Chapter 637

David was fuming, wishing he could pack Wendy up and ship her out of the country.

Send her back the exact same way she came.

Eleanor didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She patted David's shoulder. "Stop overthinking it. Just be prepared—the company might run into some trouble in the next few days."

As far as David was concerned, Eleanor and Lucas's relationship status 'was' the company's biggest trouble right now.

Eleanor shook her head helplessly and clarified, "I mean you need to be careful. Watch out for outsiders getting their hands on something they can use against us—some kind of leverage from inside the company."

"What—" David was about to say it was absolutely impossible for such a major slip-up to occur.

But when he saw the knowing look on Eleanor's face, understanding finally dawned on him.

David furrowed his brow, thinking hard for a good while. Finally, after piecing together his thoughts with difficulty, he stared at Eleanor in disbelief. "Why would you anticipate the company running into trouble?"

He wasn't really asking Eleanor.

He was sorting through his own reasoning.

Business has been smooth sailing lately. There aren't many companies with the capability to directly challenge us.

Besides, if someone wanted to make a move against Eleanor, they'd have to consider what they stood to gain.

Without guaranteed benefits, no one would burn bridges and suddenly come after Eleanor.

Thinking it through, there seemed to be only one possibility...

David shot to his feet, pointing at Eleanor accusingly. "You and Lucas have been putting on an act this whole time just to bait Clifford into taking the hook, and you even lied to me!"

Seeing that David had figured out her and Lucas's plan, Eleanor spread her hands helplessly. "Well, now you know."

"You two have no loyalty at all. You let me worry myself sick for nothing."

This whole time, David felt like he'd been the one under the most pressure.

Below him, he had to manage the company atmosphere and contain the rumors circulating internally.

Above him, he had to worry about Eleanor and Lucas's supposedly broken relationship, not daring to say much in front of them.

And now...

Looking back, those internal company rumors were very likely fanned into flame by Eleanor herself!

From start to finish, he was the only one who'd been stressing out for no reason.

David grumbled a couple more complaints.

Eleanor listened helplessly, then said innocently, "After all, if you're going to put on a show, you might as well go all the way. If we fooled even you, outsiders didn't stand a chance. This performance was convincing enough—there's no way Wendy won't take the bait."

"So by the looks of it, it's time to reel in the net?"

David understood Eleanor's intentions and didn't dwell on it further.

After venting briefly, he moved on and picked up where Eleanor's plan left off. "Once Wendy takes the bait, she'll definitely play whatever cards she and her family have been holding."

With Eleanor prepared in advance, those so-called trump cards wouldn't pose much of a threat.

"Exactly."

Eleanor nodded. "I was originally worried Wendy would have enough patience to hold out, but now it looks like even you couldn't sit still. Wendy probably can't wait much longer either."

Her big fish was about to bite.

All that acting with Lucas hadn't been for nothing.

David felt reassured and headed back to work.

Meanwhile, in a corner no one was paying attention to, Jonathan was summoned by his superior and got into a mysterious black car.

Jonathan's heart was uneasy.

It had been quite some time since he'd handed over that fake child.

He'd never believed he could keep fooling them with that kid indefinitely.

Counting the days, the people behind this had probably figured out something was wrong by now.

Today, things were probably not going to go well.

Though Jonathan held a certain level of authority in the military district, there was always someone higher up. When his superior had ordered him to take Eleanor's child away back then, he couldn't refuse. Now was no different.

He silently got in the car and rode all the way to a mysterious rehabilitation facility.

Eventually, the vehicle stopped outside what appeared to be an unremarkable, quiet little courtyard.

A few simple flowers and plants grew in the yard. Two elderly people sat on a bench—one with snow-white hair, the other with dyed blond hair, looking considerably younger.

They looked like an elderly mother and son.

Jonathan took a deep breath before getting out of the car.

Then he stood respectfully before the blond older man and said deferentially, "Mr. Owens, you wanted to see me?"

This seemingly low-key, filial middle-aged man who was feeding his elderly mother was actually none other than the formidable Bodhi.

The man behind the scenes who had nearly driven Eleanor and Lucas into a corner.

Bodhi nodded noncommittally and continued feeding.

Jonathan waited like that for half an hour.

Only after a subordinate helped the old woman away did Bodhi lazily lift his eyelids and chuckle lightly at Jonathan. "Don't be nervous. I just invited you here for coffee today."

"Yes, sir."

He stole a glance at Bodhi's expression.

Finding no anger on the other man's face, he breathed a small sigh of relief.

Perhaps he hasn't discovered anything wrong with the child yet...

The two drank coffee together, with Bodhi occasionally offering Jonathan a few pointers. Getting into the spirit of things, he laughed cheerfully. "Time flies—we're both getting old now. When you first joined the military, you were just a green kid."

Jonathan relaxed considerably and returned the compliment. "I have you to thank for looking after me all these years."

But just when the atmosphere seemed pleasant, Bodhi suddenly changed direction, shaking his head at Jonathan. "We've known each other for so many years, and you still don't trust my character?"

Jonathan's expression froze instantly.

He heard Bodhi continue, "You really shouldn't have tried to fool me with a fake."

The relaxed atmosphere vanished completely.

Even the air seemed to solidify.

Jonathan silently stood up, head slightly bowed, standing before Bodhi with utmost respect like a quiet schoolboy.

Bodhi's tone remained mild, but the authority accumulated over many years was impossible to ignore.

It also made one's heart increasingly anxious.

He calmly poured himself another cup of coffee and asked Jonathan, "Tell me, where did you get that child you gave me?"

Jonathan kept his head down, insisting stubbornly, "It came directly from the hospital, from Eleanor's hands. Mr. Owens, is there something wrong with the child? Then Eleanor and Lucas must have done something beforehand."

Bodhi scoffed dismissively. "I may be close to retirement, but I'm not senile yet."

He finally stopped masking his suppressed fury.

He threw the coffee in Jonathan's face and said coldly, "I've already had someone compare that child's blood samples. There's not a trace of any toxin in his system!"

Every piece of data showed that the child he'd received was completely born through natural pregnancy by a healthy mother.

Initially, Bodhi hadn't suspected the problem lay with the child.

He'd thought Eleanor had somehow affected the child's constitution during treatment.

But thinking it over later, how could such a powerful toxin leave absolutely no trace?

So Bodhi used his connections to go directly to the genetic database and found the child's biological parents.

Neither of them had any connection whatsoever to Lucas or Eleanor!