NovelBar“We nearly didn't make it. It's all thanks to my friend just now that we managed to get here. We nearly
doubled back to take the road you guys took!” she whined.
“Your friend helped you over? She has that much authority here?” Jason voiced his confusion.
“No, but I heard that her uncle calls the shots around here, so we got in under his name,” Vivian
explained.
Comprehension dawned on Jason.
He made no further comment, and the two continued to walk further into the woods. After a kilometer or
so, they found an obscure spot to hide.
“Ah!”
Just as they had settled in, Vivian's high-pitched scream pierced the still air.
With a jolt, Jason turned to check on Vivian. However, before he could react, the young girl sprang up
to her feet and bolted out of the hideout.
“A snake!” Her shriek seemed to reverberate through the whole forest.
Jason had no choice but to chase after her.
Thankfully, being a princess who was a stranger to the wilderness, Vivian finally slowed to a stop in
front of a hill.
“S-Snake...” She panted, depleted of energy.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe held onto a tree for support as she gasped for air.
Her face was still pale with fear.
Jason approached her and began to calm her down. “That wasn't a snake. You saw wrong.”
“Really?” Vivian was dubious.
“Of course,” Jason assured. “I took a good look just now. Don't worry. Snakes don't appear in broad
daylight.”
Jason tried to sound as convincing as possible in hopes of dispelling her trauma.
Fortunately, Vivian began to calm down after listening to his white lie.
“T-Then, let's head back,” Vivian suggested hesitantly as she scanned their gloomy surroundings.
Jason nodded in agreement.
It was imperative that they went back. As of now, they were so deep in the woods that the Elysians who
went to the swamp wouldn't be able to find them.
Jason held Vivian by her wrist, and, for the first time, she did not resist his touch. She was still reeling
back from the scare before.
Vivian had just collected herself when a figure darted out of the woods and appeared before them.
“Ah!”
With another frightened yelp, Vivian ducked behind Jason to shield herself from the newcomer.
Jason's face clouded over instantly.
“Mr. Jason, why are you back? And who is this doll?” the man blurted out at the sight of Jason.
Jason remained silent.
Vivian peered over Jason's shoulder and gave the man a once-over, her expression one of
bewilderment.
“Jason, does he know you?”
“No,” Jason denied curtly, his voice ringing with conviction.
Vivian was rendered speechless.
When her gaze returned to the stranger, she noticed a shift in his expression as he changed the
subject, “Where's your mother? Didn't you say that you were going to get us the treasure? Why are you
alone?”
For a split second, Jason saw a glint of malevolence in the man's eyes.
Jason exhaled in relief.
“She already went ahead on her own. I was worried that I'd get caught outside, so I took cover. By the
way, she's with us. Mom brought her along.”
Jason furtively glanced at Vivian and started to converse with the stranger.
He began to relax when he saw the puzzlement on Vivian's face. She appeared naive, which was in
line with his first impression of her.
Jason refused to believe that Vivian had the brains to trick him.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmOn that fateful night, Kurt had been at the scene. Besides, Vivian's father, along with the rest of the
Hayes family, had been around her the whole time. She was a sheltered princess who had been
pampered all her life.
It was impossible for a simple person like her to devise such an intricate ruse.
After dismissing the stranger, Jason turned to Vivian and urged, “Come on. Let's get out of here.”
“All right,” she agreed breezily.
However, as she lowered her head, she inconspicuously touched her earring. Her brothers' voices
exploded in her ear.
“F*ck! That b*stard Kurt let you do something so dangerous? I'm going to beat him to death!” Matteo's
exasperated voice penetrated her eardrums.
Vivian grew anxious when she heard her brother's enraged threats. Matteo rarely lost his temper, but
now, he was practically growling as he interrogated his sibling.
Vivian quickly tapped her earring and communicated with her brothers in their own unique way.
“Don't blame Kurt. I was the one who decided to do this. I figured that we could break through their
defenses and gain insider information while that woman is gone.”
Matteo could not find the words to rebut her.
“Well, I think that we should commend Vivi for her wit and courage. You have to admit that it's a great
plan. Moreover, the bodyguards that Daddy employed will protect her,” Ian chimed in.
Vivian was pleased to hear Ian's compliment.
However, Matteo was still concerned, and his worries only grew stronger when he caught sight of the
man just now.q
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