Chapter 611: Gone

Chapter 611: Chapter 611: Gone

Claire Sinclair took a soft breath and said in a low voice, "Ivy Tanner is pregnant, and the baby is Ethan Kingsley’s."

Lucas Rhodes’s expression froze for a moment before he scowled. "That bastard. He won’t even leave a simple-minded girl alone!"

After a pause, he looked up at her. "You’re a reporter from Astoria. Why not expose a scandal like this to the public? If you did, your boyfriend’s victory in the election would be a sure thing."

Claire Sinclair replied earnestly, "If I made it public, Ivy Tanner’s life would be completely ruined. I won’t do something like that."

"Hah..." Lucas Rhodes laughed. "So what makes you think I would marry a foolish woman who let Ethan Kingsley knock her up?"

"She’s not a fool. She’s just trying to survive."

Lucas Rhodes’s smile vanished. "What do you mean by that?" he retorted.

"It means exactly what it sounds like. If you’re unwilling to help, Mr. Rhodes, I’ll just have to find someone else. But I’m asking you to keep this to yourself. There’s nothing in it for you if this gets out."

Lucas Rhodes’s voice was low. "You’re the one who told me. Whether or not I tell anyone else is my business."

Claire Sinclair’s brows drew together as she stared intently at his face. "Mr. Quincy told me you’re not interested in women. But given your position, you can’t be open about your interest in men, either. Marrying Ivy Tanner would be the perfect cover for your secret. There’s no downside for you."

Lucas Rhodes sneered. "Even so, I won’t marry Ivy Tanner."

"Why not Ivy Tanner?"

"I don’t want to get dragged into this mess. However... if you can get Young Master Quincy to come see me in person, I might change my mind."

Claire Sinclair fell silent.

The desire in his eyes was so intense it made her feel threatened.

’I can’t let him meet Mr. Quincy.’ That was her first instinct.

"Then forget it. I’ll find someone else to help. Just please, keep this confidential."

"And if I refuse?"

Claire Sinclair glared into his inscrutable eyes and said through gritted teeth, "Mr. Quincy told me you were a man of excellent character. I actually believed he couldn’t be wrong about someone, but I guess even he makes a mistake now and then."

"He told you I was a man of excellent character, and you just believed him?" Lucas Rhodes found this amusing.

"Why shouldn’t I?" Claire Sinclair retorted.

Lucas Rhodes’s cold gaze darkened. "What did he give you to make you so blindly loyal to him?" he asked in a low voice.

"Love isn’t blind loyalty."

"Hah... Love." Lucas Rhodes’s eyes filled with scorn.

Just as Claire Sinclair was about to say something, her phone suddenly rang.

She picked up her phone and glanced at the screen. The caller ID was the landline for The Golden Brocade Palace. ’She was a little puzzled. Why would they call her at a time like this? Had something happened?’

Claire Sinclair murmured an "excuse me" to Lucas Rhodes and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Miss Sinclair, it’s terrible! The Third Miss... she’s gone!"

"Gone? How could she be gone?"

"This morning, the Third Miss insisted on going out to buy groceries to learn how to cook. I couldn’t talk her out of it, so I took her to the supermarket. Then she just disappeared! I’ve searched the entire mall and can’t find her. I don’t dare tell the Young Master, he’ll kill me! What should I do?"

Claire Sinclair shot to her feet. "Try to stay calm. Tell me which mall you’re at. I’ll bring people over to help search right away."

"Brocade Mall."

"I’m at Brocade Mall right now. Don’t worry, I’ll get people on the search immediately." After speaking, Claire Sinclair hung up the phone and looked down at Lucas Rhodes. "Mr. Rhodes, I have an urgent matter to attend to. Please excuse me..."

She was already out of the coffee shop before she’d even finished the sentence.

Lucas Rhodes watched her retreating figure, a faint smile playing on his lips.

’This Claire Sinclair is interesting. No wonder she’s the woman Adrian Quincy has his eye on.’