Chapter 422 Out of Reach
After chatting, Fiona noticed Mike pacing back and forth outside by the French doors, glancing inside occasionally.
He appeared anxious.
Getting Mike to worry was no small feat.
"Wait for me a minute." Fiona tapped Thalassa's hand.
Thalassa released her and glanced subconsciously out the French doors. "Mike, right?"
"Yeah, he's got something to say to me. I'll go check."
"Sure, go ahead."
Fiona stood up, sliding the door open and stepping out.
"Chelsea!" Mike came up to her immediately.
"What's wrong?" Fiona asked.
Mike furrowed his brow. "Not me, it's... Can I ask if you've been in touch with Stuart these last few days?"
Fiona blinked, then shook her head. "Stuart wouldn't contact me unless it were urgent. Why? You can't get a hold of him?"
"Not just me. Wendy can't reach Stuart either. If he isn't by Miss Rhoads's side, he gets Wendy to send him videos daily. But Wendy said Stuart hasn't replied to her messages for two days now; he even missed the news of Miss nearly being attacked," Mike said gravely.
The more he spoke, the more anxious he became.
"Chelsea, could you ask the matriarch if Stuart is safe?"
"Sure."
Fiona found Stuart's lack of contact peculiar.
She unlocked her phone and opened WhatsApp.
Her last call with Janna was the day before at 1 p.m.; she had contacted her about Darwin's injury.
At 7 p.m., Janna had called back, but Fiona missed it.
She tried returning the call.
No answer, just a quick message: "I'm busy."
That was the last record.
Mike watched eagerly as Fiona directly dialed Janna's number.
Then, something shocking happened.
The messaging app indicated Janna was no longer in Fiona's contacts, prompting her to add Janna before messaging again.
"How can this be?" Mike's skin crawled instantly.
Fiona's expression darkened.
She dialed Janna's mobile number next, only to be met with a sterile automated voice: "The subscriber you've dialed is not within the service area."
"My God..."
Mike's instinct told him something was wrong.
"Contact all the guards out with grandma immediately!" Fiona commanded before rushing to call the company's office.
Thalassa ran out of the house.
"Fiona, something big has happened!"
Fiona's brows drew together in concern.
"Breaking news: Rhoads family corporation's second son, Chris Rhoads, has passed away this morning at a Rhoads-owned hospital. Janna Rhoads, chairwoman of the Rhoads family corporation, has collapsed from grief and remains in a deep coma despite resuscitation efforts."
"Breaking news: A significant stock transfer meeting for Rhoads family corporation is about to convene, with Janna's eldest son, Ken, likely to be named the new chairman."
Underneath the headline, tensions ran high.
Ken and Janna were supposedly estranged, yet now he's poised to take over as the next chairman.
Whispers of conspiracy were in the air.
“Rumor had it, Janna's granddaughter was the chosen heir. How has it suddenly shifted in the eldest son's favor?”
“I gathered that Chelsea, obsessed with love, insisted on marrying Darwin, a notorious scoundrel known worldwide for his illegitimate child. That enraged Janna, costing Chelsea her inheritance.”
The gossip was ablaze.
Over ten thousand comments flooded the discussion in mere minutes, a fierce debate unfolding.
"Don't spread rumors if you're clueless. Chelsea is not even Janna's granddaughter; the whole thing's a complete sham, leaving her with no claim to the inheritance. Naturally, the eldest son would get everything with one of the Charles gone. What's there to discuss?"
Within half an hour, the topic erupted, sparking global debates.
Verified accounts connected to the elite began to reveal Chelsea as a fraud.
Fiona couldn't care less.
She was busy contacting people and trying to get an update on Janna's condition.
The Rhoads family's upper echelon was in disarray, with only a few taking Fiona's calls, and they had no clear updates on Janna either.
Their focus was on the imminent shareholders' meeting.
"Chelsea, don't panic about the inheritance. Present Mr. Rhoads' will. Regardless of the paternity issues, you are still the rightful heir to the corporation!"
"Chelsea, forget about Janna for now. Head back to headquarters right away!"
Calls were made and received, all brimming with similar messages.
"Miss Rhoads, we can't get a hold of the matriarch's lawyer. The will is in his possession at his firm, and we've sent someone over."
Fiona sat on the couch, hands gripping the armrests, a storm raging in her eyes.
As expected.
The lawyer had met with trouble, which could be irreversible.
"Babe, I can't find out which hospital Grandma is in," Thalassa returned, speaking gravely.
Fiona's fists clenched tighter.
"They won't kill her," she whispered firmly, "not until they secure the company. He and Alice wouldn't act so rashly."
"Right!" Thalassa quickly agreed. "We'll find Janna!"
At that moment, Darwin strode in with determination. "The jet's ready. We'll hit the company first. Since Ken's calling a shareholders' meeting, he's bound to show up. Better to confront him directly than chase shadows."
"Mhm," Fiona nodded in agreement. "Leave Charles and Chicago to…"
"Leave it to Thalassa and Kenny," Darwin interjected without hesitation. "I'm coming with you."
Fiona glanced at him but ultimately did not refuse. She needed to bring Janna back; the more help she had, the higher her chances of success.
"Thanks," Fiona said.
"Let's talk to Chicago and Charles, and then we can head out," Darwin said gently.
The atmosphere at home was a bit off. Charles and Chicago both sensed it. So, when Fiona pushed the door open, Chicago immediately approached her.
Fiona looked at Chicago, and it felt like her heart was being sliced open with a knife. How could she have let Janna leave on her own? It wasn't just about being cautious of others. She was getting older, and with Charles nearing the end of his life, she should have had someone by her side.
Fiona, you made a mistake!
"Mommy…" Chicago wrapped her arms around her. "What's wrong? Uncle Mike seemed angry outside."
"It's nothing." Fiona kissed her cheek. "Mommy's job ran into some trouble, and Daddy will help me sort it out. You and your brother must stay with your godfather and godmother for a few days."
"Okay!"
Unexpectedly, Chicago didn’t press for details. She let go of Fiona and placed her chubby little hands on her cheeks. "Don't work too hard, Mommy. Let Daddy handle things."
"Will do!" Fiona smiled, gave Chicago another kiss, and then looked at Charles.
Charles's expression was complex as he watched her. He knew.
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