Chapter 254 The Man Who’s Too Slow in Reaction and Speed
Paul immediately noticed something was wrong with Calista. He grabbed her hand just as she was about
to run from him.
“What’s wrong?”
David was anxious as he saw Calista’s gaze swept past them from a distance.
“It seems like Mrs. Northwood saw you.”
Their actions were considered stalking, weren’t they? Lucian frowned.
“No, she wasn’t looking at me.”
As soon as he finished his sentence, he saw Calista whipping her hand out of Paul’s grip. She ran toward
a place with fewer people.
“Stop her,” Lucian ordered David.
Paul was stunned for a second, then he immediately went after her. But there were a lot of people on the streets. Calista disappeared from his sight as she blended into the crowd.
Calista’s gaze was fixated on the slender figure, who wasn’t far away from her. She was of average height,
around five feet four.
She moved swiftly through the crowd, occasionally revealing the profile that Calista was so familiar with. The woman was dressed in a body–con dress, with a diamond bracelet on her wrist.
Before Calista’s mother passed, this woman often came to her house. Calista often saw her and her mother chatting away in the garden for the whole afternoon. They seemed very close.
But the only difference was that she wasn’t like the Baker family who grew distant from them gradually-
she disappeared instantly.
After Calista’s mom died, this woman never showed herself again. She didn’t even come to the funeral.
The streets were brimming with activity. The woman blended quickly into the crowd. Just as Calista was
in despair, the woman appeared again.
This repeated several times. Both of them gradually moved away from the busy streets and reached a
quieter area. The noisy sounds were left behind.
There was only a very small parking lot ahead. Two dim incandescent lights were the only light source in
that area. It was unusually quiet and deserted.
No cars were entering or leaving since it’s the busiest time of the tourist hotspot. The woman went straight to the depths of the parking lot. Calista slowed down and hesitated whether to follow her.
She wanted to follow her because she finally encountered someone who was related to her mother. Maybe she could learn about the past from that woman.
On the other hand, she didn’t want to follow her because her strong intuition was telling her there was
danger.
Especially when the car the woman got in was still not started even though she was already in the car. Calista stood still for a while. She turned and left decisively.
She acted out of impulse earlier on as she finally laid eyes on her old acquaintance. But as she calmed
down, she also realized that the woman was baiting her.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible for her to track her down in such a huge crowd and at such a large
distance.
Not to mention, Calista even lost her while tracking her down. She would be too lucky if it wasn’t a
deliberate act.
Calista came to Apthon to work and the last thing she’d expect is to be involved in this matter. She wasn’t prepared at all–she didn’t have any self–defense tools with her either.
If she were to follow that woman in haste, not only would she fail to gather information, but she would be
put in a vulnerable position.
Taking risks without being fully prepared isn’t deemed as bravery–it’s foolishness. Since these people intended to bait her, they would surely plan another attempt if they failed this time.
Sensing Calista’s intention, the people hidden in the dark could no longer hold it in.
Although it’s quite risky to abduct someone on a busy street, they’d rather be arrested by the police than
face their boss’s blame after a failed mission.
However, before they could intercept Calista, they were stopped by someone else.
As they laid eyes upon the person who stood before them, their expressions changed in an instant. Fear
was evident in their eyes.
But they managed to suppress their urge to retreat as they thought of their boss‘ gentle and kind
appearance.
As Calista had just crossed the streets, her hand was grabbed by Lucian. His expression was grim.
“Who were you following just now?”
He was fully focused on her. As the streets were swarming with people, it was easy for him to lose her if
he looked away even for an instant.
So he didn’t have the opportunity to observe the surroundings, let alone to tell whether anyone was acting
strange in the crowd.
Calista, already feeling muddled, was lost in thought. She was walking instinctively toward a crowded area when she was suddenly grabbed by Lucian.
She was startled and immediately attempted to push him away. But before she could do so, she recognized the person holding her.
She loosened up in an instant and answered, “Someone I know.”
Lucian frowned as he looked at her assertively. He was trying to discern something from her expression.
But emotions weren’t written on her face. So he could only sense that she was hiding something from him
-but he couldn’t figure out what.
It suddenly struck Calista that Lucian, who was supposed to be in Capeton, shouldn’t be here at Apthon. Not only was he here, but he was right in front of her, grabbing her hand.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m on a business trip.”
“You came to this tourist hotspot on a business trip?”
The suspicion on Calista’s face triggered Lucian. He was already upset that she had been spending the
whole day with Paul.
He blurted out, “Then why are you doing in Apthon?”
Calista was caught off guard.
“I’m here for a business trip,” She admitted.
And you came to this tourist hotspot on a business trip?”
Calista was speechless. Seeing her remaining silent, Lucian pursed his lips.
He said in a softer tone, “Why can’t I be here when you can be here? Or did Paul reserve the entire place?”
Lucian’s jealousy was so evident.
Calista still had to
extremely worried right now.
Although she was just taking a stroll around, she intended to observe the architecture there instead of shopping. So technically, she was still at work.
“Sure. Go ahead with your business trip then. I’ll get going.”
“Where are you going? To find Paul? You just can’t bear to be apart from him, can’t you?” Lucian pulled on her, unwilling to let her go. “Not only he couldn’t hold onto you, but he also couldn’t keep up with you. If you’re really in danger, you’d probably be on the autopsy table at the police station by the time he found you. Can you rely on him, who has neither reaction nor speed?”
Whether it was because Lucian and Paul were love rivals, or Lucian had gotten better with his insults, Calista felt that he was particularly harsh today when he was talking about Paul.
*… Being rude is a disease. Go get some help before you poison yourself with your insults.”
“I’m just helping you to see the truth. What’s the use of good looks and a good temper? He’s never around when you’re in danger. Are you with men just for show?”
In terms of appearance, Lucian wasn’t inferior to Paul. However, girls seem to like Paul’s gentle and smart demeanor better. He made them feel secure and he’s husband material.
“Let’s make a bet. See whether Paul can find you in ten minutes.”
“I’m not interested.”
Why should Calista be demanding that much when she wasn’t even dating Paul? Lucian ignored her
refusal.
“If you lose, you’ll have to go for a meal with me.”
