Free Web NovelChapter 536: Not That Kind And Righteous
Clement looked at Christian’s other hand, and his conspicuously severed finger. He sighed and asked, "How’s your finger?"
Christian clenched his left hand into a fist to prevent Clement from seeing the mauled digit and shook his head. "It’s okay."
"Don’t blame me," Clement said.
"It’s the rules, I know. I won’t blame you." Christian did not blame Clement. It was his choice to leave back then, but it is also his choice to return now.
It was just one severed finger, a show of the mafia’s leniency.
"By the way, why are you so afraid of Michael?" Christian had been busy with new projects and having left the mafia, he had had less contact with Clement. Therefore, he still did not know what exactly had happened between Michael and Clement. He only knew that Michael had been to Rheinsville City, and that Wendy seemed to have been close to Clement.
"It is a long story," Clement said. "To put it simply, there was a grudge between Michael and me. In the beginning, Corrine wanted to seduce me. Therefore, I turned her trick to my own advantage and almost slept with her. But Michael arrived just in time, so I had to leave. Because of this, Michael has been looking for me."
When Christian heard these words, his fingers clenched into fists. However, he tried his best to suppress his emotions and said nothing.
"Anyway, Corrine Swift does suit my taste." Thinking of Wendy, Clement’s eyes even brightened a little.
Christian swallowed; his tone visibly lowered. "Keep your hands off her." ƒrēewebnovel.com
"Why?" Clement looked at Christian, frowning, and said, "I still plan to get a chance to take her away, play with her for a few months, and then release her."
"I have told you to keep your hands off her," Christian said, clenching his fists.
"Why are you overreacting?" Clement smiled. "You don’t really like Corrine, do you?"
Naturally, Clement had investigated Christian and knew that he liked Wendy.
However, he always felt that Christian was not a sentimental person. His infatuation was likely nothing more than interest at best. After a few months, maybe even a few days, he would forget it.
But looking at Christian’s reaction now, it was apparently not the case.
"We’re here for business. Let’s talk about what to do next." Christian directly changed the subject.
"Okay. Let’s talk business." Clement took out a document and handed it to Christian.
"Please have a look at the information on this first. It is where we want to conquer next. As long as we can exploit the local market, the profits will be quite substantial."
"Do you have designs on the local market?" Christian glanced over the information and said, "The laws here are different from that of your hometown, and we also have quite strict regulations. It is not easy to exploit the market in our city. If the implementation is that simple, our city would not have been peaceful for so many years."
"I know; your city is indeed very well regulated. It is challenging to do business here.
Even the risks are much greater." Clement spread his hands and said, "But you cannot leave Lake City. If you don’t do business in Lake City, what else can you do?
Besides, you have taken root in Lake City for many years, and you have good networks and connections. Now you are working on projects in cooperation with the government. Is it a good cover?"
...
"But my current image has been ruined. If you look online, the netizens are all criticizing me," Christian said. "I am worried that the government will check on me again."
"Isn’t there another saying ’fortune favors the bold?’" Clement gently knocked his fingers on the table and said with a smile, "Christian, if you want to return to the organization, you need to pay the price. Your city has great potential. Since it’s always been under good control, nobody has yet taken up the market share till now.
This is our best opportunity."
Christian looked at Clement, clenching his fingers little by little. So this is why they had accepted him back to the mafia. No wonder he’d been able to rejoin them smoothly, at the expense of losing only one finger.
Clement stretched out his hand to pat Christian on the shoulder and said, "Christian, you have no choice. Success or failure depends on this attempt. Unless you are willing to sacrifice your only chance to protect your city. But we both know you are not that kind and righteous."
Of course, Christian was not.
Seeing that Christian did not speak, Clement continued, "Anyway, our stuff is for bad guys who are already in the dark. Good people will not buy it. For the former group of people, we can still bring them happiness. So, why not?"
"If you want me to exploit the market, then I have to restore my reputation.
Otherwise, not only me, but you and your cohort will be exposed once under investigation," Christian said.
"This is something you should handle. Lake City is your turf. If you cannot even handle your own reputation, don’t you think you’ve been working in vain all these years in Lake City?"
Clement’s words made Christian’s expression darken.
Just as Christian was about to say something, someone knocked on the office door. It was Christian’s assistant. Christian did not say anything but just glanced at the assistant, signally that he could enter.
Standing a few steps away from Christian, the assistant respectfully said, "Mr. Lucas, I’ve just received the news that Wendy Stewart is pregnant."
"Wendy Stewart is pregnant?" The words rendered a gloomy look in Christian’s eyes.
Was she really pregnant? With Michael’s child?
His assistant sensed Christian’s mood darkening. He was so frightened that he didn’t even dare to breathe. "Yes...yes. This morning, the old lady from the mansion called many relatives to inform them that Wendy is two months along," he said.
The hospital Wendy had visited for a maternity checkup belonged to Miro Lawrence, a friend of Michael’s. Hence, there had been a news blackout. The outside world had not found out about Wendy’s pregnancy, including Christian. But today, she’d returned to the mansion, and Grandmother knew it. As Grandmother had made the phone call, all their relatives and friends had happily spread the news.
It was natural for Christian to know about Wendy’s pregnancy.
"If there is nothing else..." The assistant promptly hurried out before Christian could reply.
"Wendy Stewart? Is that Corrine Swift?" Clement frowned. "Is she really pregnant?
And two months along? Wasn’t she still in Rheinsville City then?"
She was still in Rheinsville City... That reminded Christian of something.
"What did you just say?" Christian asked.
"Wendy Stewart?" Clement echoed.
"Your last words. Did you say that two months ago Wendy was in Rheinsville City?"
Christian’s pupils dilated as he waited for Clement to answer.
...
"Yes, it’s been less than two months since she came back to Lake City." Clement did not know what Christian meant.
"It seems that God is helping us." Christian suddenly raised his head and laughed.
"What do you mean?" Clement stared in confusion at Christian’s apparent excitement. Wendy was pregnant, but what did it have to do with God helping them?
"I will go over it in detail with you later. Don’t wander around. Stay in the place I’ve arranged for you." Christian explained to Clement.
Wendy had been feeling out of sorts lately. After Michael left the house, she lay in bed and intended to sleep, thinking that everything would be back on track after waking up. However, after tossing and turning in bed for a long time, she was still no closer to sleep.
She’d picked up the phone many times, wanting to call Michael to ask about the current situation. Every time Wendy switched to the contact interface, she didn’t dare to dial the familiar number. She was afraid of what Michael’s answer would be when the call connected.
Regardless of whether Clement was caught or not, for Wendy, it would not change what had happened that night.
Eventually, Michael returned home.
"Mr. Lucas, you are back early today." Seeing Michael coming back now, Zess greeted him looking slightly surprised.
"Yup. Where’s Wendy?" Michael asked.
"Sleeping inside." Zess pointed to the bedroom.
Michael nodded, opened the door gently, and walked in.
Wendy quickly closed her eyes.
When Michael saw Wendy asleep, he did not disturb her but sat quietly on the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch her cheek gently.
Wendy’s eyes fluttered open.
"Did I wake you up?" Michael helped her to sit up.
Initially, Wendy had wanted to pretend to be asleep. But she soon thought that she had to face the issue with Clement once and for all.
With her eyes lowered slightly, Wendy asked, "Have you caught him?"
Michael shook his head. "However, we know he’s arrived in Lake City. I have already sent people to lock down the entire city. Clement will be caught sooner or later."
Wendy hummed, not knowing what else to say.
Michael knew that she must be feeling bad, so he wordlessly stretched out his arms to embrace her.
At night, Michael went to the mansion alone to pick up his two children.
Seeing Wendy not present, Grandmother worried about her physical condition. She asked the servants to prepare foods suitable for pregnant women for Michael to bring home.
"We have everything at home. Zess has always taken care of Wendy and knows how to look after her. Grandmother, you don’t need to worry about this at your age."
Michael said helplessly, seeing that the goods could barely fit in his car.
"It’s not for you. Why are you talking so much?" Grandmother said. "If Wendy gets better tomorrow, you can bring her back. I still have a lot to talk to her about."
"Okay." Michael smiled.
Later, Wendy pulled a wry face, seeing all the tonics that Michael had brought back.
"Grandmother gave us all this?"
Michael nodded. "Grandmother said that you can go back tomorrow if you’re feeling better. She wants to chat with you."
"Okay." Wendy knew that Grandmother cared about her. And yet, she’d been in a bad mood today. She resolved to be in a better mood tomorrow before going back to keep Grandmother company, so as not to worry the elderly woman.
The next day, the ringing of the phone awakened Wendy. A quick glance told her that it was a call from the mansion. Wendy thought it was likely to be Grandmother urging them to come back earlier. She smiled as she answered the call.
"Wendy, come back to the mansion with Michael right away." Grandmother’s tone was distinctly angry. "Don’t bring the twins back."
