Chapter 85
Chapter 85:
Alden shrugged off his coat and gently wrapped it around Helena’s shoulders.
He took her hands in his, rubbing them between his palms, but the cold lingered stubbornly.
A crease formed between Alden’s brows. “Did Maisie force you to do something else p>
The worry on his face softened Helena’s tension. She couldn’t hold onto her irritation for long.
Helena dropped her gaze and said with a pout, “How did you figure it out? She had me on my knees, picking tiny beans out of ice-cold water, one at a time p>
Alden spun on his heel, ready to storm into the kitchen and confront Maisie right then and there.
Helena gasped and grabbed his arm before he could take another step. “Hey, wait—I was joking p>
Smirking, Alden took full advantage of the moment and slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her in until she was tucked securely against him.
Even with her fingers still cold, Helena’s cheeks were burning now.
She had become familiar with this kind of closeness to Alden.
She felt like any ordinary girl, as if the fear of intimacy had never been a part of her.
At least when she was with Alden, Helena didn’t feel any different from anyone else.
Her voice, slightly raspy, rose softly from his chest, sounding as small and worn as a kitten. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you the story of Cinderella when you were little p>
“Most folks shy away from the stories that strike a little too close to where it hurts,” Alden said.
Something in Helena’s chest gave a small, uneasy twist. Family wasn’t a topic they brought up often.
But after seeing Maisie up close today, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Alden’s childhood might have been more painful than her own. She let out a breath. “She’s doing more harm than good in the kitchen anyway. Maybe you should let her out p>
Amusement flickered in Alden’s eyes, and a half-smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
ga𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.k𝗈n – 𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝗼𝗻
“I asked Marcus to cook tonight. He’s not the type to entertain her nonsense p>
When Helena heard the name Marcus, something clicked. “Wait. Marcus? You mean the chef from Sehao Maison? Did we know each other before today p>
Helena remembered when Maisie tried to humiliate her earlier; Marcus had stepped in to help her without hesitation.
Alden narrowed his eyes slightly. “Did he jog your memory p>
Helena paused, giving it real thought, then let out a soft sigh and shook her head. “Not exactly. It’s just… something about his cooking feels familiar, like I’ve had his food before. It’s strange. I can’t quite place it p>
“Then don’t stress over it.” A flicker of disappointment crossed Alden’s face, but he didn’t press.
He guided Helena toward the fireplace in the living room, letting her soak in the warmth.
As she stared into the flickering flames, her thoughts wandered. Alden’s question had brought back the memory that had surfaced in her mind in the development area.
She used to struggle to remember that boy’s face. It had always been a blur. But ever since she and Alden got married, those forgotten moments had started to take shape.
Maybe, if she was lucky, the whole picture would come into focus soon.
By the time dinner rolled around, Rylan and Chadwick had finally shown up at the villa.
Chadwick cast a quick look in Helena’s direction, seeing exactly what he had pictured—plain, modest, and far from threatening.
In truth, he was rather satisfied that Alden had ended up marrying someone like her.
The moment Rylan stepped through the door, his eyes locked onto Helena with unsettling precision.
A smug little smirk tugged at his lips. “So. We finally meet face to face p>
Helena returned the stare without flinching. Her fingers curled tightly around Alden’s hand at her side, the only sign that she wasn’t entirely at ease.
Rylan looked just like Maisie. Same delicate features, almost doll-like.
But his eyes told a different story—sharp, calculating, and cold. This was Helena’s first real meeting with Rylan.
But she had heard that voice on two separate occasions—both times while he was scheming against Alden.
Whatever this dinner was supposed to be, it wouldn’t be quiet. And it definitely wouldn’t be safe.