Meanwhile…
Jonathan massaged the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the throbbing in his head. He had been listening to honks and shouts on the road, which didn’t surprise him, given the heavy traffic. Snapping his eyes open, he turned to his right and saw a motorcycle slowing down right beside their vehicle.
“The family dinner has started… a while ago,” he remarked, casting the driver a look. “Is there nothing we can do to avoid this?”
The driver sighed heavily, glancing back at Jonathan through the rearview mirror. “Sir, it’s impossible to go back now, as there are already a lot of cars behind us.”
Jonathan looked back, only to see cars stacked behind them. All the lanes were packed and unmoving. Even if their vehicle started moving, it would only be an inch at a time. If Jonathan started walking now, he’d probably have reached his destination faster.
“Such terrible traffic,” he murmured, leaning back and staring out the window. ’Was it just a coincidence?’
For a moment, silence filled the car as neither Jonathan nor the driver spoke. It was so quiet they could almost hear each other’s breathing, if not for the occasional honking and curses from surrounding vehicles.
Jonathan tapped his finger on his leg, deep in thought. “How much did he pay you?” was the first thing he said after a long silence.
“Sir?” The driver looked up at the rearview mirror, brow furrowed. He watched Jonathan shift his gaze back to him.
“I’m asking you, how much did they pay you?” Jonathan repeated quietly, his voice carrying a dangerous edge, tinged with amusement. “You wouldn’t have driven me on this road if you didn’t already know it’s notorious for its terrible traffic.”
The driver held his breath, staring at the rearview mirror. Jonathan wasn’t looking at him through the mirror; he was staring directly at him.
“I’m sorry, sir.” The driver lowered his head apologetically, his lips pressed into a thin line. “I didn’t want to do this, but I didn’t have a choice.”
“Pfft—” Jonathan snorted, laughing in amusement because he hadn’t expected this at all. He didn’t expect Zoren to make a move so quickly. So instead of getting angry—since he would surely miss the family gathering at this point—he found it amusing and funny.
It tickled his curiosity.
After all, Jonathan’s first question to the driver was simply a test. He didn’t immediately believe that Zoren had paid the driver. However, after seeing the driver’s reaction, Jonathan was certain that was the case.
“Don’t worry,” Jonathan reassured him. “Even if I’m angry about this, there’s nothing I can do. After all, if I killed you here, I’d go to jail. I don’t want to go to jail, so I might as well laugh it off.”
The driver didn’t respond, just lowering his head. “I’m sorry, sir.”
“Apology accepted.” Jonathan nodded, chuckling lightly. “Since we’re both stuck here, you might as well indulge me.”
He tilted his head to the side. “How did Zoren get a hold of you when we were together almost the entire day?”
“Well…” The driver cleared his throat, gripping the steering wheel nervously. “In the Old Pierson Residence.”
Jonathan’s brows shot up, deepening the lines on his forehead. “In the Old Pierson Residence?”
“Yes, sir. While you were inside, someone approached me and relayed Zoren Pierson’s message. He told me to take you elsewhere tonight,” the driver said without hesitation. “Otherwise, it would be bad for both of us. And then, they handed me a load of cash to do so.”
“Hahaha!” Jonathan burst out laughing, holding his head and stomach. “I didn’t expect this at all. So, while I was there, indulging with him and that William, he was already making a move on me?”
His eyes shone with admiration and excitement. “Amazing,” he breathed out. “He never disappoints me—Zoren Pierson.”
His lips stretched into a wide grin, displaying his teeth. Even the driver could feel all the hairs on his body stand up at the sight. Jonathan’s reaction was strange. Normally, someone in Jonathan’s shoes would be livid, but Jonathan seemed genuinely amused.
It seemed Jonathan truly found this funny.
“Ahh…” Jonathan threw himself back, imagining how he had no idea that, amidst their discussion, something else had been happening in the background.
He wasn’t used to being the one on the receiving end of a plot, as he had always been the one working in the background. But this wasn’t a bad experience. It was igniting a passion in his heart that Jonathan thought he was losing.
“No wonder he accepted me with open arms,” he mused. “He already had a plan laid out for me.”
Jonathan was sharp enough to piece everything together, despite the limited information given to him. Knowing the dynamics of the Pierson family, especially Zoren’s relationship with his grandmother and Old Mrs. Pierson’s people, it wasn’t hard for Jonathan to narrow down what had happened.
“It’s probably that damn butler,” he muttered, rubbing his palm across his face. “He probably talked a lot before Zoren joined us.”
Zoren could get anything done with just a phone call. Jonathan was sure that’s how this happened. Little did he know, even this traffic jam wasn’t a coincidence. While this area was usually busy with traffic, it wasn’t this bad. Many of the cars stuck in the same jam were just there to add to the congestion and make sure Jonathan stayed in the area until the family gathering concluded.
“What a smart bastard,” he whispered, smirking in amusement. “Zoren Pierson… I’m so glad I get to play this game with him in this lifetime.”
For a while, Jonathan enjoyed and savored the information the driver had given him. After some time, he shifted his attention back to the driver and asked, “Is that all they asked you to do?”
The driver let out a sharp huff. “There’s one more, sir.”
“Pray tell.”
“Mr. Pierson wants to send you a message,” said the driver. “He told me that if you found out about this, I should tell you one thing.”
The driver paused for a second before his mouth parted again. “He said, ’You’re now on my radar, Brother.’”
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