Chapter 30
Could it be him?
Had he sent someone to pick Stella up?
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Thinking back, Evan realized that over the past six months, nearly two–thirds of his time had been spent back at his mother’s place. If Stella and Felix had crossed paths during that time, it wasn’t impossible.
Evan’s breathing grew increasingly unsteady.
“Find out where that Eirden man took her,” he ordered. Then he paused, his expression turning ice–cold” Actually, forget it. Just investigate first p>
Patrick nodded. “Yes p>
Patrick left.
Once Evan was alone, he dialed Felix’s number.
The call connected quickly.
“What is it?” Felix’s low voice came through the line.
Just three words.
Cold. Distant.
That tone alone made Evan’s temper flare.
He used to think Felix was simply aloof by nature. Now, it sounded more like hostility. Toward him.
“Are you at the office?” Evan said sharply. “I’m coming over p>
“You have time to come looking for me now?” Felix replied.
The sarcasm was unmistakable.
Evan tightened his grip on the phone.
“What’s that supposed to mean p>
Felix paused, then said evenly,
“Your sister–in– law has been having depressive episodes every few hours lately. She can’t even take care of herself or her children. And you have time to come find me p>
Felix rarely spoke this much in one breath.
So it really was because of Stella.
Evan hung up without another word. He grabbed his coat and stormed out.
In the car, he hesitated, then finally called Lucas.
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Lucas picked up with a sigh.
“Evan, what exactly are you trying to do now p>
At this point, Lucas genuinely didn’t understand how Evan’s marital problems had somehow become everyone else’s burden.
“Call her,” Evan said. “Tell her
“She’s not going to tell me where she is,” Lucas cut in immediately. “Don’t even finish that sentence
Evan’s jaw tightened.
Before, when he was running back and forth to his mother’s place to stay with Summer, he hadn’t seemed worried that Stella might disappear.
Now she actually had and he was tearing half the city apart looking for her.
“You tell her,” Evan said through clenched teeth, “that I’m going to see Felix p>
(( What?” Lucas froze.
Why was Felix suddenly involved?
“And why are you dragging Felix into this?” Lucas demanded. “Did Summer say something again p>
Evan fell silent.
Lucas snorted.
“I knew it. Look, if you haven’t cleared things up with Summer, don’t start throwing suspicion around. Especially not at Stella p>
“When women get petty,” Lucas continued bluntly, “you can spend the rest of your life trying to make it right and still fail.” 2
To Lucas, the problem was obvious.
Evan hadn’t handled things cleanly with Summer. And now he was turning around and doubting Stella- likely because Summer had planted something in his head.
That wasn’t fair. And it was dangerous.
“You’re decisive as hell at work,” Lucas went on, clearly irritated. “But when it comes to Stella, you suddenly believe everything Summer says p>
His tone sharpened.
“Let me be clear. Summer has zero boundaries. Her husband dies, and she clings to her married brother–in- law nonstop. It’s disgusting p>
Evan’s patience snapped.
“Are you going to call her or not p>
Lucas sighed.
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“Fine. I’ll call. ”
Then Evan added coldly,
“Patrick confirmed it. A man from Eirden handled her discharge today. An Eirden man. Who else could she possibly know from there besides Felix p>
Lucas went quiet.
Patrick wasn’t someone who jumped to conclusions. And his loyalty to Evan was unquestionable.
“…Alright, ” Lucas finally said. “I’ll talk to her p>
The call ended.
Evan’s face darkened completely.
An Eirden man.
Felix.
If there really was a foreign man around Stella now, then nine times out of ten, it had something to do with Felix.