184 Coming Home

That night, Midori came home from the supermarket after buying almost a month's supply of ingredients.

She had left Dmitri with her parents after spending her day with them.

Tonight, it is just for her and her husband.

Few hours earlier, she was pouting because she did not get any surprise or gift from him.

However, she brushed it off as him being busy.

She decided to surprise and cook for him instead, as her birthday celebration.

When she drove up to the driveway of their villa, she stopped her car just outside the front door, since there was a car parked at the garage.

Before she started getting her groceries from the trunk, her curiosity led her towards the unfamiliar car.

On closer inspection, it looked like it was 'wrapped' in rose gold foil ribbon.

It was a pearl white

"Oh my..." Midori gasped as she covered her mouth to suppress a scream.

She looked around. This is the point where her husband would magically appear behind her with his flashy smile.

However, no one was there.

She smiled sweetly and thought that he might have sent his gift in advance, and that he will probably be home late.

She turned back and walked towards her car, then she started unloading the trunk.

They did not have any househelpers who stay with them. Few of them would only come 3-4 times weekly to clean the villa, with no questions asked.

Dan kept it that way for security purposes.

Midori was used to being alone whenever her husband needed to work late. The only assurance was he always came home, unless he told her he could not.

She enthusiastically organized the dry and wet ingredients in the pantry and refrigerator accordingly, leaving some ingredients on the countertop.

These will be the ones she planned to cook with that night.

She then began to work in the cozy kitchen.

She smiled as she recalled the first day they stayed in the villa.

Dan immediately began cooking for her upon their arrival.

Midori chuckled as she recalled how she thought that he was being intrusive in that 'restaurant' and smiled at the memory.

Her phone began ringing.

She stopped chopping and wiped her hands with a towel, then she swiped her phone to answer the call.

"Okaasan. What's wrong? Is Dmitri alright?"

"Take him with you if you don't trust me." The annoyed voice of Aoi Xiu rang from the other end.

Midori chuckled. "No. He's yours for the night!"

"What a mother! Leaving her son so she could have some sugar!"

"Mom!" Midori was flustered and embarrassed.

Aoi laughed. "So, have you started? Did I interrupt anything?"

"Mom! He's not even here yet!" Midori was thankful that her blush was not seen by her mom.

"Haha! Alright, alright. That's why you're grumpy. I was just checking on you. Good night then."

"Good night, Okaasan."

.

Meanwhile, Michelle Adams was restless.

Liu Fei Long reported that the CEO drove himself to meet the chairman. However, he had not come back thereafter.

When he missed his meeting and appointments, both assistants tried to contact him, to no avail.

They started contacting the chairman's secretary, but was informed that she had not met her son that day.

Michelle Adams was trying to call Young Madam Zhou, but her phone was busy.

Just as she was pacing back and forth in her living room, the main door unlocked.

"Riles!" she exclaimed, with a hint of relief.

Riley Adams frowned with worry. "What's wrong?"

"We...we have a situation. Can you still contact your previous boss?"

He furrowed his brows closer. "Miss Xiu?"

"Yes. We...I believe CEO Zhou had gone missing." The fear on her face was evident.

"What? Since when? Did you call the police?"

"Not yet. Our people are still trying to find him. But...he is still nowhere in sight since 1000H."

"Did you contact Miss Xiu?"

"Her phone is busy."

Riley Adams reached for his phone and dialled his former boss's number.

After four rings, it went through.

.

Midori Zhou had just resumed cooking after ending the call with her mother when an incoming call startled her.

She lowered the heat from the stove and reached for her phone.

She furrowed her brows as she saw the contact calling. It has been a long time since she was contacted by the assistant to the CEO of XCG.

"Hello, Mr. Adams. It's been a long time. What made you--"

She was interrupted by his distressed voice.

"Madam Zhou...your...your husband..."

She frowned deeper. "What happened to Dan?!"

"Madam Zhou, we believe your husband is missing." Riley gulped after uttering the words.

He could hear a utensil toppling on the floor.