Chapter 143 The shadow of the Black Rose

Chapter 143 The shadow of the Black Rose
Evan stood frozen in the pavilion corridor, his eyes fixed on the black rose symbol in the corner of the letter. It was not mere decoration. To him, it was a warning from the past, one he had believed buried beneath the ruins of Grace’s headquarters.

“Evan? Why are you just standing there?” Alice touched his arm, breaking him out of his thoughts.

Evan quickly folded the letter and slipped it into the pocket of his suit jacket. He forced a faint smile so his wife would not grow suspicious. “It’s nothing, sweetheart. I just remembered an audit report I haven’t signed yet. Go inside, it’s starting to get cold out here.”

“You’re lying, aren’t you?” Alice looked straight into Evan’s eyes. “Your face went pale after you saw that symbol. What is it?”

Evan let out a long breath. He knew Alice was far too sharp to be fooled by a tired excuse. He guided her back to the soft sofa in the pavilion and sat beside her.

“That symbol… it belongs to the Black Rose Syndicate. An underground organization that used to be extremely powerful in the world of illicit business,” Evan said in a low voice. “Years ago, many prominent families were under their protection, including the Nathaniel family and the Smith family.”

Alice froze. “The Smith family? So my father was part of them too?”

“Only in the past, Alice. Elino withdrew from them long before you were born. He wanted to cleanse the Smith name so you could live a normal life,” Evan explained. “The Nathaniels cut ties long ago as well. But it seems Viktor and his people were remnants of that syndicate, trying to rise again.”

Alice leaned back, her eyes drifting to the pavilion ceiling. “Then the flood tragedy… did it have anything to do with them?”

“No. That tragedy was purely a natural disaster caused by a dam failure. The police and independent investigators confirmed it ten years ago,” Evan said firmly as he squeezed Alice’s hand. “Do not let that symbol make you imagine things that are not there.”

Evan escorted Alice back to the main building and made sure she rested in their bedroom. After that, he headed straight for Zavian’s study on the ground floor. Without knocking, Evan entered and slammed the Swiss letter onto his father’s desk.

“Explain this to me, Dad,” Evan demanded.

Zavian, who had been reviewing legal documents, looked up. When he saw the black rose symbol, his expression turned grave. He removed his glasses and set them down.

“So you know about Black Rose,” Zavian said flatly.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me that the Smith family was involved too? And why does this symbol appear in Alice’s mother’s deposit box?” Evan pressed.

Zavian leaned back in his executive chair. “Because it is a shameful past for all of us, Evan. Your grandfather and Alice’s father were close friends because they both wanted out of that circle. But leaving Black Rose was not as simple as walking away. They demanded a lifetime ‘tax.’”

“So the Swiss deposit was Alice’s mother’s way of hiding evidence to destroy the syndicate if they ever threatened Alice in the future?” Evan guessed.

“That is possible. Diana Smith was a very meticulous woman. She knew Elino would not be able to protect them forever,” Zavian replied, looking deeply at his son. “But the syndicate is already gone, Evan. Viktor was the last one trying to use that symbol to intimidate us.”

The next day, Alice felt much calmer after Evan explained everything to her. She realized the symbol was nothing more than a ghost of the past, one that no longer held any real power. She chose to focus on her pregnancy, which was now very stable.

Alice was in the living room with Lavina, looking through fabric samples for baby clothes.

“Grandma prefers this organic cotton, Alice. A Nathaniel baby’s skin must not be exposed to synthetic materials,” Lavina said as she handed her a piece of white fabric.

“I agree, Grandma. It’s very soft,” Alice replied with a smile.

Suddenly, Rico entered carrying a small steel box bearing the Swiss bank’s logo. His face looked relieved.

“Young Master, Madam, the diplomatic delivery from Zurich has arrived. This is the content of the deposit box,” Rico said as he placed the box on the marble table.

Alice stood up eagerly. Evan, who had just come in from the garden, stepped closer. “It finally made it.”

Rico handed over a small scanner. “Please enter the song code once more here, Madam.”

Alice pressed the sequence carefully. 3-7-9-0-2-8-1-9-7-8-A-L-I-C-E.

Click.

The lid of the steel box opened automatically. Inside, there was no gold or lavish jewelry. Only a stack of old letters, a leather-bound diary, and a small velvet box.

Alice picked up the diary with trembling hands. She opened it and found her mother’s neat handwriting.

“For Alice. If you are reading this, it means you are already safe in your husband’s arms. Do not fear the shadow of the rose. The greatest secret I kept is not about crime, but about the true love of your parents, who wanted to free you from the curse of the Smith name.”

Alice cried as she read those words. It felt as though her mother was holding her from across time. She then opened the small velvet box at the bottom. Inside lay a silver jasmine-shaped brooch, a symbol of purity her mother had loved.

“It’s so beautiful,” Alice whispered.

Evan picked up the stack of letters beneath the diary and examined them one by one. They were official documents detailing Elino’s resignation from all forms of past business organizations. Everything was legal and notarized by international authorities.

“It’s all clean, Alice. There are no more ties. Your father truly severed every chain before he left,” Evan said with relief.

Zavian, standing near the door, gave a small nod. “Now you can sleep peacefully, Alice. The Smith name and Elino belong to you alone, without any stain from the black rose.”

Alice closed the box and hugged it to her chest. “Thank you, everyone. I feel whole now.”

That night, the Nathaniel residence was filled with an atmosphere of gratitude. They held a small dinner for the immediate family. Alice ate heartily, as if every mental burden had finally been lifted from her shoulders.

Evan watched Alice with deep affection. To him, seeing her smile without worry was his greatest achievement, greater than any business success he had ever earned.

After dinner, Evan and Alice returned to their bedroom balcony. The full moon shone brightly over the sea, casting a beautiful silver reflection.

“So there really are no more problems?” Alice asked as she rested her head on Evan’s shoulder.

“None at all, sweetheart. Just you, me, and our little champ kicking around in there,” Evan replied as he rubbed Alice’s belly.

Alice laughed softly. “He’s very active tonight.”

“Maybe he knows his mother is truly happy,” Evan whispered.

They stood there for a long while, savoring the peace they had fought for with blood and tears. Then, in the middle of the quiet night, a loud and frantic knock echoed at their bedroom door.

Evan immediately released Alice and went to open it. Lily stood there, her face deathly pale, her breath coming in gasps.

“Young Master. I’m sorry, but… but at the front gate…” Lily could not finish her sentence.

“What is it now, Lily? Speak clearly,” Evan snapped.

Lily pointed toward the lower-floor window. “A large box truck just crashed through the main gate, and on the side of the truck there’s a huge message smeared in red paint…”

Evan rushed to the balcony and looked down. His eyes widened when he saw the words painted on the truck.

“THE FINAL GIFT FROM EDWIN SMITH BEFORE HIS DEATH.”