Chapter 196
Chapter 196
Chapter 196 Three Days Of Detainment And Thirty Lashes
The two of them, one leading and the other following, arrived at a secluded corner near the villa’s back door.
“Why do you have such a solemn expression on, Mr. Wright? What do you want to talk about?” asked Justin.
“There’s no need for pretense in front of me. I know you have ulterior motives for being by Gwendolyn’s side.”
Instantly, a wicked grin spread across Justin’s face.
“Since you’ve realized it, my apologies!”
He covertly reached for a small knife at his waist, swiftly aiming to stab Maverick’s throat.
Maverick skillfully took a half-step back.
Within three swift moves, he had Justin subdued.
Justin’s hands were forcefully restrained behind his back, causing him to fear that his arms would be dislocated. The pain was so excruciating that his complexion grew pale.
“Just kill me. I won’t be able to fulfill the assigned mission anyway. Sooner or later, I will meet my demise,” he uttered.
Maverick chuckled softly and released him, saying, “Why would I want to kill you? I am here simply to have a conversation with you. I have no interest in you or your life.”
Justin couldn’t understand the man’s intentions.
“Don’t you truly love Ms. Shalders? I was sent here to harm her. Now that you have exposed my true identity, why aren’t you making a move?” he asked in puzzlement.
Maverick gazed at the man with deep, intense eyes and remarked, “You have feelings for her, don’t you?”
Instantly, Justin’s face flushed crimson.
“N-No… How could I!”
Maverick had always been astute in discerning a man’s intentions.
Ever since he realized his love for Gwendolyn, he discovered a newfound ability to perceive, from a man’s gaze, whether or not they harbored feelings for her.
“You must have feelings for her. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have concealed your intentions for such a long time without taking action. There’s no need to hide it any longer. Tell me your plan, and perhaps I can assist you in resolving the matter,” Maverick proposed.
Justin locked gazes with Maverick, finding himself strangely drawn to the man’s aura.
He recognized that Maverick was no ordinary individual, and it appeared that discussing a solution with him was the only viable course of action.
There was nothing Justin could do but take the leap of faith and trust Maverick this once.
At that, Justin began to say, “Three days later in the evening, they want me to lure Ms. Shalders to an abandoned warehouse in the eastern suburbs. This time, they have arranged numerous ambushes, and the mysterious man in black whom Ms. Shalders has been investigating will also make an appearance. If Ms. Shalders goes, I’m afraid the odds will be against her.”
He then let out a sigh and continued, “Ms. Shalders is the only one who genuinely cares for me, and I cannot bear to cause her harm. However, if she doesn’t perish, I will. I am under constant surveillance and cannot escape. Do you have a plan, Mr. Wright?”
Maverick contemplated for a moment, his dark eyes composed and unwavering.
He narrowed his gaze and spoke, “Inform them that you will handle it. I will keep this matter undisclosed to Gwendolyn, and you need not disclose it to her either.”
“Huh?” Justin was taken aback. “So, three days later…”
Maverick’s serene eyes gleamed. “I shall undertake this task.”
In the afternoon, Maverick refrained from venturing outside.
Instead, he diligently cleaned the entire villa, ensuring that every chore was meticulously completed.
As the time approached for Gwendolyn to finish her work, he made his way to the kitchen and commenced the preparation of their dinner.
These remaining days by her side were dwindling, and he yearned to present her with an assortment of delectable dishes each day.
Even if she wouldn’t miss his presence, perhaps her stomach would retain memories of him.
With this thought in mind, a faint smile graced his lips.
Suddenly, his phone rang, indicating an incoming message.
Glancing at it, he discovered a text from Nico, containing only an exclamation mark.
Maverick’s smile suddenly froze, and his countenance involuntarily turned grave.
It was a covert signal, indicating an urgent matter at hand.
Maverick glanced at his wristwatch. There were still forty minutes before Gwendolyn finished work, so he quietly drove to the suburbs, where Charles was being held.
Nico paced anxiously along the roadside, anticipating his arrival.
Upon spotting Maverick’s approaching vehicle, Nico hastened and took the passenger seat.
In a hushed tone, he whispered into Maverick’s ear, “Boss, someone from Salinsburgh has arrived!”
Maverick’s brow furrowed.
Why did this have to happen precisely at this moment!
His visage retained its solemnity as he ignited the car’s engine and directed it toward the designated meeting spot mentioned by Nico.
They continued to advance toward the desolate construction site. Maverick was leading the way with Nico closely following behind, both proceeding in silence. They entered the most secluded and dilapidated house inside.
Upon Maverick’s entry, Gwendolyn received a call from Elven.
Elven meticulously recounted the man’s peculiar whereabouts, sparing no details.
Gwendolyn inquired suspiciously, “Where did he go? Did you see anyone else inside? What were they discussing?”
“I couldn’t get close enough to see. There are guards stationed within a fifty-meter radius of the hidden areas in the construction site, and their numbers are quite significant. I couldn’t approach unnoticed,” Elven responded.
Gwendolyn fell into a brief silence.
Why did Maverick go to the construction site all of a sudden, and who is he meeting?
The presence of guards only confirmed the gravity of his secret.
“All right, I understand. I’ll go over and take a look shortly.”
Meanwhile, Maverick and Nico ventured into the dilapidated house.
Three men were already present in the room. Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
The leader, a man in his forties, noticed Maverick’s arrival. His face lit up with a smile, and he respectfully nodded toward the latter.
“Greetings, Mr. Wright.”
Maverick’s countenance exuded an aura of chilling intensity as he questioned, “What’s the matter, Logan?”
The man, Logan Larouche, put on a solemn expression as he earnestly explained, “There’s turmoil in the family. We need your immediate presence to take control of the situation.”
Immediately? Why such haste?
Without hesitation, Maverick responded, “No, I can’t come with you. I have personal matters to attend to in Fairlake. I’ll return on my own in a few days.”
Logan’s visage grew grimmer by the second. “Mr. Wright, this is an urgent recall order. You must come with me. Old Mr. Wright believes this is the prime opportunity for you to win people’s favor and solidify your position of authority!”
Maverick fell silent.
He thought he could spend the remaining seven days by Gwendolyn’s side, but it seemed even that was too much to ask for.
He suppressed the frustration in his heart and recalled the plan Justin had mentioned in the morning.
“Give me three more days. I have one final task to complete. After that, I will personally return to offer my apologies,” said Maverick.
Wearing a grim expression on his visage, Logan persuaded, “Mr. Wright, you are aware of how strict our household rules are. Defying the urgent recall order will result in severe punishment. Are you aware of the consequences you will face today?”
Still, Maverick remained calm and composed. “I understand. Three days of detainment and thirty lashes.”
With ease, he loosened his tie with one hand, his well-defined fingers swiftly unbuttoning his clothes. He then removed his suit and shirt, handing them casually to Nico.
“Boss…”
Nico caught the clothes firmly, his eyes filled with concern.
What if he can’t endure it and the suppressed virus inside his body relapses!
Maverick remained indifferent. He turned away, kneeling on one knee with a proud and straight posture, his back muscles strong and defined. His voice carried a hint of defiance as he said, “Go on. Strike me.”
Logan sighed deeply, acknowledging, “Old Mr. Wright truly understands you well. He knew that you would want to delay and not return immediately.”
The bodyguard standing silently at the side stepped forward and presented a precious black sandalwood box.
Logan slowly opened the box, revealing the whip he had brought from the meeting room.
The whip was long and dark, adorned with intertwining golden threads. Its surface was covered with small barbs, guaranteeing that each strike would draw blood, even without maximum force. It was a severe form of punishment.
“Mr. Wright, there is unrest within the family, and the situation is urgent. I must ask you once more, do you truly insist on staying for three more days?”
Without a moment of hesitation, Maverick affirmed, “Yes.”
“Very well, Mr. Wright. Do not blame me for being firm. Rules must not be broken, and I… am willing but bound by duty.”
Maverick let out a soft, understanding hum.
In truth, he harbored deep dissatisfaction with these regulations and vowed himself to drive change.
After eradicating the stubborn elders in the family and establishing his absolute authority, the very first action he would undertake was to abolish the meeting room and discard all those antiquated, rigid rules.
While he lost in his thoughts, a piercing gust of wind suddenly swept in from behind him.