CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: ETHAN GRANT RUSHES OVERNIGHT TO MONTVILLE

On the way back, Yvette Aston fell asleep leaning against the window.

Henry Jennings signaled his assistant to turn up the warm air and turned off the music, driving quietly and steadily.

"President Jennings, I found out... Miss Aston secretly escaped to Montville by herself. It seems that The Aston Family and the Grant Family aren’t planning to let her go just like that. I heard Jayden Grant is forcing her to marry the son of the Grant family’s steward, who is a mental patient. She reported it to the police and then fled."

Ben Ziegler’s voice was somewhat hoarse.

He didn’t understand why all the world’s malice was concentrated on this kind-hearted woman.

Henry Jennings’ face looked grim, his eyes dark as he gazed out the car window.

"Back then, Miss Aston must have been blind to like someone like Jayden Grant, she made a poor choice..." Ben Ziegler sighed.

Six years ago, he already felt Jayden Grant wasn’t worthy of Yvette Aston.

But at that time, Yvette Aston had only Jayden Grant in her heart and eyes.

"It was an accident that Miss Aston appeared at the club. A business supervisor named Holly Ziegler at the club was a prison mate of Miss Aston. Because the club was understaffed for the business dinner, Holly Ziegler asked Miss Aston to help. Initially, she was a hostess, but since Miss Aston couldn’t drink, Holly Ziegler was kind enough to let her work at the front desk."

Henry Jennings frowned as he looked at Yvette Aston. If he hadn’t recognized her at the club, she might have suffered more.

"Miss Aston is currently staying in the apartment provided by the club with Holly Ziegler, and the living conditions aren’t particularly good," Ben Ziegler said softly.

"Let’s go home." Henry Jennings didn’t intend to let Yvette Aston continue squeezing into a small rental apartment with others.

"To Ninth Manor or..." Ben Ziegler was uncertain.

Over the years, Henry Jennings had many women, most of whom went to the manor. Even Lynn Chase, who had been with Henry for the longest time, always met at the manor.

Henry Jennings had never taken any woman to his own home.

"Back to Imperial Orchid Bay."

Ben Ziegler was surprised, turning back to look at Henry Jennings as if to confirm.

Without further comment, Henry Jennings let Ben Ziegler drive them back.

That was Henry Jennings’ own residence, where no woman had ever been.

Looking at the sleeping Yvette Aston, Henry Jennings rubbed his temples; this time, he really wouldn’t let her go easily.

...

Meridia.

Caden Summers’ auto repair shop.

Summers sat in the yard, playing with a Rubik’s cube. He’s only five years old, but he’s especially quick with it.

"Kid, where are the adults in your family?" A man driving a van stopped and glanced in from outside the iron gate.

Summers looked up. "Uncle went to work, no repairs today."

Caden Summers had gone to work as a bodyguard for a wealthy family, working one day and resting the next.

Today, Summers was home alone.

The man looked around. "Kid, I’ve got candy here. You open the door for Uncle, and Uncle will take you to play."

Summers looked at the man. "You can’t eat candy from strangers, and I won’t go out with you. Are you a human trafficker?"

The man was shocked at the little kid. "Hey, who taught you that? Uncle is just kindly offering you candy."

"Then, Uncle, I’ve got candy here too. Do you dare to eat it?" Summers put down the Rubik’s cube and asked.

The man laughed; the kid was quite clever. "You open the door, and Uncle really isn’t a trafficker, just wants to take you somewhere."

Seeing Summers ignoring him, the man frowned and got back in the van, intending to smash open the iron gate.

Someone had paid him to take the kid away; he was just doing a job for money.

Just as he was about to drive into the door, a black car pulled to the side of the road.

Seeing someone coming, the man quickly drove away.

Christopher Carter stepped out of the car, eyeing the van suspiciously.

Without thinking much, Christopher Carter approached with snacks. "Summers."

Seeing it was Christopher Carter, Summers happily ran over. "Uncle."

"Mr. Grant asked me to bring you food."

Summers bit his lip, asking quietly, "Is Daddy not coming?"

"Mr. Grant is busy. It’s nice he remembers you, little rascal." Christopher Carter smiled, squatting down to rub Summers’ head through the gate. "I’ve arranged your school enrollment, Summers. Tomorrow, Caden Summers will take you to school. Study well, and don’t open the door for strangers."

Summers obediently nodded.

Suddenly remembering something, Summers quickly ran inside, bringing out a carefully folded paper. "This is a gift for Daddy."

Summers really tried hard to gain Ethan Grant’s affection; he truly wanted Ethan Grant to be his father.

Christopher Carter took the paper, sighed, and didn’t correct the child’s address. "Mr. Grant and I are going on a business trip to Montville tomorrow. Be good at home."

"Will Uncle bring Mom back too?" Summers missed his mom.

"Yes," Christopher Carter nodded.

They had already found out Yvette Aston likely went to Montville, and Ethan Grant was heading there early to look for her.

Recently, Jayden Grant and Stellan Aston had gone crazy looking for Yvette Aston, and Ethan was worried they might harm the child.

Given Jayden and Stellan’s ways of doing things, they might use the child to force Yvette Aston back.

"Uncle, you promised." Summers’ eyes reddened.

Christopher Carter paused, then nodded. "Summers, think if your mom has any friends in Montville."

Summers thought for a bit, looking up at Christopher Carter. "Mom has a friend named Holly, she got out before Mom and came to see me. I remember her phone number."

Summers had an excellent memory, especially for numbers.

Christopher Carter was amazed at Summers’ intelligence and asked him to write down the number.

Leaving the snacks, Christopher Carter got into the car, unfolded the picture Summers had drawn, and felt oddly touched.

Summers had drawn two adults holding a child’s hand in between.

Dad held an umbrella, sheltering him and Mom from the wind and rain.

Even in the drawing, it was evident that the child desperately longed for a complete family.

...

Montville, airport.

Ethan Grant arrived early in Montville without informing Henry Jennings.

"Did you find the address?" Ethan Grant asked in a low voice.

"Holly Ziegler’s place is in the dorms at The Nightfall Club, in Ember District."

Christopher Carter called a car and went directly to Holly Ziegler’s place.

"It’s already dawn, why hasn’t this woman gone home yet," Christopher Carter muttered. "Holly Ziegler is a night-club hostess."

Ethan Grant frowned. "To The Nightfall Club!"

Christopher Carter froze for a moment. "Mr. Grant... if you go directly to The Nightfall Club, that’s Apex’s venue. President Jennings will surely find out."

"Don’t make me repeat myself." Ethan Grant was inexplicably irritable; had Yvette Aston also gone to be a hostess?

Not daring to say more, Christopher Carter drove straight to the club.

At dawn, the nightlife at the club was just beginning.

"Hello, is there a woman named Yvette Aston here?" Christopher Carter asked at the front desk.

The night-duty receptionist shook her head. "Don’t know her."

"What about Holly Ziegler?" Christopher Carter asked again.

"Are you asking about Holly? She’s with a client and can’t come to see you, sorry." The receptionist looked troubled. "Holly is with some important people tonight, so..."

Holly was entertaining Mr. Ziegler and his group.

"Room number." Ethan Grant didn’t wait in the car, striding into the club.

The receptionist was shocked by Ethan Grant’s aura and appearance, stammering, "You... you are... Meridia’s Mr. Grant?"

"Where’s Holly Ziegler?" Christopher Carter asked again.

"Room 3688."

Ethan Grant, with a grim expression, headed straight for the elevator.

The receptionist panicked, thinking she must have seen wrong. Ethan Grant... he was even more formidable than President Jennings.

Trembling, she quickly picked up the phone and called the manager.