Chapter 371
Chapter 371:
As he ranted, that old cocky edge crept back into his tone.
Helena struggled to hide a grin, and even Alden’s mouth twitched, betraying a hint of a smile.
The moment Dorian caught that shared look between them, jealousy prickled under his skin. “Alden, you’re the lucky one—barely a bump on the head and your wife rushes back into your arms. Meanwhile, I’m still out here, doomed to the single life p>
He didn’t need to say it out loud; both Helena and Alden knew he was thinking about Valeria.
They exchanged a knowing look and nodded.
“What’s with all the sneaky glances? Seriously—cut it out! I’m standing right here, you know!” Dorian threw up his hands in exaggerated frustration, his voice rising in theatrical protest. Laughter rippled through the room, breaking any remaining tension.
In that easy, familiar exchange, Alden and his old friend slipped back into rhythm—their friendship quietly restored through playful jabs and shared smiles.
After returning home from the hospital, Natalie’s fury only deepened with each passing thought.
Her daughter—lost once, miraculously found—deserved to be cherished and shielded for the rest of her life. But instead, Alden had dragged her through hell.
And now, Natalie was expected to sit idly by while he continued to twist Helena’s emotions, reeling her back in as though nothing had happened. Catching the rising flush on her cheeks, Kareem quickly said, “Why don’t we call Dario over? He was at the scene—maybe he can walk us through what really happened during the kidnapping. Helena was completely let down by Alden before. So why the sudden change in attitude after being kidnapped by Eleanino p>
Natalie gave a nod of assent, and not long after, Dario stepped into the villa.
“To be honest, Helena’s rescue was mostly her own doing—she saved herself,” he said as he took a seat.
He recounted how Helena had kept her wits about her, convincing the thug to release her.
As they listened, Natalie and Kareem exchanged a look of pride and quiet relief.
Find exclusive stories at gαℓησv𝑒𝓁s․com
That was their daughter—fearless, sharp, and steady even in the face of danger.
Dario continued, “And about Alden… Even though I hate to say it, the truth is, he really did put everything on the line to bring Helena back.” He laid it all out—how Alden had arranged for Xavier to contact him, left the call running right under Eleanino’s nose, and how he completely broke down when he thought Helena had been killed. Dario spoke with brutal honesty, giving Natalie and Kareem the full picture without leaving a single thing out.
By the time he finished, Kareem’s expression had softened, the sharp edge of his anger dulling a little.
But Natalie, ever the vigilant mother, gave a bitter snort. “Helena nearly died because he couldn’t keep that horrible woman away from him! Now he plays the hero to fix what he broke—are we supposed to throw a parade for him p>
“You’ve got a point,” Dario said with a nod, before diving into the history between Alden and Helena as kids.