Charles's POV:
I leaned against the car, waiting for the end of the party while smoking idly.
All of a sudden, the ground began to shake beneath my feet.
Soon, I heard the screams of a panic-stricken crowd from inside the house.
Simon was the first one to run out of the villain fear.
More and more people began to flock out behind him.I looked around in the crowd, but I couldn't find
Caroline and the kids.I was starting to get nervous.
Thereafter, I elbowed my way through the crowd and rushed into the villa.
Caroline and the kids must be terrified right now.Thus, I quickened my pace, wishing that I could be
there with them in the blink of an eye.
The banquet hall was in shambles.
Tables and chairs had fallen to the ground in disarray.
It took a while, but I finally found them hiding in a corner.
Caroline was holding the kids and protecting them with her body as she leaned against the wall.
Seeing that she and kids were safe and sound, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you hurt, Caroline?"
Tears welled up in her eyes and she threw herself into my arms the moment she saw me.
"I sprained my ankle," she said.
Just then, the ground shook violently again.
I staggered backwards, almost stumbling to the ground.
Fortunately, my back pressed against a cold, hard wall.
"Don't be afraid.I'm here with you," I told her.
The sound of her cries broke my heart.I patted her back in an attempt to comfort her.
"Charles, what are you doing inside here? It's dangerous!" she asked, looking into my eyes.
"I was worried about you,"I said.
Not long after, Elena and Carlos rushed to our aid, carried the kids, and brought them outside.
Caroline held onto my clothes tightly and said, "We should leave.It's not safe here."
"Okay." I nodded in agreement.
Then, I picked her up and took her outside.
Caroline shrieked as she put her arms around my neck.
"Charles, put me down! I'm perfectly capable of walking by myself.If you keep carrying me like this,
we're more likely to stumble!"
"Ah, take it easy! I won't let you fall.And even if you do, I'll be your cushion."
After comforting her, I quickened my pace.
"Who would want you to be a cushion?"
Caroline murmured under her breath.
I chuckled at her response and bantered, "Is that so? Would you like me to be on top of you instead?"
"Charles! Be serious!"
Caroline's face turned red and she glared at me.
"Fine, fine...I won't say it again."
I tightened my grip on Caroline and quickened my pace to leave the villa.
Meanwhile, she rested her head on my shoulder.
The warmth of her breath seeped onto my shoulder and neck, tickling me.
My heart began to race.I leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Caroline, the earthquake seems to
have stopped.We'll be out soon.There's no need to be scared anymore."
"Okay," she replied.
Once we were at the open space outside, we saw that Edward and Olivia were also there.
She seemed to be frightened to the point that she was holding onto Edward's neck tightly.
Annoyed, Edward shoved her away and asked, "Caroline, are you and the kids okay?"
"We're fine." Caroline pressed her hand onto my chest and moved me away.
"Put me down," she muttered.
Though I was unwilling to let go, I had to listen to her.
Tracy drove over and took the kids back to the Moore mansion first.I held Caroline's hand before letting
her sit in the car.
"Charles, where are we going?" she asked.
"You'll know when we get there," I told her.
I drove to the Los Angeles riverside.
From time to time, I would glance over at the passenger's seat.
Caroline was looking out the window in silence.
Her gorgeous face and the beautiful beds of hyacinth flowers along the way formed a perfect image.
Just seeing her like this made me want to savor every moment of my life.
"The scenery here is beautiful.I could tell you were freaked out by what happened, so I took you out
here for a relaxing ride," I explained.
"It really is beautiful here.Thank you,"
Caroline said with a smile on her face.
Gradually, her knitted brows relaxed.
"I asked some people to plant the hyacinth along the way.Do you like it? It's my greatest hope that
you'll always be happy," I told her.
"So, you've been planning to take me here for a long time, haven't you?" Caroline asked, visibly
surprised.
I pulled over and stared into her eyes intently.
"Caroline, I wasn't very romantic in the past.In my attempt to make it up to you, I want to be as romantic
as possible and give you all the beautiful things in the world."
It was then that tears welled up in Caroline's eyes.
"Charles," she muttered.
I cupped her cheeks and gently wiped her tears away.
"Do you like it, Caroline?"
"Yes.I love it," she said.
My heart melted when I heard her answer.
Then, I leaned in and kissed her lips.
Simon's POV:
Later that night, I received a message from Olivia.
"Simon, let's meet up." I wanted to refuse her request, but she sent me another message.
It read, "I have something important to tell you.It's about your father's death."
My heart skipped a beat upon reading it.I hurried to the address that Olivia sent me.
Soon, I walked into a private club.
Olivia was swiveling her glass around as she pointed at the seat beside her.
"Have a seat," she said.
I frowned impatiently as I sat on the sofa.
"Tell me, what have you found out?"
"It's true that I found something important, but what will you give me in exchange for the information?"
Olivia said, taking a sip of wine.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"My request is simple.Just give me two hundred million dollars and I'll give you the recording."
Olivia took out a recorder pen from her purse.
"Two hundred million dollars? I don't have that kind of money," I told her.
"You and Caroline are responsible for a big project on the east bank, right? It'll be easy for you to
embezzle some of those funds, I'm sure," Olivia snorted.
"Are you crazy? That's illegal!" I said as I stood from the sofa and suppressed my anger.
Olivia scoffed at me, turned on the recorder pen and said, "I advise you to listen to the recording first
before making a decision."
The following second, Edward's voice came from the recorder.
"You'd better get ready.Wait for the perfect opportunity to kidnap him.You'll benefit greatly from it when
it's done."
My heart sank.
‘Kidnapping? What is he talking about? I wondered.All sorts of thoughts clouded my mind, and they
almost devoured me.
Soon, I found my hands clenched into fists.
Olivia smiled triumphantly.
"That's just the beginning of this recording.So, what do you think? Is this recording worth two hundred
million dollars or not?"
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