Revenge Wears My Ring novel Chapter 18

Elodie tapped away at her keyboard, her posture lazy at first, but gradually her movements grew tense and purposeful. Half an hour slipped by without her noticing, but there was still not a trace of information about Julian’s eldest brother anywhere.

Her frown deepened.

“This guy is weird,” she muttered, voice low. “There’s no sign of him anywhere—no social footprint, nothing. Even the international darknet came up empty.”

Gwyneth walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window. From the thirtieth floor, the whole city sprawled beneath her, sunlight bright and almost blinding. But none of it could pierce the gloom that settled deep inside her.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said softly to Elodie, though even she wasn’t sure if she meant the surveillance footage or the looming family dinner.

Take things as they come, she told herself. Whatever storm hits, you weather it.

Just then, the office phone rang, sharp and sudden.

Gwyneth answered, her voice steady and unhurried.

“Gwyneth,” came Duncan’s voice—Julian’s assistant—“the CEO would like to see you. Could you come up?”

“Of course.” Gwyneth’s tone was light, betraying nothing.

Time to face Julian, she thought. Might as well get to know this brother of his, since they’d be meeting tonight.

She hung up. Elodie glanced over, blinking, and said, “Honestly, thank God you finally ditched your hopeless romantic phase. Otherwise, I’d have to knock some sense into you.”

Gwyneth just shrugged, gaze drifting back to the city below.

Looks like today’s going to be a tough act.

—

The Executive Office

Gwyneth turned, her eyes landing on a coffee cup—long gone cold—resting on the sofa table. Her voice stayed gentle. “People change. And if you want my shares, I might as well give you everything, right?”

Julian smiled, suddenly getting up and walking over. He took her wrist in his hand, a gesture that might have seemed affectionate to an outsider, but it made Gwyneth’s stomach churn.

“You’re always so thoughtful, Gwyneth. I’m lucky to have you.” His thumb brushed lightly against her skin, the touch intimate enough to make her skin crawl.

“I’ll remind Ziggy to handle it quickly,” Gwyneth replied, pulling her hand back with practiced ease. She glanced away, keeping her expression neutral.

“Oh, by the way,” Julian said suddenly, his tone shifting to casual, “My dad wants us back at the old house for dinner tonight.”

“Alright.” Gwyneth’s lashes flickered. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

She reached the door, then paused as if remembering something. Turning back to Julian, she blinked behind her glasses. “Julian, are you close with your older brother?”