Chapter 1273:
Rylie slowly opened her eyes and looked straight into his troubled expression. Sensing the heaviness in him, she looped her arms around his neck and pressed a soft kiss against his taut jaw. “It’s okay. The baby’s fine, and I’m fine too.”
Only after hearing those words did Brad finally relax. He held her quietly for a long moment before speaking in a low voice. “I remembered something.”
“What did you remember?” Rylie asked gently.
“About us,” he said. “I bought you a private island once. We stayed there for days—just the two of us. It was reckless, unforgettable. The kind of trip that stays with you forever.”
Rylie smiled, her lips curving as she fought back a laugh. “Yeah. That definitely happened.”
He pressed a kiss into her hair. “I’ll sort everything out soon. I swear.”
He wanted nothing more than to stay with her—but the unresolved situation with Kari still hung over him, and Sherwood was waiting.
At first light, Brad returned to the high-end hotel. In the corridor outside the suite, Sherwood was crouched near the door, shirt wrinkled, a cigarette hanging lazily from his lips. Brad walked over without hurry. “Well?” he said evenly. “Got what you wanted?”
Sherwood lifted his head, a storm of conflicting emotions passing through his eyes. “She kept calling your name all night,” he said flatly. “I lost my temper and slapped her.” He paused, as though the memory had surfaced against his will, and let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “The first time I hit her, she thought it was you—and said it felt good.”
Brad understood immediately. Whatever feelings Sherwood had once harbored for Kari were gone.
“Did you get it?” he asked.
𝗬𝗈𝗎𝘳 d𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗒 d𝗼𝘴𝘦 o𝖿 𝗻𝘰v𝗲𝗅𝘀 𝗈𝗻 g𝖺𝘭n𝗈𝘷е𝗅𝘴.𝖼𝗼m
Sherwood exhaled a slow stream of smoke, rose to his feet, and casually tossed the ring over. “I replaced it with a fake. She won’t notice anytime soon—but if we want to avoid problems down the line, I need the full plan.”
Brad handed him a folder. “Here’s my good faith. What are you offering?”
Sherwood flipped through the papers quickly, then looked up with reluctant admiration. “No wonder you targeted my key clients. Tracing their money laundering ties to Havenridge Group this fast—that’s impressive.”
“But these are only motives,” Brad said calmly, tapping the ring. “The real transfers depend on this. Looks like you’ll be busy again tonight.”
Kari had believed it was Brad who had been with her. When she woke, her legs still unsteady, she replayed the night in her mind with quiet satisfaction.
Watching her look so pleased turned Brad’s stomach, but he kept up the act—shopping trips and social events by day, while Sherwood handled the nights.
Two days later, the real ring was returned to Sherwood.
“I’ve cloned the chip inside,” Brad said evenly. “Once she puts it back on, every transaction confirmed by her fingerprint or iris scan will be transmitted directly to me.”
Sherwood’s pupils tightened. He stared at the ring resting in his palm, a faint chill creeping up his spine.
Just how far ahead had Brad been thinking?
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