The driver said to him in a low voice, “Melody should be Miss Hudson’s aunt.”
“Oh, I remember her,” Geoffrey recalled and remarked, “I can’t believe I work for that foolish woman. She isn’t as influential as you might believe, Miss Hudson. If you agree to my terms, I’ll assist you in making Melody and Gretchen vanish from this world.”
Biting her lower lip, Estelle looked around again.
With a knowing look, Geoffrey nonchalantly leaned against the car window and smiled, saying, “Quit looking for him. He won’t show up.”
Upon hearing his words, Estelle was taken aback, not expecting him to know about her connection with Mr. Mysterious. She turned to stare at him and asked, “What else do you know?”
Geoffrey confidently responded, “I know far more than you think. I know Mr. Mysterious’ name, his origins, your history with him, and even his current whereabouts. I am well-informed about everything concerning him.”
“…”
“Step into the car, Miss Hudson. If you wish to learn more, join me in the car,” Geoffrey urged.
As he finished speaking, four black-clad bodyguards exited the car and encircled Estelle, blocking her path.
One of them opened the rear door for her, made a gesture of “please,” and said respectfully, “Miss Hudson, please get into the car.”
After hesitating for a while, Estelle got into the car.
The limousine was luxurious and spacious, with two rows of seats on both sides of the car.
Sitting in a seat on one side, Geoffrey was holding white fluffy stuff in his arms.
At first, Estelle thought it was a stuffed toy. But when she heard it moaning, she took a closer look and found that it was a puppy.
“Miss Hudson, the puppy Mr. Mysterious bought for you is so cute and obedient,” Geoffrey said as he gently caressed the back of the puppy. “Oh, your daughter Yvonne is also very cute.”
Estelle was alarmed when hearing this, and she asked at once, “You went to my home? Where’s Mrs. Moorsum? Where’s my daughter?”
“Don’t be alarmed. Your daughter is in a separate car and will arrive at the Hans’ House along with you. You’ll reunite with her soon. I simply found this puppy adorable and wanted to play with it, so I brought it along. You can take it back once you exit the car later,” Geoffrey explained, trying to reassure Estelle.
Estelle tensed up, and her whole body tautened violently.
Although Geoffrey maintained a polite tone, Estelle sensed an underlying malicious intent.
“Mr. Field, don’t you think it’s inappropriate to enter someone else’s house and take their dog without permission?” she questioned.
Geoffrey chuckled and admitted, “You’re right, it was indeed inappropriate.”
Estelle inquired, “Can you tell me what you want to do now?”
“Miss Hudson, Mr. Mysterious has made significant sacrifices for you,” Geoffrey said, “He gave up his wealth, power, social status, and promising future. He even lost an arm and is willing to lay down his life for you.”
Estelle frowned and quickly responded, “I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Well, he cares about you so much that he must haven’t told you anything about his secrets,” Geoffrey grinned. “Let me tell you a story, may I?”
Observing Estelle’s silence, Geoffrey proceeded with his story. “Once upon a time, there was an exceptional young man deeply in love with a girl. Unfortunately, a tragic accident left him suffering from severe mental distress, leading to insomnia, paranoia, and even thoughts of suicide. Then, a benefactor stepped in and rescued him from the depths of despair.”
“…”
“The benefactor saw great potential in the young man, chose him as his successor, and helped him make a triumphant comeback. The young man proved his worth, reaching the pinnacle of success in his career. The benefactor intended to hand over all his resources and wealth to ensure the young man’s brighter future, turning him into a legendary figure in the business world. However, this excellent plan was thwarted because of you.”
Upon hearing this, Estelle understood his intentions and had a hunch.
She asked, “Mr. Mysterious rejected him because of me?”
“Yes,” Geoffrey replied. “Because of you, Mr. Mysterious became depressed, suffered greatly, and almost attempted suicide. Your impact on him was significant, leading to a serious mental illness and a split personality.”
“When he was in his true self, he accepted everything from his benefactor and agreed to be his successor. But in his other personality, he concealed his identity, closely paid attention to you, and secretly helped you. He even went as far as breaking his arm to repay his debt to his benefactor, all to be with you. Miss Hudson, you may feel your life is full of hardships and loss, but what he has sacrificed because of you is no less significant.”
It took Estelle five minutes to process Geoffrey’s words.
Mr. Mysterious had opened up to her about his struggles. He shared that he battled depression and had once contemplated suicide, similar to Henry. Additionally, he had gone to the extent of breaking his arm to repay his benefactor.
However, she had never considered the connection between these pieces of fragmented information before.
After hearing what Geoffrey said, she managed to piece everything together and understand the entire story.
‘Mr. Field mentioned that Mr. Mysterious became depressed and suffered because of me. I wonder if he felt that way because he saw me with Cristofer,’ she pondered.
Estelle felt that she was close to the truth, but she couldn’t figure it out.
Estelle realized the reason for Geoffrey’s visit today.
“Do you want me to break up with Mr. Mysterious to protect his bright future?” she inquired.
“His benefactor hopes so,” replied Geoffrey. “Before coming here, his benefactor specifically asked me not to harm you. He believes you’re intelligent and will make the right choice. He doesn’t want to make things difficult for you, but at the same time, he doesn’t want to lose his successor. It took him decades to find such a satisfactory successor.”
“I’m a bit confused. Does Mr. Mysterious have to choose between his career and me?” asked Estelle.
“Indeed. Being a hopeless romantic jeopardizes his future. When he’s not with you, he’s an influential legend in the business world. But being with you makes him indecisive and fearful, which shouldn’t be the case.”
Hearing this, Estelle’s smile widened as she responded, “Mr. Field, you came to me today because you couldn’t persuade Mr. Mysterious, right?”
“You’re quite perceptive, Miss Hudson,” Geoffrey replied. “But your intelligence won’t be useful against a super-powerful man. There are many other people who are important to you, like your two children, this puppy, your mother, your friend, and the little boy she recently adopted. Losing them would be something you wouldn’t want, right?”