Chapter 257

Damian Cross and Conrad Vale's expressions darkened instantly after hearing the full story.

"Do you know what's going on?" Damian tapped his slender fingers against the desk, his sharp gaze fixed on Conrad.

Conrad let out a bitter chuckle. "Valerie Knox has been pestering me to get back together. She even insisted I ask Aria Bennett to treat her cousin."

He paused. "After I refused, her cousin died. She probably blamed Aria for it."

"As for Tessa Morgan..." Conrad's eyes flickered. "We had dinner twice. Valerie must have misunderstood."

Aria mused, "Given Valerie's personality, she wouldn’t come up with such a revenge plot on her own. Someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes."

Conrad nodded. "I’ll get to the bottom of it." He gave them both a solemn promise. "You’ll have your answers."

Tessa's phone suddenly rang, and she stepped aside to take the call.

Aria lowered her voice. "As the chairman of a conglomerate, why are you personally handling endorsement deals for a subsidiary?"

Conrad's ears turned faintly pink. "I find Tessa... unique."

That day at the nursing home, watching her patiently play chess with the elderly, his heart had skipped a beat.

"I want to know her better," Conrad admitted. "If things feel right, I’ll pursue her properly."

Aria arched a brow. "And if she rejects you?"

"Then it wasn’t meant to be." Conrad smiled easily. "I won’t force it."

Only then did Aria look satisfied.

After leaving the police station, Conrad offered to drive Tessa home. Glancing at Aria and Damian standing side by side, Tessa tactfully accepted his offer.

"Do you think they’re compatible?" Aria couldn’t help asking once they were in the car.

Damian chuckled. "Conrad’s never been this invested in anyone before." He turned the steering wheel. "The Vale family is open-minded. As long as her character is good, they won’t care about her background."

Aria finally relaxed.

"I’ll take you tomorrow," Damian said suddenly.

Aria smiled and nodded. "Remember to watch the livestream. We might just win the championship."

Warmth flickered in Damian’s eyes. "I’ll be waiting."

The next day at the airport, Damian adjusted Aria’s scarf. "Be careful."

"Got it." She waved at him before heading through security.

Meanwhile, Ezra Vaughn was already waiting at the foreign airport. After picking up Aria, they went straight to the hotel.

Two days later, at the competition venue.

The international event utilized cutting-edge holographic tech, broadcast live worldwide. Led by the production crew, the five contestants boarded a helicopter headed for the arena.

Amid the roar of the rotors, Aria gazed out the window at the shrinking cityscape below, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably.