Chapter 187

Chapter 187:

Her tone rose with fury as she went on. “You were the one who refused to marry Brayden in the first place. If you hadn’t been so stubborn about Theo, you’d be the heir’s wife by now p>

Ellie let out a short, scornful laugh. “Mom, you’re still thinking too small p>

She pulled out her phone, her lips curving into a confident smile as she tapped the screen. “Take a look at this photo—you’ll understand why I made the right choice p>

Jane accepted the phone, confusion flickering in her eyes—until the moment she saw the prenuptial agreement. Her pupils contracted sharply.

Ellie’s lips curved with satisfaction at Jane’s reaction.

“Those two signed a prenup before the wedding. When Brayden takes full control of the Stanley family, Gracie’s getting tossed out like yesterday’s trash. Everything she has now is temporary. But Theo’s not the same. I’m the only person he actually wants. All I have to do is back him when he takes over the Stanley empire, and everything we’ve ever wanted will be ours p>

Jane sat in silence for several beats, weighing Ellie’s words, before finally giving a slow nod. “All right. Your dad and I will trust you one more time. What do you need from us p>

“I need money.” As soon as her plan began falling into place, a thrill of triumph sparked in Ellie’s chest. “Dad used to oversee Radiant Technologies—he should still have the suppliers’ contacts p>

“He does,” Jane admitted, brow furrowing. “But why do you need them p>

Though still confused, she nonetheless pulled out her phone and called Alan, instructing him to come home right away.

The next morning, the sharp trill of her phone jolted Gracie awake.

The instant Phoebe’s name lit up her phone, she snatched it up without hesitation.

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“Bad news!” Phoebe’s anxious voice came through. “Our suppliers just called. They said they can’t deliver the lab materials anymore—someone bought everything out last night p>

Gracie sat up, the last trace of sleep vanishing. “What? That’s impossible. We have a contract with them p>

“They said they’ll pay double the penalty fees,” Phoebe replied, her tone laced with frustration. “But without those materials, we can’t continue. Unless we find a new supplier right away, the entire project will have to pause p>

Gracie’s hand tightened around the phone. For a research team, materials were their lifeline. To be cut off now—when they were so close to a breakthrough—would shatter more than progress; it would crush the team’s spirit.

Gracie bolted upright, her brows knitting in alarm. “How long can our current stock hold out p>

“Only through today. If we can’t replenish by tomorrow morning, production stops entirely p>

“No need to panic. I’ll figure something out p>

Once the call ended, she steadied her breathing, handled a few urgent matters at the company, then rushed through her morning routine and hurried out of the villa.

From the living room, Brayden caught sight of her speeding away, her movements sharp with barely contained tension.

A flicker of concern crossed his face. He pulled out his phone and placed a call to Charlie. “Find out if something’s going on at Radiant Technologies,” he instructed curtly.

Once the call ended, he pushed back his chair and strode toward the door.

By then, Gracie was already behind the wheel, dialing one supplier after another as she headed straight for the lab. Each number she tried dumped her straight into voicemail, silence mocking her persistence.

“Damn it!” She struck the steering wheel hard, the sharp sound echoing in the car. Swerving at the next intersection, she headed straight for the nearest supplier’s office.

Traffic was mercifully light, and within minutes she pulled up in front of the supplier’s company.

“Ms. Sullivan!” A young secretary hurried out from behind the reception desk, her smile practiced and a little too bright. “What a surprise. Are you here to see Mr. McCoy? He hasn’t arrived yet, but you can tell me what this is about p>

“Then get him on the phone,” Gracie ordered sharply, her expression leaving no room for pleasantries. “I need to see him. Now p>

A last-minute cancellation like this could only mean sabotage. The secretary’s smile faltered, twisting into something apologetic. “Ms. Sullivan, you’re a clever woman. I think you already know what’s going on. Mr. McCoy won’t be meeting you p>