Chapter 117 On the Verge of Solitude
Charles, sensing the implications laced within the words, asked, "What exactly are you insinuating?"Austin, his suspicion genuine, responded, "If she's an ally, all well and good. But if she's an international fugitive, then that's a problem."Charles regarded Austin with an expression that suggested he was dealing with a simpleton.Austin, feeling slighted, retorted, "What's with that look?""Evan is a close acquaintance of hers," Charles reasoned, his sharp intellect slicing through Austin's conjecture. "If Daphne was involved in any shady dealings, Evan would have been aware.""I'm merely throwing out possibilities," Austin grumbled, his tone nonchalant. "Your soon-to-be ex-wife is hardly an open book."Charles chose to ignore his comment.For two solid years, he had been with Daphne, yet he hadn't unearthed a single secret about her. However, in the final month leading up to their impending divorce, her social circle had escalated to include the Gedser elite. Then there were the hacking incidents, and just when he thought he had seen it all, she started performing card tricks.What else about Daphne was he unaware of?"Tomorrow's the big day, isn't it? The divorce?" Austin probed, attempting to provoke a reaction. "Your request for this security footage wouldn't be to dig up dirt on her, would it?""That's none of your concern.""Just looking out for you, buddy," Austin said, patting Charles on the shoulder as he rose from his seat. "What if you discover something and your feelings resurface? Given Daphne's temperament, reconciliation might not be an option.""Why don't you focus on locating Daisy and leave my issues alone?" Charles retorted, his tone sharp.Austin was rendered speechless.Having no desire for further conversation, Charles collected the security footage and exited Austin's mansion. On his drive home, he mulled over Austin's words.A divorce would transform him and Daphne into strangers. Digging into her life then might prove futile.His mind was still entangled in these thoughts when he returned to Queens Villa around 3 or 4 a.m. Forgoing sleep, he slowed down the footage of Daphne performing her card trick to an extreme degree. Yet, even then, the cards appeared as nothing more than a blur.The poor resolution of the surveillance footage thwarted his attempts to decipher her technique.As daylight seeped in, he was snapped back to reality. According to the plan, they were to finalize their divorce today. Yet, he found himself hesitant, unwilling to sever the last ties to Daphne - fearful that beyond this point, they would truly become strangers.In the midst of these thoughts, his phone buzzed with a message from Mark.Mark messaged, “Boss, Miss Baker has left Ivrea City. We could not track her.”Charles furrowed his brow, a wave of confusion washing over him as he pressed the call button. The moment the call connected, his voice sounded heavy, his features hardened. “What do you mean?”“Miss Baker left Ivrea City last night,” Mark explained, taking the lead. “It’s as if someone’s deliberately concealing her tracks. Should I hire those top-notch investigators you've used in the past?”“There's no need,” Charles declined.He would only resort to those contacts only if it was absolutely necessary.Mark let out a sigh.“What’s the matter?” Charles sensed there was something else troubling him.“I can't help but feel sorry for you,” Mark confessed with uncharacteristic boldness, “Your ex has disappeared, and your current wife is about to serve you divorce papers. You're on the verge of solitude.”Charles responded with silence.
Uninterested in prolonging the conversation, Charles issued his instructions, "Investigate who Kayla has been associating with for the past two years. And the man in the final photograph—delve into his background as well.""Understood," Mark responded without hesitation.Upon ending the call, Charles reclined on the bed, exhaustion seeping into his bones. He kneaded his temples before deciding to retreat to his bedroom for some much-needed rest.The divorce was a pressing matter he could no longer postpone; Daphne would not be easily deceived without a compelling reason for the delay.Entangled in a web of emotions, he succumbed to a profound slumber.In his dreams, Daphne appeared.She stood before him, her back turned, dressed in black leather, surrounded by a cadre of bodyguards in sunglasses and dark suits.He attempted to approach, eager to inquire about her companions, only to be met with the cold steel of a gun against his forehead.Daphne was the one wielding the weapon, her expression colder than he'd ever witnessed. Without a trace of emotion, she pulled the trigger, extinguishing his life.Before death embraced him, he heard her utter, "Mission accomplished, the target is down."He awoke with a jolt.Wiping the perspiration from his brow and steadying his breath, his eyes were filled with a deep sense of dread.At that precise moment, his cell phone began to ring insistently.He composed himself before answering. Seeing Daphne’s name on the display, an almost imperceptible frown furrowed his brow. Nevertheless, he responded, “Hello?”Daphne hesitated upon hearing the raspy voice on the other end.Could Mark have been telling the truth?“Where are you now?” she inquired assertively.“Queens Villa,” Charles answered, his voice revealing his unease from the nightmare and lack of sufficient rest, “What’s the matter?”“Mark mentioned that you were searching for me last night, and then Austin whisked you away in the middle of the night for a discussion,” Daphne probed, observing his reaction. “I was simply curious about when you’d be refreshed enough to address the divorce.”The mention of 'divorce' instantly dispelled the remnants of sleep from Charles' mind. He was acutely aware of one fact: even if he were lying critically wounded in a hospital bed at this moment, Daphne would likely have someone wheel him down to city hall to finalize their divorce."Prepare your paperwork and meet me at Queens Villa," Charles gruffly instructed over the phone, not bothering to plead for her to stay. "I'll change and wait for you."Daphne paused before responding, "All right."The call concluded.Kevin, who had been lingering nearby, asked with curiosity, "So, what's the situation?""He doesn't appear to be pretending," Daphne remarked, gathering the documents she had prepared on the table. "He sounded too fatigued. If he were attempting to postpone the divorce, he wouldn't have asked me to come and fetch him just now.""That's a relief!" Kevin sighed in comfort.Daphne responded with an ambiguous grunt.Considering she wouldn't be residing in Ivrea City much longer, she questioned Kevin, "You're planning to stay in Ivrea City for a few more days, correct?""Yes," Kevin nodded.He had intended to visit for Daphne's sake, but upon arrival, he'd discovered numerous delightful eateries in Ivrea City.Since Evan and Daphne's flight was overbooked anyway, he decided to remain and indulge himself for a few more days."When you depart, could you list this apartment with a real estate agent for me?" Daphne requested. "I'm relocating my belongings to the house in the suburbs. I'll provide you with the address later."Kevin agreed enthusiastically, "Absolutely."
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