Chapter 4 I Was Aroused By Her

Novalee sped to the hospital, urgently taking the little girl to the emergency room. Once the fee was paid, the doctor emerged from the emergency room.

"Doctor, how's the child?"

Removing his mask, the doctor replied, "She's got congenital heart disease and suffered a heart attack. We've treated her, and she's safe now."

Novalee's face relaxed, then twisted in confusion. Congenital heart disease?

Poor girl. How could her parents leave her in the parking lot alone? It was utterly irresponsible! If something had gone wrong, regret would have been futile.

Turning to the doctor again, Novalee inquired, "Doctor, have her parents been informed?"

"Yes, the patient is awake now. She shared her family's phone number with us. The nurse has already reached out to her parents, and they'll be here shortly."

"Okay."

Novalee let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. With the girl's parents on their way and medical professionals around, there was a sense of reassurance that everything would turn out fine.

Reassured, and knowing her child awaited her at home, Novalee hastily departed for home.

Arriving, she found her little boy in the living room, giving her a chilly glance. "Three hours and twenty-four minutes. Is that what you call soon?"

Observing the icy demeanor on Lyle's countenance, Novalee couldn't help but find it amusing. Whenever he wore a stern expression, it did have a somewhat intimidating effect.

Out of the blue, a sense of familiarity washed over her as if she had encountered that same chilling gaze somewhere in the past.

Novalee shook her head, dismissing the odd thought from her mind swiftly. She approached and offered an explanation. "Sorry, that was my fault. I didn't intend to be late. Just as I was returning, I encountered a young girl around your age. She suffered a heart attack and collapsed near my car. I rushed her to the hospital before coming back, so I am late."

At Novalee's words, Lyle's expression softened slightly.

"Since you helped someone, I'll forgive you. But I'm starving."

"I'll cook right away. Once we're settled here, I'll hire a nanny. Situations like this won't repeat."

"Okay." Observing Novalee heading straight for the kitchen, Lyle playfully pursed his lips and murmured, "Bad mommy. I did so much to assist her today, yet no reward for me."

As he grumbled, Lyle shifted his attention towards the kitchen and inquired, "Oh, and by the way, Mommy, which company are you going to discuss business with tomorrow?"

"Patel Group," from the kitchen, Novalee said. "The Patel Group holds a key partnership with the Shaw Group. Over the years, Shaw Group has collaborated closely with Patel Group on significant projects. My plan is to have a conversation with the head of Patel Group. Ideally, I'd like to secure this partnership away from the Shaw Group. Losing Patel Group would be a blow to Rowley."

When Lyle heard Novalee's words, his brow furrowed and he mumbled, "Patel Group? Why does it sound familiar?"

Lyle's fingers danced across the keyboard, swiftly uncovering details about the Patel Group.

As he perused the relevant information, a sudden realization dawned on him as to why the Patel Group sounded familiar. He had once meticulously examined the guests of the hotel where his mommy had slept with a man and compiled a list of potential father figures. Millard Patel, the CEO of Patel Group, was on that list.

Meanwhile, in the CEO's office of the Patel Group, seated on the sofa, a laptop cradled in his lap, a young man swiftly tapped on the keys. "I've identified that woman. She goes by the name Novalee Webb, Pattie Webb's older sister, and she's also Rowley's ex-wife. But isn't it known that she's been missing for quite a while? Rowley and Pattie have already announced she's deceased. Mr. Patel, are you entertaining the idea that she might have been the woman from seven years ago?"

Cody Khan licked his lips as he gazed at the stern figure behind the desk. Millard's face was a mask, and his words had been few and far between since his return from the engagement party. His eyes were as cold and unnerving as ice.

Furrowing his brow, Cody said, "We've examined the entire guest list from the hotel seven years ago. Novalee wasn't on the list, only her half-sister Pattie was. And Pattie, she was the main suspect. She was there on that floor that night."

His eyes fixed on Millard, Cody continued, "Mr. Patel, you've been in touch with Pattie about this, haven't you? You even attended her engagement party. Could Pattie be..."

"It's not Pattie," Millard interjected, shaking his head firmly. "I am certain."

Cody's frown deepened. "You think it's Novalee, but my investigations show she was at her college graduation party in a club at that time. I've seen the security footage of her entering the club."

Hesitating, he asked, "Could your arousal for that woman have been drug-induced that night?"

A sudden grip tightened on the armrest of Millard's wheelchair. His face contorted as he said, "But I was aroused by Novalee today. I was not under any influence."

He paused, remembering the woman he had seen six years ago.

It was not in the hotel but in the suburbs of Valmead.

On that night, she was drenched in blood and disheveled.

Yet, somehow, she ignited a spark of desire within him.

"What?" Cody gasped, taken aback.

Regaining his composure, he continued, "I'll reexamine Novalee's information."

Fingers flying over the keyboard, he found something after ten minutes. "There aren't many search results about this woman online, but I stumbled upon her picture on an official company website. Quite intriguing. Her name listed on that website is Novalee Shaw."

"Which company?"

"You've probably come across it. Luminary Pictures. It's the top film and television company globally, possessing sixty percent of the foreign film and television resources. Over the past few years, this company has been responsible for producing the majority of high-end and popular movies. This company has recently established a branch in Orlea, indicating its intention to venture into the film and television market of our country. Novalee Shaw holds the position of general manager at Luminary Pictures' Orlea branch."

"Luminary Pictures?" Millard contemplated for a moment. He had heard of them. After a brief silence, he initiated an internal call. "Josue, come in."

Josue Price entered swiftly and inquired, "Mr. Petal, how can I assist you?"

"Is Luminary Pictures discussing a collaboration with us?"

Josue nodded eagerly. "Yes. The person in charge of Luminary Pictures is scheduled to visit our company tomorrow. They're coming to meet with our colleagues from the film and television investment department to discuss potential collaboration."

The person in charge of Luminary Pictures?

Millard's eyes gleamed. "Bring her to my office tomorrow."

Josue's head snapped up in surprise as he gazed at Millard. The latter's voice carried a significant undertone as he stated, "I'll talk to her in person."

"Yes, sir."

A smile played on Millard's lips. "This could be her. I must take this chance to verify."

Moreover, this woman genuinely piqued his curiosity.

A woman nearly killed in a fire six years ago had suddenly risen to become the general manager of Luminary Pictures' branch in Orlea.