Liora began crying as soon as she answered the phone. “Mandy, why did it take you so long to call? I’m so scared!”
Mandy was surprised by Liora’s distress. She quickly asked, “Mom, what’s wrong? Who’s scaring you?”
Liora was crying so hard that her words were barely comprehensible.
Mandy was at a loss for words. Was Richard’s decision to be with Liora driven by a desire to compensate for his
perceived inferiority due to Selene’s prestigious family background?
Liora’s tendency to cry easily and her difficulty expressing herself perplexed people.
“Please hand the phone to the caregiver,” Mandy instructed.
The caregiver took Liora’s phone and spoke clearly. “Miss, someone came a little while ago, and they’re requesting
Ms. Liora’s cooperation in an investigation.”
“Did they use force?” Mandy asked.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“No, their approach was polite. They simply want your mother to cooperate with their investigation… It appears
that Mr. Pendleton conducted various activities in your mother’s name. Even if she was unaware, she might have to
face the consequences.”
Mandy took a deep breath and reassured, “Try to calm her down first. I’ll get in touch with you later.”
“Alright.”
Mandy hung up and turned to Bradley, her expression filled with concern.
After a brief moment of contemplation, she said, “Bradley, there’s a problem with my mother. I may need to
return.”
Bradley looked at Mandy with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, sending shivers down her spine.
“Bradley, if you think taking a plane is inappropriate, I can take a boat to a nearby city and then catch a flight back
to Capitus.
“You’ve heard what happened. My mother has been sheltered since she got together with my father. Now that
things have turned out like this, she can’t handle any pressure…”
Mandy wasn’t particularly eager to help Liora as she wasn’t her biological mother. If it weren’t for maintaining her
image as Mandy, she would have preferred to see Liora face the consequences and possibly go to prison.
“I’ll accompany you,” Bradley said.
Mandy was surprised. “You… You’ll come with me?”
Bradley raised an eyebrow. “As your fiance, is there any issue with me assisting you with your family matters?”
Mandy shook her head. “Of course not.”
Was Bradley genuinely this kind? What were his true intentions?
No, what was he really after?
Could it be that he was truly interested in the Pendletons’ hidden influence? If Esther had the support of the Quills,
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmwhat could Bradley, a mere businessman, do against her? Unless… he had his own power.
“Let’s go,” he commanded.
Mandy didn’t hesitate. “Okay.”
–
Mandy and Bradley boarded a helicopter, gazing at the distant night sky.
The seaside lighthouse resembled a wise guardian, guiding ships back home. The city lights in the distance
resembled a vast galaxy, and the scattered lights in the mountains and fields looked like stars dotting the night sky.
The private helicopter landed at a helipad. Then, Bradley and Mandy entered a car headed for the villa.
Returning from the tropical Southeast Varnusia to the wintry Capitus, Mandy felt as though she might freeze.
As soon as she and Bradley stepped out of the car, they noticed a seal on the gate of the Pendleton villa.
Her heart sank. Had they acted this swiftly? Had they already sealed the Pendletons’ property in such a short time?
“Bradley!”
As Bradley entered the garden, he spotted Jasper. He was dressed in a black fur coat and a black hat, with a thin
layer of snow on his shoulders. “Where have you hidden Esther?”