Chapter 168 A Ghost Offense
She’s definitely <b>not </b>as simple as they thought
“If that man really is the owner of <b>Verdant </b>Vi,” <b>Jason </b>said carefully, “then his background’s obviously no joke. Maybe Ms. Ste knew him through business?”
It sounded more usible than them having just met.
“A business rtionship that turned romantic?” Ethan’s voice was sharp, cold.
Jason’s mouth twitched.
“Is it possible they’re dating?
The second Jason said <b>dating</b>, Ethan’s expression sank like stone.
“You think a man like that would actually fall for her?”
Jason said nothing.
Maybe… but also, maybe not.
Ste <b>wasn’t </b>some nobody <b>either</b>. The studio she ran was doing well, and she’d <b>built </b>it on her own. The Reed family had no part in it–hell, they <b>didn’t </b>even know it existed.
And Jason knew exactly how much they’d been giving her every month. It wasn’t much.
Ethan’s voice stayed icy. “Either way, <b>find </b>out who <b>he </b>is. Fast”
Everyone knew the owner of Seats Cove wasn’t someone simple, but no one had ever uncovered <b>his </b>identity.
And now Ste had somehow gotten involved.
She really had a way ofnding on her feet.
They arrived at the Keene estate.
Ethan went in alone, and right as he stepped through the door–thud! Something flew straight at him and smacked him in the exact spot he’d injured earlier.
Second hit. The pain bloomed fresh and hot.
Judson looked ready to kill.
Even Madeline–who <b>usually </b>shielded her son–had a face like a thundercloud.
Ethan took a deep breath. “I said I’m going to meet the <b>Luke </b>heir before the contract review tomorrow.”
His voice was low <b>and </b>simmering.
Clearly, Judson’s two rounds of violence had pushed him too far.
You? Meet him?” Judson inapped. “You’ve already pissed him off, and you still think you get to meet?”
“When did I piss him off?”
Ethan wasn’t having it
441 PM
Chapter 168 A Ghost Offense
Finished
“He said that?”
What kind of heir got <b>involved </b>in another family’s internal affairs? What did that even mean?
Ethan’s confusion showed in his eyes.
And that just <b>made </b>Judson even angrier.
“We got in touch with his assistant,” Judson growled. “<b>And </b>that’s what the guy told me to discipline you.”
Ethan was silent.
“You still think you didn’t offend <b>him</b>?”
“I haven’t even met him!”
Judson grabbed an ashtray off the table and hurled it at him.
Ethan dodged just in time<b>. </b>The heavy ss mmed into the door behind him with a loud crack, leaving a dent. If it had hit him, there’d be blood.
Tension crackled in the room.
Ethan felt wronged. “I really haven’t met him.”
This is insane.
He’d spent weeks trying to get close. If he couldn’t even meet the man, how could he possibly have offended him?
But everything felt <b>like </b>a struggletely. Like he was pushing a boulder uphill just to stay in ce.
Judson’s chest rose and fell rapidly. “Don’t start.
“It’s the trutht
They were both fuming now.
Madeline, who had stayed silent until this point, finally spoke up. “Enough. You really haven’t met him?”
Ethan nodded. “I <b>haven’t</b>.”
Judson narrowed his eyes. “Then how did you offend <b>him</b><b>?</b>”
Ethan didn’t answer.
Madeline didn’t either.
They were back where they started. If Ethan had never met the Luke heir, how the hell <b>had </b>he made an enemy of him?
She exchanged a nce with Judson–and in that instant, her expression darkened
Could it be because of Lillian
<b>Ethan </b><b>and </b>Judson both looked at her
Ethan’s face turned pitch ck
Madeline continued. “If I remember right, the Luke heir arrived in Rivermount right around the <b>same </b><b>time </b>as Lillian<b>” </b>
4:41 PM)
The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In