Chapter 255
Daron pulled up a chair and dropped the basket on the table. He grabbed a green apple and took a loud, crunchy bite. “It’s a shame the person who should be peeling your apples is nowhere to be found,” he said, his mouth still full.
Grayson didn’t look up from his tablet. “If you came here to talk garbage, you can leave.”
Daron swallowed and leaned back. “I’m just saying, Gray. I have a buddy who lives in her building. He said Isolde ordered Thai takeout last night and watched a movie. She doesn’t give a damn that you’re in a hospital bed.”
Belle sighed dramatically. “She’s probably just holding a grudge because of what Kaiden said at the track. Isolde has always been too proud for her own good.”
Daron scoffed. “Proud? She’s a trust fund baby who lived off your money for five years. What does she have to be proud of?”
Grayson’s fingers tightened around the edges of his tablet. “Enough. Don’t mention her.”
𝖱еa𝖽 𝘁𝗁𝗲 𝗹а𝗍𝖾s𝘵 𝘁𝘳𝗲n𝘥ѕ on 𝗀𝗮𝗹𝗻o𝘷е𝗹s.сo𝗆
Daron held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. Let’s talk business. InnoTech’s stock jumped five percent at the opening bell.”
Belle’s eyes lit up. She dropped the paring knife. “Really? The market is responding well to our new product line?”
Daron laughed. “No, Belle. The market is responding to the PR department. They leaked the photos of Grayson diving in front of the horse to save you. The headline is ‘True Love in Adversity.’ The investors love a power couple.”
Grayson’s head snapped up, his eyes dark. “Take it down. Call PR right now. I do not want my private life used to inflate stock prices.”
Belle’s smile faltered. She reached out and touched his arm. “Gray, don’t be upset. It’s just business. Besides, what does it matter if Isolde sees it? She already hates us.”
Daron took another bite of his apple. “Misunderstand what? She’s already moved on. Did you see Arland Roth’s post this morning?”
Grayson froze. “What post?”
Daron pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and handed it over.
It was a photo on Arland’s private social media account — a flawless, glittering diamond sitting at the bottom of a dirty trash can. The caption read: Some people are so blind they throw away diamonds to collect broken glass.
Grayson’s chest seized. His ribs ached, but the pain in his stomach was sharper.
Arland was calling Isolde a diamond. And he was calling Belle broken glass.
Belle leaned over to look at the screen. Her face turned bright red with fury. “That arrogant prick! Why is Arland so obsessed with her? What exactly is Isolde doing to keep him so loyal?”
Daron smirked. “Who knows? Maybe it’s a physical trade. She is desperate for cash, after all.”
“Watch your mouth, Daron!”
Grayson’s voice was a sudden, violent roar. He slammed Daron’s phone down onto the mattress.
Daron jumped, nearly dropping his apple. He stared at Grayson in shock. “Whoa, Gray. I was joking. You aren’t actually defending the ex-wife, are you?”
Grayson’s breathing was heavy. He forced his hands to uncurl. “I do not like people discussing Lancaster family matters like cheap gossip. Even if she is an ex-wife.”
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