The Billionaire's Silent Wife (Ryan and Eve) novel Chapter 173

173 The Reluctant Help 2

Detective Haines turned, his gaze moving from Ryan to Eve.

“Mrs. Ashbrook,” he said, tone careful, not warm.

Eve’s spine stiffened. “Detective.”

Haines’ gaze flicked briefly to her belly, then back to her face. “Mr. Ashbrook.”

Ryan nodded once. “Detective.”

The tension in the room tightened.

Steven looked between them, frantic. “Find her,” he said, voice breaking. “Please. She didn’t, she didn’t

come back.”

Haines held up a hand slightly, calming. “Mr. Reynolds, we’re doing everything we can.”

Steven let out a bitter laugh. “Everything? You’re standing in my house asking questions while she’s out

there,”

“Steven,” Eve said, sharper than she intended.

He froze, eyes snapping to her.

Eve forced herself to keep her voice steady. “Let them do their job.”

Steven’s lips trembled. “They won’t do their job unless someone makes them.”

Ryan’s gaze narrowed. “That’s enough.”

Steven swallowed hard, but he didn’t argue.

Haines turned slightly to Eve. “You said on the phone you met the missing woman.”

Eve’s stomach tightened. “Yes.”

Haines’ tone stayed professional. “We need details. Everything you remember.”

Ryan’s posture stiffened beside her, but he didn’t interrupt.

Eve drew a breath, forcing her mind into clarity.

“We met at a tea place near the lake,” Eve said. “She called me and asked to see me. She said she wanted to talk. She said she wanted to offer support.”

Haines nodded slowly. “Time.”

Eve thought. “Late morning. I arrived early. She came shortly after.”

Haines looked down at his notepad. “How long were you together.”

“About an hour,” Eve said.

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Steven flinched, as if hearing the timeline hurt him.

Haines’ eyes lifted. “Did anyone else join you.”

“No,” Eve said. “It was just us.”

Ryan’s jaw flexed.

Haines asked, “Did she mention where she was going after.”

Eve shook her head. “No.”

Haines’ pen paused. “Did she say anything that suggested fear. Any threats. Any mention of being

followed.”

Eve swallowed. “No. She didn’t seem afraid.”

Steven’s voice cracked behind her. “She wasn’t afraid, I bet Leah Ashbrook is behind this”

Haines looked back at Ryan, then at Eve.

Ryan’s face was unreadable.

Eve’s stomach churned.

Haines’ voice stayed neutral, but the weight changed. “Mr. Reynolds, I’m going to need you to focus on answering questions, not making accusations.”

Steven’s laugh was bitter. “Accusations? She’s capable.”

Haines’ eyes narrowed slightly. “Capable of what.”

Steven’s breathing turned ragged. He looked at Ryan like he wanted him to confirm it, to legitimise his fear.

Ryan didn’t.

Haines turned back to Eve. “Tell me everything you spoke about.”

Eve hesitated. Ryan’s earlier warning, unnecessary, echoed in her head.

But this was police. This was a missing woman. This wasn’t gossip.

“We talked about the baby,” Eve said carefully. “About how tense things have been. She said Steven was upset after learning I have adoptive parents.”

Steven flinched.

Haines’ pen moved. “Adoptive parents.”

Eve nodded. “Camila and Mitre Roderigo.”

Haines’ gaze sharpened. “Why was he upset.”

Eve swallowed. “She said it hit him like losing me all over again.”

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Steven’s face contorted.

Haines asked, “Did she mention any fear of the Ashbrook family.”

Eve’s breath caught. She looked at Ryan instinctively.

Ryan’s gaze held hers, hard, warning.

Bum

Eve forced her eyes back to Haines. “She spoke about… history between Steven and your,” Eve corrected

herself, throat tight, “, between Steven and Leah and Jonathan.”

Haines’ eyes narrowed slightly. “What history.”

Eve chose her words like stepping across glass. “She said Steven despises them. She used strong

language.”

Haines wrote something down, expression unreadable.

Ryan’s voice came calm and cold. “Detective, how soon can you pull CCTV from the café.”

Haines looked up. “We’ve already dispatched someone.”

Ryan nodded once. “And her phone. Can you ping it.”

Haines’ jaw tightened. “We’re working on it. We need warrants.”

Ryan’s eyes didn’t blink. “Then get them.”

Haines held his gaze. “We will.”

Eve watched the exchange, tension crawling under her skin.

Steven’s voice broke again. “She didn’t deserve this.”

Eve’s throat tightened. She turned slightly, looking at him.

Steven’s face was wet now. He wiped at it furiously like tears were an insult. “She was kind,” he rasped. ” She was… good.”

Eve’s chest tightened with a strange ache.

Because she believed it.

Haines closed his notebook. “Mrs. Ashbrook, thank you. If you remember anything else, anything at all, call

me.”

Eve nodded. “I will.”

Haines turned to Ryan, voice cooler. “Mr. Ashbrook, please keep your wife out of this. If there’s danger, we

will handle it.”

Ryan’s mouth tightened. “You didn’t handle it last time.”

Haines’ eyes flashed. “This is different.”

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121 The Reluctant Help 2

Ryan’s gaze stayed cold. “So was last time.”

The air snapped with tension.

Haines didn’t argue further. He nodded once, then turned to the other officers. “Let’s go.”

The police began to file out.

Steven’s shoulders sagged as their presence left, like hope was leaving with them.

Eve watched the last officer step outside, then heard the front door close.

The house went quieter.

Steven stood in the middle of the living room like a man abandoned.

Then his gaze snapped to Ryan.

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