The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1998

Wynter had already sensed that Aidan wasn't acting alone when she'd spotted that miniature signal transmitter. Someone was backing him. But as for who it was, Wynter still had no leads. For now, she believed that person's position had to be higher than Aidan's.

"Then, let's just wait for him to slip up. Once this is handled, I need to take Wolf away for a bit." Dalton's eyelids lifted slightly.

Hearing that, Wynter turned her gaze to him. "Where to?"

Dalton lowered his gaze, his long lashes casting a shadow. "I have to take him with me to deal with something. It should take about a week. Once it's done, I'll bring him back to you."

Wynter looked back at Wolf, who had already fallen asleep. She could faintly sense that something was off.

No matter where Wolf was, his priority was always food, followed by making money, and then sleeping soundly after eating his fill.

"Is it related to Wolf? He's different from before, and he's been sleeping a lot," Wynter asked.

Dalton looked at her and nodded. "That's right, but it's not a big deal. It'll be resolved quickly."

Wynter raised an eyebrow. "When are you guys leaving?"

"After you're done with your matters." Dalton smiled lightly, his eyes bright. Then, he added, "It feels like your mood has changed. Am I mistaken?"

Wynter's gaze darkened slightly. "None of that matters. You can take Wolf with you, but make sure he comes back safely."

"That won't be an issue," Dalton replied. With his elegant features and smiling voice, he continued, "You should rest, too. I'll wake you up when we arrive."

"Alright," Wynter replied, feeling a bit tired.

As she slowly closed her eyes, Dalton reached out to smooth her hair, his eyes filled with fondness. He understood Wolf's condition clearly, but he knew now was not the time to take him away.

After all, the matter at the port had not been resolved, and he was also concerned about Wynter being alone here. Moreover, it might backfire if he forcibly took Wolf to Mount Etna to suppress him now.

Wolf could still suppress the energy within him, though barely. At least for the time being, he would be able to maintain control of his consciousness. However, it was evident that some of his habits had changed.

Dalton felt a little helpless with this in mind. It would be ideal if Wolf could suppress it on his own, but he would revert to his chaotic state if he couldn't. Taking him to Mount Etna would be the last resort.

Dalton gazed out the window at the passing scenery, lost in thought.

After some time, the vehicle came to a stop.

Dalton gently patted Wynter's shoulder. "Wake up. We've arrived."

After a moment, Wynter slowly opened her eyes. "How long was I asleep for?"

"Half an hour." Dalton then gave Wolf a little pat on the head, waking him up as well.

Wynter stepped out of the car after stretching groggily. Noticing Wolf closing his eyes again, she said, "Wolf, you can sleep again when we get back. If you sleep now, there won't be any food left."

Wolf slowly opened his eyes. "Food… No way."

"Get up, then. Or do you want me to carry you out of the car?" Wynter's eyes curved with a hint of amusement.

Wolf rubbed his eyes. "I'll get out myself."

After the three of them got out of the car and entered the house, Wynter's phone suddenly rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Wynter accepted the call. "Mr. Munn Senior, why haven't you gone to bed yet?"

"Wynter, the matter has been taken care of," Jackson said as he chuckled. "But remember not to cross the line. Take care of the things you need to, but you must stay cautious. The politicians in Havenia are not simple people."

"The enforcement rights went through? How far does the authority extend?" Wynter's gaze turned serious after hearing Jackson's words.

Jackson's voice came slow and steady. "Arresting people and such is fine, but you'll need to give the chief executive a heads-up in advance if you dig deeper. I'll give you his contact information."

Wynter raised her brows slightly. "Alright, then I'll contact him. You should rest more and take care of your health."

Jackson hummed in acknowledgement before coughing heavily. "You, too, Wynter. Take care of yourself."

Hearing that cough, Wynter immediately asked, "What happened? Are you feeling unwell again?"

"No, it's nothing serious—just some old minor problems." Jackson chuckled before continuing, "Wynter, you're a bit too sensitive."

Wynter's tone grew serious. "I can tell the condition you're in even through the phone. Is that piece of shrapnel still pressing on your nerve?"

Jackson paused. "You're overthinking. I know my own body well, and there's no problem with it. Don't worry. It's late now, and I still have something to deal with."

Before Wynter could reply, Jackson had already hung up.

Holding the phone, Wynter recalled the times she had performed acupuncture on him back in Harmony Community. The shrapnel lodged in his body couldn't be removed, and even Wynter could only suppress his pain through acupuncture.

She knew clearly that Jackson wanted her to handle the matters at hand first and didn't want his condition to delay her.

People who never wanted to trouble others were both a good and a bad thing. Everything had two sides.

With this in mind, Wynter walked over to Dalton. "Mr. Munn Senior said the enforcement rights have already been secured, but we need to report to the chief executive in advance."

"The chief executive? That's the highest position in Havenia. It seems he went to great lengths." Dalton's gaze remained steady and direct.

Wynter nodded. "I could sense that his illness had flared up again during the call just now."

"We should go back and check on him once things here are settled, then." Dalton's voice was gentle, the corners of his lips slightly curved. He added, "In my opinion, Riley might be a breakthrough point."

"Riley?" Wynter directed her gaze toward him. "I deliberately tested her a little today, but Aidan kept interfering. It's unlikely I'll get a chance to meet her alone."

Dalton chuckled softly. "Then, I'd wager she'll ask to meet you tomorrow."

"Are you that certain?" Wynter tilted her gaze toward him. "She has no reason to ask me out."

"Wait for it tomorrow," Dalton said before standing up and heading back to his room. "Get some rest. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Wynter turned around and returned to her own room as well.

After tidying up, she lay on the bed, lost in thought.

"Wolf's behavior has changed…" Wynter murmured. "No, that's not right. Wolf... Chaos. It's possible that from the time Wolf first learned to speak, Chaos had already awakened inside him. It's just that the recovery was slow, and it wasn't enough to seize full control of his body all at once."

Wynter's intuition was sharp, and she could infer Wolf's transformation from the smallest changes. From her conversation with Dalton, it was clear he had also noticed the change in Wolf but hadn't told her.

As she thought about it, her eyes slowly drifted shut. With each day draining her energy, she soon fell fast asleep.

The next day, sunlight spilled across Wynter's body just as a message came through on her phone. She turned over and instantly woke up when she got a glance at the screen.

"Ms. Quinnell, could we meet today? I'll be waiting for you at the same cafe as before." It was a message from Riley.

Once the car was parked, Riley took the keys from her bag, opened the door, and led Wynter to the second floor.

"I've already shut down the home surveillance system," Riley said in a quiet voice. "We only have 15 minutes. After that, his driver will be back to fetch some documents."

Wynter arched her brows slightly. "That's more than enough."

The door was locked when they reached the study.

Riley groped under the base of a vase for a key, her hand trembling so badly she could hardly hold it.

"I… I've never betrayed him before…" she muttered, not knowing whether she was explaining to Wynter or consoling herself.

Wynter patted her shoulder. "This isn't betrayal. Would you still think the same if his crimes drag you down with him?"

"You're right. I have to plan for my own future." Riley gripped the key tightly before inserting it into the lock and opening the study door.

Wynter went straight to the desk, bending down to check the live surveillance, noting that it had indeed gone dark.

"Where's the hidden room you mentioned?" Wynter stood and glanced at the safe.

Riley walked toward the bookshelf and reached for one of the ancient books on the last row. The entire shelf slid soundlessly aside when she pulled the book, revealing a metal door.

Seeing this, Wynter stepped closer and pushed the metal door open. A wave of mixed sandalwood and preservative odor hit her face.

The hidden room wasn't large, but it was arranged like a miniature museum. All four walls were lined with glass display cases, each neatly housing dozens of cultural relics.

There were bronze vessels, emerald ornaments, porcelain pieces—every one of them marked with professional labels. In the center, on a solid wood table, several relics were wrapped in plastic film, as though they'd just been processed.

Wynter quickly snapped a few photos. She had a clear picture of the room's contents, but the safe still needed to be opened.

Just as she was considering how to handle it, Riley let out a sudden cry.

"That's… That's my father!" Riley pointed at a photograph hanging on the wall, her face paling.

The photo showed a stern-looking elderly man with grey hair, standing in front of a pile of relics.

Wynter seemed to understand something. "What did he work as?"

"He's the Director of the Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee." Riley's voice cracked. "He died in a car accident this year…"

Wynter narrowed her eyes. "It seems your father discovered this hidden room back then, and Aidan took notice of it. Aidan must have tried to dissuade him, but your father insisted on exposing it. That's why he…"

Tears welled in Riley's eyes. "Why didn't I notice it sooner?"

"This isn't the time for emotions. Time is short, and we should be leaving now," Wynter said quietly.

"I…" Riley could hardly hold herself together. "Promise me you will put him behind bars. Avenge my father!"

Wynter nodded. "Alright, I promise you, but let's get out first."

Just as they were about to leave, the sound of the doorbell rang from downstairs.

"It's the driver." Riley's expression changed dramatically. "He's back earlier than expected."