Something wasn''t right. I wasn''t going to believe in such coincidences.


    I grabbed the car keys and was about to leave when Ryan grabbed my wrist. "Where are you going? I''ll take you."


    "To somewhere with a signal.


    Before I went out, I looked at him. "What''s going on with that live broadcast from earlier in the afternoon? Why can''t I find any records online?"


    Ryan''s eyes shed for a moment. "Many live broadcasts won''t be reyed."


    "Impossible."


    Previously, when Frank attended a public event, his video was edited and shared by many girls. For this live broadcast, not even a single clip could be found online. It was as if it had never been broadcasted.


    I suddenly realized something, and my fingertips began trembling. "Ryan, that live broadcast was fake, right? Something really happened to Frank, didn''t it?" *Charlotte..."


    "Don''t call me that. Just answer me!" I backed away, unable to control my voice as I demanded, "Why are you lying to me? Why didn''t you tell me if something happened to him? Why make up a live broadcast that didn''t exist to deceive me?"


    "I didn''t mean to deceive you." Ryan tried hard to calm me down. "Charlotte, this matter needs some time. Give me a chance, and I will tell you the truth as soon as possible."


    "I just want to know what happened!"


    I wanted to stay calm, but I couldn''t, and I looked at him almost pleadingly.” Ryan, I''m begging you, tell me what''s going on!"


    He looked hurt and incredulous, staring at me. "You''re willing to beg me for


    him?"


    "Yes, I''m begging you! Are you satisfied now?"


    "No, I''m not satisfied!"


    He looked like a winter frost, and he threw me back into the room. "Don''t go anywhere before we get the divorce certificate the day after tomorrow." With that, he mmed the door shut.


    "Ryan!" I pounded on the door. "Let me out!"


    There was no response.


    I ran to the window, seeing more bodyguards in the yard, and held my phone out, trying to catch a signal.


    Ding-dong.


    A message came through.


    I nced at it hurriedly, and my entire world seemed to go dark.


    "Charlotte, the Smith family''sboratory has exploded."


    It was a message from Jack.


    11


    I tried to stay calm and immediately called him back.


    He answered, "Charlotte, you''ve got signal now? I was worried that ringing. you wouldn''t work. I tried calling you earlier, but couldn''t get through. I suspected something might have happened."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    I tightened my grip on the phone, my voice hoarse. "Jack, is what you said true? Were there any casualties?"


    Actually, I already knew the answer without him needing to say it. Otherwise, Jane wouldn''t have reacted that way in the afternoon. Ryan wouldn''t have made such a big deal out of it.


    "Yes, it happenedst night. But the news that was spread online was quickly suppressed by the RF Group," Jack said hesitantly. "There were casualties.''


    "How many people?" I asked.


    "It waste at night yesterday. Only Frank and his subordinates were in theboratory," he replied.


    My fingertips trembled violently. I parted my los, but my throat felt like it was blocked by a sponge soaked in water.


    After a long pause, I managed to speak, "Then... what about Frank? How is he?"


    "He..." Jack seemed hesitant to speak. "After the explosion, the police rushed over, but Frank has not been found yet. The police... are likely to announce him as dead."


    "De... dead?" I muttered the words back.


    Frank was dead...


    That couldn''t possibly be true...


    Someone like him, how could he just die like that?


    Jack tried tofort me. "Charlotte, calm down. I''m now..."