New beginning: Billionaire love story novel Chapter 452

“That was close,” Matthew said as the three of them jumped inside the elevator.

“Consider ourselves lucky,” Adrian muttered with a frown on his face.

The familiar hum of the elevator was the only sound filling the air as Claire, Adrian, and Matthew rode in silence, each of them still processing the events that had unfolded. The weight of Eligos's relentless pursuit hung over them like a storm cloud, but for now, they were safe—at least, for the moment.

As the elevator doors slid open, Claire stepped out first, the familiar glow of Cryptonic’s sleek, high-tech interior offering a small semblance of comfort. The walls, lined with screens and sophisticated security systems, stood as a silent witness to the chaos they had just escaped. Claire took a deep breath, inhaling the cool, conditioned air, trying to settle her racing thoughts.

Adrian walked behind her, his gaze never leaving her back, and Matthew followed closely, looking tense, alert.

Claire led them down the narrow hallway to her office, the one place in the world she could retreat to when everything felt like it was spiraling out of control. She didn’t bother with pleasantries, immediately walking to the desk and sitting down in the sleek chair, dropping her bag onto the surface. She ran a hand through her hair and let out a frustrated sigh.

“Alright, now we can breathe for a minute,” Matthew said, taking a seat across from her. now that we’re out of immediate danger, I need to know—what did Eligos want from you? We didn’t get a chance to talk about it before everything went to hell.”

Claire glanced at Adrian, who nodded in silent encouragement. She turned her attention back to Matthew, her brows knitting together. “He’s looking for someone. A guy named Allan.”

Matthew’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly, his lips pressing into a thin line and his eyes narrowing slightly. Claire caught it immediately.

“You know something,” she said, her tone sharp.

Matthew hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. I do.”

Claire straightened, ignoring the dull ache in her arm. “Matthew, did Eligos come after you and then kidnapped you just to ask you a question about Allan too?”

Matthew nodded looking down feeling guilty. “Yeah, apparently. Sorry for not telling you,”

Adrian frowned as he cut their conversation. “Why did you both end up being kidnapped? I think you guys should hire a bodyguard or something. It’s getting more concerning.”

“Trust me, bodyguards, no use,” Matthew replied as he patted Adrian back.

Claire crossed her arms, glaring at him. “I don’t get why you kept hiding things from me but fine. So, who is Allan? His name sounded familiar, but I couldn't put a finger on it. And why is Eligos so interested in him?”

For a moment, Matthew didn’t respond, his gaze distant as if he were sifting through memories. “You don’t remember him, do you?”

Claire frowned, the name nagging at the edges of her mind. It felt familiar, but she couldn’t place it. “I’ve been through a lot, Matthew. Just tell me who he is.”

Matthew’s voice softened. “Allan’s the guy you asked me to look into a few months ago. You were curious about his background—his family, his history. But when I tried to dig, I hit a wall. No records, no trace. It was like he didn’t exist.”

Claire’s eyes widened as the memory surfaced. “I remember now. Allan… he was connected to the accident. The car accident three years ago.”

Adrian’s voice broke in, his tone cautious yet probing. “The accident that involved you?”