C9 He Came out to Save Her.

Wrapped in Helmer's embrace, Edna felt a warmth spreading through her body, an unfamiliar sensation that left her uneasy.

"Mr. Andrews, it's quite late."

"I'm aware." Helmer tightened his hold on Edna and cautioned her, "Stay still."

Hearing Helmer's words, Edna inhaled deeply. This enigmatic man's actions were always so baffling.

"Mr. Andrews, I mean, who are you looking for? Let's discuss this tomorrow, okay?"

Edna was reminding Helmer that she had work the next day.

Besides, having him in her room could only lead to complications if Mommy or Uncle Dalton were to find out.

"And what of it?" Helmer retorted, tugging at a strand of Edna's hair.

A subtle scent emanated from Edna, unlike the overpowering perfume of other women; it was a gentle aroma of shower gel that wafted into Helmer's nostrils, threatening his composure.

"Ouch!" Edna swatted away the hand entangled in her hair, her voice laced with exasperation and reproach.

"You made a promise to me," she reminded him, her brow furrowed.

Edna had shared this old house with him for four years. She believed she understood him, yet after a three-year absence, he seemed to have sunk to new lows of contemptibility.

A self-satisfied smirk played on Helmer's lips upon hearing Edna's words.

He had made a promise, true, but that didn't necessarily mean he'd keep it.

With a swift move, Helmer flipped her beneath him, gripping her jaw firmly. "You recall my words quite clearly. Now it's time for you to honor your duties and obligations."

Without further ado, he bent down and captured her lips.

Edna turned her head to evade him, her hands defensively crossed in front of her chest. "You jerk, if you're so inclined, why not go to Edith?"

Edna was certain that Edith would have eagerly awaited him, freshly bathed and ready in bed. Many women longed for a place in Helmer's bed, but not her. Yet, for reasons unknown to her, Helmer insisted on pursuing her.

Crack!

Helmer's fist tightened, his knuckles cracking with the strain.

He halted, his gaze darkening.

In the ensuing silence, he held her chin firmly and declared, "Edna, our time together stretches far ahead."

Helmer's words were laden with deep-seated anger, making it clear that he wouldn't back down easily. Rising abruptly, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Edna watched his retreating figure, breathing a sigh of relief—she had dodged a bullet.

Even after Helmer had departed, Edna couldn't quite shake off her anxiety, resulting in a restless night's sleep. Fortunately, the next day dawned bright and clear, lifting her spirits and dispelling her concerns.

After changing, Edna descended the stairs to find only Marie bustling about in the living room—her mother and Helmer were nowhere to be seen.

"Miss, you're up? The Mr. and Mrs. have stepped out, and the young master has left as well. He instructed me to save some breakfast for you; I'll warm it up," Marie said.

Having been bright from a young age and sharing a close bond with Marie, Edna was touched by her evident joy at her return. "Which young master? My big brother?" Edna asked, rubbing her eyes. Her brother had always been kind and considerate, a thought that brought her comfort.

"No, it was Mr. Andrews," Marie replied with a smile.

"Really? That kind?" Edna was skeptical. After being on the receiving end of Helmer's schemes for so long, she half-expected her breakfast to be laced with poison.

Casting a glance at the living room clock, Edna noticed it was nearly time to head to work. She quickly finished her breakfast and left the family home.

Wanting to avoid both Helmer and Edith, Edna made a beeline for her office upon arriving at the company.

Apart from Graham, the head of the legal team, the rest of her colleagues shared the same office space. Having spent a day with them, Edna had already formed a basic understanding of her peers.

Jimmy, at 26, was a four-year veteran at the company and exuded a calm demeanor. His kindness towards Edna left a positive impression on her.

The other two lawyers, Jessie and Lucy, had been with Andrews Jewelry for just over a year. Edna had also learned that Jessie's father was a well-known figure in the business world. Despite being only twenty-three, Jessie had already earned Edna's respect.

Edna held Jessie in high regard, and she certainly had her reasons for doing so. She learned that Jessie's first job at Andrews Group was due to her father pulling strings without her knowledge, and Jessie had promptly resigned upon discovering this. Later, when Andrews Group held an open recruitment for a lawyer, Jessie proved her mettle and secured the position on her own merits.

Edna's entry into Andrews Group hadn't been through a standard hiring process, which seemed to rankle Jessie. Jessie's every remark was laced with sharpness, her words often edged with irony.

But Edna was unfazed. She was confident that, in time, her work performance would win over any skeptics.

That evening, Edna's phone rang with an urgent call from Tang Wan. "Edna, get to Club Blaze fast. Fannie's in trouble," Tang Wan blurted out before abruptly ending the call. Edna tried to call back immediately, only to be met with a voicemail stating, "No answer."

Panic set in. It was rare to hear Tang Wan so rattled. As Edna rode in the taxi, gripping her phone, she prayed she wouldn't miss another call. Tang Wan and Fannie were dear friends; the thought of harm coming to either of them was unbearable.

Twenty minutes later, Edna arrived at Club Blaze, cursing Jongvale's traffic under her breath. She paid the cab fare in haste and rushed inside.

The club was a sensory overload, with thunderous music and swirling lights making it nearly impossible to spot anyone. After a tense search, Edna finally spotted Tang Wan and Fannie in a corner, clearly in deep trouble.

Through the crowd, Edna saw Fannie and Tang Wan encircled by several men. Tang Wan sat on a couch, clutching a glass of red wine, her hands visibly shaking. Fannie was restrained by two men, unable to move, both women's faces etched with fear. Fannie looked on the verge of tears, having run afoul of some thugs.

A rush of fury flooded Edna's mind. Without a second thought, she charged through the crowd and shouted, "Let them go!"

Upon hearing Edna's voice, Fannie's head shot up in a panic. "Edna, you're finally here."

The sight of Edna caused Fannie's last shred of composure to collapse. Ignoring the stares of those around her, she broke down in tears.

Edna's fury ignited when she saw her friends being harassed. The men, noticing her reaction, quickly encircled her as well.

She strode over to pull Tang Wan and Fannie to safety, but the men blocking Edna's path only pressed in closer. "You think you can just show up and then leave like that?"

Edna's expression turned steely as she realized they weren't about to back down. After a tense silence, she bit her lower lip and declared, "Since we're here, there's no way I'm leaving them behind."

While Edna was strategizing their escape, she caught sight of a familiar figure amidst the crowd—Helmer, with Elroy and several bodyguards in tow.

But to encounter Helmer in such a disheveled state, was it just a stroke of bad luck?

Not just Edna, but Fannie and Tang Wan too were taken aback to see Helmer. Being long-time friends with Edna, they were well aware of the rapport between her and Helmer.

"Meng Bai," Tang Wan whispered Edna's name.

In that moment, as Edna's eyes met Helmer's, he was already looking back at her.

Helmer saw her pinned down on the sofa by the men and made his way over. Even in a bar, he maintained an air of formality, dressed in a crisp suit, exuding a solemn chill.

The men stood up defensively as Helmer approached.

"Let her go," Helmer commanded, his words directed at the man but his intense gaze fixed on Edna.

Edna's attire was disheveled, a rare sight for Helmer, who was unaccustomed to seeing her so vulnerable.

Helmer stood his ground, seemingly calm, yet Edna could sense the palpable rage emanating from him.

"Who are you?" one of the men challenged.

With deliberate steps, Helmer reached out and seized the man's wrist. The sound of bones snapping was muffled by the bar's clamor, leaving only the man's agonized cries to echo through the space.

A chill ran down Edna's spine at the sound. She had always known Helmer to be resolute and decisive, but today she witnessed it firsthand.

As Helmer took action, the bodyguards quickly encircled the men.

"Ouch, let go!"

Helmer's presence was overpowering. Clutching the man's wrist, he made it clear that no one should dare to act rashly. "Do you really want to cross me?"

In a moment, recognition dawned on one of them. The man inhaled sharply, his voice laced with panic, "Are you, Mr. Andrews?"

Bryant, the Andrews Family's eldest son, had no interest in the business world's complexities. He abandoned the family enterprise to pursue a career as a concert pianist.

Helmer, the second son, was a prodigy in business, known for his cunning and merciless nature. Those who crossed him never met with a pleasant fate.