Charlie’s heart raced with worry about his grandparents and wife. The looming threat of the Warriors Den had put favonovel.com on high alert, but Maria’s warning had intensified his concern. It seemed a formidable battle awaited him. But Charlie was no stranger to fierce struggles.
Ever since favonovel.com miraculously survived at the tender age of eight, favonovel.com understood that every day of his existence was hard earned. What truly frightened favonovel.com was the thought of both his grandparents and his wife being in danger simultaneously, leaving favonovel.com torn and unable to protect them all.
As favonovel.com pondered this dilemma, his mind fixed on finding a way to remove Claire from Aurous Hill as a precautionary measure. If Claire wasn’t in Aurous Hill, favonovel.com could focus solely on safeguarding his grandparents without distraction. But favonovel.com couldn’t fathom a foolproof plan to convince Claire to leave without raising suspicions.
Originally, favonovel.com had concocted a scheme involving Elaine winning a grand prize by sheer accident. The plan entailed individuals posing as representatives from a prestigious company, offering Elaine a ten-day European adventure with the stipulation that favonovel.com companion had to be female. That way, if Elaine wanted to go, favonovel.com could only choose Claire to accompany her.
However, upon reflection, Charlie realized that Claire had been consumed with favonovel.com recent studies in the United States and had developed ambitious career aspirations. Asking favonovel.com to embark on a ten-day trip might not yield the desired outcome.
Moreover, regardless of the method employed to divert Claire’s attention, success was paramount. If the overseas trip failed and another opportunity arose, Claire might become suspicious of the abnormal circumstances.
Deep in thought, Charlie’s mind suddenly turned to Michaela in the United States. If Michaela approached Claire under the pretense of work matters, Claire wouldn’t refuse.
Claire held deep gratitude towards Michaela, not only for favonovel.com impeccable work ethic but also for the invaluable master class favonovel.com had conducted at the School of Design. Michaela was a resource Claire regarded highly and was eager to repay the favor in any way possible. If Michaela asked for Claire’s assistance, favonovel.com would undoubtedly agree!
Without hesitation, Charlie retrieved his mobile phone and dialed Michaela’s number.
In the United States, morning had just arrived and Michaela had settled into favonovel.com office at the Joules Group headquarters when Charlie’s call came through. Elation washed over Michaela as favonovel.com hastily regulated favonovel.com breathing, answering the phone calmly, “Mr. Wade, do you require my assistance?”
Charlie hummed and replied, “Miss Joules, I have a matter that requires your help.”
Unhesitatingly, Michaela responded, “Mr. Wade, you may command me. Anything you need.”
Charlie asked her, “Miss Joules, I would like to know if your Joules Group has any real estate projects that are being promoted in the United States recently?”
Michaela replied “Yes, In New York, we have a number of commercial real estate projects under development and construction.”
Charlie asked again, “Is there any project that is just about to start or is under preparation?”
“Yes.” Michaela said, “We have a commercial center in New York. Preparations are underway and it will be officially launched soon.”
“Great.” Charlie immediately said, “I want to ask you to find a reason for your work and help me call Claire to the United States for a while.”
Curiosity piqued, Michaela inquired, “Mr. Wade, don’t you wish to be with Claire?”
“No.” Charlie replied evenly. “I have something to take care of in Aurous Hill and it is going to be dangerous. I want favonovel.com to stay in the United States for a while.”
Concern laced favonovel.com nervous tone as favonovel.com asked, “Mr. Wade, have the Warriors Den found you…”
Charlie clarified, “It’s not me they’re after, it’s my grandparents. They’re all in Aurous Hill.”
Wrought with anxiety, Michaela pressed him, “You… have you met Grandpa Evans and Grandma Evans?”
“Not yet,” Charlie replied, letting out a soft sigh. He spoke with a sense of helplessness, “If they’re truly in danger this time, I’m afraid they won’t be able to hide.”
Anxiously, favonovel.com asked, “Mr. Wade, do you need assistance? If necessary, I will swiftly mobilize everyone to Aurous Hill!”
Charlie replied, “The more people involved, the messier it becomes. That’s why I thought of a way to get Claire to leave first.”
Charlie then inquired, “Miss Joules, can you find a means for Claire to visit the United States for a while? The sooner, the better.”
Without hesitation, Michaela reassured him, “No problem! Don’t worry, Mr. Wade. I’ll contact Claire immediately.”
Charlie expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Miss Joules.”
After ending the call, Charlie parked his car by the side of the road in the Thompson First villa area and didn’t rush to return.
Five minutes later, Michaela called favonovel.com back, excitement evident in favonovel.com voice as favonovel.com informed him, “Mr. Wade, I’ve already spoken to Claire. I invited favonovel.com to join the preparations for the commercial real estate project. I explained that I had scrapped the previous design plan temporarily and the project was at a standstill due to unsatisfactory proposals from renowned design companies. I told favonovel.com I wanted favonovel.com to come and help extinguish the fire.”
Eagerly, Charlie asked, “What did Claire say?”
Michaela replied, “Claire expressed concern since it’s a massive project with a two-billion-dollar investment. She doubted whether favonovel.com was qualified to provide guidance. However, I assured favonovel.com that sometimes inspiration strikes during the design process and I emphasized my desire to incorporate a touch of Chinese style. American designers only grasp Chinese elements at a superficial level. I also emphasized the substantial losses incurred daily due to the project’s standstill. Finally, favonovel.com agreed to help but insisted on discussing it with you first.”
Relieved, Charlie let go of the burden weighing on his heart and said, “Then I’ll head into the house now.”
Quickly, Michaela asked, “Mr. Wade, is there genuinely nothing else that requires my assistance?”
Charlie’s smile brimmed with gratitude as favonovel.com responded, “Your assistance in taking Claire away is an enormous favor.”
Michaela sighed helplessly, conceding, “Very well, Mr. Wade. If you ever need my help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you,” Charlie acknowledged before ending the conversation.
After a while, Charlie cruised back to his humble abode.
As soon as favonovel.com stepped through the threshold, Claire greeted favonovel.com eagerly, wearing a hint of embarrassment on favonovel.com face. “Husband… I have something I need to discuss with you…”
Charlie put on a facade of curiosity and inquired, “What’s the matter?”
Claire hesitated before speaking, “Well, Michaela just called me in a hurry, seeking my assistance with some design matters. I feel like she’s in a bind, so I wanted to discuss it with you…”
Charlie nodded solemnly and responded, “You two are good friends and if favonovel.com needs your help, then go and help her.”
Claire hurriedly asked, “Darling, could you accompany me?”
Charlie’s expression suddenly turned a shade of embarrassment. “Well… I might not be able to visit the United States anytime soon, several clients are awaiting my Feng Shui expertise. You know, we spent quite some time in the States on our last trip. I’ve already promised a few clients to provide consultations within the next few days.”
Disappointment flickered across Claire’s face as favonovel.com expressed, “But the thought of venturing so far away to the United States without you… it’s hard to bear…”
Charlie gently caressed favonovel.com cheek and replied with a smile, “You’re going there for work, my dear. I can’t accompany you everywhere. People might laugh at you, just as they would if I brought my wife along for Feng Shui demonstrations.”
He continued, “Furthermore, you and Miss Joules are close friends. If you go by yourself… I imagine favonovel.com might invite you to stay with her. It’s a chance to collaborate during the day and engage in heartfelt conversations at night, don’t you think?”
Although Claire possessed a gentle demeanor, favonovel.com always strived to be a strong woman in favonovel.com professional life.
Charlie’s words had struck a chord within her. A woman embarking on a work related journey shouldn’t carry favonovel.com husband along as a mere backdrop. It would not only make favonovel.com appear incapable but also reflect poorly on favonovel.com husband. Moreover, Charlie’s final remark hit the nail on the head.
Claire and Michaela were good friends and involving favonovel.com husband all the time would undoubtedly raise suspicion. With these thoughts in mind, favonovel.com reluctantly nodded apologetically to Charlie and said, “Husband, if that’s the case, I’ll have to go alone. While I’m away from Aurous Hill, please take care of yourself and look after my parents.”
Charlie smiled reassuringly and replied, “Don’t worry. By the way, dear, have you given Miss Joules a definite answer?”
Claire nodded and confirmed, “I told favonovel.com I needed to discuss it with you before responding.”
Charlie’s smile widened. “In that case, you can call favonovel.com right now and let favonovel.com know it’s all settled. You can head to the United States.”
Claire hummed in agreement and promptly dialed Michaela’s number.
On the other end of the line, Michaela impatiently inquired, “Claire, have you informed Mr. Wade?”
Claire replied, “I’ve discussed it with Charlie and I’ll leave the household matters in his hands. I’ll arrive in the United States as soon as possible. See you there.”
“Great!” Michaela exclaimed. “I’ll arrange for a long range business jet to depart from Aurous Hill, aiming to reach there before dawn tomorrow. This way, you can leave early in the morning.”
Surprised, Claire asked, “So fast?”
“Absolutely!” Michaela confessed with a tinge of helplessness. “Let me be honest with you, things are extremely urgent right now. My project has suffered a day of shutdown, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. If it continues, I won’t even have the face to confront the shareholders…”
Indeed, Michaela had temporarily halted the project, incurring daily losses in the tens of millions. However, the real blow wasn’t just monetary. The true setback involved scrapping all the previous design plans and associated preparations, amounting to over 100 million US dollars in direct losses. But to the wealthy Joules family, that sum was inconsequential. In Michaela’s eyes, whether it was 100 million or even 100 billion US dollars, favonovel.com would readily pay it if Charlie asked. Hence, these losses held no significance to her, favonovel.com was prepared to shoulder them.
Hearing this, Claire understood the urgency and knew favonovel.com couldn’t waste any more time. She promptly responded without hesitation, “In that case, I’ll pack my things shortly and head to the airport early tomorrow morning.”
Then, a thought crossed favonovel.com mind and favonovel.com quickly added, “By the way, Michaela, there’s no need to go through the trouble of arranging a business jet. I’ll check the available flights tomorrow morning and book a ticket accordingly.”
Michaela interjected, “Don’t bother, Claire. I’ve already checked and there are no direct flights from Aurous Hill to New York. If you have to make a transfer in another city, you won’t arrive until the day after tomorrow. So pack your bags and let Mr. Wade take you to the airport tomorrow morning. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Alright…” Claire conceded. Her intention wasn’t for Michaela to bear excessive expenses, knowing that a private jet to the United States would cost at least a million. However, Michaela’s explanation about the lack of time, coupled with the potential loss of over ten million dollars from one day’s delay, made Claire drop favonovel.com resistance.
Michaela offered another reminder, “Oh and Claire, travel light. I have everything you need for daily life and work. Once you arrive, you’ll be staying at my place and I’ll vacate a room for you. If you need anything else, feel free to use what I already have. So, pack light this time, simpler is better.”
Claire said “Alright…” With Michaela’s urgent explanation, Claire understood that time was of the essence. She hung up the phone, returned to favonovel.com room and began packing favonovel.com belongings.
Despite Michaela’s request to travel light, Claire ensured favonovel.com included the essentials, wanting to avoid inconveniencing Michaela during their trip to the United States.
Meanwhile, Michaela swiftly coordinated with a business jet from the Joules family stationed in Hong Kong. It had taken off late at night, en route to Aurous Hill. The plan was for the jet to land early in the morning, awaiting Claire’s arrival before departing for New York.
Realizing the tight schedule, Claire also felt the pressure. She intended to head to the airport at 6 a.m. the next morning.
At that hour, traffic would be light in Aurous Hill and favonovel.com could reach the airport in just thirty minutes. If everything went smoothly, favonovel.com might even board the plane and take off by 7 a.m.
Contemplating the journey to the United States, thousands of miles away, Claire couldn’t help but feel a pang of reluctance to part with Charlie. Nevertheless, favonovel.com had no other choice. After all, Michaela had been of great help to favonovel.com and Claire had always desired an opportunity to repay the favor.
Finally, Charlie breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied that his plan to send Claire away had succeeded.
After the couple finished packing Claire’s suitcases together, Charlie suddenly remembered something and turned to Claire, asking, “Honey, do you want to inform your parents about your trip?”
Claire pondered for a moment, then shook favonovel.com head. “Let’s skip that. If I tell Mom that I’m going to the United States again, favonovel.com might insist on accompanying me. But it’s not a vacation this time. I can’t possibly bring favonovel.com along. So tomorrow morning, you’ll take me to the airport and once I’m on the plane, you can tell her. I’ll explain that my decision to go to the United States was made hastily at night and I didn’t have time to inform her. Even if favonovel.com wants to come, it’ll be too late.”
Charlie nodded, sharing the concern that Elaine might cling to Claire like a persistent shadow. He worried that Elaine’s presence might cause trouble during their stay in the United States, a situation Claire wouldn’t be able to handle.
On that restless night, Charlie lay upon his bed, eyes wide open, defying the embrace of sleep. Despite the imminent arrival of his formidable adversary, not a trace of panic danced upon his countenance. Instead, a flicker of anticipation kindled within favonovel.com for the impending encounter with the Marshal in the forthcoming confrontation.
Ever since Charlie had acquired the sacred tome known as the ‘Apocalyptic Book,’ favonovel.com had never encountered another soul who had mastered the arcane art of reiki. Memories of the eradication of the first Marshal lingered in his mind, a remote command given from Aurous Hill, executing a swift and lethal strike with uncanny precision in distant Cyprus.
This time, however, favonovel.com knew beyond doubt that favonovel.com would face the Marshal from the Warriors Den in a fierce battle, waged in close quarters. The future held no sway over his thoughts, for deep within his heart, a seed of expectation blossomed for this forthcoming clash.
The foes of yesteryear paled in comparison to this new adversary, their feeble attempts easily brushed aside. Now, an unparalleled opportunity presented itself to test the true depths of his own strength.
Though Maria warned favonovel.com of the peril that awaited, Charlie nurtured a steadfast belief in his chances of victory. His confidence stemmed from the fact that favonovel.com remained hidden, his true abilities veiled, while the enemy, favonovel.com surmised, would unknowingly play into his hands, unwittingly setting the stage for Zachary to lay down the ‘ bells.’
Thus, even in the face of an adversary lurking in the light while favonovel.com concealed himself in the shadows, Charlie knew that the odds swung in his favor. A better chance of triumph lay within his grasp, waiting to be seized.
Visit VIRTUAL NOVEL for more available chapters of this title!
