Andrea's brow creased in deep thought, a nagging suspicion that the man she married had become a stranger to her growing stronger by the day. She walked determinedly to her phone and punched in a number.
The phone emitted two short rings before being answered by a deep, resonant voice, "Good morning, Ma'am Andrea."
"Morning, Runnel," Andrea replied crisply. "I need you to investigate when and from whom my husband learned to draw," she commanded, issuing a clear directive to the person on the other end of the line.
A brief exchange followed before Andrea ended the call, sinking into her bed, lost in contemplation of the many ways Valentine Anderson had changed over the years.
Shaking off her reverie, Andrea briskly readied herself for work. Over breakfast, she casually asked her housekeeper, "Win, where are Pete and my husband?"
The housekeeper's face lit up with a broad smile as she recalled the morning's events. Pete had been on the verge of a tantrum, but Lucas Anderson had deftly intervened, taking the boy to the zoo.
Despite her previous misgivings about Andrea's husband – particularly his decision to divorce her – Housekeeper Win had to admit that Lucas's recent actions had somewhat endeared him to her.
"Ma'am Andrea, they've gone to the zoo," Housekeeper Win informed her. She then offered some unsolicited yet well-intentioned advice, "Ma'am Andrea, it's not always about work. You should also spend time with your husband and child. A trip to the zoo or the playground together could do wonders for your marriage."
Housekeeper Win's concern was palpable; she feared that without a change in priorities, Andrea might find herself facing another divorce. Andrea offered a grateful smile in response to the gentle admonition. "Thank you, Aunty Win," she said, acknowledging both the advice and the care behind it.
After having her breakfast, Andrea left the mansion for her office. The company was bustling with activity, but amidst the business, her friend Agatha arrived for a visit.
Agatha, with her usual playful smile, teased Andrea as she settled in. "Andrea, why don't you take a leave and enjoy your honeymoon? If you keep showing up here, everyone will think you're still single."
As they spoke, Andrea's secretary efficiently prepared and served them tea.
Andrea wore a look of resignation; she longed for a break, but the company's current challenges demanded her attention. She had grown Singers Group considerably, and with expansion came more complex issues. Beyond growth, Andrea sought power to confront an the organization.
Agatha, observing Andrea's dilemma, offered her assistance. "I'll be heading to North America to address the issues our branches are facing there," she said, understanding Andrea's burden.
Grateful, Andrea expressed her heartfelt thanks. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Agatha."
Noticing Andrea's troubled expression, Agatha inquired, "Is something wrong?"
Hesitant, Andrea broached a sensitive subject. "Can someone change completely in five years?" She had noticed striking differences in the man she now call Valentine Anderson—his character, personality, and habits had all seemingly transformed.
"That's highly unlikely," Agatha replied with a skeptical shake of her head.
Choosing to let the matter rest, Andrea avoided delving deeper, fearing the potential truth.
Agatha sensed her friend's apprehension and chose not to press further. After a brief chat, she took her leave from Andrea's office.
No sooner had Agatha left than Andrea's phone rang. Answering the call, she was greeted by the voice of Runnel, her informant. "Ma'am Andrea, regarding your inquiry about whether your husband, Valentine Anderson, has been learning to draw..."
"Yes?" Andrea prompted.
Runnel reported his findings. "I've contacted art schools in Vegas and met with prominent local artists. There's no record of a Valentine Anderson showing any interest in art here."
Andrea's expression turned to a frown, but before she could end the call, Runnel continued. "However, in Country A, someone named Valentine Anderson registered with a renowned artist two years ago. I'm still investigating if this person is your husband. It will take some time."
The frown eased from Andrea's face. "That's fine. Take the time you need, Runnel, and let me know if he's my husband." She awaited the truth with a mixture of hope and trepidation.
After thanking Runnel, Andrea ended the call. Minutes later, Tony walked into the office.
He placed a newspaper on the desk, its front page blaring news of a tragic house fire that claimed an entire family's lives.
Andrea picked up the paper and looked at Tony quizzically, wondering why he would bring such a grim article to her attention. "Andrea, did you have anything to do with this?" Tony inquired, his face creased with concern.
"Do what?" Andrea replied, her confusion evident.
"The mother and daughter who confronted you at the conference — their family died in that blaze. Neighbors lost their homes too. Don't you think that's quite a coincidence, Andrea?" Tony pressed, his tone tinged with suspicion.
Andrea shook her head, adamant. "Tony, you should know me better by now. I would never do something like this, least of all harm innocents in some twisted act of revenge. That's not who I am. Besides, that woman hasn't wronged me in a way that would provoke such a response. As a mother, I empathize with her plight," she insisted.
Tony's intention in pointing a finger at Andrea was to provoke her into considering potential suspects, but when Andrea showed no inclination to do so, he had no choice but to continue. "Andrea, Valentine Anderson was seen speaking with the mother and daughter at the conference..."
Andrea cut him off before he could finish. "Tony, I get that you're looking out for me and that you've never liked Valentine since our divorce. But Valentine, whatever his faults, is not a murderer."
Realizing the futility of his attempt to sway her, Tony fell silent. Convincing Andrea was proving more challenging than scaling Mount Everest. He chose a different topic. "Andrea, the rescue teams found something else — one of the bomb blast victims was rescued from the river and his survival unknown."