Chapter 731
[ 507 words ]
Chapter 731:
Once, we really had been a happy family. A home filled with Ruby’s bright laughter. Silas’s endless mischief. The comforting scent of cedar whenever Ethan wrapped me in his arms after coming home late.
Now all of it was gone. That happiness had shattered into countless pieces, scattered beyond repair.
I’d always known Ethan was extraordinary. Leading others came as naturally to him as breathing.
But this wasn’t ambition. He was deliberately drowning himself in work, leaving no room to think, no time to feel.
Because the instant he stopped, the grief would catch him.
He was working himself into the ground because of me.
My chest tightened until I could barely breathe, and another wave of nausea twisted my stomach.
Unable to force down another bite, I boxed up the untouched pasta and hurried back to my office.
I buried myself in work, hoping the endless rows of numbers would silence my thoughts.
As I reviewed the latest project quotations, two figures immediately caught my attention. Something was wrong. The quoted prices were far above current market value. It was either an enormous oversight, or someone had intentionally manipulated the numbers.
I’d always been meticulous, especially when projects involved millions of dollars. Even the smallest discrepancy could become a massive liability.
𝘋𝗈𝘸n𝗹𝗈a𝘥аble 𝖯𝖣F𝘀 o𝗇 𝗴а𝗹𝗻о𝗏e𝗅s.𝖼𝘰m
Without wasting another second, I decided to verify the quotations myself.
After mapping out the inspection route, I grabbed my coat and headed out with my colleague, Billy Martel.
The construction materials market buzzed with activity, the air thick with dust and the scent of freshly cut timber and stone.
The moment I stepped out of the car, a familiar figure caught my eye.
It was Zoe.
She stood beside a stone supplier, notebook in hand, carefully asking questions as she recorded prices.
I paused before understanding.
This kind of field verification was basic work, but it was also the fastest way to gain real experience. Alex must have deliberately assigned her here before I left, hoping she’d learn enough to stand on her own after my resignation.
Pushing aside the complicated emotions rising inside me, I took a slow breath and focused on the task ahead.
“Billy,” I said, “let’s start from the east section and check every supplier one by one.”
We made our way through the crowded marketplace as the roar of stone-cutting machines echoed all around us.
I handed Billy the quotation sheet and pointed at two figures circled in red. “These numbers don’t add up. Material prices haven’t increased, they’ve actually dropped slightly. So why are these quotes marked up by fifteen percent? There’s no legitimate explanation.”
Before Billy could answer, Zoe rushed over from a nearby stall. The color drained from her face.
She grabbed my sleeve and hurriedly pulled me behind a pillar, lowering her trembling voice to a whisper. “Lianne, those two entries, I filled them in incorrectly. Please don’t report this to Alex. I’ll correct them immediately.”
I met her pleading gaze without wavering. “Zoe, these aren’t minor mistakes. They could cost the company two million dollars. During an audit, you can’t explain away something this serious by saying you were careless. This is a major error.”
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