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.

mind; I wondered if he had fallen for a scam. They’re getting more common these days, after

to my brother, please?” I had

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

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

and Dad know,

person who had spoken to me earlier had come back on

“Ms. Zanetti, please hurry.”

I could only agree to go over to

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

worry my parents, and neither did

into

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

a university student at the Jadeborough Institute of Science and Technology. To get to Jadeborough city, I had

Jadeborough once I arrived

touched down two hours later and took a cab to the Jadeborough Institute of Science and

my brother’s university, so I had no idea

ask several locals before

Louis Zanetti here? I’m his sister,” I asked a young woman clad in police uniform at the front

mouse rapidly like she was checking

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

politely and walked in the

were sitting in the office. Confused about who

approached me and said, “Ms. Zanetti, we’ve been expecting you for a while. Would you

recognized his voice as the caller from

trouble.” I was dying to meet Louis, and I felt relieved that this policeman seemed friendlier than the others who had questioned me

to a room and gestured

saw Louis slumped in a chair. The lights in the room were

lights were