Free Web NovelChapter 355: Chapter 356 You Are My Life
Christina’s POV
The next afternoon, I received a call from Niall.
"Hello?"
"Was returning the dress your idea, or his?"
"It was mine."
"Why?"
"Because my husband doesn’t like me accepting gifts from other men."
Niall sighed, then said, "You kept your end of the bargain by coming to the event with me, so I should honor mine. Let’s have dinner tonight. I’ll fill you in on what I’ve found."
"You can tell me over the phone."
"It’s not something I can explain quickly, and I have some things to show you. I’ll wait outside your studio tonight," he said, then hung up before I could refuse.
"Son of a bitch," I cursed.
My phone rang again.
"I’m taking you somewhere tonight," Hudson said after I’d answered.
"Where?"
"Somewhere nice."
"I can’t tonight. I’ve already made plans."
"Another time, then." I could hear the disappointment in his voice.
"Since when did you start planning spontaneous nights out?" I asked.
It wasn’t like him.
"Naomi suggested it. She said with everything that’s been going on, we could all use a relaxed evening. Ryan’s coming, and Cassian too. But if you’re busy, it can wait."
"Tell you what, I’ll join you after I’m done. It might be late, though."
"That works. I’ll pick you up afterwards."
"Don’t worry, I’ll make my own way."
That evening after work, I reluctantly went to meet Niall.
"Well? Are you going to tell me what you found, or not?" I asked as soon as I sat down.
Truth was, I knew Hudson’s resources and connections were far better than Niall’s. If I asked him about Franklin, he’d probably uncover more, and faster.
But until he was ready to be honest with me about Genevieve, I didn’t want to bring it to him.
A marriage should be built on mutual trust, not one-sided openness.
"Are you in that much of a hurry to leave?" Niall asked, looking hurt.
I ignored his expression. "If you’re not going to talk, I’m leaving."
He picked up the menu. I stopped him. "Talk first. No ordering until you do, or I walk."
Niall gave in. "Fine."
He handed me a small flash drive. "This is the recording you heard before, but I had it cleaned up. The audio is clearer now. I’ve listened to it myself."
"And?"
"Franklin mentioned an address. I looked into it—it was a hotel. But when I called, they said he’d already checked out."
"Did they say where he went after?"
Niall shook his head. "Client confidentiality. Even if they knew, they wouldn’t tell me."
I was disappointed. So he didn’t know where Franklin was. What was the point of this meeting, then? ƒгeewёbnovel.com
"But I did find out something else," Niall added.
"What?"
"He wasn’t alone. He was often seen coming and going with another man during his stay."
"Who was it?"
"No idea. The hotel wouldn’t provide a photo. I thought if we could access their security footage, we might see for ourselves."
"Do you know how to do that?" I asked.
"No, not really. It was just a thought," he admitted.
I considered it. "There might be another way."
"What?"
"Give me the name."
Niall told me. I looked it up. The hotel was owned by a hospitality group, which was in turn owned by several companies and investors. It didn’t surprise me to find that one of those parent companies eventually traced back to LGH.
If I asked Hudson, as CEO, he could request that the subsidiary company ask the hotel management to hand over the surveillance footage. They could even provide Franklin’s room number, transaction records, length of stay—everything they had on him.
But...
"What are you thinking?" Niall asked.
"Nothing," I said, shaking my head. I didn’t have to share my plans with him. I took the flash drive. "Thanks for this."
I stood to leave.
Niall hurried to his feet. "Wait. Don’t go."
"I don’t think we have anything else to discuss."
"At least have a meal with me. We’re already here."
"I have somewhere else to be."
"You should be careful," Niall blurted out.
"What?"
"Watch your back. I’m worried about your safety."
"Why?"
"I know why you’re trying to find Franklin, and I know about the attempts on your life. After I pulled you from the lake, you asked if I saw who pushed you. I didn’t... but you must have some idea who it was."
"I do," I admitted.
"Are you thinking it was that woman we saw at the party? Genevieve, right?"
"Yes. What of it?"
"What if it wasn’t her?"
"Why would you say that? Do you have proof?"
"No, but think about it. I moved pretty fast, but by the time I reached the lake, there was no one else on the shore—just you in the water. If it was Genevieve, how could she have disappeared so quickly?"
I frowned. "Maybe you just didn’t see her."
"Maybe. But what if it was Franklin?"
I shook my head. "How would he even know I was there?"
"He could’ve been following you."
"Unlikely."
If Franklin knew where I was, he’d have jumped out, accused me of being a terrible daughter, and demanded money with his usual dramatic flair.
"But not impossible, right? He probably blames you for his prison sentence. I wouldn’t put it past him to want revenge."
That was harder to dismiss. Franklin never had much fatherly feeling toward me, and prison had probably only made him more bitter.
"I’m worried about you. Come back to me. Let me protect you."
"No, thank you. I have—"
"Hudson? Are you serious? He can’t even protect you from a jealous woman like Genevieve."
"That’s my business," I said coldly.
Niall sighed. "I feel useless. I want to help you, but I can’t even find Franklin."
I softened my tone. "It’s not your fault. It’s time you moved on with your life."
"You are my life," he said.
