Chapter 188

Edith took a few deep breaths, unable to hold back her curiosity. “Who told you that story?”

“A woman,” Aiden replied, pausing before adding, “A woman praising another woman must be right.”

Edith thought, ‘Which woman is spreading such nonsense? Step forward and face the consequences!’

“Ms. Meyers, welcome to my home,” Landen said, pulling Edith along to show her around.

But Edith couldn’t even enjoy the tour anymore.

She was torn. ‘Should I spill the beans to Amelia about Aiden’s feelings, so Amelia could shut Aiden down before things got out of hand?’

“Edith, long time.” A woman wearing a mask slowly descended the spiral staircase.

Even though her face was hidden behind a custom lace mask, her graceful figure and beautiful eyes made it obvious she was a real beauty.

“Paloma!” Edith called out, feeling a bit more at ease seeing her old friend.

If all else failed, she could always ask Paloma to talk some sense into Aiden and tell him to stop trying to be the other man.

“It’s been a while. You’ve gotten even more stunning,” Paloma said, her gaze as soft as spring water as she looked Edith over.

“Thanks,” Edith replied with a shy smile. “Paloma, can we talk privately?”

She glanced nervously at Aiden, worried he might try to stop them.

But Aiden didn’t suspect a thing. “Go ahead. I’ll step out for a bit.”

Once the servants brought in some fruit and pastries, Edith quickly found an excuse to send Landen out of the room. The moment he was gone, she couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out to Paloma, “Mr. Kyle’s fallen for a married woman…”

“I know,” Paloma replied casually.

“Uh, and you’re not even going to try to stop him?” Edith asked, completely taken aback.

“Why should I?” Paloma answered, sounding utterly unconcerned!

Edith was dumbfounded, unable to say a word for a long moment as she stared at her in disbelief.

She thought, ‘Is everyone in the Kyle family crazy or what?’

“Edith, everyone has the right to pursue love. Whether they actually get it or not, well, that depends on their own luck,” Paloma said with a shrug.

“But that woman is pregnant! She and her husband are really in love…” Edith protested.

Paloma just laughed. “Exactly. That’s why I’m waiting for Aiden to hit a wall.”

Edith was at a loss for words.

“Aiden’s been stubborn since he was a kid. Once he sets his mind on something, he will never give up. Unless he bangs his head against the wall and learns the hard way, no one can talk him out of it,” Paloma said, sounding helpless.

Edith couldn’t believe it!

She thought to herself, ‘Whatever, let him learn the hard way. He’s never going to come between Amelia and Landon anyway.

But then there was Amelia’s purpose for this trip… something about it just seems off.’

Edith glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned in and whispered, “Do you want to meet Amelia?”

“Huh?” Paloma looked confused.

“The married woman Mr. Kyle’s secretly in love with,” Edith clarified.

Paloma set her coffee cup down, seriously considered it for a moment, then shook her head. “No.”

“Why not?” Edith asked, surprised.

“I promised my parents I would not leave the manor,” Paloma replied.

“What?” Edith was stunned.

Her brain was about to crash.

She thought, ‘Seriously, what kind of heiress gets kept locked up in her own house like some rare animal?’

“I’m not in great shape,” Paloma said, tapping her head. “I forget a lot of things, so my parents worry I might get into trouble if I leave the manor.”

“Amnesia?” Edith asked.

Paloma smiled lightly. “Something like that.”

For a moment, Edith didn’t know what to say in response.

She thought, ‘So Paloma really does have amnesia! No wonder Landen sometimes complains that his mom doesn’t remember him.’

“Don’t worry, it’s just amnesia. It’s not that big of a deal,” Paloma said. “Besides, the manor is huge. I don’t get bored here.”

“Alright…” Edith said with a sigh.

She reached out and gently touched Paloma’s hair.

It flowed all the way down to her waist, thick as a waterfall and brown and glossy as satin.

“Your hair is amazing. I’m so jealous. Your son is already five, and your hair still looks this amazing,” Edith said, running her fingers through it.

Then, as she played with Paloma’s hair, she quietly pocketed a stray strand, making sure Paloma didn’t notice.

Paloma was completely oblivious, happily sharing her hair care secrets with Edith.

They talked for over two hours, and Aiden still hadn’t come back.

Edith had accomplished her mission, so she decided it was time to leave.

Paloma tried to get her to stay a bit longer, but when Edith insisted, she simply had a driver take Edith home.

When the driver asked where she wanted to go, Edith just blurted out a random place.

After she got out of the car, only then did she call Amelia.

[Sorry, the number you have dialed is not available.]

“Is she asleep again?” Edith muttered, scrolling through her contacts for Daniel’s number.

It felt strange to be the one calling him after all this time.

Chapter 188

She wandered aimlessly, her steps faltering with hesitation every now and then.

In the end, the shadows of the past made her give up. She put her phone away and switched to sightseeing mode.

Edith thought, ‘Whatever, Amelia will call me when she wakes up anyway!’

The capital city of Dreicean was dazzlingly glamorous, and Edith found herself completely entranced by the sights.

Suddenly, someone wrapped their arms around her from behind. Edith screamed in fright, “Ah!”

In the chaos, her bag was snatched away.

The person who’d grabbed her let go and bolted.

“Thief! Somebody help! Stop that thief!” Edith yelled anxiously as she took off after him.

Everything she owned was in that bag. If she didn’t get it back, she’d be sleeping on the streets tonight.

For a moment, she forgot all about being scared.

But when she chased the thief into a deserted alley and found herself being leered at by two men, she finally realized, ‘Never chase a dog into a dead end, or you’ll get bitten!’

She immediately spun around and bolted.

“Hey, sweetheart, aren’t you bold? Chasing after us, huh?” one of the men taunted.

“Don’t run, darling. Let us keep you company!” the other jeered with a sleazy grin.

The two men blocked her escape, trapping Edith in the alley.

Edith swallowed nervously, her voice shaking. “Look, you can have the bag, take all the money–just give me back my passport, please…”

“Once we’ve had our fun, you’ll get everything back,” one of them sneered.

One of the men grabbed Edith’s hand and pulled her roughly into his arms.

Edith screamed at the top of her lungs, “Help!”

She was screaming in utter despair.

She was all alone in a foreign land, and this dead-end alley was completely deserted.

She thought, ‘I’m doomed…’

“Let her go!” A familiar voice rang out, sharp and commanding, cutting through the darkness like a ray of light.

Edith’s heart leaped with a mix of surprise and relief. “Daniel!”

“Who the hell do you think you are, trying to ruin our fun?” one of the thieves snarled, thinking they had the upper hand since there were two of them, and lunged at Daniel.

The three of them got into a messy brawl, and Edith clutched her chest, her heart pounding with worry.

She thought, ‘Can Daniel beat them?’

‘There are two of them…’

‘Wait, I should call the police!’

Chapter 188

Edith quickly grabbed her bag from the ground, fumbled for her phone, and was about to call the police with trembling hands.

“Don’t bother. It’s over,” Daniel said.

His familiar presence wrapped around her, and before she knew it, she was pulled into his warm embrace.

“You won? Are you hurt?” Edith asked, her heart pounding, body stiff as a board.

She thought, ‘He’s hugging me?

‘After a whole month apart, he was actually the one to hug me first?’

“I’m fine. What about you?” Daniel held her tightly, like he’d just gotten back the most precious thing he’d ever lost.

He thought, ‘Only God knows how furious I was when I saw those bastards manhandling her!

‘If it weren’t for the fact that killing is illegal–and this isn’t the Zuckerberg family’s turf–I really would’ve taken those two out myself!”

“I–I’m fine.” Edith snapped out of it and quickly put some space between herself and Daniel.

Her face turned bright red as she stammered, “But… how did you happen to be here?”

“Our hotel’s just nearby. Amelia’s asleep, so I came out for a walk,” Daniel said, and he couldn’t help but think she looked really cute with her cheeks all red.

He thought, ‘Guess all that restlessness back at the hotel was just my gut telling me to come out and save her.’

“Oh, okay…” Edith mumbled, feeling a wave of relief washing over her.

“Weren’t you supposed to be in the Kyle family? Why are you back so soon?” Daniel asked, his expression suddenly turning serious. “Aiden didn’t do anything to you, did he?”