The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)

Chapter 184

After Rita's issue was temporarily resolved, Madam Ye had also been discharged from the hospital room. However, her report would only be available the next day, so Nathaniel could not have done anything but wait.

Madam Ye reacted calmly, as she figured that there was nothing going wrong with her body. But, Nathaniel thought otherwise of his mother.

When there was a call from Dylan, Nathaniel was in the midst of having dinner with the children. As soon as he knew Dylan was searching for him, he bade Madam Ye and the children farewell before headed out.

It turned out that Dylan had invited Nathaniel to some sort of recreational club.

"Ah, you're here," Dylan said.

Dylan sat in the booth casually and said nothing further upon Nathaniel's arrival. Instead, he allowed Nathaniel to take charge of the conversation.

It was obvious to everyone that Nathaniel was someone of a very high social status by judging the attitude of Dylan. Just from a single look, everyone knew that both of them were firm friends.

"Come, let me introduce you. These are my friends, they all have business relations with the Tang family. Take your pick, who would you like me to start with first?" Dylan waited until Nathaniel had sat down before he opened his mouth and spoke.

Nathaniel suddenly felt very grateful to have such a great buddy like Dylan. He felt like Dylan predicted his every thought before he expressed it.

"Much obliged, but I'll handle this myself. I can't be owing so many favors anyway." Nathaniel said as he referred to Dylan's friends.

After that, Nathaniel walked over to Dylan's side and sat down.

After hearing Nathaniel's words, Dylan smirked in amusement. He thanked everyone for their time and dismissed them.

After the two of them were left alone, Dylan poured Nathaniel a cup of wine. He said, "I heard that you doubt my doctor's diagnosis?"

Nathaniel sighed tiredly, "It's not that I want to doubt him, but I am clueless about what to do. I think it's better to have the experts weigh in on this matter."

Dylan could sense that Nathaniel was clearly undergoing a lot of stress due to this issue.

Dylan and Nathaniel were lifelong buddies. He had saved Nathaniel's life on the battlefield before and since then, they had been in contact ever since they retired from the military. Originally, he had planned to come to the United States to expand his territory, but before he could implement it, something happened to Mango. After that, he did not desire to go ahead with the plan, and now, it remained dead in the water.

Nathaniel did not expect to have required Dylan's help upon his arrival in the United States this time. "Time really flies. In a blink of eye, it's been so many years since we left the army." Dylan spoke and his expression became wistful.

Dylan missed his days back in the army dearly but unfortunately, all good things came to an end. He had to leave the army.

"You're right. Our glory days have passed us." Nathaniel added.

Nathaniel would have lied if he said he did not miss it, but he knew that everyone had to move on without looking back.

After the two of them shared a toast, Dylan asked curiously, "What's the deal between you and Abyss? Why is he so hell-bent on tripping you up?"

"Abyss stole my wife and murdered my son."

Nathaniel's eyes gleamed with much hatred and he was not afraid to tell Dylan that.

"What do you mean?" Dylan felt totally lost.

As Dylan did not know about the ins and outs of what happened, Nathaniel spoke freely about what occurred with Mango. He did not fail to mention Rita's recent condition as well.

After listening to Nathaniel's words, Dylan cursed Abyss' name. He did not believe that someone could be so heartless. "What a cruel b*stard! The whole thing is between adults, why does he have to bring the child into this? How could someone put an innocent little girl under the knife?"

Nathaniel shook his head in exasperation, "That's not even the biggest issue. Right now, I just want to save my wife. I've already lost a son so I can't lose my wife as well."

As the thought of Zion crossed his mind, Nathaniel felt his heart clenched tightly in pain.

"That arrogant little brat!" Nathaniel said to himself.

"The little brat who refused to call me daddy and kept calling me Mr. Ye, where are you now?" He missed his son dearly.

Nathaniel was placed in a bitter mood. He lifted the glass of red wine and downed it in one gulp.

After Dylan heard about what happened with Zion, he attempted to soothe Nathaniel and said, "I believe that there are clues as to what happened. As long as the guy is on my turf, I swear I'll find him for you."

"Thank you, bro," Nathaniel replied as he grasped Dylan's hand in gratitude.

"Well, since you are stressed, we're not leaving this place until we are drunk. I know you, Nathaniel, I'm sure you're planning to stake out the Tang Family at night. It's a horrible idea. The Tang Family's night security is top-notch, but during the day it's a little laxer. How about this? I'll make up some reason to get Abyss out of there and give you a window of time to get in. As for the rest, I'm sure you can figure it out, right?"

Dylan could not bear to see Nathaniel live under someone else's thumb, so he suggested the idea.

Nathaniel smiled at that and said, "Indeed you know me the best."

"The one who knew you the best was Nick, but he's no longer with us. I hear that Wisdom is Nick's son?"

Nathaniel nodded at his words.

"That's great. He can be my godson in the future, don't you think?"

"Don't even think about it."

Nathaniel's direct refusal dissatisfied Dylan greatly.

The two then began to wax nostalgic about the past. They talked about their experiences since they last saw each other, and as they spoke and drank, they lost track of how much alcohol they had consumed.

Nathaniel always lauded himself as a man who never succumbed to alcohol, but why was the wine so bitter now? Why was it so hard to swallow?

Out of the corner of his eye, Nathaniel thought he saw Mango was smiling at him. She looked exactly like how she was five years ago.

"Mango... Mango..." Nathaniel cried out for her in desperation.

Nathaniel abruptly stood up and lunged at the phantom. However, it was only an illusion, and Mango was not really there.

He ended up sprawled out on the floor and he seemed devastated and sorrow.

"Mango! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

Nathaniel laid flat on the floor for a long time and refused to get up. His broad and strong shoulders trembled and he sounded depressive.

Dylan felt distressed at the sight of Nathaniel's misery. He went forward and helped him up and said, "Get some sleep. Everything will be better in the morning."

Nathaniel did not know if he was really tired or due to whatever reason, he sank into a deep sleep.

Dylan found a thin blanket and he covered him with it before he left the room.

He lit a cigarette and drew a breath from it. He exhaled slowly and the acrid smoke obscured his face from view.

As the lone cigarette was stubbed out, a person came up to Dylan's side.

"Master."

"Go and investigate the black markets in the United States. I want to know everything about boys who are around five years old, no matter where they come from. I want to know exactly where the black market located."

There was a brisk coldness in Dylan's usually warm eyes.

Although the man was surprised at Dylan's firm order, he quickly left to complete the task.

Dylan spent a little more while outside before he entered the room again.

He spotted Nathaniel who was still sleeping soundly and restlessly.

Dylan laid down beside him and fell asleep not long afterwards.

When Nathaniel woke up the next day, he felt his head extremely pain.

"I can't believe I got drunk!" He thought to himself. Nathaniel shook his head and he looked at Dylan who was still asleep. "He's still doesn't care what others think of him. Isn't he worried he'll catch a cold sleeping like this?" He mused to himself.

Nathaniel kicked Dylan and woke him up.

"Ouch! What the f*ck, Nathaniel?" Dylan cried out in pain from the kick.

"Get up, sleepyhead! You have a date with Abyss to get to."

"Come on bro, can't you just let me sleep a little longer?"

Dylan muttered under his breath, visibly dissatisfied.

Nathaniel only smiled at Dylan's plight and said, "No. I'll die from the anticipation. Do you have any idea how long it's been since I last saw my wife?"

Dylan huffed in disdain. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "She's not my wife, why do I have to worry about her?"

Despite his uncaring words, Dylan still got up and washed his face. After that, he left the club along with Nathaniel.

However, Nathaniel did not head back but he drove to the Tang household and stopped nearby. He waited idly around the area for Dylan's signal.

Not long after, Abyss received a call from Dylan. He had invited him out to talk about the land around the western suburbs.

Upon hearing that, Abyss' eyebrows knitted together slightly. Dylan was well-known as someone that was hard to deal with. Abyss had previously invited him out for a discussion about the same plot of land, but Dylan did not even respond to his request. Since he was invited suddenly, Abyss suspected that this had something to do with Nathaniel.

As soon as Nathaniel crossed his mind, Abyss gnashed his teeth in hatred. However, he could not afford to piss off someone like Dylan, so he tidied up his attire and went out.

Before he left, Abyss stopped to see Mango. Mango was still being stubborn and refused to acknowledge him. However, Abyss did not care about that.

"After I finish dealing with Nathaniel, you'll come away with me peacefully. I'll wait for you to accept me, Mango. I've waited five years, what's a few more days added to that?"

Abyss tried to kiss Mango on her forehead, but Mango avoided his kiss.

Mango's entire body was so stiff as she was tied up for a long time. Now if Abyss approached her, she felt goosebumps erupted all over her body. C0ntent © 2024 (N/ô)velDrama.Org.

The scars on her body slowly faded day by day. In a few more days, they would completely disappear. When that happened, she was not sure what unspeakable things Abyss would force her to do.

She felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of such things.

Abyss got up and left, and there was the sound of the basement being locked outside.

Mango was struck by disbelief. Abyss had once treated her like the most precious thing in the world, but now she was locked up in his basement like some pathetic animal.

The basement didn't usually have many visitors, only when it was time to eat did the servants came over to feed her during mealtimes. If she refused to eat, then they would give her multivitamins to sustain her.

These days, Mango's mind was as if covered with thick fog. She did not know how long had passed, she had no idea if Nathaniel had left and not knowing how Rita's surgery was going.

Before she went missing, she had not managed to tell Nathaniel about Rita. She wondered how Nathaniel knew about it.

"Did Abyss tell him about it?"

"Did he lure Nathaniel to the United States on purpose to deal with him?"

At the thought of this, Mango was anxious beyond comparison.

Her wrists and ankles had been rubbed raw and bleeding as she tried to escape, but she didn't mind about it.

She had to escape from this godforsaken basement!

She had to!

Mango frowned slightly as she heard the sound of footsteps came from outside.

She wondered why there was someone here since it was not the mealtime yet. Mango was fully alert. At this moment, she heard the shrill shout of a servant outside the basement.

"Hey! The water pipe is this way. The basement is over there. Since our master is out, you can't go over there!"

Upon hearing the servant's words, Mango's heart leaped for joy.

"Someone's come from outside the villa?" She thought.

"Means am I able to shout for rescue?"

However, Mango could not get rid of the gag in her mouth.

In order to prevent her from shouting for help, Abyss often gagged her.

Mango whined pitifully for help, but she could not be heard from the basement.

She then tried to shout with all her might. Her body was drenched in sweat as she tried to escape, and the bleeding around her wrists and ankles increased. To her dismay, the footsteps outside grew fainter.

Mango grew desperate and she felt defeated.

"Do I really have to live like this for the rest of my life?" She wondered.

"Or do I just lie here and wait for Abyss to defeat Nathaniel, then live a tortured life alone?"

"No way!" She raged within herself.

"I won't go quietly like some weak girl!"

If she did that, Mango felt that she would be better off dead instead of alive.

Suddenly, an idea bloomed in her head.

If Mango attempted suicide, Abyss would have no choice but to send her to a hospital. "When I get to the hospital, I could find a way to escape, right?"

As she thought of this, Mango burst into a fit of maniacal laughter until her tears spilled forth from her eyes.

It didn't matter if she risked her life. If there was the slightest opportunity for her to escape, Mango would try it even if it would hurt herself. She refused to stay a moment longer in this darkness- filled prison.

She wanted to go home so badly.

She wanted to be with Nathaniel and Rita since that was her real home!