Chapter 26 The Risk of Exposure

Lucas's Perspective:

My heart nearly stopped, and my hand was slick with cold sweat as I gripped the phone. I tried to stay calm, but my mouth just opened and closed without finding the right words.

"Who are you talking to?" Cecilia's eyes were full of suspicion, her voice cold and menacing.

"I'm helping a friend rehearse a play script." I wasn't sure if this flimsy excuse and my almost trembling voice would fool Cecilia.

"What friend?" Cecilia clearly didn't believe me. She reached out her hand, her tone growing more dangerous. "Give me the phone!"

"It's a friend I met when I snuck out before." I clutched the phone tighter and took a step back. I couldn't let her hear Alex's voice, or there would definitely be trouble.

"Who would be friends with someone like you? Hand over the phone!" Cecilia was clearly losing patience. She took a big step towards me and snatched the phone from my hand with ease.

"I'm going to tell my dad you're picking on me!" I shouted in desperation, hoping to scare her with Silas, but it didn't work.

"Who is this?" Cecilia barked into the phone.

It was over! I closed my eyes in despair.

Just when I thought it was all over, a strange girl's voice came from the other end of the line. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Alex's friend."

The girl's voice was uneasy as if she was frightened by the commotion. I was stunned. It wasn't Saki's voice. Whose voice was it?
Cecilia paused, her fierce expression softening slightly. She let go of me and tossed the phone onto the bed, giving me a mocking smile.

"Who knew someone would actually be friends with you!" With that, Cecilia shot me one last glare before leaving my room.

Ignoring her taunts, I quickly locked the door and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Hello?" I picked up the phone.

"Is she gone?" It was still the girl's voice.

"Yeah, she's gone," I replied.

"Good, that scared me to death. Luckily, I reacted quickly. Cecilia didn't do anything to you, did she?" Alex's voice came through the phone again.

So it was Alex faking the voice. I didn't know he could do that. I was a bit surprised and wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, still shaken. "I'm fine, thanks to you."

"Cecilia is very suspicious. Even though she's gone, don't let your guard down. Be careful," Alex warned.

"Don't worry, I will."

After exchanging a few more words of caution with Alex, I hung up.

Alex's Perspective:

Even after the call ended, my anxiety didn't subside. Thinking back to the close call, I grew even more nervous.

Cecilia was very suspicious. She wouldn't fully believe it. If she started watching Lucas, he would be in danger.

Lucas and I needed to switch back soon.

Cecilia's Perspective:

As I walked out of Alex's room, I heard the door lock behind me. My desire to get rid of this reclusive kid grew even stronger.
Ever since Alex's condition improved, he's been opposing me at every turn. Silas suddenly wanting to cut ties with me must be his doing.

Were they trying to push me out and bring in some woman to take my place? No way. I wouldn't let anyone take over the business I had worked so hard to build over the years.

I didn't dare investigate Silas, but any woman who came near him, even a female mosquito, I would investigate thoroughly! With that thought, I pulled out my phone and called my private investigator. "How's the investigation going?"

"Cecilia, I've found everything you wanted. I'm waiting for you at the usual spot."

Perfect! I hung up, a satisfied smile spreading across my face. I really wondered who that woman was.

I drove to the agreed-upon café. As soon as I walked in, I saw the private investigator waving enthusiastically from a window seat.

"Where's the stuff?" I didn't bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point as I sat down.

"Here it is." The investigator handed me a tablet with the hotel's surveillance footage.

In the video, a tall, slender woman walked into Silas's room. Even with just a blurry side profile and figure, it was clear she was a stunning beauty. No wonder she managed to get into Silas's bed.

A surge of uncontrollable jealousy and anger rose within me. I slammed the tablet onto the table, my chest burning with envy.
I had worked so hard for so many years, and Silas hadn't even kissed me. Yet this lowly woman took what should have been mine. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I would find this wretched woman, strip her naked, and throw her into a den of thugs to vent my anger.

"Cecilia, don't be upset. A lowly woman like her can't compare to you." The investigator smiled obsequiously, retrieving his tablet.

He continued, "I've already looked into her background. Her name is Stella, a psychologist who recently returned to the country and now works at Hope Hospital."

"A psychologist?" I thought of Alex's sudden recovery and everything clicked. So Alex really planned to make her his stepmother! How dare a psychologist compete with me?

"Cecilia, do you know what's the most interesting part?" The investigator's face lit up with a mocking, incredulous smile.

I had no patience for his nonsense and glared at him to get to the point.

He said, "This woman has two kids! It's unbelievable!"

Upon hearing this, I almost laughed out loud.

Would Silas, the Alpha King, be interested in a woman with two kids? No way, it was utterly ridiculous unless this woman had a face that could launch a thousand ships, men were unable to resist.

Suppressing my resentment, I asked, "Do you have her photo?"

"Yes!" The investigator pulled a photo from his pocket and handed it to me with both hands. I took it, ready to see what she looked like.