Chapter 290 She is Back
Watching the fireworks light up the sky, I felt a mix of surprise and delight. I turned to Alaric, my eyes wide with amazement.
He smiled, his eyes twinkling with a gentle light.
"Did you set this up?" I asked, still in awe.
Alaric nodded slightly. "I saw how much you loved the fireworks earlier, so I wanted to put on a show just for you."
The brilliant fireworks exploded overhead, painting the sky with dazzling colors, like a dream.
In the radiant glow, I looked at Alaric's focused and sincere profile, feeling a wave of emotion.
"I haven't enjoyed fireworks like this in ages. Thank you," I said sincerely.
Alaric turned to meet my gaze, his eyes full of warmth. "As long as you're happy, that's all that matters."
In that moment, I realized that this beautiful experience was just as wonderful as the times David had set off fireworks for me in the past.
The fireworks soon faded, leaving only a faint smell of gunpowder in the air.
Alaric suddenly spoke, a bit nervously, "Diana, there's something I need to tell you. I've admired you for a long time. These past few days with you have been amazing, and I cherish every moment we spend together."
His words made me feel awkward, unsure of how to respond.
Just then, my phone rang. Seeing an unfamiliar number on the screen, I assumed it was a business call, and my recently relaxed mood tensed up again.
Noticing my anxiety, Alaric gestured for me to take the call in a quieter spot. I followed him to a secluded area by a flowerbed, covering the mouthpiece with my hand as I answered.
A raspy female voice came through the line, "Diana, did you enjoy the fireworks?"
The voice was rough and unfamiliar.
I looked around warily. Most of the people by the river were in groups, making it hard to tell who was calling me.
"Who is this?" I asked, my guard up.
"Have you forgotten me so quickly? These past three years, you've had it easy, but do you know what my life has been like?" The voice was filled with resentment.
Three years. My heart sank. "Anne, is that you?" Despite my confusion, I asked the question.
At the same time, I scanned the crowd by the river, hoping to spot her.
Anne replied, "Diana, you finally remember me."
Confirming her identity, I continued to look around as I asked, "Anne, where are you?"
Anne responded, "Diana, there's no need to rush to find me. We'll meet soon enough. For now, just enjoy your fireworks. I'll be waiting for you at Aroma Café tomorrow at 3 PM."
I wondered about Anne's intentions and I didn't respond.
Sensing my silence, Anne added, "You won't skip our meeting, will you?"
Before I could answer, she continued, "It's fine if you don't come. I can always talk to your daughter."
I suddenly remembered that, due to dealing with the Howard Group's hacking issue, I had asked Fiona to take Skylar to Melissa's place after the wedding. Could Anne know not only my whereabouts but also where Skylar was?The thought made my heart race. I quickly said, "I'll be there tomorrow. Please don't harm Skylar."
Anne said, "Don't worry. I keep my promises. As long as you come, your daughter will be safe."
Anne's raspy laughter followed, sending a shiver down my spine before she abruptly hung up.
I stared blankly at the darkened screen, then numbly put my phone back in my bag.
Alaric noticed my troubled expression and quickly asked, "What happened?"
"She's back," I muttered, almost to myself.
"Who? Who's back?" Alaric pressed.
I composed myself and told Alaric, "I think I know who hacked the Howard Group's website."
After a pause, I added, "No, she probably didn't do it herself, but she must have hired someone."
Hearing this, Alaric took a deep breath and said slowly, "Diana, I don't know what history you have with this person, but you should call the police. The damage to the Howard Group is enough to get her a few years in prison."
As a lawyer, I knew that maliciously hacking into someone's network and causing damage was a serious crime. But if Anne was sent back to prison, she might seek revenge on me or even Skylar once she got out.
The thought of Skylar sent my anxiety skyrocketing once more.
"I need to check on Skylar right away. Sorry, I can't stay for the walk," I said.
Understanding the urgency, Alaric nodded. "I'll drive you back."
Given the distance to my place, it wasn't practical to go alone. Reluctantly, I accepted Alaric's offer.
Halfway home, a thought struck me: maybe Anne didn't know where Skylar was. We had moved to a new place as Skylar grew, leaving our old apartment behind. How could Anne, fresh out of prison, know our new address? She might have been watching me in the crowd, but if she had time to do that, she wouldn't have time to track Skylar. Still, I couldn't shake my worry—what if Anne had accomplices?
Finally, we arrived at my building. Alaric parked and turned to me, his expression serious and concerned. He remarked, "Diana, check on things upstairs. If anything happens, no matter how late, call me. I'll help however I can."
I nodded gratefully, thanked him, and hurried out of the car.
Back home, my anxiety grew as I looked around the room, seeing Skylar's familiar toys. Each one tugged at my heart. But I didn't see Skylar or Melissa anywhere, and a wave of fear gripped me.
"Skylar? Melissa?" I called out, my voice shaking, but all I received in return was silence.
Anne's ominous words resonated in my mind, and a wave of panic surged through me. My hands shook as I desperately grabbed my phone to call Melissa, but all I got was a cold, automated message saying her phone was turned off.
'Could Anne have really taken them?' The terrifying thought consumed me.
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