Chapter 509

Chapter 509

The room was dead silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

You could hear fingers tapping on the keyboard.

Soon, an email went out.

Adelaide's hand slowly tightened into a fist.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

One minute, two minutes, three minutes...

A full half hour passed.

Still no word from the other side.

Sweat beaded on her forehead. Adelaide grabbed Sebastian's hand. "Has the other side vanished? That account might just be a fake one."

The account was overseas to start with, and messages had bounced through multiple relays.

So it wouldn't be odd if they'd disappeared.

But if that was true, did it mean only they could reach out to us, while we couldn't contact them?

Sebastian frowned a bit, lips pressed tight. He put an arm around Adelaide's shoulders. "Okay, don't worry. I'll check more carefully. If they contact us again, they'll slip up."

They didn't know the other side's goal, but it was clear they were interested in that file on the computer.

So they wouldn't quit easily. Sooner or later, if there's a lead on their end or a breakthrough here, they'll get in touch.

Adelaide nodded. "Then I'll go back to school first and use this stuff in my experiments. I want to check Mom's research results. Some of the theory here could help my work."

Better to move fast.

Time was tight.

Adelaide took the decrypted materials back to the lab.

But she never expected to see a familiar figure there—it was Lonnie.

Seeing him again.

He looked a lot more worn out, and his usual cocky attitude was gone. Instead, he seemed calm and steady.

Adelaide stood still without a word. Lonnie walked over looking embarrassed.

"Sorry, I was wrong before. I did too many bad things. Sorry."

He bowed deeply, full of sincerity.

Adelaide froze for a second, then stepped back to keep her distance. "Where've you been? You're not plotting against me again, are you?"

Lonnie straightened up awkwardly, then gave a self-mocking smile. "I know I have zero trust with you now, but please believe me—I mean no harm, and I won't hurt you guys."

"Hiding out this time taught me a lot. If not for Joseph, if not for you all, I wouldn't even care about my life now. Going from poor to rich messed up my head—that was my fault."

"I've been thinking why I did so many stupid things. I finally got it: jealousy. Sebastian's like an idol to me. I wanted to stand side by side with him someday, not watch him throw away his career for a woman."

He acted like he'd suddenly figured it all out—no big emotions. He just stood there calmly, looking out the window, telling what happened lately.

Turns out, after he vanished, he'd been hiding all over. He had plenty of money, but life sucked—always on edge, scared every day.

Whenever he couldn't take it, he'd want to call Joseph, but then he'd think of Sebastian and back off.

Once he calmed down, he stopped being so worked up.

He went over everything since Joseph found him, again and again.

And realized he was dead wrong.

Adelaide and Sebastian are husband and wife—the closest bond there is. What right did he have, as an outsider, to mess with that?

Plus, he had no business sticking his nose in or ruining other people's lives.

Most of all, he shouldn't have been jealous of Adelaide.

Everything he did came from jealousy. He thought he was so great—why should a woman rank above him? Why second place while she took first?

A full half hour.

Adelaide said nothing, just listened quietly like a good audience.

Lonnie didn't rush to explain more or beg forgiveness. "I know I screwed up big time. I'm back now. Whatever you want to do with me, I'll go along. Turn me in, send me abroad—fine by me."

He turned and left, like he'd only come to apologize.

Watching his familiar back disappear, Adelaide didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

She opened her mouth, but it just came out as a sigh. She turned and went into the lab.

Lonnie left her and headed to the hospital to find Joseph.

Joseph's eyes went red the second he saw him. He rushed over and threw a punch.

Lonnie wasn't ready and hit the ground, face twisted aside. But he wasn't mad—instead, he looked gentle. "Joseph, sorry. I've made you worry and stress out this time."

"This time I really get it. Since you found me, I lost myself—just chased fun and took without giving back. Never thought to do anything for you. And I wrecked things between you and Sebastian. My fault—I know."

Joseph saw how sorry he looked and felt jealous inside. "You really get it? No more of that crap talk from now on?"

"Of course, don't worry. I swear, I'll buckle down and study. And if Sebastian wants to ship me abroad or turn me in, I'll do it. What I did, I'll take the punishment."

Lonnie handed over a card. "This is what you gave me. I'll always remember how you cared for me. I'm here to say goodbye and apologize. I'll go see Sebastian soon—whatever he decides, I'll accept."

Seeing him like that, Joseph just looked helpless. "Whatever, we'll go together."

The brothers went to the company door, but Sebastian was stuck in meetings with no time. No choice—they'd try again later.

Lonnie settled back in like that, but he didn't move in with Sebastian. He went to Joseph's old place instead.

Joseph moved back too—staying at someone else's house always felt off.

Adelaide knew nothing about any of this. She was totally wrapped up in her experiments.

Maybe it was some mother-daughter connection, but Adelaide picked up on her mom's theories and approaches right away. She could even build on them and got tons of ideas for her patents.