Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
“No, it’s just that it was so sudden. You’ve put a lot of effort into the Fisherman’s Cove project—it’s only right that I accompany you.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll arrange the itinerary now.”
Having secured what she wanted, Lilian lingered by Jared’s side for a moment before finally taking her leave.
“Boss, things are moving forward smoothly. Lilian just asked me to go to Estresa with her.” The Perkins family had kept their real situation tightly under wraps. Outsiders assumed Jared was seeking favor with them, unaware that they needed Homelight Enterprise to help them restore their former power and glory.
Isabella, however, had her own sources—through Healy, she had gained some insight into the situation.
“This is a golden opportunity. Given the Perkins family’s current predicament, they’ll want to put on a show of unity. There’s a strong chance they’ll invite you to stay at their estate. When do you leave? I have contacts in Estresa—we might be able to use them.”
Jared immediately understood that Isabella was planning to go to Estresa with him.
“This weekend. We have two more days.”
Isabella said, “Alright, you two go ahead. I’ll catch up soon.” After hanging up, she took a moment to finalize her work arrangements. As she did, her thoughts drifted to Andrew, who was still away on a business trip. A quiet sense of relief settled over her. It was a stroke of luck, really. If Andrew had been around, she wouldn’t have had a clue how to explain her sudden trip to Estresa.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, her phone lit up with an incoming video call—Andrew.
“Baby, what are you up to right now?” On the screen, his eyes were filled with warmth and longing. He had spent the past few days digging into the Perkins family’s dealings in Estresa, connecting dots, and gathering intel. His return was near, but not quite yet.
Normally, Isabella wasn’t one for long, drawn-out conversations while she was working. But with him being so far away, even the smallest details of her day became something worth sharing.
As they talked, she studied Andrew carefully. He’d lost weight. The long hours were wearing him down.
“Honey, do you know what I want to do most right now?” Isabella asked.
“What?” Andrew asked.
She replied, “I wish I could be there with you, making sure you’re eating properly and taking care of yourself. Why don’t you ever eat well when I’m not around?”
Amused by her “simple” wish, Andrew chuckled, his deep voice carrying through the connection.
“Baby, that’s the sweetest thing I’ve heard all day.”
Isabella sighed, a trace of helplessness in her expression. When had this serious, no-nonsense CEO become so ridiculously affectionate? She straightened up, her tone firm.
“Starting today, you’re going to eat on time—no skipping meals, no excuses. Work or not, I want you taking care of yourself. Got it?”
“Okay, okay. I’ll listen to you, baby.”
Satisfied, Isabella let the conversation shift to other topics. They chatted without realizing how much time had passed—until a knock sounded from Andrew’s side, forcing them to wrap things up. She ended the call.
Andrew set his phone down and turned, his expression slipping back into its usual calm as he met Eaton’s gaze.
Meeting that cool, assessing gaze, Eaton spoke with careful precision.
“Chief, the Welch Group’s issue remains unresolved. However, our people have gathered solid proof that the Perkins family framed the Welch Group and bribed government officials. Through their network, we’ve uncovered their hidden power, but the concrete evidence of their collusion is locked away in the Perkins family’s old house. We have no way of retrieving it. What are your orders?”
Andrew’s eyes flickered with thought as he stared at a fixed point in the air. After a moment, he said, “Hold off for now. As for the evidence, I’ll arrange for someone to handle it.”
Eaton had learned to trust Andrew’s judgment. Every move he made was calculated, every decision airtight. Hearing what Andrew had said, Eaton felt reassured.
“Understood, Chief. If you need my cooperation, just say the word.”
“Okay.”
With that, Eaton left. Andrew remained still for a beat before picking up the hotel phone.
“Send a meal to my room, please. Thank you.” Only after handling that did he turn to his laptop and log into the internal system of the Qiviut Organization.
The Perkins family’s affairs were laced with danger, and if they wanted the evidence, only highly trained operatives could secure it.
Andrew, being a member of the Qiviut administrative group, was restricted from directly reaching out to the task team members. Instead, he relayed his request to the leader of the task team. In his message, he instructed the two designated task members to head to the Perkins family’s old house to locate the evidence, assuring them that he would create the necessary opportunities for them once they were ready.
Two days later, Jared and Lilian arrived in Estresa on a private plane. The moment they stepped into the Perkins family’s estate, they were met with an enthusiastic welcome from Aldwin.
“I’ve heard Lilian mention you often. As a father, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. But now that I see you in person, I find you truly are a talented young man with a bright future.”
The dynamic between Aldwin and Jared had shifted from that of mere business associates. As Aldwin spoke, he gave Jared’s arm a firm pat, the strength behind it making it unmistakably clear that he was a man of considerable skill.
As for the maids serving tea and the servants tending to the garden, Jared had noticed along the way that their eyes were sharp and watchful, revealing that they were far from ordinary.
Keeping his expression composed, Jared met Aldwin’s gaze with a respectful nod.
“Mr. Perkins, you flatter me. I’ve long admired your achievements, but I never had the honor of sitting down and speaking with you—until today. This is truly a privilege.”
Jared’s words were smooth, polished, but carefully measured. Aldwin, who had his own reasons for seeking an alliance with Homelight Enterprise, let out a hearty chuckled.
“Well then, since you’re here, why not stay for a few days at my house? Lilian can show you around and make you feel at home.”
“Then, I suppose I’ll be imposing on you, Mr. Perkins.” Jared rose to his feet. With Lilian guiding him, he strolled toward his temporary room, taking the opportunity to observe the Perkins family’s old mansion along the way.
To Lilian and Aldwin, Jared, despite being the formidable founder of Homelight Enterprise, was ultimately just a young man without rooted family backing. While they remained wary of him, they once considered that his true purpose in stepping into their home was to unearth damning evidence of their misdeeds.
Trailing behind Lilian, Jared took in the surroundings, committing every detail to memory.
It was worth noting that while Aldwin was utterly ruthless in his actions, he clung stubbornly to age-old superstitions. Because of the Perkins family’s deep-seated beliefs regarding the spiritual alignment of their estate, they had deliberately refrained from installing surveillance cameras, opting instead to rely on a network of servants for security.
Jared mused that this arrangement worked perfectly in his favor.
Aldwin made no secret of Jared’s stay, announcing it publicly and without reservation. Within two days, word of the newfound alliance between the Perkins family and Homelight Enterprise had spread like wildfire.
Upon hearing the news, many onlookers sighed, remarking that the Perkins family’s influence would only grow stronger from here. Some even speculated that regarding the highly contested development project in the west of Estresa, the government might reconsider its dealings with the Welch Group and instead start negotiating with the Perkins Group.
Within the Perkins family’s estate, both Aldwin and Lilian were frequently away. The former had been rubbing elbows with high-ranking figures in both the political and business spheres, while the latter, who had freshly returned from Ansport, couldn’t resist rekindling old flames and socializing with familiar faces. Jared remained at the mansion, managing his affairs remotely. In the guest room, he checked the time, switched the computer interface, and moved toward the window.
From his observations, this was precisely when the servants would change shifts. If he stepped out now, the likelihood of running into anyone was minimal.
His gaze settled on the main house where Aldwin and Lilian resided. To its eastern side lay Aldwin’s study—the very place where the evidence he sought might be hidden.
Seizing the moment, Jared advanced toward the study, moving with silent precision. Upon reaching the door, he found it locked. Without hesitation, he shifted his approach to the study’s window. Just as he was about to slip inside, something unusual caught his eye—a slight distortion in the neatly manicured lawn. The edge of a particular patch was lifted ever so slightly.
Instantly, Jared understood—it was a fake lawn.
Backing away from the study window, he made his way toward the disguised section of the lawn. Ensuring no one was nearby, he carefully lifted the edge. Beneath it, a hidden passage emerged, just wide enough for a single person to pass through. A set of stairs descended into the darkness. Jared’s eyes narrowed as a sense of intrigue settled over him. Something was concealed within this passage. He made his decision—he would go down and uncover whatever lay beneath.
The underground passage, with its external entrance, heightened Jared’s vigilance. He tread cautiously, aware of potential traps. Yet, as he descended further, his confusion deepened. There were no hidden mechanisms, no obstacles—just an unsettlingly large space below. And then, as he advanced, a sound reached his ears.
In the basement beneath the study, a place steeped in a chilling, oppressive atmosphere, a frail girl sat curled up on the cold ground, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. She wore a thin, faded white dress that hung loosely on her delicate frame. Her exposed arms bore the cruel evidence of past torment—bruises, dark and splotched, marring her pale skin. Scattered around her were overturned bowls and dishes.
“Just an unacknowledged daughter, and you dare think you can see Mr. Perkins while our young mistress isn’t in Estresa?” Standing over the girl was a stout, broad-shouldered woman, her arms akimbo, her expression twisted with contempt.
“If she hadn’t returned in time, you might’ve actually pulled it off! You miserable thing—did you really believe you could live like a lady of the Perkins family? Don’t be ridiculous. If Mr. Perkins had ever intended to acknowledge you, he wouldn’t have cast you out like trash in the first place! But since you had the audacity to come here, don’t even think about leaving. You’ll stay right where you are—nothing more than a convenient tool for the young mistress to vent her frustrations. You’ve broken the rules, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
As the woman spoke, she stepped forward, raising her foot to deliver a punishing kick—only to strike nothing but empty air.
The basement’s dim lighting cast eerie shadows over the wretched scene. The woman continued her venomous tirade, her harsh voice grating against the silence. The girl remained curled up, looking fragile, a pitiful sight that would have sent a shiver down anyone’s spine. On the cold ground, Nola Warren’s slender fingers tightened into a vice-like grip. Hidden in her palm was a jagged shard of porcelain. Her long, unkempt hair veiled her face, concealing her expression. Keeping her head bowed, she murmured in a weak, trembling voice, “I’m sorry. Please don’t hit me.”
But her words did not earn her mercy. If anything, they only seemed to fuel the woman’s cruelty.
Just as the woman yanked Nola’s hair and raised her hand to strike, a cold, ruthless glint flashed in Nola’s eyes, hidden beneath her bangs. The muscles in her slender arm tensed, and in an instant, the sharp shard in her grip sliced through the air, aiming straight for the vile woman’s throat.
Bang! A sharp gust of wind ripped through the air in front of Nola, and just like that, the malicious woman’s curses were silenced. At that very moment, a man stepped into view, his presence commanding, his aura exuding effortless authority.
With one swift motion, Jared knocked the malicious woman out cold. His gaze shifted to Nola, who lay crumpled on the ground, her face as pale as a ghost. His voice softened as he asked, “Are you alright?”
Jared had been lurking nearby for a while. Initially, he hadn’t planned to intervene, but after hearing the woman’s venomous words and witnessing her merciless attack, he could no longer stand by.