Chapter 352
The card table was bustling with noise and excitement.
"Royal flush! I win again! That sports car is mine now!"
"No way! That last hand doesn't count! Let's go again!"
"Tsk. Can't handle losing? Fine. One more chance. If I win again, that villa under your name is mine too."
"Deal!"
A villa and a car were nothing to them.
They could afford the loss.
Ethan Roscente wasn't playing.
He watched the commotion from the sidelines.
As one round ended, he glanced back and saw Ethan drinking alone on the sofa.
"Hey, man. Just drinking? The stakes are pretty high over there with the others. Not joining?"
Ethan wasn't interested. "You guys play."
He poured another glass of wine.
A bottle of Château Lafite was being gulped down like water.
In no time, only a third remained.
Charlie winced at the sight, deciding to leave him be.
He turned back to watch the cards.
Ethan's expression was blank as he continued pouring.
His phone suddenly rang.
It was Fiona Valentine.
He didn't want to answer.
But remembering her past help, he picked up.
"Hello."
His breathing was slightly heavy, his voice cold.
The background music was deafening.
The woman paused, guessing he was at a bar.
She didn't ask, just mentioned dinner plans for the next day.
Ethan's tone was lazy. "Got a client tomorrow night. Busy."
Fiona knew she should hang up.
That would be the thing to do.
It was what he wanted from a business partner.
But she couldn't help wanting to say more.
Before she could speak, Ethan asked first: "You said you had an exam today?"
"Yes. The format was quite unique."
"How so?" he asked offhandedly.
Fiona explained the plant conservatory's exam rules.
"...And we have to stay at the conservatory tonight. Interesting, right?"
"Mhm. Found all the specimens?"
Her eyes dimmed, voice calm. "All ten basic specimens are collected."
Ethan had lost interest by then.
Fiona said goodbye first.
Her abruptness made him raise an eyebrow.
He put his phone away and kept pouring.
The glass was almost full.
His phone rang again.
It was Victoria Roscente.
She said Amelia Roscente wasn't answering her phone and was worried something happened.
Ethan gave a few replies, but Victoria kept nagging.
He hung up in annoyance.
She was still his sister.
He found Amelia's number and dialed.
The first call didn't connect.
He tried a second time.
This time, it went through.
Before he could speak, Amelia shrieked: "Bro? Why are you calling? Don't tell me you heard about Sophia Sullivan going missing too?"
Sophia Sullivan, somehow, had connections that mobilized the entire plant conservatory within half an hour.
Emergency广播 notifications went out.
All staff were deployed for search and rescue.
Even local police were called in.
She'd also heard the conservatory's top two leaders were on-site directing operations.
On her way back to her quarters, she overheard two staff members whispering.
They said someone from above was applying pressure—big pressure—with an ultimatum:
If she isn't found, everyone is fired!
What kind of clout did that take?
What kind of background?
What kind of powerful backing?
Amelia was fuming.
She wanted to rush out and tell them: She has no clout or background! She's just a used-up二手货 my brother tossed aside!
Now that Ethan was calling, she instinctively thought it was about Sophia.
"You said Sophia Sullivan is missing?! How? Where are you?" The man shot upright, nearly crushing his glass.
Amelia was confused. "...You're not calling about her?"
Ethan's eyes were red. He spoke slowly, deliberately. "Answer me first! Why is Sophia missing?! Where?! Where are you right now?"
Amelia was frightened. "I-I just heard the broadcast. They said Sophia Sullivan went missing in the Amazon Rainforest Exhibit. The whole conservatory is..."
He hung up before she finished.
Charlie was engrossed in the card game.