Chapter 266: A Dish Best Served Cold

Chapter 266: A Dish Best Served Cold
Elena's POV

"Are you certain you've never seen this server before?" I asked Calla calmly, watching her reactions closely.

Calla shifted uncomfortably. "Why these questions? Are you suggesting I'm Anna's accomplice?"

I placed photographs on the table. Calla and the waiter paled simultaneously.

"How would you explain these?" I asked mildly.

Calla frantically tore the photos showing her with the server. "These aren't real!"

Anna stared at the scattered pieces. "My most trusted family was my greatest betrayer."

Calla's pleading turned to rage when Anna slapped her. She grabbed Anna's hair viciously. "If I hadn't seen use for you, would I have bothered?"

"Yes, I did it," Calla sneered. "You wanted her dead too." She turned on me. "You're nothing but an upstart. Why does grandfather favor you?"

I slapped her hard. "Mind your language." When Calla lunged at me, I flipped her to the floor effortlessly.

Augustus entered as Calla cursed us. She froze mid-sentence.

"Did you think without her, you'd become heir?" Augustus asked coldly. "I'd never let a fool like you inherit anything."

I reminded Augustus about our agreement and the cyanide in the champagne. "Your Calla never intended for me to leave alive."

After a heavy silence, Augustus offered, "I'm willing to gift you the TF brand as compensation."

As Calla begged at his feet, Augustus kicked her away in disgust and ordered her removal.

I raised an eyebrow. "Tell your siblings I welcome them to try against me. Though next time, the price might be more than just a brand."

Calla was dragged away, still wailing for another chance.

After Augustus left, Anna turned to me with a complicated expression. "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might still be deceived."

I responded indifferently, "I didn't investigate this for your sake. I wanted to find the mastermind. I just happened to expose her in the process."

She smiled bitterly. "Without your intervention, I would have remained blind until the end. Calla was always my most trusted family..."

Seeing through Anna's thoughts, I stated directly, "Calla was right about one thing—if she hadn't made a move against me first, you might have been the one taken away today. To be honest, you're not much better than Calla."

This Anna appears innocent on the surface, but she had also contemplated eliminating me—she just hadn't acted on it.

I turned to leave. Anna stood frozen, shock evident on her face.

A few days later, word spread throughout the Montagues family that Calla had been banished by Augustus to a remote part of Africa.

I packed my bags, ready to leave the Montagues estate.

The estate's butler approached me. "Ms. Huntington, your car is ready. Mr. Augustus has urgent business and cannot see you off personally. Please accept his apologies."

I nodded. "It's fine. Please convey my farewell to Mr. Augustus."

I had barely stepped outside the estate gates when a tall figure appeared.

"Leaving without saying goodbye?" Reginald asked, his voice a mixture of amusement and reproach.

I was startled. "Reginald? What are you doing here?" My heart quickened despite myself.

He stepped forward, taking my hand with gentle firmness. "I thought I'd drive you home."

I tried to pull away, maintaining my composure. "I didn't ask for your assistance."

"Come now, Elena," he said, guiding me toward his car. "After everything that's happened, you shouldn't be alone."

As he opened the passenger door, I turned to face him. "I don't recall giving you permission to make decisions for me."

Reginald's expression softened. He leaned closer, his eyes searching mine. "I've been worried about you," he admitted quietly. Then, unable to resist any longer, he kissed me.

I felt something shift inside me—a warmth spreading through my chest even as my mind cautioned against it. With effort, I pushed him back, my composure returning despite my quickened pulse.

"What exactly are you trying to do?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. "You can't just appear and expect everything to be forgotten."

Reginald's eyes held mine, all pretense gone. "I'm trying to show you I've changed. That what we had—what we could have—is worth fighting for."

I remained silent, studying his face for any sign of deception. Part of me wanted to believe him, while another part remembered the pain he'd caused.

Misreading my hesitation, he said softly, "You have every right to make me suffer, Elena. I deserve whatever punishment you choose."

Looking at him, I suddenly said, "I want to eat the gold-threaded duck from The Metropolitan."

Confusion crossed his face before understanding dawned. I explained, "It's an incredibly complex dish. I tried learning it for three years without success."

A smile tugged at my lips. "You said I could make you suffer? Let's start with the duck." There was challenge in my voice, but playfulness too.

Reginald laughed, relief and affection warming his features. "If that's what it takes, I'll get you the finest gold-threaded duck in the city." His voice lowered. "Though I hope your 'revenge' involves more than just culinary demands."

My phone rang. I glanced at the screen and silenced it, tucking it away.

"Not answering?" Reginald asked.

"Nothing that can't wait," I replied, changing the subject. "Where are we going now?"

"Home," he said simply, the word carrying weight between us.

My pulse quickened again. "I never agreed to that. Take me to the Huntington mansion first."

He nodded, a smile playing at his lips. "As you wish. But Elena..." his voice softened, "this conversation isn't over."

After Reginald dropped me off at the Huntington Estate, he departed with a promise: "Wait for my call. I'm going to prepare your gold-threaded duck."

I watched him leave, wondering what he was up to but choosing not to dwell on it. Will he really make the gold-threaded duck for me?

Meanwhile, news of what had happened at the Montagues' event began circulating through high society. The whispers started small but quickly grew into full-fledged gossip.

"Did you hear about Calla Montague?" I overheard at a charity luncheon two days later. "Apparently, she's been sent to manage some remote project in Africa!"

"What happened?" another voice asked.

"They say she gravely offended one of Augustus's special guests. He was so furious he offered the entire TF brand as compensation!"

I sipped my tea calmly, amused by how the story had spread while my involvement remained completely unknown.

Soon, Augustus's assistant and the CEO of TF arrived at the Huntington Estate to handle the brand transfer.

"Welcome, gentlemen. Please, have a seat," I greeted them.

The assistant was formal and respectful. "Ms. Huntington, here's the transfer agreement that Mr. Augustus asked me to bring for your review."

He handed me the documents and explained, "Regarding Miss Calla, her mother has... well, she's currently unable to personally apologize to you due to issues with her shares."

"That's fine," I replied. "As long as you honor your promises, I have no desire to see her again."

The assistant assured me, "Mr. Augustus asked me to inform you that he will strictly adhere to the agreement without any changes."

The CEO added, "From today, the TF brand officially belongs to you. We're fully committed to supporting your vision."

Shortly after Augustus's assistant left, Ryan came downstairs and frowned at me. "Who just left? What's going on with you lately? Why are you associating with so many men?"

I calmly replied, "The CEO of TF and Mr. Augustus's assistant."

Grandpa happened to come downstairs just then, and Ryan deliberately raised her voice: "Did you know that someone saw Elena with a man the other day? They say he was holding her hand quite intimately!"

"So what?" I responded indifferently.

Ryan snapped, "How can you behave this way? Associating with different men will bring shame to the Huntington family! Your behavior is completely inappropriate!"

Grandpa frowned and turned to me. "What's going on, Elena? Explain yourself."

I countered, "First, I'm not associating with multiple men. Second, my private life shouldn't be interfered with as long as I'm not breaking any laws." My tone remained calm but firm.

I turned the tables on Ryan. "Uncle Ryan, do you know who was with me that day?" A mysterious smile played on my lips.

Ryan scoffed, "Who else could it be? Probably some nobody."

"It was Mr. V, the same man you were praising at dinner yesterday," I revealed deliberately.

The realization hit Ryan like a physical blow.

Mr. V—the legendary financial genius whose meteoric rise had stunned Wall Street—was none other than Reginald, my former fiancé who had returned to my side.

I savored the irony as Ryan struggled to process this revelation.