Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 296

Chapter 296

AUTHOR’S POV.

Alina leaned forward in her seat, eyes glued to the restaurant across the street. “Look at that,” she murmured. “All the chairs are overturned… the windows… broken. God, it looks like a battlefield.”

Talia, sitting beside her, frowned, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. “Yeah… but there’s no one there now. No clues, no nothing. How are we supposed to know what actually happened?”

Damien’s jaw tightened, and he adjusted the rearview mirror, scanning the police barricades surrounding the restaurant. “We’re not getting any closer. Cops are everywhere. They’ll throw us out the second we even think about crossing the street.”

Alina’s fingers drummed on the dashboard. “I know, but… just look at it. Something happened here yesterday, and it’s connected. I can feel it.”

Talia shook her head, eyes darting nervously. “You feel it? That doesn’t mean it’s safe, Alina. We don’t know who was involved, what weapons were used… or if there’s even a second shooter lurking around.”

Alina’s gaze hardened. “We can’t wait. We might get a lead, even just a scrap of something. I refuse to wait until the authorities sweep the entire scene and clean it out. By then, there will be nothing left.”

Damien groaned, gripping the steering wheel. “I swear, every plan you make involves me nearly dying or going to prison.”

Alina shot him a glare. “Stop whining. Just… watch and observe. That’s all for now.”

They sat in tense silence for a moment, watching the aftermath of the chaos across the street, when suddenly, two men standing beside a parked car caught their attention. Their conversation, loud enough for the three in the getaway car to hear, broke the quiet.

“…First, it was one shot,” one of them said, pointing vaguely toward the restaurant window. “Aimed at the back window, near the glass. That’s where it hit.”

The other man nodded. “Yeah… I remember. I was here yesterday. Didn’t get hurt, thankfully. But I gave my statement earlier. Just decided to hang around a bit, watch.”

Alina’s head snapped toward Talia and Damien. “Did you hear that?” she hissed.

Talia leaned closer, eyes wide. “Yeah. Go on, listen…he’s talking again.”

The first man continued. “So there’s this couple… looked like they were together, sitting there at the table near the back. I can’t be 100% sure, but that’s what it looked like. Then… some third guy joined them, and he started shooting at whoever took the first shot.”

Alina’s pulse quickened. “Did he say there was a woman?”

“Yes,” the man’s voice carried again. “The woman got hit. They… they left through the back alley after that.”

Alina turned sharply toward Damien and Talia, her voice urgent. “Did you hear that? They left through the

back! The alley! We have to check there. There might still be something left behind… a clue, something they

missed.”

Damien leaned back, running a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. “Alina… can’t you see? There are cops everywhere. You can’t just sneak around until they finish sweeping the scene. We’ll get caught instantly.”

Alina leaned forward, voice dropping to a fierce whisper. “But if we wait, the evidence will be gone. The authorities will clean everything out. By the time we even think about stepping foot there, they’ll have taken it all… and we’ll have nothing.”

Talia reached out and placed a hand on Alina’s arm. “Listen, I get it, I do. But we also need to think about getting back safely. Your father… he’ll notice if we’re gone too long. He’ll send someone after us. He’ll find out.”

Alina glanced at Damien, eyes bright with defiance. “We’ll be quick. Just… let me check the back. It’s only a quick look, that’s all.”

Damien opened his mouth to argue again, but at that moment, his phone rang. He froze, staring at the screen. His face drained of color, and his eyes darted to Alina.

“It’s… Father,” Damien muttered, his voice tight, almost trembling. His hands gripped the steering wheel a little too hard, knuckles white.

Alina’s brows shot up in concern. “What?”

He didn’t answer immediately, taking a slow, steadying breath as if trying to brace himself for what was coming. “He’s calling… right now.”

Talia’s eyes widened, panic bubbling in her chest. She scanned the empty street around them, as if expecting a shadow to appear from nowhere. “Do you guys… do you think he’s seeing us?”

Alina rolled her eyes, though there was a tension under her gaze. “Of course not, don’t be silly. My father isn’t psychic.”

Talia’s voice wavered as she leaned closer to Damien, whispering, “What do we do? What do we do?!”

Alina shot her a sharp look before turning to Damien. “Answer the call.”

Damien’s face twisted, disbelief mixing with frustration. “Are you crazy? I can’t answer it! We are not in the manor right now. What happens when he asks where we are?”

Alina’s tone was clipped, no room for argument. “Then start driving home.”

Damien’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, so now you don’t want to check behind the alleyway anymore, huh?”

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