Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 16: I’m Heading to Riveria Right Now

Kenton, top floor office of Clearstone Law Firm.

Jasper Hawthorne listened to the busy tone coming from the phone, his brows furrowed tightly.

The abrupt hang-up at the end of Elias Peyton’s call was like a fine thorn, pricking his already tense nerves.

Something’s wrong.

Although Elias Peyton usually didn’t get along with him and always spoke with a sharp edge, the reaction on the call just now had an indescribable oddity.

Especially when he asked about Stella Sterling, Elias Peyton’s momentary pause and reflexive counter-question didn’t seem like he knew nothing at all.

Without any hesitation, Jasper Hawthorne immediately typed a message and sent it: [Elias Peyton, you’ve seen Stella, haven’t you? Is she in Riveria?]

He stared intently at the phone screen, his fingertips turning white from the pressure.

Time ticked away, every second feeling like torture.

He had never pinned all his hopes on a possible reply from a nemesis like now.

A few minutes later, the phone screen finally lit up.

Elias Peyton’s reply was so brief it was almost dismissive: [Mm.]

Just one word.

She’s actually in Riveria!

A huge wave of ecstasy swept over him like a tsunami, almost drowning him.

He couldn’t sit still any longer; he abruptly stood up from behind his desk, grabbed his car keys and coat, and dashed out.

"Old Hawthorne?" Jude Kensington, who had been waiting outside, was startled by his urgency and quickly followed, "What’s up? Got news?"

"She’s in Riveria! Elias Peyton has seen her!" Jasper Hawthorne walked swiftly towards the elevator, "Get me the earliest flight to Riveria! Now! Immediately!"

Jude Kensington was initially stunned, then breathed a sigh of relief, "That’s great! Finally, some news! I’ll book it right away!"

As he booked the ticket quickly, he couldn’t help but mutter, "What did I say? Stella likes you so much; she couldn’t possibly bear to go abroad... Go and have a proper talk, don’t keep a cold face, you need to coax the girl... Hey, wait for me!"

Jasper Hawthorne seemed not to hear his muttering; as soon as the elevator doors opened, he strode in, his fingers repeatedly rubbing the simple "Mm" from Elias Peyton on the phone screen, his heart pounding fiercely, a burning hope at the chance of recovering what was lost.

Stella!

Wait for me!

...

Riveria.

Innovatech Bio Group’s meeting room.

After sending the "Mm," Elias Peyton casually placed his phone on the conference table and turned to instruct his colleagues in the legal department on the follow-up details of the reconciliation agreement.

He didn’t take Jasper Hawthorne’s sudden inquiry seriously, assuming the other was just frantically searching for someone and randomly picking up a clue to ask about.

What concerned him more was the reconciliation case being forcibly ’undersold’ by the big boss, and Shane Donovan’s lingering low-pressure aura.

The phone screen lit up again, displaying a new message preview.

Sender: Jasper Hawthorne.

Content: [I’m going to Riveria right away!]

This message happened to be noticed by Shane Donovan, who hadn’t yet left the room.

Shane Donovan’s eyes suddenly deepened, a faint sharp glint passing through, like an undercurrent suddenly surging beneath a calm lake surface.

Without a change in expression, he lifted his gaze and looked at Elias Peyton, who had his back turned, and his thin lips slightly parted, "Counselor Peyton."

Elias Peyton promptly turned around, "President Donovan, do you have any further instructions?"

Shane Donovan leaned back slightly, his gaze swept over the staff who hadn’t completely dispersed from the meeting room, his tone indifferent, "Notify the entire legal department to work overtime tonight."

"Ah?" Elias Peyton was taken aback and instinctively looked at the sun still high in the sky, "President Donovan, is there... an emergency case?"

Apart from Stella’s case today, he hadn’t heard of anything urgent?

"Mm."

Shane Donovan responded blandly but didn’t explain the emergency case, only tapping the table with his fingers, "Reorganize all ongoing and upcoming infringement lawsuit files, especially the basis for compensation calculation and evidence chain of subjective malice. I want the most detailed report on my desk by nine tomorrow morning."

"By... by nine tomorrow morning?" Elias Peyton’s vision went black, nearly fainting on the spot.

The legal department had seven or eight major cases alone, with dozens of regular cases needing review and a detailed report in one night?!

This was a recipe for an all-night demise!

"President Donovan, isn’t... this too tight a schedule?" Elias Peyton tried to struggle a bit.

Shane Donovan lifted his gaze to him, his look devoid of warmth, "Difficulties?"

Elias Peyton swallowed his words instantly, his scalp tingling, "No... no! We’ll get it done!"

He was on the verge of tears, screaming internally: Who made this ancestor unhappy again? Why the sudden overtime hell?!

Without further word, Shane Donovan stood up, adjusted his suit jacket, and left the meeting room, leaving Elias Peyton and the elite legal team to their lamentations.

...

Kenton, airport expressway.

Jude Kensington drove fast, rushing toward the airport.

He looked through the rearview mirror at Jasper Hawthorne in the back seat, silent and tense, and couldn’t help but sigh.

In recent days, he had witnessed firsthand how Jasper was franticly searching the world for Stella Sterling.

Jasper had mobilized every connection possible, abandoning all important cases at hand, becoming almost a different person.

The obsession and urgency left no sign of his usual calm and composure.

Others claimed Jasper Hawthorne was cold-hearted and indifferent, but Jude Kensington felt he had always been different towards Stella.

This ’difference’ was hidden too deep, even Jasper might not have realized or didn’t want to admit it.

Until the moment of loss struck back like a landslide and tsunami.

"Once you find her, talk properly and drop the tough act." Jude Kensington couldn’t resist advising again, "Stella might seem gentle, but she’s stubborn inside. If she’s gone to such lengths, she’s really heartbroken, so you..."

Before he could finish, an urgent phone ringtone interrupted his reminder.

Jasper Hawthorne glanced at the caller ID; it was the number from the law firm’s reception, and he frowned slightly as he answered, "What’s up?"

A cautious voice came from the other end, "Attorney Hawthorne, Grace Quinn is here, saying she’s brought you dinner. What should I do?"

Jasper Hawthorne’s face instantly darkened, his tone icy, "Tell her I’m not here and send her away."

However, before the call ended, Grace Quinn’s coy voice came through the receiver, "Jasper? Are you still busy? Auntie sent me to check on you, I brought you..."

Before she could finish, Jasper had already expressionlessly pressed the hang-up button.

"Beep... beep... beep—"

Standing at Clearstone Law Firm’s reception, Grace Quinn’s smile froze immediately, her face turning pale and flushed.

The office staff nearby, who were eavesdropping, quickly looked down, pretending to be busy, but the awkward atmosphere and those sneaky glances made her feel utterly humiliated.

Again!

Ever since that bitch Stella disappeared inexplicably, Jasper Hawthorne’s attitude towards her had taken a sharp turn, getting colder each time, and now he didn’t even want to see her!

Grace was both angry and resentful, a malicious fire burning with nowhere to vent.

It was all Stella’s fault!

She was the one who was indiscreetly caught in a hotel rendezvous with an old man, and Jasper was blaming her for it?!

He even blacklisted her contact!

What did she do to deserve this?