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
"Yes, tonight, Gale and I..." Aurum deliberately stopped here. Shawn's temples throbbed with veins bulging, his eyes almost bursting with fury. Aurum was intentionally adding salt to his wound."I deserve to die, I really do. Shawn, Gale is clearly your wife, the mother of Joshua and Nicole. Yet tonight, she slept with me. Although I don't know how this happened, it was what had happened," Aurum said."I understand your anger. I'm sorry for what I did to you and to Gale, but I... didn't intend for it to happen.""Shut up!" Shawn gritted his teeth."You can kill me, go ahead. Just press down your fingers on the pistol. You're just a press away from removing all your rage and hatred," Aurum taunted. "Do it while Gale is still asleep and oblivious. When she wakes up, whatever happened, whatever she went through, she will hear the story only from you.""Shawn, by then, you can weave whatever story you want! You can lie to her about what happened tonight, including my death."Auru
If he had just aimed a little higher, Aurum would not be seeing the sunrise.Aurum was also frightened and still had not fully recovered from the shock. Gale broke the silence."Ouch… It hurts," she whispered.Shawn hastily asked, "Where does it hurt? Are you injured?"He quickly dropped whatever he was holding, his mind solely focused on her."My ears, they're buzzing, I can't hear anything, just a faint sound... so faint..." Gale said.She watched Shawn's lips moving, saw his worried expression, and roughly guessed what he was saying. That gunshot, for her, the sound was too loud, having just woken up. She was reeling from shock.If Gale had not raised her hand to stop Shawn, perhaps, in his rage, Shawn would have shot Aurum. Shawn wanted to tear him to pieces.Shawn's large hand covered Gale's ear. "It's okay, it's okay... It'll be better in a while."It was uncertain whether he was comforting her or himself. Gale leaned into his embrace, inhaling his scent, feeling at pe
From the moment he walked into this room, he hoped she would not wake up because all of this was too terrifying and cruel for her to take in."Ivy? Where's Ivy? And Paul?" Gale asked."How could I be in the same room as Aurum? "Shawn, why are you here?"With each question, she felt a growing chill in her heart. She guessed what had happened, but she dared not think about it. Gale lowered her head and looked at her own body. Her clothes were still on her body.Shawn tried to hide it. However, he was also in agony and furious. He understood that Gale could not accept the cruel reality. She was so strong and proud. How could she bear what happened between her and Aurum?His throat rolled, and Shawn said, "There was a slight mishap, but...""A slight mishap?" Gale suddenly laughed bleakly. "No, I don't believe you. You're lying to me."She raised her hand, pointing to the bow on her skirt's belt."When I put on this skirt, the bow was on the left side. But now, this bow is on the