Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 99: Looks Like You Don’t Want Dinner, You Want Me?

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Looks Like You Don’t Want Dinner, You Want Me?

In an instant, the air was so hot it felt like it was about to ignite.

Just as Stella Sterling felt her rationality was about to be completely consumed by this burning flame, her body turning almost into a pool of water—

A sudden phone ringtone rang out abruptly, like ice water being poured down!

"Buzz buzz buzz—buzz buzz buzz—"

It was Shane Donovan’s phone, sounding particularly harsh in the silent hallway.

The ringtone was like a thunderclap, instantly cutting through the haze of passion that enveloped Stella Sterling’s confused mind.

She suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing their almost intimate posture, her cheeks instantly blazing red.

"The... phone!" she frantically turned her head to avoid his scorching kiss, her hands pressing against his firm chest, trying hard to push him away.

But Shane Donovan didn’t loosen his grip; instead, he held her tighter, his thin lips playfully biting her sensitive earlobe, his voice hoarse, "Ignore it!"

However, the ringtone stubbornly continued, as if determined not to stop unless answered.

Taking advantage of his brief distraction, Stella Sterling used all her strength to push him away slightly, hurriedly tugging at her disheveled sweater, her cheeks so red they seemed about to bleed, even her delicate earlobes were tinged with an enticing blush.

"You should answer it!"

Seeing her wanting to find a hole to hide in, Shane Donovan’s chest heaved violently, but he finally suppressed his restlessness, took a deep breath, and pulled the phone from his coat pocket.

Without glancing at the caller ID, he slid to answer and brought the phone to his ear, his voice low and dangerous, "Elias Peyton, you’d better have a damn good reason, or you’ll be digging coal in Umbara by tomorrow!"

"!!!"

On the other end, Elias Peyton was evidently stunned by this fiery wrath, feeling the low pressure through the receiver.

Cold sweat instantly formed, and he stammered as he reported, "Pre... President Donovan! So-sorry for disturbing you! It’s... it’s about the matter you asked me to investigate concerning Attorney Hawthorne saving Miss Sterling. There’s... there’s a result..."

Shane Donovan’s brows instantly knitted tighter, his voice icy, "Speak."

Elias Peyton didn’t dare delay, quickly reporting every detail he found, "President Donovan, I... I checked closely... but strangely, despite utilizing all connections, there’s absolutely no record or rumor of Attorney Hawthorne saving Miss Sterling five years ago, or any other time... not even once!"

"..." Shane Donovan’s eyes suddenly darkened, his grip on the phone unconsciously tightening.

Not even once?

Where did Jasper Hawthorne’s claim of "two times" come from then?

One was the recent knife attack, what about the other?

He frowned instinctively, feeling something was off...

Just as Shane Donovan was deep in thought, Elias Peyton’s voice sounded again, cautious, "There’s... there’s one more thing, President Donovan... the family involved in the altercation, the one who stabbed Attorney Hawthorne... they... they ran away!"

Shane Donovan’s thoughts were interrupted, his attention snapping back, eyes sharp as a knife, "Ran away?"

His voice wasn’t loud but carried an impending pressure.

"Ye-yes."

Elias Peyton swallowed hard, feeling overwhelmed, "Our team was a step too late; when we arrived at their rented place, it was already vacated and cleaned out... they probably feared Attorney Hawthorne’s pursuit and couldn’t bear the responsibility, so..." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"And the people from Clearstone Law Firm?" Shane Donovan interrupted, his tone laced with faint sarcasm, "The people under Jasper Hawthorne all doing nothing? Letting a fleeing suspect escape unnoticed? Such a basic error?"

The scene was chaotic then, with Jasper Hawthorne’s life hanging in the balance; as his legal team, controlling the assailant and their family, securing testimonies, and evidence was fundamental.

How could they let them escape?

Elias Peyton also found it odd, hurriedly explaining, "Well... we too found it strange. By rights, the response of people at Clearstone Law Firm shouldn’t be that slow. But at the time, the situation was too urgent, Attorney Hawthorne was rushed for critical care, his life at risk, perhaps... perhaps everyone’s focus was entirely on Attorney Hawthorne, in disarray, neglecting that family?"

This explanation seemed plausible; people in extreme panic and worry indeed might overlook things.

Yet Shane Donovan’s brow furrowed even tighter.

It was Clearstone Law Firm, a team formed by Stella Sterling and Jasper Hawthorne...

Even if the leader fell, those beneath wouldn’t scatter messily, failing at even the basics.

Especially since this case involved Jasper Hawthorne, their vigilance should be at its highest, not making such basic mistakes.

Unless...

Shane Donovan slightly narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flickering in their depths...

"Keep investigating," he ordered coldly, his voice devoid of warmth, "Find out what’s going on with that family, who helped them escape, where they fled. And also, keep a close watch on Jasper Hawthorne."

"Yes, President Donovan!" Elias Peyton promptly agreed, not daring any delay.

Shane Donovan hung up, still exuding a stay-away aura.

He raised his hand to rub his brow, and when he looked up, he saw Stella Sterling in the distance, facing away, hastily tidying her clothes.

The girl’s slender back looked somewhat fragile under the light, her ears still red.

The restlessness that arose from being interrupted was strangely soothed by this scene.

He took a few long strides to her side.

Stella Sterling heard footsteps, her body stiffening slightly, quickening her pace at adjusting her collar, her head hanging lower, wishing she could bury her entire face in it.

Shane Donovan stretched out his hand, not touching her, merely gently tucking a damp strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers inadvertently brushing against her scorching earlobe.

Stella Sterling flinched as if burned, instinctively trying to avoid him.

"What are you avoiding for?" Shane Donovan’s low voice sounded in her ear, carrying a remnant huskiness and an indescribable magnetism, "Weren’t you just rather eager?"

"..."

This referred to her response in her moment of lost reason...

Stella Sterling’s face instantly turned crimson, even her neck was flushed, both embarrassed and angry, she turned to glare at him, "Shane Donovan! Stop talking nonsense!"

Seeing her fierce appearance with an undercurrent of vulnerability, a trace of light laughter flickered through Shane Donovan’s eyes, the shadow in his heart seemingly dissipated significantly.

He didn’t tease her further, instead, he held her slightly cool hand, leading her towards the living room.

"Are you hungry?" His tone was casual, as if he weren’t the man just in the hallway seemingly ready to devour her, "What do you want to eat, I’ll make it for you..."

Stella Sterling was led by him, following step by step, her palms sweating slightly.

She secretly glanced up at his cool profile, his features smooth and perfect, the vermillion mark at the corner of his eye strikingly clear under the light...

But just then, Shane Donovan suddenly turned back, catching her in the act.

"What are you looking at me for?" The man slightly curled his lip, "Seems like you don’t want food..."

He intentionally paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over her slightly parted lips, "...Want me instead?"

"!!!"