Chapter 482: We've Taken the Money
After Elissa finished speaking, she even grabbed Adeline's wrist, her face filled with anxiety.
Her behavior seemed strange.
It was as if she had realized her own awkwardness, and she quickly gave a forced smile, trying to cover up the situation.
Before Elissa could say anything, Adeline smiled and said, "Since you insist on keeping me here, I'll stay. It's been so many years since we last met. We should spend a few days catching up."
Elissa let out a quiet sigh of relief. "That's great! You stay as long as you like. The guest room is ready, all tidied up. If you need anything, just let me or Alvaro know. If your mother hadn't passed away and our families had stayed closer, maybe we would have been like family by now."
Adeline replied, "I've always remembered how close you and my mom were."
Elissa's hand stiffened for a moment.
"Did you fly in? You must be tired, go ahead and rest. What do you want for dinner? Don't be shy, make yourself at home."
Elissa then called out to the outside,"Alvaro!"
Alvaro quickly entered.
"Take Adeline to the guest room."
Alvaro glanced at Adeline, clearly troubled.
"The guest room is ready, but there's no place for the two outside. The house is just so small. It's a miracle we even had a room for her."
"Who are the two outside?" Elissa asked curiously. "Adeline, are you with someone?"
"Someone came with me." Adeline smiled,
"There's been some business going on at my end, so my boyfriend sent a few people to accompany me. Don't worry about them. They'll handle things themselves."
It was hard to tell if it was her imagination, but as Adeline said this, Elissa seemed to flinch slightly.
"Oh, I see. Alvaro, take Adeline to her room then."
"Alright," Alvaro nodded.
He led Adeline to the guest room.
The guest room was neat and clean, with new linens on the bed and a small bathroom with fresh toiletries.
"My mom was really happy when you agreed to come. She made sure everything was perfect in the guest room," Alvaro said with a smile. "She's been really wanting to see you."
"Thank you. That's very thoughtful. I noticed Elissa looked a bit pale, but she seemed fine otherwise. What exactly is she suffering from? I'd feel better knowing."
"Ah... It's something related to her stomach. It's nothing too serious." Alvaro said, "My mom's always been a little overdramatic.
When she gets sick, it's like the sky is falling. She probably made it sound worse than it is when she spoke to you, didn't she?"
Adeline smiled, remaining silent.
Alvaro became uneasy under her gaze.
He quickly added, "You should rest. If you need anything, just let me know."
"Alright."
After Alvaro left and shut the door, the two
bodyguards stood like sentinels outside the room.
Alvaro didn't dare to linger, instead heading to Elissa's room.
"Mom, why didn't you tell Adeline to send those two away?" Alvaro complained. "With them here, I can't talk to Adeline properly."
"Oh, stop dreaming." Elissa sighed, "Adeline already told me she has a boyfriend. And, from the looks of it, her status is no small matter. Even if she didn't have a boyfriend, she won't take a fancy to you. You won't stand a chance."
Alvaro mumbled under his breath, "That's not true. I'm not bad-looking, you know."
"When she mentioned bringing people with her, I got nervous. Do you think she knows what we did?"
Alvaro turned quickly, making sure the door was tightly closed before letting out a breath of relief.
"Lower your voice, and stop saying such things. What if she hears you?"
"I just feel guilty, both to her and her mother."
Elissa said with regret, "Her mother was so kind to me. She always helped me whenever I needed it. Now, here I am, helping someone else deceive her daughter..."
"Oh, mom," Alvaro interrupted impatiently, "It's not that big a deal. All we're doing is keeping Adeline here for a few days. We'll treat her well and then send her off. It's no big deal."
"It's easy for you to say." Elissa replied, "But why did that person ask us to keep her here? What are they really up to? It's probably something to do with Adeline. Maybe they want to harm her. That's why she brought people to protect her. Something's definitely wrong. I need to tell her."
As Elissa tried to get out of bed, Alvaro quickly pressed her back down.
"Mom, have you lost your mind? We've already been paid. What if that person finds out we're talking?"
Alvaro said urgently. "I can tell, the person who contacted us is just a pawn. The real mastermind is someone much more powerful. We can't afford to cross them."
Elissa's expression wavered slightly.
Alvaro continued, "And if we mess up, they'll take back the money. Do you remember? With that money, I can buy a car, and we'll finally have a place to live. Dad has been putting up with so much at the company, just so we can have a good life. The good life is finally within reach. Are you willing to throw that away?"
Elissa's head hung down in resignation.
After a long pause, she said, "Fine... Life's tough for everyone. When people with power and influence ask for help, we can't say no, can we?"
"Exactly," Alvaro said, cheering up. "Let's just pretend she's here as a guest. I'll treat her well, and whatever she's dealing with isn't our concern."
Elissa nodded slightly.
After Alvaro left, Adeline called Harrison to update him on the strange feeling she had.
Harrison, after hearing her concerns, said, "I'll be there soon."
"Don't worry," Adeline quickly responded, "I'm surrounded by your people, and the Mendoza family has people here too, both openly and in the shadows. I'll be fine."
"I need to be with you to feel at ease." Harrison frowned.
Adeline smiled. "It's just that I think Elissa and Alvaro aren't directly trying to harm me. They're not capable or bold enough. Elissa kept saying she wanted me to stay longer.
I'm sure they just want to keep me here, away from you."
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