Chapter 291 Maggie Was in Trouble
That evening, Maggie returned home late from work, entering her apartment without noticing anything unusual.
She politely greeted the security guard at the entrance and then walked alone along the apartment complex's shaded path.
At that moment, her phone rang. It was Arya calling from London.
Just as Maggie was about to answer, she saw a shadow on the ground. Before she could react, someone covered her mouth from behind.
Maggie was terrified and struggled desperately, but a pair of large male hands held her tightly, rendering her immobile.
Soon, she gradually lost consciousness, and her phone slipped from her hand to the ground.
The cloth covering her mouth was soaked with ether, causing her to pass out.
After Maggie lost consciousness, the man quickly carried her to a nearby parked car and picked up the phone from the ground.
The man was Farrell.
After causing trouble at the bar, he had been detained for a few days before being released. He was unwilling to let it go, convinced that Maggie was the source of all his troubles.
He had entered the apartment complex earlier and waited for Maggie, knowing that this area had no surveillance cameras.
Farrell drove a car, threw Maggie onto the back seat, covered her with a sheet, and started the car to leave the apartment complex.
The security guard at the entrance didn't even glance his way; he was dozing off in the security booth.
Farrell scanned a code to pay the parking fee, the barrier automatically lifted, and he drove away from the apartment complex.
In London.
Arya called several times but received no answer. She glanced at Mark beside her and said, "Maggie might be asleep. She always puts Adalia to bed early since she has school."
Since arriving in London, Arya had been staying at a hotel. Whenever Mark had time, he would accompany her on walks. Ashley had been urging Mark to trick Maggie into coming over, as Melissa's illness couldn't wait.
Mark felt a bit uneasy but maintained a smile and reassured Arya, "It's alright. Maggie has a lot of work stress; it's good for her to sleep early. Arya, you should rest early, too. Call Maggie again tomorrow. The Jackson family elders have been eager to meet her, and it's not appropriate for her to delay."
"I'll try again tomorrow," Arya said, "Maggie is busy with work, so even if she comes, it needs to be arranged in advance."
Mark sat down beside Arya and suggested, "Arya, I think our daughter is reluctant to come because she's not satisfied with me. I truly want to reunite with her and hear her call me Dad. How about this: you pretend to be sick and call Maggie to trick her into coming over tomorrow. Once she's here, we can handle everything. Then I'll throw a party to celebrate Maggie's return and let everyone in our circle know about her."
Arya was deeply moved to see that Mark genuinely wanted to acknowledge Maggie and introduce her openly to all their friends and family.
"I'll think about it," Arya said. "I also want you and Maggie to reconcile."
Arya desired harmony. She didn't hope to rekindle her old feelings with Mark; she just wanted Maggie to be acknowledged by the Jackson family.
Mark held Arya's hand and continued to persuade her, saying,"Arya, you've endured so much over the years. Once Maggie returns, I can bring you back to the Jackson family as Maggie's biological mother. I want to take care of you for the rest of my life."
Mark's earnest promise brought comfort to Arya's heart.
"I don't need to live with the Jackson family, nor do I expect anything from you. Just treat Maggie well. She's suffered too much over the years," Arya said.
Mark added, "We can discuss living arrangements later. For now, just get Maggie to come over tomorrow. The elders want to meet her in the evening. You know how much they value propriety. It wouldn't be appropriate if Maggie doesn't come."
Arya hesitated and then said, "Alright."
She didn't want Maggie to upset the elders before even joining the Jackson family, as it would make future interactions more difficult.
Seeing Arya agree, Mark left happily.
Meanwhile, Fiorello was leaving a club, feeling uneasy. He ended his social engagement early.
Holden followed him, saying, "Fiorello, why are you in such a hurry? If you're going back to be with Maggie, a little more time won't make a difference."
Fiorello got into the Rolls-Royce at the entrance and said, "I just have a bad feeling."
He called Maggie, but her phone was turned off.
Maggie's phone was never off.
He checked the time again, his brows furrowing in concern. "At this hour, Maggie shouldn't be asleep."
He then called Eleanor to ask if Maggie had come home.
Eleanor had picked up Adalia from school in the afternoon. When she received the call, she said, "Maggie hasn't come back. She said she was working late to finish a design draft. I just put Adalia to bed. When are you coming home? Maybe you should check the office and pick up Maggie."
"Alright, got it," Fiorello said, hanging up and then calling the office.
When he found out that Maggie wasn't at the office either, Fiorello panicked.
Holden noticed his distress and said, "Fiorello, don't be so tense. Maybe Maggie is with friends, and her phone ran out of battery."
"Impossible." Fiorello's eyes darkened. "Something must have happened to Maggie."
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