Chapter 97

Eliana wasn't the type to meddle in other people's business. But for those who treated her sincerely, she would always return the favor.

Rowell was beaming. From the very first moment he met Eliana, he'd felt that inexplicable bond only siblings could share.

"As long as you like it," hesaid warmly.

Just then, Damon spoke up. "Lia, help me upstairs. There are things we need to talk about."

Eliana immediately thought of the time she'd introduced Damon to Seth. She still wasn't sure how that situation had resolved. "Perfect. I have something I need to talk to you about too," she said.

"I'll help Damon upstairs with you!" Rowell volunteered enthusiastically-only to have Carl catch him by the collar.

"In those heels? Please. You'll break your ankle and send all three of you tumbling down the stairs."

Rowell lifted his chin confidently. "Relax, I've been practicing in these heels for days-I'm solid. Watch this."

He strutted forward with surprising ease, as though he were born wearing them.

But Eliana's sharp eyes caught the faint bruises circling his ankles-the kind the kind that only came from past sprains and tumbles.

Her gaze flickered with a complicated mix of emotion.

Despite constant setbacks, Rowell wasn't like Damon, who had once sunk into despair. Instead, he remained endlessly optimistic.

"Rowell," she said gently, pushing back her thoughts. "Stay with Mom. Let Carl help me."

Carl puffed his chest in pride at being selected, while Rowell scoffed, rolling his eyes before obediently returning to Stella's side.

As soon as Rowell stepped out of earshot, his face changed-all cheer gone. "Mom," he whispered seriously, "I've been looking into Dad's case. He's innocent-got dragged in by someone else's scandal.That someone was just cannon fodder in a bigger power struggle. And in the end... Dad became the scapegoat of scapegoats. This time... we're in real trouble."

Stella's smile froze. She hadn't expected Rowell to uncover so much. She quickly grabbed his hand. "Rowell,leave this to me.I have my own way of handling your father's case. Don't trouble yourself."

"But Mom-"

"Do as I say," Stella cut him off in a clipped tone. "This isn't up for discussion."

Rowell was taken aback by her unusual sternness. He swallowed, then nodded reluctantly. "Alright."

"Now go upstairs and change back into something decent. Wearing that... it's strange." She sighed softly.She did want a daughter, but she already had one. Rowell was better off as a son.

Rowell grinned and went to change.

Meanwhile upstairs in Damon's room, the moment Elianna and Damon were alone, his expression sharpened. "Lia, that person you asked me to help-who is he exactly?" he asked in a low tone.

Eliana's gaze flickered. She kept her tone light. "Why are you suddenly asking?"

"Because while I was doing that task, I realized-that wasn't the work of just one man. He belongs to a group.And that group has a powerful background. I'm worried... you might be walking into danger."

Eliana's smile didn't waver. "Don't worry. He's an old friend. He wouldn't harm me."

Damon frowned. "Do you even know what organization he belongs to?"

Eliana hesitated...then slowly shook her head. "No."

Damon's face darkened. "And yet you say he's an old friend? Lia, people's hearts are the hardest to read.I don't want you getting hurt. Stop contacting him. I'm warning you-l sense danger." Eliana's gaze was calm, unwavering. "I can protect myself."

Seeing he couldn't change her mind, Damon let out a heavy sigh. "Do you know whose firewall they wanted me to crack?"

Eliana hadn't gotten the chance to ask Seth, so she simply followed Damon's lead. "Whose firewall is it?"

Damon's gaze hardened. "Tristan's."

Eliana's eyes widened in surprise. Tristan? Why would Seth target him?

"They wanted me to get in and erase a certain video file," Damon explained. "I don't know what's in it, but Tristan isn't someone you can afford to provoke. If he finds out you were involved, I'm afraid..."

His eyes brimmed with worry-not for himself, but for her.

Eliana, smiled, unbothered. "Damon, did you leave any traces after breaching the firewall?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Then there's nothing to worry about. With your skills, Tristan will never trace it back. He'll never know."

Damon frowned. "Nothing is one hundred percent certain. Better safe than sorry."

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Carl stepped in with two glasses of water. Noticing the tension in the room, he asked, "What's wrong?"

Damon quickly shook his head. "Nothing. I was just reminding Lia of a few things."

Carl didn't press. "Alright then. Mom wants us downstairs for dinner. Let me help you down."

"Okay."

Carl and Eliana supported Damon on both sides as they went downstairs.

Later that night, Damon summoned Carl to his room. His expression was grim. "Carl, stick close to Lia these next few days. Make sure she's safe." Carl frowned. "Is she in danger?"

Damon avoided mentioning Tristan. "Just a precaution. She made some... friends while she was away in the countryside. She's too trusting, too naive. I'm worried she might get misled."

Carl's lips twitched. Naive? If anything, Eliana had more lie experience than all of them put together.

But since he had promised her to keep her secrets, he only nodded."Leave it to me."

"Good. Also, check on Sean. The heat's cooled down. If he can come back, have him return. I'll feel more at ease knowing he's guarding Lia."

"Understood."

Elianna had her bath and changed into dark clothes.

Once the monitors confirmed the whole household was asleep, she slipped out quietly and made her way to the Onyx Syndicate's new base in Qidence.

In just one afternoon, the abandoned factory had been turned into a fortress-guards stationed everywhere.From the outside, it still looked like nothing more than a crumbling ruin.

The gates creaked open. The men greeted her in unison.

Eliana gave a brief nod and headed straight for Seth.

He was mid-conversation with his subordinates, but the moment she stepped inside, he quickly greeted her.

Eliana didn't reply. She pulled out a chair, sat down, and crossed her arms.

Her eyes lingered on him, sharp and unrelenting. Seth shifted uncomfortably under her stare.

"Why are youlooking at me like that? You're scaring me."