Shredded Vows: The Billionaire’s Secret Heir novel Chapter 36

She switched on the micro-welding torch, adjusting the heat before meticulously bridging the snapped metal links with the ultra-fine welding needle. Her hands were perfectly steady, her technique flawless.

Time ticked away. The golden hues of sunset faded out, giving way to the dark veil of night.

The only sounds in the study were the faint, rhythmic hissing of the torch and Lydia's steady breathing.

She was completely lost in the restoration.

Downstairs in the kitchen, a delicious dinner had been ready for hours.

Mrs. Gable had asked the chef to keep the food warm, but by nine o'clock, Lydia still hadn't come down. Growing worried, she carried a tray of food upstairs.

Finding the master bedroom empty and the study door locked, Mrs. Gable suddenly remembered Lydia's strict orders.

She hesitated for a moment before turning around and heading back downstairs.

She waited so long that she dozed off at the dining table, eventually waking up with a shiver as the midnight chill crept into her bones.

She asked a passing maid, "Has Mrs. Gray not come down yet? What time is it?"

"It's already 2 AM. She's still in the study. Dead quiet in there."

"..." What on earth was she doing? Building a bomb? Was she planning to blow up her absent husband?

The night deepened, but the lights in the study remained blazing. The restoration was nearing its end, and every movement Lydia made was executed with painstaking patience and care.

What she was repairing tonight wasn't just a bracelet; it was a memory she couldn't let go of. She hadn't touched tools this precise in at least seven or eight years.

Throughout the meticulous process, the same memory kept flashing through her mind—Xavier's ninth birthday. A group of kids playing on the back mountain of the old estate. The roughhousing. The accident.

Her heart ached with unbearable weight. Regardless of whether she had pushed him or not, a bright, living boy had vanished from the world.

The wall clock quietly ticked past 3 AM, completely unnoticed by Lydia.

Finally, as the last layer of plating set, securing the chain perfectly, she let out a long breath. Stripping off her gloves, she picked up the bracelet to inspect it under the light.

The negotiation today had been incredibly frustrating. The other party kept pushing their luck, but since this was his grandfather's dying wish, he couldn't just walk away.

"Larson, where are we?" Gideon's low, gravelly voice broke the silence, his eyes half-closed.

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror and answered respectfully, "Sir, Belvoir Estate is just up ahead. The GPS shows heavy traffic on the route to your penthouse due to an accident. Should we..."

Larson eased off the gas, giving him a moment to decide.

Gideon turned to look out the window. The crisp autumn night blurred past. A moment later, the familiar silhouette of the grand villa appeared, standing quietly in the dark.

The white facade looked cold under the streetlamps, but the lights on the first floor and in the study were still blazing.

He frowned. What time was it? She was actually still awake? Was she slaving over those design drafts?

"Sir, should we... just stay here for the night?" Larson gently tapped the brakes, slowing down even more as they approached the estate's main gates.