CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: HOW DARE YOU NOT COME HOME AT NIGHT

Luna, dressed in her pajamas and with her soft hair draped around her, gently walked up to Elias Warner.

She reached out her little hand and tugged on Elias Warner’s hand.

The gentle touch, with a milky fragrance, brought Elias Warner back to his senses.

"Dad, what’s wrong? Why are you so unhappy after coming home today? Where is Ms. Winter? Why haven’t I seen Ms. Winter?"

Luna looked up at Elias Warner with her large, black grape-like eyes.

She hadn’t seen any trace of her mom today.

She was really quite worried.

Moreover, it was already very late.

Thinking of Annelise Winter, Elias Warner’s heart ached again.

Although he felt loss, disappointment, and even more complex emotions towards her.

But he had never hated her.

At this moment, Luna mentioned Annelise Winter, and Elias Warner finally raised his eyes to check the time; it was already past midnight.

So late.

Pain makes one forget time.

Elias Warner smiled wryly.

"Dad, it’s already late. Why don’t you call Ms. Winter? Isn’t she coming back tonight? But I really miss her!"

Luna pouted.

Elias Warner touched Luna’s cheek.

Right now, only this little darling could add a bit of joy to his otherwise monotonous life.

He smiled, squatted down, and patted Luna’s head.

"Alright, then you call her and ask why she hasn’t come back!"

Elias Warner’s heart ached; is she starting not to return to the villa?

Is this a showdown, so she doesn’t care at all?

Luna took the phone from Elias Warner’s hand and dialed Annelise Winter’s number.

The Airline

Annelise Winter was already asleep.

The buzzing of her phone woke her.

Seeing it was Luna calling, she quickly answered.

"When are you coming home? Ms. Winter, where are you? Dad and I are worried about you!"

Annelise Winter remembered Luna was still at the villa.

Checking the time, she realized it was already past midnight.

Really?

Worried about her?

Did Elias Warner ask Luna to call?

Not likely.

After all, she had said such harsh words to him.

She wanted to ask Luna what Elias Warner was doing but didn’t know how to phrase it.

"Luna, be a good girl and sleep. Ms. Winter has things to do, alright?"

"Okay, I got it, Ms. Winter. Goodbye!"

Though Luna missed Annelise Winter a lot, she already had a tacit understanding with her; whenever Annelise Winter needed cooperation, Luna would comply.

The call ended.

Elias Warner’s face turned grim.

Did Annelise Winter say on the phone that she had plans tonight? Was it a date?

With Chase Perry?

He felt a bit restless.

Thinking of her entangled with Chase Perry in bed and having a child, his heart ached.

He didn’t believe Annelise Winter’s words; he had to find out if she really had a child with Chase Perry.

Annelise Winter hung up the phone and walked to the window.

Before the New Year, the festive atmosphere was already evident.

Light decorations adorned the plane trees along the road, creating an illuminated and celebratory scene that left her feeling lonely.

Back then, she was just like that, walking alone on the snowy ground.

The feeling of helplessness and despair was still vividly in her memory.

It was an indescribable suffocating sensation.

Buzz buzz... buzz buzz...

The phone vibrating on the table.

She turned to see it was her brother calling.

She was always worried about her brother, and receiving a call from him made her extremely happy.

"Sis, can you come to be with me for my birthday tomorrow?"

"Of course, are you alright?"

Annelise Winter felt a bit excited.

"I’m fine, don’t worry; Mrs. Lockwood has planned everything for me!"

Mrs. Lockwood?

Annelise Winter frowned; how did her brother get involved with Mrs. Lockwood?

Well, with Mrs. Lockwood’s help, she could be at ease about her brother.

"Alright, I’ll come for your birthday tomorrow!"

Annelise Winter agreed.

The next day

Annelise Winter hadn’t slept well; she’d been resting her head on the table all night.

Elias Warner hadn’t rested well either; he arrived at The Airline in the morning with dark circles around his eyes.

The crowd was gossiping.

"Captain Warner is quite the man, huh? Didn’t rest all night? Was he with his fiancée last night?"

"What’s the big deal? In today’s society, is there really any risk of premarital abstinence?"

The crowd laughed heartily.

Elias Warner frowned.

The atmosphere within The Airline was truly chaotic recently; anything could be said.

Then, he heard more people gossiping.

"Have you heard? Today’s Annelise Winter took leave; she didn’t come to work. Could it be because of the rumors, is she starting to avoid us?"

"What rumors?"

"She snatched someone from the Lowell Family heiress, our Captain Warner’s affair!"

"It’s said Miss Lowell was classmates with Captain Warner over a decade ago; they developed feelings for each other. Later, the girl went abroad to study, and that’s when Annelise Winter made her move on Captain Warner. Truly a scheming witch!"

Elias Warner’s face changed dramatically.

Who spread these rumors? They’re too sharp.

He strode back to his office.

And indeed found Annelise Winter’s leave request.

Did she take the whole day off?

Where could she be going?

Elias Warner felt anxious.

Annelise Winter was currently inside the department store.

Above the fifth floor, all the shops were luxury brands.

This time, she wanted to give her brother a rather memorable gift.

It signified that after today, her brother would grow up and bid farewell to his student days.

Annelise was very happy.

She walked to the fifth floor of the mall to pick out men’s clothing.

She happened to run into Ivy Willows, who was selling clothes.

Ivy was extremely surprised to see Annelise shopping in the store.

A suit here would cost at least two hundred thousand.

Spending two hundred thousand on a suit? Could someone like Annelise from the lower class afford it?

And she claimed not to be involved with Chase Perry, where did the money come from?

Ivy snorted coldly.

She walked over to Annelise.

Annelise was just picking up two suits, looking at them carefully.

Wondering which one would be more suitable for her brother.

"The clothes here aren’t something you can touch. Can you afford them? Stop messing around here!"

Ivy grabbed the suit from Annelise’s hand and hung it back.

"It’s you? I didn’t expect you’d end up selling clothes here after leaving The Airline!"

Annelise smirked.

From The Airline to sales, that was quite a leap.

"I’m not below you to be laughed at. You dare say you’re not involved with Chase Perry? If you weren’t, would you come here to buy clothes? Can your years of salary even buy a piece of clothing here? The two suits you just held, the cheapest one costs thirty thousand!"

"Don’t use your filthy thoughts to view my life!" Annelise ignored Ivy.

Ivy, seeing Annelise ignoring her and continuing to look at the clothes around, seemed to be deliberately opposing her.

Ivy got angry and snatched the clothes from Annelise’s hands.

"Put it down! If you don’t, I’ll call someone!"

"I won’t!" Annelise snatched the clothes back from Ivy’s hands.

"Security, security, get this woman out of the mall. She’s causing trouble here!"

Ivy shouted at the security team.

The security quickly ran over.

Surrounded Annelise.

"Miss, it’s you who are causing trouble here. You should leave our store immediately, or else we’ll throw you out!"

Annelise calmly said, "May I ask, how is it causing trouble if I come here to shop?"

"Don’t listen to her. She’s just an airline medic. Where could she possibly get so much money to buy a suit here?"

Ivy hurriedly explained.

The commotion was quite loud, even the manager came over.

"What’s going on? Why are you all standing here?" The manager addressed the security team.

"Someone says someone is causing trouble in our store! So we came over!" The security turned the focus towards Ivy.

Ivy said, "Manager, I’m not lying. She simply can’t produce enough money!"

The manager glanced at Annelise.

Seeing that Annelise was wearing something of a light luxury brand, he was somewhat doubtful of Ivy’s words.

Ivy hurriedly said, "Manager, she’s my colleague. I know better than anyone what she earns. She can’t possibly afford clothes from our store! Quickly, throw her out!"

"Miss, please present your bank card. I need to check the funds!"

The manager, half-believing, said to Annelise.

"Isn’t there no such rule in the store? What is it? Customers who want to buy clothes have to prove their funds now?"

Annelise glared at the manager.

The manager said, "Sorry, miss, if you cannot show us your bank card for fund verification, then please leave!"

Annelise said, "Although I’m not buying a suit, just a tie, if the money in my card can buy a suit here, you’ll make this salesperson apologize to me!"

"Alright!"

The manager nodded.

Annelise handed her bank card to the manager.

The manager quickly verified the funds in Annelise’s bank card.

"Card balance: thirty thousand!"

This was money she recently earned from part-time jobs.

Thirty thousand?

To Ivy, who usually spent all her wage, it was quite a lot.

"Manager, can she apologize to me now?"

"Ivy, apologize to this miss!"

The manager admonished coldly.

"Manager, I..."

Ivy was unwilling.

"Quickly, if you’re not willing to apologize to this miss, then you’ll be out of here today and never come back to work again!"

Ivy had just left The Airline and found a new job, so this work was very important to her.

She couldn’t afford to lose this job.

She could only lower her head and say to Annelise, "I’m sorry, it’s my fault!"

Annelise smirked, "Say it louder, I didn’t hear you!"

"I’m sorry, it’s my fault!" Ivy clenched her palm.

Unwillingly, she still said this to Annelise.

Annelise didn’t buy a suit but bought a tie that suited her brother, spending only two thousand yuan, and left.

Ivy was furious.

Bzz... Bzz...

Annelise’s phone rang.

Annelise picked up the phone and saw that it was a call from her brother.

"Sis, have you arrived? I’ve booked a room at Lethe Bar!"

"Alright, I’ll be right over!"

Annelise didn’t know why her brother went to a bar.

Probably because he wanted to visit such a place as he grew up.

Bar

Annelise’s brother sat in the private room of the bar, on the table were candles and a cake enough for two.

This was his first time celebrating a birthday with his sister.

He remembered that his sister loved to dance at this place.

So he wanted to find a place his sister was familiar with and chose here.

Originally, his identity was completely out of tune with this environment.

Why would he come here to spend?

Waited for a long time.

Annelise arrived with the tie.