Promise 5

Chapter 5 

Even though Filbert had said otherwise, the next morning, he couldn’t wait–he immediately ordered the bodyguards to go search for me. 

But as time ticked by with no news, it was as if I had vanished from the face of the earth. His frustration grew more and more intense. 

He cursed under his breath and slammed his hand against the steering wheel. 

Then he floored the gas pedal and sped home. 

He hoped, just like every other time after I threw a tantrum, I’d come home on my own. He was desperate to see me again. 

But the house was still empty. 

Another woman’s things had completely taken over all the spots in the bedroom that used to hold my belongings. 

He tore through the house, but the only trace of me left was a single photo. 

It was the first picture we’d taken together after becoming a couple–standing beneath the fireworks at Disneyland. 

I was smiling brightly at the sky, while Filbert gazed at me with eyes full of affection. 

That had been the best phase of our relationship. 

But not long after, Filbert had gone on a business trip and gotten caught in an earthquake. 

Then Nancy barged into our lives. 

Because of her so–called “life–saving act,” Filbert’s heart began to shift. That’s when the cracks in our relationship started to show. 

Now, Filbert had a sinking feeling–that the woman who once had eyes only for him was truly gone. 

Just the thought of it made his chest tighten with a panic he couldn’t suppress. 

He didn’t even have the energy to pick up calls or respond to messages from Nancy anymore. 

Just then, a bodyguard rushed into the room. 

Filbert’s face lit up. He thought they had finally found me. “Did you find Felicia? Where is she? Tell her if she comes home now, I won’t be mad. I swear.” 

But the bodyguard hesitated, clearly uneasy. 

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Chapter 5 

“Mr. Sullivan, we haven’t found Ms. Thompson. We only found her phone–by the ocean.” 

“The ocean? Why would her phone be there?” 

The bodyguard lowered his head, not daring to meet Filbert’s eyes. 

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“The driver who took her out yesterday said she was completely wrapped up and acting strangely. We… we suspect that Ms. Thompson might have been thinking about ending her life.” 

The bodyguard shut his eyes tight and bit the bullet, blurting out the worst–case scenario. 

The next second, Filbert grabbed a nearby ashtray and hurled it at him. 

“Are you insane?! What the hell are you saying? Felicia would never do something like that! I’m paying you all a for- tune, and this is what I get? Go find her–now!” 

The bodyguard could only nod fearfully and scurry out. 

“Besides Ms. Thompson’s whereabouts, we also uncovered some other things.” 

Filbert’s anger dulled just a little. He frowned. “What things?” 

“It’s about Ms. Wallace. According to our investigation, that video of Ms. Wallace that went viral online–she upload- ed it herself using her own phone.” 

Filbert instinctively denied it. 

“That’s impossible. Nancy is kind–hearted. She would never do something like that. Besides, what would she even gain-” 

He stopped mid–sentence. 

Because deep down, he knew the answer. The only thing Nancy stood to gain was to frame Felicia and drive a wedge between them. 

A rush of anger surged through him. 

But when he remembered how Nancy had once risked her life to pull him from the rubble, he couldn’t bring himself to explode at her. 

He let out a heavy sigh and ordered the bodyguards to continue the search. 

But the bodyguard hadn’t finished. 

“Mr. Sullivan, there’s more. At the hospital, it was actually Ms. Wallace who fell down the stairs on her own. Ms. Thompson never touched her. And the person who leaked the footage–it was Ms. Wallace as well. 

“And there’s one last thing. The most important one. We found a video on Ms. Thompson’s phone. The one who actu ally saved you during the earthquake wasn’t Ms. Wallace. It was Ms. Thompson.” 

For a moment, the entire room fell into stunned silence. 

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10:24 

Chapter 5 

Then, a deafening crash rang out across the empty villa–Filbert had kicked over the coffee table in front of him. 

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