Reborn as Mr.CEO's Fat Wife-Chapter 944: All Guests Lost Contact

David Locke stared at the woman on the screen. Perhaps even the cameraman was captivated, as the camera lingered on Mary Scott for about a minute. David Locke stared at the screen for the entire duration, until the group on the other side of the video conference murmured softly, "Is Director Locke’s side frozen?" Only then did he snap out of it and said, "Continue."

Just then, Martin suddenly burst in. David Locke furrowed his brow. "What’s so urgent?"

"Director Locke, Duke Blue has left the country!" Martin’s forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat due to anxiety.

David Locke frowned, switched off the audio, and said, "Didn’t we just talk about this?"

"We did, but there may be other reasons. My arranged contact reported that Duke Blue’s assistant Ace’s girlfriend is from the northwest. She returned here two days ago with a considerable amount of cash. Based on Duke Blue’s account, the money appears to have come from him. Then today, immediately after meeting Charlotte Leigh, he rushed to the airport. I feel like there might be something fishy going on." Martin quickly shared his speculations.

After speaking, Martin seemed to remember something, "Also..."

His mouth opened, but suddenly his heart sank, and he clamped his mouth shut.

David Locke’s face darkened, as if water was accumulating. "Speak."

"Charlotte Leigh has a deep grudge against her husband. This time, she’s suffered a major loss and is unlikely to let it slide. But apart from leaking information, her actions this time are uncharacteristically subdued. And then there’s the fact that Duke Blue personally approached her for money today..." Martin faced David Locke’s gaze and didn’t dare continue.

Based on Charlotte Leigh’s modus operandi, if she’s willing to give Duke Blue money, it wouldn’t come easily. It would only happen after squeezing out every remaining ounce of value.

Coupled with the fact that Duke Blue currently has nothing but animosity toward his wife, it’s hard to guarantee that they wouldn’t resort to drastic measures.

And the program is shooting in a dangerous place like West Mountain. If something were to happen... it wouldn’t be unexpected.

The more Martin thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

Just then, the live broadcast abruptly cut out.

David Locke’s eyes flashed with a hint of panic. "Prepare the car."

Martin immediately spun around to make arrangements.

As soon as they got into the car, David Locke began contacting the program team. But no matter what he tried, he couldn’t reach them; all attempts showed the area as out of service.

To make matters worse, Martin glanced at the weather outside. "Director Locke, it looks like it’s going to snow."

David Locke remained silent, his aura turning chillingly cold.

Snowfall at this time would undoubtedly worsen the situation.

Martin dared not say another word, silently praying that nothing terrible would happen.

Meanwhile, live-stream viewers were stunned. Initially, some thought it was a personal signal issue, but as the rolling comments revealed, the program group had lost their signal.

By this point, the live-stream audience had already reached twenty million online viewers. The abrupt and unanticipated blackout sparked curiosity, rapidly increasing searches that propelled the show into trending topics. As time passed, its ranking climbed higher and higher, with viewers all desperate to know what was happening.

Charlotte Leigh fumed with gritted teeth after Duke Blue left. Having been photographed in compromising pictures and tricked this way, she knew he wouldn’t fall for her schemes again. Despite her regret, it was futile, and all she could do was soak her aching body in the bathtub. Once done, she picked up her phone and saw that "Detectives and Wilderness" had become a trending topic.

Unlike past instances of trending, just seeing the topic’s name "#Wilderness Blackout#" filled Charlotte Leigh with a different sense. She hurriedly clicked it, only to find mentions of "Detectives and Wilderness" suddenly going dark during a live broadcast. The issue hadn’t been resolved, and no staff members issued statements. People were clamoring to know what had happened.

Though frustrated to her limits earlier, Charlotte Leigh now wore a faint smile. Her lips murmured softly, "What’s happened? Of course something’s gone wrong."

Even though she’d been harshly played by Duke Blue this time, if Mary Scott could be taken down, Charlotte Leigh wouldn’t see herself at a loss.

Watching the screen brought a twisted satisfaction to Charlotte Leigh’s heart.

...

West Mountain.

Despite the freezing winter temperature of minus five degrees at the base of the mountain, Simon Baker was sweating profusely in his desperation. The dispatch relay walkie-talkie wouldn’t stop buzzing, yet attempts to contact the guests at the top of the mountain were futile.

"Director Baker, what should we do now?" Max, who monitored the instruments at the foot of the mountain, wasn’t any less anxious.

"What should we do? WHAT should we do?! If I knew, I’d be doing it already!" Simon Baker muttered while pacing nonstop beside the RV.

For some inexplicable reason, the signal tower near Snowy West Mountain had suddenly malfunctioned. All nearby electronic equipment lost signal, and radios only worked within a limited range. Guests at the mountain’s upper sections were currently beyond that range. Only a few staff midway up could receive signals, and they’d already set out to find the guests.

Max, seeing Simon Baker’s frustration, dared not ask further questions.

Simon Baker thought of something. "When will the repair crew arrive?"

"The local staff said it’ll take another half hour. But Director Baker, look at the sky—isn’t it starting to snow?" Max glanced at the suddenly overcast sky and asked cautiously.

Simon Baker immediately looked up, confirming Max’s words. The weather had indeed taken a turn for the worse. "How can this be?"

He had scheduled the recording for today after confirming the weather forecast, which said the Third Day of the Lunar New Year would have the best weather in this period.

But what was happening now?

"Weather in the mountains can change rapidly," Max added as an afterthought.

Simon Baker’s face turned grim. After a moment’s consideration, he said, "I’ll take the cable car to the summit. You stay here and keep an eye on this area."

Without further ado, Simon Baker donned a heavy coat, but before he could reach the scenic cable car, a black sedan pulled up in front of him. Before he could speak, the window rolled down to reveal David Locke’s handsome yet somber face. "What’s going on?"

Simon Baker showed a look of apology. "Director Locke, here’s the situation—the signal tower malfunctioned. Repair personnel have been notified but will take another half hour."

"What’s the status of those at the top of the mountain?" David Locke’s tone remained heavy.

Simon Baker shook his head. "We haven’t been able to reach them yet. But rest assured, Mary Scott and Mr. Foster are in the same group, with a cameraman and safety officer accompanying them. Mr. Norman is also up there..." Simon Baker trailed off at the mention of Mr. Norman’s name.

David Locke didn’t dwell on Simon Baker’s reference to Mr. Norman, instead narrowing in on the key term "safety officer." "Is the safety officer a local?"

"Yes, of course. We specifically hired locals who are familiar with the mountain conditions to handle emergencies better," Simon Baker explained with a flattering tone.

But David Locke’s expression didn’t ease; instead, it grew harsher. "Find a way to contact them immediately—be wary of the safety officers." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"Huh?" Simon Baker was instantly thrown into confusion.

Martin quickly explained the situation. Upon understanding it, Simon Baker’s face turned pale. "Is this... really true?"

"It’s not yet confirmed. But don’t you think the sudden signal tower malfunction seems a bit too coincidental?" Martin countered.

Simon Baker’s palms were slick with cold sweat, his voice trembling slightly. "I’ll immediately find a way to notify them!"

If what Director Locke was suggesting turned out to be the truth, it would be disastrous!

Simon Baker shouted trembling instructions into the walkie-talkie, but it seemed the staff had already moved toward the summit per his earlier orders, leaving him with no signal after repeated calls.

Frustrated, Simon Baker slumped helplessly and turned to David Locke. "Director Locke, I’m so sorry..."

"We’re going up the mountain," David Locke said in a low voice, his expression unreadable yet terrifyingly cold.

Martin panicked. "Director Locke, your leg—your leg won’t—"

Before Martin could finish, he was silenced by David Locke’s icy stare. Martin pursed his lips and swallowed the rest of his words, opening the car door to retrieve the wheelchair.

David Locke slowly disembarked and moved to settle into the wheelchair.

Simon Baker, seeing this, grew increasingly worried. "Director Locke, how about you stay in the car? There are so many people on the mountain, even if there’s trouble with the safety officer, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly."

"Can you guarantee that?" David Locke asked coldly.

Simon Baker hesitated and fell silent.

If someone indeed harbored harmful intentions toward Mary Scott, no one could guarantee her safety.

And while it would be fortunate for the perpetrator to refrain from acting, the potential consequences of them doing so were terrifying.

No one could make promises here.

Seeing Simon Baker’s reaction, David Locke shot him a frosty glance before rolling his wheelchair toward the scenic cable car station.

When they arrived, local police had also reached the scene.

Simon Baker hadn’t expected David Locke to act so decisively, his stomach turning bitter. But considering the circumstances, contacting law enforcement was the safest approach. Though this day—being the Third Day of the Lunar New Year—had barely any visitors in the scenic area, the live-stream had attracted numerous nearby netizens. Any commotion would undoubtedly end up circulating online.

All Simon Baker could hope for now was that Mary Scott hadn’t encountered trouble.

"Do you have the safety officers’ documentation?" Police officers, having understood the situation, prioritized investigating details about the safety officers.

Simon Baker hurriedly nodded and handed over personnel files and information he had requested earlier from Max.

After reviewing the documents, the police split into teams and began heading up the mountain.

David Locke, Simon Baker, and Martin joined one of the teams as they ascended in the scenic cable car toward the summit.

The climate on-site wasn’t friendly; worse still, nearby netizens quickly noticed the commotion among the production crew. Once police cleared them from the scenic area and signals resumed, some secretly posted about the event online.

The live-stream blackout had already persisted for over thirty minutes. The topic soared to the top ten trending positions but still hadn’t seen any official explanations. Now, eyewitness accounts of police intervention were leaking, sparking uproar.

What kind of situation required police involvement? The implications were clear.

Soon, the news spread rapidly, inviting waves of speculation.

The loudest voices came from Brian Joule’s fanbase. As a top-tier celebrity, his fandom was massive; normally well-regulated, they couldn’t sit still amidst the unfolding crisis. They stormed the program’s official Twitter demanding explanations, even prompting Brian Joule’s agent Shelley Van to intervene.

Adding fuel to the fire was the previous hot topic involving Mary Scott and Duke Blue. Combined with this incident, "Detectives and Wilderness" quickly soared to the number-one trending topic.

The events on the mountain had everyone curious but also deeply concerned for their idols. The fervor even outshone the popularity of the hottest Lunar New Year cinema releases.

Bertha Swift had stopped watching the live-stream after seeing Zoe Thatcher beside Adam Piers. It wasn’t until an hour later she learned the program had encountered problems.

Within that hour, the production hadn’t issued any announcements or clarifications. This essentially confirmed, albeit subtly, that something had happened.

Scanning through resumes, Bertha Swift felt unease creep into her heart. She picked up her phone, hesitated, then put it down again, repeating the motion several times before finally dialing a number without a name tag.

She’d received countless calls from this number before but had never dialed it herself. Bertha Swift had once thought she’d never have an occasion to do so in her lifetime. But at this moment, she couldn’t suppress the urge.

Her heart tightened; she hoped the call would connect yet simultaneously feared it. Three seconds later, the mechanical voice of a woman replied, "Sorry, the number you dialed is out of service range."

"Out of service range..." Bertha Swift murmured softly, unable to resist redialing.

The same response came again.

Bertha Swift couldn’t help but believe some of the online theories. Could something serious have really happened?

...

On the mountain.

The fervor of public discussion had no bearing on the production team, as an hour had passed, and the signal tower was still not fixed.

The bitterly cold weather, coupled with the onset of snowfall, severely impacted the repair crew’s efficiency and progress.

Even with a functional signal, the production team was too overwhelmed to take notice.

David Locke and Simon Baker arrived at the summit only to encounter staff stationed there. Upon seeing them, the staff hurried over. "Director Baker, what’s happening? Why is there no signal anymore? What should we do next? Are we still filming?"

"Have the contestants reached the summit?" Simon Baker asked anxiously.

"Yes, they have," answered the assistant director promptly.

Simon Baker let out a massive sigh of relief. David Locke, however, had already shifted his attention toward the program’s temporary tents. Not spotting Mary Scott, he asked, "Where is she?"

"Warming up inside. Mr. Foster feels cold because of his age." Assistant Director Ernest answered absentmindedly, not realizing David Locke had joined until greeting him after his response.

David Locke then asked, "What about Mary Scott?"

"Oh, Miss Scott? She hasn’t come up yet. Mr. Foster and Mrs. Murray couldn’t endure the cold, so they took the scenic cable car halfway up. The others are still searching for the treasure map." Assistant Director Ernest chuckled, secretly impressed by Director Locke’s devotion to Miss Scott—his legs were in that state, yet he had chased her up the mountain. However, Ernest quickly noticed something was amiss. Did those shadows behind Director Locke belong to police officers? Mystified, he asked, "Director Baker, what exactly is going on here?"

"When did Mr. Foster and Stella Murray arrive?" asked David Locke coldly, cutting off Simon Baker before he could respond.

Assistant Director Ernest, intimidated by David Locke’s presence, hesitated before answering, "They... arrived not long ago. Is something wrong?"

After speaking, Assistant Director Ernest reflected that the situation felt odd. Despite his confusion about the arriving police, no one bothered to answer him. Instead, the group rushed toward the tent area.

Not long afterward, James Jerome and Stella Murray were ushered out. Upon seeing David Locke seated in a wheelchair, their initial reaction was surprise. But spotting the police led them to freeze, still as statues. James Jerome eventually broke the silence, albeit nervously, asking, "Director Locke, has something happened?"

"What’s the status of Mary Scott and the others?" David Locke fired directly to the point.

"Oh, they seemed fine when we were leaving—they were searching for clues." James Jerome fumbled weakly, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt from abandoning Mary Scott halfway through. Though he hadn’t felt much at the time, David Locke’s questioning brought him face-to-face with the impact of leaving Miss Scott, his contest partner, behind.

Hearing this, David Locke’s furrowed brow tightened further, darkening the complexion of his face.

Martin, fearing David Locke’s intense aura would scare the two stars, tried to ease the atmosphere. "When you came up earlier, was there anything unusual or out of the ordinary?"

James Jerome returned a knowing look, recalling the morning’s melodrama involving Director Locke’s rivalry with Mr. Norman over Mary Scott. Trying to curry favor, he replied, "Think nothing of it, Director Locke—I made sure to leave Mr. Norman far behind."

David Locke’s face drastically changed, his hand faintly trembling. "What did you say?"

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