Chapter 374
However, all the lashes landed on the open ground nearby.
“Thirty lashes have been completed. You can get up now,” Grant stated while wiping the whip clean once again. “The deadline is three days, and you must return then. Please keep that in mind.”
With Lionel’s support, Elijah struggled to stand. “Thank you.”
Grant bowed slightly, refraining from further words.
A bodyguard entered abruptly and reported, “There’s a car parked at the entrance of the construction site. A woman got out of the car. Should I…?”
He gestured a cutting motion across his neck.
A woman?
Elijah frowned and asked, “What does she look like?”
“Very beautiful.”
It must be Sheena.
Why would she suddenly come here?
Elijah looked at Grant and said, “Leave. She’s someone important to me. You can’t touch her, and don’t let her notice you.”
“Understood. Take care during these three days.”
Wearing high heels, Sheena entered the abandoned construction site, carefully observing her surroundings. Despite Ford mentioning many hidden bodyguards nearby, she had not sensed any on her way here.
Had they already withdrawn?
The construction site was huge, and she quickened her pace, checking each building one by one. Finally, she saw that familiar tall figure in a very secluded and dilapidated building.
Lionel had just finished fastening the last golden button on Elijah’s suit collar. Seeing Sheena enter, with no time to finish tying the tie, Lionel discreetly stuffed it into his pocket, silently standing aside with his head bowed.
Elijah took a deep breath, concealing the intense pain in his back. Then, he looked at Sheena gently as he asked, “Why did you come?”
Sheena did not answer his question, just frowning with a stern expression.
“When I came in, why was Lionel helping you with the button, and what were you doing?”
He smiled and replied, “Just accidentally loosened a button on the collar, and Lionel saw it, so he helped me fasten it.”
sheena glanced at Lionel; he remained silent, head lowered, displaying no
emotion.
She walked up to Elijah, scrutinizing him once more. “Then why did you come here?
“Lionel received information that there were intruders from the Special
Investigation Department, so I came to check. However, by the time I arrived, they had already left.”
Sheena turned her gaze back to Lionel. “Is what he said true?”
Lionel remained silent for two seconds before responding, his tone devoid of emotion, “Yes.”
Elijah’s fingertips trembled slightly as he gently tugged at Sheena’s sleeve. ” Sheena, it’s cold outside. I want to go back to Ocean Avenue.”
“Not now.”
Sheena was not swayed by his attempt to act cute. Although Lionel kept his head down, trying to conceal any signs, she noticed a hint of redness in his eyes.
Looking back at Elijah, she observed his pale complexion, lacking the usual healthy color, especially considering he seemed fine just two days ago.
“You were fine this morning. How did you suddenly become so weak?”
Elijah’s face remained unchanged as he covered his, coughing lightly. “Maybe I caught a cold last night. It’s nothing serious. I’ll take a couple of pills when we get back.”
Just a cold?
Sheena did not buy it because she detected something odd in the air like a peculiar men’s cologne mixed with a strong scent of blood.
“This place has been abandoned for so long. How come there’s a smell of blood?”
She circled around Elijah, scanning the room. Finally, she spotted a palm–sized fresh bloodstain on the floor that had not dried yet.
Sheena slowly crouched, reaching toward the blood, but Elijah abruptly grabbed
