Chapter31 Tailing

Chapter31 Tailing
Third-person POV
When Serafina saw the news notification, her coffee cup crashed onto the table, brown liquid splashing everywhere.
She grabbed her phone and stormed into the bedroom. Gavin was lounging on the sofa scrolling through social media, still gloating over the news trending.
"Gavin, tell me. Did you do this?" Serafina shoved her phone in his face, the glaring headlines filling his vision.
Gavin's heart skipped a beat, but he immediately put on a wounded expression, snatched the phone away, and tossed it aside. "Are you insane? Why would you suspect me? Am I stupid enough to cause this kind of trouble?"
Serafina was so angry her chest heaved. "If not you, then who? Besides you, who else has such a grudge to settle? Talia is now at the center of public scrutiny. People in the family are already investigating the leak. Are you trying to get us both killed?"
"I'm trying to get you killed?" Gavin jumped up, indignant. "Serafina, I'm your fiancé! We rise and fall together. Why would I do something so stupid? You'd rather believe outside rumors than trust me?"
He grabbed Serafina's wrist and softened his tone. "When my company was about to collapse, you helped keep it afloat. Now we both want to take down Talia. Why would I sabotage things at a time like this? Mutual trust is the foundation of our engagement. Can't you even do that?"
Serafina was taken aback by his question. Looking at his earnest eyes, she began to waver.
True, no matter how foolish Gavin was, he wouldn't expose this now. If they were caught, both of them would be finished.
Still uneasy, Serafina asked, "But why would Zane have fake documents? Besides us, who else could get those things?"
"Who knows?" Gavin sighed and put his arm around her. "Maybe the Casa family is behind it. They've always wanted to destabilize the Camorra family. Or maybe some elder who can't stand Talia did it secretly. Stop overthinking. Right now, the most important thing is to keep our story straight so no one can catch us."
Serafina leaned into his embrace, her doubts gradually fading.
She really couldn't do without Gavin. If she couldn't even trust him, she'd be completely isolated in the family.
She muttered, "Fine, I believe you. But from now on, if anything happens, you must discuss it with me. No more hiding things."
A flash of smugness crossed Gavin's face as he patted her back soothingly. "Don't worry. I'll listen to you from now on."
After placating Serafina, Gavin had her stay on the sofa with her phone while he claimed to have business to handle.
He slipped onto the balcony and dialed Aron's number, speaking in a low voice. "Hello, Mr. Aron. The media is making waves. The effect is even better than expected. But Serafina is getting suspicious. I'm afraid things might go wrong. I'd like to meet with you to discuss next steps."
After a few seconds of silence, Aron said coldly, "I'll send you the address. Be at the old restaurant in the south district in half an hour. Third floor, innermost private room. Make sure you're not followed."
"Don't worry, I'll be careful." Gavin hung up, went back inside to tell Serafina he had urgent company business, grabbed his coat, and hurried out.
What he didn't know was that the moment he closed the door, in a black sedan hidden below, two bodyguards immediately reported via radio. "Miss Hayes, Gavin just left. He looks rushed and is heading toward the south district. Looks like he's meeting someone."
Talia and Jareth were analyzing the media exposure at the villa when the bodyguards' report came through.
The two drove following Gavin all the way to the old restaurant in the south district. They watched him stride inside quickly, then parked the car at the corner and followed.
The restaurant was quiet with mostly scattered diners. The two went upstairs. The third-floor hallway was silent. The innermost private room door was tightly closed, but voices could be faintly heard inside.
Jareth leaned close to the door to listen.
"Mr. Aron, the media exposure worked so well. The Camorra family is in chaos now. The higher-ups are all suspecting each other." Gavin's ingratiating voice came from inside.
"This small matter is nothing." Another deep voice spoke. It was Aron from the Casa family. "But Jareth hasn't fallen yet, and that woman Talia still holds power. This isn't over."
Gavin's voice came again. "So what should we do next? The family has started investigating who leaked. I'm afraid they'll trace it back to me."
Aron snorted coldly. "What are you afraid of? Once Jareth falls and the Camorra family is in chaos, who'll care about you? What you need to do now is find a way to bring Serafina in. Have her help you get more core family documents, especially the real money laundering ledgers."
Gavin hesitated. "Serafina is difficult. She's already suspicious of me, and Jareth keeps the ledgers locked up tight."
Aron cursed. "Useless! Can't even handle this small matter? Can't you sweet-talk her? Tell her once she gets the ledgers, she'll have half the Camorra family. That's what she cares about most."
"I'll try..."
Aron threatened, "Not try. You must do it! Within three days, I want to see those ledgers. Otherwise, I don't mind letting Jareth know about your collusion with the Casa family."
Gavin trembled. "I'll do it, I'll definitely do it!"
"Who's out there?" Aron shouted alertly.
Jareth quickly pulled Talia toward the stairs. Urgent footsteps sounded behind them as someone clearly came out.
"Quick!" Jareth pulled her, rushing downstairs and out of the restaurant.
Jareth pulled her into the back seat and closed the door.
Jareth reacted faster than Talia. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her against him, and whispered in her ear, "Play along. We're acting."
Before Talia could react, Jareth's face pressed close, his hot breath against her neck.
The footsteps stopped beside the car. Aron's shadow fell on the window. Talia stiffened in fear, instinctively raising her hand to wrap around Jareth's neck.
"Whose car is this?" Aron looked at the car suspiciously and reached for the door handle.
Jareth ignored him, instead intensifying his movements, his chest pressing against Talia's back as he rocked gently.
He chuckled softly, his voice just loud enough to be heard. "Baby, don't rush. No one's watching."