Chapter 255

Latisha sat at the dining table, her chin propped in her hands, her eyelids heavy.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, startling her awake. She fumbled for it; a message from Nikita.

[Latisha, is something going on with the Lambert family?]

Latisha frowned and typed back a confused reply: [What's wrong?]

[Don't you watch the news? Your sister-in-law got arrested. It just popped up on my news feed.]

A jolt went through Latisha. Before she could even search for it online, Nikita sent her a link. She clicked it, and there it was.

BOLD HEADLINE: YOLANDA'S KILLER ARRESTED.

The news was from half an hour ago. Though faces were blurred, she could clearly recognize the Lambert family's villa. The photo showed Polly, Reuben, and several others, but she couldn't see Clifford. Was he arrested too?

Latisha frantically messaged Clifford, but there was no reply. She shot to her feet, then hesitated, glancing at the clock on the wall.

Midnight.

Biting her lip, she opened a ride-share app on her phone and booked a car. She ran out of the villa to wait by the road.

Soon, a car pulled up. Latisha opened the back door and slid in, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt, her heart pounding with anxiety. She kept messaging Clifford, but her messages went unanswered. She found his number in her contacts, but just as she was about to dial, a voice came from the driver's seat.

"Don't bother calling. He's not that easy to catch."

The voice made Latisha's head snap up. She stared at the driver. It was only a silhouette, but the distinctive hairstyle confirmed his identity.

Her hand tightened around her phone. She lunged for the door handle, but it was locked. She couldn't get out. Panic set in.

She quickly hit the call button for Clifford's number. The screen displayed his contact page, but the automated voice on the line said he was already on another call. Her hopes sank, and her heart plummeted. The phone slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor mat.

Santino glanced in the rearview mirror. A line of cars was following them. He tutted softly. "Latisha, tell me, does Clifford really care about you, or not at all?"

Hearing his voice, Latisha looked up and met his smiling eyes in the mirror.

"It doesn't matter anymore, I suppose. You can forget all about this place. Didn't you want to leave Etherea City? I'm here to help you grant that wish."

With that, Santino stomped on the gas, and the car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Just as Clifford finished a call, he saw a cascade of messages from Latisha.

[Are you okay?]

[Where are you?]

[Are you coming home tonight?]

...

Another call came in almost immediately. It was Ziven.

"Mr. Lambert, your wife, she..."

"What is it?"

"She... she got into a car and left. We thought she was coming to find you, but the route doesn't seem right Ouen are following, though! Ziven finished, his voice trembling.

He waited, but only silence came from the other end. He checked his screen. The

call was still connected. "Mr. Lambert?"

"Follow them," Clifford said, his voice flat and emotionless.

Ziven's anxiety spiked. “Right, yes, of course." He hung up and immediately made another call for an update.

Santino was driving at breakneck

speed, but the cars behind him were

keeping pace. Just as they were about to catch up several vans appeared from nowhere, cuting between them. The cars behind had no time to brake and slammed into the vans. A tremendous crash echoed from behind.

Latisha whipped her head around to see a massive pile-up of wrecked vehicles completely blocking the roadShe clenched her fists and glanced at the rearview mirror.