Half an hour later, Chase stared at the reply he received, his face swollen after being punched so many times.

�Um, well� He said that he would never reappear again no matter what happens and that he gives full authority over Carmine Pawnshop� to me.�

�He sounds really cautious�� Renee observed doubtfully. �You didn�t warn him earlier, did you?�

�I swear to God that I didn�t!�

�Then why the hell would he give up his authority to you so suddenly?�

�I wouldn�t say it�s that sudden�� Chase then came clean and told Renee, �Since he disappeared on the day both of you were supposed to get married, he never showed up at Carmine Pawnshop ever again. In fact, when he left, he made it clear that he would never show up again. It was obvious that he wanted to make a clean break with Carmine Pawnshop. Perhaps� He caught a whiff that Boss was going to return even back then?�

�But what is he planning to do?� asked Renee, still bewildered. �He�s been running Carmine Pawnshop for the last four years! How could he give it all up just like that? It�s like he�s been working for my brother for free! Doesn�t he have anything better to do?�

All the questions that were playing in Renee�s head only deepened her resolve to find a way to lure the man out.

Seeing Renee�s firm determination, Chase clenched his fists and suggested, �I�ve got an idea, but it�s the last resort, and it requires your cooperation. Do you want to� give it a try?�

Renee slapped Chase violently across his face, her patience worn thin to the bone.

�Spit it out, will you?!� she demanded. �Just tell me your idea and stop sputtering like that! It�s like you�re teasing me!�

Chase smiled awkwardly and replied, �The impostor, Mr. Q is indeed a cautious man, and he would only contact me through text messages. There�s also no way to ascertain his address or whereabouts through his phone number, so unless he�s willing to voluntarily show up, we have no way of finding him. So far, the only person who can make him turn up willingly is you, Ms. Everheart.�

�I�m afraid I�m not that powerful�� said Renee dejectedly. �Ever since he stood me up, I couldn�t contact him at all. If he really cared about me, he would�ve been a little more to say goodbye before he left.�

�I believe the impostor, Mr. Q, must have a good reason for it��

�So? Get to the point. What should I do to get him to show up?�

�It�s really simple.� Chase curled his finger in a beckoning gesture at Renee. �Follow me, Ms. Everheart.�

In the dead of the night, Chase and Renee weaved through the vast and labyrinthine Carmine Pawnshop. After a long journey through twists and turns, they finally stopped at the most remote courtyard. The place looked as if no one had stepped into it for centuries, and the door was covered in thick wads of cobwebs, cementing in an air of decay and ruin.

�Chase Cheever, what� what are you trying to do?�

Renee pursed her lips and instinctively took a few steps back.

�Don�t be afraid, Ms. Everheart�� JrNovels.com