Chapter 967
967:
He took a steadying breath before asking, “So, what’s the truth? Did you and Hector actually get married? Last time we talked, you said he was just your fiancé. Now you’re calling him your husband.” He struggled to discern fact from confusion in her story.
Normally, lies grated on him, but tonight his heart had softened. Gracie’s shattered confidence made it impossible for him to be angry. Instead, he felt deep sympathy—her fear had left her unable to trust anyone. Everything she had done before was simply her way of testing him, and he didn’t blame her at all.
Despite her efforts to steady herself, her sobs slipped through, stirring anyone’s compassion. Gracie sniffed and fought back another wave of tears. “I really did marry him, Ethan. Almost a year ago. Before the wedding, he chased me with flowers every day—always so gentle. I was going through so much. My dad was in the hospital, and Hector seemed like the only person who cared about me. I never thought he would turn out this way. I honestly believed he loved me, but it was all a lie. From the start, he had his sights on the Wilson Group. The only reason he married me was to seize control.”
Her voice trembled as she continued, “When I returned, my father was already seriously ill. I don’t know how much longer he has. Ethan, I need your help. What am I supposed to do?”
Ethan’s face grew grim as he tightened his grip on his phone. He thumbed through his contacts, searching for the name he needed. “You can count on me. I won’t let you face this alone.”
Without hesitation, he made the call. “Brewster, I need you to dig up some information on the Wilson Group for me.”
On the other end of the line, Brewster Coleman—Ethan’s good friend and the manager of his Norview operations—answered.
Brewster had cultivated a reputation as a savvy operator, his network spreading widely across Norview’s influential circles.
“You’re asking about the Wilson Group?” Brewster’s voice carried a hint of curiosity. “I’ve heard some things—what exactly do you want to know?”
“I’m here with Gracie. She says Hector is after control of the company and has been harming her physically.”
That revelation gave Brewster pause. “Harm her physically? You know as well as I do, the underworld is full of snakes. Gracie and her father were too naive. Still, Warren’s own ambitions played a part. Word on the street is, Warren tried making aggressive moves on Spencer’s territory and ended up getting beaten at his own game. So, Hector isn’t the only guilty party—Warren played with fire and got burned.”
Brewster paused thoughtfully before continuing. “Look, I’m not defending Hector, just laying it out as I see it. Forgive me if I sounded blunt…”
G a lno ve ls . com is where the magic begins
For nearly thirty minutes, Brewster unraveled the messy history between the Wilson Group and Spencer. Alarm settled over Ethan with each new revelation, the knot in his stomach tightening as the truth unfolded. Nothing about this ordeal was simple.
Suspicion nagged at Ethan. He believed Gracie had kept parts of the story to herself. He studied her face, noting the tear-stained cheeks and the weariness in her eyes. He felt for her and couldn’t blame her for hiding something from him.
He wandered toward the massive window, letting the city lights blur beneath his gaze while Brewster’s voice continued in his ear. By the time their conversation wrapped up, a full hour had passed.
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