Chapter 251: In a Relationship?

Chapter 251: Chapter 251: In a Relationship?

The Crimson Trace was suggestive, leaving much to the imagination.

Shiloh Sloan followed Vesper Grayson’s gaze downward. The tips of her ears instantly turned beet red. She quickly pulled her collar tight, hiding the glaring mark, unable to conceal the panic in her eyes.

"It must be a mosquito bite. I didn’t even notice..."

As soon as she said it, she realized it only made her look guiltier.

Vesper Grayson bit the handle of her spoon, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she teased her friend in a leisurely drawl.

"Where would you find such vicious mosquitoes in Northolme now that it’s autumn? And one that picks such a tricky spot to bite, leaving a mark that obvious?"

"Vesper!"

Shiloh Sloan was mortified and annoyed, her cheeks burning.

She’d been out with friends last night and had too much to drink. As it happened, Nolan Forrester was passing by, and since her friends knew they were neighbors, they asked him to see her home.

They had been arguing, but somehow, in the middle of it all, they started kissing.

Lost to the haze of alcohol and passion, they’d muddled their way into bed together.

’Truly, nothing leads you astray like wine and passion.’

Vesper Grayson slowly ate her dessert and asked nonchalantly.

"Seeing someone?"

"No, it was just a one-night stand." Shiloh Sloan looked a bit uncomfortable, the blush still lingering on her ears.

"Well, in that case, be careful. Use protection and take care of yourself." Vesper Grayson looked up, a gentle smile in her voice.

’She really is my best friend, thinking of everything for me.’

"Don’t worry, I know the score. I’m definitely not going to get pregnant out of wedlock." Shiloh Sloan chuckled, then changed the subject, her eyes brightening. "Oh, that reminds me! My restaurant is having its grand opening in a few days. You have to bring President Hawthorne to show your support."

"That was fast! The renovations are all finished?"

"Yep." Shiloh Sloan nodded, unable to hide the joy in her eyes. "I’ve also hired a chef. He’s a master who’s been in the culinary world for over a decade and was even a head chef for state banquets in his younger days. He was framed for something later on and forced to resign. It took a lot of work to convince him to join me."

"In that case, congratulations, Sloan. May your grand opening be a success, and may your restaurant be ever bustling with customers." Vesper Grayson offered her congratulations with a smile, then remembered something. "By the way, what are your plans for the lending company?"

"I’ll shut it down for good once all the loans are repaid." Shiloh Sloan had it all planned out, her tone resolute. "After that, I’ll focus solely on the restaurant. My goal is to open eight branches across Northolme and really establish myself."

"That’s quite an ambition. I know you’ll do great." Vesper Grayson’s eyes filled with genuine pride. "And if you ever run into trouble, just let me know."

"You know I won’t hesitate."

Seeing her best friend finally emerge from the mire of her past and thrive, Vesper Grayson was truly happy for her.

...

「Meanwhile, at the Rivers Group’s top-floor executive office.」

Lana Chandler strode into the office and bowed her head to report.

"President Rivers, still no movement from Yvonne Lowell. Here is the surveillance footage and some leads I’ve uncovered."

She handed him the compiled investigation file.

A cigarette was lodged between Zane Rivers’s fingers, smoke spiraling into the air. He glanced down, quickly scanning the documents, his expression unreadable.

"This is all circumstantial. No hard evidence. Let’s not tip our hand yet," he said flatly, his tone serious. "We move when we have conclusive proof."

Rivalries in business and among celebrities were just a fact of life in this industry.

As long as they didn’t create a major scandal or harm the company’s core interests, he couldn’t be bothered with such petty squabbles.

He paused to flick the ash from his cigarette before his thin lips parted.

"Find out what Yvonne Lowell’s weaknesses are. Especially what—or who—she cares about."

"Understood. I’ll get right on it."

Lana Chandler immediately began to dig deeper and soon had a full picture of Yvonne Lowell’s background.

Yvonne Lowell came from a poor family in a remote county of Northolme. She had trained relentlessly in dance since she was a child. With her stunning figure and exceptional beauty, she stood out among countless other dancers, eventually earning a place at the Northolme School of the Arts through her own efforts.

During her years at the school, she worked harder than anyone. While others leveraged their looks to take shortcuts—landing acting roles and accumulating resources—she worked to pay her way through school while burying herself in her studies, never once letting up.

Her relationship history was squeaky clean. Aside from a wealthy heir she dated in college, she had virtually no other romantic entanglements.

She lived a diligent and disciplined life, always following the rules.

But by digging deeper, Lana Chandler finally found a vulnerability: a frail, sickly grandmother in Yvonne Lowell’s hometown.

Ever since she started college, she had shouldered the burden of supporting her family alone. While paying for her own tuition and living expenses, she also sent money home every month to care for the elderly woman. Her grandmother was her one and only weakness.

Following this lead, a crucial point of suspicion surfaced: three days ago, the grandmother had been taken from her home, and her whereabouts were now unknown.

The old residential area lacked surveillance cameras, making it impossible to track the vehicle. Lana Chandler interviewed neighbors and pieced together a few fragments of information. A black Audi had picked up the grandmother. The driver was a burly man with a buzz cut and tattooed arms. He claimed to be Yvonne Lowell’s personal bodyguard, acting on her orders to bring the old woman to the city to live out her golden years. He left the very same day, and no one had thought to get the license plate number.

It was obvious someone had used Yvonne Lowell’s name as a pretense to abduct the old woman.

That was why Yvonne Lowell had rushed out in a panic late that night. The kidnappers must have been using her grandmother as a hostage to deliberately lure her out.

The surveillance cameras outside the villa only captured her leaving alone. No matter who investigated, no one else could be implicated.

A step-by-step, flawless plan. Their opponent was incredibly cunning.

With no other leads, all they could do for now was keep a close watch on Roya Winters and wait for something to change.

The next day, Lana Chandler shared all her findings with Vesper Grayson.

The information Vesper Grayson’s own people had gathered matched Lana Chandler’s report perfectly.

"President Grayson, Roya Winters has been staying at Terrence Lloyd’s villa. She hasn’t left the house since yesterday," a subordinate reported in a low voice. "If this drags on, we’ll never get a breakthrough. What are your orders?"

They couldn’t go to the police with mere suspicions. Even if they managed to bring her in for questioning, they’d have to release her without solid evidence.

Vesper Grayson tapped her fingers lightly on the desk, her expression placid. "I have a plan for this. Just wait for my word."

After she hung up, Maxim Chandler placed a new file in front of her and reported in a low, serious voice.

"Mrs. Hawthorne, Terrence Lloyd married three years ago. His wife comes from an ordinary background and is plain-looking. He considers her unpresentable and has always hidden the fact that he’s married. His wife, Jean Fanning, is known for her fiery temper. For the past few years, she’s been in Maridia taking care of Terrence Lloyd’s mother and rarely returns to Northolme."

A chill entered Vesper Grayson’s eyes as a faint smile touched her lips.

"Leak everything to Jean Fanning—about Terrence Lloyd keeping Roya Winters in a love nest and spoiling her rotten."

Maxim Chandler froze for a second, clearly surprised.

’Is she planning on having the wife tear the mistress to shreds?’

"Mrs. Hawthorne, Jean Fanning knows what kind of man Terrence Lloyd is. He’s always fooling around, and she has always turned a blind eye. She might not care about this."

"His past affairs were just flings, so it didn’t matter," Vesper Grayson said, her eyes glinting and her lips curving. "But Terrence Lloyd has genuine feelings for Roya Winters. He’s spending a fortune on her, indulging her every whim."

She knew the bottom line in this kind of marriage all too well.

A wife might tolerate her husband’s philandering, but Jean Fanning would never stand by and watch him squander the family fortune on another woman.

Maxim Chandler instinctively glanced at Jared Hawthorne, who was seated beside Vesper.

The man’s handsome features were cold and impassive. His thin lips parted.

"Do as Mrs. Hawthorne says."

"Yes."

The news reached Maridia in the morning. By noon, Jean Fanning was on a flight back to Northolme, with Mother Lloyd in tow.

The pair stormed straight into Terrence Lloyd’s villa.

In the bedroom, Roya Winters was fast asleep, completely unsuspecting.

Jean Fanning strode forward and violently dragged her from the bed.

Two sharp, resounding slaps instantly jolted Roya Winters awake.

"Who are you?! Are you crazy? Help!"

Startled, Roya Winters screamed and tried to dodge, and the two women immediately began to scuffle.

The staff downstairs were too frightened to intervene. They hastily dialed Terrence Lloyd’s number to report the emergency.

"President Lloyd! This is bad! Your wife and your mother are back, and your wife is attacking Miss Winters upstairs!"

The pampered and delicate Roya Winters was no match for the fierce and formidable Jean Fanning.

In mere moments, her lip was split and bleeding, her hair was a tangled mess, and several strands had been brutally torn from her scalp. She ended up curled in a pathetic heap at the corner of the bed, trembling and whimpering, a truly miserable sight.

Terrence Lloyd sped back home. The moment he walked in the door, he saw his mother sitting in the living room, her face livid. He froze on the spot.

"Mom? Why are you back?"

Mother Lloyd let out a heavy, cold snort, her eyes filled with disappointment.

"If I hadn’t come back, were you planning to hand over the entire family business to that little vixen?"

"Mom, don’t listen to outsiders trying to stir up trouble!"

Terrence Lloyd scrambled to explain, but the sound of crying from upstairs made his expression darken. He bolted up the stairs.

When he saw Roya Winters, bruised and battered in the corner of the bed, his heart clenched. He immediately pulled Jean Fanning away and gathered Roya into his arms, holding her tight.

Roya Winters buried her face in his chest, her beautiful face streaked with tears as she trembled with indignation, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Darling, this crazy woman hit me! You have to make her pay..."

Before Terrence Lloyd could say a word, Jean Fanning crossed her arms and glared.

"Terrence Lloyd, is *she* your wife? Then what does that make me?!"