Chapter 470
Betrayal At The Altar (Rachel and David)
Chapter 470
Rache lowered her eyes and said quietly, âGrandpa, youâre so clever.â
âI can see clearly that your heart isnât on the chess game.â Arthur let on a sigh. His deep and mellow
tone seemed to imply a hidden meaning in his words.
Rachelâs eyes flickered slightly. She pursed her lips and did not say anything.
Arthur smiled. âSince you have something on your mind, you donât have to stay here with me.â
âAll right then, Iâll leave first,â Rachel said.
Arthur gave her a dismissive wave before reaching for his cup.
As he sat on the stone bench in the pavilion and watched Rachel leave, his smile gradually faded.
âSir, youâre too soft-hearted,â Mr. Chadwick said.
Hearing this, Arthur looked up at Mr. Chadwick and sighed. âHow can I not be soft-hearted toward her?â
Arthur watched Rachel grow up all these years. She shared many of her motherâs personality traits.
There was no way for Arthur to be heart-hearted toward Rachel.
Mr. Chadwickâs lips curled into a faint smile. âYouâre all born in different eras. You seem indulgent
toward Miss Grey.â
Arthur stood up and walked to the river as he said wistfully, âItâs all my fault. I owe them too much in my
previous life.â
Just then, a breeze blew past, causing some leaves on the ground to rustle.
Arthurâs eyes had a troubled look as if he was struggling with conflicting emotions. âLook, a gentle wind
is blowing.â
Mr. Chadwick was still smiling although his gaze was cold and devoid of emotion. âYes, a change is in
the h*rizon.â
Rachel rushed back into the hospital building and walked into the elevator. Just then, David sent her a
message. [I have some matters to attend to. Iâll leave first. See you tonight.]
She pursed her lips and quickly typed a reply. [What did you guys talk about?] David replied, [A major
event in my life.]
By the time Rachel received his reply, she was already at the door of the hospital ward.
As soon as she entered the room, she asked Tom, âUncle, what did you guys talk about just now?â
âNothing.â Tom replied calmly.
There was a hint of complexity as he looked up at Rachel. âRae-Rae, are you sure you want to be with
David?â
âYes.â Rachel had a faint smile on her lips. Her almond-shaped eyes flickered with determination. âHe
will soon become your nephew-in-law.â
Tom did not say anything. He took out a cigarette and was about to light it when he suddenly
remembered that they were in the hospital. He had to restrain himself.
âHave you thought aboutâ¦â
âIâve thought about it.â Rachel seemed to know what Tom wanted to say. She spoke first. âI know that
his identity is complex. I also know that itâs going to be dangerous if I am with him, but I wonât regret my
decision.â
Hearing this, Tom fell silent.
He wondered if he should tell Rachel what David had offered in return for Tomâs approval of the
relationship.
Earlier, David had agreed to help Tom conclude a multi-million dollar deal with some foreign investors.
He also promised to sponsor the subsequent Seaxas project personally. It was rather infuriating to hear
him resolve the situation using money as if it did not cost him a cent.
However, Tom had already accepted Davidâs favors. He could not go back on his word. Now, he had no
reason to object to them being together.
Thinking of this, Tom sighed. âDoes your grandfather know about your relationship?â
âI havenât thought of what to say to him,â Rachel answered honestly. âGrandpaâs just recovered. Iâm
worried that he might get angryâ¦â
âHa!â Tom forced a smile. âYou actually thought of his health even though you are head over heels in
love with David.â
âUncle!â Rachel looked at him indignantly.
Tom said, âSince youâve already decided, I canât do anything to stop you. Just remember that the
Johnson family will always be behind you. Never let yourself suffer. Do you understand?â
Rachel grunted in acknowledgment. She stared at Tom and pondered for a moment before asking
slowly, âUncle, do you know anything about this? Why does Grandpa insist that I break off the
engagement?â
Chapter 471
This question had bothered Rachel for the longest time.
It was true that the more one could not get an answer, the more persistent one
was.
Regardless of Arthur or Tom, they always had a hesitant look whenever they mentioned the
engagement. This made Rachel even more curious.
When Tom heard this, he raised his eyebrows slightly. He picked up the glass of water on the table and
replied perfunctorily, âYour mother was the one who arranged this engagement. I donât know the details.
Besides, didnât you say in the past that you were worried that you wonât be happy if you got marriedâ¦â
âOkay, okay,â Rachel interrupted him. âIf you donât want to tell me, I wonât ask any further.â
She was not a three-year-old child. How could she not know that it was just his excuse not to answer
her question?
Tom looked at her. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
In the end, he chose not to say anything. He drank the water of water in one gulp. Just as the two of
them fell into silence, they heard Arthurâs voice from outside the ward.
Exchanging looks, Rachel and Tom stood up and walked toward the door.
When they came out, they saw Arthur talking to a man.
The man was in his fifties. He was wearing a suit, and his eyes looked sharp. âThis is Sam Turner. Heâs
the person in charge of the Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed to the position two years ago,â
Tom whispered to Rachel.
Given the Johnson familyâs status in Seaxas, every incumbent head of the Chamber of Commerce had
to visit Arthur as soon as he was appointed.
Despite his age, Arthur was still the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.
Of course, Sam had to pay him a courtesy visit.
Although he was talking to Arthur, he was observant enough to notice Rachelâs
presence.
âThis isâ¦â He looked at Rachel scrutinizing, her subtly from top to bottom.
Arthur gestured for Rachel to go over. âThis is my granddaughter, Rachel Grey. She has been studying
overseas.â
He then turned to Rachel. âRae-Rae, this is Sam.â
âHello, Sam.â Rachel nodded slightly. Her demeanor was self-assured yet not arrogant.
Sam had long heard of the heiress of the Johnson family, who was known as Miss Grey.
Although Rachel took on her fatherâs surname, all the men in the Johnson family doted on her,
showering her with much love and attention.
When Sam saw how pretty Rachel was, he finally understood why the Johnson family regarded her as
the apple of their eyes and kept her away from the public
eye.
âHello, Miss Grey. Nice to meet you.â Sam took a step forward and extended his hand to Rachel.
Rachel shook his hand lightly.
The group then walked into the ward, chatting about the meeting that was to be held at the Chamber of
Commerce in a week.
Arthur told Sam he would be attending the meeting with Rachel.
Sam was thrilled to hear that.
As he left, he suddenly looked at Rachel. âMiss Grey, have we met somewhere before?â
As soon as he said this, not only was Rachel caught by surprise, but Arthur and Tom also gave Sam a
puzzled look.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Sam smiled sheepishly. âI probably mistook you for someone else.
He then left after bidding them farewell.
Soon after, Rachel also left the hospital.
As she stepped into the elevator, someone bumped hard into her.
The incident did not bother Rachel at all.
She only realized that her phone was missing when she reached the parking lot.
Chapter 472
Rachel thought of the person who bumped into her earlier, and a cold glint flashed across her eyes.
âMiss Grey.â Rachel heard a familiar voice call out to her from behind.
Rachel turned around and saw Darcy.
She said in surprise, âDarcy,â
âAre you looking for this?â Darcy walked forward and handed the phone to Rachel.
When Rachel saw the phone, her eyes flickered slightly. She then broke into a smile. âThank you.â
She took the phone and asked casually, âWhere did you find it?â
Darcy said with a deadpan expression, âI saw what happen by coincidence.â Coincidence again.
Darcy noticed the indifference in Rachelâs eyes. He lowered his eyes to hide his self-deprecating
expression. âMiss Grey, if thereâs nothing else, Iâll leave first.â
âOkay.â Rachel watched Darcy leave in silence.
She knew that she should not have doubted Darcy.
However, after what had happened recently, it was difficult for her not to suspect that Darcy had other
motives.
Even if she disregarded the pickpocketâs motive, she would have expected the person to have fled the
scene immediately. How could Darcy have caught up with him and sn*tched the phone back from him?
Unless Darcy knew the other partyâs intentions right from the start.
If everything was as she had expected, then what had Darcy protected her from harm all these years?
Soon, the driver pulled up in front to pick up Rachel.
Rachel got into the car immediately. As she looked up at the gradually thickening night sky, her
almond-shaped eyes were filled with contemplation.
After dark, the city of Seaxas was transformed into a colorful and dynamic playground for partygoers.
Darcy drove straight to a bar.
The bar exuded an atmosphere of romance, with dim lighting and plush, opulent__ decor that set the
mood for intimacy.
The crowd on the dance floor was a writhing mass of bodies pulsing to the beat of the music.
Occasionally, their bodies would inadvertently brush against each other as they exchanged amorous
glances. They were moving to the music with carefree abandon.
Darcy looked indifferently at the crowd as he walked steadily toward the elevator.
When the man at the bar counter saw Darcy, he immediately picked up intercom.
the
However, before he could say anything, Darcy pinned him down on the bar counter using his body
weight.
As the man instinctively moved his hand to his waist, he heard Darcy speak in a calm voice, âThis is
Seaxas. I advise you not to act rashly. Otherwise, even Boss wonât be able to save you.â
Hearing this, the man gritted his teeth and glared indignantly at Darcy.
âAre you going to invite me in, or should I go in myself?â Darcy asked coldly as he spoke into the
intercom.
The man on the other end of the phone chuckled and gave the man with the buzz-cut a sidelong
glance.
Not long after, the man with the buzz-cut walked out of a thick wooden door. He turned slightly and
made a gesture for Darcy to follow him.
Darcy snorted coldly and walked straight toward the wooden door.
The man with the buzz-cut frowned as he watched Darcy walk past him.
He was impressed at Darcyâs resourcefulness.
Darcy had found their hiding place without much difficulty. The place, which used to be a dock, had
been transformed into a bar.
There was nothing Darcy could not do.
In the dark corridor, Darcy walked straight to the innermost private room.
The door swung open. Hellâs crossed legs were resting on the corner of the table. He held a dart in his
hand and stabbed it at the man on the wall.
The man was so brutally beaten that his face was unrecognizable. He stared in fear at the darts
directed at him, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably. His hands and feet were tied up, and he
had nowhere to escape.
âSince youâve come to look for me, youâve saved me the trouble of looking for you.â Hell said, thrusting
a dart into the ear of the man.
The man howled in pain as blood flowed from his ear.
Darcy glanced at Hell indifferently. He then pulled out a chair and sat in front of
Chapter 473
Hell gave the man with the buzz cut a look.
The man with the buzz cut understood Hellâs instructions immediately and took the man tied to the
board away with two others. He then closed the door of the private room.
Only the two men were left in the private room.
Darcy went straight to the point and warned Hell, âIâm cautioning you. Leave her alone!â
âMost people say that dogs are the most loyal animals in the world, but I donât think thatâs the case.â
Hell raised his eyes, revealing a coldness. The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile, hinting at
evil. âOr have you had a change of heart after getting a facelift?â
Hearing this, Darcyâs eyes suddenly looked dangerously hostile. He stared at Hell intensely. âYou
should be glad that Iâve changed my facial appearance. Otherwise, do you think you will still be alive?â
Hell lazily leaned back in his seat, his left hand supporting his temple. His right hand was fiddling a ring.
âWhy is it that I prefer to see you kill people with no regard for their lives?â
If this was the case, he would be able to win Darcy to his side.
Darcy was once known as the Shadow, who was a cold-blooded and ruthless killer. He was an
execellent assasin.
It was a pity that Darcy had now stopped killing because of a woman.
âCut the cr*p.â Darcyâs voice was harsh and icy. âI wonât stop you from doing what you want to do, but
just leave her alone. You know what Iâm capable of.â
Hell narrowed his eyes and gave a half-smile. There was a hint of evil in the corners of his eyes. âTell
me who that woman is.â
Darcy frowned. âThatâs none of your business.â
âMaybe you should have a look at this,â Hell handed a document to Darcy.
Darcy stared at him with a burning gaze. He then lowered his eyes and looked at the document.
It was a genetic tast report.
Darcy now understood why Hell sent someone to steal Sophiaâs ashes earlier.
Darcyâs pupils dilated as his heart sk*pped a beat.
Hell took in the change in Darcyâs expression, and his smile widened. âI
discovered something even more interesting while I was investigating this.â
âThatâs enough.â Darcy interrupted him coldly. He looked up at Hell and said, âThis matter ends here.
Stop investigating.â
âTell me who this woman is.â Hellâs smile faded a little, and a cold light flickered in his eyes.
Darcy looked at him and said calmly, âSheâs Miss Grey from the Johnson family. Her name is Rachel
Grey.â
Hell chuckled, and the smirk on his face disappeared. âYou know thatâs not what Iâm talking about.â
âI wonât say a thing.â
âShadow, donât forget who your real boss is.â
âShadow has been loyal to only one person all his life. What right do you have to warn me?â Darcy
looked at him disdainfully.
Hell gripped his ring tightly and gritted his teeth. He glared at Darcy with bloodshot eyes.
Suddenly, he let out a guffaw. âNot long ago, you fought with me over that womanâs ashes. Today, you
hurt my men and sna tched my phone away. Rachel and the Johnson family are already suspicious of
you. Why do you still want to protect her?â
Darcy knew better than anyone that what he did would make them suspicious.
He had watched Rachel grow up. He knew what every single look on her face
meant.
Nevertheless, he wanted to take a gamble.
He banked on the years of friendship with Rachel that she would not doubt him.
Darcy raised his eyes and looked at Hell calmly. âWhose instructions do you think Iâm following to
protect her?â
He picked up the genetic test and stood up. âIâll say it again. I wonât stop you from doing what you want
to do, but leave Miss Grey alone.â
As soon as he finished speaking, he took out a lighter and placed it near the report. He then turned to
leave after tossing the document into the ashtray.
Chapter 474
After Old Mr. Johnson was discharged from the hospital, Rachel had been staying at Johnsonâs
Mansion.
It was already ten oâclock. If it wasnât for this, Rachel would definitely have gone to bed at this hour.
However, when she remembered what her maternal grandfather had said to her at the study today, she
was immediately wide awake.
She tossed and turned in bed when she suddenly received a text from David. âAre you asleep?â
Rachel turned around and lay on the bed. His fingertips tapped quickly on the keyboard as she replied,
âNot yet.â
The next second, David sent a photo.
No one was more familiar with the background of this photo than Rachel was.
She quickly jumped out of bed, grabbed a thin jacket, and rushed out of her
room.
She was in such a hurry that she almost bumped into Ms. Wright, who was holding a glass of warm
milk. âMiss Grey, where are you going so late at night?â
âOutside for some fresh air,â Rachel said before disappearing from Ms. Wrightâs sight.
It had always been chilly at night in Seaxas in the autumn.
Rachel took a sightseeing tram to the entrance of Johnsonâs Mansion.
She noticed David standing under the street lamp at first glance.
He was wearing a black suit and was almost blending into the night behind him.
He stood motionless like a Greek sculpture, exuding an unconcealable aura of nobility.
His facial features were well-defined and deep, like an exceptional piece of G*dâs creation. His every
subtle action could show his emotions to the extreme.
The two of them had only not seen each other for a few days, but Rachel felt as if it had been a few
years already.
Rachelâs eyes curved into a smile as she quickly ran towards him.
The moment David saw Rachel, the coldness in his eyes quickly resolved into a gentle smile. âSlow
down.â
Rachel pounced into his arms and raised her head to kiss his chin. Her beautiful eyes were glistening.
âIf I donât hurry up, what if another girl seduces you and
takes you away from me?â
âYouâre the only one for me.â Davidâs palm landed on her slender waist. âWhy are you still up?â
Rachel leaned against Davidâs chest and sensitively smelled an unusual scent on him.
It was the smell of blood.
Even his cologne couldnât completely cover the smell of blood.
Could it be that he was injured?
Her brows furrowed imperceptibly as she buried her face in his chest and sniffed harder, just to confirm
her guess.
âIâm going to the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow. My maternal grandfather asked me to talk to him,â
Rachel answered absentmindedly.
David sensed her intentions, but he did not stop her. Instead, he stretched out a well-defined finger and
lifted her chin. His dark eyes stared at her without blinking, and his thin lips curled into a meaningful
smile. âYouâve been sniffing for a long time. What did you smell?â
Seeing that her intentions were seen through, Rachel did not panic at all. She looked at him calmly and
said, âThe smell of blood.â
âAre you afraid of me?â David asked.
Rachel held his hand and rubbed her face against his palm like a kitten. âYes, Iâm so afraid of you.â
Although she said that she was afraid, her eyes did not change at all.
Davidâs dark eyes were filled with complicated emotions. âRachel, you can go back on your wordsâ¦â
Before he could finish his sentence, Rachel h**ked her fingertips around his collar, stood on her tiptoes,
raised her head, and kissed him on the lips.
After the kiss, Rachel looked at him. âIs this enough?â
David looked down at her. There was a faint trace of warmth in his bottomless eyes. âYes.â
As soon as he finished speaking, he bent down and kissed Rachel again.
Chapter 475
After a long time, David finally let go of her.
He looked down at the woman in his arms who was panting heavily. His dark eyes were filled with
undisguised dominance and lust. âSince youâve made your choice, thereâs no going back on it.â
His tone was light and casual, but every word he said made Rachelâs heart flutter.
She raised her eyes slightly and looked at him as she asked softly, âAre you injured?â
David shook his head and asked calmly, âArenât you going to ask me what I did tonight?â
Rachel paused for a moment, and the corners of her mouth curled into a faint smile. âNo matter what
you did, it must be the other partyâs fault.â
David looked down at her. Her beautiful eyes were watery. They looked even more dazzling than the
stars in the night sky. It warmed his heart to know that she was always biased toward him for no reason
whatsoever.
He gulped and tightened his hold around her waist instinctively, before bending down again to kiss her
deeply.
The warm light from the street lamp shone on the couple, casting shadows of their overlapping figures
on the ground.
Eddie Brook, who was standing in front of the car, silently lowered his gaze.
He wanted to ask if watching couples getting all lovey-dovey in front of him was considered a work
injury.
Ouch.
It was not until Rachel was dizzy and her tongue felt numb from their kiss that he finally let go of her.
She leaned against his chest weakly, her fingers h**ked around his tie. Her cold voice was tinged with a
trace of gentleness she was not aware of. âCan you tell me what happened tonight?â
Ever since they met, David had always been patient and restrained and paid attention to propriety. She
knew that David would never harm others if it werenât for special circumstances.
David rubbed behind her sensitive ear without thinking. His low and husky voice slowly rang in her ear.
âThey were just a group of clowns.â
âWas it Marina Jones, or⦠Hissâ¦â Rachel couldnât help but gasp in mid-sentence. David bit down on
her earlobe.
Rachelâs body suddenly stiffened, and her fingers that were hooked around his tie tightened.
He sucked on her earlobe, his deep voice tinged with lust. âI really want to take you away tonight.â
Unfortunately, tonight was not the time.
He stood up and distanced himself from her. A vicious look flashed across his eyes. He gently wiped
the stains on her earlobe with his fingertips and brushed his fingers against her cheek. âGo home and
rest early.â
Rachel frowned slightly and looked at him with a serious expression. âDavid, Iâm not as weak as you
think. I donât have to hide under your protection. You canâ follow your own pace and Iâll try my best to
catch up to you and prove to everyone that Iâm the only match for you!â
David stared at her without blinking. His eyes gradually softened. âI know, but I wonât leave you behind.â
He knew that Rachel wanted a love that was evenly matched, instead of simply hiding under his
protection.
He was willing to fulfill Rachelâs wish, but he would never leave Rachel behind and advance alone.
âDonât worry. No one in this world can hurt me, except you.â Davidâs fingertips caressed her cheek
lovingly. He bent down and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. âBe good and go home.â
His short words sounded both like an order and a loving reminder. She could never resist him.
Rachel turned and left, disappearing from Davidâs sight.
David stood on the spot and watched as the door of Johnsonâs Mansion slowly closed. The gentleness
in his eyes faded and was gradually replaced by a murderous aura. âSend the people we caught
tonight to the old men!â
Eddieâs heart sk*pped a beat as he hurriedly replied, âYes, sir!â