Chapter 380: Something’s Wrong with My Husband

Chapter 380: Chapter 380: Something’s Wrong with My Husband

Zoe Sawyer stared at the phone on the desk in front of her, a troubled look on her face.

"What’s with Zoe Sawyer? She’s had a strange look on her face all day." Sean Hughes, who had just returned from an assignment, looked at Zoe’s expression and curiously asked Heath Hale beside him.

He figured it probably wasn’t case-related; otherwise, Evan Keller and the others wouldn’t be looking on with such amusement.

"Zoe Sawyer’s old roommate called. First, she gave her a hard time for getting a new job without telling her, then she got all secretive and said she had something important to discuss.

And if Zoe Sawyer didn’t pick up, she threatened to spill all of her embarrassing dorm stories, one by one." Hayden Shaw explained the situation to Sean Hughes, a smile in his voice.

Even though it was a threat, everyone could tell the two were close and just joking around.

Plus, Zoe Sawyer didn’t have much work at the moment and was worried her friend might actually spill the beans, which is why she was standing guard over her phone with such a pained expression.

After getting the full story, Sean Hughes was also in the mood for some drama. He returned to his desk to write his report, all while waiting for the phone to ring.

Less than an hour later, the phone in front of Zoe Sawyer rang shrilly. Zoe took a deep breath, braced herself, and then answered the call.

The moment the call connected, her friend’s voice wasn’t its usual energetic and familiar self. Instead, it was hushed and wary.

It sounded as if she were hiding in a corner, making the call in secret.

"Zoe Sawyer, you’re working for the government now, right? Can you come abroad with me? I’m a little worried." Zoe’s university roommate, Wendy Dawson, said in a hushed voice, huddled in a corner.

Zoe Sawyer frowned, a sudden sense of alarm rising within her. "Worried about what? I thought you just got married. Why the sudden rush to go abroad?"

’Going abroad is one thing, but why make a point of calling me after hearing my current position isn’t suitable for international travel?’

The inconsistency of it all put Zoe Sawyer on high alert.

Evan Keller and the others, who had been enjoying the drama, now stood up. They moved silently to stand behind Zoe Sawyer, their gazes fixed grimly on the phone.

Wendy Dawson seemed to sense the suspicion in Zoe’s tone and quickly explained, "It’s my husband. He suddenly told me today that he’s actually the heir of a wealthy foreign family."

"His family’s assets are mostly overseas, and he said that when someone marries into their family, they have to go to their ancestral estate for a ceremony. Only after that ritual are you considered a true member of the family."

At this point, a note of panic crept into Wendy Dawson’s voice. "But from the time we were dating until now, he never breathed a word about any of this."

"He only told me after we registered our marriage! He said he’s helping me immigrate and that the process has already started. Zoe, I’m really scared. Can you please come with me?"

"I’m afraid he’s going to sell me off! If that happens, I’ll be in a foreign country, completely helpless with no one to turn to!"

He’d come back the day before yesterday and, without any warning, told her they were going abroad to immigrate.

He’d only revealed the detail about the estate after Wendy Dawson had pressed him repeatedly, and even then, he’d done so reluctantly.

He also claimed that everyone who marries into the family must go through this process, or they won’t be able to get a share of the inheritance later.

Wendy Dawson might have been a bit blinded by love, but hearing the words "foreign country," "estate," and "immigration" snapped her back to reality.

She tried to refuse, but the moment she voiced her concerns, her husband’s cheerful expression instantly darkened. He immediately restricted her movements and cut off her means of communicating with the outside world.

It was only then that Wendy Dawson remembered someone casually mentioning at a recent party that Zoe Sawyer had secretly passed the civil service exam and was now a police officer.

An idea instantly formed in her mind: she could get help from the police through Zoe!

Deciding on a course of action, Wendy Dawson pretended that afternoon to have come around. She told him she’d follow her husband wherever he led and would support whatever he wanted to do.

But, she added, she wanted to invite her university roommate, Zoe Sawyer, to be her bridesmaid at the wedding abroad.

Wendy Dawson’s husband, Clark Crowe, hadn’t kept up with her old classmates since graduation, so he had no idea about Zoe Sawyer’s current profession.

He did, however, vaguely recall Wendy mentioning that Zoe had become a novelist after graduation. She was a homebody who holed up in her rented apartment all day and always made excuses to get out of parties and shopping trips.

’A person like that couldn’t stir up any trouble. Bringing her along would be harmless.’

’Besides, what was one more person? At the very least, she could serve as a backup.’

Having come to this conclusion, Clark Crowe agreed to Wendy Dawson’s request and gave her back her phone.

During that first call, however, he had stood right beside her, listening to their conversation. Only after confirming that nothing was amiss did he leave to take care of other things.

After all, time was tight, and it was best to move quickly.

That was why Wendy Dawson was finally able to find an opportunity to secretly call Zoe Sawyer and ask for help.

After hearing the whole story, everyone in the office realized something was terribly wrong.

If there was truly a dark secret at play, then Clark Crowe was most likely eavesdropping on the call from somewhere nearby.

That meant some things couldn’t be asked directly.

Heath Hale quickly typed a message on his phone, telling Zoe Sawyer to play along and not reveal her hand.

Zoe Sawyer gave everyone an "ok" sign and instantly changed her tone. "Wendy Dawson, I know you’re happy right now, but you don’t need to call just to show off, do you?"

"And what’s this about a government job? I’m just a junior clerk at a community center. It’s still up in the air whether I’ll even become a permanent employee."

"Besides, an estate! The heir of a wealthy foreigner! You lucky girl, how did you get all the good luck? When you become a rich man’s wife, remember to let me ride your coattails so I don’t have to work so hard!"

Zoe Sawyer’s tone was a mixture of complaint and envy, and the others around her nodded in approval.

’Not bad, not bad at all. Zoe’s acting has improved again!’

If they couldn’t see the expression on her face, they would have believed her act was genuine just from hearing her over the phone.

Now it all depended on her friend’s reply. As long as she didn’t drop the ball, they should be able to fool him.

A flash of astonishment crossed Wendy Dawson’s eyes when she heard Zoe Sawyer’s reply. It was clearly not the answer she had been expecting.

The next second, however, it clicked for Wendy Dawson. ’Zoe’s a police officer. She must have sensed something to be talking like this.’

’I’m in a dangerous situation. I can’t blow it!’

In just a few seconds, Wendy Dawson figured it all out. She changed her tone to match Zoe’s. "You brat! I’ve gone to all this trouble to ask you, so are you coming with me or not!"

"Maybe you can snag a rich husband for yourself while you’re at it!"

Wendy Dawson!

Nicely done!