Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 394: Missing Without a Trace

Chapter 394: Missing Without a Trace

The secretary’s voice remained polite. "Mr. Nelson, please hold on. Mr. Bowen has something he’d like to discuss with you."

Eric narrowed his eyes, waiting. After a brief pause, a smooth, fluent voice in the language of Country W greeted him.

"Hello, Mr. Nelson. This is Bowen. My apologies for not personally receiving you a few days ago. I wanted to extend a formal apology regarding Miss Davis, Miller’s adopted daughter, whose actions unjustly landed Mrs. Nelson in trouble. I was wondering if we could meet to discuss this further."

Bowen’s tone was courteous, his posture deferential.

Eric’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Mr. Bowen, my wife is already out of jail. Don’t you think your apology comes a little late? But... I hope there are no more petty tricks aimed at harming the interests of Nelson Group."

"Of course, of course!" Bowen replied, his words smooth and practiced. "Regarding the incidents that occurred, I must sincerely apologize. Due to some oversight, our company ended up with a few disloyal individuals, which led to strained relations between us. I hope you can let bygones be bygones."

Bowen was indeed a cunning old fox. No matter how many underhanded schemes the Millers had pulled, he shifted all blame onto a group of "incompetent subordinates" and vowed to purge any moles from his organization. He even expressed a desire to maintain a cooperative relationship with Eric.

Eric offered a perfunctory response. He wasn’t fooled. He knew Bowen would gladly see Nelson Group crushed overnight if given the chance.

...

Meanwhile.

Ella had walked to the end of the corridor, standing by the window to breathe in the fresh air outside.

She sensed someone approaching.

The bodyguards immediately stepped closer to her, their eyes sharp as they watched the figure.

Ella arched a brow and turned to glance at the person. She said nothing.

Luke had come near, keeping a few steps’ distance between them. His light blue eyes glinted coldly, and his voice was low and sharp. "Ella, I hope you can be honest with yourself. You clearly don’t have the heart to hurt Father."

Ella’s gaze turned icy. "Who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to call me by my name?"

Luke chuckled softly, amused by her prickly demeanor. She was like a hedgehog, glaring and lashing out at him without a care.

"Then should I call you Miss Anderson?" Luke raised a brow, a faint trace of humor flashing in his otherwise calm and collected eyes.

"Get lost!" Ella snapped. She was in no mood for his company and despised being bothered by strangers.

"Ella," Luke pressed on, his tone serious, "Father has spent his entire life alone for the sake of your mother. He hasn’t even had a casual partner. Don’t you think that’s pitiful? What’s the point of all his wealth and power if he lives a life like that?"

Anger flickered in Luke’s expression as he spoke.

"How absurd," Ella retorted. "Was it my mom who made him stay celibate? Did she order him never to marry again? He’s lived this long, choosing to stay single. That’s on him. What does it have to do with her?"

Luke’s chest heaved with suppressed emotion. He had always deeply respected his father and couldn’t bear to hear him insulted.

But standing before him was his father’s biological daughter.

A gentleman doesn’t use his fists, Luke reminded himself. He forced himself to smile disdainfully. "Right. So if one day you die, and Eric immediately finds another woman, you’d be perfectly fine with that?"

Ella recoiled, disgusted. "I wouldn’t be happy, but I also wouldn’t want him to spend his life alone! I wouldn’t have the heart to see him live in solitude."

"And you," she continued, her eyes blazing, "cursing me like this—if Mr. Anderson overheard, he’d probably regret raising you all these years."

Luke’s words were sharp, but Ella’s were sharper.

Luke’s face flushed with frustration, but he managed to suppress his anger. "Apologies, I take back what I said earlier. If I made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry."

Ella was taken aback. A child of noble upbringing, indeed—his manners and composure were exceptional.

Even at a moment like this, Luke had apologized.

"Mr. Anderson, I’d appreciate it if you could let me have some peace," she replied coolly.

"If you return to the Anderson family, I won’t fight you over the family’s assets or inheritance. I don’t care for those things—I can earn my own wealth. I hope you’ll seriously consider what I’ve said. Father has been lonely for so many years and sincerely wishes to make amends with you," Luke said, his tone cold but controlled. He turned and walked away without waiting for a response.

Ella blinked, confused. What was Luke trying to say?

"Mr. Anderson, I have no intention of returning to the Anderson family just for the inheritance, so you can save your words," she called after him.

Luke paused mid-step but said nothing. Pressing his lips together, he walked away briskly.

For Ella, money wasn’t a driving factor in her life. She already had enough to live comfortably. Her fixed annual income allowed her to do some charity work and still cover her needs. She was content with what she had.

As long as Eric was by her side, she didn’t mind enduring a bit of hardship. Being together was what mattered most.

Lucas’s car accident, however, disrupted their plans to return home. It also left Ella deeply concerned about Mia’s mysterious disappearance. Eric enlisted the help of numerous friends and even reached out to some connections in law enforcement to assist in the search.

Lucas, upon hearing the news, couldn’t remain indifferent. Despite their collective efforts, a whole night passed with no sign of Mia.

...

The next morning, Eric presented Ella with designs of diamond rings created by famous jewelry designers from Country M and Country S.

"Take a look and tell me which one you like," Eric said as he handed her the options.

Ella browsed through the designs, feeling a warm sense of happiness and sweetness rise in her chest. But she couldn’t make a decision.

"Each one has its own unique charm. I really don’t know which to pick," she said, furrowing her brows in indecision.

Eric, lounging lazily on the bed, nudged her hand with his foot. "Then we’ll get them all."

Ella stared at him, dumbfounded. Was this the extravagance of the rich or the dominance of someone born into wealth?

"All of them? What am I supposed to do? Wear them on all ten fingers?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That works too. At least I won’t laugh at you," Eric teased.

"Which means other people would laugh at me?" Ella scoffed lightly. "If I actually wore all of them, people would say I’m flaunting my wealth or accuse me of being your kept woman. And of course, there’d be those who criticize out of jealousy."

Eric chuckled, his mischievous smile widening as he draped a leg over her lap. "Then take it off if it bothers you so much."

"Eric, could you please move your furry leg?" Ella shot him a look of mock annoyance.

Eric smirked with a mix of charm and humor. "Then move it for me."

Ella rolled her eyes. This playful banter between them was just a part of their married life. She turned her attention back to the ring designs, continuing her selection process.

...

That afternoon, Ella and Eric visited Lucas in the hospital again.

Lucas was much better than the day before. He was able to sit up, his face glowing with energy as he beamed at Ella’s arrival.

"Ella, you’re here," Lucas greeted her warmly, his smile unusually bright.

Luke, on the other hand, looked visibly annoyed. With Ella’s cold demeanor, he wondered when these two would finally reconcile as father and daughter.

"Yes, I’m here," Ella replied softly.

"Luke, why don’t you and Mr. Nelson step outside to discuss our new project? I have a few things to talk about with Ella," Lucas said kindly, exuding a peaceful demeanor devoid of any tension.

Luke gave a slight nod, his eyes briefly lingering on Ella before turning to Eric. "Shall we?"