Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 205

Chapter 205 

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Once Tessa and Cassian tied the knot, she’d step into Honoria Capital as the lady of the house and take the reins at the Locke Group. 

She’d have all the time in the world to teach Aurelia a lesson and make her wish she’d never pulled those stunts today. 

Vanessa took a sip of her coffee and asked Tessa, “I heard from your mom that none of Cassian’s relatives showed up? Why? Even if it’s just an engagement, it should still be taken seriously.” 

Vanessa’s words clearly hit a sore spot for Tessa. 

She cared, but she kept her cool on the surface. “Mr. Locke’s not in the best health, so traveling all that way would be too much for him. We didn’t want to trouble him.” 

“Did he do anything for you? An engagement’s a big deal, and as an elder, he should at least make some kind of gesture,” Vanessa pressed, her curiosity obvious. “The Lockes have money to burn, so I bet they went all out, right?” 

Tessa pressed her lips together, keeping her face neutral. 

She really didn’t know what to say to that. 

Up to now, Benjamin hadn’t made any gesture at all. 

Alina quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Cassian’s already been super generous. He gave Tessa a publicly listed company worth billions. That kind of gesture is way more impressive than any traditional engagement gift.” 

Vanessa was honestly blown away, and more than a little envious. 

She couldn’t help but think Tessa’s luck was just off the charts. 

Compared to Tessa, her own daughter Karlie was a bit of a letdown. 

Vanessa had her own little scheme in mind as she turned to Tessa and Alina. “Once you’re really successful, Tessa, don’t forget about Karlie. See if you can help her marry into a wealthy family too.” 

Alina got annoyed at the mention of Karlie. “Tessa was actually planning to help her out, but it’s Karlie’s own fault for not stepping up! Good thing we shut it down before it could mess things up for Tessa. She really needs to get her act together!” 

Vanessa knew she was in the wrong and kept her mouth shut. 

The group grabbed some breakfast and made their way toward the boarding gate. 

On the way, Alina caught sight of Aurelia at the check–in counter. She glanced at the flight info, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. 

Then she pulled out her phone and fired off a message. 

Alina typed, [I remember you’ve got people in Grendel City. Get someone to put Aurelia in her place. She’s getting way too full of herself.] 

***** 

When Aurelia landed at the airport, the driver Zofia had arranged was already waiting at the exit. 

The car took them straight to Zofia’s place in Grendel City. 

It was called the Brightview Estate, one of the most iconic luxury neighborhoods in Grendel City. 

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Miranda had never set foot in a place this posh before. It was exactly like the glamorous world of the rich and powerful she’d see in those dramas. 

The whole scene was vibrant and dripping with extravagance. 

As the butler led them into the estate, Aurelia spotted a familiar face. 

It was Kyler. 

He’d gotten there ahead of Aurelia and was already visiting Zofia 

Kyler already knew Aurelia was coming today to discuss the MegaTech acquisition with Zofia. 

So he made sure to arrive before Aurelia even set foot in Grendel City. 

Aurelia wasn’t surprised to see him there, barely sparing him a glance. 

She turned away almost immediately and followed the butler upstairs. 

Meanwhile, Kyler just stood there with a frosty look on his face, his eyes fixed on Aurelia, cold, unreadable, and carrying a chill that was hard to pin down. 

He showed up at Zofia’s place first thing in the morning, bringing along a business plan he believed showed real sincerity, hoping to get her on board with the acquisition. 

Zofia looked it over, but in the end, turned him down with a polite smile. 

Kyler just couldn’t accept that and couldn’t help but press her for more details. 

“Mrs. Keith, I’m honestly baffled,” Kyler said, frustration clear in his voice. “If we’re talking about education, I’ve got a master’s in finance from Whitvale School of Management, while Aurelia’s just a regular college grad. It’s not even close.” 

“And when it comes to scale, Evergreen Group is leagues ahead of Regal Investment. I really don’t get it. Why would you choose Aurelia over me when she’s nowhere near my level?” 

Zofia was taking her medicine when she heard Kyler’s question. She stopped what she was doing, looked up at him, and said, “So, Kyler, are you saying a fancy degree is more important than real ability?” 

Kyler frowned. “That’s not what I meant.” 

Zofia’s expression turned chilly. “A degree might open doors, but it’s real ability that sustains you in the long run. You can’t just throw money at a project and expect it to succeed. It takes smart execution. And honestly, Aurelia’s got you beat when it comes to that.” 

Her eyes were calm, and her cool voice tore through Kyler’s arrogance without hesitation. 

“Plus, you’re always so quick to judge people with your own bias,” she added. 

Kyler was quick to object. 

But Zofia cut him off before he could say a word. “You’ve always had it out for Aurelia. No matter how much I talk her up, you’ll never give her any credit. You just assume I’m the one making a mistake and try to convince me I’m wrong.” 

“Just like last time, even when I laid out all the proof right in front of you, you’d rather trust your own made–up ideas than believe what’s staring you in the face.” 

Aurelia came fully prepared this time, and after going over the project proposal, Zofia was thoroughly impressed. 

With Murel’s undeniable talent, Zofia wasted no time locking in the details of their partnership. 

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While they were negotiating, Aurelia noticed Zofia kept pressing a hand to her chest. 

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Stopping mid–sentence, Aurelia asked, her voice full of concern, “Are you feeling unwell? Do you want to see a doctor?” 

“No need, just an old issue,” Zofia replied, gesturing for Murel to continue. 

Aurelia found a cushion and slipped it behind Zofia’s back, hoping it’d make her more comfortable. 

They kept talking well into the afternoon. 

It wasn’t until the butler brought in a doctor that Zofia was finally forced to stop working. 

“Let’s pick this up tomorrow. You all should head back and get some rest,” Zofia said, signaling the butler to see them out. 

They all stood up and said their goodbyes. 

As they were heading out, Aurelia noticed the doctor laying out some pills on the table. She glanced over and spotted a few names on the bottles. 

Once she got back to the hotel, Aurelia did a quick search to see what those meds were for. 

The deeper she dug, the darker her expression became. 

The next day, when Aurelia dropped by Zofia’s place again, she immediately noticed Zofia looked paler and more drained than she had yesterday. 

They’d barely gotten started when Aurelia called a halt to the meeting, saying, “I’m not ready with the follow–up details yet. Once I’ve got everything sorted, we can talk again.” 

Zofia frowned. “That’s not like you.” 

Aurelia said, “I’ve been working nonstop lately and haven’t been sleeping well, so it’s starting to slow me down at work.” 

Zofia glanced at Aurelia, seeming to catch on to what she was up to. 

She asked the butler to take Murel and Miranda to the dining room for some snacks, leaving Aurelia behind so they could talk in private. 

“Did you notice something’s off with my health?” Zofia asked Aurelia. 

At this point, Aurelia didn’t bother to hide it. She nodded and said, “Yesterday I saw the meds the doctor brought in. I looked up what they were for, and that’s how I figured it out.” 

“Since you’ve already figured it out, I won’t hide it anymore. I have late–stage breast cancer, and honestly, I don’t have much time left. That’s why I need to wrap up this acquisition while I still can. It’s the one thing I need to settle before I go, Zofia admitted, her voice steady but heavy with resignation. 

MegaTech was part of Zofia’s dowry, which was why she cared so deeply about it. 

She reached out and held Aurelia’s hand, her gaze pleading. “Aurelia, my time is running out. I just hope you understand.” 

At that moment, Aurelia’s heart twisted with pain.