My Mysterious Hidden Husband-Chapter 474: I’m Wide Awake

Catherine Yardley handed Sheila Yardley’s coat to her and nodded to Isaac Sheffield, "Drive slowly, and send me a message when you arrive."

Sheila Yardley put on the coat, "Okay, then Mom, sister, and brother-in-law, we’ll head out first."

Shannon Quinn helped Sheila Yardley adjust the hood of her coat, "Give me a call if anything comes up."

Watching the two leave, Catherine Yardley went to the kitchen to continue tidying up. Shannon Quinn asked Landon Sutton, "What were you talking about just now?"

Landon Sutton clicked his tongue and said earnestly, "That man is not simple."

Shannon Quinn, worried Catherine Yardley might hear, pulled Landon Sutton into the living room before continuing to ask, "What do you mean?"

"His intentions aren’t pure."

"Did he talk business with you? Does he want you to invest or something?"

"Something like that."

Shannon Quinn lowered her eyes suspiciously, "Could it be he’s using Elaine just to get a business deal with you?"

After saying that, she quickly denied it herself, "But in that case, he could keep Elaine hanging; there’s no need to rush into marriage."

Landon Sutton looked at Shannon Quinn disdainfully, "Are you dumb, or is he?"

Shannon Quinn, insulted and confused, furrowed her brows in displeasure.

Landon Sutton said, "If he marries Sheila Yardley, does that mean she’s no longer your sister?"

Shannon Quinn suddenly realized, "So you mean he’s eager to marry Elaine to secure long-term benefits... Does that mean he doesn’t genuinely like her?"

Landon Sutton was also unsure, "Hard to say."

"Did you agree to his request?"

"I said I’ll consider it after the new year."

"Is the amount significant?"

"Not much for me, but not insignificant for him."

Shannon Quinn fell into deep thought, worried Isaac Sheffield was using Sheila Yardley while fearing that intervening might spoil their relationship. After pondering, she, along with Landon Sutton, suggested, "Why don’t you just agree to him and observe his attitude? If he’s after money, his schemes will soon reveal themselves, and perhaps we’ll see if his feelings for Elaine are genuine."

"We’ll discuss it after the new year."

Shannon Quinn nodded thoughtfully but quickly repented, saying, "Call him now, lest we regret later."

Landon Sutton frowned, "Why do I feel like you’re in cahoots with him?"

"I think if he’s truly approaching Elaine with ulterior motives, it’s better he reveals it quickly. It will minimize the harm to Elaine."

Landon Sutton worried that if he didn’t make the call, Shannon Quinn might lose sleep over this. So he dialed the phone and arranged the matter Isaac Sheffield had raised with him.

...

Isaac Sheffield’s luggage was packed in the afternoon and placed in the car. Now he mainly drove Sheila Yardley to her place to fetch her belongings.

Before the car stopped, Sheila Yardley noticed a familiar vehicle by the roadside.

Isaac Sheffield parked adjacent to that car, saying, "Elaine, why don’t you move in with me?"

Sheila Yardley’s gaze shifted from the car in front back to her own thoughts. She opened the car door and said while stepping out, "Let’s talk after the new year."

"Alright, you can slowly pack your things. I’ll try to find time to pick you up before you start work. I’ve got three empty rooms, no one usually stays there, it’s better than renting outside."

Sheila Yardley just smiled, and after getting out, stood by the car door saying, "Wait for me here. I’ll go up to get my things and come down."

Isaac Sheffield worriedly asked, "Is there a lot to carry?"

"Not much, just a few pieces of clothing." After speaking, Sheila Yardley closed the car door, buttoned her coat’s hood, and glanced at the car parked closely in front while passing by.

She noticed someone inside the car.

Though the glass blurred the view, she was certain the person inside was him.

Caleb Grant didn’t expect her appearance. Once he saw her from the rearview mirror, he slowly rolled down the window.

Through the gap, Sheila Yardley saw half of his face and quickly looked away, pretending not to notice him while jogging into the building.

Caleb Grant opened the door intending to follow, but his hand froze on the handle while looking at Isaac Sheffield’s car in the rearview mirror.

A few seconds later, Isaac Sheffield got out of the car, lit a cigarette, answered a call, and walked to the roadside trash can, standing with his back facing Caleb Grant.

Caleb Grant hesitated before finally pushing the car door, quietly entering the building.

"Ding-dong—"

The doorbell rang, and Sheila Yardley, in the midst of packing, paused.

"Ding-dong—"

The ringing urged her to open the door, so Sheila Yardley stopped what she was doing and walked to the door, peeking outside through the peephole.

Seeing the person outside, it felt both expected and unexpected.

Hesitation cost her the third ring, and Sheila Yardley took a deep breath, twisted the doorknob, and opened the door.

He stood outside, staring at her, his gaze somewhat blurred, with a faint smell of alcohol.

Sheila Yardley swallowed and opened her mouth to ask what he wanted, but he suddenly lunged forward, embracing her tightly.

Startled, Sheila Yardley froze, reaching out to push him away forcefully, "What are you doing?!"

He only held her tightly, not doing anything to frighten her further.

His voice, laced with drunkenness, softly sounded in her ear, "Peach really misses you..."

He paused before continuing, "...I do too."

The tension in Sheila Yardley relaxed, her nose inexplicably sour, unsure whether because of Peach or the sight of him like this...

Yet she could never forget that dark past and the suffocatingly despairing memories, constantly warning herself that the man who brought all these shadows upon her is the seemingly pitiable one in front of her.

Sheila Yardley took a deep breath, slowly pushing him away, and he withdrew his strength, allowing her to push him aside.

As their gazes met, Sheila Yardley’s heartbeat inexplicably quickened.

The fear towards him had lessened but not entirely vanished.

She took a step back to maintain a certain distance before asking, "...How much have you drunk?"

He said, "I’m very sober."

The concern halted, and Sheila Yardley, lowering her gaze, simply replied, "That’s good."

Caleb Grant smiled softly, "It’s been surprisingly lucky tonight, didn’t expect to see you."

Sheila Yardley’s eyes trembled; she bit her lip and said nothing.

After a silent moment, he asked, "Is he treating you well?"

"Very well."

"That’s good."

The silence resumed.

He didn’t leave, and she didn’t close the door.

Until her phone rang, presumably Isaac Sheffield calling, Sheila Yardley snapped out of it, took out the ringing phone, did not immediately answer, but said to Caleb Grant, "If you have nothing else, please leave."

Caleb Grant glanced at her phone, saying nothing.

After a few seconds of silence, Sheila Yardley frowned slightly, closed the door, and answered the call saying, "I’ll be down soon."