Stephan didnโt even glance at Johanna. In an icy tone, he said, โGet out.โ
Johanna bit her lip, hesitated, then obediently turned toward the door. Reaching it, she paused, as if remembering something. Her voice deliberately soft and sweet, she said, โOh, by the way, Stephan, a call came in two hours ago. You were asleep, and I didnโt want you to miss anything important, so I answered it.โ
Stephanโs hand froze, and anger flashed in his dark eyes. Before he could react, he saw the caller IDโMike. Mike wouldn't call unless it concerned Felicia.
โHello?โ Stephan answered, his first question short and tense. โDid you find her?โ
Johannaโs expression flickered, though she maintained her composure. She hadnโt seen the contact name, but the voice on the other end had been a womanโs, clear and distant. Stephanโs anxious tone made it clear this โherโ was someone important to him. No wonder he'd left that day without hesitation; it was for that woman. If Imogen hadn't been so upset, he wouldn't have stayed at all.
Johanna quietly slipped out, closing the door.
On the call, Mikeโs voice was as lighthearted as usual. โFeliciaโs fine. She said she went on a little trip to clear her head and turned off her phone. So, relax, Stephan. Everythingโs okay now.โ
Stephan exhaled, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly. But his brows remained furrowed. โSheโs always busy running her clinic. Does it make sense for her to just disappear without a word?โ he questioned sharply. โAnd even if she did, why are there no travel records? No tickets, no hotel staysโnothing.โ
Felicia had vanished for seven days. Even with all his resources, they hadnโt found a trace.
โDid you meet her?โ Stephan pressed. โWhat else did she say?โ
โNothing, really. Just what I told you,โ Mike replied, half-laughing. โStephan, I think all those assassination attempts have made you overly suspicious.โ
Stephan couldn't argue. The number of attempts on his life was truly beyond counting.
โGot it,โ he said curtly, ending the call.
Immediately, he checked his call history. Felicia had called two hours ago, only for Johanna to answer. His expression darkened. That womanโs audacityโฆ
He dialed Feliciaโs number. The line rang several times before connecting.
โHello?โ Her voice was calm, distant.
Felicia had just showered; her damp hair dripped down to her collarbone. Drying it with a towel, she answered cautiously, saying only, โHello?โ The simple greeting sounded cold, almost dismissive to Stephan. A long silence stretched between them.
Eventually, Stephan broke it, sighing softly. โWhere have you been these past few days? Did something happen?โ
Felicia hesitated. Her recent ordeal with Maurice was indirectly linked to Stephan. It wasnโt his fault, but his association with her had made her a target. But she wasnโt one to hold a grudge, especially given his past help. He'd shielded her from a waterfall and rescued her from the Lawson family. She owed him, whether she liked it or not.