<h4>Chapter 404: A Breakthrough</h4>


    "I have no interest in ying these games with you, Mr. Leonard. Since our conversation is leading nowhere, I’ll take my leave," E said, her toneced with disdain as she turned to walk out.


    But she paused abruptly, ncing around the living room. "That said... I do quite like the style of your sitting room, Mr. Leonard." She began to circle the room, inspecting it casually.


    Leonard merely sipped his winezily, offering no response.


    "I hope next time we meet, Mr. Leonard, you’ll understand what I’m saying." E chuckled lightly, casting a brief nce at the two alluring maids before striding out confidently.


    Luke frowned, shooting Leonard a cold nce before silently following E out.


    As E passed by a maid sweeping the floor, her sharp eyes caught a faint kiss mark behind the maid’s ear.


    So the rumors are true, E thought. Leonard has clearly taken liberties with the young women in his estate.


    Back in the car, Luke gave E a long, probing look.


    If Eric truly was being held in this estate, what was E’s real intent behind this visit?


    Leonard might appear indulgent and careless, but Luke knew better. He was a strategist—a dangerous one. His apparent frivolity was a calcted facade, a shield to avoid being entangled in the brutal power struggles of his family. He feigned indulgence in foreign culture and debauchery to seem harmless, but in reality, he was the most cunning yer in the game.


    Leonard had likely faced threats to his life, forcing him to mask his intelligence. Yet, when pressured by Mr. Bowen, he would step forward with a carefully crafted n in critical moments.


    If anyone suspected his true intentions, they wouldn’t hesitate to strike before Leonard could act.


    Luke’s gaze lingered on E. This woman... she’s more cunning than I thought. No wonder Eric treasures her so much.


    ...


    After E and Luke left, Leonard returned to his study. Locking the door, he dialed a number on his phone.


    "Father, I can’t persuade Eric. You’ll have to handle this yourself."


    Bowen’s voice thundered with irritation on the other end. "Didn’t you say you had a n?"


    "Father, you overestimated me," Leonard sighed theatrically. "Tonight, I’ll have to entertain that girl again..."


    "Enough with your nonsense about women!" Bowen barked. "What else?"


    "Luke was here today. It seemed like he was testing me. I think it’s safer to relocate Eric."


    Bowen erupted in fury. "Relocate now? That would mean falling for their trap!"


    "Father, but I’m scared... scared they’lle after me!" Leonard’s voice quivered, feigning fear. "Please, just get him out of here!"


    "Useless fool! Don’t cause trouble for me. He stays put for now. I have my own arrangements, and I’ll send someone to take care of it. Don’t meddle anymore!" Bowen roared in frustration.


    "Understood, Father!" Leonard hung up quickly, a sly smile creeping onto his lips.


    So Bowen isn’t entirely clueless. He’s realized they were probing for information. But now that the location has beenpromised, Eric will have to be moved eventually.


    Leonard pondered his next steps. The only question is... what’s the best way to make the move?


    ...


    Back at the hotel, E wasted no time calling John.


    "Sister-inw, what’s the matter?" John answered immediately.


    "Keep a close watch. They’re likely nning to move Eric soon, but not within the next few days—they’re still on high alert. They know we’ve uncovered their location. Also... I want a full report on all of Leonard’s maids."


    "Understood, Sister-inw."


    E let out a sigh of relief.


    The only weak point was through the maids.


    While Leonard personally delivered food to Eric, his closest maid would surely know something. Leonard’s reputation for keeping dozens of concubines in his household wasn’t just rumor.


    But E had noticed a peculiar detail. The women serving him by the sofa all showed respect and reverence, yet their necks and behind their ears bore no marks of special attention. However, on her way out of the estate, E had spotted a petite blonde maid with a faint mark behind her ear—something easy to miss without close observation.


    Some men had specific preferences. Leonard, it seemed, had a particr fondness for petite women.


    Despite his mboyant lifestyle, E knew his debauchery was just a facade for others to underestimate him.


    Within ten minutes, a file containing the maids’ information arrived in E’s email. She immediately opened it and sifted through the ten profiles until she identified the petite blonde woman, slightly older than the others.


    Her name was Ellen, and she had a fragile, delicate appearance—more innocent than seductive.


    E quickly forwarded Ellen’s information to John. "John, I suspect this maid knows a lot. If Connor is around, ask him to find a way to hypnotize her and see what he can uncover!"


    John was confused by the unusual request but agreed, reasoning that Connor didn’t have much else to do.


    E let out a long breath, realizing her forehead was covered in cold sweat.


    Her nerves had been stretched to their limits these past few days, and a dull ache had taken root in her head.


    Eric, where are you? Are you okay?


    E copsed onto the bed, clutching her throbbing head. It felt like something was pressing relentlessly against her nerves, intensifying the pain.


    She gasped in pain, suspecting the tension of the past days had triggered a migraine.


    As Ey battling her headache, her phone suddenly rang.


    She struggled to pick it up and nced at the screen—it was Luke.


    E didn’t want to answer but worried it might be news about Eric.


    "Hello. What is it?" she asked weakly.


    "Father is downstairs, inviting you to lunch. Why do you sound like this?"


    Luke’s deep voice carried a frosty edge. E had no intention of asking Lucas for help. She wanted to rely on herself and her belief in Eric. If Eric had managed to establish himself in Country W, he had to be resourceful.


    Even if the Miller family hated him, they wouldn’t kill him outright.


    The wait was excruciating, but E was certain Eric would find a way out.


    "I’m not interested in eating," E said faintly before hanging up.


    Only ten minutester, her phone rang again.


    E, having rested for a short while, felt her headache easing up. Seeing Luke’s name on the screen again, she chose to ignore it. This time, Luke seemed to take the hint and didn’t call back.


    When hunger finally drove her to get up and order lunch, she opened the door to let the server in—only to see Luke leaning casually against the wall across from her room, his brows raised as he scrutinized her.


    "I thought you’d fainted from hunger," he said coolly.


    E’s face darkened. "What are you doing here?"


    "What am I doing here? Father was worried about you and sent me to check on you. Do you think I enjoy standing here, torturing myself?"


    Luke’s expression was as sour as his tone.