Chapter 465


    Staring at the ruffian hanging around Cecilia and that woman with the surname West—oh, it was certainly a pseudonym—they were just petty crooks


    on Kris''s payroll, clueless about who Kris''s actual contact was


    Cecilia''s expression shifted, her grip on Lucinda’s hand suddenly firm.


    "Lucy, you don''t think Mr. Malicious is in trouble, do you?”N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Lucinda quickly reassured her, "No way, Mr. Malicious loves to showboat. The only time he doesn''t want a crowd is when he’s with you, to avoid a


    third wheel. Otherwise, he''s always surrounded by a squad of bodyguards."


    "His status and his clout mean the Porter family wouldn''t dare hurt him directly. If Madeleine''s peeved with him, she''d go after you to make him regret


    it, rather than confront him head-on.”


    "But why hasn''t hee around in days? He''s usually like clingfilm, practically stuck to me 24/7. If he''s not here, he''s definitely up to something risky


    behind my back."


    Lucinda was at a loss for words.


    She truly had no idea what Owen had been up to these past few days.


    "If you''re that worried, why not call him now and see what he''s doing?”


    Cecilia immediately dialed Owen''s number.


    It took him a while to pick up.


    "Mr. Malicious, what are you busy with?"


    Owen chuckled, "Cecilia, when did I be Mr. Malicious again? I was just getting some shut-eye when your call woke me. It''s been days since I''ve


    had a good night''s sleep, I''m beat."


    "What''s been keeping you so busy that you can''t even sleep right?”


    Cecilia''s voice softened unconsciously.


    Lucinda stood up and walked away.


    She took a seat across from Darlene.


    Upon seeing her approach, Darlene set down the coffee she’d been nursing and gazed at Lucinda with tender eyes.


    "Darlene."


    "Mhm."


    Even her voice was soft, like a gentle spring breeze.


    Lucinda really loved hearing Darlene talk; it was so soothing, it almost lulled her to sleep.


    She never knew a woman could be this tender. even more so than her own mother.


    "You''re truly beautiful!”


    Darlene’s smile was as warm as the first days of spring. She was naturally stunning, but in Lucinda''s eyes, she was breathtakingly beautiful


    Watching her smile, Lucinda was mesmerized, her hands reaching out to gently cup Darlene''s face, “Darlene, stop smiling, or I''ll fall at your feet and


    end up fighting your future husband for you."


    She was dead set on ying matchmaker for Darlene and her brother, even if it meantpeting for Darlene’s affections.


    "Lucy, you''re not half bad yourself, quite the looker.”


    Darlene gently removed Lucinda''s hands.


    Lucinda caught hold of her hand again, caressing it with gentle, greedy strokes as if admiring a precious gem.


    Such delicate and soft hands didn''t seem like they belonged to a trained fighter.


    Word had it that fighters had strong grips and rough, calloused hands, but Darlene’s were smooth, slender, and well-maintained, betraying no signs of


    her skill


    Darlene’s eyes twinkled with amusement, "Lucy. I''d be afraid Mr. Coleman might show up and see you like this—he''d probably chop off my hands."


    "Don''t worry, if he did, I''d keep your hands safe for you, admire them every day."


    Darlene was speechless


    "Uh, I mean, I wouldn''t let Stefany a finger on you."


    Lucinda retracted her hands sheepishly, realizing she''d been a bit too forward


    "Darlene, you seem preupied. You were staring out the window earlier: lost in thought. perhaps?"


    Darlene offered a smile, "Not really, I just enjoy quietly watching people. Sometimes. I like to paint what I see when I get home.”


    ‘I heard from my brother that you


    love painting-Your work must be


    amazing. My-other brother is quite


    the artist Poo. He once painted a git


    who helpéd him out a lot, even —


    thoughhe didn''t know what she’


    looked like. Based on a brief


    encounter, he managed te.capture


    her likeness as if it were''@


    photograph."


    In front of Darlene, Lucinda praised her brother without embellishing his talents.


    He was truly outstanding in many ways, just seemingly indifferent to women


    Thank goodness, he showed no interest in men either.


    Probably just hadn''t met the right person yet.


    Darlene’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, "Really? I would never have guessed someone as stoic as your brother could paint so well. Maybe one day I


    could learn a thing or two from him.”


    “Of course, you can ask Keith about anything. I''ll make the arrangements."


    Darleneughed, "Keith is extremely busy, and with him in Skywatch, it''s better not to bother him. I paint to pass the time, and Keith''s time is as


    precious as gold. I''d feel terrible for taking even a minute of it."


    "By the way, Lucy, after your brother painted that girl, did he try to find her? I''m just being nosy. A girl whe could get such a cold man to paint her must


    be someone special.”


    Darlene put on a gossipy face.


    "My brother togk Mr. Martinez''s


    advice and hired Cipher Detectives


    to find her, But there''s been no word.


    yet. Mr. Martinez said the agency


    was good, but from what I seec?


    theyre not that impressive—it''s been


    socteng and they haven''t given my


    bféther any leads."


    to


    Darlene was taken aback.


    Her skills were being questioned!


    “You know, after I saw the portrait my brother painted, I thought the mysteriousdy looked a bit familiar. Maybe I''ve seen her before.”


    Darlene was silent.


    It hadn''t been long since she and Lucy had be acquainted, yet Lucy could recognize her from a painting?


    "Do you remember who she is?"


    Darlene continued her inquisitive probing.


    While Lucinda spoke, she kept an eye on Darlene''s expression. Seeing that Darlene remainedposed and gossipy, Lucinda couldn''t help but


    wonder: Was Darlene''s poker face that good, or had she suspected the wrong person?


    "I just can''t remember, darn it. If my


    memory servéd me right, Keith


    wouldn''t have had to shell out big


    bucks to hire Cipher Detectives to.


    help findMt. He spent a fortune, just


    the dgwn payment was tens of ''


    thousands, and for what? Cipher


    Detéctives seem to just take the


    cash without delivering results. I''m


    starting to think their reputation is all


    smoke and mirrors."


    Darlene remained silent, pondering.


    She had a strategy of pricing that could be best described as ‘sizing up the customer.’ The case with Keith, it was her associates who took it on. Had


    it been up to her, she definitely would''ve passed on Keith''s offer.


    Plus, the hefty down payment was something Keith insisted on.


    Her team mentioned that Keith came in, ced the order, and pped down the cash without giving them a chance to decline, let alone haggle over


    the price.


    In short, Keith had that high-handed CEO vibe down to an art.


    "Darlene, have you ever heard of Cipher Detectives? I''m seriously beginning to think their fame is just bought, or maybe it''s all a facade, a con to


    make people believe they''re the real deal."