Chapter 17: Urgent Matter(1)
Back at the company, the day extended into the evening, keeping Willis busy.
Willis loosened his tie, his gaze cold as he looked at his assistant, “Did you find what I asked you to?”
The assistant replied, “Mr. Santana, Alick doesn’t have a nickname. His family calls him Alick or just Alick.”
Willis’s eyes showed a hint of disinterest, as if he had expected this.
Jay was the man buried deep in Helena’s heart. Before the divorce, she wouldn’t easily be involved with him.
She was still young but always acted with discretion.
Willis pushed the chair back, stood up, and fastened the suit button with one hand, saying, “Go in my place for the dinner tonight; I have something to attend to.”
“Alright, Mr. Santana.” The assistant began gathering the documents on the table.
Leaving the Santana Tower, Willis drove to Antique Street.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky darkened.
Sitting in his car, Willis called Helena, “I’m outside your shop. Come out.”
Helena’s voice sounded mildly surprised over the phone, “We’re having dinner outside, a colleague gathering.”
“Who’s there?”
“All the colleagues from the shop.”
“Is Alick there too?”
“Yes, he’s the young master of our shop.”
Thinking of the way the two of them had laughed and chatted at noon, Willis felt a subtle discomfort in his heart. Nevertheless, his voice remained calm, “Call me after dinner; I’ll come to pick you up.”
“Thank you.” Her tone was restrained and distant, deliberately creating distance between them.
Feeling a bit uneasy listening to this, Willis tightened his grip on the phone.
After ending the call, he dialed Yale’s number, “Come out for a drink.”
“My goodness, drinking already at this hour?” Yale’s lazy and languid tone came through, as if he hadn’t woken up yet.
Willis’s voice was sharp and decisive, “Bring the official seal and the land sale contract. Be at Today’s Drunk within half an hour, or the offer is void.”
Yale shook off his drowsiness, “Alright! Brother, I’ll be there soon!”
Half an hour later, at Today’s Drunk, Wonderland.
The room was crowded with people, bustling with activity-signing contracts, completing procedures, transferring funds.
Once the tasks were done, everyone left, leaving only Willis and Yale.
The fair and handsome young man lounged lazily, his arm casually draped over the back of the chair, a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes assessing Willis, “Feeling bad?”
Willis took a sip of his drink, nonchalant, “Not really.”
His hand holding the wine glass was slender and pale, almost unbelievably exquisite.
Yale teased, “Most people would find some pleasure with women when they’re in a bad mood. But look at you, buying land on such a grand scale. Next time you’re feeling down, remember to find me. My old man still has several pieces of land in his hands.”
“Stop taking me for a fool. I had planned to sign this contract anyway, just a week earlier than intended.” Willis put down the wine glass.
Picking up a porcelain bottle, Yale poured him more liquor, “Heard Susan returned to the country. Are you two getting close lately?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Willis lifted an eyebrow, “What do you want to say?”
“Helena is a good girl. Don’t let her down.” For once, Yale looked serious, his eyes focused on Willis.
Willis lightly tapped the tabletop, his smile faint, “When I wanted to marry her back then, who was it that thought she wasn’t good enough, saying she didn’t match up to me? Now, how has that changed?”
“At that time, I thought she was just after wealth, willing to marry anyone for money. Later, I found out it wasn’t true. She genuinely cared for you. Most gold diggers run off as soon as they get some money. They wouldn’t stick around to take care of you for so long.”
Willis’s deep eyes turned black and solemn, “She is quite good.”
“Then why…”
Willis lowered his gaze, staring at the clear liquor in the glass, his tone extremely light, “She’s an excellent young lady. Three years ago, she was forced to marry me because her family needed money. Although she doesn’t say it, she must have felt wronged. I’ve made her endure this for three years, and I don’t want to see her continue to suffer.”
Yale was astonished, “Just for this, you want to divorce her?”
“Something like that.”
Yale sighed with regret, “Such a good girl, are you really letting her go?”
“What else can I do?” Willis’s face remained calm, but a hint of dark shadow lingered in his eyes.
He couldn’t bear to keep her by his side forever, watching her suffer from nightmares, crying out for her Jay brother in her dreams.
He couldn’t bear to see her in pain.