Ch. 411..420

Chapter 411

Chapter 411

"This is my first time being a boss," Cordelia said softly. "Please forgive me if I underperformed!"

Zephyr grabbed her shoulders. "There are some partners over there. Let me introduce you to them!" The two of them left while the people around scattered. Nelly was the only one standing there clumsily.

Joe and Mandy turned around after taking two steps out. "Why are you standing there? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough!?"

Nelly felt wronged and vengeful. She followed behind them and walked out of the banquet quickly.

...

"That's pretty much what's happening at the banquet." Mr. Williams reported to Rowan.

The latter stood at the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room. He was in his private mansion in Centrolis, which was close to Royal Manor.

"Our Cordelia is amazing. She doesn't need anybody's help, and she managed to handle that Nelly!" Charlie complimented.

Rowan smirked. He could not help but feel proud.

Of course she was amazing. Who was her father!?

"But..." Rowan paused and frowned. "Did that b*stard Zephyr really give the land and companies to her?"

"It's true." Charlie nodded. "I checked. The entire project in the western suburbs, the three listed companies he founded, his overseas assets and real estates..." "Are all Cordelia's?" Rowan's eyes lit up.

"Yes."

The old man was in deep thought.

Whether a man loved a woman or not, money was not the only way to measure it, but it was an important factor.

If Zephyr did not really care about Cordelia, it was impossible that he would transfer all of his assets under her name as security.

Rowan nodded. He had a new perspective on Zephyr now.

"That means... My daughter is wealthy now?"

Charlie smiled. "Sir, your focus is rather..."

"Rather what?" The old man raised his eyebrows. "The more money, the better! Since she owns the western suburbs now, I'll get her to do the joint hospital project without hesitation. Nobody else gets a cut!" "You should've done that from the start!" Charlie was rendered speechless. "I actually think that Mr. Z isn't shabby at all. Also, Mr. Harris told me many things. Seems like he's 100% loyal to our Cordelia!" "Hah, hehe..." Rowan chuckled like an idiot. "That b*stard isn't bad at all!"

"Then "

Charlie wanted to suggest that they should acknowledge each other as father and daughter now and hold a wedding in Southeast Aciatic!

However, Rowan interrupted him. "Then I'll give him more points!"

Charlie was rendered speechless.

"So, how many points are you giving him, sir?"

"Hmm..." Rowan fell deep in thought for a moment and said in all seriousness, "It was negative before, so it's 0 points now!"

Charlie looked at him in confusion.

'Sigh... it's a long journey for Mr. Z to marry the Irwins' princess!'

Nelly came to Kelly's accommodation hurriedly.

However, she noticed that the guards at the door had been changed. Be it the doctor, nurses, or maids, all of them had changed. She knew none of them.

She was panicking. She met the butler when she turned around.

"What happened?" She asked, "Where... did they come from?"

Chapter 412

Chapter 412

The butler responded respectfully. "Madam Tanner arranged this."

Nelly's heart jolted.

Just when she was going in, she was stopped by the butler. "Madam Tanner is taking care of Ms. Kelly now. She prohibits anyone from going in."

"Not even me?" Nelly pretended to be calm. "Hah, I was the one who took care of her!"

"That's Madam Tanner's order!" The butler's eyes and expression were cold. "Please go back, Ms. Nelly!"

"You..."

Nelly was pissed. She flung her arms and turned around to leave.

However, she was panicking inside.

Mandy would find out her secrets since she was taking care of Kelly herself... She would be doomed by then.

She must think of a plan to muddle through!

She was walking back and forth in the courtyard. She was as frantic as an ant on a hot grill.

At that moment, her phone vibrated.

She was shocked. When she held her head down to look, she saw a message from Mona. She insisted on meeting no matter what.

She wanted to ignore her initially. However, she thought about it and thought Mona could still be useful. She arrived at the place following the Google pin Mona sent.

It was a high-scale beauty salon. Many A-list celebrities came here for botox and micro-plastic surgery. It was a known secret in the industry.

As it was secluded, the price was ridiculously high.

Mona was fighting with people at the front desk when Nelly arrived.

"Perfect timing, Nelly!" Mona pulled her. "These mean people won't let me put it on my tab! I-I used to be a VIP here, remember?"

The supervisor remained calm, "Ms. Adams, since you were our VIP, then you should know our rules better than the rest. We don't keep tabs here."

"That's right!" The other lady at the front desk rolled her eyes at her. "We've served so many celebrities, but we've never seen anyone who expects to use our service for free!"

"You!"

Mona rolled up her sleeves, prepared to fight, but Nelly stopped her.

She knew that the beauty salon had a powerful background. She heard that the Bayers invested in this place, while the supervisor was not to be offended.

It would not be worth it if they offended her.

Thus, Nelly smiled and swiped her card.

"Thank you, Ms. Tanner," the supervisor said respectfully. "Please come again!"

"Come again?" Mona raised her voice. "I'll never come again!"

Nelly rolled her eyes at her and urged her to leave.

They found a bar and sat in the dimmed corner. Mona took out a cigarette and lit it as usual.

"Godd*mnit, those people!" She criticized them while smoking. "They bully me because I'm no longer famous! When I was popular, they were eager to kiss my *ss!"

"Please watch yourself!" Nelly was annoyed. She finished a glass of beer. "Why did you get me here?"

"Um..." Mona scratched her head. "Because I didn't have money to pay earlier."

"What did you say?" Nelly said angrily, "You called me out so late just to be your ATM!?"

"No, no. Let me explain, Nelly!" Mona panicked. "There's something important I need to talk to you about... I'm begging you to help me. I can no longer survive in that company!" "What happened?"

"That Madam Baker isn't on our side like you told me! She shut me out because I offended Cordelia! I don't have anything now. The shows I'm given are those that even D-list celebrities don't want to go to!" Mona complained, "Nobody's watching my live stream anymore!"

Nelly pitied her.

She had done so many things to get Mona into Imperial Media so that she could be her tool. She hoped she could have someone watching on the inside to monitor Janine and fight Cordelia. Never had she thought Mona would achieve nothing and even lose her career.

Chapter 413

Chapter 413

In reality, Nelly could not blame Mona.

Nelly had never expected that Janine would be so cunning to be doing something else than she promised. She told the world that she had selected her daughter-in-law, which became a misunderstanding for her.

In reality, the daughter-in-law she had selected was Cordelia!

Nelly clenched her fists. "It's that b*tch Cordelia who did this to you!"

Mona lifted her eyes to look at her. She was shaking from the rage.

"That's right! It's all that b*tch's fault!

"But Nelly, I can't get close to her at all. I can't even enter Imperial Media's headquarters anymore... So, how do you suggest I take revenge now?"

Nelly fell into silence before speaking again. "If we can't do anything to her, we'll hurt the people around her! As long as she's in pain, it's the same no matter who we harm!"

"The people around her?" Mona thought about it. "Didn't you sabotage her brother? He was accused of cheating on his exams and was almost expelled. In the end—”

"Enough!" That was the matter that Nelly did not want to talk about most.

"I'm talking about the people around her. Can you think like I do?"

"The people around her?" Mona still could not get it.

"I'm talking about her friends! Just find out who is the easiest and just go! Do I have to teach you that?"

Mona kept nodding.

Nelly added, "Also, you're a celebrity that got popular due to traffic, so you should focus on that. Could you please put your image aside and create more gossip? "As long as there's traffic, nobody cares if it's quality or not!"

"Yes, yes!" Mona kept agreeing with her.

In reality, she never cared about her image. It was easy for her to stir gossip.

"Regarding your resources... If you can't get them at Imperial Media, can't you go to another agency?"

"But... that's a breach of contract!" Mona felt troubled.

"Imperial Media has many celebrities. Which of them didn't moonlight at other agencies? If everybody's doing it, why would Janine check on you only?" Mona bit her lip and nodded with some difficulty in the end.

"No matter what, fill your tummy before you go all out on fighting Cordelia!" Nelly slammed a bank card on the table before leaving.

"This is for you. Watch how you spend it!"

Mona was smiling when she saw the card. She forgot about all of her worries and began calling all of the directors that she knew. At the hot spring hotel...

Zephyr looked at the few people in front of him with a grim face as he soaked in the pool.

Josiah was drinking at the side while Fredric was indulging in the massage.

Robert and Nicholas were playing Monopoly on their phones in the pool.

Zephyr's eyes were turning grim.

He had assumed he would spend the weekend with Cordelia at the hot spring hotel. Given the hot water and the steamy environment, he would get wild with her...

Never had he thought Nicholas would make his wife angry again. As such, Linda got Cordelia to stay with her. That was not enough, so Linda seized the opportunity to get rid of Nicholas. Out of sight, out of mind.

Zephyr thought it was quite lonely when he arrived, so he got Josiah and Fredric here.

After they gathered, they thought it was mean to leave Robert out.

Thus, that was how it all happened...

The pool was filled with men-all men!

Zephyr was silent. He did not know what crime he had committed or who he had offended in his past life for these people to keep spoiling his plans!

"Hey, Z!" Josiah was adding oil to fuel at that moment. He lifted the empty bottle and shook it at him. "You got this for your wife, right? It's delicious! Get me another box—"

Before he could finish, he locked eyes with Zephyr, who was filled with killing intent.

Chapter 414

Chapter 414

Josiah looked innocent. "Z, what's wrong?"

Fredric read the atmosphere. He was quick to cover Josiah's mouth. He waved at the attendant to stop him from bringing drinks.

Zephyr only calmed down after taking a few deep breaths. He looked at Fredric and signaled him to meet at the lounge.

They put on their bathrobes and went to the lounge.

"You looking for me, Z?"

Zephyr paused. A gleam flashed through his eyes. "There's something that I've been confused about."

"What's up?"

"The stuff that we investigated... Did we miss out on something?"

Fredric was not surprised. Instead, it seemed he had been waiting for him to ask that.

"You're suspecting that too, Z?" He said, "I've been suspecting that, but I thought I'd only tell you after finding more evidence."

"Robert told me that you found out Matthew bought an expensive insurance policy before the plane accident. The beneficiary clearly stated Rowan."

"Hah, Z, that's against the air law!"

Zephyr's face was grim. "I spent a few days with Rowan, so I know a little bit about him. This man... He gives me a strange feeling, but I don't know why I keep having the feeling that he won't hurt me."

Fredric chuckled. "I investigated him. Although he didn't get to where he is without pulling some tricks, he has been righteous in other aspects."

Zephyr frowned. "So, him plotting this for money aside, why would the beneficiary be an outsider? Robert and I were focusing on that policy, but we missed such a big hint."

"Yeah, you guys never asked me!" Fredric stretched his body.

Zephyr scoffed. "That means someone intentionally let me see that policy and let me think that Rowan was an accomplice!"

Fredric nodded, "The policy that Matthew showed you, your parents were the beneficiary. Then the policy that you guys found later on, the beneficiary was Rowan. "Hah, in reality, the real policy has yet to surface!"

"Hats off to my second uncle!" Zephyr mocked. "He managed to forge it so many times!

"I'm guessing he's the beneficiary of the real policy!"

"That's right." Fredric agreed too. "He'll get rid of you, benefit from it, and drag in Rowan as well. It's killing three birds with one stone!" Zephyr smirked.

He suddenly recalled that Rowan had said on the island that he would help him to fight Matthew.

It turned out Rowan had seen Matthew's true colors.

However, he was still suspicious of Rowan's identity.

Most importantly, he seemed to care for Cordelia a lot. However, it was different from caring for a lover, more like the love a senior had for a junior.

Zephyr shook his head and poured lemon water. He drank the entire glass at once.

"Oh yeah." He suddenly recalled something. "Is Josiah not done at the pool?"

Fredric looked outside. "He's out. I think he went to eat."

"Stop him from doing that. Get him here. I need to talk to him!"

Fredric was not sure what was going to happen when he saw his serious face. He called Josiah over immediately.

Josiah shouted as soon as he came in, "I'm famished, Z! What's more important than food?"

Zephyr glared at him helplessly.

"Where's the yacht?"

Josiah was stunned. "It has been in the repair shop since it was sent back."

Chapter 415

Chapter 415

"Can you recover all of the data?"

"Should be. The repairman said the damages are light. We can recover the data when the circuit is fixed... Z, are you trying to find out how the two men boarded the yacht?”

"No," Zephyr said in a deep voice, "We received a message when we were on the island."

"Message?"

"I was trying to recover my signal to contact you." Zephyr looked at him. "Not long after I sent you the SOS message, I received a message."

Josiah frowned. "What was it about?"

The former paused. "Save me."

Josiah was confused.

"You bought a total of six yachts. Are the information systems connected? If they are, you'll get that message on your other yachts too."

Josiah thought for a bit and shook his head.

"It was in the beginning, but I changed the setting before the music event, and the information system is no longer connected. B-Because I was waiting for someone's message that I didn't want anyone to see.' He licked his lips. "Also, the yacht that was in the accident was not initially for you guys."

Zephyr's face turned grim.

Josiah looked at him and said slowly, "That's my private yacht.

"On the day of the music event, I arranged another yacht for the two of you. But I thought I must give you two the best. Also, the person I was waiting for might not come, so I let you guys use the yacht..." Fredric recalled something. "Oh yes, when you told me that, someone seemed to have passed us by. I guess the two men eavesdropped on what you said and hid on the yacht!"

Zephyr frowned and looked at Josiah. "So that "save me" message wasn't sent to us, but it was for you!"

Josiah's expression changed suddenly.

"What..." His voice was shaking. "A password is required to send the yacht messages, and I've only told one person..."

"Who?"

"Kelly." Josiah's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.

Fredric was annoyed. "Who's Kelly?"

However, Zephyr guessed it right away. It should be the girl Josiah had fallen hard for.

"Which family is she from? How did you guys get to know each other?" Zephyr asked many questions. "Why did she send you that message?"

Compared to the usually carefree Josiah, he looked terrible. He stood there as his soul was gone.

"Josiah?" Fredric shoved him. "What's wrong?"

Josiah suddenly snapped back to his senses and pulled him.

"Z, Fredric!" He was panicking. "You must help me!"

Zephyr instantly felt how serious the matter was.

"What happened? Tell us calmly!"

Josiah hesitated for a long time before saying, "K-Kelly is the Tanners' daughter!"

The other two looked at him with their eyes widened. They were in disbelief.

"It's true!" Josiah was frustrated. "Nelly told me herself! She said Kelly is her sister, but she... died long ago!"

Zephyr and Fredric looked at each other and frowned at the same time.

Zephyr said in a deep voice a while later, "Josiah, I've met the Tanners many times since young, and I've been to many of their events. "When did you find out they have another daughter?"

Chapter 416

Chapter 416

"Yeah, I've never heard of it either!" said Frederic, "Mr. and Mrs. Tanner have always told the public that Nelly Tanner's their only daughter!"

"If Kelly was really dead, how could she possibly send me a message to save her?"

Josiah stumbled back, not daring to think further. He was never a believer of supernatural talks but not believing in it did not mean that it did not exist.

Was it such a coincidence that he had run into one?

"Z..." Josiah panicked. "It's not some kind of unsolved murder, is it? Did Kelly... die a wrongful death?"

Zephyr sighed and looked at Josiah again like he had failed him. How could there be something like that in the world? It was ridiculous!

"Josiah, come on! When are you going to actually use your brain?!" Zephyr frowned. "You believe what Nelly Tanner says?"

Josiah stared with his big, innocent eyes at a loss.

"Let me ask you. Do you know how many illegitimate kids the rich all over the world have?"

Josiah shook his head numbly.

"So we don't know if the Tanners have another daughter either!

"Lies and truths are often one line apart. If Mr. and Mrs. Tanner are really hiding something, the outsiders definitely won't know!"

Zephyr pressed his lips together. Josiah had always been a silly goose, but he did not expect the guy to be this naive to the extent of thinking he had encountered a ghost over Nelly's nonsense.

Josiah mulled over it and asked in worry, "So, Kelly must be in danger right now! How am I going to help her?"

Zephyr was silent, analyzing the situation after a while. "If Kelly has run into an emergency, her first choice should be calling the police.

"But she opted to send you a message, so this means that whatever she's in isn't urgent but is still dangerous."

Josiah nodded.

"What should I do then?"

"This is the woman you like. You're not figuring something out to save her but asking me what to do?"

"Z..."

Zephyr glanced at him and pursed his lips.

The crux of the issue was Nelly. They had no idea what she was planning to do.

Zephyr asked seriously, "Josiah, if she's really a ghost, will you still like her?"

"Huh?" Josiah widened his eyes and took a long time to process the question. Ultimately, he gave a firm nod.

"I'll help her... If she really died a wrongful death, I'll find out the truth so she can move on in peace.

"But if she's still alive, I'll destroy the person who hurt her!"

"You like her so much?" Zephyr arched his brow. "You met her only once, haven't you?"

"W-Well, you didn't know sis-in-law before this either, and that night she married you, you wanted to... to do that with her too!"

Zephyr glared and raised his voice immediately. "Who said that!?"

Josiah chuckled. His bro must have forgotten.

When they were still in Jangasas and had too much to drink at one time, their brain-to-mouth filters stopped functioning. That was when Zephyr suddenly said that the night Cordelia married him, he actually wanted to have her....

Love at first sight was just a dirty mind at play.

Chapter 417

Chapter 417

Frederic grinned as well. "Mm, I can attest to this!"

Zephyr coughed. "We're talking about Josiah here. Why am I pulled into this!?

"Since you're determined to protect her, you have to find out everything." He patted Josiah's shoulder. "A man has to have the shoulders for responsibilities!" "Mm, got it, Z!"

"After recovering the data from the yacht, check the location the message was sent from, and plan it out. Meanwhile, get someone to keep an eye on the Tanners, especially Nelly!" Zephyr raised his brows with a smirk. "I think you'll definitely get unexpected results there!"

Cordelia went to the hospital with Linda for her pregnancy check, and everything went smoothly.

The baby was almost five months, and Linda had a small bump, looking plump and radiant. The doctor also said that she could be a medical example with her excellent indicators. The two of them sat outside the hospital for some time after the checkup.

The fall meant that it was cool with a gentle sun that toasted them warm. Cordelia took out a small box that contained sliced apples and fed them to Linda with a fork.

Linda beamed sweetly. This was the special privilege of a pregnant lady. She would be fed and dressed without moving a hand.

"Sigh, will your husband have anything to say when I've occupied you for so long?"

Cordelia giggled.

Linda had asked her to go over for company yesterday and did not let her leave at night. Nicholas had nowhere to go and followed Zephyr back to Royal Manor after the hot spring.

When they had a video call last night, Nicholas looked carefree with a big T-shirt as he sat cross-legged on the Turks lamb wool carpet Zephyr had painstakingly chosen, with beer and snacks in front of him as he watched a basketball match in concentration, while Zephyr looked like he was done with life.

"He opened my Romanee Conti that I've been keeping for years!

"He ate snacks on the carpet, and his feet smell! Even Ginger's annoyed!

"He eats too much. Aunt Helen made that soup for me, and he drank it all!

"Cordelia..." Zephyr was at his wit's end. "When are you coming back?"

Cordelia could not help chuckling. She felt like a teacher listening to her student complain.

Thinking of this, she turned to look at Linda. "Zephyr will go crazy if Nicholas stays on a few more days!"

He was a clean freak. It was a clash against Nicholas, who was nonchalant.

"I'm sorry..." Linda was embarrassed. "I can book a hotel and send Nicholas there right away!"

"You'd rather he stays in a hotel than for him to return home?" Cordelia widened her eyes. "What is it this time? I didn't dare ask much since you were in a bad mood yesterday."

Linda turned miserable at the mention. She put the apples down and looked afar, murmuring after a long time, "I think he has a mistress!"

Cordelia almost choked on her piece of apple.

"No way!" She smiled. "I absolutely do not believe that Nicholas would cheat! Besides, I saw what he looked like when I facetimed Zephyr last night. It's like... you guys were just having a small fight, and he didn't mind. He'll come back after you're not angry!

"Anyway, it's not what a guilty person having an affair would look like!"

"But I'm his wife!" Linda looked at her. "A woman's sixth sense is accurate..."

"You're pregnant, and your hormones are going wild." Cordelia held her hand. "Don't worry about it. Nicholas has been treating you as the apple of his eye since we were in school. How would he dare be reckless outside?"

"Cordelia, you have no idea..." Linda sighed. "He's the boss of an entertainment company now, and so many female celebrities are throwing themselves at him.

"There's this influencer. I think she used to be a popular celebrity too. She doesn't give a f*ck, entering his office in tight, low-cut clothes in broad daylight!" Linda's eyes were rimmed red. "How could I not get mad?"

Chapter 418

Chapter 418

Cordelia held Linda's hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Linda's life after marriage was blissful, actually. Nicholas personally cooked all three meals per day and prioritized her no matter how busy he was with the company.

Being pregnant, Linda always had the weirdest cravings, but Nicholas would go around Centrolis to buy what she wanted, even when it was in the middle of the night. Perhaps it was because she had been too blissful that she could not take a single speck of flaw...

Cordelia patted her back and convinced her softly. "Nicholas isn't that kind of person. You have to think less of it and recall how good he's been to you!

"Don't forget he had been wearing that ring since back then! How could such a devoted person have a change of heart?"

Linda was quiet for some time before she nodded lightly.

"He inevitably has to socialize in this industry," Cordelia said softly. "You both have gone through so much. It's impossible that you don't have this level of trust."

"Cordelia..."

Cordelia smiled at Linda. She knew that she would never be able to put herself in the latter's shoes when it did not actually happen to her. If it were her, she might not be as calm as Linda was. As her best friend, however, she could not just watch Linda nitpick things.

"Alright." Cordelia passed the phone to her. "Send a text. Just say that you're hungry and ask him home to cook for you. He'll be running back for sure!"

Linda stared at her before finally breaking into a grin. After she texted Nicholas, she apologized softly, "Sorry to disturb you and Zephyr. Let him know that you'll be back soon!"

"I'll have to send you home safely first, anyway!" Cordelia smiled.

The two of them headed for the carpark hand in hand. As they crossed the hospital lobby, they met two familiar faces. "Mom!" Nelly went to hold Mandy's arm obsequiously, but the latter pushed her away soundlessly with a blank face. "Mom, I'll go to the doctor with you!" Nelly smiled. "I've always been concerned with Kelly's condition. Actually, I—" "I've told you!" Mandy glared at her. "You don't have to be concerned with Kelly's matters!"

"But she's my younger sister..." Nelly looked pitiful with reddened eyes. "Mom, I've been her big sister for over 20 years. In recent years, especially, I've been looking after her. Just cutting me off from her like this upsets me..."

Mandy was irritated.

People walked in and out of the hospital lobby, and this was the best private hospital in Centrolis. The people who went to this hospital were notable figures in the city. Kelly and Nelly's identities would be exposed if they were to run into anyone.

Mandy looked up and saw Cordelia and Linda. She took a deep breath and held back her resentment for Nelly to force a smile.

"Ms. Jenner!" She greeted Cordelia.

Cordelia nodded politely and intentionally avoided meeting Nelly's eyes when she saw her.

"Are you feeling ill?" Mandy asked in concern. "I'm familiar with a few specialists in the hospital. I can—"

"Thank you, Aunt Tanner," Cordelia said softly. "I'm not feeling unwell. I'm here with my friend for her antenatal examination."

"Oh!" Mandy smiled. "This is... Mrs. Thompson? Mr. Thompson's entertainment company has been doing so well. You must be a great help. I'm envious!"

Nelly glanced at Linda's belly and trained her gaze there.

Everyone's happiness was an eyesore to her now. She gripped her fists with a smirk.

"Ms. Jenner, we'll excuse ourselves now." Mandy looked at both of them. "See you again."

Chapter 419

Chapter 419

Mandy moved forward after that, with Nelly staying close behind her.

Linda watched them and scoffed. "That's Nelly Tanner? Hah, if I didn't have a baby in me now, I'd really want to vent for you!"

"I'm not such a pushover yet!" Cordelia smiled. "Don't worry. She won't get to bully me!"

"Right. You have Zephyr with you. Who'd dare bully you?" Linda chuckled as well and suddenly asked thoughtfully, "Does Nelly look like her father?"

"Why the question?"

"I just think that she isn't like Mrs. Tanner at all, not even in terms of their vibe!"

Cordelia paused. She had never paid attention to this before.

Linda had spent years learning sketching and oil painting, and she was the best at drawing portraits. Whenever she looked at people, she liked observing their facial shapes, lines, and stuff. "Linda, are you itching to draw again?"

Linda giggled.

"I shall send you home sooner then. You still have the whole afternoon. Draw to your heart's content!"

Like a fragile piece of paper, Kelly was stuffed into the van with her mouth covered.

The van left the hospital and sped onto the road. Kelly had black tape over her mouth, disheveled hair, and reddened eyes. She looked at the man next to her in terror.

The man drove and said, "Don't be scared, miss! You just have to take some meds once we arrive!"

Kelly trembled.

"Don't worry. You won't suffer!" The man said with a grin, "It's just something to turn you mute!"

Kelly's tears fell. She knew that this was Nelly's doing. The driver was her subordinate, and everything was her arrangement.

Mandy had just gone to the doctor, and the bodyguards guarding her door were gone. This driver had barged in when she was completely defenseless.

The driver snickered. "Miss, Ms. Nelly mentioned that she doesn't want you dead. It's good as long as you shut your mouth!"

Kelly sucked in a cold breath and forced herself to calm down. She must not die nor turn mute, but she could do nothing now...

She squirmed and coughed violently.

The driver looked at her and snorted. "What's the difference between her and a dead person that I have to get her all the way to the suburbs and force the drug down her throat?" He loosened the ropes that tied Kelly up as he spoke.

"Ms. Nelly only asks for you to become mute. Not dead! So I'm loosening the ropes. Don't cough yourself to death, or I won't be able to get out of this!"

Kelly worked her wrists out and saw the car in front of them at that moment. Unable to think further, she threw herself to grab the steering wheel.

The driver was shocked and shoved her to the side.

The car swerved and drove between lanes, causing the cars around it to honk as a warning.

"Are you f*cking asking to be killed!?" the driver cursed hysterically.

Kelly did not give up. This time, she went for the driver's eyes... The van lost control, and the driver stepped on the brake instinctively, but it was already too late. With a bang, the van collided with the car in front of it and was severely damaged.

The strong momentum threw Kelly against the windshield and bounced her back to the seat. Her forehead was busted, and blood oozed from the wound.

Chapter 420

Chapter 420

The police arrived at the scene of the accident shortly and pulled up the barricade tape.

The front car was a luxury car with a high-security factor, so only two of its lights were shattered, and the back sank in a little.

The back car, which was a van, was completely out of shape. The front was basically crushed as its engine smoked.

"Linda, how are you feeling?" Cordelia's face was pale from the shock.

She thought her driving skill was decent and followed the traffic rules. Somehow, she was tailed while driving and could not even step on the brake in time when she was rammed, skidding dozens of meters away from the collision.

It was fortunate that Linda had been hugging a pillow in the car, so her belly was not hurt with the cushion blocking.

The ambulance came, and the paramedics hurriedly carried the two people in the van behind them out.

The police came over and knocked on their window to ask about their state. Seeing that they were alright, they were asked to do a checkup in the hospital before their statements were to be taken.

When Cordelia got out of the car, her legs were shaking, and she could barely stand. She felt dizzy looking at the crowd surrounding them.

A stretcher passed by in front of her-the girl on it was thin and pale. The only color she had was actually from the wound on her forehead.

"Victim, Kelly Tanner." The police frowned after understanding the situation. "What is this? Info shows that she's currently hospitalized. How did she get out?"

Joe and Mandy were anxious outside of the operation ward.

Kelly's identity had been exposed because of the accident.

Joe asked for the driver to be severely punished while Mandy asked the police shakily, "We want you to investigate this... Who is behind this?!!"

"What?" Joe was stunned.

"Do you know that driver?" Mandy looked at him and raised her voice, "You don't know him, and I don't either! So, where is he from, and why did he abduct Kelly? Do you think it's fine not figuring these out!?" Nelly was farther away from them and felt her heart drum, cursing the driver she had bought over hundreds and thousands of times.

What was the guy doing? How could he let Kelly take over the steering wheel? And to run into Cordelia and Linda's car!?

Not only would Zephyr get even with her, but Nicholas would not let her go either!

That day was incredibly long. The light above the doors of the operation ward only went out at 8:00 p.m.

Nelly made countless calls at the same time. It was only when she confirmed that the driver had shouldered all the blame that she was slightly relieved.

"Nelly." Mona went to her discreetly. "I looked for the driver, and I agreed to his conditions. He just wants 30,000 dollars for his son. The sum-"

"What money!?" Nelly was snappy. "This is what he's done, and he wants to ask for money from me?"

Mona was startled. "Nelly, he's acting as your scapegoat!"

"Did I force him to be one?" Nelly said arrogantly, "Besides, I haven't figured out what to do when that girl wakes up! I have a lot on my mind now. I'm not in the mood to send him money!"

Mona wanted to say more but chose to shut up upon seeing how angry Nelly was.

Soon enough, news about the Tanners having another daughter was all over the upper class.

Joe could only explain that Kelly had been ill, so she had never made a public appearance. Despite that, Mandy openly admitted it to the press, "It's our mistake as her parents! Kelly has a congenital disease, and we don't want people to say that we can't produce a healthy child... It's our selfishness and pride!"

Joe looked at her with widened eyes. "Enough!"

"No!" Mandy was emotional. "We've been wrong for so many years and owe Kelly so much! I want to apologize to Kelly in front of everyone today...

"Parents should apologize too for what they've done wrong!

"Kelly's survived the critical stage, but she's still unconscious." Mandy sobbed. "I don't hope my daughter will forgive me, but I just want to take care of her and redeem myself for the rest of my life..." Hidden in a corner, Nelly stared at the scene with her fingers clutched to the wall, nearly digging a hole through it.

Zephyr kept a close eye on Cordelia these days. He even followed her when she was just feeding the cat on the porch.

Cordelia was aware of how clingy he could get, but it was the first time he was unshakeable, and she did not know whether to grimace or chuckle at it.

Just as she turned around from feeding Ginger, she ran into Zephyr's warm and secure embrace.

The man's strong arms embraced her as he scanned her from head to toe.

"How many times do you want to check on me every day!?" Cordelia chided weakly.

"I have to see if you're hurt!" Zephyr said nervously.

"Of course not. See, I'm well!" He had asked the same thing since the first day of the accident and checked her from head to toe over a hundred times a day.

"But Linda's in shock. I wonder if it'll affect her baby."

"Nothing is coming from Nicholas' side, so that means everything's fine," Zephyr said softly. "But the doctor said that a frightened pregnant woman will somehow affect the baby. It's better to rest and recuperate."

"Why did the van run into us?"

"The police's answer is that the driver drove in exhaustion and didn't have a driving license. He's locked up now."

"Oh..." Cordelia pursed her lips. "It's fortunate that the car Nicholas bought Linda was solid and could take a hit! Otherwise, the both of us would be lying in the emergency ward given another car with that collision force!"

Zephyr stroked her hair with a chortle.

He felt that this was not a regular accident. Initially, he suspected Matthew and Yale, but the clue broke off. He then guessed whether it was an enemy of Nicholas from the past. That was not it, either.

Instead, Kelly's identity was exposed. The Tanners really had another daughter.

"Oh, yeah, Zephyr." Cordelia frowned. "There's something that I still find odd thinking about it now..."

"What is it?"

"The Tanner heiress in the van..." She paused. "A rich daughter going out in a van?

"And I saw that she was all pale with black tape over her mouth at the scene of the accident!"

Zephyr froze. "She was abducted?"

Cordelia shrugged and asked softly after a while, "If that's the case, what's the purpose of her abduction?

"The Tanners had been telling the public that they only had Nelly Tanner as their daughter for so many years. No one knows about this heiress. Even if they wanted to abduct a rich kid, they should have abducted Nelly!"

Zephyr nodded and looked thoughtful.