The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 49

Chloe climbed into the car, leaning out the window and waving frantically.

"Have a safe flight, Vivian! I'm going to miss you so, so much!"

"..."

Vivian watched the car drive away, still feeling a bit uneasy. She texted the license plate number to the Jones family chauffeur, telling him roughly when to expect her so someone would be ready to bring her inside.

It was approaching three o'clock, with only two hours left until her flight.

The clouds shifted overhead as a strong gust of wind swept away the last remnants of the cold front, officially ushering in summer.

Vivian thought she would be flooded with memories, but the reality was... numbed by the alcohol, she calmly slipped into the car headed for the airport.

The car sped across the overpass, leaving the familiar scenery of the city further and further behind.

Her phone began to ring.

It was Zoe.

Vivian answered and brought it to her ear. Zoe's voice, usually so composed, carried a rare edge of panic. "We have a problem, Vivian. Dr. Granger is tearing the city apart looking for you. He swore he'd find you even if he has to dig up the entire earth, and..."

"And what?"

"And he's having his people lock down the airport. I don't think we're going to be able to leave today."

"Is that so?"

Vivian let out an emotionless scoff. "It seems he already found out I booked a flight to Northside. He must be fully confident he can stop me."

Hearing her boss's unruffled tone, Zoe forced herself to calm down. "What should we do now, Vivian?"

"We don't do anything."

Vivian stared blankly out the window. "Just meet me at the airport as planned. I'll handle the rest."

"...Understood."

"Don't panic. Just make sure his men don't spot you."

"Got it."

After hanging up, Vivian opened her social media feed. The trending topics were full of celebrity gossip as usual, but one particular hashtag buried further down was rapidly gaining traction, threatening to eclipse the top stars.

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