Chapter 14

Chapter 14

That was impossible.

Leo quickly dispelled the thought from his mind.

‘She is an orphan without parents and has been out of the country for three years. Her friends are just those street hooligans. How can she afford a luxury sports car? After being driven away from the Hale family, where else can she go besides the villa?’ he thought.

But the villa was pitch dark.

The master bedroom on the second floor was empty and spotlessly clean. Except for the newly laid bedsheet that indicated someone had lived there, there were no other traces of her left.

Even that old suitcase had disappeared.

After returning to Creek Court, Leo searched inside and out, but there was no sign of her.

His eyes darkened, and he called his assistant, Morris Walton. “Find out where Madison is. Also, compile information on her activities abroad over the past three years and send

it to me.”

“Yes, sir,” Morris replied. He found Leo’s instruction puzzling and asked, “Didn’t you plan to divorce Miss Hale, Mr. Palmer? Why are we running an investigation on her?”

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

After a while, Leo’s voice came through the phone again. It was filled with coldness. “Have you sent the divorce agreement over?”

“Sorry, Mr. Palmer, I haven’t had the chance yet,” Morris apologized guiltily and went on to explain. “The contract between M&L Studio and us has expired, and they expressed no intention to renew it. We’ve been busy with this matter over the last two days, but we haven’t been able to contact Sylvia, their designer. Thus, the issue between you and Miss Hale was temporarily put on hold.”

Leo frowned slightly. He asked, “They are unwilling to renew even if we offer threet times the price?”

“Yes. They even stated that they wouldn’t agree even if the price were ten times higher.” Morris’s tone became anxious. The cooperation with M&L Studio has been smooth sailing for the past three years. We don’t think we have offended their designer. However, even though our offer is very attractive, we haven’t found the reason why

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Mon, 22 Jan

Chapter 14

M&L Studio doesn’t want to continue the contract with us. We are still trying to contact and communicate with them.”

Three years ago, just after Edgar passed away, the huge company fell into the hands of a young man in his twenties. Furthermore, it was a man who couldn’t even decide his own marriage. Many members of the Palmer family were waiting to see him fail.

The cooperation with M&L Studio directly increased Palmer Jewelry’s net profit by three hundred percent in the first quarter, and then business revenue remained stable.

With the confidence gained from this, other projects also progressed smoothly under Leo’s bold actions.

It could be said that Leo’s quick establishment in the group is closely related to M&L

Studio.

Now, the three-year contract expired. He did not understand why the other party refused to renew their cooperation.

Leo fell silent momentarily before saying, “Put aside the matter of my divorce from Madison for now. Investigate Sylvia’s recent movements. I’ll personally go to discuss the renewal.”

“Yes!” answered Morris.

One week later, near the XR Entertainment building, in the driver’s seat of a black Spyker, Leo’s face was dark.

“No news at all? Morris, have you been too comfortable in the CEO’s office that your abilities have diminished under the compliments you get?” Leo demanded.

Morris was trembling on the other end of the phone. It was the first time he had been scolded so severely since he had worked at the Palmer Group.

He also found it strange. He had checked all the surveillance in Sidovor City and couldn’t find any trace of Madison.

The surveillance near Creek Court was wiped clean. Even the surveillance footage of Madison’s return to the country that day had been erased. It was as if she had disappeared into thin air.

“I apologize, Mr. Palmer,” Morris spoke fearfully. “I have someone keeping an eye on the mailing address stated in the divorce papers, but we haven’t seen any sign of Miss Hale yet. As for Miss Hale’s three years abroad, her life was similar to that of an ordinary international student. She worked part-time when she didn’t have classes. We haven’t found anything unusual.”

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Chapter 14

Leo massaged his forehead with his hand. “Report to me immediately if there is any new information.”

Morris sensed Leo’s anger on the other end of the phone and dared not speak further. “Yes, Mr. Palmer.”

Leo didn’t forget today’s main goal. He glanced at his wristwatch and spoke with impatience. “Are you sure M&L Studio intends to sign with XR Entertainment and that Sylvia will come to discuss in person with the CEO of XR Entertainment today?”

Leo had been waiting since morning, but he hadn’t seen Joc appear, let alone the mysterious designer behind M&L Studio.

Without waiting for a response from the other end, Leo looked out the window. His gaze suddenly darkened, and his face completely turned ominous.

After severing ties with the Hale family, Madison slept in Joe’s apartment for two whole days, not leaving the place at all.

Today, she had to go out into the sun since she was scheduled to sign the contract with Joe.

When she was almost at the company building, she called Joe.

Ten minutes later, a man appeared with a bunch of roses in his hand.

He wore a pair of straight-leg trousers that showed off his long legs. His black shirt had two buttons unbuttoned, giving him a wild and unrestrained vibe.

“How do I look? Did I embarrass you today, my dear Madison?” Joe asked. He stopped in front of Madison and handed her the bouquet. “My dearest Sylvia, today’s flowers are champagne roses. I hope you like them.”

“Thank you, Joe,” Madison said. His tactics exasperated her but there was no way she could refuse any type of roses.

She took off her sunglasses. Just as she was smiling and reaching out to take the flowers, a familiar figure intruded into her peripheral vision, making her subconsciously look to the side.

Her

gaze

collided with an ice-cold glare from a distance.

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