<b>+15 </b><b>BONUS </b>


    For Liz, Xena was a thorn lodged between her and Zac. Unless that thorn was pulled out, there <b>was </b>no way <b>they </b>could ever go back to what they once had. Yet Xena had bee with him for three years. He could not pretend he <b>felt </b>nothing for her.


    He was still lost in thought when his phone buzzed.


    “What is it?” he asked tly.


    “Mr. Lincoln, I’ve tracked down the person who posted online,” Chase reported. “She’s one of Ms. Smith’s former clients from two years ago. That case really was a loss.”


    Zac’s eyes narrowed. “Two years ago? If she wanted to smear Liz, she would’ve done it within six months of the verdict. Keep digging. Someone has to be behind this.”


    “Yes, sir.”


    After hanging up, Zac sat in silence, considering who might have a motive to target Liz. She was a divorce attorney, which meant she had stepped on plenty of toes. He rarely kept up with her work, so it was impossible to guess who would go this far. The only option now was to wait for Chase’s findings.


    Meanwhile, in Xena’s apartment, she sat curled on the couch, phone pressed to her ear.


    “Miss Harris, are you sure Zac won’t trace the post back to you? He’s already investigating.”


    If he did, she knew she would be thrown under the bus in a heartbeat. In the past, she might have been confident Zac would shield her. Now, she was not so sure. If he ever found out she was the one pulling the strings, he would never forgive her.


    On the other end, Victoria sounded impatient. “Rx. There’s no way. I called to ask about something else. What should I do about Jack? He refuses to give me a title and just keeps trying to buy me off.”


    Xena’s brows furrowed. She thought Victoria was an idiot. But she still needed her as an ally against Liz, so she kept her tone even.


    “Miss Harris, if Mr. Stone won’t take responsibility, then use what you have. Take the surveince footage to your parents. Let them go straight to the Stones. Make it an issue between two families.”


    A


    The Harris family still held weight in Stanley City. If her parents brought it to the Stones personally, Jack would have no choice but to obey for the sake of appearances.


    “You’re sure this will work?”


    “You have no other options. Try it.”


    “If it doesn’t work, I’ll make you pay.”


    Xena’s lips tightened. “Miss Harris, our deal is over. This advice is free. Even if it doesn’t work, you can’t me me. Besides, nothing actually happened between you and Mr. Stone.”


    The crash of something shattering came through the phone


    “Xena, are you threatening me?”


    The fact that she knew nothing physical had happened was secret Victoria could not allow anyone else to know.


    Xena smirked, catching the edge of the threat. So Victoria wasn’t entirely clueless after all.


    “You’re overthinking. Why would I threaten you? I’m only


    She stopped mid–sentence. At the door, she heard the fair


    Her expression froze. She hurriedly ended the call just as alcohol.


    “Who were you just talking to?”


    His eyes locked on hers, dark and probing. Xena’s fingers No one. You must have misheard.”


    <b>“</b>You’re overthinking. Why would I threaten you? I’m only reminding-”


    She stopped mid–sentence. At the door, she heard the faint sound of a code being entered.


    Her expression froze. She hurriedly ended the <b>call </b>just as the <b>door </b>opened from outside. Zac stepped <b>in</b>, reeking of alcohol.


    <b>“</b>Who were you just talking to?”


    His eyes locked on hers, dark and probing. Xena’s fingers twitched as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. No one. You must have misheard.”


    <b>Chapter </b><b>103 </b>