Chapter 18
Caleb Stone’s eyes darkened as he asked, “How did the negotiations go?”
“I was just about to tell you–someone else reached out to them first. They want to know how much
we’re offering. I held off on answering–figured I’d check with you.”
“What’s weird is, whoever it is seems to hate Wilder Hunt just as much. Same target, same terms- only real difference is their budget’s tighter. If we go head–to–head, they can’t beat us.”
Caleb stayed quiet, deep in thought. He had a pretty good idea who it was.
“Stay where you are. Don’t try to outbid her,” he said finally.
The assistant paused–then it hit him.
“Wait… Mr. Stone. Are you saying… it’s Ms. Reeves?”
Caleb didn’t reply. He simply gave a few more instructions before hanging up.
Lighting a cigarette, he turned his gaze toward Summer’s bedroom.
And after a moment, he let out a quiet chuckle.
What had he been thinking? That Summer, broken and scarred, was some fragile little vine that
needed him to shield her?
She was never that. She’d always been the sharpest, fiercest rose in the garden.
Back in Italy, Wilder had barely been discharged before landing in the hospital again.
Shaw sat by his side, covered in bruises, refusing to leave.
Their safehouse had been compromised.
Luckily, only a few people were there when it happened, and most injuries were minor.
Except for Wilder…
He’d gone upstairs to retrieve the wedding photo of him and Summer–and his still–unhealed leg
took the hit.
Now, lying there, barely alive, he was pale as a sheet.
Shaw punched the wall in frustration.
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They took shifts watching over Wilder until he finally regained consciousness.
“Wilder, we didn’t find Grace’s body. She might’ve gotten away-”
Wilder’s eyes moved restlessly. His lips were cracked and dry. “Photo…”
Shaw’s face tightened, his chest burning with rage. He slammed his fist against the table.
“Wilder! Haven’t you figured it out yet?!”
“Someone leaked the safehouse location. Can’t you see who it was? It was Summer! She didn’t care
whether you or your brothers lived or died. She betrayed us!”
Wilder’s bloodless face turned cold.
He grabbed Shaw’s wrist with everything he had left, eyes bloodshot and fierce.
“I said… the photo!”
Ben entered just in time. Seeing what was happening, he quietly stepped over and handed Wilder the picture.
Wilder released Shaw immediately and cradled the photo to his chest like it was made of glass.
Ben’s expression darkened, a mocking gleam flickering in his eyes.
Wilder was covered in wounds, barely hanging on–yet the photo was spotless.
To anyone else, it would’ve looked like love so deep it defied death.
But to Ben, it was a damn joke.
If Wilder had really loved her that much, why the hell had he cheated on her?
Why had he gotten another woman pregnant?
Why had he tricked Summer with a fake marriage certificate?
The more Ben thought about it, the more furious he became.
His gaze toward Wilder turned frigid.
Shaw had been watching him closely.
Suddenly, he lunged, grabbing Ben by the collar, fury blazing in his eyes.
“It was you, wasn’t it?! You little bastard–was it you? I’ve had my suspicions all along. You were always siding with Summer, weren’t you? So why didn’t she take you when she left?!”
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“That time Wilder hurt her leg–you went ballistic. You even cursed him out over it. Are you two working together? Were you part of some scheme to get back at him? Answer me!”
Ben said nothing.
Shaw lost it and punched him hard, sending him crashing to the floor, blood trickling from the
corner of his mouth.
Ben wiped it away slowly, eyes icy with disdain.
That look pushed Shaw even further toward the edge–until Ben finally spoke.
“Yeah, maybe I’ve got more of a conscience than some people,” he said coldly.
“But I would never betray Wilder.”
“You want to talk about betrayal? Don’t forget, you beat your drunk of a father to death. You shoplifted Summer’s bag in broad daylight.”
“She’s the one who spared your ass. She even found you a lawyer. You wouldn’t have shit if it weren’t for her–or for Wilder.”
“She’s missing, Shaw. We don’t know if she’s alive or dead. And you’re out here throwing dirt on her name?”
