He called back, but Joanne's phone was powered off.

Chris threw his phone remorsefully and said, "I just should have guessed what she was about to do when she asked me to go home."

"Stop thinking about it. She wouldn't let you know anything if she decided to hide it from you," Freya said. "It's not difficult at all because even Brian is kept in the dark."

"" Chris could not refute.

"However, she isn't at her previous apartment, or at my house. And she can't be at Brian's home" Freya could not get any idea though she racked her brain. "If so, where would she go in Arlington? Could she be in a hotel?"

When her voice died down, Chris's phone rang.

"Boss Scott." It was Jack. "We've visited all the hotels above three-stars in the city, Miss Scott hasn't checked in. We're now investigating the hotels and inns under three-stars, but it may take some time. I'll call you later."

Chris hung up and suddenly figured it out. "Joanne's unlikely to stay in a hotel since she knows I will investigate it."

Freya's idea was blocked. "But where would she go if she's not in a hotel?"

"I have no idea." Chris shook his head and said, "We can't find her."

Feeling puzzled, Freya said, "Then who can do that?"

"Brian," Chris replied, stressing each word.

Prime Villas...

Brian did not sleep well and he seemed to be half-awake all night. He was out of breath for a time in his dream, with something wrapped tightly around his heart.

Brian woke up when it just dawned the next day. He turned over but found nobody by his side. All of a sudden, an invisible hand dug into his heart and took everything away.

After all that time, he was still unused to the days when she was not there.

Joanne's water glass, books unfinished reading, clothing, and personal items were the same as the first day she left, staying where they used to be. He did not ask Martha to clear them up, so no one dared to move her belongings without instructions.

The whole room had not been changed, as if Joanne still lived there.

However, these days, Brian was more and clearer that he was just deceiving himself and others.

It was only 7:20 a.m. after he finished his breakfast. Unexpectedly, Brian received a call from Chris when he was about to go to his company.

"Half-past eight. Meet you at the Business Cafe on Pujiang Road." Chris did not say an extra word.

"I have a meeting at nine"

Chris interrupted Brian. "Whether you come to meet me or not is up to you. But you will certainly regret it if you don't."

Seeing Brian walk out of the house, Winston got out of the car, opened the door, and asked as usual, "Are you going to the company?"

Brian hesitated for a while and said, "No, I'm going to Pujiang Road."

The car passed through the morning peak traffic and arrived at the exact time in front of the Business Cafe.

There were few people sitting at leisure for coffee in the early morning, so Brian noticed Chris as soon as he entered the cafe. He walked straight toward him and asked, "What are you going to tell me?"

Chris unhurriedly put up his hand and asked the waiter to give Brian a menu. Brian ordered an espresso.

The espresso was soon ready. But Brian did not take a drink at all, waiting for Chris's words.

"Joanne told me about your father and mentioned Rowdy," Chris said. "Recently, I got a message about Rowdy as well as Rosalyn."

Brian's eyes dimmed. "About what?"

"It says that they are cooperating with each other." Chris calmly spoke out the words that he had already organized. "You had close contact with Rosalyn, so I wonder if Rowdy would use her to take you down. I just wanted to give you a heads-up."

In principle, Brian should express his thanks to Chris.

He did not say anything but just stared at Chris with his torch-like eyes, as if seeing through him.

However, Chris could totally bear the staring and looked right into Brian's eyes relaxedly and calmly.

After their silence, Brian asked with a low and cold voice, "Why did someone deliberately tell you about their cooperation since you've never met Rosalyn and you just know of Rowdy?"

"" Chris didn't respond.

Brian seemed to figure out something and continued to ask, "Who is it that gave you the message?"

Chris said with a smile, "Don't you already know?"

It was really Joanne!

In a flash, memories strung together one after another in Brian's mind.

He had suspected that Rosalyn threatened Joanne with the loans of Southern Union Bank, but he never realized that Rowdy was behind Rosalyn.

If it was Rowdy who manipulated everything from behind, then the case was entirely cleared.

Rowdy had something on him, so he and Rosalyn threatened Joanne. As a result, Joanne had to divorce him even though she was told that the financial crisis of Lambert Group was not a problem.

Though he thought there were some factors involved when Joanne asked for a divorce, he had never believed that Rowdy would contact Joanne.

Although the crisis of Lambert Group was removed then, Joanne still could not come back to him because of Rowdy's threat.

That was why Joanne never changed her mind and even took relentless actions when he continuously gave her chances.

It seemed that Joanne could still have a bright future since she became Shawn's girlfriend and was accepted by the Jameson Family.

In fact, however, she was suffering greater pain than him.

Brian suddenly stood up with his pupils shrinking sharply and walked out of the cafe quickly.

When getting in the car, he received a call from Gavin. "It's nine and all the shareholders are waiting for you in the conference room. Where are you?"

"Put off the conference and go to the hospital for Wendy now."

Eagerly but calmly, he spoke out every word clearly with a cold and serious tone that could not be ignored. Gavin could not remember how long it had been since he had heard Brian's tone like that. He asked in bewilderment, "Wendy again? Why?"

Brian briefly talked about how Rowdy and Rosalyn threatened Joanne. Gavin said in a daze, "So, you believe that Joanne didn't have that operation and Wendy helped her hide it from you?"

"Exactly," Brian said, "you told me that the hospital thought highly of Wendy. So she could pull strings to help Joanne conceal the truth even if she isn't in the OB-GYN department."

Gavin suddenly saw the light. "I'll go to the hospital right away!"

The Eighth People's Hospital...

Wendy did not sleep well, for she felt remorse about the disappearance of Joanne from the night before. She bent over her desk and could not stop yawning since she arrived at the hospital in the early morning.

Her colleague woke her up and said, "Wendy, wake up, the director has come! Uh, so has a handsome guy!"

It took very long for Wendy to realize what happened. She looked up sleepily and saw Gavin, a head taller than the director, standing by his side. She gasped and promptly picked up a magazine to hide her face.

"Everyone, get out," said the director.

"Oh."

Wendy sneaked into the crowd to the door, but was grabbed from the back of the neck by Gavin. He said with a faint smile on his face, "Young lady, you should stay here."

"Director Wang!" Wendy cried out for help.

"Wendy, Mr. Gavin came here for you. You two can talk about your issues here." Director Wang ignored Wendy's pitiful eyes, walked out, and closed the door considerately.

Wendy felt like weeping but had no tears. She threw off Gavin's hand and shouted, "Don't touch me before you say anything. Rogue, get off me!"

Gavin took out the informed consent and the receipts of induced labor operation and showed them to Wendy. "Be honest. Have you pulled strings in the hospital and forged these receipts for Joanne to conceal something?"

"Nonsense!" Wendy threw all the receipts into the wastebasket and looked at Gavin with a smile. "Why do you stay in an intern office? How about going and seeing the great world outside?"

Gavin seemed to be a little bit lost and asked the young lady, "What do you mean?"

"Scram!" Wendy picked up a folder, put a pen in her breast pocket, and said, "I need to work now. Old boy, you can stay here as you wish. Enjoy yourself."

Before she reached the door, Wendy was yanked back and held down on the chair. She glared at Gavin but was interrupted by him before she could speak.

"Be quiet!" Gavin looked at her coldly. "Unless you want to be mistaken by those outside."

"Rogue! Hooligan! Bastard!"

Wendy cursed in her mind while glaring at Gavin and asked, "What do you want?"

"I want you to tell the truth." Gavin sat on the desk with his feet on the floor. He looked at Wendy relaxedly and said unhurriedly, "But you don't seem to. It doesn't matter; there is time enough for that."

Wendy did not know where Joanne was but still kept her words in mind-you should never tell the truth no matter if you meet Gavin or Brian.

Wendy rolled her eyes at Gavin, stood up, and was about to leave. Gavin clicked his tongue and tied her up.

He did not doubt at all that he could deal with a young lady in her early 20s!

"Behave yourself and tell me the truth, or you'll have to stay here all day." Gavin spoke with menace in his voice.

As for force, Wendy clearly knew that she was not his opponent, but she was confident that he was no match for her when it came to patience.

With a "Bang-" sound, Wendy lifted her legs and put her feet on the desk. Sitting in a relaxed posture, she said with a smile, "Then you'll have to stay here all day, too!"

"You" Gavin gnashed his teeth. "You're lucky you are Chris's cousin."

Otherwise, he would do all he could to make that young lady beg him through tears and snivels!

Wendy made a triumphant face at Gavin. But the phone in her pocket rang suddenly.

"It's your phone ringing!" Gavin said with impatience.

Wendy struggled and said, "How can I answer the phone when my hands are tied!? Take it out!"

Gavin had to take Wendy's phone out of her pocket. The caller ID was just a string of numbers, so he thought it was a stranger calling. He pressed "answer" and put the phone beside Wendy's ear.

Wendy just shouted, "Cousin, help! Someone wants to kidnap me!"

Then came Chris's voice with doubt. "Are you with Gavin?"

"Exactly!" Wendy darted a look at Gavin.

"Wendy," Chris said, "it's ok to tell him the truth now."

Wendy could not understand it for a while. "But my cousin sister said OK, I see."

After the call, Wendy stared at Gavin. "Untie me!"

Gavin did not hurry and asked, "Will you tell me the truth?"

"I won't if you don't!"

Again, Gavin had to do as the young lady said and untied her, waiting for her words.

Wendy stood up and relaxed for a while. After having a glass of water, she told all the details to Gavin, who could not be more curious.

Gavin left in a hurry after being told that Joanne did not have an abortion.