Chapter 407 Missing Her a Bit
One idea was that someone was gunning for the Howard family's kids. But, come on, going after the kids? That's just screaming family drama.
Another thought? Maybe Alice didn't want the baby.
If Joe could figure this out, you bet Ruben and Adrian had too. The three of them shared a look that said it all.
Ruben asked, "How's Alice doing?"
Adrian replied, "Still out cold."
Ruben said, "When she wakes up, we gotta thank her properly."
It was getting late, and Ruben needed some shut-eye. Joe and Adrian left the study. On the way, Joe glanced at Adrian. "Adrian, what's on your mind?"
Adrian slowly clenched his fists. "Dad, I don't wanna marry Alice."
Joe said, "Is it 'cause of that girl, Natalie?"
Adrian dodged the question. "Dad, it's late. You should go back and rest with Mom."
Joe said, "People are talking negatively about you now." He looked at Adrian's back. "Even if it doesn't hit the Howard Group hard, it's still bad for you. Since you came back, the Howard Group's been doing great under your watch. But now, with this mess, the pressure's on."
The Howard family was full of hidden dangers, with folks watching from every corner.
Adrian knew this all too well. "Dad, I get it."
Joe nodded. "Good. Even if you like that girl, you gotta marry Alice first."
Adrian's fingers tightened, and his voice got tense. "I will."
Joe's eyes narrowed. "You think this accident's got anything to do with the Cullen family?"
Sure, Alice got the worst of it, but she also stood to gain the most.
Joe, with all his business smarts, could see that.
He'd never really taken the Cullen family seriously before. The Howards were top dogs in Vachilit, while the Cullens were small fry. When Adrian said he wanted to marry Alice, Joe was pretty shocked.
Adrian said, "If I don't marry her, I might have to step back from the Howard Group for a bit. Donte's plan is clever. If I don't marry Alice, he wins. If I do, the Cullen family wins." Adrian's voice paused, and his eyes darkened. "I'm leaning towards thinking the Cullens are behind this."
Joe frowned. "But why? What do they get from losing the kid?"
"Dad, think about it. Why would she do this?" Adrian said, "Maybe the kid isn't mine?"
Joe was stunned. "What did you say? Adrian, didn't you say she saved you?"
Adrian said, "She did, but that doesn't mean the kid's mine. I've always had my doubts. I was waiting for her to give birth so I could do a DNA test. Didn't expect this to happen. I checked the surveillance footage before the incident. The chandelier fell right where Mom was walking."
Adrian's lips pressed into a thin line. "Dad, how could it be so spot-on? How could someone predict Mom's exact steps without a miss? If Mom had dodged the chandelier, this wouldn't have happened. But I saw..."
Adrian's voice paused. "I saw that when Mom walked back, Alice was holding her hand. Since Alice was heavily pregnant, Mom usually went along with her."
Joe asked, "Have you told Grandpa about this?"
Adrian shook his head. "No, I haven't."
Joe nodded. "Alright, keep it under wraps for now. The shareholders' meeting is on Saturday. Announce your wedding with Alice then to shut down any opposition."
"Okay," Adrian responded softly. He left the Howard Villa and got into his car. He didn't stay there overnight but drove straight to Bayview Villa.
When he got home, Lucky ran over. Adrian bent down, grabbed some dog food from the storage room, and handed it to Lucky. After eating, Lucky grabbed a fur ball and ran around, eventually coming to Adrian's side. He reached out to take the ball and, when he was about to throw it, realized it was the fur ball Natalie had made.
Adrian paused. He found himself missing her a bit.
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