MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Chapter 238: Disguising works

"First things first," he muttered to himself, his voice determined. "Locate the lodge she mentioned. Find the woman who made the report." His brow furrowed in concentration as he mapped out his strategy.

The plan seemed straightforward enough. With Elena distracted back at the house, he had a window of opportunity to act. But as he considered his next move, a sense of unease crept over him. What if Elena caught wind of his intentions? What if she had eyes and ears everywhere?

Pushing aside his doubts, Blake focused on the task at hand. He would need to move quickly, but cautiously. With each step, he plotted his route, scanning the horizon for any signs of the elusive lodge.

The plan looked fairly easy to him. Too easy, perhaps. But Blake was determined to seize his chance at freedom, no matter the risks.

As Blake continued along the shoreline, the structures of the lodges gradually came into view, confirming Elena's claim about their existence. His frustration with her lies simmered beneath the surface, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Finding Tessa was his priority now, but he knew he couldn't simply approach her with his predicament laid bare. No, he needed a strategy, a way to gain her trust without revealing too much too soon. It was a delicate balance, one that required careful consideration.

He couldn't just walk up her and tell her he was being held hostage by an evil vampire. Surely that would only cause for a good laugh. It was a stupid way to approach a stranger he didn't know.

He pondered his approach as he walked, the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore providing a soothing backdrop to his thoughts. Suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, inspiration struck.

A plan began to form in his mind, a plan that would allow him to subtly gauge Tessa's reaction without raising suspicion. It wasn't foolproof, but it was the best he could come up with under the circumstances.

With his plan in place, Blake turned his attention to the rows of lodges stretching out before him. He scanned the buildings, searching for any sign of life amidst the tranquil surroundings. Most of the lodges appeared deserted, their windows dark and their doors closed.

He approached the nearest lodge, steeling himself for what lay ahead. With a deep breath, he raised his hand and knocked on the door, the sound echoing in the stillness of the afternoon. Now, all he could do was wait and see if his plan would bear fruit.

Blake's footsteps grew heavier with each passing lodge, his hope dwindling with each unanswered knock. Seven lodges down and still no sign of Tessa. He couldn't shake the growing sense of frustration and urgency gnawing at him.

As he approached the last lodge in the row, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. This was his final chance, his last hope of finding Tessa and unraveling the mysteries surrounding this island and how to escape.

He raised his hand to knock on the door, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound echoed through the quiet surroundings, but there was no response. No footsteps approaching, no voices from within. Just silence.

Blake's shoulders slumped in defeat as he realized that Tessa might not be here after all. Perhaps she had ventured off to explore the island, as he had suspected. After all, she had appeared dressed for an outdoor excursion when she had come to the condo earlier.

With a heavy sigh, Blake turned away from the door, his mind racing with possibilities. If Tessa wasn't here, then where could she be? And more importantly, how was he going to find her?

He cast a longing gaze out at the serene expanse of the beach, the waves lapping gently against the shore. It was a beautiful day, but beneath the tranquil surface, danger lurked.

Just as Blake was about to turn away from the door in defeat, he heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching from within, followed by the click of a lock being undone. His heart leaped with hope as the door swung open before him.

Standing before him was a brunette woman, her expression curious as she regarded him with a mixture of surprise and suspicion. Blake's throat tightened with emotion, but he forced himself to swallow back the tears that threatened to spill over. This woman didn't know him, didn't know the turmoil he had been through, and he needed to keep his composure.

Clearing his throat, Blake straightened his posture and offered the woman a tentative smile. "Hi there," he began, his voice wavering slightly despite his efforts to sound confident. "My name is Blake. I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could help me. I'm looking for someone, and I was told they might be staying here."

Tessa's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of her name, and she regarded Blake with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "And who might you be looking for?" she asked, her tone cautious.

Blake hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. He didn't want to give too much away, not when he didn't know who he could trust. "I'm looking for you, actually," he admitted finally.

.

"I, uh, I'm sorry for intruding," Blake began, shifting nervously from foot to foot. "But earlier today, Elena mentioned that you were having some trouble with your door handle, and she sent me over to take a look at it for you."

Tessa's eyes narrowed slightly at Blake's words, her mind racing with questions. Why was Blake Shelton of all people here? She knew him, of course – everyone did – but he couldn't possibly know her. Or could he? Her thoughts strayed to the rumors that had been circulating about Shelly Tech in recent months, rumors that had originated from her own findings which she had leaked to the press.

Was Blake here for revenge? Had he somehow discovered her involvement in his arrest?

She made a mental note to tread carefully. Opening the door for Blake had been an instinctive gesture of hospitality, but now she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. If Blake had indeed come seeking retribution, she needed to be prepared.

Suppressing her rising apprehension, Tessa forced a smile and gestured for Blake to follow her further into the lodge. "Of course, please, come in," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil of thoughts swirling in her mind. "I appreciate you taking the time to come and look at the door."