Chapter 180: Husband, I Almost Thought I’d Never See You Again

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Husband, I Almost Thought I’d Never See You Again

The man was strikingly handsome and elegant, with the kind of top-tier looks defined by strong bone structure. His features were deep and chiseled, his profile sharp and cool. Inexplicably, the look in his eyes held a distinct resemblance to Mrs. Whitman.

"I’m from Northolme. This is my first time in Veridia," Vesper Grayson replied calmly, a faint smile on her lips.

Mrs. Whitman quickly interjected, "Chadwick, Vesper was brutally kidnapped and brought to Veridia. She just narrowly escaped death, and on top of that, she saved your father."

Upon hearing this, a clear flicker of surprise crossed Chadwick Whitman’s eyes.

’From Northolme?’

’It seems I was worrying for nothing.’

He cleared his mind of stray thoughts and said in a warm, polite tone, "Miss Grayson, if you have any difficulties in Veridia, or if you need any help, please feel free to ask at any time."

"Thank you, Mr. Whitman."

Mrs. Whitman smiled warmly and chose the perfect moment to say, "Chadwick, you chat with Vesper for a while. I’m going to check on things in the kitchen."

In an instant, only the two of them remained in the living room, and the atmosphere fell quiet. Chadwick Whitman was the first to break the silence.

"Do you need help contacting your family?"

Vesper Grayson smiled faintly. "No need to trouble yourself. I’ve already contacted my husband, and he’ll be here to get me soon."

Chadwick Whitman’s expression faltered slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Miss Grayson, you’re already married?"

"Yes, we just registered our marriage a short while ago."

Afterward, Vesper Grayson slowly recounted the details of Mr. Whitman’s condition and her treatment. Chadwick Whitman listened with rapt attention. By the time she finished, his gaze was colored with a quiet, genuine admiration.

"I never would have thought someone so young could possess such exquisite medical skills," he said, then followed up with a question, "Are you a professional physician, Miss Grayson?"

"Not a professional, no. I just have a personal passion for studying medicine."

’I’ve never taken any formal, professional medical courses. All my skills come from a foundation I built in my youth and years of self-study and practice. I don’t even have a proper medical license. A normal hospital would never hire someone like me. I once considered getting certified, but I have no desire for a career in the medical field, so I dropped the idea.’

"So you’re self-taught. That’s truly admirable."

The admiration in Chadwick Whitman’s eyes was now completely unconcealed. The woman before him was elegant and beautiful, intelligent and perceptive, and her bearing was graceful and assured. She was, without a doubt, exceptionally captivating.

Initially, he couldn’t help but suspect she had deliberately approached his father, Jenson Whitman, with some ulterior motive. But after this brief time together, all his speculations had been completely dispelled.

Vesper Grayson inclined her head slightly and said modestly, "You flatter me, Mr. Whitman. I’m just an ordinary person."

Perceptive as she was, how could she fail to notice Mr. Whitman’s probing questions and suspicion?

The son of the wealthiest man in the country couldn’t possibly be some simple-minded fool.

"You were kidnapped and ended up here. If you need to deal with the person behind it, I can offer my assistance."

"To be honest, I still don’t know who was behind it." Vesper Grayson recalled the name she’d overheard on the cargo ship and looked up. "Mr. Whitman, have you ever heard of ’Heaven on Earth’?"

Chadwick Whitman’s dark eyes narrowed, his expression turning cold. "Were those kidnappers planning to sell you to Heaven on Earth?"

Heaven on Earth was a notorious den of debauchery within Veridia, backed by the local mafia, whose power was deeply entrenched. Once you were sent there, you could kiss peaceful days goodbye; escape was next to impossible.

Even if the Whitman Family were to intervene, the other party might show them a bit of face, but they would certainly make an exorbitant demand—they wouldn’t back down until they’d taken their pound of flesh.

Vesper Grayson nodded lightly.

"You were incredibly lucky, then, to have escaped before falling into that den of wolves."

Vesper Grayson’s heart sank, but her expression remained impassive as she asked softly, "What do you mean?"

"With your looks and figure, if you’d fallen into that earthly Purgatory, the best-case scenario would be endless humiliation, a state where you can neither live nor die. Once they had wrung every last drop of value from you, you would have been secretly shipped off to international waters, becoming just another pig for the slaughter. An utterly tragic end."

"They’re so lawless, even in broad daylight. Isn’t there anyone to regulate them?"

"Without hard evidence, there’s no way to take action. Besides, the powers behind it are too deeply rooted. If you can’t pull them out root and stem, the repercussions are endless. No one wants to be the one to stick their neck out just to become cannon fodder."

Chadwick Whitman took out a cigarette and lit it, a detached smile playing on his thin lips. "Veridia, after all, isn’t like Northolme, where the laws are so strict."

Noticing her face turn slightly pale, clearly shaken by the brutal truth, he lightly flicked the ash from his cigarette. His voice softened, shedding its cold edge as he slowly and gently reassured her.

"But you don’t have to worry. You’re my father’s savior. With the Whitman Family backing you, no one in Veridia will dare to mess with you."

Vesper had heard that Mr. Whitman was one of the wealthiest men alive, which was precisely why she had been willing to take the risk to save him—her goal was to use the Whitman Family’s influence to secure her own protection.

Hearing his words now, she knew her gamble had paid off.

A short while later, Mrs. Whitman emerged from the kitchen.

"Dinner is ready!"

"I made a few of my specialty home-cooked dishes today. Vesper, come and try my cooking."

Vesper Grayson nodded slightly. "Thank you for going to all this trouble, Miss Rhodes."

"Oh, you sweet girl. Go wash your hands so we can eat."

Chadwick Whitman sat quietly, his gaze lowered, watching the two of them interact so warmly. A thoughtful expression was hidden in his eyes.

Jenson Whitman had just been pulled back from death’s door and was still weak, so he was resting in his bedroom, unable to join them for the meal.

At the dinner table, Renee Rhodes was especially warm, constantly adding more food to Vesper Grayson’s plate, her tone gentle and maternal.

"Vesper, forgive me for asking, but how old are you?"

"I’m twenty-six."

"You don’t look it at all. You look much younger."

Vesper Grayson smiled faintly, her tone soft. "You’re the one who looks young, Miss Rhodes. If I hadn’t seen Mr. Whitman, I might have mistaken you for siblings."

Renee Rhodes was so pleased by the compliment that her face lit up with a bright smile. "Do I really? I guess all these years of taking care of my skin haven’t gone to waste."

For most of the meal, Vesper Grayson and Renee Rhodes chatted away while Chadwick Whitman occasionally interjected a comment at just the right time. The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed.

Just as the meal ended, Renee Rhodes’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and handed the phone to Vesper Grayson.

"Vesper, it’s a call from your husband."

Vesper Grayson recognized the number and quickly took the phone.

"Elias, where are you?"

From the other end of the line came a man’s deep, steady voice.

"I’m at the villa gate."

Vesper Grayson walked quickly to the window, from which the dining room offered a clear view of the front gate.

A car was parked outside the gate, and a tall, slender figure stood quietly beside it, exuding a cold, imposing aura.

Upon seeing that familiar figure, her features instantly softened, and a genuine smile spread across her face.

"Wait a minute. I’ll come out after I say my goodbyes."

After hanging up, she rose gracefully and politely bid them farewell.

"Miss Rhodes, Mr. Whitman, my husband is here to pick me up. Thank you so much for your hospitality today."

Renee Rhodes looked sad to see her go. "Come and visit whenever you have time. Let’s add each other on WhatsApp, okay?"

"Okay," Vesper Grayson agreed. "I’ll put together a recovery diet plan for Mr. Whitman and send it to you on a regular basis."

As she walked out of the villa, Jared Hawthorne’s eyes immediately locked onto her, safe and sound. He stretched out a long arm, pulled her into his embrace, and pressed his lips to her ear. "Scared, hmm?" he murmured, his voice deep and tender.

His familiar voice, wrapped in a comforting warmth, and his solid embrace shielded her from the cold. The fear and panic that had accumulated over the past few days vanished completely, replaced by a sudden surge of sorrow. Her nose tingled, and her eyes began to burn.

She buried her face in his chest, her voice soft, hoarse, and tinged with a nasal tone.

"Honey, I almost thought... I’d never see you again."