CHAPTER 238: SAVE YOUR SERVANT

Daniel brushed aside Henry’s concern with a short, clipped tone.

"Don’t bother. I’m fine."

He reached for the glass of water on the table, his hand slightly unsteady though he hid it well. He took a long gulp, feeling the coolness settle the chaos inside him. Slowly, the tightness in his chest eased. When he finally set the glass down, his expression had shifted—the cracks sealed, the vulnerability buried, with his face returning to its usual stoic, unreadable mask.

Henry held his breath for a second, still worried, but the deadpan look Daniel shot him made him swallow his objections. This wasn’t the moment to argue.

So Henry shifted gears.

He stepped forward, placing a file on the desk before unlocking his tablet and tapping the screen. Several video windows popped up—CCTV footage. One was familiar—the venue of the event. But another... darker, grainier, taken from a different angle and location.

Daniel leaned forward, eyes narrowing as he watched.

Henry finally spoke, voice steady:

"You asked me to find out if anyone out there holds a grudge against Mrs. Bennett."

Daniel’s gaze flicked toward him, sharp and demanding.

"And the answer is yes," Henry confirmed. "A strong one."

The room dropped into silence.

Daniel leaned back slowly, exhaling once in a measured breath.

"Go on," he said.

Henry opened the file, revealing a picture clipped to the top—an older mugshot, the man inside looking cold, hardened, furious.

"Collin Fort," Henry announced. "A man Mrs. Bennett helped put behind bars."

Daniel’s eyes hardened.

Henry continued, "She filed charges years ago—attempted attack, harassment, and a restraining order violation. He served time." He tapped the tablet, pulling up the second CCTV footage. "And he was released a month ago."

"However," Henry continued with a heavy sigh, "there is no record of Collin Fort having any direct contact with Mrs. Bennett after his release."

Disappointment edged into his voice.

All that digging, surveillance tracing, and recovery of old files—

and there was still no proof the man had approached Roseline recently.

Daniel’s jaw flexed as he processed this.

"What if he’s playing smart?" he asked quietly, eyes still fixed on the footage.

Henry shook his head. "I doubt it. His behavior in prison doesn’t match that theory. His entire record inside was clean. Too clean. Almost as if he wasn’t the same man she filed complaints against."

Daniel’s gaze flickered up sharply.

"So you’re saying," Daniel murmured, leaning back in his chair, "the attacker... might be someone else?"

Henry nodded firmly.

"Yes. Someone with a different motive. Maybe someone she didn’t expect."

Silence settled between them—heavy, tense, and stretching until the hum of the air conditioner felt too loud.

Henry opened another page in the file. "The police are waiting for the forensic report on the weapon the attacker dropped. The knife."

Daniel’s eyes narrowed.

"The one found at the scene?"

Henry nodded. "Yes. That knife is the only solid evidence they have. If it carries fingerprints or any trace materials, we’ll know soon."

He paused before adding,

"And Mrs. Bennett stated she couldn’t see the attacker’s face because they were wearing a mask. Which aligns with what we saw in the footage."

He tapped the screen, enlarging the clip of the masked figure fleeing the scene. The person was dressed in black, head covered, movements quick and calculated.

No hesitation.No fumbling.No panic.

This wasn’t a random mugger. This was someone with purpose.

Daniel leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes fixated on the paused frame.

"So Collin Fort is a dead end for now," he said slowly.

"Looks like it," Henry answered.

"But the real attacker..." Daniel murmured, eyes darkening, "is still out there."

"Then you know what you have to do," Daniel said, his tone firm and unquestionable.

Henry nodded. "Our team is already working on it."

But he hesitated. Just a small pause—but enough for Daniel to notice.

Daniel’s brow lifted slowly. "What is it now?"

Henry cleared his throat, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Uh... there’s a new recruit who wants to join our IT division."

Daniel tilted his head. "And why are you telling me this? That’s your department to handle."

Normally, Henry took pride in managing his team without bothering Daniel about petty matters. But the awkward, almost nervous smile creeping onto Henry’s face made Daniel narrow his eyes.

Something was off.

"I know," Henry admitted, rubbing the back of his neck, "but the recruit specifically wants your approval before joining."

Daniel stared at him blankly. "Why would a recruit need my approval?"

Henry swallowed. "Because of who it is."

Daniel leaned forward slightly. "Fine. Who is it?"

Henry’s lips stretched into a tight line. His eyes flickered with stress—clearly bracing for Daniel’s reaction.

"It’s... Shawn."

Silence.

Daniel blinked once. Then twice. Then the muscle in his jaw twitched.

"...Shawn," he repeated slowly.

Henry nodded. Hard. "Yes. That Shawn."

"The one glued to Anna like a shadow," Daniel said flatly.

"Yes."

"The one who annoys me every time he breathes too close to her?"

"Um... that’s the one."

Daniel exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. "And he wants to work with us professionally?"

Henry nodded again, trying not to look amused or worried—he wasn’t sure which emotion was safer.

"He applied through the official site," Henry explained. "Passed the interview. Actually..." He grimaced, "He topped it."

Daniel’s eyes slowly narrowed.

Of course he did.

Of course the idiot who followed Anna around like a loyal puppy would also try to infiltrate his company.

"Who gave him a nod?" Daniel demanded, his voice deceptively calm—the kind of calm that signaled a storm brewing beneath.

He wasn’t just asking. He was ready to tear into whoever had approved Shawn without an ounce of practicality or restraint.

Henry froze.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.

"...M–me."

The word came out barely above a whisper, but it was loud enough to slice through the room.

Daniel’s eyes slowly, slowly shifted toward him.

Henry wanted to disappear. Vanishing into thin air suddenly felt like a reasonable life goal.

Madam, you promised you’d keep me alive, he screamed internally.Please save your poor servant before the boss murders me.