Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Inside the elevator lobby.

Nina Halloway’s heart was pounding uneasily as she waited for the elevator to arrive.

After a DING, the elevator doors slid open. Just as she was about to step inside, an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind, lifting her up and carrying her out of the lobby without a word.

Her back was to the person, so she couldn’t see their face, but from his tall frame and familiar scent, she could tell it was Ethan Austin.

"What are you doing?"

"Ethan, let me go."

"I have to go out for something important."

She had tried to sneak out, not expecting Ethan to find her.

"Ethan, put me down."

She jabbed her elbow into the man’s side, her dangling legs kicking wildly.

But for a man like Ethan, the young lady’s struggles were no more than a tickle, completely ineffective.

She had no choice but to pull rank as his boss. "Ethan Austin, put me down, or I’ll fire you."

At that, Ethan’s steps faltered for a moment before he loosened his arm and set her down.

Once her feet were on solid ground, she glared at Ethan. "Why did you follow me?"

"I’m your bodyguard. Where are you going this late at night?"

"I have something to do."

"What is it?"

Nina Halloway’s eyes were filled with anxiety. "Jaden is missing. I suspect Leon Grant. He lives in this complex, and I want to talk to him."

Ethan’s expression turned grave. He glanced at his watch. "It’s ten o’clock. You’re going to meet with him at this hour to talk about Garland? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

What if Leon Grant really is the Masked Man? He could seize this chance and kidnap you, and no one would ever know.

"I don’t care. Jaden is missing. He must have been taken by the Masked Man."

Nina Halloway couldn’t stay calm. Her mind was filled with the image of the Masked Man stabbing Sean Wright. She was terrified that Jaden would also be stabbed to death and his body dumped somewhere.

"If you act so impulsively and go see Leon Grant, aren’t you just going to tip him off?"

"Then what do you suggest I do?"

"Since the police suspect him, they’ve definitely assigned plainclothes officers to watch him. Leave the rescue to the police. Don’t make a mess of things."

Nina Halloway froze. "You think I’m making a mess?"

"Your current behavior *is* making a mess. Garland hasn’t been found yet. If something happens to you too..."

"He won’t. If Leon Grant is the Masked Man, he won’t hurt me."

From her first kidnapping, she could sense the Masked Man had a morbid obsession with her. He would never do anything too drastic to her; at the very least, he wouldn’t kill her.

"Let me go, or come with me."

Nina Halloway’s tone softened, and she grabbed Ethan’s arm. "Ethan, will you come with me? If you don’t want to, then you can just go home and wait for news from me."

Ethan was silent, an indescribable emotion churning in his chest.

He was keenly aware that he was just a substitute—a substitute for Jaden.

Hearing that something had happened to Jaden, Nina Halloway had reacted so strongly, even daring to go see the suspect, Leon Grant, alone in the middle of the night. And yet, after getting drunk and forcibly kissing him last night, she hadn’t mentioned it at all since waking up, as if nothing had happened between them.

’That was my first kiss. How could she just pretend nothing happened?’

The more Ethan thought about it, the more furious he became. "Mr. Blackwood was the one who signed the employment contract with me. Strictly speaking, only he can fire me."

Nina Halloway was stunned.

The next second, Ethan raised a hand. He moved so fast she didn’t even have a chance to react before he struck the side of her neck.

Then, her vision went black, and she knew no more.

With quick reflexes, Ethan caught her as she went limp, scooped her up by the waist, and quickly headed back.

After carrying Nina Halloway back to her room and placing her on the bed, he took his phone out of his pocket and sent a message to Alaric Blackwood.

Meanwhile, Alaric Blackwood was still suffering from insomnia.

Sophie Shaw, nestled in his arms, was sleeping soundly.

His phone was on silent, but the screen lit up in the dim room. Alaric noticed the light from the side, turned his head, and reached for the phone on the nightstand.

Ethan: [My boss wanted to talk to Leon Grant. I stopped her.]

He typed a reply: [Good work. Don’t let her tip him off.]

’Going to find Leon Grant this late... it must be about Jaden.’

Alaric Blackwood was also worried about Jaden, especially when he remembered that the wireman had already been killed and his body still hadn’t been found...

He couldn’t sleep for the first half of the night, only managing to get a little rest in the early morning.

In the morning, the sound of Sophie Shaw getting out of bed woke him.

"We’re visiting my grandmother’s house today." She stretched lazily and walked toward the bathroom, seeming to be in good spirits.

Alaric Blackwood lingered in bed for a while until Sophie came to get him. She grabbed his arm and, with great effort, pulled him up. "Come on, get up. Time for breakfast."

"Don’t pull, it hurts."

Hearing that, Sophie immediately let go, her voice filled with tension. "Did your wound open up again?"

She pulled the blanket off Alaric Blackwood. "Let me see."

"I’m fine."

He was just still sleepy and had cried out in mock pain on purpose.

"Turn over, let me see."

A slight, triumphant smile touched the man’s lips. He obediently rolled over and lay face down on the pillow, letting Sophie climb onto the bed, straddle his waist, and pull his sleep robe down from his shoulders.

He rested his chin on the back of his folded hands, a look of pure enjoyment on his face.

Seeing that the wound on his back had scabbed over, with parts of the scab already starting to fall off, Sophie leaned down and lay on his back, pressing her body against his. She wrapped her arms around his waist in a show of unprecedented intimacy.

She kissed his shoulder and buried her face in the crook of his neck, clingier than she had ever been before.

Her soft hair brushed against the side of his neck, tickling him in a way he couldn’t describe.

"Your wound is almost healed. Stop pretending it hurts and get up."

The man let out a low chuckle. "Honey, since you’re already in position, why don’t you give me a massage?"

"In your dreams."

"I’ve ’serviced’ you so many times. Shouldn’t my dear wife reward me for once? It’s about reciprocity, you know?"

Sophie’s face instantly flushed. "I’ll reward you tonight when we get back."

The man laughed and rolled over, wrapping an arm around her waist. As he stood up, he hoisted her onto his shoulder.

His large hand gave her bottom a light pat.

"You said you’d reward me tonight. Don’t you dare go back on your word."

He strode into the bathroom.

"Alaric Blackwood, I already washed my face."

"Wash it again."

...

After breakfast, Alaric Blackwood sat on the living room sofa, chin propped on his hand, lazily waiting for his wife to finish primping.

Sophie Shaw spent half an hour just choosing her clothes, and then came makeup.

By the time she was done getting ready and came downstairs, it was almost eleven o’clock.

Alaric Blackwood stood up to meet her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and led her to the entryway to put on their shoes.

"Lawson, we won’t be back for lunch or dinner, so just make something for yourself."

After giving his instructions, Alaric left with Sophie.

On the way to the Ford Family’s home, Alaric Blackwood’s phone rang.

The screen showed the call was from Preston Chase.

He put on his Bluetooth headset to answer.

"Mr. Blackwood, I’ve gathered most of the evidence. I’m heading back to the capital this afternoon and can officially return to my post on Monday."

"Good. See you Monday."

After hanging up, Alaric Blackwood turned his head and glanced at Sophie in the passenger seat.

"Remember to fire Shayla Zane."

Sophie was looking down at her phone, chatting with Anne. She replied nonchalantly, "You don’t have to remind me. Miss Zane will be gone on Monday."

That woman didn’t come to Heart of the Ocean because she valued the company; she had ulterior motives.

She already knew Shayla Zane was after Alaric Blackwood. There was no way she would keep that woman around.