Chapter 63
Chapter 63:
Helena gave a subtle nod.
She couldn’t forget Rylan’s cold, calculated tone—the first time she heard it, he was plotting the downfall of Alden.
“Don’t plead with him on my behalf,” she insisted firmly. Resolve sparked in her eyes, radiant and unyielding. “I won’t let him torment you because of me p>
Unfamiliar with the ruthless machinations of elite families, Helena had no desire to be entangled in their schemes.
Yet, when it came to Alden, she was adamant—she would not be used as a tool against her own husband.
Alden’s smile grew warmer.
“Very well, I shall ask nothing of him p>
Protecting Helena from Rylan’s reach was his preference, but circumstances had shifted beyond his control.
From their earliest days together, Helena had shielded him with fierce loyalty.
Now, it was his turn to shield her with equal devotion.
After a lengthy route to evade the prying eyes of the media, Xavier finally escorted them safely home.
Weary to her core, Helena retreated to her room and succumbed to sleep almost immediately.
Before dawn broke, Helena was abruptly roused by the shrill ring of her phone.
“Sweetheart, brace yourself—something huge just went down p>
“Slow down, you’re frightening me,” Helena said, sitting bolt upright, her pulse racing.
The previous day had been tumultuous—could the situation possibly worsen?
“Listen, every single article about your scandal with the Nexus TV executive vanished overnight. And guess what? They’ve identified the true face in those altered photos—it’s Eleanor!” Valeria’s voice crackled with exhilaration.
She had risen early, intent on helping Helena challenge the misleading media claims. However, upon checking, she found that not only had the news articles disappeared, but every related forum thread had also been scrubbed clean.
Even the brief clip of Helena being struck by Cassandra had been erased from the web as if it had never existed!
Explore captivating tales on gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com
Clutching her phone, Helena frantically scrolled through the news feeds. True to Valeria’s words, all traces of the allegations had been wiped clean.
She furrowed her brow. “Could Nexus TV have intervened to salvage their image p>
Valeria warned, “Even though the news has been removed, the residual effects linger. I’ve already reached out to a lawyer. If Laurence attempts any unlawful termination, we should begin compiling evidence immediately p>
“Understood,” Helena replied, her mind a whirl of thoughts.
After she hung up, a faint noise from outside caught her attention, and she peeked out.
Alden had skipped work today and was bustling in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
“Alden, you’re a genius!” Helena exclaimed as she sprinted toward him, her face alight with excitement. “Look, all those ridiculous stories are gone p>
Indeed, every trace of gossip about her had vanished; the trending topics online now centered around celebrity scandals. Overnight, it felt like the media had sniffed out a bigger scandal and forgotten she even existed.
Clad in her pajamas, Helena approached Alden, her voice soft and husky from sleep.
She’d fastened her collar unevenly, and with every movement, her pajama top loosened just enough to reveal the gentle swell of her chest.
Alden, caught off guard by her disheveled charm, could only stare in a momentary daze, swallowing hard.
Helena was the type to stay tucked away until she was fully freshened up and properly dressed. It was rare for him to see her this unguarded, straight from bed.
Noticing her small, bare feet on the chilly marble, Alden quickly set his tasks aside. He fetched a pair of slippers for her.
“Here, slip these on p>
Helena was too elated to fuss about footwear.
She was on the verge of dashing back to her computer to check the email Valeria had just sent.
But Alden grasped her arm gently. “Hold on a moment p>
Before she could protest, she found herself sinking into the sofa, her expression one of mild surprise. Alden knelt before her, cradling her ankles in his hands, and delicately guided her feet into the slippers.
He raised his eyes to hers, his expression tinged with concern. “The floor’s ice cold. I don’t want you catching a chill p>
Now that her feet were cocooned in the warmth of the slippers, Helena’s comfort grew, and a cozy warmth enveloped her.
That was when she noticed the weary shadows under Alden’s eyes, betraying a night devoid of sleep.
The study door stood ajar, revealing a desk swamped with papers and a reading lamp that still glowed.
“Alden, were you up all night working p>
Alden nodded, his voice subdued. “The heater in my room gave out. I was busy yesterday and didn’t have time to call anyone to fix it.” Honestly, even with a perfectly working heater, Alden still would’ve spent the night wide awake.
His legal team had been working tirelessly even before his emergency dash to Nexus TV.
The sudden disappearance of the news articles was no accident.
Every outlet and individual who had spread rumors or manipulated photos found themselves facing impending lawsuits by morning. For those few holdouts who resisted removal, tech wizards swiftly erased the offending content.
Alden kept the specifics from Helena, not wishing to burden her with worry. He simply encouraged her to freshen up and join him for breakfast.
Seated at the dining table, clad in a cozy sweatshirt, Helena munched on her sandwich. Noticing the deep lines of fatigue etching Alden’s face, she realized he hadn’t gotten up early to make breakfast—he had barely slept last night.
Without a moment’s pause, she offered, “Why don’t you stay in my room until the heater’s repaired p>
By late autumn, Cheson turned damp and cold—and by winter, heating wasn’t just a comfort, it was a necessity.
The living room sofa offered a meager refuge from the chill, hardly suitable.
Her bedroom’s heater was robust, and she was willing to settle for a makeshift bed on the floor.
Alden’s expression changed subtly, a mix of surprise and relief fleeting across his face.
The offer, so casually made, caught him off guard. She hadn’t realized how intimate it sounded. As the change in Alden’s expression became noticeable, a warmth crept up Helena’s cheeks.
With a touch of awkwardness, she clarified, “We’d just share the space for sleeping. I’ll make my bed on the floor. You won’t even know I’m there p>
Alden’s lips twisted into a playful smirk, his voice softening into a teasing murmur. “And how can you be sure I’ll keep to myself p>
“I trust you,” Helena murmured, stealing a quick glance at him before diverting her eyes.
It wasn’t the first time they’d shared a room—and so far, nothing had happened beyond sleep.
Alden was torn between amusement and dismay.
This kind of trust didn’t mean anything to him.
“And,” Helena continued, her voice dropping as she focused on her glass of milk, unable to meet his eyes. “That morning, you talked in your sleep… Nyno p>
A name Alden held close—if she brought it up now, wouldn’t that be… presumptuous?
Alden’s gaze sharpened as he asked bluntly, “Who exactly do you think Nyno is p>
Helena’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Wait—Xavier told you p>
Alden let out a low chuckle. “You do know whose signature is on his paycheck, right? Though, had you told him to seal his lips, he wouldn’t have uttered a word p>
He had instructed Xavier to prioritize both his and Helena’s affairs above all else.
Regrettably, Helena hadn’t told Xavier that day to keep their conversation to themselves. So, without hesitation, Xavier had reported back to him.
Just then, the sound of the doorbell echoed sharply through the room, startling the already on-edge Helena.
She was taken aback—uninvited guests were a rarity.
Not even Valeria knew the exact address of the complex where she and Alden resided.
Alden strode over to open the door, and Helena’s gaze followed him.
Standing there was a tall man, smartly dressed.
His usual gold-rimmed glasses were absent, revealing even more striking features beneath.
Leonino stood casually in the doonvay, a bag clasped in his hand.
Helena addressed him with a courteous nod. “Dr. Prescott, what brings you here p>
He cocked an eyebrow playfully. “I thought I’d personally deliver Alden’s cochlear implant p>
His gaze then fell on the cartoon duck slippers Alden had handed him, and his expression flickered with amusement.
“Since when did your taste drift toward the… adorable?” he teased at Alden.
Alden offered no verbal response, only a frosty glare that made Leonino swiftly back down.
Taking a moment to survey his surroundings, Leonino noted the warm hues and cozy decor—placemats, coasters, and plush pillows scattered across the sofa.
It was hard for him to picture Alden in such a charmingly domestic setting.
Helena, sensing his surprise, inquired with a hint of concern, “I picked out the decorations—don’t you like them p>
As Leonino stepped further into the living room, his smile grew warmer.
“I like them very much. I just never pictured Alden having a taste for the adorable and charming p>