淑女的欲望

"Don't worry. I've already instructed my team to watch him closely from a distance. If anything goes wrong, they'll step in to assist him," Xander reassured Scarlett, his voice filled with a soothing tone.

"Thank you, Xander!" 

"Ms. Riley, please stop saying such words," Xander said, gently stroking her smooth hair. "I've told you multiple times it's my duty as your husband to help you. And you cannot refuse my help. Do you understand?" His voice held a firm tone.

"Hmm, I understand," she replied while smiling.

"That's good to hear," a smile of relief graced Xander's lips. "Babe, what about your trip to B Island? Are you still planning to go?" he inquired.

"Yes, I cannot cancel it because I made a promise to my father and Aunt Lana to fly there tomorrow," Scarlett explained. "I will wait for Uncle Noah's call from the island. I can fly there directly if he asks me to go to Glace City. It's only a two-hour flight from B Island..."

"Alright," Xander agreed, though, in his heart, he wished Scarlett would postpone her departure so they could travel to Island B together. "Babe, I know you are a strong woman, even stronger than my brother, Carter, but please be careful during your trip..."

"I will," she reassured him.

"And I'm not allowing you to go without Logan by your side!" Xander added, feeling concerned about letting her go alone to Island B, especially considering the possibility of Jude Withers' people being in the country to track Noah Withers.

"Mr. Riley, please don't worry too much. B Island is my hometown," Scarlett said as she released herself from Xander's embrace and met his gaze. "...trust me, no one will be able to harm me. Besides, didn't you instruct your people to keep an eye on me?" She chuckled at his surprised expression.

Xander swallowed nervously. He knew that Scarlett was aware of his surveillance team following her. However, he knew they were useless if she was determined to evade them. The memory of Scarlett easily outsmarting his people when she fled to Country X a few weeks ago was still fresh in his mind.

"Baby, I'm sorry... I did it for your safety. You told me that someone was attempting to abduct you to exploit your hacking abilities, and I was genuinely worried and made me place a few men to guard you..." Xander explained, his tone serious.

Scarlett nearly choked upon hearing his words, silently talking inwardly, 'Oh my gosh, Xander! That person is your best friend, Theodor...'

"I understand, Xander. But don't worry, I'll be cautious while I'm there," she said seriously. She didn't want Xander to worry too much about her safety.

***

The next day. 

The blue sky and the bright sun welcomed Scarlett as she arrived on Island B. It was precisely 10 am when their plane touched down. However, instead of heading directly to her house, she asked Logan to take her to her mother's grave.

Despite knowing the grave was empty — she firmly believed her mother was still alive — she felt the need to visit the site and talk to her, just as she had done in the past since she was a little girl. She wanted to share so much with her mother, especially her encounters with the Withers and Aunt Martha.

As the car made its way to the cemetery, Logan, seated next to the driver, glanced at Scarlett and asked, "Young madam, would you like to stay at your house or a hotel tonight?"

"I'll stay at my house," Scarlett replied, her gaze fixed on Logan. "We'll move to a hotel once Xander arrives."

She didn't want to be alone in a hotel room. She longed to stay in her house and spend time with her dad and Aunt Lana. She was aware that once she went to Country M, there was no way she could visit Island B in the next few months.

"Very well, I will follow your arrangement, ma'am..."

"Logan, you can stay at my house too. I'll ask Aunt Lana to prepare a room for you," she said, picking up her phone to inform her father about her arrival.

Jonathan's cheerful voice greeted Scarlett on the other end, "My daughter, welcome back... Oh, don't forget to have lunch at home, okay?" He reminded her once again, worried that Scarlett would eat elsewhere.

"Yes, Dad," Scarlett smiled, feeling the warmth in her father's voice. "I'm on my way to Mom's grave. I'll be there soon."

"That's wonderful, daughter. Your mother must have missed you dearly. It's been a long time since you visited her," he said with a tinge of sadness.

Jonathan's words almost choked Scarlett. She longed to reveal her mother's true identity to him. Still, at the same time, she feared that he would be put in grave danger if he knew the truth about the Withers and the possibility that her mother was still alive.

If Jude's people were to find out about Jonathan Piers, his life would be in grave danger. Not only Jonathan but Scarlett herself would also be hunted down. Despite Scarlett already taking extra precautions by erasing any connections between her and Jonathan Piers from this country database, she knew that if Jude Withers had a hacker more skilled than her, she wouldn't be able to escape his clutches indefinitely.

What she needs now is 'TIME' to find her mother before Jude Withers can find out where her mother is on B Island.

...

Soon, their car was parked in the cemetery area. Scarlett made her way toward her mother's grave, with Logan walking closely behind her. However, her steps slowed just a few meters away from the grave, and she requested Logan to walk beside her.

"Logan. Watch out for the surroundings, will you? Something feels off," Scarlett whispered, maintaining her composure as she continued, "Someone is visiting my mother's grave!"

"Maybe it's your family member?" Logan asked. 

"No, we don't have any family members. Only my father, an old worker at our house, and I know about my mother's grave," Scarlett explained with a tense and cautious tone. "And that man standing there is someone I've never seen before! And that I'm one hundred percent sure."