Chapter 555
Walter’s eyes narrowed, his face a mask of calm.
He had seen David’s report coming a mile away.
“Any breakthroughs?” Walter prodded.
Years of working together had given David and Walter a kind of silent shorthand. With just a few cryptic words from Walter, David could almost read his mind.
“No leads yet. The guy running the show is tied up with the Bennison family through marriage. He’s actually family, not someone we can sway with cash,” David explained.
The case would not be such a headache otherwise.
David knew Walter had poured his heart into that case, so he tried to lift his spirits. “Just because we’re stuck now doesn’t mean we’re out of options. I’ll keep digging for something to go on!”
He could not believe that everyone was in the Bennison family’s pocket. People always had a price or a weak spot!
“David, now it’s my turn to drop some news on you.
“Celina’s been hurt.”
Walter’s sigh was trapped in his throat.
He was at a loss. The diamond mine case was safe only in David’s hands.
However, Celina was different for David. He had already lost Evangeline. How could he stand by and watch his right–hand man lose his love too?
David’s voice came through the receiver, laced with shock, “What are you talking about? Wasn’t Celina at the spa? How did she get hurt? Is it bad?”
His questions came fast and frantic, his voice shaking.
Walter thought of Celina, still unconscious in the hospital. “Evangeline and I found her out cold. She’s still in the hospital.”
“Out cold? How did that happen…”
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David’s heart raced with the urge to be by Celina’s side in an instant, but the strange place he found himself in choked his words. The diamond mine case was a big deal, and Walter had him shipped off there with no warning, cutting off all his usual ways to reach out. It had been ages since he had last heard Celina’s
voice.
All of a sudden, she was hurt.
He was tied up with work that could not wait, so he had only one shot…
“Mr. Walter Gordon, could you please check on her for me?”
He felt awkward asking such a personal favor. Walter was the big boss, with a ton on his plate. How could David ask him to take time out for that? Nonetheless, he was at his wit’s end.
His mind was a mess with worry for Celina. He needed to know she was alright to keep his head in the game there.
“Absolutely. Try to wrap things up if you can, and come back,” said Walter.
- Walter had been like a brother to David after all those years working together. He could not stand the thought of David fretting over Celina from so far away.
“Thank you, thank you, Mr. Walter Gordon!” David was so touched that he was close to tears. He knew the stakes of his overseas assignment, and Walter’s willingness to let him return because of Celina’s accident meant the world to
him.
“And one more thing,” added David, a serious tone
an over. “I don’t think
Celina’s injury is just bad luck. Could it be part of an internal purge?”
The term ‘purge‘ sent a chill down his spine–it meant someone was out to settle scores within their own ranks.
However… had Celina ever done anything to betray the team?
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With that thought, Walter pressed on, “David, you and I both know Celina is on the other side. Has she done anything out of the ordinary lately?”
Out of the ordinary?
David’s hand tightened into a fist without him realizing it.
There was one thing.
That afternoon, Celína did something she had never done before–she texted him.
[My stomach hurts. I could really go for some oatmeal.]
David, seizing the moment to be the caring boyfriend, did not hesitate to get her some oatmeal.
However, instead of a cozy night in, Celina had him meet her at a cafe.
The cafe was all class and style. David stuck out like a sore thumb with his simple oatmeal. To anyone else, he might have looked pretty ridiculous.
However, he did not mind.
The scent of coffee filled the air, but he pushed aside the cup in front of Celina and assertively placed his oatmeal before her. “Got a stomach ache, right? Try
this.”
In that instant, he caught a shimmer of tears in Celina’s eyes.
He knew she was moved. For him, that was just the start of taking care of Celina.
Celina quietly picked up the spoon in a rare moment of compliance and took a sip from the oatmeal he brought.
The aroma was inviting, but Celina only had one sip.
“Thanks for the oatmeal, Mr. Zimmer. It’s really good.”
With David watching, Celina set down the spoon, her face taking on an unprecedented seriousness.
“I wanted to see you today because there’s something I need to tell you.
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“Evangeline, your boss‘ wife, is in serious trouble. Since Julia got off the hook in court, she’s been fixated on nabbing Evangeline. And yeah, you’re right–I’m her right–hand woman, so I end up doing her dirty work.”
David rubbed his fingers together, realizing more and more that he just could not get a read on the woman in front of him.
They were on opposite sides of that mess, yet there she was, calling him out to confess and her own reluctance?
“Why?” David pressed.
Celina blinked in surprise.
She had just told David that the person he was sworn to protect was in deep danger, and he asked her why? It was like they were speaking different languages.
Reading her puzzled look, David quickly clarified, “Celina, we’re on opposite teams here. Why confess to me?”
“It clicked for Celina then.
She had always kept David at arm’s length, but then she dragged him into her plans. No wonder he was confused.
“I don’t want to hurt Evangeline.”
Actually, she did not want to hurt anyone.
She did not want her hands tainted with violence. She did not want to be dragged down into a dark pit for the evil Bennison family.
“She’s been nothing but kind, so…”
Watching her eyelashes quiver with her words, David knew Celina was not being completely honest.
He let out a quiet sigh, putting on a bit of a show as he said, “Celina, if you’re doing this because of me, not wanting to hurt my Mrs. Gordon, I’d be a lot more cheerful…”
David’s voice was heavy with a kind of wistful sorrow like he was playing the
Chapter
part of a pitiful character in a drama, waiting for Celina to sweet–talk him back to
cheerfulness.
Celina was speechless. She stared at his brazen attitude, utterly clueless about what to say next.
“David, this is no joke. Evangeline really should have her prenatal checkup at
home.”
“Enough, I get it.” David cut her off.
“You could’ve just called me about this. Why make a big deal and meet up at a cafe? Is it because I haven’t stopped by the beauty salon lately, and you’re missing me, trying to use this as an excuse to hang out…”
