I Slept with My Boss and Ran Away
Chapter 381: Mobilization

Justin never planned to spend his life in his hometown. This visit was solely to ensure the safe return of Mr. Thatcher and others; only when he saw them safely home did he feel at ease. The words he had previously exchanged with Meredith were spoken in anger. Over the month, Justin had used his personal savings to renovate the family home, a fact well observed by the villagers. Now, Mr. Thatcher would boast about having a good son wherever he went.

Mrs. Thatcher believed that Justin was seriously considering settling down back home, which made her very happy. However, unknown to everyone, Justin was planning a significant move-a departure from the village. The Thatchers had financial safety nets: Tristan received a disability allowance, the family had low-income insurance, and Gemma received educational grants. Their basic needs were secure.

Justin ruffled Gemma's hair and apologized, "I'm sorry, Gemma, Uncle Justin can't take you with him. Study hard, and if you ever face difficulties, you can reach out to Uncle Justin. This will be our little secret, okay?" Gemma nodded and leaned against him, "I know you have to go, Uncle Justin." Despite her young age, Gemma was quite perceptive.

With a heavy heart, Justin hugged Gemma as they watched the sunset. "When you grow up, go beyond these mountains and see the world. Only with your own strength can you truly survive." He then gave her a new phone number, prepared just for her, and made her promise to keep it secret.

The next day, at dawn, Justin left without saying goodbye to anyone, disappearing quietly. When Mr. Thatcher and others realized they couldn't contact him, it was too late. Mr. Thatcher cursed loudly in the yard, while Mrs. Thatcher stood at the doorway, tears in her eyes, realizing she might never see her son again. Yet, she felt she had no right to blame him. Justin had made sure their lives were well arranged before he left.

Back in the capital, Justin didn't return to his old firm or his previous rental. He had resigned and terminated his lease before leaving the capital, convincing Mr. Thatcher of his sincerity about returning home. Now in the capital, he planned to look for new work, knowing it would be hard for Mr. Thatcher to find him there.

Meanwhile, at the airport, Meredith was preparing to fly to Mondale. She had to meet Terrence Sterling, feeling uneasy about staying in the capital. Leaving without telling Stella and Julian, she called Julian just before boarding. Meredith brought only Selene Cove with her, needing the company for such a challenging journey. As the plane took off, Meredith, pregnant and anxious, was ready to face whatever came next alongside Terrence Sterling.

Stella was frantic upon learning of Meredith's journey. "Why would she risk going to Mondale with her condition? It's so dangerous, especially right after leaving the hospital. Doesn't she care about herself or her unborn child?" Julian tried to reassure her, "Let her go. With Selene there, she should be fine."

Joy Chaucer, upon hearing the news, was thrilled. Unable to confront Meredith in the capital, Mondale presented a perfect opportunity. "The chaos there might just work in our favor," she mused and quickly arranged for Ethan Channing at the club: "Help me ensure Meredith doesn't return from Mondale."

On the other side, Chloe harbored similar intentions, with Bianca searching for her biological daughter. Chloe was determined not to let Meredith disrupt her plans. As Terrence Sterling was already in a precarious situation, Meredith's solo trip to Mondale was an excellent opportunity. Chloe promptly used her connections to find someone in Mondale to target Meredith.