First to Renege
“I don’t have experience in inspecting corpses,” Elise perfunctorily answered.
“You don’t? How did you know his lungs had issues, then?” Bartholomew persistently interrogated.
“I checked his pulses when he was still alive. I sensed it then,” she replied.
“Really?” Bartholomew lifted his leg to walk over the doorsill. Standing before Elise, he ambiguously
quizzed, “I once met a woman in Africa. She, too, had pointed out the error in my inspection. She goes
by the name ‘Eliza.’ Do you perhaps know her?”
“I don’t,” Elise countered without even blinking her eyes. “Your task is complete. You may go now. I’ll
transfer the payment over as soon as possible.”
Barthlomew stood up straight, revealing a look as if he had gotten his answer. Swiftly, he took off his
latex gloves and turned back into the room to grab his toolbox before walking out of the house. When he
passed by Elise, he halted his steps and suggestively stated, “See you soon, then.”
“I’ll see you out.” Alexander sneaked up noiselessly like a ghost.
When they reached the gates, Alexander stopped in his tracks. “Stay away from her.”
Bartholomew slowly turned around and crossed his arms before his chest. “Why, we have a fiancé
intending to strip his bride-to-be of her rights to socialize.”
“Cut that crap.” Alexander’s inky eyes grew deeper under his lashes. “Pull anything funny and you’ll be
the one inspected the next time we meet.”
“Wow, scary man.” Bartholomew pouted his lips, showing no signs of fear on his face. “Almost
everyone’s trying to make a move on her. Will you be able to kill us all?”
Alexander narrowed his eyes and wondered before flaunting his intimidation. “One by one. Two only
makes a pair.”
Bartholomew nodded and gave a thumbs up. “Strong man, scary man.” After a pause, he added,
“Anyone could do one or a pair. Though you should save your threats for when you finally realize what
you’re truly facing.” Having said that, he turned around and walked into the night, slowly fading into the
darkness.
After standing idly for a while, Alexander eventually walked back into the house.
The next day, the sun had only risen while Clement was helping Jackson wash up when Danny barged
into the room. As soon as Danny saw Clement holding Jackson’s face, his eyes instantly glistened, as if
he had discovered an ultimate secret.
Clement, meeting Danny’s eyes, was stunned for a second before realizing what the latter was thinking
about, and he sneakily withdrew his hand that was supporting Jackson’s face.
Regardless, Danny remained nosy. He hunched over and tiptoed into the room. Once he was in the
room, he grabbed Clement by the shoulder and interrogated, “My man Clement, spill the tea! Since when
did you guys get together?”
While he was at it, he winked at Jackson, giving him a knowing look, to which the latter rolled his eyes at
him. Is this dumbass really Alexander’s brother?
“Young Master Danny, you’re misunderstanding—”
“Aww, don’t need to feel embarrassed. I’m an open-minded man.” Right when Clement was about to
explain, Danny quickly interrupted him as he patted his chest, “Now, who’s the pursuer here?”
Rendered speechless, Clement let out a sigh before patiently explaining, “Young Master Alexander had
me in charge of Captain Gleeman’s well being. Nothing more.” His utterance was as calm as usual and
bore no intention of jesting. Clement had no sense of joking, and that was pretty much a common
knowledge.
Awkwardly, Danny let out a fake cough before withdrawing his hand that was on Clement. Deliberately,
he went on a tangent. “I mean, Captain Gleeman here seems fine to me. Why are you looking after
him?”
Clement courteously clarified, “He does look healthy, but it seems like Miss Sinclair has messed with his
meridians, and now he can’t move.” Despite his reluctance to believe that Elise had such a great ability,
Clement couldn’t deny it with the facts presented right before him. He saw it for himself that Elise had
brought Jackson, who was bigger than himself, down with just a needle within one second. He couldn’t
help but to fear such a needling technique. And that was when he decided he had to reassess the things
he knew about Elise.
“Ah, is that it?” Danny nodded as if he was contemplating.
Taken aback, Clement glanced at him. Is that it, he says? Is he not surprised at all? Is needling even
something a normal person can easily do?
Meanwhile, Danny was wondering, After such a huge misunderstanding, Jackson wouldn’t come looking
for me after Elise fixed his meridians, would he? Having thought of that, Danny thought it was best that
he disappeared from Jackson’s sight. “Please take good care of Captain Gleeman, will you?” Danny
patted Clement on the shoulder before hopping out of the room like a wild hare, leaving Clement
stunned, as if he was completely disregarded.
In a flash, Danny was already with Alexander to keep himself updated. “What did Captain Gleeman do to
upset Elise that he ended up that way?”
“Don’t ask something you shouldn’t,” Alexander, highly perturbed, impatiently blurted before walking out
of the room.
Realizing he’d brought that upon himself, Danny scratched the back of his neck, thinking the number of
secrets in this house was larger than the amount of sand in an hourglass. Besides the addition of
Jackson, something told Danny that Joseph’s presence made Joseph a more complex character than
met the eye. Having no desire to remain oblivious, Danny decided to pick a room to live in. There’s no
way I can’t figure out what happened if I were to stay here the entire day.
Unfortunately, there was no entertainment around the courtyard house, so he grew drowsy guarding his
surroundings, and his drowsiness was followed by a shut-eye.
Right when he was falling asleep, a turmoil could be heard from the courtyard next door. Sensing the
thundering noises, Danny still assumed that he was only dreaming. While his eyes were closed, he
suddenly remembered he was in Alexander’s place. Forcefully, he opened his eyes and sprung up from
bed. He stormed out of the door, only to hear wails echoing throughout the yard.
“Oh Heavens, the pain on my leg! Pay me a leg, Elise!”
“Somebody, save me! I’m dying! Someone’s completely ignoring her cousin! Lord, why did this happen to
me?!”
In that instant, Daniel was lying on a stretcher as he hugged his broken leg, screaming out of pain as if
he was living in between life and death.
Accompanying him were a couple of nurses who carried the stretcher and about eight bodyguards
escorting him. Standing innermost within the group was Russell, who rested his arms behind his back
while revealing a frown that was most bitter. Seeing Elise, who had just returned from the backyard,
Russell eagerly went up to reprimand her.
“Look at what you’ve done, Yoona! You went to the Dahlens. Why didn’t you bring your cousin back with
you? The Dahlens literally broke his leg!”
Hearing that, Elise glanced at Daniel, who was lying on the stretcher on the ground, and swiftly withdrew
her gaze. Then, she lowered her head and pulled out her phone to check on the balance in her bank
account.
Yup, same as yesterday. Maxwell has yet to send the money over. Good job, Maxwell. You’re the first
ever person to renege on me.
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