New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 480 Locating Andre The faint glow of the laptop illuminated Matthew's face as he continued his search, his fingers flying across the keys. Claire leaned against the side of his bed, her mind racing with possibilities and

unanswered questions. The revelation of Andre's existence still gnawed at her, the bitterness in his eyes from the party haunting her thoughts.

After several minutes of fruitless searching, Matthew sighed and pushed the laptop aside. "I don't get it. There should be something on him. But it's like he's a ghost."

Claire nodded slowly, her fingers drumming against her thigh. "That's because someone doesn't want us to find him. Someone with enough influence and resources to erase digital footprints."

"Eligos," Matthew muttered, his jaw tightening.

She sighed, looking at him with a weary expression. "He's always three steps ahead, isn't he?"

Matthew squeezed her hand gently. "He might be ahead right now, but we've caught up before. We can do it again." He paused, his gaze searching her face. "How are you holding up, really?"

Claire's eyes softened. She knew Matthew well enough to understand he wasn't asking out of mere curiosity. He genuinely cared, and for a moment, she let her guard slip. "I feel like everything I know about my life is unraveling. First the scandal with Adrian, and now this half-brother I never knew existed." Matthew nodded. "It's a lot to process."

She exhaled sharply, trying to steady her thoughts. "It's not just about processing it. I need to act. I can't let Eligos keep pulling the strings."

"We won't," Matthew assured her. "We just need a new angle. If the digital trail is gone, maybe it's time for some old-fashioned detective work.

Claire arched a brow. "You're suggesting we hit the streets?"

Matthew smirked. "Why not? We've done it before."

A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "I suppose you're right. But first, you need more rest."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "I've rested enough. I'm ready to get back in the game."

She gave him a stern look. "Doctor's orders, Matthew."

"Fine, fine," he relented with a grin. "But at least let me help you strategize. We can't just stumble around blindly."

Claire nodded, her mind already spinning with ideas. "We need to figure out who Andre really is and where he's been all these years. If Eligos is using him, there has to be a point of contact, someone who brought Andre into Eligos's web."

seemed bitter. He's clearly been fed a story. If we can figure out what

gaze distant. "He resents me. That much was obvious. He looked

said. "If we can find out what those struggles are,

check financial records, public services, anything that

grinned. "That's the Claire I

smiled back, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. "Okay, let's

Matthew chuckled. "You're relentless."

it," she shot back,

"Guilty as charged."

to leave, he called out, "Hey,

in the doorway,

matter what happens, you're not

eyes softened. "I know. And I'm grateful for

laptop open in front of her as she made a series of encrypted calls. Her contacts

some of the best at uncovering could dig up something on Andre

information. If

chair, listening as her last contact promised to get back to her within a few hours. The

QUMS

creaked open, and Sandra poked her head in. "Hey, boss. Thought

"You read

and set the cup on the desk. Her eyes flicked to Claire's face, concern evident. "You look

sip. The warmth of the

in the chair across from Claire. "Is this about that

widened slightly. "You

miss. And I

was uncharted territory. "His name is Andre. Apparently,

eyes widened. "Wow.

he existed. And now, he shows up

you

he is. But someone's been filling his head