Free Web NovelChapter 246: Chapter 249: I Miss You So Much
"Oh my god, an insider just revealed that the Preston Group plagiarism incident was a malicious setup by Ethan Lockwood..."
"What a huge scoop! Ethan Lockwood of the Lockwood Group was exposed for maliciously framing Felix Preston for plagiarism..."
"My god, is this for real? Ethan Lockwood was exposed for conspiring with Azure Studio to deliberately frame Felix Preston..."
"Ethan Lockwood kicked the Preston Group while they were down! Damn, is real corporate warfare this terrifying...?"
The internet was flooded with news about Ethan Lockwood deliberately framing the Preston Group. Felix Preston scrolled through a few videos, and every single one was from a clickbait account reporting on the matter.
The netizens in the comments section were trying to outdo each other with vile insults.
[Ethan Lockwood, your mom is dead.]
[You goddamn bastard, can you just leave Felix Preston and Bloom Preston alone? How did the young couple ever offend you? Did you really have to drive them to their doom?]
[You feral animal with no upbringing... Get the hell off this planet!]
[Ethan Lockwood, you’re just a social climber who rode a woman’s coattails to the top. Where the hell do you get the nerve to target our Felix Preston? I fucking want to slap you into a pile of dog shit!]
[You shady piece of shit, are you just jealous of Felix Preston’s handsome looks and immense talent? After all, the Preston Group was just a startup project he created out of boredom in college!]
[Heh, don’t just look at the Lockwood Group being Aethelburg’s Number 1 now. Compared to the Preston Group in its prime, they’re like a mosquito trying to take on a cannon.]
There were many more comments like these. Felix Preston scrolled through them for a moment before turning off his phone.
"Mmm..."
Wilder Preston was a restless sleeper, always tossing and turning with little whimpers.
Felix Preston turned on his side to face Wilder, raising a hand to gently pat the boy’s belly.
"Mmm..." Wilder whimpered again, his little brow furrowed. His short, chubby hands pawed at his belly a couple of times, and when he accidentally brushed against Felix, he instinctively opened his palm and grabbed his father’s finger.
With something finally clutched in his palm, Wilder Preston was content, and his brow relaxed in relief.
"Haa... hoo..."
His mouth was slightly agape as he slept sweetly, letting out a soft snore every now and then.
"Hmph," Felix Preston looked at the impish little bundle and couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
"You little rascal," he whispered, wiggling the finger that Wilder was gripping tightly.
Wilder, deep in sleep, didn’t react, not even bothering to stir.
Felix Preston gazed at his son’s chubby cheeks, the light clearly illuminating the fine layer of downy hair on his skin.
"Little rascal, do you miss your mommy?"
The corners of Felix Preston’s lips curved into a smile, but his eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"..."
Wilder was sound asleep and couldn’t answer his question. So, he answered it himself.
"I do."
"I miss her so much."
He missed her so much that he didn’t dare close his eyes, didn’t dare go to sleep in their room.
He had thought intense longing would bring impulsiveness and breakdowns, but he never expected that when his yearning for Charlotte Shaw reached its peak, the first emotion to surface would be fear.
He was afraid of being alone, afraid of seeing things related to Charlotte Shaw, afraid of returning to their room. So much so that he had forced himself to stay awake for a day and a night, still not daring to close his eyes and sleep.
If Wilder hadn’t been with him, he would have felt a sense of panic just lying there quietly.
"Charlotte, are you okay?" He raised his right hand, looking at the simple, shining wedding ring on his finger as he asked in a choked voice.
...
The room was silent. His Charlotte couldn’t answer his question.
He gave a bitter smile. He wanted to ask something else, but he felt the questions weren’t right.
Charlotte Shaw wasn’t the type to give up and wallow in despair. Even if Willow Quincy had her locked up, she would definitely be trying everything to escape. That’s why Felix Preston didn’t want to ask such miserable questions; Charlotte wouldn’t like them either.
"Charlotte, you have to eat well, sleep well, and take care of yourself. Stay in the best possible shape," he said, forcing a bit more strength into his voice so he wouldn’t sound so pathetic.
"Who the hell does Willow Quincy think he is? He can forget about taking you from me. You have to be okay over there, and I’ll be okay over here."
"I’ll take good care of Sandy, take care of Mom and Dad, and I’ll deal with everyone who needs to be dealt with, just as we planned! And I’ll personally find Willow Quincy’s lair and bring you home!"
"..."
His Charlotte couldn’t hear his words or give him any answer, but she would quietly grant him a sweet dream, letting him rest up before preparing for what was to come.
...
「Daylight streamed in. It was already ten-thirty in the morning.」
But Charlotte Shaw was still huddled under the covers, with no intention of getting up.
"Sonia?" Aunt Bell stood outside the door, calling for Charlotte Shaw to get up for the fifth time.
"Sonia, are you awake? Do you want some breakfast?"
"..."
There was no sound from the room.
"Sonia?" Aunt Bell raised her right hand, debating whether to knock.
"Is Sonia not awake yet?"
Willow Quincy’s voice suddenly sounded from behind her.
Aunt Bell jumped, quickly retracting her hand and stepping aside for Willow Quincy.
"Not yet. I’ve called several times, but Sonia hasn’t answered."
"If she hasn’t answered, it means she’s not awake yet." Willow Quincy glanced at her, his expression blank. "Sonia has always loved to sleep in, especially in the winter. It’s cold outside, so she loves to stay burrowed in her blankets and not get up."
"Then... then should I take breakfast in?" Aunt Bell asked, uncertain.
"Take it in," said Willow Quincy. "Sonia will eat it herself when she’s hungry."
"Then I’ll go bring the breakfast up now," Aunt Bell replied.
With that, she turned and left, walking quickly downstairs.
Willow Quincy took two steps forward, raised his hand to the doorknob, and gently pressed down—
The lock didn’t budge.
"Hmph..." Willow Quincy raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips. He then reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a black key.
He inserted the key into the lock, turned it to the left twice, and the door opened with ease.
"...How did you open it?" Charlotte Shaw was already sitting up in bed, staring at him in terror.
He dangled the key in his hand, saying smugly, "I’ve modified all the doors in this villa. No matter how you lock them, I can open them with a key."
"..."
Charlotte Shaw glared at him resentfully for a moment before burying her head back under the covers.
"Psycho..."
Willow Quincy wasn’t angered by the insult; instead, he chuckled cheerfully.
"Is Sonia hungry? Want to eat something before you go back to sleep?"
"Get out!" Charlotte Shaw snapped.
"I’m not leaving," said Willow Quincy. "Get up first, Sonia. I have something to show you."
