Chapter 17
Declan stood by the floor to ceiling windows, fingers gripping a freshly delivered investigation report.[]
Rain pounded against the glass outside, water trails blurring the city lights into streaks.]
When he’d heard Susan’s accusations that night, suspicion about Mia had taken root. The first thing he’d done after returning home was get his assistant to dig into everything Mia had been up to since going abroad.[]
“You’re sure this information is accurate?” His voice was low, heavy with brewing storm clouds.[]
His assistant stood rigidly at attention: “Triple–checked everything. Miss Castellano’s mother’s medical records definitely show signs of forgery. The doctor’s signature on that leukemia diagnosis… doesn’t exist.“[]
Declan’s knuckles went white as he crumpled the papers.]
“…Go on.“[]
“We also found that Miss Castellano maintained close relationships with multiple wealthy businessmen abroad. This is her private social media account–tons of luxury goods flaunted during the period she claimed to be ‘financially struggling.““]
Declan took the tablet. On screen was Mia’s selfie wearing a diamond necklace, captioned: [Thanks for the gorgeous gift, babe! Love you~]]
The date stamp showed exactly the week he’d mortgaged his property for her mother’s “treatment.”
His eyes turned ice–cold: “Bring her here.“[]
Thirty minutes later, the office door swung open.]]
“Declan~” Mia clicked in on high heels, dress swaying gracefully. “Calling me over this late–miss me already?“]
Her smile froze when she spotted the scattered documents on his desk.
Declan slowly turned, sliding a photograph toward her: “Know this guy?“]
In the photo, Mia was intimately snuggled against a balding man, Las Vegas casino glittering in the background.[]
“This… this is…” Her body shook uncontrollably as she lunged forward, grabbing his arm. “Declan, let me explain! He’s my cousin’s business partner–he insisted on taking pictures!”
“How about this one?” Declan threw down another photo–Mia in a bikini sprawled on a yacht deck, three men surrounding her.[]
The date stamp showed her mother’s supposed “critical condition” period.[]
What little color remained drained from Mia’s already pale face.[]
“And this.” Declan hit play on a phone recording. Her sultry voice came through crystal clear.
[“Declan’s such an easy mark. I tell him Mom needs a bone marrow transplant, he agrees instantly. Say I need money, he hands it over. Even the bogus projects I made up–he doesn’t even look before funding them. Once I get that final payout, we’re off to the Maldives…“]]
“No! That’s not me!” Mia suddenly shrieked, tears streaming down her face. “Someone’s setting me up! Declan, you have to believe me…”
Declan’s hand shot out, gripping her chin, his eyes blazing red with fury: “The medical reports were fake too? Your mother was never sick!” []
“She… she…” Mia’s gaze darted everywhere, and seeing she was truly cornered, she suddenly wrenched free from his grip. “Fine! So what if I lied to you?”
The tears vanished from her face instantly, replaced by a mocking sneer: “You think you’re so special? Cold as ice, like a damn robot. If you weren’t loaded, who’d want to play house with you?“]]
Declan’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“I was always after your money, right from when we first started dating. Originally planned to marry my way in, but you were so useless I had to make up some excuse to dump you and take a nice chunk of cash to live it up abroad.“[]
Stan of faKELOVSENGWI MUNTETOK FANS Klyst fistestM
“Too bad it wasn’t quite enough for my lifestyle. But no worries–all I had to do was crook my finger and you came crawling right back. My friends were right about you–you really are my faithful little dog.“]
“You’re dead!”
“Aw, don’t get mad-” Mia taunted, moving closer while pulling a USB drive from her purse and waving it. “Don’t forget, I know plenty of Hayes Corp secrets. Like that recent illegal transfer…”
Declan’s furious expression froze as he instinctively reached for the drive in her hand.[]
But Mia didn’t flinch–she actually held the USB out toward him.]
1
“Mr. Hayes, I’m not like you. I’ve been covering my bases all along. This is just one backup copy. Guess how many more I made, and where I stashed them?”
Thunder crashed outside, lightning illuminating the naked malice in her eyes.]]
“If anything happens to me, Hayes Corp goes down with me!“]
J TOITS
