Shawn's heart sank. He forgot that his two children were right beside him. Shawn said with a faint smile, trying to ease the tension, "It was an accident. Nicole, don't be afraid." "Oh, I thought you were throwing a tantrum and tossing your phone," Joshua teased. He denied it. Joshua glanced at Shawn, "Are you calling Mommy?" Shawn did not answer. "Is she out drinking with godmother again? You've been left behind, only able to stay home and keep my sister and me company? Tsk tsk, Dad, you..." Joshua guessed."Shut up." "I'll say what I want. You should give Mommy some freedom. She's not meeting up with a man, why are you checking up on her!" Joshua said.Shawn snorted. "A man? Meeting up? She wouldn't even think about it!" "Calm down, calm down. She'll be back in an hour," Joshua said.An hour? Shawn could not even wait a minute more. He did not want his emotions to affect the two children, so he got up and left the villa. The night was cool. Autumn had arrived, and
"Yeah. He just can't sit still. Weird how men can't be uneasy even in their thirties," Joshua replied.He hummed a song, continuing to build his Lego.The car sped down the road. Midway through the journey, Shawn received a call from his bodyguard."Speak!"The bodyguard said in a panic, "Mr. Wood, Aurum is not at home! I've sneaked into the master bedroom, study, and living room, and checked them all!""Damn it!"Shawn pressed on the accelerator even harder. His sports car sped up even more. Thoughts raced through his mind, and he began speculating.Aurum was not at his house, but he had slipped away from the house using the daily car without his people noticing, which meant... Shawn guessed that Aurum had already known about Shawn's spies observing him. If neither Gale nor Ivy answered their phones, something must truly be wrong.'Gale, hold on, wait for me,' he thought.His sports car stopped at the restaurant entrance. Before the doorman could approach, Shawn had already s
Without surveillance, it was like being blind. They had no idea what had happened and where to start their search. Still, it did not affect Shawn's determination to find Gale. Oh, what a clever move by Aurum. Aurum had evaded the spies and created an illusion that he was always at home, causing Shawn to let his guard down, when in reality, Aurum had already arrived at the restaurant. Aurum must have received information in advance that Ivy and Gale would be dining here tonight. Then, he pretended to run into them casually, chatted for a while, and then found some excuse to make Ivy and Gale leave with him. Then, the surveillance ended. No one knew where they went, what they were doing, who they met, or what happened!Shawn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. At this moment, he wanted to murder Aurum. He did not care about the burden of proof or whatever friendship that had existed between Gale and him. Aurum was now considered an extremely dangerous presence, and he should be
Occasionally, footsteps outside were clearly audible. Even a slight cough or a few words spoken were incredibly distinct. He could hear heavy, labored breathing from the adjacent room. That was Paul. Aurum smirked, chuckling softly. Paul seemed quite impatient. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as he gazed at the woman he loved. He mocked Paul, but in reality, he could hardly contain himself!He had known Gale for so many years, yet he had never even properly held her hand. Whenever she appeared before him, she exuded purity, cleanliness, and beauty, giving him an unattainable feeling. However, Aurum knew that in places he could not see, at times he did not know about, she and Shawn had done things. Only Shawn had seen her shy yet bold, sexy yet innocent side. No matter, no matter... he was about to have her. Aurum took a deep breath and reached for the zipper of her dress. With just a gentle pull, her graceful curves would be fully revealed to him. Perhaps because h
He leaned over Gale's body, tense all over, staring fixedly at her sleeping face.Her lips moved, but she was calling out another man's name."Shawn..."Aurum's eyes flashed with malice as he lifted Gale's chin with his hand."Don't think about him anymore, Gale. When you wake up tomorrow and see the person lying next to you is me... Ha, how will you ever return to Shawn's side?" he said."Clearly, my love for you is no less than Shawn's. I knew you before him, we made a marriage pact over twenty years ago... Why does he get you in the end?"Even after many years, when we first met again, you gave me a sense of familiarity. I unconditionally helped you and accompanied you through countless difficulties. Gale, can you truly ignore my feelings and thoughts?"After tonight, Gale, you are mine, and from now on, to Shawn, you are tainted!"Even if he was uninterested, Aurum still intended to possess her tonight. He had schemed for so long to get to this point. Now was not the time t
He still had a bit of conscience left in him. He had pulled the blanket over Ivy's body. However, the bodyguards were sharp-eyed, and one of them recognized her right away. "Isn't that Ivy?"The others quickly gathered around. "That's her!""Notify Mr. Wood immediately!"Since Mrs. Wood and Ivy disappeared together, finding Ivy meant that Mrs. Wood must be nearby or even in this small hotel. However, seeing Ivy's snowy shoulders and the bruises on her neck, a sense of foreboding flashed through the bodyguards' hearts.What state would Mrs. Wood be after seeing that? The bodyguards exchanged glances, not daring to continue thinking further.If they barged into another room and saw Mrs. Wood like this, Mr. Wood would probably gouge their eyes out.The lead captain picked up the walkie-talkie, saying sternly, "Stop all searches. Stand guard at each room's door, no one is allowed in or out. Wait for Mr. Wood to arrive.""Yes, captain."The once chaotic and noisy small hotel was sil
However, he was afraid of what would come next. He might witness the most painful scene of his life! The door to Paul and Ivy's room was open, but as Shawn passed by, he did not even cast a glance their way. He dared not even dare to see Ivy's state, let alone Gale's!Shawn stopped at the door of the next room. "Mr. Wood, we have not searched this room, but there's someone inside," the bodyguard said."Get out.""But, sir...""Get out!"The team took a few steps back, distancing themselves from Shawn. Each person ensured that they would not be able to see what was in the room.Shawn gripped the doorknob. It was old, and the paint was peeling. Even the locks in the storerooms of Temperley Hall were not this dilapidated.Shawn pushed the door open but held onto the doorknob tightly. The room was very small. The door revealed the room in its entirety. A man and a woman lay in bed. The man lay on his back, sound asleep with his eyes closed, while the woman lay on her side in his emb
Shawn suppressed the tumultuous thoughts in his mind. He only thought of going home. He hoped Gale would only wake in the morning. He did not want her to know about any of this. By tomorrow, when she opened her eyes and saw the familiar master bedroom, the familiar curtains, and the familiar surroundings, she would not know what had happened that night. Shawn intended to keep it from her. After dressing Gale, Shawn lifted his gaze and shot a piercing stare at Aurum. Aurum had sat up, leaning against the wall, holding his chest where a faint trickle of blood stained his lips. He wiped it away, looking at Shawn."What... What's going on? I... Gale, she..." Aurum asked.Seeing Aurum's appearance only fueled Shawn's rage. "Stop pretending! Gale has not woken up yet, who are you acting for? Me?""Mr. Wood, I do not understand what you're saying...""Why are you still acting? Do you think I do not know anything? Do you think I'm still blind to your true colors? You know the game betwee