chapter 4

Lorelei sat up in the hospital bed. Seeing Percival's deep frown, she couldn't help but comfort him, "Percival, don't worry about it. If that necklace can't be found, I—"

Percival replied, "Say no more. It'll be found. I've got my bodyguards on it. If she doesn't find it, she's not getting off easy."

He gave Lorelei a gentle pat. "But you—you gotta calm down. You scared the hell out of me just now."

Lorelei couldn't help but smile at how concerned he was about her. "Percival, I know you're the only one in this world who truly has my back. Without you, I don't know how I'd get through life."

As she spoke, she rested her head against his shoulder.

Percival wrapped his arms around her. They were swept up in the feeling. Their eyes met, and with her deliberately teasing him, his imagination ran wild. He couldn't help but kiss her.

Lorelei held nothing back, and they couldn't wait any longer—right there in the hospital bed.

When it was over, she clung tightly to him. "Percival, I'd give anything for you. Don't worry, I'm not here to break up your family. I just want to be part of it. No matter how much Buffy hates me, I won't provoke her."

She nestled obediently in his arms while he stroked her hair. But then, Buffy's stubborn, hate-filled eyes flashed in his mind.

Suddenly, Percival snapped out of it, feeling emptier than ever. When Lorelei reached for him again, he pushed her aside. "Alright, I should get going."

For some reason, he just felt something wasn't right.

It was this late, and that woman hadn't even called—not a word from the bodyguards either. Was she really still out there looking?

The image of those scorching flames licking at my hands flashed in his mind. I had already been hurt before he left. He couldn't help but frown tightly, and at this moment, he was already unable to wait to leave.

Lorelei hurried after him. "Percival, let me come with you. Is Buffy still upset? I want to see her."

"No. Get some rest."

Percival left in a hurry. But when he got back to the villa, there was no sign of me. Rage boiled up inside him. "Where is she?"

How dare she take off on her own.

Fuming, he stormed upstairs and threw open the guest room door. But there was no trace of me inside. The wardrobe was bare.

It was only then that he remembered—I had burned my own clothes.

Percival kicked the bed frame hard. With a crash, the nightstand toppled over, and a ring rolled out from inside it.

He picked it up. It was the wedding ring. So, Buffy didn't even want this anymore, huh?

He yelled, "Buffy! Where is Buffy?"

Just then, one of his bodyguards came over. "Mrs. Buffy Flint was taken by Mrs. Mildred Flint."

Percival snorted coldly. "Lucky her."

"Mr. Flint, Mrs. Buffy Flint was badly hurt. Her hands and face were injured. Maybe you should check on her? She didn't look good when she left."

Percival tried calling me right away, but my phone kept going straight to voicemail.

He said, "That damn temper. Let her cool off at the old house then."

Annoyed, Percival went back to the master bedroom. The sight of the redecorated room struck him as utterly tasteless. Since when did Lorelei have such awful taste?

He shook his head, retreated to the guest room, and lay on the bed clutching the ring. He started texting me.

"Don't think having my mom in your corner makes you special. I'm telling you now, find that necklace and get your ass back here immediately.

"That's the thing Lorelei has left from her mother. You better return it, or you'll have me to deal with."

When I didn't reply, he slammed his fist against the headboard in frustration. No matter how many messages he sent or calls he made, there was still nothing from me.