Chapter 97


    Be still couldn’t focus on her work at her art center. Why would Ethan be frequenting a hospital? she


    wondered.


    There was only one thing left to do, go visit Ethan himself and ask him himself.


    She hadn’t visited him at work for sometime now, Ethan had told her not to. But this one, she


    concluded just couldn’t wait till he arrived back hometer tonight. And knowing him, there was a good


    chance he would arrive when she was already asleep in bed. She decided that she would go to Ethan’s


    office right now.


    Her car glided into the driveway of thepany, the engine purring to a halt. As Be stepped out, the


    crisp air tousled her


    hair a little.


    She hesitated for a moment. Ethan and told her not toe to hispany, but her here was.


    Sucking a breath she walked on.


    Be’s steps


    faltered on the pavement as she caught sight of a familiar silhouette emerging from thepany’s


    entrance. Ady with long flowing hair held up in a ponytail, shrouded in a business–like aura,


    gracefully entered a waiting taxi, clutching documents adorned with the unmistakable symbols of the


    Tesco Empire. A frown etched itself on Be’s face as her gaze lingered on the departing taxi.


    The outline seemed vaguely recognizable. Hazel? Be’s mind flirted with the possibility, only to


    dismiss it promptly. No, it couldn’t be Hazel; she had left years ago. Besides, what business would


    Hazel have in Ethan’spany? She pushed the thought to the back of her mind and pressed forward.


    As Be approached the entrance, the warm greeting from thedy at the front desk broke through her


    contemtion. “Good afternoon Mrs. Wild,” the receptionist weed with a genuine smile. Be


    nodded in acknowledgment, her focus already shifting towards the elevator that would carry her to


    Ethan’s domain.


    Navigating the familiar corridors, Be moved with purpose, her presence recognized and


    acknowledged by the passing staff. She approached the elevator with the ease of familiarity, the soft


    chime signaling her ascent to the upper floors.


    “Okay,” she murmured to herself readying herself to face Ethan as the elevator doors opened,


    revealing the corridor leading to Ethan’s office. Her steps carried a subtle urgency as she nearly


    bumped into Axel who was on his way out.


    Axel, having just returned from the hospital and was about returning back with a handful of items Ethan


    had requested, found himself intercepted by Be as he was about to leave the office.


    “Axel, where is Ethan?” Be inquired, her eyes scanning Ethan’s opulent office.


    “He’s out,” Axel replied. Be scrutinized him for any hints, from his stance she could tell he was about


    leaving the office, he seemed to be in a hurry.


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    “I needed to ask him something.” She said her toneced with disappointment.


    “Anyway, I’ll just ask you,” she dered, her gaze holding a determined intensity. With a nonchnt


    gesture, she indicated a seat,pelling Axel to sit with her on one of the plush sofas within the office.


    “Sit, she instructed, her tone carrying a mix of authority and familiarity as she settled onto the sofa


    crossing her legs gracefully.


    “Where did Ethan go without his trusty assistant, or were you heading there to meet him?” Be


    questioned, her eyes narrowing with a discerning gaze that sought answers in Axel’s demeanor.


    Axel chose silence, an enigmatic shield he wielded effortlessly, taking off his sses with a calm


    deliberation, and meticulously cleaning them.


    Be scoffed, a blend of frustration and intrigue coloring her expression. The only person who


    happened to be her husband’s confidant appeared unyielding and rigid.


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    “I heard my husband has been frequenting a hospital,” she dered, throwing the observation into the


    open, a subtle challenge in her tone. Axel’s hands, mid–cleaning, halted, his narrowed eyes betraying a


    hint of suspicion.


    Ufortably clearing her throat, Be proceeded cautiously. “A friend mentioned seeing him at the


    hospital,” she rified, seeking to dispel any notion that she was keeping tabs on Ethan, as Axel might


    was currently suspecting. The air in the room hung heavy with unspoken questions.


    Who would actually dare monitor or jeep tabs on Ethan? No one she had tried to employ previously


    took the job. Her she was begging his assistant for scraps of information from gossips and hearsays.


    The room hung in a tense silence as the two locked eyes, a silent duel of curiosity and guarded


    secrets. Be, caught in Axel’s scrutinizing gaze, felt an uneasy tension settle around her. There was


    something unsettling about the way Axel looked at her, as if he knew something. Whatever it was, it


    was clear. Axel didn’t like nor trust her.


    Axel, the epitome of calm andposure, maintained his silence, carefully crafting a response that


    would satiate Be’s curiosity while diverting her attention to something else more believable that


    would interest her.


    “Tesco is currently undergoing some projects there, and Ethan is overseeing them,” Axel finally replied,


    his words carefully chosen to deflect Be’s probing inquiries. The tension momentarily lifted as Be’s


    suspicion changed immediately to that


    of interest.


    “Really?” Be inquired, her tone piqued as Axel continued to navigate the delicate dance of half–


    truths.


    “Along with the fundraisering on,” he added, seamlessly steering the conversation toward a more


    socially eptable topic. Be’s intrigue deepened, her thoughts now upied with the prospect of the


    uing event.


    “There’ll be a fundraiser?” she asked, a spark of anticipation in her eyes. The revtion meant Ethan’s


    attendance, a prospect that pleased Be. Months had passed since theirst event together, and now


    she found herself looking forward to this. opportunity to apany him.


    “If that’s everything, I would be leaving now. I have lots of things to do,” Axel stated. With that he stood


    up and left the office without wasting another second.


    Be was pissed, his departure was swift and he hadn’t even lingered for a moment to see of she


    needed anything, it was stark contrast to other assistants who sought to tter and win favor. Axel,


    however, left without waiting for her dismissal, like she didn’t matter.


    Axel strolled swifty through the corridors. Minutes of his time had been taken by Be’s sudden visit


    and probing.


    Someone had seen Ethan, she said.


    He would have to warn him. It seemed Ethan had momentarily forgotten the extent of his influence and


    just how renowned he was especially among their social circle. If people found out he was visiting a


    little girl which happened to be the daughter of his ex–wife, that could escte to something else.


    Be and Hazel meeting was a scenario they had to avert at all costs. Ethan had gone to great lengths


    to keep the two women apart. He had practically instituted a ban, restricting Be from his visiting his


    was a recipe for disaster.


    Axel understood that it would be in the best interest of everyone involved to keep Be blissfully


    unaware.