Ch. 741..745
It was nighttime. Chapter 740 4/5
Sylvia made a bowl of noodles for dinner. After she was full, she squatted by a wall connected to the neighboring house and began listening attentively for any signs of movement from the other side.
Two hours later, she could faintly hear Isabel's cheerful cries. It sounded like she was having a gaming session with Liam judging by the contents of the muffled shouts she could hear through the wall. After that, she walked away feeling content. Instead of going back to her bedroom, she went to the room where Isabel and Liam once stayed.
She lay on their bed, rested her head on their pillows, and covered herself with the quilt they once used. She shut her eyes and very quickly drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, a tall shadow stepped out of the yard in the neighboring house and walked past the gate connecting the two households.
He stepped through the yard and arrived in the living room, camouflaged by the darkness. Then, he walked to Sylvia’s bedroom unobstructed since there was nobody else in the house.
He opened the door and promptly switched on the lights, only to be greeted by an empty room and an empty bed. He frowned and headed to the dressing room, then to the bathroom to see if there was anybody home at all.
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However, his search turned out to be fruitless.
Where was she?
Where could she possibly be in the middle of the night?
Acold and vexed expression surfaced on his face. He turned and walked out of the room and prepared to leave the house, but suddenly came to a stop when he passed by the adjacent room.
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This bedroom was once the bedroom of the children.
He pondered for a moment. Then, he opened the door and turned on the lights.
Immediately after the lights were on, he saw the figure of the woman who was sleeping soundly on the bed. His stern expression immediately softened.
The warmth in his eyes only lingered for a brief moment for his expression immediately sharpened again as he peered at her with a displeased look.
Why was she sleeping in the children’s room?
Was it out of guilt because she abandoned them for half a year? Or did she only begin to miss them after she was dumped by Thomas and suddenly remembered they even existed?
These thoughts only upset him further. He felt like walking up to her to pinch her cheeks.
That was when the still sleeping Sylvia suddenly shifted her hand to her belly and softly rubbed her belly. She must have been having a nice dream, evident by the sweet, dreamy smile on her face.
He looked at her bulging belly.
Her belly was bulging like a balloon , to a point where it seemed like an eyesore to him.
He stamped his feet, then he turned around and walked out with a dark look.
The next day was Saturday.
Sylvia got up early in the morning, had some breakfast, and then went to the wall again to listen to signs of any movements going on in the next house. After a while, she began to hear some muffled sounds. She heard Sebastian’s voice asking, “Young miss, young master, where are you two going?”
Isabel answered cheerily, “Uncle Sebastian , we’re going to drive around. You don’t have to come with us. We'll be back really soon.”
“Haha, alright then.”
Sylvia pricked up her ears and listened to the sweet, angelic voice of Isabel. She grinned from ear to ear upon listening to her voice. Meanwhile, in the neighboring house.
After Isabel's exchange with Sebastian, she hopped into a red car. Chapter 141 Liam entered the car from the other side and sat right next to her.
It was a children-sized electric car. After both of them strapped themselves down, Isabel began turning the steering wheel with both hands. She drove the car past the gate of the house and made a turn. Soon, she arrived outside Sylvia's place. Isabel looked behind her cautiously and urged urgently,“ They’re not following us. Hurry up and open the gate!” Liam nodded firmly and promptly opened the door to step out of the car. He was slightly taken aback when he saw the metal sheets covering the gate. Then, he proceeded to press his fingers to the fingerprint sensor.
Beep!
The gate opened at once.
“Come on, let’s go!” Isabel called after him hastily. Liam scrambled back into the car.
With Isabel at the helm, the red electric car drove into Sylvia's yard with a swift “woosh” before stopping in the middle of the living room.
Meanwhile, in the yard in the next house. Sebastian and the bodyguard Ben had just stepped
Chapter 741 4/5 outside.
Sebastian may have permitted the kids to go out and play on their own, but he was not going to let them go completely unsupervised since that would be irresponsible.
He was not expecting Isabel to stomp the gas pedal and vanish out of sight before they had time to react. By the time they stepped into the yard, the car had completely vanished out of sight. Sebastian instructed with a stern frown, “Ben, tell the men to look around the area.”
Ben looked at the ground and guessed. “Sebastian, | think the young miss and young master drove the car into Miss Sylvia’s place.”
Sebastian seemed very astonished and exclaimed, “How did you know?” Ben gestured at the tire marks on the ground.
The marks were not deep but were visible enough that one could easily tell it must have been left behind very recently by the electric car the kids were driving.
Ben followed the trail and quickly saw the wide-open gate at Sylvia’s house.
“Oh no!” Panic took over. Sebastian immediately took off running toward the next house.
Chapter 742 Meanwhile, in Sylvia’s living room. After Isabel and Liam hopped out of the car, they carried a small safe out of the car.
Sylvia was hiding behind a couch. Her body was tensing all over as she stared agitatedly at the two of them working with the safe.
She watched as they carried a trolley out of the car. It took a lot of effort for them to lug the safe onto the trolley. After that, they pushed the trolley up the stairs. She held her breath and tailed after them.
The two of them reached her room and went inside. She peeked through the crack underneath the door and saw them hiding the safe under the bed.
Isabel had to crawl under the bed to stash the safe before crawling out again. She immediately asked Liam upon emerging from under the bed, “Are you sure nobody will find the safe if we hide it here?”
Liam was cautiously surveying the room and answered her distractedly, “Probably not.” Isabel pouted. “That's true, this is Mommy’s house after all. Even if stepmom takes over the house in the future, she won't get a say over what happens to Mommy’s room and probably won't take away our stash.”
Liam made no further response. He was quietly staring at the speckless floor. His pearl — like eyes seemed to gleam amid the darkness.
Outside the door, a shadow cast over Sylvia’s expression. She was thinking about Lily who had just gotten engaged to Odell. Lily was the poster child of the Springsteen family and was destined to inherit the family’s assets. She was a perfect match for Odell in terms of her social status.
They would get married very soon, then she would become the madam of the Carter family and take charge of all the affairs going on in the Carter household.
She was not expecting Isabel to have planned so far ahead and begin making preparations for her future with her brother. She was impressed by their wisdom at such a young age but at the same time, a somber and heavy feeling consumed her. If she had not let herself become deceived by Thomas half a year ago, would Odell and Lily still have gotten engaged? There was no such thing as “what if’ in the world.
Suddenly, she heard Isabel chirping from inside the room again. “I think | smell Mommy.”
She sniffed at the air like a puppy as she said this. Sylvia’s expressions contorted and she quickly drew backward.
Inside the room, Liam began surveying the room attentively again and was inspecting the bed this time. The quilt on the bed was neatly arranged. It seemed like an entirely different set of bedsheets compared to the last time he came here with his sister.
The house should have been vacant for the last six months. Why was the room so clean?
While he was still puzzled over these facts, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps going from outside. “Someone’s here,” Isabel noted warily. Liam took her hand and walked out of the room with her.
The moment they stepped out of the room, they saw Sebastian and Ben running toward them.
Liam seemed completely unfazed.
Isabel asked intriguingly, “Uncle Sebastian, Ben, why are you two here?”
Sebastian observed their expression and interrogated,” Young Miss, | thought you two were just going for a short drive. Why are you two here?” Isabel explained calmly, “I wanted to find a toy | left here
4/5 Chapter 742 so | brought my brother here.”
Something in Sebastian’s eyes shifted. “Did you two see anything strange?”
“See what? We didn’t see anything strange,” Isabel answered cooly and confidently. It was clear that they did not see Sylvia. If they saw her, they would not be as calm as they were.
Sebastian let out a short sigh of relief when Liam suddenly raised a question, “Uncle Sebastian, is there something we’re not supposed to find here?”
His black eyes seem to emit a strange glow within them.
Despite being only five-year-old, he had sharp senses that rivaled that of an adult's. Sebastian’s eyes gleamed as he quickly explained, “No, | was just asking.”
“Oh.” Liam made no more questions and led Isabel downstairs.
Sebastian and Ben hurriedly followed them.
After all of them had left, Sylvia emerged from around the corner.
She sighed exasperatedly and began grinning from ear to ear.
Even if she did not get to reunite with them, she got to
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see them at the very least.
They had grown taller over the last half year but were still as adorable as the day they were born.
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Isabel was a little thinner now but still retained her past chubbiness.
While she was still relishing the joy of getting to see her darling children again, a large shadow suddenly jumped at her from within the darkness.
She saw a familiar, handsome face appearing inches away from her.
She immediately retreated a step backward and asked cautiously, “Odell, why are you here?”
Odell stopped in front of her and glared at her viciously.” | heard Isabel and Liam came here?”
“Yeah, they came here just now.” A thought suddenly occurred to her and she quickly added, “Don’t worry, | made sure they didn't see me.”
Odell narrowed his eyes. “Is that so?”
“Yes, I’m not lying to you,” she answered resolutely. “I’m sure you must be very happy to see them.” Sylvia jerked her lips. “Hm.” Of course, she was way happy.
“Good,” he answered in a queer tone.
She looked at him suspiciously. He directed a gloomy look at her in return and ordered,” Pack up. I’m taking you to the airport.” She was confused by this. “Why are we going to the airport?” “I’m sending you back to Galston.”
Her face turned pale in an instant. “I...I’m not going back.
He gave her a sharp, commanding look. “It’s not your decision to make.”
His tone was authoritative and unbending, just like his entire demeanor.
Sylvia bit her lips. She tried to take off right then and there and head downstairs.
Before she even managed two steps, Odell grabbed the collar of her shirt.
He forcefully yanked her back and made her stand in front of him.
She struggled stubbornly but despite her best effort, she failed to break free. Worse than that, she ended up with Odell’s arm wrapped around her neck.
She knew better than to continue her struggle and tried to plead with him. “Odell, | made sure they didn’t see me
at all. Please don’t send me back to Galston, please?”
Her voice was filled with desperation.
Odell frowned and stayed quiet for a few seconds before announcing, “I already told you. If you even stole a peek at them, I’m sending you back to Galston. No debates.”
He lowered his head and drew his lips close to her ears.” Or do you not take what | say seriously at all?”
Sylvia shrank her neck away from him and clarified , “I didn’t mean to stalk them. | wasn’t expecting to come in here either and accidentally saw them while | was trying to hide.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes!”
He scowled. “I don’t care. You still saw them even if it's by accident.” Her heart dropped. After a short, lingering silence , she suddenly chomped down on his arm which was wrapped around her neck.
She put all her force into the bite, like a rabid dog.
Odell winced in pain and drew his arm away.
She bolted away in an instant.
She ran to the mouth of the stairs, then turned to glare at him and shouted, “Odell, you’re the one who forced me
to do this!”
Odell frowned. “What are you trying to do?”
“I'm going to go to Isabel and Liam!” With that, she took off and almost threw herself down the stairs along the handrail.
She was going to find them and let them know that she had returned.
She did not care whether they were upset at her for abandoning them or not. She was going to reunite with them one way or another.
Even if Odell wanted to send her to Galston, he was going to have to obtain the children’s permission!
She ran as fast as her legs could take her.
Odell stood at the top of the stairs and watched her running away clumsily and smirked at the comical sight.
He only took his first step after she made it out of the living room.
She had only made it to the yard when she felt the terrific hunter breathing down her neck and grabbing at her collar.
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Sylvia trembled all over and suddenly yielded to Odell like a kitten being grabbed by the scruff of her neck. Odell made a look. “Why did you stop running?” Sylvia murmured, “Please let go of me.”
The collar of her shirt was pulling at her neck and restricting her breathing, making her feel very uncomfortable. Odell scoffed. “So you can bite me again?”
This was to say that he was not going to make the same mistake of wrapping his arm around her neck to expose his weakness. to her.
Sylvia insisted. “Let go of me, please.” Odell asked, “Do | look stupid to you?”
She grimaced and threatened. “Odell, do you think they can hear me if | screamed right here and now?”
He smirked menacingly. “Go ahead and try.”
Sylvia frowned.
He was the one who forced her hand!
She drew a deep breath and let out a cry, “Lia-”
Before she could scream their names out, she felt a hand over her mouth muffle her.
He put his entire palm over her mouth, she could barely open them at all.
She tugged at his hand with all her strength but could not pry them away. The only noise she could produce was a muffled cry. She was furious and tried to stamp on the soles of his feet but all she managed to stamp on was the cold hard ground. Heh. The man suddenly chuckled in what seemed like a combination of mockery and amusement at her aghast expression. This only infuriated Sylvia further. She stamped her feet again and again.
Odell stood a safe distance behind her and watched her frantic attempts to resist as he smiled coyly.
He was having the time of his life entertaining himself when suddenly, he felt something wet drip onto the back of his hand. She stopped struggling and was standing motionlessly in place.
He was startled by this sudden sensation and upon taking a closer look, he saw that her tears had fallen on his hand. Chapter 744
He grabbed her by her shoulder and made her turn to face
him.
She lowered her head to avoid his gaze. There was a strange stillness to her now that was a complete transformation from only mere moments ago.
He frowned and turned her chin up to look at her reddened eyes that reminded him of a rabbit. Her face was scrunched in sorrow. It suddenly made him feel sympathetic for her pain.
He felt something tighten in his chest and asked, “What are you crying about?”
He was not trying to reproach her or needlessly aggravate her sorrows. He was not serious about sending her back to Galston to begin with.
What made her cry so suddenly?
Sylvia pursed her lips and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry. | shouldn’t have stabbed you six months ago. | was wrong about trusting him, and | misunderstood you back then. You don’t have to forgive me if you don’t want to. You can scold me and hit me as much as you want but please don’t
Upon arriving at this note, her sentence turned into a drawl as if she was afraid to go on, knowing that what she wanted to say would only upset him. He asked impatiently, “Please don’t what?”
“Can you please not send me back to Galston?” Tears poured out of her eyes uncontrollably when she said this.
Odell was struck speechless.
He felt a giant lump stuck in the middle of his throat.
Was she frightened to the point of tears just because he said he was sending her back to Galston? “What happened to your courage ?” He lifted her by her chin and slowly caressed her cheeks with the tip of his thumb. “Haven't you been living well with Thomas in Galston over the last half year?”
Something flickered in her eyes. She clenched her hands tightly to the side of her body and mentioned, “I... I'm getting tired. | need to get some rest.”
With that, she turned to leave.
Odell wrapped his arm around her body and held her close to him.
He looked at her reddened cheeks. “It’s only eight. Haven't you just woken up?” Sylvia was bound in place. She pursed her lips and remarked, “Don’t you know that a pregnant woman needs more sleep than usual?” He narrowed the look in his eyes.
He could feel her bulging belly
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Odell drew a step backward and glared at her with an icy, demeaning look in his eyes. “I'll let you off the hook this one time for Isabel and Liam’s sake. If this happens again, I’m sending you right back to Galston!” “I understand, it won’t happen again.” Sylvia nodded obediently.
With that, he turned and walked out. His tall figure disappeared in the blink of an eye.
He slammed the door shut, which produced a loud bang that echoed through the house. The tremendous slam made Sylvia shiver. Then she quickly headed back to her room.
In the neighboring house, inside the spacious living room. After Isabel and Liam got home with Sebastian and Ben, they began playing with the remote-control cars.
She was in a very pleasant mood, knowing that she had accomplished the task with her brother and hidden the safe. She played a little longer before taking a break.
She went up to Liam who seemed like his mind was somewhere else. She asked worriedly, “What’s the matter Chapter 745
with you?”
“Weird,” Liam muttered.
“What's weird?”
“Mommy's house is clean.”
“Yeah, what's weird about that?” Isabel could not make out what Liam was trying to suggest. “Our room was very clean as well. Even the blankets and bedsheets were changed with new ones.”
Isabel still could not catch his meaning. “What about that?”
“Why are the bedsheets changed if nobody is living in the house anyway?” Isabel suddenly seemed frightened and commented shrilly, “Is the house haunted?“ Liam was speechless.
He looked determined. “I suspect someone is living in Mommy’s house.” “Who is it?”
“I don’t know.”
Sylvia stayed in the house all day and was practically
bound to the living room.
It was not so much that she wanted to stay at home. She only worried that she could not resist the temptation to try to steal a look if she headed outside and overheard the voices of Isabel and Liam through the wall.
Even if she accidentally caught a glimpse of them, Odell would send her back to Galston without a word. It took so much for her to come back here. She could not risk having her progress thwarted!
The sky outside darkened over time.
That was when she heard the shrill cry of Isabel coming from the neighboring yard.
It sounded like she was playing with Liam in the yard. She could hear her calling for her brother from time to time.
Her voice was like that of a songbird, angelic and soothing to the ears. After she listened silently for some time, she gave in to temptation and walked outside.
She behaved like a thief even though she was in her house. She sneakily approached the wall that connected the yards of the two houses.
She stood next to the wall and listened attentively to the children playing merrily in the yard next door. She immediately felt better as if the somber feelings in
her chest from what happened earlier that day were instantly washed away. Even the baby inside her seemed to resonate with her feelings as she felt a gentle thump against her belly.
The corner of her lips curled up into a satisfied and content smile. Unbeknownst to her, there was a pair of obsidian eyes spying on her since the moment she walked out of the living room The large shadow of a tall figure was lurking around the corner of the gate, staring at her.
Odell leaned against the wall with his hands folded in front of him. He observed the way she caressed the belly as she listened to the activity going on on the other side of the wall. He twitched his lips.
Was she possessed or something?
Not only had she turned into a coward over the last half year, but she had probably gone mental as well, to a point where lurking behind a wall was what gave her joy.
He could also hear Isabel and Liam playing from where he stood, but what was so amusing about that anyway? They were not doing anything particularly amusing in the first place. What was it that entertained the woman so much?
Had she lost her mind after being scarred by Thomas dumping her? He scoffed mercilessly upon thinking of this and muttered to himself, “Serves you right.”