The large hand that held her small one tightened suddenly. “Not just for seven years, but for the next seventy years, we will be together.”
“I’ll be an old lady by then,” Sylvia’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at him. “I’ll be old and ugly.”
“Even as an old lady, you’ll be the most beautiful one,” Franklin’s lips curved into a smile, his long eyes filled with tenderness. “By then, I’ll be an old man, and we’ll be old companions.”
“The most romantic thing I can think of is growing old with you…” Just then, the car radio started playing that song.
The host’s voice came softly through the broadcast, “This was once a very popular song, now playing for everyone.”
The melody of the music filled the car.
“Collecting bits of laughter along the way, to talk about while sitting in rocking chairs later…”
Sylvia couldn’t help but hum along, “The most romantic thing I can think of is growing old with you, until we are too old to go anywhere, and you still treat me like a treasure…”
Her voice was cool but carried a unique charm when she sang.
It was melodious and memorable.
“You could be a singer,” Franklin’s deep eyes warmed. “Otherwise, it’s such a waste.”
“They all want me to be an actress, and you want me to be a singer,” Sylvia laughed. “Everyone has my life planned out so clearly.”
Franklin couldn’t help but laugh. “Do whatever you like. As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure you live comfortably and freely.”
The car smoothly stopped at the entrance of the Hipps Family estate.
Franklin couldn’t resist pulling Sylvia close, his hot breath on her ear. Their foreheads touched, and after a moment, he kissed her forehead and let her go.
“Go inside,” his voice was hoarse with a hint of reluctance.
“Okay,” Sylvia nodded. “Good night.”
Watching Sylvia’s figure disappear into the vast estate, Franklin finally drove away, leaving only a trail of exhaust in the dark night.
In the apartment, the dim wall lamp cast a soft glow. Jasper sat under the light checking flight schedules.
Evie walked over in her nightgown. “Are you going on another business trip with Sylvia and Mr. Maskelyne?”
“Yes, Madam booked the tickets and sent them to me. I’m checking the flight information to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Jasper was always meticulous and considerate.
“Jaime will miss you,” Evie said as she sat beside him and glanced at the laptop. “You’ve been traveling a lot lately; the house feels empty.”
“Aren’t your parents also in Aettosa now? You can spend more time with them when you’re free,” Jasper held her hands. “Business trips are unavoidable.”
“It’s winter break now; my parents take care of Jaime during the day, so I’m quite free and can work,” Evie managed Sylvia’s entire finance department and was usually very busy.
But she didn’t travel often.
“This time we’re going to Middle Evroya,” Jasper hesitated. “Why don’t you and Jaime come along? We’re attending the Fire Dance Festival. Jaime spent a long time in Middle Evroya before; I’m worried it might bring back bad memories for him.”
“Speaking of the past, have you opened that suitcase his biological parents left?” Evie suddenly remembered. “Since Jaime came back with us, I haven’t seen it.”
“Oh, I put it in the storage cabinet. I’ll get it now,” Jasper said as he stood up and walked to the study.
They lived in a three-bedroom apartment: one bedroom for Jaime, one for themselves, and the third as a study with a storage cabinet for miscellaneous items.
Jasper searched for a while before finding the old suitcase. It was dark blue with cartoon characters on it, adding a touch of cuteness.
He dragged it out but found it locked with a password.
“It has a password. I wonder if Jaime knows it.”
“It’s late; he’s already asleep.”
Evie sat on the floor and examined the suitcase. “No problem, I can crack it.”
Being around Sylvia had taught her a few tricks.
She found a small knife and a thin wire and opened the suitcase within minutes.
They had expected to find Jaime’s clothes or toys inside but were surprised to see a tightly wrapped box instead.
Evie opened the box to find only a blueprint and a tablet inside.
“I remember those killers were asking Jaida where something was,” Evie examined the blueprint. “Could this be what they were after?”
Jasper pressed the tablet’s power button. “It’s out of battery. I’ll charge it.”
Once charged, he looked at the blueprint. “This seems like an architectural plan. What building is this? It looks huge.”
“I don’t know,” Evie couldn’t decipher it either. “We should tell Sylvia about this.”
“Master Franklin understands architecture. I’ll find him first thing in the morning,” Jasper nodded.
Just then, the tablet powered on with a beep.
Jasper picked it up and saw it required a password. “It has a password.”
“Try Jaime’s birthday,” Evie suggested. “Jaida left this for him; it should be his birthday.”
“Good idea,” Jasper entered Jaime’s birth date and successfully unlocked the tablet.
At first glance, it looked like any other tablet with movie apps, chat apps, and social media platforms.
Jasper opened several apps but found nothing unusual.
“Nothing strange here.”
“She hid it here for a reason. Let’s keep looking,” Evie took over the tablet and examined it closely. “Let’s check its folders and photo albums.”
She opened the folders to find only some ordinary TXT format web novels.
The photo album was also ordinary, mostly filled with pictures and videos of Jaime as a child.
“Forget it. We’ll give the blueprint and tablet to Madam and Master Franklin tomorrow; maybe they’ll figure it out,” Jasper put away the tablet and neatly folded the blueprint back into the box.
“Let’s sleep; it’s late,” Evie yawned as she stood up from the floor. Suddenly, Jasper pulled her into his arms tightly. “So… how about we try here in the study?”
Evie blushed deeply. “You… you’re so wicked.”
His handsome face moved closer, his eyes glinting with interest. “The child is asleep; it’s quiet with no interruptions.”
He pressed her petite body against him, lifting her onto the desk with his long legs bracing her. “Don’t be afraid…”
The night deepened.
The dark blue sky was dotted with countless twinkling stars, and the bright moon sailed like a silver boat on a deep blue sea.
Inside the apartment, heat and passion filled the air until everything finally calmed down.
In the early morning, light rain pattered against the windows.
Jaime slowly opened his eyes to the sound of rain, quickly got out of bed, pulled back the curtains, and saw the rain outside.
“It’s raining. I wonder if Dad will go to work today.”
With that thought, he rushed out of his room. Evie was in the kitchen preparing breakfast; seeing him awake, she smiled warmly. “Jaime, you’re up? Go wash up and come have breakfast.”
“Mom, where’s Dad?” Jaime looked around but didn’t see Jasper and felt disappointed.
“Dad went to work. Why?” Evie wiped her hands and squatted in front of him to meet his eyes. “Didn’t Dad come home for dinner last night?”
“But… it’s raining today; I thought he wouldn’t go to work!” Jaime’s eyes dimmed; he loved spending time with Jasper-it felt different from being with his mom.
“I’ll call him and ask him to come home early tonight to have dinner with you. Okay?” Evie smiled as she patted his head and called Jasper. “Honey, come home early tonight; Jaime wants… Jaime, what do you want for dinner? Tell Dad.”
“I want a feast! I want king crab…” Jaime hadn’t finished speaking when they heard a loud crash from the other end of the line.
Both Evie and Jaime were startled. Evie grabbed her phone tightly and shouted, “Jasper, what happened?”
Jasper’s mind was hazy; he felt intense pain in his head but managed to speak weakly, “Someone… hit me! I’m… on Gotry Road…”
Evie’s heart clenched painfully; her mind went blank for a moment before she said urgently, “Wait for me! I’m coming right now!”
She grabbed a down jacket from the coat rack for Jaime and threw on some clothes herself before quickly putting on shoes and rushing to the garage with Jaime.
Jaime’s face was pale with fear. “Mom, will Dad die?”
“Did Dad have an accident?”
“Mom… if I hadn’t called him, would Dad be okay…”
Evie strapped Jaime into his car seat before getting into the driver’s seat herself. As she started the car, she called for an ambulance. “Hello, 123? There’s been an accident on Gotry Road; my husband’s car… Yes, please hurry… Thank you…”