Chapter 7
*15 BONUS
Jonathan had a bad feeling when he heard that. The number of people in Seaworth City whose last names were Fordham could be counted on one finger. And the only one who could command that much respect… was Chester,
The interrogation room’s door swung open again. Sure enough, Chester entered the room. He wore a white shirt with buttons all done up and a gray waistcoat on top. His black pants made his legs look particularly long
His features were chiseled, and his hair was neat. The eyes behind the gold–rimmed glasses were sharp and cold. He was the epitome of nobility.
“Mr. Fordham.” The police officer who’d earlier been addressed as “Captain Lane” stepped forward.
Chester greeted, “Hi, Mr. Lane.”
Then, he handed Jim Lane a bag. “Ered asked me to bring this to you.”
Fred Lane was one of Chester’s most capable subordinates. He was a genius scientist who was only 30 this year.
Jim accepted the bag and thanked Chester with a big smile. I don’t have to worry about Freddie when I know he’s working with you. Sorry to put you through the trouble of coming all the way here.”
Chester grunted in acknowledgment, evidently at the police station for other reasons. He glanced at Giselle. When their eyes met, she hurriedly lowered her head to break eye contact.
Jonathan noticed this. His gaze darkened as he got up and moved to stand in Chester’s way. “Uncle Chester.”
They were about the same height, but Jonathan’s demeanor was clearly less commanding than Chester’s. The pressure made Jonathan lower his eyes slightly.
“What are you doing here?” Chester asked.
“Something happened.” Jonathan was about to mention that a lawyer was already on the way, but Chester interrupted him.
“Because of Charlotte Grant?”
Charlotte was surprised and a little pleased to suddenly be named. She looked at Chester and was about to say something when his words made her blanche before flushing; in embarrassment.
“You’re the Lawson family’s heir, Jonathan. Use your brain before you act, especially in public.” Chester’s voice was cold, and his handsome face was devoid of emotion.
Jonathan wasn’t pleased with this sudden lecture. “You don’t understand the whole story, Uncle Chester.”
Giselle was the one who’d started the fight, but Charlotte was the one who’d called the police. Still, he subconsciously blamed Giselle for this. If not for her bringing Emma to the club to cause trouble, Charlotte wouldn’t have called the police. None of them would’ve ended up at the police station.
Chester glanced at him. “You shouldn’t have allowed things to get so out of hand even if your hand was forced.”
The Lawson family was a target in Seaworth City. Countless eyes were watching it hungrily. As the heir, Jonathan’s every move was monitored closely.
The fact that he’d ended up in the police station over a woman was the result of his rashness. He knew he was at fault, so he didn’t say anything else.
Jim felt like he’d finally understood the situation. He said, “You can take Mr. Lawson with you once you’ve signed this form, Mr. Fordham.”
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Chapter 7
+15 BONUS
Jonathan had addressed Chester as his uncle, so the latter had to be there to bail Jonathan out. Unexpectedly, Chester’s gaze landed on Giselle, who hadn’t said a word thus far.
His eyes glinted behind his glasses. Then, he said, “I’m taking everyone other than Charlotte Grant away from here.”
Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to feel smug anymore. Everyone could tell Chester didn’t like her and had something against her. She hadn’t done anything, though! She felt so aggrieved that she wanted to cry, but the stinging from her cheeks made her hold back the tears.
Jonathan was even more upset with Chester due to the latter’s blatant bias. Chester wasn’t that much older than him, yet every mention of the former reminded him that he constantly came second when they were compared.
Initially, Jonathan hadn’t been too bothered by this comparison. But after it had happened one too many times, it had started grating on his nerves. No one wanted to always be second to someone, after all.
“I’m not leaving,” he said.
Chester was unfazed. “That’s up to you.”
He wasn’t there for Jonathan, anyway. If not for Jonathan’s mother, Jean Fordham, being his sister, he wouldn’t even have bothered saying anything.
Emma said, “You should leave with Mr. Fordham, Ms. Stone. I’ll handle it from here.”
Giselle didn’t object. “Alright.”
Jonathan watched as she approached Chester. He blurted, “You’re not allowed to leave with him, Giselle!”
She found this amusing. “Who are you to say that to me, Jonathan?”
He couldn’t come up with a retort for that. His expression darkened.
“Let’s go.” Chester signed the form Jim passed to him before leaving with Giselle in tow.
Charlotte called out to him tentatively, “Jonathan…”
Jonathan’s mind kept replaying the scene of Giselle leaving with Chester. He couldn’t hear anything anyone said.
This was Charlotte’s first time seeing him like this. She gnashed her teeth and cursed Giselle in her heart. She foiled her plans at every turn!
It was drizzling. Giselle and Chester stood underneath the awning outside the police station. She said, “Thanks for this, Mr. Fordham.”
If not for him suddenly showing up there, she would probably have had to spend the night in a cell.
“Is that all?” he asked. His alluring voice reverberated in her ears.
She was taken aback and subconsciously clutched the hem of her skirt. “I’ll treat you to a meal one day.”
It was supposed to be a polite offer, but Chester took her words seriously. “Sure.”
His driver brought an umbrella to them. Chester opened it. I’ll take you to the hospital, Ms. Stone.”
His gaze landed on her shoulder. The material there had been soaked through by the beer, and there were tiny shards of glass embedded in her skin. She’d been enduring the pain this whole time, but Chester had noticed it.
2/3
Chapter 7
+15 BONUS
Giselle suddenly felt her eyes prickle. She lowered her head and composed herself. He stood there with her, not making a sound.
She calmed down after a while and said, “You’ve already helped me plenty, Mr. Fordham. I-”
“I just happen to be heading to the hospital, too. Don’t let this put too much pressure on you,” Chester interjected.
His excuse was infallible, so Giselle ultimately caved. There was no point in her neglecting her body for the sake of pride, anyway.
Chester held the umbrella over them. His fingers looked like works of art as they curled around the handle. Giselle walked beside him; the umbrella tilted in her direction, keeping her safe from the cold rain. Meanwhile, Chester’s shoulder was wet from the rain, but he was unfazed.
Half an hour later, Chester led Giselle to the emergency clinic to have her wound tended to. Her slender figure was vaguely visible behind the curtain. She pulled down her shirt, revealing her shoulder, which was dotted with blood.
The nurse disinfected it with rubbing alcohol before using a tweezer to carefully remove the embedded glass
shards.
The pain made Giselle break out in a cold sweat. She shut her eyes, her lashes trembling slightly as she bit her lip. She looked pale.
After a while, the wound was finally treated. As the nurse bandaged it, Chester’s hand came from behind the curtain. “I had someone buy these clothes for you, Ms. Stone. Try them on and see whether they fit.”
Chapter 8
