Boss, Your Ex-Wife is Unreachable Now! novel Chapter 169

"Sorry, I need to take this call." Willow excused herself, pulling out her phone and turning away to answer.

Her mind was preoccupied with how to politely turn down Ian's invitation, so she picked up without even glancing at the caller ID.

"Where are you?"

The voice on the other end made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

It was Beasley.

"Don't you dare hang up."

As if he'd anticipated her next move, his low, cold voice cut in just as she was about to end the call.

Willow's hand froze mid-motion. She lowered her voice and asked, "What do you want?"

"Where did you go? You're not at home," Beasley replied coolly.

Willow gripped her phone tighter. That jerk—he'd gone to Cliffhaven Gardens again. Did he really see her place as his own home now?

"It's none of your business," she snapped, her tone icy.

Even though she tried to keep her voice down, her irritation was obvious. In the quiet of the department store, her words carried clearly to Juliette and Ian, who exchanged a quick, curious glance before both politely looked away, suddenly aware of the awkwardness between strangers.

"If you've got nothing else to say, I'm hanging up," Willow said, waiting a beat for a response. When none came, she hung up without hesitation.

She slipped her phone back into her bag and turned to Ian. "Sorry, Dr. Lockwood. My friend and I already have a reservation, so I won't be able to join you. If you see Ms. Whitmore later, would you please send my regards?"

Willow wasn't sure who else might be with Ms. Whitmore, and she wanted to avoid any uncomfortable encounters. She'd drop by another day to visit Ms. Whitmore in person.

Ian smiled gently, not pressing her further. "Of course. I'll head over now. Take care."

Beasley didn't know Ian, but he recognized Juliette; she was Willow's closest friend, and the only person outside their circle who knew about their marriage.

His friend had sent him the picture just three minutes earlier, and the moment Beasley saw it, he'd called Willow.

She'd answered instantly, but her voice had sounded nervous, almost guilty, as if she were hiding something.

And she absolutely refused to say where she was or what she was doing.

If she'd just gone to the movies with her best friend, why all the secrecy?

Beasley quickly forwarded the photo to Sanford, adding a note: "Find out who the guy is."

Once the message was sent, he slipped his phone into his pocket, turned on his heel, and pressed the button for the elevator.