Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 313

**Collapsed 313**

**AUTHOR’S POV.**

Her gaze was eerily aligned with the shadows where he stood, a mere silhouette against the backdrop of the vibrant ballroom.

Lucian felt his breath hitch in his throat.

Yet, she remained oblivious to his presence.

She simply couldn’t see him… the blinding spotlight cast a harsh glow, obscuring him from her view. She directed her eyes toward him, but they didn’t penetrate his essence.

The light reflected off her pupils, transforming her gaze into a distant, unfocused stare that felt almost ethereal.

Still, Lucian’s heart raced as if he had been caught in a web of secrets.

He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to refocus on his mission. He didn’t have the luxury of lingering there like a fool, paralyzed by indecision.

As he maneuvered toward the side doors, attempting to blend into the crowd without drawing attention, a sight ignited a firestorm of anger within him.

A group of nobles—the A-lites—were huddled around Alina.

They were laughing, flirting, their voices dripping with insincerity.

They were attempting to claim her as if she were a trophy, a prize to be won.

Lucian’s fists tightened, the tendons straining against the skin.

His jaw clenched in frustration.

The urge to storm over and scatter them like flies was overwhelming.

But he held back.

Not yet.

He had a narrow window of opportunity before anyone noticed his presence was amiss.

So, he swallowed the bitter burn in his chest and slipped out of the ballroom, following the discreet path his informant within Evergreen Manor had described.

Finally, he found refuge in a dimly lit storage room. It was a forgotten space, unused and devoid of the ever-watchful CCTV cameras, a remnant of renovations that had long since stalled.

The guard was already waiting, his demeanor a mix of nervousness and alertness. He straightened up as soon as Lucian entered.

“Boss,” he whispered, barely above a breath.

Lucian closed the door behind him, the soft click echoing like a warning. “How are things on your end?”

“Good. No suspicions have arisen so far,” the guard replied, his voice steady but his eyes darting nervously around the room.

“Are you absolutely sure?” Lucian pressed, his tone edged with concern.

“Yes, sir. I blend in seamlessly. No one is paying attention to me,” he assured, though the tension in his posture suggested otherwise.

Lucian nodded, a single, sharp movement. “Give me the latest.”

The guard inhaled deeply, gathering his thoughts. “Miss Alina is searching for the same person you are. She made her way to the site of the shooting, but she didn’t uncover anything significant because Darius caught wind of her plans and intercepted her before she could investigate.”

Lucian released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “It’s fortunate he did. She shouldn’t be wandering around recklessly; it’s far too dangerous,” he said, frustration lacing his words.

This was precisely why he had wanted Alina to remain within the confines of Evergreen Manor—to shield her from the chaos swirling outside. Yet, he had underestimated her stubbornness.

“And that incident when she attempted to sneak into his study with her brother…” the guard continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Darius caught her in the act.”

Lucian’s body stiffened, anger flaring up like a wildfire, but he maintained a calm exterior. “What else do you have?”

“Well, Master Darius is meticulous, but from the fragments of information I’ve gathered, this man was a friend to both the Stormvale and the Evergreen families,” the guard informed him, his eyes wide with the weight of the revelation.

“That’s it?” Lucian pressed, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “Is there anything else?”

“Nothing more so far. I haven’t stumbled upon anything else, but I’m digging. It’s risky—”

Lucian raised a hand, cutting him off. “Keep pursuing it. Cautiously. If you uncover anything, you know how to reach me.”

The guard nodded fervently. “Yes, Boss.”

Suddenly, the speakers outside erupted with a voice that pierced through the tension—Jessica’s shrill, theatrical announcement reverberating throughout the ballroom.

Lucian recognized her voice instantly.

Drama was brewing.

And he knew precisely who would be at the center of that tempest.

He turned to the guard. “Stay vigilant. I’ll be in touch soon.”

Then, he slipped out, a ghost among shadows.

When he re-entered the ballroom, chaos had erupted; Jessica was being escorted away, and for a fleeting moment, Alina almost turned in his direction, but he quickly ducked into a nearby corridor to avoid detection.

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