CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 166: HOW DID SHE DIE?

"Screech--"

Nathaniel Gallagher’s car came to an abrupt stop, the tires making a piercing sound against the pavement.

He pushed open the car door.

Striding towards the real estate agent filming the house, his gaze was cold enough to overflow: "What’s going on with this house? Where is the Thompson Family?"

The real estate agent, recognizing Nathaniel Gallagher, took a step back in fear and stammered, "Mr. Gallagher, this house... it was listed last week, said the owners emigrated and need to sell urgently."

"Emigrated?" Nathaniel sneered, feeling a blockage in his chest, unable to breathe.

People in the antique business are very superstitious about feng shui.

Usually, those who prosper believe it’s because their ancestral home has good feng shui. Selling it would be a last resort.

"Yes, we’re only responsible for the sale of the property, not much else," the agent, evidently uninformed, pulled out a phone to show him the consignment contract.

Nathaniel gave it a cold glance, then turned and walked into the yard.

The servants of The Thompson Family had all dispersed.

Expensive potted plants lay toppled in the corners, and the orchids that Elder Thompson once loved had withered and died.

He entered the house.

The furniture in the living room was covered in white cloth, vacuous, devoid of any trace of former life.

"Josephine Thompson, you ungrateful thing. You think you can get rid of me, you dreamer!" Nathaniel was fully enraged, overwhelmed with anger and hatred.

He admitted he deceived her and manipulated her.

But his love for her was real, his kindness was genuine.

For a cold, pragmatic man like him, it’s rare to genuinely care for someone. He was willing to give her over five billion in alimony and a billion-dollar commercial building.

He even went to great lengths to retrieve artifacts for her, providing help in every way. Even when she was in trouble, he always found a way to solve it for her.

He treated her so well.

Why couldn’t she be satisfied?

It was merely an extra woman in his life, no other changes.

His love for her had only increased, not diminished.

He really couldn’t comprehend why she was so single-minded, why she was so obstinate.

She had to oppose him, she had to anger him.

"Hm~, it’s okay. I refuse to believe you can escape to the ends of the earth..."

Master Thompson was still in Northwood’s hospital.

As long as he found Master Thompson, he didn’t believe she wouldn’t show up.

He pulled out his phone and immediately booked a flight to Northwood.

...

Evening.

He arrived at Kensington University Hospital in Northwood.

When he found Master Thompson’s ward, a strange old lady was already in the room.

"Where’s the previous patient in this ward?"

A chubby nurse instantly recognized him as the handsome guy who performed CPR on her last time; she eagerly said, "You’re asking about Master Thompson, right?"

Nathaniel’s face was gloomy, "Yes, did he transfer to a different ward?"

The nurse looked at him, "Oh, he was discharged last week."

"Discharged?"

Nathaniel’s voice suddenly rose sharply, incredulous: "In that condition, how could he be discharged?"

Master Thompson had a brain stem hemorrhage.

He recently required medication and equipment to sustain him; the doctor clearly said he needed at least a month’s observation, how could he just leave?

The nurse, intimidated by his imposing aura, shrank back but honestly answered, "His family took him, said he was going abroad for further treatment. A lot of people came that day, including several who looked like bodyguards, quite the display."

"Abroad?" Nathaniel’s fingers clenched tightly, the phone pressing deeply into his palm, "Which country? Which hospital?"

"How would I know that."

"But I heard from those escorting him, seemed like they were going to Vessia? Aren’t there many top private hospitals there."

Vessia...

Nathaniel felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet, freezing his limbs in an instant.

Josephine cared most about her grandfather. For his illness, she even humbled herself to beg him. Now that her grandfather went abroad, how could she not follow?

He always thought that holding Master Thompson’s weakness would make Josephine comply.

But he never considered she had already paved her own path.

Dissolving the company, selling the ancestral home, relocating her family.

The Thompson Group’s business was almost sold off, assets all entrusted to trusts, and offshore trust funds.

Step by step, she completely extricated herself from his world.

"Ha..." Nathaniel chuckled lowly, his laughter full of indescribable cold and embarrassment.

He turned and walked out of the ward, the smell of disinfectant in the corridor particularly pungent.

The sky outside had completely darkened, neon lights shone through the glass, casting flickering shadows on his face, much like his current mood.

The assistant’s call came in again, his tone cautious and probing, "President Gallagher, the airport and port in Northwood have been checked, there’s no exit record for Miss Thompson..."

"No need to check anymore."

Nathaniel interrupted him, his voice eerily calm, "If she wants to leave, there are a million ways to avoid detection."

He hung up the phone.

He leaned against the cold wall, closing his eyes.

The last look Josephine gave him replayed in his mind, so calm, yet so determined, as if looking at an inconsequential stranger.

He always thought he gave enough.

Money, love, power, protection, these things he valued most, he was willing to share with her. But he overlooked that Josephine never wanted these.

She wanted exclusivity.

Loyalty.

His pure, unadulterated love.

Unfortunately...

He could give her everything, except exclusivity.

Now, she had taken her grandfather and vanished into thin air.

Even Northwood’s Antiquarian Market had been sold off entirely.

...

Back in Audenburg.

Nathaniel Gallagher was entirely lifeless, shattered.

He had never felt such frustration and heartache.

There were clearly better ways to resolve the issue.

But she chose the most extreme, most hurtful way.

For three whole days.

He locked himself in, not seeing anyone, not doing anything, not eating or drinking.

No one knew what he was thinking.

The fourth day.

"Bang bang bang!"

The butler knocked with a helpless face, "President Gallagher, the old lady is here."

Mrs. Gallagher was anxious, "Nathaniel, open the door quickly, why are you locking yourself in the room?"

"The butler told me you haven’t eaten or drunk for three days, do you want to scare your mother to death?"

"Bang bang bang!"

"Open the door, open the door, son."

But unfortunately.

No matter who knocked, there was never a response.

Mrs. Gallagher was frantic, "Nathaniel hasn’t opened the door, could he have fainted from hunger?"

The butler also became worried, "Could President Gallagher have had an incident inside?"

Previously, President Gallagher nearly died from anger.

Adding three days and nights of no food or water.

Even an iron body couldn’t withstand it!

"Quickly, quickly, get someone to break down the door."

"Old madam, this might not be possible, this is a top-grade security door, equipped with all kinds of alarm systems! Forcible entry would trigger the alarms."

Mrs. Gallagher, worried about her son, couldn’t care less, "Never mind those, break open the door first!"

"... Alright then!"

The butler didn’t dare to hesitate and helped contact a professional locksmith company and firefighters, preparing to force the door open.

However...

Just as everyone was busy breaking the door.

"Click!"

The door opened.

Nathaniel Gallagher, unkempt and haggard, walked out from inside the room.

Mrs. Gallagher, upon seeing her son’s miserable appearance, was heartbroken and just shed tears, "Son, you finally came out. Is your body okay? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Oh dear, you’ve lost so much weight in just a few days."

"President Gallagher, you must be hungry? We’ll prepare food for you right away, what would you like to eat?"

Nathaniel’s hollow eyes, like a bottomless cold pool, squeezed out a hoarse breath from his throat: "So noisy."

Mrs. Gallagher, distressed by his appearance, reached out to touch his arm, but he impatiently avoided her.

Her hand froze in mid-air, her eyes redder, "Nathaniel, tell mom. What are you planning? Do you truly like Josephine, or Eleanor?"

"If... if you really want to be with that woman, mom won’t oppose you anymore. Just take care of yourself, don’t torture yourself anymore."

Nathaniel’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly, as if pricked by a needle.

He didn’t answer.

He just turned and walked toward the living room, his steps as unsteady as if walking on cotton.

"What are you thinking? Did you find Josephine in Northwood? How is she now?"

Nathaniel’s haggard, numb face squeezed out a hint of hatred, "She’s dead."

Mrs. Gallagher was terrified upon hearing this, "What? W-what did you say?"

Mrs. Gallagher’s heart pounded in horror.

Josephine Thompson had pushed things so far, would Nathaniel Gallagher have... in a fit of anger?

"No, no... you didn’t do it, did you? Oh dear, how could you be so impulsive? Did you...?"

"Son, how could you be so foolish? How could you do such a thing?"

Nathaniel, frustrated, "Mom, please stop being noisy, I’m very annoyed right now!"

Mrs. Gallagher couldn’t calm down, "You’re over 30 years old, how can you still be so impulsive?"

"How did Josephine die? Where did you put her body?" Mrs. Gallagher quickly lowered her voice, already thinking of ways to exonerate her son.

Nathaniel was even more irritated hearing this, "I mean, just consider her dead, understand?"

Mrs. Gallagher was stunned, "So, is she dead or not?"

"..." Nathaniel’s heart skipped, a rush of anger leaving him momentarily dizzy.

He didn’t want to explain the meaning of ’dead’.

Of course, he was also too hungry to bother with many words.

The butler: "Ma’am, let’s allow President Gallagher to eat something first!"

As he spoke.

The butler had already instructed the servants to prepare some fruit and pastries, bringing them to Nathaniel Gallagher.

"Oh, oh, son, I’ve heard you haven’t eaten for three days, it pains me to death."

Nathaniel was indeed starving to the point of collapse.

He downed two glasses of milk in one go, ate over ten pieces of bread and two cups of instant noodles. Normally, he never ate bread, let alone instant food. But now, he was too hungry to wait for the chef to cook.

"Son, slow down, eating so much at once might upset your stomach."

After finishing the second cup of instant noodles.

Nathaniel finally burped contentedly, tossed his chopsticks, and returned to his room.

Seeing this, Mrs. Gallagher hurriedly followed him in, "Son, don’t lock yourself in again."

"Cough, cough... My goodness! How can your room look like a pigsty? It’s suffocating me!"

"Butler, quickly get the maids to clean up."

"Oh, oh, okay."

The luxurious and spacious master bedroom.

Was filled with the smell of smoke, cigarette butts littered the floor.

Even the bed was burnt with several holes by cigarettes, the silk sheets and covers scorched into large maps.

"Son, think it through, it’s not a big deal."

"Whether Josephine or that Eleanor, don’t take them too seriously. As long as you are willing, you can choose from any number of good girls..."

Nathaniel said nothing, proceeding directly to the bathroom to shower and shave.

The past few days.

He had shut himself away, cutting off contact with everyone.

However...

Josephine Thompson disappeared into thin air, nowhere to be found.

Eleanor didn’t come looking for him either.

He was starting to worry now.

He needed to quickly find her, to see how she was doing.

...

Twenty minutes later.

Nathaniel finished washing up, shaved, and changed into a clean suit.

He picked up his car keys, ready to head out.

"Nathaniel, where are you going?"

"I’m going to find Eleanor."

"You..." Mrs. Gallagher was at a loss, wanting to stop her son.

Unfortunately.

Nathaniel was already in the car, driving off directly!

"Ma’am, President Gallagher knows what he’s doing, you needn’t worry."

Mrs. Gallagher: "It’s fine, he can do whatever he wants, I can’t control him anyway. Out of sight, out of mind, as long as he’s happy."

"It’s good that Ma’am can think this way, worrying too much just wears you out."

...

Half an hour later.

Nathaniel drove to The Rose Garden.

No matter what!

He and Eleanor Churchill were already legally married.

He was her husband now.

"President Gallagher, you’re here."

"Where’s Eleanor?"

The maid was stunned, "Madam isn’t with you?"

Nathaniel frowned, "What did you say?"

The maid: "Madam hasn’t returned since the wedding day, wasn’t she staying with you?"

Boom!

Nathaniel’s mind exploded, the blood in his entire body rushing to his head.

"Where did she go?"

"I-I don’t know, I always thought Madam was with you."

Nathaniel’s heart felt cold, hurriedly taking out his phone to dial Eleanor Churchill’s number.

"Beep beep..."

"Hello, the number you dialed is turned off, please try again later..."

"Eleanor, Eleanor."

"What are you standing there for? Go find her quickly!"

"Oh, oh, okay."

Nathaniel, in a panic, urgently contacted his assistant and bodyguards, instructing everyone to search for Eleanor Churchill.

"Eleanor, where did you go? Why aren’t you answering the phone? After seeing my messages, call me back quickly!"

"I’m really worried about you, please come back soon, okay? These past few days, I’ve indeed been troubled and haven’t paid attention to your feelings."

He hastily sent several texts to Eleanor Churchill.

Unfortunately...

Her phone remained off, utterly unreachable!

"Jeez~, what’s going on in this woman’s head? Why does she love disappearing so much?"

"Isn’t there anything that can’t be said face-to-face, solved face-to-face?"

"What exactly did I do in my past life..."