Chapter 297: Chapter 300: Willow Quincy Has Returned
Riley Chase paused and looked back at the two bodyguards.
The two of them exchanged a look, both utterly clueless.
"Didn’t Sven say he’d be on watch here? Why is he gone now?"
"I have no idea," the other said. "He didn’t text me or anything, so I don’t know where he went."
"Tsk..." The other man slapped his forehead in frustration. "Unbelievable. He had to leave but didn’t even give us a heads-up, just took off. Who knows how long he’s been gone, or if anyone slipped in while he was away..."
"...Probably not, right?" the first one said, hoping for the best. "The villa was as quiet as ever when we came out just now. We didn’t hear any strange noises or see anyone suspicious."
"Sigh..." the other man sighed gloomily. "Let’s hope not. If someone did, we can both pack our bags and get lost."
"Back to our posts. We’ll deal with Sven when he gets back."
"Oh..."
The two bodyguards finished their chat just as Riley Chase slipped out of their line of sight.
He ducked into a small grove of trees, crouching by the roots to send a message to Felix Preston.
—Preston, I’m out. Are you guys in yet?
Felix Preston replied instantly: We’re in. Stay outside and keep watch for us. Let us know the second Willow Quincy gets back.
Riley Chase: Okay!
BEEP BEEP—
He had just sent the "Okay!" when a black Audi suddenly turned in from the end of the road. Its blinding headlights lit up the area, and Riley Chase quickly shut off his phone, plastering himself to the ground like a gecko.
BEEP BEEP—
The black Audi gave a short honk and slowed to a stop at the estate’s entrance.
"Mr. Quincy." The two bodyguards bowed toward the Audi, respectfully greeting the person inside. They then stepped aside in unison, making way for the car and pushing open the barrier behind them.
Inside the car, Willow Quincy looked at the two bodyguards at the gate and frowned. "Aren’t there always three men at the main gate? Why only two tonight?"
Mona, sitting beside him, immediately relayed the question to the guards outside. "Mr. Quincy is asking why there are only the two of you on duty tonight. Where’s the third man?"
"Uh..." The two bodyguards exchanged a look and seamlessly told a lie. "To answer, Mr. Quincy, the other man went to the restroom. He had a sudden stomachache—thinks he ate something bad—so we told him to go take care of it."
"An upset stomach..." Willow Quincy’s eyes narrowed. It was impossible to tell if he believed them, but he didn’t press the matter.
"Let’s go," he instructed the driver in a cold voice.
The driver responded with a "Yes, sir," and slowly drove the Audi into the estate.
The dazzling headlights receded into the distance, and the small grove where Riley Chase was hiding was once again plunged into darkness.
He didn’t dare get up, instead sending a message to Felix Preston from his prone position.
—Preston, Willow Quincy is back.
—The car has entered the estate. Be careful.
"Willow Quincy’s back."
Felix Preston put his phone away, instinctively hiding himself completely behind a tree.
"Everyone, stay hidden. Don’t make a sound."
The words were barely out of his mouth when the Audi’s headlights swept across the courtyard ahead.
The car door opened, and Willow Quincy stepped out, slow and deliberate.
Despite spending a day and a night at the police station, Willow Quincy’s appearance and demeanor were not the least bit disheveled. He was as haughty, stern, and serious as ever—and as ever, Felix Preston despised him.
Felix Preston watched him from the darkness, his gaze venomous. He was suppressing his rage so intensely that his body grew tense and rigid.
Mason Shaw, beside him, noticed his state and immediately squeezed his shoulder, silently urging him to calm down.
He nodded, his expression dark, but his eyes remained fixed on Willow Quincy, unwilling to look away.
"Mr. Quincy."
A bodyguard standing guard at the villa’s entrance hurried out, bowing as he stood before Willow Quincy.
Willow Quincy grunted coldly. "Where’s Sonia? Is she asleep?"
The bodyguard answered truthfully, "Miss Sonia Quincy doesn’t seem to be asleep. Before you returned, she was running up and down the stairs several times. We’re not sure what she was doing."
"Mm." Willow Quincy showed little reaction to this suspicious behavior.
He adjusted the collar of his overcoat, making sure his appearance was immaculate before stepping into the villa.
From the darkness, Felix Preston stared intently. As Willow Quincy’s figure vanished from the courtyard, Felix’s breathing suddenly grew heavy.
"Calm. Down." Mason Shaw gripped Felix Preston’s shoulder, keeping a close eye on him.
Felix didn’t speak. He just tilted his head back, looking up at the second floor of the villa, as if his gaze alone could pierce the thick walls and find the woman he longed for day and night.
TAP, TAP, TAP...
The long-awaited sound of footsteps finally echoed from the stairwell. On the sofa, Charlotte Shaw’s eyes snapped open.
"Sonia?" Willow Quincy reached the top of the stairs and immediately spotted Charlotte Shaw on the sofa.
"It’s three in the morning. Why are you still awake? Were you waiting for me?"
"I was," Charlotte Shaw replied, giving him—for the first time ever—the answer he had always dreamed of hearing.
His eyes lit up, and his mood instantly brightened.
"Really? Sonia, you were really waiting for me?"
"Of course," Charlotte Shaw said, rising from the sofa. She ambled over to him. "Willow Quincy, I’ve been waiting for you."
"Sonia..." Her words were light and devoid of any real emotion, yet Willow Quincy was overjoyed, completely losing himself in the moment.
He took two steps forward, cautiously approaching Charlotte Shaw. He took her hand, just as cautiously, and spoke with a mix of excitement and disbelief, "Sonia, does this mean you’re finally willing to accept me?"
"...No, I’m not." Charlotte’s utterly cold reply sent his spirits crashing back to earth.
He froze, the glee on his face slowly giving way to sorrow.
"Hmph." Charlotte Shaw’s lips curled into a sneer as she pulled her hand from his grasp.
"Willow Quincy, what took you so long this time? Does getting a visa really take that long?"
"...It does," Willow Quincy replied with a bitter smile. "Sonia, your situation is a little unusual. The visa wasn’t easy to arrange, so I was held up for a bit."
"Oh." Charlotte Shaw raised an eyebrow. "So, did you get it?"
Willow Quincy: "I did. As long as there are no more issues with the process, Sonia and I will be able to leave this place in just a few days."
"And just in time, too. The house in Nordheim is newly renovated. Once we’ve wrapped things up here, we can move right in when we get there."
"Oh." Charlotte Shaw’s reaction was mild. Hearing Willow Quincy talk about this bizarre future he had planned no longer filled her with the same anger it had just a few days ago.
She clasped her hands behind her back and nonchalantly strolled to the door of Willow Quincy’s room, which she then pushed open.
"Willow Quincy, I’ve told you many times already. I will never leave with you."
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