Chapter 141: Chapter 143: The Investigation
HAROLD’S POV - Five Days Before Richard’s Arrival
Harold Ashford sat in his private study, surrounded by manila folders that represented weeks of careful investigation. Luke had been thorough. Very thorough.
The private investigator sat across from him now, nursing a whiskey while Harold reviewed the final report.
"This is impressive work," Harold said, flipping through photographs, financial records, and detailed timelines. "Very impressive."
"Thank you, sir. Though I have to say, the girl is cleaner than I expected. No criminal record beyond the identity fraud she committed to infiltrate the Blackwood estate. No questionable associations. She’s almost boringly legitimate."
"Almost," Harold repeated, his eyes catching on a particular section. "But not entirely. Tell me about this."
He tapped a page labeled "A. Ren - Digital Art Sales."
Luke leaned forward. "That’s her pseudonym for selling digital art. She’s been doing it since she was seventeen. Made decent money too....enough to help with her mother’s medical bills before the diagnosis got really bad. The art itself is actually quite good. Abstract, emotional pieces that sell well to corporate buyers and private collectors."
"And she’s kept this identity completely separate from Aria Chen?"
"Completely. Different email, different payment processors, different everything. A. Ren has a significant online following. Some of her pieces have sold for five figures."
Harold made a note. "So she’s skilled at maintaining false identities. That’s useful information."
"There’s more." Luke pulled out another folder. "Her hacking background is harder to trace, but I found evidence of several freelance jobs she did during her MIT years. Nothing illegal exactly....mostly security testing for companies, some white-hat penetration testing. But there are also some gaps in her financial records that suggest she might have done work she didn’t want traced."
"Define ’work she didn’t want traced.’"
"Hard to say for certain. But a girl with her skills, needing money desperately for her mother’s treatment? There are gray-market opportunities for someone who knows how to navigate corporate security systems. Insurance databases, pharmaceutical company research files, medical trials data. Nothing I can prove, but the circumstantial evidence is interesting."
Harold smiled slowly. "So our brilliant, accomplished Aria Chen might have a few skeletons in her digital closet."
"Possibly. Like I said, I can’t prove anything. She was very careful. But the suggestion alone might be enough for your purposes."
"It might indeed." Harold moved to another section. "What about the mother? Mei Chen?"
"Now that’s where things get really interesting." Luke pulled out a medical file. "Mei Chen was diagnosed with Neufeld-Zhao Syndrome about eighteen months ago. It’s a rare degenerative neurological disease. Less than a hundred documented cases worldwide. Median survival time after diagnosis is six months. There is no cure. No treatment. Patients deteriorate rapidly and die."
"And yet?"
"And yet Mei Chen is not only alive, she’s in perfect health. Complete remission. Her attending doctors refused to give out any explanation. The medical literature has no explanation. It’s literally unprecedented in the history of the disease."
Harold leaned back, his mind working. "The plant. This Vitalis Radix that Aria stole from Damien’s greenhouse."
"Has to be. There’s no other explanation. Which means Aria Chen committed identity fraud, trespassing, and theft...and it worked. She cured her mother with stolen property."
"And Damien Blackwood, instead of prosecuting her, fell in love with her."
"Apparently." Luke shrugged. "Though from what I’ve observed, the feelings seem genuine on both sides. He’s completely obsessed with her. Takes her everywhere, introduces her to important business contacts, treats her like she’s already Mrs. Blackwood."
"Which is exactly the problem," Harold said. "Tell me about her current position at Blackwood Enterprises."
"She’s officially his personal assistant, but from what I can tell, she does much more than that. She sits in on high-level meetings, contributes to strategic discussions, has access to confidential company information. Some of the executives I spoke with....discreetly, of course....say she’s actually quite brilliant. Sharp instincts, quick mind, sees patterns others miss."
"So she’s making herself indispensable."
"Seems that way. She’s not just his girlfriend or his assistant. She’s becoming his partner. In business and in life."
Harold tapped his fingers on the desk thoughtfully. "What about vulnerabilities? Everyone has pressure points. What are hers?"
"Her mother is the obvious one. Mei Chen is everything to her. But now that Mei is healthy and Damien clearly supports the relationship, that’s less useful." Marcus consulted his notes. "She has very few close relationships beyond Damien and her mother. There’s a former colleague from the estate....Lucy Martinez, who was a maid when Aria was undercover. They’re still friends. Lucy knows the truth about who Aria really is."
"Interesting. What else?"
"She’s intensely private about her past. Doesn’t talk much about her childhood, her father, her years before MIT. There might be something there, but I couldn’t find anything specific. Just a general sense that she’s protective of certain information."
"Her father," Harold mused. "You said he’s unknown?"
"Completely. No name on Aria’s birth certificate. Mei Chen has never spoken about him publicly. Could be a one-night stand, could be something more complicated. But it’s a blank space in her history."
Harold made another note. "What about social connections? Friends, mentors, anyone from her academic background?"
"She’s friendly with Julian Pierce, Damien’s best friend, but that’s clearly through Damien. No real independent social circle among the elite. She attends events with Damien but doesn’t have her own invitations, her own network. She’s very much existing in his world rather than having established her own place in it."
"Perfect," Harold said softly. "That’s exactly what we need."
Luke looked uncertain. "Sir, I have to ask....what exactly are you planning? Because if you’re thinking of using any of this information to harm her or her mother...."
"I’m not planning to harm anyone," Harold said smoothly. "I’m simply gathering information. Knowledge is power, Luke. Understanding someone’s background, their vulnerabilities, their secrets...that’s how you predict their behavior. How you manage situations."
"With all due respect, sir, this feels like more than information gathering."
Harold’s expression cooled. "You’re paid to investigate, not to question my motives. Is your job complete?"
"Yes, sir. Everything you asked for is in those folders."
"Excellent. Then our business is concluded." Harold pulled out a checkbook, wrote a substantial figure, and handed it over. "Discretion is assumed. You never had this conversation, never compiled this information, never heard the names Chen or Blackwood."
Luke took the check, his expression troubled but professional. "Understood. Though for what it’s worth, sir....from everything I’ve seen, Aria Chen genuinely loves Damien Blackwood. And he genuinely loves her. What they have seems real."
"Real or not, it’s inappropriate," Harold said dismissively. "Now if you’ll excuse me, I have arrangements to make."
After Luke left, Harold spent another hour reviewing the files, making notes, formulating his strategy.
The dinner party would be in three days. Victoria had already sent the invitations.....a small, elegant gathering to "celebrate new friendships and moving past old misunderstandings." Damien and Aria had accepted, probably because refusing would make them look petty.
The guest list was carefully curated: old-money families, society fixtures, people who’d known the Blackwoods for generations. People who would notice every misstep, every social error, every indication that Aria Chen didn’t belong in their world.
Harold had also arranged for certain topics to come up naturally in conversation. Questions about family background, about social connections, about traditions and protocols that someone from Aria’s background couldn’t possibly know.
Nothing obvious. Nothing cruel. Just gentle, subtle pressure that would reveal the truth: she was a very clever girl playing dress-up in a world she didn’t understand.
And Richard Blackwood would be watching. Harold had made sure of that. A carefully worded phone call suggesting that Richard might want to attend this small gathering incognito, just to observe his grandson’s new relationship before the official introduction dinner.
Richard had agreed immediately.
So in three days, Aria Chen would face her first real test. And Harold would make absolutely certain she failed.
His phone buzzed. A text from Victoria: Caterers confirmed. Florist confirmed. Seating chart approved. This is going to be perfect, Daddy.
Harold smiled. Victoria had no idea just how perfect it would be.
