Chapter 178
Chapter 178:
“Uncle Lionel, I’ll find a way to repay the thirty million as soon as I can. I’m sorry for all the trouble p>
Night had fully settled around them. The streetlights in the old neighborhood flickered weakly, and a heavy fog drifted through the narrow lanes. Lionel stood with his back to her, his face hidden in the shadows. He lifted his hand in a careless gesture. “There’s no need to bring up money. We’re family. Think of it as a gift p>
It took Kailey a long time to realize that other than life itself, people valued money above almost everything. And when someone refused money handed to them on a silver platter, it was usually because they wanted far more in return.
After exchanging brief goodbyes with Lionel, Kailey followed Devin to the car and slid into the passenger seat. From the trunk, Devin grabbed a chilled bottle of water, twisted the cap loose, and offered it to her. “Miss Evans, are you holding up okay p>
Noticing the careful concern in his eyes, she forced a faint smile. “I’m alright p>
In truth, she felt anything but alright. The color had drained from her cheeks, leaving her complexion ghostly. Normally quick-tongued and smooth with words, Devin couldn’t find a single thing to say — especially not to his boss’s fiancée. Anxious thoughts crept in despite himself. Once Kyson returned and saw her like this, there was no telling what kind of storm might follow. The longer those possibilities circled his mind, the tighter his chest grew. Drawing in a slow, steady breath, he finally turned the key and brought the engine to life.
In the back seat, Kailey lowered the window. A sharp gust of winter air swept through the car, stinging her skin yet clearing the fog from her thoughts. With her lashes lowered, the entire day unfurled behind her eyelids like a silent film, every moment looping in vivid detail.
Nearly ten long minutes slipped by in stillness. When her eyes finally opened again, her voice emerged rough and faint. “Devin p>
“Yes!” Startled, Devin shot a quick glance into the rearview mirror, his shoulders tightening. “What’s wrong? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Or… are you missing Mr. Blake already p>
Humor failed to reach her, and she asked with quiet gravity, “How did you end up coming with my uncle p>
𝗝𝘰in 𝘰𝘶𝗿 с𝗈𝗺𝗆𝗎𝗻𝘪𝘁𝗒 𝗼𝗇
“Well…” Nervous tension flickered through Devin’s gaze. “Mr. Blake gave me a strict deadline — thirty minutes to find you. I had no choice, so I called in a few favors. When I finally locked onto your location, I realized someone had already gotten there before me. That person turned out to be your uncle p>
Absorbing every word, Kailey gave a quiet, contemplative hum. “Alright p>
“That’s exactly what happened.” A flattering smile tugged at Devin’s lips. “Miss Evans, please don’t mention to Mr. Blake that I brought in outside help. If he learns I had dealings with those people, I can’t imagine how harshly he’d react p>
Offering an absent nod, Kailey let the conversation fade and slowly shut her eyes once more.