Ch. 1246..1250
Chapter 1246 Westchester.
Inside a particular private hospital in a very secluded area. The door to the operational ward was flung open, and a host of doctors and nurses marched into the room. Sylvia, who had been sitting next to the hospital bed and guarding Sherry, immediately rose from her seat to make way for the doctors.
Sherry, who had been lying on the bed for a long time, weakly sat up and put her hand out for the doctors.
The doctors swiftly and efficiently put on new bandages on her, injected her with a fresh dosage of medicine, and swapped her IV bag before leaving.
The ward was quiet again. Sherry leaned back against the head of the bed and gasped for breath.
Every cell in her body was pulsing from the pain. Sylvia looked at her affectionately and asked in a low voice , “Does it hurt? Do you want me to call the doctor again?”
Sherry smiled weakly. “It's fine. I'm Sherry Fowler. Something minor like this is nothing compared to everything else | have been through.”
Sylvia chuckled and played along. “Well, your wounds are very severe so this is only to be expected. You should get better in a day or two.”
“Yeah.” Sherry grunted, then turned to Sherry with a smile. “Sylvia, | owe you one. I'd have died out there if it wasn’t for you.” Something sparked in Sylvia's eyes. She did not answer.
She was slightly upset with Sherry. If not for Odell‘s timely arrangement and rescue, there was a chance that they would not be having this conversation at all by this point as Sherry would have been long gone. 2 It was especially infuriating considering Sherry had collaborated with Shannon of all people instead of directly contacting her for help. “Sylvia, why won't you talk to me?” Sherry poked at Sylvia playfully.
Sylvia shot her a look. “If you had got in touch with me and asked me to break you out, all of this would never have happened.” Sherry made a look. “I get it. If something comes up in the future, you'll be the first one | call. If | need anything at all, you'll be my first option.”
Sylvia decided to let the matter drop, especially when she considered the state Sherry was in.
She took a deep breath and said, “Odell called me just now. He said that the police in Glanchester found out that it was Shannon behind all of this, so they went to the Stockton family earlier today and took her to the station.”
Sherry‘s eyes gleamed icily upon hearing Shannon‘s name. She commended the police's work, “The Glanchester police are pretty good at their job.”
She had expected the matter to be dragged out for some time, and she thought it would come down to her having to directly accuse Shannon for the police to get started with the investigation at all.
It was a surprise to find out that they had caught Shannon in just one night. It would appear that there was no longer any need for her to head back there. The tension in her eyes dissipated upon hearing this. For once, she was at ease.
Sylvia looked at her and said softly, “Get some sleep, you barely slept last night.” “Okay.” Sherry made sure to thank Sylvia. “You should get some sleep too. You've been up all night watching over me.”
Sylvia smiled. “Hmm.”
There was a reclining chair next to the bed. After making sure that Sherry had fallen asleep, Sylvia went to lie down and fell asleep shortly after.
After only a short while after Sylvia slept, Sherry opened her eyes slowly.
She peered at Sylvia who was sleeping a short distance from her, tears slowly pooled in her eyes, and she became very emotional.
She thanked all her lucky stars that she had Sylvia.
Last night, she tried to sneak off by telling them that she had to go number two. It did not take long before they were on her tail. At first, only one of them caught up to her. He chased her until the edge of the cliff where the two of them fought briefly.
She was an amateur and was completely outmatched by the trained hitman and she received several cuts on her arm.
She did not want to be hacked to death and resorted to desperate measures so she threw herself off the cliff and hoped for the best
Fortunately, she landed on a thick branch only a several meters drop from the edge of the cliff.
It was very dark at the time. They must have thought she had pummeled into the river and died.
Chapter 1247 She lay on the branch for a while and figured she would try to get help come daytime.
To her surprise, after they had left, she heard yet another round of rustling footsteps. She heard someone approaching the edge of the cliff, quickly followed by someone shining a torchlight over the edge of the cliff, directly casting its blinding lights on her.
She was blinded by the light.
She thought they had come to finish her off. She was instantly seized by a wave of fear and completely paralyzed. A voice told her to throw herself into the raging currents below.
The men holding the torchlight suddenly cried out.
“Over here, Miss Sherry is over here!”
“Get a rope! We've got to help her!”
Sherry looked up at them and asked, “Who are you people?”
They answered, “We work for Master Carter.”
Upon being rescued, Sherry understood that it was Odell who had dispatched them to come to her rescue.
Odell and Sylvia ‘caught wind about the Stockton family throwing a party and were going to use the chance to break Sherry out. However, they were one step too late where someone else got to her instead.
Odell’s men had only just arrived outside the house when they saw several men bursting through the main entrance with Sherry and hopping into a car. They gave Sherry a phone so she could speak to Odell and Sylvia herself. After being reassured that they were on her side and were there to help her, she finally allowed them to take her to Westchester without any further protests.
Sherry noticed the same car that had broken her out of John’s house parked by the roadside. There was nobody inside the car.
She remembered one of those men saying something about it being a new car and expressing concern about her getting the car dirty. Why did they abandon the car?
It no longer mattered. The only thing that mattered now was that Shannon was arrested and she was finally free from John and away from Glanchester . Everything was over.
Her episode in Glanchester had finally come to an end. She no longer had anything to do with any of the Stockton family members. She held back tears, closed her eyes, and quickly sank
into sleep. Meanwhile, inside the forest in the mountains of Glanchester.
The day passed in the blink of an eye. The sun was about to set when one of the officers suddenly cried out, “Boss, we found something!"
Officer Emmanuel approached immediately. The man perched on the edge of the cliff was drawn over by the commotion as well..
He had been squatting over the cliff for a long time and his legs had gone numb without him even realizing it. He felt stiff and a terrible ache pulsed in his calf when he tried to get up.
While getting up, he happened to notice a thick branch protruding several meters out of the edge of the cliff. He seemed to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a red hue staining the sides of the branch. He frowned, then he turned and went to Officer Emmanuel.
Officer Emmanuel and several of his officers were squatting over a certain spot. It seemed they had found some clues. Officer Emmanuel suddenly ordered, “Seal off this area as well.”
“Got it, Boss.” Officer Emmanuel rose. John approached him and asked, “Did you find anything?”
Officer Emmanuel informed, “There were some footprints. It was left behind last night and it seemed like these footprints were different from the ones left behind by the tree men we caught last night.” John was alerted by this. “You're saying that there was someone else that came by here last night?” “Yes.” Officer Emmanuel considered for a moment before adding, “We've been searching the river for the entire day. If we still can’t find Miss Sherry‘s body, I'd suspect that someone else had taken her away.”
John stood stiffly and tried to process these latest developments. He suddenly recalled the branch that he had just spotted off the edge of the cliff.
Suddenly, a ray of hope returned to his dark and worrisome eyes, he quickly informed, “I saw a thick tree branch with what appeared to be bloodstains on it.”
Officer Emmanuel was intrigued by this. “Where’‘s the branch?”
Chapter 1248
Sherry had a nightmare.
She dreamed that she was being chased by someone. Then she fell off the cliff and dangled over a thick branch. Then, it was John who came to her rescue. Not Sylvia, not Odell.
He was wearing all white and his gold-framed glasses shone underneath the moonlight. He leaned over the edge of the cliff and smiled cunningly at her. “Sherry, you've got two options. Either | pull you up and you come with me, or you can plunge to your death.”
Underneath the thick shroud of darkness, his terrible glower seemed to shine like that of the devil’s. His smile was crooked and sinister.
She was filled with fear and hatred for the man. She had a feeling that he would torture her to death if she fell into his clutches again.
She looked at the river underneath and threw herself off the branch.
Atush of fear met her at the same ferocity as the raging currents underneath. Then, she shot up from her bed with a loud cry. Sylvia, who was sleeping on the reclining chair, was jolted
awake by her cry. She looked at her with alarm. “Sherry, is everything okay?”
Sherry looked at her with tears in her eyes. “I dreamed of that b*stard John.”
She was very emotional and there were beads of cold sweat trickling down her forehead. It was not hard to tell her that she had a nightmare.
Sylvia sat next to her and embraced her. “It's okay, it's just a nightmare. He doesn’t know you're alive, and even if he does, he won't be able to find you.”
Suddenly, the phone in Sylvia‘s pocket rang.
Sherry glanced at the phone.
Sylvia looked at the display and mentioned , “It's from Odell.” She put the phone to her ear.
She heard Odell's low and earthy voice from the other end of the phone. “John probably knows that Sherry is alive. He's coming to Westchester with his men right now.”
Sylvia frowned. “How did he find out so quickly?”
“The police must've found some vital clues in the forest. Make sure Sherry lies low in the hospital for now. John can’t find her as long as she doesn't leave the hospital.”
“Okay, | understand.”
She hung up the call and turned to Sherry. Sherry asked with a tight grimace, “Is he on the way here?”
“Yeah...” Sylvia relayed everything Odell had told her.
Sherry clutched the quilt tightly in her hands. “I see, I'm not going anywhere.”
“Alright, you can continue to recover from your injuries here without worry. The hospital staff will also keep you safe. If you need anything at all, Ben and Wanda are here to help you as well.”
Sylvia could not stay here much longer.
John must have suspected that she and Odell were involved in Sherry’s rescue. If he was coming to Westchester, he would visit them right away and it would garner suspicion if she was not at home.
She had to head home. Sherry nodded and let her go without protest.
Sylvia rose and was about to head out when she noticed the tight frown zipped across Sherry‘s brows. She still seemed shellshocked with fear.
It was probably a mixture of the shock from her nightmare combined with the trauma from being hunted down in the forest. She could not feel at ease leaving Sherry alone. She took her phone and went to the window to make a call.
Shortly after the call, she returned to the bed and stated with a bright smile, “Sherry, someone will come to keep you company real soon. Just call me if you need anything.”
She prepared a new phone for Sherry and lay it next to the pillow. Sherry seemed confused and asked with intrigue, “Who's coming here to keep me company?” Sylvia smiled and said, “You'll know.” Sherry smiled weakly. “Go on now, you need to go home.”
“Yeah.”
Sylvia left. The ward fell silent again.
Chapter 1249 Sherry leaned against the headboard and played some games on the phone to kill time. After roughly twenty minutes, she heard footsteps clacking down the corridor.
Shortly after that, Isabel appeared in a red sweater, lugging a suitcase behind her as she paddled into the room. She greeted Sherry with bright enthusiasm, “Aunt Sherry, here | am!”
Sherry was very surprised to see her.
She never expected Sylvia to send her darling daughter to keep her company.
After Isabel entered, she threw open her suitcase and revealed its contents. There was not a single piece of clothing or any kind of travel essentials. Instead, it was filled to the brim with all sorts of snacks as well as a tablet which she planned to watch shows with.
The mischievous girl took the tablet and grabbed another handful of snacks before plopping herself on the bed and crawling next to Sherry.
Sherry was struck speechless. Isabel was not done yet.
She carried a small tray on the bed where she laid out the snacks, then she dragged a trash can next to the bed. After that was done, she turned on the tablet, turned on a popular drama, and turned to Sherry. “Aunt Sherry, this show is pretty popular lately. Do you like it?*.
Sherry was dumbfounded, “Yeah, | like it.”
Isabel asked like a generous host, “Do you like these snacks? If you don't like them, I'll ask Uncle Ben to buy something else.” Sherry chuckled happily. “It's fine, I'm not a picky eater, | do like them.”
Isabel smiled tenderly, her eyes curved like a pair of crescent moons. “Then it's time to binge this show!”
“Sure.”
co
The ward that was once quiet and stuffy was now filled with the sounds emitted from the tablet as well as the constant crunching noises made by Isabel eating snacks Sherry could feel her nerves slowly unwinding. She lifted her uninjured hand and opened a pack of snacks, then cast off all the worries in her mind, and turned her attention to the show.
It was the weekend, Odell was at home all day.
15372737
Sylvia had just come back from the hospital. She walked into the living room and saw Odell sitting on the couch with Flint. Liam was seated on the other side of the couch with a book in hand.
Upon her return, the pair of father and son turned to look at her.
“Mom...” Flint put his hands out and asked for a hug.
Sylvia smiled and swiftly took Flint into her arms.
Sebastian suddenly trotted into the living room with an urgent message for them. “Master, Madam, it's Master Stockton. He's waiting outside and says that he's here to pay you two a visit.”
Sylvia made a look and remarked with a sneer, “That was fast.” Odell got up and gently patted Sylvia on the head. Then he turned to Sebastian. “Is he alone?”
“Yes, his driver is inside the car.”
“Alright, let him in.”
Sebastian went to the entrance.
Sylvia frowned, then she put Flint back into Odell‘s arms. Odell looked at her. “What's your plan?”
“Just look after Flint, I'll deal with him.” Sylvia rolled up her sleeves as she spoke as if a combatant preparing for battle. She wore a serious and determined look on her face that gave Flint a small fright. The boy then sought after his father for comfort.
Odell narrowed the look in his eyes and observed his wife with a proud and affectionate smile.
Liam, who was on the couch the entire time, noticed as well. He set the book down and walked to Odell. Sylvia went outside and prepared to confront John.
As soon as she stepped out of the living room, she saw a tall and slender figure headed toward her.
John was wearing a gray coat with a pair of dark trousers. His signature gold—-rimmed glasses glared underneath the light. He flashed a coy and gentlemanly smile, the same smile that he always wore.
Sylvia asked without friendliness, “Master Stockton, what are you doing here instead of Glanchester where you belong?
Chapter 1250 John maintained a pleasant smile. “I came to pay you and Master Carter a visit. | figured I'll pick up Sherry as well since I'm already here.”
Sylvia frowned and expressed with a voice filled with confusion, “Pick up Sherry? Haven't you kept her locked up in your house this entire time?”
John feigned surprise. “She escaped last night, haven't you heard?” Sylvia hissed sharply. “You took away her phone. How am | supposed to know?!”
John smiled. “How could you know that | took away her phone if you haven't met her at all?”
Sylvia did a double take then explained, “I talk to her now and then but recently it's nothing but radio silence so | figured that it must be you who took her phone away. How is she supposed to escape on her own?!”
“That's right, | took her phone away. Still, she managed to sneak away during a dinner party hosted at my house without me noticing until after the fact,” John stated with a skeptical look at Sherry.
Sylvia promptly asked, “Where did she run off to?”
John smiled. “That's what | came to ask you and Master
Carter.”
Sylvia responded hostile, “You're accusing me and Odell of taking her away?”
“That's not what | meant. See, she ran into some trouble while she was making her escape and the police found that she was taken away by another party. They went through some footage from the cameras installed by the roadside and found that she was abducted in a car which car plate suggested that it was manufactured in Westchester.” Upon arriving at this mention, John peered intently at Sylvia. “Which is why | came to ask you and Master Carter if you two happen to know anything about her whereabouts?”
“We don't know!” Sylvia shouted irritably. John backed away, then asked coyly, “I was only asking. Have | said something to make you upset, Mrs. Carter?” Sylvia felt a lump caught in her throat.
She suddenly understood why Sherry never had anything good to say about John. He had woven intricate traps in every word he said. She regained her composure and confronted John.“ Master Stockton, quit these games of yours. | don‘t know where Sherry is. Also, we don't welcome you here. Please leave immediately!”
John smiled snakily. “Mrs. Carter, I'm beginning to feel
like there's a bit of a misunderstanding. Do you mind if | have a word with Master Carter?”
Sylvia crossed her arms across her chest, “He‘s taking care of the kids and doesn't have time for you.” “Heh... Master Carter sure is a dutiful father.”
Sylvia ignored this statement.
John stole a peek into the living room behind Sylvia and asked, “It's been a long time since | saw him and the kids. How much have they grown up since | last saw them?”
Sylvia continued to ignore him and looked somewhere else to avoid his gaze, clearly expressing her disdain for him.
John did not seem offended by this gesture in the slightest . It seemed like he was completely oblivious to these social cues and gestures. He pressed onward. “Are Liam and Isabel in primary school by now? How about Flint? Is he a year old yet?” Sylvia did not expect such patience from the wealthiest man of Glanchester , for him to spend time in idle talks, discussing her children. She asked without a shred of friendliness, “What are you asking all these pointless questions for?” John smiled. “I‘d like to go inside.”
Sylvia did not utter a word.
She grimaced before fixing a stoic expression on her face and responded crossly without any fear of offending her guest, “Master Stockton, why don't you head back to where you came from? If you don't leave , I'll have you kicked out of here!”
Now that she had put it so bluntly, she doubted that John would have any patience left in him to stomach such ill treatment to a guest.
As expected, his expression transformed instantaneously.
His smile was completely wiped off as he darted one last look at the living room. After that, he reluctantly took his leave. Sylvia heaved a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, a cold gust of wind swept into the house. John suddenly began to stumble like he was intoxicated.
Thump.
It all happened in an instant. He tumbled forward and fell, then he stayed on the ground motionlessly like a plank. Sylvia was dumbfounded by this.
Meanwhile, Odell, who had been staying silent all this time and observing from the living room, looked on quietly.
Liam, who was next to him, did not speak either.
Flint pointed and mumbled, “Fall... Fallll...”
Everyone else looked on quietly.