Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Lynn’s Daughter is Your Wife?

Sophie Shaw slumped languidly over the table, her voice just as lazy. "In your dreams, Mr. Blackwood."

A low chuckle rumbled in Alaric Blackwood’s throat. "It seems my wife isn’t hungry yet."

She looked up at him, her eyes full of grievance. "I’m hungry."

The man seized the opportunity, leaning in close. "Give me a kiss, and I’ll go down and make you something to eat."

Suspecting he was making a lewd joke, Sophie Shaw refused to indulge him and buried her face in her arms.

She held her ground, and in the end, it was Alaric Blackwood who caved.

A short while later, the man brought out a bowl of wonton noodles.

Lured by the aroma, Sophie Shaw slowly lifted her head to see a steaming bowl of wonton noodles. The broth was light, yet it exuded a tantalizing fragrance.

Alaric Blackwood pushed the bowl and chopsticks in front of her. "Weren’t you starving, Your Highness? Eat up."

She was inwardly delighted, and a small smile graced her face. "Thanks, honey."

Her "honey" was incredibly sweet, with a touch of coyness. Alaric Blackwood raised an eyebrow slightly, masking his inner delight as he pulled out the adjacent chair, sat down, and lit a cigarette.

Sophie Shaw didn’t worry much about her image in front of him. When she was hungry, she ate heartily and didn’t put on any airs.

She finished all the wontons and noodles, even drinking every last drop of the broth.

Once finished, she flopped back onto the table, a look of pure satisfaction on her face as she started to doze off.

Alaric Blackwood took the bowl to the kitchen. On his way out, he scooped up the drowsy Sophie Shaw, carried her to the living room, and laid her on the sofa. He draped a blanket over her, letting her sleep in peace.

Her head resting on one throw pillow and her arms wrapped around another, she was fast asleep in moments.

Alaric Blackwood sat on the sofa across from her, took out his phone, and snapped a picture. He then sent it to Nina Halloway, who was still filming in Pinewood.

She happened to be free and replied instantly: [Still haven’t kicked that habit of taking candid photos?]

Alaric Blackwood scoffed. [I’m taking a picture of my own wife. How is that a candid shot?]

Nina Halloway: [So all those photos in your album aren’t candid shots?]

’They were candid shots!’

But he hadn’t been lying when he told Sophie Shaw he liked photography.

Back in school, he had loved old-fashioned film cameras. Every single photograph he had of her was one he had developed by hand in his own darkroom.

Even after moving into Maplewood Estate, he had kept a darkroom for developing film. He just rarely picked up a camera anymore.

Nina Halloway: [Mom said she was going to expose your secret. She secretly gave the photo album to your wife.]

When Nina Halloway’s next message came through, he smiled thoughtfully. Instead of wasting time typing, he simply called her.

Nina Halloway answered immediately. "Sophie Shaw must have seen the photos by now, right?"

"Yeah, she saw them."

"So, has there been any progress between you two?"

"Significant progress."

"Congrats, little bro."

"Don’t congratulate me just yet. Your agent contacted me. They said you’ve been receiving threatening letters."

Nina Halloway brushed it off. "It’s most likely just an obsessive fan trying to scare me."

"Don’t take it lightly."

"I reported it to the police, but since nothing has actually happened, there’s nothing they can do."

"Why did you get rid of your bodyguards?"

"I didn’t like the ones the agency arranged. I want to hire my own."

’The one bodyguard Nina had kept was a complete fool, but she couldn’t be left with no one, so she was just keeping him around for now.’

"Someone recommended a candidate for a new bodyguard. When I get back, I’ll interview them myself."

Alaric Blackwood hummed in acknowledgment before getting to the point. "Jaden tells me you’ve been ignoring him."

"I don’t want to affect the shooting schedule. Once filming wraps, I’ll meet with him and we’ll have a proper talk."

"Do you need me to beat him up for you?"

"Yes. And don’t you go easy on him. Give him a good, hard beating for me."

"Alright."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Alaric Blackwood ended his call with Nina Halloway and walked to the entryway.

Through the video intercom, he recognized the black Bentley parked in front of the gate as Yuri’s.

The man in the driver’s seat was none other than Yuri himself.

The man stuck a hand out the window and waved at the intercom camera.

Alaric Blackwood buzzed him in, then opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch steps. His expression was placid as he watched Yuri park the car and get out.

"Working so hard you don’t even take Saturdays off, Mr. Yates? I’m surprised you managed to find my home."

The man walked toward him, his expression cold. "Coffee. Thanks."

With that, Yuri strode up the steps, intending to enter the house.

Alaric Blackwood raised a hand to block him. "I didn’t invite you in."

"What, you expect me to discuss business with you out here in the yard?"

"I don’t discuss business on my day off."

"Then let’s just call it a chat between friends."

Yuri took another step forward, but Alaric Blackwood grabbed his arm, stopping him again. "Today isn’t a good time."

"Mr. Blackwood, you played me on the Dragonstone Mall deal. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?"

"Business is war. I’m sure you understand the principle of ’you snooze, you lose,’ Mr. Yates."

"Is the contract signed?"

"We sign on Monday."

"How did you convince Mr. Drake to sell you Dragonstone Mall?"

"Maybe it was my sincerity."

Yuri laughed in exasperation. "Sincerity? Who are you kidding?"

Alaric Blackwood crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "Mr. Drake was very impressed with my future plans for Dragonstone Mall."

"Is that right? In that case, tell me which nursing home Mr. Drake is in, and I can let bygones be bygones and forgive you this one time."

"You’ll forgive me?"

Alaric Blackwood found this laughable. "As if I need your forgiveness."

"I was the one who was first in talks with Mr. Drake about the Dragonstone Mall acquisition. You stuck your nose in, and we agreed we could cooperate. But after Mr. Drake was admitted to that nursing home, you concealed his location from everyone and used the opportunity to close the deal behind my back. You call that anything other than screwing me over?"

"That was Mr. Drake’s decision. He didn’t want to sell the mall to you."

"In the domestic jewelry industry, Diamond Belle Jewelers is already far in the lead. It’s only a matter of time before we dominate the market completely. He had no reason to refuse me."

"Mr. Drake is ill. He needs to rest and doesn’t wish to see anyone other than me."

"Where exactly is he? Which nursing home?"

"No comment."

His temper flaring, Yuri grabbed Alaric Blackwood by the collar. "Don’t tell me you have Mr. Drake under house arrest, do you?"

"Would I really need to confine an elderly man just for a shopping mall?"

"You’re after the land Dragonstone Mall sits on. You want to develop it into the city’s hottest commercial district, don’t you?"

"And so what if I am?"

"That’s your motive for confining him! You probably used some despicable, underhanded means..."

"You’re insane."

Alaric Blackwood cut him off, slapping the hand from his collar. "And if you’re insane, go get help."

While Alaric was straightening his wrinkled collar, Yuri shoved the door open and barged inside.

Reaching the living room, Yuri’s eyes immediately fell on Sophie Shaw sleeping on the sofa. He froze for a second, then turned to Alaric Blackwood, who had followed him in. "What is Miss Shaw doing here?"

"If my wife isn’t here, where would she be?"

Yuri froze again. "Lynn’s daughter is your wife?"

Alaric Blackwood smiled mockingly. "You really don’t keep up with me, do you, Mr. Yates? And after all that talk about being friends... You didn’t even know I was married."