Built His Empire Then Watched It Burn When He Cheated novel Chapter 544

**Chapter 544: He Wasn’t Suffering Alone**

“Do you have a death wish or something?” Jonathan’s voice sliced through the air, cool and laced with an edge of frostiness.

Zane, caught off guard, suddenly grasped the weight of his earlier words. They had come out wrong, so easily misinterpreted.

But Jonathan knows me well enough to understand that I’d never look at Anneliese in that way. So why is he reacting like this?

“Jonathan, I’ve been trying to reach Jessica, but I can’t get through. Didn’t she spend New Year’s with Anneliese? Could you ask Anneliese what’s going on with her?” Zane’s voice held a hint of desperation.

Jonathan pressed his lips into a thin line, his gaze drifting past the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, the garden was alive with vibrant strings of lights, a kaleidoscope of colors illuminating the night. Somewhere in the distance, the sharp crack of fireworks echoed, bursting into brilliant blooms against the dark sky.

The entire scene radiated warmth and festivity.

Everyone he cherished was gathered under one roof, yet the absence of one person rendered all that joy meaningless to him.

“So, you really think that if you can’t reach her, I somehow possess some magical ability to do so?” Jonathan’s voice dropped, tinged with a weary blend of irritation and self-deprecation.

For a fleeting moment, Zane froze, then a chuckle burst forth unexpectedly. In that instant, he felt a flicker of relief wash over him, as if the weight of his own troubles had lightened.

Maybe, just maybe, his situation wasn’t as dire as he had believed.

“You can’t get a hold of Anne either? Wow, that’s just… incredibly convenient,” he replied, a smirk creeping onto his face.

He had swapped ‘great’ for ‘convenient’ in his choice of words, but Jonathan caught every hint of schadenfreude lacing his tone.

“You sound positively elated,” Jonathan remarked, his brow furrowed slightly.

“Not at all! I’ve been unable to reach Jessica for a day or two. I’m left wondering if I’ve upset her or if something has gone awry. But if you can’t reach Anne either, it’s likely those two are off together, ignoring our calls. How about this—we should just call Joel and Carter and grab a drink?” Zane suggested, his spirits lifting as he made peace with the situation.

However, Jonathan remained unmoved, still mired in his own thoughts. His response was slow, flat, and devoid of enthusiasm.

“No.” With that, he ended the call abruptly.

He quickly checked WhatsApp, his heart sinking as he saw there was still no reply from Anneliese. A gnawing unease settled in his stomach, prompting him to dial another number.

“Is Mrs. Fullbuster asleep?” His voice remained low and steady, and the call connected almost immediately.

On the other end, the bodyguard stationed outside Maple Bay during the holidays stepped out of the car, craning his neck to peer up at the house.

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