New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 478 Who’s Behind it? Claire's fingers gripped the edges of the tablet tightly, her eyes scanning the guest list one more time, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. No matter how many times she looked, the name Andre stood out like a stain on pristine linen. An uninvited guest who, somehow, had walked straight into her party and delivered a bombshell she was still reeling from.

She leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly. Her temples throbbed as she replayed the night in her mind -the smug expression on Andre's face, his use of the word sis, the wave of confusion and disbelief that had surged through her.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, her voice tight.

Sandra stepped inside, her brow furrowed with concern. "Here's the tablet with the security access," she said, handing it over. "Are you sure everything's okay, Ms. Peterson?"

Claire forced a smile, though it barely touched her eyes. "I'm fine. Just need to check something." Sandra hesitated, studying her boss carefully. "Alright. Let me know if you need anything else." "I will," Claire replied, her voice distant.

Sandra nodded and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Claire immediately turned her attention to the tablet. With a few swipes and taps, she accessed the security footage from the Christmas party. The familiar images of guests mingling, laughing, and toasting filled the screen. She fast-forwarded through the night, eyes narrowed, searching for something-anything-that could explain how Andre had gotten in.

After several minutes, a knot formed in her stomach. There were gaps in the footage-sections that were clearly missing. The timestamp jumped inexplicably, and the scene changed abruptly, as if someone had carefully snipped away the parts she needed most.

Her jaw clenched. "What the hell?" she muttered.

She leaned forward, scrutinizing the footage more closely. The missing sections weren't random; they were strategic. Whoever had tampered with the recordings had known exactly what they were doing. The thought sent a chill down her spine.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away. She glanced at the screen. A message from an unknown number. The words sent a surge of cold anger through her veins.

"How's my surprise?"

Her fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles white. Before she could react, the message disappeared, leaving her staring at a blank screen.

She closed her eyes briefly, willing herself to stay calm. Eligos. The name echoed through her mind, dripping with menace. He had orchestrated this, just like he orchestrated everything else. His web of manipulation was growing tighter, and now he was dragging her personal life into it.

A soft knock interrupted her spiraling thoughts.

voice came through

a deep breath

expression still concerned. "Is

head.

here if you need to talk. Or if there's something I can

a small smile. "Thank you, Sandra. I appreciate it, but this is something

on your shoulders lately. I don't want

wasn't sure if that was true. "I just need to figure

"I can double-check the guest list and cross-reference it with the security logs if

Claire said, her tone softening. "But be careful. There might be more

"More? What do

Sandra, keep her out of the tangled mess that was unfolding. But at the same time, she knew she couldn't

say there's someone who doesn't want me to have peace," Claire said carefully. "I

too involved. Just focus

"Alright. But if you change your mind and need

said, offering a grateful smile. "Thank you,

turned back to the tablet. She tapped her fingers against the desk, thinking. If Eligos was involved, then this was just the beginning. He never made one move without setting up another. And now, with Andre's sudden appearance, she had more questions

again. This time, it was

are you

at the message for

had

His reply was immediate.

Want me to come by? We can

She appreciated his support, but part of her still felt like she

own.