Mr. CEO's Substitute Bride
Chapter 145, Mysterious Woman (2000+)

Chapter 145: 145, Mysterious Woman (2000+)

After returning to his room, Titus Zane called Logan Ray.

Once the call connected, there were no courteous small talks, and Titus Zane curved his lips.

"...I’m back... I want to meet up with you... Oh, you’re only available later... Okay, then I’ll call you."

...

In an apartment in T city, Ava Charles leaned in front of the bed, her small porcelain face beaming with bliss.

"Logan, who called you?"

Logan Ray sat back down at the bedside, his handsome brows slightly furrowed, "Why are you calling me ’brother’ again?"

Ava Charles stuck out her tongue, "It just slipped out."

"How many times have I told you not to call me that? When our baby grows up, if you keep calling me ’brother’, what will she think!" Logan Ray’s slender hand covered Ava Charles’s swollen belly, although his words were of reprimand, his tone was indulgent.

"Okay, I’m not angry anymore, was I wrong? Smile for me, come on, smile..." Ava Charles grabbed Logan Ray’s hand and playfully shook it.

Logan Ray obligingly lifted his lips.

"That’s better!" Ava Charles pouted, then suddenly plunged into Logan’s embrace, "Logan, I love you so much."

Logan Ray gently kissed the top of Ava Charles’s head and lightly patted her back.

Most people, when they return to their hometown, like to walk around everywhere.

But it seems Titus Zane was not in the mood.

Having just completed a deal, Sister Hua told her to stay in another city for a few days since another deal was under discussion, and she couldn’t go back for the time being.

Of course, it’s better to keep a low profile to avoid being seen by Mr. Tang.

Instead of waiting in another city, she might as well return to T city, at least here, she is somewhat familiar and won’t feel too strange and lonely.

After taking a shower and changing into clean clothes, Titus Zane picked up her compact backpack, stepped out of the room, and headed to a restaurant to fill her stomach.

After being away for three years, the street food in T city was still on the same street, although there had been quite a few changes.

She randomly picked a restaurant, found a corner seat, and ordered two signature dishes to slowly dine alone.

Before leaving, Titus Zane went to the restaurant’s restroom. Just as she walked past the lobby towards the restroom corridor, her arm tightened, grabbed from behind.

Titus Zane turned around, her demeanor calm as she looked at the person who grabbed her arm.

It was a middle-aged woman, probably in her fifties, her skin tight and fair due to good maintenance.

"Are you Xiao Nuo’s daughter?" The woman looked excited, Titus Zane slightly furrowed her brows, she seemed to have seen this woman somewhere before.

"Shulan, let’s go!"

A man’s voice called out, presumably calling the woman holding Titus Zane’s arm.

"You must be Xiao Nuo’s daughter..." The woman still clutched Titus Zane’s arm, her other hand covering her lips, her eyes reddening, her words somewhat incoherent.

"Back then, I secretly visited you right after your mother gave birth to you..."

"Shulan! Who are you talking to?" A middle-aged man spoke while walking over.

Shulan turned her head and responded casually, "Oh, someone asking for directions, couldn’t find the restroom."

Titus Zane was helpless, just about to say something when the woman gripping her arm leaned in close with a nervous and secretive tone, urgently whispered, "Your mother was killed by Ariana Evans, Ariana Evans is the murderer who killed your mother."

Leaving that baffling comment behind, the woman released Titus Zane’s arm, raised her voice, "Coming, coming..." and then quickly left.

Watching the man and woman leave, Titus Zane slightly frowned her brows.

She lost the urge to visit the restroom, walked out of the restaurant, her mind full of, your mother was killed by Ariana Evans...

If this woman had mistaken her for someone else, then how could she have known her mother?

If her mother’s name was common, it might be understandable.

But the name "Ariana Evans" is quite rare within the country, one could count on one hand the number of people blessed with such a difficult name.

Moreover, this was not the first time she was mistaken for someone else; three days ago, during the exhibition...

Remembering that incident, Titus Zane suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Three years ago, that woman also claimed she was "the daughter of Xiao Nuo", also with a face filled with surprise and excitement, also...

His slightly squinting eyes suddenly widened.

It was this woman three years ago!

Titus Zane turned around, intending to return and find that woman to ask her for the truth.

But he had only taken a few steps before stopping again.

The woman had left the restaurant before him, he didn’t know her name, and he wondered where to start looking for her.

Now during the evening rush hour, standing by the roadside, Titus Zane looked around; on the streets, other than passing vehicles, there were scarcely any pedestrians like him.

In the traffic, a woman driving a white Toyota glanced casually out the window and caught sight of the tall figure by the roadside; her eyes widened, clearly surprised.

"Your mother was killed by Ariana Evans," this phrase, like a curse, lingered by Titus Zane’s ear as he thought and pondered, and before he knew it, he had walked up to the entrance of the hotel.

Looking up at the towering skyscrapers, amid the doorkeeper’s welcoming greetings, Titus Zane entered the hotel.

Titus Zane was suffering from insomnia, tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep.

It had been three years of poor sleep.

Moreover, he had received such shocking news today.

Titus Zane decided, regardless of whether the woman’s story was true or false,

He needed to have someone look into it.

He glanced at his wristwatch; it should be early morning over there.

Sitting up, he took the smartphone placed in front of his bed, scrolled through for a hidden number and dialed it.

"carry, calling me so late at night, what’s up?" From the receiver, Sister Hua’s gentle voice sounded.

"Sister Hua, do you know any private detectives in the country?" Titus Zane didn’t indulge in pleasantries with Sister Hua and went straight to the point.

"carry, what happened?" Sister Hua’s voice sounded tense.

"Nothing much," feeling a bit too anxious, Titus Zane lightly curved his lips, his tone also relaxed a bit, "Just want to investigate something."

"What’s the matter?"

"Sister Hua, it’s just some personal matter of mine, you surely wouldn’t want to pry into that, would you?" Titus Zane chuckled, trying to ease his own emotions.

"carry, don’t think too much, I care about you," Sister Hua’s voice turned serious, "I’m not trying to snoop on your privacy. I have many private detective friends here, and I’ll refer the best one to you."

"Thank you."

Titus Zane said sincerely.

"We’re all sisters, no need for formalities, I’ll have him call you once I contact him."

"Okay." Before hanging up, Sister Hua instructed over the phone.

"carry, I have to remind you to always be cautious of your subordinates, sometimes, the ones who betray you are those closest to you who understand you the most."

This was an experience Sister Hua summarized from her own experiences.

"Thank you for your reminder, I will remember."

"Mm, good night, have sweet dreams." Sister Hua blew a kiss over the phone, Titus Zane said goodbye, then hung up his phone.

Hugging his arms, he gazed out of the window at the night sky, his dark eyes slowly narrowing.