Chapter 315
In the afternoon, as Elysia left Milton School, she did not see Fabian’s business car, but instead, she spotted Zane in the crowd.
Zane was standing in front of his Maybach, dressed in a sharp black suit, the most striking figure among the crowd, his presence radiated confidence.
Zane seemed to have noticed her. A faint smile appeared on his otherwise impassive face. “Here, Elysia,” he called out.
Elysia, hearing him, stepped forward, walking toward him. “Zane, are you here to pick up Alice?”
“No, I’m here to pick you up,” Zane replied.
Elysia’s words trailed off, her confusion evident. “But Fabian-” she began, the implication clear in her voice.
Zane, however, was certain. “He won’t be coming today.”
Elysia raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. ‘How does Zane know Fabian won’t come pick me up? she thought to herself.
“Fabian has a business meeting. I don’t think he’ll make it. Besides, aren’t you going to see Grandpa? I’ll take you there.” Zane said smoothly.
“To see Mr. Hartley?” Elysia asked, her curiosity growing.
Zane nodded. “Yes.”
Elysia’s brow furrowed slightly as she looked at Zane, a glint of intrigue in her eyes. She suddenly felt that Fabian’s absence might be linked to Zane in some way.
“What are you thinking?” Zane asked, sensing her gaze.
“Oh well-” Elysia took a step closer, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Zane, you did it, right?”
Though it was a question, her tone carried an undeniable certainty.
At her words, Zane’s face betrayed a brief flicker of discomfort. He cleared his throat and replied, “Do you really think I’m that crafty?”
Barry, who had been standing nearby, was completely stunned. This was the first time he had seen Zane show such a reaction. ‘Ms. Evans really is sharp. Mr. Hartley used that trick to draw Fabian away, and she figured it out so easily?” he thought, impressed.
Sensing Zane’s sinister gaze, Barry quickly suppressed his amusement, raising a hand in innocence.
Elysia, watching the interaction between the two, smiled even more, now almost certain that Zane had something to do with Fabian’s absence.
But Elysia didn’t know what business Zane had arranged for Fabian.
Still, she wasn’t all that interested in asking for further details. She was certain the business that had pulled Fabian away must be something that would capture his attention, but it wasn’t her concern.
With a smile still playing on her lips, Elysia looked up at Zane. “I didn’t think so.”
Zane’s eyes softened slightly, a smile tugging at his own lips. His voice took on a teasing tone, mixed with a hint of indulgence. “Elysia, get in the car. I’ll take you to Iskoria Villa.”
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Chapter 315
“Aren’t we waiting for Alice to come out with us?” Elysia asked, a slight frown on her face.
“I’m here to pick you up,” Zane said, dismissing the idea with a smile.
Barry, still standing there, was dumbfounded and he wondered, Mr. Hartley’s joking, right?
‘He just offended Ms. Rogers for not answering her call, and now, he’s picking Ms. Evans up without even taking Alice! If $46. Rogers finds out, she’ll be even more furious.
‘Last time, Mr. Hartley was able to calm her down, but this time, can he still smooth things over?
“Well, Mr. Hartley-” Before Barry could continue, Zane cut him off, his voice firm. “You’re responsible for getting Alice t You don’t need to follow us.”
Barry stood frozen for a moment, shocked. ‘Mr. Hartley’s leaving Ms. Rogers behind and now dismissing me too? Am 1 not even needed?‘ he wondered.
“Mr. Hartley, I-” Barry tried to speak, but when he met Zane’s unyielding gaze, he immediately retracted his words. “Okay, 1 got it. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Ms. Rogers gets back safely.”
Zane simply nodded.
Once Elysia was in the Maybach, Zane started the car, pressing the accelerator without hesitation. The car smoothly pulled away, disappearing from Barry’s line of sight.
Barry’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts as he stood there, silently lamenting. ‘Mr. Hartley only has eyes for Ms. Evans, and he couldn’t care less about me or Ms. Rogers. This is seriously too much.
When Alice finally stepped out of the school, she noticed Barry waiting by the entrance, and her face brightened for a moment. However, as she scanned the area, looking left and right, the smile gradually faded.
“Barry, where’s Zane?” Alice asked.
Barry quickly tried to come up with an answer, his mind racing. “Oh well, Ms. Rogers, Mr. Hartley had something to do, so he sent me to pick you up.”
“And the car?” Alice asked, her eyebrow raising.
“The car?” Barry scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Ms. Rogers, I didn’t drive here. How about this? I’ll call a cab to take
you
home.”
Alice could not hide her disbelief, rolling her eyes internally. ‘You came to pick me up but didn’t bring a car? Are you joking? she thought.
“Just tell me honestly. Did Zane tell you not to bring a car to pick me up?” Alice demanded.
Barry froze. ‘Oh my, how did Ms. Rogers even think of that?‘ he thought, caught completely off guard by her sharp deduction.
His expression was a mix of helplessness and confusion as he avoided Alice’s intense gaze. Alice crossed her arms, her face tightening in suspicion. “Well? Is that it or not?”
Barry, unsure how to respond, simply stared at the school building, his mind adrift.
Alice followed his gaze, and her eyes narrowed as a realization seemed to hit her. “Wait a minute. Did Zane come to the school and drive off with the car, leaving you here to wait for me?”
Alice paused as if processing the puzzle in her mind. “No, that doesn’t make sense. Zane didn’t come to pick me up—”
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Chapter 315
She turned to Barry, her voice now firm and clear. “He must have picked up Elysia instead, didn’t he?”
Barry’s face went pale, and he sighed heavily, “Ms. Rogers, please don’t make it harder for me. Mr. Hartley only told me to bring you back. He didn’t mention anything else.”
Alice’s tone grew colder, and her eyes glinted with frustration. “If you don’t tell me the truth, I won’t let you take me anywhere. You’ll have to answer to Zane for that.”
“Ms. Rogers, please,” Barry implored.
Alice interrupted him, crossing her arms tightly, “Fine, I won’t make it harder for you. Just answer me one thing. Yes or no?
“If you still don’t tell me, don’t blame me for speaking ill of you in front of Zane.”
Barry knew that Alice was threatening him, and after a moment of hesitation, he gave in, nodding begrudgingly.
“Is it true?” Alice pressed, her voice unwavering.
“Ms. Rogers, isn’t it obvious?” Barry finally admitted, his voice tinged with reluctance.
Alice’s anger flared instantly. “Zane, you’ve crossed the line. You abandoned me for your beloved girl? she thought, her frustration boiling over.
“Ms. Rogers” Barry tried to reason with her.
“Leave me alone, I’m really angry right now,” Alice snapped, and without another word, she began to walk off, leaving Barry no choice but to follow in her wake.
She flagged down a taxi, opened the door, and climbed into the back seat.
Barry moved to open the passenger door, and just as he was about to get in, Alice’s voice rang out sharply. “I’m going home by myself. You don’t need to take me,” she said, cutting him off.
“Ms. Rogers, this is Mr. Hartley’s request. Please don’t make it difficult for me,” Barry said, his tone pleading.
Seeing that Alice had finally fallen silent, he slid into the front seat. “Royal Bay,” he instructed the driver.
“Yes, sir,” the driver responded.
Meanwhile, Fabian was on his way to the café where he had arranged to meet Jeremy, a location far from the city center. The journey would take around an hour each way.
“Mr. Evans, why would Mr. Murphy choose such a distant place to meet? Seems strange,” Joel remarked, glancing at the man seated next to him.
Fabian, absorbed in a book, answered calmly, his voice as even as ever. “Because he doesn’t really want to talk business.”
Joel paused, processing Fabian’s words. “What do you mean by that, Mr. Evans?”
“Mr. Murphy is Zane’s friend,” Fabian said, not looking up from his book.
Joel, who had been with Fabian long enough to read between the lines, immediately understood. “Are you saying this has something to do with Mr. Hartley?”
