Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 60

**Chapter 60**

If it weren’t for Jasper’s unwavering refusal to entertain any sort of collaboration with Genome Tech, Renee would have begun to entertain the bizarre notion that there might be a familial connection between him and Alison. The thought was absurd, yet the strange coincidences were hard to ignore.

After departing from the sleek, modern confines of Platinum Heights, Renee summoned a cab to whisk her back to Camphor Manor. As she stepped through the grand entrance of the villa, a flurry of movement caught her attention. A maid rushed toward her, her expression a mix of relief and concern.

“Oh, Madam! Thank goodness you’re finally back! Sir has been waiting for you at home all day and night,” the maid exclaimed, her voice tinged with anxiety.

“All day and night?” Renee halted, momentarily taken aback by the revelation. A flicker of surprise danced in her eyes.

The maid sighed deeply, her brow furrowing with worry. “Sir returned home last night and was searching for you. When he realized you weren’t here, he decided to wait the entire night, and then all morning today.”

Renee noted the maid’s hesitance to delve deeper into the personal dynamics of her employers. The maid’s role was merely to relay information, not to pry into the intricacies of their relationship.

“I understand,” Renee replied, her voice steady as she made her way into the living room.

The space was expansive and airy, designed to invite the soft glow of natural light. However, as she crossed the threshold, an overwhelming stench of cigarette smoke assaulted her senses, a stark contrast to the otherwise serene atmosphere.

As she lifted her gaze, she spotted Adam sprawled on the couch, his elbows resting heavily on his knees. He leaned forward, the lit cigarette dangling precariously from his fingers, as if it were a lifeline in his turbulent sea of thoughts.

At the sound of her footsteps, Adam’s head snapped up, and the moment their eyes locked, the warmth of his gaze evaporated, replaced by an icy glare. “Where were you last night?” he demanded, his voice sharp and accusatory.

Even from a distance, the tension radiating from him was palpable, an electric charge that sent shivers down her spine. It was clear he was on the verge of an outburst.

“I was at a friend’s place,” she replied, her tone flat and devoid of emotion, a deliberate choice to avoid escalating the situation. She turned on her heel, intending to retreat upstairs to the sanctuary of her room.

“Stop right there!”

Her lips moved with deliberate precision as she continued, “In the past month or two, how many nights have you not returned home? Have I ever thrown a fit like this? Are you assuming I spent the night with another man?”

“You…!”

Adam’s eyes widened in disbelief as he took in her calm demeanor, her lack of guilt or panic only serving to deepen his uncertainty. Could it be that he was jumping to conclusions?

“Why was your phone off?” he pressed, desperation creeping into his tone.

With a small, knowing smile, Renee retrieved her phone from her pocket and pressed the power button firmly. The screen flickered to life, displaying the startup logo before promptly fading to black once more.

“Then perhaps you can enlighten me,” she said, her voice steady, “about where you were on all those nights you didn’t come home. Who were you with? Shouldn’t you be reporting that to me as well? Or is it that you’ve done something to betray my trust, and now you’re projecting your guilt onto me?”