She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 435: False Smiles

"I’m not certain if it’s accurate or not... but the word is that Pierce has vanished."

The instant Danny uttered those words, Alex’s placid demeanor evaporated. He swiveled his head toward Danny, his eyes narrowing subtly as his focus became absolute.

"What do you mean ‘vanished’?" he inquired, a hint of bewilderment in his voice.

Danny rubbed the back of his neck, responding,

"Well, we don’t have many details since we’re just students... but today, the college officially declared Vice President Miranda Whitman as the new President. We figured they’d finally fired Pierce. And truthfully, both of us were quite pleased about it."

He paused briefly before continuing,

"But later, we observed Marcus on a phone call. He seemed quite distressed. We happened to be passing by and overheard him say something akin to... ‘How could he disappear right before the exams...’"

Alex remained silent for a moment.

He reclined against the pool's edge, his gaze unfocused as he entered a state of profound contemplation.

’If Pierce truly is missing... then someone must have orchestrated his removal from the scene.’

’But who would undertake such an action... and for what motive?’

’Blackwood University held immense significance for James and Catherine. It represented a substantial pillar of their influence and authority. Pierce had consistently been their operative... faithful, beneficial, and deeply integrated into their operations within the university.’

Alex’s thoughts rapidly synthesized the recent occurrences.

’Recently, The Steeles had renounced James and Catherine, aligning themselves with Richard’s faction. And from my understanding, Pierce had always maintained a close relationship with Marcus. If Marcus displayed such disquiet over his absence, it strongly suggests Pierce opted to align with Richard.’

’So that’s the reason...’

A faint, knowing smirk graced Alex’s lips as he whispered to himself,

’It appears Catherine is truly on a winning streak...’

However, another consideration abruptly surfaced in Alex’s mind.

’If Catherine and James were indeed responsible for Pierce’s removal... then why would they appoint Miranda Whitman as the new president?

She is James’s own spouse. Placing her in that role doesn’t quite add up if they orchestrated Pierce’s disappearance. There must be more to this situation.’

Alex’s brow furrowed slightly as he pondered this anomaly.

From his limited encounters with her, Alex recognized Miranda’s opposition to Pierce and his recent corrupt activities. She had never concealed her disapproval. Yet, concurrently, Alex was aware of her deep affection for him.

"I can only hope they have a contingency plan..." he murmured softly, more to himself than anyone else.

Perceiving Alex’s quiet utterance, both Mike and Danny turned their attention toward him. They had been observing him in silence for some time as he stood, lost in thought.

Danny was the first to break the silence.

"What are you thinking about?" he inquired.

Alex abruptly emerged from his musings and gave a slight shake of his head.

"Whatever transpired with him is not our concern," Alex stated calmly. "You two shouldn’t be bothered by it."

Mike and Danny exchanged a swift, understanding glance before nodding in agreement.

"Indeed... It’s not our business," Mike confirmed.

Danny offered a shrug and added, "You’re right. Let’s not dwell on it too much."

Then, attempting to lift the atmosphere, Mike looked at Alex with a subtle grin,

"Come on... Let’s go for a swim. If you’re finished with your contemplation."

***

Blackwood Cafeteria – Midday Meal Today

The usual group had convened at their customary spot in the college canteen. Marcus occupied the head of the table, flanked by Tyler and Robert on either side. Jennifer was seated opposite them, while Sophia sat directly beside Marcus.

The ambience at their table today felt markedly different. Sophia displayed an unusual vibrancy. She beamed, spoke with charming sweetness, and laughed more frequently as she engaged Marcus, Tyler, and Robert in conversation.

Her voice was melodious and cheerful as she offered them compliments and inquired about their day. It was as though an internal switch had been abruptly activated within her.

Jennifer observed her quietly from across the table.

’Something is amiss... profoundly wrong,’ she mused, her eyes narrowing slightly. Sophia’s sudden behavioral shift felt disquieting. Having known Sophia for a considerable time, Jennifer could detect when something was out of place, yet she couldn’t precisely identify the source of the anomaly.

She cast a glance at Tyler and Robert. Both were regarding Sophia with subtle, knowing smiles, as if privy to a shared amusement inaccessible to others. Upon noticing Jennifer’s stare, they quickly averted their gaze, appearing as though they had been discovered.

Sophia then turned her head, her gaze returning to Jennifer, bestowing upon her a saccharine smile.

’What scheme is this woman concocting...?’ Jennifer pondered, a surge of irritation building within her.

Already burdened by the dejection of being unable to see Alex for the entire preceding week, Sophia’s peculiar conduct only amplified her annoyance.

Seeking to redirect the discourse, she addressed the group,

"What are your thoughts on Pierce? Why do you believe he was suddenly dismissed? Is it genuinely attributable solely to that particular case?"

The instant the question left her lips, a palpable shift occurred around the table.

Marcus's countenance visibly fell. He retreated slightly in his seat, his expression growing somber as his gaze fixed upon the tabletop.

So many plans had been meticulously crafted. He had dedicated days to strategizing how to neutralize those rivals, even devising a scheme to ensure their disqualification from the finals.

Yet, in a swift turn of events, his entire strategy crumbled.

Pierce was no longer reachable.

It was as though the man had dissolved into the ether, leaving no trace of his existence behind.

Noticing the lack of response, Jennifer redirected her attention to Sophia, inquiring,

"What are your thoughts, Sophia? You must possess some insight into this matter, wouldn't you agree?"

Sophia slowly pivoted her head, her eyes meeting Jennifer's for several seconds. A faint smile graced her lips, but a subtle intensity flickered within her gaze. Then, with a soft, almost childlike chuckle, she replied in a tone that was both sweet and disarming,

"Thank you for holding me in such high regard, Jennifer. However, I am truly not privy to many of the family's major decisions."

A barely perceptible smirk played on Sophia's lips as she delivered her response.

'This woman...' Jennifer seethed internally. Sophia's answer left her deeply unsatisfied. She scrutinized Sophia for a moment, clearly irked by her rival's unruffled composure.

Following the tumultuous events of the previous week, Jennifer had anticipated a vastly different reaction from Sophia.

She had expected outbursts, pointed questions, emotional turmoil, or at the very least, some outward sign of distress.

Instead, what greeted her was an unnerving display of tranquility.

Abruptly, Marcus's phone began to ring on the table.

He reached for it, his eyes scanning the caller ID. The moment he recognized the name, his expression shifted subtly.

'Father...?'

'Why would he be calling me now?' Marcus wondered, his brow furrowing. 'He knows I'm attending classes.'

An unfamiliar sense of urgency began to coil in his gut. Without a moment's hesitation, he rose from his chair.

"I must take this call," he announced curtly to the assembled group.

He offered no further explanation, stepping away from the table and moving towards a quieter alcove within the cafe before accepting the call.

"Hello?"

His father's crisp voice immediately filled his ear.

"Why the delay in answering?"

Marcus frowned slightly, responding,

"What's the matter, Dad? You know I'm in class right now."

A brief silence ensued on the other end before his father's voice returned, now carrying a grave tone.

"This concerns matters far more critical than your studies," he stated. "It's about Pierce."

Marcus emitted a dismissive scoff.

"What about Pierce? That scoundrel was exposed and is now disgraced. He's not even responding to my calls."

His father's subsequent words struck Marcus with immobilizing force.

"He has disappeared."

Marcus's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

"What?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with rising panic. "What do you mean? How can he just disappear?"

While Marcus struggled to absorb the gravity of his father's announcement, the elder man continued, his voice firm and commanding.

"Listen to me very carefully. You will keep this strictly confidential. Not a word to anyone... not even your friends. Conduct yourself as usual, but understand this: from this point forward, you are to cease all involvement with anything concerning Pierce."

Marcus's confusion deepened, his grip tightening on his phone.

His father's tone remained unwavering as he pressed on,

"Effective immediately, you are to devote your complete attention to that young woman... Sophia."

Marcus's jaw dropped in incredulity.

"What? What are you saying, Dad?" he stammered, his voice climbing in pitch. "Has she suddenly become important again? You told me not to pursue her when I confessed my feelings, and now you're instructing me to focus on her?"

After a short pause, his father let out a weary sigh.

"How can you be so dense?" his father lamented. "It appears the circumstances have drastically shifted once more..."

He trailed off, then sighed again before concluding,

"Very well... Return home immediately after your classes conclude. Your mother and I will provide a full explanation."

Before Marcus could offer a response, the line went dead.

Slowly, Marcus lowered the phone from his ear, his brow furrowed with a mixture of bewilderment and vexation.

He turned his head, glancing back towards the table, only to find Sophia already observing him, her expression serene and utterly inscrutable.