Chapter 127

The sun was already dipping low when they came down the mountain. The restaurant at the foot of the snow-covered ridge was full of Christmas charm, and the food was surprisingly good.

The couple’s conversation hadn’t seemed to affect Shermaine much, and apparently, the same went for Joshua.

After dinner, the day’s skiing trip officially came to an end.

As the year wound down, everyone got busier. Ross, naturally, had his hands full, and Joshua, who ran an entire corporate empire, was swamped too. Right after Christmas, he left for a business trip to Granatano that would last about a week.

With Joshua away, Bradley took over Shermaine’s school run. She hadn’t expected him to leave such a capable right-hand man behind just to be her driver. It seemed like a waste of talent to her.

Time moved quickly. Before long, January arrived. On New Year’s Day, Shermaine once again returned to the Jean residence after school.

With Joshua away on his business trip, Shermaine would head straight back here every day.

Jameson often claimed he was busy with year-end business, leaving early and returning late. Sometimes, he didn’t even come back at all.

Janice had long suspected he was back in touch with Natalie. In her room, holding the phone, she snapped, “Jameson, it’s New Year’s Day. A holiday. A time for family. Don’t tell me you’re too busy with work. Busy doing what, flirting with Natalie all day?”

“You do realize you’re still married to Ruth. What you’re doing right now is cheating. You think the heavens won’t punish you for this?”

Jameson didn’t care for lectures. “Mom, if that were true, I should’ve been struck down fourteen years ago.” His tone softened. “I’ve had enough of Ruth. I plan to divorce her. And Jason–he’s innocent. He’s already nineteen and needs to come home.”

“Ridiculous,” Janice snapped. “I made it clear when he was born. Our family will never accept him. I won’t change my mind, and don’t you even think about bringing him into this household. You will be home on time tonight. That’s final.”

Janice hung up, furious. She had no idea what Natalie had done to keep Jameson hung up on her for so many years. And now, he even wanted to bring that bastard son home? What a disgrace.

To think he had already run wild before even divorcing Ruth! If he really went through with it, wouldn’t he just bring that homewrecker Natalie straight into their house?

Though dissatisfied with Ruth’s current state, Janice’s sole objective was to reclaim the 15% of company shares under Ruth’s control. Once recovered, she intended to divide them evenly between Ross and Shermaine.

As for Ruth, sure, she’d been a handful before, but as long as she kept to herself from now on, Janice could let bygones be bygones.

Lately, Ruth had been bending over backward to please Shermaine, trying every trick she could think of. But Shermaine clearly had no interest in humoring her. She acted like Ruth didn’t even exist, letting her perform her little solo act for an invisible audience.

Janice thought she deserved every bit of that cold shoulder.

She’s got some nerve, Janice thought. When Shermaine first came home, she didn’t care a bit, always siding with Wendelyn, always criticizing. Now she wants to crawl back? Too late!

After Janice hung up on him, Jameson darkened with anger. What bothered him most was how Janice rejected Jason without ever meeting him.

Jason was a good kid. She just didn’t know it yet. If Janice gave him a chance, she might come to like him the way she liked Shermaine.

He was willing to bet on it. Once Janice got to know Jason, she would gradually warm up to him and accept him.

Meanwhile, in the living room.

Bradley sat on the sofa and said, “Shermaine, just give me a little more time to track down Freya and Zack.” Now that they were on familiar terms, he addressed her by her first name.

There was still no trace of Zack or Freya. It was as if they had vanished off the face of the earth. In this digital age, where everything left a footprint, he couldn’t find even the slightest clue about them.

As she poured him some water, Shermaine replied, “No rush.”

“The… worm we found in Wendelyn’s body… we’ve traced its origin. The thing is, it’s a bit of a mess,” Bradley said, his expression turning serious.

“It’d come from the ancient state of Xenhall in Mysonna, from a sorceress named Bianca Evans.”

“Craft had largely fallen out of public belief with the rise of modern science, but the practice still existed, and it was powerful enough that you didn’t want to scoff at it. Not unless you wanted to test fate.”

Had Shermaine not discovered that poisonous worm, they would’ve all believed Wendelyn committed suicide.

Bianca had a reputation for strict professional ethics. She never revealed her clients‘ identities. Bradley managed to trace the worm’s origin but had no way of knowing who had bought it and used it on Wendelyn.

The agents he sent to Xenhall fell violently ill after their encounter with her, vomiting until they nearly passed out. It wasn’t until they sought help from Mysonnian doctors and took their local medicine that their lives were saved.

Bradley had planned to send one of those doctors to meet Bianca, but the moment her name was mentioned, they all refused. It didn’t matter how much money was offered. To them, Bianca was both feared and revered.

After explaining it all, Bradley added, “Bianca is probably the most feared sorceress in Mysonna. She’s temperamental too. If she doesn’t want to talk, there’s no way we’ll find out who ordered that worm.”

And it wasn’t just Bianca’s silence. Xenhall was remote and disconnected. There were no cameras or tracking. It was a black hole.

Shermaine said, “Given what you’ve said, it seems ordinary people probably can’t get close to Bianca. My winter break starts in about two weeks. I’ll go there myself then.”

Bradley shook his head firmly. “Absolutely not. It’s far too dangerous there.”

Shermaine smiled and said, “Don’t worry. I’ve been to far more dangerous places. Besides, I’m actually quite interested in their skills, so I’d like to learn more about them.”

Bradley couldn’t make this decision himself. “How about you discuss it with Mr. York?” he suggested.

She hadn’t been texting much with Joshua lately. Still, every night, he sent her a goodnight message. She always replied, but that was it. There was no small talk or follow-ups.

Shermaine was never one for idle chatter–and as for Joshua, well, she suspected he was even less inclined.

The messaging apps were nothing more than digital decorations.

“When is he coming back?” Shermaine asked.

Bradley had been about to give her a date, but remembered the ski trip incident–how he accidentally let it slip to Henry and Roy and got half his bonus docked.

So he pivoted. “Haven’t gotten the update yet. Maybe you can give him a call when you have time?”

Shermaine nodded. “Sure.”

With that, Bradley took his leave.

At seven sharp, Ross arrived home.

The dishes were already laid out on the table, with Janice and Shermaine seated.

A moment later, Ruth came downstairs and quietly joined them at the table.

Ross hung up his coat and, noticing Jameson wasn’t there, asked, “Dad isn’t coming home for dinner tonight, is he?”

Janice scoffed, “He wouldn’t dare stay away.” She was debating whether to call Jameson again when the housemaid came upstairs to announce his return–though her expression looked distinctly uneasy.

Jameson walked in with Jason, who was still in his uniform. Holding his hand, Jameson gently guided him toward the dining room. “Jason,” he said softly, “say hello to your grandma.”