Chapter 174

Chapter 174

Rhett sat broodingly in front of his computer, his deep voice cutting through the silence as he gestured toward Kristin’s desk. “Get to work.”

Kristin’s eye rims reddened, uncertainty clouding her thoughts as she wondered if Rhett’s trust in her had faltered.

After a long pause, Rhett’s voice dropped to a stern whisper. “No calf love!”

Kristin turned to gaze at Rhett and responded in confusion, “Okay.”

She was no child anymore. Was there any point in imposing such restrictions at the time?

As Kristin moved to her work desk, Rhett covertly downloaded the encrypted files from Vincent’s computer onto his desktop, then swiftly transferred them to his phone before erasing all traces.

“Mr. FitzGerald, shouldn’t we inspect those closest to us?” Kristin squirmed uncomfortably, eager to clear her name and equally fearful of Rhett’s suspicion. “In cases like this, it’s usually a virus that compromises the computer.”

Rhett leaned back in his chair, rapping his knuckles on the desk. “York.”

Outside, York, who had been eavesdropping, burst into the room in a panic. “Mr. FitzGerald! Right here.”

“Who entered my office after I left yesterday afternoon?” Rhett inquired.

He diligently checked his computer daily except for yesterday, in the tumult over a paternity test, had he left in haste without shutting it down.

But York would normally power down his computer before leaving for the day.

That meant someone had tampered with his computer between Rhett’s departure and York’s end–of–day routine.

“No one, sir. Just me and Kristin,” York replied anxiously. “It wasn’t Kristin, I swear

Kristin was visibly nervous, her gaze lowered and her eyes welling up again.

Rhett massaged his temples. “You’re heading to the SandStone Project site tomorrow

Unsure of where he had misspoken and risked Rhett’s ire, York boldly defended Kristin. “Mr. FitzGerald, you can’t suspect Kristin. I don’t think she’s involved?

Rhett was infuriated by York

Did York think he was being noble, trying to score points with Kristin?

Rhett felt all the men around Kristin were predatory, not a single one trustworthy. He had to keep a close eye on them.

Chapter

“Wait a minute! I remember now,” York exclaimed, slapping his forehead. “Miss Hertha was here!”

Rhett raised an eyebrow. “Hmm…”

“Mr. FitzGerald, you suspect Miss Hertha?” York whispered. “But she was just sitting there the whole time I went to fetch a glass of water.”

“There’s no need for suspicion. It was Hertha,” Rhett stated confidently. “In an always–on, unsecured connection, it only takes a USB drive to transmit a virus. In the time it took you to fetch water, someone could’ve breached the system three times.”

York stammered, at a loss for words. “Should… should we call the police?”

“The police? Do you have evidence?” Rhett countered.

There were no cameras in the office.

“No…” York shook his head.

“Keep quiet. Let’s see what Hertha and Vincent are plotting together,” Rhett glanced at the clock. “The Haywood family should be holding a press conference right now. She’s sent me a ‘gift‘. Shouldn’t I return the favor?”

York gasped, a chill running down his spine as he sensed Rhett’s cold determination.

“Mr. FitzGerald, what are you…”

Rhett stood up and, grabbing Granger, still eavesdropping, commanded, “Come with me.”

Trembling, York turned to warn Kristin. “See what happens when you cross Mr. FitzGerald? The Haywood family has messed with him more than once. Just wait for the outcome…

Kristin’s palms were sweaty. “What’s Mr. FitzGerald planning to do?”

“Just watch the news, and you’ll see,” York sighed, a twinge of excitement in his voice. “You asked me what Mr. FitzGerald looks like when he’s mad, right? Did you see his expression just now? Scary, isn’t it?”

Kristin nodded blankly. In reality, it wasn’t that frightening. It was just a bizarre warning about not dating too young.

“I’ve never seen Mr. FitzGerald’s face so dark,” York continued exaggerating.

“But… I feel Mr. FitzGerald is madder at Vincent,” Kristin mused, wondering if it was just her perception.

It must’ve been Vincent who hacked Rhett’s computer, sparking his fury.

“Get back to work and wait for the news,” York advised, still buzzing with expectation to see how Rhett would handle the Haywood family.

Rhett did not disappoint.

214

09:06

“I

During the Haywood family’s press conference, Hertha took the stage on behalf of her parents, publicly acknowledging Adrienne’s wrongdoing. Her speech was a work of art. While playing the victim, she significantly downplayed the heinousness of Adrienne’s

actions.

As the media was preparing a sympathetic narrative, a parent holding a picture of their lost child and several of Hertha’s past victims burst onto the scene.

“Give me back my daughter’s life! It’s because of Adrienne. She bullied with impunity, using her family’s influence to drive my daughter to suicide,” the parent cried out, holding up the image of their daughter and releasing recordings of the Haywood parents attempting to settle the matter privately.

“Adrienne was the queen bee at school, leading the charge against anyone she disliked. Whoever she scorned, she bullied…”

Another woman bravely stepped forward. “I thought I could forget the pain after all these years, but some wounds, they just never heal. I’ve been living in hell every single day.”

She pulled aside her blouse to reveal a collarbone covered in scars from cigarette burns.

“They bullied me, led by her,” the woman sobbed, “made me kneel and used my collarbone to stub out their cigarettes, calling it the best ashtray they ever had…”

Tears streamed down her face as she recounted her ordeal.

One by one, other victims came forward. “Just because… Just because the boy Adrienne fancied smiled at me, she had her cronies slash my face and called me a temptress.”

A woman removed her face mask, revealing a deep scar. “I told the teacher, but even they couldn’t handle her. At last, her family threw money at the problem to settle it down.”

Suddenly, the Haywood family was in the eye of a storm.

Hertha stood there, shocked and panicked, as she watched the victims pour out their stories. How could this happen?

She had ensured the security was tight to guarantee a flawless event, which would appease Rhett without tarnishing the Bryce family’s name. But everything was spiraling out of control.

“Who let these people in?!” Hertha demanded, her composure slipping away.

The aides around her were too scared to utter a word.

Gasping for breath, Hertha knew she couldn’t contain the situation. “Clear out the press!”

Stumbling off the stage, Hertha was escorted to the green room for refuge.

Who could wield such power? Rhett? Had he gathered all these victims to drop such bombshells, not intending to spare the Haywood name for a second?

09.07

Chapter 174

What was he thinking? Was he mad? Destroying the Haywood family would not benefit

him!

“Ms. Haywood, Mr. FitzGerald allowed these people in,” one aide whispered. The FitzGerald Group owned the hotel.

Shivering on the sofa, Hertha knew it had to be Rhett. Only he had the means.

Rhett was out to ruin the Haywood family.

What had they ever done to him? It must be Kristin, stirring the pot, as always.

She certainly wouldn’t let Kristin off the hook since Rhett had presented such a ‘gift‘ to her family.

Tell James that I’ll spill the beans about Summer’s paternity test results to Carter if he doesn’t find a way to wrench Summer away from Kristin.” Hertha hissed with venom.

Hertha was in a state of utter panic.