CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: HE SAW THE CAMERA FOOTAGE

Blood.

Blinding red.

The scene on the screen felt so exaggerated, it was like a cheap horror film.

But Aiden Fordham knew, all of this was real.

It happened to her.

The hand he rested on the edge of the desk tightened suddenly. Thick veins bulged, twisted and menacing.

His knuckles turned ghostly white from the force.

Keegan Lindsey stood a few steps behind him, head down, but from the corner of his eye, he didn’t dare look away from the tense silhouette of Aiden Fordham.

The air felt frozen.

Only the occasional faint sounds from the screen and the man’s increasingly harsh breathing could be heard.

Aiden Fordham’s gaze was nailed to the screen.

He saw it.

That nauseating, four-legged lizard crawling across the floor, sticky as it slithered onto her body, inching along.

Her body trembled ever so slightly. She shut her eyes gently.

That was all.

Aiden Fordham felt as if his heart was gripped by an invisible hand, twisting with brutal force.

Pain.

Dense, crawling pain.

The scene shifted.

That deranged maniac, knife in hand, first pressed the blade to her face, then slid it down to her chest.

One button.

Sliced open.

The second one.

Undone as well.

The motion was slow, mocking, full of humiliation.

The blood in Aiden Fordham’s body felt like it had turned around and flowed backward. An icy, devastating rage stormed up from the soles of his feet.

On the screen, her exposed snow-white skin.

But her face, still utterly emotionless—no shame, no tears.

Those eyes, empty, staring into some unknown distance, as if her soul had already left her body.

Until the assailant slashed her arm, bright red blood spilling from her body.

Staining the floor, shocking and brutal.

Aiden Fordham’s jaw clenched so hard his teeth ground, and he could feel his temples throbbing in pain.

From beginning to end.

She didn’t cry.

She didn’t beg for mercy.

Even after everything, even while bleeding so badly, her spine remained rigid and straight.

That damned stubbornness!

Like the bluntest knife, carving into Aiden Fordham’s heart over and over again.

He’d rather she cried, rather she begged, rather she broke down like anyone else!

Anything was better than that silent endurance, resisting everything with only her silence and pride.

It made him ache even more!

A pain so sharp he could barely breathe.

"Smack!"

Aiden Fordham couldn’t take it anymore.

He shot up, slapping the tabletop hard with his palm.

The solid wood desk boomed, the screen itself shuddering.

He abruptly stood, his chair sliding far back, the screech slicing open the study’s dead silence.

His chest heaved.

Storms surged in his eyes—waves threatening to annihilate everything.

Rationality?

Burned away the moment he saw her bleed!

The only thing filling him now was brutality!

Killing intent!

A crazed need to grind whoever hurt her into dust!

At this moment, all the fury in his chest had incinerated whatever sanity he had left.

"Find out who’s behind it—I want him...dead!"

Keegan Lindsey hurriedly replied, stepping forward and saying, "Miss Kensington has already arrived at the office. She’s demanding to see you."

Aiden Fordham was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Prepare the car."

Around ten o’clock, Aiden Fordham stepped into his office.

Corinne Kensington was eating breakfast, the coffee table loaded with pastries.

Seeing him, she shot up from the sofa, a sickly sweet smile plastered across her face, voice coy and syrupy.

"Aiden, why did you come so late!"

She hurried up to him, her arm naturally reaching for his.

"I waited for you a whole hour! You have to make up for it—you’re eating breakfast with me, that’s your punishment!"

Aiden Fordham stopped in his tracks, the air around him instantly turning frigid.

He turned, his gaze heavy, scrutinizing her face.

With a flick of his arm, he shook off her clinging little hand without mercy.

His voice was icy.

"Corinne Kensington, let me ask you something."

He stepped closer, eyes sharp as blades.

"That Melody Jewel—did you know from the start what she really did? Is that why you came to me and begged me to let her go?"

Corinne Kensington’s smile froze for a second. She quickly adjusted her expression, feigning just the right amount of confusion.

"I thought it was something huge... It’s just that... maid from The Sovereign Estate!"

Aiden Fordham’s face darkened even more.

Corinne Kensington continued her explanation, keeping her tone relaxed.

She said the maid was her cousin’s aunt, who once saved her mother’s life. This time, she only got in trouble for stealing over thirty thousand from her employer, and her family kept coming around, crying and begging for help.

She was simply sick of it, so she mentioned it to him, just once.

If he cared so much, she’d just give Melody back to him.

Give her back!

Aiden Fordham watched her act so composed—could it be... she really didn’t know what Melody Jewel had really done?

He’d known Corinne Kensington for years. She was spoiled, yes, and used to throwing fits, but to say she was vicious enough to plan or join in on something like that... That didn’t quite fit.

At the very least, she didn’t have the brains—or the guts.

Seeing his grim expression, Corinne Kensington crowded closer. "How about I give you a kiss to say sorry? Don’t be mad!"

She puckered her lips and leaned forward!

Aiden Fordham lowered his eyes, staring at her face so close he could feel it.

But he took a step back, a strange disgust stirring in his chest.

He’d never acted like this toward her before, but today—something felt off inside him.

Corinne Kensington opened her eyes, looking surprised. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing. I’m having a smoke."

Aiden Fordham lit a cigarette, walking toward the floor-to-ceiling window, his eyes wandering to the green balcony of the nearby apartment.

He wondered what Stella was doing now. Had she eaten?

Why was he suddenly thinking of Stella Grant? A wave of irritation welled up in his chest.

He shook his head, trying to shake her out of his mind.

At that moment, someone knocked. Keegan Lindsey stepped inside.

"President Fordham, Miss Sterling is here."

Aiden Fordham looked back at Corinne Kensington. "Do you still want in on that Pear Blossom film crew?"

Corinne’s eyes lit up. "Of course, but that Sasha Marshall keeps getting in the way. The screenwriter’s still holding a grudge from before, so nothing’s decided yet."

His tone was resolute. "Don’t worry. You’ll get what you want."

Corinne was overjoyed. "Really? I knew you’re always the best, Aiden."

He’d never interfered in her business before, and now he was helping—this had to be as good as done.

"Mm. I’ll have someone send you home. I’ll come find you when I’m done here."

Corinne smiled, satisfied. "Okay. Remember to eat breakfast. Don’t skip meals."

She flitted out like a butterfly.

Keegan Lindsey watched her and shuddered involuntarily.

She... just like that, she passed?

Even heroes can’t withstand a beauty’s plea.

Keegan hadn’t reached the door when it burst open, and Vivi Sterling stormed in, face full of fury.

"Aiden Fordham, where’s Stella? Where are you hiding her? Where is she hurt?"

Aiden Fordham frowned at her—there was nothing ladylike about Vivi at all. Young Master Grant was doomed!

"She’s fine. You don’t need to worry. I’ll take care of her. When she’s healed, she’ll go back."

Vivi Sterling glared daggers at him, sneering coldly.

"Aiden Fordham, for three whole years, she was with you. You never once had a meal with her, never took her to a doctor, never celebrated her birthday... What makes you think you can take care of her now?"

Aiden Fordham was momentarily speechless—he couldn’t find a single rebuttal.

Vivi Sterling pressed on, words sharp as knives. "Aiden Fordham, you don’t have another chance."

Aiden Fordham waved his hand, impatient. "Get her out."

"Aiden Fordham, even her only sister—you’d hurt her too? I curse you’ll... never get it up again!"

Aiden Fordham’s face instantly turned pitch black!

Keegan Lindsey covered his mouth, too terrified to move. Miss Sterling’s mouth was... savage!