CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: SHE MUST FIND A WAY TO BREAK THROUGH WITH HER BROTHER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Nathaniel Gallagher frowned slightly, already guessing her little scheme.

She didn’t want to go abroad, so she intentionally staged this act of self-harm.

Vivian Shaw surreptitiously checked his expression, crying pitifully, "Brother, I’m sorry, I’ve caused you trouble again."

"I really don’t mean to refuse going abroad, nor did I intend to disobey Brother. I just got distracted while driving today and accidentally rear-ended someone."

"Cough cough... Brother, I’m sorry, please don’t be angry with me, okay?"

Vivian Shaw bit her thin cherry lips, crying like a pear blossom in the rain. Her slim and frail figure, coupled with her palm-sized face, made her look as innocent and pure as a high school student.

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher felt a pang in his heart. Looking at her small face, how could he bear to blame her?

"Brother, don’t be angry, okay? Don’t ignore me, please? Cough cough... cough cough..." Vivian Shaw coughed weakly a few times, as if she couldn’t catch her breath and would faint at any moment.

Invoking heart-wrenching compassion.

"Alright, how could your brother blame you? It’s a fortunate miracle that you’re not seriously hurt. Stay in the hospital and rest well, brother needs to go back." Nathaniel Gallagher gently patted her head and softly reassured her.

Vivian Shaw sniffled, clinging to his sleeve like a naive little girl, "Brother, are you going to see sister-in-law?"

"Please don’t go, okay? I want Brother to stay with me. Brother... Brother..."

She began to cry again, her small nose and mouth trembling intensely.

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher sighed, looking at her with helpless affection.

Afterward, he opened his arms to hold her shoulders.

"Don’t cry anymore, brother will stay with you for a while."

"Hmm~, I knew Brother loves me the most, cough cough~" Vivian Shaw looked both surprised and delighted, holding his neck tightly.

Nathaniel Gallagher, helpless, patted her shoulder gently as if calming a child.

No matter how ruthless or cold-hearted a person may be.

There’s always a soft spot in their heart.

And in that soft spot resides the person they most want to protect.

Every time he looked at her face, his heart would instantly melt.

...

The street at night.

A red Ferrari, ceaselessly darting through the streets. The beast-like roar of the engine echoed through every street.

Josephine Thompson rarely sped, rarely did anything so reckless.

But tonight, she couldn’t keep her emotions in check.

She drove at high speed, and the bodyguards chasing her were left far behind.

One o’clock in the morning.

Nathaniel Gallagher only left the hospital quietly after Vivian Shaw fell asleep.

"Have you found Josephine?"

The assistant, Wayne Dixon, nervously and cautiously said, "President Gallagher, madam has been speeding. We can’t catch up with her, and now we’ve lost her."

Nathaniel Gallagher was furious, anxious, and flustered, "You’re all a bunch of fools, hurry up and track the car’s current location."

"We’ve been tracking the car’s location; now it’s at the seaside viewpoint."

Hearing this, Nathaniel Gallagher wasted no time. He immediately got in the car and sped toward the seaside.

What was originally a thirty-minute drive.

He made it in fifteen minutes.

Arriving at the seaside.

The red Ferrari 488 was parked near the viewpoint.

"Josephine..."

Nathaniel Gallagher got out of the car, hurriedly looking for Josephine Thompson.

Unfortunately.

The car was empty, with the keys left inside.

He searched around the viewpoint but found nothing.

"Josephine, Josephine, where are you?"

The only response was the sound of the waves.

The bodyguards arrived in a hurry, "President Gallagher."

"What are you all staring for? Hurry and find madam!"

"Oh oh." The bodyguards, terrified and pale, scattered quickly to look for Josephine Thompson.

Nathaniel Gallagher’s mind was in a mess, so he immediately tried calling her phone.

"Hello, the number you have reached is out of service, please try again later..."

...

Morning.

Sandalwood Court, No. 1.

Josephine Thompson dragged her weary body back to the Thornton Family’s old house.

"Grandpa, I’m going to report to Curator Carter later. I might not be able to attend your birthday this year!"

Master Thompson smiled kindly, "... Go ahead! Plan this exhibition well. Seize the opportunity to perform, and strive to become Professor Warren’s final student!"

Josephine Thompson regained her composure and confidently smiled at her grandfather, "Mm, I won’t let you down, Grandpa. I’ll go pack my luggage now!"

"Go ahead!"

Josephine Thompson said no more and turned upstairs to pack her belongings!

September 8th.

There was an exhibition of cultural relics at the Caldwen Museum.

She was invited to attend as the commentator for this exhibition.

There was still more than half a month until then.

She first had to meet with the staff of the cultural relics bureau for half a month of planning and rehearsals.

After packing her luggage.

Master Thompson personally took her to catch her flight, "Once you arrive in Northwood, remember to call back, won’t you?"

"I will, Grandpa."

"I’ll be back on leave next Wednesday. I also have to take half a day to attend the divorce court case."

If she doesn’t go to court.

It would result in an automatic withdrawal of the divorce lawsuit, and she wouldn’t be able to file for the same reason again for six months.

So, she had to return next Wednesday.

Master Thompson heard this, sighed solemnly, "Josephine, have you really thought this through?"

Josephine Thompson nodded firmly, "Yes, I’ve made up my mind."

"... Then alright! Since you’ve decided, Grandpa will support you unconditionally!"

Josephine Thompson’s eyes reddened, and she hugged her grandfather, "Thank you, Grandpa."

"Go on then! Have a safe journey!"

Josephine Thompson said no more, grabbed her luggage, and headed toward the boarding gate.

Actually, with the current wealth of the Thornton Family, even if she did nothing, she could live luxuriously for several lifetimes!

And the work she’s currently involved in doesn’t make money at all, it even costs a lot of money.

But she still enthusiastically devoted all her love and energy to it. Dreams and careers can enrich life and fulfill one’s sense of value and honor.

Therefore, she loved her dreams and work.

After sending his granddaughter off.

Master Thompson sighed, both heartbroken and helpless, "Alas~"

"I hope my Josephine will have peace, happiness, and success in the second half of her life."

Auntie Lena accompanied Master Thompson and said with a smile, "Miss is destined for a life of great wealth and fortune, her future will surely be blessed."

"Let’s go home."

"Mm!"

Master Thompson got into the car, worriedly returning to Sandalwood Court.

The car had just reached the house!

Nathaniel Gallagher was already waiting at the door with his bodyguards.

Seeing Master Thompson return.

He immediately approached, anxiously saying, "Grandpa, did Josephine come back?"

Master Thompson gave him a glare, not wanting to engage, he continued straight into the villa.

Nathaniel Gallagher felt a hitch in his heart, hurriedly pursued him and asked, "Grandpa, I’m really worried about Josephine, has she come back?"

"No." Master Thompson replied coldly.

Hearing this, Nathaniel Gallagher felt even more anxious inside.

He feared that Josephine Thompson might do something foolish.

But then he thought, with her calm and rational nature, she probably wouldn’t do something as foolish as suicide.

"Hasn’t Josephine really come back?"

"I should be asking you, where have you sent Josephine?"

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher was taken aback, looking at Master Thompson with an anxious expression.

"Grandpa, I’m not joking. I can’t reach Josephine right now, and I’m really worried about her."

"Who’s joking with you? I ask you, where did you take Josephine?"

"I warn you, if anything happens to my granddaughter, I’ll hold you accountable."

After speaking, Master Thompson went straight into the villa.

Then, he had the guards close the main gate.

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher felt a shiver down his spine, and his breathing became a little tight.

Wayne Dixon and Andy also looked solemn, "President Gallagher, we can’t track Madam’s phone location."

"Should we check with customs and the airport to see if Madam has left Audenburg?"

Nathaniel Gallagher raised an eyebrow and shouted gloomily, "What are you waiting for? Go at once."

"Oh, oh, we’re on it right away."

The bodyguards hurriedly activated all channels to search for Josephine Thompson’s whereabouts.

Nathaniel Gallagher sat dejectedly in the car, feeling an indescribable panic and heaviness in his heart.

In the past, when they argued.

She would never react so strongly, nor easily mention divorce.

He knew she was serious this time.

...

Ten minutes later.

Nathaniel Gallagher impatiently asked for the Nth time, "Have you found out yet?"

"Oh, oh, just about to finish." The hacker was fully focused on checking the information.

The other bodyguards, fearing collateral damage, were as silent as cicadas in winter.

President Gallagher was known for his bad temper.

Once he got angry, no one could withstand it.

They were all silently praying for Madam to come home soon.

Because, Madam was their amulet. As long as Madam was around, President Gallagher rarely lost his temper.

"President Gallagher, it’s been found. Madam took an 8 am flight to Northwood."

Nathaniel Gallagher frowned, "Northwood? What’s she doing in Northwood?"

"..." Everyone looked at each other, shaking their heads in unison.

Even he didn’t know why his wife went to Northwood.

How would they, mere subordinates, know?

Seeing this, Nathaniel Gallagher became even more agitated and restless.

Josephine Thompson’s phone was unreachable.

Master Thompson refused to tell him the truth.

"Book a ticket to Northwood immediately!"

"Okay..."

The bodyguards quickly booked a flight for him again.

In the afternoon.

Nathaniel Gallagher took a three-hour flight to Northwood.

Unfortunately...

After getting off the plane, he had no idea where to look for her.

Josephine Thompson had gone to a closed training base at the National Relics Bureau.

Because every artifact in this exhibition was a national treasure. Therefore, confidentiality and security measures were of the highest level.

He couldn’t find any information.

"Beep beep beep!"

"Hello, the number you dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later."

Nathaniel Gallagher kept calling Josephine Thompson’s phone.

No one ever answered.

She seemed to have vanished without a trace, with no way to find her whereabouts.

[Honey, where did you go? Can you call me back?]

[Whatever it is, we can talk about it face-to-face. Please don’t hide from me. I’m really worried about you. I just want to know if you’re okay.]

Nathaniel Gallagher sent her several messages, but they too fell on deaf ears.

He stayed in Northwood for three days but still couldn’t find Josephine Thompson. On the fourth day, with an urgent company meeting planned, he had to return to Audenburg.

As soon as he got off the plane.

"Beep beep beep!"

Hearing the phone ring.

Nathaniel Gallagher felt a surge of emotions and quickly checked the caller ID.

Seeing it was Vivian Shaw calling.

He hesitated for a few seconds before answering with disappointment, "Hello."

On the other end, Vivian Shaw’s voice came through, tinged with guilt and concern, "Brother, are you back in Audenburg?"

"Yeah."

"So... did you find sis-in-law? Is she still mad at you?"

Nathaniel Gallagher felt a wave of dejection, "I haven’t found her yet."

Vivian Shaw listened, feeling both jealous and sour, "Brother, don’t worry too much. Sis-in-law is a grown woman; she’s probably just off on a vacation to clear her mind."

"Once she’s had enough fun, I’m sure she’ll come back."

Nathaniel Gallagher, troubled and restless, had no mood for small talk, "Is there anything else? If not, I’ll hang up now!"

"Brother, godmother invited me for dinner back at the manor this afternoon. Why don’t you come too?"

"I’m busy."

Hearing this, Vivian Shaw pleaded, "Brother, godmother and Henny miss you! You can’t ignore their feelings because of sis-in-law’s matters."

"Besides, godmother and Henny are leaving for Arctica next week."

Nathaniel Gallagher furrowed his brow, reluctantly agreeing, "...Alright, I’ll come by for dinner."

Vivian Shaw felt a surge of joy, "Okay, good."

Hanging up the call.

Her eyes twinkled with a fluttering excitement in her heart.

"With that wretched Josephine out of the picture, this is a golden opportunity for me."

"If... If... I could get intimate with brother, maybe he wouldn’t send me abroad."

Vivian Shaw couldn’t help but let her mind wander as she devised several ways to get closer to Nathaniel Gallagher.

Her mind was both thrilled and terrified!

"I must seize this opportunity, or else if I’m sent abroad, I’ll have even less chance to get close to brother."

Vivian Shaw opened her purse, pulling out a small bottle of blue liquid.

It was a potion meant to arouse one’s passions.

All she needed was to discreetly add it to his food or drink.

He would be unable to resist... and would desire her.

Vivian Shaw clutched the vial, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She stood before the mirror, repeatedly checking her makeup for perfection, then sprayed herself with ylang-ylang scented perfume.

...

At six in the evening.

Nathaniel Gallagher absentmindedly returned to the old manor.

"Daddy, you’re here! Come play games with me," Henry Gallagher cheerfully ran to him.

Nathaniel Gallagher looked fatigued, "Daddy’s a bit tired today. I’ll play with you another time."

"Oh, alright then."

In the dining room.

The table was already set with an array of exquisite dishes.

Nathaniel Gallagher just entered, catching Vivian Shaw, wearing an apron, coming out from the kitchen.

A bit of flour dusted her temple, making her look endearingly fragile: "Brother, you’re here. I especially cooked a few homemade dishes today."

Mrs. Gallagher also looked delighted, "Indeed, Vivian was amazing today. She didn’t let the servants help at all and prepared this whole table of food herself."

"I must say, Vivian has grown more and more virtuous. Unlike Josephine, who can’t even fry an egg."

Hearing this, Vivian Shaw accompanied her eager smile, saying sweetly, "Godmother, I just made a few simple dishes. I hope you and brother won’t mind."

After that, she hurriedly served Nathaniel Gallagher a bowl of cordyceps chicken soup.

The soup was already rich with herbs.

She discreetly added a few drops of the intoxicating blue potion.