Chapter 356

His intentions were written all over his face.

Julian’s plan had backfired. He turned to leave, his disappointment palpable. “All right, I get it.”

Sienna watched him drag his feet toward the door. Her gaze landed on a book on the nightstand. Her pupils trembled slightly. It was Parenting Knowledge. Sienna was speechless. He’s not even trying to be subtle.

Julian kept looking back, his reluctance obvious. Sienna knew he was waiting for her to call him back. She had to admit, he had taken very good care of her last night.

But I have to find Winifred tomorrow morning. No distractions? Sienna thought.

Sienna let out a heavy sigh, determination flashing in her eyes, then turned—only to see Julian still standing there.

Finally, she caved. “You can stay, but keep your hands to yourself. Or you’re out.”

At that, Julian strode back to the bed, slipped under the covers, and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Deal.”

She missed the triumphant glint in his eyes and the smirk playing on his lips.

Holding her, feeling the silkiness of her skin against his, he swallowed hard. His hand crept onto her stomach, stroking it gently.

Sienna pushed his hand away. “Julian, you’ve changed,” she said coldly.

He flushed, knowing exactly what she meant. “I won’t move again.”

She looked at him, then yanked his other hand out from under her. “And what’s this hand doing?”

Julian was at a loss for words. “I’m sorry, I promise…”

The sharp click of the lock cut him off. He stood in the hallway, rubbing his nose.

Sienna stretched out on the large bed, enjoying the space. So much better alone.

Julian had no choice but to go to the adjacent room. Clark Vance, half-asleep, opened his eyes to a shadowy figure standing by the door and just about jumped out of his skin.

He let out a terrified shriek. “A ghost! There’s a ghost!”

Julian flipped on the light. “It’s me.”

Clark, still shaken, clutched the blanket. “Sir, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? You almost scared me to death!”

The room had two large beds. All the other rooms on the second floor were occupied by Sienna’s people, so if he didn’t want to go downstairs, this was his only option.

“Going to sleep,” Julian replied.

Watching Julian lie down on the other bed, Clark sat up, his curiosity piqued. “Sir, did Mrs. Ford kick you out?”

Julian pulled the covers up and turned his back to him. “No one asked you.”

That only made Clark more intrigued. “So she did? You really got kicked out? Come on, sir, what happened?”

“Can’t a man get some space?” Julian snapped, though it sounded defensive.

Clark raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

“Sir, I have a wild theory.”

Chapter 357

Julian’s patience snapped. “I have a wild theory, too. How do you think you’d feel if you didn’t get a paycheck for the next three years?”

Clark immediately pulled the covers over his head. “So tired, sir. Good night.”

Julian lay there, wondering if he’d lost his touch. Why was she so indifferent?

Seduction attempt: failed.

Guess she doesn’t fall for that sort of thing, he thought. Which was probably for the best. It meant she wouldn’t fall for anyone else’s tricks, either.

Fay Santos received the message and smiled. Find her in three hours. Winifred really is important to the boss.

Fay timed it perfectly, sending a message back to Lana just a second before the three-hour mark. [She’s fine, but she’s on high alert. We can’t get close to her just yet.]

Lana: [Don’t hurt her. Tell her who you are, she won’t attack you. Once you meet, have her message the boss.]

Fay: [Got it.]

Fay looked up at the room, pondering. “How can I leverage this to my advantage?”

An idea sparked.

The next day, Winifred was brought onto a yacht and confined to a luxurious suite with guards posted outside her door.

I can’t just sit here and wait, she thought.

“Help! I don’t feel well! Get a doctor in here, quickly!” Winifred began.

Winifred’s pained cries sent the guards scrambling into the room. Fay had ordered them not to neglect her in any way.

“Are you okay? Just a moment, we’ll get the doctor.” One of the guards said.

“Go get the doctor!” Winifred said.

“Right.”

One of the six guards was gone, leaving five. These guys are professionals, Winifred thought. They’re not just some random thugs.

Winifred saw her chance, darting through a gap between them and bolting. A direct fight was pointless; escaping was the only priority.

“After her!” One of the guards barked.

“Stop! You can’t get away!” Another shouted.

Winifred sprinted to the elevator. It needed a key card, but luckily, she had a skeleton key card of her own.

As the elevator ascended toward the 39th floor, the guards immediately notified Fay.

Amidst the crowd on the upper deck, Winifred spotted a woman applying makeup in the restroom. She knocked her out, changed into her crimson dress, let her own hair down, and used the woman’s makeup to disguise herself.

Once she was done, she used the woman’s phone to call Ryan Lowell for backup.

“Find her! Search everywhere!” Fay barked.

“The boss said she changed clothes! She’s in a crimson dress! You, there! Stop!”

“That’s her! Surround her!”

Winifred cursed under her breath. So much for the disguise.

She ran out onto the deck with the guards hot on her heels. Fay walked out slowly to meet her.

“Winifred, I’m not going to hurt you. Just come with me. Don’t—”

Before Fay could finish, Winifred leaped over the railing and into the ocean. His composure finally cracked, a flicker of panic in his eyes.

“Get her out of the water!” Fay barked.

“Yes, sir!”

The moment Winifred heard her name, she knew her cover was completely blown. She couldn’t stay.

She swam decisively toward another nearby yacht.

She hauled herself aboard, only to find Fay’s people were already there.

Winifred was dumbfounded. Do these people have superpowers or something? Unbelievable. I can’t shake them.

Desperate, Winifred shoved open the nearest cabin door and stumbled inside. A man sitting inside, smoking a cigarette, looked up in surprise and stood.

“Who the hell are you? How’d you get in here?” The man asked.

Winifred was soaked to the bone, the makeup washed away to reveal a strikingly beautiful, impassive face. She stared at the man before her.

He wore a black trench coat, his sharp eyes holding a lazy, challenging gaze. A cigarette smoldered between his fingers, and an expensive-looking signet ring adorned his thumb. He had a rugged, roguish charm, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

He stepped toward her. “Hey, I asked you a question. Who are you, and how did you get in?” Sean Lecter demanded coldly.

Winifred shot back, “Shut up.”

From her tone, Sean figured she was in trouble and looking for a place to hide. But he hated getting involved in other people’s problems.

“Get out,” he said coldly.