Free Web NovelChapter 110: Chapter 110: Locking On to That Little Ant
「The next morning.」
Renee Jennings and Henry Stark arrived at Mae Sullivan’s villa, gifts in hand.
The maid said Mae Sullivan wasn’t home.
"When will Mae be back?" Renee Jennings placed the gift box on the stone table with a smile. "We’re not in a hurry. We can wait for her here."
The maid hesitated upon hearing this. "Well... I’ll need to ask the missus."
"Alright, thank you." Renee Jennings nodded. freeweɓnøvel.com
The maid turned and entered the main house.
"What’s wrong?" Connor Kent came downstairs in a bathrobe. He stood in the living room drinking water and saw two strangers sitting in the garden through a gap in the curtains. "Who are they?"
The maid replied, "Sir, they’re police officers."
The look in Connor Kent’s eyes shifted, and he frowned. "What are police doing here?"
"They said some classified documents were lost nearby. The missus spoke with them and ended up giving that female officer Daisy. Today, she came all this way with a gift to thank the missus..." freёwebnovel.com
After a moment’s thought, Connor Kent said in a low voice, "Tell them to leave. There’s no need to wait; the missus won’t be back today."
"Yes, sir." The maid complied and hurried out of the main house. "Officers, the missus won’t be back today."
Renee Jennings and Henry Stark exchanged a look, their eyebrows slightly raised.
"Is that so," Renee Jennings said with a nod, her eyes landing on the colorful flowers in the flower bed. "These flowers are so beautiful. Did Mae plant them?"
The maid replied, "Yes, she did."
Renee Jennings stood up and walked toward the flower bed to admire the blossoms. "So beautiful. They’re blooming so well."
Connor Kent, who had been about to go upstairs, turned and saw this. His heart seized, and the color drained from his face.
Without a second thought, he strode out of the main house and into the garden. "Hello."
Hearing the voice, Renee Jennings turned to look at him.
When Connor Kent saw her face clearly, a flicker of stunned admiration appeared in his eyes. "Hello."
"And you are?" Renee Jennings asked, looking at him quizzically.
"This is the man of the house," the maid explained.
"Mae’s husband?" Renee Jennings offered a polite smile. "Hello, I’m Blueberry."
"Blueberry?" Connor Kent chuckled. "That’s a lovely name."
"Thank you."
Connor Kent then looked at Henry Stark. "And this is?"
Renee Jennings replied as they had planned. "He’s my boyfriend, Hank Jennings."
She didn’t notice the tips of Henry Stark’s ears turning faintly red as she said this.
"Oh, a boyfriend," Connor Kent said, the smile on his face fading. "My wife isn’t home. It was very thoughtful of you to make a special trip to thank her."
Renee Jennings gave him a meaningful smile. "It was the right thing to do. Those curly-haired cats are so expensive. I’m truly grateful that Mae was willing to part with hers."
’Connor Kent knew they were here but didn’t react until I walked up to the flower bed. Then he came rushing out.’
’If that isn’t a guilty conscience, I don’t know what is.’
"It was nothing," Connor Kent said, waving his hand dismissively. "My wife isn’t home. If you two want to thank her, you can come back another day."
He was essentially telling them to leave.
"Alright." Renee Jennings’s gaze returned to the flowers. "The flowers Mae grew are so beautiful. Would it be alright if I took a few pictures?"
Of course, just taking pictures wasn’t a problem.
"Go ahead," Connor Kent agreed with a nod.
Renee Jennings snapped a few photos and then noticed ants crawling all over the edge and soil of one of the flower beds. "Huh?"
Seeing her stop in front of that flower bed, Connor Kent felt as if an invisible hand were squeezing his heart. An imperceptible flicker of panic crossed his eyes.
"Miss Blueberry, wh-what’s wrong?"
"There are so many ants here," Renee Jennings exclaimed.
Connor Kent breathed a sigh of relief when he heard she had only found ants.
He gave a faint smile. "Ants are normal. They like to eat flowers, too."
"Oh, I see," Renee Jennings said, looking as if she’d had a revelation. "But won’t that ruin how beautiful the flowers are?"
"It affects them to some degree."
"Then we can’t let such beautiful flowers suffer," Renee Jennings said. "I’ll catch the ants and move them."
Connor Kent and the maid looked astonished.
’Catching ants?’
’Seriously? Are you cops really this bored?’
Renee Jennings glanced around, her eyes settling on the water bottle in Henry Stark’s hand. "Finish the water in that bottle so I can put the ants inside. We’ll find a place to release them later."
"There’s just no stopping you, is there?" A resigned look crossed Henry Stark’s handsome face, but he still did as she asked, finishing the water and handing her the bottle.
He turned to Connor Kent and explained, "My girlfriend respects all life in nature. She can’t even bear to harm a tiny little ant."
Connor Kent looked a little unnatural. He gave a light cough and said, "Miss Blueberry is certainly a tender-hearted and kind person."
Renee Jennings caught a few ants, then gave a bashful smile. "You’re too kind. I was just influenced by my grandparents growing up. Since Mae isn’t home, we won’t disturb you any longer. Goodbye."
"Alright. Take care, you two." Connor Kent watched them until they were out of sight, then his gaze fell upon the flower bed where Renee Jennings had been catching ants, a complex expression in his eyes.
Back in the car, Renee Jennings held the clear water bottle, gazing at the panicking little ants inside.
"This place seems a little different, doesn’t it?"
"Wow, this water is so sweet! You guys, come try it!"
"What is this? Where is it taking us?"
"..."
Listening to the little ants, Renee Jennings said softly, "Don’t be afraid, everyone. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to ask you a few questions."
The little ants began to chatter amongst themselves.
"Is that a human talking?"
"Humans are so powerful. Why would they need to ask us questions?"
"Wow, did I hear that right? Is the age of ants about to begin?"
"Speak up, I can’t hear you."
"..."
Renee Jennings was both amused and exasperated. "How long have you all lived in that garden?"
The little ants all answered at once.
"A long time."
"I’ve lived there since I was born."
"I can’t hear. What are you even saying?"
"..."
Renee Jennings realized a few of the ants were hard of hearing.
She continued, "Do you know the man who was talking to me just now?"
"What’s she saying now? I can’t hear a thing."
"Of course, he’s the man of the garden."
"Don’t you have a boyfriend? Why are you asking about another man?"
A few of the ants were hard of hearing, but fortunately, one of them was quite sharp.
Renee Jennings asked, "A couple of days ago, did he bury a person in one of the flower beds?"
"Huh?"
"I don’t know."
"I know about that. It was really late that night."
Renee Jennings’s eyes lit up, her gaze locking onto that particular ant. "What’s your name?"
"Are you asking me?" the little ant asked.
"Yes."
"My name is Dodo."
"Hello, Dodo," Renee Jennings greeted it. "My name is Renee Jennings. Did you see them bury a person in the flower bed that night?"
The little ant, Dodo, replied, "I was having a midnight snack when they disturbed me. I was so mad!"
