"What’s the idea?"
"A while back, I registered a voice acting company on a whim, but I still haven’t found the right person to help manage it. How about you run it for ?"
"Huh?" It took a mont to process what he’d said.
"The place is right next to my company. It was vacant, so I had Henry Paxton register a voice acting company there." Sebastian Forrest’s eyes were shining, his gaze fixed on intently. "What do you think? I can take you to see it soti?"
I was taken aback for a second, then nodded. "Okay."
Having sothing to do, especially if it ant helping Sebastian Forrest, was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
After carrying my things back ho, I collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Clara Langley’s threats in the hallway today still echoed in my ears. Even though Sebastian Forrest had said he would handle her, I still felt a suffocating tightness in my chest.
It felt like a restless fire was flaring up inside , scorching with anxiety.
As if a sudden thought struck , I shot up in bed.
Things I’d never considered before suddenly rushed into my mind.
’A worn-out whore...’ ’Slept with more than just Theodore Grant...’
Those phrases were spat out by Clara Langley.
She wouldn’t just sling mud at for no reason.
The only possibility was that she thought she had evidence.
I couldn’t help but think of that banquet from over a month ago...
Vincent Lombard was at that banquet, too. And it was because he’d randomly insulted that I drank that drugged glass of wine...
’Could it be... that Vincent Lombard was the one who drugged the wine?’
The mont that thought occurred to , a cold sweat broke out on my back.
Ever since I learned that Clara Langley had been plotting how to get close to my brother and mother even before she went abroad, I’d been chilled by her scheming.
If I did the math, that must have been when she got pregnant.
Her decision to marry Theodore Grant and make him the fall guy must have been made back then, too.
’But a plan this elaborate couldn’t have been orchestrated by soone like Clara Langley alone...’
’It had to be Vincent Lombard, the man backing her!’
The more I thought about it, the more terrified I beca. I couldn’t stop myself from getting up and pacing restlessly around the room.
’Clara Langley and Vincent Lombard wouldn’t have staked everything on just my mother...’
’There were too many variables and potential accidents.’
’So, the only person they could be sure to manipulate was... !’
The more I thought, the more uneasy I felt.
And the worst part was, on the day of that banquet, the drug had burned through my senses, leaving with no rationality. My mory of it is hazy and fragnted...
’I’m not sure if the man that night was really Theodore Grant...’
’Even though I rember thinking afterward that Theodore Grant seed like a completely different person that day...’
Forceful yet gentle.
Like an insatiable beast.
I suddenly found it hard to breathe. The thoughts flooding my mind were horrifying!
’But if it wasn’t Theodore Grant, then who was it?’
’Could he have been soone sent by Vincent Lombard?’
’Did they film it?’
I bit my lip, my heart plumting. My nails dug into my palms without realizing it, and it wasn’t until a sharp, piercing pain shot through them that I snapped back to my senses.
No!
’I can’t just sit here and wait for disaster to strike!’
’If that’s what happened, I have to be ready before Vincent Lombard and Clara Langley can release any photos or videos...’
’Otherwise, the mont that evidence cos out, I’ll be completely ruined!’
A chilling fear washed over the more I thought about it. I couldn’t sit still a mont longer. I stuffed my phone into my purse and headed out the door.
But just as I stepped out, the door to the apartnt across the hall suddenly opened.
"Where are you off to?" Sebastian Forrest frowned slightly. "Are you not feeling well? You look pale."
I instinctively touched my face before shaking my head. "I’m fine. It’s probably just from washing my face with cold water just now..."
Sebastian Forrest didn’t press the issue. "Where are you headed? I can give you a ride."
I quickly waved my hand. "No, it’s okay. I have plans to go shopping with Chloe."
"It’s good to get out for a bit. Have fun, you two."
I went downstairs with Sebastian Forrest. After watching him drive away, I quickly got into my car. Once I was out of the complex, I headed straight for the outskirts of the city.
The banquet had been held in Eastgate.
Since I’d been there once before, the route was familiar.
Soon, I arrived outside the manor.
It was a collection of simple, European-style villas. A large iron gate stood at the entrance, patrolled by several security guards. When they saw approach, they imdiately ca over.
"Hello, I’d like to see Mr. Sterling..."
I had co with an invitation before, so I vaguely rembered the owner’s surna was Sterling.
"May I have your na, please? I’ll go announce you."
I pursed my lips. Everyone knew by now that Theodore Grant and I were divorced. The na ’Chelsea Joyce’ probably didn’t carry much weight anymore; they might not agree to see .
’But making up a na would be just as easily exposed...’
"My na is Chelsea Joyce..."
"Please wait a mont, Miss Joyce. I’ll go announce you right away."
As the guard went inside, I stood at the gate, waiting anxiously.
’What will I do if they refuse?’ I thought.
To my surprise, the guard returned a few monts later with a respectful look on his face. "Miss Joyce, the madam will see you now."
"Ah? Oh, thank you!"
I followed the guard toward the living room. Just as I stepped inside, a woman of dignified grace ca forward to greet . "Miss Joyce, what a rare pleasure."
"Mrs. Sterling, I’m so sorry to impose like this."
"Not at all, Miss Joyce. Please, have a seat."
I hadn’t expected Mrs. Sterling to be so kind to ; I was a little taken aback by her warmth.
"So, what brings you here today, Miss Joyce?"
As soon as she asked, I got straight to the point. "Well, when I attended the banquet last month, I was wearing a bracelet. I’ve only just realized it’s missing, and I think I must have lost it here..."
The tips of my ears grew hot as I said it. The excuse was just so clumsy.
’But I have to find the security footage from that day. It’s the only way to know who went into the private lounge.’
’And find the maid who cleaned the room...’
Mrs. Sterling looked taken aback for a mont, then smiled. "Oh, I’m so sorry. I had the maids clean up right after the banquet, and they didn’t report finding any bracelet..."
"Um, could I possibly speak with your maids?"
"Of course."
Mrs. Sterling smiled and gave a quick order to soone behind her. Soon, all the maids in the manor were gathered.
I looked at each of them, but the one who had attended to that day wasn’t among them.
"Are all the maids who worked the banquet here? Has anyone taken leave or resigned since then?"
"Rest assured, Miss Joyce. They are all here."
My heart clenched. ’What... What in the world is going on?’
’Who sent the maid who attended to that day?’
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