Chapter 92
Chapter 92: “Who is Fluffy?”’ Fred inquired, his brow furrowing as he noticed Belinda’s tight grip on her phone, her face etched with tension. Belinda inhaled sharply, her voice trembling with evident worry. “Fluffy is my cat, the one I’ve had for the past two years.”’ To Belinda, Fluffy was more than just a pet; it was a part of her life she couldn’t bear to give up. Kristopher could keep his house, his car, and his fortune, but she couldn’t stand the thought of parting with Fluffy. Over the last two years, during those countless moments spent alone in an empty house, it had been Fluffy’s warm, comforting presence that had sustained her. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing that. “Belinda, I can’t find him anywhere.”’ Madisyn’s voice crackled with distress over the phone after a tense pause. “I’ve looked under the sofa, under the bed, inside the wardrobe I’ve checked every conceivable hiding spot. Usually, Fluffy comes running as soon as I call, but today, no matter how much I call, there’s just silence.”’ Madisyn’s voice broke as she fought back tears. “Do you think Fluffy might have bolted when Kristopher broke down the door?”’ Belinda felt a tight clench in her chest, as if an invisible hand was squeezing her heart, making it difficult to breathe. She tried to rise from the bed. “Fred, help me get up.”’ Fred moved closer, his expression filled with concern. “Belinda, you’re looking very pale. Are you sure you’re up to this?”’ There was a brief silence on the other end before Madisyn spoke again, urgency in her tone. “Belinda, where exactly are you? Are you at the hospital?”’ Belinda furrowed her brows and remained silent. Despite her frailty, she attempted to rise from the bed. Your favorite stories g’±¯lnÏνels”¤com Observing this, Fred quickly took the phone from her grasp. “Madisyn, this is Fred. We met at the bar. Remember me?”’ Madisyn sounded shocked. “Yes, I remember you, Fred, but why are you with Belinda?”’ Fred sighed deeply, quickly outlining the situation. “Belinda became severely ill last night. They managed to stabilize her, but she’s still under medical watch. The doctors are firm about her not leaving the hospital. I’m here looking after her. She’s really not well enough to leave, much less to roam around searching for her cat, yet she’s determined to get up. Could you please help me persuade her to stay put?”’ Madisyn gasped. “Belinda, why on earth didn’t you tell me you were unwell? No wonder you missed your appointment with Kristopher at the court for the divorce proceedings. I had no idea you were hospitalized! Has Kristopher been informed about your condition?”’ Belinda shot Fred a sharp look before reclaiming the phone. “I mentioned I was sick, but he just wouldn’t accept it.”’ “I knew it!”’ Madisyn exploded in frustration. “That man took his darling Miss Miller to Peace Hospital for a minor head injury in no time. Yet when it’s you in the hospital, he doubts it, accuses you of avoiding him, and even breaks into your house with Cathy! What a jerk!”’ “Madisyn, let’s drop the subject,”’ Belinda said, cutting her off with a frown. “What I’m really worried about right now is where Fluffy is.”’ “Maybe they forced the door knowing how much you care about Fluffy, and they let her escape on purpose!”’ Madisyn exclaimed, a note of conspiracy in her voice. “Belinda, focus on getting better at the hospital. I’ll handle everything here. I’m going to put up flyers and get everyone on the lookout for her. Fluffy is such a good cat; she’s probably still somewhere in the building or close by in the neighborhood. She wouldn’t have gone far,”’ Madisyn reassured her. Belinda bit her lip, her worry evident. “Okay.”’ Despite Madisyn rallying everyone to search from dawn until evening, canvassing all the nearby areas, there was still no sign of Fluffy. Noticing Belinda’s anxious demeanor, Fred furrowed his brow. “If Fluffy disappeared this morning, she couldn’t have strayed too far in a single day. Think carefully. When was the last time you actually saw her? Was she around before the incident last night?”’ Belinda nodded affirmatively. “Yes, I saw her.”’ She suddenly remembered that if Fluffy hadn’t knocked over her tea, she might not have made it through the night. With a surge of urgency, she grabbed her phone and dialed Darren’s number, her voice tinged with hope. “Darren, last night, when you rushed me to the hospital”¦ did you notice my cat? A large Ragdoll?”’…