Chapter 438: Miss Hughes, Thank You for Your Cooperation

“Nancy, calm down!”

Dylan Heston wrapped his arms around a thrashing Nancy, trying to soothe her.

“Zane…”

“Zane’s parents have already called the police. You don’t need to worry; officers will be looking for him. Or maybe you can try to remember—where were you two being held?”

“I don’t know. I can’t remember a thing.”

She was unconscious both when she was taken and when she was brought back.

Worried about Nancy’s condition, Dylan Heston decided to stay the night with her.

“I’m really fine. You can go home,” she insisted, but despite her reassurances, Dylan didn’t leave.

“Go to sleep. I’m afraid that if I turn my back for a second, you’ll disappear again!” Dylan was filled with worry.

He held Nancy as they squeezed together on the narrow bed.

She hadn’t been physically harmed during the days she was held captive by Theo Heston.

But she was plagued by nightmares all night, every single one about Zane Lennox.

She jolted awake from another nightmare.

“I’m here. Don’t be afraid.” Dylan, who was still awake beside her, soothed her in a gentle voice.

Nancy was drenched in sweat. “I need to take a shower.”

Dylan sat up and switched on the wall lamp. “Go ahead.”

After her shower, she was even more wide awake.

Held in Dylan’s arms, she couldn’t toss and turn, forced to lie stiffly as her mind raced.

In the quiet darkness, she sensed that the man beside her had finally fallen asleep.

She shifted slightly, and Dylan’s voice came, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m going to get a glass of water,” she said softly, lifting the covers.

Dylan got up too, his eyes fixed on Nancy until she felt completely flustered.

She hurriedly drank some water to hide her panic. “Is there something on my face?”

Dylan remained silent. ‘How can I tell her she’s been calling Zane’s name all night?’

‘What in the world happened between them these past few days?’

The next day, Nancy Hughes woke up very early, or rather, she hadn’t slept at all.

Leaving the room, she bumped right into Georgia Thorne. “Huh? When did you get back from your business trip?”

‘Me? A business trip?’

Nancy looked completely lost. Dylan, who had come out behind her, answered, “She got back last night.”

Georgia Thorne saw the two of them coming out of the room and smiled awkwardly. “Oh, I see.”

“I didn’t want your friend to worry, so I told her you were on a business trip,” Dylan explained in a whisper.

Nancy just “oh”-ed. ‘So that’s what happened.’

After they got ready, Dylan drove her to work. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“I have something to do today, so I might not be able to come over tonight.”

“Okay, I’m heading up now!”

The moment Nancy sat down in her office, she anxiously unlocked her phone to check the news from the last few days.

A search of local news showed it was all about Zane Lennox disappearing from his wedding.

Zane Lennox’s parents had already reported it to the police, but after several days of investigation, there was still no news.

She was restless and anxious. She took out her phone and called Theo Heston.

But Theo Heston’s number was disconnected. It wouldn’t go through.

Remembering the villa she had been to before, she rushed over as soon as she got off work.

At the villa gate, a security guard stopped her. “Miss, you can’t go in!”

“I know Theo Heston! Let me in!”

“You’re not on our visitor list. You can’t come in.”

Helplessly blocked at the gate, she waited for nearly two hours before finally seeing Theo Heston’s butler.

“Miss Hughes, our arrangement has concluded. Is there something else you need?”

“Cut the crap! Where’s Zane? What did you do to him?” Nancy stepped forward. “I’ll call the police right now, you see if I don’t!”

“Miss Hughes, I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you want to call the police, then go right ahead,” the butler said, looking at her with indifference.

“Miss Hughes, since you’re not making a call, please leave. Our master is not home today.”

“You…”

She took a step forward but was blocked by the two guards beside the butler. “This is kidnapping! The police will catch you one day!”

“Miss Hughes, you need evidence to make such claims. If the police can find this person you’re looking for on the premises, then we’ll have nothing more to say.”

“You!”

‘Theo Heston is so cunning; there’s no way he’d keep Zane locked up here at the main house. Besides, a cunning man always has more than one hideout. Who knows how many properties Theo Heston owns, or where they could be holding Zane?’

That night, Georgia Thorne came home and saw Nancy wasn’t back yet. She called her. “Are you at Dylan’s place?”

“No, I’m still working late. I’ll be back soon.”

It started raining on her way back. She didn’t have an umbrella and got soaked.

“Is it raining outside?” Georgia Thorne quickly grabbed a dry towel from the bathroom and started drying her hair. “You didn’t find a place to take shelter? How did you get so soaked!”

Nancy knew she was a mess. She looked at Georgia hesitantly, wondering if she should tell her what she knew.

After all, Georgia and Zane had been on the verge of getting married.

“Georgia…”

“Hmm? What is it?” Georgia waited, but when Nancy didn’t continue, she turned to her in confusion.

Nancy clutched the towel, her head bowed and eyes downcast, her mind in turmoil.

As it happened, Georgia had something to tell her, too. She sat down beside Nancy. “I have something I want to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I married Elliot Sheridan.”

“Congratulations.” Georgia’s face was filled with a sweet smile. ‘I should be happy for her,’ Nancy thought, ‘but please forgive me. With everything happening with Zane, I just can’t bring myself to smile right now.’

“But Georgia, what if Zane comes back? What will you do?” she asked hesitantly.

At the mention of Zane, Georgia’s smile vanished. “Nancy, I waited for him. He’s the one who didn’t show up.”

Nancy looked at her, lost, feeling that neither Zane nor Georgia was to blame.

Zane hadn’t wanted to miss the wedding—he was simply powerless. And Georgia, though perhaps not deeply in love, had waited for him, even as she became the laughingstock of all Portmire.

‘The one at fault is Theo Heston. He never should have kidnapped Zane, and he especially shouldn’t have…’

“So, are you going to move in with Elliot now?” ‘After all, it wasn’t right for a married couple to live apart.’

“But you…”

“Me? Don’t forget, I have Dylan! If it weren’t for you, I’d have moved in with him ages ago!”

“So I’ve been your third wheel this whole time?” Georgia huffed.

Nancy laughed, but her eyes were hollow as she stared out at the downpour.

The heavy rain made the night feel even darker and deeper.

She felt exhausted. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Go ahead.”

Now a married woman, Georgia Thorne packed up her things and left the very next morning.

It was clear Elliot truly cared for Georgia; he even came over himself to help her pack.

Nancy hid in her room, listening to the sounds outside, closing her eyes and pretending to be asleep.

Once the packing seemed to be nearly finished, Georgia came and knocked on her door. “Nancy?”

“Yeah, what is it?” she answered groggily.

“Nancy, I made breakfast, so make sure you get up and eat it. I’m leaving now!”

‘In the end, she couldn’t bear to see her go. They had been inseparable for years.’

The moment the words registered, she threw off the covers, got out of bed, and rushed to open the door.

“Georgia!” she cried, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’m really going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, but we can still hang out all the time!” Georgia said, just as sad to leave.

“Yeah, right. You’ll be the boss’s wife now. How could I dare ask you to hang out?”

After Georgia left, the apartment felt even more empty.

She walked into the living room, remembering how a fat cat used to wind around her legs, meowing, but now there was nothing.

A sense of loss washed over her. Looking around, she thought, ‘It’s time for me to find a new place to live, too.’

She turned on the TV, switched to the entertainment channel, and began to clean.

Halfway through her cleaning, a news story on the TV suddenly caught her eye. She walked over to the television, staring at the headline on the screen.