Anna’s POV:
My mind went blank as I stood in the airport waiting area, staring at my phone,
The bad news about Emily kept replaying in my head like a broken record. I tried calling her again–straight to voicemail. Her phone was off.
I scrolled through my contacts frantically until I found her parents‘ number. After what felt like an eternity, someone finally picked up.
“Mrs. Brown? It’s Anna. Where’s Emily?” My voice shook despite my efforts to sound calm.
There was a pause, then a choked sob. “Emily… oh… Her voice broke into tears. “Anna, you and my daughter have been close since you were children. Please, can you help her?”
I was stunned. Mrs. Brown was a university professor–always composed and elegant. Hearing her break down like this sent chills down my spine.
“Mrs. Brown, please don’t cry. Where are you and Professor Brown? I’ll come right away!”
The phone rustled as it changed hands.
“Anna, this is Emily’s father. Emily is fine. We can handle this. Don’t worry.”
In the background, I heard Mrs. Brown arguing. “Things are this serious, and you’re still worried about appearances? Anna can help us–help Emily! Give me the phone!”
More muffled sounds of struggle before Professor Brown sighed heavily and explained. At their last academic symposium, Emily had allegedly attacked someone with a knife. She was now in custody.
My vision darkened around the edges. Emily? The law–abiding, rule–following Emily who once lectured me for jaywalking? No way she’d knowingly break the law. Something wasn’t right.
That unsettling feeling I’d had for days–it hadn’t been about me. It had been about Emily.
I checked the arrival board. Seth’s flight should have landed by now. I’d wait for him–together we could figure this out. The thought of having someone familiar by my side eased my anxiety slightly.
Passengers streamed through the arrival gates, but Seth wasn’t among them. I called him repeatedly–all went straight to voicemail. The crowd thinned until I was practically alone at the gate.
‘Have all passengers disembarked from flight 224?” I asked the service desk attendant, who nodded in confirmation.
The airport announcer called for boarding on my connecting flight. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and reluctantly headed toward the gate alone.
As the plane took off, my heart felt suspended somewhere between the ground and the clouds.
An hour of fidgeting later, we finally landed. I turned on my phone immediately, trying Seth again. No answer.
I needed him now more than ever–he could help get Emily out on bail quickly.
For the past three days, he had been acting all mysterious, and I had no idea what he was planning to do with his brother. He kept telling me not to worry and to just stay at our new apartment and wait for him. But I couldn’t get in touch with him at all.
But I couldn’t wait anymore. I grabbed an Uber to the hotel where Emily’s parents were staying and gave up trying to reach Seth.
Mrs. Brown pulled me into their room the moment I arrived. To my shock, she grabbed my hands and begged me for help.
*Anna, I know your family is different from ordinary families like ours. Could you please contact Blake? We need his help.
1/2
Chapter 200
I took a deep breath, my nails digging into my palms behind my back. They didn’t know Blake and I were divorced.
Forcing a smile, I said, ‘Blake is tied up with company matters. I can find other friends who can help just as well. But first, please tell me exactly wha happened.
Professor Brown’s expression hardened. “Ten thousand dollars!”
“What about ten thousand dollars?‘ I asked, confused.
*Someone accused Mrs. Brown and me of accepting ten thousand dollars to guarantee a student’s admission to our graduate program!” His face flushed with anger. “Anna, no matter what, we would never do something so unethical–not for any amount of money! This is clearly an attempt to damage on academic reputation!
“And then?” I pressed. “Emily wouldn’t attack someone just because of that.”
“That student claimed he was rejected after paying us. He confronted us publicly at the symposium. Everything descended into chaos. He suddenly pulled out a folding knife and rushed toward the stage. Emily tried to protect me and struggled with him. She managed to get the knife…
‘So she accidentally injured the student who had the knife?” I asked, feeling slightly relieved.
Mrs. Brown shook her head. ‘No, a woman came out of nowhere. Emily injured that woman!”
‘Is that woman pressing charges?”
They nodded. “We offered compensation, but she refuses. She wants Emily to pay the price.”
“I understand. I’ll see Emily and talk to this woman. Please give me their addresses.”
At the police station, I tried to visit Emily as her close friend but was denied. They said I needed to wait for official visiting hours or come with an attorney.
What hurt more was learning Emily had specifically requested no visitors.
My last stop was a high–end private hospital where the injured woman was staying. The receptionist informed me the patient was registered under the initials “S.W.”
Whoever this S.W. was, she could afford expensive medical care and wasn’t interested in financial compensation. I straightened my shoulders and headed for the elevator.
No matter who this mysterious woman was, I needed to meet her face to face.
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