Chapter 41
One Night Surprise Novel
Chapter 41 Iâve Never Forced Anyone âMarried?â Anna frowned and snorted. âWhen was she ever married? She still has her identification at home! She didnât even graduate college when she left, and sheâs only twenty-four this year.â
Britney tried to pry more information out of Anna as she hinted, âDid she fall in love with somebody? Why did she leave the country all of a sudden? Didnât you say that she did not even finish college? Could she have followed her boyfriend overseas?â
Annaâs face took on a look of contempt when she spoke of Courtneyâs past. âHer boyfriend at that time? You probably know him âheâs Isaac Graham, the Young Master of Graham Enterprise. He had gotten together with her best friend for ages, and they couldnât wait to let the whole world know about it. She was the only one who had no clue about itâhow brainless!â
âIs that so? Issac Graham?â Britney made some calculationsâit seemed as though Anna was not aware that her sister had a child.
Six years ago, Courtney was still in Melrose City and had only left five years ago, so the child was probably born here. In that case, the father of the child was probably someone in Melrose City, and it wouldnât have been Isaac. As she left the golf course in her MPV, Britney felt that something just wasnât adding up.
âJason, is there a way to find out someoneâs hidden past from five or six years ago?â
Jason turned back from the passenger seat and pondered for a moment. âYeah, just get a private investigator.â
âI want to look into someone.â
âWho?â
âThe other Young Lady of the Hunter Family, Courtney Hunter. If Iâm not mistaken, she only left the country five years ago after giving birth in Melrose City. I want to know who the father of the child is.â
Alexanderâs attitude toward Courtney is simply too strange. Just because she saved Jordan once doesnât mean that Alexander should treat her so differently. I donât care if this makes me an overly suspicious person, but I will only be at ease if she doesnât have anything to do with Alexander.
Meanwhile, Anna had just returned home. Susan, who was Annaâs mother, greeted the latter as soon as she came back. âYouâre back, Anna! Why are you back so late? You didnât make it back in time for dinner.â
Anna leaned against her motherâs arm and said affectionately, âI went to the golf course with my friend today and chatted for a while. It was Britney; you mentioned that you liked her TV series, so I asked her for a photograph.â
âYouâve always been this thoughtful, Anna.â
Susan praised her as she glanced toward the sofa and raised her voice. âAlthough I didnât give birth to a son, you canât find anyone more thoughtful than Anna in this world.â
âOkay, Momâhow can you praise yourself?â Anna laughed and diligently brought some tea to the sofa. âHave some tea, Dad.â
Lucian was sitting on the sofa as he read the newspaper. Then, he put down the newspaper and glanced at Anna with a loving look as he warned her and said, âYouâre back so late. Go and quickly wash upâyoung girls shouldnât stay up so late.â
âAll right.â Anna nodded obediently. âI know, Dad. You should take care of your health too.â
âBy the way,â Lucian took a sip of the tea and raised his head. âYou mentioned that the last time you saw your sister was at the mall. Do you know where your sister is living now?â
When Anna heard that, the smile on her face stiffened as she tried to mask her displeasure. âHow would I know? I tried to talk to her that day, but she looked so busy and refused to talk to me. If we hadnât met at the mall, we wouldnât have known that she returned to the country.â
Lucian sighed. âThis girlâit must be tough living alone in the outside world. If you have time, ask around and find out where she is living. Iâll go take a look and try to persuade her. Iâll only stop worrying about her when she comes back home.â
Anna frowned and was about to say something when a cough came from behind her. Susan gave her daughter a pointed look and came forward with a smile. âI understand your logic; itâs not safe for a girl to live outside alone. Since Melrose City isnât that big, Iâll ask aroundâit shouldnât be too hard to find her.â
âAll right.â Lucian picked up the newspaper.
When she got back to the bedroom, Anna sat on the bed with a huff as she scowled. âMom, why did you promise Dad that you would find her? Also, I told you that I saw the b*tch last time, yet you told Dad about itâarenât you looking for trouble?â
Susan locked the door and turned around calmly. âSheâd still come back whether you tell your father or not. Since she has returned to the country, itâs impossible for her not to come home; instead of being unprepared when she comes back herself, why donât we take the initiative to tell your father? That way, he would think that we mean well.â
âIs it useful for him to think that we mean well? If she comes back, Dad will reconsider the position of the companyâs heir again.â
Susan frowned in response as her expression darkened. She huffed. âIf it wasnât for my useless belly that couldnât give birth to a son, it wouldnât be so hard for him to choose between you and that brat. Well, lucky for usâafter all those years that brat has been in the wild, there is no way she has achieved anything outstanding. As long as you marry into a wealthy family, you will definitely be the heir to this company.â
Annaâs expression softened as she scoffed. âThatâs for sure. Who knows what kind of man sheâs been fooling around with all those years living abroad? I think sheâs just afraid to come home because sheâs ashamed.â
After the weekend was over, Courtney dropped Tina off at the kindergarten on Monday morning and went to work. After the meeting at the headquarters in the morning, she called out to Alexander in the corridor.
âWait a minute, President Duncan.â
Alexander and his assistant, Josh, turned around at the same time. âIs there something wrong?â Alexander asked.
âAre you going to the hospital at noon?â
âYes.â
Courtney sighed in relief and handed over a thermos bucket. âI boiled this soup overnight. The thermos bucket is of special quality, so it will stay warm until noon. Please give it to Jordan.â
Alexander nodded and personally took over the thermos bucket from Courtneyâs hands.
Meanwhile, Josh was dumbfounded. This is not the first time! Is Miss Hunterâs relationship with President Ducan this special?
She even manages Jordanâs hospitalization? And President Duncan lets her do it too!
âOh, right! Thereâs also this.â Courtney handed over a small palm-sized book. âIâve also written down the detailed method and steps of making the soup, so just pass it over to your cook. I may not have the time to cook for Jordan lately because I canât afford to delay the projectâsorry for that.â
Alexander took it and replied, âItâs fine.â
âIn that case, Iâll be going back to the hotel first.â Courtney nodded and smiled as she walked toward the elevator.
âCourtney.â
Suddenly, Alexanderâs voice called out from behind her, making Courtney stop in her tracks. She then turned back in confusion.
âIs there anything else, President Duncan?â
âIâll have someone come pick you and Tina up this Saturday; Jordan wants you to come over the house.â
âHuh?â Courtney was stunned. âY-Your house?â
âDo you have something planned?â
âUh... N-Nothing but the project.â
âYou can bring it over and work on it there. I will pay you overtime.â Alexanderâs tone sounded commanding and irrefusable. âIs there a problem? Iâve never forced anyone, so you can just forget about it if you donât want to.â
âN-No problem.â Courtney stuttered.
What does he mean by âIâve never forced anyoneâ? This is just so unfair! The bet is still ongoing and the contract hasnât even been signed yet! One word from him and Iâd have to leave, so who would dare to go against their bossâ word?