Chapter 194
Chapter 194:
Without waiting for a reply, he strode down the corridor.
Meanwhile, back at home, Gracie realized she hadn’t seen Brayden since her return. The clock had already struck ten.
Her gaze lingered on the silent phone, a faint crease forming between her brows. “Could he still be tied up with work after that meeting with Lenora?” she mused.
Deciding it wasn’t right to call so late, she set the phone aside. Brayden had always lived for his work—sleepless, tireless, constantly chasing the next deal.
After a hot shower, she slipped into bed, the steam still clinging faintly to her skin.
Just as she was about to close her eyes, her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
She reached for it, her thumb hovering over the screen. A hashtag filled her view—#LiaDouglasInjuredDuringFilming—already rocketing to the top of the trending list.
Propped against the pillows, Gracie scrolled through the headlines, the blue glow of her screen casting soft light across the dim room.
Among the avalanche of comments, one particular post caught her eye. It showed a snapshot of the hospital, the frame blurred yet unmistakably capturing the outline of a man speaking with a doctor.
Though the image was rough and unclear, the sight of him hit her instantly—Brayden. Even without a clear view of his face, that silhouette alone was unmistakably his, impossible to confuse with anyone else.
“So you went to see Lia…” The words slipped from Gracie’s lips, leaving behind a strange emptiness that tugged at her heart.
With a careless flick, she tossed the phone aside and rested her cheek on her hand, her gaze lost in the quiet view beyond the window.
Even if their marriage had been nothing more than a facade, she deserved the truth from him.
Ŀ∆†εѕŧ ¢♄₳þţ€яş ¡η ĠałиøνêļŞ.çø₥
“I almost managed to believe we were closer than we really are,” she muttered with a quiet, bitter laugh, closing her eyes and forcing herself to sleep.
That evening, social media was in chaos again; new photos of Brayden and Lia had surfaced, sending their names soaring up the trending lists.
Next door, Ellie padded through the hallway in silk pajamas, her hips swaying as she slipped into Theo’s study.
“It’s late, Theo. Aren’t you going to bed yet?” Her voice carried a playful lilt.
Theo lifted his gaze, eyes dark behind the soft glow of the desk lamp. “Can’t you tell I’m working p>
“I can tell,” she answered with a teasing smile, strolling closer. She plucked the papers from his hand and leaned against the desk. “But with a night like this, you’d rather spend it with those boring reports p>
His eyes narrowed slowly. Removing his gold-rimmed glasses, Theo set them aside with deliberate calm. “You’ve clearly misunderstood something, Ellie p>
The brightness in her smile dimmed, giving way to unease. “What are you talking about p>
The question barely left her lips before a strong hand closed around her throat. She gasped, eyes widening in disbelief. “What… what the hell are you doing p>