Chapter 142 The Proof
Chapter 142 The Proof
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Anneliese handed Rory the bank card with the transfer and thanked him.
Rory said, “The rain’s getting heavier, and the mountain road’s hard to drive on. If you don’t mind, I can have Gaston clean up a room. You could stay the night and leave tomorrow.”
“Thanks, but no. We’ve got friends waiting for us in Riveraton.”
Anneliese refused. The village felt too isolated, and that unsettled her.
At least she already had the flash drive.
She mentioned friends in Riveraton partly to warn Rory and keep him cautious.
Rory didn’t push. “Alright then. Once you’ve changed, you should head out soon. This storm doesn’t look like it’s letting up. I’ll find some raincoats for you.”
Anneliese thanked him and went with Jessica into the room on the left. Monroe took the one on the right.
When the women came back, Monroe Hayes was already seated at the table in the main room, sipping some hot ginger tea.
Gaston served it to Anneliese and Jessica too.
The cold had seeped deep into them, and since the others were drinking, they accepted with thanks.
The ginger tea worked quickly. Warmth spread through their bodies, and they rose to say goodbye,
But as Anneliese took only two steps toward the door, her vision wavered and her knees buckled.
A moment later, she collapsed without warning, her mind sinking into blackness.
The scene turns to a five–star commercial hotel in Riveraton.
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14:42 Sun, Sep 7
Chapter 142 The Proof
:
Jonathan had just finished an online meeting. Although he was the CEO of AeroAir, his investments stretched far beyond that company.
Every day was packed with obligations, and today his schedule had been completely overturned.
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After the call, he stepped to the floor–to–ceiling window with a glass of water.
Rain slammed against the glass, sliding down in thick sheets.
Jonathan glanced at his phone.
His last message from Anneliese had been five hours ago, when he had asked if everything was going smoothly.
She had replied, ‘It’s going well, Mr. Fullbuster. No need to worry!‘
He refreshed the screen again, but no new messages appeared.
His brow furrowed.
He turned, opened the door, and called out quietly, “Mr. Harland.”
Zion was dozing on the couch in the living room, but years of discipline had made him sensitive to Jonathan’s tone. He snapped upright before his eyes even opened.
“Yes, Mr. Fullbuster?”
“Has Anneliese contacted you?” Jonathan asked, his voice heavy,
Zion came fully awake. He looked at the storm outside, then at the clock. It was almost eleven.
His brow tightened as he pulled out his phone.
“No, Ms. Claude hasn’t called me.”
The last time he’d spoken to her was three hours earlier.
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14:42 Sun, Sep 7
Chapter 142 The Proof
She had said they were leaving town and would be back that evening.
“Could she and the others still be in the countryside?
“It’s late… maybe the storm was too much, and they decided to wait until morning?” Zion suggested.
Jonathan stayed silent. He dialed Anneliese’s number.
Her phone was off.
His eyes darkened. He turned sharply to Zion.
“Do you have Jessica’s number? Call her.”
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Zion silently thanked himself for saving Jessica’s contact back on the plane. He dialed.
“Mr. Fullbuster,” he said a moment later, “Ms. Sweeting’s phone is off too.”
Jonathan’s expression hardened.
Both phones were off.
That was not normal.
He thought for a moment, then said, “They must have rented a car to get out of town. Check with the cab company.”
Zion moved quickly to comply.
As he worked, he couldn’t help asking, “Mr. Fullbuster, you have plenty of leverage to push Zacharias into a divorce. Why send Ms. Claude out here and put her at risk?”
With Jonathan’s influence, forcing Zacharias‘ hand should have been simple. This trip had disrupted his schedule, and now Anneliese might be in danger.
Zion couldn’t understand why his boss would do this.
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Chapter 142 The Proof
Jonathan’s brow tightened. “Because I don’t have that right.”
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He wasn’t playing games with her. That marriage and that past belonged to her.
He wanted her future, and that meant respecting her choices.
He could help her, but he could never destroy her marriage for her. He feared she might regret it someday, and worse, that she would blame him for doing so.
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