Chapter 426

With that, Cedrick’s wish to have an “unforgettable” wedding night was finally fulfilled.

The pleasure he experienced after being “tortured” was like a heavenly gift.

That night, Gwendolyn, too, had an unforgettable wedding night.

In contrast to her ecstatic experience, Cedrick had one that left a lot to be desired.

When morning arrived, rays of the morning sun bathed the room as they pierced through the half-

opened curtains. The light clearly illuminated Gwendolyn’s and Cedrick’s exquisite-looking faces.

Cedrick was sprawled on the bed with his hand wrapped around Gwendolyn’s chest.

Even in his sleep, he had already made it a habit to avoid putting any pressure on her abdomen.

After spending the entire night consummating their marriage, both of them were so exhausted that they fell into a deep slumber.

It wasn’t until Gwendolyn’s phone rang that she reached out for it groggily.

It’s Ezra again.

Ezra had called to report that he and William had allowed Evelyn to escape.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Harris. We let our guard down for a moment when she seemed to be cooperating. We didn’t expect her to team up with Margaret’s son, Norman, to drug us and flee. We’re ready to accept any punishment you mete out.”

Ignoring his comment about the punishment, Gwendolyn inquired languidly, “Where is she now? Have you found her?”

“No, we trawled the river downstream the entire day but found nothing. We even searched the few villages downriver too. Since she was suffering from a gunshot wound, could she have been killed by the river’s bone-chilling cold?”

“Even then, we still need her body as proof.”

Gwendolyn’s voice took on a frosty tone as she instructed, “Continue the hunt and search the villages downriver again. She wouldn’t have gotten far and must be hiding in one of them.”

“Understood.”

With that, Gwendolyn ended the call. After she was interrupted by the report, her sleepiness had long dissipated. Thus, she sat up with her back against the headboard.

Behind her, Cedrick felt a sudden rush of cold air when she lifted the sheets. As Gwendolyn had slipped out of his grasp, his brows furrowed as he subconsciously reached out to grab her.

Underneath the blanket, Gwendolyn realized that he was holding on tightly to her nightgown.

Only when she lowered her eyes did she realize he was sleeping on his stomach.

Turning on her side, she twirled Cedrick’s hair with her fingers before leaning in to blow in his ear.

“Hubby, why are you sleeping in this position? Do you need me to give your back a massage?”

Narrowing his groggy eyes, Cedrick grunted in acknowledgment.

With that, Gwendolyn slipped back underneath the duvet and began rubbing his back with her fingers and palm.

While doing so, a mischievous glint flashed across her eyes.

The tip of her fingers began to reach down without warning, only stopping when she reached his groin.

As she stroked her fingers over his thin silk boxers, she could feel the obvious lump underneath it.

However, she felt him grab her wrist just when she was about to give it a rub.

With a sleepy expression, Cedrick raised his gaze to give her an affectionate look. “Stop fooling around. I’m still sleepy.”

Only then did Gwendolyn release her hand.

“Fine. You’ve done a lot the entire night, so sleep in while I head over to the Harris residence.”

She then leaned in to plant a kiss on his forehead.

After that, she got out of bed to wash up before leaving Harrick Villa.

Half an hour later, her luxury sedan came to a stop outside Marcus’ villa at Mount Tranquil.

Upon entering the building and passing by the ancestral hall, she could hear a weak and raspy male voice chanting.

It’s already morning. Has he been chanting throughout the night?

Thus, she walked over to the ancestral hall and opened a gap in the door to take a quiet peek.

Asher’s body was swooning a little due to the discomfort of his kneeling posture. Once he managed to clear his throat, he continued to push himself to chant.

When Gwendolyn saw him repeat the process time and again, she figured it was a matter of time before Asher’s throat was ruined.

Her brows wrinkled as a solemn look descended upon her eyes.

This time, instead of leaving quietly, she pushed the door open and entered.

Creak!

The sound of the opening door interrupted Asher’s chant.

Without turning around, he casually remarked in his hoarse voice, “Why did you bring breakfast? I’m still not hungry. I’ll only eat after I finish.”

Standing some distance away by the door, Gwendolyn didn’t budge.

It wasn’t until Asher noticed that a reply wasn’t forthcoming that he turned around curiously to look.

The sight of Gwendolyn caused him to freeze in silence.

With an emotionless expression, Gwendolyn sneered, “If you think chanting the Heagurn Sutra will make me forgive you and forget how you indulged Evelyn, you cannot be any more wrong.”

The piercing look in her eyes was filled with conviction. “Even if you torment yourself till you lose your voice, my conscience will still not bat an eyelid for you.”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Asher lowered his eyes to hide the extreme disappointment in them.

In his silence, he retracted his gaze before returning to the punishing stance he was kneeling in to continue his chant.

The stubbornness Asher displayed elicited a solemn expression from Gwendolyn.

Upon recalling the report of Evelyn’s escape, she inquired, “Evelyn drugged my bodyguards and fled.

Do you know anything about it?”

Asher stopped his chant abruptly to turn around and look her in the eye. “Not this time.”

Showing no emotion, Gwendolyn added, “Two days ago, when she fled to the river during a heavy rain, she was shot before falling into it. Her fate is still yet to be known.”

Asher furrowed his brows but didn’t comment.

As Gwendolyn stared intently at him to gauge his response, she asked suspiciously, “Weren’t you adamant in protecting her to repay your debt of gratitude to her mother? Now that her life is hanging by a thread, why aren’t you anxious at all?”

Asher hung his head and replied in a throaty voice. “Her fate is just unknown. It doesn’t mean that she’s dead. Perhaps she’s still alive somewhere.”

“In that case, don’t you feel the urge to rescue her?” Gwendolyn cocked a brow with an icy glint in her eyes.

Upon retracting his gaze, Asher returned his attention to his scripture with a grim expression.

“Over the last few days, I’ve seen the light after copying the scripture repeatedly. I admit that I have protected her one too many times, but now that I have resigned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I no longer have the power to do so. So, the path ahead is her own. Whether she lives or dies depends on her fate which is no longer in my hands. Besides, I’ve no intention of protecting her anymore.”

Gwendolyn listened to him in silence as she tried to read his every expression.

A short while later, she broke into a faint smile. “It seems the scripture is doing you some good.

Compared to the past, you’re no longer as hard-headed.”

This was the first time in a long while she spoke to Asher in such a gentle tone.

As Asher’s lips curled in reciprocation, he adjusted his knees to face her.

In his broken voice, he apologized, “Kiddo, everything that happened before this was my fault. It’s only now that I realize how wrong I have been and the trauma I have inflicted upon you. Over this period of time, I have repented sincerely. Can you bring yourself to forgive this brother of yours?”