Raphael POV
Essel was asleep on the couch with the little girl in her arms. I quietly walked over, picked up Essel, turned around and headed out.
I put Essel in the child seat and fastened her seat belt.
I let my assistants and bodyguards go, and Royce seemed to have driven off with a woman long ago.
I drove back to my villa and handed Essel over to the maid. After that, I went to the bathroom and took a shower.
I took a dry towel and wiped my hair, browsing Twitter. Suddenly, breaking news came.
"Eclipse's eldest daughter, Araceli Chancey, has posted a new video pushing back against inappropriate comments made by Eclipse Group."
"Melany actually tried to kill Araceli! This is horrible!"
"These guys are Melany's bodyguards! They tried to kill Melany!"
"Eclipse Group must have used a lot of dirty tricks to become such a big group."
...
In an instant, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube were all abuzz.
I clicked on the page. It was a surveillance video.
In the video, a group of Melany's bodyguards surrounded Araceli, after which Araceli climbed the wall and escaped. She pushed Melany into the dumpster.
I frowned slightly, took out the phone and called Melany.
Melany cried and said to me, "Raphael, this whole thing is not what you think it is! Araceli took me hostage to get her mother's ruby necklace and tried to threaten my father. I didn't know why she asked me out at first, so I went to meet her. The bodyguards rushed up to protect me! But she actually pushed me into a dumpster!"
I was silent for a moment, not saying anything. Melany was crying so hard she couldn't breathe.
She continued, "Raphael, you're the only one who can help me now. There's really nothing I can do. My sister wants to kill me. I'm begging you to help me for the sake of our children.
"There is so much negative news about me and Eclipse Group on the internet, and Eclipse Group's share price has been falling. Raphael, if this keeps up, my father won't be able to take it..."
I turned on my computer and clicked on that video.
After the screen flickered a few times, I was shocked.
This video was encrypted with hundreds of the most complex passwords.
Even though I was the best hacker in the world, I couldn't delete it.
While I was out of my mind, Melany's voice came.
"Raphael, are you still there?"
I frowned and said as calmly as I could, "This video is encrypted. I can't help you."
Melany broke down and cried out. I could already imagine what she looked like now.
"Raphael, what am I going to do? My father will really kill himself because of this..."
I took a deep breath, looked at the thick stack of papers on the table, and thought of something.
"Melany, Micah has recently taken charge of a project and has not yet decided on a partner. You can call him and ask if he would like to help you. Maybe this business cooperation can divert people's attention. I'll deal with Eclipse Group's share price after that."
Melany said joyfully, "Raphael, thank you for believing in me... I don't know what to say... I'm really not going to hurt my sister. Five years ago, she tried to kill our babies... Luckily, I escaped..."
She said, and started whimpering again.
I felt impatient and said, "Alright, Melany, go to bed. It's getting late."
Melany didn't hang up and then whispered, "Raphael, have you thought about letting me live with you? We haven't..."
I frowned, having run out of patience.
"That's enough. I'll think about it."
After that, I hung up the phone.
Melany had begged me many times before to let Royal Group work with Eclipse Group, but I hadn't agreed. She had tried many ways, but I had turned her down every time.
I fell into deep thought and closed my eyes.
...
Royal Group shocked everyone when they made their new project partner public the next day, because they chose to partner with Eclipse Group.
"Why would Royal Group choose such a company?"
"These two companies have never worked together before. Royal Group saved Eclipse Group this time, otherwise, Eclipse Group might take a long time to resume normal business."
"Eclipse Group is so lucky!"
"Eclipse is really smart. They actually have a relationship with Royal Group."
"Who will dare to provoke Eclipse?"
Within half a day, the share price of Eclipse Group returned to its normal level, as if the crisis last night had not happened.
I frowned as I watched the constantly updated news on the Internet. I didn't know why, but I felt a little uneasy.
If everything was really as Melany said, I should certainly help her. I had no feelings for her, but she gave birth to two such lovely children for me.
I loved Essel and Micah more than anything in this world.
As I was thinking, the sound of the door opening came.
Melany's gentle and beautiful face appeared in front of me.
I admitted she had a really nice body.
She came over to me, hugged me, and rubbed her face against my chin.
I frowned slightly and gently pushed her away.
"Raphael, you..."
I interrupted her, "Are you here to pick up Essel for the procedure of quitting her daycare school? It's okay. I'll take her there."
She froze for a moment and said, "Yes..."
I stood up and went to the bathroom to change my clothes. After that, I drove and took Essel to Brizela Daycare.
I pulled over and squinted slightly, staring at the familiar woman in front of me.
It was Araceli, walking into Brizela Daycare with her daughter and a little boy.
Didn't she have only one daughter? Was the little boy her child too?
I had a lot of doubts in my mind, but I didn't have time to think about it before I was interrupted by Essel's sweet voice.
She said, "Daddy, why do I have to quit school?"
I stroked her head and said patiently, "Honey, studying here is not suitable for you. You are so much smarter than the kids here."
She beamed and reluctantly got out of the car. But the second she saw Araceli, she opened the door and raced over to her.
"Araceli! Valeria!"
She shouted, waving at them happily.
I frowned slightly, wondering why she liked them so much.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Micah.
"Daddy, what's wrong?"
The call was quickly answered, and Micah's calm voice came through the receiver.
Many people in the Royal Pack said that Micah was as calm and collected as I was, and he was born to become Lycan King.
I thought so too.
Micah would take over after me as the Royal Pack's Lycan King.
I said, "Your mom called you last night, right? That project..."
Before I could finish, Micah spoke up, "Daddy, Mommy said she had your permission. I saw that video and tried to delete it, but I couldn't. I think you know this too. That video was encrypted with hundreds of the most complex passwords. But Daddy, I'm sure Mommy didn't do it on purpose. She was the victim in that video, wasn't she? She was pushed into the water."
He sounded a little annoyed.
I frowned slightly.
Micah was a computer genius. I had taught him a lot, but he now knew more than I did.
I nodded and said, "Yes. I wanted you to decide whether to give her that project last night, so that's why I asked her to call you. It's okay, son. I'll support you in whatever decision you make."
I deliberately avoided the conversation about that video, not wanting to discuss the matter any further.