Losing Control
Just then, a text from Sebastian came in: It’s likely. We should get that looked into.
Sasha: Wow, Ichika! That’s so impressive! We didn’t even think of that possibility. Good job!
This was immediately followed by a text from Sabrina containing no fewer than ten thumb-up emojis
and a smiley face.
Devin: That makes sense, actually. Good job.
Solomon raised a brow at the multitude of compliments showering down on Ichika, and a smile crept up
his lips without his knowledge.
Half an hour later, he heard light footsteps approaching his study. As he expected, it was his wife, who
was carrying a bowl of soup.
“Darling, I made some supper. Would you like some?” She smiled at him sweetly, her eyes bright and
her tone joyous.
This time, Solomon was aware of the smile he was wearing as he nodded.
Two days later, the results of the investigation were out. Ichika’s speculation turned out to be true. The
poisoned engineer, Hugh Giibson, had somehow gotten his hands on some preservatives that
contained zinc, which he then used on the meat he brought from home in hopes of getting them to last
longer. As a result, he ingested an overdose of zinc and got himself poisoned.
It ended up being a classic case of much ado about nothing.
Sebastian was slightly annoyed and embarrassed to have taken this matter so seriously. Amused, his
wife was quick to comfort him.
“Come on, don’t be so grumpy. It’s a good thing that it turned out to be something so trivial,” Sasha said
placatingly. “You should be happy that everything’s fine.”
Sebastian huffed but said nothing, which Sasha considered as an agreement to what she said. She
chuckled inwardly. He can be such a child sometimes.
Just when everyone thought that the matter was concluded, the couple received an unexpected visit
from Bertram Anderson, the director of the research institute.
On behalf of the institute, he thanked them for their help in the investigation and apologized for causing
such trouble in the first place.
Not only that, he had come bearing a gift—an exclusive invitation for the couple to visit Aurora Island.
Sasha’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Wow, seriously? Aurora Island?”
It was where the institute’s scientists conducted their most revolutionary research and experiments,
some of which had led to changes in the island’s surrounding atmosphere. As a result, one could
observe some stunningly beautiful aurora lights on the island, which was hence aptly named as such.
Despite being one of the most fascinating places in the world, Aurora Island was strictly off-limits to
outsiders, and a chance to go there was considered by many a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
Sasha was determined to seize the golden ticket. “Sebby, let’s go, shall we?” she wheedled in a
saccharine-sweet voice, hanging on to her husband’s arm and peering up at him through her lashes. “I
heard the place has amazing sights. I want to go, please?”
Sebastian was powerless in the face of her beseeching look, though he tried to maintain a facade of
aloofness in front of the director.
“It’s a classified location, isn’t it? Are we allowed to go?”
“Certainly.” Bertram smiled. “The island is off-limits to the world, but such a rule doesn’t apply to you,
Mr. Jadeson. You are welcome to go whenever you like.”
It was the ultimate privilege granted to the man, yet at the same time, what Bertram said was true.
There was nowhere in this country that would deny entry to Sebastian since he was a Jadeson.
To Sasha’s delight, her husband eventually accepted the invitation to go to the island. She shared the
news in the Whatsapp group chat at once.
Sasha: Guess what? Sebastian and I are going to Aurora Island!
Sabrina: What Aurora Island?
Devin: It’s where the research institute carries out its experiments, which frequently cause light
anomalies in the air and result in aurora lights. I heard they are quite beautiful.
In a matter of seconds, Sabrina, who had been holed up at Oceanic Estate for the past two months,
made an executive decision.
She texted: I demand that you take me with you!
Upon seeing the message, Devin and Sebastian both had identical expressions of exasperation, a fact
unbeknownst to the two men.
Old Mr. Jadeson: That shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll make a call.
True to his word, Jonathan replied a short while later to confirm that he had gotten the research
institute to accommodate for both Sabrina and Devin.
Old Mr. Jadeson: The more, the merrier.
As Sasha and Sabrina were excitedly chatting about travel preparations in the group chat, another
message popped up.
Ichika: Sha, is it okay that I go as well?
Solomon, who saw the message, frowned in displeasure. What is she thinking? She can’t just go
around making requests like that.
It was the first time since their marriage that he became angry at Ichika.
Though he was on relatively good terms with the members in the group chat, he could not shake off the
feeling that he did not belong in their circle.
He considered himself as the outsider of the group. Hence, it had embarrassed him when Ichika made
such a request in what he deemed to be a casual manner.
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