She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother

Chapter 439: The Unexpected Host

Tisha slowly brought the car to a stop in front of a massive, luxurious mansion. The grand gates stood closed firmly, looking like they could withstand a siege. Tall black iron bars twisted into elegant but intimidating patterns, giving off an aura of power and exclusivity.

After a few seconds, the grand gates opened automatically with a soft mechanical hum, revealing a long driveway lined with perfectly trimmed trees and glowing lanterns.

Tisha shifted the car into drive and slowly moved forward, guiding the vehicle along the elegant driveway until she reached a spacious parking area near the main entrance. She brought the car to a smooth stop and turned off the engine.

She turned her head slightly and looked back at Miranda.

”We are here,” she said calmly.

Miranda, who had been silently fascinated by everything she had seen on the way... the private road, the tall trees, the sheer size of the estate... now stared at the mansion in front of her with wide eyes. The building was enormous, elegant, and clearly belonged to someone of immense wealth and influence.

’This really must belong to someone rich and powerful... Maybe there is still hope,’ she thought, a small flicker of hope rising in her chest.

Tisha opened the car door and stepped out. She glanced back at Miranda and added with a small smirk,

”Let’s go inside. And don’t act like a country bumpkin once we’re in.”

”Ahh... yes,” Miranda replied quickly, snapping out of her daze. She stepped out of the car and followed Tisha toward the mansion entrance.

The evening air was cool and quiet, with only the soft sound of their footsteps on the stone pathway.

Just as they reached the edge of the entrance, the large double doors opened.

Alex stepped out with a calm smile on his face.

”Welcome,” he said warmly, his eyes moving between the two women.

Tisha crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look, her tone carrying a mix of concern and mild scolding.

”Why aren’t you attending classes these days?” she asked. ”You shouldn’t take the exams lightly, you know.”

Alex chuckled lightly but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned his attention to Miranda and offered a polite nod.

”Welcome, Mrs. Pierce. And congratulations on being appointed as the new Director. I heard the news.”

Miranda stood frozen in place, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.

She hadn’t expected to see Alex here... not in this grand mansion, not standing so confidently in front of her like he owned the place. The surprise hit her harder than she expected.

She quickly stepped forward, her voice filled with confusion and disbelief.

”What are you doing here, Alex? Are you... working here?”

Tisha let out a short laugh but didn’t say a word. She simply watched the exchange with an amused expression.

”Come inside. We’ll talk then.”

Alex smiled faintly and gestured toward the open doors.

As they walked, Miranda glanced back at Tisha with a confused and questioning look.

’Why is the atmosphere so strange...?’

Alex led them through the grand entrance into a spacious and elegantly designed living room. The room was luxurious yet comfortable, with large sofas, a beautiful chandelier, and tall windows that offered a view of the estate grounds.

”Please, have a seat,” Alex said politely, gesturing toward the sofas. ”What would you like to drink?”

Tisha didn’t wait for Miranda. She walked straight over and sat down right beside Alex on the long sofa, close enough that their shoulders almost touched.

”Anything is fine,” she replied casually, then turned toward him with a slight frown.

Alex smiled and was about to say something when Tisha suddenly reached out and gently pulled up the sleeve of his shirt. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed faint bruises and marks on his arm.

”What happened here?” she asked, her voice filled with quiet concern. Her fingers lightly traced one of the marks. ”These look fresh.”

Alex glanced down at his arm and gave a small, reassuring smile.

”It’s nothing. Just from training. It’ll fade after a good night’s sleep.”

Tisha didn’t look fully convinced, but she let go of his arm and leaned back slightly, still sitting very close to him.

Miranda, who had taken a seat opposite them, watched the entire exchange in stunned silence. Her eyes moved between Tisha and Alex, her mind racing with confusion.

’What the hell is going on...?’

Tisha was behaving far too intimately with Alex... touching him, sitting so close, speaking with such familiarity. This wasn’t how a teacher should act with a student.

’And more importantly... Wasn’t she talking to the owner on the phone earlier like a lover?’

Miranda thought, her suspicion growing with every passing second. ’What is their relationship?’

Unable to hold back any longer, Miranda finally spoke, her voice polite but clearly tense.

”Alex... where is the owner? Please call him. I really have something urgent to ask.”

Tisha leaned back on the sofa, completely relaxed, and looked at Miranda with a calm smile.

”He’s the one,” she said simply. ”The man I was talking about on the phone.”

Miranda’s eyes widened in shock.

”What? What do you mean?”

She stared at Alex as if seeing him for the very first time. Her mind went completely blank for a few seconds before a storm of thoughts crashed into her.

’How can he...? Isn’t he just a scholarship student? How can he be the owner of such a massive estate? This doesn’t make any sense...’

Then, like a lightning strike, she remembered the phone call.

She remembered Tisha’s sweet and intimate tone. She remembered the man’s deep, affectionate voice on the other end. She remembered how Tisha had smiled while talking to him.

’That voice... It was him?’

’Is Tisha really in a relationship with him?’

Before Miranda could say anything, Alex spoke in a calm and polite voice.

”I apologise, Mrs. Pierce. It’s partly my fault for this confusion. Let me properly introduce myself again.”

He looked directly at her and continued,

”My name is Alexander Hale, and I am the owner of this mansion... and six others.”

As he spoke, he gently gestured toward the large windows, indicating the vast estate outside.

Miranda’s gaze slowly shifted from Alex to Tisha, then back to Alex again. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Everything she thought she knew about Alex... the quiet, ordinary scholarship student... had just shattered in front of her eyes.

She took a slow, deep breath and forced herself to compose.

Her hands, which had been tightly clenched on her lap, slowly relaxed. She straightened her posture and looked at Alex with a calm, though slightly strained, expression.

”I... I see,” Miranda said quietly, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. ”I didn’t expect that.”

She hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice softer.

”I thought you were just a scholarship student...”

Before she could finish, Alex gently interrupted her with a warm smile.

”It’s okay, ma’am. It doesn’t change anything. I’m still the same Alex who needed your help back in college.”

He looked at her sincerely and continued,

”You can tell me what I can do for you. If it’s within my power, I’ll do everything I can to help.”

Miranda looked up, just about to speak, when Tisha suddenly interrupted.

”Let me...”

Tisha took a deep breath and sat up straighter on the sofa. Her playful expression from earlier was completely gone, replaced by a serious and solemn look.

”It’s about Gerald Pierce, our former director...” she said quietly. ”He has gone missing.”

Alex’s expression changed instantly. His brows furrowed in confusion as he looked at Tisha.

”What? What do you mean?”

He then turned his head toward Miranda, his eyes filled with questions.

Miranda nodded slowly, her gaze meeting his. Her expression turned grave and sorrowful, the pain she had been holding back now clearly visible in her eyes.

”Yes...” she said softly. ”It’s true. Gerald has gone missing. And we don’t know where he is... or if he’s even still alive.”

Her voice trembled slightly at the last words, but she quickly composed herself and continued looking at Alex, waiting for his reaction.

Alex leaned forward slightly, his expression serious and concerned.

”Who could do something like this?” he asked, his voice low. ”And why?”

Tisha looked at him with a heavy expression. She took a moment before replying.

”We’re not entirely sure who did it... or why,” she said. ”But we strongly suspect it’s James Blackwood.”

She paused, then continued,

”After what happened at the university, Pierce lost everything. And James... he had every reason to go after him. We believe he’s the one who took him.”

The room fell silent for a few seconds as Alex processed her words.

Miranda’s hands tightened on her lap. Her eyes glistened as she looked at Alex, her voice thick with emotion.

”I know you don’t have a good relationship with Pierce,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. ”But if you can really help me... please help me. I’m begging you.”

The desperation in her voice was clear. It was the voice of a wife who had been pushed to her limit, holding on to the last thread of hope.

Alex looked at her quietly for a moment. Then he let out a small sigh and spoke in a calm, sincere tone.

”I really don’t like the guy,” he admitted honestly. ”But since you’re asking... how can I refuse?”

He leaned forward slightly and looked straight into her eyes.

”Remember, I gave you my word that I’ll help you regardless of anything. So don’t worry about him. Nothing will happen to him. I’ll make sure he comes back safely.”

His voice was steady and confident, carrying a quiet strength that made Miranda’s eyes widen slightly.