淑女的欲望

"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."

Logan, who knows about the Withers family, immediately senses Scarlett's fear. "Young madam, do they know about your mother?" he asked worriedly. "Should we go back to the car and wait?"

"No, let's pretend we're visiting another grave," Scarlett replied, adjusting her sunglasses, her gaze fixed on the tall man standing before her mother's grave. Not far from him stood several people dressed in black. Just by glancing at their postures, she could tell that these people were trained bodyguards protecting their masters — the tall man.

'Are these Jude Withers' people?' she silently pondered, her palms clenched tightly with anger. '...who is the tall man?' 

Scarlett finally halted a few graves away from her mother's resting place, pretending to visit that grave while occasionally stealing glances at the tall man. She attempted to discern his identity, hoping a closer look would trigger her memory. However, the more she tried to remember, the more confused she became because she had never seen the man visiting her house before. And that man wasn't Jude Withers either.

After a few moments, the man and his bodyguards departed from the graveyard, passing by Scarlett while conversing.

"Yes, we've taken care of it!" the tall man exclaimed.

A slight frown creased Scarlett's brow as she caught the man's accent. The accent and the way he spoke made her believe he wasn't from the nearby place or even from this country. She forced her brain, trying to recall where she had encountered such an accent. Still, she can't recognize it. 

"Ma'am, they're all gone," Logan informed, bringing Scarlett back from her deep thoughts.

Confirming that no one was lingering nearby, she made her way to her mother's grave, her gaze falling upon the fresh white roses adorning it. 

Scarlett tried to recall that man again. However, she failed to trigger any memories of the man. "Logan, did you recognize his accent?" she glanced at him.

"Yes, I did. It sounded like a southern accent from Country X."

"Country X!? Jude Withers!?" Scarlett uttered softly, almost questioning herself.

"Yes, ma'am. Why do you ask?" Logan furrowed his brow, observing Scarlett's pensive demeanor.

"Damn it!" Scarlett's eyes narrowed as she swiftly dashed toward the parking lot, leaving Logan bewildered as he hurriedly chased after her.

"Ma'am..." Logan called out to Scarlett, his voice filled with concern as he struggled to keep pace. "What's happened? Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Hurry!! We need to get to my father's house..." she shouted. 

Despite not fully understanding why Scarlett suddenly became panicked and scared, Logan sprinted to the car and urgently instructed the driver to accelerate. The car swiftly departed from the cemetery, racing toward Jonathan Piers' residence.

Scarlett busied herself by attempting to call her father. However, with each ring that went unanswered, her heart pounded with worry over the possibility of something she dreaded.

After failing to reach her father, she tried dialing Aunt Lana and Uncle Adams. Still, she encountered the same result—no response on the other end. Even the landline at her house is not working.

"Sir, please drive faster!" Scarlett commanded the driver. "Ignore the red lights. I'll clear the streets for you..." Her voice was a bit trembled as she retrieved her laptop and began hacking into the traffic light system.

Logan glanced back at Scarlett, observing her seemingly calm demeanor. Yet, her eyes flicker with fear and concern, betraying her genuine emotions. "Ma'am, please tell me what's happened. Perhaps I can help," he earnestly inquired, his voice filled with seriousness.

Scarlett didn't respond immediately to Logan's inquiry as she focused on ensuring a clear path ahead through the manipulated traffic lights. She needed to reach her house as quickly as possible.

If her suspicions were correct and the person she had seen at the grave earlier was affiliated with Jude Withers, there was a strong possibility that they already knew about Jonathan Piers. In a small town like Island B, it wouldn't be difficult for them to track down her father's house.

Scarlett was well aware — thanks to her uncle Noah Wither who told her — of Jude's wicked nature. That evil Jude had even intended to harm her mother to fulfill his desires. Considering this, Jonathan Piers' life was at grave risk if he failed to provide the information Jude Withers sought.

...

Once Scarlett had successfully cleared the traffic lights, she closed her laptop and turned her attention to Logan. "Are there any of Xander's people guarding my father's house?" she asked, diverting the conversation away from Logan's curiosity.

Logan was taken aback by Scarlett's question. "N-No, ma'am. There is no one," he replied.

Scarlett's shoulders slumped in disappointment. If only there was someone she could rely on to check her house, she would feel more at ease. 

"Ma'am, did Master Xander inform you about the guards?" Logan asked, surprised that Scarlett was aware of the silent guards trailing them.

Scarlett took a deep breath before responding, "Xander didn't tell me, but I found out on my own..."

Logan smiled awkwardly, realizing that Scarlett had easily uncovered their secret. "Ma'am, has something bad happened at your house?" he asked with concern.

"Yes! If I'm not mistaken, the people we encountered at the cemetery earlier were Jude Withers' people. Now they might know about my father's house and have visited him..." Scarlett's voice trembled with worry, fearing Jude Withers would harm her father.

Instantly, Logan's face stiffened. He didn't utter another word but swiftly pulled out his cell phone and sent a series of urgent orders to the people tailing them, instructing them to rush to Jonathan Piers' house. Knowing Jude Withers' sinister nature and cunning tactics, he can foresee impending danger.

****

Meanwhile, at Jonathan Piers' house...

One of the housekeepers who was cleaning the front yard was surprised to see eight men in black forcefully enter the place. They ruthlessly broke down the gate.