Chapter 262: Chapter 262 Remorse

Henry greeted Alfred.

Alfred turned around and pointed at the piano. “This looks nice,” he said with a faint smile.

Under the sparkling chandelier, one could see a hint of nostalgia in Henry’s gentle gaze. “I bought that when I first got together with Crystal. It was kept in the condominium before this, but I moved it here. because Skyler is learning to play the piano.” Henry gestured for his guest to take a seat. “Please, sit.”

Alfred sat on the couch and gently set a document down.

Henry picked up the document and looked through it.

It was a document consisting of seven to eight pages, stating someone’s major crimes. The final page of the document revealed the prosecution’s recommended sentence.

Late at night, Alfred’s deep voice rang out. “It’s a death sentence! If everything goes smoothly, it’ll be carried out in two months’

time!”

Alfred was overwhelmed with mixed feelings when he spoke.

He had discovered certain things that weren’t known to the public. He also found out how Skyler had. managed to survive despite losing so much blood. I underestimated Henry! If necessary, he can be a ruthless man!

Henry read through the document and returned it to Alfred.

Deep down, Henry knew Alfred had done his part to settle the case quickly. Although they didn’t usually see eye to eye, they still considered each other family when the situation required them to.

Henry rose to his feet and went to the countertop to grab a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses. “Would you like to have a drink?” he asked with a smile.

Henry was offering Alfred to drink and spend the night there.

Alfred waved his hand dismissively in response. When he lifted his gaze to see Crystal standing somewhere upstairs, he got up, dusted his trousers, and flashed a smile. “No, thanks. I need to attend a meeting in the morning!”

Henry didn’t insist, either.

Alfred patted Henry’s shoulder and said, “My driver is waiting for me. Henry, I hope you and Crystal will live happily ever after.”

He furrowed his brows slightly because he couldn’t help recalling something when he uttered the last few words in that sentence.

Evidently, he still found it hard to let go of his feelings Henry didn’t mention Melora because he knew what was on Alfred’s mind.

After sending Alfred to the car, Henry watched the black Audi drive away slowly.

Instead of going back into the mansion immediately, Henry stood alone in the parking lot and whipped out a cigarette before lighting it up.

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1/5 The cloud of smoke blurred his features, and he recalled the events from the past. Audrey’s execution will finally bring all the good and bad memories to an end.

Henry finished his cigarette and turned around to walk back into the mansion.

There, he saw Crystal standing at the entrance. The dim yellow lights illuminated her gentle facial expression. He hurriedly walked up to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Why are you. outside? It’s cold out here!”

Crystal held his hand, interlaced her fingers with his, and gently leaned against his chest.

Henry lowered his head and asked in the most tender tone possible, “What’s the matter? You’re more clingy than Skyler. Do you want me to hold you?”

Crystal hugged him tighter and murmured, “Stop talking, Henry! Let me hug you for a while.”

At that moment, she just wanted to embrace him in silence.

Henry held her waist, and after some time, he lowered his head to kiss her. “Be gentle whenever you say my name, okay?”

She obediently hummed in acknowledgment.

Right then, Henry felt his body burning with passion. That’s how Crystal is. She’ll oppose me in everything when she isn’t happy with me, but she’ll behave submissively when she’s willing to give in to me.

That was when he would usually succumb to his lustful desires.

That night, however, they needed to seek comfort in each other’s warmth to alleviate the pain that they had experienced.

Meanwhile, when Alfred got into the car, his driver asked, “Mr. Lodge, may I know where we are heading to?”

Alfred’s eyes were shut. The image of a certain someone kept popping up in his mind, interrupting his train of thought regarding the secrets of an important project.

After a while, he replied in his hoarse and deep voice, “Send me back to the hotel.”

The next day, Alfred had to return to Coldbridge immediately after the meeting. After all, he was a busy man.

Ever since he took on the mission a few years ago, not only had he been busy, but he had to tread on thin ice and face intense pressure every day.

On the surface, he was a highly respected man. Little did everyone know that he was a man who had to hide in a condominium just to spend time with the lady he liked.

Even after two years, he still couldn’t forget the day they broke up.

Alfred had always been able to control himself, but he ended up smoking two packs of cigarettes that night as he tried his best to suppress his urge to see her. IfI don’t see her, I won’t lose my rationality and fall in love like a clueless teenager. It’s been so long, and I thought I had already moved on and gotten over her. As it turns out, that’s not the case!

Ultimately, Alfred gave in to his emotions and couldn’t stop himself from driving out alone to see her.

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2/5 When he saw her, however, she wasn’t alone.

She was walking out of the movie theater with a young gentleman. A famous romance film was playing in the movie theater.

She had gone on a date with that man and had dinner with him.

Only at nine o’clock did the man finally send her home.

Alfred parked his car near the entrance to the Miller residence. A myriad of emotions brewed within him. as he watched the two in silence. Needless to say, he was filled with jealousy.

If he were younger and living with fewer responsibilities, he would’ve rushed out of the car and told the young man off.

But in reality, there was nothing he could do other than hide and looked at them quietly.

Melora got out of the car and watched the man drive away. She was happy with her date, and she was willing to spend more time with him to see how things would go. If everything goes well, we can even get married.

As she stood in the dark, tears suddenly formed in her eyes.

Melora!” Alfred walked over to her right then.

Melora took a step back. She was visibly stunned and at a loss. She also looked wary.

Alfred raised his chin and gestured for her to get into his car. “Get into the car. We need to talk.”

Melora refused to do as she was told.

She took two steps away and was about to get the security guards to open the gate for her when Alfred grabbed her arm and dragged her into his car.

After he slammed the door shut, he got in as well and turned to look at her. “Was that your blind date?”

Melora didn’t deny it. She answered flatly, “Yes. He’s nice, and he’s met Berthold. He’s willing to accept Berthold!”

Alfred’s Adam’s apple bobbed when he heard that.

He was a reputable man. If someone had told in the past that someone else would replace him as his child’s father, he would have dismissed that statement. Yet, that was exactly what was going to happen to him.

The woman he loved was about to sleep with another man, and his son was about to call someone else Daddy.

Alfred lit a cigarette and took a puff with his chin slightly lifted.

He was a handsome man, so even when he was smoking, he still looked more attractive than any random.

man.

Back then, he would lean against the headboard with a cigarette in his hand after he had sex with Melora, feeling overwhelmed by conflicting emotions and guilt. After all, he was sixteen years older than her and was rough with her. Once, she even leaned toward him to take a puff of his cigarette. He almost burned himself in the process, yet it aroused him. That particular night, he kept her awake in bed until dawn. As he looked back on those times, he couldn’t help but feel remorse for his actions toward her.

Shortly after, the cigarette smoke filled the car.

Melora coughed a few times and pleaded weakly, “Let me out of the car!”

Alfred stubbed out his cigarette and asked the question that had been on his mind, “How about you? Do you like him?”

Melora’s eyes were brimmed with tears. She replied softly, “I guess.”

Alfred could understand her state of mind. She didn’t say she liked him just to throw a tantrum. However, that’s worse! She’s actually willing to marry whoever that’s willing to treat Berthold kindly. I hurt her, and she’s settling for whoever that’s available for her!

Alfred was heartbroken and filled with mixed feelings. In fact, he didn’t even know who to blame.

He gazed at her for some time before he gave her his phone. There was a hint of gentleness in his calm. tone when he said, “Call your mom and tell her you won’t be going home.”

Melora stiffened. “I’m not going out with you!”

“I have something to discuss with you! If you don’t want to, I will make the call myself! Is that what you want, Melora?”

Melora looked extremely aggrieved with the tears in her eyes.

However, she ended up making the call. Since it was Alfred’s phone, she had no choice but to call Julia to tell her that she would be home late because she needed to discuss something with Alfred regarding their child.

After a long silence, Julia replied. “Put Alfred on the phone!”

Melora passed the phone to Alfred.

Julia said something to Alfred over the phone, and in response, Alfred answered softly, “I understand. I know what to do.”

After a short conversation, Alfred hung up the phone and kept it in the glove compartment.

As the car moved forward slowly, Melora leaned back against the seat and mumbled, “Aren’t you a busy man, Alfred?”

With a hand on the steering wheel, Alfred smiled faintly and asked, “Do you have a copy of my itinerary or something?”

“Well, you’re always on the news. It seems like the charming and handsome Mr. Lodge is the center of attraction wherever he goes,” Melora responded sarcastically.

Alfred went silent.

As he drove quietly in the dark night with the woman he once doted on sitting next to him, he wished for time to freeze.

That way, they could stay together for the rest of their lives.

Half an hour later, he turned into a secluded street, and the scenery outside the window was rather familiar.

Melora recognized the scenery at once.

What’s this? We broke up almost three years ago. Why is he taking me back to the condominium we once stayed in? What does he take me for?

She hit the car window desperately and shouted, “No! I’m not going there! Alfred, I don’t want to go there!”

Obviously, Melora couldn’t get out of the car.

Her palms were red, and her eyes were glistening with tears.

Melora could face Alfred calmly over the past couple of days, but at that moment, she felt as though she had gone back in time, becoming the helpless girl she once was.

She hated that version of herself.

Alfred stopped the car and turned to look at her. His heart ached when he saw the tears in her eyes.

He was a mature and intelligent man, so he knew she still cared about him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have reacted so negatively.

Alfred touched her cheek and consoled her, “I won’t do anything to you! I just want to talk. Melora, don’t you trust me? Even if you don’t trust me, you should trust your mom. She agreed to this!”

Alfred was so good with words that Melora couldn’t outsmart him.