Chapter 8 Burnt Eunice's Room

Eunice clung to Marcel, her tears flowing freely. "Dad, I don't know what's gotten into Helena. She just started yelling at me as soon as she saw me, and I didn't do anything to provoke her."

Linda Gibson, observing from a distance, allowed a flash of annoyance to cross her face upon seeing Helena.

It was unfathomable to her that Helena had managed to return.

With Marcel present, however, Linda masked her true emotions and adopted a tone of worried affection.

"Helena, darling, you're finally back! Your father and I have been terribly worried."

Helena responded with a cool smile, "If you were truly worried, wouldn't you have called at least once?"

Linda's face tensed, caught off-guard. "I... I thought you were enjoying your vacation."

It was clear Linda and Eunice had misled Marcel into thinking Helena had gone traveling.

Marcel, who had been misled, scoffed dismissively, "Where have you been all this time? If you're so independent, maybe you should just stay away for good!"

Helena's expression remained unaffected.

She had long given up on expecting any genuine paternal affection from this man.

"This was my mother's house. I belong here. Why wouldn't I return?"

With that, she sauntered over to the garden swing, casually crossing her legs and fixing her family with a sly, mocking smile.

Her response inflamed Marcel's temper further.

Up to this day, he had still been struggling to accept that his success was deeply tied to the legacy of Helena's mother and couldn't bear to see his authority challenged by his daughter.

Abruptly shaking off Eunice, he advanced towards Helena with his hand raised, poised to strike.

Just as his hand nearly struck Helena's face, he halted abruptly.

Helena's lips were tightly pressed, her eyes reflecting a deep sadness that mirrored the look his late wife once had.

A pang of guilt seized Marcel's heart.

Yet, he did not lower his hand. Instead, he pushed Helena's shoulder. "Your mother is gone. With Linda and your sister here, this is their home now. Apologize to them!"

Helena's voice was low but resolute. "I'll still address you as Dad out of respect. But mark my words, if you touch me again, Linda and Eunice will pay the price."

Helena's hatred had driven her to compete in underground fights, channeling her anger into each match. She had become so formidable that within six months, no opponent dared challenge her.

Linda and Eunice would stand no chance against her might.

Marcel, stunned by her transformation, found himself speechless.

In just a month, Helena had changed dramatically.

Eunice, initially stepping forward, recoiled at the dangerous glint in Helena's eyes, retreating behind Linda.

Linda, gripping her daughter's hand, was paralyzed with fear.

"What kind of attitude is this?" Marcel bellowed, his anger flaring. "I've provided for you for over twenty years, and this is how you repay me? Ungrateful child!"

"Bullshit," Helena countered calmly, her stature rising in defiance. "You squandered my mother's inheritance on your failed investments. Did you ever actually provide for me directly? You're just shameless."

Though she was shorter than Marcel, her commanding presence made him step back.

Marcel was left speechless, unable to respond, his glare impotent against Helena's unyielding demeanor.

Helena scoffed dismissively as she entered the villa, intent only on retrieving some personal belongings. She had no plans to linger.

Upon reaching her former bedroom, she was confronted with chaos-Eunice had converted it into an overstuffed storage area. Clothes, shoes, and makeup were strewn everywhere.

With a flick of her foot, Helena pushed aside a pair of pink heels and retrieved a small box from a desk drawer. Inside, she found old photographs of her and her mother, and a backup phone.

After a last disdainful glance around the room, her eyes gleamed sharply as a brilliant idea just hit her.

One minute later, Helena walked downstairs, humming softly to herself.

In the living room, the family sat in uneasy silence.

Suddenly, Linda's voice broke through, tense with worry. "Is that smoke I smell?"

A maid burst into the room, panic stricken. "Miss Eunice's room is on fire!"

"What? Fire?" Eunice sprang up, alarmed. "My dresses! My handbags!"

Marcel's face contorted in fury. "Call the fire department, now!"

As accusations flew, Eunice seethed, silently cursing Helena, wishing she could confront her.

Outside, Helena observed from her Jeep, a cool detachment in her gaze as she watched smoke billow from Eunice's window.

Indeed, with her mother gone, this place was no longer her home.

Setting it ablaze hardly weighed on her conscience.

Unburdened by any remaining ties, Helena was accustomed to her solitude, needing no one else in her orbit.

She refocused on her phone, dialing a number to check on the earlier rescue operation. "How did it go? Is everyone alright?" she inquired calmly.

The reply came tense and urgent. "There's trouble! One of our guys was nabbed by Charlie's crew!"