After collecting herself, she asked, "So you're saying no one else knows about me? Only you? Not even Salvatore..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed Noah raising his hand — as if asking her to stop talking.
"Your grandfather! That man is your Grandpa," Noah corrected with a chuckle, amused by Scarlett's awkward expression. "But yes, only I know. Not even your Grandpa had any idea."
"I see..."
"Well, the old man, what a fool! Even though he took over the Withers underground business, he's not in control —Jude is!" Hatred rose in Noah's eyes.
He continued, "Jude made his father a prisoner, like a puppet. I feel sorry for Father but hate him for being so weak. How could he allow himself to suffer like that?" His face darkened, and anger was apparent in his voice.
Scarlett was taken aback by Noah's words.
"Ugh! Sorry, Scarlett, if I said something, I shouldn't have." Noah tried to change his expression.
After the shock lessened, Scarlett finally said, "Jude Wither is so evil! How are things now with Grandpa!?"
"Why? You want to meet him?" Noah chuckled. "Well, I haven't seen him in many years. I only got information about him from his butler, who cares for him. He is very sick, and it prevents him from leaving the house!"
"No, I don't want to see anyone anymore. I already know everything from you. That's enough," said Scarlett.
Noah chuckled.
"Jude... I mean that bastard Jude Withers, how dare he do that to his father? The man who raised and made him like he is now." Scarlett couldn't help but curse her uncle. Deep down, she wanted to face Jude Withers and kill him with her bare hands.
"He's a monster. He wears Jude's body, but he's not human!" Noah's face became even darker, remembering how cruel his brother was. "And you know what? He might hunt me down if I weren't politically active in this country. But he can't touch me for now because I have something that could make him suffer!"
Scarlett was shocked to hear that even Uncle Noah lived in the shadow of danger — Jude Withers's evilness.
Scarlett said with a slightly trembling voice, "Uncle, please let me know if you need anything. I have a strong organization behind me, so you can count on me if you ever find yourself in a corner..."
Noah's lips raised slightly to form a faint smile. He had already guessed that his niece was not an ordinary woman or a typical hacker.
"I appreciate it, Scarlett," he said, nodding. "It's good to know I have someone I can trust. But please, be careful. The Withers are dangerous people, and I don't want you to get hurt."
***
At Hotel R.
While Scarlett and Noah Withers were chatting, Xander arrived at his presidential suite. He was surprised to find the room dark. He walked faster toward the bedroom, wondering if Scarlett had overslept. However, his heart stopped when he discovered she wasn't there.
Xander quickly left the bedroom and called Logan, maybe they hadn't returned from their food hunt with Carter. But his fear was confirmed when Logan told him that Scarlett had returned since noon, and he saw her enter their suite.
His expression was now one of fear and desperation. He immediately called Scarlett but her phone was off. He decided to call Alistar and ask him to come to his room.
Xander muttered, "Why did she suddenly vanish again?" He was worried because he knew this city was dangerous for Scarlett due to her identity as Rosalie Withers' daughter.
...
Before long, Alistar arrived at Xander's room.
"Alistar, I need you to find my wife. She left this room a few hours ago," Xander ordered the moment Alistar sat opposite him.
Alistar was taken aback by his boss's instructions.
"Young Madam has run away again?" Alistar asked with a hint of surprise. "Why does she always disappear without a trace and make you so anxious?" But his last words never escaped his lips as he noticed the anger in Xander's eyes.
Ignoring Alistar's comment, Xander ordered him to work. Alistar immediately pulled out his laptop and began searching for CCTV footage.
After a few tense minutes, Alistar found Scarlett's trace. Still, his frown deepened as he saw her entering the Empire Apartment, which was not far from their hotel.
"I found her, boss. She's in the Empire Apartment. It seems she met someone..." Alistar said hesitantly. And offer him his laptop to see.
Alistar didn't say anything after he saw Xander focused on looking at the laptop monitor. He was waiting for his following command.
While Xander continued to observe the CCTV footage, Logan and Ben joined them, looking panicked after learning that Scarlett had left the hotel without telling anyone.
Logan's face was getting stiff, with no hint of a smile, as if someone had just given him a death sentence. He felt mad at himself because the young madam had left him again without knowing it.
He wanted to vent his anger, punching his face for being in the same situation again.
"Boss, sorry... young madam didn't say anything to me," Logan said while looking at Xander, who was still focused on the laptop screen.
Xander slowly raised his head and glanced at Logan. Logan could feel his blood running cold when he saw Xander's expression.
"It's not your fault!" Xander finally said. He had seen the CCTV footage, and his wife had deliberately left without anyone following her. He would probably be terrified again if he didn't know her ability to protect herself. But now, he is much calmer. He knew Scarlett could kill someone without batting her eyelids.
"What worries me now is who Scarlett met in the apartment," Xander said.
Logan and Ben exchanged glances, sensing the gravity of the situation. As far as they could remember, Scarlett had no acquaintances in this city. And it wasn't Carter who she met, which only added to their confusion.
"Do you want us to go after her, boss?" Ben offered, his tone steady and firm.
Xander pondered for a moment before replying. "No, not yet. She's strong enough to protect herself for now."
Ben nodded.
Then Xander looked at Alistar. "Can you get the list of the apartment's occupants? Find out any names that might be related to my wife."
Alistar immediately carried out Xander's orders. After a few minutes, he looked at Xander again. "The Empire Apartments are under the Hill group."
"Huh! So it is owned by Alex Hill's family?"
"Yes, Boss," Alistar said.
