NovelEnglish
“We nearly didn't make it. It's all thanks to my friend just now that we managed to get here. We nearly doubled
back to take the road you guys took!” she whined.
“Your friend helped you over? She has that much authority here?” Jason voiced his confusion.
“No, but I heard that her uncle calls the shots around here, so we got in under his name,” Vivian explained.
Comprehension dawned on Jason.
He made no further comment, and the two continued to walk further into the woods. After a kilometer or so, they
found an obscure spot to hide.
“Ah!”
Just as they had settled in, Vivian's high-pitched scream pierced the still air.
With a jolt, Jason turned to check on Vivian. However, before he could react, the young girl sprang up to her feet
and bolted out of the hideout.
“A snake!” Her shriek seemed to reverberate through the whole forest.
Jason had no choice but to chase after her.
Thankfully, being a princess who was a stranger to the wilderness, Vivian finally slowed to a stop in front of a hill.
“S-Snake...” She panted, depleted of energy.
She held onto a tree for support as she gasped for air.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHer face was still pale with fear.
Jason approached her and began to calm her down. “That wasn't a snake. You saw wrong.”
“Really?” Vivian was dubious.
“Of course,” Jason assured. “I took a good look just now. Don't worry. Snakes don't appear in broad daylight.”
Jason tried to sound as convincing as possible in hopes of dispelling her trauma.
Fortunately, Vivian began to calm down after listening to his white lie.
“T-Then, let's head back,” Vivian suggested hesitantly as she scanned their gloomy surroundings.
Jason nodded in agreement.
It was imperative that they went back. As of now, they were so deep in the woods that the Elysians who went to the
swamp wouldn't be able to find them.
Jason held Vivian by her wrist, and, for the first time, she did not resist his touch. She was still reeling back from the
scare before.
Vivian had just collected herself when a figure darted out of the woods and appeared before them.
“Ah!”
With another frightened yelp, Vivian ducked behind Jason to shield herself from the newcomer.
Jason's face clouded over instantly.
“Mr. Jason, why are you back? And who is this doll?” the man blurted out at the sight of Jason.
Jason remained silent.
Vivian peered over Jason's shoulder and gave the man a once-over, her expression one of bewilderment.
“Jason, does he know you?”
“No,” Jason denied curtly, his voice ringing with conviction.
Vivian was rendered speechless.
When her gaze returned to the stranger, she noticed a shift in his expression as he changed the subject, “Where's
your mother? Didn't you say that you were going to get us the treasure? Why are you alone?”
For a split second, Jason saw a glint of malevolence in the man's eyes.
Jason exhaled in relief.
“She already went ahead on her own. I was worried that I'd get caught outside, so I took cover. By the way, she's
with us. Mom brought her along.”
Jason furtively glanced at Vivian and started to converse with the stranger.
He began to relax when he saw the puzzlement on Vivian's face. She appeared naive, which was in line with his first
impression of her.
Jason refused to believe that Vivian had the brains to trick him.
On that fateful night, Kurt had been at the scene. Besides, Vivian's father, along with the rest of the Hayes family,
had been around her the whole time. She was a sheltered princess who had been pampered all her life.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIt was impossible for a simple person like her to devise such an intricate ruse.
After dismissing the stranger, Jason turned to Vivian and urged, “Come on. Let's get out of here.”
“All right,” she agreed breezily.
However, as she lowered her head, she inconspicuously touched her earring. Her brothers' voices exploded in her
ear.
“F*ck! That b*stard Kurt let you do something so dangerous? I'm going to beat him to death!” Matteo's exasperated
voice penetrated her eardrums.
Vivian grew anxious when she heard her brother's enraged threats. Matteo rarely lost his temper, but now, he was
practically growling as he interrogated his sibling.
Vivian quickly tapped her earring and communicated with her brothers in their own unique way.
“Don't blame Kurt. I was the one who decided to do this. I figured that we could break through their defenses and
gain insider information while that woman is gone.”
Matteo could not find the words to rebut her.
“Well, I think that we should commend Vivi for her wit and courage. You have to admit that it's a great plan.
Moreover, the bodyguards that Daddy employed will protect her,” Ian chimed in.
Vivian was pleased to hear Ian's compliment.
However, Matteo was still concerned, and his worries only grew stronger when he caught sight of the man just now.
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