Chapter 16
Timothy’s knuckles whitened around the divorce certificate, his thumb tracing Shirley’s sharp signature. He still couldn’t believe it.
Overhead lights hummed in the garage when he suddenly grabbed the bodyguard’s collar.
“What else did she say that day?”
“Did she leave any message?”
“Mr. Mitchell…..” The bodyguard staggered from the chokehold.
“Madam’s wrist wound keeps bleeding, but she only asked me to give you this gift.”
“And…” He pulled a kraft paper envelope from his chest. “This is for the Campbell family.”
Timothy snatched the envelope and tore it open.
On the yellowed stationery, Shirley’s handwriting remained neat and precise.
“Mr. Campbell, Mrs. Campbell, enclosed are the documents to cut all ties with family and the savings passbook. To be honest, when I think about it carefully, I shouldn’t have been found in the first place. The papers sever our relationship, while the passbook repays your
upbringing. From this moment forward, I am no longer a daughter of the Campbell family…”
Timothy’s hands trembled uncontrollably.
0.00%
00:30
Chapter 16
288 Vouchers
He felt with absolute certainty that Shirley truly intended to leave forever.
“Take this to the Campbell manor.
“Right away, Mr. Mitchell.”
Half an hour after the bodyguard left, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell called.
Timothy took a deep breath before answering. Mrs. Campbell’s frantic voice nearly burst through the receiver.
“Timothy! Has Shirley contacted you? She left papers to cut all ties with family at home!”
Timothy’s nails dug deep into his palms.
“Why would I know?” He let out a cold laugh.
“You can’t even control your own daughter. What are you asking me for?”
“What’s this attitude!”
Mrs. Campbell’s voice trembled.
“If it weren’t for you and Patricia… Shirley wouldn’t have―”
“Enough! Were your hands clean? Your family fortune went entirely to Patricia. What right do you have to lecture me?”
Timothy slammed the phone down. It thudded heavily against the car hood.
A gust of wind blew by, bringing a chill, and he suddenly remembered when Shirley was around, she always took care of every detail.
21.18%
11
00:30
Chapter 16
288 Vouchers
She kept doing those ordinary little things without fail.
Timothy slumped into his seat, and when he pulled out his cigarette case, he found it empty.
His frustration deepened.
“Timothy, Shirley was indeed badly hurt at the time.” His assistant’s voice suddenly rang out.
“She said… she said if she didn’t do some things now, she might never get the chance.”
For the first time, Timothy realized that Shirley, who used to quietly fix the buttons on his suit cuffs and cook porridge all night when he had a stomachache, might have been pushed too far away by his own hands.
This time, she hadn’t even given him a chance to look back.
Timothy slammed his phone face–down on the passenger seat, his expression grim.
Five minutes prior, he’d ended a call with his private investigator.
The man reported spotting Shirley in airport surveillance footage before completely losing track of her.
With flights grounded due to severe weather, tracing Shirley’s destination became impossible.
His watch clicked to seven o’clock when Patricia’s call flashed on- screen. He stared for two seconds before answering.
“Timothy, what’re you up to?”
Patricia’s saccharine voice oozed through the speaker.
41.44%
40
00:30
Chapter 16
1 288 Vouchers
“I found this new French restaurant! Shall we try it?”
Timothy turned the steering wheel, guiding the car out of the underground garage.
“Send me the address. I’ll pick you up.”
In the rearview mirror, he saw heavy dark circles under his eyes. He hadn’t slept well since discovering Shirley’s disappearance days ago.
During the drive, Patricia chattered about her favorite foods as usual, but Timothy remained unusually quiet, only responding with occasional “hmms.”
Even after parking outside the restaurant, he kept checking his phone, hoping for updates from the detective.
“Sir, this is our new seasonal item featuring imported cream. Would you like to try it?” A beaming server recommended enthusiastically.
Timothy nodded impassively.
“Sure.”
Patricia’s eyes instantly lit up, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the table.
Patricia suddenly imagined cutting into the cake, wondering if a special surprise like a ring might be hidden inside.
But when the cake was wheeled out and Patricia sliced into it, her
smile froze on her face.
The cake revealed nothing at all.
“Timothy, did you forget something?”
65.15%
ONG
00:30
Chapter 16
288 Vouchers
She poked at the frosting with her fork, her tone playfully reproachful.
Timothy kept his eyes glued to his phone, answering absently, “What?”
Patricia’s expression darkened completely, and she fell silent.
Dinner came to an abrupt end in awkward silence.
On their way home, she sulked silently, staring out the window at the night scenery.
Suddenly, Timothy’s phone vibrated wildly in his pocket.
He slammed on the brakes, thinking the detective had found Shirley.
Tires screeched against the pavement as horns blared behind them.
“Timothy! Are you insane?”
Patricia turned pale, the seatbelt digging into her chest.
