?Chapter 188:


    Martha’s face paled. She sank onto the couch beside him, her breath catching in her throat. “No… it can’t be because of that. Maybe it’s just market vtility—some bad timing?”


    Grant met her eyes, and what she saw there made her blood run cold. “This isn’t coincidence,” he said quietly. “It’s retribution.”


    Martha’s breath caught. “Then… what are we supposed to do?” she asked, her voice trembling as panic slowly crept in.


    “Keep Thea under strict watch,” Grant said, his tone steely. “No matter what happens, she can’te to harm—not before the Hubbards’ reunion banquet. If my instincts are right, this isn’t just about humiliation. Someone may be trying to take her life.”


    Martha’s stomach twisted. “I’ll watch over her,” she promised quickly, though unease was already blooming in her chest. Only an hour ago, she had been picturing Thea dazzling at the Hubbards’ reunion banquet—either catching the eye of one of the Hubbard men or forging a bond with their recently acknowledged daughter. A match, an alliance, a foothold into greater power. But now…


    “I hope I’m just overthinking this,” Grant murmured, rubbing his temples, his sigh heavy.


    Thea wasn’t the only one suffocating. Katie was locked in her own nightmare.


    She had been in the shower so long her fingers were pruned, her skin rubbed raw and pink—yet no matter how many times she scrubbed, the vile stench clung to her like a second skin.


    Worse still, after a vicious shouting match with her brother, her nerves were already in tatters. And now, the inte was on fire with cruel mockeryments piling in like vultures circling her shame.


    Just then, someone knocked.


    g?lnσν???s．c????, a world of tales


    “I said leave me alone! Are you all deaf or just in stupid?” Katie shrieked at the door.


    “Katie…” Ynda’s soft, gentle voice floated through.


    Katie’s heart jolted at the sound. She leapt off the bed and yanked the door open without hesitation. The moment her eyesnded on Ynda’s seemingly worried face, the dam broke—tears welled up and threatened to spill over.


    “I saw the news online. I was scared you might do something reckless. I had toe check on you,” Ynda said softly, her brows knitting in mock concern.


    A faint, sickening odor still hung in the air around Katie, making Ynda’s stomach twist, but her expression remained carefullyposed—measured sympathy etched into every line of her face.


    “Ynda, everyone’s mocking me. The entire damn inte saw me soaked in filth!” Katie’s voice cracked, trembling as she fought back tears barely held at bay.


    “Shh, don’t cry. I’m here now,” Ynda murmured, her hand resting gently on Katie’s trembling shoulder. “Have you asked your brother to track down who did this? It’s just… who would be so heartless?”


    “He said he couldn’t find anything. What a lie! He just doesn’t want to look into it. It’s not him who’s been humiliated for the whole world to see!” Katie’s gaze burned bright with rage.


    “I’m pretty sure he genuinely can’t track them down. You know how much he cares about you,” Ynda said softly.


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