Chapter 182
“Let’s go over there and sit for a while.”
They walked out of Pearson Villa’s banquet hall. It was already 9 PM, and the night breeze felt a bit chilly.
The dark night made the banquet lights behind them seem even more dazzling. They saw the night view as they stepped out of Pearson Villa’s gates. The lights gradually dimmed, and the violin music behind them faded.
When they were away from the flattery and noise of the banquet, their hearts also calmed in the quiet night.
Stephanie stopped at Pearson Villa’s gates and looked around. On either side were flower beds, and the parking lot was behind the villa.
The Pearson family had organized this grand birthday banquet, inviting many distinguished guests from the business and political worlds. Some cars were even parked outside the walls, making the surrounding roads look a bit crowded.
They had to wait a while for the bodyguards to fetch the car.
“There are a few lounge chairs by the pool. Let’s go sit there for a bit.”
Stephanie thought, since they had to wait anyway, she got excited, let go of Dominick’s hand, and walked straight towards the right rear side of
Pearson Villa.
She curiously looked around at the plants, suddenly remembering something from the past. She raised her voice and muttered, “Oh, right, there were two melon vines planted behind the statue. I wonder if they bore fruit this year…”
He watched her light footsteps ahead. She seemed to be in a much better mood.
≈ 5 * = AF NEW A
Dominick frowned slightly and followed her. At night, Pearson Villa’s garden was lit with soft yellow lamps, not too bright, adding a touch of tranquility.
Pearson Villa wasn’t as grand as Wellington Villa, but Wellington Villa was so large that Stephanie often complained about its pool being suitable for filming horror scenes. She seemed to like here more…
She was very familiar with Pearson Villa.
Dominick stopped under a lamp, dim light casting a soft glow on him. He gazed at her, increasingly suspicious…
“Stephanie, what are you doing squatting over there?” Vincent had followed them out of curiosity. Seeing Stephanie’s sneaky actions, he couldn’t help but tease.
nes behind the statue, fiddling with them with great interest.‘
Wait a
a minute. Wait a minute…”
She bent down, squatting among the
After a while, Stephanie popped her head out of the tangled vines, her face darkening. In the peaceful garden, she cursed in frustration.
“Damn it. Someone killed my melon vines!”
Stephanie, although picky about food, loved melons during the summer melon harvest season. She excitedly planted two melon vines in Pearson Villa’s garden and let them grow quietly.
During that time, she visited Pearson Villa more often. Mason would tease her, saying it wouldn’t be good even if they bore fruit.
In fact, the climate wasn’t suitable, and they didn’t bear fruit, only some flowers. She was unhappy for days, but soon Oscar brought her a tiny
melon.
Oscar, who rarely spoke, actually explained that a melon had started to grow, but a damn rat bit off its root, so it couldn’t survive.
Maybe she was young, or perhaps she felt something deep inside. It seemed like some things were destined to be tragedies. She was afraid of tragedies. Then, she inexplicably cried uncontrollably, which scared Oscar, who stood still and didn’t know what to do.
“Stephanie, you seem very familiar with Pearson Villa…” Dominick’s cold face showed a complex expression. Even the usually slow Vincent sensed something was off and asked in a serious tone.
Stephanie shouldn’t have been so familiar with Pearson Villa.
According to what they knew, the Reed family of Caclorium and the Pearson family of Frostvale had no connections or business dealings. Mason’s bizarre comments had already caused some uncase, and seeing Stephanie’s current behavior only added to his frustration.
“I used to sneak over here a lot when I was little,” she said bluntly.
Vincent was skeptical. “Stephanie, you were such a handful. Why did you keep running off to Frostvale when you were so young?”
Chapter 182
Stephanie didn’t respond. She brushed some grass off her clothes and looked up, noticing Dominick staring at her with an intense, suspicious look.
She was momentarily stunned, not understanding the annoyance on Dominick’s face.
Just then, a bodyguard ran over to inform them that the car was waiting outside Pearson Villa’s gate.
In the dimly lit backyard of Pearson Villa, Stephanie inadvertently turned away, avoiding Dominick’s gaze.
Dominick said nothing, as usual. He walked over to her side, naturally wrapping his right arm around her waist, guiding her along the path out.
Stephanie walked with him quictly, but she felt Dominick’s grip on her waist was a bit tighter than usual.
The bodyguard had already opened the car door for them. Some of their business acquaintances passing by smiled and wished them a safe journey. Dominick, as always, showed little expression.
Everyone had their own secrets. Dominick had told her that she shouldn’t meddle in his affairs.
For her, Pearson Villa and Oscar were her secrets, ones she wasn’t willing to share with others.
Furthermore, Dominick had suddenly sent people to search the hotel last time, and she wasn’t sure what his connection to Oscar was. She admitted to wanting to protect Oscar. Oscar was different from Dominick. Dominick was the sole heiress of the illustrious Wellington family, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a proud status.
But Oscar was just an illegitimate child, often mocked as a reclusive fool. People loved to make fun of him and take everything from him.
“The Pearson family is shameless, signing the document and then going back on their word.” Stephanie was furious, especially once they got into the car. As it drove smoothly, Dominick took a call from Hayley. The woman over the phone asked about Oscar, feigning concern. Dominick replied, “Oscar isn’t at Pearson Villa.”
Stephanie glanced at Dominick’s phone, feeling very displeased. “None of them have good intentions. Who knows what Hayley’s up to with all her fake concern!”
She was truly annoyed. She remembered Teresa and the other women’s arrogance from earlier and thought about Hayley’s aloof attitude.
Vincent couldn’t help but retort, feeling that Stephanie was unusually irritable tonight, “Stephanie, are you having mood swings from pregnancy? Just say what you mean instead of being so sarcastic.”
“I’d like to say it, but you won’t
believe me.
Hayley can’t possibly be Oscar’s girlfriend. Do you believe that?”
Vincent looked stunned.
After speaking, Stephanie turned to stare out the car window, ignoring Vincent.
Dominick ended the call, lookin something was just beginning.
g down, watching her. They had just attended a Pearson family’s
banquet th
I was almos
over, but he felt like
Everyone fell
, troubled
The car sped smoothly
“She’s gone…”
the road, quickly disappearing into the night…
In the quiet night, two figures stood in a corner the light couldn’t reach. One was a strong man cursing angrily, “She’s pregnant with Dominick’s child!”
It was late summer and early autumn. The night wind was strong, swaying the trees in Pearson Villa’s backyard.
A tall figure stood by the statue, gently stroking a withered vine, his eyes fixed on the direction of Pearson Villa’s gate, following the distant car.
In the darkness, his deep blue eyes looked especially cerie.
