Chapter 48
Chapter 48:
Neville didn’t even get the chance to complain, as Alden had already ended the call.
Helena stood motionless, her hands submerged in the dishwater, growing colder with each passing second. Despite that chill, the warmth in Alden’s voice had left her cheeks flushed and her ears burning.
She felt his hand brush along her side, and for a brief moment, she thought he was going to hold her. Instead, he reached into her pocket and quietly returned her phone. The weight of it settled back against her pocket.
Without looking at her, he asked in a calm tone, “Was that guy, Dominick, causing you any trouble p>
Startled, Helena blinked. Then, she snapped back to the moment. “What? No, it wasn’t him,” she said quickly, shaking her head.
“So it was another man?” he asked.
Helena stumbled for words, trying to clarify. “We just work together. I’m keeping my distance, I promise. I just didn’t want to make things awkward at the office p>
“Alright,” Alden replied simply, not pushing the topic further. “The water’s too cold. You’ll make yourself sick if you keep soaking your hands in it p>
He then gently lifted her hands out of the sink and rinsed them under warm water before handing her a towel.
After drying her hands, he rolled up his sleeves and began scrubbing the dishes.
Helena stood beside him, unsure of what to do with herself. She glanced at him, then asked softly, “Don’t you have any other questions p>
The clinking of plates against the sink filled the silence as Alden calmly continued washing, the sound oddly soothing.
His voice came low and sure. “I don’t need to ask because I trust you.” For Alden, that trust was already there—trust in her commitment to their marriage and in her strength to handle whatever came her way. More importantly, that call just now had eliminated a potential threat for Alden.
Whoever that man was, Helena clearly couldn’t stand him, which worked just fine for Alden. The realization lifted Alden’s spirits, and suddenly, even the task of doing dishes didn’t feel so tedious.
Only Dominick remained on his mental checklist.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․c𝓸𝗆 brings imagination alive
Helena, on the other hand, felt her chest soften the moment Alden said he trusted her. She remembered the days when Terry would shut her out over something as trivial as another man’s glance. It used to convince her that all men were territorial like that.
Noticing Helena watching him for a little too long, Alden shot her a glance. “Aren’t you supposed to be going over your notes p>
Caught off guard, Helena quickly averted her eyes. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Alden seemed to be in a lighter mood. Was he actually enjoying the dishwashing?
Valeria once mentioned that some people found household chores oddly therapeutic. Maybe Alden was one of them.
Helena gave a small, subtle smile as she made up her mind to let him take care of the dishes from now on.
The following day at the office, Helena found herself crossing paths with Neville again. He was deep in conversation with Laurence. As Helena passed by, she offered a polite smile and a slight nod. Laurence returned her greeting with a friendly smile. Neville, on the other hand, averted his gaze, too afraid to make eye contact with Helena.
Suppressing a laugh, Helena picked up her pace. It seemed Alden’s words had rattled him more than she expected. With any luck, that would be the end of Neville’s harassment.
But once Helena disappeared around the corner, Neville’s expression hardened. “Mr. Palmer, I’ve been thinking that Helena might not be the best fit to anchor the Nine O’clock News p>
Laurence gave a knowing smile. “You’ve got a thing for her, right p>
Grumbling under his breath, Neville didn’t deny it. “Her husband’s way too controlling. The guy won’t even let her have a proper phone call. Do you even know who her husband is p>
He and Laurence had a history of preying on young female anchors, pushing boundaries the moment they sensed weakness. Neville usually tested the waters first. If the woman stayed quiet, Laurence would swoop in soon after.
Laurence leaned in with a sleazy grin. “Her man’s probably a nobody. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to hook up with Dorian. Just go for it. I doubt she’ll resist p>
Neville hesitated. “But what about Dorian p>
“It’s been months,” Laurence replied. “He must have lost interest. He probably moved on with her by now p>
That face, Helena’s striking, unforgettable face, flashed through Neville’s mind, twisting his thoughts into something bitter. She had a husband. She’d been with Dorian. And yet, she dared to brush him off?
A dark thought began to form, creeping into the corners of his mind. He wasn’t done with her, not yet.