Unwarranted Flattery
Alison shot him a sidelong glance, then looked at the durians in the garden.
"Kneel."
Skyla had already gone back to her room, and the nanny was in the kitchen.
She was giving him, the master of the house, the benefit of the doubt.
"Honey..." Jack looked at Alison pitifully.
"Here, take these flowers. Smell them—aren't they lovely?" He picked up the bouquet that Skyla had arranged in a vase, trying to win her over.
Alison smiled, her lips pressed together. "Or you can eat one durian."
Jack immediately headed for the garden. "Then I'd rather kneel."
He'd never been able to stand the smell of durian.
Alison set Tyler down and turned to go upstairs.
"Jack…" She pushed open the door, her voice steady. "It's time to eat."
As soon as she opened the door, the room was quiet.
Jack and the two little ones were sleeping on the bed.
Two durians sat on the rug, each topped with a knee pad.
Alison reached out to wake him.
Looking at his sweet sleeping face, she held back.
Never mind.
She turned around and slipped out of the room.
The dining table was already set.
Alison invited Skyla and the nanny to join her for a meal.
Audrey burst through the front door. "Where's Mr. Winston?"
"What's the matter?" Alison asked. "Didn't you leave a while ago?"
"Is Mr. Winston in his room?"
"Is there something wrong?"
"Yes, there is. I'm sorry, but I need to go find him."
"Stop right there." Alison was starting to get annoyed.
"Ma'am, I…" Audrey hesitated.
"Is there anything I can help you pass on?"
"No, ma'am."
"He's asleep. Don't disturb him right now. Let's wait until he wakes up."
"Oh." Audrey looked reluctant, though; she turned toward the garden.
"By the way, why are you back?" Alison asked.
"Mr. Winston called and asked me to come back..." Audrey stopped mid-sentence.
The secret was hidden inside the durian—Jack had really been prescient.
However, she could only tell this secret to Jack and Officer James.
She changed the subject. "Mr. Winston said he received a threatening message this morning and was worried that I wouldn't be able to take good care of Sophia and Ethan."
"Oh, I see. I'll have him call you once he wakes up. Sophia and Ethan won't be back until tonight anyway."
"Thank you, ma'am."
After leaving the villa, Audrey got into her car and called Jack.
The shrill ringtone jolted Jack awake from his deep sleep.
He picked up the phone.
Seeing Audrey's number, he answered.
"There's a problem with the durians, isn't there?"
"Nearly half of them are laced with No. 4," Audrey whispered, glancing around. "Where did these durians come from?"
Jack's eyes darkened slightly.
"No. 4" was the purest form of heroin.
"Sir, where exactly did these durians come from?" Audrey grew impatient.
Jack narrowed his eyes.
"Look up the license plates of those three trucks. You know what to do, right?" Jack ordered.
"You...you don't know who sent the durians? And you still dared to accept them?" Audrey asked in surprise.
The image of Caden's half-smiling face flashed through Jack's mind.
He shook his head and calmly said, "Just go ahead and check it out."
He felt that the three truckloads of durian were Caden's gift to him.
Jack, dressed casually, walked down the stairs.
Alison had already finished her meal and was briefing Skyla on what to watch out for when taking care of the two little ones.
She was wearing a stylish Chanel suit, the latest fashion.
He had personally picked out the outfit for her that morning, and it accentuated her slender figure exceptionally well.
Alison looked fuller and more feminine than before she gave birth.
"Alison, have you eaten yet?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Sir, I'll heat your meal right away. The lady asked me to set half aside for you—it's still untouched." The nanny said, ready to heat the food.
"Okay, nanny, please heat it for me." Jack smiled.
Alison spun around abruptly, looking annoyed. "Did Audrey's phone call wake you up?"
Jack bent down to pick up Lyla, kissed her cheek, and said, "I set an alarm. I have to go to work this afternoon. If I don't show up on time, my image as CEO will take a serious hit."
Alison was at a loss for words.
She pursed her lips and said, "Then eat your breakfast and hurry off to work. Don't go flirting around out there. Jack, I'm warning you—my patience has its limits."
"Got it, honey. You'll always be number one in my heart," Jack assured her.
"Get lost!" She glared at him, got up, and headed out to drive to YD.
Unexpectedly, she had barely taken a step when Jack called out to her. "Alison, don't go yet. Tell me about Caden. How did you end up in his car?"
Alison turned her head and smiled. "Mr. Winston, you really do have a short memory. Wasn't it you who left me by the roadside?"