"Franklin and I will try to find out their whereabouts. As long as they are not causing you trouble, everything will be fine. You can prepare today and go see Lars Alden."
Evelyn Clayton responded and, after hanging up the call, saw a missed call.
The phone number was unfamiliar. Evelyn Clayton frowned and pondered for a long time before calling back.
After about ten rings, there was a beep and the call connected.
"Hello, who is this?" Evelyn Clayton rubbed her temples, her voice indifferent and businesslike.
The other end was silent, no response at all.
Just as Evelyn Clayton’s patience was running out and she was about to hang up, a sound suddenly came from the other side—
Then a low, processed male voice came through.
"Hello, Evelyn Clayton."
There was a loud static noise in the voice, like some kind of voice changer was used, making it sound eerie.
Evelyn Clayton’s eyes instantly sharpened. After a long pause, she asked in a deep voice, "Who is this?"
"That’s not important." The man’s voice was flat. "I’ll only say this once."
"Leave Y Province within 24 hours. If you can make it to The Southill Autumnwind Villa in Eldridge, maybe you’ll see something you want to see."
After speaking, a disconnected tone immediately followed from the other end.
Evelyn Clayton’s pupils constricted slightly, and she called out, "Hello?"
She shouted several times in a row, but had to accept that the man had indeed hung up.
She stood there, a trace of anxiety in her eyes.
Eldridge, The Southill Autumnwind Villa...
A chill crept into her heart, one that she couldn’t quite put into words.
She remembered that place, rumored to be the private property of the Chandler Family’s head, the president of The Merchants’ Guild.
As she was thinking, her phone rang once more.
Evelyn Clayton snapped out of her contemplation, shivering slightly, perhaps due to the rain or something else.
Seeing the name "James Grant" on the phone, Evelyn Clayton felt a bit of a headache.
She sighed silently and picked up the call once again.
James Grant’s voice was slightly sullen, "Where are you?" Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on nοvelfire.net
Hearing the displeasure in James Grant’s voice, Evelyn Clayton’s throat moved as she slowly replied, "In Y Province."
There was no longer any need to hide.
The strange call just now had completely disrupted Evelyn Clayton’s pace.
Should she return, or should she not?
"Why didn’t you tell me you were going to Y Province?" James Grant’s voice carried a hint of unexpressed anger. "You just left without a word?"
Evelyn Clayton closed her eyes, her words carrying a tinge of fatigue, "I just went on a business trip, do I really need to report to you and get your permission?"
After she finished speaking, there was silence on the other end.
Evelyn Clayton belatedly realized that what she said just now was indeed somewhat unpleasant.
She couldn’t afford to anger James Grant right now.
Evelyn Clayton pursed her lips and began to make amends, "I’ll be back soon, that’s why I didn’t tell you."
"Evelyn Clayton, do you think of me as your boyfriend at all?"
James Grant suddenly asked, with an undercurrent of grievance in his voice.
Evelyn Clayton choked up for a moment, almost feeling like laughing.
Mockery flashed in her eyes, and after a long while, she looked down and asked out of nowhere, "Do you think a relationship like ours can last?"
After a moment, James Grant’s voice grew slightly tense as he asked in return, "What do you mean?"
"It means nothing." Evelyn Clayton looked out at the curtain of rain outside the window. "I think you and I both know well that our relationship isn’t something your father would approve of."
James Grant suddenly laughed.
The laughter carried a hint of coldness.
"So now, do you want to break up with me?"