Niamh slept more soundly than she’d expected.
When she woke, Jonathan wasn’t in bed.
She heard the faint sounds of running water from the bathroom–he was probably getting ready for the day.
She reached for her phone to check the time, but before she could, a news alert popped up on the screen:
Jonathan Heroically Defends His Wife!
Niamh froze for a moment, then tapped on the notification.
The story recounted yesterday’s incident–Bagot had attacked her, and Jonathan had arrived with the Thomas family’s security team to save the day.
The headline photo was of Jonathan carrying her out in his arms, front and center.
Every major news outlet and trending topic online was focused on this.
The related articles were all about the Thomas Group’s stock.
Niamh had never paid much attention to the market, but she clicked anyway.
Since the opening bell, the Thomas Group’s stock had soared, climbing higher and higher–all thanks to the media frenzy.
Suddenly, a chill ran through her, her fingers cold around her phone.
통
Just then, Jonathan’s phone started to ring.
Niamh got out of bed and glanced at the caller ID: Sprague.
Jonathan hadn’t saved his father as “Dad” or “Father.” Just “Sprague” with his full
name.
She picked up Jonathan’s phone and knocked on the bathroom door.
“Your father’s calling.”
As she handed him the phone, her finger accidentally pressed the answer butt
Sprague’s triumphant voice came through the speaker right away. “You handled things perfectly this time. That’s exactly how it should be-”
Niamh didn’t catch the rest. Jonathan pressed the phone to his ear, shutting her
14:41
out.
She stood in the doorway, cold dread spreading through her chest.
She’d thought Jonathan had stepped in to protect her from Bagot.
But was that really what happened?
Just yesterday, Bagot had been manipulating public opinion, dragging her name through the mud. Overnight, everything flipped–Bagot was suddenly public enemy number one.
All those stories about Bagot embezzling company funds, racking up gambling debts, borrowing from loan sharks–none of it could have come to light so quickly without someone pulling strings behind the scenes.
Heroically Defends His Wife…
The headline echoed in Niamh’s mind.
As soon as Jonathan ended the call, Niamh’s voice rang out, cold and sharp from the bathroom doorway:
“So you set me up–deliberately pushed Bagot into targeting me, then swooped in to play the hero, all to create a media circus and boost the Thomas Group’s stock price. Am I right?”
Jonathan stared at her in silence.
He saw the anger and disappointment burning in her reddened eyes.
So that’s what Sprague thought of him.
And now Niamh did, too.
“Think whatever you want,” he said flatly, his voice cold as ice, his whole demeanor distant and glacial.
He brushed past her, leaving the bathroom.
His icy anger felt like a knife blade scraping across Niamh’s skin.
How could Jonathan be angry? she wondered bitterly. She was the one w‘ + faced the knife. She was the one treated like a pawn.
Niamh got dressed and was about to leave the house when Jonathan’s phone rang again.
He put it on speaker.
Chapter 295
“Jonathan, are you busy today?” Marina’s sugary voice floated through the phone.
Niamh realized Jonathan had turned on the speaker on purpose.
“I’m not busy. Where are you? I’ll come over now,” he replied.
After making plans with Marina, he hung up.
Niamh quietly left Jade Peak House.
Jonathan didn’t say a single word to her as she walked out.
Marina had invited Jonathan to meet at a cozy café popular with couples.
She’d dressed up for the occasion–new outfit, flawless makeup, sweet smile.
Since Jonathan had sounded agreeable on the phone, she walked right up to him and tried to take his arm, just like she always had.
But Jonathan gently removed her hand.
That small gesture sent a wave of dread through Marina’s heart.
