Chapter 146: No Risky Moves

Lewis leaned closer, his voice low. "Elena, going straight there would be risky. If we move too fast, we’ll expose ourselves.""I know," I said, nodding. My thoughts were already moving. "We don’t need to show our faces. I had doubts before, but seeing that man today confirmed it. Something is happening."

I took a breath and continued, steady now. "Harris suspects Camilla too. He just doesn’t have proof. If we tell him she often visits that repair shop, he’ll look into it. But he’ll need a reason to step in."

Lewis glanced at me. "What kind of reason?"

I smiled. "We stir the water. Place someone there to cause trouble. Once things get noisy, the authorities will have a reason to check the place. If there’s an entrance hidden inside, they’ll find it."

He exhaled, relieved. "I thought you were about to do something reckless."

I shook my head. "I just got my life back. Lying low comes first. We work from the shadows and let the right people do the rest."

"I’ll handle the details," Lewis said. "That man changes his appearance every time. If we catch his real face, the whole story may unravel."

"We’re close," I replied. "We’ll piece it together."

"Good," he said gently. "Once we’re done with the Wilchers, we go straight home."

"Got it."

As we left, my body still remembered that cold jolt from earlier. The automatic fear. The way my muscles had locked before my mind did. I hated it.

I needed to get stronger.

But with my mom pregnant and fragile, and the Wilchers circling like vultures, I couldn’t leave her alone for long.

And sure enough, when I got home, trouble was already waiting.

Raya came downstairs with an armful of brand-new skincare products. Luxury items. Carefully chosen. Grant’s attempt to win my mom over.

Each jar was custom-made, expensive enough to make my jaw tighten.

Raya beamed. "Lena, you can’t use these while you’re pregnant. They expire quickly. It would be such a waste. Let me take them instead."

She didn’t stop there.

"Oh, and look at all these bags," she went on, eyeing the shelves. "You don’t even go out. Such a shame to let them sit. You’ve got so many new clothes too. You won’t wear them while pregnant, right? Why not give them to me?"

I watched her, calm on the surface, disgust rising underneath.

The Wilchers were an empty shell. Grandpa and my uncles had no sense for managing anything. By the time Benjamin took over, the family was already sinking. When it reached his sons, there was nothing left to save.

If not for Grant, they would’ve collapsed long ago.

They weren’t wealthy. Not really. And with Josy’s gambling, things were worse than they looked. Raya came here to take, pretending it was nothing.

I stepped forward.

"Aunt Raya," I said lightly, "if people who know you see this, they’ll think you’re visiting. If they don’t, they’ll think you’re here to shop. Are you treating my mom’s house like a warehouse?"

Her smile stiffened.

"Even buying in bulk requires payment," I continued. "How is this not stealing?"

Her face flushed. "What nonsense are you talking about? I’m just preventing waste."

"Waste or not," I said evenly, "it’s still my mom’s. Why are you so invested? From overseas to here, I admire your energy. At this rate, you could outrun the neighborhood elders collecting bottles or beat everyone to the eggs at dawn."

Her eyes flared. "It’s just old stuff. Who cares?"

"If you don’t care," I said, voice sharp now, "put it back. Don’t take a single thing from my mom’s house. If you do, I’ll report you for trespassing."

Smack

Behind me, something shattered.

A teacup flew past my shoulder and crashed against the wall.

"Riley! You’ve got some nerve!" Benjamin roared. "The elders are here, and you’re acting like this?"

I turned slowly, crossing my arms.

All I could think about was everything he had done to my mom over the years. Every insult. Every quiet humiliation. My anger didn’t cool it burned hotter.

"Elders?" I asked calmly. "Where? All I see are thieves and parasites."

The room went silent.

"What kind of elders sell off their own daughters?" I continued. "Calling you traffickers would be generous."

Josy shot to his feet. "How dare you speak to your grandfather like that!"

Raya clung to his arm, crying loudly, while Josy lifted his hand, ready to strike me.

"You’re nothing but trouble," he barked. "Always stirring chaos. This house doesn’t need someone like you."

I laughed, sharp and cold.

"Your house?" I asked. "Since when did the Ashbournes belong to you? Or are you already planning to swallow them whole?"

That was when Grant walked in.

"What’s all this noise?"

He didn’t raise his voice, but the room bent toward him instantly. Even Benjamin shrank back.

The Wilchers suddenly became quiet. Obedient.

I wasn’t impressed.

To me, Grant was just another man who had stood by while my mother suffered.

"Dad," I said clearly, "you’re finally back. If you hadn’t shown up, Aunt Raya would’ve stripped this place bare."

I pointed toward the items in her arms.

"Everything you bought for Mom is still brand new. The tags are still on them. And she’s trying to take it all."

Before Raya could speak, I went on.

"And what’s this nonsense about calling this place their home? You bought this house for Mom. When did it become theirs? Or does Uncle Josy think that because you don’t have a son, everything will eventually belong to him?"

I said it on purpose.

Grant’s greatest wound was something everyone knew.

His hand slammed onto the table.

"How dare you!" he thundered at Josy. "If I hadn’t carried your family all these years, you would’ve collapsed long ago! And you still dare to eye my wife’s things and my family’s future?"

Josy panicked. "Grant, don’t listen to her. She’s twisting things!"

"I’m not," I said quietly. "Look for yourself."

I pointed again.

"Those are the skincare products you ordered for Mom. That dress Raya is wearing still has the tag on it. And that bag limited edition. Do you really not recognize it?"

Josy froze.

Raya’s face went pale.

Grant’s fury exploded.

"Take it off!" he shouted at Raya. "Who gave you permission to wear my wife’s clothes?"

"It’s just a dress," Raya cried. "I was in a hurry I didn’t bring anything "

"For years," I said steadily, "she’s taken advantage of Mom’s kindness. Mom never complains. But she’s still your mate. She deserves respect."

I let my voice shake just enough.

"She’s been mistreated by them. By the Ashbournes. And now, even pregnant, sick every morning, she’s still being bullied."

That was the final spark.

Grant’s face darkened completely.

"Take everything off," he ordered coldly. "Put it down. And leave. Now."

No one dared argue.

The hierarchy was finally clear.

And this time, I didn’t step back.