Before Clark could respond, Serena sent him another ssage.
[Hey, we could also head to Vegas for a couple of rounds, maybe a Chinatown visit, and the 360° observation deck in Chicago as well.]
[Serena, I’m occupied this weekend. Let’s plan for next ti,] Clark replied, his fingers tapping out the words on his phone.
His mind wasn’t on leisure activities right now. There was only one thing he was concerned about: finding Carol. All the food, drinks, and entertainnt held no appeal to him at the mont.
[Sure, we’ll plan it for next ti then,] Serena sent back, along with a grinning emoji.
[Didn’t you say we have plenty of ti together in the future? No need to rush.]
[Okay,] Clark responded, not in the mood to add anything else.
On the other side, Serena felt a chill in her heart. She noticed that Clark’s responses were becoming shorter and shorter.
At Villa Cascada, Jack thought that his boss was becoming stubborn and less receptive to suggestions.
Well, if he couldn’t handle him, what about Roo?
Considering the power dynamics, only Roo’s influence could stand up to their boss. So, swallowing his pride, he called Roo via WhatsApp, informing him about the boss’ plan to visit Lidaria.
Rosemary was driving when her phone buzzed.
She pressed the answer button on the steering wheel, and Roo’s voice filled the car.
"Rose, are you going to Lidaria?"
Rosemary thought: Jack again? Fine, she would dock his annual bonus later, no negotiation.
anwhile, the oblivious Jack was feeling quite pleased with himself. Finally, there was soone who could handle the boss!
"I have so business there," Rosemary explained. "I was planning to call you once I reached Reflections Villa."
She hadn’t expected Jack to reveal her plans. Now Roo might think she was keeping sothing from him.
"What have you been up to recently?" Roo asked, sounding worried.
It was Clark, sitting in the passenger seat, who answered him.
"Roo, it’s ."
"Clark." Roo sounded surprised. "You’re with Rose?"
What were these two up to lately?
"Yeah, my girlfriend disappeared a year ago, and Rose has been helping find her. We are going to Lidaria because we have so leads. Don’t worry, Rose is safe with ."
Roo wanted to ask how Clark planned to protect her. If those power groups decided to take action, even with their combined skills, they might not be able to handle it. And Clark’s skills were average at best?
"I’m coming too." Roo decided, not feeling assured.
Clark looked at Rosemary as if asking for her opinion.
"I saw on Carl’s Facebook that he’s visiting Dawnstar in the next few days. If I’m not mistaken, you two are together, right?" Rosemary asked casually.
"He can handle it on his own," Roo declared. "I don’t have much to do recently."
"We’ll be back in a couple of days. You can focus on your work."
"Rose." Roo wanted to talk about the power groups, but with Clark present, he couldn’t. They both knew this wasn’t a joking matter.
"Your safety is more important than work," he said finally.
"After you wrap up your stuff in Dawnstar, you can co find in Lidaria," Rosemary said, pausing for a mont before adding, "Be a good boy."
Roo fell silent. He initially wanted to refuse, but her last plea lted his resolve.
"I’ll be just fine. Besides, aren’t you sending soone to watch out for ?"
Roo had no choice but to acquiesce.
"Fine, you go ahead today. I’ll co find you tomorrow."
Carl voiced his confusion.
"Boss, how on earth are we supposed to finish all the work in Dawnstar today? Are you planning to have work non-stop for 24 hours?! Is there no justice?! I’m not a machine!"
"You’d better keep your n well hidden."
Roo couldn’t help but give a little smile.
"Will do."
She had proven to be quite adept at detecting his surveillance. She always managed to sniff out whoever he assigned to watch her.
Reflections Villa
Serena was surprised to see Clark returning with Rosemary. Had Clark gone out earlier just to et up with Rosemary?
With that thought in mind, a feeling of unease began to stir within her.
Clark headed to the dressing room to grab a few changes of clothes, then knocked on Louisa’s door, ntioning that he and Rose were going on a trip abroad.
"You finally got your head on straight!" Louisa exclaid cheerfully.
"I’m leaving Rose in your hands, Clark. Make sure to take good care of her. Stay at the best hotels, take her wherever she wants to go, buy her whatever she wants to eat. And especially rember to take care of her health—it’s getting cold. Don’t let her catch a cold."
Louisa, thinking that her son was taking Rose on a holiday, was both excited and incessant in her instructions.
All of them were thinking about how to take care of Rose.
"Alright, I’ve got it."
Clark didn’t let on about the potential dangers of their trip, intentionally leading his mother to believe that they were rely going on a holiday.
He patiently waited for his mother to finish her instructions before leaving.
In the Living Room
Seeing Clark with a suitcase, Serena couldn’t help but ask,
"Clark, where are you going?"
"Got so business to attend to abroad," Clark patted her head lightly.
"Next ti, I’ll take you along."
Serena wanted to probe further into where he was going and whether it was really work-related. But seeing Rosemary descending the stairs and Clark moving towards her, she felt left out.
Noticing that Rosemary didn’t have any luggage with her, Clark couldn’t help but curiously ask,
"Aren’t you bringing any luggage?"
"It’s already on the plane," Rosemary whispered.
Clark nodded and said,
"Alright, let’s get going then."
The plane was parked nearby at Reflections Villa. The siblings left together.
Serena was left confused. Clark said that he was going abroad, so why was he leaving with Rosemary?
"Serena," Martha rushed over to Serena’s side, whispering anxiously,
"I overheard your mom on the phone with your dad. She said Clark is taking Ms. Rose to Iridia for a few days!"
"What did you say?!"
"It’s true!"
Serena’s face turned pale. Her hands clenched into tight fists as she watched their retreating figures.
She couldn’t believe it. She had just requested Clark to take her to Iridia, but he told her he was too busy.
And the next thing she knew, he was taking Rosemary abroad?!
She had wanted to take pictures with Clark—she had so many plans in mind.
But Clark had left her behind and was only taking Rosemary?!
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