Jonathan never imagined his car would actually fail to catch up with Niamh’s.
Nor had he expected Niamh to be such a skilled driver.
But he certainly hadn’t wanted to see her speeding like that.
To save time, Niamh hadn’t bothered booking a decent hotel along the way. Wherever she happened to stop, she’d just make do with a night in some highway motel.
Four days later, she finally arrived at the factory to collect the raw stones.
Selecting the right material for jade is crucial, and Niamh didn’t find the trip especially exhausting. She’d planned to come in person anyway, to handpick the stones alongside the delivery truck.
Once she’d made her choices, there was only enough room for the raw jade in her
own trunk.
The rain was still coming down. Niamh’s car, clearly not built for this kind of heavy load, started signaling a fault halfway down the road.
With no other choice, she pulled over onto the highway’s emergency lane.
She didn’t have an umbrella in the car, so when she got out to check on the engine, she was instantly drenched, rain soaking her from head to toe.
Autumn rain always brings a chill. The icy water pelted her skin, raising goosebumps across her arms.
Her hair and clothes were soaked through, water dripping down from her forehead, blurring her vision.
She had only a basic set of tools in the car, so her attempt at repairs was rough at
best..
She tried everything she could, but the car just wouldn’t start again.
Even if she called for a tow, what about the raw jade in the trunk?
Dusk was closing in. Standing alone on the side of the highway, watching cars stream past, Niamh felt helplessness rising within her, threatening to drown her.
Suddenly, headlights flashed in her direction.
High beams and low beams alternated, intentionally catching her attention.
thing her a
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Niamh squinted, watching as the car slowed, hazard lights blinking, and then pulled over into the emergency lane beside her.
Even in the downpour, the car was impossible to miss.
When she saw the imperial blue Bentley stop right in front of her, her heart skipped a beat.
Jonathan stepped out, holding a black umbrella.
Rain drummed fiercely on the umbrella’s surface.
Niamh knew this man in front of her was no hallucination.
They faced each other in silence, neither knowing what to say.
She realized her own breathing had grown uneven.
Part of her wanted to ask Jonathan why he was here.
“Get in,” he said, before she could speak, tilting the umbrella toward her to shield her from the rain.
In an instant, the downpour lessened around her.
She noticed Jonathan’s suit was already soaked at the shoulders.
“I need to grab the stones,” Niamh said simply, not bothering with unnecessary pleasantries. She accepted his help gratefully, as if he’d appeared out of nowhere just to rescue her.
“I’ll get them. You get in the car,” Jonathan replied, still holding the umbrella over her.
He made sure she was safely inside the Bentley before heading to her trunk to retrieve the heavy jade stones.
She’d needed the factory workers‘ help to load them in the first place; Jonathan’s assistance saved her a lot of trouble.
By the time Jonathan slid into the driver’s seat, his suit was entirely soaked.
Niamh hesitated, unsure if she should apologize, but in the end, she simply whispered, “Thank you.”
Jonathan gave no particular response, simply driving in silence.
Niamh’s car was towed away, leaving her and the jade stones in Jonathan’s Bentley.
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Chapter 200
Inside, it was utterly silent. The car’s soundproofing was so effective that the heavier the rain pounded outside, the more peaceful it became within.
“Why… are you here?” Niamh finally asked, unable to hold back any longer.
“Just happened to be passing by,” Jonathan replied, eyes fixed on the road.
“I see…”
She sounded more puzzled than disappointed; it just seemed unbelievable.
Then, Jonathan glanced over and spoke first:
“You don’t actually think I tailed you all the way here just to pick you up, do you?”
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