Chapter 31
Chapter 31:
Rylan glared at his phone as Eleanor’s calls flooded the screen. She had clearly found herself in trouble and was now facing the consequences. His face darkened, and in a violent outburst, he hurled his phone to the floor.
As if fate hadn’t already dealt him enough blows, the men he’d sent that morning to retrieve the necklace had been intercepted and thoroughly beaten. Each of his men returned battered beyond recognition.
One lay sprawled on a stretcher, his voice barely audible as he delivered his report.
“They were professionals… they deliberately lured us into blind spots with no cameras p>
“Incompetent fools!” Rylan snarled. “Did you identify them p>
The subordinate’s voice faded to a whisper. “Completely anonymous—hats, masks, not a single identifiable feature. Could they be working for Alden p>
“Absolutely not!” Rylan leapt up. “He’s nothing but a deaf man who only recently returned. Grandma threw him some inheritance scraps, nothing more. He has no real authority in Wilson Group, and in Cheson? He’s a complete non-entity p>
If anyone in Cheson could help Alden, it would have to be Dorian.
Dorian—bewitched by that deaf man through some inexplicable charm—had shown unwavering loyalty, willing to execute any scheme for Alden, no matter how underhanded.
Rylan’s tirade halted abruptly when Frida’s call illuminated his screen. Swallowing his rage, he stooped to retrieve his broken phone, answering with feigned deference.
“Rylan,” Frida inquired gently, “has the necklace been recovered?” Rylan found himself momentarily speechless.
Frida’s gentle laughter belied the unmistakable authority threading through her words.
“I hear the black market is teeming with convincing counterfeits. Perhaps you’ve made an error in judgment? I doubt Alden or Helena would ever disappoint me or tarnish our family name. You wouldn’t either… would you p>
In that moment, Rylan fully grasped her meaning.
She had never believed his allegations—not for a single heartbeat. From beginning to end, she had regarded him as nothing more than a pitiful jester. Frida would always favor Alden.
“Naturally not, Grandma,” Rylan replied, forcing a painful smile. “Neither Alden nor I would ever dream of causing you distress.” He clutched his phone with such intensity that broken fragments sliced into his palm, drawing blood—a pain he failed to acknowledge.
Helena rushed to the infirmary after work, only to find the security guards had disappeared and the door stood ajar. She quickly asked a passing colleague about the situation.
She learned that Eleanor had left hours ago—personally escorted out by Laurence himself.
Helena reeled at this betrayal. Laurence had explicitly promised her answers.
She went to his office, but he had already left for the day. The vacant office mirrored the emptiness that spread through Helena’s chest.
Despair crashed over her like a tidal wave.
She should never have placed her trust in Laurence. She should have stationed herself at the door, confronted Eleanor, and demanded the necklace’s return.
With Eleanor’s escape, recovering the precious item now seemed like a distant fantasy…
This realization weighed heavily upon her as she dragged herself back toward the break room, shoulders slumped in defeat.
Dominick, having just discovered Eleanor’s disappearance, immediately understood Helena’s despondent expression. He slammed his fist against the break room door, frustration radiating from every pore.
“Laurence must have extracted something valuable to help Eleanor escape,” he growled. “If you’re serious about retrieving that necklace, law enforcement is your only recourse now p>
Helena exhaled heavily, seeing no alternative.
“There’s a package on your desk,” Dominick observed. The package had been sitting on Helena’s desk for hours, untouched. “Aren’t you going to see what it contains p>
With Dominick’s prompting, Helena finally approached and opened it. As she lifted the lid, astonishment rendered her motionless.
There, nestled inside, was the very necklace she had frantically searched for! Almost simultaneously, Alden’s call came through.
“Honey,” Helena exclaimed, her voice trembling with elation, “the necklace—it’s been returned to me p>
Alden’s warm chuckle drifted through the line. “You’re becoming quite adept at using that endearment,” he teased.
Helena’s cheeks flushed crimson instantly.
Good heavens—in her excitement, she had let it slip unthinkingly.
“Finally,” Dominick remarked with a grin. “After looking like you’d swallowed vinegar all day, a genuine smile emerges p>
Helena bid Dominick farewell. She carefully secured the necklace, gathered her belongings, and hurried toward the parking area.
At the edge of the lot, an orange McLaren waited, its hazard lights pulsing rhythmically. She quickened her pace and slid inside.
Dominick, coincidentally heading to his own vehicle, felt curiosity stirring about Helena’s mysterious husband.
As the McLaren glided past, Dominick raised his hand in casual farewell.
Helena’s pulse suddenly thundered with anxiety. She hadn’t realized that Dominick had trailed so closely behind her. Having seen Alden during that interview, would he recognize him now?