“So, Benjamin Gomez and Andrew Lane are cousins."

Emily Blair let out a short laugh. "Impressive-you've dug up quite a bit."

Tristan Davis smirked. "Just following the trail. Most people don't realize Benjamin Gomez and Lucas Cox share the same mother, so no one really bothers to hide it. It wasn't hard to find out."

Who would have thought Andrew Lane and Isabella Austin were connected in such a roundabout way?

No wonder she'd never known in her previous life. No wonder Andrew Lane and Isabella Austin kept it so tightly under wraps. If word got out that two cousins had dated the same woman, Andrew Lane's reputation would take a serious hit.

Emily Blair couldn't care less about the tangled mess of Andrew Lane and Isabella Austin's love lives. Right now, her focus was entirely on the Cox family.

"So, have you found a way to deal with the Coxes?" she asked.

Tristan gave a wry smile. "Ryan Cox is a sly one, but Lucas Cox? He's an idiot- always doing the exact opposite of what his brother wants."

At that moment, a short message popped up on Isabella Austin's phone.

It was from overseas.

[Isabella, did you miss me?]

When Isabella first saw the unfamiliar number, she barely reacted, but the message itself made her hand tremble.

There was only one person who'd have her contact information and send a message like that...

Benjamin Gomez.

A surge of panic rose in her chest. She quickly blocked the number, shoved her phone to the bottom of her cup, and tried to pretend she hadn't seen anything at all.

Pressing a hand to her chest, Isabella took a few shaky breaths.

Just then, the door swung open and Dennis Lane came in, his voice sweet and small. "Mommy! I'm here!"

Her heart skipped. Forcing a smile, she bent down and scooped Dennis into her

arms.

"What were you doing just now, Mommy?"

Isabella's tone softened. “I was just thinking about something. Did you need me for something, Dennis?"

He pouted. "Mommy, this hotel is so boring. When can we go home?"

She hugged him tighter. “Not just yet, sweetheart. Daddy and I are both busy with work. If you're bored, maybe the nanny can take you to the amusement park again, okay? But you have to let her stay with you the whole time no more wandering off like at the zoo."

Dennis shook his head. "Mommy, I've been to the amusement park so many times. I don't want to go again."

His eyes sparkled as he looked up at her. "Daddy said you're going to play in a piano competition soon. Can I come with you? I want to hear you play."

Isabella smiled. “Of course you can, darling. You can do anything you want." Dennis let out a delighted whoop.

Vertex International.

Emily Blair said, "So, the breakthrough is with Lucas Cox."

Tristan lounged back, crossing his legs. "Exactly. Ryan Cox has so many illegitimate kids, it was only a matter of time before things blew up in his face. He's getting older, and his children have already started getting restless."

Emily dialed Elizabeth Wilson.

"Ms. Blair. How can I help you?"

"About that mole in the tech department you mentioned before have you found out who it is?"

Elizabeth let out a frustrated sigh. "Not yet. Do you have any ideas?"

Emily arched an eyebrow. "Is it possible we're looking in the wrong direction? Maybe that's why we haven't found anything."