- 5.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
T
Julian Hayes stood rigid, only the words “Miss Anya couldn’t be saved” echoing in his ears before the line disconnected.
Dead?
How was that possible?
The next second, he violently slammed his hand on the table, his voice fierce and hoarse:
“What nonsen
are you talking about? Did Anya bribe you to stage a sympathy stunt for me?!”
The bodyguard was already terrified, his voice tinged with a sob:
“Mr. Hayes, we were just following Miss Serena’s orders. We didn’t know that aphrodisiac also contained a potent poison! And those later videos were also Al–generated by someone Miss Serena hired. She said Miss Anya wasn’t clean, and more videos were just to make you completely give up on her!”
“Miss Anya is dead, you can’t blame us, Mr. Hayes. We have families to feed,
Julian’s face instantly turned ashen.
can’t bear a life on our hands!”
wwwwww.w
All the guests were in an uproar. Serena cautiously walked over, taking Julian’s arm, her voice aggrieved and delicate: “On such a joyous day, Julian, why are you so angry? You’re scaring me, your baby.”
She gently linked his arm.
But Julian recoiled as if shocked, violently shaking her off. His eyes were bloodshot, staring intently at her face:
“Serena, tell me the truth, did you… tamper with Anya’s medicine?”
Serena’s eyes flickered slightly. That momentary panic was caught by Julian.
But the next second, she burst into tears, sobbing, aggrieved and innocent: “Julian, don’t you believe me anymore?”
“It must be Mrs. Hayes forcing them to lie, helping Sister Anya deceive you. Do you really think I’m the kind of person who would use such vicious methods to harm someone?”
Julian still glared, but his tone softened. He carefully embraced Serena: “How could I? Of course, I believe you. A manipulative woman like Anya is no match for you.”
But his gaze was unfocused, his voice so quiet it seemed he was speaking to himself.
Before Serena could speak, he suddenly released her hand: “The banquet is almost over. The rest are your friends; have a good time with them. I’m going back to check. I can’t let Anya keep causing trouble for you.”
With that, he strode out of the venue, ignoring Serena’s desperate calls behind him. He didn’t look back.
As he got into the car and closed the door, he almost collapsed onto the back seat, feeling utterly drained.
A vein throbbed in his temple, his knuckles white from clenching. But the more he tried to convince himself, the harder it was to suppress the bone–deep terror within him.
He screamed inwardly again and again:
“Impossible… it can’t be…”
“How could she die? I clearly arranged for people to watch her. This time, I didn’t just let things go. How could something still go
wrong?”
Thinking this, he immediately called the butler:
“Investigate for me! I want to know all the men Anya has contacted recently!”
On the other end of the line, the butler paused, his voice somewhat bewildered: “Understood, Mr. Hayes. I’ll look into it right away.”
