Chapter 289

"What do you mean you don't want me to be influenced?"

I couldn't quite figure out Alfonso, but my gut told me his presence wasn't a good sign.

The bidding war with Asher was a clear example.

Alfonso was the kind of person who would use my child as leverage to force my hand, showing he had no moral boundaries when it came to his interests.

And let's not forget, Isadora's investigation for her sister was still fresh in my mind!

Alfonso had definitely caused the death of his first wife and was now flaunting his affair...

All signs pointed to him being a heartless person.

I took two steps back, trying to subtly increase the distance between us. "What you're saying is strange. We're in the same business circle. You have plenty of ways to find out about me. Why bring up my ex-husband in front of me?"

"Ex-husband? Caroline, you might fool others about your divorce with Brandon, but you can't fool me."

Alfonso spoke with a confidence that made me uneasy.

I had no idea what he was planning.

If Alfonso and Brandon were connected, shouldn't he be trying to hide it? Or maybe, since Brandon had been rescued, Alfonso felt there was no need to keep it a secret?

This situation seemed to align with my assessment of Brandon.

They were so blatant because they had someone powerful backing them!

"So, I think they might not be afraid of us at all. They might even want me to know everything, so they can confront me directly."

I shared my encounter with Alfonso with Royce.

Royce sat beside me, sipping his coffee calmly as he listened.

"What do you think?"

His silence made me anxious.

Lately, I had grown accustomed to seeking his help. If he ignored me even a little, I felt uneasy.

Royce gently took my hand, reassuring me. "Caroline, I was just thinking about something else, so I didn't respond right away."

"But I heard everything you said."

He stroked my hair, and I looked at him.

His every action made me feel safe and secure.

It felt like I could trust him completely.

But when it came to our relationship, I was unsure if I should take the next step.

This was one of the things that had been troubling me lately.

"Why did you call me here if you two are just going to flirt?"

Kathy's voice broke the moment.

I pulled away from Royce's hand, feeling a bit awkward. "Kathy, you're finally here."

"When you messaged me, I thought you wanted to have afternoon tea. I didn't expect him to be here too."

Kathy loved to joke around, and her teasing lightened the mood.

"Stop it. We're discussing something serious."

My cheeks felt warm. Even though I'd been married before, being teased about Royce still made me shy.

"So, what's the latest?" Kathy asked, ordering from the waiter before turning back to us.

I filled her in on Alfonso's visit.

Kathy frowned. "That damn Alfonso. If Isadora knew, she'd be even angrier than us."

He was already linked to Celestia's death, and now he wouldn't leave us alone.

"That's why I didn't tell them and came to you first."

"But Caroline, I think your analysis is spot on."

Alfonso's boldness showed he wasn't afraid. Kathy and I were on the same page.

We asked Royce for his thoughts, and he agreed but added something.

"If Alfonso and Brandon are trying to escalate things, maybe it's intentional. Let's see what they're planning."

I looked at Royce. "You want to go after Alfonso?"

Royce nodded. "The child is safe, and Asher has started a new project. We can deal with Alfonso without any burden. Plus, he can only come at us through business, so we can fight back openly."

He glanced at me. "But Caroline, you'll have to handle this. It'll be tough."

I shook my head. "I don't mind. As long as we can resolve this, it's worth it."

But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something. Looking at Royce and Kathy, I tried to stay calm. These were people who cared about me. I couldn't let them down by panicking.

Alfonso's words, "You underestimate Brandon," kept echoing in my mind. If only Simon were here, he could find more clues, I thought.

As if on cue, Kathy's phone rang. She glanced at it and answered. It was Simon.

"What did he say?" When she hung up, her expression was grim.

"What did Simon say?" Royce and I were curious. Given the timing and Simon's recent investigations, he must have found something!

Kathy thought for a moment. "Simon said Alfonso is also connected to Maeve..."

Maeve?! Royce and I were stunned. What role did Maeve play in all this?

"Don't worry. Simon suggests we talk to Isadora. To deal with Alfonso, we should start with Celestia's case..."

I sighed. "Easier said than done. Isadora just had a baby. Bringing up painful memories isn't fair."

I could already picture Isadora's distress. Celestia was harmed by Alfonso, and Joanna's husband Ronnie was seduced by Maeve. Now these two were connected. It was a double betrayal.

Kathy understood my concern and talked with me for a while. Royce stepped out to take a call, leaving the café. I watched him through the window. Royce was undeniably attractive.