Preston Vance pushed up his glasses and offered a gentle smile. "Where are you headed? I can give you a ride."
An embarrassed look appeared on Annie York’s face. "No, no, it’s alright. I can just take the subway."
But Preston Vance said, "I haven’t been in touch with Chloe lately, and I don’t know how she’s doing. I’m not sure if I did something wrong, but she hasn’t spoken to me in a long time. I was hoping you could help me."
"Huh?" A look of surprise immediately crossed Annie York’s face. "How could that be? I remember you and Chloe getting along so well."
Preston Vance gave a helpless smile. "I wish I knew why. So, are you willing to help me?"
He gazed at her gently, his expression completely unthreatening.
Annie York remembered that Preston Vance had sent someone to rescue her last time. Considering the circumstances, she felt she couldn’t refuse.
After thinking it over, she finally nodded. "Alright then. I’ll do my best."
Preston Vance smiled warmly. "Get in the car first. We can talk as we go."
"Okay."
Annie York lived in the old district, nearly an hour’s drive away. During the ride, she told him pretty much everything about Chloe Reed’s situation.
Preston Vance listened, his refined and handsome face showing no particular expression, but his eyes behind the lenses held a deeper meaning.
Her grandmother was still here, even living with her at Jardinelle, yet she had lied and told him her grandmother was gone.
’Why would she lie to him?’
She had suddenly started to distance herself from him.
’Did I do something to make her unhappy?’
Preston Vance couldn’t figure it out, but he didn’t let it show. After dropping Annie York off, he called Chloe Reed.
The phone rang three times before the other end picked up.
"Hello?"
A soft female voice came through, but it was tinged with a faint aloofness.

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