Chapter 296

Chapter 296:

Jessie’s temper flared. “Theo Stanley’s the one panicking. What exactly are we trying to shield him from? Why do you keep defending him p>

“Watch your mouth, Jessie,” Eaton snapped. It was something he almost never did.

Jessie’s eyes swept over the guests, her voice cold. “There’s no reason to continue this birthday party. Gracie is my only childhood friend, and if she’s not here, then I have no reason to stay either p>

She turned on her heel and walked out without looking back.

Eaton took in the guests’ uneasy expressions before forcing a polite smile. “My apologies. Jessie grew up sheltered. Please don’t take her reaction personally. The pool party will still go ahead tonight. Everyone, enjoy yourselves p>

He shot Theo a long, uneasy glance before fixing his eyes on Ellie. “Ellie and Gracie are worlds apart. Theo, you really need to rethink what you’re doing with your life. Don’t let your marriage drag your name through the dirt p>

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and headed after Jessie.

At the hospital, the doctor slipped off his stethoscope and checked the urgent test results. “It isn’t serious. Just a shock to your system and a bit of cold. Rest properly and you’ll recover. If you’re still worried, you can stay overnight for observation p>

Lia held her stomach and looked up weakly at Charlie, who stood unmoving beside the bed. “Where’s Brayden? Why… why hasn’t he come in to check on me p>

“Did you forget your agreement?” Charlie’s tone was ice-cold. “You’ve already been compensated. You have no right to disturb him anymore. The only reason you’re still allowed in town is because he chose to be generous p>

“Charlie, we’ve known each other for so many years. Must you be so harsh? I thought you saw me differently. Why are you treating me like this now? All because Gracie is wealthier and more powerful? I don’t deserve even a tiny bit of sympathy?” Tears gathered in Lia’s eyes.

Charlie gave a hard, humorless laugh. “Don’t fool yourself. Mr. Stanley may have felt grateful to you once, but that has nothing to do with me. I’ve seen exactly who you are. You’ve been using guilt to trap him for years, taking every advantage you could. And still, it was never enough; you kept crossing lines, expecting him to tolerate it. If Gracie had appeared sooner, he wouldn’t have wasted so much of his life dealing with your schemes p>

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He stepped toward the door. “Your hospital fees are already handled. Stay overnight if you want. But Mr. Stanley will not be visiting p>

He shut the door behind him.

Lia sat still for a moment, then her expression twisted into rage. She ripped out the IV needle, and drops of blood splattered across the bed sheets.

“You all pretend you’re so noble, but you’re the most snobbish people I’ve ever known. If I had power, none of you would dare talk down to me. One day, I’ll climb higher than every single one of you, and when that day comes, you’ll bow at my feet,” she whispered furiously.

In a VIP ward down the hallway, Gracie leaned back, staring at the IV drip hanging above her. “I just slipped into the water by accident. Do we really need to stay for observation p>

Brayden sat nearby, slowly peeling an apple. “This is just an excuse to get you out of that circus. I knew you didn’t want to stay there p>

“I definitely wanted to leave, but a hospital stay wasn’t part of the plan,” Gracie said with a sigh, rubbing her forehead. “Honestly, I didn’t expect you to trust me. Not when I had no proof I didn’t push her p>

“After everything we’ve been through, do you really think I need evidence to believe you?” Brayden said softly, offering her a slice of apple. “And Lia showing up at Lawson Group wasn’t a coincidence. Theo put her there. It looks like she has no intention of leaving. What’s amusing is that all the people we’ve clashed with are gradually gathering on one side p>

Gracie didn’t reply immediately. Their enemies were uniting and gaining strength, while she felt suffocated by the moral lines she refused to cross. Every principle she held onto felt like another chain weighing her down.

So this was what it meant to insist on staying decent.

For a moment, old anger burned through her, sharp enough that she almost wished she could abandon her restraint and destroy those people once and for all.

But she swallowed the impulse. If she took that path, she would be no different from Theo.

She finally lifted her eyes and said quietly, “Even if they’re teaming up, each one has their own selfish plan. They’re nowhere close to being a real, united group p>