Chapter 502 The Nightstalker
“Courtney, you’re awake!”
Staring at her, Cameron had a hint of happiness before it was replaced with anger as she crossed her arms and chided Courtney. “I thought we had agreed to wait for Alexander to return before discussing. Why did you run off by yourself just as I happened to doze off? You were lucky this time. If anything else happened, then I would’ve died with you!”
Waking up to hear Cameron scolding her like this, Courtney blinked somewhat innocently with her pale lips.
“I’m sorry, Cameron. I was wrong.”
As Alexander coughed lightly, he glanced at Cameron impatiently before saying, “You’re a bit loud.”
“I—”
In disbelief, a livid Cameron then pointed at her own nose.
“Nothing would’ve happened if you hadn’t dozed off,” he added calmly.
“Alexander Duncan, are you trying to find excuses for your wife right now?
He did not reply to this.
Since Courtney saw that the situation was worsening and felt that it might escalate, she quickly changed the subject before Cameron lost her cool.
“Even though I did pay the price, it’s not like I didn’t gain anything either. I saw Raymond in the park too. Looks like this person is involved in this whole mess.”
Thinking back, Courtney then started to piece together some incidents that did not seem to be correlated, such as the reason for Raymond’s sudden appearance at the press conference to criticize her company and the fact that Jimmy was also adopted by the World Vision Orphanage.
As she recalled all these, she gripped Alexander’s hand while speaking in a hurry, “I think that Tina’s disappearance might have something to do with him.”
Nodding, Alexander stood up to arrange the pillow for her to sit up gently before reassuring her, “Just let me handle this. Before you recover, I’ll handle everything for you.”
He did not scold her, and he did not even show her a hint of anger either.
However, this only served to make Courtney feel even more guilty as Tina was on her mind when she went out this afternoon. Even though Courtney had promised not long ago to be by his side forever and for always, she did not consider Alexander’s disposition one bit.
If this small incident was enough to make her lose all sense, then what damage would she cause to him if the assailant did not end there?
“I’m sorry, Alex.”
Holding his hand with hers, she opened his hand up before tracing his palm with her fingers. She wanted to remind herself how grand his love was to her, and that she was not willing to lose this feeling again.
As a lovey-dovey atmosphere started to spread from between them, Cameron interrupted as she looked at Alexander’s breathing becoming more ragged.
“Hey, hey, hey, there’s still a living, breathing person here. Could you two at least acknowledge my existence?”
Hearing this, Alexander replied, “It’s getting late. I’ll let Eric send you back first.”
Cameron, who saw Courtney stick her tongue out to her, gave an expression that went along the lines of Courtney betraying her before she started to walk to the door. Yet, before she left, she called Gale. “Honey, come and pick me up. I need you.”
Then, Cameron turned and commented, “You two are disgusting.”
Slamming the door, she left with the sound of her high heels striking the floor filling the atmosphere.
When they saw this, Courtney and Alexander both laughed out loud before he stood up and gave her a peck on the forehead.
“Just rest for now. I’ll keep you company.”
Since she knew she could not chase him away, she only nodded but suddenly remembered something as she was about to lie down. Then, she hurriedly asked, “Where’s my phone?”
“I have it.”
Alexander took out the phone from his pocket and gave it to her, after which she quickly opened her gallery only to find the previous photos she took had been deleted. She already expected this, so she placed the device on the table.
“What’s wrong?”
“I felt someone taking my phone when I was unconscious. Looks like it wasn’t a hallucination. The photos I’ve taken are all gone.”
After he nodded, Alexander then opened their conversation page.
“The location was also sent from your phone.”
This shocked Courtney as she looked at him with an inexplicable expression only to recall something.
“At Sakura Restaurant, I said I was the man’s sister only to find out that coincidentally, he really did have a younger sister. Besides that, they apparently have quite a close relationship. I think that this could also be a lead.”
He frowned as he replied, “I’ll go and check it out.”
…
As Melrose City saw rapid development within these few years, innumerable skyscrapers appeared out of nowhere thereafter. Yet, nobody cared to notice that smacked dead in the center of this bright city was an old residential unit that was spared from demolition.
The six-story residential unit was completely surrounded by the various taller buildings as its faded walls revealed depressing black-colored molds under it. Combined with the cramped stairwell and the smell of mold everywhere, this place did not fit in with the vibrant city at all.
It was in this cramped space that Mike Winom’s face was illuminated by the light coming from outside. Staying in the darkness, his deep gaze had a terrifying look to them.
Pinching the soon-to-be finished cigarette, he subsequently took a very long drag with all his might before throwing it into the ashtray that was almost full.
Clink. Tilting his head subtly, he lit another cigarette as the light revealed his troubled expression.
Finally, his phone screen brightened as he unlocked the screen with peering eyes, revealing a conversation log in front of him.
‘It was a perfect chance today. Why didn’t you do it? Don’t tell me that you became soft-hearted?”
‘There were people there. It wasn’t wise to do so.’
‘Alexander Duncan will soon find you. You don’t have much time.’
‘I know.’
‘Did Raymond get exposed?’
‘Yup.’
‘Looks like we can only cancel our original plan then. I’ve some other arrangements that I would like you to do. Raymond has messed up, so he needs to pay for his mistakes. I will keep my promise after this matter is done.’
Staring at the phone, Mike was seemingly hesitant at the message as the smoke from the cigarette covered his face and masked his features.
Then, he started to type on his phone. He repeatedly wrote and deleted his words before he replied, ‘Okay.’
Extinguishing the final cigarette, he went to the balcony and dialed a number.
“Are you asleep, Lila?”
“Nope. Why didn’t you come over today?”
“I was delayed at work and afraid that I might disturb your rest.”
His excuse only elicited a nonchalant response from the other side, as the girl tugged on the blanket with a heavy heart.
The two suddenly went silent.
After a long while, Mike suddenly forced himself to say, “I might have to leave the city these two days, so I’ll visit you tomorrow. What do you want to eat?”
“I want some cream puffs.”
“Cream puffs again?” As he laughed out, he dotingly replied, “Alright. Cream puffs, it is then. I’ll go queue at Maxmillian’s Cream Puffs tomorrow.”
Before he hung up, Mike’s smile disappeared as he stood on the old balcony leaning over while looking at the city with a dazed expression.
“I’ll be rich soon. You just have to wait for a while. It’ll be very soon.”
Keeping his phone, he then felt the night breeze blowing him with a hint of iciness in it, making him awake all of a sudden. Turning around, he then went to his bedroom and laid on his bed.
He never switched on the lights because he was already used to the darkness and loneliness. Staying alone in this big city, he wore a disguise and feigned like he was like any other man when in fact, his heart had been hollow for a long time to the point where he could only seek solace from this place.
He knew he could never walk out of this building and city ever again.
