Chapter 87
Chapter 87:
Helena’s gaze sharpened as it lingered on Alden. He didn’t acknowledge the silent questions in her eyes.
So, this was true. But Alden was keeping it to himself.
Whatever interest she had in dinner vanished in an instant.
“Now that’s hardly fair,” Rylan said with a soft chuckle. He then added with mock concern, “What if you end up being sent abroad again? Were you honestly going to leave your wife behind to fend for herself p>
Alden sat beside Helena, carefully peeling shrimp just for her. His movements were steady, his tone even as he said, “I never planned on leaving Cheson. Not once p>
Alden had poured his heart into the redevelopment project. If it collapsed, it would break him entirely.
Rylan could hardly wait for that moment to arrive.
Though he sneered on the inside, his gaze softened with a touch of sympathy when it landed on Helena.
“Helena, Grandma’s really fond of you. No matter where life takes the two of you, make sure you look after Alden. He can’t hear, after all. If he ends up growing old alone, life will only get much harder for him p>
Alden placed another peeled shrimp onto Helena’s plate.
She bit into it without saying a word. It was sweet, tender even, but all she could taste was the ache that clung to the back of her throat.
If Rylan could toss around Alden’s pain like that in front of Frida, she didn’t want to imagine what Alden had faced when Frida was not around.
Their marriage had been nothing more than a performance.
If the redevelopment project fell through, she could still walk away with a divorce settlement. But what about Alden?
He would be forced to leave Cheson behind, alone, with no hope of return.
“I appreciate the concern. Alden and I made a promise the day we got married.” Helena’s steady gaze met Alden’s, her clear eyes seeming to reach straight into the depths of his heart. She added, her voice softening with warmth, “Wherever he ends up, I’ll be right there too. We’re in this together. We’ll keep looking out for each other, just like we are now. That’s what real family does p>
A flicker of emotion passed through Alden. He was used to brushing off the whispers and sneers from his family. But Helena’s words? They landed somewhere deeper.
𝗕𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 — 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘁
She wasn’t angry about the secrets he kept. Not even close.
Across the table, Rylan’s expression tightened. His carefully prepared accusation—about Helena staying with Alden purely to secure the massive compensation for the Simpson family from the Wilson family—died on his lips.
Even Frida looked touched. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
For the first time that evening, Rylan felt unsure of himself.
Chadwick might’ve worn the title of company head, but Frida was the one whose opinion mattered.
And if Frida grew even more attached to Alden because of Helena, Rylan’s schemes wouldn’t stand a chance.
By the time the last dish was cleared, an uneasy quiet had settled around the table. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, and not a single person dared bring up the redevelopment project again.
Later, Frida invited her grandsons out for a walk, claiming the fresh air would help digestion.
Even though Rylan and Alden could barely stand each other, Rylan didn’t dare refuse. Missing anything Frida said tonight could cost him dearly.
With no other plans in sight, Helena agreed to Shelley’s offer to help sort through the wine cellar.
But as they reached the cellar, they saw a man standing on the stairs.
“Shelley, Grandma was asking for you earlier. You should probably check in with her. I need a word with Helena. Alone p>
Helena froze. That voice was unmistakable. It was Rylan’s.
He was supposed to be out with Frida. What was he doing here? A wave of caution rolled through Helena, and her guard immediately went up.
Shelley kept her tone respectful. “Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Frida Wilson gave me clear instructions to stay with Mrs. Helena Wilson. She was concerned the house might be too large for her to find her way around alone p>
Rylan came down a few more steps, his expression unchanged. The low light cast a shadow across his smile, turning it sharp at the edges.
“We are all here in the same house,” Rylan said smoothly. “What’s there to get lost in? Don’t you trust me, Shelley? Or is your trust only firm enough to let your son work for the Wilson Group p>
That jab landed hard. Shelley tensed immediately.
Sensing her unease, Helena gave her hand a small, comforting squeeze. “It’s alright, Shelley. Just take the wine you picked out for Frida and wait for me upstairs p>
Her calm voice didn’t go unnoticed. Shelley nodded, though concern lingered in her eyes.
Only after Helena squeezed her hand again did she slowly walk away, reluctantly leaving her behind.
Immediately, Rylan closed the distance between Helena and him. His approach made her stiffen, and she instinctively clutched her sleeve to steady herself.
But the tense confrontation she had braced for never came.
Rylan merely strode past her, making his way to the final row of shelves to retrieve a bottle of wine.
“Alden put this aside. Said it was meant for Nyno p>
Just hearing the name made Helena’s breath catch. Her reaction was instant. “You know about Nyno?” she asked, startled.