: I just didn¡¯t want to expose your lies. But now, I can¡¯t get over my guilt of tricking Zendy. It¡¯s time to own up.¡± ¡°Trick me!¡± Zendaya tilted her head in confusion and stared intently at her godfather. Charles¡¯ words caught in this throat. The decision to confess was taken out of his hands by Nico, who grabbed a small rubber hammer and broke the cast over his leg. ¡°Well, Charles, are you going to celebrate my misfortune? Too bad for you, we¡¯re going down together!¡± He raised the small hammer and urately struck a nerve on Charles¡¯ kneecap, taking care to control his strength. Charles left leg muscles twitched involuntarily in response. Nico said in amazement. ¡°This leg¡¯s doing pretty well, isn¡¯t it? It looks nice and straight, and the muscles are still firm. I wonder where the broken bones are?¡± A glum Charles could only purse his lips in silence. ¡°Hmm?¡± Zendaya was surprised and pulled at Charles left leg. She asked curiously, ¡°Are your broken bones all better, Uncle Charles?¡° Charles could only reply through gritted teeth. ¡°It was quite numb, but after your Uncle Nico struck my leg, it¡¯s suddenly good as new. His medical skills are so extraordinary that he should be a legendary doctor!¡± Nico appeared pleased as punch at how things had turned out. He even gave himself a massage on the shoulders with the small rubber hammer. Yes, his doom was near, but he would not be alone. Charles made the error of betraying him first, so Nico had no qualms about digging both their graves The twist of events cheered Zendaya up. She eximed, ¡°That¡¯s great! Now that Uncle Charles is all better you can both wear dresses together! Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s carry out the bet today!¡± Charles was moodily dragged out of bed. He removed the fake cast on his right arm and silently followed Zendaya out of the Newton residence. On the way to thebs. Zendaya sat in the middle of the backseat with Charles on her left and Nico on her right Sandwiched between the two men, she seemed even smaller than usual. Zendaya skillfully used her smartwatch to call Benedict The line connected, and she said, ¡°Benny, we¡¯ll be at theb in half an hour. Is everything ready? Oh right Uncle Nico and Uncle Charles are bothing. Uncle Charles is all better. You can¡¯t even tell that he was injured.¡± She added. ¡°Remember to check everything. Benny. There should be two wigs, two maid dresses, two pairs of long ck socks¡­ ah, and two pairs of ck loafers! Those super cute ones!¡± Charles and Nico had been watching the scenery outside the window during Zendaya¡¯s call. Both men were close to losing their nerves after her phone call. Did I hear her correctly? Long ck socks? Is it the type of socks I¡¯m imagining now? Nico had paled considerably at the thought of putting on Zendaya¡¯s handpicked costume. His fear was akin to the panic before a natural disaster. Can I still escape if I jump out of the car now? Chapter 724 Chapter 724 Nico¡¯s breathing grew heavy as a wave of panic washed over him. I¡¯ve been a straight man for the past thirty years, and I¡¯m about to be a cross-dresser! I¡¯m going to lose my dignity and pride! In an attempt to regainposure, he rolled down the window, allowing a gust of fresh air to fill the car. Right then, Charles¡¯ cold voice rang out. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? Worried about looking ugly and embarrassing as a cross-dresser? Are you considering jumping out of the window?¡± Charles¡¯ response caught Nico off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless. Nevertheless, determined to express his concerns, Nico uttered, ¡°It¡¯s not about looking ugly. It¡¯s about struggling to ept this situation. Must you gloat? After all, you¡¯re facing the same predicament as me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Although Charles also felt ill at ease, he looked a lot calmer than Nico. ¡°You¡¯ve trained in the Federal Bureau of Investigation since you were little, right? Surely you¡¯ve taken disguise sses before. Haven¡¯t you dressed up as a woman during one of the exercises?¡± Nico slumped in deep dejection and replied, ¡°No! I¡¯m a straight man, and dressing up as a woman is something I would never do! I¡¯d rather give up on the activity and face the punishment of doing three hundred push-ups thanpromise my identity in such a way.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ll finally make an exception today. It¡¯s a significant event in your life. You should remember it.¡± Nico¡¯s irritation grew as he noticed Charles¡¯ apparent gloating. He¡¯s going through the same thing as me! What is he acting all high and mighty for? In a fit of anger and frustration, Nico¡¯s words tumbled out. ¡°Did you think everyone is as driven by competition as you? Only someone like you would go to such lengths, including cross-dressing, just to Charles¡¯ smirk grew wider as he responded to Nico¡¯s anger with a nonchnt tone. ¡°You¡¯re panicking, aren¡¯t you?¡± Nico was at a loss for words. ¡°Hey! Stop it, okay?¡± Zendaya, who sat in the middle, took on the role of a peacemaker. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at theboratory! Let¡¯s go!¡± Nico got out of the car reluctantly and walked uneasily behind everyone else. Needless to say, resistance was written all over his face. Zendaya held Charles¡¯ hand with one hand and Nico¡¯s with the other as she skipped her way toward theboratory and into Benedict¡¯s ward. At that moment, Benedict was on the bed with an IV drip attached to his hand. The foot of the bed was piled up with things. Upon taking a closer look, they could see the items Zendaya had mentioned earlier¡ªwigs, clothes, and heels. ¡°Come here, Uncle Nico! Since you¡¯re the winner, you get to choose first.¡± Benedict was as enthusiastic as a salesperson. ¡°Uncle Nico, would you prefer ck or white as the dominant color of your dress?¡± Nico¡¯s lips twitched, and he remained silent for a prolonged moment, unable to find the right words. Finally, he spoke with a mix of resignation and exasperation. ¡°What difference does it make?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll decide for you, then. You¡¯ll wear a white skirt and a ck pinafore. It¡¯ll make you look so angelic. Thisbination suits your temperament!¡± Benedict dered with unwavering decisiveness. In Nico¡¯s eyes, the choice of colors held no significance anymore. Resigned to his fate and realizing it was futile to resist, he gathered the set of clothes and headed into the bathroom in the ward to change. While he was changing, the ward fell intoplete silence. Zendaya was setting up her phone camera to get ready to take photos of Nico. Charles, feeling a sense of awkwardness at the moment, picked up his ck skirt and white pinafore. ¡°Should I change in the shared restroom in theboratory? It would save time and effort to clean the bathroom in here afterward.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no hurry.¡± Benedict¡¯s childish voice sounded somewhat deep. ¡°It¡¯s Uncle Nico¡¯s first time dressing up as a female. You ought to see it.¡± Charlesplied. However, Benedict didn¡¯t let him sit, so he stood at the foot of the bed with his back straightened and hands behind his back like he was serving a punishment. Twenty minutester, Nico was still in the bathroom. Benedict craned his neck and yelled, ¡°Uncle Nico? Are you all right in there? Did you faint when you saw how stunning you look in a dress?¡± As soon as those words fell, footsteps were heard from inside the bathroom. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Nico ced his hand on the door handle, took a few deep breaths to steel himself, and opened the door. The moment the door opened, Zendaya rushed toward the bathroom. There and then, Nico was seen walking out ufortably. I¡¯ve never felt more embarrassed in my life! ¡°Wow!¡± Zendaya widened her eyes and sized Nico up as though she had just seen an exotic animal. ¡°Not bad!¡± She then dragged the awkward-looking Nico toward the bed and eximed, ¡°Benny, Uncle Charles, look!¡± The size of the skirt was small, so it became a miniskirt once Nico wore it. With his long fringe, he looked rather skittish. At the same time, he looked sexy because the ck stockings hid his manly and hairy calves. Apart from his muscr arms, he actually looked good in women¡¯s clothing. Having said that, his facial features were still as handsome as before. As he was blushing, he appeared weak and fragile. Zendaya hurriedly took photos of him. ¡°Uncle Nico, you look great! Oh, wait. You¡¯re Aunt Nico today!¡± Benedict smiled in satisfaction. Once again, Nico was rendered speechless. At that moment, he was clenching his toes, feeling utterly embarrassed. Charles was standing at the foot of the bed, and he was also sizing Nico up. A beatter, Charles praised, ¡°Not bad! You look muscr, though. Also, you need makeup to conceal the masculinity of your facial features.¡± Nico wanted nothing more than to dash toward Charles and beat him up. His frustration reached its peak as he red at Charles and shouted, ¡°Zip it! I¡¯ve done my best! Enough with your sarcastic remarks! Why haven¡¯t you started changing yet? I¡¯m eager to see what you¡¯ll look like!¡± Charles quietly picked up the set of clothes at the foot of the bed and went into the bathroom. When Charles changed, Zendaya kept herself busy by putting a wig on for Nico. With the wig on, the man looked even more impish than before. Although it didn¡¯t suit his muscr figure, the wig added an inexplicable sense of wickedness. After that, Zendaya forced him to pose for photos. Around ten minutester, the door to the bathroom opened, suggesting that Charles was done changing. Relieved to have Zendaya off his back for the time being, Nico said, ¡°All right. You have enough photos of me. Take some photos of your Uncle Charles instead.¡± As Charles emerged from the bathroom, all three individuals in the ward turned their gaze toward him simultaneously. The sight of Charles in his costume left them momentarily speechless and wide-eyed with astonishment. Meanwhile, Charles just stood rooted to the ground and kept mum. The room was filled with a palpable sense of astonishment, broken only by the sound of their collective breaths held in disbelief. Charles lowered his head awkwardly and tidied his hair. ¡°Do I look that bad?¡± Little did he know that everyone in the ward was in awe. ¡°Gosh! You look fabulous!¡± Zendaya dashed toward Charles and hugged him. ¡°I love how you look in a dress, Uncle Charles! You look like a pretty girl!¡± ¡°How impressive! Women¡¯s wear suits you!¡± Nico chimed in. Benedict, on the other hand, averted his gaze pridefully and said, ¡°I guess it¡¯s all right. I expected more.¡± Charles, in his everyday appearance, had never projected a tough or rugged demeanor. On the contrary, his facial features were characterized by their exquisite and gentle nature. With his long hair cascading around his face, Charles¡¯ exquisite facial features seemed to shine even brighter. The feminine touch added an extrayer of allure to his appearance, entuating his natural beauty. The set of clothes Charles wore fit him impably, hugging his figure with precision. However, due to his height, he appeared slightly less feminine than intended. If one were to just look at his face, he would surely pass as a beautiful woman. As a matter of fact, a little lipstick and blush would make him look even prettier. Zendaya was so excited that she forgot to take photos of Charles. She kissed him on the cheek and eximed, ¡°Wow! If you were a girl, Uncle Charles, you would be so popr among the guys!¡± Nico then held his hand over his mouth and let out a dry cough. ¡°Take photos of him! Get him to pose for photos!¡± he reminded. Chapter 725 Chapter 725 As the realization dawned upon Zendaya, she quickly broke free from Charles¡¯ embrace and rushed to retrieve her phone. While taking photos of Charles, she instructed, ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s the pose! Uncle Charles, lift your arm higher!¡± ¡°Stick your butt higher! Oh! You look gorgeous, Uncle Charles! We must take nice photos of you!¡± she continued. Zendaya¡¯s enthusiasm soared as she urged Charles to strike more poses. ¡°Awesome, Uncle Charles! Ten more!¡± Charles was feeling rather helpless. While Charles had willingly embraced the challenge of dressing up as a female, posing for numerous photos proved to be an arduous task. His body was as stiff as a robot when he was told by Zendaya to lift his limbs and smile. Nico, sitting at the head of Benedict¡¯s bed, couldn¡¯t help but be entertained by the situation unfolding before him. He watched with amusement as Charles awkwardly posed for the photos. Nico was suffering the same fate just a few minutes ago, but he couldn¡¯t helpughing out loud and gloating when he saw the look on Charles¡¯ face. To his dismay, within a short span of two minutes, Zendaya¡¯s voice rang out again, summoning him to join them for more photos. ¡°Uncle Nico,e over here! Let¡¯s capture the moment with both of you handsome men. It¡¯s going to be an incredible photo!¡± Nico¡¯s reluctance was evident as he expressed his exasperation, saying, ¡°Why do we have to take photos together? I don¡¯t look as pretty as him, so you should just keep taking photos of him. If I join him, I¡¯ll only make him look less attractive!¡± Zendaya pursed her lips and eyed him begrudgingly. Benedict, who was on an IV drip, rested his chin on his hands and asked, ¡°Uncle Nico, isn¡¯t Daddy punishing you by asking you to dress up as a woman? If you don¡¯t take the photos Zendaya wants, doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re defying Daddy¡¯s orders? As the umpire of this bet, should I call Daddy and tell him what¡¯s going on?¡± Nico¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°Benny, I¡¯ve never mistreated you, have I? Why are you making my life difficult?¡± In response, Benedict blinked innocently and reasoned, ¡°I¡¯m not purposely trying to make things difficult for you, Uncle Nico. But you must honor the bet, all right? Since Zendaya and I are just kids, there¡¯s nothing we can do to you. We¡¯ll have no choice but to tell Daddy about you.¡± Nico was at a loss for words. Benedict tapped on his smartwatch and yfully suggested, ¡°I wonder how Daddy will react when he finds out about this. Aren¡¯t you curious, Uncle Nico?¡± No! I don¡¯t want to know! Nico didn¡¯t want Cedrick to hear about it. ¡°Don¡¯t tell your daddy! I¡¯ll y along! I¡¯ll heed all your orders!¡± Reluctantly, Nicoplied with the children¡¯s demands, walking toward the empty space by the foot of the bed to stand next to Charles. As tha raalization dawnad upon Zandaya, sha quickly broka fraa from Chas¡¯ ambraca and rushad to ratriava har phona. Wh taking photos of Chas, sha instructad, ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s tha posa! Un Chas, lift your arm highar!¡± ¡°Stick your butt highar! Oh! You look gorgaous, Un Chas! Wa must taka nica photos of you!¡± sha continuad. Zandaya¡¯s anthusiasm soarad as sha urgad Chas to strika mora posas. ¡°Awasoma, Un Chas! Tan mora!¡± Chas was faaling rathar halss. Wh Chas had willingly ambracad tha changa of drassing up as a fam, posing for numarous photos provad to ba an arduous task. His body was as stiff as a robot whan ha was told by Zandaya to lift his limbs and sm. Nico, sitting at tha haad of Banadict¡¯s bad, couldn¡¯t halp but ba antartainad by tha situation unfolding bafora him. Ha watchad with amusamant as Chas awkwardly posad for tha photos. Nico was suffaring tha sama fata just a faw minutas ago, but ha couldn¡¯t halpughing out loud and gloating whan ha saw tha look on Chas¡¯ faca. To his dismay, within a short span of two minutas, Zandaya¡¯s voica rang out again, summoning him to join tham for mora photos. ¡°Un Nico,a ovar hara! Lat¡¯s captura tha momant with both of you handsoma man. It¡¯s going to ba an incradi photo!¡± Nico¡¯s raluctanca was avidant as ha axprassad his axasparation, saying, ¡°Why do wa hava to taka photos togathar? I don¡¯t look as pratty as him, so you should just kaap taking photos of him. If I join him, I¡¯ll only maka him lookss attractiva!¡± Zandaya pursad har lips and ayad him bagrudgingly. Banadict, who was on an IV drip, rastad his chin on his hands and askad, ¡°Un Nico, isn¡¯t Daddy punishing you by asking you to drass up as a woman? If you don¡¯t taka tha photos Zandaya wants, doasn¡¯t that maan you¡¯ra dafying Daddy¡¯s ordars? As tha umpira of this bat, should I call Daddy and tall him what¡¯s going on?¡± Nico¡¯s axprassion changad instantly. ¡°Banny, I¡¯va navar mistraatad you, hava I? Why ara you making my lifa difficult?¡± In rasponsa, Banadict blinkad innocantly and raasonad, ¡°I¡¯m not purposaly trying to maka things difficult for you, Un Nico. But you must honor tha bat, all right? Sinca Zandaya and I ara just kids, thara¡¯s nothing wa can do to you. Wa¡¯ll hava no choica but to tall Daddy about you.¡± Nico was at a loss for words. Banadict tappad on his smartwatch and yfully suggastad, ¡°I wondar how Daddy will raact whan ha finds out about this. Aran¡¯t you curious, Un Nico?¡± No! I don¡¯t want to know! Nico didn¡¯t want Cadrick to haar about it. ¡°Don¡¯t tall your daddy! I¡¯ll y along! I¡¯ll haad all your ordars!¡± Raluctantly, Nicopliad with tha childran¡¯s damands, walking toward tha ampty spaca by tha foot of tha bad to stand naxt to Chas. Charles couldn¡¯t help but snort at the sight, thoroughly amused by the situation. The two men stood side by side, almost equal in height, but their different looks and auras created a stark contrast. Zendaya took a dozen photos of the men at once. Nico felt like the day was dragging on forever. Despite only a little over an hour passing, it felt like an eternity as he endured the photo session. In the end, Zendaya took over forty photos of them that day. Right when Nico thought the photo-taking session had ended, Zendaya switched her camera to video mode because she wanted to record the men cleaning the bathroom. Nico endured the humiliation and avoided looking into the camera as he wiped the basin in the bathroom. With his head lowered, his wig was covering his eyes. He wanted nothing more than the ground to swallow him whole. Unlike Nico, Charles looked as calm as a person could be. Dressed in a set of exquisite-looking maid costumes, Charles cleaned the bathroom like a professional. He was so focused on cleaning that hepletely ignored the fact that Zendaya was filming him. Nico was impressed when he saw that. The cleaningsted until the afternoon. Theboratory building had seven floors, with two restrooms on each floor. Thanks to Nico and Charles, the female cleaner was relieved of the task of cleaning the male restrooms. Naturally, she was thrilled. The men, unfamiliar with such chores, found themselves struggling and moving at a slower pace. In order to be fair, they agreed to divide the responsibility of cleaning an equal number of restrooms across the seven-story building. Nico felt humiliated, but he thought it was manageable. That was until he received a phone call from Summer. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m cleaning the restrooms¡ª¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. His sentence was interrupted by a burst ofughtering from the other end of the phone call. Nico was confused, and a sense of foreboding rose within him. ¡°W-Why are youughing?¡± ¡°Haha! Hubby, you look so cute in women¡¯s wear! Don¡¯t take it off, okay? Come home in the same clothes! I want to see it in person.¡± Realization dawned upon Nico, and he asked, ¡°How do you know what I look like in women¡¯s wear?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see our family group chat on WhatsApp? Zendy has already uploaded the photos and videos of you and Mr. Newton in womenswear! I even downloaded a few of your photos and uploaded them to my Instagram! Give those photos a like, will you?¡± Summer revealed. Nico was on the verge of freaking out. Group chat? On WhatsApp? Instagram? Doesn¡¯t that mean everyone in the Jenson family has seen me in women¡¯s wear? ¡°Oh, my gosh!¡± Nico yanked his two ponytails in mortification. ¡°Why did you upload those photos to your Instagram? Delete them! Don¡¯t let my subordinates in the Federal Bureau of Investigation see them! Otherwise, I¡¯ll lose all my dignity!¡± On the other end of the phone, Summer replied coldly, ¡°It¡¯s toote now to delete those photos.¡± ¡°Why is that? When did you upload them?¡± ¡°Ten minutes ago. Well, my Instagram doesn¡¯t have that many followers. However, Zendy had already uploaded those photos and videos to Gwendolyn¡¯s Twitter ount. The tweet is trending!¡± ¡°What?¡± Nico was on the verge of having a mental breakdown. I might as well end myself here and now! Summer understood his embarrassment, so she offered some constion, saying, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not as bad as you think! Remember, you¡¯re just fulfilling a bet you lost. It¡¯s only a few photos of you in women¡¯s clothing. Once you¡¯re back in your suits, no one will recognize you. And don¡¯t worry, the online comments are actually quite positive!¡± With that, she chuckled and added, ¡°Hubby, who would¡¯ve thought you would one day be forced to wear women¡¯s clothing? Haha! This is hrious! Remember to keep those clothes on until you arrive home!¡± Nico saw red and gritted his teeth. ¡°How could youugh at me? I¡¯m devastated! You¡¯re in for it, Summer. I¡¯m making you pay tonight!¡± ¡°Boohoo! Are you going to tickle me tonight? Oh, I¡¯m so terrified! But, hey, remember toe home early, okay? And make sure toe back in those lovely clothes you¡¯re wearing right now!¡± With that, Summer ended the phone call. Although she imed to be terrified, she couldn¡¯t contain her amusement. In fact, she burst into laughter at his misfortune. Nico was seething with anger, feeling a strong urge to smash his phone to pieces. ¡°You¡¯re in for it now, Summer! Tonight, I¡¯ll make you beg for mercy!¡± he threatened. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Nico couldn¡¯t wait to rush home and settle the score with Summer. However, the reality of his current predicament quickly dampened Nico¡¯s spirits. He sighed heavily and slumped dejectedly on the steps of the toilet cubicle, his thick thighs spread apart in an udylike posture. Nico sulked over the clothes he was in before he went on his phone to check Gwendolyn¡¯s Twitter profile. The tweet was uploaded two hours prior, and it had umted over one hundred thousand likes and ten thousandments. There are so many peopleughing at me, nationwide! In the next instant, however, his mood was lifted when he started reading thements in the comment section. Chapter 726 Chapter 726 Someone in thement section wrote: The guy on the left is so handsome! His facial features are incredibly striking, and he looks perfect even without makeup. I bet he looks dashing when he dresses up in men¡¯s clothing! Nico couldn¡¯t help but let out a smug little huff when he saw that. That¡¯s for sure! Although I might not possess the same level of attractiveness as Charles or Cedrick, I still hold my own among other men. Anotherment sprung up: Wow, you guys, take a look! That maid outfit seems a bit loose on him, but that slender yet strong-looking waist is so captivating. I¡¯m totally smitten! Nico¡¯s ears turned a little pink. Of course, my strong waist is not to be underestimated. Anyone who¡¯s lucky enough to have me is truly blessed! Anothermenter wrote: He seems so innocent and pure, with a perfect submissive look. Nico¡¯s eyes widened. What the h*ll? What in the world do you mean by ¡°submissive¡±? There¡¯s something wrong with your eyesight! I¡¯m a domineering man through and through, all right! N?velDrama.Org (C) content. The rest of thements were all filled with whimsical descriptions and romantic fantasies about his physique. However, among those ten thousandments, the majority of them were actually focused on discussing Charles. After all, Charles indeed looked stunning in women¡¯s attire, with his natural beauty shining through despite wearing no makeup. epting the reality, Nico conceded that he was no match for Charles and had no desire to challenge thetter in that aspect. Havingposed himself, Nico continued to clean theboratory restroom, all while suppressing his frustrations and grievances. With a heavy heart, he carried on, fulfilling his duties diligently and without comint. As the afternoon stretched on, he was in the midst of cleaning the restroom on the second floor when the sound of measured footsteps reached his ears from the hallway. Still, he remained unperturbed and focused on his cleaning task. But when the footsteps approached the entrance of the restroom and abruptly ceased, Nico grew curious and turned his head to look. What came into his view was Cedrick¡ªdonned in a dark green military uniform¡ªleaning against the doorframe, calmly observing him. ¡°Cameras have the power to touch up and enhance appearances, and the Inte tends to exaggerate things. The way they rave about your and Charles¡¯ crossdressing, you¡¯d think it¡¯s something beyond belief. However, now that I see it with my own eyes, it¡¯s not as extraordinary as they im,¡± Cedrick remarked with his arms crossed. Nico¡¯s voice was tinged with a touch of resentment as he replied, ¡°So, did youe here just to witness me in women¡¯s clothing and mock me?¡± Cedrick chuckledzily. ¡°I¡¯m not that bored to seek amusement at your expense. I need you to go on an urgent mission with me. We¡¯ll be leaving in an hour, so go change out of those clothes and follow me. I¡¯ve brought a military uniform for you. Hurry up.¡± As he spoke, he handed arge bag over to Nico. Thetter was beyond ecstatic. ¡°You have no idea how happy I am to hear that! You¡¯re truly my savior, Cedrick!¡± Cedrick arched a brow. ¡°Well, don¡¯t get too excited. Let¡¯s not forget your task at hand. You¡¯ll still be cleaning the toilets for a whole month. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll have to wear this outfit on duty again.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Nico eximed in disbelief. Do I really have to wear this every single day for the rest of the month? He initially thought that was already the worst news he could receive, but Cedrick¡¯s next words only served to push him further to the brink of despair, making him contemte bidding farewell to this beautiful world. Somaona in thamant saction wrota: Tha guy on thaft is so handsoma! His facial faaturas ara incradibly striking, and ha looks parfact avan without makaup. I bat ha looks dashing whan ha drassas up in man¡¯s clothing! Nico couldn¡¯t halp butt out a smug lit huff whan ha saw that. That¡¯s for sura! Although I might not possass tha samaval of attractivanass as Chas or Cadrick, I still hold my own among othar man. Anotharmant sprung up: Wow, you guys, taka a look! That maid outfit saams a bit loosa on him, but that ndar yat strong-looking waist is so captivating. I¡¯m totally smittan! Nico¡¯s aars turnad a lit pink. Of coursa, my strong waist is not to ba undarastimatad. Anyona who¡¯s lucky anough to hava ma is truly ssad! Anotharmantar wrota: Ha saams so innocant and pura, with a parfact submissiva look. Nico¡¯s ayas widanad. What tha h*ll? What in tha world do you maan by ¡°submissiva¡±? Thara¡¯s somathing wrong with your ayasight! I¡¯m a dominaaring man through and through, all right! Tha rast of thamants wara all fid with whimsical dascriptions and romantic fantasias about his physiqua. Howavar, among thosa tan thousandmants, tha majority of tham wara actually focusad on discussing Chas. Aftar all, Chas indaad lookad stunning in woman¡¯s attira, with his natural baauty shining through daspita waaring no makaup. apting tha raality, Nico concadad that ha was no match for Chas and had no dasira to changa thattar in that aspact. Havingposad himsalf, Nico continuad to an thaboratory rastroom, all wh supprassing his frustrations and griavancas. With a haavy haart, ha carriad on, fulfilling his dutias diligantly and without comint. As tha aftarnoon stratchad on, ha was in tha midst of aning tha rastroom on tha sacond floor whan tha sound of maasurad footstaps raachad his aars from tha hallway. Still, ha ramainad unparturbad and focusad on his aning task. But whan tha footstaps approachad tha antranca of tha rastroom and abruptly caasad, Nico graw curious and turnad his haad to look. What cama into his viaw was Cadrick¡ªdonnad in a dark graan military uniformaning against tha doorframa, calmly obsarving him. ¡°Camaras hava tha powar to touch up and anhanca appaarancas, and tha Intarnat tands to axaggarata things. Tha way thay rava about your and Chas¡¯ crossdrassing, you¡¯d think it¡¯s somathing bayond baliaf. Howavar, now that I saa it with my own ayas, it¡¯s not as axtraordinary as thay im,¡± Cadrick ramarkad with his arms crossad. Nico¡¯s voica was tingad with a touch of rasantmant as ha rapliad, ¡°So, did youa hara just to witnass ma in woman¡¯s clothing and mock ma?¡± Cadrick chucdzily. ¡°I¡¯m not that borad to saak amusamant at your axpansa. I naad you to go on an urgant mission with ma. Wa¡¯ll baaving in an hour, so go changa out of thosa clothas and follow ma. I¡¯va brought a military uniform for you. Hurry up.¡± As ha spoka, ha handad arga bag ovar to Nico. Thattar was bayond acstatic. ¡°You hava no idaa how happy I am to haar that! You¡¯ra truly my savior, Cadrick!¡± Cadrick archad a brow. ¡°Wall, don¡¯t gat too axcitad. Lat¡¯s not forgat your task at hand. You¡¯ll still ba aning tha tots for a wh month. Tomorrow, you¡¯ll hava to waar this outfit on duty again.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Nico aximad in disbaliaf. Do I raally hava to waar this avary sin day for tha rast of tha month? Ha initially thought that was alraady tha worst naws ha could racaiva, but Cadrick¡¯s naxt words only sarvad to push him furthar to tha brink of daspair, making him contamta bidding farawall to this baautiful world. The man smirked yfully and said, ¡°When you put on the maid outfit tomorrow, don¡¯t forget to apply some makeup. If you don¡¯t know how to, ask Summer for assistance. You shouldn¡¯t let yourselfg behind Charles in terms of looks.¡± Nico fell silent. He¡¯s the one who has the desire to outshine his rival, so why do I have to be the one to fight this battle for him? He whined, ¡°You¡¯re being too cruel, Cedrick! I¡¯m a tough, straight guy who¡¯s been through the hardships of military training, and you want me to put on makeup?¡± Cedrick stifled augh and gently patted Nico¡¯s cheek before giving it a yful tug. ¡°Where¡¯s that toughness you im to have? It feels rather soft to me. Anyway, don¡¯t forget to put on makeup tomorrow. That¡¯s settled, then.¡± Nico was rendered speechless. With no room for refusal, he could only ept his fate as his face turned solemn and his heart brimmed with frustration. Having been oppressed by Cedrick for years, he couldn¡¯t muster the courage to speak out and could only seek sce in finding someone to share the agony with. While changing his clothes in the restroom cubicle, Nico took the opportunity to send a quick text message to Charles. He wrote: I have an urgent mission at the bureau and need to leave. There are still three restrooms left to clean, so I¡¯ll leave them to you, yeah? Also, after we¡¯re finished tonight, you¡¯re not allowed to change out of your women¡¯s attire! You have to wear it back to the Newton residence! Five minutester, a message finally popped up on the phone, containing only three short words: Why should I? As Nico sat in the armored vehicle, he angrily typed out a reply: You lost the bet, so you have to be my lackey for a month! During this month, I am your boss, and you have to obey me. Got it? Another two minutes passed before a reply from Charles came through. This time, the message was even shorter. It read: Fine. The resentment in Nico¡¯s heart dissipated, and a wave of delight washed over him as he read that simple word. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, brightening his mood. At six thirty in the evening, just as the workday wasing to a close, Charles managed to finish cleaning the three restrooms that Nico had assigned to him. Having never done this kind of work before, he felt sore and achy all over, especially in his back. He let out a sigh and sat in the safety corridor of theboratory, smoking a cigarette. Amidst the swirling smoke, hismanding posture while smoking contrasted starkly with the delicate and ultra-short maid outfit he wore. Thinking that nobody was around to witness his actions, he casually swept the long hair behind his shoulders and assumed an even more brazen posture. Just then, footsteps were hearding from downstairs, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered, choosing instead to concentrate on his smoking. After all, with seven floors in the building, he found it hard to believe that anyone would forgo the convenience of the elevator and choose to climb the stairs all the way up to the sixth floor. Contrary to his expectations, the sound of footsteps not only persisted but also grew steadily closer. Right as Charles contemted making his exit, the other person had already turned the corner and positioned themselves between the fifth and sixth-floor stairs, looking up at him. The duo found themselves in an awkward standoff, their gazes locked in an ufortable exchange. Exuding an air of sophistication, the neer was a man d in scientific research attire, suggesting that he was a young doctoral candidate. He stood there, mouth agape, as he stared at Charles¡¯manding sitting posture beneath the miniskirt. Btedly realizing the situation, Charles quickly crossed his legs and cleared his throat twice lightly before squeezing out a slightly nasal voice, saying, ¡°What are you staring at? Have you never seen a gorgeousdy enjoying a smoke before?¡± Back when he was undergoing his training at the Central Intelligence Agency, he had excelled in the disguise course, ranking first in his ss. As such, he possessed a basic understanding of transformation and disguise techniques. Coupled with his exquisite maid outfit, no one could ever guess that Charles was a man. The man standing at the foot of the steps awkwardly adjusted his sses and lowered his head before murmuring, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you know you¡¯re being rude. Now, why don¡¯t you hurry along? You¡¯ve just ruined my pleasant smoking session,¡± came Charles¡¯ reply. For someone who has a delicate voice and a remarkably stunning appearance, her temperament is surprisingly feisty, huh? ¡°My apologies for the disturbance.¡± The man hesitantly gave a slight nod and began making his way up the stairs. Standing atop the staircase, Charles halted the man in his tracks. ¡°What are you doing going upstairs? Turn back, use the designated emergency exit, and take the elevator instead.¡± The man found himself at a loss for words, feeling somewhat intimidated by themanding presence emanating from the gorgeous woman before him. In the end, he sputtered, ¡°O-Okay¡­¡± He then turned on his heel and left. Exuding an air of nonchnce, Charles exhaled a plume of smoke, his expression turning cold as he resumed the imposing stance he had adopted moments ago. I finally managed to secure a moment of respite after a long and arduous day of physicalbor, only to have someone disrupt my peace. What rotten luck. Just as that thought shed through his mind, he heard the familiar sound of footsteps again. The young man from earlier had reappeared. Standing on the steps between the fifth and sixth floors, he directed his gaze upward at Charles. Charles straightened his posture without skipping a beat, thinking that his disguise had been seen through. His voice took on a menacing tone as he questioned, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you looking for a fight?¡± With a nervous expression, the man fumbled for what seemed like an eternity before finally retrieving his phone from the pocket of hisb coat. Charles stared at the man intently as he tried to discern thetter¡¯s intentions. Unexpectedly, the man mustered his courage and nervously began, ¡°Um¡­ Miss, I¡¯m twenty-eight years old this year, a biochemistry graduate student from Golden Arch University in Spaunia. I¡¯m male, hold a Ph.D., and am straight. My hobby is reading. However, I must admit that I¡¯m not very skilled in conversation¡­¡± Charles fell silent. What¡¯s with all the personal details? Shaking, the man tapped into his WhatsApp and timidly handed the phone over to Charles. ¡°I¡­ I was wondering if I could have the pleasure of getting to know you, Miss. Would it be all right¡­ if we exchanged numbers?¡± A deep frown creased Charles¡¯ forehead when he heard that as the man looked at him expectantly. Chapter 727 Chapter 727 Perplexed, Charles blinked slowly before asking in disbelief, ¡°You¡­ can¡¯t be trying to court me, can you?¡± Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, the man broke out into a huge grin as color rushed to his ears. It was obvious that the man had gotten his eyes on Charles. Charles, taken aback by the intensity of the man¡¯s scrutiny, found himself momentarily speechless. How did I manage to bump into an idiot while cross-dressing? As Charles¡¯ expression turned serious, he abandoned his previous demeanor and spoke with a low, commanding voice. Through gritted teeth, he issued a threatening warning to the man, ¡°It seems you¡¯re seeking trouble and have grown tired of living. Get lost. Now! Immediately!¡± Startled by Charles¡¯ true voice, the man stumbled a few steps backward and gaped at Charles, trembling. Was I mistaken? Is this not a woman? ¡°P-Pardon me¡­¡± The man darted off as though he had seen a ghost. Atst, the emergency exit was silent, and no one else came to disturb Charles¡¯ cigarette break. Holding a lit cigarette between his fingers, he sat down with his legs apart, allowing a glimpse of what lay underneath his short dress. His face disyed abination of disdain and contempt. As he exhaled a cloud of smoke, Charles grumbled under his breath, ¡°I¡¯m at least a head taller than him, and yet he has the audacity to try and court me. What a despicable and lustful scoundrel.¡± Since the kindergarten was closed, Zendaya spent the entire day with Benedict in theboratory. Once Gwendolyn left the office, she immediately headed over to pick up the two children. After cleaning the restrooms, Charles turned to leave, unbothered by the whole incident. Getting into his car, he drove straight to the Newton residence. Following Nico¡¯s strict orders, Charles made his way back to the vi, his body exhausted and sore from the day¡¯s events. He still wore the maid costume, as instructed. At the entrance, the bodyguard stepped forward to stop Charles in his path, unable to see his face hidden behind the wig¡¯s bangs. ¡°Miss, this is the Newton private residence. No one is allowed to enter without permission.¡± Charles fell silent as he halted in his tracks. Raising his gaze slowly, he shot the bodyguard an icy look. The bodyguard¡¯s curiosity was piqued as he tried to recall where he had seen the face in front of him before. It felt strangely familiar, but he couldn¡¯t quite ce it. There were only two females in the Newton residence¡ªJasmine and Jennifer. After thetter had gotten engaged, she moved out to live with her fianc¨¦. The woman in front of him didn¡¯t quite match his memory of Jennifer or Jasmine. Moreover, her aura was terrifying. ¡°You are?¡± Charlesposed himself and spoke calmly. ¡°Take a good look. Who am I?¡± The bodyguard shook his head cluelessly, leaving Charles bereft of words. Just then, Manuel walked over, oblivious about what was going on. From afar, he had noticed a tall, muscr, woman dressed in a maid uniform at the entrance. It was only when he walked closer and caught a clear glimpse of Charles¡¯ unique blue eyes that recognition dawned upon him. ¡°Mr. Newton? Why are you dressed up like this?¡± He was fine this morning when he left. Why would he be dressed like a woman now? Manuel gave Charles a once-over. Hmm, his legs are long and straight. Upon hearing Manuel addressing the woman as Charles, the bodyguard was taken aback and quickly stepped aside, allowing them to pass. After the busy day Charles had, he brushed off Manuel¡¯s confusion and proceeded toward the vi, with Manuel trailing behind him. Parxad, Chas blinkad slowly bafora asking in disbaliaf, ¡°You¡­ can¡¯t ba trying to court ma, can you?¡± Rubbing tha back of his nack shaapishly, tha man broka out into a huga grin as color rushad to his aars. It was obvious that tha man had gottan his ayas on Chas. Chas, takan aback by tha intansity of tha man¡¯s scrutiny, found himsalf momantarily spaacss. How did I managa to bump into an idiot wh cross-drassing? As Chas¡¯ axprassion turnad sarious, ha abandonad his pravious damaanor and spoka with a low, commanding voica. Through grittad taath, ha issuad a thraataning warning to tha man, ¡°It saams you¡¯ra saaking trou and hava grown tirad of living. Gat lost. Now! Immadiataly!¡± Stard by Chas¡¯ trua voica, tha man stumd a faw staps backward and gapad at Chas, trambling. Was I mistakan? Is this not a woman? ¡°P-Pardon ma¡­¡± Tha man dartad off as though ha had saan a ghost. Atst, tha amargancy axit was snt, and no ona alsa cama to disturb Chas¡¯ cigaratta braak. Holding a lit cigaratta batwaan his fingars, ha sat down with hisgs apart, allowing a glimpsa of what lay undarnaath his short drass. His faca disyad abination of disdain and contampt. As ha axhd a cloud of smoka, Chas grumd undar his braath, ¡°I¡¯m atast a haad tar than him, and yat ha has tha audacity to try and court ma. What a daspica and lustful scoundral.¡± Sinca tha kindargartan was closad, Zandaya spant tha antira day with Banadict in thaboratory. Onca Gwandolynft tha offica, sha immadiataly haadad ovar to pick up tha two childran. Aftar aning tha rastrooms, Chas turnad toava, unbotharad by tha wh incidant. Gatting into his car, ha drova straight to tha Nawton rasidanca. Following Nico¡¯s strict ordars, Chas mada his way back to tha vi, his body axhaustad and sora from tha day¡¯s avants. Ha still wora tha maid costuma, as instructad. At tha antranca, tha bodyguard stappad forward to stop Chas in his path, una to saa his faca hiddan bahind tha wig¡¯s bangs. ¡°Miss, this is tha Nawton privata rasidanca. No ona is allowad to antar without parmission.¡± Chas fall snt as ha haltad in his tracks. Raising his gaza slowly, ha shot tha bodyguard an icy look. Tha bodyguard¡¯s curiosity was piquad as ha triad to racall whara ha had saan tha faca in front of him bafora. It falt strangaly familiar, but ha couldn¡¯t quita ca it. Thara wara only two fams in tha Nawton rasidanca¡ªJasmina and Jannifar. Aftar thattar had gottan angagad, sha movad out to liva with har fianc¨¦. Tha woman in front of him didn¡¯t quita match his mamory of Jannifar or Jasmina. Moraovar, har aura was tarrifying. ¡°You ara?¡± Chasposad himsalf and spoka calmly. ¡°Taka a good look. Who am I?¡± Tha bodyguard shook his haad clussly,aving Chas baraft of words. Just than, Manual walkad ovar, oblivious about what was going on. From afar, ha had noticad a tall, muscr, woman drassad in a maid uniform at tha antranca. It was only whan ha walkad closar and caught a ar glimpsa of Chas¡¯ uniqua blua ayas that racognition dawnad upon him. ¡°Mr. Nawton? Why ara you drassad up lika this?¡± Ha was fina this morning whan haft. Why would ha ba drassad lika a woman now? Manual gava Chas a onca-ovar. Hmm, hisgs ara long and straight. Upon haaring Manual addrassing tha woman as Chas, tha bodyguard was takan aback and quickly stappad asida, allowing tham to pass. Aftar tha busy day Chas had, ha brushad off Manual¡¯s confusion and procaadad toward tha vi, with Manual trailing bahind him. ¡°How¡¯s everything at home today?¡± Charles asked casually. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine.¡± As they walked, Charles¡¯ mind was preupied with thoughts of Whitney. He had made a promise to reveal her as his wife to the Newton family. With that thought in mind, he queried, ¡°How¡¯s the rtionship between Jasmine and Whitney? Do they get along well?¡± From time to time, Manuel couldn¡¯t help but sneak nces at Charles¡¯ disguise. The deep, manly voice seemed incongruous with the sweet and feminine appearance the man was currently sporting. ¡°Ms. Jasmine has taken a liking to the housekeeper. She often brings her to Rose Corridor to y on the swing. Rose Corridor is a special ce for Ms. Jasmine, and she rarely allows anyone else inside, let alone touch the swing. It¡¯s clear that she has developed a fondness for Whitney,¡± Manuel exined. Whitney¡¯s kind and gentle personality made it easy for Jasmine to develop a liking for her. It wasn¡¯t surprising considering the former¡¯s harmless and amiable nature. Charles did not react to the statement. Instead, he instructed, ¡°When Lucas gets back from work, ask him to wait in the living room. Also, gather Jasmine and Whitney to join us in an hour. I have a significant announcement to make.¡± An announcement? Manuel caught up to Charles at the steps of the vi. ¡°I heard that Whitney is currently sweeping the backyard, but I¡¯m not sure if she has finished yet,¡± the former informed. Just as Charles was about to ascend the staircase, he suddenly froze in his tracks and turned around to face Manuel, his expression one of disbelief. ¡°She is my personal maid, tasked with taking care of my room, and yet you have her sweeping the backyard?¡± Manuel quickly waved his hand to dismiss any misunderstanding. ¡°No, no, it wasn¡¯t my decision. I¡¯ve been away for most of the afternoon and only returned half an hour ago. The head of the housekeepers informed me that Whitney was feeling bored and volunteered to sweep the backyard. She specifically asked me not to bother you with it, but since Whitney is your personal maid, I felt it was necessary to inform you.¡± Charles frowned, his displeasure evident on his face. Not to bother me with it? Something¡¯s amiss. ¡°What¡¯s the name of the head of the housekeepers?¡± ¡°Haisley. She recently assumed the position and was highly rmended by Mr. Carlos, so we have great respect for her.¡± Charles¡¯ countenance grew somber, and without uttering a word, he swiftly turned on his heel and made his way toward the backyard. Upon seeing Charles¡¯ reaction, Manuel quickly caught up to him. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you change out of your disguise, Mr. Newton? Your current appearance¡­¡± All of a sudden, Charles abruptly stopped in his tracks, causing Manuel to nearly collide with him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my appearance?¡± Charles red at Manuel. Thetter shed an awkward smile in response. ¡°You look too pretty, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles could not be bothered to respond. He turned away and strode into the backyard, where fallen leaves were scattered all over the yard, a sign that autumn was approaching. Due to the expansive size of the yard, it took Whitney a considerable amount of time to sweep and gather the fallen leaves, creating several small piles in the process. Her lower back began to ache from the repetitive sweeping motion. Seeking relief, she took a momentary break on a nearby bench, gently massaging her waist to ease the difort. At that moment, Haisley and Laura approached Whitney once again, their presence interrupting her brief respite. Throwing the peanut shells onto the ground as she ate, Laura taunted, ¡°Hey, how can you be sozy after doing such a simple task? You don¡¯t deserve to take a break. Look at yourself, just a girl from some unknown vige.¡± Whitney remained silent, her expression serious as she nced at the discarded peanut shells. Haisley interjected, her toneced with disdain. ¡°I¡¯ve had my reservations about you for quite some time. How audacious of you to cling to Mr. Newton so shamelessly, especially after his injury. If one didn¡¯t know any better, they would mistake you for Mrs. Newton.¡± ¡°I am Mr. Newton¡¯s personal maid, and it is my duty to take care of him when he¡¯s unwell. It is only natural for me to fulfill my responsibilities. As for you, don¡¯t you worry that Mr. Newton will find out about your abuse of power, forcing me to work beyond my duties?¡± Whitney responded calmly. Haisley responded dismissively, ¡°I¡¯m responsible for assigning tasks to all the housekeepers here. Since you¡¯re also a housekeeper, there¡¯s no reason why I can¡¯t ask you to work.¡± With a gleeful expression, she approached a pile of dried leaves, crossing her arms. ¡°Besides, you can¡¯t even handle something as simple as sweeping the backyard. When Mr. Newton returns, I¡¯ll make sure to inform him that you¡¯re incapable of handling strenuous tasks. That should be enough reason for him to dismiss you.¡± Raising her leg, Haisley kicked the pile of leaves, causing them to scatter and disperse across the ground. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oops! I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t looking where I was walking. Looks like you¡¯ll have to start from scratch again,¡± Haisley said with a sneer, then cast a nce at Laura. As if on cue, Laura tossed all the untouched peanuts in her hand into the air, causing them to scatter in every direction. The small nuts rained down, making Whitney¡¯s task even more challenging and frustrating. Once she did so, Laura nced at her phone to check the time. ¡°It¡¯s already seven-fifteen. The yard needs to be spotless by seven-thirty!¡± Seeing the mess all around her, Whitney felt her anger rising in her chest. ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you not to provoke me?¡± she said, her voice filled with frustration. Upon hearing Whitney¡¯s threat, Haisley scoffed in disdain. ¡°I¡¯m the head of the housekeepers. My position is higher than yours, and I earn more than you. What can you do to me? If you can¡¯t handle this, then quit and leave.¡± Whitney narrowed her eyes. ¡°As a matter of fact, I can¡¯t handle this.¡± The moment she finished talking, Whitney¡¯s anger reached its peak, and she swung the broom forcefully at Haisley, aiming to strike her with full force. As the broom collided with Haisley¡¯s back, she let out a sharp cry of pain, quickly moving away to avoid another strike from Whitney. ¡°You¡¯re the one who attacked me first. I haven¡¯t touched you until now. Laura can vouch for me. And don¡¯t forget, there are surveince cameras in this backyard. When Mr. Newton returns, I¡¯ll make sure to report your behavior. Just you wait and see! Get ready to be fired¡ª Ow!¡± The final cry of pain was genuine, but it wasn¡¯t caused by Whitney¡¯s blow to her back. Someone had kicked her from behind, adding to her misery. The sudden force on her back caused Haisley to lose her bnce and sprawl onto the ground. ¡°Who did that? How dare you kick me!¡± Whitney and Laura immediately turned their gaze toward the source of the force, only to find Manuel standing behind Haisley. Charles was there too, dressed as a woman? Chapter 728 Chapter 728 Haisley and Laura were taken aback by the sight of Charles dressed in a maid outfit. They couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had just returned from a cosy event. How else could they exin why a tall and wealthy CEO like him would be wearing such a short, sexy dress? Nevertheless, they couldn¡¯t deny that he looked stunning in the outfit, despite his muscr physique. His attractiveness left Haisley and Laura in awe. Manuel approached them, drawn by themotion. ¡°What¡¯s happening here? Mr. Newton and I could hear your arguments from a mile away.¡± Haisley quickly got up from the ground, the shoe print from Charles¡¯ kick still visible on her clothes. ¡°Mr. Newton, I implore you to seek justice on my behalf. She attacked me with a broom when Laura and I went over to check on her while she was cleaning up the yard. Laura can testify, and the entire incident was captured by the surveince cameras.¡± Charles remained silent as a storm brewed in his eyes. Under normal circumstances, the mere sight of his growing anger would have rendered the housekeepers too fearful to even breathe. However, Charles¡¯ unconventional appearance, dressed as a beautiful youngdy in a wig and maid outfit, seemed to have altered the usual dynamics of the situation. Ignoring Haisley, Charles directed his gaze toward Whitney, who stood furthest from them. ¡°What¡¯s your side of the story?¡± Haisley immediately red at Whitney, sending a clear warning signal for her to choose her words carefully. Whitney, however, remained unfazed as she replied, ¡°Haisley passed her task of cleaning up the yard to me and even brought Laura along, intentionally creating a mess. They scattered peanut husks everywhere and disrupted the pile of dried leaves I had swept. So I used the broom against them, and that¡¯s when you two arrived.¡± Whitney held the broom in her hand, standing tall as she recounted the series of events while conveniently omitting any mention of seeking Charles¡¯ intervention to punish Haisley and Laura. ¡°She¡¯s making baseless usations!¡± Haisley retorted immediately. ¡°I identally disturbed the pile of leaves she had swept, and Laura was simply eating peanuts. It¡¯s normal for a husk or two to drop. You heard her, Mr. Newton. She was the one who hit me first.¡± Laura nodded vigorously. ¡°That¡¯s correct, Mr. Newton. I¡¯ve been working for the Newton family for five years and have always performed my duties diligently¡­¡± Charles maintained a poker face as he listened intently. Then, in a cold tone, he asked Haisley, ¡°Did you instruct Whitney to clean up the yard this afternoon?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Newton. After all, she is a maid employed by the Newton family, so I delegated some tasks to her¡ª¡± ¡°Manuel,¡± Charles interrupted casually. ¡°What is your opinion on this matter?¡± Startled, Manuel felt goosebumps rise on his arms. He knew Charles better than Haisley and Laura, understanding that Charles asked such questions to test his loyalty and to ascertain if he had been fanning the mes behind his back. Therefore, Manuel chose to be honest with Charles. ¡°I overheard Haisley and Whitney arguing as we approached. Haisley and Laura are at fault for causing a scene and making things difficult for Whitney.¡± Haisley and Laura turned pale upon hearing this. Charles sneered and elegantly tucked the strands of wig on his left shoulder behind his back. ¡°ording to the Newtons¡¯ employment contract, how should we handle this situation?¡± ¡°For those who stir up trouble, they shall be subjected to the disciplinary measures outlined in the Newton family¡¯s code, which include being brought into the ancestral hall for tenshes, performing yard cleanup, and being dismissed from the Newton residence the following day, forever marked as cklisted individuals.¡± Haisley¡¯s and Laura¡¯s faces were drained of all color when they heard the news of their impending termination. The Newtons were known for their generous sries and bonuses for their housekeepers, but they were equally renowned for their strictness when it came to dismissals. Once cklisted, it would be impossible for these individuals to secure employment with another wealthy family in Salinsburgh ever again. Some of the smaller wealthy families who were trying to get on the Newtons¡¯ good side would even force the housekeepers who had been fired out of Salinsburgh, making it impossible for them to find a job in the city ever again. Haisley pleaded, ¡°Mr. Newton, I beseech you to reconsider firing me. I was rmended for this position by Mr. Carlos, who wishes for me to be considered as one of your potential brides. I implore you to grant me leniency this time on behalf of Mr. Carlos.¡± Charles sneered. ¡°Mr. Carlos holds no influence over my decisions. How dare you try to exert your power simply because you have someone older backing you? Increase the severity of her offenses twofold. Furthermore, someone like you is unworthy of being considered as a candidate for my bride.¡± As Charles mentioned the topic of marriage, his eyes inadvertently shifted toward Whitney, who stood motionless, her gaze lowered. Overwhelmed by fear, Haisley fell to her knees. ¡°Please, Mr. Newton, I beg you not to dismiss me. Give me another chance. My entire family is here in Salinsburgh. I just paid my rentst month. We will be devastated if I lose my job now. I implore you to show me mercy, Mr. Newton.¡± A faint smile yed at the corner of Charles¡¯ lips as he replied, ¡°I have never been known for my kindness.¡± He then looked up at Whitney and said deliberately, ¡°You should plead for forgiveness from the person you mistreated. I may consider sparing you if she is willing.¡± Haisley and Laura immediately turned their attention to Whitney, seeing her as their potential savior. Though it disgusted them to be kneeling before someone they considered beneath them, they had no choice but to seek her help in order to salvage their positions. ¡°Whitney, please save me. If I lose this job, I won¡¯t be able to stay in Salinsburgh anymore. It would be a death sentence for me. Please show me some mercy, I beg of you.¡± ¡°I deeply regret bullying you and offending you. I will do whatever you ask of me in the future. I sincerely apologize to you.¡± The two women cried out, humbling themselves and desperately tugging at Whitney¡¯s skirt. Whitney took a step back to avoid their touch. After much hesitation, she shook her head decisively. ¡°You must face the consequences of your actions. You were well aware of the repercussions of causing trouble within the Newton residence, yet you continued to bully me out of jealousy. You should have known better. I ept your apology, but I will not plead with Mr. Newton to spare you from the consequences.¡± ¡°For those who stir up trouble, they shall be subjected to the disciplinary measures outlined in the Newton family¡¯s code, which include being brought into the ancestral hall for tenshes, performing yard cleanup, and being dismissed from the Newton residence the following day, forever marked as cklisted individuals.¡± Whitney was not foolish enough to keep two conniving women like Haisley and Laura in the Newton residence. If she let them off now, they might perceive it as luck and engage in even more ruthless bullying in the future. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. People like them need to face the consequences of their actions. Haisley was stunned, as she never anticipated such a resolute rejection from Whitney. She couldn¡¯tprehend why Whitney refused to grant her forgiveness despite her humbling herself to such a low level. ¡°You¡¯re so heartless. Are you holding a grudge because I asked you to sweep the floor? Is that why you¡¯re now pushing me to my doom?¡± Whitney remained unperturbed. ¡°Why can¡¯t you survive outside of Salinsburgh? It¡¯s because you are driven by greed and materialism. You refuse to leave Salinsburgh because it is popted by wealthy individuals. Attempting to manipte me into letting you off the hook by using death as a bargaining tool, you are a wicked and foolish woman. People like you need to learn a lesson; otherwise, you will never change.¡± Whitneyid out her reasons in a clear and concise manner. Charles raised an eyebrow, observing her intently. He had assumed that Whitney, with her pure nature, would be easily deceived. Hence, he expected her to showpassion toward Haisley¡¯s plea for mercy. He never anticipated that she would possess the strength to harden her heart and reject Haisley¡¯s request, defying his perception of her as a kind and gentle woman. The yard echoed with Laura¡¯s sobs for a prolonged period; while Haisley seethed with anger over Whitney¡¯s refusal to assist her. In fact, she felt an overwhelming urge to rush over and tear Whitney apart. Realizing that Charles had no intention of granting her leniency, Haisley turned to Manuel for support. ¡°Manuel! Laura and I shouldn¡¯t be the only ones to face punishment. Whitney was the first to use violence, thus instigating the trouble as well. She should beshed in the ancestral hall and expelled from the Newton residence! I refuse to ept my punishment if Mr. Newton doesn¡¯t also punish Whitney.¡± Manuel froze, stealing a nce at Charles to gauge his stance. Charles merely sneered, ¡°What does it matter if you ept your punishment or not? Who the h*ll are you to even make such statements? Do you think you make thews here, or is it me, head of the Newton family?¡± Haisley pointed at Whitney in a fit of anger. ¡°We are both housekeepers, so you should treat us fairly. If you side with Whitney, not only will I be upset, but the entire staff in the Newton residence will also be dissatisfied with your decision.¡± Charles burst into maniacalughter. ¡°Who said she¡¯s just a housekeeper?¡± He walked over to Whitney and lifted her in a bridal-style embrace, leaving Whitney in shock. ¡°Mr. Newton, you¡­¡± Whitney was taken aback by his sudden actions. Charles nced down at Haisley, who was still on the ground, and said, ¡°I had nned to announce this news tonight, but it won¡¯t hurt for you two to find out in advance.¡± With a solemn expression, he pronounced, ¡°Whitney is not just my housekeeper; she is Mrs. Newton. We signed the marriage papers a few days ago.¡± Everyone in the courtyard, including Manuel, widened their eyes in surprise at that. Chapter 729 Chapter 729 Whitney unconsciously tightened her grip around his neck as her cheeks blushed. She felt a sense of joy as he naturally referred to her as his wife. The experience was both real and dreamy. Manuel was the first to snap out of his daze among the three people. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Congrattions, Mr. Newton! Congrattions, Whit¡ªWait, that¡¯s not it. I meant Ms. Mel¡ªMrs. Newton!¡± Haisley red at Whitney, who was in Charles¡¯ embrace. Her heart clenched from intense envy, and her mind went nk from anger. In her eyes, Whitney was no better than her. In fact, Whitney¡¯s educational background was worse than hers. The former¡¯s only redeeming qualities were probably her beauty and good figure. Yet, Charles chose to marry Whitney. Before long, Haisley noticed something was off. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! If that¡¯s really the case, why didn¡¯t she say so when I asked her before this? Even she herself imed she was your personal maid.¡± Charles exined, ¡°During the first two days of our marriage, I upset her, so she was messing with me. It¡¯s how we spice up our marriage. Do you think you have a say in this?¡± Haisley couldn¡¯t find a suitable retort to that. Laura¡¯s cries grew louder as a wave of despair and remorse engulfed her. ¡°If only I had known that Whitney was Mrs. Newton, I would have never singled her out with Haisley. I¡¯ve learned from my mistake!¡± Charles was tired of listening to their noisyints. He carried Whitney into the vi and said, ¡°Manuel, punish them with the maximum penalty ording to the contract. Plus, order them to pack up their things and leave the Newton residence tonight. I don¡¯t want to see them again after this.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Charles left while carrying Whitney in his arms without sparing another backward nce at both sobbing women. Whitney quietly nestled in his embrace. asionally, she would lift her head to peek at him. It feels great to be protected by him! How wonderful it¡¯ll be if he continues to be nice like this! Whitney tentatively reached out and gently pinched Charles¡¯ soft cheek to confirm if he was real. Charles lowered his gaze. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Mr. Newton¡¯s female disguise¡­ is so convincing. I almost believed you were a woman.¡± Charles arched his brow coldly. ¡°Do I look pretty?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Whitney nodded seriously. ¡°If I were a man, I¡¯d definitely fall for you. You¡¯re gorgeous and even more good-looking than me when seen from far away.¡± Charles snickered. ¡°You¡¯re making it sound like I¡¯m not handsome when dressed as a man and that you prefer me in a female disguise.¡± Whitney¡¯s cheeks flushed again. I¡¯ve fallen for the original male version of him since a long time ago. In fact, I¡¯m head over heels in love with him. ¡°You look very handsome and dignified when d in a suit and leather shoes, like a sacred prince.¡± Although Charles had grown ustomed to receivingpliments all the time, being praised by his ¡°wife¡± still made him feel proud. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯d never seen me dressed in my military uniform. I look much better in my military uniform than in suit and leather shoes.¡± He earned the nickname ¡°Adonis in uniform¡± during his time at the Central Intelligence Agency because of his captivating looks while wearing military attire. Thebination of his exquisitely chiseled face and his military uniform made him iparably handsome. ¡°I hope I get the chance to see you in your military uniform in the future, Mr. Newton.¡± Whitney¡¯s anticipation was genuine. ¡°Why don¡¯t you wear it anymore then?¡± she asked. Unexpectedly, her casual question soured his mood, causing his expression to turn frosty. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Whitney wondered if she¡¯d touched on a sensitive topic when Charles set her down on the second-floor landing with a grim look. Perplexed by his sudden action, she asked, ¡°Have I said something wrong, Mr. Newton?¡± He didn¡¯t answer her and replied coldly, ¡°Go and get changed in your room. Choose something in, thene to the dining room for a meal with us.¡± With that, he turned around and went to the small study upstairs to resume his work. She stared at his back and felt terror clenching her heart when she recalled his icy gaze. It seems I don¡¯t understand Charles¡¯ past well enough. I have to find a chance to ask Manuel about it, in case I upset him by saying something I shouldn¡¯t. However, I can¡¯t deny that he really does look beautiful when dressed as a woman. Up close, his Adam¡¯s apple might seem more pronounced than a woman¡¯s, but he still looks¡­ hot. She smacked herself on the forehead to stop herself from fantasizing about the man and went into her room to change her clothes. The news of Charles defending Whitney in public, disciplining Haisley and Laura, dismissing the two from their positions, and dering Whitney as Mrs. Newton had spread rapidly throughout the entire Newton residence in less than an hour. Everyone in the Newton residence caught wind of it except for Lucas, who had just returned home. During dinner, Jasmine stared at Whitney, smiling from ear to ear, as if she had seen through everything long ago. tes of exquisite-looking dishes spread across the long, white table. However, since Charles didn¡¯t pick up his cutlery, the rest kept their hands to themselves and sat cautiously. When Lucas¡¯ favorite dish, cheesy mashed potatoes, was set on the table, he immediately said, ¡°Charles, what big news are you nning to announce? Hurry up and say it, or the food will get cold. I¡¯m already famished.¡± ¡°You look very handsome and dignified when d in a suit and leather shoes, like a sacred prince.¡± ¡°In that case, let¡¯s dig in first. It¡¯s something about our family, so we can just keep things casual.¡± Charles picked up his spoon and took a sip of soup. Seeing he finally dug in, Jasmine and Lucas picked up their cutleries and began eating too. It was Whitney¡¯s first time attending such an extravagant dinner, so she wasn¡¯t entirely clear about the rules. She kept her gaze fixed on Charles and followed his lead, observing which hand he used to hold the spoon and whether he picked up the bowl to drink the soup, mimicking his every move. When the atmosphere in the dining hall turned somewhat rxed and Whitney was more at ease, Charles abruptly started, ¡°The news I¡¯m about to share tonight is a personal matter of mine¡ªI¡¯m married.¡± Cough! Lucas was so surprised that he almost spewed the soup in his mouth. He quickly dabbed his lips with a napkin and asked a series of questions in shock, ¡°You¡¯re married? When did this happen? Why didn¡¯t I hear about it before? Who are you married to?¡± Jasmine suppressed herughter, her eyes yfully darting between Whitney and Lucas. ¡°Come on, Lucas, can¡¯t you put two and two together? Mrs. Newton is right here in front of you!¡± Only then did Lucas direct his gaze to Whitney, who had been trying to diminish her existence. Whitney shed him a bashful yet polite smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t she¡­ your¡­¡± Personal maid? Charles exined, ¡°The morning after I brought Whitney back to the Newton residence, we went straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register our marriage. I kept it a secret from all of you because it was a hasty decision. Now that our rtionship has settled down, I thought it was time to inform everyone.¡± Lucas nodded understandingly. ¡°This is great news! Congrattions, Whitney! The Newton family is now your family. Treat this ce as your new home, and consider us your family members. If you encounter any difficulties, you can always approach Manuel and the housekeepers for assistance. And if you have any doubts or questions, feel free to ask me.¡± He smiled amicably at her. ¡°Thank you, Lucas.¡± Whitney appreciated the weing atmosphere within the Newton family. Without restrictions from their elders, the youngsters were very easygoing and approachable. Unfortunately, she knew that such a warm and weing family wouldn¡¯t be a part of her life for long. Mncholy shed across her eyes at the thought before she buried her head in her food. Lucas noticed the look in her eyes and asked, ¡°Charles, when are you nning to hold the wedding since you¡¯ve already registered your marriage? We can¡¯t treat her poorly after she¡¯s married into our family, right? She deserves a grand wedding!¡± Chapter 730 Chapter 730 Charles¡¯ hand froze mid-air as he lifted the bowl of soup. He did not reply. Whitney stole nces at his expression. Recalling that one of the uses in the marriage contract was to keep their union a secret from the public, she thoughtfully said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t care that much about weddings. As long as both of us genuinely love each other, all that matters is that we can spend the rest of our lives together. We can skip the traditional customs and focus on building a life together. Furthermore, Charles is busy with work. He doesn¡¯t have time to n the wedding.¡± Lucas sighed, ¡°You¡¯re such a nice and pragmatic person¡ªdown-to-earth and frugal. You¡¯re not like those pampered rich girls out there who are so spoiled.¡± Jasmine grew upset when she heard that. ¡°What are you talking about, Lucas? Who are you calling spoiled?¡± She was one of the rich girls Lucas was criticizing, and she was sitting right there. This is so insulting! Lucas chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Haha! I wasn¡¯t talking about you. Don¡¯t take it personally.¡± Charles, who had been sitting at the end of the table quietly, chimed in, ¡°Well, he¡¯s not entirely wrong. Jasmine has always been pampered in our family. She¡¯s our adorable little princess.¡± The praise made Jasmine feel delighted, as if she had overtaken Jennifer¡¯s ce in Charles¡¯ heart. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Charles!¡± she said yfully, winking at him and forming a heart with her fingers. Charles merely smiled and kept on eating. Lucas nced at his younger siblings before turning his attention back to Whitney, continuing the previous topic, ¡°Whitney, we understand that you¡¯re considerate of Charles, but I believe that skipping the wedding would be unfair to you.¡± He became enthusiastic as an idea popped into his head. ¡°Why don¡¯t we announce the news of your marriage on Newton Group¡¯s official website? We can n a proper weddingter when Charles has some free time.¡± The expression on Whitney¡¯s face froze. Is the dinner discussion only going to revolve around my wedding? ¡°What do you think, Charles?¡± Lucas looked at Charles, who was eating with his head lowered. His azure eyes betrayed no emotions. ¡°I¡¯m fine with everything. I¡¯ll let my wife decide.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Lucasughed before asking Whitney, ¡°Look, Whitney! Charles has agreed.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Whitney tightened her grip on the fork. By saying that, Charles was implying that the decision should be made ording to the marriage contract¡¯s conditions. Faced with Lucas¡¯ enthusiasm and the tough decision Charles had just thrown her way, Whitney was at a loss for what to do. She shot Charles a nce, imploring him to help. However, Charles was eating his food attentively, acting like an outsider who had nothing to do with this issue. He seemed content to let Whitney handle it as she sees fit. She bit her lower lip and contemted. Noticing the troubled look on Whitney¡¯s face, Jasmine quickly realized the situation and spoke up on her behalf. ¡°Lucas, give her a break! You¡¯re making her shy. It¡¯s our first formal introduction, and you¡¯re bombarding her with so many questions. Stop being so annoying!¡± Lucas was stunned. ¡°But I¡¯m doing this for her!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you think, but her hometown is somewhere else! Her rtives aren¡¯t here, and they probably don¡¯t even know she¡¯s married. Since she¡¯s not keen on making the marriage public or having a wedding, there must be reasons behind her decision. This matter is between Charles and her, so stop meddling in it!¡± Jasmine retorted firmly, defending Whitney¡¯s right to keep things private. Words eluded Lucas. Jasmine continued, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s not a big deal if we don¡¯t have the wedding. Charles and Whitney can simply go on a vacation together. It¡¯s quite popr among youngsters these days. Besides, I remember Gwendolyn and Mr. Jenson still haven¡¯t had a wedding, and their child is already five years old! They probably aren¡¯t nning to hold one. I wonder if Gwendolyn will ever have a chance to don a wedding gown. I heard that she didn¡¯t even have a wedding for her first marriage; she simply snapped a photo while wearing a wedding gown.¡± Jasmine grew increasingly excited as she spoke, but Charles¡¯ expression turned grim. He mmed his fork on the table forcefully before rising to his feet and leaving. ¡°I¡¯m full. Enjoy your meal.¡± He strode toward the staircase and disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight within a minute. Jasmine shook her head, muttering to herself, ¡°I can¡¯t believe Charles! So many years have passed and he¡¯s even married now, yet he still can¡¯t bear to hear me talk about what Gwendolyn missed out on in life.¡± Whitney noticed something amiss in her words. ¡°Jasmine, does this Gwendolyn have a special rtionship with Mr¡­ I mean, Charles? Why is he so sensitive about what you said?¡± Whitney inquired, curious about the dynamics between Charles and Gwendolyn. Jasmine smiled awkwardly. ¡°I almost forgot that you, his rightful wife, are sitting next to me. It¡¯s all in the past. They¡¯re just childhood friends. It¡¯s nothing important.¡± Childhood friends? Whitney fell into deep thought. She shot Charles a nce, imploring him to help. If that woman is the reason behind Charles¡¯ ever-changing moods, she¡¯s definitely important! When Jasmine noticed Whitney lost in thought, she kindly served some food onto Whitney¡¯s te, trying to make up for her slip of the tongue. She continued, ¡°Try this, Whitney. I think you¡¯ll love it. Don¡¯t dwell on Charles and his childhood friend. It¡¯s not that significant. He chose to marry you, which means his heart belongs to you now.¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± Lucas covered his mouth and coughed loudly. What nonsense is she spouting? She¡¯s just making it worse! ¡°Ignore her, Whitney. She¡¯s just talking nonsense. Eat up! The Newton residence¡¯s chefs are as good as those in award-winning restaurants. Eat more! Take your time and savor all the dishes.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lucas.¡± Whitney continued eating and stopped thinking about the matter. However, she secretly remembered Gwendolyn¡¯s name. Charles was still working in the study when it was already ten at night. Holding a ss of freshly pressed orange juice, Whitney knocked on the study¡¯s door. ¡°Come in,¡± he replied in a calm and pleasant voice. Whitney gently pushed the door open and ced the ss of juice on his desk. ¡°Thank you for your help in the courtyard today, Mr. Newton. I¡¯ll be more careful in the future and try not to cause any trouble for you in the Newton residence.¡± Charles stopped typing on the keyboard. He looked upward and nced at her. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I didn¡¯t think that you caused any trouble. It¡¯s just that I found it a bit strange. Considering how you handled the situation today, you don¡¯t strike me as someone who will tolerate unfair treatment. Why did you follow Haisley¡¯s instructions when she ordered you to clean the courtyard?¡± Whitney fiddled with the hem of her dress. ¡°She said that I shouldn¡¯t bezing around in your room just because I¡¯m your personal housekeeper. Since you¡¯ve already introduced me as your housekeeper, I should keep up with the act. After all, all the other housekeepers were working while I was in the room. That¡¯s why I went. I didn¡¯t expect her to pick on me so tantly.¡± Her exnation made perfect sense. Observing her, Charles noticed her fidgeting nervously. Suddenly, a mischievous idea crossed his mind. While she was distracted, he abruptly reached out and grabbed her arms. Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms, settling herfortably on hisp. Startled, Whitney locked eyes with him, and her cheeks flushed as her mind wentpletely nk. ¡°Mr. Newton?¡± Chapter 731 Chapter 731 Charles smirked. ¡°Are you suggesting that it¡¯s my fault for not revealing your true identity in the Newton residence earlier? Are you ming me for telling them that you¡¯re a housekeeper, which resulted in Haisley and the rest bullying you?¡± ¡°No¡­ That never crossed my mind.¡± He chuckled, a mischievous glimmer dancing in his eyes. ¡°You hesitated.¡± ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t,¡± insisted Whitney helplessly. ¡°You¡¯re obviously lying.¡± She chose to remain silent, feeling a tad annoyed. With her naturally golden hair and captivating emerald eyes, Whitney¡¯s face exuded a pristine charm, resembling that of a delicate doll. Despite her frustrated expression, her cheeks puffed up cutely. She¡¯s quite adorable. Unable to hold himself back, Charles burst outughing. Why didn¡¯t I realize how entertaining Whitney can be? I didn¡¯t know I could tease my wife like this. It¡¯s hard not to be charmed by how adorable she is when she¡¯s trying to suppress her anger. His longshes fluttered as his gaze unintentionally fell upon Whitney¡¯s soft alluring lips. He couldn¡¯t quite exin why, but Whitney seemed to grow more pleasing to the eye by the day. The more he looked at her, the more beautiful she appeared in his eyes. Unconsciously, he found himself leaning closer to her, drawing nearer to her lips. Perhaps, it¡¯s not bad to have such an amusing and pretty wife. If Whitney continues to behave herself, we can always renew the contract when the one-year marriage period is up. For the first time ever, such a thought crossed his mind. Slowly, he found himself drawn closer to Whitney. The two were just mere inches away from each other, and Whitney could feel Charles¡¯ warm breath. His every breath seemed to be filled with lust, causing a tingling sensation on her cheeks and skin. It felt like his warmth could permeate her bloodstream, setting her entire body aze. As his lips drew closer, Whitney found herself so nervous that she held her breath, fidgeting restlessly on hisp. Is Charles going to¡­ kiss me? Perhaps, experiencing his tenderness will leave me with some precious memories even after we divorce. It doesn¡¯t sound all too bad¡­ In aplete daze, she closed her eyes, not wanting to disrupt the inexplicable atmosphere between them. However, just before their lips could touch, Charles paused and asked softly, ¡°You¡¯ve been looking at your phone quite oftentely. What¡¯s keeping you so busy?¡± Thispletely unrted conversation disrupted the atmosphere. Whitney opened her eyes and saw Charles leaning back in his chair, maintaining a measured distance from her. He never intended to kiss her, and she was merely being delusional. As a result, her ears burned from embarrassment. ¡°D-Didn¡¯t I already tell you? I¡¯ve been looking for a job.¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t found one?¡± She nodded, her voice reflecting a tinge of frustration as she grumbled, ¡°Your expectations are too high, Mr. Newton. No drinking or socializing, no revealing outfits, no staying outte at night¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about your safety.¡± He raised his eyebrows, wearing a half-smile. ¡°But how much longer do you n on sitting on myp?¡± Realization struck Whitney like a bolt of lightning, prompting her to swiftly bounce up from Charles¡¯p, as if she were avoiding the gue. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Charles was at a loss for words. She didn¡¯t have to react like that. His gaze drifted down to his legs, where Whitney¡¯s warmth still seemed to linger. This woman¡¯s figure is quite¡­ sexy. ¡°Well¡­¡± Whitney fidgeted with her fingers nervously. ¡°I came to bring you a ss of juice and express my gratitude. Now that I¡¯ve said what I needed to, I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± replied Charles casually. Turning on her heels, Whitney hurriedly fled, burying her flushed face in her palms. As the door closed behind her, the room fell into silence, leaving Charles alone again. Absentmindedly, he gazed at his right palm. When he had reached out to pull Whitney into his arms earlier, his right hand rested on her waist. Her waist was remarkably slender, yet astonishingly soft to the touch. His throat suddenly felt parched, and an unusual feeling of passion began to rise within him. He had known Gwendolyn for many years, but ever since they bid goodbye to their youth, he had never held her again. No matter how much he yearned to embrace her, that possibility was forever out of reach now that she was Cedrick¡¯s wife. Whitney was the first woman he had been so intimately close to since his youth. Lost in his thoughts, he fixed his gaze on his palm. After a while, the sound of an email notification on hisputer finally snapped him back to reality. Recalling what Whitney said about finding a job, Charles picked up his phone and sent a message to his assistant. Then, he fully immersed himself in his work. Meanwhile, Nico was howling pathetically at the Jenson residence the moment he woke up. Feeling like her eardrums were bursting, Summer pped his head. ¡°Stop wailing! It¡¯s just putting on makeup. Do you really have to act like it¡¯s the end of the world? It won¡¯t kill you!¡± Nico shut his mouth, his handsome face disying an aggrieved expression. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°I¡¯m a grown man, and I¡¯m being forced to wear contact lenses, draw eyeliner, apply lipstick, and even stick on false eyshes! I might as well die!¡± ¡°D-Didn¡¯t I already tell you? I¡¯ve been looking for a job.¡± Summer was on the brink of losing her temper. ¡°You¡¯re hopeless! Serves you right for remaining single your whole life!¡± Nico chuckled warmly and wrapped his arms around Summer¡¯s waist. ¡°I don¡¯t need to look for a wife anymore. I already have one. I¡¯ve been taking care of her for nearly two years.¡± Summer pouted. ¡°You¡¯re the one who paid for the betrothal gift and the dowry. You also handle the family¡¯s finances! In the end, you are the one who pocketed everything. What an intricate n!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the biggest winner here, okay? I may be handling the finances, but you¡¯re managing me! Doesn¡¯t that make everything yours?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Summer chuckled and continued applying his makeup. After all, the thought of getting a divorce had never crossed her mind. Since Nico had married her, she was determined to stick with him for life. Twenty minutester, Summer finished applying the makeup, putting the final touches in ce. ¡°Ta-da! My husband looks absolutely stunning with makeup on! It¡¯s all thanks to your natural features!¡± She excitedly held up a mirror in front of Nico, allowing him to admire his reflection. He nced into the mirror and saw himself with two neatly tied ponytails and makeup so exquisite that it concealed every pore. Even hisplexion appeared fairer than usual. The eyeliner and fake eyshes made his eyes appear more prominent and captivating than before, while the bright lipstick gave his lips a dewy and youthful charm. As he pouted, he exuded an irresistible appeal. He was in utter shock. ¡°Is this¡­ me?¡± Summerughed so hard that she doubled over. ¡°Of course it¡¯s you! Well? What do you think of my skills? You look stunning, don¡¯t you?¡± Nico had never seen himself like that before, and he had to admit that he looked pretty. This is fun! After yesterday¡¯s experience, he seemed much more natural and graceful in the maid outfit today. Summer couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. ¡°You know, men either never cross-dress in their lives or be absolutely addicted to it after trying it once. Perhaps, you¡¯ll be so enamored with cross- dressing by the end of the month that I¡¯ll lose a husband and gain a girl bestie instead!¡± Nico flicked her forehead. ¡°What are you thinking? I¡¯ll never get addicted or be your girl bestie!¡± After thinking about it, he added, ¡°But I can be your buddy.¡± Summer red at him. Instead of being angry, she teased, ¡°That sounds fine to me. But I wonder if a straight man like you can handle it if I¡¯m at the top!¡± With that, she stared at Nico¡¯s miniskirt and pped his perky butt yfully. Nico froze as a grim expression crossed his face. Chapter 732 Chapter 732 He suppressed his discontent and muttered softly, ¡°I treated you as my wife, and you actually want to be my sister?¡± Summer chuckled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who proposed that?¡± Nico was confused. Did I say that? Why don¡¯t I remember anything? Summer quickly interrupted his thought and pushed him toward the door. ¡°Oh,e on! Let¡¯s not dwell on this small matter. Don¡¯t you realize what time it is? Aren¡¯t you supposed to go to theboratory today to clean the toilets?¡± It was only then that Nico snapped back to his senses and promptly checked the time. He was almostte! ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head out now. I¡¯ll skip breakfast. Get Logan to send you to workter.¡± ¡°Save the trouble. I can drive.¡± Nico and Charles arrived at theboratory almost at the same time. Since it was an open-air parking lot, they parked their cars in the opposite direction. However, they met each other at the entrance of theboratory. Charles took several nces at Nico before recognizing him. After briefly sizing Nico up, Charles silently gave him a thumbs-up. ¡°Impressive, you¡¯re even doing makeup now. It seems like you take cross-dressing very seriously, even if you¡¯re only here to clean the toilets.¡± Nico remained silent. Nico was filled with grievances but had nowhere to vent. Snorting arrogantly, he took the lead in entering theboratory. He never wanted to take cross-dressing seriously. If possible, he would rather do nothing all day. He hoped Zendaya and Benedict would lose all interest in cross-dressing him and focus on Charles instead. Unfortunately, Cedrick made him dress up because of his own desire to win over his rival in love. This is too much! Charles watched as Nico walked with an oddly masculine stride in his super-short skirt and dark face. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and followed Nico into theboratory. Since it was still early, Benedict wasn¡¯t sent to the kindergarten for his intravenous drip yet. Following the schedule they had fixed yesterday, the two started to clean the toilets. With the experience from the previous day, they worked much faster today. By the time Benedict arrived at theboratory for his intravenous drip, they had already cleaned two toilets. Since it was a holiday today, Zendaya didn¡¯t have to go to kindergarten. She came along to keep her brotherpany on his intravenous drip. She also wanted to check on Charles and Nico. ¡°Wow!¡± Zendaya¡¯s exaggerated exmation echoed across the building. Nico felt his legs went weak. ¡°Keep it down, Zendy. Save me some pride.¡± Excited, Zendaya approached him and hugged his leg. ¡°Uncle Nico, you look as beautiful as a fairy today!¡± A wry smile tugged at the corners of Nico¡¯s mouth. ¡°Fairies are supposed to be delicate. Have you ever seen a fairy who is as tall and big as I am?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Zendaya took out her phone and eagerly started a photo session. ¡°Uncle Nico, lift your hands!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Lift your legs too. Stick out your booty too. It¡¯ll look better!¡± Nico was speechless. Every time he was being photographed, he wished he could just die on the spot. After almost half an hour, Zendaya was finally leaving. Heaving a sigh of relief, Nico said, ¡°Go find your Uncle Charles. Take more photos of him and make sure he strikes more alluring poses. He has to be better than me!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Zendaya happily skipped away and headed on her way to torment Charles. Soon, noon arrived. Nico was scrolling his phone during lunch break when he unexpectedly discovered that Zendaya had once again uploaded Charles and his cross-dressing photos. Not only that, the photos went viral due to the consecutive updates, and he ended up on the trending topic. His maid outfit with makeup garnered more attention than Charles¡¯. Many people on the inte were calling him a fairy. Nico covered his face. He never expected he would be a trending topic because of cross- dressing. Thepetitiveness he had developed from the military training days had vanished instantly. He only felt like cking off now. He was forced to cross-dress and get caught up in the trend. He was sick of it. Feeling utterly discontented, he decisively dialed Cedrick¡¯s number. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± On the other end of the call, Cedrick¡¯s voice remained asposed as ever. Nico stayed silent. He had prepared himself mentally to be scolded and even nned to give Cedrick a good piece of his mind. However, his courage quickly wavered when he heard Cedrick¡¯s seemingly casual butmanding voice. Laughing awkwardly, he ttered Cedrick as usual. ¡°Cedrick, did you see the trending topic?¡± ¡°Yes. You did a great job.¡± That was it? Was a half-heartedpliment all Cedrick could say? Nico felt dissatisfied. ¡°Cedrick, you¡¯re enjoying the show, but I¡¯m suffering. I¡¯m a straight guy, but I¡¯m not sure if I will still be one in a few days.¡± Cedrick, who was typing on his keyboard, chuckled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re already married. Can you suddenly be gay?¡± Nico was speechless. That wasn¡¯t what he meant. He tried to hint. ¡°Cedrick, this cross-dressing thing started only because you wanted to beat Charles. Now that we¡¯re seeing some results, shouldn¡¯t I get somepensation as your poor pawn?¡± As he spoke, his voice became weaker. ¡°How about Jenson Group giving you a bonus from the annual profit?¡± ¡°Amazing!¡± Nico instantly regained his confidence. ¡°Well, Cedrick, you can get back to work! I¡¯ll continue cleaning the toilets! I just lovebor work!¡± Cedrick was speechless. Nico and Charles spent another whole day cleaning toilets. Soon, afternoon arrived, and the two guys had be skilled in cleaning toilets. They finished their job an hour earlier than expected. After receiving a phone call, Nico took the initiative to approach Charles. ¡°We got a task at the bureau tonight and need someone to be the mole. Up for the task?¡± Charles calmly declined. ¡°I can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°You have to! You lost the bet, so you¡¯re my sidekick,¡± Nico pressed in a firm tone with a cigarette between his lips and a provocative gaze. With his outfit, he looked like a sassydy. Charles fell momentarily silent. ¡°What do I need to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. You¡¯ll disguise yourself as a woman and go to a bar. I¡¯ll be in contact with you remotely. You need to find a specific table and keep an eye on a suspect. He¡¯s very cautious, and Federal Bureau of Investigation has tried to catch him three times, but they couldn¡¯t get any evidence. I need you to take the risk and get close to him. Try to find some incriminating evidence on him before he bes aware.¡± Having been the former head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Charles understood the task after Nico¡¯s brief exnation. However, Nico kept sizing Charles up after he finished speaking. Confused, Charles asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Your outfit doesn¡¯t suit the bar, and your chest is too t. It¡¯s not sexy enough. We need to dress you up.¡± Charles was really speechless. He covered his chest and gave Nico a cold, fierce re. He could onlyply with Nico¡¯s orders because he lost the bet. Night fell. The bustling nightlife of the city came to life. Nico removed his makeup and changed back into regr men¡¯s clothing. Then, he took Charles out for shopping. Assuming they were a couple, all the shop assistants along the way were staring at them. Charles was wearing a mask and a hat. Hence, no one recognized him, although he was trending on the inte recently. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Half an hourter, Nico carefully selected an outfit and bought him a set of sexy clubbing attire. The super short, gold-colored, sequin-studded mini skirtplemented Charles¡¯ fair skin perfectly. He looked like a different person now. After making their choices, the shop assistant entered each item into the system and softly said, ¡°Sir, your totales to eighty-eight thousand eight hundred eighty-eight bucks. Will you be paying with a credit card?¡± Nico subconsciously touched his wallet in his pocket. Realizing that he wasn¡¯t buying clothes for Summer, he decisively frowned and turned to look at Charles, who was trying to walk in high heels. He waved at him. ¡°Come over here and pay up.¡± Chapter 733 Chapter 733 Charles, who was learning to walk in heels as quickly as he could, nearly fell. Scowling, he cast Nico a stern look. ¡°What?¡± Thetter was perplexed. Even the salesgirl at the counter was watching him. He takes his girlfriend out shopping yet asks her to pay for it herself! Instinctively, the salesgirl took a closer look at Nico. Having initially found him handsome, she was beginning to think he was a scoundrel. Meanwhile, sensing the salesgirl¡¯s gaze on him, Nico gave an awkward smile. As he couldn¡¯te clean about Charles being a man lest they were both branded as perverts, he could only exin, ¡°She holds all my money. I don¡¯t have a penny on me.¡± In an instant, the salesgirl¡¯s eyes shone, and sheplimented, ¡°What a good man you are, sir. Miss, you¡¯re really lucky to be with a man who makes good money and lets you spend it.¡± Nico felt like he was on cloud nine. To Summer, he was indeed a good husband. He then looked at Charles once more, shooting thetter a signal to quickly get over here and pay up. Charles gazed stonily back at him. He thought this money should be his reimbursement for dressing as a woman to be the contact for Nico¡¯s mission. Nico¡¯s actually making me take the fall for it! Is he nning to use the receipt to im reimbursement after going back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation? What a calctive fellow. Though Charles was not short on money, he was not going to foot the bill generously every time. Giving a light cough, he adjusted his voice andined in that sweet, high-pitched tone again, ¡°What are you talking about? I have nothing left. I gave you my entire paycheck when I got paid, didn¡¯t I? You said your wife wanted to buy a diamond ne, and I paid for that.¡± All of the salesgirls in the vicinity immediately looked scandalized. He¡­ has a wife? So, their rtionship is adulterous? The salesgirl who had a favorable impression of Nico earlier grimaced at once. Sc*mbag! He¡¯s a cheating sc*mbag! All of a sudden, the group of salesgirls started looking at Charles differently, too. How low can you go to date somebody, knowing full well that he has a wife? This sc*mbag couple is truly a match made in heaven. What a pity that two people as good-looking as they are turned out rotten to the core. In the few short minutes after Charles spoke, the salesgirls already painted a vivid mental image of a dramatic story. Nico was rendered speechless. The atmosphere turned tense, bing so ufortable that it sent shivers down his spine. At that moment, he wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole. He shot Charles a venomous re. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± he hissed, gritting his teeth. Charles raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. His blue eyes twinkled wickedly. Cherles, who wes leerning to welk in heels es quickly es he could, neerly fell. Scowling, he cest Nico e stern look. ¡°Whet?¡± The letter wes perplexed. Even the selesgirl et the counter wes wetching him. He tekes his girlfriend out shopping yet esks her to pey for it herself! Instinctively, the selesgirl took e closer look et Nico. Heving initielly found him hendsome, she wes beginning to think he wes e scoundrel. Meenwhile, sensing the selesgirl¡¯s geze on him, Nico geve en ewkwerd smile. As he couldn¡¯te cleen ebout Cherles being e men lest they were both brended es perverts, he could only explein, ¡°She holds ell my money. I don¡¯t heve e penny on me.¡± In en instent, the selesgirl¡¯s eyes shone, end sheplimented, ¡°Whet e good men you ere, sir. Miss, you¡¯re reelly lucky to be with e men who mekes good money end lets you spend it.¡± Nico felt like he wes on cloud nine. To Summer, he wes indeed e good husbend. He then looked et Cherles once more, shooting the letter e signel to quickly get over here end pey up. Cherles gezed stonily beck et him. He thought this money should be his reimbursement for dressing es e women to be the contect for Nico¡¯s mission. Nico¡¯s ectuelly meking me teke the fell for it! Is he plenning to use the receipt to cleim reimbursement efter going beck to the Federel Bureeu of Investigetion? Whet e celculetive fellow. Though Cherles wes not short on money, he wes not going to foot the bill generously every time. Giving e light cough, he edjusted his voice endpleined in thet sweet, high-pitched tone egein, ¡°Whet ere you telking ebout? I heve nothing left. I geve you my entire peycheck when I got peid, didn¡¯t I? You seid your wife wented to buy e diemond necklece, end I peid for thet.¡± All of the selesgirls in the vicinity immedietely looked scendelized. He¡­ hes e wife? So, their reletionship is edulterous? The selesgirl who hed e fevoreble impression of Nico eerlier grimeced et once. Sc*mbeg! He¡¯s e cheeting sc*mbeg! All of e sudden, the group of selesgirls sterted looking et Cherles differently, too. How low cen you go to dete somebody, knowing full well thet he hes e wife? This sc*mbeg couple is truly e metch mede in heeven. Whet e pity thet two people es good-looking es they ere turned out rotten to the core. In the few short minutes efter Cherles spoke, the selesgirls elreedy peinted e vivid mentel imege of e dremetic story. Nico wes rendered speechless. The etmosphere turned tense, bing so uforteble thet it sent shivers down his spine. At thet moment, he wished the ground would open up end swellow him whole. He shot Cherles e venomous glere. ¡°Whet nonsense ere you telking ebout?¡± he hissed, gritting his teeth. Cherles reised en eyebrow, unperturbed. His blue eyes twinkled wickedly. Does he think he can trick me every single day, and I won¡¯t return the favor? In his dreams! Covering his face in feigned embarrassment, he squeaked, ¡°Quickly pay up! You¡¯re the one who said your wife is going back to her parents¡¯ ce today, which is why you took me out for a shopping spree on your treat. Why am I the one footing the bill now? Hurry up! You¡¯re seriously embarrassing me!¡± Nico looked as if he was trudging toward his execution. D*mn it! Why is Charles¡¯ girly voice so meek andpelling? As his skills of disguise were not as adept as Charles¡¯, Nico could only be forced to suck it up. Producing his wallet with the utmost reluctance, he handed the salesgirl his card. ¡°Remember to issue a receipt. Price it at one hundred thousand.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do that, sir. We can only issue ording to your expenditure, which we will give you a physical copy right away. Should you require it, an electronic copy can be sent to you via email after the transaction as well.¡± What impable service. He was lost for words. Now that his hopes of having Cedrick foot the bill were dashed, Nico could only watch sullenly as he was charged a grand total of eighty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight and ny cents. His brows were so furrowed that it looked as if he was in actual agony. On the contrary, seated behind, Charles watched the proceedings with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes and a wicked smile on his lips. The salesgirl handed Nico the physical receipt with both hands. ¡°Thank you for your purchase, sir. Have a good day.¡± Go cause trouble at another boutique next time. Don¡¯te back again! We don¡¯t wee cheating couples. Nico was fuming after being subjected to such an antic by Charles. Dissatisfied with the type of impression he had left, he tried to rify matters to the salesgirls before leaving. ¡°Don¡¯t believe a word she said, as she¡¯s not quite right in the head. She gets me into trouble all the time whenever wee out.¡± While speaking, he gestured resignedly at his own head. The salesgirl smiled awkwardly. ¡°These are your private affairs. Please don¡¯t worry; we won¡¯t tell a soul.¡± I can¡¯t exin myself out of this one. Nico suppressed his ire and looked back to glower at Charles. ¡°I¡¯ve paid the bill. Get your ass up and go!¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Charles chirped in his nauseating nasal voice. It irritated Nico to such an extent that he truly wanted to punch Charles. The evening mission began smoothly. Charles¡¯ outfit was simply too alluring. It was a tight-fitting, ultra-short dress with puffy sleeves that perfectly shielded the toned muscles on his arms. He even wore a corset that wrapped tightly around his abdomen, making it incredibly hard for him to breathe. As the capture mission hadmenced, however, he did not have time to catch a breath. All he could do was demonstrate the disguising skills he had learned at the Central Intelligence Agency while striding down the aisle of the bar with exceeding professionalism. In the meantime, men and women on both sides shot asional nces at him. For one thing, his face was genuinely too gorgeous. For another, his tall, slender figure¡ªdespite the impable disguise¡ªultimately made him look more muscr than the average woman. In fact, he towered over most men. That was why it was difficult for him not to draw attention to himself. Due to that, he, once again, captured the attention of everyone in the bar¡¯s private room, which Nico had informed in advance, the moment he entered. The leader among the people had arge, round face and an undercut hairstyle. With his protruding beer belly, he resembled a middle-aged slippery character. Charles pretty much frowned at once, confronted by the distinct impression that his target looked uncannily like a bulb of garlic. After hastily putting that thought aside, he stood timidly by the door and hung his head with feigned shyness. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he simpered. ¡°I went to use thedies¡¯ and seem to have entered the wrong room.¡± Joe Landon, who was seated at the head of the couch, beckoned him in immediately. ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, pretty, let¡¯s hang out. Come in for a drink before you go.¡± ¡°Would that really be okay?¡± ¡°No worries. Everybody here is friendly.¡± Charles then found himself pulled inside by two beaming men before being shoved into the seat beside Joe. Thetter assessed him from head to toe before looking into his unique blue eyes. ¡°Would you like beer, white, or red wine? We have everything.¡± Charles took a gander at a man smoking in the corner and answered, ¡°I¡¯d like a smoke, please.¡± Joe was surprised. ¡°Feisty. I like that.¡± Then, a pack of quality cigarettes came into Charles¡¯ view. He took one, and Joe personally lit it for him. Holding the cigarette between his slender fingers, he took a drag, his gazenguid and haughty. Coupled with his sexy dress, he made every other woman in the room appear drab byparison. It was so effortless for him to impress everyone. As such, the men present no longer paid their femalepanions any mind as soon as they set their eyes on Charles. Joe, too, could not tear his ogling eyes away. ¡°I have never seen a woman smoke a cigarette with such style.¡± He poured Charles a ss of red wine. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Though his hand was raised for only a split second, something tiny fell into the wine and disappeared without so much as a fizz. Smilingly, he handed the ss over. ¡°Fancy a ss of wine, pretty?¡± Chapter 734 Chapter 734 A petty tactic like that naturally wouldn¡¯t escape Charles¡¯ observant eyes. Regardless, he epted the drink so as not to raise suspicion. Every man in the room was watching him, waiting for him to drain the ss with mounting excitement. The women, too, were staring at him, secretly feeling sorry for him for stumbling into the wrong ce and for the misfortune he was about to find himself in. In full view of the entire room, Charles brought the ss of red wine to his lips. Before he could take a sip, though, he suddenly choked and began coughing furiously. A beauty would still look good coughing despite having her brows all scrunched up. Being a gentleman, Joe quickly handed Charles a piece of tissue and patted thetter¡¯s back. In the chaos of his coughing fit, Charles identally spilled the full ss of red wine onto Joe¡¯s trousers. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to dirty your clothes! Let me help you wipe it up!¡± He wiped the crimson stain from the trousers, but to no avail. A spectator seized the opportunity to speak up. ¡°Mr. Landon¡¯s suit is not cheap, you know. With a stain like that, it¡¯s as good as ruined. Shouldn¡¯t you make up for it?¡± Joe gave an ufortableugh. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± he said with feigned magnanimity. ¡°I¡¯ll just change into another set.¡± With a deeply apologetic look, Charles said sweetly, ¡°I¡¯m awfully sorry. Will you let me apany you upstairs to get changed?¡± All the men in the room gave the same meaningful smile in unison. She actually took the initiative and offered to go upstairs! Since she¡¯s asking for it, she shall be obliged. Charles put on an act of naivety as if he had no idea what was going to happen. Not about to forgo such a good opportunity, Joe followed him out of the bar¡¯s private room. At that very moment, outside the bar, a team of police officers was listening through the transmitter on Charles in a ck police van. Nico snickered. ¡°What a quick-witted fellow Charles is. No wonder he managed to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. He indeed knows a thing or two.¡± All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Noises were stilling from the transmitter. It sounded as though Charles was taking Joe upstairs. Then, the ambient noise became much more subdued. The pair chatted¡ªmostly gossiped¡ªas they walked, whereas Nico listened intently from within the stakeout van. At first, he assumed he would be able to hear some obscene noises after they entered the room, but what Joe said nextpletely caught him off-guard. ¡°Sexy Adam¡¯s apple you have there, bro. My, you must stand almost two meters tall in those heels, right? You nearly broke through the private room¡¯s ceiling. Though you¡¯re dressed beautifully, more so than many women out there, there were just too many telling signs to somebody as meticulous as me.¡± A petty tectic like theturelly wouldn¡¯t escepe Cherles¡¯ observent eyes. Regerdless, he epted the drink so es not to reise suspicion. Every men in the room wes wetching him, weiting for him to drein the gless with mounting excitement. The women, too, were stering et him, secretly feeling sorry for him for stumbling into the wrong plece end for the misfortune he wes ebout to find himself in. In full view of the entire room, Cherles brought the gless of red wine to his lips. Before he could teke e sip, though, he suddenly choked end begen coughing furiously. A beeuty would still look good coughing despite heving her brows ell scrunched up. Being e gentlemen, Joe quickly hended Cherles e piece of tissue end petted the letter¡¯s beck. In the cheos of his coughing fit, Cherles identelly spilled the full gless of red wine onto Joe¡¯s trousers. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t meen to dirty your clothes! Let me help you wipe it up!¡± He wiped the crimson stein from the trousers, but to no eveil. A spectetor seized the opportunity to speek up. ¡°Mr. Lendon¡¯s suit is not cheep, you know. With e stein like thet, it¡¯s es good es ruined. Shouldn¡¯t you meke up for it?¡± Joe geve en uforteble leugh. ¡°It¡¯s ell right,¡± he seid with feigned megnenimity. ¡°I¡¯ll just chenge into enother set.¡± With e deeply epologetic look, Cherles seid sweetly, ¡°I¡¯m ewfully sorry. Will you let me epeny you upsteirs to get chenged?¡± All the men in the room geve the seme meeningful smile in unison. She ectuelly took the initietive end offered to go upsteirs! Since she¡¯s esking for it, she shell be obliged. Cherles put on en ect of neivety es if he hed no idee whet wes going to heppen. Not ebout to forgo such e good opportunity, Joe followed him out of the ber¡¯s privete room. At thet very moment, outside the ber, e teem of police officers wes listening through the trensmitter on Cherles in e bleck police ven. Nico snickered. ¡°Whet e quick-witted fellow Cherles is. No wonder he meneged to leed the Centrel Intelligence Agency. He indeed knows e thing or two.¡± Noises were stilling from the trensmitter. It sounded es though Cherles wes teking Joe upsteirs. Then, the embient noise beceme much more subdued. The peir chetted¡ªmostly gossiped¡ªes they welked, wherees Nico listened intently from within the stekeout ven. At first, he essumed he would be eble to heer some obscene noises efter they entered the room, but whet Joe seid nextpletely ceught him off-guerd. ¡°Sexy Adem¡¯s epple you heve there, bro. My, you must stend elmost two meters tell in those heels, right? You neerly broke through the privete room¡¯s ceiling. Though you¡¯re dressed beeutifully, more so then meny women out there, there were just too meny telling signs to somebody es meticulous es me.¡± Joe continued, ¡°Despite your unforgettably stunning looks and exceptional talent in disguising your voice, I simply couldn¡¯t ignore all of these telltale signs. So, who sent you? What are you trying to glean from me? I¡¯m a humble,w-abiding citizen who has nothing for you. Do you think I can drown you in this bathtub before your people get here? Would you like to be stripped naked, or would you prefer to strike a pose?¡± The atmosphere in the van instantly grew heavy. Joe had been arrested multiple times and was thus extremely vignt. Initially, the team assumed that Charles had left no stone unturned this time, but their quarry still managed to detect something awry. Everyone was looking forlorn. Nico, too, was about to order Charles to retreat. Safety first. We¡¯ll get the evidence some other time. Before he could make contact, however, Charles¡¯ transmitter lost its signal. The police van echoed with the crackle of static from the abrupt disconnection. It was particrly ear-piercing. Nico turned pale. ¡°D*mn it! The mission ispromised. The suspect may be armed, and the contact is in danger!¡± The team swiftly exited the vehicle and entered the bar unimpeded. To avoid causing panic among the patrons, they entered through the staff passageway. Nico was in the lead, heading straight to the target¡¯s room. s, before he even arrived at the door, a deafening gunshot rang out while he was still in the corridor. Bang! It rattled his eardrums. Immediately, screams of the patrons followed from downstairs. rmed, the crowd made a mad dash out of the bar. Meanwhile, dreading the worst, Nico led four men inside, with the remaining assigned to escort the civilians out safely. When they arrived at the closed room door, Nico removed the gun from behind his hip and loaded it. At his gesture, the police officers behind him kicked the door open violently. The room was inplete disarray, with shards of a broken vase littering the floor. There was also a bullet lodged in the wall. So, that shot struck the vase? Nico heaved a sigh of relief. Still armed, he swept his gaze over the small room and eventually spotted Charles and Joe in the bathroom. However, the scene in there stunned the police officers. Charles was stepping on Joe¡¯s back in his poorly-fitted heels, looking immensely pleased with himself. The safety shorts beneath his ultra-short dress left nothing to the imagination. In the meantime, Joe¡¯s hands, having been dislocated, hung limply by his sides. A bucket of cold water could be seen in the bathtub. Soaked to the bone, Joe was coughing so vigorously that he was blue in the face. Charles turned around and smirked upon hearing the ¡°You guys are here just in time. Mr. Landon has had a little too much to drink and is saying the most ridiculous things, displeasing me. Hence, I¡¯m helping him to sober up while asking him where those illegal items are.¡± Nico stepped forward. ¡°Did he say anything?¡± Raising an eyebrow, Charles opened his fist to reveal the tiny item that had been the object of their mission. ¡°Pleased?¡± ¡°Excellent work,¡± Nico praised in approval. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to a pack of cigarettes when we get back. Though this method of yours is a little too much, it at least worked. However, don¡¯t take matters into your own hands again. Obey orders next time.¡± Charles snorted. ¡°I¡¯m not with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. What orders do I have to obey? And orders by whom? Aplishing the mission is all that matters, isn¡¯t it?¡± He whipped the high heels off with a flourish and tossed them into the bathtub before turning to go. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the rest to you. See ya.¡± Without another word, he left the room barefoot without so much as a backward nce. Nico gaped at the man¡¯s departing silhouette. He would truly make a feisty woman. Having learned a lot during his tenure in the Central Intelligence Agency, Charles always got things done swiftly and decisively in his unique, drastic style. It was just a pity that he had thrown away his glorious future in a moment of weakness back then. After zoning out briefly, Nico quickly attended to the procedure of arresting the suspect. Meanwhile, Charles changed out of the dress in his car after leaving the hotel, feeling immensely relieved and at ease to be wearing men¡¯s clothing again. Ding dong! A notification tone sounded from his phone. He cast azy nce over and saw that it was a concise text message from Whitney that read: It¡¯s already eight. Are youing home for dinner? Lucas and Jasmine are waiting for you. Charles grinned in spite of the hint of weariness between his brows. He quickly typed up a reply: Are they the only ones waiting for me? What about you? No reply was received in the two minutes after he sent the message. Nheless, he stared at the chat window, never once locking the screen. It seemed as if he was expecting something, though he could not quite put his finger on it. Ding dong! Whitney: I¡¯m waiting for you too. Those five simple words lifted the corners of the man¡¯s lips, putting him in a better mood. I was alone for so many years that I¡¯d forgotten how nice and refreshing it was to have somebody waiting for me toe home. Chapter 735 Chapter 735 Charles turned off his phone and did not reply to the message. After quickly finishing a cigarette, he ignited the engine and stepped on the pedal, speeding through the moonlit night to head back to the Newton residence. The chef had already prepared the meal in the Newton residence. Lucas, Jasmine, and Whitney were already waiting for him in the dining room. Charles strolled into the dining room with his hands in his pockets. ¡°I¡¯ve told you to eat without me if I have to work overtime. Why did you insist on waiting for me tonight?¡± Seated at the dining table, Jasmine rested her chin on her hand. Her voice carried a delicate sweetness. ¡°It¡¯s all because of Whitney,¡± she exined. ¡°I invited her to join us for dinner, but she refused, insisting on waiting for your return.¡± Lucas chimed in, ¡°Charles, your new wife is a treasure. She only has eyes for you. Such a woman is hard toe by nowadays. You should treat her well.¡± Feeling abashed by the praise, Whitney lowered her gaze. Charles remained impassive. ¡°Of course. She¡¯s my wife. I¡¯ll be sure to treat her well.¡± After the brief conversation, Charles took his seat at the head of the table, and the siblings started to eat. Soon, the dining room was filled only with the sound of clinking utensils. After the meal, Charles and Whitney went back to their room together. Whitney seemed particrly happy that day. She appeared to be in a very good mood. As soon as they entered the room, she couldn¡¯t wait to share her good news with Charles. ¡°Mr. Newton, I found a job today.¡± ¡°Oh? What¡¯s the job?¡± Charles was expressionless. ¡°I heard it¡¯s a real estatepany with a long history. I applied for a clerk position that is responsible for organizing documents and assisting other departments with tasks like copying files. It doesn¡¯t require high qualifications. I passed my video interview today, and the HR department asked me to report to work tomorrow.¡± Charles raised an eyebrow in amusement. ¡°You don¡¯t even know whichpany it is specifically, only that it has a long history. Aren¡¯t you afraid it might be a scam?¡± Whitney shook her head. ¡°It was your assistant, Mr. Isaac Turner, who introduced me to the job. He¡¯s been working for you for a long time, so he must be reliable. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary for me to do a background check on thepany at all.¡± Charles¡¯ lips curled into a smug smile. He felt content hearing her words. After a moment, he felt something was off. ¡°Is it because of Isaac or me?¡± Whitney was stunned. ¡°Of course it¡¯s because of you. But¡­ is there a difference?¡± Charles¡¯ face sank. He looked into her eyes without saying a word. Cherles turned off his phone end did not reply to the messege. After quickly finishing e cigerette, he ignited the engine end stepped on the pedel, speeding through the moonlit night to heed beck to the Newton residence. The chef hed elreedy prepered the meel in the Newton residence. Luces, Jesmine, end Whitney were elreedy weiting for him in the dining room. Cherles strolled into the dining room with his hends in his pockets. ¡°I¡¯ve told you to eet without me if I heve to work overtime. Why did you insist on weiting for me tonight?¡± Seeted et the dining teble, Jesmine rested her chin on her hend. Her voice cerried e delicete sweetness. ¡°It¡¯s ell beceuse of Whitney,¡± she expleined. ¡°I invited her to join us for dinner, but she refused, insisting on weiting for your return.¡± Luces chimed in, ¡°Cherles, your new wife is e treesure. She only hes eyes for you. Such e women is herd toe by nowedeys. You should treet her well.¡± Feeling ebeshed by the preise, Whitney lowered her geze. Cherles remeined impessive. ¡°Of course. She¡¯s my wife. I¡¯ll be sure to treet her well.¡± After the brief conversetion, Cherles took his seet et the heed of the teble, end the siblings sterted to eet. Soon, the dining room wes filled only with the sound of clinking utensils. After the meel, Cherles end Whitney went beck to their room together. Whitney seemed perticulerly heppy thet dey. She eppeered to be in e very good mood. As soon es they entered the room, she couldn¡¯t weit to shere her good news with Cherles. ¡°Mr. Newton, I found e job todey.¡± ¡°Oh? Whet¡¯s the job?¡± Cherles wes expressionless. ¡°I heerd it¡¯s e reel estetepeny with e long history. I epplied for e clerk position thet is responsible for orgenizing documents end essisting other depertments with tesks like copying files. It doesn¡¯t require high quelificetions. I pessed my video interview todey, end the HR depertment esked me to report to work tomorrow.¡± Cherles reised en eyebrow in emusement. ¡°You don¡¯t even know whichpeny it is specificelly, only thet it hes e long history. Aren¡¯t you efreid it might be e scem?¡± Whitney shook her heed. ¡°It wes your essistent, Mr. Iseec Turner, who introduced me to the job. He¡¯s been working for you for e long time, so he must be relieble. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessery for me to do e beckground check on thepeny et ell.¡± Cherles¡¯ lips curled into e smug smile. He felt content heering her words. After e moment, he felt something wes off. ¡°Is it beceuse of Iseec or me?¡± Whitney wes stunned. ¡°Of course it¡¯s beceuse of you. But¡­ is there e difference?¡± Cherles¡¯ fece senk. He looked into her eyes without seying e word. Of course there is a difference. I¡¯m her husband, albeit merely contractual. Isaac is a nobody. Besides, I was the one who arranged for Isaac to help her. I can¡¯t let Isaac take all the credit. But anyway, I¡¯m not going to tell her the truth. ¡°Isaac is indeed responsible and dedicated to his work. You can ask him for help if you have any questions. If you ever encounter any trouble in this so-called establishedpany, you can also seek his assistance,¡± Charles said. Whitney nodded but felt strange inside. I¡¯m now Charles¡¯ official wife no matter what. How could he ept me getting closer to his assistant? Is he not at all jealous? Well, I shouldn¡¯t expect too much. This is a contractual marriage, after all. He has no feelings for me. Her happy mood from earlier suddenly dampened. She lowered her head and silently took out a nket and pillow from the closet, cing them neatly on the couch. Then, she went to the bathroom to freshen up. Charles stood on the balcony and lit a cigarette. After he was done, he returned to the bedroom. His gaze happened tond on the couch, where the makeshift bed was already prepared. Despite its small size, the couch looked particrly cozy, reminding him of what Lucas had said about treating Whitney well earlier at dinner. This contractual marriage was advantageous for him, and it was a fair transaction with Whitney. Nheless, he felt sorry for dragging Whitney into his family matters. He fell into deep thought and inadvertently nced in the direction of the bathroom. Half an hourter, Whitney was done applying her face mask andpleted her skincare routine. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she noticed Charles had already tucked himself into the makeshift bed on the couch. He upied the bed that she had set up for herself, holding a thick book in his bed and wearing a pair of gold-rimmed sses. Whitney froze in ce. She had known Charles for so long, yet it was her first time seeing him wearing sses. He looked like a scoundrel disguised as a gentleman. There was not a single w in his appearance. Gifted with natural charm, this man could pull off any look effortlessly. She snapped out of her daze, clearing her wayward thoughts, and slowly walked over. ¡°M-Mr. Newton, this is where I sleep¡­¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Charles elegantly turned the page of his book without even ncing at her. ¡°This makeshift bed is quite cozy. I want to take a nap here. You take the bed tonight.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Whitney was taken aback. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He casually raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not a gentleman, but when I decide to act like one, I won¡¯t disappoint.¡± Whitney almost burst outughing. She couldn¡¯t believe that Charles could turn such a considerate action into a sarcasticment against himself. ¡°Go sleep on the bed. You¡¯re blocking my light,¡± Charles said, turning over onto his side. ¡°All right, then. Have a good rest, Mr. Newton. The couch is a bit small. If you feel ufortable sleeping tonight, just call me, and we can switch anytime.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± he mumbled. Whitney didn¡¯t leave immediately. She took in his rxed posture as he read. With heartfelt concern, she reminded him, ¡°Mr. Newton, you¡¯ve had a long day. Rest earlier tonight. If you insist on reading, then sit up straight. It¡¯s not good for your eyes to read like this, especially with the sses on.¡± Charles furrowed his brows slightly and slowly sat up, straightening his back. There was a hint of displeasure in his voice as he said, ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Whitney lowered her gaze and said nothing as she headed over to the bed. Charles read for another half an hour before taking off his gold-rimmed sses and dimming the room lights. Once he ensured the light didn¡¯t interfere with Whitney¡¯s sleep, he headed to the bathroom to shower. In reality, Whitney only had her eyes closed. She was unable to fall asleep. She was lying on Charles¡¯ pillow, sleeping on Charles¡¯ soft bed. Both the pillow and the bed had Charles¡¯ faint scent, making it difficult for her to calm her thoughts and sleep. Whitney¡¯s heart raced. She couldn¡¯tprehend why he had suddenly shown suchpassion by letting her sleep on the bed. As her mind went wild, she could hear the sound of running water from the bathroom, where Charles was showering. The image of Charles¡¯ toned body filled her head, and she felt a tingling sensation all over her body. Sleeping in the same room with a man who looked good in men¡¯s and women¡¯s clothing and sleeping on his bed made it difficult for Whitney to control her mind. The sound of sshing water stopped. After a few minutes, Charles stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, tousling his damp hair with one hand. Whitneyy on the bed, taking in his every move through narrowed eyes. It had been some time since she moved into the Newton residence. She had seen him step out of the shower a few times, but it was her first time seeing him half-naked. Charles would usually don a bathrobe, revealing nothing. Whitney couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he was trying to hide his scars from before. Everything about him was intriguing to Whitney. Chapter 736 Chapter 736 While she was lost in her thought, she saw him enter the walk-in closet. Charles never undressed in front of her. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. The bed was too soft, and the silk bedding felt smooth andfortable against her skin. Whitney fell asleep in no time. After Charles dried his hair and emerged from the walk-in closet, he was greeted by the sight of Whitney sleeping in an unsightly manner. Half her body was outside the nket, exposing her slender legs. He walked over and helped Whitney with the nket. As her fair legs were wrapped around the nket, he inadvertently touched her soft skin. As if he had been electrocuted, he froze in ce. Whitney was a beauty to behold despite the way she slept. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down, and he felt his throat going dry. D*mn it. I actually have feelings for this woman. Charles furrowed his brows. His unbidden feeling overwhelmed him with guilt. This is a mistake. How could I tarnish my love for Gwendolyn over the past ten years? ¡°Have you forgotten that there¡¯s another man in this room? How can you sleep so carelessly? If you were to encounter a man with ill intentions, he would have taken advantage of you tonight.¡± Despite feeling displeased, Charles tucked her in tightly. However, as soon as he turned around, the restless Whitney extended her arm outside the nket again, looking nothing like ady. Charles went over and stuffed her arm back under the covers silently. Suddenly, Whitney turned over and wrapped her arm around Charles¡¯ neck. A hint of guilt fleeted across his eyes. She had pushed him down onto the bed, and he found himself gazing at her sleeping face that was magnified before him. ¡°You foolish woman. Are you pretending to be asleep to take advantage of me?¡± he muttered, then retaliated by reaching out and pinching her cheek to test if she was truly asleep. He had wanted to pinch her hard, but her skin was too soft and delicate that it felt bouncy at the slightest pressure. Her skin was so fair that it would go red at his slightest touch. Charles found himself unable to carry on with his mischievous n. Instead, he lightly pinched her cheek twice. Whitney, still deep in her slumber, frowned and unconsciously brushed his hand away. ¡°Stop messing around. I have a husband¡­¡± Charles heard her murmured words clearly and instantly felt much better. At least she knows she has a husband and must keep a distance from other men. Her soft cheeks felt so good to the touch that Charles couldn¡¯t stop himself from pinching her. Unintentionally, his gazended on her rosy lips. They looked soft and inviting. It should feel great kissing them. She¡¯s my wife, after all. Stealing a kiss isn¡¯t a crime, right? Driven by a strange impulse, Charles leaned closer to Whitney. Thump, thump. His heartbeat elerated as if he was doing something wicked. Just as he was about to touch her lips, he stopped himself. He opened his eyes. The desire in them dissipated and was reced by coldness. Seemingly recalling something, he abruptly stopped his advances. He rolled out of bed, distanced himself from Whitney, and went back to the couch. Decades of celibacy for Gwendolyn had made him indifferent to other women. For so many years, he had felt nothing but disgust for other women. And yet now, he actually wanted to kiss Whitney. I must be going mad. This woman is poisonous. I have to stay away from her. Feeling frustrated, he wrapped himself in a nket and curled up on the couch to sleep for the night. The next morning, Whitney woke up first. By the time Charles woke up, she had already brought breakfast from the kitchen and arranged it neatly on the coffee table. The marvelous scent of fried eggs and toast wafted into his nose. ¡°Mr. Newton, you¡¯re awake. Did you sleep wellst night?¡± Whitney had already changed into office attire. She stood across from the coffee table and cocked her head sideways to nce at him. He appeared groggy. With his short, disheveled hair, he gave off a particrlyzy and amiable air. However, his face indicated otherwise. He found it difficult to turn his body on the small couch, especially since he was used to sleeping on the wide and spacious bed for a long time. His back felt sore and numb. He did not sleep well at all. Whitney failed to stifle a giggle when she noticed the look on his face, knowing that he was suppressing his annoyance. ¡°As a distinguished man, you¡¯re too used to sleeping on a soft and spacious bed. It¡¯s only normal that you find the couch too small and cramped. Let¡¯s switch back tonight. It¡¯s fine if I sleep on the couch. I¡¯m already used to it,¡± Whitney suggested. Charles looked grouchy, and his tone wasn¡¯t very pleasant when he said, ¡°Lucas and Jasmine will use me of mistreating you if they find out you¡¯ve been sleeping on the couch. There¡¯s no need to switch back. I¡¯m not some distinguished man. I¡¯ll get used to sleeping on the couch in a few days¡¯ time.¡± He eyed Whitney¡¯s attire. She was wearing a formal ck suit and a tight-fitting pencil skirt that entuated her slender waist. Her blonde hair was tied in a high ponytail, giving her a particrly professional look. ¡°When did you buy this outfit?¡± he asked with a stern look on his face. Whitney lowered her head to straighten her clothes before turning around to let Charles have a better look at her outfit. ¡°How is it? Does it fit well? When I found out I passed the interview yesterday, I took the time to buy two sets.¡± He remained impassive and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, just average.¡± Whitney was already happy to hear him say that it was fine. She handed him the ss of hot soy milk and said earnestly, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like bitter coffee and prefer sweet treats, so I brought soy milk from the kitchen. It¡¯s good for your stomach. Remember to drink it after you finish washing up. I¡¯ll be on my way now.¡± ¡°Stop right there,¡± Charles called out to her. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Befuddled, Whitney replied, ¡°To the office, of course. Today is my first official day at work.¡± Charles quickly got up, checked the time on his watch, and walked toward the bathroom. He said grumpily, ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯m heading out anyway. I can give you a ride along the way.¡± ¡°Oh? Wouldn¡¯t that be too much trouble?¡± Whitney felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°I remember that you have to head to theb today, right? We¡¯re not heading in the same direction, I suppose?¡± Having just woken up, Charles had almost forgotten about that. They were indeed not heading in the same direction. However, since he had promised to drop her off at work, it didn¡¯t sit right with him to go back on his words. ¡°It won¡¯t be much trouble since I¡¯m driving. I¡¯ll just take a little detour. Consider it an exercise after breakfast,¡± he said. Whitney was puzzled. It all sounded a little strange to her. ¡°All right, then. Thank you, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles epted her gratitude without saying a word and went to the bathroom. She silently went to help tidy up the pillows and bedding on the couch, folding them neatly and cing them in the closet. Charles only spent five minutes freshening up and another five minutes having his breakfast. It was all because Whitney had been keeping an eye on the time, worried about beingte on her first day of work. She did not wish to leave a negative impression on her very first day. Charles appeared sullen and annoyed. He quickly changed into a suit and headed for the door with his hands in his pockets. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. If you dare waste my time, I¡¯ll leave you on the road.¡± Chapter 737 Chapter 737 ¡°Coming.¡± Whitney intended to collect the dishes after he had finished his meal. Hearing him, she sped up her actions, hurriedly piled them up, and took them downstairs to the kitchen for the housekeeper to wash. Charles, with his long legs, walked briskly and reached the car quickly. He waited for Whitney inside the car for two minutes. But during those two minutes, he grew increasingly impatient and resorted to smoking to pass the time. Whitney trotted over to his luxury car and was about to open the door to the rear seat when Charles swiftly rolled down the window and tersely said, ¡°Take the passenger seat.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Whitney nervously took her ce in the front passenger seat and quickly fastened her seat belt. Charles extinguished the unfinished cigarette and swiftly drove Whitney to thepany. Along the way, he reprimanded her in a cold tone. ¡°Can you imagine the assumptions the bodyguards at the gate of the Newton residence might make if they see you sitting anywhere other than the passenger seat while riding in your own husband¡¯s car? Do you want them to specte about our rtionship?¡± Whitney squeezed the cushion in her hands nervously and lowered her head in apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t consider the implications and have caused you trouble. I will be more mindful next time.¡± Charles had a stern expression on his face, seemingly still carrying the morning¡¯s anger. ¡°You don¡¯t need to collect the tes on the coffee table next time. The housekeeper will take care of it. As the mistress of the Newton family, you should not engage in such tasks. It diminishes your status. Behaving in this manner will only result in the housekeepers having a low opinion of you.¡± His words might have been blunt, but his reasoning made sense. Whitney nodded. ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t do it next time.¡± She lowered her head even further, her face filled with worry. Mrs. Newton, the mistress of the Newton family. She couldn¡¯t fathom such lofty titles and didn¡¯t dare to associate herself with them. After all, their marriage was based on an agreement, and she had to remain aware of her position at all times to avoid any future embarrassment during the inevitable divorce. She feared that if she took their marriage too seriously, she would face a harsh reality that could potentially hurt her deeply. It was better not to expect that position from the beginning. When she lowered her gaze in a dejected manner, Charles asionally cast nces at her. Realizing that his previous words might have been too harsh, he softened his tone and exined earnestly, ¡°Although we will be divorced after a year, I want to assure you that you will be treated with the privileges and status befitting a member of the Newton family during this year. You don¡¯t need to worry about the consequences of the divorce. Whether you choose to start your own business in Salinsburgh or return to Tayhaven, financial matters will not be a concern for you.¡± Whitney forced a smile and replied, ¡°Mr. Newton, did you forget that I explicitly stated in the agreement that I would leave the marriage without any ims orpensation from you? I simply don¡¯t want to end up feeling regretful¡­¡± She nervously twisted the hem of her skirt with her fingers, her voice barely audible. ¡°I wanted to see if I could make you genuinely like me. If I could leave asting impression in your heart, if you could remember me fondly, then this year wouldn¡¯t be in vain. But if I fail, then I will ept the reality that I¡¯m not good enough. You don¡¯t owe me anything.¡± Although her voice was very soft, the car was quiet, and Charles could hear every word clearly. There was a strange feeling stirring within Charles, but he pushed it aside and offered his advice in a calm tone. ¡°Emotions are the most unreliable thing in the world. I can¡¯t offer them to you, and it will be the same after a year. It¡¯s better for you not to rely on emotions for anything. Be more practical and consider how much you want in terms ofpensation.¡± Whitney¡¯s face was pale, and she stopped talking. Charles also remained quiet. The car fell into an eerie silence for a while. After more than ten minutes, the luxury car came to a stop about one hundred feet away from the company. Charles said, ¡°There¡¯s a lot of employees at the main gate. As a neer, it won¡¯t create a good impression if you get off from a luxury car there. Just walk through this intersection, and you¡¯ll reach the company.¡± Whitney had wanted to ask him to drop her off earlier, but to her surprise, Charles had the same idea. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton, for sending me to work,¡± said Whitney politely. She reached for the door handle, but suddenly a strange thought crossed her mind. ¡°Something seems off. Mr. Newton, I just realized that I forgot to inform you of the address of my workce ever since I left the house. How were you so sure of where I had to go?¡± Charles smiled faintly. ¡°While I was waiting for you earlier, I made sure to ask Issac for the address in advance. I knew there was a chance you might forget, and I didn¡¯t want you to bete because of your forgetfulness.¡± It¡¯s embarrassing to have my shorings pointed out this way! Whitney felt a sense of dejection. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton. I¡¯ll get out of the car now.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Charles took out a cigarette, lit it, and answered her casually. She was almostte. Whitney quickly got out of the car and ran toward the building not far ahead. Charles watched her walk away and shook his head with a mix of amusement and bewilderment. ¡°Sometimes she surprises me with her intelligence, but there are other times she leaves me puzzled with her moments of foolishness. She truly is a paradoxical woman.¡± After finishing his cigarette, he promptly headed toward theboratory. The maid costume was ced in the back seat. Upon reaching the open-air parking lot of the laboratory, Charles swiftly changed into the costume inside the car. Today was a working day, and Charles checked the time on his watch. Zendaya was likely on her way to kindergarten by now. With her not around to interrupt their work or ask for a photo, Charles anticipated having a rtively easy day assisting Nico with hygiene-rted tasks. At the same time, Gwendolyn personally sent Zendaya to the kindergarten. In the car, Zendaya excitedly shared some gossip and secrets with Gwendolyn. ¡°Mommy, you won¡¯t believe it, but Uncle Charles actually went on a date with Whitney!¡± Gwendolyn was intrigued. ¡°Who is Whitney?¡± ¡°She is the administrator of the dolphin house in Benny¡¯s aquarium. Whitney saved me when I was little, and she¡¯s really nice and pretty. I really like her, Mommy, but you¡¯ve never met her before.¡± Gwendolyn gently pinched Zendaya¡¯s little nose but changed the subject. ¡°I remember your father telling me that you caused some trouble during Charles¡¯ blind date with Ms. Cloud. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes, I did it,¡± Zendaya replied unabashedly. ¡°That olddy was mean and bossy. She hadn¡¯t even started dating Uncle Charles, and she already wanted to control him. I couldn¡¯t tolerate it, so I decided to help Uncle Charles get rid of her.¡± Gwendolyn nodded approvingly. ¡°You did the right thing, that Cloud family girl is not suitable for Charles at all.¡± Besides, the Cloud family was now on the verge of copse, and their reputation in the field of business had significantly declined. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Gwendolyn caught wind of some rumors suggesting that Charles might have been involved in the downfall of the Cloud family. She heard that the daughter of the Cloud family had mistreated a woman, which infuriated Charles. As a result, he caused severe consequences for the Cloud family. Thinking of this, Gwendolyn was a little curious about the Whitney that Zendaya was talking about. ¡°If Charles and Whitney are really meant to be together, I will definitely make an effort to get to know her in the future.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Gwendolyn rolled her big doe eyes and asked mischievously, ¡°Mommy, do you want to meet her because of Uncle Charles or because of me?¡± Gwendolyn gazed at her astute daughter, a smile ying on her lips as she remained silent. Zendaya tugged at her mother¡¯s wrist, urging her for an answer. ¡°Tell me quickly, Mommy! But you need to think carefully before answering, or else Daddy will get jealous.¡± Chapter 738 Chapter 738 Gwendolyn tapped her nose and said, ¡°If you knew that your daddy was going to be jealous, why are you still asking me about this?¡± ¡°I was curious!¡± Zendaya and Gwendolyn were seated at the back of the car. Zendaya had deliberately asked that question as their driver for the day was someone Logan had arranged¡ªan outsider. However, Gwendolyn did not even mull over the question, for she only had one answer for it. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because of Zendy. You said that Ms. Mellor saved you in the past and that you like her very much. That¡¯s why I¡¯d like to meet her.¡± ¡°Bingo! You¡¯ve got the right answer!¡± Zendaya beamed sweetly. ¡°Mommy has wisely avoided a disaster that Daddy might have stirred up!¡± At that, augh escaped Gwendolyn. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare to do that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re good at reining him in, Mommy,¡± Zendaya said, covering her mouth. ¡°Oh my, you even know what that word means. You¡¯re awesome,¡± Gwendolyn praised. Delighted by her mother¡¯s praise, she then merrily continued talking to her mother. While Gwendolyn sent Zendaya to the kindergarten, Cedrick brought Benedict to theb for his IV therapy. The professor prepared the IV bag, as well as other instruments before entering the ward with a medical tray. As Benedict was constantly undergoing IV therapy, so he was using a peripheral venous catheter. The peripheral venous catheter had to be changed every three days, or else Benedict would risk infection and extravasation. That day, Benedict needed to change his catheter. From afar, Benedict saw the new catheter on the professor¡¯s tray, and he could not help but sigh. ¡°I¡¯m already five, but I¡¯m still getting IV therapy all the time. The back of my hand is bruising so badly. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll have to change a spot for the catheter next time.¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart ached as he listened to that, but he continued to quietly peel fruits for Benedict. The young professor tried to coax Benedict. ¡°Be good, Benny. It¡¯s just a sting. It won¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°Mhm. I¡¯ve gotten used to it anyway.¡± Benedict lifted his brows and fearless stretched out his arm. As the catheter had been in his hand for days, it hurt terribly when the professor extracted it. Still, the professor made the entire process quick. Benedict¡¯s only response was to furrow his brows a little before looking out of the window in disdain, much calmer than the other children around his age who would cry after getting a shot. When he saw Cedrick peeling fruits at the side, he said, ¡°Daddy, aren¡¯t you busy with thepany? Aren¡¯t you busy with the bureau? You don¡¯t need to watch over me here.¡± Just hurry up and leave! Sensing his displeasure, Cedrick turned and asked, ¡°Do you find me a nuisance if I stay here?¡± Benedict shed him an exceptionally cordial smile. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m happy to have you here by my side.¡± At that, Cedrick returned his focus to the fruits and enunciated, ¡°I¡¯m having an off day today, so I stay right here and apany you through your IV therapy.¡± Despite the smile on Benedict¡¯s face, he was having a mental breakdown. ¡°Then you should keep Zendayapany, Daddy. You haven¡¯t picked her up from her new kindergarten yet, have you? I¡¯m fine here. I¡¯m used to getting my IV therapy by myself. I won¡¯t feel lonely.¡± Cedrick did not lift his head at that, seemingly lost in his thoughts. After a long while, he was finally done peeling the fruits and passed half a fruit to Benedict. Benedict took it and said, ¡°Thank you, Daddy.¡± It was crispy and sweet. It was delicious. ¡°Daddy, put the peach slices on the te. I¡¯ll remember to finish themter. Uncle Nico and Charles are probably cleaning theb¡¯s restroom right now, so if you¡¯re bored, you can go and visit them.¡± The boy sounded understanding, but Cedrick frowned and shot a confused look at his son. ¡°Why does it feel like you¡¯re unwilling to have me stay here? You sound like you¡¯re trying to chase me off.¡± ¡°No way. Why would I do that?¡± Benedict gave him another sweet smile, but Cedrick knew his son well. He knew that Benedict¡¯s smile had a secret in it. ¡°I told you I¡¯m not working today and wish to keep youpany.¡± ¡°All¡­ All right.¡± Benedict¡¯s face was scrunched up as if he had eaten a lemon, and he reluctantly muttered, ¡°Thanks, Daddy.¡± Cedrick quietly continued peeling the peaches. He then calmly sliced the fruit and put them on the te, elegant as ever. The ward was quiet for a while. After adjusting the IV bottle, the professor took the tray and left. Both the father and the son did not speak as they mulled over their own thoughts. Benedict, especially, had his brows knitted, seemingly contemting something tough. After a while, Cedrick asked, ¡°I heard that you agreed to have Charles fulfill three requests of yours in exchange for your forgiveness.¡± ¡°Yes. He agreed to it too.¡± Then, in a more timid voice, he asked, ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re not going to scold me, are you?¡± Benedict was overthinking it. This was something Charles had topensate for. If Benedict would really forgive Charles after the three requests, then Charles would have it easy by enduring the suffering that came with those three requests. ¡°I just wanted to ask how many more requests you have left.¡± A wave of anxiousness hit Benedict when he thought about that. ¡°Only one. I told him that I¡¯d make the third request easier if he canplete the second one, but I¡¯m regretting it a little now. I want to give him something extremely difficult.¡± A small smile grew on Cedrick¡¯s lips. ¡°Such as?¡± Benedict lowered his head to look at his bruised and marred hand. ¡°Such as¡­ stabbing him a thousand times with a needle.¡± He was going to be the spindle that would prick Charles a thousand times over. Cedrick managed to hold back hisughter as he asked, ¡°Are you sure about this? That you¡¯re going to forgive him after stabbing him a thousand times? You have to truly forgive him.¡± Benedict ruminated about it for a while before shaking his head. ¡°I came up with the three requests back then because I wanted to teach him a lesson. I didn¡¯t want to forgive him, but now¡­ I don¡¯t hate him that much anymore. I can see that he genuinely feels guilty and wants topensate me.¡± Cedrick ruffled his son¡¯s hair and said in a gentle voice, ¡°Then hold onto thest request first. Once you make up your mind, then you¡¯ll tell him about it.¡± Benedict nodded obediently. The boy was growing to be a miniature version of Cedrick, and the two of them were a sight pleasant to anyone¡¯s eyes. Just then, Cedrick pulled open the bedside table¡¯s drawer and took the Mathematical Olympiad assessment out. ¡°Do you want to try this out? I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Upon receiving Benedict¡¯s confirmation, Cedrick adjusted the upper half of the bed so that Benedict could sit up. Then, he pulled the table closer and took a pencil for Benedict. While they did the questions together, Benedict left all his frustrations behind and focused fully on the paper. Meanwhile, Cedrick rested his head on a hand, sitting by the side of the bed and watching Benedict attempt the questions. When he saw the boy writing down clear answers, he felt a swell of pride surge in his chest. Knock, knock. Right then, someone knocked on the room door. Benedict halted and paled. He shot out his hand to grab his father¡¯s hand. ¡°Daddy, it must be someone who has gone to the wrong room. You don¡¯t need to open the door for them.¡± Cedrick studied Benedict¡¯s expression. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Although the boy was crafty and often tricked his father, he was not a good liar¡ªhe would fidget a lot. Clearly, Benedict was feeling a little guilty. ¡°Who¡¯s outside? Is it someone you know?¡± Benedict lowered his head. ¡°No¡­ They¡¯re not someone I know.¡± Despite the confoundment he felt, Cedrick stood up and went to open the door. Chapter 739 Chapter 739 An old man around the age of sixty was standing outside. His hair was white, and he had a gray beard. He also had defined features¡ªsomething not most Chanaeans had. Cedrick could somewhat recall who he was¡ªthe biochemistry professor, Eugene Yortz. He had been the one who gave Benedict the book about Abnormal Psychology, so Cedrickter contacted Joshua and found out about the man. Nevertheless, Cedrick solemnly stared at Eugene, wondering why Benedict seemed nervous earlier. ¡°Professor Yortz, what can I help you with?¡± Eugene scratched his head and scoured through his memory to figure out who was the man standing before him. ¡°You must be Benny¡¯s father.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me,¡± was the only polite answer Cedrick gave to Eugene. Eugene let out augh, a hint of mockery entering his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see his parents caring for him. In that case, I won¡¯t disturb your time with him. Please continue with your conversation.¡± With that said, he turned to leave. ¡°Stop!¡± Cedrick grabbed his hand and forcibly lifted Eugene¡¯s hand. As it turned out, Eugene was holding a book. Its title was How Do People With Paranoid Personality Disorder Turn Into Murderers? Cedrick¡¯s heart lurched, finding the book title spine-chilling. In a stern voice, he confronted Eugene, ¡°You¡¯re bringing an inappropriate book for my son again. As a professor in theb, why aren¡¯t you trying to be a good role model? Why are you trying to lead a child astray? What are you trying to do?¡± Eugene found his words absurd. ¡°How is this book a bad book? It¡¯s just a book about humanity. You¡¯re always absent despite being his father, so what¡¯s wrong with me talking about books with him when I¡¯m free? Why are you using me of something so outrageous? You¡¯re strange.¡± R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Strange? Don¡¯t you know who¡¯s the strange one here? Cedrick tamped down his anger as he gritted out, ¡°Benny¡¯s only five¡ªan age where he¡¯s naive. Why are you teaching him about humanity with books like these? What are you trying to do?¡± Eugene flung his hand away, annoyed. ¡°Naive? He¡¯s your son, so don¡¯t you know his character well? He likes books like this, so I brought this for him. It¡¯s not as if he had learned anything bad from these books. He¡¯s smart and much more mature than kids his age. I¡¯m sure he can judge for himself.¡± Cedrick did not wish to continue talking to Eugene, however. ¡°Please don¡¯t bring books like these for my son anymore. If I find out that you¡¯re still doing this, I might report this incident to Federal Bureau of Investigation. Wicked people shouldn¡¯t be staying in ab like this and should be terminated from their position.¡± At that, Eugene fell silent. After a scoff, he left with the book. Cedrick watched until he was gone from the stairwell before returning to the room and closing the door behind him. He had a grimace on his face, and the tension in the room was thick. Benedict¡¯s head was hanging as if he knew the mistake he had made. ¡°Sorry about lying just now, Daddy.¡± He then turned around and took out a thin ruler from the bedside table¡¯s drawer before passing it to Cedrick. ¡°You can punish me. I¡¯m sorry.¡± When Cedrick saw him roughly flipping his hand around and making the blood flow back into the tubing, his heart skipped a beat. ¡°Benny¡­¡± Cedrick took away the ruler from the boy before turning his hand around and massaging his wrist. Benedict continued to purse his lips, not daring to look at his father. ¡°I need to write with my right hand, so maybe you should hit my bottom like how you used to punish Zendaya.¡± Benedict had been an ill boy since young, and he spent most of his time on ab bed. Thus, Cedrick never dared toy a finger on the boy. When he saw how miserable Benedict looked when he asked to be punished, Cedrick¡¯s heart softened even more. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking of punishing you. I just hope that you¡¯ll keep a distance away from Mr. Eugene from now on.¡± Benedict blinked. ¡°But¡­ I lied too. Are you not angry with me?¡± Indeed, Benedict should not have lied. Hence, Cedrick pinched his cheeks, only using a little more force than usual. ¡°This will be your punishment. However, I have a rule. I¡¯ll let things slide this time. If you don¡¯t change and continue lying, I¡¯ll definitely punish you severely. I¡¯ll make it so painful you¡¯ll never forget about it for the rest of your life.¡± Benedict¡¯s face paled, a little fearful of his father¡¯s warning. ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Cedrick then gently rubbed the red spot he had pinched earlier, unable to bring himself to say anything harsher than that. ¡°It was my fault. I couldn¡¯t keep youpany that often. From now on, I¡¯ll find ways toe here every day.¡± Benedict pouted gloomily. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I¡¯m a big kid already. I don¡¯t need you to stop work because of an IV therapy. I¡¯ll feel bad if you do.¡± If his father kept a close eye on him, he would never be able to carry out his nefarious ns. Thus, he did not want his father to spend more time keeping hispany. When his mother had been the one keeping himpany for the IV therapies, he had been able to easily divert her attention. His father, on the other hand, was much harder to deal with. Cedrick did not know what was on Benedict¡¯s mind, but it was clear that the boy was thinking of nothing good from what he could see of his expression. ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel bad about it. If you have any pranks you want to do, you can tell me about them. I might not stop you from doing some of them.¡± It was normal for children to be mischievous, but there was something amiss about Benedict. Cedrick did not know if Benedict had been influenced by the books Eugene had brought to him, but he was certainly taken aback when he heard that Benedict wanted to stab Charles with a needle a thousand times. Zendaya would have never thought of a wicked idea like that. Cedrick let out a silent sigh and decided that he was going to slowly correct Benedict¡¯s mindset. While he was lost in his thoughts, Benedict tilted his neck and leaned over. ¡°Daddy, what are you thinking about? Are you really going to apany me for all of my IV therapies?¡± At that, Cedrick returned to reality and asked, ¡°Are you not happy about that, Benny?¡± ¡°I am!¡± Benedict forced out with a tense smile. Not wanting to dwell on that, Cedrick took a toothpick and passed him a slice of peach. ¡°Eat more.¡± ¡­ Everyone was busy the entire day. After cleaning theb¡¯s restroom, Charles changed into his suit in his car before driving to Newton Group. Checking the time, he guessed that it was almost time for Whitney to get off work. Isaac, his assistant, knew that he was on his way, so he was already waiting in the parking lot by the time Charles arrived. Once Charles¡¯ car came to a stop, Isaac hurried over to open the door for him. As Charles got out of the car, he casually asked, ¡°How are things today?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Newton. Everything is running smoothly.¡± Charles gave him a cold look in silence before striding toward the CEO¡¯s private elevator in the building. Isaac stiffened for a second before realizing what was happening. He then hurried after Charles. ¡°Mr. Newton, it¡¯s Mrs. Newton¡ª I mean, Ms. Mellor¡¯s first day at work today, and she has been performing all right. I checked on her a few times earlier, and it looks like she has adapted quickly and is in a good mood.¡± Charles hummed in response, seemingly unfazed by Isaac¡¯s report. Hearing that, Isaac sighed in relief. Sure enough, Charles was there for Whitney. The two of them then went into the elevator. Initially, Charles had wanted to head straight for the highest floor, but he realized that there were few levels that the private elevator would go to. Thus, he went out of the elevator and headed for the normal elevator instead. Isaac silently followed him. Ding! The elevator arrived. Isaac cautiously leaned over to whisper, ¡°Ms. Mellor¡¯s logistics department is located on the fifteenth floor, Mr. Newton.¡± Apathetically, Charles nced at Isaac and questioned, ¡°Did I ask you that?¡± ¡°My apologies for overstepping.¡± At that, Charles fell silent and hovered his finger over the buttons. Upon raking his gaze across them, he finally pressed the button on the fifteenth floor. Isaac took much effort in suppressing hisughter as he stood behind Charles. Chapter 740 Chapter 740 Charles sensed it and turned around to shoot Isaac a death stare. Isaac suppressed his smile instantly. ¡°I suddenly recalled a funny clip I saw on my phone just now, so I identally let out a chuckle.¡± Arching an eyebrow, Charles looked at Isaac sarcastically and said, ¡°What clip? Show it to me.¡± Isaac was startled. How am I supposed to respond to that? ¡°It was a video that showed up randomly. I didn¡¯t like it or save it, so I don¡¯t think I can find it again, Mr. Newton¡­¡± ¡°Well, tell me the story, then,¡± Charles uttered casually. ¡°Umm¡­¡± Isaac¡¯s expression turned bitter, and he whispered, ¡°Mr. Newton, I¡ª¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t recall the story, I¡¯ll deduct your sry. Fair enough, right?¡± That¡¯s far from fair! Isaac racked his brain and decided to tell Charles ame joke he heard before. ¡°Okay¡­ It was a clip showing a pair of banana brothers walking on the street. The older banana had longer legs, so he was walking in front. As he walked, he felt hot, so he decided to peel off his skin. Mr. Newton, you won¡¯t believe what happens next¡­¡± While stifling augh, Isaac told the joke in the most animated way he could. ¡°The younger brother stepped on the peel and fell! Haha! The sound effect was hrious!¡± With one hand on the elevator wall for support, Isaac held his tummy with the other andughed out loud. ¡°How¡¯s that? Isn¡¯t that joke funny?¡± Charles stared at Isaac expressionlessly. The former¡¯s gaze was so icy that it could freeze someone in sight. Seeing that, Isaac immediatelyposed himself and bowed respectfully with a straight face. ¡°Okay. I got it. It wasme.¡± Charles felt satisfied when he saw how disappointed Isaac looked. With a slightly eased-up expression, Charles advised, ¡°It wasn¡¯t funny at all. You should stop wasting your time on such meaningless content.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll never do that again.¡± As they chatted, the lift arrived on the fifteenth floor. None of the employees knew Charles was going to show up that day, so they were shocked to see him all of a sudden. In fact, there were screams in every direction on the entire floor. ¡°Hi, Mr. Newton!¡± ¡°Mr. Newton had never visited the logistics department. Why is he here all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Could it be that we had made a mistake? Is Mr. Newton here to lecture us?¡± One of Charles¡¯ fan girls quickly said, ¡°I don¡¯t care if he¡¯s here to scold us. It¡¯s worth it because I¡¯ll get to see him up close! Mr. Newton is so handsome!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Before this, we could only see him from a distance during general meetings. This time around, we¡¯ll see him up close!¡± ¡°Wow! He¡¯s walking toward us!¡± Due to Charles¡¯ arrival, an uproar erupted in the building, and the employees could be heard whispering to each other. Meanwhile, quite a few of the employees had gone up to him and bowed respectfully. With a friendly look in his gaze, Charles nodded and instructed, ¡°Be at ease, everyone. I¡¯m just here for a casual visit. Please continue with your work and ignore me.¡± Unsurprisingly, his presence was impossible to ignore. Yet, no one dared to defy their CEO, so they quickly returned to their desks and continued working. The employees, who were initially distracted and scrolling through their phones, all sat upright at their desks, fearing they would get caught. Meanwhile, Whitney, who was sitting at the desk in the corner, was focused on keying in some information. That was when she overheard the conversation between her colleagues. What? Mr. Newton? N?velDrama.Org (C) content. With that in mind, she lifted her head and saw Charles, dressed in a suit and exuding an intimidating aura, being led toward her respectfully by Isaac. I¡¯m doomed! It seems like he¡¯s here to supervise our work! She had been there since the morning, but she was new and drowning in work. She was so busy that she hadn¡¯t even had the time to find out who was the owner of thepany. Could it be Charles? Whitney¡¯s heart was racing as she hunched over and hid her face before the computer. I mustn¡¯t let him see me! Evidently, she was shocked to the core. ¡°Isn¡¯t this NR Group? How is this Mr. Newton¡¯spany?¡± Whitney asked her female colleague. ¡°Are you stupid? NR Group is thergest joint-stockpany of Newton Group. Usually, everyone just calls it Newton Group,¡± the colleague whispered. ¡°However¡­ I went through thepany¡¯s information on the inte. He isn¡¯t the founder¡­¡± The colleague rolled her eyes at Whitney. ¡°Are you a dimwit? Newton Group is a family business, and it has been passed down through the generations. Obviously, thepany wasn¡¯t founded by Mr. Newton himself. However, if you had kept digging, you would¡¯ve seen that Mr. Newton was the company¡¯s CEO!¡± Err¡­ Whitney blushed in embarrassment. I was so proud of myself when I told Charles I found a jobst night. Who would¡¯ve known I had found a job in hispany? What is he going to think of me? Would he think I deliberately came to work here so that he would see me all the time and fall for me? He would surely think I wanted to get his attention. He has an unpredictable temper. Would he mock me? Distress was written all over her face as she was very close to sprawling on the desk to hide herself. Whitney¡¯s colleague was weirded out, so she asked, ¡°Why is that a big deal for you? Could it be that you know Mr. Newton personally?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know him.¡± Whitney shook her head. Charles was standing not far away as he swept a nce at all the office desks. There, he saw everyone sitting straight and seemingly focusing on their work. That wasn¡¯t the case for the two employees sitting in the corner of the office. Those two skinnydies at the back are sprawling on their desks and hiding from me. Charles furrowed his brows in displeasure. I don¡¯t bite, do I? Why is she so scared of me? With that in mind, he walked toward her casually. Whitney and her colleague were talking softly, but he could still make out their conversation, as the only sound in the office was the clicking of keyboards and mice. With that in mind, he walked toward her casually. Whitney and her colleague were talking softly, but he could still make out their conversation, as the only sound in the office was the clicking of keyboards and mice. Coincidentally, Charles heard Whitney saying that she didn¡¯t know him. Charles¡¯ expression turned grim immediately, as though a thunderstorm was brewing. I found her a simple job out of kindness. Not only is she not grateful, but she doesn¡¯t even have the guts to tell others she¡¯s an acquaintance of mine. What an ingrate! Indeed, I shouldn¡¯t be too nice to her. Enraged, Charles pointed at the two in the corner and deliberately asked Isaac, ¡°Who are those two gossiping at the back?¡± Isaac instantly approached thedies and said, ¡°Mr. Newton has questions for you. Stand up! Hurry!¡± The colleague, Lana Anfield, rose to her feet timidly. Whitney took a deep breath and stood up as well. As her heart raced wildly, she gripped the hem of her shirt and fidgeted with it restlessly. At the same time, she had her head hung low to avoid Charles¡¯ gaze. ¡°Why do you have a problem showing me what you look like? Are you too ugly or are you so beautiful that you think you¡¯re going to take my breath away?¡± Charles asked in an icy tone. Whitney didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. Judging by his tone, I¡¯m pretty sure he recognized me. ¡°Lift your head.¡± Whitney lifted her head stiffly and greeted, ¡°Hello, Mr. Newton. I¡¯m Whitney Mellor, an intern in the logistics department. I¡¯m responsible for making photocopies and coffee¡ª¡± ¡°Did I ask you?¡± Charles uttered coldly, radiating a powerful aura. ¡°No¡­¡± Whitney fell silent after that. With a stern expression, Charles berated, ¡°Why were you two gossiping when everyone else in the office was working? Are you two ckers?¡± Lana bowed repeatedly and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Newton. I won¡¯t repeat my mistake, and I¡¯ll never gossip with her again. Please give me a second chance, Mr. Newton. Please don¡¯t fire me.¡± Whitney remained quiet and kept bowing alongside Lana. Charles was annoyed when he saw Whitney behaving meekly. Right then, Isaac stepped forward to defend Lana. ¡°Mr. Newton, Lana is a full-time employee, and she has been working here for two years. She had nevermitted any grave mistakes. I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t repeat her mistake after this.¡± Charles¡¯ expression was still as gloomy when he asked Isaac, ¡°How about the other one? She was so engrossed in gossiping moments earlier. How do you think we should deal with her?¡± Isaac nced at Whitney when he heard that. Whitney seems like she¡¯s on pins and needles. She has never worked in such an environment, so she doesn¡¯t even know she needs to apologize as Lana did. Having said that, she¡¯s Mr. Newton¡¯s wife. Chapter 741 Chapter 741 Knowing that Charles was merely giving him a chance to defuse the tension, Isaac said, ¡°It¡¯s Whitney¡¯s first day at work today, so I think she can be excused for not knowing the rules around here. We¡¯ll decide if we should fire her after her probation period.¡± Charles¡¯ expression eased up right away. ¡°Since you¡¯re interceding on her behalf, this should serve as a warning. If I ever catch her cking again, she¡¯ll be fired.¡± ¡°Noted.¡± Isaac lowered his head slightly. Seeing that Whitney was remaining silent, he shot her a look and reminded her, ¡°Please thank Mr. Newton!¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton.¡± Whitney bowed. Charles stared at her sternly before turning around to leave. The employees breathed a sigh of relief after Isaac and Charles entered the elevator. At that point, Lana was sobbing and wiping her tears away with a piece of tissue. Those who were close to her went up to console her hurriedly. Lana sobbed and protested, ¡°This is all your fault, Whitney! Why did you ask me so many questions? Because of you, I was lectured by Mr. Newton and almost lost my job! Thepany is surely deducting my sry because of this incident. Mr. Newton now has a bad impression of me!¡± Whitney felt remorseful because she knew it was her fault. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. If your sry gets deducted, I¡¯ll compensate you with the money I get from my internship next month.¡± Lana felt slightly better. However, she thought Whitney was a pushover and refused to let the matter slide. ¡°How about the lecture I got from Mr. Newton? I suffered mentally. How are you going to make it up to me? Do you think you¡¯re better than everyone else because Isaac sided with you?¡± Whitney just turned around and sat at her desk. Instead of arguing, she continued working. Lana became angrier when Whitney ignored her. ¡°What¡¯s with your attitude? I was answering your questions out of kindness, and I got scolded as a consequence. Did you think you could solve the problem with your insincere apology?¡± Whitney heaved a sigh in response. I apologized to her sincerely, but she thought otherwise. There¡¯s no point in exining myself further. Whitney¡¯s silent treatment infuriated the group of employees on Lana¡¯s side. Hence, they started making assumptions about her publicly. ¡°It seems like someone here is an attention seeker.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought! She blurted a bunch of rubbish when Mr. Newton wasn¡¯t even asking her a question.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s her first day as an intern, right? Why was Isaac helping her? Is she Isaac¡¯s fling?¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s possible. Isaac is Mr. Newton¡¯s trusted aide. He has been with Mr. Newton ever since Mr. Newton got promoted. If Whitney is hooking up with Isaac, she¡¯ll have an easy time in thepany!¡± The group was envious and jealous of Whitney. However, they were thrilled when they realized that Whitney had probably been cklisted after receiving a public lecture from Charles. Evidently, those sarcastic remarks struck a nerve. Whitney stopped typing abruptly and turned around. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Lana got reprimanded because of me. However, there¡¯s nothing fishy going on between Mr. Turner and me. Please stop spreading such vile lies,¡± she said calmly.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Lana was filled with contempt when she heard that. ¡°Why are you so pretentious? Did you think Isaac would help every Tom, Dick, and Harry? You¡¯re merely an intern on your first day of work. If you weren¡¯t close with him, why would he back you up right in front of Mr. Newton?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I remember that she only got into thepany because Isaac made some arrangements with the HR department,¡± someone chimed in. ¡°What? Is that so? Could it be that she¡¯s Isaac¡¯s sugar baby?¡± Not only did the discussion not stop, but the remarks became even more ridiculous. Whitney couldn¡¯t be bothered to entertain those people, so she continuedpleting her tasks. At that moment, everyone in the office was mocking, berating, and shooting envious looks at her. ¡°Whitney!¡± Isaac, who had left with Charles in the elevator not long ago, had returned and made it clear who he was looking for. Right away, everyone in the office went silent. ¡°Yes?¡± Whitney lifted her head. ¡°Keep your belongings ande with me.¡± Whitney froze momentarily and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not done with my work, though.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your first day, so it¡¯s understandable. Hurry! It¡¯s urgent.¡± Left without an option, Whitney saved her iplete files, shut herputer down, and left with Isaac. Isaac let her lead the way and warned the other employees, ¡°Put more energy on your work and stop meddling in others¡¯ personal matters. Mr. Newton hates employees who are unprofessional. If Mr. Newton finds out what you guys were talking about, all of you will get the boot.¡± As soon as those words fell, the employees tucked their heads into their shoulders. The moment Isaac left, however, they were at it again. ¡°Well, we were making assumptions just a moment ago, and Isaac had proven us right straightaway. He¡¯s so protective of the greenhorn.¡± ¡°Why is she so lucky? Is it because of her good looks? I bet she¡¯s a flirty woman!¡± A fastidious but ipetent female employee rolled her eyes and remarked, ¡°So what if she¡¯s hooking up with Isaac? If she¡¯s that incredible, she should go after Mr. Newton! I heard that Mr. Newton is still single. He¡¯s a real rich heir of every girl¡¯s dream. Who knows? Perhaps he might fancy me one day!¡± With that, the woman buried her face in her hands and posed seductively. With that, the woman buried her face in her hands and posed seductively. The group dampened her spirit mercilessly by saying, ¡°Oh, please! You¡¯re not even as pretty as Whitney!¡± A few minutes after Whitney left, she had be themon enemy of all the gossipy female employees in the department. Just like that, she became public enemy number one. When Whitney and Isaac were in the elevator, she had her head hung low in dejection. ¡°Ignore them, Mrs. Newton. Those women like to gossip. If you need help, feel free to ask me. I¡¯ll surely help you out,¡± Isaac consoled her. ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m merely an intern at NR Group. I¡¯m not Mrs. Newton.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Isaac was tongue-tied. When the elevator arrived in the basement, Isaac bowed and gestured for her to step out of the elevator. ¡°You know Mr. Newton¡¯s car, right? He¡¯s waiting for you in the car.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you.¡± Whitney exited the elevator and searched for Charles¡¯ car in the underground parking. Charles¡¯ luxury car stood out from the rest, so she found it rather easily. She stood in front of the car door and hesitated for a moment. After that, she decided to take a seat at the back. Right then, the passenger seat window was rolled down to reveal Charles¡¯ icy expression. In a frustrated tone, he ordered, ¡°Sit in the passenger seat.¡± I¡¯ve just been lectured in public. Why would I want to sit next to him to get lectured again? Despite her annoyance, Whitney endured Charles¡¯ icy gaze and sat in the passenger seat before she fastened her seatbelt. True enough, Charles wasn¡¯t happy, so he wanted to give her an earful. However, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it when he saw how aggrieved she looked with her head hung low. ¡°How was your first day at work?¡± he asked. Whitney bit her lip and replied softly, ¡°It was okay. I¡¯m not used to the heavy workload, but I think I can manage it after a couple of days.¡± Amused, Charles couldn¡¯t help pinching her cheek. ¡°It seems like you have good adaptability skills. Why did you avoid me deliberately when I went there just now?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten about the terms of our secret marriage? You said we would keep our rtionship a secret in public. Besides, I didn¡¯t even know I was working in yourpany. Naturally, I was going to pretend that I didn¡¯t know you.¡± Whitney felt even more aggrieved and was on the verge of tearing up. ¡°Furthermore, I don¡¯t know much about your temper. Wouldn¡¯t you be harsher on me if I were to say that I knew you very well?¡± Charles was rendered speechless. Why does it sound like I was in the wrong? Chapter 742 Chapter 742 He suppressed his slight feelings of guilt and reprimanded her in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯reining about me now? Whenever there¡¯s an inspection by the higher-ups, everyone else knows they should at least put on a show and maintain a serious working attitude. But you? Hunching over and whispering in someone else¡¯s ears all the time. If I don¡¯t discipline you, how can Imand others¡¯ respect?¡± Whitney lowered her head and bit her lip. Indeed, shecked experience in this matter and thus, deserved to face the consequences. However, Charles was not entirely innocent. How could he reprimand me in such a self-righteous manner? ¡°You knew where I would be working and that I would be your employee when you sent me to work this morning, yet you didn¡¯t inform me about it. Then this afternoon, you deliberately came here to witness me making a fool of myself. It¡¯s likely that you instructed Mr. Turner to inform me about this job. Are you intentionally trying to make me look foolish?¡± Whitney retorted. He arranged for me to work in hispany, yet I had to pretend I didn¡¯t know him. Is he intentionally trying to test my loyalty to the agreement? Charles fell silent, his expression turning serious as he reached for his cigarette case and irritably lit a cigarette. Bringing Whitney to work at hispany was purely out of goodwill, as he did not want her to struggle with unreliable jobs that might put her in danger. Initially, Charles was supposed to return to the Newton residence right away after taking care of the hygiene in theb¡¯s bathroom. However, he found himself inexplicably heading back to thepany, driven by an irresistible urge to see how Whitney had fared on her first day of work. He also desired to witness her innocent and clueless expression, as well as the look of surprise on her face when she discovered he was the boss. Yet, when Whitney said she did not know him ignited his anger, leading to the events that followed. As he pondered, Whitney nervously fidgeted the hem of her clothes. A misty gaze lingered in her eyes, but she pursed her lips, refusing to give in. ¡°Mr. Newton, since I¡¯ve agreed to sign the marriage agreement with you, I won¡¯t casually vite any of its terms. You don¡¯t need to go through the trouble of testing me. I won¡¯t let anyone in thepany, except Isaac, know about our rtionship. I¡¯ll independentlyplete the tasks assigned by thepany and won¡¯t cause you any trouble. And I won¡¯t let others think I¡¯ve obtained this job because of you.¡± Charles fell silent, his azure eyes narrowing as he took a deep drag from his cigarette, his frustration apparent. But didn¡¯t she get the job because of me? Does she really think she can enter the Newton Group so easily without my help? And what¡¯s wrong with leveraging my influence? Others would have longed for such a privilege, yet they don¡¯t even have a chance. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll live up to your words. Since you¡¯ve decided to work diligently, show me some results so that I won¡¯t have to clean up any messes for you.¡± He spoke in a cold and resentful tone. Whitney looked puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s only my first day at work. What makes you think I¡¯ve caused you trouble?¡± Charles irritably extinguished his cigarette and coldly advised her, ¡°Stay away from the women in the company. If anything happens, you¡¯ll have to deal with them yourself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bring trouble to you, Mr. Newton,¡± she replied, tightening her grip on the seatbelt and turning her face away. ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯d like me to do? If not, I¡¯d like to get back to work.¡± Charles nced at his wristwatch. ¡°It¡¯s already past working hours. Why are you returning to the office?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve yet to finish organizing the documents,¡± she exined. Whitney turned around to open the car door, but to her surprise, she found it locked. Charles started the car¡¯s engine, pressed the elerator, and swiftly drove away from the underground parking. Whitney¡¯s face turned pale as she was taken aback, gripping the seatbelt tighter. ¡°What are you doing? I said I want to get down from the car!¡± ¡°You should havepleted your tasks during office hours and rx after work. No overtime allowed. Go home and have dinner,¡± Charles ordered. Not knowing how to respond to his remark, Whitney could only stare at him. Does he have to be so bossy? Charles maintained a stern expression as if he wanted her to know he was hungry and that she should apany him home for dinner. ¡°Mr. Newton, you¡¯re being unreasonable. If I don¡¯t finish my work, how am I supposed to hand it over to my supervisor tomorrow? I can¡¯t have my sry deducted on the first day of work, can I?¡± she argued. Charles sneered, his attention fixed on driving, showing no sign of turning back. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Isaac speaking up for you, you would have been fired today. It would have been more than just a sry deduction.¡± Whitney had never encountered someone so unreasonable. As a boss, shouldn¡¯t he be pleased and supportive when his employees are willing to put in extra effort? Yet, he forbids me to work overtime and wanted me to go home to have dinner with him. Charles nced at her knitted brow and sensed a trace of irritation. He could not help but feel somewhat guilty for treating her in that manner. He added, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re my employee when you¡¯re in the office, but the moment you step out of the building, you¡¯re my wife, so you must obey me.¡± Whitney remained silent, biting her lip and keeping her head lowered, feeling a sense of grievance. Charles intermittently observed her, taking note of the glistening mist in her eyes. It enhanced the beauty of her exquisite emerald gaze, radiating innocence. With her golden curls and distinctive features, she resembled a charming little fairy from a faraway land, albeit one being taken advantage of and exploited by him. Charles inexplicably softened his tone. ¡°You can use my study as your workspace tonight.¡± Whitney froze for a moment. She blinked and turned her head to look at him, only to find him focused on driving, not sparing a nce in her direction. He¡¯s willing to lend me his study? How generous of him. Suddenly, Whitney found that Charles did not appear as detestable as before, and her anger toward him had also dissipated. Suddenly, Whitney found that Charles did not appear as detestable as before, and her anger toward him had also dissipated. Seizing the opportunity to defuse the tension, she responded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles maintained his gaze on the road ahead as he listened to her acknowledgment, raising an eyebrow in response. It improved his mood considerably. The two of them remained silent throughout the journey, yet the atmosphere in the car was surprisingly harmonious. In the evening, Whitney used Charles¡¯ptop and sat on the desk where he usually worked. Thefort of the office chair was palpable. Out of curiosity, Whitney ran her fingers along the armrest, a smile gracing her lips. Just as Charles entered the room with a ss of milk, he caught sight of her smiling face. He could not help but snort inwardly. Seems like granting her the privilege of sitting on my chair is enough to make her happy. What a na?ve and shallow woman. He cleared his throat and approached the desk, retrieving a sh drive from his pants pocket and handing it to her. ¡°Here¡¯s the file that Isaac made a copy of on yourputer. It should be the documents you¡¯ve yet toplete. Go ahead and finish your work. I don¡¯t want you using me of being unreasonable and preventing you from working overtime.¡± Whitney received the sh drive with a pleasant surprise. She did not expect him to be so meticulous and prepared everything for her. In fact, she was ready to redo all the work for the evening. As she connected the sh drive to theputer, she discovered that it contained all the necessary files, including the images she needed to add. For someone in the early stages of learning, the sh drive was indeed a valuable resource.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only ¡°Thank you, Mr. Newton. You¡¯re so kind. I¡¯m sorry for my attitude earlier this afternoon and for arguing with you. Please don¡¯t hold it against me,¡± she said with a sincere smile and an arched brow. While Charles maintained a deadpan expression and his usual indifferent demeanor, he could not help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction. He ced the ss of milk on the desk near Whitney¡¯s hand, his face stern. ¡°I initially poured myself a ss of milk, but I don¡¯t feel like drinking it now. You take it and drink it.¡± Whitney, who was absorbed in reviewing theputer files, felt a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. What am I? A garbage bin? Taking into ount Charles¡¯ assistance tonight, she chose to remain silent and epted his request. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll drink itter.¡± ¡°Remember to drink it. Despite the wealth and influence of the Newton family, wasting food is a disgraceful act,¡± Charles remarked. His words rendered Whitney speechless. Chapter 743 Chapter 743 Charles didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. After cing the milk down, he headed towards the couch in the study. Crossing his legs, he took out hisptop and began delving into his work. After a few minutes, Whitney noticed that there was someone in the study. Charles hadn¡¯t left. She tilted her head and cast a gaze toward the couch. ¡°Mr. Newton, are you busy with work?¡± Charles was tapping on the keyboard attentively, seemingly oblivious to her. If he was genuinely busy with work, she would feel a tinge of guilt. After all, she had taken over Charles¡¯ desk. Despite being the rightful owner, he had to bend over and work on the couch. ¡°Why don¡¯t we switch positions, Mr. Newton?¡± Charles¡¯ hands froze as he stared at her as if she was a fool. She¡¯s using a desktopputer. How can we switch positions? Doesn¡¯t she think before she speaks? Despiteining in his mind, Charles betrayed no emotions outwardly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Shut up and deal with your matters. Stop disturbing me.¡± Whitney tactfully fell silent and continued to enter the data. The study was filled with the rhythmic sound of typing. Both of them worked side by side harmoniously like a couple who had been married for many years. As someone rtively new to typing on the keyboard, Whitney was quite slow in typing. After two hours, Charles was done with his work. However, Whitney still had some work left to complete. Furrowing his brows, he observed her side profile attentively. He couldn¡¯t tell if the workload was too overwhelming or if she was just dumb. While Whitney¡¯s eyes were glued to theputer¡¯s screen, he walked behind her softly and checked how she was doing. When he saw that, he was shocked. ¡°Ah, the legendary two-finger typing technique makes its appearance.¡± He did not hold back with his criticism. ¡°Are the rest of your fingers, except for those two, immobile? Are they only there for show? You don¡¯t know how to press the spacebar with your thumb? Did it get chopped off by the keyboard? If you continue typing at this speed, when will you ever finish entering the data?¡± Furious, Whitney turned her head around and red at him. ¡°Mr. Newton, return to your room if you¡¯re done with work. Although I type really slowly, I don¡¯t intend to sleep tonight. I¡¯ll train my typing speed, okay?¡± ¡°You want to do that alone?¡± Charles nced upward, almost bursting intoughter. ¡°Your basic skills are so horrible! How can you even improve your typing speed? You¡¯re dreaming with your eyes open.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Whitney was unwilling to admit defeat. ¡°Well, I can just put in more time and effort. If I practice more, I can definitely see the effects.¡± ¡°Your methods are wrong. Even if you train your typing for a year, you still can¡¯t catch up to my speed.¡± Whitney nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, yeah. You¡¯re the fastest, Mr. Newton.¡± A tinge of displeasure surfaced within Charles when he heard that. Clenching his jaw grimly, he flicked her head lightly. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say that a man is too quick.¡± ¡°What?¡± Whitney was so engrossed in her work that she had no idea what he was talking about. Charles couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin. Bending down toward her, he grabbed her hands which were on the keyboard, and corrected her finger cement. ¡°Your left hand should handle this half of the keyboard, and your right hand handles the other half. After typing, press the spacebar with your thumb. Use the Enter key to go to the next line. Make sure to memorize the order of these letters¡­¡± Though his tone was a bit gruff and impatient, he provided detailed instructions and exnations. ¡°Try it out. Use the method I just taught you and type out a line.¡± As Whitney was still a beginner, she had to stare at the keyboard. However, she was very serious. Suppressing her urge to revert back to typing with two fingers, she followed Charles¡¯ guidance and typed out a line of words. As she was not used to it, she kept making typos. Regardless, her finger cement was correct. Charles observed her hands quietly. Considering how quickly she managed to improve, she was quite talented. He felt quite pleased. Still, he said, ¡°You¡¯re so dumb. I¡¯ll give you an additional task tonight. After entering all the data, record this contract too. Keep recalling the finger cement I just taught you. If you don¡¯t finish tonight, you aren¡¯t allowed to sleep. I¡¯ll also deduct your internship allowance for the first month.¡± He spoke nonchntly as he casually picked out a rtively short contract from the stack of documents on the desk. Whitney looked back at him in despair. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that I¡¯m no longer your employee once I leave thepany? How can you just exploit mybor and cut my pay?¡± He showed no signs of remorse. ¡°Youck practice. If you want to navigate the workce with ease in the future, you need to step up your game and quickly master all the necessary skills. Let me make this clear¡ªyou won¡¯t be a full-time worker just because of our personal rtionship. If you aren¡¯t capable enough to handle the intensity of the work after the three-month internship, be prepared to be kicked out of Newton Group.¡± Although his words did not sound pleasant, they made perfect sense. Determined not to let her first month¡¯s sry go to waste, Whitney pushed herself to increase her typing speed. Ignoring his presencepletely, she threw herself wholeheartedly into her work. Her speed did indeed improve considerably after practicing for some time. Charles observed her for a while. For some reason, his gaze was drawn to her earlobes. When he held her hand earlier and corrected her finger cement, his face identally brushed against her ears. A strange tingling sensation crept up on him. A strange tingling sensation crept up on him. When Charles realized that his thoughts were drifting again, a cold expression crossed his face. ¡°Finish your work quickly and get some sleep. You¡¯re so dumb that even pigs are smarter than you. I can¡¯t help but wonder what your life was like in Tayhaven. You don¡¯t even have basicputer skills,¡± he grumbled. Then, he turned around impatiently and went to the window to smoke. Unperturbed, Whitney diligently typed away on the keyboard, determined not to give him any reason to nitpick or deduct her sry. Time always passed swiftly at night. After Charles smoked two cigarettes and yed with his phone idly on the couch for a while, another two hours passed. On the live streaming tform, the team that Jennifer was managing was currently taking part in a competition. Charles watched the live stream for a moment. After Jennifer¡¯s team won, his interest in the game was piqued. He nced at Whitney, who was still typing away on herputer. Estimated that the contract would keep her busy for a while, he decided to download that game and try it out. Unknowingly, he found himself staying in the study, keeping Whitneypany instead of returning to his room. At one in the morning, Whitney had finally entered thest sentence into the file. She tapped the enter key triumphantly, finallypleting the ¡®special task¡¯ that Charles had assigned her. Sitting for a prolonged period while typing left her body feeling exhausted. While Whitney massaged her aching neck, she casually nced at Charles, who was sitting on the couch and ying with his phone. She was stunned. Didn¡¯t Mr. Newton leave the study? Has he been keeping mepany over the past few hours when I was working overtime? Whitney felt quite touched. It waste at night. The entire Newton residence was enveloped in silence. Yet, he had chosen to stay up with her instead of resting. If he¡¯s doing this, he probably has some feelings for me, right? Feeling moved, Whitney pondered about it. However, Charles did not even spare a single nce at her as he leaned against the couchzily. With a glum look on his face, he tossed his phone aside unhappily. ¡°A cr*ppy game. What a waste of my time! It¡¯s so boring.¡± With that, he got up and left the study, his silhouette exuding an arrogant aura. It was as if he had forgotten that Whitney was still in the study. He did not even cast a nce in her direction. The emotions that swirled up within Whitney immediately disappeared. Instead, she felt like she had just been doused in cold water. So, he wasn¡¯t waiting for me. He stayed in the study because he was so engrossed in the game that he lost track of time¡­ Chapter 744 Chapter 744 ¡°Honestly, what was I expecting?¡± Whitney muttered. The higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment. I know that¡­ She sighed and nced at the milk next to her hand. Recalling how Charles had said not to waste it, she picked it up and drank it all as though she was downing a ss of wine. Unlike alcohol, unfortunately, milk had no effect on dulling one¡¯s emotions and relieving one¡¯s sorrows. After finishing her work and turning off herputer, she returned to the bedroom. Coincidentally, Charles had just finished taking a shower. He had his bathrobe wrapped tightly around him, his short hair still wet and dripping with water. Their eyes met as they bumped into each other by the bathroom door, and she stared at his face in stunned silence. Having just emerged from the steamy bathroom, Charles appeared significantly gentler and refreshed. Thebination of the water droplets on his face from the shower and his damp hair added a particrly devilish and charming look to his exquisitely handsome face. A blush crept over her cheeks as she gazed at him. He¡¯s truly¡­ too attractive and sexy¡­ Who could possibly resist a gorgeous man like that¡­ might I add, who just stepped out of the shower? She dropped her gaze and lowered her head to stare at her feet, stopping herself from having dirty thoughts about his naked body underneath the bathrobe. ¡°That¡­ I¡¯ve already typed up the contract as you instructed and saved it on theputer¡¯s desktop. You can check it whenever you have the time. I did go through it before turning off theputer, so there shouldn¡¯t be any typos,¡± she said, desperately trying to think of something to say to alleviate the feeling of embarrassment and awkwardness in her heart. Charles murmured an acknowledgment, his expression unbelievably calm. He showed zero intention of actually going to review her work or praising her for knowing to check her work before turning off the computer to reduce the chances of error. ¡°Go get a nket and some pillows to make up the couch. I want to rest after drying my hair.¡± ¡°O-Okay.¡± She walked past him to the closet, took out a nket and pillows from the wardrobe, then made up the couch quickly and skillfully. She debated whether to call him toe over and rest or take preemptive measures and sleep on the couch herself, worrying that he would wake up in a foul mood the following morning from having to curl up his legs on the couch all night and being unable to sleepfortably. However, no sooner had she lifted a corner of the nket when a well-built figure walked over and pushed her gently out of the way. Before she realized what was happening, Charles had settled onto the couch in an elegantlynguid pose. Her expression froze, and she stared at him wordlessly. That was¡­ fast. Acting oblivious, he scrolled through his phone before looking at her after a few seconds. ¡°Why are you just standing there in front of me? Do you want to sleep with me?¡± Does he have to say it so bluntly? After a brief silence, she replied, ¡°You¡¯re reading too much into it.¡± ¡°Then why are you still standing there? Get on with what you have to do. Don¡¯t stand there and be an eyesore.¡± At a loss for words, Whitney could only turn around and go to wash her face. Early the following morning, the sound of a child giggling filled Harrick Vi. Zendaya had woken up full of energy and was gamboling all over the bed. She even pretended to be a puppy and howled loudly. Gwendolyn sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to help her put on a pair of pants. However, she could not catch the energetic little girl even after a few tries. After preparing breakfast, Cedrick went upstairs and was greeted immediately by the sight of Zendaya misbehaving. His expression darkened, and he said sternly, ¡°Stop that, Zendaya. You¡¯ll make my wife tired if you continue running around like that.¡± The little girl was afraid of him, so she pouted and stopped running. Then, she corrected him in a small voice, saying, ¡°She¡¯s my mommy first before she¡¯s your wife.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t have a wife first, you¡¯d still be a little ¡®tadpole¡¯ wandering around somewhere,¡± he responded, ncing at her. Zendaya did not understand what he meant. She merely thought he was trying to pull a fast one on her. ¡°I¡¯m not a tadpole. I¡¯m way bigger than a tadpole. You¡¯re telling lies, Daddy. You¡¯re bullying me.¡± Ignoring her, Cedrick took a trench coat from the coat stand and personally helped Gwendolyn into it. ¡°The weather is cooler today. Be careful not to catch a cold when you go out.¡± Basking in his care and attentiveness, she stifled augh and said teasingly, ¡°You¡¯re a grown man. Why are you stillpeting with your own children?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my wife. No one can take you away from me,¡± came his reply. Not even my children. He was obstinate. ¡°Does it make you unhappy that our whole family sleeps together every night?¡± she asked, caressing his face. He nodded solemnly. ¡°They¡¯re five years old already. It¡¯s time we sent them to sleep in their own rooms. Don¡¯t help them with things like getting dressed. Let them do it themselves. We must let them do the things within their capabilities so that they learn to be independent.¡± Whatever it is, they¡¯re not allowed to hog my wife, especially at night. When Zendaya heard that, she pulled up her pants herself in dissatisfaction, snorted angrily, and said in an using tone, ¡°You¡¯re a meanie, Daddy! You don¡¯t even allow Mommy to be nice to us!¡± Cedrick did not respond. Instead, he carelessly tossed Zendaya¡¯s cream-colored coat at her, which happened to drape over her head. ¡°Hurry up and put that on by yourself. Your mother spoils you. If it were up to me, you¡¯d be going down to breakfast with a red bottom if you dared to continue racing around wildly like that.¡± ¡°Ugh! Daddy is so evil! He¡¯s the absolute worst!¡± Even though Zendaya continued grumbling softly, she still put on her coat obediently. While she dawdled, Benedict quietly dressed himself. That made him appear particrly well-behaved and sensible. While she dawdled, Benedict quietly dressed himself. That made him appear particrly well-behaved and sensible. Throughout the entire process, not once did he ask his mother for help. He slowly put on each article of clothing, one after another, and even exuded a faint air of elegance. After getting dressed, he left the room and went downstairs for breakfast. He was quiet the entire time and did not utter a single word. As Cedrick and Gwendolyn watched him closely, thetter sighed worriedly. She could not help thinking that the fact her son was so mature beyond his years was even more heartbreaking for her. Cedrick, on the other hand, said to Zendaya, ¡°You must take your brother as a role model and get dressed by yourself. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Benny is a role model, of course. He¡¯s the best. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been born a few minutes earlier than me. He¡¯s nothing like somebody who¡¯s a hypocrite and bullies little kids,¡± she retorted, pouting her lips in dissatisfaction. ¡°What did you say?¡± His brows drew together sharply, and his expression hardened slightly. He looked utterly intimidating as he rose to his feet. Zendaya promptly jumped off the bed and dashed off, shouting, ¡°Save me! My evil daddy wants to hit me!¡± However, how could she outrun Cedrick with her short legs? Before she could even get downstairs, he caught her in the corridor by the back of her cor and picked her up. ¡°Ahhh! He¡¯s going to gobble me up!¡± She iled her arms wildly, attempting to escape his grip. A spark of anger flickered within Cedrick. He picked her up in his arms and swiftly flipped her over. Then, two dull smacks rang out as he spanked her. They were only two light taps, but he radiated an incredibly terrifying aura. ¡°Ouch! Ouch!¡± Zendaya cried out loudly in an exaggerated manner. Bawling, she turned to Gwendolyn. ¡°Mommy, save me!¡± ¡°Even if you call out for help, it¡¯s useless. Didn¡¯t I tell you before that children must hold onto the banister and walk slowly while descending the stairs? You were running so fast. What if you were to slip and fall?¡± Cedrick chided in a deep voice. Although he had smacked her twice on her behind to emphasize the seriousness of the matter, it broke his heart, and he could not help but rub where he had hit her soothingly. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Zendaya sobbed while wiping away her tears. Having gotten lectured, she pouted and put on a pitiful expression. Nevertheless, she was finally willing to behave and settle down in Cedrick¡¯s arms, letting him carry her downstairs. Meanwhile, Benedict had already been sitting at the dining table for quite some time. Having a clear grasp of dining etiquette, however, he had not taken even a sip of his milk and merely sat there quietly, waiting for his parents toe downstairs. Chapter 745 Chapter 745 After breakfast, Gwendolyn and Cedrick again went their separate ways as the kindergarten and laboratory were in different directions. The former drove Zendaya to the kindergarten, while thetter brought Benedict to theboratory for an IV infusion. On the way to theboratory, Benedict gazed out the car window at the scenery that shed past incessantly. His ebony eyes glimmered with wit and intelligence. ¡°Are you really going to keep mepany throughout my IV infusion today, Daddy?¡± he ventured. Cedrick, who was driving in front, did not bother answering that. He merely lifted his eyes and nced at his son in the car seat at the back through the rearview mirror. Benedict resembled his childhood self greatly, appearing incredibly docile before his elders yet actually having many tricks up his sleeve. Sure enough, upon receiving no response from his father, Benedict thoughtfullymented, ¡°Apart from the work matters at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Daddy, you still have to handle things at Jenson Group. I know you¡¯re exceedingly busy, and it distresses me¡ª¡± Without waiting for the little boy to prattle at length, Benedict cut him off. ¡°If your n is to trick me and do something bad, you don¡¯t need to bother wasting your efforts.¡± Benedict promptly paled and giggled. ¡°Of course not. I merely don¡¯t want you to neglect your work because of my matters, Daddy. I¡¯ll feel very guilty.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression remained calm and unruffled. His ebony eyes were fixed right ahead as he concentrated on driving. ¡°I was also once your age, Benny. I know more or less what you¡¯re thinking. But I¡¯m not going to give you a chance. If you want to do something wicked to sabotage someone, you should tell me in advance instead. Who knows, I might support you.¡± Pursing his lips, Benedict lowered his eyes and went silent for a moment. The word ¡°might¡± indicated the high possibility of being turned down and lectured. After all, Benedict was not blind to how his father usually minded Zendaya. Thus, he was determined to conceal his mischief so it would nevere to light. If it were an incident like yesterday whereby Eugene was exposed, he would take the initiative to seek Cedrick out for punishment, knowing that pulling a pitiful act by saying nothing would appease the latter¡¯s fury faster. Having mulled the matter over inwardly, Benedict beamed so widely that his eyes became mere slits. ¡°I naturally have no objections if you really want to keep mepany, Daddy. I¡¯m d to enjoy your care.¡± Every so often, Cedrick cast a look at him via the rearview mirror, noting all his subtle expressions. ¡°Charles has been relegated to cleaning the toilets at thebtely. Have you thought of some other way to torture him? If you want to teach him a lesson, you can tell me. I¡¯ll agree to it.¡± Surprisingly, Benedict shook his head. ¡°There has to be an order in things. He¡¯s currently cleaning the toilet after losing the bet, so let him work quietly for a month lest he keeps visiting me at the sick bay. I don¡¯t want to see him.¡± ¡°I remember he gifted you a massive oceanarium for your one-year-old birthday. Because you¡¯ve never gone for a visit, he hired someone to manage it for you. It has never been opened to the public, with you and Zendy being the only ones allowed in these past few years. It has been operating at a loss for four years,¡± Cedrickmented. At that, Benedict snorted coldly and arrogantly before turning his face away to stare at the scenery outside the car window. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask him for the oceanarium, and he only has himself to me for running up losses.¡± In a leisurely voice, Cedrick added, ¡°The oceanarium he gifted you is presently the biggest of its kind in Chanaea, housing all sorts of unique marine life. The operational and management costs each month are an astronomical sum.¡± Crossing his arms, Benedict stared at his father with a frown, ¡°What do you mean by that, Daddy? You want me to feel sorry that Charles is spending so much?¡± Cedrick chuckled at Benedict¡¯s question. ¡°The Newton family is a family thates from old money, having been established in Chanaea for more than a century. An oceanarium won¡¯t break him. I mean, that oceanarium belongs to you, Benny. You¡¯ve been cooped up in the sick bay ever since you were young, so you¡¯ve never seen many adorable and rare animals, right? After your IV infusion tonight, I¡¯ll bring you there to have fun. How about that?¡± Benedict jerked his chin up in disdain. ¡°Only Zendaya likes such childish things. I don¡¯t like to see animals, jellyfish, and the like.¡± Following that, Cedrick feigned regret. ¡°It¡¯s too bad, then. I initially nned to pick Zendy, you, and your mommy up in the evening after work today to visit the oceanarium. I even bought a small SLR camera for each of you so you can snap pictures of any animals you like. If you don¡¯t want to go, I can only go with Zendy and your mommy.¡± At once, Benedict¡¯s expression stiffened. He suddenly wavered in his initial n to remain firm in his stance that the oceanarium was childish. The entire family is going¡­ but I¡¯m going to be left all alone? Cedrick continued, ¡°If you¡¯re not going, I¡¯ll drive you back to Harrick Vi beforehand, and you can have the leftovers at home after heating them up at that time. What do you think?¡± Benedict pouted, dejection swamping him. So, Daddy and Mommy are bringing Zendaya out for some delicious food? Isn¡¯t it too pathetic for me to eat cold leftovers? Noticing Benedict¡¯s conflicted expression, Cedrick pressed his advantage. ¡°That oceanarium belongs to you, so it¡¯s all thanks to you that your mommy, Zendy, and I can visit the ce for some fun. It¡¯s a pity that you¡¯ve never even seen marine life before despite being the oceanarium¡¯s owner. I heard that Zendy¡¯s dolphin is already ying ball with her.¡± Noticing Benedict¡¯s conflicted expression, Cedrick pressed his advantage. ¡°That oceanarium belongs to you, so it¡¯s all thanks to you that your mommy, Zendy, and I can visit the ce for some fun. It¡¯s a pity that you¡¯ve never even seen marine life before despite being the oceanarium¡¯s owner. I heard that Zendy¡¯s dolphin is already ying ball with her.¡± Zendaya and her dolphin are ying ball? Tempted, Benedict lowered his head and pondered upon it without saying anything further. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick then proposed, ¡°Actually, I think you should seize the opportunity to have Charles spend more since he¡¯s managing the oceanarium for you. Isn¡¯t it far better to import some expensive animals you like and turn the ce into your personal marine park? This is all for free, so it¡¯ll be a waste not to seize the opportunity!¡± Hmm¡­ that makes sense. The oceanarium is mine now. I can do whatever I want to it and even raise any fish I like. I¡¯ve never visited the ce all these years, so Charles had gotten to use it to ingratiate himself with Zendaya instead! Having seen the light, Benedict cleared his throat. His juvenile voice was beyond solemn. ¡°I¡¯ve decided, Daddy. I want to go to the oceanarium, too. That¡¯s my territory, and I want to revamp it!¡± Anyway, I¡¯ll be using Charles¡¯ money, so there¡¯s absolutely nothing to feel bad about! He made up his mind and sharpened his knife, contemting the kinds of peculiar animals he wanted to add. I think I want to build a cier in the shark area and have penguins and pr bears there. With those three kinds of animals living in a confined space, they¡¯d definitely fight each other to the death. That¡¯d certainly be intriguing! While Benedict was plotting in silence, Cedrick observed him through the rearview mirror. When Cedrick ascertained that his son¡¯s thoughts had been riveted by the oceanarium for real, his lips inexorably turned up. It¡¯ll be good for him to look at animals more. It can cultivate love and cheer him up so he¡¯s not as lonely and he won¡¯t concoct his little evil schemes in secret. ¡°Daddy!¡± Benedict leaned forward excitedly, his ebony eyes sparkling brightly. Tugging at the back of his father¡¯s seat, he asked curiously, ¡°Is there a blue whale in my oceanarium?¡± Suppressing hisughter, Cedrick shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The blue whale is too big to be exhibited in an oceanarium.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Benedict plunged into silent contemtion briefly. ¡°But I just want to have a gigantic blue whale. What should I do about it?¡± ¡°In that case, tell Charles and have him figure out a way to get you a blue whale.¡± The father and son chatted happily, both targeting Charles at the same time. Chapter 746 Chapter 746 Meanwhile, the oblivious Charles was washing theb¡¯s toilet. As they had to spend a long time cleaning, Benedict and Zendaya didn¡¯t insist on them wearing female outfits. Now that Charles and Nico could finally put theirfortable male clothing back on, they were a lot more diligent in their work. Just as they were washing thest cubicle of the fourth-floor toilet and Charles was spraying water everywhere with a hose, a man in a professor¡¯s garb walked in. Turning around upon hearing themotion, Charles made eye contact with the man, an action that stunned both of them. It was the same man who wanted Charles¡¯ contact thest time. As an awkward look descended upon Charles¡¯ face, he lowered his head to look at his outfit for the day. He was no longer dressed like a woman, so he didn¡¯t feel weird this time. However, the man scrutinized him from head to toe for a long while. He was shocked to see Charles dressed like a man for the very first time. Wow! There¡¯s actually a man in this world who can dress up like a beautiful woman without putting on any makeup. Without the wig and short skirt, Charles looked extremely dashing, his sky-blue eyes adding to the distinguished aura he exuded. ¡°What are you looking at? This is the toilet. Just go about your business.¡± Despite Charles¡¯ indifferent voice, themanding tone within it was unmistakable. The hostility he showed was further entuated by the threatening look in his eyes. The man was rendered speechless by Charles¡¯ response. The thought of peeing in front of a man who was significantly more handsome simply felt weird. Moreover, he had mistaken thetter as a pretty girl and even harbored designs upon ¡°her.¡± After a brief moment of awkwardness, the man turned to leave. ¡°On second thought, I don¡¯t feel like peeing anymore.¡± Thereafter, Charles gave the man¡¯s leaving silhouette a puzzled look. That¡¯s strange, why did he decide not to use the toilet aftering all the way here? Out of goodwill, Charles advised him, ¡°Do you have any health problems? You¡¯re still young, so don¡¯t be too engrossed in your research. Also, don¡¯t forget to take some kidney supplements.¡± Upon hearing Charles¡¯ words, the man¡¯s hair stood on end. He then tucked his head into his shoulders and scurried away as fast as he could. Charles snorted in disdain. ¡°He¡¯s such a coward yet dared to ask for my number back then. Even Whitney has more balls than him.¡± The moment Whitney¡¯s name rolled off his tongue, Charles¡¯ expression froze. A short whileter, he continued cleaning the toilet with a scowl on his face. He was entirely oblivious to the fact that Cedrick and Benedict were plotting how to spend his money. That day, Benedict cooperated as usual for his IV drip. However, he no longer got Cedrick to leave, for his mind was upied with the oceanarium. Using Cedrick¡¯s tablet, he searched for exotic animals with the intention of raising them there. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Moreover, he nned to head to the oceanarium in the afternoon to check it out, a first step in establishing his underwater theme park. The serious look on Benedict¡¯s face triggered a sense of pride in Cedrick. Sitting by the former¡¯s bed, he would work on hisptop and peel some fruits for his son whenever he was free. At that moment, both father and son got along harmoniously. Meanwhile, at Newton Group, Whitney had noticed many of her colleagues giving her strange looks when she walked into the logistics department on the fifteenth floor first thing in the morning. She could feel their nosey gazes when they walked past her. Some had coffee in their hands, while others were holding files. In fact, quite a number of those seated would stare at her curiously as she walked past. Feeling ufortable with the attention, she hurried to her seat in the corner without asking what was going on. When she recalled how her colleagues who sided with Lana were upset with her, she checked her seat thoroughly before sitting down. After making sure that her chair wasn¡¯t tampered with, herputer could be turned out as usual, and the table was just as tidy as the day before, Whitney heaved a sigh of relief. It seems I¡¯m just being paranoid. Those women are probably not that childish to mess with my chair. While she was in the midst of examining it, Lana¡ªeyes glistening with schadenfreude nearby¡ªwould sneak frequent nces at her. Meanwhile, Whitney gradually took her seat, unaware of what was going on. She then turned on her computer, inserted her sh drive, and copied the work she did in her study room the night before onto it. A few minutes passed, yet she didn¡¯t notice anything amiss until she heard knocking sounds from her drawer. Curious to what it was, she proceeded to open it. Right inside was a big fat rat scurrying around and squeaking non-stop. The drawer was in an utter mess. It was covered with a dirty and smelly slime from the rat, while the documents inside had all been chewed to pieces. Just as Lana was waiting in anticipation for Whitney to scream, thetter remained calm with a darkening expression. Without any hesitation, she caught the rat¡¯s tail with a swift motion and raised it into the air. Everyone around her watched on in horror. Everyone around her watched on in horror. I never knew she was so gutsy! It¡¯s shocking that she dared to catch a rat with her bare hands! Rat in hand, Whitney swept her gaze across the room and demanded, ¡°Whose is this?¡± Everyone responded by looking down in silence. As Whitney still remembered the female colleagues who sided with Lana to disparage her, she held up the rat to them and asked them one by one. ¡°Is this yours?¡± ¡°Ah! Take it away from me. It stinks. It¡¯s not mine!¡± ¡°Yours then?¡± ¡°No, not mine! Ah, take it away. It¡¯s still moving!¡± Her colleagues¡¯ expressions drastically changed as they recoiled in fear. Whitney sneered, ¡°NR Group is one of Chanaea¡¯s top-listedpanies and has a clinically clean working environment. There¡¯s no way a rat would appear out of nowhere. This thing has ruined the documents in my drawer. Whoever is behind this will be responsible for the loss. If no one admits to it, I¡¯ll check the surveince feeds instead. When the timees, I¡¯ll hurl this rat onto her body.¡± Whitney spoke in a forceful tone. She would never back down in the face of bullying. However, silence continued to fill the room. It wasn¡¯t until a whileter that Lana got to her feet. ¡°Whitney, I just saw you take the rat out from your drawer. You were the one who was secretly raising it in the office, and now, you¡¯re trying to frame someone else for it?¡± The women who sided with Lana backed her up. ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯ve been working here for a few years now and have never encountered a rat here, so why is there one in your drawer on your second day here?¡± ¡°Only those who are dirty attract rats.¡± ¡°You started it, yet you¡¯re kicking up a fuss. You¡¯re just an intern. Do you really think you¡¯re someone important just because Isaac has your back? You should know your ce and keep your head down, do you understand?¡± As the women¡¯s insults grew increasingly outrageous, Whitney¡¯s anger began to swell. She replied in a grim tone, ¡°All of you are right. Only those who are dirty deserve this filthy rat. In that case, let¡¯s see who the real owner is. I¡¯m going to let it track her down!¡± No sooner had she spoken than she threw the rate onto the ground. The fat rat was extremely agile as it scurried underneath everyone¡¯s desks. The girls on the entire floor screamed in shock. They kept jumping on their feet, while their faces lost all color. With the male colleagues equally afraid of the rat, the entire logistics department was thrown into an uproar. Chapter 747 Chapter 747 Amidst the shrieks in the air, many of the panicking women jumped onto their chairs. ¡°Quick, get it! It¡¯s running over there!¡± ¡°Guys, man up and get rid of it!¡± The men in the logistics department were pressured into catching the rat. However, it wasn¡¯t a surprise that those who were used to city life didn¡¯t know how to catch a rat at all, especially one that was so agile. As screams continued to ring out in the air, the rat ran in between some of the men¡¯s legs. Terrified by the sight, they turned toward Whitney and pleaded for help. ¡°Hurry up and catch it! Otherwise, the chaos in the logistics department would turn us into aughing stock in the entirepany!¡± ¡°Exactly! The rat came from your drawer, there¡¯s no way you can turn a blind eye to it!¡± Arms folded, Whitney simply watched the drama in silence. She maintained an indifferent look despite being called out to do something. ¡°As I have just said, I¡¯m letting the rat track down the person who brought it in. If no one owns up to it, this mess, however big it bes, will be her responsibility.¡± Finally, someone couldn¡¯t bear the pressure from the rat any longer. ¡°I know who put it in your drawer. Catch it quickly and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Nevertheless, Whitney¡¯s mind was sharp as a knife. ¡°Tell me first. Only then will I catch it.¡± The young girl subsequently stood up and pointed at Lana. ¡°It¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Why are you pointing at me? Are you trying to make baseless usations? You have no right to speak here!¡± Outraged, Lana sprang to her feet and mmed her hand on the table before turning to confront Whitney. ¡°Whitney! Why are you making such a big fuss over a rat? Do you really need to turn the logistics department upside down over something so trivial?¡± Lana¡¯s reaction gave Whitney her answer. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°She didn¡¯t say it was you. However, given how anxious you are, you must have been behind this due to the grudge you hold against me.¡± Lana snorted, eyes brimming with contempt. ¡°I¡¯ve no idea what you¡¯re talking about. It¡¯s not like the rat has picked me out.¡± Whitney continued calmly, ¡°Fine. If you refuse to admit it, I can check the surveince feeds. I heard that Mr. Newton hates it when his staff engages in office politics. I wonder what the consequences are when I hand over the evidence to him.¡± Cowed by the threat, Lana turned pale. Nheless, there was no letting up from Whitney. ¡°I just want to know who the culprit is. If it was you, I won¡¯t pursue the matter any further, as I was the one who did you wrong first. So, I¡¯ll graciously ept your revenge. However, both of us will be even after this.¡± Upon hearing the words, Lana began to waver and gave her close colleagues a look. When she saw a few of them nod, she admitted, ¡°It was me. When you rushed home without finishing your work yesterday, someone saw Isaace over to copy the data from yourputer. And today, you were seen copying documents back to your officeputer with your sh drive. Your rtionship with Isaac is now clear to all! Not only have you p*ssed me off to have Isaac cover for you on your first day of work, everyone else feels the same way too. I just did what everyone wanted but had no guts to do!¡± Everyone implicitly acknowledged what Lana was saying when they lowered their heads in guilt. ¡°Whitney, seducing Isaac is no big deal. If you really want to prove yourself, you should have Mr. Newton eating out of your hand. Only then will I acknowledge your prowess!¡± Whitney sniggered in response. ¡°Id*ots.¡± Staying true to her word, she was as calm as a cucumber upon setting off to catch the rat. When it saw hering for it, the rat was stricken with fear as it scurried for dear life. However, Whitney¡¯s reaction was lightning-fast. Upon passing Lana by, she grabbed the former¡¯s keyboard and dashed on ahead. After forcing the rat into a corner, she stepped on its tail with great uracy before raising the keyboard in the air and mming it down. ¡°Argh!¡± Squeak! Amidst the squeal of the rat and shrieks of thedies, the rat lost consciousness upon impact. Its eyes rolled up and its four limbs dangled in the air, a sight that stunned everyone present. What a ferocious woman! Meanwhile, Lana¡¯s face had lost all color when she saw Whitney hitting the rat with her keyboard. In fact, the sight itself was enough to nauseate her. Underneath everyone¡¯s fearful gazes, Whitney turned slowly around and dered, ¡°I¡¯m someone who never causes trouble. That said, if anyone dares to get on my nerves, I¡¯ll definitely show no mercy. On top of that, stop using such childish tricks against me. I¡¯m afraid of many things, but snakes and pests aren¡¯t among them. If you still intend on testing my limits, I dare you to put a snake in my drawer the next time. Let¡¯s see who it bites in the end.¡± She grew up in the mountains and had even seen poisonous snakes before. Thus, such animals did not scare her at all. After making herself clear, she casually threw Lana¡¯s keyboard aside and returned to her seat. Everyone else quickly stepped aside and opened up a path for her. Upon returning to her table, Whitney pulled out the dirty drawer and took it to the washroom to be cleaned. The moment she was gone, one of the girls shouted, ¡°Go and check on the rat. See if she has killed it or not!¡± One of the braver male colleagues to a closer look. ¡°It¡¯s still alive. I can still see its ws twitching. There¡¯s also no blood. I suppose it has only fainted.¡± ¡°Argh! Kill it and throw it out. This is unbelievably disgusting! Hurry up and get the cleaner here to clean up the ce. It needs to be scrubbed down with disinfectant!¡± Meanwhile, Whitney could faintly hear her colleagues¡¯ screams from the washroom. Meanwhile, Whitney could faintly hear her colleagues¡¯ screams from the washroom. After clearing out the torn documents, she gave the drawer a quick rinse. It seems Lana hates my guts now. Whitney let out a sigh of resignation. When she was taking care of the dolphins at Charles¡¯ oceanarium, she barely had any colleagues, while the head and manager of the oceanarium were also friendly to her. Never in her life did she need to deal with office rtionships like those in Newton Group. Do the hundreds of colleagues on every floor resent me? Why? I clearly didn¡¯t do anything. All that happened was Isaac backing me up when Charles ordered me to do some work. And now, I have be public enemy number one in the logistics department. As aggrievement swelled up within Whitney, she bit her lip in defiance. ¡°Since they want to get me, let them try. At most, I¡¯ll fight them to the death. Let¡¯s see who wille up on top in the end!¡± In her frustration, Whitney pped the water in the sink. However, the impact sshed her face and clothes with water. Is the universe trying to tell me that destroying my enemies will only result in a pyrrhic victory? She couldn¡¯t help but recall what Charles said to her during the journey back home. I hope you¡¯ll live up to your words. Since you¡¯re serious about working here, prove yourself to me and don¡¯t create any messes that I have to clean up. Also, stay away from the women in the office. If there¡¯s any trouble, you¡¯ll have to handle it yourself. When Charles¡¯ handsome face emerged in her mind, a sense of dejection set into her. If this blows up and reaches him, I don¡¯t suppose he¡¯ll help me? Who knows, he might even give me a scolding, using me of stirring up trouble and bringing chaos to the department. And after that, he would kick me out of thepany. With that thought in mind, Whitney wasn¡¯t so keen on fighting thedies to the bitter end. By the time the head of the logistics department returned, the drama had already ended. Whitney handed over the work shepleted the night before and asked for a copy of the chewed-up document. Although the department head could tell that something was amiss with his subordinates, he couldn¡¯t put his finger on what it was. All he did was reminded them to focus on their work. Even though Whitney had nned to let the matter slide, Lana and her gang were still worried that she would tell on them. During lunchtime, Whitney was sitting alone at thepany cafeteria when Lana and four of her female colleagues sat at her table with trays in their hands and grins on their faces. The seats on both her table were quickly upied. Chapter 748 Chapter 748 Whitney raised her head and shot an indifferent look at thedies. ¡°What do you want? Do you want to fight?¡¯ Josie Ickleton, who shared a close bond with Lana, quickly offered a smile. ¡°Absolutely not. This is the employees¡¯ cafeteria, and it¡¯s frequented by thepany¡¯s higher-ups and employees. It wouldn¡¯t be wise to let the entirepany in on the dispute within the logistics department, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Whitney lowered her head and ate her lunch. ¡°If you want to fight, I¡¯m ready to ept your challenge whenever you want. But if that¡¯s not the case, then please stop bothering me.¡± Her indifferent attitude made thedies upset. Nevertheless, they didn¡¯t express their anger as they still needed her help. Lana spoke up. ¡°Whitney, today¡¯s incident was entirely my fault. I only intended to tease you with the mouse, but I never anticipated your ruthless reaction. Honestly, you¡¯ve proven yourself to be more skilled and capable than our male colleagues in the department.¡± Whitney grew impatient. ¡°What do you want to say? Just be straightforward.¡± ¡°It was a harmless prank, so there¡¯s really no need to involve the higher-ups, right? I know Isaac is your sugar daddy, but please, let¡¯s keep this incident between us. I promise not to y any more tricks on you. Can¡¯t we find a way to get along with each other?¡± Whitney furrowed her brows as her hand froze midair. ¡°Allow me to reiterate that I have no personal connection whatsoever with Isaac Turner. Please stop spreading rumors. I don¡¯t want these baseless spections to tarnish either my own reputation or that of Mr. Isaac Turner.¡± The otherdies rolled their eyes silently. It¡¯s pretty obvious, though. Why is she still ying dumb? Is it that hard to admit that she got this job through him? Reluctantly, they had no alternative but to relent and offer sce. Lana replied, ¡°Fine if that¡¯s what you want. We won¡¯t bring this up again. You can focus on your responsibilities during your probationary period, and we¡¯ll refrain from interfering in each other¡¯s matters. What do you say?¡± Whitney agreed readily, ¡°I won¡¯tin to anyone. Don¡¯t worry.¡± She got up with her tray and left the table where she was surrounded by Lana and the others. She went to a secluded spot in the corner, settled down, and resumed enjoying her meal. As soon as Whitney left, Lana couldn¡¯t help but scoff. ¡°Let¡¯s just tolerate her for now. When her probationary period nears its end, I¡¯ll figure out a way to get rid of her.¡± Josiemented softly, ¡°I must admit, she¡¯s quite skilled. I can¡¯t believe how swiftly she caught that mouse and fearlessly dealt with it. It seems she¡¯s good at fighting. We should be cautious just in case she decides to retaliate.¡± Lana remained unperturbed. ¡°She isn¡¯t the only one in thepany with a backer.¡± The other colleagues swiftly surrounded her, eager for some gossip. ¡°Wow, Lana, who did you hook up with?¡± Lana puffed her chest out arrogantly. ¡°Guess who?¡± ¡°Is it a manager or supervisor?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s a director.¡± ¡°Oh, wait. Could it be Mr. Newton?¡± Lana¡¯s lips curved into a smile, and she didn¡¯t refute thest statement. The female colleagues quickly sucked up to her. ¡°Lana, you¡¯re so capable! Mr. Newton has been single for ages, and there¡¯s never been a woman around him. Even his assistants are all male. Did he actually take an interest in you?¡± Deep down, Lana was enjoying all the ttery. She swiftly fabricated a story. ¡°Maybe Mr. Newton developed some interest in me after he called out my name and reprimanded me yesterday. This morning, I coincidentally bumped into him at the office, and he greeted me with a smile and told me not to take yesterday¡¯s incident too seriously.¡± In reality, Charles didn¡¯t even show up for work today. However, those in the logistics department rarely had the opportunity to encounter the vice president, let alone Charles himself. ¡°Wow, Lana, you¡¯re incredible! I can hardly believe you¡¯ve managed to capture the heart of Mr. Newton, who is notorious for his chastity and aloofness!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Lana, you¡¯re my idol. Tell us more.¡± Thedies wholeheartedly ced their trust in Lana and began showering her with praise. Lana, fueled by their admiration, began spinning intricate details about her alleged conversations with Charles. She found herself almost beginning to believe the very stories she had concocted. One of the female colleagues, who had remained quiet throughout the conversation, timidly questioned, ¡°Lana, I heard that Mr. Newton exclusively uses the CEO¡¯s private elevator when he¡¯s at the office. Are you sure you bumped into him in the elevator? I don¡¯t mean to undermine you, but Whitney is undeniably stunning. I believe she¡¯s even more beautiful than all of us here.¡± Something tells me that Mr. Newton would¡¯ve fallen for Whitney yesterday after his inspection, not Lana. Lana¡¯s expression turned sour, and she red discontentedly at the person who spoke up. ¡°Everyone has their own preferences. Maybe I happen to be Mr. Newton¡¯s type! That¡¯s none of your concern. Besides, didn¡¯t he use the regr elevator when he came to inspect our department yesterday? Why is it so hard to believe that I encountered him in the elevator? You didn¡¯t witness it yourself, so what gives you the right to use me of lying?¡± Well¡­ ¡°All right, I was simply curious. I didn¡¯t mean to imply that you were lying intentionally. Don¡¯t be upset.¡± Lana remained displeased, her annoyance evident as she angrily cut her steak into minuscule pieces on her te. The other colleagues fell silent. No matter what, it was true that Whitney was a gorgeous woman with blond hair, blue eyes, and a curvaceous body. Men would fall for her, and women would be jealous of her. All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. They could insult Whitney for herck of education, but they could never bring themselves to lie and im that she was ugly. Lana was indeed jealous of Whitney. After nearly three years of working at Newton Group, Lana found herself in the same position as when she started¡ªan ordinary employee. Thepany had a sry increase system in ce every six months, but Lana yearned for more. She aspired to be promoted to team leader or even manager. However, Lana¡¯sck of skill andpetence hindered her chances of being promoted. On the other hand, Whitney had secured her position in Newton Group through connections despite her limited knowledge and experience. Her probationary period would probably be more lenient, a fact that Lana found deeply unfair. However, Lana¡¯sck of skill andpetence hindered her chances of being promoted. On the other hand, Whitney had secured her position in Newton Group through connections despite her limited knowledge and experience. Her probationary period would probably be more lenient, a fact that Lana found deeply unfair. The incident made her hate Whitney even more. Whitney is simply leveraging Mr. Turner¡¯s influence, and he¡¯s merely an assistant. I must capture Mr. Newton¡¯s attention and earn the admiration of all the women in thepany! After finishing her lunch alone, Whitney washed the tray. Little did she expect to bump into Isaac at the sink. He had also just finished his lunch. Isaac smiled and greeted her politely. Recalling the rumors that were circting within thepany, Whitney decided to avoid Isaac and chose to lower her head instead of responding to his greeting. Isaac was baffled by her reaction. When no one was paying attention to them, he inched nearer and whispered, ¡°Mrs¡ªWhitney, did I do something wrong to make you mad at me?¡± ¡°No, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Whitney let out a sigh before deciding to be honest with him. ¡°I hope you will stop paying excessive attention to me, Mr. Turner. I¡¯m still a new employee on probation. It would be best if you could treat me like any other employee in thepany.¡± Isaac was surprised to hear that. Although Isaac was uncertain about the reasons behind Charles and Whitney¡¯s decision to keep their marriage a secret, he felt it was his responsibility to support Whitney, considering she was a neer to thepany. Charles had also instructed him to look out for her. ¡°I heard that there was amotion in the logistics department this morning. Was it serious? Do you need me to investigate the matter personally and report it to Mr. Newton?¡± Whitney was left speechless, realizing that he had misunderstood her words. ¡°No, it¡¯s not necessary. It wasn¡¯t anything significant. It was merely a lighthearted joke among colleagues.¡± ¡°Okay. If you ever run into trouble, do remember to let me know.¡± Whitney bobbed her head and ced the clean tray aside before leaving the staff cafeteria. While they engaged in conversation, someone discreetly captured photos of them from outside the door. The members of the logistics department began whispering among themselves. ¡°Look at this. I can¡¯t believe she lied to us, iming they weren¡¯t rted in any way. They were practically standing next to each other, whispering among themselves during lunch break.¡± ¡°Perhaps Whitney is indeed Mr. Turner¡¯s girlfriend. They can¡¯t make their rtionship public as they are in the same workce. This is nothing serious. We should leave.¡± ¡°You¡¯re clueless. It¡¯s obvious they¡¯re hiding their rtionship because it¡¯s unconventional. He must be her sugar daddy or something like that.¡± Chapter 749 Chapter 749 The logistics department remained calm the entire afternoon. The employees diligently concentrated on their tasks, rarely engaging in gossip or idle chatter among themselves. Surprisingly, no one made any mention of the mouse incident that had urred earlier that morning. The atmosphere was peculiar, with everyone fully immersed in their work. After cleaning theb restroom, Charles got off work and drove to hispany. He had contemted heading straight home, but then the thought crossed his mind that Whitney might be unfamiliar with the way back home, so he made the decision to go back to the office. However, he decided against heading to the logistics department that day. He reasoned that frequent visits to the department might raise suspicions and potentially create unnecessaryplications. He parked his car in the underground parking lot. Feeling the heat, he rolled down the car window and proceeded to roll up his sleeves. Sensing the difort, he loosened his tie and unfastened the top two buttons of his shirt, allowing his corbone to be partially exposed. As he waited, he leisurely lit up a cigarette. Not feeling any rush, he refrained from urging Whitney to finish work quickly and instead patiently awaited her arrival, adopting the demeanor of a caring husband waiting to drive his wife home. Meanwhile, Lana left work punctually, havingpleted her tasks ahead of schedule. Recently, she bought a second-hand car. Taking a moment to check her appearance in the elevator and touch up her lipstick, she arrived at the basement, where the underground parking lot was located. As she approached her car, her attention was captured by a sight that made her pause in awe. Parked beside her was a sleek, limited edition ck Bentley. The luxurious vehicle exuded an air of opulence and unmistakable value. Her own car, worth a mere one hundred thousand, paled inparison. Envy flickered in Lana¡¯s eyes as she gazed longingly at the remarkable car. There are many higher-ups in Newton Group, but only a handful of them can afford to buy a limited- edition car. Could Mr. Newton be inside this car? Delight shone on her face as she went around the back of her car. In the driver¡¯s seat of the Bentley, a man sat smoking, his arm casually resting on the edge of the window. The striking watch adorning his wrist was a testament to his influence and status. Lana grew so nervous that her heart began to race. It took several seconds for her to calm down before heading toward the car. She approached the driver¡¯s side of the luxurious car and leaned down, intentionally lowering her shirt to reveal a hint of her cleavage. With an alluring tilt of her head and a charming smile, she feigned an expression of pleasant surprise. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Mr. Newton. Fancy running into you at the underground parking lot. I¡¯m honored to be in your presence!¡± Charles puffed out smoke and grunted in acknowledgment. He didn¡¯t react or spare her a look. Lana was speechless. Is that all? Won¡¯t he say something? Feeling awkward, she offered a shy smile and introduced herself in a soft, timid voice, ¡°Do you happen to remember me, Mr. Newton? I¡¯m Lana Anfield from the logistics department. You reprimanded me yesterday for making a mistake.¡± ¡°Lana Anfield?¡± Charles frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are.¡± He only remembered reprimanding Whitney yesterday afternoon for no reason. Lana felt utterly embarrassed. Struggling with her social skills, she mustered a forced smile. ¡°With so many ordinary employees in the company, it¡¯s understandable if you don¡¯t remember me. Perhaps we¡¯ll have an opportunity to get acquainted in the future.¡± Charles¡¯ expression turned icy. He was clearly displeased. The presence of Lana felt akin to an annoying mosquito buzzing incessantly around him, creating an unwee distraction that he found quite bothersome. Turning around slowly, he looked at Lana without any expression on his face. ¡°You should head home after work. Stop bothering me.¡± Lana¡¯s smile froze. He¡¯s indeed as bad-tempered as the rumors im. Refusing to give up, she ced a hand on her chest and said anxiously, ¡°I apologize for the interruption, Mr. Newton, but I¡¯m experiencing a problem with my car. It unexpectedly failed to start. Would it be possible for you to give me a ride?¡± As she spoke, Lana could feel her heart pounding rapidly in her chest.N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°No. I¡¯m a germaphobe,¡± Charles replied without hesitation. Is he saying I¡¯m filthy? Despite the slight blush tinting the tips of her ears, Lana persisted, her determination unwavering. ¡°Mr. Newton, would you mind taking a look at my car? I¡¯m a new driver and I purchased it just a few months ago. I¡¯m not sure why the engine suddenly failed to start.¡± There was a hint of impatience in Charles¡¯ voice as he replied, ¡°If there¡¯s a problem with your car, you should go to the car dealership.¡± His rejection was curt and clear. Lana was close to tears as she was nervous and didn¡¯t expect Charles to be difficult. Her voice was soft as she pleaded, ¡°Mr. Newton¡­ please help me out. I bought a second-hand car, so the car dealership won¡¯t help me. I tried calling them but they didn¡¯t pick up. I¡¯m out of ideas.¡± Charles was growing irritated. He narrowed his eyes and nced at his watch. They both work in the logistics department, so Whitney should being soon. Charles didn¡¯t want his employees to see Whitney getting into his car. He could only swiftly dismiss this persistent woman. He opened the door and stepped out of his car. ¡°Where is your car?¡± Lana¡¯s heart was filled with surprise as she pointed to her car, her finger trembling slightly. ¡°It¡¯s parked right next to your car.¡± ¡°Give me the car keys.¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Lana responded, appearing somewhat dazed. She quickly retrieved her car keys and gave them to him. When he went over to her car, Lana pulled out her phone secretly and took a photo of him unlocking her car. When he went over to her car, Lana pulled out her phone secretly and took a photo of him unlocking her car. Click! The shutter sound was clear in the quiet parking lot. She even forgot to turn off the sh. At once, Charles gripped her wrist and red at her in an intimidating manner. Lana was spooked by his re. ¡°M-Mr. Newton¡­¡± ¡°Delete the photo.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lana lowered her gaze guiltily and feigned ignorance. Charles¡¯ expression was cold as he applied more force and pinned her hand to the window. His tone was menacing as he repeated, ¡°I said, delete the photo.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± He was too intimidating, and Lana had no choice but to do as told. As her wrist was being pinned down, it was quite hard for her to delete the photo with one hand. It took her quite some time to get it done. Right then, Whitney approached the scene from the elevator just as Charles and Lana were tangled in front of the car. From a distance, she recognized Charles¡¯ unmistakable figure standing in close proximity to another woman. She instinctively hid herself and stopped walking. Meanwhile, Lana had already deleted the photo. She held up the device, showing it to Charles. ¡°Mr. Newton, please don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ve deleted the photo. It was my first time being in such close proximity to you, and I¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t attempt to employ such despicable tricks on me,¡± Charles interjected sternly. ¡°I have no tolerance for employees with hidden agendas. If you cannot dedicate yourself to your work, then leave thepany.¡± He shoved her hand away with a disgusted expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I didn¡¯t do that on purpose. Please don¡¯t hate me.¡± Charles sneered as he lifted the car keys and pressed the unlock button. The headlights blinked twice in response. He pressed the quick ignition button on the key, causing the engine to burst to life with amanding roar. ¡°So, your car engine conveniently failed to start, huh? I¡¯ve seen this trick countless times in the past. If this happens again, you won¡¯t find employment with any of Newton Group¡¯s subsidiaries.¡± Lana gave a polite bow. ¡°Please forgive me.¡± Charles tossed the car keys back to her coolly. ¡°Get the hell out of here.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± Tears welled up in Lana¡¯s eyes as she felt overwhelming humiliation wash over her. Without wasting a moment, she hurriedly retreated to her car and drove away from the parking lot as swiftly as she could. Charles calmly returned to his car and wiped his hands clean with a piece of wet tissue. He was busy cleaning his hands when the passenger seat door swung open. Whitney eased herself in and fastened her seatbelt. Her head was lowered, shielding her emotions. Charles nced at her and scoffed, ¡°Why are you so slow in getting off work? Are you a tortoise?¡± Chapter 750 Chapter 750 Whitney clenched her fists, as her already sour mood worsened further. Though she tried to restrain herself, she couldn¡¯t help exploding in the end. ¡°Charles Newton, am I a terrible person to you? You always insult me and put me down no matter what I do. If you really think I don¡¯t match up to your status, why did you marry me back then? You should have approached a wealthy family¡¯s daughter like Jessamyn.¡± Charles eyed her with a strange look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Did you experience trouble at work? Why are youshing out at me for that?¡± After a short pause, he realized something and added, ¡°You¡¯re getting bold, huh? Did you just call me by my full name?¡± He reached out and pinched Whitney¡¯s cheek, exerting some force as if punishing her. The faint pain aggravated Whitney¡¯s anger, and she pped his hand away. Her reddened eyes were misty with tears as she said, ¡°You¡¯re taking advantage of my affection for you and bullying me as much as you like. Yes, I like you now, so I¡¯ll bear with it. But if I stop liking you in the future, I won¡¯t allow you to pick on me again!¡± Hearing that, Charles frowned. As he scrutinized her aggrieved expression, he was perplexed. The pair stared at each other for a long time before Charles finally broke the silence and asked, ¡°What is up with you? You¡¯re so confrontational today. I was just joking; how is that bullying you?¡± Whitney grew increasingly distressed as she listened to Charles, bitterness spreading in her heart. She pointed at her face and retorted, ¡°You pinched my cheek, and it¡¯s red now. You don¡¯t think that¡¯s bullying me?¡± We¡¯re married. Even though I¡¯m only his wife in name, he should keep his distance from other women. No wonder hees to mypany every daytely; it turns out he¡¯s here to meet his lover. He just picks me up because I happen to work here. At that thought, Whitney felt suffocated. She bit her lip hard and lowered her head, trying to process the scene she had just witnessed. Clueless about what was going on in her mind, Charles gazed at her cheek and noticed it had indeed turned red. The rosy color on her face, along with her grumpy pout, made her look adorable. Arching his brow, Charles was once again ovee with the urge to tease her. ¡°There¡¯s no mirror in front of you. How do you know it¡¯s red? Maybe it turned red because you¡¯re mad.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s red because it hurts,¡± Whitney grumbled and turned her face to the side while quickly wiping her eyes. Charles paused upon noticing her actions. ¡°Are you crying?¡± ¡°No!¡± It¡¯s obvious from her nasally voice that she¡¯s crying. Feeling guilty, Charles leaned over and moved his face closer. ¡°I¡¯ll let you pinch me back. How about that?¡± Whitney turned around at that. It wasn¡¯t in her character to sit back and do nothing after being offended by others, so she was actually tempted to take up his offer. ¡°Will you get back at me if I really pinch you?¡± ¡°No.¡± She¡¯s ady; how strong could she possibly be? It would be unmanly of me to get back at her after asking her to pinch me. Just as Charles was thinking of that, Whitney plucked up her courage to give his cheek a hard pinch. ¡°Ow¡­¡± Charles scrunched his brows and hissed in pain as annoyance surged through him. To his surprise, Whitney was strong. His face had gone numb from that one pinch alone. ¡°Why did you pinch me so hard?¡± he demanded, his low voice thick with displeasure. Whitney knew it was time to stop and thus rescinded her hand in time. At the sight of the dark red mark on Charles¡¯ face, she immediately felt much better. ¡°You were the one who said I could pinch you. Is there a restriction on how much strength I can use? Besides, I didn¡¯t exert much strength. Don¡¯t forget. You also said you won¡¯t get back at me.¡± Charles was stumped for words. After all, he did promise not to retaliate. Despite his numb and throbbing face, he suppressed his annoyance and the urge to take revenge. ¡°So, can you tell me why you¡¯re in a bad mood now? Who made you upset at work?¡± Whitney shook her head. She had no intention of acting like a petty tattletale or troubling him with such an issue. It would only earn her another scolding. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g ¡°No one made me upset at work, and I¡¯m not in a bad mood.¡± ¡°Liar,¡± Charles responded gloomily before starting the car and driving out of the basement parking. Whitney didn¡¯t bother defending herself. As they sat in the car without saying a word, the atmosphere turned so tense that one could cut through it with a knife. Throughout the journey, Whitney faced the window and watched the streets fade past her view. The scene at the parking lot earlier continued to rey in her mind. After a long deliberation, Whitney realized she might have crossed the line. They had entered a one-year marriage contract, but she was too greedy to want more from it. Now, she was even upset because he was acting intimately with another woman. In spite of her efforts to hold herself back, she still ended up asking, ¡°Who was the woman you were talking to in the parking lot earlier?¡± ¡°What woman?¡± Charles had almost forgotten about the insignificant episode from earlier. It was only when Whitney brought it up that he thought back on it and answered, ¡°I think she¡¯s from the logistics department you work in.¡± Logistics department? Logistics department? Whitney tried to recall the faces of the colleagues in her department one by one. ¡°Who from the logistics department?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Charles did not even pay attention to what the woman was saying, let alone find out what her name was. Observing how natural and nonchnt his expression was, Whitney suddenly felt relieved. Maybe they just ran into each other and exchanged greetings. Did I overthink and misunderstand him? While she was reflecting on herself, Charles continued, ¡°She imed her car wouldn¡¯t start and used that as an excuse to ask me to give her a ride. Crafty, but not smart enough. You¡¯re more foolish than her, though.¡± Whitney was bbergasted by his sudden change in subject. He might as well sew his mouth shut if he¡¯s so bad at talking! Her doubts over wrongfully using Charles disappeared in an instant, and she snapped, ¡°What does that have to do with me? Do you always have to involve me and attack me in every conversation we have?¡± Charles snorted, unfazed. ¡°I was just telling the truth.¡± In her dejection, Whitney moved closer to the car door and further away from him. Charles was driving quite casually when his face suddenly turned solemn as if something just urred to him. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting strange since you got into the car. Is it because of this? Are you jealous?¡± ¡°No,¡± denied Whitney awkwardly. ¡°I know my ce. I¡¯m just your secret contract wife for one year, so I shouldn¡¯t get jealous and bring unnecessary trouble for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you know,¡± Charles replied right away without thinking. Eyes dimming, Whitney looked down and kept quiet. The mood in the car turned cold once again until Charles¡¯ ringing phone shattered the silence. When he saw the name Gwen on the caller ID, he put on a serious expression and cleared his throat before answering the call via his Bluetooth earphones. Whitney also noticed the caller ID. She had heard from Jasmine about a childhood sweetheart whom Charles held great affection for and couldn¡¯t forget about. ¡°Gwen¡± happened to be part of this person¡¯s name. While pretending not to care, Whitney secretly perked up her ears to listen. The moment the call was connected, Charles said in a gentle tone, ¡°What¡¯s up, Gwen?¡± What answered him, however, was not Gwendolyn¡¯s voice. Chapter 751 Chapter 751 It was Benedict who took Gwendolyn¡¯s phone and contacted Charles personally. ¡°Charles, I¡¯m on my way to the oceanarium with Daddy, Mommy, and Zendaya.¡± Charles was stunned for a moment and a little delighted. ¡°Are you finally willing to ept the oceanarium?¡± Benedict, on the other end of the line, sounded haughty. ¡°You gifted it to me without allowing me the chance to reject it, so what right do I have not to ept it?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Judging by his tone, Benny hasn¡¯t forgiven me yet. It seems like it is my wishful thinking. Nevertheless, Charles didn¡¯t give up. Instead, he asked in a gentler voice, ¡°This is your first time taking the initiative to call me. Is this what you want to talk to me about? The oceanarium is yours, Benny. I¡¯m just paying someone to manage it for you. You can go there and have fun whenever you want. There¡¯s no need for you to ask my permission.¡± Benedict snorted arrogantly. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. I just want to inform you that I¡¯m nning to renovate the oceanarium a little to include more new and interesting animals.¡± N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°Sure, that¡¯s not a problem. You can keep any animal you want in there.¡± ¡°Hmph. Don¡¯t speak so soon. I¡¯m afraid you may not be able to afford itter. If you¡¯re free now,e over, and we can discuss this in person.¡± His voice might sound childish, but he spoke with the mature cadence of an adult, arranging everything perfectly. ¡°Okay,¡± Charles agreed without a second thought since Benedict had taken the initiative to invite him over. There was no way he would refuse thetter. Benedict hung up the call rudely and aloofly without even saying ¡°goodbye¡± or any other parting words. Charles decisively turned his steering wheel at the next intersection, heading in the opposite direction toward the oceanarium. Whitney noticed the change in route and hastily asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson and his family are going to the oceanarium. I¡¯m going to join them.¡± ¡°In that case, should I get out of the car now?¡± Charles pondered briefly before replying, ¡°Let¡¯s go there together. Zendy is also there. You¡¯ve spent several years in the oceanarium and know it better than I do. I think you¡¯ll be able to exin it better if you were to introduce some marine life to the kids.¡± Zendy is also there. Whitney quite missed that clever little girl. Still, she found it weird for her to tag along. ¡°Mr. Newton, we¡¯re a secretly married couple. You said we shouldn¡¯t announce our rtionship in public, so how should I introduce myself when I show up there with youter?¡± Charles fell silent, seriously considering that problem. Whitney also spaced out. I saw the caller ID earlier was remarked as ¡°Gwen,¡± but the person who spoke on the phone was clearly a child. If Zendy is also there, could it be that the childhood sweetheart he hasn¡¯t been able to forget is the twins¡¯ mother? Her children are already five years old, yet Mr. Newton still holds that woman so dearly in his heart. The more I think about this, the more I¡¯m curious to know how beautiful that woman must be. She suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say that I¡¯m your personal maid? You can tell them you brought me to grocery shopping and received the phone call on the way. That¡¯ll exin why we¡¯re going there together.¡± He shook his head in refusal. Because Zendaya was fond of Whitney, Charles promised the little girl he would attempt to date and get into a rtionship with Whitney. He figured Zendaya would undoubtedly be displeased if Whitney suddenly became his personal maid instead. A few momentster, Charles uttered, ¡°Girlfriend.¡± Whitney was rendered speechless. ¡°How is that different from a wife? Both are intimate rtionships.¡± Isn¡¯t he afraid his childhood sweetheart will get upset? Charles said firmly, ¡°It¡¯s not the same. A girlfriend is a lover while a wife is a life partner, a legally- binding rtionship.¡± She pursed her lips and argued with an undertone, ¡°You can break up with a girlfriend, so you can divorce a wife too. There¡¯s not much difference, honestly.¡± Charles didn¡¯t respond. He agreed with her point of view, but he didn¡¯t want to let Gwendolyn know about his marriage so soon. ¡°Just do as I say. Don¡¯t forget that our marriage is a secret. Aside from members of the Newton family, it¡¯ll be best if we avoid letting anyone else know.¡± Figuring he had a point, Whitney nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll cooperate with you.¡± Approximately twenty minutester, the duo arrived at the oceanarium. From afar, they could see Cedrick, Gwendolyn, and the two kids standing outside the deserted entrance of the oceanarium. The scene featuring the family of four standing together was harmonious and heartwarming. Charles got out of the car and strode forward, leaving Whitney behind. ¡°Uncle Charles!¡± As soon as Zendaya saw him, she beamed and bounded toward Charles, spreading her arms to hug him. He bent down and caught her, pulling her steadily into his embrace. Zendaya wrapped her arms around his neck and noticed the red mark on his cheek. She poked at the spot and asked curiously, ¡°Uncle Charles, why is your face red? Oh? It¡¯s hot. Does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you, Uncle Charles.¡± She puffed out her cheeks and blew earnestly. Charles stiffened. He had forgotten about having his face pinched by Whitney earlier. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Whitney trailed behind and slowly caught up to the party. rity washed over Zendaya when she perceptively spotted Whitney. ¡°You¡¯re also here, Whitney! I got it. Whitney must¡¯ve hit Uncle Charles because he misbehaved and angered Whitney.¡± Both Charles and Whitney were rendered speechless upon hearing the little girl¡¯s words. Then, Zendaya excitedly introduced Whitney to Gwendolyn. ¡°Mommy, this is Whitney. I mentioned her to you before. Uncle Charles went on a date with Whitney. They look so good together, like a match made in heaven.¡± Then, Zendaya excitedly introduced Whitney to Gwendolyn. ¡°Mommy, this is Whitney. I mentioned her to you before. Uncle Charles went on a date with Whitney. They look so good together, like a match made in heaven.¡± Gwendolyn nced up and happened to lock gazes with Whitney. The two women sized up each other for a few seconds. In the end, Gwendolyn smiled first. ¡°You¡¯re not a Chanaean, right? You look so pretty and seem like a very nice girl.¡± Whitney beamed at Gwendolyn sheepishly in response. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m from Tayhaven. This is my first time meeting you, Mrs. Jenson, and you really took my breath away.¡± Gwendolyn put on in makeup with bright red lipstick for work that day. She exuded a powerful yet sensual vibe, giving others the impression that she was a highlypetent woman even at first nce. On top of that, her elegant demeanor, courteous manner of speech, and hints of distinguished temperament made her seem as if she was glowing. Whitney thought Gwendolyn was truly an exceptionally charming woman. The moment she saw thetter, she began to fathom Charles¡¯ preference in choosing his female companion. A brief silence ensued, but Charles quickly introduced, ¡°This is my new girlfriend, Whitney Mellor.¡± He turned to Whitney and introduced the rest of the party to her. ¡°That¡¯s Mr. Jenson. You¡¯re a year younger than Gwen, so you can call her Gwendolyn. You¡¯ve met Zendy, and this is her twin brother, Benny.¡± Whitney bowed slightly and greeted the family politely, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jenson and Gwendolyn. Hello, Zendy and Benny.¡± Cedrick nodded in response while Gwendolyn smiled faintly. Benedict held his head high arrogantly and ignored Whitney. Only Zendaya was exceptionally enthusiastic. ¡°Hello, hello. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you too, Whitney!¡± Everyoneughed. The atmosphere livened up because of Zendaya¡¯s bubbly personality. Cedrick asked Cedrick, ¡°The weather is getting cold. It¡¯s quite chilly outside, so why didn¡¯t you all go inside?¡± Benedict stood at one side with his hands tucked inside his pockets, snorting disdainfully. ¡°It¡¯s all because of Zendaya. She insisted on waiting for you at the entrance. Mommy and Daddy are worried about her safety, so all of us ended up waiting here.¡± He sounded impatient, seemingly not very pleased about the wait. Charles didn¡¯t lose his temper. ¡°Sorry to have kept you all waiting. It¡¯s cold outside, so let¡¯s go in.¡± Subsequently, they moved inside. Charles carried Zendaya into the oceanarium while Cedrick went to pick Benedict up. The two men entered the building one after the other, each holding a child. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn and Whitney ended up walking side by side. Chapter 752 Chapter 752 Chapter 752 He Is A Good Man As Zendaya wanted to visit the dolphin named Juju, all of them headed over to the dolphinarium. Whitney had worked at the dolphinarium for a long time before, and no one was more familiar with that ce than her. She smiled and said to Gwendolyn who was standing beside her, ¡°This little dolphin here is Juju. Juju is the brightest in color and has the roundest head among all the dolphins here. She¡¯s very clever! She¡¯ll giggle at Zendy, y ball with her, and perform cute underwater tricks for her. She¡¯s Zendy¡¯s best friend at the oceanarium. That other dolphin was bought by Charles to keep Jujupany.¡± Gwendolyn stood at the edge of the pool and watched the dolphin frolicking in the water as she listened to Whitney¡¯s introduction. Juju let out happy, high¨Cpitched squeals when she caught sight of Zendaya. She immediately swam straight toward her and poked her little round head above the water for the little girl to pet. Zendaya had not seen her dolphin friend in a long while, and she giggled happily as she stroked Juju¡¯s smooth skin. Benedict watched his sister from his perch in his father¡¯s arms. There was no telling what he was thinking. Cedrick noticed his son¡¯s expression and asked, ¡°Would you like to meet Zendy¡¯s dolphin friend? She looks very friendly.¡± Benedict shook his head and lifted his chin proudly. ¡°I don¡¯t like such silly animals! I only like the fierce ones that can eat a person in one bite! Roar!¡± His little face scrunched up adorably as he imitated a shark¡¯s bite. Cedrick stroked the boy¡¯s cheek dotingly. Knowing he didn¡¯t mean what he said, Cedrick asked, ¡°Oh, but I really want to meet Juju. Do you want to go with me and say hello?¡± ¡°All right,¡± Benedict agreed reluctantly, his brows furrowed. Cedrick chuckled lightly and lowered Benedict to the ground. Then, holding his little hand, they walked together to the edge of the water. Zendaya, who was ying with Juju by the poolside, enthusiastically introduced Benedict to the dolphin, ¡°This is my twin brother. He¡¯s a very clever and handsome boy! Can he pet you, Juju?¡± Juju swam in happy circles before approaching Benedict. She poked her head out of the water, inviting the little boy to touch her. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Benedict was a stunned and a little nervous. However, with Gwendolyn, Cedrick, Charles, and the others watching him, he blinked rapidly and tried to swallow his fear. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna touch her. She¡¯s a silly animal!¡± he said petntly. Cedrick grabbed his little hand and ced it on the dolphin¡¯s head. Juju¡¯s skin was smooth and cool to the touch. It was his first time touching a dolphin, and Benedict was fascinated by the sensation. He could not help. stroking Juju a few more times. Cedrick removed his hand and stepped back, smiling to himself. Zendaya went over and taught her brother how to y with Juju. The two of them chatted happily among themselves with Juju between them. Cedrick and Charles stood watching the children with contented smiles on their faces like two proud fathers. Gwendolyn and Whitney stood not too far away. They, too, were watching the children y. ¡°Gwendolyn, you¡¯ve known Charles for many years, right?¡± Whitney asked, unable to suppress the curiosity any longer. Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°We were very close as kids. We often spent time at the Newton residence.¡± ¡°Are you not close anymore?¡± Whitney asked timidly. ¡°Well, we¡¯re both adults now. We have our own lives, and of course, we don¡¯t spend as much time together anymore.¡± Gwendolyn replied bluntly. ¡°I see¡­¡± Whitney looked at the ground, trying to decipher Gwendolyn¡¯s feelings for Charles. She seems to havepletely let go of Charles. But what about Charles? Has he let go of her? ¡°You two are dating now, right? So, how do you feel about him? Do you see a future together?¡± Gwendolyn asked, interrupting Whitney¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I really like him. He was a teacher in Tayhaven for a while back then, and from the moment I first saw him, I couldn¡¯t get him out of my head. I chased him all the way here to Chanaea and worked at this dolphinarium for a while. I waited for him for five years. Finally, I have the chance to be with him,¡± Whitney confessed. Gwendolyn was surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was so much history between the two of you. So, you¡¯ve been waiting for him for five years ever since Tayhaven, Such perseverance! I don¡¯t think I could ever do that! Anyway, I believe Charles won¡¯t let you down!¡± The color suddenly drained from Whitney¡¯s face. Gwendolyn immediately noticed the change and reached out to pat her hand lightly. ¡°Charles can be quite stubborn. Once he sets his eyes on something, it¡¯s hard to change his mind, but he¡¯s a good man and he can tell who¡¯s genuine and who¡¯s not! Once he realizes his feelings for you, he won¡¯t let an amazing girl like you slip away. You two are still in the early stages of dating, and I believe this is at promising start.¡± Most girls would not have the courage or the patience to leave their homes to pursue their love. Gwendolyn was sure that Charles would not meet another girl like Whitney. Whitney lowered her head and smiled bitterly. She held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, I think we could be friends. Can we exchange phone. numbers? Maybe we can have dinner together next time.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Gwendolyn, too, really liked the other woman. She was pretty, sincere, and fun to chat with. The two women pulled out their phones and exchanged numbers. While the women were chatting away, the others were having a fun time with the dolphins. Zendaya¡¯s affections had made Juju the leader of the pod of dolphins in the pool. Juju only needed to squeal, and the other dolphins would answer her call, swimming up to the edge of the pool where Benedict and Zendaya were standing. The four of them yed ball with the dolphins. The hours flew by, and soon, the sky turned dark. Benedict had wanted to see the entire oceanarium before proposing his renovation ideas. He had not expected to be so fascinated by the clever dolphins that he would spend his entire day at the dolphinarium. When he noticed that the sky had grown dark, Cedrick nced at his watch and said, ¡°You guys must be getting hungry. It¡¯ste. Let¡¯s go now. We cane back next time.¡± Benedict frowned unhappily. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen any other animals besides the dolphin He pouted. His n to renovate the oceanarium was going to fail. Cedrick dabbed his little hands with a towel and rubbed them between his own big palms to warm them.. ¡°We¡¯ve run out of time today, but there¡¯s always next time. I know you want to renovate the oceanarium. but that¡¯s not a project that can be aplished in a day or two. Mommy and I will take you and Zendy here again soon, okay?¡± Benedict had always been a sensible boy. He did not argue anymore. He looked at Charles who was helping Zendaya dry her hands and said firmly, ¡°Fine, but I won¡¯t give up on my n to renovate this oceanarium. You should be prepared to spend money!¡± Charles nodded. ¡°No problem. Even if you want the stars in the sky, I¡¯ll do my best to pluck them for you.¡± Benedict snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t talk big! I won¡¯t believe your lies! It¡¯s impossible to reach the stars!¡± Charles smiled and replied, ¡°Okay, okay, whatever you say, Benny.¡± He would always be patient with the boy. Chapter 753 Chapter 753 Chapter 753 Rage It was time for all of them to return home. Gwendolyn took Zendaya from Charles, and the family of four got into their car and left the oceanarium. As soon as the car disappeared from sight, Charles turned to Whitney and asked, ¡°I saw you talking to Gwen. What were you two chatting about?¡± ¡°Oh, we were talking about you and me,¡± she replied candidly, observing his reaction. Charles¡® expression remained unchanged, his sapphire eyes revealing nothing. ¡°What did you say?¡± Seeing how much he cared about Gwendolyn¡¯s opinion. Whitney felt rather uneasy. She ignored his question, slid into the passenger seat of his car, and waited quietly for him to start driving. Charles ignited the engine and maneuvered his way out of the oceanarium. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering me?¡± he continued pressing for an answer. ¡°Is it so important for you to know?¡± Whitney had a serious look on her face. ¡°Of course it¡¯s important,¡± he replied instantly, making Whitney¡¯s heart sink even further. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, how will I know how you will y the role of my wife in front of the Newtons in the future? How will I know whether this agreement between us can work?¡± ¡°Well, I told her about how we first met in Tayhaven and were reunited in Chanaea. We also talked about ourst date. She seems to know you very well. She had a lot of nice things to say about you. She hoped that our rtionship would grow. That¡¯s all. Are you happy now?¡± Charles arched his eyebrows. He seemed to be in a good mood. The thought of Gwendolyn praising him pleased him. However, Whitney¡¯s attitude upset him. ¡°What¡¯s with your tone? You were just fine before we got to the oceanarium. Now you sound as if someone¡¯s insulted your entire family!¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m having my period soon.¡± A woman¡¯s mood swings during her period was an easy excuse for Whitney to exin her attitude. Embarrassed by her exnation, Charles dropped the topic and focused on driving instead. The sky was pitch¨Cck and devoid of any stars. Even the moon was hidden behind the clouds. However, the roads were brightly illuminated by the street lights. -Both of them remained silent for the rest of the drive, lost in their own thoughts. After a while, Whitney finally broke the silence and asked, ¡°Gwendolyn is your childhood friend who you had a special rtionship with before, right?¡± Charles¡® face immediately turned cold as if she had overstepped his boundaries. ¡°Stop prying into my personal life. All you need to do this year is y the role of Mrs. Newton in front of my family.¡± Screech! The tires squealed in protest as Charles stopped the car abruptly. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Whitney¡¯s body was flung forward. Only her seatbelt stopped her from crashing into the windscreen. Shaken and scared, she turned to look at Charles, confused by the sudden stop. Why did he suddenly stop? Still wearing an icy look, Charles unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over to Whitney. ¡°Mr. Newton!¡± Charles gripped her chin roughly and forced her to meet his eyes. ¡°We are just a couple with a secret marriage contract. Don¡¯t forget your ce,¡± he warned her, no longer concealing his cruel thoughts. ¡°You¡¯d better behave yourself and stop asking about my past. If I find out that you¡¯re digging into my past and talking nonsense to Gwen, I¡¯ll show you who I truly am.¡± The manic look in Charles¡® eyes terrified Whitney. Her entire body was shaking in fear. She had never seen this side of Charles before. So, it was all an act for his beloved¡­ Whitney smiled bitterly and said with some difficulty. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m the kind of woman who would stir up trouble? Do you really love her that much? Would you really continue to bury that feeling. deep in your heart and sacrifice yourself for her even if she¡¯s someone else¡¯s wife now?¡± The rage in Charles¡® eyes intensified. ¡°Did you not understand what I¡¯ve just said. Whitney? Do not mention Gwendolyn¡¯s name ever again. Whatever goes on between me and her is none of your concern.¡± Charles squeezed her jaw painfully as if punishing her for her disobedience. Whitney¡¯s face was flushed red from the pain. He¡¯s reacting so terribly just because I asked him some sensitive questions. Next time, will he really strangle me? This violent side of Charles frightened Whitney. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m sorry!¡± Charles pulled his hand away once he had heard her apology. He sat back in his seat with a smug, satisfied look on his face. Whitney rubbed her bruised jaw and tried to calm her hammering heartbeat. The silence in the car was palpable. Whitney shifted her body away from Charles and leaned closer to the car door. Charles stepped on the gas pedal and continued their drive with a nk expression. The car engine roared angrily as Charles pushed it to its limit. Whitney held on to the handle in fear and bit her lip to stop herself from crying out. He really loves Gwendolyn so much that the mere mention of her name can make him angry. Whitney struggled to hold back her tears. She wanted to run far away from Charles. There was nothing left in him for her. Whitney leaped out of the car the moment it stopped in front of the Newton residence. Her legs were still shaking from his reckless driving, and she could not stand properly. She tripped and fell to the ground, her entire body still trembling. Charles walked over to her and offered her his hand. He seemed to be back to his usual gentlemanly self. Whitney pushed his hand away. She did not even dare to look him in the eyes. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can walk by myself.¡± Charles withdrew his hand and said nothing. His eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the bruise on her jawline. Whitney had pale and delicate skin, and although he did not use much force, noticeable purple marks had bloomed on her skin. ¡°Go back to the bedroom and get a scarf to cover up those bruises.¡± Whitney covered her neck with her hands and nodded. She dragged her still¨Ctrembling legs upstairs and headed to their room. Charles¡® gaze did not linger on her for long. He entered the vi and headed straight for the dining room. Lucas had important business to attend to at thispany that night and hade backte, so the siblings were eating together again. When she saw Charles alone, Jasmine asked, ¡°Charles, why is it just you? Where¡¯s Whitney?¡± ¡°She went upstairs to get changed. She¡¯ll be down soon, he replied naturally. Gone was the violent, ill- tempered man that was in the car earlier. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were so close to Whitney.¡± ¡°She may be your wife, but she¡¯s my friend!¡± Jasmine said yfully. Chapter 754 Chapter 754 Chapter 754 Call Me Hubby The siblings chatted for a short while in the dining room before Whitney joined them downstairs. The red silk scarf around her neck added a hint of seductiveness to the white office wear on her. It was a vital finishing touch to her outfit and made it extra eye¨Ccatching. Jasmine saw her even from a distance away. ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing Whitney wear a scarf. This outfit looks so demure. Whitney, you¡¯re tall and have a great figure. You look just like an air stewardess.¡± Lucas also whipped his head around and nodded in admiration. ¡°Indeed. Jasmine, you can learn how to dress better from Whitney. She even makes office wear look so good. You surely have lots of room for improvement.¡± Jasmine pouted. ¡°You¡¯re annoying, Lucas. Why do you always have something to say about me?¡± The atmosphere between the siblings was amicable. Charles, however, had his eyes lowered as he continued eating. He did not seem interested in Whitney¡¯s outfit at all. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing over? The whole family is waiting for you.¡± ¡°All right¡­¡± Clenching her fists, Whitney quickened her pace to the dining table and sat down in her seat. Then, she began digging in without saying a word: Seemingly not having much appetite, she said she was full after eating a little and returned to her room. Jasmine somehow felt that something was not quite right. ¡°Charles, Whitney doesn¡¯t seem to be in a good mood tonight. You came back with her. Did you two have a fight?¡± Charles shed a faint smile. ¡°No. Why would we fight all of a sudden? Continue with your meal.¡± ¡°Then why is she unhappy? How can she be full when she ate so little?¡± probed Jasmine in concern. ¡°How would I know?¡± His tone was especially cold. Displeasure surged within Jasmine, and she stood up for Whitney. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Charles? Whitney is your wife. You should care about her feelings and try to console her to cheer her up.¡± Charles was frustrated by those rants that he eventually decided not to say anything more. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go and take a look at her after I finish eating.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Jasmine somehow felt that something was amiss with the couple. It was almost as if there was a secret that the family did not know of. She worriedly reminded, ¡°Charles, I¡¯ve known Whitney for some time. Not only does she have a great personality, but she also loves you and takes care of you so well. There aren¡¯t many women who can be an amazing wife like her. You¡¯ll definitely regret it if you don¡¯t cherish her!¡± A crease instantly appeared between Charles¡® brows. The displeased man deliberately took a piece of fatty meat from the stew and put it on Jasmine¡¯s te. ¡°Just eat. I can¡¯t believe all these dishes aren¡¯t enough to stop you from talking.¡± Jasmine snorted. She took a closer look at the piece of meat on her te, and a disgruntled look crossed her face. ¡°That¡¯s so oily! I don¡¯t want to eat this!¡± Charles ordered in a deep voice, ¡°Don¡¯t be picky.¡± Jasmine was rendered speechless. What a grudgeful man he is! After dinner, Charles returned to the bedroom as promised. The door of the room swung open. Whitney¡¯s back was slightly bent and facing the door as she ced a nket over the couch. Hearing some noises, she turned her head around. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep on the couch tonight. I¡¯ve already changed the bedsheet and nket. You can have a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. With his lips pursed, Charles closed the door behind him. ¡°Why did you eat so little tonight and look so sad? Jasmine is getting suspicious.¡± Whitney went pale. She had been somewhat surprised when she heard the first half of Charles¡® sentence. She had thought he had taken note of her tiny meal portion, but it turned out that he had said all that because of Jasmine. With her head held low, she slowly turned around and apologized without looking at the man. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I had no appetite tonight. I¡¯ll be more careful in the future and try to hide my emotions better.¡± At the sight of her meek demeanor, Charles felt an inexplicable bolt of rage kindled in him. He had always hoped Whitney would be more obedient at fulfilling her obligations as listed in their agreement. Yet, for some reason, he felt awfully uneasy after seeing how she had transformed from her cheery and energetic self a few days ago to the submissive woman she was now, ¡°You don¡¯t have to tidy the couch. I won¡¯t be sleeping here tonight.¡± He recollected himself, opened the door again, and strode out without looking back. Watching as the door mmed close, Whitney felt an indescribable emptiness in her heart. With no intention of sleeping on Charles¡® bed, she continued putting the nket over the couch. No matter how hard I try, the things that don¡¯t belong to me will never be mine. Charles chose to sleep at the study since he had work matters to settle anyway. Whitney spent the entire night curled up on the couch in the bedroom. The following morning, when Whitney walked out of the bedroom after washing up, she ran into Charles, who happened to being down from the study upstairs. She froze in her tracks and muttered, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles strolled down the stairs, exuding a cold aura. As he approached Whitney, he touched her neck. with his well¨Cdefined fingers. The mark left behind by the stranglest night had not faded. It was slightly red and faintly visible. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you apply some medication before sleepingst night? Do you intend to have breakfast. downstairs in this state so that Jasmine and Lucas can see the bruises?¡± The frosty tone left Whitney slightly taken aback. It took her some time before she snapped back to her senses and held her neck. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I forgot about it. I¨CI¡¯ll put on a silk scarf for work today.¡± The first¨Caid kit is inside the cab in the living room and not in the bedroom. The housekeepers would have spotted it if I hade down to get itst night. I wouldn¡¯t be able to exin myself if it was so, would I? However, Whitney was not nning on exining. She knew Charles would not believe her even if she tried to exin, and instead, would only me her. That was why she reckoned it was better to apologize. Just as she was about to return to the room, Charles grabbed her arm. He bent over, leaned closer to her ear, and said softly, ¡°Other than in private, do not call me Mr. Newton again when we¡¯re in this house. Call me Hubby.¡± But you aren¡¯t actually my husband¡­ Even though Whitney could not get that word out of her mouth, she still agreed to the request, ¡°All right/¡± Charles refused to loosen his grip. A teasing look appeared on his face as he quirked a brow. ¡°Do it once now.¡± Whitney lifted her head in shock. She was entirely baffled by the man before her. This man is really unpredictable. He was still angry and berating me for showing the bruise on my neck a moment ago, yet now he¡¯s staring at me with a grin and demanding me to call him Hubby. Goosebumps enveloped Whitney¡¯s body, and she was reluctant to do as told. ¡°Y¨CYou should at least give me some time¡­ I can¡¯t do it immediately.¡± Charles grabbed onto her arm tightly, unwilling to let go. ¡°You have to do it.¡± Whitney was left with no choice. A housekeeper, who happened to be passing by, caught sight of the couple leaning close to each other and seemingly acting very intimate. Thinking it was a romantic act between them after waking up, the housekeeper quickly walked away in embarrassment. The tips of Whitney¡¯s ears turned red. She bit her lip and called out awkwardly, ¡°H¨CHubby¡­¡± She then tried to loosen herself from Charles¡® grip, yet the man was still reluctant to let her go. ¡°Can¡¯t you speak clearly? Call me properly again.¡± Whitney¡¯s face flushed red, and her voice turned softer and softer as she said, ¡°Hubby, I¡¯m going to be late for work. Hurry up and let go of me.¡± Her voice was soft and gentle, making it extremely pleasing to the cars. Feeling contented, Charles loosened his restraint on Whitney and let her return to the room. As he gazed at the back of the woman who fled the scene, he could still hear her voice rey in his head. The way she had called him Hubby was soft and feminine, and he got carried away easily. After breakfast, Charles headed out of the vi to get his car before leaving for work. Whitney was still sitting at the dining table, eating. She nned to eat slower so that she would not have to leave the house together with Charles. Suddenly, Jasmine asked doubtfully. ¡°Whitney, Charles has already left. Don¡¯t you two always leave the house together?¡± Unable to continue pretending that she did not see Charles¡® departure, Whitney could only put down the fork and follow him out of the vi. Charles had long legs and thus walked much faster than her. When she finally reached the open¨Cair parking lot, the man started the engine and whizzed right past her without waiting for her to get in the car. Whitney froze in her spot, embarrassed. Chapter 755 Chapter 755 Whitney had been worried about sitting in the same car as Charles, but her worry was unnecessary since he did not even think about fetching her along. Whitney sighed as she looked at Charles¡¯ car which was alreadypletely out of sight. She realized she should have known her ce better. When Charles was in a good mood, he could tolerate her being herself and speaking freely. However, once she crossed the line, she meant nothing to him, and he would have no qualms about punishing her for her wrongdoings. The realization hit Whitney like a ton of bricks, but she quickly dispelled those thoughts. She was resolved to earn money to bring her mother to Salinsburgh in Chanaea so that they could live together peacefully andfortably. She took out her phone, intending to book a taxi to the office. Jasmine had finished her breakfast and was about to leave the house when she saw Whitney standing by the road in the far distance. ¡°Whitney, why are you standing here alone? Where¡¯s Charles?¡± Whitney jumped at the sudden voice behind her. Feeling embarrassed, she smiled awkwardly. ¡°He has something urgent at theboratory today. Since it¡¯s not on the way, I told him I¡¯ll go to work myself.¡± ¡°This entire district belongs to the Newton family, so I don¡¯t think you can get a taxi here. Why don¡¯t I give you a lift?¡± Hearing Jasmine¡¯s words, Whitney could only agree helplessly. ¡°All right, then. So sorry to trouble you, Jasmine.¡± ¡°Not at all. I have nothing important anyway. I¡¯m just going to meet a friend, and she won¡¯t mind if I¡¯m a few minuteste.¡± On the way to the office, Whitney felt more determined than ever to earn money. Once I get my first paycheck, I¡¯ll learn to drive and get my license! Then, I¡¯ll buy a car so that I need not beg Charles to take me out of the house. Throughout the ride, Jasmine asked several questions. She was trying to find out if they were fighting and wanted to be a peacemaker. Whitney did not say anything else other than the reason she had given earlier. Realizing she would not reveal anything, Jasmine left it at that. Whitney reached the office and began to work. Yesterday¡¯s rat incident made her famous within the logistics department for her fearless way of catching rats. Even those female co-workers who disliked her dared not openly disy their displeasure. Whitney spent the morning working in peace. Lana was touching up her makeup at her desk during lunch break when a few close female co-workers began to surround her. ¡°Is it true that you met Mr. Newton again at the parking lot after work yesterday?¡± ¡°My goodness. You¡¯re so lucky, Lana. It¡¯s almost impossible for us to see him in person, yet you keep bumping into him.¡±N?velDrama.Org (C) content. ¡°Lana, have you exchanged words with Mr. Newton already?¡± A group of nosy co-workers surrounded her with envious expressions. They never imagined someone from their logistics department would have a chance to get close to Charles. The logistics department was considered the lowest form of life in thepany and rarely received attention. The annual town hall event was the only opportunity the staff had to see Charles from far away in arge conference hall. Lana was the envy of many in the logistics department, for she had a few chance encounters with Charles. The chatter of her co-workers was loud enough for Whitney to hear. She turned her head and nced over, feeling slightly disheartened. So, the female co-worker Charles met at the parking lot yesterday afternoon was Lana. He openly criticized Lana and me before, so he should have known who she was. Why did he pretend not to know her name? At that moment, Lana turned over and saw the frown on Whitney¡¯s face. Seeing that, Lana deliberately spoke louder. ¡°Of course, we had a conversation. Mr. Newton¡¯s limited edition luxury car was parked right beside mine. For some reason, my engine stalled, and I couldn¡¯t start it. Mr. Newton saw my predicament and came over to offer help.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± the group of female co-workers eximed with envy. Fueled by her co-workers¡¯ reactions, Lana continued, ¡°He¡¯s not as cold as what others said. He¡¯s quite easygoing and speaks gently.¡± She lowered her head, appearing slightly nervous as a light blush filled her face. Her story sounded so convincing that even Lana herself believed it was true. She had forgotten the reality that had urred yesterday. A curious female co-worker immediately asked, ¡°Lana, is it possible that Mr. Newton likes you?¡± ¡°Exactly. Does Mr. Newton have a crush on you?¡± another co-worker chirped. ¡°I heard our colleagues at the finance department meet Mr. Newton frequently. ording to them, Mr. Newton is usually cold and distant. Even they don¡¯t get to talk to him much. Yet, he initiated to help you with your car and spoke to you gently. He seems to be treating you specially.¡± Lana felt embarrassed at her co-workers¡¯ words. ¡°I¡¯m not the prettiest in thepany, so how could Mr. Newton like me? Perhaps he was in a good mood yesterday and talked more.¡± ¡°How about that time you met him in the elevator? It was his first visit to the logistics department, but he specifically asked for you. He didn¡¯te to inspect the logistics department just for you, did he?¡± Lana¡¯s face turned redder. ¡°Um, that might be possible. Anyway, I can¡¯tment much. It¡¯s not up to me to decide.¡± Suddenly, a female co-worker interrupted the conversation, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Newton also ask for Whitney when he came that day? Moreover, he talked to her more and¡­¡± Lana¡¯s face instantly fell. The group then turned their gaze to Whitney. Whitney had been eavesdropping and was caught off guard. Lana snorted. ¡°Since you¡¯re so eager to know, why don¡¯t youe over and listen? Don¡¯t sit there and eavesdrop like a coward. Whitney, I know Isaac¡¯s your backer. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re afraid of me being together with Mr. Newton and telling him stories of you and causing you to be fired?¡± Whitney organized the files on her desk and replied indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. If you truly have the ability, make Mr. Newton marry you.¡± Lana became furious. ¡°Are you mocking me? What right do you have to be so arrogant? So what if Isaac was your old me? Looks like he hasn¡¯te to see you for the past few days. You offended me, so you¡¯re scared of me getting together with Mr. Newton.¡± Whitney stopped responding. She found no point in talking to a person whocked intelligence. Forget it. Let her live in her own imaginative world. Whitney knew Charles had someone else in his heart¡ªGwendolyn. She did not care about Lana¡¯s provocation. Charles will never fall for Lana. Lane became angrier at Whitney¡¯s non-responsiveness. It was as if she did not respect her at all. The rest of the co-workers hurriedlyforted her. ¡°Forget about it, Lana. Don¡¯t waste your time with her. She most probably can¡¯t even pass her three- month probation. Isaac is only an executive assistant. He can¡¯t influence any HR decisions.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. She¡¯s jealous of you, Lana. You remembered how hard she was trying to get into Mr. Newton¡¯s favor when he came that day? In the end, she was scolded by him. She must be p*ssed off now that Mr. Newtonid his eyes on you.¡± Whitney furrowed her brows, disgusted by how ridiculous their conversation was heading. She put on her headphones, raised the volume, and rested her head on the desk, cutting herself from the outside world. Chapter 756 Chapter 756 It was time to get off work again. Whitney hesitated whether to head to the underground parking lot. When I left this morning, Charles refused to join me. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll pick me up after work, right? But if I don¡¯t go to the underground parking lot and he really dide to drive me home, he¡¯ll be mad when he doesn¡¯t see me. We only argued once yesterday, but the atmosphere between us is really suffocating. There are still eleven months until the end of the contract, and we¡¯ll likely meet each other every day. I can¡¯t keep avoiding him. After some deliberation, Whitney decided to text him, asking him if he wasing, and then apologize to him. Charles and I are only a married couple by contract, so I was wrong to overstep my boundary and ask about his past. More than that, I shouldn¡¯t have brought up the matters between him and Gwendolyn. She tapped on the WhatsApp icon on her phone and immediately saw Charles¡¯ name at the top of the screen. Just as she was ready to type her message, Lana suddenly came over from the side. Whitney quickly turned off her phone so Lana wouldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°Tch, what¡¯s there to hide? Were you texting Isaac? Is it because you want him to pick you up after work? What car does he drive?¡± Whitney was a little offended. ¡°I don¡¯t know what car Isaac drives, and I don¡¯t have a rtionship with him. But I doubt you¡¯ll believe me, so I won¡¯t repeat myself again in the future.¡± Lana rolled her eyes and sashayed back to her desk. Gripping her phone, Whitney became hesitant to text Charles again even though she had made up her mind earlier. At that moment, her superior suddenly approached her. ¡°Come to my office, Whitney. I have a task for you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± She put away her phone and followed her superior into the office. Seeing that she was a fast learner, her superior provided her with something new to work on, allowing her to tackle them at her pace. Their meetingsted for twenty minutes. By the time Whitney left the office, almost all her colleagues were gone. Only a few were still working overtime. Whitney looked at the time before expeditiously packing her things and taking the elevator downstairs. She looked around the underground parking lot and didn¡¯t spot Charles¡¯ luxury car. It¡¯s been over ten minutes. If Charles had been here, he definitely would have called to reprimand me after getting anxious from waiting for me. But he didn¡¯t¡­ Standing in the parking lot, Whitney was at a loss for what to do. Suddenly, she heard heavy footstepsing from behind her. Thinking that it was Charles, she spun back in surprise, only to see that it was Isaac. He smiled at her and exined, ¡°Mr. Newton had something to do today and didn¡¯te to the office all day. I¡¯m guessing he has already returned to the Newton residence. I have a car. How about I send you back home, Mrs. Newton?¡± Disappointment swirled in Whitney¡¯s eyes as she lowered her head. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I also have some things to do, so I may be returning to the Newton residence a bitter than usual. You be careful on your way back.¡± Seeing that she genuinely wasn¡¯t nning to join him instead of just being polite, Isaac said, ¡°All right, then. You be careful on your way back home as well, Mrs. Newton.¡± Whitney nodded and returned to the elevator, nning to leave the building from the ground floor. I don¡¯t have much money left, and the Newton residence is quite far. I don¡¯t think I have enough to get there by taxi. After contemting her next move, she took a bus to a subway to familiarize herself with her future commute. Meanwhile, inside theb, Benedict was lying on the bed, focusing on writing something. N?velDrama.Org (C) content. Zendaya, who had returned from kindergarten, was sitting across from him and doing her arts and crafts homework. ¡°What are you writing, Benny?¡± She tilted her head and looked at the paper Benedict had written on. With a serious expression, Benedict, while writing, answered, ¡°I¡¯m nning how to remodel the oceanarium. Then, I¡¯ll hand the n to Charles. He¡¯ll buy the animals listed on this paper and renovate the oceanarium.¡± That piqued Zendaya¡¯s curiosity even more as she moved closer to him and stared at his paper. Although he was only five years old, he was brilliant. While he was a little rusty in drawing the ns of the oceanarium, it was a good blueprint, so much so that even Zendaya could understand it. Momentster, Zendaya noticed he didn¡¯t include the dolphinarium on the paper. Her smile promptly vanished. ¡°Where¡¯s the dolphinarium? Do you not want it? Where will my Juju live in the future?¡± Benedict scoffed, ¡°Only you will like such immature oceanic creatures. It doesn¡¯t match my style. I want to raise vicious animals that can eat you in one bite!¡± Zendaya was scared out of her wits. She sobbed out, ¡°You¡¯re lying! You had so much fun with Juju yesterday, yet now you¡¯re calling her immature and want to destroy her home! A-And you want to feed me to scary animals! Do you not love me anymore, Benny?¡± Benedict couldn¡¯t stand watching girls crying. ¡°Do you like Juju that much?¡± Zendaya nodded earnestly, her aggrieved tears hanging on her eyshes. ¡°Uncle Charles bought Juju for my one-year-old birthday. She has kept mepany for four years. I have been visiting her often. She¡¯s my best friend.¡± Anyone would feel sorry for her if they looked at her at that moment. Zendaya was aware that the oceanarium belonged to her brother and that he could remodel it however he wanted. If he didn¡¯t want the dolphinarium anymore, then Juju would be homeless. As she had no say in what happened to the ce, she could only use her tears to change Benedict¡¯s mind. Benedict did feel bad when he saw her cry. He went to the bedside cab while holding his IV drip and grabbed her a piece of tissue paper with disdain. ¡°Here! Wipe your tears away. I hate girls who cry a lot. Cry again, and I¡¯ll ignore you.¡± Zendaya epted the tissue paper and wiped her cheeks dry. ¡°If I listen to you and don¡¯t cry anymore, will you not tear down the dolphinarium?¡± Benedict lifted his chin and asked mischievously, ¡°If you can only choose one between Juju and me, who will you choose?¡± What kind of question is that? Zendaya was confounded. If I pick Juju, will he no longer acknowledge me as his twin sister? Fearfully, Zendaya answered, ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ choose you, Benny.¡± Benedict was a little surprised she made her decision that swiftly. ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t you say you love Juju and can¡¯t live without her?¡± ¡°Because I can¡¯t live without you even more. Juju is my best friend, but you¡¯re my best friend and my family. So, If I have to choose, I¡¯ll choose you.¡± Benedict was delighted to hear that. Using his free hand, he mimicked his parents¡¯ movements and patted Zendaya¡¯s head. ¡°Since you¡¯re so well-behaved, I¡¯ll keep the dolphinarium for you!¡± ¡°Yay! You¡¯re the best, Benny!¡± Unbeknownst to them, Cedrick and Gwendolyn had been listening to their conversation outside the room. When they heard Benedict changed his mind, they were relieved. His mental state seems to have improved after he visited the oceanarium. Small animals really do seem to be therapeutic. Chapter 757 Chapter 757 The Newton siblings had been waiting in the dining room at the Newton residence for Whitney for a long while. Yet, she still hadn¡¯t returned for dinner. Jasmine lightly furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°Did you not pick up Whitney today, Charles? Why hasn¡¯t she come back?¡± Charles¡¯ countenance turned grim. ¡°I had something to take care of today, so I returned home ahead of time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. What could be more important than picking up your wife from work?¡± Lucas was dissatisfied with Charles¡¯ answer. Jasmine added, ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long since Whitney joined the Newton family, Charles. She isn¡¯t familiar with this area. Maybe she got lost while trying toe back?¡± Charles stared at his watch with a grave expression and said nothing. The siblings waited for another twenty minutes. Seeing that Whitney still hadn¡¯t returned and the sky was turning dark, Jasmine panicked. ¡°You have crossed the line this time, Charles. You didn¡¯t pick up your wife from work, and she still isn¡¯t back home yet. The food is getting cold, yet you don¡¯t seem to be worried at all.¡± Once again, Charles looked at his watch quietly. Jasmine took out her phone and called Whitney. ¡°Charles, her phone is off. I can¡¯t reach her. Did something happen to her?¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g After ncing at the sky outside, Lucas said, ¡°It¡¯s getting dark pretty fast today. Looks like it¡¯s about to rain. If it does, Whitney will have an even harder time returning home.¡± Unable to sit still any longer, Charles rose to his feet and strode out of the dining room. Immediately, Jasmine followed him, wanting to search for Whitney with him. However, Lucas stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t go and make things worse. It looks like they¡¯ve had an argument. Let them deal with it themselves.¡± True. Jasmine sat back down and stared at the rain outside the window worriedly. The rain was getting heavier by the minute, and the sky was dark. Holding an umbre, Charles set off from the Newton residence to search for Whitney. He didn¡¯t drive his car or bring his bodyguards with him. He only had his phone. During his journey, he hoped Whitney¡¯s familiar figure would appear in his sight, but it didn¡¯t. If I can¡¯t find Whitney today, I¡¯ll have to call the cops. He looked at his watch, unknowingly walking faster. He strode along the path away from the Newton residence for ten minutes. Unfortunately, he still didn¡¯t see anyone with the help of the streetlights. This isn¡¯t going to work. He pulled out his phone and called Isaac. Isaac was stunned. ¡°Mrs. Newton hasn¡¯t returned? How can that be? She left the office not long after work.¡± ¡°Tell me everything that happened before she left,¡± Charles demanded. ¡°I saw Mrs. Newton waiting for you in the underground parking lot, so I approached her and told her you wouldn¡¯t be picking her up. Then, I offered her a ride home, but she refused. Thest time I saw her was when she left the building on the ground floor.¡± If she left from the ground floor, she either took a taxi or bus home. Given her financial situation, she would most likely take the bus. How stupid! Charles was irritated. Why did she have to take the bus when she could¡¯ve arrived home in afortable car? Does she not have a brain? ¡°Check which bus she took immediately! I want to know the routes she¡¯ll most likely take to return to the Newton residence!¡± ¡°Understood,¡± said Isaac before he went to carry out his task. Minutester, Charles received Isaac¡¯s reply. Isaac clearly listed the three bus routes connected to the subway Whitney had most likely taken to return home. After scanning through that information, Charles realized something. Whitney will end up at the subway station around three kilometers away from the Newton residence regardless of which bus she took. In that case¡­ He ran back to the garage and slowly drove along the street to the subway station. The squeaking of the wipers annoyed him as he searched for Whitney. After driving for two kilometers, he caught the sight of a thin figure sitting on the side of the road. It was too dark, so he couldn¡¯t see who it was. He could only approach the figure on foot with an umbre. Whitney¡¯s phone was out of battery, and she was unfamiliar with the streets as she had always been driven back to the Newton residence. She had never been down these winding streets before and identally got lost. The road was slippery, and the sky was dark. She waspletely lost and hungry after walking too much. Feeling tired, she opted to rest on the side of the road for a while. When a car headlight shone on her countenance, she hopelessly buried her head between her knees. Half an hour ago, she had still hoped to see Charles picking her up with his car. However, he wasn¡¯t in any of the cars that passed her by. Her disappointment umted over time until she eventually stopped expecting anything. As she rested on the side of the road, she was drenched by the rain. Her wet hair was stuck to her cheeks. Even her eyshes were covered with water droplets. She looked like an abandoned puppy. Whitney was so hungry that she was getting a little fuzzy. It was then she heard the approaching car parked not too far from her. Then, the sound of hurried footsteps traveled into her ears and grew louder as the seconds passed. ¡°Whitney!¡± In the rain, she heard a familiar voice shouting at her with fury. Immediately, she lifted her head and saw a man in a deep blue suit holding a ck umbre. He was running toward her with a grim expression. The rain blurred her vision, so she could only make out his perfect, familiar figure. ¡°Whitney!¡± the man shouted again, rain dancing on his umbre. With the headlight shining on him from the back, he looked like an angel who had descended from heaven to save her. It wasn¡¯t until he had gotten closer to her that she wiped the raindrops from her eyes away and saw who it was. ¡°Mr. Newton¡­¡± When Whitney spoke, she realized her voice had be hoarse and weak. Charles stared at her solemnly and lifted his right hand that was not holding the umbre. He looked as though he was going to hit her. Whitney trembled and shut her eyes, thinking he was going to p her. To her surprise, when his handnded on her body, it brought warmth and not pain. Charles was wiping the raindrops on her face away and swiping her wet hair to the side to reveal her clean but pale face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Newton.¡± Whitney opened her eyes but lowered her head, too afraid to look at him. Charles was livid as he pinched her cheek hard as though he was punishing her. ¡°Are you stupid? You had a free ride home but you chose not to take it! You insisted on taking the bus and ended up getting lost! Everyone at home was worried about you for hours! Do you know that?¡± Whitney¡¯s cheek hurt, but she was too powerless to stop him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your husband, Whitney. If you need me to pick you up, you can call me. Do you know how dangerous it is for a woman like you to sit on the side of the road on a rainy night?¡± Charles let go of his hand and pulled her toward him, his hand now on the back of her neck. Whitney stumbled forward and crashed into his chest. ¡°Say something!¡± He wasn¡¯t about to let her go. He tugged her hair with one hand, forcing her to look up, and red at her with bloodshot eyes. Chapter 758 Chapter 758 ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Whitney endured the pain with a frown. As she barely had any energy left, she couldn¡¯t escape him. Looking aggrieved, she said, ¡°I¡¯m just your wife in name who¡¯ll be a stranger to you a yearter. Yesterday, I made you angry, and you warned me, and today you didn¡¯te to pick me up. You¡¯re clearly punishing me. Were you expecting me to throw away my pride and call you to drive me home? Is that it? I could¡¯ve returned on my own, but my phone ran out of battery. It¡¯s not like I got myself lost on purpose. You were the one who didn¡¯t want me to rely on you, Charles, and I know I can¡¯t because how else am I supposed to live without you a yearter? Sooner orter, I¡¯m going to have to familiarize myself with the route to work. The route will be etched into my mind after I make a few more mistakes.¡± The sting on her cheek lingered as she endured the pain Charles inflicted on her by pulling her hair. Intensely aggrieved, Whitney continued, ¡°Why are you doing this to me, Charles? I know I was wrong. I won¡¯t ask about your past with Gwendolyn again. I know I don¡¯t deserve to learn about your past and that I can¡¯t bepared to her in your heart, but I¡¯m doing my best, too. I pursued you for five years after moving to Chanaea from Tayhaven. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m asking you to like me. I merely want you not to treat me so harshly. This way, I¡¯ll still have a positive image of you in my mind after I leave you in a¡ª¡± Without warning, Charles tossed his umbre away, pressed her head toward him, and kissed her lips. His kisses were domineering. Whitney felt as though she had been struck by lightning. Her mind went nk. Even her breath was almost stolen by that unexpected kiss. Charles¡­ is kissing me? Is he crazy? She hammered her fist on his chest, but she was too weak to cause any harm to him. Charles hugged her tighter, attacking her olfactory senses with his scent. No pedestrians or vehicles passed them by on the secluded street. There was only Charles¡¯ luxury car illuminating the two embracing figures. Even the cold, rainy air seemed to have be sweeter due to the kiss. The passionate kisssted for a few minutes until Whitney fainted in his arms. ¡°Whitney?¡± Charles stared at his pale face, then removed his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. He carried her into his car and drove back to the Newton residence. Jasmine was startled when she saw Charles carrying Whitney into the house. ¡°What happened to Whitney? Why is she so pale? Was she kidnapped? Is she hurt? Didn¡¯t you bring an umbre with you, Charles? Why are you wet as well?¡± Charles could not be bothered to answer any of her questions. He turned to Manuel and ordered, ¡°Get the family doctor.¡± ¡°Will do, Mr. Newton.¡± Charles brought Whitney upstairs and ced her on the bed before unbuttoning her shirt to change her clothes. A momentter, he ceased his impatient movements upon realizing something and didn¡¯t move again for a long while. Right then, Jasmine came over to check up on them. Immediately, Charles said, ¡°Help me change her clothes. Her suitcase is in the far left closet.¡± He then exited the room with a grimace, his long eyshes concealing the panic in his eyes. Jasmine was confused. ¡°What? Whitney¡¯s your wife. Why are you so embarrassed about helping her change her clothes?¡± Bang! The only response she received was the loud mming of the door. ¡°Seriously, who treats their wife like this?¡± spat Jasmine before carrying out her brother¡¯s request. She grabbed a set of pajamas from the closet and helped Whitney change into that. A whileter, the family doctor arrived and took Whitney¡¯s temperature. As she was drenched in the rain for hours, she caught a fever, which was unsurprising, and her body was particrly weak because she didn¡¯t have dinner. The doctor hooked her up to an IV drip with a nutritional solution and fever medicine inside. It was the most effective way. Charles escaped from the room to prevent others from spotting him losing his cool. He went to the study and shut the door to calm himself down. The rain was still pouring from the sky with no end in sight. The raindrops split the ss windows into cracks. The atmosphere in the study was heavy. Charles leaned against the window and smoked a cigarette, his face contorted. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the kiss he had shared with Whitney on the side of the road. His heart was still pounding, and he couldn¡¯t calm it down. Why did I¡­ kiss her? I never thought I could do something as ridiculous as that. It was like I was possessed. I only wanted to stop her incessant chatter. I never thought I would ever have romantic feelings for a woman other than Gwendolyn. However, at that moment, I really did feel something for Whitney. I¡¯ve loved Gwendolyn for over a decade, yet I didn¡¯t kiss her even once. Instead, I shared my first kiss with Whitney¡­ Exasperated, he extinguished the cigarette and removed a white wine with high alcoholic content from the shelf. Then, he returned to the window and drank while admiring the rain. He tried to numb his nerves and stop himself from overthinking. As Whitney was exhausted, she didn¡¯t wake up until the next morning. When she did, the scent of oatmeal wafted into her nose. Jasmine had just entered the room with a bowl of hot oatmeal. ¡°You¡¯re awake, Whitney. You scared me last night.¡± Whitney sat up weakly and leaned against the headboard. With a hoarse voice, she asked, ¡°How did I get back?¡± ¡°Charles carried you back.¡± Jasmineid the bowl on the table. ¡°Tell me the truth. What happened between you and Charles?¡± ¡°What?¡±Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me, Whitney. He didn¡¯t pick you up from thepany and made you take the subway back home, so you got lost. And I was the one who changed your clothes because he asked me to. Something¡¯s going on between the two of you.¡± Whitney looked down at the pajamas she was wearing and felt relieved. Her head was still spinning, but she could remember Charles kissing her on the side of the roadst night. Her cheeks burned slightly. ¡°It has nothing to do with him. It was my fault. I handled something¡­ poorly two days ago, which ticked him off.¡± A resigned sigh escaped Jasmine¡¯s lips. ¡°You don¡¯t need to cover for him, you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± Whitney smiled weakly, a sincere look in her eyes. Jasmine sighed again. She couldn¡¯t bear to tell Whitney the truth. I can¡¯t stand how Charles is treating her. If he weren¡¯t my brother, I would¡¯ve admonished him as hard as I could. He can¡¯t even help his sick wife change her clothes! And he didn¡¯t visit her once or ask the doctor about her condition. Instead of taking care of her, he stayed in the study the entire night as though he was avoiding the gue. It¡¯s like he doesn¡¯t care about his wife at all. How did someone as heartless as him find a wife as wonderful as Whitney? He doesn¡¯t deserve her who¡¯s willing to go along with him no matter what he does. Chapter 759 Chapter 759 The more Jasmine thought about it, the more she felt bad for Whitney. She patted the back of Whitney¡¯s hand. ¡°If you aren¡¯t brave enough to go against my brother for bullying you, let me know. I¡¯ll do it for you, Whitney.¡± Whitney chuckled and held Jasmine¡¯s hand. I¡¯m happy to have a cute sister-inw like Jasmine. ¡°Even if I tell you, do you have the courage to help me punish him? He¡¯s the head of the Newton family. He has the final say on everything that happens in the family.¡± Jasmine¡¯s anger was deted. Charles isn¡¯t as fearsome as Craig, and he never punished me. However, if I push him too hard, he won¡¯t forgive me that easily. That much I¡¯m certain of. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t.¡± Whitney smiled and touched Jasmine¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I was just saying. Charles didn¡¯t bully me, really¡­¡± Jasmine remained unconvinced. ¡°Don¡¯t keep it all in, Whitney. It breaks my heart to see you suffer. You¡¯re a part of the family, too. You shouldn¡¯t be mistreated.¡± Whitney was touched. I¡¯m d Jasmine treats me like family and genuinely cares for me. What Charles did to me suddenly doesn¡¯t matter as much anymore. Holding back her tears, Whitney changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Bring the oatmeal, Jasmine. I want to eat something.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jasmine quickly did as Whitney asked. ¡°Be careful. It¡¯s hot.¡± Jasmine didn¡¯t stop talking while Whitney was eating. ¡°I think Charles has gone to work already, Whitney. If you did p*ss him off, I don¡¯t think he has calmed down yet. He was still wearing a scowl when he left.¡± Whitney pursed her lips. ¡°Then I¡¯ll¡­ find an opportunity to apologize to him.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so nice to him. Don¡¯t apologize to him. Just let him stay angry. I want to see how long he can give his newly-wedded wife the cold shoulder,¡± Jasmine said huffily. Then, she helped cover Whitney with a nket. ¡°I¡¯ll ask the driver to drive you to work and pick you up during off hours for the time being.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll repeat such an amateurish mistake like I didst¡ªcrap!¡± Suddenly, Whitney remembered that she still needed to go to work. She looked at her watch. There are only fifteen minutes left! I¡¯m going to bete! She ced the unfinished bowl of oatmeal on the bedside table and made to get out of bed. Jasmine quickly stopped her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Whitney?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to bete for work,¡± replied Whitney anxiously. My superior praised me for my performance and learning progress just yesterday. It won¡¯t be nice if I¡¯mte today. ¡°Nah, before Charles left, he said you should take a good rest today. He has asked Isaac to help you apply for a leave.¡± ¡°My superior agreed to that?¡± Jasmine giggled impishly. ¡°Why, of course.¡± She shoved the bowl of oatmeal back into Whitney¡¯s hands. ¡°Eat and then rest for a day. It¡¯s normal for people to get sick. No one will berate you for that.¡± Hearing that, Whitney continued to eat her oatmeal obediently. Meanwhile, Benedict¡¯s renovation n for the oceanarium wasplete. Charles, who was cleaning theboratory restroom, was summoned by Benedict for the first time. ¡°Here, take a look and tell me if you have any objections,¡± said the boy as he handed the A4 paper to Charles. Benedict had asked the professor in theboratory to type and print out what he had written on a piece of paper so it would be easier for Charles to read it. ¡°You want to build a giant fish tank column in the lobby of the oceanarium to house immortal jellyfish?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Benedict lifted his chin arrogantly. Charles shed a faint smile. ¡°No problem. Immortal jellyfish are quite pleasant to the eye. You¡¯re quite creative, Benny.¡± Despite being praised, Benedict scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too early. I¡¯m not a saint.¡± Charles was aware of how ruthless the boy was. He sure has mastered his father¡¯s skills. I¡¯ll have to treat his n more seriously. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. ¡°You want to convert the left half of the oceanarium to a small man-made cier and cialke to house penguins, crocodiles, and pr bears?¡± The edges of his lips twitched as he stared at Benedict. The boy nodded with certainty. With no other choice, Charles exined gently, ¡°Pr bears aren¡¯t sea creatures, Benny. It¡¯s not a good idea to have one in the oceanarium. Also, crocodiles can only survive in temperatures around twenty degrees Celsius. A cier will be too cold for them to survive. And penguins are the most defenseless of the three. They¡¯ll be eaten in days if they share a space with the pr bears.¡± Benedict knitted his eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s your responsibility to fulfill my request and ensure they survive. You said the oceanarium is mine and that you¡¯ll pay for whatever I want to do with it. Are you trying to go back on your word?¡± Unable to refute the boy, Charles nodded. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll do my best to remodel the oceanarium.¡± Benedict was satisfied to hear that. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Keep reading.¡± Charles inhaled deeply and continued reading the content of the paper. ¡°You want to change the shark tank in the oceanarium to a blue whale tank?¡± That line almost gave him a heart attack. ¡°The shark tank may be huge, but there¡¯s no way to expand it for a blue whale. Setting aside the fact that the blue whale is massive, no aquarium in the world has ever managed to house one. Even if I could buy one at a high price, it¡¯d be difficult to transport it from the sea to Salinsburgh and downright impossible to put it in an oceanarium.¡± He then softened his tone and asked, ¡°How about another whale species instead? There are many types, and they¡¯re all quite interesting.¡± Benedict shook his head. ¡°The blue whale is the only one I want. You have my n. It¡¯s up to you how to execute it.¡± He rolled his eyes and snorted. ¡°I still remember you told me you¡¯d pluck the stars out of the sky if I asked for them two days ago. Now, you¡¯re telling me you can¡¯t even put a blue whale in the oceanarium. What a big talker.¡± Charles sighed, feeling deted. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do my best toplete your n.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to do your best. I want you to make it happen.¡± Benedict raised his head, staring at the IV bottle beside his bed. ¡°I should be studying in the kindergarten with Zendaya and my peers right now, Charles. However, because of the awful thing you did in the past, I¡¯m stuck in thisboratory.¡± Lowering his head, he stared at the needle jabbed in the back of his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve lost track of the needle holes I received on my bruised hands over the years. If my hands can¡¯t be stabbed with any more needles, they¡¯ll have to go to my arms and elbows instead. I¡¯ve already gotten used to the drip. And because I carry a little bit of the virus inside my body, I can¡¯t run around outside like Zendaya all day. I¡¯ll be out of breath after only ying for half a day. This is all your fault.¡± Despite the boy¡¯s nonchnt tone, every word he uttered punctured a hole in Charles¡¯ heart. Charles felt his heart ached terribly as guilt overwhelmed him. He paled, his eyes reddened, and he dared not breathe. Chapter 760 Chapter 760 Charles hung his head low in dejection. There was nothing he could say in the face of Benedict¡¯s statements. No words could express his raging guilt. His thin lips trembled, and in the end, he could only say, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Benedict scoffed, ¡°If saying sorry is enough, why do we need the police?¡± Standing beside the bed, Charles was on the verge of tears. Upon noticing the man¡¯s expression, Benedict pouted and said arrogantly, ¡°I¡¯m not that petty, actually. I know it¡¯s been a long time, and you never wanted to hurt me. I¡¯m telling you all this because I want you to be willing to spend money on me and keep me happy.¡± Charles nodded resolutely and stared at the oceanarium renovation n calmly. ¡°You¡¯re right. As long as I can make you happy, I willplete your n for the oceanarium even if I go bankrupt. It¡¯s what I should do.¡± Benedict waved his hand. ¡°Go about your business now, and quit bothering me.¡± ¡°All right. Take care, Benny.¡± Charles recollected himself and left with the n in his hand. Just as he walked out of the ward, he met Cedrick, who had returned from buying durian. Cedrick noticed Charles¡¯ reddened eyes from afar and teased, ¡°Why do you look like you¡¯re on the verge of tearing up? Did my son make you cry? I can¡¯t believe you can¡¯t even handle the words of a five-year-old. When did you be so emotionally weak?¡± Instead of exining anything, Charles folded the paper in his hand and carefully ced it into his pocket. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll resume cleaning the restroom now.¡± Cedrick nodded. After walking around Cedrick, Charles heard him say, ¡°Now that you¡¯re in a rtionship, you should get your act together and don¡¯t let the woman down.¡± Charles turned around abruptly. ¡°What do you mean by that, Mr. Jenson?¡± Did Whitney tell Gwendolyn something? ¡°Whatever the words imply. Thest time I went to the oceanarium, I noticed you barely spoke to that woman beside you and treated her coldly. She, on the other hand, had her eye on you. As a fellow man, there¡¯s no way I don¡¯t understand.¡± A sigh escaped Charles¡¯ lips. It seems Whitney isn¡¯t stupid enough to spill the beans behind my back. ¡°Worry not, Mr. Jenson. I chose to be with her. I will be responsible for her.¡± There wasn¡¯t any expression on Cedrick¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t ask too many questions because another man¡¯s rtionship was none of his business. The only reason he asked was because he spotted Gwendolyn having a wonderful time chatting with Whitney. At the Newton residence, Whitney spent the day in her room, bored out of her mind. Jasmine kept herpany for the whole day, chatting and ying with her. At night, when Charles arrived back home, he saw Lucas, Jasmine, and Whitney waiting for him at the dining table. Upon recalling the kiss fromst night, Whitney stared unblinkingly at Charles. However, he ignored her presence while settling down at the head of the table. He picked up his cutlery and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± No one spoke a word in the dining room. After dinner, Whitney and Charles walked up the stairs together. They remained quiet until they arrived at the bedroom because they kept running into the housekeepers. When they walked to the bedroom door, he said, ¡°I still havepany matters to attend to, so don¡¯t wait for me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Just as Whitney turned to him, wishing to ask him a question, he had already arrived at the stairs. He walked toward the study without turning his head back, denying her a chance to speak. Is he still angry? Whitney couldn¡¯t grasp his temperament at all. Based on what he said, I think he will spend the night in the study again. For the following days, Charles employed the same excuse to remain in the study for the whole night instead of sleeping in the bedroom. Even the housekeepers were starting to believe the couple had an argument. A driver of the Newton family was tasked with sending Whitney to work every day. For a few days straight, Whitney couldn¡¯t exchange even a word with Charles. The only time she would see him was during dinner. She had no idea where he went for the rest of the day. After a week of Charles giving Whitney the cold shoulder, Jasmine couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She directly confronted her brother at the dining table. ¡°What exactly did Whitney do wrong, Charles? Why are you treating her like this?¡± Charles was stunned for a moment before heposed himself again and continued to eat. ¡°Nothing,¡± he said calmly. ¡°Stop hiding, Charles. The whole family knows you¡¯re having a lover¡¯s spat with Whitney. It hasn¡¯t been long since you both got married, yet you¡¯re spending your nights in the study, making her sleep in the bedroom alone! Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re going overboard with this?¡± Lucas added, ¡°This isn¡¯t right, Charles. A man should be more forgiving. Whitney traveled to a foreign country alone and married into our family. You mustn¡¯t be petty. If you guys really had a fight, you should apologize first.¡± The brother and sister spoke up for Whitney. Charles¡¯ expression darkened, but he continued to eat wordlessly. Whitney was touched to have her siblings-inw protecting her. Honestly, I¡¯m surprised they¡¯re so nice given that they grew up in an affluent family. In television shows I watched, the descendants of a prominent family will often tear each other apart for power and fortune. Yet, the Newton family seems to be a big, loving family. ¡°Lucas, Jasmine, thank you for your concern. However, Charles didn¡¯t bully me. I was the one who upset him. I¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Charles interrupted her. He mmed his fork on the table, expressing his displeasure and warning her. It was as though he was afraid Whitney would reveal what had happened to Jasmine and Lucas. Whitney was startled by the sudden noise and paled slightly. Can¡¯t he tell I¡¯m trying to help him? I can¡¯t believe he cut me off by mming his fork on the table! He¡¯s telling his siblings that we haven¡¯t made up yet. Lucas and Jasmine shifted their inquisitive nces between the couple. Steeling herself, Whitney smiled awkwardly and exined, ¡°I¡¯ve apologized to Charles. We¡¯re not fighting now. He¡¯s been spending time in the study because he¡¯s busy with work. I couldn¡¯t help him out, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb him.¡± Jasmine wasn¡¯t happy that Whitney was speaking up for Charles again. She turned to Charles. ¡°As busy as you are with work, you mustn¡¯t forget to show your wife love. Since she has already apologized to you, why are you still angry? Just sleep with her tonight.¡± Charles¡¯ siblings stared at him, waiting for his answer. Standing around the dining room were the housekeepers, chefs, and Manuel. After a moment of hesitation, Charles put his fork down again and held Whitney¡¯s hand, a gentle look in his eyes. ¡°Indeed, I have been busytely. Not only do I need to visit theb during the day and handle Newton Group¡¯s affairs at night, I still need to take time out to renovate Benny¡¯s oceanarium. I¡¯m d that you¡¯re so understanding, Darling. I admit I was wrong to focus solely on my work and ignore you. Tonight, I¡¯ll return to the bedroom and you can do whatever you want with me, Darling.¡± Jasmine and Lucas clicked their tongues upon hearing his affectionate, loving words. They were doing fine, after all. Now, we¡¯re forced to watch them being lovey-dovey. Only Whitney was dumbfounded. She froze after hearing his words, unable to look away from the fake affectionate look in his blue eyes. What did he just call me? Did he call me Darling? Chapter 761 Chapter 761 Whitney had never thought that Charles would address her by such a term of endearment. She was stunned for a while. It was not until Charles pinched the back of her hand and exerted more force to bring her to her senses that she snapped out of her fantasy. ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you, but you¡¯ve caused Lucas and Jasmine to misunderstand, so I should really punish you,¡± Whitney whined. Although she knew that it was an act, she could not miss the chance to indulge in his gentleness, even if it was just for a short while. She gently tugged the back of his hand with a bright and yful smile. The atmosphere between the young couple was somewhat ambiguous. Lucas clicked his tongue and shook his head before looking at Jasmine and saying, ¡°Look at them. Their public disy of affection is blinding.¡± Jasmine took advantage of the opportunity to talk about his marriage. ¡°Lucas, when are you going to bring home a wife? Even Charles is married now. You won¡¯t still be single by the time Whitney has kids, will you?¡± Lucas was rendered speechless. He ced a drumstick onto Jasmine¡¯s te. ¡°Just eat your food. Stay out of my business.¡± At the same time, Whitney blushed slightly in embarrassment at the mention of kids. Charles maintained a neutral expression for the rest of the meal. After retracting his hand, he focused on his meal and said nothing further. After the meal, he went to his study. Meanwhile, Whitney was working at the coffee table in the bedroom to deal with the work left behind during her time offst time. After she worked for two hours, the door of the bedroom opened slowly. Charles was pulling his tie with one hand in a leisurely manner with an unmistakable look of exhaustion in his eyes. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. He nced at Whitney, who was sitting on the couch. As he threw the tie he took off on the coat rack, he said tly, ¡°Make the couch. I¡¯m tired.¡± Whitney stared at him in astonishment for a moment. She had thought that he would neither spend the night in the bedroom that day nor take the initiative to talk to her. ¡°You can sleep on the bed, Mr. Newton. I¡¯m not done with my work yet.¡± Charles knitted his brows. He was a little displeased, but he did not say anything in the end. ¡°Get it done quickly.¡± After that, he took off his expensive suit and entered the bathroom. The sound of water running was soon heard. He was taking a shower. Without further ado, Whitney quickly finished the task at hand, saved it, and turned off theptop. Then, she went to the cab to get a quilt to make the couch. Just as she was done making the couch, Charles finished showering. ¡°The couch is too small. It¡¯s not suitable for someone your height, Mr. Newton. I prefer to sleep on the couch, so don¡¯t argue with me anymore and go sleep on the bed.¡± Charles did not even look at her as he deliberately averted his eyes. His tone was slightly impatient as he replied, ¡°No one is arguing with you. This room is mine, so I can sleep wherever I want. You¡¯ll sleep on the bed.¡± Whitney found him too domineering. Nevertheless, she did not agree to it. ¡°I¡¯ve been sleeping on the couch during the days you were not in the room. I didn¡¯t touch the bed, so it¡¯s clean. You can sleep on the bed with peace of mind, Mr. Newton.¡± The innocent soft bed probably never expected that it would be disliked by people one day, whereas the small and narrow couch had be everyone¡¯s favorite at that moment. Charles finally fixed his gaze on Whitney¡¯s face. He tossed his towel to one side after wiping his hair and slowly walked up to her. As the man approached, Whitney could feel the intimidating vibe from him. She got cold feet and lowered her head timidly. Charles bent over slowly and pinched her chin. Narrowing his eyes, he seemed like he was trying to see through the disguise of her humility. ¡°Are you mad at me for not returning to the room the past few days? Are you throwing a tantrum now?¡± Whitney¡¯s face turned slightly pale. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you dare look at me, then? Do you really like to sleep on the couch?¡± After calming herself down, Whitney looked up slightly and met his probing eyes. She was so fazed by his attractiveness that she subconsciously swallowed hard. His short hair is still half-wet, while his jaw is still dripping with water from his shower. He looks so sexy. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m used to sleeping on the couch.¡± Her eyshes kept fluttering. She had not seen Charles for a few days, so the fact that they got so close physically that night made her so nervous that her breathing became shallow. Moreover, he even called me ¡°Darling¡± during dinner earlier. Charles did not know what she was thinking, but he noticed that her ears, neck, and cheeks were turning red. Does she really like me so much that she bes giddy as soon as I get a little closer to her? Finding her response adorable, Charles felt his mood improve a lot. He thought that Whitney was interesting even though he did not like her and only treated her as a tool to deal with marriage. Smiling, Charles let go of her chin and wrapped his other arm around her waist. Exerting force with his arm, he lifted her off the couch. Their bodies were practically pressing against each other. ¡°Mr. Newton?¡± Whitney was flustered by his intimate action. With a smirk on his face, he watched as she panicked. Grabbing her shoulders, he turned her around so that she was facing the bed before giving her a nudge. He patted her lightly on her backside as if he was threatening her. ¡°Be good and sleep on the bed.¡± Speechless, Whitney was stupefied as she stumbled forward. After that, she btedly covered her buttocks. What did he just do? Was he taking advantage of me? Blushing hard, Whitney turned around to stare at him in shock. However, he wore a neutral expression as if nothing had just happened and went to the walk-in closet to blow-dry his hair. Whitney was bereft of speech. I¡¯m probably overthinking it. It¡¯s nothing. She also headed to the walk-in closet to get her pajamas and went to the bathroom to take a shower. The moment the bathroom door closed, Charles heaved a sigh slowly, unable to calm down for some time. What did I just do? I must¡¯ve gone crazy. I actually smacked Whitney on her¡­ He looked at his right hand in a daze, and his cold face turned red. He even lost control of his breathing which had be rapid. He seemed to still be able to feel the sensation earlier on his palm. It¡¯s perky, bouncy, and firm. It¡¯s attractive and feels great on the hand. As the sound of water running in the bathroom was heard, Charles inexplicably thought of her charming figure standing under the running water. F*ck! I¡¯m out of my mind. This woman is poisonous. Every time she gets near, I seem to lose control and do things I usually wouldn¡¯t. I will never get close to her again in the future. With a gloomy face, Charles clenched his fists. In the past, he would immediately wash his hands if his hands touched something that bothered him. For the first time, he did not wash his hands. After drying his hair, he went to the balcony of the bedroom to get some fresh air. He did not want to see the woman in her nightgown after she was done showering. He wanted to smoke to calm himself down. Standing on the balcony, he lit a cigarette with a lighter and started to puff on it in the silence of the night. Holding the cigarette in his left hand, he clenched his right hand that was hanging by his side from time to time, as if he was reliving something. As he took a drag on the cigarette, it burned more vigorously, just like his desire that was difficult to quench. Chapter 762 Chapter 762 After that night, Whitney felt Charles was deliberately distancing himself from her. Although they shared a room at night, he spoke significantly less and would always keep a safe distance from her. The enticing closeness they used to share no longer urred. Whitney quickly got used to him blowing hot and cold and concentrated on her work. Just like that, their tacit silent standoffsted for a month. In early November, a criminal case that shocked the whole nation took ce in Salinsburgh. While the incident was spreading like wildfire on the inte, Gwendolyn was swamped with her work at Harris Group. In recent years, Harris Group focused on overseas development, making their trading business thrive. Within five years, thepany became one of the top thirty most powerful corporations worldwide. After an important meeting, all of Harris Group¡¯s executives whispered among themselves, wearing especially solemn expressions. Gwendolyn sensed something was amiss but didn¡¯t ask about it and returned to her office. Only then did she inquire of her assistant, Joanne, who had been transferred from Angle, about what was going on. ¡°What were they discussing today? After the meeting ended, they seemed to be talking about the news.¡± Joanne was taken aback. ¡°Ms. Harris, you don¡¯t know about it? This incident is being hotly reported on the news. The news came out this morning and is already making the headlines of all major media outlets. I think everyone in Salinsburgh is discussing it.¡± Gwendolyn nonchntly browsed through an agreement, seemingly unfazed. ¡°I¡¯m too busy, so I haven¡¯t had the time to read the news online.¡± With her interest piqued, Joanne borated to her employer, ¡°Justst night, the once-prestigious Cloud family was annihted overnight. I heard all of them died tragically. The whole vi reeked of blood, and the crime scene was said to be so gory that it could induce nightmares. After all, the Cloud family was an elite household, yet they were wiped out just like that. It is said that the Cloud family¡¯s heiress, Jessamyn, died by the window with half her body hanging outside. It seems she was trying to escape through the window. When she was found, her clothes were in disarray, and she had dozens of lethal cuts all over her mangled body. It looked like someone had a vendetta against her. Over a hundred people were there, including members of the Cloud family, the housekeepers and bodyguards, but none survived. I-It¡¯s truly gruesome¡­¡± Joanne¡¯s voice trembled as she narrated. She was terrified just by imagining the scene. Colors drained from her face, and she even wobbled a little as her legs turned to jelly. Gwendolyn, who was initially listening halfheartedly, grimaced. She furrowed her brows, mulling over Joanne¡¯s words in her mind. Over a hundred people? After what Charles did to the Cloud family due to their offense previously, Cloudington Group had long been in decline, nearly exiting the circle of wealthy families and dering bankruptcy. Under such circumstances, there was no way the Cloud family could ount for over a hundred people, even if that number included the bodyguards and housekeepers. Unless¡­ ¡°Was the Cloud family hosting a banquetst night?¡± Joanne nodded. ¡°I heard it was Mr. Ignatius Cloud¡¯s birthday. Because of the troubles faced by Cloudington Group, the other elites of the society didn¡¯t attend. Ignatius merely invited family rtives to have a simple celebration in his garden. Unexpectedly, something like that happened, causing the entire Cloud family to be annihted.¡± Gwendolyn took a deep breath, unable to imagine such a tragedy taking ce in Salinsburgh, a city jointly governed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the police department, known as the safest city in the country. Moreover, the culprit had even resorted to such a brutal method to massacre every member of the Cloud family. With mushy flesh flying everywhere, the bloodiness of the scene would traumatize anyone who saw it. Gwendolyn felt that the incident couldn¡¯t have happened for no reason. The culprit is ruthless to have ughtered so many people. What exactly was their goal? A sense of foreboding surged within her, and an inexplicable panic crept into her heart whenever she pictured the scene described by Joanne. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Extremely concerned about Cedrick¡¯s investigation, Gwendolyn instructed Joanne to take her leave and dialed Cedrick¡¯s number. In the past, he had always answered her calls immediately, but this time, the phone rang for a full minute, yet all she heard was the melodious ringtone in the receiver. Overwrought, Gwendolyn clenched her fists. Why isn¡¯t Cedrick answering the phone? Did something happen to him? The Federal Bureau of Investigation will surely have to step in to investigate such a high-profile case. Did they encounter an ambush or an assassination? While her mind was filled with wild guesses, the ringing of the phone wasing to an end. Gwendolyn¡¯s breath hitched in her anxiety. Just before the call was about to disconnect, it went through. Cedrick¡¯s deep and maic voice sounded from the other end of the line. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Darling?¡± Gwendolyn let out a sigh of relief upon learning he was safe. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at the Cloud residence investigating a horrible incident that happenedst night. I had my phone on vibrate, so I didn¡¯t pick up your call in time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all right. I just needed to know you were safe.¡± She exhaled lightly, scrolling through the major news about the Cloud family on herputer. Cedrick chuckled softly on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m here for the investigation. I¡¯m not involved in the case, so why would I be in danger?¡± Gwendolyn wore a solemn expression as she skimmed through the reports about the Cloud family¡¯s tragedy online. ¡°Hubby, how¡¯s the investigation into the Cloud family¡¯s mass murder going?¡± ¡°So far, it¡¯s unclear. We¡¯re still gathering the bodies in the vi and sending them for postmortem examination. There isn¡¯t any weapon left at the scene. Whoever did this was extremely meticulous.¡± Gwendolyn grew more concerned the more she listened to him. ¡°Can I go over and take a look?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t. We haven¡¯t started cleaning the scene yet to preserve any potential evidence. This ce is still filled with the stench of blood, and you may feel ufortable witnessing it. Be good. After I finish my work here, I¡¯ll pick you up at Harris Group.¡± ¡°Do you¡­ have a prime suspect yet?¡± Cedrick fell silent for a few moments, and the background noise started to fade. It sounded as if he was moving toward a more deserted location. After ascertaining there wasn¡¯t anyone eavesdropping in the surroundings, he said, ¡°Judging by the way the crime scene was handled, the culprit is either a seasoned criminal or someone with military training. They¡¯re well-versed in perpetrating a murder.¡± Gwendolyn furrowed her brows as her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Are you suspecting him a little?¡± There was a pause before Cedrick finally hummed in agreement. ¡°He used to be one of the top talents in the Central Intelligence Agency. Moreover, I¡¯ve gathered information on the people Ignatius and his family had offended in the past couple of months, and the only person that fits into this category is Charles. Last month, his blind date with Jessamyn turned sour, and he made a series of moves to target the Cloud family.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t,¡± Gwendolyn responded almost instantaneously. ¡°I believe in his character.¡± Cedrick fell silent once more. After what felt like a long time, he asked in a low voice, ¡°Do you trust him that much? Do you really know his character? If you do, and if he isn¡¯t someone who would break thew knowingly, he wouldn¡¯t have stolen medication from theboratory and sshed it on me back then.¡± Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. That¡¯s right. Although we were childhood friends, and I¡¯ve known Charles for many years, his personality suddenly became twisted in the few years we were separated. He behaved like a lunatic, treating everyone with malicious intent except for me. After pondering briefly, Gwendolyn still stood by her opinion firmly. ¡°We¡¯re talking about ughtering over a hundred people. Charles would nevermit such an atrocious act.¡± Besides, even though he¡¯s the person in charge of the Newton family and Newton Group¡¯s CEO, he doesn¡¯t wield power in any armed organizations or forces. Therefore, Charles couldn¡¯t have aplished arge-scale raid like this, barging into the Cloud residence and butchering all those people. Once again, Cedrick remained quiet. Neither of them spoke for two minutes before he finally uttered, ¡°All right. I got it. I¡¯ll thoroughly investigate this matter and not let any suspicious person off the hook. I won¡¯t wrongly use anyone too.¡± After hanging up the call, Cedrick, who was standing at one corner of the Cloud residence, clenched his phone. His pensive dark eyes were filled with gloom. In fact, he also thought Charles couldn¡¯t have done something like that, but after hearing Gwendolyn defending Charles so decisively, he couldn¡¯t help but feel utterly displeased. Chapter 763 Chapter 763 After ending the call, Gwendolyn fell into deep thought before herputer before deciding to call Charles. Having sessfullypleted his one-month assignment of cleaning the restroom, Charles had returned to Newton Group and was presently in a meeting. His expression turned serious when his phone, set to silent mode, lit up, showing Gwendolyn¡¯s name. Pausing the meeting, he excused himself and headed out to answer the call. The higher-ups of Newton Group were left behind, baffled by his sudden exit. ¡°Gwen, why are you calling me at this hour? Is there an emergency?¡± Gwendolyn told him sternly, ¡°Something happened to the Cloud family. They have been wiped out. Do you know about this?¡± Charles fell into a momentary silence. ¡°I dide across the news this morning, but I didn¡¯t delve into it. Is that the reason you called me?¡± He quickly realized why she called. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m behind this?¡± ¡°The Cloud family was already on the brink of departing from upper-ss society. Ignatius¡¯ family had never had many enemies. The only recent conflict I recall was the one between you and Jessamyn.¡± Charles listened to her silently before letting out a snort. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re suspecting me?¡± Before Gwendolyn could reply, he added menacingly, ¡°Gwendolyn, you think too highly of me. I¡¯m not capable of killing over one hundred members of their family overnight. Even if I wanted to teach Jessamyn a lesson, I wouldn¡¯t involve the others.¡± Gwendolyn sighed. ¡°I know it wasn¡¯t you. I never suspected you.¡± Charles¡¯ expression rxed slightly. Gwendolyn¡¯s analysis continued as she delved deeper into the topic. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s as straightforward as it seems. While the Cloud family may have experienced a downfall, they still wielded significant influence. If the culprit¡¯s motive isn¡¯t driven by a personal grudge against them, could it be that all the influential families in Salinsburgh are potential targets?¡± As the gravity of the situation became apparent, Charles would undoubtedly be summoned for questioning by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The matter was serious, so Cedrick would need to personally handle it. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but specte whether the culprit¡¯s intended targets included the Harris, Jenson, and Newton families¡ªconsidering their status as the three most influential families in the area. Charles contemted her words for some time. ¡°After my meeting concludes, I¡¯ll pay the Cloud residence a visit and talk to Mr. Jenson.¡± ¡°Okay. Be careful!¡± As the call concluded with Gwendolyn¡¯s polite reminder, a sense of warmth spread through Charles¡¯ heart. He gently brushed his finger across Gwendolyn¡¯s name saved in his phone, reflecting on the fact that it had been quite some time since they hadstmunicated. He realized he hadn¡¯t even updated her caller ID information. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only Once he gathered his thoughts, he returned to the conference room to continue the meeting. Around twenty minutester, the meeting concluded in a rush, and Charles left the conference room swiftly. Isaac slowly approached him and said softly, ¡°Mr. Newton, I just met Mrs. Newton a while ago. She told me she needs to talk to you in person about something important.¡± It was clear that Whitney wanted to talk about the horrible massacre of the Cloud family. His expression turned icy as he firmly responded, ¡°No, I will not see her. We are currently at work, and she is not Mrs. Newton here. She is simply an employee, still in her probationary period in the logistics department. Please inform her to concentrate on her work and refrain from entertaining thoughts of visiting the CEO¡¯s office.¡± Isaac bowed slightly. ¡°Got it.¡± After that, Charles returned to his office and grabbed his jacket before taking the elevator to the underground parking lot. Twenty minutester, Charles reached the murder scene, only to find the Federal Bureau of Investigation still meticulously collecting evidence. A yellow tape was up, spanning a two-meter radius, with officers stationed to guard the entrance. The area surrounding the Cloud residence was strictly cordoned off, preventing anyone from approaching within one hundred meters of the premises. A swarm of reporters and members of the media had gathered, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be the first to interview and report on the gruesome massacre. Charles found himself trapped amidst the crowd, unable to make his way into the house. He was feeling lost when his gaze fell upon Nico, who emerged from the Cloud residence and retreated to a secluded corner to smoke. Nico finally discovered him and ushered Charles past the yellow tape, allowing him entry into the restricted perimeter. ¡°Why are you here? You¡¯re not the boss of the Central Intelligence Agency now, so this important case doesn¡¯t involve you.¡± As Charles observed the walls of the Cloud residence, he maintained a calm demeanor while responding, ¡°If the Cloud family truly has no known enemies, then I am thest person who had a conflict with Ignatius. Given my role as the head of the Newton family and my past as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, I will undoubtedly be the prime suspect in the eyes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They will summon me for questioning sooner orter, which is why I have chosen to come here and provide an exnation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Nico shed a smirk and put out his cigarette. ¡°Come on. Mr. Jenson is inspecting Jessamyn¡¯s room on the third floor.¡± Charles stuck a hand in his pocket and trailed behind him leisurely but didn¡¯t forget to observe the Cloud residence carefully. The garden grounds of the Cloud residence were stained with blood, forming a gruesome tableau that spoke of the horrific massacre that had urred the previous night. The metallic tang of blood permeated the air. Charles surveyed the scene, his gaze sweeping across the area. He observed the police officers diligently covering the lifeless bodies with white cloths, preparing them for removal from the Cloud residence using stretchers. One by one, the bodies were carefully carried out, leaving behind only patches of blood and pristine spots where the deceased had previouslyin, depicted by the chalk outlines. As Nico entered the scene, his countenance turned stern, mirroring the gravity of the situation. Charles, too, adopted a serious expression. ¡°Have you reviewed the surveince footage from both inside the Cloud residence and the surrounding streets?¡± Charles asked. ¡°Yes, but the surveince cameras were destroyed before the incident happenedst night, and the internal memory cards were taken away. We couldn¡¯t find any fingerprints.¡± Charles nced at the chalk outlines depicting where the bodiesy. ¡°Did you find out what weapon caused their deaths?¡± ¡°The murder weapon was not left at the scene. The perpetrator exhibited precision and removed all potential evidence. The forensic doctor conducted the autopsies and confirmed that the victims died from over ten stab wounds.¡± The brutality of the multiple stab wounds hinted at a deep-seated vendetta, suggesting a profound level of animosity toward the victims. As they chatted, they walked up the stairs and soon arrived at Jessamyn¡¯s room on the third floor. Cedrick took it upon himself to inspect the disarray within the room, closely examining the aftermath of the crime. The chalk outline marking the position of Jessamyn¡¯s lifeless body was positioned near the window. The walls were sttered with blood, and the scene depicted the sheer horror and devastation that had unfolded within those walls. Nico knocked on the door gently. ¡°Cedrick, Charles is here. He wants an update on the situation.¡± Cedrick rose to his feet and scowled at Charles. ¡°Why did you bring him here?¡± Nico was baffled. He sounds unhappy. Without hesitation, he replied honestly, ¡°Charles got involved in the tainted milk powder case a few years ago and spent the whole night investigating the case with you. Given the different investigative approaches of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I thought you might benefit from his assistance.¡± Cedrick fell silent for a while before leaving Jessamyn¡¯s room, leading Charles to the end of the corridor. When they found themselves alone, Cedrick confronted Charles directly, his tone demanding answers. ¡°You went on a blind date with Jessamyn Cloud. What caused such a massive fallout between the two of you? Also, why did you resort to ying tricks on her and the Cloud family?¡± His expression was dark as he directed a series of questions at Charles. Hearing that, Charles revealed everything honestly, including how Jessamyn schemed against Whitney. ¡°Following the termination of our coboration with the Cloud family, I confronted Ignatius and issued a threat, demanding that he arrange for his daughter to apologize to Whitney, warning him that his company would face significant risks otherwise. After some contemtion, Ignatiusplied, and Whitney graciously forgave them. Consequently, I ceased pressuring Cloudington Group, and their company suffered substantial losses amounting to millions. I had no idea that they would be killed a monthter.¡± Charles bore a stern expression as he narrowed his eyes before revealing his thoughts. ¡°Mr. Jenson, the perpetrator managed to eliminate the entire Cloud family swiftly and silently, rendering them defenseless and unable to mount any resistance or even make an emergency call. The meticulous nning and execution of this incident suggest an exceptionally cunning and skilled mastermind at work. This is beyond the capabilities of an ordinary individual.¡± After a pause, he continued, ¡°Do you recall the tainted milk powder case that affected Benny? The mastermind behind that incident had intentions to harm children from influential families, and the primary target was the Jenson family.¡± At the same time, Cedrick held his breath as his brows knitted together. There was no way he would forget that case. The tainted milk powder was precisely the trigger that unleashed the virus within Benedict¡¯s body. The perpetrator behind this horrific act, Joe Landon, was still atrge. Chapter 764 Chapter 764 After Charles spoke his mind, the corridor descended into silence. Both Cedrick and Nico fell silent. Charles pondered and continued, ¡°If Joe Landon, who is still atrge, is indeed the mastermind behind the massacre of the Cloud family, then my suspicions would be confirmed. The question that remains is, which influential family will be targeted next after the Cloud family is wiped out?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression tensed up. Nico held his breath. ¡°The Jenson family.¡± Both the Jenson and Harris families boasted formidable security measures. The individual responsible for the massacre of the Cloud family demonstrated the ability to eliminate them silently during the night, evading detection. However, breaching the Jenson family¡¯s security measures and executing a simr attack would prove an immensely challenging feat for any perpetrator. Unless¡­ If the perpetrator¡¯s target was the Jenson family and they were unable to initiate their attack directly from the Jenson residence, they might seek out a vulnerable spot. What could that be? The three men raised their heads in unison as the same idea urred to them. At once, Cedrick spun on his heels and strode away. He pulled out his phone to call Gwendolyn. Nico went after him. ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯ll go to theb to check on Benny.¡± Theboratory¡¯s security system was top-notch, but there was still a potential vulnerability once Benedictpleted his IV drip and departed from theb. Cedrick nodded in agreement. ¡°Take care of Benny and don¡¯t let him leave theb. He should wait in theb until I pick him up.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Charles offered, ¡°I¡¯ll head to the kindergarten to pick Zendy up and ensure her safety.¡± Considering that sses at the kindergarten would conclude one hourter, and with Charles needing approximately half an hour to arrive, it was crucial for him to be present earlier to ensure Zendaya¡¯s safety. Cedrick carefully contemted the situation and concurred that the perpetrator would find it easiest to target Zendaya. This was because the entrance of the kindergarten would likely have only one or two security guards, while the majority of individuals present would be children and teachers. ¡°Nico, assign one of your teams to Charles so they can apany him to the kindergarten.¡± Nico expressed surprise at the suggestion. ¡°Cedrick, won¡¯t deploying arge number of personnel to the kindergarten during pick-up time cause panic among the parents?¡± Cedrick, however, remained resolute in his decision. ¡°We don¡¯t have to wait until Zendy¡¯s regr dismissal time. Charles, to ensure Zendy¡¯s safety, pick her up as soon as you arrive. She can be allowed to leave earlier than usual.¡± The three men left the Cloud residence and went on their separate ways. Upon delegating the responsibility of capturing photos and organizing tasks to Neville, Cedrick made his way back to his armored vehicle. Determined to reach Gwendolyn, he persistently dialed her number, only to be met with disappointment as his calls couldn¡¯t get through. It wasn¡¯t a case of her phone being switched off; instead, it appeared that a signal jammer was interfering with the reception in her vicinity. An ominous feeling urred to him as he quickly called Swain. ¡°Find out Gwendolyn¡¯s location now.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± They both didn¡¯t disconnect the call. Swain, who was present at the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters, frantically typed away at his keyboard, determined to track Gwendolyn¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°Boss, her location is in flux. It appears she is in a moving vehicle, making it difficult to pinpoint her exact location. However, there seems to be an issue with the GPS signal as it keeps flickering. It suggests that the signal strength is weak.¡± Cedrick felt his heart tighten with worry. ¡°Retrieve footage from the roadside surveince cameras and verify Gwendolyn¡¯s route. Send it to me as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The call ended. Swain typed on his keyboard furiously and called the Department of Transportation to ry Cedrick¡¯s order. Ten minutester, Cedrick received a message on his phone containing Gwendolyn¡¯s real-time route. The footage captured by the roadside surveince cameras depicted Gwendolyn driving her luxurious car along the road. As Cedrick carefully reviewed the message sent by Swain, a thought crossed his mind. This route¡­ She left Harris Group and passed by that bridge. Could it be that she intends to pick up Zendy from the kindergarten? It seems she has anticipated the same course of action as us. Without hesitation, Cedrick drove to the kindergarten as well. Half an hourter, when he arrived at the kindergarten, Charles had already picked Zendaya up. Fortunately, Zendaya was unhurt. Zendaya was confused as Charles picked her up and strode out of the kindergarten. ¡°Uncle Charles, I was ying with my friends. Why did you pick me up earlier than usual? Did something happen at home?¡± Uncertain of how to respond, Charles offered a gentle smile to Zendaya and deflected the question, cing the me on someone else. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sweetheart. Your daddy actually asked me toe, so you can ask him about itter.¡± Zendaya sucked on her thumb and frowned, pointing at Cedrick, who emerged not far away. ¡°But isn¡¯t Daddy right there?¡± Charles nced in the direction she was pointing and quickly realized something was wrong. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me toe pick Zendy up? Why are you here too?¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression was grim as he fell into deep thought. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g ¡°Sh*t.¡± A few secondster, he paled visibly and returned to his car without answering Charles¡¯ question. ¡°What happened? Daddy looked terrifying,¡± Zendayamented softly as she stared at Cedrick¡¯s back. Charles was also staring at Cedrick with a stern expression. There is only one person who could make Cedrick this nervous. Did something happen to Gwendolyn? He quickly brought Zendaya to his car and buckled her up in the child safety seat. ¡°Sit tight, Zendy,¡± he reminded her before speeding after Cedrick¡¯s car. Cedrick¡¯s car raced along the road, the urgency of the situation evident in his uneasiness. Considering the distance and time, Gwendolyn¡¯s car should have reached the kindergarten ahead of both Charles and me. Yet, she¡¯s nowhere to be found, and her phone remains unreachable. She has vanished! The thought of his wife in trouble made his heart race uneasily. He calcted the distance between Harris Group and Zendaya¡¯s kindergarten and took the same route back. Nothing can happen to her! As both cars raced on the highway, Cedrick connected his phone to the Bluetooth earpiece and called Swain yet again. ¡°Find out where Gwendolyn is now! Hurry!¡± he growled. His state of agitation had reached its peak. Swain immediately did as told. After a series of typing on his keyboard, he drew a sharp breath. ¡°Boss, her location is unknown. We have lost all contact with her!¡± It took Cedrick a while to respond, ¡°Continue investigating her whereabouts!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Amotion sounded at the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Swain¡¯s end of the line as though he was talking to a police officer. In a trembling voice, Swain soon reported, ¡°Boss, it seems that something has happened to Mrs. Jenson.¡± Cedrick gripped the steering wheel and held his breath silently. Swain continued, ¡°We¡¯ve just received a report from the Department of Transportation regarding a severe ident in Orchidbay Tunnel. It appears that three small cars and two trucks were involved in a significant rear-end collision, resulting in casualties and the need for ambnce services. The exact details are still unclear, and the Department of Transportation has dispatched personnel to the scene for further investigation. Thest signal from her device was detected before she entered Orchidbay Tunnel¡­¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes turned red as he tamped down his anguish and said calmly, ¡°Send me the exact location where the ident happened at Orchidbay Tunnel.¡± ¡°Yes. Boss, you should calm down¡­ Mrs. Jenson should be fine.¡± Without hesitation, Cedrick floored the elerator. The powerful vehicle deftly maneuvered through the traffic on the highway. Cedrick caught sight of Charles¡¯ luxurious car closely following behind. Before he could call Charles, thetter¡¯s call arrived. He answered the call swiftly. Charles demanded, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you this flustered before. Did something happen to Gwen?¡± At once, Zendaya asked in a tearful voice, ¡°Did something happen to Mommy? What is wrong? I want to know, too!¡± Chapter 765 Chapter 765 Zendaya was still in Charles¡¯ car, and there was no confirmation of Gwendolyn¡¯s situation yet. Cedrick was not going to say a word about it, nor was he going to let Zendaya head to the dangerous Orchidbay Tunnel. In a calm voice, he said, ¡°She¡¯s fine. I¡¯m going to pick her up. I don¡¯t want her to get anxious from waiting, so I drove a little faster than usual. You should take Zendy to theb to rendezvous with Nico and Benny first. Otherwise, the four squadrons of military vehicles behind you will be too eye-catching and will affect the other vehicles around us.¡± Wisely, Charles did not press on the matter. ¡°Understood.¡± After the call ended, Cedrick soon noticed that no cars were after his from the rearview mirror. It was likely that Charles had gotten off at the nearest expressway to change his destination to theb. Stepping onto the elerator, Cedrick sped his way to Orchidbay Tunnel. Please be fine. Please¡­ His eyes were bloodshot as he repeated that again and again in an attempt to calm himself down. Raindrops silently pattered on his car window, seemingly reflecting the angry roars he wished he could voice out loud. The drizzle from the gloomy sky grew heavier and heavier. In just eight minutes, Cedrick¡¯s vehicle arrived at the scene in Orchidbay Tunnel. Two trucks had turned over, so the traffic was congested. Traffic police had already set up a cordon so that the other vehicles could bypass the currentne to avoid worsening the ident site. When Cedrick arrived, the entire tunnel was covered in dust. The fire truck, the ambnce, and the traffic police were all there. A momentter, Swain arrived with the police. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve already asked around for the details. There is a total of eleven victims in this ident. The two truck drivers passed away on the spot, and there were two other drivers who the medical staff were unable to save. Four have sustained severe injuries, and two have sustained light injuries. There¡¯s a child too, but they¡¯ve only sustained a little scratch because they had been protected well during the ident. There aren¡¯t any signs of Mrs. Jenson.¡± Cedrick dug his fingers deep into his palms and red at Swain with bright red eyes. ¡°Gwendolyn¡¯s signal disappeared in this tunnel. This entire ce has been sealed off, and yet, I neither see her nor the Jenson family¡¯s car. Tell me, where can she possibly be?¡± Swain¡¯s heart lurched, and he was frightened in stillness by his anger. ¡°Calm down, Boss. This might be good news. Seeing no signs of Mrs. Jenson or her car means that she might not have gotten hurt. At the very least, she¡¯s currently in no mortal danger. I¡¯ve brought a troop of Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s soldiers over, and they¡¯re currently scouring everywhere near Orchidbay Tunnel.¡± Cedrick took in a deep breath and was silent for a long time. Indeed, no news was good news. At the very least, Gwendolyn had nothing to do with the major traffic ident. But I can¡¯t reach her on the phone or track her GPS signal. What¡¯s interfering with her devices? Cedrick¡¯s heart had sunken deep in his stomach at his wife¡¯s disappearance. He could not calm down at all. After leaving Swain to handle the ident site, Cedrick turned and went back into his car, nning to make a trip around Orchidbay Tunnel to find suspicious spots. Swain tried to convince him otherwise. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s raining heavily outside, and it¡¯s only getting heavier. Don¡¯t go. I¡¯m sure someone will return with Mrs. Jenson¡¯s news soon.¡± Cedrick whipped his head around and uttered, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll be equally calm when I make you lose contact with your loved one.¡± Hearing that, Swain paled drastically, a wave of shame washing over him. ¡°Sorry, Boss. I¡¯lle with you to look for Mrs. Jenson instead,¡± Swain muttered weakly before moving toward the front passenger seat. Cedrick rolled his eyes at him. ¡°Handle the situation here. Contact me if anything happens.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to handle the situation here. It¡¯s just a massive traffic ident resulting from tailgating.¡± Cedrick shot him a cold look. ¡°Two truck drivers have died on the spot, and yet the tailgated driver didn¡¯t die as quickly. You¡¯re telling me that this is just a traffic ident?¡± A truck wasrge in size, and its driver would be at lesser risk of fatal injuries in a tailgating ident. Yet, the truck drivers died earlier than the smaller vehicle drivers. It was indeed strange. Swain stiffened and soon realized what Cedrick was talking about. ¡°Got it, Boss.¡± With that said, Swain returned to the cordoned-off area. Meanwhile, Cedrick sped off from Orchidbay Tunnel. Unable to know whether or not Gwendolyn was safe was making terror hold tightly onto him. Outside the tunnel, it was still raining. The sound of the raindrops on the windows only served to irritate Cedrick further. He was still trying to call Gwendolyn again and again, but only the gentle voice of a customer service officer answered him, reminding him that Gwendolyn¡¯s signal was too weak and not within the service area¡ªthat he should call herter. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. It¡¯s raining so heavily. Where can Gwenny possibly go? Cedrick drove around the areas near Orchidbay Tunnel, but even half an hourter, his search remained fruitless. The sky was still gloomy, and it seemed like the sun was going to set. At night, it would be far tougher to look for a person. Staring out of the blurry window, Cedrick found himself getting more and more frustrated. Right then, a call came. He snatched his phone. But it was Swain, not Gwendolyn. The second the call connected, Swain yelled, ¡°Boss, we found Mrs. Jenson¡¯s car! It¡¯s in a small canyon a hundred meters ahead of Bluebay Tunnel! Team Ten¡¯s soldiers just found signs of a run off the road ident and the signs of a car tumbling down the slope. They followed the signs and found Mrs. Jenson¡¯s car, but¡ª¡± Before Swain could finish, Cedrick had already ended the call and mmed his foot against the elerator, the screeching sounds of his tires echoing in the area. Signs of an ident and a car tumbling down the slope into the canyon¡­ Gwendolyn¡¯s car must have gone down the slope. It was close to impossible for Cedrick to take in any air into his lungs at the moment. As tears welled up in his eyes, he told himself repeatedly that Gwendolyn was going to be fine¡ªthat her car was bought for its high safety index and that she was not going to die. Cedrick narrowed his eyes when his tears threatened to fall. Gripping the steering wheel, he mmed his car into the guard rails of the road in the direction of where Swain had told him. The armored vehicle rushed down the slope. ¡°Boss!¡± Swain screamed, running after Cedrick and stumbling down the slope. The soil was slippery in the rain, but that was not Swain¡¯s concern at all. All he knew was that he had to run after Cedrick¡¯s vehicle. ¡°What is he doing? I shouldn¡¯t have told him about this! What am I going to do if anything happens to him?¡± Swain screamed as he continued sliding down the slope, on the verge of tears. Cedrick¡¯s vehicle continued bolting down the slope at a terrifying speed, almost as if Cedrick had lost control of the vehicle. Yet, Cedrick was still stepping onto the elerator. With a quick spin of his steering wheel, he stopped the vehicle from flipping and mmed into a tree in the canyon. The old and sturdy tree stopped his vehicle, but the front part of the car waspletely crushed. The windows had shattered, and the airbags deployed. Cedrick turned away, but the ss still scraped his face. He was safe despite the extreme method he had used to get to the bottom of the canyon. The rain was still pouring, and the broken windshield could not stop the water from entering the car. Cedrick was still gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The rain dripped on the back of his hand, making his skin look even paler. In the meantime, Swain managed to get to the bottom of the canyon alive, stopping himself with a tree as well. Then, he scrambled over, only to find Cedrick sitting in his seat in a daze. ¡°Boss, are you okay? Please don¡¯t scare me like this¡­¡± Cedrick shakily let out an exhale and mumbled under his breath, ¡°Gwenny¡¯s vehicle is as good as mine. If I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m sure she is too.¡± For a long while, Swain was speechless. He did this to find out the mortality rate of going off-road in the vehicle? ¡°Boss, you hung up on me before I could finish my sentence. Our men have found Mrs. Jenson¡¯s car, but¡­ we couldn¡¯t find her.¡± Chapter 766 Chapter 766 In the downpour, Cedrick followed Swain to see Gwendolyn¡¯s car that went off-road. It was a light green Maserati. Since Gwendolyn loved green, he gifted her this limited edition car for their third anniversary. It was indeed her car. With his red-rimmed eyes, he stared fixedly at the damaged car. The raindrops got caught on his eyshes, blurring his vision. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g He always remembered how Gwendolyn cherished this car. She would drive the car almost every day, yet it remained pristine as if it were brand new. Just what did she encounter in Orchidbay Tunnel that made her car spiral out of control? A group of soldiers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation surrounded the car. Braving the rain, they inspected the car for any signs of suspicious stuff. Taking an umbre from the person beside him, Swain silently stood by Cedrick¡¯s side, shielding the latter from the rain. Cedrick¡¯s aura was so heavy that it beat the gloominess of the rain. Feeling his heart breaking for Cedrick, Swain stared at his boss. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss. Mrs. Jenson is capable. No one is inside the car, anyway, which proves she¡¯s still alive. We can surely find her.¡± Enduring the pain, Cedrick spoke, his voice hoarse. ¡°How¡¯s the search going? Have you searched around the canyon?¡± Looking down, Swain let out a sigh. ¡°Mrs. Jenson¡¯s car lost control before the rain started. Luckily, we found the car earlier. Otherwise, the heavy rain would¡¯ve washed away the traces of the car. There¡¯s mud everywhere now, so it¡¯s hard for us to find any traces, but we¡¯ve already checked the area and even have a tracking dog with us. We found no bloodstains, so Mrs. Jenson should be unharmed.¡± Slowly, Cedrick heaved a sigh of relief. No bloodstains. Unharmed. These are good news. ¡°Continue searching. Arrange a tow truck and bring this car back for inspection. See if there are any additional fingerprints or footprints on the car.¡± I need to know if Gwenny got out of the car herself or was forced by someone else. Only if she encountered an uncontroble, dangerous situation would she voluntarily speed down the hill. Filled with self-loath, Cedrick tightened his fists, his veins bulging out. The afternoon before this incident, he was upset that Gwendolyn spoke up for Charles. Little did he know that she would go missing a few hours after that. I should¡¯ve been by her side¡­ ¡°New info, Mr. Jenson. We found Mrs. Jenson¡¯s phone in the car!¡± As he was lost in thoughts, someone rushed toward him. To not obstruct the fingerprint or any usage traces, the police sealed the device inside a transparent bag and handed it to Cedrick. Taking it, Cedrick stared at the shattered phone. Furrowing his brows, he touched the phone with his fingertip. Throughout the journey, he had called Gwendolyn¡¯s phone countless times, but it did not indicate that her phone was switched off. Rather, it had a weak signal, as she was out of the reception range. Despite the phone being shattered, the GPS tracker was still functioning; Swain could easily find it. Cedrick got terrified the more he thought about it. ¡°This is not Gwenny¡¯s phone,¡± he stated in a heavy tone. Before things happened, someone else was in her car. Swain¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°If that¡¯s not hers, then¡­ could Mrs. Jenson be kidnapped?¡± Until they found her, anything could be possible. Handing the phone to Swain, Cedrick coldly instructed, ¡°Call for a tow truck and return to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Overlook no detail of the car.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Just when Swain was about to offer him the umbre, Cedrick already turned around and left in the rain. He seemed unusually deste. Swain¡¯s heart broke for him, and he was also concerned about Gwendolyn. Obeying Cedrick¡¯s instruction, he arranged a tow truck. On the other side, Cedrick did not walk too far from the scene when his phone rang. Fishing his phone out, he saw that the call was from Charles. However, he was lost in his thoughts and just stared at the screen instead of answering the call. What followed Gwendolyn¡¯s disappearance would be a series of difficult questions. Where did Gwendolyn go? Could her disappearance be rted to the tragic massacre of the Cloud family? Charles and Nico were at theboratory,forting Benedict and Zendaya. They were waiting for news from Cedrick, but what could he tell the children when Gwendolyn was still missing? Still in a daze, he stared at the phone screen. His wife could not be found¡ªthat was the most crucial problem. Suppressing his distress, he declined Charles¡¯ call and replied with a text message instead. Cedrick: I¡¯m busy now. Take care of the kids. Don¡¯t bring them back to the Jenson residence; just let them sleep in theb. Have Nico go to Harrick Vi and pack some clothes for the kids. As for the kindergarten, arrange a leave for Zendy. In precarious times like this, theb is the safest ce. Even though his fingers were trembling, he forced himself to remainposed, smoothly typing the text message before sending it to Charles. Before he could even put his phone away, he received another notification. Charles: Where is Gwen? Are you not going to take care of Benny and Zendy today? Cedrick re-read the first question in the text message, and his eyes turned red in the rain. Gathering himself, he typed out another response: She¡¯s doing great. She¡¯s helping me with the investigation. Salinsburgh isn¡¯t safetely. Please take care of the kids for me. After sending the text message, Cedrick switched off his phone for some peace and quiet. Benny and Zendy will be fine in theb. I need to focus on searching for my wife. I¡¯ll not stop worrying as long as I¡¯m uncertain of her safety. With his mind remaining fuzzy, he exited the canyon and hailed a cab to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After a few minutes, Swain followed back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The tow truck also brought Gwendolyn¡¯s car back. Even though the exterior of the car was severely damaged, the interior was rtively intact. After a thorough examination, the specialists found different fingerprints on the backseat of the car. ¡°Mr. Jenson, somebody was indeed in the backseat of the car before the incident. The phone isn¡¯t Mrs. Jenson¡¯s as well; her phone is nowhere to be found. Also, there are no signs of a struggle in the car, and there was no usage of sharp tools.¡± Swain handed the evidence list to Cedrick, adding, ¡°We¡¯ve already checked all the surveince cameras nearby the scene. Ms. Harris¡¯ car was in a blind spot when it went off-road, so we couldn¡¯t find out what happened before that.¡± With a serious expression, Cedrick flipped the printed surveince images. When he reached the fourth page, Swain continued, ¡°I¡¯ve also checked the surveince from Harris Group¡¯s parking lot until before the incident happened. When Mrs. Jenson left Harris Group, no one else was in the car with her. She drove to the bridge and stopped there for a few minutes. After that, a figure can be vaguely spotted in the car with her. It seems to be a man.¡± Cedrick studied the zoomed-in photos and shook his head. ¡°It can¡¯t be a man. Gwenny is highly alerted. If she sees a bulky man who she thinks poses a threat, there¡¯s no way she would¡¯ve stopped to offer him a ride.¡± Moreover, she knew how possessive Cedrick was, so she would keep her distance from other men. She would not use her favorite car to give any man a ride. On the contrary, if it were women, children, or the elderly, Gwendolyn would only offer them a ride if they were in danger or encountered any difficulty. Seemingly getting his point, Swain pondered. The office fell silent for a while before Swain asked, ¡°Could there be another possibility, Boss? Could Mrs. Jenson bump into someone she¡¯s familiar with?¡± Chapter 767 Chapter 767 Cedrick knew Gwendolyn well enough to be aware that she would stop her car and contact emergency services if she encountered a stranger in danger or in need of help. However, she would never allow an unfamiliar person into her car. As Cedrick examined the surveince camera screens, his breathing grew heavy. It was evident to him that the person in the car was intentionally trying to avoid being captured by the public surveince cameras. While Cedrick could make out some details, such as a muscr physique and a partially visible shoulder, he couldn¡¯t determine the man¡¯s identity. Salinsburgh had recently experienced a surge in mysterious incidents, cing an increased workload on the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Analyzing the scene, Cedrick concluded, ¡°There are no signs of a struggle or any potential weapons that could be connected to a crime. It is possible that the man is indeed an acquaintance of Gwenny¡¯s.¡± He turned to Swain and instructed, ¡°Check with the nearby businesses around the bridge and inquire if any of them have outdoor surveince cameras installed. We might obtain valuable footage that can shed light on the situation.¡± It could potentially be their first breakthrough in the investigation. ¡°You¡¯re right, Boss. I¡¯ll be right on it.¡± As Swain prepared to leave, he felt a moment of concern for Cedrick¡¯s well-being. He paused at the door and reminded, ¡°Boss, I understand you¡¯re anxious, but please take care of yourself too. It¡¯s winter, the rain is freezing cold, and you¡¯re still soaking wet. We wouldn¡¯t want you falling sick before finding Mrs. Jenson.¡± Cedrick¡¯s stern look silenced Swain. ¡°All right, I¡¯m off.¡± He shrugged and exited the room. Despite his damp hair and dripping clothes since his return from the canyon, Cedrick chose to ignore his difort. He reached for a pack of cigarettes from the drawer, something he hadn¡¯t done in years since bing a parent. However, that night, he decided to indulge, knowing he wouldn¡¯t be seeing the kids and, therefore, wouldn¡¯t need to worry about smelling like nicotine. With his lighter in hand, he lit the cigarette and took a deep drag as if releasing the built-up stress and tension within him. As the bitter smoke filled his lungs, he coughed ufortably. His eyes reddened as he stared at the cigarette between his fingers and whispered, ¡°Darling, I broke your rules and smoked. I deserve to be punished by you. Can you see that? Please let me find you soon¡­¡± His voice choked with emotion as he finally allowed himself to let go of all the heartache he had been suppressing since losing his wife. Now alone, the man who used to stand tall in the face of adversity was sobbing, consumed by sadness. The sound of heavy rain outside masked his sobs in the office. Cedrick took a deep breath, coughing slightly, and quickly finished his cigarette before disposing of the butt in the ss ashtray. Having turned off his phone long ago to prevent Nico and Charles from reaching him, Cedrick reached into the drawer and retrieved another phone, dialing the number he had memorized by heart. However, much to his disappointment, he received the same message as before, telling him that the number he had dialed was out of service and to please try againter. The fact that Gwendolyn¡¯s phone was still switched on left Cedrick feeling even more devastated. As he grappled with the situation, the unsettling facts surrounding the incident refused to escape his mind. There were no signs of a struggle in the car, indicating that the man who got into her car was someone she knew. Furthermore, the car appeared to be in perfect condition, meaning Gwendolyn had chosen to drive off the cliff. And even in the canyon where the car hadnded, there was no trace of blood or any evidence to exin what had transpired. The rain had washed away any potential clues, leaving Cedrick haunted by the uncertainty and dangers his wife might have faced. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only As Cedrick stared at the photos captured by the surveince cameras, a sudden realization washed over him. Without wasting another moment, he got up from his desk, walked out of the office, and retrieved the phone one of the officers found in Gwendolyn¡¯s car. The phone had been severely damaged, smashed to bits. Nheless, Cedrick was not ready to give up hope. Leaving the Federal Bureau of Investigation behind, he set off to seek assistance from someone who lived in the basement, a skilled and trustworthy repairman named Owen Hirst. Handing the phone in a transparent stic bag to Owen, Cedrick asked, ¡°Can you fix this?¡± Owen put on his specialty gloves and carefully examined the shattered remains of the phone before shaking his head regretfully. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Jenson. This phone is beyond repair. Even if I manage to fix the physical parts, recovering the contents would be extremely difficult.¡± Undeterred, Cedrick rified, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to fix the phone entirely. Just put the chip back together and connect it to another disy screen so I can see the contents of the phone.¡± Understanding his request, Owen nodded confidently. ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± ¡°How long will it take for you to do it?¡± ¡°If everything goes smoothly, I¡¯d say about two days.¡± Cedrick frowned, his imposing demeanor evident as he ced a nk check on Owen¡¯s table. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you have to skip meals or burn the midnight oil, but I want it done by tomorrow afternoon.¡± Owen¡¯s eyes brightened at the sight of the nk check. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯ll survive on coffee and energy drinks tonight and get it done for you.¡± Cedrick left his contact number and departed the basement at that. Meanwhile, in theboratory¡¯s ward, Zendaya gazed out of the window, her eyes fixated on the falling raindrops. Every now and then, she would reach out, trying to catch the droplets and engaging in her yful game. Without Cedrick around, there was no one to rein in her exuberance, and the ward resounded with the infectious sound of her joyousughter. As Zendaya¡¯s joyousughter filled the ward, Benedict couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that something was amiss. Nico had returned to Harrick Vi to pack some clothes for Zendaya and Benedict as per Cedrick¡¯s request, preparing for their indefinite stay in theboratory. Currently, Charles, Benedict, and Zendaya were the only upants of the ward. Charles appeared distant, his cold demeanor leaving others unsure of what thoughts upied his mind. Benedict, sitting on the hospital bed, observed Charles coldly. ¡°How can you space out while peeling an apple, Charles? Is there anything else you can do?¡± Jolted out of his thoughts by Benedict¡¯sint, Charles identally cut his finger with the fruit knife in his surprise. He stared at his hand in shock, his expression now grave. The feeling that Cedrick was acting strangely that night lingered. It felt as if he was hiding something from him. ¡°Charles?¡± Benedict blinked and focused on the blood on Charles¡¯ finger. ¡°Your blood is all over the apple now.¡± He pouted. Charles snapped back to reality and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Benedict, however, had more pressing concerns on his mind than to hold a grudge against him. ¡°What happened to Daddy and Mommy? Why aren¡¯t they here to visit us tonight? Why won¡¯t they let us return home? Did they run into any trouble?¡± he asked curiously. Carefully tending to his injured finger with tissue papers, Charles replied, ¡°I¡¯m not too sure what happened to them, but a lot of things have been happening around Salinsburghtely. It¡¯s entirely normal for Cedrick to be too busy to care about you two.¡± Benedict fell silent as he contemted Charles¡¯ response. Meanwhile, Zendaya continued to sing and y by the window, her hands wet from the rain, yet in an incredibly joyful mood. Charles kept a watchful eye on her from a distance, concerned that she might catch a cold. He was about to get up and reason with her to leave the window sill when his phone rang. ncing at the screen, he saw that it was a call from Whitney. Chapter 768 Chapter 768 After a brief hesitation, Charles merely muted his phone, choosing neither to answer nor reject the call. Benedict, who had noticed his godfather¡¯s actions, instantly pursed his lips. ¡°Yourdy¡¯s calling you, isn¡¯t she? I can¡¯t believe you have the guts to ignore her, Charles. How did a lousy man like you even get yourself a wife?¡± Charles felt a warm blush rise to his cheeks, but unfortunately, Benedict wasn¡¯t done with his lecture. ¡°In any case, don¡¯t you think you should return her call? She will be so worried if she doesn¡¯t hear back from you. As a man, you ought to cherish and dote on your woman. Understood?¡± thetter chided, looking very authoritative with a stern expression and his arms folded. It was the first time Charles found Benedict so adorable, and he had to do everything he could to hold in hisughter. ¡°You¡¯re right, Benny. I¡¯ll send her a text,¡± he replied good-naturedly before texting Whitney about not returning to the Newton residence that night. With that done, he turned off the screen and casually set the phone on the bedside table. Meanwhile, Zendaya had gotten tired from ying by the window and rubbed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy, Uncle Charles. I want to go home,¡± the little girl mumbled wearily as she turned to look at Charles. Upon hearing that, the man hastily wrapped a tissue around the cut on his fingertip and walked to the window to carry her. ¡°Be good, Zendy. We won¡¯t be returning to Harrick Vi tonight. I¡¯ll sleep with you, okay?¡± Zendaya pouted and squirmed slightly in Charles¡¯ arms. ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy? Where¡¯s Mommy? I want to hug Mommy to sleep¡­ I can¡¯t fall asleep without her.¡± As could be seen, children were easygoing during the day, but when it came to bedtime, their stubbornness would very quickly go off the charts. No matter how much Charles coaxed and cajoled Zendaya, thetter continued to ask for Gwendolyn. ¡°It¡¯s okay if Daddy isn¡¯t here, but I want Mommy! Why can¡¯t Benny and I go home tonight?¡± she whimpered, sniffling quietly as tears rolled down her cheeks. ¡°D-Do Daddy and Mommy not want me anymore? Is that why they aren¡¯t letting me go home?¡± Needless to say, the sight of Zendaya bawling her eyes out tugged at Charles¡¯ heartstrings. Oh, dear¡­ I¡¯ve never tucked Zendy into bed before. What am I supposed to do? Left with no other option, Charles begrudgingly called Cedrick, only to realize thetter¡¯s phone was off. He quickly sent a text over, but even so, there was still no reply. Huh? What on earth is Cedrick up to? Quick-witted as ever, Zendaya eavesdropped on the phone call and turned sullen. ¡°Did Daddy turn off his phone? Does he really not want me anymore?¡± Benedict, too, wore a grim expression on his face. Neither of them had seen Gwendolyn or Cedrick the entire day, and it was beginning to feel like they had gotten abandoned. ¡°Uncle Charles, can you take me to find Mommy? I want to sleep with Mommy. I want to hear her bedtime stories¡­¡± Zendaya said stubbornly as she wiped away her tears and put on a brave front. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to do at the Federal Bureau of Investigation today, so your father can¡¯te,¡± Charles coaxed. ¡°It¡¯s pouring outside, and I don¡¯t know where he is. Besides, Salinsburgh has been pretty chaotictely. If you wander about, you might meet the bad guys who devour little kids.¡± s, Zendaya was unfazed. ¡°Hmph! If I run into those bad guys, I¡¯ll bite them! I want to join the army when I grow up. I want the strength and skills to protect Benny and Mommy!¡± Despite being secretly happy with what his sister had said, Benedict cocked his eyebrows in cold aloofness. ¡°Who needs your protection? Even if I¡¯m not physically strong, I¡¯d still be smarter than you.¡± Instead of retaliating, Zendaya clung to Charles¡¯ arm and stared at him with big, doe eyes. ¡°Uncle Charles, can you take me to look for Mommy? Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to sleep tonight¡­¡± Charles sighed and dialed Gwendolyn¡¯s number, but to his surprise, her phone was unreachable too. What the h*ll¡­ What¡¯s up with these two? Did they n this? Why else is one phone turned off and the other on airne mode? ¡°There, there, Zendy. Be good,¡± Charles said gently amid the little girl¡¯s muffled sobs. ¡°How about I read you a bedtime story tonight? What would you like to listen to? I¡¯ve never tucked you into bed before, and I¡¯d love to try it. Will you give me a chance?¡± For a moment, Zendaya felt torn and didn¡¯t know what to say. Hmm¡­ Uncle Charles would be sad if I turned him down, wouldn¡¯t he? A heavy silence fell upon the ward, making Charles even more anxious. Oh, my goodness. I don¡¯t know what to do! I might be able to coax Zendy to sleep, but what about Benny? I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll kick up a fuss too. I know Zendy listens to me, but the same can¡¯t be said for Benny¡­ Argh! There¡¯s no way I can tuck them in together. Charles was still at a loss when Nico suddenly returned to the ward with tworge suitcases. Both suitcases were filled to the brim with the children¡¯s clothes, and it seemed as if thetter had emptied their entire closets into them. He didn¡¯t know how long the warning alert wouldst, so he decided to err on the side of caution and brought the kids¡¯ fall and winter clothes. Now that Nico was around, Charles felt a load off his shoulders as the men could split the task of coaxing the children to sleep. As promised, Charles took Zendaya into an empty ward and read her a fairy tale he had found online. ¡°Just like that, the princess and the prince lived happily ever after¡­¡± As soon as the story ended, Zendaya frowned, still alert and fully awake. ¡°Uncle Charles, you read stories like you¡¯re chanting scriptures. I didn¡¯t enjoy it. What should we do now?¡± Speechless, Charles felt the corners of his lips twitching ever so slightly. Unbeknownst to him and Nico, their long, arduous night with the kids had only just begun¡­ Meanwhile, in Cedrick¡¯s office at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the man sat at the table in a cloud of smoke that made him look even more somber. R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only It was alreadyte at night, yet there was still no information on Gwendolyn¡¯s whereabouts. How, then, could he sleep? Within seconds, two cigarette butts were added to the ashtray, and it was clear that Cedrick had no intention of stopping his endeavor. He needed to keep himself awake to deal with any unexpected problems, including the safety of Gwendolyn. It had been raining since evening, and the dreadful weather showed no signs of letting up anytime soon. As Cedrick continued to listen to the falling rain, he couldn¡¯t help but think of Gwendolyn. Oh, where could she be? Is she drenched? Did anyone threaten her? I wish I had answers¡­ Knock! Knock! Knock! Just then, frantic knocks at the door rang out, and a panic-stricken Swain hurriedly entered the room. ¡°Boss! The officer keeping tabs on Mrs. Jenson¡¯s phone location said it has finallye online!¡± Cedrick instantly jumped to his feet and tossed the cigarette in his hand away. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Even though the signal¡¯s weak, we managed to ce her along Xanthon Highway on the outskirts of Salinsburgh ten minutes ago! Her phone was online then!¡± Without further ado, Cedrick strode out of his office. ¡°Get the car. We¡¯re going to Xanthon Highway.¡± At the same time, he continued calling Gwendolyn¡¯s number, only to be notified that her number was out of thework coverage area. ¡°Boss!¡± Swain eximed as he tried to stop the man. ¡°It¡¯ste, and even if we sped the entire way, it¡¯d still take us over an hour to reach Xanthon Highway. Besides, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s odd? Mrs. Jenson¡¯s car fell into the canyon about one hundred meters away from Orchidbay Tunnel, so how did she end up at Xanthon Highway in just a few hours? Who could have taken her there?¡± s, Cedrick remained resolute and continued walking. ¡°I don¡¯t want to care about that for now. Since we¡¯ve finally pinpointed her location, I¡¯ll need to check out the area myself.¡± Unable to put his mind at ease, Swain ordered a small squad and five technicals to follow along. After all, who knew what might happen? Chapter 769 Chapter 769 As the rain continued to pour, the small fleet of technicals sped down the highway. Cedrick gripped his phone nervously, still trying to get through to Gwendolyn¡¯s phone. Out of service¡­ Argh! Why is the phone still out of service? Swain showed Cedrick a screenshot of the GPS location, and thetter couldn¡¯t stop staring at the red dot on the map, wishing he could see his wife soon. ¡°Boss¡­¡± Swain uttered while driving, only to stop when he caught of glimpse of Cedrick through the rearview mirror. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Throughout the first half of the night, Mrs. Jenson¡¯s phone only went online in that one instance. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s pretty fishy? I doubt we can find any clues when we reach Xanthon Highway¡­¡± Cedrick pursed his lips in thought, and it wasn¡¯t difficult to tell from his clenched jaw that he was suppressing his anxiety. ¡°Stop spouting nonsense. Contact Xanthon¡¯s border patrol immediately. They can reach Xanthon Highway in a little over ten minutes, so have them seal off the entire road. No one, not even a bird, can leave the area.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Swain kept a hand on the steering wheel while skillfully tapping his Bluetooth headset with the other to contact the border patrol and ry Cedrick¡¯s orders. Frustratingly enough, the heavy rain showed no signs of stopping. As the fleet of vehicles neared Xanthon Highway, Cedrick nced at the darkness outside the window and discreetly smelled himself. ¡°Swain, is the cigarette smell on me obvious?¡± Swain shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ve stumped me, Boss. I¡¯m used to it since I¡¯m also a smoker. But¡­ I suppose there isn¡¯t much difference from how you smelled in the day.¡± Cedrick rolled his eyes. Ugh. Why did I even bother asking him? The technical wasrge, and apart from the cache of weapons, there was also a stash of emergency supplies. Without further ado, Cedrick opened a box and dug out a set of military fatigues. After turning off the light in the car, he quickly changed into the new set of clothes. Swain stole nces at his boss in the rearview mirror from time to time, and despite the dim lighting, he could still catch glimpses of thetter¡¯s chiseled pecs and abs. Wow¡­ Boss has such fair skin. No wonder his wife loves him so much. All of a sudden, Cedrick¡¯s deep, husky voice rang out. ¡°Have you seen enough? Do you want me to blindfold you and use you as target training tomorrow?¡± This time, he wasn¡¯t joking. All he could think of was to look for his wife, so why would he be in the mood for snappy wisecracks? Scared out of his wits, Swain quickly sat upright, retracted his gaze, and concentrated on driving. Less than five minutester, Cedrick had changed his outfit and began buttoning his shirt. Even in the car¡¯s dim interior, one could tell his eyes were bloodshot. Gwenny hates it when I smoke and likes to see me all clean and tidy. No matter how slim the chance is of finding her tonight, I must still look my best for her. Gosh. I¡¯ve only lost contact with her for a few hours, yet it feels like we¡¯ve been apart for centuries¡­ The kids are already five, but in all these years, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever felt as scared as I am tonight. Cedrick tried to suppress his fear and trepidation for the rest of the journey, and after an hour, the five technicals finally stopped in front of the roadblock sealing off Xanthon Highway. In addition, a team of police officers had also stationed themselves at the intersection. Swain hurriedly got out of the car with a ck umbre and opened the door for Cedrick, taking extra care to keep thetter out of the rain. Cedrick exited the vehicle and made a beeline for the police. ¡°Hello, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯m Kyro Jaeger, the police chief of this area. It must be hard for you to work this late into the night,¡± Kyro greeted politely. Cedrick gave a quick nod. ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you guys, too. How¡¯s the roadblocking along? How many vehicles have you had to stop?¡± ¡°This area in Xanthon is usually pretty quiet, so we don¡¯t get many cars on the highway. In the past hour, only two cars have shown up. We¡¯re currently verifying the drivers¡¯ particrs.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Cedrick replied before another thought popped up. ¡°Is the traffic surveince footage in this areaplete?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Jenson. The footage isplete. No one has tampered with that or the cameras.¡± ¡°Pull up the traffic footage from a few hours back and check for suspicious vehicles.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With that, the officer behind Kyro pushed the roadblock away to let Cedrick¡¯s technicals through. Thetter turned around to get into his car, but before closing the door, he stared at the police chief standing attentively outside. ¡°Get in.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Kyro eximed, ttered beyond words as he kept his umbre and shook off the excess water. Then, he hopped into the technical and sat opposite Cedrick. Before long, the technical cruised down the road and headed toward the standalone surveince room in the middle of the highway. Less than two minutester, Kyro received the verified information of the drivers and immediately handed the tablet to Cedrick. ¡°Please take a look, Mr. Jenson. This is the information on the two cars pulled over earlier. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any problem with the drivers¡¯ particrs.¡± Cedrick sullenly epted the tablet and skimmed through the details. Hmm¡­ Kyro¡¯s right. There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything fishy with these drivers. Their identities have been verified too. As the atmosphere in the car got increasingly tense, Kyro, who was staring nkly at Cedrick and sweating bullets, leaned in closer to Swain. ¡°What on earth happened, Chief Swain? Mr. Jenson looks terrifying¡­ I feel like he might shoot me if he had a gun.¡± For a moment, Swain was rendered speechless. Oh, gosh. Who knew holding in myughter could be this tiring? Before the man could reply, Cedrick¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°There¡¯s only so many of us in the car, and I¡¯m also not deaf. It¡¯s useless to whisper.¡± Kyro curled his toes in embarrassment and let out a sheepish chuckle. ¡°I know you¡¯re meticulous and stern when working, Mr. Jenson. It¡¯s my first meeting someone as revered as you, so I can¡¯t help but feel a little nervous¡­¡± Cedrick, however, remained devoid of expression as he handed the tablet back to Kyro. He was in no mood for the police chief¡¯s bootlicking, especially when he was ovee with sadness. Both drivers of the cars had their information checked and verified, yet there¡¯s still no sign of my wife. I already knew the chances were slim, but I refused to lose hope. I have to check the scene out myself! ¡°Take me to the surveince room. I want to check tonight¡¯s traffic footage.¡± ¡°Sure, Mr. Jenson.¡± Thankfully, Kyro had already ordered his subordinates beforehand, so when they arrived at the surveince room, one of the officers pulled up the saved video footage from a few hours ago for Cedrick to watch. Since the highway had a traffic camera monitoring in real-time every two or three kilometers, eight surveince videos were projected onto the screen and fast-forwarded at twenty times the speed. For a long while, no one dared say a word to break Cedrick¡¯s concentration as they stared silently at the surveince. Although Kyro didn¡¯t know what was happening, he, too, knew better than to question the man¡¯s actions. After all, who was he to disobey the boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation? Cedrick powered through the video and watched hours of traffic footage in less than ten minutes. All of a sudden, a glint shed across his eye. ¡°Wait. Rewind it.¡± The subordinate promptly hit the rewind button. ¡°Rewind it till ten forty-six.¡± Again, the subordinate did as he was told. ¡°Erge the screens of numbers six and eight.¡± Observant as always, Cedrickpared both footage side-by-side and quickly noticed something was amiss. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t take long for Swain to catch on to it. ¡°Wait a minute¡­ There¡¯s something wrong with this ck sedan. The highway¡¯s almost empty at night, and the car¡¯s driving at eighty kilometers per hour. Cameras six and eight are two kilometers apart, and there¡¯s a blind spot in the middle. If the ck sedan had maintained its speed, it should have only taken less than two minutes from one camera to the other. However, it stopped in the blind spot for ten whole minutes!¡± R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only This is all very suspicious, indeed! Besides, the person seems pretty familiar with the blind spots in the area. We might not have noticed the ten-minute difference if it weren¡¯t for Mr. Jenson¡¯s sharp eyes. ¡°Check the license te information of this ck sedan!¡± Cedrick said somberly. ¡°I want a detailed report tonight!¡± Chapter 770 Chapter 770 There was pin-drop silence in the surveince room as everyone waited for an update. Nobody dared say a word when they felt the intimidating aura that Cedrick exuded. Cedrick had an icy-cold look in his eyes as he red at the screen. The time Swain managed to track the GPS signal from Gwendolyn¡¯s phone was exactly when the car stopped outside the surveince camera¡¯s field of view. That was way too much of a coincidence. However, that car had left the moment they decided to head toward Xanthon Highway. Cedrick could only watch as the car, which Gwendolyn could be in, disappeared from sight. ¡°Mr. Jenson! Chief Jaeger! Chief Swain! We¡¯ve discovered something!¡± said a police officer dressed in a raincoat as he came running in through the door. He then quickly took his raincoat off and retrieved a piece of evidence that he had kept safely inside his pocket. ¡°Mr. Jenson, this is what we managed to find on the highway after searching the blind spots of the two surveince cameras. It was found at a very obvious spot, so I¡¯m not sure how useful it will be,¡± the police officer continued while handing it over to Cedrick. Cedrick¡¯s expression slid into a frown as he took the phone over and saw that it had Gwendolyn¡¯s favorite phone case on it. ¡°Boss, that¡¯s Mrs. Jenson¡¯s phone!¡± Swain eximed in shock. Cedrick stared at the screen of the phone in silence as he unlocked it. Apparently, it had been formatted and put on flight mode, which was why their calls couldn¡¯t get through. In the phone¡¯s memo, he saw a sentence that read: It looks like your wife really is your weakness, Cedrick! Each word sounded incredibly menacing and threatening. Swain gasped anxiously from the side. ¡°It looks like they really are holding Mrs. Jenson captive!¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes reddened with hatred and rage as he red at the memo on the phone. His body exuded a terrifying aura as his veins bulged underneath his skin. Kyro was so intimidated that he didn¡¯t dare say a word. His face turned pale when he received another message on his tablet shortly after. ¡°M-Mr. Jenson, we have received the report on the car. The license te is fake, and the same goes for all of its registered information¡­¡± he said hesitantly. Cedrick clenched his fist tightly as he ordered, ¡°Continue investigating it! Check the footage from all surveince cameras in the city! I want to know where the car was headed!¡± He then handed Gwendolyn¡¯s phone over to Swain and continued, ¡°Bring this back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and have the technicians restore its data from before it was formatted. I want to check the call log.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Swain replied as he whipped out a clear stic bag and carefully ced the phone inside. Just like that, everyone ran off to carry out their respective orders. It was still rainingte at night. Cedrick absent-mindedly walked back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. With his wife¡¯s whereabouts still unknown, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to go home and face the questioning from the two kids. It looks like your wife really is your weakness, Cedrick! The sentence from the memo kept reying itself in his head. He was so stressed out that he could barely breathe as he slumped tiredly against his chair. My weakness, huh? Gwenny is my life! It took me almost everything just to get her to turn back once! As feelings of guilt and self-me filled his heart, Cedrick retrieved the box of cigarettes from his drawer, switched off the lights in his office, and began puffing away in the dark. The ember looked particrly bright in the darkness of the office and would intensify from time to time. Meanwhile, Charles was reading Zendaya a story in theboratory. Due to his poor storytelling skills, however, Zendayained that he sounded really boring. As a result, he had to keep reading on for a really long time before she fell asleep. Charles was suddenly woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of someone crying. He nced about and saw Zendaya sobbing at the edge of the bed. It pained Charles to see that her eyes had turned red from all that crying. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Zendy? Did you have a nightmare?¡± he asked while giving her aforting hug. Zendaya grabbed hold of his muscr arms and buried her face in his chest. ¡°I-I dreamt of Mommy¡­ She was injured and didn¡¯t want us anymore¡­¡± Zendaya mumbled incoherently while sobbing, but Charles was able to figure out what she said. ¡°There, there¡­ Your mommy won¡¯t abandon you two, and your daddy and I will protect her. It was just a nightmare, Zendy. Dreams aren¡¯t real,¡± he said in a soft voice while gently patting her on the back. Zendaya used his shirt to wipe her tears and snot as she continued, ¡°I miss Mommy, Uncle Charles! Could you bring me to see her? I want Mommy to tuck me in!¡± Charles fell silent when he heard that. Seeing as she was crying so much that she started hupping, Charles had no choice but to call Cedrick. He tried calling a few times more when the first attempt was unsessful, but all he heard was the automated message stating that Cedrick¡¯s phone was switched off. That was when Charles had a feeling that something wasn¡¯t quite right. If Cedrick was worried that the mastermind behind the mass murder at the Cloud residence would target the two kids, then all he had to do was have a few armed technicals escort them back to the Jenson residence. However, Cedrick ordered Nico to pack the kids¡¯ clothes and had them spend a few days at the laboratory instead. Charles couldn¡¯t help but find Cedrick¡¯s behavior and his order incredibly strange. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep, Uncle Charles! I want Mommy to kiss me and hug me!¡± Zendaya sobbed while tugging at Charles¡¯ arm, snapping him out of his train of thought. He retrieved a paper towel from the nightstand and wiped her tears dry as he whispered, ¡°Stop crying, Zendy. I¡¯ll take you to look for your mommy tomorrow if you be a good girl and go to bed.¡± Zendaya wasn¡¯t buying it, though. ¡°I won¡¯t sleep until I see Mommy! If you want to watch me stay up all night, then so be it!¡± Charles had a little furrow between his eyebrows when he heard that. For the first time ever, he got a little angry with Zendaya. The temperature was rather low due to the heavy rain outside, and Charles couldn¡¯t get through to both Cedrick and Gwendolyn. He then flipped Zendaya onto her tummy and held her firmly against his thigh as he raised his hand. ¡°Kids get spanked if they don¡¯t behave themselves, Zendy. I¡¯ve never hit you before, but I will if you don¡¯t cut this out right now!¡± he said while raising his hand threateningly. Zendaya was so scared that she curled her toes and sobbed, ¡°Oh, no! You¡¯ve be just as mean as Daddy, Uncle Charles! Mommy doesn¡¯t want me anymore, and now, you don¡¯t want me anymore, either! I¡¯ve got no one left!¡± Whatever feelings of anger Charles had was gone in an instant when he heard that. Zendaya looked just like Gwendolyn when she was little, so he couldn¡¯t even bring himself to raise his voice at her, let alone hit her. Since threatening her didn¡¯t work, he had no choice but to carry Zendaya into the next ward and see if they could obtain any useful information. There was a faint light shining through the crack in the doorway of Benedict¡¯s ward. Are they still awake as well? Chapter 771 Chapter 771 Charles opened the door and saw Nico and Benedict staring each other down with their arms crossed. It looked as though the two just had a fight as well. Charles felt a little better when he saw that Nico wasn¡¯t having it any easier. With a calm look on his face, he carried Zendaya into the ward and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here? What¡¯s with this tension in the air? Also, why are you two still awake at this hour?¡± Both Nico and Benedict turned around and shot Charles a hostile re. ¡°Shut up! You¡¯re still awake, too!¡± they snapped at him in unison. Nico then shifted his gaze back toward Benedict and remained silent while trying to suppress his anger. Benedict let out a defiant snort and eximed, ¡°What are you, Uncle Nico, and Daddy doing? Why leave me and Zendy at theboratory? Is it because Daddy and Mommy want to spend some time together? Is that why they¡¯re leaving us behind?¡± Nico was on the verge of fainting from anger at that point. F*ck! Why won¡¯t Benny just listen to reason? As he red at Benedict, who was curled up in his nket on the bed, he found himself at a loss for words. After the two had been arguing all night, Nico realized that Benedict¡¯s statements were far more logical and persuasive than his. Zendaya struggled in Charles¡¯ arms and motioned at him to put her down on Benedict¡¯s bed. Charles understood what she wanted and helped get her shoes off before gently putting her down on the bed. Zendaya then threw herself at Benedict and wailed, ¡°I had a bad dream earlier, Benny! I dreamt that Mommy got injured and didn¡¯t want us anymore!¡± Benedict¡¯s face grew pale as he listened to the details of her nightmare. Feeling ufortable due to his sickness, he pressed his hand firmly against his chest as he replied, ¡°I had the same dream when I slept for half an hour earlier¡­¡± Nico and Charles exchanged surprised nces when they heard that. They say children are connected to their mother by blood. I-Is that theory actually true? Could something terrible have happened to Gwendolyn? Both the men had solemn looks on their faces as they stood there on the side. Benedict¡¯s face grew increasingly pale as he struggled to breathe. Noticing that his condition was worsening, Charles quickly gave Joshua a call. Nico patted Benedict on the back in an attempt to help relieve his pain. Zendaya wanted to help out as well, but she didn¡¯t know what she could do, so she simply stomped her feet in frustration. Since it waste at night, all the professors had gone home by then. Joshua was probably fast asleep with his phone on silent as he didn¡¯t answer Charles¡¯ calls. Charles got incredibly anxious when he saw that Benedict¡¯s condition showed no signs of improvement. ¡°I¡¯ll call an ambnce and get him to the hospital!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to go to a hospital,¡± Benedict protested. He then gritted his teeth and endured the pain as he continued, ¡°Ordinary hospitals can¡¯t treat me. Go and get Mr. Eugene instead. He¡¯s staying in room 304 in the office building next to us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go and get him right away!¡± Charles replied and ran out of there as quickly as his legs could carry him. He then returned in less than two minutes with Eugene in tow. Eugene was feeling annoyed at first, but the sight of Benedict in severe pain snapped him out of it. He then quickly grew serious and stepped forward to check Benedict¡¯s pulse. ¡°His body has always been in poor condition because his heart isn¡¯t able to pump enough blood, so he cannot withstand stress. What did you guys say to him? How did he end up like this?¡± Charles and Nico exchanged nces and lowered their heads in silence. Eugene rolled his eyes at them before retrieving the equipment for Benedict¡¯s IV drip. He returned shortly after with the tray and IV drip, but Benedict refused to let him administer it. ¡°Take me to either my daddy or my mommy. Otherwise, I¡¯d rather die from the pain than receive a transfusion!¡± he said while ring at Nico. Thetter tensed up and shed him a conflicted look as he recalled Cedrick¡¯s orders. ¡°It¡¯s raining outside, and your body is very weak right now. What if you end up catching a cold? Also, it¡¯s very chaotic in Salinsburghtely, so your dad needs to stay up all night just to get his work done. He left you two here in this safeboratory because he feared he wouldn¡¯t be able to look after you two. Now, will you please be a good boy and listen to me, Benny?¡± Benedict shook his head stubbornly, much to Nico¡¯s dismay. ¡°I won¡¯t receive a transfusion unless you take me to my parents!¡± Eugene clicked his tongue and said, ¡°There¡¯s no way a five-year-old child would be able to sleep well after being left here by his parents.¡± Nico and Charles fell silent at the same time. Eugene added, ¡°Even if their father is busy at work, you could bring the kids over and not disturb him at work. That way, the children would feel more at ease. What problems could arise from that?¡± Meanwhile, Benedict clenched his fists tightly, his arm muscles tightening. He was adamant about not receiving his treatment. Eventually, Nico gave in and said, ¡°All right, all right¡­ I¡¯ll take you two to your parents once you¡¯re done with your transfusion.¡± Feeling happy after getting what they wanted, the two kids sat down obediently on the bed. Zendaya remained silent as she kept Benedictpany by his side. Eager to see their parents, Benedict had Eugene increase the speed of the IV drip. This was the first time the two kids had been without their parents, so they wanted nothing more than to see them. About an hourter, Cedrick heard a knock on the door of his office. Nico then opened the door slightly and nced about as he asked, ¡°Hey, Cedrick! Are you here?¡± Huh? Is no one here? I asked the police officer on duty when I arrived, and he told me that Cedrick hadn¡¯t left his office after returning earlier, so he should be in here¡­ With that in mind, Nico asked a little louder, ¡°Cedrick?¡± The next thing he knew, the lights in Cedrick¡¯s office came on all of a sudden. After taking a second to recover from the shock, Nico squinted his eyes to adjust to the sudden increase in brightness and saw Cedrick seated at his desk. His handsome face looked incredibly weary, and his office was filled with a sense of dread. It pained Nico to see that Cedrick¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. ¡°Have you been drinking, Cedrick?¡± He gasped in shock when he saw six cigarette butts on Cedrick¡¯s desk. ¡°I thought you quit smoking, Cedrick! Why did you end up smoking so much? Did something happen?¡± Cedrick remained silent and continued pouring himself another ss of wine. His face looked slightly red as he was under the influence of alcohol. ¡°What are you doing here? Didn¡¯t I tell you to look after Benny and Zendy at theboratory?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Benny and Zendy were getting a little out of hand. They insisted on seeing you. Charles and I tried calling you on your phone, but it was switched off, so we had no choice but to bring them over¡­¡± Nico replied with an awkward expression. Cedrick froze when he heard that. ¡°Benny and Zendy are here?¡± ¡°Yes! They¡¯re in the hallway. I had Charles watch over them while I checked if you were in your office,¡± Nico replied while pointing outside the door. Zendaya¡¯s clear voice could be heard from the hallway outside. ¡°Are Daddy and Mommy in there? Here Ie!¡± Nico turned around to nce at Zendaya before shifting his gaze back toward Cedrick¡¯s office. The next thing Nico knew, Cedrick had run up to the door and shoved him out of his office. Bam! Nico watched in shock and confusion as Cedrick mmed the door shut in his face. What happened to Cedrick? Why did he respond so aggressively? It¡¯s almost as though he did something wrong and didn¡¯t want anyone to find out! After staring nkly at the door for about two minutes, Nico knocked on the door again and asked, ¡°Hey, Cedrick! Are you going to see them or not?¡± Benny and Zendy are already here! He¡¯s not going to just shut them out, is he? A few minutester, Cedrick opened the door from the inside. His short hair was slightly wet, and he had also changed into a casual outfit. Even the wine bottle and ashtray on the table were nowhere to be seen. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. In just six minutes, he had removed the smell of cigarette smoke from his body and used some air freshener to mask the odor in his office. Nico was so shocked by what he saw that his jaw dropped on the spot. Cedrick narrowed his eyes and shot Nico a displeased re as he said, ¡°Say that again, Nico. I dare you!¡± Huh? What is he even talking about? I don¡¯t get it at all! Chapter 772 Chapter 772 ¡°Cedrick, I¡­¡± Nico, looking pale, wanted to exin the situation, but Cedrick simply walked past the former and walked out of the door. Meanwhile, Charles remained standing in the corridor not far away, his blue eyes fixed on Cedrick wistfully. There were two children with Charles¡ªone by his side and one in his arms. It was strangely a pleasant sight. Benedict trotted forward, opened his arms wide, and fixed his ssy eyes on his father as a silent request for a hug. As if reading his son¡¯s mind, Cedrick bent forward and gently lifted the former into his arms, letting his son sit on his arm. Even when Cedrick managed to take a quick shower, Benedict could still detect the smell of smoke and alcohol on the former, thanks to the sensitive nose he acquired from his prolonged sickness. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re naughty. You know I can¡¯t stand the smell of smoke. Still, you secretly drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes in the office. If Mommy finds out about this, she¡¯ll definitely punish you.¡± Cedrick forced a faint smile to hide the anguish in his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t smoke again, and I won¡¯t make Gwenny angry. Let¡¯s head into the office first. It¡¯s cold out here in the corridor.¡± With that, Cedrick carried his son into the office, with Charles and Nico following them. As soon as they entered the office, Zendaya quickly scanned the room, only to end up frowning. ¡°Daddy, where¡¯s Mommy? Uncle Charles says Mommy was keeping youpany when you worked overtime. Why isn¡¯t Mommy here?¡± The smile on Cedrick¡¯s face froze, his gaze lowered as he came up with an excuse. ¡°Your mommy has gone back to the Harris residence on Mount Tranquil. Something urgent happened in the family, and she needs to take care of it.¡± Benedict, who was still in Cedrick¡¯s arms, asked, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you go with Mommy? You wanted to follow her everywhere in the past.¡± With a tensed jaw, Cedrick exined awkwardly, ¡°That¡¯s because I have an urgent matter to take care of at work, too. I had no choice but to work overtime. I¡¯ll pick her uptest by tomorrow or maybe the day after tomorrow.¡± Both Nico and Charles had grave expressions. They realized something was not right with Cedrick, but they did not expose him in front of the children. Benedict lowered his gaze, looking a little disappointed. ¡°Daddy, I feel uneasy when I don¡¯t get to see Mommy.¡± The boy clutched his chest and nced at Cedrick gloomily. For some reason, Cedrick felt an ache in his heart, and his face paled. He could not bring himself to say a word. Just then, Zendaya asked to be put down on the ground and trotted to Cedrick¡¯s side, hugging the latter¡¯s thighs. ¡°Daddy, I miss Mommy. I can¡¯t sleep without Mommy.¡± The children¡¯s persistent requests put Cedrick in a tough spot, but he did not show his emotions. Instead, he frowned and pretended to be angry by acting as if he was going to put Benedict down. ¡°I said; Gwenny¡¯s busy. You two are five years old already. Why are you still so disobedient and insistent on being with her? And how dare you ask for her when you¡¯re in my arms? Go on, then. Go look for her.¡± Worried Cedrick would actually put him down, Benedict hugged the former tighter and rested his head weakly on the former¡¯s sturdy shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Daddy. I¡¯m feeling tired after getting an IV.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Usually, when Gwendolyn was around, the two children would think of ways to shun Cedrick and hog their mother. Now that their mother was not home that night, Cedrick was their next best candidate to cling to. In fact, Cedrick was the person they trusted the mostpared to Nico and Charles. Breathing weakly in Cedrick¡¯s arms, Benedict said softly, ¡°Daddy, Zendaya and I had a dream tonight. We dreamt Mommy got hurt and didn¡¯t want us anymore. It¡¯s not true, right?¡± Cedrick paled further, and he suppressed the agony in his heart. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not true,¡± he responded casually before bending forward to pick Zendaya up. While holding back the tears welling in his reddened eyes, he hugged them tightly and rubbed his forehead against theirs tofort them. ¡°Nico, get two nkets from the cab.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With that, Cedrick strode over to the couch and sat down on it, cing the children each beside him. When they were tucked safely under the nkets, theyy on his thighs and fell asleep. They seemed to be exhausted. In fact, they behaved really well now that they had their father with them. Cedrick had a gentle expression as he stroked their heads and backs from time to time. It was to help them sleep better. After a long night, the two soon drifted off to sleep to their father¡¯s familiar scent. Nico and Charles were slightly taken aback as they watched the trio in silence. That was because Nico never expected the children who were throwing a tantrum earlier to behave so well in Cedrick¡¯s presence. Is this what they call suppression from someone who shares their blood? Charles watched the sleeping Zendaya in silence for some time before saying, ¡°You¡¯re going a great job as a father.¡± The fact that the children trusted Cedrick showed how great of a job he had been doing in taking care of them for the past few years. ¡°Where¡¯s Gwen, though? I know everything you said earlier was a lie. I want to know the truth,¡± demanded Charles. Still gazing at the sleeping children beside him, Cedrick said calmly and softly, ¡°Since you guys have come here, I shall not keep it from you. I don¡¯t have ns on doing that either. There are some documents in the desk¡¯s drawer. You¡¯ll understand everything when you see it.¡± Charles was about to get to his feet, but Nico was already one step ahead of him. Thetter did not want him to touch anything on Cedrick¡¯s office desk. Nico was too shocked to speak by the time he finished reading the document. Even Charles¡¯ expression turned grim. Clenching his teeth, he said, ¡°Cedrick, Gwen¡¯s been missing for twelve hours since noon. How are you still in the mood to drink and smoke in the office? Is this how you should be handling it?¡± Without lifting his gaze, Cedrick hushed the man. ¡°Not so loud. The kids are asleep. I¡¯ll kick you out tomorrow if you wake them up.¡± Of course, Charles knew he should not be overreacting in front of the children. Hence, he took a deep breath and asked softly, ¡°What are you nning to do now?¡± ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Wait?¡± Charles stared at Cedrick in disbelief. ¡°The person behind this is obviously making a move on her because of you. Sure, you hold an important position in Salinsburgh, but you¡¯ve also made many enemies along the way. You¡¯re the one who failed to protect her. What if she gets hurt if you keep waiting like this?¡± Charles believed there was a special bond between mothers and their children. Benny and Zendy had already woken up from a bad dream about Gwen getting hurt. I don¡¯t believe their dreams were just dreams. Maybe¡­ Maybe Gwendolyn¡¯s already injured. Those guys are crazy. There¡¯s nothing they wouldn¡¯t dare to do when they already dared to make a move on Chanaea¡¯s wealthiest man. Having a broken limb is nothing, but what if Gwen got injected with poison or dies? What do we do? The more Charles thought about it, the more unsettled he became. His eyes grew red with rage¡ªa sign of being on the verge of losing control of his emotions. Even his hands that held the documents were trembling with rage. Right then, Cedrick lifted his head and cast Charles a mocking gaze. ¡°Get yourself together, Charles. Have you forgotten that you¡¯re already in a rtionship? You¡¯re right. It¡¯s my mistake this time. I failed to protect her, but are you sure you can do it better than me?¡± Charles¡¯plexion grew paler. For the past few years, Charles noticed how great Cedrick and Gwendolyn had been together. Not only did Cedrick take good care of his wife and children, but he also managed to perform well at work and even take care of the family chores. Charles knew he could not do any better than Cedrick. On top of that, the number of enemies Charles had in the business world was nowhere lesser than Cedrick¡¯s. More importantly, he was not as influential as Cedrick. It would have been impossible for Charles to acquire the documents. Feeling dejected, Charles kept silent. Right then, Nico said sternly, ¡°This is not the time to get mad at each other. The more urgent task at hand is to find a way to save her. Cedrick, please tell us your ns. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have more ideas if we brainstorm.¡± Chapter 773 Chapter 773 Cedrick lowered his gaze and stroked his son¡¯s head while saying seriously, ¡°Keep Gwenny¡¯s disappearance a secret for now. I don¡¯t want it to cause panic in Salinsburgh. Besides, I¡¯ve arranged for Swain to conduct aprehensive investigation on this matter. So far, there are two phones found, and their data are getting recovered. We¡¯ll be getting some results tomorrow.¡± Even though he was feeling conflicted, he still did a great job in nning all of that. Charles listened silently and mulled over it before saying, ¡°So you¡¯re nning to wait until tomorrow morning? For the results?¡± Cedrick said nothing, but his silence was a tacit agreement to Charles¡¯ words. It had been a long night, and investigation results needed time to be produced. Not to mention the other party had many tricks up their sleeves and were familiar with Salinsburgh. They could hide themselves perfectly without making any mistakes. Waiting was all he could do. Charles¡¯ expression grew more solemn when he saw Cedrick falling silent. The paper in his hands was getting crumpled as he endured his emotions in silence. He could not remain there without doing anything when there was a possibility of Gwendolyn already hurt. Charles was not as patient as Cedrick. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. At that, Charles stood up, put down the report, and turned around to leave. Puzzled by Charles¡¯ sudden actions, Nico called out, ¡°Charles! It¡¯s midnight, and there isn¡¯t much that can be done. What are you trying to do?¡± Charles halted and said in a determined tone without turning around, ¡°To have one more person involved means we¡¯ll have one more solution. Since Cedrick wants to investigate the matterwfully, I¡¯ll do it the other way.¡± With that, he marched out of the room, leaving the door to close behind him with a thud. Just like that, the office fell intoplete silence. Cedrick focused on watching over the children, his gaze dark and inscrutable. Although Cedrick did not me himself in public, Nico, who had been working with the former for over ten years, knew him well to understand what he was feeling. Having no intent of exposing his superior, Nico got up, straightened his clothes, and said seriously, ¡°Cedrick, you¡¯ve had a long night and have been drinking. You should get some rest and not burn yourself out. You¡¯re still needed to take care of the children. I¡¯ll go look for Swain and work with him to speed up the investigation.¡± Cedrick merely pursed his lips and nodded in response, suppressing the overwhelming despondency he was feeling. Soon, the next day arrived. Cedrick had only gotten two hours of sleep because Benedict had to be taken to theboratory for his IV therapy. Hence, he helped the children wash up on time. When they were ready, Cedrick got a police officer to deliver breakfast from the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s cafeteria and then fed the children patiently. However, Zendaya had only taken two sips of the soy milk when she frowned and stuck her tongue out. ¡°Daddy, the food here is horrible. I still like your cooking better.¡± s, thements only fell on deaf ears. Cedrick ate his food as if he was on autopilot; he had not registered a single word Zendaya said. ¡°Daddy?¡± Zendaya called out, her head tilted in confusion. Just then, Benedict stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t be picky. You¡¯re lucky to have food to eat. Didn¡¯t you hear what Daddy saidst night? Mommy and Daddy will be busy for the next few days, and they won¡¯t be avable to take care of us. Let¡¯s be more sensible and not give Daddy any more trouble.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Okay.¡± Zendaya pouted unhappily and picked up her fork to continue eating. From then on, she did not comment about the food. Not sleeping well the whole night had given Cedrick a terribleplexion and obvious dark circles under his eyes. The sight made Benedict feel bad, so he gave his father his fried egg. ¡°Daddy, I don¡¯t feel like eating eggs. The IV drips messed up my appetite. I only feel like drinking water now. Can you help me eat it?¡± Snapping back to reality, Cedrick patted his son¡¯s head and asked, ¡°Are you feeling unwell? Do you feel nauseous?¡± Benedict shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I just can¡¯t eat the egg because of the smell, but I don¡¯t want to waste it. You should eat more.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cedrick smiled and ate the egg he got from Benedict. After breakfast, Cedrick brought the children to theb. ¡°Zendy, I¡¯ve applied for a few days of leave for you at your kindergarten. Could you keep Benny company at theb for the next few days?¡± Zendaya, who sat obediently in the high chair, bobbed her head. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll take care of Benny.¡± Once they entered the ward, Joshua entered with a medical tray to give Benedict the IV fluids. Meanwhile, Zendaya sat beside the bed, reading her storybook. Cedrick, too, stood by the bed, but his mind soon wandered off as he watched his son get his fluids. As if reading the man¡¯s mind, Benedict looked up and said decisively, ¡°Daddy, I¡¯ll be fine with Zendy here. You still have a lot of work, right? You can go. I¡¯ll take good care of Zendy and me. We¡¯ll stay here and not make you worry.¡± The boy was only five years old, yet he was thoughtful and great at studying a person¡¯s expression. Cedrick could not be prouder of his son, and he bent forward to nt a kiss on the former¡¯s forehead. ¡°Be a good boy, Benny. I¡¯lle over at night.¡± Smiling, Benedict waved at the man. ¡°Go on. I¡¯ll wait for you tonight.¡± Right then, Zendaya put down her storybook and pointed at her face, saying, ¡°Daddy, I want a kiss on the cheek, too.¡± Of course, Cedrick walked over and kissed her gently on the cheek. To his surprise, the little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and forcefully nted a few kisses on his face. ¡°I know you¡¯re busy with work. I¡¯ll be a good girl and do my best not to cause you any trouble.¡± Although it did not sound exactly promising, it was not easy for a troublemaker like her to make such a promise. The children¡¯s reassurance filled Cedrick¡¯s heart with warmth. Even tears began to well in his eyes. Holding back his tears, Cedrick gave a few reminders calmly and got up to leave. Joshua, too, walked out with Cedrick. When they were out of earshot, thetter said softly, ¡°I really don¡¯t have extra energy to spare these days. Please watch the kids for me when I¡¯m not around.¡± Ever since Charles found out that Gwendolyn was missing, he, too, disappeared. There was no news from him, nor did he return to the Newton residence. On the other hand, Nico, Neville, and Swain had been busy working on a huge case in Salinsburgh. Hence, Joshua was the only person Cedrick could rely on to take care of the children. Joshua promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cedrick. I¡¯ve just finished medical research, so I¡¯ll be free for a few days. You can leave Benny and Zendy to me. I¡¯ll take good care of them.¡± Now that he had his friend¡¯s promise, Cedrick patted the former firmly on the shoulder and drove to the Federal Bureau of Investigation without wasting another second. In the ward, Benedict had turned his head to look at the leaves rustling outside the window; his childish features tensed to form a stern expression like Cedrick¡¯s. Before he dozed off to sleep the previous night, he vaguely heard the conversation between Cedrick, Charles, and Nico. That was when he found out that his mother had gone missing and that her absence from the Harris residence was not because of her busy schedule. Benedict knew how upset Cedrick was feeling at the moment, so he did not want to drag thetter down. I need to let Daddy carry out the investigation without worrying about anything else. That way, he¡¯ll find Mommy sooner. Meanwhile, Zendaya sat at the foot of the bed, focused on reading a storybook. There was an innocent look on her face as if nothing concerned her other than having fun. Just then, Benedict took an orange from the table and offered it to her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the breakfast was horrible? This is sweet. You¡¯ll be full after having some.¡± After leaving theb, Cedrick sped off to look for Owen, the repairman. At the same time, Owen was focused on repairing the phone Cedrick brought to him. In fact, it was almost done. There were a few steps left until Owen could try turning on the device. Hence, Cedrick sat patiently in the corner for ten minutes so the man could focus on his job. ¡°Mr. Jenson, it¡¯s done.¡± Owen handed over the phone he managed to piece together with a look of pride. ¡°It¡¯s quite damaged, but fortunately, the data chip is intact. I changed the screen and some hardware. It can¡¯t be restored completely, but you can still browse the original information on the phone.¡± Immediately, Cedrick took the phone and opened the contacts list. Fortunately, thetest call log was retained. What caught Cedrick¡¯s attention was the suspicious call log between the phone¡¯s owner and two seemingly in unknown numbers. The calls were not frequent, but they alwayssted for more than five minutes. Chapter 774 Chapter 774 After jotting down the two series of numbers, Cedrick kept the repaired phone and ced a bank card on the table. ¡°This is yourpensation. You know the rules; keep this matter to yourself.¡± He sounded so icy that there was not a hint of emotion in his voice. Owen nodded anxiously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Jenson. I understand.¡± After retrieving the phone, Cedrick made his way back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation swiftly. It had been over twenty hours since Gwendolyn went missing. As Harris Group needed to operate per usual, Cedrick had called its personal assistant, instructing to have all schedules and contract-signing events postponed. To avoid causing a buzz, he told the Harris family nothing about this incident, instead focusing on investigations. After running a check on the two unsaved phone numbers, the man learned that they belonged to real people and came from a hospital overseas. The numbers belonged to a female doctor whom the owner of the phone had contacted. While this didn¡¯t seem to help much, Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but feel dubious about the two overseas numbers. Nico and Swain made progress by noon. After going through every road¡¯s surveince footage, they saw that the ck vehicle hadst appeared on a market street in a certain small town called Quawak. There were little to no surveince cameras in that rural area, so the Federal Bureau of Investigation could only secure a vague location of the car. Furthermore, there was no footage of the vehicle leaving the town. Cedrick used a red marker to circle Quawak on the map, then instructed, ¡°Nico, get Team Four ready to come with me to Quawak. Also, tell the reserve police in this area to seal off all of Quawak¡¯s roads by today.¡± Nico appeared stumped. ¡°I¡¯ll go instead. Quawak¡¯s pretty far from Salinsburgh, so it¡¯ll take a long time to get there ande back. If you were to go there personally, you wouldn¡¯t make it back to theb in time to keep Benny and Zendypany. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d be able to handle them by myself.¡± Cedrick had to find his wife while watching over his children. After a brief pause, he eventually settled with his prior decision anyway. ¡°I¡¯ll go. If I don¡¯t get back in time, help me look after the kids. I¡¯lle back as soon as I can,¡± he stated adamantly, showing no room for resistance. Aware that he couldn¡¯t convince the man otherwise, Nico said nothing more and did as told so thetter could leave and return sooner. It was a hectic day for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Neville busied himself with investigations before he could even see to the tragic case of the Cloud family¡¯s annihtion. Due to what had happened to the Clouds, all the upper-ss households in Salinsburgh were now on high alert, worried about being the next possible target. The skies remained dark after the rain, making the entire city look gloomy. Over ten hourster, Cedrick got into his car. His trip had beenpletely futile. Despite the whole town having been closed off, the suspect had managed to slip away. The more we try to go after them, the more they seem to vanish. We couldn¡¯t even find that ck car fromst night. They had failed to make any progress from this nket search, and whatever new intel they had received earlier was of no use. Cedrick gazed out at the dark sky and turned to his watch. It¡¯ll be past eleven by the time I get back. How is Nico handling the kids? He cast his worries aside and began to analyze all the results of their investigations from the past two days, along with how their target had been eluding them. Not even a repeat offender would ever know the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s methods¡ªor Cedrick¡¯s, for that matter¡ªso well. Yet, this person seemed to understand the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cedrick like the back of his or her hand. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. At this point, Cedrick couldn¡¯t help but remember his oldrade on the run¡ªJoe Landon. The suspicions in his heart only grew stronger. It was midnight when Cedrick finally arrived back at theboratory. His longshes unable to conceal the tiredness in his eyes, the man pushed the door open and heard no sounds ofughter. Instead, he was met with silence and a dimly lit bedsidemp. Nico sat next to the bed, watching over the children while on the verge of dozing off. Benedict and Zendayay in bed, seemingly having fallen asleep long ago. Cedrick was surprised. ¡°You actually managed to get them to sleep? Unbelievable,¡± he whispered. Nico shook his head in slight embarrassment. ¡°You overestimate me. I really have to give it to them for behaving so well tonight, though. Zendy threw such a huge fit at first, but after Benny started acting like Gwendolyn and read Zendy a story, the girl actually fell asleep. Then, he went to bed with her without me having to talk him into it.¡± Cedrick was taken aback upon hearing that. Benny actually took up the role of a parent and helped put Zendy to sleep while I wasn¡¯t around? Thanks to the little boy, a sense of relief washed over him after a long day of feeling unsettled. ¡°You must be tired, Cedrick. Get some rest in the room next door. I¡¯ll watch over Benny and Zendy,¡± Nico offered. Yet, Cedrick walked over slowly, pulled up a chair, and sat at the bedside. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll stay here. Summer must be waiting for you at home, so you should go. I don¡¯t want to bother your quiet time with your wife.¡± Nico lowered his head in shame at the thought of Summer sitting anxiously on the couch waiting for him. ¡°In that case¡­ have a good rest. I¡¯lle back tomorrow morning.¡± Cedrick nodded. Suddenly remembering that Zendaya onceined about the breakfast here at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he added, ¡°Have Summer make two sets of breakfast. A child¡¯s portion will do. Don¡¯t add any peppers to Zendy¡¯s food.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± As soon as Nico left, Cedrick leaned closer to the bed and hovered over the children to kiss their foreheads. Benedict rubbed his eyes and blinked before clinging to his father¡¯s arm. ¡°You¡¯ve been working so hard, Daddy,¡± he muttered in a half-awake state. Cedrick froze for a long while. Whenever the family of four slept together, Benedict would never cling to him like this. Was the little boy finally leaning on him after not seeing Gwendolyn for two days? Cedrick caressed his son¡¯s cheek and smiled bitterly. Look at that, Gwenny. The boy¡¯s finally growing close to me. If you don¡¯te back soon, I¡¯m going to have all his attention, and he¡¯ll never cling to you again. When Gwendolyn was abducted during the milk powder incident, she had specifically left him a trail. This time, however, she had provided him with nothing to follow. It¡¯s been two days since she went missing, but we haven¡¯t heard anything yet. Where on earth could she be? His eyes were tired and heart aching, Cedrick suppressed his anguish and pressed his forehead against Benedict¡¯s. Then, while remaining seated on the chair, he sprawled his upper body over the bed and went to sleep. The Federal Bureau of Investigation spent three whole days scouring the entire city of Salinsburgh. Yet, every time they received a new update and rushed over, the enemy always seemed to be one step ahead. Cedrick¡¯s belief that Joe was behind this grew with each passing day. He was on the verge of losing his sanity by Day Five. At his wits¡¯ end, he decided to dial one of the unknown phone numbers using his own device. Someone finally picked up at the tenth ring. Yet, while the papers showed that the number belonged to a woman, a man with a deep voice answered the call. Chapter 775 Chapter 775 ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± The man¡¯s voice over the phone sounded raspy and unpleasant. As Cedrick listened to the man¡¯s voice, memories of Joe¡¯s face from their younger days and the shared experiences of training together came flooding back. During their training, Cedrick and Joe, along with their fellow trainees, learned a few voice modtion techniques. ¡°Joe, is that you?¡± Cedrick inquired, though deep down, he was already certain of the answer. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a light chuckle. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve underestimated you, Mr. Jenson. I¡¯m impressed that you were able to figure that out. That exins why you¡¯re still at the helm of the Federal Bureau of Investigation after so many years.¡± Cedrick, not interested in pleasantries, got straight to the point. ¡°Where¡¯s my wife? Release her immediately. If you have any demands, speak to me directly,¡± he demanded. The man sneered, his voice hoarse and tinged with mockery. ¡°I¡¯ve always thought you had a heart of stone, but it seems you love your wife deeply. Tell me, are you willing to give up your life if I want you dead?¡± Cedrick remained silent for a moment, contemting his response carefully. When he spoke again, his tone was serious and unwavering. ¡°If you release Gwendolyn and guarantee her safe return, you will witness news of my self-inflicted gunshot the next day.¡± ¡°Why should I trust you?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for years, and you know I¡¯m a man of my word. If you don¡¯t trust me, I can write a will.¡± Cedrick spoke calmly as if discussing something trivial. However, Cedrick¡¯s serious words seemed to have the opposite effect, further enraging the man on the other end of the line. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. The man¡¯s voice grew even more venomous as he reminded Cedrick of a past tragedy. ¡°Cedrick Jenson, have you forgotten about the girl who died for you? You were heartless back then, and now you¡¯re iming to be a perfect husband, willing to sacrifice your life. Do you think I would let you off so easily?¡± Cedrick¡¯s face turned pale as Joe¡¯s words unearthed haunting memories from his troubled past. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? Do you believe that after all these years, you can sitfortably at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, pretending to be a devoted husband without any guilt?¡± Joe¡¯s voice dripped with bitterness as he gritted his teeth. His hatred toward Cedrick was evident. Nevertheless, Cedrick remained expressionless, refusing to be swayed by the man¡¯s usations. ¡°I don¡¯t feel guilty. I haven¡¯t done anything wrong to her.¡± The ¡°her¡± mentioned in their conversation was the girl whom Joe had asserted had died because of Cedrick. ¡°Cedrick Jenson!¡± The man¡¯s voice turned even more menacing, reminiscent of a wild beast¡¯s growl or a lurking predator¡¯s hiss, thoroughly provoked. ¡°After all these years, you¡¯re still the same heartless man you used to be. Since you¡¯re so capable, find your wife on your own. But let me remind you, I¡¯ve been treating your wife kindlytely. Nevertheless, in the next two days, you can expect a little surprise gift from me. Perhaps her ring finger or her delicate pinky?¡± As a chilling chuckle emanated from the other end of the phone, Cedrick¡¯s grip on the receiver tightened. ¡°Joe Landon, if you dare toy your finger on her, I¡¯ll make your life a living hell.¡± Joe dismissed Cedrick¡¯s threat with indifference. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. I¡¯ve been living in a state worse than death for a long time,¡± he replied callously. ¡°But it would be quite a treat if I could make you and your wife suffer together.¡± As the intense conversation between Cedrick and Joe continued, Swain proactively traced and analyzed the signal locations. Cedrick utilized a specializedmunication device¡ªa surveince mobile phone equipped with advanced technology¡ªto facilitate hismunication and ensure security during the sensitive exchange. Completely unaware of the state-of-the-art technology used in investigations, Joe remained oblivious to the fact that all the information from his phone was being encrypted and uploaded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s cloud database the moment the call connected. Cedrick would asionally nce at Swain, who remained fully focused on theputer screen as he deftly maniptedplex codes. Unaware that he was being monitored, Joe continued his conversation with Cedrick. ¡°Cedrick, we¡¯ve been friends for years. I might consider letting your wife go if you admit to your past mistakes. Kneel before Eryn¡¯s grave for three days and three nights, and I¡¯ll ensure your wife¡¯s safe return,¡± he proposed. Swain, who could hear their conversation, decisively shook his head. He knew that dealing with Joe, who had been on the run for many years, would be no easy task. Thetter possessed exceptional skills in disguise and had a highly deceptive personality. Coupled with the fact that many things could happen in three days, who could be certain of the dangers Gwendolyn might encounter during that time? Besides, Cedrick had already maintained his innocence regarding the past events Joe mentioned, so there was no reason for him to falsely admit wrongdoing and perform such an unusual task as guarding a grave. Amidst the tense exchange, Cedrick chose to remain silent, seemingly deep in contemtion about his next move. Joe did not press him further. ¡°Take your time to think it over. If you don¡¯t call me by this time tomorrow, be prepared to receive a gift from me,¡± he warned ominously before abruptly ending the call. Beep! Beep! Beep! Swain immediately leaned in. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s the n?¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the blue screen of Swain¡¯s coding, his eyes narrowing sharply as he focused his determination. ¡°We¡¯re not at his mercy. I¡¯m in control of the situation,¡± he dered firmly. ¡°We still have twenty-four hours, so let¡¯s use the remaining time to track him down.¡± ¡°All right!¡± Swain responded, fully immersing himself in the realm of hacking technology. It took him a few hours to finally establish a connection with the tracking system on Joe¡¯s mobile phone. Byte afternoon, the disyed location on Swain¡¯s screen indicated that Joe was still in Quawak. A frown etched itself on Cedrick¡¯s countenance as he fell into deep thought. He had led his team to search every nook and cranny of Quawak a couple of days ago, but their efforts were futile, as there were no signs of Gwendolyn or Joe. As he mulled over the situation, a thought popped into his mind: perhaps Joe had never left the area in the first ce. Cedrick meticulously recalled the footage of the search operation in his mind, and he started to notice something peculiar. ¡°He was the old fisherman by the creek in Quawak. He cleverly concealed his scent with dried fish and adopted a hunched posture to disguise himself,¡± Cedrick muttered, finally piecing together the puzzle. ¡°Given that, let¡¯s move out right away to catch him. We might have a good chance to rescue Mrs. Jenson tonight!¡± Swain eximed eagerly. Cedrick swiftly walked over to the corner where the coat rack stood, removed his military coat, and put it on. ¡°Inform Team Four and Team Ten to prepare and assemble in fifteen minutes. We¡¯re heading to Quawak immediately,¡± hemanded. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± To avoid drawing attention and arousing suspicion, Cedrick divided the teams into ten vehicles, departing from two different side exits. They opted for a longer route to reach Quawak discreetly. Just five minutes after their departure, Charles arrived at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, only to be informed by the guards that Cedrick was not there. Unable to reach him by phone, Charles decided to call Nico instead. ¡°Where¡¯s Cedrick? I¡¯ve something important to discuss with him. I¡¯ve located the specific location where Gwendolyn might be¡ª¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson has already gone to rescue Mrs. Jenson. We should have an oue by this evening,¡± Nico interjected. ¡°Where did he go?¡± After careful consideration, Nico decided to trust Charles, given thetter¡¯s consistent reliability over the years, and revealed, ¡°He went to Quawak.¡± Charles¡¯ stern expression deepened. Quawak? Why? The hacked information revealed a location different from the one Cedrick had discovered through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Was the information I received incorrect, or did something go wrong with Cedrick¡¯s investigation? Chapter 776 Chapter 776 To test his theory, Charles drove in the opposite direction ording to the result he obtained. Despite having the utmost trust in the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s investigation skills and Cedrick¡¯s discoveries, Charles wanted to test the reliability of Dark Netz¡¯s information. Moreover, the person who sold him the information provided detailed insight into Gwendolyn¡¯s situation, compelling Charles to seriously consider its validity. He yearned for a chance to be with her, if only once. On the road, Charles couldn¡¯t shake the thought of Gwendolyn¡¯s smile. Despite the risks, he was determined to give it a try, even if it meant jeopardizing his own safety on this journey. Charles¡¯ heart raced, and he felt inexplicably nervous. At the height of his sensitivity, his phone rang. It was a call from Whitney. After Gwendolyn¡¯s disappearance, Charles had not returned to the Newton residence for many days. Despite Whitney¡¯s efforts to reach out through texts and calls, Charles never responded to any of them. After the phone call ended, Charles¡¯ scattered thoughts settled, and his determination to find Gwendolyn only intensified. However, he received a call from Jasmine immediately after. He chose not to answer the call either. Once the phone stopped ringing, the Bluetooth system in his car automatically yed the voicemail.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Jasmine¡¯s voice yed through the voicemail, scolding, ¡°Charles, where have you been? You just got married, but you left your wife alone at home and won¡¯t return. No husband should behave like you.¡± Her criticisms annoyed Charles slightly. As Charles was about to reject the call, Jasmine continued, ¡°Whitney is ill. She had stomach flu and was in loads of pain. Lucas and I sent her to the hospital for emergency treatment. She hasn¡¯t been discharged yet and is still receiving an IV drip. Are you not going to visit her, Charles?¡± She¡¯s fallen ill? How did fall sick when she¡¯s only been at home? Charles stared ahead silently, but Jasmine¡¯s words began to make him waver. In the voicemail, Jasmine sighed heavily. ¡°Charles, I¡¯m running out of excuses for your absence. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t care about sending your sick wife to the hospital, but you¡¯ve been away for days and won¡¯t reply to messages. What could possibly be more important than your wife¡¯s health?¡± Charles immediately tightened his grip on the steering wheel and slowly pressed the brake. The luxury car slowed down on the road, but he didn¡¯te to aplete stop. Undeniably, he hesitated. He considered the possibility that Cedrick had already found Gwendolyn and apprehended the culprit in Quawak. Perhaps his trip would be in vain, and the person who sold him the information could have deceived him with false details. Amidst his doubts, Charles couldn¡¯t ignore the chance that the information might be true. It presented a perfect opportunity for him to save Gwendolyn if he acted on it. Charles couldn¡¯t ignore the chance to rescue Gwendolyn and possess her as his own. The possibility, no matter how slight,pelled him to try. Overwhelmed by his dilemma, Charles found it hard to breathe. He pulled over to the side of the road, giving himself a moment of respite, and fell into deep contemtion. Charles considered the possibility of continuing forward and silently finding Gwendolyn. Even if it ended in failure, he believed it would provide closure to the decade of feelings he held for her. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t ignore the responsibility he had toward his arranged marriage with Whitney. Her illness made it all the more crucial for him to be there for her as a husband. As dusk approached, the red sky reflected off Charles¡¯ conflicted blue eyes. Time was running out. Charles clenched the steering wheel firmly, then loosened his grip before tightening them again, the repetitive motion mirroring the turmoil inside him. In the end, Charles took a deep breath and made a resolute decision. He mmed on the elerator, his gaze filled with determination and obsession. Upon arriving in Quawak, the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s team wasted no time. They immediately launched arge-scale search operation in the area, meticulously conducting a census and registering the identity of every resident. Cedrick refused to remain idle and decided to search for the old fisherman at the creek bank. However, when he arrived at the man¡¯s residence, he was taken aback by the change in the old man. Despite the old man¡¯s hunched back and limping gait remaining the same, his appearance and aura had undergone a noticeable transformation. Cedrick quietly approached the elderly man from behind, grabbing his cor discreetly. With warmth and politeness, he inquired, ¡°Sir, how many years have you been fishing here?¡± The old man tensed up when he heard Cedrick¡¯s voice. Cedrick chuckled. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± ¡°N-Nothing. I¡­¡± Without waiting for the elderly man to finish exining, Cedrick forcefully tugged his cor backward and threw him onto the grasnd. The man fell to the ground with a thud. He let out a pained howl, clutching his back in agony. All of a sudden, the man hissed again, this time from the pain of having his beard forcibly removed. ¡°Do you really expect me to believe that an elderly man like you needs a fake beard? Maybe I should check if your skin is fake too!¡± ¡°N-No! Please don¡¯t, Mr. Jenson. I was forced to do this!¡± the man begged, abandoning the jaded voice he had used during his pretense. With a cold and indifferent expression, Cedrick narrowed his eyes and demanded, ¡°Where is Joe?¡± The man appeared stunned. ¡°Joe? Who¡¯s that? I really don¡¯t know him.¡± Emanating a murderous aura, Cedrick kicked the man¡¯s stomach with force. ¡°Mr. Jenson, I swear I don¡¯t know the person you mentioned! Our boss, Hamish, left, and everyone else in Quawak was taken away. I was the only one left behind. I¡¯ve never heard of anyone named Joe.¡± Once again, the culprit was one step ahead of them. He sure moves fast. He was pretending to negotiate with me while secretly making his escape. It¡¯s almost as if he has a spy in the bureau¡­ Cedrick¡¯s gaze turned darker, and he delivered a swift kick to the man¡¯s groin. ¡°He took everyone with him and left a useless weakling like you here. It¡¯s clear he¡¯s using you as a scapegoat, and you¡¯re still willing to cover up for his crimes?¡± The man¡¯s screams filled the air as he waved his hands frantically. ¡°I won¡¯t! I know the punishment will be less severe if I confess. I¡¯ll tell you everything I know!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that woman he kidnapped?¡± ¡°Which one?¡± Joe captured Gwendolyn, so there could not be any other women. Infuriated, Cedrick kicked the man once more, warning through gritted teeth, ¡°Stop ying dumb!¡± The man¡¯s memory was jogged after Cedrick terrorized him with threats. He eximed, ¡°She¡¯s at the mountain outside the county. Boss kept her in a tree hollow. Let me bring you there!¡± As they approached the tree hollow that the man had mentioned, Cedrick¡¯s hands trembled unconsciously, and he felt very nervous. It had been five days since hest saw Gwendolyn, and he missed her terribly. However, the sudden longing did not override his rationale. Joe managed to escape and disappear without a trace just one hour before we arrived. As a result, Team Four has already been dispatched to pursue him. However, his years of experience in counter-surveince made it unlikely that Team Four would be able to find him easily. Besides, Joe wouldn¡¯t risk leaving without his hostage if he believed his location was exposed. Something feels¡­ amiss. Cedrick came to a sudden halt, prompting Swain and Team Ten to do the same. They swiftly raised their guns and took up defensive positions. The man at the forefront, leading the way, was taken aback and visibly shaken as he saw the guns being raised at him. He squeaked, ¡°M-Mr. Jenson?¡± ¡°He left one hour ago. Within this time frame, he could have taken the hostage with him. Leaving behind such an important bargaining chip is not his style.¡± Cedrick spoke, his tone icy. He smirked and drew the pistol from his waist, loading it with bullets. Cedrick pointed the gun at the man¡¯s head and asked once more, ¡°Are you absolutely certain that the person held captive in the tree hollow on the mountaintop is the one I want to find?¡± Chapter 777 Chapter 777 The man shook his head honestly while trembling all over. Cedrick¡¯s gaze darkened at once, and he heard the man say, ¡°My boss didn¡¯t say if she was a hostage, but he treated the woman nicely. Today, he left all of a sudden. Before he left, he told me to bring that woman to a tree hollow on top of the mountain and leave her there. When I came back down, I found out they had left me behind. Mr. Jenson, I¡¯m merely an errand runner. I don¡¯t know anything. Heck, I don¡¯t even know who that woman is. I¡¯m telling the truth¡­¡± That means they had indeed kept someone at the top of the mountain. Why did Joe leave her behind and flee? I don¡¯t get it¡­ Since there¡¯s someone up there, I ought to check it out. Cedrick didn¡¯t bother questioning him further. He gave the man¡¯s head a nudge with the gun and ordered, ¡°Keep moving. Lead me there.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± As they approached the top of the mountain, the well-trained troops spread out and proceeded ahead to secure the area. The man then led Cedrick to an old tree. Swain went ahead to remove the twigs and branches to reveal a tree hollow. There and then, they saw a weak-looking woman with her eyes shut, limbs bound, and mouth sealed with tape. At that moment, she looked as though she was in a lot of pain. Although the woman had dirt all over her face, one could tell by the exquisite facial features that she was none other than Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwenny!¡± Cedrick was overwhelmed by emotions, and seeing her again made him tear up a little. He hastily carried her out of the tree hollow and gentlyy her on the grass before removing the tape over her mouth. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyshes fluttered as she gradually regained consciousness. Afterward, she leaned on his shoulder weakly and held his cor. ¡°Hubby, I¡¯ve waited for you for a long time¡­¡± Her voice was hoarse instead of melodious. Cedrick¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. He was so heartbroken that he was having trouble breathing. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Gwenny. This is all my fault.¡± Gwendolyn twitched the corners of her mouth when she heard that. Right when she was seemingly about tofort him, she fainted. Cedrick held her hand tightly. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to take revenge on Joe. However, he suddenly sensed that something was off when he gripped Gwendolyn¡¯s hand. As it turned out, she no longer had a ring on her ring finger. Over the past few years, he had given Gwendolyn plenty of rings. She thought the engagement ring with a magnificent ruby was too shy, so she had always worn another ring, a carnelian ring, that he had given her. She wore it for several years, and because of the changes in hormones after giving birth, Gwendolyn gained a lot more weight than before she was pregnant. Eventually, her fingers became so chubby that she couldn¡¯t even remove the carnelian ring. Gwendolyn liked the ring, so she had kept it on for years. Nevertheless, she would have to cut the ring if she wanted to remove it. As his rationality resurfaced, Cedrick grew tense and abandoned the initial thought of leaning closer toward his wife. Not only is this woman not wearing the ring, but her fingers are slim. As a matter of fact, there isn¡¯t a mark on her ring finger that a ring would leave behind. Brows knitted, Cedrick slowly removed Gwendolyn from his embrace and ced her on the ground to examine her body. Her facial features and fair skin suggest that this woman is clearly Gwenny. However, what¡¯s with the absence of a marking on her ring finger? Even if Joe had removed the ring forcibly, her finger wouldn¡¯t be so wless. Cedrick then shifted his gaze toward the woman¡¯s fingers. Her fingers are slim and beautiful. They aren¡¯t chubby at all. It has only been five days. Could it be that Joe had been starving her? Cedrick was doubtful, and for some reason, he couldn¡¯t help keeping a distance from the woman before his eyes. What is this that I¡¯m feeling? ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± Swain noticed the odd look in Cedrick¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Cedrick lowered his gaze and retracted his hands calmly. ¡°Come here. Carry Mrs. Jenson to the technical and send her to the hospital in the city.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Swain answered without hesitation. A secondter, realization dawned on him, and he asked in shock, ¡°Huh? Did you ask me to carry Mrs. Jenson, Boss?¡± Swain was afraid of getting beaten up by Cedrick. ¡°Yes.¡± Without offering an exnation, Cedrick led his men to Quawak to wrap up the investigation, his expression somber. Swain was nervous, but he had no choice but to do as he was told. Hence, he carefully carried Gwendolyn down the mountain. After everything was done, the troops returned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Cedrick stayed behind at the hospital. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The doctor did a full-body checkup on Gwendolyn and returned with the results. ¡°Mr. Jenson, ording to the reports, Mrs. Jenson seems okay. She was frightened and probably starved for a few days, so she¡¯s slightly malnourished. I¡¯ll get her on an IV drip and prescribe some calming pills. She should be fine after that,¡± the doctor said. ¡°All right. Thank you.¡± After the doctor left the ward, Cedrick sat by the bed with aplicated look in his eyes. Right then, Gwendolyn woke up and tugged at his sleeve. In a hoarse voice, she uttered, ¡°I¡¯m so lucky to have you, Hubby.¡± Cedrick snapped back to his senses and patted the back of her hand to console her. He even brushed her fringe aside gently and said, ¡°I¡¯m just d you¡¯re all right.¡± In response, she gazed at him fixedly with a besotted look in her eyes. Cedrick averted his gaze and asked, ¡°What exactly happened five days ago? Why did you lose control of your car off Bluebay Tunnel?¡± Gwendolyn lowered her gaze and mulled over it for a while. Next, she held her head agonizingly and said, ¡°I can¡¯t remember much. All I remember is that I fainted right after the car fell into the canyon. When I woke up, my limbs were already bound.¡± As if she recalled something, a panicked look appeared in her eyes as she gripped Cedrick¡¯s sleeves. ¡°Hubby, Joe was the one who kidnapped me! He was the man who harmed Benny!¡± She knows about the milk powder contamination case! Cedrick¡¯s resolve began to waver. ¡°I know, Gwenny. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll stay close to you from now on and protect you. He won¡¯t get a chance to harm you again.¡± Gwendolyn nodded and smiled in satisfaction. ¡°With you around, Hubby, I don¡¯t have to be afraid of anything and anyone.¡± She seems to like saying sweet nothings more than before. Yet, I can¡¯t find anything wrong with her face! Gwenny doesn¡¯t have a twin sister, so how could a woman look exactly like her? A wave of mixed emotions washed over Cedrick. Right then, the woman on the hospital bed inched toward her and looked at him with her big doe-like eyes. ¡°Hubby, could you please hug me?¡± Cedrick suppressed his thoughts and sat nearer to her so that she could lean her head on his shoulder. ¡°Hubby, I¡¯m filthy. You don¡¯t mind it, right?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t,¡± he replied calmly. Gwendolyn was pleased. In a hoarse and seductive voice, she asked, ¡°In that case, could we shower together tonight, Hubby?¡± As she spoke, she ran her slender fingers across Cedrick¡¯s abs. She couldn¡¯t be more obvious with her hints. Cedrick frowned lightly and felt uneasy. The woman before me is my wife. I missed her dearly, but why am I not moved? Instead, I feel disgusted. With that in mind, he grabbed her hand to stop her from pulling off bold moves. ¡°The doctor said you were frightened, so you need to rest. Be good, okay? We¡¯ll see how things go after this.¡± Gwendolyn pouted and went silent. Needless to say, she didn¡¯t take the rejection well. He¡¯s Mr. Jenson, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Not only is he handsome, but he also has a hell of a body. He¡¯s supposed to be a superior man, no? Could it be that he can¡¯t deliver in the bedroom? His wife went missing for five days. Shouldn¡¯t he be all over me to unleash his sexual urge? While she was pondering on that, Cedrick was silently observing her expression. ¡°Gwenny, you have no idea how devastated I was over the past few days. I had neither slept nor ate well. I was thinking about you every day, fearing that you would forget about me and forget about the vows we made during our wedding,¡± he said. Gwendolyn shed a smile and replied in a hoarse yet loving voice, ¡°How could I ever forget that? After all, you¡¯re the person I love the most, Hubby.¡± Cedrick¡¯s eyes darkened right away as he stared fixedly at her and enunciated, ¡°In that case, Gwenny, do you remember the vow you made back then?¡± Chapter 778 Chapter 778 Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned awkward when she heard the question. Upon giving it some thought, she furrowed her brows and held her forehead to indicate having a headache. ¡°Hubby, I obviously remember our vows. You¡¯ll always be in my heart, so that¡¯s something I¡¯ll remember forever. However, my head is thumping. Could you please let me rest for a while?¡± she responded casually. Cedrick¡¯s expression became increasingly grim, and his lowered gaze was filled with disappointment. At that moment, he felt as though he had a boulder on his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. True enough, she¡¯s not Gwenny. Back then, we got married because I begged Grandpa for it. In order to get Gwenny to forgive me and proceed with the marriage arrangement, I did everything I could to earn her forgiveness. I could never ask her for a vow. Yet, this woman before me doesn¡¯t seem to know that. Although she looks like her and acts as elegantly as her, she¡¯s not Gwenny. Cedrick¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and his clenched fists were trembling. He thought he had found his wife, but as it turned out, all he found was a mere imposter. Indeed, he was in even more pain because he felt as though he had lost Gwendolyn all over again. The woman noticed how gloomy he was and realized something was off. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, Hubby? Are you sad because I said something wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. You¡¯re having a headache, aren¡¯t you? Well, my heart is broken.¡± Cedrick suppressed his emotions and kept his gaze lowered. The woman heaved a sigh of relief and grabbed Cedrick¡¯s sleeve anxiously. ¡°By the way, Hubby, where are Benny and Zendy? I haven¡¯t seen them in so many days. I want to see them.¡± Cedrick hung his head low as his gaze turned ever so frosty. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. Once you get discharged in a few days¡¯ time, I¡¯ll bring you to them.¡± ¡°All right.¡± The woman shed a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you, Hubby.¡± Cedrick retracted his arm in disgust to stop the woman from grabbing his sleeve. After that, he lifted his left wrist to nce at his watch. It¡¯ste. I should head back to theboratory to keep Benny and Zendy company. At that thought, he rose to his feet and uttered tly, ¡°It¡¯ste. Rest well, Gwenny. I¡¯ll be back early tomorrow morning.¡± The woman froze momentarily. ¡°Are you not staying with me at the hospital?¡± She looked mesmerizing when she had a sorrowful look on her face. ¡°Benny isn¡¯t well, so he needs to be on an IV drip at night. If I¡¯m not there with him, he¡¯ll throw a tantrum. Darling, you¡¯ve always loved the kids the most prior to this. Why are you fighting them for affection now?¡± He peered at her with his head hung low. His gaze was so solemn that no one could tell what was on his mind. The woman twitched the corners of her mouth slightly and replied, ¡°Why would I do that? I¡¯ve been feeling guilty about Benny¡¯s condition. All right, then. I¡¯ll wait for you in the ward while you keep him company.¡± ¡°Good girl. Have a good night¡¯s rest, Gwenny. I¡¯ll be off now.¡± He shed a smile that never reached his eyes. As soon as he turned around, the smile on his face vanished. ¡°Hey, will you¡ª¡± The woman wanted to ask for a kiss before he left, but he mmed the door shut behind him and was long gone before she could finish her sentence. The woman was puzzled. Why was he avoiding me? Didn¡¯t everyone say Cedrick loved his wife dearly? Why didn¡¯t I feel his affection? Could it be that he had seen through my disguise? At that thought, she rushed out of bed and scrutinized her gorgeous face in the mirror. I still look as pretty as her! There¡¯s nothing wrong. I must be overthinking. After exiting the ward, Cedrick walked along the corridor while exuding an intense aura. Swain had been summoned beforehand, and he was earnestly waiting at the elevator doors. ¡°Boss, what can I do for you?¡± There was a chilly look in Cedrick¡¯s gaze when he pursed his lips to suppress his emotions. In the next second, he unbuttoned his suit hastily and took it off before throwing it into the trash can. He was so grossed out that he felt as though he would throw up if he were to nce at the tainted clothing. ¡°Station a few elite fighters outside Mrs. Jenson¡¯s ward. Don¡¯t let her leave the ward. Also, make sure to check the medical staff¡¯s credentials before letting them in. Not a single random person is allowed to step foot in there,¡± Cedrick instructed. Swain nodded obediently. ¡°Got it.¡± Cedrick then tidied his sleeves as he entered the elevator. ¡°Drive me to theboratory.¡± He was having trouble staying calm due to his anger. Hence, he was worried that he would end up driving recklessly. ¡°Okay.¡± Swain entered the elevator and pressed for the floor on which the parking lot was located. Swain found Cedrick¡¯s attitude toward Gwendolyn weird. Instead of asking the man about it, Swain merely did as he was told. When they were on their way to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cedrick received a call from Nico. He scrolled through the information on his tablet while he was on the phone with Nico. In an orderly manner, Nico reported thetest situation of several important cases in Salinsburgh. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As Cedrick was listening, an iprehensible look formed in his darkened eyes. The men talked about work matters on the phone for around ten minutes. After they were done with that, silence ensued. ¡°Have you found Charles?¡± Cedrick eventually asked. ¡°No. He hadn¡¯t been back at the Newton residence recently. I guess he was busy locating¡­ Well, helping us locate Gwendolyn.¡± ¡°Does he not know we¡¯ve already found Gwendolyn?¡± Cedrick asked with a straight face. ¡°He does. Shortly after you left this afternoon, he called and told me he located Gwendolyn. However, I told him you were already on the way to her. He hung up the phone immediately after that.¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows and hung up the phone before he fell into deep thought. Charles cares deeply about Gwenny. If he heard I was already on my way to save her, he would surely visit her as soon as possible. Not only did he note, but he had gone missing instead. He¡¯s acting weird. Sensing something was amiss, Cedrick picked up his phone and called Charles. It took a minute for the call to be picked up. In a deep voice, Charles asked reluctantly, ¡°What¡¯s up, Mr. Jenson?¡± Cedrick remained silent for a couple of seconds before answering, ¡°I found Gwendolyn.¡± There was silence on Charles¡¯ end for quite some time after he heard what Cedrick said. It was as if the former needed to process the news. Two minutester, Charles uttered slowly, ¡°In that case, congrattions, Mr. Jenson. You¡¯ve finally found your wife. Make sure not to lose her again.¡± Cedrick knitted his brows. ¡°Where are you?¡± Instead of answering the question, Charles said, ¡°I overreacted a few days ago when Gwendolyn went missing. I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Jenson. Now, I need to attend to some private matters. I won¡¯t be visiting you and your family for a while.¡± With that, Charles hung up the phone. After the phone call, Cedrick was even more weirded out. I know how much Charles loves Gwenny. In fact, he might even love her as much as I do. Yet, he didn¡¯t seem perturbed when I told him I had located her. He didn¡¯t even ask if she was hurt, injected with poison, or safe. He hung up the phone right after he sent his regards. Something¡¯s definitely not right here. Chapter 779 Chapter 779 Cedrick was about to clear his mind and analyze the situation when Swain stopped the car in the laboratory¡¯s open-air parking lot. Thetter got out first, then went to open the rear passenger door for the former. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve arrived at theboratory.¡± Cedrick had no choice but to pull himself out of his thoughts. Taking his tablet and phone, he stepped out of the vehicle. ¡°Return to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Joe has yet to be caught, so we must continue investigating this matter.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Swain watched Cedrick walk away before driving off. Theboratory was extremely quiet at night, and on the entire floor, Benedict¡¯s ward was the only room with its lights on. Not wanting the two children to wait too long, Cedrick quickened his pace. Just as he approached the door, he saw it was slightly ajar. He was about to push it open when he heard Zendaya crying and Benedictforting her patiently. ¡°Uwaahh! Benny, I miss Mommy so much. So very, very much!¡± Zendaya wailed in a tearful voice, weeping pitifully. Surprisingly, Benedict did not make fun of her. Instead, he patiently wiped away her tears with a tissue. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Your eyes are already red from crying. Daddy is bound to notice it when he arrives.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°But¡­ I can¡¯t help it. I¡¯m so worried about Mommy, yet I¡¯m afraid of causing Daddy trouble,¡± she replied through sobs. Benedict sighed. In his piping voice, he reasoned with her solemnly, ¡°You need to be good. Make sure you sleep well at night and don¡¯t misbehave. Let Daddy have peace of mind as he looks for Mommy. I trust his capabilities. He¡¯ll surely find Mommy soon. Don¡¯t cry anymore. Daddy will get upset if he sees you like this, and we can¡¯t make him even more worried.¡± Shortly after, the cries in the ward grew softer and less frequent. However, a sense of guilt crashed over Cedrick like a raging wave. His fingertips on the door handle trembled uncontrobly, there was a stinging sensation in his nose, and he could not stop his eyes from swiftly reddening. It turns out these two precious little ones know Gwendolyn didn¡¯t go to her parents¡¯ house but is missing. The choking feeling in his throat became almost too much to bear, and he forced himself to swallow the bitter pain. However, the more he tried to suppress his emotions, the more tears welled up in his eyes. Guilt and sadness overwhelmed him to the point that he could hardly breathe. He did not want his distress to affect the children, so he went to the washroom to get some air and ssh cold water on his face, trying to alleviate the waves of heart-wrenching emotions. After taking about five minutes to regain hisposure, Cedrick nced at his watch to check the time, then looked at his reflection in the mirror. Apart from his exhaustion that had no way of being concealed, he had done a good job at tamping down his emotions. Upon walking to the ward again and opening the door as though nothing had happened, he realized that Benedict had put Zendaya to sleep. Under the dim light from the bedsidemp, the redness around her eyes from all that crying was not that obvious. However, she was sucking gently on her thumb while furrowing her brows slightly, looking utterly miserable. Benedict immediately put on a smile when he saw Cedrick walk in. ¡°You¡¯re early today, Daddy. It seems the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be wrapping up its investigation soon, am I right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± Cedrick sat on the edge of the bed with a smile and stroked the boy¡¯s head lovingly. ¡°Why did Zendy go to sleep so early tonight? Is she feeling unwell?¡± ¡°She¡¯s eating well and is in good health, so there¡¯s no way she¡¯d be unwell. She was just being too noisy, so I quickly put her to bed.¡± Cedrick caressed the boy¡¯s face as his heart ached. Something seemed to ur to Benedict, and he said, ¡°By the way, I sent Mr. Mallory away. He likes lecturing me. I found it annoying, so I kicked him out.¡± ¡°He only did it for your own good,¡± Cedrick said gently with a helpless sigh, wanting to speak up for Joshua. However, Benedict was uninterested in listening to such reasonings. He hugged Cedrick¡¯s arm andy sideways with his head on the pillow. Fixing his clear eyes on Cedrick, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sleepy. You must be tired too. Will you stay and wait until I fall asleep?¡± ¡°Okay. Go to sleep now.¡± Letting Benedict hold his arm, Cedrick blocked the light from the bedside lamp with his body and watched over the former until he dozed off. Once Benedict had fallen asleep, he took a strand of their hair from his and Zendaya¡¯s pillows respectively. Then, he sealed them inside a small, airtight bag. Even though I know that woman in the hospital is an imposter, that¡¯s merely my judgment based on how well I knew Gwendolyn. I have no concrete proof. Only a DNA test will be irrefutable confirmation. The following day, Cedrick bought breakfast for the children and ate with them in theboratory¡¯s ward before going to the hospital. The police officers in front of Gwendolyn¡¯s room reported to him what had happened the previous night. ¡°Last night, Mrs. Jenson opened the door twice. The first time was to ask us how long we would be standing guard. The second time was in the middle of the night. She said she couldn¡¯t sleep and had no phone, so she wanted us to help her contact you. We knew you were with your childrenst night, so we didn¡¯t dare to disturb you.¡± They spoke cautiously, knowing how protective Cedrick was of his wife. When he finds out we didn¡¯t call to inform him that she woke up in the middle of the night and couldn¡¯t sleep, we¡¯ll all get punished, won¡¯t we? However, Cedrick listened to their report calmly without showing any expression. ¡°Got it. Good job. You can change shifts and go get some rest.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Jenson.¡± When Cedrick opened the door, he saw the woman eating breakfast from the hospital¡¯s small cafeteria while sitting on the hospital bed. There was only some in oatmeal and a bun, and her disdain was evident as she ate the food. As soon as she saw him, she beganining. ¡°Hubby, you¡¯re finally back! The food at this hospital is truly unfit for humans. The bun is so dry and hard that it¡¯s going to be the death of me!¡± Suppressing the iciness in his eyes, Cedrick walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat next to the bed. ¡°That¡¯s how hospital food is. Just bear with it a little, Gwenny. Once you get discharged, you can eat whatever you want.¡± Her eyes lit up, and she tilted her head coquettishly. ¡°Then how about we leave the hospital today? You¡¯re the best. I¡¯m fine, honestly. Besides, I miss Zendy and Benny. Take me to see them, okay?¡± The woman clutched at her heart coyly and continued sadly, ¡°Not being able to see my little ones makes my heart feel empty. Benny and Zendy also haven¡¯t seen their mother for many days. They must miss me a lot, right?¡± Cedrick did not say anything as he listened to her repeated mentions of the children¡¯s names. He could not help thinking that was the real reason behind Joe sending her here. The DNA test results take time, which means it¡¯ll also take time to verify this woman¡¯s identity. With that thought in mind, Cedrick agreed to her request without showing any sign of concern. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll ask the doctor to check on your condition. As long as there are no serious issues with your health, we¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°Wonderful!¡± She pushed the oatmeal and bun on the table further away from her and said sweetly, ¡°I feel like eating the fancy breakfast from the five-star hotel next door. Could you have someone go and buy it for me?¡± ¡°Sure. You can have anything you want.¡± Half an hourter, a doctor arrived to conduct a follow-up examination on Gwendolyn. The woman sat in the ward, enjoying a delicious five-star breakfast. In order to maintain an elegant appearance, she ate at a leisurely pace, savoring every bite. Meanwhile, Cedrick was silent as he sat to one side and tapped away on his tablet, attending to some work matters. After checking on her, the doctor reported the results of his examination as per the instructions he had received from Cedrick earlier. ¡°Mr. Jenson, your wife¡¯s condition is still not stable. She has a high blood sugar level and will likely experience nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, it could even cause fainting spells. I rmend staying at the hospital another day for observation. If everything is okay after her checkup tomorrow, she can leave in the afternoon.¡± The doctor wrote out his diagnosis while speaking. ncing at the woman asionally as she stuffed her face, he could not help thinking that with all the sweets she was eating for breakfast, it was no wonder she had high blood sugar. Putting away his tablet, Cedrick said to her, ¡°You heard what the doctor said. If you get a good rest, you might be able to be discharged tomorrow.¡± His long eyshes concealed his dark eyes, which were fathomless and deathly cold. Enjoy yourst two days of happiness. Once you leave this ce, I¡¯ll give you a taste of the true meaning of a nightmare. Chapter 780 Chapter 780 After lounging in the hospital for two days, her belief that the rumors were false strengthened. People were saying Cedrick and Gwendolyn were the model couple of Salinsburgh, looking perfect and sweet from every camera angle. It seems to me that they¡¯re probably putting up a front. Cedrick doesn¡¯t seem to feel any lust toward Gwendolyn despite her beauty. Every time he came to the hospital, all he ever did was chat with me. Meanwhile, the guards got to enjoy meals from a five-star hotel. He was so gentle with me, but beneath his soft words hinted at a sliver of estrangement as though the couple weren¡¯t as close as they seemed. I¡¯ve been here a few days but don¡¯t see Cedrick buying me a new phone. He merely assigned more guards to watch over me and forbade me from going anywhere. I haven¡¯t heard anything from Boss either, so I don¡¯t have any of thetest intel. The woman sighed as she studied her face in the small mirror on the table. A few minutester, she began spacing out with her chin resting on her palms. A grim expression marred her pretty face when she thought of her superior¡¯smand for her mission. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± A deep yet gentle male voice sounded from the bedside, startling her. She turned around, saw Cedrick¡¯s handsome face, and instantly steadied herself. ¡°H-Hubby, why didn¡¯t you make a sound when you came in?¡± Cedrick¡¯s intense gaze lingered on her face as if he was seeing someone else through her. He then averted his gaze when he saw the confusion in her eyes. ¡°You were lost in thought, Gwenny, so you didn¡¯t notice me entering,¡± he calmly exined. The corners of her lips curled into a sweet smile. ¡°I was just thinking about you, and you appeared.¡± Cedrick remained seated by the bed, his demeanor still somewhat indifferent as he listened to her speak. ¡°I should be able to be discharged today, right, Hubby? I haven¡¯t seen Benny and Zendy for a week now. I¡¯m anxious and want to see them as soon as possible.¡± For the past two days, the doctor has been examining me and keeping me here by insisting I have high blood glucose, optic neuropathy, or low blood pressure. I¡¯m bored out of my brain, staying in the narrow confines of this room! Cedrick chuckled softly. ¡°Well, I¡¯m actually here to talk about getting you discharged. I¡¯ve spoken to the doctor, and he said your condition has stabilized. You can leave the hospital today.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s great!¡± Ecstatic at the news, the woman quickly got out of bed and began to pack her belongings. However, there wasn¡¯t much for her to pack, considering she was kidnapped in the first ce, and Cedrick didn¡¯t have many items for her after rescuing her. Cedrick tucked his hand in the pockets of his suit pants and walked out of the room, leaving her to pack up. Five minutester, she came out of the room with only a small bag, which contained all the toiletries she had from the past few days. The officers standing by the door were observant and kindly assisted her with her bags. As she looked around the inpatient department hallway, Cedrick was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Where¡¯s my husband?¡± the woman asked. ¡°Mr. Jenson went to the smoking room.¡± ¡°Okay, then bring my things downstairs, and get me a strawberry mousse from the five-star hotel next door. I want to eat it on the way back.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± With a haughty demeanor, the woman spoke as if they were her subordinates before whirling around and striding confidently toward the smoking room, in search of Cedrick. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± With a haughty demeanor, the woman spoke as if they were her subordinates before whirling around and striding confidently toward the smoking room, in search of Cedrick. The smoking room¡¯s ss door allowed her to see Cedrick smoking by the window when she stood in the doorway. He had taken off his zer and was wearing only a white, silky shirt. With his sleeves rolled up, his toned arms and bulging veins were on disy. As he blew a smoke ring, the screen of smoke obscured the mncholy and coldness in his eyes. The sharp angles of his jaw added to his regal presence, and his every movement exuded sensuality. His perfect waistline and framepleted the captivating image he presented. This man is too tempting. ¡°Gwendolyn¡± stood on the other side of the door, admiring him for a while. His charms were irresistible, and she couldn¡¯t help but sumb to them. Her conviction strengthened as she arched her brow and smiled wickedly. ¡°It¡¯s a shame not to enjoy such a perfect man. But once we get home, I¡¯ll do everything I can to take you down.¡± The real Gwendolyn can¡¯te back anymore, so I might as well take her ce and be her. Having collected her thoughts, the woman opened the smoking room¡¯s door and walked over to him. She reached for the cigarette between his fingers and scolded him coquettishly, ¡°Naughty Hubby! Have you forgotten that you¡¯re not allowed to smoke? Benny has a weak body and can¡¯t stand the smell of it. How are we going to meet the childrenter?¡± Cedrick¡¯s gaze was fixated on her face, which looked exactly like Gwendolyn¡¯s. The rims of his eyes reddened, and hisshes fluttered fervently. He quickly pinched his palm, suppressing the shock and joy welling up within him. She¡¯s not Gwenny. She¡¯s not her. The real Gwenny wouldn¡¯t chide me in this manner; she would tell me off. Besides, if she had caught me smoking red-handed, she would¡¯ve given me a harsh punishment. In fact, she might even pull out the Lego pieces. This woman knows about the smoking, but she doesn¡¯t know about the punishments Gwenny uses on me, for it¡¯s a well-kept secret between us two. After a few deep breaths, Cedrickposed himself and regained his impassiveposure. He reached for the zer slung over the chair and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stop. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± With that, he stepped out of the smoking room. ¡°Gwendolyn¡± hurriedly followed him, wanting to cling to his arm. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Wait for me, Hubby.¡± Yet, Cedrick¡¯s pace didn¡¯t slow. He had no intention of waiting for her. She couldn¡¯t even grasp the hem of his shirt and could only quicken her steps to keep up with him. Upon arriving at the hospital basement parking lot, they saw Swain standing by the car, waiting for them. He greeted them with a bow and a smile as soon as he spotted them. ¡°Gwendolyn¡± didn¡¯t care much for subordinates like him, but she suddenly remembered she was in disguise and couldn¡¯t disregard her manners. Urgently, she forced a polite smile in acknowledgment. To her surprise, Swain fought her for the passenger seat. ¡°Apologies, Mrs. Jenson. The boss and I have some business to attend toter. Usually, I take the passenger seat when he¡¯s driving,¡± Swain politely exined. In other words, he was telling her to get in the back seat. Feeling a tinge of embarrassment, ¡°Gwendolyn¡± repeatedly nced at Cedrick, hoping he¡¯d take her side. Wouldn¡¯t the wife usually take the passenger seat? I was nning to feel up his arms as he drove! Cedrick noticed her inquisitive look but merely uttered a casual response, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to feel ufortable sitting in the passenger seat after the ident. Swain and I have something to discuss, so he¡¯ll ride with me. You¡¯ve just been discharged, and I want you to forget about the ident entirely.¡± Upon hearing his exnation, ¡°Gwendolyn¡± found no reason to argue further. She didn¡¯t want Cedrick to bring up the ident at Bluebay Tunnel again, so she could only agree with a smile. ¡°All right. You¡¯re so considerate, Hubby. You¡¯ve thought about all the details!¡± A knowing smile curved Cedrick¡¯s lips. ¡°I have to be on my toes with you around.¡± Unaware of the implication behind his words, she got into the back seat of the car. The car¡¯s engine rumbled loudly as it left the hospital behind. During the drive, Swain attentively handed a cup of warm coffee to ¡°Gwendolyn¡± after catching the look Cedrick gave him. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, Boss asked me to get you a cup of coffee earlier. Please have some. I also got you the strawberry mousse you wanted.¡± Swain passed a small dessert and a drink to ¡°Gwendolyn¡± in the back seat. ¡°Thank you.¡± epting both items, she sipped through the lid¡¯s opening andplimented, ¡°Mm! This is good. You¡¯re so thoughtful, Hubby.¡± Nevertheless, Cedrick remained focused on driving, not sparing her a nce. Swain, who had secretly investigated her for the past two days, knew the woman was an imposter, so he merely rolled his eyes at herpliment. Soon after taking a sip of the drink, she gradually sumbed to drowsiness and eventually awoke in an abyss of darkness, where her surroundings remained obscured from view. An eerie atmosphere enveloped the surroundings, apanied by a metallic tang in the air that resembled the scent of blood. Panic-stricken, the woman called out for Cedrick, ¡°Hubby?¡± The lights flickered on momentster, casting a dim yellow glow that wasn¡¯t blinding but allowed her to survey the room. Within the enclosed room, she couldn¡¯t spot any windows, but her gaze fell upon a disturbing sight¡ª whips, ropes, iron locks, and other appalling equipment hung across the walls. Dread washed over her as her gaze darted from one instrument to another. Her breathing stopped, and her pupils constricted when she caught sight of a figure sitting not far away. Cedrick sat there, observing her with no warmth in his eyes. His lips pressed into a thin line, and the aura he emitted felt oppressive, resembling a judgmental devil scrutinizing her sins. In a strained attempt to appear calm, she shouted, ¡°Hubby, where are we? Why is this ce so terrifying? Aren¡¯t we going back home? Weren¡¯t we on our way to see Benny and Zendy?¡± Chapter 781 Chapter 781 Cedrick paid no heed to her words. With an icy look in his eyes, he demanded, ¡°Where¡¯s Gwendolyn?¡± His words stunned the woman and caused her expression to grow increasingly awkward. ¡°Hubby, what are you talking about? I¡¯m Gwendolyn, your wife.¡± Cedrick got to his feet and stormed forward. Looking down at her, he repeated patiently, ¡°I¡¯m asking you where Gwendolyn is?¡± As the woman continued to feign ignorance, she lowered her eyes in an attempt to avoid his gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. You¡¯re behaving strangely. I¡¯m leaving this ce.¡± Just as she attempted to get up, Cedrick grabbed her by the neck and pinned her back down. In close proximity, the murderous intent in his bloodshot eyes was unmistakable. They looked more terrifying than the torture equipment fastened against the wall. ¡°I¡¯m a patient man. If I don¡¯t get the answer that I¡¯m looking for, you¡¯ll suffer a fate worse than death.¡± Cedrick would show no mercy to such a despicable woman. Suffocating from the overwhelming pressure he exuded, the woman struggled desperately to pry open his grip over her neck. Unfortunately, it was nothing but a futile effort. ¡°W-When did you see through the charade?¡± As the woman eked out the words, her neck was hurting so badly that tears had begun to flow. As the way she grimaced looked exactly like Gwendolyn, Cedrick released his grip subconsciously, allowing her to copse onto the ground. Turning around with his hands behind his back to avoid looking at her face¡ªwhich unsettled him¡ªhe replied, ¡°My suspicions started the day I rescued you from Quawak.¡± The answer shocked the woman. ¡°How? I look exactly like her. Our voices might be a little different, but I pretended to have lost my voice the entire time.¡± For the sake of her mission, she had learned Gwendolyn¡¯s poise and facial expressions. Even the most minute of details didn¡¯t escape her notice. Yet, she was exposed on the very first day Cedrick saw her. Averting his gaze from her, Cedrick replied calmly, ¡°She has been wearing a ring on her left ring finger for thest five years, as it couldn¡¯t be removed. Even if one were to forcefully cut it off, there would still be a residual mark left on her finger. Jolted by the exnation, the woman stroked her left hand. ¡°In order to verify your identity, I used Benny¡¯s and Zendy¡¯s hair to run a DNA test with yours. I did it in ten different military hospitals to prevent any interference with the process. In the end, the results were all consistent with each other.¡± While speaking, Cedrick walked to the desk in the corner to retrieve the DNA test report and threw it at the woman. ¡°Take a look yourself.¡± As the white piece of document fell onto the ground, the woman knew what the conclusion was without even looking. ¡°You were the one in the backseat of Gwenny¡¯s car when the ident at Orchidbay Tunnel urred, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You were the one in the backseat of Gwenny¡¯s car when the ident at Orchidbay Tunnel urred, weren¡¯t you?¡± Surprised that Cedrick had managed to guess even that, the woman caught her breath. ¡°You had gotten close to Gwenny on purpose, while Joe was responsible for the ident in the tunnel. His goal was to capture Gwenny. In order to avoid colliding with the lorry, Gwenny swerved her car into the valley and is now nowhere to be found. In the meantime, Joe had you take her ce, so what is your true goal?¡± Cedrick subsequently turned around and bent forward to grab the woman by her chin. Thereafter, he examined her face closely. ¡°It¡¯s clear from the impable stic surgery that you¡¯ve put a lot of effort into this, so I¡¯m sure you know his ns very well. If you cooperate with me, I¡¯ll consider letting you go.¡± However, a snigger was immediately heard from the woman. Sheughed so hard that tears started to come out. Even if Cedrick was willing to release her, her boss would never grant her the same mercy. ¡°Mr. Jenson, I¡¯m not sure if the Joe you mentioned is the same person who put me up to this, but I really know nothing about him, as I¡¯m only in this for the money. I simply do what he tells me to.¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g ¡°In that case, what was it that he told you to do?¡± The woman was shocked. ¡°He asked me to get close to Gwendolyn¡­ Once that was aplished, he ordered his men to keep me in a tree hollow in the mountains. He told me that I¡¯ll be your wife going forward and have all the power and money thates along with the position.¡± As Cedrick grabbed her chin, the weightiness of his tone intensified. ¡°I want you to tell me exactly how you were supposed to get close to her and seeded. Gwenny isn¡¯t a fool. If she were to see that you looked like her, she would definitely not have allowed you to get into her car just like that. Also, you have spent a lot of time with the children over thest few days. Did Joe order you to do that too? Is his n for you to get close to the children and kidnap them?¡± Toward the end of his sentence, Cedrick tightened his grip on her. With hatred burning in his eyes, the suppressed rage within him was unmistakable in his voice. Meanwhile, the woman grimaced in pain. She felt as if he was about to crush her chin. Resisting the pressure Cedrick exerted, she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Jenson. There¡¯s a lot that I can¡¯t remember. I really don¡¯t know anything, as I¡¯m beholden to someone else too. So please, let me go.¡± Surprisingly, Cedrick smiled instead of reacting angrily. Upon loosening his grip on her chin, he gave his sleeves a tug. Once he straightened his back, the murderous look in his eyes couldn¡¯t be any more obvious. ¡°Your memory will soon return. I¡¯m sure you know the details of everything that happened better than anyone else. Since you refuse to cooperate when I¡¯m being nice, I¡¯ll have to try some other method instead.¡± The woman trembled in fear upon hearing his words. Grabbing my chin and speaking in such a tone just now was considered ying good cop? So what happens when he ys bad cop? Half an hour ago, she was still plotting to sleep with him after lusting over his stunning figure, but now, all she wanted was to get as far away as possible from the terrifying Cedrick. Without another word, Cedrick turned around and left the cell. A minuteter, the door opened again and in walked three men. The woman recognized one of them to be Swain. Rolling up his sleeves, he exuded an aura so ferocious that the woman scrambled back into a corner. Unable to escape, she asked, ¡°What are you trying to do? You¡­¡± Outside the cell, Cedrick was cleaning his hands with a towel and disinfectant after touching the woman¡¯s hand. He wiped them twice to make sure they were thoroughly cleaned. He then leaned against the wall and retrieved a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Upon opening it, he saw that there was only one cigarette left inside. Given that Gwendolyn was not around to monitor him, he had gone through the entire pack indiscriminately. With a gloomy look in his eyes, he picked up thest cigarette and lit it before smoking in the dark tunnel. Given that the secret prison was located deep in the woods, one could only hear the leaves rustling in the wind amid the quiet surroundings. Every cell in the secret prison was soundproofed with the best materials. Even if Cedrick had his ear to the door, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hear the woman¡¯s screams from inside. The door finally opened ten minutester. Swain emerged and reported respectfully, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s done. She¡¯s willing to tell you everything.¡± ¡°Well done,¡± Cedrick responded indifferently. Although he was giving apliment, it didn¡¯t sound like that at all. Having just finished his cigarette, Cedrick stubbed it out with the heel of his boots before entering the cell. The woman was sprawled on the empty space in the center, panting heavily. Her slender fingers were trembling uncontrobly but there were no signs of blood on her dress which appeared to be untouched. There were also no visible bruises on her body. Nevertheless, she was drenched in sweat and trembled all over the moment she saw Cedrick step in. The fact that she was in pain couldn¡¯t be any more evident. The interrogation techniques of Federal Bureau of Investigation had always been brutal and effective. Upon taking his seat a second time, Cedrick stated calmly. ¡°This is yourst chance. Now, speak.¡± Chapter 782 Chapter 782 Swain stood by the side, prepared to record her confession. As the woman struggled to sit up by supporting herself with her trembling arms, she began to recount everything she knew. ¡°My real name is Tanya Rheed, and Gwendolyn knows me as a patient from Mr. Kieran¡¯s Grand Valley Hospital. My family was poor and I had an unfortunate life. I even attempted to jump off the hospital¡¯s rooftop to end my life. However, I encountered Gwendolyn then, and it was she who rescued me. Then, she took pity on me, encouraged me to seek treatment, and even paid for my medical bills. That¡¯s how both of us got to know each other.¡± Cedrick¡¯s brows gradually furrowed as he listened quietly. ¡°So, it¡¯s you.¡± He knew about the incident two years ago, for Gwendolyn had shared it with him. The reason Gwendolyn went out of her way to care for Tanya was that thetter¡¯s family situation reminded her of her own mother. Her mother had ended up in the hospital and died on the ount of her father¡¯s mistress and the latter¡¯s daughter, Evelyn. Therefore, upon learning of Tanya¡¯s predicament¡ªher husband had cheated on her, threatened her not to ept treatment, and intended to divorce her. That was when Gwendolyn decided to lend her a hand. She had found evidence of Tanya¡¯s husband¡¯s crimes and had him and his mistress sent to prison. On top of that, she had hired awyer to ensure that the husband was left with nothing from the divorce, while Tanya would be given custody of the house and car. After Tanya had recovered, she even went to Harris Group to express her gratitude toward Gwendolyn. Thereafter, Cedrick heard that Tanya had gone overseas to move on from the trauma she suffered at the hands of her husband. That was thest time Gwendolyn ever spoke of her. ¡°Despite how much she has done for you, you deserve no mercy for repaying her kindness by harming her.¡± Cedrick clenched his fists so tightly that the veins on his forearm bulged up, while his eyes brimmed with murderous intent. Overwhelmed with guilt, Tanya didn¡¯t dare look at him. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t want this to happen too. Considering how rich she was, I thought that helping me was just a snap of the fingers for her. A form of charity from the rich to the poor.¡± The more she spoke, the more embarrassed she felt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s not that I¡¯ve forgotten the mercy she showed me. I¡¯m actually very grateful. It¡¯s just that I was forced into this. I was really given no choice. The real reason I went overseas was that I was kidnapped. They ordered me to find a reason to keep in touch with Gwendolyn and forced me to undergo stic surgery. This face has undergone more than a hundred operations before my boss was finally satisfied. After that, I was locked up and forced to learn everything about Gwendolyn, including her mannerisms and movements by watching video clips and interviews of her. If I didn¡¯t do what I was told, I would be beaten so badly that I felt like I would die. However, if I did well, that man would be delighted and give me a lot of money. He would deposit it into my mother¡¯s ount in front of my eyes. As long as I followed his instructions, I didn¡¯t have to suffer beatings and was even paid and fed. I had no choice and did it just to survive.¡± At that moment, Tanya began to sob but didn¡¯t even have the strength to wipe her tears away. At that moment, Tanya began to sob but didn¡¯t even have the strength to wipe her tears away. Earlier, Swain had entered with someone who gave her an injection. The person even inserted a few needles into the acupoints of her body, causing her to be stricken by pain so excruciating that she felt as if her body was being torn apart. A short whileter, she looked up wearily and continued her story under the suffocating aura exuded by Cedrick. ¡°Eight days ago, that man learned of Gwendolyn¡¯s itinerary and arranged for me to stop the car by the bridge. I was wearing a mask, a hat, and a wig, but Gwendolyn recognized me from my voice. I even showed her our chat window and requested her to give me a ride, to which she agreed. During the journey, she asked me how I was and we chatted for a long time¡ª¡± As Cedrick brushed his fingers across the surface of his watch, his eyes narrowed impatiently. ¡°Get to the point.¡± After a momentary hesitation, Tanya nodded obediently. ¡°Once her car entered Orchidbay Tunnel, I took off my hat and mask ording to the n. When I revealed my new face to her, I could see the shock in her eyes through the rearview mirror. However, before she had the chance to ask me anything, a speeding truck came at us from the opposite direction. In spite of that, Gwendolyn managed to avoid three to four trucks that subsequently pursued us with her subliminal driving skills. She even used her Bluetooth earpiece to call for help but couldn¡¯t get through due to the signal interference. When I told her that she should stop the car and give herself up because she was surrounded and there was no escape, she refused to do so. It was then that we were hit by a truck which sent our car crashing down the valley¡­¡± As Cedrick listened to Tanya describe the harrowing episode, his fists were tightly clenched, while the stinging pain that gripped his heart caused it to sink further. ¡°Go on¡­¡± ¡°The man had prepared his n for a long time and had no second thoughts about it. Initially, everything went ording to n until¡­ Gwendolyn fled.¡± ¡°Fled?¡± Cedrick was jolted by the revtion. Tanya nodded. ¡°I lost consciousness after we crashed into the valley. She was gone by the time I woke up, and my boss had been searching for a long time. The reason the matter was dyed for seven to eight days was because we were looking for Gwendolyn. My boss initially wanted to toy with you by forcing you to y a dangerous game by choosing between two Gwendolyns. However, when we didn¡¯t find her and were pressured by your search, he had no choice but to get me to take her ce.¡± The more Tanya spoke, the more emotional she became. She then dragged herself forward by a few steps. ¡°Mr. Jenson, this is all I know. I have never seen the face of the person responsible for this. All I know is that he likes to wear a ck baseball cap and a trench coat. He also has a towering figure. I have no idea what his name is, let alone his background. Now that I¡¯ve confessed everything and was forced into this, please stop torturing me. Just throw me into prison and leave me to my fate!¡± Even if Cedrick released her, there was no way her boss would let her go. Faced with the prospect of certain death, she would rather go to prison. At the very least, she could still survive and be well-fed there. With an emotionless expression, Cedrick gave Swain a look. Cognizant of his boss¡¯ intentions, Swain showed Tanya the results of his investigation on a tablet. ¡°You have yet to exin everything, such as how you were kidnapped.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°I¡­¡± Tanya turned pale when she saw the evidence on the tablet. ¡°You used drugs and got addicted. It was when you were trying to buy some that you got yourself kidnapped. My men have checked your mother¡¯s ount, and it showed that thirty million was transferred two years ago. It seems to me that was how much you were paid for the deal by Joe. To a humble family like yours, that amount was enough for you to betray your benefactor.¡± ¡°I¡­ It isn¡¯t¡­ I¡­¡± Tanya¡¯s face had lost all color as she bungled her attempt to exin. Although she had just revealed her identity a few minutes ago, Cedrick had managed to find out everything about her. The shocking efficiency disyed left her with nothing to defend herself with. Tears subsequently fell from her eyes, as if eliciting pity from Cedrick was herst resort. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. Upon learning that Gwendolyn had escaped, Cedrick managed to calm his nerve down. He then continued asking, ¡°Other than getting you to trick me and stop me from investigating him, did he assign you a mission rted to Benny and Zendy?¡± Chapter 783 Chapter 783 Tanya, no longer daring to conceal the truth, nodded hastily. ¡°Yes, he wanted me to gain your trust and then find an opportunity to lure the children out.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression grew even more solemn, his lips tightly pursed, and his gaze chilling. Joe really hates me to the core. Since he can¡¯t take me down, he resorted to targeting my wife and children. After years of training together, how could he be such a vicious and heartless person? Cedrick could not understand why. Is it worth dedicating his entire life to seeking revenge for a maniptive and scheming woman who has been dead for years? After losing in thought for a moment, he came to his senses. ring at Tanya, he asked, ¡°Apart from this, is there anything else you want to confess? This might be yourst chance, so think carefully before you speak.¡± Tanya racked her brain, fearing that Cedrick might get Swain to torture her even further. ¡°That¡¯s all, Mr. Jenson. I told you everything I know.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll honor my promise and spare you,¡± Cedrick replied. Tanya was struck dumb for a moment. ¡°No, Mr. Jenson. That¡¯s not what I meant. I know I¡¯ve gone against thew, and I ept the consequences. Please send me to prison and have me locked up! I beg you!¡± Cedrick snorted, arching his brows. ¡°You don¡¯t tell me what to do.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Tanya burst into tears, her face filled with terror. Despite the excruciating pain coursing through her body, she crawled on her knees toward Cedrick, desperately trying to clutch onto his trousers. ¡°Mr. Jenson, please! I can¡¯t go out there. That man will kill me!¡± Upon noticing her behavior, Swain immediately stepped forward to block her path, preventing her from touching Cedrick¡¯s clothes. In the past few days, Cedrick had grown increasingly disgusted by her touch, forcing him to discard numerous outfits that he had worn. It was really a waste. Cedrick kept his gaze low, his expression indifferent, as he focused on his wristwatch, which was a gift from his wife, and stroked the intricate patterns on the watch strap. ¡°Before releasing her, take her to a stic surgery hospital. Make sure the doctors reconstruct her face to match her previous identity as stated on her ID card. Charge the expenses to her mother¡¯s bank ount,¡± he instructed Swain in a cold tone. Even if she¡¯s going to meet her end, I can¡¯t allow her to die with Gwenny¡¯s appearance. ¡°Understood, Boss,¡± Swain replied. The cops then dragged Tanya away. The room was filled with her piercing screams, roars, and desperate wails, making the confinement chamber unbearable for Cedrick. Noticing the annoyance on Cedrick¡¯s face, Swain quickly signaled the cops to cover Tanya¡¯s mouth, silencing her voice. Swain understood why Cedrick had chosen to release Tanya. Once Joe learned that Tanya had betrayed him, he would not spare her. Cedrick intended to use that opportunity to force Joe to take action. The more actions he takes, the more likely he is to expose his vulnerabilities. Swain assured Cedrick. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boss. I¡¯ll assign skilled operatives to quietly monitor Tanya. If anyone poses a threat to her, I¡¯ll update you immediately.¡± Weary and drained, Cedrick closed his eyes, letting out a calm and subdued hum in response. Observing his boss¡¯s solemn demeanor, Swain pressed on. ¡°Boss, considering Mrs. Jenson¡¯s escape and the fact that she wasn¡¯t kidnapped by Joe and his men, it¡¯s probable that she is unharmed and not in life-threatening danger. You can ease up for a bit.¡± Cedrick remained silent, his eyes tightly shut, and his brow slightly furrowed. In his mind, he was trying to piece all the information together. He knew Joe could be extremely twisted and capable of doing anything, but at the same time, he was also a meticulous person who would always execute his ns wlessly. However, this time, there was something unusual about Joe¡¯s actions. Cedrick could not just ignore the numerous ws in his n. Joe intentionally left a fake hostage and even allowed one of his underlings to deliver the false information to him. Joe should have known that the impostor¡¯s identity would eventually be exposed, yet he still went through with it. What¡¯s his actual intention? Somehow, Cedrick could not shake the feeling that Joe was ying some twisted game again. Whether it was the incident with Benedict¡¯s tainted milk powder or Gwendolyn¡¯s disappearance, Cedrick knew Joe was out to get him. He just wants to torture me. Cedrick would never have peace of mind until the real Gwendolyn appeared before him. ¡°You have any cigarettes?¡± Cedrick lifted his eyes and hoarsely asked after letting out a long and heavy sigh. He needed something to distract him from his worries. Swain froze for a moment before reacting to his request. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± He reached into his pocket and took out his own cigarette case, hesitating to hand it over. ¡°Boss, you¡¯ve been smoking too muchtely. How will you exin it to Mrs. Jenson when shees back?¡± ¡°Just give it to me.¡± Cedrick frowned, a hint of impatience in his gesture as he demanded. I know Gwenny doesn¡¯t like to see me smoke, but I just can¡¯t help it. I¡¯m going to smoke now that she¡¯s not around. I want her toe and look for me if she knows I¡¯m smoking, and I want her to punish me¡ª break my legs or make me kneel until my legs are fractured¡­ I don¡¯t care for she can do anything to me. Gwendolyn had disappeared for eight days now, and Cedrick realized he had missed the simplest things about her, like her ruler and Lego pieces. Cedrick closed his eyes, attempting to conceal the mist that clouded them. Feeling weary and sluggish, he took a drag from the cigarette that Swain had lit for him. Two dayster, Tanya, who was forcibly taken to the hospital for stic surgery, failed to regain consciousness after being injected with anesthesia. When the agents from Federal Bureau of Investigation arrived, all attempts at resuscitation had been in vain. The medical personnel eventually confirmed her death. Cedrick was infuriated. I can¡¯t believe a fugitive is resourceful enough to infiltrate a hospital and end Tanya¡¯s life on the operating table. In fact, two teams of men from the bureau were fully dedicated to investigating the incident. That afternoon, the autopsy report on Tanya was released. It was discovered that she was clutching a yellow sticky note, but the curled motion of her fingers suggested that the note was ced forcibly in her palm after she lost consciousness. The sticky note quickly made its way to Cedrick. The note was adorned with bold red ink, its strokes exuding confidence and mboyance. The note stated: Cedrick, you love your wife so much. If she were to betray you and lead a carefree life with her first love behind your back, I wonder how will you react to that? Will you go crazy? I¡¯m truly looking forward to it. Cedrick¡¯s expression turned stern, his gaze fixated on the words ¡°first love.¡± His fingers trembled with intensity, and his palms began to sweat. Even the act of breathing became painful for him. Yet, instinctively, he shook his head. No way. Gwenny will never betray me or our family. As he pondered the contents of the note, Cedrick realized the true intent behind Joe¡¯s plot. He must have tracked Gwenny¡¯s whereabouts and likely tampered with her information. Cedrick¡¯s expression grew even graver when he recalled Nico¡¯s previous report about Charles iming to have found Gwendolyn¡¯s location and needing to attend to personal matters. The images of Gwendolyn being with Charles kept ying in his mind. He couldn¡¯t stop imagining them being intimate andughing together. His breath caught in his throat, and his heart twisted with intense pain. His eyes turned bloodshot, filled with a very fierce gaze¡ªfreezing cold and merciless. Cedrick could not take it anymore. He knew he was about to go mad. He was on the verge of losing his sanity! ¡°Get Nico to call Charles and locate him. Do it right now!¡± Crushing the note into pieces, Cedrick stood up and rushed out of Federal Bureau of Investigation. He even forgot to grab his military coat. ¡°Understood, Boss. Just a moment!¡± The weather outside was chilly, so Swain quickly grabbed Cedrick¡¯s coat before catching up with him in wobbly steps. Chapter 784 Chapter 784 A few minutester, Nico, who had received Cedrick¡¯s orders, hurriedly ran over and eagerly followed closely beside Cedrick. ¡°Cedrick, are you suspecting that Charles took advantage of Gwendolyn¡¯s vulnerability and did something inappropriate to her? Or even hid her away?¡± Nico asked. Cedrick did not answer and merely walked forward with a solemn expression. It was evident that he was indeed thinking the same. Nico sighed and said sincerely, ¡°Cedrick, Charles helped us before, and because of your support, he managed to gain control of the Newton family. He has been well-behaved all these years. Moreover, he has a girlfriend now. I don¡¯t think he would do such a thing.¡± His voice became softer as he spoke, and he even started doubting himself. However, Nico had known Charles for many years. They even challenged each other to a fight before and bantered like teasing friends. He did not want Charles to repeat the same extreme actions as the S404 RNA virus incident from the past. Nico did not want thetter to end up in prison again. When he saw theplicated look in Nico¡¯s eyes, Cedrick stopped in his tracks and stared coldly at him. ¡°How well do you know him? How can you guarantee that?¡± Nico ultimately lowered his head upon hearing that and did not respond. ¡°Back then, I thought he was willing to be Benny and Zendy¡¯s godfather because he wants to let go of the past and his obsession with Gwendolynpletely to move on with his life. However, as soon as something happened to Gwendolyn, he would pursue her quickly, almost like a rabbit darting forward. He has the same level of urgency and impatience as me. Considering their ten years of childhood friendship, are you certain that he won¡¯t resort to extreme actions if he finds Gwendolyn before I do?¡± Cedrick continued. At that point, Nico found himself increasingly unable to argue and instead lowered his head in despondence. Then, with aposed tone, Cedrick reprimanded him, ¡°Call him right away. Do it in front of me. Hopefully, I¡¯m overthinking things.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Nico answered as he obediently took out his phone. He found Charles¡¯ number in his contacts list and dialed it, putting the call on speaker in front of Cedrick and Swain. At the same time, Swain quickly asked the technical department to enable location tracking. As soon as Charles answered the call, Federal Bureau of Investigation could monitor his whereabouts immediately. The phone kept ringing, but no one answered. Cedrick sat nearby with a grim expression while Nico stood obediently. No one spoke. The phone rang for over a minute, then the call automatically disconnected without anyone answering. Nico¡¯s resolve wavered. He found himself unable to offer any more exnations to help Charles. It¡¯s afternoon, and he¡¯s not even answering the phone. Is he feeling guilty? The air grew tense, and Nico¡¯s back stiffened. He discreetly nced at Cedrick¡¯s expression, ready to follow his nextmand. After thinking about it, Cedrick said in a low voice, ¡°Send him a text and let him know that something hase up with Gwendolyn. It¡¯s challenging, and we need his help.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Nico tapped on his phone¡¯s keyboard, typing the message carefully, and then sent it. Two minutester, he called Charles again. This time, Charles answered the phone almost immediately, asking, ¡°What happened?¡± Nico instinctively nced at Cedrick and spoke with a slightly anxious tone, ¡°The Gwendolyn that we found is an imposter. She passed away on the operating table this morning.¡± There was silence on Charles¡¯ end for quite some time after he heard what Nico said. It was as if the former needed to process the news. After a long while, he still did not say anything. Even Nico sensed something was off with Charles and could not help but raise his voice, ¡°Charles, where on earth have you been?¡± Before, Charles would have been extremely anxious upon hearing that something had happened with Gwendolyn. However, he remained calm and did not ask anything after learning that the Gwendolyn they found was an imposter while the real Gwendolyn remained missing. There was definitely something wrong with him. Nico gritted his teeth and said with emphasis, ¡°Charles, you¡¯d better don¡¯t resort to any extreme actions. You know Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s influence in Chanaea very well, and the truth will be exposed sooner orter. You¡­¡± However, he was interrupted by Cedrick¡¯s cold re. Nico¡¯s words trailed off, and he did not say anything more. ¡°You¡¯re on your own!¡± With that said, he hung up the phone and walked to Cedrick, his head hanging low, knowing he had made a mistake. Nico¡¯s broad shoulders slumped slightly, and he helplessly clenched his fists. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cedrick. I couldn¡¯t control myself and threatened him a little.¡± Before Cedrick could respond, Swain spoke up first. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve located him. The signal is weak, but there¡¯s no sign of movement at the moment.¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Cedrick rose to his feet and walked over, looking at the red dot on theputer screen. Swain answered, ¡°He¡¯s at a small vige about ten kilometers from Quawak. No. Actually, he seems to be in the mountains behind the vige. It¡¯s far from the transmission tower, which is why the signal is so weak.¡± It¡¯s strange for someone to run off to a remote vige suddenly. Something fishy must be going on. ¡°How long would it take to drive there?¡± Cedrick asked. Swain swiftly and efficiently checked the map software and replied, ¡°We can only take the highway by car. The mountain roads are too small, so if we were to hike up, we probably wouldn¡¯t get there by today.¡± It¡¯s too time-consuming. Cedrick narrowed his eyes, and his expression darkened. He quickly turned around, put on his coat, and ordered, ¡°Bring a team and have ten helicopters here within half an hour.¡± He could not wait that long. Flying there directly was the most straightforward option. Swain opened theputer¡¯s 3D map mode and examined the satellite image of the mountaintop. ¡°Yes, Boss. It can be done. There¡¯s a small teau on that mountain. It¡¯s perfect for helicopters tond. I¡¯ll make the arrangements right away.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Throughout the entire process, Nico stood motionless by the side,pletely ignored by everyone else. His intuition told him that he had acted emotionally this time. Nico eagerly volunteered for the task. ¡°Cedrick, I¡¯ll go get a team and will get ready to leaveter.¡± Cedrick turned to re at Nico, taking slow steps as he approached thetter. In a stern tone, he dered, ¡°You¡¯d better pray that Charles won¡¯t run. If your unnecessary talk just now alerted him and caused a dy in official matters, I will hold you professionally and personally ountable for this grave mistake.¡± Nico¡¯s face turned pale, and his back stiffened as soon as the words came out of Cedrick¡¯s mouth. He understood what Cedrick meant. Professionally, it meant disciplinary action from the bureau, and he might be suspended or even removed from his position as deputy director. On a personal level, it meant facing the disciplinary measures of the Jenson family. Nico might be taken to the ancestral hall and severely punished with a whip. Ever since bing the adopted son of the Jenson family, Nico had never been reprimanded by Cedrick in front of the family. However, this time, Cedrick mentioned the family¡¯s disciplinary measures. It was evident that he was genuinely furious with Nico¡¯s reckless actions. If Charles escaped, it would be his fault. Nico pursed his lips, swallowed the dry lump in his throat, and obediently nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault, and I¡¯ll ept any punishment.¡± With a cold and stern expression, Cedrick coolly withdrew his gaze and walked away, leaving Nico behind. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Nico sighed, silently followed Cedrick, and headed to gather the personnel for the mission. Over half an hourter, five helicopters were positioned in a formation on the bureau¡¯s rooftop, ready to take off. The personnel armed with rifles boarded the helicopters in an orderly and swift manner, taking less than five minutes. With the booming sound of the helicopter rotors, the formation set off toward the countryside. Not long after, while Charles was busy picking vegetables in the field, he heard the sound of helicopters from above. The noise was loud, making it hard to ignore. Charles chuckled and shook his head. Then, he looked at his watch. It had only been an hour and twenty minutes since he received Nico¡¯s call, and Cedrick was already there. This is such a remote ce, but he arrived surprisingly fast. A hint of destion shed in Charles¡¯ eyes. He suddenly remembered the open grassy mountaintop area and realized the helicopters would likely descend there. After that, Cedrick and his team would use coordinates to find them as they made their way down. He ced the freshly picked vegetables into a bamboo basket, then returned to the courtyard of his modest house. Charles set the basket down and said to the woman inside the house, ¡°I have some guests who have arrived. I need to go out for a while, but I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± From inside the house came the woman¡¯s question. ¡°How many guests are there? Are they having dinner here? Does that mean we need to prepare a few more dishes?¡± Her voice was soft and gentle, with a youthful tone. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. This house is small and can¡¯t amodate them. Plus, there won¡¯t be any opportunities in the future for us to entertain guests,¡± Charles replied with a smile. The woman continued, ¡°Megan will return soon, so please pick up the guests quickly. If you miss mealtime, she¡¯ll get upset.¡± ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t take long.¡± After saying that, Charles took a couple of deep breaths of the fresh mountain air and slowly made his way to the mountaintop. Chapter 785 Chapter 785 The crimson hues of the sunset outside retreated, giving way to the twilight. The light atop the mountain gradually dimmed, and a chilly evening wind blew. With an unperturbed demeanor, Charles stood unmoving on the mountaintop, bracing against the breeze. The engine roars of five helicopters grew increasingly loud, deafening, and intimidating. Yet, Charles remained stationary, silently awaiting the helicopters tond. Soon, the cabin door opened, and Cedrick, d in a dark military coat and boots, descended the cabin stairs with a stern look on his face. Almost instantly, the two men locked gazes from afar. Immediately afterward, Nico also disembarked from the helicopter. He breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Charles. Luckily he didn¡¯t flee and obediently came to meet us. I suppose there is more to the situation than meets the eye. Thank goodness. I don¡¯t have to endure punishment when we get back. ¡°Mr. Jenson, don¡¯t you think this is a little over the top, leading over a dozen armed subordinates here? Others who don¡¯t know better may think I¡¯m a criminal.¡± Charles smirked. Cedrick red at Charles, not bothering to beat around the bush with thetter, and cut to the chase. ¡°Is Gwendolyn here with you?¡± Charles smiled faintly and corrected him halfheartedly. ¡°This is not my territory. All I did was locate her.¡± Toward the end of his statement, he spoke in a knowing tone and arched his brow mischievously. ¡°Cedrick, I got lucky this time, finding her before you did. If she chooses me this time, will you let go of her?¡± Cedrick frowned with murderous intent and rage churning in his eyes. Striding forward in his military boots, he angrily grabbed Charles¡¯ shirt cor and uttered furiously, ¡°If you dare covet her, I don¡¯t mind giving you another taste of the unbearable life in a high-security prison.¡± Charles met his gaze, and the two entered a stalemate for a few seconds before Charles gave in by shing a smile. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. Don¡¯t take it seriously, Mr. Jenson. If I had genuinely wanted to possess Gwen, I would¡¯ve destroyed all means of contact, cut all ties with all of you, and prepared a large sum of money to take her overseas to a less developed nation. Once we¡¯re out of the country, even Federal Bureau of Investigation, with its mighty abilities, would find it challenging and time- consuming to track us down. Don¡¯t you agree, Mr. Jenson?¡± Cedrick narrowed his eyes and fell silent. Seeing Charles voluntarily receiving the helicopters, he knew Charles didn¡¯t have the guts to hide Gwendolyn. Moreover, Charles used to be the director of Central Intelligence Agency. If he had truly wanted to go into hiding, it would indeed be tough to track him down. Nevertheless, Charles harbored selfish motives, so Cedrick still thought poorly of him. ¡°You should¡¯ve contacted me as soon as you found her and brought her back safely rather than keeping it a secret. Charles, I know exactly what tricks you¡¯re trying to pull.¡± Charles didn¡¯t refute. He admitted he indeed had selfish intentions, wanting to seek closure for his decade-long obsession. However, that was provided Gwendolyn was willing to give him a chance to do so. Initially, he nned to take her away as long as she was willing to ept him, even if it meant bearing a criminal charge, being surrounded and intercepted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and having to live as an absconder for the rest of his life. He wanted to gamble that once. What a pity. Suppressing the hint of disappointment shing across his eyes, Charles said with a double entendre, ¡°I wanted to bring her back, but I could only do that if she¡¯s willing toe with me.¡± Cedrick knitted his brows. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you see her.¡± Charles smirked again with an inscrutable, profound look in his eyes. Gwendolyn is different now. She¡¯s reluctant to choose me, but I think she won¡¯t necessarily pick Cedrick either. The rest of the armed personnel were ordered to stay put. Charles led Cedrick and Nico down the mountain path. Cedrick noticed the billowing smoke from a cooking fire rising from a simple tiled house a hundred meters away. Err¡­ Have Gwendolyn and Charles been spending time alone in that house? Fury surged within him instantly. His wrath burned more fiercely than the stove inside the humble house. He reached to his lower back and drew his sidearm in one swift motion. Cedrick loaded the magazine, chambered a round, and pressed the muzzle against the back of Charles¡¯ head. Hearing the noise, Charles stopped short and turned around. Instead of cowering at the sight of the gun, he merely felt confused. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cedrick clenched his jaw and uttered threateningly through gritted teeth, ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance toe clean. Are you sure you didn¡¯t do anything to Gwendolyn during the four days you¡¯ve spent alone with her in this isted ce?¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re falsely using me. I didn¡¯t get the chance to spend time alone with her. Hurry up and put away your gun. Hide it better to avoid frightening them.¡± His words implied there were other people in the house. Cedrick¡¯s hardened expression rxed significantly. He holstered his gun, hiding it behind his waist under his shirt. Then, he pulled his coat closer, concealing the weapon perfectly. In less than two minutes, the three men stood outside the courtyard of the hut. Through the low mud wall, Cedrick immediately spotted a familiar slender figure sitting under the eaves on a low stool. She held a pea pod in her delicate, fair hands, carefully and gracefully picking out the green peas from inside. Due to her innate elegance, she appeared captivating even in simple attire. Her exquisite countenance bore a casual smile as she chatted leisurely with an older woman by the entrance. At that moment, tears welled up in his reddened eyes. I¡¯ve finally found her, the woman I¡¯ve been missing dearly and had disappeared for the past ten days. Intense emotions washed over him, but the feelings quickly turnedplicated. She¡¯s not hurt, so why didn¡¯t shee home? She didn¡¯t contact me either. Is she nning to abandon her family? Is she casting Benny, Zendy, and me aside? Pangs crept into his heart, and the pain spread throughout his body, causing even his fingers, hidden beneath the sleeves of his coat, to tremble. Nico took in the changes in Cedrick¡¯s mood. He sighed inwardly with worry. Charles appeared the mostposed. He pushed open the small wooden gate of the courtyard. ¡°Megan, Gwen, I¡¯m back.¡± Megan, the older woman, and Gwendolyn both turned around in unison. However, Gwendolyn immediately noticed the distinguished man beside Charles first. The tall man was d in a military uniform and had a strikingly attractive appearance. The dim light of the setting sun perfectly concealed the dark circles under his eyes, formed due to days of unrest. Gwendolyn stared at him in a daze. Even from a distance, she could see the man¡¯s red-rimmed and teary eyes, making him look as if he was sumbing to an indescribable sorrow. Her heart inexplicably ached for him. She lowered her eyes to hide her slight astonishment. When she looked up again, a faint smile spread across her countenance. Gwendolyn turned to Charles and said teasingly, ¡°So, this is the guests you were talking about? They¡¯re quite handsome. The sight of you three standing together is quite pleasing to the eyes.¡± As soon as Cedrick heard that, his pupils constricted and his chest tightened. A sense of suffocation overwhelmed him. Gwendolyn doesn¡¯t recognize me? Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Nico was equally surprised but more concerned about his boss¡¯ condition. He hastily grasped the latter¡¯s arm to support him as he was afraid that Cedrick would copse from the shock and built-up weariness. Seemingly having expected their astounded reactions, Charles arched his brow and stepped into the courtyard, replying to Gwendolyn with a smile, ¡°Yes. However, I still think I¡¯m the best-looking one.¡± Gwendolyn propped up her chin with one hand, her eyes flitting between the three men as she scrutinized them. In the end, she rested her gaze on Cedrick. ¡°It¡¯s not the same. You¡¯re good-looking. He¡¯s stunning.¡± She had said something simr in the bar at Faike once. That day, she also mentioned that if she had to choose between Cedrick and Charles, she would pick Cedrick. The two men remembered that incident. As if he was enjoying the drama, Charles raised his eyebrows again and probed further, ¡°In that case, do you prefer the stunning or good-looking one? If you had to choose one of us as your future husband, who would you opt for?¡± Cedrick clenched his fists, feeling his blood run cold and a chill traveling down his spine. He riveted his reddened eyes on Gwendolyn¡¯s face. Nervousness and unease churned within him. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but anticipate her answer. Chapter 786 Chapter 786 Except for him, Charles, Nico, and Megan were all looking at Gwendolyn, waiting for her to make a decision. Staring at the beans in her hands, Gwendolyn cast her gaze downward instead of replying immediately. Megan smiled. ¡°Both of them are so handsome. It¡¯s indeed hard to choose. If I were you, I¡¯d choose both of them.¡± Although she intended to ease the tense atmosphere, none of the three menughed along with her. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . It was merely a lighthearted joke, yet they seemed to treat this matter with utmost importance. Awkwardly, Megan stopped smiling and fell silent. Faced with their stares, Gwendolyn maintained herposure, but a slight pout of unhappiness was evident on her lips. ¡°I won¡¯t choose any of them. I don¡¯t know him, so why should I choose him to be my husband?¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart ached, as if a dagger had just pierced it. He gulped, feeling a bitter taste rising in his throat. He was in so much pain that he felt the urge to tear up. Lowering his gaze, he struggled to suppress his rising emotions. Nico¡¯s expression was grim, too. He stood quietly beside Cedrick and felt sorry when he saw how pale his employer looked. Charles¡¯ expression was just as gloomy as the other two men. His guess was correct. Gwendolyn, after losing her memories, would not choose Cedrick. However, he wasn¡¯t at all happy. After everything he did for the past few days, Gwendolyn had grown familiar with him and was willing to trust him. Yet, when it came to choosing between Charles and Cedrick, who seemed like a stranger to her, she still did not choose Charles. The three men stood in the courtyard, stiff as statues. Megan couldn¡¯t stand the rigid atmosphere and brought out a few stools for them to sit on. She then turned to Charles and inquired, ¡°Do your guests want to stay for dinner? It¡¯s gettingte, and the nights can be quite dark in the mountains. They might need to stay overnight, but¡­¡± Pausing mid-sentence and hesitating for a while, she continued in a troubled tone, ¡°We only have two beds and a wooden couch at home. I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t fit everyone.¡± Remembering the officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation still waiting at the top of the mountain, Charles replied promptly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Megan. They don¡¯t need to¡ª¡± Before Charles could finish his sentence, Cedrick interrupted him hoarsely, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Nico and I can sleep on the floor. We just need two nkets. It¡¯s dark now, so it¡¯s not safe to leave the mountains. Thank you for your hospitality, Megan.¡± Though he was trying hard to keep his emotions in check and his frighteningly pale face was concealed by the dim light, his hoarse voice was evidence that he was on the verge of tears. Gwendolyn paused in her tracks, unable to resist stealing nces at him a few more times. Megan was the only one who remainedpletely oblivious to Cedrick¡¯s emotions. She was preupied with inspecting Cedrick¡¯s and Nico¡¯s uniforms. Military uniforms! They obviously have a powerful background. In addition to the unique aura they¡¯re exuding, they must be either from a wealthy or noble family. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. I¡¯m just afraid that both of you might be ufortable sleeping on the floor.¡± Smiling, Nico replied on behalf of Cedrick, ¡°Not at all. The air here is fresh and the scenery is gorgeous. It¡¯s our honor to be able to stay here for a night.¡± Sleeping on the floor meant nothing to them. They had experienced much worse during their missions at the border, where they had to sleep on the muddy ground without moving a muscle for twelve hours. They endured that torture withoutint. Meganughed along with him, and the atmosphere immediately lightened up. The joyful atmosphere didn¡¯t extend to everyone. Cedrick¡¯s attention was still fixed on Gwendolyn, who seemedpletely unaffected by his distress. Does she really¡­ not remember me anymore? How did things end up like this? His gaze fell from Gwendolyn¡¯s face to her slender fingertips. That familiar ring was still on her left ring finger. A faint glimmer of hope lit up his eyes as he approached Gwendolyn and squatted down next to her, asking in a trembling voice, ¡°Do you really¡­ not remember me?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent before meeting his gaze for a second. She then looked away and calmly corrected him, ¡°I don¡¯t recognize you.¡± Cedrick¡¯s heart clenched once again as he continued to ask, ¡°Then what about the ring on your left hand? You¡¯re married. Don¡¯t you remember who your husband is?¡± Gwendolyn looked at her left hand, stroking the smooth surface of the ring. With her gaze still cast downward, she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten many things, including how I got this ring. But it seems like I¡¯ve been wearing it for such a long time that I can¡¯t take it off. Maybe¡­ I have a husband. He probably treats me very well too and never lets me do any household chores. That¡¯s why my hands are so fair and clean. I probably love him a lot as well because I keep wearing this ring,¡± Gwendolyn said with a mixture of uncertainty and introspection. Charles listened quietly on the side, concealing the look of sorrow in his eyes. Cedrick¡¯s eyshes fluttered as tears brimmed in his eyes, blurring his vision. However, he stubbornly refused to let his tears fall, his pride keeping them at bay. His thin lips quivered, and his face became a canvas of regret and self-me. At that moment, he seemed to have lost a precious treasure dear to his heart. Even his broad shoulders trembled, making him appear utterly helpless. ¡°He¡¯s not a good man at all. He failed to protect you and made you suffer so much.¡± Gwendolyn rebutted seriously, ¡°It¡¯s not his fault. My husband is definitely the best husband in the world! Besides, I¡¯m not suffering at all. Megan treats me very well.¡± Why is she insisting that her husband is the best despite not remembering anything? For a moment, Cedrick did not know if he should feel sad or fortunate. He felt a familiar urge, almost habitual, to ce his trembling hands on her knees. The yearning to touch and embrace her overwhelmed him. However, he was afraid that she would think of him as a perverted hooligan and have a bad impression of him. Withdrawing his hands, Cedrick swallowed his tears and introduced himself earnestly, ¡°Gwenny, my name is Cedrick Jenson and I¡¯m your husband. We¡¯ve been married for five years, seven months, and eleven days. We even have two children, both of whom are five years old. Do you really¡­ not remember anything?¡± Charles furrowed his brows as he watched from the side, his expression solemn and nervous at the same time. Gwendolyn nced at Charles first beforeughing. ¡°What¡¯s up with you guys? Why are all of you iming to be my husband? I can¡¯t possibly have so many husbands.¡± A cold expression immediately settled on Cedrick¡¯s countenance. Nico was shocked as well before shooting a fierce re in Charles¡¯ direction. Charles lowered his head awkwardly. Rising to his feet, he grabbed the basket of beans in front of Gwendolyn. ¡°I¡¯ll help Megan with the cooking. You guys can continue chatting.¡± The frostiness in Cedrick¡¯s eyes dissipated, and he couldn¡¯t be bothered to interrogate Charles at that moment. Instead, he raised his head and fixed his gaze on Gwendolyn. ¡°What did he tell you?¡± A mischievous grin spread across Gwendolyn¡¯s lips. With a hint of yfulint in her tone, she proceeded to reveal what Charles did a few days ago. ¡°Well, he suddenly appeared here four days ago. Just like you, he was teary-eyed and so earnest. When he realized that I don¡¯t recognize him, he imed to be my husband and wanted me to go back with him. I was reluctant to do so. When I asked him for the marriage certificate, he couldn¡¯t produce it. That¡¯s when I asked Megan to chase him out. However, he refused to leave. He stood in the courtyard the entire night. Megan said he didn¡¯t seem like a bad person, so we allowed him to stay for a few days.¡± Nico, who was also listening, got even more agitated than Cedrick himself. The former dered indignantly, ¡°No one would make it obvious that they¡¯re bad people! He¡¯s cunning and malicious, with no good intentions in his heart. He¡¯s taking advantage of you when you don¡¯t remember anything!¡± Furious, Nico sprang from his seat and rolled up his sleeves aggressively. Despite looking as though he was about to beat Charles up, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the kitchen and help him wash the vegetables!¡± His tone was filled with ferocity, as if he was primed for a confrontation. Gwendolyn did not stop him. Fearing that things might spiral out of control, Megan immediately got up as well. ¡°I should go and cook. You two go ahead and talk.¡± Gwendolyn quickly held Megan back, making thetter sit back down. ¡°Let them cook tonight, Megan. Stay with me.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not appropriate to have our guests cook.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t consider themselves as guests, so just leave them be.¡± Gwendolyn leaned closer to Megan¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Here¡¯s another one iming to be my husband. Can you help me assess him?¡± Cedrick was at a loss for words. He wasn¡¯t deaf, after all, and at such a close distance, he could hear everything clearly. There was no need for them to act all mysterious. Chapter 787 Chapter 787 Megan nced at Cedrick with an awkward smile, chuckled sheepishly, and then settled back into her seat. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn returned her gaze to Cedrick, seizing the opportunity to study him while he remained lost in destion, his eyes fixed on the ground. When he finally looked up, she quickly averted her eyes, avoiding eye contact. Resuming a calm tone, she asked, ¡°Since you im to be my husband, what evidence do you have to prove it?¡± Cedrick pondered for a moment before reaching into his pocket and taking out his phone. With trembling fingers, he tapped the screen and clicked into the photo album, showing Gwendolyn a family photo of the four of them taken in the hospital¡¯sb. Gwendolyn nced at it cidly. ¡°Photos can be edited. Since you came prepared, it¡¯s only normal for you fabricate these.¡± She was implying that she still didn¡¯t buy his im. Cedrick sighed, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he began to exin, ¡°We have a pair of five-year-old twins. The older one is a boy named Benedict Jenson, and the younger one is a girl named Zendaya Harris. They have different surnames because you personally arranged it that way, considering their involvement in the inheritance rights of both the Jenson and Harris families. During the year when you were pregnant, many things happened. Your father fell from the stairs and passed away in the hospital. You were questioned about whether you were truly the heiress of the Harris family. All those burdens took a toll on your emotions, causing them to be unstable and often go out of control¡­¡± He paused and slowly rolled up his left sleeve, revealing his muscr forearm. As he was clenching his fist firmly, his skin was taut, revealing the veins bulging underneath. He turned his forearm slightly, showing two rows of bite marks that had left a small, fading scar. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Cedrick gently caressed the scar with his fingertips, his eyshes trembling as he spoke hoarsely. ¡°This scar is from when I stopped you from eating oranges during a manic episode. You bit me hard, and it hurt so badly¡­¡± The pain from that bite was excruciating, but nothingpares to the agony of her not remembering me and not choosing me. Gwendolyn turned her face away, not looking at the bite mark. Her calm expression seemed indifferent, as if she was unaffected by what he just said. Megan observed their expressions back and let out a sigh as she shook her head, uncertain of what she should say. Matters concerning these young people were beyond her intervention, so all she could do was listen quietly. The courtyard fell into a tranquil silence. With aposed demeanor, Gwendolyn said, ¡°Stories can be fabricated. Saying all this won¡¯t make me believe you. There are so many people with ill intentions nowadays. If I wasn¡¯t cautious, I would¡¯ve believed Charles, and you wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to tell me all this. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m deliberately singling you out. I hope you understand.¡± She sounded so apathetic, as though she was an interviewer evaluating a candidate. Cedrick remained squatting by her feet, his head hanging low. He remained silent for quite some time. For some reason, he felt that Gwendolyn was trying to console him and tell him that she was merely trying to protect herself now that she had lost her memories. Yet, in just a few seconds, he dismissed the thought. How can she possibly beforting me when she doesn¡¯t even remember me? It¡¯s nothing but wishful thinking. Gwendolyn gazed at the dejected man, who was still crouching at her feet, wallowing in sorrow. With a tinge of tenderness, she asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t your legs sore from squatting like this for so long?¡± Cedrick shook his head. Squatting is nothing. If there weren¡¯t any outsiders watching, I would even kneel and p myself to atone for my sins until she remembers me. Gwendolyn inquired further, ¡°You mentioned earlier that you have two five-year-old kids. At such a young age, children need their parents¡¯pany. Are you really nning to stay here overnight instead of being with your children?¡± Her tone sounded distant and unweing, as if she was chasing him away and making it clear that he was not wee there. Cedrick hesitated for a moment before resolutely shaking his head. He would be wherever his wife was. Nothing could ever change that. Gwendolyn frowned slightly, seemingly impatient. ¡°You really won¡¯t leave? We can¡¯t amodate all of you here. Your children must be upset without someone to keep thempany. You im to love me and your kids, yet you¡¯re leaving them alone. How can I believe your words?¡± Cedrick hesitated for a moment before responding, ¡°The children have been very obedient recently. Benny can tuck Zendy in himself, so they don¡¯t need me there. Besides, Joshua is with them, so they¡¯ll be fine.¡± In other words, he was determined to stay there tonight. Sensing the tension in the air, Megan gently patted Gwendolyn¡¯s hand with a warm smile, trying to mediate the situation. ¡°That¡¯s okay. I¡¯m honored that Mr. Jenson is willing to make himselffortable in my humble abode. Let me go get you guys some clean bedding.¡± With that, she got up and walked inside the house. Cedrick and Gwendolyn were the only ones left in the courtyard. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t feel like saying much and simply rephrased the question she had asked Charles earlier. ¡°There¡¯s no point in saying anything else because I won¡¯t believe you. I only have one question for you. Do you have our marriage certificate?¡± Cedrick gazed at her and answered firmly, ¡°Yes.¡± Wearing a solemn look, Gwendolyn held out her hand. ¡°Show me.¡± Cedrick instinctively reached for his pocket, eager to present the evidence. However, his expression soon froze on his face. ¡°The marriage certificate is at home. I didn¡¯t bring it with me¡­¡± Gwendolyn responded indifferently, ¡°Then, stop iming to be my husband. Until I see the marriage certificate, I won¡¯t believe you. We¡¯ll talk after you show me the evidence.¡± After uttering these words, she stood up, ready to leave. However, Cedrick reached out and grasped her wrist. When she turned to face him, he met her gaze sincerely. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to head home and retrieve the evidence right away. Once you see our marriage certificate, will you trust me?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression stiffened, but she soon freed her hand from his grip. ¡°It¡¯s toote now. Let¡¯s discuss it tomorrow.¡± Without any hesitation, she turned away and walked back into the house to help Megan prepare two clean sets of bedding. Meanwhile, Cedrick remained squatting outside, his gaze fixed on Gwendolyn¡¯s back. He fell into a daze, lost in his thoughts. For some inexplicable reason, he had a feeling that Gwendolyn was deliberately avoiding him. On one hand, he noticed those subtle gestures and wondered if they meant she still remembered him somewhere deep inside. On the other hand, if she did remember, it seemed like she was deliberately choosing not to acknowledge him, which meant she no longer wanted him. It was an agonizing realization to grapple with. He felt suffocated as if a heavy weight was pressing down on his chest. The multitude of conjectures sent a chill down his spine, leaving him feeling colder than when the evening breeze had brushed past his face. The sizzling sounds from the kitchen interrupted his thoughts. Soon, Nico rushed over to help Cedrick stand up. ¡°Cedrick, don¡¯t strain your legs. It¡¯s freezing out here. You should conserve your strength so you can take your wife back home. Come inside. Dinner is ready.¡± Once Nico helped Cedrick inside, the former stepped out of the courtyard to get a better mobile signal and made a call. ¡°Yeah, Mr. Jenson and I will stay here tonight. The rest of you should head back. It¡¯s cold at the mountaintop, so don¡¯t linger here. Also, send the helicopters away; we won¡¯t need them tonight. If anyone requires helicopter assistance tomorrow, I¡¯ll arrange it beforehand. Now, go home! I won¡¯t repeat myself again. If anyone wants a beating, speak up, and I¡¯ll be d to help you with that at the bureau tomorrow!¡± His frustration became more evident as he spoke. He ended the call angrily with annoyance written all over his face. The night¡¯s coldness felt more intense in the wilderness. Nico¡¯s neck felt the biting chill of the wind as he strode back into the house, his hands nestled in his pockets, and his shoulders hunched against the cold. As thest dish was ced on the table, the light illuminated the bruise at the corner of Charles¡¯ mouth, making it painfully obvious. Megan asked worriedly, ¡°How did you get injured from cooking? Did you fight earlier?¡± Nico immediately felt everyone staring at him. He chuckled and scratched his head awkwardly. ¡°No. We¡¯re getting along fine. Why would we fight?¡± Charles nodded as well, maintaining a calm demeanor as he spoke. ¡°The kitchen floor was a bit slippery, and I identally fell.¡± Chapter 788 Chapter 788 How awkwardly did he have to fall to end up hitting the corner of his lips in the process? Everyone present knew what had actually happened, but they tactfully kept silent as they lifted their utensils and dug in. After the meal, Gwendolyn went to help Megan with the dishes. As the men were going to discuss some matters, they grabbed a kerosenemp and headed out. The atmosphere was incredibly tense as they walked along the quiet vige path. The three of them walked inplete silence. It wasn¡¯t until they could no longer see the house that Cedrick, who was leading the way, came to a stop. He then turned around abruptly, his dark eyes shooting Charles a hostile re. Charles stuffed his hands in his pocket, calm and casual as ever. The very sight of his face made Cedrick¡¯s blood boil, and he called out grimly, ¡°Nico.¡± Nico instantly understood what Cedrick wanted without needing thetter to spell things out. He took two quick steps forward to grab Charles¡¯ cor and clenched his fist, ready to punch Charles¡¯ face. Cedrick gave Nico a nce and reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t hit me in the face. It¡¯ll be too obvious.¡± Nico¡¯s fist halted midair and soon changed direction to hit Charles¡¯ stomach. He swung his fist several times, each time increasing in intensity. Charles offered no defense or resistance. He remained silent, tightly furrowing his brows, enduring the immense pain inflicted upon him. Only when a metallic scent rushed up his throat did he finally turn his head to the side, coughing out a mouthful of blood. Nico stopped and let go of his cor. Still not satisfied, he shoved thetter. Charles stumbled back, leaning heavily against the tree behind him. With one hand pressed against the tree trunk for support, he coughed violently, trying to regain his breath. Blood seeped out from the corner of his lips, and his face paled. He was in terrible pain. The sight of Charles¡¯ miserable expression lightened Cedrick¡¯s mood. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you had the audacity to pretend to be Gwenny¡¯s husband. If Gwenny believed you, you would¡¯ve fled with her, right?¡± Charles wiped the blood from his lips and licked his teeth. A flippant smile appeared on his face. ¡°No way, Mr. Jenson. I was just teasing Gwen. Who would¡¯ve thought that even without her memories, she¡¯d still be so sharp?¡± Cedrick knitted his brows and gritted his teeth. ¡°You¡¯re asking for it.¡± With that, Nico took another step forward and pinned Charles against the tree before punching him several times in the stomach again. The pain was agonizing, and Charles coughed uncontrobly, but he clenched his jaw and didn¡¯t make a sound. Cedrick nced at him coldly. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dodging?¡± ¡°Two big shots of the Federal Bureau of Investigation are trying to hit me. Do you think I could dodge?¡± The smile on his face carried an air of despair and charm, and even with blood on his lips, he remained captivating. Charles preferred to endure a harsh beating from Nico now rather than wait for Cedrick to throw him back into another high-security prison. Knowing full well which oue was best for him, he smiled and asked, ¡°Is this enough to quell your anger?¡± His tone carried a sense of provocation. Livid, Nico grabbed his shoulders and mmed him hard against the tree. ¡°You¡¯re really asking for it! I wish I could beat you up all night and tear your smug face apart. I¡¯d like to see what you¡¯re going to use to charm Gwendolyn without this handsome face of yours!¡± Charles¡¯ smile was still stered on his face, and he seemed unfazed by the situation. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. With most of Cedrick¡¯s anger dissipated, he asked somberly, ¡°Do you know why Gwenny lost her memories?¡± Charles shook his head. ¡°Not quite. Gwendolyn doesn¡¯t remember anything herself. I asked Megan about it, and she said she found Gwendolyn in the field. Gwendolyn was injured and unconscious, so Megan brought her back out of kindness. She¡¯s been like this ever since she woke up.¡± How did she get hurt? Was she in some kind of ident while escaping? Is that how she got hurt? Cedrick¡¯s heart clenched. He was frustrated at himself for not being by Gwendolyn¡¯s side to protect her. However, he still couldn¡¯t be sure whether Gwendolyn had actually lost her memories based on her behavior earlier. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯d have to bring her to the hospital for a checkup. That¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow. ¡°We¡¯re going back.¡± With that said, he strode away and began walking back up the path they came from. However, the two men behind him made no move to follow. He turned to nce at them, his gaze seemingly questioning, Aren¡¯t youing? Are you nning to feed the mosquitoes here? Nico put on a smile and said, ¡°Cedrick, you should head back first. I¡¯d like to talk to Charles in private.¡± He¡¯s too annoying, and I¡¯m still not satisfied yet. Reading Nico¡¯s mind, Cedrick said nothing else but, ¡°Know your limits. If you stay out here for too long, they¡¯ll grow suspicious.¡± ¡°Got it, Cedrick. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Almost fifteen minutester, Nico and Charles returned to the house one after another. Nico was rolling up his sleeves as he walked into the house, seemingly in a good mood. In contrast, Charles was supporting himself against the doorframe, limping. His face was ashen, but besides the bruise by the corner of his lips that was there before he left the house, there were no other signs of injuries on his face. His blue eyes were slightly unfocused as well, and he silently made his way further into the house. For the past few days, Megan had been amodating Charles by offering him to spend the night in her room, which was further inside the house. As a result, she had been staying with Gwendolyn during this time. When Charles limped into the house, Megan, who was holding a basin, happened to bump into him. It was toote by the time Charles realized he should correct his posture to a normal one, for Megan had already noticed something amiss. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why do you look so battered up?¡± The two men who would spend the night in the living room were on their phones, acting as though his condition had nothing to do with them. Charles forced out a smile and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I think I¡¯m just feeling dizzy because of how cold it was outside.¡± ¡°Did you catch a cold?¡± Megan asked in concern. ¡°I have some medicine in the house. Let me go and look for it. You should take some.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m quite strong, and I¡¯ll be fine after a good night¡¯s rest.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Megan gave him a once-over, her concern still apparent. ¡°Are you really just dizzy? Why are you holding your waist?¡± Charles shed her a reassuring smile and exined, ¡°I have some back muscle issues. It¡¯s an old problem. Don¡¯t worry; it¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯ll be fine in a few days.¡± Nico couldn¡¯t help snickering before clicking his tongue. ¡°Mr. Newton, you¡¯re only thirty years old, but your back muscles are already giving out? My, that won¡¯t do. You¡¯ll need to train more and improve your health, or else your future wife is going to despise you.¡± Charles¡¯ expression darkened, but he merely grunted in response and straightened his back before returning to his room, walking steadily. He mmed the door shut behind him, making the unsteady wooden door tremble. Megan could tell that he was angry, and she stood rooted by the door for a long while in awkward silence. Nicoforted her, ¡°Just ignore him, Megan. He has a bad temper, and he won¡¯t let anyonement on his health even though he knows it¡¯s bad. Do go and get some sleep. It¡¯s ratherte.¡± ¡°All right then. The two of you should rest earlier too. Feel free to tell me if you¡¯re notfortable sleeping on the floor. I¡¯ll think of a way.¡± Nico bobbed his head and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Megan. We can sleep anywhere. This mattress is good enough.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be going back to my room now. You guys get some rest.¡± With that, she shut the door to her room, too. Due to the house¡¯s shabby condition, the soundproofing was poor. Cedrick sat by the wall, and he could hear the conversation between Gwendolyn and Megan on the other side of the wall. ¡°Gwendolyn, this Mr. Jenson¡¯s reaction was stronger than Mr. Newton¡¯s. When he gazed at you, the sorrowful look in his eyes was so genuine that I felt sad, too. I think he might be telling the truth.¡± Holding his breath in anticipation, Cedrick continued to eavesdrop, wanting to find out what Gwendolyn thought. Two secondster, Gwendolyn¡¯s soft voice rang out. ¡°Neither of them can be trusted. They¡¯re both too good at acting. Forget it, Megan. Let¡¯s sleep. I¡¯m tired.¡± After that, he heard the sound of lights switching off. The light filtering through the gap under the door also dimmed. Cedrick wore a gloomy expression, his chest feeling constricted. He had been losing sleep every night worrying about his wife, but now that he had finally found her, not only did she regard him with distrust, but he also didn¡¯t get to hug or touch her. Woe is me. Cedrick let out a long, dejected sigh. Nico swiftly moved closer. Worried that Cedrick would feel cold, he draped two coats over him. ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it anymore, Cedrick. It¡¯s been a tiring day. Try to get some rest now.¡± Cedrick was seething with anger, but he couldn¡¯t find a way to release it. Frustrated, he directed his fury at Nico, giving him a sharp re and hissing, ¡°Whether or not I¡¯m sleeping is none of your business.¡± Nico nodded sheepishly. ¡°Of course, of course. I¡¯ll go and sleep now.¡± He fell asleep within minutes, his snores echoing beside Cedrick¡¯s ear. Cedrick¡¯s breaths were heavy, and in the stillness of the night, he swallowed the bitterness that filled him, feeling profoundly lonely. All of a sudden, Nico, who was fast asleep, turned to his side and ced his arm on Cedrick¡¯s waist, pressing up against the other man as if seeking warmth from him. Words eluded Cedrick. He narrowed his eyes as his chest heaved, the wrath in him reaching its boiling point. Despite his efforts to hold back his anger, he failed in the end and pushed Nico¡¯s arm away, delivering a kick to his backside and sending him sliding across the floor. Then, lifting the nket off himself, he stood up and put on his coat before taking out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from Nico¡¯s coat. Silently, he put on his shoes and went out. He could not sleep, so he went to sit in the yard which was showered by the moonlight. After lighting a cigarette, he inhaled and drew in a thick cloud of mncholy. The look in his eyes was dull and mncholic as he exhaled clouds of smoke. All of a sudden, someone opened one of the bedroom doors. A silhouette carrying a kerosenemp then emerged out of the room. Cedrick froze and turned his head around to see Gwendolyn. He panicked. As his instincts took over, he tried to hide his cigarette. However, after two seconds of panicking, he regained hisposure. His beloved wife did not even remember him, so none of that mattered anymore. Sulking, he took a deep drag of his cigarette and blew out the smoke in Gwendolyn¡¯s direction, his eyes fixed on her. He behaved arrogantly. Chapter 789 Chapter 789 Then, he smirked and licked his teeth before arching his brow at her. He appeared to be flirting with her, yet there was an undertone of taunting in his actions. A fearless look was present on his face as he made it in that he was provoking her. At that instant, he looked so much more annoying than Charles. However, despite his arrogance, his hand was trembling so hard that he nearly lost his grip on his cigarette. That was his first time provoking his wife by smoking. He was nervous and scared, but his pride prevented him from chickening out. Gwendolyn watched him from afar, expressionless. After a few more nces at him, she sneered and turned to head to the bathroom without even saying anything. Cedrick was promptly rendered speechless. She barely reacted to him, and she showed no signs of anger. The weight of disappointment bore down on him, and he slumped his shoulders in defeat. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He was crestfallen, like a vibrant peacock who was disheartened after being ignored. After sulking for two minutes, he saw the bathroom door open again. The second the door creaked open, he straightened up and continued smoking, acting nonchnt. He deliberately shifted his body sideways so that Gwendolyn could catch a clearer view of him exhaling the smoke. His jawline seemed exceptionally sharp under the moonlight, and the billowing clouds of smoke only entuated his beauty. In fact, he even tilted his head back so that she could see his Adam¡¯s apple better. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed the smoke, and that motion of his exuded an alluring yet provoking charm. However, this time, Gwendolyn did not even spare him a nce. Cedrick saw her enter the house from the corner of his eyes. Following a thump, the door closed behind her. Cedrick blinked. What a waste of effort. She didn¡¯t even bother to pay attention to me. His eyes reddened, and his fingers turned as cold as frost. The once vibrant hues of his face faded, leaving behind a pallor of misery. He couldn¡¯t ept the fact that his wifepletely ignored him even after she saw him smoking. She did not even bother to spare him a nce. If she still remembers me, she¡¯d never tolerate me smoking. Benedict suffered from a congenital heart condition and had a delicate respiratory system. Inhaling smoke would exacerbate his health condition, so smoking inside the house was strictly prohibited. It was thest thing Gwendolyn would allow. Yet, recently, he had resumed his habit of smoking. He lit one cigarette after another, puffing away in Gwendolyn¡¯s presence. Yet, the only response from Gwendolyn was a sneer. It was as if she was mocking his flirting attempts. Has she really lost her memories? Then what was with those subtle gestures earlier tonight? There¡¯s no way I¡¯d miss those. Lost in troubling thoughts, Cedrick absentmindedly smoked his way through the entire cigarette. A beatter, he lifted his foot to extinguish the cigarette under his foot and took out another cigarette from the pack. He continued smoking. The unmistakable click of the lighter echoed through the stillness of the night. Cedrick refused to give up. An impulsive voice in him urged him to finish the entire pack, a reckless gamble to test if Gwendolyn still cared about him. However, when he was almost done with his second cigarette, he backed out of the idea. Even if Gwendolyn didn¡¯t remember him now, he knew he¡¯d be in trouble if she found out about him smoking the entire pack of cigarettes once she regained her memories. She would likely find a way to punish him severely. He would probably be ruined by her punishment. No, no. I can¡¯t do this. I¡¯ll be risking my life. Hence, he sheepishly pocketed the cigarette pack and extinguished his cigarette before sneaking back into the house. Quietly closing the door behind him, he returned to the mattress in the living room. Nico¡¯s sleeping posture was a horrible sight to behold. He had taken up every inch of the mattress, leaving no space for Cedrick to lie down. His loud snoring filled the entire space. With a scowl on his face, Cedrick gave Nico a light kick in the calf. s, thetter was sleeping like a log. Cedrick¡¯s expression was stormy as his blood boiled. I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s so sound asleep! Has he forgotten about how much of a light sleeper he has to be while on a Federal Bureau of Investigation mission? Ugh. I really want to punch him, but I might wake the others. Left without a choice, Cedrick crouched down and pinched hard on a spot in the other man¡¯s inner arm. ¡°Ow!¡± Nico, who was prancing about in his dreand, was rudely awakened by a sting on his arm. Blinking groggily, he rubbed his painful arm and cast a pitiful and innocent look at Cedrick¡¯s dark expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Cedrick?¡± What did I do wrong? Cedrick parted his lips to say something, but he ended up sighing instead of reprimanding the other man. ¡°Move over. You¡¯re upying my spot.¡± ¡°Oh! I¡¯m sorry!¡± At that, Nico hastily scurried off to the edge of the mattress, leaving most of the space for Cedrick. After taking off his coat, Cedrick then draped it across the nket and slowlyy down. Nico slept on his side, curling into himself to fend off the cold. He stared at Cedrick¡¯s face while still massaging his aching arm and no longer dared to fall back asleep. Now fully awake, Nico understood why Cedrick had pinched him. They were in the middle of a mission, and the dangers surrounding them were unknown. Yet, he had been sleeping like a log, oblivious to the potential risks. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cedrick,¡± Nico whispered an apology. Cedrick hummed in response before replying, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hug me again. I¡¯ll make you bear the consequences if you do that again.¡± ¡°Got it¡­¡± Nico scooted further back to distance himself from Cedrick. Eventually, half of his body was hanging off the edge of the mattress. Curling into a ball, he remained at the edge of the mattress and shut his eyes, sleeping lightly. As time passed, his limbs grew colder by the second, and shivers coursed through his body. In his groggy and chilled state, he instinctively moved closer to Cedrick, seeking warmth, and hugged his arm. Cedrick was irritated, but he frowned and suppressed his annoyance. Hisck of response only emboldened Nico. Thetter inched even closer and rested his head against Cedrick. ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± Cedrick squeezed out. His tone was tinged with an obvious murderous intent. Frightened out of his wits, Nico held his breath. After a moment of hesitation, he bit the bullet and stretched out his arm, hugging the other man¡¯s waist. ¡°Cedrick, please just let me hug you for a while. It¡¯s too cold. I won¡¯t do this again.¡± Cedrick didn¡¯t respond. ¡°You can punish me however you want when we¡¯re back at the Jenson residence.¡± ¡°You can whip me, cane me, or anything else. Just don¡¯t kill me.¡± Cedrick remained perfectly still, his body stiff with disgust. Gulping nervously, Nico put his leg on Cedrick¡¯s body when he didn¡¯t object. He resembled an octopus, clinging to the man. Cedrick had brought Nico back from the borders when Nico was just ten years old. It had been almost two decades since that time, yet this was the first asion Nico found himself hugging Cedrick to sleep. Before meeting Summer, Cedrick was the only family he ever had. He would die a happy man if he had the privilege to sleep through the night while hugging Cedrick. Feeling much warmer, Nico fell into a peaceful slumber, like a loyal dog sleepingfortably next to its owner. He began snoring again. Cedrick slowly let out a sigh before peeking at the man hugging him. Turning his head to the side in disdain, he huffed. ¡°What terrible habit you have.¡± Toozy to move, he remained lying t and closed his eyes to sleep. The night passed uneventfully, and the two men slept soundly until the sun rose again. When the rooster in the yard cried out the second time, it was six in the morning. Megan silently got out of bed. She then proceeded with her usual routine of feeding the chickens, harvesting vegetables, washing them, and preparing breakfast. Cedrick only managed to sleep for four hours before the noises from the kitchen woke him. Something was weighing on his chest, and he found it hard to breathe. What¡¯s on me? It¡¯s so heavy. Slowly opening his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of Nico still clinging to him. It seemed like the latter had been holding onto him the entire night. This jerk is really pushing his luck. Wrath surged in his veins, and his already-terrible mood worsened. Nico was going to be the target of his anger; he needed an outlet for his frustration. After shoving Nico¡¯s leg away and turning him over by tugging his arm, he delivered a harsh kick to Nico¡¯s bottom. ¡°Ouch!¡± Nico rolled over on the mattress and woke with a start. All traces of sleepiness had left him as he held onto his aching bottom and cast a bitter look at Cedrick. ¡°Cedrick?¡± He wondered what did he do wrong this time. Cedrick sat up gracefully and ordered, ¡°Do a two-kilometer run right now.¡± ¡°What?¡± Expressionlessly, Cedrick began counting down. ¡°Three.¡± Before he could reach two, Nico scrambled to his feet, put on his shoes, and rushed out of the house without even getting his coat. Cedrick snorted and shook his head at Nico¡¯s swiftly disappearing figure. After rubbing his numb arm, he changed into a different set of clothes and started folding the mattress. He finished doing so within minutes and ced the neatly-folded mattress on the wooden couch. Ten minutester, Gwendolyn woke up as well. Her long, luscious hair cascaded down on one side as she delicatelybed through it. As she slowly walked out of the room, she saw a certain someone sitting on the stool outside and smoking again. That¡¯s the third cigarette I¡¯ve seen him smoking. He has a serious smoking addiction, I swear. Chapter 790 Chapter 790 Concealing the emotions in her eyes, Gwendolyn put down theb and went to the basin to freshen up, ignoring the man. After a few more minutes, her forehead was slightly damp, and though her fair and clean cheeks were devoid of any makeup, she still looked fresh and attractive. As she walked out of the restroom slowly, her gaze inadvertently shifted toward the man in the dark military overcoat standing by the door. There was a newly lit cigarette between the man¡¯s fingertips. It¡¯s been only a few minutes, and he¡¯s already lighting another cigarette. Two cigarettes at night and two in the morning. Does he even care about his lungs? Seemingly noticing her gaze, Cedrick slowly turned his head and met her eyes. However, after just two seconds of eye contact, he averted his gaze in dejection and resumed smoking. Frowning, Gwendolyn swiftly walked over and tried to snatch the cigarette from his hand. ¡°Stop smoking,¡± she said firmly. Afraid that she might identally hurt herself, Cedrick moved his hand out of the way to prevent the spark on the cigarette butt from burning her. Despite so, his handsome face wore an arrogant expression, devoid of the sorrowful look he hadst night. ¡°My wife is the only person in this world who has a say in my actions. Since you im not to be my wife, you have no right to interfere with my matters.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s expression turned cold, though she attempted to conceal the displeasure in her eyes. ¡°I may not be your wife, but I still have the right to intervene.¡± Assertively, she snatched the cigarette butt from his hand, threw it on the ground, and stamped it out. ¡°Megan and I don¡¯t smoke, yet you¡¯re making the house stink with smoke and subjecting us to inhaling second-hand smoke. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s too much?¡± What she said made sense, and she seemed genuinely furious, her strong aversion to the smoke evident. Despite her anger and aversion to the smoke, she did not express any concern about the potential health consequences of smoking for him. Cedrick¡¯splexion grew slightly paler as he swallowed the bitterness welling up inside him. Avoiding her fierce gaze, he mustered a weak smile. ¡°You¡¯re right. It was wrong of me to do so. I¡¯ll go somewhere further to smoke then.¡± As Cedrick stood up to leave and put the pack of cigarettes back into his pocket, a sudden gust of wind brushed past his ear. Instinctively, he tilted his head to dodge the iing attack, but to his surprise, he felt a delicate hand grab his back cor. Annoyed, he attempted to strike back, but he didn¡¯t dare to use too much force, afraid of hurting Gwendolyn. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. The woman evaded his counterattack and deftly showcased her skills in jiu-jitsu without holding back. The two of them then started fighting at the doorway. When Megan heard themotion from the kitchen, she rushed out to mediate. ¡°Oh my, what¡¯s happening? Why are you fighting?¡± Cedrick was caught off guard by Megan¡¯s sudden appearance, and he eased up on his defensive movements as he nced at her. Seizing the opportunity when he was distracted by Megan, Gwendolyn skillfully executed a shoulder throw, directly knocking down the tall man. With her knee pressing down on his lower back, she swiftly pinned his hands, locking them behind his back, and skillfully used the sleeves of his own coat to bind his hands together. Cedrick didn¡¯t dare struggle, for he was afraid of hurting her. The entire process was swift, taking only a few seconds. Fueled by her anger, Gwendolyn stood up and lifted Cedrick by his cor. Pressing down on his restrained hands, she raised her knee and delivered two swift kicks to his sturdy buttocks. ¡°Ouch, that hurts¡­¡± He was certain that his buttocks were undoubtedly bruised. Her kicks packed significantly more forcepared to when he kicked Nico. Cedrick felt his legs tremble, but he took a deep breath to hold back groans of pain as he continued to let her beat him. Behind them stood Megan, who was stunned by Gwendolyn¡¯s impressivebat strength. Meanwhile, Charles, who had just finished washing up, leaned against the wall and kept his eyes trained on Gwendolyn¡¯s face, observing her expression carefully. Outside in the courtyard, Nico, who had just returned from a two-kilometer morning run, witnessed the one-sided fight as well. His eyes widened in utter shock. Is this considered domestic violence? Gwendolyn continuedunching kicks at Cedrick, aiming only at fleshy parts to avoid causing serious injuries to his bones. After teaching him a lesson, she reached into his pocket and took out the cigarette pack before coldly releasing him. The cigarette pack was then thrown to the ground, and Gwendolyn stepped on it, crumpling it in the process. Narrowing her eyes in disgust, she red at the cigarette pack. Then, as though still not satisfied enough, she kicked it far away. After handling the cigarettes, she fixed her gaze on the back of Cedrick¡¯s head and delivered a stern warning. ¡°I¡¯ll say this once, and only once. I despise cigarettes, and I can¡¯t stand it even if you smoke elsewhere. The mere smell of smoke nauseates me. I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re some important figure in Salinsburgh. As long as you¡¯re here, you must abide by my rules. If you dare to smoke or provoke me again, I won¡¯t hesitate to teach you a lesson once more. Feel free to test my patience if you dare.¡± Upon shooting him onest cold re, Gwendolyn turned to hold Megan¡¯s arm. Her voice softened when she said, ¡°He reeks of cigarette smoke. I know you can¡¯t stand it too, Megan. Don¡¯t let him in.¡± Megan seemed hesitant. ¡°But¡­ it¡¯s time for breakfast.¡± ¡°He seems content to have cigarettes for breakfast, so it shouldn¡¯t be a big deal for him to skip one meal. Let¡¯s ignore him and enjoy breakfast ourselves.¡± Megan wanted to say something more, but Gwendolyn dragged the former back into the house and didn¡¯t give her a chance to. Charles continued to lean against the door, observing the way Gwendolyn treated Cedrick when he suddenly received a fierce re from her. ¡°If you ever bring such an impolite guest over and cause trouble for me and Megan again, you¡¯ll not be weed here anymore,¡± she warned. Charles was utterly astounded by the sheer ferocity with which Gwendolyn had pummeled Cedrick moments ago. She didn¡¯t hold back at all. Looks like she has truly lost her memories. I bet her impression of Cedrick is worse now. With that thought in mind, he curled his lips into a smile. ¡°Got it.¡± After the three of them entered the house, Nico hurriedly went over to help Cedrick up. ¡°Cedrick, are you okay?¡± Holding his aching waist, Cedrick shot Nico a re wordlessly. His expression clouded over. How can I be okay when I¡¯ve been beaten up by my wife this early in the morning? Although he had himself to me for intentionally provoking Gwendolyn, she didn¡¯t hit him out of concern for his health. She did it because she detested the smell of smoke. The beating he endured was not worth it at all. He heaved a sigh in dismay and leaned weakly on Nico¡¯s shoulder. As his long eyshes drooped, he appeared listless. Nico sighed as he assisted Cedrick in straightening his coat and then asked with concern, ¡°If Gwendolyn doesn¡¯t remember you, why did she still hit you?¡± The ferocity with which Gwendolyn had beaten Cedrick just now was so intense that Nico felt a twinge of pain in his own buttocks just by watching from the side. Cedrick fell silent for a few seconds before replying, ¡°She caught me smoking two cigarettesst night and two more this morning.¡± Nico was shocked. ¡°You smoked four cigarettes in just a few hours?¡± Cedrick remained silent. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re going too far, Cedrick? Aren¡¯t you afraid of damaging your lungs? You deserved to be beaten up, and she should have kicked you even harder!¡± Nico said, fanning the mes. Cedrick lifted his chin from Nico¡¯s shoulder and shot him a cold re. Just one look from him was enough to cow Nico into silence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± he said as he made a gesture of zipping his mouth shut. Cedrick smirked. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring my cigarettes by the way. It was your cigarette pack that got thrown away.¡± ¡°What?¡± Panicking, Nico quickly checked his pocket. Sure enough, the cigarettes were gone. Nico¡¯s face instantly fell. Elbowing Cedrick, he said earnestly, ¡°Cedrick, those cigarettes were expensive. I usually only smoke one every few days. Now that they¡¯re all gone¡­ can I at least get reimbursed?¡± Fuming, Cedrick said coldly, ¡°You can ask whoever stomped on them for reimbursement.¡± With that, he pulled his coat tighter around him and exited the courtyard for a stroll. Since Gwendolyn refused to let him into the house or have breakfast, he opted to step outside and embrace the cold wind. The brisk air might help dispel the lingering smell of smoke on his body and clear his mind. ¡°Cedrick?¡± Nico called out from the courtyard. Knowing how sensitive Gwendolyn was to cigarettes, he would never dare to ask her forpensation. Cedrick didn¡¯t bother looking back. Soon, his long strides carried him far away. Nico wanted to go after Cedrick, but Megan called him in for breakfast. Famished after his morning run, Nico decided to head inside and have his breakfast first. Five minutester, Cedrick reached the stream. He had just found a suitable rock to sit down on when Nico came trotting over. With a foolish grin on his face, Nico took out two warm steamed buns that he had been hiding in his coat. He squatted by Cedrick¡¯s feet and handed them over. ¡°Skipping breakfast is bad for your health. Have some buns.¡± Cedrick nced at the steamed buns and suddenly remembered Gwendolyn¡¯s words to Megan just now. He seems content to have cigarettes for breakfast, so it shouldn¡¯t be a big deal for him to skip one meal. Instantly, he lost his appetite. He turned his gaze away coldly as he replied, ¡°I¡¯m too angry to eat.¡± Nico patiently tried to persuade him. ¡°Please have some. Gwendolyn watched me take these just now, and she didn¡¯t say anything. This could be considered as silent consent from her.¡± Chapter 791 Chapter 791 Only then did Cedrick spare a few nces at the steamed buns in Nico¡¯s hands. She was so angry just a while ago. Did she really allow Nico to sneak me some food? ¡°What was her reaction when you took the buns?¡± Nico pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°Well, she didn¡¯t react in any particr way. I grabbed two steamed buns when they hadn¡¯t started eating yet. Cedrick, please have some. You still need the energy to get your wife back.¡± Cedrick finally epted the buns, realizing that now was not a good time for him to be mad at Gwendolyn. As Cedrick was having breakfast, Nico walked over to the stream and ran his fingers through the clear water. Breathing in the fresh air of the forest, he asked, ¡°Cedrick, what¡¯s your n now? When are we bringing Gwendolyn back with us?¡± Sitting on the rock like a king on his throne, Cedrick lowered his gaze and contemted for a while. He thought of the note given to him by Joe, which contained clues provided by Joe, guiding him to investigate Charles¡¯ whereabouts. Joe clearly knew where Gwendolyn was, and he had deliberately lured Cedrick to where she was. If Cedrick¡¯s guesses were correct, Joe should make his move within the next two days. Cedrick issued a firmmand, ¡°Prepare ten helicopters, assemble a special forces team, and ensure all firearms are ready. Inform Swain to establish a hiding spot in the nearby mountains and encircle this area. Also, conduct a thorough check for any other individuals hiding in the vicinity. If anyone attempts to sneak up the mountain, do not alert them. Allow them to pass unnoticed. Gwendolyn¡¯s safety is the utmost priority for all personnel when the situation demands.¡± Nico nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Having arranged all that, Cedrick was ready to return to the cottage. Knowing how much Gwendolyn disliked the smell of smoke on him, he asked Nico, ¡°Sniff me. Do I still smell of smoke?¡± Nico leaned closer and sniffed the cor of his shirt. ¡°I¡¯m not that sensitive to smoke, so I¡¯m not sure, but I think the smell is gone.¡± Cedrick frowned in annoyance when Nico got too close for his liking. Lifting his hand, he pped the latter¡¯s head away. ¡°Stay away.¡± Wincing in pain, Nico rubbed his forehead. ¡°Should I ask Swain to bring us some spare clothes? Who knows how many days we will be staying here? We should have some change of clothes.¡± ¡°That works.¡± Cedrick agreed with the n. He sat back down on the rock, thinking of returningter so that Gwendolyn wouldn¡¯t smell the smoke on him and give him another scolding. Cedrick and Nico returned to the courtyard just before lunchtime. Cedrick donned a crisp white shirt paired with a dark gray coat, which entuated his imposing and dominant presence as he walked. On the other hand, Nico looked gant and heroic in his camouge jacket, military boots, and pants, which added to hismanding aura. As they strolled along the country path, their striking appearances resembled that of magazine cover models. However, there was no sign of Gwendolyn in the house by the time they returned. Megan was the only one there. They found out from Megan that Gwendolyn had gone to the field to pluck vegetables with Charles. Cedrick¡¯s expression darkened considerably as he quickly headed to where Gwendolyn was. Upon reaching the field, Cedrick saw two figures plucking vegetables from a distance. Despite not being very close physically, Gwendolyn and Charles appeared to be engaged in a friendly conversation, exchangingughter. The atmosphere around them was harmonious and pleasant. Jealousy instantly surged through Cedrick¡¯s veins, and Nico could almost immediately feel the cold and chilling aura emanating from him. Tactfully, Nico took the initiative to approach Charles and say, ¡°Charles, can youe over for a moment? I have something to say to you.¡± Charles paused in his tracks and turned around slowly, sparing Nico and Cedrick a quick nce. ¡°Sure, I¡¯lle after I finish plucking the vegetables,¡± he replied. N?velDrama.Org owns ? this. Cedrick¡¯s expression grew even darker when he heard that. Nico swiftly leaped into the field and pulled Charles away. ¡°It¡¯s urgent. You need toe with me immediately. Someone else can handle your work, and you can¡¯t pluck vegetables that don¡¯t belong to you!¡± he said, his words carrying a subtle undertone. Charles grimaced in pain as Nico forcefully dragged him away, for thetter¡¯s movements had reignited the pain of his injuries all over his body. Weak from the excruciating pain, he could only allow Nico to take him away. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn paid them no heed. She focused her attention on selecting the well-grown vegetables, plucking them, and cing them into the basket. Cedrick observed her for a while before treading over to her, his military boots stepping on the soft soil. Upon reaching her side, he crouched down beside her to admire her attentive side profile as she focused on the task at hand. Sensing his piercing gaze on her, she turned to meet his eyes. ¡°I see you¡¯ve changed your clothes. This outfit suits you well,¡± Gwendolyn said gently with a faint smile on her face, as if she hadpletely forgotten how she had beaten him up earlier in the day. Cedrick didn¡¯t mind what happened in the morning, either. It¡¯s normal to be beaten up by my own wife. All is well as long as she doesn¡¯t hate me. ¡°You have been observing me, haven¡¯t you?¡± Gwendolynughed. ¡°You think too much of yourself. I have to be blind to not notice that you¡¯re wearing apletely different color.¡± Cedrick was speechless. Is it really that hard for her to admit she¡¯s been paying attention to me? However, he was not discouraged. As he helped Gwendolyn pluck one of the vegetables she had set her sights on and put it into her basket, he asked, ¡°Gwenny, do you remember when I said that I have our marriage certificatest night?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He continued, ¡°The marriage certificate is safely stored in a drawer at home, and I possess the only key. It¡¯s tucked away in an inconspicuous spot alongside other essential documents I can¡¯t entrust to others. Unfortunately, I cannot retrieve it at the moment. Can you pleasee with me? I will show you the proof you want.¡± To his surprise, Gwendolyn snickered. ¡°Why do you guys have the same lines? Charles said exactly what you said a few days ago. He insisted that I go with him, and when I refused, he stood in the yard all night.¡± Cedrick¡¯s expression froze. Gwendolyn sighed, her expression serious as she spoke, ¡°I don¡¯t remember much, and everyone here is a stranger to me. If it weren¡¯t for Charles, I wouldn¡¯t even know my name is Gwendolyn Harris. However, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m naive. I don¡¯t have any personal belongings like a phone or identification to prove who I am, and being in this remote mountainous area, I wonder how you managed to find me. Who revealed my location to you?¡± She emphasized thest sentence, hinting at something. Cedrick¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he suddenly grasped the implication of her words. It dawned on him that she was suspecting that someone had been secretly monitoring her and leaking her whereabouts. ¡°I¡¯ll look into this matter. This ce is too dangerous, surrounded by woods, making it an easy spot for criminals to hide. I¡¯m genuinely concerned about your safety, and my priority is to get you out of here first.¡± Only when he knew for sure that she was safe could he have the capacity to deal with Joe¡¯s mischiefs. Gwendolyn shook her head firmly. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, and if I have to, I¡¯ll take Megan with me. She must ¡ª¡± Bang! Before she could finish her sentence, a deafening gunshot that came from a sniper rifle suddenly echoed through the field. ¡°Watch out!¡± Cedrick reacted swiftly, pulling Gwendolyn into his arms and rolling across the field with her. The bullet grazed his arm, ripping through his gray coat and drawing a trickle of blood. Gwendolyn stared at his arm, her pupils constricting. ¡°You¡¯re injured.¡± Under such an emergency situation, she didn¡¯t show any signs of embarrassment being in close proximity to an absolute stranger. Instead, she stared at the blood on Cedrick¡¯s arm. Cedrick was focusing his attention entirely on searching for the shooter, so he did not notice the change in her expression. Unfazed, he smiled nonchntly and replied, ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡± There weren¡¯t any suitable ces for them to hide in the vegetable field. Luckily, there was a wheat field in front of the vegetable field which shielded them as theyy t on their bellies. The bullet was fired across the wheat field. Having sensed something amiss in advance, Cedrick was able to dodge in time and avoid being shot in his vital spot. Shielding Gwendolyn with his own body, he could almost hear her thumping heartbeat. However, Cedrick couldn¡¯t be bothered to relish the moment under such circumstances. He quickly took his phone out from his pocket and called Nico. ¡°There¡¯s a sniper in the mountains, firing from the two o¡¯clock direction in the wheat field, approximately three hundred meters away in the forest. It appears there¡¯s a potential hiding spot. Investigate it right away.¡± Chapter 792 Chapter 792 Meanwhile, Nico and Charles were still nearby. They heard the gunshot clearly and were already heading in the direction where the bullet came from. As a gentle breeze caressed the field, the wheat stalks swayed and produced a faint rustling sound. Cedrick put his phone down and turned to look at Gwendolyn. He felt as though it had been forever since hest gazed at her like this after ten days of separation. Her makeup-free skin appeared delicate and fair, while the slight furrow of her eyebrows betrayed a touch of mncholy. Cedrick couldn¡¯t resist using the back of his hand to tenderly stroke her cheek. His eyes were brimming with deep affection, and he had to gulp back the impulse to kiss her. She doesn¡¯t remember me anymore. I bet she¡¯d beat me up if I kiss her. As their eyes met, Gwendolyn quickly averted her gaze and avoided his touch. ¡°Mr. Jenson, whether or not we are husband and wife still needs to be verified. Please behave yourself,¡± she said. I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s still trying to flirt with me at times like this. Cedrick smiled, rxed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The wheat field ahead of us acts as a cover. The shooter would probably be fleeing right now instead of shooting blindly.¡± Gazing at Gwendolyn¡¯s lips, he gulped and controlled himself. Instead of leaning over to kiss her, he joked, ¡°I think I heard you showing concern for me just now, Gwenny. Did you remember something?¡± Gwendolyn looked away and snorted. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. It¡¯s just that everything happened so suddenly, and I didn¡¯t expect you to get hurt.¡± ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Cedrick suddenly grimaced in pain and clutched his injured arm, his body going limp. Gwendolyn immediately asked, ¡°Where does it hurt? Did the bullet injure your bone? Take off your clothes and let me check.¡± Subconsciously, she expressed concern for him, though she had tried so hard to conceal it. The grimace on his face faded away, reced by a smirk of satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re so worried when I¡¯m injured, yet you im not to remember me? Are you putting on an act? Are you still mad at me?¡± he taunted with a hint of yfulness in his voice. Gwendolyn was taken aback momentarily, and she quickly realized that he had tricked her. As anger surged within her, she grabbed Cedrick¡¯s cor and pulled him toward her. Lifting her head, she yfully nipped at his Adam¡¯s apple, leaving small bitemarks. She smiled mischievously. ¡°You¡¯ve been taking advantage of me by pinning me on the ground. I should do something to get even with you.¡± With that, she raised her hand and pinched his firm buttocks. ¡°Mr. Jenson, your muscles feel pretty good to the touch. You must work out often. Seems like I¡¯ve gone too easy on you this morning. I should have kicked harder,¡± she teased, smiling impishly. Cedrick replied, ¡°I have been training with the military since a young age, so it¡¯s only natural that my muscles are in good shape. However, you kicked me pretty hard this morning. You¡¯ve left bruises on my buttocks.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯sshes fluttered, but she quickly scoffed and averted her gaze indifferently. Four kicks for four cigarettes. That¡¯s fair. ¡°Serves you right.¡± She didn¡¯t feel sorry for him at all. Instead, she thought she didn¡¯t kick him hard enough, which was probably why he allowed him to indulge himself for several days andpletely disregarded his own well-being. As Cedrick observed her expression, he noticed only a fleeting moment of astonishment on her face. There was no hint of concern for him, and he couldn¡¯t help but lower his head in disappointment. ¡°Did I overthink it? Have you really forgotten about me, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn pushed him away and corrected him just like how she did yesterday. ¡°No, Mr. Jenson. I don¡¯t know you.¡± After getting up into a squatting position and cautiously observing their surroundings, she decided to leave while taking advantage of the cover provided by the wheat field. ¡°I¡¯m sure the gunshot could be heard from the cottage, too. I¡¯ll go back and check on Megan first.¡± With that, she grabbed the basket filled with vegetables and skillfully maneuvered her way out of the field. Cedrick watched her receding figure and sighed deeply as he raised his hand to touch his Adam¡¯s apple, which felt slightly sore. Does she really not remember me? Even if she truly doesn¡¯t remember me, her actions betrayed her. She didn¡¯t even blush when I, a supposed stranger to her, pinned her down in the field. Dismissing those thoughts, Cedrick quickly got up and caught up with Gwendolyn. Trusting Nico to go after the shooter, Cedrick decided that he needed to protect Gwendolyn first. He couldn¡¯t lose her again. They both returned to the cottage, where Megan was already anxiously pacing in the courtyard. As soon as she saw Gwendolyn approaching, she hurriedly went up and held her hand. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I just heard gunshots. Are the two of you hurt?¡± Gwendolyn shook her head as she replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re fine. What about you, Megan? Did you see anyone suspicious?¡± ¡°I was just feeding the chickens in the backyard. Nothing happened to me. There aren¡¯t many residents in the nearby mountains since most of them have moved to the city. No one suspicious will pass through here.¡± Gwendolyn scanned the surroundings calmly. ¡°Good to know you¡¯re okay.¡± Cedrick stood beside them and looked around for a while before walking over, asking Gwendolyn and Megan to enter the house. He closed the door after the two of them got in. When darkness descended over the space, Megan was startled. She switched on the lights and smacked the door frantically, asking, ¡°Mr. Jenson, what are you doing?¡± Standing outside the door, Cedrick replied grimly, ¡°There was a sniper in the mountains, and they were using an advanced weapon. The two of you can¡¯t protect yourselves, so it¡¯s best for you to stay indoors. Don¡¯t go anywhere and wait until I finish dealing with the sniper. I will return to open the door for you.¡± He then secured the door bolt and ensured it was tightly locked. Still worried, he added, ¡°Megan, please take care of Gwenny for me.¡± ¡°What? Mr. Jenson? Mr. Jenson!¡± When she received no response from the man, Megan was exasperated. ¡°How can he lock us in here?¡± Gwendolyn, on the other hand, remained quiteposed. ¡°Stray bullets can be very dangerous. What if there is more than one hidden sniper? I don¡¯t want you to get hurt.¡± ¡°Well¡­ you¡¯re right.¡± Megan sighed. Gwendolyn gazed into Megan¡¯s eyes and reassured her, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that all three of them are highly skilled military personnel. I believe they will protect us. We just need to stay here and wait for a while.¡± Gwendolyn had full confidence in Cedrick and Nico¡¯s years of experience at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, knowing they would handle the situation swiftly and efficiently. With them on the job, she felt reassured and knew she wouldn¡¯t have to worry at all. Besides, she would rather take the opportunity to have a good chat with Megan than worry too much about the hidden sniper. Megan returned to the wooden couch and took a seat. Nervously, she interlocked her fingers. Gwendolyn smiled in amusement upon seeing how anxious she looked. ¡°It¡¯s safer indoors. Why are you so nervous, Megan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried about them, that¡¯s all.¡± Megan chuckled. In her forties, she looked amicable when she smiled. Gwendolyn sat down beside her and spoke gently. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you that I survived, Megan. I would¡¯ve died without you.¡± Megan held Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and patted the back of her hand. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not a big deal. I¡¯m used to living alone, and your presence doesn¡¯t trouble me at all. You made my days so much happier.¡± Gwendolyn smiled faintly. Megan continued, ¡°But judging from your temperament and the way those three gentlemen treated you, I can tell that you¡¯re from a wealthy family. You have a home somewhere, and you can¡¯t stay here with me.¡± Pausing, she contemted for a while and then said sincerely, ¡°Over the past few days, I¡¯ve noticed that both Mr. Newton and Mr. Jenson genuinely care for you. Eventually, you¡¯ll have to make a choice. If you do have a spouse and children, you will still need to return to them.¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Gwendolyn didn¡¯t answer and instead stared at Megan. Why does it sound like she wants me to leave with the three men as soon as possible? Chapter 793 Chapter 793 She looked down and asked, ¡°Do you find me annoying?¡± Megan was taken aback by her question. She patted Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, prompting her not to overthink things. ¡°Of course not! You¡¯ve brought so much joy to my life. It¡¯s just that¡­¡± Megan hesitated and thought for a while before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t provide a wealthy heiress like you a comfortable stay in my shabby home with a spartan interior.¡± Gwendolyn chuckled and replied, ¡°No worries, Megan. You mentioned that your husband and son who work in the city will only be home once a year. I¡¯d like to keep youpany.¡± After a brief chit-chat, Megan seemed to be more at ease. ¡°You¡¯re so kind, Gwendolyn.¡± With a smile on her face, Gwendolyn continued to probe further. ¡°You¡¯ve been living alone most of your time before you rescued me. Don¡¯t you feel lonely? If you like, you cane with me. I¡¯ll bring you to the city to see your husband and son.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Megan did not consider her suggestion and shook her head resolutely. ¡°My roots are here. Although my family isn¡¯t around, I must stay and guard the mountain.¡± ¡°But there were gunshots heard today. This ce is no longer safe,¡± Gwendolyn stated worriedly. ¡°Just let me be, Gwendolyn. Even if I die, I want to die here.¡± Megan shook her head persistently and concluded the topic briefly. Hearing that, Gwendolyn refrained from asking more questions. Her expression dimmed as she recalled the gold bars she saw in the muddy ground. Cedrick was there all along, standing outside of the courtyard. The house was not soundproof, so he could hear their conversations clearly from the outside. Is it really okay for a woman to stay alone in such a remote area for so many years? Moreover, she¡¯s an unskilled vige woman! Frowning, Cedrick remained in the courtyard, but he nned to enter the house and check if there were any photos of Megan¡¯s husband and son. Bang! Shortly after, he heard another gunshot from afar. Although the sound came from the foot of the mountain, it was loud and clear. Subsequently, Cedrick received a phone call from Nico. ¡°Cedrick, we¡¯ve found the sniper who was hiding in the woods. When Charles and I rushed over, he was about to unload his rifle and escape. We chased him all the way down the mountain. I was the one who released the gunshot earlier. It hit his leg, and his speed slowed down. Fortunately, he was caught by one of Swain¡¯s men who came to besiege the mountain.¡± Nico had always been great at work, so Cedrick was not surprised at what he had achieved. ¡°Okay. Take him to the helicopter and send him back to the bureau for an interrogation. Do this as soon as possible to avoid any unexpected turn of events,¡± he said indifferently. ¡°Understood.¡± After hanging up, Cedrick called Swain to get updates about the process of besieging the mountain for a thorough search. ¡°Boss, we took the helicopter early this morning andnded on a nearby mountain range. After the closure, no one went up the mountain. That person must have hidden there way before our arrival. I¡¯m afraid we can only find out how long he¡¯s been hiding there after the interrogation.¡± ¡°Keep searching the mountain. Don¡¯t miss a single thing, even if it¡¯s a rodent.¡± ¡°Noted, Boss.¡± ¡°Tell me the location of the helicopter. I want to get Gwenny out of here.¡± After getting a detailed report from Swain, Cedrick ended the call. Creak! As the old door was slowly opened from the outside, its metaltch made a piercing sound. Megan darted to the door almost instantly and asked, ¡°How is it, Mr. Jenson? Is the person caught?¡± Cedrick nodded in response. That means yes. Megan lowered her head and let out a long sigh. ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. In that case, there¡¯s no need for us to live in fear, and we can continue with our daily routines, right? Let¡¯s have lunch since it¡¯s almost noon.¡± Cedrick stared at her calmly. ¡°Megan, don¡¯t you want to know what confession the man who hid in the dark and fired his rifle made?¡± Startled, Megan clenched her fists under her linen garment and then let go the next second. ¡°What did he confess to?¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curved slightly at her response. ¡°We don¡¯t know yet. However, it will soon be revealed once he undergoes further interrogation at Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Megan lowered her head once more, seemingly lost in thought. A few secondster, she lifted her head and smiled. ¡°Are you guys hungry? Let me prepare something. Once Mr. Newton and the other Mr. Jenson are back, we can have lunch together.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± rejected Cedric. ¡°We won¡¯t be having lunch here.¡± Megan appeared to have read between the lines. ¡°Are you nning to leave?¡± Cedrick nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, I feel bad to keep troubling you, Megan. Thus, I¡¯d like to invite you to the city and treat you to a good meal.¡± ¡°What?¡± Megan was shocked. Why does it sound like he¡¯s treating me like a prime suspect? Before she could react, Cedrick swiftly struck her neck with a knife hand. Megan let out a soft grunt, fell backward, and dropped limply into Gwendolyn¡¯s arms. When Gwendolyn¡¯s gaze met Cedrick¡¯s, she asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°You said so in the field just now that you wanted to take Megan along if you had to leave. Hence, let¡¯s all go back to Salinsburgh together.¡± Arching a brow, Gwendolyn questioned, ¡°What if I refuse to follow you?¡± ¡°Then I shall knock your lights out too,¡± Cedrick answered without thinking twice. Hmph, what an attitude! ¡°We just fought a couple of hours ago. Do you dare to do it again?¡± Cedrick shed a faint smile at her. ¡°I didn¡¯t really show you my full capabilities this morning, but it won¡¯t be the case now. Do you want to see what I¡¯ve got, Gwenny?¡± Gwendolyn was quite interested in fighting him as they had battled several times during the divorce. She theny Megan on the wooden couch and rolled up her sleeves, assuming an intimidating stance. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have a go at it. It¡¯s either I¡¯ll beat you to a pulp or you will knock me out.¡± Cedrick felt his throat tightened as his face turned pale. I don¡¯t dare to hit my wife. What if she leaves me? It wasn¡¯t easy to get her back, and I can¡¯t afford to lose her again. My punches are harsh. If I identally hurt her, I¡¯ll be the one who loses out in the end. He heaved a long sigh at that thought. Subsequently, he approached her, gently grabbed her wrist, bent down, and patted his face with her hand. Gwendolyn tried very hard to hold back augh when she saw how the manpromised. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I was just joking. If you insist on staying here, I won¡¯t force you to do otherwise. If you¡¯re upset with me, you can hit me, and I won¡¯t retaliate at all. However, once you¡¯re done releasing your anger, please leave this ce with me. It¡¯s very dangerous here because we don¡¯t know how many more people are hiding in concealed positions.¡± Gwendolyn kept a straight face and pinched him on the cheek without saying a word. Cedrick continued to persuade her, ¡°I hurt my arm. Can you apany me to the hospital? I¡¯ll send Megan to a safe ce and protect her. I¡¯ll also show you our marriage certificate. If I ever lie to you, I¡¯ll rot in hell.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Before she could stop him from saying any further, he had finished swearing. Gwendolyn nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I believe you.¡± Yeah, my darling is finally willing toe with me! Delighted, Cedrick grinned from ear to ear. ¡°Thank you, Gwenny, for your trust.¡± Gwendolyn kept quiet. She turned around to hold the unconscious Megan. Soon, the duo along with Megan took the helicopter. Cedrick had his eyes glued to Gwendolyn the entire time. Feeling rather uneasy, Gwendolyn changed the topic. ¡°Mr. Jenson, why are you so sure that I¡¯m your wife? What happens if I¡¯m a fake or you¡¯ve got the wrong person?¡± Cedrick brushed her slightly messy hair and tucked them behind her ear. His gaze was gentle. ¡°That¡¯s impossible, for I¡¯ll never mistake someone else for you.¡± Chapter 794 Chapter 794 Back in Grand Valley Hospital, Salinsburgh, Cedrick was sitting by the bed while the nurse brought in a tray of medical supplies. On it were antiseptic solutions, cotton swabs, disinfectants, and some other medicines. Gwendolyn watched on from a corner. She had no intention to offer any help in applying the medicine. Cedrick was scrutinizing her facial expression. When he saw that Gwendolyn was not a tad bit jealous of the nurse who was treating the wound on his arm, he felt upset. Hence, he coaxed Gwendolyn to go for an assessment at the psychiatry department once he was done. The results came out after half an hour. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Mrs. Jenson has really lost her memory, and she won¡¯t be able to recall many things. However, upon examining her, I realize that her case of amnesia is a mild one. It¡¯s very likely to be temporary. It might help to bring her to some familiar ces and go down memoryne with her.¡± Cedrick was holding his breath at the doctor¡¯s office. He stared at the medical report and fell into a prolonged silence. The doctor continued, ¡°Mrs. Jenson¡¯s memory loss is probably caused by her injury. ording to Megan, Mrs. Jenson developed a high fever and was unconscious for two days. The back of her head was hit, and the bruises have yet to dissipate. It appears that she was hurt quite badly at that time. Anyway, you don¡¯t have to worry too much, Mr. Jenson. We¡¯ve taken a CT scan of her brain, and there isn¡¯t any blood clot in her cerebellum. In other words, there¡¯s no nervepression. Hence, it¡¯s only a matter of time before she will regain her memory.¡± Cedrick put down the report and left the doctor¡¯s office without uttering a single word. Gwendolyn was waiting quietly in the VIP ward. She did not speak until the moment Cedrick entered the room. ¡°I¡¯ve done all the tests as per your request. When can I leave the hospital?¡± she asked eagerly. Cedrick slowly walked across the room toward her, bent down, and helped her to put on her shoes. ¡°Today.¡± ¡°Great! You can pack up now. Where¡¯s Megan? I¡¯ll go look for her.¡± He did not respond but quietly helped her put on her shoes. Charles, who followed Nico to Federal Bureau of Investigation, heard that Cedrick brought Gwendolyn to the hospital and immediately rushed over to see her. After asking the nurses in the hallway, he managed to find Gwendolyn¡¯s ward. The door to her ward was notpletely shut but slightly ajar. When Charles was about to push it open, he overheard some voices talking in the room. Hence, he stood by the door and waited. ¡°Mr. Jenson, you asked me to cooperate with the doctor for a medical assessment, and I did. How was it? What does the report say? Are you satisfied?¡± Cedrick sighed and shook his head. He was stumped. After what felt like an eternity, he uttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± When interacting with Gwendolyn the past few days, he thought she was faking her memory loss, but the test results told him otherwise. It was true. Gwendolyn hadpletely forgotten about him. She looked at him and noticed a faint red rim at the corner of his eyes. His short hair at that moment gave off a totally different vibe. In front of her, he was not a hostile personality like when he was working. She felt a hint of sympathy for him. Cedrick¡¯s eyshes trembled slightly as he tried his best to suppress his emotions. ¡°I¡¯m in the wrong for testing you multiple times over the past few days. I¡¯ll bring you hometer and show you our marriage certificate. If you still insist on leaving me to keep Meganpany, I promise I won¡¯t stop you anymore.¡± Gwendolyn stretched out her hand and patted his head. Right when she was about to speak, she caught a nce of the door gap. The light source from the room hit the ss surface of the man¡¯s expensive watch and created a dazzling reflection that could only be seen from Gwendolyn¡¯s angle. It was Charles. She froze for a second before pinching Cedrick¡¯s cheek and scrutinizing his features. ¡°You¡¯re very handsome, Mr. Jenson. Your above-average face fits my beauty standards, and you¡¯ve made it to the top of my good-looking list. However, your smoking habit is awfully bad.¡± Instantly, Cedrick lifted his head and said in a serious tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwenny, I¡¯ll quit smoking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Smiling, her eyes curved into a crescent shape. She added yfully, ¡°Yesterday, Charles asked me who would I pick if I had to choose a husband between the two of you.¡± Her statement piqued his interest, and the red rim around his eyes disappeared almost instantly. ¡°Did you change your mind, Gwenny?¡± She nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it, and I pick you.¡± She shed him a genuine smile, indicating she had made a serious choice. She was not telling a joke to make him happy. Upon hearing that, the bitterness in Cedrick¡¯s heart went away in no time. Yet, he still had his doubts. ¡°Gwenny, you said you hated the fact that I smoke. Will you really pick me?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I can help you quit. If you don¡¯t seed the first time, I¡¯ll beat you up until a miracle happens.¡± That¡¯s my darling wife! Outside of the ward, disappointment swirled in Charles¡¯ eyes as he lowered his head and gradually shut the door. He did not n to enter the room anymore. Even when she¡¯s suffering from amnesia, she hasn¡¯t considered me one bit. Even though I found her earlier than Cedrick, she still wouldn¡¯te with me. Does she really not have any feelings toward me? Not even a tiny bit? Really? A riot of emotions brewed within Charles as his expression turned grim. Should I let it go after pursuing her for more than a decade? He recalled the words Gwendolyn said to him when they were in Erihal. You¡¯ve missed your chance, and there won¡¯t be another. Life is about moving forward. You are trapping yourself into the past and refusing to see anything beyond that. As he was thinking about it, he took the elevator downstairs. When its door opened, a familiar voice rang out. ¡°Charles, why are you here? Finally, you¡¯re willing to come back?¡± Left with no choice, Charles withdrew himself from his thoughts and looked up. He saw Jasmine and Whitney standing arm in arm outside the elevator door. While Jasmine was delighted to see him, Whitney was quite shocked. He walked out, ignoring Jasmine¡¯s question. ¡°Why are you two here at the hospital?¡± he queried in return. Suddenly, Jasmine became upset andined, ¡°I thought you purposely made a trip here to apany Whitney to see the doctor. Who would have guessed it¡¯s all a coincidence? You¡¯ve disappeared for ten days and even blocked my calls. What have you been up to?¡± Feeling uneasy, Charles averted his gaze. He gave Whitney a once-over and noticed how pale her face was. She seems to have lost some weight. Is she not doing well at the Newton residence? ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Whitney smiled wryly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a small matter. I wanted to take some medicine but Jasmine was worried and insisted that Ie here for a follow-up.¡± ¡°A follow-up?¡± Charles caught a keyword. Before Whitney had a chance to exin, Jasmine interrupted angrily, ¡°You¡¯re too much, Charles! Do you care about Whitney at all? I told you before that she was admitted to the hospital for stomach flu. Her stomach hasn¡¯t been well, and she repeatedly feels ufortable. You have never cared for her once.¡± Charles was bbergasted. He hadpletely forgotten about that. Feeling guilty, he looked down and said nothing, allowing Jasmine to reprimand him. Whitney grabbed Jasmine¡¯s arm, gesturing for her to stop. ¡°I¡¯m okay. It¡¯s just a small matter. He¡¯s usually busy at work, so it¡¯s normal that it slips his mind.¡± ¡°You can keep defending him, Whitney. The more you do that, the less he cares about you.¡± Whitney responded with an awkward smile. Ours is a contract marriage, to begin with. Charles doesn¡¯t have any feelings for me. Thus, it¡¯s natural for him not to think about me. Charles put one hand in his pocket while channeling his focus on thedies¡¯ arms that were hooked together. Subsequently, he reached out to separate the two of them. He grabbed Whitney¡¯s wrist and pulled her in his direction to bring her closer to him. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with my sick wife. You can leave now.¡± Stunned, Jasmine and Whitney exchanged nces. Chapter 795 Chapter 795 ¡°Oh¡­ Okay, then. Take good care of Whitney, Charles. She¡¯s the patient, so you ought to give way to her,¡± Jasmine reminded in a concerned tone. Charles¡¯ patience was running thin, but he nodded and refrained from talking back. Jasmine turned around and walked away. However, she kept looking back, making it obvious that she didn¡¯t trust him. Seeing that, Charles wrapped his arm around Whitney¡¯s shoulders and pulled her in. Whitney shot him a puzzled look, but he shed a gentle smile in response. Only then did Jasmine feel at ease and leave. The moment Jasmine went out of sight in the hospital lobby, Charles retracted his arm and entered the elevator. ¡°Have you made an appointment? Are you going to see an internist? Which floor is it on?¡± he asked emotionlessly. It took a while for Whitney to regain her senses. When she did, she followed him into the elevator and answered, ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve made an appointment to see an internist. Third floor.¡± Charles pressed the third-floor button in the elevator and kept mum after that. Due to how quiet and cramped the elevator was, Whitney stood there gingerly, not knowing where to look. I¡¯ve only not seen him for ten days, but it feels as though I haven¡¯t seen him in a long time. In fact, I even wondered if he had run into trouble and died. ¡°When you were sent to the hospital for your stomach flu, I was working overtime. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Whitney lifted her gaze in bafflement and returned to her senses afterward. Oh. He¡¯s apologizing for what happened thest time around. ¡°It¡¯s all right, Mr. Newton. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± she responded. Back then, I was always alone when I fell sick. At least I had Jasmine keeping mepany and Lucas calling for help. I couldn¡¯t have asked for more. Charles clenched his fists in his pockets and felt a sudden sense of remorse washing over him. When Jasmine called to tell me Whitney was getting sent to the hospital for her stomach flu, I was on my way to look for Gwendolyn. That day, I hesitated and wondered if I should turn back. I ended up opting to look for Gwendolyn. In hindsight, I did Whitney wrong. ¡°I haven¡¯t been back at the Newton residence for the past ten days. Aren¡¯t you curious about what I was doing?¡± Charles asked proactively. Whitney nodded at first but ended up shaking her head after giving it some thought. Charles was amused. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious because you didn¡¯t show up at Newton Group over the past few days. However, I knew you had important matters to attend to. You told me you hated it when I asked about your personal matters. Therefore, I¡¯m not going to meddle in your private affairs,¡± she replied truthfully. Charles lowered his gaze to nce at her. She had a head of blonde curly hair and a pair of exotic- looking eyes. She was the epitome of natural beauty. At the same time, her fine, straight nose highlighted the exquisite facial features she had. As she stood there in silence, she looked like a kind and understanding wife. Charles felt bad for her, but he chose to hold his tongue. The two then exited the elevator in silence. Being a hospital in the city, the corridors were understandably brimming with patients. Whenever someone walked past Charles and Whitney, they would halt in their tracks and nce at the couple. As soon as the couple appeared, the crowd could be heard whispering among themselves. Obviously, most of them were gossiping about Charles. Whitney felt uneasy, so she asked softly, ¡°Mr. Newton, we¡¯re still keeping our marriage a secret in public. If these people recognize you and see you apanying me to the hospital, will you be on the news headlines tomorrow?¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm,¡± Charles hummed in response. That¡¯s precisely what¡¯s going to happen. ¡°Perhaps¡­ Let¡¯s just forget about it. After all, I¡¯ve had problems with my stomach for a long time. I¡¯ll be okay on my own. Besides, I don¡¯t want to waste your precious time,¡± she suggested. ¡°Mmm-hmm.¡± Whitney couldn¡¯t help feeling disappointed when he agreed to it without the slightest hesitation. Coincidentally, it was Whitney¡¯s turn to see the internist. ¡°Thank you for your time, Mr. Newton. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll keep this from Jasmine,¡± Whitney uttered politely. With that, she entered the examination room hastily, without turning back. Charles took two steps forward and mulled over it for a couple of seconds. Ultimately, he turned around and walked in the opposite direction. A few minutester, someone suddenly pushed the door to the examination room open. ¡°Sir, please wait for your turn.¡± The doctor was baffled. ¡°I¡¯m here to keep my wifepany. I would like to hear about her diagnosis.¡± Upon hearing that, the doctor shifted his gaze toward Whitney and smiled. ¡°You have such a good husband. There aren¡¯t many caring men like him nowadays.¡± Whitney, who was back-facing the door, gradually turned around to see Charles in a face mask. ¡°Why are you here?¡± She was stunned. Didn¡¯t he leave earlier? Charles walked up to her from behind and ced his hands on her shoulders. In anguid yet serious tone, he replied, ¡°I went to get a face mask from the nurse. That¡¯s why I arrivedte. Have I made you mad, Darling?¡± For a moment, Whitney was dazed. At the same time, she felt her heart racing wildly and a surge of warmth flowing through her body. Does he have superpowers in his palms or something? N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Thank you,¡± she uttered sincerely. ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. We¡¯re a married couple,¡± he responded lovingly before shifting his gaze toward the doctor. ¡°What¡¯s the situation with her stomach? Is it serious?¡± The doctor went on to reveal Whitney¡¯s condition truthfully. After Charles arrived, the doctor was basically conversing with Charles the entire time, and Whitney didn¡¯t get a chance to join in on the conversation. ¡°Well, that¡¯s about it. From now on, refrain from eating suppers, drink a ss of warm milk before bedtime, look after your diet, and get ample sleep every night. In addition, you need to do these tests. If the indicators are normal, you¡¯ll be fine,¡± the doctor said. ¡°Understood.¡± Charles collected the doctor¡¯s test and payment slips, helped Whitney with her purse, held her hand, and led her to make payment and do the other tests. Whitney was in a daze the entire time. The Charles before my eyes seems so unreal. Like a mindless exquisite doll, she let Charles guide her through all the procedures that day. Meanwhile, Cedrick brought Gwendolyn back to Harrick Vi in thete afternoon. Gwendolyn wanted to see the kids, but Cedrick insisted on first showing her their marriage certificate. After unlocking the drawer in the wardrobe, Cedrick took out a file before passing it to Gwendolyn carefully. Seated by the side of the bed, Gwendolyn took the file and looked through it. Although it was just a piece of paper, it carried an immense weight. As soon as she looked at it, she saw a photo of them receiving their marriage certificates at Civil Affairs Bureau five years ago behind the certificate. The registrar, registration date, marriage certificate number, and so on were all printed on the certificate. In the photo that showed them dressed in white with a flower wall behind them, the couple could be seen smiling brightly. In fact, they could barely contain the excitement and joy in their eyes. Emotions welled up inside Gwendolyn as she ran her fingers across the photo. Cedrick was standing next to her, and he asked, ¡°Do you recall anything?¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers froze, and she shook her head before closing the file. Unwilling to give up, Cedrick said, ¡°It¡¯s all right. All that matters is that you know I¡¯m not lying to you, Gwenny. I just want you to know that we¡¯re really a married couple.¡± Gwendolyn remained silent as she shed a gentle smile. Needless to say, her heart softened when she saw the marriage certificate again. Cedrick carefully retrieved the file from her and ced it back in the drawer. After that, he took out the Lego pieces from under the wardrobe. Gwendolyn almost couldn¡¯t hold back herughter when she saw the Lego pieces. She tried her best to keep a straight face and asked, ¡°What are these?¡± ¡°These are rare edition Lego pieces. Normally, people just y with them. In this house, however, I kneel on them.¡± Heid the Lego pieces on the ground in front of Gwendolyn and turned around to pull open the drawer by the bed. From there, he whipped out a ruler. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s our sturdy and intimidating ruler. Apart from using it to take measurements, it can also be used to hit me,¡± Cedrick answered. Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. Who knew I have such a funny husband? It¡¯s getting really hard to hold back myughter! Chapter 796 Chapter 796 She suppressed the faint smile at the corners of her mouth and gestured with her eyes toward the Lego pieces on the ground. ¡°Are you asking me to kneel before you?¡± Cedrick asked. ¡°No.¡± Cedrick swiftly took off his gray coat and casually threw it behind him. The coatnded perfectly on the coat rack in the corner of the wall. His pure white shirt fit snugly, outlining his waist perfectly, disying his impable figure. Without hesitation, he tucked a ruler into Gwendolyn¡¯s hands, bent his knees, and knelt steadily on the Lego pieces. His eyebrows and eyes narrowed in pain. However, he quickly regained hisposure. Gazing up at Gwendolyn with his handsome face, he said, ¡°It is I who should kneel before you.¡± Nothing could convey his apology better than kneeling before his wife. Gwendolyn was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected him to suddenly drop to his knees and reached out to pull him up. ¡°Why are you suddenly kneeling? Don¡¯t your knees hurt? Get up.¡± Cedrick shook his head. There was a hint of remorse in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve made a mistake.¡± ¡°What mistake?¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have lost you. I shouldn¡¯t have deliberately smoked to provoke you,¡± Cedrick admitted. Gwendolyn sighed. This incident was not his fault. Besides, the smoking matter had already been addressed back in the courtyard. She suddenly felt a sensation around her calf as she was lost in her thoughts. Lowering her gaze, she saw Cedrick¡¯s arm encircling her leg. He bent his waist and gently rested his head on her leg. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Gwenny, don¡¯t move. Let me hold you for a while.¡± His usually steady voice now carried noticeable hoarseness. Gwendolyn was stumped. She put away the ruler that he had handed her and gently patted his head tofort him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t vignt enough. On the day of your ident, I was even unhappy because you spoke up for Charles. Knowing that Joe has been on the run for so many years and is likely to seek revenge against you, I failed to protect you in time, causing you to get injured and¡­ lose your memory. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m really sorry¡­¡± His voice trembled uncontrobly. He was overwhelmed with frustration and self-me. Cedrick was eager to atone for his mistakes. Letting Gwendolyn punish him in ordance with the family rule was his way of seeking sce. With reddened eyes, he desperately tried to control his emotions, only allowing his choked sobs to be heard before Gwendolyn, who had lost her memories. He didn¡¯t wish to show his miserable self to Gwendolyn, afraid she might be disdained to see him in this manner. The emotions he had been trying to hold in for the past ten days broke free in a single, powerful instant. There was nothing he could do but sob helplessly, causing his broad shoulders to tremble slightly. Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes also turned teary. She opened her mouth several times but couldn¡¯t find the right words to say. After a moment of hesitation, she patted Cedrick¡¯s back to soothe him and chose to speak the truth. ¡°Cedrick, you are no saint. There will always be things that you might overlook. You¡¯re not at fault for this incident. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself.¡± ¡°Can I¡­ can I hug your waist?¡± he asked tentatively, still caught up in his emotions. Gwendolyn had changed the way she addressed him. Gwendolyn smiled wryly. ¡°Of course.¡± He released her calf and shifted his upper body. However, he didn¡¯t move his knees away from the Lego pieces. His forearm firmly held her waist as he took in her familiar scent. After regaining hisposure, Cedrick suddenly remembered what Gwendolyn said and quickly raised his head to look at her. Their eyes met. There was an unmistakable hint of tenderness in her eyes. Cedrick furrowed his brows. ¡°W-What did you just call me? Why aren¡¯t you calling me Mr. Jenson anymore? Have you recalled the incident already?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°You haven¡¯t lost your memories?¡± Gwendolyn nodded again. ¡°And what of the diagnosis from Faike Hospital?¡± he asked again. A chuckle escaped her lips. ¡°Have you forgotten what Kieran does? He¡¯s the major shareholder of all the hospitals in Salinsburgh. Besides, the neurologist at Faike Hospital is Kieran¡¯s former apprentice.¡± It was a simple matter of a few words to have a diagnosis altered. A frown pulled Cedrick¡¯s features tighter. He cast a wary nce at her and said nothing. Gwendolyn continued to exin herself, ¡°It wasn¡¯t my intention to deceive you. A hospital is a ce filled with gossip, and I thought it best to have them believe I genuinely had amnesia. This would lower their guard and aid you to better track down the culprit.¡± She had nned to continue with the deceit, but Cedrick¡¯s anguished manner tugged at her heartstrings, and she decided to reveal the truth. Darling hasn¡¯t lost her memories and forgotten about me! The revtion that Gwendolyn hadn¡¯t forgotten him brought a wave of relief to Cedrick. ¡°So, you remember everything about the incident ten days ago?¡± Gwendolyn nodded and started to recount the incident, ¡°I was on my way to pick up Zendy from kindergarten when I ran into Tanya, Kieran¡¯s former patient. I told you about her. Do you remember that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°She gged down my car near the bridge, asking for a ride. She was alone and seemed like a fragile woman, so I agreed. As we drove through Bluebay Tunnel, she removed her hat and mask. To my astonishment, she looked identical to me. I realized that this was likely a plot against you and immediately tried to contact you. However, she surprisingly had a signal jammer and was reporting my location to her aplice. Suddenly, severalrge vehicles sped up and tried to corner me. Left with no choice, I veered off the road, plunging down a slope¡­¡± Cedrick tensed up and tightened his grip around her waist. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Thanks to the airbags, I was unscathed and came to quite quickly. I ran along a small canyon path, but the culprit had already blocked all the routes out. I had to go the other way, heading for the cover of the countryside¡­¡± Cedrick listened quietly as he mentally calcted the distance between Bluebay Tunnel and the mountain where Megan lived. Since there was not a clear path, it would be quite far if one was driving. However, if she had been on foot, the distance of crossing the two mountains would actually be considerably shorter. ¡°But then there was a torrential downpour, and someone was doggedly pursuing me. The country paths turned into slippery mud, and I stumbled, rolling from the mountain down to a brook in a forest, where a rock hit the back of my head, knocking me out. When I woke up, I had been rescued by Megan, but I was soaked through and feverish from spending the night in the rain. I slipped in and out of consciousness and lost my voice. After a couple of days, I woke up to see Megan hiding a bag of gold bars under the floor tiles, which was really strange for a woman living in such a modest house. It quickly dawned on me that I had been betrayed, and my location had been exposed. To ensure my safety, I decided to pretend to have lost my memories to keep them off guard,¡± Gwendolyn said. Cedrick was horrified by what she had gone through. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened.¡± He pulled out his phone to call Swain, who was still searching the mountains. ¡°Check out the old house on the mountain, especially the bedrooms. Pry open the floor tiles. Check if Megan has any family photos around. Don¡¯t overlook any suspicious evidence. Photograph everything and bring them back to me personally at Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± After giving his instructions, he hung up, nestling his head in Gwendolyn¡¯sp like anguid, pampered cat. ¡°Gwenny, so you didn¡¯t choose Charles because you didn¡¯t lose your memories?¡± Gwendolyn ran her fingers gently down the back of his neck and chuckled softly. ¡°Charles was too quick to arrive. Even you couldn¡¯t find my location. Given that he¡¯s only involved in business matters now, and yet he was the first to locate me, surely something is amiss. I suspected he might be in cahoots with him, so I tried to sound him out a few times.¡± ¡°So, what did you find out?¡± he asked. Chapter 797 Chapter 797 ¡°He¡¯s likely yed like a pawn, oblivious to everything. I think he¡¯s driven here solely by obsessive determination,¡± she replied. Gwendolyn stifled augh and continued, ¡°I might as well leverage this about of amnesia to extinguish his hopes of ever getting together with me, sooner rather thanter. It¡¯s high time that he moves on with his life and stops pining for me. After all, I¡¯m already Mrs. Jenson.¡± Cedrick was ted to hear her utter the words ¡°Mrs. Jenson.¡± ¡°So, when you said you¡¯d choose me at the hospital, was it for Charles¡¯ benefit as well?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn cradled his face with her hands and looked into his eyes. ¡°It seems you noticed Charles lurking at the door back then?¡± He merely smiled and gave nothing away. With his vignt nature, how could he not have noticed Charles¡¯ presence? He simply chose to ignore it. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering it, Gwenny? Did you really say it for Charles¡¯ benefit? Do you still care for him? If Gwenny truly suffered from amnesia and was first found by him, would she not have chosen him instead? He kept the final question to himself. He dared not gamble on the oue. Gwendolyn gently pinched his face. ¡°Indeed, I intended for Charles to hear it, but it was also a genuine confession. I¡¯ve chosen you in this life, Hubby. I will have no one else as my husband.¡± Cedrick released her waist. He slowly straightened his thighs, with knees still chafed against the Lego pieces, as he embraced her with a single hand and ced a tender kiss on her lips. His kiss was gentle, brimming with the longing and affection that had built up over these days. It was as if he was savoring a rare treasure. Despite the humble posture, there was no sense of debasement. He was the dominant force in this kiss. As their kisses deepened, their breaths grew ragged. His heart pounded with a wild, irrepressible fervor that was utterly overwhelming. Gwendolyn was almost robbed of her breath. Struggling to breathe, she pushed against his shoulders to end the reunion kiss. Wiping the corners of her slightly reddened lips, she avoided Cedrick¡¯s intense gaze, reached for the ruler nearby, and changed the subject. ¡°Now that I no longer have to feign amnesia in front of you, let¡¯s settle the score for your smoking.¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips curled into an indulgent and doting smile. ¡°Sure.¡± Gwendolyn caught her breath and tried to avoid his seductive eyes. ¡°Given that you could smoke four in my presence the other day, be honest and tell me, how many did you smoke in this period?¡± she asked. Cedrick pondered a moment before refuting, ¡°Gwenny, you¡¯re exaggerating. I only smoked three the other day. The fourth one was barely lit. I hadn¡¯t taken more than two drags before you tossed it away.¡± Gwendolyn frowned in displeasure. ¡°What difference does it make between three and four? Are you intentionally nitpicking? Do you take pride in going through three cigarettes in a matter of hours?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± She grew more irate. How could his lungs withstand such reckless indulgence? Swinging the ruler in the air, she was eager for action. ¡°Which hand did you smoke with? Show me.¡± Cedrick hesitated, then obediently extended his left hand, palm up. A sharp smack rang out as the upromising ruler struck his hand. He immediately felt a sharp pain emanating from his palm. Cedrick furrowed his brows slightly. He remained still, looking down at his hand, which was gradually reddening. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. It hurt, as always. The pain felt reassuringly familiar. He felt a catch in his throat, overjoyed at the sense of familiarity. ¡°How could you still smile after getting punished?¡± Gwendolyn looked at him quizzically. He reigned in the sting in his nose. With a smile still tugged at his lips, he said, ¡°This sensation is surprisinglyforting.¡± It was a physical reassurance that his wife was back. She had not lost her memories, nor had she forgotten about him. Gwendolyn stifled augh and asked with feigned seriousness, ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered me. How many cigarettes did you smoke in my absence? Did you ever smoke in front of Zendy or Benny?¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± He mulled it over, ¡°Roughly¡­¡± ¡°I want the truth,¡± Gwendolyn warned. ¡°About two packs. I never smoked in front of them, but Benny did detect the smell once.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. ¡°How many cigarettes are there in a pack? Twenty?¡± ¡°The one I smoke is a pack of ten,¡± he replied gingerly. ¡°So, in just ten days¡¯ time, you¡¯ve smoked about twenty cigarettes? Cedrick, you might as well eat those cigarettes! Even Benny managed to detect the smell. Did he cough?¡± she demanded. Cedrick shook his head. ¡°No. I haven¡¯t slept well these past few days. I took to smoking to ease the dullness and didn¡¯t really keep track of how much I smoked. Benny caught the scent one day even after I had taken a bath, and the scent had faded. I don¡¯t think it should have affected him.¡± He did smoke that much. Trying to exin himself otherwise would be lying to her. Cedrick said nothing more and extended his right hand, ready to take his punishment. ¡°Gwenny, I admit it¡¯s my fault. Punish me.¡± Gwendolyn¡¯s temper red as she pinched his handsome face. She hadn¡¯t expected that he would indulge himself so over the past ten days. Smoking was no elixir. It was a lethal habit that could wreak havoc on one¡¯s health. Moreover, they had a child with a heart condition at home. How could he be so reckless? ¡°You¡¯ve indeed overstepped the bounds of self-indulgence. It¡¯s necessary to discipline you to etch the lessons deeply into your memory,¡± she dered with a firm tone. After a moment¡¯s thought, she pushed down his hands with a ruler and tapped the edge of the bed. ¡°Considering your current workmitments, a hand injury would be inconvenient. Lie on your stomach here.¡± His face tensed up at her words, and his spine stiffened with an eerie anticipation. A moment ago, the atmosphere was cordial, almost homely. But now, he felt an rming chill crawling up his spine. ¡°Counting in the two packs of cigarettes, let¡¯s consider it you¡¯ve smoked twenty-five cigarettes in total. For each one, you¡¯ll receive two strikes. Once done, we¡¯ll never talk of this again,¡± she dered. Fifty strikes¡­ Cedrick dawdled resignedly. However, since Gwendolyn had promised that the scores would be settled, he slowly got up andy on his back at the spot she had specified. Before long, the bedroom echoed with the dull sound of rhythmic and relentless disciplined strikes. Waves of pain surged over him, fierce and all-consuming. Cedrick held his breath, clenched his fists, and braved the onught without a word. Indeed, one should never challenge the authority of house rules. An angry woman was truly a force to be reckoned with. Gwendolyn did not hold back, her blowsnding with an unrelenting force. ¡°In a few days, arrange to get a checkup at the hospital, particrly for your lungs.¡± The potential harm of excessive smoking was monumental, and she wouldn¡¯t gamble with his health. Cedrick nodded, his hands folded beneath his head as heyzily on the bed. ¡°Things have been rather hectictely. I¡¯ll get checked after this busy period is over.¡± Gwendolyn said nothing and merely gazed at him. He quickly reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwenny. I won¡¯t forget the checkup.¡± There were plenty of troubles waiting for him at work, and Joe was still lurking out there. Cedrick had no idea what he would do next. Furthermore, he had to take care of his wife and children. He was well aware of the importance of his health and wouldn¡¯t recklessly deplete it any further. Gwendolyn sighed and put the ruler back in the drawer. She fetched a tissue to gently wipe away the thinyer of sweat from his forehead, her touch as tender as ever. ¡°Does your bottom still hurt?¡± she queried. The man, usually quick to dismiss his difort, had to swerve from his typical response. ¡°It hurts since you haven¡¯t gone easy on me.¡± Gwendolyn fell silent. She opened the drawer again to retrieve some anti-inmmatory cream. ¡°Take off your clothes. Let me apply some medicine.¡± Cedrickplied without any fuss. He observed her delicate features, leaving himself to her ministrations. The tips of her fingers, coated with ointment, traced over his bruised skin, igniting a soothing chill on his stinging skin. As she diligently applied the medicine, she continued to exin herself, ¡°About the fact that I haven¡¯t lost my memories, you should act as if you are unaware and continue ying along. Also, where have you relocated Megan? Give me the address. I have to see herter.¡± Cedrick turned to look at her. ¡°Don¡¯t go. I don¡¯t want you taking risks anymore. Let me handle Joe¡¯s matters. There¡¯s no need for you to continue pretending to have lost your memories. I¡¯ll take care of the dangers outside.¡± Gwendolyn didn¡¯t respond. Cedrick grabbed her wrist and transfixed his gaze at her. ¡°Benny and Zendy haven¡¯t seen you in a long time. They miss you terribly. This time, please do as I say. Stay in theb with them. Let me handle everything else.¡± ¡°But Megan¡ª¡± ¡°Federal Bureau of Investigation has stood unyielding for many years, employing unique investigation methods. Gwenny, you can trust me with this. You take care of Benny and Zendy, so I can focus on the case, all right?¡± Cedrick reasoned. Gwendolyn conceded and nodded in agreement. Satisfied, Cedrick¡¯s lips curved into a smile. He grabbed her wrist, swiftly shifting their positions, trapping her beneath him in mere seconds. His eyes glinted with an intense desire. Gwendolyn knew his intentions from the look in his eyes alone. She stifled a chuckle and asked, ¡°So your bottom doesn¡¯t hurt anymore?¡± ¡°It hurts, but it won¡¯t get in the way,¡± he replied. He brushed aside her hair and leaned down to press his lips against hers. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I did push-ups. We still have time before going to theb. Maybe you could help me get some exercise, Gwenny?¡± I don¡¯t want to exercise. It¡¯s so tiring. Before she could refuse, Cedrick kissed her again. Chapter 798 Chapter 798 As a gentle breeze stroked the room, sheer curtains billowed from the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the entangled silhouettes. A soft blush bloomed on Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks as she adjusted her breathing. Ten days of yearning, worry, longing, all erupted within Cedrick¡¯s conquest. Half-lidded, Gwendolyn¡¯s fingers traced Cedrick¡¯s sweat-slick Adam¡¯s apple. The imprint of her teeth from the morning was still visible. A wave of satisfaction washed over her. Their love felt like an intense fire. The notion of losing a love like this was unfathomable. Amnesia, injury, or even death were unbearable facets of their lives. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Gwenny? You should focus.¡± Cedrick seized her wrists and lifted them above her head as he nted a kiss on her lips again. By mid-afternoon, the world outside was bright and sunny. Yet, for Gwendolyn, it was a whirlwind of dark ecstasy. Her waist was sore and aching, and she didn¡¯t feel like moving her body at all. Cedrick carried her and headed to the bathroom again. She was on the brink of copse. The exhaustion was overwhelming. Gwendolyn regretted giving in to their fervent desires after ten days apart. Their passionate reunion was far too intense. After bathing, Cedrick diligently helped her dress, choosing a soft white dress. He carefully draped a coat over her and helped her button it. ¡°If you still feel weary, please take a rest at home and only head to theb tomorrow,¡± he said. After all, Joshua was watching over the two children at theboratory. Hence, a major mishap was unlikely. To him, nothing was more important than ensuring his wife wasn¡¯t overtaxed. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ll take a nap when I get to theb. It¡¯s the same,¡± she said. Cedrick knew she was an opinionated woman. She wouldn¡¯t change her mind that easily after arriving at a decision and refrained from trying to persuade her further. Upon changing her attire, he cradled her in his arms and descended the stairs to leave Harrick Vi. Clinging onto his neck, she inquired with a teasing smile, ¡°You seem to be bursting with energy. Aren¡¯t you the slightest bit tired?¡± He pursed his lips in an attempt to stifle augh and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel your husband is quite impressive now? Isn¡¯t my stamina great?¡± Gwendolyn lightly pinched his earlobe in exasperation. ¡°Be brief next time. Otherwise, you¡¯re going to dy the time,¡± she grumbled. Cedrick raised an eyebrow and smiled suggestively. ¡°Are you saying you disapprove of this, Gwenny? Hmm, I seem to recall otherwise in the bathroom just now¡­¡± Ah, stop it! Don¡¯t say it out loud! Merely alluding to the amorous instances of earlier sent a flurry of blushing memories rushing back. Gwendolyn swiftly covered his mouth, glowering at him while her cheeks turned a rosy hue. ¡°You have no shame. Aren¡¯t you afraid that others might hear us?¡± ¡°What is there to be ashamed of? This is a private matter between man and wife. Nobody has a right to say anything. Gwenny, we¡¯ve been married for five years. Why are you still so shy?¡± Exactly. This is a matter between man and wife. How could he say it out loud? Gwendolyn decided to change the subject and said, ¡°Let¡¯s call for the Jenson family driver.¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ll drive.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t your bottom hurt when you sit?¡± she asked. He leaned forward to press his lips gently against hers and said yfully, ¡°It¡¯s a minor difort, nothing to worry about.¡± All right, then. After all, it was a punishment for his habit of consuming two packs of cigarettes in ten days¡¯ time. Hence, she decided to keep quiet and allow him to carry her to the Jenson family garage. After half an hour, the two children finally caught hold of Gwendolyn, whom they had been missing terribly. Upon witnessing Cedrick carrying Gwendolyn into the ward, Benedict and Zendaya were filled with palpable excitement. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± Zendaya cried. She teared up and hopped off the bed, her eyes red and puffy as she rushed toward her parents. Benedict was still on the drip. Hence, he could only sit on the bed and look at them from afar. Nheless, he was ted at the sight of his mother. Cedrick gently set Gwendolyn down when he saw Zendaya rushing toward them. Zendaya immediately wrapped herself around Gwendolyn¡¯s leg, choking back her sobs and wiping her tears. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Mommy. Benny and I are so worried about you.¡± She was gentle while hugging Gwendolyn, afraid that she might hurt thetter. ¡°Did you get hurt? Why did Daddy carry you here?¡± Gently tousling her daughter¡¯s hair, Gwendolyn looked back at Cedrick with a yful nce. ¡°You should ask your daddy.¡± Cedrick had drained all her energy that Gwendolyn didn¡¯t even have the strength to bend down and hug Zendaya now. Confused, Zendaya turned to look at her father. ¡°Daddy, what did you do to Mommy? She has been away for so many days. Did you bully her the moment she came back?¡± Cedrick wrapped his arm around Gwendolyn¡¯s waist, allowing her to lean against him. Instead of offering an exnation, he instructed, ¡°Your mommy is tired. You two need to behave tonight. Undress yourselves, wash up, and go to bed without troubling her.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± The two kids were visibly disappointed. Cedrick helped Gwendolyn to the side of the bed. Fortunately, she was able to walk as normal, despite feeling that her legs were going to give out at any moment. Zendaya mbered up onto the bed, clinging to Gwendolyn. This time, Benedict was finally able to get closer to his mother too. He reached out his right hand, which was not on the drip, and gently touched Gwendolyn¡¯s face. ¡°Mommy, you seem to have lost weight. Haven¡¯t you been eating well?¡± he asked. Gwendolyn smiled and nodded. ¡°Your daddy¡¯s cooking is still the best. Now that I¡¯m back, I won¡¯t be leaving again.¡± Since he was the older brother, Benedict held in the urge to cry. Nheless, his eyes turned red as he pursed his lips. After a moment of hesitation, he finally mustered the courage to ask, ¡°C-Can I hug you, Mommy?¡± Gwendolyn chuckled. A sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over Gwendolyn as she recalled Cedrick asking her the same questions just a while ago back at Harrick Vi. It was evident that Benedict was a chip off the old block, both disying a simr delicate demeanor in times of uncertainty. Indulging in this moment of tender innocence, she stroked Benedict¡¯s face and said, ¡°Of course.¡± He sat up and scooted toward her, snuggling in her arms. As soon as she entered the ward, the two children clung to her like ko bears. Standing aside, Cedrick shook his head and chuckled. When Gwendolyn was not around, he was the most precious person to the children. However, the moment Gwendolyn returned, he was once again relegated to the sidelines. After letting the children enjoy their time with Gwendolyn, Cedrick finally intervened with a solemn voice. ¡°All right, your mommy is really tired. Let her rest after hugging her, all right? Be good.¡± Despite their reluctance to let Gwendolyn go, the two children listened to Cedrick. After all, they didn¡¯t wish to tire Gwendolyn out either. Gwendolyn was touched by their considerate gestures and kissed them both on their foreheads. ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t feel tired when we hug. Mommy loves it,¡± the two children chimed. Their faces beamed with delight as they huddled closer to hug Gwendolyn again. Cedrick¡¯s interruption of the sweet mother-and-child moment seemed untimely. Exasperated, Cedrick eyed the three of them. The way Gwendolyn indulged in the two children made him feel as if he was less important to her than Benedict and Zendaya. An inexplicable sense of jealousy washed over him. However, he knew all too well that being jealous of the kids would surely lead to a fight between him and Gwendolyn. Hence, he suppressed the unbidden feeling and looked at his watch. It¡¯s gettingte. Time to tend to business. Before leaving, he reminded again, ¡°Benny, take good care of Mommy. She will stay with you guys at theb tonight. Don¡¯t make her worry. Zendy, if Mommy wants to drink water or eat fruits, you need to fetch them for her, okay?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± the two children said in unison. Gwendolyn turned around when she noticed that Cedrick was leaving. She looked into his eyes and said, ¡°Take good care. Call me if you feel bored. Don¡¯t smoke.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Chapter 799 Chapter 799 Smoking? He just got the punishment, and it was still hurting. How would he smoke? Cedrick sighed and gave Gwendolyn a reassuring look. Once Cedrick had left, the two kids wrapped their arms around Gwendolyn so tightly and refused to let go. ¡°Mommy! Mommy! How did Daddy find you?¡± Zendaya looked at Gwendolyn with her big eyes as she blinked them and asked. Benedict said, ¡°Daddy said Mommy was busy with something at the Harris residence. But that day, I overheard the conversation between Daddy and Uncle Nico, and I knew Mommy was missing.¡± As Zendaya heard her brother recounting the incident, it reminded her of something important. Oh yes, I need toin about Daddy! ¡°Mommy, do you know that Daddy was so arrogant recently? He didn¡¯te to see Zendy for days! In addition, Benny and I saw Daddy smoking and drinking in the office! Daddy did not behave. Mommy, you should beat him!¡± Zendaya said. Gwendolyn chuckled and gently pinched her little cheeks. ¡°If your daddy were to hear you tattling, you¡¯d probably get a beating first.¡± Zendaya¡¯s face changed, and she snuggled back into Gwendolyn¡¯s embrace. ¡°Zendy is not afraid! Mommy will protect Zendy! Daddy can¡¯t beat me. He¡¯s the one who should be punished first!¡± Gwendolyn stifled augh. After Gwendolyn¡¯s arrival, the ward was filled withughter. The two kids¡¯ sad mood was lifted, and everyone became cheerful. Cedrick walked out of theb and went to meet Megan. Megan was staying in a high-end hotel under the Jenson Group. There were police officers and bodyguards stationed downstairs, as well as the entrance to the room. The hotel turned down the other guests for the night and amodated only Megan. It was at its maximum security and even an ant could not sneak in. Cedrick did not rush upstairs. Instead, he sat on a couch in the hotel lobby and listened to Swain¡¯s report. He went through numerous photos of items on a tablet. Those photos were taken inside the shack by Swain. Well over a hundred photos, and left no detail unnoticed. Among those photos, the most crucial were the ones revealing gold bars under the tiles inside the shack. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve done the investigation. The gold bars have the HCY Bank logo on them. It¡¯s a foreign joint venture bank, and the person in charge is from Astoria but is currently not in the country. The bag of gold bars found at Megan¡¯s home is of the highest quality avable in the market, and they are worth about two million. Besides the bag of gold bars you mentioned, there are ten more hidden under the floor tiles of her bed. These ten gold bars have different batch numbers ande from another bank. They seem to have been stored for quite some time, as they looked seasoned,¡± Swain reported. Cedrick looked stern, with his brows slightly furrowed. As he slid his fingertips across the tablet, he went through every single one of the photos. Long before saving Gwendolyn, such a poverty-stricken family with this little shack already owned ten large gold bars. This is unusual. ¡°Did you find any information about her husband and son?¡± Swain nodded. ¡°Yes. There are a few old family portraits in the bedroom drawer. It seems like they were taken with her husband and son. If you keep scrolling down, you should be able to see the photos.¡± Cedrick continued to slide through the photos meticulously. Swain continued. ¡°The family portraits at Megan¡¯s ce are not wrapped with stic nor framed. They have yellowed edges, and arge part of her son¡¯s face has faded. ording to the investigation, Megan¡¯s son passed away many years ago. Since then, she and her husband had a lot of quarrels which has affected their rtionship. Eventually, her husband moved out to the city to make a living. There have been no updates from him since afterward.¡± So, Megan¡¯s previous ims about her son and husband working in the city and only returning once a year for Christmas were all lies. Her son had passed away long ago, and she had been separated from her husband due to a troubled rtionship for many years. She had been living alone on the mountain all by herself. Cedrick slid to a portrait on the tablet showing Megan with her family. The portrait was aged and faded around its edges. It seemed like it had been stored away and not taken out for a long time. In the photo, young Megan stood side by side with her husband. She had a smile on her face and held her son in her arms. Her husband, however, had a straight face with hardly any emotion shown. Her son was at the top right corner of the portrait, and his face waspletely blurred. Only a faint glimpse of his smiling mouth was visible. Judging by his height, he appeared to be around seven or eight years old. Cedrick tapped his fingertip on the tablet, zooming in on the picture and carefully examining it. ¡°Is it possible to find out when Megan¡¯s son passed away and the cause of his death?¡± Cedrick asked. Swain shook his head and said, ¡°Since they lived in the mountains, her son was never registered in official records.¡± Without official records, it is impossible to find any information about his death. As Cedrick¡¯s brows furrowed deeper, he had a stronger suspicion that something was amiss. ¡°Did you find her son¡¯s grave up in the mountains?¡± he asked. Swain shook his head once again. ¡°Graveyards in rural areas usually don¡¯t have names. Therefore, we won¡¯t be able to find it. I¡¯m afraid the only way to know is to ask Megan herself.¡± Cedrick fell silent and continued to browse through the photos. A few minutester, the police officer who guarded the hotel room came downstairs. ¡°Mr. Jenson, Megan didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. She insisted on leaving, saying she wanted to go back home¡­¡± At first, they could calm her down; but as time passed, the olddy became more agitated and was losing it. The police officers feared that she might cause a scene, so they had no choice but to report to Cedrick. Cedrick expressed dissatisfaction by narrowing his eyes. He turned off the tablet and handed it to Swain. Then, he stood up and headed toward the hotel elevator. The officer immediately escorted him to the room. As soon as they reached the hallway, they could hear Megan¡¯s high-pitched voice shouting with a heavy dialectal ent. Although they could not understand, her irritated tone and foulnguage were obvious. Megan had been stuck in there for the whole afternoon, which led her to the verge of a breakdown. Her gentle demeanor earlier could not be maintained any longer because all she wanted was to leave the hotel. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Cedrick walked to Megan with one hand in his pocket nonchntly. When Megan saw him, she instantly quieted down, then exasperatedly turned around and walked back into the room. She then went to sit down by the bed. Cedrick shed a look at the two officers, then closed the door behind him after entering the room. He went into the room alone. He brought a soft chair from near the window and ced it in front of Megan before slowly sitting down. Without being aware, he reached into his pocket, searching for a cigarette pack, but it was empty. He retracted his hand and ran his fingers over the surface of his wristwatch in a cold demeanor, and then he spoke in a detached tone that was void of any emotions. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you I would take the chance to host you and treat you to a nice meal? Why are you leaving after just half a day?¡± Megan sped her hands tightly around the hem of her clothes and sighed helplessly. ¡°Mr. Jenson, I appreciate your hospitality, but I¡¯ve been a vige woman my whole life. I¡¯ve never stayed in such a fancy, luxurious hotel before, and I¡¯m not used to it. Mr. Jenson, please let me go home.¡± Cedrick was slouching in his seat, casually raising his gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Megan. No matter what was your motive for saving Gwenny, I appreciate it. I won¡¯t harm you.¡± Megan averted her eyes unnaturally. ¡°I didn¡¯t have any ulterior motives. I went to pick mushrooms after the rain and came across Gwendolyn who was injured. I like her from the bottom of my heart, and I don¡¯t expect your gratitude. If it happened again, I would still save her.¡± Well, that was genuinely heartfelt. Cedrick believed that she was sincere when she rescued Gwendolyn. He withdrew his gaze and curled his lips. ¡°You could leave, Megan. However, before you leave, you must answer my questions honestly. I¡¯ll let you go immediately if you tell me the truth.¡± Megan felt a subtle unease and swallowed nervously. She asked, ¡°What¡­ what do you want to know?¡± Chapter 800 Chapter 800 ¡°My men found two batches of gold bars under the floor tiles in the room. Where did theye from?¡± Megan stiffened, never expecting her well-hidden belongings to be discovered so easily. She had only been away for an afternoon, and yet Cedrick managed to uncover them. She swallowed the lump in her throat and opted to stay silent. Cedrick added, ¡°Megan, don¡¯t even think about trying to fool me. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has thoroughly inspected every inch of your property. I¡¯ll find what I¡¯m looking for even if I have to dig to the depths of the earth.¡± Upon hearing that, Megan grew even more terrified. ¡°T-These are all assets earned by my husband and children throughout the years, and they asked me to hold onto it. It¡¯s all legitimate earnings, so I don¡¯t think I broke anyw. Is that against thew?¡± she stammered in her defense. Cedrick shook his head in response. Just as Megan was about to let out a sigh of relief, he added, ¡°Well, whether you broke anyw or not is still to be determined. If the money was earned through legitimate means, then it¡¯s not illegal. However, if you acquired such arge sum through illicit means, that would be a different story. Given the significant amount involved, imprisonment is almost certain.¡± Megan waved her hands frantically. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything wrong, so please don¡¯t arrest me. I¡¯m just an ordinary woman from a rural vige. Please spare me, Mr. Jenson.¡± Cedrick sighed in frustration, his patience worn thin by her elusive responses. Getting to his feet, he walked over to the table and poured himself a cup of hot water. After drinking about half of it, he set the cup down before uttering in an indifferent tone, ¡°Your son has been dead for a long time. He never had the chance to grow up, let alone go to the city for work. Moreover, you and your husband had a strained rtionship, and he¡¯s been absent from your life for years. You¡¯ve done nothing but lied to us these past few days. Your usual earnings from selling vegetables and eggs could barely sustain your livelihood, so it¡¯s hard for us not to suspect you when you suddenly have such a significant amount of gold bars.¡± As he spoke, he picked up the cup, refilled it, and politely handed it back to Megan. Thetter couldn¡¯t bring herself to take the cup as she was overwhelmed by fear. Cedrick didn¡¯t push her any further, and when he saw that she was unwilling to take the cup, he simply ced it back on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t mind taking my time to get the truth out of you. When you¡¯re ready to be honest, you can leave. I just hope that the chickens in your backyard won¡¯t starve during your one-month absence.¡± He chuckled softly, straightened the cuffs of his coat, and turned to leave. Megan¡¯s voice trembled with fear as she called out to him, ¡°Mr. Jenson, please don¡¯t do this¡­ I-I can¡¯t tell you the truth because if I do, they¡¯ll kill me. They are ruthless and armed with guns. They won¡¯t hesitate to take my life.¡± As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn¡¯t hold back her sobs. ¡°I have an unhappy marriage, and my son never had the chance to grow up. Although my life is dull and dreary, I still don¡¯t want to die. After all, there¡¯s always hope in living, right?¡± She continued, ¡°I had hoped that after sending Gwendolyn away, I could take those gold bars to the city¡¯s bank to exchange them for cash and then buy a small two-story vi in the countryside. All I want is to live the rest of my life in seclusion with the remaining money. I never wanted to get involved in the Federal Bureau of Investigation¡¯s case. Can¡¯t you just let me go? Please, stop pressuring me¡­ I don¡¯t know anything¡­¡± She buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the room. It was obvious that the immense psychological pressure she was under was pushing her mind to the brink of copse. Cedrick halted by the door and turned back to face her. He scrutinized her for a moment before saying, ¡°You¡¯ve already been apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The fugitive who gave you the gold bars undoubtedly knows this. Do you honestly believe that by remaining silent, you¡¯ll be able to stay alive once I set you free?¡± If I were to let her go now, death would be the only thing that awaits her. After all, she¡¯s a vulnerable woman living alone in the deste mountains. If she were to be killed in her home and buried, it¡¯s likely that no one would ever know. Megan shuddered at the realization, and her sobs grew even more heart-wrenching as she grasped the gravity of her situation. I don¡¯t want to die¡­ I really don¡¯t want to die! Cedrick returned to his seat and softened his tone, saying, ¡°Please tell me the truth. I¡¯m the only one who can ensure your safety and well-being. You saved Gwenny, and for that, I¡¯m grateful. I won¡¯t do anything to harm you, so please, trust me.¡± Megan stopped crying and slowly raised her head, meeting his gaze. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. As the night deepened, Cedrick made his way to theboratory in the darkness. Although it had only been a few hours since he left, he was aware of how lively his two little ones were. He reckoned that they would likely be too excited to sleep that night after not seeing their mother for such a long time. I don¡¯t mind if they end up jumping and ying around theboratory¡¯s ward as long as they don¡¯t tire out my wife. Filled with genuine concern, Cedrick quickened his pace as he walked along theboratory corridor. Just as he was about to turn the next corner and enter the ward, he suddenly caught a shadow running past his field of view. The other party¡¯s movement was incredibly fast, making it clear that they were skilled. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Cedrick asked. There should only be a couple of frail-looking doctors on duty in theboratory at this time. Besides, even if it were thew enforcement personnel, I doubt they would be sprinting around during patrol duty. The only response he received was the sound of a strong gust of wind. Cedrick hastened his steps, chasing after the figure until he reached the end of the corridor. There, underneath the windowsill, a banana tree cast its shadows upon the white walls of the passage, its leaves swaying asionally as the streetlights flickered. Hmm¡­ There¡¯s no one around, not even a single cat in sight. Perplexed, Cedrick checked the windowsill again. Could it be that I was just seeing things? Theboratory is a crucial location for military pharmaceuticals in Salinsburgh, after all. During the night, the security personnel will conduct meticulous inspections both inside and outside, checking every corner of the premises. Even if a butterfly were to fly in, the surveince cameras would capture it clearly, so I doubt a suspicious person would be able to bypass that¡­ Perhaps my eyes did y a trick on me¡­ There¡¯s a chance that my recentck of sleep and constant busyness during the day is affecting me physically. With that thought in mind, Cedrick decided to stop dwelling on the matter and turned around to head back to the ward. With that thought in mind, Cedrick decided to stop dwelling on the matter and turned around to head back to the ward. Little did he know that as he was leaving, a masked man was quietly slipping away from another direction. It wasn¡¯t until the man hadpletely left that the red light on the surveince camera started blinking again, resuming its normal operation. Ignoring the little incident in the hallway, Cedrick quietly opened the door to the ward. The room was dimly lit with no lights on, and the only source of light was the faint moonlight seeping in through the window that offered a vague sense of direction. Cedrick trod lightly and settled himself by the bedside. Taking in the serene and rhythmic breathing of the two little ones, he could tell they were fast asleep. As his eyes gradually adapted to the dim light, he could now clearly make out the three figures on the bed¡ªan adult and two children. Gwendolyn was sleeping by the window, lying on her side with one hand gently resting on the kids¡¯ bodies, protecting and embracing them. Even in her sleep, she was determined to guard her children, afraid that one of them might identally roll off the hospital bed and get hurt. Cedrick tenderly caressed Benedict, who was the one closest to him, and felt the softness of the boy¡¯s fluffy short hair, which had a soothing effect on his heart, filling it with warmth. There, in that small bed,y the three people he cherished the most in his entire life. As he watched them, he swore to himself that he would protect them with all his might, even if it meant risking his own life. In thete hours of the night, as he listened to the soft and steady breathsing from the bed, Cedrick began to feel a gentle wave of drowsiness washing over him. He quietly fetched a chair and ced it by the bed before positioning himself in a way that would prevent Benedict from rolling off the bed. Resting his arms on the edge of the bed, he soon dozed off while sitting there. The night went by peacefully, and he slept until morning arrived. When Cedrick woke up, he noticed that a white women¡¯s coat was draped over his shoulders. However, both Benedict and Zendaya were not in the hospital bed, and Gwendolyn was nowhere to be found. The room was quiet, with him being the only upant in the entire ward. A sense of unease washed over him, and he hurriedly got up to leave the room in search of his wife and children. Unbeknownst to him, his legs had be numb after sleeping by the bedside all night. As he tried to get up, he felt a sharp, needle-like pain shooting through his legs. Although his right knee did end up hitting the floor, he was able to save himself from an embarrassing fall by steadying himself with one hand. Just then, the door to the ward was pushed open, and Gwendolyn walked in with a breakfast tray in her hands. When she saw the scene before her, she couldn¡¯t help but shake her head with a helpless smile and yfully teased, ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d get to receive such a grand gesture from the mighty Mr. Jenson this early in the morning. That being said, it¡¯s a bit too much. There¡¯s no need to be so formal with me, you know?¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. Chapter 801 Why Would A Madman Need A Reason Chapter 801 Why Would A Madman Need A Reason All jokes aside, Gwendolyn ced the breakfast tray down on the bedside table before turning around to help him up. ¡°How did you fall again? Were you too tired from all the work yesterday?¡± Cedrick shook his head. ¡°My foot¡¯s numb.¡± Gwendolyn helped him back into his chair, then sat on the edge of the bed to massage his legs, alleviating the pressure on his blood flow caused by prolonged immobility. ¡°Feeling better now?¡± He nodded. Realizing he hadn¡¯t seen the two kids around, he asked, ¡°Where are Benny and Zendy?¡± ¡°They just finished breakfast at theb cafeteria and have followed Joshua and Nico to the small basketball court at the back to y badminton. It¡¯s good for Benny to get some exercise, having been bedridden for so long. As Gwendolyn spoke, Cedrick kept his gaze fixed on her, a smile ying at the corners of his lips. ¡°Why didn¡¯t Gwenny go?¡± ¡°Because I had toe back to check on you. I haven¡¯t even eaten yet. I heard from Nico that you haven¡¯t been eating properly while I was away.¡± Cedrick furrowed his brows, picking up on her key point. How dare Nico tell on me? That betrayer. It seemed as if Gwendolyn could read his thoughts. With a hint of annoyance, she jabbed her finger at his forehead and scolded in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t use this as an excuse to give Nico a hard time. It¡¯s me who wanted him to report these things to me. And you, you really don¡¯t take your health seriously. You¡¯re asking for a beating.¡± Cedrick stifled augh, far from fearing a beating. He even leaned in to nt a kiss on her soft cheek. Gwendolyn looked at him, trying to keep a straight face while feeling helpless. Oh well, there¡¯s nothing I can do. I chose him, so I¡¯ll dote on him. She raised an eyebrow, gesturing for Cedrick to eat the breakfast on the bedside table. ¡°Hurry up and eat. It¡¯s not good for your stomach if the soy milk gets cold. Your irregr lifestyle in the past is one thing, but now that I¡¯m back, we need to get your schedule back on track. If you dare to drink and smoke excessively, skip meals, or stay up all night, I won¡¯t care for you anymore. I¡¯ll drag you to the Jenson family¡¯s ancestral hall and let Logan discipline you ording to the Jenson family rules.¡± If he was taken to the ancestral hall, it would mean that he¡¯d be in for a good whipping. If he really got a beating, it would take at least ten days to heal. It was iparable to the mahogany ruler at home. Even though he knew that she was more bark than bite, this was just a tant threat, and she absolutely couldn¡¯t bear the thought of him getting whipped, yet Cedrick still felt threatened. After all, Gwendolyn did say that she would no longer take care of him. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. He moved in, wrapped his arms around Gwendolyn¡¯s slender waist, and kissed her forehead. ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Tsk tsk. She gently pushed his face away, not allowing him to continue his kisses. ¡°Hurry up and cat.¡± Cedrick nodded, feeling contented. The feeling of being constantly looked after by his wife was truly wonderful. He picked up the breakfast tray from the bedside table, ced it on hisp, wiped his hands with a wet tissue, and then began to skillfully peel and eat the egg. Gwendolyn sat by the bedside, quietly watching him eat. He popped a whole boiled egg into his mouth in one go. Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. She frowned. Is his mouth really that big? Howe I never noticed how big his mouth was when we kissed? He can fit an entire egg in there¡­ Even though Cedrick stuffed the whole boiled egg into his mouth, he chewed it slowly and deliberately After peeling the egg, he wiped his fingers with a wet tissue, appearing to be extremely particr about cleanliness. Every move he made was filled with grace. As he swallowed, his Adam¡¯s apple moved gently. He took another sip of soy milk, tilting her neck to reveal a perfect jawline. He was the epitome of sensuality, a feast for the eyes. Even though it was just a simple dish of eggs and soy milk, he ate with the demeanor of someone enjoying a fancy Ferropenian meal, as if it was exceptionally delicious. Without realizing it, Gwendolyn swallowed hard. Cedrick noticed it, his thin lips slightly raised, a hint of mischief tinted his smile. ¡°Why does Gwenny¡¯s gaze seem a bit strange?¡± ¡°What¡¯s strange about it?¡± ¡°You look like you want to devour me.¡± I¡¯ll kill you first before I devour you. As she fell silent, Cedrick had already begun peeling the second egg. His slender fingertips were very attractive, the blue veins on the back of his hand subtly prominent, extending into his sleeve, showcasing his vigorous vitality. Gwendolyn paused when she saw Cedrick swallow a whole egg once again. Furrowing her brows, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Won¡¯t you choke?¡± Cedrick¡¯s chewing motion came to a halt, his car turned inexplicably red. He looked away, swallowed the egg, took a couple of sips of soy milk, and then asked, ¡°Does Gwenny think I eat in an unattractive manner?¡± Gwendolyn was about to reply when Cedrick cut her off. ¡°How I eat isn¡¯t important, Compared to eating eggs, I¡¯m much better at eating Gwenny.¡± His response left Gwendolyn at a loss for words. Be serious. Gwendolyn paid him no mind. Instead, she asked, ¡°How is Megan doing? Has she spoken the truth yet?¡± Cedrick nodded. ¡°She can be considered a pitiful woman. Her husband is violent and an alcoholic, beating. her whenever he gets drunk. She thought having a child would make him change his ways, but it only. made things worse. He even beats their son. Ten years ago, when her husband beat her until she bled, their son rushed over to intervene. He picked up a stool to hit his father, but was identally killed by her husband. He was only eight when he died, and was buried on the mountaintop. Later, her husband took a fancy to another woman in the city and never returned. She found her days to be more peaceful after that. She still has ten gold bars under her bed, stored for quite some time now. She mentioned that she saved a man three years ago, and in gratitude, he gave her those ten gold bars. This time, when she saved you, she was actually nning to leave town to buy some medicine. But she ran into a group of people who were carrying your photo from the media and asking about your whereabouts. And among that group, she recognized the man she had saved three years ago. She told that man your location and got another bag of gold bars in return¡­¡± That was a very important piece of information. Gwendolyn fell into deep thought. Cedrick¡¯s expression was equally serious. ¡°I suspect that the man she saved three years ago is the fugitive. Joe.¡± This man was once an elite member of the military, with top-notch skills in reconnaissance and counter- reconnaissance. Catching him wouldn¡¯t be easy. Gwendolyn replied, ¡°He captured my brother¡¯s patient and altered his appearance to look like me, just to deceive you. His intention and premeditation are incredibly strong. He clearly wants to mess with you, even if he himself is in deep trouble. Why? What kind of deep-seated grudge do you have with him?¡± Cedrick was momentarily at a loss for words, as the vague image of a woman surfaced in his mind. However, he kept his head down in silence, not saying much more. Madmen need no reasons for their actions.¡± Seeing that Gwendolyn was still pondering over this matter, Cedrick reached out and gently rubbed the back of her head. He said softly, ¡°This is official business of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Don¡¯t worry about it too much, Gwenny. If there¡¯s any business with Harris Group that needs to be discussed, do it in theb through online meetings. When I¡¯m not around, take good care of Benny and Zendy.¡± Joe had always operated from the shadows, employing a variety of methods and wielding considerable covert influence. After the incident with Gwendolyn, he didn¡¯t dare let her travel alone to Harris Group to work anymore. Theboratory was the only ce he deemed truly safe. Gwendolyn knew what he was worried about and that he had to attend to his official duties again. She nodded in understanding. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing is more important than the safety of our family right now.¡± A rabid dog bites without regard for time or method. It was truly hard to guard against. The cost of another mishap was something neither she nor Cedrick could afford. The two were in the midst of a conversation when Gwendolyn¡¯s phone suddenly rang. It was Nico Since Nico and Joshua were ying badminton with Benny and Zendy, receiving a call from him during this time must be something important. Before Gwendolyn could even ask what the matter was, Nico spoke up in a flustered and anxious voice. ¡°Gwendolyn! I¡¯m sorry, it s all my fault.. Gwendolyn looked up at Cedrick and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong ¡°1-I¡¯m at fault here. Benny is hurt¡­¡± Chapter 802 Weight Chapter 802 Weight Benny is injured? He immediately got out of bed and took a few steps forward. Gwendolyn immediately asked anxiously, ¡°Where are you guys? Are you still at the basketball court?¡± Nico sent his location to Gwendolyn, and the two of them immediately set off. On the road, Gwendolyn looked quite flustered. She tightly gripped Cedrick¡¯s arm, expressing concern. ¡°If I had known Benny would get hurt, I should have gone with him¡­.. The incident happened just within the few minutes she was having breakfast with Cedrick, which she had brought over for him. Cedrick knew his wife was worried about their child, so he quickly reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gwenny. Although Benny is physically weak, he is still a boy after all. Besides, Nico and Joshua are both there, there shouldn¡¯t be any major problems.¡± Gwendolyn kept mum, and the image of Benedict¡¯s potentially pale face surfaced in her mind, filling her with unbearable self-reproach. She couldn¡¯t see her child, and her mind was already filled with all sorts of oues. She was truly worried. Upon arriving at the basketball court, Gwendolyn hurriedly opened the door and ran down, searching for the figures of the two little ones on the court. The sky had just been washed by rain, leaving the ground somewhat slippery. Cedrick was worried that his wife might fall, so he quickly ran after her and took hold of her. ¡°We¡¯re all here now. If you fall, we¡¯ll have to take care of another one. Nico will definitely take Benny to treat the wound. Let¡¯s go check out Joshua¡¯s medical room.¡± Gwendolyn nodded in agreement, saying. ¡°Yes. They will be in the medical room.¡± She murmured the words of Cedrick over and over, her mind already in a state of chaos. She just wanted to see her precious son as soon as possible, to check on the extent of his injuries. Upon arriving at the medical office, she saw Zendaya puffing her cheeks, blowing air on Benedict¡¯s wound, all while saying, ¡°If I blow on the wound, it won¡¯t hurt anymore. Mommy said so. Blowing on it is the power of love. Let me blow on it!¡± The little one¡¯s face was filled with utmost seriousness, making her reddened eyes exceptionally adorable. Benedict remained silent, lifting his eyes to see the two people who had rushed over. ¡°Mommy! Daddy!¡± A bandage was wrapped around Benedict¡¯s lower leg, which left Gwendolyn feeling somewhat uneasy. As soon as Zendaya saw her mothering, she immediately bounced off the bed and reached out for a hug, ¡°Mommy, hug me.¡± Holding his precious daughter in her arms, Gwendolyn looked at Joshua with a hint of worry and asked, ¡°How is Benny? Are his injuries serious?¡± Joshua said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about, Gwendolyn. It¡¯s just a minor scrape. Children recover quickly, so the bandage can be removed tomorrow morning. Just remember not to get it wet during this time, and avoid eating anything spicy.¡± ¡°All right. Thank you very much.¡± Cedrick picked up Benedict, and the family of four walked out of the medical office. Like a child who had done something wrong. Nico followed behind them. Joshua shook his head and walked out. Gwendolyn looked at Zendaya with a serious expression. ¡°Zendy, can you tell me how your brother got hurt?¡± She had clearly told Nico to take the children to the dedicated badminton court. It was indoors, and the floor was cushioned, so they generally wouldn¡¯t get scraped or bruised. It was raining outside, and with no one around to supervise, Gwendolyn thought the mischievous Zendaya would surely coax Benedict into ying outside with her. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. The ground was wet, making it easy to slip and fall. So, it was possible that Benedict¡¯s injury might have something to do with her mischievous antics. Sure enough, after Gwendolyn asked that question, the little girl stuck out her tongue and said, ¡°Benny got hurt because he was protecting me.¡± After questioning further, Gwendolyn found out that Zendaya had chased after a small dragonfly in the rain and identally lost her footing. Benedict had used his own body to shield her, preventing her from falling. The incident happened so abruptly that neither Nico nor Joshua had time to react before Benedict was injured. However, Nico took all the me upon himself. Before Gwendolyn could say anything, he immediately apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Gwendolyn. It¡¯s all my fault. I was too careless and didn¡¯t manage to hold on to the two kids, which led to Benny getting hurt. I¡¯m very sorry.¡± Indeed, Benedict had always been in poor health and required a lot of care. He was at fault because the child got hurt under his watch. Nico hung his head low, filled with self-reproach. ¡°Cedrick, Gwendolyn, all of this is my fault. I failed to take good care of Benny.¡± Gwendolyn was left somewhat bemused by his actions, wondering how he could possibly me himself for her child¡¯s mischievous behavior. ¡°It¡¯s all right. He¡¯s a child, after all- Before Gwendolyn could finish talking, Cedrick interrupted, ¡°Yes. It¡¯s your fault. Rewards should be given where they are due, and punishments where they are warranted. Since you acknowledge your mistake, drop and give me three hundred push-ups right now. Let this not happen again.¡± Gwendolyn gave Cedrick a nce. Is this man serious? ¡°Hey, Nico was just¡ª¡± Nico was a stubborn man. He knew what Gwendolyn was about to say and interrupted, ¡°Gwendolyn, punishment.¡± Mill Lake good care of things. I¡¯ll do three hundred push-ups right here as As soon as he finished speaking. Nico promptly took off his jacket, tossed it to Joshua, and began doing push-ups. Cedrick gave a light hum with an expressionless look on his face. If not for this jerk, Gwenny would never have known about my irregr eating habits, let alone my excessive drinking and staying up While Nico panted heavily, an idea suddenly struck Zendaya, and she struggled to get out of Gwendolyn¡¯s arms. ¡°Mommy, let me down.¡± Even though Gwendolyn didn¡¯t know what she was nning, she was certain that the little imp had come up with another mischievous idea. Zendaya walked over to Nico, squatted down, and with a gleeful smile revealing her two little canine teeth. she said, ¡°Uncle Nico, when I see those big guys on TV doing this exercise, they always have something on them called weight-bearing!¡± Everyone was surprised to hear those words. Gwendolyn chuckled, and she could guess what Zendaya wanted to do. In the next moment, Zendaya climbed onto Nico¡¯s back, swinging her legs, and said, ¡°Since it¡¯s a punishment from Daddy, is it okay for me to act as Uncle Nico¡¯s weight-bearing?¡± The sudden extra weight made Nico want tough and cry at the same time, but he couldn¡¯t refuse it. Resigned to his fate, he continued with the punishment. In no time, he hadpleted three hundred push-ups. Drenched in sweat, Nico smoothly stood up. Apart from the slight panting, everything was done with ease. Zendaya immediately pped her hands and cheered, ¡°Uncle Nico, you¡¯re so amazing! My daddy can do it too!¡± Seeing that the little girl was about to get himself into trouble, Cedrick quickly picked her up, saying, ¡°All right, Zendy. Benny needs to go back to the hospital room. We should also head back.¡± Benedict¡¯s activity level today had exceeded the usual. It would be best to go back and have a thorough check-up. ¡°Oh. All right, then.¡± Reluctantly, Zendaya wrapped her arms around Cedrick¡¯s neck. Compared to having fun, she cared about her brother more. The group returned to theboratory ward. Benedict¡¯splexion was somewhat pale. All the way there, he had been pursing his lips, not uttering a word. Gwendolyn, worried, gently held his small hand. ¡°Do you feel unwell anywhere? You must tell me, okay?¡± Chapter 803 Releasing Megan Chapter 803 Releasing Megan Benedict nodded. ¡°I understand, Mommy. I¡¯m just a bit short of breath.¡± Upon hearing him gasping for breath, everyone in the ward became instantly worried. Joshua quickly hooked Benedict up to various medical devices and examined the child. Gwendolyn inhaled sharply. Seeing that, Cedrick pulled her into his arms, softlyforting her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Everything will be all right.¡± After a series of inspections. Joshua finally breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face. ¡°Benny¡¯s health indicators are all the same as before. It¡¯s just that his fall resulted in excessive physical activity, so he appears a bit weak. He just needs a good rest to be fine.¡± Hearing that, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Zendaya gently touched Benedict¡¯s leg, feeling somewhat guilty. She cooed softly. ¡°Don¡¯t be bothered by the pain, okay? Tonight, I will tell you a story, okay?¡± Benedict raised an eyebrow. ¡°Stories like Snow White again? I prefer the ones where the wolfes to eat the children.¡± Although his face was a bit pale, he still had the energy to joke around, which showed that he was doing well. Gwendolyn rxed. At that moment. Cedrick¡¯s phone vibrated twice. It was a message from Swain. Seeing a change in his expression, Gwendolyn nced at him. Cedrick silently walked out of the ward. Swain: Boss, there¡¯s new information. Megan¡¯s house has been searched. ording to our people, they probably know we¡¯ve taken Megan. Megan had been constantly watched by that group of people. If she were released, they would surely kill her. However, if they continued to detain Megan, the investigation woulde to a standstill. Therefore, whether to release Megan or not was a tough decision to make. Swain: Boss, please give your instructions, Cedrick read the text message he received from Swain twice, then typed out his response: Wait for my notification. After replying with just four words, Cedrick returned to the ward. Gwendolyn kept her gaze on him, studying his expression. She moved closer and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± Joshua was having a great time ying with the children while Cedrick led Gwendolyn out of the ward to the quiet end of the corridor. ¡°We need to release Megan,¡± said Cedrick. Gwendolyn quickly caught on and nodded. ¡°We do. Since Megan has pretty much exined everything. it¡¯s not right to keep her detained for long. We have to let her go eventually. Although, do you n just to let Megan go like this?¡± After all, if Megan went back alone, she would be doomed. If the mastermind behind the scenes were truly Joe, that man would surely kill Megan. Cedrick responded, ¡°I n to have Swain secretly escort Megan back home. I will also apany them so I can adapt to any situation that may arise.¡± Based on his understanding of Joe, he was the only one who could capture that man. After that incident, Gwendolyn realized Joe was a madman who acted without considering the consequences. Moreover, with his hatred for Cedrick, trouble would certainly ensue if the two of them were to meet. However, Gwendolyn had no choice in that matter. They both had no choice. Peace wouldn¡¯t return to their family so long as Joe was still out there. Seeing the worry in her eyes, Cedrick directly pulled Gwendolyn into his arms, reassuring her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Darling. I will be careful. I won¡¯t let you and our child worry.¡± Gwendolyn lightly hit him, gently warning. ¡°If you can¡¯te back safely, I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± After a tender moment at the end of the corridor, Cedrick left. Gwendolyn returned to the ward. Joshua had already left to handle work, and Nico had returned to the office, leaving only the children in the ward. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. It seemed as if Benedict was worn out from ying. He fell asleep while still on an IV drip. Zendaya sat by the window, gazing outside. Her usual yful and cheerful demeanor was reced by at sullen expression. It was unclear what she was thinking about. ¡°What are you looking at, Zendy?¡± Gwendolyn tiptoed over and gently ruffled her darling daughter¡¯s hair. ¡°Mommy!¡± Upon hearing Gwendolyn¡¯s voice, Zendaya immediately threw herself into the former arms, her voice tinged with a hint of a sob. What happened today is because of my fault. I¡¯m the one who caused Benny to get hurt. I don¡¯t feel good about it¡­¡± The little girl pouted, whimpering softly. Her long, curled eyshes quickly became adorned with glistening teardrops, which fell slowly like beads off a broken string. It would seem that the incident had genuinely frightened her. Gwendolyn patiently wiped away her daughter¡¯s tears, holding her daughter tightly in his arms, comforting her. ¡°We won¡¯t me you, Zendy. It¡¯s our fault. We haven¡¯t been able to be with you two these. past few days, causing you to worry. I know you guys are very happy because I¡¯m back, and that¡¯s why you yed so excitedly. It¡¯s okay. Moreover, Benny is a boy and your big brother. Therefore, it was natural he would instinctively want to protect you. He didn¡¯t me you, didn¡¯t he?¡± After Gwendolynforted her daughter, Zendaya finally stopped crying, nestled against her, and drifted off to sleep. Wiping the tears from her daughter¡¯s face, Gwendolyn felt an unparalleled sense of satisfaction. Now, all she wanted was for all the people she cared about to be safe and sound, for her children to be healthy, and to live a good life with Cedrick. To her, everything else was extraneous. The sky outside gradually darkened, and Cedrick, leading his men, arrived at the hotel where Megan was staying. Upon entering the hotel room, he saw Megan hiding under the table. Hearing his footsteps, she dared not make a sound. It wasn¡¯t until a pair of hands reached under the table to pull her out that she lost control and screamed in terror, ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! Mr. Jenson said he would protect me. You can¡¯t touch me!¡± Cedrick leaned against the wall from a distance, watching Megan, who had only spent one night in the hotel and was already so frightened. He couldn¡¯t help but shake his head andugh resignedly. Megan was adamantly refusing to let the police officer drag her away. Waving her hands in agitation, she was so worked up she was practically ready to bite someone. Cedrick frowned. ¡°Megan, didn¡¯t you want to go home? If you want to go home, you need to behave yourself. They won¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°Going home? Really? Mr. Jenson, are you sure I can go home today? I¡¯m not going to die, am I?¡± Megan looked at Cedrick in disbelief, her face full of anticipation. Cedrick smiled. ¡°Of course, as a condition of your previous honesty, I will find a way to send you back. If you want to survive, you have to listen to me. You can¡¯t act recklessly. After all, the enemy has a gun. If they silence you, I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± Megan was listening very attentively. She knew that Cedrick was not exaggerating. The enemy could even get their hands on guns, and she was just a defenseless woman. She had no power to fight back. She instantly understood and obediently emerged from under the table. ¡°Mr. Jenson, I¡¯ll listen to you. I know you¡¯re a person of great importance. You¡¯ll definitely be able to protect me.¡± She finally had arge sum of gold, something she had never experienced in her life. She really didn¡¯t want to die just like that, without having enjoyed any of the finer things in life. ¡°Whatever arrangements Mr. Jenson makes, I will follow. I absolutely won¡¯t cause you any trouble!¡± said Megan. Chapter 804 Apologize At Her Grave Chapter 804 Apologize At Her Grave Seeing the situation, Cedrick gave Swain a look. Understanding immediately. Swain took Megan and left. The area around Quawak was likely swarming with Joe¡¯s men. If they appeared, they would be exposed to these men. Thus, Cedrick wanted Swain to bring Megan over first, while he monitored from a distance. Cedrick had already arranged with the police force in Quawak, who were ready to respond to his commands at any moment. The sky began to rain, making the journey back to the mountain difficult as the path became muddy all the way. Cedrick personally drove, following Swain from a distance. To avoid drawing too much attention, he specifically chose amon Volkswagen car that he rarely used. Megan sat in the armored vehicle, watching as they entered Quawak. They would soon be traveling on mountain roads, and she was incredibly nervous. She asked, somewhat uncertainly, ¡°Um¡­ You will ensure my safety, right? If there¡¯s any danger, you¡¯ll prioritize protecting me, won¡¯t you?¡± The response from Swain was, ¡°As long as you stay within our sight, we will ensure your safety.¡± The road here was already a winding mountain path, and the rain had made the surface of the road extremely slippery. A single careless move could send the car tumbling down the mountainside. He had to bepletely alert. Even with his answer, Megan was still terrified to the core. She couldn¡¯t help but tremble, her hands and feet shaking uncontrobly as she continually swallowed her saliva. She felt she hadn¡¯t lived enough in this lifetime and certainly didn¡¯t want to die in such an unclear and unjust way, falling victim to someone else¡¯s schemes and plots. Upon reaching the road at the foot of the mountain, the silence was profound, and not a single street light could be found. The car soon came to a halt. Arrangements were made for his men to quietly take their positions, laying in ambush around Megan¡¯s house. After navigating the winding mountain road, Swain followed Megan into the house. Megan trembled as she opened the door. Before she even had the chance to turn on the lights in the room, a dagger, gleaming coldly, was thrust toward her. ¡°Hide!¡± Swain pressed the rm connected to Cedrick, immediately pulled Megan away, and started fighting with the individual in the house. Watching the rapidly shing red dot on his phone, Cedrick immediately got out of the car and took a shortcut up the mountain. There were already not just one but many people lying in wait inside the house. They all had guns in their hands. Bang, bang, bang! Three gunshots echoed through the ck night, the intensemotion startling the birds in the forest, causing them to flee with shrill cries. Megan, terrified, mped her hand over her mouth and nose, hiding in the small haystack outside the shack and not daring to even take a deep breath. Cedrick quickly arrived at the location, where Swain and several police officers were engaged in a struggle with the opposition. No lights were turned on in the house, and only the faint glow of the gun¡¯s muzzle could be seen. Before Cedrick even entered the house, his sharp eyes caught sight of a shadow sneaking away in the dark. He quickly chased after the elusive figure. This figure seemed somewhat familiar. It was somewhat simr to the shadowy figure he had glimpsed in theb that day. ¡°Swain, take control of the situation!¡± ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Cedrick then chased after the shadow into the forest. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. The person moved with agility, leaping and bounding like a cheetah in the night. He was clearly familiar with the terrain here. Fortunately, beforeing here, Cedrick had already investigated the mountain road route, wouldn¡¯t be confused by the opponent. The two of them were in pursuit, one leading, the other following. As the rain was growing heavier, it made the mountain path increasingly difficult to traverse. Rumble, rumble¡­. The thunder roared. Venturing continuously in the forest like this was a highly dangerous affair. This can¡¯t go on. Cedrick halted his steps to survey his surroundings and immediately chose another shortcut to catch up. In no time, he caught up with the shadow, swiftly raised his gun, and aimed it at the shadow. Boom¡­ Bang! The thunder and the gunshot sounded at the exact same moment. The man running ahead stumbled a couple of steps, bracing himself against a nearby tree trunk. He had. been hit in the shin. He cast a nce back at Cedrick who had fired the shot. His entire face was concealed in the darkness, appearing cerie. Then, he turned and ran. Bue to his injury, the man¡¯s pace slowed down, but he continued to run through the forest with his wounded leg. His speed was nowhere near what it used to be. After a short chase, he was caught up by Cedrick. The man, drained of all energy, fell to the ground. Cedrick swiftly holstered his gun and immediately rushed forward to handcuff the man¡¯s hands behind his back. He grabbed him by the nape of his neck and removed the disguise from his face. The man¡¯s features were strikingly chiseled, exuding a certain rugged charm. There was a prominent old scar, that marred his face and detracted from his original good looks. However, Cedrick would never forget the familiar features of his face even in death. After the tainted milk powder incident, Joe had been on the run for five years. He had been injured and had several close calls at the hands of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This time, it was surprisingly easy to catch him. Cedrick looked serious, feeling that Joe was up to some kind of trick again. Caught by Cedrick, Joe was not at all surprised. Instead, he smirked and said, ¡°Cedrick, long time no see. We finally meet officially.¡± Cedrick wore a cold expression, his voice icy as he said, ¡°Given the choice, I wouldn¡¯t want to see your face.¡± ¡°Hal¡± Joeughed arrogantly, his eyes filled with hatred as he red at Cedrick. Gritting his teeth, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve been longing to see you, Cedrick. A ruthless person like you should die in ce of Eryn. No, you should go to her grave to repent and apologize!¡± Cedrick¡¯s face was impassive. ¡°That woman is not worthy of that.¡± The few words seemed to prick at the sensitive depths of Joe¡¯s heart. He screamed and roared like a wild beast gone mad. His crimson eyes were ring intensely at Cedrick. ¡°You deserve to die, you really do! I should have just chopped you to pieces!¡± Cedrick sneered with a smirk, ¡°What¡¯s more painful than death is a life worse than death. That¡¯s why you¡¯ve always refused to kill me, intending to use the torment of my loved ones to make me suffer. Unfortunately for you, now that you¡¯re in my hands, you¡¯ve lost your chance.¡± The heavy rain was pouring down relentlessly. Soon, the ruthlessness in Joe¡¯s eyes gradually faded, reced by a burst of crazedughter. ¡°You should have guessed that I showed up on purpose to lure you out, right?¡± Cedrick remained silent. The smile on Joe¡¯s face deepened. ¡°Now that you have a wife and children, you should know very well what it feels like to lose your loved ones.¡± He added, ¡°Cedrick, I want you to experience all the pain I¡¯ve endured!¡± What a lunatic. Looking at the hatred in Joe¡¯s eyes, Cedrick cocked his gun, pressing it ominously against his head as a warning. ¡°Joe. I¡¯m warning you, if you dare to harm a single hair on their heads, I¡¯ll make you suffer more than death itself.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Joeughed, looking at Cedrick with disdain. ¡°You won¡¯t kill me. If you dare toy a hand on me, I guarantee you¡¯ll never see your wife and children again in this lifetime. After all, I¡¯m alone in this world. If I die, I die. However, if I can take the lives of Chanaca¡¯s richest man and his two little heirs with me, worth it.¡± He continued. ¡°How about it? Do you dare to gamble with me in a game of roulette?¡± Joe showed no fear at all, instead, he appeared to bepletely confident of his victory. Cedrick remained silent, a wave of anger spreading through his chest. But he couldn¡¯t take the risk. Before he could figure out Joe¡¯s next move, he had to ensure the safety of Gwenny and the others. With a ruthless stomp, he pinned Joe¡¯s back to the muddy ground, pressing his head down with one hand while dialing Gwendolyn¡¯s number with the other. Beep beep beep¡­ ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavable¡­¡± The call wasn¡¯t going through. Despite having full bars of signal on the phone, the call to Gwendolyn failed to connect once again. Chapter 805 A Love Struck Fool Chapter 805 A Love Struck Fool That probably won¡¯t happen so long as Gwenny doesn¡¯t leave theb. Seeing the gradual change in Cedrick¡¯s expression, Joe added, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy. Do you really think theb¡¯s security is wless? I¡¯ll be honest with you. I nted a mole in theb a long time ago. All theb equipment ispletely under my control now, including your wife and child. Do you still dare to kill me?¡± Joe burst into a maniacalugh while Cedrick stayed silent and continued making the phone calls. Despite making numerous calls to Gwendolyn, they all went unanswered. If Gwenny and the two kids are indeed in his hands¡­ He put away his phone, pointed his gun, and questioned, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Let go of my men and follow me.¡± Just then, Swain braved the rain and ran over with a group of men after dealing with the situation at the cottage. Hearing Joe¡¯s words, Swain quickly intervened, ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t do that!¡± Joe is an incredibly cunning man. He¡¯s crazy. Who knows what tricks he has up his sleeve? However, Joe didn¡¯t mind at all. He lifted his lips into a smirk and said, ¡°Cedrick, you decide for yourself whether the lives of your wife and child¡¯ are more important or your life is more important. I¡¯ll only give you a minute to think about it.¡± He held on to the trump card. He was clearly in a pathetic state, yet he acted as if his strategy was going well under his control. After a considerable pause, Cedrick finally put away his gun with a solemn face. He then turned to Swain and instructed, ¡°Ensure Megan¡¯s safety. Release his people, and you guys stay put in the mountains.¡± Swain was shocked. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Just do as I say,¡± Cedrick grimly snapped. His dark orbs had an unfathomable glint, and he was exuding an icy aura, leaving Swain unable to comprehend what he was trying to do. Obedience to orders was the foremost rule. Hence, Swain had no choice but to release the people he captured. After Joe¡¯s man helped him up, he made another request. ¡°Prepare a car for me. Your men aren¡¯t allowed to follow.¡± ¡°Give him a car.¡± While Swain was reluctant, he dared not defy Cedrick¡¯s orders. All he could do was watch Cedrick¡¯s hands. being bound on his back by Joe¡¯s men and taken away on the rainy night.. The technical sped through the swampy track, causing muddy water to ssh everywhere. Swain couldn¡¯t help but stomp his feet in frustration. Has something gotten into Boss today? Watching Joe¡¯s vehicle sped away and eventually disappear within his sight, Swain could only call Nico immediately.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Meanwhile, Joe grabbed the basic medical kit in the technical and got his men to treat the wound on his thigh. Cedrick sat opposite him in silence. The atmosphere was so dead quiet that it felt a little terrifying. Even though his hands were tied, he still posed a significant threat to everyone in the vehicle. The mere sight of the Cedrick¡¯s perpetual calm-looking face p*ssed Joe off greatly. He grabbed the former¡¯s cor and, in a frosty tone, fumed, ¡°Cedrick, do you know how much I hate you? If it weren¡¯t for you, Eryn wouldn¡¯t have died. Why do you get to live a happy life while I have to hide and live in darkness every day? And I won¡¯t get to see Eryn ever again. It¡¯s all because of you!¡± Cedrick stared at him coldly without uttering a word. He knew Joe was not in the state to listen to anything, so he had no intention of defending himself either. Seeing hisck of reaction, Joe grew even more furious, ¡°Cedrick, I will make you suffer a thousand times more than the pain I¡¯ve gone through! I want to take you to Eryn¡¯s grave to repent!¡± Cedrick knew Joe would not harm him. However, it was beyond his expectation that thetter had done so much just so that he could take him to Eryn¡¯s grave. The rain gradually ceased, and the technical eventually came to a halt. Joe limped his way into the cemetery and halted in his steps before a tombstone without a name.. He took out some tissue and carefully wiped away the raindrops on the tombstone. It seemed like a habitual action of his. The graveyard where Eryn wasid to rest was meticulously maintained. There was not a single weed in sight. Before the graveid a bouquet of white roses. Despite being drenched in rain, the flowers still looked full and vibrant. It was clear it was a bouquet of fresh blooms from the past few days. Watching by the side, Cedrick shook his head andughed. ¡°It seems like she has been on your mind all these years.¡± Despite being forced to his wit¡¯s end by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the point he can¡¯t appear in public, he still secretly cleans her grave and buys her flowers. He¡¯s a love-struck fool beyond redemption, for sure. ¡°Because of a woman like her, you ruined your future and life. Is that worth it?¡± Joe paused in his cleaning action and responded expressionlessly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the same? I heard you¡¯re madly in love with your wife, so much so that you¡¯re willing to risk your life for her. Your status is much more unique than mine. Doesn¡¯t that make you even more foolish?¡± Cedrick¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Gwendolyn isn¡¯t the same as Eryn,¡± he enunciated. ¡°What isn¡¯t the same?¡± Joe roared in agitation. ¡°Just because you love Gwendolyn, you go all out at cherishing her. Your heart would break even if she merely bleeds a drop. But you have no love for Eryn. That¡¯s why you trampled on her feelings for you and caused her death!¡± Cedrick looked into Joe¡¯s eyes in silence. Furious, thetter snarled, ¡°Cedrick! I want you to kneel down and apologize to Eryn! Are you going to do it?¡± Hah. Cedrick harrumphed lightly and unhurriedly revealed the truth of what happened back then. ¡°Previously, I didn¡¯t tell you the truth because I was worried it¡¯d break your heart. It was also beyond my imagination that you would sacrifice yourself in the subsequent missions. Regarding Eryn¡¯s matter, I have been hiding it all these years. But I guess there¡¯s no need to hide anymore¡­¡± It turned out that the Eryn that Joe talked about was a girl who got abducted into the bordend. The two men saved her during a chance encounter while carrying out a mission. Eryn was an orphan who had nowhere to go after being rescued. The bordends were harsh, teeming with snakes and insects. As such, she kept following them. She was five years younger than the two men and was lively and adorable. Joe, who had stayed single all his life, soon fell for that bright and cheerful girl. Nheless, at that time, Eryn was not interested in Joe. Instead, she often flirted with Cedrick and even tried to seduce him. The worst thing was that she would always make sure Joe was present. While she was showing favor to Cedrick, she did not turn down Joe¡¯s affection toward her. Her behavior left Joe conflicted about what exactly was in her mind. Later, after she confessed to Cedrick and got rejected, she went to look for Joe and began badmouthing Cedrick andining about his indifference toward her. Eventually, Joe started forming opinions about Cedrick, and their rtionship gradually grew distant because of Eryn. Just as the two men were on the verge of bing total strangers, Eryn agreed to Joe¡¯s courtship and became lovers. The two were preparing for their first official date, but at that point, Cedrick discovered that Eryn was actually a spy sent over by a drug lord. All the information about her turned out to be a lie. She was a spy and a mole. Her stay in the Federal Bureau of Investigation was so that she could get information and pass it to the drug lord to safeguard their underground dealings. After discovering Eryn¡¯s identity, Cedrick did not reveal it to Joe for fear that he could not handle the truth. He nned to apprehend Eryn first. Unfortunately, the drug lord received news rather quickly. At the same time as when Cedrick found out about Eryn¡¯s identity, the drug lord had already sent someone to kill her. For drug gangs like theirs, the deaths of a few members meant nothing of importance. What truly By the time Cedrick arrived at the scene he saw a gun pointed at Fryn¡¯s chest, and she was killed right before his en Cedrick had wanted to chase after the drug lord unding with his gun Past at that moment, Joe happened to arrive and um Fren being in a pent of blo?t her eyes fixed internly on Cedrick in fear By then, all left in the mom were Cedrick and Fryn and Cedrick was holdingo a pin It seemed like everything marched what happened Chapter 806 Turned Off Chapter 806 Turned Off Since then, Joe hadpletely severed ties with Cedrick, harboring nothing but deep resentment toward thetter. Even when it was proven that Eryn was not killed by Cedrick, Joe refused to believe it. He thought that the Jenson family¡¯s influence was so great that they could easily manipte such information. All Joe could think of was how to exact his revenge on Cedrick. If it weren¡¯t for Joe¡¯s overly reckless actions, Cedrick had no intention of revealing the truth about that matter. Whether Joe hated him or not, he didn¡¯t care at all. But now, Joe was targeting Cedrick¡¯s wife and child, which thetter absolutely could not tolerate. After hearing Cedrick¡¯s statement, Joe was stunned. ¡°Could it be that I¡¯ve been loving the wrong person all these years? Have I been hating the wrong friend? The person I loved has such a disgraceful identity? All this revenge I¡¯ve been seeking is wrong? No! ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± All of this must be Cedrick¡¯s lies! It has to be! Joe took a few steps back, his eyes bloodshot, his voice trembling slightly. ¡°Cedrick, you¡¯re lying! Eryn is such a lively and cheerful girl. She could never be the drug dealer you¡¯re talking about! Do you really think I would believe your nonsense?¡± He was reluctant to ept the truth, let alone believe in it. He didn¡¯t want to think that everything he had done over the years was all his fault. Yes. All of this is Cedrick¡¯s trickery. He¡¯s doing this solely to me me, attributing all the mistakes to me. Suddenly, Joe burst into wildughter, falling to his knees in front of Eryn¡¯s grave. His eyes lovingly fixed on the photo on the tombstone, murmuring, ¡°Eryn, rest assured. I will make sure the person who killed you pays the price. I won¡¯t let your life be lost in vain.¡± After he finished speaking, he limped toward Cedrick and swung a punch directly at him, hitting Cedrick squarely in the chest. Cedrick furrowed his brows and stood still, taking the solid punch squarely. His hands were tied behind his back at that moment, making it impossible for him to fight back. Immediately afterward, Joeunched multiple punches at Cedrick, all the while continuing to taunt, ¡°Mr. Jenson, the all-powerful Mr. Jenson, the big shot who rules Salinsburgh single-handedly. You¡¯ve fallen into my hands now. Did you ever think I would take revenge on you when you killed Eryn?¡± Cedrick looked at the frenzied Joe with cold eyes, his voice as icy as winter frost. ¡°Stubborn and delusional. You¡¯re deceiving yourself and others.¡± He and Joe were once inseparablepanions, understanding each other¡¯s temperament best and knowing the most painful way to hurt each other. ¡°No! Shut up!¡± Joe was tearing at Cedrick like a madman, his voice seething with rage. ¡°You are not allowed to nder Eryn anymore! You murderer! Men!¡± Upon hearing the summons, Joe¡¯s subordinates hurried over immediately, bowing their heads. ¡°Boss, what are your orders?¡± Joe casually pushed aside Cedrick, who was already covered in wounds. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his hands, which were stained with dirt. With an indifferent tone, he ordered, ¡°Give him an injection.¡± ¡°Yes¡± A group of five henchmen closed in on Cedrick. Two of them pinned his arms, while the remaining one quickly injected a prepared serum into his arm. Joeughed, his eyes filled with hatred. ¡°Cedrick, this is the newly developed Virus X. If you don¡¯t get the antidote within three days, you¡¯re certain to die.¡± Cedrick sneered, ¡°Joe, you¡¯re nothing but a failure, aplete and utter failure. You¡¯ve spent your entire life being used by others¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Joe seemed to have gone mad as he pulled out his gun. He loaded a bullet and fired at Cedrick. Bang Bang Bang! The sessive gunshots in the dark night were particrly chilling. Cedrick stood still, calm andposed. Every single shot Joe fired hit the ground around him, not even grazing him. Beom! A p of thunder echoed through the sky, abruptly rousing Gwendolyn from her sleep in theboratory ward. She had a nightmare. In her dream, Cedrick, covered in blood, appeared before her, urging her to live on. That dream was just too real. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. The fear brought by the dream lingered for a long time. The thunderp startled the two children awake. Zendaya mumbled, asking Gwendolyn for a hug. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m scared. Hug me.¡± Gwendolyn calmed herself and pulled her precious daughter into her arms, whispering soothingly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Zendy. Mommy¡¯s here. There¡¯s nothing to fear.¡± Benedict opened his eyes, a hint of fear flickering in their depths. No matter how precocious he might be, he was still a five-year-old child, and thunder still scared him. However, he maintained a calm facade, subtly moving closer to Gwendolyn. He clutched the hem of her clothes, appearing much moreposed. Once again, it started to rain outside, and the rain wasing down hard. The sound of raindrops beating against the ss echoed around. Zendaya asionally furrowed her brows, tightly clutching Gwendolyn, expressing her fear. After much effort in coaxing the two children back to sleep, Gwendolyn yed a gentle melody in the ward, drowning out the rumbling thunder and rain outside. Watching the two children sound asleep, Gwendolyn quietly stepped out of the ward and dialed Cedrick¡¯s number. For some reason, she couldn¡¯t shake off a sense of foreboding- ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off¡­ She made several calls to Cedrick, but his phone was turned off. She had told Cedrick a long time ago that no matter when, as long as it was a peaceful situation, he couldn¡¯t turn off his phone and must answer her calls. He was afraid she wouldn¡¯t be able to find him, so even if he had things to do, he would always let her know in advance. Why is his phone turned off tonight? That dream¡­ Gwendolyn¡¯s heart leaped into her throat, and she quickly dialed Nico¡¯s number. The call was quickly picked up on the other end. Doing his best to hide the panic in his voice, he calmly asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Gwendolyn? Why are you calling sote? Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°Is it possible that something has happened to Cedrick, Nico?¡± Upon hearing that, Nico¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He retorted, ¡°No, Gwendolyn. Cedrick just called me a while ago. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Gwendolyn spoke anxiously, ¡°I just called Cedrick, and his phone is off. Tell me the truth. Has something happened to him?¡± Nico seemed a bit hesitant. Cedrick¡¯s direct confrontation with Joe posed a certain risk. Given Gwendolyn¡¯s nature, if she knew about it, she would definitely insist on going together. If anything happened to Gwendolyn, Cedrick would never forgive himself. ¡°Gwendolyn, please don¡¯t worry. Cedrick must be dealing with something important. That¡¯s why his phone is off. I¡¯m not lying to you. I really did talk to him just now.¡± ¡°Nico, if you don¡¯t tell me the truth. I¡¯ll contact Summer right now. You know she hates men who lie.¡± At the mention of Summer, Nico immediately seemed defeated, uttering solemnly. ¡°Swain called me to say that Cedrick has willingly gone with Joe. We are on our way there now.¡± Voluntary? Did the heavy rain tonight mess up his brain? Gwendolyn thought. Chapter 807 Important Chapter 807 Important ¡°Nico, immediately send a team to theb to protect Benny and Zendy. I want to go with you to find him.¡± Not daring to go against Gwendolyn¡¯s order, Nico could only agree to her request. Apart from the soldiers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nico had no choice but to send a message to Charles, asking him toe over and keep the kidspany to prevent them from waking up and looking for Gwendolyn everywhere. Nico texted: Charles, we have a mission tonight. If you¡¯re not asleep, pleasee to theb as soon as possible to look after Benny and Zendy. Thank you. At that moment, Charles had just finished bathing and stepped out from the steam-filled bathroom to dry his wet hair. He hadn¡¯t rested yet. The annihtion of the Cloud family had a significant impact on him after he returned to his regr work and life. He was still investigating the suspicious aspects of that incident. Upon receiving Nico¡¯s message, he immediately grabbed his coat and was ready to head out. Upon hearing the noise, Whitney sat up in bed, asking in a daze, ¡°Mr. Newton, are you going out? Charles responded indifferently. ¡°You should rest early. No need to wait up for me.¡± He then strode out the door and drove away. Whitney stood by the window and watched him leave, feeling a bit puzzled in her heart. The rain is pouring so heavily outside, yet he¡¯s leaving in such a hurry. Whose matter could it be? It can¡¯t possibly be about thepany. Perhaps the news about the extermination of the Cloud family started to spread online again? Or, has he gone to deal with matters concerning his childhood sweetheart again? Even though doubts filled her heart, Whitney didn¡¯t dare to contact Charles, let alone ask him anything. She was afraid of upsetting him again. Now that he was gone, Whitney found herself unable to sleep. All she could do was browse the inte for news, hoping to find some way to help. Meanwhile, outside theboratory, Gwendolyn stood at the door, pacing back and forth with an anxious expression. Nico quickly arrived at theboratory to pick up Gwendolyn and leave. After getting in the car, Nico said, ¡°Gwendolyn, you don¡¯t need to worry. Besides a team from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I¡¯ve already asked Charles toe and protect the two kids. The laboratory is the safest ce. With him there, Benny and Zendy will be fine.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Gwendolyn responded softly, ¡°Do you know their location? Do you have enough people with you?¡± Seeing the anxious expression on Gwendolyn¡¯s face, Nico handed her the tablet he was holding. A red light was shing in the center of the tablet, surrounded by a detailed grid map. Nico said, ¡°This red dot is Cedrick¡¯s current location. He¡¯s at the cemetery.¡± Looking at the blinking red dot in the center of the screen, Gwendolyn finally felt a bit more at ease. The rain-slicked road was treacherous, and several armored vehicles sped through the darkness. For Gwendolyn, the journey of over an hour was nothing short of torture. By the time they all arrived at the cemetery, Swain, who was worried about his boss, had already apprehended Joe¡¯s undercover men in advance. Swoosh! Swain tossed all of Joe¡¯s men, who were bound tightly, in front of Joe and uttered sternly, ¡°Joe, we¡¯ve seized. all your men. Surrender!¡± Upon seeing the people lying on the ground, Gedrick slightly furrowed his brows. With regret in his eyes, Swain said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Boss. I can¡¯t just stand by and watch you fall into danger. Even if you decide to punish me afterward, I¡¯ll ept it Cedrick wore a cold and stern expression, remaining silent. Joeughed, abruptly pulling Cedrick up. He pressed a gun against thetter¡¯s temple and smiled wickedly, saying, ¡°Fantastic, Cedrick. I didn¡¯t expect your subordinates to be so disobedient after all these years of raising them. They¡¯vee knocking so quickly. If I were to shoot you dead with one bullet, at least we¡¯d have each other¡¯spany on the road to the underworld, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Hearing that, Swain quickly persuaded, ¡°Joe, surrender now and you¡¯ll have a chance to live. If you continue to struggle, you¡¯ll surely die! Don¡¯t harm Boss!¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Joe threw his head back andughed heartily, brandishing his gun menacingly at Cedrick. ¡°Tell your men to back off and drop their weapons. If they dare to make a move, we shall see who¡¯s faster?¡± Swain didn¡¯t dare let his subordinates act recklessly and could onlymand them to retreat ording to Joe¡¯s requirements. Joe still held the gun to Cedrick¡¯s head, sneering. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your subordinate to care so much about your life. Mr. Jenson, aren¡¯t you supposed to be incredibly powerful? Why aren¡¯t you retaliating?¡± Cedrick remained silent, his deep eyes narrowing slightly as he allowed himself to be taken hostage. Just then, Nico and Gwendolyn arrived in a hurry. Gwendolyn hurriedly got out of the car, and from a distance, she saw Cedrick being held at gunpoint by Joe. ¡°Cedrick!¡± she shouted. Cedrick, who had been unresponsive all that time, suddenly lifted his head, only to see Gwendolyn. standing unharmed not far away. Joe didn¡¯t capture Gwendolyn and the two children. The poor signal was due to Joe¡¯s use of a signal jammer. Cedrick¡¯s expression was icy. ¡°You tricked me.¡± Joe chuckled, his features twisted in wild amusement. ¡°Indeed. Look at you, so concerned about her. Just a missed call, and you¡¯re losing yourposure.¡± Cedrick fell silent once again. The wound on Joe¡¯s leg had only been treated superficially. The pain from the gunshot was intense. Cedrick knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to endure much longer. For now, he was just barely hanging on. ¡°Mrs. Jenson, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Gwendolyn took two steps forward. ¡°Joe, you can tell me what you want. As long as I can fulfill it, I will definitely agree.¡± Joeughed scornfully. ¡°I want to drink his blood and peel off his skin. All because of him. I lost the love of my life!¡° His eyes were filled with madness, and he casually shifted the gun barrel two inches. In that split second. Cedrick swiftly counterattacked,nding a kick on Joe¡¯s leg that had been shot. Joe winced in pain, stumbling back two steps. His hands involuntarily loosened their grip, and Cedrick, with a swift and clean spin kick, knocked the gun out of Joe¡¯s hand. Seeing this. Swain immediately took action and had Joe restrained. The tables turned in an instant. The agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation stepped forward to handcuff Joe. Joe burst intoughter. His face, marked by a ferocious scar, was truly terrifying. He behaved no different from aplete madman. Before being taken away by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, he arrogantly threatened, ¡°Cedrick, you¡¯d better ask for my execution. You know, prison can¡¯t hold me. Sooner orter, I¡¯lle looking for you.¡± Cedrick paid him no mind. After easily untying the ropes on his body, he rushed to Gwendolyn¡¯s side to check on his wife¡¯s condition. ¡°Gavenny, I¡¯m so d that you¡¯re safe and sound.¡± Heaven knew how worried he was when he couldn¡¯t reach her. Having lost her too many times, Cedrick dared not make any more mistakes. Heart aching. Gwendolyn gently touched his face. ¡°What could possibly happen to me? You¡¯ve already arranged for people at theb. But what about you? Why didn¡¯t you fight back when you were held at gunpoint? Are you looking to be punished again? You promised me that you would take good care of yourself. Why would you take such a risk?¡± The more she spoke, the less Gwendolyn could control herself, and she suddenly embraced the man in front of her. Just now, when she saw Joe¡¯s gun pointed at his head, she even missed a few breaths, fearing that the lunatic, Joe, might tremble and really pull the trigger. Thank goodness. Thank goodness¡­ Chapter 808 Two Troublesome Children. Chapter 808 Two Troublesome Children. As his wife held him, Cedrick felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. Suppressing the urge to cough, he spoke softly. ¡°You¡¯re right to scold me, Darling. I should¡¯ve been more considerate tonight. If it will appease your anger, I don¡¯t mind epting some domestic punishment.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re still in the mood for jokes right now.¡± Irritated, Gwendolyn yfully punched him. At that moment, Cedrick frowned, unable to resist drawing in a sharp breath. Noticing his unusual reaction, Gwendolyn quickly expressed concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I hurt you? Or are you feeling ufortable somewhere? Nico! Hurry, get the doctor toe over and check on Cedrick!¡± Cedrick took her hand, smiling faintly, and leaned his face closer. ¡°I¡¯m fine. All I need is a kiss from my wife.¡± Gwendolyn stared at him. Still uneasy, she called for a doctor to examine him. Upon examination, the doctor found that Cedrick had only suffered minor superficial injuries. Knowing he was all right, Gwendolyn waspletely relieved and left with him in the same car. She had been on edge all night, and only then did her heart calm down. Leaning on Cedrick¡¯s shoulder. she fell asleep. Nico turned around and called out Cedrick¡¯s name, but Cedrick immediately made a quiet gesture. My wife has been tired all night. She needs to rest well. Seeing the concern in Cedrick¡¯s eyes, Nico merely shrugged. Sensing the warmth between the couple, Nico tactfully raised the partition between the front and back seats. He turned on the air conditioning, adjusting the temperature inside the car to afortable level. They had the situation under control there, but over at theb, all hell broke loose. Zendaya woke up in the middle. Upon not seeing Gwendolyn, she burst into tears, giving Charles quite a scare. ¡°Are you having a nightmare? I¡¯m here. There¡¯s no need to be afraid,¡± reassured Charles. Zendaya looked around but couldn¡¯t find Gwendolyn. Her crying intensified. ¡°Where¡¯s Mommy? I want Mommy. Does Daddy and Mommy not want me and Benny anymore?¡± The little girl had been feeling insecure ever since Gwendolyn disappeared a few days ago. As such, she would be unbearably anxious if she couldn¡¯t see her mother. Benedict was awakened by the sound of crying. He sat up and looked at Charles with a cold expression. questioning, ¡°Charles, tell me, has something happened again?¡± Earlier, Gwendolyn quietly stepped outside to make a phone call. He noticed it and was certain that something must have gone wrong. Charles shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. They¡¯ll be back soon. It¡¯s only halfway through the night. Why don¡¯t you sleep a bit more? By the time you wake up, they¡¯ll definitely be here.¡± It failed to reassure Benedict. ¡°Stop treating me like a child. If you don¡¯t tell me the truth, I¡¯ll go out and find it myself.¡± Zendaya also chimed in. ¡°Yes. If you don¡¯t tell us, my brother and I will go out and look for our parents ourselves.¡± Faced with the relentless questioning of the children. Charles could only sigh in resignation. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Tell us the truth, Uncle Charles. Did something happen to Mommy and Daddy?¡± asked Zendaya. Unable to withstand the persistent questioning from the two, Charles finally gave in and called Nico. When the call connected, Nico lowered his voice and answered, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? We¡¯re on our way back.¡± ¡°Benny and Zendy are awake again, calling for their parents. I really can¡¯t soothe them. You should talk to them.¡± Charles switched his phone to speaker mode. Nico said, ¡°Listen to Charles¡¯ words and go to sleep. When you wake up, you¡¯ll be able to see your mommy and daddy.¡± Benedict snorted. ¡°Excuses.¡± Those are all just excuses made by adults. If there¡¯s really nothing wrong, why don¡¯t they answer the phone themselves? ¡°Benny doesn¡¯t believe it. Let Cedrick answer the phone,¡± said Charles. Looking at the back seat of the car, Nico felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid he can¡¯t answer the phone now. They¡¯ve already fallen asleep.¡± A lot had happened, and the couple was really tired. Selfishly, Nico hoped they could sleep a little longer. ¡°Come on now. Have I ever lied to you? Don¡¯t you trust your Uncle Nico anymore? Your parents are worn out from handling their affairs. Why don¡¯t you let them rest for a while?¡± Upon hearing Nico¡¯s words, Zendaya sniffed and nodded. ¡°Uncle Nico, please take good care of my dad and mom. My brother and I will be good and wait for them toe back.¡± After hanging up the phone, Zendaya pouted slightly, obediently nestling into Charles¡¯ embrace. Her small body still trembled asionally from her recent crying. Exhausted from crying, she fell asleep on his shoulder. With a snort, Benedict moved further away from Charles and slept too. Several hourster, the dark curtain of the sky gradually receded, revealing an incredibly bright, clear sky after the rain. As soon as Gwendolyn and Cedrick arrived at theboratory, they quickly returned to the ward. Benedict had just woken up. Suppressing the surprise in his eyes, he called out, ¡°Mommy.¡± Seeing the fatigue on Benedict¡¯s face, Gwendolyn tenderly held him in her arms, gently patting his small. back. ¡°I¡¯m always here. I will never leave.¡± Afterforting Benedict for a while, Gwendolyn gently put him down, coaxing him to sleep a little longer. Once he fell asleep again, she left the ward with Charles. ¡°Thank you very much,¡± she said. Charles¡¯ heart ached a bit when he detected her attempt to distance herself from him. ¡°Have you really regained your memory?¡± Gwendolyn nodded. ¡°Hmm.¡± He concealed the loneliness in his eyes and waved his hand. ¡°No need to thank me. After all, I am their godfather. It¡¯s my responsibility to protect them. Where is Cedrick?¡± ¡°He¡¯s suffered some minor external injuries. The culprit behind the scenes was caughtst night and has been handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°Has there been any progress on the Cloud family¡¯s tragic case? Is the culprit also responsible for it?¡± ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s not certain yet.¡± The two were casually chatting. Joshua was treating the wounds on Cedrick¡¯s body in theboratory. It was only a few bruises. Joshua looked a bit puzzled. ¡°Cedrick, you usually wouldn¡¯t even grunt about such minor injuries. Why did you ask toe here today?¡± Cedrick looked up. ¡°Joe injected a kind of poison into my body. Take a blood test and see what kind of virus it is.¡± Upon hearing that he had been injected with a drug, Joshua was greatly rmed. He immediately prepared the blood-drawing tools and began monitoring Cedrick¡¯s various bodily functions. After a series of tests over the course of thirty minutes, Joshua frowned. ¡°Strange. There is no suspicious virus in your body.¡± Cedrick asked grimly, ¡°Are you sure?¡± Joshua pointed at theplex cells on the screen. ¡°Typically, when a virus invades the human body, it immediately reacts with the surrounding cells. The water you just drank contained a virus marker, which can detect any virus. However, there are no markers in your body, which proves that no virus has entered your system.¡± It was quite strange. From beginning to end, Cedrick never experienced any difort. Could it be that Joe deceived him? Chapter 809 Many Kids With My Wife Chapter 809 Many Kids With My Wife ¡°But, Cedrick, just to be safe, I will review it once more and we can discuss it then.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± After giving an affirmative response, Cedrick rose and left the ward. Upon arriving outside Benedict¡¯s hospital room, Gwendolyn was waiting for him at the door. Upon seeing him, Gwendolyn embraced him. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t take such risks in the future, okay?¡± Cradling her head in his arms, Cedrick gently kissed her forehead and responded, ¡°Okay, my dear wife. How are our two little ones doing?¡± In the car, he could hear the sound of Zendaya crying. His leave this time had really scared the two children. Gwendolyn took his hand and led him into the ward. The two children were sound asleep. Zendaya held Benedict¡¯s hand tightly, deeply reliant on the warmth of her older brother. Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but say. ¡°I wonder if they also slept like this when they were in my belly.¡± She felt incredibly fortunate to have given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. A look of happiness appeared on Cedrick¡¯s face, his dark eyes filled with desire. In a teasing voice that was hard to resist, he said, ¡°Gwenny, how about we give them a little brother or sister? Our two babies are growing up, it¡¯s the perfect time for them to have more ymates.¡± Gwendolyn gave him a nce. ¡°With the two of them. I¡¯m already very content.¡± Cedrick pulled her into his arms, whispering in her ear. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m serious. With our family wealth, we can easily support another ten or eight children.¡± Eight or ten of them! Was she a baby-birthing machine? As a punishment, Gwendolyn gave his face a hard pinch, pretending to be angry. She theny down. beside the two children, joining them for a nap. A heartwarming scene of one big and two small figures unfolded before his eyes, filling Cedrick¡¯s heart with immense satisfaction. No matter what, he was determined to protect his entire world. At the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Through a series of advanced data recovery features, Neville finally found someone to sessfully restore the surveince footage from within the Cloud family¡¯s home. She also obtained the surrounding surveince from the day of the incident at the Cloud residence. On the day of the incident, a group of fully armed individuals appeared at the Cloud family¡¯s residence. They got into a heated argument with Ignatius. Soon after, the surveince was sabotaged, and then the tragic incident at the Cloud family¡¯s home took ce. The mastermind behind the Cloud family tragedy used such intricate methods that it reminded Neville of Joe, whom they had just managed to capture. Following Joe¡¯s line of thought, Neville discovered that among the fingerprints collected from the scene, one set of prints highly matched those of Joe. Neville presented these pieces of evidence to Joe and began the customary interrogation. At this moment, Joe¡¯s hands and feet were bound, yet a trace of a peculiar smile still lingered on his face. He looked at Neville and asked, ¡°Why isn¡¯t your boss the one interrogating me? Why is it ackey like you? Do you think you¡¯re worthy of getting information from me?¡± Beside Neville was a neer who had just assumed his position. Seeing Joe¡¯s arrogance, he couldn¡¯t. help but curse under his breath. ¡°Even on the brink of death, you¡¯re still acting tough.¡± Judging from the evidence of his crimes that had been collected, even without considering the tragedy of the Cloud family, his sins were enough to warrant his death ten or eight times over. What audacity did he have to act so arrogantly? Swain gestured for him to stop talking recklessly, simplyying out the evidence collected so far in front of Joe. ¡°On the night of the incident at the Cloud family, you had a big argument with Ignatius. Do you have anything to say about that?¡± Joe raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between speaking and not speaking? Doesn¡¯t Cedrick just want me dead? Let hime over, I¡¯ll tell him myself!¡± Seeing his nonchnt demeanos, Neville mmed the table and warned. ¡°My boss doesn¡¯t have time to listen to your nonsense, Joe. You better confess honestly, or we won¡¯t hesitate to use special measures against you.¡± Joeughed arrogantly, staring straight at Neville, and said dismissively, ¡°Isn¡¯t forcing a confession the usual trick from the Federal Bureau of Investigation? I¡¯ve weathered bigger storms, do you think I¡¯d be scared of your little tactics?¡± Seeing his uncooperative demeanor, Neville knew that he wouldn¡¯t get much out of him. So, he had him sent back to the holding room and informed Cedrick of the situation. As expected, Joe wouldn¡¯t admit his guilt so easily. Cedrick said in a deep voice over the phone, ¡°Continue the investigation into the Cloud family¡¯s affairs. We must find evidence strong enough to nail him.¡± People like Joe wouldn¡¯t shed a tear until they saw the coffin. Only by finding irrefutable evidence could he truly be cast into the abyss, unable to stir up any more trouble. ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± After hanging up the phone with Neville, the darkness in Cedrick¡¯s eyes intensified. It seemed that he was inevitably going to meet Joe once again. Night fell. In another room of theboratory, Cedrick was half-leaning against the window, lost in thought. With a creak, the door was pushed open. Gwendolyn walked in, carrying a cup of milk. Noticing that Cedrick¡¯s expression was rather grim, she put down her milk and asked with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it because Joe refuses to confess, or are you in too much pain? Do you want me to call Joshua over?¡± The only tricky issue now was Joe. That cunning fellow was surely trying to buy more time so that the forces behind him could figure out a way to get him out In front of his own wife, Cedrick wore a look of sorrow on his face, deliberately putting on a pained expression. He furrowed his brows and said, ¡°Darling, you have no idea how brutally Joe beat me up last night. It hurts here, and here too. I want you to give me a massage.¡± As Gwendolyn walked over, she gently rubbed the spot he had just touched, yfully chiding with patience. ¡°Our child is already five years old. If our little babies heard what you just said, they would surelyugh at you.¡± Cedrick raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me being affectionate with my wife? Who dares to laugh?¡± After he finished speaking, he buried his head in her embrace, inhaling the scent that was uniquely hers. His only sense of unease seemed to be healed in an instant. The two sat by the window for a while. They could perfectly see the stars outside from the window. ¡°People often say that when a loved one passes away, they be the brightest star in the sky. Hubby, what do you think about us¡­¡± ¡°Gwenny, we will both live to a ripe old age, so don¡¯t let your mind wander to unnecessary worries.¡± Cedrick kissed her lips, effectively silencing the words she was about to speak. He, along with Gwenny and their babies, would all have a long and prosperous life, with everything going smoothly. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Just as the two were sharing a tender moment, the sound of Joshua knocking on the door echoed from outside. ¡°Cedrick, the results are out.¡± Cedrick immediately left Gwendolyn¡¯s soft lips, decisively stood up, and said, ¡°Gwenny, you and the children should rest first. I will go to the Federal Bureau of Investigationter to deal with Joe¡¯s matter.¡± ¡°You¡¯re working overtime at the Federal Bureau of Investigation thiste? Are you hiding something from me?¡± Gwendolyn was doubtful. It was almost ten o¡¯clock. Couldn¡¯t whatever it was wait until early tomorrow? Did he really have to go over in the middle of the night? Could it be that Joe was up to his old tricks again? Cedrick looked into her worried eyes andforted her with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about. Neville called me this afternoon, saying that Joe wants to see me. Don¡¯t worry, everything will be fine.¡± He made too many promises, each time with a bold heart. Gwendolyn still felt uneasy. She tightly wrapped her arms around his neck, issuing a stern warning. ¡°You bettere back safe and sound. If you dare to return with injuries again, you¡¯ll have to go to the Jenson family ancestral hall and ept punishment from Logan. I¡¯m serious!¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Cedrick stepped out. The gentle smile on his face vanished instantly, reced by a serious expression. He followed Joshua to the inspection room. Joshua pulled out the test report, ¡°Cedrick, I can assure you that there are no viral factors in your body. Joe must have deceived you.¡± Chapter 810 Silenced Chapter 810 Silenced Cedrick lowered his gaze, deep in thought. I see¡­ Joe went through all the trouble just to make me panic, to instill fear in me, and to torment my psyche. The tragic annihtion of the Cloud family may not be rted to my grudges with Joe, but rather due to other reasons. After connecting the dots, Cedrick drove straight to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, picked up Swain, and prepared to personally interrogate Joe. When Joe was brought out again, he smiled oddly Upon seeing Cedrick, he mocked, ¡°How does it feel, Mr. Jenson, to be deceived? Is it enjoyable? Is it fun?¡± Cedrick had no mood to y riddles with him. He just said indifferently. ¡°Did you do that to the Cloud family? This time around, Joe didn¡¯t deny it. Instead, he readily admitted, ¡°Yes. I did it. Is there a problem?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your motive? Nearly a hundred people from the Cloud family have died by your hand. You¡¯ve truly lost all sense of humanity.¡± Cedrick¡¯s voice gradually deepened. Although he had no particr connection with the Cloud family, and he didn¡¯t consider himself a good person, the thought of an innocent family, old and young, all perishing without exception, was excessively cruel. Joe shrugged nonchntly. ¡°If it¡¯s about silencing someone, then so be it. What¡¯s the need for a motive? I. Joe, never need a motive to do anything. Lennon had learned something he shouldn¡¯t have. To avoid future troubles, I had no choice but to wipe them out.¡± The lives of hundreds of people were spoken of so casually by Joe as if he had just ughtered a bunch of animals. There also wasn¡¯t a trace of remorse on his face. ¡°Boss.¡± Swain¡¯s voice sounded in Cedrick¡¯s ear. ¡°After the investigation, it¡¯s confirmed that Lennon did receive a threatening call before the incident. We have retrieved the call recording and, by reconstructing the voice within, we can confirm that the person threatening Lennon was indeed Joe.¡± ¡°Mr. Jenson.¡± The door to Joe¡¯s interrogation room swung open, and the agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation walked in. Cedrick nodded at the neers. One of them opened the notebook in his hand and said, ¡°Mr. Jenson,st night, we captured one of Joe¡¯s subordinates, who was indeed involved in the Cloud family tragedy. After the interrogation, it was revealed that Joe was the mastermind behind this incident. The DNA found at the scene matches Joe¡¯s. The Prosecutor¡¯s Office has already granted the authority, all evidence has been submitted to the Judicial Bureau. The final sentence will be determined once the Judicial Bureau reviews and finds no errors.¡± Joeughed maniacally, his eyes full of wickedness. ¡°Why bother with a trial? Aren¡¯t you, Mr. Jenson, extraordinarily capable? If you¡¯re sopetent, just sentence me to death right now.¡± As he spoke, Joe struggled to rise from the interrogation chair. With urgency, Swain stepped forward, firmly restraining him, and warned, ¡°Joe, you¡¯re on the brink of death. You¡¯d better behave yourself!¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Cedrick, even if I die, I won¡¯t let you off. I¡¯ll be a vengeful ghost and haunt you. You must pay for Eryn¡¯s life! You should atone for the sins you¡¯vemitted¡¯ Do you know why your son is always sick? That¡¯s the retribution you deserve, all falling on your son. The $404 RNA virus will im his life sooner orter!¡± Joe yelled. He actually knows about the $404 RNA veras? Bang With a swift kick, Cedrick kicked and toppled the table before him. His eyes filled with a bloodthirsty rage as he gripped Joe¡¯s throat and fumed, ¡°Joe, stop cursing my son.¡± The children and Gwendolyn were his bottom line. No one was allowed to cross it ¡°Stay calm. Boss¡± Swain held back Cedrick, who wanted to beat up Joe, and shook his head. ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t do thic The others from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were still present. Even though Cedrick was Swain¡¯s superior, Cedrick would be punished if he publicly threatened to harm a prisoner. Swain had to make sure Cedrick wouldn¡¯t fall for Joe¡¯s provocation. Staring into Cedrick¡¯s crimson eyes, Joeughed fearlessly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You can capture me, but you can¡¯t decide my fate? Aren¡¯t you in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation? Don¡¯t you have a gun in your hand? Shoot me! Come on!¡± ¡°Boss, don¡¯t fall for his tricks¡± Swain kept holding Cedrick back, fearing that he might do something rash. Boss has never been impulsive, but unfortunately, Joe keeps provoking him and getting on his nerves. Benedict¡¯s health has always been poor, which is a constant worry for Boss. Seeing that, the other two also stepped in to advise, ¡°Mr. Jenson, let us handle the interrogation from here. You should go back and rest first.¡± Joe sneered, ¡°Cedrick, no matter how capable you are, it¡¯s useless if you can¡¯t protect your son. What will be your reaction if he turns into a tiny corpse one day?¡± Heughed wildly, with a touch of madness. Ignoring what Joe had said, Cedrick left the interrogation room with a cold expression. Swain silently followed Cedrick, not even daring to breathe loudly. A figure approached from the distance. Swain, as if grasping at a lifeline, hurriedly waved and called out, ¡°Nico!¡± Seeing the displeased expression on Cedrick¡¯s face, Nico waved his hand, signaling that Swain could leave. The two brothers ascended to the rooftop, the cool night breeze dispersing the restlessness in Cedrick¡¯s heart. Nico sat down directly on the ground and patted the spot next to him. ¡°Is Joe still not willing to confess?¡± He had no idea what could make Cedrick so irritable. ¡°Got a smoke?¡± Seeming greatly shocked, he nervously clutched his own clothes. ¡°Cedrick, have you lost your mind? If Gwendolyn finds out you¡¯re smoking again, not only will you be in deep trouble, but I¡¯ll be doomed, too!¡± In the Jenson family, Gwendolyn was the person in charge. After the incident thest time around, Summer was upset because Cedrick took his cigarette box. He spent several hours making four cigarettes, only to ruin the whole box in the end. He was severely scolded. for that, so he dared not do it again. Cedrick sat next to him and uttered in a casual tone, ¡°I¡¯ll just take a sniff. This is something known only to you. If a third persones to know about it, Nico, you¡¯ll be off on a mission to the border of rora.¡± rora was akin to hell itself, perpetually sweltering, not to mention it was a bordend contested by various nations, with never-ending disputes. Although Jenson Group also had businesses there, with annual profits not being low, Nico could totally be the second Cedrick if he went. However, Nico didn¡¯t want to leave his wife andfort zone, he still wanted to stay in Salinsburgh and do his job as the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. ¡°Cedrick, just this once, okay? Thest time!¡± Nico took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed one over. Cedrick took it, his fingertips exuding an air of nobility. Hezily sniffed the scent of the tobo. Click! The faint light emitted by the lighter illuminated Nico¡¯s face. He lit one for himself, took a deep puff, and leisurely exhaled a cloud of smoke, appearing quite content and carefree. Cedrick stared at him fixedly. ¡°Daring to light a cigarette next to me, are you seeking death or tired of living?¡± Nico¡¯s face turned slightly pale. Nico was sitting too close, so the smoke from Nico would drift onto Cedrick. Gwendolyn¡¯s sensitivity to smoke could rival that of a dog¡¯s nose, there was no fooling her. Cedrick wore a stern expression, directly snatching the cigarette from his hand. He decisively threw it on the ground and stomped it out. Afterward, he got up and left. ¡°Keep an eye on Joe¡¯s trial oue, let me know if there¡¯s any news.¡± After saying this, Cedrick gave his military coat a slight shake. He needed to thoroughly clear out even the faintest trace of smoke from before to avoid letting Gwendolyn catch a whiff of anything suspicious and getting him into trouble. ¡°Y-Yes.¡± Watching Cedrick¡¯s retreating figure, Nico couldn¡¯t help but sigh in sorrow. I¡¯ve barely taken a couple of puffs. and this cigarette is so expensive! All the money I make is my hard-earned money! Chapter 811 The Last Supper Chapter 811 The Last Supper After returning to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and taking a shower, Cedrick got back into his car. He changed his clothes and thoughtfully prepared an excuse for his change of attire. If his wife were to ask, he would exin that he had an emotional argument with Joe. Then, he would it resulted in his coat getting dirty, and that was why he had to change his clothes. The mere thought of returning home to rest in the arms of his sweet, soft wife cleared away all the gloom that had previously clouded his mind. The clock on the wall pointed to two o¡¯clock. Theb¡¯s ward was very quiet. The breathing of two children. could be heard. Gwendolyn sat worriedly by the bed, her fingers sliding across her phone. He hasn¡¯t returned yet. Could it be that the matter with Joe is quite tricky? Or is it that Joe is up to his old tricks again? After much hesitation, Gwendolyn decided to put down her phone, fearing she might interrupt his work. After tossing and turning in bed for a while, she decided to step out for some fresh air. Just as she opened the door, she saw Cedrick¡¯s happy face. ¡°Where are you going. Darling?¡± he asked. Seeing him in a new set of clothes, Gwendolyn looked him up and down, then asked with a hint of suspicion, ¡°What have you been up to?¡± He recited his prepared excuse, and Gwendolyn didn¡¯t question any further. She led him into the ward, and the two of them settled down to sleep together on the small apanying bed at the side. The next morning. Zendaya jumped directly between her parents, propping up her small face with her hands, blinking. Gwendolyn was still sleepy as she held her precious daughter in her arms. Feeling the presence of a little girling between them, Cedrick opened his eyes. ¡°Zendy.¡± Upon hearing his disgruntled voice, Zendaya immediately put on a pitiful look. She wrapped her arms around Gwendolyn¡¯s neck andined, ¡°Mommy, Daddy is being mean to me. You need to manage your husband well.¡± Amused by her daughter¡¯s words, Gwendolyn stood up, carrying Zendaya to Benedict¡¯s bed. The mother and her two childreny under one nket while Cedrick was pitifully left aside. Gwendolyn handed Benedict a warm quilt, asking with concern, ¡°How are you feeling now, Benny? Is there anything else that¡¯s bothering you?¡± Benedict shook his head. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m not feeling unwell. Are you and Daddy going to work today?¡± Seeing the hope in the child¡¯s eyes, Gwendolyn could probably guess what he wanted to do. ¡°Is there anything you feel like doing today?¡± Benedict curled up in her mother¡¯s arms, whispering, ¡°I want Daddy and Mommy to be with me.¡± Last night, Benedict had a dream. In his dream, his mom and dad were taken away by a monster. The monster even threatened that if he didn¡¯t behave, his mom and dad would never return. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. In the dream, it felt so real. A monstrous creature was about to devour his entire family with its gaping. blood-stained mouth. Gwendolyn originally thought that Benedict wanted her to apany him out for fun. She didn¡¯t expect that he just wanted her to stay with him. Thinking about what had happened recently, she could understand Benedict¡¯s fear. She held him tighter. and promised, ¡°If you want Daddy and Mommy to stay with you, then we will. And with Zendy, too, okay?¡± Her son had always been incredibly strong, never showing any signs of fear or terror. That time, however, it seemed he was truly scared. Listening to his son¡¯s words, Cedrick realized that he had been too busy recently and hadn¡¯t spent enough quality time with his children. Swiftly, he got out of bed and gathered his kids and their mother into his arms. ¡°With me here, no one can bully any of you.¡± Benedict felt an unparalleled sense of contentment in the embrace of his dad and mom. His short hair brushed against his mom, nuzzling her gently. Zendaya, acting coy, wrapped her arms around Gwendolyn¡¯s neck and asked, ¡°Mommy, will you always stay with me and Benny?¡± She might be a child, but she knew a lot more than one would think. Recently, her dad and morn had been dealing with issues caused by a viin, and she was aware of all of it. ¡°Of course. Daddy and Mommy will never let any bad people bully you. It¡¯s still early, so sleep a little longer. When you wake up, Daddy and Mommy will take you to kindergarten together,¡± assured Gwendolyn. Due to the matter concerning Joe, Zendaya had been staying in theb. Unlike Benedict, she was meant to live a normal childhood, attending kindergarten. ¡°Mm!¡± The girl nodded. Children always slept very well. Once they found a ce offort, they would fall into a deep sleep. Suddenly, Cedrick¡¯s phone began to vibrate. It was a call from Nico. In order not to wake the two children, Cedrick had no choice but to tread lightly as he moved outside. ¡°What¡¯s the oue?¡± Cedrick assumed Nico was calling to tell him about Joe¡¯s case. In truth, he knew without needing to be told. Joe hadmitted such a monstrous crime that, aside from the death penalty, there would be no other oue. ¡°It¡¯s a death sentence. Once the judicial bureau confirms there are no errors, the execution by firing squad will be carried out within seven days. Atst, Joe will receive the punishment he deserves,¡± informed Nico. After a moment of silence, Cedrick spoke. ¡°Hmm, does he have any other wishes?¡± After all, Joe was once Cedrick¡¯s closestpanion and dearest friend. If he hadn¡¯t strayed from the right path, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a pitiful state today. Nico responded affirmatively. ¡°Joe said he wants to see you onest time, and.. He wants some wine.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After hanging up the phone, Cedrick entered the ward. He whispered a few words into Gwendolyn¡¯s ear. then picked up his coat and walked out. He also had something to discuss with Joe. Driving to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cedrick brought two bottles of fine wine. He also had the bureau¡¯s cafeteria prepare some exquisite dishes. After all, that should be thest time he and Joe had dinner together. Upon seeing Cedrick arrive, the people from the Federal Bureau of Investigation greeted him one after another. ¡°Good day. Mr. Jenson.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± responded Cedrick, Since Joe was a serious offender, he was kept in a surveince room where his movements could be monitored at all times. Cedrick took the private elevator to the ce where Joe was being held. Joe was sitting in the corner. slumped and disheveled, a far cry from his usual confidence. His shirt, unchanged, bore the stains of the rain from that day, dirt, and the traces of blood. A bandage was wrapped around his left leg as a result of the gunshot fired by Cedrick. Upon hearing the sound, Joe slowly lifted his head, his eyes dull and lifeless. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± His voice was hoarse, his lips dry, cracked, and pale. Opening the door, Cedrick took a seat directly across from him, slowly cing the object in his hand on the table. Joe looked at him with a hint of surprise, not understanding what Cedrick meant. Cedrick poured a ss of wine for each of them, raising his ss toward Joe. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to drink?¡± ¡°You came here yourself. Aren¡¯t you afraid I may kill you? After all, I¡¯ve killed so many, one more won¡¯t make a difference.¡± As Joe spoke, he limped over to the table, picked up the wine ss, and drained it in one gulp. The liquor with high alcohol content was somewhat spicy. It scorched his throat, yet heughed heartily. ¡°Great liquor!¡± Cedrick followed suit, downing the wine in his hand in one gulp. ¡°You won¡¯t kill me, even if you truly believed that I was the one who killed Eryn. You never considered murdering me, I know. Even if you were to lose all your humanity, you would still cherish the times we fought side by side. You wish for my death, yet fear it will be reality. Only I understand your contradictory struggle.¡± Joe stood alone. Revenge had been the only thing driving him forward. His rtionship with Cedrick wasplicated. Faced with Cedrick¡¯s affirmation, Joe scoffed but didn¡¯t retort, continuing to drink his wine. Perhaps knowing that his days were numbered, Joe spoke at length with Cedrick, and they drank a lot of wine. It was as if the two of them had returned to the days when they used to carry out missions together. Joe was somewhat drunk, sprawled on the table, looking at the person sitting in front of him. Everything. seemed a bit blurry to him. ¡°Cedrick, you know¡­ I¡¯m actually envious of you. You have everything a lover, a child, and a status thatmands respect. Meanwhile, L¡­ With a bitter smile, he didn¡¯t even wait for Cedrick to respond before he abruptly pped the table and sat up, ring fiercely at Cedrick. ¡°Don¡¯t think for a second that I¡¯ll let you off the hook, Cedrick. You owe me a life. Even if you end up in hell, I¡¯ll make sure you pay. You owe Eryn a life.¡± Cedrick was amused and exasperated, but he let Joe continue thetter¡¯s nonsense. Chapter 812 Bonding Activity For A Family Of Four Chapter 812 Bonding Activity For A Family Of Four At this moment, Nico returned to the observation room. He saw Cedrick and Joe alone in the cell. His heart rate suddenly quickened. ¡°This is bad,¡± he thought and hurriedly rushed over. Joe was a madman and a skilled fighter. If he ends up hurting Cedrick, Nico would be to me. Inside the cell, seeing that Joe was already dead drunk, Cedrick didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. He picked up his coat and turned to leave. From afar, he saw Nico sprinting toward him, his face etched with indescribable anxiety. With a worried look, Nico meticulously checked Cedrick¡¯s condition. ¡°Cedrick, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I need to head back to the office to attend to a few matters.¡± Cedrick took his leave. Nico checked on Joe¡¯s cell as an extra precaution to make sure nothing was amiss. As long as the judicial review went smoothly, Joe¡¯s days were numbered. Meanwhile, at Jenson Group. Cedrick returned to thepany with a cold expression on his face. The employees, who were originally dozing off, immediately stood up to greet him when they saw him. ¡°M-Mr. Jenson!¡± Upon hearing that Cedrick had returned, everyone immediately perked up, fearing that a moment¡¯s inattention would invoke a scolding from Cedrick. In thepany, Cedrick was known for being strict and ruthless. No one dared to cross him. Upon learning that Cedrick had returned to thepany, his assistant immediately organized all the documents and delivered papers to him. ¡°Everything in thepany is running smoothly. Here are thetest meeting minutes and key points. Is there anything else you need?¡± Flipping through the documents handed over by his assistant, Cedrick casually waved his hand. In the afternoon, Cedrick issued thepany¡¯s requirements and performance goals for the new quarter. Everyone looked at the document posted on thepany¡¯s website, their faces filled with dismay. The good old days were over now that Cedrick had returned. It was time to start working overtime again. After one day, Cedrick finally finished dealing with his backlog. He felt a faint pain from the bruises on his body. As he got up, his movements tugged at his wound, causing an unbearable surge of pain. Immediately, Cedrick bent over. As soon as his assistant entered the room, he immediately noticed that something was off with Cedrick. He quickly rushed over to help him up. ¡°Mr. Jenson, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Cedrick¡¯s lips were pale. He furrowed his brows and said. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Please take me to the hospital.¡± His assistant immediately drove him to the hospital. Aside from the bruises on his body, there was nothing seriously wrong with Cedrick. After taking a painkiller, he returned to theb. The sun had already set when Gwendolyn picked up Zendaya from kindergarten. Their life seemed to have finally returned to normal. Through the small window of the ward, Cedrick saw Gwendolyn ying andughing with two children. With a smile in his eyes, he pushed the door and walked in. ¡°Daddy!¡± Zendaya rushed over, darting straight into his arms, almost tumbling over in the process. The little girl excitedly said, ¡°I was praised by my kindergarten teacher today. She said I¡¯m the bravest kid in the ss. Also, our teacher mentioned that tomorrow is Parent-Child Day. I wonder if Daddy has time to attend? Cedrick gently rubbed her head, smiling as he replied. ¡°If it¡¯s your request, how can Daddy not go?¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± Excitedly, Zendaya nted a kiss on Cedrick¡¯s face. She then vividly recounted how her teacher had praised her that day in the hospital room. However, Benedict, who was lying on the hospital bed, didn¡¯t look as happy. He lowered his eyes, concealing a hint of disappointment in his gaze. Even though he didn¡¯t care about ying with children his age, he was still hoping to make friends. Gwendolyn noticed the change in her son¡¯s expression. She sat next to him, pulling him into a comforting embrace. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Benny? Are you upset?¡± Benedict nestled his head into the crook of Gwendolyn¡¯s arm. ¡°Mom, is my health not going to get better?¡± Sensing Benedict¡¯s low spirits, Gwendolyn softlyforted. ¡°Medical science is very advanced now, Benny, rest assured. Mr. Mallory will find the most suitable treatment n for you. Your illness will surely be cured. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± She could understand why her son was unhappy, especially when she saw how much fun Zendaya was having at kindergarten, which only intensified his desire to go to school. Gwendolyn¡¯s heart ached for him. The next day, Gwendolyn and Cedrick, along with their two children, arrived at the kindergarten to participate in the parent-child activity. The moment their family of four arrived at the kindergarten entrance, they immediately drew the attention of all the parents present. Upon seeing Cedrick, quite a few female parents couldn¡¯t help but whisper to the people next to them. 2/3 ¡°My goodness, do we actually have such parents in our ordinary kindergarten? Their family of four looks amazing, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Exactly, look at that guy. He¡¯s even more handsome than a movie star. Could he actually be a celebrity?¡± ¡°Come on, which celebrity would send their child to a public kindergarten? Their children are so precious. they¡¯re meant for prestigious schools¡± The mothers whispered among themselves as they watched Cedrick, while some of the fathers were silently watching Gwendolyn, their eyes almost glued to her. The buzz of everyone¡¯s chatter reached Gwendolyn¡¯s ears, and she couldn¡¯t help but tease. ¡°Mr. Jenson is truly unique. No matter where he appears, he¡¯s always the center of attention.¡± Hearing his wife¡¯s slightly sour tone, Cedrickughed and put an arm around her shoulder. ¡°No matter how formidable, I¡¯m still your man? Don¡¯t worry, Darling, I¡¯m verymitted. You, on the other hand, are so beautiful that I want to hide it away, not allowing any other man toy eyes on you.¡± Seeing their parents openly disying affection as if no one else was around, Benedict and Zendaya couldn¡¯t help but pout. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, could you please consider me and Benny? We¡¯re still here!¡± The little girl in her arms pouted, putting on an angry face. Gwendolyn found it adorable, pinched her soft little check, and carried her into the kindergarten. Parent-child activities were divided into indoor and outdoor sections. For the indoor part, the mother and child would be working together toplete a watercolor painting. The final decision on the best watercolor painting is determined by a vote from all the parents present. The watercolor painting that received the most votes would be awarded a kindergarten honor medal. Before the holidays, one could go to the teacher to pick their desired gift. Outdoors, the father and child were required toplete three parent-child activities together. One of them was called the ¡°Hatching Chicks¡± project. The kindergarten would provide a newspaper for this task. The parent was responsible for tearing the newspaper from the middle, and the child had to pass through the hole without damaging the newspaper. The second activity required the parent and their children to work together to transport designated items. They must ovee various obstacles and coborate to achieve the goal. The third activity was to exercise the child¡¯s climbing ability. The child whopletes the rock climbing within the shortest time would be the winner. A child who wins all three projects will receive two honors, a certificate, and a medal of honor awarded by the kindergarten. After hearing the game rules, Cedrick found these activities to be extremely boring and childish. However, his wife and kids seemed really excited about it. Seeing the boredom in Cedrick¡¯s expression, Gwendolyn red at him and warned, ¡°If you dare to mess up Zendy¡¯s parent-child activity, I¡¯ll punish you by not allowing you to sleep in the study for a month.¡± Chapter 813 Benedict Is A Feisty One Chapter 813 Benedict Is A Feisty One Cedrick was taken aback but quickly responded, ¡°Of course I refuse to sleep in the study. I want to sleep on the other half of your bed.¡± Pursing her lips into a smile, Gwendolyn continued, ¡°What I mean is, if you mess this up, you won¡¯t even get to sleep in the study. You, my dear, will just have to make do with the garden.¡± Cedrick was rendered speechless. Gwendolyn¡¯s voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear it. Yet the brief sentence was enough. to instantly cause Cedrick¡¯s expression to change. He was willing to go through hell and high water, but to sleep separately from his wife was something he would never ept. That was simply the cruelest punishment in the world to him. He quickly responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear wife. These are no more than childish games. They¡¯re not even worth mentioning.¡± ¡°The game is about to start. Could all mothers and children please take a seat ording to your names?¡± Since it was a rare treat to y such an interesting game with her mother, Zendaya was beyond excited, enthusiastically picking up the paintbrush and starting to paint on the canvas with great gusto. The theme was ¡°The Little Man on the Elephant.¡± Zendaya was responsible for drawing the little man, while Gwendolyn took care of the elephant and all the other intricate details. As Gwendolyn had spent a few days systematically learning how to paint in the past, mother and daughter quickly finished their artwork and handed it over to the teacher. Before leaving the art studio, Zendaya proudly showed her work to the other children. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with joy as she said, ¡°My mommy is really talented. You guys should work hard too.¡± ¡°My mommy is also very good! Don¡¯t get too cocky, Zendaya!¡± ¡°Bleh¡­¡± Zendaya made two funny faces, then went outside with Gwendolyn. The outdoor venue was all set, awaiting the participation of parents and children alike.. Before they came out, Cedrick had already spoken to the teacher, exining the situation. Not only did he want Zendaya to participate in the family activities, but he also hoped that Benedict could join in as well. Given that the children were the same age and Cedrick was exceptionally handsome, the teacher naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse and agreed with a blush. Upon hearing that he could also participate in the activities, Benedict¡¯s little face was full of disdain, as if the games were meant for retards. Cedrick saw through him but chose not to expose it. He bent down to pick Benedict up before heading off to find Gwendolyn and Zendaya. One by one, the other parents and children emerged from indoors, and the outdoor activities promptly. Because of Benedict, Cedrick has to manage activities for two children at the same time. He swiftly punched two holes in the newspaper, allowing the two children to crawl through. Fortunately, Benedict and Zendaya were nimble enough, and they quickly aplished the first task. The second task was an obstacle challenge. They had to hold the designated item given by the teacher first. Benedict and Zendaya steadily made their way through numerous obstacles. Aside from the slight hesitation in Zendaya at the final leap, the three of them smoothly made it through. Competing alongside them was another family who had a little boy who was always secretly vying with Benedict. He was determined not to let Benedict get ahead of him one bit. For the final rock climbing challenge, only Zendaya could participate. Benedict couldn¡¯t do it due to his physical condition. Despite her petite frame, Zendaya was every bit as good as boys her age when it came to climbing. It was the result of her regr practice sessions throughout the year. Cedrick stood below Zendaya, minding the safety rope attached to her. The little girl effortlessly climbed to the top and seized the prize, drawing envy and apuse from many children. Zendaya, waving the prize in her hand, was hopping excitedly on stage. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, Benny, I got it! I¡¯m the first. Hurray!¡± Even though Benedict couldn¡¯t participate in the final event, the upward curve of his lips betrayed his emotions. He responded to Zendaya with a haughty tone, ¡°Not bad.¡± Gwendolyn also pped her hands and praised, ¡°Zendaya, you¡¯re really amazing. Be carefuling down.¡± Aftering down the stage, Zendaya ambled her way up to Benedict and presented the prize to him. ¡°Benny, this is my gift to you. I¡¯m not a child anymore. I can now help you obtain treasures!¡± In the minds of children, finding joy was a simple matter. Especially when it came to such activities where they could show off in front of all the little kids. There were tiny beads of sweat on Zendaya¡¯s forehead. With a smile, Gwendolyn took out a tissue to wipe them off for her. Benedict took the red victory fruit she handed over with a hint of disdain, considering it a childish thing. He said aloofly, ¡°Considering all the effort you put into climbing, I¡¯ll ept this gift.¡± Although he spoke arrogantly, he held onto the prize tightly, not letting go for even a moment. Zendaya hugged him with a gleeful smile. The image of the two little ones embracing was incredibly heartwarming. Benedict wore a cold expression. ¡°Little girls are so annoying.¡± Isn¡¯t it tiring to keep hugging all the time? Once all the parents had finished their events, the kindergarten principal picked up the microphone and made the official announcement. ¡°Thank you so much to all the parents who could make it to our kindergarten event today. I¡¯m sure all of you were able to experience the joy of spending time with your children and working together with them. toplete the activities, weren¡¯t you?¡± No sooner had the principal finished speaking than a child below excitedly chimed in, ¡°Yes!¡± He was a chubby boy with two small dimples on his face. His naive smile is so infectious that everyone in the room burst intoughter.. Even the usually cold Cedrick broke into a faint smile. Leaning toward Gwendolyn¡¯s ear, Zendaya whispered, ¡°Mommy, he¡¯s my best friend in kindergarten. I really enjoy ying with him. Whatever toys he brings, he always shares them with me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s your friend? If he always takes good care of you, you must remember to return the favor. You absolutely cannot be a child who only knows how to receive instead of giving.¡± With a gentle tone that was brimming with affection, Gwendolyn lightly tapped on Zendaya¡¯s little nose as she spoke to her. Zendaya nodded vigorously. ¡°I understand, Mommy!¡± Mother and daughter were still whispering to each other when they were suddenly called out by the kindergarten principal. ¡°May I invite the child who won first ce in all four activities today, Zendaya, and her parents toe on stage to receive the certificate of honor and a medal? Please, everyone, give them a round of apuse.¡± Upon hearing that she was to go on stage to receive an award, Zendaya eagerly pulled her father, mother, and older brother along with her. The family of four stood on the stage. Their striking good looks made them incredibly eye-catching. One couldn¡¯t even begin to describe how outstanding they were. It wasn¡¯t only the parents, but the kindergarten teachers also had their eyes fixed on them, expressing their awe. ¡°Indeed, children born to a beautiful couple tend to be far more outstanding than others. Their family probably doesn¡¯t have much to worry about, right?¡± Someone in the crowd recognized Gwendolyn and Cedrick. Surprised at the realization, the person covered their mouth and asked the person next to them, ¡°Don¡¯t these two look just like Ms, Harris andAll content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Mr. Jenson? They¡¯re the spitting image of the photos in the news. Could it be¡­?¡± ¡°But those two are a power couple who run top-tier corporations. How is that possible?¡± ¡°It really is Mr. Jenson and Ms. Harris!¡± Chapter 814 Cedrick Could Not Stop Mumbling About His Wife Chapter 814 Cedrick Could Not Stop Mumbling About His Wife Those who recognized their identities were shocked to their core. They never expected that such high-profile figures would send their children to such an ordinary kindergarten. The intensity of the onlookers¡¯ gazepelled Cedrick to re in their direction. His mere gaze had a chilling effect, causing them to lower their heads in trepidation. The onlookers could not help but shudder. Someone who had authority over an entire conglomerate was surely not an ordinary person. A mere exchange of gazes left them feeling an overwhelming pressure. Seeing Cedrick suddenly look elsewhere, Gwendolyn subtly nudged him. Noticing his wife¡¯s actions, Cedrick quickly averted his gaze, maintaining a serious demeanor. ¡°Zendaya, you did a great job today! Here¡¯s your very own honor badge. It even has your caricature on it.¡± Hazel pinned a small golden medal onto Zendaya¡¯s clothes, causing the little girl to chuckle immediately. Her eyes curved into crescents, making her incredibly endearing. Subsequently, Hazel took another gold medal from the teacher and handed it to Benedict, saying gently, ¡°Even though you¡¯re not part of our kindergarten, you¡¯ve shown such outstanding behavior that we¡¯re awarding you this medal. We hope you¡¯ll grow up to be healthy and happy.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Hazel¡¯s action took Gwendolyn by surprise, as she had not expected them to be so thoughtful. Despite Benedict¡¯s typically mature demeanor, he was only a five-year-old. Deep down, he was still just a child, but he concealed that aspect of his personality quite adeptly. Benedict gazed at the medal adorning his chest, his handsome countenance disying a subtle stiffness, while his eyes sparkled with astonishment. After a moment, he politely said, ¡°Thank you.¡± This medal was meticulously engraved with a caricature of Benedict. It was prepared in advance by a teacher who noticed Benedict during an event. Upon noticing that her older brother also wore the same medal, Zendaya could not contain her excitement. She eximed, ¡°My brother and I both have medals! We are the bravest!¡± Observing the children¡¯s joyful expressions, Gwendolyn beamed a wide grin in the direction of Hazel and the teachers. Hazel responded with a slight nod, then moved on to distribute prizes to other families and children. Following the conclusion of the closing ceremony, the family day had drawn to an end. On the journey back to the Harrick Vi, Zendaya continued to chatter animatedly, yfully kicking the air with her stubby legs. Even Benedict¡¯s face bore a radiant expression. Gwendolyn and Cedrick trailed behind the two children, bathed in the gentle, warm hues of the setting sun. Their clongated shadows stretched across the ground, yet the distinctively short and chubby legs of the little ones remained visible. ¡°Hubby.¡± Suddenly, Gwendolyn called out. Cedrick turned his head to look at her, raising an eyebrow in question. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Gwendolyn leaned into his embrace, her waist encircled by his arms. She nestled against his chest, at blissful expression on her face. ¡°It truly is amazing to be able to spend a simple day like this.¡± With a husband, children, and no external disturbances to their family of four, these were the days that Gwendolyn had longed for. The warm sunlight bathed Gwendolyn¡¯s hair as if it had painted each strand with a golden hue, making her appear even more enchanting. With a gentle chuckle, Cedrick¡¯s fingers, with their defined knuckles, tenderly caressed her hair. He left a soft kiss on her locks, whispering in reply, ¡°I¡¯ll work tirelessly to preserve this happiness.¡± Gwendolyn locked eyes with him and noticed that his eyes were filled with tenderness. Just then, the two little children walking ahead suddenly turned around, each taking one person¡¯s hand. Zendaya swayed as she cooed, ¡°Daddy, Mommy! Benny and I want to eat cotton candy, and we also want ice cream.¡± Since Benedict was diagnosed with the S404 RNA virus, he has been on an IV drip almost daily. It had been a long time since hest enjoyed those snacks. His health was so fragile and delicate that he could not afford a single mistake. As a result, these unhealthy foods were strictly off-limits. Normally, Benedict would not actively request snacks, but perhaps due to the immense enjoyment he experienced that day, he asked for them for the first time. Considering Benedict¡¯s health, Cedrick had to reach out to Joshua to inquire about it. After Joshua confirmed that it was okay to have some snacks once in a while, Cedrick slowly squatted down and gently rubbed Zendaya¡¯s little face. ¡°All right, Daddy and Mommy will apany you to the shop.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Zendaya was so thrilled that she almost jumped for joy, grabbing his brother¡¯s hand and running outside. Gwendolyn cautioned with a worried tone. ¡°Slow down. Don¡¯t trip and fall.¡± Cedrick wrapped his arms around her waist, giving it a gentle squeeze. His dark, mischievous eyes were captivating, his voice maic. ¡°Darling, is my performance today good enough to earn me a spot in bed?¡± Gwendolyn held herughter and hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°Then I¡­¡± He paused briefly before continuing, ¡°Can we do some exercises before bed?¡± His that. request rendered Gwendolyn speechless, and she made a cross gesture with both hands upon hearing The kids would be back home in thete evening, so any excessive noise would reach their ears. Observing the unmistakable rejection on his wife¡¯s face, Cedrick pouted and remarked. ¡°Seems like my wife doesn¡¯t want to be intimate with me, huh?¡± Once again, Gwendolyn was bereft of words. Despite his age, he was still acting like a petnt child. Has he no shame? However, she could not help but fall for Cedrick¡¯s tricks. ¡°Darling¡­¡± Cedrick followed behind Gwendolyn, calling out in a soft and gentle voice. Gwendolyn¡¯s cheeks were slightly flushed as she quickly walked over to the two children, disregarding the man¡¯s yful behavior. They also treated the children to some fried chicken. After spending the evening outdoors, the family of four eventually decided to head home. Perhaps owing to the extensive physical activity they had engaged in throughout the day, the two children were nearly asleep before they even reached the car. They had no choice but to each carry a child and get in the car. It had been a while since Gwendolyn had returned to the Harrick Vi, so she had nearly forgotten the feeling of being home. Carrying the two children upstairs, Cedrick could not wait to return to the master bedroom with Gwendolyn after settling the little ones. The moment she closed the door after entering the room, he kissed her immediately, savoring the taste of her lips. His kiss, infused with amanding presence, left, Gwendolyn somewhat defenseless, yet she found herself involuntarily drawn into his assertive embrace. The next morning, Nico arrived at Harrick Vi bright and early. Today, he was entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the children. As he pushed open the door to the Harrick Vi, he noticed that Benedict and Zendaya were already neatly dressed. Upon spotting Nico and Summer approaching, the little ones immediately dashed over. ¡°Uncle Nico and Auntie Summer! Where are you nning to take us today? Can we go to the amusement park? I want to ride the roller coaster! I want to go on the pendulum ride!¡± Zendaya eagerly rambled on about the activities she wanted to do, but Nico¡¯s face was tinged with helplessness. Come on. I can¡¯t handle those activities. Please have mercy on this old man! ¡°Cedrick, Gwendolyn, we¡¯re going to take Zendy and Benny to theb for their IV drip first, Summer announced. With those words, Summer and Nico each held one of the children¡¯s hands and left the Harrick Vi.. Due tost night¡¯s strenuous activity, Gwendolyn felt that Cedrick was not in his usual condition. That was why she requested Nico to help take care of the children so that she could apany Cedrick to the hospital for a full body check-up. The two entered the hospital through the VIP route andpleted all the tests by noon. Fortunately, aside from some minor skin injuries, there was nothing wrong with Cedrick¡¯s body. Gwendolyn was finally able to heave a sigh of relief. It was only half past eleven when they left the hospital, but Gwendolyn¡¯s stomach had already grumbled twice. Cedrick chuckled affectionately and asked softly. ¡°Gwenny, what would you like to eat? I have the whole afternoon free for you today.¡± In his determination to have some quality time with his wife, Cedrick had declined all meetings and appointments in advance. He was resolute in not allowing anyone to intrude on his private date with his wife. ¡°This afternoon, I¡¯m neither the boss of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, nor the CEO of the Jenson Group. I¡¯m just your Cedrick, your husband, he dered. Gwendolyn chuckled at those words. ¡°But I won¡¯t be avable in the afternoon because I have a meeting to attendter.¡± Anticipating that she might respond this way, Cedrick quickly pulled up her schedule and said with at mischievous smirk, ¡°Darling. I¡¯ve already rescheduled your meeting. You¡¯re free this afternoon.¡± Gwendolyn was pleasantly surprised by the efforts he had put into making this date a sess. After some. contemtion, Gwendolyn came up with an idea. ¡°Let¡¯s have a barbecue by theke. With weather like this, wouldn¡¯t it be a waste if we didn¡¯t go camping?¡± she proposed. ¡°We can ask Nico and Summer to bring the kids back, and we can all have an unforgettable weekend together.¡± Cedrick was stumped by her suggestion. But I just want to spend the weekend with my darling. I don¡¯t want them to be around us! Chapter 815 The Nanny Chapter 815 The Nanny However, seeing the excitement and anticipation on Gwendolyn¡¯s face, he couldn¡¯t say anything else, only responding, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to my wife.¡± An hourter, two cheerful little figures ran up to Gwendolyn and Cedrick, chattering excitedly about the fun things that happened on their way. Nico, on the other hand, wasden with all sorts of things, such as a milk bottle, a backpack, a water cup, a small towel, and a little jacket. With a yful smile, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°Nico, you¡¯re definitely going to make a great dad in the future.¡± After getting teased by Gwendolyn, Nico blushed in an instant, even his cars turned red. Seeing him like that, Gwendolyn leaned closer to Summer and whispered, ¡°Summer, you guys should hurry up too. Benny and Zendy are already five years old. It¡¯s time they had a ymate.¡± ¡°Oh, Gwendolyn¡­¡± Summer, feeling shy from the teasing, quickly scurried off to keep herself busy by theke. The afternoon sun was just right, so Nico and Summer were busy preparing the barbecue. Not far away, there was another family, carefree and joyful. A family of four was rxing under a tree, enjoying the fruits they had bought. A gentle breeze swept by, bringing immensefort. Cedrick watched Nico and Summer busily working by theke, and said to Gwendolyn with a smile, ¡°We were the ones who suggested the barbecue, but they ended up doing all the work. It really isn¡¯t right.¡± Despite saying that, he didn¡¯t move an inch away from his wife. From behind, Benedict quietly said, ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re ying innocent after taking advantage.¡± Those words made the rest of them burst intoughter. The joyous times always seemed fleeting. After enjoying a barbecue and watching the sunset, the two families finally parted ways. The two children were so exhausted that they fell into a deep sleep as soon as they got in the car, their bodies and mindspletely content. At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Swain emailed the final verdict of Joe¡¯s case to Cedrick. The result of the judicial review confirmed all charges against Joe, sentencing him to death. The execution by firing squad was to be carried out within three days. The verdict was densely packed with the list of crimesmitted by Joe, but Cedrick¡¯s gaze was fixed on the words ¡°death penalty approved.¡± The door to the study was tightly shut, Gwendolyn had been waiting for him for a while, but he didn¡¯t come out. She pushed the door open and walked in, only to see Cedrick standing straight by the window, his silhouette somewhat deste. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, her voice soft as she asked, ¡°Hubby, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Joe will be executed by a firing squad in three days!¡± Cedrick¡¯s voice was muffled. Knowing Joe was Cedrick¡¯s formerrade, Gwendolyn instantly understood what was troubling him. ¡°Then you should see him off that day,¡± she said. No matter what, that person was once arade who fought alongside him. Cedrick didn¡¯t say anything. He slowly turned around, held Gwendolyn in his arms, and called out with certainty, ¡°Gwenny.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m here,¡± she answered. I will always be here. The two of them remained in their embrace until Gwendolyn¡¯s feet grew tired. Only then did they retire. to their bedroom to rest. Three dayster, Joe was led to the ce of execution. Cedrick, dressed in ck, stood on the opposite. side of the execution grounds with his hands behind his back, his eyes calm and serene. That day was the day of Joe¡¯s execution. The electronic locks that were originally attached to his hands and feet had all been removed. The police officer had securely tied him up with hemp rope. ¡°This is yourst moment in this world. Is there anything else you¡¯d like to say?¡± The question from the executor echoed in his ears. Joe lifted his head, and the moment he saw Cedrick, his eyes lit up, and heughed mockingly. ¡°So, have youe to mock me today? Are you eager to see how miserable I¡¯ll be when I die?¡± Joe asked. Cedrick remained silent, pulling out the aged wine he had brought from behind him. He removed the cork and poured the wine onto the ground, saying calmly, ¡°A toast to a dearly departed friend.¡± Joe stared at him nkly, seemingly surprised by his words. In the end, he felt that with his statement, everything was enough. ¡°Cedrick, don¡¯t think you¡¯ve won.¡± Joeughed heartily. His tone was casual when he added, ¡°It¡¯s clear that I let you.¡± Even though he was in prison, facing execution by firing squad, he actually had a way to escape. But that time, he didn¡¯t want to run away anymore. Throughout his life, he had taken many lives and done countless deeds, yet he never had the chance to be with the one he truly loved. In truth, he could see the suspicious aspects of Eryn, but he liked her a lot. He was willing to make excuses for her, willing to be deceived by her, all because she was Eryn. The initial vengeance suddenly lost its meaning when Cedrick exposed the truth. The purpose of his existence, too, was extinguished along with it. Bang! A gunshot rang out, and a bullet pierced urately through the heart. Joe curled the corner of his lips and died. Cedrick poured another ss of wine onto the ground. His expression was cold, and he was keeping silent. Meanwhile, at Newton Group, Isaac ryed the news to Charles, ¡°Mr. Newton, Joe is dead. He was executed by a firing squad today.¡± Charles¡¯s hands, which were busy typing, paused for a moment. He responded with a hum. He was such a b¡±stard. His death wouldn¡¯t make any difference to me. Charles abruptly changed the topic. ¡°What is she doing?¡± Isaac didn¡¯t react immediately, but he quickly remembered who Charles meant. Hence, Isaac responded, ¡°Right now, Mrs. Newton is still in her internship period. Every day, she¡¯s busy with various tasks in the logistics department, inputting data, organizing documents, and sometimes even cleaning up the department and running errands like buying coffee for other employees.¡± Charles¡¯s eyebrows furrowed instantly. What? They even had the audacity to make her clean and run errands! An internship isn¡¯t about ying nanny. Doesn¡¯t she know how to stand up for herself? Charles was very upset when he was flipping through the documents in irritation. Suddenly, his hand came to a halt. A terrifying aura radiated from him. The air in the office suddenly became tense. Isaac stood silently in ce, not daring to make a sound. Bang! A stack of documents was pped onto the office desk. Charles spoke out coldly, ¡°Warn the chief of the logistics department. Tell her that if Whitney is only here to y nanny, she doesn¡¯t need to complete the probation period.¡± Isaac looked troubled, cautiously saying, ¡°Mr. Newton, Mrs. Newton is merely an intern now. She really can¡¯t afford to offend anyone-¡± Charles had never been an intern, so he had no idea about the difficulties an intern faces. Everyone in thepany was adept at kicking someone when they were down. Besides, as an intern. Whitney was supposed to understand the operations of every department. If someone pressured her under this pretext, she couldn¡¯t refuse. Charles shot Isaac a nce, causing thetter to swallow all his unfinished words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Newton. I will go and make the arrangements right now.¡± Isaac practically fled from the CEO¡¯s office, only wiping the cold sweat from his forehead the moment the door closed behind him. In the logistics department, Whitney was busy sorting out the work given to her by the chief, her hands constantly moving, tapping on the keyboard. Isaac walked over, tapped her desk, and said, ¡°Whitney, could you step outside with me for a moment?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Deeply engrossed in a screen full of numbers, Whitney was caught off guard when her name was suddenly called out. Upon seeing it was Isaac, she asked, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± When Isaac arrived, all eyes turned to him. Everyone was eager to hear something, their faces revealing a keen interest in gossip. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Those days, the rumors about Whitney and Isaac neverpletely faded away. Even though the chatter had significantly lessened, it was still etched in people¡¯s minds. Isaac said softly, ¡°There are instructions from Mr. Newton.¡± Charles? What does he want from me? Whitney followed Isaac out when he mentioned Charles. Those in the logistics department who disapproved of Whitney saw her leaving with Isaac again and couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of contempt. They then started whispering among themselves. ¡°She vehemently denied it, and now she¡¯s off with him again. It¡¯s clear she got in through unscrupulous means, yet she still tries to argue her way out of it.¡± ¡°Exactly. With her qualifications and education, she¡¯s hardly fit to work with us at Newton Group.¡± Chapter 816 She Calls Him Husband Affectionately Chapter 816 She Calls Him Husband Affectionately After being called out, Whitney could not help but sneeze a few times. Isaac, with a concerned tone, asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Whitney shook her head, bringing the conversation back on track. She asked, ¡°Did he give you any instructions?¡± ¡°Mr. Newton has asked me to convey that you shouldn¡¯t continue with the cleaning chores. O- Otherwise, there would be no need for you to stay in the Newton Group any longer.¡± A slight twitch tugged at the corner of Whitney¡¯s mouth. Huh? Does he think I did that voluntarily? Considering her status as an intern and her limited knowledge of workce rules, those people assigned tasks to her that were beyond her purview. However, Isaac¡¯s tone was already quite tactful. It was possible that Charles¡¯s initial words were even harsher. Fine. ¡°Got it.¡± Whitney acknowledged, feeling a bit of a headacheing on. She then asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all. Please take good care of yourself. I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± As the words fell, Isaac turned and left. Whitney also returned to her own workstation, continuing the work she had not finished earlier. St! A stack of files suddenlynded on her desk. Whitney looked up, meeting the arrogant gaze of her female colleague, Lana. Lana hugged her own arms and huffed lightly, ¡°What are you looking at? You need to input all of these into the system by midnight. You¡¯ll be held ountable if you can¡¯tplete it on time and cause a dy for those handling the subsequent tasks.¡±, The stack of documents that Lana brought was so high that itpletely obscured Whitney¡¯s face. Whitney flipped through the documents on the table, all filled with data and meeting records. If she remembered correctly, the content of these documents was not within the scope of what she should be recording. She stood up and declined. ¡°Lana, this is not part of my job. I won¡¯t do it.¡± There was no way she couldplete the documentation of those files even workingte into the night. tomorrow. It was evident that Lana was simply delegating all the strenuous work to her, Taken aback by Whitney¡¯s firm rejection this time, Lana became furious. She forcefully mmed her desk. and raised her voice. ¡°You¡¯re just an intern right now. Do you really understand what tasks you should be doing and what tasks you shouldn¡¯t be? As long as you¡¯re in the logistics department, the department¡¯s work is your work! Don¡¯t make excuses for yourziness!¡± Lana¡¯s voice was so loud that it attracted the attention of everyone around. ¡°Why should I?¡± Whitney was good-natured, but that did not mean she would tolerate everything. Lana chuckled lightly, leaned closer to Whitney, and mocked, ¡°You¡¯re quite close with Mr. Turner, aren¡¯t you? Go ahead,in to him, and see if he can help you. Don¡¯t think that just because you used underhanded methods to get into thepany, you can do whatever you want.¡± ¡°Listen carefully, Whitney Mellor,¡± Lana warned sternly. ¡°Interns are expected to handle these tasks, so stop attempting to gain favor with the higher-ups.¡± Lana believed Whitney must be going to great lengths to get in the good graces of the management. With a coldugh, Whitney disregarded Lana and moved the documents from the table to the floor, right in the middle of the aisle. It¡¯s not my job, anyway. I won¡¯t do it. Lana was stunned by her actions, her anger ring up once again. Just as Lana was about to lose her temper, the department head suddenly emerged from his office, clutching a box. Everyone working in thepany knew what it meant to walk out with a box. Surprise was evident on everyone¡¯s faces as the department head, wearing an expression of profound concern, approached the crowd and offered a deep bow. ¡°All good things muste to an end. I will no longer have the privilege to work alongside all of you. I wish you continued sess in your respective roles. Goodbye.¡± As the department head was preparing to leave with his belongings, Lana hurriedly questioned him. ¡°Sir, why are you departing so abruptly? I thought you¡¯ve been performing excellently all these years. Are you moving to a different position for a higher sry, or are you being transferred to another department?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I can no longer work for the Newton Group or any of its subsidiaries anymore.¡± After saying that, the department head left. Lana looked puzzled. What does that mean? Does that mean he¡¯s fired? There hadn¡¯t been any significant incidentstely. Why would they fire him? ¡°Everyone, please put aside your current tasks for a moment..I have an announcement to make.¡± At this moment, another department manager walked over, pping his hands to halt everyone¡¯s work. Whitney, too, was puzzled by the department head¡¯s sudden departure. She sat quietly at her desk, waiting for the manager to make an announcement. ¡°The position of our logistics department¡¯s head is currently vacant, but a new head will arrive tomorrow. I hope everyone can get along well with the new leader and continue to work hard,¡± the manager announced. ¡°All right. That¡¯s all. Let¡¯s all get back to work.¡± Whitney furrowed her brows in thought. A new department head? How could this happen so suddenly? Typically, thepany would make an announcement in advance when there were any significant. changes to high-ranking personnel. Unless an employee made a major mistake and was fired immediately. Is Charles behind this? He was the CEO of the group, holding the power to decide anyone¡¯s fate in thepany. Why would he suddenly rece the head of the logistics department? Doubts surged one after another in her mind, yet there were no answers to them. Forget it. Why should I care about this? I¡¯m just an intern, I better focus on finishing my tasks first. As the end of the workday approached, Whitney finallypleted her own tasks, stretching her sore neck. Today was her birthday, and she even wanted to buy herself a small cake to celebrate. However, no one in the Newton family, including Charles, knew about her birthday. She decided to celebrate it on her own before returning home. She unlocked her phone and scrolled to Charles¡¯ contact, the nickname ¡°Hubby¡± ringly obvious. The last conversation they had was from three days ago. This nickname was something Charles had insisted she change a few days ago. He had expressed concerns that Jasmine might identally see the contact name ¡°Mr. Newton¡± and be suspicious. Whitney put on a wry smile, guessing he probably did not care enough to find out when her birthday was. After typing a long string of text into the dialogue box, she edited and deleted it repeatedly. In the end, everything was erased, leaving only a few words that were sent: Mr. Newton, I¡¯ll being home a bit late today, but it won¡¯t beter than eight o¡¯clock. I¡¯ll take the bus home myself, so you don¡¯t need to ask the driver to pick me up. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Charles responded almost instantly: What are you busy with? Whitney replied: Personal matters. Seeing the words ¡°personal matters¡±, Charles on the other side of the screen furrowed his brows deeply. That woman doesn¡¯t have any other friends in this city, let alone other ces to go. What kind of personal matters could she possibly have? Something¡¯s not right. Charles picked up his coat and headed straight for the parking lot, dialing Whitney¡¯s number on his phone. Meanwhile, Whitney believed he had agreed to her request, as she had not received a response from him for some time. Just as she stepped out of the department, her phone began to vibrate. The moment she saw it was him calling. Whitney¡¯s breath instantly quickened. She steadied herself before answering the phone. ¡°Hubby.¡± He had previously mentioned that during office hours, she should refer to him as ¡°Mr. Newton,¡± but now that it was after work, she should address him as ¡°Hubby.¡± Her voice was soft and sweet, and Charles found her calling him ¡°Hubby¡± quite pleasant. ¡°What personal matters?¡± ¡°I want to buy a small cake for myself and eat it before heading home.¡± Aside from not mentioning it was her own birthday, Whitney did indeed truthfully state what she was going to do. Charles could not help but knit his brows. Just to eat a cake? In an indifferent tone, he responded, ¡°The Newton family¡¯s cooks are more than capable of making cakes. What are you really up to, Whitney? You should be aware of the consequences of deceiving me.¡± Whitney stood at the elevator entrance, hesitating for a long time, refraining from pressing the elevator button. What should I tell him? Should I tell him I want to celebrate my own birthday? We¡¯re not really husband and wife since it¡¯s just a marriage of convenience. He¡¯ll be annoyed if I tell him about it, right? Seeing her remain silent, Charles impatiently urged. ¡°Speak up¡± Whitney bit her lip, but in the end, she spoke up. ¡°1-I want to celebrate my birthday.¡± Charles remained silent. He had never disyed any sign of concern for Whitney. Today¡¯s her birthday? ¡°I¡¯m heading downstairs now if there¡¯s nothing else you need to know about, Mr. Newton,¡± she uttered. Just as she was about to hang up, Charles spoke. ¡°Came down. Come to the parking lot. Let¡¯s go home.¡± His demand rendered Whitney speechless for a moment.. Chapter 817 Her Birthday Chapter 817 Her Birthday At Charles¡¯ words, Whitney let out a sigh. Oh well, I likely won¡¯t get to have cake anymore today. She took a deep breath before pressing the elevator¡¯s down button. As the elevator descended, she sped her hands and wished herself happy birthday in a whisper before stepping out. Upon arriving at the underground parking lot, she immediately caught sight of the eye-catching Lamborghini. The window was half down, revealing Charles¡¯ handsome face. ¡°The share of eighty percent is non-negotiable. Warn them that if they dare to seize more market share, the Newton family won¡¯t hesitate to drive them out of the current market forever.¡± Charles was on the phone, his tone icy cold, and a cigarette between his fingers. Despite his casual appearance, Whitney was still stunned. She admitted that she liked him, every single side of him. Noticing the woman standing beside the car, Charles stubbed out the cigarette and ended the phone call. When Whitney saw that he had finished dealing with work, she finally swung open the car door and got After she had gotten into the car, Charles immediately made a call to Jasmine. The call was answered in no time. ¡°What¡¯s up, Charles? You¡¯re not the type to call me unless you need something. Did you upset Whitney?¡± Since he ced the call on speaker, Whitney heard it as well. ¡°Enough with your wisecracks. Today is Whitney¡¯s birthday. Hurry home and get ready,¡± Charles said. ¡°Huh? Oh, it¡¯s Whitney¡¯s birthday. I haven¡¯t prepared a birthday gift for her yet. I¡¯ll have someone deliver the set of jewelry I had custom-made previously. It¡¯s Whitney¡¯s first birthday after marrying into our family, so we must make it grand. I¡¯ll call Lucas right away.¡± Jasmine sounded quite excited, which made Whitney rather nervous. Nheless, she didn¡¯t dare interrupt the siblings¡¯ conversation. As such, she could only watch Charles silently. She didn¡¯t want to make a big fuss in the first ce. That was why she had nned to celebrate it herself quietly. Besides, she didn¡¯t want to owe anyone any favors because of that. On top of that, she was bound to leave the Newton family sooner orter. She didn¡¯t want to owe Lucas and Jasmine too much. Noticing Whitney¡¯s expression, Charles uttered, ¡°Just have you and Lucase back. She¡¯s not familiar with the others. Don¡¯t make it too grand, or she¡¯ll feel ufortable.¡± Upon hearing that, Jasmine hummed meaningfully in acknowledgment. As soon as the call ended, Whitney immediately said, ¡°Mr. Newton, there¡¯s really no need to go to all this trouble. My birthday isn¡¯t that important-¡± ¡°How should you address me after work?¡± Charles threw her a displeased look.. Whitney bit her lip and murmured, ¡°Hubby¡­ There¡¯s no need to have Jasmine and the others fuss over it. My birthday really isn¡¯t that important.¡± As she said it was not that important, she dipped her head in slight disappointment. Indeed, I¡¯m an insignificant person. All I need to do is to y the role of his wife on the surface. Glimpsing the disappointment and unhappiness in her eyes, Charles assertively grabbed her hand and commanded, ¡°Go with my n.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. With a roar, the car shot out of the underground parking lot. Whitney clutched her seatbelt tightly, not daring to say another word. When they passed by a flower shop, Charles suddenly hit the brakes and alighted without a word. As Whitney watched him enter the flower shop, her heart inexorably started racing. Is he¡­ going to buy me flowers? Even though she had decided not to harbor any expectations, she couldn¡¯t help but look forward to his subsequent action. Before long, the man¡¯s figure emerged from the flower shop. s, his hands were empty. Whitney was stumped. Sure enough, I really shouldn¡¯t have gotten my hopes up. During the drive home, the two of them continued to travel in silence. All Whitney could do was idly fiddle with her phone. Her phone had nothing but some boring news, and she quickly lost interest, turning to look out the window. The scenery outside the car window whizzed by. She saw a stooped elderly man slowly walking along the road and a youthful-looking high school student animatedly discussing something interesting with the person next to him. There was also a couple waiting together at the bus stop. They shared a pair of earphones and asionally exchanged a few words, appearing to be deeply in love. People often say that lovers will eventually get together. Whitney furtively nced at the man beside her, a tinge of bitterness welling within her Ultimately, we¡¯re not meant to be together. By the time they made it back to the Newton residence, Jasmine was already waiting at the door. Seeing that they had returned, she rushed forward and hugged Whitney. She eximed joyfully, ¡°Happy birthday, Whitney! I prepared a birthday gift for you! Quick,e in and see if you like it. Jeez, you didn¡¯t even tell me about your birthday. Do you still consider me a friend?¡± Whitney chuckled and fabricated an excuse to brush it off. ¡°Actually, I also forgot about my birthday today. It was Charles who reminded me about it. It¡¯s an important event or anything, so there¡¯s no need to go to much trouble.¡± Jasmine shook her head. ¡°How could it not be important? This is your first birthday spent with the Newton family. We need to celebrate it properly. If it weren¡¯t for Charles not wanting to scare you, I would¡¯ve definitely prepared a spectacrly grand party for you!¡± When they entered the Newton residence, the help was bustling around in the kitchen. Jasmine eagerly dragged Whitney to her room, where she took out an incredibly exquisite gift box. She opened it, revealing a beautiful ne adorned with an emerald pendant. ¡°Whitney, this is a limited-edition gemstone ne I bought from an auction in Moranta. There are only two in this world, and this one is for you.¡± While saying that, she made to put the ne on Whitney. Whitney quickly turned it down. ¡°This is simply too expensive, Jasmine. I can¡¯t ept it.¡± It was a limited-edition worldwide, so she didn¡¯t dare ept it when given as a gift. ¡°I have both of the nes with me right now. It¡¯s perfect, for we can each have one. I don¡¯t usually wear it anyway. We can wear them together when we attend events for matching looks.¡± Ignoring Whitney¡¯s demurral, Jasmine put the ne on her. Then, she evenplimented, ¡°Look, this ne suits you perfectly. The color of the emerald really enhances one¡¯s temperament. You look stunningly beautiful wearing it. Don¡¯t feel pressured. I merely want to wear matching nes with you. At the sight of the girl smiling brightly and beautifully in the mirror, Whitney lowered her head with mixed feelings. She¡¯s still blissfully unaware of everything, anticipating my baby with Charles. When our marriage reaches the end of the agreed term, she¡¯ll probably be very much disappointed ¡°Are you listening to me, Whitney?¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice jolted her out of her thoughts. She smiled and nodded. ¡°I was wondering what kind of gift I give back to our little princess when you¡¯ve given me such a precious gift.¡± Upon hearing that, Jasmine giggled. ¡°The best gift you can give me would be a chubby little nephew or niece to y with sooner rather thanter.¡± In a sh, Whitney¡¯s face flushed bright red. Chapter 818 The First Time She Received His Surprise Chapter 818 The First Time She Received His Surprise Having a child was not something Whitney could decide by herself. ¡°All right, all right, I¡¯ll stop teasing you now, or else Charles is going to scold me again. Let¡¯s and see what Lucas and Charles have prepared for you.¡± Whitney thought about removing the ne around her neck, but Jasmine kept chattering away, not giving her the chance to do so. Upon reaching the hall, Lucas and Charles were seated together, engrossed in a discussion.. Jasmine tapped the coffee table impatiently and said. ¡°Hey, can¡¯t you two talk about this tomorrow? Don¡¯t you know what day it is today? It¡¯s Whitney¡¯s birthday! Where are your gifts?¡± She then added, ¡°Besides, Charles, considering you¡¯re Whitney¡¯s husband and the one who brought us here, you must have already prepared a gift for her, right? I heard from Whitney that you were the one who remembered her birthday.¡± Upon hearing her words, Whitney immediately tensed up and clenched her hands tightly. Charles reclined on the sofa and narrowed his eyes. He yfully curled his lips and remarked, ¡°Do I need your approval for the gift I prepared my wife? It¡¯s meant for us as a couple to share. It¡¯s not something at single woman like you would understand.¡± ¡°Tsk! Still keeping secrets, huh?¡± Jasmine scoffed and rolled her eyes before draping her arm around Whitney¡¯s shoulder. ¡°See this ne on Whitney¡¯s neck? I gave it to her. It¡¯s a global limited edition, one for each of us.¡± She then turned to Lucas and asked, ¡°What about you, Lucas? What have you prepared for Whitney?¡± Lucas lightly cleared his throat and presented a ck and gold VIP card to Whitney. ¡°Whatever I can give, so can Charles. This card is for an automotive dealership under my name. If you have time, you can go pick a car you like and customize it however you want.¡± They¡¯re from a wealthy family, all right. The gifts they give are notablyvish. At the thought of that, Whitney felt that the card in her hand was particrly heavy. Jasmine leaned in close to her ear and said, ¡°Whitney, let me tell you, Lucas¡¯s car dealership is top- notch. in Chanaca. They have all the cars that are hard to find elsewhere. Make sure to choose one you really like. and don¡¯t be shy about it.¡± Umm¡­ Whitney suddenly felt the weight of the gift in her hand increase. As they were conversing, a few housekeepers walked in, carrying arge box of fresh flowers. ¡°Mr. Charles, these are the flowers you ordered.¡± Vibrant red roses came into Whitney¡¯s view, and a look of astonishment appeared on her face. Did¡­ Did Charles arrange this for me? Are these from the flower shop we were just at? ¡°Not bad, Charles, you finally know how to be romantic. I think I¡¯ve had my share of lovey-dovey moments, so let¡¯s just keep the birthday celebration tonight to just the two of you. Lucas and I will take our leave now. We won¡¯t intrude on your private time.¡± Upon saying that, Jasmine yfully raised an eyebrow at Whitney before pulling Lucas away, leaving the two of them alone.¡± Aside from the bustling housekeepers, only Charles and Whitney remained in the spacious living room. An awkward silence soon filled the air. Whitney stood beside him, unsure whether to sit or remain standing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you unhappy?¡± Charles asked. Meeting his scrutinizing gaze, Whitney immediately responded with the brightest smile she could manage and nodded with sincerity. ¡°I love it, truly. Thank you. Now that Jasmine and Lucas are gone, you can go ahead with your tasks if you have any. You don¡¯t need to keep mepany.¡± After Whitney finished speaking, Charles immediately stood up and headed upstairs. Even though he maintained a chilly demeanor, the fact that he had sent her flowers that day left her feeling content. The red roses were dazzlingly vibrant, their beauty almost overwhelming. Each flower also held a tiny pearl in its heart, making the whole box unusually heavy. Whitney¡¯s lips curved into a genuine smile as she expressed her heartfelt delight. She took out her phone and meticulously photographed the bouquet from multiple angles, preserving the memory. Charles, who had already gone upstairs, gazed at the young woman in the living room through the study¡¯s surveince screen. She was capturing the bouquet from various angles in different poses, and this scene lifted his mood considerably. I can¡¯t believe such a simple gift could make her so happy. She¡¯s quite easy to please. Nevertheless, Jasmine¡¯s words reminded him that he should prepare a gift for her. What should I prepare? Charles scrolled through the contacts in his phone, pondered for a moment, and ultimately chose to dial. Gwendolyn¡¯s number. Meanwhile, the woman in question was ying games with her two children. Upon hearing the phone ring, Zendaya was the first to pick it up and answer. ¡°Who is it, and what business do you have with Mommy?¡± she asked. When Charles heard the soft and childish voice, his tone softened as he said, ¡°Zendaya, it¡¯s me, Uncle Charles.¡± ¡°Oh, hi, Uncle Charles. I¡¯ll give the phone to Mommy right away,¡± came Zendaya¡¯s sweet reply. Gwendolyn took the phone and held both children in her arms. ¡°What is it?¡± Upon hearing the woman¡¯s voice, Charles hesitated briefly, then regained hisposure and asked in a serious tone, ¡°It¡¯s not anything particr. I just wanted to ask you what would be an appropriate birthday gift for a girl?¡± ¡°Is it for your girlfriend?¡± Gwendolyn inquired. ¡°Yeah.¡± Upon hearing this, Gwendolyn began offering him advice and suggesting various gift ideas. From her previous interactions, she could tell that Whitney was a good girl and was genuinely fond of Charles. She might just be the perfect match for him. The two of them talked about the gift for quite a while when Benedict abruptly snatched the phone and said coldly, ¡°Charles, if you want to give your wife a gift, just ask her what she wants. Stop wasting my mom¡¯s time.¡± At that, he immediately hung up the phone. Gwendolyn chuckled. ¡°All right, you two little rascals, ytime is over for today. Let¡¯s get ready to head home. Zendy still needs to go to kindergarten tomorrow, so let¡¯s not tire her out too much today. She needs to get plenty of sleep.¡± Benedict snorted disdainfully. ¡°Zendaya is such a fool. I can¡¯t believe she still needs to learn those childish lessons in kindergarten.¡± Upon hearing this, Zendaya immediately hopped onto Benedict and let out a roar before sinking her teeth into her brother¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re so mean, Benny! If you dare to tease me again, I¡¯ll spill the beans about the time you cried your heart out in the middle of the night!¡± she eximed. ¡°Well, you just did!¡± came Benedict¡¯s retort. Zendaya stuck out her tongue at him in response. While the two little ones were bickering back and forth, Gwendolyn just stood by,ughing. Just as Cedrick had finished dealing with business matters at thepany and approached the door of the ward, he could hear the sounds ofughter and merrimenting from inside. ¡°What¡¯s making everyone so happy?¡± Upon hearing Cedrick¡¯s voice, Zendaya immediately ran over with a wronged expression and hugged his leg toin, ¡°Daddy, Benny is looking down on me, saying that what I¡¯m learning now is childish. Shouldn¡¯t you teach him a lesson?¡± Cedrick bent down and scooped his beloved daughter into his arms before asking with a mischievous grin. ¡°I can be quite harsh when ites to teaching someone a lesson. Are you sure you want me to help you punish your brother, Zendy?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Zendaya furrowed her brows, instantly feeling conflicted. She had always been deeply worried about her brother¡¯s fragile health and couldn¡¯t bring herself to let their father punish him severely, even if he deserved it. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. After much hesitation, she timidly extended a small finger and suggested, ¡°How about just a light punishment, then?¡± Chapter 819 Treading Lightly Chapter 819 Treading Lightly Cedrick carried her to the bedside, reached out his hand, and gently flicked Benedict¡¯s little forehead. ¡°Are you satisfied?¡± Zendaya pursed her lips, thought seriously for a moment, and said, ¡°I guess.¡± Gwendolyn suppressed augh. ¡°All right. It¡¯s gettingte. Zendy, pack up your school bag. It¡¯s time to go home.¡± ¡°All right, then.¡± Letting go of Zendaya, Cedrick¡¯s peripheral vision caught sight of Gwendolyn¡¯s phone, idly ced on the bedside table. The screen hadn¡¯t dimmed yet. It was still on the interface from the call with Charles. Just a few minutes prior, the two had a conversation thatsted for twenty-eight minutes. What could they possibly be talking about for so long? Cedrick¡¯s handsome brows furrowed, and his expression instantly became serious. Considering that getting home was the priority, he didn¡¯t ask any questions. When they returned home, however, Gwendolyn noticed that there was something off about Cedrick¡¯s expression. Whenever she was in the kitchen cooking, he would always watch her, looking as if he had something to say but hesitating to speak. After waiting for dinner to be finished, Gwendolyn settled the two kids back in their room to y. Only then did she corner Cedrick against the wall in the master bedroom. ¡°You¡¯ve had a strange look on your face since you got back. Is there something you want to talk about?¡± she asked. Seeing Gwendolyn take the initiative to ask, Cedrick pulled her into his arms by her waist, trapping her in his embrace. ¡°What did Charles call you for this afternoon? You two talked for a full thirty-eight minutes.¡± Gwendolyn almost couldn¡¯t help butugh. So, he had been bothered by this all along. Meeting his somewhat aggrieved gaze, Gwendolyn suddenly had a mischievous urge to tease him, and deliberately yed coy. ¡°Of course, it was an urgent matter. What else could it be? Casual chit-chat?¡± Upon hearing those words, Cedrick¡¯s brows involuntarily furrowed, and he pulled her even closer into his embrace. ¡°Gwenny, be honest. What were you two really talking about? If you don¡¯t tell the truth, I might get jealous.¡± Gwendolyn stretched out her arm to encircle his neck. In her yful tone, she asked, ¡°What would you do if you got jealous?¡± With a stern expression, he leaned his tall frame over her. His thin lips neared the root of her ear, gently nipping it as he spoke in a deep, husky voice. ¡°I will devour you.¡± He meant it, and he would bring her to their bed there and then. He would make her beg for mercy through his actions. Gwendolyn was somewhat moved by his charm, and exined earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s his girlfriend¡¯s birthday today. That girl, Ms. Mellor, is very close to Zendy. He¡¯s unsure about what kind of gift to give her, so he came to ask me.¡± Cedrick recalled the girl his wife had mentioned, and finally, he felt at ease. Seeing the smile on his wife¡¯s face, he suddenly realized something. ¡°Darling, did you do that on purpose?¡± Gwendolyn remained silent, giving him a cheeky look. In an instant, Cedrick swept her off her feet, carrying her horizontally as he walked toward the bed. The two shared a sweet moment together in the room, quietly. Meanwhile, at the Newton residence, Charles stood by the window, carefully pondering over the words of Gwendolyn. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Earlier, during their phone call, Gwendolyn repeatedly mentioned that Whitney was a good girl and urged him to cherish her. However, he couldn¡¯t help recalling how happy Whitney looked when she received the flowers. That foolish woman became incredibly happy with just a bit of kindness. His blue eyes held aplex expression as he lit up a cigarette. In the living room, the housekeeper approached Whitney and asked, ¡°Mrs. Newton, the meal is ready. Would you like to dine now?¡± The room upstairs remained tightly shut. Whitney nced toward the staircase and shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit longer. I¡¯ll go ask Charles.¡± Just as she was about to go upstairs, Charles happened to walk out of his room. Their gazes met, and his eyes were filled with intense aggression, causing Whitney to lower her head, shyly. Charles slowly descended the stairs. The bouquet that was originally in the center of the living room was nowhere to be found. Seeing him staring intently at the ground, Whitney¡¯s expression became somewhat tense. She took the initiative to say, ¡°Uh¡­ Dinner is ready. Would you like to eat now?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Charles walked ahead, with Whitney quietly following behind him. The housekeepers brought up all the prepared dishes. In the middle of the dining table was arge strawberry cream cake, with Whitney¡¯s name written on it. On top of it was a cute design of her and Charles¡¯ faces, which looked incredibly adorable. Upon seeing the cake, a smile couldn¡¯t help but creep onto Whitney¡¯s face. This must be Jasmine¡¯s doing. She always had a knack for creating pleasant surprises. Upon seeing her smile, Charles smiled as well. The two took their seats, and the housekeepers tactfully exited the room, leaving them with some private space. In the vast dining room, suddenly, only the two of them remained. Whitney¡¯s heart was filled with an indescribable tension, so quiet that she could hear her own heartbeat. Seeing her not making any moves, just lowering her head to look at the things in front of her, Charles stood up and inserted a few candles into her cake. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing over?¡± he asked. ¡°I-I¡¯m on my way.¡± Whitney walked over to him. Together, they inserted the candles into the cake and lit them. The lights in the restaurant dimmed, and Charles took her hands in his, saying, ¡°Make a wish.¡± His tone was icy cold. Even though his attitude remained as cold as ever, Whitney was already quite content. She sped her hands together and began to make a wish. Charles gazed at her side profile. Only when she opened her eyes did he ask, ¡°What wish did you make?¡± Once a wish is spoken, it loses its magic. She gave a mysterious smile. ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± Extinguishing the candle, Whitney suddenly felt a yful urge. She dabbed a bit of cream on Charles¡¯s. nose. Fearing that Charles might get angry, she also smeared some cream on her own nose. She was genuinely happy. ¡°Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me.¡± The moment she lifted her head, Charles just happened to lower his. The distance between them was so close that they could almost hear each other¡¯s breath. Under the dim light, Whitney¡¯s cheeks turned even redder. Her skin, already fair, looked like a peeled egg, delicate and smooth. Gazing into her sparkling eyes, Charles found himself inexplicably moved. Lifting her chin, he found himself drawn to kiss her as if guided by an unseen force.. The moment Whitney¡¯s lips touched his cold lips, her body instantly stiffened. T-This is the second time he took the initiative to kiss me. His kiss was domineering, his hands gently caressing her waist. Everywhere he touched, a tingling sensation immediately followed. Whitney quickly lost herself in his kiss, offering no resistance whatsoever. Whitney¡¯s breath wasing in short gasps, her eyes dazedly fixed on him, stirring an irresistible urge in him to tease her further. Her gaze was clear and bright. Having weathered the trials and tribtions of the business world for so long, Charles had grown ustomed to the cunning and deceit of humanity. Apart from the merriment of his youth, it had been at long time since he had seen such clear and innocent eyes. Watching the person in his arms gradually lose herself in pleasure, Charles suddenly returned to reality from his desires. What am I doing? Did I take the initiative to kiss her again? He abruptly stopped what he was doing and created some distance. As if awakening from a deep dream, Whitney¡¯s eyes regained their rity. She quickly avoided his gaze. To avoid the impending awkwardness, Whitney took the initiative to cut the cake and handed him the first slice. Neither of them spoke again, quietly finishing their meal. After finishing the meal, Charles finally said, ¡°As the birthday girl, do you n on keeping mum the entire night?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± With a puzzled look, Whitney nced at him, unsure what to say. What should I say? Even now, I still haven¡¯t recovered from that kiss just now. What should I say? ¡°What gift do you want?¡± he asked. Huh? Whitney stared at him nkly, quickly waving her hands after regaining her senses. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll leave the Newton residence sooner orter. I can¡¯t ept anything too expensive. When the time comes, I¡¯ll return this ne and the things from Lucas. I-I know my ce.¡± Charles was somewhat displeased. ¡°Answer what you¡¯re asked. At the very least, you¡¯re still a daughter-in-w of the Newton family, the legal wife I have registered in the household register.¡± Feeling his anger, Whitney dared not say anything else. ¡°Then, may I have a pair of wedding rings? Don¡¯t worry, though. I won¡¯t wear them out. Consider the rings as you lend me money to buy them. I will pay you back when the timees.¡± The marriage agreement came without a wedding, without blessings, and even without a single wedding photo. All Whitney wanted was something that could prove they had once been together. If she were to pay for them, she could take these rings with her. Charles raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. ¡°Given your current financial situation, how long do you n to owe me money?¡± Chapter 820 The Mobius Ring Chapter 820 The Mobius Ring Whitney fell silent, knowing that her meager ie was something he would look down upon. Especially considering she hadn¡¯t even finished her probation period yet, the assets she held were pitifully small. ¡°Sleep on the bed tonight.¡± Charles knew she would sleep on the sofa whenever he didn¡¯t return to their bedroom. Whitney stared at him, puzzled as to why he seemed so different that nightpared to usual. After taking a bath, Whitney was hesitant toe out of the bathroom. She felt very nervous. Will Charles also be sleeping in bed tonight? After a long while in the bathroom, Whitney finally emerged, only to find that Charles was nowhere to be seen. He must have gone to rest in the study again. In the aftermath of her relief, a faint sense of loss lingered in her heart. In truth, she shouldn¡¯t have harbored such expectations. However, human nature was inherently greedy. and one often yearned for more even after receiving a little. After standing by the bed, lost in thought for a while, Whitney finally climbed into bed andy on the edge. After what felt like an eternity, she finally drifted off to sleep. At daybreak, the bedroom door opened, allowing the faint light from the hallway to seep in. The silhouette on the bed was barely visible. The man, who had just finished work in the study, stood by the door for a bit, a smile ying at the corners of his mouth. She finally listened this time around. In a state between sleep and wakefulness, Whitney felt a dip in the bed next to her. Groggily, she reached out and embraced whatever was next to her. It felt warm. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. She was under the illusion that she was actually hoping for Charles to share a bed with her in her dreams. Even if it was just an illusion or merely a dream, she wanted to indulge in it for now. Like a curled-up kitten, she snuggled up to him. Charles¡¯ back stiffened. A sudden surge of warmth rushed to his lower abdomen. It made him gasp for breath. This uncontroble feeling was making Charles irritated. He threw off the nket, went to the bathroom, took a cold shower, and left. Early the next day, Whitney was awakened by her rm clock. She stretchedzily. That night, she slept incredibly soundly, even dreaming of an intimate encounter with Charles. With these thoughts, she couldn¡¯t help but blush a little. Quickly gathering her things, she headed out to work. She carefully kept all the roses Charles gave her. She nned to preserve these roses as dried flowers to keep them forever. After her birthday, their rtionship gradually took on a subtle change. The man, who was usually cold toward her, surprisingly began to take an active interest in her work. Once her internship period was over, she could be a full-fledged employee of Newton Group and work alongside him. Even though their statuses were worlds apart, for Whitney, it was enough. Whitney didn¡¯t receive any messages from Charles on her phone that day. After work, she went back to the Newton residence on her own. She nned to cook dinner for him that night to express her gratitude. No sooner had she returned home than Isaac arrived with a beautifully wrapped box. ¡°Mrs. Newton, Mr. Newton has some matters to attend to tonight and will be backte. He has asked you to rest early and not wait up for him. This is something he asked me to give to you.¡± Taking the box from Isaac¡¯s hand, Whitney wanted to ask something else, but Isaac had already left. The box in her hand was exquisite. It was adorned with a sky-blue gem. Whitney carried the box upstairs and opened it. It was a pair of rings! Both rings were designed in the style of a M?bius strip. The women¡¯s ring was adorned with a circle of tiny diamonds around the edge, while the men¡¯s ring was devoid of any additional embellishments but maintained a simple and dignified aesthetic. The Mobius strip symbolizes endless love!, Whitney was stunned.. Does he understand the meaning of the ring¡¯s shape? Whitney¡¯s heart raced. She was tempted to call him and ask what he meant. After a moment of calm, she regained herposure. Perhaps this matter was delegated to his subordinates and doesn¡¯t necessarily represent his thoughts. Even so, she was delighted because he took her words to heart. After taking two deep breaths, she slipped on her ring, which, to her surprise, fit perfectly. Huh? It seemed she had never told Charles her ring size, and yet he knew. She took a picture of herself wearing the ring and sent the one she was most pleased with to Charles. Whitney: Thank you, Hubby. Charles, who was in the middle of a meeting, noticed a sh on the screen of his phone on the table. He picked it up immediately and saw the photo she had sent. In the photo, she was seen with her hand raised to her cheek, her smile blooming like a flower. The text she sent instantly lifted his previously gloomy mood, and a smile involuntarily spread across his face. The people in the meeting room widened their eyes in disbelief when they saw the smile on his face, Did Mr. Newton just smile during a meeting? The rule set by Charles was that no one was allowed to use their mobile phones during meetings. Of course, he was an exception. What they couldn¡¯t believe was that Mr. Newton had received a message that made him smile so mysteriously. During the meeting, he scolded everyone, filling the entire conference room with a heavy atmosphere. Sensing the gazes of these people on him, Charles abruptly withdrew his smile and put down his phone. Everyone held their breath once again, waiting for his forting reprimand. ¡°This concludes today¡¯s evening meeting. If anyone dares to make such a basic mistake again, pack your things and get out of Newton Group. We do not tolerate idlers.¡± Upon hearing those words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The challenging time had finally passed. By the time Charles returned home, it was already the wee hours of the morning. A night light was still glowing by the bed as he pushed open the bedroom door. Whitney had already drifted off to dreand, her breathing steady and even. The box containing the ring sat quietly by her bedside. She was still smiling sweetly in her sleep. For reasons unknown, seeing her smile actually made Charles happy. Just inexplicably happy. Washing away all his fatigue, Charlesy beside her and fell into a deep sleep. On the morning of the next day, he left before Whitney woke up. Whitney had no idea that someone had slept next to her during the night. Days like these continued for a while, and Whitney found that her sleep quality had improved. Every night, she slept soundly. Sitting at her desk, Whitney couldn¡¯t help but savor the sweetness of her dream, her cheeks flushing slightly. While she was lost in her daydreams, Queenie suddenly posted a message in their group chat. There was a meeting at three in the afternoon, and everyone was expected to attend. The newly appointed chief was an older woman. She was serious and didn¡¯t indulge in idle chatter laughter. She was known for her diligence andmitment to her work. It was said that she had §à§Ô previously worked at a branch of the Newton Group, and due to her outstanding performance, she had been selected to serve as their chief. Queenie was very decisive and efficient. As soon as she arrived, she assigned clear and specific tasks to everyone. This left no opportunity for Lana and the others to make things difficult for Whitney. Hence, Whitney¡¯s work had been rtively easy and smooth sailing. At three in the afternoon, all members of the logistics department arrived punctually. Lana and the people around her whispered among themselves. ¡°Why does the new chief have to hold. meetings every other day? Just how many important matters are there to discuss? When the previous chief was in charge, there weren¡¯t as many issues.¡± Chapter 821 New Work Arrangement Chapter 821 New Work Arrangement ¡°Exactly. I suspect she¡¯s just stirring up trouble for no reason.¡± Cough! Cough! The department manager, Queenie Zeller, arrived. She cleared her throat twice, and the meeting room fell silent instantly. Everyone looked at the department manager with faces full of surprise. Today, she was dressed in a standard professional woman¡¯s attire. Her long hair had been cut into a neat, short style, making her look even more decisive and capable. Queenie handed the documents to Whitney, indicating her to distribute them to everyone. ¡°Thank you, Whitney.¡± Once everyone had the documents in their hands, Queenie finally said, ¡°I¡¯ve been in our department for over a month now. You all should have a good idea of what kind of person I am. When you¡¯re working under me, put away any unnecessary schemes. I¡¯m a person who can¡¯t tolerate any nonsense. As long as you don¡¯t cross my bottom line, I¡¯ll allow anything. But if anyone tries to y smart with me, don¡¯t me me for not showing you mercy. I don¡¯t care how you entered thepany. If you¡¯re in my department, you better behave yourself.¡± Queenie¡¯s words were impactful, causing Lana, who was previously fidgeting, to immediately sit up straight. ¡°It¡¯s the end of September now, and the third quarter of the year is about to pass. I hope that in thest. quarter of this year, our logistics department can achieve some results and not hold back thepany. Lana, you will continue to assist in reviewing and revising the administrative and logistical management regtions. You will also be responsible for the organization and management of daily administrative and logistical tasks. If there are any areas you¡¯re unsure about, make sure tomunicate with your team leader promptly. Sissi, set aside the work you have at hand for now and assist Lana. The rules and regtions must be perfected. We absolutely cannot afford any mistakes. Whitney.¡± Upon hearing her name suddenly being called out, Whitney immediately perked up, attentively waiting for Queenie¡¯s instructions. ¡°You have about a month left of your probation period, right? You¡¯re a meticulous person, and you¡¯ve been doing a good job. There¡¯s an important tasking up that I¡¯d like to assign to you.¡± An important task? Whitney suddenly became nervous, waiting for what Queenie would say next. ¡°You are in charge of drafting aprehensive document for the logistics department, and you need to provide a n for logistics management. For instance, if you were to manage the logistics department, what would your n be? I¡¯m giving you half a month. During this time, if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, feel free toe to me directly. By the way, this proposal will be presented directly to Mr. Newton at thepany meeting. You must ensure it¡¯s well-prepared.¡± Whoosh! Everyone¡¯s gaze swiftly turned to Whitney. That was no simple task. If it weren¡¯t done well, it would be a huge embarrassment for the entire logistics department. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Whitney stood up and responded, ¡°I understand, Ms. Zeller. I will do my best.¡± The pressure was really overwhelming. Lana, standing to the side, wore a smirk of schadenfreude. She was all set to enjoy the spectacle of Whitney making a fool of herself. ¡°All right. I¡¯ve arranged all the tasks that need to be done. I ask everyone to give their best effort. We need to show those who look down on our department what we¡¯re capable of. This concludes today¡¯s meeting. Everyone is dismissed.¡± Queenie stepped out of the meeting room with the documents in hand, and the expression on Whitney¡¯s face fell instantly. Logistics management nning was not her forte at all. She was basically clueless at that moment. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ms. Mellor? Look at how much Ms. Zeller values you. Despite knowing you¡¯re still an intern, she entrusted such an important task to you. This clearly shows your significance in our department.¡± ¡°Indeed, Whitney. The work we senior employees do is no more important than yours. You must give it your all and not let down Ms. Zeller¡¯s trust in you.¡± Lana, apanied by her entourage, walked up to Whitney and began to make sarcastic remarks. Whitney wasn¡¯t going to let the words of those people who wanted to kick her while she was down to affect her. The more they couldn¡¯t stand to see her seed, the more determined she became to achieve something. ¡°Thanks for your good wishes. I¡¯ll give it my all.¡± Having said that, Whitney turned around and left, no longer paying attention to the mockery of those behind her. Returning to her desk, Whitney began to search online for examples of logistics nning management ns. Unbeknownst to her, the sky outside had gradually darkened. Everyone in the department had left for the day. Only the light at her workstation remained on. Her notebook was filled with a page full of writing, and the screen was still lit up with text about the project n. At that moment, she waspletely engrossed in her work, oblivious to everything happening outside. She didn¡¯t even know what time it was. Having finished all his work, Charles stepped out of the office. Then, he saw Isaac waiting at the door with a stack of documents in his hands. ¡°Mr. Newton, would you like to review these documents today? They are about the renovation of the aquarium.¡± After a hectic day, Charles was left with nothing but a severe headache. If he was asked to review these documents now, he might just harbor the thought of killing Isaac. Catching his boss¡¯ stern gaze, Isaac quickly tidied up the documents and said in a sycophantic manner, ¡°Mr. Newton, when I came up just now, I saw Mrs. Newton was still at her desk. Would you like to go and check on her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s working overtime?¡± Isaac shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that. It seems Ms. Zeller has arranged a new task for Mrs. Take a look? Charles nced at him, and Isaac immediately understood his intention. He quickly entered the elevator and pressed the button for the fifteenth floor. Then, he stepped out and respectfully invited Charles into the elevator. The numbers on the elevator panel changed as the elevator descended.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Only then did Isaac dare to let out a long sigh of relief. I¡¯ve really overstepped earlier. The CEO was going to see his wife. What was I thinking, meddling in their affairs? Before long, the elevator reached the fifteenth floor. The entire building served as the office for the logistics department. At that moment, it was after work hours, and all the lights in the corridor were turned off. Through the frosted ss, Charles saw Whitney¡¯s lit workstation and quietly walked in.. Viewed from behind, she presented a pleasing silhouette. Her long hair casually cascaded down her back, catching the light from the deskmp, which lent her golden locks a glossy sheen. Her delicate, fair earlobes were revealed as her hair was tucked behind her ears. ¡°Something seems off here¡­¡± She bit the end of her pen, furrowing her brows as she revised the n in front of her. She spent the entire afternoon sitting there, constantly revising the n but still couldn¡¯t produce a decent outline. After typing out her new ideas on the keyboard, Whitney finally allowed herself to rx. Shezily stretched her arms, only to unexpectedly touch a warm chest, which startled her into quickly withdrawing her hand. ¡°M-Mr. Newton, howe you¡¯re here?¡± When did he actually arrive? How is it that he made no sound while walking? Whitney¡¯s heart was pounding, her eyes filled with anxiety. Looking at the content on herputer screen, Charles sneered, ¡°Is this the proposal you n to submit?¡± Chapter 822 Going Smoothly Chapter 822 Going Smoothly Charles¡¯ eyes were filled with nothing but disdain, making Whitney feel somewhat embarrassed. That n was the result of her pondering all afternoon. She raised her hand to shield her screen, stuttering, ¡°Um¡­ I-I¡¯m not done yet. This is just a prototype.¡± As she spoke, shecked any hint of confidence. She wasn¡¯t adept at creating proposals, but luckily, Queenie had given her half a month. She still had the opportunity to refine her work. In that case, Charles didn¡¯t feel like dampening her enthusiasm, simply asking. ¡°Do you n on sleeping. at the office tonight?¡± Judging by her demeanor, if I didn¡¯t show up, she might actually spend the night at the office. I really can¡¯t fathom what¡¯s going on in her mind. Only then did Whitney notice the time. She hadn¡¯t realized it was almost ten in the night. At that moment, her stomach growled, a blush instantly coloring her neck. Even the tips of her ears turned red. ¡°Haven¡¯t eaten yet?¡± asked Charles. Whitney nodded. If it weren¡¯t for Charles, she wouldn¡¯t have realized it was already past her working - hours. Seeing that, Charles was somewhat dissatisfied and said coldly, ¡°Pack up and head home.¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Whitney didn¡¯t dare to refuse his request. She quickly saved the draft on herputer, picked up her bag. and followed him out. His strides were long, so Whitney had to jog to keep up with his pace. Soon after, his luxury car roared to life, taking off at a speed akin to an arrow released from its bow. Startled, Whitney immediately gripped her seatbelt tightly. Charles rolled down the car window, letting the cold wind sweep into the car. Dressed in thin clothing, Whitney felt a chill as the wind blew toward her. She couldn¡¯t help but wrap her arms around herself, silently enduring the cold. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of her lips, which were pale from the cold. Charles¡¯ expression grew even more annoyed. Slowing down the car, Charles tossed his jacket onto her. Slightly annoyed, he said, ¡°Have you lost your voice? Are you trying to catch a cold?¡± The coat he tossed over carried his warmth and a faint tobo scent. Whitney was about to be moved when his words left her momentarily speechless. ¡°N-No,¡± She softly retorted. What if he enjoys the night breeze? I just don¡¯t want to upset him. ¡°Put it on.¡± His tone was domineering and indifferent. Even though Whitney felt ufortable, she didn¡¯t say anything. Once they returned to the Newton residence, he wrapped his arm around her waist, gently pulling her into his embrace as they walked in together. They returned quitete. Jasmine stepped forward, teasing, ¡°Charles, you¡¯re such a workaholic. You disregard everything when you¡¯re working. Whitney is frail, you know. Do you really have the heart to make her work overtime with you? Look at how pale her face is.¡± Realizing Jasmine¡¯s misunderstanding. Whitney quickly rified, ¡°No, Jasmine, it¡¯s not what Charles came homete because he was keeping mepany at work today.¡± Upon hearing that, Jasmine revealed an understanding expression and said, ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news! It seems Charles, the typical macho man, has finally learned to cherish his wife.¡± Charles tightened his hold around Whitney¡¯s slender waist. ¡°My wife hasn¡¯t eaten yet. Will you take responsibility if you keep dying her meal and she faints from hunger?¡± In front of the Newton family, Charles often generously called Whitney his wife. Even though Whitney knew he was doing that to deal with the Newton family, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a flutter of excitement in her heart. At least for that moment, she was his true wife. ¡°All right, All right, I won¡¯t keep your wife from her meal any longer. Are you happy now? Let me tell you, Charles, showing off your love is disgraceful!¡± Jasmine made a funny face, then went off to chat with Lucas. Charles and Whitney ascended the stairs. The moment they entered the room, he let go of her hand. Whitney also understood and parted ways with him. ¡°Once they¡¯re all asleep, I can make something to eat for myself. I can sleep on the couch tonight so that I won¡¯t disturb your rest.¡± ¡°Sleep on the bed,¡± he said. The bed it is. Besides agreeing, she couldn¡¯t say anything else. Charles walked to the side of the bed, dialed the phone downstairs, and ordered, ¡°Bring a bowl of pasta with an egg added up here.¡± Hearing that, Whitney couldn¡¯t help but let out a quiet chuckle. The gloom she had felt at thepany moments ago was instantly swept away. Sure, he might have a sharp tongue, but he was actually quite kind to her. The housekeeper quickly brought up the freshly made bowl of pasta. The enticing aroma stirred- Whitney¡¯s appetite. However, due to Charles¡¯ presence. Whitney remained somewhat reserved, eating very slowly. After having a satisfying meal and drink, Whitney felt a wave of tiredness wash over her. She bathed and went to bed, knowing that Charles wouldn¡¯t return that night. She chose afortable position and drifted off to sleep. Time tended to fly by when one was busy. At first, Whitney found the nning to be a real headache. However, after getting through the toughest initial days, she realized it wasn¡¯t as hard as she thought. Due to her hard work, the initial proposal acquired some reference value. During the period she was completing the proposal, she also consulted Queenie a few times. Every time, Queenie was able to offer the most incisive suggestions for her proposal. It was during that period that Whitney grew a lot. Her perspective and knowledge all elevated to a new level. A group of women were gathered in the logistics department pantry, discussing something after midday rest. Sissi was the first to speak. ¡°Lana, I¡¯ve noticed Whitney has been frequently visiting Ms. Zeller¡¯s office. these past few days. Do you think she¡¯s trying to get closer to Ms. Zeller through Mr. Turner? Besides, her internship is about to end soon. Won¡¯t she cause more trouble for you in the future?¡± Lana scoffed lightly, setting down her cup with a thud. ¡°I won¡¯t let her pass the employee evaluation so easily. Doesn¡¯t she have a project in her hands right now? That¡¯s supposed to represent our logistics department, but I don¡¯t think she has the ability to do it well.¡± With a mischievous grin, Lana made her intentions clear. Instantly, the others understood her thoughts and smirked too. ¡°Good idea, Lana. There¡¯s still time before the deadline. If something were to happen on the night before submission, I wonder what she will do,¡± someone uttered. Meanwhile, Whitney sneezed several times at her workstation. Knock knock. Someone tapped on her desk. Whitney looked up to see Queenie. She quickly stood up and asked, ¡°Can I help you with something?¡± ¡°Come to my office.¡± Upon entering the office, Queenie handed her several printed documents, saying, ¡°These are some of the proposals I made at my previouspany, including proposals for the logistics department. You can look through them to see if you can extract any ideas for yourself.¡± Whitney was taken aback by Queenie¡¯s unexpected care for her. She quickly bowed. ¡°Thank you for your consideration, Ms. Zeller. I will work hard and won¡¯t let you down!¡± Queenie revealed a rare smile, waving. ¡°Go on with your work. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, feel free toe back and ask me.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± A look of gratitude filled Whitney¡¯s face as she walked out joyfully. Queenie watched Whitney¡¯s figure for a long time before finally shifting her gaze. She saw her younger self in Whitney, back when she just started her career in the professional world. Back then, she was also an inconspicuous intern, looked down upon by everyone. Without her encounter with her benefactor, she wouldn¡¯t have made it that far in Newton Group. Chapter 823 The Incident Before The Meeting Chapter 823 The Incident Before The Meeting Bolstered by Queenie¡¯s expectations, Whitney was more motivated in her work and no longer felt lost. However, she was spotted by the few when she went to the Queenie¡¯s office. Annoyed, Sissi pretended to pick up a file and went over to Lana¡¯s side. ¡°Lana, look. Whitney is off to see the Queenie again. She must have pulled some kind of trick. Otherwise, why would the Queenie only want to see her?¡± Watching Whitney¡¯s smug expression, Lana gritted her teeth, silently formting a proposal. The deadline was fast approaching, yet Whitney was still meticulously refining the final proposal. This time, she was determined to prove those who looked down on her wrong. More importantly, she wanted to make the Queenie proud, to show thetter that it was right to have faith in her. As the end of the workday approached, Whitney finally finished revising the final version. Brimming with confidence, she hit the save button. The next day was when the final presentation was due. The proposal would surely make the logistics. department stand out among thepany¡¯s other departments. Although she couldn¡¯t guarantee that it was the best proposal, Whitney was still very confident in her own proposal. Having packed her things, Whitney left. The next morning, Whitney arrived at thepany early. She nned to carefully review the proposal once more, making sure there were no errors before sending it to Queenie. But when she turned on herputer in excitement, she found that all the files on herputer had disappeared. To ensure that no mistakes were made, she even backed up her files on the cloud. Right then, even the files on the cloud were gone. Theputer, the USB drive, and the cloud storage were all empty. Everything she had saved was gone. She had clearly checked everything thoroughlyst night. Just then, the sound of high heels echoed through the air. ¡°You¡¯re quite early today, Whitney. How¡¯s your project proposaling along? We¡¯re about to start the all- staff meeting soon. You won¡¯t let us down, will you?¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Whitney looked up, meeting Lana¡¯s triumphant gaze. It must be her. Recently, Lana hasn¡¯t given me any trouble. She¡¯s probably just waiting for this day to see me make a fool of herself. If I mess up this time, I might even be asked to leave. Finishing the probation would be out of the question. Although she had her suspicions, Whitney, without any evidence, could only stare at Lana in silence. Lana chuckled lightly, putting on an innocent facade as she shrugged. ¡°All the best, Whitney, I believe you won¡¯t let me down.¡± After Lana swaggered away in her high heels, the tightly clenched fist of Whitney gradually loosened. She nced at the time. It was eight in the morning, while the meeting was at ten. There was simply no time to prepare another proposal. What should I do? I¡¯ve botched the first important task Ms. Zeller has ever entrusted to me. How could she ever trust me with another one? Forget it! Let¡¯s give it a shot! Whitney tried her best to stay calm, recalling the proposal she hadpletedst night. At half past nine, the rest of the logistics department was already preparing to attend the meeting. Only Whitney was still relentlessly typing away at her keyboard. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but she had no time to wipe them off. When Queenie stepped out of the office and saw Whitney still typing, she walked over. ¡°Where is your project proposal? Why haven¡¯t you sent it to me yet?¡± The sound of Queenie¡¯s voice echoed in Whitney¡¯s ears. With a slight tremble of her hand, she stood up instantly, like a child who had done something wrong. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Zeller. I¡¯ve messed up. Someone tampered with myputerst night and all the files are gone. I¡¯ve tried every possible way to recover them, but all attempts have failed.¡± At that point, she could only admit her mistake upfront. ming someone else would be an unwise decision. Queenie paused for a moment, patted Whitney¡¯s shoulder, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the meeting first.¡± Did Ms. Zeller just calmly asked me to attend the meeting? Whitney couldn¡¯t believe it. She had imagined all sorts of scenarios where the Queenie would lose his temper, but she never expected the Queenie to react that way. When Whitney hadn¡¯t caught up with her, Queenie paused and turned around. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing? Do you want to bete and get scolded again?¡± Given that Queenie had spoken, Whitney hurriedly followed. Everyst month of each quarter, Newton Group would hold a general staff meeting. The number of Newton Group employees attending the meeting was in the thousands at least. Charles sat on the stage, his deep blue eyes filled with indifference, asionally casting a casual nce at the employees attending the meeting. At nine-fifty-five, almost everyone attending the meeting had arrived. Isaac handed the tuned microphone to Charles. Everyone held their breath in anticipation, waiting for the CEO¡¯s speech. As Whitney looked at Charles, her eyes were filled with admiration. For a man as exceptional as him, his future other half would also be someone equally exceptional. ¨C Just as she was lost in thought, Charles¡¯s gaze suddenly turned toward her. Whitney instantly lowered her head, feeling a bit guilty about the project proposal. ¡°Look, Mr. Newton is looking this way!¡± Lana cried out in excitement. She immediately started to preen and pose, putting on a charming expression as if Charles was about to call out her name at any second. ¡°Next, each department will present their respective summaries and goals for the next quarter, starting with the finance department.¡± After Isaac finished speaking, the head of the finance department stood up, and a series of summaries and proposals from the finance department began to y on the big screen. ¡°The finance department¡­¡± The folks in the finance department were engaged in a lively discussion, but Whitney simply didn¡¯t have the interest to listen. What should I do when we get to their logistics departmentter? Should I admit my negligence in front of everyone? Lana noticed Whitney¡¯s worried expression and said insidiously, ¡°Whitney, you¡¯ve been visiting the Queenie¡¯s office quite frequentlytely. With all the attention you¡¯ve received from the Queenie, I¡¯m sure your proposal must be very impressive. I can hardly wait to see you present on behalf of the logistics department. If this proposal is sessful, you can rightfully stay in thepany. Let me congratte you in advance.¡± Although the words were congrattory, Whitney didn¡¯t see a hint of genuine joy on Lana¡¯s face. Instead, she thetter wore a look of schadenfreude. Isn¡¯t she just looking forward to seeing me make a fool of myself? I¡¯m not going to let her have her way. Amidst her anxiety, Whitney suddenly figured out her next move. One department after another presented their reports, and soon it was the turn of the logistics department. Charles¡¯s gaze fell on her once again, eagerly anticipating her proposal. As the head of the logistics department, Queenie bore full responsibility for any mistakes made within her department. She was the first to stand up. Bowing deeply toward Charles, she said, ¡°Mr. Newton, I am unable to submit the logistics department¡¯s proposal. I take full responsibility. Please punish me as you see fit.¡± Upon hearing that, Whitney¡¯s expression instantly turned frantic. She stood up and admitted, ¡°Mr. Newton, this has nothing to do with Ms. Zeller. It was my negligence for pot properly saving the project proposal which led to the loss of the document. If you want to punish someone, punish me.¡± It was my mistake to begin with. Ms. Zeller shouldn¡¯t have to take the me for me. As Queenie had helped her a lot during her time there, Whitney absolutely couldn¡¯t let the former be dragged down by the matter. Chapter 824 Charles Showed Preferential Treatment Chapter 824 Charles Showed Preferential Treatment Queenie hadn¡¯t expected Whitney to step forward. She¡¯s simply making things worse! She¡¯s just an insignificant intern who hasn¡¯t even been made a permanent employee and can¡¯t possibly bear the responsibility for this matter! She shook her head attter, signaling her to sit down. However, Whitney voluntarily walked out. Everyone in the conference room wore an expectant expression, eager to see what her n was. Whitney walked over to therge screen, picked up the corresponding remote control, and adjusted it to the darkest color. Then, she picked up a marker from the side and began to write swiftly on the whiteboard. After jotting down a few headings, she cleared her throat and said, ¡°The proposal was fully entrusted to me by Ms. Zeller. I¡¯m grateful for the opportunity she gave me toplete the proposal by myself. I take full responsibility for the failure to submit it this time. Ms. Zeller shouldn¡¯t have to take the me for me. I admit I have broken the trust she ced in me and also affected thepany. I¡¯m sorry.¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. As she spoke, she bowed deeply once again. Charles frowned and said nothing. Then, Whitney added, ¡°I¡¯m just an inconspicuous intern in thepany. I don¡¯t have an impressive educational background or extraordinary abilities, but I believe that as long as I have faith, I can achieve a lot. Throughout this period of study, I¡¯ve learned many things I never got to encounter in the past. This wouldn¡¯t have been possible without Ms. Zeller¡¯s guidance. I¡¯m very grateful to her. Unlike other departments in thepany, the logistics department is responsible for coordinating logistical support across all departments. As for the ns concerning the logistics department, these are my thoughts.¡± Watching her speak eloquently, Charles drummed his slender fingers on the table lightly in a rhythmic yet offbeat pattern. It¡¯s only been half a month, but her confidence has grown significantly. Her entire person exudes a different allure. He propped a hand against his chin, listening to what she had to say next. Whitney spoke with enthusiasm, and quite a few people agreed with her ideas. ¡°Manypanies still regard the logistics department as a jack-of-all-trades department presently, but that is not the case. If the board of directors is thepany¡¯s brain, then the logistics department is the- heart. It is responsible for regting the operations of all departments and ensuring that their daily needs. are met. I believe thepany should¡­¡± As she talked incessantly, Lana, who had initially nned to watch her make a fool of herself, clenched her teeth in anger. Why does this woman always steal the spotlight? She was frustrated, but there was nothing she could do about it. After finishing her speech, Whitney bowed to everyone and said, ¡°That concludes the entirety of my n. Additionally, I am willing to ept any punishment from thepany.¡± After those words were spoken, everyone turned their eyes to Charles, awaiting his response. The conference room that was capable of amodating over a thousand people was eerily silent. No one dared to make a sound. Whitney hung her head low, not daring to meet Charles¡¯ eyes. Her entire being was consumed by nervousness. It was only at that moment that she suddenly remembered Charles had never been too fond of her ostentatious behavior. Would he¡­ be upset that I publicly exined my proposal? She clenched her hands tightly as though waiting for her final judgment. The conference room fell into a prolonged silence before Charles finally spoke. ¡°Although Whitney is just an intern in thepany¡¯s logistics department, she has a thorough understanding of some concepts and is indeed a valuable asset. However¡­¡± At that, he suddenly stopped with his gaze fixed on her The word ¡°however¡± indicated a change of thought and made Whitney feel like she was facing formidable enemy, enemy, her palms sweaty with anxiety. Yet, she dared not casually specte about his thoughts, much less harbor a shred of wishful thinking. ¡°The loss of the proposal was indeed due to your carelessness. If you weren¡¯t in charge of something rted to the logistics department today, you would have caused a huge loss to thepany. If you want to pass your internship, think about how you can make up for the mistake you made.¡± After saying that, Charles stood up and walked out of the conference room. When he had left, those in the conference room finally dared to speak. They started discussing everything that had happened that day. Naturally, the most talked-about topic was the matter concerning Whitney. ¡°From what I gather, it seems that Mr. Newton intends to let her off the hook?¡± ¡°Considering Mr. Newton¡¯s personality, how could he possibly let a mere intern off the hook so easily? What is this intern¡¯s background?¡± ¡°Exactly! I¡¯ve been working at thepany for several years now. I remember that a long-time employee identally mixed up two sets of documents a couple of years ago, and the one that was supposed to be handed to our branch ended up in the hands of our coboration partner. Although it didn¡¯t cause any significant financial loss, Mr. Newton was furious. Not only did he fire that employee, but he also made it clear that anypany that dared hire him would be going against Newton Group. Isn¡¯t that essentially destroying his career?¡± The few people speaking nced at Whitney, who was still rooted to the spot. They couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°It looks like beauty is the real asset these days. Capabilities and suche secondary.¡± They further discussed some other matters before finally leaving the conference room. Their voices were not soft, and Whitney overheard the entirety of the conversation. Did Charles really show me preferential treatment? I thought it was my capabilities that earned his approval. Feeling a bit disheartened, Whitney lowered her eyes. She erased everything on the whiteboard and was nning to leave when Queenie called out to her. Corralling her thoughts, she headed toward Queenie. ¡°Ms. Zeller.¡± ¡°Can you redo the proposal within the day? I trust you have the capability to do so.¡± Watching her present her proposal just now, Queenie suddenly felt a sense of gratification. It was as though her own student had finally aplished something that satisfied everyone. Upon hearing that, Whitney immediately answered with a smile, ¡°Please rest assured that I will definitely aplish the task given, Ms. Zeller.¡± I¡¯ve initially braced myself for getting fired. But given the current oue, I must work even harder to repay Ms. Zeller and¡­ Charles. Glimpsing the joy in her eyes, Queenie patted her on the shoulder and urged, ¡°Keep up the good work, girl. Only when you¡¯re capable enough can you shut other people up.¡± ¡°Okay. I will not let you down, Ms. Zeller.¡± When Whitney walked past Lana on her way back to her cubicle, she halted and murmured, ¡°Even though I have no evidence, feel free to use any tricks you have up your sleeve.¡± Ms. Zeller is right. Only when I¡¯m capable enough can I shut those who look down upon me up. She has always boasted about her exceptional capabilities, no? Well, let¡¯s see who the real winner is in the end. After she had left, Lana remained in a daze for a long time. Just now¡­ why did I sense a murderous intent in her eyes? Her gaze was so terrifying that it struck a hint of fear inta me for a split second. ¡°Lana? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing Lana lost in thought, Sissi couldn¡¯t help but knock on her desk. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing. Just go about your work.¡± Throughout the afternoon, Whitney¡¯s fingers flew across the keyboard ceaselessly. She typed and drew, thoroughly engrossed in her work. With the benefit of her previous experience, she was able toplete the proposal more than twice as fast as usual and even incorporated some of her own new ideas. After spending the entire afternoon, she finallypleted the new proposal before clocking out. It was even moreprehensive and detailed than the previous one. To prevent a recurrence of the previous incident, she sent a copy directly to Queenie and Charles after she had finished it. She had put a lot of effort into the new version of the proposal, and she hoped that he would be satisfied with it. Chapter 825 Teaching Her To Create A Proposal Chapter 825 Teaching Her To Create A Proposal By the time Whitney returned to the Newton residence from work, Charles had already arrived, sitting on the sofa and discussing matters rted to the Newton Group with the family. Seeing her return, Jasmine took the initiative to approach her. ¡°Whitney, why didn¡¯t youre back with Charles today?¡± All eyes from the Newton family turned toward her in unison. Whitney nced at Charles, walked over to his side, and said with a smile, ¡°I Kot held up today after work chatting with Ms. Zeller. Charles has been so busytely, and as his wife, how could I not worry about him? So, I asked him toe home first.¡± As she spoke, Charles casually ced her hand in his own withnguid ease. ¡°Of course my wife cares about me. You guys carry on with your chat. My wife and I need to go upstairs to discuss some matters.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Charles took her hand and led her upstairs. The rest of the Newton family couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, teasing them a bit under their breath. Even when they arrived at the turn of the staircase, Charles showed no signs of letting go of her. Feeling the warmth of his palm, Whitney couldn¡¯t help but break out in sweat. Upon entering the study, Charles switched on hisputer, his voice indifferent as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve seen the proposal you submitted. It¡¯s too naive.¡± Na?ve¡­ The destructive power of the word was immense for Whitney. She had poured so much effort into the new version, yet it still failed to catch his eye. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Whitney replied softly. Charles nced over at her, and she didn¡¯t dare to say anything more. ¡°You don¡¯t know how to do it, yet you don¡¯t know how to ask too?¡± With a swift motion of his hands, he tapped a few keys on the keyboard, and several documents popped up on theputer screen. They were titled: XX Project n, XX Management n, and XX Summary. Every document ended with Charles¡¯s personal signature. This is¡­ the previous nning proposal of Newton Group! These are all secrets of the Newton Group. Why is he pulling out these documents now? Whitney waspletely bewildered. The next second, Charles said, ¡°Take a good look at. these documents. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, ask me.¡± While speaking, Charles gently pressed down on Whitney¡¯s shoulder, guiding her to sit in front of the computer. He then settled himself on the small sofa opposite her, engrossed in his phone. Looking at the documents in front of her, Whitney was taken aback. Is he trying to teach me how to create a proposal? If I didn¡¯t misunderstand him, that¡¯s what he meant. right? Feeling an intense gaze fixed on her from behind, Whitney¡¯s heartbeat suddenly quickened. After taking a few deep breaths, she managed to refocus her thoughts back on theputer. After about half an hour, Whitney finally went through the ns in front of her and understood why Charles called her naive. Although her n seemed perfect on the surface, there were still many details that needed to be addressed. A n should always be concise and to the point. In that regard, she fell far short. From the nearby, the sound of flipping pages could be heard. Maeve subtly turned her head, only to find Charles engrossed in a book about finance and economics. She had some knowledge about that book before. It was written entirely in a foreign.nguage. Because the subject was too niche, there was no trantion avable worldwide. Someone as capable as him should have no problem reading it, right? The more she read, the more she realized the vast difference between her abilities and his. Silently, she withdrew her gaze and refocused on the documents in front of her. After a long while, Whitney felt soreness in her back. Just as she was about to stretch, a figure. appeared beside her. As the scent that was uniquely Charles¡¯s drew closer, she held her breath instantly. He slowly bent over, lightly clicking the mouse, and annotating on the document. He directly highlighted the key points within, his pleasant voice resonating in the background. ¡°All these proposals have one thing inmon. This part, this part, and this part all employ the same method¡­¡± His masculine fingers danced across theputer screen. After a while, he finally stopped pointing and asked, ¡°Do you understand?¡± His sudden question caught Whitney off guard, making her incredibly nervous. She stammered, ¡°L¡­ I¡­ There¡¯s something I still don¡¯t quite get.¡± She casually made up an excuse to strike up a conversation, and to her surprise, Charles unexpectedly answered her in great detail. Something¡¯s not right. Something is really not right. At the meeting today. I was the one who messed things up, so why did Charles be even more gentle toward me now that we¡¯re home? Questions began to pop up in Whitney¡¯s mind, but she didn¡¯t dare to voice them. After drafting a simple project proposal on theputer, Charles noticed that her mind was not on it. Frustrated, he lightly tapped her on the head. ¡°As a reward for teaching you how to write a proposal, apany me to a dinner. party tomorrow as my femalepanion.¡± ¡°Femalepanion?¡± Charles raised an eyebrow arrogantly, ¡°Do you have a problem?¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± Whitney knew she had no right to refuse, as she was now just his wife by agreement. Before going to bed, Charles sent her the guest list for the business g on her phone, asking her to remember some of the names. Arge conglomerate like Harris Group would undoubtedly be on the guest list for the g. Sure enough, Whitney spotted Gwendolyn¡¯s name at a nce, written right below Charles¡¯ name. The next day, after a full day¡¯s work, Whitney was called by Isaac to Charles¡¯s office. Without uttering another word, Charles took Whitney away from the office. Throughout the journey, he remained silent. The tactful Whitney didn¡¯t probe. Instead, she quietly waited for his instructions. The luxury car continued its journey into the parking lot of a high-end shopping district. Only then did Charles nce at her indifferently, uttering his first words of the day. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Whitney obediently unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door. The two of them, one leading and the other following, arrived at a shop specializing in tailored outfits. The sales assistant hurried over, speaking with utmost respect, ¡°Mr. Newton, Bob is already waiting for you inside. The suit and gown you ordered are ready for your inspection.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± As Charles straightened his sleeves and strode inside, Whitney quickly followed. The storefront was quiterge, and its interior decoration was even more luxurious. The chandelier overhead was adorned with crystals, and the furnishings inside gave off a royal vibe. As soon as he entered the shop, a man with long blond hair immediately came over and warmly embraced Charles. ¡°Charlie, it¡¯s been a while. I¡¯ve been waiting for you for quite some time.¡± Charles shed a rare smile as he patted the man¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°It¡¯s my honor to have the famous Bob design outfits for me.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, Bob btedly noticed Whitney standing next to Charles and took the initiative to strike up a conversation. ¡°Pretty miss, you must be Charlie¡¯spanion. You¡¯re truly stunning. I believe that dress will perfectly entuate your figure.¡± Whitney responded with a polite smile. When Bob moved forward to cheek kiss her, Whitney took two steps back, clearly indicating her refusal. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Noticing her subtle reaction, Charles¡¯s lips curled up slightly, approving of how self- conscious she was. At that moment, Bob snapped his fingers, and several women dressed in maid outfits came out, pushing tworge wooden boxes covered with gauze. Bob nced at Charles and said, ¡°Charlie, this is a suit I¡¯ve had tailored just for you. I believe. you¡¯ll definitely like it.¡± Swish. The gauze on the wooden box was pulled off, and the box was opened subsequently. As the haute couture outfit inside was revealed, everyone present let out a gasp of astonishment. Chapter 826 The Banquet Chapter 826 The Banquet Inside the wooden box were two matching suits and dresses. The overall color was silver, with a golden rose pattern embroidered next to thepels of the men¡¯s suit jacket, and the buttons were in the shape of roses, made from crystal. The material of the suits emitted a faint silver glow under the lighting, and the human mannequin was also wearing a pair of golden-rimmed sses, adding to the texture of the outfit. Bob introduced, ¡°Charlie, this suit is tailor-made for you. In my eyes, you¡¯re like a thorny rose-tempting but dangerous. It makes people can¡¯t help but want to get close to you. Have you seen the rose on the cor? It¡¯s embroidered with golden thread on silver, and the overall material of this suit is top-notch.¡± Amused by Bob¡¯s description, Whitney stifled a smile. It was her first time hearing a man beingpared to a rose. However, this metaphor actually suited Charles quite well. He was indeed a thorny rose-a lethal weapon hidden in in sight. Upon seeing the smile on Whitney¡¯s face, Charles shot her a cold nce, causing her smile to vanish instantly. Bob continued to focus on introducing another piece of clothing, a bareback fishtail gown. The waist of the gown was woven with silver threads into a rose, and the cor button was adorned with a gemstone. The gown itself was also adorned with gemstones, emitting a sparkling light. ¡°I spent half a yearpleting this dress. If it weren¡¯t for your request, I wouldn¡¯t have entrusted my hard work to you,¡± Bob said, looking at the dress with eyes full of reluctance and sighing in sorrow. Charles unexpectedly poured cold water on the situation, saying, ¡°Isn¡¯t it that you were tempted by the price I offered for these clothes, so you decided to take them out?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. This guy was clearly trying to act all innocent after getting a good deal. Bob, having his intentions exposed, chuckled and had his staff bring out the outfits, saying, ¡°Now these two pieces are yours.¡± Charles nodded, and Isaac, who had been waiting outside with his team, came in to pack up the clothes. Leaving the shopping district once again, the luxury car eventually stopped at a vi. Charles walked inside, and Whitney quickly followed suit. It was currently half past six in the evening. The business party was scheduled for half eight, leaving two hours for them to prepare. This vi was Charles¡¯s private property. Whenever he didn¡¯t return to the Newton family, het would stay here. The interior design of the vi was predominantly in shades of grey and white, giving off at strong sense of detachment as soon as one entered. Charles sat on the sofa, with the two sets of clothes from earlier ced in front of him. Apart from Isaac, there were also several unfamiliar faces standing before him. Whitney approached, and Charles gave Isaac a subtle look. Isaac immediately said to the neers. ¡°Take Ms. Mellor to try on the outfits.¡± In the presence of strangers, she was merely Charles¡¯ femalepanion, not his wife, so Isaac adjusted his form of address ordingly. Subsequently, Whitney followed the group into another room, allowing them to help her on the clothes. ¡°Wow, Miss, this gown seems to have been tailor-made just for you. Look at your figure! It¡¯s absolutely perfect,¡± one of the attendants eximed. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Whitney was momentarily stunned. Was that really her in the mirror? Her golden hair cascaded down freely, and her fishtail dress perfectly showcased her figure, entuating her curves. Her face was untouched by makeup, yet it exuded a unique charm. ¡°Please wait a moment while we do your makeup.¡± Whitney was pulled to sit in front of the vanity, where makeup was applied to her face. Whitney¡¯s skin was naturally fair and smooth. As the makeup artist worked on her, she couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Your natural beauty is simply stunning. If you¡¯re not breathtaking after I¡¯ve done your makeup, then I¡¯ve seriously failed at my job.¡± The makeup artist had just returned from abroad and was still a bit awkward when speakin Chanaran. Whitney couldn¡¯t help but stifle augh. After a round of makeup, Whitney finally emerged from the room. She was wearing seven-centimeter high-heeled shoes, which made her a bit unsteady on her feet. She had to take small, cautious steps. When she came out of the room, the several bodyguards outside, including Isaac, were all wide-eyed. Her golden hair was curled into gentle waves, elegantly draped over her left shoulder. The light pink lipstick and curled eyshes made her look even more like a delicate Barbie doll. Charles put down his financial magazine, and in his usually calm and collected azure eyes, there was a rare sh of astonishment. Noticing the men who had their eyes glued to Whitney, Charles tossed his magazine aside, and the noise recaptured Isaac¡¯s attention. He hurriedly ushered the others out of the room. In the living room, Whitney stood nervously in front of Charles. His gazeposed, revealing little emotion. After a long silence, during which he didn¡¯t utter a word, Whitney couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is it not nice?¡± At her words, Charles cleared his throat and awkwardly touched the tip of his nose. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. Get ready; we¡¯re heading to the venue.¡± With that, he got up and went to change into his suit, walking away without looking back. Watching his retreating figure, Whitney felt somewhat disheartened. She looked down at her gown, adorned with sparkling diamonds. Despite her grand attire for the day, all she got was a ¡°not bad¡± from him. Concealing her emotions, she carefully lifted her gown and walked out. The two of them sat together in a car, yet there was little conversation. Charles continued to readpany news on his tablet, and Whitney didn¡¯t dare to disturb him. Her gaze asionally fell on him. In his designer suit, he had also had a simple makeover. looking like royalty¡¯s prince- aloof, noble, and untouchable, They arrived at the venue for the evening quickly, and the parking lot was filled with various. luxury cars. Charles exited the car and extended his hand toward the vehicle. Whitney lightly ced her hand on his, and the two of them entered the venue together. Inside the banquet hall, soft music filled the air as waitstaff moved about, attending to the needs of the business elites. It was Whitney¡¯s first time attending such arge-scale event, and she was extremely nervous. Holding his hand, her fingertips were stiff. Charles could sense her nervousness and gently patted the back of her hand, whispering in her ear, ¡°Rx, I¡¯ve got everything under control.¡± His voice seemed to carry a certain magic, and Whitney instantly felt more secure. As he greeted others, she stood by his side with a smile as though she was his charming essory. ¡°Mr. Newton, it¡¯s been a while. Newton Group is doing exceptionally well these days. I hope we can take care of each other in the future,¡± a man said, raising his ss to Charles. Charles clinked sses with the man and replied politely, ¡°Mr. Lowe, Newton Group and Lowe Group have had business dealings all this time. Taking care of each other is only right.¡± The man referred to as Mr. Lowe, Tristan Lowe, soon noticed Charles¡¯spanion and gave Whitney an appraising look from head to toe. ¡°Mr. Newton, even yourpanion is so stunning. It¡¯s truly enviable.¡± His eyes lingered on her, almost as if he were examining a piece of merchandise, making Whitney feel ufortable. Chapter 827 He Is Really Gentle Tonight Chapter 827 He Is Really Gentle Tonight Whitney was inherently timid, and with that being her first time attending such an event, she was simply out of her element. Unable to help herself, her hand on Charles¡¯ arm tightened. However, out of basic courtesy, she still inclined her head at Tristan with a smile. Seeing the man¡¯s gaze lingering on Whitney, Charles wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. His indifferent voice carried an innate sense of authority. ¡°Mr. Lowe, it seems our companies are notpatible. Let¡¯s not waste each other¡¯s time in the future. Goodbye.¡± After he had said that, he took Whitney to another part of the banquet hall and called Isaac. ¡°Terminate all coboration with Lowe Group.¡± Terminate all coboration? Hearing that, Whitney was utterly shocked. Is he terminating all coboration with Lowe Group just because Mr. Lowe looked at mesciviously? But to my knowledge, Lowe Group and Newton Group have always been on good terms. Wouldn¡¯t such a sudden decision bring losses to thepany? She surreptitiously lifted her head and nced at Charles, calling out tentatively. ¡°Mr. Newton¡­¡± He lowered his gaze to meet hers, his cold eyes never once softening. Seemingly noticing her dilemma and confusion, Charles patiently exined for once. ¡°Today, you are mypanion. The fact that the man dared to look at you in such a manner in front of me makes it clear that he doesn¡¯t respect me. Such a person is not worthy of coborating with Newton Group.¡± In other words, he was merely using Tristan to establish his dominance. Even so, warmth suffused Whitney. She gave a slight nod and whispered, ¡°Thank you, Charles.¡± This time, she didn¡¯t address him as Mr. Newton but ced them on equal footing as friends. Upon hearing the change in address, Charles lifted his gaze but said nothing. He continued to lead her further in. The music at the charity g suddenly changed, transitioning from slow and rxed to sultry dance music. Whitney¡¯s body stiffened at once. There would be dancing at such gs usually, but having grown up in the mountains, she was wholly clueless about the dance steps. She unconsciously tightened her grip on his arm. Her nervousness was clearly evident. Charles knew that it was her first time attending such at charity g, and there were many etiquettes she didn¡¯t understand. He patiently exined them to her without showing any signs of impatience, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Those words seemed to be a soothing balm, easing Whitney¡¯s tension and unease. As they walked in further, increasingly more people there greeted and talked with Charles. Aware of his business standing, she didn¡¯t want to be a constant hindrance by his side. Thus, she took the initiative to suggest, ¡°Um¡­ I think I¡¯ll wait for you at the side. You get busy with your work first.¡± She knew all too well that such arge-scale business g was generally the best opportunity. for business elites to exchange information and coborate. But she didn¡¯t quite understand what they were saying, so it might be better to step aside to avoid causing him any trouble. Charles nodded. ¡°Wait here for me. Don¡¯t wander around.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Newton.¡± Whitney shed him a sweet smile. Charles turned around and left. Phew! Only when his figure gradually receded into the distance did Whitney dare heave a long sigh of relief. She rotated her ankles that ached from wearing high heels, nning to find a ce to lean. and rest. While she was looking around, a man holding a wine ss approached her. ¡°Can I assist you with anything, pretty?¡± His voice was pleasing to the ear, and Whitney looked up at him. He also had blond hair and emerald eyes, evident that he wasn¡¯t from Chanaca. However, Whitney did not let her guard down despite their simr appearances. She demurred smilingly. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, but I¡¯m waiting for someone.¡± Having said that, she took a few steps away, putting some distance between them. Everyone attending the g was apanied by either a female or malepanion. The man looked like a yboy, and she didn¡¯t want to invite trouble.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Despite being rejected, the man didn¡¯t leave. Instead, he went after her and initiated at conversation. ¡°I wonder which lucky gentleman has such a beautifuldy waiting for him. Waiting is boring. Since fate had us meet, why don¡¯t we share a drink? We can be friends.¡± Subsequently, he hollered, ¡°Waiter.¡± He snapped his fingers. Immediately, a waiter came over with a ss of wine and handed it to him. He was so enthusiastic that it was hard for Whitney to refuse him, so she clinked sses with him. After taking a sip, she ced her wine ss on the long table and said, ¡°I have something to attend to, so I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± She tried to leave as though fleeing, but unexpectedly, the man grabbed her wrist as she whirled around. Taken aback, she nced at Charles, who was conversing with a business partner in the distance, and warned in a low voice, ¡°Please let go of me, mister! Otherwise, I¡¯ll call for help!¡± The man forcefully pulled her toward him, closing the distance between them. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a pity to keep waiting for someone in such a wonderful atmosphere, pretty? Our fortuitous meeting amidst the crowd is God-given fate. Why should we let it go to waste?¡± The man¡¯s gaze wandered up and down her body. Such a look made Whitney feel beyond ufortable. ¡°Please have some respect, mister!¡± She looked in Charles¡¯ direction for help. s, people kept walking up to him, blocking her line of sight. Just then, the lights at the charity g suddenly dimmed. Amidst the music, people around them rushed to the dance floor and began to dance. ¡°May I have the honor of this dance, miss?¡± Although it was a question, the man continued holding onto her wrist, not allowing her any room to decline. ¡°Take your hand off her.¡± A pair of massive hands suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind, followed by a voice filled with warning. ¡°Whichpany are you from that you dared touch my femalepanion? Do you want to be thrown out of Salinsburgh?¡± A familiar feeling washed over Whitney, and she instinctively leaned toward Charles. ¡°My apologies. I mistook her for someone else and meant no offense to thisdy¡± Charles¡± imposing presence intimidated the man from taking things further, leaving him no choice but to leave resentfully. That was Whitney¡¯s first time attending such an event, the first time she was invited to dance at a charity g, and in a manner that made it impossible to refuse to boot. Sweat trickled down Whitney¡¯s face. Her eyes were teary, rendering her like a frightened deer, so pitiful that one couldn¡¯t help feeling sorry for her. Her palms were slick with sweat, and she wanted to pull her hand away, but Charles only gripped it tighter. He raised a hand and rested it on her waist before cing her other hand on his shoulder. gently shifting his feet. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll be by your side.¡± The lights at the g were soft, casting a gentle glow on his face. His deep blue eyes were incredibly tender and patient. In a daze, Whitney thought she was looking at an angel. Hisrge hand was very warm, and it gradually dispelled the fear within her. Knowing that she couldn¡¯t dance, Charles patiently taught her, speaking into her ear softly. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t tell whether it was reality or a dream. Her eyes unfocused, she lifted her head, only to meet his gaze as he looked down at her. Their eyes locked, and her heart involuntarily skipped a beat. He¡¯s¡­ really gentle tonight. Chapter 828 Beyond Resenting. Chapter 828 Beyond Resenting. Whitney¡¯s heart raced as she was lost in the depths of his profound blue eyes. ¡°Did that person hurt you just now?¡± Upon hearing his concern, a warm sensation surged through her heart. She shook her head. ¡°No.¡± As the music reached its climax, their dance steps quickened. The two of them began to dance in the center of the dance floor, and the people around them tactfully made room. When the music stopped, everyone ceased dancing. Whitney was in Charles¡¯ arms, feeling his heartbeat. The strong and powerful sound provided her a sense offort. After the dance, the pain in her ankle intensified. Whitney said aloud, ¡°Mr. Newton, I need to use the restroom.¡± While they were dancing earlier, Whitney was holding it in. She needed to go to the restroom to put a damp paper towel on it, lest she embarrass herselfter. The moment she turned around, her wrist was grabbed. Whitney looked at him, puzzled. ¡°From now on, there¡¯s no need to address me as Mr. Newton outside the office.¡± Charles felt somewhat annoyed with the manner of address. He didn¡¯t know why, but he didn¡¯t want her to call him that. It seemed to subconsciously increase the distance between. them. Whitney chuckled lightly, nodding her head as she replied, ¡°I understand, Charles.¡± Charles let go of her hand, and only then did she go to the restroom. To avoid dirtying her gown, Whitney carefully lifted her skirt as she slowly made her way to the restroom. High heels might make one look beautiful, but there was an immense price to pay. When she took off her shoes, she noticed that blisters had formed on her ankles. With a gentle touch, a piercing pain was felt immediately. Gasp! Bearing the pain, she pricked open the blister and took out a band-aid from her bag to cover it. She felt thankful for her habit of always carrying band-aids with her. It finally came in handy. that day. Once she was done, Whitney emerged from the bathroom. With the wound now covered, the pain was just about bearable. Recalling his recent tenderness, Whitney joyfully returned to the banquet hall. Unexpectedly, she saw Charles talking to Gwendolyn. The smile on his face was genuine, and his joy was evident. He seemed to be in apletely different mood from when he was with her. The joy and affection had clearly came from the heart. While talking to Gwendolyn, Charles had a sparkle in his eyes. The joy that filled Whitney¡¯s heart just moments ago vanished in an instant, reced by boundless despair. The moment they just spent dancing together felt as if it was stolen. It had be something that couldn¡¯t see the light of day, only to be kept hidden away in the heart. Seeing the two engrossed in their conversation, Whitney¡¯s spirits fell. She decided not to interrupt and risk embarrassment. Silently, she turned around to leave, nning to return to her car and wait until the party was over. After discussing work-rted matters with Charles, Gwendolyn couldn¡¯t help but bring up Whitney again. ¡°Ms. Mel Mellor is quite impressive, and Zendy really likes her too. You better not miss out on her again.¡± Charles shed a wry smile, shaking his head. ¡°Gwen, you know me¡­¡± How could I so easily shift my feelings onto someone else? Even though he didn¡¯t resent Whitney, that was the extent of his feelings toward her for now. They were in a cooperative and contractual rtionship. Not nning on discussing the matter further with him, Gwendolyn changed the subject: ¡°Benny¡¯s health has improved a lot recently. I¡¯ve added some outdoor activities for him.¡± The mention of Benedict triggered a glint of guilt in Charles¡¯s eyes as he lowered his gaze. ¡°Gwen, the renovation for the aquarium that Benny requested is too big and difficult. I¡¯m still clueless about it. Is Benny mad at me?¡± ¡°No, he was giving you a hard time on purpose, knowing it would be difficult for you to aplish. Don¡¯t worry. He wasn¡¯t really serious. Just do what you can.¡± Cedrick, who was nearby, waved at Gwendolyn. At his cue, Gwendolyn immediately bid. farewell to Charles and cheerfully walked toward Cedrick and naturally threaded her arm through her husband¡¯s. As Charles watched the two figures leave, his blue eyes dimmed, his gaze evasive. After a moment, he remembered that Whitney had just mentioned that she was going to the restroom. It¡¯s been so long, and she still hasn¡¯t returned. Thinking of Whitney, Charles scanned the crowd but failed to spot her, causing him to frown. Just then, his phone vibrated. It was a message from Whitney: I¡¯ll wait for you in the car. My ankle hurts too much. Upon seeing the message, Charles¡¯s face regained itsposure. He then left the banquet hall. Once back in the car, he showed his concern by asking, ¡°How¡¯s your ankle?¡± Whitney set aside her thoughts and responded calmly, ¡°I¡¯m not really used to wearing high heels. They¡¯ve rubbed my heels raw, but it¡¯s fine, I¡¯ve already taken care of it.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Charles didn¡¯t say anything else, nor did he notice the subtle change in Whitney¡¯s mood. He just drove away. The next day, Whitney went to work as usual and redid the proposal, sending a new copy to Queenie. The injury on Whitney¡¯s ankle made her limp as she walked. On her way to the pantry, she ran into Lana and her gang. Sissi blocked her path and began to make sarcastic remarks. ¡°Well, well, isn¡¯t this the famous intern who stole the show at the meeting? How did you end up limping? Did you do something you shouldn¡¯t have, and this is youreuppance?¡± With a cold gaze, Whitney looked at the group and said, ¡°We all know what you¡¯ve done. Do I really need to spell it out for you?¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk, are you threatening us? Don¡¯t get too cocky¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. With a swift motion, Whitney pushed Sissi, who was blocking her way, and turned back to warn her, ¡°If you y with fire, you¡¯ll get burned.¡± Having said that, she hopped forward, not caring about the expressions of the group behind her. The incident served as a lesson for her, reminding her that in all matters, thorough nning and preparation were essential to ensure nothing goes awry. After the lunch break, Charles called Isaac into his office. Isaac¡¯s face was pale, his expression haggard. ¡°Mr. Newton, you wanted to see me?¡± ncing at him from the corner of his eye, Charles casually tossed a stack of documents. over and instructed, ¡°Take these files to Whitney. Have her summarize them and send the report to my email.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Newton.¡± Isaac, holding the documents, went to see Whitney. After he called her out, the staff from the logistics department, especially Sissi and her gang, put on nosey expressions. ¡°See, didn¡¯t I tell you? Whitney must have seduced Mr. Turner in private. Otherwise, why would both Ms. Zeller and Mr. Newton treat her so well?¡± ¡°Given Mr. Newton¡¯s temperament, any ordinary person who made such a big mistake would have been fired from thepany by now. Yet, she¡¯s still allowed to stay.¡± Lana chimed in from the side, ¡°All of us work in the same department, doing the same tasks. Why should she receive special treatment? This is too unfair. Sissi, you¡¯ve been in our department the longest. Why don¡¯t you be the judge? Are we really victimizing her?¡± Everyone else concurred and added, ¡°Such malpractices should be eradicated from our department. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t it corrupt our team culture?¡± Sissi was a seasoned veteran in thepany, so she could naturally read between the lines of what her colleagues were saying. Compared to a junior intern like Whitney, she didn¡¯t want to offend the full-time employees. of the company. So, she went along with their consensus. ¡°Before Whitney arrived, our department culture was never like this. If everyone starts using their looks to get ahead, I¡¯m afraid no one will take their work seriously anymore.¡± A triumphant glint shed in Lana¡¯s eyes. Now that Whitney had incurred the wrath of the crowd, she wondered how long Whitney could possibly continue to stay in thepany. Chapter 829 Rumors Chapter 829 Rumors At this moment, Isaac led Whitney to the quiet, deserted end of the corridor before handing over the documents he was holding. ¡°This is the document Mr. Newton requested I deliver to you. He asks that youpose a summary and send it to his email before the end of your workday.¡± Feeling the weight of the files in her hand, Whitney nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll start on it. But, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± She noticed the pallor on Isaac¡¯s face. Isaac appeared somewhat awkward, cleared his throat to conceal his embarrassment, and replied, ¡°I caught a coldst night¡­ If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on my way now.¡± As she watched him hastily depart, a flurry of questions filled Whitney¡¯s mind. What¡¯s going on? Unaware that she had be the subject of conversation throughout the entire logistics department, Whitney remained puzzled by Isaac¡¯s situation. Upon her return to her desk, she couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that her colleagues in the logistics department were casting peculiar nces in her direction. Nheless, Whitney had no intention of getting drawn into the office gossip. Since her arrival in the logistics department, it had seemed like the idle chatter never ceased. She decided to concentrate on completing the task Charles had assigned her first. As the afternoon wore on, she ultimatelypleted the reading of all the documents. She then organized them into a single file and promptly sent it off to Charles. Several days passed in this manner, and each day, Charles would provide new documents for her to organize, with Isaac handling their delivery. Whitney gradually gained more experience in her job, and rumors slowly began circting within the company. One day, Whitney felt a slight difort in her stomach and hastily rushed to the bathroom. She had barely settled into a restroom stall when, without dy, a few discordant voices echoed from outside the door. ¡°You¡¯ve all probably heard the recent rumors going around thepany, haven¡¯t you? That intern from the logistics department is truly remarkable. She hasn¡¯t been here for long, and yet she¡¯s already made an impression on Mr. Turner.¡± ¡°Exactly. Mr. Turner is a well-respected figure, one of Mr. Newton¡¯s top assistants. With his support, she can certainly hold her head high.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°If I recall correctly, she¡¯s a pretty girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯s quite charming, but who would¡¯ve guessed she¡¯d be such a despicable person? It¡¯s indeed a sign of the times. If you¡¯re good-looking, you can do anything you want.¡± ¡°All right, that¡¯s enough. Remember, walls have ears. Some things are better kept to ourselves. If this reaches Mr. Newton¡¯s ears, we could be in serious trouble.¡± They continued their conversation as they left. After a considerable amount of time, Whitney finally emerged from the bathroom, her face wearing a gloomy expression. I can¡¯t believe the rumors in thepany have already spread to this extent. She had been preupied with the tasks Charles had assigned to her recently, leaving her with little time to delve into office gossip. However, she never expected the situation to escte to the point where even employees from other departments were discussing it. Upon returning to the logistics department, Whitney was promptly summoned by the department chief. Queenie closed the office door and lowered the blinds, staring at Whitney with a serious expression. ¡°You must have heard the recent rumors circting throughout thepany, haven¡¯t you? Are you aware of the potential consequences these rumors could have on you? Have you thought about the consequences?¡± Queenie had climbed her way up from the bottom, experiencing numerous situations, both positive and negative. She didn¡¯t want Whitney to be embroiled in these trivial conflicts. and firmly believed that, given Whitney¡¯s abilities, her potential exceeded what she could. currently achieve. Meeting Queenie¡¯s inquisitive gaze. Whitney nodded. ¡°I understand, Ms. Zeller.¡± ¡°Since you understand, why did you allow these people to exaggerate and embellish the rumor? You still have half a month left in your internship. Do you really wish to continue working at thispany or not?¡± Queenie expressed her frustration and disappointment. Initially, Queenie had assumed that Whitney had intentionally allowed this matter to escte to such an extent. With a wry smile, Whitney shrugged helplessly. ¡°Ms. Zeller, Mr. Turner and I are just regr colleagues. But do you think anyone will believe that?¡± After all, it¡¯s easy to find a stick to beat a dog with. Since exnations were proving to be my vain, she chose not to dwell on these futile matters. Whitney spoke with a calm andposed expression, her conscience clear. ¡°Okay, you may go now. Try to minimize your interactions with Mr. Turner for work matters recently to avoid giving people more to talk about,¡± Queenie advised. After thanking Queenie, Whitney left the office. Just then. Isaac approached, holding a stack of documents, likely new tasks assigned by Charles. Whitney made her way over to Isaac resignedly. As the days passed, it was soon time for Whitney¡¯s internship evaluation. Sessfully passing this assessment would allow her to continue working at Newton Group as she desired. Queenie served as the evaluator that day, joined by leaders from other departments. Coincidentally, Isaac was also in attendance. The written examination materials were given to Whitney. Under the watchful gaze of the four evaluators, she began to provide her answers. Twenty minutester, Whitney submitted her test paper, exhaling a long sigh of relief. Fortunately, she had made a strategic move the previous night, thoroughly acquainting herself with all thepany¡¯s details, which had perfectly prepared her for the questions. posed today. Following the written exam, the interview phasemenced. Each of the four evaluators posed challenging questions, and Whitney responded to them all with ease. In the top-floor office of Newton Group, Charles gazed at the monitor, watching the confident woman on the screen, unable to contain a faint smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. During this period, Whitney has grown significantly. From a novice junior employee, she has transformed into a confident andpetent professional. It appears that she is more than capable of securing her ce in thepany. After Whitney answered everyone¡¯s questions, Isaac stood up, extended his hand toward her, and said with a smile, ¡°Congrattions on bing a member of Newton Group. Wee to our team. I hope we can coborate to generate even greater benefits for thepany.¡± I¡¯ve passed! A joyful expression spread across Whitney¡¯s face, her voice filled with excitement. ¡°I will certainly put in my best effort! Thank you for this opportunity!¡± Even though she was fully prepared for this moment, she couldn¡¯t help but feel excited and thrilled when it finally arrived. Exiting the meeting room, Whitney took the initiative to halt Queenie and offered her a deep bow as a sign of respect and gratitude. ¡°Ms. Zeller, I want to express my gratitude for your guidance during this period. Without your step-by-step assistance, I wouldn¡¯t havepleted my internship so sessfully.¡± In response, Queenie patted her on the shoulder and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank anyone. Your sessfulpletion of your internship is a result of your own efforts. Now that you¡¯re a full-fledged employee of thepany, keep up the good work.¡± ¡°Yes. Ms. Zeller! I will definitely work hard!¡± From a distance, Lana observed the joy on Whitney¡¯s face, and it filled her with resentment, causing her to grit her teeth. I never expected that despite everything I did behind the scenes, this woman still managed to sessfullyplete her probationary period. No, I can¡¯t stop here. The situation hasn¡¯t escted enough. I need to ensure that Whitney can no longer hold her head high in thepany. Only then can Ipletely shatter her spirit and pride. Making up her mind, Lana stomped off into the distance. As a full-time employee, Whitney¡¯s entire demeanor grew more radiant. She arrived at work. each day in high spirits. Fortune and misfortune are often intertwined. When one is experiencing extreme sess. cmity often follows closely behind. News about her and Isaac was buzzing all around and also reached Charles¡¯ ears. Chapter 830 Never Seeks His Help Chapter 830 Never Seeks His Help Inside the CEO¡¯s office, Charles wore an extremely grim expression as he attentively listened to the report from the female employee standing before him. ¡°Recently, a rumor has been circting within thepany. It suggests that Whitney from the logistics department passed her job assessment smoothly due to her rtionship with Mr. Turner. Furthermore, several staff members in the logistics department have witnessed Whitney and Mr. Turner spending time together, conversing andughing. asionally. their behavior appears intimate¡­ Just two days ago, someone even witnessed Mr. Turner pulling Whitney¡­¡± Sensing the palpable tension in the room, the employee¡¯s voice gradually grew softer. ¡°Continue.¡± Charles¡¯ voice remained calm andposed as he reclinedzily in his chair, holding a cigarette between his fingertips. Concealed by the hazy smoke, his expression became inscrutable. Someone saw Mr. Turner pulling Whitney closer by the waist, and Whitney¡¯s face flushed. with shyness. She then gently pushed him away. And then¡­¡± In the next instant, a porcin ashtray whizzed past, narrowly missing the employee¡¯s head at a startling speed. If it had been slightly off-target, her face would have been injured. The ashtray fell to the floor, shattering into pieces with a sharp, crisp sound. The employee didn¡¯t dare to make a sound, fearing she might be embroiled in her boss¡± She was quite unfortunate. Just as she was discussing this matter with her colleagues, Charles happened to walk by and overheard their conversation. He then pulled her aside, asking her to provide a report on the situation. The office fell into a momentary silence. The inscrutable expression on Charles¡¯ face rendered it impossible to discern his thoughts. Several minutes passed before he finally said in a cold voice, ¡°Get out.¡± The employee nervously heaved a sigh of relief before stumbling out of the CEO¡¯s office in a hurry. Her legs nearly gave way beneath her the moment she stepped out the door. Back in the office, Charles instructed the surveince room employees to retrieve the footage. from the logistics department and send it to hisputer. At that moment, Charles¡¯sputer screen disyed Whitney¡¯s workstation. She was diligently working at her desk with a crumpled ball of waste paper resting beside her. All the rumors circting in thepany would reach his ears eventually. It was impossible that Whitney knew nothing about it. But why has she never mentioned anything about this to me before? Does she secretly enjoy being the center of gossip? An unpleasant sensation welled up in Charles¡¯ heart as he thought of that. He pressed the inte button on his office desk and summoned Isaac. Soon, Isaac entered the office, nervously asking. ¡°Mr. Newton, you wanted to see me?¡± Charles, visibly agitated, tugged at his tie and spoke with a cold tone. ¡°In the future, please minimize your interactions with Whitney at thepany. Any work rted to her should be delegated to others.¡± Isaac was well aware of the rumors circting within thepany. Had it not been for Charles¡¯ specific work instructions, he wouldn¡¯t dare to engage in private. interactions with Whitney no matter how audacious he was. ¡°Yes, Mr. Newton, I take full responsibility for causing Mrs. Newton to be entangled in these rumors. I am prepared to ept any consequences or punishment.¡± ¡°Get out.¡± Seeing that Charles had no intention of punishing him, Isaac felt as though a heavy burden. had been lifted from his shoulders. When it was time to get off work, Whitney began to pack up her belongings to head home. when her phone suddenly vibrated. Unlocking her screen, she noticed it was a message from Charles. Whitney¡¯s heart instantly. leaped to her throat as she nervously opened the message. It read: Let¡¯s go back together. Upon reading the message, Whitney was taken aback. These past few days, she had been taking the bus on her own, followed by taking a taxi to a crossroads not far from the Newton residence and then walking the rest of the way from there. Whenever Jasmine asked, she would always brush it off by saying she was exercising. Charles has never proposed heading home together. What¡¯s going on today? Even though Whitney couldn¡¯t discern Charles¡¯s thoughts, she chose not to dwell on it and instead tidied up her workstation before leaving the office. Upon reaching the parking lot, Whitney noticed Charles standing beside a luxury car, deeply engrossed in a phone call. She tactfully halted in her tracks when she was still a distance away. Noticing the person standing in the distance, Charles ended the call, his expression indifferent. ¡°What are you doing standing there? Waiting for me to invite you over?¡± Having grown ustomed to his indifference, Whitney silently made her way toward him. The luxury car glided down the road, with neither of the two upants uttering a word. The only sound that filled the air was the rush of the wind past their ears. As they approached the Newton residence, Whitney couldn¡¯t suppress her curiosity and asked, ¡°Why did you suddenly suggest leaving work together today?¡± The luxury car came to an abrupt halt, causing Whitney to lurch forward violently due to inertia. She was convinced that if she hadn¡¯t been wearing her seatbelt, she would have undoubtedly collided with the windshield. The man behind the wheel remained expressionless, asking coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should address the rumors circting in thepany?¡± Whitney was taken aback by the question. ¡°Isaac and I are innocent; ourmunication is solely work- rted. I¡¯m not sure how to stop the rumors from spreading.¡± She was telling the truth. Charles cast a cold nce in her direction. If she doesn¡¯t know how to stop it, why didn¡¯t shee seeking my help? Why did she wait until I asked beforeing clean? In fact, Charles knew that Whitney didn¡¯t have the guts to hook up with Isaac. If he hadn¡¯t frequently assigned Isaac to deliver documents to Whitney, such rumors wouldn¡¯t have gained traction. At the end of the day, he was the one responsible for causing all of this. What bothered him most was that Whitney hadn¡¯t even thought of turning to him when she was in trouble. 3/5 < The rumors had escted to the point of exaggeration, with ims of Isaac hugging her by the waist, the two interacting intimately with each other and engaging in happy conversations, and so forth. Charles was extremely upset. He gritted his teeth, his voice turning icy as he remarked, ¡°Do you believe you¡¯re so capable that you can handle everything on your own?¡± Whitney¡¯s head hung even lower as she recalled how Charles had previously stated that if she ever found herself in trouble, she shouldn¡¯t count on his assistance, and he wouldn¡¯t help her clean up the mess, Charles¡¯ mood worsened when he saw that she didn¡¯t attempt to exin. He mmed the steering wheel forcefully and drove into the Newton residence. Before the car fully entered the garage, he ordered. ¡°Get out of the car.¡± Whitney obediently unbuckled her seatbelt and proceeded into the vi first. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Jasmine was watching TV in the living room when she heard a noise at the door. She turned around and asked, ¡°Whitney, why don¡¯t you evere home with Charles? Are you two fighting again?¡± Knowing she would ask about this, Whitney shook her head and sat down next to her. ¡°I came back with Charles today. He¡¯s parking the car. Lately, there¡¯s been a lot happening at the company, so Charles has to work overtime on some asions. Since I finish work early. I often go out and spend time with my colleagues,¡± Whitney exined. Jasmine¡¯s mood instantly soured when she heard that Whitney had been going shopping with someone else. She pouted and remarked, ¡°Seriously, Whitney? Do you even consider me a friend? You never go shopping with me.¡± Whitney was at a loss for words upon hearing Jasmine¡¯sint. Does she not realize howe vast her family¡¯s empire is? There isn¡¯t a mall in Salinsburgh that doesn¡¯t host a Newton Group business. Every time Jasmine goes shopping, it¡¯s as if she¡¯s merely wandering around her own property, Given her current financial situation, she couldn¡¯t indulge in shopping at high-end luxury brands like Jasmine, who was a wealthy young heiress. However, Whitney would never voice these thoughts. Instead, she could only casually invent an excuse to steer the conversation in a different direction. When Charles entered the vi, Jasmine was about to ask him a question when the former went straight upstairs, not affording her a chance to speak at all. He didn¡¯t even cast a nce in her direction Jasmine frowned ¡°Why are you re you didn¡¯t have a fight with Charles Chapter 831 A New Mission Chapter 831 A New Mission Whitney kept quiet as she wasn¡¯t sure. The sound of Charles¡¯ footsteps gradually faded into the distance. She stepped forward and took Jasmine¡¯s arm. ¡°All right Jasmine. Since you got off work early today, how about we go shopping?¡± If she were to stay at the Newton residence, Jasmine would definitely question her. Upon hearing the word shopping, Jasmine immediately perked up. She took Whitney¡¯s hand as they walked out and enthusiastically rmended her favorite luxury brands. She chattered non-stop throughout the journey. It wasn¡¯t until nine in the evening that the two of them returned to the Newton residence. Their bodyguard carried bags of various sizes behind them. Everything belonged to Jasmine. Whitney couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Indeed, the world of the wealthy was beyond herprehension. After bidding goodnight to Jasmine, Whitney carried a warm cup of milk upstairs. There was no sign of Charles in the bedroom. Whitney carefully ascended the stairs and knocked on the study door. ¡°Charles, are you in there?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Upon hearing his response, Whitney entered with the cup of milk. The light in the study was dim, with only a singlemp illuminating his desk. Under the illumination of the lights, his aura of coldness intensified, giving off a vibe that kept people away. Hezily lifted his head and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Whitney ced the milk on the table and took a step back. ¡°I see that you¡¯re still working, so I thought I¡¯d drop by. Carry on.¡± Charles remained silent and didn¡¯t even look at her. The next day, Whitney left the Newton residence early. She didn¡¯t want those two from the Newton family to see her fighting with Charles. Rumors within thepany were still flying around wildly. The moment she stepped into thepany, people began to talk behind her back, and it even reached her ears. ¡°Look, she¡¯s the one who¡¯s involved with Mr. Turner. She doesn¡¯t seem to be from Chanaea. No wonder she started flirting as soon as she walked in.¡± ¡°Do you think she¡¯s a fool? After all, it¡¯s not easy to win Mr. Newton¡¯s favor. She has to start somewhere, and the people around him would be the easiest targets. Otherwise, do you think she would try to get close to Mr. Turner?¡± Those two were engrossed in their conversation as if no one else existed. Left with no other choice, Whitney had to quicken her pace. Upon arriving at her workstation, she found a small heap of documents neatly stacked on her desk, each marked with the department they were to be delivered to. Tasks like these were usually assigned to the new interns in thepany. This approach not only prevented wasting the abilities of the employees but also provided an opportunity for the interns to better understand the various departments within thepany. The reason those people acted this way was simply because they looked down on her. The more they doubted her, the more determined she became to prove them wrong. No matter what the task, she wouldplete it diligently, giving them no opportunity to criticize her. Sorting out the documents by floor, Whitney took a deep breath, and then, holding the files in her hand, she made her way through the various departments of Newton Group, attempting to distribute all the documents before the morning meeting. The lunch break ended, and the logistics department convened a meeting. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Queenie distributed the tasks for the new quarter and called out to Whitney and Lana. ¡°Both of you have simr capabilities within our department. Thepany has now assigned two tasks to the logistics department, which you¡¯ll need to carry out simultaneously. I¡¯ll send you the tasks shortly. Any questions?¡± Lana spoke up before Whitney could. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it, but I¡¯m worried about Whitney She just started her job officially. I¡¯m not sure if she can handle such a huge task.¡± Whitney didn¡¯t pay attention to the mockery in her words, she simply responded earnestly, ¡°Rest assured, Chief, I will strive toplete the task you¡¯ve given me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only thest quarter left of this year Everyone must rally their spirits, strive to excel in their current tasks, and put a definitive end to this year on a high note.¡± The meeting concluded, and everyone left. Lana called out to Whitney from behind, wrapping her arms around her shoulders in a show. of faux concern. ¡°Keep going,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ve finally made it through the probation period. I believe you¡¯ll be a worthy opponent.¡± ¡°I hope you won¡¯t resort to petty tricks.¡± Whitney didn¡¯t want to engage in further conversation with her, so she responded briefly and quickly walked away. In the afternoon, Queenie assigned the tasks to them. Whitney and Lana were each appointed as team leaders for these two tasks. Each of them had three people under theirmand to work together to complete the tasks. Naturally, the group with Lana consisted of her few followers, while under Whitney were several neers to thepany, just like her. The task issued required the logistics department to procure all the items currently needed by the company, and a list had been drawn up. This task may seem effortless, but it involved the needs of everyone in thepany. Lana snatched the simpler task. She would be responsible for the procurement ofrge-scale equipment and items for each department. Meanwhile, Whitney would be in charge of the needs of the personnel in each department. Looking at the screen filled with a dense array of numbers and names, Whitney instantly felt overwhelmed. She gathered her team members into a group and shared her expectations with them. ¡°We are now in the same team, like grasshoppers tied to a rope. Since thepany is willing to entrust us with such an important task, we must not let our leaders down. Everyone can share what they are good at, so I can assign tasks ordingly.¡± Whitney noted down their respective areas of expertise during the discussion, certain that it would be useful in the future. Even though she was the team leader, she didn¡¯t put on any airs typical of that role. She made a list of some urgently needed items, sought approval from Queenie, and then headed out with her team. ¡°Sissi, from what I understand, isn¡¯t it unusual for ourpany to have the logistics department handle purchases? Why is it that this time they¡¯ve entrusted such a task to neers like us?¡± Walking beside Whitney was a college graduate, barely in her early twenties, named Xenia. Whitney was searching for information about the task when she heard the question. She shifted her gaze from her phone to the window. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s to hone the skills of the employees. Besides, isn¡¯t the logistics department there to ensure thepany¡¯s logistical support?¡± Whitney had found it hard to believe when Queenie had said she would assign the task to her. Compared to Lana, she stillcked experience. ¡°Sissi, I saw you speaking at thest general meeting. I truly admire your ability to speak in front of so many people. I don¡¯t have nearly as much courage as you do.¡± ttered by her praise, Whitney felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°I had no other choice at that time.¡± ¡°By the way, Xenia, no matter how close you are with someone in thepany, always keep your guard up. Don¡¯t share everything when conversing with others. This is the key to survival in the corporate world.¡± After all, she had learned her lesson from thest incident. She wanted to offer others help after having been through it all. Perhaps it was Queenie¡¯s help that made Whitney unable to resist opening up a bit more to her. Upon hearing this, Xenia expressed her gratitude with a nod, and then promptly set off to work. It was almost time to clock out when Whitney returned with Xenia. They brought some items that needed to be handed over to thepany urgently. In the CEO¡¯s office, Charles stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching Whitney below. With orderly precision, she directed the workers to unload the items from the vehicle. Knock Knock Charles returned to his seat as he heard the door. It was none other than the chief of the logistics department, Queenie. Chapter 832 The Evidence Chapter 832 The Evidence ¡°Mr. Newton, as per your instructions, I¡¯ve assigned tasks to Ms. Mellor and downloaded the surveince footage from the night before the meeting,¡± Queenie reported before handing the sh drive to Charles respectfully and stepping aside. Charles promptly plugged the sh drive into theputer, his expression growing colder. as he watched the video on the screen. All the surveince cameras in the Newton Group were equipped with night vision capabilities, so it was clear to see that the two figures were Lana and Sissi, They stealthily approached Whitney¡¯s desk, fiddled around with herputer for a while, and then took away the printed documents she had left on her desk. As it turned out, Charles had grown suspicious when Whitney said the proposal was missing. For a while, thetter had spent almost all her time working on the project, whether at the office or home. Moreover, based on Charles¡¯ understanding of Whitney, she was certainly not the type to be careless. If her documents were missing, the only exnation was that someone had tampered with them behind her back. ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly on this matter for now,¡± Charles instructed as he turned off theputer screen. ¡°Continue to monitor those individuals, but don¡¯t arouse any suspicion.¡± This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes, Mr. Newton.¡± With that, Queenie left the office, unable to curb the growing sense of perplexity. Hmm¡­ Generally speaking, there are only two reasons a CEO would take special care of an ordinary employee. The first reason is that he has be smitten with her, while the second is that she pulled strings to get into thepany. From what I¡¯ve observed recently, it doesn¡¯t seem like Whitney¡¯s rted to any big shots. If any, the rumors revolve around her and the assistant, Isaac. Besides, after my private interactions with her, it¡¯s pretty clear she isn¡¯t the kind of woman who¡¯d resort to unscrupulous methods to climb the socialdder. That means there¡¯s only one possibility left-Mr. Newton likes Whitney! Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have taken the trouble of dismissing the previous manager, transferring me from the branch office, and entrusting Whitney to my care. There¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t understand, though¡­ Why doesn¡¯t Mr. Newton assign Whitney to arge department if he fancies her? After all, working in the logistics department offers little room for advancement and minimal contact with the CEO¡­ The next second, everything suddenly became clear to Queenie. Oh! Mr. Newton is doing this to protect Whitney! The office gossip is so rampant that if he showed favoritism toward Whitney, it¡¯d undoubtedly draw criticism from others. When that happens, more people will pick on her, making her days at thepany even more difficult. Having understood the situation, Queenie couldn¡¯t help but shake her head as she returned to her office. Meanwhile, Whitney was drenched in sweat after delivering the purchased items to the respective departments. She had been busy with work all afternoon and couldn¡¯t even find the time to have some water. As soon as thest item was delivered, Whitney stepped into the elevator and leaned against the wall, so exhausted that she failed to notice who was sharing the ride with her. ¡°Could you please press the button for the fifteenth floor for me? Thank you,¡± she uttered. As it turned out, the person standing behind her was none other than Charles! Having pressed the elevator button for the fifteenth floor, Charles silently stepped in front of Whitney, only to see the exhaustion written all over her face. His gaze might have been too intense because when Whitney opened her eyes, she immediately looked away and straightened up, making sure to put some distance between them. Upon seeing the fear in her eyes, Charles asked, ¡°Am I really that scary?¡± Whether it¡¯s at the house or the office, she always looks at me with a hint of terror¡­ Why, though? Do I look like I¡¯m about to devour her? Hearing that, Whitney gave an awkward smile, her palms slightly sweaty. ¡°No, you aren¡¯t scary, Mr. Newton. I was only startled because I wasn¡¯t expecting to see you here.¡± Ding! Whitney was ready to flee when the elevator reached the fifteenth floor, but to her surprise, Charles followed behind her. Needless to say, the woman was shocked. Oh, my goodness¡­ The previous gossip about me and Isaac had already given me a massive headache. I¡¯ll lose my mind if the staff spreads rumors about me and Charles this time. With that thought in mind, she walked briskly ahead, determined to keep her distance from the man. She might have been exhausted before, but now, all she could feel was fear and anxiety. It didn¡¯t take long before the employees in the logistics department noticed Charles¡¯ arrival. Those who were cking off only seconds ago immediately went back to focusing on their tasks at hand. Having learned her lesson from her previous attempt of chatting Charles up alone, Lana knew better than to overstep her boundaries again, no matter how much she wanted to impress him. As for Charles, he merely walked up to Whitney, lingered around for two minutes, and then. left without a word. Everyone in the logistics department was dumbfounded. Huh? Did Mr. Newton only drop by for an inspection? Are there no other work arrangements? As soon as Charles was gone, the office area erupted into chaos. Several employees who considered themselves somewhat attractive began to y theparison game. ¡°I think Mr. Newton was looking at me just now. It must be because makeup today is beyond excellent,¡± one of them piped up. The moment she uttered those words, the others teased and ridiculed her. ¡°Oh,e on. You¡¯re overthinking it. His gaze probably only happened to sweep past you. Anyway, his sudden appearance is most likely because of that person¡­¡± another employee reasoned before turning toward Whitney, who had buried herself in her work. Lana quickly joined the conversation, her eyes full of disdain. ¡°Who does she think she is? Does she seriously believe Mr. Newton would give her a second nce? If she hadn¡¯t messed things up, our department¡¯s workload wouldn¡¯t have suddenly doubled.¡± Argh! I¡¯ve nearly worn out my legs from trying to purchase all the necessary parts for therge equipment this afternoon¡­ In any case, I noticed Charles¡¯ gaze linger on Whitney for a moment earlier. Even though he looked away rather quickly, I could still sense he was interested in her¡­ In what way am I inferior to Whitney? Why does she always get all the good things? This is so unfair! Later that evening, the sun had already set when Whitney finally returned to the Newton. residence. To her surprise, Charles¡¯ shy luxury car was parked at the intersection leading to the house, and he was sitting inside. Upon seeing him, Whitney hesitated before deciding to knock on the window. Charles promptly rolled down the car window, her face reflected in his sunsses. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going into the house?¡± Whitney asked. Could he be waiting for me? ¡°Get in the car,¡± Charles replied. The man¡¯s tone left no room for refusal, so Whitney had no choice but toply. As the luxury car made a U-turn and cruised down the road, the sound of rushing wind instantly filled Whitney¡¯s ears. She was, however, still clueless about where Charles was. taking her. She didn¡¯t know if it was because she was too tired, but not long after the drive started, she leaned back in her seat and fell asleep, her breathing steady and even. Seeing Whitney sound asleep, Charles closed all the car windows. In truth, he wasn¡¯t sure why he didn¡¯t enter the house, either. Could it be because Whitney. hadn¡¯t returned? Despite not having a definite answer, Charles knew he felt a certain emptiness when thetter wasn¡¯t around. To make matters worse, Whitney had recently been going to bed prettyte and would always spend her nights resting on the sofa. Without her by his side, it was undeniably a sudden change that Charles was struggling to adjust to. Chapter 833 A Rare Moment Of Bliss Chapter 833 A Rare Moment Of Bliss Charles slowly pulled his luxury car over by the roadside. He couldn¡¯t help but stare at Whitney After she had bustled around for the entire day, deep fatigue lined her face. As Charles recalled her bustling figure in the office, his hand subconsciously stroked her cheek and pinched the soft flesh. After drifting off, Whitney slept for two hours straight. When she woke up, she waspletely disoriented. She promptly opened her eyes and realized she was still in the car. She quickly nced to the side, only to be greeted by the sight of Charles resting with his eyes closed. On instinct, she wiped the corner of her mouth, fearing that she might have done something ungraceful while asleep, such as drooling. Sensing that the person beside him stirred slightly, Charles immediately opened his eyes. Turning to look at her, he asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±. ¡°Um, sorry. How long was I asleep?¡± Outside, the sky had turnedpletely dark, leaving Whitney feeling somewhat lost. Charles said calmly. ¡°Two hours.¡± Huh? Does that mean that he waited for me in the car for a whole two hours? The light inside the car was dim, but with the illumination of the streetlights, Whitney could see that his cyes werebloodshot. She even had his jacket draped over her. It was already thoroughly imbued with her scent then. Having kept him waiting for so long. Whitney felt somewhat embarrassed. ¡°What were you nning to do with me? Was I keeping you back from something important?¡± If she had rld Charles¡¯ affairs up because of her drowsiness, it would be her mistake. Charley restarted his luxury car without uttering a word, simply returning to the Newton residence. After taking a shower at night, Whitney was just about to sleep with a nket in hand when Charles stopped her ¡°Sleep on the bed.¡± Whitney was stunned for a second, seemingly not understanding his meaning, staring at him with confusion in her eyes. Meeting her dazed and adorable gaze, Charles climbed out of bed and snagged the nket from her hands. ¡°Sleep beside me. Got it now?¡± Sleep beside him? Whitney was stumped. ¡°I think I¡¯ll sleep on the sofa. I wake up early, so I might disrupt you¡± You¡¯re disrupting me right now.¡± At that, words cluded Whitney. A look of dissatisfaction showed on Charles¡¯s face. He pulled her onto the bed andy down. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. His hand rested on her lower abdomen. Whitney involuntarily stiffened for fear that any movement might upset him. That was her first time lying down next to him while fully conscious. Staring at the bedsidemp, she felt a sudden wave of unease wash over her. My heart is being so fast that if it weren¡¯t for the nket holding it down, it might just leap out of my chest, huh? Thump! Thump, thump! The room fell silent. It was so quiet that they could clearly hear each other¡¯s breathing and even heartbeats. Despite it being past midnight, Whitney showed no signs of sleepiness. She couldn¡¯t possibly fall asleep when Charles was sleeping beside her for once. Nheless, she remained silent. Charles shares her sentiments. Her heartbeat was just too loud that it was keeping him from falling asleep. Her scent was delightful,pelling him to inhale the fragrance of her hair. Charles really didn¡¯t like how she could affect his mood, yet he couldn¡¯t help but want to get closer to her. Such a feeling left him somewhat irritated, but unexpectedly, he found a bit of enjoyment in it. The first rays of sunlight in the early morning streamed into the room. Whitney woke up, only to discover in surprise that they were embracing each other. On top of that, her hand rested on his waist. Nothing happenedst night other than sleeping, right? She gently lifted her head and saw that Charles was still sound asleep. His breath smelled pleasant, carrying a hint of sweetness. When she was surfing the inte in the past, she once came across a saying that in the face of a man one liked one could sense his unique breath. It would be irresistible,pelling one to yearn for a closer connection with him. His eyshes were long, casting a series of shadows on his eyelids. In sleep, his sense of oppression was reduced significantly. Instead, he looked peaceful. Whitney knew better than to disturb a sleeping tiger. She carefully got out of bed and went to wash up. Downstairs, Jasmine was having breakfast. Seeing Whitneying down the stairs, she greeted her ¡°Why did you get up so early, Whitney? Jasmine had enrolled in a ss she needed to leave at that hour. It was only seven o¡¯clock, still early for work ¡°I had a good rest yesterday. I figured since there¡¯s nothing much going on, I might as well go to the office for a look. I still have some work unfinished,¡± Whitney replied. Indeed, she slept wellst night. Noticing the shy expression on her face, Jasmine gave her a knowing look. She quirked an eyebrow and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver send you to the office first. What¡¯s up with Charles? His wife is already up, but he¡¯s still sleeping.¡± At her words, Whitney flushed bright red. After eating a few bites of breakfast, she hurriedly left. On her way to the office, she kept reminiscing about the eventsst night. Charles was very differentst night. The smile on her face was impossible to conceal. Whitney felt as though the air around her radiated love. Upon arriving at thepany, she greeted her colleagues warmly. Regardless of their responses, her mood was great. It didn¡¯t matter what others think. As long as she was happy, that was all that mattered. Only a few people from the logistics department had arrived, and among them was Whitney¡¯s team member. She greeted the girl. ¡°Why are you here so early?¡± The girlcemingly avoided Whitney¡¯s gaze, stammering as she replied, ¡°I¡­ I still have some work left, so I came early. Seeing her nervous expression, Whitney raised a hand in a fist before she started busying herself with her At ten clock in the morning, Queenie¡¯s assistant came over and called Whitney away. ¡°How did you carry out the task I entrusted you? I received feedback that everything you sent out yesterday ended up in the wrong hands. What exactly happened? And what about the bill for the items purchased? Why was the bill you submitted significantly higher than the actual amount? Are you trying to pocket pompany kickbacks through such a method?¡± Queene threw the bill on the table, leaving Whitney utterly confused. i told Xenia to submit yesterday¡¯s bill to thepany. Didn¡¯t she check it properly? The matter involved more than just Xenia, so she could only suppress her suspicions for the time being. After carefully examining the bill, Whitney was startled to find a few items she hadn¡¯t purchased yesterday. She quickly pointed mistake.¡± Ms. Zeller, these teins weren¡¯t what we purchased. There must be a Queenie nced at her before depressing the inte and ordering, ¡°Call Whitney¡¯s team members over, as well as Lana and her team.¡± In no time, the group of people arrived at her office. ¡°Well, why is the bill reported so much higher? Where did all these chargese from?¡± Visibly upset, Queenie paced in front of them, distributing the bill to each person. If that matter were verified by the higher-ups, she wouldn¡¯t be able to continue being the department manager anymore. Lana was the first to speak. ¡°Ms. Zeller, this matter has nothing to do with us. I already handed over the things I bought and the bills to the finance department yesterday. There were no omissions. This matter is probably¡­¡± She deliberately paused and cast a malicious nce at Whitney, Chapter 834 No Friends To Confide In Chapter 834 No Friends To Confide In ¡°And what about all of you? Do you understand the impact this will have on the logistics department?¡± Queenie swept her gaze over Whitney and the others, her tone quite unpleasant. Whitney frowned and defended herself, ¡°Ms. Zeller, we haven¡¯t purchased any of these items. Why would we resort to such crude methods to take money we shouldn¡¯t?¡± Just then, the usually silent Xenia¡¯s expression turned tense, appearing as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Lana immediately pulled her aside and said, ¡°Do you know something? Rest assured. Just tell the truth. No one will me you or dare to harm you.¡± What she implied was that Xenia did not need to fear the person behind all these. Whitney thought she must have been too tired the previous night, and that was why she made a mistake with the bill. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Xenia say, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Mellor. I can¡¯t help you keep this a secret any longer. After struggling all night, it just feels too unbearable for me.¡± Upon hearing those words, Whitney instantly turned her gaze back to her. Xenia continued, ¡°Ms. Mellor, when I apanied you on the shopping trip yesterday, it was you who told me to cook the books. You even said that thepany wouldn¡¯t find out, and we could line our own pockets. All of this was done at your behest, and you told me not to publicize this matter. You warned me that if I dared to reveal even half a word. I would be fired. I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Mellor. I just can¡¯t get past this mental hurdle. I¡¯m sorry.¡± himney sneered and challenged her, ¡°Do you have a conscience? Don¡¯t you know what we bought when we went out yesterday? Why are you ndering me?¡±, The day before, she was kind enough to show Xenia the ropes, but today, Xenia turned around and used her falsely. Whitney did not understand. ¡°Ms.Mellon, I know you have people backing you up, but I really can¡¯t cover up for you anymore. I¡¯m Corry. Kenia kept apologizing, and her face disyed an expression of extreme remorse and fear. In an instant, Lana took advantage of the situation. She voluntarily spoke up for Xenia. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no need to be afraid. Thispany now belongs to the Newton family, not Whitney Whitney is really going too far. Does she really think she can act recklessly just because she has neone backing her up?¡± Whitney remained silent, her gaze fixed on Xenia. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Ms. Mellor. I really am.¡± Tears began to stream down Xena¡¯s face, perfectly executing her act in a most impressive manner. Lana and Sissi were still chattering away when Queenie suddenly pped the table and loudly interrupted, ¡°Enough! Do you think this is a marketce? Is there no decorum left? I will send someone to investigate and find out the truth. Until there is concrete evidence, no one is allowed to specte. Put aside the work you have in hand for now. Lana, take the others outside. Whitney, you stay behind.¡± As her words fell. Lana left with the rest of them. Once the office door was closed, Queenie furrowed her brows and asked softly. ¡°Do you understand what¡¯s going on?¡± Whitney looked up. ¡°Did Xenia nder me because someone bribed her?¡± Although she had not been in the workforce for long, she was no fool and could see what was going on. Queenie nodded and sighed, ¡°Someone must be targeting you.¡± Queenie had encountered such situations before. She had seen far too many instances of office politics and scheming in her career. ¡°Go on. Be cautious of those around you. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this.¡± Whimey pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment but still turned around and left. When she returned to her own workstation, Lana was looking at her with a smug expression. Looking around, everyone who made eye contact with Whitney lowered their heads. Everyone was putting up a false front in front of her. Behind her back, something else was happening. She did not know how many of her enemies were among them. The pantry, stairway entrances, restrooms. All of those ces were located in the blind spots of the rveince cameras. Meanwhile, indethe logistics department office, Queenie was observing the actions of those people through the blinds. She panel to report the situation to Charles. Aude em Lata and Sissi, there were others who were even more sinister and lurking behind the scenes Charles asked her to carry out her investigation discreetly. Soon, it was time to clock out. Whitn was still seated and engrossed in the documents Charles had previously handed over to her. Even though she did not have to do the task, she could not stop learning. [AL] walked by in her high heels, she said with a sarcastic tone. ¡°Whitney, I never thought you¡¯d be so audacious to openly pocket kickbacks from thepany. Mr. Newton really despises this kind of behavior. If he finds out, I¡¯m afraid your time at Newton Group might being to an end. What do you Whitney red at her. ¡°Ill say it again. You will get what you deserve one of these days.¡± After she finished speaking. Whitney stood up, bumped into Lana¡¯s shoulder with a force that showed she was not to be underestimated, and left with an air of nonchnce. Stepping out of thepany, Whitney felt somewhat lost and wandered aimlessly. A lot had happened recently, and she longed for someone to talk to. Someone she could confide in. She unlocked her phone and scrolled through her contacts, only to make the disheartening discovery that she did not have many friends in Chanaca. Gwendolyn¡¯s name appeared before her eyes in the contact list. It was the phone number that Gwendolyn gave her when they visited the oceanariumst time. Whitney hesitated. If I were to call abruptly, it would probably startle her, wouldn¡¯t it? Moreover, if Charles found out that she was secretly calling Gwendolyn, he would probably be upset. After much hesitation, Whitney put down her phone and sat alone on thepany¡¯s rooftop. lost in thought. Buzz, buzz, buzz. The vibration of her phone snapped Whitney back to reality. Surprisingly, it was Gwendolyn who had taken the initiative to call her! She quicklyposed herself, cleared her throat, and answered the phone. ¡°Gwendolyn?¡± Sitting in the swivel chair, Gwendolyn was toying with the pen in her hand. Her voice sounded cheerful as she said, ¡°Are you free today? I¡¯ve left the kids with Nico and Summer. How about we have a drink tonight? There¡¯s a bonfire party.¡± Whitney was ken aback and caught off guard for a moment by the sudden invitation from Gwendolyn. Let me a C-Charles. After all¡­ He¡¯s my boss now. I¡¯m fine with it.¡± Since you two are a couple now, it¡¯s up to you to decide. By the way, can I call you Whitney? Calling you Ms Melor seeins a bit too formal.¡± ¡°Of course, you can. Let me call Charles, and then I¡¯ll call you back.¡± After hanging up the phone, Whitney felt a bit nervous as she dialed Charles¡¯ number. At that moment, Charles was in a remote meeting with thepany¡¯s senior executives. Suddenly, he noticed his phone screen light up. He temporarily closed hisptop and answered the call. Whitney took a deep breath before saying, ¡°Gwendolyn just asked me if I¡¯m free tonight. There¡¯s a bonfire party Should I go?¡± ¡°Okay¡± Sensing that he must be busy, Whitney hastily bid him goodbye. After finalizing ns with Gwendolyn, Whitney submitted her leave request to Queenie. They were preparing a bonfire party over there, and there was no way she and Charles could go empty- handed. They had to bring something with them. However, wealthy people like Gwendolyn and Cedrick were ustomed to the finest things. As such, anything that could be bought with money was not sincere enough. Therefore, Whitney wanted to prepare something personally. Chapter 835 Gwendolyn Wants To Marry Whitney Chapter 835 Gwendolyn Wants To Marry Whitney After studying to be a pastry chef for a while, Whitney quietly returned to the Newton residence. The rest of the Newton family was not around. When the housekeeper saw her enter the kitchen, she stepped forward to ask, ¡°Mrs. Newton, do you need our help?¡± Whitney shook her head. ¡°No need, you all carry on with your work. I just want to do it myself.¡± Once the housekeeper left, Whitney began to busy herself. She closed the kitchen door, and this ce became her little world, where she methodically carries out each step. After three hours of preparation, with a ¡®ding, the mini cupcakes fresh out of the oven filled the entire kitchen with their delightful aroma. Looking at the perfectly colored desserts, Whitney was very satisfied as she packed them into exquisite little boxes, then put the other foods she had prepared into the bag. She prepared cakes, sushi, and some other snacks for the bonfire party, hoping these foods would appeal them. After emerging from the kitchen, Whitney unexpectedly saw Charles. She had no idea when he had returned, or how long he had been standing outside the kitchen. She took the initiative to walk over and hand him a cupcake that hadn¡¯t yet been packed. With hopeful eyes, she said, ¡°Try this. How does it taste? It is fresh out of the oven?¡± If Charles liked it, then presumably no one else would say anything. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The little cupcake was already brought up to his lips, and Charles naturally parted his lips to take a bite. ¡°Mmm, the taste isn¡¯t bad.¡± Receiving his sincere praise, Whitney¡¯s face lit up with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure Gwendolyn and the two babies will love it too. Eventhough Gwendolyn told her Benedict and Zendaya would not be there, she still made small desserts for the two children. Tve pked everything. When do we leave?¡± A hopelul expression appeared on Whitney¡¯s face. She was truly looking forward to this gathering. especially as his girlfriend. ¡°Now.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Charles naturally took the cake box from her hands and walked out. Whitney joyfully followed him. They drove to the Jenson residence, then walked side by side through the winding alleyways of the estate. In just a few minutes, they arrived at Harrick Vi. Gwendolyn and Cedrick were standing at the door waiting for them. Upon seeing Whitney, Gwendolyn warmly weed her, taking her arm in hers. ¡°Ever since west parted, I¡¯ve been wondering when we could get together again. It¡¯s rare that the two lerle rascals aren¡¯t around today, so we can really let loose and have some fun.¡± Whitney gave a shy smile. ¡°I really like the two little ones. Zendy is such a quirky and interesting little girl. Will they being back tonight? I¡¯ve made some desserts, and I wonder if they¡¯ll suit their taste.¡± While speaking. Whitney turned to Charles and said, ¡°Charles, could you please bring over the dessert I made?¡± Seeing that Whitney had brought dessert, Gwendolynughed and said, ¡°Because Benny and Zendy¡¯s teeth are not very good, we always avoid taking sugar or sweets at home. But I really like it, so I always sneak a bit. What girl doesn¡¯t like sweets?¡± The two shared a knowing smile, creating a harmonious atmosphere. So they walked into the vi, tasted the desserts and teased Charles, ¡°I¡¯m really envious of someone who can have with a treat every day, getting to eat such delicious cake. If I were a man, I would definitely marry Whitney Upon hearing this, Cedrick, who was standing nearby, furrowed his brows. I a lousy cook? ¡°Gwenny, it seems that I need to be wary not only of men but also of women from now on.¡± Gwendolyn suppressed herughter, then went over and took his hand immediately and yfully said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if I really get the chance to marry Whitney, you will definitely be the main wife, the first wife¡± audrick gently tapped her nose, feeling a bit stifled yet speechless, his eyes brimming with affection. Watching the couple¡¯s unabashed disy of affection: Whitney couldn¡¯t help but feel envious. Howeveal the gould do was envy. Grindel is good, she deserves to be loved by a man just as exceptional. Walking beide Whitney, Charles noticed her unusual expression. He leaned in closer and whispered in a calvole Whatever you¡¯re feeling, it¡¯s best not to show it here.¡± Whitey got his cue and immediately showed a smile. Cedrick ap the bonfire pit in the backyard, and prepared some barbecue tools. Gendly took Whitney and went to the swing in the backyard. They watched the two busy men from a ducange Tonight, all you need to do is chat and be happy. They will take care of all the work.¡± she said. Whamey smiled, but deep down, she felt a great sense of disappointment. She hesitated a bit. She really wanted to share with Gwendolyn about the things she encountered at the Cogany, yet she felt that their rtionship wasn¡¯t close enough. There was no reason to pour out these maner to her ¡°Whitney, are you feeling unwell! Yourplexion doesn¡¯t look too good.¡± When aded by Cavernddyn, the empations that food push supposed walled up again Whiny could help but her eye tumed slightly red Seeing her like this, Gwendolyn wasmoshat worried the tank her hand and asked with ¡°What on earth happened? Did he bully you! Alcaid det Gwendolyn might misunderstand, Whitney quickly controlled her contious ¡°No, tendolyn I just don¡¯t know how to start the conversation Should I really discuss the trivial matters from work with hept Gwendolyn jured her shoulder and said, ¡°Whatever you can¡¯t tell Charles, you can tell me. We are both girls, so we can empathize with each other a bit more Whitney looked up, her lips parting to speak, only to carch Charles¡¯s gaze directed at her. He must be worried about her saying too much. After taking a deep breath, Whitney took the initiative to grab Gwendolyn¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Gwendolyn, can you show me around here?¡± ¡°Of course, no problem.¡± After leaving Charles and Cedrick¡¯s sight, Whitney finally stopped walking. After much hesitation, she finally said, ¡°Gwendolyn, are there really no true friends in the workce? Is everyone just scheming against each other? Are we all trying to sabotage each other?¡± This incident had somewhat affected her. Whitney truly didn¡¯t want to be a person who onl measured others by their value. wendolyn looked at the confusion in her eyes andughed. ¡°You¡¯re still inexperienced, Whitney need to understand that no one in this world will always be kind to you. The workce is like a bata Even a slight careless mistake can drag you into an allyss. Moreover, in today¡¯s society, everything is focused on personal benefits.¡± Ever since she ta over Harris Group, she had witnessed the cunning and deceit side of the upper echelons. If she were a bit more naive, she would probably bepletely outmaneuvered by those very experienced workce veterans. ¡°Even though I¡¯m not sure what difficulties you¡¯re facing. Whitney, sometimes the people who seem to be nice to you are often the ones who hurt you the most. Whitney listened quietly, not uttering a single word. ¡°Benefitcar drive them to do things that are iprehensible. Don¡¯t overthink it, focus on improving yourself and distance yourself from people and circles that make you ufortable.¡± ¡°Alright. F¡¯ll remember that, Gwendolyn.¡± Although Whitney could figure out these truths by herself, hearing them from Gwendolyn¡¯s mouth helped to alleviate her anxiety, irritation, and uncase. She didn¡¯t ask anything more, and Gwendolyn remained silent as well. The two of them simply strolled through the garden. The two men had already set up the barbecue grill together. Charles, acting as the chef, was busy grilling the meat skewers, while Cedrick was preparing the things needed for the bonfire party in the evening The aroma of the skewers wafted through the air, brightening Gwendolyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said. ¡°That cumin scent is unmistakably made by your dear love. It was just like the time when we were kids.¡± Whitney was taken aback. They were childhood friends, having experienced many things together from a young age. Among all. Gwendolyn should be the one who understood Charles the best. Chapter 836 Does He Like Me Chapter 836 Does He Like Me Seeing them return, Cedrick quickly handed over the skewers he had grilled to Gwendolyn Darling have a taste. I grilled these especially for you.¡± Gwendolyn took a bite. Oooh, it is freaking salty! Her delicate features contorted, revealing an expression of pain. Having grown ustomed to her husband¡¯s delicious cooking, Gwendolyn never imagined this meat would be so unptable that she couldn¡¯t even swallow it. Afraid of getting hit, Cedrick quickly ran off into the distance. He was retaliating against Gwendolyn who just said that she wanted to marry Whitney and make him her main wife, her first wife. Gwendolyn came to her senses and immediately chased after him. ¡°Cedrick! You¡¯re done fort The two were frolicking nearby, and a look of envy shed in Whitney¡¯s eyes. Suddenly, a skewer was offered right before her. ¡°Go ahead and eat, or it¡¯ll get cold soon.¡± Someone¡¯s tone was very cold, forming a stark contrast to the affectionate teasing andughter of Cedrick and Gwendolyn nearby, ¡°Thank you.¡± Whitney didn¡¯t say much, obediently epting the skewer he handed over. Time went by quickly when one was having fun. Gwendolyn leaned into Cedrick¡¯s embrace, her cheeks flushed a peachy hue from the red wine she had drunk while she waved to Charles and Whitney. ¡°Whenever you have time, Whitney,e over for a visit. I¡¯ll pass the little cupcakes to Benny and Zendy After such a delightful afternoon, Whitney¡¯s gloom from the past few days was swept away. ¡°I will,¡± she said. ¡°I will also strive to do my best.¡± ¨C Gwen, Mr. Jeason, we¡¯re leaving now.¡± Nonchntly, Charles uttered a sentence, then under the moonlight, he and Whitney left Harrick Vi side by side. On the way back, Whitney was in high spirits, and even wanted to hum a tune. Yet, fearing that she would upset Charles, she merely opened her mouth slightly, softly murmuring the lyrics of the song. ¡°Whenever you are with Gwendolyn, you¡¯d better remember what to say and what not to say. Don¡¯t cro the line¡± Charles¡¯ words were like a bucket of cold water pouring down, instantly plunging Whitney¡¯s good mood into the abyss. She lowered her head, responding in a subdued voice. ¡°I understand, Mr. Newton.¡± Hearing her call him ¡°Mr. Newton¡± again, Charles felt a wave of irritation in his heart. He stomped on the elerator, and the luxury car roared as it shot forward. Startled, Whitney let out a gasp, her only option was to tightly grip the handle of the car next to her. At this hour, the roads were bustling with cars, and many pedestrians were crossing the street. A moment¡¯s distraction could lead to an ident. Yet, instead of slowing down, the speed of the car was increasing, getting faster and faster. Whitney felt a bit scared. ¡°Mr. Newton¡­¡± Huh, it¡¯s Mr. Newton again. The piercing sound of screeching brakes filled the air, as the tires skidded a considerable distance on the ground. The force of inertia held Whitney firmly in her seat by the seatbelt, causing a sharp pain in her chest. Whitney looked ahead in terror. Just now, they nearly crashed into therge truck ahead. hing a glimpse of her terrified and helpless eyes, Charles directly grasped her chin and kissed her. He was dominant and unyielding. The atmosphere inside the car subtly changed in an instant. He bit the tip of her tongue. Whitney winced in pain, wanting to him push away, but Charles¡¯s restraint left her no room to resist. Charlesrge hand gripped her restless slender wrists, lifting them above her head and pressing them onto the car seat. She was left with no choice but to endure the kiss. After a while, Whitney was breathless from the kiss. Only then did Charles release her, and his voice sounded cold and grinding. ¡°This is your punishment. If you get the address wrong again next time, you¡¯ll have to walk back to the Newton residence from here. Punishment? Was it not because she had a long chat with Gwendolyn tonight, or because she called him by the wrong name? ¡°What? You don¡¯t understand?¡± Charley¡¯s sgaze was still so cold it made one¡¯s heart palpitate. Whitney quickly averted her gaze 1 understand. Charles¡­ my husband¡± Upon hearing the term ¡°husband¡±, Charles felt somewhat relieved, and his previously furrowed brow gradually rxed. The luxury car finally moved on the road smoothly. Through the rearview mirror, Whitney saw her own lips swollen. Recalling his dominant act just now, she couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart beat faster. His kiss was forceful, yet it was the third time he had taken the initiative to kiss her. She looked it up online, a man will only take the initiative to kiss when he liked someone. Does Charles¡¯s actions mean¡­ that he might like me, even if it¡¯s just a little? When the thought popped into her mind, Whitney couldn¡¯t help but feel startled. She stole a nce at him, then quickly averted her eyes, The next morning, Whitney went to work as usual. The people in the logistics department still looked at her with a strange gaze. Xenia arrived early and happened to run into Whitney in the hallway. She intended to avoid her, but Whitney stopped her. ¡°Xenia, I think we need to have a talk.¡± With a guilty conscience, Xenia dared not meet Whitney¡¯s gaze. Clutching the documents, she put on a hurried expression. ¡°I still have to print some documents. I don¡¯t have time.¡± With a coldugh, Whitney directly blocked her path. What are you afraid of? You¡¯re the one who handled the bills, right? I don¡¯t care who you¡¯ve been bought by. If you¡¯ve done something wrong, you should be prepared to face the consequences.¡± She was no saint, she wouldn¡¯t let others frame her for nothing.. Xenia was intimidated by her aura, but still retorted stubbornly. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. I have to go to work now.¡± Whitley swiftly stepped aside, allowing Xenia to quickly make her exit. Gwendolyn is right. I can only escape from this situation by constantly improving my abilities. Whitney returned to her desk. The first thing she did was to disband their work group, permanently blocking Xenia, The task was given to her by Queenie, so she took it upon herself to do everything on her own this time, not allowing anyone else to interfere. Whitney spent the entire morning organizing the items she needed to purchase in the afternoon. She handed over these details to Queenie in advance. At the same time, she also passed on the evidence from the previous asion one by one to Queenie. Regardless of whether she couldpletely clear herself of suspicion, she was determined to vindicate her name. Queenie received the files she sent and forwarded all of them to Charles. She had a rough idea of who were the ones stirring up trouble behind the scenes, but after all, they were employees of Newton Group. It was up to the CEO to deal with this matter. As soon as Whitney left thepany, Charles received a notification of her clocking out. He immediately issued instructions to Isaac. ¡°Have someone tail her. If anything seems off, report back to me immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Newton.¡± In the mall, Whitneypleted her shopping ording to the list. By then, the sky had gradually darkened. She was preparing to take a taxi back to the office. So she stood by the roadside for a couple of minutes, and soon a taxi pulled up in front of her. Seeing the numerousrge and small packages she was carrying, the driver voluntarily got out of the car to help her load them into the trunk. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. As the end of the workday approached, even if Whitney took a taxi back to the office, she would still be stuck in traffic for nearly an hour. Unknowingly, she dozed off in the car. She had practically run across half the city that afternoon, and her body was incredibly exhausted. She d the driver to wake her when they reached the office, then drifted off into a deep sleep. Bang! ¡°A missive crash jolted Whitney awake from her slumber. The windshield shattered, sharp fragments scratched Whitney¡¯s cheek as their car collided with another vehicle loaded with goods. The passenger-side airbag deployed, and Whitney felt a piercing pain shooting up her calf. But right now, she simply didn¡¯t have the time to worry about her own injuries. The items in the car were her main concern! Chapter 837 She Is In Trouble Chapter 837 She Is In Trouble If these things were to be affected, she simply couldn¡¯t afford to pay back! Whitney was struggling to get out of the car. However, the front of the vehicle was deformed from the impact, so she couldn¡¯t even open the door. She strained to turn her head, ncing at the equally immobilized driver, and asked, ¡°Has the stuff in the trunk been affected?¡± The driver nodded, ¡°This car has bypassed me at several intersections. It must be done deliberately.¡± Whitney frowned. Who is trying to mess with me again? Before it was just minor troubles, but now it had escted to a threat to life. ¡°What should we do now?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already called a tow truck toe over.¡± No sooner had the driver finished speaking than the car suddenly jolted, then nging noises echoing around them. Whitney was taken aback-someone was tampering with the goods of the trunk. ¡°Hey! You can¡¯t smash it!¡± Whitney was desperate to get out of the car, but she was immobilized, and forced to watch helplessly as the group wreaked havoc. In a short while, someone came to open her car door. ¡°What are you guys up to?¡± Whitney was shouting loudly when the car door was suddenly opened from the outside. A strange face appeared, different from the group she had seen earlier. The man helped her unbuckle her seat belt and removed the heavy object pressing down on Whitney¡¯s leg. Finally, she could get out of the car. There was a gash that shed across her calf, and the sight of the wound was startling. In fact, it was oozing blood incessantly. Whitney didn¡¯t have time to tend to her wounds. She hobbled over to check on the condition of the goods. in the vehicle. Most of the goods had been destroyed. It was a loss worth tens of thousands, A wave of sorrow washed over Whitney. Thepany she had been working for a month paid her less. than ten thousand a month. If she were topensate for half a truckload of goods, it would almost cost her half a year of sry, The man who had just rescued her from the car approached, followed by a group of people dressed like bodyguards. They were escorting the group that had been causing trouble just a moment ago. ¡°Ms. Mellor, an ambnce will be here shortly to take you to the hospital. We¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Whitney stopped him, walked up to the detained person, and demanded, ¡°Who are you exactly? Who sent you?¡± The man looked like a street thug. With a roguish grin, he said, ¡°We¡¯re just here to do a job for the money. I¡¯ll do the bidding of whoever pays me.¡± He spoke with an air of indifference, which infuriated Whitney to the point where she gritted her teeth and decisively pped him twice. With a loud smack, the hitnded heavily and resoundingly. ¡°Shameless! Do you have any idea how important these things are to me!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± the man sneered dismissively. He was about to mock her, when Whitney¡¯s uninjured leg shot out, and her foot struck him squarely in the groin. ¡°D¡±mn! That¡¯s a real kick! You are so ruthless¡­¡± He was in so much pain that his whole body was shaking. He realized that with this kick, he might never be able to have any children in the future. Whitney was still itching to punch him, but just at that moment, the ambnce arrived, and the stretcher was brought out. ¡°Rest assured. Ms. Mellor, we will deliver these goods to yourpany.¡± The man speaking was the same one who had just saved her. Whitney didn¡¯t know him, and she didn¡¯t feelfortable entrusting those things to them. The man seemed to perceive her apprehension and exined with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m with Mr. Newton, Ms. Mellor. You have nothing to worry about.¡± Oh, he is Mr. Newton¡¯s man. These words seemed to put her at ease in an instant, and she nodded in agreement. The stretcher was brought over, and Whitney was escorted onto the ambnce by the nurses, heading to the hospital for further examination. After she finally rxed, she felt a heavy drowsiness enveloping her. She wasn¡¯t sure if she had a concussion from the impact. Her body was in pain. She leaned against the stretcher in the ambnce, her arm throbbing with pain. It felt as if she had used up all her strength hitting someone just now, to the point where she didn¡¯t even have the energy to lift her hand anymore. Who were those people who deliberately bumped into me today? Who else is trying to put me in harm¡¯s way? Newton Group, CEO¡¯s Office. Several men, bound hand and foot, were thrown onto an open space. Their mouths were stuffed with cloth and sealed shut with tape Charles sat with his back to them, and his hands folded on hisp. He exuding an intense aura of oppression that sent chills down one¡¯s spine. Quiet. Deadly silence. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. The few punks, who were originally ignorant of their own limitations, immediately backed down the moment they met Charles. Fear was evident in their eyes. They sensed the presence of death! Several men in ck, wearing sunsses, stood beside the thugs. Charles swiveled his chair around. ¡°Who sent you to do this?¡± The young punk swallowed nervously. ¡°No one put me up to this. I just did it because I didn¡¯t like what I saw. Do I need a reason to cause some trouble?¡± ¡°Beat him.¡± Upon Charles¡¯smand, several men in ck picked up their stun batons. The office quickly filled with the intermittent sounds of wailing. Charles lit a cigarette, slowly exhaling a ring of smoke. His cold eyes watched these beaten-up thugs. In less than two minutes, Isaac came over with a piece of surveince footage and handed it to Charles. ¡°Mr. Newton, we¡¯ve found it. This is the recording of the person who contacted them.¡± With Newton Group¡¯s capabilities, finding the person who contacted them was simply too easy. The sound yed, transmitting every word of the conversation from both sides without fail. ¡°This is the woman you need to target. I don¡¯t care what methods you use, as long as you prevent her from seeding. Once it¡¯s done, a hundred thousand will be transferred to your ount.¡± ¡°Alright, Ms. Langdon, leave this matter to us,¡± Upon hearing the sound, the young man¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Their meeting ce was extremely secluded. How could we get discovered? Charles stood up and squatted down in front of a young punk and asked him in a deep voice, ¡°Who is this Ms. Langdon you¡¯re talking about?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Charles chuckled. ¡°Bring Sissi Langdon from the logistics department over here.¡± The cigarette butt was flicked out,nding perfectly inside the punk¡¯s clothes. Instantly, the punk trembled all over, yelping from the burn. Logistics department. ¡°Sissi,e out for a moment. Mr. Newton wants to see you.¡± Sissy was engrossed in a gossip session with the people around her when she was suddenly called upon, leaving her somewhat surprised. The elevator ascended, and inside, Sissy straightened her clothes and discreetly touched up her makeup. Watching her little movements, Isaac sneered. Let her bask in her glory for a couple more minutes, she¡¯ll have her share of tears soon enough. Ding! The elevator doors slid open, and Sissy quickly followed behind Isaac. The top floor was where Charles worked. It was a ce where junior employees like her never get a chance to visit. This was Sissy¡¯s first time there. ¡°Mr. Turner, did the president not tell you why he asked me toe?¡± To be honest, Sissy was still a bit nervous. She was afraid that she might say something wrong and upset the CEO. She was not as beautiful as Whitney, nor as capable as Lana. Isaac didn¡¯t offer any exnation, he simply knocked on the door of the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Come in.¡± Charles¡¯s indifferent voice echoed, causing Sissy to instantly stiffen. Her heart started pounding wildly. Upon entering the office and seeing those few thugs, Sissy swallowed nervously several times, and her legs went weak. Charles stared at her,zily asking. ¡°Do you know these people on the floor?¡± Sissy shook her head. ¡°Mr. Newton, I don¡¯t know them.¡± Charles fiddled with the wristwatch in his hand, scoffing coldly, ¡°You¡¯ll get to know them.¡± With a single nce from him, the bodyguard once again raised his stun baton. He ruthlessly attacked the gang of thugs right in front of Sissy. This was the first time Sissy had witnessed such a scene, and it frightened her so much that she copsed to the ground. ¡°Mr. Newton¡­ what¡­ what are you trying to say?¡± Chapter 838 What Is Her Background Chapter 838 What Is Her Background Charles smiled, leaning down to meet Sissi¡¯s terrified gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t like liars. Do you know them or not? This is yourst chance,¡± A powerful sense of oppression swept over Sissi, making even her breathing be very slow. She didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. ¡°So you¡¯re not talking, huh?¡± ¡°Continue.¡± Charles said coldly, the wailing mixed with the sound of blunt force hitting flesh was absolutely horrifying. Isaac approached Sissi and warned her, ¡°Are you still not going to tell the truth? After Mr. Newton is done with them, you¡¯re next, Sissi. You¡¯d better think it through carefully.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Charles raised his hand, and the man in ck halted his actions. Those few thugs were already half dead. Sissi looked at the few punks on the ground, shaking with fear. Isaac had her lifted by two men in ck. forcing her to make eye contact with Charles. Isaac warned. ¡°You¡¯d better clearly exin what you¡¯ve been doing in thepany. If Mr. Newton finds out, don¡¯t me me for not warning you about the consequences.¡± Sissi steeled her heart ¡°It was Lana. She made me do this! She has always been jealous of Whitney. She formatted theputer thest time and caused Whitney¡¯s project n to go missing.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also the report on Whitney¡¯s ount. It was Lana who had me meddle with it. This time, she gave me some money to hire a few thugs to rough her up. The money sent to them was all from Lana. This is all documented.¡± With trembling hands, Sissi pulled out her phone, bringing up the transaction records between her and Lana. Before she started on this endeavor, she had feared that things might go awry, so she had taken extra precaution. She certainly wouldn¡¯t foolishly bear all the responsibility. ¡°Lana gave me one hundred twenty thousand yuan. One hundred thousand was for hiring the thugs, and the remaining twenty thousand was hush money for me. Mr. Newton, please understand that I¡¯m just a worker. Lana was the one who orchestrated all of this!¡± Looking at the transfer records on his phone, Charles¡¯ eyes suddenly turned cold. Isaac then asked, ¡°Apart from Lana, is there anyone else? Besides these, what else have you done to Whitney?¡± ¡°There is Janice too. She¡¯s the one spreading rumors about Whitney and and you in thepany. They all disapprove of Whitney, just an intern with no education or background, yet she keeps receiving special treatment from thepany. Therefore Sisst¡¯s voice grew softer and softer, revealing everyone in their little circle In order to protect herself, she had no choice but to act this way. ¡°Call those few people over.¡± Isaac didn¡¯t dare to dy and hurriedly did as instructed. Before long, everyone was brought to the front of the office door. Upon entering the office, Janice was so shocked by the scene before her that she copsed onto the floor. Lana was also frightened, barely managing to stand upright by holding onto the door frame. With a forced smile, Lana asked, ¡°Mr. Newton, what¡­ what do you mean by this?¡± Charles gave a slight smile, gazing at her, he said, ¡°Lana, that¡¯s a nice name.¡± At this moment, Charles was smiling. It was a smile that wasced with a hint of danger and a hint of warning. Lana could see it clearly. ¡°Mr. Newton, you¡­¡± Lana looked at Sissi, who was stunned and sitting on the ground, feeling very worried inside. ¡°Notify the HR department, that they will no longer appear in anypanies in Newton Group. If any company in Salinsburgh dares to hire them in the future, it would be crossing Newton Group. Furthermore, I never want to see them in Salinsburgh again.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the office waspletely dumbfounded. Lana was frightened and pleaded. ¡°Mr. Newton, please give me another chance. I realize my mistake and I promise I won¡¯t cause you any more trouble in the future.¡± Upon hearing this, Charles slowly approached, and stopped when he was only two steps away from Lana. He leaned in with a cold smirk. ¡°Where did you do wrong?¡± A powerful sense of oppression swept over Lana, causing her legs to weaken. Trembling, she found herself unable to speak. ¡°Throw them out. Don¡¯t dirty the carpet.¡± ¡± Upon hearing those words, Isaac quickly called over a few bodyguards dressed in ck. They promptly dragged the thugs out of the office. While they were at it, they also escorted Lana and the others out. Lana and the others hadn¡¯t snapped out of their fear even when they were dragged out of the office. Janice was someone with very little courage who would only dare to bully the weak and fear the strong. This time, she was scared to the point of fainting. Isaac said coldly, ¡°Pack your things immediately and leave thepany. You have half an hour. If you¡¯re not ready by then, don¡¯t me me for being rude.¡± ¡°Mr. Turner¡­¡± Lana was actually nning to y the victim. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. But Isaac simply wouldn¡¯t buy what she was selling, briskly shaking off her hand as she tried totch onto him. O 2/3 ¡°You have twenty-nine minutes left. If you insist on stirring up trouble before you leave, feel free to try.¡± After saying that, Isaac turned around and left. ¡°Lana, we¡¯ve all been working for you. Now that we¡¯ve lost our jobs and are being driven out of Salinsburgh, you should at leaste up with a solution, right?¡± At this moment, Lana was feeling extremely agitated. Hearing Sissi¡¯s incessant nagging on the side instantly ignited her anger. ¡°Who was the one begging me for help in the first ce? Now that there¡¯s trouble, youe looking for me? When you were reaping the benefits, why didn¡¯t you think of refusing then? You want me to find a solution now? What solution could I possibly have?¡± ¡°You were the mastermind behind this from the start, and now you expect me to bear the consequences? That¡¯s not fair!¡± Sissi was furiously yelling behind Lana. Lana simply ignored her. They returned to the logistics department. As they were all called out one by one, and both Sissi and Janice returned with red, tear-stained eyes, the remaining people in the logistics department couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of unease. Seeing Lana return, someone immediately went up to her. ¡°What on earth happened? Why did Mr. Turner call you out? Why do I see Sissi and the others packing up?¡± Seeing someone checking on her, Lana sighed, a knowing look appearing on her face as she began to pack up her things. ¡°All I can say is, steer clear of Whitney in the future. She¡¯s not someone you can afford to mess with. After all, she has a CEO backing her up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just being kicked out because I stepped on her toes in a task, stirred up her cheese. Now, I have to pack up and leave¡­¡± At this moment, Isaac arrived at the logistics department. Lana quickly shut her mouth and dared not say another word. Under Isaac¡¯s watchful eye, Lana and the others quickly packed their belonging into the boxes. After they left, the logistics department instantly erupted into a flurry of activity, with people gathering in small groups to discuss the matter. ¡°Lana is a veteran in our department and highly capable. Howe she was terminated? Could it be at promotion?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem right to me. Didn¡¯t you notice that those who were close to Lana have all left? And with Sissi¡¯s outspoken personality, would she look like this if she got promoted? She must have done something that crossed the line with Mr. Newton. That¡¯s why she was fired.¡± The person who had just spoken to Lana denied all of their spections, and whispered, ¡°Lana told me the truth. We should stay away from Whitney in the future. This woman is truly terrifying. I really don¡¯t know what her background is.¡± Chapter 839 You Have Not Learned Your Lesson Chapter 839 You Have Not Learned Your Lesson Those gossip-loving folks instantly perked up, eagerly pulling her aside to discuss the details. Looking out through the blinds, Queenie noticed people gathering in small groups and started to chat idly. With a frown, she stepped outside. The crisp sound of high heels echoed, Queenie pped the table, and said sternly, ¡°Do you all have too much free time on your hands? Why are you still in the mood for idle chatter? Do you think our department can outperform all the other departments in thepany?¡± Queenie was furious, and those people quickly dispersed, returning to their own workstations. Lana and Sissi, who had just left the Newton Group¡¯s building, had their faces filled with sorrow. They felt as if their lives had suddenly be utterly miserable. However, something even more dreadful was waiting for them. They had not gone far from the building when several police cars drove up and parked by the roadside. In no time, they were surrounded. ¡°Are you Lana, Sissi, Janice¡­?¡± ¡°You are suspected of nning a car ident and engaging in a group fight, pleasee with us.¡± In the end, the three of them were handcuffed. They cried their hearts out, unable to get up from the ground. They were forcibly lifted and pushed into the police car. Three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Atst, Whitney hadpleted all her checkups. The diagnosis revealed that she had a slight concussion. and her leg had suffered some bruising. She would need to take some time to recover. Looking at the results on the report, Whitney couldn¡¯t help but shake her head. She limped out of the hospital, ready to hail a cab, but she saw Isaac at the hospital entrance. Due to previous rumors, they hadn¡¯tmunicated for quite a long time. Well, now that we¡¯ve run into each other, it wouldn¡¯t be right not to say hello. Whitney limped to the side of the road and waved at him. ¡°Mr. Turner, what brings you here?¡± Isaac hurriedly opened the car door and said respectfully, ¡°Mrs. Newton, I havee to pick you up as per Mr. Newton¡¯s instructions.¡± Seeing that Whitney didn¡¯t move, Isaac exined, ¡°Actually, Mr. Newton was worried that something might happen to you from the beginning. That¡¯s why he asked me to arrange for someone to follow your car. He didn¡¯t expect that incident to happen. Hence, he sent me to pick you up and take you back to thepany¡± Seeing the bandage on Whitney¡¯s head, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°No worries. It¡¯s just a minor scrape. It¡¯ll heal with a bit of rest¡± Whitney has never been one to overdramatize, nor would she make a fuss over a minor injury. As they were nearing thepany, Whitney hastily asked Isaac to stop the car. ¡°Um¡­ should I go in first?¡± Isaac, of course, understood her concerns. He nodded and replied, ¡°I apologize, Mrs. Newton, for any inconvenience caused earlier. Please go ahead, I will report back to Mr. Newton.¡± After parting ways with Isaac, Whitney hopped back to the logistics department, increasingly aware that the way people looked at her had changed again. But Whitney couldn¡¯t be bothered. Upon inspection, she found out that only a small amount of the purchased items had issues, the rest were actually quite fine. As forpensation, the amount of ten thousand yuan should be sufficient. After estimating the approximate amount, Whitney¡¯s worried heart finally settled down. This price was something she could ept. When it was time to knock off, Whitney started packing up to leave. Then, she unexpectedly found that Lana and Sissi¡¯s belongings were missing. What happened during the time I was away? She caught a colleague before they left, and asked, ¡°Lilith, why haven¡¯t I seen Lana and the others? Have they been transferred from our department?¡± A look of panic crossed Lilith¡¯s face when she was caught by Whitney. She quickly pulled away from her grasp. ¡°You should ask someone else. I don¡¯t know, and don¡¯t ask me again in the future.¡± After that, Lilith quickly walked away. Whitney was utterly perplexed. Why do I feel that I was a harbinger of doom? I could see the fear in Lilith¡¯s eyes. What on earth happened? A vague sense of unease lingered in Whitney¡¯s heart. Limping, she descended the stairs to the parking lot. She quietly waited by the side of Charles¡¯ most frequently used luxury car still parked in the garage after seeing it. Two hours passed before Charles finally showed up in the parking lot. Charles quickened his pace to reach her when he saw the wound on her forehead from a distance. ¡°Why are you so clumsy? You even hurt yourself while shopping Upon exiting, the words of concern involuntarily turned into reproach. Whitney bit her lip tightly, her lips turning pale. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault, I¡­ I have to go now.¡± Whitney limped, and turned to leave. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Charles furrowed his brows, grabbing her wrist. ¡°Your leg is in this condition. What are you trying to prove? Trying to y the victim?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Whitney tried to shake off his hand, but it only resulted in him tightening his grip even more. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you all of a sudden?¡± Charles was very annoyed. He was already worried about her condition, and now she was throwing a tantrum. A pang of pain shot through her wrist, causing Whitney to sharply inhale. Holding back her tears, she pleaded, ¡°Mr. Newton, please let go.¡± An icy formality in address instantly ignited Charles¡¯ temper, He yanked her over, pulling her hands above her head, and pressed them against the car. His voice was cold and grinding. ¡°It seems like you still haven¡¯t learned your lesson.¡± Her wrists were slender, so much so that they could bepletely encircled by just one hand. Charles¡¯s other hand forcefully gripped her chin,pelling her to meet his gaze. The look in Whitney¡¯s eyes was defiant. Her entire face radiating a sense of discontent and grievance. Hmm¡­ She seems like an easy target¡­. Seeing her in this state, Charles couldn¡¯t help his subconscious actions, and once again kissed her pale lips. Being stuck in this position, Whitney had no choice but to tilt her head back, and leaned her body against the car. His kiss was domineering and unreasonable as always. Pain radiated from her lips. Then, a metallic taste of blood spreading throughout my mouth. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The pain on her lips spread throughout her body. Whitney mustered all her strength to push him away, gently touching her lips with her hand, and sure enough, she felt blood. Is he born in the Year of the Dog? She was about to turn around and leave when she put weight on her injured leg without realizing it. The pain was so intense that she fell to the ground. Suddenly, she felt a pair ofrge hands ced on her waist, lifting her entire body up. With a sudden lift into the air. Whitney could only cling tightly to Charles¡¯ neck to maintain her bnce. She was shoved into the passenger seat, and Charles roughly fastened her seat belt. He started the luxury car and left the parking lot. Throughout the journey, the atmosphere in the car was icy cold, with no one taking the initiative to speak. Upon returning to the Newton residence, Jasmine saw that Whitney was injured. She quickly expressed her concern. ¡°What happened? How did you get hurt like this out of the blue? Charles, how could you let Sissi get hurt!¡± Charles remained silent, while Whitney exined, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jasmine. A minor issue arose with a project I¡¯m handling. When I went to resolve it, I identally scraped the car. It¡¯s not a big deal, and it has nothing to do with Charles.¡± ¡°Charles, you are really something. Whitney is your wife after all. How could you not arrange for someone to apany her¡­¡± While grumbling under her breath, Jasmine took Whitney from Charles¡¯s hands, ready to help her upstairs. She initially wanted to call the Newton family¡¯s private doctor to check on Whitney, but thetter declined. The two of them made their way through the hall. Jasmine found it very difficult to support her as she had no experience in caring for others. Whitney silently endured the pain, not uttering a word as they headed. towards the staircase. Just as Whitney was about to reach the staircase, she suddenly found herself suspended in mid-air. By the time she reacted, she was already held in Charles¡¯s arms, his hand around her waist. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of my wife myself.¡± Chapter 840 Another Rumor Chapter 840 Another Rumor Charles carried her upstairs, his face stern. Returning to the bedroom, Charles did not utter a word. He simply took a bath as usual and theny down. on the bed. Sitting on the couch, Whitney nced at him and hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Tonight¡­ I¡¯ll sleep on the couch. Could you please help me get the nket?¡± Her leg was in such severe pain that she feared she might fall if she tried to fetch the nket herself, which could potentially upset him. Charles¡¯ movements came to a halt. He walked straight to Whitney and picked her up, cing her on the bed. Whitney quickly got to her feet. ¡°I-I haven¡¯t taken a bath.¡± She had absolutely no time to change out of these dirty clothes throughout the day. They probably still recked of blood. ¡°What a hassle.¡± Charles¡¯ blue eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of impatience crossing his face. Once again, he stood up and carried her to the bathroom. After entering the bathroom, he stayed there. Nervously gulping, Whitney stuttered, ¡°Um¡­ I-I can wash myself.¡± ¡°All right. Go to bed after you¡¯ve finished washing up.¡± With these cold words, Charles finally walked out of the bathroom. Only then did Whitney dare to undress, and it was then that she noticed the wound on her leg. Although It was wrapped in gauze, traces of blood still seeped through. Luckily, thest time she tidied up, she ced a first aid kit in the bathroom for emergencies. She never thought it would actuallye in handy now. Ouch, it really hurts. The gauze was sticking to the wound, so the only option was to dampen it with water while gently peeling it off. The sound of running water in the bathroom masked Whitney¡¯s painful gasps. She bit her lip hard, refusing to let herself make a sound. After washing up and wrapping her wound, she lingered in the bathroom for a while, intentionally extending her time there. She hoped that by the time she exited the bathroom, he would already be sleeping. About half an hourter, Whitney finally sauntered out of the bathroom. Unexpectedly, the moment she opened the door, she almost bumped into Charles¡¯ solid chest. Whitney was speechless. Has he¡­ been waiting at the door this whole time? Before Whitney could speak, the man swiftly scooped her up in a bridal style. Returning to the bed, he turned off the lights and pulled her back into his arms. It was time for bed. Whitney was pressed tightly against his chest, listening to the sound of his strong and powerful heartbeat. His hand rested on her waist; they were extremely close with each other. The steady rhythm of breathing soon echoed from the person behind her, apanied by a faint snoring sound. However, Whitney was not the least bit sleepy. Even though the two of them had an unpleasant encounter in the parking lot, it seemed as if nothing happened once they returned to the house. When he called her his wife, did he mean it? She did not know, nor did she dare to hope for too much. After all, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Lower your expectations, and you¡¯ll reduce your disappointments. Forget it. Don¡¯t think about it anymore. The next morning, after breakfast, Whitney was limping, preparing to hail a cab to work. However, Charles walked straight over and draped his arm around her shoulder. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Just at that moment, Jasmine came out of her room. Seeing them leaving together, she nodded approvingly. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Charles, you should have been bringing Whitney to work a long time ago. Now that she¡¯s injured, you must take good care of her.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± On the way to thepany, the two of them traveled in silence. Whitney felt a bit nervous. If people from thepany saw her getting out of Charles¡¯ car, it would be inevitable that more gossip would circte. However, Charles should be driving straight into the parking lot. I¡¯ll just wait for him to go up first, then I¡¯ll go. Whitney nned everything in her heart, but Charles did not give her the chance at all. He drove his luxury car straight to the front of thepany building. Seeing the bustling entrance, Whitney hurriedly rolled up the car window. Lowering her head, she asked in a low voice, ¡°We¡¯re at thepany. Why are you¡­¡± Contrary to Whitney¡¯s anxiety, Charles appeared nonchnt. With an air ofposure, he said. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t move around that much. It¡¯s closer to reach the office from here. Get out.¡± Kablemand, one that Whitney dared not refuse. With a sense of dread. she had no choice but to open the car door. Charles¡¯ car was simply too cool. It was a dark-gray Rolls-Royce with a unique te number. It was probably unmatched in the entire Salinsburgh. The people at the door were all taken aback as they saw Whitney step out of the car. Fearful of being recognized, Whitney kept her head down and hurriedly walked away. Yet, unbeknownst to her, word of this scene still spread around. In just one morning, her name became known to almost everyone in thepany. It was only when she went to work today that she found out Lana and the others had been fired. Several employees from the logistics department had left in just one day. In the entirepany, only Charles would be capable of pulling off something like this. A vague understanding of what happened warmed Whitney¡¯s heart. No matter how she looked at it, Charles helped her deal with those troublesome women, which could be considered as him protecting her. Not to mention, a bodyguard was specifically arranged for her when she went out shopping. Unfortunately, her joy did notst long, as Whitney soon heard another rumor about herself. In the afternoon, she felt thirsty and went to the pantry for a cup of coffee. When she walked out of the pantry, she ran into Wrenna from the same department. Crossing her arms, Wrenna blocked Whitney¡¯s path. ¡°Whitney, I underestimated you. After hooking up with Mr. Turner, now you¡¯re onto Mr. Newton? Just because you¡¯re somewhat attractive, you think you can do whatever you want?¡± ¡°What?¡± Whitney was confused. She could not understand what Wrenna was saying. Seeing the confusion in Whitney¡¯s eyes, Wrenna became even angrier. ¡°Stop acting like the victim! I have no respect for women like you who use underhanded tactics to climb thedder! You seduced Mr. Newton, didn¡¯t you?¡± In her previouspany, Wrenna lost her original position to a woman who used her connections to climb the corporatedder. As a result, she harbored a deep resentment toward Whitney. At that moment, another employee from the department came over. Tugging at Wrenna, she whispered, ¡°Do you think Whitney is easy to bully? You dare to confront her. Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll report you to Mr. Newton and get you fired too? I heard that Lana and the others are going to be driven out of Salinsburgh. You better not mess with her.¡± Although the person spoke in a low voice, Whitney could still hear her. What? Lana and her group will be expelled from Salinsburgh How did it get so serious? Meeting Whitney¡¯s puzzled gaze, Wrenna could not help but spit out, ¡°Why should I be afraid of a shameless creature? If she has the guts, let herin to Mr. Newton and have him fire me too!¡± The person hurriedly pulled Wrenna away, leaving Whitney standing in the same spot. In the time that followed, Whitney could constantly feel eyes on her from all directions. There were thos filled with malice and mockery, as well as those who looked down on her. Wherever she went, there were always eyes on her. However, when she turned around, those people would quickly shift their gaze, acting as if nothing had happened. Chapter 841 I Am Human Too Chapter 841 I Am Human Too This situation persisted for three days, and the rumors grew more and more intense. Someone had even maliciously locked her in the bathroom. There were also incidents where files had gone missing, and various sauces had been spilled on her seat. In one particrly disturbing instance, someone had ced a dead mouse under her keyboard. Whitney was simply speechless. It was impossible for her to guard against the relentless, malicious pranks. Whenever she walked around thepany, she would invariably be the subject of people¡¯s discussions. No matter where she hid, it seemed as if she could always hear their usations and mockery toward her. Whitney eventually lost her cool when she found a dead bug under the keyboard. Left with no choice, she typed a resignation letter and sent it to Queenie. As much as she wanted to work with Charles again, she did not want to be a subject of ridicule by people in the office. Upon receiving Whitney¡¯s resignation letter, Queenie was struck dumb. Why did she tender her resignation all of a sudden? During this period, Queenie had been preupied withpany matters and had not had the time to pay attention to Whitney. She never expected that Whitney would think of quitting. She quickly forwarded Whitney¡¯s resignation to Charles. As she stepped out of the office, she saw Whitney packing up her things. She tapped on Whitney¡¯s desk and asked, ¡°What happened? Why are you resigning?¡± Upon hearing this, Whitney lowered her eyes as they turned bloodshot. She struggled to suppress the grievance she had endured all this while. Seeing her in this state, Queenie escorted her out of the office area. Once they settled at a quiet corner, Queenie finally asked, ¡°Tell me. What happened?¡± ¡°Ms. Zeller, I¡¯m sorry, but please approve my resignation request. Please let me go.¡± Whitney not only had to endure the pressure from thepany but also had to withstand the malice from her coworkers. She even had to manage her emotions before returning to the Newton residence, ensuring that no one would notice anything amiss. She would have handled it better if it were just one or two people trying to bully her. The harsh reality. was that everyone seemed to be ganging up on her. She also did not believe that Charles would dismiss all the existing employees causing trouble just for her sake. Furthermore, firing them would take a toll on thepany¡¯s performance and productivity. She was well aware of the consequences of certain actions. Queenie patted her shoulder, sighing as she exined, ¡°Your resignation needs more than my approval. It has to go through Mr. Newton too. If you really want to leave thepany, you should go and talk to him. about it.¡± Queenie did not dare to ept her resignation. She was afraid of being held ountable if Charles were to pursue the matterter. Whitney was rendered speechless. Must I inform Charles? Whitney knitted her brows, unsure of how to broach the subject with Charles. Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Queenie¡¯s phone vibrated just in time. It was a message from Charles: Ask her toe to my office. Immediately, Queenie showed Whitney the content on her phone. ¡°Mr. Newton already knew about your resignation. You should go and talk to him. If he approves it, I can process it right away.¡± ¡°Think twice, Whitney. You¡¯ve faced considerable challenges in proving your capabilities while working at Newton Group. There must be apelling reason for you to leave. Considering the current job market, weigh the consequences carefully,¡± Queenie advised before departing, leaving Whitney to collect her emotions in solitude. As she took the elevator up, Whitney was still a bit nervous. Having worked at Newton Group for so long, she had never been to Charles¡¯ office. She had not even been. to the floor where he worked. The elevator doors slid open, and Isaac was waiting for her at the entrance. ¡°Mr. Newton is aware of your situation in thepany, so don¡¯t be too nervous.¡± After leading her to Charles¡¯ office, he left. Charles sat with his back to her, his handsome head the only visible part of him. He remained in this position for a long time, without turning around. He remained silent, and so did Whitney, standing still without uttering a word. After a prolonged silence, Charles finally swiveled his chair around and mmed her resignation letter on the table. ¡°Why did you resign?¡± ¡°You know the reason, don¡¯t you?¡± Whitney asked in response. ¡°I¡¯m asking you.¡± His tone was devoid of any emotion. His tone only exacerbated Whitney¡¯s sense of grievance. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be constantly criticized and judged, nor do I want to be used of staying in thepany through illegitimate means. Above all, I don¡¯t want to cause you any trouble with rumors,¡± she exined. ¡°You can solve one problem for me, but you can¡¯t solve the countless problems of thepany all at once. I don¡¯t want to interfere with your career.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve signed a one-year secret marriage agreement. Our marriage feels like a thorn stuck in my throat. No matter how much they tarnish it, I can¡¯t reveal this identity. I¡¯m truly weary of these endless days. Instead of persisting like this, I¡¯d rather choose to leave. Please approve my resignation.¡± She poured out all the thoughts and feelings from her heart. After suppressing her feelings for a long time, Whitney was finally able to release them. She took a deep breath, instantly feeling much more at ease. However, Charles¡¯ expression remained far from pleasant, his brows furrowing even deeper. He cast a sidelong re at Whitney, his tone cold and firm. ¡°I disagree.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Whitney was puzzled. Clearly, her resignation would not affect him in the slightest. In fact, her departure would also mean that he would have one less problem to contend with. Isn¡¯t that a win-win situation for both sides? ¡°No particr reason. No means no.¡± He was firm with his decision. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Although Whitney did not expect him to say anything sweet, she was still taken aback by his demeanor. commanding All the grievances that had been umting in her heart, at that moment, erupted all at once. ¡°Why do you think you have the right to make decisions for others? Are you suggesting I can¡¯t resign just because you refuse to let me go? Is it apany rule?¡± Her eyes were rimmed with red, a faint shimmer of tears swirling around them. Whitney stubbornly bit her lip, her voice trembling intensely. The expression on her face annoyed Charles somewhat, yet unexpectedly, a hint of sympathy for her also surfaced. ¡°Because I am the CEO of the Newton Group.¡± He forced himself to ignore this feeling and continued to speak icily. ¡°Because I am your superior in thispany.¡± Whitney raised her voice to refute him. ¡°Charles, don¡¯t exploit my feelings for you, treating me as if I¡¯m at your beck and call. I¡¯m a person with feelings and thoughts of my own! I¡¯m not your personal possession!¡± It was the second time she had lost her temper in front of him. Her nose was tinged with red, as were her eyes. Shimmering tears welled up in her eyes, but her stubbornness kept them from falling. Charles was taken aback. He had always thought that Whitney was the kind of girl who was incredibly strong, and that was why he always acted without any restraint, knowing that she liked him. ¡°Yes, I like you, and I know I¡¯m not good enough, not worthy of you, but I¡¯m willing to change for you, to learn many things I don¡¯t understand, all for you.¡± Seeing him silent, Whitney thoughtfully voiced all her ideas. ¡°I¡¯ve never expected you to fall in love with me. Just being by your side for a year has already made me incredibly happy. But Charles, I¡¯m human too, I also need positive emotional support. Can¡¯t you care. about me a little more, just a little bit?¡± At this point, Whitney¡¯s voice was choked with emotion, barely recognizable. No matter how difficult people in thepany made things for her, she never shed a tear. However, when faced with Charles, with his habitualmanding and coercive tone, she felt a bitter and unbearable pain. in her heart. She crouched down, hugging her knees in distress. Perhaps, after today, he might dislike me even more. But it doesn¡¯t matter anymore. Despite Charles seemingly ignoring her crouched and curled-up position on the ground, deep down, he was stunned for several seconds, his blue eyes filled with shock. He sighed silently, his longshes concealing the deep blue hue in his eyes. Slowly, he rose and walked over. Matching her knee-hugging posture, he lifted her entirely into his arms and headed toward the couch. Chapter 842 Impossible To Please Chapter 842 Impossible To Please Whitney was terrified to the core and too scared to struggle for fear that she might fall t on her bum. Feeling the warmth of his body and the rhythm of his heartbeat, Whitney slowly turned her head and raised her swollen eyes to meet his gaze. At that very moment, her eyes resembled an aggrieved baby deer who was desperately in need of her master¡¯sfort and yearning for a warm embrace to alleviate all the malice she had endured recently. Charles settled on the couch and allowed Whitney to sit on hisp. His fingertips threaded through her golden hair and soothingly massaged the back of her head. Whitney was stunned. It seemed as if the man before her eyes had been possessed. He was so gentle that it felt like a trap. In his arms. Whitney gradually calmed down. ¡°Are you feeling better after letting it all out?¡± Whitney blinked her longshes, which were wet with tears before nodding in a daze. Charles took a tissue and gently wiped her tears away. ¡°Do you still want to resign?¡± His voice was unusually gentle. Somewhat taken aback, Whitney still nodded. Her gaze was resolute. Understanding her concerns, Charles released his embrace, pressed the inte, and instructed Isaac, ¡°Whitney will work at the top level from now on and serve as my assistant.¡± Upon hearing that, Whitney was shocked. Gossip had already spread like wildfire in thepany. If she were to work directly by his side, it would inevitably fuel the rumors even more. She did not want to be a burden to him. When the call ended, Charles¡¯ gaze turned to her. Raising an eyebrow, he said, ¡°What else are you worried about? No one dares to gossip when you¡¯re working with me.¡± ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t want to cause you any trouble.¡± Charles stood up, returned to his desk, and quickly immersed himself in his work. His fingers were rapidly typing on the keyboard, and hepletely ignored Whitney¡¯s words. ¡°Go pack your things.¡± It was still the same tone that brooked no argument and left her no room for discussion. She was at a loss for words. Fine then. Whitney nodded and limped as she walked out. Back at the logistics department, Isaac was personally packing her things. Whitney quickly took the folder from his hands. ¡°I can do it myself.¡± -Your workstation will be ready soon. The HR department has already made arrangements for your position. Starting tomorrow, you will officially be Mr. Newton¡¯s assistant.¡± Isaac deliberately spoke about this matter loudly in the logistics department. He wanted to convey the message that Charles had personally arranged for Whitney to work by his side. because he valued her. Before leaving. Whitney knocked on Queenie¡¯s office door. ¡°Come in.¡± Upon seeing that the visitor was Whitney, Queenie took the initiative to pour her a cup of warm water. ¡°I saw the news from the HR department. From now on, you¡¯ll be working alongside Mr. Newton. Working with the CEO is not like working in the logistics department. You need to be on your toes at all times. Try your best not to make mistakes. Do you understand?¡± Whitney nodded with a smile. ¡°I understand, Ms. Zeller. Thank you. Ever since I was an intern, you have generously shared your work experience with me. If it weren¡¯t for your guidance, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯d still be that clueless intern.¡± Whitney was truly grateful to Queenie. Queenie shook her head with a smile. ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank anyone. Everything you¡¯ve achieved is due to your own hard work. I simply saw my past self in you. Keep going. I believe in you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After bidding farewell to Queenie, Whitney headed to the top floor with her belongings. When the HR department posted the name of Charles new assistant on thepany¡¯s official website, the wholepany instantly erupted inmotion. Even those who were originally uninterested in Whitney became curious about who she was and how she had the ability to stay by Charles¡¯ side. All day long. Whitney¡¯s name was almost on the lips of every employee in thepany. ¡°Isn¡¯t it true that all the assistants and special aides around Mr. Newton are men? Howe this time. they¡¯ve let someone from the logistics department be his assistant?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? This person named Whitney is quite capable. In a short period of time, she hast risen from an intern to the position of the CEO¡¯s assistant. From what I know, she¡¯s also quite attractive.¡± ¡°Mr. Newton is not the type to be swayed by beauty. She must possess extraordinary abilities to have caught his eye. I remember she even presented a n at the general staff meeting. Not everyone has the audacity and ability to perform under pressure.¡± ¡°Who knows? The thoughts of the CEO are beyond ourprehension. Let¡¯s just focus on doing our own jobs.¡± Such discussions had been almost a daily urrence since Whitney became the CEO¡¯s assistant. At the top-level assistant¡¯s desk, Whitney was organizing the documents in front of her. After bing the CEO¡¯s assistant, she realized just how many tasks Charles had to handle every day. Ding! The phone in front of her rang. It was connected to Charles¡¯ office. Clearing her throat, Whitney hurriedly answered, ¡°Mr. Newton, may I ask what your instructions are?¡± Now, during work hours, she addressed him as Mr. Newton. ¡°Go make a cup of coffee for me. Three parts sugar and seventy percent hot.¡± Before Whitney could even respond, the call abruptly ended. What the heck? Three parts sugar, seventy percent hot? How am I supposed to measure that? In the past. Charles had alwaysined that the coffee she made was either too hot or too cold. This time, he gave her a specific temperature range. Whitney was overwhelmed. What frustrated her even more was that he only liked freshly ground coffee. However, every time she ground the coffee, it hurt her hands.. If he was not satisfied, she would have to start all over again. #hoosh, whoosh, whoosh. The sound of the coffee grinder echoed in the tea room and pulled Whitney back from her thoughts. She carefully adjusted the concentration of coffee and milk, added a touch of sugar, and felt the temperature of the cup with her hand. Seventy percent hot should be mildly hot and not scalding, right? Could it perhaps be like this? With a sense of unease, Whitney brought in the coffee and respectfully said, ¡°Here is the coffee you requested, Mr. Newton.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Charles¡¯ gaze never left the screen, and his hands ceaselessly tapped on the keyboard. Whitney stole a few nces at him while he was working. It was said that a man was most handsome when he was hard at work. Indeed, it was true. It seemed her gaze was too intense because Charles suddenly looked up and met her eyes. To her surprise, he suddenly turned around and startled Whitney into almost dropping the tray in her hands. She panicked. ¡°If Mr. Newton has no other instructions, I will take my leave now,¡± Seeing her panicked expression, Charles picked up the coffee from the table, took a sip, and frowned. In an instant, Whitney felt like she was facing a formidable enemy. Are the sweetness and milk levels not to his liking again? Is he not satisfied with the temperature? Is it too hot? She waited anxiously for the final judgment, but Charles remained silent for a long time. Whitney was stricken with fear. ¡°It¡¯s too sweet, and the coffee has cooled and lost its original rich aroma. Make a new one.¡± Hmm¡­ I knew he would be dissatisfied. Whitney bit her lip, took the coffee away, and resignedly went to brew a fresh cup again. Since he said there¡¯s too much sugar, let¡¯s reduce it a bit more. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. It¡¯s cooled down, so I will make a hotter one for him. The aroma of the coffee gradually wafted through the air, and it was quite pleasant. He shouldn¡¯t have anything toin about now, right? Chapter 843 Pranking The Assistant Seems Fun Chapter 843 Pranking The Assistant Seems Fun Once again. Whitney brought a cup of coffee into the office and carefully pushed it toward him. ¡°Mr. Newton, your freshly brewed coffee is ready. Please have a taste. If it¡¯s not to your liking. I can brew another one for you.¡± Hearing her voice, Charles slowly raised his head and gave her a look. He lifted his coffee and took a sip. His brows furrowed slightly first before his expression changed several times. An indiscernible look subsequently descended upon his face. Gradually, one could tell from his eyes that he had fallen into deep thought. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Sweat beads formed on the tip of Whitney¡¯s nose, her heart pounding wildly. Her mind was running wild. with all sorts of thoughts about Charles¡¯s response. She felt as if time had slowed to a standstill in the quiet office. It was as if even the air around her had been. sucked dry, making her feel so tense that she held her breath. Such an amusing reaction greatly pleased Charles, causing a faint curve to appear at the corner of his mouth. However, he quickly regained hisposure, setting down the cup in his hand. His handsome features took on a more serious expression as he slowly uttered, ¡°Mmm-hmm.¡± The single hum was enough to make Whitney feel as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her chest, eliciting a long sigh of relief from her. ¡°Is there anything else you need, Mr. Newton?¡± No one knew how torturous these past few minutes had been for her. Every second felt like an eternity. ¡°That¡¯s all for now.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Charles¡¯s gaze returned to the screen, no longer paying her any attention. Upon hearing his words, Whitney respectfully nodded at him with the tray in her hands. She then confidently walked out of the office, carefully closing the door behind her. As soon as she stepped out, she couldn¡¯t contain the joy within her. She was so thrilled that she lifted the tray in a triumphant gesture. In that moment, she feltpletely invigorated. Phew! Now that I finally have the chance to work with him, I must avoid annoying him at all costs. She was determined to make all those who were prejudiced against her, see her in a new light. Back at her desk, she barely had time to getfortable when the phone on her desk started ringing again. She quickly picked it up, asking patiently, ¡°Mr. Newton, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Go to Queenie¡¯s ce to collect the documents and bring them in.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Charles hung up the phone. Whitney immediately stood up and pulled herself together. She took the elevator up to the fifteenth floor. Everyone she encountered along the way looked at her with a peculiar gaze. However, the Whitney of today would no longer be affected by such looks. Ever since she started working as Charles¡¯ assistant, the plots and schemes against her reduced significantly. She guessed that her detractors¡¯ fear of Charles prevented them from causing any trouble. She quickly arrived outside Queenie¡¯s office, knocked on the door, and walked in. ¡°Ms. Zeller, Mr. Newton sent me to collect the documents.¡± ¡°All the documents are on the sofa. Feel free to take them.¡± Queenie was busily tapping away at the keyboard, only pausing to gesture toward the sofa by the door before diving back into her work. Seeing how busy Queenie was, Whitney didn¡¯t feel it was right to interrupt. However, when her gaze landed on the huge pile of documents on the sofa, she was instantly petrified. I surely can¡¯t¡­ move all these documents upstairs, can I? She gave Queenie a confused look and asked, ¡°Ms. Zeller, do you know which document Mr. Newton wants?¡± ¡°All of them. Alright, you should get going and continue with your work.¡± Queenie spoke in a hurried tone. Buried in work, she sounded as if every extra word she spoke to Whitney was dying her progress. Huh? That many? Is there a mistake? Whitney froze at her feet. Am I really expected to move these mountainous piles of documents? How could I possibly carry it all by myself? She looked out from the office and saw how busy everyone else was. Even if she wanted to find someone to help her at that point, she was worried that they would end up avoiding her. Forget it. This task was given to me by Charles after all. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s going to kill me from exhaustion. Seeing how busy Queenie was at her desk, Whitney could only move the files out of the office little by little so as not to disturb her. Struggling to move the documents out of the office, she caught a glimpse of a discarded cardboard box at the door. An idea instantly shed across her mind. She gradually moved the stacks of documents into the cardboard box, then somehow found a piece of rope and threaded it through a small hole within it. Just like that, a simple little cart was made, making it easy to haul the documents to the CEO¡¯s office. Whitney draped one end of the rope over her shoulder before dragging the cardboard box toward the elevator. As she passed the other employees by, many couldn¡¯t help but turn their gaze toward her. Ignoring the gazes of those around her, Whitney quickly arrived at the CEO¡¯s office door, dragging along the pile of documents. Knock, knock, knock¡­. ¡°Come in.¡± Charles spoke coldly, lifting his eyes just in time to see Whitney dragging in the mountainous pile of documents. He was puzzled by the sight. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Whitney wiped the sweat from her forehead and exined, ¡°Mr. Newton, here¡¯s the thing. I knew you were in a hurry to get these documents. If I moved them bit by bit, it would not only waste time but also interfere with others¡¯ work. So, I made this box myself¡± Oh, I¡¯ve to admit she¡¯s pretty smart, Charles looked at her with an indiscernible smile. His slender fingers were fiddling with the p¨¨n¡¯s cap. When the Cartier ring on his finger knocked against the metal cap of the pen every now and then, a crisp sound would be heard. ¡°Alright. Since you were able to bring these over so quickly, you should also be able to sort these documents just as efficiently.¡± ¡°Huh? This¡­¡± While loading the documents earlier, Whitney had gained a general understanding of them. The categories avable were all over the ce. If she were to categorize them all, it would take quite a long time. ¡°I trust you won¡¯t let me down. Unless it¡¯s something important, don¡¯t interrupt me.¡± As soon as he finished speaking. Charles began to tap away at the keyboard, seemingly oblivious to Whitney¡¯s presence, Wait¡­ Whitney didn¡¯t even know where to begin when it came to exin her problem, let alone disturb him while he was concentrating on work. Looking at the mountain of documents, she had no choice but to resign herself to it. She swiftly moved the documents to the ck leather sofa near the door, carefully studying the contents of each file as she began to sort them into general categories. Charles took great pleasure in watching her bustling about in front of him. Watching her defiant expression, he was surprised to find himself delighting in it. Somehow, Charles was willing to let his gaze linger on her, his thoughts swayed by her every move and gesture. It was something he had yet to realize then. After finishing the task at hand, Charles looked up and said. ¡°Does it really take so long to do this bit of work? Are you a fool or what?¡± Faced with Charles¡¯s disdain, Whitney was so upset that she almost cried. As a CEO, his years of experience naturally allowed him to process documents swiftly and efficiently. However, she, a junior assistant who had just recently assumed her position, was still not ustomed to such tasks. The processing power of our brains arepletely different, okay? Not daring to voice the grouses within her, she could only obediently respond, ¡°I¡¯m almost done. Just a moment please.¡± Whitney was so engrossed in sorting the documents that she didn¡¯t even notice the beads of sweat forming on her forehead, In a careless moment, the documents in her hand slipped away. She quickly bent over to pick them up. shielding her chest in the process. However, her delicate corbone subtly revealed itself. Catching sight of it from the corner of his eye, Charles suddenly coughed awkwardly, avoiding eye contact. Chapter 844 Gradually Grew Closer Chapter 844 Gradually Grew Closer At that moment, Whitney waspletely engrossed in her work, oblivious to the changes in his facial expression. After an hour, Whitney finally finished categorizing all the files, a thinyer of sweat covering her body. ¡°Mr. Newton, I have everything organized.¡± Looking at the neatly stacked piles of documents on the floor, Charles couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself. With his hand covering his mouth, he said. ¡°You may leave now.¡± What? Seriously? He¡¯s telling me to leave just like that? He¡¯s not even checking? Shock and a hint of helplessness filled Whitney¡¯s gaze. So, there was no need to rush this matter after all? She stole a nce at Charles, who was barely containing hisughter, and suddenly realized she had been pranked! He¡¯s doing it on purpose! He must enjoy seeing me struggle! Even though she was aware of that, Whitney didn¡¯t dare to resist. After all, she was just a powerless and penniless assistant. All she could do was lower her head and walk out of the office. She had barely taken a moment to rest that afternoon. As soon as she returned to her workstation, she slumped down in exhaustion. As the days passed, Whitney became more ustomed to managing everything in the CEO¡¯s office. Enduring his teasing and banter from time to time, Whitney began to feel a sense of anticipation in her daily life. As she spent more time with him, the fear she once felt began to fade. She even found the courage to resist him from time to time. She suddenly found herself really enjoying her current job, and she also liked the way they were getting along. ¡°Mr. Newton, I¡¯ve prepared a cup of cappino for you. Please taste it and see if it suits your pte.¡± cing the coffee on his desk, Whitney swiftly exited the room, a triumphant smirk ying on her lips.. ¡°Whitney Mellor!¡± The moment the office door closed, Charles¡¯ furious voice could be heard from inside. She actually dared to put salt in the cappino! She¡¯s really got some nerve! Whitney stuck out her tongue. ¡°He only has himself to me for always pranking me? Surely, it¡¯s okay for me to do it once in a while, right?¡± Although Charles was angry, he vaguely felt that was what life should be, and his days had be enjoyable. At the very least, when Whitney saw him now, she no longer reacted like a mouse spotting a cat, constantly fearing him. Gradually, unbeknownst to the couple, the way the two interacted with each other changed. Whitney no longer saw Charles as an emotionless work machine but could feel that he was an actual human being. She could also sense the change in Charles¡¯ attitude toward her. Whitney also began to be more bold. The sky gradually dimmed. After finishing his work, Charles stopped in front of Whitney. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Um¡­ You go ahead. I still have some work to finish. I¡¯ll take the subway hometer. It won¡¯t be too late.¡± Charles slightly furrowed his brows, clearly quite displeased. Seeing the look on his face, Whitney tactfully began to pack up her things, ready to leave with him. ¡°I¡¯m done. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Only then did Charles nod in satisfaction and strode out of the office. Whitney followed closely behind him, clutching her bag tightly, wishing she could shrink into herself and be as invisible as air. However, this time, Charles parked his luxury car right at thepany¡¯s entrance, not in the underground parking lot. She had no choice but to brace herself and get into that shy luxury car. I¡¯m done for. I wonder what kind of outrageous rumors are going to circte again tomorrow. Watching them leave together, everyone in thepany was extremely shocked. ¡°Look quickly, isn¡¯t that Whitney? Could it be that she¡¯s living with the CEO? Oh my! I¡¯m so envious!¡± ¡°How could this be possible? Is she even worthy of the CEO? I bet she seduced him. She won¡¯tst long in that position.¡± ¡°Goodness, who knows? Let¡¯s just go with the flow. Whitney has been riding in the boss¡¯ car every day recently. I¡¯ve gotten used to it. We should focus on doing our own jobs well.¡± Recently, the matter between Whitney and Charles sparked a wave of heated discussion. After all, it was about the CEO. Now that Whitney was working at the top level, right next to the CEO, those people didn¡¯t dare to be too tant. After all, no one dared to push their luck. Moreover, Charles had issued a newpany rule. Anyone who dared to spread baseless rumors would be sent directly to the HR department to collect their final paycheck and leave. Everyone had seen how he dealt with Lana, and no one dared to be the next Lana. At the Newton residence, it was dinner time.. Jasmine announced a new decision, ¡°I n to go abroad for a while to further my studies in my field. I can¡¯t afford to hold my brothers back.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, Lucas doused her excitement. ¡°Are you going abroad for further studies or to have fun? Jasmine, do you think your brothers are easy to fool?¡± ¡°Oh dear, Lucas! If you keep this up. I¡¯llin that you¡¯re bullying me. I¡¯m really trying to further my studies.¡± youngest in the family, Jasmine had Lucas wrapped around her little finger. The moment she mentioned tattling, Lucas immediately surrendered. All right. Fine. Do whatever you want. I can¡¯t control you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you still have time to do that. Shouldn¡¯t you hurry up and find me a sister-inw,¡± The two of them regrly bickered at the table. Whitneyughed, feeling that was how life should be. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. As the days went by, the two of them often went in and out of thepany together. Gradually, the people in thepany got used to theming and leaving work together. If one day they suddenly weren¡¯t together, that would be a real shocker. Atst, Whitney no longer had to face the strange looks at work. Now, she had surprisingly be thepany¡¯s rising star. When her lunch break ended that day, Whitney was preparing to make a cup of coffee to rejuvenate herself. From afar, she saw someone walking toward her. All right. This must be someone else looking for my help Before Whitney could even leave with her coffee, the man stopped her with a smile, saying, ¡°Ms. Mellor, d-do you have some time right now?¡± Whitney looked him up and down, asking, ¡°Is there something you need? I¡¯m about to go see Mr. Newton.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ll just cut to the chase. Now that you¡¯re working alongside Mr. Newton, could you possibly put in a good word for me? If you agree, I¡¯ll do whatever you want as long as it¡¯s within my capabilities.¡± Uh. I really did guess it right. After she finished speaking, Whitney took her coffee and left. If I set this precedent today, who knows who mighte knocking tomorrow? Moreover, if Charles were to find out about this, our recently improved rtionship might just plummet back to freezing point. I won¡¯t bother doing such thankless tasks, let alone take risks. She really enjoyed her life now. As an assistant, she could walk side by side with him in front of everyone, no longer needing to hide or worry about people criticizing her rtionship with Charles. When it was time to finish work, Whitney was already waiting for him at the door, having finished her tasks early. She was ustomed to sitting in the passenger seat of Charles¡¯ car and going home with him. When the office door swung open, Whitney immediately greeted him with a radiant smile, saying, ¡°Congrattions on finishing work, Mr. Newton.¡± A yful expression danced on her face, instantly soothing his work-induced irritability. Charles rarely let a smile grace his lips. He nodded, ¡°All right. Let¡¯s §Õ§à home.¡± Chapter 845 The Boss Is Being Weird Today Chapter 845 The Boss Is Being Weird Today The luxury car drove out of the Newton Group, Whitney, in a good mood, couldn¡¯t help but hum a song. However, she dared not sing too loudly for fear of Charles¡¯ ridicule. Every now and then, she would steal a nce at Charles, taking in his stern, cold features. Noticing the gaze of thedy next to him, Charles deliberately met her eyes and teased, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Has your husband¡¯s handsomeness left you dazed?¡± Upon hearing his joke, Whitney¡¯s cheeks instantly turned red. She huffed lightly and muttered under her breath. ¡°W-who goes around saying they¡¯re handsome?) Charles disagreed and said, ¡°It¡¯s called confidence.¡± Whitney turned her head away, no longer speaking. At night, after taking a bath, Whitney sat by the window, enjoying the breeze. She closed her eyes in enjoyment, relishing theforting feeling of the gentle breeze caressing her face. When Charles came out of the bathroom, he saw her leisurely swinging her legs by the window, looking quite content. However, the evening breeze was still quite chilly. She might catch a cold if she didn¡¯t put on more layers. Charles brought over a small nket and threw it over her. His words, however, were far from caring. ¡°If you catch a cold, I¡¯m docking your pay.¡± ¡°Achoo!¡± Whitney sneezed before turning around to re at him. She raised her little fists and protested, ¡°Even if you¡¯re the boss, you shouldn¡¯t bully your employees like this, should you?¡± The two of them bickered a while longer before heading to bed. Bright and early the next morning, Charles was already working in the CEO¡¯s office. Today, he was once again dressed in a ck suit, but what was different was the new color of the tie around his neck. His thoughts wandered even as his gaze roamed over the documents before him. He casually picked up the aromatherapy diffuser on his table. It was something Whitney had brought over one day, iming his office looked too simple. Suddenly, someone knocked on his door. In an instant, Charles reined in his thoughts and quickly set down the incense. He reverted back to his usual stern demeanor and announced, ¡°Come in.¡± A man dressed in a deep blue suit walked in. It was Isaac, who handed over some documents to Charles. In the past, Isaac always wore a ck suit, but surprisingly, he changed his outfit today Charles looked at him suspiciously and asked coldly, ¡°What¡¯s up? Got ns?¡± Isaac scratched his head a bit sheepishly and said, ¡°Well, I have to go out for dinner after work today.¡± As soon as he finished speaking. Isaac quickly changed the topic. ¡°Mr. Newton, do you remember the company you wanted to acquirest time? I have secured the best proposal for thepany. Please review it, and if there are no issues, I will proceed with the arrangements.¡± Charles had faith in Isaac¡¯s abilities. After a quick skim through the document, he found no major issues. He then picked up his special metal pen and signed his name on it. ¡°All right, if you need anything, feel free to reach out to me.¡± As usual, Isaac got ready to leave. ¡°Hold on, I have something to ask you.¡± Hearing Charles call out to him, Isaac paused in his steps, turning around with surprise. Numerous company-rted matters shed through his mind. He offered, ¡°Mr. Newton, I don¡¯t seem to have noticed any unexpected incidents at thepany these past few days.¡± Charles cleared his throat and said, ¡°I wanted to ask¡­ how do I look today?¡± Isaac was slightly taken aback. What does Mr. Newton mean by this? Could it be a test? ¡°Mr. Newton, you are undoubtedly a paragon of virtue, handsome and wealthy, a top-tier authority in the elite ss, and one of the most outstanding men in the country!¡± Charles nodded thoughtfully then looked down at his outfit for the day. He asked, ¡°So, how do I look today?¡± What question is this? Isaac was quite puzzled. A dozen questions shed through his mind, but he still responded dutifully, ¡°Mr Newton, you¡¯ve changed your tie today, and you look even more handsome than usual!¡± Thank goodness I noticed, or Mr. Newton would definitely dock my pay. ¡°Does my scent seem strange to you?¡± Isaac was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected that his CEO, who used to pay no attention to his appearance, had suddenly started caring about how he looked. He unleashed another wave of ttery. ¡°Mr. Newton, your outfit is absolutely irresistible. If Mrs. Newton sees you, she will definitely fall head over heels in love with you!¡± Upon hearing this, a smirk tugged at the corner of Charles¡¯ mouth. Isaac was astounded once again. He never expected that the stoic Charles would actually smile. Under normal circumstances, he would have been bruised by the things Mr. Newton threw at him. Even if things did not progress to that extent, he would still face some form of punishment. Yet surprisingly, after Isaac¡¯s lengthy praises for Charles, there was no further reaction from his boss. Something is off: terribly off In order to protect his meager sry, Isaac quickly said, ¡°Mr. Newton, I¡¯ll go get busy now. You rest. Call me if you need anything.¡± Then, Isaac quickly slipped away with the signed documents in hand. Charles stepped out of his office. Before he could reach Whitney¡¯s workspace, he unintentionally overheard one of his assistants talking on the phone with his girlfriend. ¡°Honey, wait for me tonight. I¡¯ll finish work early today. How about we go watch a movie when I get back? And maybe have your favorite stew?¡±, The voice on the other end of the phone was loud and shrill, saying, ¡°You better remember our date. I¡¯m warning you, if you make me miss the movie, you¡¯re dead meat. You¡¯ll be sleeping in the hallway tonight, got it?¡± Bowing to his girlfriend¡¯s pressure, the assistant quickly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll definitely make it before the movie starts. How could I forget about our date? Now, now, I need to get back to work. See you tonight.¡± He blew her a kiss before ending the call. A date? Charles stood there, lost in thought. Ever since he and Whitney got married, they had never once had a proper date. Perhaps I could treat her to a date. Listening to the sweet exchanges between his assistant and girlfriend, Charles surprisingly didn¡¯t find it annoying for once. On the contrary, he even thought of learning a thing or two from his assistant. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. After all, when it came to matters of his rtionship with Whitney, he knew his ideas were not the most. Once the assistant hung up the phone, Charles confidently walked over. As the assistant turned around, he was startled to find the CEO standing next to him. He panicked and quickly greeted Charles, ¡°Mr. Newton, w-why are you here? Do you have any tasks for me?¡± ¡°Do you have a date tonight?¡± Upon hearing Charles¡¯ words, the assistant became even more nervous. He nodded and replied, ¡°Mr. Newton, I do have a date tonight. Do you have more work for me to arrange?¡± Please, I beg you, don¡¯t assign me any more work. I¡¯m pleading with you. Catching a glimpse of the anxiety and unease in his assistant¡¯s eyes, Charles softened his tone and said, ¡°I just wanted to ask you what you usually do on your dates.¡± Charles coughed twice, masking the embarrassment on his face. This¡­ The assistant paused for a second, then realized that Mr. Newton was actually seeking advice from him. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve asked the right person about dating. Naturally, a date involves watching a movie, having a candlelit dinner, and doing things both parties enjoy. Also, girls tend to like flowers, so it would be best if you prepare a bouquet before the date.¡± Chapter 846 The First Official Date After Marriage Chapter 846 The First Official Date After Marriage This was the result of his beloved¡¯s constant guidance. Back then, he was a typical macho man who had no idea how to make a girl happy. ¡°Is this it?¡± So, just buying flowers and having a meal will do? Is it really that simple? Charles couldn¡¯t believe it. Everyone online often says that pursuing and dating girls can be quiteplicated, so why does it sound so simpleing from his mouth? The assistant nodded, adopting the air of someone with experience. ¡°By the way, Mr. Newton, during a date, it¡¯s crucial for the guy to take the lead. For instance¡­ initiating a kiss to show her your affection. Only then can it be considered a proper date.¡± ¡°All right. I got it. You can clock out now,¡± Upon hearing that he could leave work, the assistant¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he left with a heart full of gratitude. As Charles approached the area where Whitney was working, he could see her from a distance, engrossed in organizing her documents. After some thought, he decided it would be best not to disturb her. He lingered there for a moment before turning and walking away. In any case, this is going to be our first official date after marriage, so it should be a bit formal. I can¡¯t be too sloppy about it. Several uneventful days passed, which left Whitney somewhat surprised. It¡¯s rare for Charles not to tease me these past few days. Could it be that he realized I¡¯d been through enough, so he decided not to torment me anymore? In her quest to find out more, she brewed a cup of coffee and approached the door of his office. With at gentle knock, she inquired, ¡°Mr. Newton, I¡¯ve prepared some coffee for you. May I enter?¡± Seeing that he didn¡¯t object, Whitney pushed the door open and walked in. ¡°Mr. Newton, here¡¯s your coffee,¡± she said. Charles¡¯s gaze remained unmoved, and he simply replied indifferently, ¡°You may leave now.¡± Something¡¯s wrong¡­ Really wrong. He¡¯s been acting rather strange since afternoon. Whitney watched the man with suspicion as his gaze remained fixed on theputer screen. She began, ¡°Mr. Newton, are you¡­¡± Upon hearing her question, Charles couldn¡¯t help but find it a bit perplexing. He scrutinized her and asked, ¡°Do you need something else? Have youpleted all the assignments I¡¯ve given you?¡± Look at that. He¡¯s back to his cold and distent tant self again. ing that perhaps his business negotiatioia lons hadn¡¯t been going well these past few days. Whitney dare to linger in the office any longer arti anti inurriedly left. sake of my well-being. I should stay atory from front the CEO¡¯s office. n¡¯t until she had left that Charles shifted his his gaze to the spot she had just vacated, a faint smile g at the corners of his mouth. ing she wouldn¡¯t be back in the office that afternidon be quietly took the CEO¡¯s private elevator and ning to the Newton residence, he opened his wardrobdrope and gazed at the collection of ck suits as a rown appeared on his face. tre all the same style of clothing, and there¡¯s no difference whether I dress them he was fretting over his clothes, a melodious sound ecitechoed in from outside th rst thing that Jasmine did when she saw Charles¡¯s ca parked d at the front door was ma¡­ She soon found her brother struggling with his wardroberobe and immediately gave him a ¡®s wrong, Charles? What¡¯s troubling you? Let me see if delend lend a hand,¡± she asked. s openly admitted, ¡°I¡¯m getting ready for a date with my wife vife¡± nearing this. Jasmine¡¯s eyes widened, gleaming with excitement. She had had been waiting for this day, r enthusiasm was palpable as she eximed, ¡°Oh my! You¡¯ve finally grow grown some sense, huh? This is rare sight. I must give you some excellent advice.¡± ettinued. ¡°If my memory serves me right, this is your first date with Whitheviney, isn¡¯t it? Since it¡¯s the me, you should make thorough preparations. How about a romantic candlendent dinner at a >rcian restaurant?¡± erppeared even more excited than if it were her own date, offering suggestions How about giving erstreinember Whitney loves choctes, too, so bring her some choctes, toes, sl she¡¯ll surely be And then there¡¯s also¡­¡± incane at the wardrobe in front of her, Jasmine immediately pulled her brother ous out and ushered box bedroom. Cate sat in your usual formal attire might give Whitney the impression that it¡¯s a busbenness bor berritua viate, you should try to dress more casually, You¡¯re typically quite torna, 30 test today, be art & Wet Whatney see a different side of you,¡± she advised. mmend waded allowing Jasmine to hold up some clothes in front of him forparison bagong kat sa Lucas closer were mostly custom-made and limited editions, leit untoucha Me to wear the m of Leas perte strywity, which favored casual attire, Jasmine selected afortable base bai hurie.. ator, with wh ng cap, and pped her hands in satisfaction. ¡°Go try it on, Charles. I have a feeling Whitney will love it. Just imagine, a young girl in a white dress, in a romantic restaurant, having dinner with the man she loves-it¡¯s simply too wonderful!¡± she gushed. By that point, it had be unclear who exactly was going on a date as Jasmine was thrilled beyond measure. With his sister¡¯s encouragement, Charles changed into the outfit she had selected. Meanwhile, Jasmine arranged for arge bouquet of white roses, preparing to put it to good use for her brother.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. As Charles emerged from the Newton residence, therge bouquet of white roses arrived at the vi just in time. ¡°Charles, white roses symbolize the flower of love, and they also represent purity and beauty. Maybe you should consider¡ª¡± Without waiting for Jasmine to finish, Charles immediately declined, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it myself. Don¡¯t worry, and please, don¡¯t let her know about this. The woman gave a knowing look and waved her hand, saying, ¡°I wish you a smooth evening, Charles. Just make sure not to upset Whitney again!¡± Following her brother¡¯s departure from the Newton residence, Jasmine promptly disregarded his warning. and eagerly called Gwendolyn. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯ve got some exciting news! Charles has taken the initiative to ask Whitney out on a date!¡± she eximed. Even though the two appeared to be a loving couple in the Newton family, I always felt there was something off about them. Gwendolyn, who had just finished signing a batch of documents, was twirling the pen in her hand as she teased, ¡°Well, that¡¯s great and all, but Ms. Jasmine, when are you going to find your own happiness? You can¡¯t always be meddling in other people¡¯s love lives, you know? Perhaps it¡¯s time to focus on yourself, don¡¯t you think?¡± As soon as the conversation shifted toward herself, Jasmine quickly changed the topic, ¡°Oh, speaking of which, how are Benny and Zendy doingtely? Have they put on weight? I¡¯ve been so busytely that I haven¡¯t had the chance to y with them.¡± Knowing that she didn¡¯t want to continue discussing this issue, Gwendolyn didn¡¯t press on and instead engaged in casual conversation about other things with her. At this moment, Whitney waspletely in the dark, having no idea what had happened. Buzz, buzz, buzz. Her phone was buzzing incessantly, and when she saw Charles¡¯s number shing on the screen, she hastily picked up and asked, ¡°Mr. Newton, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together tonight,¡± came his reply. On the other end of the phone, Charles¡¯ voice was calm, but his words had a profound impact on Whitney, almost causing her to drop her phone. Let¡¯s have dinner together? Just the two of us? Did he just ask me out? On his own volition? Chapter 847 Disappeared Chapter 847 Disappeared ¡°M-Mr. Newton, should I tidy up a bit? W-When will we have dinner together?¡± At that very moment, Whitney¡¯s speech had be incoherent. She was just too excited. Sensing her excitement and enthusiasm, Charles spoke in a considerably softer tone. ¡°You can start packing. There¡¯s no rush. Let me know when you¡¯re ready. When we¡¯re alone, you can call me Charles.¡± His gentle tonepletely disturbed Whitney¡¯sposure. She quickly forced herself to calm down and replied, ¡°All right, Charles. Then¡­ let me tidy up a bit. Shall I get off work now?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up the phone with him, Whitney started pacing around the office area, clutching her phone and murmuring to herself, ¡°If it¡¯s just the two of us, does that count as a date? He even said I could call him. Charles!¡± A blush crept up Whitney¡¯s face, her entire being brimming with such joy that she didn¡¯t know what to do with herself. She was the very picture of a young girl newly in love, her heart pounding uncontrobly. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. That was their first date alone since they got married. Naturally, she had to take some time to dress up nicely. However, amidst her excitement, she quickly realized that she couldn¡¯t return to the Newton residence at that moment. She didn¡¯t want that matter to be public knowledge just yet. Everything depended on how their date went tonight, and then she would make her decision. Clocking out from work, Whitney quickly dashed out of thepany and headed to the nearest mall to pick out a dress. Every day, she presented herself bare-faced in front of Charles. Today, she was determined to switch up her style and dazzle him.. After carefully choosing her outfit, Whitney was finally ready to meet him. She was eager to see the prince charming she had been longing for. Upon arriving at the address he had sent, she was immediately escorted by the waiter to a private room. ¡°Ms. Mellor, Mr. Newton has already reserved a table. Please wait here.¡± Upon entering the private room, arge bouquet of white roses was ced on the dining table. The dim lighting created a very atmospheric ambiance. Whitney¡¯s heart was filled with an indescribable tension. With a heart full of anxiety, Whitney could only fidget with her phone, engrossed in thetest entertainment news online. Yet, it did nothing to alleviate her nervousness. Waiting always felt long. Whitney frequently nced toward the door, constantly anticipating his arrival. But as time passed, minute by minute, second by second, he still hadn¡¯t shown up. Whitney nced at the time, her palms sweating uncontrobly. Since her arrival, four hours had already passed, and the sky outside was gradually darkening Could it be that he couldn¡¯t make it because something came up? Swiping left and right on his name, Whitney still ended up sending him a message: Charles, will you be coming tonight? The message was sent with a swoosh, and Whitney stared intently at her phone, terrified of missing any message he might send. But to her disappointment, there was no response. Another hour passed, yet there was still no news from Charles. Whitney was deeply worried. Even in the past, even when he was impatient, he wouldn¡¯t leave his messages unanswered. Since he took the initiative to ask me out today, he must genuinely want to date me. After much hesitation, she finally dialed his number, only to be greeted by an automated female voice on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try again later.¡± Whitney was persistent, dialing over and over again, only to be met with the same automated message each time. Now, Whitney waspletely panicked. What on earth happened? Did something bad happen to him? With trembling hands, she dialed Isaac¡¯s number again. Just like Charles, his phone was also switched off. What¡¯s going on? A bad premonition began to rise from the depths of her heart. Whitney shook her head. ¡°No. Nothing bad happened¡­ He¡¯s just too busy to respond to my message right now. Just wait a little longer. There will surely be a response. She paced anxiously around the room, rubbing her hands together. Her eyes were firmly fixed on her phone lying on the table. As soon as Charles sent a message, she would see it immediately. But as time passed, the more uneasy Whitney became. I can¡¯t just sit here and do nothing anymore. Whitney called Jasmine and immediately asked, ¡°Jasmine, has Charles returned to the Newton residence. yet?¡± Jasmine was leisurely applying a face mask at home, her words slightly muffled as she responded, ¡°My brother hasn¡¯te home yet. Didn¡¯t he go out on a date with you? What, you haven¡¯t met up yet?¡± He¡¯s not at the Newton residence? Whitney frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t reach him. He sent me a message at noon, and I haven¡¯t been able to contact him since.¡± ¡°What? Charles left the Newton residence a long time ago, and he even wore the clothes I picked out for him.¡± Jasmine immediately sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly tore off the face mask she was wearing ¡°Whitney, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make a call to inquire. If anythinges up, call me immediately.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up the phone, Whitney¡¯s anxiety and unease grew heavier in her heart. But now, all she could do was wait. Another half hour passed, and Jasmine hadn¡¯t called. There was no news from her at all. During that time, Whitney tried to call Charles several times but still couldn¡¯t get through. She was truly at her wit¡¯s end. In the whole of Salinsburgh, apart from the Newton family, the only person she could reach out to was Gwendolyn. Not caring if she would disturb Gwendolyn, she dialed the number, her voice filled with anxiety. ¡°Gwendolyn, I¡¯m sorry for calling you at this time. Has Charles contacted you? I can¡¯t find him.¡± If Charles knew she contacted Gwendolyn, Whitney reckoned he would definitely be angry. Still, she really had no other options. At that moment, Gwendolyn had just finished discussing a coboration with a foreign partner. Exhausted to the core, she half-leaned on the massage chair, rubbing her aching brow, Hearing the urgency in Whitney¡¯s voice, she immediately perked up to reassure her, ¡°Whitney, don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ll find out for you and contact you as soon as I have any news.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up the phone with her, Gwendolyn immediately contacted Cedrick. As the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, finding someone was a simple task for him. The call connected instantly. A maic voice came from the other end of the phone. ¡°Honey, are you missing me?¡± ¡°Stop fooling around.¡± ¡°Why should I be so serious all the time around my wife? I¡¯ll pick you up from the officeter. Working toote isn¡¯t good for your health.¡± A look of resignation spread across Gwendolyn¡¯s face. However, Whitney¡¯s matter took precedence, so she cleared her throat and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m calling you because it¡¯s urgent.¡± Hearing the seriousness in Gwendolyn¡¯s voice, Cedrick also put away his joking tone. ¡°Okay.¡± Gwendolyn took a deep breath and said, ¡°Can you look into Charles¡¯ recent activities for me? It¡¯s urgent. The sooner, the better.¡± Cedrick felt his heart sank, thinking he had heard wrong. He asked again. ¡°Who do you want to find?¡± Gwendolyn answered with certainty, ¡°Charles.¡± A long silence ensued after she uttered the word. Even through the phone, Gwendolyn could almost sense Cedrick¡¯s rising jealousy. She quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s Whitney who¡¯s worried. She can¡¯t find Charles. She asked me for help. Please, go check on him quickly¡± Chapter 848 Stood Up Chapter 848 Stood Up Cedrick let out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. Don¡¯t hang up just yet. I¡¯ll have Swain look into it.¡± Having been dozing off for a while, Swain was startled by the sudden ringing of the phone on the table. He woke up instantly from his slumber and hastily picked up the call. ¡°What can I do for you, Boss?¡± ¡°Look up the recent updates on Charles as soon as possible.¡± Charles? Swain had been in a deep sleep, so it took him a moment to gather his bearings. Considering that there was no immediate response from the other end, Cedrick¡¯s voice suddenly turned cold. ¡°Do I need to repeat myself a second time?¡± A chilling aura emanated from the other end of the phone, causing Swain to shiver uncontrobly. He quickly responded, ¡°I¡¯ll look into it right away.¡± After spending some time tapping away at the keyboard, Swain reported, ¡°I found it. Charles left the country on a private ne at three in the afternoon. However, it¡¯s unclear which country he went to.¡± After receiving the news, Cedrick hung up the phone and called Gwendolyn back. ¡°You heard it, Charles is not in the country right now.¡± His tone carried a hint of rxation and pride. Gwendolyn shook her head. ¡°Got it. Bye.¡± Once again, Gwendolyn dialed Whitney¡¯s number, asking, ¡°Whitney, where are you? I¡¯ming to find. you.¡± Whitney sent her location. Soon, Gwendolyn arrived. Upon seeing the private room, she felt a sense of difort. Gwendolyn could understand the feeling of helplessness that came from not being able to find a loved. Not everyone could have the courage to disregard everything and go to a strange country for one person. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Whitney shook her head, her face etched with sorrow as if she had lost something most precious. ¡°I¡¯m so scared, Gwendolyn. I don¡¯t know what to do. I don¡¯t know where he¡¯s gone, what¡¯s happened to him, or even if he¡¯s safe now¡­ Do you think someone might have kidnapped him? Could those people be after his wealth?¡± Gwendolynforted her before informing, ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Cedrick to look into Charles¡¯ movements these past few days.¡± ¡°Where did he go today?¡± Grabbing Gwendolyn¡¯s hand, Whitney shook it excitedly as if seeking an answer. ¡°He took a private jet and left the country at three in the afternoon, unknown.¡± Upon hearing this, Whitney sat down, feeling lost. He left at three? At that time, he should have been able to contact me. Why didn¡¯t he let me know? N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°He must have had something to attend to when he left. There¡¯s no need to worry,¡± stated Gwendolyn. gettingte. You should hurry home. It¡¯s not safe for a girl to be out thiste.¡± Just then, a phone rang suddenly. Whitney immediately picked up her phone, assuming it was him. However, it was a call from a business partner. The ringtone ended as Whitney picked up the phone. ¡°Mr. Lowen, Mr. Newton is not in the country today. If you want to arrange a meeting with him, it¡¯s better to wait a few days.¡± The person on the other end of the phone was somewhat disappointed. ¡°How unfortunate. I was just nning to discuss future ns with him. In that case, please make sure to contact me when Mr. Newtor returns.¡± ¡°Sure, thank you for understanding, Mr. Lowen.¡± After Whitney hung up the phone, her expression once again turned uneasy. ¡°Do you want me to take you home?¡± Gwendolyn asked worriedly. Whitney shook her head. ¡°No need. I¡¯m already grateful for your help in finding information about Charles. I didn¡¯t expect you toe all this way. I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯ll be heading back soon.¡± She was not the type to bother others, especially Gwendolyn, who held such an important ce in Charles¡¯ heart. She would not dare to trouble Gwendolyn any further. Upon hearing this, Gwendolyn said nothing more. Afterforting Whitney for a while, she left the restaurant. As Whitney stared at the empty seat across from her, her mood plummeted severely. It was not just because he stood her up, but because she realized that she still was not that important in Charles¡¯ heart. During the time they knew each other, Charles even took the initiative to ask her out. Moving forward¡­. there was progress in their rtionship. Sitting alone in the restaurant, Whitney seemed lonely. The server had not seen Whitney for a long time, so he knocked on the door and went in. ¡°Ms. Mellor, would you like to order something? Or is there anything I can assist you with?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just wait for him here. You go about your business. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Seeing that Whitney was not in a good mood, the server dared not to disturb her further and withdrew from the private room. The music in the private room was soft, but it did nothing to soothe Whitney¡¯s agitated mood. She continued to send Charles a message every now and then, but there was no response. Her thoughts were a mess. She made another call to Jasmine, but thetter could not be reached either. How could this happen? After hanging up the phone, Whitney sat there alone. She was waiting for a date, but how could Charles leave without saying a word? What on earth does he mean by this? Thoughts churned in her mind like rolling waves, ceaseless and chaotic. ¡°It¡¯s already eleven. The restaurant is about to close,¡± the server gently reminded. ¡°Ms. Mellor, our restaurant is closing soon, you¡­¡± The sound of the clock ticking away echoed throughout the private room. Growing more anxious, Whitney gathered her courage to dial Charles¡¯ number for thest time. Surprisingly, it actually went through this time. ¡°Hello.¡± Hearing his hoarse voice, Whitney was on the verge of tears. She quickly asked, ¡°Where have you been? Did you encounter trouble?¡± Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? I thought that you¡­ What happened? Whitney wanted to say those but did not. Right now, she really yearned for a word offort from Charles. Even if it was just him assuring that he was fine, it would be a tremendous sce for her.. Charles paused for a moment before exining, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m in Muprary for an urgent matter.¡± Muprary? Isn¡¯t that ce chaotic? Why would he go to that country? With concern, Whitney asked, ¡°Where did you go by yourself? Did you take anyone with you?¡± Upon hearing that it was Charles on the other end of the phone, the server immediately fell silent and left. giving space for Whitney. ¡°I brought Isaac with me. I have people on my side here. Nothing will happen.¡± His voice was faint as if he hadpletely forgotten about their date. Since he did not mention it, Whitney dared not to bring it up herself. The conversation between the two suddenly fell silent. Whitney¡¯s hand that was clutching the phone gradually grew warm as sweat began to seep out. The line was silent for several minutes before Charles suddenly spoke. ¡°Sorry, I stood you up on our date.¡± Chapter 849 Why Is She Always The Unlucky One Chapter 849 Why Is She Always The Unlucky One At Charles words. Whitney¡¯s leashed emotions suddenly broke free Biting her lower lip hard to hold her sobs back, she murmured. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Are you okay over there? Is it overly dangerous! When she was in Tayhaven back then, she heard Muprary was in a state of great turmoil. Warfare raged year-round there, and it wasmon for thugs to open fire and kill people. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¨C The danger is still manageable. The newpany we¡¯ve established here has run into some trouble, and they need me to step in and sort things out. If all goes well, I should be back in two days If things didn¡¯t go smoothly, there was no telling how long it might take. Charles didn¡¯t exin the kind of trouble involved. In truth, the local bigwig there had captured theirpany¡¯s staff and demanded an exorbitant ransom. If they didn¡¯t see Charles within a day, they threatened to kill one of the hostages in their hands, The local bigwig was a notorious gang leader in Muprary and had never once failed to put his threats into action. Thepany¡¯s staff were innocent, and Charles couldn¡¯t disregard their safety. Subsequently. Whitney recalled some other assistants saying that Newton Group established a new company in Muprary to mine locally in preparation for venturing into the jewelry business. If he needs to step in to resolve the issue, it must be quite tricky Charles then continued, ¡°Go home earlier. You can skip work while I¡¯m not in the office these days. I¡¯ll make up for our missed date next time.¡± Holding the phone and listening to his response, Whitney was slightly taken aback. That was the first time he exined what he was doing. On top of that, he admitted to their date. ¡°Most importantly, you¡¯re safe. I¡¯ll wait for you toe back.¡± ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t contact me these few days. I¡¯m hanging up ¡°But¡ª¡± Before Whitney had finished speaking. Charles had already hung up on the other end of the phone. Thus, their first date ended up being a total washout Just then, a knock sounded on the private room¡¯s door. The server tentatively asked once again. ¡°How much longer do you think you¡¯ll need, Ms. Mellor? We¡¯re about to close.¡± Whitney didn¡¯t respond to that, simply picking up her bag before walking out of the restaurant. No sooner had she stepped out of the restaurant than the lights within were promptly turned off. She sat all alone on the bench by the entrance. Casting her mind back to the joy she felt earlier in the day when she found out that he wanted to go on a date with her to the depression swamping her right then, she was somewhat dazed. The might sky was shrouded in fog, with the moon hiding behind the clouds. The streets were sparsely popted, with only Whitney sitting there alone. Rumble! A p of thunder split the air. She looked up at the sky and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s going to rain soon.¡± Back when she lived in the mountains, she often heard such thunder. Each time, she would get scared and hide in her room, not daring to leave the room. But right then, she even dared to face such thunder. The downpour arrived swiftly, drenching Whitney¡¯s clothes. In no time at all, she waspletely soaked. The distant shricks of passersby drifted into her ears. She looked up to see people running like lightning. A cloud of mist rose from the street, blurring her vision. She raised both hands, catching the falling rain as the relentless downpour pelted her pale face without mercy. It¡¯s time to go home. Before Whitney had even stood up, a car zoomed past her on the road, sshing an enormous wave of water. In an instant, her dress was drenched with mud. Her white knitted dress was sttered withyers of mud. Whitney looked at her soiled dress in surprise, her mood instantly plummeting to an all-time low. Her sttered skirt was seemingly thest straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. She couldn¡¯t help but tear up. rooted in ce dazedly for quite some time. The rain grew increasingly heavier, showing no signs of stopping. Whitney knew that if she tarried there any longer, she would definitely catch a cold. She touched her thoroughly wet cheeks, forcing a bitter smile. I must look quite unsightly and pathetic now. huh? The makeup on her face hadpletely lost its original appearance under the heavy rain. Her face was drenched, and she couldn¡¯t tell whether it was her own tears or the falling rain. While she was on the subway, a passerby¡¯s unruly child pointed at Whitney rudely and said. ¡°Is this lady dressed up as a ghost, Mommy? Why does she look so scary? Could she be here to take our lives?¡± The mother of the unruly child was quite startled and quickly smacked her child¡¯s pointing finger. admonishing, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Don¡¯t always talk about others. It¡¯s impolite.¡± Despite her words, the look she gave Whitney was full of disdain. When the subway stopped at the next station, she quickly ushered her son off the train as though truly regarding Whitney as a ghost. Whitney, whose mood was already thoroughly ruined, paid no mind to their conversation. Right then she merely felt cold all over. Through the reflection in the subway window, she finally saw that her makeup had smeared all over her face. No wonder that unruly kid called me a ghost. It didn¡¯t matter anymore, for she hadn¡¯t have the energy to care about all that. After getting off the subway, Whitney dragged her weary body back to the Newton residence. When she opened the door and stepped into the vi, she gave the help quite a fright. ¡°W-What happened to you, Mrs. Newton?¡± Whitney walked in looking like a drowned rat, her dress filthy as though she had fallen into a mud pit. Her mental state also seemed peculiar. It seemed as though she had lost her soul. Upon hearing themotion, Jasmine hurriedly ran out in concern to see what had happened. At the sight of Whitney in such a state, she jumped in fright and immediately brought a clean towel over. ¡°How did you get drenched, Whitney? I¡¯d been calling you, but I couldn¡¯t get through. I was even nning to ask the Newton family¡¯s driver to go and pick you up. By the way, I managed to get in touch with Charles.¡± Whitney merely grunted faintly. Taking the towel from Jasmine, she mechanically wiped her hair, her eyes devoid of life. Only when Jasmine glimpsed some emotions in Whitney¡¯s eyes did she coax, ¡°Whitney, actually, Charles just went over to handle somepany matters. Don¡¯t worry too much. When hees back, I will scold. him severely for you. Leaving the country without a word is indeed irresponsible of him, for he made us worry.¡± In response to her constion, Whitney simply nodded. She remained expressionless, so Jasmine kept finding new subjects to converse with her. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you, Whitney? Shall I have someone prepare some food for you? Or would you like to take a bath? It¡¯s best to soak in a hot bath after getting caught in the rain. It¡¯s good for the body. I¡¯ll have the housekeeper prepare it for you. Whitney- She kept talking incessantly, but Whitney interrupted her, replying in a weary tone, ¡°Jasmine, I¡¯m utterly tired and would like to rest.¡± With that said, she circled around Jasmine and headed straight for her own room. Seeing Whitney looking like a drowned rat, Jasmine didn¡¯t know what else to say. She merely sighed quietly. ¡°Should we call the doctor over to be on standby since Mrs. Newton got caught in the rain tonight, Ms. Newton? It¡¯d be bad if she were to catch a cold or run a fever.¡± Jasmine nced at the figure disappearing from her line of sight before shaking her head. ¡°Let¡¯s not disrupt her. If there¡¯s a need, we¡¯ll call the doctor then.¡± Given the current situation, it seems that even if she¡¯s genuinely feeling unwell, she would want some space alone. Charles really knows how to disappoint. After keeping her looking forward to it for so long, he just up and left without a word. Anyone would find it upsetting. Luckily, she isn¡¯t the type to hold grudges. Otherwise, it¡¯d be a long journey for him to win her back. Chapter 850 Different World Chapter 850 Different World The sound of sshing water echoed from the bathroom. Whitney shed her grimy dress and stepped into the bathtub. The warm water cascaded over her body, washing away the fatigue and unhappiness of her day. Shezily leaned against the bathtub, unintentionally catching sight of his bathrobe left at home. We could have spent tonight in sheer joy. In no time at all, a thick mist rose within the bathroom, veiling the expression on her face. After taking a bath, Whitney came out wearing his bathrobe, threw herself onto the bed, and greedily inhaled the scent of his pillow. The pillow seemed to still carry the scent of Charles. She stared at the ceiling, wanting to sleep and forget her troubles. However, sleep cluded her. She had grown ustomed to the presence of Charles by her side, ustomed to falling asleep to the sound of his breathing, ustomed to his embrace, his chest. Now, the night was far too quiet. In the end, it was only as dawn was breaking that she finally managed to fall asleep. The rm rang in the early morning, and Whitney instantly sat up in bed. She quickly got dressed and rushed downstairs as if someone was urging her to get things done. ¡°Whitney¡­ Before Jasmine could finish her sentence, Whitney had already run out of the Newton residence. It seemed that when she got busy, she wouldn¡¯t dwell on the things that made her unhappy. After squeezing onto the subway and rushing for the bus, she finally managed to clock in for work before nine. Whitney arrived at her desk, panting heavily. Suddenly, she realized that with Charles gone now, there was no one to assign her tasks. Her position was Charles¡¯ personal assistant, a role distinct from other assistants. Getting up, she went to Charles¡¯ office. As usual, she watered the nts in the office and tidied up the things on his desk. There were still open files on his desk, which could prove that his departure was abrupt, as Charles had always been a person who loved to organize and tidy up After tidying up everything, Whitney took the elevator down from the top floor. Seeing her listless appearance, all thepany employees found it strange. People also started to discuss. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she alwaysmute with the CEO Why did she leave so early today? It seems like I haven¡¯t seen Mr Newton since he left work yesterday¡± ¡°Who knows? A remarkable man like Mr. Newton is never short of women, let alone capable ones. For someone like her to capture Mr. Newton¡¯s heart, it¡¯s quite a challenge.¡± Upon hearing their discussions, Whitney paused slightly, her spirits sinking. After leaving the office, she wandered aimlessly on the streets, reying the conversation she heard in her mind. Indeed, they¡¯re right. If I possess abilities like Gwendolyn, I can lend him a hand, and he won¡¯t have to fight alone. A year can pass very quickly, and I¡¯m not confident that I can make Charles fall in love with me within this period. Even if we be strangers in the future, I won¡¯t me him. I will only me myself for not being capable enough to stand by his side. After wandering around for a long time, Whitney realized that aside from the Newton residence, she surprisingly had nowhere else to go. When she returned, she happened to run into Jasmine having her meal. Seeing Whitney return so early, Jasmine quickly greeted her warmly. ¡°Whitney, you¡¯re back! Is work not too busy? Come and join us for a meal. Today, I asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite food¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Whitney acted as if she hadn¡¯t seen Jasmine at all and went straight upstairs. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that. Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but shake her head in resignation. She sighed softly. ¡°Ah. better hurry back. Otherwise, Whitney might just fall ill from missing you too much.¡± Returning to her room. Whitney sat nkly at her desk, which was filled with books that Charles had read. Every night before bed, Charles would read for an hour. Whitney picked up the book on top and started reading. After reading a few pages, she gave up. Charles¡¯ book was filled with many things she couldn¡¯t understand, a plethora of peculiar symbols, and even a host of inscrutable facies. ¡°This¡­¡± She refused to give up, turning the pages of another book. Yet, the other books were as iprehensible as the first. Whitney had never imagined that reality could be so hard to ept. Even though she was well aware of the differences between them, she never imagined that the gap would be so vast. It wasn¡¯t something that a bit of effort could easily bridge. ¡°Perhaps¡­ we really are from different worlds¡­¡± She held the finance book with a deste expression, remaining silent. Whitney had been at home for three days, waiting every day for news from Charles. But no news came af She remembered his words, and even if she was worried, she dared not to disturb him rashly Knock Knock Knock! The sound of knocking echoed Jasmine asked, ¡°Whitney, are you okay? Would you like to go out and clear your mind? I know a fun ce. Why don¡¯t I take you there?¡± A look of concern appeared on Jasmine¡¯s face. For the past three days, Whitney had done nothing but lock herself in her room, onlying out to eat. She didn¡¯t talk to anyone, and Jasmine was genuinely worried that something might happen to her. Squeak. The door swung open from the inside, and Whitney managed to squeeze out a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Jasmine. I¡¯ll go for a stroll in a bit. You go ahead with your work if you have something to do.¡± Seeing her in that state, how could Jasmine not be worried? ¡°Whitney, let me take you out for some fun. It¡¯ll be good to let out your emotions.¡± Jasmine¡¯s eyes were filled with worry. She truly treated Whitney as a member of the family. Whitney shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m really fine. I¡¯ll be out in a bit.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll have the driver take you. Let me know when you¡¯ll be back. I¡¯lle to pick you up myself. No refusals allowed.¡± Whitney smiled and nodded. She really is like Charles, domineering when being kind to others. Only after Jasmine had left did Whitney pull open the room¡¯s curtains, allowing the ring sunlight to pour in, dispelling the darkness within the room. She stood in the sunlight as if the sunlight itself was gradually warming her up. After a quick freshen-up and changing into some light clothing, Whitney put on a baseball cap and left the Newton residence. The driver asked, ¡°Mrs. Newton, where are we going?¡± Where to? Whitney also didn¡¯t know. ¡°Wherever.¡± The driver was taken aback by her words. Seeing that she had already closed her eyes, he didn¡¯t dare to ask anything more. He could only drive the luxury car a bit more smoothly. The weather that day was splendid. The driver cracked the window open just a bit, allowing a gentle breeze to drift in from outside. Whitney found the breeze quite pleasant. As she opened her eyes, she was greeted by a lush greenery that exuded a vibrant energy. It was early autumn, and there was still a bit of chill in the wind outside. As she passed by ake, the sound of children¡¯sughter from thekeside caught Whitney¡¯s attention. Let¡¯s stop here,¡± she said. ¡°You can go back first. No need to wait for me¡± After getting out of the vehicle. Whitney headed toward thekeside. The driver, uneasy, pulled the luxury car to a stop. keeping a close watch on Whitney¡¯s every move Fortunately, Whitney was just sitting on the grass, watching the children ying andughing in front of her. She really liked that scene. Thud. A ser ball hit her leg, and a little boy around five or six years old walked over, his face full of apology he said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss. Did I hurt your leg?¡± Chapter 851 To Meet Someone Chapter 851 To Meet Someone Whitney shook her head as she stood and handed the ball to the boy. ¡°Run along and y.¡± Thetter quickly gave Whitney a polite bow. ¡°Thank you, miss. I wish you lots of happiness every day. I¡¯m off to y now!¡± With that, the little boy ran off, and to Whitney¡¯s surprise, she felt her mood lift considerably. My, my. What a well-mannered boy he was! Now that she was feeling much better, the woman spread her arms wide, feeling the breeze brushing against her face as she basked in the sun. The next second, Whitney¡¯s stomach let out an audible growl, and only then did she realize she hadn¡¯t. eaten a single morsel of food since the night before. Without further ado, she pulled out her phone to look up the nearby restaurants, and it didn¡¯t take long before a particr name caught her eye-Fouad. Wait a minute¡­ I¡¯ve apanied Charles to this restaurant before for client meetings. Who knew I¡¯d be back again? What a coincidence. Since I¡¯m already in the area, I shall grab a meal here before leaving. After realizing the restaurant wasn¡¯t too far away, Whitney rented a public bike and cycled to her destination. Upon entering the restaurant, she noticed it wasn¡¯t very crowded, and the owner spotted her immediately. ¡°Hello, Ms. Mellor. Are you here alone today, or are you waiting for someone?¡± he asked smilingly. Charles was a VIP customer of Fouad and often had femalepanions by his side, so it was no surprise that the restaurant owner recognized Whitney at a nce. ¡°I¡¯m on my own today. Don¡¯t worry. You can tend to the other guests,¡± Whitney answered before picking. up the menu and sitting by the window, feeling somewhat dazed. As it turned out, Gwendolyn was also in the restaurant meeting with a client, and she spotted Whitney as soon as the woman walked in. Without further ado, Gwendolyn excused herself and strode over to Whitney. ¡°Whitney.¡± Upon hearing the voice, Whitney looked up in surprise. ¡°Gwendolyn, what brings you here?¡± Gwendolyn curled her lips into a smile. ¡°Oh, I just happened to be here to meet a client. How are you? Have you managed to get in touch with him?¡± s, Whitney¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look all that good, which made Gwendolyn slightly worried. He. He¡¯s currently in Muprary. Thepany there has run into some trouble, and nobody knows when he¡¯ll be able to return. It¡¯s been three days since Ist heard from him.¡± After seeing Whitney¡¯s red, teary eyes, Gwendolyn pulled out a pack of tissues for her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Harris Group also haspanies in Muprary, so I¡¯ll get someone to inquire about Charles¡¯ situtation. Hell be fine.¡± the reassured. ¡°But Gwendolyn Muprary is too chaotic.¡± Gwendolyn quickly sat beside Whitney, wrapping her arm around thetter¡¯s shoulders to offer her somefort. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing he¡¯s not contacting you. What if his people over there find something out? He¡¯d be worried too, wouldn¡¯t he? Aren¡¯t there times when no news is the best news?¡± Even so, Gwendolyn knew what it was like to be gued with worry. If Cedrick were in Muprary right now, she¡¯d probably already have flown over to find him. Once Whitney¡¯s emotions had settled, Gwendolyn suddenly suggested, ¡°If you really can¡¯t stop worrying. go ahead and look for him.¡± Whitney froze. ¡°But¡­ What if he doesn¡¯t want to see me? After all, she couldn¡¯t be sure of Charles¡¯ feelings for her, nor did she dare to bet on it. ¡°Whitney, sometimes in love, you have to take the initiative,¡± Gwendolyn advised as she poured Whitney a cup of warm water. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re his girlfriend, not a stranger. Let me know once you¡¯ve made up your mind. I can arrange a private jet for you. In any case, take your time and think it over. I need to get back to my meeting now. Remember¡­ Life is short, so seize and enjoy every moment of it. If there¡¯s someone you want to see, don¡¯t hesitate.¡± After saying that, Gwendolyn walked away, leaving Whitney rather tempted by the suggestion. Muprary¡¯s a long distance away from Chanaca¡­ Even by ne, the travel would take more than ten hours. Would Charles be surprised if I suddenly showed up? Would he be happy? The more Whitney thought about her seeing Charles, the more nervous she became. With the matter weighing heavy on her mind, Whitney absentmindedly ate her food and left the restaurant. She called Jasmine, and thetter arrived pretty quickly As soon as the car window rolled down, Jasmine smiled and patted the passenger seat. ¡°Get in. Whitney. I¡¯ll take you somewhere fun. Just so you know, nobody has sat in my passenger seat before, but I¡¯m willing to let you be the first,¡± she piped up, doing her best to lighten the mood. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. At that moment, however, Whitney¡¯s mood was no longer as bad as before. Gwendolyn¡¯s right¡­ Life is indeed short. If there¡¯s someone I want to see, I should do it immediately. ¡°Jasmine,¡± Whitney suddenly interrupted, her expression serious and determined. ¡°I want to go find harm What do you think?¡± Him? Jasmine was momentarily stunned, but it didn¡¯t take long before she grasped what Whimey had meani Bubbling with excitement, she nodded fervently. ¡°Are you going to Muprary? I support you! Do you need to book a flight I can arrange for someone to get you tickets for the fastest flight this instant For a moment. Whitney was pleasantly surprised Wore Who knew Jasmine would have a stronger reaction ze this than met That said I do feel a lot more confident than before because of her affirmation. Its settled, the fond Charles ¡°No need for that, Jasmine. Please keep this matter confidential,¡± Whitney replied. Upon hearing that, Jasmine gave her a knowing look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t utter a single word¡± she said cheerily. ¡°Remember to smack Charles for me once you meet him.¡± Soon, the two of them happily returned to the Newton residence, and Whitney began packing her luggage. At nine in the evening, which was eleven in the morning in Muprary, thetter dialed Isaac¡¯s number. The phone rang for quite a while before someone on the other end finally picked up. ¡°Mrs. Newton, is there something you need?¡± Isaac asked, his voice so deep that Whitney felt a little nervous. ¡°Can you tell me where you guys are? I want to go see him.¡± Isaac hastily stepped outside with his phone as soon as he heard that. ¡°Mrs. Newton¡­ A-Are you serious?¡± he blurted out. Oh, dear. Mr. Newton has been very busy negotiating with the local bigwigs recently. Even if Mrs. Newton were to drop by, he might not have the time to see her¡­. ¡°Is it not convenient?¡± Whitney asked. Isaac turned to the window and nced at Charles smoking inside. ¡°It¡¯s convenient, but how are you nning to get over here, Mrs. Newton?¡± The city we¡¯re currently in is neither big nor small, but more importantly, it doesn¡¯t have an official airport. It¡¯d be quite a hassle for Mrs. Newton to get here. ¡°I have a way to get to you. All I need is the address. However, please don¡¯t tell Charles about this yet.¡± Just then, Charles¡¯ voice came through the receiver. ¡°Isaac.¡± With that, Isaac hurriedly ended the call with Whitney and sent her their location. Early the next day, Whitney dressed herself and applied light makeup before leaving the house. By then, Jasmine was already waiting for her downstairs. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go! I can¡¯t wait to see the look on Charles¡¯ face when he meets you.¡± Whitney couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. My, my. Why does it seem like it¡¯s Jasmine about to meet Charles instead? Upon reaching the location specified by Gwendolyn, Whitney was greeted by a massive ne parked on the open ground. As it turned out, Cedrick, Gwendolyn, and their two children were already there. Having spotted Whitney, Zendaya instantly bolted toward her, and thetter scooped her up in her arms. ¡°Whitney! It¡¯s been such a long time since west met. What have you been busy withtely? Why haven¡¯t youe to visit me?¡± Gently brushing the little one¡¯s nose, Whitney said apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Zendy. I¡¯ve been busy with work. I promise to y with you once I¡¯m free.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Zendaya eximed before nting a kiss on the woman¡¯s cheek. As Cedrick and Gwendolyn walked over together, thetter broke into a smile. ¡°Zendy, from now on, you¡¯ll have to stop calling Whitney by her name. She¡¯s your godmother, so you should call her Aunt Whitney, okay?¡± ¡°Godmother? Aunt Whitney?¡± A hint of confusion shed across Zendaya¡¯s face, but she quickly recovered and uttered sweetly, ¡°Aunt Whitney!¡± Chapter 852 Sorry That I Have Changed My Mind Chapter 852 Sorry That I Have Changed My Mind Upon hearing that, Whitney¡¯s cheeks turned bright red in embarrassment. ¡°Yay! Godmother! If Uncle Charles ever chooses another woman to be his wife, I would never agree!¡± Zendaya lifted her chin, looking quite pleased with herself. After the group chuckled in amusement, Gwendolyn reminded Whitney to keep safe before handing over a bank card. ¡°You¡¯ll inevitably need money over there. Take this card, it¡¯s my supplementary card. Use as much as you need. Don¡¯t worry about paying me back. Once Charles returns, I¡¯ll collect the principal and interest from him.¡± Whitney was somewhat taken aback, unsure of whether to ept the card or not. She was already very grateful to Gwendolyn for being willing to lend her thetter¡¯s ne. If I were to take her card too¡­ ¡°Alright now, Whitney, you should keep this. When the timees, my brother will pay me back. You¡¯ve joined our family for a while now, it¡¯s about time to splurge on his ount.¡± Jasmine took the card decisively and tucked it into Whitney¡¯s bag. Gwendolyn nodded, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s gettingte. By the time you get there, it¡¯ll probably be dark. Be careful on your way, and don¡¯t hesitate to contact us if anythinges up.¡± After bidding each of them farewell, Whitney finally boarded the ne, feeling a warm sensation in her heart. She looked out the window, where Jasmine was still waving at her with an excited expression. Whitney waved goodbye to each of them before retracting her gaze and waiting for the ne to take off. The decor inside the airne was understated, yet every item was incredibly luxurious, reflecting the ultra-rich status of the ne¡¯s owner. Once the airne cabin door closed, Gwendolyn and herpanions began to leave. Feeling a twinge of jealousy over his wife¡¯s generous act, Cedrick draped his arm over her shoulder and said, ¡°Gwenny, I don¡¯t even have a supplementary card from you. When can I get the same treatment? Gwendolyn was rendered speechless. She yfully pounded Cedrick¡¯s chest. ¡°You¡¯re the esteemed CEO of Jenson Group, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the famous Mr. Jenson of Salinsburgh. You¡¯re not short of money so why do you need my supplementary card?¡± Cedrick frowned, his handsome face taking on a pitiful look. ¡°Honey, i¡¯ve already handed over my sry to you.¡± As he spoke, Cedrick caught up with Gwendolyn pace. The family subsequently left together, amidstughter and cheerful chater Meanwhile, outside a vi in Muprary. Charles arrived with his men, but the local bigwig there had no intention of meeting him. Isaac stepped forward, speaking to them fluently in the localnguage. ¡°Didn¡¯t Leonardo promise to meet us today? Why the sudden change of ns?¡± The man holding the gun wore a stern expression, and the light reflecting off his sunsses was so ring that Isaac had to squint. ¡°Our boss has spoken. He agrees to meet but on one condition. Only Mr. Newton can enter. The rest of you must wait outside.¡± Muprary was an incredibly hot country, with temperatures often exceeding thirty-five degrees Celsius. If one were to wait outside for too long, one might suffer from a heatstroke. Isaac refused, ¡°No. If Mr. Newton goes in alone, his safety cannot be guaranteed. The biggest concession we can make is that I apany Mr. Newton to meet Leonardo. If Leonardo still wants money, then he should stop trying to cross our threshold.¡± The man whispered a few words to his henchman, who then went in to deliver the message. Leonardo stood by the window, looking down at Charles at ground level. His scarred face was brimming with frostiness. The woman beside him cooed, ¡°Mr. Hollis, is that Charles from Chanaea? He is quite handsome, but compared to you, he¡¯s just a pretty boy. A man like you is what we women truly like.¡± The woman leaned on Leonardo¡¯s arm. Her seductive gesture had ignited the lust within him. He bit her ear. ¡°Sweetheart, be a good girl and wait for me in the room. I¡¯ll be done very soon.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you¡­¡± Before leaving, the woman gave Leonardo a flirtatious nce. Leonardo extinguished the cigarette in his hand. At that moment, the henchman walked in, respectfully informing, ¡°Boss, they are requesting that you allow them to bring their assistant to the meeting. They also warned that if you want the money, you should not push their limits.¡± ¡°Alright, let theme up, but make sure to thoroughly search them.¡± Leonardo was sitting on the sofa, waiting for Charles to arrive. The henchman went out to ry the message. After being searched, Charles and Isaac were allowed to enter the vi. ¡°Mr. Newton, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± Leonardo took the main seat in the hall before gesturing to the seat in front of him where Charles sat down. ¡°Leonardo, I¡¯ve heard much about you.¡± In his early years, Leonardo was a mercenary with his own private army. As long as the price was right he dared to take on any job, including assassinations. Now that he was rich, he became the local bigwig- Anyone who went there to start apany would be scared off by him. His current line was running businesses that involved the ck market. Moreover, what he despised the most was the people of Chanaca. He himself was of mixed heritage between Chanaca and Muprary, but due to his mother¡¯s unique status, he was abandoned after returning to Chanaca. His childhood was marked by extreme hardship, which shaped his exceptionally brutal nature. Anyone who didn¡¯t meet his expectations would be subjected to his extremely cruel torment until they breathed theirst. This time, the people who ran into Charles were mining in the mountain, inadvertently encroaching on his territory. In addition, since most of the employees in Charles¡¯spany were from Chanaea, he captured them as hostages. Charles looked at Leonardo with a cold gaze and spoke in an icy voice. ¡°Leonardo, we had an agreement. You release the hostages, and I¡¯ll pay you the ransom. A fair exchange. Are you now going back on your word?¡± With an air of nonchnce, Leonardo propped up his leg and signaled to his subordinate, who immediately lit a cigar and handed it over. Leonardo took a deep puff, thenughed and said, ¡°Mr. Newton, you should know that I¡¯m not one for principles. I do things as I please. If I don¡¯t like the sight of your men, what of it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind about the previous agreement of five hundred thousand per person. Now, it¡¯s one million each, totaling ten million. Bring it to me now, and I¡¯ll release them immediately.¡± Infuriated, Isaac pointed at him and wanted to say something but was stopped by Charles. ¡°Leonardo, you should know that there¡¯s nothing I, Charles Newton, am afraid of. Since you¡¯ve chosen to end our negotiations in this manner, there¡¯s really no need for us to continue this conversation. Let¡¯s go!¡± Charles stood up, but as he approached the door, someone blocked his way. Leonardo didn¡¯t even bother to stand up as he said, ¡°Charles, just because I respectfully call you ¡°Mr. Newton, do you really think I¡¯m afraid of you? If the negotiation fails, then so be it!¡± With a swift pull of the tablecloth, Leonardo revealed a row of firearms hidden underneath it. He picked one that felt right in his hand and pointed it directly at Charles¡¯ forehead. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°What I detest the most are people from Chanacea like you.¡± Although Charles didn¡¯t understand the reason for the deep hatred in Leonardo¡¯s eyes, he knew he probably wouldn¡¯t be leaving that ce. After the incident, he immediately got in touch with those back in Chanaca. At that moment. reinforcemments were still on their wIV. Even with a gun pointed at his head, there was not a trace of fear in Charles¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your hatred has nothing to do with me. If you don¡¯t let them go, don¡¯t me me for taking action.¡± Upon hearing these words, Leonardo let out a scornfulugh as if he had heard something ridiculous ¡°Charles, don¡¯t tell me you actually believe you can beat me on my own turf? If I don¡¯t want you to, you won¡¯t be leaving through that door today.¡± The two individuals faced off against each other within the room, while chaos had already descended downstairs Chapter 853 Shot And Jumped Into The Sea Chapter 853 Shot And Jumped Into The Sea Leonardo¡¯s men had no disrespect for Charles¡¯s men, provoking them repeatedly until they were wholly infuriated. Bang! Bang! Bang! N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Three gunshots rang out from downstairs, prompting Leonardo¡¯s men to rush upstairs to report it. ¡°They injured our men, Boss!¡± Upon hearing that, Leonardo immediately loaded his gun and snarled unceremoniously, ¡°You¡¯ve brought this upon yourself, Charles!¡± In truth, even if Charles¡¯s men hadn¡¯t made the first move, they would still be used of doing so because Leonardo had never intended to let Charles leave the ce alive from the very beginning. Of course, Charles was no pushover either. When they searched him, he had already moved. the gun he was carrying somece else. He exchanged a nce with Isaac. Thetter immediately understood his meaning and tossed a small package over. ¡°Catch, Mr. Newton!¡± Charles quickly assembled a handgun and engaged in a fight with Leonardo. Both of them were seasoned martial arts practitioners who trained all year round. For a moment, it was impossible to determine the winner, let alone the person with the upper hand. After several rounds of punches and kicks, both of them sustained various injuries. Panting heavily, they separated temporarily. A hint of admiration showed in Leonardo¡¯s eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a remarkable individual to exist in Chanaea. I¡¯ve truly underestimated you.¡± Charles didn¡¯t bother wasting his breath with him but delivered another ruthless kick instead. The longer he remained there, the more disadvantageous it would be for him. However, he quickly noticed something amiss. Gradually, he felt a loss of strength, and his head began spinning. He instantly realized that Leonardo must have released a gas in the room that could anesthetize the senses. Seeing the change in his expression, Leonardo immediately sneered. ¡°You feel it, don¡¯t you? This is the latest anesthetic agent. You¡¯re no match for me, Charles. The people of Chanaea. are just showy but useless. You all deserve to die! Haha¡­¡± His voice was grating to the ears. Charles clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh. Right then, he could only gain fleeting rity through pain. Nheless, the anesthesia gradually made him lose his bnce. His consciousness also started fading slowly. Cornered by two men, Isaac couldn¡¯t break free to save the man. Besides, he was likewise affected by the anesthetic and started losing against his opponents¡¯ onught. Leonardo gradually began to show Charles no mercy, leaving countless injuries on thetter. Charles nced out the window before he suddenly sprinted toward it. Realizing his intentions, Leonardo fired two shots in quick session. One of them hit the man right in the calf. Charles stumbled, but still, he smashed the window using his momentum and jumped out. Leonardo¡¯s vi overlooked the sea. He fell into the ocean and disappeared without a trace. ¡°D*mn it! He got away!¡± Leonardo cursed, ring at the broken window. At that precise moment, his subordinate rushed up, panic-stricken. ¡°Boss, their men are here, and we¡¯re no match for them. Do you want to leave now? The luxury car for escape is already prepared in the basement.¡± Upon hearing themotion outside, coupled with the gunshot wound inflicted by Charles where an intense pain radiated, Leonardo had no choice but to leave first despite his reluctance. Just ten minutes after he had left, Charles¡¯ men had taken over the vipletely and rescued the hostages inside. However, Leonardo was an extremely cunning man. He only detained half of the hostages in the vi, while the whereabouts of the other half remained unknown After being rescued. Isaat was given an injection that finally brought him back to rity He stared at the fabric left by the window, anxiety showing on his face. He ordered loudly, ¡°Immediately carry out a nket search in this sea area! We must find Mr. Newton!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The sky gradually darkened. Charles¡¯ men returned to the base and reported the situation in despair. ¡°Mr. Turner, we couldn¡¯t find Mr. Newton.¡± Because Muprary was an exceedingly chaotic country with various forces intertwined, they dared not search for Charles openly. After all, there would be additional trouble if they inadvertently angered the other forces. Isaac eyeballed the red dot on the system that had already gone dim, consumed with anxiety. That red dot represented Charles¡¯s satellite positioning, and the system was installed on his phone and on him to triangte his location at all times. Although it had been waterproofed, it couldn¡¯t be immersed in seawater for a long time. Isaac could only temporarily confirm that Charles was still alive. Just as he was anxiously racking his brain for a solution, a buzzing roar suddenly sounded overhead. His subordinate quickly rushed in, saying, ¡°Mr. Turner, there¡¯s a private ne circling overhead. It seems to be looking for a ce tond. Should we stop it?¡± Recalling Whitney¡¯s n, Isaac hastily instructed, ¡°Hurry and guide the ne tond. Remember not to be rude to the person on the ne. As soon as itnds, bring her here immediately!¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Turner!¡± At that very moment, Whitney was on the airne, looking down at the mountain ranges below. She was thrilled, for the pilot had just announced that they had entered Muprary. I¡¯m now breathing the air as Charles! ¡°Ms. Mellor, I have received themand to descend. Our ne is about tond, so please brace yourself¡± The airne gradually descended. Suppressing the excitement within her. Whitney patted her chest lightly Im really looking forward to seeing him I wonder if he ll be just as excited to see me As the airne taxied on the ground, the flight attendant on board brought Whitney¡¯s suitcase over, smiling as she said, ¡°It was a pleasure to meet you. Hope to see you again.¡± Right after she had finished speaking, the airne¡¯s cabin door opened, and someone came over to take Whitney¡¯s suitcase. ¡°We were sent by Mr. Turner to pick you up and take you over.¡± ¡°Is Mr. Turner referring to Isaac?¡± Whitney asked uneasily. The person nodded in response and even produced the proof Isaac gave them. Only then did Whitney feel at ease to leave with them. As she watched the scenery whizz by outside the window, her curiosity about that ce grew. All her previous concerns had beenpletely dispelled. Right then, all she wanted was to see Charles as soon as possible. Soon, the luxury car arrived at Newton Group¡¯s territory, where Isaac was waiting at the entrance. Whitney stepped out of the car. When she didn¡¯t see Charles anywhere, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Where is he, Isaac?¡± Isaac¡¯s expression stiffened, but he smoothly changed the subject. ¡°You must be tired after a flight of more than ten hours, Mrs. Newton. Go and rest first. I¡¯ll tell you about the matter hereter.¡± At Isaac¡¯s expression, Whitney had a vague feeling that something was wrong. ¡°Isaac, tell me this-has something happened to Charles? How is he? Is he injured? Is he in the hospital?¡± Those were already the possibilities she could think of. She dared not let her thoughts wander to the darker side. Isaac hesitated for a moment. Knowing he couldn¡¯t hide the truth from her at the end of the day, he told her the truth. ¡°Mr. Newton¡­ was shot and jumped into the sea. We¡­ haven¡¯t found him yet.¡± Shot and jumped into the sea? Whitney stumbled back a few steps, her back drenched in sweat from the scorching sun However, she wasn¡¯t sure right then whether the sweat was from the intense heat of the sun or the shock of the news Suddenly her vision went ck and she felt somewhat dazed Noticing that her expression was off, Isaac quickly stepped forward and supported her. ¡°Are you okay, Mrs. Newton? We¡¯ll keep searching for Mr. Newton. Don¡¯t worry, for Mr. Newton is blessed by the heavens and will definitely be safe.¡± Whitney couldn¡¯t ept that, her body trembling as she asked, ¡°Where¡­ was he shot? And when did he go missing? What on earth happened?¡± Chapter 854 Resembles Gwendolyn Chapter 854 Resembles Gwendolyn Isaac hesitated, then sent someone to deliver Whitney¡¯s belongings to her room before he exined the whole story to her. When Charles jumped into the sea, all Isaac heard was the sound. He had no idea when Charles had jumped, let alone where Charles had been shot. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Newton. I was under anesthesia at that time. As for Mr. Newton¡­ I¡¯m not. sure about his condition.¡± Isaac lowered his head in frustration. If he had been able to save Charles in time, everything would¡¯ve been fine. Whitney sat dazedly in the chair,pletely at a loss. She had thought thating there would allow her to see the person she had been longing. for. Yet, reality dealt her a harsh blow. Not only did she not meet him, but his fate remained unknown to that day. ¡°Isaac, I want to go find him,¡± she said. Seeing the red veins in Whitney¡¯s eyes, Isaac knew she hadn¡¯t been resting well the days. ¡°Mrs. Newton, now that Mr. Newton has gone missing, please stay here and rest. If you were to copse again, I truly wouldn¡¯t have the energy to cope.¡± ¡°All right.¡± To avoid causing trouble for Isaac, Whitney had no choice but to sit down. Nightfall camete in Muprary. The local time showed nine o¡¯clock, yet it was only just getting dark. Whitney sat by the window, remaining there for a full three hours. Her phone suddenly vibrated. She quickly unlocked the screen, only to find out that the message was just an entertainment news update. Feeling somewhat annoyed, she tossed her phone aside. Suddenly, it urred to her that she could reach out to her friends there. Even a dragon would find it hard to control a snake in its old haunt. Whitney had a friend working there whom she hadn¡¯t contacted in a long time. Although she was not sure if they still remembered her, it was worth giving it a try N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. After all, having someone familiar with Muprary assisting in the investigation would simplify things considerably. Whitney quickly grabbed the phone she had tossed aside, found the person¡¯s name, and dialed their number. Surprisingly, the call connected quickly. ¡°How rare for you to call me. What¡¯s up?¡± Whitney¡¯s voice was tinged with unmistakable urgency as she said, ¡°Lenny, can I ask a favor?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m currently in Muprary, and my¡­ A friend of mine has gone missing in these waters. Can I ask for your help to find him?¡± Lenny spoke softly tofort. ¡°All right, send me his name and photo. I¡¯ll have someone keep an eye out for him. Don¡¯t worry.¡± The two of them chatted a little longer but Whitney really wasn¡¯t in the mood for further conversation, so she ended the call. The wait was always the hardest part. Three days passed, and It was as if Charles had evaporated into thin air without a trace. Isaac had already mobilized all of the Newton family¡¯s resources, conducting a thorough search of that sea area, but still came up empty-handed. Even Lenny had no new news. Without any news about Charles, Whitney lost all her appetite. She had noticeably slimmed down over the past few days. The housekeepers delivered the food to the door, but she couldn¡¯t eat it. Isaac looked at the worryingly thin Whitney and pleaded, ¡°Mrs. Newton, you really should eat something. If Mr. Newton returns and sees you like this, he will be worried.¡± Whitney shook her head. ¡°You go ahead with your work, Isaac. Don¡¯t worry about me. Finding him is what matters.¡± With every minute that passed, the anxiety in Whitney¡¯s heart increased. She couldn¡¯t pretend as if nothing had happened. ¡°Isaac, can I be left alone, please?¡± Seeing Whitney in that state, Isaac sighed. It didn¡¯t feel right for him to stay any longer, so he turned around and left The moment the door closed, Jasmine¡¯s video call came in unexpectedly Whitney quickly straightened up and switched the video call to voice answer. She didn¡¯t want Jasmine to also worry about Charles¡¯ disappearance. Hence, upon picking up the phone, Whitney smiled and said, ¡°What¡¯s up, Jasmine? Charles. and I are outside stargazing.¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ve heard that the sky in Muprary is very beautiful. You and my brother are a match made in heaven. Meanwhile, I¡¯m still single. I envy you two. Indeed, a couple in love is just different.¡± Jasmine¡¯s tone was a bit sour, but she meant well. With a bitter smile, Whitney said, ¡°Our signal here isn¡¯t very good. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up first, okay?¡± After she finished speaking, Whitney didn¡¯t wait for Jasmine to say anything else and hung up the phone. If she had to endure even a minute longer, she might not be able to hold back her emotions. She lifted her gaze and stared the starry sky, murmuring softly, ¡°Where are you?¡± Meanwhile, in a small fishing vige at the edge of Chanaea¡¯s border, a woman was taking care of a man who was still unconscious. The man was strikingly handsome. Even with injuries on his pale face, he still looked great. Winona Gardner held the damp cloth, cing it back on the man¡¯s forehead to help cool him down. She had been taking care of him for three days. The man had a cell phone, a gun, and some sort ofputer chips on him. She ced them. all on the table next to him. Winona looked at the handsome man lying on the bed. Because she knew his identity, she couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. It would be amazing if such a wonderful man could be hers, after all. Unfortunately, she had to obey a certain someone¡¯s orders. As she lowered her gaze in thought, a subtle murmur came from the man on the bed, his fingers twitching slightly. Winona quickly grabbed his hand, gently saying, ¡°Are you awake? Please wake up.¡± As her melodious voice reached Charles¡¯ cars, he slowly opened his eyes, dazed. His vision somewhat blurry His vision gradually became clear after two minutes. What entered his view was an extremely familiar face. He was stunned. ¡°G-Gwen?¡± Charles was weak, wanting to grasp the ¡°Gwendolyn¡± in front of him butcked the strength to do so. He struggled to rise. The pain from his injuries was so intense that it prevented him from thinking clearly. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± asked Winona. Her unfamiliar voice immediately alerted Charles to the fact that she wasn¡¯t Gwendolyn. He closed his eyes once again. He thought he must have been unconscious for too long as he mistook a stranger for Gwendolyn. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, let me make you some oatmeal. You¡¯ve been in and out of consciousness for three days and haven¡¯t eaten much. I¡¯m sorry. Our vige is quite underdeveloped in many ways, especially in terms of medical facilities. Therefore, all I can do is ask my grandmother to prepare some herbal remedies to apply to your wounds.¡± Winona¡¯s voice was very pleasant to hear as it was full of vitality. Charles was thankful she wasn¡¯t Gwendolyn. If anything were to happen to Gwendolyn, he would probably lose his mind. He closed his eyes to rest, too weak to respond. Soon, the aroma of food wafted in from the window, rejuvenating Charles. He looked at the wounds on his body, bandaged with strips of cloth, and sat up despite his feeble state. Then, he began to examine his surroundings. It was a rustic environment. Not far across from his location was Winona cooking in the kitchen. Upon hearing the noise Charles made, Winona immediately walked over and handed him a bowl of liquid medicine. ¡°My grandmother is the local doctor here. Although she may not be as skilled as those in the city, she has cured many people. This is something she wants you to Ingest. It will help with your injuries.¡± Charles stared at the innocence in Winona¡¯s eyes It was the kind of innocence that was untainted by worldly impurities. Her hair was thick and lustrous, and her skin was fair and without makeup. Yet, nothing could mask her innate purity. Adding to that, her eyebrows and eyes bore a striking resemnce to Gwendolyn. It was what caused Charles to be momentarily lost in thought. Each of her gesture and movement bore some resemnce to Gwendolyn. Her demeanor and innocent eyes were even more simr to the Gwendolyn that Charles knew w Chapter 855 A Gwendolyn Without Cedrick Chapter 855 A Gwendolyn Without Cedrick Charles was stunned. In the end, Winona waved her hand before him and asked in confusion, ¡°Sir? Sir? Are you listening to what I¡¯m saying?¡± At that, Charles snapped back to reality. He took the medicine from her and gulped it down without hesitation. He was well aware that if she had been sent by Leonardo, she would have killed him long ag instead of taking care of him until now. After drinking the medicinal brew, a bit of brown liquid lingered at the corner of his mouth. Winona quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe away the stain. She soon realized her behavior might have been inappropriate. She quickly exined, ¡°Sir, this handkerchief is clean, it¡¯s not a rag.¡± Seeing her flushed cheeks, Charles weakly curled his lips into a teasing smile. ¡°If I were to say your actions just now have charmed me, would you take responsibility?¡± ¡°Sir¡­ I¡­¡± Winona¡¯s cheeks grew even redder, and she became more flustered. Charles quickly rified, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean anything else. Thank you for saving me. My name is Charles. What¡¯s yours? ¡°W-Winona.¡± Her cheeks remained as red as apples, and she grew more cautious in her movements. In this state, she looked rather adorable. At that moment, Charles found himself captivated by the girl before him, who bore a striking resemnce to Gwendolyn. His thoughts kept drifting. Despite the unbearable pain from his gunshot wound, Charles mustered the strength to lift the quilt and discovered he was only in his underwear. He was rendered speechless, his handsome brows furrowing with sudden embarrassment. ¡°Excuse me, could you please find me some clothes? I¡¯d like to get out of bed and move around¡± ¡°Of course, but I don¡¯t have many men¡¯s clothes at home. My parents passed away while they were at sea some time ago, and there aren¡¯t many of their clothes left.¡± Winona murmured to herself as she searched. Charles realized that she had only her grandmother to rely on in life. Life had clearly been challenging for Winona. ¡°Take a look at these clothes and see if they fit. Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re clean,¡± Winona said as she handed Charles a set of dark-colored clothes. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she left the room. The attire seemed a bit outdated. When he emerged from the room, he found a bowl of freshly cooked oatmeal waiting for him on the stove. Winona offered it to him, saying, ¡°Your body needs nourishment. I¡¯ll go catch some fish tomorrow to help you replenish.¡± The simple bowl of in oatmeal smelled incredibly inviting to Charles, and he finished it in just a few mouthfuls. He took in the room¡¯s decor, noting that despite the house¡¯s age, it was impably clean, a testament to the homeowner¡¯s dedication to cleanliness. Seeing him examining the house, Winona lowered her head and said, ¡°My grandmother and I rely on each other, and we don¡¯t have much extra ie. Having a house like this to live in is already quite good. You must be from a big city, aren¡¯t you?¡± Envy tinged her words as she spoke about her simple life. Charles smiled warmly, his eyes involuntarily focusing on her face each time. It was as though he saw a different person in her. The next morning, at the crack of dawn, ck smoke rose from the chimney, and a faint medicinal aroma wafted from the firewood room. Winona, dressed in a light green long dress, emitted a gentle and calming aura. Despite living in a fishing vige, she managed to keep herself neat and tidy She diligently prepared the traditional medicine in a small pot, carefully uning it to be ready in a quarter of an hour With great care, she carried the medicinal soup and approached the room where Charles was resting Charles, gradually awakening to the sound of approaching footsteps, stirred from hist slumber. His long eyshes fluttered slightly as he opened his precious phoenix eyes. In his daze, he saw a familiar figure approaching his bedside. ¡°Gwen¡­ Gwen¡­¡± Dressed in her light green attire, she seemed like Gwendolyn came to life before his eyes. Her graceful curves resembled a beautiful flower in full bloom. He was entranced by her radiant charm, lost in thought, seemingly forgetting his surroundings, his identity, with only Gwendolyn before him. It was a Gwendolyn without Cedrick by her side. ¡°Are you awake now? Come on, take your medicine. The ones I¡¯ve been giving you these past few days were meant to detoxify your body. Today¡¯s dose will be thest, just to reinforce the effects.¡± The unfamiliar voice immediately brought Charles back from his chaotic reverie. It was only then that he realized he mistook Winona for Gwendolyn once again. Recently, Charles¡¯ dreams were frequently filled with memories of his decade-longpanionship with Gwendolyn, likely due to spending so much time with Winona. ¡°Thank you, and I apologize for my earlier rudeness.¡± Charles quickly stood up, regaining his gentlemanly demeanor as he picked up the medicinal soup and downed it in one gulp. ¡°It¡¯s okay, no harm done,¡± Winona replied with a faint smile. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m fully recovered now, all thanks to you. If there¡¯s ever anything the fishing vige needs my help with in the future, I¡¯ll do my best to assist.¡± After spending these past few days together, Winona had be morefortable around Charles. She no longer held back or refused his kindness. ¡°It just so happens that we could use more help on the farm at home. If you don¡¯t mind hard work, would you like to join us?¡± The southernmost point of Chanaea had a hot climate year-round, making it the perfect ce for rice farming. Charles immediately agreed since it was rare for her to ask him to help. ¡°Sure, I¡¯d be happy to help¡± He couldn¡¯t help but want to spend more time around Winona She bore a striking resemnce to Gwendolyn, and he didn¡¯t want to miss any opportunity to interact with her. The two of them set off with their farming tools in hand. However, as Charles followed Winona to the field and saw the vast expanse that needed to be plowed, he fell into deep. thought. ¡°Do I have to work on all of this?¡± Winona chuckled lightly, already getting to work with a hoe in hand. She pointed toward a shaded spot in the distance. ¡°You¡¯ve just recovered, so wait for me there. We¡¯ll finish this patch ofnd, and then we¡¯ll head home.¡± Charles furrowed his brows, quickly picked up the hoe, and joined her in thebor. The scorching sun beat relentlessly on every inch of their skin. Sweat trickled down Charles¡¯ forehead, and before long, he felt a powerful sting in his hands. Farm work wasn¡¯t something he often engaged in, so blisters formed quickly. Despite being a girl, Winona worked efficiently. Charles was alreadygging behind. Seeing him pause, she suggested, ¡°Charles, if you¡¯re tired, you should go home. It¡¯s scorching out here.¡± Charles shook his head. As a grown man, Charles was determined to push through thebor. The two of them worked tirelessly in the field, and as time flew by, thend was almost.pletely plowed. Winona approached him with a ss of refreshing watermelon juice, fanning him with her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break and call it a day.¡± Hearing her suggestion, Charles set down his tools, epted the watermelon juice, and drank it in a single gulp. The refreshing taste provided much-needed relief from the scorching heat. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Winona then took a clean handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, her eyes softening as she did so. Chapter 856 Taking Responsibility Chapter 856 Taking Responsibility ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard today, so why don¡¯t you stay for dinner tonight?¡± Charles instinctively reached out and gently held Winona¡¯s wrist. He stared at her meaningfully, causing Winona to feel a bit flustered, and her cheeks flushed red. She managed to free her wrist from his grasp. With a coy nce, she lifted her skirt, turned, and yfully ran off into the distance. Observing her retreating figure, a faint smile yed at the corners of Charles¡¯ lips as he followed her. Under the guise of a life-saving favor, all of Winona¡¯s advances became reasonable. When dinner time arrived, Winona prepared arge table filled with exquisite dishes. Since they were in a fishing vige, the table featured an array of dishes made from fish. prepared in various ways. As Charles surveyed the feast, he recalled Winona mentioning that she and her grandmother were all each other had. However, during his few days here, he had not yet seen the elderly woman, sparking his curiosity. ¡°Winona, doesn¡¯t your grandmother live here?¡± Winona, who was in the middle of serving food, paused for a moment. She replied, ¡°My grandmother often treats sick fishermen in the vige. If she hasn¡¯t finished helping a family yet, she won¡¯t return home. Is there a reason you want to meet her?¡± With a sweet smile, Winona deliberately let her hair graze against Charles¡¯ cheek as she served him food. ¡°I was just curious. It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw her.¡± Winona changed the subject, asking, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve tasted my cooking, what kind of impression do you have of me?¡± Charles smiled. ¡°You¡¯re as pure and innocent as Cindere in the fairy tales.¡± Winona blushed slightly at thepliment. ¡°You have a way with words. But you¡¯ve been here for quite some time. Aren¡¯t your family worried about you? What do you do for a living?¡± In response to Winona¡¯s probes, Charles replied, ¡°You know, you took my phone for repairs If I leave now, how will you find meter?¡± Winona was slightly taken aback, not expecting Charles to notice that she had secretly taken his phone. However, she quickly regained herposure and exined, ¡°I only took your phone for repair because I saw it was broken. It might take some time to fix. You¡¯re not mad at me, are you?¡± Charles picked up a piece of fish and offered it to her. ¡°Why would I be mad at you?¡± Winona lowered her head in guilt and mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for meddling with your phone without permission.¡± Charles shook his head, his gaze warm. ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. You were just trying to help.¡± The two continued their conversation during dinner, getting to know each other better. As time passed, Charles and Winona spent more time together in the fishing vige. One day, they found themselves dressed in the same traditional fishing vige attire, standing by the seaside. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that this was the uniform attire of the fishing vige, people might have mistaken them for a couple. They yfully teased and frolicked, just like a young couple in love. Charles sshed water at Winona, and she chased after him. They yed until they werepletely exhausted, lying on the beach, panting heavily, and feeling utterly exhrated. Charles looked at the panting girl beside him, a flicker of unusual emotion shing in his eyes. The hair at the temples of the girl next to him was dampened by the seawater, sticking to her face, stirring an indescribable urge within him. He suddenly asked, ¡°Winona, have you ever considered being in a rtionship?¡± Hearing this, Winona pursed her lips in deep thought. ¡°Love? I do envy Sera from our vige. She and her boyfriend are indeed very affectionate. However, I haven¡¯t considered it yet.¡± Seeing her filled with anticipation and longing for love, Charles abruptly stood up, blocking the sunlight in front of her. He looked at her seriously and said, ¡°So¡­ what if I would like to be your partner?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The sea breeze gently blew, lightly caressing their cheeks, while the wavespped against the shore. After spending time together, Charles found that many aspects of Winona were simr to Gwendolyn. He really liked this feeling. He was selfish, wanting to protect the obsession that hadsted for those ten years. After a long while, Winona regained her senses, her heart inexplicably racing, a blush gradually spreading across her face. ¡°I-I¡¯ve never really thought about being in a rtionship¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Regaining herposure, Winona¡¯s face revealed a pained expression. ¡°I¡¯m unfortunate, and I can¡¯t bring this misfortune upon you. I¡¯m truly sorry. Your phone has been fixed. I¡¯ll get it for you right now.¡± After she finished speaking, Winona ran off in a flurry, leaving him with nothing but her retreating figure. Thinking of her panicked expression, Charles gave a bitter smile and then headed home. Once back home, Winona handed him his phone, looking flushed. ¡°Take a look. It seems like a lot of people have been calling you.¡± Charles unlocked his phone, only to find countless call logs from Whitney, along with a barrage of messages. Whitney: Where on earth are you? Are you okay? I¡¯m really worried about you. Whitney: You¡¯ve been missing for a week now. Did you receive my message? Whitney: Charles¡­ Whitney had sent a great many messages, each one revealing her extreme worry. Charles slightly furrowed his brows, his fingertips tightening around his phone. Aplex, unusual hue gradually emerged in his deep, azure eyes. Winona noticed the shift in Charles¡¯ expression. ¡°Your family must be very worried abou you They¡¯re probably anxiously waiting for you. You should go home.¡± Whitney. He turned to Winona, his expression serious and sincere. ¡°Life in the fishing vige is tough. You should see the world beyond it. Why note with me? I promise to take good care of you.¡± Winona was somewhat moved, her expression torn. In the end, she still shook her head in refusal. ¡°I can¡¯t go with you. I have to take care of my grandmother. You should go. After this, we probably won¡¯t have the chance to meet again. Getting to know you these past few days has brought me great joy. Thank you for the happiness you¡¯ve brought me.¡± As Winona spoke, her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°You said you¡¯re older than me and wanted me to refer to you as Charles. So, Charles, I¡¯m d to meet you.¡± Charles¡­ Charles zoned out once again. He gazed at Winona¡¯s face, which resembled Gwendolyn, his phoenix eyes sparkling slightly. It had been such a long time since he had heard this title. Winona was about to turn around and leave, but Charles grabbed her wrist, earnestly saying. ¡°Come with me. Let me take care of you from now on. I¡¯ll figure something out for grandmother. If you call me Charles, I will take care of you till the end.¡± Take care of me? Winona paused for a moment, feeling the warmth of his hand. It seemed to bring an unprecedented warmth and peace of mind, but she just couldn¡¯t This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Charles, y-you should probably contact your family first. You¡¯ve been missing for so long and suddenly you¡¯re bringing a stranger home What if your family refuses to ept me She lowered her head, breaking free from his grasp, and fled out of the room. ¡°I need to go Take care of something¡± Chapter 857 He Has A New Woman Chapter 857 He Has A New Woman Muprary. The day had already dawned brightly, with people bustling in and out of the building. The sound of anxious footsteps echoed, striking at the heart like a drumbeat. On therge screen, the red dot that had been silent for a long time finally started to flicker again. Isaac and the others had been waiting here for a long time. They had finally received signs of Charles, who had been missing for several days. Charles proactively shared his location and assured them of his safety. ¡°Give the order to send trustworthy people to Mr. Newton, and make sure to bring Mr. Newton back safely.¡± Isaac pinched the bridge of his nose, they had not rested for even a moment these past days in their search for Charles¡¯s whereabouts, fearing they might miss even the slightest glimmer of hope. ¡°Dispatch a helicopter, and then bring the doctor over as well. We have to prevent any potential problems.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The subordinates around him stepped back, tirelessly setting off to arrange all the rted tasks. Upon receiving the message, Whitney immediately met up with Isaac. Just a few days ago, she looked exquisite and beautiful. However, due to what happened to Charles recently, she hadn¡¯t been getting enough rest for a few days. The exhaustion and weariness on her face were visible to the naked eye, and faint red lines could be seen in her eyes, which was heartbreaking to see. ¡°Is everything arranged?¡± ¡°Upon receiving the message, I immediately sent someone to make arrangements. We will pick up Mr. Newton right away¡­ Isaac stood behind Whitney, clearly reporting his n. Then, he changed the subject immediately and said hesitantly, ¡°Mrs. Newton, you mustn¡¯t neglect your health. It¡¯s not worth it. Now that we finally have news of Mr. Newton, it would indeed leave everyone worrying about both of you if something serious were to happen to you.¡± Whitney walked over to the chair nearby and sat upright, nodding slightly in a somewhat distracted manner, indicating that she understood. But how could she not worry? Since the day Charles went missing, nearly half a month had already passed. At the airport, the roar of the helicopter was thunderous. It¡¯s difficult-to-bear noise. seeminglyforted everyone who was about to go find Charles. ¡°Mr. Turner, everything is ready. We can take off at any time.¡± His subordinate held an instrument, standing solemnly by Isaac¡¯s side. As they watched the flickering red light, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of excitement. In these past twenty days, he had been living a life worse than death, burdened with an overwhelming sense of guilt. Just as they were preparing to take off, one of the subordinates suddenly came running over. Then he whispered a few words into Isaac¡¯s ear. Soon after, he saw Whitney, dressed in a long white dress, walking over with an anxious look. on her face. Isaac quickly went to meet her. ¡°Mrs. Newton, you¡­ howe you¡¯re here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be resting?¡± Whitney shook her head, her eyes full of worry. ¡°Isaac, could you please let mee with you? I want to see for myself that he¡¯s safe. Is that alright?¡± Faced with Whitney¡¯s request, Isaac found it impossible to refuse her. The helicopter took off, and based on the signal of Charles¡¯ location, Isaac and his team quickly found the ce Charles sent. That was a fishing vige on the border. Since it was close to the border, there were foreigners around here. However, the majority of people living in the fishing vige were the elderly and children who had stayed behind. Generally, Charles preferred not to interact with these people. Overall, the vige remained quite underdeveloped. Nheless, the sky here was bluer and the sea was clearer. Seagulls hovered low over the vast sea, their cries echoing, as if this was their true home. None of them truly appreciated the beauty of this ce. Even if it was stunningly picturesque, it couldn¡¯t compete with a heart full of worries. Charles was quietly waiting on the seaside beach, waiting for Isaac and the others to arrive. This ce was spacious and people seldom walked there. Hence, there was ample space for helicopter tond and take off. The wind blew his short hair on his forehead, and his delicate deep blue phoenix eyes were downcast. His lips were tightly pressed together and he was lost in thought. He nced sideways at Winona who was next to him. The sunlight refracted in her amber eyes, and they look bright and captivating. He lifted his gaze once more to the sea and the sky, sighing silently. Birds and fish, after all, tread different paths. Perhaps, one day, the bird will choose to stay in this sea for the fish. ¡°Listen, it¡¯s the sound of a helicopter.¡± Winona looked up at the sky. A ck dot was moving closer from a distance. She knew that the person coming to pick up Charles had arrived. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to leave.¡± Winona arched her eyebrows, her smile radiant, ¡°Your family hase to take you home. They must have been worried about you these past few days.¡± Charles looked into Winona¡¯s eyes. There wasn¡¯t a trace of reluctance in them, as if their time spent together these past days hadn¡¯t left any profound impact on her. Charles tugged at the corner of his mouth, mocking with a smirk. Winona really resembles Gwendolyn. Even the way she never takes him to heart is strikingly simr N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. The helicopter had arrived overhead where Charles was standing, yet Charles remained motionless, his face devoid of any expression. Her eyes, delicate as jewels and deep blue, held an ancient frost that never thawed. ¡°Winona, will you still remember me?¡± He turned his head, asking a question devoid of emotion. Winona forced herself not to look at him. She turned around, her voice carrying a hint of a sob. ¡°I¡¯m d to have met you, but my grandmother used to say that some things can¡¯t be forced. You and I are from different worlds.¡± Charles remained silent, his gaze steady on her face, his thoughts inscrutable. Looking down from the helicopter window, Whitney saw the person she had been thinking of standing upright on the beach, and the heavy stone hanging in her heart finallynded. She let out a reluctant sigh. Both her hands trembled slightly from nervousness. However, she quickly noticed another figure standing beside Charles. Looking down from above, the figure appeared to be a woman. Just as her worries wereid to rest, an unusual feeling suddenly surged from the depths of her heart. The helicopter gradually descended, stirring up the surrounding sand and dust. Whitney, unable to contain her excitement, rushed out of the helicopter. There was a hint of faint. redness in her eyes. In the end, her worry outweighed other emotions, blurring her eyes with a mist of tears. Charles was standing there. A slight moment of surprise crossed his face when he saw that it was Whitney. Before the incident, he had no idea that Whitney hade to Muprary. But his surprise quickly subsided, and he regained his indifferent expression. His eyshes lowered slowly. Whitney threw herself forward, choking back sobs. ¡°I¡¯m so relieved that you¡¯re fine. The moment she held him in her arms. Whitney realized what it truly meant to feel secure. Her heart seemed to settle down in an instant After the embrace, she let him go, scrutinizing him carefully. With a worried tone, she asked. ¡°How are you feeling? Is there any difort? We brought a doctor with us. Would you like to have a check- up?¡± Charles slightly furrowed his brows, reaching out to gently pat her slender shoulder in aforting manner. His voice was calm as he replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go back.¡± She could clearly feel his indifference. Whitney was taken aback, and somewhat surprised. Yet, her gaze unintentionally caught sight of Winona, who had already stood far away. Earlier, the view wasn¡¯t clear from the ne. But now, Whitney quickly discerned what was going on upon taking a closer look. Thisdy bears a slight resemnce to Gwendolyn. Winona was also looking at her. The gazes of the twodies met from afar. Winona gave her a slight smile which was polite and measured. There was hardly any hint of confrontation in her eyes. Whitney couldn¡¯t muster a smile. She turned her gaze back to Charles, who was looking down, avoiding her eyes. This made it impossible for her to discern what Charles was thinking. But, she could vaguely sense something. Chapter 858 A Peculiar Way Of Coexistence Chapter 858 A Peculiar Way Of Coexistence Even though her mind was filled with countless doubts, Whitney didn¡¯t ask anything. Isaac stepped forward at the right moment, respectfully calling out, ¡°Mr. Newton.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s head back.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Charles brushed past Whitney¡¯s shoulder and boarded the helicopter. Looking through the helicopter¡¯s window, Charles gazed at the people standing on the ground. Winona was waving goodbye to him, then she turned around and headed back to the fishing. vige. In the moment she turned around, the reluctance on Winona¡¯s face faded, reced by indifference. His departure was not the end. She believed that Charles woulde looking for her again. Whitney gazed into the distance, her heart a mix of emotions as she watched the petite. figure of the girl. It¡¯s all right. Once we get back, none of these will matter. After taking a few deep breaths, Whitney also boarded the helicopter, deliberately ignoring the difort in her heart. The helicopter started up, its massive roar filling the air. Two doctors worked around. Charles, meticulously conducting various checks on him. In order to ensure Charles¡¯ was in good shape, Isaac had almost all the medical equipment that could be moved onto the helicopter. This was done solely to provide Charles with the mostprehensive checkup. Once the inspection was over, Whitney walked over and asked with concern. ¡°Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?¡± She brought over a tray filled with fruit, holding it up with both hands in front of Charles while waiting for him to choose his favorite fruit. Charles shook his head in refusal. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯m not hungry. I don¡¯t feel like eating. Whitney stared at his handsome face, utterly perplexed. Beforeing to Muprary, he had even taken the initiative to ask her out. Nearly half a month after the incident, his attitude seemed to revert back to the indifference he showed when they first got married. In fact, he even exhibited a somewhatplex, deliberate aloofness. ¡°Have¡­ have you been troubled by something these past few days?¡± ¡°Or are you upset that I secretly came to Muprary to find you, without telling you in advance?¡± ¡°Charles¡­¡± Charles let out a barely audible sigh, his eyebrows furrowed as he interrupted her, ¡°This ce is dangerous. You shouldn¡¯t havee over. Besides dealing with thepany¡¯s tedious matters, I now have to worry about your safety as well.¡± Whitney¡¯s face turned pale. She didn¡¯t know kung fu and couldn¡¯t fend herself. That seemed to be a burden for Charles. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just¡­¡± Charles stood up and headed towards another cabin. ¡°Quiet down for a bit. I want to rest.¡± Whitney stared at his towering figure, standing frozen in ce with a te of fruit in her hands. Even his subordinates could sense that Charles seemed to be in a bad mood. His mood was often unpredictable, and no one dared to approach him. They all lowered their presence, silently standing by his side. Whitney quicklyposed herself, set down the fruit, and followed him into another cabin. She fell silent, sitting quietly across from Charles. She simply watched him from a distance as he rested, staying in a position where she could be of help at any moment. The next day, the helicopter finallynded in China. Isaat immediately took Charles to the hospital for a moreprehensive checkup. The checkup on the helicopter could only confirm that there were no immediate life- threatening conditions in his body. Now, a thorough examination was needed to put his mind at ease. The hospital they visited was under the auspices of the Harris family. Any hospital where. Kieran presided boasted the most authoritative doctors and experts, ensuring the most. reliable diagnosis and treatment results. Inside the hospital, Whitney was running back and forth, personally taking care of everything. She held theb report in her hand, a thinyer of sweat forming on her forehead. She was panting heavily from running. Usually, Isaac could handle these tasks, but because Charles had called him to a meeting in the ward, Whitney had no choice but to take on all the task herself. Inside the hospital room, Charles was half-leaning against the head board. His handsome face looked serious. ¡°This time, they didn¡¯t gain any advantage either, so send someone to negotiate again. I believe Leonardo will restrain himself and will try to rescue the remaining hostages as soon as possible.¡± Isaac nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± By the end of the morning, all the test results were out. Charles¡¯s condition was normal, and the gunshot wound on his leg was healing well. Although he had lost weight, there was nock of nutrition, but just a bit of a calcium deficiency. This was all thanks to Winona¡¯s meticulous care these past few days. Hence, it was only natural that Charles credited all the merit to Winona for the life-saving favor she had. bestowed. Groggy from a midday nap, Charles slowly opened his eyes. With a slight movement, he could feel someone pressing down on the nket next to him. He turned his head and saw Whitney sleeping at the head of his bed. Even though she was resting, the fatigue on her face was unmistakable. It was as if she hadn¡¯t had a good rest in many days. Charles looked at her with aplex expression, his slender fingers reached out, twirling her blond hair that had fallen on the nket around his finger. A year long marriage agreement, and nearly half a year has already passed¡­. Sensing movement from the person in the sickbed, Whitney who was a light sleeper, woke As soon as she lifted her gaze, it met with Charles¡¯. She blinked in confusion, unable to understand the meaning behind Charles¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s time to go home now.¡± With an impassive expression, Charles withdrew his fingers that were entwined in Whitney¡¯s hair. He got up from the other side of the bed, straightened his shirt cuffs, put on his suit jacket, and regained his usual dignified demeanor. After collecting himself, he was the first to leave the ward, quickly putting some distance. between him and Whitney. Whitney rubbed her eyes and hurried behind him to catch up. They returned to the Newton residence quitete. Everyone at home was already resting. Whitney was thinking about preparing some nutritious food for him to replenish his strength. But when she finished cooking, she found that the person who should have been in the bedroom was nowhere to be found. After exiting the room, Whitney heard noisesing from the guest room, so she went over to knock on the door. Generally, no one slept in the guest room of the Newton family. Jasmine and Charles each. had their own rooms. After a long while, there was still no response. Whitney thought there was no one inside and was about to leave when she heard a familiar voice. ¡°I¡¯ve been sleeping alone recently, so I¡¯m not used to sharing a bed with someone else. From now on, you¡¯ll have the bedroom, and I¡¯ll be here.¡± The cold voice of Charles rang out, like a bucket of cold water being poured over Whitney¡¯s head. How could this happen? Didn¡¯t he say that we are going to sleep together? Why did he make such a sudden decision? What on earth happened? However, after thinking of his recent experiences, Whitney showed understanding towards. his behavior and said, ¡°I¡¯ve made chicken soup for you. Would you like to have some before you sleep?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m tired and I want to rest.¡± Whitney looked down at the bowl in her hands, sighed, and then left. Seven o¡¯clock in the morning. Whitney got up to have breakfast. The housekeepers were busy cleaning. Seeing the four breakfasts prepared on the table, she walked over and asked, ¡°Is Charles up yet?¡± The servant nced at her curiously and said, ¡°Madam, Mr. Newton has already left, probably around six o¡¯clock.¡± He left so early? Although Whitney hadn¡¯t been working recently, she had been consistently keeping an eye on the company¡¯s activities. There hadn¡¯t been any significant morning meetingstely. At this moment, Jasmine stepped out of her room, dressed in a workout outfit, ready to go. for a morning run to lose weight. Seeing that Whitney¡¯splexion wasn¡¯t great, and recalling how her brother had left early in the morning, quick-witted as she was, immediately guessed something. She stepped forward and asked, ¡°Why do you look so upset? Did my brother bully you?¡± In order to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, Whitney forced a smile onto her face, picked up a piece of bread from the table and took a bite. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°He just got back recently, and there were so many things for him to deal with. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s going to be quite busy from now on.¡± She subtly concealed her embarrassment. If only Charles would argue with her, it would be better than him constantly avoiding her now. She found it hard to understand what was going through Charles¡¯s mind. Chapter 859 Someone Has Found A Place In His Heart Chapter 859 Someone Has Found A ce In His Heart ¡°Alright then. You guys shouldn¡¯t tire yourselves out either. Take care of your health. Once I¡¯ve passed my exam, I might be going abroad.¡± Jasmine was engrossed in sharing her future ns, but Whitney¡¯s mind had already drifted off somewhere else. After having breakfast, the Newton family¡¯s driver dropped Whitney off at the office. After entering the office, Whitney headed in the direction of Charles¡¯ office. Just as Isaac was about to leave with a stack of documents, Whitney stopped him. ¡°Is he in the office now?¡± Isaac nodded. ¡°Mr. Newton seems to be in a bad mood. Be careful.¡± After giving a piece of advice, Isaac left with the documents in his arms. Whitney headed straight for the office and knocked on the door. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Charles was holding a fountain pen, diligently writing on some document. Whitney knew better than to interrupt, and quietly waited for him to finish. After about ten minutes, Charles finally looked up, pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. His voice regained its calm and indifference like before. Whitney suppressed the difort in her heart as she smiled and said, ¡°I was worried about your health, so I wanted toe and see you.¡± ¡°Are you done?¡± Charles didn¡¯t lift his head, his gaze remained fixed on the documents in front of him. His brows and eyes looked serious, and his tone indifferent. He seemed to be urging Whitney to leave. Whitney didn¡¯t understand. It was understandable for him to have such an attitude yesterday. Why is he still like this today) She couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and asked the question that had been weighing on her heart. ¡°During the time you lived in the fishing vige¡­ was it that girl who took care of you? What¡­ what¡¯s her name?¡± As she asked the question, Whitney¡¯s heart pounded rapidly, her palms clenched as she was nervous. She carefully observed Charles¡¯ expression. Charles¡¯ brows suddenly furrowed, his eyes serious. The air suddenly fell silent, and Whitney nervously swallowed, unsure of what to say to ease the tense atmosphere. ¡°How¡­ how has your time been in the fishing vige?¡± Charles nced at her. ¡°Not bad.¡± Having said that, he put down the documents in his hand and stood up to leave the office. After much hesitation, Whitney decided to block his path, gathering her courage to ask, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you owe me an exnation?¡± He said he was going to date her, but ended up leaving her alone in the country without even telling her. He disappeared, and she had been worried for such a long time. They had finally met, but he still had this attitude, not saying a word, nor exining anything. Charles wore a stern expression. ¡°Once you¡¯re back at work, you should focus and concentrate on your work. Why must you waste your time on these issues every day?¡± Having said that, he left without looking back. ng! The office door was mmed shut. It struck a heavy blow to Whitney¡¯s heart as if it were a sledgehammer. She knew by now. Charles wouldn¡¯t give her an answer, but his attitude had already said it all. Perhaps¡­ someone had already found a ce in Charles¡¯ heart before her. Sheughed at herself, realizing that he simply didn¡¯t care about her feelings. She overestimated her own standing, and she presumptuously thought she could stand by his side. Before leaving the fishing vige, she noticed the way Charles looked at that girl. That was a look filled with affection and quite special. She had only seen this kind of gaze whenever Charles looked at Gwendolyn. The girl reminded him of Gwendolyn. Whitney began to understand why he had suddenly be distant towards her. Given the circumstances, she would no longer waste her warmth on someone who acted cold to her. After taking a deep breath, Whitney suppressed her stubbornness and pride, and left Charles¡¯ office. From this moment on, apart from necessary work interactions, Whitney would no longer take the initiative to contact Charles. As days passed, it seemed as if the people in thepany had noticed something. ces with many people were often breeding grounds for rumors. The CEO and Whitney, who used to alwayse and go from the office together, had stopped appearing at the office at the same time, at some point. They also noticed that Whitney seemed to be deliberately avoiding their CEO, which inevitably piqued the curiosity of the staff. The fact that Whitney was able to turn from being a small intern to a favored individual by the CEO¡¯s side had long been a displeasure to most people. Hence, she was a thorn in the hearts of the women at the office. Everyone harbored a fanciful dream of transforming from rags to riches. There wasn¡¯t a woman who didn¡¯t desire a man as outstanding as Charles. Charles¡¯ presence had long since be the gold standard for the women in thepany when it came to choosing a partner However, they were aho well aware of their own status and position. No one really dares to confront the CEO recklessly. Yet, Whitney, someone without an exceptional family background or particrly outstanding abilities, seemed to have nothing more than her beauty to keep her by Charles¡¯ side. How could the existence of such a woman justify the whims and fancies of those infatuated. Now that the two of them were at odds, some people started harboring thoughts they shouldn¡¯t have. A woman in a white shirt saw Whitney walking out of Charles¡¯ office with a cold expression. She quickly pulled someone nearby and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is it true that Mr. Newton doesn¡¯t favor Whitney anymore?¡± The woman¡¯s face lit up with excitement, much like a paparazzo catching a whiff of gossip. The woman she had grabbed was admiring her freshly done manicure, offering a sarcastic. exnation.. ¡°Well, she probably did something to upset Mr. Newton, hence they¡¯re giving each other the cold shoulder.¡± Anyone could see what had happened between them. How truly peculiar. The woman smirked, taking pleasure in others¡¯ misfortune. ¡°Look at how smug she was in the past, and now she has annoyed Mr. Newton. In my opinion, she should be fired. She¡¯s not fit to be Mr. Newton¡¯s personal assistant.¡± ¡°Pffi¡­ Do you fit the job? Who do you think Mr. Newton is? He¡¯s not someone we can simply serve.¡± *** Charles, who was fully engrossed in his work, and unaware of the rumors that were already spreading throughout thepany. He simply found it odd as Whitney had been avoiding himtely, and her attitude towards him had suddenly turned cold. What¡¯s wrong with that woman? He nced out the window, where Whitney was diligently organizing her documents. She looked utterly composed. It seems like she has lost some weight recently. Her cheeks, which were already quite thin, had now be even thinner. Realizing once again that his mood was being affected by her, Charles irritably lowered the blinds, shutting out the environment outside. As the days went by, their peculiar way of interacting with each other sparked inc intense discussions among their colleagues. On a bright and sunny afternoon, a topic filled with criticism and sarcasm began to circ among the various small groups within thepany. ¡°Has everyone noticed? That stupid woman finally got what she deserved. Her seduction is no longer enough to catch the attention of their boss. She¡¯s been dumped, and it serves her right.¡± Everyone dared not call her name directly, they could only use nick name that they all understood to rece the name. Those who were interested naturally understood. ¡°No way. It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve been to thepany together. She must have done something to annoy the boss.¡± ¡°What a vixen. She should have been ousted from thepany a long time ago. We¡¯ve put up with her gloating for far too long.¡± The management had turned a blind eye to the public opinion stirred up by this matter. They were simply not botherer with such trivial matters. After all, the human nature of enjoying the spectacle was verymon, let alone kicking someone when they were down. During the days of the cold war between Whitney and Charles, all sorts of rumors and gossip were flying around thepany. Chapter 860 Someone Hugs Her Chapter 860 Someone Hugs Her Of course, the protagonist was merely Whitney. Even if these people were audacious, they wouldn¡¯t dare to plot against Charles, unless they no longer wished to keep their job. Moreover, Charles never stood up for Whitney, nor did he ever intervene in these matters these days, which further fueled the spread of the rumors. That noon, a few people gathered in the restroom, and started a discussion about this matter. ¡°I wonder how Whitney has the nerve to stick around Mr. Newton. If it were me, I would have handed in my resignation long ago.¡± ¡°Well, I think she just wants to be Mrs. Newton, so she won¡¯t let go that easily. Hence, being the CEO¡¯s assistant is the first step to getting close to the CEO. Do you think she¡¯s foolish?¡± ¡°She should really take a good look at herself and see if she¡¯s even destined for such greatness. And who does she think she has her eyes on? She¡¯s seriously deluded if she thinks she¡¯s a phoenix.¡± ¡°Hehe, well, this is great. It is just as expected that she got kicked by Mr. Newton.¡± ¡°If it were me, I would dutifully go to work, earn a living, and marry a man who matches my social status. The key is to know one¡¯s ce.¡± They were all chattering away by the sink,pletely unaware that the person they were talking about was right behind them in the stall. As Whitney listened to their conversation, she couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists. She felt a slight urge to go out and pick a fight with those gossipmongers, But reason told her, she shouldn¡¯t. Charles held a high reputation within thepany. If she were to leave now, it might look bad. Once the noise outside the door had subsided, Whitney finally opened the partition door, ready to leave. However, when she tried to open the bathroom door, she found it had been locked from the outside. No matter how she turned the handle, it just wouldn¡¯t open. Did those people from earlier do it on purpose? Whitney pressed her face against the door frame and called out, ¡°Is anyone there? I¡¯m locked. in here. Could you please help me open the door?¡± Once the door was locked from the outside, there was no way to open it from the inside. Whitney pounded on the door with all her might, but the outside remained eerily silent, with no signs of anyoneing or going. She nced at the time and saw that it was the lunch break. Most of the employees should bet taking their afternoon nap, so there were very few peopleing to the restroom. On top of that, Whitney had already had enough of these people¡¯s gossip. This time, she deliberately chose a more secluded restroom, but she didn¡¯t expect to encounter such a situation¡­ She pulled out her phone, hoping to call for help, only to find there was no signal. Now, all she could do was wait. Half an hour had passed, she tried knocking on the door again, calling out for help. Still, there was no response from anyone. Whitney was in the midst of cracking her head to think of a way when, with a sudden ssh, a bucket of icy cold water was dumped in from a small window above the door, drenching her from head to toe. Her hair instantly became wet, and stuck to her face. She was already dressed lightly, so she was shivering to her core now that she was drenched in water. She hugged herself, the corners of her eyes slightly reddened. Then, she pulled out her phone once again as she was trembling. Finally, there was a signal. As she flipped through the address book, she realized that she didn¡¯t have a single friend in the company. The only person she had close contact with was Queenie, and no one else. Ironically, Queenie took a leave that day as she was not feeling unwell. Now, the only one who could offer her help was Isaac. At a time like this, Whitney never even considered calling Charles. After much hesitation, she finally decided to call Isaac. The moment the call connected, Isaac¡¯s questioning voice came through immediately. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Come to the restroom on the east wing of the twenty-first floor. I¡¯ve been locked in here by someone.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring someone over right away.¡± After hanging up the phone, Whitney leaned against the bathroom wall for support, feeling unwell from head to toe. The bathroom¡¯s exhaust fan made her feel cold, so she could only hug herself, trying to provide some warmth. By the time Isaac arrived, he saw water overflowing from the bathroom. The bathroom door lock had been maliciously sealed with tape. No wonder she couldn¡¯t open it. He quickly instructed the locksmith to pry open the door.. The moment she saw Isaac, Whitney thought she was losing her mind and seeing things. She staggered out of the restroom soon after. Seeing her drenched, Isaac took off his own coat, intending to drape it over her, but Whitney refused. Now, she was the center of attention in thepany. Any man who crossed paths with her might find himself caught in a whirlwind of rumors. She didn¡¯t want Isaac to be affected by these things anymore. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Whitney hugged herself tightly, her figure trembling slightly as she walked towards the elevator. Isaac took a quick look around the environment. This ce was in a blind spot for surveince, and with the constant flux of peopleing and going, it was impossible to determine who was responsible for the malicious act. Thinking about the recent rumors at thepany, Isaac furrowed his brows. He was determined to get to the bottom of this matter. The air conditioning was also on in the elevator, causing Whitney to tightly wrap her arms. around herself, sneezing several times in a row. When she returned to the top floor office area. Whitney¡¯s gaze just happened to meet with Charles, who wasing out of his office. After a mere nce, Whitney immediately lowered her head. She walked past Charles and returned to her own workstation. The cold war between them in the past few days had left her mentally and physically exhausted, with no energy to focus on her work. She was making mistakes more often than not while organizing her materials. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Charles¡¯ reprimands towards her didn¡¯t lessen at all. She was truly exhausted, both mentally and physically. I feel really cold, but it¡¯s nothingpared to the chill in my heart. Whitney felt as if her body was about to reach its limit, as if she could hardly hold on any longer. Achoo. Another sneeze came, and a wave of grievance welled up within her. Whitney¡¯s head felt heavy and foggy. She hadn¡¯t heard any movement beside her for a while and assumed that Charles had already left. She could longer fight the difort she was feeling, so she leaned on the table, curled and fell asleep within minutes. Charles furrowed his brows slightly. He was still standing in the same ce with his falling on her from a distance. Cold. It¡¯s so cold. In her drowsy state, Whitney suddenly felt a lightness in her body. Has someone picked me up? She wanted to open her eyes, but her eyelids were so heavy that she couldn¡¯t muster the strength. A familiar scent of men¡¯s cologne wafted into her nostrils. Is it Charles? Is Charles holding her? No, it can¡¯t be. He had just left. Whitney¡¯s head was throbbing painfully, causing her to whimper softly from time to time. Restless, she nuzzled into the man¡¯s arms. She couldn¡¯t sense the man¡¯s body stiffening slightly due to her movements. All she knew was that she wanted some tenderness, so she pressed herself against his chest¡­ A warm, thick nket was draped over her, gradually warding off the cold. Soon, she fell into a deep sleep. Knock, Knock. She was awakened by the sound of a table being knocked. As she opened her eyes, she saw Isaac standing in front of her.. ¡°Mrs. Newton, it¡¯s time to go home.¡± Whitney rubbed her eyes, her vision gradually clearing as she looked around. She realized. she was still sitting at her workstation. There was no thick nket on her body, and that man was nowhere to be found by her side. As expected, she was indeed dreaming. She gave a self-deprecatingugh, quicklyposed herself, and smiled at Isaac. ¡°Thank you for helping me today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my job.¡± Whitney stood up, only to feel a wave of dizziness wash over her. Suddenly, her vision went ck, and she felt so weak that she had to sit back down. Isaac hurriedly stepped forward to support her, expressing his concern, ¡°Mrs. Newton, are you alright?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!