Chapter 0005

Jerome knew he’d misspoken, yet he hardly cared that Helena had caught him slipping.

“This morning, you rushed off to the police station—wasn’t it to reconnect with that new captain of the station, Eric Langston?”

Helena’s heart skipped a beat.

Not only was Jerome fully aware of her whereabouts, but he also knew she was acquainted with Eric.

She’d underestimated Jerome.

After all, when she met Eric seven years ago, he was reserved and unapproachable, always keeping his distance from others.

Moreover, his mother had erased all traces of her connection with Eric to remove the stain she posed on their family, clearing all records and keeping everything well-hidden.

Almost no one knew that she and Eric had been familiar with each other, let alone shared a faintly ambiguous past.

If Jerome had the means to uncover her connection with Eric, he could just as easily find out why Kenneth had gone to the police station.

Hinting at an old flame between her and Eric was clearly an attempt to drive a wedge.

If she didn’t deny it, Rachel would naturally start to doubt her relationship with Kenneth. And even if Kenneth knew the truth, Jerome’s words would plant seeds of suspicion in his heart that would, over time, lead to cracks.

On the other hand, denying it would inevitably drag up the accusations of assault against Kenneth.

If Rachel found out, it would not only make her question their story of falling in love over time and choosing to marry but also leave her disappointed in Kenneth. Jerome would then seize the opportunity to make even more outrageous demands.

"Uncle Jerome, you really give me too much credit." Helena’s mind raced, though her expression remained unreadable. "If I actually had any history with Mr. Langston, I’d certainly have asked him to treat you a bit more courteously before your visit."

Jerome’s pupils contracted, and his expression, like a fractured mask, began to crack silently.

Eric’s position was indeed unique, and Jerome had specifically arranged a visit to him on the first day he arrived in Greenwick. There were countless people eager to meet him, and Jerome had struggled through numerous attempts just to secure an appointment.

When they finally met, Eric’s demeanor was cold and cutting, his gaze sharp and distant, as though he’d seen right through Jerome’s intentions from the start.

In an attempt to bridge the gap, Jerome had mentioned Helena, who had once been Eric’s schoolmate.

Unexpectedly, what was initially supposed to be a brief five-minute meeting turned into a half-hour conversation with Eric. And just last night, despite the gravity of the incident surrounding Kenneth—witnesses and evidence stacked against him—Helena had still managed to bail him out from the station.

After all, Eric wasn’t just any officer; he was known as the "Judge."

Sensing an opportunity, Jerome had dropped hints in front of everyone, trying to gauge Helena’s relationship with Eric, hoping it would strain her connection with Kenneth.

Without Helena’s support, he was certain Rachel would eventually see Kenneth as the reckless playboy he truly was.

At that point, they could employ a few well-planned moves to seize everything from the Keller family.

Yet Jerome hadn’t anticipated that young Helena would maintain her composure so well, even managing to turn the tables on him.

The Kellers had strict rules: family members could pursue either business or government, but never both. His secret meeting with Eric was already a breach of those family principles.

Noticing the scrutinizing looks from the other relatives, particularly the sharp stares from Rachel and Kenneth, Jerome felt a pang of unease, uncertain how Helena had learned of his visit with Eric.

His chest tightened as he gritted his teeth and pressed on, “So if it wasn’t to catch up with Mr. Langston, why did you rush to the station first thing this morning?”

Before Helena could respond, she sensed something amiss and instinctively stood to shield Rachel.

A loud bang erupted in the next instant.

Kenneth, without warning, flipped the entire dining table in Jerome’s direction.

Jerome had no time to dodge as dishes, utensils, and food crashed down onto him. A plate of green vegetables landed squarely on his head, resembling a makeshift hat perched on his hair.

Ignoring Jerome’s disheveled appearance and the twisted fury on his face, Kenneth leaned back in his seat, casually wiping his fingers.

His movements were graceful, his expression relaxed as if he were seated in a tranquil riverside pavilion, leisurely listening to a distant melody.

“It seems the Keller family meal doesn’t suit everyone’s taste,” Kenneth said, his voice calm. “In that case, no one needs to eat.”

He paused briefly before adding, “And as for the end-of-month family dinner tradition, it’s time we canceled that as well.”

With a casual wave, his private guards and bodyguards emerged, promptly escorting all extended relatives out of the estate.

Rachel looked on, momentarily stunned, before giving Kenneth a disapproving glance. “Ken, you’ve managed to offend all your relatives.”

Kenneth raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “They openly disrespected me. Did they really think they wouldn’t offend me?”

Beside him, Helena felt her eye twitch. Would it ever end?

He’d clearly wanted to cancel the end-of-month dinner for a while and had finally found his excuse, all under the pretense of “protecting” her.

Rachel’s gaze shifted between Helena and Kenneth, her expression softening as she smiled knowingly. “Seeing how well you two get along really puts my mind at ease!”

“Well, since you’re at ease, how about cooperating with the doctor and focusing on getting better?” Kenneth stepped forward, gently holding Rachel’s arm, while his other hand reached around to brush Helena’s cheek, his eyes on her. “What do you say, darling?”

Though filled with frustration, Helena had no choice but to offer a sweet smile and nod.

With an exaggerated sigh, Rachel looked longingly at Helena. “Ah, if I could just hold a great-grandchild in my arms, I’d be content even in death!”

Helena’s mind immediately flashed back to Kenneth’s earlier whispered words to Rachel, which had made her repeatedly glance at Helena’s abdomen.

He must have said something he shouldn’t have!

After hesitating for a few seconds, she couldn’t bear to let Rachel down and spoke gently, “Grandma, as long as you take care of yourself, I’m sure that day will come.”

Rachel beamed with joy at Helena's response.

Since the family dinner had been cut short, Rachel instructed the staff to bring out fresh dishes.

With Helena and Kenneth accompanying her, she enjoyed an extra small plate of pasta, a rare treat, and asked them both to stay overnight at the estate so they could join her for breakfast in the morning.

Kenneth, evidently too tired to return to the Starlight Club for his usual late-night revelry, surprisingly agreed.

Helena, with no other choice, stayed as well.

They returned to the room Rachel had prepared for them. The spacious room was decorated with romantic touches, and in the soft glow of flickering candles, the atmosphere felt thick with unspoken tension.

The bed, draped in pure white sheets, was scattered with red roses arranged in a large heart shape, their rich fragrance filling the air.

Helena and Kenneth exchanged glances, both speechless.

She quickly found the light switch and turned on the overhead lights. The bright light dispelled much of the room's suggestive atmosphere.

Helena turned to Kenneth, choosing a decidedly unromantic topic. "Do you think Jerome had anything to do with the false accusations against you?"

Though phrased as a question, there was a tone of certainty in her voice.

Kenneth didn’t respond. Instead, he looked down at her with a cold, assessing gaze. “Mr. Langston—he’s still lingering around you, isn’t he?”

Seeing she didn’t immediately respond, he pressed on bluntly, as if worried she might misunderstand his meaning. “If you’re truly interested in rekindling things with him, just say so. There’s no need to sneak around behind my back.”

Kenneth was one of the few who knew about her past with Eric. His use of the word "rekindling" was laced with sarcasm.

Helena couldn’t stand it anymore and snapped, “Kenneth, what’s gotten into you? Haven’t I played along enough with all your schemes?”

Kenneth met her gaze, which was now blazing with anger, and seemed momentarily at a loss.

After a couple of seconds, he responded in a low voice, “I just don’t want to be blindsided with a betrayal like tonight.”

Thinking of Jerome’s earlier provocations, Helena took a deep breath, about to reassure Kenneth. But an inexplicable sensation began to rise within her—a warmth that felt like a spark, ready to spread like wildfire through her body.

Sensing something was off, she looked up at Kenneth, only to find his face slightly flushed, his intense gaze fixed on her. In the depths of his eyes, there was a fierce, flickering heat as if a flame had been ignited and was burning wildly.