Chapter 18: Have You Seen Elena?

Daniel froze at Charlotte's icy accusations.

"What the hell happened?"

He'd been by Elena's side these past two days—when would he have had time to conspire with another woman?

And plotting to kill Elena? Absolutely impossible!

"Still pretending, Daniel?" Charlotte's sneer cut through the phone. "At this point, it's pathetic."

"I'm done wasting words on you. Sign the papers or not—either way, you'll never lay a finger on Vanderbilt assets!"

Click.

The line went dead, leaving only hollow static.

Daniel drew a slow, steadying breath before handing the phone back to Wu Yan. He knew Charlotte's stubborn nature and her deep-seated prejudice against him—pushing further would be futile.

"Mr. Lockwood, regarding the agreement—"

"No meeting, no signature."

With that, Daniel turned and strode out of the ward.

Moments later

His phone rang again—this time, the caller ID read:

[Alistair Lockwood]

Daniel's expression turned glacial the moment he saw the caller ID.

For Alistair to call at this exact moment—there was no doubt he was involved in Elena's sudden departure from Jiang City.

He answered with icy control.

"Daniel. Have you divorced Elena yet?"

Alistair's tone was uncharacteristically calm.

"I didn't sign."

A beat of silence.

Then—

"What do you mean you didn't sign?!" Alistair's voice erupted through the phone, all pretense of composure shattered. "After everything I told you? Get your ass back here now and explain yourself!"

A bitter, self-mocking smile tugged at Daniel's lips.

In his past life, he'd genuinely believed Alistair was the devoted father figure he'd never had—blindly obeying his every demand, convinced it was for his own good.

Had he been out of his damn mind?

If given the choice, he'd sever all ties with the Lockwoods without a second thought.

But right now—

He still didn't know what had truly happened with Elena.

And until he uncovered the full picture, he had to play along.

Daniel took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions. "I'm on my way."

Jiang City, Fucheng Residential District

Apartment 3601, Building A

The moment Daniel stepped inside, he faced his adoptive father Alistair's grim expression and his adoptive mother Yang Rongjuan's feigned gentleness. Without preamble, he demanded:

"What did you do to make my wife leave so abruptly?"

Alistair's face darkened further. "How would we know why Elena left? Daniel, how dare you make such a major decision like divorce without consulting us? This is outrageous!"

"Alistair, don't be too hard on him," Yang Rongjuan interjected with saccharine concern. "He's still young and heartbroken over the divorce. Don't scold him further."

"Hmph!" Alistair's expression softened slightly as he turned to Daniel. "Regardless of your feelings, after the divorce, Elena's Jiang City assets will be transferred to you. But given your current... instability, how can we trust you to manage them?"

"Here's what we'll do: After signing the papers, we'll handle the asset transfers temporarily. Once you're capable, we'll return them."

Yang Rongjuan nodded emphatically. "Daniel, your father's right. You're too impulsive to handle such responsibilities. Let us safeguard them for you."

A cold smile played on Daniel's lips.

"So this is why you summoned me back—to get your hands on my wife's assets."

No wonder Yang Rongjuan suddenly pretended to care. Wolves always show their teeth eventually.

Alistair slammed his hands on the table. "Daniel! How dare you? I'm your father! Would I harm you? Managing those assets is for your own good!"

Daniel laughed—a sharp, mirthless sound.

"For my good? Alistair, if you truly cared, you wouldn't be pushing for my divorce!"

Alistair's face darkened instantly at Daniel's words.

Yang Rongjuan quickly intervened: "Daniel, we understand your situation with Elena. Divorce is the best choice for both of you."

"We can even sign an agreement—the assets you gain from the divorce will still be yours. We're just helping manage them temporarily, and all profits will go to you."

"Not interested." Daniel's voice was glacial. "I said I'm not divorcing her. Are you deaf?"

Yang Rongjuan sighed. "Daniel, we raised you for over twenty years. Surely you don't think we'd harm you?"

"Harm me?"

Daniel let out a sharp, humorless laugh.

"Your idea of 'not harming me' was setting up my wife to sleep with your precious son Sebastian?"

"Pushing me to divorce so Sebastian could marry her instead?"

"Desperately waiting to snatch the assets Elena gave me?"

"If that's your definition of care, then I should thank you for at least not murdering me yet!"

Alistair and Yang Rongjuan paled—they hadn't expected Daniel to lay their schemes bare so brutally.

Before they could respond, Daniel cut in coldly, returning to his original purpose:

"Tell me. Did you orchestrate Elena's departure? Where is she now?"

"You little bastard!" Alistair snarled. "Elena left because she couldn't stand the sight of you for one more second! Divorcing her is the only 'compensation' you can offer!"

His expression turned venomous. "Daniel, remember this—I'm still your father. If you want to remain a Lockwood, you will sign those papers!"

Daniel smirked. "My father? Don't flatter yourself, Alistair. You're not worthy of that title."

He took a step forward, his voice dropping to a deadly calm.

"Tell me where Elena is, and starting today, we're done. I'll never set foot in this house again."

"Cutting ties? Fine!" Alistair snarled. "Sign the divorce papers and hand over Elena's assets—or you won't leave this house today!"

With a sharp gesture, three burly men stepped into the room, blocking the exit—Alistair's personal bodyguards.

Yang Rongjuan, her mask of maternal warmth now gone, retrieved a document from the coffee table.

"Daniel," she said coldly, "first sign Elena's divorce agreement. Then this." She tapped the second file. "After that, you're free to go."

"And we'll be strangers."