Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 400: A Carefully Laid Trap

Chapter 400: A Carefully Laid Trap

Eric felt the same wave of dizziness and anger surge through him. This was his uncle’s home—a place he trusted—so he hadn’t asked his bodyguards or anyone else to taste the food beforehand. How could even those closest to him betray him?

Before he could resist, his body gave out, and he collapsed onto the table.

Eric’s bodyguards waited outside, as it was a family gathering and Eric had assured them everything was fine. None of them suspected the chaos unfolding inside.

Two men dressed in black entered quietly from the rear of the house and carried Eric away.

...

Half an hour later.

Ella opened her eyes in confusion, her vision still hazy. The first thing she saw was Lucas’s concerned gaze.

"Eric!" she exclaimed, her mind snapping to the one thing that mattered. She sat up abruptly and realized she was still in Curtis’s house, now seated on the sofa.

Anna and the rest of the family were awake and being questioned by the police.

"Are you alright? Do you feel unwell anywhere?" Lucas asked, his face dark with worry.

Ella looked around, panic rising as she noticed Eric’s absence. She clutched Lucas’s hand tightly. "Where is he? Where’s Eric?"

Lucas shook his head, his expression shadowed with pain as he saw her distressed face. "Don’t worry. I’ve already reported this to the authorities and sealed off all the nearby routes. We’re doing everything we can to find him."

Ella’s head spun. "What happened? Can someone...someone please tell me what’s going on?"

"Eric’s uncle has given his statement to the police. He claims he doesn’t know what happened. When I got the call from the bodyguards, I rushed over and found all of you unconscious at the dining table. By then, Eric had already been taken," Lucas explained gently.

Ella struggled to breathe. This was Eric’s uncle’s home—a place where no one had been on guard. And yet, this had happened.

"The police have also taken a statement from his aunt. She claims she received free spices while grocery shopping. She used them while cooking, and now the police suspect those spices may have been tampered with."

Ella’s face turned ashen. She thought about the Miller family’s usual methods. Apart from the scandal Eric had exposed, much of what was known about them was shrouded in rumors, with no concrete evidence to confirm anything.

But Ella understood: a family like that—especially a man like Bowen—had blood on their hands.

"Ella, don’t worry," Lucas said softly. "Eric isn’t someone who’s easily defeated. He’ll be fine."

Ella inhaled deeply and immediately called John.

John had already been notified and was mobilizing resources in Country W. He assured her he would personally head to Country W as well.

"Sis-in-law, don’t be too upset. Big Bro is tough, and no matter what storms he’s faced, hasn’t he always come through in the end?" John’s words were meant to comfort her, but they only heightened Ella’s anxiety and heartache.

Eric had survived so many hardships—but that was sheer luck amidst tragedy. Each time, he came out battered and bruised, never unscathed. His strength was matched only by the power of his enemies.

"I know...please, let me know immediately if there’s any news," Ella said, her voice trembling slightly.

"Will do, Sis-in-law. I’m boarding my flight now."

Ella nodded, ending the call slowly. Her gaze fell on Eric’s aunt, standing in the distance. How easily greed could lead people to disastrous decisions.

"Ella," Lucas said gently. "Don’t let fear consume you. Eric is incredibly smart. He’ll find a way to escape on his own. Trust me—he’s the man you chose. If he weren’t capable, being with him wouldn’t mean much, would it?"

Ella paced, her frustration mounting, before walking straight over to Anna, who had just finished giving her statement to the police.

"Anna," Ella said softly, her tone calm despite the turmoil inside her.

"I’m so sorry, Sister-in-law," Anna said, her voice filled with guilt. "It’s all my mom’s fault...if it weren’t for her, none of this would have happened."

Ella shook her head. "The blame lies with the enemy—they’ve long since studied your cousin’s mindset. After all, this is his family."

Eric was always cautious. At hotels or events, he ensured food was tested before he ate. But here, among trusted relatives, he’d let his guard down.

"Sister-in-law, my cousin will be fine," Anna said with firm conviction. To her, Eric was almost mythical—a man who overcame every challenge thrown at him.

Ella nodded, though her expression remained heavy, her mind weighed down by worry.

A police officer approached and asked Ella for her statement. Once finished, the officer respectfully greeted Lucas before quickly leaving.

...

Ella sat quietly on a carved chair in the backyard, lost in thought. What should she do now? Had Eric anticipated the possibility of an attack here? If he hadn’t, he might truly be in grave danger.

This time, the enemy wasn’t just a person—it was the entire Miller family.

"Ella, you should come stay at my home for now," Lucas said as he approached, his tone earnest. "If something happens to you as well, Eric will only worry more."

Ella hesitated. Staying alone at the hotel was indeed risky. Hotels, with their transient guests, were inherently chaotic. Anyone with money could enter, making it difficult to ensure safety. However, Ella reasoned that the attackers had no intention of harming her.

After all, she had been unconscious earlier, but they hadn’t taken her.

Her unfocused gaze sharpened as she looked at Lucas. Slowly, she shook her head. "They won’t target me. If they wanted to take me, they would have done so already. I think they’re aware of my connection to you, and that’s why they hesitated."

Lucas paused, his expression clouded with unease. "Ella, when will you finally call me ’Dad’?"

Ella looked away. "I’m not ready to discuss that yet."

Lucas’s face darkened, his emotions a complex mix of frustration and disappointment. Fundamentally, he was dissatisfied with Eric. Eric lacked the backing of a powerful family, and in Lucas’s view, that was a glaring weakness.

"Look at what’s happening," Lucas said, his tone heavy. "Eric’s in trouble, and you’re hurting because of it. If not for me, they might have targeted you as well. With strong family support, many forces would think twice before making a move. Country W is a chaotic, dangerous place—without solid backing, anyone can become vulnerable."

Lucas took a deep breath before continuing. "I’ve told you before, Ella, I don’t approve of Eric. You’re my daughter, and I want you to marry someone with the power to protect you. But seeing how much you love each other, I’ve refrained from intervening. However, today has made it clear—he still can’t even protect himself. Ella, promise me, leave him. Divorce him."

He spoke with a father’s concern, fully believing he was acting in Ella’s best interest. In Lucas’s mind, if Ella married someone like Luke, it would be the perfect solution.

...

Ella’s eyes grew colder. "Mr. Anderson, could you not bring this up at a time like this? You dare say Eric can’t protect me? Back then, you had the backing of a powerful family and still failed to protect my mother. What right do you have to criticize him?"

Lucas’s frustration flared, and he shot back angrily, "It’s precisely because of what happened back then that I refuse to let you stay with someone without power! If Eric had strength, I wouldn’t oppose him. But he’s no better than Robert—a useless fool!"