The situation surrounding Karen was combed through once again, but the leads were scant. All they knew was that she used to be the captain at Vanguard Agency and later fell in love with a man named Scott. As for why she vanished off the face of the earth, well, since Timothy Brooks was now the head of the Brooks family, and despite employing every trick in the book, they couldn't pry a word out of his tight-lipped kin.
Arthur, after all, was the War God, and they couldn't resort to extraordinary measures to coerce confessions, either.
So, that was the extent of what he could dig up.
Arthur's gaze sharpened. "Vivienne is Karen's daughter?"
That was news to him.
He knew Karen was a trusted subordinate of his father's, a formidable agent at Vanguard Agency, but he had never actually met her.
As for Karen's affair with Scott, he had his suspicions that Karen was, in fact, Winnie. He even confronted Scott about it, but the man was stubborn as a mule and didn't spill the beans.
But now, he was pretty sure Karen wasn't Winnie.
Winnie was a wise and astute woman. Even if she had a daughter, she wouldn't raise her to be the arrogant, high-and-mighty type like Vivienne.
"Knock, knock!"
A rhythmic knocking sound suddenly filled the air.
Arthur's brow furrowed, and with a slight gesture of his hand, his subordinates stood up as if they were granted a pardon.
His voice was ice as he commanded, "Keep searching! Dig up the streets if you have to, but find her. I want her alive or evidence of her passing!"
He refused to believe that someone could just vanish into thin air.
When Victoria entered the room, only Arthur remained.
She left Walter at the door and stepped inside, halting ten feet away from Arthur, "War God, I lost Kaitlyn!"
Arthur's dark eyes lifted, heavy as lead. "What happened?"
Trying to maintain her composure, Victoria avoided his gaze. "It's all because of that Vivienne. She seems to be chummy with Kaitlyn. With Percival backing her, who knows where she's hidden her? My people are scouring the city, but so far, zilch!"
"Vivienne again."
Hearing that name once more, Arthur's expression tightened.
Victoria stiffened slightly. "You know her?"
Arthur scoffed, "A cowardly little upstart is all. Continue the search and try not to ruffle Percival's feathers. Your mother's illness can't wait forever."
...
In a charming, old-world elegance in Northway City.
Samantha lay in her white sundress on the ornate four-poster bed in the master bedroom.
It seemed she had slept for an eternity. Slowly, she opened her eyes, rubbed the ache in her temple, and looked out at the lush garden, "I never took you for a romantic."
Her long, fair legs teasingly swung over to the man seated by the bed. Her toes trailed up his pants and came to rest on his tense thigh. "Is this another one of your hideaways?"
The statue-like man stirred. "No."
Even with Samantha's seduction, those unfathomable eyes betrayed no emotion, "You just woke up. Don't waste your energy on frivolities."
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