Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 303

Chapter 303 

Chapter 303 

When Zane pushed the door open, he saw Brett gripping Tessa’s chin, forcing her to drink. 

She’d already downed five glasses and couldn’t take any more. 

But Brett was still furious and wasn’t about to let her off the hook. He just kept shoving drinks at her. 

Tessa couldn’t swallow fast enough, and liquor splashed all over her face and clothes, leaving her a total mess. 

“I gave you a chance, but you just had to spit in my face, huh?” Brett sneered, grabbing another glass to shove at her. 

Suddenly, someone clamped down on his wrist. “Ever heard of treating a woman with some respect?” 

“Who the hell are you?” Brett snapped, whipping around with a glare. 

But when he saw who it was, he stumbled back in shock. “Za–Zane… Sir…” 

“Tsk, Brett, you’re still as crude as ever, huh? Just look at how you’ve messed up this pretty lady,” Zane said, shaking his head. 

As he spoke, Zane casually grabbed a few tissues from the table and reached out to wipe the liquor off Tessa’s face. 

“I got it,” Tessa muttered, taking the tissues and ducking her head to clean herself up. 

Just moments ago, Brett was all swagger, but now, facing Zane, he was like a whipped puppy, his arrogance vanished. 

“So, what’s the story here?” Zane asked with a lazy drawl. 

“Just collecting a debt. You know what I do for a living.” Brett hunched over, grinning nervously. 

“That’s way too rough. Seriously, is it worth it? How much money does it take to push a decent woman this far?” Zane said, shaking his head. 

“One hundred million,” Brett replied. 

“That’s not exactly pocket change,” Zane said. 

Brett plastered on a greasy smile. “A hundred million is just a drop in the bucket for you, Mr. Lavell.” 

“Cut the flattery. Next time I catch you being rough with a pretty lady, don’t blame me if I give you a beating. You know I can’t stand seeing women get pushed around, especially the gorgeous ones,” Zane warned. 

“Yes, yes, yes,” Brett stammered. 

“What are you still standing here for? Get lost,” Zane snapped. 

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Chapter 303 

So, Brett scurried off. 

Tessa had mostly cleaned herself up, though she still looked a bit of a mess. 

But now she looked like a fragile little flower, battered and delicate after all she’d been through.. 

“Thank you, Mr. Lavell,” Tessa murmured, her voice soft and shy, her expression hesitant. 

Her skin was so pale it was almost see–through, and tiny beads of wine clung to her lashes, ready to fall with the slightest touch. 

Zane asked, “What’s your name?” 

“Tessa,” she replied. 

Tessa never thought she’d catch a break. Zane not only sorted out Brett’s debt h to invest in HelixTech. 

With Kyler ready to bail, Zane showed up just in time to save her skin. 

ne was even willing 

She could finally breathe a sigh of relief. And just like that, more good news started rolling in. 

Alina had someone check with the SEC and found out that two companies had just gotten the green light to go public. Their names would be announced next week. 

Tessa’s brows knitted the moment she heard. “Two? Did InquireMind make it through too?” 

“Looks like it,” Alina replied. 

Tessa’s face fell. “Aurelia actually pulled it off!” 

“She’s unstoppable right now. No one can get in her way,” Alina said. 

Alina was right, and Tessa knew it, but she just couldn’t help feeling bitter about it. 

Even with HelixTech and InquireMind both going public, she still ended up on the losing side. 

HelixTech took the shortcut with a backdoor listing, dodging all the hoops InquireMind had to jump through. 

If they were talking real achievements, Aurelia definitely came out on top. 

“This isn’t the time to get hung up on all that,” Alina said, sounding way more level–headed than Tessa. “Focus on getting HelixTech listed, then make sure your wedding with Cassian is set in stone. Who knows what could go wrong.” 

“Got it,” Tessa replied. 

Meanwhile, Aurelia caught wind of the news too. Darren was the one who told her. 

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Chapter 303 

Aurelia came to Grendel City with Mythic Realm for the Game Developers Conference, and that was where she bumped into Darren. 

Darren brought it up in conversation. 

He also hyped up Mythic Realm, saying it was killing it and getting tons of praise from the industry. 

After the conference wrapped up, Mythic Realm shot straight to the top of every gamer’s wish list for mythical games. 

As Aurelia and Arturo’s team stepped out of the conference, Darren’s secretary was already waiting at the 

entrance. 

40 

Aurelia spotted her, gave Arturo a quick word, then walked over. “Is Mr. Keith looking for me?” 

“Yes, Mr. Keith has booked a restaurant and would like to invite you to dinner, M replied. 

Then, Aurelia got into Darren’s secretary’s car. 

ne secretary 

As soon as she walked into the restaurant, Joey spotted her, jumped up from the table, and waved at her with a big grin. 

“I was actually thinking of swinging by your house to see Joey, but when I saw your secretary waiting, I figured Joey must be with you,” Aurelia said as she sat down, ruffling Joey’s hair before turning to Darren. 

“I told her you were coming, and she wouldn’t quit pestering me about seeing you,” Darren said, half amused, half helpless. 

Joey couldn’t wait to pull out her trophy and certificate from last week, showing them off to Aurelia with a proud grin. 

“Whoa, Joey, you’re awesome! First place in the BridgeTech Cup, software division, huh?” Aurelia said, genuinely impressed. 

She wasn’t a computer expert herself, but she’d learned a lot about the field while building InquireMind. 

Tyson had filled her in on all the major competitions around. 

The BridgeTech Cup was one of the top–tier competitions in the field, everyone in the industry respected it. 

And the wildest part, Joey was only eight years old. 

“She’s seriously gifted, so I hired a professional coach for her. She’s improving fast, and she’s doing much better emotionally now,” Darren told Aurelia, updating her on Joey’s progress. 

“No wonder she looks so full of life these days,” Aurelia said. 

She was a whole different kid from when Aurelia first met her. There was real light in her eyes now. 

The meal was all laughs and good vibes. When out of the blue, a woman dressed to the nines strutted right up 

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Chapter 303 

to their table. 

40 

155 vouchers 

Aurelia glanced up in confusion, just as Joey instantly ducked behind her, grabbing her arm tight. 

“Darren, you turned me down just to have dinner with this woman?” the woman said, her voice cutting through the air, sharp and a little shrill. 

Joey shrank back even further, almost disappearing behind Aurelia. 

Darren didn’t even glance her way. His expression iced over in a heartbeat. He elegantly dabbed at his mouth with a napkin before speaking in a cool, detached tone. “Why are you still here?” 

“I don’t want to go back. I’m staying in Grendel City,” the woman insisted, her voice sharp and stubborn. 

Darren grabbed his phone and made a call, no hesitation. 

Her expression changed in a flash, shock flickering across her face. She stompe 

Aurelia gently reassured Joey, “It’s okay, she’s gone now.” 

But Joey’s eyes were still wide with fear. She was clearly terrified of that woman. 

1. ng. 

“Sorry you had to see that,” Darren said, looking a bit awkward. “She’s my wife’s sister. She’s been spoiled rotten since she was a kid, always throwing her weight around and never minding her manners.” 

“It’s fine,” Aurelia replied, not bothered by the woman’s rudeness at all. Instead, she shot a worried look at Joey. 

She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a reason Joey was so scared of that woman. 

But that was Darren’s family drama, so Aurelia didn’t get involved. 

After dinner, she said goodbye to Darren and left. 

Darren sent a car to take her to the airport, where she met up with Arturo and the others. 

By the time they landed in Ashmont, it was already past ten at night. 

Aurelia was on the phone with Miranda, asking which level she’d parked on, when she spotted a familiar figure hurrying toward the arrivals gate. 

It was Gideon. 

Aurelia was a bit confused. She was just about to call out to him when a woman came running out from inside and threw herself into his arms. 

*****