Chereads / The Forbidden Flower of the Dark Life / Chapter 17 - Personal Data Information

Chapter 17 - Personal Data Information

"What do you want to talk to me about, darling?" Bellatrix gazed at the woman in front of her with a puzzled expression. It was unusual for this woman to wear such a serious expression.

"You already know that she's back, right?" Hailey threw a rhetorical question. Bellatrix couldn't hide her surprised expression, but even though it was so evident, she still tried to remain calm, pretending not to understand the meaning behind Hailey's words.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. The person who has been a barrier all this time! You already know she's back, don't you? That's why you called me yesterday, right?" Hailey stared intensely at Bellatrix. Her assumption couldn't be wrong. Bellatrix must have already met Serena. That's why she called her yesterday.

"T-That... how did you know? Could it be that you..."

"There's no need to conceal anything anymore. Now I understand why you contacted me yesterday. It must be because you've already met with her before, right?"

"Have you also met with her?" Bellatrix could no longer pretend not to understand Hailey's intentions.

Hailey nodded in response and then explained her encounter with Serena at the restaurant today. Bellatrix remained silent, listening to her explanation. Hailey's story briefly resembled Bellatrix's own encounter with Serena yesterday. However, what caught Bellatrix's attention was that she now understood why Ollie couldn't find Serena in his office today. The reason was simple—the woman didn't show up for work.

"Tell me, did you see her with a man?" Bellatrix looked at her with a curious expression.

"No. She was alone. I didn't see any man with her at all. But I can't be sure because I met her when I came back from the restroom. So, I couldn't confirm it."

Bellatrix fell silent, trying to digest every word that had just come out of Hailey's lips. If it's like this, I can't be sure. To find out who the man Ollie was referring to, I have to know his face first.

"But why are you asking that? Do you think Serena would be with..." Hailey trailed off with an anxious expression. She felt uneasy, and her mind started to fill with various fears.

Bellatrix clasped her hands, trying to reassure Hailey. "Listen, never think that she'll meet Rhys again. I'll make sure that she'll never be able to encounter him!"

"But your question really makes me uneasy."

"I didn't mean to make you uneasy. I'm just trying to confirm. Honestly, one of my subordinates mentioned that yesterday there was a man helping her when he was trying to catch her."

"Wait, so, that's why you contacted me yesterday?" Hailey looked at Bellatrix, who nodded in response. Hailey fell silent upon hearing Bellatrix's answer. The gesture was enough to answer all her questions.

"But are you sure that Rhys was in his office yesterday?" asked Bellatrix, causing Hailey to pause. The events of yesterday flashed through her mind.

Yesterday...

Hailey shifted her attention, looking at her phone screen, now lit with Bellatrix's contact number, attempting to make a phone call. As Hailey slid the green button to answer, their call connected instantly, and she could hear Bellatrix's voice on the other end.

"Hi, dear!"

"Hello, Mom, what's up?"

"I called you because there's something I want to discuss with you."

"Something you want to discuss with me? What is it?" Hailey furrowed her brow upon hearing Bellatrix's words.

"Is your relationship with Rhys okay?" Bellatrix's question instantly silenced Hailey. She was quite surprised by the unexpected question, and it was enough to make Hailey wonder what was really happening.

Why is Mom talking like this? Could it be that she's suspicious that Rhys and I had a fight because I asked about Rhys's whereabouts yesterday? Hailey felt uneasy.

"What do you mean? My relationship with Rhys is fine, Mom. We're not having any issues. Are you asking this because I called you yesterday?" Hailey tried to stay calm. Despite Rhys's attitude yesterday that annoyed her, she didn't want Bellatrix to know what happened last night.

"Thank goodness, I'm relieved to hear that. I called because I was worried."

"There's nothing to worry about. My relationship with him is fine."

"Then, what about Rhys's job?" Bellatrix shifted the conversation.

"He's a bit busy, even yesterday he worked late." Hailey, for some reason, was reminded of last night when Rhys came home late, drunk. For unknown reasons, Hailey felt uneasy after Bellatrix's recent question. Each inquiry made Hailey anxious without clear cause.

As their conversation ended, Hailey heard Bellatrix asking her to maintain her relationship with Rhys. The final words from Bellatrix on the call left Hailey wondering. What is going on? Why did she suddenly call just to ask about this? Is there a problem?

At the moment...

Hailey suddenly fell silent. Her mind went blank as she recalled her conversation with Bellatrix yesterday. Simultaneously, her heart grew more restless, and increasing fear began to envelop her emotions.

Rhys's sudden strange behavior, busier than usual, and Serena's appearance – everything happened at the same time. Considering all of this, Hailey became increasingly afraid that what she had always feared was truly happening.

"Hailey?" Bellatrix called her. She gazed at Hailey with a puzzled expression. She truly didn't understand why Hailey suddenly fell silent without uttering a word. Bellatrix could even see cold sweat forming on Hailey's forehead. "Darling?"

Bellatrix tried to capture her attention, and this time her effort succeeded. Hailey snapped out of her reverie, turning towards the source of the voice. They remained silent, locking eyes. "What are you thinking, dear?"

"I just remembered that there's something odd about Rhys's behavior."

"What do you mean?"

Hailey explained everything. She laid out her concerns, honestly describing what had been happening with Rhys in the past few days. Hailey also recounted the night Rhys came home late, in a semi-conscious state, even deliriously mentioning Serena.

*

Hugh stepped out of Shawn's room. After ensuring his son was sound asleep, he intended to go to his own room and rest. Arriving there, he saw Serena getting ready for bed. She had already climbed into bed with her sleepwear. But just as she was about to lie down, Hugh's arrival made Serena pause. "Hugh, you're here."

"Yes, Shawn just fell asleep. He seemed really happy to have a new friend."

"Really? I'm glad he's adapting well to his new school. I'm truly happy." Serena smiled. Hugh walked over to the bed and sat on the edge.

"I'm also happy to see him so joyful. His expression reminded me of when he first entered kindergarten at his old school in Sciencetopia." Hugh smiled. His mind drifted, recalling the moment he saw how happy Shawn was when he first entered school. Hugh could never forget that moment.

"I'm a bit anxious, though. After my job is done, won't he have to move schools again?"

"There's nothing to worry about because Shawn is a smart kid. He'll be able to adapt to the environment easily. Maybe he'll find it hard to part with his friends like before, but I'm confident he can quickly move on from that."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes. Anyway, don't think too much about it. You better rest. You must be tired, right?" Hugh got up, urging Serena to lie down as he pulled the blanket to cover her. "Good night." Hugh gently kissed Serena's forehead.

"Aren't you going to sleep now?" Serena asked, looking at Hugh, whose face was so close to hers.

"I'm not sleepy yet. I'll sleep in a bit, so you go ahead and rest first." Hugh shifted his attention when he heard his phone ring. He took it out from his pocket. On the phone screen, Hugh saw a notification for a new message. "Go to sleep, it's already late."

Serena just nodded as Hugh left their bedroom. He headed towards his office, which was connected to their room. Upon reaching it, Hugh quickly approached his desk. He powered up the laptop resting on the table and became engrossed in it.

Shortly after, Hugh shifted his attention back to his phone. An incoming call from Sea was promptly answered.

"Hello?"

"Have you received the email I sent?" Sea asked without preamble. Hearing that, Hugh once again redirected his focus to the illuminated laptop screen. He promptly opened the email he had just received from Sea.

"I've got it," Hugh said, busy opening the file attached to the email. In that file, Sea had sent personal information about Aiden as requested by Hugh.

"I've gathered all the information you need, and from what I found, I discovered a very shocking fact. You won't believe it after reading," Sea said. Hugh was now scrolling through the screen of the personal data file he received. He stopped when he saw information that immediately widened his eyes. Hugh couldn't believe what was written in that file.

"T-this..."

"Aiden is the firstborn of the Alexandrina family. The second-largest mafia family in Pandora, and guess what! Who's his sibling."

Hugh tried to comprehend what was stated there. The string of sentences containing information in the file truly left Hugh speechless.

"He is the brother of Hailey Alexandrina, and do you know who Hailey Alexandrina is? She is Rhys's wife. Serena's ex-boyfriend," Sea explained. Hugh, who has hearing her explanation, truly did not expect that all of this would happen.

Unbelievable. How could all of this happen? Why is Serena involved with people like them?

***