The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1999

Wynter quickly pulled Riley out of the hidden room. Then, she shut the metal door and slid the bookshelf back into place.

Once everything was done, Wynter spoke softly. "Is there a side exit?"

"There is one. It's through the small gate in the garden. You should go out through the back while I deal with him," Riley said as she steadied herself.

Wynter nodded and swiftly moved in the direction Riley pointed. If she were exposed now, the man behind Aidan would definitely be alerted. If that were to happen, it would be impossible to bring him down.

Her steps were quick and light.

Just as Wynter slipped through the back door, she heard Hildred's voice from the front entrance. "Mrs. Patsy, Mr. Patsy told me to fetch a file. He said it's in the study."

Riley feigned indifference. "Come with me, then."

She turned around just in time to see Wynter's figure vanish from sight, and she instantly felt a great sense of relief.

As Hildred followed behind her, he suddenly asked, "Mrs. Patsy, are you the only one home?"

"What do you mean by that?" Riley's heart jolted, though she forced herself to stay calm as she asked sharply, "Do you or Aidan suspect that I'm hiding someone at home?"

"This is what Mr. Patsy told me to ask." Hildred smiled faintly. "You seem a little nervous, Mrs. Patsy."

Aidan was indeed in a meeting. He had initially tried to check the home surveillance to see what Riley was doing, only to discover all the cameras were turned off.

Sensing something was wrong, he sent Hildred back early to check on the situation.

Riley's voice turned solemn. "Nervous? All these years, I've been working myself to the bone for him. How dare he think I'm hiding someone at home when I'm merely resting?

"Go ahead, then. Search every corner of the house. And if you don't find a single person here, tell him not to bother coming back home."

"Please don't be upset, Mrs. Patsy." Hildred's words sounded soothing, but his gaze was already roaming around the room. "Of course I believe you. Mr. Patsy only wanted to check in on you through the cameras. When he saw the system offline, he asked me to return early."

Riley raised her voice. "Tell him I turned it off on purpose because I don't feel comfortable when I see them. With those cameras on, every move I make at home could be under his watch. It's like living in a cage."

Hildred smiled. "I'll report that truthfully."

Suddenly, his gaze landed on the back door, where there was a small gap. He stepped toward it. "Mrs. Patsy, why is this door open?"

Riley's heart skipped a beat, but she forced a laugh. "The weather looked nice today, so I opened it for some fresh air. You can give it a look if you think there's a problem."

Hildred pushed the door open and glanced at the garden outside. Then, he shut it as he replied, "No need for that. Of course I trust you, Mrs. Patsy. Fresh air is good, but best not to leave it open too long since bugs might fly in."

Riley exhaled in relief. "Alright. Then, let me take you to the study before you waste more time and make him think I'm causing trouble again."

Hildred nodded. "I'll explain it clearly to Mr. Patsy. I don't want any rift between you two. After all, when husband and wife are of one mind, there's nothing they can't solve together. Without your silent support, Mr. Patsy couldn't be where he is now."

Riley frowned. "Do you really think so?"

"Why not?" Hildred smiled faintly. "I'm not the only one who thinks that way."

Riley's frown slowly eased. "True, but he thinks I'm a burden. He never tells me anything…"

"What kind of things would you like to know?" Hildred seized the opportunity to ask as he stared straight at her.

Riley nearly let it slip. "What I mean is that he's always busy and hardly ever home ever since he became a director. He won't tell me anything, even when I ask. Is that what a marriage should be?"

"Mr. Patsy must be keeping things from you for your own good." Then, Hildred lowered his gaze. "It's getting late. I'll be heading back once I take the file."

Riley nodded slightly. "I apologize for wasting your time. I'll get it for you now."

Hildred followed closely behind, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

When they reached the study, he pretended to look for some documents. However, in reality, he was checking whether there were any traces left behind in the room.

Aidan had instructed him to pay special attention to the study, especially the safe. So, Hildred glanced at the safe and noticed that it was intact, with no signs of it being forced open.

He casually pulled out a file, then turned around. "This is it, Mrs. Patsy. I'll head back now."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "No need to see me out. Please rest well at home."

With that, he moved toward the door. After exiting, he got into his car and drove away.

When he reached the security booth, he stopped the car and rolled down the window. Then, he called out to the guard at the gate, "Come here for a moment."

The guard walked over. "Is something wrong?"

"Did you notice anyone else in the car with Mrs. Patsy when she came back just now?" Hildred asked casually as he pulled a few bills out of his wallet. "Think carefully."

The guard's eyes lit up at the sight of money. "Let me think… Mrs. Patsy was driving a car I hadn't seen before when she came in."

He paused before continuing, "There was no one else. I remember her telling me to raise the barrier for her. I took a quick look at the passenger seat and the back seat, but didn't see anyone there."

Hildred's gaze sharpened. "Are you sure? Did you check the floor of the back seat, too?"

The guard shook his head. "I only glanced at it roughly."

"Alright, take the money," Hildred said. Then, in a lower voice, he continued," Inform me immediately if you see Mrs. Patsy leave. My number is on this card."

With that, he handed over a business card to the guard.

Meanwhile, Wynter did not actually leave right after slipping out through the back garden. She had seen every move Hildred made.

When she came in with Riley just now, she had sensed that the guard at the gate wasn't as simple as he seemed. Hence, as they passed near the guardhouse, Wynter had lowered her body and hidden herself.

Only after Hildred left in his car did Wynter retrace her steps and return. When she reached the small side gate, she raised her hand and knocked.

"Who is it?" Riley's chest tightened when she heard the knock on the small gate. "Who's knocking?"

"It's me, Ms. Maisie. Hildred's already gone. There's no need to be so nervous," Wynter said softly.

Hearing that, Riley hurried to the small gate and opened it. "Why did you come back?"

"I haven't finished my task. I know what's in the hidden room, but not what's inside the safe," Wynter said as she arched her brows.

Riley lowered her voice. "I don't know the password to the safe, either. I can't help you with that."

Wynter's gaze deepened. "Let's go up and take a look, anyway. You're closer to him than I am, so you must know more than me."

With that, she headed straight for the study.

Once she opened the door, Wynter walked over to the safe and crouched down. "The safe needs a six-digit password. Think about what it could be."

Riley closed her eyes and thought for a moment. "Maybe… our wedding anniversary?"

"Try it." Wynter shifted sideways, giving her space.

Riley crouched down and pressed in the numbers before hitting confirm. The red light blinked, indicating that it was the wrong code.

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