?Chapter 1083:


    Beads of sweat gathered on Rodney’s forehead. His nerves were frayed. If his daughter kept running her mouth, she’d drag the entire Watts family down with her.


    Eager to avoid disaster, Rodney bowed deeply toward the second floor where Wesley and Elena stood. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Spencer. My daughter isn’t in her right mind and is spouting nonsense. I’ll take her home right now—she clearly needs her medicine.”


    Without waiting for another outburst, he dragged Le away by the arm.


    Meanwhile, Ste’s heart hammered in her chest. Watching her father being dragged off by authorities and then seeing her close friend pped in front of a crowd nearly sent her over the edge. Bitterness twisted inside her as she red at Elena. She wasn’t done—not by a long shot. The game wasn’t over yet, and soon, Elena would see exactly who would have thest word.


    Ste figured Graham had a beef with Elena and saw thetter as nothing short of a nemesis—an arrangement that worked in her favor, or so she thought. Even with her father tangled in legal trouble, she was determined to make Elena’s life hell.


    A sly smile yed on Ste’s lips as she strolled up to Graham. “Mr. Martin, I recall there’s still bad blood between you and the Harper family…”


    She fully expected that a reminder of old wounds would have Graham setting his sights on Elena.


    To her surprise, Graham’s response was theplete opposite. Ignoring Ste entirely, he tilted his head back to where Elena and Wesley stood. “Miss Harper, Mr. Spencer, it’s a pleasure to see you both. Mr. Spencer, please know that while Mr. Russell’s abuse of authority has damaged your reputation, you can rest assured—such injustices will not be repeated.”


    Ste’s jaw tightened so hard that her teeth ached. “Mr. Martin, it was clearly those two who framed my father. But instead of helping my father out, you’re sucking up to them, dragging my dad’s name through the mud in the process.”


    Graham’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Whether your father was wronged or not, the Bureau of Investigation will get to the bottom of it. If you have questions, Miss Russell, you’re free to bring them up with the authorities.”


    Faced with the choice between seeking vengeance and advancing his career, Graham’s priorities were clear. Wesley’s influence stretched all the way to the president’s office, and Elena had ties to the former president himself—these weren’t opponents to antagonize. He knew that following in Liam’s footsteps by targeting the Harpers or Spencers would only lead to his downfall. His best move was to curry favor, not pick fights.


    Truthfully, if Wesley hadn’t orchestrated Liam’s downfall, Graham would never havended the acting mayor position. It had taken him a decade to reach deputy mayor, and he’d doubted he would ever climb higher. Now, opportunity hadnded right in hisp.


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    Ste saw through his act in an instant—Graham was only looking out for himself. A string of failures had frayed herposure. She snarled, “Mr. Martin, have you forgotten why your son had to go abroad? Yet here you are, cozying up to that snake Elena. Aren’t you worried your son will be furious when he hears about this?”


    Graham’s polite facade crumbled in an instant, reced by a dark and threatening re.


    Ste, undeterred, continued, “Keith is your son—your own flesh and blood! However, not only did you refuse to defend him, but you’re buttering up the very woman responsible for his misery. You’re nothing but a coward!”


    The whole room froze, caught off guard by her brazen outburst. Had shepletely lost her senses? With Liam’s downfall, Graham was now the most powerful man in the. And yet she had the audacity to call him a coward? Anyone with a lick of sense would steer clear of provoking Graham now. Was Ste trying to m the final door on Liam’seback?


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