Filed To Story: Watch Out! She's a Mastermind Heiress (Isabella Patton) Book PDF Free
Nola’s gaze met Jared’s, her expression blank with shock. For a moment, she just stared at him.
Years of torment at the hands of the Perkins family had taught her to endure silently or fend for herself. She had never imagined that anyone would one day step in to stop the cruelty she faced.
For a moment, Nola remained silent. Mistaking her quietness for fear, Jared knelt down, extending a hand toward her.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m not one of them. You’re injured—let me help you up.”
The hand he offered was sturdy, with strong, defined fingers and a palm roughened by calluses. Seeing this unexpected kindness, Nola cautiously set down the sharp shard she had been holding and placed her trembling hand in his.
Her fingers were icy from the chill of the basement and the thinness of her clothes, but Jared’s hand was dry and warm, exuding a reassuring strength.
He gently supported her, helping her sit up on the old, splintered wooden bed. Every movement was careful, considerate of her wounds. Hidden beneath her tangled hair, Nola stole a glance at Jared’s profile, a strange warmth blooming in her chest at his tenderness.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Jared’s gaze shifted from her to the unconscious woman sprawled on the floor. His brow furrowed as he asked, “Did the Perkins family lock you up here?”
Nola nodded slightly. More precisely, it was Lilian who had confined her.
She studied Jared’s face, hesitating before asking, “Who are you? You shouldn’t have helped me. Helping me will only drag you into trouble.” Her words were rushed, a mix of fear and caution lacing her voice.
Jared looked down at the top of her bowed head and let out a faint, reassuring chuckle.
“You don’t need to worry about that. No one knows I am here—except for you.”
His gaze darted to the unconscious woman.
“She didn’t see my face. As for who I am… I’m Jared Cooper. Now, tell me—why did they lock you down here?”
Curiosity flickered in Jared’s eyes as he observed Nola. This girl, clearly a hidden secret of the Perkins family, intrigued him. What he hadn’t anticipated was the flash of recognition in her eyes when he mentioned his name—proof that she knew exactly who he was.
Nola drew in a shaky breath.
“My name is Nola Warren. I’m Aldwin’s illegitimate daughter. Twenty years ago, he raped my mother, leaving her life in shambles. Before my mother passed away, I discovered the truth and came to the Perkins family for help. But instead of acknowledging me, Lilian had me locked up here, forced to live as a servant.”
Jared’s expression hardened, sympathy and anger mingling in his gaze.
“You can’t stay here. This place will only bring you more pain. Let me take you out of here. I’ll help you find a job. You deserve to live a normal life.”
But Nola shook her head firmly.
“Mr. Cooper, I appreciate your offer, but the Perkins family is powerful. If they find out you helped me, they won’t spare you. It’s getting late—please, you should go before it’s too late.”
Meeting the resolve in her eyes, Jared realized she wasn’t going to be swayed so easily. Still, his tone remained unwavering.
“I’ve seen what’s happening here, and I refuse to ignore it. Don’t worry. I’ll be back. When I return, I’ll make sure you walk out of this place without fear and without them ever touching you again.”
His voice was steady and sincere, a promise etched in his gaze. For the first time in a long while, Nola felt a flicker of hope. The corners of her pale lips lifted in a faint, fleeting smile.
“Alright, I believe you.”
Their pact settled, Jared didn’t linger. He grabbed the unconscious woman and dragged her out of the basement, vanishing as quietly as he had appeared.
What became of the malicious woman after Jared removed her was unknown to Nola, nor did she care. Once the room fell silent, Nola’s eyes drifted to the spot where Jared had stood. Slowly, she reached under the wooden plank bed, pulling out a hidden cell phone.
The moment she powered it on, her frail demeanor vanished. No longer the cowering girl, she straightened, her presence as commanding as a queen plotting her next move.
The call connected, her voice now steely and resolute.
“Is everything arranged? Good. Let’s make sure Lilian learns what it’s like to lose.”
Coming up from the basement, Jared dealt with the evil woman, but there was no longer enough time to investigate Aldwin’s study. Instead, he brought up Nola’s existence to Isabella, and the two of them decided that before they could rescue her, they needed to dismantle the Perkins family first.
That evening, Jared and Lilian sat through an online board meeting together, where shareholders debated heatedly over Lilian’s latest proposal.
“Miss Perkins, our team of seasoned investors has reviewed your plan, and the risks are considerably high. Perhaps it would be wise to extend the timeline and reassess?”
“Miss Perkins, I agree with him. You—“
Lilian had been hoping for unwavering support, but the board’s skepticism left her feeling less than pleased.
“Risk and profit go hand in hand. In business, only those daring enough to take the leap ever see real success. The Perkins family’s extensive experience speaks for itself—you have nothing to worry about.”
Her confidence was unshaken, and her forceful stance swayed the other shareholders.
“Well, since you’re so sure of yourself, we eagerly await the Fisherman’s Cove project’s success, led by you.”
With that, the project was set into motion. To prove to the board that her proposal was sound, Lilian increased the Perkins family’s investment share. But just a week later, her phone was flooded with urgent calls.
“Miss Perkins, the projected costs for the Fisherman’s Cove project have been severely miscalculated. Our cash flow can’t sustain this, and we need a massive influx of capital to move forward—something the current Perkins Group simply doesn’t have. And pulling out mid-project isn’t an option!”
“Miss Perkins, is this what you meant by ‘nothing to worry about’? Not only is the Perkins family in trouble, but you’re dragging us down with you!”
“Miss Perkins—“
The financial disaster looming over Lilian was far worse than she had anticipated. The board members, once hesitant, were now relentless, demanding answers and accountability. Her once-firm confidence wavered, and all she could offer was a strained assurance.
“Don’t panic. I’ll find a way to fix this.”
After hanging up on the relentless calls, Lilian considered reaching out to Jared for help. But just then, a text from an unknown number popped up on her screen.
“Miss Perkins, I can solve your financial crisis. Interested?”
Her brows furrowed as she tapped out a reply.
“Who are you?”
“That’s not important. What matters is that I can help you.”
A moment later, another message arrived—this time with a number.
“This is the amount you need, isn’t it?”
Lilian’s expression shifted instantly. She hadn’t taken the unknown sender seriously at first, but when she saw the exact sum she needed—even exceeding it—her attention sharpened.
“Why would you help me?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t do it for free, of course. I want your shares in the Perkins Group.”
The sender was undeniably mysterious. Lilian had her assistant trace the number, but nothing came up.
She hesitated. Despite her position, she hadn’t fully inherited the Perkins family’s assets from Aldwin. The ten percent of shares she held was hers by birthright, a symbol of her status as his daughter. Giving them away was out of the question.
“No, I have better investors.”
With that, she shut her phone and drove straight to the Perkins family residence, heading directly to the guest room where Jared was staying.
But as she reached the door, she heard voices—Jared’s, deep and steady, and another… a woman’s, one that was disturbingly familiar. Nola. The very woman Lilian had locked away, tormented, and humiliated for five years.
How the hell was that wretch with Jared?
An uncontrollable fury surged within her. Without thinking, she shoved the door open.
Inside, both Jared and Nola turned at the sudden intrusion, caught off guard. But before Lilian could say a word, Nola quickly stood and lowered her gaze, her voice meek.
“Miss Perkins.”
Lilian didn’t respond. Her eyes raked over Nola, taking in her delicate frame, the soft curve of her exposed throat. A dark glint flashed in her gaze.
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