Chapter 238 Investigation

Chapter 238 Investigation
>>Riona

All eyes were on Ava but she wasn’t fazed by it, she just shrugged
“Because Milo is too dumb to pull something like that,” Her words made everyone pause, but Riker was very happy with her statement, “And come on, he was injured too.” She looked at me, “You know better than anyone how much he hates pain. He couldn’t have pulled that.”
Demos looked a little displeased by Ava’s words but didn’t say anything
I let out a sigh, “Yea… You’re not wrong.” I glanced at Demos, “Then who?”
Demos looked at me and shrugged, “We had our evidence,” He stated and I knew he was talking about my seller at the auction.
I looked back at my sisters, “What if it was Milo?” I asked, “What if,” I shrugged, “Somehow he did pull it off?”
“For what purpose?” Ava asked and I paused
“...” Then I looked away. “I don’t know.” I had thought about it a lot myself. But each time, it didn’t make any sense.
What was his purpose?
“We can think more about it,” Anna said, “Why don’t we talk about something else for now.” She smiled at me
“Yea…” I nodded as I massaged the back of my neck, “We need a break from this…”
Everyone agreed and we began to talk about trivial things like
“This is where you three grew up?” Riker asked
“Yes,” Ava answered
“Where did you go to school?” Nick asked Anna
“I was mostly home-schooled,” She told him
As the conversation drifted into its usual rhythm, I couldn’t help but notice something. There was a… tension in the air between Riker and Ava. They were both sitting across from each other, exchanging glances and teasing words, and I could feel it—the flirtatious undercurrent.
Ava was smirking, her eyes glinting in that way she always did when she found someone attractive. And Riker, well, he wasn’t exactly doing much to hide his interest either. His gaze lingered on her longer than necessary, and there was a playfulness in his tone that didn’t go unnoticed.
I was surprised at first. Ava wasn’t exactly subtle about her attraction to people with charm, but she usually held back. Riker, though, had an edge to him that I wasn’t sure she could resist. Still, I knew better than to judge her for it. Ava was a sucker for looks, and Riker definitely had those in spades.
But it wasn’t just Ava that caught my attention.
Across the room, I saw Nick. His eyes were fixed on Annamae. And not just in a casual way. He was staring at her like she was the only person in the room. His expression was soft, almost reverent, but there was an undeniable intensity in his gaze. He looked at her like she was a puzzle he wanted to solve, a mystery he was deeply fascinated by.
The thing was, Annamae didn’t even know. She had no idea how much he was looking at her because, well, she couldn’t see. She was blind.
And that realization hit me harder than I expected.
I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t. Annamae had no idea what was going on, what kind of effect she was having on Nick.
It was like watching a silent dance, one where only Nick was aware of the music playing. Annamae had no idea. She was just her usual, innocent self, and it made the whole situation feel even more intense. Maybe Nick didn’t want to say anything, or maybe he wasn’t sure of it himself, but the way he looked at her—well, it was like a lovestruck fool.
It made my stomach twist.
I eyed him.
He better not try anything. I won’t let some non-serious person have Anna! She’s the purest soul out there!

As we finished up lunch, the girls stood and began collecting the empty plates from the table. Ava and I moved to the kitchen, carrying the dishes, while the men remained seated, their conversations shifting between casual banter and more serious topics.
I took a moment to glance at the spread on the table. It wasn’t much—just simple sandwiches, nothing special. It hadn't been a planned meal, just something quick to keep everyone fed. But I had noticed how the men didn’t exactly dive into their food with the enthusiasm I’d expected. Riker barely touched his, and Demos didn’t seem much more interested. There was a distinct lack of satisfaction in their expressions, like they were just going through the motions.
I had a feeling I knew why. Unlike Ava and Annamae, the men probably weren’t used to such a simple lunch. They were probably more accustomed to something hearty—meat, something filling. I knew I couldn’t be the only one who found sandwiches a bit lacking. I’d always preferred a proper meal, something with substance, especially after a long day.
I wasn’t sure if it was the simplicity of the food or the way they seemed disappointed by it, but I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for them. I mean, sandwiches were fine for a quick snack, but they didn’t feel like real food. Not like a steak or meatballs.
We cleaned up, putting everything away in the kitchen, and I tried to push the thoughts of the lunch to the back of my mind. But as I turned to head back to the lounge, I saw something that made my stomach tighten—Nick had moved from his seat and was now sitting next to Annamae. His posture was slightly stiff, but I could see the soft way he looked at her. Annamae, always so innocent and sweet, had turned her head toward him and smiled, her face lighting up in recognition of his presence.
They started talking, and I couldn’t hear their words from across the room, but it was obvious from their body language that something was there. Nick was speaking to her with such intensity, like he wanted to make sure every word mattered. Annamae’s smile grew as she responded to him, and there was a moment where it felt like the entire room had faded away and it was just the two of them.
Meanwhile, Riker and Demos were deep in their own conversation, oblivious to everything else around them. It was just the two of them—Riker still throwing teasing glances toward Ava, and Demos looking calm and collected, though there was an underlying tension that never seemed to fade.
But I wasn’t paying attention to them. My focus was entirely on Nick. I felt a strange heat rise in my chest as I watched him with Annamae. I wasn’t sure why, but there was something about the way he looked at her—so tender, so… vulnerable, almost—that made something inside me twist.
Without thinking, my gaze hardened, and I stared daggers at Nick. His back was to me, and it didn’t seem like he noticed, but I was glaring at him with all the intensity I could muster. I don’t know why it bothered me so much. Maybe it was because I knew he was growing attached to Annamae, or maybe it was the way he was acting so openly with her.
He didn’t even look back at me, not once. It made my chest tighten with frustration. There was a part of me— a part I can’t deny
I am very protective of Anna
“Calm down,” Ava said, “I don’t think Nick’s a bad person.” She said as she walked past me
“Oh,” I seethed, “He has a way of getting on people’s nerves.” I whispered but kept my eyes on the duo. Anna seemed to be having a nice time with him and that just made me mad.
My hands gripped the plate in front of me so tightly I could feel my fingers starting to ache, but I was too caught up in my emotions to care.
Suddenly, a voice broke through my thoughts. “Riona?”
I snapped my head toward the sound, startled. My hands fumbled with the plate, and before I even realized what was happening, the plate slipped from my grasp, threatening to shatter on the floor while in the state of panic, I almost tripped myself.
But in an instant, strong, steady hands were there, catching the plate with ease, and then gently grabbing my wrist to steady me.
“Careful,” Demos murmured, his voice low and calm, as he looked at me with a warmth that sent a jolt of electricity straight to my chest. His hands, warm and strong, steadied the plate in his grasp before he pulled me back slightly, keeping me safe from the sharp edge of the countertop.
My heart skipped a beat as I realized how close we were, his presence enveloping me, filling the space between us with a kind of magnetic tension I hadn’t expected. His fingers lingered a moment longer than necessary around my wrist, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Thank you," I breathed, though I was still stunned by how close he was to me. My breath caught in my throat, and I glanced down at the plate in his hands, almost too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
Demos didn’t seem in a rush to let go. His gaze never left mine, and there was a softness in his eyes I couldn’t quite place. He held the plate carefully, as if it were delicate despite its simple nature.
“Seems like you’re distracted,” he said softly, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips, though his expression was still serious. "Something on your mind?"
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through my chest as I realized how much his presence affected me. I was already on edge from my feelings toward Nick and Annamae, and now Demos was here, standing so close, his hand still gently holding mine as he seemed to study me.
“I—I’m fine,” I stammered, looking away quickly, suddenly feeling very aware of my own heart, thudding wildly in my chest. My thoughts were a muddled mess, and the confusion only deepened as I realized I couldn’t stop thinking about him
Demos stepped closer, his face softening as if he could read every flicker of uncertainty in my expression. “You’re not fine, Riona.,” he said in a quiet voice, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand in a gentle, almost affectionate gesture. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
His words wrapped around me like a tender embrace, and my chest tightened. I didn’t want to open up about it, not now, not with everything so tangled in my mind. But when he looked at me like that, when his gaze was so intent and full of warmth, I found it hard to keep the walls up.
“I’m just…” I faltered, unsure of how to even begin, “Um, what did you need?” I managed to ask him, the words feeling like they hung in the air awkwardly between us. I tried to focus on the question, but my heart was still thumping wildly in my chest, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how close he was.
Demos gave me a soft smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes, but still held some hidden warmth, a warmth that made my stomach flutter. Then, with a quick glance toward the table, his eyes settled on me again.
“I noticed you didn’t eat to your fill,” he remarked casually, but I couldn’t ignore the hint of something more in his tone. “How about we go out for dinner? I know a place where we can eat something more filling.”
His words caught me off guard, freezing me in place. For a moment, I couldn’t move, couldn’t think, as the full weight of his offer sank in.
Dinner? With him?