A Promise of Change

As Georgia spoke those words, Jack's features contorted into a deep frown that seemed to mirror the tumultuous storm brewing within his heart. Her revelation, unexpected and disquieting, seemed to grip his heart with an icy vice, threatening to unravel the carefully concealed threads of his composure.

What she had just confessed, the implications of it, weighed heavily upon him. Jack's sharp intellect had been at work, piecing together the puzzle. He had indeed noticed Cheng Lu's presence near the ice bucket. Moreover, in the restaurant's bathroom, his path had crossed with a damp Georgia emerging just moments after Cheng Lu had left. The correlation between these events was undeniable, leading him to suspect Cheng Lu's involvement in the ominous incident that had befallen Georgia the previous night.

His hand, tense and quivering with restrained anger, clenched into a fist. His voice, when it finally emerged, carried the weight of his suspicions and the gravity of the situation. It thundered forth like a tempest, "Did you have a hand in what happened at the pool?"

Cheng Lu, standing before him, trembled beneath the intensity of his accusatory gaze. Her voice quivered as she fervently protested her innocence, "I would never commit such a heinous act! My intentions were merely to teach Georgia a minor lesson. How could I dare to engage in such a malevolent deed?"

Jack continued to scrutinize her, his eyes boring into her trembling form. She appeared genuinely distressed, and there were no immediate signs of deception. The depth of her fear seemed to echo the sincerity in her words.

After a moment, Jack took a deep breath, and his tone, while still stern, had softened slightly. He warned her firmly, "Cheng Lu, I've shown leniency thus far out of respect for your uncle. But let this serve as a stern warning: any repetition of such behavior will not be tolerated."

Cheng Lu nodded fervently, her voice earnest and resolute, "Yes! I promise I'll never do it again."

Once Cheng Lu had departed, Du Yue, who had been waiting outside the room, entered at Jack's beckoning. He inquired, "Was she present throughout the entire night?"

Du Yue nodded in confirmation, "Yes, I spoke with several individuals who all confirmed that Cheng Lu had remained in the same location, accompanying others to the bathroom."

Jack, his thoughts a maelstrom of speculation and suspicion, tossed the magazine aside. It was becoming increasingly apparent that the situation was far more intricate and convoluted than he had initially surmised.

Meanwhile, on the same floor of the lakeside manor's senior suite, a solitary figure sat before a vast French window, overlooking the picturesque scenery that extended beyond. This figure was none other than Yu Gubei.

Suddenly, the man in the wheelchair, Yu Gubei, broke the silence with a question that hung in the air like a subtle tremor, "He didn't leave all night?"

Shao Zhuo, who stood nearby, nodded in response, "No, he returned this morning, but it appears that he harbors doubts."

Yu Gubei swirled the contents of his goblet thoughtfully, his voice a hushed murmur, "Is the server you arranged maintaining his silence? Will he divulge any information?"

Shao Zhuo's tone carried an air of absolute confidence, "The server is resolute and unyielding. He dare not utter a word. He played a crucial role in both rescuing and assisting those who were in distress. Should he betray that trust and speak out, he knows that Jack will show him no mercy."

A sly smile curled upon Yu Gubei's lips as he continued to muse, "And what are your thoughts on the matter? Do you believe that he harbors genuine feelings for Georgia?"

Shao Zhuo, ever composed, paused for a moment before responding with a calculated detachment, "Master, I cannot fathom the depths of his emotions."

Yu Gubei's soft chuckle reverberated in the room as he whispered, "Then perhaps it's time I conduct my own inquiry into the matter of his sentiments."

With that, Yu Gubei shifted his gaze towards the window, his eyes finally coming to rest on the serene lakeside scenery that lay beyond.

His voice, almost to himself, murmured, "I've heard that it's the administrative team's turn to visit the lake today, isn't it?"

Shao Zhuo confirmed, "Yes."

Yu Gubei's enigmatic smile widened, and he continued to contemplate the unfolding situation.

...

A series of abrupt, insistent knocks echoed through the quiet hotel room.

"Bang, bang!"

"Georgia, are you still awake?"

Georgia, who had been roused from a deep slumber by the persistent rapping on her door, groggily pushed herself up from the bed. Her drowsy gaze landed on the digital clock, and her heart sank as she realized the extent of her oversleeping.

How had she managed to sleep through to this hour?

The half of the bed that belonged to Xiao Han remained conspicuously empty, the sheets neatly arranged. The only hint of his presence was the note that had been left behind, now resting atop the bedside table.

Georgia couldn't help but smile wistfully as she recalled the thoughtful message he had left for her. With a swift response, she made her way to the door and flung it open, revealing a concerned Xiao Han on the other side.

"I apologize for oversleeping," she admitted sheepishly, her voice tinged with regret.