Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 217

The old man set down his chess piece and looked at the butler. “I trust Clayton,” he said quietly. “Now that Nicole’s back, she needs someone reliable at her side. I don’t trust Jade or her father. Bring Clayton home—I have my own plans.”

The butler let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. So this was all for Nicole.

Reginald watched the subtle shift in the butler’s expression and asked softly, “Zach, how many years have you been with me now?”

Zach straightened, answering at once. “I started as your personal assistant when I was thirty-eight, then became the White family’s butler. It’s been over twenty years now.”

Reginald nodded. Twenty years, give or take. He still remembered the year Zach had come to the White family—it was the same year his son and daughter-in-law had died in that terrible accident in Seaview City.

Looking back, he realized the signs had always been there.

His chest tightened; pretending not to feel sad would have been a lie. For two, nearly three decades, everyone around him had been circling like wolves, waiting for a chance to devour him.

“I’m tired,” he said, his voice heavy with age. “I think I’ll rest for a while.” Rising, he clasped his hands behind his back and, with a weary sigh, retreated to his room.

He hadn’t been asleep long when Jade returned.

“Where’s Grandfather?” she asked as she entered.

“Miss Jade, the old master was tired. He’s gone to bed,” the butler replied quickly.

Jade nodded. “I’ll wait then.”

She studied the butler for a moment. “Has Grandfather made any big moves lately?”

The butler lowered his voice. “He called Clayton. Asked him to come back.”

Jade’s expression shifted. “Clayton?”

The idea amused her. The person Clayton thought he was loyally supporting was, in fact, Jade’s own pawn.

She laughed out loud and settled herself onto the sofa.

“Miss Jade, Young Master Clayton has arrived,” one of the maids announced from the doorway.

Clayton had rushed back overnight from Vesperia. For years, Reginald had entrusted most of the family’s overseas businesses to him, which was why Jade and Brandon regarded him with such suspicion.

As Clayton entered, years had passed since his last visit, but his eyes seemed colder than ever—sharp, frosted over with a layer of ice.

Jade froze, her heart tightening in her chest.

It was impossible not to admit: Clayton was a phoenix risen from the ashes, a man who had walked out of an orphanage with innate nobility. If you didn’t know his background, you’d never guess someone so refined had started life as an orphan.