Chapter 82

Jonathan’s steady footsteps echoed as he said with laxity, “So, you finally decided to call me?”

My words were cut off before they even left my mouth.

“Please. I thought you were tougher than this.”

I heard the clink against the glass on his end and took a deep breath. “Jonathan, I need to talk to you.”

“Elise, remember when I was on business trips before? You couldn’t wait to follow me everywhere. Even when you couldn’t come along, you’d call me when I landed to check in.”

He spoke in the calmest tone possible, dredging up the most humiliating chapter of my past.

“You’re playing hard to get this time, but that act only lasted this long?”

Despite the obvious sarcasm in his voice, I stayed surprisingly composed.

“Jonathan, you’re wrong. I really do have something to discuss with you.” Then my steady voice said, “Only you can help with this.”

“Elise, who told you it was easy to find him?”

Before I could respond, a sharp, angry voice exploded beside me.

Frederick stood at the door with cold eyes. He snatched the phone from my hand and glanced at the call screen.

“Didn’t I tell you not to contact Jonathan?”

At the same time, Jonathan’s voice on the other end instantly went colder. “Elise, you’re with Frederick?”

Frederick sneered and hung up immediately.

Jonathan called back multiple times, but Frederick blocked him outright. Then, he glared at me with dissatisfaction. “I told you not to call him. Are you just going…”

I frowned. “I just want Elise…”

“I want to rescue your sister as soon as possible. Is there any more direct way than reaching out to Jonathan? Alicia has to maintain her image before him, and we can use this as leverage.”

“There’s no need for that.” Frederick cut me off, his tone firm and certain. “I’ve already found a way.”

“What way?” I breathed a sigh of relief.

I really didn’t want to deal with Jonathan, especially after his condescending tone on the phone. It felt like he’d known I’d call all along, which only made me dislike him more.

I didn’t want to get tangled up with Jonathan at all if Frederick had a plan.

He looked me straight in the eyes. “I was wrong to think the Zimmer residence’s security was alright. It’s more complicated than I thought.”

The surprise in my eyes dimmed a little as I frowned. “You mean the plan mentioned before? To get her out directly?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “But I’ll need some time.”

His gaze darkened. “Mr. Food Senior is at the Zimmer residence right now. To the Zimmers, he’s the most important guest. They’ll protect him above all else if anything happens to him.”

I instantly understood what he meant. Gabrielle stared at him, shocked. “You want to use Mr. Food Senior? Frederick, that’s insanely bold!”

Frederick said nothing. His eyes flickered for a moment before he looked back at me. “Are you willing to go with this?”

I stayed silent.

He held my gaze steady. “You loved Jonathan so much before. Mr. Food Senior has always been the most important person to you. You never dared to go against him, let alone use him. So, are you willing to do it, Elise?”

Am I willing?

A strange feeling welled up inside, a mention that did belong to me.

Intest like hesitation and pain.