Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 450: Keep in the Dark (2)
Adrienne paid Irina a visit to the hospital. Compared to Adrienne’s injuries, Irina’s injuries were far less severe. However, Irina’s recovery time was expected to be longer due to the nature and extent of her injuries.
Lennox initially planned to fire all of Adrienne’s bodyguards, but Adrienne insisted on keeping them for her peace of mind and security. She thought it wasn’t their fault that her father had attacked her because the police report also showed that Lewis Jiang had been stalking her for some time before the incident.
"Madam, I’m glad you’re alright," Irina said in relief when she saw Adrienne with Leigh and Kalista. She had been worried when she heard the news that Adrienne fell into a coma and didn’t wake up after her surgery.
"You should be worrying about yourself, Irina. I’m sorry that I put you through all this stress." Adrienne replied as she placed the bouquet she brought on the table.
Irina shook her head. "It was my fault you were hurt in the first place. I should have done my job better. We could have avoided the incident if I had been more careful."
"I do not expect you to kick all the cubicles’ doors to see if they are occupied. How could you possibly know my father had been following me for weeks before the incident? He might have caught up with my routines and habits to predict where I would be at any given time." Adrienne reasoned it out.
She hated how her father had been reckless. In her quest to hurt her, he had put both of their lives in danger. Adrienne would never forgive him for the trouble he’d caused her family and friends.
"I dropped off the charges against him, but you can sue him for damages, Irina. I won’t stop you from seeking justice for what he has done." She added.
Irina shook her head. "I trust your judgment, Madam. You must have a reason for letting him go, but surely the master wouldn’t be happy with your decision."
Adrienne fell silent and nodded. She knew it was hard for Lennox and her family to accept her decision. After all, Lewis had crossed the line, and they feared he might retaliate. However, she also knew her father well.
Lewis cared about his reputation and legacy more than anything else. If there were someone he loved aside from himself, it would be Elise. Elise hated him with every fiber of her being. Adrienne didn’t need to do anything to destroy him because he was already destroying himself.
As for her husband, Adrienne knew Lennox wasn’t happy with her decision and may have taken matters into his own hands. Adrienne was prepared for the consequences. She knew her decision would have repercussions but was ready to face them head-on.
"I’ll understand if you don’t want to return as my bodyguard after what happened, but rest assured, Lennox will not make things difficult for you." She continued, "But if you still want to return, I will welcome you back with open arms. As for your hospital bills, we will cover them for you and pay you for the inconvenience caused by the incident."
"You still want me after failing to protect you?" Irina asked in surprise. She thought she was already letting go of her duties, but Adrienne seemed to welcome her back with open arms.
"Why would I do that, Irina? Among my guards, you are the one who knows me well. Not only are you versed in my preferences and routines, but you also understand me better than the rest. I need you, Irina. You are irreplaceable to me." Adrienne said with a smile.
Adrienne’s words took Irina aback. She had always been dedicated to her job as a bodyguard, but hearing Adrienne speak so highly of her made her heart swell with pride. Despite the incident and her self-blame, Adrienne still saw value in her abilities.
Tears welled up in Irina’s eyes as she nodded, a mixture of gratitude and determination filling her gaze. It wasn’t just about the physical protection but the trust and understanding they shared.
"Thank you, Madam. I won’t let you down again. I promise to keep you safe, no matter what." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Adrienne reached out and squeezed Irina’s hand reassuringly.
"I know you will, Irina. And remember, this wasn’t your fault. None of us could have foreseen what my father would do. So you don’t need to blame yourself for his actions."
Leigh and Kalista exchanged glances, their worry for Irina evident. They had both been there for her throughout this entire ordeal and had witnessed the toll it had taken on her physically and emotionally. However, hearing that Adrienne still wanted them brought so much relief to them as they feared their Master Nox would punish them for failing to protect Adrienne under their watch.
Leigh cleared his throat, breaking the emotional moment between Adrienne and Irina.
"Madam, if I may interject," he began, his voice steady yet filled with concern. "I believe it would be in everyone’s best interest to tighten security around the estate. With Mr. Jiang still out there, we cannot afford to take any chances. Master Nox has already made some preparations on his part. Alistair Han tried to sneak in when you were confined in the hospital, but he was stopped midway before reaching you."
Adrienne nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Leigh’s words. She was also relieved that Lennox didn’t let Alistair get close to her at her most vulnerable time. However, she wasn’t surprised by Alistair’s attempt to see her. She also wouldn’t be surprised if he blamed Lennox for what happened to her instead of blaming her father, who attacked her.
"You’re right, Leigh. We must ensure that our family and staff are always protected. I want heightened security measures put in place immediately."
Kalista chimed in, her voice wavering slightly with worry. "And what about Elise? What if she comes after you, too?"
Adrienne’s gaze hardened at the mention of her half-sister’s name. Elise was also as wicked as her parents, and Kalista had a point of being wary of her. Elise was unpredictable and held a deep grudge against Adrienne for their shared past.
"We cannot underestimate Elise," Adrienne said firmly. "I want security to be doubled around the clock, not just for me but everyone in this estate. No one can afford to let their guard down."
Leigh and Kalista exchanged a glance, understanding the gravity of the situation. After the incident, they couldn’t help but think the Jiang family members had loose screws on their heads. None of them were willing to take responsibility for their actions and would rather blame their misfortune on Adrienne out of convenience.
"I will ensure that the best security personnel are brought in," Leigh assured Adrienne. "We will have constant surveillance, increased patrols, and stringent background checks for anyone entering or leaving the estate."
Adrienne nodded in approval. She knew Leigh had always been meticulous regarding security matters and trusted him implicitly. But she couldn’t shake the lingering worry about Elise and her father’s next move once he exited prison.
"What about Elise’s connection with my father?" Adrienne asked, her voice filled with concern. "Do we have any leads on how they’ve been communicating?"
Leigh hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Most of their communication was initiated by your father, and she never once visited him in prison. Elise is still working at Elysian but recently lost her patron, so she’s also facing some financial difficulties. She’s been in touch with your other cousin, Sierra Jiang."
"Sierra? Is she still around?" Adrienne crossed her arms and hummed, thinking it had been a while since she heard anything about her cousin. She heard Sierra’s family suffered a massive loss since the bankruptcy of the Jiang Corp, and her Uncle Alfred was being wanted by the people he owed.
Leigh nodded. "Yes, Sierra is still in the picture. She and Elise have allied, possibly out of desperation. They’ve been meeting secretly, but we’re working on tracing their movements and intercepting any communication between them."
Adrienne’s mind raced with possibilities. She knew that Sierra had always been a bit of a wildcard, but she never expected her to team up with Elise. Their shared hatred towards Adrienne brought them together. Sierra had always been driven by greed and envy.
"I want you to keep a close eye on Sierra," Adrienne instructed. "Find out everything you can about her current situation and any potential involvement with Elise. We need to know what they’re planning."
Leigh nodded, her expression serious. "Consider it done, Madam. I’ll have my best people on it."
As they delved deeper into their discussion, Adrienne couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease settle in the pit of her stomach. The threat to her family and those she cared about grew, and she couldn’t afford to let her guard down even a moment. When she decided to let her father free, she made a deal with her husband to send someone to look after him to ensure that Lewis wouldn’t dare to hurt her again.
She knew the possibility that Lennox might do something she might disapprove of, but Adrienne wanted to believe Lennox would uphold his promise to her. If Lennox thought she wasn’t aware of his recent meeting with Uncle Shark, then he was mistaken. She knew what they were up to, but Adrienne wanted to wait for her husband to come clean. While Adrienne trusted her husband wholeheartedly, she didn’t wish Lennox to get involved in any more dangerous situations without her knowledge. She had to keep a close eye on him as well.
