Chapter 225: Getting Answers
Ewan looked at his phone in confusion as he dialed Zack's number for the tenth time, only to be met with the
sincessant ringing that led straight to voicemail. Where did the sly old man keep his phone?
Ewan sighed and dialed the number again. When it repeated its former response, he gritted his teeth in
annoyance and stuffed the phone into his pocket. If Zack had blocked him, then he would find the latter at his
house!
With that thought planted firmly in his mind, he donned his suit jacket, which he had removed earlier when he
arrived at the office for work, and strode out of his office.
Sandro, who occupied the next office, seeing the determined look on Ewan’s face, abandoned the projects he
was working on at his computer, got to his feet, and grabbed his own suit jacket.
"Where to?" He asked Ewan, slipping on the jacket, shutting down his computer afterwards.
"To Zack's house," Ewan tossed back curtly, moving briskly past the office and into the elevator.
Sandro had no tto pause and think; he followed Ewan into the elevator.
"You know, you don’t have to followeverywhere, Sandro. I'm fine, and | always have my medication with
me," Ewan said, his gaze fixed straight ahead on the elevator doors as they closed.
Sandro sighed. "Yes, | have to. Since you refused to move around with a security detail, | have no choice but to
step in. What's to say the gang hasn't taken their eyes off you?"
Ewan had no reply to that. Yet he still thought it was better for the security agents to remain in the shadows,
watching him, than to trail behind him in a multitude of cars.
"So, why do you want to see Zack? | thought you mentioned calling him..."
"His number isn’t going through. | don’t know if he blocked me, or if something else is the issue," Ewan
answered, folding his arms across his chest as his mind raced through varied topics, like what he would get for
his children as he would be seeing them that evening.
Would they accept him? Would they accept his gifts? Were they eager to see him as he was to see them?
"Maybe he blocked your number. Lettry with mine. Call his number," Sandro suggested, pulling Ewan away
from his thoughts, albeit temporarily.
Sandro tried Zack’s number five times before concluding that perhaps the old man had blocked him too.
"It must be because we're joined at the hip these days," He surmised, shaking his head.
Ewan scoffed. "Call Zane. | don’t think Zack hates him enough to block his number,"
Sandro shrugged. "That was before he sold out to Athena, unknowingly. Now that he has, | don’t think he sees
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtany need to keep tabs on the big names in society."
Still, he dialed Zane’s contact. The latter picked up on the second ring.
"You wantto call that foolish man, and for what?"
As Sandro and Ewan approached their car—rather Sandro’s, since Ewan was still staying with him—in the
company’s parking lot, Ewan instructed, "Just do it. We need to confirm something."
There was a pause on the other line before the call dropped. Sandro and Ewan climbed into the front seats of the
car and waited.
Two minutes later, Zane called back.
"His line isn’t going through. I think he blocked mine too. That fool... Is there any problem, though? Why are you
two looking for Zack? Did he do something wrong?"
"Not exactly. Remember the conversation we had yesterday at Connor's house? Yeah... Ewan is trying to reach
out to him, but to no avail. So, we'll be heading to his house now."
"Alright then. Keepposted. If | had to take a guess, the fool couldn't take the heat and switched off his
phone."
Sandro chuckled softly and ended the call, kicking the car into ignition.
"We'll see about that when we get to his house," He muttered before pulling the car out of the parking lot.
Sminutes later, they parked in front of Zack's large house, which could easily be mistaken for a mansion.
Ewan and Sandro stepped out of the car, scanning the area, which was as deserted as the house itself. Although
Athena had included this neighborhood in her treatment plans, it seemed the residents had fled to better areas,
where the Gray disease wasn’t rampant yet.
Looking at the empty driveway, Ewan bit down on regret as he recalled the night he had dragged Athena back
here—the night he had seen on social media that she had slept with another man.
She had claimed innocence during that reckless drive, but he hadn't listened, perhaps because she didn’t cry—
just stating her facts stone-faced.
Yet, would that have made a difference considering how foolish he had been? He didn’t think so.
"Ewan, look at this!"
Ewan turned sharply in the direction of Sandro’s shout. His brows furrowed when he saw what his friend was
pointing at. A "For Sale" signpost stood beside the house.
Zack was selling it? Why? Did he follow the others and flee the town? Ewan’s heart burned with frustration. He
needed answers about Athena!
Cursing under his breath, he pushed open the gate, pleased to find it wasn’t locked, and walked up to the front
door. He tried to push it open, like he had done with the gate, but it was locked.
"Sandro, do you still remember how to pick a lock?"
Sandro raised an eyebrow. "Pick a lock? | don’t think there's a tool around here..."
Ewan huffed, looking around. His eyes narrowed when he spotted a man standing by the gate, staring at them in
confusion.
"Who are you?" He called to the man, who appeared well-off, given the golden wristwatch he wore.
"I'm the owner of the house, Mr. Ewan. Are you looking for Zack?" The stranger asked, stepping further into the
compound.
At least he knows who | am, Ewan thought, nodding. "Do you have any idea where he is?"
"Not exactly," The man replied. "But he mentioned that he was tired of everything and was moving to a place
where he could retire and sleep... join his ancestors, | mean..."
Ewan exchanged a cursory glance with Sandro. "Did he leave any contact information? We tried calling his
number, but it isn’t going through."
The man stepped forward, pulling out his phone. "I think this is his new number..." He said, stretching the device
towards Ewan.
"Thank you very much..." Ewan said with relief, dialing the contact on his phone.
"You're welcome, Mr. Giacometti," The man replied, walking up the porch, watching as Ewan and Sandro exited
the compound quickly.
"It's ringing..." Ewan announced as they climbed back into the car, unable to conceal the relief in his voice.
Sandro inhaled and leaned back in his seat. They wouldn't be driving away until they knew what Zack was up to.
"Hello..." Zack's voice croaked from the phone. The call was on loudspeaker.
Ewan paused, processing. "Hello, Zack, don’t end this call..."
A notable silence ensued on the other end of the line.
Ewan and Sandro exchanged glances, the silence stretching into awkwardness lasting more than a few seconds.
"Zack, are you there?" Ewan spoke calmly, yet authoritatively.
"I'm here, Ewan. What do you want with me? Haven't things been done and concluded? Or do you want my
shares in your company? | could give..."
"No, Zack, that’s not why I called." Ewan cut in, wondering why Zack sounded so... laidback, gentle, like
someone who had given up a strong fight.
"So, why are you calling?" Zack asked after a few beats of silence.
"I'm calling because | want to see you. | need you to answer squestions about Athena."
Silence again.
"About Athena? What do you want to know about her? She’s not my daughter, if that’s what you want to know.
She was dropped in my backyard years ago. We don’t know where she cfrom. | couldn't trace her lineage. Is
there anything else you want to know?"
Ewan sighed, processing Zack's hurried response. It was as if the old man was trying to get off the phone as
quickly as he could.
"Where are you, Zack?"
A notable pause followed again.
"Outside the country. Please don’t cafter me; | just want peace. | apologize for everything I did, for trying to
schyou and Athena into doing my bidding. I'm sorry about that. Please let it go."
Ewan sighed tiredly. "I'm not calling you for that. And besides, I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." A
pause. "Have you reached out to Athena to apologize?"
"She blocked my number. | can’t reach out to her. Is there anything else you want from me? My therapy
appointment is almost here..."
Sandro chuckled from beside Ewan, who found the statement equally hilarious.
"Right... Athena’s accident—the one that happened when she was younger and in your care... how did that
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