"What happened?" Carla asked at once.
"I'm in debt, and they took me…" Diane wept, the horror clear in her voice. "Please help me, or I'm going to die."
"Where are you? Tell me your location."
Carla brushed off the foam and rushed to change her clothes.
"At the alley behind Stifling Night, " Diane said in a shaky voice. "Come alone, or they'll kill me." Diane hung up.
Carla got dressed, grabbed her phone, and rushed out.
"Miss Wigston, breakfast is—" the maid said, but Carla brushed past her shoulder and ran down the stairs in her haste.
"Miss Wigston, Miss Wigston!" the maid shouted behind her.
"I have an urgent matter to handle. I'll be back shortly." Carla turned back and called. Downstairs, she addressed the bodyguards who were parking their cars. "Drop me off at Stifling Night. Hurry."
"Stifling Night?" Bugara stared in surprise.
"Yes, please. Right now, " Carla answered in a panic.
"Yes, ma'am." Bugara did not dare delay further and opened the door immediately.
"Miss Wigston, where are you off to?" Mrs. Borah, who was busy laying the table, ran out to enquire. "You have your wedding shoot by the beach later today."
"Mrs. Borah, I have an urgent matter and will be back shortly. Please inform Zayn of my absence." Carla got into the car without waiting for a reply. "Start driving!" she said to Bugara frantically.
"Yes, ma'am."
In the study on the second floor, where Zayn was reading with the children, a knock came on the door. The maid peered carefully in at Zayn. "Mr. Giblo, Miss Wigston went out, " she reported.
"Huh?" Zayn looked away from the book he was holding. "Where to?"
"I don't know. She looked like she was in a rush. I'm worried that something may have happened, " the maid said concernedly. "I thought you would be worried, so I'm just here to let you know."
Zayn shut the book and addressed the children. "Let's continue this tonight, shall we?"
"Yes, daddy!" The children nodded obediently.
"Daddy, use my bookmark. Or else we wouldn't remember where we left off tonight."
Venus handed a bookmark made of a beautifully preserved leaf to Zayn.
"Page 234." Zayn smiled and rubbed Venus on the nose. "Don't worry, I have a photographic memory!"
He got up and walked towards the door. "Come down for breakfast in a bit."
"Alright, Daddy!" the children chorused in sweet innocent voices.
"Randy, what is a photographic memory?" Venus asked naively.
"That means daddy never forgets anything he sees, " said Randy as he was tidying up the bookshelf. "Daddy is a genius!"
"Oh, only you have daddy's brains. Venus and I don't, " said Josh as he held his chin sadly.
"Josh, you are strong and sporty like daddy, " protested Randy. "Venus has Mommy's artistic skills. Those are great qualities. Please don't underestimate yourselves."
"What is underestimate?"
"That means…"
The three children engaged in debates in the study room.
Meanwhile, Zayn summoned Benard outside. "What is going on?"
"I've just heard back from Bugara. Miss Wigston just said that she was going to Stifling Night and did not explain why, " Benard reported. "Brandy is going there with some men as a backup."
"Good, " Zayn said with a frown. Carla is so impulsive. She never discusses things with me before proceeding…
How immature.
"Don't worry, Mr. Giblo. Nothing will happen with Brandy on the lookout, " said Benard comfortingly. "Why don't you have some breakfast with the children? I will have Brandy deliver Miss Wigston straight to the beach afterward for your photoshoot."
"Alright."
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