Chapter 111 Lines Crossed
Jonathanlet out a tight breath. “We can’tshuther studio down. Her partners are all backing her.”
Susan stared athim. “What?”
“I’mserious. Let’s drop it. No point wasting more time on this,” he muttered. Just bringing up Stella’s studio made his
expression sour.
Thiswholeordeal made one thing painfully clear–these days in Rivermount, the Reed family just didn’t hold the same power it once did.
And not just
the Reeds–even the Keenes.
Ethan had tried pulling stringsthroughthe Keene Group to cut off Stella’s partnerships. But not a single company had taken.
the bait.
“Forget it. Let’s go check on Lillian,”Jonathansaid, brushing it off as he turned and walked toward Lillian’s hospital room.
Susan stood frozen in place, furious,Shegaveasharpstomp, then hurried after them.
Susan stood frozen, fuming. Then, with a frustrated stomp, she chased after them down the hallway.
Inside the hospital room, Lillian was still on the phone.
The moment Jonathan opened the door, her voice exploded across the room. “Fine! Then we’llgoto prison together!”
Jonathanfroze. Ethan,rightbehind him, had also heard Lillian’s outburst.
So did Susan.
The three of them stood there in stunned silence as they stared at Lillian.
Lillianstared right back, completely caught off guard.
No one spoke.
The heavy silence was broken by a voice from further down the hallway.
“Is Madarn Alice really that important to him? I’vealreadycome here twice,” Stella said, clearly irritated.
“She’s pretty important,” Abel replied calmly.
Stellahadn’twanted to come in the first place–especially knowing she’dhavetowalkpast Lillian’s room.
Andas she passed Lillian’s room, she saw Jonathan, Ethan, and Susan standing there frozen–like they’d just been hit by a freight train.
She glanced at Abel. He looked at the three of them too.But neither of them said a word.
Stella kept walking without a glance back. She couldn’t wait to get out of thatplace.
Once they were further down, she leaned toward Abel and whispered, “What’s up with them? Why are they just standing there like that?
Abel repliedcalmly, “Pretty sure they’re in shock.”
“From Lillian?”
There wasnoone else in the room but Lillian. And yet somehow, the woman who was supposedly seriously ill had managed to scare the life out of all three of them?
Abel chrupeed. “They must’ve overheard something these weren’t sunnosed to
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Chapter 111 Lines Crossed
Stella’smind flashedbackto the way Lillian had tried to provoke her–pressuring her to leave Rivermount
She looked at Abel again, something sharper flickering in her eyes.
Abelglanced over. “Ms. Dawson?”
Stella didn’thesitate. “Lookinto Lillian. I want to know if something’s goingonwith her.”
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The way Lillian had suddenly appeared–and the things she said–Stella couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.. Stella was almost certain now–Lillian was hiding something.
Abel gave a small nod. “Understood.
Their pace quickened.
By the time they returned from visitingMadamAlice,Lillian’s hospital room door was shut. The others were gone. Faint voices drifted from inside, but they were too muffled to make out.
Ms. Dawson, are you-
Before Abel could finish, Stella stepped closer and pressed herself lightly against the door,
Abel watched, sturned, as Stella motioned forhimtostay quiet.
He stared for a second. Since when did Ms. Dawsonpickup moves like that?
Stella leaned in, pressing her ear to the door. Sure, it wasn’t exactly the appropriate move–but she didn’t care. After seeing how thosethreehad frozen up carlier, just like Abel said, it had to mean something. Like they’d overheard something they weren’t supposed to.
And now? They were probably in there talking about it.
And if it was about that… I need to know what they’re saying. She leaned in even more, intent on catchingeverysound. She crouched by the door, perfectly still.
Something about the sight of her crouched there, dead focused, made Abel raise his phone almost without thinking. He snapped a picture-
Then he sent it to Abraham.
At that moment, Abraham was with Victor.
Victor handed him a glass of red wine, then glanced over, confused.Abrahamwas looking at hisphonewith an amused smile.
“Whatare you looking at? Victor asked.
Abraham didn’t say a word. He simply slipped the phone into his pocket.
Victor didn’t press. Hejustwent quiet.
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