Suddenly There Are Three (Bailey and Artemis) novel Chapter 401

Chapter 401

“Are you okay, Shirley?”

Shirley ignored those concerned voices. Instead, she looked up to Zeke, who was slumped on the couch and clutching his head in distress.

“Z-Zeke! Why did you get mad and pushed me off?” she blurted out, pouting.

Zeke froze briefly, then narrowed his eyes and frowned at Shirley. “You drugged me and then took advantage of that to sleep with me?” he questioned.

He was sure that he had an intimate encounter with a woman, but he wasn't sure who it was. His mind went blank, and all he could remember was that it was someone he was familiar with.

Other than Shirley, he couldn't think of any other woman who would possibly do that.

Da*n it! This woman...

Zeke's face fell, and he coldly said, “I've already accepted the dinner invitation, which shows that I have relented and am prepared to marry you. Why do you have to resort to such a disgusting ploy?”

Ashen-faced, Shirley quickly tried to explain, “No, no, it wasn't me! I did not drug you! You were already in delirium when I came in, and when I went to check on you, you... you...”

She threw herself into Waverly's arms and started sobbing. “Mrs. Shurmer, I did not do that! I really did not drug Zeke! Please believe me!” she whined.

Waverly patted Shirley on her back to console her as she turned around to reprimand Zeke. “Rascal! How dare you accuse Shirley when it was you who lost control of yourself and took advantage of her? She was with me all the time until she came looking for you and found you in a confused state of mind. How is it possible she's the one who drugged you?” she chided.

Zeke frowned and looked toward the coffee table.

His wine glass had disappeared, and there was nothing on the table.

His expression darkened as he realized someone had already removed all evidence of their sneaky act.

He was positive Shirley was the one who set him up.

Alas, he had fallen into her trap, and there was no turning back time to undo his mistake.

It was a fact that he had slept with her, so their fates were entwined, and he could not disassociate from her anymore.

Sternly, Waverly told Zeke, “Many of our family and friends are outside, and they all know there is some hanky-panky going on between you and Shirley. Both of you can't back out of your marriage arrangement now. Go wash up and then get back to the hall to entertain the guests.”

With that, she helped Shirley up and said, “Let's go to the restroom to freshen up, Shirley. I'm sorry you had to go through this nonsense, my poor girl. Rest assured the Shurmer family will make amends to you for this.”

Putting on a pathetic act, she shakily walked off with Waverly while softly crying, “I really didn't drug him, Mrs. Shurmer... I didn't.”

“Of course, my dear. I know you didn't do that. Ignore what that rascal said. He knew he did wrong and was merely trying to find an excuse. I will not let him malign you in this manner!” Waverly reassured her.

Veins were popping on his temple as a distressed Zeke watched the two ladies leave.

He tried hard to recall what had happened but drew a blank in his mind. His foggy and heavy brain could only remember vaguely that it was a very familiar face. Begrudgingly, he was convinced and accepted it was Shirley whom he shared that intimate time with.

“Fu*k...”

He couldn't help but let out a string of swear words as he bemoaned his bad luck.

Some bonds would never be broken, and blood would always be thicker than water.

...

Meanwhile, in the study at the main house of the Hoffman family's resort, Raymond was standing in front of the desk, admiring a masterpiece painting.

A middle-aged man walked in and reported, “Mr. Raymond, our guys found something.”

“Tell me what it is,” Raymond nonchalantly replied.

“Lionel had been secretly looking for Holden, who is the vice president of Tarragon,” the man said.

Bang! Raymond looked up in shock, and dropped the magnifying glass he was holding onto the table.

“What are you trying to say?” he demanded.

The man shared his view. “I suspect the bodyguard who led Ms. Wendy to turn against the family many years back is Holden. He assumed the fake identity of Claude in order to get close to Ms. Wendy. His main motive was to get confidential information from her so he could get control of Zaewora.”

A look of fury flashed by in Raymond's eyes.

Claude robbed the innocence of Wendy, who was the heir of the Hoffman family. He also stole confidential information from her, which resulted in the Hoffman family losing their territory in Zaewora. He had been the arch-enemy of their family since then.

If Holden was indeed Claude, Raymond reckoned he might be able to make use of Sebastian to blackmail Holden into returning him what he deemed should rightfully belong to the Hoffman family.