Chapter 121 That Old Thing
美惠
Finished
Sophie immediately seized upon Leah’s words, her expression fierce. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence! I’m sure Charmaine is scheming something! They used to be at odds, and now they’re suddenly friendly? Charmaine shows up, and Dominic appears right after, ready to whisk Mr. Riverson away. They’re clearly working together!”
Already seething with anger, Bennett clenched his fists. “If she dares to mess with our plans, she’ll regret it!”
The mere thought of anyone interfering with their financial matters–attacking something so personal- stirred their fury. The idea of Charmaine getting involved only fueled their desire to see her gone.
Willard’s face darkened, his usual calm replaced with concern. It was clear he was taking Leah’s suspicion seriously.
After all, Charmaine was just a lowly servant in the Crosses‘ household. How could she freely visit the Regal Tavern without something more at play? There had to be a hidden agenda.
Jonah, equally troubled, spoke in a low voice, “This is important. We need to keep it quiet.”
Bennett’s tone softened as he tried to reassure them. “Don’t worry, Mr. Willard, Mr. Jonah. I’ve hired the best risk consultants in Eragos to assess our investment. Tomorrow, my secretary will deliver the final report to you. And with Mr. Riverson’s connection to Leah’s grandfather, the bid is as good as ours. No matter how hard Dominic tries, he won’t beat us.”
Willard forced a smile, though it was tight and strained. “Alright then, we’ll wait for your good news.”
Jonah gave a subtle nod. “We’ll take our leave.”
-Bennett beamed at them. “Safe travels.”
Once the Nelsons were out of sight, his pleasant expression faded into one of frustration.
He pulled out his phone, dialing a number with a dark look on his face. “I need a few people. Tough ones.”
In the private room, Charmaine sat back, savoring the delicate pastries as a smile spread across her face upon reading a message from Celeste.
Keon, filling her cup with tea, glanced at her. “Did you handle the sabotage?”
Charmaine set her phone down, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Almost.”
She looked at the spread of food in front of her, then raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t just invite me here for dinner, did you?”
Keon chuckled, shaking his head. “I thought you weren’t curious, but it seems you’ve got your own plans before focusing on me.”
“Isn’t it only polite to tease the host a little first?”
Keon’s expression softened, his gaze warming. “How confident are you about Emyr’s injury?”
“Seventy percent,” Charmaine replied without hesitation. “The remaining 30 percent will need a more
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Chapter 121 That Old Thing
Keon took a sharp breath. “You mean…”
“Master Field,” Charmaine answered, sipping her tea.
The aroma refreshed her, clearing the lingering sweetness of the pastries from her mouth.
Finished
Keon looked troubled, lowering his voice. “After Master Field retired, his whereabouts have been a mystery. Our families have tried to track him down for Emyr, but no luck.”
Keon wasn’t exaggerating. The James family’s vast global network was their greatest asset, and even they hadn’t been able to locate him.
Charmaine slowly responded. “I know where he is. The problem is, the area is isolated, and gathering information is tricky.”
Keon’s eyes widened in surprise.
Then, a realization struck him, and he glanced at Charmaine’s hands. “Master Field is your …
Charmaine shrugged. “That old thing is kind of a mentor to me.”
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Keon froze, his expression faltering for the first time. Her casual mention of “that old thing” and “mentor” clearly took the usually composed man by surprise.
It all started to make sense. “No wonder your needle treatments are so extraordinary. You’ve given new hope to a leg injury that even the best doctors couldn’t treat.”
His face lit up with excitement. “With Master Field’s help, Emyr’s leg will be healed in no time!”
“I hope so.” Charmaine’s thoughts drifted. At first, she hadn’t wanted to disturb Basil. He and his
companions had chosen to live in seclusion, far from the bustle of the world. Charmaine understood their desire for peace, so even though she needed to find Basil, it wouldn’t be easy.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully and then glanced sideways at Keon, noticing his distracted state.
“Is there something else? Feel free to speak your mind,” she said.
Keon blinked, surprised. “Did I make it that obvious?”
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