Chapter 108
Chapter 108:
“Emily, you have no right to talk about my father.” A fierce light sparked in Helena’s eyes.
Through all the hardships, Helena might’ve harbored resentment toward Gemma, but she never once allowed hatred toward Emily to take root. But now, Emily dared to insult her father. That crossed a line Helena couldn’t forgive.
Emily recoiled slightly, finding something unsettlingly familiar in Helena’s gaze—a reflection of Alden’s icy, intimidating demeanor. She clenched her jaw. “All I did was speak the truth. Helena, every word in that file is true. Alden’s been keeping his true self from you. The only reason he married you was that he believed you’d be easy to control—just a handy disguise for whatever he was really after p>
A flutter of anxiety passed through Helena’s chest. Alden’s words echoed in her mind—he would secure what he wanted by any means necessary. Yet, he had never disclosed his reasons for returning to the Wilson family. It seemed a deeper saga was at play, one that Alden had struggled to confess.
“You really don’t see it yet, do you?” Emily’s voice turned even sharper. “My family fell apart because we crossed Alden. Stacey’s entire family has lost everything—they’re flat-out bankrupt now p>
Helena gave a dry, disbelieving laugh. “And what exactly does your family’s bankruptcy have to do with Alden p>
Emily sneered. “I didn’t buy it at first either, but I checked. Ever since you became his wife, anyone who’s dared to cross you has ended up with their life in ruins. Some people have even disappeared from Cheson without a trace p>
Helena froze, the realization dawning that Emily’s claims were true. She had dismissed these occurrences as mere coincidences.
As Helena’s conviction faltered, Emily softened her approach. “Helena, our mother and I truly want the best for you. Alden is a man beyond your control. Entangled in the machinations of the wealthy—how could that ever end favorably for you? Surely, you don’t desire such a life p>
Helena remained silent, her inner turmoil so intense that she bit her lip until she tasted blood, only then realizing the severity of her anxiety. Emily sneered and flung another document down in front of Helena.
“Helena, you’ve got three days. Sign it p>
Helena looked down at the document—it was a divorce agreement. Her fingers clenched into a hard fist. “And what if I refuse p>
𝔐𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔲𝔭𝔡𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔰 𝔦𝔫
Emily let out a mocking laugh. “You seem to forget that our mom is still legally recognized as your father’s guardian. Getting him released from the hospital would be the easiest thing in the world for us p>
Helena’s voice rose sharply. “Stay away from my father p>
“The choice is yours. Dare me by telling Alden, and I assure you, you’ll never see your father again p>
With those words, Emily left, her exit marking the collapse of Helena’s stoic facade. Overwhelmed, she collapsed onto the sofa. The weight of Alden’s hidden life and Emily’s menacing words crushed her spirit, stealing her breath. She felt utterly lost.
When Alden walked through the door, Helena was caught up in what she was doing in the kitchen. Even though his footsteps weren’t exactly silent, her mind was somewhere else, and she didn’t realize he was there until he came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.
The unexpected touch made her jump, and her grip faltered—just enough for the knife to catch the tip of her finger. The sharp sting jolted her out of her thoughts.
Alden reached for her hand at once, his brows knitting together. “How could you let yourself get so distracted p>
A flicker of unease passed through Helena as she met Alden’s eyes. The worry written across his face left her momentarily adrift. She had convinced herself that she could cope with Alden’s secrets. Still, a question gnawed at her. Had she ever really seen the man behind the mask?
She eased her hand from his grasp and stretched a smile across her face. “I’m okay. Why don’t you sit down in the living room? Dinner’s just about done p>
Alden didn’t move. He could feel something was off in the air. His gaze drifted to the sink, where two mugs sat unwashed.
Someone had dropped by earlier. Whoever it was, they’d shaken Helena more than she was letting on.