Chapter 140: Chapter 127: Fated

Annabelle Leighton never dreamed she’d run into Morgan Hayes here.

Her first reaction was, ’Isla Prescott’s wedding bouquet really worked wonders. It’s already led my red string of fate right to him!’

Morgan Hayes was wearing sunglasses. His gaze seemed to land on Annabelle, but then again, maybe it didn’t.

Just as Annabelle was about to say hello, she heard him speak. “If you’re going to Brieridge Village, I can give you a ride.”

“Okay!” Annabelle agreed instantly.

Wyatt Ford shot Annabelle a look of disbelief. Wasn’t she the one who just said she wouldn’t accept a ride from a strange man? How come she’s willing now that another strange man has shown up?

“Annie, you…”

“I’m heading out first. Thanks for waiting for the tow truck here. I’ll see you in Brieridge Village later.” Annabelle patted Wyatt Ford’s shoulder and added in his ear, “I’ll count today as overtime. Triple pay.”

Annabelle got into Morgan Hayes’s SUV.

The man driving, who had a square-shaped face, was named Levi Quinn. He was Morgan Hayes’s teammate.

He glanced back and saw Annabelle sitting behind Morgan Hayes with a radiant smile. He couldn’t resist trying to scare her. “You’re a young woman all by yourself in an unfamiliar place. How could you just hop into a stranger’s car so casually? Aren’t you afraid we’ll sell you?”

“You both have such an air of righteousness. You look like good men who were born under the flag and raised to serve, who hold the Party and the people in your hearts. You definitely wouldn’t sell me,” Annabelle said.

’She knows they’re police officers?’

It took Levi Quinn a few seconds to process this. He looked at Morgan Hayes in the passenger seat. “You two know each other?”

Morgan Hayes coolly turned his face away. “No.”

’Trying to play strangers?’

Annabelle wasn’t about to let him get away with it. “We’ve kissed, and you’re saying you don’t know me?”

Levi Quinn: “!!!”

’Holy crap! I’ve just stumbled into some major gossip!’

’Their Captain Hayes has kissed this woman?’

“Annabelle Leighton!!!” Morgan Hayes, who was usually as steady as a mountain, nearly shot up from the passenger seat. “If you don’t want a ride, then get out!”

“Just a moment ago you didn’t know me. Remembering who I am now?”

Annabelle grinned at Morgan Hayes, her eyes seeming to say, ’Looks like Officer Hayes hasn’t kissed anyone else besides me.’

Morgan Hayes now deeply regretted his decision to offer Annabelle a ride. He wished he could shove her right back into that broken-down car.

Levi Quinn, however, was thoroughly enjoying the drama. “I was wondering why a young woman like you would be so incautious as to get in a stranger’s car. Turns out you’re an acquaintance of our Captain Hayes.”

“We’re not that close. I was just kidding earlier, don’t take it seriously.” Annabelle backpedaled. “Don’t let me ruin your Captain Hayes’s innocent reputation.”

Levi Quinn was disappointed. “Ahem, that explains it. We had no idea when Captain Hayes started dating!”

“Captain Hayes has never been in a relationship?” Annabelle seized the opportunity to probe.

“Our Captain Hayes has been perennially sin—”

“Levi Quinn!” Morgan Hayes took off his sunglasses and shot him a look. “No chitchat while you’re driving.”

Levi Quinn shrugged and didn’t dare say another word.

The SUV drove for another half an hour along the winding mountain road before reaching Brieridge Village.

Levi Quinn dropped Annabelle off at the village committee office, reminded her to “be safe,” and the car turned around and left.

The head of the Brieridge Village women’s federation, Abigail Warren, was already waiting for Annabelle.

“President Leighton, hello, hello! Thank you so much for making this trip!”

“Director Warren, please don’t be so formal. Just call me Annie.”

The sky was getting dark. After they went into the village committee office and briefly discussed the basic situation in Brieridge Village, Abigail Warren said she would take Annabelle to dinner.

“I’ve booked a table at the small restaurant at the village entrance. After dinner, I’ll take you to the inn behind it to rest. The conditions here are simple. President Leighton… oh no, Annie, I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with it for a couple of days.”

“It’s no problem at all. The mountains are beautiful, the water is clear, and the air is fresh. I like it here very much,” Annabelle said.

The two went to dinner together. At the table, Annabelle told Director Warren about her studio’s original intention for starting the charity dance class and also brought up Isla Prescott.

“Our studio has another director named Isla Prescott. She’s the one who planned and initiated this project. She was originally supposed to come with us, but she had to cancel her trip for personal reasons and can’t make it for now. She asked me to say hello to you.”

“I know of her. I’ve seen your dances online. You are all such beautiful and kindhearted young women. If this charity dance class can really be established in Brieridge, it will be a blessing for the children here.”

“With Director Warren here, I’m sure it can be.”

“I’ll show you around the area tomorrow. The children also want to show you their dancing.”

“Okay.”

After dinner, Annabelle got a takeout portion for Wyatt Ford to bring back to the inn.

A little while later, Wyatt Ford arrived.

He had a different car, one he’d had the towing company help him rent.

“Annie.”

“Did the car get towed for repairs?”

“Yeah, it’s being repaired now. It’ll probably be ready in two days. We can just pick it up on our way back.”

“Okay. You must be hungry. Go eat first.”

“Mm.”

Their rooms were on the second floor of the inn. Just as Wyatt Ford walked into his room carrying the food container, he saw a cockroach scuttling across the table.

“Ah!” he yelped, jumping in fright.

Annabelle hadn’t closed her door yet. Hearing Wyatt Ford’s cry of alarm, she hurried to the next room to check on him.

“What’s wrong, Wyatt?”

“I… I saw a cockroach.” Wyatt Ford was a little desperate. He had expected the living conditions on this business trip to be poor, but not this poor.

“Where?”

“Right there!” Wyatt Ford pointed at the cockroach, which had returned. “It’s back, it’s back!”

Annabelle was quick-eyed and quick-handed. She pulled a power bank out of her bag and squashed the cockroach flat with it.

“Got it!” Annabelle found a tissue to wrap up the cockroach’s corpse, tossed it in the trash can, then wiped her power bank clean with a wet wipe. “There. It’s just one cockroach. I’m not scared, so a big guy like you shouldn’t be making such a fuss!”

Wyatt Ford nodded, but he had already lost his appetite.

Annabelle walked out of Wyatt Ford’s room. Just as she was about to return to her own, she saw Morgan Hayes and Levi Quinn walking down the hallway.

“Hello! You’re staying here too?” Annabelle’s eyes lit up. “To meet again like this… it must be fate!”

Morgan Hayes’s expression was cold.

Annabelle turned to Levi Quinn. “Don’t you think it’s fate, Officer Quinn—”

Levi Quinn made a “shh” gesture at Annabelle.

Annabelle instantly understood what Levi Quinn meant. They were probably out here on some kind of mission and couldn’t casually reveal their identities.

“Don’t you think so, Mr. Quinn?”

“Yes, it’s great fate,” Levi Quinn replied, playing along generously.

Although Annabelle had later denied her connection to Morgan Hayes by claiming it was a joke, Levi Quinn wasn’t stupid. He could tell there was definitely something going on between this pretty girl and their Captain Hayes. She might even be their future sister-in-law.

“Which rooms are you in?” Annabelle asked.

“I’m in the one at the far east end. Miles’s room is right next to yours.”

“Next door, huh.” Annabelle gave Morgan Hayes a meaningful look. “Then this must be fate upon fate.”

Morgan Hayes ignored her and went straight into his room.

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