Chapter 303
Zoey gave the bag a quick look. “Theo sent this?”
“Yeah.” Nina’s answer was dull, her mood clearly off as she sat down for breakfast with Zoey.
They ate mostly in silence until Zoey finally spoke up. “Your dad and I talked last night… about you and Theo.”
She hesitated, then went on, “After everything with Kelly, people are just waiting for the Newtons to crash and burn. If Theo wanted to marry you–even just because you liked him–your father and I would have let it go. But he’s not interested in settling down, and you’ve been chasing after him for four years now. Sweetheart, it’s time to move on.”
Zoey’s tone was gentle but there was no mistaking the seriousness in her words.
Nina kept her eyes on her bowl, voice small. “You and Dad are getting older and I…”
Zoey sighed. “We used to think marrying into the Newton family would be a good thing for you, that it would give you a better life. But now? Theo doesn’t care, and the Newtons are on shaky ground. We just want you to really think about what you want. At the very least, you deserve love or
stability–something.”
Back when the Newtons had money, putting up with all the drama seemed worth it.
But now? No one had any idea what was going to happen to them.
The whole Kelly scandal had exploded online, and even Riverdale College was getting dragged. Things got so bad, they had to shut down the comments on their official account.
Nina just clutched her spoon, silent for what felt like forever. Zoey’s disappointment was obvious, and finally, Nina caved. “I’ll think about it.”
“I hope you do,” Zoey said softly. “I’m planning a trip to Switzerland soon. Want to come with me? Mrs. Zhao’s son just finished his PhD and he’ll be joining us. Maybe you two can get to know each other.”
Nina knew exactly what “get to know each other” meant at her age.
She thought about how Theo always kept his distance, always found a way out. She closed her eyes, then nodded. “Okay.”
“Pack your things. We’ll leave early tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
***
That afternoon, Theo left the research center, chatting with one of the professors as they walked out together.
When they reached the parking lot, Theo spotted a group of people standing around his car, talking in low voices.
“Mr. Newton, this is your car, right?”
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Chapter 303
He glanced at the license plate. “Yeah, what’s going on?”
“Did you buy a bunch of fresh meat or something? There’s blood leaking from your trunk.”
Theo froze, then walked over to take a look at the back seat.
A few years ago, he wouldn’t have thought twice about just popping the trunk open to check. But after everything he’d been through, he’d learned to be a lot more careful.
It was his car. If someone planted something, he’d be the one in trouble.
He forced a smile. “Yeah, a client gave me half a lamb from their farm. I was actually wondering what to do with it.”
“Well, you should get going before it gets worse,” the professor said. “Lucky it’s cold or it would already smell.”
Theo thanked them and got in his car.
He didn’t dare stop anywhere else. When he had to choose between going home or heading to the police station, he picked the station. Better safe than sorry.
The police station was just around the corner.
Brandon was about to head out when he saw a BMW pull up with a familiar plate.
He needed a second to place the face, but then Theo stepped out, shutting the door behind him. “Officer, there’s something wrong with my car.”
Brandon glanced at the front–nothing looked off. “What’s up?”
Theo nodded toward the back. “Let’s check the trunk.”
18:49
