Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 132: Chapter 132

In the courtyard, pale moonlight cast hazy, shifting shadows. Everything was eerily quiet, with only the occasional bark or two from a big yellow dog in the distance.
Sheila sat alone outside the wooden fence. The other students had already gone into the small clinic, some frightened, some furious, and others brimming with sympathy for Lorraine.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night for everyone.
There was a rustling from the old well. Henry was still restless down there.
Sheila sprang to her feet, ready to toss another stone into the well. But before she could even take a step, someone beside her snatched the rock right out of her hand.
Lorenzo had appeared out of nowhere beside her, clutching that stone with comical earnestness.
Sheila shot him a cold look. "If you try to stop me from venting my anger, I'll just take it out on you instead."
After all, he was a doctor. He probably wouldn't want to see her deliberately hurting someone like this.
Lorenzo grinned at Sheila, "Not at all. I just didn't want you to get your hands dirty." Without a second thought, he stepped forward and tossed the stone into the well.
With a thud, there was silence. Henry was knocked out cold before he could even make a sound.
Sheila shot him a look. "You are a doctor, right?"
"Yes, but so what? We have our emotions—love, hate, joy, sorrow, all of it. When it comes to someone whose soul is already rotten, I can show no mercy, just like you." He looked just as indignant.
Sheila looked a little embarrassed. "Guess I got you wrong. Sorry about that."
"Don't worry. Being misunderstood is just another form of affection." Lorenzo leaned in with a playful grin. "Wouldn't you agree, Sheila?"
Sheila shot him a glare. "I'm not in the mood for your banter tonight. Get lost." With that, she went back outside the fence and sat down alone.
She was still shaken right now. Sheila shuddered at the thought. 'I don't even dare imagine what could've happened if we had arrived any later.'
Nervous, Sheila instinctively reached out to fumble at the ground beside her, tugging at the wild grass, only to unexpectedly brush against a hand.
Lorenzo scooted over beside her. "Sheila, the ground's cold. If you want to touch something, try me instead. Guaranteed premium texture."
"Like I'd ever touch you." Sheila yanked her hand back as if scalded.
Lorenzo quipped, "Relax. It's just my hand, not some nasty cow pat. What's the panic?"
"Seriously, you stink worse than cow crap," Sheila rolled her eyes as she said.
Lorenzo thought for a moment, then leaned in with a teasing grin. "So you said you wanted to vent your anger on me. How do you want to do it? I'm all yours, whatever you want."
"Just go away and I won't be mad anymore," she said.
Lorenzo gave in with a gentle smile. "No, I'll just sit here quietly and keep you company for a while."
Sheila wasn't in the mood to deal with him. She hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face between them. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
Sheila thought back on those days. Lorraine had never really had it easy, with all the hardships she'd endured.
Suddenly, a tingling, tickling feeling crept over her ear. Sheila looked up to see Lorenzo holding a blade of grass, playfully brushing it against her.
Sheila was furious, about to lash out, when Lorenzo suddenly pulled her back and asked, catching her off guard, "Sheila, what does it really mean to love someone?"
'How was I supposed to stay angry when he suddenly brought up such a serious topic?' she wondered.
Sheila followed his gaze. The small room was dimly lit, with only a hazy silhouette cast upon the paper-covered window.
But through the hazy silhouette, it was clear that Eugene was bent over, holding Lorraine in a protective embrace, utterly motionless.
Eugene held that pose for what felt like an eternity, as still as a timeless statue, unmoved by wind or sun.
After quietly watching each other for a while, Lorenzo looked away, his expression earnest. "Sheila, I think truly liking someone means holding one position for a long time until the other person is completely satisfied."
Sheila was momentarily speechless. 'Is he talking about Eugene? Or maybe not,' she wondered. 'Is he seriously hitting on me? Or is it just my imagination?'
Lorenzo grinned, "You've got to have stamina, and you need to make the other person feel good. If they are over the moon, that's when it's perfect."
Sheila's face burned red. "Shut up," she snapped.
Lorenzo put on an innocent face. "Did I say something wrong? Or am I just clueless about love?"
Sheila honestly couldn't tell if he meant love or sex. Clenching her fist, she swung a punch at him. "You pervert."
"Don't move." In one fluid motion, Lorenzo caught Sheila's hand and pulled her close. "Snake behind you."
Sheila froze for a second.
Lorenzo quickly reached out to comfort her, giving her back a gentle, reassuring pat. "Totally freaked out, huh? Just stay still and trust me. I've got this under control."
Sheila snorted, rolling her eyes. "A snake, huh?"
"Y-yeah. That's right," Lorenzo stammered, trying to keep a straight face as he thought, 'Wait? Something's off. Most girls would totally freak out, so why does she seem completely unfazed?'
Sheila braced one hand on Lorenzo's shoulder and reached down to grope him. "Can't even get it up with me in your arms, and you still want to flirt with me? At least a snake is thick and long, unlike you. Save it."
Lorenzo was stunned for a moment as he wondered, 'She really knows how to pick the worst moments to check if I'm aroused. How am I supposed to even breathe, let alone get it up, with her around? I'm so done.'
Sheila stood up and walked away without another word.
Halfway there, Sheila quietly glanced back. Seeing Lorenzo sitting alone, looking utterly bewildered in the wind, she suddenly thought he seemed kind of silly, almost endearing, in a way.
As she turned back, Sheila couldn't help but let a faint smile play at the corners of her lips. At least, the weight on her heart wasn't as suffocating as before.
Meanwhile, at the Pedler residence in Auretian, the sprawling villa was eerily quiet and empty.
In the first-floor dining room, Norah sat all alone in her lake-blue camisole nightgown, cradling a glass of milk in quiet, endless vigil.
She always left the last sip untouched. She clung to his promise—that he would appear before her the moment she finished her milk.
But now she was gripped with dread. 'What if I drink that last sip of milk and he still hasn't come?' she wondered.
The doorbell never rang, and her phone had long grown hot from her incessant calling.
At first, Eugene would still pick up when Norah called, but in the end, no matter how many times she tried, the line just wouldn't connect anymore.
Briana sat across from her, urging gently, "Ms. Pedler, it's so late. If you stay here any longer, you'll catch a chill. Why not go get some rest? Your health isn't strong. If you fall ill again, what will I tell your parents?"
Norah shook her head stubbornly. "Eugene said he'd come. I'm waiting."
"You've been waiting for several hours now. If he were coming, he'd be here by now," Briana sighed.
Norah insisted, refusing to go upstairs. "Maybe he's just stuck in traffic. You know Eugene. He's a man of his word."
Briana's voice was full of worry and helplessness. "How could there be a traffic jam in the middle of the night? Even in Jonalesburg, the roads are clear at this hour."
"He must be tied up with something and can't come right now. I can't go upstairs. What if he shows up and I'm not here waiting? He'll get mad, and I really don't want to upset him," said Norah.
When Norah was eighteen, she went to Lesvinton with Queenie. There, for the first time, she saw Eugene, standing before a crowd, commanding the room with effortless authority and radiating confidence.
It was because of that one glance that Norah fell completely in love with Eugene. From the first stirrings of love to the deepest longing, it was always Eugene.
From that moment on, no one else ever had a place in her heart or her world—only Eugene.
The Pedler family was among the most prestigious at home. Her elders doted on Norah excessively and had long since given their tacit blessing to her wholehearted devotion to Eugene.
Norah knew exactly what Eugene needed—and as long as they were together, nothing would be beyond her reach.
Whether it was rescuing those Eugene cared about or protecting the Moore Group, Norah knew all it would take was one sweet plea to her parents to make it happen. So, Norah was certain Eugene would only ever marry her.
At this thought, Norah felt slightly reassured. She turned to Briana and said firmly, "You may retire now. I'll wait for Eugene. And make sure no one comes out to disturb me and Eugene."
Briana hesitated, then rose and went upstairs.
Norah sat alone, her gaze fixed on the entrance, listening for the sound of a car engine in the quiet night.
After a moment, Briana came back downstairs. "Ms. Pedler," she said gently, "Eugene definitely won't be coming. He's not even in Auretian right now."
Norah froze, her eyes wide in disbelief. "How could that be? Eugene clearly said he'd be here soon."
"I just found out. He left yesterday for someplace far away," explained Briana.
"Where exactly is?" Norah pressed.
Briana replied, "He's in the mountains."
"What's Eugene doing in the mountains?" Norah asked anxiously, unable to sit still. "The conditions there are so poor, and the Moore family doesn't even have any business interests out there. He'll really suffer there."
"Perhaps it's got something to do with Lorraine being there," Briana replied softly.
Norah staggered, her face paling. "B-But didn't you say they'd broken up? And someone like Lorraine? The Moore family could never accept her."
Before she even arrived, Norah already knew about Lorraine. Of course, she also knew Lorraine was just a pawn Eugene had used, and had even married his nephew. 'So, how could that be possible?' Norah thought.
Briana hesitated. "Ms. Pedler?"
After all, Briana had raised Norah since she was a child and had watched her pine hopelessly for Eugene all these years. Her heart ached for the girl. Gently, she began, "Why don't—"
Briana wanted to suggest that Norah return to Jonalesburg. Given her status and background, it wouldn't be too much for her to marry a prince.
There was no need to be so desperately attached to Eugene, especially considering how complicated the Moore family's background was.
"Why don't we go too?" Norah's eyes lit up, cutting Briana off mid-sentence. "Why didn't I think of this before? If he's gone to the mountains, I can be there with him.
"Let's go. We won't wait for dawn, we'll leave right now. Briana, wake the drivers and bodyguards, then help me pack."
With that, Norah set down her cup and headed straight upstairs. "And wake the chef, too. Have him prepare some of Eugene's favorite desserts. I'll bring them to him."
Briana hesitated. "Ms. Pedler, but—"
"No more talking. It's decided. You love me best, right? No matter what I choose, you'll always support me, won't you?" Norah beamed with a playful pout, her smile bright and a little coquettish.
Briana sighed and finally nodded, "Yes."
"Perfect. Let's hurry up and get ready, then go meet Eugene," Norah said.