The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 146

Callahan gave a grunt of acknowledgment and checked his watch. There was no signal on the plane, so he couldn’t receive messages and had missed Leilani’s return call.

Meanwhile, Leilani stood by the roadside, listening to the mechanical voice telling her he couldn’t be reached, and sighed softly.

She quickly typed a message: [I haven’t been in Celestial Heights recently. I’m on a business trip in Brass City. I was in a shielded zone and couldn’t receive your texts or calls. Is something wrong?]

After sending it, she put her phone away. She stood on the curb, unconsciously rubbing the edge of the phone, thinking. In her impression, Callahan wasn’t an impulsive person. Such intensive contact must mean something urgent.

After hesitating for a moment, she sent a message to Dante: [Mr. Langley, has Callahan encountered any trouble recently?]

Surprisingly for the early hour, Dante replied instantly: [That kid suddenly said he was flying back to the country this morning. He should be on the plane right now. Why, did he say something to you?]

Thinking that his grandson had asked for Leilani’s WhatsApp before returning, Dante felt a surge of anticipation. His future granddaughter-in-law was within reach!

Leilani was speechless. No wonder she couldn’t get through to Callahan; he was in the air with no reception.

Just as Leilani was composing a reply to Dante, a black Maybach slowly pulled up in front

of her. Inside was Marlon.

Marlon rolled down the window, looking somewhat tired but expectant. It seemed he hadn’t rested well either, looking like he had pulled several all-nighters.

Since Marlon had arrived, Leilani put away her phone, pushing the missed calls and messages to the back of her mind for now.

“Dr. Cheney, get in.”

Today, Marlon hadn’t brought a driver; he was driving himself.

Leilani opened the door and sat in the passenger seat. The interior smelled faintly of leather and tobacco.

“How is Mr. Chilton?” Marlon asked as he turned the car around. He was a bit nervous; after all, he was the one who had introduced Leilani. Mr. Chilton’s identity was no small matter. If something happened, not just Leilani but even the Watsons would face

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consequences.

From the first day he dropped Leilani off at the villa, Marlon had been kept on the perimeter, only learning about the situation through occasional updates from Mr. Dillon. He was completely in the dark about the details inside.

Leilani remembered the thick non-disclosure agreement and Mr. Dillon’s sharp gaze. She simply said, “His condition is much more stable than before I arrived. I’m going back to handle matters related to Mr. Chilton.”

Not wanting to discuss the treatment too much, Leilani turned her head and casually asked, “Who exactly are Mr. Chilton and Mr. Dillon?”

She actually had a guess in her heart, but she wanted to test Marlon to confirm it.

Marlon’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his eyes darting away for a second. Thinking that since Leilani was already treating Mr. Chilton, dropping a hint shouldn’t hurt. Knowing the identity would help her gauge the situation better during treatment.

Marlon looked left and right cautiously to ensure they were away from the villa, then acted mysterious, raising his index finger and pointing slightly upwards towards the sky.

Leilani raised an eyebrow and nodded knowingly. It was about what she had guessed.

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Cedella

Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.