Chapter 38
Genevieve returned the phone back to Patrick. As she picked up the orange juice to drink, her phone that she had left on the table lit up.
It was an anonymous message.
It read: I am Erica.
I have proof that Cooper murdered your parents. If you want the proof, send me three million in exchange for it.
After seeing the message, Genevieve’s eyes widened in shock.
When Genevieve went to the hotel with Armand that time, she had heard from Erica that she was the one who got rid of the clues that would prove Genevieve’s parents did not die of natural causes.
However, after Patrick had hacked into Erica’s phone and computer, he did not find anything. Even though Genevieve had asked him to check carefully, he still couldn’t find anything.
And now, Erica had personally contacted her.
Genevieve suppressed the urge of agreeing right away and replied: How are you so sure that I have three million? Using this trick, you can get way more than three million from Cooper.
Genevieve had no idea why Erica would come to find her instead of Cooper after gaining such crucial leverage over the man.
Erica replied: I know that there’s a man called Patrick by your side last night. He’s Mr. Faulkner’s subordinate. And I also know that you’ve been cozying up to Mr. Faulkner. I understand Cooper more than you do. If he knows that I have leverage over him, he would not let me off easily.
As long as you give me three million and help me leave Jadeborough, I would not only pass the evidence to you, but I would also help you testify against Cooper.
After getting no replies from Genevieve, Erica sent two more messages.
The first message read: Let’s meet in Blue Shore Café at half-past eleven. If you don’t come, I would delete the evidence.
Followed by another message: It was your parents who got murdered, not mine. So, you hate Cooper more than I do.
Genevieve was provoked by Erica’s last text. So, she responded quickly: Fine, I’ll meet you at the café.
Judging from the text messages that Erica had sent, Genevieve felt that Erica didn’t have a reason to lie to her.
She guessed that Erica and Cooper must have had a fallout and Erica was afraid that Cooper might settle the score with her. Hence, when Erica knew that Genevieve was now with Armand, who was powerful, she then decided to do a transaction with Genevieve.
After responding to her message, Genevieve told Patrick, “Erica wants to meet me. Send me there later.”
“She’s basically a celebrity now. How does she still have the guts to be out in public? Does she want to take revenge on you?” Patrick sensed that something was off.
Genevieve let out a chuckle. “I have you, don’t I? Why would the two of us be scared of her?”
“You’re indeed a woman with great insight, Mrs. Faulkner! Let me tell you, I’m not only a hacker, but I also have a black belt in Kickboxing,” Patrick proudly exclaimed as he was overjoyed to be praised.
“Oh, really?
Yet you still couldn’t protect Mrs. Faulkner last night,” Steven said coldly.
Patrick’s expression instantly changed. He scratched the back of his head and replied, “I was just trying to give Armand a chance to become the hero.”
“Ha!”
Upon seeing Steven’s solemn face while he let out a mocking chuckle, Genevieve couldn’t help but laugh.
In the meantime, she was secretly worried for Armand.
He was so badly injured but still went out early for work. Would he really be fine?
After the car explosion incident last night, Patrick did a thorough check on the car that he was driving. After confirming that the anti-explosion system was on, he then allowed Genevieve to enter the car.
After reaching Blue Shore Café, Patrick waited in the car while Genevieve entered the café and chose a window seat.
Afterward, she sent Erica a text, informing her that she had arrived.
Genevieve had her wireless earphones on and stayed in touch with Patrick through WhatsApp voice call the whole time. As she sat in the café and waited for a while, it suddenly began to rain.
“It’s already eleven. Why isn’t Erica here yet?” Patrick kept observing the surroundings. It was finally eleven o’clock, but there was still no sign of Erica anywhere.
“She might’ve been caught up in a traffic jam due to the rain. We’ve planned to meet at half-past eleven, so let’s wait for a while more,” said Genevieve, looking out the window.
Inadvertently, she glanced across the street and saw a man pushing open the door of a dessert shop and walking out.
His left hand was holding onto a black umbrella with his defined jawline visible from under the umbrella.
There was a woman that was walking right beside him, but the woman was blocked by the man’s body, so Genevieve couldn’t see her face.
She could only see that the woman was wearing a flaxen, knitted long skirt. Her belly was slightly bulging, which was an obvious sign that she was pregnant.
Though Genevieve and Armand had not known each other for a long time, Armand’s tall build and his indifferent temperament had already imprinted on Genevieve’s heart.
Thus, she could certainly conclude that the man holding the umbrella was Armand.
However, she had never seen Armand behave so gently toward a woman before.
She watched as the man tilted the umbrella toward the woman, oblivious to the fact that half his shoulder was drenched. Then, he pulled the car door open and placed a hand on the roof of the car to prevent the woman from bumping into it when she got in.
After inspecting the scene, Genevieve asked hesitantly, “Patrick, look behind you. Is that Mando?”
“What?” Patrick, who was sitting inside the car, turned his head and was extremely shocked.
It is indeed Armand!
