Chapter 178
Chapter 178 An Alleyway Ambush
I’ll take you up,” Florence said to Arabella.
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“You just finished cooking; you should rest. Ethan can help me upstairs,” Arabella replied, feeling Florence had done enough and not wanting to trouble her further.
“Yeah, Mom, you relax. I’ll get Arabella upstairs,” Ethan chimed in considerately.
“You don’t understand–she might need help changing later. It wouldn’t be proper for you to assist with that,” Florence pointed out gently.
“Oh, right. Well, I can at least wheel her to her door,” Ethan conceded.
“Alright, but push carefully–go slow,” Florence reminded him, her concern still evident.
“Mom, I’ve been pushing her around all evening. I’ve got this,” Ethan said, giving her a slightly exasperated look. Wasn’t he her son, too?
“Listen to you, talking back when I’m just being careful,” Florence shot him a mildly disapproving glance. Truthfully, since he hadn’t prevented Arabella’s injury earlier, she was just being extra vigilant. Why did he have to argue?
Chastened, Ethan fell silent and dutifully wheeled Arabella to her bedroom door before saying goodnight.
“Thanks, Ethan. I owe you a nice dinner,” Arabella said gratefully.
Ethan gave a slight nod.
“Owe him? He should be treating you,” Florence remarked with a sigh, looking between them.
“Right, right. I’ll take you out soon,” Ethan agreed, sounding equally resigned.
Arabella smiled at his expression.
Ethan then turned and headed back downstairs.
Florence pushed Arabella into the room and gently helped her get settled and changed for bed.
Arabella looked at her with warm eyes. “Thanks for helping me, Mom. You’ve been on your feet since we got back–you should go get some rest now.”
“I’m not tired,” Florence replied softly, returning her smile.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she looked at Arabella. “It might be difficult for you to manage alone tonight. Would you like me to stay with you?”
Seeing Florence’s offer, Arabella immediately waved her hands. “No, Mom, really, I’ll be perfectly fine on my own. Please don’t worry about me.”
1/3 She had never been one to share a room, and the idea of someone suddenly sleeping beside her felt a bit
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Chapter 178 An Alleyway Ambush
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awkward.
Florence seemed to sense her hesitation. “Alright then. But if you need anything at all, just call me. I’ll come right over.”
Touched by her mother’s care, Arabella smiled. “Okay”
“I’ll leave you to it then. I’ll check on you again in the morning,” Florence said, still looking concerned. She then quietly closed the door and left.
That night, at a downtown bar.
Dylan and Harper were on the dance floor, moving happily to the music.
“Wow, you can really move!”
“Seriously, have you spent a lot of time here?” Harper asked, giving him a teasing look.
“Nah, just come occasionally for drinks with friends,” Dylan lied casually.
“Here, follow my lead,” he said, wrapping an arm around Harper’s waist and pulling her close as they swayed together.
Harper shot him a skeptical glance but didn’t pull away.
Under the pulsating colored lights, pressed close together, Harper’s cheeks were flushed, her expression utterly captivated.
“You look especially gorgeous tonight.” Dylan couldn’t help but murmur.
“So I’m not gorgeous other times?” Harper laughed lightly, making his heart skip a beat.
“You’re always gorgeous, but tonight you’ve got this… extra glow,” Dylan said smoothly, holding her even tighter.
As the bass throbbed through the floor, Harper felt exhilarated, her feet moving lightly to the rhythm.
Guided by Dylan, she gazed up at him, her fingers playfully tracing the line of his jaw in time with the
music.
Both of them lost themselves in the moment, absorbed in each other’s presence as the driving beat fueled their energy. Dylan was already struggling to maintain his composure–he wanted her right then and
there.
Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner of the bar, a pair of eyes had been watching them for some time.
“I’ve got plenty of incriminating shots of them, plus a short video,” a subordinate reported quietly to
Colton.
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Chapter 178 An Alleyway Ambush
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“Good work. Keep collecting. The more compromising, the better,” Colton ordered, a cold smirk touching his lips. He was determined to make them pay in their own coin.
“Yes.”
Lost in their own heated world, Dylan and Harper were completely unaware that their every move was being documented.
Before the final song had even ended, Dylan grabbed Harper’s hand and hurried them both out of the bar.
Stumbling into the dimly lit alley beside the building, they immediately fell into a passionate embrace against the brick wall, oblivious to their surroundings.
They failed to notice several figures in dark clothing emerging from the shadows and closing in on them.
Colton and his team, who had followed them out, watched from a concealed vantage point as the dark- clad men surrounded the entangled couple.
“Colton, those guys have them cornered.”
“Stay quiet and stay down. Let’s see what plays out first,” Colton instructed in a low, stern whisper.
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