Chapter 546
[ 517 words ]
Chapter 546:
I gave a slight nod and set my paper bag on the marble coffee table. “Thank you,” I said sincerely. “For taking care of Lianne, Ruby, and Silas all these years. This is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it.”
Frank’s gaze dropped to the contracts partially visible inside the bag. A faint smile touched his lips. It wasn’t amused or pleased. If anything, it looked faintly bitter.
“I’m afraid I can’t.” His refusal was immediate. Then he lifted his eyes to meet mine. “I think you’ve misunderstood something.” His voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable firmness beneath it. “The person I chose to help was Lianne. I helped her care for Ruby and Silas. None of that was for you. I don’t need compensation from you, and I certainly don’t need you repaying me on their behalf.”
His rejection felt like a direct blow to my pride.
Beside me, Lianne immediately stepped forward. “Frank, that’s not what Ethan meant—”
“I know,” Frank interrupted gently. A small smile appeared on his face, but it carried both relief and sorrow. His eyes settled on Lianne, and seeing the tenderness there made my chest tighten.
“Seeing you happy again truly makes me happy.” His voice softened.
Then he looked at me. The warmth vanished, replaced by a sharp, unwavering gaze. “But when it comes to him…” A humorless smile touched his lips. “I can’t bring myself to offer any blessings.”
The room grew still. The honesty in his words left no room for misunderstanding.
Then, as if I no longer existed, he turned his full attention back to Lianne. The affection in his eyes was impossible to miss. “Lianne,” he said, his voice almost pleading. “Can we talk privately for a few minutes?”
Lianne’s POV:
I𝗇𝗍𝖾nsе 𝗋оmаn𝘤𝘦 𝗼ո 𝗀a𝘭ո𝗼𝘷𝖾l𝘴.𝗰𝘰𝗺
I gave a nod and followed Frank into the study.
The door clicked shut behind us, cutting off Ethan’s watchful gaze.
Frank walked to the window and stood there for several moments with his back to me. Something about his silence made me uneasy. Finally, he spoke. “Lianne, what I’m about to tell you may be difficult to hear.” His voice was rough, weighted by something serious.
A chill ran down my spine. “What’s wrong?”
Frank slowly turned around. His expression was grave. “I’ve been investigating your father’s death.”
My heartbeat faltered.
“Recently, I found some leads, and they’re pointing toward something troubling.” Frank took a breath. “I don’t think your father’s death was an accident. And the people connected to it…” He hesitated briefly. “They may have ties to the Thorn Pack.”
“No, that can’t be true!” The words tore from my throat as ice flooded my veins. My fingers went numb, and I shook my head violently. “After my father died, the Thorn Pack gave me a home. Rola and Harold have always been good to me. And Ethan, Ethan above all… there’s no way they were involved in what happened to my father,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head frantically in a bid to shake off the ridiculous notion.
“It’s only a lead,” Frank said as he stepped closer. “The investigation is still incomplete. I don’t have enough evidence yet.”
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