"You failed? What is wrong with you?" Marianne snapped, her voice low but furious. "I made such special preparations for this-and you ruined it? What did you do?"
"I suggested the best people to lody," the driver replied, shaking his head with frustration. "But this lanie... she seems to have the luck of the devil, sister. No matter what we try, sothing always falls apart. I’ve never had a plan backfire like this before. Never." He paused, jaw clenched. "Don’t worry. The mont she contacts you again, I’ll go myself. I’ll bring her head to you, no matter what it takes."
Marianne stared at him, her lips pressed together in a tight line. She was about to ask him sothing if he had at least sent soone to the airport to collect lanie so as not to show flaws but just then, they heard a noise outside as Richard Thomas walked in.
"What happened?" Richard asked, his gaze moving between them as he saw the angry faces of the two people.
The driver imdiately shifted, straightened his stance and took a small step back from Marianne. He turned to Richard and said in a calm, rehearsed tone, "Sir, Madam was just asking if Miss lanie said anything during the drive back last ti. But she didn’t speak at all. Not a word. Madam was disappointed that Miss lanie does not like to chat anymore."
Marianne gave a faint nod, her expression now composed. She turned to the driver and said, "You may go. And make sure you don’t forget what I told you regarding lanie. Not even one detail."
The driver gave a small nod and stepped away, saying nothing more as he left the room. "Don’t worry. I will take care of it."
Marianne’s eyes lingered for a mont in the direction he had gone. Then she turned back to Richard with a soft expression. She looked up at him and smiled, wrapping her arms around him in a gentle hug.
"The other night," she began fondly, "I asked lanie what she liked. I thought I’d send her a few nutritious juices and so of the things she enjoys. After all, she is newly married. It’s the least I can do. I’m sure they’ll start planning a family soon... and then, who knows-we might even have grandchildren running around this house again."
Richard chuckled at hris wife’s enthusiasm and shook his head slightly, amusent dancing in his eyes. "You’ve just found lanie, and already you’re jumping ahead to grandchildren..." he teased. But as quickly as his smile ca, it faded, replaced by a quiet lancholy that settled in his features. "Don’t you think lanie and lody are quite alike?" he asked, his tone more thoughtful now. "Honestly, I thought lanie would be a little more open with . A bit more talkative. But last ti... she was even quieter than lody. And that’s saying sothing-lody hardly ever spoke to ."
Marianne sighed softly and reached up to pat his chest in reassurance. "Give it ti," she said gently. "I’m sure lanie will open up eventually. She’s probably just adjusting. And when lody returns, we’ll work on helping her beco more expressive too. Maybe having her sister around will change things."
Richard nodded slowly and pulled her close again, wrapping his arms around her. "Did you get any news about lody?" he asked after a mont, his voice quieter now.
Marianne gave him a faint smile, and shook her head. "None whatsoever," she replied softly. "But I am holding out hope."
***
While Marianne had already received the report that the attack had failed, the person who had ordered the hit was still unaware.
lody paced restlessly around the living room, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her mind kept circling back to one question-had lanie been taken care of yet or not? The silence was maddening. Not knowing made it worse.
Should she call Driver Uncle and ask for confirmation? He was the one who had assured her that this ti and made the arrangents on her behalf.. ]
Her footsteps slowed as her thoughts pulled her back to that night in the car while returning form her parent’ ho. She had been so angry and humiliated at him Adam had abondoned her halfway through the evening, sitting there, feeling alone and humiliated.
She had sat in the backseat, fuming quietly, arms crossed and eyes fixed outside the window. But even then, despite her anger, her mind was busy, working, calculating, planning. lanie’s presence complicated everything, and she needed details. She had been hoping to get sothing-anything-from her mother about how and when exactly lanie would arrive, so she could make her next move. But her mother hadn’t been of much help that evening, which only added to her frustration.
Who would have thought that driver uncle would co to her aid in this situation unexpectedly? As the car cruised silently through the late-night streets, the driver suddenly broke the quiet.
"Miss lanie," he said, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "Let tell you a secret."
lody blinked, caught off guard and even though she was not interested, her mother had always warned her to take care of the driver uncle, "What secret?" she asked warily.
He leaned forward slightly, keeping his eyes on the road, and lowered his voice further. "Miss lody might have been found."
lody’s breath had hitched at those words.
"What?" she asked sharply. How did he know.
He gave a small smile, clearly pleased with himself. "Madam has asked to go to the airport the day after tomorrow to fetch her. Eleven a.m. sharp. Terminal Three."
For a second, lody simply stared at him, unsure if she’d heard correctly. Her pulse quickened. How did she beco so lucky. Quietly, she leaned forward, "Uncle, can you do sothing for ?"
The driver nodded," Of course, Miss. You don’t know, I do all the chores for Miss lody also."
"Uncle, I am lody... and I need your help..."
Back in the present, lody paused near the window, her hand resting lightly on the curtain. Uncle would definitely have completed the job, right?
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