Keith didn’t stay long at Darren’s. He left after half an hour.
Hearing the door close, Elsa emerged from the bedroom. She nced at the closed door, crossed her arms, and sneered, “He left?”
“Yeah, he’s gone.”
Elsa scoffed, “What a shameless guy.”
Darren was lost in thought and didn’t respond.
Noticing his distraction, Elsa walked over and grabbed his ear, “Spill it. What were you two talking about?”
Darren winced in pain, “Nothing much, you guessed it before he even got here. Just that money.”
“You were shouting so loud. Do you think I’m deaf?”
Darren scowled and pushed her away, “Stay out of this.”
Elsa fumed, “Darren, we’ve been married for over thirty years. Is there anything I shouldn’t know?”
Darren was usually afraid of Elsa, but this time he was tight-lipped, “Knowing this won’t do you any good.”
With that, Darren stood up and went back to the bedroom.
Elsa followed him, trying to press for more information, but Darren locked the bedroom door.
Unable to open the door, Elsa stood outside and threw a fit.
Lying on the bed, Darren tried to close his eyes for a nap. But as soon as he did, he saw a bloody face. He snapped his eyes open, his palms damp with sweat.
Meanwhile, Keith, having gone downstairs, pulled a cap from his pocket and put it on, followed by a mask. He nced around to ensure no one was watching, then quickly walked to the road to hail a cab.
As soon as Keith got into the cab, a bodyguard in a ck SUV parked around the corner made a call.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.
When the call connected, the bodyguard said respectfully, “Boss, he got into a cab and seems to be leaving Yort City.”
Mason replied calmly, “Follow him. Keep a close watch.”
The bodyguard answered, “Understood.”
As Mason ended the call, he met Le’s questioning gaze.
He didn’t hide anything, cing his phone down and serving her a bowl of soup. “Your dad left your uncle’s ce and got into a cab.”
Le looked at the soup Mason ced before her and took a deep breath, “Why are you having him followed?”
Mason looked at her steadily, “I suspect he’s connected to my kidnapping years ago.”
“You mean…”
Seeing Le’s thoughts wander, Mason chuckled, “Rx, he didn’t have the capability. I just suspect…”
Le smiled and finished his sentence, “You suspect he took money from the kidnappers?”
“It’s just a hunch.”
Le thought about how Mason lost his closest brother in that kidnapping. “Mason…”
“Le, life is short. Enjoy it while you can.”
Le understood the subtext. He was telling her not to press further.
After dinner, Le washed dishes in the kitchen while Mason took another call from the bodyguard in the living room.
“Boss, Keith has been taken.”
Mason lounged on the couch, his expression unreadable, “By whom?”
The bodyguard replied, “We don’t know. The license te on their car was fake.”
“Where was he taken from?”
The bodyguard exined, “On the way to the airport. They blocked the cab and dragged him out.”
The bodyguard paused, seeing that Mason wasn’t responding, then asked proactively, “Should we retrieve him?”
“No need.”
“Should we continue following them?”
Mason’s voice was low and steady, “How’s their counter-surveince awareness?”
The bodyguard answered honestly, “Pretty strong. I’m about seventy percent sure they won’t notice us.”
“Then try to follow. If they suspect you’re tailing them, back off immediately. Don’t alert them.”
“Understood.”
After hanging up, Mason pressed the phone against his chin, looking toward the kitchen.
Under the dim kitchen light, Le was washing dishes, her head bowed. She wore a cream-colored nightgown, with a few loose strands of hair falling by her ears, making her look particrly gentle.
Mason’s eyes showed a restrained and hidden possessiveness.
When Le finished and walked out, Mason moved toward her.
Their eyes met, and Mason wrapped her in his arms. “Le.”
“Yeah?”
Mason’s voice was deep, “You are you, your dad is your dad. Besides, everything is still uncertain.”
Le’s breath caught, and she said nothing.
Mason chuckled, “I can see it. You’re afraid there’s a grudge between us.”
Le, “…”
Mason continued, “Since you’re so scared, why not be nice to me now? If we ever find out there’s really a deep-seated hatred between us, at least we would have had some good times.”
Le didn’t say a word in response to Mason’s remarks, but her actions showed a noticeable shift.
For instance, when Mason held her that night, she didn’t pull away.
And when Mason’s hand wandered under her nightgown, she didn’t stop him.
Noticing her change, Mason couldn’t help butugh. He flipped over, pressing down on her, burying his face in her neck. “Le, you’re so cute. Think about it-when your dad went bankrupt, all he wanted was to escape. What role could he y in a kidnapping?”
Hearing Mason’s words, Le suddenly realized she’d been duped. Flustered, she tried to knee him in the stomach to push him off.
Mason pinned her legs with his thigh, propping himself up to look into her eyes. “Still won’t admit you like me?”
Le’s cheeks flushed, “Mason…”
Mason teased, “I should have scared you a few more days until you face your true feelings.”
Le, “…”
That night, Le didn’t sleep well.
She couldn’t exin her thoughts-they were scattered and disorganized, like a movie ying random scenes in her head.
The only thing she was sure of was that every scene involved Mason.
Just before dawn, Le finally managed to get some sleep.
But she hadn’t slept long when Mason’s phone rang on the nightstand, waking her up.
Mason reached for the phone and answered, his voice stillzy from sleep, “Yes?”
The person on the other end said, “Boss, Mr. Omar is in Yort City.”
The bodyguard’s words instantly dispelled Mason’s drowsiness.
“Where is he?”
The bodyguard said, “At the ce where Keith was held.”
Mason’s voice was cold, “Keep him under surveince, I’ll be there soon.”
“Got it.”
After hanging up, Mason put down his phone and was about to get up when he noticed a gaze beside him. “Did I wake you?”
“My dad’s been kidnapped?”
Seeing Le’s serious expression, Mason was silent for a few seconds, but eventually didn’t lie, “Yes.”
Le said, “I want to go with you.”
“It’s not as simple as you think, their methods…”
“Mason.” Before Mason could finish, Le interrupted, “With you there, what do I have to fear?”
Mason chuckled, reaching to pinch her chin, “Le, you really stop at nothing to get what you want.”
Le tilted her neck slightly, “And have I gotten what I want?”
Mason locked eyes with her, “If Omar asks who you are, what will you say?”
“The truth. Your girlfriend.”
Mason tightened his grip on her chin, “Le, I’ve had countless rumors around me. Do you think being called a girlfriend will protect you?”
“Then what should I say, what’s my identity?”
“Fiancee.”
Le fell silent.
“If you don’t say it like that, don’te with me. I don’t want to see you at the funeral home in a few days because of this trip.”
Mason’s expression was serious, no hint of falsehood.
Le stared at his expression for a while, and reluctantly agreed, “Fine, I’ll do as you say.”
As Le spoke, Mason released her chin, turned to dress, “Going to freshen up.”
Le got up quickly, “Mm.”
Le stepped out of the bedroom, not seeing Mason fastening his shirt buttons, revealing a satisfied smile.
Twenty minutester, in the car.
On the way, Mason called the bodyguard to check on the situation.
The bodyguard responded, “Everything’s normal. Mr. Omar just went in a while ago.”
“Mm.”
Ending the call, Mason looked at Le beside him, squeezed her hand and said, “He’s okay, don’t worry.”
Le stared at their hands sped together, absent-mindedly responding, “Mm, as long as he’s okay.”
Mason chuckled lightly, “Seems like you’re not too concerned about whether he lives or dies.”
Le looked up at Mason and admitted honestly, “I care. It’s justplicated emotionally.”
“Don’t overthink it. Blood rtions, even if you hated him while he was alive, if he really dies, you’ll still feel sad.”
“You’re very insightful.”
When the car arrived at the address provided by the bodyguard, it was already two hourster. The destination was a vi in the outskirts. As they got out of the car, a bodyguard quickly approached Mason and asked, “Boss, should we apany you inside?”
“No need. You guys stay outside. I’m just visiting, not getting into a fight.”
“Got it.”
Mason led Le into the vi. Just as they entered, a bodyguard blocked their path.
“Who are you? This isn’t a ce for you toe. Leave immediately.”
Before the guard could finish speaking, Mason swiftly kicked him in the abdomen.
The guard hadn’t expected Mason to strike so suddenly and was thrown back over a meter. As he recovered to shout for help, Mason walked up to him and asked coldly, “Where’s Omar?”