Chapter 545
Chapter 545:
Leonino laughed. “That surgery gave me some innovative breakthrough insights. I’m turning it into a case study for my next paper. Having Alden Wilson as my experimental subject? An honor, really. So thanks a million p>
The three old friends bantered back and forth, laughter mingling with the warmth of reunion.
But the mood shifted the moment Zayden arrived, uninvited. “Alden, thank heavens you’re safe,” he said, offering a wrapped box with suspicious sincerity. “Please, accept this p>
Alden gave a slight nod and motioned for Xavier to take the gift. His gaze, however, stayed locked on Zayden—cool and unreadable, as he calculated what the man might be up to.
Sure enough, after a few obligatory pleasantries, Zayden’s tone dropped, voice lowered with false concern. “As your uncle, I hesitate to interfere with the younger generation’s affairs… but I must say, your wife, Helena, well, she’s been acting quite shamelessly lately p>
He handed Alden a set of photographs, supposedly capturing Helena with her so-called “pretty boy” in clandestine meetings.
Alden’s expression didn’t flicker, so Zayden pressed on. “In wealthy families like ours, extramarital amusement isn’t unheard of,” he said smoothly. “But what troubles me is the idea that your… unfortunate plane incident may be tied to those two p>
His words were honeyed poison, a calculated attempt to stain Helena’s name and divert suspicion elsewhere.
Alden pinched the edges of the photos. Helena appeared in every shot. In some, she leaned close to him. In others, her face turned to the side. A few caught only the back of her head.
It was obvious someone had taken them in secret.
As Alden flipped through the photos, he began seeing his romance with Helena in a way he hadn’t before. Eventually, a subtle smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.
Zayden caught the smile and misunderstood. He thought Alden was on the verge of exploding. He leaned forward, ready to stir the pot, when Alden suddenly said, “Uncle Zayden, I heard that while I was missing, you handed my wife some papers. Something about giving up my mother’s property p>
The question threw Zayden off for just a heartbeat. Then he straightened his shoulders and tried to justify himself.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕖: gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⩵ℭ𝗈𝗺
“Alden, you’ve got to understand, I only stepped in because Helena was getting cozy with another man. I couldn’t stand by and let your mother’s fortune land in the lap of some smooth-talking stranger p>
“So it was all for me, huh?” Alden replied, his voice calm. The slight smile still lingered, unreadable.
Thinking he had earned some trust, Zayden pressed on. “I’m glad you can see I meant well p>
He didn’t stop there. His tone softened as he asked, “Did you bring your mother back home? Is she doing okay now? I’ve been worried. Maybe we can plan a proper reunion? I’d really like to see her again p>
Alden let the words roll past him. He still remembered what Zayden had put his mother through.