Flash Marriage: The Domineering Wife Chapter 437 Longing

"It appears more rain is coming; we should go inside."

This was the entirety of his statement to Viktor before departing the alley. At the street's edge, Edward glanced back, hoping for a final sight of the red hair to renew his pursuit, but only darkness met his gaze, urging him onward, back to the hotel.

Inside the hotel, Edward retrieved his phone from the table where it lay beside a half-eaten meal.

He surveyed the food, contemplating whether to take it with him, before ultimately deciding to return to his room and rest.

"Are you alright, sir?" Holly inquired as Edward passed her for the second time, exiting the dining area.

"I'm fine," came his brief, unenthusiastic response.

Once more, Edward Wu's employees exchanged glances as their boss walked away from them.

Viktor raised an eyebrow at Holly, who responded with a shrug. Reluctantly, as she had not yet finished her meal and was quite enjoying it, the secretary followed Edward's lead, catching up to him just as he reached the elevator.

The ascent was sluggish, silent, and jarring. Edward leaned against the cool metal wall of the elevator car, his gaze fixed on the floor, searching for a person or thing just beyond his reach.

His mind swirled with a tumultuous mix of confusion, hope, and doubt. It couldn't possibly have been who he suspected. It simply couldn't have been.

So many women possessed hair of that color; countless women, and it might have merely been a figment of his imagination. His intense longing for her, he reasoned, was causing his mind to play tricks.

Edward became convinced this was the sole explanation for the evening's events.

He refused to even contemplate what onlookers might have thought as he sprinted through the streets of a city where he was merely a visitor.

Only heaven knew what he must have looked like: a man in a tuxedo and boots, running against the wind that tousled his hair, the soles of his shoes slapping against the asphalt.

His eyes had been wide with urgency, and Edward suspected he might have even wept at some point during the chase. Who ever cried when confronting a phantom?

Ding!

The elevator's arrival chime on their floor jolted Edward from his reverie.

He glanced at his employees, who were doing their utmost to conceal their watchful eyes, before stepping out.

His room was located three doors down the left corridor, and he moved toward it.

"You two can head to your own rooms and stop shadowing me," Edward suddenly stated, halting his steps.

He turned to face Holly and Viktor, who were trailing a few paces behind. "I am not in danger of fleeing the building again, so do not worry."

There were no windows offering a view of the street, and once Edward was safely inside his room, he intended to let his bed carry him away into oblivion.

"Yes, sir."

"Goodnight."

The pair responded in unison before turning to locate their respective rooms, situated at the opposite end of the hallway.

******

As per the strategy devised by Viktor and Edward, the day was allocated for reconnaissance. Their objective was to track Jinn Yang's movements and uncover his exact intentions.

Ever since Edward learned he had received an invitation to the same event and had even arrived at the venue predating the scheduled guest arrival, the mafia boss had grown intensely suspicious.

Admittedly, it was possible that only his paranoia was at play. Jinn Yang might have genuinely been in Shanghai purely for leisure, making his surveillance an unwarranted intrusion.

However, in their line of work, excessive caution was never truly excessive.

That morning, Edward awoke earlier than usual, likely due to his limited sleep the previous night.

He indulged in a lengthy bath to clear his thoughts and donned casual attire that clearly signaled his purpose in being in Shanghai.

Edward resolved that despite a lingering unease stemming from the ongoing situation, he could still present himself as the vacationer he appeared to be.

His upper body was clad in a shirt he hadn't worn since ordering it online two months prior. He paired this green garment with brown khaki trousers and a set of Converse sneakers.

He took only his phone and sunglasses before heading out to meet his trusted second-in-command at the reception area.

"I am ready," Edward announced to Viktor, who was dressed in a similarly understated manner.

"Yes, sir. The vehicle we arranged is already waiting."

Edward gave a nod. "I have arranged for Holly to have a spa appointment. This should keep her occupied while we conduct our business."

Viktor acknowledged this with a nod, having already seen their secretary depart in a taxi."We'll get her on the way back," he stated, making a mental note to himself. Once more, the bodyguard gave a nod. The two men then proceeded to exit the hotel and approach the waiting Hyundai sedan. Viktor navigated to the driver's side, while Edward settled into the front passenger seat. "Our trackers indicate that Yang is presently at one of Shanghai's premier resorts," Viktor reported to his boss as he started the engine. "Is he with Tai Pin?" Viktor's head shake confirmed his absence. "He's with his wife at the moment. However, there's a chance Tai Pin might have arranged a meeting there, considering all expenses have been settled on Pin's account."