Chapter 354: Commanding Respect Without Raising a Voice
The hall fell into an eerie silence.
Alison smiled as she sat in her wheelchair.
Under the weight of every gaze, the attendant pushed her forward until she faced Pierre and Matthew.
Pierre gave a slight bow, but before he could speak, Matthew’s piercing gaze silenced him.
“Pierre, shouldn’t you introduce us? This must be Mr. Mattew Bruce? Nice to meet you!” Alison greeted politely, smiling.
A brief flicker of approval crossed Matthew’s eyes.
He had known about her escape attempt, yet now she carried herself with the poise of a true hostess.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Matthew replied.
“Uncle Bruce, did you come here to let me go?” she asked, smiling.
Then she caught the flicker of unease in Pierre’s expression — panic quickly buried beneath defiance.
“Pierre, didn’t you say she came willingly?” Matthew turned to Pierre, his gaze sharp.
“Alison, did I force you to come to the estate?” Pierre turned to Alison, his gaze intense.
Inside, he prayed she’d be smart enough to give the right answer.
He only wanted to keep her — but his father had already decided she wouldn’t leave alive.
Alison weighed her words carefully. She knew that one wrong move could cost her life.
“Uncle Bruce, regardless of how I ended up here, I’m truly happy and feel safe right now.” She smiled.
Though the words were untrue, she had to endure.
She couldn’t provoke these two men — not yet.
She had to wait for Gabriel and the police to rescue her.
“So you’re willing to stay at the estate?” he asked, a flicker of surprise breaking through his composure.
“Yes, I’d like to stay,” she replied.
“Well— you may stay. But there is something I want to ask you.”
“Please go ahead,” she answered calmly.
“Where exactly is that letter?”
Alison froze, utterly bewildered.
Just then, the note’s words flashed in her mind — Say nothing.
The letter? Could Gabriel be using it to keep Matthew from releasing those photos?
It seemed Matthew still didn’t know who Gabriel truly was.
Relief swept through her — she still had the upper hand, for now.
“Uncle Bruce, did you come here specifically to ask for it? What are you worried about?” She smiled, implying to him that the letter was in her possession.
Pierre silently admired her courage and composure.
Matthew replied calmly,
“Nothing. I just wanted to find that letter and reply promptly. It’s only polite, isn’t it?”
“If it’s just for courtesy, why not send an email?” she asked smoothly, watching his reaction.
The word email seemed to strike a nerve with Matthew.
Does she know? his mind hissed. Has she already seen through me?
“But I need to see the original letter to reply. So, Miss Fairchild, please hand it over to Pierre as soon as possible. He may forward it to me,” he explained.
She smiled and gently pushed her wheelchair forward.
“Pierre, it’s just gotten dark. Uncle Bruce probably hasn’t had dinner yet. Why don’t you join him for dinner?”
Pierre’s expression darkened instantly.
“All right, but Miss Fairchild must join us, too,” Matthew chimed in.
He had nothing to worry about, as long as she remained in Pierre’s custody.
He turned his gaze to Pierre and said,
“Pierre, how long has it been since the last father-son dinner?”