Alia knew Christopher had gone to the office, and she vaguely suspected sothing was wrong with his company, so she couldn’t stop worrying.
But that man, from noon until almost evening, hadn’t sent as much as a single ssage.
She felt a flash of anger inside.
This jerk, doesn’t he know she’s worried? Shouldn’t he at least update her once when he’s done?
Even if he’s not done, couldn’t he at least send her a word?
But no, nothing at all.
She picked up her phone several tis, wanting to take the initiative and call him, but she kept recalling what happened last night and felt she had already been...
How should she put it?
She knew this kind of thinking was a bit petty, pretentious even, but she just couldn’t help herself.
Maybe it was because her past relationship wounds ran too deep, and even though she was sure now that Christopher was genuine, fully devoted to her, she still wasn’t willing to completely let her guard down or commit excessively.
Even in monts of passion and losing herself, when her actions defied reason, she would still gather her scattered emotions once rationality returned.
So, after much hesitation, she ultimately decided not to reach out to him first.
Deep down, she even thought, if he truly understands her, if he truly believes in her, he should co to her proactively. Why should she need to ask?
Although she didn’t make the call, she still couldn’t stop fretting about him.
That afternoon, after the kids were let out of school, she called the Imperial Park Villa, chatted with the children, and incidentally found out—he wasn’t ho.
So, he hadn’t gone back yet?
His body hasn’t fully recovered; could he withstand being out this long?
This thought only solidified her belief that there was trouble at his company.
But before she could call and find out what was going on, Betty ca in to report on work, and she had to busy herself with tasks, ntally promising to visit The Imperial Garden later that evening to get to the bottom of things.
Close to finishing work, her phone rang.
She quickly grabbed her phone, saw the caller ID on the screen, and her expression turned irritated.
That guy—finally so word from him!
"Hello..."
Her mood wasn’t great, so her tone wasn’t exactly sweet.
Christopher heard her and, concerned, asked, "What’s wrong? Who upset you?"
"What do you think?" So, he could tell she was mad?
Mr. Hart was sharp; he imdiately chuckled lightly, "Turns out it’s ."
"..." She didn’t respond, but inside she thought, at least you’re aware!
"Alright, then co downstairs and scold in person." The man chuckled lowly and said.
Alia was slightly startled, "You’ve co to my office?"
"Yes, to pick you up after work. Didn’t you not have a car today?"
At these words, the little bit of sulkiness in Alia’s heart instantly dissipated.
Her car had collided with Michael Garcia yesterday—a stroke of bad luck. She had accompanied him to the hospital in the morning, then he had sent her to the office afterward, leaving her without transportation.
Could this be why he stayed at the office until now?
"Hold on, I’ve still got a bit of work left, maybe around ten more minutes."
"Alright, no rush."
After hanging up the phone, Alia suddenly grew impatient. She wished she could go down there right away, worried about keeping him waiting too long.
When she finally finished her work, grabbed her scarf, coat, and bag, and rushed out the door, she suddenly realized—what was she doing?
A grown woman reconciling with her ex-husband, acting like a love-struck teenager on her first date—wasn’t this far too impulsive?
Her pace slowed as she contemplated deliberately delaying for a few minutes, but her phone rang again.
Thinking it was him calling to hurry her, she looked at the screen and frowned.
Jacob Garcia.
"Hey, sis, Dad’s been taken away by the police. Did you know?"
Alia was shocked but didn’t feel worried or anxious. Instead, she calmly asked, "What kind of trouble has he gotten himself into now?"
"Sothing about financial cris, malicious debts, that sort of thing. The company was already struggling, and now with him arrested, it’ll only sink faster."
Alia stayed quiet, thinking that this was a situation of self-inflicted consequences.
On the other end, Jacob noticed her silence and curiously asked, "Sis, didn’t you know about this?"
"No, I didn’t."
"I thought... this might’ve been your doing! Yesterday, when he deliberately staged a scam against you—that’s all over the internet now—I thought maybe you..." Jacob trailed off, and then added with a nervous laugh, a change in tone, "But hey, he deserved it. Even if it was your doing, I’d say good on you—it’s righteous to turn in family when necessary!"
This comnt gave Alia an idea.
So, when she went downstairs and got into the Lincoln waiting along the curb, the first thing she asked the man was, "Michael Garcia was arrested by the police—was that your doing?"
Christopher was surprised at how inford she was, and he smiled at her before replying, "That accusation isn’t fair. I’ve never abused my authority. How could I instruct the police?"
Alia thought she might’ve guessed wrong.
But then he added, "I just did what a responsible citizen should do."
So that was it.
Michael Garcia had committed several illegal acts over the years; if Christopher wanted to take him down, it would be as easy as snapping his fingers.
She had previously intended to use Michael Garcia’s mistress and child hidden away in the courtyard to topple him, but Christopher clearly had his own contingency plan.
Out of curiosity, she asked, "When did you prepare this? Just before, you’d agreed to leave this matter for to handle."
"Ever since he showed up to bother you the first ti, I knew his intentions weren’t pure. Gathering evidence of his cris wasn’t difficult. Originally, if he still cared about the father-daughter bond with you, I was willing to let this go. But after how he scared you yesterday—I couldn’t let it slide."
Alia murmured faintly, "So you knew all along I wouldn’t be able to handle this."
Seeing her misunderstood, Christopher hurried to explain, "It’s not that I doubted your capability; it’s just that you two are biological father and daughter. I worried you’d soften at crucial monts and be manipulated by him."
He had an extra plan lined up, only out of concern for her safety.
Alia nodded and her tone softened, "I know, you’re helping . Protecting ."
"Yeah, it’s what I should do." To love soone is not just about words but about action and commitnt.
He once failed to protect the person closest to his heart, almost losing her forever.
Now that he had the ability and resolve, he wouldn’t allow such a mistake to happen again.
"What’s wrong? Worried about him?" Seeing how she seed preoccupied after getting into the car, her expression heavy, Christopher asked curiously.
She scoffed, "I’m no saint. Those who commit enough wrongs will et their ruin—he’s digging his own grave."
"I’m glad you can think this way." Christopher couldn’t resist the urge to pull her into a hug, but seeing her sitting so far away and himself unable to move freely, he tugged at her arm instead. "Co closer."
"What for?"
"To hug."
"..." She wasn’t in the mood, so she didn’t move. After two seconds of silence, she turned to look at him and suddenly asked, "Don’t you have sothing you want to tell ?"
Christopher looked at her exquisite and striking eyes, but for so reason, his mind replayed last night’s intimate scenes, and he stared at her, montarily lost.
Alia saw his expression and instantly blushed, snapping at him indignantly, "Pervert," before turning to look out the window.
Mr. Hart was jolted out of his daze by her words. He cleared his throat to ease the awkwardness before finally saying, "Were you wondering why I went to the office today?"
She didn’t respond, so he continued, "Benny is leaving Seal-Cloud, so I went over to handle so work transfer matters with him. I stayed busy until around 4 PM. Then I thought about how you didn’t have a car today, and rather than leaving right away, I decided to finish so additional tasks before coming to pick you up—so we could drive ho together, like a couple!"
As he spoke the last sentence, he shalessly grabbed her hand and pulled it toward him to hold close.
Alia was annoyed by his clinginess and retorted, "Who’s a couple with you?!"
"It’s only a matter of ti."
She couldn’t be bothered to argue, bringing the topic back on track, "Benny’s leaving Seal-Cloud? Why all of a sudden? His visit to our house this morning—was that about this?"
"Seems so. But seeing you there, maybe he didn’t want to worry you, so he decided not to ntion it." Christopher selectively omitted so details, not because he didn’t trust her, but because he didn’t want to add burdens to her mind.
As expected, she began to worry, "Then what happens after he leaves? This morning, didn’t he say there are conflicts within the company? Now is precisely when it needs soone to take charge."
"Exactly..." Christopher sighed, "It’s a bit tricky, but Palr Group also has its own difficulties. He has to return."
Alia heard his tone and grew even more concerned, "Will you have to start going back to work now?"
"Yes, at least I need to show up daily and handle the key matters."
"But your health..."
He laughed softly, "Worried about that much?"
"Are you kidding ?" She gave him a glare and felt this man was currently acting so unserious—extrely infuriating!
Christopher loved when she acted this way, a little stubborn, a little coy. He still smiled softly, his expression a heart-lting one, before suddenly saying, "What if I sold all my shares and let soone else take the CEO’s seat? I’ll quit everything, stay ho to take care of the kids, and you can support us—how about that, President Norton?"
Alia stared at him, her dazzling eyes filled with shock and doubt.
The man staying ho while the woman works?
This "man" was none other than the proud and lofty Christopher?
She sohow thought of sothing and rcilessly said, "Better not—I’m afraid you’d starve the kids."
She distinctly rembered when he once tried to impress her by cooking himself, only to produce als more fit for pigs. Even Little Dunham had turned up his nose at it.
Mr. Hart looked incredulous, "So, according to you, if I stayed ho, I’d still have to cook and do laundry and housework?"
"What else? Would you still expect the sa arrangent as now, with housekeepers, chefs, and staff to cater to you? Isn’t that too luxurious? Would you even have the nerve?"
Christopher seed genuinely offended; he nodded repeatedly and finally said, "You’ve taken all of my assets, and yet you won’t part with even a penny for !"
At the ntion of that, Alia perked up again. "Right, when are you going to take those assets back? I don’t want to be labeled a gold digger or a Fox Spirit."
Mr. Hart deliberately provoked her, "You might not be a gold digger, but you’re a miser."
With that, Alia imdiately gave him a hard slap.
He caught her wrist effortlessly, pulling her into his embrace, and lowered his head to kiss her.
Since getting into the car, he’d been holding back, not wanting to upset her. But now that she’d provoked him first, she could only endure his "punishnt."
"Christopher, stop ssing around!" Alia exclaid in alarm, worried that he’d think it fair ga to demand intimacy at any mont. She struggled and quickly resisted.
Reviews
All reviews (0)