Chapter 10 The Snatching
Donovan sneered, “Are you guys playing a game of hide and seek?”
Shelby had wanted to divorce him a while back. As such, he assumed she was probably hiding at her parent’s boule, pretending to be dead.
Donovan then turned to Nina, whose eyes were slightly reddened as she held the urn, thinking she was going pretty far th her act.
Regardless, he didn’t believe that Shelby was dead because Maggie was showing no signs of grief over the loss of her own daughter.
“Open the door,” Donovan gestured with his chin toward the Ross residence.
Maggie frowned, understanding that Donovan didn’t believe her.
Maggie gestured for Nina to open the door, and Donovan strode into the Ross residence.
He went straight to Shelby’s boudoir, intending to push the door open directly. However, for some unknown reason, he felt a heavy sinking feeling in his heart. He pulled back his hand and decided to knock instead. “Shelby, come out.”
In response, he was met with a dead silence.
“What sort of tantrum are you throwing?” He pursed his lips. “What gives you the right to act this way? You were the one who betrayed me first. What right do you have to be angry?”
Donovan couldn’t help but tremble as he spoke, his gaze fixed on the door. Maggie stood behind him, arms crossed, observing for a while before finally stepping forward. She then opened the door right before Donovan’s eyes.
In the bedroom, there was no sign of Shelby. The room was so neat and tidy, as if nobody had ever lived there.
Maggie said, “It’s been awhile since she last came home: When I received the news, Shelby was critically ill. She even signed an organ donation agreement. I have no idea who ended up with her heart.”
“Stop lying.” Donovan said, his fists clenched tightly. Lila’s heart transplant surgery had just been completed, and now Maggie tells me Shelby donated her heart? Absurd. There’s no way Shelby would’ve donated the heart to Lila when she hated her.
I don’t think Maggie’s going to tell me the truth. Donovan strode out, dialing Callum’s number as he walked. “Look up all the hotel. check–in records for me. Find Shelby!” Why did she leave without uttering a word? Clearly, she was the one at fault, yet she played the
victim.
No sooner had he hung up the phone than his cell started ringing.
“Mr. Mayer, Mrs. Mayer forgot to wear her ring,” the housekeeper reported.
A while back, Shelby mentioned she needed to return to her maternal home for a few days. As such, only upon receiving news that Donovan was returning did the housekeeper come back to tidy up the house.
When she did, she saw the wedding ring that Shelby had always worn on the table.
“I understand,” Donovan said, bending slightly as he got into the car.
He gently caressed his left ring finger, his jawline taut with tension.
Shelby had once made a fuss about him not wearing a wedding ring.
“It’s not like I was going to marry you. You don’t deserve to wear a matching ring with me.” Those were the words he had spoken to Shelby at the time, which brought her to tears.
At that moment, he breathed out heavily in his heart.
He was flustered, unable to comprehend how Shelby could betray him yet marry him three years later as if nothing had ever happened.
Donovan also learned that Shelby had taken a substantial amount of money from his family.
The car swiftly arrived at the Mayer residence. The housekeeper was waiting at the entrance and, upon seeing Donovan approach, opened the door for him.
The ring was simply resting on the coffee table. She dared not tamper with her employer’s belongings, so she led Donovan
over to it.
Donovan confirmed that the ring on the coffee table was Shelby’s. She had truly left her ring behind.
Then, Donovan held the ring tightly in his hand before lighting up a cigarette. As the smoke swirled around him, he received a call from Callum.
No records of Shelby checking into any hotels across the city were found.
Donovan said. “Check her travel history.”
He paused for a moment, then continued, “And Kyler’s whereabouts.”
Callum fell silent for a moment, then said, “Kyler has gone to the Ross residence.”
At the Ross residence, Maggie was lounging on the couch, fiddling with her nails, while Kyler sat across from her
He placed a piece of paper on the table and said, “I’m taking Shel’s ashes with me.”
When Maggie caught sight of the check, her eyes lit up, and she quickly glanced at the amount.
It was three million.
She coughed lightly before saying, “Taking it away like this isn’t quite right, is it? If anything, it should be given to the Mayer family”
Kyler made a call. “Bring two million in cash over.”
Maggie couldn’t help but smirk. She uncrossed her legs, and with her index and middle finger, she picked up the cheque.
“Thanks.”
She couldn’t help but say, “If only Shelby had married you back then.”
Kyler’s lips curled slightly, the warmth in his eyes incredibly faint.
“Nina, bring Shelby’s urn over,” ordered Maggie.
She had already figured out how to spend that money. With Shelby dead, she couldn’t use the old man as leverage to get money from the Mayer family anymore. As for the matter in the hospital, she had decided not to interfere.
She was going to find Luke.
Kyler had the ashes with him and stood up to take his leave.
He left the house and got into the car.
The box that held Shelby’s ashes was exquisitely crafted. It was a small square box, holding within it the remains of a person who once was very much alive.
Kyler traced the patterns with his fingers.
He knew that Shelby was suffering from advanced colorectal cancer beyond the reach of any cure.
He was also aware of Shelby’s decision to donate her heart and that Lila was the intended recipient of the donation.
2/3
During the days when Shelby was hospitalized, he had visited her several times. Each time he went, her condition seemed to have worsened from the previous visit.
Later on, Shelby asked him for a favor.
She said. “Don’t come here anymore in the future. However, when I’m gone, could you do me a favor and take care of m ashes?”
Shelby clearly understood that given her father’s poor condition, he wouldn’t be able to handle her affairs after she was gone
Additionally, she knew that her mother had always been quite the opportunist, so the latter probably wouldn’t be sad about her death. In fact, her mother might even be angry.
As for Donovan, she assumed learning about her death would probably make him quite happy.
Kyler didn’t go again afterward. Instead, his people kept an eye on Shelby’s condition around the hospital.
He went to the office as usual every day and attended meetings, always listening for any news about Shelby. Every im torturous as if someone was slowly carving his heart with a knife and fork.
The screech of brakes suddenly filled the air. Instinctively, Kyler clutched the box in his arms tighter, his boy ste heavily against the seat.
“Mr. Gosling, there’s someone blocking the road,” the driver said anxiously.
Kyler caught sight of Donovan stepping out of a dark car across the street through the glass window. He wa baseball bat in his hand.
Subsequently, there was a loud bang, and the windshield was shattered.
“Come out.” Donovan moved to the side, his palm resting against the car window as he stared at Kyler.
The driver clutched his head tightly, too frightened to utter a sound.
Kyler set the urn aside and stepped out of the car.
“Mr. Mayer,” his voice was laced with mockery.
Coldly, Donovan demanded, “Hand me the box.”
“What do you want to do with it? Do you want to keep it or destroy it?” Kyler didn’t care for Donovan.
Back in the day, it was for Donovan that Shelby had chosen to be with him. Kyler was no saint. He had contemplated sleeping with Shelby, but she would rather die.
Donovan was indeed strong, but Kyler was not lacking in any way either.
Shelby was generally great, except for her poor judgment of men.
