Chapter 175 CHAPTER 175
Evelyn’s POV
I woke up warm.
That was the first thing that felt wrong. I always woke up with tingling from the cold because I always ended up tossing away my duvet when I slept.
But I was warm this morning. And it was not from the thick velvet curtains trapping the morning light, not from the heater humming low in the walls. Warm because I was tucked in. Carefully.
My eyes fluttered open, and for a second I just stared at the ceiling, trying to place the unfamiliar feeling. The blanket was pulled neatly to my shoulders. The extra quill which I never used was folded at the foot of the bed. My shoes were gone. My reading glasses sat on the nightstand instead of somewhere at the edge of the bed or underneath my pillow where I usually dropped them when exhaustion won.
Memory came in pieces. Alpha Michael.
Standing at the door in those drawers that made my mind race.
His voice, low and steady, and calming. Reassuring in a way that made me feel safe. His voice was the lullaby that had sent me to sleep.
We had talked at length last night. I guess I had been drowsy from exhaustion. I groaned softly and dragged the blanket over my face.
What had I said?
I remembered the tiredness. I was too tired. The kind of tiredness that strips away caution. That blurred the lines between common sense and what was on the other end. I couldn’t remember the content of our discussion. I just knew I had said too much.
The thought of him watching me fall asleep mid-conversation made my stomach twist with embarrassment and excitement. I knew he had tucked me in too. He always did whenever I slept in his room.
I lowered the blanket slowly and looked around my room again. The chair near the window was slightly out of place. Alpha Michael Greywood was not a gentle man by reputation. He did not do small kindnesses. Yet he had mounted the chair to fix the broken curtain rod by the window while I slept.
I let out a satisfied smile. Maybe he was serious about getting back with me this time. Or he was just being nice because it was the only thing he could do.
I pressed my lips together and sat up. I swung my legs at the edge of the bed and took in deep breaths. I reminded myself that the things that held us apart were stronger than those that bound us. It was useless to keep hoping and holding on to the thoughts of what could've been.
I ran my bath by myself, dismissing the maid totally when she wouldn’t stop making a fuss about helping with the littlest things. I chose muted tones for my dressing. Nothing dramatic, nothing that invited attention. Maybe it could make me even hidden so I didn't need to bump into anyone in the mansion.
Not Alpha Michael. Not Rosaleen. Not Alpha Raymond. Not Anna.
Before leaving, I slipped down the hallway to my mother’s room. The door was open and it creaked faintly when I pushed it open. She was still asleep. Her breathing was steady but shallow. The bandages near her shoulder, where a thorn had dug underneath her skin, were clean.
I stood there longer than necessary just watching her and trying not to feel so much pain as i watch her get entangled with the Greywoods again.
Now, it was Calderón. The name had begun to sit like a stone in my stomach. Mother had always warned me about wolves that smiled with their teeth hidden. Calderon was not like any of them. He bit with visible fangs and didn’t hide his claws.
He had wounded her, and still he wanted compensation. I stepped forward and brushed my fingers lightly against her hand.
“I’ll fix this,” I whispered.
I wasn’t sure which part I meant.
Little Michael was asleep, oblivious of the dangers in the world surrounding him. I realized it was better he stayed in the mansion. He was a bit safer there. Even Rosaleen wouldn’t think of harming him. I kissed his nose and tousled his hair.
“See you later,” I whispered.
I left the house quietly and I drove slowly to work. I found myself watching the road, checking if any car was following me. Sometimes, I stepped on the accelerator when the road was too quiet. Then i’d meet traffic and slow down.
At work, i was able to breathe with ease.
Greywood Industries had sent over preliminary documents for the partnership proposal. It included joint development projects, land acquisitions, and capital restructuring. It was clean on paper. It was the best news to start the day with. Alpha Michael had kept his promises.
As I signed the documents, I hoped nothing was going to stop us from moving forward again.
A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door softly.
“Ms. Moon?” my assistant called.
“Yes.”
“Your ten o’clock is here.”
Right.
The private investigator.
I straightened my jacket and nodded. “Send him in.”
He was older than I expected. Late fifties, maybe early sixties. Worn eyes that I expected from someone who spent his years searching and looking. He had a face that had seen too many things and judged none of them.
“Ms. Moon,” he greeted, taking the seat across from me.
“Thank you for coming,” I said. I had gotten his details from a private website. The reviews were great.
“You asked for discretion.”
“I require it,” i said, leaning forward on my elbow.
He smiled and I noticed a missing tooth. That was not evident in the photo on the website. Perhaps I would ask him why he had not updated his picture yet.
“Discretion is part of my job, ma’am,” he replied.
I nodded. “That’s great, Mr Kane.”
He inclined his head slightly. He didn’t nod.
“I need information regarding Maya Calderón,” i said. “She was kidnaped at her house in Florida by her ex husband, Viktor Calderon.”
His expression didn’t shift. He wasn’t scribbling either. “You know him, don’t you?” i asked.
He nodded for the first time, his small head bobbing dangerously on his thin neck and I hoped he wouldn't have to nod again.
“She was taken,” I continued. “Nothing has been reported officially. We want to manage the situation unofficially.
“You suspect her ex husband has a hand in this?” he asked carefully.
“He has already informed us of it.”
He nodded once.
“What exactly are you looking for?”
“Location, if possible. Movement records. Security transfers. Anything suggesting where she’s being kept.”
He scribbled a note for the first time.
“And?”
I hesitated. “I also want hard evidence linking Calderón to the attack on my mother and Philly.”
His pen paused mid-motion.
“That’s a serious question.”
“It’s a serious crime.”
“And you need admissible proof that he did it.”
He studied me a moment longer.
“You understand,” he said slowly, “If this connects to the Calderon, he may become erratic. He is a volatile man and your family may get dragged in for something while he gets pardoned. He has that much influence.”
“I’m aware,” i replied.
“Do you still want to pursue it now?”
If Aunt Maya is being held, my mother will burn everything to get her back. I was also tired of being reactive.
I didn’t say any of that.
“I want clarity,” I said instead. “Before decisions are irreversible.”
He nodded slowly.
“I’ll start with movement logs and private holdings. Calderón has offshore properties.”
“I know.”
He stood to leave.
“This won’t be quick.”
“I don’t need quick,” I replied. “I need accuracy.”
When he left, I exhaled slowly.
I was walking a narrow line now that could lead to an alliance or war between both families.
By late afternoon, the partnership documents were still open on my desk, signed but not sent. I traced my finger over the Greywood insignia embossed in the corner.
Michael’s name was nowhere on the page.
But his presence was.
The way he had looked at me last night at the dinner date came to my mind again.
Had he known how torn I was?
Had I said too much?
The intercom buzzed.
“Ms. Moon,” my assistant’s voice came through again, strained this time. “There’s someone here to see you.”
“I’m in meetings.”
“She says it’s urgent.”
“Who?”
“Tamara.”
My heart skipped. Why was Tamara here and why did she introduce herself as Tamara, not Fiona Dover?
“Send her in.”
Tamara entered without her usual poise. Her hair was pulled back too tightly, her face pale, eyes rimmed red as if she hadn’t slept.
“Are you okay?” I asked immediately.
She didn’t hurry. She closed the door first, slowly. Then turned to me.
“It’s my sister.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“What about her?”
She swallowed hard, fighting back the tears. “She’s missing.”
It took a second for me to get what she was saying.
“Since when?” i asked.
“Last night.” she sat down. “She didn’t come home. Her phone’s off. I’ve checked everywhere and everyone.”
A cold sensation crept up my spine. I wasn’t sure why she was here for my help or why I felt some panic.
“Was she involved in anything?” I asked carefully. “Anyone she shouldn’t have crossed?”
Tamara shook her head. “I don’t know. My sister was always digging for something. She was asking questions,” she admitted. “About Marcus. About some transfers. I wasn’t really paying attention.”
My pulse quickened.
“Transfers,” I repeated quietly.
“Yes. She thought someone was still moving money quietly—even after Xavier was imprisoned.”
Kyle, I thought. Xavier probably had some access to her accounts and had transferred the information to him.
“Tamara,” I said carefully, “Did she mention names?”
“No. Just that she was close to something.”
“You think this is connected with Xavier?” Tamara whispered.
I didn’t answer immediately because I didn’t know which possibility was worse. That it was random or that it wasn’t.
I stood slowly.
“Xavier had a friend who runs the background work for him. He could be the one shifting money from her account.” I looked at her. “But I don't know if he has anything to do with her disappearance.”
It had happened the same night mum and Philly had been attacked.
I had no idea if there was any link but I was learning not to get involved in matters that do not really concern me.