Chapter 935: Disappointment

Chapter 935: Disappointment

Molly simply smiled, "Dad, you always say that I've grown up. So this

time, let me handle things in an adult way, okay?"

Luke kept a serious face, unsure of what Molly was planning, but she

was persistent. With Naomi's support, she added, "Luke, since Molly is

willing to turn things around, let's cooperate with her. She's grown up

now, and eventually, she'll have to stand on her own. We can't keep

holding her back. Besides, you haven't been feeling well recently, so it's

a good idea for us to go out and relax.”

Naomi cautiously finished her point, and Luke, although not too

pleased, eventually agreed. However, to ensure safety, trusted

individuals were left behind to immediately contact him if anything

seemed amiss.

Molly informed Preston about Luke and Naomi's plan to go abroad that

afternoon. Faced with this unexpected news, Preston was shocked and

surprised, "Why suddenly go abroad?"

"My parents said they had it planned earlier. Dad's not feeling well and

wants to go abroad to relax and clear his mind."

Molly's response was natural, devoid of any hint of oddness or

deception, so Preston didn't think too much about it. He didn't have the

mental space to.

However, that same evening, when he messaged Zoie and received no

response, his concern heightened. It was something that had never

happened before. This unusual silence started making him feel anxious

and restless.

For hours, Preston messaged and called Molly behind Zoie's back

multiple times, but there was no response at all. He considered various

reasons-maybe she was sleeping, taking a shower, watching TV, or her

phone was charging-but as time passed, each possibility was

debunked.

Zoie had lost contact, and Preston couldn't find peace of mind.

Meanwhile, Molly's conversation with Preston was met with a lackluster

response. He appeared absent-minded, which Molly subconsciously

noticed. She narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice gentle, "Brother, are

you alright? You seem preoccupied. Has something happened?"

Preston looked at Molly, quickly responding, “Nothing, I was just

thinking about how to behave while our parents are away. Maybe if I do

well, they might agree to us being together when they come back?"

Molly managed a smile. Her eyes fixed on Preston, she said, "You're

right. So, how do you plan to show them? Need any help?"

“No, this is something I should handle myself. I need to prove my

abilities and reassure them about entrusting you to me." Preston's

voice was soft, his expression gentle, his eyes affectionate.

In the past, Molly would have instinctively believed that Preston loved

her. After all, such deep emotions wouldn't be apparent without some

degree of love. But later, she gradually came to realize that in Preston's

heart, even if there wasn't love, he had the ability to display those

intense expressions that others might mistake for genuine affection.

She couldn't even imagine what might happen if she didn't come to this

realization. What if they got married, had children, and the Walker

family was completely handed over to him? What kind of situation

would that lead to?

Could it be that even until death, he still wouldn't harbor even a hint of

love for her?

These thoughts grew more profound, leading her to a harsh realization.

Molly took a deep, silent breath. Though she was concealing her

emotions, they were still visible in her restrained struggle.

But Preston's mind was elsewhere. Even when they were having a

conversation, he was preoccupied. Suddenly, he mentioned, "I need to

be out for a while. Let's have dinner when I return.”

It was still quite some time until dinner, so his departure at this moment

seemed reasonable. His behavior, not his words, bothered Molly.

Nevertheless, she knew she couldn't change his decision, and even if

she did, it wouldn't do much to improve the situation.

These realizations had come to Molly gradually after returning to

Flento. She learned that often, it wasn't that others were hard on her-it

was that she was hard on herself.

She glanced at Preston and replied in a soft voice, "Alright, come back

soon. I'll be waiting at home."

Preston replied with a disinterested "sure" before leaving.

After leaving the apartment, Preston swiftly drove to the hotel where

Zoie was staying. Having been there earlier in the morning, he easily

found his way. He reached Zoie's door and rang the bell, but received

no response.

His face grew heavy, his brows furrowing deeply. His eyes, typically

warm, were now sharp and icy, revealing the tension in his heart. He

went to the hotel's front desk and inquired about the room, only to be

told, "The lady has already checked out.”

Preston was dumbfounded. If Zoie had checked out, where was she?

Where had she gone?

He took a deep breath, then grabbed his phone and dialed his

assistant's number in Flento. He said, "Check the airport immediately to

see if there's any information about Zoie leaving Flento."

He didn't frequently contact his assistant, but the assistant was the

person he trusted the most. They had been together since the days at

the Walker family, and it had been many years since. The reason for

the infrequent contact was to keep the connection discreet. After all, the

assistant still worked at the Walker Group, albeit not in a significant

role, but he could gather a lot of valuable information for him.

Upon Preston's instructions, the assistant promptly headed to the

airport and, using the Walker Group's status, easily obtained

information related to Zoie.

However, the response from the assistant was, "Mr. Walker, there is no

information about Zoie leaving on record at the airport. Could it be that

Zoie never left Flento City?"

“It's not possible." Preston immediately dismissed this idea. If Zoie

hadn't left Flento City, then where was she? Where could she have

gone? And why would she suddenly disappear?

Was it because he'd been distant earlier that morning? Or did what

happened yesterday upset her, prompting her to leave?

But Preston understood Zoie's feelings for him. She loved him and was

willing to endure hardships for him. So, how could she just disappear

like this?

He was becoming increasingly perplexed, but Zoie was nowhere to be

found, leaving him in utter turmoil. Even as he joined Molly for dinner

later, his mind was still occupied.

Seeing his distracted state, Molly also felt disheartened. She casually

mentioned, "Brother, do you have time to meet with Miss Reid from

your cooperative studio?"

Preston's gaze snapped to Molly. She was sipping soup, her

expression neutral, no hint of an agenda. He couldn't fathom anything

beyond her words. He inquired, "Why do you suddenly mention her?

Molly, could it be that you still have reservations about me?"

Molly shook her head, smiling. She said, "Of course not, we've cleared

that up, haven't we? I was just thinking, because of my pettiness and

Ayan's hostility toward you, Miss Reid got hurt. How about we take her

out for a meal as an apology?"

Her explanation sounded logical, a reflective gesture acknowledging

her jealousy, which no one could fault. However, Preston's face showed

detachment, a distance that was palpable. His voice sounded cold as

he responded, "I'll let Miss Reid know your suggestion. However, Miss

Reid has already left Flento. Originally, she was supposed to leave

yesterday, but she stayed to help us clarify things after what happened.

It had quite an impact on her, and she left today."

"So soon? Did your collaboration get affected too?" Molly asked,

genuinely concerned.