Chapter 241

Renata rushed back to the Lambert family estate, surprised to find that Santino hadn't gone to the office today either. He was in the bedroom on a call, his expression grim. Renata paused, trying to listen in, but he barely said a few words, mostly just murmuring, "Mm-hmm, right, go on."

She listened for a while but couldn't glean any useful information. When Santino finished the call, she walked over quickly. "Santino."

Santino put his phone away and turned to look at her. "Why is your hair wet?" he asked, reaching out to smooth a few strands.

But Renata knew all too well that his intimate gestures were devoid of any real emotion. Even the way he touched her hair felt as mechanical as flicking through the pages of a book.

She stared at the man before her. Outside, the sky was overcast, and a torrential rain was falling. He stood by the window, his features shadowed but somehow softer than usual, as if viewed through a grayscale filter.

Looking at that face, Renata suddenly felt her guilt begin to fade. She threw herself into his arms, wrapping her own tightly around his waist. "Santino, let's move abroad."

The hand resting on her head paused. Santino looked down at her, confused. "Why the sudden desire to leave the country?"

"I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?"

Renata shook her head, not daring to say it. She was afraid Santino would find her cruel. In her eyes, he had always been a gentle person, the kind who would never be drawn to a woman with such a malicious heart.

Santino's gaze flickered as he gently stroked her hair. "I can't. There's too much to handle at the company right now. If I leave, they'll think I'm absconding with the funds."

"I don't care! I just want to go abroad with you and Jaden. We can live there as a family and never come back. Who cares what anyone says? We won't be around to hear it."

"But I can't," Santino said, his voice gentle but his tone firm.

He couldn't leave. If he did, he would lose everything. All his efforts would be for nothing. How could he possibly leave?

Renata looked up at him. "You really won't go? Can't you... for me...?"

Santino met her gaze but remained silent. His silence was his answer.

Renata clenched her fists, seemingly forcing herself to say the words. "Santino, I

was the one behind what happened to Yolanda."

Santino's movements paused for a fraction of a second.

Renata rushed to explain, "I know it was cruel, but I did it all for you! And I never intended for her to be killed It must have been the kidnappers They must have gotten into some kind of dispute with Yolanda and that's why they killed her to tie up loose ends!"

Santino listened to her quietly. After a long silence, he said abruptly, "Renata, you

know that Dad has been taken into custody."

"Yes, that's why I..."

"And that's precisely why you can't leave."

"Why?" Renata asked, confused.

"If you leave, and I leave, it will look

of us conspired

this explained. "We'll get

this, Santino explained. "We'll be

seen as fugitives from justices

"I....." Renata hesitated after hearing this. "But what if they trace it back to me? Then

I won't be able to leave at all, will I?"

"They probably... won't," Santino said, though he didn't sound entirely certain After all, he mused Clifford' target was Wallace. If Wallace went

to prison, all his shares would fall into Clifford's hands.