Intrigued by the CEO: Paranoid Obsessions

“What do you mean, gallivanting?”

“How could picking a gift turn into drinking?” Blaze asked coldly.

So he knew about her drinking… Did those two maids report everything to him? Harper smelled the alcohol on herself and said lightly, “I just had a little bit to drink.”

“Who did you drink with? A man or a woman?” Blaze pressed.

“I drank alone.” His paranoia was acting up again.

“You’ve never drunk alone before.” Blaze said coldly. “Honestly, who did you drink with tonight?”

“I really drank alone.”

“Harper, are you hiding something? You won’t even say who you drank with? If it’s a woman, I won’t do anything to you!” Blaze said coldly, giving her a last chance to be honest.

Harper rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Her silence made Blaze thoroughly unhappy. “Don’t play silent with me, otherwise, next time you go out, I’ll have someone follow you every step of the way!”

“While I’m not in the country, you go out drinking and gallivanting. Harper, you’re getting bolder!” Blaze thundered over the phone.

“Enough, Blaze!” Harper suddenly stood up from the sofa and shouted into the phone.

Blaze was silent for two seconds on the other end, incredulously, “Harper, are you crazy? How dare you shout at me?”

“So what?” Harper shouted loudly, releasing all the pent-up anger, “What do you want? How far do you want to push me? You send two maids to monitor me while you’re abroad, and keep the phone connected 24/7. You already control me like this, what more do you want?”

“You dare to shout? Are you out of your mind?”

“What gives you the right to doubt me? Why should I have to endure your baseless suspicions? Why should I be controlled by your paranoid suspicions??” Harper shouted angrily, “I’ve said I drank alone! Alone! Believe it or not, I don’t care! Come back and kill me! I’ve had enough of you!” She shouted particularly loudly.

The two maids were shocked… They never expected Miss Shaw, so slim, to have such explosive power, and to dare to shout at Mr. Wychwood.

Blaze was completely silent on the other end, so quiet that not even a sound could be heard.

Harper thought he must be packing up to fly back immediately to deal with her, whatever. She was about to hang up the phone when suddenly Blaze’s muffled voice came through, “If you say you were alone, then I’ll believe you. Why are you shouting? Who’s trying to kill you?” His voice was low, like a child who had been scolded and didn’t know what to do.

“It’s you who keeps interrogating me, I’m not your criminal,” Harper said angrily, “Why should I be responsible for your suspicions? Why?”

“You’re my woman, can’t I ask?” Blaze muttered, his tone even weaker than before, tinged with a hint of grievance, completely different from his usual domineering demeanor.

Harper didn’t expect this reaction from him and was somewhat dumbfounded. Was he left speechless by her scolding?

“Go take a shower. A woman smelling of alcohol is disgusting,” Blaze said, then added, “Leave the bathroom door open, let the maid pay attention to your bath time, don’t pass out in there.”

She shouted at him like that, and he just told her to take a shower? And he was worried she might pass out in the bathroom?

“Go take a shower, I’ll grab something to eat, I missed two meals already,” Blaze said, then turned off the microphone, leaving the call connected.

Harper stood on the sofa, staring at her phone in disbelief.

Was that it? She had scolded him like that, and he just meekly let it go? So, in their relationship, she could voice her opinion too? But wait, when did Blaze ever care about her opinion? Harper sat back on the sofa, holding her phone, thinking and thinking again. Eventually, she came to a conclusion – Blaze was a masochist. Normally, he was arrogant and used to yelling at everyone, and no one dared to argue with him, so no one noticed his masochistic tendencies.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

So that’s it. Harper felt like she had uncovered a tremendous secret. She thought she knew how to deal with Blaze in the future if she ever felt pushed to the limit…

After she shouted at him, Blaze behaved much more calmly for the rest of the evening, speaking noticeably less assertively, though he still didn’t allow her to hang up the phone.

After taking a shower, Harper stood in the study and copied the conversation between Fiona and Lena, saving it onto a USB drive.

“So, when are you going to pick out the gift?” Blaze’s voice echoed in her ear.

Harper noticed that when Blaze’s tone wasn’t domineering, there was a sense of weakness and vulnerability, which was a stark contrast. She found it a bit hard to adjust.

“Probably tomorrow, anyway, I’ll have it ready before you come back,” she replied.

“Oh,” Blaze paused, then asked again, “What are you doing now?”

“Just thinking,” Harper said, holding the small USB drive in her hand.

She didn’t want to rely on anyone anymore. She wanted to handle this matter herself. But as Logan had pointed out, if she went directly to the police, she might get arrested herself since the recording was illegally obtained. Apart from reporting to the authorities, she couldn’t think of any other way to retaliate against Fiona and Lena.

“What are you thinking about?” Blaze asked.

“I’m thinking…” Harper stared at the USB drive in her hand, “Blaze, if something happens to me, like… if I end up in jail, will you bail me out?”

“Who do you want to deal with?” Blaze’s response was blunt, “Why bother getting your hands dirty with murder? I’ll arrange for a professional hitman for you, clean and simple.”

Harper felt embarrassed. When did she ever mention murder?

“Are you pissed off at The Shaw Family? Or your sister?” Blaze guessed her thoughts.

“No, I’m just overthinking,” Harper said, deciding not to pursue the topic further. She knew Blaze was someone who could turn words into action, and if she really had all The Shaw Family taken care of by professional hitmen… that would be terrifying.

“You’re with me now, you don’t have to worry about anything. Why bother with The Shaw Family? And there are better ways to deal with those who don’t want you around,” Blaze said.

In the UK, Blaze thought she harbored resentment towards The Shaw Family. He walked over to the computer, opened the screen, and typed two words into a chat box – “Take action.”…

The next morning, Harper woke up, holding the USB drive with the recording, lost in thought.

Logan’s phone calls kept coming in one after another. Harper was about to turn off her phone when she received a text message from Logan –

[Harper, please don’t do anything reckless. Trust me this once? Let me help you.]

Harper couldn’t understand what Logan was thinking. Ignoring the message, she grabbed her shoes from the hallway and was about to leave.

Another message came in, this time with a picture attached. The photo was obviously taken secretly and was somewhat blurry. It showed Lena sitting on the floor, playing with a young child. Despite the fuzziness, they seemed to be enjoying each other’s company.

‘What was this?’ Harper looked at the picture with confusion written all over her face.

Soon after, another message from Logan came through –

[This child is exactly 3 years old, secretly adopted by Lena.]

So what if Lena adopted a child?

Harper furrowed her brows, put on her shoes, and prepared to leave. Suddenly, she froze and quickly checked the messages on her phone.

3 years old….

Three years ago, Lena drugged Blaze …

The phone slipped from Harper’s hand, crashing onto the ground.

Her face turned deathly pale, and she couldn’t come to her senses for a while.

A child, 3 years old, three years ago, on the cruise.

Could it be…

How was this possible?

The phone vibrated, bringing Harper back to reality. She picked up the phone from the floor.

“Logan, what do you mean by this?” Harper asked.

“You finally answered the phone,” Logan sighed in relief before continuing, “I did some investigation, and it turns out Lena is actually very materialistic. From her conversations with Fiona, it’s clear she helped Fiona frame you for money.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Logan paused, “Do you think a woman like her would go and adopt a child?”

Harper remained expressionless. Only one thing filled her mind –

So, three years ago, Lena didn’t just leave her a mess… she also left behind a baby, Blaze’s baby…

Blaze had a child, Blaze actually had a child? How was this possible?

“Harper? Harper?” Logan gently called her on the phone.

“Is the information you got accurate?” Harper asked. She didn’t know what was happening to her. Why was she so shocked by this news, why… was it so hard to accept?