Chapter 239: No Matter What It Takes

The following day, Nathaniel awoke at noon to a splitting headache. He glanced to his side; Cecilia was gone. He threw off the covers and rose.

Downstairs, Cecilia was composing music. Looking up, she saw Nathaniel, his muscular upper body bare, clad only in slightly wrinkled suit pants. He seemed still groggy. She quickly averted her gaze. His casual attire was a departure from his usual fastidiousness.

Seeing her, Nathaniel immediately returned to his room to shower and change. He felt profoundly uncomfortable after last night's excesses.

Half an hour later, he emerged from the bathroom, grabbing his phone and noticing several missed calls from Mason. He returned the call. "What is it?"

"The hacker from before transferred 7.9 billion, Mr. Rainsworth."

Nathaniel's face darkened. "Have you traced the IP address?"

After a pause, Mason replied, "Yes, but…"

"But what?"

"It was at Spring Forest Manor."

It was a fake IP address. Nathaniel chuckled coldly. "Looks like our IT department needs a shake-up." He hadn't reported the previous theft to the police, preferring to personally expose the culprit. The consequences would be far more severe than imprisonment, but his decision had inadvertently benefited the thief.

"No matter what it takes, find the culprit within three days!"

Mason understood.

Knowing the hacker knew about Spring Forest Manor piqued Nathaniel's curiosity.

At the kindergarten, Jonathan sneezed, feeling drowsy. His gaze was drawn to the window; two familiar figures stood outside—the head of the kindergarten and, surprisingly, Zachary, who offered a knowing smile.

Jonathan quickly called Vivian on his smartwatch. She was at that moment being berated by her father in his office.

"Who authorized you to tell Old Mr. Sinclair you object to the marriage?"

Two days earlier, Zachary had asked Vivian to bring Jonathan to meet him. Instead, she'd contacted George, stating her disinterest in his grandson. Her father's swift appearance surprised her.

Her phone rang, but before she could answer, Roland barked, "Turn off your phone."

Vivian obeyed. Roland's face was crimson with rage. "Know your place. The Sinclairs are wealthy and influential. Mr. Sinclair is handsome and a lawyer—how is he not good enough for you?"

Vivian was startled; she hadn't known Zachary was a lawyer. "Being a lawyer, he should understand the principle of freedom of marriage."

Roland raised his hand to strike her, but hesitated and lowered it. "I don't care about your 'freedom of marriage.' If you don't marry into the Sinclair family, you're fired. I don't have a foolish daughter!"

Vivian doubted his threat. Ten minutes later, she was unceremoniously dismissed.

"You're serious, Dad?" Her only reply was a doll thrown from the office.

Dumbfounded, Vivian retrieved her phone, intending to call her driver. Unlocking it, she saw a missed call from Jonathan. "Why would he call now?" She tried to return the call, but received a message that the phone was off.