Valentino was surprised by her decision. “Did he mistreat you, Gwendolyn? Tell me, and I’ll take care of him!”
“No, he wouldn’t dare do that. I just…”
Fifteen minutes later, Gwendolyn emerged, grim-faced, from Valentino’s villa. William was waiting for her at the entrance.
Upon her appearance, he hurried forward. “How did it go, Ms. Gwendolyn? Did Old Mr. Jenson agree?”
Gwendolyn gazed down glumly and shook her head.
Valentino had walked her through the pros and cons. Her engagement with Cedrick was not an ordinary affair, as it concerned many other people as well. In fact, Cedrick had publicized their wedding to also be a business alliance.
If the engagement were to be broken off two days after the reception, Harris Group and Jenson Group would face massive financial losses and negative publicity online.
Needless to say, the repercussions would be huge.
Furthermore, Valentino no longer got involved with the Jenson family’s major affairs. As Cedrick was the new head of the family, she would have to discuss the matter with him.
Knowing him, he would not consent to it even if she pointed a gun at his head.
Gwendolyn was furious, yet she could not think of anything else.
Cedrick has me trapped well and proper this time!
She could finally understand why Treyton and Eloise had been engaged for two years, yet they remained together even though they truly despised her. For the children of a rich family, in particular, an engagement built on a business alliance was not easy to call off.
Forget it.
She heaved a long sigh. I’ll plan it all over again soon. For now, I don’t even want to think of that brute, Cedrick.
“Starting from today, I will not entertain Cedrick, his bodyguards, or his subordinates if they come to see me.”
“Yes, Ms. Gwendolyn.”
William nodded. Then, he followed in her wake as she departed.
The pair walked from Valentino’s villa to the Jensons’ majestic residence in a single file. When they turned the corner, they did not notice the young man in a blue suit studying her through his fine, gold-rimmed glasses.
Xander Jenson narrowed his eyes and adjusted his glasses with nonchalant elegance. “Is that the heiress of the Harris family who’s engaged to Cedrick?” he asked his bodyguard behind him.
“It appears so, Mr. Jenson,” the bodyguard replied after taking a closer look.
“She’s beautiful, but she does not seem to be in a good mood. Find out what she’s doing here today.”
“Yes, Mr. Jenson.”
The bodyguard left noiselessly and returned ten minutes later. “She’s here to back out of her engagement, Mr. Jenson,” he reported upon reappearing at Xander’s side, “but Old Mr. Jenson did not agree.”
“Back out of her engagement?”
Xander lapsed into a thoughtful reverie. “Cedrick was the one who wanted to get married. Apparently, she does not feel the same way about him.”
“It was said that Mr. Cedrick did not attend her party,” the bodyguard added. “It appears that she’s not important to him.”
“Preposterous.” Xander sneered. “You think you know what goes on in Cedrick’s head, do you? We’ll find out after a little digging.”
“What do you mean, Mr. Jenson?”
Nico wept. If it were not inappropriate, he would have knocked her out and carried her to the hospital himself.
“We were fighting terrorists in the mountains of Salinsburgh, and Mr. Jenson was shot in the chest; the blood all over me is his. He wants to see you one last time. I’m begging you, Ms. Gwendolyn! Please go see him!”
Gazing at him weeping in earnest, she felt her heart twinge with pity.
“I’ll trust you just this once! If Cedrick lies to me again, I will never forgive him!”
Without packing her things, she picked up her bag and went with Nico to the hospital.
A group was gathered in the corridor outside the emergency room and making a huge ruckus that escalated to the point of a heated quarrel, but they all looked solemn. Some even had tears in their eyes.
Gwendolyn quickened her stride. Leading the way, Nico shouted, “Make way! Stop squabbling! Ms. Gwendolyn is here!”
The group fell silent immediately. Some even stepped aside orderly to let her pass.
Venturing deeper, Gwendolyn soon detected the overwhelming, metallic stench of blood.
Laying on a stretcher, Cedrick was deathly pale. He had streaks of blood all over him. The spot where his heart was, in particular, was drenched in a deep crimson. There was blood still oozing out. Even the stretcher had been stained red.
The scene was so bloody that Gwendolyn remained in shock for a long while.
He’s not lying this time! He has lost so much blood!
Gwendolyn clapped her hand over her mouth in horror as her tears fell, rolling off her cheeks. Her feet felt like lead that every step she took was impossibly heavy.
Cedrick’s dull eyes brightened at her approach. He raised a hand, bloody and trembling, to grab her tiny wrist.
“Don’t cry. I-I’m not in pain, but my heart hurts when you cry.”
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