Chapter 675
Ricardo stood behind her, watching as she seemed lost in thought. He couldn’t help but ask, “Ms. Haywood, are you worried about something you saw online?”
Brielle shook her head, her complexion a bit off. “I’ll take you home.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to. Someone’s coming for me.”
With no choice but to feign composure, Brielle flashed him a weak smile. “Alright, then I’m off.”
Ricardo nodded at her, cradling the bottle of wine in his arms as if it were a precious treasure.
After Brielle left, the car that Annie had been sitting in mysteriously reappeared, pulling up in front of Ricardo. As soon as Ricardo got in, Annie engulfed him in a bear hug. “Ricky, I’ve missed you so much!”
He gently pushed her away, his brow furrowed in annoyance. “Miss Annie, what do you want with that scarf?”
Annie took off the scarf, placed it aside, and let out a sigh. “I’m on a little mission, which is way more fun than offing someone. Ricky, why are you hanging around Brielle?”
Wrapping an arm around his, her eyes sparkled with excitement. “How about we go out and have some fun?”
Ricardo stared at her face, scrutinizing it for a long while. “It’s been ten years, Miss Annie. You and Ms. Haywood could be twins.”
Annoyed by the repeated comparison, Annie waved it off. “Forget about her. It’s because of this face that I could strike a deal with Michael. Ricky, your skills are as sharp as ever. There’s no mission you can’t complete, no prize you can’t nab. Heh.”
Resting against the car seat, Ricardo frowned impatiently. Annie was just as noisy as a child, and that hadn’t changed.
Noticing his silence, Annie stopped talking and carefully tugged at his sleeve. Ricardo just held the wine bottle, and ignored her.
Annie sighed and pulled out candy from her purse, popping it into her mouth.
“You’re still like a kid, Miss Annie.”
Her face lit up when he finally spoke. “Why are you with Brielle? Come with me instead.”
“I’ll come back when I’m bored.” He stepped out of the car, still holding the wine bottle. Annie was reluctant to let him go and tried to follow him, but Ricardo pushed her back. She put the window down, her eyes pleading. “Ricky, if I take care of Brielle for you, will you come back then?”
1/2
12:36
Murray was driving the car and tensed up, wary of Ricardo’s potential reaction. But Ricardo just stood there, his tone casual. “Are you trying to take my toy?”
Annie’s face darkened. She settled back into her seat, her eyes downturned in disappointment. “I get it. I’ll wait for you.”
After the window closed, Murray consoled her, “Miss, he’s always been like that. Don’t be
sad.
Annie crossed her arms, gazing outside with a heavy look. Glancing at the scarf, she grabbed it in a fit of anger and tore it apart before setting it on fire with a lighter. The car filled with flames, but neither of them seemed to care. When the fire grew larger, Murray stopped the car amidst the gasps of bystanders.
Annie seemed amused. “This is fun.”
“Miss, I’m glad you had fun, but let’s go before we draw Max’s attention. Michael wouldn’t want you to reveal your true nature so soon. Better to be careful.”
Annie pouted. “I hate Brielle. One day, I’ll get rid of her!”
“Miss, when Ricky’s done with her, I’ll deliver her to you as a pet.”
“You’re the best.”
Their conversation was always so chillingly straightforward, referring to Brielle as nothing more than a plaything.
Meanwhile, Brielle’s car was parked in the courtyard of the Premier Palace.
Wesley heard the engine and stepped outside, and his face lit up at the sight of her. “Ms. Brielle.”
She looked a bit pale but managed a smile.
“Ms. Brielle, I’ve made some soup.”
“Wesley, it’s not necessary. I’m just tired and want to sleep.”
Wesley sighed, instructing someone to bring her a soothing glass of warm milk.
Brielle retreated to her bedroom, lying in bed, haunted by the scenes she’d witnessed last night and the scarf from this evening. She tried to comfort herself, believing it was all her imagination, just drunken hallucinations. She resolved to ask Max directly when he returned.
But then she had lost the rosary, and her lips twisted into a bitter smile.
She waited until 3 a.m., dark circles forming under her eyes, but Max never came. A chill swept over her body, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread.
