Chapter 149

Elven, Ezra, and the others were trapped amid the crowd and unable to move. They did not dare to push the people away as they were afraid that they might accidentally hurt them.

Moreover, that group of people were not ordinary people. They were significant and powerful young heirs and heiresses of prominent families.

Samantha took the opportunity to shoot Natasha a meaningful gaze.

Natasha understood her intentions. Seizing the opportunity when the bodyguards were putting their attention on the crowd, she quickly broke free from their grasp and ran away from the crowd.

The bodyguards’ expressions changed drastically. When they were about to chase after her, they were blocked by the crowd.

Quinton was furious and scolded, “Are you guys blind? Even if you disagree to let us take her away, you shouldn’t condone letting a fugitive like Natasha escape.”

Samantha laughed and replied, “There’s no need for you guys to chase after her. I’ve already informed the police. I doubt she’ll go far. Let the police handle her. We won’t need Ms. Shalders’ pet dogs to take action against her.”

Pet dogs?

Quinton and the others were gritting their teeth in anger. However, they did not retort since Gwendolyn hadn’t said anything.

Gwendolyn pursed her lips tightly, with her expression darkened.

Upon seeing her expression, Maverick softly called out, “Gwendolyn.”

She raised her eyes in response, giving him a cold gaze without any traces of warmth.

“She’s your woman. This matter…”

Before she could finish speaking, Maverick quickly interrupted as he retorted, “She’s not mine.”

Gwendolyn’s expression remained indifferent as she continued, “In any case, I’ll let Mr. Wright handle this matter personally. Once it’s resolved, you can return to the villa.”

Maverick knew she was still angry. He wanted to reach out and grab her wrist to beg for forgiveness. However, he was interrupted by the hurried arrival of Nico.

“Boss, I’m sorry, I’m late!”

Maverick’s expression darkened swiftly.

Resisting the urge to turn around and beat up Nico, he calmly instructed, “Natasha ran toward the path leading to the remote bamboo forest at the back. She’s injured and hasn’t recovered. So she can’t run far away from here. Go and chase after her.”

“Yes.”

After Nico said that, he immediately sprinted in the direction Maverick had mentioned.

Maverick took a moment to calm himself down. When he was about to reach for Gwendolyn’s wrist again, she subtly turned her body to dodge it.

Gwendolyn looked at Elven, Ezra, and the other bodyguards, who were surrounded by the crowd. “Disperse the crowd and let the charity gala continue,” she instructed.

The main performers had escaped. So, the crowd soon dismissed since there was nothing interesting to watch.

Gwendolyn only approached Samantha when most people left the scene.

Her beautiful eyes exuded a coldness that was both sharp and reckless.

When she locked eyes with Samantha, she gave her a mysterious smile and said, “Ms. Lane, considering our past grievances, my original plan was just to make the Lane family go bankrupt. If you behave yourself, I can spare your life. However, if I find out that you collude with someone and try to pull any tricks, I bet you might not be able to bear the consequences.”

Gwendolyn’s warning made Samantha slightly taken aback.

After a few seconds, Samantha finally returned to her senses and responded with a smile, “There’s no rush for that, Ms. Shalders. It’s still uncertain who the victor is and who will be taught a lesson at the end.”

Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes and smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”

After saying that, she left the charity gala without looking back, accompanied by Elven, a few bodyguards, and Joaquin.

Maverick, who was left alone, wanted to catch up, but Samantha stopped him.

“Maverick, the charity gala isn’t over yet. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Please stay and keep me company for a little while longer.”

Maverick glared furiously at her.

“Get lost.”

After saying that coldly, he immediately ran out of the hotel.

Gwendolyn had just gotten into the car and was about to close the door.

Maverick quickly grabbed the car door as he shouted, “Gwendolyn, don’t!”

“What are you doing?”

At first, Maverick glanced into the car. He saw Elven was the one driving while Ezra sat in the passenger seat. However, Quinton was not there with them. He guessed that he went to send Joaquin back to the Zipper residence.

Therefore, Gwendolyn was sitting in the back seat alone.

He clung to the car door tightly while keeping his tone soft. It was as if he was afraid that he would make her angry if he increased the volume slightly.

“Gwendolyn, I want to go back to the villa too. Can you please move over there a bit?”

Since Gwendolyn had just gotten into the car, she sat on the right side next to the road, leaving the left seat unoccupied.

Under the dim yellow streetlight, there was a flicker of light in Maverick’s dark eyes. When he looked at her, he was cautious yet filled with slight anticipation.

Gwendolyn shot him a cold gaze as she answered, barely hesitating, “No, can’t do it. Whoever brought you here should send you back as well. Or you can walk back.”

Her tone was as cold as ice, devoid of warmth.

Ever since he refused to sign the termination of the employment agreement, Gwendolyn had been treating him indifferently. That night, the cold treatment she gave him was exactly the same as the night she was punished by kneeling in the rain.

Maverick’s eyes darkened, and he looked down slightly. It seemed he was enduring bitter feelings of resentment.

“Gwendolyn, there was a reason Samantha and I came over tonight. Can you please let me explain?”

Gwendolyn averted her gaze, refusing to look at him. She just said, “Someone will wait up and open the door for you until eleven o’clock. If you can’t return by then, you can just sleep on the streets. Now, let go.”

Maverick’s eyes were slightly reddened.

What a heartless and ruthless woman! How can her heart be as hard as a stone?

He was so frustrated that his chest hurt, but he could only reluctantly let go of his hand that was holding onto the car door.

As soon as he let go, the car door was slammed shut loudly. Then, the car sped off like an arrow released from its bow.

Maverick was left behind with a face full of exhaust fume.

He was choked by the exhaust fume and coughed twice. All he could do was stood there all alone, watching the car disappear into the night.

“Boss!”

Nico came looking for him.

Maverick regained his usual coldness and asked with extreme annoyance, “What’s the matter?”

Nico lowered his head, and his expression was gloomy. “I’m sorry, Boss. I couldn’t catch Natasha. By the time I got there, she had completely disappeared, as if someone had taken her away in advance.”

“Check the surveillance footage.”

Nico lowered his head even more as he replied, “The path through the bamboo forest in Gardens Hotel is a blind spot for surveillance cameras. Moreover, the cameras that could capture the entrance were hacked in advance. I’m sorry…”

Maverick did not intend to blame him too much as he uttered, “It’s not your fault. The whole incident from Natasha’s appearance, stabbing Gwendolyn with a knife, to the final escape, was all pre-planned. What I don’t understand is the motive of the mastermind for doing all these things?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than his phone rang.

Upon seeing that it was Samantha, he hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to answer the call.

“Maverick, you haven’t left yet, have you? The charity gala isn’t over yet, and as my plus one, you shouldn’t just leave me alone, right?”

Maverick did not want to say a single word to her.

Just as he was about to hang up, Samantha continued, “Do you want to know where Natasha is?”

He narrowed his cold eyes.

“You know where she is, do you?”

Samantha grinned wickedly, “Not only do I know that, but I can also take you there. I bet you have a lot of questions about Natasha too. Why don’t you go and solve these mysteries personally?”

Maverick pursed his thin lips, and he narrowed his deep dark eyes. “What do you want?”

“I hope you can accompany me for the last five minutes of the charity gala. You won’t refuse such a small request, right?”

Samantha smiled faintly and continued, “As soon as the charity gala is over, I’ll take you to Natasha right away. What do you think?”

Maverick did not respond immediately.

He looked at his watch and found that there was still more than half an hour left until eleven o’clock.

“All right, where are you?”