Chapter 78 78

Chapter 78 78
Madeline felt her breath catch in her throat. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a drum being struck repeatedly. She stared at Evan, searching for a crack in his icy gaze, but found none. At that same moment, the intercom on Raymond’s desk emitted a short, buzzing sound.

"Madeline, where is that file? The investors are already waiting for me in the conference room," Raymond’s voice sounded firm and impatient through the speaker.

The voice was an unexpected savior. Evan shifted his gaze slightly from Madeline to the intercom, then back to her. The tension between them remained thick, but Evan finally relaxed his posture, pulling away from the desk he had been leaning over.

"Answer him," Evan commanded in a low voice. "And make sure you don't make any more mistakes, Mady."

Madeline immediately pressed the intercom button with trembling fingers. "I'm sorry, Mr. Craig. I just retrieved the file. I’ll be there right away."

"Hurry," Raymond replied curtly before the line went dead.

Madeline grabbed the blue file lying on the desk and quickly pulled out her USB drive. She didn't dare look at Evan again. Without a word, she hurried toward the door, passing Evan with her head bowed. Once the door closed, Evan stood silently in the middle of the room, his eyes fixed on the monitor Madeline had just turned off. He didn't move; he simply let the silence consume the room for a moment before he stepped out to follow her.

The day felt incredibly long for Madeline. Every time she crossed paths with Evan in the office corridor, she felt as though she were being watched by an eagle ready to strike. However, for the rest of the workday, there were no further confrontations. Raymond seemed too preoccupied with his business affairs to notice the oddity that had occurred in his office. Everything proceeded as usual, as if the incident at the desk had been nothing more than a passing shadow.

At six in the evening, Raymond finally stepped out of the building with a steady gait. His personal driver was already waiting in front of the lobby, but Raymond chose to sit in the back seat, reflecting on the mountain of work he had just completed. The Craig mansion greeted him with its usual tranquility. Clara was already waiting for him on the terrace, her sweet smile always the most effective remedy to soothe Raymond’s frayed nerves after hours of dealing with investors.

"Welcome back, darling," Clara greeted him warmly, welcoming Raymond with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Alexander and Elara were also waiting in the living room, providing a warmth that contrasted sharply with the tense atmosphere of the office.

That night, dinner was very intimate. Raymond tried to set aside the burden of his work, enjoying Clara’s cooking and his son’s cheerful chatter. However, beneath Raymond’s calm demeanor, he noticed something. Joel and Evan were not sitting at the staff dining table as they usually did. They were in the corner of the room, whispering to each other with faces that could not hide their anxiety.

After dinner, Raymond led Clara to the family room and kissed his wife’s forehead gently. "Go to sleep first, honey. I have some business to attend to with Joel and Evan in the study."

Clara, who understood her husband’s habits well, simply nodded obediently. "Don't stay up too late, Ray. Remember, you need to rest."

Raymond walked toward his spacious study. As soon as he closed the mahogany door, the atmosphere changed drastically. He didn't sit at his desk; instead, he stood with his arms folded in front of the large window that displayed the glittering city lights. Shortly after, Joel and Evan entered. The door was locked from the inside, ensuring no servants could eavesdrop.

"Speak," Raymond said, his voice now deep and serious.

Joel stepped forward, his face looking very grim. "Sir, today I saw something strange on my way home. I saw Ms. Jessica. She was in a slum area, looking very frightened and under the supervision of a stranger."

Raymond turned slowly. "Jessica? Didn't she move abroad with her husband?"

"That’s the problem, sir," Joel replied quickly. "The report we received a month ago seems to have been staged. She didn't go abroad. I am certain she is in danger, perhaps being held captive. I haven't had the chance to investigate the house for fear of being discovered, but I am sure she is being forced to do something."

Raymond fell silent. He remembered Jessica as one of his most honest and dedicated employees before she resigned abruptly. If Jessica was being held captive, it meant someone was trying to control the people around him.

Then, Raymond turned his gaze to Evan. "And you? What happened in my office this afternoon?"

Evan took a deep breath, then recounted the incident in Raymond’s office in detail. He told him about Madeline sitting in Raymond’s chair, about the USB device plugged into the computer, and about how pale the woman’s face had been when she was caught red-handed.

"She was using a decryption device, sir," Evan said in a cold tone. "I have certain suspicions, Mr. Raymond," Evan added with a serious face. "Madeline is not who she claims to be. The background we investigated—it’s all fake, or at least manipulated with great sophistication. Someone has planted her there with careful preparation."

Raymond remained silent for a long time. The room felt like a vacuum. He closed his eyes, letting his thoughts race. Jessica being held captive and Madeline turning out to be an infiltrator. All these pieces were beginning to form one large, terrifying picture. Someone was trying to attack him through the people closest to him.

"So, we’ve been keeping a snake in our own office for two months," Raymond muttered, his voice sounding like a low growl.

"I suggest we get rid of her now, sir," Evan proposed. "I can take her to a place where no one will ever find her, as we usually do."

"And then, we will interrogate the woman," Joel added.

Raymond raised his hand, signaling for Evan and Joel to stop talking. He walked toward his desk, then stared at the photo of Clara and his children sitting in the corner of the room. If he got rid of Madeline now, the party controlling her would know they had been exposed. Conversely, if he let Madeline stay, he could use her to find out who was behind all of this.

"No," Raymond answered firmly. "Let her stay. Keep her under twenty-four-hour surveillance. Do not let her touch a single truly confidential document. Feed her fake data to pass on to her masters."

Raymond turned to look at Joel. "And you, Joel. Find out where Jessica is being held. Get her out of there safely. If she is indeed being forced, she might be the only key to finding out who our enemy is this time."

Joel and Evan nodded in understanding. The tension in the room was intense, but Raymond had made his decision. He would not let anyone touch his family again. He had learned from the past that a silent enemy is far more dangerous than one who attacks openly.

After Joel and Evan left, Raymond stood before the large window once more. He stared at the twinkling city lights. His mind was filled with puzzles about who was bold enough to try to take him down. Were these the remnants of David’s followers? Or a new party wanting to seize the throne of the Craig Corporation?

Raymond clenched his fists tightly. He would not let the household he had built with such love be ruined by ungrateful parasites. He would let Madeline play her game a little longer, until he found the mastermind hiding behind the scenes, and at that moment, he himself would ensure they received the most painful retribution they could ever imagine.