Chapter 566 Business Trip

As contentment surged within Gwendolyn, Sienna continued, “I don’t like this Annie either. Don’t worry, Gwen. I’ll definitely think of a way to help you, but…”

Sienna paused as a troubled expression spread across her face.

After hesitating for a few moments, she held Gwendolyn’s hands and persuaded the latter solemnly, “Gwen, ever since Evelyn’s incident was exposed, Asher handed over all his authority and truly stopped meddling in Evelyn’s matters. He has been repenting all this while. After all this is over, can you forgive him?”

Gwendolyn lowered her head and silently retracted her hands from Sienna’s grip.

“Sienna, I don’t want to lie to comfort you. Let’s discuss this again after everything has really ended. At the very least, I can’t see his changes for now.”

Sienna nodded in understanding, not planning to force her.

The two changed the topic and chatted for a while longer before Sienna got out of Gwendolyn’s luxury car and left.

As for the situation at Mount Tranquil, they could only wait and observe further. Gwendolyn glanced at the clock and realized it was about time to get off work. The regular meeting in the afternoon was forced to be postponed until tomorrow due to unforeseen circumstances at Mount Tranquil. Hence, she chose to turn around and drive back to Harrick Villa.

When she got home, Nico was also there. Cedrick was packing his luggage upstairs.

Gwendolyn was puzzled. “Nico, are you guys going on a business trip?”

Nico nodded and replied with all seriousness, “Something came up at the border. It’s a pretty tricky situation to handle, so we must go there at once to check it out. We have to leave tonight.

Gwendolyn could understand since it was an official business matter for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“How long will you be gone, then?”

Nico thought for a moment before shaking his head honestly. “I’m not sure. If the situation over there is handled well, we might be back in two days. Otherwise, we might not even be back in a week.”

In other words, she and Cedrick would be separated for at least two days to one week.

While the two were talking, Cedrick came downstairs carrying his packed suitcase.

Seeing that, Nico immediately stepped forward to help him carry the bags.

Cedrick glanced at Gwendolyn in the living room and instructed Nico, “You go ahead and take the suitcase out first and wait for me outside. I want to talk to Gwenny alone.”

“Okay.” Nico obediently carried the suitcase out and waited patiently in the garden.

Once he left, Cedrick strode toward Gwendolyn, pulling her into his arms and holding her tight.

“I’m sorry. There’s some unrest at Chanaea’s border, so I need to leave tonight. It’ll be agonizing to have to be separated from you for a few days.

Ket Gwendolyn patted his broad back. “It’s okay. Duty comes first. Remember to protect yourself and don’t hurt.”

He nodded, earnestly saying to her, “I’m worried you won’t be able to handle everything alone while I’m not home, so I’ve sent Benny, Zendy, and Mdm. Yarde to Grandpa’s place. If you want to see the children, just visit them there, Darling. Also, your mania has improved, but you’re not completely cured yet. I’m really concerned, so I discussed it with Joshua. During this period, you don’t have to come back to Harrick Villa at night. You can go to the laboratory and find Joshua. There’s a treatment room there. The signal at the border is not good, so there might be a delay in replying to your messages. You must be more careful until I come back Gwendolyn gently caressed his stiff jaw, soothing his anxiousness. “Don’t worry. We’re in Chanaea.

There aren’t many people who dare to harm me here. I’ll be good this time and follow your arrangements.”

The two shared an intimate hug and kiss, expressing their reluctance to part.

Their moment was interrupted a few minutes later by Nico’s knock on the door. “Cedrick, it’s getting late. If we don’t leave now, we won’t be able to reach the border tonight and arrange accommodation.”

The couple inside the house was forced to let go of each other. Gwendolyn saw Cedrick out the door.

watching as the two disappeared around the corner of Harrick Villa.

Since Cedrick had already made all the arrangements, she felt it would be pointless for her to stay inside Harrick Villa alone.

She returned to her room, roughly packed a few clothes, and went to the laboratory.

Joshua had already arranged a special room for Gwendolyn for her nightly rest and treatment.

The room had nothing but a hospital bed and a bedside table, devoid of any unnecessary decorations.

Joshua uttered apologetically, “Gwendolyn, the resources in the laboratory are limited, so I can’t provide you with a better living environment or safer treatment room. You’ll have to make do for a few days until Cedrick comes back.”

“That’s all right. It’s just for sleeping at night. I’ve stayed in worse places before. This is not bad at all.

At least it’s clean and tidy.”

To prevent her from relapsing during the night, Joshua administered an IV drip for her in advance, increasing the dosage for some of the medications.

After all, he was just a weak scholar. If Gwendolyn had a mania episode, he wouldn’t be able to handle it. He could only call in the laboratory’s security guards to exchange blows with her.

However, as much as he had planned, he didn’t expect Gwendolyn to suffer from insomnia.

Ever since she and Cedrick had gotten their marriage certificate, she had grown accustomed to falling asleep in each other’s arms. Now that they were separated and she had to rest in a different environment, she felt uneasy.

The toughest first night finally passed, and Gwendolyn went to work at Harris Group as usual the next day.

As she didn’t sleep last night, she didn’t dare to rest or take a nap during work, fearing she might have an episode after drifting off.

As a result, she could only choose to drink coffee to stay alert.

Meanwhile, at Mount Tranquil, Sienna supported Asher to the ancestral hall in the old villa in the afternoon to begin a new day of punishment and torture.

After twenty whip lashes, the back of his shirt was soaked with blood, and he looked extremely miserable.

Asher didn’t make a sound from the beginning to the end, accepting his punishment without a word of complaint Sienna couldn’t bear to see him in that state, and her heart ached terribly. She cried all the way back to the villa.

By the time she entered the living room of her own villa, she still couldn’t stop sobbing from the distress. When Annie came down from the guest room on the third floor, she was met with the sight of a beautiful woman shedding tears. “What’s the matter with you? Who upset you?”

Annie was very concerned, hastily descending the stairs in her slippers and taking a seat beside Sienna on the couch.

Sienna wiped her tears with a piece of tissue and sighed in resignation. “You’re a guest, Ms. Annie, I’m sorry you have to witness this.”

“You’re being silly.” Annie empathetically passed a piece of tissue to Sienna.

“Mr. Asher and you have been very kind to me, taking care of me like a brother and sister-in-law these past few days. I feel pained as well when I see how sad you are.”

Sienna seemed to feel comforted. “You’re truly a good girl.”

After living at the Harris residence on Mount Tranquil for a few days, that was the first time Sienna had complimented Annie. The latter was overjoyed to learn that they were getting along better. “Can you tell me why you’re so upset now?”

Sienna sighed. “This is all because of Asher’s punishment. He injured his knees before and now has a chronic condition. Whenever the weather or the season changes, his knees would hurt so much that he can’t even stand up.”

The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she became, and her tears flowed continuously like a leaking dam. No matter how much she wiped, they just wouldn’t stop streaming down the corner of her eyes.

Her soft, tearful voice was laced with hints of desperation as she spoke. “When I applied medicine on him this morning, I noticed his knees were covered in bruises. Not to mention, the twenty lashes he has to suffer every afternoon are harsh. His entire back is wounded. When will this beating end?”

Annie sighed as well. Her eyes revealed traces of genuine sympathy as she asked tentatively, “What do you think about Ms. Harris treating Mr. Asher in this manner, Mrs. Harris?”

“What else can I think? She’s the head of the household now, so everyone in the Harris family has to listen to her.” Sienna wiped her tears. Although her words were respectful, the displeasure on her countenance was unconcealable.

Annie took note of the changes in Sienna’s facial expression. “Mr. Asher currently doesn’t wield any power. No matter how Ms. Harris torments and abuses him, he can only endure. However, if you truly are willing to go idea plan, I can mention this matter to y of Harris Group Seeing Sienna see whority, he can food away reclaimed his authority, he can to ediently play her role as a teach her to obediently play boyfriend. I think he’ll be glad to help Mr. Asher regnen be considering dering her proposal, Annir added, “Once Mr. Asher has strip Ms Harris of her status as the head of the family. That housewife and take care of her children at home Sienna lowered her gaze as she pondered Annie’s words.

“It may not be a good idea for you to be involved in the Harris family matters. After all, you are not part of the family. If you get involved, people will speculate, and your reputation will be harmed.”

She sighed, gently patting Annie’s hand.

“Although this may not be what you want to hear, it’s the truth. I hope you won’t take it to heart, Ms.

Annic.”

Annie gave her an indifferent smile. “I’ve never cared about public opinion. Besides, I consider Mr.

Asher and you as family. Once everything is settled, Mr. Asher can announce me as his sworn sister.

That will solve the problem, won’t it?”

Sienna paused for a moment, carefully considering the meaning behind Annie’s words. She lowered her head to conceal the emotions in her gaze.

“What do you think?”

Instead of giving a direct answer, Sienna asked, “Aren’t you friends with Gwen? Why would you want to rip her of her control in Harris Group?”

Annie didn’t try to hide her intentions. To be honest, we’re just ordinary friends. But I’m the business director of Antea Group, and we can be considered competitors with Harris Group. Since Ms. Harris is unwilling to cooperate with us, I have to find another way,” she answered straightforwardly.

Sienna nodded thoughtfully.

“I see. If what you said is true, I’ll have a nice chat with Asher about your proposal.”

That would have been enough as an indication that Sienna had agreed, but Annie didn’t seem pleased.

She still had some doubts..

“I heard that you have always cherished Gwendolyn, Mrs. Harris. Are you really planning to take her down? Or are you tricking me?”

Sienna was dabbing her eyes when Annie questioned her. She froze, her eyes staring at Annie in a daze, Annie chuckled, her lovely and beautiful face amused. “I was just joking. There’s no need to be nervous.”

Sienna gracefully discarded the tissue she used to wipe her tears and regained her calm composure as she explained, “I’ve always treated Gwen as my little sister, but she directed her anger at Asher after the incident about the illegitimate daughter. I’ve tried to talk to her a few times, but she always ignored me.”

The thought of it seemed to sadden Sienna greatly. Annie quickly handed her a tissue and gently patted her back to comfort her.

Sienna sighed. “She’s being the most unreasonable one this time. It has been so long since the incident involving the illegitimate daughter, yet she is punishing Asher just because she’s unhappy. Her actions really disappoint me.”

At the mention of Asher’s punishment, Annie felt a pang of sympathy for him as well.

“In that case, please help me to persuade Mr. Asher as soon as possible. Once he agrees, he will be able to