Chapter 154: Jealousy
Zane responded to Ian's statement with silence. He did not understand how something like that could have happened. He knew that his friend had assigned Mina a personal guard and on top of that, he often had multiple men follow her whenever he was not around or busy. Zane knew that Mina would not have just been able to get up and walk away. Either someone had taken her, or Ian had done something himself.
"Are you there?" Ian asked, but there was only silence.
Ian knew the call had not dropped, so he waited for his friend to speak. He was aware that Zane held some sort of feeling toward Mina, regardless if the man wanted to admit it or not. When he had brought her home to his mother, Ian viewed it as a declaration. He knew his friend was telling him that if he was not going to act, someone else will.
"What did you do?" Zane finally asked and Ian, for the first time in their friendship lied.
"There was another attack, this time in Sani. Someone important was hurt, and while dealing with that I lost track of time. Mina was gone by the time I was able to get to her."
Zane did not know where to begin, there were so many things wrong with Ian's story, but they could not immediately be confirmed. He, himself, had several missed calls from Mina's doctor and he knew that the woman was probably trying to have him pick up Mina. There were only three people Ian had authorized to do this, and one of them was out of the country. The story made logical sense but for some reason, Zane did not buy it.
"When was the last time she was seen?" Zane asked, and Ian told him that he had yet to review the hospital footage.
The two men ended their conversation and Zane continued his way to the Lee mansion. He was hoping that by some stroke of luck, Mina would be there when he arrived. He knew it would be a waste of time to comb the streets looking for her. If the girl, who was able to put the police in her pocket without bribes, did not want to be found, he knew she would not be.
----
Ruby was frantically pacing in the foyer of the home. She realized that she knew nothing about Mina. What if the girl had simply gone to visit her parents or a friend? She did not even have Mina's contact information and she knew that Ian probably did not have it either. The only person who she thought would be able to reach Mina was Luna, and Luna had left Pan on an important business trip.
A car pulled onto the property and Ruby recognized it as Zane's. Her heart started to race as she watched the man exit his vehicle, she very much wanted Mina to trail into the home behind him. The last conversation she had with Ian regarding Mina, he had told her that Mina safety was at risk, and that is why she was living with them. She did not believe his story, but now she could not get the thought of Mina being hurt by someone out of her head.
When Zane entered the Foyer, he did not use pleasantries.
"Is Mina home?" He asked, and Ruby's heart sank.
----
Zane could tell by Miss Ruby's reaction that Mina had not returned. He asked for permission to enter her room and Ian's nan granted it. He looked for any indication of where Mina might have gone, but the room was lifeless. Other than a bookshelf filled with notebooks, there was no indication that the room was inhabited. There were no personalized touches, no photos and not even a television. The room was the equivalent of a luxury prison cell.
"Miss Ruby, has Mina ever mentioned a place she liked to go?" The old woman shook her head, most of her conversations with Mina revolved around the Lee siblings. Other than the fact that she knew Ian liked her, there was not much else she knew about the girl.
"Zane, is Mina really in danger?" Ruby asked, and Zane massaged his brow.
"The truth is, I don't know much about her," he said, and both people left the room defeated.
----
Once Paul's car entered the neighborhood, Maggie could not contain her jealousy. What right did the daughter of a poor laborer have to stay in such a luxurious place? Despite her family background and money, Maggie knew she would never be able to step foot into one of these homes and yet, Mina was living freely among the utmost wealthy in Pan.
"Mina, are you sure this is where you are staying? You don't have to lie to us," Maggie said. Paul nodded his head in agreement. The Lee family was not known for their generosity and it made absolutely no sense for them to take in someone with such a low standing as Mina.
"I am sure," she said. Mina's body had yet to warm up and she still trembled periodically. Her jaw muscles had begun to ache, and she was struggling to keep her eyes open. She desperately wanted to snap at Maggie, but she was in no position to do so.
Maggie continued to talk down to Mina. It seemed like the further they drove into the neighborhood the more presumptuous she became. In one breath she accused Mina of being a prostitute, an escort, and a mistress.
"Don't you feel any shame living with a man who has a girlfriend?" Mina shook her head.
"It wasn't my first choice," Mina said honestly.
"Being a mistress is a hard way of life," Maggie continued.
"I wouldn't know," Mina replied. Her insinuation was clear.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Maggie exclaimed, but Paul interrupted the two women.
"It looks like we need a gate code for this area," the man said. Mina lowered her window and Paul maneuvered his car into a position where she could easily reach the consul. She typed in the numbers she had seen President Lee use and the gates opened.
"Where are we going?" Maggie asked curiously.
"This is the entrance to the Lee mansion," Mina said.