Chapter 403 Playing Dumb
I stared at Jeffrey in disbelief, anger and disappointment surging through me.
"Seriously? All you care about is the evidence? Anne's missing, and you don't feel a shred of worry or guilt?"
My voice rose, demanding an answer.
Jeffrey avoided my gaze, staying silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Of course I'm worried about Anne, but freaking out won't help. You know how things work in our circle. Sometimes, emotions just can't compete with self-interest."
He sighed softly, and when he looked at me again, his eyes softened, making me feel a bit dazed, like I'd seen that look somewhere before.
But my anger didn't subside. I scoffed coldly.
"Can't compete? Don't underestimate emotions. You never should've exploited her feelings for you. Now she's missing, and you think Nicholas will just let it slide? He might already know about your plan, and Anne could be..."
I didn't finish my sentence, but Jeffrey clearly understood my implication, his face paling slightly.
"No, Nicholas won't act rashly. If he harms Anne, those pieces of evidence will come out, and he won't gain anything."
Jeffrey frowned, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. He leaned closer to me and said softly, "Diana, I know you're angry right now. Go home; it's too dangerous here. If Nicholas suspects anything, staying here could put you in danger."
"Seems like you know Nicholas pretty well."
I shook my head.
"Nicholas is ruthless and will stop at nothing. If he's pushed to the edge, there's no telling what he might do."
I paused, then continued, "Besides, how can you be so sure Anne isn't setting you up? She developed feelings for you, and under Nicholas' manipulative influence, she could easily turn against you out of spite."
Jeffrey waved dismissively, a confident, almost arrogant smile on his face.
"I've been around her long enough to know. She's just a desperate woman looking to escape her predicament. As long as I promise her freedom and enough money, she'll cooperate. I've got her figured out; there won't be any problems."
But his eyes kept darting towards me, as if he was both thinking and checking on my state.
I felt a pang of disappointment in Jeffrey's behavior and couldn't help but complain, "We can't just sit around anymore. We need to find Anne, whether she's truly missing or hiding something. Otherwise, we're all doomed."
Jeffrey nodded, taking a swig of his drink.
"You're right. I've already got people looking for her. Hopefully, we'll hear something soon."
He no longer seemed as indifferent as before, his eyes filled with growing concern as he looked at me.
"Diana, please be careful. If anything seems off, contact me immediately."
This concern went beyond that of a normal friend, though I hadn't realized it before.
Just then, the bar door was shoved open, a cold wind bringing a sense of foreboding with it.
Jeffrey and I turned simultaneously to see Nicholas entering, flanked by several burly bodyguards. Nicholas wore a faint, cold smile as he scanned the room.
The regulars, who had been quietly chatting, fell silent, their breaths becoming cautious.
Jeffrey tensed up, one hand subtly tugging at my sleeve under the table. As I glanced down, he slipped a knife into my hand.
I quickly understood his intention, discreetly hiding the knife in my sleeve.
Jeffrey's other hand clenched into a fist, ready for any potential danger. Nicholas approached us, each step heightening our tension.
"Jeffrey, long time no see. You seem to be doing well."
Nicholas' voice was low and raspy, echoing through the bar.
A flash of wariness crossed Jeffrey's face before he replaced it with a seemingly nonchalant smile. He bowed slightly, speaking with measured respect.
"Nicholas, it's been a while. You look as sharp as ever. What brings you to this humble bar today?"
Jeffrey's tone was casual, as if Nicholas were just an old acquaintance.
"I heard you've been getting close to an old friend of mine lately?"
Nicholas said as he slowly sat down next to me, his bodyguards standing like sentinels behind him, blocking any escape.
Jeffrey's hand tightened on the chair's armrest, his voice steadying with effort.
"Nicholas, what do you mean by that? I'm not sure I understand."
"Don't play dumb."
Nicholas slammed the table, his tone turning icy.
"Anne is missing. You must know that."
Nicholas' lips curled into a barely noticeable smirk as he said "missing."
Jeffrey glanced at me, calming himself before replying, "I just heard about it. I was planning to help look for her. Don't worry, Nicholas. If I find any information, you'll be the first to know."
Nicholas leaned back, casually playing with a ring on his finger, speaking slowly, "Looking? Some things, some people, aren't found just because you want to. Some people are better off staying where they belong. Right, Diana?"
Nicholas' gaze shifted from Jeffrey to me, his question laced with a mocking smile.
I suppressed my inner turmoil, striving to keep my voice steady.
"Godfather, what are you implying? We just want Anne to come back safely."
Clearly, Nicholas didn't believe me.
"Diana, your words sound nice, but don't think I don't know what's going on. I advise you young people to stay in line, or you might stir up trouble you can't handle."
His words were a thinly veiled threat.
I lowered my head slightly, appearing humble while sneaking a glance at Jeffrey.
Jeffrey's eyes were fixed on a corner of the bar, as if Anne were standing there.
Taking a deep breath, Jeffrey said, "Nicholas, you must be joking. How could I go against you?"
Nicholas stood up, adjusting his sleeve.
"Young man, don't be too greedy. Some things aren't yours to take. Otherwise, the consequences will be more than you can bear."
With that, he and his bodyguards left.
The bar door slammed shut again, and Jeffrey and I slumped into our chairs, feeling like we'd just woken from a nightmare, unable to shake off the lingering dread.
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