Chapter 5 Distrust

Was the truth what Hansel and Evelyn thought? Tessa didn't waste her breath. She ordered the place cleared, and within minutes, the director had staff empty the lobby. Even Hansel and Evelyn were thrown out. After that, she turned to the officers who were ready to take Nancy away and said, "I've already called Chief Deleon. He'll be here shortly." Her commanding presence silenced the room. Even the officers, who moments ago were ready to act, stood stiff and forgot to argue. Davis Deleon rushed in, sweating bullets. The moment he got Tessa's call, he had nearly dropped his phone. She was one of Randy Sullivan's eight trusted confidants. Randy hailed from Zoticas Group in Capitalis—an organization that worked closely with world leaders and heads of state. As for the group's elusive heiress, few had ever seen her in person. Rumor had it that at 18, she had taken over the empire, while others her age were still in classrooms. She had led Zoticas Group's shipping fleet to dominate the seas, dictated global markets with a word, and was rumored to have orchestrated military strategies that resolved international conflicts. Under her command, Zoticas Group's mercenaries had become an unstoppable presence. How could anyone dare arrest a figure like that? It would be career suicide for Davis as police chief. He apologized profusely, swore to investigate Evelyn's slander, and promised Nancy would get justice. Then, he left in disgrace, practically dragging his men out with him. "Hansel, why did the police just leave? Could Nancy have bribed them to shut this down?" Evelyn touched her swollen cheek and winced. "Since when did she have that kind of power?" Hansel seethed. "She had better not. But if she does, we'll blow up this matter. We have witnesses as well as reporters. How dare she hit me in public! I'll make sure she pays with her life for this." Evelyn nodded fiercely. "But who was that woman who helped her? She didn't look ordinary." He scoffed. "Nancy is just a housewife. How can she know anyone important? Forget her. What matters is you and the baby. Tonight, reach out to Zoticas Group's local branch. If we land that project, we'll be untouchable in Capitalis within a year." "Don't worry, darling. I'll take care of it." They had dreamed of forging ties with Zoticas Group, but never realized that the very woman they had dismissed was the group's heiress herself. At that moment, Nancy sat across from Tessa in a quiet cafe. "This is Mr. Sullivan Senior's order," Tessa said, relaying Randy's words. "The tests show that Sebastian wasn't just gravely injured—he was drugged. Then, you added sedatives, which worsened his condition. If you want to see Mr. Sullivan Senior again, Sebastian has to recover fully." Nancy lowered her gaze, a trace of sorrow in her eyes. It seemed that Randy still hadn't forgiven her. Five years apart, and instead of wanting to see her right away, he gave her an impossible challenge. On the way back from rescuing Sebastian, she had secretly examined him and found his condition to be severe. She had deduced that he wouldn't survive another year. Even as a miracle doctor, she would need at least three years to restore him to full health. Randy had no intention of seeing her. "Actually, Mr. Sullivan Senior is protecting you," Tessa said softly, unable to watch her grieve. "He misses you desperately. I've seen him hold your photo and cry more than once. "But the past few years have been dangerous due to internal power struggles within the group. You've been gone too long and don't understand the situation. If you come back now, you'll be a target. He wants to wait until it's safe before he lets you appear again." She squeezed Nancy's hand. "No one wants you back by his side more than he does." Nancy quickly concealed all traces of disappointment in her eyes. She returned to her sharp, aloof self from five years ago in an instant. Her gaze turned icy as she said, "Go back and tell Grandpa that I'll save Sebastian. Also, I can deal with those useless people in the company." She hadn't grown weaker in five years. She had only been keeping a low profile. After parting with Tessa, Nancy returned to the hospital. By then, Sebastian was awake, and his assistant, Taylor Kane, was standing guard. Sebastian questioned, "Who was the woman who saved me?" "Someone from Zoticas Group," Taylor replied. "After you went missing, I contacted Mr. Sullivan Senior. He arranged for them to deliver you here." Sebastian narrowed his eyes and thought, "Zoticas Group? Helping him out of kindness? It could hardly be so." Randy had a close bond with the Gates family, particularly with his grandfather, Michael Gates. And Michael always hoped the family business would go to his eldest grandson, Joseph Gates—not to him, the illegitimate son. He suspected his kidnapping and drugging had ties to Joseph as well. Maybe the plan was to push a woman into Sebastian's life, trap him with love, and once his guard was down, move in together to take everything from him, even his life. "How ridiculous!" he thought. He trusted neither Zoticas Group, Randy, nor that mysterious woman. If she never showed up again, that would be best. But if she did... Sebastian narrowed his eyes, and a dark and brooding shadow flickered beneath them.