Chapter 5
A trace of hesitation flickered in his eyes before vanishing completely.
If word got out that he had an ex-con mother, no one would ever talk to him again.
Since Jericho didn’t voice any objections, he nodded obediently.
Nadine smiled. But as her gaze fell upon the lavish feast, she couldn’t help but sigh, “What a pity-I prepared all these for Ms. Sandoval.”
To Jericho’s surprise, he didn’t receive any call from Romina for the following two days.
It was like she was indeed set to get a divorce and cut ties with him and Kashton.
He frowned, finally deciding to call her.
What he heard was a robotic voice, telling him her number was no longer in service.
He couldn’t help but be stunned.
Only then did he realize-after three years locked away, her old number had been deactivated.
She had even deleted her WhatsApp account.
He couldn’t reach her whatsoever.
An inexplicable panic and irritation surged through him.
He immediately ordered his secretary, “Find out where Romina lives now and get me her number. Now that she’s out, who knows what she’ll pull? I won’t let her do anything to disgrace my family.”
***
Romina had been redecorating Breeze Vista for the past two days.
She could get half of her shared assets with Jericho after the divorce. But she had to support herself before that.
So, she decided to pick up her old hobby-carving quartz.
Apparently, no one had set foot in here for the past three years. Every corner was covered in dust.
While cleaning, she noticed the pair of lion statues that had stood by the entrance were gone.
She called the property management.
The manager explained, “Three years ago, Ms. Lambert was harassed by a hater and was injured. She liked the lion statues, so Mr. Jericho and Mr. Kashton had them moved to her villa, hoping they could keep her safe.”
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Romina didn’t feel surprised at all.
The lion statues had been her painstaking gift for Jericho and Kashton.
They were meant to ward off harm from the two men.
But Jericho had laughed at her for being tacky and coldly returned them.
And now, they stood as protection at Nadine’s villa?
After scorning her, Jericho regifted her heartfelt gift to another woman?
She hung up and decisively called 911.
Looking indifferent, she said flatly, “Hello? I’d like to report a crime. Someone has stolen from my home.”
Then she hung up.
After giving her statement, she was already beat.
She realized she was running a high fever after the police left.
Mustering all her strength, she went to the hospital to get some medication.
At the sight of her wounds, the doctor advised with a grave expression, “These chronic wounds never properly healed. With those injuries left by repeated beatings, sticks, and … needles, Ma’am, I’m afraid your body has critically weak- ened. I suggest you stay hospitalized for proper recovery. Otherwise…”
“That won’t be necessary,” Romina said calmly without a change in her expression.
She excelled in naturopathy and knew her condition better than anyone.
The inmates-all ruthless, cunning creatures-had left mostly hidden wounds to avoid the guards’ notice.
Without her medical knowledge, she’d have already died in there.
Now that she survived the brutal torture, of course, the free air wouldn’t kill her.
The physical injuries had faded, but the deepest scars remained-delivered by the man she called husband and the child she bore.
She’d never go back to the Bowman’s mansion again.
While the doctor was treating her wounds, Kashton, not far away, spotted her.
He tugged at the hem of Jericho’s clothes and pursed his lips. “Daddy, why is she here? Is she sick?”
Only then did Jericho notice her.
He furrowed his brows deeply, disgust flashing in his eyes.
Three years had passed. And she was playing hard to get again? Couldn’t she try something new?
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