Chapter 382: A Public Storm

The following week arrived quickly, but certainly not quietly, as enough events unfolded to make it feel much longer than it actually was.

First, there was Alec Ross, who remained in a coma following the attempted murder.

The authorities had thoroughly investigated the incident, but one thing continued to baffle them. After reviewing the CCTV footage from the mansion and questioning everyone they could find, investigators concluded that whoever had attacked Alec must have known the property well. The intruder had somehow navigated the mansion without being detected, making use of its blind spots to reach Alec’s room.

There was no evidence of theft, forced entry, or anything else that could indicate the motive behind the crime.

Even more baffling was the discovery that the men slaughtered inside the warehouse had all been hired as Alec Ross’s security personnel. And the horrific way they had been torn apart bore an unsettling resemblance to the damage done to Alec’s leg, further suggesting that the two cases were somehow connected.

When investigators traced the men’s activities leading up to the massacre, they discovered their involvement in Jade’s kidnapping. Naturally, suspicion soon fell upon her, especially since she was no longer staying with her family.

However, before the police could begin breathing down Jade’s neck with baseless theories and accusations, Cillian, Aliana, and even Owen stepped in with a team of powerful lawyers and forced the authorities to back off.

For the moment, at least.

The police had no choice but to retreat until they found something more concrete that could justify subjecting Jade to a more intense investigation.

Meanwhile, the media was having a field day.

Once reporters caught wind of the connection between Alec and the warehouse massacre, a public frenzy erupted.

Conspiracy theories flooded the internet at an alarming rate. Some speculated that an alien encounter had occurred, while others claimed a rabid monster was roaming the city streets. A few tabloid outlets even suggested that one of Astoria’s elite families had made a bargain with the devil, harbouring a demon behind a human mask.

In short, it was an absolute mess.

Every family involved, whether it was the Rosses, the Vanderbilts, or the Valentines, had to hire a full security detail of bodyguards just to keep the press at bay whenever anyone left their estate.

Reve, in particular, seemed to be enjoying himself whenever anyone dared come within ten metres of Aliana, making it his personal mission to teach them a lesson.

Needless to say, Aliana was very grateful for his efforts.

On the business side of things, with Alec out of commission, Owen stepped in and took command of the board of directors with ease. Since he was still serving as the acting CFO of Van Empire, he divided the workload between himself and Jade, allowing her to return to work.

Being able to immerse herself in work again helped Jade cope with everything that had happened.

Unfortunately, it also gave her mother, Nina, an excuse to constantly ask her to move back home.

Jade, however, refused to give in to that particular request.

Even though she visited Alec at the hospital every other day, she had no intention of returning to the Ross Mansion and pretending that everything was fine simply because her father was lying helpless in a hospital bed.

Besides, more than anything, Valentine Residence had begun to feel more like home than the suffocating walls of Ross Mansion ever had.

And then there was Cillian.

He had been... sweet and supportive in his own eccentric ways while she rode this emotional roller coaster.

For the first time in her life, Jade felt she had found a man she could rely on besides herself, and that realisation slowly began to melt the walls around her heart.

So she made a decision.

She would stay at Valentine Residence... for a little longer.

And perhaps a little closer to the mischievous demon who was slowly thawing her heart.

....

Meanwhile, miles above the earth and far removed from the chaos of Astoria, Aliana looked out the window of the private jet at the blanket of white clouds beneath them. Her thoughts circled back through the heavy events of the past week and lingered on a quiet conversation she had shared with Jade shortly before their departure.

.

Giving Aliana a tight hug, Jade pulled back and said, "I hope you have an amazing trip!"

"But, Jade... it doesn’t feel right to just leave when so much is happ-"

"I’m sorry, Ali, but I’m going to have to stop you there..." Jade cut her off. Holding her hands, she continued, "The burdens of this world don’t rest on your shoulders alone, Ali. Shit happens in people’s lives, and we find ways to deal with it. This... whatever happened with my father has nothing to do with you. I’m fine. I’ll get through this, so you miss... All you need to do is take this vacation your husband has arranged for you."

Jade smiled and teasingly gave her a small wink. "And who knows? When you return in a couple of weeks, I might hear that I’m becoming an aunt."

The words had struck Aliana like a sudden blow, making her heart stutter in her chest.

"Oh, how I am going to adore that child!" Jade continued cheerfully. "I am going to completely spoil them and be the coolest aunt ever, and..."

Jade stopped mid-sentence, her smile vanishing as tears welled up and spilled silently down Aliana’s face.

Panic instantly replaced Jade’s playful tone. "Ali? What is it? Did I say something wrong?"

Aliana could only shake her head before throwing her arms around Jade, holding her tightly in a silent embrace. Jade hugged her back, whispering softly, "Ali, please tell me what is wrong."

Swallowing the painful knot in her throat, Aliana murmured, "Nothing... I am just going to miss you."

Jade pulled back and smiled softly. "I think I know you well enough by now to spot a lie the moment it leaves your lips."

Aliana lowered her eyes, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, and let out a breathy chuckle. "Sorry... I just..." She paused before looking up at Jade. "I will be fine. Just like you will be, right?"

Both women looked into each other’s eyes, and a silent understanding passed between them. It was the kind of understanding where words were unnecessary to tell each other that, whatever demons they were battling, they would emerge victorious in the end, just as they always had.

Just then, Aliana heard Cillian’s voice carrying from the adjacent room as he teased Winston.

She looked back at Jade, her tone becoming cautious. "By the way... I know you said you can handle things, but will you truly be okay staying here with Cillian?"

Jade blinked before smiling. "Of course. On the contrary, his chatter quite drowns out the voices in my head."

Aliana smiled back before hesitating. "Jade... I... I know."

Jade tilted her head. "You know what?"

Aliana pressed her lips together before deciding to speak. "I know there’s something going on between you and Cillian."

Jade’s eyes widened in sheer shock. "No way... how did you... when?"

A mischievous smile crept onto Aliana’s face. "Let us just say I happened to hear an urgent call for a priest the other night."

She did not elaborate, and Jade stood frozen for a second as her mind processed the clue.

Then, the realisation hit her.