?Chapter 1648:


    As they arrived at thepany and stepped through the doors, a voice rang out behind them. “Ethan! I’m back!”


    They turned toward the voice.


    Standing there, very much alive, was Gracie.


    Both Brenna and Ethan stared at her, their expressions cold, revealing nothing more than mild surprise.


    Gracie, however, was radiant with excitement. She had narrowly escaped Hector’s grasp, and an unexpected explosion had wiped away the traces of his death, so no one woulde after her.


    Brenna had abandoned her before, and she wasn’t one to forgive or forget. She was determined to take Ethan from Brenna to get back at her.


    Gracie smiled brightly at Ethan and Brenna, as if their past had never existed at all.


    “Why are you here, Gracie?” Ethan asked, his tone cutting. Not a trace of warmth lingered in his eyes. The memory of her attempt to harm Brenna still burned vividly in his mind. She might have failed, but he had seen through every ounce of malice behind her act.


    He ced a steady hand on Brenna’s shoulder and pulled her closer, holding her protectively. Together, they stood side by side, their closeness impossible to ignore.


    The scene struck Gracie like a blow. Difort twisted within her. Why did Ethan look at her with such cold hostility? Did he truly feel no guilt for abandoning her to struggle alone in the wild?


    Fury boiled beneath Gracie’s calm exterior. She hadn’t even confronted them, yet Ethan stood there acting as though she would hurt Brenna or something. She was the one who had been wronged, so why did he behave as if Brenna were the victim?


    Gracie’s voice trembled with restrained anger. “Ethan, before you left for Norview, you gave me your word about letting me work in yourpany. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about that already.”


    Ethan let out a derisive snort, his re cutting through her like ice. “And when exactly did I ever agree to that?”


    Gracie froze, unable to find words. The realization struck her hard—Ethan had never truly agreed back then, nor had he refused her outright.


    “Ethan, you can’t treat me this way. Back in Norview, I nearly lost my life to save you. How can you be so heartless to me now?”


    Her face contorted in distress as she stepped forward, reaching for Ethan’s hand in desperation. But Ethan stepped back with Brenna, avoiding her touch.


    Gracie’s heart ached until she could no longer contain the pain. Tears streamed freely down her face, each drop carrying a silent plea for Ethan to feel guilty toward her.


    She said, “Ethan, please don’t treat me this way. I almost died out there because of you and Brenna. How can you both be so cruel?”


    Brenna’s expression remained impassive, untouched by Gracie’s desperate disy. She had witnessed Gracie’s maniptions too many times before to be swayed by tears now.


    “Let’s go, Ethan,” Brenna said calmly, turning toward the elevator.


    Ethan’s gaze didn’t waver from Gracie. His voice was firm and unforgiving. “Don’t think I haven’t seen through you. You tried to kill Brenna, and that was why she treated you that way. I won’t keep someone like you near me. You’ve forgotten that Brenna was the one who looked after you before. And you repaid her with betrayal. You’re the cruel one, Gracie.”


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