Chapter 816
"Gran, don't say that. I've spent enough time with Merritt to know he's got a good heart. He must've been tricked that time." Unbeknownst to them, Merritt had quietly returned and was now standing at the kitchen doorway.
He heard every word they said.
Peace reigned here.
Meanwhile, Vista Town was in utter chaos.
At the Ferguson Mansion, Dailey waited for Nelly to wake up, asking Abigail to give her some water and a bit of food.
Without probing, he simply said, "Rest up," before leaving her room.
Nelly didn't press the matter either.
Dailey then went downstairs, grabbed his coat, and was ready to leave when Jayne stopped him, whispering, "Is the wedding still on?"
The wedding dress was ordered, and the invitations were written, ready to be sent out.
But then, out of nowhere, Nelly had her crisis.
Dailey left them hanging with two words: "It's off," before striding away.
Back at Christine Apartments, Dailey inquired about Christine from Primo.
Primo said, "Ms. Jackson hasn't left her place since she got back."
Dailey glanced at Christine's door and then went back to his own apartment.
The next morning, he tried to deliver breakfast, but no one answered the door despite the long wait.
Thinking Christine was ignoring him, he was surprised when no delivery showed up by noon.
Knowing Christine doesn't cook, it was unlikely she wouldn't order food.
Worried about her, he had no choice but to use the passcode to enter.
The place was empty.
Primo was shocked.
"It's the end of my career," he thought.
"I saw Ms. Jackson come home with my own eyes."
They were on the 22nd floor, so escaping through the window was impossible.
Dailey immediately checked the security footage.
Indeed, there was someone resembling Christine in the footage.
A beret covering her face, wearing Christine's favorite red sweater
dress. If you didn't look C
know any better, you'd be mistaken.
Primo realized the mistake only after reviewing the footage.
Defending himself weakly, he said, "Sir, you told me not to follow her too closely, worrying it might upset Ms. Jackson... It's my fault, punish me as you see fit."
But this wasn't the time for that.
Dailey ordered, "Find out where she went."
Primo immediately set out with his team.
Meanwhile, Dailey headed to Elmwood Villas.
This was Gregory and Jane's usual workout time.
Interrupted, Gregory came out looking as if he could wring water from his scowl.
Dailey was straightforward, "Has Christine been here?"
Gregory's response was icy, "No."
Dailey turned and left.
So much time had passed; Christine could have left the country by now.
He had to hurry, or it would become even more difficult to find her.
His greatest fear wasn't that Christine was avoiding him.
It was the possibility of something bad happening to her.
Returning to the Ferguson Mansion, he first asked Jayne and Normand, who were still up, and received a negative response. He then decided to inquire with his grandparents, who had already gone to bed
"You're causing a ruckus."
Normand rebuked, "For one woman, you've turned the Clarkson family upside down, and now you disregard us all?"
"Dailey, you may think you've grown wings, but they're not strong enough yet."
"If you keep this up, I'll make sure you never see her again."
Normand's voice grew louder, his frustration over the recent events making him lose control.
Finally, Caldwell and Madge joined in, bewildered by Dailey's question.
Madge said, "You've already broken up with her. Why should we continue this?"
"We never aimed to target her."
Ignoring them, Dailey headed upstairs to find Nelly.