Chapter 208: Didn’t She Tell You?
Leona Grant stood before the floor-to-ceiling window. His deep-set eyes watched the bustling crowd below. It should have felt lively, but at this moment, all he felt was an intense emptiness.
He stood there for a long time, lips pressed together. He wanted to see Annabelle Linton, but he had no reason to.
His gloomy mood hadn’t improved at all by the time he got off work in the evening.
Leona Grant threw himself into his work as if to vent, trying to numb himself. Suddenly, his phone rang.
He grabbed it excitedly, only to see it was a call from Mrs. Grant.
When Leona Grant saw the caller ID, a self-mocking smile touched his lips.
’As if Annabelle Linton would ever call me...’
"Hello."
"Leona, are you not coming home again tonight? Grandpa’s been asking about you..."
"Yeah, I’m working..."
Leona Grant stopped mid-sentence. A brilliant idea flashed through his mind. ’Annabelle Linton should be off work by now.’
’I haven’t been home for the past two days, so she must have gone back there. If I go back now, I should be able to see her.’
Leona Grant immediately changed his tune. "I’m almost done with work here. I’ll be back soon."
"Okay, then hurry up. We haven’t eaten yet; we’re all waiting for you. Quick... BEEP BEEP..." Roxanne Jennings didn’t even get to finish her sentence before the call was disconnected.
She stared at the disconnected call, stunned for a moment, before letting out a helpless laugh. "That little rascal..."
Leona Grant hung up, hastily gathered his things, and left.
On the way back, he sped the entire way, desperate to get home.
Annabelle. Annabelle Linton.
The name flashed in his mind like an obsession. He wished he had wings.
...
Fifteen minutes later, Leona Grant arrived.
He tossed his keys to the butler, unable to wipe the smile off his face.
’I’m going to see Annabelle Linton.’
After entering the villa, he didn’t see Annabelle Linton in the living room, so Leona Grant rushed to the kitchen.
Next, he checked the kitchen, the garden, and the rooms, but there was no sign of her anywhere. Leona Grant’s brow furrowed tightly. ’Where on earth did that woman go?’
Roxanne Jennings saw him searching for something. She took a sip of tea and asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Nothing." Leona Grant averted his gaze and asked casually, "It just feels like there aren’t many people home today."
Roxanne Jennings set down her teacup and said with a sigh, "You’re right. Your father’s out, Ashley’s at a classmate’s birthday party tonight, and Annabelle is on a business trip. It’s just me and Grandpa at home. It was getting too lonely, so I called you back."
"Mm." Leona Grant didn’t pay much attention, just humming in acknowledgment.
Then, he suddenly whipped his head toward Roxanne Jennings. "What did you say? A business trip?"
Startled by his sudden outburst, Roxanne Jennings couldn’t help but SPIT out a mouthful of tea. She quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, struggling to compose herself.
"I swear, are you crazy? Why’d you suddenly turn on me like that?"
Leona Grant’s eyes were fixed on Roxanne Jennings as he asked frantically, "Mom, what did you just say? Annabelle Linton is on a business trip? How come I don’t know?"
"You didn’t know? She left the day before yesterday. Didn’t she tell you?"
The color drained from Leona Grant’s face, his expression instantly darkening.
’A business trip... a business trip!’
’That woman actually went on a business trip! And without a single word to me!’
’What does she take me for? To think I was debating whether or not to come back, and she just leaves on a business trip without even telling me!’
Leona Grant was furious now, so angry he could just about die!
The rage in his eyes looked like it could burn down the entire world.
He called Annabelle Linton. The phone rang twice before the call was disconnected.
Resisting the urge to smash his phone, he gritted his teeth and called the Dean.
When the Dean saw the call from Leona Grant, his heart started pounding erratically. He was just about to figure out what to say when Leona Grant’s icy voice came through the receiver: "Why is Annabelle Linton on a business trip? Where did she go? And when is she coming back?"