Breaking the Heart

Chapter 7 The Conversation

I rushed downstairs to the changing room as fast as I could and quickly activated the listening device on my phone.

Aldric was reporting to Kaelan. "Mr. Thorn, we've confirmed it. This Nancy has no connection to Elara Vance."

"That's impossible," Kaelan said coldly. "If she's not her, how could they look so alike?"

I couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh. Alike? That was only because he had never seen my face before the surgery. Back then, Elara and I had looked exactly the same.

"There's no mistake," Aldric continued. "Nancy is just a country girl. An orphan. When Lena found her, she was working as a waitress in a restaurant. Mr. Thorn, calm down. Five years ago, you personally buried Miss Vance. That can't be wrong. Besides, haven't we seen girls before who resembled her a little?"

Kaelan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking again.

"It's not just the face," he said slowly. "It's the expression. The feeling."

Aldric asked cautiously, "Mr. Thorn, should we still bring this Nancy back to the villa?"

Kaelan ignored the question and asked something else. "The guest I asked you to invite. Did you arrange it?"

"Yes, Mr. Thorn," Aldric replied. "But that man is extremely arrogant. Even though you're meeting him personally, he still put on airs and said he'll only have time three days from now."

Kaelan let out a cold snort. "Fine. Three days, then. Arrange it at Siren Lounge. Have Nancy serve him. I want to see what she's capable of. And if we confirm there's nothing suspicious about her, bring her to the villa."

My heart began pounding wildly. Kaelan was finally planning to bring me to the villa.

Over the years, he had searched for countless women who resembled Elara, but none of them had ever received treatment like this. I was the first.

Footsteps suddenly sounded through the listening device. I hurried out of the changing room.

I had to stop Aldric somehow. I couldn't let him notice the bug. But the moment I stepped into the hallway, I saw Aldric blocking Lena's path.

He looked furious. "You were the one who sent Miss Nancy to serve clients?" he snapped. "Don't you know she's a woman Mr. Thorn has taken an interest in?"

In the entire Siren Lounge, almost no one dared to speak to Lena like that—especially not someone like Aldric, who was technically just Kaelan's subordinate.

What surprised me even more was that Lena didn't look angry at all.

"Aldric," she said quickly, "maybe I should apologize to Mr. Thorn. It was my mistake. I thought he wasn't that interested in Nancy, especially after what happened with Yuna."

Just then, Kaelan's voice came from behind them.

"What's wrong?" he asked calmly. "The police already ruled Yuna's death a suicide. Are you still suspecting Nancy?"

His gaze turned sharp as a blade.

"Don't forget," he added coldly, "when Yuna jumped, Nancy was with me."

The pressure in his eyes made even Lena shiver.

"You're right, Mr. Thorn," she said immediately. "How could that be possible? Nancy is just a country girl. She wouldn't have that kind of ability. I promise I'll protect her well. I won't let any other man touch her."

Kaelan clearly didn't want to waste another second here. He turned and walked away.

Aldric stayed behind to give Lena further instructions.

"Prepare things properly," he said. "In three days, Nancy will serve an important guest."

Lena looked confused. "You mean Mr. Thorn specifically asked for Nancy? But I thought he didn't allow other men to touch her."

Aldric sounded impatient. "Just do what you're told. Why ask so many questions?"

Before Aldric could leave, I hurried forward and "accidentally" brushed past him, knocking the tiny listening device off the back of his shoe.

Lena had never been this enthusiastic toward me before. She grabbed my hands excitedly.

"Nancy," she said warmly, "don't do anything these next few days. Just prepare yourself. In three days, you'll be entertaining a very important guest."