CHAPTER 297: IRENE’S NOTE

~Bonus Chapter for today:

This Chapter is dedicated to "bennet_70". Thank you so much for the review!

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Georgia’s POV

After lunch, we headed to Urban Paradise Farm to check out the prototype Ella had been talking about nonstop—and honestly, she had every reason to be proud.

"So, I decided to use the tower system," Ella explained excitedly, pointing at her setup. "It’s more suitable for the ship’s environment. What do you think?"

Vicky and I couldn’t stop smiling. "I love it, Ella. You’re seriously brilliant. If it were me, I wouldn’t have even thought of that," I said, genuinely impressed.

"Well, it still needs to be presented to Knight Fleet Maritime for approval," Ella replied modestly.

"Right," Vicky said, looking between the two of us with a mischievous grin. "So... who’s going to present it?"

Ella clasped her hands behind her back, then slowly turned her gaze toward me. My eyes widened as I looked between the two of them, already sensing a setup.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.

"Because you should be the one to present it, Georgia," Ella said sweetly. "You’re amazing with people! I might be good with ideas, but you’re the best at explaining things. And besides... it’s Nick’s company—it’ll look better coming from you."

"What? Why me?" I blurted, half-laughing, half-protesting.

Vicky stepped in, completely on Ella’s side. "To be fair, you’ll be co-managing this farm after the merger. Ella came up with the idea, so you presenting it makes perfect sense. Think of it as practice."

I gasped dramatically. "And here I thought you were on my side because I’m your sister-in-law!" That made everyone laugh.

"Alright, fine," I surrendered, grinning. "I’ll do it. Just walk me through the features and benefits one step at a time."

Vicky came up behind me and gave my shoulders a playful squeeze. "Don’t worry, sis. If anyone objects, I’m sure my brother will take care of it personally," he joked, earning another round of laughter.

"I already said yes, no need to threaten anyone," I giggled. "Will you be there too?"

"Of course. My company will be the one sourcing supplies from you ladies," Vicky said proudly. "You’ve already got my vote."

I placed a hand over my chest dramatically. "Now I’m suddenly nervous!" I said, and everyone burst out laughing again—until my phone rang.

"This must be the fleet’s head captain," I said, picking it up with a grin. "Let me just take this."

I excused myself, stepping aside to answer Nick’s call.

"Yes, babe? Miss me already?" I teased as soon as I picked up the call.

Nick’s deep voice came through the line, calm but serious. [Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye at breakfast. But I called because of something important. When are you coming here?]

I straightened a little, sensing the shift in his tone. "I can head there now if it’s urgent. I’ll just come back here tomorrow, no problem."

[Alright, I’ll wait for you then,] he said before he hung up.

I walked back to where Vicky and Ella were chatting, wearing a small apologetic smile. "Sorry, girls—the boss is calling. Something urgent came up. Mind if I come back tomorrow so you can walk me through the system step by step?" I asked, turning to Ella.

"Of course, no problem," Ella said warmly. "I’ll send you the PDF from the manufacturer so you can go over it at home. Just list down your questions for tomorrow."

"That would be perfect," I said gratefully. Then I turned to Vicky. "Can you drop me off at the office? The bodyguards’ car’s already full, and I’d rather not make one of them take a taxi."

"Sure thing," Vicky said with an easy smile as she grabbed her keys. "Let’s go before my brother starts pacing in his office."

I laughed, shaking my head as we headed out together.

Vicky came with me, and we took the CEO’s private elevator straight up to Nick’s office. When the doors opened, Nick was there with Oliver—and another man I didn’t recognize right away.

"I know you," I said after a quick moment. "You’re Frank and Irene’s friend! You were in their wedding."

He smiled politely and shook his head. "Close. I’m actually Frank’s half-brother. I work overseas and just came home for a short vacation. I’m Vernon." He extended his hand toward me and then to Vicky, and we both shook it in greeting.

"My team located him using the information you gave me," Oliver said, glancing at me. "And you were right—he was the man Irene met the other day."

For a second, I didn’t know what to feel. Shock? Relief? Hope? Maybe all of them at once. My chest felt tight as I tried to process it all.

"Let’s all sit down first," Nick said gently, motioning toward the chairs. I quickly nodded and took the seat beside him.

"Mr. Morris already filled me in on what happened," Vernon began, his tone cautious. "But even before that, I already thought it was strange when Irene gave me a letter before she disappeared—like she was hiding something."

Oliver handed me a folded piece of paper. "This was what she sent him. The one that we saw on the CCTV, when he seemed to pick up something from the floor," he said.

I opened it carefully. It was an instruction for Vernon to retrieve a document from the mailbox of Frank and Irene’s old apartment and send it to my address.

"You’re the one who mailed the bank statements, payroll records, and other documents to me?" I asked, looking up at him in surprise.

Vernon nodded slowly. "I didn’t know what they were. I just followed her note. She didn’t say much, and honestly, I didn’t want to pry. I met her once—she was with another woman who claimed to be her cousin. Irene told me Frank was away on a business trip and that she was staying with her cousin while Frank was away because she was pregnant."

He paused, his voice faltering. "Tell me honestly... is my brother in trouble? Is he even still alive?"

The room fell quiet. I looked at Nick, then at Oliver, as confusion and unease washed over me.