Chapter 426: 422, what are you doing here?
Under the surge of emotions, the old man’s cane struck a resonant "dong dong" sound.
Max Locke heaved a deep sigh, rubbed his hands over his face, and stood up.
"Dad, don’t be angry. I’m largely to blame for what happened back then."
After saying this, he strode towards the door of the study, leaving the old man alone, venting his frustration at the sight of his son’s retreating back.
"Like father, like son. Both completely bewitched by those two women!"
...
Titus Zane suffered from insomnia again; it had eased somewhat in the past few days but seemed worse today.
It was past midnight, yet he remained sprawled on the couch, watching the soap opera on TV without a hint of sleepiness.
He stood up, went to the kitchen’s liquor cabinet, and pulled out a bottle of red wine. He grabbed a wine glass but then thought better of it and put it back.
If he hadn’t drunk too much last night, he wouldn’t have ended up going back with Nathan Moore.
After closing the cabinet, he returned to the couch and dialed Sister Hua on his cell phone.
"Carry, why are you still up at this hour? Is something the matter?" Sister Hua’s gentle voice came through the receiver.
"Sister Hua, there’s something...I want to tell you in advance."
"Go ahead, what is it, Carry? Calling me so late at night," Sister Hua spoke with her usual tenderness but, exceptionally, did not mention anything about the mission.
Titus Zane hesitated for a moment, walked to the living room window, gazed out into the night, and said, "Sister Hua, I’ve been thinking about retiring after this job."
Silence. After a brief pause on the other end of the phone, Sister Hua asked, "Carry, have you thought it through?"
"Yes, I’ve made up my mind," said Titus Zane, nodding decisively.
Actually, the savings she had right now would be enough for an ordinary life if she were to retire.
So, she planned to go back to Paris after retiring and live in the small house she and Logan Ray had once shared, to live an ordinary life and never return to her home country.
"That’s fine," Sister Hua’s voice was calm, showing no sign of unhappiness due to her retirement plans, "Is there anything else, Carry?"
"No, that’s all, Sister Hua."
"Alright then, get some rest."
After exchanging courteous goodbyes, she hung up the phone. With her hands braced on the windowsill, Titus Zane let out a heavy sigh.
It seemed her feelings were mixed; there was a sense of relief about the decision to retire, yet hesitation lingered.
Towards Wesley Foley, she could never bring herself to be ruthless.
Not because of affection, but rather, because the man had treated her more like a friend.
After telling Nathan not to meet again, Nathan had really never appeared before Titus Zane.
She didn’t know whether he had returned to T city or continued to stay in Banyan City.
Regarding this mission, Titus Zane had considered that maybe she could steal Wesley’s previous research results because the results of his previous few studies were not very satisfying. The production-ready product now was the satisfactory outcome of countless experiments.
Having made up her mind, Titus Zane prepared to take action.
However, the new secretary recently recruited by the human resources department looked familiar from a distance?
It was only upon closer approach that she recognized it was... Linda.Q, a colleague who always stayed at the headquarters.
"You? What are you doing here?" The corridors were empty, and work hours had not yet begun; she had come to the company early.
Linda.Q slowly stood up, walked around the secretary desk to face Titus Zane, and, with a face painted with exquisite makeup, looked at her with scorn as she raised an eyebrow and replied condescendingly.
"Why can’t I be here?"
Titus Zane was taken aback, then furrowed her brows, "Did Sister Hua send you?"
"What do you think?" Linda.Q said, arms crossed, with even more mocking in her arch of the eyebrows.
Titus Zane...
Kept her gaze firmly on Linda’s eyes, as if probing for the truth in her words, while inside, her heart was in turmoil.
She had spoken with Sister Hua just two days ago, but Sister Hua had not mentioned a word about this... No wonder Sister Hua had agreed so readily when she brought up retirement; it turned out... she had found someone to replace her.