The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 98

He answered the call with a single, sharp "Hello," and then remained dead silent, listening intently.

Annelise had excellent vision; from across the room, she watched the muscle near his cheekbone twitch violently for a split second on his normally unflappable face.

He hung up quickly and strolled back to his seat, looking completely unbothered.

But as he picked up his coffee cup, Annelise noticed a nearly imperceptible stiffness in his wrist.

Less than ten minutes later, his phone buzzed again.

It was the exact same number.

This time, the call was even shorter. He spoke only two words.

"Understood."

When he returned to his seat for the second time, his face was terrifyingly dark.

His sharp, predatory eyes were clouded with a suffocating, violent tension—like the heavy silence right before a massive storm makes landfall.

He leaned slightly toward Felix, who was standing rigidly behind him, and fired off a few rapid, hushed commands.

Felix's face instantly went pale. He gave a hard, grim nod, spun on his heel, and practically sprinted out of the banquet hall.

Annelise's heart violently seized in her chest.

Her instincts were screaming the answer at her.

Barnum had gotten the tip.

He knew that his eldest son—the man who had been "dead" for three years—was on his way.

At 1:30 PM.

The extravagant luncheon was finally drawing to a close.

The MC took the stage once more, his rich, magnetic voice booming over the speakers to outline the rest of the day.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our luncheon will now pause. At precisely 2:00 PM, we will reconvene right here for the Lehman family's private gratitude ceremony."

"Following that, at 3:00 PM, we will commence the formal reception, during which the patriarch of the Lehman family, Mr. Barnum Lehman, will deliver a special address."

Beneath the table, Annelise tapped her finger lightly against her leg.

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