“Well, yes. I was the one who arranged for those private planes. However, at that time…”
Here, Xavier broke off in mid-sentence.
I didn’t look into the matters concerning Nate after getting back, so I’m actually not very clear on most of the details.
When Josiah saw that Xavier was uncertain about what to say next, he immediately piped up, “Let me explain, Mdm. Beatrice. Xavier isn’t very clear about this matter as a matter of fact because he didn’t experience it personally, nor did he see Nate with his own eyes. Besides, some things once said may come between their relationship as cousins, or worse, the relationship between the Fairchild family and the Fraser family. As an outsider, I may be able to give a more objective account of events.”
Xavier was filled with apprehension when he heard Josiah mention that what the latter was about to say might cause hurt feelings.
“Josiah, my boy, nothing else matters apart from Nate’s safety. Hurry up and tell me where he is and how to contact him.”
Josiah fixed his gaze on Beatrice, his eyes glinting slightly. “The problem is that I don’t know where he is now either. The first helicopter took off because Yulissa suddenly appeared and intercepted me, and the second helicopter couldn’t carry many passengers. Xavier was unconscious, so I asked Nate to leave with us. However, Nate didn’t get on because he wanted to watch over Yulissa’s body. The situation was critical at that time. He chose to stay behind, and I didn’t insist on pulling him on board. If I’d been a little more persistent, I probably would’ve been able to bring him back. I’m so sorry. I planned everything, from making the arrangements for the helicopters to when we left. The entire time, Xavier never even saw Nate. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. Xavier has nothing to do with what happened.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Xavier demanded. I wasn’t expecting him to say all that and then put all the blame on himself. I feel very fortunate to have a good friend like him in this lifetime. How can I let him take the fall after he has been nothing but loyal to me?
“Aunt Beatrice, this has nothing to do with Josiah. Nate’s motives were questionable from the start. However, you’re right when you said that now is not the time to worry about that. Also, you don’t have to apologize so soon, Josiah. Who knows? Nate could be perfectly fine.”
Regardless of whatever Nate had done, he was still Beatrice’s own flesh and blood.
She was racked with worry and on the verge of dissolving into tears.
“I don’t want to hear any talk about responsibility or apologies, and you don’t have to push the blame around. Just tell me where Nate is! He’s my son, and I can’t let anything happen to him!”
Frowning, Josiah replied, “I understand how you feel, Mdm. Beatrice. We parted ways in Yeringham. I thought he’d return soon as there are flights to and from Manchernius every two days.”
After hearing his last sentence, Beatrice grew even more anxious.
It’s easy to catch a flight back, yet he still hasn’t returned. What does that signify? That can only mean something has likely befallen him!
“Okay. Yeringham, right? Got it. I’ll go and arrange for some people to search for him now.” After saying that, Beatrice suddenly sprang to her feet and grabbed Xavier’s arm. “Xavier, since you’ve been to that place, you’re probably much more familiar with the situation there than me. Will you help to search for him too? I know Nate has done many things to hurt you because of Yulissa, but at the end of the day, he’s still your cousin.”
Xavier squeezed her hand. “I’ll send some people over there. Nate has always had luck on his side since he was little, so I’m sure he’s fine.”
“You’re right. Before meeting Yulissa, he was clear-headed and hardly encountered any unlucky incidents. However, all that changed after he met her. I suppose the reason he went there this time must be because of her too, am I right?”
Xavier nodded. “Yulissa was initially unaware of where we were retreating to. Nate was the one who checked the flight plans of Fairchild Corporation’s private planes and relayed the information to her.”
Beatrice was stunned for several seconds. After a while, she muttered through clenched teeth, “I knew it! I knew Nate had done all that because of her! How could he be so foolish?”
Unable to bear the sight of his aunt crying in front of him, Xavier said reassuringly, “Don’t worry too much. What’s done is done. All we can do now is resolve the issue, and worrying won’t help.”
“He has a point,” Josiah chimed in. “It’ll only do more harm than good if you worry yourself to the point that it affects your health.”
“I know. I’ll head back first, then.” As she walked out, she added, “Let me know as soon as you have any news.”
“Of course,” Xavier answered with a nod.
Josiah waited until Beatrice had left before asking Xavier, “You don’t think something has happened to that brat, do you? We’ve been so busy after our return that I’ve completely forgotten about him.”
“I haven’t the faintest clue. It’s best if nothing happened to him. Otherwise, he’ll have to pay for the foolish things he did,” Xavier replied as he pinched the space between his brows.
Josiah was quiet as he pondered for a moment. “I think he should be fine. After all, Winnie even tossed him a gun after the plane took off.”
Xavier murmured an acknowledgment. “Don’t bother yourself with this for now. You should head back to the hospital first. I’ll be waiting for the lab test results.”
“All right. They’ll be ready tonight.”
After that, Xavier walked back to his desk without paying any more attention to Josiah. He took out his phone to call Winnie.
However, upon recalling that it was the wee hours of the morning in Yartran, he hung up immediately and threw himself into his work.
I’m determined to make Fairchild Corporation bigger and stronger. I want to use my capabilities to silence everyone. That way, nobody will dare to say I’m unworthy of my wife anymore.
After reviewing a project proposal, Xavier led Louis to the conference room upstairs, forgetting his phone in his hurry.
Over at Yartran, Winnie woke up suddenly with a jolt at two o’clock in the morning.
She dreamed she was back in Yeringham, still in the basement of that building. She and Josiah were running away when someone suddenly fell from the top floor, crashing onto the car next to her and spattering blood all over her.
Startled, she turned around and found herself staring at Xavier’s face.
In her dream, she was stricken with terror and struggled for a long time before finally waking up.
She called Xavier as soon as she was awake.
His phone rang for a long time, but there was no answer.
When she finally fell back to sleep, it was three o’clock in the morning.
She had planned to get up at seven o’clock that morning to keep her appointment with Elisha. However, since she did not sleep well, she ended up waking an hour later.
By the time she washed up and appeared for breakfast, Joshua had already left to play golf.
Meanwhile, Emily was arranging some flowers, and in a rare turn of events, Wilhelm was helping her.
The pair turned around at the same time when they heard footsteps.
Wilhelm noticed the dark circles under Winnie’s eyes at once and frowned as he asked, “Didn’t you sleep well last night? You look rather tired.”
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