YOKED TO A BILLIONAIRE BY VENNEH LISAH

"It seems like you don't know Mr. Roman well enough, do you know his worth." Franklin stated, staring at her. "Do you only have a professional relationship with him?"

"What else then?" Violla frowned.

Franklin was silent for a moment before he said in an unusually deep voice, "He's a dangerous man. You should keep your distance from him."

"How can a formidable man like him get close to a small fly like me?" Violla dismissed. "You're overthinking this."

"Good to hear that," Franklin seemingly sighed in relief. "Didn't I tell you not to work anymore? Why are you now a security guard?"

"It's none of your business," Violla warned. "If it weren't for you saving me, I wouldn't have come out with you alone."

"Alright, I won't continue talking about it then," Franklin changed the topic. "My son hasn't been going to school recently. He's been in a foul mood because of the transfer. He's young, but he's got a temper. I can't believe he's protesting by going on a hunger strike."

"Huh?" Violla was surprised by his words. "You'd better take care of him."

"Well, I'll just let him be. He will eat when he can't stand the hunger anymore," Franklin sighed. "I have been busy with work in recent years, and I don't have much time to keep him company. He has been spoiled by the rest of the family, and that's why he's such a bossy kid now. I really have to teach him a lesson this time."

"Take it slow. You can't change him in a day," Violla said, feeling bad for the boy. "Don't rush him about the transfer, and be gentle in your approach. If he really can't take it, it's fine if he doesn't transfer schools. However..."

"He said he's fine with everything but the transfer," Franklin commented. "I know what you're worried about, and I have talked to Leila. I have told her not to go to school from now on, so the two of you won't be in any conflict anymore."

"Alright, I have no issues then," Violla chimed. She mainly did not want to be in any conflict with Leila; the others were less of a concern for her. After all, he was but a three-year-old. How bad could he be?

"You're as considerate as ever, Frank," Violla told him. Franklin gave her a gentle look and swallowed.

"We are here," Violla commented. "Is this your private hospital?"

"Yes, this is where Mr. Stanley usually goes for his checkups," the assistant said. He drove the car to the entrance, and the security guard swiftly walked over. "Mr. Stanley."

Violla got out of the car and helped the injured Franklin down. "Be careful with your elbow," she softly spoke.

"Darling!" Suddenly, a familiar voice reached Violla's ears. Turning around, she locked eyes with a surprised Leila. Immediately, she withdrew her arm from Franklin's.

"Violla Milan, it's you again!" Leila exclaimed as she approached, her voice filled with anger. "You know Frank is already married. Why are you still clinging to him? Aren't you shameless?"

"Leila, you've misunderstood the situation," Violla frowned and explained. "He got injured at our company. That's why..."

"What have I misunderstood?" Leila interrupted, visibly agitated. "I knew nothing good would happen the moment you returned. You must be doing this on purpose. You probably arranged for your kids to be in the same kindergarten as my son, and now you're seducing my husband. How can you be such a b*tch? You know nothing but how to steal from others!"

"Leila, please be quiet," Franklin roared. "What are you trying to do in public?"

"Darling, you're shouting at me?" Leila trembled. "Don't you remember what she did to you back then? On the day of your engagement, she hired an escort from Empire Night and embarrassed you in front of everyone. And now, she even has three bastards with another man. She's nothing but a promiscuous woman."

"Shut your mouth!" Franklin slapped her.

Leila was dumbfounded by the slap. She held her reddened cheek, staring at him in disbelief. "Did you just slap me? Did you slap me because of this promiscuous woman?"

Violla was also stunned by his action. She had never expected the gentle Franklin to strike someone.

"Take Mrs. Stanley back," Franklin ordered his assistant in an icy tone.

"Of course." The assistant hurriedly intervened, trying to calm the situation. "Mrs. Stanley, please don't be angry. You can continue the conversation when you're both at home. Everyone's watching us now."

The crowd had gathered around them, with some even recording videos. Onlookers enjoyed witnessing the drama between the wealthy individuals. If they were to post their videos online, they might gain followers for their accounts.

"Why should I leave? I'm not the one who's an embarrassment," Leila cried out. "Frank, I can't believe you're still defending her. Who is your wife?"

"Are you finished?" Franklin interrupted before turning to his assistant. "What are you waiting for? Help her into the car."

"Yes, Mr. Stanley," the assistant replied promptly.

Turning to Leila, the assistant muttered, "Mrs. Stanley, let's head back first."

"I'm not leaving. Why should I?" Leila refused to relent as she smacked Violla with her leather bag. "B*tch, you're trying to steal my husband, but I won't let you win."

Franklin promptly stood in front of Violla to protect her. Anger coursed through Leila's veins even faster at that. She swung her bag around Franklin to hit Violla, who was behind him.

Meanwhile, Violla, who did not wish to waste her time on Leila, turned to leave. "B*tch, don't go!" Leila screamed.

Leila had wanted to continue beating Violla, but she accidentally swung her bag at Franklin's injured arm. Franklin groaned as his face instantly drained of color. Droplets of sweat rolled down from his forehead.

"Darling, w-what's wrong?" Leila queried. It was only then she realized her husband was injured. She anxiously asked, "Are you hurt? How did this happen?"

"A heavy object hit Mr. Stanley's arm. Let's go see a doctor first," the assistant voiced. Leila then quickly helped Franklin into the hospital. A myriad of emotions washed over Violla as she looked at them from the cab she was in.

In the past, she did not understand the significance of marriage, but now it seemed like she did. This was what marriage was all about—no matter how badly the couple were fighting a moment ago, they would still walk side by side in the next moment. Franklin and Leila were the perfect examples; neither of them could cut ties with each other anymore.

On the other hand, she should stay away from them. Soon, lost in her thoughts about Franklin, she reached the office. Violla only realized she did not have her phone with her when she got off the cab.

Fortunately, she had cash with her, so she could pay for the fare. "I must have dropped my phone at the desk in the underground parking lot," she told herself. She went to the security department to look for Sean.

Sean handed her the phone as he commented, "You've got your head in the clouds. I can't believe you didn't take your phone with you when you left this place. No one can contact you if anything happens."

"Thank you. I was worried I lost it," she was grateful. When Violla took her phone, she realized the battery had died, so she quickly charged it. What she did not know was that she had missed out on something major because of it.

In the principal's office at her kids' kindergarten, Ryan was looking at the few mysterious men in suits without a hint of fear on his face. In fact, he even tilted his chin up and scoffed, "It's illegal to kidnap children."

Cruze could not help but laugh as he turned to Davon behind him. "Mr. Roman, this boy is quite like you."

"Be serious," Davon snapped and lowered his eyes as he sipped on his tea.

"Of course." Cruze then crouched in front of Ryan and gently said, "Boy, don't be scared. We're not bad guys. Otherwise, your teacher and principal wouldn't bring you to us, right?"

Ryan stole a glance at the trembling principal and teacher, who had recently started working in the kindergarten. He raised an eyebrow and uttered, "Speak. What do you want?" Ryan snarled.

"This is what we want..." Cruze trailed off, realizing he should speak more simply with the child. Therefore, he raised his voice and murmured, "Did your mommy and daddy take you to the Plaza last Sunday?"

"What are you trying to say?" Ryan growled, furrowing his brows as an impatient look crept upon his handsome face. "I'm not a two-year-old. You don't need to talk to me as if I'm a baby. It sounds horrible."

"I..." Cruze was rendered speechless as the corner of his mouth twitched. Beside him, the security guard couldn't help but snort at the boy's words. What a crafty boy. Finally, Davon, who was sending a file through his phone, raised his head to look at them.

He was small but carried himself with great pride. The boy's handsome face made Davon wonder where he had seen that face before. The boy's clear eyes, full of wariness and wit, were fixed on Davon.

"Who is he?" Ryan pointed at Davon.

"He's our boss," Cruze then said, "Boy, did you meet a man in black at the playground on the basement level of the Plaza? Did he give a pretty silver box to you? Like this one." Cruze unlocked his phone and was about to show Ryan the photo when Ryan huffed, "No."

He didn't even look at the photo, choosing to turn his head to the side. "Hold on. Look at it first," Cruze pleaded.

"It's still a no even if I look at it," Ryan folded his arms and asserted, "I have a great memory, and I never forget anything I see. I have never met anyone in black, and no one gave me anything. You've made a mistake."

"Kid, it's not right to lie," Cruze now wore a stern look. "That man in black is a thief. He stole something from us, and that something is very important to us."

Ryan raised his eyebrows as he replied calmly, "You should look for the cops if you've lost something."

"The man in black gave it to you. If you give it back to me, I'll reward you, but if you don't..." Cruze said before Ryan interrupted him.

"I said, nothing like this ever happened," Ryan interrupted. He questioned the man instead. "If it's something so important, why would the man give it to a kid? This isn't logical at all."

His words left Cruze speechless. The man took a deep breath before opening the security footage on his phone. "Look. This is you, right?"

Ryan peeked at it, disinterested. He looked away, but his gaze returned to the screen. Registering what was on the screen, he froze. In the video, a man in black rushed out of the restroom and bumped into the child in front of him.

The child's hands were in his pockets as he strolled, with a small green parrot perched on his shoulder. "Isn't that Jason and Finny?" Ryan thought.

Although everything happened in less than a minute, Ryan noticed the man shoving something into Jason's pocket.

"You might not see it clearly. Let me slow it down for you," Cruze said, adjusting the speed of the video and zooming in on the man's hand. In the video, the man's hand slowly placed a small silver box into the boy's pocket.

"I can see it clearly, no need to slow it down," Ryan said, swiftly changing the video back to its normal speed. Then, several men in suits rushed after him, but the man in black escaped.

The boy stood rooted to the ground for a while before he took out the small box from his pocket. When he opened it, he discovered a small golden chip.

Just as he was observing the chip, the parrot on his shoulder suddenly swallowed it. He promptly hit the parrot, hoping it would spit it out.

Right then, Eliana rushed to him.

"So Jason was telling the truth," Ryan mumbled, rubbing his chin.

"What?" Cruze didn't hear his words clearly. He hurriedly asked, "Kid, are you the boy in the video? Where's the golden chip now?"

"That isn't me," Ryan nearly told him it was his younger brother. However, the gears in his head turned, and he warily questioned, "How would I know if you're not one of the bad guys?"

"Kid, if you're not going to cooperate with me, I'm going to talk to your parents," Cruze responded, glancing at Davon behind him, knowing his boss was running out of patience.

"I'd suggest you'd be better off talking to the cops," Ryan reasoned. "If the cops show me the papers, I'll help you look for the chip."

"The boy is mature for his age," one of the security guards sighed.

Cruze stood up and asked the principal beside him, "Madam principal, have you contacted his parents?"