Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 89

Alexander narrowed his eyes, taking another long, appraising look at the woman in front of him.

He couldn't quite explain it, but for some reason, he saw a reflection of his eldest son—the one he'd always been so proud of—in her manner and resolve.

He certainly had plans, though his were far more ruthless than she could ever imagine.

The Erickson family was powerful and wealthy, but the Donovans weren't exactly easy prey either. If push came to shove and Tyler demanded retribution, he could simply cast Christian out as a scapegoat—offer him up to Tyler as a peace offering. After all, Alexander could conveniently claim he had no idea Serena was actually Emilia.

But if Christian managed to hold his ground, he could very well lead the Donovan Group to greater heights.

If the gamble paid off, the Donovan Group would soar.

If it failed, he'd hand Christian over to take the fall—let Tyler deal with him however he wished.

Alexander had already made peace with the idea of sacrificing a grandson if it came to that.

The tea room was brightly lit, the fragrant steam from the teapot curling through the air, lending a refined elegance to the space.

Emilia waited a couple of seconds, then asked, "So, Alexander, does that mean I've passed your test?"

Alexander glanced at her, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips.

"I really have to wonder—why did you stick around Tyler so long, anyway?"

Emilia smiled. "Well, I left in the end, didn't I?"

Alexander, seasoned and shrewd as he was, had long since figured out the nature of Emilia's relationship with Tyler.

But Emilia wasn't about to be brushed off so easily. She met Alexander's gaze, unflinching, waiting for his answer.

A silent battle of wills played out between them, calm on the surface but tense underneath.

Finally, Alexander said, "All I can promise is that I won't meddle in the affairs between those three brothers. As for everything else—well, like you said, I'm simply letting them fight it out. May the strongest win."

A gentle smile touched Emilia's lips.

Her goal for today had been achieved.

Christian had told her before—each of the three brothers had their own slice of the business. Wyatt had managed to extend his influence this time mostly because he'd spoken ill of Christian to the old man, sowing seeds of misunderstanding.

The patriarch's attitude determined how everyone else fell in line, and that was no small thing.

But now that the old man had decided to stay out of it, it was only a matter of time before Christian could seize control for good.

That was all she needed.

Emilia made a few more polite remarks, then slipped her mask back on.

As she reached the door, Alexander's soft sigh reached her ears. "It's a pity—he left us too soon."

Emilia's hand tightened around the doorframe. She wanted to whirl around, to demand answers from Alexander about what really happened all those years ago.

The Glenn Group owned most of the city's high-end jewelry stores and gemstone businesses.

That Tanzanite ring she once owned—it had come from one of the Glenn Group's shops.

"Serena?" The man eyed her up and down, a hint of mischief in his gaze.

"Mr. George," Emilia greeted him calmly.

"You recognize me?" George seemed genuinely surprised.

She met his eyes. "Mr. Wyatt, your reputation precedes you. How could I not?"

George seemed satisfied by that, though he quickly brushed it aside.

"So, tell me—why were you and Vivienne both after that Tanzanite stone?" George leaned in, voice low. "Care to share?"

Emilia just smiled, saying nothing.

"I saw how popular that Tanzanite was, so I had the store look into its purchase history. Want to guess what I found?"

Emilia remained silent, her gaze steady and unreadable.

"Oh, come on, aren't you curious?" George pressed on, grinning. "Turns out, the original owner was Emilia. Tyler's wife, Emilia."