Chapter 445
Chapter 445:
The message itself was brief—Natalie finished it within seconds—but her eyes remained glued to the screen, unwilling to move away. Knowing Helena was safe eased some of her worry, but the relief came laced with concealed hurt.
Busy?
Helena’s career as a journalist had always been demanding, yet never once had it kept her from coming home when it mattered. To Natalie, Helena’s absence now could only mean one thing—she was too disappointed in her to return.
“I probably had bad signal last night and missed the notification. I’m so sorry for making you worry,” Liliana hurriedly added, spinning a convenient excuse.
Natalie didn’t press. Her thoughts were entirely with Helena, her heart too heavy to poke holes in Liliana’s story. “It’s alright,” she murmured.
“I’ll text her again,” Liliana said with a sugary smile, her voice warm and hopeful. “Maybe she’ll find a moment to come by today p>
Natalie, longing to be with Helena, didn’t hesitate to agree. This time, when Liliana sent the invitation, Helena replied almost immediately. But the message echoed the last—she was tied up with work and couldn’t return just yet.
As Natalie stared at the screen, the light in her eyes dimmed further, her heart sinking with subdued dismay.
What she didn’t realize was that this time, Helena’s refusal came from a place of deep concern.
Helena had narrowly escaped a calculated ambush—an attempted kidnapping that left her shaken. She was now hiding out at Dorian’s home, lying low while she assessed the danger. She had briefly considered turning to her parents for help, but the thought of Natalie’s fragile health stopped her.
Helena couldn’t bear the idea of bringing danger to their doorstep. She didn’t know what else the attackers had planned, and involving her family now might only put them in harm’s way.
Natalie, unaware of any of this, clung to her own reasoning, trying to soothe her heartache. “Helena’s probably just busy. It’s better if she rests instead of running back and forth p>
“You’re right,” Liliana noted softly, slipping an arm around Natalie’s shoulders. “She’s so committed to her work—it’s only fair she stays focused on that p>
She smiled gently and added, “But don’t worry, I’m still here. I’ll take care of you, just like Helena would p>
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“You’re so thoughtful.” Natalie mustered a strained smile, trying to hide her sorrow.
Liliana pressed on smoothly. “Since Helena’s tied up with work, why don’t I take over planning the birthday banquet? I’ll make sure every detail is perfect p>
Natalie’s initial excitement about the party had already dimmed. If Helena wasn’t invested, what was the point of doing it all herself? Her energy faded, and she gave a weary nod. “Alright… Thanks for handling it, then. That’s a big help p>
Over the last few days, Helena had been taking refuge at the Morrison family’s sprawling estate. Dorian had advised her to take a break from work until the chaos died down. Yet, after a moment’s reflection, Helena had promptly declined.
“I just reclaimed my spot as a news anchor. If I disappear now, it gives Donn the perfect excuse to bury me again. I can’t give him that. And about the threat itself…” She hesitated, her gaze sharpening with resolve. “Someone’s lurking in the dark, waiting for their chance. I might dodge the first strike, but the next one? I might not be so lucky. Better to face it head-on and keep moving. This way, we wouldn’t just give them a chance to move—we’d also be setting the stage to trap them ourselves p>