Blanche glanced over her shoulder and spotted Fernando–Terrell was with him as well.
Without hesitation, she slipped into their car.
As the car sped away, Eddy stepped out onto the curb.
“Terrell, your mom has missed you so much,” he called.
Terrell threw his arms around Blanche. “I missed you too, Mom.”
“Did the Director–General not come back with you?” Ever since Fernando learned Ablett had swooped in and registered a marriage with Blanche, his respect for the man had all but vanished. His tone was blunt.
“He’s busy,” Blanche replied coolly.
“No matter how busy he is, he shouldn’t let you travel back alone. What if something happened? He didn’t even send a bodyguard? What sort of husband just lets his wife fend for herself?” Fernando frowned, clearly irritated. “Honestly, he’s too trusting for his own good.”
Blanche smoothly changed the subject. “Where are you two staying?”
“I’ve got a house here–a villa. Hotels are too crowded and not exactly safe. Why don’t you move in with us?”
“Please, Mom! You should stay with us. I want to spend every moment with while you’re here,” Terrell pleaded, his tone sweet and insistent.
you
Blanche recalled the lingering smell of tobacco from the night before–it had left her feeling uneasy.
“But Terrell, aren’t you in elementary school now? It’s not good to skip out on your classes,” she teased, tapping him playfully on the nose.
“Mom, I’m way ahead! I’m already working on fourth grade math. Missing a few first–grade classes won’t matter. Besides, we haven’t seen each other in so long–t want to be with you.” Terrell pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Can I sleep tonight, Mom?”
“Of course,” Blanche smiled.
Fernando grinned and shook his head, pretending to scold, “Little traitor! What about your poor old dad?”
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Blanche took them out to eat at a nearby restaurant. Later, she returned to the hotel and explained the situation to Caleb. The moment Caleb learned they’d be staying in a big house, he could hardly contain his excitement.
After checking out, Blanche gathered her things and, with Caleb in tow, joined Fernando in his car.
Just then, Eddy arrived with his security chief. The bodyguard, ever alert, immediately recognized Blanche.
“Sir, Mrs. McCarthy just got in that car!”
Eddy looked up, catching a glimpse through the rear windshield–a woman, her features blurred, wrapped in a child’s embrace. Even from that angle, there was an unmistakable grace to her.
He staggered forward, reaching for the car door just as the vehicle sped away before his eyes.
His strength failed him. He collapsed onto the pavement, watching helplessly as the car disappeared around the corner.
A black Rolls–Royce followed close behind.
The security chief rushed forward and helped Eddy up. “Sir, the driver is in pursuit.”
Eddy was barely conscious, his mind swamped with images of his wife’s devastated, hopeless face–images that gnawed at his soul.
Later, Eddy lay in a hospital bed, an IV drip attached to his hand.
The security chief returned not long after with a report. “Sir, we lost them. But I I got the license plate. Since they crossed state lines, it’ll take time to track them.”
“There’s no sign of Mrs. McCarthy on the hotel’s security footage.”
“I checked your office’s cameras too. Nothing. And there’s more–when I questioned every employee at Mr. Jordan’s firm, they all claimed there’s no such person.”
Eddy squeezed his eyes shut, haunted again by the memory of his wife’s despair.
He lifted a hand as anesthesia seeped into his veins, pulling him under.
Meanwhile, Blanche moved into Fernando’s villa. Once she’d settled in, her thoughts drifted back to the day’s events at the McCarthy house. She finally decided to call
Ablett.
He picked up right away.
08.04
Chapter 198
“Your parents mentioned a wedding,” Blanche began, uncertain if they really needed
a ceremony.
“That’s my parents‘ wish,” Ablett replied.
“Can we talk about it later?”
Blanche hadn’t expected this–she thought she was just in Capitol City for work and a courtesy visit to the McCarthy family.
“Alright,” Ablett’s tone was calm. “We can discuss it when we have time.”
“By the way, there was a Miss Harvey today who claimed to be your fiancée,” Blanche added, wanting to keep him informed. “She said you two split up because of a misunderstanding, and that if it’s resolved, you’ll get back together.”
Ablett’s voice didn’t waver. “I have only one fiancée, and that’s you.”
“Oh… okay…”
Why did he suddenly sound so serious?
“Can I video call with Mamie?” Blanche asked, just as Terrell, still in the bath, called out, “Mom, can you grab my clothes?”
“Coming,” Blanche replied.
She heard Ablett’s voice one last time. “Mamie’s already asleep.”
Chapter 199
