A Tale Of Redemption And Passion by Isidore Walsh (Chapters 211, to 220) – Daisy Novels

Chapter 211

Willie said, “I came to the headquarters for a meeting today, and Mr. Gordon asked about the collaboration. In

Walotronics, I have the final say. However, it has alarmed the headquarters and got Mr. Gordon to ask about it, which means the partner we’re looking for is important. The order of Walotronics is too big. It’s all money.”

Kyla smiled. “Mr. Carpenter, I’m not exaggerating it, but Sutton Group is the top circuit board company in Sherpsel. I’m sure you know that. Mr. Carpenter, your cooperation with Sutton Group will be a win-win situation.”

Kate finally understood. ‘Oswald has asked about it, which made Willie want to end this quickly. So, when Willie saw me today, he hinted that if Sutton Group wanted to work with Walotronics, it would all depend on whether I would do as Willie asked.’

Willie tilted his head and looked at Kate. He placed one hand on Kate’s hand back and said meaningfully, “Sutton Group is a big company. I’m also considering working with Sutton Group.”

Kate’s side profile was also beautiful. Willie indeed liked Kate.

The hand that Willie placed on Kate’s hand back quickly moved away, but then it landed on Kate’s thigh. Willie patted it and said, “Kate, tell me the advantages of Sutton Group. If you can convince me, we’ll sign the contract today.”

Then, he wanted to move his hand through, but Kate grabbed his impudent hand.

Kate raised Willie’s impudent hand and slammed it on the

table. Willie felt a pain in the palm of that hand.

Willie thought, ‘Gosh! When Kate is rough, she has the strength!’

“Kate.” Kyla was shocked by Kate’s actions, fearing Kate would offend Willie.

Kate ignored Kyla and said to Willie calmly, “Mr. Carpenter, I sincerely want to work with you. Here are Sutton Group’s advantages. Firstly, our company is big and reliable. Secondly, our quality is good. We deliver the goods on time and have a high pass rate. It can reduce the losses on both sides.

“Sutton Group mainly produces circuit boards. I’m not boasting, but in Sherpsel, Sutton Group is the top producer in the circuit board industry.

“If we can work together, it will be a win-win situation.”

After saying that, Kate retracted the hand that was holding Willie. She raised her glass again and said to Willie, “Mr. Carpenter, here, drink. If what I said can’t convince you, let me convince you with drinking.”

Willie knew it wasn’t that Kate didn’t understand the hidden rules but that she wouldn’t allow anyone to use unspoken rules on her. If anyone dared to make a move on Kate, she would probably slap them.

Kate had slammed Willie’s hand on the table with such force that it was obvious that she was on the verge of losing her temper.

Willie could not resist the temptation of beauty but would not force it. Since Kate had rejected his hint, he just let it go. Willie was originally disinterested. But he found it funny when he heard Kate wanted to convince him with drinks. He had planned to cooperate with Sutton Group, but at the moment, he had to give himself a way out. Therefore, he said, “Miss Kate Sutton has said it out. How can I not accept the challenge?”

“Miss Kate Sutton, as long as you can beat me in drinking, we’ll sign the contract today. From now on, Walotronics will work with Sutton Group.”

Kate asked, “Deal?”

Willie said solemnly, “A gentleman keeps his word.”

Kate smiled with a nod. “Good!”

Kyla quickly said, “Then I’ll be the referee. Whoever gets drunk first loses.”

Willie instructed the waiter to bring over a few more bottles of strong wine, wanting to teach Kate a lesson.

‘In socializing and business negotiation, if she isn’t willing to finalize the deal in bed, she will have to let her stomach suffer a bit.’ Willie sneered, ‘I do want to see how good Kate’s alcohol tolerance is to be able to beat me in drinking!” Kyla hoped that Kate would get drunk so that she could play her dirty tricks. Unfortunately, Kate disappointed her. Unfortunately, Kate disappointed her. The first person to get drunk was Willie.

Kate had drunk a few glasses more than Willie. She was still conscious and spoke nimbly. Willie’s face was red, and he was tongue-tied when he spoke. Although he wasn’t out cold, anyone could tell he was drunk.

“Mr. Carpenter, do you want a few more?” Kate pretended to help Willie fill it up again.

Willie waved his hands repeatedly. “No, no, no… I… I’m good. You win.”

Willie didn’t dare to drink anymore. If he kept drinking, he would be as drunk as a fiddler.

What he was most afraid of was drinking too much. If he got alcoholism, the consequences would be terrible. Initially, he wanted to find a way out for himself. When the time was right, he would stop.

Kate pressed. “Then, when can we sign the contract?”

Willie opened his mouth. He was tongue-tied, making him unable to speak properly. He stammered, “Tomorrow… Tomorrow, I’ll personally bring the contract… to you.” Kate smiled. “Do you want to sign the contract with me?” Willie was lost in Kate’s smile for a moment. After he regained his senses, he said, “You’ve convinced me. Of course, um, I will sign the contract with you.”

“Mr. Carpenter.” Kyla could not help but cry out.

Kyla was in charge of the cooperation with Walotronics from the beginning, while Kate was there to assist and learn.

If Kate signed the contract with Willie, it would mean the one who had won the partnership with Walotronics was Kate, not Kyla.

Kyla would never allow Kate to easily win the order and let those people in the company think highly of Kate.

“Alright, Mr. Carpenter, I’ll wait for you to come to my office with the contract tomorrow.” Kate interrupted what Kyla wanted to say and said to Willie considerately, “Mr. Carpenter, I’ll help you get a room. You can rest in the hotel before going back, okay?”

“Sure.” Willie did not have the energy to go back then.

Kate told Kyla, “Kyla, take care of Mr. Carpenter. I’ll help Mr. Carpenter get a room so he can rest well.”

As she spoke, Kate got up, pulled out the chair, and left.

After Kate left, Kyla immediately sat beside Willie. She held Willie and said, “Mr. Carpenter, I should be the one to sign the contract with you. Come to me tomorrow. No, I’ll bring my secretary to your office. You don’t have to make a trip to Sutton Group.”

Willie tilted his head and looked at Kyla. He was drunk, but it was not bad enough to lose his consciousness.

“Ms. Sutton…” Willie smiled sarcastically. “You’re… taking advantage of, um, newbies…”

Kyla wanted to take the credit. And she would make Kate do it if someone had to make the sacrifices.

Kyla smiled and said, “Mr. Carpenter, that’s not true. I’m in charge of the cooperation with your company. Kate is just assisting and learning.”

Willie shook his head. “The person who convinced me was… Miss Kate Sutton.”

What Willie meant was that he would only sign with Kate. If it were someone else, he would not sign the contract.

Kyla added, “Mr. Carpenter, I know you like Kate very much. But she embarrassed you, not giving you what you want. So you just let it go?”

Willie replied, “Well, I, Willie, will not force…”

He shook off Kyla’s hand and leaned back in his chair. He said to Kyla, “Ms. Sutton… Stop talking.”

He waved his hand. “It was Miss Kate Sutton who convinced me. If Sutton Group wants to win my company’s order, it must be Miss Kate Sutton to sign the contract with me. Otherwise, don’t even think about it.”

Chapter 212

Kyla’s behavior reminded Willie of his own early days in the workplace. His achievements were stolen by senior colleagues, but when problems arose, they were blamed on him, a newcomer.

It hadn’t been easy for him to climb to where he was today.

Even though Kate had refused to play by his rules, Willie felt disappointed but impressed by her.

She had chosen to match him drink for drink, and when she finally won, he gave in, providing an opportunity for them to collaborate.

This success had to be credited to Kate.

Kyla’s face darkened.

She was about to say something, but just then, Kate pushed the door open and entered, followed by two male attendants.

“Here are the room keys. Please help me escort my client to his room for some rest. Thank you,” Kate instructed the attendants as they helped the inebriated Willie to the room she had just reserved.

Still uneasy, Kate followed them upstairs. Only when she saw Willie lying down in the room did she leave with the attendants?

When Kate returned to the private dining room, Kyla was already gone.

Kate frowned but said nothing, picking up her bag to settle the bill.

At the cashier, however, the waitress said, “Ms. Sutton, our general manager has covered your meal tonight.”

Kate blinked and thought, ‘The general manager? Is it Theo?’

Theo refused to accept her money.

This could easily lead to misunderstandings. After all, Kate’s identity as Mrs. Davidson hadn’t been revealed yet.

The look on the cashier’s face said it all. They were assuming something about her and Theo.

Kate still took out her bank card and handed it over. “Please thank your general manager for his kindness, but I insist on paying.”

The cashier, with a smile, didn’t accept the card. “Ms. Sutton, he has made his order, and we must follow them, so please don’t make things difficult for us.”

Just then, the phone rang.

After she answered the call, the cashier’s demeanor quickly changed. She took Kate’s card and let her settle the bill herself.

Kate realized the whole place was probably under surveillance, and Theo had been watching her the entire time.

“Thank you,” the cashier said, maintaining a professional smile as she returned the card.

As Kate left the hotel, Liam was already waiting for her.

The moment he saw Kate, he quickly got out of the car to greet her. “Mrs. Davidson.”

Kate nodded and walked toward the luxury car. “Liam, who asked you to come?”

She hadn’t informed Liam herself.

Liam opened the car door for her, watched her get in before he closed it, and got back into the driver’s seat. “It was Yael who asked me to come, Mrs. Davidson. Please sit tight, I’ll be driving you to Mr. Davidson now.”

Kate murmured in acknowledgment.

She had drunk too much. Though she wasn’t as intoxicated as Willie, her head was still a little fuzzy, and all she wanted was a good rest.

“To Mr. Davidson?” she asked, snapping back to reality. “Did Yael arrange this?”

Whatever Yael arranged came from Alfred.

“Yes,” Liam said.

Kate fell silent.

After a moment of contemplation, she called her father. When he answered, Kate apologized, “Dad, I won’t be returning to the office this afternoon. I had drunk a lot with Mr. Carpenter earlier. I’m not drunk, but I’m feeling a little dizzy, so I need to rest.”

Leland, concerned, said, “Take your time to rest. Come home and let your mother make you some soup to help sober up. Why did you drink so much? I’ve warned you before.”

“Mr. Carpenter said if I could drink him under the table, he’d sign the contract tomorrow. Dad, I did it, and we will seal the deal tomorrow. The orders of Walotronics will be ours.” “Good, like father, like daughter. I always knew you could land the Walotronics deal.” Leland encouraged, though he knew nothing was final until the contract was signed.

He had learned that the hard way with his own near-miss on a big deal recently.

After excusing herself, Kate leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes to rest.

Gradually, she fell asleep.

When Liam arrived at the Regency Group, he found her sound asleep and called Yael for instructions.

Upon hearing that Kate was asleep, Yael felt a bit stuck.

They didn’t know whether to wake her up or to carry her upstairs.

But they dared not to carry Kate upstairs.

Given Alfred’s dominant nature, they would be in trouble if they dared to touch Kate.

Kate was unaware of all this.

Having had too much to drink, she was sleeping soundly.

When she woke up, she found herself lying in a comfortable bed.

‘Where am I?’ Kate thought.

Kate sat up suddenly, ignoring her slight headache. She hurriedly put on her shoes and headed out.

Opening the door, she saw Alfred sitting behind a desk, focused on his work. Kate sighed in relief. She was in Alfred’s office lounge.

Turning around, she decided to head back to the lounge for more rest.

“Since you’re awake, come over and sit for a bit,” Alfred said, not even looking up, but somehow knowing she was there, Kate paused in her steps, then turned around, walking toward him with a playful smile. “Mr. Davidson, how did you know I was awake?”

“I’m not deaf,” Alfred said.

Kate sat down across from him, watching him work diligently. She couldn’t help but gush, “Mr. Davidson, you’re handsome no matter what you’re doing. It makes my heart race. I could drool over you.”

Alfred still didn’t look up, calmly replying, “There’s a box of tissues beside you.”

“Got it,” Kate said.

“When you start drooling, just wipe it off. Don’t get your clothes dirty,” Alfred said.

Kate was speechless.

“Mr. Davidson.”

“Yes?”

“I fell asleep in the car, right?”

Alfred didn’t reply, silently confirming it.

“Then how did I end up waking up in your lounge?” Kate asked.

Alfred replied flatly, “You sleepwalked your way up here.”

Kate was at a loss for words.

“Why didn’t I take advantage of you while I was sleepwalking?” Kate asked.

Alfred finally set his pen down, reached out, and pinched her cheek.

“Mrs. Davidson, mind your words. Don’t be so crude,” Alfred said.

Then he added, “But I’m fine with that.”

He liked her just the way she was.

Touching the cheek he had pinched, Kate grumbled, “Mr. Davidson, you have such a double standard.”

Alfred gave her a look as if to say, “You’re only realizing that now?”

He said, “There’s some sobering soup prepared for you in the pantry. It’s still hot. Go drink it.”

Kate asked, “You prepared it for me?”

“I had James bring it over.”

“Oh, well, thanks to James then.”

Kate stood up and leaned halfway across the desk, tugging on Alfred’s tie to pull him closer. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Mr. Davidson, I love you.”

He treated her so well.

Alfred looked at her hand pulling on his tie with a helpless yet indulgent gaze. “Is that all?”

Kate chuckled, and in the next moment, she kissed him on the lips.

Chapter 213

The hand gripping Alfred’s tie loosened, shifting to wrap around his neck instead.

Alfred’s hands rested on Kate’s waist. With a firm pull, he tugged her onto his lap, making her sit facing him.

Kate was startled by his bold move, instinctively releasing his lips.

But Alfred wasn’t satisfied with her sudden interruption. He quickly cupped the back of her head, pressing her lips back onto his.

She was usually the one to take the initiative, with Alfred only doing so when he was insanely jealous.

This time, Alfred was impatient and couldn’t wait to switch from passive to active.

Kate thought Alfred was getting better at this.

Once he took control, her mind went blank. She couldn’t think anymore, only following his lead, lost in the passion of their kiss.

After a long while, Alfred finally let her go, looking content. Kate gasped for air.

Seeing her in this state made Alfred even more pleased. It showed his kissing skills were improving, leaving her utterly intoxicated.

Alfred felt like he was mastering this kind of intimate and instinctive behavior quickly. Kate had teased him countless times, but she didn’t dare make bolder moves.

She used to mock him for being a “pure-hearted man,” even if she never said it out loud. Her expression always gave her away.

‘How much more experience could she possibly have?’ Alfred thought.

He had been holding back, wanting to save the best for last so as not to scare her.

Being teased by Kate every day was fun, and it also strengthened their bond as a couple.

After all, nothing brought people closer than physical intimacy.

“Mr. Davidson.” Kate rested her head on Alfred’s shoulder, still holding him affectionately by the neck.

“Hmm, does your head hurt?” Alfred gently stroked her back, asking with concern, “You drank a lot, didn’t you? You still smell like alcohol.”

Kate said softly, “Yeah, I had quite a bit. Luckily, Willie passed out first, or I wouldn’t have lasted. That was my limit. When I woke up, my head hurt a little, but it wasn’t too bad.”

After a pause, Kate called out to him, “Mr. Davidson.”

She pulled away slightly, looking up at him. Seeing how handsome he was, she couldn’t resist planting tiny kisses all over his face.

Alfred made a face of mock disgust. “You’re slobbering all over me.”

“Then slobber all over me too! I don’t mind,” Kate said. Alfred dotingly tapped her nose. “You’re so shameless.” “But you love me like this, don’t you? Of course, I have to keep it up, and even take it to the next level,” Kate said. Alfred chuckled. “What were you about to say?”

“I sealed the deal with Walotronics without revealing your identity. I did it all on my own. Willie said if I could outdrink him, he’d sign the contract, so I drank him under the table. I won!”

Alfred quietly watched her.

As Kate spoke, her face lit up with excitement and confidence. She was clearly happy.

She was sharing her joy with him.

Warmth spread through Alfred’s heart.

Since Kate entered his life, it had become so much more vibrant.

“Kate, congratulations,” Alfred said, congratulating Kate.”

You’ve landed your first deal.”

“It’s not signed yet,” she said. “I’m a bit worried Willie might back out when he sobers up. My dad was supposed to sign a contract with Mr. Horton today, but Mr. Horton backed out last minute. I’m nervous about it. Let’s wait until it’s signed tomorrow, and then we’ll celebrate.”

Her first contract was definitely worth celebrating. Alfred’s eyes gleamed as he said in a low voice, “It was Martin who snatched the deal from your father.”

“The Weaver Group? I figured it was them. Grace is so shameless. She couldn’t beat me, so she found a backer and took it out on my company.” Kate was indignant. Alfred gently pulled her head against his chest and said, There’s no such thing as fairness in this world.” After a pause, he added, “Don’t worry, Willie won’t back out.” Willie was a fairly trustworthy businessman.

If he dared to back out on Kate, Alfred wouldn’t hesitate to reveal her identity, ensuring Willie would be scared out of his mind.

Of course, Alfred wouldn’t expose their relationship unless absolutely necessary.

Only when she didn’t rely on the protection of being Alfred’s wife could Kate truly grow on her own.

Alfred understood Kate well and cared for her deeply, always supporting her.

After all, she was Alfred’s wife, and being in that position meant bearing more than most.

“Mr. Davidson, you didn’t secretly help us in this deal, did you?” Kate asked.

Alfred smiled. “No, disappointed?”

Kate said, “Not at all. I trust you. You’re like an eagle who can let go and watch the little bird in your hands learn to fly. Mr. Davidson, once I’m firmly established, let’s go to an orphanage and adopt two children, a boy and a girl. It’ll make our home livelier.

“If you’re worried we won’t be able to bond with them, we can adopt kids under two. That way, they won’t have many memories, and we can raise them well. I think you’d make a great father. Any kids you raise would turn out amazing.” Alfred said, “Why adopt someone else’s children?”

After all, they could have their own.

Kate thought he didn’t want to adopt because the children wouldn’t share his bloodline and could potentially turn against him. She understood. After all, Alfred was the head of the Davidson family.

Even without children, his name would still be tied to immense wealth.

Adopted children would have inheritance rights. In a family like the Davidson family, they would not allow outsiders to inherit Alfred’s substantial assets.

“Then, let’s not adopt. You have so many brothers. When they get married and have kids, they can pass one or two on to us. That way, it’s still your family’s bloodline,” Kate said.

That way, they wouldn’t let outsiders benefit.

The seniors of the Davidson family wouldn’t object to that.

Alfred stared at her for a long time.

Finally, with a hint of helplessness, he said, “Your idea is exactly what my grandmother and mother want. They’ve already told Theo and Lucas to have extra children once they get married, so they can pass one on to me. They don’t want me to die without anyone to carry the family line.”

Kate said, “They care about you. Even if they don’t like me, their love for you is genuine.”

Kate thought, ‘Good thing I didn’t really take Alfred to an orphanage to pick out children. Olivia would’ve torn me apart.’

“Kate, I won’t adopt, and I won’t accept a child from anyone else,” Alfred said seriously.

Recalling when he’d said that taking care of her was enough, Kate added, “Then let’s wait a few more years. We’re still young. We haven’t felt lonely yet.”

Chapter 214

Alfred pursed his lips but didn’t clarify his thoughts.

The truth was, he was too addicted to Kate’s spontaneous kisses and the way she constantly nestled into his arms.

If Kate knew he could eventually have children with her, she wouldn’t be this passionate anymore.

Alfred decided to wait until their relationship grew stronger, and until he could walk again, before ‘taking things to the next level’ and showing her through his actions that he only wanted to build a family with her.

“Alright, go take some hangover soup,” Alfred said as he gently lifted Kate from his lap and set her on the floor. “Are you hungry? There are also some snacks you like.”

“Okay.” Kate walked around the desk and said, “I really am hungry.”

At lunch, all Kate did was drink wine and nibble on some dishes.

When she entered the pantry, she saw the hangover soup and several of her favorite snacks that James had sent over.

Kate brought the snacks and soup to Alfred’s desk and began eating.

She drank the hangover soup herself, but every time she ate a piece of snack, she would feed one to Alfred.

“I’m not fond of sweets,” Alfred protested.

Kate’s eyes widened. “You don’t want to eat what I feed you?”

“I’ll eat it,” Alfred said.

Kate beamed with satisfaction. “That’s more like it.”

Kate picked up another piece of pastry, stretched out her hand, and fed it to Alfred. Only after she saw him eat it did she leisurely continue her own meal.

Once she was full, Kate leaned back in the chair and said, Mr. Davidson, where did you find your chef? Not only is the food delicious, the soups are great, and even the snacks are both tasty and beautiful. He’s wonderful.”

Marrying Alfred meant she wasn’t just gaining a great partner but also a life of delicious treats.

“This is your chef too, so don’t make that mistake again.” Alfred gently corrected her.

Kate playfully stuck out her tongue.

“How about you rest on the sofa for a bit? Once I finish these documents, I’ll take you out for dinner, and then drop you off at your class,” Alfred said.

“Okay.” Kate felt a little guilty, realizing she was interrupting Alfred’s work. Alfred’s time was precious, and wasting it meant wasting money.

“Mr. Davidson, can I have a pen and some paper? Sitting around doing nothing is boring, so I’ll draw,” Kate said.

Alfred handed her a pen and paper.

Afterward, the two of them got absorbed in their tasks, Alfred with his documents and Kate with her drawing.

Every now and then, Alfred would glance up at Kate. And every time their eyes met, Kate would reward him with a sweet smile.

Occasionally, senior executives would come in to consult with Alfred on work matters. When they saw Kate sitting there drawing, they were curious but refrained from asking questions.

Everyone at the Regency Group knew Kate’s identity after that day when Liam brought her in asleep, and Alfred himself came downstairs to carry her up.

That moment caused quite a stir. Every employee knew Kate’s identity.

Alfred, wheelchair-bound, had still gone downstairs to personally carry Kate up. Even Cynthia hadn’t received such treatment. Everyone was speculating about the nature of Alfred and Kate’s relationship.

That single nap of Kate’s had kept all the employees on edge for hours, with everyone dying for answers that never came.

Unconsciously, evening arrived.

Once Alfred finished his work, he stood up, gripping his desk for support as he slowly walked away. His wheelchair was nearby, but he didn’t use it. Instead, he chose to walk. After taking a few steps, his legs started to hurt. He endured the pain until he finally reached the sofa and sat down, sweat faintly appearing on his forehead.

Kate was so engrossed in her drawing that she didn’t even notice Alfred sitting next to her.

Alfred leaned in to take a peek and saw that she was drawing him, with his features already sketched out.

It was a great likeness.

No wonder their eyes kept meeting. Kate was drawing him and needed to look up frequently to capture his expression more accurately.

Alfred, being multitalented himself, appreciated her work. Cynthia often said that Alfred was the most accomplished of them all but simply didn’t show it.

In this way, Alfred and Kate were well-matched in both talent and temperament.

“What made you decide to draw me?” Alfred asked.

Startled by his voice, Kate’s hand slipped, ruining the drawing, and forcing her to erase part of it.

“When did you come over?” Kate asked.

“Did you walk here?” Kate asked, spotting his wheelchair a distance away. Surprised, she added, “You managed to walk this far? That’s amazing! Keep it up, and soon you’ll be walking just like anyone else. It’s a miracle!”

The doctors had said that with consistent physical therapy, Alfred’s legs would take a year or two to fully recover. Yet, after only a short time of therapy, he was already walking such a long distance.

To Kate, that was nothing short of miraculous.

Alfred smiled gently, placing his hands on either side of her face and lightly pinching her cheeks. “For you, I’ll work miracles.”

The doctor had given a conservative timeline, but Alfred’s recovery had been better than expected.

Though Alfred had refused therapy for a while, when he was alone in his room, he would still force himself to walk a few steps. Now that he was consistently doing therapy, his progress had accelerated.

Alfred regretted giving up on himself after the huge blow he suffered and refusing to go through rehabilitation. As a result, he was still confined to a wheelchair.

If he’d started rehab earlier, even if he couldn’t walk long distances now, at least he wouldn’t have to rely on the wheelchair for moving around inside the house.

Kate wanted to pinch his cheeks in return, but noticing her hands were a bit dirty, she stopped herself.

Kate asked, “Do you think I captured your likeness?”

She held up the drawing, showing it off proudly. “Once I finish, I’ll carve a miniature of you so I can carry you around with me.”

“You’d rather look at a drawing than the real thing?” Alfred asked.

Kate giggled. “You sound like you’re making excuses for me to keep staring at you.”

“Didn’t you say I’m handsome? You should take a good look, so you don’t get distracted by other men,” he said.

“No one out there can compare to you, not even Elijah,” Kate teased.

If Elijah didn’t mimic Alfred’s icy demeanor, his appearance would come across as feminine and sinister, which was definitely not Kate’s type. She only had eyes for Alfred. “Show me some appreciation, then,” Alfred said.

Without hesitation, Kate planted a big kiss on his face.

“I still owe you so many gifts,” she sighed. “I haven’t even had time to weave you that phoenix yet.”

“No rush, we have a lifetime ahead of us,” Alfred said.

Kate smiled. Yes, they had a lifetime.

Kate asked, “Are you done working?”

“Yes,” Alfred said.

Kate said, “Then let’s go eat. I can’t be late for my class tonight.”

With that, Kate excitedly began gathering her things.

Chapter 215

Alfred didn’t stop her but kept her drawing, saying, “Since it’s a portrait of me, this drawing is now mine.”

Kate said, “But I haven’t finished it yet.”

Alfred said, “I don’t mind.”

Kate shrugged. “Alright.” As long as he didn’t mind.

Kate brought the wheelchair over and helped Alfred sit down, then pushed him out of the office.

Usually, Alfred would head straight home after work, but since Kate was starting her classes today, he wanted to take her out for dinner first. So they headed to the Cheval Blanc hotel.

Unexpectedly, as the couple reached the hotel entrance, they ran into Leland again, who was having a rough day.

Twice in one day, deals that were supposed to be his were snatched away by the Weaver Group, leaving Leland understandably frustrated.

This time, it was the Cohen Group of Averlon backing out of their deal with the Sutton Group. Leland had invested so much time and effort into a project with the Cohen Group, so Lennon’s sudden decision to cancel the deal stung. As Lennon left the Cheval Blanc hotel, he still couldn’t accept it and chased after him. “Mr. Cohen.”

When Alfred and Kate saw Leland running after a well-dressed middle-aged man with a mix of urgency and desperation on his face, Kate’s heart broke. She felt sorry for her father, knowing how hard he worked for the company.

“Dad.”

“Dad.”

Alfred and Kate called out to Leland in unison.

Hearing it, Kate glanced at Alfred in surprise. He had never openly revealed their relationship in public.

“Mr. Davidson, Kate, you’re here for dinner?” Leland stopped his pursuit of Lennon and forced a smile.

The man Leland was chasing stopped in his tracks when he heard Leland mention Mr. Davidson. He turned to look at Alfred.

At first glance, seeing Alfred in a wheelchair, Lennon couldn’t help but think it was a shame such a handsome man had to rely on one.

Little did he know, this was the legendary Alfred of the Sherpsel business world.

Lennon, hailing from Averlon, had never met Alfred in person, but he had heard of his reputation. In Sherpsel’s business world, Alfred was a name everyone respected, or feared. To offend him was to risk losing everything.

Alfred asked calmly, “Dad, what’s going on?”

Before Leland could answer, Lennon quickly retraced his steps and, with a smile, said, “Mr. Sutton, I just remembered I had an urgent matter to attend to. But, on second thought, I’ve already handled it. Shall we go back inside and continue our discussion?”

Lennon’s change of attitude was swift, his face plastered with a smile.

Leland, being sharp, immediately understood the change was thanks to Alfred calling him ‘Dad.’

Leland said, “Mr. Davidson, I was discussing business with Lennon here. He had some pressing matters and was about to leave, so I was seeing him off.”

Turning to Lennon, Leland said, “Well, since there’s no rush anymore, let’s head back in, have a drink, and continue our negotiations.”

Lennon grinned, “Great.”

As they made their way back, Lennon asked Leland, “Mr. Sutton, are these two your daughter and son-in-law?”

Leland glanced at Alfred, who graciously extended his hand toward Lennon, politely introducing himself, “Nice to meet you. I’m Alfred Davidson, Mr. Sutton’s son-in-law.”

Lennon thought, ‘It really is Mr. Davidson.’

Lennon, visibly excited, was immensely relieved that he hadn’t stormed off earlier. Otherwise, he might have inadvertently offended Alfred.

He eagerly shook Alfred’s hand. “Mr. Davidson, it’s an honor to meet you.”

Shaking hands with Alfred felt like good fortune, and Lennon thought he might even avoid washing his right hand for a month, keeping the memory intact.

“Dad, Kate, and I will head off for dinner now. We won’t intrude on your business talks. I wish you both a successful negotiation,” Alfred said.

Leland and Lennon nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Kate gently pushed Alfred away, and they took the elevator up to the top floor, where Alfred had a private room at the hotel. Once inside, Kate thanked him.

Alfred said, “I’ve told you, there’s no need for such formalities. We’re husband and wife.”

Alfred pulled her close, saying in a doting tone, “Your business is my business. Keep being so formal with me, and I’ll have to punish you.”

Kate laughed and said, “You wouldn’t punish me. At most, you’d make me reflect on myself.”

Alfred stared at her lips, and Kate quickly caught on.

With a mischievous grin, she teased, “Then I should be extra polite, so you’ll have an excuse to punish me more often.”

Alfred was speechless.

Taking out his phone, Alfred called Oswald.

Kate, being considerate, moved away to give him privacy, but she still overheard Alfred instructing Oswald.

He said, “Oswald, make an official announcement on the company’s Twitter that Kate and I have been married for a month, and we’re currently selecting a date for the wedding. Also, let everyone know they’ll be invited to the ceremony.” The Regency Group owned an entertainment company under its umbrella, which had signed numerous popular celebrities. An official announcement on their Twitter, followed by retweets from those celebrities, would quickly push the news to the top of the trending topics. Anyone who used social media would soon know that Kate was Mrs. Davidson.

Hearing Alfred’s instructions, Kate turned to look at him in surprise. “Are we really going public?”

Alfred didn’t answer right away. Once Oswald confirmed the task, he hung up and looked at Kate with deep, loving eyes.

Alfred said, “We’re a month late in making the announcement. You don’t mind, do you?”

Kate wasn’t sure how to feel.

On the one hand, going public meant no more hiding. That was a good thing.

On the other hand, it also meant facing the inevitable schemes and scrutiny from others.

But Kate didn’t think she had ever been afraid of rivals.

Since she wasn’t scared, she shouldn’t fear Alfred’s announcement.

“I don’t mind. What’s your company’s Twitter handle? I have a social media account too, though I don’t have many

followers. Do you have an account too?” Kate said.

Alfred said, “I do, but Oswald usually handles it for me. Don’t worry, he’ll take care of everything.”

Alfred pulled Kate down onto his lap, wrapping one arm around her waist while holding his phone in the other.” Sweetheart, give me your best smile. Let’s take a selfie to send to Oswald for the announcement. I want everyone to know who my wife is.”

He wanted to make sure no one would dare mess with Kate again.

Kate smiled, but just as Alfred was about to take the photo, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. Alfred snapped the picture, capturing the affectionate moment.

Satisfied with the result, Alfred sent the photo to Oswald.

While putting his phone back in his pocket, he reminded

Kate, “You have class soon. It’s best to put your phone on silent. Even if people blow up your phone, it won’t disturb you.”

“Got it.” Kate beamed happily.

Just now, Alfred had called her “Sweetheart”. Hearing him say it was sweet.

Oswald was efficient. Before long, the Regency Group’s Twitter account posted an official announcement about Alfred’s marriage. Though they didn’t share the marriage certificate, they did post a photo of the couple, with Kate kissing Alfred on the cheek.

Everyone knew who Alfred was. No one dared touch him. without permission, and those who tried might lose their tongues.

The announcement was like a bomb, causing a sensation.

Chapter 216

The Regency Group had numerous subsidiary companies, all of which have their own Twitter accounts and follow the headquarters’ Twitter.

When Oswald made the announcement on behalf of Alfred about the marriage, the general managers of the various subsidiaries immediately called Oswald to verify the news. Once they received confirmation, they quickly retweeted the post about Alfred’s marriage.

Celebrities under the Regency Group’s entertainment company also began retweeting the announcement.

As Alfred had anticipated, the news quickly soared to the top of the trending topics.

While it was unclear how much of an impact it had in other cities or states, in Sherpsel, it shocked everyone.

Kate didn’t concern herself with it as for what was happening. After dinner, Alfred dropped her off at Sherpsel Etiquette School for her class.

She insisted that Alfred not wait for her and return home to do his rehab. Once her class was over, she would have Liam come to pick her up.

“I’ll come pick you up after my rehab,” Alfred said gently, adjusting her clothes. “Now go inside and study well. It will only benefit you.”

“I know, Mr. Davidson. I’ll head in now.” Kate quickly kissed his cheek before turning and walking into Sherpsel Etiquette School.

Alfred only left once she was out of sight, letting Yael wheel him back to the car.

After the announcement, Alfred’s phone remained quiet. No one dared to call him directly to ask about it. Instead, they all bombarded Oswald’s phone. Being Alfred’s chief

secretary and personal assistant, Oswald handled everything.

Kate’s phone, however, was on silent, with a flood of missed calls piling up.

People who couldn’t reach Kate turned to her mother, Celia, to confirm the news.

Sherpsel’s entertainment reporters acted fast, swarming the Sutton family. This startled the household staff, who quickly locked the gates to prevent the reporters from entering.

Celia received one call after another, only then realizing that Alfred had made the public announcement of his marriage to Kate.

Alfred sure liked to catch people off guard.

“Yes, it’s true. Kate and Mr. Davidson got married a month ago. The couple was too busy to announce it right away, but it’s never too late, right? Yes, they will have a wedding, and of course, you’ll be invited to the reception,” Celia repeated tirelessly.

Her mouth was getting sore from saying the same thing over and over.

“Ma’am, there are so many reporters outside. What should we do? They’re swarming the gate. I never knew Sherpsel had so many reporters,” a maid said after Celia ended yet another call from an old friend.

Celia rubbed her temples and asked, “Has Kate still not answered her phone?”

“We’ve called every ten minutes, but she hasn’t picked up,” the maid replied.

“And Mr. Davidson’s?” Celia inquired.

“We don’t know his direct contact. We tried calling the company, but it’s after hours, and we couldn’t get through,” the maid said.

They didn’t even know how to reach Oswald.

If it hadn’t been for Kate going to the Davidson family to refuse the marriage proposal, leading to a chain of events, none of them would have ever seen Alfred. They assumed they would never interact with him in their lifetime.

Naturally, they hadn’t bothered to ask for Alfred or Oswald’s phone numbers. Nor would they have been able to get them.

After some thought, Celia said, “Since the announcement was made on the Regency Group’s Twitter, it was clearly authorized by Mr. Davidson. There’s no reason to hide it.”

She stood up and instructed the staff, “Bring a few cases of water and follow me. Let’s give the reporters some water. It’s hot out there, and they’ve been waiting a while.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And have someone go buy some watermelons. We’ll treat the reporters to some to help them cool off,” Celia said.

“Understood.” The maids carried cases of bottled water and followed Celia outside.

Two drivers and other maids were stationed at the gate, keeping watch to make sure no reporters tried to scale the walls.

They were being overly cautious, though.

Even if the reporters were desperate for a scoop, none of them dared to invade the Sutton family. This was, after all, Alfred’s family as well.

The photo from the announcement made that very clear. Alfred’s expression of affection was unmistakable.

Kate kissed Alfred on the cheek with such intimacy and boldness. It was obvious that she was being spoiled by him.

Whatever people might think about Alfred’s condition, one thing was certain. The couple’s relationship was solid.

They would better not to provoke Kate.

“Open the gate,” Celia ordered.

Once the villa gates opened, Celia had the maids distribute water to the reporters, smiling as she said. “It’s hot out here, and I’m sorry you’ve had to wait so long. Please have some water. I’ve sent someone to buy watermelons. We’ll treat you to them soon to help you beat the heat.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Sutton,” the reporters responded in unison, grateful for her kindness.

“You’re welcome,” Celia said, smiling.

“Mrs. Sutton, is it true that Mr. Davidson and your daughter are married?” one reporter asked.

“When did they get their marriage certificate?”

“Why wasn’t it announced sooner?”

“Mrs. Sutton, wasn’t your daughter the one who personally turned down the Davidson family’s marriage proposal? What made her change her mind? Did she decide Mr. Davidson was better than Mr. Cohen?”

“Mrs. Sutton, how do you feel about Mr. Davidson? Doesn’t his physical condition concern you?”

The questions came at Celia like a barrage of bullets, each sharper than the last.

Celia maintained her smile and raised her hand to signal for silence.

Once the reporters quieted down, she said, “Yes, Mr.

Davidson and Kate got their marriage certificate a month ago.

“As for why they didn’t announce it right away, that was their decision. We respect their choices.”

“As for Kate’s past with Mr. Cohen, that’s her personal business, and I’m not in a position to comment on it. Regarding Mr. Davidson, my husband and I are very satisfied with him. His physical condition doesn’t matter as long as my daughter loves him. Our family is open-minded. We always respect our children’s decisions.”

While Celia was being swarmed by reporters, over at the Davidson residence, the atmosphere was tense. Olivia was in a fury.

Several ladies of the house had also received numerous calls for confirmation, which annoyed them to the point where they turned off their phones.

At the moment, in the grand and luxurious living room of the main house, Olivia was repeatedly slamming her hand on the coffee table, her face pale with anger.

“Alfred didn’t even give me a heads-up before announcing it on Twitter! It’s infuriating!” she fumed.

“It must have been Kate’s idea,” Lena said bitterly.

Cynthia, who was trying to calm Olivia down, interjected to defend Alfred, “Mom, there’s no way Kate had that much control. Without Alfred’s consent, nothing would have been announced. Don’t always blame Kate.”

“Cynthia, are you defending that country bumpkin?” Lena retorted, furious.

“Mom, Kate may have grown up in the countryside, but she’ s always been honest and straightforward. You’re the matriarch of the Davidson family, renowned for your grace and manners. Constantly calling her a country bumpkin not only insults Kate but also tarnishes your own image as a lady of high society.”

Lena was left speechless with anger.

曲

Chapter 217

Lena said, “What kind of charm has Kate cast on you two, making both of you so protective of her?”

Lena wanted to tap Cynthia on the forehead, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

After all, Cynthia was her precious daughter, born after she had three sons. Lena had never even shouted at Cynthia. Cynthia responded, “Mom, Kate didn’t cast any charm on me. I just know that ever since she came into Alfred’s life, his mood has improved, his appetite is better, and he’s even willing to do his rehab.”

Lena opened her mouth but found herself speechless. What Cynthia said was true.

“Alright,” Olivia interjected. “They’ve been married for a while now. Since the announcement is out, we might as well accept it.”

After all, the Regency Group was under Alfred’s control now.

“Lena,” Olivia continued, “invite Mrs. Sutton over tomorrow. Now that we’re in-laws, it’s only proper that we maintain good relations.”

After a pause, Olivia sighed, “And Lena, stop being so upset. As Cynthia said, although Kate grew up in the countryside, she has done nothing shameful. From now on, don’t call her a country bumpkin. It reflects poorly on you as well.”

Olivia added, “Think of it this way, at least Kate is the heiress of the Sutton family. If she were just a real country girl… Well, Alfred seems to like her, so we have to accept it.” Despite Olivia softening her tone, Lena was still displeased. Nonetheless, she dutifully responded, “Yes, mother. I understand.”

Behind the scenes, Lena knew she was probably laughed at. For Alfred to marry someone like Kate was a blow to her pride.

Although the five ladies of the Davidson family seemed harmonious on the surface, there were always hidden agendas.

Being the future matriarch, and with her three sons holding important positions within the family, not to mention Cynthia being the family’s only daughter, Lena had always held the highest status in the family.

But because of Alfred’s marriage to Kate, Lena felt as though she had lost her standing.

While Alfred and Kate’s marriage announcement caused discontent among the seniors of the Davidson family, reactions varied elsewhere.

Women who once admired Alfred were, of course, jealous and filled with resentment toward Kate. They looked down on Kate, assuming she married Alfred just to hold onto his power.

Everyone knew Alfred had a disability and couldn’t fulfill certain duties as a husband, but his power was undeniable. At home, Grace broke several items in a fit of rage, while Belinda accidentally ruined an unfinished gown she was working on, having to start over from scratch.

There were still countless rivals that Kate didn’t know about or couldn’t even name. She had no idea how to deal with them.

But one thing was certain. Overnight, Kate had become both the most prestigious lady in the city and the target of many women’s envy.

Even those who didn’t envy her couldn’t bring themselves to be happy for her.

Someone like Xena, for instance, felt sorry for Kate. But no matter how many times she tried calling, Kate didn’t pick up.

Elijah’s reaction, on the other hand, was much calmer.

The chance encounter at the hospital had already prepared him for this news.

In fact, he found the marriage announcement to be advantageous. Now, if he managed to steal Kate away, it would deal an even more devastating blow to Alfred, possibly breaking him for good.

As for how others reacted, Kate neither knew nor cared.

That evening, Kate finished her etiquette class early. Although Alfred hadn’t arrived yet, Liam was already waiting outside.

“Mrs. Davidson.” Liam greeted her, rushing to open the car door as soon as he saw her.

Kate instinctively glanced around, but when she didn’t see Alfred, a hint of disappointment crossed her face.

Noticing this, Liam quickly explained, “You finished the class earlier than expected, and Mr. Davidson wasn’t aware, so he hasn’t arrived yet.”

“No worries, we can head home ourselves. Mr. Davidson had a busy day. I didn’t want him to come pick me up anyway,” Kate said with a smile as she got into the car. She then pulled out her phone and saw numerous missed calls. Instead of checking them, she first called Alfred.

“Honey.” Kate sweetly greeted Alfred when he answered, her voice full of affection.

That soft, endearing tone immediately lifted Alfred’s spirits. His day had been trying, especially after being scolded by his mother, which had dampened his mood.

The marriage announcement had greatly upset Lena.

She had bluntly told Alfred that if he kept the marriage secret and waited until he recovered, he could quietly divorce Kate and marry someone more suitable.

Her suggestion had infuriated Alfred.

Had Lena not been his mother, Alfred might have ordered her to be thrown into a pit of wild dogs. It was the first major argument they’d had, and it had left both of them upset.

Cynthia and Austin had to rush over to pull Lena away before the situation escalated even further.

“Finished with class?” Alfred asked.

“Yes, I’m already in the car. You haven’t left yet, right? No need to come, just wait for me at home,” Kate said.

Alfred let out a soft hum of agreement. “Okay, I’ll wait for you at home.”

“Good boy,” Kate teased.

Alfred paused before responding, “Kate, I’m not a child.”

Kate giggled, “Of course, you’re not a child. If you were, I’d be a beast.”

Alfred couldn’t help but laugh, helpless in the face of her playful banter.

After letting Alfred know not to pick her up, Kate finally checked her missed calls.

She returned her parents’ and Xena’s calls. Her parents already knew about the situation, but she had to explain a bit more to Xena.

“Xena, don’t be mad. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. Do you have time this weekend? Let’s go to the Davidson family’s equestrian resort together, and I’ll tell you the full story about me and Mr. Davidson.”

Xena said, “Fine, I’ll let it go this time because it’s Mr. Davidson. I understand you had your reasons. But in the future, if there’s anything I can know, don’t keep it from me.”

Xena felt a bit hurt, thinking Kate hadn’t treated her like a true friend by hiding such a big event.

But considering that it was Alfred Kate had married, the very man whose name alone could make her legs tremble, Xena began to understand why Kate might have kept it secret.

Xena thought, ‘It should be Alfred’s intentions. Without his consent, who would dare to say that he was married?’

“Thank you, Xena. I appreciate your trust and concern. I promise I won’t keep things from you in the future if I can help it,” Kate assured her. “So, are you coming with me to the equestrian resort this weekend?”

“Are you kidding? An opportunity to ride horses at the equestrian resort? I’d be crazy to say no! And if you ever visit their private island, make sure to take me with you. I’ve always wanted to see it.”

The Davidson family had vast assets, and they had invested heavily in the tourism industry. But their private vacation spots were what drew the most interest.

Besides the equestrian resort, they owned a private island, as well as a summer retreat farm, known for its stunning natural beauty. The farm was self-sufficient, with crystal-clear streams, and all the homes were luxurious log cabins, blending in with the pristine wilderness.

曲

Chapter 218

Since the Davidson family’s private properties weren’t open to the public, only those who had a close relationship with the family got to visit.

“Okay, I’ll definitely take you with me,” Kate said.

Kate had been Mrs. Davidson for a month, yet she had no idea how many properties the Davidson family owned. All she knew was that the Davidson residence was like a maze. She still couldn’t navigate it alone.

But she wouldn’t want Alfred to overhear. Otherwise, he might give her a lecture.

Liam was focused on driving.

The Sherpsel etiquette school was a bit far from the Davidson residence, and as night deepened, traffic on the road dwindled.

Kate put her phone back in her bag, intending to lean back and rest her eyes, but then a car sped by, honking as it accelerated.

It quickly overtook Kate’s vehicle.

Instinctively, Kate glanced at the car and realized it was Kyla’s.

‘What was Kyla doing out so late?’ Kate thought.

Kate was puzzled. Seeing that Kyla’s car was speeding, she didn’t hesitate and instructed Liam, “Liam, follow the car that just passed us. Don’t get too close. Keep a moderate distance.”

“Got it.” Liam didn’t ask any questions.

He pressed the accelerator, trailing Kyla’s car.

Kyla, unaware that someone was following her, soon left the bustling city behind, heading toward a secluded area.

Kate’s curiosity only grew as she thought, ‘Who is Kyla rushing to meet?’

Before long, Kate got her answer.

Kyla’s car finally stopped in front of a small grove by the roadside.

Seeing Kyla stop, Kate quickly told Liam to pull over and not get any closer, to avoid being spotted by Kyla.

“Liam, stay in the car and wait for me. I’m going to take a look,” Kate said.

Kate took her phone from her bag, slipped it into her pocket, and opened the door to get out.

“Mrs. Davidson.” Liam wanted to follow, concerned for Kate’ s safety.

“Don’t worry, Liam, I can handle myself. Just wait here. Two of us moving together would be more noticeable,” Kate said.

In the dead of night, with Kyla not heading home but coming here, there had to be something suspicious going on.

The road leading to the outskirts was lined with lush trees, and Kate carefully moved along the ditch by the side of the road, using its depth for cover.

Fortunately, it was dark, and Kyla didn’t notice Kate following her.

“Kyla.”

As Kate closed the distance, she heard a familiar voice. It was Chris.

Then she saw Chris emerging from the grove.

Kyla’s eyes were fixed on Chris. Already lacking in caution, she completely let her guard down, smiling as she watched Chris walk out of the small grove. “Why were you hiding in there? I thought you hadn’t arrived yet. Where’s your car?” she asked.

“Parked nearby. I came to meet you. Of course, I’d be waiting here for you.”

Chris quickly jumped over the ditch, and Kyla helped him up.

Once they steadied themselves, Chris pushed Kyla against her car, leaning in to kiss her passionately.

Kyla tried to evade his kisses, anxiously asking, “Are we gasping for breath, Chris said, “Yes. I scouted the area a few times. This road leads to a reservoir. During the day, people like to go there to fish or swim, but at night, there’s not a soul in sight.”

At that moment, Kate understood everything.

They were meeting here for a secret affair.

Chris really was a scumbag.

Before Kate traveled through time, Chris must have dated Kyla secretly when he had married Kate.

Now, he was about to marry Melanie and still sneaking around with Kyla. Kyla just couldn’t break free from Chris’s grasp.

‘What would Melanie think if she found out about this affair?’ Kate thought.

Kate hadn’t asked Alfred how tough he’d been with the Cohen Group, but she knew their crisis was far from over. If Chris and Melanie’s engagement fell apart, the Cohen Group would be finished.

Without hesitation, Kate started recording a video on her phone, capturing Chris and Kyla’s scandalous rendezvous. Since Chris claimed it was safe and there wouldn’t be anyone in sight, Kyla relaxed.

She pulled Chris’s head down for another kiss.

Kate zoomed in on the video to make sure their actions were crystal clear.

As the scenes escalated, Kate felt her face flush at the sight.

She decided to stop filming.

Half a video was enough to ruin them both.

Quietly, Kate made her way back, and as she walked, she called the police, reporting a potential sexual assault in progress. She didn’t dare intervene but hoped the police would arrive quickly.

After making the report, Kate didn’t rush to leave. She wanted to witness the “rescue.”

It had been a month since Kate returned from her time-travel journey, and aside from snipping a few of Kyla’s precious plants, she hadn’t had a chance to deal with Kyla.

Tonight, fate had given her a perfect opportunity to get her revenge.

There was a police station nearby, and the officers arrived quickly.

“Right up ahead! Hurry, go save her! I’ll leave now to avoid being seen by the perpetrator,” Kate said to the officers, pointing ahead without waiting for questions before turning and running away.

The police car spotted a vehicle parked ahead, and indeed, it looked like two people were tangled up in it.

The police approached swiftly.

Kyla and Chris were in the heat of the moment when they suddenly spotted the police car, their hearts racing in panic. Kate didn’t stick around to find out what happened next. As soon as the police arrived, she hurried back to her car and told Liam to drive off quickly.

She wasn’t in a rush to send the video to Melanie. She planned to wait until Chris and Melanie’s wedding to play it there for maximum satisfaction.

Kate thought, ‘What a scummy man.’

Kyla had been a mistress and faced no consequences, but this time, she wouldn’t get off easy.

After exacting her revenge on the scummy couple, Kate felt a sense of satisfaction.

By the time she returned to the Davidson residence, it was late at night.

Alfred’s room still had lights on.

He was probably waiting for Kate to come home.

“Mrs. Davidson, you’re finally back! If you hadn’t shown up soon, Mr. Davidson would have sent someone out to look for you.” James greeted her as Kate got out of the car, chatting away.

“Didn’t you finish your classes ages ago? Why are you just now getting home?” James asked.

As Kate walked inside, she asked, “Is Mr. Davidson still awake?”

Chapter 219

“Mr. Davidson is waiting for you and has prepared a late-night snack in the kitchen,” James said.

“I ran into some issues on the way back and had to deal with them first,” Kate explained.

“Mrs. Davidson, if you can’t return on time next time, remember to call Mr. Davidson to let him know, so he doesn’t wait in vain,” James said.

Kate thought he could just call her himself, then remembered she had put her phone on silent and might have missed Alfred’s calls.

“James, I got it,” she replied.

Before stepping inside, she checked her phone and indeed found a few missed calls, all from Alfred.

“Mr. Davidson, Mrs. Davidson has returned,” James reported respectfully.

Alfred looked over, his expression icy. Kate felt a twinge of guilt and her legs went a bit weak, causing her to slow down.

James leaned in and whispered, “Mrs. Davidson, sweet-talk Mr. Davidson a bit. He had a quarrel with his mother tonight. If it’s nothing serious, let him get some sleep.”

With that, James unceremoniously turned and left, quickly left the hall.

Kate was speechless.

James just left like this.

He could at least have stood by her to face Alfred’s frosty demeanor.

“Don’t dawdle.” Alfred’s voice was cold.

Kate quickly hurried over, setting her bag down and sitting beside him. She affectionately wrapped her arm around his and sweetly said, “Honey, I’m back! Sorry to keep you waiting. How about a kiss to make up for it?”

As she spoke, she leaned in and pecked him on the cheek.

Alfred turned to her and asked, “Where did you go?”

“Just took care of a little business, nothing bad. Just exposing some hypocrites for their true colors,” Kate said. Kate didn’t hold back and showed Alfred the video she had recorded.

Kate said, “I happened to see Kyla’s car heading out of town and decided to follow. I didn’t expect that shameless woman, oh, I mean, that skank, to act like this. You always call me shameless, but she deserves the title more.

“Mr. Davidson, Kyla usually acts so refined and dignified, but that’s just a facade. Just look at her actions. Even I couldn’t sink that low.

“Chris is such a scumbag, juggling both sides. He’s about to marry Melanie but is still sneaking around with Kyla. Poor Melanie, he’s just using her, but I don’t feel sorry for her at all.”

Kate couldn’t muster any sympathy for Melanie given her attitude.

Kate said, “Let the villains deal with each other. I want to see whose side Chris really takes.”

This video would also cut off Kyla’s chances of using Dominick as a backup. It might even sever Grace’s ties with her.

Kate thought, ‘What a win-win situation.’

After watching the video, Alfred noted that it didn’t capture the most exciting parts, but it was still enough.

“What are you planning to do?” he asked.

Kate said, “After filming, I called the police to report a potential sexual assault on a lone woman late at night, urging them to rush over. By the time I returned, they had already arrived at the scene.”

Kate felt a bit regretful. “Now that I’m your wife, I should think about your reputation. Otherwise, I would’ve stayed to watch the police haul those two scumbags away.”

Alfred pinched her earlobe lightly. “Not bad.”

Alfred thought it smart that she filmed the video and called the cops.

Chris and Kyla would definitely be taken in for questioning. They might even inform their families to come pick them up.

If Leland found out, Kyla’s standing would take a hit too. Kate’s move tonight was certainly lethal for Chris and Kyla. If executed well, it could ruin their reputations, even leading to disownment.

The Cohen Group wasn’t just Chris’s. It was a family affair. Lennon wouldn’t jeopardize the entire family business to protect his son, and he might very well abandon Chris instead.

Kate said, “Chris will definitely keep this from the Moore family. His wedding is approaching, and on that day, I’ll play this video for all the guests. Don’t you think that’ll be something?”

Alfred nodded and said, “It would be quite the spectacle.” Kate smiled brightly. “Are you still mad at me?”

Alfred turned to her again, seeing her beaming smile with a hint of sweetness. He affectionately tapped her nose and said, “I’m not mad. I was just worried about you. I called several times and you didn’t answer.”

Kate said, “We made our announcement tonight, remember? You said it would be best to put our phones on silent to avoid interruptions, so I did. When you called, I didn’t see it.” She stuck out her tongue. “I was completely focused on those two scumbags and didn’t check my phone.”

Alred said, “Go wash your hands, face, and especially your eyes. Give them a good rinse.”

“Sure, I’ll wash up. That’s disgusting to see. I’m afraid I get sick,” Kate said.

“Are you scared?” Alfred asked.

“No,” Kate said.

“Then just leave it alone.”

Kate laughed. “Right.”

She leaned in to give Alfred another kiss on the cheek and said, “I’ll go wash my hands now. Can you call for a late-night snack? Let’s eat together.”

“I don’t want to gain weight since I don’t exercise much, so I won’t have a late-night snack. You eat, and I’ll keep you company,” Alfred said.

Alfred loved watching Kate eat. She had a great appetite.

Seeing her enjoy her food always made him hungry too. With her around, he could eat much more.

“Did you do your rehabilitation exercises tonight?” Kate asked.

Alfred said, “Yeah.”

“Then you’ve already exercised and burned some calories. Eating a late-night snack won’t hurt. You won’t gain weight.” Kate stood up, looking Alfred up and down. “You have an amazing figure.”

She even winked at him, suggesting she had seen his abs.

Alfred’s gaze deepened. “Once I can walk, you’ll see an even better figure.”

He wouldn’t let her down.

“Okay, I’m looking forward to it,” Kate said.

Even if she couldn’t have him just yet, a few touches would still whet her appetite.

Kate didn’t pry about Alfred’s conflict with his mother. And he didn’t bring it up either.

If he wanted to talk, he would. His silence meant he didn’t want her to ask.

*****

Leland stormed into the house, his face sullen.

Celia heard the noise and came downstairs, asking with concern, “Leland, where’s Kyla?”

Leland turned and shouted, “Get inside!”

Kyla entered with her hair down and head bowed.

Just as Kate had suspected, she and Chris were taken to the police station for questioning, and both families were notified to pick them up.

The moment Lennon saw Chris, he slapped him hard, instantly leaving Chris’s face red and swollen.

Leland didn’t lay a hand on Kyla, but he was clearly angry and disappointed.

Chapter 220

In the past, Chris was a good man in Leland’s eyes, yet he never approved of his daughter marrying him. When Kate was infatuated with Chris, Leland was furious.

After finally seeing Kate move on from Chris, he was dismayed to find his carefully raised foster daughter entangled with him instead.

Leland thought, ‘Is it true that Kyla and Chris have long harbored mutual feelings? Then why was Kyla helping Kate pursue Chris? Why was Kyla persuading them to accept the marriage between Kate and Chris?’

Leland wasn’t foolish. He was quite cunning. He could guess Kyla’s motives, but he found them hard to accept. “What’s going on? The police called your dad at night to pick you up!” Celia asked as she came down the stairs. Kyla flushed and struggled to find an answer.

“Leland?” Celia turned to her husband.

Leland sat down on the sofa, fuming. “Ask her what happened. Look at the good daughter we raised. I’m utterly ashamed.”

Leland then said to Kyla, “Kyla, even though you’re not our biological daughter, we’ve always treated you like one, nurturing you with care. I thought you’d always be a source of pride for me, and I thought your standards would be high.

“Mr. Weaver adores you. Can’t you see how exceptional he is? What does Chris have besides his looks that could possibly compare to Mr. Weaver?

“You claim you and Chris were in love all along. Why didn’t you tell us before? And why support Chris being with Kate?”

With each question, Leland grew angrier.

Leland said, “Kate can give up on Chris, but what about you? Just when he’s about to marry the heiress of the Moore family, you’re still hanging around him. Are you both broke? Can’t you even go to a hotel? Renting a room is better than being out here, looking like… What do you expect me to say about you, Kyla?”

Kyla was always cold in the office, making the single elites too intimidated to act.

Leland thought, ‘Those elites didn’t catch Kyla’s eye, but what about Mr. Weaver?’

Even without the Weaver family backing him, Dominick was better than Chris by virtue of his own abilities.

“What does any of this have to do with Chris?” Celia asked, utterly confused.

She turned to Kyla, who was red-faced, eyes glistening with unshed tears, looking very wrong.

Meanwhile, Leland was boiling over with anger.

Even before discovering their daughter had been swapped, the couple had treated Kyla like their real daughter. Leland had doted on Kyla, hoping she would become his successor.

Though aware that Kyla wasn’t their biological daughter, Celia admitted she favored Kate, but Leland still valued Kyla more.

He had never spoken to Kyla in such a way before.

“Kyla, tell your mother what happened,” Leland demanded, glaring at her. “She and Chris ran off to the countryside for an affair and got caught. Someone thought she was being attacked by a pervert, so it called the police.”

When she heard this, Celia’s face changed dramatically.

She stared at Kyla in disbelief, and after a long pause, she asked sternly, “Kyla, is that true?”

“Mom, I… I was set up by Chris,” Kyla cried. “He invited me to his villa for dinner and slipped something into my drink. I didn’t know and drank it, and then… We had sex.”

Leland shot up and slapped her, but Celia stopped him.

Leland said, “You were set up by Chris? Why didn’t you tell us? Why didn’t you report it? You did nothing wrong, yet you hung out with him. It meant you wanted to be with him. Don’t act like a victim now.

“At the police station, you even defended Chris, saying you were truly in love, and that too many people were interfering, forcing you apart before you could even make your relationship public.”

Leland pointed at Kyla, scolding, “Kyla, you’ve really disappointed me. If you and Chris are truly in love, you had plenty of chances to go public before Kate returned. Why didn’t you?

“Don’t shift the blame to others. While Kate was madly in love with Chris, you didn’t say you love him. I thought you were letting him go for Kate.

“If you’ve let him go, don’t cling to him anymore. Now you’ve thrown yourself away, but Chris can’t possibly marry you. Aren’t you being foolish? You’re infuriating me.”

Leland sank back onto the sofa, rubbing his chest.

He was genuinely upset.

Leland said, “Kyla, if this gets out, both you and Chris are finished. Chris is a man. He might just be labeled a playboy, but you’ll be called a mistress, ruining Chris and Melanie’s wedding. How will you ever stand in high society again? What decent family would want to marry you?”

Kyla’s face went pale as she dropped to her knees in front of Leland, grabbing onto his feet. “Dad, I was wrong. Please help me. I can’t and don’t want to be disgraced.”

Leland said, “Now you’re scared? How come you didn’t feel afraid when you did that?”

Leland, frustrated, added, “You’re ruining your future. While the Moore family may not be as strong as the Sutton family, they are connected with the Weaver family. If Melanie wants to protect Chris, she’ll shift all the blame onto you, saying you seduced him.

“Can you stand up against the combined forces of the Weaver family, Cohen family, and the Moore family? Don’t think Grace will help you just because you’re good friends. Even if she’s favored in the Weaver family, she doesn’t have a say in the business.

“Besides, your actions have hurt Mr. Weaver’s feelings.

Grace will be too angry to help you.’

Kyla hadn’t thought it through deeply.

She only considered the possibility of being labeled a mistress. She didn’t want that title.

Those elite ladies in high society despised mistresses above all.

Even though she and Chris had known and loved each other first, they had never made their relationship public, only appearing as business partners, putting her at a disadvantage.

Kyla felt a pang of regret for her decision tonight.

After they had an exhilarating encounter in the car that day, they had both felt it was exciting enough to lead to tonight’ s actions.

Chris had said that late at night, no one would go there.

Kyla thought, ‘Who called the cops? Would that person have taken pictures or videos of us?’

The more she thought, the paler Kyla became.

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