Winnie looked around as she sat on the sofa. The apartment was rather empty. Apart from some
cabinets, there were not many ornaments.
Channing took a bottle of mineral water for Winnie and opened it for her.
Winnie took over the bottle and asked, “Why did you rent this place?”
Channing sat opposite her and answered, “It’s close to the school.”
Winnie then realized that his school was just a couple of blocks away. She previously thought that he
had lied to her about where he lived. But now she knew that this was where he stayed all along.
She took a sip of water, looked down, and said softly, “That day… did you go out again after coming
home?”
Channing hesitated for quite a while before he nodded.
Winnie, holding bottle of water, did not know how to continue.
Perhaps Channing knew her concerns and said, “I will not look for him again.”
Winnie looked up, “Really?”
Channing nodded because what he did was useless as Chassell would still pester her.
Winnie could see that he was not lying, so she smiled, “That’s great. There is no need to waste your
time on him.”
Channing looked into her eyes, “Did you come here to say these?”
Winnie paused. Somehow she felt that she had been seen through, “No… didn’t your sister ask me to
send you home?”
She then placed down the bottle of water and said, “Since you’re back safely, I’ll leave now. I still have
to work tomorrow.”
Winnie was about to leave when he grabbed her wrist.
Channing looked at her and said, “A simple reminder, don't enter a man’s home so easily. It’s very
dangerous.”
As soon as Channing said these, the atmosphere within the room changed into something slightly
awkward.
Winnie looked quietly at his eyes and became dazed. Then, her phone buzzed with a message
notification.
Winnie came to her senses and took out her phone, “I… I need to leave.”
Winnie rushed to the elevator after the door was closed. Her footsteps were very erratic. Channing
heard the elevator door close and then sat on the sofa. He then sent a message to Stella to inform her
that he was safely home.
Thereafter, he called Nathan.
Winnie took out her phone and saw that she received a spam message five minutes ago.
She leaned back towards her seat and exhaled a long sigh. She thanked the message for helping her
to crack the situation. She also did not know why she had the impulse to follow Channing home.
On the other end, Stella did not see Channing's message.
When she went home, she was carried by Clarence, who had been waiting for her, into the bathroom
for a shower. It took them about one and a half hour to finished showering.
After coming out of the bathroom, Stella was tired and could not keep her eyes open when she lay on
the bed. She saw Clarence getting on top of her and she said angrily, “Have some self-conscience and
be considerate, ok?”
Clarence held her hand and kissed her as he said, “You have not agreed.”
“Agree on what?”
“To register for marriage tomorrow.”
Stella said in a daze, “Can I sleep if I agree?”
Clarence grinned, “I'll consider it.”
Stella was speechless. What was there to consider? All she wanted to do was to sleep.
Stella then gave in, “As you wish.”
“Then I’ll take it as you agreed.” Clarence declared.
Stella acknowledged and closed her eyes to sleep but her lower lips were bitten by Clarence.
When she felt that his hand was moving up her body, Stella mumbled, “Didn’t you say…”
“I said I'll consider.” Clarence grinned.
Stella was speechless. She wanted to scold him but her mouth was blocked.
Stella woke up the next day at noon. Her entire body was aching. When she was about to get out of
bed, she noticed that there was a white-colored blouse at the bedside.
Stella grinned and took the blouse to the bathroom.
She washed up and put on her makeup. When she was ready, Clarence was working on his laptop.
Stella asked, “Have you eaten?”
Clarence looked at her and said, “Let’s eat out.”
Stella wore the white-colored blouse with a beige-colored long skirt. She looked graceful.
Stella said, “Sherry and the others…”
“They had gone to the office,” Clarence said.
“Then let’s go.”
Clarence placed the laptop down and walked to her side. He stretched out his hand and said tenderly,
“Let’s go, Mrs. Conrad.”
Stella's lips curled and she placed her hand onto his palm.
On the way to City Hall, Stella looked at the ring on her finger and asked, “Oh yes, do you remember
that man last night?”
Clarence replied, “Yes, he is Jon.”
“So he is …” Stella was puzzled, “But hasn't he been out of sight all this time? Why did he appear at
the Conrad group’s celebration?”
Clarence pursed his lips and did not reply.
Stella’s phone started ringing and the caller was Samuel.
Stella answered, “What’s up?”
Samuel said, “Ms. Radomil, the company received an email and I’ve forwarded it to you.”
“Okay, who is it from?” Stella asked.
“It should be… that Chairman Steward.”
Stella’s grip tightened, “I’ll read it now.”
Stella did not hang up the call but opened the email to read. The email was sent half an hour ago. It
was an anonymous email. The email stated that they are to prepare fifty billion dollars within two days
to redeem Daniel. Otherwise, they would kill Daniel.
There was a picture of Daniel being tied to a chair attached to the email. Daniel was blindfolded and his
mouth was gagged.
There were bloodstains on his face and clothes. The situation looked very urgent.
Stella took a deep breath and said, “Did you check where the email originated?”
“It’s being investigated but currently there was no trace.” Samuel added, “Ms. Radomil, we just
received another email with a countdown timer.”
At this point, Clarence also received a call from Francis Colton about the same matter. Stella then said
to Samuel, “Clarence and I will be going over now.”
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