Chapter 181 The Factory, the Knife, and a Group Photo

Chapter 181 The Factory, the Knife, and a Group Photo

Cecilia sent back a simple [Got it], then switched off her phone.

Up front, Roman gripped the steering wheel, sweat beading on his forehead. "Boss, there's a new email from headquarters. Should I patch it through?"

Felix made a sound of acknowledgment.

The secretary's voice came through the earpiece moments later.

"Mr. Knightley, Campbell Group just released a new statement. Miss Scarlett is taking over executive operations, and she's adding a birthday charity gala. The venue is set for the Evergreen Isle Hotel. The guest list has already been sent to all major media outlets and the elite clubs."

Roman swore under his breath. "She's got some nerve."

Felix's gaze darkened. "Forward me the invitation."

"Already in your inbox."

Cecilia listened, then let out a short laugh. "She's trying to clean up her image."

"And establish her authority," Felix added. "Get out of prison, seize control, throw a party, rally allies—show the world Campbell hasn't fallen yet."

Eloane had been dozing in the back seat, but at the sound of Scarlett's name, her fingers curled tight. She opened her eyes and asked quietly, "Will she invite me too?"

"Yes." Felix turned to look at her, his voice dropping. "But you don't have to be afraid."

Eloane pressed her lips together and said nothing more.

By the time the car pulled into the Laurent Estate, night had settled heavy and dark.

Eloane suddenly grabbed Cecilia's sleeve just as she was getting out. "Cecilia, can I ask you something?"

Cecilia stopped. "Go ahead."

"Will you ever forgive my brother?" Eloane looked at her with wide, hopeful eyes.

Felix stood by the car, his breath catching.

Cecilia looked down at her, her tone flat. "What happens between adults shouldn't involve you. You need to take care of yourself first."

Eloane didn't get her answer, but she nodded anyway. "Okay."

Cecilia reached out and ruffled her hair gently before turning to head inside.

Eloane stood there for a few seconds, then looked back at Felix. "You need to move fast, Felix ."

Felix let out a low, hoarse laugh. "I know."

-

At Knightley Group headquarters, the top floor blazed with light deep into the night.

Roman handed over a tablet. "Boss, ever since Scarlett got back, those old board members have started making moves. She's got old Mr. Campbell's authorization and has already signed off on three executive documents. Finance, legal, PR—she's got control over all of it."

"Drake's people have been coming in—three groups so far. They've landed in Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island."

Felix scrolled through the list. "What are their targets?"

"Nothing overt yet." Roman pointed to another page. "But they're watching the Laurent Estate, Yale, the hospital, and the two coffee shops Cecilia frequents."

Felix tossed the tablet back onto the desk. "Keep eyes on them. Four teams around Cecilia, four around Eloane. Daytime coverage follows campus routes, nighttime coverage stays on the residential areas and the hospital. Protection only—stay invisible. Don't interfere."

"Understood."

"And the shareholders." Felix rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearms. "Nine a.m. tomorrow. Call in everyone who's had private contact with Campbell in the last three months. Anyone still thinking about switching sides gets one chance to walk."

"Boss, you're making an example out of them."

"The blade's already at their throats." Felix stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. "If they keep wavering, I don't mind cleaning house first."

Roman nodded, then couldn't help asking, "And the birthday gala… are you really taking Ms. Cecilia?"

Felix shot him a look. "What, you want to go instead?"

Roman immediately straightened. "I'll shut up now."

The next day, at Yale's counseling center.

Eloane sat curled on the couch clutching a pillow, faint shadows under her eyes.

She looked at Cecilia, her expression obedient but her voice slightly muffled. "I dreamed about that factory again last night. I knew it was just a dream, but I still couldn't get out."

Cecilia set down her case notes. "You've been relying on me too much lately. Short-term, it stabilizes your emotions. Long-term, it won't work."

Eloane froze. "Are you trying to send me away?"

"I'm not sending you away." Cecilia sat across from her. "I'm creating distance. You need to learn to stand on your own even when I'm not there."

Eloane's eyes immediately welled up. "But whenever I can't see you, my mind just… spirals."

"That's exactly the problem." Cecilia met her gaze. "You've put all your sense of safety on me. What happens when I have to go out of state, attend a conference, work on a project? What will you do then?"

Eloane bit her lip, her fingers trembling.

Felix stood by the doorway—when he'd arrived, neither of them knew—but he didn't interrupt.

Cecilia continued. "I'm changing your treatment plan. For the next few days, I won't be staying by your side. I'll guide you remotely through hypnosis training. You need to try getting through those memories without me sitting right in front of you."

Eloane was silent for a long time before looking up. "Will this really help?"

"Yes." Cecilia's answer was direct. "It'll be hard. It'll be overwhelming. It'll hurt. You'll want to run. But once you get through it, everything will get better."

Eloane looked at her, her nose reddening, but slowly nodded. "Okay. I'll cooperate."

Felix's eyes flickered. He walked over and draped his coat over his sister's shoulders. "Come to my private residence tonight. Everything's ready."

Cecilia looked up. "You have a professional hypnosis room?"

"Yes." Felix said. "Soundproofing, projection, monitoring equipment—all of it."

"Fine." Cecilia gathered her files. "We start tonight."

That evening, at one of the Knightley family's lakeside estates.

The entire underground treatment room was lined with dark sound-absorbing material. Monitoring screens glowed softly, and the only sound was the quiet hum of equipment.

When Eloane settled into the treatment chair, her palms were slick with sweat.

Cecilia wasn't there in person—only connected via phone.

Her voice came through the earpiece. "Eloane, listen. Close your eyes. Even out your breathing. Count the beats."

Eloane obeyed, her lashes trembling.

Cecilia's voice gradually lowered. "You're going to see that factory. Don't run. Tonight, you're not the trapped child. You're the person coming back to reclaim your own memories."

On the screen, Eloane's heart rate spiked suddenly.

Her lips moved faintly. "I smell rust…"

"Keep going." Cecilia guided her. "Where are you standing?"

"By the door… the walls are old… the light's broken… someone's dragging me."

Her breathing quickened, her fingers gripping the armrests. "There's more than one person. I hear boots. Men laughing…"

Cecilia's voice remained steady. "Look at their faces."

Eloane's shoulder jerked violently. "I can't see them clearly… there's a knife… they're pinning me to a table… someone's grabbing my hair… my mouth's full of blood…"

The monitor let out a sharp warning beep.

Cecilia pressed on. "Who forced you to drink?"

Eloane suddenly screamed, nearly launching herself upright. "Stay away! Don't cut me! I told you I don't know her, I don't—"

She sobbed uncontrollably, her legs shaking, her voice splintering. "They put the knife on my arm… someone laughed and said, 'The Knightley family's little princess—wonder if she looks prettier when she bleeds…'"

Felix's expression went ice-cold.

On the other end, Cecilia's voice dropped. "Eloane, listen to me. Look toward the door. Who else is there?"

Eloane reacted as if she'd heard something even more terrifying, her jaw trembling. "There's… there's photos… the one from the study… my brother… and…"

Felix surged forward and cut the call.

The moment the voice in the earpiece vanished, Eloane's cries caught in her throat, her breathing ragged.

Felix grabbed her, his palm cradling the back of her neck, his voice low and firm. "Eloane, look at me. It's over."

Eloane struggled through the chaos for a few seconds, tears streaming down her face, before finally collapsing unconscious from exhaustion.