Chapter 456
Chapter 456:
The moment Liliana heard those words, she realized her subtle ploy had failed—her jaw tensed, frustration burning in her silence.
What had she ever done to earn their parents’ unwavering devotion?
Barely ten minutes later, Helena arrived at the front gate in Dorian’s car.
Natalie rushed forward at once, seizing Helena’s hands and anxiously searching her face for any sign of exhaustion, illness, or heartbreak. Although Helena had been upset at her mother’s overbearing ways, the fierce tenderness in Natalie’s eyes left her defensiveness crumbling. She managed a wobbly smile, pitching her voice as steady as she could. “Mom, don’t look at me like I’m made of glass. I’m really fine—nothing I can’t handle p>
Natalie’s eyes shimmered with tears, and she nodded rapidly in agreement. “Of course, of course! Every Harrison stands tall—no matter what p>
Still, worry gnawed at her, and she put off mentioning Alden, afraid Helena might shatter after all.
Side by side, the two women tried to chat about ordinary things, both carefully avoiding the one topic hanging between them.
As the warmth between mother and daughter slowly returned, Liliana flashed Martha a discreet look. Martha caught on instantly, gliding over with a tray of glistening fruit. Her tone was light, but her words landed with precision. “Helena, it’s a relief to see you holding up. Ms. Harrison has been sick with worry, not knowing how to break the bad news about Mr. Wilson to you p>
That phrase—”bad news”—slammed into Helena’s chest, each word hammering deeper. Her fingers jerked, nearly sending coffee sloshing over the rim.
“Helena!” Natalie gripped Helena’s trembling wrist.
Helena drew a shaky breath, reining in her nerves. At last, she asked, “Alden… What happened to him p>
No one could tiptoe around it any longer.
Natalie shot Martha a cutting look before finally answering, “Our people confirmed Alden was really on that crashed plane—his mother Delaney was with him, too p>
Helena’s lips parted in shock, her eyes suddenly vacant and lost.
Natalie pressed her lips together, her voice quivering with heartache. “Delaney inherited much of the Hughes family’s fortune, and Zayden—Alden’s uncle—has always been hungry for every bit of it. The crash… it wasn’t some freak accident. He wanted them both out of the way p>
𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢: gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧿ⅽ𝗼𝗺
Overwhelmed, she faltered and turned pleadingly to Kareem for support.
Kareem ran a weary hand over his face and picked up where Natalie left off. “Zayden’s a dangerous man—cold, calculating, and relentless. This time… we fear Alden may truly be lost to us p>
“Stop! Don’t say that!” Helena lurched upright, her chair scraping sharply against the floor as she cut Kareem off, her eyes blazing with denial.
Kareem and Natalie froze for a split second, then scrambled to reach their shaken daughter, hands half-raised as if to shield her from the truth.
But Helena recoiled from their concern, unable to withstand the agony any longer. The walls seemed to close in, every second stretching unbearably.