Ch. 3051..3060
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3051
Stand By You
“How do you feel? Does it hurt anywhere?” Dustin asked worriedly while running his fingers through her hair.
Abelyn shook her head without saying a word.
Then, she slowly raised her head and asked out of the blue, “Dustin, do you think I’m a bad person too?”
Dustin gazed at the woman he loved and hesitated for a moment. Truth be told, she wasn’t a bad person. She merely misunderstood Joan, and if that incident never happened, perhaps all of this wouldn’t have existed either.
He believed that this woman was pure and kind in nature, but was merely blinded by her feelings sometimes.
“That’s enough. Don’t overthink it anymore and just find a time to explain everything to Joan. Don’t worry. I’ll stand by you no matter what.”
Dustin patted her shoulder reassuringly.
If this was truly Abelyn’s mistake, he wouldn’t speak in her favor or make excuses for her. But after all, she only did all those things because she misunderstood Joan. Hence, he believed that she deserved forgiveness.
“Abelyn.” Suddenly, Joan’s voice sounded not far away.
Abelyn instantly started quaking in her boots. What is she doing here? Is she here to laugh at me? Or to reprimand me?
Nervous, she clutched Dustin’s arm tightly.
Dustin held her hand gently, hoping to offer her some sense of security.
“Are you okay?” Joan inquired with concern as she made her way in.
“Hey, Joan. Don’t worry. She’s fine,” Dustin answered on Abelyn’s behalf.
Upon seeing that Abelyn was completely unharmed, Joan finally heaved a sigh of relief.
She was very compelled to ask the woman she regarded as a sister why she had set her up. However, she withheld her question on second thought.
Forget it. I’ll sit down and have a proper chat with her some other time.
Larry, Caspian, and the others returned soon after. Suddenly, the living room was crowded and buzzing with activity.
Abelyn was immensely moved when she saw all these familiar faces. She thought that once they found out she had set Joan up, they wouldn’t want anything to do with her again, but it seemed like they genuinely cared about her.
Abelyn sniffled, remorse filling her. Blowing out a soft breath, a trace of regret flashed across her eyes. I must’ve lost my mind. How could I have done something so horrible?
Nancy was staring straight at her from the side, feeling puzzled. She was dying to confront Abelyn about her motive for doing something so cruel to Joan, but upon seeing the happy looks on everyone’s faces, she couldn’t bring herself to ruin the mood.
No. I have to find out the truth. Otherwise, not just Joan, but even I won’t be able to fall asleep at night.
“Abelyn, come here!” She waved at the woman not far away.
Upon hearing her name being called, she looked over and informed Dustin before making her way over.
“Abelyn, don’t blame me for being petty or selfish. I’m not taking Joan’s side or anything. I just want to know the truth.” Never one to mince her words, Nancy cut straight to the chase. “Why did you do something so cruel to Joan back then?”
Abelyn instantly tensed up upon hearing her question. She never expected that Nancy would still be thinking about this matter. It seems like she really cares about Joan.
She turned to look at Joan who was standing some distance away, her eyes gleaming with relief.
“Actually, I didn’t really mean to set her up. Back then, I was influenced by someone else,” Abelyn explained unhurriedly.
Gauging her solemn and earnest expression, Nancy decided to take her word for it. Besides, what she said was indeed the absolute truth.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3052
Uninvited
“Are you saying that it was actually Della who manipulated you into setting Joan up?” Nancy asked incredulously in a loud voice.
“Hey, keep your voice down! Back then, Della hated Joan’s guts. Besides, I didn’t know that Joan encountered Larry after being taken away by her.”
But why didn’t Della explain everything to Abelyn after turning over a new leaf? Tilting her head, Nancy’s brows scrunched together as she fell into deep thought. Could that b*tch Della be up to something?
She abruptly snapped her head up and looked out the window with displeasure written across her face. Della Duff, you better not try anything funny again, or no one will ever forgive you!
Nancy slammed her palm on the table beside her, exuding a terrifying aura.
A few men were chatting and drinking nearby, looking happy.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Everyone in the living room exchanged quizzical looks.
“Are you expecting anyone today?” Caspian asked Dustin.
Dustin deliberated for a while before shaking his head. “Not that I know of.”
“What are you doing here?” A voice Nancy least wanted to hear sounded at the door.
It was Jake.
“Whoa, what are all of you doing here? Are you having a party?” Jake joked as he walked in like he owned the place.
Nancy glared vehemently at the man.
“Who are you looking for? What do you want?” Dustin went over and questioned directly. This was his villa after all. Of course, he wouldn’t be happy when someone irrelevant came uninvited like that.
“What’s this, Dustin? I only came here to visit everyone. There’s no need to get so riled up. Besides, all is well now that Abelyn is back, right?” Jake said in a meaningful tone.
What? How could he know about Abelyn’s kidnapping? Dustin instantly grew wary. Could he be the one behind this?
Seeing Jake’s calm appearance, Abelyn spat, “Leave! Leave this instant! I don’t want to see you ever again!”
“What’s the matter, Abelyn? Have you forgotten about everything that you’ve done?” Jake deliberately reminded her. Everyone shifted their gazes to Abelyn, making her feel uneasy.
Dustin immediately got up and close with Jake while glowering at him.
“Get lost!”
Get lost? Where to? And why should I? Jake cleared his throat and approached Abelyn at a languid pace, all the while wearing a glacial look on his face.
“Don’t forget that I know all the things you did to Joan back then.”
Abelyn squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath to calm herself.
Opening her eyes, she announced, “Everyone! Today, I’ll explain everything once and for all!”
Jake was surprised at her words. Is she really taking the initiative to admit her mistake? This isn’t like her at all! Jake eyed her suspiciously, unable to fathom the sudden change in her.
Abelyn started, “Yes, I tried to hurt Joan before, but it was because I was manipulated into doing that.”
Realization dawned on everyone, and they instantly suspected Della. In truth, Joan already expected as much.
“Alright. It’s all in the past now. Let’s just forget about it and move on. Everything’s fine now that we’re all gathered here.” Joan quickly steered the topic away.
Perhaps it was because of her enthusiasm, the others swiftly returned to their conversations and the atmosphere became lively once again. Jake, on the other hand, looked very unhappy.
Why is Joan always so forgiving? Doesn’t every woman want to seek justice for themselves after being hurt? But why is she making it seem like nothing happened at all?
Jake sighed softly and took a seat on the sofa, then stared blankly at the ceiling.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3053
No More Hope
Larry had been watching his every move. Right then, an amused smile played on his lips. He’s probably disappointed about how things turned out, isn’t he?
With a bitingly cold glint flashing in his eyes, he picked up a wine glass and walked over to Jake.
“What? Are you here to humiliate me?” Jake said in a self-mocking tone as he accepted the glass of wine from Larry’s hand.
Larry didn’t really care about that. All he knew was that with the truth finally revealed, no one would feel wronged or get hurt for no reason again.
Come to think of it, I have Jake to thank for this.
“Stay away from Joan from now on,” Larry abruptly warned.
What the hell is he talking about? Is he going to keep Joan away from me again? Jake lifted his head to glare at the other man.
Why should I stay away from her?
“Larry, you should know that if it weren’t for me, Joan would’ve died a long time ago!” Jake countered with a steely expression.
He’s right. He has indeed rescued Joan many times, and in a way, I’m grateful to him for that. But if he still has any funny thoughts about Joan, there’s no way I’ll take it lying down.
Larry narrowed his eyes at him, a hint of hostility gleaming in them.
“I know that you still have feelings for Joan, but Jake, please understand that Joan is currently my girlfriend and fiancée. In fact, we’re about to have a wedding soon. Why must you keep hounding her?” Larry refuted.
A wedding? When? Why haven’t I heard anything about this? Jake looked Larry up and down, feeling slightly doubtful.
This b*stard! I can’t believe he’s marrying Joan so soon. It looks like there’s really no more hope for me anymore.
Jake bowed his head to conceal the pain flickering in his eyes. After loving and protecting her for so many years, she’s still going to marry Larry. A second time at that.
Jake’s face was ashen with despair at that moment.
It was uncertain how much time had passed before everyone parted ways. In the car, Jake kept replaying what Larry had said to him. His heart wrenched painfully in his chest and he found it hard to breathe.
Jessica poked Larry’s shoulder to get his attention before querying, “Hey, Larry. What did you say to Jake earlier? He had this awful look on his face.”
What else could I have said? Of course, it was about Joan. In this world, no one else can affect him this much besides her.
Larry raised his head and frowned unhappily. The thought of Joan living with Jake for a period of time made his blood boil.
I should be the only one to take care of her, but then Jake appeared by chance and messed it all up.
“I told him that Joan and I are getting married,” Larry replied nonchalantly.
What? Jessica was taken aback. When did he make this decision? She grabbed Larry’s arm and squinted suspiciously at him.
Sensing her displeasure, Larry explained, “It’s just a thought. I was thinking it’s time we got married.”
Jessica sighed in relief. For a second there I thought he was hiding things from me.
“Okay, I got it. Just tell me if you need anything, Larry. I’ll do everything I can to help you!” Jessica patted her chest and vowed with confidence.
Silly girl. I guess I can always count on her. Larry smiled faintly as excitement swelled in him. Needless to say, he was over the moon when he thought about marrying Joan.
“Then, when are you planning to propose to Joan? I’ll help you set up the venue.”
A hint of mischief appeared in Larry’s eyes. He knew that Joan had always loved the sea, so the choice of venue was a no-brainer to him.
“Don’t tell Joan about this yet, Jessica. Let’s plan it in secret and give her a surprise.”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3054
Do My Best
This was the first time Jessica saw Larry being so meticulous about something not work-related. To be able to witness them tying the knot was a wish come true.
Who wouldn’t want to see their brother living a happy life? Not to mention, Larry was her saving grace.
“Then I’ll get Nancy and-”
“Don’t!” Larry cut her off.
Stroking his chin, he continued in a soft voice, “We can’t tell Nancy about this. She’s too unreliable at keeping secrets. Who knows? She might accidentally have a slip of tongue in front of Joan.”
Jessica tilted her head in thought and found what he said made sense. Hence, they directly excluded Nancy.
“Larry, what about Abelyn? Do you think she can be trusted?” Jessica asked cautiously.
Generally speaking, Abelyn is actually a reliable person. But ever since what happened, I can’t be sure if she’d have any hard feelings. Maybe I should get this sister of mine to sound her out.
“Go talk to her and see how she reacts. Don’t mention anything about Joan and me yet.”
Jessica naturally understood Larry’s intention. Nodding her head, she left to carry out her task soon after.
Rather than sounding Abelyn out, Larry actually wanted Jessica to persuade her.
He knew that she currently was guilt-ridden and couldn’t bring herself to face Joan. Hence, it would be better for a woman to come forward and convince her.
Based on his understanding of Joan’s personality, she would never easily give up on her friendship with Abelyn, or anyone for that matter.
“What did you say? Larry is going to propose to Joan? This is amazing news!” Abelyn exclaimed with excitement in the living room. Of course she wished for the two of them to be happy. They had gone through so much, and she wanted nothing more for them to have their happily ever after.
“Yeah. If you’re willing, we can help Larry with the preparations,” Jessica added while gauging her reaction.
Suddenly, a flicker of sadness crossed her face.
Of course I’m willing. I just don’t know if Joan would want to see me. With unshed tears in her eyes, she turned her face to look out the window.
I’ve made so many mistakes. How could Joan forgive me so easily after I hurt her so many times?
More tears pooled in Abelyn’s eyes, and she wished she could reverse all the wrong she had done.
“Don’t overthink things. I’m sure you know very well what kind of people Joan and Larry are. Joan isn’t one to hold grudges. Trust me, she’s already let bygones be bygones. As long as we get along well from now on and avoid causing any trouble, things can still return to how they used to be. We can still eat together, go to the movies together, shop together, and all that.”
Jessica gently patted Abelyn’s shoulder to comfort her. The latter felt a sliver of hope upon hearing what she said and instantly turned back to look at her with an earnest expression.
Is this true? Could Joan and Larry really be willing to forgive me so easily? Her eyes gleamed with uncertainty.
Everyone with eyes could see how deeply Larry loved Joan, and anyone who hurt her would have to face his wrath.
“You don’t have to overcomplicate things. We’re all close friends and Larry understands that. Joan also said that people should always look ahead and move on,” Jessica added.
She’s right. It’s not easy for a person to live a decent life in this world. There’s no time to look back at our past. We need to appreciate the present and look forward to the future.
Abelyn sniffled, feeling disheartened. If only I used an open mind to view things back then, perhaps none of this would’ve happened.
She sighed softly and spoke in a self-deprecating tone. “Alright, then. As long as none of you mind my involvement, I’ll do my best.”
That’s right. This is the real Abelyn Chipman! I can still redeem myself as long as I own up to my mistake and repent. Who hasn’t made mistakes in this world anyway?
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3055
Kinda Miss You
“What are the two of you talking about?” Dustin walked over right then.
“Oh, Larry is planning to propose to Joan,” Jessica informed in a hushed voice.
Abelyn shot a furtive glance at Dustin, but did not find anything out of the ordinary. She initially thought that the man she loved would be heartbroken upon hearing this news, but that wasn’t the case. It truly seemed like he no longer had romantic feelings for Joan.
She smiled in relief.
“Really? That’s good news! Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” Dustin accused and smacked Jessica on the arm.
“Ow! Dustin, what the hell? Don’t forget your wifey is here, so you better be careful where you put your hands! Why do you always hit me so hard anyway? You do know that I’m a woman, right?” Jessica complained.
“A woman? Are you really?” Dustin mumbled nonchalantly.
Jessica’s hackles rose at that and she snapped, “You jerk! Stay right there! Abelyn, shouldn’t you teach your man some manners? Did you hear what he just said about me?”
Abelyn lips curled into an amused smile upon witnessing this scene.
She knew that it was only a childish banter between Dustin and Jessica, so she didn’t try to stop them.
Henceforth, Jessica, Abelyn, Dustin, and a few others worked together to set up the venue at the beach, waiting for that day the come.
In the office, Joan lifted her head to look at Larry from a distance away and queried, “Hey, why haven’t I seen Jessica around lately?”
“Oh, she’s busy,” Larry replied calmly.
Busy? Busy with what? With the bookstore? That’s impossible. I’ve never seen her this busy before. I haven’t seen her for a few days in a row now. That girl didn’t get into any trouble, did she?
Joan pursed her lips in apprehension.
I have to find out what’s going on. If she’s really in deep trouble, I have to step in before the situation gets out of hand.
She knew Jessica best. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t go looking for trouble, but once she lost her temper, no one would be able to stop her from being reckless.
Without hesitation, Joan snatched up her phone from the table and called her. “Jessica, where are you? I’m coming to see you,” she stated in an anxious tone.
Huh? Why does she want to see me all of a sudden? Jessica tilted her head in curiosity. “Joan, I’m busy now. What’s going on exactly? Did something happen?”
“No, nothing happened. I just haven’t seen you for a few days now and I-”
“Miss me?” Jessica interjected.
Joan was actually going to say that she was worried that Jessica had run into some sort of trouble or was being bullied by others, but since the latter put it that way, she couldn’t deny it.
“Yeah, I kinda miss you.”
“Okay. Then I’ll visit you tonight.” With that, Jessica ended the call before Joan could respond.
Since when has this girl been so impatient? I wasn’t even done yet but she just hung up on me.
With a smile playing on his lips, Larry watched the entire exchange in silence.
Joan turned to face Larry and asked, “How is Caspian lately? Has he resolved matters with that girl?”
Why does she keep asking about them? Putting down the document in his hand, Larry gracefully got to his feet and walked toward the sofa.
“Why do you keep worrying about others? Shouldn’t you be focusing more on us?” he said gently while caressing Joan’s hair.
Us? What about us? Joan looked at him in bewilderment, wondering what had gotten into him.
“What about us?”
“Joan, even now, do you still not remember anything?” Larry’s serious gaze coupled with his question stunned Joan.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3056
Missing Memories
He’s right. It’s been so long but I still can’t remember anything.
A trace of guilt rose in her heart at that thought. Larry had already given her so much time, but she still couldn’t remember the past.
“Larry, are you starting to…” She hesitated.
She wanted to ask if he was starting to find her annoying, but she was afraid of the answer she might get.
As though reading her mind, he said earnestly, “What’s going through that head of yours, silly? You’re my woman. How could I ever find you annoying? Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side. We’ll face whatever problems life throws at us and celebrate every happy occasion together.”
It really isn’t easy for a person to meet his soulmate in this world. Since I was lucky enough to meet mine, there’s no way I’d let her go that easily. Even if Joan has forgotten me, I will never leave her. Why? Because we belong with each other.
Hugging her close, Larry’s heart ached for her as well as those missing memories.
She can’t remember all of those happy times we shared anymore, but that’s okay. We can make new and happier memories.
Joan felt immensely content as she stared at the man she loved.
After a while, she suggested, “Let’s visit Ms. Young and Lucius tomorrow. I haven’t seen them in a long time.”
In an instant, Larry was filled with delight. The fact that she brought up the two of them on her own was already progress.
“Sure. I’ll take you to visit them tomorrow.” He brushed a kiss on her forehead, his eyes gleaming with joy.
As promised, Larry brought Joan to Delilah’s house the next day.
Joan scanned her surroundings and for some reason, everything grew increasingly familiar to her. Even so, she still couldn’t remember a thing.
“What’s wrong, Joan? Are you not feeling well?” Delilah hurried over and asked worriedly while patting her arm.
Joan jumped in fright as if been given a huge shock, and quickly shook her head. “No. This place just seems familiar to me.”
Familiar? A satisfied smile spread across Delilah’s lips.
That’s good to hear! It means that she’s very close to remembering the past. She quickly turned away to blink back the tears in her eyes.
“How are the flowers in the garden recently, Ms. Young?” Joan asked out of the blue.
Flowers? Delilah’s eyes widened at her in surprise. How does she know about the garden? And about the flowers too? I’ve never told her about any of this before!
She studied the woman in front of her closely.
Could she have remembered something? Wiping the tears from her eyes, she held Joan’s hand tightly as a thrill of excitement ran through her.
“Joan, tell me, quick. Did you remember something from the past?” Delilah asked fervently.
Something from the past? No, I didn’t. Joan gave her a puzzled look. What’s going on with Ms. Young? I was only asking her a simple question. Why is she so excited all of a sudden?
Right then, Larry came over and asked, “What’s wrong, Ms. Young?”
“Larry, she remembers! She really remembers!” Delilah answered without missing a beat.
Remembers what? Larry turned to look at Joan, his eyes glimmering with hope.
“But I… I didn’t remember anything,” Joan stammered. Is Ms. Young mistaken? She started to panic.
“You remembered about my garden and the flowers I planted there. We’ve only met once ever since you lost your memories, and I didn’t mention about my garden at all,” Delilah immediately explained.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3057
Slowly Recovering
Suddenly, Joan covered her mouth in shock.
That’s right. Ms. Young never said anything about having a garden. So how did I know about it? Is this really a miracle? Joan grabbed Larry’s arm, slightly at a loss.
Glancing at Joan, Larry quickly said to Delilah, “Don’t get too excited just yet, Ms. Young. It will take time for Joan to regain her memories. Perhaps today was only by chance.”
The next second, Delilah’s eyes flashed with a trace of disappointment. That’s true. If she’s truly regaining her memories, she wouldn’t have only remembered such a small detail after so long.
I was getting ahead of myself.
Delilah hastily got her emotions under control by taking a few breaths.
“Sorry, I went too far. I must’ve scared you earlier,” she apologized softly while wiping her tears.
“No, no,” Joan immediately reassured her, waving her hands awkwardly. She herself couldn’t explain what had come over her just now. Perhaps her memory was indeed slowly recovering.
She gazed out the window with a hopeful expression. If she really regained her memories one day, she would definitely do all of the things she wanted to do in the past.
Clenching her fists, she gradually calmed the torrent of emotions raging in her.
Suddenly, Lucius ran in with his school bag slung over his shoulders and called out, “Mom!”
Even though his voice scared the daylights out of Joan, the joy on her face was apparent. Something like this could not be faked. She was genuinely fond of this boy.
“Mom, what took you so long to visit me? Grandma and I missed you so much.” Lucius pouted adorably.
“Look at you. You were born a sweet-talker, weren’t you? How’s school? And what about your grades? Have you been eating well? Did you help your grandma out with the chores at home?” Joan stroked the boy’s hair while asking tenderly.
She, too, did not know why the maternal instincts buried in the depths of her heart surfaced at the sight of this boy.
“Don’t worry, Mom. Grandma and I are living very well. My grades are quite impressive too,” Lucius replied in a clear voice.
Joan truly regarded him as her own and was greatly comforted to see him so happy.
“Here, Joan. I specially cooked your favorite dish. Try some and see if it tastes the same as before.” Delilah directly scooped some baked ribs onto Joan’s plate.
“It smells so good,” Joan complimented while chewing a rib.
With that, the four of them enjoyed their meal.
Having not seen each other for a long time, Delilah and Joan settled on the sofa in the living room after dinner and chatted away happily.
Meanwhile, Larry and Lucius were in the latter’s bedroom, planning something while seated on the bed.
“Wait, what? You’re going to propose to my mom?” Lucius exclaimed.
Larry frantically covered his mouth and hissed, “Keep your voice down.” Then, he released the boy and flicked his forehead lightly.
“Really? That’s awesome! I wanna attend your wedding and also be there as a witness.” Lucius thumped a fist on his chest with a serious expression.
Witness, huh? Since when did this boy learn about such things? Squinting at the boy, Larry’s lips unconsciously stretched into a broad grin.
In the living room, Delilah abruptly asked, “By the way, when are the two of you going to get married?”
Joan instantly fell silent. Larry hasn’t mentioned anything about marriage, and I’m too embarrassed to bring it up myself.
I guess I’ll just have to wait. Noticing the way she was nervously wringing her hands together, Delilah smiled cheekily.
“Lucius wants a little sister, you know?” she said meaningfully, causing Joan’s cheeks to flush a beetroot red.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3058
Love Is Consensual
She’s still gets shy so easily.
“Alright, alright, no more teasing. I think it’s time for you and Larry to get married. The two of you haven’t had it easy, so pick an auspicious day to have the wedding.”
Joan blushed even more furiously at this.
“Ms. Young, what are you talking about?” she murmured, looking slightly abashed. At the same time, Larry was discussing the proposal with Lucius in a very serious manner.
“Got it?” Larry gently tapped the boy’s head.
“Don’t worry. Is there anything I can’t do?” Lucius lifted his chin confidently.
Very good. This boy really does resemble me in a way. Larry patted the boy’s shoulder with a satisfied smile.
After discreetly telling Delilah and Lucius about the proposal, Larry led Joan away.
In the car, Joan mumbled in a displeased tone, “Why were you acting so secretive just now? What did you say to them?”
Why did he tell Lucius and Ms. Young, but not me?
She pursed her lips, feeling indignant. Or is he planning something? Well, if that’s the case, he should share them with me too.
The more Joan thought about it, the more upset she became.
Larry raised his brows at her tone. Is she jealous? At a traffic light, he turned to glance at her, and an impish smile instantly formed on his lips. She’s finally jealous! He liked seeing her jealous because it proved that she truly cared about him.
“No way. You’re not actually jealous of an elderly woman and a young boy, are you?” Larry teased.
“Jealous?” Joan scoffed and hastily denied, “No, I’m not.”
She’s still denying it? What’s there to be embarrassed about anyway?
Why can’t she just admit her feelings for me? Larry sighed softly and turned to look out the window. The car plunged into silence all of a sudden.
Still embarrassed, Joan cautiously studied the man beside her.
Sucking in a deep breath, she blurted, “Alright, alright. I’m jealous, okay? Are you happy now?”
Larry abruptly leaned over and pressed her into her seat, then smashed his lips against hers. There’s my Joan! He loved it when she bravely confessed her love for him.
Love was consensual, and there was no need to be embarrassed about it.
Thump! Suddenly, the car engine sputtered and died.
Sh*t. We’re only halfway back and it’s pitch-black here. Why did the car engine die so suddenly? Larry immediately took out his phone and made a call.
“Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavailable.”
Damn it, Caspian. Why is his phone turned off at such a crucial moment?
A cold look flashed across Larry’s eyes.
The weather is so cold. Joan won’t be able to take it. He quickly took off his coat and draped if over Joan next to him.
“I’m not cold. You wear it. Don’t catch a cold,” Joan protested and was about to return the coat to him.
“No, you should wear it. The car was probably tampered with,” Larry speculated with his eyes narrowed dangerously.
There are only a handful of people who’d want to hurt us. He clenched his fists as anger surged in him.
“What did you say? Joan is with Larry now?” Jake exclaimed in his office, visibly shocked.
This is bad. She must be scared out of her mind right now. Filled with worry, he started pacing around his office.
How do those dumba**es do things? I clearly told them to act only when Larry was alone, but now Joan has to suffer along with him!
Bang!
Enraged, Jake slammed his fist on the desk.
“Then, what should we do now, Mr. Wilson? Should we step in to rescue Joan?” Ted asked nervously.
Rescue? If we personally go over there, they’d know that I was the one behind this!
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3059
Sabotage
Do any of these idiots even use their brains to do things? Jake ran his fingers through his hair his in frustration.
Suddenly, an idea hit him and he instructed frantically, “Go get someone new to drive past there.”
He wanted nothing more than for Larry to suffer, but he couldn’t bear to see Joan getting hurt.
“Hey, are you two okay?” Not far away, a man waved at them and asked loudly.
“Our car engine died. Can you give us a ride?” Joan answered instantly.
“Sure. Hop in,” the man replied without missing a beat.
Huh? He agreed, just like that? Larry eyed the man suspiciously as doubt filled him. Something doesn’t feel right. Why would someone pass by this side of town in the middle of the night?
“Thank goodness you happened to pass by!” Joan smiled courteously at the man.
“Yes, it’s really a coincidence,” he replied.
I highly doubt that. Larry continued scrutinizing the man, trying to figure him out. Then, he deliberately tested him. “Are you here on some errands? We wouldn’t want to impose on you.”
“You’re not. Don’t worry. I am currently on my way back after handling some matters. It’s truly a coincidence that I chanced upon you both. Perhaps it’s God’s will,” the man immediately countered.
Is that so? Who even comes to such a remote place to handle matters?
Sensing the awkwardness, Joan quickly expressed her gratitude. “Well, thank you for the ride.”
“Why do I get the feeling that something was off?” Joan wondered aloud in the living room. Next to her, Larry chuckled as he gazed at her affectionately.
She’s only just realizing that something felt off? Larry had long since found it odd, even more so when the man left without wasting a second after dropping them home, probably because he was afraid he would accidentally slip up.
“Do you think someone sabotaged us on purpose?” Joan looked at Larry worriedly.
That’s an understatement. And if I guessed it right, the one behind this probably didn’t want Joan to suffer or get hurt.
And who else could’ve done something like this besides Jake?
In the past, Dustin would have been Larry’s most eligible suspect, but he already had Abelyn. Naturally, he wouldn’t get his hands dirty like that.
Hence, that only left Jake.
Suddenly, Joan’s eyes lit up with trepidation. Oh no. Could Jake be behind this? She clutched Larry’s arm and said anxiously, “Jake isn’t up to something again, is he?”
Perceiving the panic lining her features, Larry jerked her into his arms and kissed her forehead with a smile.
So what if he is? I’ll face every problem head-on instead of running from them. No matter what tricks Jake has up his sleeves, I’ll make sure to protect Joan to the utmost of my ability.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you get hurt,” he said determinedly.
Joan furrowed her brows. Why does he make me sound like I’m such a scaredy-cat?
“I’m not scared of getting hurt. I’m just scared that he’s out to get you.” Although it had taken her a long time, Joan still managed to figure it out. Jake doesn’t want to hurt me. Larry is his target.
I have to stop all of this! Since when did Jake become so petty? I can’t believe he wants revenge! Joan grew restless the more she thought about it.
“Are you worried about me?” Larry played with her hair and asked in a gentle voice.
Well, isn’t it obvious? How can I not worry? What am I going to do if something were to happen to him one day? I can’t live without him!
“Alright, alright. Don’t worry I’ll be fine. I promise, okay? Now, now. Let’s wipe that sad look off your face, hmm?” Larry quickly stroked her back to comfort her.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 3060
A Solution
Seeing how concerned she was for his well-being, Larry’s heart warmed.
Meanwhile, Jake was greatly dissatisfied by this turn of events.
He threw a glass of water onto the ground, smashing it into pieces.
“Calm down, Mr. Wilson. Getting mad is useless anyway. Why don’t you think of a solution instead?” Ted advised in a small voice.
The employees outside his office shuddered fearfully upon seeing the fierce look on his face.
Jake sighed and muttered, “What else can I do? Larry Norton is one lucky b*stard.”
If that’s not luck, I don’t know what is. I mean, Joan rarely goes out, but it just so happened that she accompanied him out today.
Heaving another sigh, he waved Ted out. “Leave me. I need to cool down alone.”
Leaning against the sofa, Jake gazed out the windows with half-lidded eyes while pressing his lips together in dismay. One day, I’ll take you down, Larry Norton. Just you wait. Yes, I lost to you relationship-wise, but career-wise, that may not be the case.
He slammed his fist into the wall, causing blood to trickle down his fingers.
Hence, the days went by. Larry was constantly updated about the preparations done by Jessica and Abelyn until the very last touch.
“Good job. You both did well.” Scanning the scene before him, Larry nodded with satisfaction.
Well, duh! Take a look at who you’re talking to!
Jessica dusted her hands and stretched her limbs, looking slightly worse for wear. It wasn’t all that surprising, seeing as she had been slaving away in the past few days, making sure that everything was perfect.
“Larry, when are you planning to propose?” she asked.
Hmm, that’s a good question. Larry raised his head to the sky, seemingly in a dilemma. We had a minor incident not too long ago, and things have only just calmed down. I’ll wait for a few more days to propose then.
“Proposals are equally important as weddings. We have to make sure it’s grand,” Abelyn added with a pensive look on her face.
Larry smiled in response, but didn’t comment.
It seems like Abelyn has changed for the better.
Turning toward the sea, he asked meaningfully, “What about you, Jessica? What are your plans?”
Jessica’s expression turned grim in an instant. What plans can I have anyway? I’m just going to continue living like this. Caspian and I will stay out of each other’s lives and we’ll go our separate ways. It sounds pretty good to me.
Needless to say, Caspian couldn’t get over her, but he was afraid that Lisa would cause unnecessary trouble for her. That was why he kept himself on a tight leash.
It was truly a shame that such a loving and compatible couple ended up parting ways like that. A hint of pity flashed across Abelyn’s eyes.
Back then, everyone was rooting for her and Caspian, thinking that they would definitely tie the knot one day, but it seemed that fate had other plans.
This world was indeed full of the unexpected.
“You know, I actually think you and Caspian still have a chance,” Abelyn voiced tentatively.
It’s obvious they’re both still in love with each other. Being stubborn about it won’t help either of them.
“Abelyn, stop. And Larry, from now on, I don’t wanna talk about my love life anymore. Let’s leave it at that,” Jessica replied downheartedly.
I mean, what’s the point? What else is there for me to do? Get back together with Caspian and get emotionally tortured by Lisa Dunham? There’s just no way I can do that. Instead of torturing each other, I’d rather focus on my career to distract myself.
“I’m doing pretty good now. The bookstore is also doing very well. I’m already very satisfied with what I have, so stop worrying about me, guys.” With that, Jessica got up and went toward the washroom.
Caspian, who had been watching her a short distance away, hung his head in guilt.
Larry naturally understood Jessica’s feelings. Hence, he did not continue down this topic. Certain things were difficult to let go even under the persuasion of others.