When Alfred told Linford that Cristelle had gotten drunk, he instantly left Franco’s and drove toward the Italian restaurant. He knew he should contain himself a bit. But he just couldn’t.
“Cristelle has been trapped in that private room for two hours. The manager said she was totally drunk.” Alfred led the way, sweating a bit as he thought about what would happen to Cristelle.
When they walked toward the door, they finally saw Cristelle. Cristelle was wearing a tight dress, revealing the smooth skin on her shoulders, leaning against Jasper’s chest. Jasper’s hands were on her waist, “Cristelle… Babe. Do you want me to send you home?”
Linford dashed forward and snatched Cristelle out of the man’s touch.
“Mr. Bradley?” Jasper glared at him, “I know you’re a powerful man. But you have no right to do this. Cristelle is a free woman. She’s not your property.”
“I don’t have the right?” Linford smiled coldly, “Interesting. This is the first time I’m hearing something like this. Johnson, Cristelle might have agreed to start that studio with you, but you will never have her, ever. Don’t even think about it.”
With that, he scooped the woman up and walked toward his car. He put her in the passenger seat and drove home directly.
Jasper was so furious. He had arranged everything, thinking tonight would be a breakthrough between him and Cristelle. But that Linford Bradley just suddenly appeared and ruined everything again!
Good for that arrogant man!
It seemed like the war had begun.
Linford Bradley, Jasper thought darkly, sooner or later, I will make you pay!
****
Linford carried the drunk Cristelle out of the car when they finally arrived. When he put her in bed gently, a FaceTime call suddenly came on. Linford held the phone and noticed it was Cody.
He thought for a short while and accepted the call.
“Mom! Check this out!” Cody was holding a bouquet of wildflowers. The big smile on his face disappeared the moment he saw Linford, “Where’s my mom?”
Linford switched the camera, “Your mom is sleeping right now.”
“Mom! Mom?” Cody got panicked, “What did you do to my mom?”
Linford huffed, “I didn’t do that to her.”
“Who else will it be then?” Cody shouted, “Did you get her drunk on purpose? What are you gonna do to her?”
“I told you I was not the one who did it. Jasper did it,” Linford hung up the call after saying that. He didn’t want to explain anything. The place Cody was at right now had bad signals. He wouldn’t call again.
****
Cody held onto Enzo’s leg after Linford hung up the phone. The boy was extremely nervous, “Uncle… My Mom is not alright. I need to call her again.”
Enzo arched an eyebrow confusingly, “What happened to her?”
Cody trusted his uncle the most. He thus repeated what he had just seen on the screen, “I don’t think Mom’s safe right now as your….”
Enzo cut him off before he could finish the sentence, “She’ll be fine. I know Linford. He will never do anything to a drunk woman. On the contrary, you need to be careful about that, Jasper Johnson.”
“Jasper?” Cody sounded both surprised and sure, “He will never harm my Mom. I’m sure. He’s a great man.”
“Then, you have nothing else to worry about, do you? We can’t make any calls anymore, Cody. If you send a signal again, we will be exposed to danger. I forgot to tell you that I have a lot of enemies. I need to be extremely careful whenever I’m out for a mission,” Enzo didn’t want Cody to make any phone calls anymore.
****
Cristelle was still lying in bed unconsciously. She’d been murmuring something in her sleep after being put in bed.
After hanging up on Cody, Linford actually didn’t feel as angry as before. He leaned forward and took off Cristelle’s dress.
Thinking for a pause, he went to the bathroom and grabbed a warm towel, wiping Cristelle’s body with it so she would feel fresh.
“Cody…” Cristelle murmured as she turned to squeeze a pillow against her chest, falling asleep again.
Linford’s hand faltered. The boy had been away for a while. Cristelle must miss him so much.
After wiping Cristelle’s body, Linford went to the bathroom and took a shower. And then, he lay beside Cristelle, one arm draping over her small waist and falling asleep.
****
The world was devoured by darkness. The house was swarmed with all sorts of people. The lights of cruisers made Cristelle raise one hand to block her eyes. But those journalists wouldn’t stop snapping their shutters at her.
“…a corrupted officer… They said he had got billions…”
“No way… If he really received bribes, why is he still living in this crappy house?”
“His mistress took all his money away. That mistress gave him a son overseas. Now, all his money has gone with her.”
“Really? Then what happened to his wife?”
“What could have happened? She ended up broken. And she still needs to clean the mess.”
“Look! Shit! Is that his wife? She’s gonna jump off the building!”
Her Mom’s small body broke the wind and crashed against the concrete road like a rag doll.
Cristelle screamed loudly in her dream.
When she woke up, her face was damp with tears, and her whole body was trembling.
“Mom… Mom…” Cristelle gasped.
She had been so late. She hadn’t even gotta see her face for the last time.
Linford had never seen her act like this. He pulled her in against his chest, lips pressing against her ear as he comforted her, “It’s okay… It’s okay. I got you. Please calm down.”
Cristelle still couldn’t control the fear churning in her chest. She had never been truly relaxed for even one day after giving birth to her babies.
“I’m here, baby,” Linford kissed her hair gently, “I got you. It’s okay.”
It took Cristelle a while to finally recover from the panic attack. When she finally opened her eyes and felt the hot breath against her neck, she instantly yelped and pulled away. Then, covering her body with a blanket, she glared at the handsome man in bed, “Who allowed you to get in?”
Linford smiled faintly, “This is my house.”