Chapter 434

She was still reeling from the shock, and now Ernesto’s words landed like another heavy blow. Alice stared blankly, her eyes wide with disbelief, her face so ashen and drained of color it was as if all life had been sucked out of her.

“Don’t be scared. I won’t do anything to you. Things aren’t like they used to be,” Ernesto said, his tone softer than before.

Ernesto’s reminder twisted the knife in her heart. It had been just another ordinary day until the members of the Diamonde family suddenly showed up and dragged her away, leaving her powerless to resist.

She had lost Xander once before. She absolutely couldn’t let it happen a second time.

No matter what, she was going to protect Kyler this time.

“Okay, see you tomorrow,” Alice replied, knowing Ernesto all too well. If he didn’t say what he wanted, it meant he’d never spill a thing no matter how much she pressed him.

After hanging up, Alice never imagined it was Carmen who had exposed Kyler’s existence. Alice assumed Ernesto had noticed her odd behavior at that internet conference and had been watching Kyler ever since.

Her grip on the edge of the bed tightened. ‘I should have been more careful,’ she thought.

Taking a moment while watering the flowers, Kyler texted Aubree. [Ernesto’s found out about me.]

Kyler acted completely clueless, quietly tending to the plants, looking like a secret lover who’d been caught by the sugar daddy’s brother and now had to play it cool.

In fact, Ernesto hadn’t left the apartment after he found Kyler last night.

A harsh screech of brakes echoed outside. Ernesto put down his coffee and looked toward the door.

A woman in a crisp suit walked in with a no-nonsense air. The first thing she did was check on Kyler, making sure he was alright. Only after seeing him was safe did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Ernesto took it all in and said, “I told you, I won’t lay a finger on him. Things are different this time.”

Last time, Xander was an obstacle and had to be dealt with. But Kyler is a useful threat now. I plan to make the most of him,” thought Ernesto.

“Go back to what you were doing,” Alice said, not wanting Kyler to know anything about her past.

Kyler wasn’t the nosy type, not on the surface at least. He just gave a slight nod and walked out.

“Alright, just say it. What do you want?” Alice straightened up, her face all business.

Ernesto gave a helpless smile and spread his hands, saying, “Alice, I’m not lying to you this time. I am here to help.

“You know as well as I do that the relationship between the Wilson and Diamonde families is on shaky ground. Ronald can’t be trusted anymore. There’s nothing more secure than having things in our hands,”

Alice’s eyes widened in shock. “You want me to fight for control of Wilson Group? Are you crazy?”

Even though Alice held more shares in the Wilson family than anyone except Ronald, Ronald would never let her get involved in the company’s affairs. Otherwise, she would have taken a position at Wilson Group instead of starting Cloud Design on her own.

Even if, for argument’s sake, she never loved Ronald, she gave birth to her kids. She’d have to be crazy to fight her sons for power.

“As long as I’m still married to Ronald, the Wilsons and the Diamonde family will keep working together,” Alice said. “Even if we got divorced, it doesn’t mean the two families would just cut ties.”

Ernesto understood all that, but it wasn’t enough for him. He wanted to keep all the power for himself.

“No. Letting the Wilson Group call the shots isn’t what I’m after. Relax, I know you’re not the one for that job. There are others who are close to the Diamonde family and have influence in the Wilson family besides you,” Ernesto said.

“You mean Carmen?” Alice asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

Carmen now held 5% of the shares, and Daxton was so biased toward her that he’d even go against the rest of the Wilson family for her. With him around, it was impossible to tell whose side he’d end up on. If Alice threw her support behind Carmen, things would get even messier.

She remembered what she’d overheard last night. Ronald and Bryan were willing to do whatever it took to get those shares from Carmen. Carmen is my daughter with Daxton. There’s no way I could just watch her get hurt, Alice thought, her heart tightening. This seems like my best shot at turning the tables.