Love's Illusions: Secondhand Affections

Matt's gaze was conflicted. He coldly said, "I'm sure you're not. Catherina is a cunning woman."

Afterward, he ordered his assistant, "Keep investigating until you find her! And make sure to check all surveillance along the route. Don't miss anything!"

Rachel grew visibly tense.

As I watched Rachel, I couldn't help finding her suspicious.

I recalled two days before I was kidnapped.

I had gone to Matt's office to see him. As his assistant told me he wasn't there, I went to wait for him in his office.

Coincidentally, I caught Rachel coming out of the room. She looked visibly startled when she saw me.

Now that I thought about it, she seemed to be holding an exquisite silver keyring. As I connected the dots, I realized how suspicious she was.

Rachel made an excuse that she wasn't feeling well and retreated to her room.

Seeing this, I followed her and saw her quickly pull out her phone.

"You said this plan was foolproof! Now Matt's starting to check the surveillance along the route. What if he finds out about us?

"Damn it! She's just a stand-in! I can't believe he's so attached to her!"

After a pause, she asked. "Is that woman really dead?"

Rachel's face twisted, and she chuckled as she listened to the voice on the other end of the line.

"Got it. Once it's done, Matt will be mine. You can do as you wish with the rest!"

After hanging up, she hopped excitedly. "He's mine! All of it is mine! How could any of you compete with me?"

I was taken aback.

Rachel was the culprit, after all! She had gone mad!

Matt, look! It was her! She was involved with the people who kidnapped me!

…

Meanwhile, Winnie was sitting in front of her computer, making calls tirelessly until her eyes were red with exhaustion. Finally, a smile appeared on her face.

"Wait for me, Catherina!"

Winnie had found a lead on the man in black!

She had asked some influential contacts to help find him, and unexpectedly, a lead had come through. As she drove to the location, an assistant sent by one of those contacts also arrived.

"Ms. Hamilton, Ms. Lopez mentioned that she has now returned the favor," the assistant said.

"Thank Ms. Lopez for me!" Winnie replied, following the assistant. On the way, her phone rang—it was Sean Coal.

"Winnie, where did you go? Are you looking for Catherina again? She leaked company secrets. Can you stop getting involved!"

"Shut up!" Winnie snapped. "Catherina didn't do it, and you're not the police, so don't pull that nonsense with me. Also, where I go has nothing to do with you!"

"Just come back." Sean sounded impatient. "Where did you put that orchid brooch I bought? Rachel likes it. Where is it?"

Winnie's heart missed a beat, but she managed to calm down when she warned him, "Sean, I'm not letting some stranger touch my belongings. If you give it to her, we're done."

She hung up and took a deep breath. Just as she arrived at her destination, she received a photo from Rachel.

Rachel had messaged. "Sorry, Winnie. Sean said the orchid suits me well, so he gave it to me. Hope you don't mind."

Winnie was disappointed when she saw the brooch. She replied coldly, "I do mind. Orchids symbolize purity; they don't suit a shameless woman like you."

She then blocked Rachel and, in a final move, blocked Sean as well.

When Winnie got out of the car, she frowned upon seeing the abandoned factory. "Are you sure it's here?"

"Yes, the trail led us here. The tire tracks and blood stains match. Let's check it out."

The closer they got, the more anxious Winnie felt, as if something terrible was looming. Her legs began to tremble as the thick scent of blood filled the air.

Weeds were overgrown everywhere. Her fear grew with each step.

As they reached the entrance, Winnie suddenly couldn't bring herself to go in. However, the assistant, being braver than her, entered.

After about 20 minutes, a horrific scream echoed from inside, and the assistant came stumbling out.

"A body! There's a dead body! Call the police!"

Trembling, Winnie felt a surge of courage and walked in. As she entered, she spotted a woman's corpse hanging from a pillar in the dim corner.

A sharp pain tore through her chest.