Chapter 177
~HELENA~
“No,” I said, my voice coming out shaky. “No, you’re wrong p>
I was sitting in Mrs. O’Brien’s office, but I wished I was anywhere else. Anywhere but here, listening to them accuse my brother of being a criminal.
“Helena Layla started in a gentle voice, like she was trying to calm a frightened animal.
“You’re wrong!” I repeated, stronger this time, standing up from my chair. My hands were shaking. “My brother, he’s an ass, okay? He’s arrogant, and he’s selfish. He abandoned us for years while I raised Jason and Ryan alone. But he’s not this. He’s not a top-tier criminal working with the cartel. He wouldn’t… he couldn’t p>
“He’s been lying to you, Helena,” Tye said in a flat voice. “He used your job here to get close to Layla. He’s been using your innocence as a cover for his crimes p>
Something twisted in my chest at those words, at the way Tye said them so matter-of-factly, like they were established truth instead of horrible accusations.
“You don’t know him!” I snapped, glaring at Tye. “You don’t know anything about him p>
“We know he’s been partners with Charles Watson all along,” Big Boss Axel said from where he stood by the window. “We know he helped steal ninety million dollars from the Sinaloa cartel. We know he’s dangerous p>
“That’s not I shook my head violently. “That’s not possible. Henry cut ties with Charles years ago. He told me about their falling out, about how he had to rebuild everything from nothing p>
“It was all a performance,” Layla said softly. “We have testimony from Erica Chen. She confirmed that Henry and Charles have been working together this entire time. The falling out, the reconciliation… it was all a ploy p>
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “Erica? The woman who’s in prison? You’re basing this on the word of a convicted criminal p>
“She has no reason to lie,” Axel said. “She’s already serving time. This testimony doesn’t help her. If anything, it puts her at more risk p>
“I don’t care!” My voice cracked. “You’re asking me to believe that my brother, the person who just came back into our lives, who’s been helping us, who you asked me to give a chance… you’re asking me to believe he’s a monster p>
“We’re not asking you to believe anything,” Layla said, standing up and moving toward me. “We’re telling you what we know. And we understand this is devastating. But Helena, we need your help p>
“My help?” I laughed bitterly. “You want me to betray my brother p>
“We want you to help us find the truth,” Axel corrected. “If we’re wrong, if Henry is innocent, then you’ll prove us wrong. But if we’re right p>
“If you’re right, then my entire life has been a lie,” I finished, my voice breaking. “Everything he’s told me, everything he’s done, it would all be fake p>
Tye moved closer, his expression softening slightly. “Helena p>
“Don’t.” I held up a hand. “Don’t try to comfort me. Not about this p>
“Take the day off,” Layla said quietly. “Go home. Think about it. We’re not asking for an answer right now p>
“But we do need an answer soon,” Axel added. “We have less than a week before the cartel’s deadline. If we can’t prove Henry has their money p>
“Then what?” I asked. “What happens p>
The silence that followed was answer enough.
I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. My vision was blurry with unshed tears.
“Helena, wait,” Tye called after me.
“Leave me alone p>
But of course he didn’t. He followed me to the elevator, stepping in just as the doors started to close.
We stood in silence as the elevator descended. I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, refusing to look at him.
“I know this is hard,” Tye said finally.
“You don’t know anything p>
“I know what it’s like to have family betray you. My own cousin tried to sell me out to a rival organisation. Family doesn’t always mean loyalty p>
“Henry wouldn’t p>
“He used you, Helena,” Tye interrupted. “Your innocence, your kind heart… he played on all of that p>
“Stop saying that!” I cried, jabbing the button for the lobby repeatedly, as if that would make the elevator move faster. “I’m not betraying my brother based on the word of… of criminals p>
Tye’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he hit the emergency stop button.
The elevator lurched to a halt, trapping us between floors.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“Then don’t,” he said, his voice dropping to that low, intense tone that made my stomach flip. “Don’t betray him. Verify it p>
I stared at him. “What p>
“You said we’re wrong. Prove it.” His eyes locked onto mine. “You’re his sister. You’re family. He trusts you. You’re the only one who can get close without him suspecting anything. Go to his apartment. Look around. If we’re wrong, you never have to speak about this again. But if we’re right… you’re the only one who can get the proof we need to stop him p>
“I can’t p>
“You can. And you should. Because if we’re right, Helena, and you do nothing? The cartel will come for all of us. Including you and your brothers p>
The elevator started moving again as he released the emergency stop.
When the doors opened on the lobby, I walked out without looking back.
At home, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything they’d said.
I made tea, but I didn’t drink it. I started cleaning the apartment, but gave up after five minutes. I tried to read but couldn’t focus on the words.
Henry wouldn’t do this. He wouldn’t.
But doubts crept in like poison.
The expensive gifts, the sudden wealth after years of supposedly struggling, the perfect timing of his return to our lives, right when Layla was dealing with Cassandra’s sabotage.
No. I was overthinking this; I was letting their accusations plant seeds of doubt where none should exist.
The door burst open, and my younger brothers, Jason and Ryan, barrelled in, dropping their school bags with heavy thuds.
“Helena, you’re home early!” Ryan cheered, his face lighting up.
“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile. “Boss gave me the day off. How was school p>
“Boring,” Jason said, heading for the kitchen. “Is Henry coming over tonight p>
“Not tonight. Why p>
“He promised to take us to that new arcade this weekend,” Ryan said, flopping onto the couch. “The one with the VR racing games p>
“That’s nice of him,” I said carefully, moving to the kitchen to start dinner. “What else did you guys do today p>
They chattered about school, tests, friends, and drama, which I only half-listened to. I chopped vegetables like a machine, my mind elsewhere.
“Hey, Helena?” Jason said. “Can we stay at Henry’s place this weekend? He said we could use his gaming setup p>
My hand stilled on the knife. “His apartment p>
“Yeah. It’s so cool! He’s got like three monitors and the fastest internet ever. Plus that huge TV in the living room p>
“And the guest room has those electric beds that adjust,” Ryan added enthusiastically.
They’d been there. Multiple times, apparently. While I’d only visited once, briefly, when Henry first moved in.
My phone rang, startling me, and… speaking of the devil, it was Henry calling.
I answered, my voice sounding strange to my own ears. “Hello p>
“Hey, sis! Just checking in. How’s your day p>
“Fine. Good. Just… making dinner p>
“Listen, I wanted to let you know I’m sending over those new VR headsets for the boys. The Pro-Vision ones, just like I promised p>
Another impossibly expensive gift; those headsets cost over $2,000 each.
“Henry I said in a tight voice. “That’s… that’s too much. You don’t have to p>
“Nonsense,” he laughed. “Nothing’s too much for my family. Besides, business has been great lately. I can afford to spoil my little brothers a bit. I’ll see you guys this weekend, okay? Love you p>
“Love you too,” I said automatically.
After he hung up, I stood there staring at my phone.
Business has been great lately.
His startup company. The one he’d supposedly built from nothing after Charles betrayed him. But if they’d been working together all along p>
Where was the money really coming from?
I thought about his apartment, with its expensive furniture, high-end electronics, designer clothes, and luxury car.
For a startup founder, he lived like someone with established wealth.
My hands started shaking.
I didn’t want to believe it or even consider that Tye, Layla, and Axel might be right. But the doubts were there now, growing with every passing second.
You’re his sister. You’re family. He trusts you.
I could go to his apartment this weekend when the boys stayed over. He wouldn’t think twice about me being there. I could look around, just to prove them wrong.
Just to prove Henry was innocent.
Except, what if he wasn’t?
I stood there for a long moment, with my phone in hand.
Then I scrolled to Layla’s number and hit call. She answered on the second ring. “Helena p>
“I’ll do it,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll help you verify if Henry is involved p>