Chapter 141

Hilda could hardly believe how shameless Lainey had become.

She kept her face calm, though inside she felt completely drained. With a weary sigh, she said, "But you're still married,Lainey."

Hearing that snapped Jeff out of his daze.

He met Hilda's gaze and jumped right into a dramatic rundown of every scandal he had dug up.

Finishing his tirade, he added, "Jonny's no match for Lainey. I've already started leaning on the Todd Group. If he won't sign the divorce papers, he's got another thing coming."

Turning to Lainey, he gave her hand a gentle pat."You don't have to worry, baby. If you've set your heart on Nolan, then I'll back you up all the way- even if it costs me my reputation."

The resemblance between Eleanor and Hilda didn't matter anymore. All he could see was the daughter he had finally found after years of searching, the one a DNA test had confirmed.

The guilt he carried for the lost years would never go away.

Whatever she asked for, he would make sure she had it.

Lainey's spirits soared, as if she could already see herself stepping into the role of Nolan's wife.

Poor Eleanor.

She had already taken Jonny fromn her once.

Now, she had Eleanor's parents, and soon, she would have the man Eleanor loved too.

No matter how hard Eleanor tried, she would always come up short.

Lost in her own world, Lainey let a flash of bitterness show in her eyes.

Jeff stayed focused on soothing her worries, missing the shift in her mood, but Hilda caught it right away.

Bitterness?

And all this animosity pointed toward Nolan's girlfriend.

What had happened between the two of them?

There had to be more beneath the surface, and Hilda made a mental note to get to the bottom of it.

Lainey remained completely oblivious to Hilda's curiosity, far too wrapped up in her own satisfaction.

The following morning found her up before sunrise,ready for a shopping spree.

Norwood's birthday was coming fast, and Lainey,who considered herself Nolan's bride-to-be, wanted to make a statement. She needed a gift that screamed prestige, something that would leave no doubt about her place beside Nolan-and set her apart from any rival.

While she browsed through an antique shop, her phone buzzed unexpectedly with a new message from an unknown number.

"A fake contract, huh? You're not worried I'll send that video straight to the Bentons?"

Lainey's grin faded in an instant.

How could they have uncovered that so fast?

Despite winning over the Benton family, she still did not have her hands on that 20%. If her cover was blown now, she would lose everything she had now.

A wave of regret hit her. Why hadn't she just turned in the real contract from the start?

Her phone vibrated again with a fresh message. "You have twenty-four hours. Bring me the real transfer papers by tonight, or you'll regret it."

Threats-always more threats.

Why did this person keep making things difficult for her?

Why couldn't they just vanish?

The thought triggered a dark impulse inside her.

An audacious,dangerous plan began to take shape.

She typed furiously, crafting à message dripping with fake desperation. "Please, I made a mistake. I swear I'll make it right."

It did not take long for the response to come through. "Meet me at the Nova Lounge front desk at eleven."

"Fine. I'll be there." After Lainey slipped her phone back into her purse, a glint of steely resolve flickered in her eyes.

With the Nova Lounge's front desk already working for her, Lainey knew she had the upper hand.

She didn't even need to make an appearance to uncover her blackmailer.

Let them try to steal from her-she could not wait to see who would dare step into her trap, and whether they would walk out again.