Chapter 551
Chapter 551:
In the hospital’s VIP parking garage, she spotted his Maybach, engine running and ready to depart. She pushed her door open before the car had fully stopped.
Grayson was stepping into the backseat when he heard her voice.
“Gray!” Belle ran toward him, her carefully constructed composure fracturing completely. Tears streamed down her face — a performance she had perfected over years of careful practice. “How could you just leave me to handle this alone p>
Grayson paused, his hand on the door. He looked at her. He used to find her tears beautiful — a delicate vulnerability that made him feel needed. Now, watching the calculated tremor of her lower lip, he felt only a wave of deep, tired irritation.
“I haven’t left you alone,” he said, his tone stripped of any warmth. “The PR department has already issued a statement clarifying that Cheryl’s actions were personal and bear no affiliation with InnoTech p>
“But Mom has a record now! That — Isolde p>
“Watch your language, Belle,” Grayson cut her off, his voice sharpening. “Isolde is the victim here p>
Belle went still, the tears stopping on her cheeks. “You’re defending her? Are you — are you still in love with her p>
Grayson rubbed the bridge of his nose, a gesture of complete exhaustion. “This has nothing to do with love. It is about basic decency. What your mother did was ghetto, Belle p>
Ghetto.
The word struck her with the force of something physical. It was the label she had spent her entire life — every calculated smile, every strategic alliance, every carefully managed association with his name and power — trying to permanently erase. And he had just placed it back on her, casually and without hesitation.
𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯
The tears dried instantly. The hurt in her eyes was replaced by something cold and sharpened. She straightened, wiped her face with the back of her hand, and looked at him.
“Fine,” she said, her voice unnervingly calm. “If you won’t handle it, I’ll find my own way p>
Grayson’s eyes narrowed. “What are you planning? Don’t cause any more trouble p>
A thin, bitter smile touched Belle’s lips. “You don’t need to worry about it. By the way — I’ll be representing InnoTech at the Aerospace Summit tomorrow. I hope you don’t regret your decision by then p>
Without another word, she turned and walked away, her back straight, her stride carrying the taut, desperate energy of someone with nothing left to lose.
Grayson watched her go, a deep frown settling on his face. Her words felt like more than a parting shot. He slid into the car.
“Frank,” he said to his driver, “have the security team run a full audit of InnoTech’s recent supply chain records. I want everything p>
In a private room at Mount Sinai, Isolde sat before the darkened window, studying her own reflection. Ellyn stood behind her, dabbing a soothing cream gently onto her cheek. The angry red line was stark and swollen, reaching toward the outer corner of her eye.
“Does it still hurt?” Ellyn asked softly, her expression caught between fury and quiet concern.