“I do.”
Anne pursed her lips. “He’s the leader of one of the local gangs here in Banyan City, who’ve only gained power over the last two years. He even once went to John’s company to threaten the employees there. If John hadn’t called the cops on him, I’m sure he would’ve harmed the employees.”
Bethan was stunned by this. “What happened then? Didn’t he try to take revenge after John called the cops?”
Usually, people like them would seek revenge on the person who ratted them out to the police after being released.
“He didn’t have a chance.”
Anne pursed her lips. “After getting released, he perhaps intended to seek revenge on us, but before he could do so, someone got to him first and punished him by breaking one of his legs. During his recovery, his gang lost power to another gang in Banyan City and he lost his position. Not only that, but after that incident, he didn’t dare to up any more trouble and resorted to being a debt collector for a loan shark company.
As soon as she finished her sentence, Anne immediately caught sight of the woman who sat next to James. Her eyes widened in shock. “That woman… Why does she look identical to that Fiona girl who died?”
Anne had been by Bethan’s side when Fiona tried to break Bethan and Brettley apart, and thus, she remembered every last detail, down to Fiona’s face.
She never thought that someday, a woman who looked so much like Fiona would suddenly appear in Banyan City so many years after her death!
“I’m curious too.”
Bethan curled her lips into a smile. All of a sudden, the waiter arrived with their drinks, and she placed Anne’s drink in front of her while proceeding to take a sip of her own. “Hey, since you’re in Banyan City, didn’t you hear about my father-in-law’s engagement?”
Anne rolled her eyes as she took a sip from her drink too. “Of course I’ve heard about it. I even know that the bride-to-be is a woman who’s much younger than him.”
Bethan pursed her lips in Jacqueline’s direction. “Well, that’s her “
Anne almost spat out her drink. “Her? She’s the young, pretty woman getting married to your wretched father-in-law?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Bethan nodded and put down her cup. “That’s why I can’t help feeling that something is wrong. She and Fiona both come from the same city, and look almost identical to each other. Besides, she doesn’t seem like a naive woman who’d be easily swayed by Adrian’s sweet nothings like how Celia was, yet she still chose to marry someone who’s more than twenty years her senior. I can’t help feeling things aren’t that simple.”
Anne’s hand, which was holding her coffee cup, stiffened at this. “So does this mean…….
“Do you think that she’s possibly related to Fiona and has come to Banyan City to marry Adrian so that she can avenge Fiona’s death?”
She furrowed her brow at this. “Well, why would she do this for Fiona? How are they related to each other? Are they sisters? If not, why would she marry an asshole like Adrian just to avenge Fiona’s death? This is a lifetime commitment we’re talking about!”
“Let me go over to eavesdrop on their conversation.”
Anne winked at Bethan. “If this woman is somehow related to Fiona and is here to take revenge on you and Brettley, she’ll definitely recognize you, but as for me….
She continued with a gleeful look. “Even though you and I are best friends, John and I are far too distant from you and Brettley’s world, and we rarely show up in public together. Not even Fiona knew much about our friendship, so this woman won’t be the wiser. It’s better if I eavesdrop instead of you!”
With that, she put down her cup and, feigning the need to go to the washroom, deliberately strode past Jacqueline and James’ table.
She was right, Jacqueline did not remember her at all. When she passed by their table, Jacqueline’s gaze did not even falter as she continued her conversation with James.
Soon, Bethan’s phone chimed with Anne’s messages, which she was sent from the washroom.
[I heard them talking about some kind of debt…but I’m not sure who they’re talking about. Does Adrian owe a lot of money here in Banyan City?]
Bethan could not help frowning when she saw this. According to Brettley, Adrian had indeed taken out many loans during this past year in Banyan City. Could this be the reason Jacqueline was meeting with a loan shark like James on the day of her wedding?
[Oh, I also heard that Jacqueline girl say something about time running out…but I was too far away and couldn’t hear anything after this. Are they still talking? Shall I go back to our table?]
Bethan furrowed her brow and instinctively glanced in Jacqueline’s direction. (Okay, you can come back]
Perhaps Jacqueline was just worried about James causing a scene at her wedding and thus was meeting him to discuss terms about Adrian’s loans.
[Okay’]
With that, Anne tucked her phone away and opened her cubicle door. Just as she was about to step out, however, a woman dressed in black stopped her. “Miss Zimmer, my master wants to have a chat with you.”
Alarm bells sounded in Anne’s head. She took a step back and glanced defensively at the woman before her. “Who is your master?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
The woman sneered and grabbed hold of Anne “Don’t worry My master has plans for you, so she won’t hurt you.’
After 10 minutes, Jacqueline and James left, but Anne still had not returned.
Bethan glanced at the time and could not help feeling that something was amiss. Anne had mentioned she would return 10 minutes ago, so why was she taking so long?
Did she have an upset stomach?
At the thought of this, Bethan stood up and sprinted in the direction of the washroom.
However, the washroom was empty, and there was no sign of Anne at all.
Bethan stormed out of the washroom and ran to Jude’s table. “Please help me.”
At this moment, Jude was in the middle of an argument with Vanessa, and despite the rage he felt, he still regained his composure and turned to glance at Bethan. “What’s wrong?
“My friend has gone missing”
Bethan gasped. “Please help me find the restaurant manager we need to take a look at the surveillance tapes!”
“I’m on it.”
Jude immediately leaped up when he heard the panic in Bethan’s voice and strode toward the restaurant counter
“Please sit, Mrs. Morrison.”
Vanessa quickly gestured at the chair “Don’t worry, your friend is probably fine.”
Bethan glanced at Vanessa and was just about to reject her offer when she caught sight of the smile on Vanessa’s face. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to sit.
Since Jude had gone to check on the surveillance tapes, the only thing she could do was wait for him.
After sitting down, Bethan took out her phone and called Brettley. “Jude has gone to check the surveillance tapes. Can you help me hack into the system and look at the roadside surveillance cameras to see where Anne has gone? There’s no way Anne would leave without warning something must’ve happened.”
Brettley furrowed his brow, took out his laptop, and started typing his code. “Why did you choose to call me and not Nigel instead?”
Bethan had always sought out Nigel’s help when it came to cracking codes and hacking into surveillance systems, this was the first time she had ever come to him instead.
“That’s because. “Bethan sniffed. “I’m worried this might be more complicated than we think. I think someone would’ve altered the surveillance tapes, and you’re much better at hacking than Nigel is.”
If Anne was truly kidnapped, whoever did this must have thought of the surveillance tapes and would probably have done something to them already. Besides, Nigel had once confided in her that Brettley was actually far more skilled at hacking than he was, which was why she had chosen to ask Brettley for help at a time like this.
“It’s a surprise that you trust me so much.”
Brettley curled his lips into a smile. “If I don’t manage to help you find Anne today, all my years of learning hacking for your sake would’ve gone to waste.
Bethan blushed at this. “Well, try your best then.”
“Five minutes,”
Brettley said curtly, then hung up the phone.
Bethan sighed when she heard the dial tone. She had heard Brettley’s dial tone many times, but for some reason, this was the first time she ever felt reassured hearing it.
She put down her phone, let out a sigh, and closed her eyes, praying silently for Anne to be safe
“What’s your friend’s name, Mrs. Morrison?” a woman’s soft voice rang out next to her
Bethan suddenly realized that Vanessa was still sitting next to her. She opened her eyes and turned to stare at Vanessa.
“I don’t mean any harm.”
Vanessa curled her lips into a smile when she saw Bethan’s quizzical gaze. “I saw how panicked you were, and since I have some connections in Banyan City too, why don’t you give me her name and I’ll help you look for your friend too? It wouldn’t hurt to have another pair of helping hands, would it?”
Bethan immediately froze when she heard this. She never met Vanessa before and only ever heard of her from Jude’s description.
He claimed that she was a deceitful and despicable woman but she could not sense any of that from the smiling woman sitting in front of her
After hesitating for a moment, Bethan sighed and gave her Anne’s full name.
“Alright, Anne Zimmer.”
Vanessa smiled as she typed Anne’s name into her phone. “Don’t worry, I’ve already sent my men in search of her With three people on board, I’m sure we’ll be able to find something
Bethan nodded.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.