?Chapter 1555:


    Raegan’s smile broadened. She brought her hands together and apuded lightly, the sharp pping echoing through the otherwise silent bar. “Impressive. I do love dealing with intelligent people,” she said with mocking amusement. “So why don’t you take a guess at the whole truth? I imagine it wouldn’t be too difficult for you to piece everything together.”


    Her eyes narrowed as she nced toward the bar’s entrance, a sh of chill passing through her gaze. “And you’re free to leave anytime,” she added casually, lips curling into a warped smile. “After all, our objective has already been met. As for you—you’re no longer useful.”


    At that moment, Lucas set two freshly mixed Heartbreak Elixir cocktails down on the counter with a solid thud, breaking the tension between the two women. “Enjoy,” he said with a wink, then tactfully withdrew to the far end of the bar.


    Raegan lifted her ss, took a sip, and closed her eyes in brief satisfaction. “The taste hasn’t changed,” she murmured. “Take your time. I’m in no hurry.”


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    Maia didn’t touch the second ss. Her heart sank. Thoughts shed through her mind—fragmented at first, then slowly assembling into a terrifying picture. She felt as though she had wandered into a massive spider’s web, already trapped, waiting for the final strike.


    “You tried to kill me at the banquet center that night,” Maia said evenly. “You wanted to use my death to create a scandal and bring down Cooper Group.”


    Raegan set her ss down and burst outughing, as though she had just heard something absurd. “I did consider that,” she admitted, “but your theory is iplete.”


    Maia remained calm and pressed on. “You stayed by Kiley’s side all this time not just to collect intelligence for your organization, but to make yourself appear as nothing more than her devotedckey.”


    Raegan’s expression stiffened. The smile at the corners of her mouth froze. “Maia Watson, don’t push your luck,” she snapped.


    Maia’s sharp wit was undeniable—but Raegan told herself it was the only weapon she still had. Taking a slow breath, she forced down her anger, then leaned close to Maia’s ear, her voice low andced with venomous disdain.


    “Looks like you’re not as clever as you think. Yes, we wanted Cooper Group destroyed—but we never nned to use your death to do it. You’re giving yourself far too much credit. In our entire scheme, you were insignificant—barely worthy of being called a pawn.”


    “Is that so?” Maia didn’t bristle. Instead, she turned her head and met Raegan’s furious stare with a faintly mocking smile. “Then you yed your part exceptionally well. You didn’t just fool Kiley—you managed to deceive me as well.” She paused just long enough to let the next wordsnd cleanly. “By the way, does Kiley know that her loyal follower has already betrayed her?”


    The words struck like a brutal p across Raegan’s face.


    Before Raegan had the chance to explode, Maia abruptly steered the conversation in a different direction, lifting her eyes with a sharpness that cut straight through the tension.


    “So it was never about me at all, was it? The person you were after was Chris.”


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