?Chapter 957:


    Kaiden thought of his bothersome brother-inw again.


    “Ellie, I never said I was heading to work initially.”


    “Are you suggesting I’ve used you unfairly?” As Ellie spoke, she suddenly recalled that Kaiden hadn’t explicitly stated he was going to work; it had just been her assumption. Yet, he hadn’t refuted it.


    “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want Carole to bother you,” Kaiden exined.


    “The woman next to Carole is the one donating bone marrow to Brisa.”


    Thete summer evening wind danced across Ellie’s face, bringing with it a sense of restlessness. As the breeze died down, a sudden chill seeped into her bones, mirroring the turbulent emotions within her.


    Ellie’s eyes locked onto Kaiden in disbelief, her mind a jumble of conflicting thoughts. She felt as if she’d been struck by lightning—shocked, yet somehow inexplicably relieved. At least it wasn’t Carole who would save Brisa’s life. But questions still gnawed at her.


    “Then why did the Thorpe family’s servant tell me it was Carole?” Ellie probed, her voice tinged with curiosity. “Was your father pulling the strings?” Even as the words left her lips, Ellie understood it was likely not the truth. Jorge, set in his ways, was hardly the type to weave borate tales for someone like Carole.


    Kaiden shook his head slowly, his expression grave. “It’s Talon.”


    Recently, Jorge had begun to see Talon’s family in a new light, even elevating Erick to a senior executive position. Kaiden, not taking Talon and his family seriously, had initially brushed it off when Joselyn informed him of Erick’s promotion.


    Now, the puzzle pieces clicked into ce. Talon and Carole were in cahoots. Talon had brought Carole under the pretext of a bone marrow donation, and Carole had reciprocated with glowing endorsements, securing mutual benefits. Ellie, with her keen intellect and sharp perception, had witnessed many sinister and insidious dealings within the circles of the rich and powerful. It didn’t take her long to untangle the web of motives and the underlying disputes of vested interests.


    “Why did you leave so abruptly today?” she pressed, her mind still churning. “Talon has kept that woman under wraps, but Carole sniffed her out. To avoid a potential storm, he nned to move her.”


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    After learning of rinda’s predicament, Kaiden had dispatched watchdogs to keep an eye on things.


    When Kaiden arrived, Carole was already there. He had taken rinda, and Carole had followed them into the car.


    “What will you do now?” Ellie inquired, her earlier frustration forgotten as she leaned in, all business. “Where are Carole and that woman now?”


    As she shifted, her buttocks inadvertently brushed against Kaiden’sp, sending a sudden tingle of excitement through his thighs. He drew her close, inhaling her intoxicating scent. Taking a deep breath, he centered himself.


    “Tomorrow’s another day. We’ll cross that bridge when wee to it,” he murmured, his hand tracing soothing circles on her back. “Let’s go home.”


    As Ellie rose, a peculiar sensation made her pause. Her gaze darted suspiciously to Kaiden’s crotch.


    But he was already on his feet, holding her hand, guiding her inside.


    Ellie hesitated to take a closer look, reasoning that she hadn’t done anything suggestive to tease him. Surely, it couldn’t be that he was aroused at this hour.


    Catching her questioning look, Kaiden met her eyes.


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