Chapter 556: Foul Play

Hayden Jennings offered no response. He extended a long, slender finger and slid it back and forth across Cindy Hughes’s delicate neck, his gaze darkening.

Feeling the cold touch on her throat, Cindy Hughes’s heart leaped into her mouth, terrified that Hayden Jennings would wrap his hand around her neck at any moment.

Though her heart was pounding with anxiety, Cindy Hughes managed to keep her expression neutral, remaining nestled feebly in Hayden Jennings’s arms.

The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the PITTER-PATTER of the rain outside the window.

After a moment, Hayden Jennings sighed and said, "Forget it. You were just worried about your sister. She was your sister, after all, and she met an unfortunate end. So, I’ll let it slide this time, but... don’t let it happen again."

Hearing this, Cindy Hughes secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

’Who would have thought? To the outside world, Hayden Jennings was a research expert in the medical field, a refined and composed professor. But in reality, he was an out-and-out psychopath!’

Cindy Hughes had been with Hayden Jennings for over a year and had come to know his methods all too well. To others, Hayden Jennings doted on his wife, but only Cindy herself knew how unspeakably miserable her life truly was!

Hayden Jennings’s moods were volatile and unpredictable, and his actions were those of an absolute madman.

One time, they had been sitting and eating together perfectly fine one moment, and the next, Hayden Jennings had knocked Cindy Hughes out of her chair, pinned her to the ground by the throat, called her an ungrateful bitch, and nearly choked her to death.

There had been many similar incidents, and just recalling them made Cindy Hughes’s skin crawl.

Fortunately, Hayden Jennings was busy with his research, spending most of his time in the lab and not coming home often. Otherwise, Cindy Hughes would have been driven insane by his torment.

Hayden Jennings continued, "By the way, regarding the arrangements for your sister... I spoke with the police and told them to send her ashes here."

Cindy Hughes was stunned for a moment, then she nodded gently. "Okay. We can find a suitable burial plot for her so she can rest in peace."

But to her surprise, Hayden Jennings shook his head and said with a faint smile, "No rush. Let’s keep them at home for now."

Hearing this, Cindy Hughes asked with a look of confusion, "...At home?"

’Although Elaine Hughes was her half-sister, they barely knew each other—they were practically strangers. Who keeps a stranger’s ashes in their home?’

’How creepy is that!’

Meeting Cindy Hughes’s baffled gaze, Hayden Jennings let out a low chuckle.

The corner of his mouth twisted into a bizarre smile. His cold fingers trailed along Cindy Hughes’s neck as he spoke in a deceptively gentle tone, "Since you’re so concerned about your sister, daring to ask the housekeeper for news of her without my permission... then I shall grant you your wish."

"From now on, her urn will be placed on your nightstand. That way, you can see your sister whenever you want. You two can be together day and night."

As Hayden Jennings watched her with a smile in his eyes, the color drained from Cindy Hughes’s face.

It was as if the nerves in her brain were snapping one by one. All Cindy Hughes wanted to do was scream.

’Madman!’

’This man is a complete madman!’

’He’s a psychopath!’

Fortunately, Cindy Hughes’s psychological resilience had been honed by now. After the initial shock, she managed to force a smile and said to Hayden Jennings, "...Thank you, darling..."

Hayden Jennings, satisfied with her reaction, nodded and added, "I heard from Joy that she invited you to a party a couple of days ago, but you refused. Is that right?"

Without waiting for Cindy to respond, Hayden Jennings continued, "You did very well this time, Cindy. You should just be a good girl and stay in your room. Don’t go anywhere, and don’t talk to anyone. Got it?"

Cindy Hughes’s nails dug deep into her palms. She fought to suppress the strong wave of nausea rising within her and replied meekly, "...Yes, I understand..."

******

Ever since she learned that Saul Archer’s "big brother" was planning to cause trouble in the neighborhood, Melody Summers had been on edge for the past two days.

She had fully prepared for a disturbance, but what she hadn’t expected was that before the anticipated chaos could arrive, Nina Summers would be the one to get into trouble...

"...You’re saying a colleague called her out this morning, and she still hasn’t returned?" Melody Summers asked Joanne White over the phone, her brow furrowed.

"Exactly," Joanne White said, her voice laced with urgency. "I was passing by their department and overheard her colleagues complaining that they couldn’t find her and that her phone wasn’t connecting. I asked around, and someone said they saw her get called away by someone from another department for an off-site task."

"But here’s the thing, I asked a friend in that department, and he said they never saw Nina Summers. I felt like something was wrong, so I decided to call and tell you."

Hearing Joanne White’s words, Melody Summers’s heart sank. She quickly asked, "Do you know who it was that called her out?"

Joanne White replied, "An employee who joined the company at the same time as her. Her name is Chloe Sharp."

The moment Joanne White finished speaking, Melody Summers frowned. ’Chloe Sharp?’

’Why does that name sound so familiar...?’

Before Melody Summers could place where she’d heard the name, Joanne White continued on the other end of the line, "I heard this Chloe Sharp got the job through connections. I don’t know her very well, but I’ll ask a friend to do some more digging. You try not to worry just yet."

After hanging up, Melody Summers immediately called Nina Summers.

But she tried several times, and the call wouldn’t go through.

Listening to the automated "cannot connect" message and seeing the sky darken outside, Melody Summers’s heart sank. She was almost certain Nina Summers was in trouble.

Just as she was debating whether to call the police first or contact Sophie Thorne for help checking the surveillance footage, her phone chimed with a notification. A text message had arrived.

Melody Summers glanced at the screen—to her surprise, it was from Nina Summers:

[Sis, I’m out on an assignment with a colleague and we’re stranded over on Valerius Avenue. Our car broke down, and everyone at the office has already left for the day. I feel bad bothering anyone else, so could you come pick me up?]

A map location was attached to the message.

Frowning at the message, Melody Summers texted back a question:

[Why won’t your phone connect?]

A moment later, Nina Summers replied:

[The reception is terrible here. We can’t make or receive calls. We barely managed to get this one text out. Sorry to trouble you, Sis.]

There were too many things about this message that didn’t add up. It was a sure sign that something had gone wrong on Nina Summers’s end.

’This Chloe Sharp who lured Nina away... just who is she? And why would she do this?’

’Could she be a human trafficker who went undercover at Rhodes to abduct employees with an accomplice?’

As Melody Summers was racking her brain, completely stumped, her phone rang again. It was Joanne White.

Melody answered, and Joanne’s voice immediately came through the receiver—

"I asked around! My friend said it seems Chloe Sharp was recommended for the position by the Walsh Family. You know the Walsh Family, right? The one that invested in the medical center..."

After hanging up on Joanne White, Melody Summers’s grip on her phone tightened—

’The Walsh Family again!’

’The Walsh Family had Nina abducted!’

’I can’t believe it. Zara Walsh is already dead, and the Walsh Family is still stirring up trouble!’