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Chapter_288
“Nothing much, really. Just go ahead with your wedding. We can continue our little arrangement without Ludwik finding out, right?” Jarvis’s mischievous smile was accompanied by a glint in his eyes as he closed the cabin door behind him. Without missing a beat, he pulled Elaine into a heated kiss, his hands firm on her waist.
“No, you’re up to no good. Let me go…” Elaine’s voice was laced with resistance, though she knew better than to trust Jarvis’s so-called harmless intentions.
She could have chosen Ashton. That would have been simple. But Jarvis? He was trouble with a capital T.
“Come on, you’re hardly an innocent flower. Why pretend? You don’t want Ludwik finding out your little secret, do you?” Jarvis’s tone was taunting as he tossed her onto the couch, moving to tear at her clothes.
“Stop it…” Elaine’s resistance quickly gave way to something more willing. The chaotic night dragged on, and as dawn broke, she managed to pull herself out of bed.
There he was, sitting at the edge of the bed with a playful, yet plaintive, look in his eyes. “You little devil, quite the handful.”
Flushing, Elaine shot him an irritated glare before hastily dressing and checking her phone. No calls from Ludwik. Her heart sank, a wave of unease flooding her chest. She showered quickly, only to find that Jarvis had already left, leaving behind a cryptic note: “We’ll be in touch.” The message carried an ominous weight, a subtle threat lingering beneath the words. Jarvis was a man with dubious intentions, and despite their closeness, Elaine couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.
She hurried out of the bar, sunglasses on, making her way back to Everwood Villa Estate in the early morning hours. Thinking that everyone would still be asleep, she crept in, slipping off her shoes as she planned to change upstairs for a quick outfit change.
But there, in the living room, was an unexpected figure: Daniel.
The young boy, typically quiet in the mornings, stared coldly at her as she entered.
Noticing the crumpled collar of her outfit, he raised his voice, unusually accusatory. “Were you out thieving? Sneaking around!”
Elaine, startled by his sudden outburst, was about to snap when she heard footsteps behind her. Ludwik, dressed for the day, had come downstairs. His eyes locked on his son. “What’s wrong, Danny?”
“She was thieving, sneaking back in!” Daniel pointed at Elaine, his accusation ringing through the room.
Elaine felt like ripping the little brat apart, but before she could react, Ludwik’s sharp gaze turned toward her. Her stomach dropped. She was too tired to withstand his scrutiny.
“Didn’t come home last night, Elaine?” Ludwik’s voice was indifferent, as if he wasn’t even particularly bothered. If it weren’t for her crumpled clothes, he might not have noticed at all. His casual tone hit her like a ton of bricks.
Her guilty conscience flared. What did it mean that he barely cared?
Swallowing hard, Elaine forced out a lie, her words almost tripping over one another. “Didn’t I say I was out chatting with friends? Ended up staying at Endora’s place…”
Ludwik glanced away from her, uninterested, and turned on the TV. “Who’s Endora?”
Elaine’s face froze. Her fists clenched as she struggled to hide her frustration. Three years together, and he couldn’t even remember Endora, someone she’d mentioned frequently.
Ludwik might claim to care, but in reality, he paid no attention to her life. Panic gripped her. Was it all just a duty to him?
Taking a deep breath, Elaine explained as gently as she could, “Endora is a friend I met in Banyan City. She’s Parker’s fiancée…”
Just then, the morning news flickered on the screen, showing the grand opening ceremony for Skye Gem Ltd. A crowd of suited elites surrounded the stage, and Whitney, stunning in a light mauve dress and matching heels, was cutting the ribbon. Beside her stood Bryce, composed and mature, his presence commanding.
“The newly operational Skye Gem Ltd. goes public today, with Whitney at the helm. She’s enlisted the Lutz Group’s president as Chief Advisor for the ribbon-cutting ceremony…” the reporter’s voice echoed.
Elaine felt a spike of jealousy as the camera zoomed in on Whitney’s radiant figure. The online comments, buzzing with speculation about Whitney’s rise and her relationship with Bryce, made Elaine’s blood simmer.
Ludwik’s face darkened at the sight, his patience visibly thinning.
Elaine, unable to resist, threw gasoline on the fire. “Ms. Valentine and Bryce do look quite the pair…”
“Are you blind?” Ludwik snapped.
“What kind of taste is that?” Daniel added sharply, his voice filled with disdain.
Both father and son’s chilly remarks pierced the air simultaneously, and Elaine, unable to handle the joint reproach, seethed. The room was thick with tension as she scowled.
“Ludwik, let me whip up some breakfast for you…” Elaine offered, her tone strained.
“No need,” Ludwik replied curtly, too fed up to even consider breakfast. He glanced briefly at the TV, noting that the ribbon-cutting ceremony would continue until noon, followed by a celebratory lunch at the Christian Restaurant for the management of Skye Gem Ltd.
His gaze turned cold as he grabbed his briefcase, heading for the door.
Before he left, he shot a stern look at his son. “Danny, you’re either coming to the office with me or you’re heading to preschool. But you’re not staying home. This isn’t some fortress where you can avoid the real world.”
Daniel pouted, clearly displeased, but without saying a word, he trudged upstairs. He had no idea what to do. He couldn’t go to the office under Ludwik’s watchful eye, and meeting with Sammy seemed like a nightmare.
“I’ll… head to preschool later,” he muttered.
“Make sure you do.” Ludwik’s voice was a final, firm command.
With that, Ludwik left, leaving the room eerily quiet. Daniel didn’t spare Elaine a second glance as he marched upstairs, leaving her stewing in frustration. Her attention, however, was drawn back to the TV screen where Whitney’s poised image continued to dominate the screen.
The sound of her phone ringing broke the silence.
Elaine scowled as she grabbed it. It was Delphine calling.
“What’s up, mom?” Elaine answered, her voice tight.
“Why didn’t you answer my call last night? There’s been trouble at the Banyan City Jail,” Delphine’s voice was sharp with displeasure.
Elaine, skeptical, raised an eyebrow. “What kind of trouble could there be? Keegan’s locked up tight, nobody can see him.”
She was confident in the control she had—having bribed the warden under Ludwik’s name. Everything was under her grasp.
“But last night, Whitney managed a secret visit with Keegan. No one knew until a guard informed your father this morning!” Delphine’s voice crackled with tension.
“What?” Elaine’s composure shattered. “How is that possible?”
