I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away
Chapter 376: The Trap

Terrence Sterling didn't have time to share his suspicions with Meredith. There was an issue with the collaboration at Mondale, and that very night, he bought a plane ticket and left for Mondale immediately. By the time Meredith learned of the news, Terrence was already about to board the plane. The suddenness of the event was understandable, and over the phone, she advised him, "Stay safe, and call me when you get there."

"Sure, take good care of yourself and Little Lucky at home," he replied. The sound of the boarding call echoed through the phone, leaving no time for further conversation. After hanging up, Meredith couldn't sleep. She picked up a book and sat reading by the window, occasionally browsing through social media.

Since Justin had returned to his hometown, he hadn't sent her a single message. The friend who once shared everything with her had suddenly gone silent. Then, a message popped up on her phone-it was a photo from Tessa Granger, showing her and Lucien DuMont enjoying their travels. Meredith responded with a smiley face, unsure of what else to say.

Meanwhile, at the Chaucer residence, Joy Chaucer was preparing a second dish. Eager to inherit the family business soon, she was quietly sabotaging Bianca's health by increasing the dosage. Chloe wasn't spared either, though Joy's method with her was more gradual.

If Bianca and Chloe were to fall ill together, it would raise suspicions. Over time, Bianca felt increasingly unwell, experiencing sudden dizziness and ringing in her ears. She began to lose clumps of hair and often suffered from insomnia or breathlessness during the night. Despite her symptoms, the hospital visits didn't reveal any obvious issues; the doctors simply advised her to rest, attributing her symptoms to fatigue.

On another front, Azure's dance studio had its grand opening, which Meredith attended. The event was a success with many signing up for classes, drawn by Azure's reputation as a leading dancer. While Azure's career was thriving, news from Terrence in Mondale was scarce. Worrying not to disturb him, Meredith called Rick instead, who reassured her that all was well. Even the messages from Terrence were brief, asking Meredith to remain calm at home. However, as time passed, Meredith could no longer reach Terrence, managing only to connect with Rick. In a panic, she asked, "What's really going on with Terrence? Why won't he answer his phone? It's always switched off." Rick stuttered over the phone, "Mr. Sterling is busy with the partners, and there are time differences and meetings that require his phone to be off. Don't worry, Mrs. Sterling, he's fine and will be back soon. I'll have him call you once he's free." Accepting this for the moment, Meredith remained doubtful; it was unlike Terrence to be unreachable. Unbeknownst to her, back in Mondale, Rick was scrambling for legal strategies after Terrence had been falsely accused of assaulting a manager named Marry and arrested. The accusation was clearly a setup. Luckily, Rick managed to keep the scandal from spreading back home.

The legal system in Mondale was strict, and not even posting bail could free Terrence. As Rick fretted over these developments, which would typically be minor under other circumstances, the manager Marry continued to weep and accuse Terrence in front of the police, stacking the evidence against him.

Back home, Meredith's suspicions grew with each passing day. Just as she was preparing to investigate further at Ravenwood, news of Terrence's predicament in Mondale finally reached her. The scandal erupted, and videos of Terrence being apprehended circulated online. Overwhelmed by the news, Meredith felt a sudden sharp pain in her abdomen and saw blood.