Chapter 39 Gunshot

Chapter 39 Gunshot
Kingsley's POV:

"Which uncle?"

My voice was ice-cold, even my fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

Harrison was startled by my sudden intensity, shrinking back and clutching his pajama hem as he whispered.

"The uncle who helped mommy pass the assessment. Mommy said she wants to treat him to dinner to thank him..."

I laughed bitterly, the rage in my chest nearly breaking through my rationality.

Thank him? Who was she thanking?

I was the one who had the butler call the manager to give her a second chance at the assessment. She wasn't thanking me, but someone else instead?

This morning she was perfectly satisfied with the navy silk dress I chose for her, and now she was wearing that very dress I personally picked out to have dinner with another man?

I immediately stood up and headed outside. I had to see which man she was dating!

Harrison probably noticed my expression, running after me.

"Daddy, are we going to find mommy?"

I ignored him. When I reached the entrance to change shoes, I caught sight of the kid already climbing skillfully into the passenger seat.

As the car started, I coldly asked Harrison, who was huddled beside me.

"Which restaurant did she go to?"

"Étoile sur la Seine! Mommy said their pudding is super delicious!"

Harrison even swallowed as he spoke, completely oblivious to the dark atmosphere around me.

Of course it was the restaurant I recommended to her. At the time, I thought she was thanking me, so I chose a place with a warm atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

Based on our time together, I knew Erin would like this restaurant.

Turns out she wanted to date another man there!

I was nothing but a clown!

"Who is that man?"

I asked patiently.

Harrison shook his head.

"I don't know. Mommy didn't say his name, just that he's a very capable uncle."

I watched the rapidly retreating streetscape outside the window, my heart feeling like it was stuffed with ice-soaked cotton, heavy and suffocating.

When the car stopped at the restaurant entrance, I immediately spotted the figure by the window.

Erin sat there, facing sideways toward the door.

The navy silk dress gleamed softly under the warm yellow lights, making her shoulder and neck lines particularly elegant.

She was looking down, listening to the man across from her speak, a faint smile playing at her lips.

The man sat opposite her, wearing a cream-colored casual suit, his profile sharp and defined.

Just as I was about to tell the driver to drive in, Harrison suddenly shouted.

"Uncle-in-law!"

Uncle-in-law? Those three words struck me like lightning.

I instantly realized who it was—Kai, Gloria's current fiancé.

Also Erin's former fiancé from five years ago, the one she loved desperately.

All that deep affection written in the files was never fake.

She had dressed up carefully, wearing the dress I chose, to meet her ex-boyfriend.

And I, the one waiting to have dinner with her, was like a ridiculous clown.

"Daddy, let's go in and eat. I'm so hungry!"

Harrison tugged at my arm.

This kid was clearly doing it on purpose, continuing to provoke me even after seeing my dark expression.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in my eyes, and said through gritted teeth.

"No. We're going home."

"I don't want to! I want pudding!"

Harrison suddenly pushed open the car door and jumped out, running toward the restaurant.

I couldn't catch him in time, only watching helplessly as he rushed to Erin's side.

Erin was clearly stunned to see him, then reached out to ruffle his hair and said a few words.

Then her gaze moved past Harrison and landed directly on the car window.

The moment our eyes met, I clearly saw the surprise in hers, and then she stood up, wanting to come outside.

An inexplicable anger surged up, and I growled at the driver: "Drive!"

Erin's POV:

Before I could walk out, the black sedan had already driven away.

I found it very strange.

How could Kingsley be here?

Through the car window, the way he looked at me just now was like he wanted to chop me up and devour me.

"Who brought him here?"

Kai glanced at Harrison then turned his gaze to me, his eyes scrutinizing.

"That's my daddy!" Harrison answered first.

Kai's expression immediately soured.

He studied Harrison, frowning, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the coffee cup's rim.

Harrison clearly reminded him of what happened five years ago.

I could feel he really disliked Harrison.

"Mommy, daddy waited for you to have dinner for so long, he was almost angry!"

Harrison hugged my arm, pouting as he complained.

My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively looked at Kai, indeed seeing the inquiry in his eyes.

"You're married?"

Kai raised an eyebrow, his tone probing.

I clenched my palms and shook my head in denial: "I'm not married."

"Not married?"

Kai's brow furrowed, his tone carrying some disappointment.

"When did we become so distant? You won't even tell me the truth anymore?"

"I'm not lying to you, I really haven't married."

I hurried to explain, but my mind was in chaos.

Kingsley's expression from earlier kept circling in my head.

The way he looked angry—could he have misunderstood something?

But then again, so what if he misunderstood?

There was nothing between us anyway.

The rest of the meal was tasteless. Kai kept talking about the past, but I couldn't hear a word.

My mind was full of Kingsley's retreating figure.

After hastily paying the bill, I led Harrison quickly out of the restaurant while he kept muttering.

"Mommy, daddy's face was so dark in the car. Butler grandpa said he's been waiting for you since five o'clock."

A strange emotion stirred in my heart, but I remained stubborn.

"I already told him I was treating someone to dinner tonight. He chose to wait."

Though I said that, as the car drove toward the castle, I couldn't help constantly checking the time.

When we returned to the castle, the living room was empty.

The butler approached and bowed: "Miss Erin, Boss is in the shooting range."

I walked in the direction the butler indicated, hearing "bang bang bang" gunshots before I even got close, the sound painful to the eardrums.

Pushing open the door, I saw Kingsley standing at the shooting platform.

He wore black shooting attire, holding a handgun with faint smoke still rising from the barrel.

On the target in front of him, the bullets were almost all concentrated in the bullseye, showing he wasn't shooting randomly but venting.

He heard the noise and glanced back at me, his eyes cold as ice. Without speaking, he just turned and pulled the trigger again.

The gunshot was particularly harsh in the enclosed space. I stood there, inexplicably feeling panicked.