Chapter 429
Chapter 429:
“Anything else p>
His voice was flat. The sort of tone that left no room for unnecessary replies.
He hadn’t wanted to be there.
Dominic’s call had pulled him out of bed, away from Mirabelle, away from the heat and scent of her skin, the weight of her tucked under his arm, silent and half-asleep.
He could still smell her shampoo on his clothes.
Ashton flexed his fingers once, then stilled them on the desk.
It was pointless to be annoyed now.
If he was already here, he might as well get something done.
Dominic hesitated.
“There’s one more thing. We traced the connection between Rowan Hale and Gwendolyn Laurent. She was Rowan’s benefactor p>
“Explain p>
“Gwendolyn funded Rowan’s schooling through a charity, starting in secondary school all the way through university. There’s no record of personal contact between them, though, and the financial support ended after graduation. No signs they’ve kept in touch p>
“If they’re scheming together, there won’t be a paper trail,” Ashton said. “Push her like I told you. If she reacts, we’ll know p>
Dominic nodded. “Understood p>
Ashton laid out the details.
Dominic left without asking questions.
Ashton stayed at his desk, trying to read the email on his screen.
His eyes skimmed over the text without absorbing a single line.
Mirabelle’s face kept pushing its way to the front of his mind—her mouth twitching when she pretended not to laugh, her arms wrapped tight around the quilt, her smile too quick, her eyes not meeting his when he left.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is where your journey begins
It had taken everything he had to walk out.
By noon, the urge to return was clawing at the inside of his chest.
He forced himself to sit, watch the clock, and burn through more useless meetings. At half past two, he gave in and sent a message: [Wake up. Eat something.] No reply.
He checked the thread. Five unread messages since morning. All one-sided.
Was she still sleeping or just ignoring him on purpose?
He didn’t call.
If she was asleep, the sound would wake her.
If she wasn’t, she’d let it ring.
At four, he cracked.
He rang Geoffrey.
“She’s not home,” Geoffrey said. “She left for the studio an hour ago p>
Ashton ended the call and glanced out the window.
Snow drifted past the glass in slow, twisting lines.
The sky was grey.
Wind pushed the flakes in jerking gusts across the skyline.