Chapter 897: Chapter 896
"Seriously, all the kids these days are glued to their phones, right? Let’s have a little wager. See who can last thirty minutes without touching their phone. Winner gets a cool 5 million."
Rosemary’s ears perked up at that. Easy money?
"Just not touch my phone, that’s it?"
"Yup, you can do whatever else you want, just no phone. Can’t even glance at the screen. Wanna give it a shot?"
Though Rosemary thought the game sounded pretty lame, it was Sean’s idea, so she decided to play along.
"Okay, I’m in."
"Great. Check your other messages on your phone, and after five minutes, we’ll start. I’ll be waiting in the living room."
Watching Sean’s excited figure leave, Rosemary couldn’t quite understand his enthusiasm. She quickly replied to a few messages on her phone, instructed her team to hold off contacting her for the next half-hour, then powered off her device and headed to the living room.
Meanwhile, Sean messaged David, [Rose is in tears tonight.]
David instantly shot back a message, [What happened? Who’s messing with her??]
[Wanna know the deets? Wire me 5 million, and I’ll spill.]
[Yeah, right.] Knowing Sean was likely trying to scam him, David texted, [Rose wouldn’t cry even at the end of the world. Plus, if she was upset, I’d just call her.]
Pay him?
[Rose is pretty bummed out; doubt she’ll answer your calls, but feel free to give it a go,] Sean replied,noticing Rosemary descending the stairs. He quickly added, [Gotta go comfort her now.]
Rosemary placed her phone on the coffee table, and Sean did the same with his.
"Game on."
They sat opposite each other, and Sean started recounting his adventures over the years in Belloria.
Back on David’s end. He tentatively texted his sister, asking what she was up to. No response. He tried calling her.
Five minutes passed, ten minutes, David was getting anxious, [What’s on earth going on? Don’t fool me around. If you want money, I can give you, but was Rose bullied by someone? Did you see it with
your own eyes? How can she be mistreated since you are with her??]
Hearing his phone buzzed, Sean knew David was getting anxious. Sure enough, he bombarded Sean with messages, and when Sean didn’t reply, he resorted to calling him repeatedly.
"You’re pretty busy?" Rosemary was surprised at the barrage of calls within such a short span, "Why don’t you pick up? It won’t count against the game."
"That wouldn’t be right," Sean said, glancing at the clock. Only eight minutes to go. He continued to regale Rosemary with the story of how he first suspected something fishy about the fire at the health
clinic.
Unable to wait any longer, David transferred the money. Sean’s phone pinged with a notification of the transfer, seven minutes left in the game.
[Sean, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken your money before. Please tell me what’s wrong with Rose? Is it bad? I can’t stand the thought of her crying. I wired you the cash, now spill! Sean, my dear Sean, just
reply, please! Just this time!!]
Sean glanced at his phone screen, and with a sly smile, Rosemary teased, "Sean, you lost."
The rule they had set for their game was clear: No peeking at the phone, not even once.
"Ahaha, I did! I just couldn’t resist. A bet’s a bet."
When Sean checked his phone, as expected, there was a notification for a deposit of 5 million dollars.
He considered the windfall a reward and without hesitation, he transferred the whole sum to his sister’s number through the mobile banking app.
Then he texted David, [Let’s see if you dare to trick me again.]
David hadn’t anticipated that Sean would actually pull a fast one on him. How scheming he was! Did he have to do this to him for 5 million dollars? He almost believed something happened to Rose!!
[You...you got me good!] David was at a loss for words, but relieved that Rose was fine, the weight in his heart lifted.
Rosemary’s phone chimed with the transfer notification as soon as she powered it on. She uttered immediately, "Sean, it’s just a game; you really don’t need to send me the money."
She hadn’t intended to win Sean’s money; it was all just for having some entertainment with Sean since there was nothing much to do.
"Don’t you dare send it back. We agreed on the rules, and besides, spending money on you makes me happy. Plus, I’ll let you in on a secret: this cash came easy; I didn’t break a sweat earning it!" Sean’s mood was clearly buoyant as he added, "Get some rest. I’m gonna take a shower."
As Rosemary watched him climb the stairs, her phone buzzed again with a message from David asking what she was up to, along with eleven missed calls.
[Needs me for something? I was just playing a game with Sean] she texted back.
[What game?] David had a hunch that this game was somehow connected to the 5 million he’d just lost.
[Sean bet on who could go without touching their phone for half an hour. The winner got a $5 million prize.]
So that was it! Sean had swindled his money to cheer up his sister! Sneaky dog!
But in the end, it was all going into his sister’s bank account, so David couldn’t really feel bad about it.
As long as she was happy, so was he.
Louisa was strolling through the garden, arm in arm with Kenneth, when a servant abruptly approached with news.
"Mrs. Collins, Mr. Cooper is here. He’s waiting at the gate. He’s concerned because he hasn’t heard from Serena in two days and came to check on her."
Louisa hadn’t expected such devotion from that young man toward Serena and casually instructed,
"Tell him the girl has made a mistake and we’ve confined her as punishment."
"Yes, Mrs. Collins," the servant promptly replied and withdrew.
"Martin’s a good kid, too bad." Kenneth couldn’t help but comment, "If only the girl knew how to cherish him, with Martin doting on her, she’d be living a charmed life."
Walking behind them, Eunice, who was holding Bard’s arm, added in a soft voice after hearing what he said, "If she knew how to cherish her luck, she wouldn’t have ended up in this situation. It’s her own
insatiability that’s to blame, not anyone else’s."
After a while, the servant returned, "Mrs. Collins, Mr. Cooper insists on seeing you. He seems even more anxious now."
"I will not see him," Louisa stated, not wanting to waste words.
"Mr. Cooper says he’ll wait outside until you agree to meet him."
Kenneth sighed, "The boy always had determination. If we don’t see him, he might indeed wait out there for a night or two."
After all, it was with that same determination and patience that he had built his successful business at such a young age and won Serena’s heart.
"Fine, bring him to the garden."
If he wanted the truth, she might as well tell him everything and let him see Serena for who she really was.