“Understood,” the bodyguard answered respectfully. Then he took out a key and unfastened the safety lock hanging on the door before pushing the door open.
But when we walked in, the huge room was empty.
Emery and I exchanged a glance, reckoning that Joseph must have hidden away. “Perhaps he’s in the bathroom.”
As I said that, I pushed open the bathroom door but still saw no one there. However, the exhaust fan on the ceiling had been pried open, and the hole was just the perfect size for a grown man.
It was clear as day that he had already taken off.
At that turn of events, Emery grew morose. “Why did he hightail it out of here when I wasn’t going to hurt him?”
I gauged the distance between the exhaust fan and the floor. Although there was a chair to boost him up, it would’ve certainly taken quite some effort to climb up. Emery said he’s already doped up, so he’s likely weak and lethargic. Still, he climbed up with sheer willpower alone.
An unspeakable wave of sorrow flooded me as I recalled his restrained voice on the phone earlier. “He didn’t want someone he knows to see him in such a condition.”
He has always been immaculate before others, so how could he possibly tolerate showing others the most pathetic side of him? Even as a bystander, I feel as though it has never happened when I didn’t behold it with my own eyes, what’s more Joseph himself.
“No, that’s not right.” All of a sudden, something occurred to me. If he has been reduced to this, what about his wife and children?
Having thought of that, I quickly phoned the company secretary and asked for Joseph’s address. No matter what, I had to go and take a look at things personally before I could rest easy.
After making the call, I contacted Millie next. Learning that she was nearby, I arranged to meet her at the entrance.
Throughout it all, Emery stood at the side and watched silently without offering any opinion. Nevertheless, she appeared hesitant, seemingly having something to say.
Afraid that something had happened to her, yet she was reluctant to bother me, I inquired with feigned nonchalance as I put my phone away, “Is there anything else?”
Emery shook her head, jolting out of her contemplation. She looked me right in the eye. “No. Are you leaving right away?”
“Yeah.” I nodded firmly. Again, a rush of guilt assailed me. “It was afternoon when Joseph got the call, so it’s already late that I’m going now.”
Emery was stunned for a moment before she dipped her head a fraction in acknowledgment. Subsequently, she added, “I mean, Anthony is also coming over in a while. Are you not going to see him first before you leave?”
“Why is he coming?” I queried.
“I notified him. Joseph is his subordinate, so there’s no reason for him not to show up,” Emery explained.
No sooner had she finished saying that than even footsteps came from the door, followed by the bodyguards greeting, “Mr. Featherstone.”
Hearing the sounds, I cast my gaze over, only to be greeted by the sight of Anthony walking in expressionlessly.
He wasn’t at all surprised to see me. Instead, he calmly swept a gaze over the room. Upon seeing no signs of Joseph, he looked in our direction and asked placidly, “Where is he?”
“He made off.” Emery shrugged, indicating that everything was as he could see, and there was no need to search anymore.
After hearing that, Anthony lowered his eyes, seemingly in contemplation. In the next moment, he spun on his heels to leave.
“Wait!” I called him back. “Do you know what they did to him?”
Anthony stopped with his back to me, utterly silent.
Perhaps he didn’t know anything, or maybe he didn’t want to admit it, but I wanted him to face it and confront everything he once cared about deeply.
“They broke into his house and caged his wife and children in, blackmailing and threatening him. They injected drugs into him. You’ve seen what an addict looks like. That’s exactly Joseph’s condition right now. He trusts you greatly, but what about you? How did you treat him? You merely watched as Rylee humiliated him and walked over him, forcing him to pay the price of his dignity for your personal grievance. And now, he’s even tormented by drugs, not even daring to see anyone. This is how you treat a friend who’s even closer to you than a brother!”
Walking up to him, I forced him to look me in the eye. The distance between us remained mere inches.
When I noticed that his ebony eyes were staring back at me, my confidence soared. I looked right at him without backing down in the least. “Actually, you’re only putting on an act. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come.”
Anthony tilted his head slightly, his gaze darkening a shade. “So?”
His sudden question startled me, and my mind went blank as I stared at his familiar face.
I thought that most bystanders in the world were kind, even toward strangers. When they saw someone in a sorry state, compassion would then well within them. But at that very moment, there wasn’t a hint of sympathy in Anthony’s eyes.
Is he hiding it too well, or am I too sensitive?
“Don’t tell me you think Joseph deserves to be treated in such a manner?” My voice seemingly came from the depths of my throat. I cowardly felt that I wouldn’t hear an answer I found unacceptable as long as I didn’t provoke him.
Alas, reality proved me wrong.
Without even batting an eyelash, Anthony replied in a voice as calm as ever, “No, but I can only say that he’s not smart enough.”
“What?” I didn’t grasp the meaning of that utterance right away.
For once, Anthony finally showed some patience though his words remained dry and unpleasant. “Am I not safe and sound?”
His words had helplessness inundating me. When did he become so egotistical? Those people were obviously sent by Rylee to take revenge on Joseph. What has that got to do with whether Joseph is as astute as him?
I propped my head against my hand in exasperation. I’ve got to straighten out my thoughts before I can figure out a way to correct his twisted thinking.
However, Anthony unceremoniously moved to walk past me. Fortunately, I reacted swiftly and took a step to the side, blocking his path.
It’s rare that Nathaniel and Rylee aren’t by his side, messing things up, so I can’t possibly waste this golden opportunity to interact with him!
Anthony halted in his steps, his brows furrowing slightly. Canting his head with his gaze fixated on me, he warned, “You’d better allow me to leave immediately, and perhaps Joseph would live.”
A strong sense of oppression hit me, and I unwittingly froze. I gazed into his ebony eyes, wondering whether to believe that.
After all, he said it himself that I was trouble, and he had plenty of ways to rid himself of me.
As Anthony clocked my expression, a faint smile of triumph bloomed on his face. “You can continue stopping me from leaving if you don’t believe me. It’s just a mere life. At most, I’ll pay more in death gratuity and consider it as repaying our friendship of the past as well.”
Money, money, money! The moment he opens his mouth, it’s always money and profit! This side of him is truly horrible! If possible, I really want to jump onto him and thump his head where those unruly thoughts originate!
Ah, no. I can’t do that. Joseph isn’t in his right mind, and it’s dangerous for him to be alone out there. Despite my resentment, I could only grit my teeth and retract my hand, watching as Anthony strutted away.
His back was no different from before, broad and solid. Yet, I couldn’t help the grief welling up within me.
What exactly are you thinking about, Anthony? You should’ve kept those villains in line if you wanted to save Joseph. But then, why did you rush over if otherwise? I’ve got no choice but to admit that I really have no way of discerning the truth when he truly wants to hide his emotions.
After all, someone who naively thought that love would never change could only remain passively in a checkmate forever.
“Hmm? Why did he suddenly become so wily? Who did he learn it from?” Emery had no inkling of the changes in Anthony, so she assumed that they were having a fight.
When she received no response from me, she stepped forward and nudged me gently. Then she threw me a wink in feigned frivolity. “Cheer up. There are plenty of fishes in the sea, and you’re a modern woman, so how could you be so crestfallen because of a man? I’ll go about your business with you first, okay?”
Lowering my head, I chuckled bitterly before riposting her teasing despite my pain, “Tons of women would be ruined if you were a man since you’re such an expert in mollifying others!”
“That’s great!” Emery took my arm with another step forward. As she walked out, she smugly declared, “I’ll start with you, then!”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply