Chapter 438 Maybe He Really Can’t
Tessa and Victor were from totally different worlds. <i>His </i><i>behavior</i>? Yeah, to her, it probably felt like another.
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Chapter 439 A Dangerous Alliance
Chapter 439 A Dangerous Alliance
Of course she <b>was </b>on <b>edge </b>all the time<b>–</b>anyone would be.
“All right, all right, I’m flying out tonight. Don’t be <b>scared</b><b>, </b>okay?<b>” </b>
Ste kept <b>her </b>tone as gentle <b>as </b><b>possible</b>.
Tessa sniffled. <b>“</b>You better not be lying to me.”
<b>“</b>I’m not. Promise<b>.</b><b>” </b>
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They stayed on the phone for a while longer<b>, </b>with Ste giving her all kinds of reassurances that nothing would go wrong. Only then did <b>Tessa </b>finally hang up.
She <b>was </b>genuinely traumatized.
She’d never seen anything like that in her life. Back when Ste’s world first copsed, she’d been even more scared than <b>Tessa </b><b>was </b>now<b>. </b>
A familiar presence suddenly enveloped her. Ste jumped.
She
spun around and stared right into a pair of deep, dark eyes. She clutched her chest. “Jeez, you scared me half to death.”
Abraham raised an eyebrow. “Badmouthing Victor again?”
<b><i>Wait</i></b>, <i>he </i><i>heard </i><i>that</i><i>? </i>
So when exactly did he walk in?
She didn’t answer. Instead, she changed the subject. “Did Louis leave?”
Abraham made a soft grunt of acknowledgment.
Ste narrowed her eyes. “Did something happen with the Wilde family?”
Why else would Louis show up in such a rush, asking if Sharon had been involved in that whole conflict?
She couldn’t think of any exnation other than something major going down with the Wildes.
Abraham said, “Don’t concern yourself with that.”
Ste went quiet. So something <b><i>had </i></b>happened. No wonder Louis had been so anxious today.
After a moment, she said, “Sharon didn’t cause any trouble that day. Don’t go dragging people in just because.”
Abraham gave her a curious look. “Oh?”
“She was holding Jasmine. Tried to help calm things down.”
It <i>looked </i>like she was breaking things up, sure. But was she, really? Because the way she pulled, it turned into Jasmine getting hit one–sidedly.
Ste was about to say something else about Jasmine when Abraham’s phone rang.
He kissed her cheek and got up to take the call.
Left alone, Ste <b>was </b>just settling in again when a housekeeper came to announce, “Ms. Ste, there’s a Miss Sutton here to <b>see </b>you.”
<i>Sutton</i>? <i>Ethan’s </i>sister<i>. </i>
To be honest, if not for her <b>ties </b>to Ethan, Ste might’ve even gotten along with Sutton. There was potential for friendship there<b>. </b>
Sutton <b>was </b>sharp and efficient–very much a woman who knew what she wanted.
Chapter 439 A Dangerous Alliance
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If she had been born a man, Ethan probably wouldn’t <b>have </b>stood <b>a </b><b>chance </b><b>at </b>inheriting the Keene <b>family </b>empire.
But now that <b>they’d </b>brought Horgan <b>back </b>into the picture, maybe the Keene inheritance <b>game </b>had changed entirely.
Ste didn’t like most of the <b>Keene </b>family, but she didn’t <b>have </b><b>a </b><b>particr </b>problem <b>with </b>Sutton. Mostly because they rarely interacted.
<b>“</b>Take <b>her </b>to the <b>tea </b>room<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Yes, ma’am.”
The housekeeper nodded and left.
Ste got up and changed before heading down.
As soon <b>as </b><b>she </b>entered the <b>tea </b>room<b>, </b>she <b>saw </b>Sutton examining one of her teacups. The girl had a <b>sleek</b>, chin–length haircut and <b>was </b>dressed in a <b>ck </b>zer over a long skirt.
She looked… sharp.
<i>Actually</i><b>–</b><b><i>cool</i></b>.
Ste had never thought to describe a woman as “cool.” Not even Eddie’s sister, Evie, who always chased that gender–neutral aesthetic, had given her that impression.
But Sutton–yeah, she <b>was </b>cool. The name sounded like it belonged to a beauty, and she definitely was one. Just in apletely different way.
Sutton looked up at the sound of movement, locking eyes with Ste. She paused briefly, then smiled. “Didn’t think it’d be this hard to <b>see </b>you.”
Ste sat down on the small couch opposite her. “When did you get back?”
Sutton ran a jewelry business.
Honestly, she had way more business savvy than Ethan. She’d spent the past few years flying constantly, managing her booming jewelry empire.
“Inded this morning” Sutton replied, setting the cup down.
Ste gave a small nod.
Whatever was going on with the Keene family must’ve been serious. For Sutton to dy her return until now, she had to be absolutely swamped.
Sutton continued, “I was nning toe back when my mother copsed and was hospitalized, but things got in the way.”
Madeline ended up in the hospital?
That must’ve been when Horgan was sent to the Keenes.
No denying it–Derrick had gone all in this time. The mess he stirred up at the Keene estate was beyond chaotic.
Looked like Horgan really was Judson’s son.
Sutton nced at her. “My brother hasn’t actually done anything to hurt you over the years, has he<b>?</b>”
Ste raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Suttonced her fingers together on the carved wooden tea table, her gaze steady–like a negotiator.
“With everything the Keene family has lost over this… do you think it was worth it?”
She didn’t even mention their coboration with Abraham. Not yet.