Eddy’s eyes were bloodshot, his whole body radiating a barely controlled fury. His voice was glacial. “Tell me. Where is my wife?”
“I told you–I’ll never tell you!” Fernando shot back, cold as steel. “Now give me my phone.”
Eddy’s mind was razor–sharp despite his rage. “I know she’s here in Capitol City. In fact, before last night, she was living right here in this house. You picked her up from the hotel yesterday evening.” As he laid out the facts, Fernando’s face grew
even more ashen.
“You refuse to talk? I’ll find her another way.” Eddy’s gaze landed on the set of keys on the table. Instantly, his bodyguard picked them up and strode out of the villa.
“What are you doing?!” Fernando yelled, just as Terrell and Caleb raced down the stairs.
Fernando lunged and pulled Terrell protectively into his arms.
“Your car will tell me everywhere you’ve been.”
Eddy sank heavily onto the couch. He hadn’t slept a wink all night, and exhaustion gnawed at him, but adrenaline kept his mind spinning restlessly.
In his mind’s eye, Blanche stood in the kitchen.
She was cooking. Healy giggled nearby, playing with a rocking horse.
She glanced over her shoulder, asking, “Want it a little spicier tonight?”
Eddy smiled at the memory.
Then, suddenly, that smile twisted into something bitter, leaving Fernando and Caleb unsettled by the darkness in his expression.
Neither of them could grasp what Eddy was going through,
Every day, the moment he opened his eyes, he saw Blanche. When he closed them, she was still there. But he couldn’t touch her, couldn’t hold her. The ache of longing crashed over him in relentless waves, threatening to drown him every time.
He missed her so much, sleep became impossible.
Before long, the head bodyguard strode back inside. “Sir, we found it. The car was
at Mr. Jordan’s office early yesterday morning!”
Eddy’s eyes widened in disbelief, furious at himself for missing something so obvious. He bolted for the door, the bodyguard clutching Fernando’s keys and phone in hand.
In the backseat of the Rolls–Royce, Eddy replayed Fernando’s words over and over. He told Laney to rest for a bit–he’d come pick her up and take her home soon.
The car pulled up to the office building. Following the arrangement between Fernando and Laney, Eddy dialed the number.
Suddenly, a robotic voice echoed from the phone: “The number you have dialed is not in service.”
“What the hell?” Eddy looked sharply at his bodyguard.
The man immediately took Fernando’s phone and checked it. The number Fernando had been using wasn’t a real phone number–it was an internet call. “Sir, this number only receives calls. You can’t reach out from here.”
“We’ll have to wait for them to contact us again.”
“Sir, should we go inside and look?”
Eddy nodded and moved toward the entrance with his bodyguard.
Mr. Jordan was waiting at the door and greeted them, “Mr. Simmons, your company’s staff are truly impressive, but I’ve found someone even more qualified for the job. Still, thank you for all your support.”
“Director, may we take a quick look at the staff dorms?” The bodyguard’s request caught Mr. Jordan by surprise. “A friend of ours is resting inside. Mr. Simmons can’t reach her and would like to check personally.”
“Of course,” Mr. Jordan said, gesturing to the building on the left.
Eddy strode toward the staff dorms, every step making Blanche’s familiar scent stronger, every step tightening the pain in his chest.
The bodyguard hurried after him.
At that moment, Blanche stepped out from the neighboring women’s dormitory.
“Ms. Griffiths, thank you again for all your help,” Mr. Jordan said warmly.
“I envy Gaylord, having such a capable daughter–in–law.” He smiled.
“No need to thank me, Mr. Jordan. It’s just my job.” Blanche replied politely.
Chapter 204
As she exited the building, she noticed Fernando was nowhere to be seen. She hailed a cab to head home herself, unaware that Kermit was following her.
Just as she reached the curb, a sudden blow struck the back of her neck. Everything went black.
When Blanche regained consciousness, she was crammed in the trunk of a car. The man looming over her had a jagged burn scar slashed across his face–she couldn’t shake the feeling she’d seen him before.
A flood of painful memories–fire, smoke, terror–crashed through her mind. She fixed him with a cold, steady stare.
“Don’t look at me like that!” Kermit snarled, suddenly unhinged. “You little traitor! Sent your own father to prison, your mother too. Did you make my sister disappear as well? If you don’t start talking, I’ll dump you in the river and let the fish take care of you!”
