Chapter 345: Silence Doesn’t Mean Indifference
When Alison awoke, the air still carried a faint trace of the night before.
“Time to get up. Let’s go to work together.” Gabriel stood in the doorway, smiling.
She sat up with a grin, her heart still brimming with joy.
They ate breakfast together and went to work together.
Everything felt so natural — like it had always been this way.
Alison pushed open the office door, her mood light.
“Alison, do you have any good news?” Mia asked, noticing her constant smile.
“Haha, nothing,” she replied, her eyes crinkling with genuine joy.
“Where are you planning to grab lunch?” Mia asked.
“The cafeteria,” she answered without hesitation.
“Then let’s go together. Maybe I can rub off some of your good luck,” Mia said with a smile as she took Alison’s hand, tugging her toward the cafeteria.
But just then, Aidan’s voice came from behind her. “Alison, come in.”
“Sorry, my lunch should be later.” Alison stuck out her tongue at Mia.
She pushed open the office door and found Aidan leaning back in his swivel chair, rubbing his forehead.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
“Alison, something happened.”
“Oh!” She gasped, shocked.
Instantly, Gabriel’s face flickered in her mind.
“Don’t worry. It’s just some lost documents,” he reassured her.
“Is it related to him?” she blurted out.
He nodded. “Alison, I’ve been thinking about this all night. I’ve decided to share with you now. I don’t know if this will be good news or bad news for you.”
“Just tell me, Aidan.”
“Sit down.” He gestured to the chair opposite him.
“All right.” She sat down obediently, her eyes brimming with anticipation. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”
“Alison, Jack isn’t dead,” he said.
“Where is he now? Tell me!” she demanded urgently, pretending to know nothing.
“Alison, can I have a cigarette to calm down?” he pleaded.
She nodded, her voice filled with anxiety. “Aidan, please tell me where he is. I really need to see him.”
Aidan lit his cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly replied,
“He’s at the company. We found his fingerprints, but we’re not sure whose they are yet.”
Hearing this, Alison exhaled in relief.
“Aidan, then hurry up and find him! You must locate him. I need to see him—right now!” she urged impatiently.
However, Aidan replied with concern,
“Alison, I called you here because something’s off. Stay home for the next couple of days. You’ll be safer there.”
“All right, I’ll go home right now.” She nodded.
“The moment I hear anything about Jack, I’ll let you know.” Bitterness edged his voice.
Jack’s return had widened the distance between Aidan and her.
“Thank you.” She turned to leave.
Just then, Aidan called out to her. “Wait! Let me walk you home.”
“Aidan, it’s okay. You’re so busy with work. I’ll just call a cab,” she objected.
“No, I must,” he insisted.
As he led her out of the YD building, Alison sensed that his body was tense.
He remained intensely focused, scanning the people and vehicles around them.
Gabriel wasn’t at the gate.
The Volvo started up.
She leaned back and gently closed her eyes.
Just then, her phone rang.
Assuming it was Gabriel, she reached for it.
“Alison, don’t answer it,” Aidan said.
“Why?” she asked, confused by his intense reaction.
“Give me your phone.” He snatched it from her hand and turned it off.
“From now on, don’t answer any calls.”