Husband plans to kill me Chapter 378

Royce was scanning the menu, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort.

I just stared at him, unsure how to handle the situation.

"What's up?" Royce finally looked up, noticing my silence.

I recapped the conversation I had with Joanna.

Royce frowned. "I thought you two were discussing something private, so I didn't want to butt in... turns out it was this."

I knew it. Royce always kept tabs on my stuff. No way he'd be focused on the menu while I was on the phone.

He was just giving me some space.

I shrugged it off and said, "Last time he talked about starting a business, I thought it was just a passing thought. Who knew he'd actually follow up?"

Royce nodded. "I also thought he was just talking. After all, he mentioned that starting a business at his age is pretty tough, especially since he doesn't have much capital and has Briar to take care of."

So, he didn't send anyone to dig deeper.

I sighed. "When we last met, he seemed hesitant to speak. I felt like he had something to say but didn't because you were there. Now it seems he wanted to ask me to invest in his startup."

So, Leo had this in mind all along.

He hid it well, never mentioning it when we met.

Royce nodded. "He probably brought Briar here to find a fresh start. Whether this new beginning is a smokescreen or genuinely beneficial to his life, we don't know. But... even if he wants to start a business, he should seek out professional investors, not you."

That puzzled me too. "He even mentioned my name to others, showcasing me as his connection... I find that unbelievable."

Royce nodded. "If I were you, I'd be upset too."

Did Leo think I was an easy mark because we were familiar?

Or did he know my current situation and think I could help him?

"Why does he think I'd support his startup?"

Royce held my hand, comforting me. "No matter what he thinks, you don't need to feel pressured. If you don't want to help, just say no. Starting a business is no small matter; he should understand the risks. Besides, we still don't know his true intentions for bringing Briar here."

I nodded, but my feelings were still mixed.

Leo was indeed our only lead in investigating Renee.

At least for now.

If I outright refused, we might lose some clues.

Just as I was debating whether to ask Leo, my phone buzzed again.

This time, it was a message from Leo.

[Caroline, are you free today? I'd like to talk.]

I almost gasped.

I was just wondering what to do, and Leo reached out again.

Royce noticed my hesitation and leaned over to read the message.

He said, "If you want to see him, I'll go with you. If not, just decline."

I took a deep breath and quickly made a decision.

I replied to Leo: [Let's meet at the café where we last met at 3 PM.]

After sending the message, I looked up at Royce. "I'll go see him and hear what he has to say. Don't worry, I won't agree to anything lightly."

Royce nodded. "Alright, I'll go with you."

At 3 PM, Royce and I arrived at the café right on time.

This time, Leo was waiting in the corner.

He looked a bit awkward when he saw Royce but quickly composed himself.

"Caroline, Royce, you're here."

Leo stood up and greeted us politely.

After we sat down, Leo got straight to the point. "Caroline, I won't beat around the bush. I need your help... I'm planning to start a business, but I'm short on funds. I wanted to see if you'd be interested in investing."

I had anticipated this, but his directness still surprised me.

I glanced at Royce, who nodded slightly, signaling me to respond as I saw fit.

"Leo, starting a business is a big deal. Do you have a detailed plan?"

I tried to keep my tone calm.

Leo nodded and handed me a document from his bag.

"This is my business plan. Take a look. I'm planning to start an educational institution, offering tutoring for elementary and middle school students. This market is booming, and I think it has great potential."

He scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Honestly, this idea came to me while I was worrying about Briar's school."

I didn't respond to that, just took the document and skimmed through it.

Leo's plan was fairly detailed, but some of the data and analysis seemed unreliable.

I hesitated but decided to be honest.

"Leo, your idea is good, but I'm not familiar with the education sector. I might not be able to help much. Besides... starting a business is risky. You should seek out professional investors who can offer more advice and support."

Even though I had a company, I wasn't planning to invest in someone else's venture.

Leo's face fell.

He forced a smile. "Caroline, I know my plan might seem immature, but I'm really confident... If you're willing to invest, I can offer you more shares, or we can collaborate. You have four kids to support now, and the company Brandon left..."

I cut him off. "That wasn't Brandon's company; it was my family's."

The atmosphere grew tense.

Royce stayed silent, listening to our conversation.

After a moment, I spoke up. "Leo, it's not that I don't want to help you, but I'm really not suited for this project. You should approach specialized investment firms; they might be more interested."

"When you said you were bringing Briar here and wanted to start a business, I never said I'd invest. I only said I'd help where I could. But investing is a big deal." I was firm in my stance.

Investing was almost out of the question.

Especially with Leo making rash, irresponsible decisions, I wouldn't get involved financially.