Chapter 590
“What program is she in p>
“I’m not sure yet. The intel just crossed my desk, and I wanted to give you a heads- up immediately.
I’ll have my team dig into the details and get you the files tomorrow. I’ll have them pull Vanessa Voss’s background check while they’re at it, just in case p>
It paid to know exactly who she was sleeping feet away from.
After ending the call with Owen, Mira opened the quarterly financial reports that her executive assistant, Cyrus Montgomery, had emailed over. She had barely skimmed the first page when her phone buzzed again. It was Liora Bennett.
“Are you kidding me? You haven’t left for the capital yet?
Orientation officially closes tomorrow. If you don’t show up in person by the deadline, it’s going to be a bureaucratic nightmare to get your classes p>
“We still haven’t found Roxanne,” Liora sobbed on the other end. “My brother paid for national broadcast alerts, but there’s no trace of her. He hasn’t even gone into the precinct… he’s completely spiraling into a deep depression p>
Oh my god. These siblings were absolute lunatics.
For a fleeting second, Mira felt a profound wave of pity for Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. How had two highly respected officials managed to raise such incredibly naive children?
“Did Roxanne actually marry your brother before she vanished p>
“No p>
“Then why did you refer to her as your sister-in-law p>
“I p>
“Roxanne Porter is a manipulative criminal. Her trail of destruction is heavily documented—anyone with half a brain could have pulled her record. Did you seriously have no idea who she was?
And even if she did vanish, why does that mean your entire family needs to put their lives on hold?
What kind of psychotic spell did this woman cast on the two of you p>
Her brother was a decorated officer abandoning his post to wallow in grief, and Liora was actively throwing away her acceptance to a prestigious university. It was pathetic.
“I p>
“What about your parents? And Grandma Evelyn? Are they okay p>
“They’re begging him to let it go and report back to duty, and they’ve been screaming at me to get on a plane, but… Mira, I don’t know what to do p>
“What is there to think about?! He’s ruining his entire career for a convicted felon, and you’re actively choosing to become a dropout for her p>
We grew up together, so I’m telling you this as a friend: buy a ticket to Aethelgard right this second.
Official registration closed today. If you show up first thing tomorrow and beg the administration, they might show you some mercy.
But if you wait another day, your admission will be permanently revoked, and your life will be ruined.
As for your brother? Let him rot if he wants to. He’s a grown man making his own reckless choices. He has to live with the consequences p>
“You’re right. I’ll listen to you, Mira p>
Good. At least Liora wasn’t a completely lost cause.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, the missing Roxanne Porter was currently locked inside a filthy, windowless cell, brutally brawling with Mara Mercer.
Roxanne’s designer clothes were stained with grime and blood. She had tried to smooth back her tangled hair, but the grease made it stick to her scalp in matted clumps. Her face was battered and bruised leaving virtually no trace of the elegant, high-society heiress she used to be.
As for Mara, her appearance was exponentially worse. While Roxanne still clung to a shred of her
Mara looked
aristocratic dignity, like
a feral demon dragged straight out from the depths of hell.
“Admit it! You conspired with someone to have me abducted, didn’t you p>
Roxanne snarled, landing a vicious backhand across Mara’s face.
The Syndicate wasn’t exactly known for snatching people off the streets of Mavaria for fun. Their operations required astronomical funding and meticulous planning.
More importantly, the syndicate only targeted individuals who possessed massive financial or political leverage.
Roxanne was utterly convinced that
Mara had double-crossed her. She
suspected that while Mara had
supposedly been helping her
orchestrate Mira’s downfall Mara
downfall Mara
had secretty sold Roxanne out to a
rival faction.
“I risked everything to bail you out of jail, and this is how you repay me?! By
throwing me to the wolves?! You ungrateful bitch p>