THE CASTAWAY HEIR: POWER UNSEEN

CHAPTER 9

Brandon stepped forward calmly and placed a steadying hand on Jessica’s shoulder.

“Mrs Bennett, don’t make a scene,” he said evenly.

“There’s nothing improper going on here.”

Ava let out a sharp, derisive snort.

“Nothing improper?” she repeated mockingly, her eyes darting from Brandon’s steady hand on Jessica’s arm to the faint flush on Jessica’s cheeks.

“And yet you bring her to a hotel? Do you take me for a fool, Brandon?”

Jessica’s face flushed and she shook her head quickly.

“You’ve misunderstood, madam” she said earnestly.

“Brandon only brought me here to look at an apartment. That’s all. I need a place and he thought this might suit me. Please don’t twist it into something it’s not.”

For a brief second, Ava froze.

Her painted lips parted and her arched brows twitched as though she were weighing Jessica’s words.

Then, just as quickly, her composure cracked—and she burst into laughter.

Loud, mocking laughter that made the women clustered behind her exchange uneasy looks.

“An apartment?” Ava managed between peals of amusement.

She wiped the corner of her eye dramatically, then turned her gaze back on Jessica with pure derision.

“My dear, you’ve been tricked. Brandon here is nothing but a kicked-out loser. Do you think someone like him could ever afford a place in this hotel? Don’t make me laugh harder—I’ll choke on my own tea.”

Her friends tittered, covering their mouths with manicured hands.

“Now, if you want to see what a real son-in-law can provide, wait until you see what Ryan has arranged. An entire apartment—spacious, elegant, everything a young couple could want. And of course,” she added sweetly, pretending to be modest,

“I told him not to go overboard. My daughter isn’t the kind who cares about riches. Just enough for the two of them to live comfortably would do. But Ryan—oh, he’s so filial—he insisted I must move in too, so he can look after me properly.”

The sisters behind her nodded, echoing her words like a chorus.

“So thoughtful.”

“So devoted.”

“Truly a blessing for your family, Ava.”

Jessica felt heat rise in her chest as words of protest were at the tip of her tongue.

She wanted to tell Ava that Brandon was no fraud—that he had done more for her in one afternoon than Ryan had ever done for anyone out of pure generosity.

But before she could open her mouth, Brandon gave a small shake of his head, urging her to let it go.

“Come,” he murmured, guiding her gently toward the elevator.

Jessica followed reluctantly, biting back her words though her pride burned.

The elevator doors closed with a soft chime, silencing Ava’s laughter.

Behind them, Ava crossed her arms smugly.

To her, their retreat looked like defeat, and she seized the moment to crow louder.

“You little brat!” she shouted after Brandon, her voice carrying down the hall. “You got lucky this time. Next time, I’ll tear your skin off!”

Her words reverberated even as the elevator carried Brandon and Jessica down.

---

“Honestly, Ava,” Helena, one of her friends muttered once the elevator was gone. “Was that really necessary? They didn’t look like they were doing anything wrong.”

Doris chimed in, softer: “We came here to see Ryan’s apartment, not to start a fight.”

Ava’s smile didn’t falter. She simply flipped her hair over her shoulder.

“Don’t pity that useless boy, Brandon! He deserves everything he gets. He clung to my daughter like a leech for years, and now that she’s moved on, he thinks he can walk around with another woman as though nothing happened? Not under my watch!”

“Anyway,” she went on, pulling a sleek key card from her handbag.

“You’re all here to see the place Ryan has prepared, aren’t you? Come, follow me. But don’t expect anything extravagant—it’s just a place to sleep, really. I’ve told Ryan again and again not to waste money."

The women murmured in admiration.

“You’re so modest, Ava.”

“So grounded, unlike others.”

“And Ryan insisting you move in too—what a dutiful son-in-law.”

Ava smiled graciously, soaking in the praise as though it were sunlight.

She strolled up to the door at the end of the corridor and slid the key card through the reader with a flourish.

Nothing happened, instead the light blinked red.

Her brow furrowed slightly. “These electronic things,” she said with a brittle laugh, swiping it again.

Still nothing.

She tried a third time and a fourth. But there was still nothing.

Her friends shifted uncomfortably, exchanging uneasy glances.

“Ava, are you sure this is the right card?” Helena asked hesitantly.

“Of course it is!” Ava snapped, her composure beginning to crack.

She swiped again, harder this time and her hand trembled impatiently. Still, the light flashed red.

Her cheeks flushed hot. She bent down, tried a different angle, muttered curses under her breath. And then—

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

A shrill alarm exploded in the corridor, piercing the air like a siren.

Red lights began to flash along the ceiling.

Ava froze.

She hadn’t unlocked the door, so she triggered the building’s security system.

“What did you do?!” Marjorie, one of her friends gasped, clutching her handbag to her chest.

“I—I don’t know!” Ava stammered. “It must be the card reader—something’s wrong with it—”

But her voice was drowned out by the blaring siren. Panic rippled through the group.

“We should go,” Helena whispered urgently. “Before anyone comes.”

“Yes, let’s slip away,” Doris agreed, already edging down the hall.

But before they could flee, the pounding of boots echoed, and security officers rounded the corner at full speed with raised batons and eyes sharp.

“You there!” one barked.

“Step away from the door! Now!”

The women froze mid-step and their faces drained of color.

Ava, however, forced herself forward, her voice trembling with false confidence.

“This is all a misunderstanding,” she said quickly, waving the key card as though it proved her innocence.

“I was just—just opening the apartment my son-in-law prepared for us. Ryan Whitmore, you must know the name—”

“Ma’am, trespassing is a serious violation,” the guard cut her off.

“Step back. All of you against the wall!”

“We’re not trespassing!” Ava protested, her voice rising with desperation. “I told you, this is my family’s suite! Call Ryan! Call him right now!”

But the guards were unmoved.

Their training left no room for excuses, no matter how shrill. They raised their batons threateningly, their expressions cold.

“Against the wall. Squat down!”

Ava’s face drained of all color.

“Squat?” she echoed, her voice faltering.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?”

The guard’s eyes narrowed. “I said, squat down. Now!”