Chapter 516 Conspiracy (9) Split Up

Hannah awoke at dawn, insomnia plaguing her throughout the night. Oscar's unsettling gaze and the complexities of their situation kept her restless. She remained in bed, reluctant to disturb Theodore and Jimmy's sleep. The day ahead promised to be arduous, and she wanted them well-rested and prepared.

She checked the news on her phone, a habitual action. Reports about Oscar continued to dominate headlines. While the coverage remained objective, avoiding defamation, it did little to repair his already severely damaged reputation. The more Hannah read, the more disheartened she became.

Just as she was about to close the app, a news item caught her attention: Charles Sawyer and Sarah Collins were photographed at a maternity hospital, fueling speculation of a pregnancy and impending marriage.

Hannah found this unconvincing. The Collins family should have abandoned Charles; how could he still be with Sarah? She clicked the news item, her jaw clenched.

The paparazzi footage showed Charles and Sarah, masked, entering the capital's most exclusive maternity hospital, surrounded by a phalanx of guards. The video clearly appeared to have been surreptitiously recorded. Hannah realized this was part of Charles's plan, a realization solidifying her suspicions after his blatant phone call the previous night.

She gripped her phone, a wave of annoyance washing over her. She had underestimated Charles's manipulative patterns with women. He consistently used cunning tactics to compensate for his shortcomings. How could Sarah, seemingly ensconced in her ivory tower, succumb to his allure?

Charles, having assessed his precarious situation, had undoubtedly plotted his next move. Announcing Sarah's pregnancy was the perfect strategy for self-preservation and advancement. If they were merely cohabiting, the Collins family could easily separate them; it would be a fleeting scandal. However, a pregnancy, especially in conservative Northfield, would spark widespread public outrage, even the Collins family couldn't ignore.

Hannah hadn't anticipated Charles's audacity. Steady progress would have served him well with the Collins; any misstep, however, could prove fatal. He was a man of desperate measures.

Would rescuing Oscar prove more challenging than she'd imagined? She even questioned if this was Charles's last chance, a lifeline extended by the Collins.

Hannah forced herself to calm down, understanding the stakes. She couldn't afford to falter.

At eight o'clock, Hannah descended the stairs, surprised to find Theodore and Jimmy already in the living room. She'd expected Theodore to sleep later. It seemed he'd also been unable to rest.

"Oh, you're awake," Theodore remarked casually.

Hannah nodded.

"Come to breakfast," he said. She joined them at the table.

During breakfast, Theodore asked, "Did you see the news?"

"Yes."

"Charles is so disgusting," Theodore said dismissively.

While Charles's recent actions were reprehensible, he had once been a highly regarded public figure. It struck Hannah as odd that Theodore and Oscar always seemed so contemptuous of him. Had they known his true nature for a long time?

She decided against asking; it seemed inconsequential at that moment. Her focus remained solely on Oscar.

"After breakfast, we split up," she announced. "Theodore, you infiltrate City Hall, wait for the opportune moment, and then send me a message; Jimmy and I will go to Oscar's apartment to look for clues."

"Understood," Theodore replied. "I've arranged for some discreet protection for you. Be careful."

"I will," Hannah affirmed.

After breakfast, they left the nightclub's secret room separately. Hannah and Jimmy drove in silence, the city unfolding outside the car window. Jimmy remained somber since Oscar's arrest.

He parked near Oscar's building, awaiting Theodore's signal. Around eleven, Theodore called: "It's time."

"Got it." Hannah instructed Jimmy, "Let's go."

Theodore's efficiency impressed Hannah. She was unsure of the extent of his influence, but his ability to acquire a vehicle near Oscar's residence overnight was remarkable. They drove directly into the underground garage and took the elevator to Oscar's apartment.

Upon exiting the elevator, Hannah checked for surveillance cameras. She, and Jimmy, whose stiff demeanor betrayed his own apprehension, were both nervous. The elevator had a camera, but their opponents wouldn't be foolish enough to use it with fifty million dollars in cash. But what if they used the stairs? She found no cameras on the stairwell, concluding they'd used the stairs to move the money.

They reached Oscar's door. Hannah removed the seals, entered the code, and stepped inside.

"Jimmy, could you stand guard outside?" she asked.

Jimmy looked at her, slightly bewildered.

"If anything happens, you can provide cover," she explained.

Jimmy nodded; his role was to ensure her safety.

Hannah entered the apartment, her heart aching at the sight of their once happy home, now covered in dust. Fighting back emotion, she began her search.

The more she searched, the more disheartened she became. The apartment was impeccably clean; everything she thought might be suspicious was gone.

Had she underestimated her opponents?