Chapter 111 Lines Crossed
Jonathan let out a tight breath. “We can’t shut her studio down. Her partners are all backing her.”
Susan stared at him. “What?”
“I’m serious. Let’s drop it. No point wasting more time on this,” he muttered. Just bringing up Stella’s studio made his
expression sour.
This whole ordeal made one thing painfully clear–these days in Rivermount, the Reed family just didn’t hold the same power it once did.
And not just
the Reeds–even the Keenes.
Ethan had tried pulling strings through the Keene Group to cut off Stella’s partnerships. But not a single company had taken.
the bait.
“Forget it. Let’s go check on Lillian,” Jonathan said, brushing it off as he turned and walked toward Lillian’s hospital room.
Susan stood frozen in place, furious, She gave a sharp stomp, then hurried after them.
Susan stood frozen, fuming. Then, with a frustrated stomp, she chased after them down the hallway.
Inside the hospital room, Lillian was still on the phone.
The moment Jonathan opened the door, her voice exploded across the room. “Fine! Then we’ll go to prison together!”
Jonathan froze. Ethan, right behind him, had also heard Lillian’s outburst.
So did Susan.
The three of them stood there in stunned silence as they stared at Lillian.
Lillian stared right back, completely caught off guard.
No one spoke.
The heavy silence was broken by a voice from further down the hallway.
“Is Madarn Alice really that important to him? I’ve already come here twice,” Stella said, clearly irritated.
“She’s pretty important,” Abel replied calmly.
Stella hadn’t wanted to come in the first place–especially knowing she’d have to walk past Lillian’s room.
And as she passed Lillian’s room, she saw Jonathan, Ethan, and Susan standing there frozen–like they’d just been hit by a freight train.
She glanced at Abel. He looked at the three of them too. But neither of them said a word.
Stella kept walking without a glance back. She couldn’t wait to get out of that place.
Once they were further down, she leaned toward Abel and whispered, “What’s up with them? Why are they just standing there like that?
Abel replied calmly, “Pretty sure they’re in shock.”
“From Lillian?”
There was no one else in the room but Lillian. And yet somehow, the woman who was supposedly seriously ill had managed to scare the life out of all three of them?
Abel chrupeed. “They must’ve overheard something these weren’t sunnosed to
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Chapter 111 Lines Crossed
Stella’s mind flashed back to the way Lillian had tried to provoke her–pressuring her to leave Rivermount
She looked at Abel again, something sharper flickering in her eyes.
Abel glanced over. “Ms. Dawson?”
Stella didn’t hesitate. “Look into Lillian. I want to know if something’s going on with her.”
+8 Pearls
The way Lillian had suddenly appeared–and the things she said–Stella couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.. Stella was almost certain now–Lillian was hiding something.
Abel gave a small nod. “Understood.
Their pace quickened.
By the time they returned from visiting Madam Alice, Lillian’s hospital room door was shut. The others were gone. Faint voices drifted from inside, but they were too muffled to make out.
Ms. Dawson, are you-
Before Abel could finish, Stella stepped closer and pressed herself lightly against the door,
Abel watched, sturned, as Stella motioned for him to stay quiet.
He stared for a second. Since when did Ms. Dawson pick up moves like that?
Stella leaned in, pressing her ear to the door. Sure, it wasn’t exactly the appropriate move–but she didn’t care. After seeing how those three had frozen up carlier, just like Abel said, it had to mean something. Like they’d overheard something they weren’t supposed to.
And now? They were probably in there talking about it.
And if it was about that… I need to know what they’re saying. She leaned in even more, intent on catching every sound. She crouched by the door, perfectly still.
Something about the sight of her crouched there, dead focused, made Abel raise his phone almost without thinking. He snapped a picture-
Then he sent it to Abraham.
At that moment, Abraham was with Victor.
Victor handed him a glass of red wine, then glanced over, confused. Abraham was looking at his phone with an amused smile.
“What are you looking at? Victor asked.
Abraham didn’t say a word. He simply slipped the phone into his pocket.
Victor didn’t press. He just went quiet.
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