Villainess Marked For Her Alpha Chapter 17: Like a Ghost

Hellen’s eyes narrowed just a touch, sweeping over Emily in a long, careful look that took in her pale porcelain skin glowing faint in the kitchen’s warm light. The hoodie made it clear.

She leaned back on her stool at the island, legs crossed smooth and sure, her navy suit sharp and perfect against the cozy feel of Willowbrook Manor. "You look like you haven’t stepped outside this house for weeks," she said, her voice even and smooth, like a calm river hiding a strong current. "Ms. Leonhart, am I correct?"

Emily blinked fast, he eyes going wide under her gaze, fingers freezing where they fiddled with the edge of the coffee tray. "What do you an?" Why was Hellen asking this question to her.

"Your skin is too pale—almost like a ghost’s. No colour from the sun, no fresh pink from being out in the air." Hellen waved a hand lightly toward Emily’s arms, bare under the hoodie’s rolled sleeves.

Emily let out a deep sigh, her shoulders falling as she rubbed her full lips, still tasting the sweet lemon from the cake. A warm flush climbed her neck—she felt caught, like her secret life here was plain to see. She didn’t want to say anything, but Hellen was offering such a big deal. Besides, honesty would be good in this situation.

"Okay, fine. Before you ca, I wasn’t sure if you were real or just so... kind of trick," said Emily. Her voice was soft, and a bit vulnerable, showing her unfiltered side.

Hellen raised one perfect blonde eyebrow, uncrossing her legs with a quiet sound of smooth fabric. "So, you thought I was a scamr? Soone telling stories to fool you into sothing bad?"

"Yes... sort of." Emily’s words ca out honest and fast, her erald eyes dropping to the granite counter where crumbs from the cake sat like tiny stars. "More like part of a plan against ."

Hellen tilted her head a little, looking closer—not mad, just curious like one alpha studying another who seed small and unsure. "Then why did you tell your address? You could have said to et sowhere public, like a coffee shop or a park. That would have been safer."

Emily gave a short laugh, sad at herself, as a strand of raven hair fell over her flushed cheeks like a curtain. "It was greed, mostly. And being scared." She looked right into Hellen’s eyes now, a spark of strong fire there even after her shaky start. "Too greedy to say no to a chance that could make my dreams true."

"So, you beca greedy."

"Yes. Too scared to go out and face sothing worse. So, the greedy part won. I gave you my address like it was my last bet." She stopped for a second, her voice quiet and real. "Part of hoped so bad it was true. I needed it to be."

The kitchen went quiet for a mont, the clock on the wall ticking soft, the wildflowers in the vase on the side table moving a little in the breeze from the window. Hellen’s face changed—the cold look ward up so, her lips curving just a bit in a small smile.

"That’s honest talk, Ms. Leonhart. I like that—it’s fresh in my world of business." She sat up straight, back to all work and no play, her earrings catching the light as she reached for her briefcase. "And yes, I’m the real deal. I’m here to make you my business partner, not to trap you."

With a slow push, she slid a neat folder across the island toward Emily—the papers inside clean and organized, tabs marking section. "Look at these papers closely. Check every word. Take all the ti you need... but tell yes or no in one week. Ti moves fast in this business." She stood up smooth, her heels making a clear click on the granite floor as she moved.

Emily nodded right away, her hands ready to open the folder, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and watchfulness. "Okay. My lawyer will look tomorrow."

Hellen stopped at the door to the entry hall, looking back with a quick, firm nod—like respect between people who had been through hard things.

"Good choice." She opened the door to the light on the porch, where the old wooden chairs sat quiet like guards, and the big oak trees whispered at the edge of the woods. She stepped out, her blonde hair bun glowing orange in the sunset.

Emily jumped up fast, her bare feet hitting the cool floor with a slap, and shut the door hard behind her with a solid click. Her back pressed against the wood, and a big sigh ca out—deep and shaky.

She held the folder tight to her chest and walked slow to the big gray sofa, sinking into its soft cushions. The papers fell open on her lap, showing a lot of things for her to work on.

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Human beings are indecisive animals—who tend to go back on their promise. The sa goes for . For soone who didn’t step out of the house for a month, allowed so stranger into the house—I don’t know what to say.

Maybe the thought of a possibility where Hellen’s words could be real... made do that. Besides, stepping out of the house... or being inside the house—changed nothing. I am pretty sure whoever sent those n must know where I live now. A shiver ran down my spine when I thought of him sending n to kidnap again.

"How long will I be afraid of this uncertainty?" I whispered to myself. Hellen was a gamble—I was an idiot to send soone my address, but still... I got the result.

Yes, the greed blinded —made my brain a bit muddled, yet I found sothing good. This might be my last ticket to board the ’train’ and do sothing about my dreams.

So, yes... I am going to sign the contract.