Chapter 251 Trouble Beneath the Surface

Halbert noticed the hesitation in Eliza’s eyes.

b58/b%

+8 Pearls

Eliza said. “Weren’t your people keeping tabs on the Rivers family this whole time? Howe no one picked up on something as big as Naomi re–enrolling at ire University?”

“The principal said Naomi was ced there by someone.”

Halbert added, “Only a handful of people in Westbrook have the power to pull strings at ire University.”

“Like who?”

“For example… The Hayes family has that kind of pull.”

He had brought up the Hayes family ion /iipurpose/ii. /i

Eliza responded coolly, “Nn wouldn’t do that.”

“Did I say it was Nn?”

–

She realized he was baiting her.

She shot Halbert a sideways re. “You’re clearly just bored.”

“You and Nn should really draw a line. Don’t forget–you’re now engaged to someone from the Foster family.”

Eliza brushed off his reminder. “Tristan told me that if I wanted to, I didn’t have to be anyone’s fiancée. I could just be Eliza.”

Hearing that it was something Tristan had said, Halbert realized she was provoking him on purpose.

He sneered. “Tristan’s just sweet–talking you because you’re young. Don’t tell me you actually believe it?”

“Is that so? Then why don’t you let Tristan sweet–talk you for once? We’re about the same age, after all. Although I doubt he’d be interested in trying.”

They went back and forth, trading snipes.

In the end, Halbert lost.

He muttered, “You better not be doing this on purpose.”

“Didn’t you already figure it out? I am doing it on purpose. You started it, and now you’re ming me?”

She hadn’t mentioned Nn all day.

It was Halbert who stirred the pot.

“I asked you to pick up something for me from that address. Did you get it yet?”

b13:49 /bTue, b8 /bJul

Chapter 251 Trouble Beneath the Surface

b“/bNot yet.”

+8 Pearls

He said, “There was no one home when I went. But like you asked, I left a note on the door. That wayb, /bonce they’re back, they’ll see it and send your things over.”

Eliza gave a nomittal “Mm.”

A few minutester, the dean arrived in their ssroom.

She greeted Eliza and Halbert warmly before offering a quick apology.

Then, she walked over to Naomi and whispered something to her.

Surprisingly, Naomi actually cooperated.

She stood up and got ready to leave with her.

Eliza frowned.

iSomething /iifelt /iioff/ii. /i

She leaned toward Halbert and said, “Is it just me, or is Naomi acting weird?”

“Weird how?b” /b

“She’s not the kind of person who just goes along quietly,”

iIf /iithe /iidean /iihad /iie /iito /ikick iher /iiout /iiof /iithe /iiss/i, iNaomi /iiwould /iinormally /iithrow /iia /iitantrum/i, ishout/ii, /iiand /iimake /iia /iibig /iiscene/i.

iBut /iithis /iitime/ii, /ishe didn’t isay /ia isingle /iiword/ii. /i

“I don’t know her, so I’m not that surprised.”

iNo /iione /iiwould /iibe /iidumb /iienough /iito /iichallenge /iithe /iiSue /iifamily /iionce /iithey /iiknew /iiwho /iiwas /iibehind /iithis/i.

Soon, Naomi walked out of the ssroom with the dean.

Eliza couldn’t quite exin it, but something just felt wrong.

iThe /iiNaomi /iiI /iiremembered /iiwould /iinever /iihave /iigone /iithat /iiquietly/ii. /i

“Have your people investigate who Naomi’s been meeting with and what she’s been up to these past few -days. I want everything. As detailed as possible. Preferably in the same PDF format you showed me earlier.”

Halbert didn’t get it, but he nodded.

Eliza barely paid attention in ss. She just waited for Halbert to send her the intel.

“You’ll have to wait. These things take time.”

“Aren’t your people supposed to be really good at this?”

“They are, but investigations take time. And none of them are actually based in Westbrook. The fact that we’ve managed to gather this much on the Rivers family is already impressive.”

b2/3 /b

13:49 Tue, b8 /bJul

Chapter 251 Trouble Beneath the Surface

Even Halbert wasn’t sure why he was being so obedient.

Besidesi, /ithis girl had absolutely no iproblem /iibossing /iime /iiaround/i.

When ss ended, Eliza got a call from her secretary.

i69 /ib2070 /b

48 Pearls

She hadn’t been in Westbrook for the past couple of days, so Missy’s business had been handled online.

“Ms. Rivers, Mr. Soren came by the oflice earlier and asked for your contact info. Should I give it to him?b” /b

“Soren?”

“Yes.”

Eliza recalled that Soren was Nn’s younger brother.

Now ithat /iI ihad /iinothing /ito ido /iwith iNn /iianymore/i, ithere /iiwas /iino /iineed /ito ikeep /iiin /iitouch /iwith iSoren /iieither/ii. /i

“Themercial is already wrapped up, right?”

“Yes, it’s done. It’s set to go live in the next couple of days. Internal feedback has been great. Once itunches, it should bring a lot more attention to Missy.”

“Then there’s no need to give him my number. We’re just business partners. Since the ad’s done, let the team handling follow–up work contact him.”

“Got it, Ms. Rivers.”

98

13:49 Tue, 8 Jul