Chapter 210: Chapter 208: Succeed or Die Trying
Keeping vigil until midnight, Joy Lyle told everyone to go rest, saying she’d stay alone. Elliana Lyle wanted to accompany her, but was forcibly taken away from the mourning hall by Phoebe Lyle.
"Go back and have a good rest," Phoebe said.
"Alright, Sister Phoebe, you should too."
They were just about to separate and head to their respective accommodations when Christopher Lyle called out to her.
She turned around, looking a bit surprised at this cousin. He just called her "Sister Elliana." She never heard Christopher call her that before, which caught her off guard.
Under Phoebe’s watchful gaze, Christopher glanced timidly at his elder sister, then said to her, "Uncle said you’ve already cut ties with the Lyle family. Why did you come back?"
"What?" She wasn’t unclear; she just didn’t know how to respond.
Phoebe coldly chided, "Christopher! Go to bed!"
Seeing this, Christopher dared not ask anymore and said, "I knew Uncle was just a phony." With that, he ran off immediately.
"..."
"Elliana, go back to sleep." Phoebe looked at her, her eyes seemed to have something to say, or perhaps nothing at all.
In those eyes was a hint of compassion, she uncertainly asked, "Sister Phoebe, did something happen?"
When she asked this question, Phoebe fell silent, and after a long while said, "Christopher said he overheard Uncle talking with Aunt, discussing ways to send both Christopher and you abroad, afraid you both would vie for the Lyle Corporation’s assets."
This was what her brother told her when he just returned.
One was the heir supported by the elderly in the family, the other was the heir legally supported.
Elliana knew that Shawn Lyle would never give her a single bit of the Lyle Corporation, and afraid of losing face, that’s why he wanted to send her abroad.
"I understand, Sister Phoebe, I’m going back now." She pointed in the direction of her residence, then turned and left.
A voice came from behind: "Elliana, after the funeral, I’ll see you off. Just stay by Norman Bennett’s side, you’ll be fine."
"Okay."
The garden was the path she had to take back, with many flowers in summer, the blend of scents was unsettling.
She couldn’t understand to what extent Shawn Lyle intended to go, as if everything that didn’t follow his command had to be abandoned.
Originally, she hated Shawn Lyle, now even to hate seemed a chore.
Perhaps she was too engrossed in her thoughts, she didn’t even realize someone had approached from behind.
It was only in a daze that she noticed the elongated shadow on the ground from the corner of her eye.
"Hannah Collins, you haven’t slept yet."
"Yeah, waiting for you."
After those words, everything returned to silence, as if only a lone bright moon remained between heaven and earth.
Seeing this, Hannah blocked her path, "Got something on your mind? Tell me about it."
She fell against Hannah’s chest without struggle, resting her forehead against his chest, keeping utterly silent.
"What’s wrong?" Hannah raised a hand, gently rubbing Little Sprout’s hair, a look of heartache on his face.
"Hannah, I’m tired."
Her voice was weak, her entire body relaxing, as if she might collapse any second.
Hannah held her securely, gently patting her back, his tone uncharacteristically soft: "If you’re tired, rest. I’m here."
For some reason, hearing this sentence broke her defenses, her nose suddenly turned sour, and she couldn’t stop herself from trembling and sobbing.
"Don’t hold it in, talk to me, let me hear you, alright?" Hannah had previously soothed his team members in the army, but never a girl who seemed so fragile.
So his tone was slightly stiff and cautious.
"Hannah, I can’t believe I live in such a family." Her speech was slow, appearing weak and pale, seemingly devoid of emotion, but her tears quietly flowed with those words.
Through clothes, Hannah could feel the warm tears, rendered speechless, his hand hung in the air for a long while before finally landing on Little Sprout’s soft hair.
"It’s alright, what adults say may not be pleasant, but they do it for our good, just aren’t good at expressing it."
The family Hannah grew up in was destined to not understand her family, she neither expected him to understand, nor did she want him to. She merely felt lighter in this moment.
"Yeah, I know." Then she lifted her head, wiped away her tears, and said, "It’s late, let’s go back to sleep."
...
Upon returning, she found Tiana Harris was no longer at the villa. She found out, upon asking, that Tiana had been sent to the hospital by Shawn Lyle due to a foot injury.
She knew well what kind of person Shawn Lyle was, and feared he wasn’t just being kind in sending Tiana to the hospital!
Calling Tiana’s phone, it indicated it was turned off, her heart jumped to her throat with the automated message!
She had no choice but to call Shawn Lyle.
With the ringtone, the line connected.
"Where did you take my friend?"
Shawn was feeding porridge to Tiana when he heard her demanding question, he was initially stunned, then said: "Elliana, your friend got injured, dad sent her to the hospital, come to the central hospital if you’re worried, don’t disturb others at night."
After saying that, Shawn hung up directly, then cheerfully said to Tiana, "Tiana dear, Uncle’s stepping out for a moment, call me if you need anything."
"Okay."
Tiana replied, watching the man leave.
For Tiana, this was indeed the best uncle she’d ever met, indeed, Elliana is kind, and her father naturally wouldn’t be bad.
Originally, she hadn’t planned to come to the hospital, but couldn’t resist Uncle Lyle’s persuasion, eventually caving.
After Shawn left, she picked up the porridge and started drinking, then picked up a magazine to read, as she’d left her phone behind when she came, unable to scroll through it at the moment.
Outside the hospital.
Shawn was on the phone: "Bring her out, don’t alert anyone else."
"You got it, boss."
Seeing this, Shawn hung up the phone with satisfaction.
He’s planned it long ago, as long as he sends Elliana abroad, where Adrian would keep an eye on her, everything would be settled.
Staring at the moon above, he let out a cold laugh, then sighed, "My daughter, you didn’t listen, wanting to conspire with outsiders to split the Lyle Corporation, don’t blame dad for doing this to you."
...
―――Lyle Family Ancestral Home.
Standing on the bedroom balcony, Elliana watched a few people making their way towards her from below, and let out a light chuckle.
Truly reckless, stupid, and malicious, yet this was indeed the simplest and cost-free method.
She was certain Shawn would not do much to Tiana, but whether Tiana was in the hospital, she wasn’t so sure.
Then, she decisively ran to lock the bedroom door, calmly dialing Hannah’s number.
"Hannah, are you asleep?"
On the other end replied, "I haven’t made it back yet, what’s up?"
"Help me find Tiana, I know you can access the outside cameras."
She didn’t have time to explain, adding, "Please."
Hearing her plea, Hannah didn’t ask the reason, he simply answered, "Okay."
After hanging up, Elliana could already hear footsteps ascending the stairs, watching the open balcony, she went to lock that door too.
Then, she entered the bathroom, locking that door as well.
Just as she suspected, there was already the sound of someone trying the doorknob, followed by the subtle sound of lock-picking.
She leaned against the bathroom door, dialing Phoebe’s number.