Chapter 432: This Is Enough 2

Chapter 432: Chapter 405: This Is Enough 2

and returned all her belongings. “Miss Hughes, goodbye.”

Nancy Hughes stared coldly at the doorway before taking her things and going back into her apartment.

The apartment was cold and empty. Blue didn’t make a sound to greet her like usual. ‘He must have run off to the neighbor’s to mooch some food and drinks again.’

She had been in low spirits all morning. She went into her room.

Her thoughts finally settled as she sat down in her chair, once again immersing herself in the things Peter Hughes had left her.

After a moment’s thought, she decided to look for the seal in her bag. She rummaged through it for a long time but couldn’t find it anywhere.

‘That’s strange. I distinctly remember putting it in my bag. How could it be gone?’

She searched everywhere—her pockets, her bag, every conceivable place—but the seal was nowhere to be found.

‘Strange. Where could it have gone?’

‘Then, a sudden thought struck her. She had given her bag to Theo Heston’s butler earlier. Could they have taken it?’

‘But how would they know I had this seal?’

‘After thinking it over, it seemed like the only possibility. But what use would they have for it?’

‘This whole thing is so strange. How could it be such a coincidence?’

Her gaze fell upon the check on her desk. When she saw the name on it, she shot up from her chair and grabbed her phone to call Theo Heston.

Before she left, Theo Heston had given her his number and told her they’d be in touch. She just hadn’t expected it to be this soon.

‘I originally thought Theo Heston sought me out because of Dylan, but I never imagined his real goal was the seal.’

‘The check was from Theo Heston, and he was the one who took the seal. So, what was the relationship between Theo Heston and my father?’

He took a long time to answer. Theo Heston’s voice finally came through the phone. “Miss Hughes, is there something else?”

“I think your people may have taken something of mine. I want it back.”

“Whatever could Miss Hughes be referring to? I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Theo Heston said, playing dumb.

Nancy Hughes was focused on getting her property back and lacked Theo Heston’s patience. “It’s the seal my father left me!” she blurted out anxiously.

“What a coincidence. This belongs to an old friend of mine.”

“…”

‘Peter Hughes and Theo Heston were old friends? One lived in the south, the other in the north. How could two people from completely different worlds ever have become friends?’

“Miss Hughes, to be honest, your talents are wasted on design.” Theo Heston burst out laughing on the other end of the line. “I’ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow morning. That is, if you still want your property back.”

“I do!” Nancy Hughes said firmly.

‘She had a million questions now. Peter Hughes was dead. Besides Theo Heston, there was probably no one else left who knew the answers.’

‘What exactly did her father do in the past? What kind of friends were he and Theo Heston?’

No sooner had Theo Heston’s men dropped Nancy Hughes off than Dylan Heston showed up at his father’s door.

Theo Heston was in his study examining a scroll when Dylan Heston barged in, demanding, “Where is she?”

“It’s a fine painting, but a shame it’s not quite lifelike,” Theo Heston murmured, setting down his magnifying glass.

“What’s this? Is this how you treat your father? You don’t even address me properly. You’re getting more and more disrespectful!” Theo Heston tossed the scroll from the desk into the trash can.

Even though they lived in the same city, the father and son, Theo and Dylan Heston, wouldn’t see each other all year long.

If he hadn’t found out that Nancy Hughes had been picked up by Theo Heston’s men today, he probably never would have set foot in this place.

“Where is she?” Dylan Heston asked again.

Theo Heston unrolled another scroll, glancing up at him. “You’re too late,” he said flatly.

“What do you mean? What did you do to her?” If he could have, he would have rushed forward and punched Theo Heston.

He controlled himself with all his might, his fists clenched tightly. “I’m warning you, don’t touch her!”

In all his years of power, Theo Heston had never been threatened like this. While his son held many grievances against him, he had never been this furious.

He put down the scroll. “Dylan, you have a weakness!”

And it was his most fatal weakness.

He’d never flown into a rage over anyone before. Clearly, this Nancy Hughes was different from the women who had been at his side in the past.

At the very least, the place she held in his heart was different.

“You should know that in our line of work, the last thing we need is a weakness!” Emotions only lead to indecisiveness.

Dylan was in a foul mood. Panicked at the thought of what might have happened to Nancy, he sneered, “Don’t lump me in with you. I’m nothing like you!”

“Oh? Is that so?” Theo Heston narrowed his eyes. “Dylan, don’t speak in such absolutes. You’d best break up with that little girlfriend of yours before I lose my temper.”

Theo Heston wanted Dylan to marry someone who would be an asset to the family, not a nobody like Nancy Hughes.

Perhaps Nancy Hughes had some use to him, but that use wasn’t enough to make her a suitable wife for Dylan.

Theo Heston made his intentions clear: he wanted Dylan to break up with Nancy Hughes immediately, before he was forced to take matters into his own hands.

“Relax. I’ve already had her sent back safely. If you don’t believe me, feel free to call and confirm,” Theo Heston said, once again toying with the magnifying glass.

Dylan’s expression was grim as he stormed out.

“Young Master,” the butler began, approaching him. Dylan cut him off with a snarl. “Get lost!”

He got into his car, floored the accelerator, and sped off. After some distance, he abruptly slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road.

He took a moment to calm his frayed nerves, then picked up his phone and called Nancy Hughes.

It rang a few times before she answered. “Dylan? Is everything okay?”

“Where are you right now?” he asked, doing his best to keep his voice level.

Nancy Hughes was sitting sullenly on the sofa. “I’m at home. Why?”

“It’s nothing. I’m on my way.”

He hung up, tossed his phone aside, and floored it, heading for Nancy Hughes’s apartment.

A little over forty minutes later, Dylan Heston was at her apartment door.

Nancy Hughes hurried to open the door. “What are you doing here now? Don’t you have work?”

The moment he stepped inside, Dylan Heston pulled Nancy Hughes into his arms without a word.

The sudden embrace was so forceful that she staggered back a few steps, his arm wrapping securely around her waist to steady her.

“What’s wrong?” Nancy Hughes asked, utterly bewildered. After a long moment, she returned his embrace.

“I just missed you,” Dylan Heston said, leaning down. His lips brushed against the nape of her neck, tickling her.

The longer she spent with him, the more Nancy Hughes came to understand his personality.

He wasn’t one for sweet talk; he was a man of few words. When he wanted to express something, he always let his actions do the talking.

Hearing him say something so sweet, Nancy Hughes blushed and said awkwardly, “We just saw each other last night.”

‘It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since we parted last night.’

Dylan Heston held her tighter. “If we’re apart for even a second, I’ll miss you.”

‘Oh, boy. The cheesiness level just went up another notch.’

She tilted her head back and met his deep, placid eyes, feeling waves of heat flush her cheeks.

“You’re acting a little strange today.”

“How so?”

“Everything is.”

Georgia Thorne didn’t get back until late. Dylan Heston greeted her before he left.

Georgia Thorne chuckled dryly. “I wasn’t interrupting anything, was I?”

“What are you even thinking?” Nancy Hughes grabbed a nearby pillow and tossed it at her.

“Ooh, getting all shy!” Georgia Thorne sat down beside her, her tone suddenly turning serious. “What happened today? Dylan suddenly called me asking where you were.”

The smile vanished from Nancy Hughes’s face. She leaned wearily against Georgia Thorne’s shoulder. “Dylan’s father sought me out today.”

‘Uh… what’s that about?’

“What did his father want with you?”

“Nothing much. We just talked for a bit, had a meal, and then he had me sent back.” ‘And, by the way, Theo Heston also took something of mine,’ she added silently.

“Does his dad not approve of you two being together?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t even know how to explain it. I’m going to bed.”

“Try not to overthink it. Get some sleep.”

Her thoughts were indeed a jumbled mess. Dylan had asked her where she’d been today, and she hadn’t answered, but he hadn’t pressed her for an answer.

‘Actually, with Dylan’s resources, he could find out who I met today without even asking me.’

‘The fact that he didn’t ask must have been out of respect for me.’

「The next day at noon」

She was just about to have lunch with her colleagues when she received a call from Theo Heston.

“Sorry, I just remembered I have something to do. You guys go on ahead,” she said apologetically to her colleagues, gripping her phone tightly.

With that, she turned and walked toward the elevators.

‘If Theo Heston could intercept me at the art museum yesterday, of course he would know where I work.’

‘Or maybe… all of my movements have been under Theo Heston’s surveillance from the very beginning.’

Theo Heston’s car was parked discreetly at the side of the road. A man in black standing next to it opened the door. “Miss Hughes, please.”

Inside, Theo Heston was resting with his eyes closed. She sat down quietly beside him.

As the car pulled away, Nancy Hughes looked nervously at the man beside her. “Excuse me, where are we going?”

Theo Heston didn’t answer. He kept his eyes closed, as if he were asleep. The atmosphere grew awkward, so she simply turned her gaze out the window.

「Twenty minutes later」

The car stopped in front of a restaurant.

The butler in the front seat spoke. “Sir, we’ve arrived.”

Theo Heston’s eyes snapped open, his sharp gaze landing on Nancy Hughes. “Let’s get out.”

Theo Heston was surprisingly spry and walked with a quick pace. Nancy Hughes had to hurry to keep up.

‘Theo Heston gave off the same vibe as Dylan—the same coldness, the same unapproachable air.’

‘But Dylan was gentle. In private, away from prying eyes, he was actually a tender and considerate man.’

Theo Heston had already booked a private room. Inside, someone else was waiting.

The moment she stepped inside, she understood why Theo Heston had brought her here today.