Chapter 710:
Patrick caught her confusion and cut in, laying out the whole tangled web. “Rylie didn’t go to Malvren for some textile job. She was chasing the truth about that kidnapping. Only Renata and I know what really happened. Renata’s husband tried to have Rylie killed behind my back, to shut her up for good. It would have worked if he hadn’t screwed it up. Now she’s probably slipped back to Crolens with Renata and the others. If this blows up, there’s no digging our way out.”
He didn’t stop there. “Laurel, there aren’t many who know what Abram’s been up to. If anyone does, it’s me. He isn’t working alone. Someone must have secretly hired him to kill Rylie, and you need to figure out who could have paid him to do this without my knowledge — and botched it anyway.”
Laurel felt a cold chill rush over her. She shooed the staff from the room, lowering her voice. “You let your guard down and she escaped back then, switching her out with another…”
“…woman to cover your tracks. Did you really think I wouldn’t catch on? If it weren’t for the urgent need to report to that big shot and my moment of mercy, I would have searched high and low to capture Rylie and deal with her. How could there be so many issues otherwise!”
Keeping her tone hushed, Laurel commanded, “We can’t afford any more mistakes. Tie up every loose end, and make sure nobody draws attention. Even if Rylie manages to dig something up from those people she caught, as long as the authorities don’t get involved, this scandal will eventually die down.”
Patrick weighed in, his voice sharp. “She only brought a single bodyguard this time. Rylie’s probably holding people somewhere to squeeze answers out of them. Find a way to get those folks out quietly. If that’s impossible, silence them before they talk, and make sure the blame lands somewhere else.”
Laurel’s gaze sharpened as she considered her next move. “I need you to take care of something for me.”
Meanwhile, Brad had his mercenary unit slip into Malvren by nightfall, posing as harmless visitors while they waited for his orders.
Ł@ŧëşŧ ÇĦ@þŦèŕş íń 𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Back at home, Felix summoned Rylie to his study the moment he learned that she had made another trip to Malvren. He scanned her from head to toe, checking for any sign of harm, then spoke in a gentle voice. “Why did you run off to Malvren again? Are you planning to break all ties with Laura for good?”
Rylie’s voice was steady as she answered, “It was Terrance and Laurel who caused me to get lost and end up in the village when I was little.”
Felix’s expression darkened, the lines on his face growing harsh. “Rylie, something this serious — you should have come to me first. I could have helped you investigate. What if you’d gotten hurt again?”
She offered a calm smile. “I brought Brad with me. There was nothing to worry about.”
Felix arched a brow. “So Brad’s your shadow now? Watching your back wherever you go?”
She gave a simple nod. “That’s right.”
Felix couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Whenever his sister set her mind on something, she’d find a way to make it happen — whether they approved or not. Still, knowing that Brad was there eased his worries a bit. The man was fiercely devoted, the sort who’d lay everything on the line for her.
A love like that bordered on obsession, the kind that didn’t care about consequences.
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