Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 143

Audrina melted into his embrace, the dim lighting softening the sharp contours of Sebastian's face.

She didn't say a word, simply burying her face back into his chest and closing her eyes.

That night, she slept deeply.

Early the next morning, she went alone to the cemetery to see Julian Monroe.

The mid-April breeze carried a hint of warmth, and the weeping willows lining the path had long since sprouted tender green shoots.

She walked up the stone steps and soon found Julian's tombstone.

From a distance, she noticed a bouquet of white chrysanthemums placed in front of it.

As she got closer, she saw that the flowers were neatly arranged, with droplets of water still clinging to the petals.

It looked like they had been left there quite recently.

Audrina crouched down, picked up the bouquet to examine it, and then placed it back. There was no card, no signature, not even a single identifying mark on the flowers.

They say people forget you once you're gone, and she honestly couldn't think of anyone else who would come to pay their respects to Julian Monroe.

Looking around, the cemetery was completely quiet. Perhaps this bouquet had just been left at the wrong grave.

Audrina set down the flowers she had brought beside the mysterious bouquet. Then she sat down next to the headstone, stretching her legs out into the sunlight.

The sunshine felt wonderful, and she tilted her head back, narrowing her eyes.

Usually, when she visited, she would chat with her father about recent events, but today, she didn't feel like talking. Her mind was too chaotic, so jumbled that she didn't know where to begin.

During the day, both Zachary and Waldo had tried calling her.

But she only glanced at her phone before hanging up and switching it to silent.

Then she just sat there for the entire day, carefully pondering Sebastian's words.

It was true; she had been trapped by the heavy chains of gratitude, effectively locking herself in a cage of her own making.

And the only person who had ever chosen her unconditionally was now reduced to the cold tombstone standing beside her.

The assistant told her that Waldo had been rushed straight into the operating room that morning and had only recently come out.

Inside the hospital room, a nurse was adjusting an IV drip. Seeing her arrive, the nurse whispered, "Mr. Sutton hasn't woken up yet," before leaving with her tray.

Waldo lay on the bed with his eyes closed. His face was ashen, looking drastically older than he had just a few days ago at his birthday banquet.

Audrina sat down in the chair beside his bed. She had wanted to say something, but facing this bloodless visage, the words of concern got stuck in her throat, refusing to come out.

In the end, she merely sat in quiet vigilance for a while before turning and leaving the room.

Zachary had arrived at some point and was leaning against the wall in the hallway. Seeing her emerge, he straightened up.

Audrina went straight to the point: "What happened to Waldo? Wasn't he perfectly fine yesterday?"

Zachary looked down at her, his eyes clouded with exhaustion and guilt.

"You left without a word last night. When I called you this morning, you didn't pick up. Waldo might have thought... maybe you and Sebastian... The old man got suspicious, and the anger was what put him in the hospital."