The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 80: Finding the truth

"Calm down, Kelvin. Daniel isn’t a threat," Ford said softly, trying to ease the tension hanging heavily in the room. His voice was calm but firm, as he glanced at Kelvin, hoping to settle the storm that was brewing inside him. "It’s alright to speak with him being here. You don’t need to act like this."

But before Ford could say more, Daniel, who had clearly sensed the discomfort in the room, stood up and spoke with a polite but distant tone. "It’s alright, sir. I wouldn’t want to disrupt your meeting with them. I’ll take my leave," Daniel said, bowing slightly as a sign of respect, before turning and quietly leaving the room.

As soon as Daniel stepped outside and the door shut behind him, the mask of calm he had worn inside dropped instantly. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and his face twisted in anger. He couldn’t help but wonder how did Kelvin find out? How much did Kelvin know? The thought alone made his chest tighten with frustration.

Daniel had left the room on his own to give Ford the impression that he was being reasonable and respectful, hoping it would earn him a little more trust. Deep inside, though, he couldn’t stand Kelvin.

The two of them had never gotten along. Their relationship had always been filled with silent tension and suspicion. Kelvin, in particular, always seemed to have his eyes on Daniel, as if waiting for him to slip up, as if expecting him to reveal his true intentions.

Daniel’s curiosity burned inside him like a flame he couldn’t put out. He needed to know what they were discussing, especially now. He glanced around the hallway, making sure no one was nearby to catch him. Once he was sure the coast was clear, he pressed his ear gently against the closed door, straining to catch even the faintest sound of the conversation happening on the other side.

But it was no use. The walls and door were too thick, and their voices were too low. No matter how hard he listened, he couldn’t make out a single word. Frustrated, he cursed Kelvin under his breath, whispering insults that were soaked in bitterness, before finally giving up and walking away.

Back inside the room, Ford couldn’t help but turn to Kelvin, his expression a mix of annoyance and curiosity. The way Kelvin had acted made things awkward, and Ford clearly wasn’t happy about it.

"Don’t blame me," Kelvin muttered defensively, sensing Ford’s silent judgment. "I’m entitled to my feelings. I just don’t understand why you don’t seem to see it. It’s better to be cautious now than to regret it later. He just seems... off."

Ford let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head slightly. "It’s alright. Just calm down, will you? You’re making him so uncomfortable, it’s written all over your face. At least try to hide your dislike for him. Let’s just continue with the matter at hand."

Kelvin nodded, trying to push his feelings aside. "Yes, like I was saying," he began again, his voice more steady this time. "I couldn’t believe it when I found out that Jane had actually ordered Elena to be beaten up. Her own sister, for God’s sake! And I still can’t understand why Elena’s father would hate his own daughter so much."

The room fell quiet for a moment, the weight of Kelvin’s words lingering in the air. The conversation had gone from personal tensions to painful family betrayals, and neither man could ignore the deep sadness hidden behind those facts.

"No, Kelvin , she’s just a stepsister. And to be honest, I seriously doubt that man is even her real father," Ford said, his voice sharp with frustration. His brows were deeply furrowed, his face tense with anger as he flipped through the photographs in front of him. The pictures were clear, and the faces in them only fueled his suspicion and disappointment.

Kelvin sat quietly across from him, watching Ford process the information. After a moment, Kelvin turned to the detective who had accompanied him, hoping for any extra bit of useful information that could help them make sense of this tangled situation. "Do you have anything more to say to Ford?" he asked the detective, his tone calm but curious.

The detective adjusted his tie slightly and spoke with careful words, trying to make sure every detail was clear. "Yes, sir. When I spoke with the man who sold us this information, he mentioned something quite unusual. He told me that someone else, someone close to you, Sir Ford — had also contacted him, asking for the same pictures of Jane. We tried to persuade him to give us the name of the person, but unfortunately, he refused to share it."

Kelvin and Ford exchanged a long, puzzled glance. The room suddenly felt colder, as both men tried to piece together the meaning behind the detective’s words. Ford leaned forward, eyes narrowing as his mind raced. "Close to me? Who could that be? Did he give you even the slightest hint?" Ford asked, clinging to hope for any clue that could point them in the right direction.

The detective shook his head regretfully. "I’m sorry, sir. That’s all he told me. Since then, his phone has been switched off, and we haven’t been able to reach him."

The air grew heavy with unease. Ford let out a deep sigh and rubbed his forehead, struggling to make sense of the situation. "This is getting more serious than I thought. Why would anyone close to me want Jane’s pictures? And if their intentions were good, why didn’t they share them with us or at least warn us about it?" His eyes, still filled with anger and confusion, drifted back to the pile of photos scattered on the desk.

While flipping through the stack, his fingers brushed against some papers tucked between the photos , a collection of receipts. He picked them up, frowning as he carefully inspected them. "What are these receipts for?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at the printed text.

As he read the name written on one of the receipts, his expression suddenly changed from confusion to shock. "Sia?" he blurted out, almost not believing his eyes.

Kelvin leaned closer and gave a knowing nod. "Exactly. Sia Salvatore. She’s the one behind the scandal involving Elena," he said, a hint of triumph hidden in his voice as a small smirk appeared on his face.

Ford clenched the receipt tightly in his hand. His anger grew even stronger. "How could I have overlooked her? Why would Sia go this far just to ruin Elena’s reputation? And what’s worse, her actions are not only hurting Elena, they’re also damaging the company. It’s outrageous," Ford said bitterly.

Kelvin nodded in agreement, feeling just as troubled. "I was just as surprised when I found out. So, what are we going to do now? Should we have them arrested?" he asked, resting his chin thoughtfully on his hand as he waited for Ford’s decision.

Both men sat in silence, deep in thought, knowing that whatever decision they made next could change everything.

"We are going to have Jane arrested, but not Sia," Ford said firmly, his voice cold and full of authority. His eyes were sharp and unyielding as he looked at Kelvin, making it clear that his mind was already made up. "Sia’s family holds too much power.

We need to handle her case with ease before trying to arrest her, at least not right now. She’ll have to apologize in another way, one that suits the damage she’s caused. But as for Jane , she will not be getting off easy. She must be punished severely for what she’s done."

Kelvin nodded in agreement, understanding the weight behind Ford’s decision.

"Please, get an arrest warrant ready," Ford instructed, his tone steady but urgent. "Find her , wherever she is hiding, bring her in. Take Daniel along with you. I trust you can handle this while I go deal with the press."

Kelvin gave a small nod. "I surely will, just go ahead with your press conference" he replied, his voice calm but determined.

"But there’s still something important we shouldn’t ignore. We need to figure out who’s working against us from the inside. Someone close to you is clearly involved, and until we know who that person is, no one can be trusted."

Ford’s expression darkened at the detective’s words. "Definitely," he agreed, his voice low and serious. "I’m looking forward to seeing the look on their faces once Jane is dragged away in handcuffs. Let’s move fast. I’ll see you later."

Kelvin gave him a firm handshake, which Ford returned gratefully, before they both headed off in opposite directions to handle their parts of the plan.

Meanwhile, the large conference room was already bustling with activity. The chairs were neatly arranged in rows, every seat waiting to be filled. Members of the press had started to gather, their cameras set up and ready, all pointed at the stage where Ford was expected to speak. The room was noisy, filled with the sounds of reporters chatting, camera shutters clicking, and the occasional low buzz of phones and microphones being tested. Everyone was waiting for Ford’s grand entrance, eager to hear what he had to say about the recent scandal.

Daniel was standing off to the side, keeping a close eye on the setup. He moved around quietly, making sure everything was running smoothly. He wanted the press event to go perfectly, he had already paid people to ask Ford difficult questions, but just as he was about to check the final arrangements, a voice from behind him interrupted his focus.

"You’re coming with us," said a familiar voice calmly but firmly.

Daniel turned around quickly, his eyes locking onto Kelvin, who was standing there with the detective at his side. For a moment, Daniel’s heart raced with unease, but he masked his feelings with a look of annoyance. Deep inside, though, he knew he had no choice but to follow. Challenging Kelvin wasn’t an option.

Trying to buy himself some time, Daniel cleared his throat and spoke in a respectful but slightly hesitant tone. "To where, sir? And, sir, I’m not done with my duties here. I still need to make sure everything is properly arranged for the press conference," he added, hoping his excuse might let him off the hook , at least for a little while.

But even as the words left his mouth, Daniel could tell from Kelvin’s expression that excuses would not save him this time.

"His about coming in " Someone announced.

Everywhere grew silent in a second.