Love the Second Time Around

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.

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.

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

please?” I had to figure this

that the person on the other end was hesitating. Eventually, she agreed to my

brother’s voice on the other end of the line

really at the police station?

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

person who had spoken to me

“Ms. Zanetti, please hurry.”

I could only agree to go over

the bed, getting dressed and packing as fast

worry my parents, and neither did I, so I didn’t approach

into a tizzy before we had

table, letting them know that I would

the Jadeborough Institute of Science and

the earliest flight to Jadeborough once I arrived at the airport. It would depart at

later and took a cab to

Jadeborough and my brother’s university,

to ask several locals before

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

like she

said, “Yes, he came in yesterday, right? You can head over

thanked her politely and walked in

doors and pushed them open. Two policemen were sitting in the office. Confused about who I

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

his voice as the caller from

for the trouble.” I was dying to meet Louis, and I felt relieved that

me to a room and gestured for

saw Louis slumped in a chair. The lights in the

lights were