Ch. 1481..1485
Chapter 1481
Chapter 1481 Peter muttered dully, “...Alright.” He got out of the car.
Caprice tried to turn around for a quick look, but John immediately palmed the back of her head and prevented her from doing so.
Meanwhile, his eyes were intently fixed on what lay in front of the car.
As soon as Peter got out of the car, Sherry stared pointedly in his direction.
Peter smiled politely at her, then he walked past her, and went straight for the guard booth nearby. Sherry observed his actions with a puzzled look on her face.
Shortly after, he showed up again, this time with two security guards marching alongside.
The two security guards looked at her with stark hostility.
Oh no! Sherry thought.
Before they could get their hands on her, she quickly shuffled to the side and charged directly at Peter and apprehended him, holding him by his wrist.
As if placed under a spell, Peter found himself held in place and unable to move. Both of the guards were dumbstruck by this sudden aggression.
One of them threatened her, his voice a tremendous roar. “Let go of Assistant Peter's hand immediately, or else you'll get it from us!”
Not only did Sherry not heed their warning, but she even tightened her grip.
Peter was afraid to move so much as a muscle.
Inside the car, the man who saw the scene transpired
before his very eyes were taken with shock, and a dark look surfaced on his face. How dare she wrap herself around Peter in such a manner?!
Meanwhile, the two security guards took one step closer toward her.
Sherry pulled Peter closer to her. There was a small
distance between the two of them previously but now they were touching skin to skin. This was her way of saying that they should approach at their own risk, nobody knew what she would do next. Bang!
John set Caprice aside and kicked the door open.
“Keep an eye on her, make sure she stays in the car,” he commanded sternly.
The agitated driver answered, “Yes, sir.”
John did not waste a single moment longer and quickly stepped out of the car.
As soon as he showed up, the two security guards who
were preparing to approach Sherry quickly came to a stop.
In the middle of all this was Peter who found himself in a
hostage situation out of nowhere. He did not move at all and cast a helpless look at John and whimpered, “Master Stockton...”
John turned to Sherry.
While still holding on tightly to Peter’s arm, she raised
her voice and stated her terms, “I want to see Caprice. If you’re not going to let me see her, don’t even think about going in there!”
Something darkened in John’s eyes. “Sherry, you’d better let go of him right now.”
Sherry refused. “Only if you let me see Caprice.”
John smirked. “Alright, I’ll let you see her.”
Sherry was baffled by how quickly he gave in, then she asked, “Where is she? | want to see her right now.* “Caprice is in the car right now.”
She looked at the car behind John.
It was pitch black inside, there was no way she could make out if there was even anyone inside at all.
She seemed tempted to head over right now. She gestured at the security guards and addressed John, “Tell them to get out of my way.”
John shot a look at them and ordered, “Both of you, stand down.”
The two of them exchanged a look, then they obeyed the orders given and quickly retreated from the scene. With that, the only ones left in the open field were Sherry, Peter, and John.
Now that the direct threat was eliminated, Sherry promptly let go of Peter’s hand and set him free.
Despite that, she was wary of John going back on his word. She bolted toward him like a flash of lightning and seized him by his arm before he could even react.
Peter sighed from a distance upon witnessing this. John looked calmly at Sherry’s arms clasped tightly around his, the dark and wrathful look on his face was suddenly wiped away. Still, there was an intent look in his eyes when he turned to meet Sherry’s gaze. “Sherry, you're a stubborn one, aren’t you?”
Sherry had had enough of his taunts and said sharply, ” Enough, stop wasting my time! You promised to let me see Caprice, now open the door and let me see her!”
Chapter 1482
Chapter 1482 John sniggered at Sherry's anticipation. “I lied, she’s not in the car.” Sherry was furious. “You prick!”
An idea suddenly came to her as she smirked confidently and said, “You better take me to her right now, or else you're going to be stuck with me here all night. Don’t even think about going anywhere else!”
She clasped her arms tighter around John’s after saying this.
Her cheeks were rather pale due to the cold as she leaned in closer into John’s arm.
She wore a defiant and adamant look.
John appeared to have given in slightly. He turned in the direction of the car and ordered, “Open the rear window.” The driver obliged and immediately lowered the rear window.
Sherry was confused by this, what was he planning?
“Mommy!” Suddenly, she heard a sweet and tender voice
coming from within the car.
Her eye’s immediately grew wide, and she turned to the car expectantly.
Just as she thought, it was Caprice! She stuck her head out of the window and revealed herself. She pried her hands out the window and was smiling radiantly at her mother.
“Caprice!” Sherry practically glowed up upon seeing her daughter. She immediately let go of John’s arm and tried’ to run toward the car.
She had barely taken a step forward when she felt a long arm wrapped around her neck and pulling her back. She was pulled into John’s arm and immediately subdued.
She tried as hard as she could to pry herself free but her efforts were in vain.
She glared at him and howled, “Let me go!”
“| said you could see Caprice, but | don’t remember agreeing to let you touch her,” he said with a cocky smile and then took caution to lower his voice, “I'll break your neck if you keep struggling.”
Sherry heeded the warning and promptly stopped trying to break free.
She stared at Caprice with a fervent look in her eyes.
Caprice seemed very emotional as well. “Mommy, why did it take you so long to come for me? Where have you been?” Sherry felt a lump grow in her throat. “I tried to find you but-”
She felt a strong force tug against her throat.
She choked on her words and nearly passed out.
She wanted to cuss out John right then and there but managed to hold back. She then changed her tone and tried to explain, “Mom tried to find you, but a lot of things happened these past few days and I just couldn’t make time.”
Caprice was slightly saddened and made it show. “Okay.” Meanwhile, John cast a look at Peter.
Peter caught the look in his eyes and immediately understood what was needed of him. He quickly snuck his way toward the other side of the car.
Sherry barely noticed Peter scurrying away as her attention was fixed solely on Caprice. She was dazzled by how adorable Caprice looked and
asked, “Caprice, do you miss mommy?”
Caprice opened her mouth and seemed like she was going
to answer ‘Yes‘ when she suddenly disappeared,
swallowed inside the darkness of the car.
Her little hands were pulled inside the car as well.
Immediately afterward, the windows were closed.
Sherry cried out, “Caprice!”
She tried to run to rescue Caprice but forgot about the man who was holding her in place, and she could not get away. She howled angrily, “You b*stard! What’s the meaning of this?”
John ignored her and turned to the driver. “Take Caprice home.”
The car began to accelerate immediately after he gave the order.
Sherry was bound inside John’s arms and could only watch helplessly as the car drove away with her daughter inside. Heh. John chuckled smugly at her expense.
Sherry stopped struggling and glared at him icily.
John wore a self-satisfied smirk. The gold—rimmed glasses he wore did very little in concealing the satisfaction in his eyes at what he had done.
He was as wicked as they come. Sherry was exasperated by how cruel he was to her and voiced her grief, “Why are you doing this?” John feigned ignorance. “Doing what?”
“Why won’t you let me see Caprice?” Sherry simply could not understand. “When have | ever crossed you?”
Chapter 1483
He had Caprice sleep over at her place very recently. What had changed since? John smiled. “No, you haven't crossed me recently.”
This only made Sherry more upset. “Then why don’t you let me see Caprice?” She suddenly felt a sharp tingle in her nose and an urge to cry seized her out of nowhere, and she wanted to attribute it to the freezing air.
She glared at John vehemently as if looks could kill.
The look in John’s eyes gradually softened, and he released Sherry.
“Sherry was not expecting this and nearly lost her balance.
After several drunken steps, she regained her footing.
She stepped away from John and cast an apprehensive look at him.
John tucked his hands in his coat pockets, stood tall and straight, not one to bow in front of anyone. He resembled an English gentleman in his getup.
He regarded Sherry with a distant look. “No specific reason, | just decided that | won’t let you see her again.”
Sherry protested. “I’m her mother, why can’t | see her?!”
“Because you abandoned her after giving birth to her.” He looked at her apprehensively, his tone sharp like a dagger. Sherry exhaled exasperatedly. “You know exactly why | had to leave her, stop screwing with me!”
John sneered. “That’s no excuse for you to abandon your daughter for more than two years.”
Sherry zipped her lips.
She did feel like she was in the wrong here as she should not have made the rash decision to leave Caprice behind.
Also, this was not the time to bring up long-past affairs that no longer made a difference as it would only serve to ‘enrage the man further.
Cold surges of wind blew from every direction. Sherry remained silent for a while before finally
speaking, “I was wrong, it was my fault. | promise you that I'll never leave Caprice again from here on so... could you please find it in your heart to let me see her again?”
She said this in a sincere voice and turned up to meet John’s gaze.
ie
The beads of tears swelling in her eyes reflected the luster of the streetlamp above.
It was heart-wrenching to see her in this state.
After a brief silence, John asked, “And how will | know that you'll keep your word?”
Sherry seized the chance. “I'll swear a vow with a letter so you have it in writing. I'll fulfill my responsibility as a mother.”
“A letter is just a piece of paper at the end of the day. What's stopping you from getting up and vanishing one day? Am | supposed to summon you back with a measly piece of paper?”
“| won't run off!”
He scoffed. “Sherry, am | supposed to just take your word for it?” Sherry frowned. “Then how else do you expect me to
prove my sincerity?”
John grinned and fixed a hungry look at her. “There’s only one way | can be convinced of your dedication toward your parental responsibility.”
“How?” Sherry asked agitatedly.
John revealed what he had on his mind all along. “A marriage certificate.”
Sherry was struck speechless.
A marriage certificate?!
Cc
Would that not mean that she would be bound to him for the rest of her life?
She was bewildered and indignant about what that would imply.
John’s eyes darkened. “If you’re not going to commit to that, then leave. Don’t even think about seeing Caprice again.” With that, he turned around and walked away without any hesitation.
Sherry was alarmed by this. She quickly rushed in front of him and cut off his path.
She pleaded with a hint of desperation in his voice, “Come on, what’s the rush? We have time to talk this through.” John glanced at her indifferently. “There’s no talking this through. It’s either the marriage certificate or it’s
nothing.”
Sherry frowned.
John noted her reluctance and declared dispassionately, Don’t look too much into it. | have zero interest in you whatsoever. | wouldn’t marry a woman like you if it
wasn’t for Caprice.”
Sherry felt insulted by this and said out of spite, “You're saying this as if | want to marry you.”
John responded harshly, “What did you say?”
Sherry quickly corrected herself. “Yeah, you’re right, a woman like me isn’t worthy of someone like you.”
John squinted at her suspiciously and said, “I was the one who raised Caprice. | kept her by my side and watched her grow up, | will not allow any harm to fall upon her. Even if you’re her mother, you cannot fulfill your duties as a mother in the eyes of the law as you are now.”
Chapter 1484
Chapter 1484 Sherry frowned at this remark.
Caprice was her treasure. There was not a day in these past two years where she had not thought about her. She would give away everything just to be with her daughter.
How was it fair to question her dedication toward her daring daughter? She knew that he would never believe her so there was no point in voicing these thoughts.
She swallowed her spite and asked in a serious voice, “Is getting a marriage certificate the only way? Are there no other options?”
John looked at her coldly and announced, “No.”
Sherry peered into his eyes. “Marriage isn’t a trivial matter. Don’t you want to discuss it with your mother and other members of your family, and see if they have any thoughts on the matter?”
He answered swiftly as if he had a reply ready all along, It’s just a legal formality, we’re doing this for Caprice. There will not be a wedding nor a need to ask for their blessing.
Sherry felt a throb in her heart.
His intention to get engaged secretly suggested that he did not want any outsiders to know about their arrangement. As far as the public was concerned, Master Stockton was still a bachelor.
They only needed the marriage certificate, nothing more than a formality so Caprice would have a proper family. They would continue living as they always had and seek to coexist peacefully.
That was fine with her, so long as he would not keep her imprisoned as he did in the past. Besides, this meant she, would have more opportunities to see Caprice and could bond with her.
Once she had achieved a certain degree of trust with Caprice, she could take Caprice away when he least expected it.
She was not planning to get married in the future anyway so the marriage certificate was just a useless scrap of paper as far as she was concermed.
Countless thoughts seemed to flash past her eyes until eventually, she turned to him with a resolute look in her eyes. “Alright, as you wish, a marriage certificate. When are we going to get this done?”
John nudged his glasses so Sherry would not notice the jubilant look in his eyes as he got what he wanted. When he was finished adjusting his glasses, he returned
to his usual standoffish self.
He decided. “I have time tomorrow morning. Wait for me at the company at nine in the morning.”
Sherry agreed. “Alright.”
With that, she shuffled to the side to make way for him.
John swiped a glance at her, then he strode off, disappearing behind the gates of the villa.
Meanwhile, Sherry went the other way and headed toward the main road.
The next morning.
At eight-thirty, Sherry had already arrived at the lobby of the Stockton Tower. She made sure to bring her documents with her.
After about twenty minutes, John showed up in a silver
car.
She hurried toward his car.
Instead of getting out of the car, he only lowered the window and regarded her guardedly. “Have you brought all your documents?”
She patted the bags and assured him. “I have them right here.” That was when she heard an endearing voice come from inside the car. “Mommy!”
It was Caprice’s voice.
She craned her neck and tried to steal a look at Caprice.
The car window was pulled up immediately so she could not even catch a glimpse of Caprice.
Moments before the windows closed, she heard John’s voice ordering her sternly, “Go to the car back there.”
Sherry frowned and looked behind the car.
Parked behind it was another black car. Its exterior was, glossy and freshly polished.
Peter stood next to the car and smiled at her politely.
She took a deep breath and went to Peter.
They were on their way immediately after she got into the car. The silver car in front took the lead. After a short fifteen—minute journey, they arrived at the city hall.
John got out of the car by himself.
Peter immediately grabbed a briefcase and got outside of the car to follow him.
Sherry swiped a look at the silver car, then she followed them into the city hall.
They entered via an alternate entrance, she wagered it was because John did not want anyone to know about their engagement. They were given special privileges and did not have to queue, and the documents were sorted out with absurd efficiency. John wore a stoic look on his face the whole time. He only smiled when the staff asked them to smile for a picture. Sherry similarly made herself smile at the camera.
Shortly after that, both of them were given a red book.
The picture they had taken together was printed on the, cover page of the book. Inside the picture, both of them were smiling warmly and seemingly sincerely.
To the unsuspecting individual, they looked like a charming, lovely couple embarking on a married life together.
Chapter 1485
Sherry did a double take.
The staff congratulated the newlyweds warmly, “Master Stockton, Mrs. Stockton, | wish the both of you a happy marriage.” John answered politely, “Thank you.”
Then he turned to Sherry. 1
Sherry was still staring at the marriage certificate with a dumbfounded look in her eyes. He put his hand out and gently tapped her head.
Sherry came back to her senses and turned to look at him. She met the sinister gaze in his eyes.
Yet, he made sure to keep his usual charming smile. He looked like the happiest man on earth, nobody would ever know the sheer amount of hatred this man had
harbored inside him.
Sherry frowned and felt an inexplicable uneasiness welling up in her heart.
John spoke to her, “What are you daydreaming about? Are you not going to leave?”
With that, he took his marriage certificate and walked out.
His usual hostile demeanor had returned.
Sherry heaved a sigh of relief and brushed off the heavy feeling in her chest. She must have been overthinking things.
She tossed her marriage certificate in her bag and followed him out.
The car was parked by the entrance of the city hall.
After John emerged, he got into his car right away.
Sherry looked at the black car she was driven here in and’ wavered as she cast a longing look at the car John had just entered. She fulfilled her end of the deal. There was no reason she should not be allowed to see Caprice.
While she was still pondering whether she should
approach John’s car, the windows lowered and revealed John’s unmistakably dashing profile, his eyes peering into her soul. His voice was rather impatient. “What are you doing standing over there? Are you going to see Caprice or not?”
Sherry glowed up at the invitation as she quickly got into the car from the other side.
Caprice was tucked into a child seat next to John.
As soon as she noticed Sherry entering, she extended her arms as far as she could toward Sherry and cried out in that sweet voice of hers, “Mommy!”
Sherry felt like she would melt right then and there.
She pulled Caprice into her tight embrace and said
passionately, “Oh, Caprice my baby, mommy misses you so much.” Caprice was just as emotional as she was. “Caprice misses Mommy too.” Smooch!
Sherry could not withstand the urge to plant a big kiss on her cheeks.
Caprice tightened her lips and seemed to take several seconds to register what had happened. Then, she pursed her lips and returned the favor.
Sherry was on cloud nine.
She hugged her again and showed her with all the affection she could muster and promised her. “Caprice, mommy will never be separated from you again.”
Caprice was delighted to hear this and bobbed her head up and down, nodding vigorously.
Last night, her father had spoken to her about what will happen today. He told her that from now on, her mother would be with her every day and tell her bedtime stories
every night. Sherry kissed Caprice again and again, her adorable puffy cheeks were irresistible.
Caprice frowned slightly and asked in a puzzled voice, Mommy, why do you always kiss me?”
It appeared that the child was not used to this manner of affection.
Sherry held up her cheeks and answered with a bright smile, “That's because you're so cute! Mommy can’t resist kissing you every time she sees you.”
This answer was very satisfactory to Caprice, she smiled radiantly. She revealed two rows of pearly teeth when she smiled.
Sherry palmed her cheeks in hand. It took everything in her to hold herself back from kissing Caprice again. She exclaimed brightly, “Oh, my Caprice is even more beautiful when she smiles!”
Caprice was giggling, she loved being complimented. Meanwhile, John sat quietly next to the duo fawning over each other.
He observed the way the pair of mother and daughter smiled in a similar manner, the same crook on the corner of their lips. Their resemblance to each other startled him a little and brought a smile to his lips.
Shortly after that, the car began to accelerate.
Sherry was so busy playing with Caprice that she hardly paid any attention to where they were going.
It was only until the car stopped by the entrance of the Elysian Hotel that she finally snapped back to reality. She darted a suspicious look at the man next to her. What are we doing here?”
ll
John reached forward and took Caprice away from her arms, then he shot an icy look at her and said, “You have ten minutes to pack up. Caprice and | will be waiting for you here.”
Sherry was puzzled. “Pack up?”