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.

I wondered if he had fallen for a scam.

brother, please?” I had

the other end was hesitating. Eventually, she agreed to my request and put

Hearing my brother’s voice on the other end of the line fueled my

you? Are you really at the police station? What happened?” My

come here? Don’t let Mom and Dad know, please.” His request made my heart sink.

could ask more questions, the person who had spoken to me earlier

“Ms. Zanetti, please hurry.”

no other choice, I could only agree to go over

off the bed, getting dressed and packing as fast as I

my parents, and neither did

did not want to throw them into a tizzy before

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

was a university student at the Jadeborough Institute of Science and Technology. To get to Jadeborough

flight to Jadeborough once I arrived at the airport. It would depart at half-past

a cab to the Jadeborough Institute

time visiting Jadeborough and my brother’s university, so I had no idea where the

to ask several locals before I

is there a Louis Zanetti here? I’m his sister,” I asked a young woman clad in police uniform

rapidly like she

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

in the

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

once I finished my question. He approached me and said, “Ms. Zanetti, we’ve been expecting you for a

voice as the caller from

and I felt relieved that this policeman seemed friendlier than the others

to a room

in a chair. The lights in the

the lights were