Chapter 18
Frustrated by Sophie, Henry sat in the Maybach, his mind spinning with memories of our years together.
For eight years, he hadn’t even given me the most basic trust.
He had even indirectly caused the death of our child.
Henry slammed the steering wheel, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one and held it between his lips.
The thin smoke blurred his vision.
His hand rested on the car window and with a flick of his finger, the ash fell away.
Henry paused, suddenly remembering that I disliked his smoking. Every time he flicked his lighter, I would rush over to stop him.
Henry flicked the lighter over and over, but the image from his memory never appeared again.
No one was there to scold him for smoking or order him to stop.
“Kate… do you really not want me anymore?”
His voice was low and hoarse, like a trapped animal growling helplessly, unable to break free from its cage.
Henry chain-smoked and before he knew it, dawn had arrived.
The morning light shone on his pale cheeks and his dull eyes looked even more lifeless in the glow.
After some time, the phone suddenly rang.
Henry’s first thought was that it was me.
He answered immediately, speaking in a rush of relief, “Kate, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I didn’t think about your feelings. Please come back. I-”
‘Mr. Taylor? Are you okay?” The assistant’s voice instantly sobered him.
Henry’s straightened back collapsed and he slumped against the seat. One hand rested on the car window as his gaze turned lifeless again. “What is it?”
The assistant sighed. “The things you asked me to check last night have been confirmed, just as Sophie said.”
“After Anya went abroad to study, she used her looks to flirt with men and neglected her studies. To give her family an explanation, she sold herself in exchange for a degree.”
“Later, while she was a mistress abroad, the man she was with found out. After a series of arguments, Anya could no longer stay overseas and returned to the US.”
“She met you by chance and everything just fell into place after that…”
Henry stayed silent for a long time until the assistant cautiously called his name, pulling him back to his senses.
“Tell the bodyguards to beat her until she’s barely breathing.”
The assistant obeyed. “Also, find out where Kate is. I don’t believe she left without leaving a
trace.”
“Okay, Mr. Taylor. Also, there’s a pile of work at the company. We need you to come handle it.” Henry rubbed his brows, feeling the headache grow. “Leave it for now. I’ll deal with it.”
With that, he hung up.
He glanced back at Sophie’s villa. After last night’s long reflection, he was certain I was not
there.
After Henry drove away, the curtains on the second-floor window fluttered a few times before falling still.
I was already in the secret base laboratory in Bessemer when Sophie sent me a message. My phone vibrated twice and I took it out. It was from Sophie.
[Kate, I was the one who wronged you back then, but Henry seems to have realized his mistake.]
I frowned and quickly typed a reply.
