Chapter 538 The World Has Changed
Winona was back in Regal Oaks. Dylan had kept the flowers from the living room and tucked them away in an unused room upstairs so she wouldn't get upset.
Knowing Winona was coming back, the housekeeper had cleaned the whole place and changed the bed linens.
It was late, and Winona was too tired to unpack the big boxes of stuff she brought from her apartment. She had only planned to bring some daily essentials since Regal Oaks had everything she needed, but Benjamin insisted on packing everything for her.
The apartment looked like a tornado had hit it, with everything except the landlord's original furniture and trash gone.
Winona took a quick shower and climbed into bed.
The next morning, her phone ringing woke her up.
She had gone to bed too late and was too groggy to open her eyes or think clearly. "Who is it?"
"Still in bed?" The voice sounded familiar.
Winona thought for a moment before realizing who it was.
"Dad." Winona glanced at her phone. It was exactly nine o'clock.
Frank said, "Eva's out of prison."
Winona replied, "Wasn't she sentenced to two years?"
Eva had been taken away by the police a few days after returning from the sea. Someone she had bullied in the past had taken her to court, and with all the evidence, she was sentenced to two years.
The timing was too coincidental, and the sentencing was quick. Winona didn't know if Frank had a hand in it, and she never asked.
Frank remarked, "She got out today. I just found out. It wasn't a normal sentence reduction; it was through some special channels. According to the prison guards, Kyle's secretary picked her up. He was also on the boat."
Winona furrowed her brow in thought. Kyle was dead, but his secretary was alive and had now taken Eva out of prison.
Frank's tone was serious. "I suspect he's working for Timothy. If he suddenly took Eva, it means they're planning something. Warn Zachary to be careful and not get framed. I've been looking into Timothy. On the surface, he seems incompetent, but he has deep connections and resources that must have taken decades to build."
Winona responded, "Okay."
Frank continued, "Honestly, you should think about it. There are plenty of good men out there. Didn't you say Zachary was used as a guinea pig and given some drugs? He might have health issues now. If you stay with him, you might end up taking care of a sick man.
I've met many capable men in Dreamopolis recently. I got their contact information. If you're interested, I can set you up. Even if you still like Zachary, it's good to have options. You never know until you compare."
Winona turned over and smiled. "Did they know you were getting their contact information to set them up with a divorced woman?"
Frank responded, "Who cares about that these days? As long as you share the same values and get along, it doesn't matter. Besides, my daughter deserves the best. Anyone would be lucky to have you. You're beautiful, capable, and famous."Winona gave up trying to reason with Frank. In his mind, she was more than worthy of a prince. "Alright, you're right. But I don't want to find another man. Please stop collecting contact information and photos."
Otherwise, she might end up like Rebecca, known for playing with people's feelings.
"Dad, when you retire, you should consider opening a matchmaking agency. With all the elite contacts and photos you have, you'd definitely make it big."
After a few jokes, Winona hung up and informed Benjamin about Eva's release, asking him to relay it to Zachary.
After that, she went back to sleep. When she woke up, the world had changed.
All the major financial news outlets were reporting that the Ramsey Group was involved in an illegal fundraising scandal. Zachary was now missing, and the company's headquarters was swarmed with creditors.
The scandal broke suddenly, shocking the entire high society of Dreamopolis.
Just yesterday, Zachary was praised as the rising star who could defeat the Bailey family. Now, he was a pariah, with the company's offices deserted and creditors, employees, and reporters crowding the entrance. The cries and chaos could be heard for miles, turning the place into a living hell.
Winona sat up abruptly and checked the date on her phone. It was today.
She was relieved she hadn't slept for a week.
But how could this happen so suddenly? Last night, Zachary hinted he was planning something, but Winona didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Was this Zachary's plan or Timothy's?
As the head of the Ramsey Group, Zachary would be held responsible for the scandal. It seemed like a lose-lose situation. Even if the Ramsey Group collapsed, Zachary could still go to jail for illegal fundraising.
Unless he could completely clear his name afterward. But who would take the fall? The Ramsey family? Timothy? Without Zachary's signature, how could they have raised so much money?
And now, no one could find Zachary.
Winona's mind was in turmoil, but she didn't stop moving. She called Evander, who didn't know the details either and was still investigating. He said, "Winona, don't worry too much. You have to trust Zachary."
Winona didn't know if he was trying to comfort her or himself.
"Okay." With that, Winona hung up.
She trusted Zachary, but she couldn't just sit at home and wait for news. She called Benjamin, but there was no answer.
The busy signal on the other end made her even more anxious.
She contacted Samuel, who was close to Zachary. Zachary would need help uncovering Timothy's connections, and Samuel was his best ally.
The Anderson family was influential and well-connected. Samuel and Zachary were also best friends.
But Winona didn't hold out much hope. If Zachary hadn't told her, Samuel likely wouldn't either. Still, she knew she had to give it a shot.
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