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Chapter 39

As they exited, Donald gave them a double take. Annie was wrapped in Jackson’s suit jacket, while Jackson sported a slightly wrinkled white shirt, the bright red tooth mark on his neck impossible to miss.

Donald immediately covered his mouth, chuckling, “Looks like you two had a wild time!”

Jackson, with one hand casually in his pocket, glanced over, “In your book, am I a twenty–minute man?”

Donald erupted into a fit of coughing.

Annie’s face flushed; she couldn’t take anymore and looked away, steering the conversation. “What happened to the Tigers gang?” Aside from Donald waiting outside, the others had disappeared.

Donald winked. “Trust me, everything’s been swept clean.”

“What about Mason?” Annie asked.

Donald laughed. “He got what’s coming to him. You can rest easy.”

“Okay.” Annfe nodded. If Jackson’s crew said it was handled, then it was as good as done.

Jackson patted her head and strode out. “Let’s roll.”

Annie didn’t budge, though. She gazed at the tall, straight figure, a bit dazed.

out?” The man suddenly turned, raising a brow. “You coming? Or planning to camp

Annie, hearing his somewhat cold remark, barely smiled, finding humor in the situation. In her past life, she’d never have believed that Jackson Hudson, Jeremy Chandler’s archenemy, would come to her rescue. But life was full of surprises.

*****

Jackson didn’t want to be seen and had someone else escort Annie home.

When Annie arrived, almost the entire Sanders family was there her second uncle’s family, her third uncle’s family, and even her grandmother who hardly moved. Police officers were on the phones, devices spread on the coffee table, clearly waiting for the kidnappers‘ ransom call.

‘Relying on these people, would I be found dead?‘ The thought made her chuckle. “Well, look who’s all here.”

Her words made every head in the room snap towards her as if seeing a specter. Yolanda screamed and nearly twisted her ankle in shock.

Annie asked with concern, “Yolanda, you okay?”

Yolanda pointed at her, hand trembling. “A–Annie, weren’t you kidnapped?” She thought in panic, How did get out? The parking lot cameras had captured it all! Did Mason get cold feet and let her go?”

Jessica, seemingly thinking along the same lines, clenched her teeth in frustration, angry that Mason couldn’t get the job done.

“I was kidnapped, but they figured out halfway through they grabbed the wrong person, so they just let me out on the side of the road,” Annie said with an innocent shrug.

The looks exchanged around the room said it all. ‘Kidnapped the wrong person? Who could buy that tale?‘

A nearby police officer chimed in, “Now that you’re back safe and sound, we’d appreciate your cooperation in giving a formal

14:53 Sun, Sep 1 GD.

statement.”

Annie smiled agreeably, “Absolutely.” She was indebted to Jackson and naturally had no intention of mentioning him. She spun a tale of hitching a ride with a passing motorist by the highway, her phone tumbling out the window and shattering along the way. After a fruitless questioning, the police packed up and left, none the wiser.

Tom spoke up. “Since it was a false alarm, let’s all retire and get some rest.”

As they headed upstairs, Annie and Jessica were just a step apart.

Annie turned her head on the stairs and casually remarked, “Oh, and even though my eyes were covered, I could’ve sworn I heard them mention your name, Jessica.”

This offhand comment kept Jessica up all night. She was on edge, clutching her phone, debating whether to reach out to Mason. Her better judgment warned against contacting him and causing a stir, but Annie’s knowing glance was disconcerting. The mistaken identity story had zero credibility, but how else to explain Annie’s return?

The next morning, Annie ran into Jessica in the hallway and remarked with feigned surprise, “Did you not sleep well, Jessica?” Jessica looked so haggard even makeup couldn’t hide it.

Jessica shot Annie a glare. “Can’t compare to you, who can sleep soundly after such a dramatic event.”

Annie chuckled, “I’m used to being untroubled. No matter how big the trouble, a good sleep and it’s forgotten, right?” With that, she sauntered downstairs, leaving Jessica to grip the wood railing beside her, seething with anger.

In the afternoon, when Tom arrived home, Jessica urgently pulled him into the room. “Did you find out about what asked you to inquire about?”

Tom was curious. “The Mason thing? Hey, haven’t you always disdained him? Why the interest now?”

Jessica frowned. “Stop prattling. Did you find out or not?”

“I did,” Tom assured her. “I reached out to a bunch of his close mates. They said he vanished after the Chandler family’s party yesterday and hasn’t been tracked down since. The Ramirez family has already alerted the police and is scouring the city.”

Jessica collapsed onto the sofa, her face etched with unease. She’d orchestrated Mason to kidnap Annie, but while Annie had returned unharmed, Mason had disappeared without a trace… What had transpired the night before?

Tom, catching the shift in her demeanor, was baffled. “What’s up?”

Jessica quickly shook her head. “No… Nothing.”

By evening, with Mason still missing, he made the first move and called. “Hey, Jessica.”

“Mason! Where have you been? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Jessica’s voice was shrill, edged with anger. Mason couldn’t even handle a simple task properly and had kept me in suspense for so long. What is he even good for?‘

Mason answered calmly, “It’s complicated over the phone. I’m at Dracrity Hotel now. Come over, and I’ll walk you through everything.”

Jessica was cautious and firm. “It’s late. If you’ve got something to say, spit it out over the phone.”

Mason lowered his voice. “You want everyone to know you asked me to kidnap your

sister?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jessica wasn’t fazed. “I never told you to kidnap anyone. You were the one who got mad because someone splashed wine on you and wanted to get back at Annie. What does that have to do with me?”

Mason’s voice immediately dropped. “You trying to pin all the blame on me?”

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“How could I? It has nothing to do with me anyway,” Jessica said nonchalantly.

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Mason snorted coldly. “Don’t forget, I texted you when I kidnapped Annie. You knew and didn’t report it! When your own sister’s in danger, you knew about it and just ignored it. Do you think you can dodge the blame?”

Jessica sneered, “I’m sorry. My phone took a swim at the banquet, and now I’m using a new one. I didn’t get the message you sent.” Step by step, she had planned everything meticulously, removing herself from the situation completely.

Mason was so furious he almost crushed his phone. He shouted, “Jessica Sanders!”

Jessica didn’t want to waste time on him anymore. “If that’s all, I’m hanging up.”

Mason gritted his teeth. “You used me and abandoned me like trash. I won’t play nice!” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

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