The Wrong Woman

Oliver seethed with rage, but his voice was stifled, unable to break free from the force that dragged him away.

Sally, pretending to be weak, stumbled and leaned on Loretta. “Nate, I nearly drowned. Why would you do this to me? You knew I couldn’t swim. Did you want to harm me?”

Despite her claim of being unable to swim, Sally managed to stay afloat for 20 minutes. After finally getting out, she appeared

remarkably composed. The most perplexing part was her complete lack of symptoms related to aquaphobia.

Noticing something was unusual, Loretta tightly grasped Sally’s hand, scrutinizing her with astonishment. “Sally, have you overcome your fear of water? Are you no longer afraid?”

Sally hesitated for a moment before bursting into tears. “Grandma, I’m terrified. I’m shaking all over, and I’m scared to death.”

Nathan’s expression darkened. Without a word, he turne away, with Cole and Lucas trailing behind.

“Nate!” Sally cried out from behind them, sobbing uncontroll Nate, please don’t leave! Why are you treating me like this?”

Loretta held Sally close in distress, sharing in her tears.

walked

As the car left the Hoffis Manor and headed toward the hospital, Nathan reclined in the backseat, closing his eyes to rest. A foreboding sense of conspiracy enveloped him.

His thoughts drifted back to a year ago. When Sally first returned, she ran to him, embracing him tightly with tears of joy. “Nate, I missed you so so much.”

Initially, Nathan attributed her change in demeanor to her education abroad.

Suddenly, Nathan’s voice broke the silence. “Cole, you have two days. I want detailed information on Sally for the past ten years.”

Cole was taken aback. “Investigate Ms. Hoffis?”

Nathan nodded curtly. “Yes.”

Cole and Lucas exchanged puzzled glances. They wondered why Nathan would want to investigate Sally. She came from a respectable background and had grown up with Nathan. He should know her better than anyone.

Though bewildered, Cole respectfully accepted the order. “Noted, General Morrison.”

When the vehicle reached the hospital, the ward was silent and vacant, void of any presence. Nathan scoured the area, then hurried/ to the nurse’s station, his voice brimming with fury. “Where is Suzanne from the VIP ward?”

Flustered, the nurse replied, “She was discharged an hour ago.”

“Why wasn’t I notified of her discharge?” Nathan’s rage intensifiContent rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

The nurse nervously explained, “She left a note and left quietly.”

Clenching his fists tightly, Nathan stormed out of the hospital. In the car, he repeatedly dialed Suzanne’s phone number, only to be met with the unyielding response of it being unreachable.

He returned home to the Morrison Residence, where only the butler had seen Suzanne return an hour earlier. Less than ten minutes later, she left with a bag, leaving no trace of her destination.

Alone in the master bedroom, Nathan sat in a daze on the edge of the bed. He gazed at the pile of books in the corner, feeling a heavy

weight in his heart.

The last time Suzanne left, she had at least left a letter. This time,

there was no letter at all.

He felt a sharp ache in his chest, making even breathing difficult as he collapsed backward. His upper body lay limp on the bed, his eyes tightly shut with bitterness. Slowly, he retrieved his phone and pressed the speed dial.

He had set the speed dial to Suzanne’s number, but all he received was the automated message. “The number you have dialed is unreachable at the moment.”

He wondered if Suzanne was determined to leave him this time. His

heart throbbed with a dull ache.

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