CEO’s Seduction Trap

Neither of them spoke again.

Afterwards, Mason returned to the point and said, “If it’s convenient, could you ask your mom tomorrow?”

Leila leaned back against the sofa, “About the old house?”

“Yeah.”

Leila frowned, “My mom definitely doesn’t know. The family was in chaos back then; she couldn’t have had the energy to deal with anything else.”

Mason spoke in a deep voice, “I know, I’m not doubting her. I’m just interested in the old house. Aren’t you curious about an old house you’ve never heard of?”

Leila replied honestly, “Not really.”

Mason smiled slightly, his expression unusually serious. “Then just do me a favor.”

Leila couldn’t remember the last time she had seen Mason this serious. She agreed.

To Leila’s surprise, he suddenly stood up and walked to the door. “I’m leaving.”

Before Leila could react, Mason had already left.

Leila stared at the door he had closed, feeling a sense of unreality. What was up with him today?

After confirming that Mason had truly left, Leila picked up her phone to text Shirley: [Mason was here just now. I said those things for him to hear.]

Shirley: [So that’s it. You scared me. Did he believe it?]

Leila: [He heard the last voice message you sent.]

Shirley:[ …]

That night, Leila slept very restlessly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with Mason, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

At seven in the morning, while still asleep, her phone rang.

Elsa’s tearful voice came through, shouting angrily, “Leila, how could you be so cruel? You even laid a hand on your own uncle.”

“Haven’t we already paid you back the $500, 000? What more do you want?”

“I’m telling you, this isn’t over. Just you wait.”

Elsa ranted and raved for a while before hanging up angrily, not giving Leila a chance to respond.

Leila frowned. What’s wrong with her?

After a glass of water, she took a taxi to the hospital.

When Leila arrived, Dasha and Tessa were having breakfast.

Her phone buzzed with a new message.

Mason: [At the hospital?]

Leila thought he was reminding her about the old house. She replied: [Don’t worry, I won’t forget what I promised you.]

Mason: [No, I wanted to tell you. I had someone beat up your uncle. If they give you any trouble, let me know.]

Reading Mason’s message, Leila instantly understood Elsa’s morning call.

No wonder.

Lost in thought, Leila received another message from Mason: [Reply when you get this.]

Leila: [Got it.]

After finishing texting Mason, Tessa went to wash dishes, and Leila walked to Dasha’s bedside, pulled out a chair, and casually asked, “Mom, did you live in our current house with my grandfather when you were young?”

“Yeah,” Dasha replied, patting Leila’s hair. “Missing your grandfather?”

Leila nodded. “A bit.”

“Your grandfather adored you…”

Dasha reminisced about Leila’s childhood, eventually mentioning Darren.

“Your uncle was spoiled by your grandma.”

When Dasha brought up Darren, Leila continued, “Speaking of my uncle, I suddenly remembered something. Years ago, I heard my uncle mention another old house of grandfather’s.”

At the mention of the old house, Dasha’s expression subtly changed.

At that moment, Tessa returned. Dasha awkwardly changed the subject, avoiding the topic.

Watching her mother’s reaction, Leila drew her conclusion.

At noon, while downstairs buying lunch, Leila called Mason.

“Why are you interested in our family’s old house? If you’re investigating the kidnapping case, a location where a kidnapping occurred wouldn’t seem useful.”

She thought Mason wouldn’t tell the truth.

Unexpectedly, Mason stayed silent for a moment. “Many years ago, I saw a photo of my dad’s lover, and the background was that house.”

Mason’s revelation startled Leila.

Mason’s father’s lover had once taken a photo at their family’s old house. All four Ramirez family grandsons were later kidnapped and taken to that house. Could the kidnapping case be connected to that lover?

Seeing Leila silent, Mason teased, “Leila, if my dad’s lover turns out to be one of your relatives, will you feel guilty to me?”

Leila didn’t answer. She was about to end the call when he lazily added, “I spent last night in the car, my whole body aches now.”

After Mason spoke, there was a brief silence on the phone.

“Then have a rest” With that, she tapped the screen and hung up.

Mason chuckled lightly, spinning his phone around, resting his chin on it.

In reality, he hadn’t been in a car at all last night, but at the club.

The next day.

When Leila returned to Neo City, it was already noon.

She had just taken a taxi home when Shirley called.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“Leila, are you back?”

Leila unpacked her suitcase as she replied, “Just got back. What’s up?”

Shirley sounded pitiful. “I’m coming over.”

Leila was surprised. “Didn’t you go to work today?”

“Forget about it. You’ll see when we meet later.”

Shirley arrived an hour later. She was wearing sunglasses and carrying various food items.

“So much… were you starving?” Leila teased.

Shirley shook her head, dumped the things in her hands on the floor, and pulled down her sunglasses, pointing to her dark circles. “My eyes are nearly blind.”

Just as she said that, her phone vibrated. Shirley seemed to have anticipated something, reluctantly pulled out her phone from her pocket.

As expected, Caleb’s message appeared on the screen: [Come to Willow Bistro, bring Leila.]

Considering Caleb and Mason’s relationship, Shirley quickly replied with caution: [Why? Why do I have to bring Leila?]

Caleb replied instantly: [Just helping out.]

Shirley: [What kind of help?]

Caleb: [It’s something you can’t help with anyway, no need for more words.]

Shirley:[ If you don’t explain clearly, I won’t bring Leila.]

Caleb:[ Do you believe I’ll contact Leila directly?]

Frustrated, Shirley glanced at Leila and remembered Leila saying Caleb was her benefactor. She shrugged and looked at Leila. “Caleb wants us to go to Willow Bistro.”

Leila was carrying the things Shirley had bought towards the kitchen. “What’s up?”

Shirley answered truthfully, “Don’t know, he says he needs your help.”

Leila placed the items on the kitchen counter. “What for?”

“He didn’t say,” Shirley replied.

Leila paused, looking puzzled. She picked up her phone and dialed Caleb’s number.

Before Leila could speak, Caleb chuckled on the other end. “Don’t worry, Mason hasn’t been drinking.”

Leila was speechless…

Caleb continued, “Absolutely no women involved, I guarantee.”

After he finished, it seemed someone asked Caleb who was calling, and he joked, “Mason’s girlfriend.”

Listening to this, Leila understood what kind of help it was.

Caleb hung up and sent her a message: [Help.]

Leila pondered for a few seconds. [Mr. Mitchell, I’m not really free right now. Could you find someone else?]

Caleb: [No one else will do. Just consider it helping me out, please.]

Caleb had been Leila’s benefactor years ago.

With Caleb putting it this way, Leila felt if she refused again, it might seem ungrateful.

After hesitating for a while, Leila replied:[ Address.]

Caleb: [Willow Bistro, room 302.]

Caleb had asked her for help, and just from those two sentences he said on the phone earlier, she could guess what it was.

When you owe someone, debts are the hardest to repay, whether they’re financial or favors owed.

Leila sighed softly as she put away her phone. “I need to make a trip to Willow Bistro.”

Shirley looked up. “What for?”

Leila didn’t hold back. “To help Mason out.”

“That scheming man!” Shirley exclaimed, indignant. “I’m coming with you.”…

An hour later, the two appeared at the door of Room 302. Leila raised her hand to knock and pushed the door open.

Inside, smoke filled the air. Leila spotted Mason, his shirt collar slightly open. He lounged lazily in his seat, one hand holding a cigarette over the table and the other toying with his phone. Standing beside him was a man holding a wine glass, nodding and bowing.

The first to notice Leila was Caleb. He got up and guided her to sit at his place, then tapped Mason’s shoulder. “Your girlfriend’s here.”

Caleb’s voice, not loud but perfectly clear.

Hearing Caleb’s words, the group assumed it was a joke.

But the next moment, though Mason didn’t speak, he reached over to the ashtray in front of him, extinguishing his cigarette.

“Have you had lunch?” Mason’s voice was low and deep, but his question showed genuine concern.

Leila replied calmly, “Not yet.”

“What would you like to eat?”

Before Leila could answer, Mason suggested, “Spaghetti?”

Surprised, Leila quickly regained her composure. “Sure.”

As Leila finished speaking, before Mason could say anything, the man standing beside him volunteered, “I’ll go order.”

After saying that, he turned and left. Mason rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows, then served Leila a bowl of soup, placing it in front of her. “Try it.”

Leila lowered her voice, curious. “Is someone trying to set you up with a girlfriend?”

“Do I need someone to set me up with a girlfriend?”

Leila retorted, “So, what’s Mr. Mitchell got me helping you with?”

Mason teased, “You believe what he says?”

“Do you think all men are as honest as me?”

Leila was lost at words.