Chapter 500 Night Meeting with Karena
Chapter 500 Night Meeting with Karena
If neither of them could pull it off, then only the one who had been acting up will get off the hook.
And about this whole Atticus thing... Who cares if she was really Atticus now? If Dustin was calling her that, even if a guy's right in front of Oliver and Parker, they might just have to accept that maybe Atticus could also be a guy.
A spark glinted in Parker's eyes; he lowered his lids, concealing all the longing within.
Ava didn't glance back at them. She gave a slight nod to Dustin, sheathed her sword smoothly, and as she turned to leave with Dustin, she could sense two pairs of eyes on her.
One was Oliver's clear resentment, and the other was Parker's pensive gaze, as if seeing through a facade.
Night descended.
Karena's quarters were nestled deep within The Carter Manor. Despite Johnny's previous order to confine her, it seemed he had casually allowed others to come and go from her room.
The woman's chamber was redolent with the scent of pricey incense, opulent jewelry strewn casually on the table, exuding a laid-back vibe all around.
Karena had just finished bathing, clad in a sheer silk robe. She reclined on the plush velvet bed, her smooth thighs peeking out from under the robe.
Moonlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, casting a soft glow on her well-kept black locks.
Suddenly, Karena felt a slight dip on one side of the bed.
"Why are you here?" she murmured, clearly taken aback by the young man's intrusion.
Parker had stealthily slipped into the room at some point. Like a lithe black serpent, he slithered onto the bed that wasn't his. Upon hearing Karena's voice, a lazy grin spread across Parker's face. "Dolled up like this, waiting for me, huh? If I hadn't shown up, would you have been waiting all night?"
"Sounds like I made the first move."
"Come on, Karena, you know that's not true."
Parker's fingers delicately twined around a strand of Karena's hair that had fallen on the pillow. "I've always been the one chasing after you."
"Still smooth-talking, I see."
"If I didn't have a way with words, how would I win you over?"
Parker's voice was deep and alluring, with a touch of intimate cajoling. "By the way, you look especially captivating today."
Karena lazily hummed, not pushing Parker away but instead turning slightly to let his fingers stroke her cheek, relishing in this risky ambiguity.
In the past, as Holden's wife, she had to deal with Holden's restrictions as a husband, with his other mistresses trying to oust her from the Carter family.
What was even worse was her disobedient son, Johnny, who had an odd appearance.
Karena always shuddered at the thought that if she hadn't cleverly linked Johnny's unique look to religion back then, she might have met her end with Johnny in some forgotten corner.
With Holden bedridden and Johnny taking charge of most of the Carter family's affairs, Karena found herself drifting apart from her supposed son after the incident with Katya years ago.
Enjoying newfound freedom, Karena's mind wandered into devious territory.
Given that she had bestowed Johnny's identity and birthed him, she felt it was only natural for him to follow her lead.
Thinking along these lines, and with young Parker and Oliver showering her with attention, she relished the pursuit of these ambitious young men.
Unfortunately, Johnny was no longer the compliant child he once was. He had become defiant, rebellious, even going as far as locking her in a room now.
Karena couldn't tolerate this.
As her child, he should adhere to her directives. If he refused to comply, she had no qualms about finding someone else to dote on.
While Oliver wasn't unattractive, he lacked intelligence. Karena might entertain the idea of charming Oliver on the surface, but she harbored doubts about his ability to inherit the Carter family.
As for Parker...
Karena's gaze swept over Parker. In the moonlight, his features were chiseled, his lips slightly prominent.
Memories of his lips on hers flickered through Karena's mind, but that was beside the point.
Parker was undeniably sharper than Oliver. If he were to ascend as the Carter family's heir or even the next leader, Karena could secure more advantages for herself.
Watching Parker's fingers trail down her smooth neck, Karena lifted her lids, but Parker's gentle touches eased her, causing her to narrow her eyes.
"By the way, something interesting went down today."
Savoring the sensation on her neck, Karena inquired, "It's not about you and Oliver clashing, is it?"
"It appears he's already paid you a visit."
"Indeed, Oliver warned me to steer clear of you, labeling you a... conniving plotter."
At the mention, Parker couldn't help but smirk, his tone tinged with mockery. "A plotter? Is he all that straightforward? And if we're vying for the heir's spot, being called a plotter isn't the worst title. I'll gladly take the compliment."
"But what I'm getting at is that fool Oliver nearly had a close shave with 'Atticus'."
"Atticus?"
Karena's eyes widened in surprise, sounding perplexed. "You mean one of Johnny's men? The silent 'Atticus'?"
"That's the issue, darling."
Drawing near to Karena's ear, Parker's warm breath grazed her earlobe, his voice hushed and laced with intrigue.
"That 'Atticus' is quite the talent, with a fierce approach. Something feels off."
"Isn't it common for those around Johnny to be formidable?" Karena waved her hand dismissively. "If he's got a strong ally, we wouldn't need to scheme so much against him."