Chapter 8 A Task

Alexia let out a bitter laugh. "So that's how it is. No wonder the Jenkins couple always looked at me like I didn't belong. They brought me into their home, but their real daughter had to live in someone else's home. Of course they resented me. Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

Andre simply shrugged, looking totally unbothered. "Gaia's orders. She thought you needed to trip up a bit and said it'd help you grow some character."

Alexia narrowed her eyes at him. "Typical. I'm guessing you and Gaia already dug into Roger and Marilee's affair long ago, right?"

Andre chuckled. "If you want the evidence, we've got plenty."

Alexia waved it off without hesitation. "No need. They're not worth the effort."

Her bluntness made Andre raise an eyebrow. "Now I'm really curious-what did you ever see in Roger?"

That question gave Alexia pause. She sifted through old memories, but all that surfaced was the image of that stubborn, broken boy from long ago-the only version of him that had ever truly stayed with her.

"I don't remember."

But deep down, she knew the truth that Roger was never the point. Growing up as an orphan before the Jenkins family found her, all she ever wanted was a real family. Everything she did-every sacrifice, every choice-was about winning love, about making people proud of her.

That mindset had followed her into adulthood, especially in relationships. Love, to her, meant lifting the other person up, pouring everything into them, and hoping they'd return even a fraction of it.

And marriage? Back then, she thought it was the key to finally being loved-something she had to earn, not something she deserved.

But standing in the present, looking back, she couldn't help but laugh at how wrong she had been.

Andre didn't look surprised. That familiar smirk tugged at his lips, amused and knowing. "I figured."

She tilted her head. "Figured what?"

"That it was never really about Roger. Most people think they understand love, but they don't. You didn't either." He shot her a playful grin. "Roger just happened to be there. If I'd met you back then, broken, desperate, and just as lost as him, maybe you'd be with me now, huh?"

Alexia gave him a sharp look, ready to shut him down, but before she could speak, Andre suddenly turned the wheel and sent the car drifting smoothly through a tight corner.

Startled, she grabbed the seatbelt and glared at him as the cars around them skidded to a halt in panic. "Pull a stunt like that again in the city and they'll revoke your license."

Andre just laughed, unfazed. "So what? Let them. I've still got my pro racing license-they can't touch that."

Just then, her phone buzzed in her hand.

She looked down. It was a call from Eleanor Gibson, Roger's grandmother.

A flicker of hesitation crossed her face before she finally picked up.

"Hi, Eleanor... No, I wasn't avoiding you... I'll stop by tonight."

Andre didn't say a word and quietly listened until the call disconnected, right as the traffic light switched to green.

He gave her a sideways glance. "So, where to now?"

Alexia let out a slow breath, clearly reluctant. "Golden Lake Estate. Thanks."

The place belonged to the Gibson family, where Roger's grandparents lived.

Andre gave a mock salute, tapping two fingers to his temple. "Anything for you."

Alexia gave him a dry stare but didn't respond.

A short while later, they pulled up outside the estate. As Alexia reached for the door, Andre hesitated, like something had been on his mind for a while. "Actually, there's another reason I came to Afoross. I've got a task I need your help with."

Alexia's hand paused on the door handle. "What kind of task?"

Andre's expression turned serious. "A batch of biotech chips was smuggled out of the Helix Consortium recently. The most important one is embedded in a crown-the Adam's Heart. It's already in Afoross and is set to be auctioned at the upcoming charity gala held by the Chamber of Commerce. I'm sure you can guess the top bidders at that event. One of them will be the buyer. And we can't let the chip fall into the wrong hands. We need you to get that crown-ideally, through Waylon Mason."

At the mention of that name, Alexia frowned and asked, "Why him?"

Andre's usual smirk returned. "You've really been out of the loop, huh? The Chamber of Commerce is about to elect a new president. And let's just say backroom politics are in full swing. That charity auction is being framed as a public welcome party for Waylon. So, you see where this is going?"

Even people who didn't follow politics could tell something big was going to happen.

Andre dropped his voice a notch. "Only Waylon has the clout to shut that auction down without causing a storm."

If he stepped in, it would settle everything smoothly-no arguments, no messy fallout.

Alexia narrowed her eyes. "That still doesn't explain why you want me involved. You all know I'm not exactly on good terms with him."

"Oh, come on. That was years ago. Who knows? Maybe things have changed. Besides, rumor has it Waylon's planning to show up at the Equestrian and Shooting Tournament soon. Why don't you seize the chance to mend fences?" Andre threw her a playful wink.

Alexia pushed the door open and slammed it shut behind her.