Chapter 34 Hidden Hands and Cracks in the Mask


    "What contracts?"


    Finished


    Fiona listed a few names from memory. Wendy immediately looked up the files- sure enough, those were all partners Larry had been negotiating with recently. Matters of the branchpany had nothing to do with Henry. So why did he have draft copies of the contracts?


    "Look closely at the details. Pay special attention to the pricing."


    Fiona was in the kitchen. Henry wasn''t home at the moment, and only Joy was watching TV in the living room. Fiona pulled aptop from the hiddenpartment in a cab and held it in her arms as she talked to Wendy over video.


    "Henry''s been spending more time in the studytely. It''s hard for me to get in. Oh, and there have been a lot of phone callstely. If I answer, they just hang up. But if Henry or Joy picks up, they talk for a long time."


    "Keep an eye on it."


    Whoever was behind Henry... wouldn''t be able to stay hidden for much longer.


    Just before clocking out for the day, Wendy shut herptop and was about to go pick up Chase. But before she could even move, Henry called-he was already downstairs at her office. Joy wanted to have dinner with her, so Wendy had no choice but to agree.


    What she didn''t expect was for Chase to arrive at the building lobby first.


    He had attended a lecture at the university earlier and wrapped up long ago. After meeting a professor at the hospital, he headed over to Quinn Group. He didn''t want to go upstairs and be a topic of gossip, so he waited in the lobby. Lately, Wendy would alwayse down to meet him after work-he thought he''d surprise her for once.


    Instead, it just ended up hurting.


    "Wendy."


    "Prettydy!"


    Henry walked in holding Joy''s hand. Joy ran over happily and threw herself into Wendy''s arms. Wendy smiled and scooped her up, gently pinching her cheeks. But as she turned her head, she spotted Chase standing up, frozen in ce. What was Chase doing here?


    Panic rose in Wendy''s chest. She didn''t know how to exin it. But she couldn''t let Henry notice anything off either.


    Henry, seeing Wendy frozen, turned and noticed Chase''s sour expression.


    9:42 PM c


    Chapter 34 Hidden Hands and Cracks in the Mask


    Finished


    But Joy didn''t give Chase the chance to answer. She clung to Wendy''s hand and shouted, "No! I don''t want the bad man toe! Bad man will hurt Daddy! I want Daddy and Pretty Lady to go!"


    Wendy didn''t know how to exin it and could only stand there holding Joy''s hand.


    Chase gave a bitter smile. "Forget it. I was just passing by. You all go ahead. I won''t intrude." With that, he turned and left.


    He thought maybe-just maybe-Wendy would run after him likest time. But even after sitting in his car for a long while, all he saw was the three of them-that happy little family-getting into Wendy''s car and driving off.


    Of course. Whether Wendy liked him or not, Henry would always be her first choice.


    Forget it.


    He didn''t want to go home tonight. He stepped on the gas and drove straight to the building where Waylon worked. He couldn''t get in, so he parked nearby and gave Waylon a call.


    Waylon was still busy with a case but stepped out to keep himpany for a bit. "Waylon, tell me... are women really that good at pretending?"


    Afterst time, Waylon had gained a bit more understanding of Wendy. Especially considering what she''d told him about the Moses case and its ties to the Harrison family, he could understand why Wendy was trying to maintain her connection with Henry.


    Still...


    Waylon nced at Chase.


    Maybe Wendy wasn''t telling Chase the truth because she was trying to protect him. Things were tooplicated. Chase was too naive to get involved. Waylon didn''t dare say too much.


    "She''s someone you like. You should trust her," was all he could offer.


    Trust?


    One was his first love-his crush.


    The other was someone who had finally stirred his heart after five long years.


    Which one would he end up losing to?


    Would he always be the one who came up short?


    "Is that it, then? Just gonna give up because I''m scared to lose?"


    After dinner, Henry took Joy home and invited Wendy upstairs for a bowl of sweet soup.


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    Chapter 34 Hidden Hands and Cracks in the Mask


    Finished


    "So you''re the nanny Sammy hired. First time we''re meeting, I think." Wendy took


    a sip-and nearly saw stars from how sweet it was.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Fiona''s sharine smile with its hidden edge. That woman had done it on purpose.


    "Yes. My sry maye from Madam Wendy, but I report everything to Ms. Sammy."


    "Do your job well. It''s almost New Year. There''ll be bonuses."


    "Yes, ma''am."


    Fiona turned and left.


    Henry stayed to chat with Wendy for a bit, steering the conversation-intentionally or not- toward Wyvern Group.


    "I heard my parents scolded Larry. Apparently, he said something inappropriate in front of Mr. Zachary and his wife. The deal that was supposed to be signed is now on hold. My dad spent a fortune on that jade screen... and now it''s all wasted."


    Joy bounced up the stairs to take a bath, leaving Henry and Wendy alone, suddenly talking


    business.


    So much for the idea that Henry had no connection to the Harrison family. He clearly had plenty.


    The incident had only just happened, and Henry already knew the details.


    "Mr. Zachary really wasn''t happy," Wendy said with a helpless smile. "You know how things are with Chase and me... I brought him along to stabilize Quinn Group''s stock. Those shareholders. are just waiting for me to mess up. One word from Larry, and all my work was for nothing."


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