Lionel's face grew pale, unable to speak for a while. He took a deep breath to calm himself down.
"I see. Thanks."
Charlotte did that?
It couldn't be... His sister had always been so kind and innocent since childhood...
How was that possible?
But such was the fact.
Actually, he had asked his assistant to look Edmond up that day, and the assistant quickly brought back the information--
Edmond and his sister were high school classmates. He was one of Charlotte's suitors in school. After graduation from university, Edmond served in the military for a while. After retirement, he opened a detective agency and became proficient in various high-tech technologies.
They met several times after Charlotte came to LA this time, and then Edmond began to stalk Savannah.
Lionel had a bad foreboding about the information he got, so he asked his assistant to keep an eye on Edmond for a few days, just in case.
Today, his assistant told him that Edmond had been following Savannah the whole morning, so he went out and just in time to see that guy led Savannah into his car. He drove after them, and then Edmond got off alone at a remote place.
He knew there must be something wrong, so he ran to help Savannah out of the car without delay.
Needless to say, Edmond did it.
For a private detective who was proficient in various technologies, it was not difficult to make a fake accident by ruining the TWC in the exhaust pipe of the car.
If he hadn't help Savannah off timely, the compartment Savannah was in might be full of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide gas after a while. At that time, Savannah couldn't get off from the locked car and would have been suffocated to death! The car parked in a remote place, and there were few passers-by in the heavy rain. No one would hear even if she cried for help!
When the police found Edmond, he could say that he just get out of the car to relieve himself and did not know why that happened!
This, however, was even less Charlotte's business.
How could his sister be so ruthless and wicked?
"Sir, did that guy did this according to Miss Rowe's command?" The assistant looked over at Lionel's ashen face and asked carefully.
Lionel raised his hand, gesturing to him not to say more. Then he adjusted his mood and walked back into the villa.
Savannah smiled when she saw him back.
"Sorry, I've kept you waiting." Lionel, with his usual grace, walked slowly over.
Savannah looked at him and found his expression a bit darker as if he was troubled by something.
"Mr. Rowe? Is something wrong? Or you're very busy?" She asked.
"Nothing. Just some business." Lionel denied it immediately. He didn't expect she would be so attentive.
"Since you're busy now, I should go first. But there's something I hope you can do me a favor."
"Yes, go ahead."
"For the ride-hailing car, I took today... I still feel uneasy after thinking it over. I want to go to the police station to report the matter to the police. If it's convenient for you, please let your subordinates help me to do a witness." Lionel and his subordinates were, after all, eyewitnesses.
"You want to call the police?" Lionel looked surprised.
Savannah nodded. "The driver was up to no good. I didn't know what he was trying to do, but he locked me in the car for no reason, and I thought it would be better to call the police. If he's a bad guy, he might hurt other people if we let him go."
"Not as complicated as you might think," Lionel blurted out.
Savannah gave Lionel a suspicious look. He was so nervous when he saw she was locked in the car and even smashed the window to help her out, and he also suspected that the driver was up to something... But now, why did he look afraid of making a big deal out of it?
"Savannah, I'll go and find out what happened first, and you can think about it later, okay? After all, there's nothing wrong with you now. It wouldn't help to call the police." Lionel suggested.
Hearing this, Savannah thought about it for a while and finally nodded.
"All right, then I'm gonna go."
Lionel was right. She was fine and not hurt. It was strange to explain to the police.
Charlotte lived here, too. She didn't want to embarrass herself by meeting Charlotte when she got back.
"Well, it's getting late. I'll ask the driver to take you back." Lionel didn't keep her.
"No, thank you. I'll go out by myself. It's convenient to take a taxi here."
Lionel, a little distracted, nodded, and said nothing. He watched after Savannah and didn't move until her back disappeared out of the villa.
***
Savannah left Royal Villa and stopped on the side of the road, waiting for a taxi. She felt in her pocket for the cell phone to call Kevin.
Before she came here with Lionel, she had called Kevin and told him that she would visit an old friend before going back. She wanted to tell him about Lionel and the strange driver.
She didn't mention it just now because she didn't want him to worry about her. But now she thought it was better to tell him.
But her pocket was empty.
She went through her bags again, but her cell phone was nowhere to be seen. She used it when Lionel went out just now, maybe she forgot it on the couch?
She sighed and had to return to Royal Villa to get back her phone.
***
At the same time, a car stopped at the steps, and Charlotte got off.
She walked into the living room and threw her handbag at the maid. "Put it upstairs."
Then she saw Lionel standing by the couch.
"Lionel? Why are you standing here? I'm exhausted. I go up first." She said with a yawn.
"Come here." Lionel looked at her coldly.
"What's up? We'll talk about it later at dinner. I'm so tired. I want to have a rest first." Charlotte didn't notice her brother's dark expression.
"I told you to come here." He repeated with a very emphatic pronunciation.
Charlotte then realized that his brother was not the same as usual. She slowly walked to him.
"What's going on…"
Before she could finish her words, a slap fell on her face, mercilessly!
He hit her so hard that she took two steps back and nearly fell. She looked at Lionel in horror, her cheek burning and her eardrums buzzing.
Her brother never hit her. No, he even seldom scolded her.
But he slapped her with all his strength this time!