Chapter 86
Chapter 86:
Without a word, Alden gently traced a circle into Helena’s palm with his finger, a quiet gesture that spoke volumes.
He had brought her into this world of sharp edges and old grudges, and there was no way he’d let her weather any part of it alone.
Chadwick, still scanning the room, finally noticed something—or rather, someone—was missing.
“Mom, where’s Maisie? Rylan and I had our hands full today, so she was supposed to drop off the gifts early p>
Frida gave a dry, humorless laugh. The warmth in her face vanished, replaced by something sharper.
“Your darling wife disappeared into the kitchen while I was resting. Said she wanted to lend a hand p>
That caught Chadwick off guard. Still, he took it as a good sign.
“See? That just proves she respects you. She’s never lifted a finger for me. Not once p>
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Maisie entered in disarray—hair tangled, face smudged with soot, holding a plate of scorched food that looked beyond saving.
Chadwick’s expression twisted in dismay. “Maisie, what on earth are you thinking? That’s not something you should be serving p>
Maisie’s eyes welled with tears, fully simmering just beneath the surface.
“Blame your dear son Alden for this. He’s the one who insisted I help out in the kitchen, and this was the best I could come up with under Marcus’s guidance p>
She shoved up her sleeve, revealing a blister on her wrist, raw and angry.
That was enough to make Chadwick wince. He immediately waved over a servant, his voice rising with worry as he asked for ointment. Then he turned his fury on Alden, eyes blazing.
“Have you lost your mind? What gives you the right to boss your elders around p>
Alden raised his eyes, the chill in his stare cutting straight through Maisie, who was still caught up in her tears.
“I brought Helena to see Grandma. Sitting down for dinner with you is nothing more than a coincidence p>
Maisie shook with fear and hurried to slip behind Chadwick, using him as a shield.
“Wasn’t it her who begged Marcus for lessons? Or am I just imagining things?” Alden’s calm voice sliced through the air with sudden precision, sharp and unexpected.
Maisie opened her mouth but didn’t say a word. With Frida sitting right there, she couldn’t risk it. There was no way she could let Alden bring up Rylan’s botched land deal.
The silence hung thick, and Maisie finally dropped her pitiful act. It was no use.
Frida said nothing. She didn’t need to. The look in her eyes said it all—she was disappointed.
Before the quiet grew unbearable, Shelley signaled the staff. Plates began arriving at the table.
Helena let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Marcus had outdone himself again. Every dish looked like art. But only Helena seemed ready to eat.
Alden barely touched his food.
While keeping an eye on Frida, he quietly moved bits of Helena’s favorites onto her plate, like he’d done it a hundred times before. Helena didn’t hesitate, accepting each one like it was second nature.
Chadwick, Maisie, and Rylan sat stunned. Alden—the cold and rigid Alden—was doting on a girl with humble origins. It didn’t make sense. Frida, on the other hand, looked absolutely delighted. She even asked for seconds.
Shelley couldn’t stop smiling either. She’d watched Alden grow up. She had worried that the girl he clung to in his youth would remain just a memory, that he’d close himself off forever.
Now that he had finally let someone in, her relief was just as deep as Frida’s joy.
Frida let out a warm laugh. “At this rate, I’ll be holding a great-grandchild sooner than I thought p>
Helena coughed hard, caught mid-bite. When she glanced up, every pair of eyes—except Alden’s—was locked on her.
Panic swept over her. She had gotten way too comfortable. Alden had spoiled her so much at home that she forgot she was supposed to act like a guest in front of Frida.
“Eat slowly, sweetheart,” said Frida, her tone light. “No one’s going to steal your meal. From now on, you and Den need to watch out for each other. The future of the Wilson family rests on your shoulders p>
That single statement drained the warmth from the room. Faces stiffened, especially Maisie’s. She’d spent hours…
Sweating in the kitchen, and all she’d asked Helena to do was pick up plate pieces. And now Frida was hinting that Alden would inherit the company?
The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“Wait a minute,” said Maisie, raising her voice. “Since when did having the first great-grandchild mean winning the company? If I’d known, I would’ve married Rylan off ages ago. Before Alden popped back into the picture, Rylan was the one running himself ragged for the business. That’s the reason he’s still single p>
Rylan gave a gracious shrug, like he was above it all. “Let’s not fight, Mom. I was never trying to outdo Alden. Besides, Dad’s still in charge. He’s the one holding the company together p>
That last statement sat well with Chadwick. He straightened up slightly, and a faint flicker of pride lit his eyes. “You mentioned once, Mom, that Alden would take over the redevelopment project, and if he can’t pull it off, then he’ll have no choice but to stay in Wesborough. End of story p>
Helena froze. No one had told her any of this before.
So that was what the project meant to Alden.
Noticing the brief flicker of surprise on her face, Rylan leaned in with a sly grin and said, “Helena, no one told you that p>