Chapter 50

SHE was calling her boss, but there was no answer. Prudence knew she couldn’t wait any longer to report to him, so she asked her secretary to book her a flight to Italy. She didn’t mind traveling for three hours just to get there, for she felt desperate.
But going all the way to Sicily to talk to the boss wasn’t that as easy as she had thought. A couple of guards stopped her car outside the gate.
Prudence was exhausted from her trip, and there she was, being stopped by the guards.
“I need to talk to your boss—”
“Outsiders aren’t allowed here,” said the one with bulky muscles.
But it wasn’t enough to scare Prudence. She cocked her head to the side and smirked.
“And who told you I’m an outsider here?”
The guards looked at her from head to toe a couple of times and then looked at each other. One spoke with someone via phone call.
Prudence then turned in the direction of the camera attached to the gate and waved her hand. She was sure the boss would see that.
“You may come in,” said the one who called. “But you have to leave your car outside.”
“I don’t mind.”
The gate opened, and she was greeted by a chauffeur holding the limousine’s door for her. Prudence got inside immediately and helped herself to a glass of champagne as she enjoyed her quick travel to the boss’s residence.
A butler immediately escorted her to the study room when she got to the mansion. And there he was, sitting majestically behind his table with his hands clasped under his chin.
“I never thought you would come from London to see me. But let me tell you that this is one of your most uncalculated moves, Prudence. No one knows you here. If something bad happened—”
“You know I’m not afraid of anyone except you,” she said in a low tone.
Her boss leaned against his seat and held onto the armrests of his chair.
“And you know that you shouldn’t be here. No one must know that you and I have some connection.” He winced.
She rolled her eyes.
“I’ve been calling you, but you’re not answering my calls,” Prudence countered.
“Well, I was quite busy hours ago. You know how busy I am.” He tapped his hands on the armrest. “What is it that made you come here?”
Her hands clenched tightly. She could even feel her nails digging into her palms.
“S-she’s a-alive…” she said with a trembling voice.
Her boss’s forehead creased.
“You mean Sybil?”
“Y-yes. She’s with Chase.”
He stood up abruptly.
“What? You said she died in an accident. And now she’s—”
“Isn’t it good news?”
“Why would it be good news?”
“She can come back—”
“And how about your mission?”
“Sybil doesn’t recognize me.” Prudence unclenched her hands and strode toward her boss. “I think she has amnesia from the accident. So, I guess it’s still safe for me to push through with our plans.”
Her boss plopped down on the chair.
“But she can regain her memories anytime, Prudence. It means you don’t have much time.”
“I-I know.” She swallowed hard. “But the elders and Francis don’t want to back off with the engagement.”
“They are afraid, I guess.” Her boss tapped his fingers above the table.
“What shall we do with Sybil?”
“If the accident didn’t kill her, then I guess we must do something—”
“We can’t just kill her.”
“Is your conscience kicking in now? I hope you’re not changing your mind, Prudence.”
She shut her eyes tightly.
“I’ve gone this far…” she muttered as she opened her eyes again. “There is no way I’m turning back.”
“That’s great to hear from you.”
“But I’m suggesting not to kill Sybil.” Her boss raised a brow. “We can still make use of her. There will come a time when we can use her as bait, especially when she has amnesia. Leve her to me. All I have to do is to drive her away from Chase.”
Her boss waved a hand outwardly.
“Your wish is my command. Just make sure that Sybil won’t do anything that will ruin our plans.”

SYBIL could feel the awkward atmosphere as she joined the Whitewoods for dinner. She didn’t want to, but Chase insisted.
“You’re barely touching your food.”
She looked at Chase, who was now leaning close to her. Sybil immediately looked at his father, then his mother next. She almost choked when she found out that both were staring at them.
“I-I… uhm… I’m still full. Ruth and I had pasta this afternoon. I think I’ve eaten too much.” She picked up her glass of wine and chugged it down.
“Sybil.”
She jerked from her seat upon hearing Chase’s father call her.
“Y-yes?” Her heart started to thump crazy.
“I heard you met Chase’s fiancée.” Francis Whitewood wasn’t even looking at her now, but she could still feel the effect of his gaze.
“A-ah, yes.”
“What can you say about her?”
She lowered her gaze.
“She’s beautiful.”
“And so are you,” Chase countered. He even held her hand and gently squeezed it.
Good thing their hands were under the table, and his family couldn’t see them.
“Prudence isn’t just beautiful. She’s a fine lady who came from a prominent family in Italy. Not only that, but she’s also intelligent as well. I heard she opened her firm in London.”
She couldn’t blame Francis for bragging about Prudence. She was the woman he liked, the one he chose for his son to marry.
“I-I see.” Her voice was almost a whisper.
“How about you?” That was when Francis raised his head and looked at her. “What do you do back in Tennessee, Sybil?”
She was about to respond, but Chase did it for her.
“She’s a painter, a very good one. She already painted for prominent people back in the U.S.—”
“You’re not Sybil,” said his father. “Let the lady speak for herself, Chase.”
“Chase is right. I’m a painter. However, I don’t have a strong social connection. I’m just simply living in a cabin with my sister.”
“Is that where my brother stayed while he was missing?” Ruth chimed in.
“Yes.” She nodded and smiled at Chase’s sister.
“Oh, my god. It’s one of my bucket lists!” Ruth sounded giddy. “Can I come with you one time? I want to spend a month or two.”
“You should learn how to chop wood first,” Chase jested.
“Yeah, that’s funny,” Ruth countered.
Sybil let out a sigh. Thanks to Chase’s sister, the atmosphere lightened a bit.
“If you’re not that busy, Sybil… can you paint a portrait of me?” Cynthia said afterward.
She was a bit surprised about Chase’s mother’s request, but she wouldn’t miss that chance to win her favor. She badly needed that.
“Of course. I’m not busy anyway.”