The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 761

"I submitted the file on your parents to my superiors, and they're taking it very seriously. They've ordered a full investigation, but I'm sure you've seen the news regarding the Thorne family lately?" Officer West kept her voice low.

I had indeed seen the recent headlines about the Thornes.

Their corporation was under investigation from multiple angles, their stock had plummeted, and by all appearances, they were on the verge of total bankruptcy.

Even Tiffany had admitted that Theodore was finished, and the Thorne legacy was collapsing.

Theodore had manipulated Caspian into kidnapping me because the downfall of his empire had driven him to madness. He wanted me dead simply to satisfy his twisted need for revenge.

With my parents' murder now officially under investigation, his situation was about to go from disastrous to downright lethal.

I nodded. "I saw. It looks like they're drowning in trouble."

"They are. But we just received word that Theodore smuggled himself overseas. He's no longer in the country, which means we can't make an arrest just yet." Disappointment etched lines across her face.

My grip on her hand tightened involuntarily before I forced myself to relax.

He had moved incredibly fast.

The Sterling Group had only launched their offensive against the Thornes a month ago, right around the time Julian began investigating their smuggling operations. The Thorne Corporation had taken massive hits, but an empire that size didn't crumble overnight.

As the chairman, Theodore should have stepped up, projecting strength to reassure his employees and stabilize the panic.

Instead, just days after I formally reported my parents' murder, he had fled the country like a coward.

His survival instincts were terrifyingly sharp.

He must have prepared an escape route long before any of this started, bolting at the first sign of real danger.