Benjamin from Egerton University’s art departnt had taken his own life due to struggles with work and life.
Ella tried hard to recall the details. Benjamin had died in mid-October of this year.
"Lauren, try getting in touch with him," Ella said.
Lauren imdiately dialed Benjamin’s number, but the line had been disconnected.
Unable to reach Benjamin, Ella felt a deep sense of regret. Such a talented young man—it would be a tragedy if he were to take his own life. She asked Lauren for a photo of Benjamin, planning to have Eric look into finding him once he returned.
The three of them chatted for a while longer, grabbed so late-night snacks, and then finally left the drink shop.
Mia and Owen, ever-watchful, followed closely behind Ella. Nothing unusual had happened recently, but as Ella stepped onto the street, seven or eight n ard with knives suddenly burst out from the crowd.
Ella’s eyes widened in shock. How could these n be so brazen, attacking her in broad daylight?
"Ella, watch out! Get behind !" Mia shouted, pulling out a foldable steel baton hidden at her waist. As the masked attackers rushed forward, she struck one of their knives with a loud clang.
Lauren and Chloe, terrified, huddled behind Ella, while Ella’s whole body tensed. She couldn’t believe these n were bold enough to confront her so openly!
The only person who ca to mind was Kevin—he must be behind this! That little punk had gotten his hands on a few millions of dollars, and now he probably thought he could hire people to co after her.
Ella regretted her decision to sympathize with Grandma Davis.
But her thoughts were interrupted by the fight in front of her, which was quickly being resolved. Mia and Owen were highly skilled—Eric had hired them for good reason. Even though there were eight attackers, they were no match for professional bodyguards.
In just a few minutes, the attackers were defeated, lying on the ground, clutching their heads and wailing in pain.
Mia tore off the masks of a few of the assailants, revealing that they were just teenagers, no older than fifteen or sixteen.
The police arrived shortly after, taking the group away. The leader of the group recognized Ella and respectfully asked her to co along and give a statent. After a brief interview, she was free to leave with her bodyguards.
When Ella got ho, she dialed Grandma Davis’s number.
"Ella, is that you?" Grandma Davis’s voice was frail, filled with sadness and regret. "I’m sorry... I know what Kevin did. The police ca to my house and took that fool away..."
Ella fell silent, unsure of how to console the elderly woman.
Though Robert had deserved his fate, and Kevin was detestable, Ella didn’t harbor any real hatred for Grandma Davis herself.
"Grandma, Kevin... he’s got a bad heart. Please don’t be too upset," Ella said softly after a mont of thought.
Grandma Davis broke down, sobbing. "Ella... I know we’ve wronged you. Kevin has done so many awful things, and now he’s gone and caused more trouble for you... But I’m so old, and your father passed away years ago. Kevin’s the only grandson I have left. Please, Ella... I beg you, help him. Find the best school you can and try to turn him around."
Ella’s expression grew conflicted.
She didn’t hate Grandma Davis, but Kevin’s nature seed fixed. Even if he went to the best school in the world, could he truly change?
Ella didn’t want to nurture a future threat, but she also couldn’t bear to break Grandma Davis’s heart.
"Grandma, don’t worry. I’ll take care of this," Ella said calmly.
Grandma Davis, overwheld with gratitude, thanked Ella profusely. After a bit more conversation, she hung up, leaving Ella sitting quietly on the sofa, lost in her thoughts.
The old saying "turning swords into plowshares" ca to mind, but soone like Kevin was too dangerous.
He was the son of the accomplice to her mother’s murder. Could she really set aside all the hatred and help Kevin, especially after he had once tried to harm her with a knife?
Ella knew she wasn’t a saint, and the truth was, she didn’t want to help Kevin.
But dealing with Grandma Davis was tricky. The old woman was in pain, and it didn’t seem fair for her to suffer because of the grudges from Robert’s generation. Still, deep inside, Ella couldn’t help but hold so resentnt.
While she was lost in thought, her phone rang—it was Eric.
"Owen told you were attacked. Are you hurt? Where are you injured? Please tell !" Eric’s voice was filled with worry, and a wave of warmth washed over Ella.
"I’m not hurt. They were taken down in the blink of an eye. Thank you for hiring such amazing bodyguards, hubby." Ella’s voice wavered slightly with emotion.
She knew this level of care and protection should feel normal, but thinking about her past life, where she was constantly manipulated and mistreated, it touched her deeply to finally have soone who cared for her so much.
"Silly girl, get so rest tonight. I’m coming back right away!" Eric said before quickly hanging up.
Ella blinked in surprise. From the sounds in the background, she realized Eric was already at the airport, likely boarding a flight ho.
After taking a shower, she curled up with her iPad to play so gas. Just a few minutes in, her phone pinged with a new notification.
Assuming it was a text from Eric, she checked her phone but saw a ssage from a stranger on Facebook instead.
Lately, her Facebook had been flooded with connection requests from people, most of whom she didn’t know. Occasionally, soone would claim to be a forr schoolmate, and she had accepted many of these requests.
The ssage read:
"Ella, I know you and my brother must hate and my mom. I’m sorry! I know she wronged you. I overheard on a listening device that they’re planning to make a move next month. You and my brother need to be careful!"
The sender’s na was "A Face That Misses You", but from the content, Ella knew imdiately it was Henry.
Her nerves tensed. A move next month?
It seed that Eric had pushed their enemies too far, and they were preparing to strike.
Henry had sent a second ssage:
"My feelings for you are complicated. I hope you won’t tell my brother... but I won’t do anything inappropriate. Ella, please don’t look at with disgust the next ti we et, okay?"
Ella narrowed her eyes, unsure how to respond to Henry.
Blocking him wasn’t an option—she needed the information he could provide.
She knew about the micro-listening device that Eric had given Henry to pass on to Grace. Through that clever move, Eric had already gathered enough evidence to pinpoint the mastermind behind everything.
Though Henry had played a role in this, it was Eric’s strategic brilliance that had brought them closer to the truth.
Ella tossed her iPad to the side, not wanting to engage with Henry any further.
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