“What happened?” Charlotte asked at once.
“I’m in debt, and they took me…” Olivia wept, the horror clear in her voice. “Please help me, or I’m going to die.”
“Where are you? Tell me your location.”
Charlotte brushed off the foam and rushed to change her clothes.
“At the alley behind Sultry Night,” Olivia said in a shaky voice. “Come alone, or they’ll kill me.” Olivia hung up.
Charlotte got dressed, grabbed her phone, and rushed out.
“Ms. Windt, breakfast is—” the maid said, but Charlotte brushed past her shoulder and ran down the stairs in her haste.
“Ms. Windt, Ms. Windt!” the maid shouted behind her.
“I have an urgent matter to handle. I’ll be back shortly.” Charlotte turned back and called. Downstairs, she addressed the bodyguards who were parking their cars. “Drop me off at Sultry Night. Hurry.”
“Sultry Night?” Marino stared in surprise.
“Yes, please. Right now,” Charlotte answered in a panic.
“Yes, ma’am.” Marino did not dare delay further and opened the door immediately.
“Ms. Windt, where are you off to?” Mrs. Berry, who was busy laying the table, ran out to enquire. “You have your wedding shoot by the beach later today.”
“Mrs. Berry, I have an urgent matter and will be back shortly. Please inform Zachary of my absence.” Charlotte got into the car without waiting for a reply. “Start driving!” she said to Marino frantically.
“Yes, ma’am.”
In the study on the second floor, where Zachary was reading with the children, a knock came on the door. The maid peered carefully in at Zachary. “Mr. Nacht, Ms. Windt went out,” she reported.
“Huh?” Zachary looked away from the book he was holding. “Where to?”
“I don’t know. She looked like she was in a rush. I’m worried that something may have happened,” the maid said concernedly. “I thought you would be worried, so I’m just here to let you know.”
Zachary shut the book and addressed the children. “Let’s continue this tonight, shall we?”
“Yes, daddy!” The children nodded obediently.
“Daddy, use my bookmark. Or else we wouldn’t remember where we left off tonight.”
Ellie handed a bookmark made of a beautifully preserved leaf to Zachary.
“Page 234.” Zachary smiled and rubbed Ellie on the nose. “Don’t worry, I have a photographic memory!”
He got up and walked towards the door. “Come down for breakfast in a bit.”
“Alright, Daddy!” the children chorused in sweet innocent voices.
“Robbie, what is a photographic memory?” Ellie asked naively.
“That means daddy never forgets anything he sees,” said Robbie as he was tidying up the bookshelf. “Daddy is a genius!”
“Oh, only you have daddy’s brains. Ellie and I don’t,” said Jamie as he held his chin sadly.
“Jamie, you are strong and sporty like daddy,” protested Robbie. “Ellie has Mommy’s artistic skills. Those are great qualities. Please don’t underestimate yourselves.”
“What is underestimate?”
“That means…”
The three children engaged in debates in the study room.
Meanwhile, Zachary summoned Ben outside. “What is going on?”
“I’ve just heard back from Marino. Ms. Windt just said that she was going to Sultry Night and did not explain why,” Ben reported. “Bruce is going there with some men as a backup.”
“Good,” Zachary said with a frown. Charlotte is so impulsive. She never discusses things with me before proceeding…
How immature.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Nacht. Nothing will happen with Bruce on the lookout,” said Ben comfortingly. “Why don’t you have some breakfast with the children? I will have Bruce deliver Ms. Windt straight to the beach afterward for your photoshoot.”
“Alright.”
