Ch. 576..580

 

Chapter 576 The driver practiced martial arts, so he was able to fend off the gangsters by aiming a kick at each of them.

Realizing that they were no match for the driver even if they teamed up, the gangsters shot a resentful gaze at Tara before they fled.

Then, the driver helped Tara up. ASSI

When Tara realized it was Odell’s driver who had saved her, an expression of surprise showed on her face as she looked at the car with tear-filled eyes.

“Odell...” she said as she choked back a sob. Odell continued to sit inside the car with his signature frosty look on his face.

The driver had not received any further orders from his boss, so he could not do anything else even if he wanted. He said to Tara, “Ms. Avery, it’s getting late. Please go home.”

He then let go of her hand, intending on returning to the car. However, as soon as he let her go, Tara fell onto her side with a thud.

With the front light of the car shining upon her pale face and her closed eyes, she looked so weak that it looked as if she could die at any moment.

The driver was shocked. He turned towards his boss who had remained inside the car and waited for further instructions. Back at Sylvia’s place, Sylvia spent some time with the kids after dinner.

Liam read his book quietly but his sister was unusually restless and was unable to concentrate on her favorite TV shows. Instead, she kept looking outside the window.

Finally, when she had become so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open, she turned to her mother and asked, “Mommy, why is the big Baddie not home yet?”

Sylvia answered softly, “Daddy attended a social gathering, so he will be late.” Isabel pouted “But he promised to come home early.”

“Perhaps there were too many people that he had to meet, which might have delayed him.” Sylvia stroked her little head and continued, “Il’s getting late. Why don’t you go to bed with Lian now, okay?”

Isabel rubbed her eyes and hummed in reply

“Lian, you can continue reading tomorrow. It’s time for bed,” she said to Liam. The boy obediently put his book down,

Sylvia held their hands and led both children back to their room,

Alter they had fallen asleep, she came out of the room

It was showing outside and the ground was already covered with a thick layer of snow.

Sylvia was about to wash up and get ready for bed when a piece of local news popped up as a notification on her phone. The news was about a multiple car accident in Westchester.

Aman who had been driving under the influence had rammed into the car in front of him at a high speed. Then, due to the wet and slippery road, the car he had crashed into had continued to ram into other cars. In short, the accident had been a devastating one and someone had even died on the spot. Sylvia tapped on it and saw that one of the badly damaged MPVs highly resembled Odell’s private car. Her heart skipped a beat when she looked at the picture.

It was almost midnight yet he was still not home. Had something happened? After wrestling with her thoughts, Sylvia returned to the kids’ room and texted him using Isabel’s phone.

“Are you back yet?” The text went out but she did not receive any reply. Had he been caught in that multiple car accident? Sylvia’s brows furrowed tightly. They might no longer be husband and wife but he was still the kids’ father.

Immediately, she grabbed a jacket and headed outside. She intended on going next door to look for Sebastian, to see if he could contact Odell’s driver for an update She hastened her steps and walked out of the living room. However, as she walked down the snow covered stairs just outside the door, she slipped and fell with a thud.

She fell backwards and landed on her bottom. The sound of her fall was especially loud and heavy in the quiet night.

Chapter 577

Chapter 577 Sylvia fell on the calf that Odell had broken previously and immediately gasped in pain.

Aunt Tonya rushed out from her room upon hearing the loud thud and found Sylvia on the ground just outside the door. She ran over to help Sylvia up and asked, “Syl, what happened to you? Did you hurt yourself?”

Sylvia gasped and said to her, “Aunt Tonya, please look for Sebastian and ask him to contact Odell’s driver.”

Aunt Tonya suspiciously asked, “Why do you need him to contact Odell’s driver?”

“| just saw a piece of news about a car crash and one of the cars involved looked a lot like Odell’s.”

Aunt Tonya’s expression changed. “Okay. You go inside and sit down, I'll go look for Sebastian.”

She then ran next door.

Sylvia was not in the mood to go back into the house. Besides, the pain on her calf prevented her from moving properly as well. She sat back down at the top of the stairs and waited anxiously.

A few minutes later, Aunt Tonya came running back from next door.

Aunt Tonya smiled at her and said, “Sebastian contacted the driver. They are fine and they will be back soon.”

She finally calmed down upon receiving the update. However, now that her anxiety had been eased, she seemed to feel the pain in her calf more intensely. Clenching her teeth in pain, she forced a smile on her face and asked, “Aunt Tonya, could you take me to the hospital?”

Aunt Tonya sighed. “Girl...”

Sylvia had slipped and hurt her leg again, just because she thought something had happened to Odell. Aunt Tonya really did not know what to say about her anymore.

Meanwhile in a hospital near the Old District, Tara woke up after having been transferred out of the ICU. She lay on the bed as she looked at Odell with her reddened, teary eyes.

“Odell, thank you for saving me.”

Odell merely glanced at her. Upon knowing that she was fine, he prepared to leave. Tara then burst into tears and said, “Odell, it's not what you think | didn’t do anything to provoke those men, I’ve just been trying to earn a living with my own hands, but | was unlucky enough to encounter them on my way back from work. | was so afraid...”

Odell’s expression was cold. “You don’t need to explain yourself. | only saved you because | just happened to be passing by.” He then walked towards the exit. “Odell, wait!” Tara anxiously raised her voice.

Ahint of annoyance appeared on Odell’s face as he frowned. “What is it?”

Feebly, Tara looked at him and pulled out a sapphire ring from her pocket.

Odell looked at her coldly.

Tara meekly said, “I've been meaning to return this ring to you. Now that you are here, it’s time to give it back.” She curled her lips into a warm and kind smile.

The smile reminded Odell of that rainy night, where he had almost been killed, ten years ago. Had Tara not showed up just on time, he would either have been beaten or frozen to death.

Either way, after he had survived that deadly night, he had been determined to regain everything from his stepmother and chase that woman out of the company.

It was also that night that he had been reborn into a different man. It was not too much of an exaggeration to say that his current achievements had all been made possible because of Tara.

After a long silence, the icy look in his eyes warmed up a little. “Since | already gave it to you, It’s yours. You don’t need to return it to me.”

Tara’s eyes gleamed upon hearing his words. Weakly, she tried to sit up and said, “Odell, | know | was wrong and | shouldn't have lied to you but had my reasons. | have lived in torment from the moment we separated...”

Chapter 578 Tears began to roll down Tara’s cheeks.

“lam not asking for forgiveness. | just hope that my actions have not affected you too badly. | really, really hope that you can live a happy life with Sylvia, every single day. Then, even if | die, | will be able to rest in peace.”

There was an annoyed look on Odell’s face. “You are just weak, you won’t die.” Tara bitterly smiled. “Dying is better than living in extreme guilt and pain.”

“What happened is all in the past now and | will consider that we’re now even. | won't hold you responsible for what you did, so don’t be so harsh on yourself.” “Okay, I'll do whatever you want.” Glancing at her phone, Tara looked at him with anticipation and said, “Odell, | still have to work later tonight and I’m running late. Could you give me a ride? It’s just outside the Old District. | promise that after this, | won’t appear before you anymore. Let’s just think of this as the conclusion to our relationship. Please?”

Odell glanced at his watch and saw that it had already passed midnight. Both Isabel and Liam should already be asleep.

That woman had probably done so as well.

After thinking a while, he said, “Okay.”

There was only one small hospital near Sylvia’s place. However, there was a major roadblock along the only way to the hospital due to the earlier car accident.

Fortunately, her place was close to the Old District, which was only a twenty minutes drive away. Sylvia arrived at the bigger hospital at Old District with Aunt Tonya.

After handling the registration, Aunt Tonya requested for a wheelchair for Sylvia before she pushed her to the doctor’s consultation room.

They soon came to an elevator. However, since the building was more than ten stories high, they had to wait for quite some time for the elevator to reach the first floor.

Ding!

The doors slid open.

Just as Sylvia was about to wheel herself in, she looked up and saw a tall, familiar figure

The man was dressed in a well-cut suit, matched with an overcoat. The aura that he exuded was cold and stern,

It was Odell. Sylvia was not only shocked by his appearance but also ‘Tara’s, who was beside him as if she was his wife. Tara looked weak and pale, like a small animal that needed protection

Sylvia’s expression turned cold,

Both Odell and Tara’s expressions changed as well when they saw her. Odell strode to her and stared at her leg, “What happened to your leg?”

Sylvia felt chills running up and down her spine, the cold seeming to freeze her from her heart to the rest of the body.

She scoffed and said, “So you came here to accompany her?”

Odell frowned.

Before he could explain, ‘Tara immediately said, “Sylvia, it’s not what you think. Odell just happened to save me from some gangsters and | asked him to give me a lift.”

Just a coincidence?

“What a coincidence. So, you just happened to be chased by gangsters and just so happened to be saved by Odell? Tara, don’t tell me it's one of your schemes again,” Sylvia said coldly. Tara’s gaze changed and tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Weakly, she said, “You are free to believe whatever you want as long as you don’t misunderstand Odell.” “My my. It’s been a while since we've met and | have to say that your acting skills have gotten better.”

Tara wiped her tears away as she choked up. Sylvia laughed. “Tara, please stop. | didn’t really say that much. You don’t need to put on such a big act.” Tara continued to weep as she said to Odell, “Odell, I'll leave you two alone now. I'll take my leave now.” Covering her face, she immediately ran outside the hospital. Before she could run far, she slipped on the slippery ice and fell to the ground. “Hmph!” Sylvia scoffed. Odell shot a gaze at Sylvia. “Enough.” Sylvia turned to Aunt Tonya and said, “Aunt Tonya, let's go up.” Aunt Tonya immediately pushed Sylvia into the elevator. Sylvia saw Odell walk to Tara but the doors slid to a close before she could see what he would do with her.

The elevator went up.

Sylvia clenched her hands into fists, the palms of her hands were cold and clammy. Looking at her injured calf, she felt a sense of irony.

 

Chapter 579

It was obvious that the man had been accompanying Tara at the hospital. Yet, Sylvia had thought that he had been involved in a car accident and had even hurt her leg because of it.

She had really brought this upon herself. She had pretty much just worried for nothing.

Sylvia was immediately wheeled into the doctor’s consultation room after exiting the elevator. After discussing her condition with the doctor, she was sent to be X-rayed. Fortunately, none of the bones in her leg had been hurt. However, her calf was red and swollen.

After some medication had been applied, Sylvia was wheeled out of the doctor’s consultation room. Just as Aunt Tonya took her back to the elevator, the elevator doors opened up and Odell came out again. He was frowning and had an anxious look on his face.

The moment the doors opened, he strode out and went to Sylvia’s side. “What did the doctor say? How’s your leg?” Sylvia had already calmed down after seeing the doctor, so she simply stared at him and said emotionlessly, “My leg is fine. You don’t need to worry.”

Odell looked at Aunt Tonya.

Aunt Tonya snorted and ignored him.

He then walked over to Aunt Tonya and offered to push Sylvia. “Aunt Tonya, please allow me to push her.” Sylvia immediately said, “Aunt Tonya, don’t let him push me!”

Aunt Tonya immediately tightened her grip on the handle and wheeled Sylvia into the elevator. Odell followed them inside and stood beside Sylvia, his eyes never leaving her.

Sylvia looked away and ignored him

The elevator soon reached the first floor.

The monsent the doors slid open, Aunt Tonya wheeled Sylvia out into the lobby

Site shivered as otse was hit by the chilly night breeze,

Just as Aunt Tonya Was about to wheel her outside, two strong arms reached out towards her

Sylvia fet a lightening grip around her waist before she was lifted into the all and carried into a warm enbrat before she even knw what the trappened

iter expression semalled cold as she looked at him and demanded, “Put me down!” Odeti by noted ler lastead, he looked straight ahead with his deep gaze and carried her to his

car in the parking lot.

Carefully, he put her down in the rear seat.

Aunt Tonya also chased after them to the car and got into the rear seat beside Sylvia. Odell went to the front and sat in the passenger’s seat.

Sylvia pursed her lips in silence.

Odell glanced at her before instructing the driver, “Take us back home.”

The driver nodded and the car left the parking lot.

Further away in the parking lot, there was another black MPV watching Odell’s car as it left the place. Aman was sitting alone within the dark interior, right at the back.

In addition to the man, there was also the driver and Tara, who had come back after Odell had sent her off.

She leaned against the window and watched as Odell’s car disappeared from her sight. In frustration, she asked, “Are we going to let them go just like that?”

Odell had obviously been angry when Sylvia had scolded Tara in front of the elevator, yet he had still carried her out of the hospital.

If this continued, the two of them would be back together again in no time. Thomas also watched as Odell’s car joined the traffic on the road. He clenched his fists slightly and said, “There’s no need to be anxious.”

Their first attempt may have failed, but they could always try again.

 

Chapter 580

The car journeyed back to Sylvia's place in silence. As soon as the car stopped, Aunt Tonya immediately got out to help Sylvia out of the car. However, Odell beat her to it. Opening the other door, he wrapped his arm around Sylvia’s waist and carried her out of the car. Sylvia glared at him.

Odell pursed his lips as he carried her inside. He carried her all the way to her room, only letting her go when he put her down on her bed. Sylvia huffed and turned away from him.

However, even after a long time, the room remained quiet and the man did not make any move to leave. Annoyed, she turned to him and asked, “Why are you still here?”

With his arms crossed in front of him, he stood by the bed and gazed at her intensely. “How did you hurt your leg?” She knew if she continued to keep quiet, he would never leave. She gulped and begrudgingly said, “I slipped and fell.” “Where?”

“At the front door.” Odell pursed his lips and said gruffly, “Be careful next time.” Sylvia ignored him. Odell stared at her in silence for a few moments before he went out.

Aunt Tonya was standing just outside the door. When Odell came out, she shot a cautious glare at him. Odell was confused by her hostility.

Aunt Tonya stared at him for a few more seconds before she entered Sylvia’s room.

Without staying any longer, Odell then left Sylvia’s house and returned to his own house next door Sebastian welcomed him back as soon as he walked through the door.

“Sir, where have you been? It’s late.”

Odell said, “I got caught up with something.” Sebastian did not question him further about it but switched the topic instead. “Tonya came by earlier and asked me to contact Jim. She said that Madam saw a piece of news about a car crash and she thought that it was you She got worried and asked Tonya to look for me to confirm that you were alright.”

Odell froze. “What did you say?” Sebastian furrowed his brows and repeated what he had just said. Odell furrowed his brows tightly and asked, “When did Aunt Tonya come over!

Sebastian glanced at his phone and said, “Two hours earlier Two hours earlier?

Odell had met Sylvia at the hospital an hour and a half ago. It would also have taken twenty to thirty minutes to reach the hospital in Old District irom the house Therefore, she must have hurt her leg when she had toid Aunt Tonya to look ior Sebastian Since she had fallen down in front of the front door, could it be that she had become andous when she had thought that he was involved in the car crash and accidentally slipped on her way out? All of a sudden, he thought of something and pulled his phone out.

There were no missed calls but there was an unread message It was from Isabel's phone.

“Are you back yet?”

The text was from two hours ago. Since it was already late, Isabel must have already been asleep at that time. The little girl would have called him directly if she wanted to talk, not text him.

Therefore, it could only have been from Sylvia. He recalled the cold look that Sylvia had given him at the hospital and the hostility that Aunt Tonya had shown him in front of Sylvia’s room.

Aller thinking about it carefully, he said to Sebastian, “Sebastian, please arrange for some men to clear the snow in front of her yard and make sure to install anti-slip flooring on all the stairs there before morning.”

Sebastian smiled and said, “Right away, Sir.”

He then went out to make the necessary arrangements.

Odell remained standing where he was with his phone in his hand. The text from ‘Isabel’ was sull displayed on the phone screen, After a long silence, a small smile appeared on his face.

“She's as stubbom as ever.”