Chapter 444
Chapter 444:
Leonino knew exactly where he was coming from. Zayden showed no mercy. Any man in Alden’s shoes would want to get even. But once he made that move, things would spiral out of control—danger would grow and get tougher to handle. His revenge against Chadwick had taken years to set up—and still, it brought more trouble than he’d bargained for. Helena had been caught up in it more than once.
They had only just started to savor some calm days—was it really the right moment to jump back into the fire?
At the thought, Alden massaged his temples, a rare doubt crossing his features.
Noticing his inner battle, Leonino held back and said nothing more. He just laid a hand on Alden’s shoulder and let out a deep sigh. “It’s clear—Helena is your biggest vulnerability. Zayden likely saw that too. That’s why he targeted her so fast p>
“Deciding whether to tell her the truth is your call. But if you need backup to keep her safe, don’t you even think about holding back with me.” Leonino’s words melted Alden’s usually guarded heart.
Alden met Leonino’s gaze and nodded firmly, a weighty smile slowly spreading across his lips.
Liliana greeted the morning light at her villa by slipping out of bed early. But the moment she stepped into the hallway, she caught sight of Natalie sitting alone on the living room sofa.
Natalie’s gaze was locked on the courtyard gate, her eyes distant and unmoving, as if she’d been rooted there for hours, lost in silent hope. Liliana’s chest tightened. She knew exactly who her mother was waiting for.
Gritting her teeth, she hurried over and knelt beside her. “Mom… did you stay up all night waiting for Helena p>
Natalie gave a faint smile and shook her head. “Oh no, I only woke up moments ago,” she murmured, her voice raw with fatigue. But the deep redness in her eyes betrayed the truth. She didn’t want anyone thinking Helena had let her down, didn’t want anyone whispering that her daughter had broken a promise.
After a moment’s silence, Natalie spoke again, her voice tinged with anxiety. “Helena’s never broken a promise. If she said she’d return, she would’ve. Why would she just make us wait like that without a reason? Liliana, can you try reaching out again? Maybe something unexpected happened p>
The night before, when Helena hadn’t shown up, Natalie had considered calling her. But she’d held back, afraid of putting pressure on Helena. Then, by the time she made up her mind, it was already too late—she didn’t want to disturb Helena if she was resting.
That quiet struggle—between maternal instinct and respectful restraint—had kept her awake, her heart twisting with unease. Liliana, watching the sorrow etched into her mother’s face, felt a fresh wave of resentment surge inside her.
M𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝓹𝓉𝓮𝓇𝓈 𝑎𝑡 g𝓪𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝓈 dot con
But with years of practiced poise, she masked it instantly and played the role of the concerned daughter. “Oh! Good idea—I didn’t even think of that. No need to worry, Mom, I’ll reach out right now p>
With that, she pulled out her phone and, with a feigned jolt of discovery, widened her eyes. “Wait—she actually messaged me last night. She said she had had a hectic day and wouldn’t be able to come back p>
Liliana quietly trimmed out the part where Helena had asked her to look after Natalie, then handed the phone over.