Augustine stepped into a small apartnt, the air heavy with antiseptic and tension. Gustave t him at the door and silently led him down a narrow hallway into a bedroom.
"He was in too much pain," Gustave explained quietly. "The doctor had to sedate him."
Augustine approached the bed, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the man lying there motionlessly. Bandages were wrapped tightly around his head, his face pale and still.
"Did he say who hired him?" Augustine asked.
Gustave sighed, frustration in his expression. "He tried. But before he could say anything useful, the pain got worse. The doctor had to give him a sedative. I’ve already started digging—tracking who he t and where he went over the last few days. I’ll find sothing."
Augustine’s eyes darkened. A pit in his gut told him this wasn’t a random accident. This was targeted. His thoughts imdiately went to his uncle and Denis. He suspected that they were using Anne as a way to strike back at him.
"Check for ties to Gabriel and Denis," he said sharply. "I want a full background—every place he has been, every person he has spoken to."
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, Gustave trailing after him.
"What about gan?" Augustine asked, settling onto the sofa in the hall, one leg casually crossed over the other. "Did you look into her? I want her out of the company. Soon."
Gustave gave a slow nod. "I did. According to the records, gan Granet was hired through the standard process. Everything checks out. She is highly qualified—international work experience, solid education. HR’s assessnt says she is a good fit for the role."
He pulled a file from his briefcase and handed it over. "These are her docunts. You can go through them yourself."
Augustine took the file from his hands and flipped through the pages with increasing frustration. Everything looked spotless—top-tier university, glowing references, experience overseas. She was everything a company could want.
"The hiring is clean," Gustave said cautiously. "If we fire her without cause, it could co back on you. Best to wait. If she steps out of line, we’ll have a solid reason to remove her. That way, you are protected."
Augustine didn’t reply right away. He closed the file and set it down on the coffee table. "Did you find out what happened between her and Anne?"
Gustave’s expression turned grim. "Yes. I checked the security footage. Madam entered gan’s office after the eting. When she ca out, she looked visibly upset. Things escalated afterward."
He handed Augustine a tablet and tapped play.
Augustine watched the screen as the footage rolled. There was Anne, walking out of gan’s office with her head down, clearly shaken. Monts later, several team mbers began gathering around her desk. Though there was no audio, the visuals told of the tension in the air. Then gan entered the fra, walking in with an unmistakable smugness in her expression.
"I spoke to one of the project team mbers to get the full picture," Gustave went on. "Turns out, gan abused her authority. She removed Madam from her role as team leader based solely on the rumors and appointed Luke in her place."
Augustine’s head snapped up, eyes sharp. "What?" Disbelief crossed his face.
Gustave nodded grimly. "A few people tried to speak up, but most sided against Madam at the ti. The mood was already poisoned by the gossip. But once Lorie’s confession ca out, the entire team regretted it. Unfortunately, Madam had already left the office by then."
Augustine’s grip tightened on the edge of the table, the footage still playing. Even without audio, the pain and humiliation Anne had gone through were clear in her expression—her flustered face said it all. He wished he could rewind ti, walk into that mont, and wipe the smug look off gan’s face himself.
’gan Granet,’ he muttered silently. ’You ssed with the wrong guy.’
"She can be reinstated as lead now that the truth is out," Gustave added. "With your authority, gan won’t dare oppose it."
Augustine set the tablet down. "That decision is Anne’s," he said coldly. "If she wants her position back, I’ll make sure the path is clear. But gan—she is finished. I want her out of this company."
"Give a few days," Gustave replied with certainty. "I’ll make sure she is gone."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Tania stepped into the desolate open field, a mask covering the lower half of her face, dark brown sunglasses shielding her eyes. The wind tugged at her coat as she scanned the weed-covered land stretching out before her. Her eyes locked onto a lone figure in the distance.
It was Enzo.
Her grip tightened around the bouquet she held. Last night’s phone call with him echoed sharply in her mind.
Flashback...
"Tania, sothing went wrong," Enzo’s panicked voice ca through the phone. "The plan didn’t go as expected. The driver was supposed to hit Anne and escape, but soone intervened—she was saved. The driver lost control, crashed... and got caught." The words ca out in a hurry.
"What?" Tania shot up in disbelief. Rage flickered through her. "He was caught? Couldn’t you find soone competent?"
"It was an accident," Enzo argued. "Why are you putting this on ? If he talks, I’m finished."
"You let him see you?" she hissed, her fury rising.
"I didn’t," Enzo insisted, frantic. "But the police could still trace it back to . I have to get out of here."
Tania clenched her jaw, furious that Anne had survived. The plan had failed, and Enzo had botched everything.
"Co with ," Enzo’s urgent voice pulled her out of the mory. "Let’s leave together."
Tania had no intention of leaving now—not when she was finally getting the chance to et Denis’s grandfather. This was her shot at marrying into the Beaumont family, and she wasn’t going to let it slip away. But Enzo had beco a risk she couldn’t ignore. He needed to be dealt with first. After that, she’d turn her attention to Anne.
"Alright," she said calmly. "I’ll co with you. But I need to visit my parents’ grave. Will you co with ?"
"Sure," Enzo replied without hesitation. "I’ll be there."
End of flashback...
Tania’s gaze turned cold as flashes of painful mories surfaced in her mind. This was the place where her parents lay buried.
She spotted Enzo in the distance, waving. Adjusting her sunglasses higher on her nose, she made her way toward him through the tall weeds.
As she got closer, her eyes fell on the old, weather-worn tombstone—creepers wrapped tightly around it, moss and mildew staining the surface. She crouched down, pulled away the vines with her bare hands, and gently wiped the stone clean. Then, she placed a bouquet of white lilies at its base.
"Mom... Dad... I’m sorry," she choked out. Her throat tightened, and tears rimd her eyes. "I haven’t been here in a long ti."
Behind her, Enzo shifted anxiously, glancing around the empty field. "I’ve booked the tickets," he said urgently. "We need to leave. Now."
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