The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

"Sheldon, give Cassie to me. I'll turn her in to law enforcement. She won't be able to escape justice for everything she's done,"

He downed another glass of wine, then looked directly at Sheldon again.

"Please. Let me take her."

"That's impossible, Mr. Wesley. I agreed to sit here and speak with you, but that doesn't mean you can push your luck," Sheldon replied flatly, without hesitation. "If

I don't want her found, no one will ever find her."

He continued, "Mr. Wesley, your only task right now is to work with the Walker family to make sure the wedding goes perfectly for Mr. Marcus and Mrs. Natalie. As for the rest, it's none of your concern.

"I don't care whether this is worth it or not. I only want to follow my heart. And my heart tells me this is what I need to do."

He downed another glass.

"I'm an old man now. I've spent my life following your father. I've had my share of comfort. There's nothing I regret. In these final years, I just want to live as I choose, to do what I believe is right. No one can stop me when it comes to Cassie."

Sheldon set down his glass.

"Mr. Wesley, just grant me this one thing.

"I told Noah to forget what he saw, to act like it never happened. But he still let me down. Then again, I expected that. He's loyal to a fault. There was no way he could keep something like this from you and Marcus."

"I came to speak with you first. Once we're done, I'll be leaving Holden Residence. The wedding should be handled by you and Ms. Laura. As his parents, you've already missed so much of Mr. Marcus' life. You shouldn't miss this moment too."

"But if you leave, how will you be there to take the photo of me and Laura together to provoke Cassie?" Wesley asked, frowning.

He put his glass down and let out a long sigh. "I won't stop you from doing what you feel you need to do to Cassie. But I hope you'll think about the future. I hope you'll live out your days in peace.

"Life can be both long and short. Right now, you say you're following your heart. But after it's all over, have you thought about what comes next? Have you thought about what the rest of us will do if something happens to you?

"We all care for you, respect you. If you disappear or get hurt, what are we supposed to do with that?"

child. Don't pretend you don't know

sentiment. I'm done listening. No one can stop

that, he stood up and turned toward the

his mouth, his vision blurred.

Sheldon reached the door, someone entered from outside. They helped Wesley to his feet and carried him

the car and

next morning, Wesley woke in his own bed. His head

"Damn..."

back onto the mattress.

one. He reached for his phone and checked the time, then quickly dialed

call went through, but no one answered. After it

remember everything from last night. Please call

Even if you don't want to talk, just give me your location.

Drugging me in the wine? Weren't you afraid I might've had a bad

I didn't drug you. You just can't hold your liquor.

"Where are you? Pick up the

"I hear you. I'm just not picking up. I said everything I needed to say last night. There's nothing more to discuss. I'm

their life differently. I've made my choice.

that brings me peace. So don't call again. I won't answer. And don't try to

wrote, "Please don't do this. I'm begging you. Just

time, there was no reply. No matter how many messages or calls he sent afterward, Sheldon never answered

sat in bed, head still throbbing. The more he tried to

got.

another long pause, he forced

had already departed from the port in the Dithoria, sailing steadily into open

Sheldon stood with the wind in his face. He pulled a SIM card from his phone and tossed it into the

on the deck, her body shackled by

a few times and toss her

just give me a quick death. You want me to be eaten by sharks, is that it?" she said, lifting her