Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 385: Betrayal (1)

Lennox had come to the Zhao estate to see Adrienne and his siblings. His in-laws were kind enough to allow them to stay with them while he was busy in Jinling. Adrienne was staying in the same room they had before, which put Lennox at ease knowing that she was comfortable in familiar surroundings.

As he settled into the guest room, Lennox couldn’t help but feel grateful for the Zhao family’s hospitality, which provided a sense of warmth and support during their visit. He was at ease knowing his wife and his siblings would be safe here while he was away.

As soon as he shed his coat, he found his wife leaning against the window frame, looking at the night sky. She looked sad and lost in thought. Lennox walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, offering silent comfort. He knew that being away from home and their usual routine could be difficult for Adrienne, especially during this challenging time.

"What’s on your mind, Addie?" He asked, resting his chin on top of her head.

He’d been uneasy and stressed for the past few days, and having Adrienne in his arms relieved his worries. Only when he was with Adrienne did he feel a sense of peace and calm.

Adrienne sighed and leaned into his embrace, finding solace in his presence.

"I can’t help but worry that I hurt Valerie’s feelings," she confessed. "I tried to convince her not to pursue my brother romantically, as it might hurt her in the end."

Lennox pulled away, looked at her in surprise, and asked, "She likes Hunter?"

Adrienne raised a brow. "Why? You think my brother isn’t a nice guy?"

Lennox bit his inner cheek, stopping himself from making a snarky remark about his brother-in-law. There was no denying Hunter was a decent man, but Lennox thought he was too uptight and lacked a sense of spontaneity. He couldn’t imagine Valerie being attracted to someone like that.

"Hunter is a decent man, but I think their personalities are quite different," Lennox finally replied, trying to choose his words carefully. "Valerie is more adventurous and free-spirited, while Hunter seems more reserved and aloof."

"I understand what you mean," Adrienne sighed. "It wouldn’t have mattered if my brother was attracted to her, but..."

"But your brother is too focused on his career at the moment. He wouldn’t have time to date her, much less spend time with her." Lennox added sympathetically. "It’s a shame because Valerie seems like someone who craves excitement and companionship."

Adrienne lowered her gaze. "Do you think what I did was wrong, Len?"

"Well, I could say you have good intentions when you confront Valerie about it, but Addie, if they are going to be together, it’s not our place to meddle. Valerie might just be having a simple crush on your brother, and Hunter is oblivious to it. Give them a chance, Addie, just like you did for us."

Lennox took her hand and kissed her knuckle gently.

"Sometimes, it’s best to let things unfold naturally. Trust that Valerie and Hunter will figure things out on their own, just like we did."

Adrienne nodded, her worry slowly dissipating as she realized the wisdom in Lennox’s words.

"I suppose you are right." She sighed, resting her forehead against his chest before wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I miss you." She admitted, "It’s been quite lonely without you being around."

Lennox tightened his embrace, feeling a pang of guilt for being away.

"I’m sorry, Addie. I promise to make more time for us. Know that you are always in my mind and heart, even when we’re apart. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never feel lonely again."

"Is it over yet?" Adrienne asked, her hold on her husband tightening as if she were afraid he would leave.

"Almost." Her husband responded in a gentle tone. "A little over a week, and we would be done. We can then move to the new lab to proceed with the next step.

Adrienne slowly pulled away and shook her head.

"No, not yet, Len. I haven’t pulled out all the weed yet. I found the traitor who sold you and your father to the devil." Her eyes suddenly turned menacing, as if she were about to sell someone’s soul to the depths of hell.

Lennox was taken aback. He agreed to accept Adrienne’s help, but he never thought she would be this thorough. He had spent the five years wondering what happened prior to the car accident, but Adrienne managed to find a lead in a short span of time.

"Addie..."

"You need to prepare yourself for heartache and disappointment, Len." Adrienne said coldly.

"Because nothing could prepare you for what we might uncover." Her voice dripped with caution, leaving Lennox with a knot of anticipation in his stomach.

He knew he had made the right choice in seeking Adrienne’s help, but now he couldn’t help but wonder just how deep this rabbit hole would go. But he was worried about what might happen to his wife if Adrienne got involved further. Lennox had already lost his father on a scheme; if he lost Adrienne...

Lennox shook his head. No, he cannot think something like that would happen. He only needs to make sure nothing can get past their security or someone close enough to betray them. Because if he lost his wife, Lennox wasn’t sure what he might do next.

"Are you certain about this, Addie?" He asked.

"Yes." Adrienne crossed her arms and lowered her gaze, knowing the truth would scare her husband. "Perhaps it would be better if you don’t share anything with other people, regardless of how close they were to you."

Lennox sighed, his heart heavy with the weight of Adrienne’s words. He understood the gravity of the situation. An enemy was nearby, waiting for them to commit a mistake. It would have been understandable if they were strangers, but they were not. These were people they had trusted and confided in for years, making the betrayal all the more painful. Lennox knew that from now on, they would have to be cautious and keep their guard up at all times.

"I understand, but be careful, Addie. If that person is truly nearby, they might hurt you." He warned her.

"Don’t worry about that. I have everything under control, Len. I know how to protect myself, and I won’t let anyone harm me. Trust me, I’ll handle it." Adrienne reassured him, her determination shining through her eyes.

Lennox wanted to say something more, but he was tired and the night was growing darker. He reluctantly nodded, hoping that Addie’s confidence was not misplaced.

"Have you had your dinner yet? I can ask the cook to prepare some food for you." Adrienne offered, trying to improve the mood between them. She didn’t want Lennox to feel neglected whenever he came home to her.

"No, there’s no need, Addie. All I want to do right now is get some rest," Lennox replied, his exhaustion evident in his voice. "I appreciate your concern, though. Just make sure to take care of yourself and stay safe."

Adrienne nodded and helped her husband draw a bath while he made a phone call. As Lennox soaked in the warm water, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. The soothing sensation eased the tension in his muscles, allowing him to momentarily forget about the looming danger outside. With each passing minute, his weariness seemed to fade away.

If Adrienne’s assumptions were right, then the traitor was close to him and his father. He tried to remember the details and the events leading up to their accident. He had met his father as soon as his flight landed at the airport.

His father was in a rush, as the plan was almost complete before they could start manufacturing cars. He wanted Lennox to review the entire plan before they could present it to his grandfather. But that never happened because they encountered an accident on their way to meet him.

As they drove towards their destination, Lennox noticed a suspicious car tailing them. The driver seemed to be watching their every move, making him uneasy. However, before he could voice his concerns to his father, their car was suddenly hit from behind, causing the accident that changed everything.

Lennox shut his eyes. Although it was true he and his father never got along well when he was growing up, he never wished horrible things would befall him. He tried to make peace with the fact that his family was beyond saving, but he wanted to at least be civil to his parents.

He knew his father wanted the same prior to his death, but they were never given a chance to reconcile before the accident. The collision not only shattered their chance for reconciliation, but it also left Lennox with a lingering sense of guilt and regret that would haunt him for years to come.

Someone took the chance away from him, and he would make sure that they would face the consequences of their actions.