Chapter 242: Traces Of Reese’s Past
Everhart responded to Reese’s words with a dismissive laugh, treating them as nothing more than a playful jest. “I couldn’t,” he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of genuine reluctance. Reeses gaze, however, was as sharp and deadly as a blade. If looks had the power to kill, Everhart would have been long gone. Abruptly, Rege rose to her feet, exuding an air of authoritative aloofness that instinctively commanded a respectful distance from others. Sump women whom possessed that effect, a mere glance from them was enough to signal that they were not to be trifled with. At that ment, Reese was the embodiment of that aura From his seated position, Everhart watched her intimidating stance. Her normally delicate features now seemed charged with a bloodthirsty intent that sent shivers down his spine. It was then that Reese finally broke her silence. “The way you’re acting right now reinforces my belief that I made the right decision back then,” she declared. And just so you know, if you dare leak any information about me to the organization, I can assure you that I shall not be underestimated. She couldn’t guarantee her safety if it ever came down to a direct confrontation with Everhart, but she was certain of one thing she wouldn’t back down. Everhart remained silent, his gaze complex as he watched Reese. In just a few years, the girl he once knew hail seemingly metamorphosed into a stranger. Her face was still as hauntingly captivating as ever, but her personality had become colder, more hardened, and distant.Having said her piece, Reese exited the coffee shop with a defiant and haughty air. Everhart’s eyes darkened as he watched her leave, an odd emotion surfacing within him, though he couldn’t quite identify I.He had asumed she wouldn’t have changed much from the girl she used to be. Yet today, he realized she had completely altered her persona, concealed her vulnerabilities, and now exhibited a razor–sharp edge. The look in her eyes, that deadly seriousness, it wasn’t a joke. For a moment, he even had the intuition that if he angered Reese further, she might actually confront him right there in public, regardless of the consequences. Dialing a number, his face bore no trace of his earlier frivolity, instead exuding a chilling sternness, Conduct a thorough investigation into Reese’s past, I want to know everything.” He was determined to uncover what had caused such a drastic change in her.Outside the coffee shop, Reese’s sharpness faded as she found a place to sit, only to realize that she wasn’t alone. She scoffed lightly. “Have you been following me all this while?” Alyssa hadn’t expected to be discovered so quickly. She began to wonder if Reese had planted surveillance on her or had some sort of second sight; otherwise, how could Reese sense he presence while facing away?With no other choice, Alyssa revealed herself. “Reese, how’d you know it was nie?‘‘Did I need to guess? Who else but you would have the time to pursue me?” Reese responded. Among the Flynn’s, Alyssa’s curiosity was unmatched. Little did she know, curiosity could be a dangerous thing sometimes overly so.Alyssa sat beside Reese, immediately trying to reassure her of her loyalty. “Don’t worry, Reese, I won’t breathe word to Malcolm about you meeting this guy. Given Malcolms temperament, if he found out Reese had seen some unknown man, he’d likely be ready to carve the guy up. Reese couldn’t help but bugt, at Alyssa’s earnestness. “Say what you want, it doesn’t matter. It was just a meeting; nothing inappropriate happened.” She couldn’t deny that a part of her had wanted to take Everhart down a
peg:
In that moment, Alyssa had found herself peering through the windde, her gaze landing on the figure of a man. He wasn’t unpleasant to look at, but there was an undeniable aura of gloom the hung about him. It was as if he was devoid of any hint of warmth or sunshine, his entire being shrouded in an uninviting darkness. Upon hearing Reese’s words, Alyssa didn’t find herself disagreeing. Instead, Reese’s candidness only served to make her mom appealing. With a confident pat on her chest, Alyssa declared. with unwavering certainty, “Reese, you can count on me. I’m definitely on your side. “Reese had always known Alyssa to be trustworthy, but hearing such sincere words stirred something with her. It was a strange feeling, one that made her question why trust was such a difficult thing to bestow. No one was born distrusting others; it was a learned behavior, often the result of a devastating blow or a heart–wrenching injury that morphed them into such beings.The arrival of Everhart seemed to cruelly reopen wounds Reese had long wished to keep burried, exposing her raw scars for all to see. But she had learned to mask her emotions. Had this happened years ago, she might have crumbled at the sight of Everhart, hysterically demanding answers for his actions. But now, she was wiser, having seen the harsh realities of the world. Understanding the human heart was a complex task; no love was everlasting. The fear of gambling and losing was too great. Thus, the moment she discovered Malcolm was more than what he appeared to be or had any ties with the Harmony Alliance, she would withdraw immediately. It was better to pull away now before it was too late. Her goal was to minimize the damage to both parties. However, the enigma surrounding Mr. Tartt needed to be unraveled, or her marriage to the Flynn family would have been in vain.She glanced at Alyssa, her voice castial as she asked, “Alyssa, do you know anything about Mr. Tartt? Alyssa seemed taken aback, probably not expecting Reese to change the subject so abruptly. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded. “Mr. Tartt, well, he’s been bround our family for many years. I first heard he had some special connection with my grandfather. Whatever it is, his status is not simple. “Reese was intrigued by Alyssa’s knowledge and her Interest was piqued. “How so?““Mr. Tartt wasn’t always with the Flyn family. He actually saved my grandfather’s life in a dangerous situation. Grandfather felt he was trustworthy after spending some time with him, and that’s when he was brought into the Flynn family as the butler.” That was what she had heard through the grapetine, and as for the veracity of the story, she wasn’t entirely sure herself.To Reese, however, this explanation seemed to make a lot of sense. “Do you have any idea what danger your grandfather encountered?” Finn Sawyer wouldn’t have insisted on hiring Mr. Tart as the caretaker for the Flynn family if it were just en “mary danger. Not just anyone could get along with the Flynn’s. Alyssa shook her head, “I’m not too sure about that. If you reall know, why not ask Malcolm or Vincent? They know much more about the Flynn family affairs than I do. You know how Malcolm is; he’s, um… more complicated than he appears.”
For years, the subtle power struggles with Malcolm had been relentless.
