Chapter 0016
Rowan’s Point of View
I stared at the papers on my desk, the words blurring together. Alex had sent these files about our business while I was away, but I couldn’t focus. My mind kept drifting to Janet. This behavior is so unusual; the Janet I know wouldn’t sleep outside our home like this.
The sitting room door opened as I jolted. I thought maybe it was Janet as I left the study room and came downstairs, but I was surprised to see Flora and Claire. I wasn’t expecting them any time soon because they went for shopping. The face Claire wore clearly showed all was not quite well.
“Where is she?” Claire demanded, her face red with anger.
“Where is who? What happened, Claire?” I asked, confused by her sudden outburst.
“Janet, of course!” Claire snapped, throwing her designer bag onto my couch. “Brother, you need to see how rude she was to us at the shopping mall.”
My ears perked up at this. Janet was at the mall today? So she purposely doesn’t want to come home?
Flora stepped forward, her face a perfect mask of hurt. “Rowan, I really don’t want to interfere, but Janet was so rude. Claire was just asking her a simple question, but she became nasty just because she’s rich now.
I stared at them, my brain trying to make sense of their words. Janet, acting rich? The Janet I knew couldn’t afford anything at Royal Crest Mall. She had left her black card here when she left yesterday. So how did she go shopping?
“She was flashing money like water,” Claire said, her voice dripping with disgust. “Buying the most expensive things, treating the staff like they were her personal servants.”
“And the way she spoke to us,” Flora added, her eyes growing watery. “She looked down on us like we were nothing to her. She’s changed so much, Rowan.”
Claire nodded furiously. “She even had security throw us out! Us! When you’re a shareholder of that mall! She embarrassed me in front of everyone. All because she suddenly has money to burn.”
My head was spinning. “Wait, what money? I didn’t give her any extra money. Her bank account shows she hasn’t spent anything in two days.”
Claire smirked. “Well, that’s even more suspicious, isn’t it? Where did she get the money then?”
I remember seeing the black card yesterday I gave to her on our wedding. I never want her to lack anything, but for once she never used it. All things Claire and Flora describe are unlike the Janet we all know.
“Brother, I hate to say this, but there’s only one explanation.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Maybe Janet is cheating on you. There’s no other way she could spend money like that.”
The words hit me like a slap. Before I knew what I was doing, my hand connected with Claire’s cheek.
“How dare you!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the room. “How dare you accuse my wife of cheating!
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Claire stumbled back, her hand flying to her reddened cheek. Her eyes widened in shock. “Rowan! I was just looking out for you! Her sudden wealth is suspicious! Don’t you see that?”
I took a deep breath, trying to control the rage burning inside me. “Out of everything you’ve said, the only thing I know for sure is that Janet is my wife, and you should respect her as your sister-in-law. You should be looking out for her too!”
Claire’s face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’ve always looked out for you, Rowan. Always! And this is how you thank me?”
“This is the last time you speak so awfully about Janet, especially behind her back,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “I’ll make sure all your accounts are restricted, and you’ll be grounded at home until further notice.”
Claire gasped. “You can’t do that! I’m not a child!”
“Then stop acting like one,” I snapped. “Now get out. Both of you.”
Flora, who had been silent through our fight, gently took Claire’s arm. “Come on, let’s go.”
After they left, I paced around my study, my heart pounding with anger and confusion. How did Janet suddenly become so rich, as they claimed?
Come to think of it, I remember the car I saw yesterday parked nearby our house. I haven’t seen that car in our street before. Was it the one that Janet has been with? Is that why she is throwing divorce up and down?
I can’t just put it in one place. The whole thing since yesterday has been so unusual. I grabbed my phone and called Janet. It went straight to voicemail. I tried again. Same result. I checked WhatsApp-she wasn’t online and my messages I sent yesterday haven’t been read.
“Making yourself scarce, right?” I muttered, tossing my phone onto the desk.
I picked it up again and called Alex. “I need you to come to my place. We need to visit someone.”
“Sir, I was about to call you before your call came in. You are supposed to have a meeting in an hour with the Chinese investors,” Alex replied.
“Reschedule it,” I said firmly. “This is more important.”
I dialed Rose’s number, one of the nurses in the hospital where Janet’s mother has been hospitalized for almost two years now or thereabout. If Janet is anywhere in town, she will be with her mother.
“Mr. Thayer,” her voice came through. “Nurse Rose, I’m sorry to bother, but have you seen my wife today at the hospital?” I asked without hesitation.
“I’m sorry sir, but Mrs. Maria was moved to another hospital not too long ago. I thought you authorized that, sir?” That exactly wasn’t what I was expecting, but it became more confusing again to me. Why would Janet move her mother out from the hospital she was in? Was it out of anger from what happened yesterday?
“What? I didn’t authorize any move,” I replied to her.
“Well, sir, all her medical bills have been paid in full until her recovery, and the payment from three weeks ago was reversed to your account.”
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My mind raced. This move Janet was taking is absolutely no longer her acting normal. I called Alex back immediately. “Did you move Janet’s mother to another hospital?”
“No, sir,” he sounded confused. “I didn’t know anything about a move. And the money we paid three weeks ago was returned to our account yesterday.”
I gripped the phone tighter. Was this Janet’s game? First disappearing, then moving her mother without telling me?
“Come over to my place now,” I told Alex. “And bring the car.”
“Is everything alright?” Alex asked.
I bit my lips as I replied to him. “It’s time my wife comes home.”
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