Chapter 166
Chapter 166:
Once the commotion settled, everyone was met with the sight of Covey embracing Helena closely. Helena’s cheeks flushed as she quickly withdrew from his hold, her heart fluttering from the residual warmth of his touch.
Rylan watched them with an amused, almost taunting grin spreading across his face.
“Mr. Russell, you appear quite fond of Ms. Ellis,” he said sharply. “It’s unfortunate that she’s already taken p>
Helena’s assignment to this interview had been Rylan’s strategy to observe Covey’s reactions. The depth of Covey’s concern for Helena now seemed to reflect a connection similar to the one Alden shared with her. Could they possibly be one and the same?
Rylan studied the pair with a look that left little doubt he was sizing them up. “Back when Star Wish Investments first showed up in Cheson, your debut project just happened to be Ms. Ellis’s Nine O’clock News. Now that I think about it, Mr. Russell, you seem awfully generous when it comes to her p>
Under Rylan’s probing, Helena shifted uncomfortably.
Dorian let out a laugh before saying, “Mr. Wilson, you’ve only caught on to the fact that Ms. Ellis is married, but what you don’t seem to know is that Covey has a wife too. The two of them are incredibly close—he’s nothing like the womanizer you’re trying to paint him as p>
“Is that so?” Rylan responded casually, yet his piercing gaze remained fixed on Helena.
“You can stop glaring, Mr. Wilson. I’ve got no business with Ms. Ellis,” said Alden, his voice laced with sarcasm and bite. “Just make sure you don’t go spinning tales that might give my wife the wrong idea.” His voice chilled the air, silencing Rylan.
To stress his point about his marital fidelity, Alden twisted his wedding ring and added firmly, “My firm’s investments in Cheson’s major TV networks were purely for public relations leverage. A simple business strategy, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Wilson p>
Rylan’s lips tightened, a brief shade of embarrassment coloring his expression.
Alden seized the moment, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he said, “I’d already caught wind of the Wilson family’s dubious reputation before I even set foot back in this country. Your nosiness about personal matters only seems to confirm those rumors p>
𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓉𝓮𝓇𝓈 𝒊𝓷
Feeling the partnership slipping away, Rylan hastily mustered a grin. “Mr. Russell, there’s been a misunderstanding. I was merely making a joke p>
“Really? And the feud with your brother, is that supposed to be a joke as well?” Alden asked sharply. “It seems you’re testing me—do you suspect I’m somehow connected to your elder brother p>
Caught off guard by Alden’s forthrightness, Rylan was momentarily speechless.
Alden’s gaze was cold behind his mask, his voice a stern warning. “I’m running out of patience, so keep your family’s internal squabbles away from our business. I won’t tolerate partners who come with complications p>
“You’ve got it all wrong! I promise, that’s not what I meant at all!” said Rylan, breaking into a nervous sweat as he rushed to explain himself. Witnessing Helena’s interaction with Covey, Rylan had almost been convinced that Covey might be Alden.
Yet, if Alden were indeed Covey, why wasn’t he showing any signs of nervousness? Would he still be so blunt as to confront him so directly? Doubt crept into Rylan’s heart, causing him to question Covey’s identity once more.
Thankfully, Covey didn’t insist on terminating their partnership, allowing Rylan to exhale in relief.
After the meal, still aiming to curry favor—and test Covey—Rylan offered to pay and suggested a visit to a posh club.
Helena was hesitant to go. She braced herself for Rylan’s inevitable justification, but Covey was the first to address her. “Ms. Ellis, consider this part of your professional duties p>
Helena wanted to object but found herself without a response. She puzzled over the mysterious CEO’s motives—if he was so mindful of his wife’s views, why did he persist in involving her? What was he truly seeking?