?Chapter 1617:


    Brenna’s expression turned cold. “He tried to kill you and got away with it.”


    She had worked with Hector before, but finding out he had gone after Ethan, despite their past dealings, crossed a line she couldn’t ignore. From now on, she knew she was finished doing business with him.


    The man had no conscience. He chased dirty money, cut corners, and scammed people without a flicker of remorse. Partnering with someone like him dragged her own principles straight into the mud.


    Gracie fumed silently, her steps uneven as Neville supported her. She was injured, yet Ethan hadn’t even offered to carry her or steady her. He’d simply passed her off to his subordinate, as if she were some burden to be managed. What was that about? Weren’t they supposed to be friends?


    Sure, Neville was taking care of her well, but it wasn’t his arm she wanted around her. What she wanted was Ethan’s attention.


    She watched Ethan walking ahead, chatting easily with Brenna as though no one else in the world existed.


    If Brenna weren’t in the picture, Ethan would have seen her differently. He would’ve fallen for her.


    The jungle was merciless. Wild animals prowled unseen, and venomous snakes slithered out from the tall grass without warning. idents here weren’t unusual, and only the sharpest survived.


    A cold gleam flickered in Gracie’s eyes when she thought about that. This was her chance to get rid of Brenna.


    As she listened to Ethan and Brenna talking about Hector, she interjected, “Hector’s meticulous. He never takes unnecessary risks. With the kind of man he is, after you wrecked his big n, there’s no way he’ll just let it go. He might have already sent people to kill us.”


    Ethan barely looked her way. “He doesn’t have the capability to kill us.”


    Brenna also didn’t look the least bit concerned. She knew the jungle well enough to understand that sheer numbers meant little out here.


    But Gracie wasn’t convinced and said, “We should still watch our backs. Hector is ruthless. You saw how close we came to dying earlier, Ethan.”


    Ethan stopped walking and turned sharply toward her. “If you hadn’t shown up and messed things up, I’d have taken those guys out already. You brought a team, sure. But they just slowed me down. And you? You got yourself caught as a hostage.”


    Gracie’s heart sank at the sharp edge in Ethan’s voice. The sting of his words mingled with the throbbing pain in her arm until she couldn’t hold it in any longer. Tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks.


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    “Ethan, I’m hurt,” she cried, her voice trembling. “I’m in pain.”


    Thiago nced over his shoulder and saw how pitiful Gracie looked. Still, there was no sympathy in his eyes. To him, she’d brought this on herself.


    Brenna turned as well. Her gaze settled on the gash on Gracie’s arm. Blood had seeped through the bandage. The wound needed immediate treatment.


    They pressed on until they were far from the explosion site. When they finally stopped, Brenna set her backpack down, unzipped it briskly, and pulled out the medical kit. “Sit still. I’ll patch you up,” she said to Gracie.


    Ethan stood a few steps away, his gaze fixed on the dense stretch of jungle ahead. Gracie’s chest tightened when she saw that. She had hoped, just a little, that he might turn back, offer a word offort, or even help treat her wound. But he didn’t.


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