CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: MISS QUINN HAS RUN AWAY FROM HOME!

In the hospital, Faye Hughes was lying on a bed, her face pale. She wore a neck brace, and an IV needle was inserted into the back of her hand.

She had specifically come from Southel to see Donovan today, only to end up in a car accident on the way. She had been rushed into the operating room but luckily came out alive.

Just then, two messages arrived on her phone.

[Sorry to disappoint you. I’m not sad.]

[I’m very happy living alone in my mansion of several thousand square feet, wearing countless jewels and admiring antique masterpieces.]

Immediately following was a photo overflowing with jewelry and famous paintings.

Faye Hughes magnified the picture and stared at it for several long moments, gritting her teeth so hard she felt they would shatter.

Is she showing off? Heh, who does she think she is? Vile woman! Homewrecker! I swear she’ll die a horrible death!

Her eyes turned frigid with a jealousy that drove her mad. She furiously typed a reply on her phone.

[What do you have to be so arrogant about? Donovan is with me right now. You can spend the night all alone!]

She hit send.

A moment later, a bright red exclamation mark appeared on the screen.

She blocked me!

Faye Hughes erupted in fury. Her nails dug into her palms as she hurled her phone at the ground, smashing it to pieces.

Hearing the commotion, Owen Grant glanced over at her from his chair. "What are you doing? You get in a car accident and still can’t be still! That phone really suffered for being with you."

Donovan Xavier turned his head from the sofa, shot them a look, and said simply, "Quiet."

His voice carried a natural authority.

Liam Keane, who was standing nearby, paused for a few seconds before calmly continuing his work report.

A laptop sat on the table, connected to an overseas video conference. Faye Hughes didn’t understand much English and found the babbling to be as annoying as listening to gibberish.

Donovan lounged on the sofa, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses resting on his nose. He held a coffee cup, his long, slender knuckles lightly tapping the rim. The next second, he frowned slightly, his expression turning cold and sharp, clearly dissatisfied with the proposed plan.

Liam Keane stole a glance at him, sucked in a breath, and immediately fell silent.

This man is impossible. He rejected thirty-two proposals in one night. What on earth will it take to satisfy him? Making a living is tough, and this job is a load of crap!

Donovan said nothing for a moment. He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking somewhat weary.

Right, how is Chloe Preston doing?

He had been incredibly busy all day, diving into one meeting after another the moment he arrived at the office. He had even forgotten to eat. Later, Owen Grant called to say Faye Hughes had been in an accident and was in critical condition, so he had rushed over with Liam. He had been so busy that he had completely forgotten to let Chloe know.

That woman is obedient to a fault. She’s probably still at The Xavier Residence, waiting for me to return. I know she won’t go to sleep until I’m back.

Donovan glanced at the night outside the window and pulled his phone from his pocket, planning to call her. He pressed the power button a few times, but there was no response.

When did the battery die?

"Liam..."

Just as he was about to ask him to charge his phone, Liam Keane suddenly handed him two documents. "Mr. Xavier, these two documents need your signature."

Donovan took them, picked up a pen, and swiftly signed his name. His handwriting was a beautiful, powerful Slender Gold style.

At that moment, a phone rang crisply.

Liam Keane glanced at his phone and answered with a frown. "Hello, who is this? Housekeeper Wallace? Whose Housekeeper Wallace? The Xavier Residence? Wait, you... what did you just say? Alright, alright, I’ll inform Mr. Xavier immediately!"

He hung up and turned anxiously to Donovan. "Mr. Xavier, there’s... a huge problem!"

"Speak."

"Miss Quinn... she’s run away from home!"

Donovan’s hand froze mid-signature. "What did you say?"

"Housekeeper Wallace from The Xavier Residence said Miss Quinn just dragged her suitcase out the door... and left..."

「Meanwhile, at The Xavier Residence.」

Chloe Preston held a large black umbrella with one hand and dragged a large suitcase with the other, heading straight for the main gate. A heavy downpour raged around her, and the cold wind whipped at the soaking cuffs of her pants. It was freezing.

He had abandoned her to be with someone else, so she wasn’t going to stay here and make a fool of herself.

Seeing this, the surrounding servants rushed forward to stop her.

"Miss Quinn, you can’t leave!"

"Miss Quinn, if you go, how will we ever explain this to the master?"

Housekeeper Wallace stood to the side, frantic with worry. She could only pray that her master would return soon.

If he doesn’t get back, his beautiful bride-to-be might actually get away!

But Chloe was determined to leave. "All of you, go back inside. It’s pouring; you’ll get sick!"

The servants shook their heads in unison.

Getting soaked would just mean a high fever. But if she leaves, knowing the master’s temper, he’ll definitely fire us all! Between getting sick and getting paid, we’ll choose the money, as long as we don’t die!

The next second, a group of bodyguards appeared out of nowhere. All of them were tall, robust, and imposing as they blocked her path.

"Miss Quinn, the master has a very bad temper. We advise you to go back obediently. Don’t make him unhappy."

Chloe frowned. "Where did you all come from?"

"The master was afraid you might try to sneak away one day, so he arranged for us to be stationed around The Xavier Residence just in case," one of them replied.

Chloe was furious. "He’s restricting my freedom! How can he be so domineering?"

"Yes," the bodyguard said flatly. "Our master has a penchant for forced love."

Chloe was speechless. "..."

After a standoff of about a minute, she surrendered. She was no match for this group of burly men. She turned around, her pretty face crestfallen, and walked back with a sense of utter defeat.

Alas, entering The Xavier Residence is like diving into a bottomless ocean.

「Twenty-five minutes later...」

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up to the main gate.

Donovan stepped out of the car, and a bodyguard immediately ran forward, holding a large black umbrella over his head. As he walked, Donovan looked at Housekeeper Wallace beside him. "Where is she?"

"She’s still here!" Housekeeper Wallace said. "Miss Quinn was determined to leave, but thankfully, the servants and bodyguards managed to stop her!"

Donovan breathed a sigh of relief and a smile touched his lips. "Well done. For the next six months, everyone’s salary will be tripled."

Housekeeper Wallace was moved to tears.

Could Miss Quinn please run away one more time? We’d like another raise!

Upstairs, Donovan walked to the bedroom door and reached out to open it.

The knob wouldn’t turn. It was locked from the inside.

He knocked on the door. "Chloe Preston, open up. Are you playing games with me again, hmm?"