Chapter 258: You Really Didn’t Hear Anything?

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: You Really Didn’t Hear Anything?

Yvonne Lowell leaned back on the sofa, her eyes slightly closed, her tone detached and weary.

"I’ll live."

After a hot bath, it finally sank in that she had truly escaped that Purgatory on earth. She was really and truly alive again.

"You have no idea. President Grayson was frantic these past few days when you were unreachable," Dolly Hughes said in a low voice. "She couldn’t find you, so she asked President Hawthorne to help investigate. After they found out you’d been secretly taken to Khemara, President Hawthorne put pressure directly on Terrence Lloyd and finally got you back."

"Terrence Lloyd?" Yvonne Lowell’s eyes flew open, filled with disbelief.

"That’s right." Dolly Hughes nodded and explained what the investigation had uncovered. "For years, Terrence Lloyd has been secretly colluding with Khemara’s black market, involved in human trafficking, cross-border telecom scams, and countless other illegal activities. His hands are filthy."

That explained how she could be transported to Khemara so quickly.

They had their own channels and routes.

On the way back, she had been wondering who rescued her. Now she had the answer. It was President Grayson.

’If it weren’t for President Grayson,’ she thought, ’I might never have returned to the country in my entire life.’

"I have no history with Terrence Lloyd, no grudge. We’ve never even crossed paths. This must be Roya Winters getting her revenge." Yvonne Lowell’s fingertips dug into her palms, knuckles turning white. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and rage surged in her eyes.

She hadn’t expected Roya Winters to be so vindictive. Just because President Grayson chose her as the spokesperson, exposing Roya’s ugly true colors and earning President Rivers’ disgust, Roya had blamed her for everything and was willing to have her killed!

’Truly a heart as venomous as a viper!’

"Wicked people get what’s coming to them. She hasn’t been having a good time lately," Dolly Hughes revealed. "Roya Winters is pregnant, and Terrence Lloyd was willing to divorce his wife for her. But she’s arrogant and looks down on Terrence, so she doesn’t want to have the baby. Now he’s got her under house arrest in a private villa, guarded by bodyguards 24/7. She has no freedom at all."

Yvonne Lowell gritted her teeth, her gaze icy. "She’s getting what she deserves. Serves her right."

She knew Roya Winters’ ambition all too well.

All Roya wanted was to marry into a top-tier, wealthy family. If President Rivers hadn’t grown tired of her and started ignoring her, why would she have ever settled for a plain-looking man like Terrence Lloyd?

Dolly Hughes stood up to leave. "Get some rest," she advised. "If you run into any more trouble, contact me anytime."

Just as Dolly Hughes turned to go, Yvonne Lowell suddenly called out to her, her eyes pleading.

"Assistant Hughes, there is actually something I’d like to ask President Grayson for help with."

"Go ahead. I’ll relay the message exactly."

"My grandmother... she was suddenly picked up by someone a few days ago. Could you please ask President Grayson to help me find her?"

The night of the incident, she had received a call from a landline. Her grandmother said she was in Northolme and told her not to stay up all night filming. Her mind went blank. After getting the address, she rushed over, but when she arrived, her grandmother wasn’t there. Instead, she was ambushed and knocked unconscious. The next time she woke up, she was in a compound in Khemara.

She had no power, no influence, no background. No one would help her for no reason.

Right now, the only person she could ask for help was President Grayson.

Dolly Hughes reassured her, "Don’t worry. Sister Vesper is as kind as she is beautiful. I’m sure she’ll help you find your grandmother."

After leaving the apartment, Dolly Hughes called Vesper Grayson.

"Sister Vesper, I just left Yvonne Lowell’s place. She has some injuries, but she’s okay. Also, she asked me to tell you... she’s begging you to help find her missing grandmother."

Vesper Grayson was lying in bed, listening to Dolly Hughes on the phone, when she caught sight of a tall figure walking in.

She said a few more words and hung up.

"Honey, you’re amazing. Yvonne Lowell is already back in the country."

Jared Hawthorne raised an eyebrow and pulled her into his arms. "It’s not me who’s amazing, it’s Terrence Lloyd’s secret network. They’re the ones who could get someone from Khemara back into the country so quickly."

"What are we going to do about Terrence Lloyd?" Vesper Grayson asked, tilting her head up.

"We don’t have detailed evidence of his illegal dealings. Even if we sent him to the police, they’d just release him after a couple of days of investigation. Letting him go for now means he won’t suspect us."

’There are too many criminals in the world. If I had to deal with every single one, when would it ever end?’

’Besides, it’s not my responsibility. It’s the police’s job!’

Vesper Grayson furrowed her brow, her sense of justice flaring. "So we’re just going to let him go like that? Didn’t you find out what he did?"

"Finding out is one thing, having no proof is another. If you really want to take him down, turn his ex-wife, Jean Fanning, against him."

"Jean Fanning? Given her relationship with Terrence Lloyd, how would she know what he’s been doing behind the scenes?"

"They were married for years. I refuse to believe she never suspected the source of his money."

’She’s just a smart woman who was content with her situation and didn’t want to dig too deep.’

"She might not be willing to help. When she found out where Yvonne Lowell was, she was in a hurry to distance herself, afraid Terrence Lloyd would get suspicious."

But Vesper could understand. The woman had no obligation to help.

Whether she helped or not was entirely up to her.

If something were to happen to Terrence Lloyd, it wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing for Jean.

"Stop worrying about other people’s business," he said, looking down, his warm hand resting gently on her belly. "Isn’t it time for your prenatal check-up tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Did you take your folic acid?"

"I did. Joan made sure of it."

...

That night, Terrence Lloyd was dumped outside the gate of his villa.

The bodyguards found him while on patrol.

Seeing how badly injured and unconscious he was, they immediately rushed him to the hospital.

His wounds, which hadn’t been properly treated, had already begun to fester and ooze pus.

The doctor debrided his wounds and put him on an IV of anti-inflammatory medication to keep the infection from worsening.

He woke up the next morning.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Mother Lloyd sitting by his bed, her eyes red from crying.

That morning, the bodyguards had contacted both Jean Fanning and Mother Lloyd. As soon as they heard the news, they rushed over.

Seeing Terrence Lloyd’s miserable state, Mother Lloyd felt a genuine pang of heartache, while Jean Fanning felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

"Oh, son, you’re finally awake! Tell Mom, who hurt you?"

Terrence Lloyd tried to move, then winced in pain.

After catching his breath, he said weakly, "I’m fine, aren’t I? Don’t ask so many questions."

He didn’t want to talk about it. For one, it was too humiliating. For another, he had no idea who his assailants were.

But he was certain of one thing: the people who grabbed him were after him because of Yvonne Lowell.

’I looked into her,’ he thought. ’Yvonne Lowell has no background, no sponsor. Who would go to bat for her and be able to track me down so quickly?’

’And they knew everything about my private dealings.’

’Do they have evidence against me?’

"A wound on my son is a wound on my heart. You’re this injured, and I can’t even ask?" Mother Lloyd was distraught. "We have to call the police! Let them get to the bottom of this!"

"Call the police for what?" Terrence Lloyd said urgently. "I’ll handle this. Don’t make things more complicated!"

’What if the police investigate and find something? How would I get out of it?’

So, he absolutely could not involve the police.

Jean Fanning walked in carrying a thermos, shooting a glance at Terrence Lloyd in the bed.

"Mom, I bet he’s done so many despicable things that he’s finally getting his comeuppance."

Terrence Lloyd closed his eyes. "No need for sarcastic comments. Just take Mom home."

"I’ve divorced you. I’m looking after Mom out of respect for our past relationship as mother and daughter-in-law, not because it’s my duty. Don’t forget, you’re her biological son."

"You took a hundred million from me, and several houses. I ask you to look after Mom, and you feel wronged?" Terrence Lloyd opened his eyes and stared at her coldly. "Don’t act so innocent after getting everything you wanted."

Jean Fanning sneered. "You were the one at fault. Agreeing to the divorce was me giving you a way to save face. I’ll take care of Mom, but you can’t just abandon your own responsibilities."

"Stop arguing, both of you," Mother Lloyd said. "Once you get the divorce certificate, I’ll move back. I’ve already adopted Jean Fanning as my goddaughter, so from now on, she’s your sister. She’s right, too. Taking care of me is supposed to be your and your wife’s duty."

"Mom, Roya is pregnant. Are you really going to make a pregnant woman take care of you?"

"So what? She’s spent so much of your money, isn’t it right for her to show some filial piety to her mother-in-law?" Mother Lloyd said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She knew her son was completely bewitched by that vixen and would defend her fiercely. So, she softened her tone. "Besides, I can help you keep an eye on her. Otherwise, she might try something funny and have improper thoughts about my unborn grandchild."

Thinking of Roya Winters’ attitude about getting an abortion, Terrence Lloyd didn’t argue with his mother this time.

Seeing his silence, Mother Lloyd knew he had conceded.

"Then it’s settled. You focus on recovering. I’ll head back with Jean for now."

Jean Fanning quickly helped Mother Lloyd toward the exit. Just as they reached the door, Terrence Lloyd’s voice drifted up eerily from behind them.

"Jean, that day you came back to get your things... are you sure you didn’t hear anything?"