Chapter 19

“Cynthia?!” Lord Wade exclaimed from the other end of the phone. “How are you? Have you encountered any danger?”

Cynthia cried, “I’ve been detained by Charlie Wade! He says I can’t return to Eastcliff for the New Year! Dad, he’s disrespectful and arrogant. You have to help me!”

Lord Wade was surprised. “What’s going on? Why did you have a conflict with Charlie Wade?”

Charlie Wade took the phone. “She deceived me,” he said coldly. “She contacted my mother-in-law and tried to persuade my wife to divorce me. Is that how the Wade family conducts itself?”

Lord Wade was startled, hesitating before sighing. “Charlie, she is your aunt, after all.”

Charlie Wade retorted, “So what? What right does she have to interfere with my marriage? She doesn't have that right, and neither do you!”

Lord Wade said, “Hey… you’re right. She shouldn’t have done that. I apologize for her. Please let her return…”

Charlie Wade said coldly, “I’ll let her stay in Aurous Hill for the New Year. She can leave afterward, but no one—not even the King of Heaven—is getting her out of Aurous Hill before then!”

Lord Wade hesitated, then said helplessly, “Alright, it’s up to you.”

Cynthia looked desperate. “Dad! I want to go back to Eastcliff to celebrate the New Year with you!”

Lord Wade said earnestly, “Cynthia, your temper is too fiery. Learn from this. Don’t be fifty years old and still acting like a child!”

Cynthia was speechless.

Lord Wade continued, “Charlie, come home when you have time. Grandpa is very…”

Before Lord Wade finished, Charlie Wade hung up. He had no relationship with Lord Wade, and felt partially responsible for his parents' deaths, making him impatient with the old man.

As soon as the call ended, Cynthia choked back tears. “Charlie Wade! I have to celebrate the New Year in Aurous Hill! I was going to spend it alone in the Shangri-La Presidential Suite!”

Charlie Wade smiled. “The Shangri-La Presidential Suite? You’re dreaming. I’ll rent you a house in the city’s village and you’ll stay there for a week.”

“What?!” Cynthia exclaimed. “You… you want me to live in the village?! You’re cruel!”

Charlie Wade sneered, suddenly remembering Sam, who had been cycling to Aurous Hill for the New Year, and was now missing. He called Loreen.

Loreen answered happily, “Charlie Wade, why are you calling?”

Charlie Wade asked, “Loreen, where’s your cousin Sam?”

Loreen said, “He called this morning; he was crossing the Yangtze River and might reach Aurous Hill tonight.”

Charlie Wade frowned. “Why’s he so slow?”

Loreen said, “He had a minor cycling accident and injured his arm.”

Charlie Wade asked, “Have you found him a house in the village?”

Loreen replied, “Yes, as you requested. $500 a month.”

Charlie Wade hummed. “Okay. I’ll check it out tomorrow.”

He hung up. Don Albertt approached with Donald, who was covered in a black cloth.

Charlie Wade instructed, “Arrange for someone to rent the worst single room in the village for Ms. Wade. She’ll stay there for seven days and isn’t allowed to leave. All her purchases, whether groceries or other necessities, must be the cheapest available. Understand?”

Don Albertt nodded. “Yes, Master Wade.”