Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 150

Chapter 150

Chapter 150

AUTHOR’S POV

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Talia guided her to a couch near the window, Alina sagged down onto the couch still clinging unto Talia like a lifeline.

“Let it out, babe. Cry. Get it all out.” Talia urged gently.

She did. Soundless at first, then a rush of grief and anger broke free, sobs that shook her shoulders, hiccups that made the cushions tremble.

Talia sat close, one hand on Alina’s back, fingers rubbing slow circles until the worst of it faded into quiet sniffles.

When the crying had subsided to ragged breaths, Talia wiped Alina’s cheeks with the heel of her hand and asked softly, “Can I see the video?”

Alina pulled her phone from the pocket of her jacket and held it out. Talia took the phone from her and watched in silence, eyes narrowing only once, then widening with the same sickening recognition Alina already carried. She handed the phone back, voice tight.

“It’s real.” Alina told her.

“It looks real,” Talia corrected. “But-” She frowned, frustration knitting her brows.

“But what?” Alina asked, clearly seeing the wheels turning in Talia’s head.

“It still doesn’t make sense. Jessica has worked with Lucian for a while. He’s never… I don’t get it. Why now?”

Alina’s hands curled into fists. “Maybe he’s been like this all along,” she said, tone brittle. “Maybe it’s been happening behind my back.”

Talia’s mouth softened, she reached for Alina’s hand. “I don’t… I don’t believe that he will do something like that, Ali. He’s not that type of man. Not the Lucian I know, I mean the man literally worships the ground you

walk on.”

“Well I guess you can’t truly know someone now, can you?” Alina snapped, then immediately looked ashamed of the edge in her voice.

She knew Talia was just trying to make her feel better, this wasn’t her fault and she shouldn’t be transferring her aggression on her.

The room fell quiet as Talia studied her friend, Talia’s worry was obvious, but so was the determination.

“Okay, I know I can’t make excuses for what’s on that phone. But I’ll get to the bottom of it. I will. Not right now because I’ve got a deadline crawling over my head, but very soon.”

Alina let out a shuddering laugh that was mostly air. “Please don’t wait on my account. Do whatever you have to do.”

11:26 Mon, Sep 22

Chapter 150

67

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Talia leaned back and scanned the room, then softened. “Are you hungry?” she asked, trying to ground the moment in something ordinary.

Alina made a small, embarrassed noise. “No,” she said, but her stomach growled at that exact moment and she flushed. “Okay, maybe a little.”

Talia rolled her eyes. “You’re literally starving yourself. That’s not going to help anything.” She pushed up from the couch. “I’ll order us something. What do you want? Comfort food? Light?”

“Light. Nothing that will sit heavy.” Alina muttered.

Talia smiled and hit the intercom button on the wall. Her voice into the speaker was breezy, professional, the practical side of her kicking in.

“Hi, this is room 1803, could we please get two bowls of the tomato basil soup, one grilled chicken salad with balsamic on the side, and a fruit plate? And some peppermint tea, please. Thank you.”

“Your order will be sent up in the next fifteen minutes.” A professional voice came through the intercom.

Satisfied, she turned off the intercom and plopped back down beside Alina. “They’ll be quick. Hotel service here is annoyingly efficient.”

They settled into small talk to dull the edges of panic.

Talia then began to explain what she planned to do next, an outline of steps that sounded both thorough and comforting but at this point Alina did not really care.

“I’m going to pull everything I can find on Jessica, public records, check for any financial ties, social media footprints, and her email registries, any scandal she may have been involved in. I’ll also cross–reference any travel logs I can find. If she’s hiding something, I’ll definitely find a breadcrumb.”

Alina nodded, absentmindedly. “Thank you. But you don’t have to do this, don’t burn yourself out. I’ll…I’ll be okay.”

Talia shrugged. “I want to do this.” Talia said firmly. ” Besides, I’ll survive, this is the kind of puzzle I actually enjoy. Plus, you owe me a wardrobe change when this is over.” Her voice brightened a notch to break the

tension.

Alina managed a small, wet smile. “Yeah sure.”

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