Passion 18

Chapter 18

Tristan picked up his glass and downed his drink. “Xav, she’s dead. Let bygones be bygones.”

As soon as he said that, he realized that he was actually speaking up for Yvette.

But Xavier didn’t realize that something was different about Tristan that day. The former continued to read on. Just as he was nearly finished, his

one rang. He picked it up and saw

that it was Mark.

“Mr. Lane, I’ve tracked down Claude’s movements.” Then, Mark sent him an address.

When Xavier opened it, he saw that it was a small, remote county called Sangine County. It sounded a little familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he had heard it before.

When Xavier didn’t say anything after a long silence, Tristan couldn’t help but ask, “What’s the matter?”

Xavier got up. “I have to go somewhere. Call me if anything happens.” Without saying another word, he got his coat and walked out the door.

Tristan wanted to ask Xavier where he was going, but the latter left in a hurry. Soon, Tristan was the only person left in the manor.

It was getting late, and he hadn’t gotten much sleep. So, he decided to just stay the night there.

At dawn, Xavier finally reached Sangine County. The sky was

I was getting heavier.

Mark held up a big black umbrella as Tristan got out of the

car.

As Mark led Tristan to the countryside of Sangine County, he explained, “When we found out that Claude had made a stop here, we looked into it further.

“It turns out that Ms. Snyder’s nanny, who took on the role as Ms. Snyder’s adoptive nother when she was a child, lives here.”

Adoptive mother…

Beneath the pouring rain, Xavier’s eyes dimmed. He

remembered why Sangine Country sounded so familiar now. Yvette had mentioned it to him on more than one occasion!

During their three years of marriage, whenever there had been a special occasion, Yvette had asked him nervously, Xav, there’s something I need to go to Sangine County for. Can I go?”

Back then, Xavier hadn’t cared where she had gone, so he had never asked what she did in Sangine County.

He had just told her in an indifferent tone, “Go wherever you want. You don’t need to report it to me.”

Despite his response, Yvette had still informed him whenever she had wanted to go somewhere. She hadn’t liked going out much. So, most of the time that she had gone out, it had been to Sangine County.

Finally, they arrived in front of a run–down brick house.

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“This is it.” Mark stepped forward. When he took a closer look, he realized the door was locked. “What in the world?”

He looked back at Xavier. The latter made a gesture, and

several bodyguards stepped forward to break down the door.

“Wait here,” Xavier said.

“Yes.”

As soon as he walked in, the dampness hit him in the face. The house was very squalid, and the smell of mold lingered in the air.

Had Yvette actually lived there when she was young?

Xavier frowned. As he walked further inside, his gaze fell on a black–and–white photo on the square table. His eyes

widened. Picking up the photo, he gazed at it for a long time in disbelief.

In the black–and–white photo, Yvette’s smile was kind and gentle. She looked tranquil and content, but there was a deep sorrow in her eyes.

Xavier slowly clenched the fist that was holding the photo, then slammed it down on the table.

“Just great! Is she addicted to acting? Is this supposed to be a funeral portrait? What kind of joke is this?” He didn’t even realize that his voice was shaking.

The house was very small. There were only two rooms and a common area, so he quickly reached the end. Besides

furniture like tables and chairs, there wasn’t much else. He searched around but didn’t find anything.

+16 BONUS

Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded. A flash of lightning once again illuminated the photo in the house.

Xavier ordered Mark to come in “Find out where Yvette’s nanny went.”

“Yes, Mr. Lane.”

After Mark left, Xav ier asked the bodyguards to leave. He stayed back alone to wait for the owner of the house to come back so that they could talk.

He ended up waiting for a day. In the afternoon, the rain finally stopped. At that moment, he heard the neighbors _outside having a conversation.

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