When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 499

Chapter 499 Smoke on His Clothes

Aubree’s eyes softened as she looked at Susie and Sean. She truly adored the two children.

“I was actually planning to talk to you about their schooling in a couple of days,” she said warmly. “My dad really likes them both, and he suggested sending them with Mason to the kindergarten inside the military compound. It’s secure-guarded around the clock, no outsiders allowed in. The environment is great, and their safety would be guaranteed. Would you consider it?”

Natalie blinked, caught off guard. Payne arranging such a high-level school for her kids was unexpected. She instinctively turned to Baron.

Baron’s expression was unreadable. He smiled faintly. “We’ll think about it, but thank you, really. We’re in a bit of a hurry today. Let’s talk about it another time.”

Aubree nodded, understanding their urgency. “Sure, no rush. Just let me know when you’ve decided. I can handle the arrangements.”

Moments later, the Stone family walked out through the Mateo estate’s front gate.

Baron waited until everyone was in the car before starting the engine. His jaw tightened slightly as they pulled away, the light in his eyes darkening.

Flynn noticed, but since they hadn’t yet left the estate grounds, he stayed silent.

Once they were well past the Mateo gates, Baron spoke quickly, his voice calm but firm. “Yvonne, call Westin. Tell him to prepare housing for everyone. We’ll regroup at our base.”

“Got it.” Yvonne obeyed immediately, making the call without asking a single question.

Natalie looked puzzled, and Flynn’s brow furrowed with quiet confusion. But when both of them saw Ruby sitting calmly, hands folded in her lap, neither said a word.

A few minutes later, when Baron saw that Susie and Sean had fallen asleep in the backseat, he slowed the car and finally spoke. “You’re all probably wondering why I didn’t mention the disk to Brian.”

Ruby turned her head slightly, her tone steady and full of trust. “You must have your reasons. Your father told me once that you made quite a name for yourself in Murica, that you’ve survived in that position for years because of your instincts. Waylon isn’t here, and Flynn’s business sense doesn’t apply to situations like this. For now, you take the lead.”

Her calm confidence struck Baron deeper than any praise ever had.

Chapter 499 Smoke on His Clothes

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He’d spent his life being second-guessed-even his own mother had once suspected he might betray her to reclaim his ties with the Gunn family. No one had ever trusted him completely.

Until Ruby.

Her faith in him warmed him from the inside out.

“Mom,” Baron said softly, “it’s only been two hours since we found that disk, but look what’s happened already. When we went to Stone Residence, Brian personally went to our villa to ‘keep the kids company’—and after that, he took them away. Then the old house incident happened, and right after that, someone torched the villa. If Dad hadn’t left that hidden tunnel, we’d all be dead.”

He paused, his tone tightening. “At first, I thought going to Brian’s place would give us protection. But when he showed up the moment we arrived-wasn’t that just a little too convenient? And more than that…”

Baron’s eyes darkened. “I caught a faint smell on him. Something—”

He didn’t get to finish. Natalie’s face went pale as realization struck.

“It was smoke,” she said quietly. “That faint, burnt scent that clings to clothes after something’s been on fire. I know that smell too well.”

Her voice trembled just slightly at the word fire.

Ruby’s heart clenched, but Flynn’s sharp instincts kicked in. “You mean to say Brian came from our villa?”

Yvonne’s eyes widened. “Why would he go there? He didn’t mention that at all when we saw him!”

She fell silent halfway through, her own words sinking in. Her face hardened.

Ruby frowned deeply. “So you’re all suspecting that Brian had something to do with the fire? Or maybe he’s after the disk too? The fake cop at the old estate-was that his doing as well?”

She had voiced what everyone was thinking.

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