2026-01-02 06:28:48
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Chapter 181
Ethan stood there—right behind her—arms loose at his sides, face calm as stone.Victoria’s eyes widened. The gun jerked back up for half a second before she forced it down again.“You—” Her voice cracked. “You were supposed to come through the door.”“I changed the plan.” Ethan’s tone was even. Almost gentle. “You need to be more alert, Victoria. If I can slip up behind you that easily, Jack will eat you alive.”Victoria’s shoulders dropped. A long, shaky sigh slipped out of her—like she’d been holding her breath underwater for minutes. The pistol trembled in her hands. She lowered it slowly, barrel pointing at the carpet.The room stayed silent. Too silent.Ethan stepped past her. “I need to use the bathroom. Stay here. Don’t move.”He walked into the attached bathroom and closed the door. The lock clicked.Victoria stood frozen in the middle of the dark bedroom. The Glock felt heavier now. Her pulse still hammered in her ears.She turned toward the vanity again, trying to steady her
Chapter 179
“One of my men just told me something interesting.” Victoria’s stomach dropped but she kept her face still. Her heart pounded as she hoped her secret had not been leaked out. Ethan watched her eyes. Searching. “Jack escaped.” She let out a big sigh of relief she never knew she was holding. Victoria blinked once. “Escaped?” “Three hours ago. He took a pistol and vanished into the scrub.” She swallowed. “How?” “Doesn’t matter how. He’s out. And he’s coming.” Ethan reached inside his jacket. Pulled out a small, matte-black Glock 43. The tiny pistol looked almost delicate in his palm. He glanced around and then pressed it into her hand. Her fingers closed around the grip automatically. Cold metal. Familiar weight. “Hide it,” he said. “Waistband. Small of your back. Easy draw.” Victoria stared at the gun, then at him. “Why are you giving me this?” “Because tonight, when we get home, you’re going to pretend.” With that, they got into the car and drove off. The
Chapter 180.
The black SUV rolled through the capital streets at 6:12 p.m. Rain streaked the tinted windows.Ethan sat in the back, arms crossed, staring straight ahead. Victoria sat beside him. Red dress still on from the night before. Makeup perfect. Expression blank.Neither spoke.The driver didn’t dare look in the rearview.They pulled up to the mansion gates. Iron swung open without a sound.The car stopped at the front steps.Ethan got out first. Didn’t offer a hand.Victoria stepped out behind him. Heels clicked on wet stones.Secret Service agents stiffened when they saw him. They parted without a word. Inside the ballroom, crystal chandeliers threw light across two hundred suits and gowns. The President’s party fundraiser was in full swing. Laughter. Clinking glasses. Fake smiles. Ethan walked straight through the crowd. People stepped aside. Whispers followed him like smoke. He stopped at the center table. The President sat there, flanked by the Party Chairman and three advisors.
Chapter 177.
Ethan pushed the bedroom door open without knocking. The room was quiet. He glanced around. Victoria’s silk robe lay crumpled across the foot of the bed. Her dress from dinner was folded neatly on the chair. He stepped inside and closed the door with his heel. His eyes swept the space once, twice. Bathroom door shut. Water running. He moved fast. He lifted the robe first—nothing underneath. Then the dress—pockets empty. He crouched, checked under the bed, under the mattress edge. His fingers found the hidden compartment in the vanity almost by instinct. It was empty. He straightened, jaw tight. His gaze landed on the nightstand. Her phone sat there, screen dark, charging cable coiled beside it. He picked it up. The lock screen showed the time: 11:47 p.m. He swiped. No passcode. She never bothered with one on this phone. Arrogant. Or maybe she wanted him to look. He opened the messaging app. Nothing unusual. Weather updates. Calendar reminders. A dry-cleaning confirm
chapter 176
Chapter 176.Downstairs, Ethan poured a glass of whiskey. He didn't drink it. He held the cool glass and stared at the amber liquid. The image of her tears, her clenched hands, played behind his eyes. The anger was a cold, living thing in his stomach. He had decided to let it slide. But the decision felt wrong. It felt weak.He set the glass down with a sharp crack. He turned and took the stairs back up two at a time. He did not knock. He opened the bedroom door.Victoria was still on the bench. She looked up, startled. Her mask of calm was back, but it was fragile, like cracked glass.Ethan closed the door. The room felt suddenly smaller, charged.“The headache,” he said, his voice low. “Is it gone?”She nodded. “Yes. I’m better.”He walked toward her slowly. Each step was deliberate. “You’re a terrible liar, Victoria.”She stood up, a defensive movement. “I’m not lying.”He stopped in front of her. He was so close she could see the flecks of gold in his cold eyes. “You went out t
chapter 175
The rain tapped a gentle rhythm against the bedroom window. Victoria sat on the edge of the bed, her shoulders shaking. Silent tears carved hot paths down her cheeks. She made no sound. The only evidence was the slow, steady fall of drops onto the back of her clasped hands.The door opened.She heard his footsteps. She drew in a sharp, quiet breath. Her hands flew to her face, wiping furiously at her eyes. She straightened her spine, composing her features by the time he rounded the bed to face her.Ethan stood there, watching her. He saw the redness around her eyes, the slight dampness on her lashes. He saw the way her hands were clenched too tightly in her lap. A cold anger lived in his chest towards her, a solid, heavy thing. But seeing her like this—fragile, trying so hard to hide it—made something else flicker.“Are you fine?” he asked. His voice was neutral, not warm, but not accusing.Victoria nodded, too quickly. “I’m fine.” Her voice was a little thick. She cleared her thr
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