Ch. 1471..1480
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1471
“I’m glad to hear that. Let’s go have dinner together now.”
“I’m sorry, Dustin. But I don’t think I can go have a meal with you tonight. I’ll make up for it some other day,” promised Joan.
She sounded apologetic and hurt. At that moment, all she wanted to do was to go home and have a good sleep.
“Then, let me walk you home,” offered Dustin. “We’ll have plenty of opportunities to have a meal together. It’s fine to postpone this one.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to be that courteous with me.”
Seeing Joan and Dustin walking side-by-side together, Gabriella finally revealed herself from the dark.
“My, my, Joan. You really are a popular succubus, but you won’t defeat me this time,” said Gabriella with a gleeful smile before she left happily.
Meanwhile, Larry was deep in his thought while hiding in the dark as well. He needed some time to process everything that happened that day.
As it turned out, he didn’t actually leave earlier. The reason being when he turned around, he caught Gabriella spying on Joan.
Larry was a little suspicious and had his guard up when he saw Gabriella there. She is the one who hired the guy to bully Joan. I wonder what she has up her sleeves this time.
Gabriella showing up also helped calm Larry down quickly. He was no longer furious when he observed everything from the side.
From his position, he could somewhat make out the conversation between Joan and Dustin.
Ah, so Dustin’s not her boyfriend… His mood immediately brightened upon realizing that.
But why did that foolish woman lie to me? Looks like I will have to investigate the matter further.
Larry drove his car and disappeared into the night.
Gabriella sent someone to investigate Dustin as soon as she got home.
The Wards had always had a good rapport with the underworld society in Marsingfill, so she was able to learn everything quickly.
Gabriella grinned at her discovery.
So Dustin is a renowned doctor who treated Joan in the past. If I can get my hands on the old photos they took together, I can send them to Larry and tell him that Joan heartlessly dumped him for the doctor. After that…
Gabriella suddenly felt as if her fantasy of being with Larry was within reach and could indeed become reality.
She decided to strike while the iron was hot. The first thing she did was gather photos of Joan and Dustin together. She collected anything that could make anyone mistake those two as a couple. Then, she had her people printed everything out.
All that’s left now is to get them to Larry.
Gabriella grinned happily at that thought. Unbeknownst to her, however, Larry had already seen through all her schemes.
On the following day, Gabriella walked into Norton Corporation confidently with the printed photos in hand.
The evidence is all here. I’d like to see how you defend that b*tch now, Larry!
“Larry, can I come in?” said Gabriella.
She deliberately made her voice sound sweet while waiting patiently behind the door.
“Come in,” said Larry.
He sounded as calm as he had always been.
“Larry, I need to tell you something,” informed Gabriella with a straight face on.
“What’s wrong, Gabriella? You can tell me anything,” replied Larry.
He had put his pen down and stopped working entirely because he wanted to see what Gabriella was up to.
“It’s… Well, I think I should just show you these photographs,” said Gabriella before handing the photos over.
Larry accepted the folder and checked the photos out. That was when he realized that those were photos that Joan took with Dustin. The two of them weren’t physically close, but it was obvious that they were good friends.
Larry was uncomfortable when he saw the photos of Joan hanging out with other men. Still, he turned to Gabriella and asked, “What are you trying to say?”
“Larry, these photos are taken from a few years ago. That means Joan was already with that Dustin guy back then. She left you for him, and this is proof of her betrayal!” announced Gabriella firmly. It was as if she had investigated everything thoroughly.
Larry nodded. He had already gotten used to Gabriella’s tricks.
“Alright, I got it,” replied Larry. “You don’t need to worry about this anymore.”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1472
Gabriella was stunned. Why does Larry sound so calm? It’s as if he already knows all that. Also, what does he mean when he says that I don’t need to worry about this anymore?
“Well, what do you plan to do? You can’t let her get away with it!” insisted Gabriella, who was starting to feel nervous.
“I have my plans, so don’t you do anything to hurt Joan.”
“After everything I’ve shown you? How long are you going to keep defending her blindly?” roared Gabriella.
“All you need to do is keep my words in mind. I’m tired and you should leave,” said Larry.
He showed no signs of hesitation as he chased her away.
Gabriella was so angry that she was gritting her teeth. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about it. In the end, she stomped on the floor and left begrudgingly.
Joan Watts, since things have turn out this way, don’t blame me for being cruel and ignoring our past friendship!
Gabriella grinned evilly as a vile scheme made its way to her mind.
She got home and sat on the sofa for a while before dialing a number.
“Hello, who is this?” asked the man on the other end of the line.
“It’s me, Gabriella Ward.”
“Why are you calling again?” demanded the other party angrily when he heard her reply.
The man in question was none other than Quincy, who didn’t accomplish his mission of bullying Joan and instead got his arm broken by Larry.
At first, Quincy thought that he got a lucrative job, but he hadn’t even gotten anything before someone else broke his arm. Hence, he was furious with the situation.
He was also filled with resentment for Gabriella.
“I want you to do something for me,” requested Gabriella, who seemed to be ignorant about how angry Quincy was at that moment.
“I’m not interested. Find someone else,” said Quincy. He didn’t dare to accept any more jobs from Gabriella.
“I will transfer a million into your account once everything is done.”
The man on the other side of that line turned quiet. He was just a street hooligan, and a million was a fortune to him.
He didn’t hesitate for long. Unable to resist the tempting call of wealth, Quincy gritted his teeth and asked, “Tell me what you need.”
“Go after the woman I targeted earlier. I want you to kidnap her and drug her before getting someone else to sleep with her. Then, I want you to videotape the entire thing and share it on the internet. I don’t care what you have to do to accomplish it. Just know that I will pay you a million when it’s done, and you are to leave this city immediately after,” said Gabriella in a cruel tone.
Quincy gasped a little as a chill ran down his spine. He never thought that someone as beautiful as Gabriella would turn out to be that evil.
Still, he had no reason to reject her request. I’ll leave Marsingfill as soon as I get the money and I’ll be able to lead a good life.
He gritted his teeth before agreeing, “Fine, I will do as you asked. However, I want the money paid to me immediately after the deed is done. You know what we will do to you if you don’t pay up.”
“Don’t worry, it’s just a million. I’ll definitely pay you.”
Gabriella didn’t hesitate to agree to those terms. After all, the money meant nothing to her. In fact, she was willing to pay ten million if it meant destroying Joan.
“It’s a deal, then!” both parties agreed to the plan.
Meanwhile, Joan, who had her guard down at the moment, was oblivious to the fact that a devious scheme to bring her down was in the making.
She had a rare day off, so she slept in. After she woke up, she went for a walk to relax her mind.
Getting out of the house and having some fresh air eased the depression she had been feeling over the past few days.
As she walked, she thought about what meal she should treat Dustin to that night. They agreed to meet up yesterday, and Joan wanted to welcome Dustin into the city.
Suddenly, two men with a baseball cap on ambushed her from behind. They walked up to Joan and tossed a sack over her head immediately.
It was obvious that it was not the first time they committed a crime like that. They clamped her mouth shut and dragged her into a white car that was parked at the side of the road.
“Mmm! Mmm!”
Joan tried to call out for help, but all that could be heard were muffled sounds. She struggled endlessly to try to get someone else to notice her.
That was when one of the men hit the back of her neck and made her faint on the spot.
When she finally came around, Joan discovered that she had been taken to an abandoned warehouse. They had tossed her to the floor and had bound both her hands and her legs. She was also gagged.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1473
Joan scanned her surroundings fearfully. Hopelessness filled her heart, and she had no idea what she would have to endure later. She didn’t know if anyone would come to rescue her, either.
Larry, please come and rescue me, was the first thought that surfaced in Joan’s mind. She was frantic at that moment and the scene of Larry rescuing her back then kept replaying in her mind. He was now her only hope.
The door to the warehouse opened, and two men with masks on entered. They removed the gag they placed on Joan.
“Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?” asked Joan.
Her big, round eyes were shining with fear.
“Hahaha!”
The two men laughed maliciously as they stared at Joan.
“We don’t really have an agenda. All we want is to put on a show with you,” replied one of the men before he got a pill out of his possession. He then walked over to feed it to Joan.
“Here, take this. It will make things so much better later!”
“Hehe.”
The two men chuckled as their gaze burned with lust.
Joan clamped her mouth shut. She could tell from the two men’s tone that the pill was nothing good. She tried to fight back as much as possible.
Seeing how stubborn Joan was got one of the men to pinch her nose. He laughed and taunted, “Let’s see how long you can keep your mouth shut.”
Joan couldn’t breathe because her nose was blocked. All she could do was hold on for as long as she could. A minute later, she finally parted her lips.
The man with the pill pinched Joan’s mouth the second she opened them and threw the pill in.
Cough! Cough!
Joan tried to cough the pill out, but she couldn’t.
The men grinned evilly. Everything is done. All that’s left now is for the drug to take effect.
At that moment, Larry was inside his office in Norton Corporation.
A private number suddenly showed up on his phone and checking the screen prompted Larry to jump up.
“Hello, what’s wrong?” asked Larry grimly.
“Something happened to Joan Watts, Mr. Norton,” replied the man politely from the other end of the line.
“What? Explain!”
Larry had sprung up, and he seemed nervous.
“Someone kidnapped her this morning, and I’m tailing her right now. It looks like they are leaving the city.”
“Follow them. I will go to you right away!”
“Understood.”
After hanging up the call, Larry grabbed his coat and ran out of the office immediately. He felt as if his heart was burning at that moment.
“Please be alright, Joan,” prayed Larry silently.
After the last incident with the three hooligans, Larry sent his bodyguard to keep Joan safe. He didn’t want her to get hurt again.
However, Joan was unaware of any of that.
When Joan was kidnapped, Larry’s bodyguard observed from the dark, so that he wouldn’t alert the culprit. He wanted to get to the bottom of it all, and that was why he chose to tail the culprit while calling Larry.
Larry sped down the road. He knew that the faster he went there, the less likely Joan would be hurt.
Fifteen minutes after Joan took the pill, her body started reacting to it. At first, she felt thirsty, followed by a burning sensation all over her body. It was as if a fire was burning in her abdomen.
That was when she finally realized what the pill was. It’s an aphrodisiac drug.
Joan fought endlessly to combat that strange feeling inside of her, but she was so thirsty that she was burning. She started to lose consciousness, and her vision blurred.
The two men noted that it was about time. With sly grins on their faces, they approached Joan.
Joan, however, was completely unaware. The burning in her body made her feel like stripping.
Bang! Just then, a loud noise came. Someone had kicked the door down.
Larry got there in time to rescue Joan.
He sighed a breath of relief when he saw that Joan was not hurt. It only took him a few moves to deal with the hooligans, and he pulled her into his arms after that.
“Joan, are you alright?” asked Larry in a worried tone.
Joan didn’t realize that she was rescued. In fact, she couldn’t even recognize Larry at that moment.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1474
“Hot… I am so hot…”
Joan’s gaze was blurry, and she stripped as she spoke. Her beautiful skin revealed itself in front of Larry.
It was only then that Larry noticed her abnormality. Her body’s burning, and she’s panting so much that it’s obvious that someone drugged her.
Larry was infuriated when he discovered that. The woman I loved was almost…
“Drag them out of here and break their limbs. Wait for me by the door after that,” instructed Larry.
His demeanor was frigid when he gave that order to his bodyguard. This is considered the lightest punishment I will give after what they have done.
“Understood.”
The bodyguards dragged the two men away after receiving the order.
Larry loosened the ropes that bound Joan’s arms and legs before he took off his coat and draped it over her.
She plastered herself to Larry as soon as she was . Her hands locked his face in place as she kissed him fervently.
Larry could guess what drug they used and knew that the drug would crush Joan if he didn’t sleep with her.
Seeing how engrossed Joan was in the kiss instantly got Larry aroused as well. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her back passionately.
Soon, the entire warehouse was filled with a romantic aura.
A few hours passed before Joan woke up groggily. She opened her eyes and saw chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
“Where am I?” she murmured.
It took her mind some time to clear up. Wait, wasn’t I kidnapped and trapped in a warehouse? What am I doing here?
Joan struggled to get up. She suddenly sensed a sharp pain in her body and recalled that she was drugged.
“No, this can’t be real. It can’t be!”
Joan muttered mindlessly as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. That was her first as she had kept herself pure. She never expected that in just a matter of hours she would lose the virginity she had treasured for over twenty years.
Joan suddenly heard a soft sigh coming from the corner of the room, and she realized that someone else was there.
“Who are you?”
Joan’s voice quivered with fear. She was traumatized.
She didn’t know how else she would be abused in that foreign place.
“Don’t be scared. It’s me,” said the man in the corner before he walked to Joan’s side.
It’s Larry!
When Joan saw who the mysterious man was, she instinctively sighed a breath of relief. She soon realized something, though.
“W-were you the guy who…” asked Joan.
Her voice was trembling.
Larry stood there without saying a word.
Slap! A crisp voice echoed, and a clear palm print showed up on Larry’s face.
“You assh*le. H-how could you?” shouted Joan with a broken heart.
She couldn’t believe that the man she loved and trusted the most had drugged her. At that moment, she felt like her life had just turned grim.
“Rest up, and don’t move about too much,” advised Larry when he finally spoke. He then added, “This is my responsibility, and I will do right by you. Also, just so we’re clear. I’m not the one who drugged you.”
“Who else would’ve drugged me, then?” demanded Joan loudly. “Am I supposed to believe that you just happen to be there to rescue me and had no choice but to sleep with me?”
Larry found himself at a loss for words when faced with Joan’s accusations. He couldn’t give a plausible explanation for what happened, because even he himself thought that everything was unbelievable.
“Stop pretending, Mr. Norton. I don’t need you to do right by me, either. All I want is for you to fade out of my life completely because I don’t ever want to see you again!”
Joan sounded extremely firm when she said those words. She wanted to believe him, but the events of the day made it so that she couldn’t.
After lashing out, Joan got up to walk away. The sharp pain, however, got her to hiss. Nonetheless, she was still adamant about leaving.
Larry knew that Joan wouldn’t listen to him at that moment, so the only thing he could do was leave.
“Rest well here. This hotel is under my management, so you don’t have to worry. It’s safe here,” murmured Larry.
“The most dangerous place to be right now is beside you, Mr. Norton,” scoffed Joan.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1475
“I know that there is no point in saying anything right now. Try to calm down. I’ll have my chauffeur take you home once you’re feeling better.”
Larry didn’t want Joan to refuse his help, so he added, “If you don’t want to owe me anything, then I will have my people send you the hotel bill later, and you can pay for it all.”
After saying his piece, Larry walked out of the room. He instructed the manager to take care of Joan before driving away.
Gabriella Ward, you have crossed the line this time.
When Larry left the room, he clenched his fists as a dangerous glint flashed across his eyes.
He decided then and there that some people were not worthy of forgiveness.
Joan slowly calmed down after Larry left.
She knew Larry well. He would never lie… could it be that he’s really not the one who drugged me?
But if he’s not the culprit, then how did he show up within such a short amount of time and become the one who sleeps with me? There are simply too many coincidences.
The harder Joan worked to analyze the situation, the more confused she got. In the end, she gave up.
It doesn’t matter if he was the one who drugged me. He is still the reason I am no longer a virgin, not to mention he still has a girlfriend from the same social status as he is.
Too much had happened that day, and Joan was both physically and mentally weary. She fell asleep soon after.
After parking his car in Norton Corporation, Larry made a beeline toward Gabriella’s office.
He didn’t knock on the door politely. Instead, he kicked it down.
The loud bang surprised Gabriella, who was touching up her make-up at that moment.
Annoyed, she turned around to yell at the intruder, but she became frightened when she saw that it was Larry.
Quincy didn’t tell her that he would kidnap Joan that day, and she definitely didn’t know that her vile plan had failed and been exposed. All she could do at the moment was stay calm and feign confusion. “Larry, what’s wrong? Why are you so angry?” asked Gabriella.
Larry lost control when he saw Gabriella’s pretentious expression.
Without saying another word, he stepped up and slapped her right across her face.
“Why did you slap me?” demanded Gabriella.
Larry’s merciless slap ignited Gabriella’s fury, and she had her hand on her face as she howled.
“Why? You’re asking me why even at a time like this?” shouted Larry angrily, “I’ve always thought that you were immature and will grow out of it soon. Turns out, you are a purely evil b*tch. I can’t believe you’d stoop as low as hiring others to drug her!”
Gabriella was stunned.
She didn’t expect Quincy to initiate the plan so quickly, and she certainly didn’t think that Larry would discover everything.
“Listen to me, Larry,” said Gabriella. “I am not the one behind this. It’s Quincy! He has been upset about you breaking his arm. That must be why he went after Joan again. It’s not me. I’m innocent.”
“You’re still denying it?”
Larry knew then that Gabriella was beyond help.
“Pack your things right now and get the f*ck out of Norton Corporation. The company doesn’t need a malicious creature like you!”
“No! Larry. Please, don’t chase me away.”
Gabriella was panicking. If she left Norton Corporation, she would lose her only avenue of getting close to Larry.
“I was wrong, Larry. I was blinded by my love for you and couldn’t bear anyone threatening our relationship. I promise it won’t happen again. Please give me a chance to redeem myself. Don’t chase me away,” begged Gabriella pitifully as she gripped Larry’s hand.
“You no longer have the opportunity to do so!” growled Larry. He didn’t believe her and demanded, “Leave immediately. If I ever see you near Norton Corporation again, I will make sure your entire family suffers along with you!”
With that, Larry left without ever looking back.
Tears rolled down Gabriella’s cheeks. She stared at Larry’s back as he walked away heartlessly.
She simply couldn’t understand it. Why is Larry unmoved even though I’d loved him persistently?
Joan abandoned him once. Yet, she has always had a place in his heart. Why?
No… I will not admit defeat. I won’t!
The more Larry cared about Joan, the more Gabriella hated her.
“I’m won’t ever let you off, Joan Watts. This isn’t over yet!”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1476
After the incident, Joan asked for some time off from work. She locked herself in her house and refused to leave because she needed time to overcome the trauma that Larry caused her.
Dustin, on the other hand, became a regular visitor in Joan’s place.
He didn’t know what had happened, but he could tell that Joan had gone through a terrible ordeal. This is my shot at getting her to open up and talk to me.
Dustin knew that Joan was in love with someone else, but he didn’t care. He believed that time would prove how much he loved her, and they could be together in the future.
“Joan, I came to visit. I made some soup for you. You seem weak lately and you’ll need to replenish the nutrient you lost.”
Dustin had tons of bags with him when he showed up at Joan’s place.
“Dustin, I’m happy that you’re visiting. But you don’t need to take anything over. I’ll feel bad about it,” said Joan.
She sounded a little exasperated as she accepted the gifts from Dustin.
“Here we go again. You’re treating me like a stranger once more. How many times have I told you? You don’t need to be so courteous with me. I’m really gonna be mad if you keep treating me like that,” replied Dustin.
He pretended to be angry, but his eyes carried a hint of warmth.
“Alright, alright, I got it,” said Joan.
She smiled when she saw Dustin acting like that.
She needed someone by her side at that moment, and Dustin was there every day. His gesture touched her because he had always been attentive and kind to her ever since they first got to know one another. At that point, Joan saw Dustin as a trusted friend she could confide in.
They interacted ly, and time passed them by. Before either of them knew it, Dustin had already spent a lot of time with Joan.
“Joan, I have to go back to deal with some things, and I can’t stay here any longer. It’s been nice hanging out with you,” said Dustin as he stood up.
“Thank you, Dustin. I am truly glad to have a friend like you,” replied Joan genuinely.
“Do you only see me as your friend?” asked Dustin.
He was eager to learn the answer to that question.
“I…”
Dustin’s question troubled Joan. Truth be told, she noticed his feelings for her some time ago, and she could see what a good man Dustin was.
Unfortunately, she was in love with Larry at the time, so she pretended to be oblivious and refused to deal with Dustin.
But things had since changed. Larry has found his better half, so should I give Dustin a chance?
“Truth is, Joan, I came to Marsingfill for you, but I have to return to A Nation in a few days.”
Dustin noticed how Joan was at a loss for words, so he continued, “Joan, I love you, and I’d like to ask… Will you go to A nation with me?”
Joan’s mind was in a mess at the time. Larry being in Marsingfill meant that they would inevitably see each other if she stayed in the city. However, she didn’t know where else she could go.
Now that she knew Dustin flew to another country just for her, it would be a lie to say that she was not touched by that act. Still, isn’t it a little impulsive for me to move to A Nation just like that?
“I have a few more days before I have to leave. Please take the time to consider my offer,” said Dustin when he saw how hesitant Joan was. He could tell that she was swaying, so he spoke some more.
“It has been a while since you’ve recovered, Joan, and it’s time you follow up on your condition. This is a good opportunity to go to A Nation and check if everything is fine. You won’t have to be worried about it anymore once that is done.”
Joan fell deep in thoughts as she stared at him.
Back then, she received her treatment in A Nation, so she didn’t suspect the credibility of Dustin’s words.
“Let me think about it,” answered Joan. “I’ll give you an answer soon.”
Moving to another country was a huge matter, and Joan needed to talk to her parents about it.
“Okay, then I’d better leave now, Joan,” replied Dustin.
“Let me walk you out.”
Joan decided to go home and discuss the matter with her parents after she walked Dustin out.
Her parents lived in Zaprington, which is right next to Marsingfill, so it only took Joan two hours to reach their place via a cab.
“Mom, dad, I’m home!”
Joan called out to her parents as soon as she got into the house.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1477
This was the place that sheltered her from wind and rain. She did not need to worry about getting hurt here.
“Joan, why are you back?”
Surprise was evident in her mother’s voice.
She wasted no time in expressing concern for her daughter’s wellbeing and chastised Joan for getting skinnier. On the other hand, Joan’s father was smiling with relief as he stood beside her mom, pretending to be calm about her return.
After going through the whole ordeal with Larry, Joan was afraid to return home to her parents. She was worried that she would break down and cry in front of them, causing them great worry.
“I just came back to see you. There is something that I would like to discuss with the two of you.”
Joan took a deep breath and said to her parents sweetly.
“Come, sit down. There is no need to hurry. Let me cook you a meal.”
In the blink of an eye, Mrs. Watts prepared a feast.
While they were eating, Mr. Watts asked affably, “So Joan, what did you want to discuss with us?”
Joan told them that she needed to go to A Nation to follow up on her condition and her plan to stay abroad. However, her lips were sealed when it came to her recent misfortune. She did not disclose anything about that.
“I understand that the follow-up is crucial. As for going overseas on your own… Do you have any idea how difficult it is for you to live there all by yourself?” asked Mr. Watts solemnly.
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m all grown up now. I can take good care of myself,” answered Joan.
She tried to make light of her plan.
“Joan, I don’t agree with you going abroad and staying there alone. You should come home right away after the check-up. I don’t want you to suffer hardships on your own over there.” Mrs. Watts’ eyes watered as she spoke.
“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. We will wait until you get treated before we discuss anything else concerning the future.”
Mr. Watts concluded the discussion with a tone of finality. The family then enjoyed their precious time together.
In Larry’s room.
“Caspian, what are the results of your investigation?” Larry asked the bodyguard next to him.
“I have completed the investigation, Sir. Dustin Silverman is the doctor who treated Joan Watts a few years ago,” he answered respectfully.
“Treated Joan? What illness did she have?”
Larry was confused. He never knew that Joan had any illnesses.
“Sir, these are the investigation results from our people. Just have a look and you’ll have your answer.”
Caspian passed a notebook to Larry.
After scanning through the contents in detail, realization dawned on Larry, and he scolded himself severely for being stupid at the same time.
It was only then that he knew Joan had only left him because she had a tumor in her brain. The fact that she was uncertain of how much longer she could live made her decide to cut off all ties with Larry so that he would not pine after her. As a result, she made up a lie about leaving him for someone else.
As for Dustin, he was the doctor who was in charge of Joan’s treatments.
Upon learning the truth, Larry was guilt-ridden. Joan had suffered so much in silence these few years… But what did I do? I had been rude to her at every opportunity and made life immensely difficult for her. There’s no doubt that I had hurt her deeply…
With that thought in mind, he decided to go find her immediately. Right now, all he wanted was to be right next to her and pull her into his embrace. He wanted to apologize to her.
Before long, Larry reached the place where Joan was renting. He eagerly knocked on her door.
“Joan, it’s me! It’s Larry!” he called out at the top of his lungs.
“I know everything now! I’m sorry for treating you horrendously. Can you please forgive me?”
All he got in response was silence.
“Joan, can you please open up? I know I’ve hurt you. But I will treat you well for the rest of my life. So please just give me another chance!”
Larry rapped on the door for a very long time, but he did not get any response. Instead, the racket he made caught the attention of the neighbor next door.
“Young man, the girl who lived here left this morning. She seems to have moved away,” said the old lady.
“Do you know where she went, ma’am?” Larry asked in a hurry.
“I have no idea,” replied the old lady slowly.
“She went with a young man who was roughly your age.”
“Thank you, ma’am!” responded Larry.
Upon hearing what the old lady said, he hurried down the stairs while dialing Joan’s number.
“Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable…”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1478
Joan did not give any chance for Larry to contact her. Even her phone was switched off.
The young man that the old lady mentioned must be Dustin.
But, where could they have gone? Larry racked his brains but nothing came up.
After he got into his car, Larry dialed another number urgently.
“Caspian, find out where Joan’s parents live! Be quick!”
Larry barked his order into the phone anxiously.
“Yes, sir. I’ll get to it immediately.”
Caspian replied swiftly before hanging up.
Larry could only wait in his car apprehensively.
After ten excruciating minutes, Larry received an address on his phone.
He read the address and stepped on the gas, heading straight for Zaprington.
He drove like a madman all the way. In a little over an hour, he was at the doorstep of where Joan’s parents lived.
“Mr. Watts, I’m Larry! May I know where Joan is?” asked Larry.
Joan had mentioned Larry’s name while talking to her parents previously. As such, Mr. Watts recognized that his name was familiar and didn’t think much about it.
“Young lad, didn’t Joan tell you that she was going to A Nation today?” Mr. Watts asked in a friendly tone.
“A Nation? Why is she going there?”
Larry felt as if he was hit by a bolt of lightning. If Joan went to A Nation, would I still have any chance of finding her?
“It’s not in my place to tell you why. But I can tell you that her flight is scheduled for three in the afternoon. I don’t think you can make it in time to see her.”
Lifting his wrist to glance at his watch, Larry’s stomach dropped when he noticed that it was almost half-past two.
“Mr. Watts, can you please give me Joan’s number?”
He was frantic. He couldn’t let Joan leave. I’m not letting her go! I need to be with her for the rest of my life!
After getting her current phone number, Larry hastily bade goodbye to Mr. Watts and started rushing over to Zaprington airport.
Joan, please wait for me!
Larry threw the speed limit to the wind. Luckily, the airport was located in the suburbs of Zaprington, so there wasn’t much traffic. Still, a lot of car owners had to stomp on their emergency brakes to avoid him. This earned him lots of profane cursing and swearing.
“You crazy a*shole! Are you trying to kill yourself driving like that?”
“What a lunatic!”
He wasn’t the least bothered by the insults. His sole focus now was to get to Joan as fast as possible.
With his left hand gripping the steering wheel, his right hand reached for his phone to dial Joan’s number.
In the meantime, Joan and Dustin were waiting to board the plane.
When she saw the unfamiliar number on her phone, she was puzzled. Only a few people know about my new number, so who could this be?
“Hello?”
She decided to take the call.
“Joan, it’s Larry! Where are you now?”
He was ecstatic to finally hear Joan’s voice.
Larry? Joan was stunned. How did he get my number?
“Larry, I’m leaving. I am going to a place where you won’t be around. I hope you will be happy. No, you must live a happy life.”
She tried her best not to cry. She even willed herself to hate him with all her might. But when she heard his voice, she realized that she was about to leave him forever. Her heart ached as if a knife was plunged through it.
“No, Joan! Only you can give me happiness. Please wait for me at the airport. I beg you, please don’t go!” Larry pleaded desperately.
Joan could no longer hold back her tears.
This scene right now was a reenactment of what happened a few years ago. She remembered how he pleaded and begged her not to leave.
She still loved him deeply, but once again, she had to steel herself to leave him.
“Larry, this is our fate. We can’t go against what is destined for us!”
With that, Joan burst into tears. She felt it. The familiar feeling of her heart being ripped to pieces. The pain was so overwhelming that even breathing was a luxury.
“Joan, I’m almost there. Please, wait for me…”
A loud screech cut through, followed by the sound of a huge crash. Then, it was complete silence.
“Larry? Larry!”
Joan was panic-stricken. “Larry, answer me! What happened to you? Say something!”
Larry did not respond. Joan was petrified and completely blanked out. Her phone slipped from her rigid hand and made contact with the cool surface of the airport floor.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1479
“Joan? Joan, are you alright?”
When he saw how Joan had stiffened up, Dustin’s heart was filled with bitterness.
“Joan, the plane is about to leave. It’s time for us to board,” Dustin reminded her.
Joan regained her senses. “No… no! Dustin, Larry is in trouble. I have to see him! I have to!”
“What about me then? Don’t you want to go to A Nation with me?” Dustin pleaded desperately.
“I’m sorry, Dustin. But I can’t leave with you. I can’t let him go. He is everything to me!”
Joan finally faced the truth, admitting it to both Dustin and herself.
“I know you like me. But, there’s no space in my heart for anyone else. I’m sorry, I can’t go to A Nation. Even if I can’t treat my sickness, I still have to know what happened to him.”
Dustin sighed. No matter what he did, Joan’s heart was always shut to him.
Even if she leaves with me, her heart still belongs to him.
Dustin felt overwhelmingly dejected.
Nonetheless, he wasn’t a stubborn man. As such, he smiled at Joan, and without any hesitation, he said, “It’s alright Joan. I have known for a few years now that there’s someone in your heart. It’s just that I thought I could replace him. But now, it seems the gulf is too wide to be bridged. I wish both of you all the best.”
When he finished, he gave Joan a smile of relief. “Joan, forgive me for lying to you. In truth, your sickness no longer needs any further treatment. I hope we can still stay friends and see each other in the future. I will be going now.”
After looking at Joan longingly, Dustin steeled his heart and headed toward the boarding gate.
After sending Dustin off, Joan hurried out of the airport, screaming hysterically in her heart. Larry, please be alright!
Immediately after Larry’s car accident, some good Samaritans called the City Hospital in Zaprington. Soon, an ambulance arrived before sending Larry, who was unconscious, and the truck driver together to the hospital.
Right before the accident, Larry was speeding and speaking anxiously over the phone. Hence, he didn’t notice a truck traveling at high speed around a bend, causing both their vehicles to crash into each other.
Luckily, Larry reacted in time by jamming the brakes. Given the top-notch performance of his Lamborghini and the fact that the airbag deployed in time, Larry escaped largely unscathed.
The moment Joan left the airport, she hailed a cab right away.
“Mister, have you heard anything about an accident just now?” With a helpless expression, Joan asked the taxi driver as she couldn’t get through Larry’s phone.
“Yes, I did. It happened just a few streets away from here.”
“In that case, please take me there.”
Joan was relieved that she no longer needed to search blindly.
“Miss, the victims have already been taken to the hospital,” the driver replied.
“Which one?”
“City Hospital, I’ll take you there instead.”
“Thank you.”
Joan was silent throughout the journey until they arrived.
Rushing over to the front desk, Joan asked anxiously, “May I know where the victim from the recent car accident is?”
“Both of them are in the ICU on the fourth floor.”
“Thank you.”
Once she had the information she needed, she ran toward the fourth floor.
After searching ward by ward, she finally saw Larry’s figure lying on a bed and entered accordingly.
“Miss, do you know this man?” A doctor emerged from the side.
“I do! Doctor, how is he?”
Grabbing the doctor’s arm, Joan asked anxiously.
“May I know if you are a family member?”
“I… I’m his friend.”
Joan repeated her question, “What is his condition?”
The doctor sighed gently. Seeing that, Joan felt as if her world had collapsed. Could it be that he…
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1480
Fearful to continue her thoughts, Joan felt her head beginning to spin.
“He’s fine. All he has is some minor injuries and a slight concussion.” The doctor slowly finished his sentence.
What?
Joan was dumbfounded. He’s fine? Then what’s with the sighing?
Joan was so infuriated that she almost cussed. Seething, she snapped, “Why did you sigh then?”
“He’s fine, but the other person isn’t so lucky,” the doctor replied.
“Miss, since you’re his friend. Please help him complete the admission procedures and inform his family.”
“Sure, I’ll get right on it.”
When she realized Larry’s life was not in danger, Joan breathed a sigh of relief. In a much better mood, she headed downstairs to complete Larry’s hospital registration.
Once it was done, she returned to Larry’s ward.
After checking his body and verifying that his injuries weren’t serious, Joan’s mind was put at ease as she sat by Larry’s bed.
However, he was still unconscious. When she saw Larry’s pale face, she couldn’t help but feel her heart ache.
If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t be in this condition. Joan blamed herself.
Looking at him longingly, she realized this was the first time over the last few years she had seen him in such close proximity.
At that moment, he looked like a sleeping prince with his chiseled face and exquisite features. With his eyes closed, his lips emanated a sensuous allure while his eyelashes could be clearly differentiated.
The elderly had a saying that people with long eyelashes were exceptionally smart. That description fitted Larry perfectly.
Holding that thought, Joan couldn’t help but smile.
She desperately hoped for time to ze at that particular moment. That way, she could stay by Larry’s side without having to worry about anything else.
Joan leaned closer to Larry before resting her cheek on his chest, listening closely to his heart.
Pounding strongly, his heartbeat brought her a sense of security and strength.
Suddenly, she felt Larry move. Startled, she quickly sat back up, worried that he would notice what she was doing.
When she glanced at him, she saw him beaming at her, causing her to spring to her feet.
“Y-y-you’re awake!”
Joan quickly lowered her head as she blushed all over.
“When did you wake up?”
“When you just arrived.”
Larry’s voice was gentle while the look he gave Joan was filled with affection.
Having heard him speak, Joan couldn’t help but hope the ground would open up and swallow her.
Why didn’t he move when he woke up?
“How do you feel? I’ll get the doctor to see you.”
Joan’s eyes glistened as she gave an excuse to escape.
Just when she was about to leave, Larry grabbed onto her hand.
“Don’t worry, I feel fine. Just stay with me for a while,” Larry remarked with a smile.
The warmth from his hand caused her heart to race. She suddenly didn’t know how to react.
“Even if you have nothing to tell the doctor, you should let him run some checks.”
Joan reminded herself not to stay and become a lame duck. If one excuse didn’t work, she needed to come up with another one.
“Stop being silly. There’s a button here that I can press and call for the doctor.”
Larry obviously understood what she was trying to do. But, he wasn’t going to pass up such a wonderful opportunity.
“Joan, come here and sit down.”
Larry slowly pulled her back to her seat. “I have something to tell you.”
When Joan realized there was no escape, she sighed in resignation and sat down beside Larry.
“I know everything now. Joan, I was wrong about you.”
Larry tightened his grip on her hand as if she would disappear the moment he let go.
Despite her shock, Joan kept herself together. “What do you know?”