Anger throbbed inside me. I had finally put Summer to bed and needed to vent, so I returned to my room and video-called Anthony.
The camera captured my darkened expression, down to my crinkled eyes that frowned. As soon as Anthony picked up the phone, he saw my furious gaze that could burn holes through him.
His brows twitched as he flashed me an amused half-smile. “Have I perhaps done anything to upset you today?”
“Yeah, you ticked me off.”
We wouldn’t have faked our divorce if we didn’t need to get revenge. Then I wouldn’t get tricked into a blind date with Elliot, nor would I be thrown around as a pawn in Cameron and Zachary’s calculative ways.
Although these were only words of anger, it made sense that I would feel this way since an angered woman often acted emotionally rather than sensibly.
Anthony frowned. His face scrunched into confusion. “After coming back from the hospital, I was in the office the entire time and only came in contact with Joseph, the secretary who delivered my coffee. So who could have possibly gotten my honey’s knickers in a twist?”
Because he had a clear conscience, he spoke in a bubbly, almost joker-like manner that prompted laughter from me. His exaggerated frown made it hard to stay upset at him.
A giggle snuck out from my tightly clamped lips. “Quit acting so silly! I was trying to tell you that I got set up on a blind date.”
“A blind date?” Anthony’s eyes wiggled into a doubtful gaze. Then his voice sprang with an airiness that teased me, “Woah, it takes guts to go on a blind date with you. Who in K City could possibly be so reckless and not value their lives?”
I let out a deep chesty scoff. “How is dating me reckless? Am I really that bad?”
Deep laughter rumbled from Anthony. “You seem to have forgotten what I said during the Ziegler family’s anniversary banquet.”
This took me by surprise as I tried to recall that night’s events.
At that banquet, Thora almost successfully splashed her beverage all over me. It wasn’t a great experience, but at least Anthony publicly defended me and said that no matter what, we will always share a bond since we have children between us.
The pros to his words were that they discouraged anyone from purposefully making my life difficult in the future. At the same time, he eliminated the possibility of potential suitors around me. It deterred those who wanted my hand in marriage, as well as those who were after my powerful influence since I had the support of the Stanhope and Moore family. This was because they would have to compete against Anthony, and given his pristine status, any competitors would be foolishly asking for social suicide.
Seeing him so smug, my lips pinched with annoyance. “How are you so confident that I won’t fall for another man?”
Anthony’s gaze narrowed on me. His eyes flickered to a menacing pitch-black. “It’s not that I’m confident. Rather, it’s because I know that you won’t tolerate messy relationships in your life. We’re alike in that aspect; fidelity is something that you regard highly, if not more than I do.”
His serious words struck me by surprise and left me dumbfounded.
He truly knew me like the back of his hand.
This was what I believed true love to be; a love where both parties were free to conquer their own domains, but the love between them would remain strong and unchanged.
After giving it some thought, I no longer felt mad and decided to change the topic. “What do you think Cameron and Zachary are planning? They literally wasted all their time on your and Rylee’s stupid marriage alliance in the past. They were so blinded by that and never realized that we were actually family. Yet, now they’re trying to force me into a marriage alliance? Don’t you think they’re going too far?”
“People change,” Anthony soothed. “Everyone reacts differently in tough times… Maybe you should investigate if the Moore family is in trouble. You did deal a heavy blow to them back when you tried to avenge Macy. Perhaps a rival snuck past their defenses now that they’re weakened. Hence, your parents resorted to the marriage alliance? But then again, these are just my optimistic deductions. I’m not sure if your parents have other reasons, so I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.”
I nodded. A look of solemn contemplation showed on my face as I looked at Anthony. “I noticed that Herman and Thora seemed closer at Bryson’s father’s birthday banquet. Have the Zieglers and the Trivetts signed on to the Pitcoin business deal?”
Anthony cracked a proud smile. “Yep. They’ve taken the bait. My men have begun analyzing the steps to cracking Pitcoin’s software, so it won’t be long before they succeed. You don’t have to worry about a thing since I’m handling this. Now, back to important matters since you’ve piqued my interest—who’s the man that’s bold enough to go on a blind date with you?”
It was indeed suspicious that Elliot rushed from overseas to go on a blind date with me during this tumultuous time.
“Elliot Jacobson,” I uttered with seriousness. “A local from M Country that recently returned from abroad. Also, I think Zachary is interested in a business collaboration with the Jacobson family.”
“Got it, I’ll have Joseph run a check later.”
“Okay.”
I nodded obediently. Then in the split second that followed, I caught a glimpse of Anthony’s brows flinching in pain. Although it was very brief and subtle, I definitely saw it.
“Anthony? Are you alright?” My eyes stared with great concern at his face while my smile faltered.
“Mm-hmm, what’s wrong?” Anthony held a normal expression as if nothing had ever happened. He cast an innocent face at me before revealing a tired look. It seemed like he had deliberately focused the camera so that I could see him kneading his brows. He sighed deeply, “I’ve been overwhelmed with work these past two days and haven’t had proper rest. I suppose I should take some time off to get a good night’s sleep.”
My face stiffened with concern at this. I uttered a quick response, “You should hang up and turn in early since you’re tired.”
Anthony stared straight into the camera as his lips curved slightly. “You should go to bed too. I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Anthony hung up right after I responded. Seeing the screen flicker back into the call history, my heart sank.
He had always been skilled at disguising his emotions, not showing a hint of how he truly felt. It was the same when it came to business; he would never reveal his thoughts to his opponents, regardless of whether the situation he faced was good or bad.
But I’m not his opponent… I’m his wife, the one who’s been by his side for ten years and knows him the most.
I knew him all too well. It was impossible for that man, who constantly sought after perfection, to feel tired.
My instincts told me that Anthony was definitely hiding something from me, and it felt like the kind of secret that worried me.
I slumped on the bed for nearly a minute before the memories of recent events flashed through my mind. With haste, I scrambled for the phone and dialed Millie’s number.
“Get the car. I’m going over to Featherstone Corporation.”
Millie’s efficiency was considered one of the most elite. She had parked the car across the street by the time I was done getting ready.
I clambered onto the passenger seat with my eyes glued in the distance. My lips scrunched tightly as I managed one word, “Hurry.”
Millie said nothing, but she understood my instruction perfectly. She slammed onto the accelerator and sped for our destination.
It took less than twenty minutes for us to arrive in front of Featherstone Corporation. I dashed inside, unbothered if Thora or anyone else had strategically placed any spies around the area.
At that time of day, Featherstone Corporation wasn’t empty. Almost every floor had about one or two lights on, indicating that there were many employees working overtime. I raced into the lift and hurriedly pressed onto the floor where the president’s office is located.
Once the elevator doors opened, I sprinted out and barged into his office. What I saw next was just as I had expected—no one was there.
He said he was working overtime half an hour ago, and then I couldn’t reach him no matter what I did. That was impossible. I stood before the door and went through my call record to call back.
The phone kept beeping, but nobody picked it up until the end. Anthony had always been a light sleeper, nor would he leave a personal call hanging for no reason. I knew it. He’s in trouble.
I pondered on the matter for a short while before video calling Joseph. He took it a while later, his background a great scenery. “Do you need anything, Mrs. Featherstone?” His face was deadpan as ever.
“Where’s Anthony?”
“He didn’t tell me where he’s going,” he blurted without thinking.
“Is that so?” Nope, that was obviously a lie. Anthony wouldn’t keep him around as his assistant if he didn’t even know where his boss went. “Fine. I won’t look for him then, but I’ll have to see you. Where are you right now?”
Joseph thought about it for a moment before answering, “I’ll go over to you, alright?”
“Good. We’ll meet up at Featherstone Corporation. I’ll be waiting in Anthony’s office. You have twenty minutes.” I hung up before he could say anything.
I leaned back against the chair, looking up, and thought about Anthony’s reaction earlier. He had great control over his emotions, so he wouldn’t show any signs of pain unless it was unbearable for him.
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.
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