Ending the call and clutching the phone in her palm, Titus Zane fell into deep thought.
Ariana Evans’s words and demeanor showed not a hint of abnormality, full of concern and affection.
Titus Zane didn’t know whether she was too good at pretending or whether she herself was overly paranoid, to the point of questioning a relative who loved her dearly.
Last night, Jon suggested another trip to the Capital City to meet Abigail Zimmerman and clear up the matter about Nicole Zane.
In truth, when it came to Nicole Zane’s origins, both seemed to have an implicit understanding—the distinguished Zane Family of the Capital City, military elders of the red third generation...
Yet, Titus Zane harbored many doubts. If this family was so prestigious and powerful, why, when their own daughter suffered such a great misfortune, did they not pursue an investigation?
And why would a girl who grew up in such privileged surroundings, supposed to be pampered and protected like a princess, risk dealing in arms trafficking at just eighteen years old, still naive to the ways of the world?
Was it just youthful rebellion?
Reactivating the phone’s lock screen, Titus Zane set Nicole Zane’s photo as the wallpaper. Looking at the girl’s carefree laugh, Titus Zane felt an illusion, as if the photo were a keepsake from her own youth, because that face was almost identical to how she looked at eighteen or nineteen.
As the touchscreen gradually dimmed, her grip on the phone tightened bit by bit.
Titus Zane made up her mind; after completing this assignment, she would definitely take a trip to the Capital City to meet Abigail Zimmerman in person.
To meet that woman, who might be her relative.
In T City, as Olivia Zane watched the man methodically pack his clothes into the suitcase, her clenched fingers were obviously restless.
Wanting to stop him, yet finding no excuse.
But to let the man leave without protest was too hard to bear.
On the phone, her mother told her that Titus Zane had found a job in Banyan City, and now, Nathan was going to fly there to personally oversee the new branch office.
If it weren’t for her mother’s phone call, she wouldn’t have thought too much or felt jealous—that men, should prioritize their careers, as it was when they first met.
Back then, not long after the death of his parents, the young Nathan had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of managing the company, working tirelessly day and night, sometimes too busy even to find time to eat.
And her role was that of a food delivery courier, carrying meal boxes and entering his company at least twice a day...
Suppressing the sourness and jealousy in her heart, Olivia Zane spoke up, her lips curving into a gentle smile, her tone as tender as ever.
"Nathan, how long will you work in Banyan City this time?"
After putting the last shirt into the suitcase and closing it, Nathan Moore said, "Perhaps two months, or maybe a bit longer."
Of course, that would depend on how long that woman would work in Banyan City.
She had said in that phone call that she would return after working in Banyan City for a few months.
Her clenched fingers tightened, Olivia Zane wanted to make one last effort.
She stepped forward, and even those slow paces seemed strenuous, step by step, until she came beside Nathan Moore, grasped his arm, lifted her small face, her porcelain doll-like visage facing the side profile of the man, her moist lips slightly pursed in a pitiful pout.
"Can’t you not go? It’s going to be two months, I’ll miss you..."
After zipping up the suitcase, Nathan Moore turned his handsome face towards her, his slender lips curving slightly, and with a lifted wrist, a large palm landed on Olivia Zane’s crown, gently stroking. "Silly, we’re an old married couple by now, you shouldn’t say such cheesy things."
Looking into Nathan Moore’s eyes filled with a smile, Olivia Zane felt a wave of sadness engulf her heart.
The palm on her head was as warm as ever, his smile was just as tender, only——
His words of affection were what made her heartache.
Old married couple—a term of endearment that sounded so pleasant, yet they were nothing of the sort!
At that moment, Olivia Zane suddenly thought of a phrase, "the most familiar strangers."