Chapter 3 Is That Enough

Upon the door's opening by the bodyguard, a mysterious sight met his eyes within the dimly lit VIP room. A man, confined to a wheelchair and leaning his head slightly forward, was entwined in a passionate kiss with a long-haired woman dressed elegantly. The woman's arms circled the man's neck, her kiss fervent and unending.

Frozen in surprise and embarrassment, the bodyguard stared, unprepared for such a scene.

As uncertainty clouded his thoughts, the man in the wheelchair glanced at him, a stern warning gleaming in his cold eyes.

Not daring to linger, the bodyguard hastily exited, shutting the door behind him.

Quiet settled in the room again. After a moment, the man pushed Novalee away. "Is that enough?"

Novalee, realizing the awkwardness of the moment, hurriedly stood and backed away, apologizing, "I'm sorry. It was an emergency. I didn't mean to offend you. Please forgive me."

Observing the man, she readied herself to escape. His confinement to a wheelchair and possible disability indicated that he couldn't give chase.

She retreated to the door, hearing the sounds of searching bodyguards outside.

Novalee bit her lip and glanced back at the curtained window.

This was the second floor.

Without a word from the man to stop her, she rushed to the window, opened it, pulled the curtains together, and leaped out while gripping the curtains.

The sun cast its rays on the man's face, a brief glimpse revealing a striking handsomeness that took Novalee's breath away.

With that fleeting face in mind, she landed. Novalee's face twisted with a hint of frustration. She made a mistake. Those high heels led to a twisted ankle.

A worried voice crackled through her headset. "Mommy, Mommy, how's everything going with you? Are you okay? Speak to me. I'm so worried!"

"Hello, can you hear me?" Novalee inquired as she walked towards the underground parking lot.

No answer echoed from the other side of the call. She removed the headset, discovering that it had been muted by mistake and that its button was blinking with a red light.

Relief washed over her. Lyle Shaw hadn't heard what had happened.

Pressing the answer key, she reassured, "It's all right. The headset was muted by accident just now. I have come out. I'll be back soon."

Oblivious to watchful eyes observing her escape, she left in haste.

After some time, the man retracted his gaze and softly licked his lips. As he glanced at his legs, a turmoil of emotions crossed his face.

Reaching for his phone, he dialed a number.

"Hello, Mr. Patel."

"I need all the surveillance footage from Rowley's engagement party. Send it to me within ten minutes."

The man's voice on the line turned sorrowful as he lamented, "All of it? Ten minutes? Damn it! Mr. Patel, that's not easy to be done in such a short time."

"It is down to nine minutes and forty seconds now."

"Alright, alright." The man typed rapidly, curiosity getting the best of him. "Are you at Rowley and Pattie's engagement party? Why the surveillance video?"

Millard Patel's lips tightened, and his grip on his wheelchair's armrest slowly intensified. "She appeared."

"Who?" The voice on the other end of line took a moment to process, then quickly responded, "Could it be that woman who can arouse you?"

Meanwhile, Novalee, oblivious to the unfolding events, made her way to the underground parking.

Once inside her car, she hastily picked up her phone, put in a new SIM card, and dialed a number.

The phone's persistent ringing ended as a raspy female voice answered, sounding as though tears had just been shed. "Hello, who is it?"

With a knowing chuckle, Novalee replied, "Pattie, are you enjoying the engagement gift I've arranged for you?"

Suddenly, the voice on the other end sharpened. "Who are you? Did you orchestrate this? What do you want?"

"My dear younger sister, don't you recognize me?" Novalee responded, her voice cold.

"Novalee Webb? Is that you? Are you still alive?"

The name Novalee Webb made her sneer. It had been ages since she'd used it.

"I hate to disappoint you, but I'm very much alive and doing quite well. Today's event was merely a small present for you. You are welcome. But be warned, this is only the beginning. Are you ready? Everything you and Rowley took from me, I will reclaim, one by one."

Pattie's voice broke with undisguised fear and anger. "Novalee, we have your daughter. Haven't you thought of her? If you seek revenge on us, aren't you afraid that we will hurt her?"

Novalee softened her voice. "Yes, I'm afraid. That's why I'd advise you to treat my daughter well. She's your only safeguard. Without her, today's gift would've been far more than just a video. Mark my words, Pattie, harm her, and you and Rowley will pay with your lives!"

After hanging up the phone, Novalee pursed her lips.

It had been six years. No one knew what she had been through these years.

Now, with enough capital finally at her disposal, she had returned.

Rowley, Pattie, and the Webb family, she was determined not to let them live an easy life.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she started her car. As she prepared to drive away, she glanced in the rearview mirror and froze.

A charming young girl was resting against a pillar next to her car, a picture of innocence.

The young girl appeared to be around five or six years old, her fragile health evident. Her complexion was pale, and her lips had a bluish tinge, indicating considerable discomfort.

With a glance confirming no one else was nearby, Novalee rushed out of the car, quickly approaching the child. "Little girl, are you feeling unwell? Why are you here alone? Where's your family?"

"It hurts. It hurts," the little girl whimpered, her eyes glazed, her hair soaked with sweat.

Novalee's heart clenched. Her daughter would be this child's age.

Frantic, Novalee scooped the child up, reassuring her, "Come on. I'll take you to the hospital."

She placed the child in the safety seat and returned to the driver's seat, saying, "Hold on. We'll be at the hospital soon. Stay awake. Talk to me if you're in pain."

"Mom, Mom."

The little girl's unconscious cry made Novalee's heart ache all the more.