Chapter 63: Farewell, Goodbye
Viola drove Kayla’s beat-up police car at supersonic speed, coming to a screeching halt at the entrance of RosenBay. She pushed open the car door and, with long strides, kicked open the villa’s front door.
Ethaniel, leaning on the living room sofa, looked up at the commotion and raised an eyebrow. “Miss Telby, what brings you here so late?”
Ignoring him, Viola’s gaze swept around the living room, settling on a glass vase by the entrance. She smiled at Ethaniel. “Mr. Han, you have exquisite taste. Such a beautiful vase at the entrance, you don’t mind if I admire it, do you?”
Ethaniel, seeing her intent, squinted slightly. “Even if I minded, would Miss Telby care?”
“No.” Viola picked up the vase, letting it slip from her fingers. It shattered on the floor with a crash.
Ethaniel glanced at the fragments. This glass vase, which he bought at an auction three years ago for eight million dollars, was over six hundred and thirty years old.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Viola’s apology was anything but sincere.
Ethaniel’s face remained calm, his tone flat. “Miss Telby’s accidents are hard to believe.”
“Just as Mr. Han’s sincerity is hard to believe.” Viola stared directly at Ethaniel.
Ethaniel smiled. “I always keep my word.”
“Your promises are hardly credible.” Viola moved further into the living room, knocking over a cloisonne jar as she passed, adding another heap of fragments to the floor. The ancient cloisonne jar, invaluable and over four hundred and thirty years old, joined the vase’s remains.
Viola’s destructive spree targeted only the finest collectibles, as if she walked on money. After reducing a jade Buddha to pieces, she finally stood in front of Ethaniel, her beautiful face expressionless. “Why did you let her leave?”
Facing her direct confrontation, Ethaniel’s face remained indifferent. “Why should I stop her?”
Viola sneered at his dismissive answer. “I didn’t realize you were so heartless. Since you decided not to keep Kayla, I can only wish you a pleasant journey!”
With a cold laugh, Viola turned and left.
After she was gone, Ethaniel slowly moved his leg, still sore from Kayla’s kick, and called RosenBay’s internal line. “Send someone to clean up; my place needs tidying.”
As he hung up, he noticed Oliver standing on the stairs.
Oliver’s face was troubled as he asked quietly, “Daddy, is Kayla not coming back?”Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
At first, Ethaniel didn’t understand why Kayla was suddenly so angry. Now, after hearing Viola, he had an idea. He walked over, gently stroking Oliver’s soft hair. “If she comes back, would you call her Mommy?”
Oliver struggled with his emotions before quietly responding, “… Yes, I would.”
Ethaniel smiled. “Then, next time, call her Mommy.”
Oliver looked up at him, unable to hide his joy. His daddy’s words meant Kayla wouldn’t leave; she’d come back! Ethaniel, smiling, ruffled his small ears but said nothing more.
The next morning, Ethaniel received a call from the Seatowne West District Police.
“Mr. Han, this is the West District Major Crimes Unit. You were attacked in our jurisdiction yesterday. There’s a witness who has reported it. We hope you can assist with the investigation.”
The witness… it had to be Kayla. He hadn’t seen her all night and missed her terribly. So, he didn’t mind helping out.
When Ethaniel, dressed casually, elegantly walked into the interrogation room, Kayla instinctively glanced at his leg, knowing well the force of her kick. Ethaniel noted her ill-fitting police uniform that, despite its loose fit, still highlighted her graceful figure.
“Kayla…” Ethaniel began, but Kayla slapped a file on the table. “Call me Miss Green.”
Ethaniel remembered their first meeting. “Alright, Miss Green.” He sat down cooperatively. “How can I assist?”
A colleague formally asked, “Were you present during the shooting incident in the West District yesterday?”
“Of course,” Ethaniel smiled. “I was with her the entire time.”
“Answer the questions without additional comments!” Kayla said sternly.
“Alright,” Ethaniel’s eyes twinkled with amusement, his smile playing on his lips. “I’ll tell you everything.”
“Mr. Han, please recount yesterday’s events.”
Ethaniel, fingers interlaced, smiled. “Yesterday, I went camping with my son and my son’s mommy…”
“Nonsense!” Kayla interrupted. Their conversation was being recorded, and her colleagues could hear everything. If the West District Chief knew she was with Ethaniel… the thought gave her a headache.
“Miss Green, I’m stating facts.” Ethaniel enjoyed seeing Kayla’s angry yet adorable expression.
Kayla nearly broke her pen, glaring at Ethaniel. “Even as a witness, falsifying statements is illegal.”
“False statements?” Ethaniel rested his handsome face in his hand, his gaze on Kayla. “Miss Green, which part do you think is false? My son’s mommy?”
Kayla took a deep breath. “Fine, continue.”
Ignoring his leg pain, Ethaniel’s smile persisted from the moment he saw Kayla. “Yesterday, my son, my son’s mommy, and I went camping. We were attacked by a professional killer in the woods by the beach. The assailant, a trained black male using a sniper rifle, left no other traces.”
A colleague noted the testimony, and Kayla sarcastically remarked, “Seatowne hasn’t had a shooting incident in years. Mr. Han, you truly are a big shot, attracting professional killers so soon.”
Ethaniel knew Kayla was angry and didn’t mind her words. “Perhaps it’s my charm. Even Miss Green…”
“Ethaniel!” Kayla interrupted, glaring at him.
Ethaniel stood and approached her. Kayla’s face turned cold. “What do you want?”
“I want to talk to you.” Ethaniel’s smile faded. “Kayla, I don’t explain everything because I want you to trust me unconditionally.”
“Why should I trust you?” Kayla, thinking of his imminent departure for Tandoria, struggled to control her emotions.
Ethaniel looked at her quietly before saying, “Kayla, you lack trust in me.”
Turning away, Kayla refused to look at him. “If you’re leaving, do it cleanly. Don’t give me false hope.”
“Come with me.” Ethaniel took her hand and led her out of the interrogation room.
Outside, colleagues were shocked to see Ethaniel holding Kayla’s hand. Their eyes widened with surprise, curiosity, and admiration.
Ethaniel, having captured Kayla’s heart, was a true hero in their eyes.
As Ethaniel held her hand firmly, Kayla couldn’t break free and glared at the onlookers. Startled, they quickly dispersed.
Ethaniel chuckled. “You scared them.”
Kayla glared at him. “What do you want me to see?”
“Be patient.” Ethaniel led her on a tour around Seatowne, asking her opinion on various locations for investment.
Exasperated, Kayla finally snapped. “Ethaniel, what are you doing?”
“Buying buildings for investment.”
Exhausted, Kayla closed her eyes, feeling defeated. “Take me back to the North District.”
Ethaniel glanced at her and actually drove her back to the North District Police Station.
Kayla walked away without looking back. Ethaniel called out, “You still haven’t told me where to invest.”
Turning around, Kayla pointed randomly.
Following her direction, Ethaniel saw a thirty-story building with “Seatowne Government Office” written on it.
The North District Police Station, Seatowne’s most important division, was just across the street from police headquarters.
So-Kayla chose this location?
Ethaniel smiled. When he turned back, Kayla was already gone.
Unconcerned, he dialed a number on his phone. “Jack…”
—
Kayla moved into Viola’s apartment temporarily after moving out of RosenBay.
Viola watched Kayla, who was staring blankly on the balcony. “Is he gone?” she asked.
Kayla lowered her head and replied softly, “Maybe, who knows?”
That day at the North District police station, neither she nor Ethaniel contacted each other again. Kayla didn’t really want to interrogate Ethaniel that day; she just wanted to give him a chance to explain. Unfortunately, he said nothing and did nothing.
Viola couldn’t stand her depressed look. “If you don’t want him to go, then stop him.”
Kayla glanced at her. “Interfering with a flight’s departure can be detained. Want to try?”
“Fuck!” Viola cursed in frustration.
Seeing Kayla like this reminded Viola of her past self.
“Where is the Dragon Alliance headquarters?” Kayla suddenly asked.
“Have you lost your mind, Kayla?” Viola’s eyes widened. “Ethaniel is gone, why do you still want to mess with these troubles!”
Kayla replied calmly, “It’s within my duty to investigate. I’m not doing it for him.”
Viola rolled her eyes. Deep down, it was still for Ethaniel. “I don’t know!” Viola didn’t want to see Kayla risking herself for a man who wasn’t worth it.
“Really?” Kayla raised an eyebrow at her.
“I can’t find out. Ask someone else,” Viola replied bluntly.
“Fine, I’ll investigate myself.”
If Kayla really wanted to pursue it, she could find out. However, once she used police resources, it would definitely alert the other side.
Viola quickly stopped Kayla. “Alright, alright, I’ll help you find out!”
On the way to the Dragon Alliance, Viola repeatedly reminded Kayla, “Remember, don’t assume they are killers. Although the weapons are made by them, the Dragon Alliance never engages in such killing business.”
“Don’t engage in it, or no one knows if they do?” Kayla wasn’t stupid. The Dragon Alliance had a vast influence, solving many underworld disputes through violence. Killing was trivial to them.
They just handled things cleanly, leaving no evidence for the police to trace.
Moreover, the targets of the Dragon Alliance were mostly underworld scum. Using violence to combat violence was a different set of rules from the police.
Viola didn’t directly answer her question. “As long as you understand. Let me remind you, the Dragon Alliance’s influence is far greater than we know. They’ve even infiltrated the business and political sectors. Maybe that fat guy in your police station is one of them.”