Chapter 25
Chapter 25:
Helena shifted uncomfortably.
Before she left Frida’s house, Frida had insisted on fastening the necklace around her neck. Unable to refuse, Helena had planned to remove the exquisite piece and tuck it away once she reached the break room.
She hadn’t anticipated encountering Eleanor en route.
Eleanor’s gaze locked onto the pearl necklace, lingering especially on the magnificent emerald centerpiece. Her eyes narrowed with barely concealed envy.
She had always known Helena dressed modestly, but now—connected to Dorian—Helena apparently felt entitled to flaunt such opulence.
As they exited the elevator, Helena found herself thrust into unfamiliar territory—suddenly commanding the attention typically reserved for Eleanor. She was surrounded by female colleagues, their excited chatter filling the air.
“Helena, is that stunning necklace from your boyfriend?” one woman asked, leaning forward conspiratorially. “He must have impressively deep pockets p>
Another colleague edged closer. “I noticed that ring you sometimes wear—it looks rather expensive too. Who is your boyfriend p>
“Not boyfriend—husband,” Dominick corrected, striding over before Helena could reply. “That is a wedding ring p>
Dominick remained unaware of who Helena’s husband was, having merely observed her wedding band on several occasions.
His revelation sent ripples of excitement through the gathering women. Whispers erupted about Helena’s secret wealthy husband.
“No, you’ve misunderstood…” Helena began, desperation edging into her voice.
Eleanor cut off her explanation with surgical precision. “You’re married? Please. At most, you’re just some rich man’s convenient distraction.” Her lips curled into a cruel smile. “Otherwise, why maintain such secrecy about your supposed marriage p>
Helena bit her lower lip, reluctant silence her only defense.
She and Alden had agreed to keep his identity a secret.
ɯoɔ.slǝʌou˥ɐƃ uo sǝɐsǝɹ lɐıɔıɟɟo
Eleanor’s satisfaction visibly grew. She was convinced Dorian would never publicly acknowledge Helena. Why else would he help her from the shadows while Laurence maintained such discretion?
“Nothing to say?” Eleanor released a short, barbed laugh. “And by the way, I’ve seen the real version of that necklace. Yours is clearly a fake. Stop parading around with counterfeit jewelry, expecting to impress anyone p>
The women around them absorbed Eleanor’s words, their gaze shifting to Helena with newfound disdain. The audacity—flaunting a knockoff with such presumption.
To her surprise, Helena let out a soft laugh. She trusted Frida implicitly—the gift could never be anything less than genuine.
Yet explaining herself to Eleanor seemed pointless, beneath her dignity. “If you channeled half the energy you spend critiquing jewelry into your actual work,” Helena replied with unexpected calm, “perhaps that live report wouldn’t have disintegrated so spectacularly.” She turned away, her calmness deliberate, leaving Eleanor frozen in stunned outrage.
This wasn’t the Helena Eleanor recognized.
The old Helena would have been docile, swallowing indignities in silence, never daring to challenge her publicly.
Something had shifted behind those eyes…
Uneasy glances darted between the other women, their silence thick with tension. Everyone recalled the disastrous night at the development area—the catastrophic handling of the live report by Eleanor, followed by Laurence’s blistering reprimand and the subsequent forfeiture of two months’ bonus.
None had previously dared to mention the incident, especially not Eleanor, whose domineering nature and penchant for retribution were legendary. Only Helena—who had salvaged the evening with her last-minute replacement—possessed the newfound courage to voice what others merely thought.
Inside the break room, Helena carefully removed the necklace and secured it in her drawer.
“I’m truly sorry, Helena,” Dominick’s repentant voice came from behind her. “I never meant to broadcast your marital status to everyone p>
“Don’t worry about it,” she responded, her shoulders relaxing. “I wasn’t particularly committed to keeping it secret anyway p>
Dominick scratched his head, a nervous habit. “I don’t buy Eleanor’s nonsense for a second. But honestly—marriage has transformed you. There’s this confidence p>
Radiating from you now. And that comeback?” Dominick gave a low whistle. “Absolutely perfect timing p>
Helena couldn’t suppress a genuine laugh at Dominick’s candid assessment.
Having joined Nexus TV three years before her, Dominick held seniority but wielded it gently, occasionally defending Helena from office politics—a rare ally in a competitive environment. Yet even the straightforward Dominick had noticed her evolution. Helena studied her reflection, observing how the familiar timidity and hesitation had indeed begun to recede from her eyes.
Was Alden responsible for this metamorphosis?
“Tell you what,” Dominick exclaimed, slapping his thigh with sudden enthusiasm, “Let me make amends properly. I’ll shoot your first-round audition video and handle all the editing myself p>
The news anchor selection comprised three stages: a fifteen-minute self-introduction video, followed by a written assessment, culminating in a screen test.
Gratitude washed over Helena at Dominick’s unexpected offer. She had resigned herself to producing something basic on her own, never imagining such professional assistance.
Without delay, they headed for the rooftop to capture her introduction before their workday officially began.
Helena failed to notice the shadowy figure who slipped into the deserted break room moments after their departure, moving with purposeful stealth toward her drawer…
Upon returning from the filming session, Helena saw no reason to check her belongings. It wasn’t until she was preparing to leave for the day that she finally opened the drawer.
Her heart stopped. The pearl necklace—Frida’s precious gift—had vanished without a trace…