Ch. 1366..1370
Chapter 1366 Cliff answered swiftly, “I haven't managed to find anything about the benefactor yet. Even her neighbors and relatives don't know about the identity of this person. Only Shermaine herself knows.” ; She was the only person who knew?
That was certainly suspicious.
It did not make sense that her family was left in the dark as to the identity of the benefactor considering they were the direct beneficiaries as well.
Moreover, what reason would she have to keep her family out of the loop?
It must have been done deliberately.
Cliff asked, “Sir, should we bring her here and ask her directly?”
Odell shook his head. “She‘s very cautious , we can't let her know about this ongoing investigation.”
“Alright, | understand.” Cliff suddenly asked, “This is everything that | can find at the moment, do you have any other suggestions?*.
“Continue trying to find leads, we're not in any rush.” They had no choice but to play the long game since whoever was backing her hid their tracks very well.
“Alright.” Cliff left the office. Odell propped one elbow against the table with his chin pressed against it. He picked up a pen with his free hand and drew a circle on a crucial point in the document. It was eleven years ago when this mysterious benefactor first appeared.
Without this benefactor, she would never have had access to higher education and everything that happened after that, what with her saving Madam Carter and entering Carter Corporation would never have been possible.
The focal point was this mysterious benefactor. Could this mysterious individual be the one pulling the strings and guiding her every step of the way?
Ding!
Suddenly, his phone vibrated.
It was a notification from the group chat with Sylvia and the children.
It would appear that Aunt Tonya was added to the group as well.
Flint sent a voice message to the group using Aunt Tonya‘s phone, “Mom, what are you doing? | miss you so much!” Shortly after the message was sent came Isabel’s message, “Flint, don’t
“Flint, don’t you have anything better to do?”
Flint replied, “Sister, aren’t you in class now? Why are you on your phone?”
Isabel answered, “It’s lunch break.”
Flint: “Ohh, where’s Brother? Why isn’t he saying anything?”
Isabel: “He’s sleeping.”
Flint: “I miss Brother, can you take a picture of him sleeping?”
Isabel: “You sleep with him every night, haven’t you seen enough of him?”
Flint: “I want to see him! Please take a picture.”
Isabel: “No.”
Flint: “You're scared of getting in trouble with the teacher because you're playing with your phone in school aren’t you?” Isabel: “I'm not scared.”
Several seconds later, she followed it up with another message, “Hey, I’m not playing with my phone in class! If you keep spouting nonsense again, I'll kick your butt the moment | get back from school!”
Flint taunted her. “Oh, I’m so scared!”
Heh. Odell chuckled after he finished listening to the chain of messages. He put the phone away after.
That was when Sylvia suddenly sent a text message into the group chat, “Isabel, put down your phone and pay attention in class. Flint, please stop playing with Aunt Tonya‘s phone. Get Uncle Sebastian to take you out for a walk if you're bored but promise me to not wander away from him, understand?”
Flint answered, “Okay!”
His voice was full of affection.
Isabel suddenly replied, “Just you wait, you fatso!”
Flint cried for help, “Mommy, Sister wants to bully me again.”
Sylvia was struggling to hold back her laughter. She forced herself to reply in a tone as stern as possible,“ Isabel, if you keep playing with your phone in class, I'll confiscate your phone when | get back.”
Isabel seemed to take the warning seriously, “Okay, Mom. I'll turn off my phone now.” Flint was very obedient as well. “Okay Mommy, I'll give the phone back to Aunt Tonya.”
His voice was as adorable as ever. Sylvia replied, “Okay, be a good boy at home. Mommy should be back within the next two days.” Flint exclaimed happily, “Okay! I'll be a good boy and wait for Mommy to come back!”
Chapter 1367 Sylvia commended Flint, “Good boy.” With that, the conversation had come to an end.
Odell stared at the message Sylvia sent where she claimed she would be back in two days. He found himself grinning without realizing it.
Finally, she was coming back.
He no longer had to sleep by himself. However, there was the Shermaine issue... i
He considered for a moment and went to search for Sylvia's profile in her friend list and wrote a brief message to her that read, “Are you here? There's
something | want to talk to you about.”
As soon as he had sent the message, an error appeared on the screen that said, “Message unable to send. User only accepts messages from added accounts.”
It would appear that he was still on her blacklist. He heaved a long, tired sigh.
He certainly did not hold it against her. It was him that had made a mistake in misplacing his trust in Shermaine. He had gone and ignored Sylvia's feelings and even accused her of being insensitive to Shermaine'‘s perils.
He vowed to hijnself that he would explain things clearly after Sylvia came back The next day passed in the blink of an eye. As soon as the sky had seen the first glimpse of dusk, Odell returned home,
He marched straight into the living room. He chanced upon the scene of Madam Carter desperately tugging Aunt Tonya‘s clothes and mumbling incoherently, “Where‘s Odell, where is he? Tell him to come back quickly, he shouldn't stay outside by himself, it's too dangerous out there!”
Aunt Tonya was aware that this was Madam Carter's dementia acting up again. She was just about to try to console her when she noticed Odell approaching. She quickly gestured at Odell and exclaimed, “Look, Odell is back, look!”
Madam Carter turned to Odell with a confused look in her eyes. Odell quickly walked up to her, “Grandmother, here | am.”
Madam Carter took his hand affectionately and seemed very anxious. “Odell, | keep telling you to not wander off. Listen to me now, you have to stay close to me. Your
Odell added, “Sebastian, if my grandmother ever goes on a rant about my stepmother again, | want you to call me immediately.” Sebastian responded dutifully “Understood.” Flint turned his plump cheeks to Odell and asked curiously, “Daddy, do you have a stepmother?”
“Yes.” The boy seemed very eager to know more, “Was she a jerk?”
Odell grunted. “Hm.”
Flint went up to Odell, wrapped his arms around his leg, and vowed, “Daddy, when | grow up, I'll protect you.” Odell fell silent.
Liam and Isabel were speechless.
Aunt Tonya and Sebastian were stunned by this as well. Many have heard of children vowing to protect their mothers, but this was the first they had ever heard of
protecting a father. Did he think his father needed protection?
“Fatso Flint, Daddy doesn't even need your protection.” Isabel cocked an eyebrow and scolded Flint, “Besides, even if he needed protection, you wouldn't be his first choice.”
Flint sounded very concerned. “What if Daddy’s jerk stepmother comes back to hurt him?". Odell was rather dumbstruck by Flint's sentiment. He carried Flint into his arms and said, “Your father chased her out of the country already. She won't be coming back to hurt me.”
At the same time, he patted Isabel and Liam’s heads with his free hand in turn and told them, “Come on, let's go eat.”
Chapter 1368 Even though it sounded a little comedic coming from Flint, it was still rather magical to hear his son vowing to protect him.
Odell stepped into their room in the middle of the night.
He looked at the trio sleeping peacefully in bed. It was a loving picture.
These three were very unique in their own way. They were very bright and rarely caused trouble for him. All the credit went to his wife. It was either her or his good fortune that he ended up having such wonderful children. He gently ruffled their heads to not wake them and went back to his bedroom.
It was a tranquil night just like any other night.
He did not feel sleepy at all. A montage of what happened recently constantly played in his mind.
It was what happened ever since Sylvia left.
He was thinking about what he found about Shermaine.
It was eleven years ago when her mysterious benefactor appeared.
Eleven years...
Suddenly, something sparked in his eyes, and he suddenly realized something.
It was eleven years ago when Ruth‘s plan to usurp him along with the shareholder's help failed. That was when he kicked her out.
She eventually re-emerged after a long disappearance and signed a contract with him.
The terms were that if she wanted to preserve what little shares she and Thomas had inside the company, she was to get out of Westchester and never return regardl ess of circumstances.
Failing to meet these terms would effectively terminate all of the shares she and Thomas owned inside the Carter Corporation. After signing the contract, she left Westchester and went abroad.
She was the only one who would go to such lengths to devise such a devious and meticulous plan. His eyes gleamed sharply a mid the darkness. He sat up and picked up his phone to call Cliff.
The next day. Odell arrived at the company at the break of dawn. Cliff arrived around the same time as well. “Sir, these are the pictures our investigator sent to us from abroad.” Cliff handed Odell his phone.
Odell took the pictures and went through them. There were several pictures of a young girl on the display. The collection of pictur es seemed to be taken at varying times.
Odell went through them one by one.
Cliff informed, “These photos were taken over the last few summers. The investigator said that ever since roughly a decade ago, she began spending every summer vacation there.”
Odell frowned, there was ice in his eyes.
Who else could this be other than Shermaine?
So, Shermaine was working for her.
Cliff grew nervous when he observed Odell's expression.” Sir, what's next?” “What has she been doing over there lately?”
Cliff immediately caught on to who Odell was referring to. “When the investigator spoke to me, he told me that she suddenly became sick lately and had to spend se’
Owar's eyes clarkened, “Hlas she had a history of regularly visiting medical centers.”
this seems to be the first time something like this has happened,” Odeil narrowed the look in his eyes, “Make sure you have some Shermaine got a call from Ruth when she was about to leave work
After ensuring that there was nobody around her, she put the phone to her ear and asked with a practiced sinile,” Hey, is there an “I'm about to leave.”
“Go to the airport and pick me up after you get of work. The plane has just landed, I‘in in Westchester.
Chapter 1369 Shermaine was dumbstruck by the unannounced visit.” Why are you here?”
Ruth answered in an unserious voice, “Because | missed you and figured I'd come to see you.”
Shermaine grimaced and needed several seconds to collect her thoughts. “Wait for me at the airport, I'm coming right away.” With that, she hung up.
She was already done with her work for the day.
She swiftly grabbed her purse and trotted out.
Acolleague who was assigned near her desk swept a glance at her quickly departing figure and proceeded to pick up the phone to contact Cliff.
Half an hour later, Westchester International Airport. Shermaine got out of the car and walked as fast as she could to one of the arrival gates.
It did not take long before she identified a woman who stood out from the rest of the crowd. This was a middle aged woman in a hat and sunglasses. Though plainly dressed, she exuded a fine air of elegance.
She waved and greeted her with a pleasant smile, “Aunt: Ruth!”
Ruth looked at her and responded with a quick smile. She dragged the luggage behind her as she gracefully advanced toward Shermaine.
Shermaine stood still, making sure to maintain a warm and polite smile to welcome her benefactor.
Ruth was only several steps away from Shermaine when she suddenly screeched to a halt. The faint smile hanging on the corner of her lips quickly faded. Even with sunglasses masking her eyes, Shermaine could notice her quickly stiffening expression.
Shermaine asked in a worried tone, “Aunt Ruth, is everything okay?”
Ruth stood frozen.
Shermaine was beginning to worry when she heard a familiar voice from behind her. “Madam, it's been a while.” Shermaine spun around and was shocked to see Cliff only a couple of meters away from her.
Cliff was siniling slyly at Ruth.
Behind him stood a row of five bodyguards, all wearing identical black suits.
There was a black car seen parked in the distance.
The doors and windows were closed tightly but Shermaine could sense a hostile presence barricaded inside. She turned pale. “Assistant Cliff, you... Why are you here?
Cliff looked at her with a smile. “Miss Shermaine , thank you for leading her to us.”
Shermaine trembled involuntarily. “You... How did you know?”
She rapidly turned to Ruth and explained frantically,” Aunt Ruth, I've never said a word about my connection with you the entire time | was with them. | have no idea how they found out!”
Ruth took a deep breath and took off her glasses.
The aged wrinkles around her eyes did not reduce the sharpness in her looks whatsoever. She calmly asked Cliff, “Is Odell here too?”
Cliff stated, “Master Carter is in the car.” ILI Ruth scoffed. “I sure am honored to have him pick me up in person.”
Cliff smiled. “Master Carter is here to pick you up to meet the second master with him.”
Ruth‘s expression immediately stiffened. She seemed to cringe inwardly at this revelation. 12
“Master Carter has already informed the second master about your return. The second master has also expressed his desire to meet you.” After a pause, Cliff continued,” This is the last gesture of goodwill that Master Carter is willing to extend to you so that you could see your son for one last time before what happens next. It's your choice whether you want to go or not.”
Ruth scowled at Cliff before approaching him.
As she passed by Shermaine, Shermaine was still agitatedly trying to explain herself, “Aunt Ruth, | didn‘t say a word. | don't know why they're here!”
Ruth ruthlessly shoved her away and cast her an iron glare. “I've wasted my effort training an imbecile like you!”
She walked away.
Shortly after that, she stepped into another sedan parked behind the car coated in black.
Shermaine nearly tripped over when she was shoved away. She regained her balance and looked on with a baffled look in her eyes.
Cliff glanced at her with stark indifference. “Move to another city and find a job there. Effective from today, you're no longer an employee of Carter Corporation.”
courage from the depths other heart tone toward him
Sheer sovealed anything to them!
Chapter 1370 Cliff flung Shermaine‘s hands away from him.
He answered stoically, “We didn‘t suspect a thing until you began getting desperate and that provoked our suspicion.” Desperate?
Shermaine pried further. “Was it what | did to Master Carter in the basement parking that night that gave me away?” “That's right.”
Shermaine's face turned ashen.
So it was what happened that night that blew her cover.
However, she could recall how Odell was only briefly upset with her and forgave her the very next day when she apologized to him!
“| don't believe you, there must be more to it!” Shermaine squealed and shouted in Odell's direction,” Master Carter, could you please answer me?”
Cliff was deeply insulted by this gesture. He promptly stepped into the car and shut the door. He had already been gracious enough to answer her persistent questions. He did it out of recognition of the
rapport he built with her over the last two years. How dare she overstep her boundaries and expect a direct answer from Odell himself?!
LLLLL
She was a lying, scheining spy sent by Ruth to infiltrate the company and seduce Odell. This fact alone forfeited any remaining chance of her ever exchanging words with Odell.
Cliff thought that he must have been blind and a fool to believe that Shermaine was as good-natured as Sylvia. He could not believe he was the one who vouched for her to serve as Odell's secretary.
He also suddenly realized that the scandal that happened with Charles from the academy must be part of her ploy as well. She was the one who drove Sylvia to leave the house and the reason for Odell’s dark mood. The car began to pick up speed and drove away from the airport.
Cliff reflected on everything that happened with a tight frown. After a while, he turned around to address the man in the back seat in a low and sullen voice. “Sir, it was my fauit. | was a poor judge of her character and was partly responsible for what happened.”
Odell met his eyes. “I was deceived by her as well, it's not. your fault.” Cliff kept his head down and seemed very remorseful.
Although Odell had his moments when he was caught in a bad mood, he would not neglect the fact that Cliff had been loyally serving him for more than a decade. He recognized that Cliff was a competent individual and considered him as part of his inner circle.
He would not hold it against him for this one oversiglit.
“Sylvia will be back in two days,” he announced suddenly.
Cliffs eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
Cliff heaved a sigh of relief.
The car continued to speed along the highway. Shermaine was still distraught over the sudden development, she mumbled to herself incoherently, “I don't believe it... | don't believe it. Master Carter cares for me, he wouldn't suspect me for no reason ... It must be that old wench‘s sudden arrival in Westchester that triggered his suspicion...”
Both Odell‘s car and the car escorting Ruth stopped outside the prison.
Odell remained in his car.
Cliff got out of the car and escorted Ruth into the prison
along with several of his security detail. Ruth cast a glance at Odell's car as she fidgeted nervously and walked inside the prison. She had not seen her son for several years.
She wondered what poor, tortured state she would find him in... The door to the visitation room was flung open. A policeman took her inside.
The room was sparsely decorated with lights so bright that it almost made her nauseous. There was only a table and two chairs inside.
She saw Thomas seated on one of the chairs upon entering Though he was wearing a prison uniform, he looked completely different from what she had expected to see.
The prison uniform was clean and neat, his complexion seemed as fair as it had always been.