Love the Second Time Around Novel

Chapter 54 Two Possibilities

I binge-watched dramas till the wee hours of dawn at home since I had nothing better to do. Consequently, I never got up before ten in the morning.

I was rudely woken up by the ringing of my phone one night.

Fumbling for the offensive device on my bedside table, it took a while for me to crack my eyes open and look at the caller ID.

Louis Zanetti, you little asshole! Why are you calling me at such an ungodly hour?

Accepting the call, I immediately bellowed into the receiver, “Dude, what’s wrong with you? Why are you calling me in the middle of the night? If you can’t fall asleep, don’t drag others down with you!”

There was silence on the other end of the call. It lasted for so long that I had to check my phone to see if the line was still connected.

I raged at his seemingly senseless prank.

“Louis Zanetti, you-”

“Hello ma’am, am I speaking to Liliana Zanetti?”

My brain screeched to a halt at the voice that greeted me. Pulling my phone away from my ear, I confirmed that the number was indeed Louis’, despite the stranger who had just spoken to me.

The stranger continued asking about my identity. Confused, I inquired, “This is Liliana Zanetti speaking. Who are you, and where is my brother?”

I got an explanation immediately. “Ms. Zanetti, your brother’s run into some trouble. Could you make your way down to the station? I’m referring to the police station, by the way. It’s the one near your brother’s school.”

My sleepiness was gone once I heard about the police station. I sat up in a rush.

Having been detained in one myself not too long ago, I knew firsthand how devastating it felt.

How did Louis get himself stuck in the police station? He’s been a straight-A student since young, and his track record is squeaky-clean.

fallen for a scam. They’re getting more common these days,

my brother, please?” I had to figure this

hesitating. Eventually, she agreed to my request and put me on hold. A moment later, someone spoke

brother’s voice on the other end of the line

where are you? Are you really at the police station? What

could you come here? Don’t let Mom and Dad know,

person who had spoken

“Ms. Zanetti, please hurry.”

with no other choice, I could only agree to

hung up and hopped off the bed, getting dressed and

in the morning. Louis did not want to worry my parents, and neither did I, so I

to throw them into

off, I left a note on the coffee table, letting them know that I would be gone on urgent

of Science and Technology. To get to Jadeborough city, I had to

arrived at the

took a cab to the

university, so I had no idea

to ask several locals before I managed

Zanetti here? I’m his sister,” I asked a young woman clad

her mouse rapidly like she was checking

a minute later, she said, “Yes, he came in yesterday, right? You can head over there;

walked in the direction she

them open. Two policemen were sitting in the office. Confused about who I was supposed to talk to, I repeated

finished my question. He approached me and said, “Ms. Zanetti, we’ve been expecting you for a while. Would you like to meet your brother

as the

to meet Louis, and I felt relieved that this policeman

brought me to a room and gestured

saw Louis slumped in a chair.

knew the lights were meant to