Chloe Reed nodded. "Let’s eat first. I’ll call and ask in a bit."

The old woman said nothing more.

「After dinner.」

The old woman was helped outside by a maid for a post-meal walk, while Chloe Reed dialed Annie York’s number.

BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...

After three rings, the call still hadn’t gone through.

Chloe Reed’s fine brows knitted together, a flicker of confusion clouding her beautiful face.

’Why isn’t she answering?’

Just as the call was about to end, someone finally picked up.

"Hello? Who is this?"

An impatient male voice came through the phone.

SOB SOB SOB...

And mixed in the background was Ann’s muffled sobbing, noisy and indistinct.

Chloe Reed shot to her feet, her expression turning icy. "Who are you? Where’s Annie York?"

"First, you tell me who you are to her." The man’s tone was flippant and arrogant.

Chloe Reed didn’t waste another word and hung up immediately.

She immediately called Daniel Hayes and told him to find Annie York’s current location.

She sat back down and waited quietly.

Time ticked by. Half an hour passed before her phone finally rang. She glanced down, expecting a call from Daniel Hayes, but was surprised to see Annie York’s name on the screen.

"Hello?"

Chloe Reed answered, her expression guarded.

"Chloe, it’s me..." Annie York’s voice, still choked with sobs, came through the phone.

Chloe Reed frowned. "Ann, what was going on just now? Where are you? Are you safe?"

Annie York sobbed, "I... I’m okay now. It’s all thanks to Mr. Vance. If he hadn’t happened to be passing by, I... I..."

As she spoke, she began to cry again out of fear.

A rustling sound followed, and then Preston Vance’s gentle voice came on the line. "Chloe, it’s me."

Chloe Reed pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

Preston Vance didn’t seem to mind her silence and continued, "I found her near The Velvet Night. Some people were chasing her, so I had her get in my car. Should I bring her to you now?"

Chloe Reed lowered her gaze and answered, "Alright."

A faint sigh came through the phone before the line went dead.

About twenty minutes later, a car horn sounded at the main gate.

Chloe Reed went outside and saw Annie York at the gate, bowing repeatedly to Preston Vance in gratitude.

"Mr. Vance, thank you, thank you so much..."

Preston Vance steadied her by the elbow with one hand, his expression exceptionally gentle. "Please, don’t. I would have helped anyone in that situation. You look exhausted. You should go inside and rest."

Annie York nodded. When she turned, she saw Chloe Reed. "Chloe..."

Chloe Reed stepped forward and hugged her. "Go take a hot shower and get something to eat. I’ll come find you in a little while."

Annie York mumbled, "Mm-hmm."

She bowed to Preston Vance in thanks once more, then hurried into the villa.

Chloe Reed looked at Preston Vance, her expression complicated. "What were you doing over by The Velvet Night?"

Preston Vance raised an eyebrow. "A friend of mine opened a noodle shop nearby. I went to get a bowl of noodles."

He paused, then took out a business card. "This is the address. If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to check it out. I have no reason to lie to you."

Chloe Reed lowered her gaze to the business card in his hand. It was for Arlo’s Noodles, complete with a phone number and address.

After a moment of silence, she said, "Thank you for bringing her back."

When she made no move to take it, Preston Vance slowly withdrew his hand. "If you ever have the time, you should go try it. The broth is excellent."