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Chapter 31
“No, I went alone, you see. And coincidentally, Zane also registered, so we agreed to meet up and climb up the mountain together,” Zac explained with a glimmer of satisfaction, his hand tenderly caressing the spot where Jane had touched. The corner of his mouth curved into a subtle smile, hinting at the pleasure he derived from their shared adventure.
Meanwhile, back at the luxurious villa, Annie anxiously awaited their return for what felt like an eternity. Observing Jane and Zane’s absence, a wave of relief washed over her. She rushed to greet Drake, her words tumbling out in a rush, “Drake, how is Zac doing?”
Annie couldn’t help but express her frustration with Jane’s naivety. “Jane should have known better, shouldn’t she? She was well aware of Zac’s injuries, yet she insisted on sending him back first. Shouldn’t we have prioritized Zac’s treatment instead?” Her voice carried a tinge of reproach, her self–blame deeply etched on her face.
“It’s my fault too. I shouldn’t have allowed Zac to join that youngster on the mountain. If only I had intervened sooner and prevented him from participating in the competition, this unfortunate incident could have been averted. Drake, punish me if you must.”
As he stepped out of the car, Drake caught wind of Annie’s ceaseless chatter. His brows furrowed, and his features contorted in a mixture of worry and concern. He carefully cradled Zac in his arms, slowly making their way into the house.
“Has Dr. William shown up yet?”
“He’s already here, right in the room, Drake. Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you angry with me?” Annie pursued Drake with reluctance.
In annoyance, he halted abruptly and replied nonchalantly, “You should head back first. Zac still requires treatment and some peace.”
Upon hearing this, Annie froze in her tracks. What did he mean? Did he think she was being too noisy?
Carrying Zac into the room, the little boy nestled in his father’s arms, sensing the comforting warmth and feeling a tad perplexed.
“Daddy, it was Mom who enrolled me in the competition, not Zane,” announced the little boy, his voice filled with innocence and honesty.
Drake paused for a fleeting moment, his features reflecting a mixture of surprise and concern. Without wasting another second, he strode purposefully into his room, his footsteps echoing in the hallway.
Passing the documents to Dr. William, Drake headed to his study and dialed his assistant’s number.
“I want you to dig into this. How did things go down at the kids‘ mountain climbing contest today?”
The phone call ended, leaving Drake alone with his thoughts once more. He sat there, motionless, his fingers rhythmically tapping on the polished surface of the wooden table. The depths of his eyes betrayed a storm of thoughts.
After successfully bringing Zane home unscathed, Jane wasted no time dialing Jasper’s
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number. She urgently sought his assistance in uncovering the details of the competition that had taken place in Pine Ridge that very day. You see, Jane wasn’t one to believe in mere coincidences or random mishaps. She possessed a keen understanding of Annie’s character, and she couldn’t simply accept that today’s unfortunate incident was a result of Annie’s doings alone. No, it had a purpose–a motive she couldn’t quite grasp.
The following day, Drake and Jane found themselves face–to–face with two distinct. investigation reports. The documents laid bare the truth, each presenting its own set of findings and revelations.
“Indeed, it is confirmed that Madam escorted Young Master to the competition,” the assistant began. “This particular tech toy company happens to be in cahoots with some of Madam’s relatives. Upon learning of the event, Madam felt compelled to take Young Master along. However, it’s crucial to note that Madam herself has no personal acquaintances within the company. Hence, what occurred yesterday was most likely a tragic accident.”
“In the midst of the fervor, apart from Young Master, two other children went missing as well. Fortunately, they were found promptly, rendering their disappearances somewhat inconspicuous. Consequently, their plight failed to attract significant attention amidst the bustling crowd.”
Drake absorbed the assistant’s words, his mind whirling with conflicting thoughts and unanswered questions. He couldn’t understand how everything had unfolded so inexplicably. What was the purpose behind all this chaos? He was silent for a while before raising his hand to dismiss the assistant.
The assistant turned on his heels and approached the exit when Drake’s voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks. The assistant turned around, a mix of surprise and curiosity etched on his face, waiting for his boss‘ next words. In a firm tone, Drake expressed his dissatisfaction, “In the future, refrain from referring to her as Madam. It’s not the most appropriate way to address her.”
The assistant’s eyes widened, his brows knitting together as he absorbed Drake’s request. It was unexpected, catching him off guard, but he understood the underlying message. A flicker of sadness passed through his eyes, mingling with confusion. What caused the CEO to bring about such a change?
His mind buzzed with questions, but he knew better than to voice them aloud. He nodded and continued his steps towards the door while suppressing the swirling sea of confusion and curiosity brewing within him, burying it deep within his heart.
Jane slammed the investigation results onto the table, her face contorted with a mix of fury and indignation. “No doubt about it, it’s her!” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration and disbelief.
Jasper, observing the evidence alongside Jane, furrowed his brows and inquired with a skeptical tone, “But why would she do such a thing? Zac is her own flesh and blood.”
Intrigued by his question, Jane’s rage subsided momentarily, allowing her to ponder the complex relationship between Annie and Zac. She retraced the steps of their relationship in her mind, and a realization began to dawn on her. Could it be that Annie’s favoritism towards Zac played a role in this sinister plot? Jane wondered if Zac’s unwavering loyalty to his mother led him to harbor resentment towards Annie, causing her to unleash her pent–up anger and orchestrate this disastrous incident.
Early the next day, Jane strolled into the entrance of the company’s towering building. Soon, a wave of astonishment rippled through the bustling office. Her presence was like a bolt of lightning, electrifying the atmosphere and capturing the attention of every employee in sight.
As Jane approached Drake’s office, a heated discussion was already underway. Employees huddled in small groups, exchanging hushed remarks and stealing glances towards the door.
“I can’t believe my eyes. Is that the CEO’s wife, Jane, who just stepped into his office?” These employees carefully handpicked to work directly under Drake, were a league of extraordinary professionals. They were fiercely dedicated to their work and exclusively committed to Drake’s vision. Naturally, the turnover rate was low, and familiarity was their second nature. They knew Jane all too well.
You see, five years ago, Jane used to frequent the company, seeking Drake’s attention for various reasons. But back then, he treated her with cold indifference. Even though he had tried to bury those memories, these veteran employees still carried the knowledge.
So, when news spread that the president’s long–lost wife had suddenly reappeared, it was nothing short of a seismic shock.
“What on earth is happening?! Did anyone else see the CEO’s wife just now? Is she even real or some kind of ethereal spirit? Her presence sends shivers down my spine, but a ghost seems too far–fetched, right?”
Unlike the commotion outside, Jane stormed in and threw the investigation materials onto Drake’s desk. Her voice dripped with frost as she said, “Drake, did you dig into what went down with Zac and Zane yesterday?”
Drake engrossed in poring over the documents in his hands, slowly raised his eyes upon hearing Jane’s question. His response was detached, devoid of any emotion. Silence hung in the air.
Unfazed by his aloof demeanor, she decided to confront the matter head–on. “Annie was the one who set up this competition, you know. And guess what? The organizers happen to have ties with Annie’s relatives. Annie might not know them personally, but she did have contact with one of the staff members involved.”
Intrigued by her investigation, he gently set down his pen and fixed Jane with a penetrating gaze. “So? Are you suggesting she’s the culprit?”
“It’s not a mere suspicion, Drake,” she retorted, her voice tinged with anger. Despite being well aware of Drake’s unwavering support for Annie, she clung to a glimmer of hope deep within her, for it concerned Zane, and she hoped that Drake could be reasonable for once. “It’s a certainty. She’s the one responsible, isn’t she?”
Confronted by Jane’s furious glare, Drake summoned his assistant, urging him to enter the office.
The assistant stepped in, his unease evident. He had been involved in President Drake and Jane’s affairs on numerous occasions before, often tasked with driving Jane away from the company. However, as he entered now, he heard Drake’s icy voice demanding an update on
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his investigation. “Did you look into the situation between the organizer and Annie?”
Under the weight of Drake’s cold demeanor, the assistant’s forehead began to perspire.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you report it?” Drake’s forehead pulsated with bulging blue veins.
“Because… Sir… Ms. Carlton and the organizer were classmates back in junior high, and they happened to meet each other at a class reunion. It was a crowded gathering, and they didn’t have a chance to be alone. I thought… I thought…”
“Go back and investigate again!” Drake’s veins bulged on his hand, as he threw the investigation materials submitted by his assistant in the morning, fiercely smashing them onto the assistant’s body.
“Yes…” The assistant trembled with fear. He picked up the documents and hurriedly left to conduct another investigation.
Jane remained in the office, nonchalantly seated on the sofa, awaiting the results of the investigation. Observing her composure, Drake’s rigid demeanor softened slightly. Her gaze inadvertently drifted across the familiar objects in the office.
Taking in her surroundings, she realized that nothing had changed since five years ago. She did not know whether to say this man was single–minded or nostalgic.
Two hours later, the assistant placed the investigation results once again on Drake’s desk. It is even more detailed than the information brought by Jane.
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