Chapter 868
Arianna shook her head. Relief was absent; countless thoughts swirled. "No, no, something isn't right."
If Damian had suddenly appeared and confessed to the police, it would have made more sense. Arianna knew Damian believed he'd been framed; his nature precluded keeping such a thing secret for long. His disappearance, followed by his surrender, was highly unusual. This bizarre incident felt wrong, threatening her plans.
"Nothing will go wrong, right?" Arianna's underling frowned. "He confessed; what more needs verifying? He led the project; taking responsibility is normal. Maybe you're overthinking, Ms. Tanner."
"What do you know!" she reprimanded. "If it were that simple, why would I have gone to such lengths to frame him? Where's Nathaniel?"
"Mr. Hall called in sick; he's not in the office."
"Fine. Leave. Monitor police releases. Contact me immediately with any new information," Arianna instructed.
"Yes, Ms. Tanner."
Arianna felt a deep unease. Something was amiss, but she couldn't place it. Damian wasn't intelligent enough to devise such a detailed plan. His impulsive nature suggested he wouldn't have confessed so readily if he believed he'd been framed.
Arianna called Joseph. "Dad?"
"Are you happy now?" Joseph paused, then asked mockingly.
Arianna remained silent.
"Happy your brother's going to prison, are you? Congratulations, President Arianna!" Joseph gritted his teeth, hanging up abruptly. His hatred was palpable. Arianna's recent preoccupation had blinded her to her surroundings, including her father's absence. She'd intended to ask his whereabouts, but his rejection was clear. His tone convinced her he hadn't helped Damian. His anger lingered.
Does this mean even Dad doesn't know why Damian did this? Arianna wondered.
She immediately called Nathaniel. After a lengthy ring, a hoarse voice answered. "Hello?"
"I hear you've been out sick for days. A lot's happened. Still want that promotion?" Arianna said irritably.
"I'm sick, and I submitted a sick leave request. You can't force me to work while unwell," Nathaniel sniffed, blowing his nose.