Chapter 230

Kenzo sat idly by, watching as a frosty expression took hold of Andrew’s face, a fleeting glimmer of something indefinable darting through his eyes.

Nobody could ever read Kenzo; of all his friends, he was the most even–tempered but also the most inscrutable. Max was as cold as ice, Andrew as fiery as a blazing hearth, and Kenzo? He was the deep, unfathomable ocean.

The shallows were gentle, with hints of sun–kissed beaches and carefree days, while the depths were dark and impenetrable, secrets lurking in the abyss.

Their other friend, he was the blade–sharp and sheathed, ready to cut deep at a moment’s notice. Alas, he was still enlisted, his return eagerly awaited.

Kenzo tilted his head down, slowly straightening the cuffs of his sleeves with deliberate nonchalance.

“You really don’t like Brielle?” Kenzo inquired, the words slipping out smooth as silk.

Andrew scoffed at the question. “Of course, I don’t. Women like her, with her background, they only latch onto a guy like Max with one thing in mind. Ever heard of ‘targeted hunting“? They make an effort to mimic what he likes, deceive him, win his heart, and once they’ve got what they want, poof–they vanish without a trace. Today’s women are too clever by half.”

In Andrew’s eyes, Brielle was worthless.

The distance from the Rowland estate was a good hour’s drive, and with the present congestion, he didn’t believe Max could make it in under two hours. In fact, he quite relished the thought that the Rowland clan might have already done away with Brielle. He regretted the orders he had given them because that meant Brielle was likely still breathing.

The Rowland family had no intention of sparing Brielle’s life. Once Tessa woke up, they would have her come and dole out the punishment herself, play with her prey until she was satiated. As for Brielle, she was nothing more than a fake heiress, utterly insignificant.

Sophia, who knew the dynamics between Brielle and Max all too well wasn’t going to be the one to expose this charade. After all, if she did, the Rowlands would have to tread carefully around Max, not daring to lay a finger on Brielle. This time Sophia played it smart, realizing that using others as pawns was the most advantageous strategy–a lesson learned from William, whose directives were gospel to her.

Sophia watched as Brielle was tied to a chair, surrounded by several bodyguards, all awaiting Tessa’s awakening. Through the throng, Sophia’s gaze met Brielle’s, if only for a moment.

Brielle thought Sophia would dismiss the guards and then torment her personally. But no such luck.

Sophia just flashed her a strange, unsettling smile before walking away.

There’s a saying: it’s the silent dogs that bite the hardest.

After leaving the scene, Sophia headed to a hospital a few hundred meters from the Rowland 14:23 m estate. Tessa had been admitted that very night, and for the sake of a convincing performance. she instructed the doctors to play along once she was in the emergency room. Her health wasn’t actually in jeopardy: she couldn’t have the doctors actually use their tools on her. So, under her menacing orders, the doctors idled away in the emergency room, doing nothing. After an hour, Tessa was finally wheeled out, looking pale and weak, as if she’d been through an ordeal.

The doctors looked miserable. It was their first time being coerced into such a farce, all while real patients waited for treatment. Their faces bore resentment, but out of fear of Tessa’s threats, they remained silent.

Once in the hospital room, Tessa slowly opened her eyes and coughed weakly. “You do know what to say if anyone asks, right?” Her frailty wasn’t entirely feigned, every smile and frown seemed to drain her.

“Yes, Ms. Tessa,” they replied.

Thirsty, Tessa turned towards the water dispenser. “Would you mind getting me a glass of water?”

Normally, the attending physician wouldn’t cater to such requests–that was the nurses‘ job. But Tessa’s commanding attitude was so natural, even demanding that the attending doctor wait here until the Rowland family arrived.

“Ms. Tessa, I have other patients needing surgery,” the doctor protested.

Tessa frowned. “Are they more important than me? When the Rowlands arrive, you’ll need to explain my condition, won’t you?”