As Andrea stared blankly she fell silent with her phone clasped in her hand, she was too submerged in a whirlwind of thoughts to acknowledge Tony's inquiries.
"Andrea, are you there?" Tony's voice, laced with concern, broke through the speaker.
Jolted back to reality, Andrea replied hastily, "Yes, where is he, Tony?"
"We need to meet. Where are you?" Tony pressed, sidestepping her question.
"At home, come over," Andrea said, her voice a mix of urgency and confusion.
With a sharp click, Tony ended the call. Left alone, Andrea perched on the edge of her bed, her expression one of bewilderment.
The man she met a few days ago who looks nothing like Valentine Anderson at her gate—could it really be Valentine Anderson? She doubted it; the Valentine she knew would have reacted strongly when she saw her with Lucas because she was sure Valentine Anderson was an emotional man.
Engrossed in her thoughts, she didn't notice Housekeeper Win's gentle knock. It was only when Win entered the room, concern etched on her face, that Andrea looked up.
"Ma'am Andrea, your in-laws are here—Mrs. Anderson and Miss Benita," Win announced.
Andrea, startled, attempted to mask her turmoil with a smile. "Mrs. Win, did you just say something?"
Seeing Andrea in such a state, Win's worry deepened. "Ma'am Andrea, is everything alright?"
Wanting to ease Win's concern, Andrea's smile widened falsely. "It's just a new investment project I'm considering."
Understanding that it was business-related, Win's anxiety abated somewhat. "Ma'am Andrea, your in-laws are waiting to see you."
The mention of her in-laws sparked a wave of apprehension in Andrea. She suspected their visit was tied to the man at her gate a few days ago. As anxiety creased her features, Win couldn't help but ask, "Ma'am Andrea, are you feeling unwell?"
Shaking her head vigorously, Andrea dispelled the notion. "Not at all, I'll go and meet them now."
Despite Andrea's bold facade, her heart was racing, and her nerves were tense as she stepped out of her room. The sight of Mrs. Anderson and Benita only heightened her anxiety.
"Andrea, my daughter," Mrs. Anderson greeted, her smile warm.
Panic surged within Andrea; she hadn't discussed with Mrs. Anderson about bringing Lucas back home before doing so.
Benita, skipping formalities, asked bluntly, "Where's my brother?"
Andrea's heart plummeted, fearing they knew Lucas was living with her. Mrs. Anderson's comforting words came as a surprise, "Andrea, we're not blaming you for bringing Lucas home. We understand it was for Pete's sake."
Relief washed over Andrea. She thanked Mrs. Anderson before turning to Benita, checking her watch, "Lucas went to pick Pete up from school."
She quickly instructed the mansion's staff to serve refreshments to Mrs. Anderson and Benita, then sat with them. The ensuing silence from Mrs. Anderson made Andrea's nervousness spike.
When Mrs. Anderson finally spoke, she asked, "Andrea, did anyone call you?"
The question's vagueness brought a helpless smile to Andrea's face.
"I receive calls every day," Andrea replied, feeling lost.
Mrs. Anderson realized her mistake; Andrea, as chairwoman of Singer's Group, received countless calls. She clarified, "I misspoke. Andrea, did you get a call from someone who sounds like my son Valentine?"
Andrea's brows furrowed; she shook her head, "No, what's the issue?"
Unable to contain herself, Benita interjected, "At the supermarket today, we met a man whose voice resembled Valentine's. He even suggested Valentine is alive."
Andrea felt a jolt of shock, her complexion growing paler. "Did he claim to be Valentine?" she asked anxiously.
Mrs. Anderson, teary-eyed, joined in, "They visited me the other night. He didn't say he was Valentine, but his voice, his mannerisms... I know my son. Even if his face has changed, I'm certain he's my Valentine."
As they spoke, Lucas entered the living room with Pete. The child's joyous exclamation of "Grandma!" and his dash towards Mrs. Anderson briefly lifted the tension.
Tony entered, his gaze cold upon Lucas, who simply smiled back, silent.
"Grandma, why are you crying?" Pete's voice, filled with concern, broke the silence.
Before Mrs. Anderson could reply, Andrea, her mind in turmoil, beckoned Tony, "Come with me, Tony," and quickly led him to her study without acknowledging Pete's return from school.
Inside, Andrea faced Tony. "Where's Val?"
Tony's surprise was evident; he had come to convince Andrea that the man with the face of Pascal Willow's true identity was Valentine Anderson, and it seemed things were already leaning in his favor.
With a wide grin, he answered, "Andrea, he left Vegas City today, probably disappointed that you didn't recognize him. He's in Cardiff now; we should go to him."