Chapter 45
Chapter 45:
Helena exited the police station, her arms laden with groceries, and opted for a shortcut home. A nagging sense of being followed unsettled her.
True to her earlier weather report, a drizzle began, causing those without umbrellas to rush past her. She resisted the urge to reach for her umbrella or glance back, fearing it might reveal her anxiety. Instead, she pressed on, her gaze fixed ahead.
The sound of footsteps splashing through puddles intensified behind her. Under the glow of the streetlight, the follower’s elongated shadow crept closer, almost as if it could tap her on the shoulder.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she could feel every strand of hair on her neck standing alert. Just when the proximity of the shadow suggested imminent danger, Helena was suddenly sheltered by an umbrella.
Looking up, she found herself staring into Alden’s deep, concerned eyes. His attire was soaked, suggesting he had been waiting out in the rain for some time.
“You reminded me to carry an umbrella, yet you didn’t bring one yourself?” he scolded softly, his voice tinged with humor.
“There was… I thought someone was following me,” Helena said, her voice trembling slightly from the residual fear.
She suddenly grabbed the umbrella handle so tightly that her knuckles whitened. Noticing the perspiration on her palm, Alden frowned with concern and cast a protective glance behind her, surveying the area with a commanding presence.
“Don’t be afraid. There’s no one there p>
Helena inhaled sharply, cautiously looked around, and realized that the pursuer had vanished entirely. Could she have been imagining the threat?
She released her grip on the umbrella and looked away, half-whispering, “I did bring an umbrella, but my hands were just too full to use it p>
Alden looked at the groceries she had bought and effortlessly took them with one hand. He adjusted the umbrella to cover Helena more effectively.
As they walked home, the rain intensified, drenching Alden’s shoulder and making his hair wet. Helena moved closer to him.
“You should move in closer to avoid getting your hearing aid wet,” she said.
With a warm smile, Alden responded, “Alright p>
𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⍰𝖼𝗈𝗺
Upon entering the house, Alden placed the groceries in the kitchen. Helena quickly washed her hands, eager to begin cooking.
But Alden walked out holding the pale yellow apron decorated with cartoon ducks. He’d dug it out from the narrow space beside the oven, where it looked like it had been banished long ago.
His face was inscrutable yet amused as he playfully asked, “Not wearing the apron p>
Helena hesitated, her voice quivering slightly as she responded, “No, that’s okay p>
Memories of the night they kissed while she was in that apron haunted her, leading her to avoid wearing it ever since.
Alden approached with the apron, causing Helena to instinctively step backward.
“Need any help?” Alden asked, hoping to lend a hand.
“There’s no need, really—the kitchen’s cramped as it is. If you step in, we’ll barely fit.” Helena quickly excused herself, almost fleeing into the kitchen.
Alden remained silent, merely smiling without challenging her. At that moment, he spotted a document on the table that had gotten slightly wet from the groceries.
Curiosity piqued, Alden picked it up, and what he read held his attention.
The document listed actions like hand-holding, embraces, and kisses, each accompanied by detailed instructions, and the actions grew more intimate further down the list.
The deeper Alden read, the more his expression darkened. He noticed the watermark—revealing the logo of Valeria’s psychological counseling clinic.
The guidance suggested that Helena engage in these intimate activities as part of therapy, presumably with a partner.
Alarm bells went off for Alden. He began to seriously question Valeria’s professional ethics and the appropriateness of her advice.
He quietly took a snapshot of the document and forwarded it to Xavier, instructing him to consult with the nation’s top experts in psychology.
Helena had just finished preparing the meal when she suddenly realized she needed to conceal the document Valeria had handed her. She was apprehensive about Alden finding it.
Relieved, Helena noticed the document was still in the same spot she had left it, seemingly untouched. Alden’s voice broke the silence.
“That document you brought in got wet. Do you need help drying it p>
Quickly, Helena reached for the file, pressing it against her chest protectively.
She answered with a hint of anxiety, “It’s sensitive material from Nexus TV. It’s not meant for external eyes p>
Alden’s features hardened slightly. She seemed to forget that Nexus TV’s security had been breached recently, making any so-called secrets accessible to him.
What concerned him most was whether Helena was actually considering implementing Valeria’s suggestions. And if so, Alden pondered, who was the man she was considering to help her with these exercises?