Chapter 70. A Pawn
Chapter 70: A Pawn
Ten minutes later, I arrived at the hot springs as if nothing had happened.
The water was warm and soothing, like nectar, caressing every inch of my skin and washing away the chill that had sunk deep into my bones.
But after a long while, I was still the only one in the spring.
Just as I sensed something was amiss, Duke and Silvia arrived together.
“Ms. Connery, I’m terribly sorry” Duke’s apologetic voice reached my ears. “Mr. Lynton has been busy with work these past two years and developed a stomach condition. He drank yesterday and caught a
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well?
But just moments ago, in the changing room, he…
The image of his broad, warm chest flashed in my mind, and suddenly, my face burned hot, as if set on fire.
“Ms. Grande,” Silvia’s voice interrupted my thoughts, “Don’t you think Mr. Lynton’s illness came at a rather convenient time?”
I froze, clearly aware that Silvia was not someone who could easily be fooled.
But our relationship wasn’t close enough for us to sit down and discuss another man’s business.
When I didn’t respond, Silvia smirked, “Alright then, if Mr. Lynton’s not here, then I’m not
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in the mood either. You’re free to do as you please, Ms. Grande.”
She turned and left, her back straight and sharp.
That confident air reminded me a little of Kaitlyn.
I left the hot spring an hour later.
And in that hour, I figured something out–if I wanted to find out the whereabouts of Free Spirit, going through Silvia was unlikely to get me anywhere.
As for Fletcher, if his heart was set on Davina, I couldn’t expect any help from him either.
I would have to rely on myself.
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Just as I was considering how to approach this next, I unexpectedly ran into Duke.
Duke was holding a bag from a pharmacy. I glanced at it and saw the name of the store printed on it.
“Mrs. Lynton,” Duke said, looking surprised. “How are you feeling now?”
I was puzzled. “What do you mean, how am I feeling?”
Duke scratched his head. “I just went to the pharmacy to pick up some medicine. Mr. Lynton asked me to get some cold and fever medicine, saying it was for you.”
“For me?” I asked incredulously. “Are you sure you didn’t mishear him?”
“Mrs. Lynton,” Duke said, looking at me with
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a half–smile, “I’ve been around Mr. Lynton for over a year. Do you really think I’m clueless about something like this?”
I suddenly found myself at a loss for words.
Duke glanced at me, then sighed. “Mr. Lynton’s stomach is still bothering him. Mrs. Lynton, could you do me a favor and take the medicine to him?”
I looked at Duke suspiciously, but he added, “I’ll check the restaurant to see if there’s any stomach–nourishing porridge left. I’ll get some ready for Mr. Lynton.”
He was definitely covering all the bases.
My thoughts went back to the changing room incident, and after a brief hesitation, I took the bag from him.
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Soon, I found myself hesitantly making my way to Fletcher’s cottage, clutching the bag of medicine.
Before I even reached the door, I could hear voices from inside.
“Ms. Connery, I appreciate your heartfelt confession, but I’ve already fallen for someone else. I’m sorry.”
I froze in place, my footsteps halting.
Then, I heard Silvia’s voice. “Mr. Lynton, your purpose for this trip is something we both know, don’t we? You know, I never imagined staying by your side forever, I just want to share a fleeting moment with you…”
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“Ms. Connery, mind your words.” Fletcher’s stern voice cut through her, “Ms. Connery, you should know that I’m here with sincere
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tions to discuss cooperation with Lucky B&B. As the head of Lucky B&B, I believe you should seriously consider the potential for collaboration.”
His tone was formal and calm, perfectly composed. Fletcher’s cold–hearted persona was as vivid as ever.
It made sense. With Davina in his heart, Fletcher remained an impenetrable, untouchable force.
Silvia must have realized this as well, as her tone grew noticeably more rigid. “What if I refuse to cooperate with Lynton Group?”
She was clearly upset.
Refusing was just another form of a threat, a subtle power play.
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Finally, Silvia let her emotions get the better of her.
She still didn’t know Fletcher well.
The next moment, I heard the man speak in a detached tone, “Ms. Connery, of course, you have the right to refuse. But as far as I know, Lucky B&B’s financial reports have been on a downward trend since last year, and the current cash flow situation isn’t looking good.”
That was a surprising revelation.
It seemed Fletcher had done his homework before coming.
“So what?” Silvia responded, adopting a more strategic stance. “There are plenty of investment firms out there, and Lynton Group is hardly the only one with funds.”
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She wasn’t wrong.
The only firm that could offer that amount is probably Lynton Group,” Fletcher replied calmly, “Ms. Connery, I know that providing a guest list is no easy task for you. But if we enter into a partnership, the situation. will change. As the investor, we would have the right to review any relevant documents. What do you think?”
Even though I was standing outside the door and couldn’t see their exchange, it was easy to guess that Fletcher was in full control of the negotiation, with a near certainty of victory.
“Mr. Lynton, looks like you came here fully prepared from the very first day,” Silvia said, her tone softening, tinged with reluctance. “If that’s the case, then why waste so much
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time pretending with me these past few days? Could it be because of Vina?”
The room fell into a brief silence.
A few seconds later, Fletcher’s voice responded, “Yeah, I had to consider her feelings.”
A self–deprecating laugh followed, and I heard Silvia’s voice, laced with bitter amusement. “So, all this time, it was just me being one–sided.”
She laughed, but I couldn’t join in.
Because, soon, it hit me.
If Fletcher had already planned everything before he arrived, then why the deliberate involvement of me these past few days?
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In this tiresome game of pretense, Fletcher had intentionally used me, outwardly playing along with Silvia while secretly orchestrating everything behind the scenes.
Silvia had been played, and I, too, was just a small, insignificant pawn in this confrontation.
The reason? Fletcher had to secure that guest list for Davina. The Free Spirit matter was a strategic move to gain a decisive advantage, and he was willing to do whatever it took to ensure that victory.
He really was meticulous in his efforts.
I handed the medicine to the hotel staff and quickly packed my things, preparing to head down the mountain.
It was painfully obvious that, in this
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Davina.
Completely.
And as the winner, Davina didn’t even need to show her face.
It was laughable, truly.
It was only noon, but the mountain was still shrouded in mist, hazy and indistinct. I held onto the railing, carefully descending the steps. The bitterness in my chest gnawed at my senses, a rough grit that never seemed to relent. In a moment of carelessness, I missed a step.
Fortunately, I reacted quickly and grabbed the chain beside me, but the sudden sense of weightlessness amplified the frustration
my chest. In an instant, my nose tingled
in
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with the familiar sting of tears, and they poured uncontrollably from my eyes.
Even a pawn should have the right to feel wronged, shouldn’t it?
If I was just a pawn, then why did he have to show up at that crucial moment?
Wouldn’t it have been better to just let me, this insignificant piece, fend for myself?
The more I thought about it, the more hurt I felt, until tears escaped, rolling down my cheeks.
But then, in the next moment, a clear voice abruptly pierced my ear.
“Charlene, is it really you?”
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