Chapter 332 Owen
Adeline's request caught David off guard. He gave her a once-over, smirking. "You have Jasper. Why do you need my protection?"
Adeline stayed quiet.
David raised an eyebrow. "Did you two have a fight?"
"David," Linda cut in, seeing Adeline's discomfort. "Setting up protection for Adeline isn't a big deal for you. Why all the questions?"
David stopped, a faint smile on his face. "Just kidding. I'll have Linda's detail watch over you."
Linda frowned. "Is that enough?" She remembered David only assigning Benjamin to keep her in check.
"Eight men not enough?" David murmured, blowing on a spoonful of chicken soup.
Both Adeline and Linda were shocked.
'Eight men? Just for Linda?'
Adeline glanced at David again. It was clear Linda meant a lot to him.
David finished feeding Linda the soup, then stood up, looking at Adeline. "Staying to keep her company?"
Adeline nodded.
David gathered the dishes and left. The door clicked shut behind him.
Linda broke down. "He's giving me those prenatal vitamins again," she said, tears welling up.
Adeline crossed the room and took Linda's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry. I've talked to Jasper. He'll speak to David."
Linda nodded, tears streaming. "Okay." She had no other choice.
She longed for freedom, but David had locked that door tight. Her diet, crafted by a nutritionist he hired, made an accidental miscarriage impossible. And inducing one? Out of the question. She was constantly watched, every visitor and item scrutinized. Without Adeline, she was trapped, facing the nightmare of bringing an unwanted child into the world. The thought was suffocating.
After a moment, Linda turned to Adeline. "Why the sudden need for protection? Are those Quinn family remnants still causing trouble?"
Adeline shook her head. "No, it's some personal beef I have in Radiance Springs."
"Don't worry," Linda sighed. "David practically owns this part of Neon City. With his men watching you, you're safer than a vault."
Adeline nodded.
Silence fell again, broken only by their attempts to find a lighter topic. Life was a tightrope walk, and the past offered little comfort. The only bright spot was reminiscing about their carefree student days, before Jasper and Zavier.
Their conversation drifted to their shared adventures in "Shadowgate: Echoes of Destiny."
"You know, that game is still popular," Linda said, pulling an invitation from under her pillow. "I redownloaded it out of boredom and found a bunch of our old crew still active." She handed the invitation to Adeline. "The guild leader is getting married in real life and invited a bunch of us old-timers. I'd love to go, but… well, you see my situation. Why don't you go in my place? Maybe you'll run into that Owen guy you liked!"
Adeline took the invitation, a wry smile on her face. "Owen's probably forgotten all about me."
Back in high school, Adeline joined "Shadowgate: Echoes of Destiny" because Linda insisted. She created her avatar without much thought and stumbled through the game, struggling with even basic moves. Then she met Owen. He became her guide, patiently teaching her the ropes and helping her level up. They shared countless laughs and adventures. Adeline developed feelings for him, and it seemed mutual. But one day, Owen confessed that "Shadowgate" was just a temporary escape for him; his real life was too demanding. He never logged back in.
Adeline was heartbroken and eventually drifted away from the game. The last time she logged in was the day she registered her marriage with Jasper. It felt like the right time to say goodbye to that youthful crush. To her surprise, she found an unread message from Owen, sent six months earlier. He was in Neon City and wanted to meet.
Seeing that message felt like a cruel joke. She remembered the date vividly—it was the day she met Jasper. The day Owen reached out, she had fallen for someone else. She uninstalled the game, burying that part of her life. If not for Jasper's curiosity about her friendship with Linda, she might have forgotten all about Owen and their virtual adventures.
"Go on," Linda urged, pushing a laptop towards her. "You never know. Log in, take a look around."
Adeline unfolded the wedding invitation. The ceremony was tomorrow at Emerald Harbor Retreat. The name at the bottom—Zoe Richardson—meant nothing to her.
She frowned, watching as Linda practically buzzed with excitement. "You really want me to go, don't you?"
"Absolutely!" Linda insisted. "Please, do it for me. Consider it granting a dying wish."
Adeline hesitated, then sighed. "Alright, alright, I'll go."
With the laptop already open, Adeline logged into her long-dormant account. A message popped up immediately. It was from Owen.
[Didn't think I'd find you here after all these years.]
Adeline stared at the screen, speechless. After a moment, she took a deep breath and typed a response: [Haven't touched this game in ages myself. Just logged in because a friend and I were reminiscing.]
A smiling emoji appeared in the chat window.
[What a coincidence. Someone mentioned it to me today, so I redownloaded it.]
Another pause, then another message from Owen.
[Are you still in Neon City? I came looking for you that year, but… no luck.]
[I'm in Neon City right now. Want to meet up?]
Adeline's fingers hovered over the keyboard. Her heart pounded with a mix of apprehension and excitement.
[I'm going to a wedding tomorrow. Want to come with me?]
[Sure.]
That single word, "Sure," sent a thrill through Adeline. After all these years, she had a chance to reconnect with a lost part of her past, maybe find closure to a chapter she thought was long finished.
Linda, noticing the sparkle in Adeline's eyes, frowned. "What is it?"
Adeline turned to her, a slow smile spreading across her face. "You were right. Owen's still around."
Meanwhile, in a luxurious suite overlooking Neon City, Jasper closed his laptop and reached for his phone. "Ryan, I need information on a wedding tomorrow at Emerald Harbor Retreat. Find out who's getting married."
A beat of silence, then Ryan's voice, clipped and professional. "It's Zavier, Mr. Foster. Linda's ex-husband."
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