Chapter 184: What Is the Prize?

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: What Is the Prize?

Jared Hawthorne’s face was devoid of expression, his gaze coated in frost. "Never heard of her," he said, his tone detached.

"Northolme is your turf, so I won’t meddle in what comes next." Rex Lambert clapped his shoulder. "But if you need help, just ask. I’ll be there."

"I’m taking this man back with me." Jared Hawthorne’s gaze landed on Theodore Caldwell, who was kneeling and trembling on the ground. His tone was absolute.

"No problem," Rex Lambert agreed instantly.

At these words, Theodore Caldwell’s vision went black, and he nearly fainted. He looked at the man before him—a man whose aura rivaled Rex Lambert’s, radiating an intimidating pressure—and his heart plunged into a bottomless abyss.

"Lord Rex..." Theodore Caldwell’s voice choked with despair, though he couldn’t shed a tear. "I can’t go back with him! I’m a fugitive back home. That’s why I fled to Veridia! Going back is a death sentence!"

Every year, he would sneak back home to visit his family, then rush back to Veridia immediately afterward, never daring to linger.

"That’s no longer your choice to make." Rex Lambert chuckled, but his eyes were chillingly sharp. "Remember this: cooperate, and don’t get any funny ideas. Otherwise, you’ll learn the meaning of a fate worse than death."

...

Vesper Grayson’s sleep was fitful, plagued by nightmares. She dreamed the kidnappers had succeeded. She was trapped, imprisoned. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t contact Jared Hawthorne, much less get back to Northolme.

Fear and despair consumed her. Barefoot, she ran frantically through an endless fog, tears blurring her vision. Just as she was about to break down in utter despair, she crashed into a familiar, warm embrace. On pure instinct, she threw her arms around the person in front of her, clinging to him as if he were her only lifeline in the world.

"It’s okay now. You’re safe. Don’t be afraid."

The deep, gentle voice resonated by her ear, a warm current that instantly soothed all her fear and anxiety. Her frayed nerves finally relaxed, and she sank back into a deep, peaceful sleep.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she slowly opened her eyes. The crisp, pleasant scent of cedar filled her senses. Her gaze fell upon the broad, solid expanse of a man’s warm, powerful chest.

She tilted her head up slightly, her eyes tracing the clean, sharp line of his jaw.

Jared Hawthorne was exceptionally handsome. He had sharp, strong brows, long, thick lashes, a high-bridged nose, and thin lips that hinted at a certain austerity. The dappled light falling across his well-defined features softened his expression, and for a moment, she found herself completely mesmerized.

Just as she was staring, lost in thought, Jared Hawthorne slowly opened his eyes. He looked down, and their gazes met. His eyes were heavy with the languor of sleep, and his voice was a low, husky rasp, possessing an alluring magnetism.

"So, is your husband handsome?"

"Very handsome."

The thought escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Jared Hawthorne chuckled. "Did you sleep well last night?"

Vesper Grayson nodded slightly. Her voice was soft and sweet, tinged with a faint reliance on him. "With you here, I slept perfectly."

He changed the subject. "We caught them. What do you want to do with those men?"

"So quickly?"

’Veridia wasn’t Jared Hawthorne’s home turf, after all.’ She had assumed tracking down the kidnappers would take some time. She never imagined they would be caught overnight.

"A friend helped out. After we caught them, both of them confessed." Jared Hawthorne looked down at her, his tone even. "Elara Langley. Do you have some history with her?"

"Elara Langley? I don’t know her." Vesper Grayson’s eyes were blank with confusion. The name didn’t ring a bell at all.

Jared Hawthorne took out his phone, pulled up the file that had been sent overnight, and showed it to her.

Vesper Grayson read through it carefully, her confusion only deepening. "I’m positive I’ve never met this person."

"It doesn’t matter. We’ll investigate it thoroughly once we’re back in Northolme." He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Today, I’m just going to enjoy Veridia with you. We’ll head back first thing tomorrow morning."

Vesper Grayson agreed softly, "Okay."

This border city in Veridia was renowned as the jade gambling capital of the world. Home to sprawling mountain mines, it was the primary source of top-grade raw jadeite. The nation’s wealthiest man, Jenson Whitman, had made his first fortune in the mining business. From there, he strategically expanded, branching into numerous other industries to single-handedly build a vast commercial empire, cementing his position as the richest man in Veridia.

After breakfast, Jared Hawthorne led Vesper Grayson out.

The two of them strolled through the foreign streets, shedding their usual tension and aloofness. They were just like any other couple, soaking in the sights and sounds of the city. For lunch, they found a renowned local eatery and savored its specialty dishes.

In the afternoon, Jared Hawthorne took her to the city’s most prestigious jade-gambling emporium.

Inside, uncut stones of all sizes were piled high. A constant stream of people flowed through the space, and the bustling noise washed over them. Jared Hawthorne kept her tucked safely by his side, navigating calmly through the throng as he led her straight to an exclusive private suite on the top floor of The Jade Pavilion.

Inside the suite, Rex Lambert was lounging on the sofa. He glanced up at the sound of their arrival, a faint smile touching his otherwise stern features.

"You made it."

Jared Hawthorne led Vesper Grayson into the suite. He waited until they were both seated before making a brief introduction.

"This is my wife, Vesper Grayson."

Then he turned to Vesper. "Rex Lambert," he said simply.

Rex Lambert couldn’t help but laugh. ’The introduction was a bit too blunt and brief.’

Still, he caught the most important part.

’Wife?’

’Looks like he’s really fallen for her this time.’

"Miss Grayson, I’ve heard a great deal about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

’Vesper Grayson had a moment of realization.’ This must be the friend Elias had mentioned, the one who had helped them.

"Thank you for your help with the incident, Mr. Lambert."

Rex Lambert raised an eyebrow and placed a cigarette between his lips. Just as he was about to light it, a long, slender hand shot out, plucked the cigarette from his mouth, snapped it in two, and tossed it into the trash.

"She can’t stand the smell of smoke. If you want to smoke, do it outside."

Vesper Grayson gently tugged on the hem of Jared Hawthorne’s shirt. "Don’t be like that," she whispered, trying to dissuade him. "It’s okay. You don’t have to make him change his habits just because I’m pregnant."

’It wasn’t good to be around smoke, but a little bit now and then wouldn’t be a disaster.’

Jared Hawthorne simply poured her a glass of warm juice and pressed it into her hand before looking up at Rex Lambert.

"We’re having our wedding next month. Care to come and join the celebration if you’re free?"

Rex Lambert looked surprised, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "You’re moving a little fast, aren’t you? Is this a flash marriage?"

"We already have the license. It’s time to schedule the wedding," Jared Hawthorne replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Rex Lambert was stunned for a second before laughing. "You dog. Making big moves without a word. That’s your style, all right. I’ll see what my schedule looks like next month. Even if I can’t make it in person, my gift will be there on time."

Just then, a knock came at the door. The manager entered with a bow, carrying several choice uncut stones, which he arranged neatly on the large coffee table.

"Mr. Lambert, these are all top-quality stones from our recent acquisitions, selected especially for you."

Although these were high-quality stones carefully vetted by specialists, jade gambling has always been thirty percent skill and seventy percent luck. Even after repeated inspection by experts, what lay within was still a mystery. There was no guarantee that a single cut would reveal a priceless core.

Rex Lambert’s gaze swept nonchalantly over the stones on the table, each with its unique rind, before he looked up at Jared Hawthorne.

"You’re a master strategist in the business world. When it comes to picking projects and making decisions, you have a killer instinct and never miss. But jade gambling is different from business; a sharp eye alone won’t cut it. Why don’t you pick first? We can have a little competition and see whose luck is better."

A slight smile touched Jared Hawthorne’s lips. "What are the stakes?"