Chapter <b>202 </b>
it was as if someone had pressed a mute button air thickened, tension frozen, sitarize to heary it was softoy
<b>Both </b>Aria <b>and </b>Owen turned to look at Fryderyk, an unspoken question fingering in their eye
The quieter it got, the more ominous it felt.
Fryderyk cleared his throat and covered his mouth with a fist, struggling forposure.
“They probably already know who I am. I shouldn’t show up. Owen’s identity is under the radar, less likely to bepromised, he resined, the logic wless. “If you two pretended to be a couple, they’d never buy it.
“But <b>a </b>secret affair? That’s believable, especially since you live across the hall. Besides, it’ll be more convincing if Owen acts like the
just couldn’t picture Aria in a real rtionship; the ‘lover‘ smokescreen seemed perfect.
Aria, however, found it unnecessary. “You’re overthinking this. As long as you block their escape routes, it’ll be fine.”
Fryderyk’s face turned serious. “I’m a police officer. The safety of the people is my first priority”
No matter how skilled she <b>was</b><b>, </b><b>it </b>was still his job to protect her.
Owen turned to Aria and said, “I’m going with you. We’ll y <b>it </b>by ear.”
There was no room for negotiation–Fryderyk wasn’t backing down.
Aria thought it over and gave in. “Fine.”
The next day, at the hospital, Daniel held the paternity results in trembling hands, eyes shining with excitement. “Ondo, you really are my grandson. You’re just a few months younger than Liam, so you’ll be the second in line. I’ll have you and your mother move back into the Cole family home.”
Ondo nced at the papers, his face unreadable. “Daniel, I’m twenty–seven, not a child. I don’t need the Cole family’s protection. I only came back to Huthailia for the test because I wanted to know who my biological father was.
“Now that he’s gone, that’s enough. I’ll take my mother to Masmubja. We won’t being back to the Cole family.”
He was utterly detached, not even a flicker of interest for the Cole Group in his eyes.
Daniel had done his homework–Ondo really was as aplished as Azalea imed.
The kid had always been brilliant, earning his own tuition and living expenses, building apany from scratch.
Small as it was, he’d already carved out <b>a </b>ce for himself in the market with sheer talent and business acumen.
With time, he could rival the Cole Group.
If Ondo were a stranger, Daniel would keep his guard up.
But this was his flesh and blood, and right now<b>, </b>the Cole Group desperately needed a savior.
“Ondo, you carry the Cole bloodline. I can’t let you fend for yourself out there. If youe back, you’ll have a seat at the table–same as <b>Liam</b>. I’ll let youpete for the inheritance. Whatever Liam gets, you’ll get, <b>too</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
But Ondo just said, “I have my ownpany.”
Daniel’s expression tightened. “That littlepany of yours can’tpare to the Cole Group.” He sighed, switching <b>tactics</b>.
You <b>may </b>not <b>care </b><b>about </b><b>yourself</b>, but <b>what </b><b>about </b><b>your </b><b>mother</b><b>? </b>What if she <b>can’t </b><b>adapt </b>to living <b>abroad</b><b>? </b>You’re really nning to spend in Masmubia?”
<b>Ondo’s </b><b>cold </b><b>resolve </b>flickered.
Daniel seized <b>the </b>opening. <b>“</b><b>No </b>need to decide now. Just think about it.”
As <b>he </b><b>turned</b>, a fleeting glint of mockery shed through Ondo’s eyes.