Chapter 397: Floating Market

Aliana lifted her gaze to Gavriel and noticed how his earlier playful mood had completely soured at the mention of Owen.

Smiling softly at him, she teased, "I can smell your bloodlust from here."

"I am trying to think of one good reason why I should not just rip him apart," Gavriel replied in a low voice as he closed the distance between them.

Aliana saw the absolute seriousness in his eyes and, for a moment, she wondered if he truly meant it.

Nevertheless, she took his hand. "You can’t, because he’s Jade’s brother."

"He might be her brother, but Ana... should that man ever cross a line with you, I hope you know no reasoning on earth will stop me."

He said no more, but Aliana understood he would follow through on his threat.

Just then, her phone chimed. "Let us see what he sent together."

When Gavriel remained silent, she led him to the sofa and sat beside him.

Opening her messages, she frowned. "It is an audio clip."

She pressed play, and the familiar voice of a man floated through the speaker.

"Very well. I will come straight to the point, Mr. Ross. As you know, I have harboured serious concerns... ever since my niece assumed the position of CEO at Van Empire...."

Aliana immediately recognised who it was.

.....

Meanwhile, Owen had been restless, pacing back and forth in his office at Van Empire since morning.

Many thoughts had troubled him since yesterday.

Thoughts that were not about Rufus, who had threatened him last night, but more about the fact that Aliana was alone somewhere far away with that blasted Gavriel Valentine for an entire week.

It was driving him crazy to think about what they must be up to. He had already deduced that she must have left for her honeymoon.

Otherwise, why else would she leave with her husband without giving much explanation when there was so much on her plate?

So he had decided to give her a reason to return. A good enough reason to put an end to their so-called romantic getaway and bring her back to where she belonged... right in front of him, under the same roof, where he could see her whenever he wished.

He had plans to gain her trust, to get closer to her, to prove to her that he was a reliable man, a far better man than anyone else out there. Someone who could be her close confidant and help her.

Yet no matter how much he tried, she continued to suspect him as if he were some criminal. Every single time she looked at him with those beautiful eyes, they were so guarded, as if she would not hesitate to get rid of him the moment he made a single mistake.

So he had sent her the recording of his conversation with Rufus, something he had intended to share with her anyway.

He knew how dedicated she was to Van Empire, and he would be damned if he let that old fox use him as he pleased.

Any moment now, she would call him back and tell him she was on her way home. Perhaps she would even praise him for his good work.

He paced back to his desk, placed his phone on the polished surface, and stared intently at the screen.

Seconds stretched into minutes, but nothing happened.

What is the matter? Why is she not calling?

Just then, his intercom buzzed.

He answered immediately, and his secretary spoke, "Mr. Ross, Mr. Green is here to see you."

Owen’s jaw clenched at the thought of the cocky brat showing up again.

"Send him in," he replied with a touch of irritation, sitting back behind his desk.

Nigel walked in, offering a polite smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Ross."

"Nigel," Owen greeted curtly. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"Right." Nigel gave a brief nod before proceeding. "The boss has a message for you."

Owen’s brows furrowed in confusion, and Nigel went on without pause. "She said that you can go ahead and comply with Mr. Avery’s request. A false copy, of course, which she will sign after she reviews it. If you choose to do so, that would be great. But should you have a change of heart, she asked me to tell you that she has other means to resolve the matter."

Owen’s mouth fell open for a moment before he asked, "How do you...?"

"How do I know about this matter? Well, the boss called me just a short while ago to pass on her instructions," Nigel replied seamlessly, acting completely oblivious to the utter bewilderment painted across Owen’s face.

Under the desk, Owen’s fingers curled into a tight fist. Here he had been waiting for her call, only to learn she had gone straight to her minion to hand down her commands.

Clenching his jaw, Owen asked in a tightly controlled voice, "Is that... all she said?"

Nigel pressed his lips together before adding, "Oh, right. She said she will not be returning early, so everything will proceed as planned. Furthermore, she instructed that should you feel the need to communicate anything more to her during her absence, you are to route all messages through me as it will be more convenient for her to coordinate via a single person."

Giving a professional nod, Nigel turned around and strolled out of the office.

By the time the door shut, Owen was shaking with rage.

Unable to contain himself any longer, he grabbed yet another glass and hurled it across the floor before slamming his fist against the desk.

"Fuck!"

.....

Back on Caya Island, the floating market looked as if it were straight out of a dream.

Aliana’s light grey eyes shone with such excitement as their boat carried them deeper into the market, which was nestled between two towering mountains whose rugged cliffs were blanketed in lush greenery. High above, the cliffs drew close together, leaving only a narrow gap through which sunlight streamed down, bathing the entire canal in a warm glow.

Wooden shops lined both sides of the turquoise waterway, their quaint balconies overflowed with vibrant flowers beneath colourful awnings of crimson, amber, and cream. Paper lanterns dangled from exposed beams, while nearby boats floated past, heavily laden with exotic fruits, fresh blossoms, and handicrafts.

The air buzzed with the lively chatter of visitors and merchants calling out their wares.

Curious, Aliana glanced toward the raised platforms, where more shops were connected by wooden walkways and footbridges that allowed visitors to step ashore and explore the bustling stalls or small eateries.

Everywhere she looked, there was something beautiful to admire, and a delighted smile spread across her face.

She had visited countless luxurious destinations throughout her life, but there was something utterly enchanting about this hidden paradise that felt almost magical.

Her fingers tightened excitedly around Gavriel’s hand as he sat quietly beside her. He had been scanning their surroundings for potential threats, but when he turned at her touch, he found her beaming like a child.

Just then, their boatman called back to them, "Would you like to stop somewhere?"

"Yes!" Aliana answered, louder than she had intended.

Quickly, she glanced at Gavriel, who only chuckled softly before asking, "Where would you like to go first, baby?"