He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did

Chapter 151 - 138: Closing the Net

Annabelle Leighton opened the door, and before she could even speak, Morgan Hayes grabbed her by the wrist.

The man’s palm was scorching hot against Annabelle Leighton’s skin, making her heart instantly start to race.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

’Why is he being so forward today?’

"I’m taking you somewhere."

"Where?"

"You’ll see when we get there."

Giving Annabelle Leighton no chance to refuse, Morgan Hayes closed the door for her and pulled her downstairs.

Annabelle Leighton followed behind Morgan Hayes, watching his tall back and hurried steps. For a moment, she had the strange feeling that he was about to elope with her.

A tingling sensation spread through her heart, but she quickly came to her senses. ’He has a girlfriend.’

’Getting so handsy with another woman when he has a girlfriend... He really has no sense of boundaries.’

Annabelle Leighton pulled her hand free.

"Where exactly are you taking me? If you don’t tell me, I’m not going with you."

"To Azuria."

’Morgan Hayes wants to take her to the sea?’

"What for? We’re not exactly in a position to be watching the sea together."

Even though she really liked Morgan Hayes, he was, after all, someone else’s boyfriend. No matter what, Annabelle Leighton would never become the other woman and wreck someone else’s relationship.

"Stop talking for a second. We’re almost out of time." Morgan Hayes glanced at his watch. "I’ll explain later."

With that, he pulled open the passenger side door and pushed Annabelle Leighton into the car.

"I—"

Annabelle Leighton was about to refuse again when Morgan Hayes leaned over and fastened her seatbelt for her.

They were so close. If this were the past, the moment Morgan Hayes dared to get this near, Annabelle Leighton would have instantly pounced, teasing him relentlessly. But now, she didn’t dare move a muscle, allowing his clean, soapy scent and unique masculine presence to trap her in the passenger seat.

After getting in, Morgan Hayes started the car, and they headed toward Azuria.

Annabelle Leighton watched the scenery recede outside her window, thinking how romantic this would be if it were a date. ’Too bad it’s not.’

「The port in southwest Azuria was brightly lit tonight.」

The moment Annabelle Leighton got out of the car, she saw the shore lined with police cars, their red and blue lights creating a spectacular coastline.

"What’s going on?" She looked back at Morgan Hayes. "Was there some kind of accident?"

"Let’s go take a look."

Morgan Hayes led Annabelle Leighton closer.

A white yacht was docked at the Azuria port. Police officers in uniform were escorting a group of men and women off it. Some of the men were disheveled, others bare-chested, while the women were all scantily clad.

’Is this... a vice raid?’

’Did Morgan Hayes really drag me out here in the middle of the night to watch a vice raid?’

"What is the meaning of this?" Annabelle Leighton felt like she was going to have an aneurysm.

"Last week, someone reported this yacht for hosting illegal parties at sea—prostitution, gambling, and drugs. The police have had it under surveillance for a week. Tonight’s the bust."

"So? What does that have to do with me? Did you drag me here in the middle of the night just to watch the show?"

"Not to watch the show. To see someone you know." As he spoke, Morgan Hayes jutted his chin toward the men lined up. "Look at the third one from the left. That’s your blind date."

’Her blind date? Nathan Channing?’

Annabelle Leighton focused her eyes. The third man from the left really was Nathan Channing!

"He..."

Annabelle Leighton was in disbelief. She recalled her meeting with Nathan Channing; there had been nothing wrong with his speech or his manners. She never would have imagined he’d be mixed up in prostitution, gambling, and drugs.

"I told you that guy was no good," Morgan Hayes added nonchalantly from the side.

"You knew all along?"

"I saw his photo at the station."

"Then couldn’t you have just told me? You had to drag me all the way out here to see for myself? Who wants to come all this way to see a disgusting guy like that!" Annabelle Leighton was a little angry.

Actually, she was more mortified than anything.

’To think she’d end up on a blind date with someone like him. What rotten luck.’

"This operation was confidential; I couldn’t tell you. But I warned you twice. You wouldn’t listen to words, so I had to bring you here so you could see for yourself," Morgan Hayes said, completely serious.

Even though Morgan Hayes didn’t seem to be mocking her in the slightest, Annabelle Leighton still felt uncomfortable.

"Can I go now?" she asked.

"Of course. You haven’t committed any crime."

Annabelle Leighton: "..."

Back in the car, as Morgan Hayes made a U-turn, Annabelle Leighton glanced toward the sea one more time.

Beneath the night sky, the sea was a deep, tranquil blue, like a giant crystal. But people like Nathan Channing had bred evil in such a beautiful ocean. That, combined with this clueless guy Morgan Hayes, made Annabelle Leighton feel like she wouldn’t want to look at the sea again anytime soon.

The car headed back the way they came.

Annabelle Leighton was silent the entire way.

Morgan Hayes kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, guessing her low spirits had something to do with her blind date.

’But it’s only been two or three days. Their relationship couldn’t have developed that quickly, could it?’

As the car neared Annabelle Leighton’s apartment complex, her stomach suddenly let out a loud RUMBLE.

"Hungry?" Morgan Hayes asked.

"Starving. I hadn’t even eaten dinner when you dragged me out."

"I’ll take you to get something to eat, then. Anything you’re in the mood for?"

"No, it’s fine. I’ll just make some instant noodles when I get home."

"Let me treat you to a late-night meal. Consider it my apology," Morgan Hayes said.

"Apology for what?"

"For ruining your blind date."

"That has nothing to do with you."

"Do you want barbecue or noodles?"

"I already said, I’ll just make instant noodles at home."

"Noodles it is, then."

Morgan Hayes decided on his own, making a turn and taking her to a nearby noodle shop.

The shop had been open for over a decade. Morgan Hayes often came here with his colleagues, so the husband-and-wife owners both knew him.

The moment they walked in, the owner greeted Morgan Hayes.

"Captain Hayes, brought your girlfriend out for some noodles?"

Morgan Hayes smiled and was about to speak when Annabelle Leighton quickly cut in, "I’m not his girlfriend."

The owner apologized profusely, "Oh, my apologies, my apologies. I misunderstood."

Morgan Hayes silently found a place to sit.

Annabelle Leighton ordered a light bowl of vegetable noodles. Morgan Hayes wasn’t hungry, but to keep her company, he ordered a bowl as well.

The two sat across from each other, eating their noodles in silence.

Partway through the meal, two WeChat messages came through on Morgan Hayes’s phone.

’Who would be messaging him this late at night? She didn’t even have to think to guess who it was.’

Annabelle Leighton instantly lost her appetite.

She listlessly picked at her food a few times before putting down her chopsticks.

"Full already?" Morgan Hayes looked at her.

"Mhm."

"You ate so little."

"Mhm."

"Did I do something to upset you?"

Annabelle Leighton looked up, her heart full of resentment, yet she didn’t know where to begin. He had never agreed to be her boyfriend, so she couldn’t blame him for finding a girlfriend first.

She lowered her gaze and replied softly, "No."

They both fell silent.

After a moment, Morgan Hayes asked again, "Now that your blind date is behind bars, what are your plans?"

"What other plans could I have? I’ll keep going on blind dates. It’s not like I should stay single for his sake just because he got locked up, right?"

"You’re still going to go on blind dates?"

"Mhm."

Morgan Hayes was starting to get annoyed. He grabbed the car keys sitting on the side.

"You’re full, right? Then let’s go!"