Chapter 160
Chapter 161
+15 8chus
The landlord – Mr. Whitfield, gulped hard, because what Ryan was telling him was the truth. If the men returned, they would not hesitate to hurt him badly, maybe worse.
So he nodded, and without another word of protest, decided to follow.
They arrived at a large hotel, its glass front lit up warm against the darkening sky. Ryan checked him in without hesitation and led him up to a spacious room they booked.
The old man stepped inside and stopped, turning slowly to take it all in- the wide bed, the polished floors, the soft lighting. He swirled around once, admiring the space.
“You like it?” Ryan asked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
The old man nodded, still looking around. “It’s good. So good.” Then his face fell, the brief relief draining away as reality settled back in. “But how am I going to go back and claim my house again p>
“I’ll look for a way,” Ryan said simply. Then, after a pause, he asked the question that had been sitting on his mind since the thugs had spat their threats. “What’s the reason they came at you like that? And what did they mean by you being the owner p>
The old man sighed and lowered himself into the chair by the window. He gulped once, hands folding in his lap. ” It’s a long story,” he said. “But I’ll tell you anyway. Because it’s also tied to Eden p>
“Eden?” Ryan straightened. “The man whose picture I showed you p>
The old man nodded slowly.
Ryan sat very well.
Mr. Whitfield began, “I am the landlord of that house. My father bought it before he died, and I inherited it. But because I am English, living in a street in an Arab country, the local thugs never accepted it. An Englishman owning property there – it didn’t sit right with them. So they came after me, demanding documents, proof, papers he didn’t have on hand. I was on the verge of losing everything p>
He paused, rubbing his hands together as if the memory itself was cold.
“That’s when my tenants stepped in. Him and his wife. I had always been good to them-, I treated them like a family when they were here for the business trip. So they felt it was only right to help me. He started settling things quietly. Bought the documents that were needed, chased down the right files, and even paid off the street thugs themselves with a good sum of money, just to make them forget the whole matter p>
His voice softened, something like admiration creeping into it. “I never asked him to do any of that. He did it because of who he is. A good man. Rarely, he was kind. I was so shocked then by how he settled things and the thugs stopped really disturbing me again p>
Ryan listened without interrupting. As the old man spoke, the pieces continued falling into place.
He had already spent days digging into Eden’s past. Every report he found, every person he questioned. Eden wasn’t known for greed, violence, or deceit. Everywhere Ryan looked, the man had been described with almost the same words.
Kind and Honest.
The sort of person who helped others even when he had nothing to gain.
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761
+15 Bohus
There wasn’t a single person Ryan had spoken to who had called Eden a bad man. So hearing Mr. Whitfield’s story only confirmed what he had already believed.
Ryan gave a slow nod.
Mr Whitfield continued, “But then… all of a sudden those thugs returned again after a year p>
His shoulders sagged.
“They came demanding documents again. Said I had to produce new papers and prove ownership all over again. And that wasn’t enough. They wanted settlement money too. Far more than before. An amount I could never afford p>
Ryan frowned.
“They believed Eden was rich,” Mr. Whitfield continued. “They were convinced he would be the one paying for everything. I lied to them. I told them the house no longer belonged to me. I said Eden had already bought it, so they are looking for him, that’s the reason they thought you were him p>
Understanding flashed across Ryan’s face as he nodded. He lowered his eyes, thinking carefully. There was still one question bothering him more than any other.
He leaned forward.
“When they lived at your place… did you notice anything between him and his fiancée p>
Mr. Whitfield frowned thoughtfully, searching his memory.”As far as I observed, Mr. Eden loved his fiancée very much. More than words could describe. The two of them were always together. They understood each other well. You could see it just by watching them. They looked happy p>
Ryan stared quietly at the floor. Then how did the fiancée just disappear like that p>
The old man suddenly blinked.”Oh… Mr. Whitfield rubbed the side of his head. “I just remembered something p>
Ryan’s attention sharpened instantly. “What p>
“The night before they left,” Mr. Whitfield said slowly, “a man came to visit them p>
Ryan’s brows drew together.”Who was he p>
“I don’t know. I’d never seen him before in my life. I didn’t recognize him at all. But I remember hearing raised voices from inside the house. They were arguing. Shouting at each other. The whole atmosphere was so tense that even from outside, I could tell something serious was happening p>
He paused, replaying the memory. “After several minutes, Eden came out with his fiancée. She didn’t want to go with him. She was resisting… almost struggling. And… I think she was crying p>
Ryan remained silent.
“I watched as Eden dragged her toward his car. It looked terrible. I thought about stepping in, but I convinced myself it was simply a lovers’ quarrel. Couples argue sometimes, and I didn’t want to interfere in something that wasn’t my business. So I stayed where I was p>
Ryan absorbed every word, something clearly happened that day that caused Eden’s fiancee to disappear.
“What about the strange man who came to visit them p>
Mr. Whitfield shrugged helplessly.
2/3
Chapter Int
“I don’t know anything about him. I don’t even know when he left p>
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.