Return Of The Heiress For Revenge - Chapter 526

Chapter 526: Enemies!
Behind him, Max finally put a hand on Emma’s shoulder. She was sobbing now silently but looked wrecked. She shook her head when he tried to assure her.

“I am sorry,” she whispered, and meant it with everything she had. “I have always believed that Nora was invincible. She could never be hurt and I became irresponsible because of my faith in her. And she paid for it.”

But Alric wasn’t listening anymore. His world had narrowed to the quiet rise and fall of the woman behind the glass. The woman he had given everything for.Even if it meant tearing down the world to keep her breathing.

The private holding room in the basement of Bargham Memorial wasn’t on any public map. It wasn’t technically part of the hospital. But Alric had made it a long time ago for his own security, and the room was built for situations like this. The news of Nora’s kidnapping and her injuries were hidden from the world and she was kept in this discreet, soundproof, and entirely off the record room in case the enemies tried to strike her again.

Beside the room, there was a room with no doors or windows. It could be used as storage but tonight it served a different purpose. The men could have been taken anywhere but Alric did not want to leave Nora alone anymore. He would not take the risk again ever.

The man who had taken the phone from Nora now sat cuffed to a steel chair. The blood still crusted his temple from when Alric’s men had slammed him to the forest floor. A single bulb buzzed overhead, casting shadows across his bruised face. He looked relaxed, even smug like someone who didn’t believe the consequences would reach him.

Then the door opened. Alric stepped in first, and Max followed him silently.

Behind them, Emma remained in the hall. She had begged Max to let her handle it. But one look from Alric had ended the argument. This wasn’t going to be a calm conversation.

Alric pulled off his coat slowly and handed it to Max. His sleeves were rolled up methodically. His face was unreadable.

The man blinked. “Did you talk to her?”

“I will but you would not be alive to hear about it when the time comes.” Alric said calmly, dragging the spare chair forward. He didn’t sit in it, he turned it, set one knee on it, and leaned in close.

The man grinned. “You think roughing me up will get you answers? I have seen worse. But even if I want to explain, you would not believe me. So would it not be better to wait for her to wake up and explain it to you?”

“You think she would speak in your favor? But I am relieved that you have seen worse!,” Alric murmured. “Then you won’t waste time screaming.”

The man chuckled. Max stepped to the side and closed the door. There was silence for a moment.

Then Alric pulled something from his pocket and set it on the table. A small silver locket. It was cracked open with blood smudging the inside.

“Do you know what this is?” Alric asked in a too quiet voice.

The man looked at it, disinterested.

“It is the last thing she touched before she passed out. She was drugged and dumped in the dirt alone. Your group dragged her there and you watched her die.”

The man shrugged. “I didn’t kill her.”

“No,” Alric agreed. “But you didn’t stop it either. That makes you worse.”

He leaned in just a little closer, his voice now razor-sharp. “So tell me, who gave the order and I might spare your life?”

The man shook his head. “You are wasting your breath. I won’t say a word.”

Alric smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

Max moved first. He reached into the cabinet and pulled out a black bag, setting it on the table with a thump. Inside were tools that were used often in the garage, nothing too obvious, but enough to leave a mark that would never fade.

The man paled slightly, eyes flicking between them now. “You wouldn’t.”

“I would,” Max said. “And he wouldn’t stop me.”

But Alric didn’t reach for the tools.

He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a single photo.

It was of the man’s sister.

Age: 19. University of Dresden.

“I know who she is,” Alric said. “You shouldn’t have kept a soft spot in your file, but you did. This is Mia, right?”

The man stiffened.

Alric tilted his head. “Tell me who gave the order, and she never hears about this. You don’t talk… and I will make sure she knows exactly who her brother really is.”

The man swallowed hard.

Alric’s voice dropped lower. “Tick-tock. You have one minute. Then Max will do what Max does best.”

There was a long silence.

Then, finally, the man muttered, “we were told to kill her after kidnapping her so that it would not be traced as murder. I was the one who had kept her alive and gave her my phone so that she could contact all of you. I was here for the reward but now you are threatening me!”

“I do not care what you thought. If you wanted to help, you could have come to us before the accident to warn us and now. You can give me names. So tell me, who are they?”

The man hesitated but Alric didn’t blink.

“Ristel,” the man said in a hoarse voice. “Ristel Devrin. He hired us through proxy. We were told that the girl was the biggest weakness the Albrecht empire had. Her death could serve as a lesson.”

Alric’s expression barely changed, but the temperature in the room dropped, “Ristel Devrin.”

A name that shouldn’t have come up. He had nothing to do with the man. Max looked up confused.

“Who is he?”

“My father’s biggest enemy. The man I have ignored all my life.”