[Isaac Jefferson is in my custody. Return Smartville Tech to me if you want him released. Based on my understanding, you're his wife. That's why I'm messaging you.]Stan frowned after reading the message, and he whipped out his phone. "I'm calling James."They had to discuss this. Irene, however, stopped him and asked, "Is Smartville Tech that company you mentioned before? The one bought below its market value?""Yes." Stan nodded."Is it really important?" Irene asked.From her perspective, no matter how important it was, it would never be more important than Isaac's safety.Stan quickly understood what she was insinuating, and he said solemnly, "We did misbehave in our effort to acquire Smartville."He was being vague, since they were playing against the unspoken rules in trade and commerce.Smartville was definitely important to Remy and its subsidiaries, because the research and development of AI chips will soon decide market trends. Isaac had his sights on Smartville b
Their car stopped outside the front entrance of Twinrise Enterprises.Stan alighted, walking around the car to open the door for Irene.Arching her back as she got out, she then stood upright before the building.Even if she was not used to this, she did her best to make herself look imposing.After all, she understood that if she appeared too weak in Isaac's absence, the company would fall to chaos. She needed to look strong, even if she had to pretend!Stan was actually concerned if Irene could keep everyone in line, but she never seemed to be cowed.It afforded him slight relief.But this time, Irene was not acting like before—she was solemn throughout, without a hint of a smile.She had Stan gather the executives, but not in the conference room.She wanted to speak to them in full view of everyone in the building.Once everyone was there, Stan headed to Isaac's office to inform Irene. "Mrs. Jefferson…"He found her sitting behind Isaac's desk, clicking on various pages
Irene smiled faintly, appearing almost harmless just then.But her words were far from that. "I don't want to hear further rumors that would jinx my husband. I'm sorry, but if I catch anyone saying such things, they will be dismissed."Everyone was immediately quiet, since they had all discussed that possibility. Naturally, none of them want to be fired either, since this company's benefits were the best.That was when Stan's phone rang. It was a ruse he and James had planned beforehand, calling in the middle of the meeting after Stan changed James's caller ID to 'Isaac Jefferson' instead.He deliberately angled his phone so that others could see it before he answered the call. "Yes, Mr. Jefferson. She's here with me. I'll pass her the phone now."Irene played along too, taking the phone and saying softly, "I'll be back soon. Don't worry."With that, everyone believed that Isaac was calling. They used the same tactic at the meeting at other subsidiaries, and after a tour
Isaac became silent.He was perfectly fine before he fell. How could his vision turn bad from that?He would have not argued if he hurt his legs, since he did feel the agony from his right leg before he blacked out!"Let me get you some water," the woman said, and she brought him a glass of water.Isaac did not drink it. Instead, he asked, "Where am I?""Dunesia," the woman replied."Where specifically?" Isaac pressed. The woman answered, but Isaac had never heard of it—like most foreigners, he only knew the more famous locations and not remote areas."Can I make a phone call?" Isaac asked."What is that?" the woman asked in return, leaving Isaac speechless.Was he really in Dunesia? Why would she not know what a phone call was?It seemed a little unlikely, so who were these people?Isaac remained impassive and said nothing after that, so the woman said, "Please get some rest! My husband and I still have to harvest the grapes from the vineyard."And with that, she left—
As the image—a photo, to be precise—opened, James and Stan craned their necks for a look."Mr. Jefferson?" Stan blurted just then.However, Irene remained still.She and Isaac had been together for a while, and having shared a bed, she knew his body best.While the man in the photo was almost of the same height and body shape, that was all there was to it!In fact, Irene was positive that it was not Isaac.Then, another text arrived.[There, a photo of the man himself. Do you believe me now?]Irene replied instantly: [That's not Isaac!]Stan was perplexed by her reply. "Wait, that's not Mr. Jefferson?""No," Irene replied assuredly. "How are you so sure?" Stan exclaimed. "Those clothes and figures are obviously him, and there's that black cloth on his face. You can't say it isn't just because you don't see it!"Irene looked up at him then. "Don't you get why they're not showing us his face?"Zachary and James immediately understood.A little slow on the uptake, Stan aske
Zachary was left baffled by the question for a long while.Staring at Irene in confusion, he asked, "Why would you suddenly ask that?"The timing could not have been poorer, and he was left weirded out!Still, before Irene could answer, he gave her a serious look and said, "Of course I love children, Irene, but do you really think I still have the chance?""What chance?" Irene asked."To be a dad," Zachary replied, really keen on rolling his eyes just then. Did she just forget what she asked?"Just remember to cherish any nice girls you meet," Irene told him."I know," Zachary replied—he certainly would. He then smiled. "That question was weird."Irene looked out into the distance. "It just… came to mind."Zachary did not think so, however. "I heard from James that you were visiting Lulu. Was she in labor?" he asked, pausing for a moment before adding, "Was it a boy or a girl? Does the baby resemble her or Martin?""It's a girl," Irene replied. "She takes after Lulu."
The woman pretended not to hear him and urged, "Eat before the food gets cold."Isaac frowned as she was clearly avoiding the subject. He asked, "May I know why you're keeping me here?" "I don't understand what you're saying," the woman said and turned to leave. The furrow over Isaac's brow only deepened. -Marie left the house and went to Thomas, her husband, who was working at the vineyard.Thomas sat on the ground and took off his gloves.Marie sat beside him and asked, "What should we do with that man?"Thomas kept his gaze lowered and ate in silence, probably unable to come up with anything.Marie then suggested gingerly, "Why don't we just let him go?" Thomas kept eating in silence, and it was only when he was done that he looked up and repeated, "Let him go?""Yes," Marie nodded. "He's a Zidonian. He probably isn't—""Don't you think it's weird he showed up here, in such an isolated location?" Thomas asked, staring at his wife. "Our vineyard is a cover to what
Isaac asked in confusion, "Tell what?""Didn't you see anything since you were brought here?" Marie asked.Isaac shook his head. "No. Nothing.""Really?" Marie pressed on."No," Isaac said assuredly. "Nothing at all."Marie nodded and walked up to help him walk. "You don't look like a bad man. Zidonian, right?"Isaac nodded. "Yes."Helping him back to his room, she told him, "Get some rest."-As Marie and Thomas got in bed that night, she said, "He said he saw nothing.""Do you think he'd admit it if he did?" Thomas asked in return."But he's Zidonian," Marie argued. "He probably won't—""They might have sent a Zidonian to find us so that we'd let down our guard." Thomas was certainly paranoid, and even Marie had a hard time understanding him. "If you believe that, we should've left him to die and save ourselves the trouble!""I would've—if he wasn't blind," Thomas replied.The vineyard was actually a front, and the truth was that they were rearing a certain species of