Chapter 67: Trap

The black Mercedes drove away from the Vanderbilt Mansion into the night.

Rhys sat in the driver's seat, with Elena in the passenger seat.

The car was quiet, the only sound the low hum of the engine.

"Thank you so much for today."

Rhys glanced at Elena. "My sister seems to really like you."

"Really?"

Elena chuckled softly, though a flash of something complicated crossed her eyes.

"But... Ms. Vanderbilt seems to trust that Mr. Ashford quite a bit."

Her tone was light, as if just making casual conversation.

"Leo..."

Rhys frowned. "My sister has been pretty close with him lately."

Elena bit her lower lip gently, hesitating to speak.

"What's wrong?"

Rhys noticed something off. "Is there a problem?"

"No... nothing."

Elena shook her head. "It's just... I was watching Mr. Ashford tonight, and I felt... something was off."

"Off? What do you mean?"

Rhys asked curiously.

"Well..."

Elena hesitated, seeming to choose her words carefully.

"Don't you think he was testing me all evening?"

"Testing you?"

Rhys was taken aback. "Was he?"

"Yes."

Elena said softly, "He asked how you and I met, what I'm studying, even if I know how to fight..."

"Those questions were all pretty pointed. Like... like he was suspicious of something."

Rhys thought back — Leo did ask a lot of questions tonight.

"Maybe he's just being careful?"

Rhys didn't think much of it. "After all, he works in intelligence."

"Maybe..."

Elena sighed, her eyes suddenly getting a bit red.

"What's wrong?"

Rhys quickly asked, "Don't cry, why are you suddenly..."

"I'm sorry..."

Elena raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eyes, her voice choking up.

"I just... feel a bit sad."

"Sad about what?"

Rhys looked at her with concern.

"I know... I'm just an ordinary student; there's nothing special about my background."

Elena kept her head down, speaking softly.

"Being with you already feels like more than I deserve. But... your sister's friends are all these powerful, important people."

"Someone like Mr. Ashford probably looks down on ordinary people like me."

"That's why he... that's why he tested me like that, because he's suspicious of me."

At this point, Elena's tears finally fell.

"He must think... I'm not good enough for you, that I'm just after your money, right?"

"No way!"

Rhys panicked, quickly pulling the car over to the side of the road and turning to hold Elena's hand.

"Elena, don't think like that! Leo's probably just got some kind of professional habit, always being suspicious of people!"

"But..."

Elena bit her lip, crying. "What if your sister also thinks I'm not good enough for you? What if she listens to Mr. Ashford and doesn't approve of us being together..."

"She won't!"

Rhys gripped her hand tightly. "My sister's not like that! And even if she doesn't approve, I won't give up on you!"

"Really?"

Elena looked up, her eyes full of tears.

"Of course it's true!"

Rhys said seriously, "Elena, you're the best girl I've ever met. Gentle, kind, well-mannered..."

"Leo doesn't even know you! What right does he have to be suspicious of you?"

"Maybe..."

The more Rhys thought about it, the angrier he got. "Maybe he's just jealous! Jealous that I found such a great girlfriend!"

"Don't say that..."

Elena wiped her tears. "Mr. Ashford is probably just looking out for your sister, that's why..."

"Looking out?"

Rhys snorted. "I think he's trying to control my sister!"

"Think about it — ever since he showed up, my sister listens to everything he says. Family decisions all need his input."

"Is that normal?"

Elena didn't say anything, just leaned gently on Rhys's shoulder.

"Rhys..."

She said softly, "If Mr. Ashford really does oppose us being together, what will you do?"

"I..."

Rhys gritted his teeth. "I'll make him understand that he has no say in my business!"

Elena nuzzled against his shoulder, a barely noticeable smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

As long as Rhys and Sophia had a falling out, Leo would definitely have to step in to mediate.

Then, when she passed on the intelligence later, there wouldn't be too much risk.

Twenty minutes later.

Rhys stopped the car downstairs from Elena's apartment building.

"We're here."

He said gently, "Get some rest."

"Okay."

Elena got out of the car and bent down to look through the window.

"Rhys... no matter what happens, you have to remember that I truly love you."

With that, she turned and walked toward the apartment building.

Rhys watched her figure disappear into the hallway before starting the car and turning back toward the estate.

Just two blocks away.

A black Maybach suddenly blocked the middle of the road.

"What the hell?"

Rhys slammed on the brakes, and the car stopped.

He was about to get out to check when the Maybach's rear door suddenly opened.

Sophia got out of the car and quickly walked to Rhys's car, pulling open the passenger door.

"Sophia? How did you..."

"Get out, come with me."

Sophia's tone left no room for argument.

"Wait, Sophia, what are you doing? Blocking my car in the middle of the night..."

"I said get out!"

Sophia's eyes were sharp. "Now!"

Rhys had never seen Sophia with this expression. Startled, he turned off the engine and followed Sophia to the Maybach.

The door closed.

Only then did Rhys notice that Leo was sitting in the driver's seat, staring straight ahead expressionlessly.

"Sophia, what are you guys doing?"

Rhys was somewhat annoyed. "I need to get back..."

"Get back for what?"

Sophia looked at him coldly. "To think about your 'kind and gentle' girlfriend?"

"Sophia, you..."

Rhys's face flushed red. "So you really are against Elena and me being together!"

"I knew it — Leo must have said something to you!"

He pointed at Leo excitedly. "What right do you have to be suspicious of Elena? Just because you're some intelligence officer?"

"She's just an ordinary student! Gentle and kind, doesn't know anything! What right do you have to use your dirty tricks to test her?"

"Rhys Vanderbilt!"

Sophia suddenly turned around and slammed her hand on the seat back.

"Shut up!"

Rhys was shocked by Sophia's intensity and stared at her blankly.

"Do you know how stupid you are?"

Sophia's voice was full of disappointment.

"How long have you been dating this girl? Less than a month, right?"

"And then what? You couldn't wait to bring her to meet me?"

"Every other time you dated someone, you always waited months before letting me know, right?"

Sophia said seriously, "This time, why were you in such a hurry?"

Rhys was at a loss for words.

"And..."

Sophia continued, "Just now in the car, what did Elena say to you?"

"She... she..."

Rhys didn't know how to answer.

"Let me guess."

A cold smile played at Sophia's lips.

"Did she say that Leo was testing her? Does Leo look down on her? Is Leo jealous of you?"

"And then..."

Sophia's eyes were ice cold. "Then she cried, said she wasn't good enough for you, said she was worried I wouldn't approve of you two being together."

"Finally, she asked you — if Leo opposes it, what would you do?"

"Right?"

Rhys was completely stunned.

"How... how did you know..."

"Because that's Manipulation 101."

Sophia turned around, her tone full of mockery.

"Rhys, you really disappoint me."

"I..."

Rhys opened his mouth but couldn't speak.

"Do you believe what your sister just told you?"

Leo, who had been silent, finally spoke, his voice low.

"Leo..."

Rhys looked at him, something complicated flashing in his eyes.

"If you don't believe it..."

Leo pulled out a pair of earphones from his pocket and handed them to Rhys.

"Then listen to this."

"What is this?"

Rhys took the earphones in confusion.

"I put a bug in Elena's bag."

Leo said flatly, "She should be home by now, getting ready to contact her handler."

"You're lying!"

Rhys's head shot up. "What right do you have to put a bug in her bag? That's illegal!"

"Whether it's illegal or not, listen first."

Leo gestured for him to put on the earphones.

"If I'm wrong, I'll apologize to her personally."

"But if I'm not wrong..."

Leo turned his head, his eyes cold as a knife.

"Then you'd better honestly tell me exactly how much you've told her about the family."

Rhys gritted his teeth but finally put on the earphones.

In the earphones, first there was rustling.

The sounds of opening a door, closing it, and tossing a bag.

Then, the sound of high heels on the floor.

And then...

Elena's voice came through.

But that voice had none of the gentleness from earlier.

Cold, mechanical, full of killing intent.