Ethan P. O. V
Chen Lien placed a plastic bag containing a finger and several human teeth before me. Quite a sight to see, especially after I was so angry at the owner of these items on the plane yesterday.
Feeling like I’d just been handed the sweetest gift, I smiled as I lifted the bag to examine it from above. “Look at this, how beautiful it is,” I praised.
“I also got this from Don Azacha’s kids,” Chen Lien said, handing me a red folder filled with some very important papers, given their unpredictable source.
“Looks like they’ve figured out your moves from how you’ve been beefing with Alesio Huggman. So, after I handed over what you ordered, they immediately gave this to me.”
I put the bag of fingers and teeth back on the table and turned my attention to the folder Chen Lien had handed me. Upon opening it, I was surprised to find property deeds and land certificates for the entire Chengzu district. This is a stroke of luck I’ll never get twice in a lifetime. Just by giving something needed by someone who is neither an ally nor an enemy, look at what they’ve done for me. They’ve given me so much, far more than what I need.
It didn’t shock me to see them here today. Even though Alesio controls the largest gambling district in Macau, the rights and ownership are still held by Don Azacha’s kids, who have a massive grudge against Alesio for killing their father.
For years, Alesio ruled Chengzu as spoils from Don Azacha’s past defeat. It’s fallen into my hands after I delivered what the kids wanted.
Though it seemed easy, touching Alesio Huggman was nearly impossible. It took something far more significant and dangerous than the combined power of all European mafia forces, and I knew Chen Lien was the man for the job.
That’s why he offered to take on the task last night, acting on something I growled at and doing flawlessly. He gave these items to Don Azacha’s kids and handed them to me. Meaning that if Alesio isn’t dead, he’s suffering somewhere.
“They also said they have another gift for you, connected to Christopher Gale.”
“They know something?”
“I hope they do,” he replied, matching my tone.
Amid our conversation, Chen Lien suddenly pulled out a photo and handed it to me. Seeing the picture, I was shocked-it showed Claire ducking into a car. This happened when I was taking her to the night market.
“You’d better act fast to stop this, or Christopher Gale will soon get what he wants,” Chen Lien warned.
I couldn’t ignore my suspicions from last night. Knowing Claire disappeared in the bathroom at the night market, it was because of this. Way beyond my predictions, Christopher Gale is determined to ensure his plans go off perfectly. Sooner or later, Claire will be influenced, following the fake Alpha to her demise without realizing it.
“You knew about this?”
“Of course. She slipped from my surveillance for a bit. I thought she met someone, but didn’t expect it to be the fake Alpha.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why should I when I brought her back to the villa?”
“You’re really something,” he said, sounding like he was cornering me. “Don’t you crave power far beyond what Christopher Gale promised? Why let this happen?”
“This was out of my control. She went into the ladies’ room-I couldn’t follow her in there,” I defended. But my excuse seemed to annoy Chen Lien.
“I think your time playing with her is over, since I’ve given you what you wanted. Now let me have a turn.”
I lifted my head, staring at Chen Lien in disbelief. Why does he want to go with Claire?
“There’s nothing special about her, why insist?”
“I have far more people to protect her than you have here. She’ll be safer with me.”
I glared. It was true that Chen Lien’s people were more numerous and spread across the globe, thanks to his dark business empire, especially in China. Almost everyone in this country works for the man standing before me.
“I want to take her out for some fun. If you disagree, I’ll take her with or without your permission,” he said.
Although Chen Lien could do whatever he wanted, I couldn’t let Claire be in danger. Even though Chen Lien seemed friendly and gave me almost everything I wanted, he could also take it away quickly, including taking Claire as ‘interest’ for all the hard work he might see as a debt.
Feeling mixed emotions, I nodded. “Do as you wish, but make sure she returns without a scratch,” I said.
Like he’d just hit the jackpot, Chen Lien smiled and turned away, leaving me alone. Watching the long-haired man’s back, I smiled too. How could I be so dumb not to realize Chen Lien liked Claire?
I stood up, uninterested in all the gifts Chen Lien gave me, and shifted my focus to the window, watching Claire walk toward a car with Chen Lien. As I was staring at them, Danny walked into my room.
“You’re letting them go?” he asked.
“Do I have a choice?”
“There are many things you could do. Don’t you intend to stop them?”
“Why stop them? There’s no reason to, let it be. Don’t cause trouble with that man for now.”
“Do you want me to follow them, Alpha?”
“If you have free time, go ahead and follow them,” I replied without taking my eyes off Claire, who was now in the car with Chen Lien and driving away from the villa.
After receiving my orders, Danny quickly left to escort Chen Lien and Claire.
I shouldn’t hate this sight, but seeing all this stirred something within me for some reason. It’s like I disliked what Chen Lien was doing. Although, if I was going to reject her, I shouldn’t feel this way.
“It’s impossible that I love her ….”